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Syria chemical attack 'fabricated' - Assad

Syria's President Bashar-al Assad says reports of a chemical attack by his forces were "100% fabrication".
Multi-nation talks on the prospects for Afghan security and national reconciliation, the third such round since December, began Friday in Moscow.

Eleven countries are taking part in discussions, including Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan and India. Former Soviet Central Asian states have been invited to attend for the first time.

The United States was also invited to the Moscow talks but Washington didn't attend, saying it was not informed of the agenda beforehand and was unclear of the meeting's motives.

Just days after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's frosty reception by the Kremlin, which refused to stop support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the two countries are also at odds on how to fight the Islamic State group in Afghanistan.

Russia's increasingly assertive foreign policy in Syria and Afghanistan is clashing with U.S. goals, but analysts say both countries are needed for a negotiated peace.

"I think it's clear to, even to [the] Trump administration, that without cooperation and collaboration of Russia, it's impossible to move forward or to achieve any meaningful result  be it on Syria or be it in Afghanistan," Victor Mizin, of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, told VOA.

But others have stressed that this collaboration is possible even if the U.S. and Russia remain firm on some of their respective positions.

"There is certainly always room for cooperation both in Syria and Afghanistan," Dmitry Verkhoturov, of the Center on Modern Afghanistan Research, told VOA. "But from my viewpoint, the key factor of this cooperation is that both sides, Russia and the U.S., should mutually recognize the right for an independent opinion, independent position, and an independent policy."

Charles Kupchan, former senior director for European Affairs on the staff of the National Security Council in the Obama administration, says the Trump White House is still finding it's footing in regard to Russian relations.

"I don't think that there is a single point of view in the White House  in fact, one senses they are still finding their way through the woods. And whether it is on Russia or Syria or Arab-Israeli issues, different days bring different policy statements," he told VOA's Russian Service. "On the Russia account, I do think there has been a sobering up, in the sense that as a candidate and as an early president, I think [President Donald] Trump had a somewhat naive view about how easy it would be to reset the relationship with Russia. That he felt he could go in there as a businessman and sit down shoulder-to-shoulder with President [Vladimir] Putin and resolve everything."

Having spent three years as a special assistant to the former U.S. president, Kupchan said stabilizing Russian ties is a notoriously difficult undertaking.

"Having worked with Russians on Ukraine and other issues, it's tough going, and I think what the Trump administration is finding is simply that: It's tough to find common ground with the Kremlin, and that the road ahead is likely to be one of differences of opinion rather than a reset that leads to a lasting rapprochement."

Thursday, the U.S. dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on a reported Islamic State militant complex in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar.
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."
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.
U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed threats to take "care of" the North Korean nuclear threat amid expectations of a new nuclear test this weekend, prompting a defiant response Friday from a senior official in Pyongyang.

If the U.S. comes with reckless military maneuvers then we will confront it with the DPRKs pre-emptive strike, said

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Han Song Ryol, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

We've 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. pre-emptive strike, Han said in an exclusive interview with the Associated Press.



A day earlier, Trump had responded emphatically to reports that North Korea is poised to detonate an underground nuclear device as early as Saturday to mark the anniversary of the birth of the nation's founder, Kim Il Sung.

North Korea is a problem, Trump said at the White House. The problem will be taken care of.

Han, in the interview Friday, blamed Trump for raising tensions on the Korean peninsula, saying that his aggressive tweets were making trouble. He said the situation is now in a vicious cycle of escalating tensions.



China urges talks

While Trumps remark was taken as a threat of military action against the North, Trump added that China is working very hard to defuse the international tension over North Korea, and that he is hopeful Beijings diplomacy will be effective.

In a separate comment earlier Thursday, however, Trump said the United States is prepared to tackle the North Korean crisis without China, if necessary.

An American aircraft carrier and other warships are steaming toward the Korean Peninsula in a show of force this week, although there has been no specific U.S. threat of retaliatory action if Pyongyang conducts another nuclear test or launches more missiles in defiance of U.N. sanctions.

At the Pentagon, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said Washington is working with international partners in order to defuse the situation, but the bottom line is, North Korea has got to change its behavior.

China: Military force wont work

Chinas public comment about North Korea Thursday was terse: Military force cannot resolve the issue, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing. Amid tensions, we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks.

China is North Koreas sole major ally, but it opposes Pyongyangs nuclear weapons program, along with all other neighbor states. Beijing has called for multiparty talks leading to a peaceful resolution that would denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

The state-backed Chinese newspaper Global Times said the best course for North Korea would be to give up its nuclear program, and it promised that Beijing will protect the North if that happens.

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, Global Times said in an editorial.

Chinese experts, including two academics, see little immediate possibility of hostilities, but say Beijing will respond harshly to any North Korean nuclear tests.



Although the tension in the Korean Peninsula is pretty high, its not high to the point of having an imminent war, Gui Rui, Director of Jilin Universitys Institute of Northeast Asian Studies, told The Associated Press.



Another nuclear test would invite tougher measures from Beijing, possibly including new restrictions on Chinese companies investments in North Korea and cuts in the number of Chinese tourists allowed to visit, Gui said.



Pang Zhongying of the School of International Studies at Beijings Renmin University agreed that military action was unlikely, but said another North Korean nuclear test would mark the crossing of a red line that China was prepared to respond to.



I have no idea what exact measures China will make this time, but one thing is for sure that they will be much tougher than those weve seen in the past, Pang said.

Weapons test may be imminent

Amid the rhetoric from all sides Thursday, no information has emerged to challenge the news reports from earlier this week: North Korea appears to have placed a device in a tunnel at its nuclear test site that could be detonated Saturday or even sooner. VOAs report, quoting U.S. government and other sources with that story Wednesday, was updated Thursday by a source within the U.S. intelligence community: U.S. intelligence is always on the alert for a possible North Korean weapons test. Kim Jong Un wants his country to be validated as a nuclear power, and a test would further that goal.

Scores of foreign journalists are in Pyongyang this week for North Koreas biggest national holiday, the Day of the Sun Saturday, marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Koreas founder and the grandfather of the current ruler.

Five years ago, the late Kim Il Sungs centenary was marked by a failed attempt to launch a North Korean space satellite, and last year Pyongyang tested a newly developed intermediate range missile  also a failure.

Satellite photographs this week have shown continuing activity around the Norths Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which could be taken to indicate another underground nuclear test is imminent.

Fewer options for U.S.

Although South Korean and American troops are preparing for a round of joint military exercises  a regular event that Pyongyang has denounced as preparations for an invasion that would justify a massive counterattack  a spokesman for the South Korean joint chiefs of staff said Thursday that Seoul has seen no indications any military action by the North is imminent.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo told a security forum in Washington that North Koreas military development has progressed to a point where Pyongyang is now closer than ever to being able to threaten the United States with a nuclear tipped intercontinental missile. That, in turn, has reduced U.S. defense officials options about how to respond to the North Korean threat, Pompeo added during remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Worst-case scenario

He indicated that a worst-case scenario would force the U.S. to take action against the North, and that would be a tough day for the leader of North Korea.

Discussion this week about possible U.S. military action against the North has referred to the cruise missile strike against a Syrian airbase that Trump ordered last week, and the mammoth single bomb airstrike an American warplane carried out Thursday against an Islamic State bunker complex in northeastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border.

News that the U.S. had dropped the biggest non-nuclear bomb in its arsenal, a 10,000-kilogram explosive that headline writers called the mother of all bombs, was taken as a message directed at Kim Jong Un. Trump brushed off questions about whether the bombing was a message for Pyongyang, but he stressed his feeling that North Korea is a problem that will be taken care of.

Contributors to this story included White House correspondent Steve Herman, Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb and VOAs national security correspondent, Jeff Seldin.
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."
Venezuela's opposition was planning protests in each of the country's 335 municipalities on Thursday, in a bid to strain the capabilities of security forces as unrest mounted in the volatile nation.

The oil-rich but crisis-shaken South American country has been convulsed by escalating protests over the last two weeks amid a punishing economic recession and accusations that leftist President Nicolas Maduro has morphed into a dictator.

In a worrying sign for Maduro, people in usually pro-government slums and low-income areas have blocked streets and lit fires during scattered protests this week. A crowd also broke through a security cordon at his rally on Tuesday, heckling at him and throwing stones while bodyguards scrambled.

Four people were killed during protests over the last week, authorities say. Opposition lawmaker Alfonso Marquina said on Thursday a fifth protester had died.

The public prosecutor's office says it will investigate the death of 36-year-old Miguel Colmenares, according to the Associated Press. He was shot at a protest Tuesday in the central city of Barquisimeto.

Gruseny Calderon was killed during the same protest, the Associated Press reports, adding that Marquina says the 32-year-old protester was injured by rubber bullets that pierced his lung and liver. The protests have also claimed the lives of two college students and a 13-year-old.

With momentum on their side, the main opposition coalition was urging Venezuelans to take to the streets across the country Thursday in an effort to leave security forces too thinly spread to break up rallies.

A struggle of resistance

They accuse police and the National Guard of indiscriminate use of tear gas, including gassing clinics and dropping canisters from a helicopter, and of arbitrarily detaining people for simply being within the vicinity of protests.

"This is a struggle of resistance, whose fundamental objective is to wear them out, and see who breaks first," said opposition lawmaker Freddy Guevara in a video posted on Twitter.

"Will it be our desire to fight or theirs to repress? Will it be our desire to have a better Venezuela or theirs to obey the dictatorship?"

The opposition says Maduro made it clear to the world he was a dictator when the Supreme Court in late March assumed the functions of the opposition-led congress.

Amid global outcry, the court quickly rolled back the most controversial part of its decision, but the move breathed new life into the fractured opposition movement and comforted demonstrators that they had international support.

Last week's move to ban opposition leader Henrique Capriles from holding office for 15 years also fueled demonstrators' outrage. Capriles is seen as the opposition's best presidential hope.

Unrest

Alongside planned opposition marches that have dissolved into clashes, there have also been what witnesses and local media describe as impromptu nighttime protests, where neighbors block streets with trash or burning debris.

Looting has been reported too, especially in the working-class community of Guarenas outside Caracas.

While opposition leaders have called for protests to remain peaceful, Maduro's government has claimed that a business-backed opposition is actually pushing for violence to justify "foreign intervention."

Maduro has drawn parallels with a brief coup against his predecessor - the late Hugo Chavez  in 2002, and warned that an opposition government would slash social benefits like health care for the poor and subsidized food.

The opposition has responded that any social advances made under Chavez have been wiped out by a devastating economic crisis that has brought widespread shortages of food and medicine.

Some in the opposition accuse "colectivos," militant grassroots groups whom critics say are thugs paid by the government, of looting and violence to taint the opposition.

Many Venezuelans still worry protracted protests will not bring about political or economic change, but will just increase violence in the already volatile nation.

Major anti-government protests in 2014 eventually fizzled out, though the opposition at the time had nebulous demands, poor neighborhoods largely abstained, and the economy was in better shape.

Venezuelans are gearing up for next Wednesday, when opposition leaders have called for the "mother of all marches."


Airplanes sit on the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport. San Francisco is one city expected to lose tourism dollars this year after President Trump promoted a travel ban. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The cancellations came quickly and in rapid succession. Within days of President Trumps first executive order restricting travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, a number of European travel groups pulled their plans, amounting to a loss of 2,000 overnight stays for Hostelling International USA.

The ban would complicate travel for citizens of the countries cited  among them Iran, Syria and Libya. But Canadians and Europeans and others were dropping their plans, too. As group organizers put it, people suddenly had an unsettling sense that the United States wasnt as welcoming a place as it once was.

The result was a wave of withdrawals. Getting those cancellations all at once, that was startling, said Russ Hedge, chief executive of HI USA, which oversees 52 hostels across the country. Weve never seen something like that.

From hostels to major hotel chains such as Marriott, tour group operators to outfits that cater to business travelers, the toll of Trumps proposals on the nations tourism industry has been swift. Some say long-term damage has been done.

And it could be compounded by recent reports of Trump administration plans to implement extreme vetting of foreign travelers. Visitors  including those from allies such as France and Germany  could be pressed to turn over mobile phone contacts, social media passwords and financial records, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

The travel ban is only a negative at this point, said Michael Bellisario, an analyst for the investment bank Robert W. Baird & Co. It hurts travel, regardless of whether were talking about one of the six banned countries or not, he said, referring to the second, revised entry ban.

Demand for flights to the United States has fallen in nearly every country since January, according to Hopper, a travel-booking app that analyzes more than 10 billion daily airfare price quotes to derive its data. Searches for U.S. flights from China and Iraq have dropped 40 percent since Trumps inauguration, while demand in Ireland and New Zealand is down about 35 percent. (One exception: Russia, where searches for flights to the United States have surged 60 percent since January.)

The result could be an estimated 4.3 million fewer people coming to the United States this year, resulting in $7.4 billion in lost revenue, according to Tourism Economics, a Philadelphia-based analytics firm. Next year, the fallout is expected to be even larger, with 6.3 million fewer tourists and $10.8 billion in losses. Miami is expected to be hit hardest, followed by San Francisco and New York, the firm said.

The administrations travel ban deals a blow to an industry that has only recently recovered from a $600 billion loss following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

In the aftermath of 9/11, at first people didnt feel safe coming here, and then they didnt feel welcome, said Jonathan Grella, an executive vice president at the U.S. Travel Association. Our industry still refers to that as the lost decade. There is a very real risk that that could happen again.



Flight attendants in Los Angeles watch a protest of the immigration ban imposed by President Trump. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

A demonstrator holds an American flag during a rally at San Francisco International Airport. (Stephen Lam/Getty Images)

Broad-based apprehension

As anecdotal evidence mounts, industry experts say its increasingly clear that travelers from all over  Canada and Mexico, Europe and Asia  are rethinking their plans to visit the United States.

Marriott International, the worlds largest hotel chain, has noted a 15 percent drop in bookings from Mexico to the United States. Meanwhile, bookings from the Middle East to the United States fell about 30 percent in February. The strong dollar, executives said, contributed to a decline in international travel to the United States.

Mike McCormick, executive director of the Global Business Travel Association, said that following Trumps first travel order, there was a pronounced drop in bookings, resulting in estimated losses of $185 million.

It hurts the industry, he said. You have discretion in moving meetings and events to other places. They dont have to be in New York or Chicago or here in the U.S.

[Worried about Trumps travel ban, Canadas largest school district calls off U.S. trips]

Fifteen miles from the White House, the Sheraton Tysons Hotel is now offering a free Apple Watch to anybody who books a meeting. Were doing everything we can to get through this storm, said Chris Zindash, the hotels director of sales and marketing.

Concerned guests have been calling for weeks, he said, and a group from Asia recently backed out of a long-planned visit.

There is a lot of apprehension, Zindash said, a lot of fear that people will arrive here and the gates will be closed.

At Hostelling International, among the first to cancel was a British-based youth group that had planned a trip for 400 to the East Coast this summer. The three-week gathering, called Merit360, was to culminate in presentations to the United Nations.

But then Trump issued his first travel ban. Nearly 80 citizens of the affected countries had already paid their deposits for the annual trip. The year before, when Barack Obama was president and there were no such bans in place, nearly 200 of the organizations 550 participants had failed to acquire proper visas for their trip. This year was bound to be much worse.

This has been a setback on so many levels, said Marlou Hermsen, chief operating officer of World Merit, which oversees the program. When the first ban was announced, thats when we thought: Its real. Were not welcome anymore.

Two-thirds of participants voted to move the gathering to Britain, with plans to meet with Parliament in London instead of the United Nations in New York.

Grella, of the U.S. Travel Association, says its not so much the executive orders that bother him, but the fact that the U.S. government hasnt made an effort to reassure international travelers.

All it takes is a little rebranding: Heres whos no longer welcome for the time being, but for everybody else, yes, were open for business,  Grella said. The ripple effects of this are very real. Weve unnecessarily ruffled a lot of feathers.

[With Brand USA, a campaign to lure foreign tourists  and their money]



People protest and welcome arriving passengers at Washington Dulles International Airport. (Astrid Riecken/For The Washington Post)

The American flag flies with other nations flags outside of the United Nations in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Border businesses

Since Trump announced the ban, Marie Aguado has canceled three trips: business travel to Los Angeles, a visit to see her brother in Austin and a family vacation to Disney World.

Were afraid to leave, said Aguado, an American who lives in Mexico City with her French-born husband and two daughters. She asked to be identified by her middle and last names for fear of government retribution.

Im dead serious about not going home, she said. When the ban happened, I was thinking of my children.

Aguados oldest daughter was born in Dubai. The other was born in Mexico City. Both are also French citizens.

I was just thinking theyre going to see my daughter was born in the Middle East, she said. And then whats going to happen? I got totally freaked out and said to my brother, Im not coming to see you anymore. Come see me. 

Just one more wrinkle, she said: Her brothers wife is a green-card holder from Ukraine.

Theyre afraid to travel, too, Aguado said.

That fear of leaving  and re-entering  the United States has led to a slowdown in traffic to Mexican border cities, which have long been popular destinations for shoppers and those seeking cheaper health care.

[Worried about Trumps travel ban, Canadas largest school district calls off U.S. trips]

Francisco Vazquez Michel, a Mexican dentist in the border town of Nogales, said that 80 percent of his clients are Mexicans or Hispanics living in the United States, who cross the border for less-expensive care. Now about half as many as usual are coming, he said.

They are very afraid, and its fear that Donald Trump put into Mexicans, he said. One day, not long ago, all of our appointments [were] canceled in one day, because the rumor went around that if people crossed, they would lose their visas.

The president of the Nogales chamber of commerce, Carlos Jimenez Robles, said that the number of shoppers crossing into Mexico had dropped by 40 percent.

We have seen a hardening by border agents, where they have more questions for people, more doubts about who people are, Jimenez said. Not only with tourists, also with American citizens.



Despite this sort of welcome at some U.S. airports, foreign travelers are changing their plans and rebooking their trips to steer away from U.S. cities. (Astrid Riecken/For The Washington Post)

Were not anti-American

Not everybody reported an immediate slowdown in business.

It hasnt made a difference to us, said Nayan Patel, owner of the Georgetown Inn in Washington. America is still America  were still a democratic country full of opportunity  and thats enough to get people to come here.

Small World Vacations, a travel agency in New Jersey that specializes in Disney vacations, hasnt noticed much of a drop-off, either. It has received just one cancellation this year, from an Iranian American with a German passport. He didnt want to leave on a Disney cruise to the Bahamas out of fear he wouldnt be allowed back into the country, said Sue Pisaturo, the agencys founder.

We do get our share of international travelers from every country  even countries Ive never heard of  but so far its business as usual, she said.

Thats not the case, though, at Westmount High School in Montreal. Seniors there had been planning their graduation trip for months.

We usually go to New York but decided this year to go to Washington, teacher Sabrina Jafralie said. The kids were overjoyed.

They were drawn to the capital, she said, by the new African American History museum and were interested in visiting the Holocaust Museum.

One hundred students signed up. Then the Trump travel ban hit. Jafralie, who is Canadian-born but whose father emigrated from India 40 years ago, realized that four of the students were from Iran. They held Canadian visas but werent Canadian citizens. Students from Pakistan and Sri Lanka also expressed concern.

They had read a number of media reports about people being stopped at the U.S. border for long interrogations. A Montreal-area woman wearing a hijab was blocked from going on a day-long shopping trip to Vermont, while a Canadian-born woman of Indian descent was told she would need a visa to enter the United States for a weekend spa visit.

After long, sometimes agonizing discussions with her students  Jafralie teaches ethics  they agreed to go to Toronto instead.

We decided that we were not prepared to leave any students behind, she said. Its not a political boycott on our part. Were not anti-Trump. Were not anti-American. Were anti-not-being-together. Were a family, and we travel together.

Alan Freeman in Ottawa and Joshua Partlow in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Read more:

Americans are more split on the Trump travel ban than you might think

He bought Trumps childhood home for $1.4 million  and flipped it weeks later for a yuge profit

French manicures, Bud Light and fly fishing: How Trump staffers are changing Washington

A Trump voters message to retailers: Keep your mouths shut about our president
For decades, Sheila Abdus-

Salaam was 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 M. Cuomo (D), who appointed her to the states Court of Appeals, said she was a trailblazing 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 W. James Jr., 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 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 as 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.

This summer, in one of Abdus-Salaams most significant recent decisions, 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 color, said former Harlem assemblyman Keith Wright, who said he had known Abdus-Salaam for decades and lived three blocks from her. Wright said often he spotted Abdus-Salaam in the neighborhood, including on the subway, where he saw her just a few days ago.

She had a tremendous amount of intellect; she wasnt overbearing with it. She was actually always very nice, he said. And when she spoke, people listened.

Vanessa Williams and Alice Crites contributed to this report.
As power struggles and ideological battles engulfed the White House, an unlikely player is exercising new influence on the direction of President Trumps administration.

Gary Cohn, a former Goldman Sachs president, is capitalizing on his new position as director of Trumps National Economic Council to push a centrist vision and court bipartisan support on some of Trumps top agenda items such as tax reform and a $1 trillion infrastructure plan.

The growing strength of Cohn and like-minded moderates was on display this week as Trump reversed himself on several high-profile issues  including a less confrontational approach to China, an endorsement of government subsidies for exports and the current leadership of the Federal Reserve. The presidents new positions move him much closer to the views of Cohn and others on Wall Street, not to mention mainstream Republicans and Democrats.

It was the clearest sign yet that an alliance of moderates in the White House  including Cohn; senior adviser Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law; and another influential Goldman Sachs alumnus, Dina Powell  is racking up successes in a battle over ideology and control with hardcore conservatives led by chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, who held sway at the start of the administration.

In a White House short on experienced personnel, Cohn has found an edge by hiring two dozen policy experts, most with government experience. His team produced detailed proposals on overhauling the tax code, rebuilding infrastructure, cutting back financial regulations and restructuring international trade deals. He is widely considered a future candidate to be chief of staff.

(Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Cohn might be a newbie to policy and Washington, but you have to give him credit for one thing, said Gene Sperling, who held Cohns job during the Obama administration. While others seemed engaged in ideological and House of Cards-like staff warfare, he quietly and quickly focused on the first rule of governing: He hired some competent, professional staff at the NEC, and it has paid off for him.

Cohn now finds himself in the awkward  and politically risky  position of being praised by Democrats but shunned by conservative allies of Trump who see the former Goldman Sachs executive as anathema to the values that got Trump elected.

From a pure political perspective, I do not know if the White House appreciates how Gary Cohn is a liability with the Republican and conservative base, as well as the Republican Congress, said Sam Nunberg, a strategist on Trumps 2016 campaign. The Trump White House will always be held in suspicion when you have someone whos consolidated full economic power in the White House who is also a liberal, New York Democrat.

[Trump backs off fiscal pledges and adopts centrist policies that he once fought]

Cohn has been getting flak in the conservative media as he has risen in profile. Rush Limbaugh last week called him a very ideological liberal Democrat and a trader at Goldman Sachs. He expressed concern that Cohn and his allies in the White House are starting to have sway at Bannons expense.

Cohn, who declined to comment for this article, has given thousands of dollars to candidates from both parties, including President Barack Obama and former candidate Hillary Clinton.

White House aides say Cohn has done well because Trump sees him, more than anything else, as a dealmaker. Cohn represents a bloc of White House officials who are working harder than before to court Democratic support for key parts of Trumps agenda, having seen the Republican Party splinter during the health-care debate.

Im not a Democrat, and Im not a Republican, Cohn often says in meetings with business executives, according to two people familiar with his exchanges. I just want to get things done.

People who have met with Cohn in his new role said they werent aware of what his ideology was. He just seemed driven to forge agreements.

That philosophy has led Cohn to show enthusiasm for ideas such as a new tax on carbon  a Democrat-friendly idea which would raise revenue to ease tax reform, a top presidential priority, while also helping to curb carbon emissions. The idea is ridiculed by many conservatives on Capitol Hill, and the White House rapidly distanced itself last week after word leaked that senior officials were studying the concept.

I think the National Economic Council has done a terrible job, said Larry Kudlow, who was one of Trumps top economic advisers during the campaign. Its the NECs job to put a plan together and show the president options and make decisions. So far, I would say they are way behind the eight ball.

But even as the legislative agenda struggles to gain momentum, Cohn and his allies are having a clear impact on the presidents thinking. In the past week, Trump reversed his earlier statements and said he supported the Export-Import Bank, would not declare China a currency manipulator and said flattering things about Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet L. Yellen.

[Trump says he will not label China currency manipulator, reversing campaign promise]

Conservatives took aim at the Ex-Im Bank and the Fed throughout much of Obamas term, while Trump, as part of his tough trade rhetoric, promised to go after Chinas currency practices on Day One of his administration.

Cohns stature among the top advisers is notable because he is one of the few who played no role in the campaign. Cohn, who grew up in a middle-class family and struggled in a number of schools because of dyslexia, graduated from American University and took a job with U.S. Steel in Ohio. During a trip to New York, he coaxed a well-dressed senior Wall Street executive into sharing a cab with him to the airport, acting as if he knew financial markets (he knew virtually nothing), according to an interview he gave author Malcolm Gladwell. Cohn schmoozed his way into his first Wall Street job and then climbed the ranks, eventually becoming Goldmans president and chief operating officer.

While friends say he loves his new job, they say Cohn also holds the traditions of Washington in low regard.

At a recent dinner with friends in New York, he called Washington a s---show, according to a person familiar with the exchange.

Cohn has not tried to shirk his past at Goldman Sachs or hide his lavish lifestyle. He recently had drinks at the Four Seasons with Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein, and shortly after the failure of the House GOP health-care legislation, he went on vacation in the Bahamas.

If he is able to deflect the growing criticism from hardcore conservatives, White House officials say Cohn will have a strong future as a Trump adviser given his experience and the deep bench of experts he has established.

This includes DJ Gribbin, an infrastructure expert, and Shahira Knight, a former congressional aide on tax policy who joined the White House from Fidelity Investments.

Other top members of the team include Kenneth Juster, who is slated to play a top White House role in international negotiations; Jeremy Katz, a former White House official in the George W. Bush administration; and Ray Starling, who works on agriculture issues and was formerly the general counsel for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

While Cohn has met with lawmakers from both parties and executives from numerous companies in his role, he rarely telegraphs what the White House plans to do.

One exception came last week, when  during a gathering of chief executives  he went into great detail about how the U.S. air-traffic-control system needed to be reworked.

He quickly moved through a technical discussion on why the United States should scrap its land-based radar system and adopt a global-positioning system, suggesting he had already devoted time to the topic. He said their approach would save 25 percent of the jet fuel consumed each year.

We are going to cut flight times down fairly dramatically, he told the executives. We are going to cut the experience down. We are going to cut tarmac time down.

His penchant for dealmaking has even attracted the admiration of Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, a tough fiscal conservative and longtime critic of government spending. Cohn, working to fulfill Trumps pledge to spend billions to rebuild infrastructure, has toyed with an idea that would pair $200 billion in taxpayer money with $800 billion in additional funds, mostly from private investors.

Youve got to give these Goldman Sachs guys credit, Mulvaney said this week on CNBC about Cohns plan. They know how to lever up.

Ashley Parker contributed to this report.
The pariah problem

PM Dahals suggestion that discrimination against Dalits will end with federalism is too simplistic


Abigail Maxey and Chris Chernows Respite, on view through April 22 in Brainstorm, at Studio Gallery. (Denny Henry/Abigail Maxey and Chris Chernow/Studio Gallery)

The walls of Studio Gallery are now lined with mirrored medicine chests, but Chris Chernow and Abigail Maxey dont intend for visitors simply to look at their reflections. The local artists want everyone to see inside  the cabinets and their own craniums. Thats why the show is titled Brainstorm.

The selection combines Chernows paintings and drawings with Maxeys sculptures, all of which can be found both within and outside the vintage, somewhat rusted metal chests. As titles such as Neurons indicate, the striking white-on-gray pattern paintings allude to microscopic internal pathways. The drawings are of human heads, placed unnervingly behind the mirrors.

Also enclosed are small, white resin renderings of people, most of them inside pill bottles. Some of the containers hold white tablets  theyre just saccharine  rather than figures, as if the physical and the pharmaceutical have achieved a disturbing equivalence. In Escape, the figures are trying to get out of the bottles, but permanent confinement is always a possibility. Climbing out of your head is no easy thing.

Brainstorm: Chris Chernow and Abigail Maxey On view through April 22 at Studio Gallery, 2108 R St. NW. 202-232-8734. studiogallerydc.com.

Esther Ruiz

Observers can see themselves also in Esther Ruizs sculptures at Cross MacKenzie Gallery, but whats essential here is the sense of depth beyond the reflected visage. These neon-rimmed, sometimes kidney-shaped pools of colored Plexiglas are called Wells because they hint at dimensions past their glossy surfaces. Their Brooklyn-based creator calls them wormholes or portals to . . . other worlds.

Only one of the pieces is a watery blue, and its edged in a neon pink thats more akin to commercial signage than a natural hue. Another of the sculptures, which are all titled just with Roman numerals, flips that color scheme, to even more exuberant effect. Theres one thats grass-colored, like a shimmery putting green, and outlined in a darker emerald. A fourth is deep black, but speckled with white. Rather than eternal darkness, it evokes a starry night.

Shown together, Ruizs wells not only mirror people in the gallery, but also one another. Although not as tightly arrayed as neon signs along an attention-seeking street, the sculptures do conduct a luminous, multicolored dialogue. Perhaps they must be seen individually for their capacity to access other worlds to be appreciated fully.

Wells: Neon sculptures by Esther Ruiz On view through May 3 at Cross MacKenzie Gallery, 1675 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-337-7970. crossmackenzie.com.

Into the Woods

James Butlers Music, wood, steel and found objects, on view through April 29. (James Butler/Zenith Gallery)

Because theyre listed alphabetically, Larry Ringgold comes third among the artists of Into the Woods. But the sculptor contributed both the most and the most striking pieces to the show in the 1111 Pennsylvania lobby space programmed by Zenith Gallery.

On the wall are four colorful multifabric tapestries by Amanda Richardson, a Cornish artist who crafts landscapes that are dense with hand-dyed, appliqued foliage. Nearby are wooden sculptures by James Butler, whose figures are as spindly as Giacomettis, although more acrobatic.

Ringgold also works with wood, but he doesnt shape it himself. Instead, he collects pieces that wash ashore throughout the Chesapeake watershed, and then combines them into sculptures that are often impressively realistic. Ringgold has a discerning eye. He sees what a chunk of wood could be, and how it might best fit with others.

This selection includes fanciful beasts such as a mermaid and a centaur. But Egret, Charlie (a horse) and The Great Escape (in which a rabbit eludes a raptor) would fit as neatly into a natural-history museum as an art gallery. The wooden remnants the artist uses give his creatures a coiled intensity, suggesting sinew and even flesh. Ringgold might not actually sculpt the parts of his assemblages, but he does transfigure them.

Into the Woods: James Butler, Amanda Richardson and Larry Ringgold On view through April 29 at 1111 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-783-2963. zenithgallery.com.

Collage Group Show II

By definition, collage is a motley medium, so it makes a certain sense that Latela Gallerys 16-artist Collage Group Show II allows work that ventures into painting and sculpture. Tamora Ilasats Olympia Redux is partly painted over a reproduction of Manets original; Aliana Grace Baileys Quiet Flame gathers fabric to suggest flowers; and Imani Pierres pictures include lines rendered with string and thin sticks rather than ink or pencil.

Several pieces conjure places, whether outer space in Rachel Wishners black-backdrop works or 11th Street in one cityscape by Mills Brown, who tightly clumps shards of urban imagery on white fields. Kate Fitzgeralds abstractions suggest landscapes, an affinity highlighted by incorporating scraps of maps. Less collage than history lesson is Sarah Canzoneris Food Vendors, which offers contrasting views of D.C. past and present, cut into strips so that each entire image can be seen intact from opposite vantage points.

Collage suited Dada and Surrealisms absurdism, which Sarah Jamison recalls with two combines that feature retro glamour girls. One pops out of a banana before a backdrop of upside-down Chinese text. These playful juxtapositions take the genre to its logical destination: the impossible.

Collage Group Show II On view through April 29 at Latela Art Gallery, 716 Monroe St. NE, Studio #27. 202-340-3280. lateladc.com.



Marian Oshers Rhapsody, on view at the Washington Printmakers Gallery. (Marian Osher)

Marian Osher

Washington Printmakers Gallery recently added photography to its menu, and its current exhibition has painting, as well. But Wild About Spring is not a group show. All of the work is by Marian Osher, a Marylander who calls herself an eco-artist. She has arrayed the monotypes and paintings below nearly three dozen photographic close-ups of flowers, all trimmed to fit 6 -inch wooden circles.

If those blossom miniatures are the shows vernal parade, the wildness emanates from realistic prints and paintings that are mostly of African megafauna, notably lions. Osher draws on Mylar and then makes a single print of the image, preserving the character of the original. Although her pictures might benefit from a freer hand or a less literal approach, combining them with the floral photos makes for an exuberant display.

Marian Osher: Wild About Spring On view through April 29 at Washington Printmakers Gallery, 1641 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-669-1497. washingtonprintmakers.com.
Dear Heloise: Im a hospice nurse, and Ive found that most families dont understand what hospice is or what it does. Were here to enhance the quality and dignity of the patients life and provide emotional support for the family. Often there also is financial relief for the family. Selecting the right hospice is a matter of asking the right questions, asking the doctor for referrals and doing research. Any life-limiting illness is frightening, but hospice is here to follow the patients wishes, to relieve his or her pain, to answer questions and to alleviate fears.

Betty G. in Detroit

Betty G. in Detroit: Thank you. I know there are misconceptions about hospice, but here are a few questions to ask when selecting a hospice:

 Is the hospice provider certified and licensed by the state?

 How long has it been in business?

 What services are provided, and how often does a nurse see the patient?

 How does the hospice handle after-hour emergencies?

 How will the referring physician work with the hospice physician?

 What happens if the patients illness goes into remission?

Nothing makes a hospice happier than to know its care has helped a patient get better or extended his or her life.

Dear Readers: Here are a few more travel suggestions that have served me well through the years:

 Always pack a pair of slippers to wear in your hotel room. You never know how clean the floors are or if there might be sharp objects in the carpeting.

 Pack a mini emergency kit with just a few items, such as adhesive bandages, safety pins, alcohol wipes, etc. You might be surprised how often itll come in handy.

Dear Heloise: Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When your windshield fogs up, wipe it with the eraser. Works like a charm.

Anita W., Pocatello, Idaho

Dear Heloise: Ive worked in human resources for many years, and Ive seen applicants whove impressed me and even more who havent. With fewer jobs available and more applicants, its important to remember a few things:

 Always dress as though you take your job/career seriously. That means no flip-flops and no cutoff jeans. If your mother wouldnt like it, we probably wont, either.

 Please dont say you have a college degree if you dont.

 Never speak ill of a former employer or of co-workers.

 After the interview and before you leave, calmly ask, Is there anything about my application that concerns you? This opens the door to clear up any misconceptions.

 Be sure to ask for the job. We look for people who are assertive enough to speak up and ask for the position.

Kathy in Gainesville, Fla.

Heloises column appears six days a week at washingtonpost.com/advice. Send a hint to Heloise , P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Tex. 78279-5000, or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
Nathaniel Provencio, 2017 Washington Post Principal of the Year, gets a fist-bump from student Marie Moron as her class passes in the hallway at Minnieville Elementary School in Woodbridge, Va. (Pete Marovich/For The Washington Post)

Growing up in rural Tennessee, Nathaniel Provencio was not fond of school and was, in his own words, a terrible student.

As a Hispanic boy in the rural South, I never saw myself in any of my teachers, Provencio said. He expected to follow his parents, garment-factory workers, into manual labor, and his upbringing was challenged by spells of poverty.

In high school, he joined a student club, called Future Teachers of America, not because he was interested in education but because the activities  including tutoring youngsters  got him out of math class occasionally. Then he discovered that he enjoyed it  and decided to become a teacher.

I was like, Well maybe I want to be the teacher I never had,  he said.

Today, Provencio leads Minnieville Elementary School in Woodbridge, Va., and has been named Washington Post Principal of the Year for the metropolitan area.

Provencio looks over the reading choices of students Emmanuel Odoro, Antonio Reyes and Luis Zambrano in the schools library. (Pete Marovich/For The Washington Post)

Many of the students who dart through the hallways and swarm him with hugs when he wanders through the cafeteria share his background. Nearly half of the student body is Hispanic and a quarter is black, many of them immigrants or first-generation children of parents from West Africa or Central America. Nearly three-quarters come from impoverished households, meaning the school qualifies for federal Title I funds to help boost achievement.

Despite these challenges, Minnieville Elementary is among the best-performing elementary schools in Prince William County, with 87 percent of students passing state reading exams last year and nearly 90 percent passing state math exams. The schools test scores have bested the countywide average, earning it several awards.

Most schools that have our demographics are not as successful as we are, Provencio said.

Provencio, now 39, arrived at the school in 2010 as a first-time principal. In his early years, test scores showed that the school was faltering. It was one of 485 across the state required to implement an improvement plan for failing to meet benchmarks in 2012. But in 2013, scores began rising.

Provencio said that teachers told him students were floundering because they lacked basic literacy skills  but no one was noticing before serious intervention was required. So he sent teachers to Bensley Elementary in Richmond, a Title I school known in education circles for its successful literacy program, and replicated it, with tweaks. The program sends extra teachers into classrooms to run reading groups, so each student gets a half-hour of intensive reading instruction, in groups no larger than six students, every school day.

If students are able to get it the right way first, we decrease the need for interventions, Provencio said.

The program seems to be paying off, and he points to this years kindergartners as proof. At the start of the year, only two of the 100 youngsters had been to preschool and few had grade-level literacy skills. Now, about 90 percent are reading at or above grade level.

Assistant Principal Deborah Ellis said the school knows that students start far behind the curve when they walk through schoolhouse doors, with many speaking little English. Ellis said that the staff treats literacy with a sense of urgency  rather than waiting to see if kids catch on.

Its like an emergency-room situation and all resources are poured in, Ellis said.

Teachers often work in teams, planning lessons together and brainstorming how to help children who are falling behind. Second-grade teacher Fatima Mohammed, in her third year of teaching, said the schools warm environment makes the work less daunting.

You get a lot of support in the classroom, Mohammed said. Its not as hard because it does feel like a team effort.

Provencio approaches his role with an obsessive focus on data, measuring things such as a 5-year-olds literacy skills. Students monitor their own progress through data binders, setting personal goals for themselves. Teachers and administrators also closely monitor student progress using assessments  including a program called Interactive Achievement, which simulates state tests  and flag students who are slipping.

Those who fall behind or have behavioral problems are labeled students at promise  Provencio doesnt like the term at risk  and their names go up on a wall in his office. Staff members meet monthly to pore over spreadsheets and talk about how to help those students.

Despite the emphasis on data, Ellis said children are never reduced to numbers or spreadsheet entries. In her office, she gestured to a photo of two girls beaming before a table decorated with a pink tablecloth. Provencio, who worried that the girls would not get birthday parties because of instability at home, threw them a small celebration in a conference room, using decorations from his daughters birthday party.

Provencio also worked to get parents  many of whom come from other countries and speak little English  more involved with the school so they could feel more comfortable asking questions about their childrens education.

I knew in my heart of hearts that we could only be as successful as the parents are engaged, Provencio said.

When he started, he began going to bus stops to speak with them  sometimes, with the help of a translator. Many said they wanted to learn English, so he applied for a grant to get them access to language-instruction software. The school also tracks volunteer hours to measure parent engagement. Its annual numbers have risen from about 500 volunteer-hours to more than 4,500. The parent-teacher organization has grown tenfold, to 100 members.

It has all translated to student success. Provencio said he is driven to ensure that students at Minnieville Elementary get the same high-quality education as students in more affluent communities do. And he never counts them out. He aggressively seeks to identify gifted students. Minnieville Elementary has the highest share of gifted students, as a percentage of enrollment, among Title I schools in the county.

We really pride ourselves on saying that it doesnt matter where you come from. It doesnt matter what you look like. It doesnt matter how much money your parents have, Provencio said. You have so much potential as a student. Youre going to do great here.
Members of the Maryland House of Delegates meet in the House chamber April 10 on the final day of the legislative session. On April 5, the General Assembly passed a bill to eliminate references to gender and classify all nonconsensual sexual violations as rape. (Patrick Semansky/Associated Press)

Maryland is on track to change its definition of rape after a delegate, whose fraternity brother was raped two decades ago, sought to change how the law describes sexual assaults. The change follows complaints from victims that some cases over the years were not being taken seriously.

On April 5, the General Assembly passed a bill to eliminate references to gender and classify all nonconsensual sexual violations as rape. The bill now goes to Gov. Larry Hogan (R), whose spokeswoman indicated Friday that he will sign it.

Should the bill become law, in some sense, nothing will change  rape and penetrating sexual offense have carried the same penalty.

But words have weight.

Its a question of using terms that correctly describe what happened to a human being, said Lisae C. Jordan, executive director and counsel of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Maryland Del. Kirill Reznik (D). (Kirill Reznik)

One such victim was the fraternity brother of Del. Kirill Reznik (D-Montgomery), who co-sponsored the legislation.

He was the one who raised the issue to me, Reznik said. I realized this was a really big issue. Its a huge issue for the LGBT community. Like in every other community, rape happens.

In an interview, Rezniks fraternity brother, a 43-year-old man from Carroll County, said he was raped by a male friend in 1995 while a student at what then was Towson State University.

He said he tried to report the rape to police, but they called it a lovers spat.

I got laughed out of the police station, the man said. The Washington Post generally does not identify victims of sex crimes.

For more than 22 years, he said, he has been haunted by the attack. He tried to kill himself. He went to rehab for alcoholism. Except for a few counselors, he kept it a secret from everyone, even his parents, brother and wife.

I just never knew how to tell her because its embarrassing as a guy, he said. It really is.

The rape also brought isolation. He thought about a career in teaching but chose a different profession. There was depression on each anniversary of the event. Crying jags. And the fear of other men.

I didnt have any male friends outside of the ones I knew from college for 18-plus years, he said. I didnt attempt to make new ones. I didnt want any new ones. I stayed away entirely from men.

In 2013, as part of his recovery from alcoholism, he began to speak to his fraternity brothers about the incident. Reznik did not attend Towson but was in a different chapter of the same fraternity. Aware that Reznik was a delegate, the man decided to share his experience with him.

Eventually, I mentioned something: It would be nice if the law were different, he said. And here we are today.

States define sexual assaults in different ways. Some use the word rape, and some do not; some reference the gender of the victim or assailant, and some do not.

In Alabama, for example, a person commits rape if he or she engages in sexual intercourse with a member of the opposite sex by forcible compulsion, but commits sodomy if he engages in deviate sexual intercourse with another person by forcible compulsion, according to a survey of rape statues by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In Utah, by comparison, a person commits rape when the actor has sexual intercourse with another person without the victims consent.

Jordan said that many states do not make the distinction between rape and other sexual assaults that Maryland does.

It was driven by the emotional experiences of victims of rape who were told they were not raped, she said.

Reznik said that he sought a definition of rape that did not reference gender, sexual identity or the nature of a sexual assault.

Victims at least deserve the dignity of having their assailant charged with rape, he said.

For the man who inspired the legislation, a change in vocabulary will not change the past, but he said that it may brighten the future.

Im hoping its going to be a piece of closure for me, he said.
THE DISTRICT

Woman sentenced in Howard embezzling

A woman who embezzled more than $420,000 from six former Howard University employees pension accounts was sentenced Friday to a year and a day in prison, authorities said.

Crystal Duncan Baker, 38, of Silver Spring pleaded guilty in February to one count of theft from an employee benefit plan and was ordered to return the money, court records said.

After starting as a temporary worker in August 2010, Baker swiftly became a supervisor and then manager of benefits and pension, able to alter workers account information without approval. From April 2012 to August 2015, she sent payments owed to one retired and five deceased former employees to herself, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the federal Employee Benefits Security Administration said in a statement.

 Spencer S. Hsu

MARYLAND

Dog home with family after fleeing crash

A dog that fled the scene of a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 270 has been reunited with its family.

Residents reported seeing Squeaker, a medium-size brown dog, after the crash Tuesday on the northbound lanes of the interstate, the Frederick News-Post reported.

Karin Roland, who knows the dogs owners, said Squeaker did not stray far from the scene, but avoided people until his owners arrived Thursday.

State Police Sgt. Paul Schur said the crash involved four vehicles, including a dump truck that spilled gravel onto northbound lanes. Squeakers owners were traveling with two other dogs. One dog died in the crash and the other was taken in by Frederick County Animal Control.

 Associated Press

VIRGINIA

Police ID man killed in construction accident

A Northern Virginia man was killed Thursday while working on a dump truck when someone who did not see him got in and started driving.

Fairfax County police released more details on Friday about the accident. Pedro Banegas, 50, of Sterling was fixing a mechanical problem at the front of a 1994 Mack dump truck when he was killed, they said.

Police said a 63-year-old man got in the truck and drove a short distance, fatally striking Banegas. The driver told police that he did not see Banegas.

The driver was not under the influence of alcohol, and police said they do not expect to charge him with any crime.

The accident happened about 10:30 a.m. in the 10500 block of Georgetown Pike in Great Falls.

 Julie Zauzmer
A President Donald J. Trump bobblehead and other souvenirs for sale at the National Archives gift shop. Local museums have trouble keeping Trump-themed merchandise on the shelves with hight demand. (Michael Miller/TWP)

At the Newseum gift shop, the top-selling items dont pertain to freedom of speech or the press. Instead, what sells is anything associated with the man who has dubbed the media the enemy of the people.

President Donald J. Trump.

Its a similar situation at the National Archives, where employees struggle to keep the shelves stocked with Trump shot glasses.

We sold out of them, said Angela Catigano, director of retail and e-commerce at the National Archives Foundation. The eighth-grade boys seem to love those.

Trumps election presents Washingtons many museums and monuments with an attractive business opportunity.

The Newseum also carries a lot of Trump merchandise, despite him labeling the media the enemy of the people. (Michael Miller/TWP)

As the weather warms and the tourism season ramps up, thousands of Trump supporters have begun to descend on the capital, their Make America Great Again hats blooming like poppies across the Mall.

Any new president triggers a surge in demand for souvenirs. Obama memorabilia is selling like hotcakes, a Washington Post headline declared in 2008. But not all museum shops are pushing Trump paraphernalia. Some ignore the 45th president altogether. Others carry only a few items.

What to sell has always been a tricky question for museums and monuments, where tacky items can undercut serious exhibits. With a president as polarizing and unpopular in the polls as Trump, its a conundrum that occasionally pits profit against principles.

At the national museums, which dont charge admission and rely on federal funding, souvenirs and memorabilia can be an important source of revenue.

In January, the National Museum of American History pulled a book on Trump from the shelves of its gift shop after The Washington Post revealed that the $50 collectors vault item was riddled with falsehoods.

[A Trump book riddled with falsehoods will no longer be sold by the National History Museum]

Linda St. Thomas, a Smithsonian Institution spokeswoman, acknowledged the book was pulled because of inaccuracies. She added that all Trump material had been taken down shortly after the inauguration.

We did the same for Obama, she said, adding that Smithsonian gift shops try to stay close to the mission of that museum.

Some museum shops avoid problems by steering clear of politics altogether. A reporter saw no mention of Trump or Obama at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museums store. The same was true at the National Museum of the American Indian.

At the National Air and Space Museum shop, Trump and Obama were also absent except for two stacks of postcards, easily overlooked among the aisles of astronaut ice cream and stuffed animals in spacesuits.

At the Washington Monuments tiny gift outpost, Obama was prominently featured on the covers of a biography for children, a presidential sticker book and a compilation of speeches by famous African Americans. But the only sign of Trump was a tiny photo next to his predecessor at the end of a presidential place mat.

[The fake news that haunted George Washington]

At Mount Vernon, there was similarly little sign of Trump  but for a very different reason.

We had hats, T-shirts, shot glasses, beanies, a saleswoman said in late March. But we sold out of just about everything.

At the National Archives shop, Trump paraphernalia was prominently displayed near the entrance to the store. Beneath a framed reproduction of the Emancipation Proclamation stood bobbleheads of the newly inaugurated president, with their arms crossed and blond pompadours wobbling.

Catigano admitted that some visitors were put off by the display but said the shop had been cautious not to sell anything controversial.

Were apolitical, added Patrick Madden, executive director of the National Archives Foundation. This is our countrys history. Agree or disagree, its all here.

Catigano said she sought out items that visitors couldnt get from street vendors or at other gift shops. Sometimes she commissions original wares, like the Trump socks she said are currently in production.

When she learned that Trump had restored a bust of Winston Churchill to the Oval Office, Catigano contemplated selling copies of the sculpture, but learned she couldnt because of copyright. She is now scouring photos from inside the White House for ideas of other Trump items to sell.

Were still in the research phase, Madden said.

Another museum that hasnt hesitated to sell Trump paraphernalia is the Newseum  a private museum on Pennsylvania Avenue run by a nonprofit corporation  where a swath of its shop is devoted to The Donald.

[Heavily in debt, Newseum considered risky strategy to improve finances]

In the early days of the presidential campaign, Trumps controversial statements earned him an outsize share of media coverage. But he also frequently blasted the mainstream media. Since his election, he has denounced critical coverage as fake news.

Inside the Newseum shop, the only visible allusion to his administrations frequent attacks on the media was a T-shirt with a definition of an alternative fact  the term coined by presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway.

Nearby, a corner of the store was entirely devoted to Trump. A coloring book featured the president in a Superman-like outfit. Dozens of stress-relief toys  each one in the shape of Trumps head  lay piled on top of one another in a basket. There were plush Trump dolls and Trump T-shirts. Trump bobbleheads and Trump books.

There were even chocolate bars bearing the presidents smiling face: one for $2.99 or two for $5.

Its the number one stuff in the store, shop employee Were Barnabas said of the Trump gear.

The top seller, he said, was a $16.99 red hat featuring two rows of stars and Trumps trademarked phrase, Make America Great Again. The store had sold 40 of the caps that day alone.

Right now I only have 33 left, Barnabas said, checking his inventory. Thats a really low number. I dont think that will last tomorrow.

One museum shop that would not be selling Trump merchandise was the National Museum of African American History and Culture, said Linda St. Thomas, the Smithsonian spokeswoman.

Even here, however, visitors could not escape the president entirely. Outside the museum, next to a hot dog stand, Trump T-shirts hung off a cart like flags from a pirate ship.

The cart moves around the Mall, Mychau Duong explained as she readjusted Trump hats riffled by customers.

This wasnt prime Trump merchandise territory, she admitted, but here we sell some too.
Think twice before preparing project reports, says panel

The parliamentary Develo-pment Committee has directed the government to prepare detailed project reports, detailed feasibility studies or such other reports on mega infrastructure projects only after considering their long-term benefit, as they were becoming a big financial burden on the state.
Monica Bellucci, left, plays Mary Magdalene in The Passion of The Christ, a film about the last 12 hours of Christs life. Maia Morgenstern, center, plays Mary and Hristo Jivkov plays John (HO/New Market Films/Icon Productions via Reuters)

Heres who Mary Magdalene was: one of Jesus Christs original followers, the last to stay with him while he was nailed to the cross and, Christians believe, the first to see his empty tomb and his resurrection.

Heres who she wasnt: a reformed or forgiven prostitute.

Yet on Easter Sunday, Christianitys holiest day, thats exactly how she will be described in some sermons and how she continues to be portrayed in much of popular culture.

The woman dubbed in the Bible the Apostle of the Apostles has spent two millennia being reduced to a seductress. In some ways, Mary Magdalenes story is the story of modern women everywhere.

From the relentless focus on the looks of female leaders to the nude photos being circulated of female Marines, women who dare to work among men as equals get sexualized and marginalized.

An illustration showing Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene after the resurrection. (Religion News Service)

[From lab, to Olympic podium to White House, accomplished women are still dismissed]

In Mary Magdalenes case, its a 2,000-year-old slut-shaming that a group of Christian women is trying to stop.

The Junia Project, a California group preaching egalitarian theology, is using social media to spread its public service announcement: As you preach this Sunday, please note: Mary Magdalene was NOT a prostitute. Thank you.

They have to be proactive.

Even a popular Easter sermon on the website Sermon Central repeats the myth. Mary Magdalene was a forgiven prostitute, reads the second line of the sermon reminding people what to remember about the first Easter.

Hollywood loves casting Mary Magdalene as a sex worker. She was a hooker in Jesus Christ Superstar in 1973, in The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988, in The Passion of the Christ in 2004 and even in last years Risen.

Its a delicious story, Jesus being so cool that he even forgives a prostitute. Its Pretty Woman in the tunics-and-sandals age.

1 of 26 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  These 26 photos show what Easter celebrations look like around the world View Photos . Caption Heres a look at how different countries are celebrating Easter. Beijing Chinese Catholics hold candles during Easter celebrations at the government sanctioned West Beijing Catholic Church. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images Wait 1 second to continue.

Gail Wallace, one of the co-founders of the Junia Project, hates the way Mary Magdalene gets maligned.

For me, the bottom line is that we are fed up with the way womens stories in the Bible have been retold in a way that sexualizes them unnecessarily and in ways that arent supported by the biblical texts, she said.

Biblical scholars and historians have been trying to make the same point for decades. The Catholic Church acknowledged and tried to correct the widespread misperception in 1969.

But somewhere along the telephone game that is Christian history, the prostitute label stuck.

Women looking to the Bible for inspiration already have limited choices of female role models, wrote Chicago nun and professor Barbara Bowe, before her death in 2010. When we suddenly cut Mary Magdalene off at the knees and turn her into some kind of evil sex pervert, we deprive men and women, but especially women, of a figure with whom they can identify.

Kate Wallace Nunneley, another of the Junia Projects co-founders, said she saw the Mary Magdalene myth repeated in modern seminary texts, too.

Thats okay, though. Because now Team Marys got the Internet. And every year, after the Junia Project runs their PSA about Mary Magdalene on social media, they hear from people about what was said in church.

Around Easter is really one of the only times in general evangelicalism that women get preached about, Nunneley said. After we first ran that PSA . . . we heard from so many women who said they still heard [the myth]. One woman told me, I sent this to my pastor and he still preached about her being a prostitute. 

This is, of course, part of a larger debate about the way women are treated in other arenas.

Take those women in the Marines who have been serving their country in the most macho branch of the military. How did the guys who couldnt handle their success deal with it? They circulated nude pictures of them. Even after they were busted, they kept at it.

Nunneley considers that the modern parallel to Mary Magdalene.

As we see with the story about the women in the Marines, their personhood gets overlooked and the men want to only focus on their sexuality, she said.

Its an old story. A tired story. And its time for it to end.

Twitter: @petulad
D.C. school buses sit in a parking lot in Ivy City in July 2012. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education said Friday that it had hired a convicted sex offender to drive D.C. school buses after what it described as an egregious lapse in procedures. (Jared Soares/FOR THE WASHINGTON POST)

D.C. school officials said Friday that a convicted sex offender fraudulently posed as an employee and got behind the wheel of a school bus, transporting children for a week in mid-March before officials caught him and removed him from service.

Patience B. Peabody, spokeswoman for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), said the man gained access to the school bus as a result of an egregious lapse in procedures by a human resources employee who has since been put on paid administrative leave. He was never screened or hired by OSSE, which transports students with disabilities in the District, and also did not have a license to drive a school bus, Peabody said.

Peabody said the man drove students from March 15 to March 21. He was removed from service when officials discovered that he was not qualified to be behind the wheel, Peabody said, adding that officials later discovered he had also been convicted of attempted misdemeanor sex assault.

The man had been employed as a school bus driver more than nine years ago, when OSSE was created and took over responsibility for transporting schoolchildren with disabilities in the District.

The incident was originally reported by WJLA-TV (ABC7).

The school system said by email that because its investigation is ongoing it would not publicly name the driver or employee and declined to say how it learned of the problems.

Based on what we know currently, we have no reason to believe that this individual had inappropriate contact with any of the students who were on the buses upon which he operated, Peabody said in a statement. All families of students identified through our investigation, 22 in total, have been notified of the matter in writing.

Peabody said OSSE is retraining staff and auditing its records and said that police have also been notified of the events.


Tragaltar of the Eilbertus, circa 1150. (Jurgen Liepe/Prussian Heritage Image Archive/Museum of Decorative Arts, National Museums in Berlin)

A case closely watched in art and diplomatic circles is moving forward in a U.S. court, where a federal judge ruled that the German government will have to defend itself in a suit brought over art purportedly confiscated by the Nazis.

The ruling that Germany must face litigation in the United States seeking the return of the art will be appealed, posing a new test for Germanys art-restitution system.

The lawsuit involves the Guelph Treasure, a collection of medieval gilded and jeweled artifacts dating to the 11th century that heirs of three Jewish art dealers allege the dealers were forced to sell in 1935 to the Prussian state, led by Prime Minister Hermann Goring. Goring, who was also chief of the Luftwaffe, presented the collection later that year as a surprise gift to Adolf Hitler, the suit states.

U.S. law generally bars civil suits against foreign governments, but two decisions by appeals courts in Washington last year carved out an exception in expropriation cases, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly wrote in an opinion March 31.

Jonathan Freiman, an attorney for the German government, said that by April 21 it would appeal the ruling, a move both sides said would require the country for the first time to defend itself against lawsuits in the United States involving such claims.

The works, the largest collection of German church treasures in public hands, are held at Berlins state-run Museum of Decorative Arts, managed by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which is named along with the German government as a defendant.

The lawsuit, filed in Washington in February 2015, has drawn attention in the art world, coming soon after Germany pledged in 2014 to make its process for resolving claims over Nazi-looted art more transparent and efficient.

The taking of the Welfenschatz . . . bears a sufficient connection to genocide such that the alleged coerced sale may amount to a taking in violation of international law, Kollar-Kotelly wrote in refusing to toss out the case, referring to the collection as it is known in Germany.



Gold icon, early 13th century. (Prussian Heritage Image Archive/Museum of Decorative Arts, National Museums in Berlin)

In court filings, the German government sought to dismiss the case under the U.S. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, arguing that the lawsuit ran counter to American foreign policy and relitigated a question already settled by a German commission.

This is a dispute that was already resolved on the merits in Germany, and it doesnt belong in a U.S. court, Freiman, of New Haven, Conn., said in a statement. German officials said the sale was a consensual one by experienced dealers, and the commission in 2014 found that the Great Depression, not prosecution, drove down the items prices.

The Guelph collection was named for the founders of the House of Brunswick, who amassed a trove of gilded and jeweled relics from the 11th to the 15th centuries. Held for nearly 900 years, the treasure was kept at Brunswick Cathedral and is Germanys largest collection of medieval Christian artifacts, including the arm reliquary of Saint Lawrence, encrusted in gold and silver; gem-studded busts of saints; and religious objects such as crucifixes and altars made with silver, gold and pearls.

A reliquary from the early 12th century. (Irmgard Mues-Funke/Prussian Heritage Image Archive/Museum of Decorative Arts, National Museums in Berlin)

In 1929, the Duke of Brunswick sold the collection for ready cash to a consortium of three art dealers from Frankfurt. The consortium sold about half the pieces to museums and collectors in the United States and Europe, including the Cleveland Museum of Art.

However, amid a Nazi crackdown on Jews, the dealers sold the remaining 42 works to the Prussian state for roughly $1.7 million, 35 percent of their market value and less than what the dealers paid for them, their families allege.

In the lawsuit, the dealers heirs to the art dealers cite correspondence between Goring and Hitler to save the Welfenschatz for the German Reich. They say the consortium never obtained the full sale proceeds because the money was split and partly paid into a state-controlled bank account, which was blocked by the Nazis and subject to flight taxes that Jews had to pay to escape Germany.

An attorney for the heirs, Nicholas M. ODonnell of Boston, said the ruling continued a series of findings by U.S. courts that restitution claims cannot be dismissed by arguing that oppression of Jews came at the hand of their own government rather than from international actors, and that bringing cases before the German advisory commission does not bar U.S. litigation.

The heirs and plaintiffs are Alan Philipp of London, Gerald G. Stiebel of Santa Fe, N.M., and Jed R. Leiber of West Hollywood, Calif.

[Report of Nazi-looted trove puts art world in an uproar]

The case was the first to go before the German panel after a 2013 disclosure that officials in Germany had let nearly two years pass before revealing the discovery of 1,400 artworks in the Munich apartment of Cornelius Gurlitt, the son an art dealer who worked for Hitler to liquidate art, much of it bought at fire-sale prices.

In the ensuing uproar, Israels culture minister urged Germany to follow moral and historical obligations in the Guelph case, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the U.S. lawsuit.

The United States in December enacted the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act, which eliminated a statute-of-limitations hurdle in the case.

(An earlier version of this story included a reference that stated as fact that the disputed artworks were part of a 1935 forced sale to the Nazi-controlled Prussian state. The story has been updated to make clear that the nature of the sale is in dispute between heirs of three Jewish art dealers and the German government.)
Undergraduates socialize between classes on the Yard at Howard University in Washington. (Andre Chung/for The Washington Post)

A woman who embezzled more than $420,000 from six former Howard University employees pension accounts was sentenced Friday to a year and a day in prison, authorities said.

Crystal Duncan Baker, 38, of Silver Spring pleaded guilty in February to one count of theft from an employee benefit plan and was ordered to return the money, court records said.

After starting as a temporary worker in August 2010, Baker swiftly became a supervisor and then manager of benefits and pension, able to alter workers account information without approval. From April 2012 to August 2015, she fraudulently sent payments owed to one retired and five deceased former employees to herself, the U.S. attorneys office for the District and federal Employee Benefits Security Administration said in a statement.
Kyle Thompson is accused of taking a girl into these woods in Maryland and molesting her. (Dan Morse/TWP) (Dan Morse)

Kyle Thompson, a 32-year-old Maryland man accused of sexually assaulting young girls and taking videos of the acts, was indicted on 78 felony counts alleging that the abuse dated as far back as 2010.

The new charges, filed Thursday in Montgomery County Circuit Court, indicate that investigators have found another victim in a case described as gruesome and horrific by authorities. Prosecutors now allege that Thompson abused four girls, including two under the age of 3.

Thompson allegedly assaulted the children in his basement apartment in Burtonsville, in nearby woods and possibly at other locations in Montgomery. The indictment includes 17 counts of what are alleged to be brutal, first-degree sex offenses, a crime punishable by up to life in prison. Other counts allege fondling and attempted rapes.

In a separate case in federal court, Thompson faces 18 counts of producing child pornography from the forced sex acts, charges which were filed earlier this month in federal court.

A Maryland native, according to court records, Thompson had worked until recently as a commercial HVAC technician, maintaining cooling systems at high-tech data centers in the region.

Kyle Thompson, 32, faces 78 additional charges in an ongoing child sex assault case. (Montgomery County Police)

Federal and Montgomery authorities have said Thompson plotted out his alleged crimes by befriending women who have young girls to gain access to the children. In at least two of his seized videos reviewed by detectives, the youngest victims can be seen crying while Thompson sexually assaults them, according to court records. One of those girls also can be heard yelling for her mother, prompting Thompson to tell her that her mom couldnt save her, the records say.

We believe there are other victims out there, Scott Hinckley, an assistant special agent in charge at the FBIs Baltimore field office, said last week. The alleged behavior is, to say the least, gruesome and disturbing.

Earlier  Just horrific: Initial criminal charges filed against Thompson

Montgomery police took Thompson into custody last month. This week, he was taken to the U.S. District Courthouse in Greenbelt, Md., to make his initial appearance in the pornography-production case. He pleaded not guilty and agreed to remain in custody, pending further actions in the case.

Robert Bonsib, one of his two attorneys, stressed afterward that the case has a long way to go.

Kyle Thompson is supported by his loving family and friends, who are asking that everyone withhold judgment in this matter as you would ask of others if it were your loved one, Bonsib said. There is a lot of work to be done in this matter, and we are just beginning that process.

In the Montgomery County indictment, secured Thursday by the countys states attorneys office, some of the 78 counts appear to represent different charges stemming from the same incident. And the dates of alleged incidents are sometimes vague, owing in part to the inexact memories of young children, according to the indictment.

Earlier  Federal pornography production charges filed against Thompson

But by providing a basic timeline, the indictment alleges that Thompson essentially moved from one girl to the next.

Sometime between January 2010 and December 2012, according to the indictment, Thompson abused a girl who would have been about 8 to 11 years old, according to records.

Starting in early 2015, according to the records, he abused a girl who would have been 2 to 2 years old at the time. The next victims age was listed as under the age of 13.

The final victim, who was abused over as many as 18 months, was about 2 when the abuse began.
Nearly one year ago, crowds of firefighters in their dress blues stood beneath a white church steeple in Maryland to honor a brother who was killed doing what they did every day  answering peoples calls for help.

On Friday, they gathered in uniform again, filling the wood-paneled chambers of a Prince Georges County courtroom where the man who fatally shot their colleague was sentenced to four years in prison.

The turnouts both times recalled John Skillet Ulmschneiders dedication to the fire service and the love he had for his family.

Darrell Lumpkin, 62, pleaded guilty this year to an illegal-weapon charge in the shooting that left Ulmschneider dead and injured another firefighter as well as Lumpkins brother.

Im sorry for the family, Lumpkin said at his sentencing hearing Friday afternoon. I was sick at the time.

Lumpkins sentencing came the day before the first anniversary of the shooting.

[Emergency crews honor Md. firefighter who died answering 911 call]

Ulmschneider, 37, volunteer firefighter Kevin Swain, then 19, and Lumpkins brother were trying to enter Lumpkins home April 15, 2016, worried he was suffering a medical emergency. Lumpkins brother had called 911 earlier in the evening requesting a welfare check because Lumpkin, who has diabetes and experiences seizures, had not been responding to messages.

After announcing their presence and knocking several times, Ulmschneider, Swain and Lumpkins brother broke down the homes door. As soon as they entered, Lumpkin opened fire.

Swain said during Fridays hearing that he was trying to yell fire department again to announce their presence, but only the word fire came out before he saw a flash of orange and felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He collapsed to the ground bleeding, worried more shots were coming, he said.

I laid there wondering, What just happened?  Swain said.

Lumpkin was receiving an insufficient amount of insulin at the time and was incoherent from suffering a diabetic episode, said his attorney Brian K. McDaniel.

He didnt understand and appreciate who it was who was at the door, McDaniel said in court, adding that Lumpkin no more wanted to shoot Ulmschneider and Swain than he did his own brother.

McDaniel said he intends to ask for a reconsideration of the sentence at a later date, given his clients clean record outside of a more-than 30-year-old assault charge.

A grand jury did not charge Lumpkin with manslaughter or murder in Ulmschneiders killing. Lumpkin told authorities he fired in self-defense because he thought intruders were breaking into his home.

Lumpkin has an assault conviction from the 1980s that bars him from owning a firearm, and he should not have had a gun at the time of the shooting, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Lumpkin lawfully obtained the guns he owned despite his 1985 simple-assault conviction in the District. But Maryland law changed in 2012, subsequently banning him from possessing firearms.

Judge Graydon S. McKee acknowledged that Lumpkin was ill at the time of the shooting but said he should not have had a gun in the first place.

But regardless of whether someone is able to have a gun, there is always a responsibility to use it appropriately and understand that it is a deadly instrument, McKee said.

Theres been an injury so great that no matter what the court does, it could never be able to rectify this, McKee said before sentencing Lumpkin to four years in prison.

[Firefighter shot fatally, second wounded in Prince George's]

Prince Georges County States Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said the judge has done justice with his sentence. Prosecutors had asked that Lumpkin be sentenced to five years in prison.

This case, from the day it occurred, was a case full of misery, Alsobrooks said. It was our worst nightmare on the evening that it occurred.

Prince Georges County Fire Chief Ben Barksdale said he was surprised by the sentence, thinking the judge would have issued a lighter punishment. The chief, however, said no sentence would be satisfying in the tragic case, which has affected the entire department.

We do approach these calls differently now, but we still answer them, Barksdale said.

McKee rendered his sentence after emotional testimony from Ulmschneiders widow, Swain and another firefighter, Michael OBrien, who was on the scene.

Swain, who said he still has two bullets in his body from the shooting, told the judge about the excruciating pain he experienced and the regular night terrors he now suffers. OBrien recalled the smell of gunpowder and frantically trying to revive Ulmschneider on the way to the hospital.

Both men invoked the past. But Dawn Ulmschneider looked to the future and thought of her 2-year-old daughter who lost the best dad ever.

The hardest days have yet to come, Dawn Ulmschneider said. Life is so hard now. Some days I dont know how Im going to do all this.
A felled tree struck and killed a two-year-old boy and seriously injured his five-year-old brother, after their father cut it down in the familys La Plata yard, Charles County Sheriffs officials said.

Officers found the injured boys in the backyard of their home in the 8900 block of Turkey Hill Road about 6:20 p.m., said Diane Richardson, a spokeswoman. Authorities flew the brothers to a hospital, where the two-year-old was later pronounced dead. The older boy was hospitalized in serious condition.

According to the initial investigation, the boys were watching their father cut down the tree from a distance of about 50 feet when the tree suddenly fell toward them, Richardson said.

Police continue to investigate.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie, right, and State Sen. Frank Wagner, left, listen to Corey Stewart, center, during a debate Thursday at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. (AP) (Steve Helber/AP)

LYNCHBURG, Va.  Two Republicans running for Virginia governor repeatedly accused each other of lying, while the third called their tax-cut plans disingenuous and even dangerous in the only scheduled TV debate ahead of the June 13 primary.

Corey A. Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, was the most aggressive during the hour-long event at Liberty University Thursday night, taking aim at political strategist Ed Gillespie, the perceived front-runner because he has led in fundraising and endorsements.

Stewart accused Gillespie of supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants and of endorsing, in his 2006 memoir, the individual mandate for health insurance  akin to a requirement under the Affordable Care Act. Gillespie said neither was true.

Google Corey Stewart lies and youll be amazed at all that pops up, Gillespie said.

Stewart dug in.

Page 245 of your book, Ed, he said, referring to the passage in Gillespies Winning Right that he said endorsed the insurance mandate. If you really want to find the truth, go to Establishment Ed, he added, referring to a Web site that mocks the former Republican National Committee chairman.

Despite those jabs and others, the debate among Gillespie, Stewart and state Sen. Frank W. Wagner (Virginia Beach) was heavy on substance, with moderators delving into matters as wonky as Virginias Certificate of Public Need program, which gives the state a say in whether certain medical facilities may be built. There were no obvious gaffes nor any of the Confederate flag-draped theatrics Stewart has relied on to draw attention to his bid.

[Did a Republican running for Va. governor really dress up like a Confederate gent? ]

The moderators  Liberty spokesman Len Stevens and WSET-TV news anchor Mark Spain  did not touch on abortion, religious liberty or other matters of particular interest to evangelicals, a surprise given that the debate took place at the worlds largest Christian university.

Gillespie shoehorned the lone religious reference into his closing statement, as he wished the crowd a blessed Good Friday . . . and Easter.

[Gillespie at Liberty U: My setbacks were part of Gods plan]

Liberty President Jerry Falwell Jr. attended the event but said through a spokesman earlier in the week that he was not following the race closely.

The moderators all-business approach seemed to help the often-overshadowed Wagner grab more of the spotlight. Playing up his quarter-century in Richmond, much of it devoted to securing funds for transportation projects, Wagner ridiculed his rivals as they weighed in on issues that he had already worked on as a legislator.

[Liberty U is the setting for televised debate among GOP candidates for Va. governor]

I missed both of these people when we actually debated and killed Medicaid expansion, he said at one point. And later: I missed both of these candidates when we were fighting the [federal] Clean Power Plan in Richmond.

Wagner, who says the state needs more tax revenue for transportation, also criticized the tax cuts Gillespie and Stewart have proposed. After Gillespie promised to cut income taxes by 10 percent and ticked off plans to improve schools, transportation and drug treatment, Wagner said that would put the states AAA bond-rating at risk.

Were going to cut taxes and spend more money on this, this, this and this, said Wagner, a Naval Academy graduate and former shipyard owner, summarizing Gillespies promises. At the Naval Academy, you learned you had to be honest. As a Navy diver, you dont make statements like that or people die.

Stewart has called for an even larger income tax cut: a 17.4 percent reduction in the first year and a full phase-out for localities bordering Tennessee, which has no income tax. He also has called for eliminating the tax statewide in the next several years under what he calls Coreys Big Bold Virginia Tax Cut.

Stewart questioned if Gillespies more detailed tax plan adds up, asking Gillespie, Is there a single identified cut in your tax plan?

The debate took place just days ahead of Sundays 10th anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre, when Seung Hui Cho, a Tech senior with a history of mental health problems, killed 32 people before taking his own life. In light of the anniversary, Spain asked if the candidates favored closing the gun-show loophole that allows people to bypass background checks when buying guns from sellers who are not licensed dealers.

All three oppose new restrictions on guns, but their responses highlighted stark differences in style.

Wagner was characteristically direct: The [current] rules and laws are totally adequate. Stewart was combative, claiming the gun-show loophole is a myth (because licensed dealers who sell as shows must conduct the checks), and accusing Gillespie of skipping a rally with the Virginia Citizens Defense League in January to hang out with lobbyists.

And Gillespie sounded like a general-election candidate trying to appeal to both sides of the contentious issue. He offered his thoughts and prayers to Tech families, affirmed his support for the Second Amendment and sought to put the heat on the two Democrats running to succeed term-limited Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and former congressman Tom Perriello. He said Northam and Perriello would seek to limit gun rights.

Gillespie even explained his absence from the gun rally in a way that could play well with general-election voters: He was serving meals to needy families at an African-American church that day, which was Martin Luther King Day.

The three Republicans followed a similar pattern when asked about illegal immigration. What part of illegal dont they understand? said Wagner, who promised to turn any illegal immigrants arrested in Virginia over to federal immigration officials. Stewart spelled out horrifying details of a recent killing in nearby Bedford County. Three Salvadoran MS-13 gang members in the country illegally have been charged in the abduction and murder of 17-year-old Raymond Wood.

Three criminal illegal immigrants cut off his feet, cut off his hands and they nearly beheaded him, and they dumped his body in Bedford, said Stewart, who drew national attention a decade ago with a crackdown on illegal immigrants in Prince William. If theyre here illegally, you boot them out of the country.

Gillespie, in turn, offered his thoughts and prayers to Woods family. Then he turned his attention to Northam and Perriello, criticizing their support for issuing drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. Gillespie added that he opposed offering in-state tuition to students brought to the country illegally as children but said nothing about any deportation goals.

The three Republicans are scheduled to square off again April 22 at a Goochland debate
Health Ministers New Year resolution: To urge people to opt for healthy behaviours

Statistics point to an alarming health situation in Nepal: one third of the countrys population has hypertension and 15 percent has diabetes;
Maybe you already smoke (medicinal) pot or get into downward dog when youre stressed-out. But if you havent combined the two, youre in for a treat, writes yoga instructor Dee Dussault in her new book, Ganja Yoga. Thats also the name of the cannabis-enhanced classes she has created and teaches in San Francisco. Now shes hoping to spread the practice by compiling her philosophy and advice.

Chapter 1 provides a quick outline of marijuana as medicine, citing the number of conditions its used to treat, including pain, anxiety and depression. Medical marijuana is legal in the District and some states. The next chapter tackles yoga, and how relaxation and movement can make anyone feel better.

Add it all up, Dussault says, and the benefits are off the chart. Think about it like peanut butter and chocolate: Each is fantastic on its own, but when they come together, each makes the other better, she writes. In her case, she says, marijuana deepens her senses, which has allowed her to treat her chronic back pain by really feeling and releasing tiny muscular or energetic holds.

Dussault says in her book that there are dangers to the duo, although shes most worried about overstretching, which can happen in any yoga class. She emphasizes the importance of selecting both a strain of marijuana and a style of yoga that are in alignment with our intention for the practice. Otherwise, you might end up too anxious.

Another thing that might stress you out is going to jail, but Dussault glosses over that possibility. Instead, she addresses what may happen if you go to a traditional studio while high. Dussault recounts the time she and a buddy hit an exhausting Ashtanga class after downing a ganja milkshake. A summary: It was wacky!

Because most people cant make it to a class like Dussaults, she offers DIY tips. Trying this with friends at home? One person can be designated as leader for the session, to ensure the toking circle doesnt end up chatting all night.

And Dussault notes that its important to recognize when any tool youre using in your yoga practice  be it marijuana or soft music  is becoming a crutch. For balance, she suggests trying to go without, at least some of the time.

Its also worth pointing out that recreational marijuana is illegal in many places.

[Read more]

[A powerful new form of medical marijuana, without the high]

[How Jeff Sessions wants to bring back the war on drugs]

[They say runners need flexibility, but you may be surprised at the latest thinking]
Wisconsin

Man in custody after 10-day police search

A man accused of stealing guns in connection with a possible plan for an attack has been captured in Wisconsin following a 10-day manhunt, authorities said.

Joseph Jakubowski, 32, was taken into custody early Friday morning after authorities responded to a call about a suspicious person on a farmers property in Readstown, authorities said.

More than 150 local, state and federal law enforcement officials had been searching for Jakubowski, whom authorities suspected of stealing at least 16 high-end firearms April 4 from a gun shop in Janesville, about 130 miles away. Police said he also had written a 161-page antigovernment and anti-religion manifesto, which he apparently mailed to President Trump at the White House.

That prompted police to monitor local schools, churches and public leaders as a precaution.

What could have happened here was a mass shooting; that was our concern, Janesville Police Chief David J. Moore said during a news conference Friday, adding, Thats not the case.

 Lindsey Bever

Alabama

Ex-governor says hes relieved on resignation

Former Alabama governor Robert Bentley (R) said Friday that he was happy with his decision to resign and that it relieved him and the state after a year-long scandal focused on his relationship with a former aide.

I really do feel like a heavy load has been lifted, Bentley said with a smile as he moved his stuff out of the governors mansion.

He said he came to the conclusion that resigning Monday would be the best thing for the state and his staff.

Bentley, a dermatologist, said he plans to teach and return to practicing medicine.

 Associated Press

Georgia

Fired officers had arrested victim earlier

Two Georgia police officers fired after they were caught on video kicking and punching a man during a traffic stop had arrested the same person eight months earlier during another traffic stop, police records show.

Gwinnett County police on Thursday announced the firing of Sgt. Michael Bongiovanni and Master Police Officer Robert McDonald, a day after the traffic stop was recorded by witnesses who posted the video online.

Bongiovanni punched Demetrius Bryan Hollins, 21, in the face as Hollins stood with his hands up after getting out of his car, police said. Another video showed McDonald, who arrived as backup after Hollins was handcuffed and lying on the ground, immediately stomping on Hollinss head.

An incident report filed by Bongiovanni after Wednesdays traffic stop made no mention of Hollins being punched or kicked. Both officers are now under criminal investigation.

 Associated Press
Displaced Iraqi men listen to instructions by an Iraqi officer before they are checked at a processing center in western Mosul on Friday before being transported to refugee camps. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)

ITALY

Over 2,000 migrants rescued in one day

More than 2,000 migrants trying to reach Europe were plucked from the Mediterranean Sea on Friday in a series of dramatic rescues, and one person was found dead, officials and witnesses said.

An Italian coast guard spokesman said 19 rescue operations by coast guard vessels or ships directed by nongovernmental organizations had saved 2,074 migrants found in 16 rubber dinghies and three small wooden boats.

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said in a tweet that a teenager was found dead in a rubber boat whose passengers were rescued by its ship, Aquarius. The charity said two of its ships, Aquarius and Prudence, had rescued about 1,000 people in nine boats.

Those rescued by ships from the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, based in Malta, and the MSF were transferred to Italian coast guard ships to be taken to Italian ports.

 Reuters

ECUADOR

Council will recount 1.3 million votes

Election officials will recount nearly 1.3 million votes cast in the Andean nations presidential election, although opposition leader Guillermo Lasso dismissed the gesture Friday as a farce that would do nothing to quell accusations of fraud.

The National Electoral Council announced late Thursday that it would recount all ballots contested by both parties, about 10 percent of the total vote.

Official results from the April 2 election showed conservative former banker Lasso lost by less than three percentage points to President Rafael Correas hand-picked successor, Lenin Moreno. International observers including from the Organization of American States have said they found no irregularities, although Lasso claims his campaign found numerous inconsistencies and has refused to accept the official results.

 Associated Press

EGYPT

Coptic pope curbs Easter celebrations

Coptic Christian Pope Tawadros II canceled most Easter celebrations Friday, limiting them to a simple Mass, after the recent twin attacks on churches by Islamic State militants that killed dozens of Christian worshipers.

During his sermon on Good Friday, Tawadros said, Easter celebrations shouldnt come at a time of offering condolences to our martyrs. He said that the Easter-morning reception, in which worshipers exchange greetings, would also be canceled. In a rare show of discontent and anger, several dioceses and monasteries issued similar statements. After the deadly attacks, Christians accused the government of failing to protect churches.

During Palm Sunday prayers, suicide bombers targeted two separate churches packed with worshipers in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and the Nile Delta city of Tanta, killing 45. The Alexandria attack took place as Tawadros was presiding over the service, but he escaped unharmed.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility and vowed to wage more attacks against Christians, who make up 10 percent of the population.

 Associated Press

U.S. sends dozens of troops to Somalia: The U.S. military is sending dozens of troops to Somalia in the largest such deployment to the Horn of Africa country in roughly two decades. The United States pulled out of Somalia after 1993, when two helicopters were shot down in the capital, Mogadishu, and bodies of Americans were dragged through the streets. Somalias fragile central government is still struggling to assert itself after the nationwide chaos that began with the fall of dictator Siad Barre in 1991. U.S. Africa Command said Friday that the deployment is for logistics training for Somalias army, which is battling the extremist group al-Shabab.

German police arrest 3 suspected in attack plan: German police have arrested three people on suspicion of helping a suspected Islamist militant prepare an attack on police or soldiers, the magazine Focus said on its website. It cited the chief public prosecutor in the northern town of Celle as saying Friday that arrest warrants had been issued for two men and a woman suspected of helping to prepare a serious act of violence. The prosecutors office was not immediately available for comment.

 From news services
Flowers lay on a bench on Virginia Tech's campus in Blacksburg, Va, on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, the sixth anniversary of the shooting at the school that claimed 32 lives. (Rebecca Barnett/Associated Press)

It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since the horrific day at Virginia Tech when 32 students and faculty were killed and many others were injured by a young student with untreated mental illness. Ten years since countless lives and families were altered forever, including my own. And yet, in many ways it hurts like it was yesterday.

My daughter Emily was among the victims. She was 18, a freshman, an animal and poultry sciences major, and member of the equestrian team. She, like the others, had so much to offer and so much more to do.

While I searched for answers and attempted to understand how such a horrible event could occur, it became clear that a flawed and inadequate mental-health system was a major factor. That finding gave my surviving daughter and me the determination to move forward and be part of a movement to spur significant changes in Virginias mental-health system. Many individuals, organizations and agencies rallied to improve mental-health care in Virginia.

At the time, Virginias community mental-health system was stretched extraordinarily thin and was severely underfunded. Long waiting lists and inadequate services and staffing meant you could wait for days, weeks or even months to get an appointment. The involuntary commitment process was hurried and poorly coordinated. Many areas in the state lacked access to basic crisis-stabilization services and comprehensive outpatient services. Limited state and private hospital beds and an inadequate network of community-based services pushed many people with mental illness into jails. Accountability was lacking.

After the tragedy, lawmakers responded swiftly and decisively. Since 2008, numerous reforms have been passed to try to clarify and strengthen laws governing mental health treatment practices. For example, criteria in Virginias involuntary commitment statute were modified to eliminate the requirement of imminent dangerousness in a person  bringing the state in line with nearly all other states. Procedures for court-ordered outpatient treatment were tightened. Time periods for emergency custody and temporary detention processes were lengthened, allowing for an appropriate time to evaluate and begin treatment for people experiencing mental-health crises. More recently, Virginias code was amended to ensure that people in crisis who require evaluation and meet the criteria for a temporary detention order are placed in a psychiatric hospital until their hearing.

And there have been funding improvements. Weak laws and historic underfunding meant that most mental-health care in Virginia was delivered in crisis mode, often by police officers or in emergency rooms. Efforts are being made to put more funding into community-based services to better balance the overwhelming burden on institutional facilities. This makes for a healthier, proactive mental-health system rather than a reactive system.

Immediately following the tragedy, then-Gov. Tim Kaine (D) allocated a $42 million down payment to fund high-priority initiatives. Although much of that initial funding was lost in budget cuts in the recession, the funding has slowly been reinstated as the economy has improved, and each governor since Kaine has proposed additional funding. Since 2008, the General Assembly has approved more than $70 million in new state funding for mental-health care, including:

 Emergency services and crisis stabilization: $18 million

 Supportive housing: $10 million

 Criminal justice system diversion: $9.4 million

 Assertive community treatment programs: $8.8 million

 Childrens mental-health-care services: $8.4 million

 Transition-age youth mental-health-care services: $7.5 million

 Same-day intake and assessment: $6.3 million

 Mental Health First Aid and suicide prevention: $1.4 million

Although progress has been good, Virginia sits in the bottom half of states in overall ranking for mental health care per person. Virginia still needs funding to establish consistent and comprehensive services in all communities; to expand intervention, treatment and transition programs for young adults, especially for those experiencing the first signs of mental illness; to attract and retain mental-health providers in the face of a critical workforce shortage; and to establish strict quality and performance outcomes to meet the needs of families and communities in our commonwealth.

The 10th anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre must serve as a reminder of where we came from and where we need to go. Although I am heartened by the progress, I know that those who work hard to advocate, legislate and provide need to keep the focus on continuing improvement.

Mental-health conditions affect 1 in 4 families. We have seen, too many times, the consequences of untreated mental illness and the pain it causes individuals, families and communities. We must continue our efforts in remembrance of the lives lost 10 years ago, for the lives of those who are with us today and for the lives of those tomorrow.
Priyanka Kumar is author of the novel Take Wing and Fly Here and the writer/director of the documentary The Song of the Little Road.

Before the recent American military strike in Syria, President Trump seemed apathetic to the plight of the Syrian people. But his attitude changed abruptly after he watched beautiful babies and other innocents dying from the nerve agent sarin, which President Bashar al-Assad deployed against his own people. The narrative of the six-year-old Syrian civil war is so singularly bleak that we need intelligent storytellers to seduce us into the countrys tale. Alia Maleks memoir, The Home That Was Our Country, takes us into the heart of Syrian culture. Here we see the everyday beauty and the everyday fears of living under Assads oppressive regime.

A civil rights lawyer and a journalist, Malek grew up in Baltimore, a daughter of Syrian immigrants. As a young child, she developed a touching bond with her maternal grandmother, Salma. In 1992, after Malek graduated from high school, she traveled alone to visit her Syrian relatives. The appeal of her ancestral country was such that Malek later decided to live in the Damascus apartment her mother inherited from Salma. Maleks parents would make a substantial payoff to get a decades-long tenant to leave. By the time the apartment was renovated and Malek moved in, in 2012, the civil war was raging and her relatives feared that the regime would interpret her journalistic goings-on as spying and unleash retribution.

"The Home That Was Our Country: A Memoir of Syria," by Alia Malek (Nation Books)

Malek tells us that her book was meant as a way to reconstruct the life of her Syrian grandmother. But she also gives us a substantial dose of the countrys history  at times, too much  and the tensions leading up to the civil war, which began in 2011. According to the Syrian Center for Policy Research, as of February 2016, the conflict had led to an estimated 470,000 deaths (and counting) and the displacement of 6 million people internally; roughly 5 million people had fled the country.

Maleks reimagining of Salmas life serves as a natural entry into the story of 20th-century Syria. With her emerald-green eyes and incessant smoking, Salma is a beguiling character whose life experience dovetails with Syrian culture and politics. For instance, because she is a woman, she does not inherit anything from her wealthy father (though she later sues her brothers). Salma finds fulfillment less in her marriage and more as a do-gooder socialite  her Damascus apartment becomes a hub for neighbors and people from Hama who seek advice or help.

[A sons contemplative search for his father long missing in Gaddafis Libya]

During Hafez al-Assads presidency, in 1980, Salmas favorite brother is murdered, possibly by someone in the regime, and his body is found by a roadside. Another sibling, a surgeon, tries to get answers but is given this warning: Stop pursuing this issue or the same will happen to you. Salma never fully emerges from the shock of her brothers murder. On a visit to Maleks house in Baltimore, Salma has a stroke and becomes paralyzed from the eyes down. That condition could be seen as a metaphor for the fate of the Syrian people today: They can only watch as Bashar al-Assads regime hollows their country from the inside out.

Malek suggests that dissent has been suppressed in Syria for so long that people there have lost their voice and become complicit in their oppression. Many believe the regimes narrative (or tell themselves they do). The Syrian intelligence service, the Mukhabarat, has 65,000 full-time employees or 1 for every 153 adult citizens  along with hundreds of thousands of part-time or unofficial employees. During a summer Malek spent clerking at the Palestinian Authoritys Ministry of Agriculture, she noted: Despite the fact that the Israeli Occupation had robbed Palestinians of many freedoms, I found Palestinians freer than Syrians ever were in their conversation. When the regime bombs a Damascus apartment building, it is expected that people will walk by the next day without blinking. The buildings smashed-in face is a reminder of what the regime can do to them.

In this tense setting, Malek gives us a lively picture of the uncles, aunts and cousins who populate her extended family. Bonds are forged over cardamom coffee and homemade lunches. Maleks family is Christian, a religious minority in a country with a Sunni Muslim majority. At a 2011 Christmas gathering, a conversation Malek attempts to initiate about Jesus uprising against corruption makes her hostess uneasy; a more characteristic moment is when a diamond-dealer uncle from Dubai hands out iPads to each of his nieces and nephews. While Maleks relatives are incredibly hospitable, one spreads the dangerous rumor that she is a spy.

Assad is from the Alawite minority (he is married to a Sunni), but his regime has grown increasingly sectarian. Which sect you belong to matters if the regime arrests you. This is what happens to one of Maleks sources, Carnations. She is walked past a torture chamber to her cell in the basement of a Mukhabarat office. When Carnations is asked if she is Shiite or Sunni, she has to make a calculated answer. Meanwhile, Maleks extended family pressures her to leave Syria before her journalism gets her (and them) in trouble.

In 2016, Malek travels to Germany to meet the son of the tenant who had stubbornly held on to Salmas apartment. The tenants son has sought refuge in Germany with his daughter and aged mother. Now he is safe from bombs, but he laments: No matter what I do, I will always be a stranger here.

Malek understands his lament. She had once been determined to not be a stranger in her ancestral country, and she relished its embrace, even as she chafed against the oppression, before all hell broke loose. Her book shows us a Syria that is far more alluring than the war-torn morass we encounter in the news.
Ronald A. Klain served as a senior White House aide to Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and was a senior adviser to Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign.

The only three things certain in life are death, taxes . . . and Democrats losing the debate on taxes. But 2017 could be the year when Republicans are on the defensive on tax reform.

President Trump and congressional Republicans plan to follow their health-care debacle with a massive tax-reform package. Its far from clear how they will pay for it: Trump has previously promised that his tax changes would not add to our debt and deficit  and was counting on $800 billion taken from Obamacare to pay for tax reductions; perhaps this is why he recently said hes going to try to return to, and finish, repealing the Affordable Care Act before taking on tax reform. Its also not clear why tax reform is so high on the agenda, when voters are more eager for the president to deliver on his promised infrastructure package than to reduce the corporate tax rate. But the donor class must be heeded, and nothing heals Republican rifts like a good tax cut  so tax reform is on deck.

What exactly will be in Trumps tax plan is a mystery. During the campaign, Trump promised three headline ideas: tax cuts for individual taxpayers, which would largely benefit the wealthiest; tax cuts for corporations, to reduce rates to 15 percent; and a series of tax cuts and changes to discourage job losses overseas. So how should Democrats respond?

First, they should put less emphasis on their usual critique  that GOP tax plans favor the rich  and focus relentlessly on one theme: jobs. Yes, the Trump plan will offer massive largesse to those who need it the least, and that is an outrage. But this well-worn argument is unlikely to break through todays media clamor. Better to put the Trump plan to a test of Trumps own creation: Will it help create jobs?

(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

If lowering corporate rates is supposed to create jobs, Democrats should hold Trump to that promise, requiring that at least half of any corporate tax savings be invested in increased hiring and pay. If companies dont do that, they should have to pay the higher tax rate now in place. Likewise, Trump has said that lower corporate rates will result in jobs returning to the United States. Surely, then, he would be willing to make corporations forfeit any tax relief if they add more jobs abroad than at home?

Trump has said that corporations will create jobs by bringing home cash that has been stashed tax-free overseas; again, why not insist that companies document that the returned cash is going to add jobs and raise pay  or else pay taxes on it? Another option is Rep. John Delaneys (D-Md.) bipartisan plan to tax a part of any cash coming home to fund job-creating infrastructure projects. If Republicans wont agree that flimsy promises about job creation be matched with binding requirements and stinging penalties, Democrats must make the point that, whatever the GOP tax reform might be, a jobs plan it isnt.

Second, although the job of the opposition party is generally to oppose, tax reform is one area where the opposition cannot beat something with nothing. Democrats need to have an alternative proposal to put up against the GOP plan.

A wonkish plan that gets rave reviews from think tanks but gains no traction among taxpayers  or voters  wont do the trick. Save it for the first transition team meeting in November 2020. For now, Democrats need a straightforward, middle-class tax-cut plan, like those Maggie Hassan and Catherine Cortez Masto proposed during last years campaign: a tax cut of $1,000 per family, paid for by closing loopholes that benefit the wealthy and big corporations.

Some Democrats resist such broad middle-class tax cuts, worried about the impact on government revenue. They think they feel like giveaways. But Democrats cannot stand for the notion that middle-class families are pinched and they feel their pain if they arent prepared to come forward with a concrete way to address that. An extra $1,000 in each familys pocket is specific and on target.

Finally, if Republicans need Democratic votes to get a plan passed, Democrats should unify behind one simple demand: requiring the president to release all of his tax returns before the first corporate tax cut takes effect. The recently disclosed Trump tax return for 2005 revealed that virtually all of the taxes he paid resulted from the alternative minimum tax  a provision that his tax plan would eliminate. If that return is typical, the Trump tax plan is an 86 percent tax cut for . . . Trump. Voters have a right to know exactly what he is getting out of all of this, and Democrats should insist on the release of Trumps tax returns as a condition of any tax-reform package.
A woman takes a picture while looking at a collection of images of dead bodies at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in 2015. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

I read with shock and horror the April 3 front-page article A journey into Syrias torture wards. The photo accompanying the story focused solely on a woman recoiling as she saw the photos so bravely smuggled out from hospital 601. However, by doing so, The Post dishonored those who were brutalized and murdered and the courageous photographer seeking to show the true terror of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Readers and our leaders deserve the truth; do not treat us like sensitive and sheltered children. The Post should live up to its motto. Dont try to sanitize such depravity. Publish the photos.

Paul Foldi, Bethesda
Christians worldwide are commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus in Good Friday worship services, followed by celebration of his resurrection on Easter Sunday. But as often as the cross appears in Christian artwork and Western culture at large, misunderstandings and myths persist as to its history, origins and image. Here are five of the most stubborn misconceptions about Christianitys most prominent symbol.

Myth No. 1

Jesus cross was a stake bisected by a horizontal beam.

The iconic image of the Christian cross tends to feature a central vertical beam transected by a perpendicular beam about a third of the way down. This version of the cross is visible everywhere from emoji (which include both the two-beam Latin cross and the Orthodox cross, also known as the Suppedaneum cross, which has another bar near the bottom) to roadside memorials and, of course, church steeples.

But the actual crosses Romans used for executions probably took a different shape. The Greek and Latin words for cross  stauros and crux  do not necessarily describe what most people imagine as a cross. They refer to an upright stake upon which the condemned could be bound with hands above their heads. Most historians surmise that Jesus cross was more likely to have been T-shaped, with the vertical element notched to allow executioners to tie the victim to the crossbeam, then raise it and set it securely into the top. The Tau cross, named for its resemblance to the Greek letter, has been adopted over time by various Christian orders and sects, and it probably bears a stronger resemblance to the object upon which Jesus died on than those crosses more commonly depicted in Christian art.

Myth No. 2

Jesus was fixed to the cross by nails in his hands and feet.

Nearly every depiction of Jesus crucifixion  including masterpieces such as Sandro Botticellis Mystic Crucifixion and Diego Velazquezs Christ Crucified  shows Him attached to the cross by nails through his palms and his feet.

The New Testament Gospels do not, however, directly say that Jesus was nailed to the cross. In fact, the only reference to such nails in the Gospels comes from the book of John and the story of doubting Thomas, who asks to see the marks of the nails in Jesus hands to confirm that he is really encountering the resurrected Christ (John 20:25). The tradition that Jesus was nailed to the cross may also derive from the passage in some translations of Psalm 21:16 that says, They pierce my hands and feet.

Yet, while some physical evidence for nailing the feet of crucifixion victims has been found by archaeologists, it would have been impossible to fix the condemned to a cross by nails alone, since the bones in the hands or wrists would not have supported the weight of the body. Rather, Romans would have at least also tied victims wrists to the crossbeam, or perhaps draped their arms over the back of the beam and secured them with ropes. Suffocation, rather than loss of blood, would be the cause of death.

Myth No. 3

Jesus (or a bystander) carried the cross to Golgotha.

The Gospel of John states that Jesus bore the cross by himself (John 19:17) to a hill called Golgotha, while the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke claim that authorities compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross for Him, presumably because the flogging He had received had left Him too weak to carry it. In either case, most depictions in Christian art (including renditions by Michelangelo, El Greco and Titian) show either man carrying a large, wooden cross with both a vertical and a horizontal beam.

Yet Romans generally had the upright beam already set up at the place of execution. To the extent that the condemned carried their own crosses, they would have been given only the horizontal piece, according to historians of ancient execution methods, including LaGrange College professor John Granger Cook.

Myth No. 4

Early Christians did not emphasize the crucifixion.

For almost 1,000 years, the Christian church emphasized paradise, not Crucifixion, two authors wrote in UU World magazine; in Slate, scholar Larry Hurtado claimed that there was, in short, little to be gained in proclaiming a crucified saviour in that setting in which crucifixion was a grisly reality, noting that some early Christians tried to avoid reference to Jesus crucifixion.

It is true that crosses were extremely rare symbols for Christians to use before the mid-4th century. Moreover, the first images of crosses portray them more as slender, gemmed staffs than as sturdy instruments of execution. Depictions of Jesus crucifixion were even more rare, not occurring with any regularity until the 6th century.

Yet theres a reason this is surprising: Christian authors, poets and preachers wrote and spoke at great length about the significance and meaning of Jesus death on the cross. In the 2nd century, Christian thinker Justin Martyr wrote that when they crucified Him, driving in the nails, they pierced His hands and feet; and those who crucified Him parted His garments among themselves, emphasizing the humiliation and suffering of Jesus execution in a long dialogue with a non-Christian interlocutor. Tertullian, another prolific early Christian writer, also meditated at length on the crucifixion and its theological meaning.

While explaining the cross or crucifixs absence from visual art may be difficult, timing its appearance with the rise of pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the sites of Jesus life, death and resurrection provides helpful clues. By the end of the 4th century, pilgrims were traveling to Jerusalem, where they could visit Golgotha and venerate a relic of the true cross, supposedly discovered by the Roman Empress Helena. Some even were privileged to receive a fragment of the holy wood. The image of the cross and the crucifix may be linked with pilgrims desire to re-create the scene in its historical setting, and the proliferation of cross images in the West may have to do with the cross-related souvenirs some pilgrims brought back.

Myth No. 5

Christians adapted the cross from older symbols.

This idea has some convinced followers. According to Jehovahs Witnesses, for example, various authorities have linked the cross with nature worship and pagan sex rites. The Church of the Great God, another denomination, likewise claims that long before the coming of Christ, pagans used the cross as a religious symbol.

Yet there is no evidence that Christians intentionally borrowed the cross from pre-Christian cultic symbols.

While it is true that many ancient religions used symbols similar to the cross (and that Egyptian Christians even adapted the ankh, a hieroglyph for life), two intersecting lines are a simple and very common figure. This makes it difficult to assert that early Christians consciously adopted a particular sign rather than inventing one specifically referring to their unique story of Jesus death upon a cross. While it is easy to see similarities in religious artwork from various traditions, it is also easy enough to locate distinctions among them. The Christian cross, with all its associated symbols (anchors, letters, ploughs and more), is a distinct feature of Christian art.

outlook@washpost.com

Five myths is a weekly feature challenging everything you think you know. You can check out previous myths, read more from Outlook or follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter.
Rachel Manteuffel is an actor who works in The Posts editorial department.

Friday is the 152nd anniversary of one of the foulest deeds in American history. It is also a day in which American actors swallow hard and recognize parts of ourselves in the villain of the story. Being an actor gave John Wilkes Booth the opportunity to murder Americas greatest president, but being an actor was also his tragic flaw. Arguably, it got him killed.

Enough has been written about why Booth murdered Abraham Lincoln. But what he did next, according to many accounts, is inexplicable unless you treat him as not entirely rational, even for a presidential assassin. You have to consider him as . . . a theater person.

When disaster hits you during a live performance  say, a spontaneous onstage nosebleed  you think fast. If you can, you keep the audience from knowing something went wrong. If you cant, you make sure the audience knows that someone has a plan to fix it. The worst thing that can happen at your play is that the audience realizes its watching boring old real life.

Okay, the worst thing that can happen at your play is that someone shoots Lincoln. But once Booth had already done that  using his familiarity with the play to make sure the sound of the single derringer shot would be drowned out by the biggest laugh of the night  his actors ego took over, and he realized he had blown it. What made the assassination so successful had killed it as theater. The climax had come so suddenly and quietly that the audience didnt know it had happened. They were robbed.

For an ordinary, sane person concerned with escape and survival, someone not afflicted by the theater, the smartest exit route would be to turn and leave through the unguarded door through which hed come in. But for Booth, there was an audience, and so he was not sane. What made sense theatrically was a knife fight with the army major sitting near the president and a swashbuckling leap onto the stage.

Did any of this make logical sense? No. He went from the anonymous darkness of the presidential box onto the bright stage, where the 1,500-odd people in the room would see his famous-actor face, which instantly became the most wanted face in America. It was terrible getaway strategy, but it was great theater.

And having had no rehearsal to work out the kinks, he tripped and fell. Decades before break a leg became a thing, Booth literally did it.

No matter. His show had to go on. He had a line, his line was in Latin, and he needed to get to center stage to get it out. But confronted with a bewildered audience that didnt even realize the president had been shot, he had to ad lib a little playacting as exposition. He waved his bloody knife around, saying, Sic semper tyrannis! So it always goes for tyrants! And then, because many people still didnt seem to be getting it, he added, helpfully, I have done it.

Finally satisfied with his big moment onstage, he hobbled out the back way, where his horse was waiting. But the leg break  which occurred when he tripped over, seriously, a portrait of George Washington by some accounts  and his little explanatory show meant he wouldnt get away clean. Hed lost his head start, and now he had to find a doctor, and everyone knew who had killed the president. He had told them.

And so they found him. The manhunt took 12 days, and it ended outside a burning barn in Virginia. Paralyzed by a bullet in his neck, Booth lay awake for three hours figuring out his exit. Tell mother I die for my country, he said. But that was corny. Booth knew it. We know he knew it because he kept talking.

In his mind, he was likely comparing this real death with all the deaths hed performed, with their perfectly rendered last words. Just three months earlier he had expired as Romeo, breaking hearts with Thus, with a kiss, I die.

But in the end, Booth would depart after saying, Useless, useless. He was not making some existential statement. He was describing, for his captors, his paralyzed hands. Shakespeare wasnt writing for John Wilkes Booth anymore. He was on his own, and he was dying up there. And then he did.
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James Ledbetter, the editor of Inc. magazine, is the author of Unwarranted Influence: Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Military-Industrial Complex, and One Nation Under Gold: How One Precious Metal Has Dominated the American Imagination for Four Centuries, to be published in June.

Joseph McCarthys reign over Americas political life was ferocious and would resonate for decades. It was, however, relatively brief  a mere four years, spanning his 1950 enemies within speech in Wheeling, W.Va., through his formal censure by the Senate in 1954. Although he served in the Senate for more than 10 years, McCarthy was, as it were, a one-term demagogue.

Of course, no one at the time could have known how long McCarthy would be able to continue his often baseless accusations and destruction of peoples lives to score cheap political points. There were certainly moments during those four years when McCarthy seemed like a viable candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.

The man most responsible for checking McCarthys political power was Dwight Eisenhower, who marshaled the responsible sectors of the Republican Party and delivered the White House (twice) to the GOP for the first time in decades. To many, however, Eisenhower seemed unwilling or unable to fully denounce McCarthy, either for reasons of personal temperament or political calculation. The perception that Ike shied away from confronting McCarthy persists in historical estimation. In a generally favorable 2002 biography, for example, journalist Tom Wicker criticized Eisenhower because he impressed on Americans no moral outrage at McCarthys sins against decency.

In his new book, seasoned Eisenhower historian David A. Nichols sets out to correct the record. Drawing on eyes only documents that now reside in the Eisenhower Library, Nichols adamantly maintains that unbeknownst to nearly everyone, Eisenhower and some discreet aides carried out a deliberate campaign for years designed to disarm McCarthy. Nichols sees Eisenhower as a master of hidden hand management; the author cites his debt to Fred Greenstein, who portrayed this Eisenhower style in his 1982 book, The Hidden Hand Presidency.

"Ike and McCarthy: Dwight Eisenhower's Secret Campaign against Joseph McCarthy," by David A. Nichols (Simon & Schuster )

[McCarthy discusses communism in 1952]

On a personal level, Eisenhower despised McCarthy and his methods. Ike went out of his way not to mention the senator by name. Nothing will be so effective in combating his particular kind of trouble-making as to ignore him, Eisenhower wrote in his diary. This he cannot stand.

But behind the scenes, Eisenhower had no intention of ignoring McCarthy. The senators attacks on Gen. George Marshall, and later on Eisenhowers beloved Army, were simply too much to abide. Indeed, Eisenhower may have felt himself vulnerable to McCarthys attacks. It is largely forgotten today, but some in the Taft wing of the Republican Party considered Eisenhower to be a communist appeaser, and at the end of World War II, Eisenhower collaborated with Soviet leaders in ways that could be presented in an unflattering light.

Even without McCarthy directly attacking Eisenhower, the two men were likely to clash. McCarthy tried to block Eisenhowers appointments; he second-guessed his foreign policy; and he undermined Eisenhowers brand of anti-communism. McCarthy, Nichols writes, had no respect for the president or his loyal subordinates. Once McCarthy began a sustained attack on the Army, ostensibly prompted by the presence of Communist Party members at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey, it was inevitable that he would become the target of Eisenhowers anger.

The difficult question was: Where was McCarthy most vulnerable? The senator was unusually dependent on a combative young lawyer, Roy Cohn. And Cohn, for his part, seemed infatuated with an unpaid consultant on McCarthys Senate committee, David Schine, who was drafted into the Army in late 1953.

In a fateful 90-minute meeting on Jan. 21, 1954, in the office of Attorney General Herbert Brownell, top aides to Eisenhower decided not only to invoke executive privilege to keep Army officials from complying with McCarthys subpoenas but also to compile all the strongarm attempts Cohn had made to seek special privileges for Schine. These included excessive weekend and night passes and relief from KP duty and various drills.

[The man who showed Donald Trump how to exploit power and instill fear]

That document, which in its raw form apparently was two inches thick, was later shown to multiple journalists, including the influential columnist Joseph Alsop, well before the Army released it. From a public opinion standpoint, it was bad enough that Cohn seemed to be targeting the Army as a way of gaining privileges for his colleague. But the unspoken implication was that Cohn and Schine were lovers. That impression had already been created by the pairs sophomoric antics  such as swatting each other with a rolled-up magazine in a hotel lobby  while traveling through Europe trying to find communist literature in the libraries of the U.S. Information Agency; the press dubbed them the Gold Dust Twins. For Schine to be shirking Army duties to appear with Cohn in restaurants and hotels offended many sensibilities in Washington. Although Nichols does not dwell on it, the idea that anti-gay innuendo was the very effective weapon of choice may have been one reason Eisenhower wanted to keep his distance from the attack on McCarthy.

The better-known blows against McCarthy that later appear in public  Edward Murrows critical broadcast, the televised Army-McCarthy hearings that climax in the famous Have you no sense of decency? barb  are merely the culmination of the commander-level planning from the White House. Indeed, the lawyer who asked that withering question of McCarthy, Joseph Welch, had been guided to the Senate committee, Nichols shows, by none other than Eisenhower himself.

There are times when Nicholss pistols dont quite smoke; we read of officials who are probably or perhaps acting with a particular motive, and of people who are presumed but not proved to be acting on the presidents behalf. This isnt Nicholss fault as much as a limit of the historical record; still, such phrases occasionally cause the readers eyebrows to raise.

Nonetheless Nichols has provided a gripping, detailed account of how the executive branch subtly but decisively defeated one of Americas most dangerous demagogues. In todays incendiary politics, the hidden hand is out of fashion. But the need to battle demagoguery is as topical as ever.
A plane bound for Reagan National Airport flies over Gravelly Point Park along the Mount Vernon Trail in Arlington in 2011. (Matt McClain/For The Washington Post)

There are lots of public policy problems that, even with the best of political goodwill, cannot be easily solved. Theyre just inherently tough. Airline overbooking is not one of them.

As proposed by Harvard economist Greg Mankiw on his blog, the solution is straightforward: Make the airlines pay when they overbook. When they do, they should fully bear the consequences. They should be required [by government regulation] to keep raising the offered compensation until they get volunteers to give up their seats, Mankiw writes. If $800 does not work, then try $1600 or $8000.

Mankiw adds, somewhat gratuitously, that hes sure volunteers will appear as the price rises.

The fundamental problem is that the airlines have sold  or committed  more seats than they have. The object is to buy back those nonexistent seats.

(Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post)

Consider a simple example.

Suppose that the airline has 100 seats and has sold 104 tickets. Under Mankiws proposal, the airline would have to offer passengers enough money so that four of them would decide to take the money or some combination of a free ticket and cash. Lets assume that two passengers require $1,000 plus a free ticket, a third accepts a $1,200 buyout and the last sets a price of $1,500.

I would tweak Mankiws proposal by requiring that all the bumped passengers receive the highest payment. In this case, its $1,500. (On this issue, its not clear where Mankiw stands.) So the airlines total cost would be $6,000, plus the cost of vouchers for new tickets. I would also put an upper limit for each passenger, calculated as some multiple of a full ticket price, but it would be high.

This system would modify existing government regulations that the Wall Street Journals travel columnist Scott McCartney characterizes as giving fliers few rights. If asked to deplane, they must comply for safety reasons. Under certain circumstances, bumped passengers are entitled to vouchers and the cost of a hotel room. Under my proposal (and presumably Mankiws), the safety mandate would remain but would not extend to passengers bumped because of overbooking.

What we have here is a good example of how government regulations on bumping  adopted by the Transportation Department  would further a free-market solution: creating an auction system to balance the number of passengers with the number of seats. Making airlines pay more for overbooking would, almost certainly, make them more careful in their scheduling, while also more adequately compensating inconvenienced passengers.

Read more from Robert Samuelsons archive.
Colin Woodard is the author of five books, including American Character: A History of the Epic Struggle Between Individual Liberty and the Common Good. He is a staff writer at Maines Portland Press Herald.

One of the great paradoxes of the 2016 presidential election was the overwhelming support of white evangelical Christians for Donald Trump, a vulgar, thrice-married man who bragged of serial sexual assault and whose familiarity with scripture seemed fleeting. Exit polls indicated that 8o percent of them backed Trump, two percentage points more than went for Mitt Romney in 2012 or George W. Bush in 2004. Given that they made up 26 percent of the electorate, one could say their role was decisive. But what accounts for their enthusiasm?

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Frances FitzGeralds sprawling new history of the white evangelical movement and its effort to shape the nation is a good place to start looking for answers. For while The Evangelicals was completed before the general election, it takes readers from the First Great Awakening of the 1730s to the aftermath of last years Republican convention, when it was already clear that the evangelical community was lining up behind the man with the golden Gotham tower. The revealed history suggests that Trumps campaign rhetoric struck many chords with a movement thats waged war against cultural pluralism, religious diversity, the Islamic threat and the Enlightenments very insistence that verifiable facts trump the beliefs they contradict.

[Early polygamous Mormon marriages through the eyes of the wives]

FitzGerald shows how a movement that began in reaction to the Calvinist establishment of New England and interior Pennsylvania came to profoundly shape American life and identity in the first decades of the 19th century. It created a marketplace of religion, she writes, in which many of the movements leaders explicitly preached individual freedom, the separation of church and state, voluntary association as a primary means of social organization, and republicanism as the best form of government.

"The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America," by Frances FitzGerald (Simon & Schuster)

But the evangelical world was split by slavery and the Civil War, with Southerners breaking off to form their own slavery-endorsing denominations. In the North, there was a further split when their traditional worldview  that the Bible was inerrant and literally true, and that individual salvation would solve social problems  was challenged by industrialization, the scientific revolution generally, and Charles Darwin and German biblical scholarship in particular, which showed how the Good Book had evolved into its present form. There was an acrimonious struggle between the modernists or liberals who accepted and accommodated these discoveries and the conservatives or fundamentalists who rejected them.

Fundamentalisms detractors would later associate it with hillbillies and Southern country folk, but as a political matter, the movement was born and based in Northern cities into the 1950s. By all evidence its main constituency was small-town Protestants who had come to the cities to work in the factories and mills, FitzGerald notes, where they found themselves in a pluralistic society where their beliefs were considered outdated or even bizarre. They reacted by forming urban ghettos: church communities in which they could separate themselves from what they considered the corruptions of the world.  Seeing themselves as the saving remnant and the rightful heirs to American civilization, they sought not Amish-like separation but to be would-be conquerors of a corrupted nation.

Until the 1960s, there was no such movement in the South because there, evangelicals were dominant and unchallenged. But the civil rights movement, desegregation and the cultural revolution of the Long Sixties changed that. During the two decades that followed, a new fundamentalist challenge to American liberalism would be lead by Southern televangelists such as Jerry Falwell, who helped rewrite the 1979 Republican Party platform into what he likened to the constitution of a fundamentalist Baptist Church, and Pat Robertson, whose 1988 presidential run was undermined by his televised assertions that he could cure the sick and had commanded Hurricane Gloria to spare Virginia Beach. (It devastated Long Island instead.)

[Hopeful and relieved, conservative white evangelicals see Trumps win as their own]

Both men allied with Republican presidents and congressional leaders to push laissez-faire economic policies and a hard line on the atheistic Soviet Union, but their wholesale embrace of partisan politics was controversial within the evangelical community, in part because their alliances failed to deliver the social and cultural changes they had promised. After Bill Clintons 1996 reelection, the movement despaired. It had virtual control over the GOPs platform, 18 state parties and the selection of vice-presidential candidates, and yet, FitzGerald writes, after two decades of Christian Right political activity, the public was not more conservative on abortion than it had been before and substantially more liberal on gay rights and womens roles. Its strategist, Paul Weyrich, declared: I believe we have probably lost the culture war.

Instead, evangelicals found a willing ally in President George W. Bush, who had been born again, spoke their language and relied on their support to win reelection. Motivated by the same-sex-marriage issue, they turned out for Bush in huge numbers in 2004. The Christian Right had been left for dead, but in just two years its desiccated organizations had revived and swollen like some desert plants after a rain, FitzGerald writes. The Democrats had not seen this coming. Yet, once again, the effort resulted in disappointment: Bushs second term was marked by military setbacks in Iraq and economic disaster at home, while same-sex marriage would become the law of the land.

Had Trump lost, this history might have ended with the rise of the new evangelicals, a reaction to the Christian rights politicization of the church. Rick Warren, one of their leaders, called for a second reformation that would return evangelicals to their 19th-century roots of compassionate conservatism on behalf of the poor, sick and dispossessed. In a sense, FitzGerald writes, the movement came full circle, with a return to the reformist imperatives of the antebellum evangelicals.

But Trump won, and readers will hear his themes throughout fundamentalist and Christian right factions histories: a distrust of diversity, immigration and Islam; a belief in majoritarian rule and that the world is in a state of crisis. Theres William Jennings Bryans view that democracy meant popular sovereignty and the absolute right of the majority to rule; theres the 1980s scholarship on fundamentalists showing that their biggest difference with theological moderates was a discomfort with cultural pluralism and . . . change as a fact of life; theres the 2007 polling showing that 63 percent of evangelicals saw immigrants as a threat to U.S. customs and values and 90 percent favored forced deportation for all undocumented immigrants; and in 2002-2003, Falwell said the prophet Muhammad was a terrorist, Robertson declared Muslims worse than the Nazis, and the head of the moderate National Association of Evangelicals feared that Muslims were becoming the modern day equivalent of the Evil Empire.

FitzGerald, writing after Trump secured the Republican nomination but before he won the presidency, argues that such voices are on the wane, as younger evangelicals are on the whole more sympathetic with the progressives embrace of cultural pluralism, acceptance of moral ambiguities and rejection of intolerance. Millennial churchgoers were far more ready to accept gays, lesbians, and transgender people and, of course, other ethnic minorities than their elders, she writes. Evangelicals might continue to vote Republican, but the demographic changes were already registering in major evangelical organizations . . . [which] were taking on more social justice issues. If so, Trumpism may find decreasing returns at the ballot box from the passage of time alone.
Giovani, right, his daughter, Lucia, center, and son, Alex, left, return to their vehicle after visiting Giovani's wife and Alex and Lucia's mother, Wendy Uruchi Contreras for a morning visitation at Virginia Peninsula Regional Jai in September in Williamsburg, Va. Wendy is facing a possible deportation. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

The congregation that I serve, Temple Sinai in the District, recently formally decided to provide sanctuary to undocumented immigrants fearing deportation. Since then, the Union for Reform Judaism passed a resolution encouraging congregations to do what they can to protect undocumented immigrants. This support from the Reform Movement, the largest Jewish denomination in North America, sends a clear signal about where we stand at a time when immigrants are made to feel increasingly unwelcome and unsafe in the United States.

During Passover, Jews around the world reflect on our ancestors journeys from oppression to freedom. At our Seders, we are commanded to experience the Exodus as if we ourselves had been liberated from Egypt. As we recall that journey, we cannot ignore immigrants who are facing adversity, displacement or marginalization in our society.

After years of stalled negotiations in Congress on comprehensive immigration reform, we now face a political and cultural moment marred by xenophobia and anti-immigrant violence. The governments stated goals of building walls and increasing enforcement have already broken up families and forcibly removed productive, long-standing members of our communities. As a community of faith, our course of action must transcend politics. When peoples lives are at stake and it is within our power to intercede, we are compelled to act.

This is not the first time Temple Sinai and the Reform Jewish Movement have offered shelter and assistance to immigrants and refugees. We welcomed Holocaust survivors and others displaced by World War II seeking to rebuild their lives in the D.C. area. In the 1970s and 1980s, we welcomed Vietnamese refugees. In the 1980s and 1990s, Temple Sinai and Reform congregations across North America joined the Sanctuary Movement to protect refugees and immigrants from Central America, and we helped Soviet Jewish Refuseniks resettle in the United States. Today, members of our community have trained with Lutheran Social Services and remain prepared to support a refugee family fleeing war and violence overseas.

The teaching from Scripture is clear: When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall do him no wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself for you were strangers in the land of Egypt (Leviticus 19:33). This injunction is echoed 35 more times throughout the Torah. There is no mistaking our responsibility.

As a sanctuary congregation, we have committed to concrete action. Working with other sanctuary congregations across lines of faith, we will host Know Your Rights seminars, organize a rapid response team to serve as witnesses during Immigrations and Customs Enforcement actions and accompany immigrants to court and other legal appointments if needed. We will provide temporary shelter in our building for members of our community who might need protection as they address their immigration status.

In recent years, immigration law enforcement has been inconsistent as different presidential administrations shifted priorities through executive orders. Current legal uncertainty has forced people into the shadows. With the threat to accelerate deportations and separate families, providing shelter, witness and legal aid is how we can live our values in the face of adversity.

The choice of how to act is something that each congregation must determine for itself. There is potential risk involved and many logistical considerations: Do you have a kitchen and a working shower? Is there a place where people can sleep? We engaged legal counsel as part of our due diligence. Ultimately, our community decided that becoming a sanctuary congregation and standing with the immigrants among us, regardless of legal status, is intrinsic to who we are. The decision is not one that we take lightly.

When our ancestors received the Torah at Mount Sinai and Moses read the record of the covenant aloud, the people responded, naaseh vinishma (Exodus 24:7)  we will do and we understand. That eagerness to act, even as we continue to strive for complete understanding, is sacred.

A commitment to building a welcoming community is a core aspect of our Reform Jewish identity. Our belief is that the United States is a nation of immigrants and that is an advantage and a blessing. With these values under threat in a way they havent been for over a generation, we wont back down.

The writer is senior rabbi at Temple Sinai and a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
BLASTING A PATTERN of conduct unexplainable on nonracial grounds, to suppress minority voting, U.S. District Court Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos on Monday repudiated Texass voter-ID law, the strictest in the country. Asked by appeals court judges to reconsider her expansive 2014 ruling against the law using slightly different evidence, Ms. Ramos reaffirmed her previous determination that the law places a substantial burden on the right to vote, which is hardly offset by Texass claimed benefits to voting integrity. She found that racial discrimination was at least a partial motivation for the law, a step toward reestablishing federal supervision over Texass voting procedures, per the Voting Rights Act.

Given the ruling and the mountain of evidence, it is embarrassing that the Trump Justice Department dropped its support for the contention that the Texas voter law is purposely discriminatory.

The legal question is not close. There has been a clear and disturbing pattern of discrimination in the name of combating voter fraud, Ms. Ramos wrote in 2014. The only type of fraud the law could combat  voter impersonation  hardly ever happens. Meanwhile, the laws backers knew it would disproportionately impact minority voters; in fact, they designed it so. The Texas Legislature accepted amendments that would broaden Anglo voting and rejected amendments that would broaden minority voting, Ms. Ramos found in her 2014 examination. Texas accepts relatively few forms of identification at the polls, and those it does accept, such as gun licenses, are those white Texans tend to hold. Unlike many voter-ID states, Texas does not relax ID rules much for the elderly or the indigent, though obtaining an accepted ID can be surprisingly time-consuming and expensive.

Despite provisions to explain the rules to the public, no real educational campaign was initiated, and the individuals such a campaign needed to reach knew little, if anything, about the change in the law, Ms. Ramos wrote in 2014.

The result is that approximately 608,470 registered voters in Texas, representing approximately 4.5% of all registered voters, lack qualified SB 14 ID and of these, 534,512 voters do not qualify for a disability exemption. Moreover, a disproportionate number of African-Americans and Hispanics populate that group of potentially disenfranchised voters.

The Supreme Court may decide the laws fate. Given its decision upholding an Indiana voter-ID law, Ms. Ramoss ruling may not survive. Yet if any of these unnecessary, discriminatory laws deserve striking down, it is Texass unusually harsh one. Ms. Ramoss extensive evidentiary record shows that the laws harms are substantial and its benefits illusory.
I didnt really believe that there was such a thing as Trump Derangement Syndrome  hatred of President Trump so intense that it impairs peoples judgment. Its not that I didnt notice the harsh, unyielding language against him  Ive said a few tough things myself  but that throughout the campaign, Trump seemed to do things that justified it. Once elected, instead of calming down and acting presidential, he continued the stream of petty attacks, exaggerations and lies. His administration seemed marked by chaos and incompetence.

And then came the strike against Syria. On that issue, Trump appears to have listened carefully to his senior national security professionals, reversed his earlier positions, chosen a calibrated response and acted swiftly. I supported the strike and pointed out  in print and on air  that Trump was finally being presidential because the action seems to reflect a belated recognition from Trump that he cannot simply put America first  that the president of the United States must act on behalf of broader interests and ideals. On the whole, though, I was critical of Trumps larger Syria policy, describing it as incoherent. My Post column was titled, One missile strike is not a strategy.

From the response on the left, you would have thought I had just endorsed Trump for pope. Otherwise thoughtful columnists described my views as nonsense and a sign that the media has bent over backward to support Trump. (Really?) One journalist declared on television, If that guy could have sex with this cruise missile attack, I think he would do it. A gaggle of former Obama speechwriters discussed how my comments were perhaps the stupidest of any given on the subject.

White House speechwriters must have written the lines that President Barack Obama spoke on Sept. 27, 2013, announcing the U.N. deal in which the Syrian regime agreed to give up its chemical weapons stockpile. This binding resolution will ensure that the Assad regime must keep its commitments, or face consequences. Well have to be vigilant about following through. (My emphasis.) In other words, the Trump administration watched a violation of Obamas 2013 deal and enforced it in precisely the manner that Obama had implied. Which is why virtually every major Obama foreign policy official  Hillary Clinton, Thomas Donilon, Leon Panetta, David Petraeus  has supported the Trump administrations action, as did U.S. allies in the region and beyond.

The strikes were discreet, measured and intended to convey a signal, and yet at the same time were designed to ensure that the United States did not descend further into the Syrian civil war. In other words, they were very Obama-like. Two senior Obama officials I spoke with told me that, were Obama still president, he would have likely ordered a strike similar if not identical in scope. Presumably, those former speechwriters would then have used different words to describe the same strikes.

(Adriana Usero/The Washington Post)

Conservatives seem to understand Trumps about-face better than liberals. Many of Trumps strongest backers  Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, Laura Ingraham  are distraught by Trumps embrace of Obama-like policies. Andrew McCarthy wrote in National Review, When it came to foreign policy, I was worried that the 2016 election would be a case of Clinton delivering the third Obama term. Instead, we have Trump giving us the third Clinton term.

Liberals have to avoid Trump Derangement Syndrome. If Trump pursues a policy, it cannot axiomatically be wrong, evil and dangerous. In my case, I have been pretty tough on Trump. I attacked almost every policy he proposed during the campaign. Just before the election, I called him a cancer on American democracy and urged voters to reject him. But they didnt. He is now president. I believe that my job is to evaluate his policies impartially and explain why, in my view, they are wise or not.

Many of Trumps campaign promises and policies are idiotic and unworkable. It was always likely that he would reverse them, as he has begun to do this week on several fronts. Those of us who opposed him face an important challenge. We have to ask ourselves, which would we rather see: Trump reversing himself or Trump relentlessly pursuing his campaign agenda? The first option would be good for the country and the world, though it might save Trump from an ignominious fall. The second would be a disaster for all. It raises the quandary: Do we want whats better for America or whats worse for Donald Trump?

Read more from Fareed Zakarias archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Members of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets stand guard for 32 minutes following the lighting of a ceremonial candle at midnight on the Virginia Tech campus on April 16, 2012, in Blacksburg, Va. (Daniel Lin/The Roanoke Times v ia Associated Press)

The last time I saw my father, I was in my last year at the University of Virginia. It was spring break and I had the flu. He drove 268 miles round trip to come get me. I dont remember much of the ride home, but I do remember my time on the living room sofa. He dubbed me The Plague and teased me mercilessly. And, sick though I was, I loved it. I was with the people I love best  my mum, my sister, my dad. I had no idea that those moments would be my last moments with him.

Ten years ago this week, my family, along with 31 others, received the most horrific news: Our loved ones were shot and killed at Virginia Tech. My father, G.V. Loganathan, was a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He was a researcher, teacher, mentor, colleague and friend. For us, though, he was so much more: He was our heart. We would have followed him anywhere.

His murder left us with a gaping hole. Nothing ever fills it. But even in death, my father continues to push me to action. His murder opened my eyes to a world shared by millions of Americans: one where 90 Americans are killed and hundreds more are injured every day because of senseless gun violence.

The shooter at Virginia Tech had a mental-health history that should have prohibited him from possessing firearms. Because his mental-health records were not reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, he was able to pass a background check and buy the guns he used on April 16. This senselessness revealed fatal gaps in mental-health reporting laws across the country. In 2008, Virginia took steps to improve its mental-health reporting. It is now one of the best-performing states in the country. Other states have followed suit.

After the shooting, I realized I needed to address our nations weak gun laws. I joined a movement of Americans who refuse to let the National Rifle Association have the field to itself. As the extremist leadership of the NRA continues to back dangerous legislation in Congress and in statehouses, gun-safety advocates speak out. They show up at statehouses and work hard to defeat dangerous gun bills while supporting common-sense gun-safety legislation. They speak directly to their legislators.

And legislators are listening.

Recently, hundreds of committed gun-safety advocates and gun-violence survivors helped defeat a gun bill in the Virginia legislature that would have dismantled Virginias concealed-carry permitting requirements for firearms, making it easy for those with no firearms safety training or permit to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public.

Its heartening to see such progress, but it could be undermined. Days after the Virginia legislature adjourned, gun-lobby-backed legislators in Congress introduced a bill known as Concealed Carry Reciprocity. This policy would gut our state laws and force us to accept the weakest possible standards in their place. It would force Virginia to let people from other states carry concealed guns in our streets, essentially voiding our own gun laws. We would even have to let people with no permit carry guns in public. Virginia just made the smart choice to keep its permit system in place. Why would Congress force such a chaotic and dangerous policy on us?

Gun-violence survivors and gun-safety advocates are no longer sitting on the sidelines. The gun lobby cant push its dangerous agenda without opposition. Im proud to work with my fellow advocates to fight such legislation.

In the long run, we will win this fight for life and defeat the gun lobby. It will be a long fight, but if theres one thing my father taught me, its that you fight for what is right. After all, fighting to prevent gun violence is the least we can do for our loved ones.
The world is agog at President Trumps head-snapping foreign policy reversal. He runs on a platform of America First. He renounces the role of world policeman. He excoriates parasitic foreigners that (I paraphrase) suck dry our precious bodily fluids  and these are allies! On April 4, Trump declared: I dont want to be the president of the world. Im the president of the United States. And from now on, its going to be America First.

A week earlier, both his secretary of state and U.N. ambassador had said that the regime of Bashar al-Assad is a reality and that changing it is no longer an American priority.

Then last week, Assad drops chemical weapons on rebel-held territory and Trump launches 59 Tomahawk missiles into Syria.

This was, in part, an emotional reaction to images of children dying of sarin poisoning. And, in part, seizing the opportunity to redeem Barack Obamas unenforced red line on chemical weapons.

Whatever the reason, moral or strategic, Trump acted. And effectively reset his entire foreign policy.

(Adriana Usero/The Washington Post)

True, in and of itself, the raid will not decisively alter the course of Syrias civil war. Assad and his Iranian, Russian and Hezbollah co-combatants still have the upper hand  but no longer a free hand. After six years of U.S. passivity, there are limits now and the United States will enforce them.

Nor was the raid the beginning of a campaign for regime change. It was, however, a reassertion of an American stake in both the conduct and the outcome of the war. Americas abdication is over. Be warned.

Moreover, the very swiftness of the response carried a message to the wider world. Obama is gone. No more elaborate forensic investigations. No agonized presidential handwringing over the moral dilemmas of a fallen world. It took Obama 10 months to decide what to do in Afghanistan. It took Trump 63 hours to make Assad pay for his chemical-weapons duplicity.

America demonstrated its capacity for swift, decisive action. And in defense, mind you, of an abstract international norm  a rationale that dramatically overrides the constraints of America First.

Trumps inaugural address had boldly rejected the 70-year American consensus to bear the burdens of world leadership. Less than three months later, the Syrian raid abruptly changed that course with a renewed interventionism  not, to be sure, in the service of a crusade for democracy, but in the service of concrete strategic objectives, broadly defined and extending far beyond our shores.

To the North Pacific, for example. The Syria strike sent a message to both China and North Korea that Trumps threats of unilateral action against Pyongyangs nukes and missiles are serious. A preemptive strike against those facilities is still unlikely but today conceivable. Even more conceivable  perhaps even probable  is a shoot-down of a North Korean missile in flight.

The message to Russia was equally clear. Dont push too far in Syria and, by extension, in Europe. Were not seeking a fight, but you dont set the rules. Syria shared the Sharyat base with Russian troops. Russian barracks were left untouched, but we were clearly not deterred by their proximity.

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.

The larger lesson is this: In the end, national interest prevails. Populist isolationism sounds great, rouses crowds and may even win elections. But contra White House adviser Stephen Bannon, its not a governing foreign policy for the United States.

Bannon may have written the come-home-America inaugural address. But it was the old hands, Trumps traditionally internationalist foreign policy team led by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and national security adviser H.R. McMaster, who rewrote the script with the Syria strike.

Assad violated the international taboo on chemical weapons. Who would enforce it, if not us? Candidate Trump would have replied: None of our business. President Trump brought out the Tomahawks.

His foreign policy has gone from mere homeland protection to defending certain interests, values and strategic assets abroad. These endure over time. Hence the fundamental continuity of our post-World War II engagement abroad.

With apologies to Lord Palmerston, we dont have permanent enthusiasms, but we do have permanent interests. And they have a way of asserting themselves. Which is why Bannonism is in eclipse.

This is not to say that things could not change tomorrow. Weve just witnessed one about-face. With a president who counts unpredictability as a virtue, he could well reverse course again.

For now, however, the traditionalists are in the saddle. U.S. policy has been normalized. The world is on notice: Eight years of sleepwalking is over. America is back.

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The April 2 Outlook essay How Trump and Chinas Xi could stumble into war, by Harvard University professor Graham Allison, opened with the unflinching assertion that the United States and China are on a collision course for war. Allisons assertion is based, however, on a stretching of historical equivalences with a war fought some 2,400 years ago. Allison derived his interesting metaphor, the Thucydides Trap, from the fifth-century B.C. Peloponnesian War recounted by the ancient Greek historian Thucydides. The combatants were the ruling power Sparta, which the trap describes as corresponding to 21st-century United States, and the rising power Athens, corresponding to todays China. Thucydides attributed the war to the growth in power of Athens, and the alarm which this inspired in Sparta, spurring the latter to launch what became a 27-year war.

But the comparisons do not end there. The Thucydides Trap further stretches history and credulity by presuming equivalence with other distant wars. Allisons examples date to the 16th-century war between the ruling power France and the rising power the Habsburgs, the 17th-century war between the Dutch Republic and England, and the 19th-century war between the ruling power France and the rising power Germany  among several others, reaching back centuries. But the equivalences with 21st-century United States and China  geostrategic challenges and opportunities, international order, deepening and irreversible globalization, myriad interdependences, robust trade, potentially existential nature of war today and preferred resort to diplomacy  dont really hold up. Especially not to ancient Sparta and Athens.

Despite competitiveness and even spikes in chariness between the United States and China, thats a normal, manageable and very different dynamic than the collision course for war that Allison and his Thucydides Trap intrepidly predict.

Keith Tidman, Bethesda
I am struggling to understand the intention of the April 6 Critics Notebook Melania Trump and the politics of airbrushing  [Style]. Our new first lady is a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur, doting mother, committed family member and educated immigrant who speaks multiple languages. It is 2017, yet The Post elected to shame Melania Trumps official White House portrait for reasons that do not deserve repeating.

Trump, like all women, should be honored and valued for her unique gifts. Comparisons, criticisms and chastising Trump for not fitting a preconceived notion of what is the right look for a first lady sets a poor precedent for all women. After all, dont we tell our children that it is their heart that truly defines their beauty? Perhaps we should give the same consideration to Trump  and one another.

Kellee M. Franklin, Fairfax Station

The March 26 Business article A new wardrobe go-to for harried 9-to-5ers? was interesting and a helpful plug for MM.LaFleur. However, as a professional woman (lawyer and engineer) with two daughters, I suggest that it is a huge disservice to working women to characterize them as harried. This is sexist and certainly does not accurately describe most working women. Further, no respectable writer would refer to men with school-age children as harried.

I am a past president of the Womens Bar Association of D.C. and active in Women in Technology, two organizations representing thousands of successful women who are working to achieve work-life balance, advance professionally and maintain active and thriving families.

It is ironic that the article was in the Business section, where readers would expect to find objective reporting on business developments.

The Post owes the women of Washington an apology for painting them with this broad brush of negativity, instead of commending this fashion start-up for helping women become even more successful.

Lucy L. Thomson, Washington
For a reminder of how new administrations can quickly get into trouble in foreign policy, consider that Monday, April 17, marks the anniversary of the catastrophic Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. Bad things can happen to good presidents, and vice versa.

President Trump, after a mostly disastrous first two months, has had a good run these past two weeks in foreign policy. He acted decisively in Syria, gained China as a possible partner in dealing with North Korea, repaired relations with NATO and began addressing the serious tensions with Russia.

Why is Trump making better decisions now? And what could disrupt his progress toward a more coherent foreign policy?

Trump is making gains because he has assembled a competent national security team  and listens to its advice. There was a consensus among his top advisers for a quick, limited strike on a Syrian air base, and Trump took the recommendation. He didnt amplify, augment or otherwise disrupt it with his own tweets. He allowed the process to work.

If Trump goes back to his freewheeling, tweeter-in-chief role, or if the disruptive would-be chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon regains influence, then chaos could return. But for now, Trump has bonded with his core team. And in this White House, starved for a win, nothing succeeds like success.

(Adriana Usero/The Washington Post)

Contrast the quick, relatively clean decision on the military strike in Syria with the chaotic White House discussions about the 1961 Cuba invasion. The CIA didnt level with Kennedy about its doubts that Cuban exiles could succeed without air cover; the Pentagon resented the covert paramilitary operation; Kennedy let himself get dragged into a mistake that prefigured the 1962 Cuban missile crisis and nearly led to nuclear war.

The Bay of Pigs illustrates what happens when a policy process goes bad. Other administrations have also had bumpy starts. President George W. Bush had a messy first few years, with recurring feuds between Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and Vice President Dick Cheney. It was only in Bushs second term that he really got the balance right. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton also had ragged beginnings.

The Trump team, for now, is basking in self-congratulation. Bannons power is diminished and H.R. McMaster has taken over as a disciplined national security adviser. Comity reigns in part because Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson hammer out common positions before every meeting in the Situation Room.

Trumps strength and weakness is his emphasis on personality politics. That was evident in his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which included nearly four hours of one-on-one conversation. Trump was bubbly at a news conference Wednesday in describing the good chemistry of the meeting. Such talk is the elevator music of summits, but in this case, the two do seem to have developed a mutually opportunistic bond. Xi is signaling that Chinas interests are served by working with the United States to check North Korea, short of war. Will that last? Well see.

Trumps North Korea strategy had a coherent rollout. First Mattis visited the region, followed by Tillerson; as tensions rose this week, the United States signaled resolve by dispatching an aircraft-carrier task force. Behind these tactical moves are some big strategic ideas about a future North Korea that wouldnt threaten Chinas interests.

The danger is over-personalizing policy. Trump likes people who make him look good (as Xi has done). But personal success cant be the engine of statecraft.

Trumps first two months were a case study in self-destructive actions. An example of how he undermined his teams good ideas was a plan back in January for defusing trade and immigration tensions with Mexico. The centerpiece would have been a visit to Washington by President Enrique Pena Nieto. But Trump got defensive about criticism that he was backing away from his campaign rhetoric and unleashed an inflammatory tweet that led Pena Nieto to cancel the visit.

The Mexico flap added to the uproar and disarray of Trumps first weeks. Trump was running at government with his head; he was behaving like a guy who gets into bar fights. Somebody (presumably Bannon) must have told him that this was a good idea. Thats how advisers lose clout.

Over the past week, Trump has adopted a different approach  more careful and consensual. Yes, it brings him closer to the foreign policy mainstream that he and Bannon derided during the campaign. But it also gives him a taste of the success he craves.

Read more from David Ignatiuss archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
WHEN A politician flip-flops, an editorial writers instinct is to pounce. When the politician flip-flops a half-dozen times in a week, as President Trump has done, the instinct is almost irresistible.

Nor is the pouncing a childish game of gotcha, as the politicians defenders in such circumstances often maintain. People who voted for Mr. Trump on the expectation that he was going to keep his promises  to rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement, say, or tear up the Iran nuclear deal on the first day of his presidency  have reason to feel aggrieved. Even voters who did not support those positions have reason to feel confused. Unpredictability can be an asset, to the extent it keeps adversaries off balance, but it can be a liability, too, especially for allies who do not know what to think or whom to trust. If NATO was obsolete last week and essential this week, what will it be next week?

Nonetheless, when a president moves from being so wrong to being so right on such important questions, the sensible response is not to carp but to celebrate, however cautiously. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is a butcher, and it is hugely important that the United States recognize as much. It should not be tolerable to the United States for a dictator such as Mr. Assad to drop ghastly chemical weapons on children or for a dictator such as Russian President Vladimir Putin to lie about the war crime. The NATO alliance has been a force for peace and freedom for decades, and Mr. Trump is right to welcome its enlargement and work toward its improvement. He is right that China is no longer a currency manipulator, and it does not serve U.S. interests to distort the facts.

Of course, there are 1,001 areas where we still ferociously disagree with Mr. Trump, and we express no confidence that he will stick to his new positions where we do agree. But we think there are two particular reasons to take heart from his recent shifts regarding the U.S. role in the world.

The first is they may reflect the thinking and advice of an excellent national security team that Mr. Trump has begun to shape. He fired the wildly unsuitable Michael Flynn as national security adviser and replaced him with the comparably well-qualified H.R. McMaster. He removed Stephen K. Bannon, leader of his America First nationalist advisers, from the National Security Council. He named sensible people to his most important Cabinet positions, especially Jim Mattis to the Defense Department and Rex Tillerson to the State Department. It would not be surprising if these sensible people were telling the president that the world is safer when the United States is engaged and leading on behalf of values such as self-determination. We should be grateful if Mr. Trump is paying attention, and even more grateful if he would let them fill out their teams and develop a strategy.

The second reason to take some encouragement is that Mr. Trumps shifts align him more closely with the traditional moral values of the people he was elected to lead. Naturally, most Americans believe their government should put their welfare first. Many do not want their young men and women fighting wars far from home. But most Americans do not feel comfortable with the harsh selfishness they heard in Mr. Trumps inaugural address. They want the United States to be in sympathy with people who are fighting for freedom, not with the agents of their death and repression. If the magnet of American magnanimity is tugging Mr. Trump closer to those mainstream values, that is to be welcomed.
Why should U.S. taxpayers be interested in Ukraine? That was the question that Rex Tillerson, the U.S. secretary of state, was heard to ask at a meeting of the Group of Seven foreign ministers, Americas closest allies, a day before his visit to Moscow this week. We dont know what he meant by that question, or in what context it was asked. When queried, the State Department replied that it was a rhetorical device, seeking neither to defend nor retract it.

If Tillerson were a different person and this were a different historical moment, we could forget about this odd dropped comment and move on. But Tillerson has an unusual background for a secretary of state. Unlike everyone who has held the job for at least the past century, he has no experience in diplomacy, politics or the military; instead he has spent his life extracting oil and selling it for profit. At that he was successful. But no one knows whether he can change his value system to focus instead on the very different task of selling something intangible  American values  to maximize something even more intangible: American influence.

The switch is harder than it seems: Values and influence cannot be measured like money. They cannot be achieved through cost-cutting or efficiency; they cannot be promoted using the tactics of corporate PR. On his first trip to Asia, for example, Tillerson refused to take the usual contingent of journalists (who have always paid their own way) on the grounds that if he took fewer people he could use a smaller plane and return faster. If he were still a chief executive, that might have been a great decision. For the secretary of state it was an embarrassing mistake. Authoritarians around the world saw further evidence that the Trump administration intends to undermine journalism; Americans learned less than they should have about a visit that was covered mainly by foreigners.

Tillersons question, rhetorical or otherwise, therefore deserves a response. For the answer is yes: U.S. taxpayers should be interested in Ukraine. But not necessarily for reasons that would make sense to an oil companys CEO.

Why? Its an explanation that cannot be boiled down to bullet points or a chart, or even reflected in numbers at all. Im not even sure it can be done in a few paragraphs, but here goes. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea in 2014 were an open attack on the principle of border security in Europe. The principle of border security, in turn, is what turned Europe, once a continent wracked by bloody conflicts, into a safe and peaceful trading alliance in the second half of the 20th century. Europes collective decision to abandon aggressive nationalism, open its internal borders and drop its territorial ambitions made Europe rich, as well as peaceful.

It also made the United States rich, as well as powerful. U.S. companies do billions of dollars of business in Europe; U.S. leaders have long been able to count on European support all over the world, in matters economic, political, scientific and more. Its not a perfect alliance but it is an unusual alliance, one that is held together by shared values as well as common interests. If Ukraine, a country of about 43 million people, were permanently affiliated with Europe, it too might become part of this zone of peace, trade and commerce.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an aggressive, emboldened Russia increasingly threatens European security and prosperity, as well as Europes alliance with the United States. Russia supports anti-American, anti-NATO and indeed anti-democratic political candidates all across the continent; Russia seeks business and political allies who will help promote its companies and turn a blind eye to its corrupt practices. Over the long term, these policies threaten U.S. business interests and U.S. political interests all across the continent and around the world.

But I must concede: There is no calculation, no balance sheet that can prove any of this. There is nothing that would appeal to a CEO or his shareholders. Whatever we have invested in Ukraine  loans, via the International Monetary Fund, or aid  will not show an immediate profit. To see the value of a secure, pro-Western Ukraine, you have to see the value of an alliance going back 70 years. And to preserve this alliance, you have to advocate it, work on it, invest time and maybe even money in it, too.

Tillersons boss isnt going to be an advocate for Americas alliances. Will he? It would help if he could start by understanding that their stability, not their value for money, are the most important measure of success in his job.

Read more from Anne Applebaums archive, follow her on Twitter or subscribe to her updates on Facebook.
Another week, another heretical speaker bullied and physically intimidated on an illiberal college campus.

Last week it was pro-police Manhattan Institute scholar Heather Mac Donald, who was invited to speak at Claremont McKenna College in California. Hundreds of protesters blocked the entrances to the building where she was scheduled to talk, chanting Black lives matter, F--- the police and Shut it down. Student journalists who tried to document the protest were swarmed, pushed and verbally threatened.

Mac Donald spoke via live-stream to a mostly empty room, as protesters banged on the windows and shouted; police cut the talk short and escorted her out of the building.

Just a few weeks earlier, conservative political scientist Charles Murray had been hounded by a mob at Middlebury College in Vermont. There, protesters sent his (liberal) faculty escort to the emergency room.

These are but the most recent examples of attempts to suppress speakers, viewpoints, teaching materials and works of art that students  usually liberal students  find unsafe.

Each time something like this happens, pundits make impassioned pleas that the solution to speech you abhor should be more speech, not less; that you must be brave enough to face your ideological enemies, not muzzle them; that the free exchange of ideas is critical to scientific and moral progress; that censorship is contrary to American values, included those enshrined in our Constitution.

Clearly, this appeal to high-minded principles and character development isnt working.

So lets try another tack: naked self-interest.

To todays (predominantly liberal) college students, I offer five reasons that granting your ideological enemies a chance to speak benefits you, even  perhaps especially  when you believe their words are dangerous or hateful.

First, youre giving the speakers you abhor a much bigger platform when you martyr them.

As Ive written before, censorship tends to generate more public interest, not less, in whatever message is being censored. This is true for paintings as well as paid lecturers.

Professional troll Milo Yiannopoulos grew especially adept at monetizing this phenomenon. Violent protesters helped him gain attention, speaking gigs and (at least until his comments about sex with underage boys went viral) a book deal. He and other, more-principled conservatives would never have gained their large followings absent the telegenic hysterics of angry liberals.

Second, suppressing ideas you disagree with dulls your ability to cogently, convincingly rebut them.

If you want to win arguments  let alone elections  honing your rhetorical chops will be crucial. Getting up and asking a tough question at a speech is good practice. Especially for when youre no longer able to call in an in-loco-parentis administrator to punish or expel your adversaries.

Third, and relatedly, youre not actually crushing opposing views by shushing them; youre merely forcing them underground, where they can fester and mutate into more dangerous forms.

Its no wonder that so many campuses have struggled with nasty anonymous comments and harassment on apps such as Yik Yak. When students feel they cant speak openly because they fear being branded a bigot or traitor, they turn to the anonymous fever swamps.

If youre right, as you believe you are, its better to engage, argue and attempt to dissuade your opponents, out in the open. As Brookings Institution scholar Jonathan Rauch once put it, Suppressing speech thats wrong-headed and hateful is like curing global warming by breaking the thermometers. The root problem is fear and ignorance and hatred, and you go for that by correcting people.

Fourth, you may not realize it yet, but youre breeding resentment and reactionaryism  and turning potential allies into enemies.

Almost every time I have reported on some arbitrary campus purity test or purge (remember Sombrerogate?), students Ive interviewed made some version of the following statement: I consider myself [liberal/moderate/centrist], but this is making me more conservative by the day.

President Trumps jihad against political correctness not only appealed to those who long for the days when they could sexually harass their secretaries with impunity; it also resonated with some less regressive types who have soured on what they see as the lefts illiberalism and virtue-signaling. Dont fuel the Trumps of the world by shutting down debate.

Finally, the same censorship tools youve developed to silence your enemies will be used against you.

Right-wing students and allies have already begun adopting tactics to intimidate intellectual enemies and muzzle ideas they dislike, including through trigger warnings, professor watchlists, proposed ideological litmus tests for college hiring and even speech codes.

Remember, liberal snowflakes. Youre playing the long game, which includes the day when you may no longer be in a position of power. Be smart. Before you have that debate tomorrow, from the minority position, set some fair ground rules today.
Donald Trump campaigned as an outsider who would upend years of Washington orthodoxy in matters of both war and peace  an approach that helped him assemble the unconventional coalition that ultimately won him the presidency.

But in recent days, the president has done an about-face and embraced many of the policy positions he once scorned as the trappings of a foolhardy establishment.

Trump voiced support for NATO, which he called obsolete during the campaign. He walked back his pledge to label China a currency manipulator and endorsed the Export-Import Bank, which he had opposed.

These and other recent flip-flops have soothed the nerves of many Republicans who worried he was looking to upend too much of the status quo. But they could also alienate some supporters, who see Washington co-opting yet another politician elected to reform the government.

On Thursday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer argued that it wasnt Trump who had shifted.

(Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

If you look at whats happened, its those entities or individuals in some cases, or issues, evolving towards the presidents position, Spicer said. I think you look at the presidents position, where he wanted to see NATO in particular evolve to, and its moving exactly in the direction that he said it was in terms of its goals of increasing the amount of participation from other member countries; and two, its having a greater focus on terrorism.

NATO has been moving toward greater burden-sharing for years and has long been involved in counterterrorism, particularly since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Spicer also pointedly declined to explain why Trump changed his position on a slate of other issues that had remained essentially unchanged since he was a candidate.

The administration has slow-walked moves toward renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, despite his railing against the deal as a candidate. And the Trump administration has approved aggressive, even hawkish stances overseas on issues such as Syria, the Islamic State and North Korea, regardless of Trumps often noninterventionist stances during the campaign.

[The Daily 202: Here are eight flip-flops since Trump was inaugurated]

Among those heartened by the changes is a former critic Elliott Abrams, who was later considered for a post at the State Department but was rejected for a senior post in Trumps State Department because he was considered too much of an establishment Republican.

I would say this is looking more now like a more conventional Republican administration, said Abrams, who served as a foreign policy adviser in the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations. To me, thats a very good thing.

Trumps opposition to the Export-Import Bank  a government agency that subsidizes U.S. exports  endeared him to movement conservatives who labeled it corporate welfare and crony capitalism. It fit well with a campaign message in which Trump railed against the global elite conspiring against the common man.

But to the thrill of establishment Republicans, corporate leaders and some Democrats, Trump reversed course this week, solidifying a shift he first signaled in February.

Instinctively, you would say, Isnt that a ridiculous thing? . . . But, actually, its a very good thing, he told the Wall Street Journal in an interview this week. It turns out that . . . lots of small companies are really helped!

Almost immediately, the move drew praise from Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), whose state gets an economic boost from the bank.

Well done, Mr. President, Graham said in a statement.

The thaw, especially among Republican hawks, seemed to begin in earnest last week when Trump, faced with his first major foreign policy test, sided with the use of military force in Syria. That decision  which contradicted Trump stances dating to 2013  endeared him to members of Congress such as Graham and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who had criticized his isolationist campaign rhetoric.

[Three big ways Trump is starting to sound like Obama on the economy]

I think its a product of the fact that he didnt understand foreign affairs, presidential historian Tim Naftali said of the president. His business career didnt afford him much information on foreign affairs. Hes learning on the job.

On economic issues, some have speculated that Trumps shift has been linked to the growing influence of a group of advisers led by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, many of whom are political moderates and who came to the administration from Wall Street.

The rift between Kushner-backed aides such as National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn and Republican hard-liners in the administration  especially the presidents chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon  has only grown in recent weeks, raising questions about whether Trump will abandon the economic populism that got him elected in favor of a more traditional platform influenced by Wall Street.

But Trumps backers say that, from the beginning, the president assembled a Cabinet of military leaders, establishment Republicans and business leaders who would be at home in the Cabinets of more traditional Republicans. And he has pursued policies in other areas  on immigration, the budget, taxes, and rolling back the Affordable Care Act  that have left many conservatives content with the direction his administration is headed.

The budget hes put out is an incredible budget. Hes pushed hard to abolish Obamacare, said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. The tax bill he put forward is Reaganite in all its forms, so Im looking at a guy who did exactly what he said he was going to do on every big issue.

Both on China and NATO, he rattled the cage and got movement in the direction that he wanted, Norquist said, and, at least as of now, NATO is behaving the way he wants it to and the Chinese might be more helpful in Korea.

[President Trump, king of flip-flops (continued)]

One former Trump aide, who requested anonymity to speak candidly, said that the president is known to form initial opinions based on instinct but later to change his stance based on new information and the influence of his advisers.

He has a general reaction to something, then after he does a lot more homework on the situation, he can change his view, the former adviser said. The reason most of these voters voted on him was less because of the core issues, it was more based on the Trump decision-making, the Trump judgment.

Yet Trump promised his supporters  a coalition that included larger-than-expected numbers of non-college educated, working-class voters  that he would pursue populist policies that put the interests of American workers first. It remains to be seen whether these changes will be viewed as moving toward that goal.

John Weaver, a former presidential campaign aide to Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), said that so far, the dissonance between Trumps campaign pledges and his current positions havent touched on core promises, such as bringing back U.S. jobs or seeking to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

The fact that he says one thing or another about NATO has no impact on their day-to-day lives, Weaver said of Trumps supporters.

And with Trump, allies and adversaries alike are never sure he wont change his mind again.

It represents Trump is a New York City liberal returning back to form, said Rick Wilson, a Republican strategist sharply critical of Trump. People should not be surprised.

But Trump, he added, because he has a short attention span, could easily flop back.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly described Elliott Abrams as a "'Never Trump' Republican. Abrams wcritical of Trump during the campaign but did not belong to any organized effort against his candidacy. The story has been corrected.
As Republicans struggle to craft a sweeping tax package  a process already rife with political land mines  they are preparing to add another volatile element to the mix: a provision that would end a six-decade-old ban on churches and other tax-exempt organizations supporting political candidates.

The repeal of the Johnson Amendment is being written into tax legislation developed in the House of Representatives, according to aides. President Trump has vowed to totally destroy the provision at the behest of evangelical Christians who helped elect him.

The inclusion of the repeal in broader tax legislation could bolster its chances. A stand-alone bill would almost certainly face a filibuster in the Senate, where opponents fear the measure would effectively turn churches into super PACs.

But the prospects for comprehensive tax reform also remain far from certain given differences in priorities among House and Senate Republicans and an array of business groups prepared to fight provisions that would hurt them.

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Tex.) backs allowing churches and other tax-exempt groups to support political candidates. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

It is also unclear whether Trump, who has struggled to navigate Capitol Hill, supports the strategy of including the repeal in a broader tax bill, which is likely to include corporate and middle-class tax cuts.

Republicans are going to have enough problems getting tax reform done, said Jim Manley, a longtime aide to former Senate minority leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.). If they start loading it up with unrelated stuff like this one to score political points, it will just get bogged down and go nowhere.

The measure at issue is named for Lyndon B. Johnson, who introduced it in the Senate in 1954, nine years before he became president. The provision prohibits tax-exempt organizations, including houses of worship, from endorsing or opposing political candidates.

Repeal of the amendment has been sought primarily by conservative Christian leaders, who argue that it is used selectively to keep them from speaking out freely in church.

During the campaign, Trump spoke out in favor of ending the prohibition, and he strongly reiterated his support during the National Prayer Breakfast shortly after taking office.

White House spokeswoman Natalie Strom said Trump still supports repeal, but she would not comment on whether he backs the approach advocated by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Tex.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, which counts repeal of the Johnson amendment as a top priority, said he is not as concerned with how the repeal happens as he is that Trump and other Republican leaders keep their promise.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) opposes moves to lift restrictions on tax-exempt groups backing political candidates. (Jahi Chikwendiu/Washington Post)

That would be fine with us, if it were to become law as part of a tax package, Reed said. Wed like to have an up-or-down vote, but this might make it easier to pass.

Houses of worship make up just a fraction of the universe of 501(c)(3) organizations, named for a portion of the tax code.

Last week, nearly 4,500 such organizations signed onto a letter to congressional leaders, urging them not to weaken or repeal the amendment. It also argued that allowing nonprofit organizations to support candidates would create a loophole in campaign disclosure laws because contributions to many such groups are not made public and are tax deductible.

Nonpartisanship is a cornerstone principle that has strengthened the publics trust of the charitable community, the letter said.

Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, one of the groups that signed the letter, criticized any attempt by House leaders to attach repeal of the Johnson amendment to broader tax legislation.

Its simply an effort to ram it through without getting a vote on it, Wertheimer said.

The aim of repealing the Johnson amendment is also not universally embraced by all religious groups. A coalition of 99 organizations, including many Jewish and Baptist groups, sent a separate letter to Congress last week, urging that the ban stay in place.

In a statement Thursday, Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, spoke out against efforts to eliminate the Johnson amendment.

A repeal would undermine the sanctity of our religious institutions, increase the flow of dark money in politics and force taxpayers to foot the bill for special interests, Wyden said.

But Jerry Falwell Jr., an evangelical Christian leader and president of Liberty University, said that such concerns are overblown, saying a repeal could be carefully crafted to ensure that churches and other tax-exempt organizations are permitted to spend only a small percentage of their funds on support of candidates.

That just needs to be worked out, he said.

Falwell said religious leaders are mostly concerned about the ability to speak freely and not risk losing their institutions tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service. Most are not interested in turning their churches into super PACs, he said.

Under current law, churches are free to engage in political activity; the restrictions under the Johnson Amendment are triggered by their acceptance of tax-exempt status.

As a candidate, Trump voiced his opposition to the Johnson Amendment during a speech in June to a group of hundreds of conservative Christian faith leaders who met with him in New York. He also pressed the issue in smaller settings, including in a meeting with faith leaders before a rally in North Carolina shortly before the election, said Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the NC Values Coalition, who was one of the participants.

And during his appearance at the National Prayer Breakfast in February, Trump vowed to get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution.
Some influential Republicans in Congress dont want a fight President Trump is threatening to pick over extra Obamacare payments to insurers.

Trump suggested this week that as Congress seeks to fund the government beyond April, Republicans should refuse to pay for cost-sharing subsidies provided through the Affordable Care Act to low-income Americans. Theres widespread agreement that without the subsidies, insurers would be forced to hike premiums next year, worsening conditions in the Obamacare insurance marketplaces.

The president told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that not only would such a move cause Obamacare to die, it could also be used to force Democrats to negotiate on repealing the health-care law altogether. Without the payments, Obamacare is gone, just gone, Trump said.

[Trumps threat prompts Democrats to play hardball over Obamacare payments]

Many Republicans are well aware that the public is likely to blame them for premium increases, now that they control both Congress and the White House and have so far failed to agree on a health-care replacement plan. And Democrats are keenly aware of the shifting dynamics, seizing every opportunity they can to insist Republicans now own the health-care law.

The Democratic leadership in Congress says it will hold up the government funding bill that expires on April 28 in order to secure the payments if Trump decides to withhold them. But Republicans are unlikely to want to shut down the government  or for Trump to withhold the payments in the first place.

I dont think Democrats will let this happen, but I frankly dont think the Republicans want it to happen either, said Timothy Jost, a health-law professor at Washington and Lee University.

Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), who, as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, helped craft the GOP health-care plan, told constituents this week that the subsidies need to be funded, period.

It was a commitment made by the government to the insurers and the people, Walden said Wednesday at a town hall in his district. That needs to happen.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), who chairs the powerful Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over health care, has also said its important to fund the payments for insurers, although he stressed its a decision that the House leadership would have to make.

Its probably the right thing to do, I think, Cole told The Washington Post last month. Otherwise youre going to have insurance companies exiting the market.

Other top Republicans are remaining quiet about how to handle the subsidies, letting the White House lead the way. Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Tex.) isnt taking a position. A Brady spokeswoman said Friday that the congressman believes the administration is taking important steps to stabilize Obamacares collapsing marketplace.

(Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

The Trump administration must decide whether it will continue pursuing a GOP lawsuit to block the subsidies. The House sued the Obama administration for awarding the subsidies without a clear congressional appropriation and won in federal court last year. The Obama administration appealed the decision.

Now the GOP has the White House on its side  and a new concern that Republicans will bear the public blame for problems with Obamacare. Trumps victory created a tricky new situation that House Republicans surely didnt envision when they filed the lawsuit, said Bill Pierce, a health policy expert at APCO Worldwide.

It is a situation entirely of their own doing, Pierce said.

Republicans have said they were fighting the awarding of insurer payments without permission from Congress  not the subsidies themselves. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) hasnt said whether he wants to fund the subsidies in a spending bill later this month, and his office didnt respond Friday to a query about the issue.

We believe in Congress retaining its lawmaking power, but this lawsuit hasnt run its course, Ryan said late last month. While the lawsuit is running its course, the administration is exercising their discretion with respect to the [cost-sharing reductions].

The health-care law requires marketplace insurers to discount extra insurance costs beyond the monthly premium  such as deductibles and co-payments  for people earning less than 250 percent of the poverty level. Without federal payments to cover those discounts, its estimated that insurers would hike premiums by an average of 19 percent.

That reality is leading lawmakers such as Walden and Cole to back the subsidies, even if they want to get rid of the underlying law. The cost-sharing reductions would cost an estimated $7 billion or $8 billion in the next year, but with that cost already built in, Congress wouldnt have to come up with extra money to fund them.

If Trump pushes for withholding the payments, it could fuel a clash between these lawmakers and conservatives who want to damage Obamacare in any way they can.

Im not alone in my party in [wanting to fund the cost-sharing reductions], but there are a lot in my party that dont think that, Walden said.

Insurers are watching the situation with trepidation, with rapidly approaching deadlines for announcing whether they will continue selling plans on the insurance marketplaces next year. Kristine Grow, a spokeswoman for the trade association Americas Health Insurance Plans, said more plans will likely exit without the cost-sharing reductions.

A lot of plans are very likely to drop out of the market because of continued instability, Grow said.

Read more at PowerPost
It was a relationship sealed over the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake you have ever seen.

After a day spent getting to know each other at his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., President Trump broke some major news to his Chinese counterpart over dessert. Fifty-nine Tomahawk missiles were locked, loaded and then launched toward Syria.

[U.S. strikes Syrian military airfield in first direct assault on Bashar al-Assads government]

In Trumps retelling, President Xi Jinping was silent for 10 seconds, ominously asked for the comments to be translated a second time  and finally declared he was okay with the idea. And so the Citrus Summit, as it has been nicknamed, was to be a success.

In short order, China has gone from an enemy and a threat, a job stealer and economic predator, to a friend and partner of the new U.S. administration. In interviews with the Fox Business Network and the Wall Street Journal, Trump said he and Xi shared great chemistry, had formed an outstanding relationship and understood each other.

(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

All of a sudden, U.S. policy toward China seems broadly similar to that pursued by Trumps predecessor. Trump might be a very different personality from President Barack Obama, the Chinas Global Times newspaper commented Friday, but there are many signs he is returning to Obamas diplomatic strategy.

Yet how deep is this newfound friendship with China, and how sustainable is the relationship?

If Trump has flipped once, could he flip again?

The answer to that question could lie with North Korea.

Just before last weeks summit, Trump told the Financial Times that the Chinese were the world champions of currency manipulation. A few days after it, he told the Wall Street Journal that China does not manipulate its currency.

A cartoon in the Global Times on Friday mocked Trump as the Shifter-in-Chief, showing him at the wheel of a bus careening all over the road. But the overall mood here is upbeat at what state news outlets are calling the big flip.

[A moderate catches Trumps ear]

The immediate effect of the two-day summit has been to bring an influx of tremendous dynamism into the complicated U.S.-China relationship, wrote the Peoples Daily, the Communist Party mouthpiece. This transition is a masterpiece of erudite political wisdom.

The erudite wisdom, one assumes, is supposed to be coming from the mouth of Chinas president into the ear of the American one. Indeed, the Peoples Daily chose a photograph of Trump listening attentively to Xi speaking to adorn its post-summit front page.

Of course, it chose similar images in 2013, when Xi met Obama in Californias Sunnylands retreat, and the Chinese president again was portrayed as the man delivering pearls of wisdom to his enraptured counterpart.

But this time there is real reason to believe that some of Xis arguments struck home  and not just in getting Trump finally to realize that he was years out of date when it came to Chinas currency policy.

Public education

Just as no one could have imagined how complicated health care is until you actually took the time to learn about it, Trump is fast learning the complications of tackling North Korea, thanks to some schooling from the Chinese president.

For months, the U.S. president had been firing off confident 140-character promises that he would solve the problem of North Koreas nuclear program, apparently believing that China could bring its neighbor to heel if it only wanted to. But Xi took the trouble to explain something about the history of China and Korea.

And after listening for 10 minutes I realized that its not so easy, Trump told the Journal. You know I felt pretty strongly that they have a tremendous power over North Korea. . . . But its not what you would think.

This is not the first time Trump has changed tack. The president questioned the one-China policy earlier this year before deciding to honor it, and he has quietly dropped campaign threats to impose tariffs of up to 45 percent on Chinese goods.

That is partly because he is learning as he goes along  sometimes slowly, sometimes painfully, always in full public view, experts say.

It is partly a function of the rise of the globalists within his administration, including Jared Kushner and Gary Cohn, and the declining influence of the nationalists such as Stephen K. Bannon and Peter Navarro. But it is also a dawning of the realization that Trump needs a constructive relationship if he is to achieve his other foreign policy goals.

Ever since diplomatic ties with China were normalized nearly four decades ago, U.S. candidates for president generally have campaigned on being tough on China, before reverting to a more constructive approach while in office.

But if history is repeating itself, Trump represents an extreme case of the phenomenon.

For Bill Bishop, publisher of the Sinocism newsletter, there is a danger in making so many threats only to walk them back, and a missed opportunity to reexamine a policy approach that has brought more benefits to China than the United States.

The currency flip-flop made sense from an economic perspective, but one has to wonder how tough Beijing thinks Trump really is, and if Xi, a fan of Mao Zedong, sees Trump as yet another American paper tiger, he said.

It is too bad. America needs a new approach to dealing with the China challenge, one that is well thought out and strategically coherent, Bishop said. So far that does not appear to be happening, and that is good for Xi and the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] but not so good for the U.S.

Value of volatility

Others take a different view.

President Richard M. Nixon is reported to have deliberately cultivated the madman theory, giving the impression he was irrational and volatile, and might even use nuclear weapons, in an attempt to scare the North Vietnamese and the Soviet Union. The credible threat of military action by the George W. Bush administration may have helped bring North Korea back to the negotiating table in 2006.

In a similar vein, Trumps decision to bomb Syria while hosting Xi was a shrewd move, some argue, helping to persuade Beijing to turn up the heat on its ally in Pyongyang. In February, China announced it was cutting off coal imports from North Korea, severing an important economic lifeline for the regime, and since then it reportedly has turned back two coal shipments.

China does move on North Korea if they are sufficiently scared of the U.S., said Dan Blumenthal of the American Enterprise Institute. They may pressure Kim if we keep the pressure on China, he said, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Orville Schell, head of the center on U.S.-China relations at New Yorks Asia Society, said real-world realities are beginning to bring Trumps policy closer to that of Obama, but the difference is Trumps utterly unpredictable nature and his capacity to reverse course in a heartbeat.

Schell said this had put China somewhat off balance, uncertain if Trump might impose secondary sanctions or even launch a military strike on North Korea.

This kind of brinkmanship can be dangerous in diplomacy, but it could also get Beijings attention and chasten Xi to make a deal before something untoward happens, Schell said.

Paul Gewirtz, director of the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School, said China may impose tougher sanctions against North Korea, but not because Trump tells it to do so.

Those are likely to come from an ongoing assessment of Chinas interests and rising Chinese public opinion against North Korea, he said.

In the end, though, China and the United States have significantly different approaches to the issue of North Korea, and this remains a major challenge to the new rapport between Xi and Trump.

The evolution toward a more constructive relationship is certainly welcome, said Paul Haenle, director of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center. But I think the big question is whether or not this can be sustained once the Chinese begin to underperform on trade or North Korea as times goes on. Will Trump be willing to confront his new friend Xi Jinping in order to defend U.S. interests?

Jin Xin, Luna Lin and Congcong Zhang contributed to this report.

Read more:

Chinas Xi calls Trump, urges peaceful approach to North Korea

Despite Trumps rage against China, American public opinion is warming to the Asian giant

Dont let Beijing push us around, warns frustrated former ambassador to China

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
An image from video provided by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media shows families gathering to board buses to leave Madaya, an opposition-held town near Damascus, on Friday. (Syrian Central Military Media via AP)

Syrian government and rebel forces evacuated thousands of people Friday from a cluster of besieged towns, beginning one of the most sensitive population swaps of the countrys six-year war.

President Bashar al-Assads government has used siege warfare tactics to subdue restive towns throughout the conflict, cutting rebel supply lines and civilian access to food until the rebels agree to surrender.

Opposition officials have accused the government of using the blockades to force demographic change along sectarian lines.

The departures Friday marked the first stage in an evacuation that will see some 30,000 Syrians switch between rebel- and government-held areas, as part of a complex deal brokered by Qatar and Iran. In Syrias south, the opposition-held towns of Madaya and Zabadani had been surrounded by government and Lebanese Hezbollah forces. In the north, Fouaa and Kefraya, the only towns besieged by rebel forces, had been blockaded by Islamist militants.

Forced to endure the tightest blockade of Syrias war, Madayas residents had lived off aid packages when help arrived and had starved when it did not.





[Assad calls chemical attack a fabrication]

In January 2015, they started dying for lack of food. Images of skeletal children were published around the world as a reminder of the human cost of one of the most destructive wars of the 21st century.

On Friday morning, Madayas residents said they had boarded the evacuation buses in tears.

We are leaving our homeland, our childhoods and our friends. There is a lot of sadness here, said Muhammed Darwish, a dentistry student who had become the towns closest approximation of a doctor. Without formal training, and as casualties from pro-government snipers increased, he learned amputation on the job, often without painkillers or anesthetics.

But after years of grinding siege, no one interviewed by The Washington Post believed that holding out was an option.

The governor of Damascus, Alaa Ibrahim, said the government would restore control over Madaya and Zabadani once it was satisfied that no armed men remained.

My home was the most beautiful place in Syria, but we leave so no one else has to die here, said one man, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relatives who would now fall under government control.

[Why Assad used sarin nerve agent in a war hes winning]

Now in charge of all of Syrias major urban centers, Damascus holds the upper hand against rebels in the west of the country and has negotiated a slew of other surrender deals from a position of strength.

While talks often begin with extensive demands from the rebel side, these have been whittled down by repeated government airstrikes, as well as pressure from civilians who blame the rebels in part for prolonging their suffering.

Darwish said Friday that at least 2,000 rebels, activists and medical workers would be leaving Madaya, believing it unsafe to stay. Tens of thousands of Syrians have made similar calculations in recent months, boarding the governments green buses for the rebels largest remaining stronghold, Idlib province.

As that areas population has increased, so has the rate of international attacks on al-Qaeda-linked fighters who have come to dominate the rebellion there. Syrian and Russian warplanes have been joined in the skies by a U.S.-led coalition, which is also targeting al-Qaeda in Idlib.

[U.S. strikes Syrian air base in first attack on Assad government]

A week after President Trump launched Americas first direct military action against Assads government, activists and monitoring groups said Friday that government-allied forces have stepped up bombardment of Idlib and other opposition areas across the country.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said Syrian warplanes have killed 42 civilians, while attacks by Russian forces have taken the lives of 56 others.

Launched in retaliation for a chemical attack that killed scores of civilians last week, the U.S. Navys missile salvo on an air base in the western province of Homs has provoked outrage in Damascus.

The U.S. strike has also caused Assads biggest backers, Russia and Iran, to leap to his defense. Days after a testy meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Washington against launching further strikes, saying they would have grave consequences for global security.

Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul contributed to this report.

Read more:

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U.S. forces in Afghanistan have not yet assessed the impact of a massive strike on Islamic State militants in the eastern part of the country, a military spokesman said Friday, raising questions about the already controversial decision to deploy a 22,000-pound bomb on the battlefield.

The Afghan Defense Ministry said three dozen fighters were killed in the attack, which used one of the largest non-nuclear bombs in the U.S. arsenal, the GBU-43, against a network of tunnels and bunkers in the east.

A Pentagon spokesman said U.S. forces would not release an official statement on potential damage or casualties caused by the strike, which was carried out in the Achin district of Nangahar province Thursday night.

It was unclear why the Afghan government released casualty figures but U.S. forces did not. For its part, the Islamic State-linked Amaq News Agency denied that the bombing caused casualties among the militants, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors online postings from extremist groups and others. The Islamic State offered no evidence to support its claim.

In Kabul, Navy Capt. Bill Salvin, a spokesman for U.S. forces, said: We are still conducting our assessment, and at this time have no evidence of civilian casualties as a result of the GBU-43 drop.





Also Friday, Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, defended the strike as the right weapon against the right target. He said it achieved its intended purpose, which was to remove the tunnel complex as an obstacle to U.S. and Afghan forces on the battlefield.

U.S. and Afghan troops went on the offensive against the local Islamic State branch in March, even as they have continued to battle a Taliban insurgency in the rest of the country. U.S. and Afghan officials have said their goal is to eliminate the Islamic State in Afghanistan this year, but the Trump administration has not said whether it plans to commit more troops to the fight. After nearly 16 years of war, the United States and NATO have struggled with how to wind down the conflict here.

But the Islamic State affiliate, which is based in Nangahar, emerged relatively recently, surfacing about a year after the parent organization declared a caliphate in Iraq and Syria in 2014. Since then, it has staged deadly attacks on Afghan civilians, particularly in Kabul, but has largely failed to break out of its stronghold in the east. There, the group uses the proximity to Pakistan, which is also plagued by militancy, to build up weapons stockpiles and connect with other Islamist militants across the border.

According to Nicholson, the affiliate, known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, is made up mostly of Pakistani and Uzbek militants, along with some Afghan fighters who defected from the Taliban.

In Achin and other nearby districts, the group has terrorized residents, beheading tribal elders, assassinating security officials and closing schools. Even local Taliban commanders have battled the group.

Many of the districts roughly 100,000 residents have fled, leaving few civilians in the area where the strike took place. No civilians were reported killed, according to U.S. and Afghan officials. Still, some residents and those in neighboring districts described widespread damage and said they heard the blast from miles away.

[U.S. drops 22,000 pound bomb on Islamic State forces in Afghanistan]

It was a powerful bomb. We felt it several kilometers away, said Khair Mohammad Safi, police chief of the Achin district. Safi, who operates from a neighboring district for security reasons, said he could see flames from the explosion.

The wave caused by [the blast] was strong. There was a huge fire, he said. This was the [Islamic States] main stronghold. They were annihilated. We needed such a bomb for this place.

But just this month, U.S. forces announced that they had nearly decimated the group, claiming to have reduced Islamic State-controlled territory in Afghanistan by two-thirds. The military also said it had killed about half of the affiliates fighters and carried out hundreds of airstrikes on the groups positions this year alone.

Last week, Army Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, 37, was killed in Achin by small-arms fire during a combat operation.

The use of drones turned out to be very effective against Daesh in Nangahar, said Aryan Youn, a lawmaker from the province, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State. If that was the case, why did the United States want to use such a sophisticated and powerful bomb?

Local residents, she said, are worried about the impact of the explosion on their health and farmland. Achin is a heavily agricultural district, where farmers grow wheat, cotton and, intermittently, the poppy crop that is used to make opium.

In a statement Friday, the Taliban also condemned the strike, which it called a show by U.S. forces that want to convince the world they are taking a strong stand against the Islamic State.

The United States had no justification for using such a powerful bomb during combat, said the statement, which was distributed on the instant messaging app Viber.

Taliban fighters have been engaged in a years-long insurgency against the government and international forces in Afghanistan.

Walid Sharif in Kabul and Brian Murphy and Thomas Gibbons-Neff in Washington contributed to this report.

Pentagon identifies soldier killed fighting the Islamic State in Afghanistan

Islamic State gunmen assault Kabul hospital disguised as doctors

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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Richard Gere, left, with director Joseph Cedar during a news conference after a screening of the film "Norman: The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer" at the Jerusalem Cinematheque in March. ( Nir Elias / Reuters/REUTERS)

Its not every day that Israeli filmmaker Joseph Cedar gets to show a Hollywood actor around his home town.

But last month, Cedar brought Richard Gere to Israel for the Jerusalem premiere of his movie Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer. Gere plays the films protagonist, Norman. Cedar, 49, was born in New York but raised in Jerusalem.

In a recent interview in his Tel Aviv office, Cedar said Gere was under pressure from pro-Palestinian activists not to visit Israel. But he does not believe in boycotts, so he decided that if he was coming to Israel he had to do something meaningful, he said.

And as is expected when an A-list celebrity visits a controversial, conflict-ridden region, Gere made headlines.

First, he called Israeli settlements an absurd provocation and completely illegal. And then he visited the tense West Bank city of Hebron and compared it to Americas segregated Old South.

But perhaps the biggest headline Gere made during his visit had to do with his part in Cedars film, which opened in the United States on Friday.

Gere plays Norman, a down-on-his-luck Jewish American businessman who gets close to a young Israeli politician by buying him a pair of fancy shoes.

Fast forward a few years -- and many more small favors - the young politician, known only as Eshel, is now prime minister of the Jewish state and Norman is dangerously ecstatic about his close ties to such a powerful man.

But what makes the story of Norman so headline-worthy is its uncanny similarity to the current situation faced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

American Jews have had a unique philanthropic connection to Israel since its founding in 1948 and throughout the countrys history, Israeli leaders have enjoyed the benefits of that relationship.

Over the past few months, police have questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu multiple times about his association with wealthy Jewish businessmen, not just in the United States. The question is whether he accepted gifts exceeding appropriate financial limits, and whether he got anything in return.

Netanyahu has denied the accusations, saying the investigation  and two others being conducted by police  wont come to anything, because there isnt anything.

The film was completed before the investigations into Netanyahu were made public.

[Netanyahu on hot seat over free cigars, pink champagne and secret recordings]

Cedar said, That relationship between an Israeli politician and all different types of Normans has always fascinated me, and I have seen these relationships up close.

Cedars parents are American Jews who moved to Israel when he was a child. And he is related to Morris Talansky, an American Jewish businessman who was at the center of a bribery scandal involving former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert. Cedar declined to talk about that relationship.

Olmert stepped down in 2009 and is serving a prison term for bribery and obstruction of justice.

Cedar said the story of Norman is one he has witnessed all his life.

I think this kind of thing has been going on for years. All our top politicians have done and are doing what [Netanyahu] is being accused of doing, he said.

Also noteworthy: At the center of the Netanyahu story is his friend Arnon Milchan  an American Jewish film producer who Israeli media have reported spent tens of thousands of dollars over the years on cigars and pink champagne for the Netanyahu family.

Milchan is behind such credits as Fight Club, The Revenant and one of Geres most memorable films, Pretty Woman.

When asked about that during his visit, Gere said: Hes a very charming and very pleasant, decent guy. I know very little about the history giving him infamy. And I dont smoke cigars and I dont drink pink champagne.

Read more:

Fire behind the smoke: Probe of Netanyahu has Israelis worried

How Netanyahus media war nearly split his government

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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North Korea put on a huge military spectacle Saturday to celebrate its founders birthday, parading its series of new and technologically advanced missiles in front of Kim Jong Un, and in a defiant show of force in front of the world.

North Korea did not, however, carry out another nuclear test or ballistic missile launch, against widespread speculation that it would seek to celebrate Kim Il Sungs 105th birthday with a bang.

[A timeline of North Koreas five nuclear tests and how the U.S. has responded]

April 15 is the most important day in the North Korean calendar, and Kim Jong Un has celebrated his grandfathers birthday with great fanfare as a way to boost his own legitimacy as the successor to the communist dynasty.

North Korea presented two of its newest missiles at the parade in Kim Il Sung Square on Saturday, including the submarine-launched ballistic missile it successfully fired last year and the land-based version it launched last month.

And there were a lot of them, said Melissa Hanham, an expert at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in California. The signal that theyre trying to send is that they are moving ahead with solid-fuel missiles.

North Korea has been working on solid fuel, which means missiles are ready to fire and dont need loading with propellant like its previous liquid-fueled missiles, as a way to fire missiles quickly and without detection by satellites.

Analysts were working to identify all the missiles that were shown off on Saturday, many of which appeared to have new paint jobs or be variants on known missiles.

[ With both the U.S. and North Korea saber rattling, is conflict imminent? ]

One of the missiles looked similar to the KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile that North Korea had included in previous parades. This missile has a theoretical range of about 7,500 miles, which is enough to reach all of the United States from North Korea, said Joshua Pollack, editor of the Nonproliferation Review.

It also put two ICBM canisters, which protect solid-fueled missiles from the effects of the environment, on the trucks that had carried the ICBMs previously. One may have been a KN-14, another missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, although it has a slightly shorter range.

The trucks that carried the missile canisters were Chinese ones that had been exported to North Koreas forestry ministry but have shown up in military parades like this one.

(White House)

Saturdays display was worrying, Hanham said.

They have an indigenous tank system now so they have more launchers, and they have solid fuel, which means they can launch a lot more of these things in quick succession without having to refuel, she said.

The overall message to the world was that North Korea was pressing ahead with its missiles and making technological progress.

The parade took place amid stern warnings from the outside world, and mounting fears about some kind of military action in the region.

The United States has sent an aircraft carrier strike group to the Korean Peninsula region, and President Trump has repeatedly tweeted that if China will not use its leverage to rein in North Korea, the United States will act.

Vice President Pence arrives in Seoul on Sunday on the first leg of an Asia tour, and he will underscore Washingtons strong alliances with South Korea and Japan and their determination to stop North Koreas nuclear weapons program.

China on Friday urged the United States and North Korea not to push their recriminations to a point of no return and allow war to break out on the peninsula.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said storm clouds were gathering, an apparent reference to North Korean preparations to conduct a new nuclear test and the United States deployment of a naval strike force to the waters off the peninsula. In addition, the U.S. military has been conducting large-scale exercises with South Korean forces, drills that the North considers provocative.

[Why is April 15 such a big deal in North Korea?]

The United States and South Korea and North Korea are engaging in tit for tat, with swords drawn and bows bent, Wang said at a news conference. We urge all parties to refrain from inflammatory or threatening statements or deeds to prevent irreversible damage to the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Later Friday, Wang called his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and said it was in both countries interests to prevent an outbreak of war. China welcomes close collaboration with Russia to cool down the Korean Peninsula situation as quickly as possible and encourage the involved parties to resume dialogue, he said, according to Chinas Foreign Ministry.

Trump administration officials describe the situation as more dangerous than in the past, because of the progress North Korea has made in its nuclear and missile programs and because of the hostility on both sides. But U.S. officials said no decision has been made about how to respond to any new test  nuclear or ballistic  by North Korea.

While officials do not rule out other actions, they also stress their desire to ensure that the situation does not escalate out of control. Pentagon officials denied recent media reports that the Trump administration is ready to launch a preemptive strike if North Korea appears to be about to conduct a nuclear test.

[ As North Korea celebrates anniversary, its neighbors are united by jitters ]

North Korea Friday accused President Trump of making trouble with his aggressive tweets, amid concerns that tensions between the two countries could escalate into military action.

North Koreas vice foreign minister said that Trump was becoming more vicious and more aggressive than previous presidents and that this was only making matters worse.

Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words, Han Song Ryol told the Associated Press in an interview in Pyongyang. So thats why. Its not the DPRK but the U.S. and Trump that makes trouble, he said, using the abbreviation for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, as North Korea is officially known.

Han also repeated the regimes common refrain that North Korea is ready to act to defend itself.

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, Han told the AP.

North Korea has a habit of fueling tensions to increase the rewards it might extract from the outside world if it desists. Previously, the North has agreed to return to denuclearization talks in return for aid or the easing of sanctions.

The North Korean army meanwhile threatened to annihilate U.S. military bases in South Korea and the presidential palace in Seoul in response to what it called Trumps maniacal military provocations.

[ Kim Jong Uns rockets are getting an important boost  from China ]

But with his approach, Trump is tearing up the old playbook of how to deal with North Korea, analysts said.

This approach to North Korea is relatively new, said James Kim of the Asan Institute of Policy Studies in Seoul. The approach in the past has been very calculated.

That has gone out the window with talk about military options, he said. We always knew all these options were there, but no one was bold enough to go down that path. Its a new approach.

Some in Beijing are noticing the shift, too.

It should be noted that there is a personality difference between Trump and Obama, the Global Times newspaper wrote Friday. The paper does not speak for the Chinese government on policy but often reflects a strain of thinking within the Communist Party.

Trump is also willing to show he is different. Bombing Syria helps him to show that, it continued, while noting that he was far from revolutionary because he dispatched only missiles, not troops.

But North Korea could prove different if it ignores Trumps warning and conducts another nuclear test, the paper said. Trump just took the office; if he loses to Pyongyang, he would feel like he had lost some prestige.

Right now, Trump has some cards to play, said Kim of the Asan Institute.

He might say: If you want one less battleship in the region, what are you going to give me?  he said  a reversal of the usual situation, in which North Korea asks what it can get from its adversaries in return for changing its behavior.

Denyer reported from Beijing. Jin Xin in Beijing and William Branigin and Missy Ryan in Washington contributed to this report.

Read more:

A look at North Koreans living in Pyongyang

Defying skeptics, Kim Jong Un marks five years at the helm of North Korea

As North Koreas arsenal grows, experts see heightened risk of miscalculation
On Monday night, a fire in the Liniere refugee camp in Grande-Synthe on the northern coast of France destroyed more than 75 percent of the camps 300 wooden shed dwellings. The camp was the last one remaining to house refugees trying to reach Britain from France.

The camp was built for 700 people but housed over 1,500 at the time of the fire. The main population in the camp were Kurds from Iraq. However, six months ago, a large number of Afghan refugees arrived because the French government destroyed the main camp built by the refugees, 25 miles away at Calais, housing some 3,000 refugees. Those refugees that agreed to go to Centers of Reception and Orientation (CAO) were dispersed throughout France; many who refused walked the 25 miles to the Liniere camp.

The arrival of the Afghan refugees brought the camps population to 1,500, but no new cabins were built, and many of the new arrivals had to sleep in common areaskitchens, dining rooms, etc. Under such crowded and unsanitary conditions, conflicts inside the camp erupted. People in the huts slept five or six in huts of seven square meters.

The origin of the fire that destroyed the camp still has not been fully investigated and remains unclear. Authorities and the press have claimed that the fire was started during a knife fight between Afghans and Kurds, in which four people were injured. Paramilitary riot police arrived and fired volleys of tear-gas canisters into the camp.

Though there were also eight firemen present that night, little seems to have been done to stop the fires spread. Ten people were injured in the blaze, and reportedly only 70 of the 300 huts survived.

Two gymnasiums in the town of Grande-Synthe were opened during the night to provide temporary sleeping quarters for the refugees. However, only between 500 and 1,000 places have been taken. Between one and two thirds of the refugees are apparently sleeping rough in the countryside and villages surrounding the remains of the camp.

At a press conference the next morning, French government officials made clear that they did not intend to seriously investigate the fire or repair the damage. Rather, the Socialist Party (PS) government, having already destroyed the Calais refugee camp as part of its campaign to crack down on immigrants, is seizing on this fire to justify shutting down the other major refugee camp in northern France, as it has been trying to do for some time.

In mid-March, before the fire, then-PS Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux called for the dismantling of the Liniere camp as rapidly as possible.

On Tuesday, the new minister of the interior, Mathias Fekl, came to Grande-Synthe and stated bluntly: There will be no reconstruction of the camp here. We have to find more appropriate solutions.

Appearing at the Grande-Synthe camp after the fire, Police Prefect Michel Lalande said, What I have been able to see myself is that everything has been burned, but it is impossible to go around the whole camp and establish a clear idea of the extent of the damage. Nonetheless, even before surveying the damage, he asserted, It will be impossible to rebuild the wooden huts on the same space as before.

Lalandes partial tour of the camp did not allow him to definitely establish the cause of the fire, and he declared with studied indifference: No one can explain how these events could have happened.

Local authorities said the fire was intentional, as it started in many places at once, and that the refugees probably started it during the knife fight. If this was the case, it only underscores the essential responsibility of the PS, as it housed the refugees in miserable conditions.

French officials are already busy at work trying to find a false, humanitarian justification for shutting down the camp. Nearly a year ago, then- PS Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve declared: It is not the role of the state to maintain such camps, which have a lower humanitarian standard than the CAOs.

Cazeneuves attempt to hold up the CAOs as positive examples of Frances treatment of refugees to justify crushing other refugee camps is a political fraud. Such centers are few and far between in France, in any case, and are often shunned by refugees.

Behind the French governments drive to dismantle the Liniere camp is the agreement reached by the British and French governments to stop immigration to Britain from France. In the Le Touquet agreement of 2003, the two governments agreed to move British border controls to Calais and Dunkirk and Paris in France, so that refugees and other immigrants could be refused entry to Britain before even boarding a boat or getting on the Eurostar train.

When the agreement was confirmed last August, and Britain agreed to help finance Frances operations, the Guardian commented: A joint statement issued by the home secretary, Amber Rudd, and her French counterpart, Bernard Cazeneuve, says they will work together to strengthen security around the shared border in Calais and strongly diminish the migratory pressures that have attracted 7,000 migrants to the Channel tunnel port.

Within a couple of months The Jungle camp near Calais had been dismantled, and now the police are in turn attacking the Liniere camp at Grande-Synthe.
On Tuesday, April 11, US Steels plant in Portage, Indiana, reported a spill of wastewater into the Burns Waterway just 100 yards from Lake Michigan. The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that the wastewater contained hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen.

Other agencies alerted of the leak on Tuesday morning included the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), National Park Services (NPS), the Coast Guard, and the Porter County Sheriff.

It is not clear for how long the spill occurred or how much wastewater spilled. Initial reports claim that the cause for the spill was a failed expansion in the rinse water pipe used to treat strip steel after electroplating. US Steel reported that it shut down all production processes, isolated the affected piping for repairs, and added sodium trithiocarbonate to the wastewater to convert and aid in removing the toxic compound.

Indiana American Water, which provides drinking water in northwestern Indiana, shut down its Ogden Dunes water-processing facility, which has an intake adjacent to Burns Waterway, and is using water reserves from Gary, Indiana, until further notice. NPS closed three local beaches on Tuesday and a fourth one on Wednesday citing precautions to protect residents in a three-mile perimeter from the spill.

Save the Dunes Executive Director Natalie Johnson questioned a delay in alerting the community, which came many hours after the spill occurred through the report first issued by the NPS on the beach closures. The State of Indianas emergency spill response actions and associated responsibilities are quite lax. While the law requires communication with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) within two hours of a spills discovery, it is not clear how quickly residents and property owners downstream should be reached, Johnson noted in a statement.

The Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday evening that low levels of hexavalent chromium were detected in the Burns Waterway, but none were detected in Lake Michigan. Also, initial tests at the Indiana American Water intake showed chemical levels were slightly above the detection limit, though repeat testing suggested levels had dissipated below detection limits.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that no further spill is occurring, though it will collect sediment samples to determine if residual chemicals have settled.

Hexavalent chromium, made infamous by the film Erin Brockovich, is a carcinogen used in many industrial process such as textile dyes, wood preservation and anti-corrosion products. It can also be produced in welding on stainless steel or melting chromium. The high temperatures involved in the process result in oxidation that converts the chromium to the hexavalent state.

Current EPA maximum containment level (MCL) is 100 parts per billion (ppb) in drinking water. This level was set in 1991 based on potential for adverse dermatologic effects from long-term exposure.

However, more-recent reports have consistently demonstrated that chromium was associated with various health issues. Animal studies showed that chronic oral exposure to hexavalent chromium in rats produced oral and gastro-intestinal tumors.

A recent epidemiologic study noted statistically elevated mortality due to primary liver cancer, genitourinary organs in women, and kidney and lung cancer. Additionally, elevated levels of breast, oral, stomach, and prostate cancer and leukemia were present in the affected population in Greece where chronic industrial wastewater pollutes the local rivers.

However, the EPA is still waiting on the release of a final human health assessment to begin the process of adjusting its policy on chromium levels in drinking water; this assessment is most likely stalled due to chemical industry challenges, such as from the American Chemistry Council, which contends tat studies show no adverse health effects at the current 100-ppb limit.

However, the influential California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment concluded that hexavalent chromium is a dangerously hazardous compound. It recommended that only a health goal of 0.02 ppb or less in tap water would pose sufficient risk reduction in developing cancer over a lifetime of consumption.

The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization that specializes in research and advocacy in areas of toxic chemicals and human health, indicates that more than 200 million citizens in all 50 states drink water contaminated with the compound.

Chicago drinking water contains levels of hexavalent chromium at 0.23 ppb, which are 11 times higher than the more stringently recommended maximum contaminant level. The current controversial regulatory limit of 10 ppb was based on other considerations including the added cost of water treatment.

There are more than 12 million people living along the shores of Lake Michigan predominately in the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas. The economies of many of the communities on the shore are supported by tourism and recreational activities, while the lake serves as the primary source of drinking water for most residents.

The southern tip of the lake near Gary where the latest spill occurred is extensively industrialized and contaminated, and industrial mishaps have been quite common.

Currently, three industrial plants dominate the regionArcelorMittal, US Steel Gary Works-Midwest plant and the Northern Indiana Public Services Baily coal-fired power plant. US Steels Gary Works is considered the largest polluter on the Great Lakes. According to federal records, 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 during 2015.

The Political Economy Research Institute ranked US Steel as the eighth worst corporate producer of air pollution in the US with a long history of environmental contamination. The company released more than 2 million pounds of toxins in 2008, chiefly ammonia, hydrochloric acid, ethylene, zinc, methanol, and benzene, but including manganese, cyanide and chromium compounds.

In 1993, the EPA issued an order to US Steel to clean up a site in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River where the soil was contaminated with arsenic, lead and other heavy metals. The ground water at the site was found to be polluted with carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

US Steels facility in Gary has been repeatedly charged with dumping polluted wastewater into Lake Michigan and the Grand Calumet River. In 1998, it agreed to a $30 million settlement to clean up contaminated sediments from a five-mile stretch of the river.

In 2005, the EPA and US Department of Justice reached a settlement requiring US Steel to pay almost $400,000 in fines and reparations for illegally releasing pollutants into Ohio waterways. And in November 2016, US Steel agreed to pay a $2.2 million fine and clean up pollution in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois.

However, with revenue in 2015 of $11.574 billion, such fines are a mere slap on the wrist for US Steel and are considered by corporations as part of the cost of doing business.

Despite persistent concerns over pollutants in drinking water and the need for diligent oversight, the Trump administration is proposing to eliminate the EPA office working on hexavalent chromium standards in drinking water and drastically reduce funding for scientific studies of toxic chemicals and the enforcement of environmental laws.

Furthermore, Trumps budget proposes to cut $300 million per year from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is used in part to address current and past damages caused by US Steel and other industrial polluters in northwest Indiana.
Photo credit: Getty + Twitter/@CBSNews

From Dr. Oz The Good Life

A 20-year-old student at Central Michigan University (CMU) is being charged with hazing after he smeared peanut butter on the face of a student who has severe allergies.

After a warrant was issued for his arrest, 20-year-old Dale Merza, a sophomore at CMU, turned himself in to the local police, The New York Times reports. He was charged with "hazing" (imposing embarrassing or even dangerous tasks upon another person under the guise of training or initiation to a group) but pleaded not guilty in court on Friday.

The charge follows an October 2016 incident in which then-19-year-old Andrew Seeley passed out at an off-campus fraternity party. While Seeley (who has a severe peanut allergy) was unconscious, Merza allegedly smeared his face with peanut butter - which caused Seeley's eyes, nose, and lips to swell up. Once he came to, the teen sought medical treatment for his allergic reaction at an on-campus clinic.

College student with "deadly" allergy hazed with peanut butter, mom says https://t.co/VZ0X3CtkGo pic.twitter.com/4VSZHO7DwU- CBS News (@CBSNews) March 3, 2017

Seeley has since transferred to an unnamed school, CBS News reports. But the incident has affected him greatly, according to his mother, Teresa Seeley, who took to Facebook last month to share a photo of her son from the night of the incident.

"We found out that our son was a victim of a hazing incident," she wrote. "He could have been killed."

Seeley's mother told CBS News that her son rushed Alpha Chi Rho, the fraternity that held the party where the incident occurred, when he first arrived at CMU in the fall. He accepted a bid several weeks before the party - but Alpha Chi Rho was officially disbanded at the school in 2011, according to Heather Smith, the Director of Communications at CMU.

"[They are] not a recognized fraternity at CMU," Smith told CBS News. "They were removed from campus in 2011 for hazing."

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Now that the Seeleys are moving forward with the case, Merza's lawyer, Bruce Leach, is claiming that no one at the October 2016 party was aware that Seeley had a peanut allergy. "It was a big misunderstanding that has been blown out of proportion," he told the Times.

If convicted, Merza could face a fine of $1,000 and spend up to 93 days in jail.

[h/t The New York Times]
A California man was decapitated Tuesday morning in a bizarre motorcycle accident, leaving behind a newlywed wife who is four months pregnant, PEOPLE learns.

Fabian Zepeda, 27, was riding his motorcycle on Macy Street in San Bernardino, California, just after 9:10 a.m. when he was beheaded by a downed electrical wire that was hanging across the roadway, the San Bernardino County Coroner said in a statement.

A Ford Taurus, for unknown reasons, collided into a telephone pole causing it to snap in half with a loose tension wire stretching across Macy Street, the statement reads.

Minutes later, Zepeda rode into the wire. Officials believe he died instantly.

Both incidents are being investigated by San Bernardino police and the California Highway Patrol.

Police told the San Bernardino Sun that the Taurus that hit the pole was driven by a man who did not appear intoxicated, though he was interviewed at the scene and his blood was drawn, as is standard practice.

The exact cause of the Taurus crash was not clear, though police said the driver lost control of the vehicle before it hit a mailbox, sped across a residential yard, down the street and into the telephone pole.

The driver was not taken into custody, the Sun reports. The case is being forwarded to the San Bernardino district attorney for review.

Fabian Zepeda

The scene of a deadly freak accident in San Bernardino, California, on Tuesday, which claimed the life of Fabian Zepeda. Authorities say he was beheaded after his motorcycle rode into a wire that had fallen across the roadway after a car hit a telephone pole moments earlier.

Zepeda is survived by his wife, Vanessa Quintana, whom he married last June, according to a GoFundMe she created after his death.

Zepeda was a loving son, husband, brother, and friend, Quintana wrote on the page, which was established to raise funds for his funeral.

He was the most caring, loving, family-orientated, unique individual who always managed to care for others before himself, wrote Quintana, whom PEOPLE could not immediately reach.

Zepedas wife said she met him in 2012, and they dated for five years before their wedding last summer. The couple learned in January that they would be having their first child - a baby girl.

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I am very happy to keep a little blessing from my husband, Quintana wrote.

She said she, her relatives and her husbands family were in mourning, but we are all trying to remain strong for Fabians honor.

In a later update, on Thursday, she wrote, Thank you for those who have helped out in words and in donations. From the bottom of my heart, you all have helped immensely and I cannot express that enough.

This article was originally published on PEOPLE.com
By Alexandra Zaslow

Deepak Chopra set out on a spiritual journey around 35 years ago in an attempt to give up smoking. Now he leads more than 6 million people in a guided meditation practice and has recently published his 86th book and 25th New York Times bestseller, You Are the Universe.

Related: Deepak Chopra explains his 86th book, You Are the Universe

Chopra spoke with Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric about the book, meditation, how he handles critics and President Trump.

Throughout Chopras career, hes been criticized for encouraging so-called pseudoscience, but he doesnt let it get to him.

I think, sometimes, your harshest critics can be your best friends in a sense, Chopra said. If you dont take them personally, theyre giving you feedback.

Related: Deepak Chopra on making science click

To ensure that the science in the book was accurate, he wrote his latest book with leading physicist Menas Kafatos and even had Stephen Hawking read the book before it was published.

For a relatively stress-free man, Chopra has found himself concerned about President Trump and the current administration  and hes not alone.

You have to just look at whats happening on social media, and you will see that its a real thing right now that a lot of people are actually going to therapists for Trump-induced anxiety, Chopra said.

Related: Deepak Chopras secrets to a long life

While Chopra said he wouldnt make an armchair diagnosis, he does believe Trump lacks emotional intelligence, empathy and perspective.

He says the first step toward a solution is for all to come together with a shared vision and listen to one another.

We need to be complementing everyones strengths, because there are a lot of extremely talented people in this country, Chopra said. In fact, we have more talent that any other country.

The physician and Oprah have recently launched their eighth 21-day meditation experience. Chopra decided to team up with his longtime friend for this project because of how effective she is at connecting with people. He even thinks shed make a great president.

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Related: Deepak Chopra discusses the impact of technology on your life

I think we need some elements of the divine feminine right now in our world, which, for lack of a better word, looks insane, Chopra said.

Chopra guided Couric through an on-the-go meditation that anyone can use throughout the day for a little moment of peace. In it, he poses the question: What am I grateful for?
It was 154 years ago when President Abraham Lincoln was shot while watching a play at Fords Theater. Lincoln died the next morning, and in the aftermath, some odd facts seemed to pop up.

Lincolnassassination

Why wasnt General Ulysses S. Grant in the theater box with Lincoln, as scheduled? Where was the Presidents bodyguard? How many people were targeted in the plot? And how did all the assassins escape, at least temporarily?

Many of the questions were eventually answered, but some still linger today. And some people have doubts about one of the alleged plotters and her involvement in Lincolns murder.

1. Where was General Grant?

He wanted to be in New Jersey! Grant was advertised to be at the event, according to the New York Times, but he declined the invitation so he could travel with his wife to New Jersey to visit relatives.

Link: Read the account in The New York Times

2. Lincoln almost didnt go to Fords Theater

In that first report of the assassination from the Times, the newspaper said Lincoln was reluctant to go to the play. However, since General Grant canceled, he felt obliged to attend, even though his wife didnt feel well. Lincoln tried to get House Speaker Schuyler Colfax to go with him, but Colfax declined.

He went with apparent reluctance and urged Mr. Colfax to go with him, but that gentleman had made other engagements, the Times reported.

3. If Colfax had been in the booth with Lincoln, two persons in line to succeed Lincoln would have been in danger.

Vice President Andrew Johnson was also an assassination target, but his assailant lost his nerve and didnt attack. Colfax was third in line to succeed Lincoln, after Johnson, and Senate Pro Tempore Lafayette Sabine Foster. Secretary of State William Seward wasnt in the line of succession in 1865.

4. Why wasnt Vice President Johnson attacked?

John Wilkes Booth had convinced George Atzerodt, an acquaintance, to kill Johnson by setting a trap at the Kirkwood House hotel where the Vice President lived. However, Atzerodt lost his nerve and didnt attempt to kill Johnson, even though he had a rented room above Johnsons, and a loaded gun was found in the room.

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5. How did Secretary of State Seward survive despite having his throat stabbed two or three times?

Assassin Lewis Powell gained entry to Sewards home, where the secretary was bedridden after a carriage accident. Frederick W. Seward, his son, was seriously injured defending his father during Powells assassination attempt. The secretary was wounded, but the metal surgical collar he was wearing protected him.

6. Where was Lincolns bodyguard?

The Smithsonian Magazine did a story on this a few years ago. John Parker, the bodyguard, initially left his position to watch the play, and then he went to the saloon next door for intermission. It was the same saloon where Booth was drinking. No one knows where Parker was during the assassination, but he wasnt at his position at the door to the booth.

7. Where was the Secret Service?

It didnt exist yet, but Lincoln signed the bill creating it that night before he left for Fords Theater.

8. How did Booth stay in hiding for so long?

Booth was able to escape Fords Theater alive, and he was on the run for 12 days, accompanied by another conspirator, David Herold. The pair went to the Surratt Tavern in Maryland, gathered supplies, went to see Dr. Mudd to have Booths broken leg set, and then headed through forest lands and swamps to Virginia. They were also aided by a former Confederate spy operative and by other Confederate sympathizers. Military forces were hot on their trail, and they found a person who directed them to a Virginia farm. At the Garrett Farm, Booth was fatally wounded, and Herold surrendered.

9. The original plan was to kidnap Lincoln, not kill him

Booth met with his conspirators in March 1865 and came up with a plan to kidnap Lincoln as he returned from a play at the Campbell Hospital on March 17. But Lincoln changed his plans at the last minute and went to a military ceremony. Booth then thought about kidnapping Lincoln after he left an event at Fords Theater. But the actor changed his mind after Lee's surrender.

10. Was Mary Surratt part of the conspiracy?

Thats a topic still being debated today. Surratt was a Southern sympathizer who had owned land with her late husband in Maryland. She also owned a home in Washington that was also used as a boarding house, and she was friends with Booth. She also rented a tavern she owned in Maryland to an innkeeper.

Surratt was with Booth on the day of the assassination, and she allegedly had told the innkeeper to get a pair of guns ready that night for visitors. The innkeepers testimony doomed Surratt to the gallows. What was controversial was the decision to hang Surratt  a decision personally approved by President Andrew Johnson.
Raise a glass to beer travel. These days, with craft beer's rise in popularity, it's easy for even casual drinkers to explore local drafts and bottles wherever they are. But if you're really into the world of brewing, set your sights on these top attractions, which celebrate beer, its history and the cult that surrounds the beverage.

[See: 10 Top Hotels in Europe for Food and Wine Lovers.]

Beer Hotels

Lewes, Delaware; Milwaukee; Escondido, California; Columbus, Ohio

One of the "hoppiest" trends in hotels these days is focused on beer. Craft beer hotels are making a splash in the U.S. and elsewhere. Joining brewery hotels such as Dogfish Head's Dogfish Inn and The Brewhouse Inn & Suites in a converted PBR factory, is the Stone Hotel, which is set to open in 2018 in Escondido, California, near San Diego. The property will have a complete focus on craft beer -- think growlers on the room service menu and a free beer when you check- in. In Columbus, BrewDog is introducing the DogHouse, a crowd-funded beer hotel and brewery.

Oktoberfest

Munich

You can't make a beer bucket list without the granddaddy of all beer fests. This annual Munich festival draws huge crowds of tourists (about 6 million each year). Despite its mainstream status, it's still a must-do for any suds fan. For more than two weeks, 14 tents serve specially designated Oktoberfest Beer in a carnival-like atmosphere, complete with folk music, rides and food. It's best to start planning far in advance, as hotels and beer tents sell book up quickly. Just remember: Oktoberfest starts in September, not October.

Weihenstephan Monastery Brewery

Freising, Germany

One of the world's oldest continuously operating breweries, this former monastery has been crafting beer since 1040. Now owned by the state of Bavaria, Weihenstephan was one of the first to adhere to the 500- year- old German Beer Purity Law, which maintains strict quality control by restricting the drink's ingredients to barley, hops, water and yeast. Today, the brewery is open for tours, some of which conclude with tastings of the signature wheat beers and lagers.

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Heurich House Museum

Washington, District of Columbia

In a city known for its monumental museums, history gets a little buzz at the Heurich House Museum, which is also called the Brewmaster's Castle. The 19th-century mansion was once home to Christian Heurich, a German immigrant who became Washington's most successful brewer. It now hosts beer-and history-focused tours, where you can explore the well-preserved home and sample a flight of beer. Want another taste of brewing history? Two more museums dedicated to the art of beermaking are on the horizon. The Brew Museum, which compares itself to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (but for suds), is slated to open in 2018 in Pittsburgh, and the Chicago Brewseum, is in early planning stages in the Windy City.

[See: 3 Hot Southern Cities to Visit in 2017.]

Guinness Storehouse

Dublin

Ever wanted to learn to pour a perfect pint? The Guinness Academy at this shrine to Ireland's most famous stout will teach you the six-step process. Located at Guinness' St. James's Gate Brewery, the Guinness Storehouse is a modern multilevel facility with interactive exhibits, gift shops, restaurants and multiple bars -- including the glass-enclosed 360-degree top floor bar that offers sweeping city views.

Pabst Mansion

Milwaukee

This stately Gilded Age home is a testament to the power of brewing in American history. Built in 1892 by Frederick Pabst, one of America's grandest beer barons, the house now serves as a museum. Tours mostly focus on art and architecture, but shed light on how Pabst embraced new advancements such as electric light bulbs and advertising to build what became, at the time, the world's largest beer company.

Great American Beer Festival

Denver

Part party, part competition, this festival in Denver is like the Oscars of the beer world. Nearly 800 breweries come here to showcase their beers -- over 7,000 beers were entered into the competition last year. The best part: it's open to the public, if you snag a ticket. If you can't make it to Colorado, there are plenty of other beer festivals to check out, including the Oregon Brewers Festival, the Vermont Brewers Festival and the Brewgrass Festival in Asheville, North Carolina.

Westvleteren Brewery

Westvleteran, Belgium

Ever heard of Westvleteran 12? In beer circles, this is the stuff of legend. This Trappist quad-style beer has been called the best beer in the world, yet it's tough to get your hands on. Unlike other breweries-turned-visitor attractions, the Saint Sixtus Abbey in Belgium that produces the beer in small batches is not interested in going commercial. The monks here simply brew enough to support the monastery. But fret not: You can buy a small number of bottles on site, and you can taste the three brews in the adjacent cafe.

Cantillon Brewery & Brussels Museum of the Gueuze

Brussels

Travel back in time to this mecca for lambic fans, known for its gueuze and kriek-style brews. The only thing about the beermaking process that has changed since 1900 is the use of organic ingredients. Museum and brewery tours are self-guided, so you can spend as much time as you want exploring the Old World equipment and techniques. Plus, at the end of the tour, you'll taste two of the beers.

[See: 15 Best Foodie Destinations in the USA.]

Dark Lord Day

Munster, Indiana

Some things are worth the wait, especially when it comes to a beer release. Three Floyds Brewing's Dark Lord Day is the pinnacle of these events; the annual release party has grown into a music festival, craft brew release and gathering of beer geeks. Once a year, the Indiana brewery releases a limited number of specialty Dark Lord bottles. They're only available that one day, on-site at the brewery to ticket-holding attendees. Dark Lord Day has pioneered the way for other releases parties around the country, including Darkness Day at Surly Brewing in Minnesota, Hunahpu's Day in Tampa and Russian River Brewing Company's Pliny the Younger release, which is available once a year on draft in select cities.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP)  The prisoner who as a teenager opened fire at his middle school in Washington state more than 20 years ago has spoken out for the first time, apologizing for killing a teacher and two fellow students.

Barry Loukaitis' hand-written letter to the Grant County Superior Court was filed last week as part of a court-ordered resentencing in the 1996 bloodshed.

"I've never apologized for what I've done," Loukaitis wrote. "I didn't because I feared that trying to apologize after doing something so terrible would only add insult to injury.

"If that feeling was wrong, I'm sorry for not speaking before," he said.

Loukaitis was 14 when he opened fire in a classroom, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that people younger than 16 could not receive life terms without parole.

Washington state is recommending that Loukaitis be resentenced to 189 years in prison. In his letter dated March 27, Loukaitis said he would not fight the move.

A hearing starts next Wednesday before Superior Court Judge Michael Cooper, the original judge in the case who came out of retirement to handle the new sentence.

Loukaitis carried a hunting rifle and two handguns into his math class at Frontier Middle School in Moses Lake on Feb. 2, 1996. He shot and killed teacher Leona Caires, 49, and classmates Manuel Vela and Arnold Fritz, both 14. Another student was wounded before teacher Jon Lane confronted and disarmed Loukaitis.

He was tried as an adult in Seattle in an attempt to find an impartial jury. He claimed an insanity defense that was rejected by the jury and convicted in 1997.

In his letter, Loukaitis described himself as a hostile and rude 14-year-old and apologized for not pleading guilty after the shootings.

"None of this should have happened in the first place," Loukaitis wrote in his recent letter. "But if it did, I could have at least have had the decency to have pled guilty instead of trying to escape justice.

"I put you and an entire community through an agonizing, senseless and expensive process in an attempt to flee from justice," he wrote.

In prison, Loukaitis has earned a high school diploma and worked as a teacher's aide.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP)  The U.S. Coast Guard says it has rescued two U.S. citizens whose boat sank north of the Dominican Republic.

The Coast Guard says Kirk Plender of New Hampshire and John Boone of South Carolina were traveling through the Silver Banks fishing area when their 62-foot (19-meter) boat struck a reef on Thursday and began taking on water.

Officials said Friday the men were found aboard a life raft. They were taken to Puerto Rico and released after being found in good condition.
Four college students in Idaho were injured after a rocket experiment went awry, school officials said Friday.

The University of Idaho students were hospitalized after a test rocket exploded in a parking lot of the schools campus in Moscow shortly before 10 p.m. local time Thursday, according to officials statement.

One victim was in critical condition and three were stable, said Daniel Ewart, UI vice president for infrastructure, according to the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. All four students were alert and communicating with school officials early Friday.

Here39;s the latest update on Thursday39;s explosion. All four victims were alert and communicating with UI personnel early Friday morning. pic.twitter.com/AiTo259uvV - University of Idaho (@uidaho) April 14, 2017

Their identities and injuries were not immediately known. Its also unclear what caused the explosion. The Moscow Police Department is investigating the incident, which the FBI had responded to, the University of Idaho said.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
By Natasha Wolff. Photos by: Getty Images and courtesy.

With Bogota Fashion Week kicking off on April 25, spring is the perfect time to visit Colombias capital city. Plenty of nonstop flight options from both coasts makes South Americas fastest growing city easy to get to and theres lots to see and dowhether youre on holiday with family and friends or there on business. Colombias tourism is booming in general, with the number of foreign visits up almost 300 percent in the last ten years.

To Stay...

The Four Seasons has the monopoly on chic new luxury hotels in Bogota. The hotel group recently unveiled two properties in the city: The more traditional Four Seasons Hotel Bogota boasts chic interiors by Rottet Studio and a sceney robata grill and sushi boite Kuru, and Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina is a 62-room property housed in the former 1940s studio of Colombian architect Santiago Medina Mejia.

To Eat...

With a distinct New York City vibe, Masa Bakery (with two locations in the city) is a buzzy cafe with insanely-addictive pastries, cakes, and cookies, and strong coffee. Masa is the brainchild of ad executive Julian Jaramillo, his chef wife Silvana (who trained at Amys Bread in New York), and his sister-in-law Mariana.

El Caracol Azul is a modern take on traditional Peruvian cuisine with great cocktails. Located in the a townhouse in the Los Rosales neighborhood, the multi-level restaurant boasts clubby decor and a terrace, and its owner, Oswaldo Toro, is super connected in the Colombian social sceneyoull always find him bopping from table to table.

Go to Andres Carne de Res, located an hour outside the city center, for a steak dinner and stay to dance on tables for the rest of the night. The place is massive but still feels cozy and very insider.

To See...

Aside from visiting the old standby/mainstay museums which showcase Latin American art, like the Museo de Arte del Banco de la Republica, the Museo del Oro for pre-Columbian golden treasures, and the Museo Botero for the private collection of Colombian master Fernando Botero, there is a big outcropping of independent galleries. Those that are worth a tour include Casas Riegner, NC Arte, Instituto de Vision, and Residencias Flora. Casas Riegner was founded in Miami and opened its Bogota doors in 2005 to promote emerging and established local artists and to introduce their work to international collectors.

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To Buy...

Luxe homegrown labels like Johanna Ortiz (the women's wear line that sells ultra-feminine, tropical dresses and separates), Leal Dacarrett for festive party dresses, and Mercedes Salazar for statement jewelry and accessories are worth checking out while in town (e-commerce retailer Moda Operandi has even picked up several of these brands for their site). Famed designer, author, entrepreneur, and hospitality maven Silvia Tcherassi (her Tcherassi Hotel Collection includes a popular Cartagena outpost) runs a boutique here which showcases her namesake label. Tania Revueltas gold and silver filigree jewelry (she also creates stunning custom pieces) are contemporary and Latin-inspired but with a sophisticated, old-world charm.

More: Take an Exclusive Look at Mexico's First Overwater Bungalows

This story originally appeared on Architectural Digest.

More from Architectural Digest:

10 Hotels With Unbelievably High-End Amenities

The Worlds Best Oceanfront Hotels

10 Incredible Ski Resorts

The 10 Best New Luxury Cruises

See What's Inside Donald Trump's Former Superyacht

This Could Be the Most Luxurious Superyacht Yet
By Sam Cochran. Photos: courtesy.

Its reputation precedes it. St. Barths, as even the most casual Caribbean observer knows, is paradisea pleasure island favored by celebrities, society scions, and sybarites alike. So how to make the most of your trip? AD has some suggestions.

Delay gratification...

Sure, New Year's Eve on the isle is a blast, with celebrities galore sunning in the sand. But St. Barths is absolute bliss in the springtime and early summer, when the crowds have thinned, the temperatures haven't yet spiked, and your chances of scoring a coveted Saturday night dinner reservation at Bonito are greatly improved.

Make an entrance...

Conventional wisdom has it that there are two ways to get to the island: fly to neighboring St. Maarten then hop on the ferry, or brave the puddle jumper with its dizzying descent into Gustaf III airport. But there's also Tradewind, a luxury airline that offers easy connecting service from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The complimentary champagne onboard the eight-seat plane will certainly take the edge off the famously harrowing arrival.

Know your personality...

St. Barths has always been rich with upscale hotels, each with its own perks and character. Minimalists will swoon for Le Sereno, a Christian Liaigre-designed oasis of calm with what might be the island's most Instagrammable swimming pool. Color lovers will delight at the Guanahani, which recently put the vibrant finishing touches on a two-year update by designer Luis Pons. Anyone seeking total peace and quiet will find it at Le Toiny, a cliffside resort made entirely of private villas boasting their own plunge pools. (Refreshed in 2015 by decorator Lady Bee Osborn, the property will unveil six additional villas this coming November.) Situated on Flamands beach, Cheval Blanc arguably boasts the best swath of sand. And the latest hotspot is Le Barthelemy, a 47-room newcomer with upbeat interiors along a long stretch of scenic Grand Cul de Sac cove.

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More: Take an Exclusive Look at Mexico's First Overwater Bungalows

Hotel hop...

Just because you're staying at one resort (or rental villa) doesn't mean you can't experience the pleasures of another. Unlike many of its Caribbean cousins, St. Barths encourages cross pollination, particularly at lunchtime when the rose starts flowing. For a toes-in-the-sand dejeuner, head to Cheval Blancs La Cabane dIsle restaurant. Or try Indigo at Le Guanahani, a waterfront family-friendly cafe boasting healthy fare like vegan pizza and grilled fresh fish. On Sundays, the place to be is Aux Amis at Le Barthelemy, which hosts a lavish weekly brunch (the prix fixe for two gets a mouthwatering buffet, bottle of champagne, and the chance to while away an entire afternoon on one of the hotel's many lounge chairs). And for a truly unforgettable day, make a reservation at Le Toiny's private beach club, where you can feast on classic island cuisine before retiring to a shaded chaise for a post-prandial nap.

Go rogue...

It would tempting to visit St. Barths and never leave a resort. The best beaches, however, require venturing beyond those cushy confines. Make the 20-minute hike to Le Colombier, a stunning ribbon of sand in the shadow of David Rockefeller's onetime estate. (His modernist house, now unoccupied, looms high on the cliffs.) And magic hour is especially magical at Saline, a broad beach that's popular with locals on account of its wilder waves and laid-back spirit.

Load up on carbs...

You've spent weeks getting that body into shape, so enough alreadyindulge. Thanks to the French, the bread on this island is beyond delicious. Bring a baguette wherever you go.

More: The Most Romantic Restaurants in the World

This story originally appeared on Architectural Digest.

More from Architectural Digest:

10 Hotels With Unbelievably High-End Amenities

10 Incredible Ski Resorts

The 10 Best New Luxury Cruises

The Worlds Best Oceanfront Hotels

This Could Be the Most Luxurious Superyacht Yet

See What's Inside Donald Trump's Former Superyacht
From Delish

Up until a few weeks ago, pretty much everyone had forgotten about the limited-edition Szechuan Teriyaki dipping sauce McDonald's sold with its Chicken McNuggets back in 1998 to promote Disney's Mulan. But then an episode of the cartoon Rick and Morty came out in early April that focused on the sauce and it basically broke the Internet.

Which made us wonder how many other McDonald's dipping sauces have we forgotten about? Right now McDonald's current lineup includes Creamy Ranch Sauce, Habanero Ranch Sauce, Honey Mustard Sauce, Spicy Buffalo Sauce, Sweet 'N Sour Sauce, Tangy Barbeque Sauce and Honey.

But do you remember these dearly departed dipping sauces? You might fondly remember hot mustard and sweet chili sauce that met their demise just a few years ago. But if you were born in '90s, you'll be sad to hear you missed out on delicious sauces like Green Chili Salsa, Mesquite Barbecue and Zesty Italian that McDonald's customers had the pleasure of dipping their nuggets in back in the '80s.

See what else you're missing out on in 2017:

Hot Mustard - 2015

While Hot Mustard was discontinued nationally in 2015, it is still available in select markets according to McDonald's. So don't give up hope just yet. Just keep asking for it and you might come across it on your next road trip.

Sweet Chili Sauce  2014

When McDonald's released Sweet Chili Sauce back in 2010 in the States, Serious Eats compared it to duck sauce mixed with red pepper flakes. So even though it's been gone for three years, you still might be able to replicate this one at home.

Hey, @McDonalds. If youre thinking about bringing that Szechuan sauce back, dont forget to show Sweet Chili some love too. Thanks  pic.twitter.com/qJicxqHjlX - Chris Chavez (@Gamercore) April 4, 2017

Chipotle BBQ - 2014

Just like Sweet Chili and Hot Mustard, the Chipotle BBQ sauce got the ax right around the same time Habanero Ranch was introduced much to the dismay of people across the Internet.

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I wanna fight @McDonalds for getting rid of the chipotle bbq sauce they had. It's the only thing that kept me going. - marianna (@lilacjinwoo) December 15, 2015

Photo credit: Getty

Mulan Szechuan Teriyaki Dipping Sauce - 1998

After that episode of Rick and Morty came out, the Internet freaked out and started an online campaign to bring it back. Still don't remember it? This commercial will give you some major '90s nostalgia.

Zesty Italian  1989

We bet if you dip your nuggets in Italian dressing it'd probably be pretty close to this sauce that's been gone for over 25 years.

Photo credit: Getty

Green Chili Salsa  1988

Salsa seems like a weird choice to put on nuggets, so it's not too surprising to hear that this one was retired.

Photo credit: Getty

Mesquite Barbeque  1988

Even though this sauce was retired in the '80s, McDonald's always seems to replace it with some sort of other flavor of BBQ sauce.

Photo credit: Getty

Teriyaki  1986

Different from the limited-edition Mulan Szechuan Teriyaki Sauce, this classic teriyaki sauce left McDonald's menu over 30 years ago.

Photo credit: Getty

Follow Delish on Instagram.

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An 8-year-old boy in Ohio watched YouTube videos to learn what to do behind the wheel - and then drove his fathers van to McDonalds.

The boy brought his 4-year-old sister along for the ride on Sunday night and reportedly obeyed traffic laws, according to witnesses. Once he got to the McDonalds drive-thru, he ordered a cheeseburger and tried to pay with money from his piggybank, the Weirton Daily Times reports.

The workers thought that the parents were in the back, but obviously they werent, responding patrolman Jacob Koehler told the Daily Times. He didnt hit a single thing on the way there. It was unreal.

The childrens parents were reportedly sleeping at home after spending the day outside as a family. The boy started crying when he realized he shouldnt have driven the car, but said he just really wanted a cheeseburger, Koehler told the Daily Times. Koehler added that the kids had three meals that day.

Both children still got to eat McDonalds while they waited at the police station for their parents. No charges were filed.

[Weirton Daily Times]

This article was originally published on TIME.com
The calendar dates for Easter and its accompanying holy week changes every year but, by coincidence, those dates in 2017 may be familiar ones to history buffs: this years calendar dates for events like Palm Sunday and Good Friday are the same as they were in 1865, a year on which the significance of those dates was political, not just religious.

As the Civil War drew to its end, Confederate General Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865 - Palm Sunday - near Appomattox Court House. Then, four days later, on April 14 - Good Friday - President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Fords Theatre. He would die the next day.

Thomas Nast, the most famous political cartoonist of the period, commemorated the coincidence with an illustration pairing an image of Christ entering Jerusalem, the event that is commemorated every Palm Sunday, with an image of Lee surrendering to Grant at Appomattox. The illustration appeared in Harpers Weekly.

This is an age of intense evangelical enthusiasm, when many Americans viewed the war as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy, says Maurice Isserman, professor of American history at Hamilton College. The most famous expression of this sentiment is poet Julia Ward Howes Battle Hymn of the Republic, which frames the war as potentially having an impact on the second coming, with the lines Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord and as He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.

Abraham Lincoln himself also framed the war as divinely influenced, for example when he painted the conflict as Gods way of punishing the North and South for the institution of slavery in his second inaugural address: Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-mans two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether.'

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And so, when Lincoln died from a bullet shot on Good Friday, the day that commemorates the crucifixion, it was no surprise that many evangelical Christians of the day drew the connection between the Biblical event and the contemporary assassination.

As Isserman puts it, To have Lincoln, at the moment of triumph, be assassinated, be martyred for the cause of the union-many people at the time thought this was all a sign of the divine ordering of the events of the Civil War period.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
When it comes to the possibility of Alzheimer's disease, there are certain signs nobody wants to recognize. On the other hand, older and not-so-old adults may overreact to routine mental slips that can happen to anyone. Reduced speed in completing writing tasks, for instance, or less ability to pay attention while multitasking are normal parts of aging. If you wonder about the difference between an occasional memory glitch or slight cognitive slowing and a potential dementia warning sign, Alzheimer's experts compare some indicators below.

[See: 10 Seemingly Innocent Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore.]

Self-insight vs. outsider concern. "If people are concerned about their memory, oftentimes that's a sign that they're not experiencing significant memory loss," says Dr. Donovan Maust, an assistant professor of psychiatry with Michigan Medicine. "If you have the insight and awareness to be worried about your memory, that's actually kind of a good sign." People with the wherewithal to visit a specialist on their own might instead really need support for depression or reassurance about temporary difficulties in concentrating. Generally, he says, people who truly have dementia-related memory loss are more likely to be brought in by concerned loved ones who want them to be evaluated.

Misplacing and retracing. Routine information overload could make anyone momentarily forgetful, says Dr. Sharon Brangman a past president of the American Geriatrics Society. "So if you lose your glasses, it's most likely because you weren't thinking about them when you put them down; and you weren't in a routine where you put your glasses in the same place all the time," she says. If you're able to retrace your steps and find missing items, it's no big deal. However, if you can't retrace your steps because your short-term memory is too impaired to re-create your last minutes or hours, that's a problem. Or, she says, "If when you do find your glasses they're in a really strange place, then I would be more concerned."

Memory loss to the test. To make a dementia diagnosis, health providers need to see objective deficits or decline in thinking abilities, based on cognitive testing. "It's not just a subjective, 'I think I'm getting worse,'" Maust says. For definitive results, he says, "You test [patients'] memory and [see that] they are doing worse than other people their age." Knowing a person's baseline is important, he adds: "If you're concerned about your memory and you're going to see a doctor, take along a family member who knows you really well."

[See: 11 Things Seniors Should Look for in a Health Provider.]

Fading nuances. With dementia, "we start to notice that some people have trouble with abstract thinking," says Brangman, who oversees geriatrics at Upstate University Hospital in New York, and its Center of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease. "They're very concrete in their language skills." Sarcasm and idioms become too difficult for the brain to process. In her office, patients are asked to explain the proverb: "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." For those with dementia: "You'll break the glass" might be their response.

Language distinctions. At some point, everyone flubs that word on the tip of their tongue, only to have it pop up later. But dementia can truly leave people at a loss for words. "Sometimes there are language problems where people have trouble with word-finding, to the point where they start to become less fluent and use 'things' instead of naming a specific item," Brangman says. "Nouns become a little tricky."

Functional bottom line. Memory or language problems alone don't equal dementia. "It has to be a memory loss that also interferes with function," Brangman says. "You have to have difficulty performing tasks that normally wouldn't have been a problem for you." Along those lines, Maust says that preparing meals, grocery shopping and navigating transportation whether by bus or driving are good examples of maintaining functions. "Those are actually pretty complicated things that most adults take being able to do for granted," he says. "So if you have an 80-year-old who's doing [them] without problem, that's a really good sign."

Finances in order or chaos? When people can't keep up with their finances it could be a bad indication. Because it involves thought processes alone (unlike, say, filling your gas tank), trouble taking care of bills is often one of the first things people with dementia grapple with, Maust says. If a parent who'd been a meticulous bill-payer throughout his or her life began having bank-account overdrafts, he says, that would be a concern.

Eating and sensory changes. Although it's not universal, a diminished sense of smell is sometimes tied to dementia. "We do know that many people with advanced dementia lose their interest in eating," Brangman says. "So much of what we eat is based on smell." A preference for very sweet or salty foods can appear as the sense of smell fades, she says, because the related taste buds are among the last to lose sensitivity.

Driving challenges. Driving can become more difficult with age due to normal changes in vision and reaction time. If you can find workarounds such as driving only during the daytime, or making a series of right turns instead of turning left at a busy intersection, that's a positive sign, Maust says. However, getting lost while driving along a familiar route is more troubling.

Personality U-turns. Family members, friends or co-workers may witness startling personality changes with evolving dementia. "Someone will become very aggressive, mean or nasty and quick to anger -- or the opposite," Brangman says. "Someone who used to be grumpy and hard to get along with is suddenly nice and docile."

From social to isolated. If an aging aunt no longer wants to have lunch with the girls or play her weekly bingo, she might be avoiding social activities she can no longer handle. With dementia, picking up on conversations or remembering names can become too much of a struggle. "People become more withdrawn and isolated," Brangman says. "Sometimes those symptoms that look like depression can be early signs of Alzheimer's disease, especially if they occur after the age of 65."

If You Suspect Dementia

It takes time for family members to catch on as loved ones go through these changes. "They can usually compensate until you get to a critical point where they just can't anymore," Brangman says. "I had a patient whose adult daughter noticed her mother was reading the same book," she recalls. "She used to go through books in a couple of days. Not only was she reading the same book -- she really seemed to be stuck on the first chapter. So that was another red flag."

[See: 14 Ways Caregivers Can Care for Themselves.]

If you have a concern, it's important to talk with a health professional. "It's not one of those things where you want to wait and see," Brangman says. "It's better to get evaluated and reassured that everything's OK."

If in fact dementia is present, she says, education is vital for patients and caregivers. "There are so many resources out there," she says. "So you don't have to reinvent the wheel and go this alone."

Lisa Esposito is a Patient Advice reporter at U.S. News. She covers health conditions, drawing on experience as an RN in oncology and other areas and as a research coordinator at the National Institutes of Health. Esposito previously reported on health care with Gannett, and she received her journalism master's degree at Georgetown University. You can follow her on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at lesposito@usnews.com.
By Ashley Pickens

It seems like Donald Trump is trying to leave a host of record-breaking marks early in his presidential termand for the worst. On Thursday morning (Apr. 14), it was just announced that the U.S. military would release a 21,000-lb bomb on Afghanistan. The target was an ISIS tunnel and cave complex.

The bomb, officially known as a Massive Ordinance Air Blast Bomb, has been tested for years but has never been used in combat due to the threatening nature of the weapon of mass destruction. Its nickname is MOAB or Mother Of All Bombs.

The same area that the U.S. targeted was an area in which, just days prior, a special operations soldier was killed in a firefight with ISIS fighters.

Last Tuesday (Apr. 4), ISISs spokesman, Abi al-Hassan al-Muhajer released the terrorist groups first statement since Donald Trumps inauguration into office. The message pointed out how America is being run by an idiot, while pro-ISIS hackers revealed that Trump topped their kill list.

Stay posted as the story continues to develop and watch footage of a test of MOAB below.

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

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

This post America Launches The Mother Of All Bombs On Afghanistan first appeared on Vibe.
This photo gallery highlights some of the top news images made by Associated Press photographers in Latin America and Caribbean that were published in the last week.

Holy Week is a big deal in the region with Christians holding Palm Sunday services and processions that recall the bittersweet nature of the week. The faithful clutch palm fronds and olive branches to commemorate Jesus Christ's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem.

According to plea bargain testimony from a former executive at Odebrecht, the construction giant paid $40 million to President Michel Temer's party and another party to ensure a contract with the state oil company. Brazil's Supreme Court has announced a new wave of investigations into top politicians, including eight of Temer's Cabinet ministers.

Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets in eastern Caracas amid a tropical downpour Thursday to support a protest movement that is gaining steam even as it turns more deadly. While demonstrations are often held in middle-class neighborhoods, this most recent wave of unrest for the first time has sparked protests in the slums that have historically been bastions of support supporters for the late President Hugo Chavez and his movement.

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 gangsters warred among themselves and police in the Rio de Janeiro slum of Mare. "The children aren't safe anywhere," said Yvonne Bezerra de Mello, founder of Uere.

___

This photo gallery was curated by photo editor Anita Baca in Mexico City.

___

Follow AP photographers and photo editors on Twitter: http://apne.ws/15Oo6jo
The free, remaining member of a legendary cocaine drug ring that trafficked in South Florida during the eighties, was recently arrested.

Gustavo Falcon, 55, was tracked down by police Wednesday and arrested in Kissimmee, Florida, after 26 years of evading the authorities, NBC Miami reported Thursday.

Falcon, who also went by Tabby, was arrested while on a bike ride with his wife, Amelia, in Kissimmee. The fugitive was said to have gone willingly and did not resist police when he was arrested. He even confessed to his identity to enforcement, the local news outlet reported.

Read: Drug Bust In Ohio University Airport: Significant Quantity Of Suspected Cocaine Found In Unauthorized Plane

Falcon had been living in the area and was arrested after being tracked by authorities through a rental address. Falcon was found to have fake licenses with dates back to the mid-nineties. The elaborate scheme also included fake licenses and identification for his wife and for his adult children, according to the U.S. Marshals.

The authorities were first tipped off to Falcons location after he was in a car accident in 2013 and used his fake identification with his living address.

We figured this all out a month ago, a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service in Miami, Barry Golden, said Wednesday, via the Miami Herald. We pulled his drivers license and saw it was the same Gustavo Falcon.

Falcon will appear in Orlando federal court Thursday before he is transferred to Miami.

The Cocaine Cowboys name referred to the drug kingpins that ruled Miami at the height of the drug scene in Florida. Smuggler brothers Gustavo and Augusto Willie Falcon operated during the Miami Drug Wars during the 70s and 80s. The brothers, along with partner Sal Magluta, smuggled 75 tons of cocaine into the U.S. between the years of 1978 and 1991, the year the three were indicted. The 75 tons were said to have been worth more than $2 billion, according to CBS News.

Story continues

Magluta and Willie Falcon currently reside in federal prison. Gustavo Falcon famously fled before his indictment.

The name Cocaine Cowboys evolved from a 2006 documentary that was made on the infamous cocaine barons and the Miami Drug Wars.

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If you've Googled some terrifying things in the past week, you're not alone.

Data from Google Trends shows that President Trump's recent military actions have instilled fear and curiosity throughout the world, sparking giant spike in online searches for the term  you guessed it  "World War III."

SEE ALSO: Senator uses that famous nuggets tweet to troll Trump over tax returns

According to the data, searches for World War III reached peak popularity on Google on April 7, the day after Trump ordered a missile strike on a Syrian airfield in response to a chemical weapons attack that killed at least 70 civilians.

As you can see from the results over the past 30 days, though the searches spiked the day after the strike, they've remained relatively high in the days following, showing a lingering confusion as to whether or not Trump plans on waging a war. Or, you know, if our own impending doom is upon us.

Image: screengrab/google trends

Image: screengrab/google trends

Image: screengrab/google trends

Widening the search parameters to January shows that this is the first time the search has spiked during Trump's presidency. But considering the U.S. just dropped a bomb so powerful it was infamously nicknamed the "mother of all bombs" in Afghanistan on Thursday, reportedly killing 36 ISIS fighters, it might not be the last.

WWIII search history over the course of Trump's presidency.

Image: screengrab/ google trends

Over the past five years the "World War III" search only spiked in popularity one other time, following the Paris terror attacks that took place in November 2015.

Image: screengrab/google trends

Though people across the world are clearly curious about the status of war in the world today, fluctuating trend projections of questions like, "What is happening?" and "Is Trump an idiot?" show the world has been consistently confused since Trump took office.

Image: screengrab/google trends

Image: screengrab/google trends

This is fine.

WATCH: While the United fiasco unfolded, a travel writer made $11,000 off overbooked flights
Vin Diesel's constant plugging of Corona throughout the Fast and Furious movies can make certain installments feel like extended beer commercials.

But the company has apparently never paid a dime for the prolific product placement.

SEE ALSO: Yup, there's going to be a 'Fast & Furious' global arena tour

That's according to a new feature story in The Ringer that examines the franchise's longstanding relationship with the beer brand.

"We love Corona, series producer Neal Moritz told Ringer founder Bill Simmon on an episode of his podcast this week. Corona is the official beer of Fast & Furious... unpaid.

The brand loyalty has paid off big-time for Corona. Apex Marketing Group, which handles film and television placements for major advertisers, told The Ringer that the beer's screen time across each of the films had a total estimated value of more than $15 million.

The placement in Fast and Furious 7 alone would have cost more than a Super Bowl spot had the crew behind it not had such a particular affinity towards the beer.

Screenplay writer Chris Morgan called the beer "literally a character in the films," and the beer's brand image just happened to match the mood and tone of the franchise.

"I know it's crazy," Moritz conceded to Simmons.

According to Bloomberg's exhaustive tally, Diesel is shown sipping the Mexican brew three times in the first installment, eight times in the fourth, seven times in the sixth and once in the seventh. The remaining three are apparently Corona-less.

The newest film, which hit theaters on Friday, apparently belongs to that latter category. The Fate of the Furious reportedly features Budweiser and Stella Artois, suggesting a possible shift in allegiances.

Both of those labels, however, still share a corporate parent with Corona in monster conglomerate Anheuser-Busch-InBev, making the switch all the more puzzling.

Either way, at least the shameless plugs are more believable than movie characters constantly guzzling nameless generic "beers."

WATCH: 'The Fate of the Furious' grinds to a halt
San Francisco (AFP) - Apple has joined the list of companies with permits to test self-driving cars in California, according to an updated roster released on Friday by state officials.

The iPhone maker has disclosed little about its ambitions when it comes to self-driving vehicles, with chief Tim Cook hinting at plans but the company declining to comment for news reports on long-idling rumors.

Late last year, Apple revealed it is investing heavily in autonomous vehicles in a letter asking the government to make it easier to develop self-driving cars.

Apple issued the letter because it is "investing heavily in machine learning and autonomous systems," an Apple spokesman said in an email to AFP at the time.

The California-based tech giant is expected to focus on software systems, letting partners manufacture vehicles, but would understandably want to be able to test its navigation technology in cars.

Most major auto manufacturers and many technology groups are currently developing autonomous vehicles, considered to be the future of the automobile, along with electric power, with first production models promised for around 2020.

General Motors this week announced that its autonomous driving efforts, investing $14 million and adding 1,100 jobs in a new research center in San Francisco.

While GM is already testing autonomous vehicles through its Cruise Automation unit in California, Arizona and Michigan, the new initiative will ramp up those efforts.

Similar research is being carried out by other automakers including Ford, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota, and by other groups including Uber and Google parent Alphabet.

Continental this week opened a new research center in the heart of Silicon Valley, saying it was dedicated to "mobility innovations and technologies."

Chinese tech giant Baidu, which is working on autonomous driving at its California research center, this week announced the acquisition of xPerception, a US startup that provides visual perception software, along with services and devices for people who are visually impaired.
(Reuters) - Apple Inc has secured a permit to test autonomous vehicles in California, the state Department of Motor Vehicles said on Friday. Apple joins a growing list of traditional carmakers, technology companies, and small start ups to test drive cars in California - all vying to be the first to bring self-driving cars to the masses. Companies that have been issued permits also include Alphabet Inc's Google unit, Ford Motor Co, Volkswagen AG, Daimler AG, Tesla Motors Inc and General Motors Co. (http://bit.ly/2pikEgR) Many companies have said the first cars will launch in 2020 but some experts believe it may take much longer due to regulatory challenges. After a five-page letter last November from Steve Kenner, Apple's director of product integrity, to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the company was under increased speculation that they would enter into the competitive self-driving space. "The company is investing heavily in the study of machine learning and automation, and is excited about the potential of automated systems in many areas, including transportation," Kenner wrote. Apple executives have been coy about their interest in cars. Chief Executive Tim Cook has suggested that Apple wants to move beyond integration of Apple smartphones into vehicle infotainment systems. Apple was not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Shalini Nagarajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr)
Will he ever wake up? my patients mother asked me, her face ashen and her eyes brimming with tears. What are the chances he will talk again?

I was a junior resident working in the intensive care unit and was caring for Mr. R, who had overdosed on an opioid cocktail in a nearby parking lot. He was unconscious and wasnt breathing when he was found by a stranger, who performed CPR until an ambulance arrived.

In the hospital, Mr. Rs brain scan and heart tracing revealed possibly irreversible injury caused by a lack of oxygen. We began the days-long process of lowering his body temperature, then warming him up again, a last-ditch effort to boost his chances of recovery. It was a scenario Id seen far too often because of how hard the opioid crisis has hit New England.

To the relatives who crowded the conference table near Mr. Rs hospital room, I tried to explain his injuries and prognosis. For what felt like the hundredth time during residency, I faced my trickiest task: balancing realism with hope.

Read more: Doctors who cant communicate bad news are technicians, not true physicians

I listed Mr. Rs possible outcomes: He might die. He might survive and remain forever in a coma. He might survive and regain the ability to live independently. Or he might end up somewhere in between. Based on what Id seen in the past, hed most likely be permanently disabled, I told his family members, but it was impossible to know. I chose my words carefully, trying not to be overly negative or falsely optimistic.

Conveying the right balance of hope and realism is largely learned through experience during medical training. Young doctors patch together a framework for navigating discussions that hinge on uncertainty, often pilfering mentors phrases and techniques. Most of all we learn from our own missteps, and from those of our colleagues.

I know that many patients prefer to hear realistic interpretations of their illness, and that these discussions are increasingly important as providers lean toward shared decision-making, which has been linked to greater patient satisfaction. Still, its sometimes a challenge to truthfully discuss a serious medical issue while leaving the door open to the hope that is so vital for patients and families.

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Discussing an individuals prognosis is difficult because doctors often simply dont know what will happen next. One study, for example, showed that clinicians estimates of how long cancer patients had left to live were accurate just 20 percent of the time; their guesses tended to be overly optimistic. Another study revealed that doctors overestimated survival by a month in more than one-quarter of patients. Perhaps these data illustrate how much clinicians root for our patients. I yearn for advanced tumors to melt away with last-line chemotherapy, or for a patient with a severe stroke to walk again. Yet neither is very likely to happen, and reality must keep hope in check.

Although I wanted to estimate the chances that Mr. R would speak, sit up, or even open his eyes, I was cautious. The myriad variables that make each patients scenario and body unique also often make it impossible to predict his or her future.

What Ive realized is that although this uncertainty is tough to convey, it doesnt dictate what is also very important: giving patients and their families hope to hang onto. Even when death is rapidly approaching, there are things we can strive for. Whereas we may have initially hoped to prolong life  sometimes at the cost of discomfort in the moment, such as by administering chemotherapy or pushing through a grueling rehabilitation regimen  the focus shifts to making the time thats left as comfortable, joyful, and dignified as possible.

Read more: 5 ways to improve care at the end of life

When Mr. C, a patient of mine with advanced cancer and diabetes, decided he wanted a veritable swimming pool of sweetened iced coffee, thats what he got. We prioritized his joy over the blood sugar control that wouldnt meaningfully improve or prolong his life.

Whatever the future holds, figuring out what patients and caregivers hope for requires open communication to establish whats most important. After all, unless I know what my patients want, I cant be a part of helping them achieve those goals. When I spoke to Dr. Anthony Back, an oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle who has examined balancing hope and realism in end-of-life discussions, he emphasized this as well.

For patients and families, its OK to talk to the doctor about a lot of kinds of hope, which dont have to be totally consistent, Back told me. Patients may think doctors only want to hear about medically related goals  such as length of life or the ability to walk  but doctors want to know about all of them, from attending a family wedding to spending time outside on a sunny afternoon.

In light of a serious diagnosis, most people are hoping for a whole bunch of things, Back said. That doesnt change as a person gets sicker.

I was ecstatic when Mr. R walked out of the hospital; his youth and the short time his brain had been starved for oxygen made him unexpectedly resilient. In fact, his family must have thought Id been overly pessimistic in our early meetings.

Yet for every patient like Mr. R, Ive seen many others who never wake up, or who are permanently and severely disabled. After all, so many young people have died from opioid overdoses in the past few years, theres been a spike in organ donations.

I still struggle to balance hope and realism when I talk to patients and their families, and perhaps I always will. Yet I like to think that despite the uncertainty that permeates medicine, the most important thing to convey is that, realistically, there is always hope  its just up to us to find it.

Allison Bond, MD, is a resident in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Much has changed in the world since 1998, when Bill Nye's American half-hour live action science program came to an end.

But the on-air personality  affectionately known as "the science guy" to most millennials  certainly hasn't.

"Hey Bill, fix the bow tie!" executive producer and showrunner Michael Naidus yelled to Nye at an October taping of his new Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World.

"The most important thing!" Nye joked back, adjusting his signature bowtie before the camera began rolling.

Three, two, one, action.

"Hi folks, I'm Bill Nye  you may remember me from the Science Guy show," Nye says, half reading from a teleprompter half improvising his lines. "Well I'm back, talking science again with a new show and a new lab. I'm loving me some Netflix on the electric internet machines that all the kids are using."

Cue the millennial nostalgia.

SEE ALSO: A Bill Nye science talk show is coming to Netflix

Bill! Bill! Bill!

Nye said he'd always wanted to have another show. The trouble was finding people who "for lack of a better phrase, get it," he said in a recent interview with Mashable.

Once Naidus was on board, he said everything else also fell into place, including a "network" for the show to call its home.

Netflix, a streaming giant, has long been building its library of originals. Nye's show became the perfect addition because it catered to the cord-cutting millennials who grew up watching the scientist.

"As you've probably guessed, we're not really making a kid show," Nye says in the introduction to his first episode. "It's for you grown up kids all over the world. We're going to be talking about important, perhaps even controversial, issues from scientific points of view and we're going to make it a lot of fun along the way."

Even Netflix's promotional efforts seem millennial-focused. A recent tweet from the show's account featured Nye explaining how to nurse a hangover. The clip ends with Nye dropping the mic.

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It's already working. At the taping, the audience was made up of many millennial fans, who chanted "Bill! Bill! Bill!" (from the theme song from Science Guy) in between takes.

Though the turnaround for the taping was tight  it started at 4 p.m. and was supposed to wrap by 6 pm.  Nye made sure to give audience members the chance to directly ask him questions.

"You've been my inspiration my whole life," one audience member, who was sporting a bow tie, said when Nye called on him. "I just wanted to say thank you."

New lab, who dis?

Thanks to Netflix, the show's set also has a big upgrade.

"In many ways, doing a show for Netflix is easier because we have the resources," Nye said. "Science Guy was shot single camera, in brick warehouse in Seattle. This was a real soundstage. One thing to get used to was the set being really brightly lit. When I started out in TV, you couldnt have it that bright because it would overwhelm the camera. Now you can see much more detail."

The show  minus special pre-taped segments  was filmed live on the Sony lot in Culver City. The stage is divided into various areas, which Nye bounces between during the show.

In the middle  the main stage  is Nye's lab. The ceiling design looks like DNA. Front and center is a table, with a lab, for Nye to do experiments. There's also two giant screen and white boards for Nye's explaining.

There's also an area for when Nye has a panel discussion with guests related to the episode's topic and a library area (with giant bookshelves).

The series features a slew of guest correspondents, including supermodel Karlie Kloss, science communicator/YouTuber Derek Muller, Australian comedian and actor Nazeem Hussain, and Xploration Outer Space host Emily Calandrelli.

Supermodel Karlie Kloss is a special correspondent on Netflix's "Bill Nye Saves The World."

Image: netflix

"Working with Bill this year was a dream come true," Kloss, who has also made a name for herself in the tech world with her coding camp, said in an email interview with Mashable last year. "As a child of the '90s, I watched Bill Nye The Science Guy growing up and was always a big fan of the show. He has this incredible ability to use simple experiments to help show complicated concepts. At a young age, he really instilled in me a passion and curiosity for science."

A handful of celebrities  including Tim Gun, Rachel Bloom, Zach Braff, Joel McHale and Steve Aaoki  also make appearances. At the October taping, Gunn was there to help Nye host a "runway show" featuring designer babies and their parents.

Nye said the show has a staff of about 8 writers, four who have backgrounds in comedy and four who have backgrounds in science.

"I think I have a message for the world and I like being on television," Nye said of his return. "I want to influence people and change the world."

Bill Nye Saves the World debuts on Netflix on April 21, the day before Earth Day.

WATCH: Bill Nye explains how you dream with emoji
Citing what he says is a widespread problem, Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen announced that he will introduce legislation designed to prevent airlines from forcibly removing ticketed passengers from flights.

The Maryland lawmaker is circulating a letter on Capitol Hill asking for support for his Customers Not Cargo Act, which the letter says will prohibit airlines from forcibly removing passengers after they have already boarded the plane due to oversales or airline staff seeking to fly as passengers. The legislation comes amid calls for congressional hearings about passenger rights after the emergence of a video showing United Airlines having a passenger dragged off a plane scheduled to fly from Chicago to Louisville over the weekend.

International Business Times reported this week that less than three years before the incident, United Airlines told federal regulators that every ticket, of course, guarantees a passenger a seat on the plane. In an interview with IBT, Van Hollen said the video appeared to contradict that 2014 statement by United to the Department of Transportation.

Clearly thats not what they did in this instance or other instances, Van Hollen said. Whats pretty clear is that it is not uncommon for airlines when they overbook to not only tell passengers at the gate that they are involuntarily bumped, but passengers who have actually got on the airplane.

Van Hollen said his legislation will target a 2008 federal rule that caps the amount that airlines must pay to ticketed passengers who are involuntarily removed from flights. That provision currently limits the payout to $1,350. The Democratic senator says that creates a financial incentive for airlines to forcibly remove passengers.

The airline should be required to offer the passengers an incentive that gets someone to volunteer to deplane, rather than drag them off  and right now the incentives are in the wrong direction, he told IBT. There will be a price point at which someone will voluntarily get off the airplane. Thats what airlines should be required to do.

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In recent years, United has spent millions on federal lobbying and campaign contributions as the company and the larger airline industry has thwarted a series of passenger rights bills proposed in Congress. Van Hollen, though, suggested that the video  and the international outrage it has prompted  could provide a political boost to his initiative.

When these issues have come up in the past with respect to passengers rights, there has been a lot of lobbying by the airlines, he said. Im really glad in this instance we have this video that has shone a light on what can happen. People are being involuntarily removed from airlines and this just highlights what can happen when that gets out of control. This has pulled back the veil on the indignities that passengers experience on a regular basis.

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By Lisandra Paraguassu and Pedro Fonseca BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil's President Michel Temer denied on Thursday that he hosted a meeting in 2010 where an executive of engineering firm Odebrecht SA [ODBES.UL] was asked to arrange an illegal payment of $40 million to his political party. The graft accusation, which Temer dismissed as "a lie," was made in plea bargain testimony by Marcio Faria da Silva, a former vice president of the industrial arm of scandal-plagued Odebrecht. Though potentially damaging to his credibility, and efforts to shore up Latin America's biggest economy, Faria's allegation does not threaten Temer's hold on power. As president, he has temporary immunity for anything that occurred before he took office last year. The accusation was made public on Wednesday as part of a rash of plea bargain deals by 77 Odebrecht executives caught up in a massive corruption scheme. Faria said he met with Temer in 2010 in his Sao Paulo legal office, together with former lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha and Congressman Henrique Eduardo Alves, all members of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB). At the meeting, the payment was requested as a 5 percent levy on a contract Odebrecht was seeking from state oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA's for the maintenance of assets in nine countries, Faria said. Temer confirmed in a video statement posted on social media that he took part in a meeting with a company executive in 2010 but there was no talk of an illegal donation. "It is a lie that in that meeting I heard any reference to money or any shady dealings between the company and politicians," the president said. Earlier on Thursday, Temer's office confirmed in a separate statement he met with Faria in 2010 in the presence of Cunha for a "quick and superficial" meeting, but denied that Alves participated. Representatives for Alves and Cunha, who is in prison pending trial on other charges, could not be reached for comment. The testimony by Faria was among dozens of plea bargain testimonies released by Supreme Court Justice Luiz Edson Fachin. Based on the testimony, Fachin ordered investigations into nearly 100 politicians as part of the Operation Car War probe into billions of dollars in bribes and illegal kickbacks on contracts with state companies, particularly Petrobras. The allegations come as Temer is trying to push an overhaul of Brazil's pension system through Congress, part of a business-friendly agenda that has sparked a rise in Brazil's stockmarket and currency. Congress is due to start discussions of the reform next week. Some lawmakers on Thursday said the government would look to speed up the passing of reforms now that so many politicians were under investigation, but admitted that such a move might prove difficult. In his testimony, Faria alleged that, while Temer did not speak about any figures, Cunha made it clear that a payment was expected. "He explained that we were seeking a contract with Petrobras. A commitment that it would be signed would require a very important contribution to the party," Faria said, adding it was clear that a bribe was being sought. Once the contract was won, the payment was made in cash in Brazil and to foreign bank accounts, Faria said. He said the PMDB took 4 percent of the value of the contract, leaving 1 percent for the left-leaning Workers Party of then-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Odebrecht's former Chief Executive Marcelo Odebrecht, currently jailed for his part in the Car Wash scheme, said in a separate plea bargain deal that he had made available $40 million to Lula. He said the payment was negotiated via a minister, not with Lula himself. Lula also denied any wrongdoing on Thursday while hinting that he was gearing up for presidential elections next year, despite five court cases pending against him related to Operation Car Wash. Elected as Brazil's first working class president in 2002 and returned to office four years later, Lula is ahead in opinion polls for the 2018 vote. "I will fight if they let me fight and I will prove that this country can be happy again," Lula said, adding that "plea bargains have to be proved." (Reporting by Pedro Fonseca in Rio de Janeiro; Writing by Daniel Flynn; Editing by Andrew Hay and Tom Brown)
British spy agencies alerted their U.S. counterparts in 2015 about contacts between President Donald Trumps election campaign and Russian intelligence authorities, the Guardian reported Thursday, citing sources. The response from Washington over the alleged contacts was, however, slow, sources told the British daily.

Britains Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) passed on the information about contacts between Trumps team and known or suspected Russian agents as part of routine exchange of intelligence, the Guardian reported. Until 2016, spy agencies from Germany, Estonia, France, the Netherlands and Poland also alerted the U.S. about the links between the two sides, sources told the newspaper.

However, the FBI and the CIA responded slowly to the intelligence they were given ahead of the presidential election last November. This was partly because of the U.S. law that prohibits American intelligence agencies to keep a check on the private communications of U.S. citizens without warrants, people familiar with the matter told the Guardian.

It looks like the [U.S.] agencies were asleep. They [the European agencies] were saying There are contacts going on between people close to Trump and people we believe are Russian intelligence agents. You should be wary of this, a source told the Guardian

The message was: Watch out. Theres something not right here, the source reportedly added.

The Guardian report noted that the intelligence on Trump teams contacts with Russia came to light during routine surveillance of Russian operatives. The Trump campaign team was not spied on.

Last month, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer cited Fox News commentator Andrew Napolitano who claimed three intelligence sources told him the Barack Obama administration used GCHQ to spy on Trump ahead of the 2016 election. The British agency dismissed the allegation and called the claim nonsense and utterly ridiculous.

I dont want to get into private conversations, but weve made clear to the administration that these claims are ridiculous and should be ignored, a Downing Street spokesman said at the time. Weve received assurances these allegations wont be repeated. We have a close relationship which allows us to raise concerns when they arise, as was true in this case. This shows the administration doesnt give the allegations any credence.

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However, the White House did not apologize for the allegation and Trump said his administration merely quoted a certain very talented legal mind who was the one responsible for saying that on television.

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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.
May the force be with you, princess.

Although the late Carrie Fisher will return as General Leia Organa in this winter's Star Wars: The Last Jedi, she will not appear in 2019's Episode IX, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirmed Friday.

SEE ALSO: Star Wars family pulls out all the stops to celebrate its Princess

Fisher completed shooting for The Last Jedi before her death in December, but until now it's been unclear whether her character would appear in Episode IX.

Last week, her brother Todd Fisher revealed to press that his family had granted Disney and Lucasfilm the rights to use recent footage of the late actress to complete her role, leading many to assume that Leia would indeed be back for the next installment.

However, Kennedy has now clarified to Good Morning America that that's not the case.

By the time Fisher passed away, Kennedy explains, "we were well underway with Episode IX in our thoughts," but the script had yet to be written. After Fisher's death, Kennedy says, "We regrouped. We started over in January."

And just in case there's any lingering confusion, Kennedy says it right out: "Sadly, Carrie will not be in IX."

It's been tough to let go of Fisher and it'll be tough to say good bye to Leia. But we will get one last chance to see her this winter in The Last Jedi. Kennedy talked up Fisher's work in the movie as "phenomenal."

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is out December 15. Episode IX, which will be directed by Colin Trevorrow, is expected to open in 2019.

WATCH: The first teaser for 'The Last Jedi' is here and OMG
Chicago (AFP) - As United Airlines struggles to recover from the public relations disaster sparked when a passenger was violently removed from a flight in Chicago, the airport security officers involved in the incident are facing tough scrutiny.

Officials in the midwestern US city are looking at why the three officers -- all now placed on administrative leave -- were on the plane in the first place, amid criticism from elected officials and the United pilots' union.

The officers -- who are unarmed and meant to back up local law enforcement -- were called by airline employees after the passenger, David Dao, refused to give up his seat for crew that needed to be repositioned for other flights.

The resulting altercation left Dao with a broken nose, concussion and other injuries, according to his lawyers, who have said he is likely to sue.

But Jeff Redding, who is in charge of safety and security at the Chicago Department of Aviation, which operates O'Hare International Airport, says airport security officers are not supposed to respond to such calls.

"If it is a customer service-related incident, then you don't need to board the plane at all," Redding told a group of Chicago city council members on Thursday.

The official however could not immediately say how his officers were instructed about the use of force.

The agency did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.

Once the officers were on the plane, they bungled the situation, according to United's pilots' union.

The United Master Executive Council on Thursday accused the security officers of actions that were "grossly inappropriate."

"For reasons unknown to us, instead of trained Chicago Police Department officers being dispatched to the scene, Chicago Department of Aviation personnel responded," the union said.

The airport security officers, while required to meet minimum police standards and go through academy training, are not in fact police, and cannot carry guns or arrest people.

"We are going to thoroughly review every aspect of our operation," said Chicago's aviation chief Ginger Evans.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, responsible for the major airports in the New York area, sent out a new directive Friday noting that their officers would not assist in removing a passenger in an overbooking situation.
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.
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 programme 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. China, North Korea's sole major ally and neighbour, which nevertheless opposes its weapons programme, has called for talks leading to a peaceful resolution and the denuclearisation 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 focussing 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 towards 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. Another U.S. official also dismissed the report, calling it "speculative at best." The Pentagon declined comment, saying, as a policy, it does not discuss future operations "nor publicly speculate on possible scenarios." 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 centre 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. U.S. HOPES FOR CHINA INFLUENCE 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 programme, 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 programme, 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 denuclearised 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, Jeff Mason and Phil Stewart in WASHINGTON; Editing by Robert Birsel, Howard Goller and Bill Trott)
By Dominique Patton and Sue-Lin Wong BEIJING/PYONGYANG (Reuters) - China said on Friday tension over North Korea had to be stopped from reaching an "irreversible and unmanageable stage" as a U.S. aircraft carrier group steamed toward the region amid fears the North may conduct a sixth nuclear weapons test. Concern has grown since the U.S. Navy fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack, raising questions about U.S. President Donald Trump's plans for North Korea, which has conducted missile and nuclear tests in defiance of U.N. and unilateral sanctions. The United States has warned that a policy of "strategic patience" is over. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence travels to South Korea on Sunday on a long-planned 10-day trip to Asia. China, North Korea's sole major ally and neighbor which nevertheless opposes its weapons program, has called for talks leading to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. "We call on all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other, whether in words or actions, and not let the situation get to an irreversible and unmanageable stage," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing. North Korea denounced the United States for bringing "huge nuclear strategic assets" to the region as the Carl Vinson strike group with a flag-ship nuclear-powered aircraft carrier steamed closer, and said it stood ready to strike back. "The Trump administration, which made a surprise guided cruise-missile strike on Syria on April 6, has entered the path of open threat and blackmail," the North's KCNA news agency quoted the military as saying in a statement. "The army and people of the DPRK will as ever courageously counter those who encroach upon the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK and will always mercilessly ravage all provocative options of the U.S. with Korean-style toughest counteraction." DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. North Korea, still technically at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, has on occasion conducted missile or nuclear tests to coincide with big political events and often threatens the United States, South Korea and Japan. On Saturday, it marks the "Day of the Sun", the 105th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il Sung. U.S. ally South Korea warned against any North Korean "provocation", such as a nuclear or missile test. "There is certain to be powerful punitive measure that will be difficult for the North Korean regime to endure," the South's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. WITH OR WITHOUT YOU While Trump has put North Korea on notice that he will not tolerate any more provocation, U.S. officials have said his administration is focusing its strategy on tougher economic sanctions. Trump said on Thursday North Korea was a problem that "will be taken care of" and he believed Chinese President Xi Jinping would "work very hard" to help resolve it. Trump has also said the United States is prepared to tackle the crisis without China, if necessary. He diverted the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its strike group toward the Korean peninsula last weekend in a show of force. (http://tmsnrt.rs/2p1yGTQ) Trump has also been pressing China to do more to rein in North Korea. China banned all imports of North Korean coal on Feb. 26 under U.N. sanctions, cutting off the North's most important export, and on Friday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said national airline Air China was suspending flights to Pyongyang. It did not say why the flights, which operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, were being suspended and Air China could not be reached for comment. Worry about North Korean aggression has also led to a deterioration of ties between China and South Korea because China objects to the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in the South. "It's not hard to see that ever since the United States and Republic of Korea decided to deploy THAAD, the situation has not become harmonious but has become more tense," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, said in response to a question about the system. South Korea and the United States say the sole purpose of the THAAD is to guard against North Korean missiles, but China says that its powerful radar could penetrate its territory. The dollar fell on Friday against a basket of currencies, on track for a losing week as tension over North Korea underpinned the perceived safe-haven Japanese yen. Japan's Nikkei business daily said the government had discussed how to rescue an estimated 57,000 Japanese citizens in South Korea as well as how to cope with a possible flood of North Korean refugees coming to Japan, among whom might be spies. In Pyongyang, retired soldier Ho Song Chol told Reuters that North Korea would win should there be any conflict with the United States. "We don't think about other things, we just live in our belief that we will win as long as our Supreme Leader is with us," Ho said, referring to Kim Jong Un. Kang Gil-won, a 26-year-old graduate living in Seoul, said his biggest concern was not North Korea, but finding work in a tough job market. "Theres no concern that war is going to break out tomorrow," he told Reuters at a "study cafe" where many job seekers prepare for interviews. "Getting a job is a war that I feel in my bones." (Additional reporting by Nick Macfie, James Pearson, Ju-min Park and Jack Kim in SEOUL, Natalie Thomas in Pyongyang, Linda Sieg in TOKYO and Michael Martina and Christian Shepherd in BEIJING; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Jerusalem (AFP) - Thousands of Christians from around the world marked Good Friday in Jerusalem's Old City, retracing the steps Jesus Christ is believed to have taken carrying his cross to his crucifixion.

Through the Old City's narrow alleyways, pilgrims and Palestinian Christians carried wooden crosses, icons and flags of their respective countries in a procession under heavy surveillance from Israeli police.

Like every year in the runup to Easter, they retraced the 14 Stations of the Cross and walked to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus Christ is believed to be buried.

Inside the church, Egyptian Coptic Christian pilgrim Sameera Haleem, 52, prayed for protection for her family after deadly church bombings in her country on Palm Sunday.

"Parting with loved ones is very hard but they are martyrs," she said of the 45 people who died in the bombings in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria that were claimed by the Islamic State group.

"Copts being targeted and killed only serves to strengthen our belief," she said, as she stood by the shrine surrounding what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus, clutching a piece of paper with the names of relatives she wanted to protect.

"This sacred place is blessed beyond all sacred places," she said, tears glistening in her eyes as she tried to keep her place next to the shrine as pilgrims poured into the church.

Outside, a group of Russian nuns had stopped, carrying a portrait of Jesus surrounded by flowers.

A group of Catholic pilgrims from India wore red hoods.

Lara, an Australian Christian pilgrim, described the procession as "an amazing experience".

"We can't be any happier, it's like a dream," she said.

The "Via Dolorosa" -- or "Way of Suffering" -- includes points where Jesus is said to have met his mother, fallen several times, been helped in carrying the cross, and met the lamenting women of Jerusalem.

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The route is situated in east Jerusalem, which Israel occupied in 1967 and later annexed in a move never recognised by the international community.

Christians made up more than 18 percent of the population of the holy land in 1948, before Israel was created, but now they number less than two percent.

They are mostly Orthodox Christians.

Police were on high alert as Christian commemorations were under way for Good Friday and as Jews marked the week-long Passover holiday.

On Friday, a 23-year-old British tourist was stabbed to death on a tram close to the Old City, and her Palestinian attacker arrested, police said.
Alex (Chyler Leigh) and Maggies (Floriana Lima) love story on Supergirl has touched the lives of several viewers, but unbeknown to many, the shows LGBTQ storyline has also made an impact on Leighs personal life.

In a recent interview with Variety, Leigh revealed that the introduction of Alex and Maggies relationship to the show gave her the opportunity to enlighten her eldest child, Noah, about LGBTQ rights.

My 13-year-old son has watched every episode, [so] it opened up a conversation that I might have waited longer to have, Leigh shared. He said, I dont understand why they would do that with your character. To say, Everybody needs to be treated equally was amazing. Ive never been this passionate about my work, mostly because of the impact its having.

READ: What will happen in Season 2, episode 19 of Supergirl?

Due to the fair, accurate and inclusive representation of the LGBTQ community on Supergirl, the show was nominated for outstanding drama series for this years GLAAD Media Awards. Although it was Freeforms Shadowhunters that ultimately took home the award, Leigh wrote in an Instagram post ahead of the awards ceremony earlier this month that all of them from Supergirl were already grateful just to be simply nominated.

There was no way we would have known the impact that this would have had, Leigh told People at the 28th GLAAD Media Awards ceremony. We definitely wanted [Alex and Maggies relationship] to be a strong representation, and thats why weve thought so hard about it and wanted it to be beautifully done. So Im just really happy with the writers of Supergirl, who have really brought this to life.

Were just really humbled by it, very proud of it, added Lima who attended the awards night with Leigh.

Supergirl returns from its month-long hiatus with Season 2, episode 18 on Monday, April 24 at 8 p.m. EDT on The CW.

Chyler Leigh

Photo: Reuters/Chris Pizzello

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CNN commentator Jeffrey Lord found himself at the receiving end of scathing criticism after he compared President Donald Trump to civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., during a segment on Alisyn Camerotas New Day on Thursday morning.

Calling Trump the Martin Luther King of health care in the segment, Lord compared his method of obtaining support for the repeal of Obamacare to the civil rights activist's direct action.

Read: President Donald Trump Will Not Be Re-Elected In 2020, Bernie Sanders Believes

When I was a kid, President Kennedy did not want to introduce the civil rights bill because he said it wasnt popular, he didnt have the votes for it, et cetera, Lord said during his Skype appearance. Dr. King kept putting people in the streets in harm's way to put the pressure on so that the bill would be introduced. That's what finally worked.

Democratic activist and fellow CNN commentator Symone Sanders hit back at Lord immediately, saying, So lets not equate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner, to the vagina-grabbing President Donald Trump.

CNN brought Lord back later in the evening to follow up on his comments from earlier in the day. Anchor Anderson Cooper said, Jeff I want to give you a chance to explain yourself, what you meant by your earlier comments.

I wasnt comparing President Trump and Dr. King, Lord said, as he added, who, by the way, the latter, was a hero of mine when I was a kid.

Lord, who served as the White House political adviser in former President Ronald Reagan's administration, also wrote a piece for CNN, explaining his position in greater detail. In the piece, Lord explained that during the discussion on an article by the Wall Street Journal, which said Trump was forcing Democrats into negotiations with the threat of withholding payments, he compared the actions to Kings strategy outlined in his 1963 letter from Birmingham Jail.

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In the letter, King said direct action was used to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored.

He explained further, So must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood. The purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation.

The Journals article said the president was threatening to withhold payments to insurers to force Democrats to the negotiating table. Further, it added that their abrupt disappearance [from the marketplace] could trigger an insurance meltdown that causes the collapse of the 2010 health law, forcing lawmakers to return to a bruising debate over its future.

Lord acknowledged the goals of the two leaders were different but maintained that the strategy of using crisis to bring parties to the negotiating table was common to both. He defended himself by saying: And there is nothing in the least wrong in saying so.

During the evening segment, CNN contributor Bakari Sellers countered Lord, saying his comments were a disgrace to Kings legacy and an example of the ignorance that came in with Trumps presidency. He added: This crisis youre talking about creating  it got four little girls blown up in a church. It got people assassinated, including Dr. King.

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When your doctor says you have multiple sclerosis, you may wonder if you'll be able to continue working. After all, MS is an incurable autoimmune disease that damages nerves and can trigger cognitive changes, fatigue, numbness and tingling in the hands, trouble walking, bladder and bowel problems, weakness, vision problems and sometimes depression, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

But those problems can often be managed on the job, suggests Dr. Barbara Green, a neurologist with Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. "Many of my patients work for a very long time after an MS diagnosis and in the face of accompanying disability," Green says.

[See: 10 Lessons From Empowered Patients.]

Encouraging Evidence

Green notes that before there were effective medications for MS -- as recently as the late 1990s -- most people with the disease would leave the workplace within 10 years of a diagnosis. "Now the numbers are lower," Green says.

A 2014 study of MS patients, published in PLoS ONE, found that 45 percent of study participants were still employed up to 19 years after diagnosis. People were more likely to continue working if they had the most common form of the disease, called relapsing-remitting MS. That type of MS causes flare-ups of symptoms periodically, which then go into remission and disappear, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The institution also reports that about 10 to 15 percent of people with MS have primary progressive MS, with symptoms that continually worsen over time and don't go into remission.

It may be possible to continue working with either type of MS, says Dr. Lawrence Samkoff, associate professor of neurology at University of Rochester Medical Center. "Progressive disease may be more challenging, but I wouldn't say you need to stop working," Samkoff says.

Addressing Challenges

Some challenges of MS are a little easier to accommodate at work than others.

For example:

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-- If MS causes an overactive bladder, you may be able to move to a workstation closer to the bathroom, or your doctor may be able to prescribe a medication that reduces your urge to go.

-- If walking is difficult, it may help to park closer to the office door. Use an assistive walking device such as a cane, or ride a motorized scooter.

-- If vision problems keep you from seeing a computer screen clearly, it may help to use a larger font size, request a larger monitor or wear an eye patch to reduce double vision.

-- If typing is difficult because of numbness in your hands, consider a voice-activated computer program.

-- If you need routine medication infusions to decrease the frequency of MS flare-ups, you may be able to arrange some flexibility in your work schedule to accommodate doctor visits. For example, the drug natalizumab (Tysabri) is given by infusion once every four weeks, Samkoff notes.

[See: 10 Questions Doctors Wish Their Patients Would Ask.]

More Complicated Challenges

Other conditions or symptoms can be more difficult to navigate at work. For example:

Fatigue: About 80 percent of people with MS experience fatigue, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. "This is one of the most disabling symptoms at work," Samkoff says. "The key is periodic rest so you can recharge. Not a nap, just a 20-minute break. Most employers are amenable to that."

Another solution is changing your work schedule. A later start time or earlier departure may help manage fatigue. "Many times we're advocating for restricted hours or working from home a few days a week to accommodate fatigue. A lot of my patients work from home now," Green says.

Medication is another way to fight fatigue in the workplace. Some drugs stimulate the central nervous system and help give people more energy or alertness. "We may prescribe methylphenidate or modafinil," Samkoff says, "and a lot of people use caffeine."

Memory and thinking: As many as 70 percent of people with MS have difficulty with thinking skills, such as attention, information processing, decision-making and memory, according to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. In the workplace, these may cause problems with multitasking, running a meeting, remembering how to work a machine or learning to use a new computer system.

It may help to ask for additional time to complete tasks or tutoring to learn something new. "Maybe you can't write things down fast enough or you can't remember what someone said. Recognize this early on and have discussions about it with your doctor or your employer. I've had patients who've asked to be demoted so they can go back to a job that's simpler," Green says.

"We'll perform detailed neuropsychological testing to see if we can isolate issues and ways patients can adapt, such as using a phone or calendar reminder and using to-do lists," Samkoff says.

Depression: A 2005 review of numerous studies published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry suggests that in any given year, 20 percent of people with MS will be depressed, and that over a lifetime, 50 percent of them will experience depression at some point. "Unrecognized depression is a source of dysfunction and impacts cognition," Samkoff points out.

"It affects your ability to focus and interact with people," Green explains. "But effective treatment can make cognition better and make you less moody and less fatigued." She says treatment includes counseling and possibly medication and exercise.

[See: 11 Simple, Proven Ways to Optimize Your Mental Health.]

What You Can Do

It may feel overwhelming to consider the impact of MS on the job, so it's important to share your concerns with your doctor. Samkoff says it may be possible to reduce some symptoms by detecting underlying conditions that make MS worse, such as sleep or thyroid disorders and medication side effects. "Remove the conditions that can be reversed, and you'll have a jump-start," he explains.

Green recommends asking your doctor and other health care professionals for guidance to overcome MS-related work challenges. "You know what your job entails, but you may need other experts to get you assistance so you can stay in the workplace," she says.

Green also suggests having a frank discussion with your employer. "You aren't obligated to reveal that you have MS, but it may benefit you to ask what your options are," she says.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires most businesses with 15 or more employees to help people with disabling conditions (such as MS) obtain reasonable accommodations, provided that you meet the requirements for your job (such as education or experience) and that you can perform the essential functions of your job with or without accommodations.

But regardless of whether you reveal that you have MS, Green says it's important to be proactive. "The patients who are most successful," she explains, "are the ones who can figure it out or advocate for themselves."

Heidi Godman is a freelance health reporter for U.S. News. Her work has appeared in dozens of online and print publications, including the Harvard Health Letter (where she serves as executive editor), the Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sentinel and Cleveland Clinic Heart Advisor. Heidi also spent more than 20 years as a TV news anchor and health reporter. She's interviewed surgeons in operating rooms, scientists in laboratories and patients in all phases of treatment. Heidi has earned numerous awards for outstanding health reporting and was the first TV broadcaster in the nation to be named a journalism fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Email Heidi at health@heidigodman.com.
The man accused of mailing a hate-filled manifesto to President Trump has been taken into custody after a week and a half on the run.

Read: Wife of Teacher Suspected of Kidnapping Student: 'I Love Him But I Don't Trust Him Anymore'

Joseph Jakubowski, 32, was captured at about 6 a.m. Friday at a remote farm in southwestern Wisconsin.

Jakubowski went on the run 10 days ago, after his friend recorded him with a cell phone mailing his manifesto to the White House.

In 161 handwritten pages, authorities say he ranted about the government and religion, saying: We the people should be out for these sick-minded people belonging to the system! We need to spill their blood!

He also said that it was time for revolution and time for a change.

Cops say the same day he mailed the manifesto  April 4  he was caught on surveillance cameras breaking into a gun shop in Janesville, Wis., the hometown of House Speaker Paul Ryan.

The suspect allegedly stole 18 weapons, ammo and body armor. He also torched his car.

It was feared he was planning to launch attacks against churches as they celebrated Easter.

Read: Teacher, Missing Student Spotted in Out-of-State Walmart Days After Disappearing

Following the arrest, Governor Scott Walker thanked authorities on Twitter.

Thank you to law enforcement at the municipal, county, state and federal level for their outstanding work! pic.twitter.com/XrHCfWWn2u

 Governor Walker (@GovWalker) April 14, 2017

Watch: Deputy Killed During Hunt for Alleged Cop Killer Still at Large Remembered as 'Gentle Giant'

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Getting anything above an 18 percent tip as a server is a tiny victory in the restaurant industry. Getting a massive 200 percent tip will make anyone's month.

Cayla Chandara, a waitress that works two serving jobs in Honolulu, Hawaii, recently received the tip of a lifetime from an extremely kind Australian couple visiting the island for vacation.

SEE ALSO: Waitress evicts huge, pesky goanna that snuck into her restaurant

According to Honolulu Civil Beat, Chandara was waiting on the couple at Noi Thai Cuisine on April 5 when the topic of schooling came up. She explained that she moved to Hawaii for school, but was forced to drop out due to financial hardship.

Chandara dropped the couple's $205 bill only to discover that they left her a $400 tip.

Image: anthony quintano/civil beat

I just thought it was so generous of them. I never get tipped that big. I had to say thank you, Chandara told KHON. During dinner, they told me where they were staying, so I ran there after work to see if theyd still be there."

As a thank you, Chandara gave the couple flowers, as well as a card.

But the next day the couple returned to the restaurant and proposed another gift to Chandra: pay off her student loan debt of more than $10,000, and the rest of her college tuition.

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.

After refusing, Chandara eventually submitted and allowed the generous couple to pay for her schooling.

The couple told Chandara that they would prefer to remain anonymous, telling her that the best way to thank them was to be her best self.

Chandara tells KHON that she plans to return to school to study business and liberal arts.

"They really changed my life and I don't know how to thank them," Chandara told Civil Beat. "But I will make them proud and do whatever I can to be the best person I can be."

The couple plans to stay in touch with Chandara, and attend her graduation.

WATCH: This paper can fold itself into a beautiful crane
Geneva (AFP) - Credit Suisse's chief and other top executives offered Friday to have their bonuses slashed by 40 percent, following investor concern over the size of their proposed compensation packages.

Credit Suisse chief Tidjane Thiam and the bank's executive board proposed that the "long-term incentive awards for 2017 and short-term incentive awards for 2016 ... be reduced by 40 percent each," according to a statement.

The board of directors would also leave its compensation unchanged at the same level as 2015 and 2016, and would not accept a proposed incremental increase, it added.

"My highest priority is to see through the turnaround of Credit Suisse which is under way," Thiam said in a letter to shareholders published Friday.

"I hope that this decision will alleviate some of the concerns expressed by some shareholders and will allow the executive team to continue to focus on the task at hand," he added.

The move came after Credit Suisse's compensation committee last month proposed handing Thiam and the bank's 12 other executive directors 26 million Swiss francs ($26 million, 24 million euros) in short-term bonuses for 2016 and up to 52 million francs in long-term bonuses.

Ahead of its annual meeting on April 28, Switzerland's second largest bank has also asked investors to give chief executive Tidjane Thiam nearly 12 million francs in total for his first full year on the job in 2016, after short and long-term bonuses were added to his 3.7-million-franc salary.

The compensation committee had also proposed boosting compensation to the board of directors to 12.5 millions Swiss francs this year.

Several investor advisory groups have voiced outrage over the proposed bonuses, pointing to the bank's $2.7-billion net loss in 2016 following a massive $5.28-billion settlement with US authorities over its role in the sub-prime crisis.

Ethos, which advises major Swiss pension funds and other tax-exempt institutions, described the proposed bonuses as "excessive", insisting that Credit Suisse's "executive management should not have received a bonus in 2016 given the disappointing results of the bank".

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Amid market turbulence and legal woes, the bank's stock price plunged more than 30 percent last year.

And as it dramatically reorganised its operations, it slashed 7,250 jobs over the course of 2016, with nearly the same number of jobs expected to go this year.

In a separate letter to shareholders Friday, chairman of the Credit Suisse board Urs Rohner stressed the board's "high degree of satisfaction with the performance of the CEO and the Executive Board in 2016."

But he added that "in light of the current environment and sentiment towards compensation, the board of directors understands the decision made by the CEO and the executive team ... (and) accepts these voluntary and personal decisions with great respect."
From Delish

If you were feeling a little jealous after hearing about the $4,000 tip that Shaquille O'Neal left for his server, then you're going to be downright green with envy when you hear this story.

A server in Hawaii was first given a $400 tip on a $200 bill from one couple she had waited on. But then the duo decided they wanted to pay off her student loans.

According to Grub Street, Cayla Chandara is a waitress at Noi Thai Cuisine, a restaurant on Waikiki Beach. While she was waiting on a couple from Australia, they asked what brought her to Hawaii. Chandara explained that she had moved there for college but was working her job at Noi Thai, as well as another job at The Cheesecake Factory, to help with her student loan debt.

Feeling moved, the couple doubled their original tip of $200 to $400. To say thank you, Chandara tracked down the couple at their hotel and gave them a gift of a thank-you card, a dessert, and flowers. Whatever Chandara sent must have been amazing, because the couple later returned to the restaurant to tell her that they wanted to pay off her student loans, which were more than $10,000.

The kind-hearted couple wants to remain anonymous (we're guessing it's so they don't get flooded with requests from other students to pay off their debt), but they told Chandara that the best thank-you is for her to just "be your best possible self."

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(CHICAGO) - Dr. David Dao was trying to return home from a California vacation with his wife when he refused to give up his seat on a full United Express flight to an airline crew member.

Now his lawyer hopes the 69-year-old grandfather and Kentucky physician, who suffered a concussion and lost two teeth when he was dragged off the plane at Chicagos OHare Airport, becomes a poster child for the mistreatment passengers suffer at the hands of the airline industry.

It took something like this to get a conversation going, attorney Thomas Demetrio said at a news conference Thursday.

He indicated Dao will be suing United and the city of Chicago, which employs the officers who were seen on cellphone video pulling Dao out of his seat and dragging him off Sundays Louisville-bound flight. In the widely shared video, Dao is pulled down the aisle on his back, his face bloody.

Demetrio said the video showed an extraordinary instance of something that happens too routinely: Airlines overbooking flights then bumping paying customers.

It also exposed a corporate culture in which airlines - and United in particular - have long bullied passengers, he said. The situation could have been avoided if the airline, which offered $800 travel vouchers and a hotel stay for passengers to rebook on another flight, had simply upped their offer, Demetrio said.

I hope he becomes a poster child for all of us, he said. Someones got to.

Dao, who didnt attend the news conference, was released from a local hospital late Wednesday and will need reconstructive surgery, Demetrio said. He said his client was in a secure location because he has been hounded by media, but that he would speak at a future date.

One of Daos five children, Crystal Pepper, said the family was horrified, shocked and sickened by what happened.

Early on, United CEO Oscar Munoz added to what was already a public relations nightmare for the company 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.

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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.

The three officers who removed Dao have been suspended from their jobs at the Chicago Aviation Department.

Pepper said her father and mother had been traveling from California to Louisville, Kentucky, and had caught a connecting flight at OHare.

United had selected Dao and three other passengers at random for removal from the plane after unsuccessfully offering the vouchers and a hotel stay to customers willing to give up their seats. The three other passengers left the plane, but Dao would not.

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.

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. After what happened, Dao has no interest in ever seeing an airplane and will probably be driven to Kentucky, he said.

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.

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 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.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
The passenger at the center of United Airlines "overbooking" incident filed a bill of discovery in court Wednesday, requesting all evidence related to the incident be preserved. The flier, Dr. David Dao, filed the petition in Cook County, Illinois Circuit Court.

Dao, 69, was forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight Sunday after the company said it had to make room for four employees. Video of the incident quickly went viral. It showed Dao screaming and bloody, being dragged down the aisle of the plane by aviation security officers.

Read: Full Timeline Of United Airlines Controversy

The petition demanded that United Airlines and the City of Chicago preserve all cockpit voice recordings, surveillance videos, passenger and crew lists and other related evidence. The full text of the document can be read below.

Petitioner, DAVID A. D. DAO, by his attorneys, CORBOY & DEMETRIO, P.C., and GOLAN CHRISTIE TAGLIA LLP, petitions this Court for an Emergency Bill of Discovery, and in support thereof, states as follows: (1) On April 9, 2017, DAVID A. D. DAO was a passenger on United Express Flight No. 3411, scheduled to fly from Chicago, OHare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky. (2) After being duly processed by the ticket agent, checked in by the attendant, and seated in his assigned passenger seat, Petitioner was forcibly dragged and removed from the said aircraft by City employees, sustained personal injury. (3) The Respondents include the City of Chicago, a municipal corporation, which operated Chicago OHare International Airport, and United Airlines, a corporation, who owned and operated Flight No. 3411. (4) Petitioner believes it is crucial and essential that the following be preserved and protected pursuant to court order: (a) all April 9, 2017, surveillance video records depicting the boarding of all passengers on United Express Flight No. 3411; (b) the cockpit voice recording (CVR) for United Express Flight No. 3411 on April 9, 2017; (c) complete April 9, 2017, passenger list for United Express Flight No. 3411; (d) complete April 9, 2017, employee and crew lists for United Express Flight No. 3411; (e) all incident reports prepared by Respondents herein; (f) the protocol of United Airlines in force and effect for the removal of passengers from commercial aircraft as of April 9, 2017; and (g) the personnel files of the Aviation Department police who removed Petitioned from the plane (5) The requested preservation and protection for items (a) through (g) is necessary, since each of those items are in the possession of one of both of the Respondents, and Petitioner currently has no access to them and believes that serious prejudice will injure to the Petitioner if said relief is not granted. WHEREFORE, Petitioner, DAVID A. D. DAO, prays for the entry of an Order granting the aforesaid relief. Respectfully submitted,





Thomas A. Demetrio

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Dao retained lawyer Thomas Demetrio, of Chicago-based personal injury law firm Corboy & Demetrio, to represent him. The attorney held a press conference Thursday to discuss the incident and whats next for Dao.

"Heres the law, real simple: If youre going to eject a passenger under no circumstances can it be done with unreasonable force or violence," Demetrio said in the press conference. "Thats the law. If unreasonable force and violence is used, the common carrier, United Airlines, in this case, is responsible."

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

Demetrio said that, as a result of the incident, Dao suffered a "significant concussion, "serious broken nose" and "injury to the sinuses," and said he would be undergoing reconstructive surgery. He confirmed Dao was released from the hospital Wednesday night.

"Will there be a lawsuit?" said Demetrio. "Yeah, probably."

Read: United Airlines Dragging Passenger Off Plane Was Illegal

Crystal Pepper, one of Daos five children, attended the press conference to discuss her father.

"We were completed horrified and shocked at what had happened to my father when we learned of the incident," said Pepper. "Seeing it on video made those emotions exacerbated. My dad is healing right now and thats all I have to say about that."

Demetrio confirmed that there would be a hearing Monday at a local Chicago courthouse to preserve evidence related to the incident.

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PARIS (AP)  Paris Saint-Germain struggled but prevailed against Angers 2-0 to keep the pressure on French league leader Monaco after Angel Di Maria scored twice on Friday.

Di Maria's stunning free kick gave the defending champions the lead in the first half, and the winger completed his team's seventh consecutive away win on the break with five minutes left. The result lifted PSG level on points with Monaco.

PSG has lost only one game in 2017  a 6-1 humiliation at the hands of Barcelona in the Champions League  and is still on course to defend its domestic treble. PSG has already won the League Cup and remains involved in the French Cup.

On Saturday, Monaco hosts struggling Dijon, a team that has failed to produce a clean sheet in two months. Boosted by its 3-2 Champions League win at Borussia Dortmund midweek, Monaco is aiming for a sixth consecutive league win to restore its three-point lead over PSG.

The race for the French title is a three-way fight between Monaco, its Riviera neighbor Nice, and PSG. Nice, lagging four points behind with a game less to play, hosts Nancy on Saturday.

Injury-hit PSG had to deal with the absence of Thiago Silva, Layvin Kurzawa, Julian Draxler, Grzegorz Krychowiak, and Hatem Ben Arfa, and it showed. The visitors had only a couple of good chances in the first half and relied on a set-piece to break the deadlock when Di Maria scored with a superb curled free kick over the wall and in.

Angers  which lags 35 points behind Monaco in 12th place  pushed for an equalizer throughout the second half and nearly scored in the 72nd when Cheikh N'Doye forced Kevin Trapp to a superb save with a header under the bar.

Di Maria completed his brace with a low shot past keeper Alexandre Letellier from Lucas' assist at the end of a quick counterattack.
Did Jesus have a brother named James?

Read: Man Says He Was Nearly Electrocuted While Lying in Bed With iPhone: 'It Was God Who Saved Me'

It is the extraordinary question being asked in the new Science Channel documentary, Biblical Conspiracies: The James Revelation.

The documentary also looks at the questions raised about the coffin that is said to contain the remains of the brother of Jesus.

The discovery of the coffin first made headlines in 2002. Its called an ossuary and the inscription reads: "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus."

Many historians believe the artifact is a fake. The ossuary is owned by antiquities collector Oded Golan, who was arrested but later acquitted of forging the inscription.

"There are scholars who doubt that the ossuary and the inscription  James, Son of Joseph, Brother of James"  is authentic," Professor James Tabor, a professor of Christian origins and ancient Judaism at UNC Charlotte, told Inside Edition. "Some people still think it is a forgery and it is just being hyped to make money. As far as I know, Golan has not made money from it."

Read: Catholic School Apologizes After Students Chant 'You Killed Jesus' at Jewish Rivals

Then there's the controversial question of whether Jesus even had a brother.

"Some say it is a cousin, some say it is a stepbrother, some say it is an actual brother that Mary had other children  so, that makes it controversial," Professor Tabor said. "It would be, if it is authentic, the only physical relic that we have from the time mentioning Jesus. I think it can be called the biggest archeological dig of the century simply because it says Jesus."



Biblical Conspiracies: The James Revelation airs Saturday, April 15 on The Science Channel.

Watch: Ray of Hope: Man Captures Incredible Image of World Trade Center Days Before 9/11 Anniversary

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The following material contains mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.

An Oklahoma substitute teacher was arrested after being caught on-camera doing a cartwheel while wearing a skirt in front of a high-school choir class  reportedly with no underwear.

Watch: Elementary Teacher Gets SMOCKed

There are too many cases where teachers have been involved in relationships with underage students, says Attorney Areva Martin. And a woman who would do that in front of her students should not be in school, and should not be teaching kids.

Watch: Teacher Caught Browsing Lingerie

The school district has issued a statement saying, The Pawhuska School District takes the safety of its students very seriously and does everything it can to provide a safe learning environment. The substitute teacher has not been back to school since and will not be utilized in the future.
Los Angeles (AFP) - Disney debuted its highly-anticipated first trailer for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" at a fan event in the United States, sending the internet into a frenzy of excitement -- and speculation.

The footage from the eighth installment in the blockbuster space opera, due for release on December 15, was shown at the "Star Wars Celebration" gathering in Orlando marking the 40th anniversary of the original movie.

The 132-second clip teases Luke Skywalker's first meeting with Rey as he teaches her the ways of the Force, opening with the young apprentice on the island where fans saw her find Luke at the end of "The Force Awakens."

"Breathe, just breathe. Now, reach out. What do you see?" says a mysterious male voice as the camera focuses on a breathless Rey (Daisy Ridley) on her hands and knees beneath a cliff face.

"Light. Darkness. And balance," Rey replies.

"It's so much bigger," the voice says.

"I only know one truth. It's time for the Jedi -- to end," says the voice, which seems likely to be Luke (Mark Hamill).

The first fully-formed trailer for "The Last Jedi" had almost half a million views and more than 13,000 comments on YouTube within 90 minutes of being posted, with #TheLastJedi quickly becoming the top trending hashtag worldwide on Twitter.

Directed by Rian Johnson ("Looper," "Brick"), "The Last Jedi" was filmed on the west coast of Ireland and at Pinewood Studios near London.

- 'Incredible mind' -

It sees the return of the characters introduced in 2015's seventh installment, including Rey, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega) and a few members of the original crew, including Luke.

The trailer serves up a cameo from the iconic Millennium Falcon in a dogfight with TIE fighters and there's also lightsaber-wielding bad guy Kylo Ren as well as Poe, Finn and droid favorites BB-8 and R2-D2.

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The film also stars Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa, who appears briefly from behind in the trailer.

Fisher died in December but had wrapped shooting "The Last Jedi" before her death, and was honored with an emotional video tribute as the convention opened Thursday.

Johnson paid his own tribute to Fisher -- who had a career parallel to her acting as a writer and highly regarded script editor -- revealing that she helped him with much of the dialogue.

"I love her so much, man, I just adore her, and I connected with her first and foremost as a writer. She's a brilliant writer, an incredible mind. I'd go to her house and we'd sit on her bed for hours and go through the script," he said.

"We'd have these stream-of-consciousness jazz poetry ad-lib sessions and I would just scribble on my script everything she said. And then, at the end of six hours, there would be like a four-word line of dialogue."

Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy later revealed in an interview with ABC News that Fisher would not appear in the as-yet untitled ninth episode, due for release in 2019.

Kennedy said the actress's brother Todd Fisher was "probably confused" when he announced she had a role in the final part of the latest trilogy of "Star Wars" movies.

- Secrecy -

Fans had been lining up on the sidewalk overnight to get into the event, hosted by "Frozen" actor Josh Gad and featuring Ridley, Boyega, Johnson, Hamill and Kennedy.

Johnson unveiled a new star, Kelly Marie Tran, who plays Rose, a maintenance worker who is part of the resistance.

The actress revealed that she had told her family she was doing "an indie movie in Canada" -- such has been the secrecy surrounding the film.

Hamill -- a central figure in the original trilogy -- told the crowd it was a pleasure to be able to enjoy the prequel films and last year's "Rogue One" spin-off without the pressure of actually having to carry them.

The actor said he had admitted to Johnson that trying to capture "lightning in a bottle" again was a prospect that "terrified" him -- and he was relieved to find the director felt the same way.

"To a certain extent, it's not Luke's story anymore. But I think he's an important part to the overall arc of the saga and again, there's a lot of mystery about him, even within the film," said Hamill.

This prompted Kennedy to insist that Hamill was "Mr Modesty," and tell the audience: "He is so significantly important to this next film."
According to the American Psychiatric Association, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects approximately 5 percent of children. Typically, it's initially observed at a young age. The APA says ADHD "is often first identified in school-aged children when it leads to disruption in the classroom or problems with schoolwork."

In this case, the young age of a child may raise an important question: What role does immaturity play when it comes to ADHD? The disorder involves behaviors such as an inability to focus, frequent movement and fidgeting and acting on impulse without thinking through an action's consequences -- or elements from each.

While some parents may be concerned about the negative or potentially dismissive implication behind the term "immaturity," which may suggest a mere childishness rather than a legitimate disorder, experts maintain it's an important term to explore.

[See: 10 of the Biggest Health Threats Facing Your Kids This School Year.]

Immaturity Matters

"I always consider chronological age and maturity when thinking of and diagnosing ADHD," says Dr. Sharone Gilbert, a pediatric neuropsychologist with offices in Manhattan and Long Island, New York. "What requires consideration is the impact of social maturity as well as the maturation of the brain itself when considering these behaviors pathological."

A study published online in February in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry revealed differences in an ADHD child's brain -- specifically, certain regions were smaller compared to children who did not have the neurologic disorder.

Various sections of the brain exist which control a child's ability to concentrate and "hit the brakes," says Amanda Morin, parent advocate, former teacher and expert at Understood.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping parents whose children struggle with learning and attention issues. These areas may be less active and develop more slowly in kids with ADHD, something that appears to occur in the frontal lobe, or the front section of the brain, she explains. "This can upset the balance of certain brain chemicals. It can also explain why your child may have more trouble socially than his peers."

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Objectivity About Environment, Age

It's also important to remain objective when assessing ADHD in young children. Gilbert, who has a child with ADHD, uses the example of a child's home and school environment, explaining how behavioral observations in certain settings can vary and perhaps spur hastily drawn conclusions about a child having the disorder in the first place. There are often differences between home environments and school settings regarding what's expected of a child at a certain age, all of which can often be subjective, Gilbert says. "The question to ask is, 'How significantly are these behaviors impacting a child's growth in terms of learning, development and social emotional adjustment across settings?'"

A teacher, she explains, may express concerns over a child's ADHD-related behavior to parents, noting that it differs from other students in the classroom. However, upon hearing about these behaviors, a parent may deem the actions completely normal since they're commonly observed at home.

Another professional, Dr. Marilyn Wedge, a family therapist in Westlake Village, California, further illustrates this point. "Many parents have told me that while their child qualified for an ADHD diagnosis at school, the mother home-schooled the child and the ADHD behaviors disappeared. The point here is that kids behave differently in different contexts."

In fact, the Mayo Clinic says a child should never be given an ADHD diagnosis "just because they're different from their friends or siblings," adding that "most healthy children are inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive at one time or another."

Gilbert encourages parents to assess their young child's environment -- to include the age of the others in their group -- with a critical eye. Using the example of school settings, she explains the importance of assessing whether certain behaviors simply stem from being the oldest among a group of children in the same grade, or whether this older child truly demonstrates behaviors indicative of ADHD.

"I often counsel parents to consider the comparison group to which their children are being compared," Gilbert says, adding that she also likes to find out from parents where the child is developmentally. Asking this, she says, can help both parents and teachers avoid coming to an immaturity conclusion when, in fact, there may be a "budding ADHD process" taking place.

[See: 8 Things You Didn't Know About Counseling.]

The Difference a Year Makes

Paying close attention to varying ages in school settings matters to Wedge as well. She says the age that a child enters school can impact ADHD diagnoses, noting that "being born just before the kindergarten eligibility date increases a child's chances of being diagnosed with ADHD."

"Children who are among the oldest in their classrooms have a significant academic and social edge over their younger classmates." Wedge says younger children have shorter attention spans and therefore may tend to "goof around" more than an older classmate who is able to focus more and sit still longer.

She stresses that six months or a year "means a lot of difference in maturity" for a 5-year-old, explaining that while a child may be intellectually prepared for kindergarten, he or she may not necessarily be prepared socially.

"My own grandson has an August birthday," Wedge says. "He entered kindergarten just after turning 5. His parents thought he was too bored at home. He got through kindergarten, but struggled to keep up with his first grade class. He was simply too immature to focus for long hours in the classroom. He repeated kindergarten at a new school and now is doing well in second grade."

Recommendations

Wedge and Gilbert encourage parents to embrace and understand their child's immaturity, and offer recommendations. Of course, it's up to each family to proceed in a manner they feel is best for their own child, working in tandem with professionals.

For starters, Wedge suggests not rushing a child into school. If a child starts school at age 5 1/2 or 6, she says, they'll be more likely to gain an academic and social edge.

However, parents should discuss this option with educators. A National Education Association policy brief states that while the organization recommends "5 be the uniform entrance age for kindergarten," flexibility in age requirements may be considered. "In joint consultation with parents and teachers, a school district should be allowed to make case-by-case exceptions to age requirements," the brief says.

[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids' Health.]

When it comes to school settings, Gilbert stresses the environment can be a factor in a child's behavior. In one setting, she explains, a teacher may suggest a child is out of control, but in a different learning environment that's perhaps smaller and more nurturing, the child may respond differently. According to the APA, "Children with ADHD can benefit from study skills instruction, changes to the classroom setup, alternative teaching techniques and a modified curriculum."

Finally, Wedge urges parents not to confuse behaviors that may be typical for a fun-loving, young child with having ADHD. "Don't mistake mischievous or clownish behavior for ADHD. It may simply be immaturity."

Jennifer Lea Reynolds is a Health freelancer at U.S. News. She draws on her life and career experiences, including losing 70 pounds and writing copy at health-centric advertising agencies. Her articles have been published online in Smithsonian, Reader's Digest, Woman's Day and The Huffington Post. She's also the owner of FlabbyRoad.com, where she writes about weight loss, fitness, nutrition and body image. You can follow her on Twitter @JenSunshine.
The casting for James Wans underwater adventure Aquaman is coming along nicely, and Expendables star Dolph Lundgren is its latest addition.

Lundgren has just been cast for the role as King Nereus of the aquatic kingdom of Xebel, according to The Hollywood Reporter. King Nereus wants to claim Mera (Amber Heard) as his own and kill her love interest, Aquaman (Jason Momoa).

READ: Amber Heard shows off intense training as Mera

Other people rounding up the cast are Nicole Kidman, who will play Aquamans mother and Patrick Wilson, who will play Orm - Aquamans half brother who also happens to be a villain.

Willem Dafoe will be playing Aquamans adviser, scientist Dr. Vulko; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will become the classic villain Black Manta; and Temuera Morrison will portray Aquamans father.

Production for the movie will start this May in Australia.

Momoa is really excited for Aquamans standalone film, and he guaranteed that it will blow fans minds away. He even said that Aquaman will be a unique offering from the DC universe.

I read the [Aquaman] script and let me just put it this way, Ive never seen a movie that's anything like this, he said, according to Cinema Blend. It's going to be a world that you've never seen before, which is really cool. We went to space, we traveled all over different worlds, but we never went underwater. So it's just a really cool spin on what's below and it uses a lot of great movies that I already love - whether that be Raiders of the Lost Ark to Star Wars to Lord of the Rings to Romancing the Stone.

It has a lot of really cool adventure, it's funny and heroic, and there's a lot of different characters and a lot of different worlds that we get to go to, he added.

Aquaman will be released on Oct. 5, 2018.

Dolph Lundgren

Photo: Getty Images/Frazer Harrison

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When nearly 60 lethal Tomahawk missiles flewi nto Syria last week, the United States asserted that the strike was necessary and legal due to our certain knowledge that Bashar al-Assads government planned and executed the chemical strike. A chorus of nations, led by Russia and Iran, point out our credibility deficit stemming from the Iraqi WMD debacle in 2003 to the Trump Administrations questionable wire-tapping allegations. The White House subsequently accused Russia of trying to obscure the Syrian governments role in the attacks - culpability that Assad himself now claims is 100% fabrication.

Welcome to the post-truth, alternative-fact world of international relations, where a presidents own manipulation of the truth comes home to roost. How did we get to this point, and what can we do about it?

US credibility globally has always been questioned before, to be sure, most recently in a serious way after the WMD mistakes we made in regard to Iraq prior to invading that country in 2003 this was the beginning of a steep decline in US credibility. And throughout diplomatic history, nations have often sought to undermine the credibility of their opponents for political purposes going back to the ancient Greeks and Persians. But we have arrived today at a point when our credibility feels unusually low, which will create real drag on our ability to build coalitions, convince allies and partners to come along on our missions, and convince the neutral nations of the world that we are in the right.

The political campaign of 2016, full of mud-slinging, name-calling, and FBI investigations of both parties heightened this. But what has hurt the most is the tendency of the Trump Administration to play it loosely with facts, to say the least, from crowd size to complete success in Yemen to Obama wiretapping.

Cut to the strikes in Syria, which were legal, proportional, and a sensible response to Assads flagrant use of chemical weapons. Unfortunately, they are seen in certain parts of the globe through the dark lens created by months of what might charitably be described as confusion and misstatements, but what many observers have now branded as alternative facts. This hits the Administration in the three principal audiences for the strategic signal represented by the strikes: the people of the United States, who already suffer from a bad case of Middle East fatigue; our friends around the world, upon whom we will depend to build a coalition to ultimately bring down Assad; and our enemies, who are spring-loaded to disbelieve us anyway. In all three strategic communications target zones, our shredded credibility is insufficient to create real belief. And heres the key: in the end, deterrence is the result of capability (which we demonstrably possess) and credibility, which is so badly damaged. Can we recover?

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Given the circumstances, we have to begin by simply following a more virtuous path in terms of public pronouncements, speeches, and other strategic communications from the US government. This means not just the White House but all of our cabinet agencies must be scrupulous in fact-checking themselves, reporting only verifiable facts, and responding to media requests with hard truth. And yes that includes tweets from the top.

Second, we need to redouble our efforts to provide real evidence, especially in controversial situations like the chemical weapon use. It will be insufficient for us to simply assert things; instead we need recordings, videos, scientific analyses, testimony from credible witnesses, and high-level intelligence. Naturally we must protect sources and methods, but frankly if we are going to rebuild our credibility we will need to bring our best evidence to the table.

Third, we must work with our allies and friends to create a coherent campaign plan of strategic communications that builds on our words with their support. We need to make our pronouncements in alignment with other credible actors, creating a kind of international chorus of truth.

A fourth powerful voice would be media and non-governmental organizations. Bringing them more into the tent, so to speak, addressing their skepticism and questions with respect and facts instead of yelling at them to stop shaking their heads would go a long way toward helping.

As Rick Warren, ethicist and pastor said, The most essential quality for leadership is not perfection, but credibility. People must be able to believe you. We have work to do.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
Kinshasa (AFP) - The Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended military cooperation with former colonial power Belgium after Brussels criticised President Joseph Kabila's choice of prime minister, sources said Friday.

"The decision to suspend military cooperation with Belgium has taken effect. This measure was pending since (Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders) came out and attacked the Congolese authorities," a government official said on condition of anonymity.

Reynders had criticised last week's appointment of Bruno Tshibala as premier as against "the letter and the spirit" of a power-sharing deal brokered to avert a political crisis after Kabila refused to step down after his mandate ran out in December.

The deal, brokered by the influential Catholic Church, called for an opposition leader to be named prime minister -- but Tshibala had been excluded from the main "Rassemblement" (Unity) opposition coalition.

Belgium's military attache in Kinshasa was notified of the decision to suspend military cooperation "at the beginning of the week", a Belgian defence ministry spokeswoman told AFP.

She added that the practical implications of the move "are being analysed", without providing further comment.

Military cooperation between DR Congo and its former colonial master had a bloody start days after the vast central African country's independence in 1960, with a mutiny by Congolese soldiers calling themselves the Public Force against their white officers.

The collaboration came to a halt at the beginning of the 1990s as Western nations cut their ties with dictator Mobutu Sese Seko after accusing the regime of massacring students.

The two countries' militaries began working together again when Kabila came to power in 2001 following the assassination of his father Laurent Kabila.

The elder Kabila, who had chased Mobutu from power in 1997, had prioritised military cooperation with China and North Korea.

Some 30 Belgian troops had been in Congo under the most recent cooperation arrangement, largely training Congolese soldiers. Belgian paratroopers had also been coming to train in joint manoeuvres with the Congolese army.

South Africa, China, the US and France also provide training to Congolese troops.
Kinshasa (AFP) - A suspect has been detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the kidnap and killing last month of two UN experts, an American and a dual Swedish-Chilean woman, military authorities said Friday.

Chief military prosecutor, Major General Joseph Ponde, said two men had been arrested for allegedly killing American Michael Sharp and Swedish-Chilean Zaida Catalan in central Kasai, where hundreds of people have died in violence since September.

One of the suspects, however, had escaped with the help of four police officers guarding them, Ponde told a news conference.

The remaining suspect was being interrogated in Kananga, capital of diamond-rich Kasai, which has been gripped by a violent tribal uprising since traditional chieftain Kamwina Nsapu was killed in August last year.

The bodies of the two UN experts, who were kidnapped along with four Congolese nationals on March 12 while investigating whether a UN arms embargo was being violated, were found in a grave two weeks later.

"The judicial inquiry will determine whether Kamwina Nsapu rebels or elements from the security forces" were behind the killings, Ponde said.

Democratic Republic of Congo security forces have been accused by the UN of using disproportionate force against the militiamen, who are armed mainly with clubs and catapults.
Donald Trump

The US military, under President Donald Trumps leadership, has used force this month to send strong cautionary messages to the countrys increasingly aggressive adversaries, experts said.

Last week, the US struck military installations used by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The strike came days after Assad launched a chemical weapons attack on civilians.

Then this week, the US military dropped the "mother of all bombs" (or MOAB) on an ISIS target in a remote area of Afghanistan. It is the largest nonnuclear bomb in the US military's inventory.

That strike came days after a US special forces soldier was killed in the same province the bomb hit. The blast killed 36 ISIS fighters and destroyed some underground tunnels the terrorist group was using.

Military experts say that the use of the MOAB is strategically significant.

It could signal that Trump is more willing to trust his military commanders to make decisions independently and that he's eager to send a message that actions will have consequences.

Trump himself said Thursday that he has given the US military "total authorization" (although he didn't specify what for).

"I think the message being sent is you had a chemical attack in Idlib [Syria] and days later you had a response," Michael Pregent, an adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute and former US Army intelligence officer in Iraq, said. "You had a US special forces [soldier] killed  and then you had the 'mother of all bombs.'"

He continued: "So what you have is you have very quick responses, you have a commander in chief basically giving priority to commanders on the ground, to the defense secretary, to the national security adviser, to be able to do something, to send messages. And I think it's important that the timeliness that these responses to provocations is sending a message."

Wesley Morgan, a researcher at Harvard University's Belfer Center who's writing a book on Afghanistan, wondered on Twitter about "how many times commanders in [Afghanistan] have requested MOAB use" over the years and "been denied."

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"There could be a changed climate about airpower requests that's only indirectly to do with Trump  officers making new requests in new climate," Morgan said.

President Barack Obama was notorious for his tendency to painfully deliberate military decisions. He famously backed away from his 2012 "red line" on chemical weapons in Syria  when the Assad regime used them in a brutal attack on civilians in 2013, Obama struck a deal in lieu of launching a military strike. The deal was supposed to have led to the removal of Assad's arsenal of chemical weapons, but it's now clear that the regime didn't hold up its end of the bargain.

Trump might now be trying to send a message that "the next four years will not be like the last eight years," Pregent said.

Indeed, Trump on Thursday said, "If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and compare that, really, to what's happened over the last eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference."

MOAB

Some have suggested that the US military could also be sending a message to other adversaries abroad.

"There's also the very real possibility that we're sending a message to the North Koreans that we have these 30,000 pound bombs," said Chris Harmer, a former US Navy commander and aviator who's now a senior naval analyst for the Institute for the Study of War.

When asked whether the use of the MOAB sends a message to North Korea, Trump said Thursday that he wasn't sure and that it didn't make any difference whether it did or not.

While Gen. John Nicholson, the commander for US forces in Afghanistan, said the MOAB was "the right weapon against the right target"  it's meant to cause "overpressure" that can crush underground tunnels and bunkers  Harmer noted that the military should "only want to use as much force as is necessary."

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai accused the US of a "brutal misuse of our country as testing ground for new and dangerous," although the US coordinated the strike with Afghan officials.

Harmer also wondered why the US military wouldn't have used smaller precision weapons for the strike in Afghanistan.

"We've been fighting for 16 years and this is the first time we've needed to wipe out a tunnel system?" he said, adding, "You can't possibly tell me that today is the first time we've needed to go after tunnels or caves in Afghanistan. What is special about today?"

If the US is trying to send a political message with the use of the MOAB, Harmer said, "It's a sign of overkill."

But Pregent argued that this wasn't meant to be a precision strike.

"It was meant to be an area of denial strike, that we're taking this area away from you," he said, adding that it sends the message that ISIS is "not going to have freedom of movement in this area."

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Tehran (AFP) - Ebrahim Raisi is a hardline judge who spent years in powerful backroom positions before emerging as a leading challenger for Iran's presidential election next month.

Born into a religious family in the holy city of Mashhad on August 23, 1960, Raisi is a "seyed" whose geneology is said to lead back to the Prophet Mohammed.

Raisi's father died when he was five, and he entered the seminary at an early age, excelling in his studies and moving to the seat of clerical learning in Qom in 1975.

After the 1979 revolution, he helped manage the border city of Masjed Suleiman, a hotbed of Marxists, before starting his judicial career in 1981 as a prosecutor in Karaj, and later Hamedan.

In 1985, he became a deputy prosecutor at the Revolutionary Court of Tehran in the midst of the Iran-Iraq war when thousands of political prisoners were executed.

Raisi spent a decade as head of the Inspection Office from 1993, followed by 10 years as deputy head of the judiciary. In 2006, he was elected to the Assembly of Experts that has powers to choose the next supreme leader, and now sits on its board of directors.

In 2012, he became a prosecutor in the Special Court of Clerics, charged with disciplining the clergy, and spent two years as Iran's nationwide prosecutor-general from 2013 to 2015.

In March 2016, he was appointed by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to head Astan Qods Razavi, a charitable foundation overseeing the Imam Reza shrine, as well as a huge business conglomerate with interests in everything from IT and banking to construction and agriculture.

He is married to the daughter of Mashhad's hardline Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda.
By Ece Toksabay ANKARA (Reuters) - A decision by the veteran leader of Turkey's nationalists to back President Tayyip Erdogan's bid for more powers has cost his opposition party so much support that it could be wiped out of parliament, offering Erdogan another potential win. Devlet Bahceli's Nationalist Movement Party is the smallest of three opposition groups in parliament and the only one that has decided to back a "yes" vote in a referendum on Sunday to consolidate more powers in the presidency. His position, adopted last year in an abrupt reversal, has so divided the party that it now appears on course to fall below the 10 percent threshold needed to win seats. It won 11.9 percent of the vote in the last election in 2015. Erdogan has an incentive to call a snap election swiftly if he secures a "yes" vote in the plebiscite, since the new powers he has long sought would take effect only after fresh elections for president and parliament. If the MHP were to be wiped out, Erdogan would be in an even stronger position, with his ruling AK Party likely to gain an even larger majority in parliament. "MHP voters feel deceived, they feel they have been fooled," said Sinan Ogan, a leading member of a camp within the MHP that wants to see Bahceli ousted. "Under Bahceli, the party is likely to face a serious challenge with the (10 percent) election threshold," he said. Bahceli was a vocal critic of the proposed executive presidency until he abruptly announced last year that he backed the "yes" campaign. He says he now believes a more powerful presidency is necessary to protect the state. "We are saying 'yes' to the survival of the system, not to a person," he said in a recent speech. "We are saying 'yes' to the continuity of the Turkish Republic." His opponents in the party say he switched positions over the referendum to secure government help in seeing off a challenge for the party leadership, an accusation he denies. Shortly after Bahceli backed the "yes" vote, a court and an election body both ruled in his favor to disallow a bid to unseat him as party leader. Opinion polls have suggested that the party would perform better with a different leader, but the MHP's party rules do not allow it to hold a congress to select one until March next year. "GREY WOLVES" Founded by a former colonel who played a role in a 1960 military coup, the MHP espouses a mix of Turkish nationalism and scepticism toward the West. It is virulently opposed to autonomy for Turkey's Kurdish minority. In the past, its support base included sympathizers of the "Grey Wolves", a nationalist youth organization that fought street battles against leftists in the 1970s. Mehmet Ali Agca, who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paull II in 1981, was among the youth group's members. The party is no longer so closely associated with violence after two decades of reform under Bahceli's tenure that brought it more into the mainstream. But when a group of young nationalists in Istanbul mistook some Korean tourists for Chinese and attacked them in 2015 in retaliation for Beijing's alleged abuse of its Turkic-speaking Uighur minority, he defended the mob. "What is the difference between a Korean and a Chinese? They both have slanted eyes," he said in a 2015 newspaper interview, prompting widespread ridicule on social media. Bahceli and the MHP have at times had an uneasy relationship with Erdogan, who in 2009 risked a nationalist backlash by spearheading talks with the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has fought a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey's southeast. After a ceasefire broke down in July 2015, Erdogan vowed to crush the militants, boosting his popularity with nationalist voters at Bahceli's expense. DEEP DISTRUST Former interior minister Meral Aksener, a two-decade veteran of politics, was seen as the most credible internal challenger to Bahceli until she was expelled from the MHP last year. She has since become one of the most prominent right-wing voices in the "no" campaign ahead of Sunday's referendum, although she has faced challenges getting the message across. In February she was forced to give a speech by the light of mobile phones after the power was cut in the hotel hosting the event. A rally last Saturday in Ankara was initially planned for a public square but was moved to a hall after she was denied a permit. "We decide on (April 16) whether to maintain the republic's values or to hand over the future of the country to a single person," she told the crowd. Erdogan is hoping that MHP supporters will follow their leader and back the planned constitutional changes. But there remains deep distrust of Erdogan within the MHP, some of whose members worry that he may return to a peace process in the largely-Kurdish southeast. "I think that my country will head toward a federal system, that it will be divided," said Yelda Dogan, a 45-year-old doctor from the southern city of Antalya, who came to Aksener's rally. "I will fight until the last drop of my blood for the rejection of the proposed changes." (Editing by David Dolan and Peter Graff)
On the night of June 16, 1826, blood ran on the streets of Istanbul. Mobs of the sultans loyalists raided buildings belonging to the Janissaries, hunting down anyone affiliated with the group. The Janissaries had once been the elite fighting force that spearheaded Ottoman armies. By this time, however, they were also a vested interest group occupying key positions in business and government. They had de facto power over government policy and had deposed more than one sultan who displeased them.

But when their 1826 coup went south, Sultan Mahmud II sought to extinguish their political power once and for all. In what came to be known as the Auspicious Incident, thousands of Janissaries were killed and many more went into self-imposed exile.

Nearly two centuries later, in April 2016, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a state visit in Croatia: My greatest opponent in the bureaucracy has always been the bureaucratic oligarchy. Politicians are only as successful to the degree that they defeat the bureaucratic oligarchy. This I believe.

To Erdogan, politics isnt merely a matter of competing with different political parties in a clearly defined public space. It is also a deeper struggle, fought in the bowels of the state, against forces that may or may not be represented in the electoral system. And if governing is a war against vested interest groups, then the constitutional referendum scheduled for Sunday is meant to be the definitive battle.

The proposed system is designed to link all branches of government to the person of the president. Presidential and parliamentary elections would henceforth be held simultaneously, with the president permitted to serve as party bosses. In Turkey, those bosses have the last say over lists of parliament candidates before elections, which means the president could use party discipline to control major factions of parliament. The president would also largely determine the makeup of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors.

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This system, Erdogan said in a recent speech, will break the back of the bureaucratic oligarchy. This will mark a dramatic change for Turkish politics. For as long as the Turkish state existed, certain religious, ethnic, and ideological groups have cooperated within it to varying degrees. Some only nurture distant sympathy toward one another, while others collude on which officials receive key promotions, influence policy, and line their pockets. Today, Alevis, who are often socialists, are strong in the judiciary. The Ulkucu, the base of the Nationalist Movement Party, are strong in the police and army special forces. Military officers can be pro-Russian Eurasianists, and its not uncommon to find Freemasons among the diplomatic corps, or Central Bank economists. There are also religious networks, usually named after a founder  like the Gulenists, Suleymanists, Menzil, Iskender Pashaists, or Cerrahiists. Traditionally, most of these religious networks have been loose associations.

Overseeing these, and many other such groups, is what Erdogans government today calls the vesayet, often translated as tutelage. The term refers to the Kemalist elite that occupied the commanding heights of the state until the mid-2000s. The mental image many Turks get here is senior judges and generals in smoke-filled rooms, talking about whom to promote, where to distribute rents, and how to hold down Communists and Islamists.

In order to get things done in government, elected politicians traditionally were obliged to constantly bargain with the groups that composed this bureaucratic oligarchy. Most of Turkeys political trends, such as the Leftists or Nationalists, have long had their natural networks in the corridors of the state, and would leverage them to get things done. The prime minister would be from one of these groups and be responsible for the day-to-day business of government. The president would always represent the Kemalist order and oversee the senior cadre of the Constitutional Court and senior military officials. The basic rhythm of government was not one of formal checks and balances, but tension between the president and prime minister.

The Islamists were left out of this, because Turkeys state ideology long considered them a threat. That is why they had to find other methods of governing when they came to power in 2002  ways around the entrenched interest groups. In its early years, Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AK Party) softened the states opposition to it by emphasizing liberal reforms, accession to the European Union, and economic discipline.

But the government was a hostile place for Islamists. When President Ahmet Necdet Sezer stepped down, Kemalist politicians and judges managed to block the AK Party from appointing its own candidate, and the military threatened a coup through its website. In 2008, the AK Party barely survived an attempt to shut it down.

The AK Party leadership found that it had to fight back, and a key ally in this endeavor were the Gulenists, an unusually large and cohesive Islamist group that been undertaking a parallel process to infiltrate the state. By allying themselves with the group, the AK Party government gained the leverage it needed to supplant hard-line Kemalists in the military and judiciary. The government initiated a series of high-profile court cases, which effectively purged the military, and organized a referendum in 2010 that allowed the Gulenists to stack the judiciary.

By 2013, however, the Gulenists were simply too powerful for the AK Partys comfort. Like the Janissaries, they eventually tried to strong-arm the ruler to get what they wanted. Like Mahmud II, Erdogan purged them  not only from the state, but from the country. It is difficult to get a ballpark estimate of those who were fired or suspended, but the number is probably well over 100,000.

In a certain sense, Erdogans promise to break the bureaucratic oligarchys back has already been fulfilled. Critical parts of the state are now staffed with people and groups loyal to Erdogan, or at least dont have affiliations that could get in the way.

So why the referendum? Partly because years of intense bureaucratic battles have done lasting damage to state institutions. Both the president and prime minister are now elected by popular vote, so the old system of balancing political and nonpolitical offices is no longer tenable. There are gaping holes in the bureaucracy where competent soldiers, intelligence officers, central bankers, and judges should be. Its as if there was a bar fight, people are bleeding all over the floor, broken bottles scattered about, and among the wreckage, one rather tall man remains standing.

The constitutional amendments that are up for a vote in the upcoming referendum are designed to consolidate this victory and set up a new order. In the proposed system, the will of the majority is crystallized in the president, then reflected through all three branches of government. All actions of the state are an uncompromised extension of this single persons will. There will surely still be groups within the state, but they will exist only to the extent that they can serve the president. The president will think of them as appendages, rather than allies.

According to the Yes campaign, this system will allow Turkey to finally seize its destiny as a great power. Terror will end, they say, and the economy will flourish. The assumption is that the state hasnt solved its problems because it wasnt in touch with the majority of the population. After the referendum, it would be imbued with the virtue of the people, and would cut through serious problems like a hot knife through butter.

These campaign promises are more than ambitious. The Yes campaigns absolute faith in people power is reminiscent of the French, Soviet, and Iranian revolutions. Have you noticed that this is not quiet, our people are loudly making a Revolution, tweeted Mehmet Ucum, a chief advisor to Erdogan. The people are taking a step to establish their own State. May April 16 be blessed.

Leading pro-government columnist Ibrahim Karagul echoed the revolutionary language, calling the referendum a miracle and not a domestic political struggle, but a struggle of history, a struggle of geography, and the struggle of absorbing the blows directed at our country.

For those less enthusiastic about the proposed changes, questions remain. If 50 to 60 percent of the population forms a politically coherent majority and monopolizes the state, what is the minority to do? If state institutions are closed to a significant portion of the population, they could look for alternative areas of politics. That should be one of the lessons of the 40-year Kurdish insurgency in the southeast.

Professor Ihsan Fazlioglu, a historian of science and philosophy, once explained that the classical Arab historiographer Ibn Khaldun distinguished between two kinds of rule. Hukuma is  through good or evil means  rule according to the nature of circumstances. Tahakkum, however, is the ruler forcing himself onto circumstances.

Turkey today is a highly connected, fairly globalized society that is used to a certain standard of individual freedoms. With the upcoming constitutional changes, the most pressing question isnt necessarily whether they fit democratic norms, but whether they align with the nature of Turkeys circumstances today.

OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images
We're often told that exercise is vital for overall health, but exercise can be a daunting prospect for someone with rheumatoid arthritis. Joint pain, stiffness and even deformation combined with the sometimes-overwhelming fatigue that accompanies RA can deter even the most determined person.

Despite these obstacles, exercise is not only extremely important for people with RA, it is part of the overall treatment goal. According to the Arthritis Foundation, research shows that exercise helps alleviate symptoms and improve daily functioning.

[See: 7 Surprising Things That Age You.]

However, speak with your rheumatologist before you embark on an exercise program. Your doctor can outline an exercise program that will be safe for you and will incorporate different types of movement. He or she may also refer you to a physical or occupational therapist, who are specialists in the physiology of movement and rehabilitation. Physical therapists work with patients to develop individual exercise programs designed to maintain and even increase mobility and strength.

You may not even need a referral from a physician to see a physical therapist. "All 50 states have direct access to physical therapists," says Kimberly Steinbarger, a physical therapist and academic coordinator of clinical education at the School of Physical Therapy at Husson University in Bangor, Maine. The rules differ from state to state, Steinbarger notes, and in some cases, insurance can be an issue. If your insurance balks at covering your therapy, the therapist can take care of any problems by obtaining a referral from a physician.

According to Steinbarger, one of the most important things for anyone with RA is to move. And move every day, even if that means walking around the house once or twice or doing exercises in your chair. And Steinbarger knows what she is talking about. Because in addition to being a licensed physical therapist, Steinbarger was diagnosed with RA 26 years ago, when she was in her 20s.

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Although Steinbarger said it was daunting to receive a diagnosis of RA at such a young age, she has lived a full life, as normal a life as possible, given her disease. She works full time, has children and even holds a second-degree black belt in taekwondo. "I was the Maine state champion for my age group in 2012 and 2013," she says proudly.

"Of course, I've had to make accommodations, but I've found that you can live your life with accommodations."

It's not always the joint pain and stiffness that makes it difficult to move, notes Steinbarger. "Often it's the fatigue, which can be so overwhelming that you don't even want to get out of bed," she says. "But no matter how much fatigue I feel, I get up. I get out of bed every day."

[See: 9 Ways to Boost Your Immune System.]

And for people with RA, exercising doesn't necessarily mean going to the gym every day and subjecting yourself to a strenuous workout. Your level of exercise depends on the degree of your disease and your disability.

It's best to work with a health care team that includes your rheumatologist, physical therapist and occupational therapist so they can balance your exercise with your medications. "Drugs for RA have side effects and the stronger meds have even more side effects, so it's important to take this into account when designing an exercise program," Steinbarger advises.

One of the keys, says Steinbarger, is making modifications that help you live your life. "In my kitchen I have lightweight pots and pans and dishes. And I've modified my taekwondo so that I can do it without as much pain."

It's also important to find something that you like to do. Swimming, walking, hiking, yoga and tai chi are all beneficial for RA patients, helping to improve strength, increase functioning, prevent muscle loss and improve balance, which can help prevent falls.

And just as physicians have discovered that early, aggressive treatment is more likely to get better results, Steinbarger says that starting an exercise regimen early is equally important.

[See: The 12 Best Heart-Healthy Diets.]

Exercise not only benefits the joints, but it is also important for cardiovascular health. "Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease. It's inflammatory, and the inflammation attacks the heart, lungs, blood vessels and eyes," notes Dr. Leonard Calabrese, a rheumatologist at the Cleveland Clinic. Most people with RA die of cardiovascular disease, so it's just as important to exercise to promote cardiovascular health as joint health, says Steinbarger.

"The important thing to remember is that you can live your life, even with RA," says Steinbarger. "You'll have to make modifications, and you may need people to help you figure it out. And sometimes you have to ask for help. But don't be afraid -- ask."

Maureen Donohue is a freelance Health reporter at U.S. News. A medical writer, editor and journalist since 1991, Maureen has written for both physicians and consumers covering a wide a variety of medical topics. Maureen's work has been published in several prestigious, peer-reviewed medical journals as well as on consumer-based websites. She has been a writer for the Stanford School of Medicine, Healthline Media, the International Medical News Group, the UC Davis Cancer Center, the Arizona Heart Institute, MedExperts International and the Sutter Institute for Medical Research. You can connect with Maureen on LinkedIn or email her at emelldee@icloud.com.
When Dr. Ahmad Naser Sarmast first returned to Afghanistan in 2005 after some 15 years in asylum, he heard deafening silence.

Music, once a vibrant staple of Afghan culture, had been brutally stamped out under Taliban rule. And the new government and U.S.-led coalition that chased the Taliban out of power hadnt brought it back. It was my biggest surprise, he told Foreign Policy in an interview at FPs Culture Summit in Abu Dhabi. After all these millions from the international community pouring into Afghanistan and its education, there was no plan whatsoever to promote music.

So he hatched a plan.

That plan turned into the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. Its a music school open to all Afghan children including orphans, disadvantaged children, and perhaps most controversially, girls. (Its still one of the countrys only institutes to teach both boys and girls in the same classroom). In its seven years of existence, the Institute has become a national symbol of hope and success, an antidote to extremism and despair, and a potent weapon against the Taliban.

His ensembles and orchestras have performed around the world, including at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and the glitzy World Economic Forum in Switzerland. And his ambition earned him the unofficial title of the man who brought music back to Afghanistan.

No one predicted the institutes stunning success in the beginning. When Sarmast first began floating the idea to the Afghan government and its Western partners, he said no one saw music as a necessity. The international community considered music a luxury for Afghanistan, he said. One senior diplomat told me, you convinced me, Dr. Sarmast but I cant convince my government. So he set out to prove them wrong.

Between 2005 and 2008, he stubbornly lobbied, wrangled diplomats, and cajoled the Afghan government into buying into his idea. And often, it was from thousands of miles away.

Sarmast is Afghan, but he spent much his adult life in Australia. The music professor and composer fled Afghanistans Taliban rule at its rise; the ultra-hardline Islamist group banned nearly all music when it took power. He gained asylum in Australia, where he stayed and built a life and family for 20 years.

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During the Talibans rule, he became a sort of archivist, desperately collecting every crumb of Afghanistans musical heritage from afar as the Taliban erased it at home. My job was to preserve Afghanistans oral tradition and musical phenomenon for the future, he said. If our music had been destroyed, there would be nothing to take its place.

After a U.S.-led coalition toppled the Taliban regime, he set his sights on returning home and helping rebuild his war-wracked country, beginning semi-regular visits in 2005. He finally got the greenlight from the Afghan authorities to start in the institute in 2008 and after two years of fundraising, opened the institute in 2010. It wasnt much at first.

I began with one empty building. But I was building everything from scratch, he said. With limited funds, he built a music library, recording studio, and 20 soundproof practice rooms to start. A German music association donated three crates of instruments to get him started. With the help of World Bank funding and foreign embassies, he began recruiting faculty from around the world to come teach a fresh batch of students both Western and Afghan music, many of whom never sat in a classroom before.

Sarmast is a reserved, soft-spoken man. But his eyes lit up when he talked about his students. Can you imagine a child selling plastic bags on the streets of Kabul and now shes the concept master of a female orchestra? he said. At one point, he listed specific students and described in detail their initial reactions to picking up a flute or violin. Theres no word I can describe to you the moment they touch the instruments for the first time, he said. Its just beautiful.

Its hard to think of a more innocuous job than running a childrens orchestra. But in Afghanistan, Sarmast knew he was putting his life on the line. Conservative strains of Afghan society werent happy with Sarmast teaching Western music  let alone to girls.

One advisor to the Afghan education minister issued veiled threats to him. He told me some of his friends recommended I stay away from this and go back to Australia before I get hurt, Sarmast said. He didnt. And as the institute gradually gained success and national prestige, it became a higher profile target for extremists.

In December 2014, Sarmast was watching his students perform at a cultural center in Kabul from the front row. As the children performed, a blast suddenly tore through the audience. It was a Taliban suicide bomber.

One audience member died and 15 were wounded. Miraculously, all the children were unharmed. But Sarmast was sitting just several rows from the bomber. He took 11 pieces of shrapnel to the back of his head and lost nearly all his hearing. He flew to Australia to undergo surgery and spent several months recovering. Sarmast eventually gained back most of his hearing.

By then, his institute had proven itself to the skeptical Afghan government and foreign diplomats. Disadvantaged children became successful musicians, a civil society was building up around the institutes success, and Sarmast was stubbornly normalizing gender equality and girls education with his coed classrooms and an all-girl orchestra.

Clearly every day wed been showing everyone what this meant, he said. We cannot bring peace and stability to Afghanistan without investing in music.

Perhaps their most powerful show of force came from faculty and students the day after the suicide bombing: They returned to school. That was the most beautiful way to show to the Taliban our face, he said. We did not keep silent. We made our stand to the Taliban very clearly. We issued a statement.

The statement isnt just to his country. We are showing the world a different side of Afghanistan. It is not all about war and destruction, he said. Hope is alive, optimism is alive, and Afghanistan is breathing.

Photo credit: WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP/Getty Images
PARIS (Reuters) - Here are some of the key points in the program of Emmanuel Macron, a centrist candidate in France's presidential election on April 23 and May 7. Macron, a former investment banker running as an independent centrist, is favorite to win the unpredictable race in a May runoff. Eye-catchers for voters include local housing tax exemptions worth 10 billion euros ($10.6 billion), reimbursement of the full cost of cultural shows, dentures and hearing aids, and cuts in social welfare levies for low earners coupled with tax breaks for their employers. Flagship proposals involve the politically sensitive merger of myriad public- and private-sector retirement pension systems as well as a merger of unemployment benefit systems, which currently differ for regular wage-earners and the self-employed. Broad financial targets include keeping France's budget deficit below the EU-mandated 3 percent of GDP, lowering the jobless rate to 7 percent by the end of his potential five-year term from around 10 percent now, an investment plan of 50 billion euros and public spending savings seen reaching 60 billion annually by the end of the mandate. Among other key ideas: - Corporate tax would be cut from 33 to 25 percent. - The CICE tax credit system for firms would be converted into permanent payroll tax breaks for low-wage workers. - The 35-hour legal work week would remain but negotiation of real work hours would be left to company level. - Low-wage earners would be exempted from certain social welfare levies, a measure that would put an extra month's wage per year in the employee's pocket. PUBLIC INVESTMENT Macron's plan calls for 50 billion euros of public investment over five years, of which: - 15 billion for training/changing skill-sets to find jobs. - 15 billion on energy/environment targets: exit within 5 years from coal-based energy production, shift towards alternative, renewable energy sources, rise in carbon tax. - 5 billion in farm sector financing for environment-friendly projects, local production cooperatives and aid during price crises. - 5 billion for transport and local infrastructure, with a focus on renovating old train lines rather than building new ones. - 5 billion euros on health sector, including better reimbursement of glasses, dentures and hearing aids, plus move away from wasteful medicine packages that contain more pills than a patient needs. - 5 billion on modernization, computerization of public administration. SAVINGS IN PUBLIC SPENDING A target of 60 billion euros for savings on spending is so far more of a projection than a plan, premised on 10 billion euros of unemployment benefit savings generated by a drop in the jobless rate to 7 percent. Macron also sees savings of 15 billion euros in public health spending due to greater efficiency. Another 25 billion is predicted to come from public service modernization, of which a small part would come from payroll cost falls due to a 120,000 cut in headcount, of which 50,000 will be in the central civil service. The remaining 10 billion would come from cuts in local authorities spending, including a 70,000 reduction in headcount. SECURITY/LAW AND ORDER Build 15,000 extra prison places, hire 10,000 police, raise defense budget to 2 percent of GDP, from just under 1.8 percent in 2016. Introduction of on-the-spot fines for drug use and issue orders banning gang-leaders from certain neighborhoods. CULTURE/EDUCATION Halve number of early primary school pupils to 12 per class in 12,000 low-income zones, with teachers given a bonus of 3,000 euros a year to work in such areas. All 18-year-olds to get a 500 euro "culture pass" to spend on cinema, theater and concert tickets. Mobile phone use to be banned on school premises for pupils aged up to about 15 years. IMMIGRATION/INTEGRATION Strict application of secular policy in public life. No ban on Muslim veil for university students, as envisaged by some candidates. Asylum requests processed within six months. State subsidy of 15,000 euros over 3 years for firms that hire people in 200 low-income neighborhoods. GOVERNANCE Reduce number of lawmakers by a third in both the Senate and National Assembly. Reduce by at least a quarter the number of provincial local authorities. Ban hiring of family-members as assistants of lawmakers. Elected mandates limited to maximum three of same kind. Ban on consulting activity for people holding elected office. ($1 = 0.9473 euros) (Compiled by Brian Love; editing by Michel Rose and Adrian Croft)
(Reuters) - The United States dropped a 21,600-pound GBU-43 bomb, one of the largest non-nuclear devices used in combat, on a suspected Islamic State target in Afghanistan on Thursday. Here are some details about the bomb, based on information from the U.S. military, independent security think-tanks and media reports. EXPLODING ABOVE THE GROUND Described by the U.S. Air Force as its "largest non-nuclear conventional weapon", the 9,840 kg Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB) - also dubbed the Mother of All Bombs - is packed with 11 tons of high explosives. The MOAB is not a bunker buster built for deep penetration, but is designed to explode just above the ground, flattening surfaces structures, destroying mines and killing enemy troops within a radius of up to around 150 meters. MOAB is also envisaged as a psychological weapon deployed to shock enemy combatants with its power. The Russian military says it has tested a more powerful device, dubbed the "Father of all Bombs", although there are no reports of it having been used in action. "FLATTENER" Designed in 2003 for use against Iraqi forces, the MOAB succeeded the Vietnam War-era, 15,000 pound BLU-82 "Daisy Cutter". Daisy Cutters were primarily dropped to clear landing zones for helicopters operating in the Southeast Asian jungle. They could flatten a 60-metre wide patch of jungle and destroy mines and other booby traps without leaving a crater. They were also used to stun North Vietnamese or Viet Cong units lying in wait for American troops. Both the MOAB and Daisy Cutter are dropped from C-130 transport aircraft, with a parachute dragging a pallet holding the bomb out of the back. Apart from producing a bigger bang than the Daisy Cutter, MOAB is equipped with a GPS guidance system. The Daisy Cutter was used in the first Gulf War in 1991 and later in Afghanistan, including in the hunt for Osama bin Laden during the Battle of Tora Bora. It was taken out of service in 2008. BRITISH HERITAGE The U.S. Air Force's big air blast bombs and its heavy bunker busters trace their origins back to "earthquake bombs" of World War Two designed by the British. Also known as "Tallboy" and "Grand Slam", the devices penetrated deep into the ground with hardened steel casings before exploding. The British Royal Air Force used them to attack strategic German targets. The larger 22,000-pound Grand Slam became the U.S. military's T-14, spawning a generation of bunker busters. The U.S. Air Force also modified the 12,000-pound Tallboy to create the T-10 for use against Imperial Japanese forces in the Pacific. It was put into storage unused when the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the war. (Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Warning: Spoilers for The Fate of the Furious below.

Actor Paul Walker tragically died during the making of Furious 7. His Fast & Furious co-star, Vin Diesel, has said that Walker inspired much of newest installment, The Fate of the Furious. Part of Pauls legacy lives through every frame that we shoot, Diesel said at CinemaCon in March. You are reminded of this angel that was so integral to this concept of brotherhood for our millennium. Theres something beautiful about that. Theres something celebratory about that.

Walkers character, erstwhile cop and full-time racer Brian OConner, is mentioned in the newest film.

The Fast & Furious franchise has never shied away from killing off characters: Sung Kangs Han, Gal Gadots Giselle and (at least temporarily) Michelle Rodriguezs Letty have all suffered that fate. But the team behind Furious 7 decided to retire Paul Walkers character rather than kill him within the fiction of Furious 7.

MORE 10 Fate of the Furious Plot Holes That Only Make the Movie Better

In that movie, Brian and Jordana Brewsters Mia are expecting a second child. Brian and Dom discuss the fact that Brian has to escape the high-risk street racing life for the sake of his family. With the arrest of villain Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), the gang calculates that Brian and Mias family is now safe, and they can leave the crew.

In The Fate of the Furious, Brians absence is felt. The studio seems to have insisted that the franchise insert another good-looking white cop who doesnt quite play by the rule. Scott Eastwood plays a rookie sidekick to Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell). He too lacks a name since his identity is so secret but, like Brian, he can drive and joins the Fast gang on their missions.

As for Brian, the team acknowledges that the character is alive, though we never see or hear from him (or Mia). When Cipher (Charlize Theron) blackmails Dom into working for her, and Doms friends are left feeling betrayed and confused, they discuss whether they should contact Brian. Brian would know what to do, one of them says wistfully. But Letty rejects the idea, saying that they promised to leave Brian and Mia out of any dangerous activity.

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MORE Its Time to Unpack That Crazy Fate of the Furious Ending

The only other time Brian is mentioned is at the very end of the film. Dom has found out that he has a son with his ex, Elena, and that both Elena and his baby have been kidnapped by Cipher. Elena reveals to him that she has not yet named the baby and she thinks Dom should think of a name. Cipher kills Elena, but Shaw (who has now turned good after all) saves the child. When the crew is enjoying a celebratory meal (natch) in the final scene, Dom reveals the name he chose for his son: Brian.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
SAN FERNANDO, Philippines (AP)  Several Filipino devotees were nailed to crosses in a re-enactment of a Good Friday ritual, which one of the men dedicated to the victims of the deadly bombings of two churches in Egypt.

Ruben Enaje, 57, who has been re-enacting Jesus Christ's suffering and death for the past 31 years, said he always prays for the health of his family during the ritual. But this time he added the victims of the Egyptian attacks, which killed 45 people and wounded dozens on Palm Sunday.

"As long as we trust in the Lord, praying fervently, it's never too far that the Lord won't listen," Enaje said after he was briefly nailed by the hands and feet, grimacing in pain.

The gory spectacle reflects the Philippines' unique brand of Catholicism, which merges church traditions with folk superstitions. Many of the mostly impoverished penitents undergo the ritual to atone for sins, pray for the sick or for a better life, and to give thanks for what they believe were God-given miracles.

The Lenten rituals are frowned upon by church leaders in the Philippines, Asia's largest Roman Catholic nation, especially if the event is used to boost tourism. The re-enactments of the crucifixion, however, have persisted and became an awaited tourist attraction in this area some 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Manila.

All of those who took part were attended by doctors.
When the United States dropped the mother of all bombs on Afghanistan Thursday, President Trump said he had authorized my military to do so. But one former defense secretary was upset by the presidents word choice.

When it comes to the military, the military belongs to the country, Leon Panetta, secretary of defense and CIA director under President Obama, said on MSNBC. Our defense system belongs to the country. And its not the presidents military, its the military of the United States of America.

He has responsibility obviously, as commander in chief, to be able to make decisions with regards to our military, Panetta continued. But I think if you ask the men and women in uniform who they are responsible to, I think their answer would be, Were responsible to the United States of America.'

Trumps comment came in response to questions by reports in the White House Thursday afternoon. When asked whether he had authorized the bombing, he said, according to a pool report, What I do is I authorize my military. We have the greatest military in the world and theyve done a job as usual. We have given them total authorization and thats what theyre doing and frankly thats why theyve been so successful lately.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
WINSLOW, Maine (AP)  The original owner of a dog that Maine Gov. Paul LePage has tried to save from a death sentence is unhappy over comments the governor made about the case during a radio appearance.

The Republican governor issued a pardon for Dakota, a 4-year-old husky, but a judge ignored the pardon, and the Maine Supreme Judicial Court is expected to eventually hear the case.

Dakota was deemed dangerous after separate attacks on two dogs, killing one.

LePage joked on WGAN-AM on Thursday that the original owner might be the one who should be euthanized. The Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/2ocpA5P ) reports Matthew Perry says LePage's comments are "just screwed up."

It's unclear if LePage's pardon of the dog is more than symbolic. A prosecutor said the governor lacks the authority to pardon pets.
Abidjan (AFP) - A court in Ivory Coast has handed a former top general 18 years behind bars in connection with the abduction and murder of four foreigners from the Novotel hotel in Abidjan.

The four -- two Frenchmen, a Malaysian and a Benin national -- were snatched from the hotel in Ivory Coast's economic capital on April 4, 2011, at the height of a post-election crisis.

They were taken to the presidential palace where they were "tortured and savagely beaten before being killed", according to the prosecution.

The ruling was handed down on Thursday following a two-month trial involving 10 suspects.

Those involved were forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, a former president who refused to step down after losing a November 2010 election.

Among the victims were the hotel's French manager, Stephane Frantz di Rippel, and his compatriot Yves Lambelin, the head of Ivory Coast's largest agro-industrial group. The other two were also businessmen.

A month later, two corpses were found in Abidjan's lagoon, one of which was that of Lambelin, who appeared to have been executed with a bullet to the head with a medical report showing multiple fractures to the limbs, the prosecution said.

Ten men were put on trial over the killings, five of whom were charged with abduction and murder.

General Brunot Dogbo Ble, a Gbagbo loyalist who used to head the Republican Guard, was sentenced to 18 years behind bars alongside his two deputies, while police chief Osee Loguey was sentenced to 20 years.

Two others were jailed for six and 10 years, while the remaining four were acquitted.

"The verdict was exactly what we wanted: the chain of command was recognised as responsible," Pierre-Olivier Sur, lawyer for the families of the French victims, told AFP.

Despite the trial, the prosecution was unable to discover the location of the other victims' bodies.

In 2012, Dogbo Ble -- a key figure in Gbagbo's regime -- was handed a life sentence for complicity in the murder of a retired officer, and in 2015, he was handed another 20 years for his role in the 2010-2011 violence.
(BEIJING) - French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Friday dismissed as lies and propaganda comments by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that a poison gas attack blamed on his government last week in Idlib province was 100% fabrication.

Syria has already denied the attack and Assad had said the allegations against the Syrian military by the United States and its allies were used to justify a U.S. air strike.

Syrias 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 published on Thursday.

Ayrault, speaking at a joint press briefing in Beijing with Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi, said he had learned of Assads remarks with deep sadness.

What I heard is 100% lies and propaganda. Its 100% cruelty and cynicism. And so we have to end it. We need a real ceasefire, Ayrault said.

Ayrault added that widespread destruction in the country during its six-year-long civil war was not a fantasy, and thanked China like France, a permanent member of the U.N. security council for its independent and wise position.

China has repeatedly urged that a political resolution be found in Syria.

It has also sided numerous times with Russia, Assads top international backer since 2015, in blocking action by the Security Council on Syria. Beijings special envoy for the Syrian crisis has also praised Russias military role there as effective in combating international terrorism.

Earlier this week, Ayrault criticised Russia for its hypocrisy in Syria.

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 conflict.

Assad said Syria would only allow an impartial investigation into the poison gas incident.

Russia has said the gas was part of rebel stockpiles, which the rebels have denied.

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.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
Paris (AFP) - French prosecutors have asked the European parliament to lift the immunity of Marine Le Pen over an expenses scandal, deepening her legal woes on the eve of a presidential election shaping up as a tight four-way race.

The prosecutors' move comes just nine days before France heads to the polls in a highly unpredictable vote marked by widespread disillusionment with the traditional political class.

Le Pen, who heads the far-right National Front (FN), is leading the race with independent centrist Emmanuel Macron but polls show Communist-backed eurosceptic Jean-Luc Melenchon and scandal-hit conservative Francois Fillon closing the gap.

An Ipsos poll for the daily Le Monde out Friday showed Macron and Le Pen on 22 percent for the first round, both down two points in under a week.

Melenchon continued a spectacular surge, polling 20 percent, just one point ahead of Fillon, who has been regaining ground lost to a fake jobs investigation.

The poll echoed a raft of surveys this week showing the four top contenders bunching together, creating six possible line-ups in the May 7 run-off of the top two candidates.

The slight dip in Le Pen's poll numbers came as French prosecutors said they had petitioned the European Parliament to lift her immunity so that she can be prosecuted over an expenses scandal.

Le Pen last month invoked her parliamentary immunity in refusing to attend questioning by investigating magistrates.

On Friday, she shrugged off the prosecutors' move.

"It's a totally normal step, I'm not surprised," said the 48-year-old member of the European Parliament, who sees the investigation as a plot to derail her presidential bid.

The case against Le Pen has been dwarfed by the bigger scandal engulfing Fillon.

Former prime minister Fillon was revealed in January to have given his wife suspected fake jobs as a parliamentary assistant for which she was paid a total 680,000 euros ($725,000).

The affair, which culminated with the former "Mister Clean" of the French right being formally charged last month, plunged his campaign into turmoil but in the past few weeks he has climbed back into contention.

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"Of course Francois Fillon can win," his spokesman Luc Chatel said Friday, adding: "People are starting to believe again."

Edging him in some polls is hard-left eurosceptic Melenchon, famous for his mass rallies and fiery speeches.

Surveys show Le Pen would be beaten by any of the other three main contenders in a run-off, but analysts have warned of a possible upset, after Britain's shock vote to quit the EU and Donald Trump's election in the United States, both of which pollsters failed to predict.

- 'Fingers in Europe's till' -

The European Parliament accuses the FN of using funds allotted for parliamentary assistants to pay FN staff for party work in France. In February, the assembly began withholding part of Le Pen's pay to recover the money it says it lost to the alleged fraud.

Prosecutors also petitioned the parliament to lift the immunity of Le Pen's colleague, fellow National Front MEP Marie-Christine Boutonnet.

Le Pen, who has pledged to put France's EU membership to a referendum if elected, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

In a TV debate last week, Ford worker Philippe Poutou, candidate of the New Anticapitalist Party tore into her.

"For someone who is anti-European, she doesn't mind having her fingers in Europe's till," he said.

Investigators raided the FN's headquarters outside Paris last month over the affair.

Le Pen's chief of staff Catherine Griset and Charles Hourcade, previously a graphic designer at FN headquarters, were charged with concealment.

Le Pen has already had her parliamentary immunity lifted over a separate affair dating to 2015 when she shared graphic pictures of Islamic State atrocities on Twitter.

The pictures triggered an investigation for "dissemination of violent images".
Paris (AFP) - If far-right leader Marine Le Pen or independent centrist Emmanuel Macron become French president next month it will beg a question: Can either subsequently muster enough backing to form a government?

If the polls are to be believed, France is heading towards the election of a leader who hails from neither the traditional left nor right for the first time since the Fifth Republic was founded in 1958.

French voters have traditionally handed a parliamentary majority to the newly elected president in general elections that follow within weeks.

But in this year's extraordinary contest, neither of France's usually dominant parties -- the Socialists and the conservative Republicans -- is expected to see their candidate get past the first round on April 23.

Communist-backed Jean-Luc Melenchon, riding high in the polls, would also likely struggle to form a parliamentary majority if he pulled off a shock win.

Pascal Perrineau, an analyst from Sciences Po university in Paris, said neither Le Pen nor Macron currently has even "the beginnings of a parliamentary majority".

And while general elections are usually a "ratification" of the presidential result, this year promises to be very different, he said.

"When the president has no majority, it's like an unfinished election."

- Rush for deals -

Horse-trading would begin immediately after the May 7 second round runoff, with parties cutting deals to maximise their respective chances in the two-round June 11-18 parliamentary polls.

The "classic" scenario remains possible only if conservative candidate Francois Fillon were to clinch the presidency despite his legal woes.

His right-wing Republicans party and the centre-right UDI are allied in more than 90 percent of France's 577 voting districts.

Fillon, whose frontrunner status evaporated with revelations of financial impropriety, repeatedly reminds voters that he would have no trouble forming a government -- unlike Macron and Le Pen.

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But polls currently show the likeliest outcome is a showdown between Macron and Le Pen, currently the joint favourites with about 24 percent each.

Polls show Macron would defeat Le Pen handily if the election were held today.

Macron, who was economy minister under outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande, quit to form his own "En Marche" movement a year ago, claiming to be "neither of the left or of the right".

He can count on support from some Socialists as well as some members of the right-wing Republicans party as well as the small centrist Modem party with which he has formed an alliance.

Macron, who has promised that half his slate of general election candidates will be political newcomers, has said the issue of whether he can get a majority "is not something we worry about".

"There is no doubt that the French people will follow through on their choice and will give us the means to operate," he added.

Macron, however, has taken pains to avoid being too closely associated with the struggling Socialists.

When the 39-year-old won the endorsement of Hollande's former prime minister Manuel Valls late last month it was a mixed blessing, giving him the backing of a leading politician but weakening his claim to represent a break with the past.

- Beyond the FN -

A major unknown is how many MPs Le Pen's National Front (FN) will have in the new parliament, although it is expected to be far more than the two seats it managed in 2012.

If Le Pen wins the presidency she would have to reach out far beyond her party even to achieve a relative parliamentary majority.

FN vice president Louis Aliot has predicted the party would attract support around its agenda of renegotiating France's terms with the European Union and calling a referendum on EU membership within six months of taking power.

Quietly, the FN is believed to be already reaching out to right-wing MPs in the hope of attracting around 20 to its cause, moves that have alarmed the Republicans party leadership sufficiently for it to warn it will kick out any member that makes a deal with the FN.

On the left, the Socialists hope to win a sizeable presence in parliament even if their presidential candidate, staunch leftist Benoit Hamon, crashes out in the first round as polls suggest.

Michel Pouzol, a Socialist lawmaker in the Essonne area south of Paris, said local name recognition would swing it for him.

"People tell me they'll make a strategic vote for Macron, but then vote for me in June," he said.
By Ingrid Melander and Simon Carraud PARIS (Reuters) - French judges have asked for far-right leader Marine Le Pen's parliamentary immunity to be lifted, the latest setback in a presidential election campaign in which she is no longer assured of reaching the decisive second round. The judges are investigating the alleged misuse of European Union funds by Le Pen, a member of the European Parliament, to pay for party assistants. Their request was signed on March 29 but only revealed on Friday. A source confirmed it to Reuters. Even before the latest twist in her legal woes, a lackluster performance in television debates, a campaign that has been more focused on her main rivals and a misstep over France's role in World War Two had all chipped away at her poll ratings. Though opinion polls still put Le Pen in first or second place in the first round of voting on April 23, her three main rivals are now close enough for any two of the four to go through to the May 7 runoff. An IFOP-Fiducial poll on Friday saw her winning 23 percent in the first round, down 0.5 percentage points from the previous poll and against a high of 27 percent she scored in February. The same poll saw her main rival, centrist Emmanuel Macron, unchanged on 22.5 percent, while conservative Francois Fillon and leftist firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon each had 19 percent. Other polls have shown as little as three percentage points between the top four contenders. No opinion poll has shown her winning the runoff. "The campaign has not focused on immigration or security, which would have allowed her to be at the heart of the discussion. And we're now seeing a bit of an impact from the judicial probes," said Jean-Daniel Levy of pollster Harris Interactive. "It's all very wide open," Levy said, when asked who would qualify for the runoff. LEGAL HEADACHES As well as the row over party assistants, Le Pen's other legal woes include an investigation into the finances of her National Front party in northern France targeting her chief of staff, an investigation into the financing of past campaigns and a probe into her tweeting of pictures of Islamic State violence. While pollsters had until recently seen little direct impact from these cases on her ratings, Le Pen's refusal to go to a police summons over the EU funds allegations may have hit her support. She based her refusal on her immunity as an EU lawmaker. A fringe candidate in the presidential election, far-left car factory worker Philippe Poutou, used this to challenge her during a TV debate this month. His line - "When we workers are summoned by the police, we go, we don't have workers' immunity" - left Le Pen silent and was widely picked up on social media. Le Pen's denial this week that the French state bore any responsibility for the mass arrest of Jews in Paris during World War Two may also have dented her ratings. "One can assume that her comments on the Vel d'Hiv have also harmed her," said Emmanuel Riviere of Kantar pollsters. (Additional reporting by Emmanuel Jarry and Michel Rose; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Gareth Jones)
PARIS (AP)  French investigators are asking the European Parliament to lift far-right EU lawmaker Marine Le Pen's immunity so that she can face possible prosecution over suspected misuse of parliamentary salaries.

Le Pen, a leading candidate in France's two-round presidential election on April 23 and May 7, calls the investigation unfounded and an effort to poison her presidential bid. She enjoys immunity from prosecution as a European Parliament member.

The case concerns accusations that Le Pen and others in her anti-immigration National Front party used parliamentary aides for party activity while they were on EU-financed salaries. A top Le Pen aide was charged in the case with receiving money through a breach of trust.

The Paris prosecutor's office said Friday that investigating judges issued the request to lift Le Pen's immunity, and it was being transmitted by the French government to the European Parliament. The parliament did not comment on the move Friday but several procedural steps are still required before the legislature might hold a vote on it.

Le Pen said Friday on Francetvinfo that she's unsurprised by the request, calling it "the normal procedure." Le Pen has repeatedly refused to show up for police questioning, citing her immunity.

The parliamentary salary probe is one of multiple investigations involving Le Pen or her party, though none is expected to come to trial before the French presidential election.

The European Parliament last month lifted Le Pen's immunity in another investigation, over tweeting gruesome images of Islamic State violence.

Le Pen argues that European Parliament investigators are singling her out because of her anti-EU views. She wants a referendum on pulling France out of the 28-nation EU and the 29-nation shared euro currency.

Such a move by France  an economic powerhouse and founding member of the EU  could kill the bloc.

Polls suggest that Le Pen is a top contender for the April 23 first round presidential election and could advance to the May 7 runoff, but would then lose to centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron. If Le Pen wins, she would enjoy immunity from prosecution as president.

Meanwhile, Facebook announced that it has targeted 30,000 fake accounts linked to France ahead of the presidential election, as part of a worldwide effort against misinformation. The company said Thursday it is taking action against those accounts and is removing sites with the highest traffic.

Facebook and French media are also running fact-checking programs in France to combat misleading information, especially around the presidential campaign.
Rome (AFP) - Rescue vessels in the Mediterranean worked flat out Friday to rescue over 2,000 people from flimsy dinghies as exhausted saviours accused the EU of turning a blind eye to the crisis.

The Italian coast guard and five privately-run rescue boats plucked migrants from 16 overcrowded dinghies and three wooden vessels.

After non-stop back-to-back rescues, a total of 2,074 people were brought to safety, the coastguard said, a day after a shipwreck left at least 97 migrants feared drowned off Libya.

The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) boats Prudence and Aquarius rescued some 1,145 people from nine different dinghies in exhausting operations it said proved their presence off the North African coast was needed.

The rest were picked up by the coastguard, the Phoenix -- run by the Maltese organisation Moas -- the German NGO Sea Eye and the German Jugend's Iuventa.

Rescuers said a teenager had been found dead in one of the rubber boats on Friday during the "very difficult" rescues.

EU's border control agency Frontex has accused donor-funded vessels of doing more harm than good by sailing off Libya and acting "like taxis", and Italian prosecutors have suggested they may have links with traffickers -- a charge they have fiercely denied.

"How many people would have crossed if we weren't there today, Frontex? Probably the same. How many would have died? Probably, many more," MSF said on Twitter.

"Where are Frontex boats in a day like this?" it asked. "EU states keep their blind eyes turned" and in 2017 "the sea continues to be a graveyard".

SOS Mediterranee, which operates the Aquarius jointly with MSF, posted a video showing women singing with happiness after their rescue.

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.

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.
The state of Hawaii and the Trump Administration have urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to bypass the usual step of a three-judge panel and assemble the full court to review President Trumps revised immigration restrictions. If the court agrees, that could speed up review by that appeals court, and move the Hawaii case on toward the Supreme Court.

Another federal appeals court, for the Fourth Circuit, has already taken this step in a case from Maryland, indicating the importance of the issues at stake and the courts desire to rule promptly on the constitutional controversy.

There is a significant difference between the two cases as they reached the appeals court level. The Hawaii case involves a challenge to both of the most significant parts of the Trump executive order  the plan for a 90-day suspension of entry of any foreign nationals from a list of six Mideast nations, and a plan for a 120-day suspension of entry of any refugees from anywhere in the world. The Maryland case involves only the 90-day halt aimed at the six designated nations.

The cases are alike in that the two District Court trial judges issued nationwide orders barring the federal government from enforcing the provisions on which those judges ruled. And, in both, the judges ruled that the challengers were likely to ultimately get the executive order provisions struck down as a form of Muslim ban  that is, a ban on entry of Muslims based on discrimination against their religion.

In the Ninth Circuit, there are 24 active judges who have the right to vote on whether to put a case before the en banc court, and it would take a majority of those judges to agree to do so. Actual en banc review in that Circuit Court, however, is usually before 11 judges, not all 24. In the Fourth Circuit, it took a majority of its 15 active judges to skip the three-judge panel, and all 15 will take part in en banc review.

The Fourth Circuit Court has scheduled a hearing in the Maryland case for May 8, and the Ninth Circuit Court has planned to hold a hearing on the Hawaii case on May 15.

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In each of the cases, the Trump Administration, aside from challenging the judges rulings against the legality of the immigration limits, has asked the courts to permit enforcement of the provisions while the appeal goes forward. One or both of the courts could rule on that preliminary issue even before the scheduled hearings, and that could send the enforcement issue quickly to the Supreme Court for action. If either side does seek review of a Circuit Court ruling on the enforcement question, it would take the votes of five of the nine Justices to overturn the result. The Supreme Court now has a full bench, since the arrival this week of Justice Neil M. Gorsuch.

Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011 and has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com, where this post first appeared.

Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly
United Airlines disastrous "overbooking" nightmare began just a few days ago- but the company managed to pack in a whole lot of controversy in such a short time. A full look at the company's public relations fiasco shows how the situation escalated and where the airline stands now.

Sunday, April 9: A 69-year-old doctor named David Dao was forcibly removed from United Airlines Express Flight 3411, bound from Chicago to Louisville. Video emerged of aviation security officers dragging Dao, who is screaming and bloody, down the aisle of the aircraft by his arms. Fellow passengers could be heard shouting at the officers to stop. United Airlines said it randomly selected Dao  along with three other passengers, who left without incident  after nobody volunteered to de-plane in order to make room for three company employees who needed seats. Passengers who witnessed the incident said Dao explained to officers and crew that he had to work at a hospital the next day and so couldn't leave the plane.

Monday, April 10: United Airlines issued its first response to the incident on Flight 3411 via Twitter. "This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers," said CEO Oscar Munoz in the statement. "Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation."

Read: United Airlines Dragging Passenger Off Plane Was Illegal- Here's Why

Monday, April 10: The internet went wild over Munoz's use of the word "re-accommodate." Jimmy Kimmel slammed the airline during a segment on his show. "Just like we re-accommodated' El-Chapo out of Mexico," the comedian joked.

Monday, April 10: One aviation officer involved in the incident was placed on leave.

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Monday, April 10: A letter obtained by CNBC in which Munoz addressed his employees about the incident seemed to blame the passenger for what happened. The CEO called him "disruptive and belligerent," and said he left agents "no choice but to call aviation security officers" to remove him.

Tuesday, April 11: Social media erupted with mockery of the company. #NewUnitedAirlinesMottos began trending on Twitter, spawning some creative new slogans for the embattled company.

Tuesday, April 11: Munoz issued yet another statement regarding the incident in which he took full responsibility and pledged to "make it right." The company said they would conduct a review to be completed by April 30.

Tuesday, April 11: Shares of United Continental Holdings, Inc. plunged nearly seven percent in the wake of the companys public relations nightmare.

Read: Full United Airlines CEO's Response To Employees Blaming Passenger

Wednesday, April 12: Rival airlines took advantage of the United fiasco by trolling the company with advertisements and tweets. Emirates Airlines poked fun at Uniteds "Fly the friendly skies" slogan, while Royal Jordanian released a play on a no-smoking sign that said the company doesnt allow "drags" on its flights.

Wednesday, April 12: Two more aviation officers involved in the incident were put on leave, bringing a total of three officers placed on leave.

Wednesday, April 12: Dao filed a "bill of discovery" against United Airlines in court, calling for all evidence including surveillance videos, passenger and crew lists, incident reports and cockpit voice recordings to be "preserved and protected."

Wednesday, April 12: Additional video emerged of Dao moments before he was forcibly removed from the plane. The passenger could be heard speaking with officers, telling them that he had to be at work the next day. "Let them try to use force," he was heard saying. "I make a lawsuit against United Airlines."

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BERLIN (Reuters) - German police have arrested three people on suspicion of helping a suspected Islamist militant prepare a bomb attack on police or soldiers, magazine Focus said on its website. It cited the chief public prosecutor in the northern town of Celle as saying on Friday that arrest warrants had been issued for the two men and one woman suspected of helping to prepare a serious act of violence against the state. The prosecutor's office was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters. German authorities have been on high alert since December, when an Islamist truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market killed 12 people. Leading soccer team Borussia Dortmund's bus was attacked with explosives on Tuesday, injuring defender Marc Bartra. Three identical letters printed in German found near the scene suggested a possible Islamist motive. There was no suggestion in the Focus report that the three suspects arrested were linked to either the Berlin or the Dortmund attacks. The magazine said the trio - a 27-year-old Afghan, a 27-year-old Turk and a 25-year-old German - were arrested on Thursday evening in three different German cities and were in custody. It said they were suspected of supporting a German member of an ultra-conservative branch of Islam who police arrested in February. That man admitted planning to lure police or soldiers into a trap and kill them with a home-made bomb. (Reporting by Michelle Martin; editing by John Stonestreet)
By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis, presiding at a Good Friday service, asked God for forgiveness for scandals in the Catholic Church and for the "shame" of humanity becoming inured to daily scenes of bombed cities and drowning migrants. Francis presided at a traditional candlelight Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) service at Rome's Colosseum attended by some 20,000 people and protected by heavy security following recent attacks in European cities. Francis sat while a large wooden cross was carried in procession, stopping 14 times to mark events in the last hours of Jesus' life from being sentenced to death to his burial. Similar services, known as the Stations of the Cross, were taking place in cities around the world as Christians gathered to commemorate Jesus' death by crucifixion. At the end of the two-hour service, Francis read a prayer he wrote that was woven around the theme of shame and hope. In what appeared to be a reference to the Church's sexual abuse scandal, he spoke of "shame for all the times that we bishops, priests, brothers and nuns scandalized and wounded your body, the Church." The Catholic Church has been struggling for nearly two decades to put the scandal of sexual abuse of children by clergy behind it. Critics say more must be done to punish bishops who covered up abuse or were negligent in preventing it. Francis also spoke of the shame he said should be felt over "the daily spilling of the innocent blood of women, of children, of immigrants" and for the fate of those who are persecuted because of their race, social status or religious beliefs. At the end of this month Francis travels to Egypt, which has seen a spate of attacks by Islamists on minority Coptic Christians. Dozens were killed in two attacks last Sunday. He spoke of "shame for all the scenes of devastation, destruction and drownings that have become ordinary in our lives." On the day he spoke, more than 2,000 migrants trying to reach Europe were plucked from the Mediterranean in a series of dramatic rescues and one person was found dead. More than 650 have died or are unaccounted for while trying to cross the sea in rubber dinghies this year. Francis expressed the hope "that good will triumph despite its apparent defeat." Security was stepped up in the area around the Colosseum following recent truck attacks against pedestrians in London and Stockholm. Some 3,000 police guarded the area and checked people as they approached. The Colosseum subway stop was closed. Francis on Saturday is due to say an Eater vigil Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and on Easter Sunday, the most important day in the Christian liturgical calendar, he reads his twice-annual "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World") message in St. Peter's Square. (Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Bill Trott)
For the past few weeks, the secretary of state has been the subject of endless chatter and several prominent reports about what he has been doing  or, more to the point, not doing  during his short tenure in Foggy Bottom. Despite a mostly steady if laconic performance in Moscow this week, it is hard to argue that he is off to a good start. The risk is that, after only a few months in office, he could be headed toward irrelevance.

Tillersons high water mark so far was his first day, the moment he walked into the State Departments C street lobby on February 2 and gave a humble, well-received speech to a nervous crowd. It has been pretty much downhill ever since: a highly publicized squelching of his first choice as deputy; some unceremonious early retirements of senior Foreign Service officers, leaving a building empty of top-ranked officials; an anemic first trip to Europe, where he was easily overshadowed by the secretary of defense; bungling the schedule for his inaugural NATO meeting by initially thinking he could skip it; parroting Chinese talking points on his first trip to Asia; taking a meat axe to the State Department budget; and starting off terribly with the press. If you only get one chance to make a first impression, this is not the way to do it.

I have to say I am surprised and a bit puzzled. I thought the choice of Tillerson, while unexpected and somewhat unorthodox, was a clever one. The more I learned about him the more optimistic I became that he would succeed at State. I believed his experience at ExxonMobil prepared him to deal with the complex tangle of management, security, and policy issues facing the department, and that, having moved up the company chain to the top himself, he would prove to be an effective leader of the career Foreign Service workforce. So whats going on?

Thinking about Tillersons bumpy start, it helps to recall two past secretaries of state who also had less auspicious beginnings: Alexander Haig in 1981 and Warren Christopher in 1993.

Haigs problems were the opposite of Tillersons. He wanted to be large and in charge. By this point in his tenure, he had already graced the cover of Time magazine with his hands on hips, chest puffed out, as the self-proclaimed vicar of foreign policy, and had declared himself in charge after the March 1981 assassination attempt on Reagan  an assertion the then-vice president, George H.W. Bush, found interesting. Haig quickly ran afoul of the Reagan team, which he described to a reporter at the time as a bunch of second-rate hambones. They clashed over matters of process (Haig wanted to make decisions for the president) and protocol (he complained about his seat assignments on Air Force One). So after a frenzied eighteen months in office, Haig was forced out.

On the surface, Warren Christophers first few months may seem a closer parallel. Christopher  with whom I worked for several years in the late 1990s, after he left the State Department  was, like Tillerson, a deeply honorable man who had a successful, widely respected private sector career before becoming the nations top diplomat. And for all his wisdom and strengths, a commanding presence and savvy media skills were not among them. Christophers start was similarly rough, the low point being a May 1993 trip to Europe, on which he failed in an attempt to drum up support for stronger action in Bosnia. This was pilloried as weakness  Christopher himself later said that allies would only be persuaded by the raw power approach.

But heres where the similarities end, and the differences are revealing. First, Christopher had deep experience in government and diplomacy, having served as the deputy attorney general under President Lyndon Johnson and as deputy secretary of state under President Jimmy Carter. Christopher distinguished himself in both jobs, helping manage the federal response to the urban riots in 1968 and negotiating the release of the American hostages in Tehran in 1981. He had been a central figure in presidential campaigns and California politics.

Although Christopher took great pride in his Los Angeles legal career, he understood how to get things done in Washington. Christopher really wanted to be secretary of state; it is not clear that Tillerson does. He doesnt seem comfortable, as though his heart is not in the job.

This leads to a second contrast. Despite his understated demeanor, Christopher was determined to be the chief spokesperson for American foreign policy. He too worked for a relatively inexperienced commander-in-chief, so sought opportunities to explain the new administrations perspective on the world and outline its larger strategic goals. By this point in his time as secretary, Christopher had given several major foreign policy speeches. Tillerson has delivered none. He seems entirely comfortable ceding this role to Defense Secretary James Mattis and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Finally, Christopher understood how important it was to be surrounded by powerful officials who would compliment his somnolent style. There were some misfires (his first deputy, Cliff Wharton, flamed out by the end of his first year), but Christopher empowered heavyweights like Strobe Talbott, Richard Holbrooke, Winston Lord, Jim Steinberg, and Tom Donilon.

Instead of getting the most out of his bureaucracy, Tillerson seems detached from it. Career State diplomats complain of being out of the loop. Ive been told that because Tillersons operation is such a black box, some State Department officials are sending their talking points to their Defense Department colleagues so that Mattis will raise them with their boss. Although Tillerson deserves credit for trying to install Elliot Abrams as his number two, he has been shockingly slow to fill out the rest of his team  and his new choice for deputy, John Sullivan, is by all accounts a good guy and talented lawyer, but a complete unknown on foreign policy.

So Tillersons performance has left many scratching their heads. It could be, as his allies like James Baker, Robert Gates, and Condoleezza Rice argue, that he is biding his time, learning the job, and playing a long game. Maybe he is waiting for the ideologues like White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon to flame out. Or perhaps he is shoring up his relationship with his mercurial boss  a person he had never met before being offered the job  and working to forge an alliance with Mattis. Be patient, they say, and Tillersons talents will eventually shine.

All that may be true. But without some signs of life soon, Tillerson risks locking in a narrative that will be very hard to change. According to foreign diplomats, he is a diligent counterpart who masters his briefs and gets through his talking points. But no one thinks the State Department is where to go to get things done.

How long can this last? Tillerson is not going to self-destruct like Haig. But people are already guessing he doesnt make it much past the 2018 midterms, and is then replaced by Haley.

Which brings us back to Christopher. He had his share of early troubles, and the legacy of the May 1993 trip was hard to shake. More than once Washingtons gods were calling for his head  and he offered to resign after President Bill Clintons disastrous 1994 midterm elections. But Christopher hung on, and by the end of four years was able to tally some important diplomatic successes  including the Dayton Accords, a post-Oslo Accords peace process in Middle East, initial steps toward NATO enlargement, and the opening of relations with Vietnam.

Right now, this sort of turnaround seems to be the best we can expect from Tillerson. When it comes to assessing his potential for success at State, it may indeed still be too early. But if he doesnt change some things soon, it will be too late.

Photo credit: VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
Googles new Doodle Friday featured a parade of colorful banners in the shape of an owl, tiger and the sun, in celebration of Pohela Boishakh, the first day of the Bengali calendar.

The revelry in the Doodle depicts the annual Mangal Shobhajatra procession through the countrys capital Dhaka. During the parade, colorful masks of tigers, owls and other creatures native to Bangladesh are hoisted above the celebrating crowds. Although each animal has its own symbolic meaning, collectively they are said to inspire courage and promote peace, according to Google.

The festival is one of celebration, but Pohela Boishakh has pragmatic beginnings.

It began with Emperor Akbar, who developed the Bengali calendar over 400-years-ago as he extended Mughal control over much of what is now modern day Bangladesh. Originally the new calendar was intended as a way to instigate uniform tax collection across the land.

To this day on Pohela Boishakh, Bengali accountants close their books on the old year and usher in the new one.

Shubho Noboborsho! (Happy New Year!)

This article was originally published on TIME.com
(Reuters) - Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has a future at the club despite the defender's injury setbacks that have forced him to miss large chunks of the Premier League season, manager Pep Guardiola has said. Kompany, who has two more years on his current contract, played 90 minutes in a league game for the first time in a year in the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea earlier this month, only to miss a 3-1 victory over Hull City last weekend with a minor knock. Guardiola has said that the Belgian international is still capable of putting in quality performances and will feature for City next season as long as he can stay fit. "Yes, he has a contract," Guardiola told reporters when asked if Kompany figured in his plans for next season. "He can hopefully play two games a week in the next period, in the future. "But, of course, the good news was he could play 90 minutes, a tough game at Stamford Bridge and he played at a high, high level." Kompany is fit for City's trip to Southampton in the league on Saturday. They are in fourth place, four points ahead of Manchester United having played a game more than their rivals. (Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Bissau (AFP) - The leader of a Guinea Bissau civil society group critical of President Jose Mario Vaz, was violently attacked in his own home Friday by unidentified assailants, his group told AFP.

Legio Monteiro is head of the Vigilant Non-Compliant Citizen's Movement, which is considered close to the ruling PAIGC party and which is campaigning to end a long-running political crisis between the party and the president.

Monteiro was struck on the head and body and his injuries are being treated at a secret location, sources close to him said, adding that his life was not in danger.

The tiny west African state has been in the grip of a power struggle since August 2015, when Vaz sacked then premier Domingos Simoes Pereira, leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC).

A new prime minister, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, was sworn in last December but PAIGC rejected him, accusing Vaz of breaching an agreement calling for a consensual choice of prime minister.

Last week members of Monteiro's group were badly beaten by police during a protest march, attended by PAIGC officials.

"The struggle will continue despite these attacks on our members," Sana Cante, the movement's coordinator told AFP.
Paris (AFP) - With nine days left until the first round of France's presidential election, prosecutors moved against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and the race began looking like a four-way affair.

Here's what happened in the campaign on Friday:

- Le Pen legal woes deepen -

French prosecutors have asked the European parliament to lift Le Pen's immunity over an expenses scandal.

Le Pen, who is a member of the European Parliament (MEP), has invoked her parliamentary immunity in refusing to attend questioning by investigating magistrates.

Le Pen, who dismisses the probe as a plot to derail her campaign bid, shrugged off the move.

But her lawyer said he was surprised because his client had expressed willingness to answer questions after general elections in June, "depending on results of the presidential vote".

If elected president -- a scenario analysts deem unlikely but not impossible -- Le Pen would have immunity from prosecution.

- Polls tighten -

The head of the far-right National Front (FN) and independent centrist Emmanuel Macron have been neck-and-neck for weeks at the head of the pack in voter surveys for the April 23 first round of the vote.

But polls now show second-tier candidates -- Communist-backed eurosceptic Jean-Luc Melenchon and scandal-hit conservative Francois Fillon -- closing the gap.

An Ipsos poll for the daily Le Monde out Friday showed Macron and Le Pen on 22 percent for the first round, both down two points in under a week.

Melenchon continued a spectacular surge, polling 20 percent, just one point ahead of Fillon, who has been regaining ground lost to a fake jobs investigation.

The poll echoed a raft of surveys this week showing the four top contenders bunching together, creating six possible line-ups in the May 7 run-off of the top two candidates.

- Unsuitable pressure -

A wealthy friend of Fillon said he came under "political pressure" to stay quiet about bespoke suits he offered the candidate.

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Fillon spoke to Robert Bourgi about the matter several times, the high-flying lawyer said.

The Franco-Lebanese lawyer said he was annoyed "to have had to lie (about the gifts) for a week".

Fillon has since returned the suits worth 13,000 euros ($14,000) from the luxury Parisian tailor Arnys.

Bourgi said earlier that there was neither "conflict of interest nor influence-peddling" involved in the gifting of the suits to Fillon.
For weeks, biotech billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong has been taking to social media to portray himself as a valiant warrior against cancer, unfairly maligned by the press.

He and his diagnostics company, NantHealth, have strenuously denied reports that they reaped benefits from a $12 million gift he made to support medical research at the University of Utah.

But emails and documents obtained by STAT make clear that executives at NantHealth and officials at the university viewed the deal through a transactional lens, intended, at least in part, to boost Soon-Shiongs commercial interests.

The deal with Utah  which gave Soon-Shiongs team access to genetic and health data on hundreds of patients  will help us with our product, Larry Fitzgerald, a NantHealth vice president, wrote in an email.

STAT reported last month that the university sent $10 million of Soon-Shiongs $12 million gift right back to NantHealth to pay for genetic sequencing of blood, tissue, and tumor samples. Soon-Shiong, a showy entrepreneur who has vowed to solve cancer, denied that the contract had been set up to funnel money to his company or that he had benefited from the arrangement.

But those denials are contradicted by more than a dozen documents STAT obtained from critics of the deal, including email chains and internal memos that circulated at the university and at NantHealth as the deal was being planned and executed. They show that the plan to steer business back to Soon-Shiong and give him access to patient data to improve his product was baked into the deal from early on. Among the findings:

A university memorandum from September 2014, days before the donation was made official, stipulates that the genetic analysis to be paid for by Soon-Shiongs gift would be done by Soon-Shiongs team.

Another document circulated within the university noted that one of Soon-Shiongs companies would for a time keep copies of the patient data involved in the sequencing job  and would use it to develop its sequencing and bioinformatics platform. Internal emails from NantHealth executives also indicated that they explicitly saw the deal as a means to boost their business.

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Though the deal was built around the idea that Soon-Shiongs lab would do the genetic sequencing, the company was not yet prepared to do that work when the contract was signed. Emails show at least one NantHealth executive was scrambling to try to delay the university from visiting the lab because the company had not yet formally confirmed that its new DNA sequencing machines were working properly.

The documents offer new details about the way Soon-Shiongs philanthropic and business interests intertwine. They deepen ethical and legal questions surrounding his donation to the University of Utah. And they raise new questions about why the university agreed to accept a gift on the understanding that it would send most of the money back to the donors company  especially when that company wasnt yet ready to do the work.

Read more: Soon-Shiongs promotion of breakthrough cancer therapy raises questions

NantHealth spokeswoman Jen Hodson said the documents in no way proved that the deal was structured to send money back to Soon-Shiongs company, even though they repeatedly show early evidence of plans to do just that.

Hodson said the university was free to pay any qualified company to do the sequencing  though the university told its own scientists early on that a bioinformatics team associated with the Donor would be doing the work. (That memo was dated four and a half months before the university inked its research contract with NantHealth.)

Hodson also denied that Soon-Shiong reaped gains from the deal and said his companies did the work for Utah at a loss.

There was no commercial benefit, she wrote in response to STATs questions. However there was a significant benefit to the learning system of mankind. She referred to a recent paper about early-onset menopause that came out of the scientific research funded by Soon-Shiongs donation.

Both Hodson and University of Utah spokeswoman Julie Kiefer said that NantHealth was transparent with the university that it was still getting its genetic sequencing machines ready for prime time, though the emails STAT reviewed suggest that at least one executive was worried about how much they still had to do.

I worked to put them off a bit to later in Marchso not to disclose we still have work to do on the validation front of samples, NantHealth executive Laura Beggrow wrote to the companys president in February of 2015, referring to the University of Utah team.

A defiant stance on social media

Soon-Shiong, NantHealths majority owner and CEO, has repeatedly used Twitter in recent weeks to dismiss his critics and to suggest that theyre out to derail him as he pursues the noble goal of curing cancer.

Nobody should be a target just because they want to help our country. Cancer affects all Americans Red and Blue https://t.co/LH7eiiEHM0  Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong (@DrPatSoonShiong) April 12, 2017

In his most recent tweets, Soon-Shiong blames the critical coverage on the fact that he met at least twice with President Trump prior to the inauguration. In January he was said to be in talks for a senior role in the administration overseeing the US health care system. That buzz has since quieted.

Politico/STAT attacks anyone who meets @POTUS to serve USA.Important to give back.Thats why I am doing what I do:https://t.co/9hMuYfhXWV  Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong (@DrPatSoonShiong) April 12, 2017

STATs previous coverage of Soon-Shiong included the finding that his ballyhooed moonshot initiative, which aims to cure cancer by 2020, achieved little scientific progress in its first year, and instead became mostly a marketing tool for NantHealths pricey new diagnostic test, called GPS Cancer.

The STAT investigation of the Utah deal found that the arrangement could put Soon-Shiong and his foundations in violation of tax rules against indirect self-dealing. Since the publication of that investigation, NantHealths stock price has sunk 46 percent, to $3.86 per share, and at least three investors have filed suit against Soon-Shiong and NantHealth, alleging violations of federal securities law.

A Politico investigation last weekend found other examples of Soon-Shiongs charitable foundations operating in a way that benefited his business interests.

NantHealth lost $184 million last year, the company reported last month.

It will help us with our product

In the days before Soon-Shiong formalized his donation to the University of Utah, the university wrote up the terms in an informal memorandum of understanding, dated early September 2014.

The memo, circulated at the university, said academics could participate in research funded by the donation, so long as they agreed to various stipulations, such as that genetic analysis would be carried out by a bioinformatics team associated with the Donor.

The memo also says that Donor-affiliated Scientists shall have the right to analyze the sequence data for any or all of the Heritage 1K projects, which was the universitys umbrella term for the research funded by Soon-Shiongs donation. (The memo indicated Soon-Shiongs team would be able to keep that data for two years.)

Read more: Soon-Shiong made implicit threat to spur investment in NantHealth, media company says

Kiefer, the university spokesperson, said the memorandum did not commit the university to awarding the sequencing contract to NantHealth. She previously told STAT that the university looked around to see whether other facilities could meet the very detailed specifications in Soon-Shiongs gift contract, but none of them could  except NantHealth and its associated lab, NantOmics.

The deal gave NantHealth access to lots of valuable data associated with the hundreds of samples it sequenced and analyzed for Utah scientists. The company learned which diseases ran in each patients family. Whether they were affected by certain medical conditions. And how closely they were related to other people who provided samples for analysis. (The patients identities were not disclosed.)

The contract prohibited Soon-Shiongs team from using the data for purposes beyond the work it had been contracted to do. But it did allow a crucial exception: The owner of any algorithm could retain all improvements made to the algorithm in the course of performing the job.

That was a boon for Soon-Shiongs business, because the algorithms that sift through large quantities of genetic data to identify patterns for researchers also power his commercial products, like his GPS Cancer diagnostic tool. He was also working on developing a second product, GPS Heritage, meant to assess a patients risk of inherited and rare diseases.

Soon-Shiong has denied that the Utah deal had anything to do with the development of GPS Heritage. But a company statement to investors belies that assertion; it explicitly says that the deal with University of Utah will enable the development of the new GPS Heritage product.

And the emails reviewed by STAT show that at least two top NantHealth employees saw the deal through a commercial lens.

I know this research project is taking place with NantOmics and more to refine our algorithms. It will help us with our product, Fitzgerald, the NantHealth vice president, wrote in an email dated in April 2015 and sent to colleagues.

Larry is correct, responded Beggrow, the companys chief commercial officer.

(Hodson told STAT that, in fact, the algorithms themselves were not affected or improved by the addition of these data.)

In the earlier email to NantHealths president about the research project, Beggrow had suggested there was room for Soon-Shiongs team to achieve even greater commercial gain, though she provided few specifics.

I believe we all need to work collectively with effective communication throughout all of our Nant Families, she wrote in February 2015, and to optimize these opportunities for upselling along the way.

Both Fitzgerald and Beggrow have since left NantHealth and are both now employed at a different biotech company. Neither returned STATs repeated requests for comment on their emails.

The ethics are messy

Another University of Utah document, circulated in December 2014, underscored the point that that Soon-Shiongs team planned to use the research data for commercial gain: NantOmics will retain the data and DNA sequence for development of their sequencing and bioinformatics platform, the document reads.

That document gave academics suggestions on revising their research protocols so as to allow Soon-Shiongs team access to the patient data.

Read more: He vowed to cure cancer. But this billionaires moonshot is falling far short of the hype

Its common for scientists to ask their institutional review board to approve changes to their research protocol mid-way through a study. They must generally do so, for instance, any time they want to interrogate a new question.

But two experts who study institutional review boards and reviewed the University of Utah documents at STATs request saw potential ethical land mines in the deal.

Karen Maschke of the Hastings Center said it raised questions about what patients were originally told would happen to their samples when they agreed to provide them: Did they know, for instance, that their genetic and health data might be shared with a for-profit business?

Jennifer Miller, founder of the nonprofit Bioethics International, said that while the deal seemed to pose minimal privacy risks to patients, The optics are bad and the ethics are messy.

A lab not yet ready to carry out its work

Not long before the University of Utah deal was signed, Soon-Shiongs team bought a new brand of sequencing machine, called the HiSeq X10 and sold by Illumina.

When a lab buys new machines, it cant just start performing work for clients right away. Theres an involved process of developing new protocols, ensuring they work robustly, and then validating the performance of machines with a formal test, according to Heidi Rehm, medical director of the clinical sequencing research platform at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

Soon-Shiongs team wasnt using its machines to commercially diagnose patients at that point  they were just for research  so the validation wasnt as complex. But it likely still would have involved running benchmarked samples through a start-to-finish process to ensure the machines were sequencing the DNA properly, Rehm said.

Beggrows February 2015 email indicates that NantOmics was at that time not yet ready to do the sequencing for Utah, even though the university had been planning for at least five months to have Soon-Shiongs team do the work.

The NantOmics lab hasnt yet even begun to do validation work on samples, Beggrow wrote.

She added that she did NOT want to disclose this to this account [at the University of Utah] that we arent ready to accept their actual 1000 retro samples.

Kiefer said the university knew that this was a new state of the art facility and that the new equipment would require validation testing. She added that the university did not start paying NantHealth until it had been verified that the sequencing met the high standards documented in the contract.

Hodson said that nothing was hidden from the University of Utah. When it came to delaying the University of Utahs lab visit, Hodson said, This timing was openly communicated by NantOmics to the University scientists and it may be that NantHealth and NantOmics employee were not communicating the timely information back to one another.
A Michigan high school senior had the time of her life at her own Great Gatsby-themed prom last month, even though the milestone event was held at a hospital where she is being treated for a rare blood disorder.

Read: Teen Brings Sick Grandfather to Tears as He Stops by Hospital on His Way to Prom

Corinne Bass, 18, of Mount Pleasant, is battling aplastic anemia and had to miss her high schools senior prom after a bone marrow transplant forced her to remain in isolation at the Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital, a two-and-a-half hour drive from her hometown.

When I knew I was going to be missing [prom], that was kind of sad to me, she told InsideEdition.com.

Realizing how important the milestone was to the graduating senior, a teacher at the hospital, Sarah Smith, wanted to help make her high school experience as normal as possible and pulled together resources to throw a prom right there in the hospital facility.

Inspired by the teens love for the Roaring 20s, the prom drew inspiration from The Great Gatsby when it was held on March 15.

"I just like how joyful the time was," Bass said. "It was just a good time for a lot of people."

On the big day, Bass was picked up by a 1949 Cadillac limousine donated by a local car museum, and she and her mom were taken on a joyride around town before arriving at another building within the hospital, which had been transformed to reflect the theme.

Read: Teen Takes Best Friend With Cerebral Palsy to Prom: 'She Wore Me Out on the Dance Floor'

They had a red carpet waiting out there, she recalled. And everybody was dressed up in suits and ties. I was greeted with all my doctors and nurses in 1920s attire.

Although Bass friends from school couldnt make it due to her compromised immune system following her bone marrow transplant, she said her hospital prom helped her come to terms with missing senior milestones at her school, including prank day and skip day.

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I can accept it, and Im okay with it, she explained. I think the [prom] that I did have was a lot more special and way more memorable than one I would have had at a typical senior prom.

Bass journey with her health began the summer before her junior year in high school, when she woke up with red spots up and down her legs. After several tests, doctors at Spectrum Health diagnosed her with the rare blood disorder.

I was scared for most of 2015, she explained. But, in the back of your mind, you know that pretty much whatever comes up, the doctors have a plan for it.

Read: A True Superhero: 12-Year-Old Boy Battling Leukemia Gets Special Superman Photo Shoot

She ended up spending most of the year in the hospital, and when she was allowed to go home, Bass said there were still many things she couldnt do.

My immune system was suppressed so I wasnt allowed to go out and do typical things like go to the beach or hang out with my friends without worrying about getting sick, Bass explained. If I got sick, my body wouldnt be able to fight it off.

Doctors are now hopeful the most recent bone marrow transplant will help Bass live a normal life. She is set to be lifted from isolation in July, and will attend Central Michigan University for film in September.

Watch: 2-Year-Old Prom Queen Given a Night to Remember After Stopping Treatment for Terminal Cancer

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By Hadley Keller. Photos by: Getty Images and courtesy.

If you've ever owned or rented a home, there's a good chance you've selected and possibly assembled (likely with some difficulty) an Ektorp, Leirvik, Malm, or other similarly Swedish-dubbed furniture item from everyone's favorite Scandinavian brand: IKEA. Though customers may bemoan certain seemingly impossible assembly instructions and lament the need for a GPS to navigate their enormous, labyrinthine stores, IKEA is, for the most part, beloved as behemoths goa reliable source for everything from carpets to cabinets, flatware to furniture, for new and seasoned decorators alike. The proof? Even professional designers will enter its iconic blue-and-yellow doors from time to time, supplementing higher-end designs with IKEA's reliable practicality, or using the brand's simple furniture as a base for embellishment. AD asked designers what they've used from the company; the answers may surprise you.

Marshall Watson, Marshall Watson Interiors

"I used IKEA's white, Malm platform beds in a very small, low-ceilinged beach house. Once the beds were dressed with spectacular sheets and pillows, the white laminate was barely noticeable. The beautiful bedding just seemed to float on air, and kept the space quite open and uncrowded. I also upholstered just the headboard, which added extra panache to the design. I have also found simple but well-designed modern light fixtures that are perfect for modern, clean-lined beach cottage living, especially some of their undulating wood veneer chandeliers."

Steve McKenzie, McKenzie Design

"I love the Billy bookcase. Its a versatile item for a childs room, a mud room, anywhere you need a little organization. Add baskets to hide the clutter."

Erin Gates, Elements of Style

"I added hardware to the Malm dresser above to give it a custom look similar to a much pricier dresser I had been eyeing. Adding little accents like hardware makes a huge difference in IKEA's simpler styles.

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Tina Ramchandani, Tina Ramchandani Creative

"IKEA is one of my go-tos when it comes to smart, stylish, and affordable organizational solutions. I'm obsessed with their Tjena boxesmy office shelves are lined with them. Their extremely clean look meshes well with my minimalist style, and they can hold anything from a pair of shoes to smaller items like sunglasses or mail. Im also a huge fan of the Kuggis box. Theyre stackable, which makes them super-dynamic and a great home for many everyday eyesores. The Bladdra is another storage solution that I often recommend to clients. Theyre great when placed near a sofa or bed for extra blankets or magazine storage, even as a laundry basket in small spaces!"

Grace Rosenstein, Grace Rosenstein Design

"I've used the Vittsjo shelf multiple times. It looks great faux painted in an antique finish. To really jazz it up, replace the glass shelves with antique mirror. I've also used two Oddvald trestle saw horse for a table base. Just add a glass top and it's a stylish table or desk!"

Karen Vidal, Design Vidal

"The Odensvik double sink top is one of my all-time favorites! I love the integrated sinks and it comes in three sizes, making it super versatile. A custom cabinet makes it look like an expensive European sink top."

Donna Mondi, Donna Mondi Interior Design

"I like to think outside the box and find different ways to use things I find at IKEA. Socker hanging planters make the perfect toy and craft storage for a little girls room. The pop of color makes organizing look fun! For an inexpensive bar cart, the Flytta storage cart on wheels is the perfect piece; just add some fabulous decanters, trays, vintage glassware, and bar books. Finally, throwing a sheepskin pelt like the Rens over your accent or dining chair gives it a whole new feel and the added texture and drama is worth far more than the cost."

Amy Sklar, Sklar Design

"I am a big fan of the Besta cabinets. They are so clean and roomy and can be wall mounted, or customized with your own legs and/or tops. We have an 8' run of Besta cabinets in our office, with bronze spray-painted Nannarp legs and a plywood top that we stained walnut, et Voila! 16 feet of lineal storage for around 300 dollars! If we are feeling particularly fancy, we sometimes add legs from a Swedish company called Pretty Pegs that makes the most amazing custom legs for all kinds of IKEA products."

Richard Ouellette, Les Ensembliers

"When on a small-budget renovation, Pax wardrobes are a great way to create a custom-look in a dressing room. Upgrading the hardware with bespoke handles elevate the result effortlessly. If space and budget permit during the construction process, consider encasing the system into a drywall alcove; it will provide a custom millwork effect instantly. Finally, you can also use a showpiece such as an antique chest, painting, photograph or mirror, which will instantly transform a closet into a special room."

Jody Myers-Fierz, Color Concept Theory

"Ive also used the Malm bed when there was no budget for the bedroom. Once the client saw how impactful a small investment can be in transforming a space it was a no-brainer. With a wide variety of finishes, clean lines, simple construction and a streamlined look, it has the ability to elevate many different design styles at a very low cost. Its also gender neutral and with some custom bedding can personalize a room of any nature, whether it be prepared for a child, a preteen, or a guest."

More: 8 Things You Never Knew You Could Get at IKEA

This story originally appeared on Architectural Digest.

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By Ulf Laessing QARAQOSH, Iraq (Reuters) - With Islamic State expelled, Iraqi Christians are trickling back to the ransacked town of Qaraqosh, beset by anxiety for their security and yet hopeful they can live in friendship with Muslims of all persuasions. The town, about 20 km (12 miles) from the battlefront with Islamic State in the northern city of Mosul, shows why Christians have mixed feelings about the future of their ancient community. In the desecrated churches of Qaraqosh, Christians are busy removing graffiti daubed by the Sunni Muslim militants during two and a half years of control - only for new slogans to have appeared, scrawled by Shi'ite members of the Iraqi forces fighting street to street with the jihadists in Mosul. But nearby a shopkeeper is doing a brisk trade selling Dutch beer, Greek ouzo and several whisky brands to Christians, Sunnis, Shi'ites and Kurds alike, with this kind of commerce perhaps offering a glimpse of how Iraq's fractured communities could again live together peacefully. Encouraged by security checkpoints and patrols by a volunteer force, up to 10 Christian families have returned to what used to be the minority's biggest community in Iraq until Islamic State seized it in 2014. Iraqi forces pushed the group out of Qaraqosh in October, part of a six-month offensive to retake Mosul. But residents are worried that the Shi'ite slogans signal a new kind of sectarian division. "Oh Hussein" is daubed in red on the wall of a church torched earlier by Islamic State, praising the hero of Shi'ite Muslims who was martyred 1,300 years ago. "We are afraid of this, of tensions," said Girgis Youssif, a church worker. "We want to live in peace and demand security," said Youssif, who returned after fleeing to Erbil, about 60 km away in Iraqi Kurdistan. Shi'ites in the Iraqi government forces and paramilitary groups, mostly from further south in the country, have scribbled such slogans on buildings all over Mosul too. Soldiers have also hoisted the flag of Ali in the city and on their on military vehicles. Shi'ites regard Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed, and the prophet's grandson Hussein as his true successors. Two Shi'ite flags also fly over Qaraqosh. Most Sunnis, who are the dominant community in Mosul, have shrugged off the Shi'ite slogans as the work of a handful of religious zealots but Christians take them as a signal that their future remains uncertain. "Of course we are afraid of such signs," said Matti Yashou Hatti, a photographer who still lives in Erbil with his family. "We need international protection." Those families who have returned to Qaraqosh - once home to 50,000 people - are trying to revive Christian life dating back two millennia. However, most stay only two or three days at a time to refurbish their looted and burnt homes. "We want to come back but there is no water and power," said Mazam Nesin, a Christian who works for a volunteer force based in Qaraqosh but has left his family behind in Erbil. By contrast, displaced Muslims have been flocking back to markets in eastern Mosul since Islamic State's ejection from that part of the city, despite the battle raging in the Old City across the Tigris river which is the militants' last stronghold. ALCOHOL SHOP Numbers of Christians in Iraq have fallen from 1.5 million to a few hundred thousand since the violence which followed the 2003 toppling of Saddam Hussein. Many Baghdad residents who could not afford to go abroad went to Qaraqosh and other northern towns where security used to be better than in the capital, rocked by sectarian warfare after the U.S.-led invasion. But with the arrival of Islamic State, residents abandoned their homes with some applying for asylum in Europe. Germany alone took in 130,000 Iraqis, among them many Christians, in 2015 and 2016. But most ended up in Erbil with relatives or in homes paid for by aid agencies. Supermarkets and restaurants remain closed in Qaraqosh, with windows smashed and burnt furniture strewn across floors. One of the few businesses to have reopened is Steve Ibrahim's alcohol shop in the town center; in the absence of cafes it has become a meeting point for local people. "Business has been good so far. Everybody comes here to stock up," said Ibrahim, who has just reopened the store with his father. They lost everything when Islamic State, known by its enemies as Daesh, wrecked their business. Now they have invested about $400 to refurbish the shop - new tiles shine on the walls - and customers are coming from beyond the town and from across the communities. "I sell drinks to Christians and Muslims alike," he said. "Many people come from Mosul or other towns." Many of Ibrahim's customers ignore Islam's forbidding of alcohol consumption. While he was talking, a Sunni Muslim from eastern Mosul drove up to buy a bottle of whisky and four cans of beer, packed in a black plastic bag to hide his purchase from the eyes of more religiously observant Muslims. "You couldn't drink during Daesh. I am glad this shop is open again," said the man who gave his name only as Mohammed, shaking hands with Christians enjoying an afternoon beer. "I still only drink at home." Later a Shi'ite from a village south of Mosul arrived to pick up drinks. "I come here twice a week. It's the only shop in the area," he said, asking not to be named, before driving off. Even Ibrahim comes every day from Erbil, bringing by car supplies and fuel for the generator to power the fridges filled with cold beer. Then he drives back at night. Whether more Christians can live permanently in Qaraqosh depends on whether the security forces win their trust. Army and police have tried to ease fears by stationing soldiers in front of churches, and even helping Christian volunteers to set up a massive cross at the town's entrance. On Palm Sunday last weekend, soldiers escorted a procession in preparation for Easter, Christianity's most important festival, and provided chairs for worshippers during Mass. Some Christian policemen joined in, singing "Hallelujah" with civilians. But walking along rows of burnt out homes and supermarkets, others were still afraid. "The security measures are not sufficient," said Hatti, the photographer. "We want security to surround the town." (Click here, http://reut.rs/2ordbfj for a Photo essay on this story) (Editing by David Stamp)
Jerusalem (AFP) - A Palestinian man stabbed a British woman to death on Friday near Jerusalem's Old City, where thousands of Jewish and Christian pilgrims were gathered for religious holidays.

The 23-year-old student was rushed to hospital with serious wounds but later died, according to the emergency services.

The attack took place on a tram close to the Old City, where thousands of Christians from around the world marked Good Friday as Jews marked the week-long Passover holiday.

Jerusalem police chief Yoram Halevy described the attacker, who was arrested, as "very mentally disturbed".

Israel's domestic security agency Shin Bet named him as Jamil Tamimi, a 57-year-old Palestinian resident of east Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed "Islamic terrorism" for the killing of the woman, whom he described as a student, in "cold blood".

He said security forces had thwarted "several attempted attacks in recent days", without giving details.

According to police, the assailant pulled a knife out of a bag and stabbed the woman several times in the chest.

An off-duty policeman travelling in the tram overpowered the attacker with the help of another passenger, the authorities said.

"I was travelling with my family when I heard the cries of 'attack, attack'," the officer said.

"I sounded the alarm then rushed to the scene of the attack. We overpowered him."

The Hebrew University released a statement identifying the victim as Hannah Bladon, an exchange student from Britain's University of Birmingham.

It said she had only started studying in Jerusalem in January and had been due to complete a single semester.

A British foreign office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the tragic death of a British national in Jerusalem. We are providing support to her family at this difficult time and are in touch with local authorities."

Attacks targeting tourists are rare in Jerusalem and top Israeli officials voiced their dismay.

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"I am filled with sadness, as I received the terrible news of the murder of a young girl in the terror attack in Jerusalem," Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said.

- High alert -

"This week thousands have come through the ancient gates of Jerusalem, to celebrate the feasts of Passover and Easter throughout the city -- while the security forces work to ensure the safety of the dear residents and visitors to the city. And so we will continue to do.

"Terror can never overcome us. Terror will never destroy our lives here."

Police had been on high alert for Passover, when tens of thousands of Jews pray at the Western Wall inside the Old City and some visit the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound above it.

The compound, which is the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest site to Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount, is the source of constant tensions.

Jews are allowed to visit but not pray at the site.

Palestinian fears that Israel will seek to change those rules have been the source of repeated violence.

A wave of unrest which erupted in October 2015 has claimed the lives of 260 Palestinians, 41 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean, a Sudanese and a Briton, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, the Israeli authorities say.

Others were shot dead during protests or clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

The violence has greatly subsided in recent months.
A Japanese "black widow" convicted of murdering three boyfriends she had met online and dated for their money faces execution after Japan's Supreme Court on Friday dismissed her final appeal.

Kanae Kijima, 42, who has married twice since she was detained in 2009, killed three men in the space of eight months through carbon monoxide poisoning, by burning charcoal briquettes after giving them sleeping tablets.

A spokesman for Japan's top court confirmed it had ruled against an appeal lodged by Kijima.

Her legal team has claimed her innocence, saying the three men were likely to have committed suicide, according to public broadcaster NHK.

The death penalty has overwhelming public support in Japan, despite repeated protests from European governments and human rights groups.

Executions are by hanging, however it can take years before they are carried out.

The case has been closely followed in Japan and major media flashed news of the top court decision across television screens.

Kijima writes a blog from the detention centre where she has been held, detailing her life inside, the food and talking about men she likes.

In the latest post on Thursday, she wrote to her readers: "I hope to see you again somewhere someday."

Kijima's first victim, 53-year-old Takao Terada was found dead in Tokyo in January 2009.

Kenzo Ando, 80, died in his home in Chiba prefecture in May 2009, and three months later 41-year-old Yoshiyuki Oide was found poisoned in a rented car, also from briquette fumes.

Kijima was convicted without the witness testimony or confession often relied upon in Japanese prosecutions.

Instead prosecutors rested their case on layers of circumstantial evidence, such as Kijima's purchases of sleeping pills and coal briquettes, in addition to the fact that she had met with each man shortly before he died.

She was also found guilty of seven other lesser crimes, including fraud and theft.

In another "black widow" case, Chisako Kakehi, 70, is awaiting trial in June for allegedly killing several men.
TOKYO (AP)  Police arrested a Japanese man Friday in connection with the death of a 9-year-old Vietnamese girl near Tokyo, weeks after her naked body was found near a trench.

Chiba prefectural police said they arrested 46-year-old real estate salesman Yasumasa Shibuya on suspicion he abandoned the girl's body in Aiko City. Police are continuing to investigate him in the girl's murder and say he has been silent about the case. Autopsy results showed that she was choked to death, suggesting she was possibly strangled, according to police.

Shibuya headed a parents' association at the school the girl attended, according to Japanese media. They say the suspect headed a neighborhood initiative to watch over children walking to and from school.

The body of Le Thi Nhat Linh was found on March 26, two days after she disappeared on her way to school. The third-grader was last seen alive in a security camera footage showing her carrying a red schoolbag on the back and wearing a hat, apparently a view just before she was captured.

She was loved by her neighbors, and her killing has caught attention in the nation.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  President Donald Trump's executive order withholding funding from communities that limit cooperation with immigration authorities applies to a small pot of grant money, not the billions of dollars that San Francisco and a California county say is at stake for them, a lawyer with the Department of Justice said Friday.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad Readler made the comments during a court hearing on lawsuits filed by San Francisco and the Silicon Valley county of Santa Clara against Trump's order targeting so-called sanctuary cities.

Readler said the city and county were interpreting the order too broadly.

The funding cutoff applies to DOJ and Department of Homeland Security grants contingent on compliance with a federal law that prohibits local governments from refusing to provide people's immigration status to federal authorities, he said.

The order would affect less than $1 million in funding for Santa Clara County and possibly no money for San Francisco, Readler said. "There is no mystery," he said.

The plaintiffs have argued that more than $1 billion was at stake for each of them, citing all federal funds they receive for a variety of programs and services.

Sarah Eisenberg, a deputy city attorney in San Francisco, disputed Readler's claim, saying the city has money at stake.

Readler's comments about the money appeared to catch U.S. District Judge William Orrick by surprise. Orrick then questioned the point of the president's executive order.

The administration was using a "bully pulpit" to highlight an issue it cares deeply about, Readler responded.

John Keker, an attorney for Santa Clara County, rejected Readler's interpretation and said the order referred to all federal funds now received by local governments that don't detain immigrants for possible deportation when they are due for release from jail.

"They've come up with a further interpretation," Keker said. "It won't wash."

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San Francisco and Santa Clara County have asked for a court order blocking the Trump administration from cutting off funds to any sanctuary cities. Orrick did not immediately issue a ruling after Friday's hearing.

Readler said the request was premature because decisions about withholding funds and what jurisdictions qualify as sanctuary cities have yet to be made.

Mollie Lee, another deputy city attorney in San Francisco, said the Trump administration has labeled San Francisco a sanctuary city in public comments, so the city had good reason to believe it was a target.

The sanctuary city order was among a flurry of immigration measures the president signed in January, including a ban on travelers from seven majority Muslim countries and a border security directive calling for a wall with Mexico.

A federal appeals court blocked the travel ban. The administration then revised it, although the new version is also stalled in court.

The Trump administration says sanctuary cities allow dangerous criminals back on the street, and the president's order is needed to keep the country safe. San Francisco and other sanctuary cities say turning local police into immigration officers erodes trust that's needed to get people to report crime.

The order has also prompted lawsuits by Seattle, two Massachusetts cities, Lawrence and Chelsea, and a third San Francisco Bay Area government, the City of Richmond, though none of those cases has received a court hearing yet.

San Francisco, the first city to challenge the order in court, said in court documents that the president does not have authority over federal funds and cannot force local officials to enforce federal immigration law.
Photo credit: Getty/Instagram

From Redbook

For someone who comes from a family that seems to be all about appearances, Khloe Kardashian has become something of a surprising figure in the world of body positivity. Sure, there are some flawed ideas behind "revenge body" concept her recent E! show touted - but the intent to increase self-love and body acceptance was definitely there.

Kardashian famously transformed her own body when she lost 40 pounds, and has been candid about being much larger than her older sisters Kim and Kourtney and experiencing discrimination as a result of her size. With her new denim company, Good American (a co-venture with London businesswoman Emma Grede), Kardashian is reiterating her progressive stance on body positivity. In a recent interview with the Evening Standard, Kardashian explained that her brand will not have plus-size options.

Photo credit: Getty

It's not that Good American won't offer clothing over a certain standard size, but rather none of the brand's clothing will be specially marketed or separated as "plus-size". All of the styles are available in sizes 00 to 24, and that's that. The larger sizes aren't set apart or labeled any differently.

"The line is all about empowerment,"Kardashian explained. "Making women feel great about themselves and embracing women of all shapes."

The inclusive decision not to market larger sizes as "plus-size" comes from the Revenge Body star's personal history with (and dislike of) the term. "I never considered myself fat, but when I used to shop with my sisters I was always really shamed and shunned by [sales assistants] who would say: 'We don't carry that size here' [...] I was always so embarrassed, so for a long time I didn't wear denim at all. I kept getting angrier," Kardashian explained.

Clearly, other body positive icons are taking note and appreciating the business owner's stance - the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star shared an Instagram post of curvy model Ashley Graham showing off her own pair of Good American jeans.

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(h/t Women's Health)

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For years, few of Morella Aguados Miami neighbors wanted to talk too deeply about their immigration status with her. Some were in the United States legally; others were not. But regardless, they preferred to keep their chatter with an immigration attorney who lived down the block on safer subjects like how their families were doing.

That all changed when Donald Trump was elected president on promises to get tough on undocumented immigration. In Miami, local officials largely ignored federal immigration laws until February, when Miami-Dade County dropped its sanctuary city status under threat of the Trump Administration cutting off federal money.

It is chaotic. People are very, very worried about their situation, says Aguado. One of the things that has been a positive thing through this stress that people have is that theyre more interested in becoming U.S. citizens. She now spends time volunteering to help her neighbors and strangers alike to figure out their immigration status, get papers in order and, in many cases, start the process of converting their legal status into citizenship.

The patrons who organize these consultation? The conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch and their deep-pocketed pals who are continuing to spend millions to help promote free-market ideas in Latino communities across the country. Through the Koch networks LIBRE Initiative, volunteers and advisers are helping immigrants study for drivers license exams so they have some form of government ID, others prepare for citizenship tests and still others earn a G.E.D. And it doesnt matter if they are here legally or not.

We do not ask what anybodys legal status. To us, thats irrelevant. We want to help people drive. We let the politicians worry about whether someone is documented or not documented, said Daniel Garza, a longtime Koch lieutenant who manages the networks work in Spanish-speaking and Latino communities. Our immigration system is broken. Real people are getting tied up in this, he said as he awaited a plane in Abilene, Texas, bound for Orlando, Fla. We want people to become legal as fast as possible and to get on with the business of assimilation.

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Thats one reason Koch-backed programs are experiencing a major boost in interest. In Miami, the citizenship study classes averaged 68 participants in December of last year, but last month that number rose to 210 people. Last summer, about 80 people joined the typical session in Orlando; since January, the number now averages 170. There are now 350 people on a wait list for an English-language class in Phoenix, and the citizenship efforts there have more than doubled between December and February, climbing from 30 to 80 participants at each session.

Its the same across the country. Immigrants who previously had little interest in claiming citizenship are suddenly looking at the political landscape as a potential threat. You can be denied access to this wonderful country if youre not a U.S. citizen, Aguado says. This can happen with anyone.

MORE: Trump Asked for Border Wall Plans. This Group Suggested a Hyperloop Instead

Aguado has the credibility when she walks into community centers, high school cafeterias and church basements offering her help to these at-risk immigrants. Born in a small town in Nicaragua, she and her family fled to the United States as political refugees when she was 5-months old. We were running. My uncle was a political prisoner, she tells TIME. But at age 10, her parents moved the family home to Nicaragua, where Aguado studied law and worked as a corporate litigator, a job she found dreary. She moved back to the United States, earned a second law degree-this time from the University of Miami in Florida- and started a career as one of South Floridas hardest-working immigration attorneys. This is a country where the sky is the limit. Im proof of that, the 34-year-old says.

But Aguado recognizes the threats to that dream for many immigrants. The current threat goes far beyond what many Latinos said was an over-aggressive push under Obama, whom many sneered at as the Deporter-in-Chief. Now, instead of merely families from Mexico and Central America, all immigrants find themselves at risk of being sent out of the country. Sometimes, people dont have good legal representation and they lose rights, Aguado says. Its why shes spending hours at a time trying to help immigrant families reconcile their often-decades-old paperwork and prepare to petition for updated legal status in local immigration offices.

But for her - and the Kochs, as they say repeatedly - the push to help those in Latino communities is based on the desire to expand economic opportunities to help all Americans. LIBRE has the stats at the ready: Roughly a third of Latinos only speak Spanish, roughly one-third of Latino adults do not have a high school diploma, as many as half of some Latino adults in some states dont have driver licenses. (In each case, older Latinos are the biggest laggers and younger ones are outpacing their white peers.) Each is a barrier to higher wages and civic engagement. If youre faced with these conditions, youre shut out of the marketplace, Garza says. By one measure, Latinos who learn English have a lifetime earning ability that is quadruple those who speak only Spanish.

Thats not to say politics is completely excluded. The lessons about driving laws and citizenship are infused with sermons about the virtues of the free market and other priorities central to the Koch ideology. But its not as if candidates are coming to speak to these sessions. For one, many of the people in the audience simply dont have time to hear the politicians as they improve themselves between their two jobs.

I dont get involved in political matters, Aguado says. If this were political, I wouldnt be involved. This is about opportunity and freedom. Libre means freedom.

And LIBRE is well aware of the political challenges ahead. Part of the billion-dollar policy and politics hub that the Kochs control, LIBRE is a rare voice on the right that pushes for a comprehensive immigration plan.

As the Koch network sees it, any immigration overhaul should have four major components: workers cannot be tied to a single employer in a way that leaves them little change for career advancement at rival companies, immigrants with legal status should be able to leave the country to visit their homelands, families should have the right to stay together and the system should not be overly punitive for immigrants in the country illegally. Lets not further disadvantage them. Let them get in the back of line, Garza says.

Those positions run to the left of many conservatives. Mitt Romney famously called for immigrants to participate in self-deportation and Trump led his giant rallies in cheers of build the wall. But thats precisely why Garza and his colleagues see a chance to repair the GOPs image among Latinos, who tend to be conservative on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage even as they consistently vote for Democratic candidates.

Its possible for Republicans to make inroads here. George W. Bush in 2004 worked hard to woo Latino and Hispanic voters; they rewarded him with 44% support for his re-election bid. Romney carried just 27% and Trump earned 29% of the fastest growing demographic in the United States - as non-Hispanic white voters share decreases with every voter registration cycle. Trump is certainly doing other Republicans few favors.

And what about that wall with Mexico? Garza and the Kochs are not huge fans, but Garza is coming at the broader challenge of immigration overhaul, a topic that many conservatives will only take up after they see a giant pile of concrete and barbed wire along the Rio Grande. To me, its not a priority. Its a small thing, Garza says. Lets build a wall and lets get on with immigration reform. After all, real people-many of them future Americans who will vote-are caught up in the political fight.

We have 11 million folks who are here, Garza says. And theyre not leaving.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP)  The Latest on tensions on the Korean Peninsula (all times local):

12:40 p.m.

North Korea's vice foreign minister says President Donald Trump's policy toward the country is more "vicious and aggressive" than President Barack Obama's.

Vice Minister Han Song Ryol told The Associated Press that Trump's tweets were making trouble in the region.

Trump tweeted Tuesday that the North was "looking for trouble" and if China didn't do its part to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, the U.S. could handle it alone.

Han said: "We are comparing Trump's policy toward the DPRK with the former administrations and we have concluded that it's becoming more vicious and more aggressive." The country's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

But Han said it was prepared for provocative acts. "Whatever comes from U.S. politicians, if their words are designed to overthrow the DPRK system and government, we will categorically reject them."

___

12:20 p.m.

North Korea's vice foreign minister says, "We will go to war" if the U.S. chooses to provoke it.

Vice Minister Han Song Ryol spoke to The Associated Press in an exclusive interview in Pyongyang on Friday. He said the United States and President Donald Trump were making trouble in the region, citing Trump's tweets and the U.S. for moving an aircraft carrier into the region and for participating in its largest-ever joint military exercises with South Korea.

Han said that in the face of such actions, North Korea "will go to war if they choose." And it will continue developing its nuclear program and conduct its next nuclear test whenever its leaders see fit.

Han said: "We certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a U.S. pre-emptive strike."

___

12:15 p.m.

North Korea's vice foreign minister says it is not his own country but the United States and President Donald Trump who are "making trouble."

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Vice Minister Han Song Ryol made the comments in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang on Friday.

Trump tweeted on Tuesday that North Korea was "looking for trouble" and added that if China doesn't do its part to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, the U.S. can handle it.

Han cited Trump's tweets as problematic, as well as the U.S. military's participation in exercises with South Korea and an aircraft carrier's move to the region.

"Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words. .... It's not the DPRK but the US and Trump that makes trouble."

___

11:45 a.m.

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. pre-emptive strike.

Many experts believe North Korea could have a viable nuclear warhead and a ballistic missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland within the next few years.

___

11:30 a.m.

North Korea's vice foreign minister says the situation on the Korean Peninsula is now in a "vicious cycle."

Vice Minister Han Song Ryol made the comments in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang on Friday.

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.

President Donald Trump upped the ante in a war of words with Pyongyang in a tweet on Tuesday that said the North is "looking for trouble."
JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP)  The Latest on the manhunt for a fugitive in Wisconsin (all times local):

10 p.m.

Authorities say they are investigating a letter purportedly sent by fugitive Joseph Jakubowski that threatens violence at Wisconsin churches on Easter Sunday.

Police in Waukesha County say the letter was sent through the U.S. Postal Service and mentions churches in the Sussex area, about 25 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

The Rock County Sheriff's Office says the letter is being analyzed and "its authenticity is in question."

A manhunt has been underway since police say Jakubowski robbed a gun store in Janesville, Wisconsin on April 4.

They have warned that the fugitive is considered armed and dangerous and the public should not approach him.

___

6 p.m.

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.

___

Ehlke reported from Milwaukee.
Sometimes, you need to learn things the hard way.

A curious leopard found itself on the wrong end of two porcupines recently at Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Donovan Piketh was following the leopard when he spotted the porcupines. He quickly switched his camera to video mode, knowing something was about to go down.

"We were following the leopard as it was just walking along when my friend spotted the two porcupines walking towards the leopard," Piketh told Latest Sightings. "As soon as the leopard saw them it changed into stalking mode and we knew something was going to happen."

After trying to attack both porcupines and getting a fair amount of quills stuck in its legs and chest, the leopard decided to find an easier meal and retreated back into the woods. The porcupines were able to get away without much harm.
Tripoli (AFP) - Libya's southern desert, long neglected by central authorities, risks becoming an arena for score-settling between rival governments vying for clout across the war-torn country, analysts say.

Clashes erupted last week as forces loyal to Libya's eastern authorities battled to seize a key southern airbase from militias that back a United Nations-endorsed unity government.

The offensive by the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by military strongman Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar threatened to trigger a broader conflict with forces allied to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

The unity government, the rival administration in eastern Libya and their respective backers are battling for influence in the North African country which has been wracked by chaos since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

So far tensions between the two sides had been mainly limited to the country's north.

But last week, the LNA launched an offensive on the Tamenhant airbase on the outskirts of the city of Sebha.

The most important airbase in the south, it is a base for the "Third Force", one of several powerful pro-GNA militias from the western city of Misrata.

Haftar's LNA "wants to achieve a victory in the southern region of Fezzan to boost its position & GNA is mobilising to prevent that", analyst Mohamed Eljarh of the Atlantic Council tweeted.

- Potential for clashes -

The UN-backed government, which both Haftar and Libya's eastern-based parliament have refused to recognise, has announced a counter-offensive against the LNA.

World powers this week sounded the alarm over the clashes, and in a joint statement, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council called for de-escalation.

"We underline the difference between acts against the terrorist threat and acts that can lead to further deterioration of the situation in Libya," they said.

To date, the unity government had largely avoided displaying open hostility towards Haftar, who is accused of wanting to establish a military dictatorship in Libya.

Story continues

But "local armed groups and tribes could be caught into this fight and things could spiral out of control," said Mattia Toaldo, a Libya specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Haftar's forces say the Tamenhant base was a launching pad for rival fighters who seized key northeastern oil terminals from their control last month.

The unity government has denied any link to the attacks on the terminals, which the LNA retook days later.

But analysts say Haftar lacks the forces he needs to battle his rivals in the south.

- 'Militarily too weak' -

Claudia Gazzini of the International Crisis Group said the LNA had won the support of some groups in the south but was "still militarily too weak to take on the Third Force".

The southern region of Fezzan, long neglected by authorities in the capital Tripoli, relies heavily on drugs and arms smuggling and human trafficking.

The region is also a key route for sub-Saharan African migrants attempting to reach Europe illegally from Libya.

Rival tribes in the region often clash over control of border areas near Chad, Niger and Sudan, lucrative routes for people traffickers.

Gazzini said the region's close economic ties with the city of Misrata, whose powerful militias mostly back the unity government, meant many locals feared a "vendetta" in the event of an attack.

The tribes "know that any attack against Misrata could result in a freezing of trade between the north and the south, and people would suffer from that", she said.

In April, representative of the southern tribes met GNA and Italian officials in Rome to sign a peace deal to stem the flow of migrants by tightening controls along the southern border.

But analysts are sceptical about the plan's chances of success.

Human trafficking is one of the region's main sources of income, Gazzini said.

"So the only way to stop that type of trade is by generating alternative income sources," she said.
Photo credit: Getty

From Popular Mechanics

North Korea appears to have completed preparations for a new nuclear test. Satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri underground nuclear test site indicates construction appears to be completed and the country's sixth nuclear weapons test may be imminent.

Imagery published by 38North shows tunneling at Punggye-ri appears to have stopped, and the flow of construction equipment and other devices also appears to have slowed. Tarp-covered equipment and military personnel in formation are visible in the images.

North Korea has held five nuclear tests, all at Punggye-ri, the first in 2006 and the latest in September of 2016. The explosive yield of the weapons have ranged from an estimated 2-30 kilotons, but the actual yield is unknown. Estimates are based off seismic activity generated by the tests.

North Korea also claims to have developed thermonuclear weapons. Far more powerful than regular nuclear bombs, thermonuclear bombs add a fusion stage to a nuclear fission weapon resulting in a yields of 1,000 kilotons or more. Thermonuclear devices are also much more complicated than nuclear devices, and it's unclear that North Korea currently has the technical expertise to built them. Pyongyang claimed the 2016 test was thermonuclear in nature yet its explosive power fell well short of a thermonuclear device.

North Korea's nuclear tests are held underground to contain the spread of radiation, clouds of which its large, more powerful neighbors would not appreciate. Punggye-ri is just 50 miles from the Chinese border and 75 miles from Russia.

The test preparations come as the Trump administration has gotten increasingly tough on North Korea. The administration last month deployed the THAAD missile defense system to South Korea, and a carrier strike group consisting of the USS Carl Vinson and escorts was diverted from a planned visit to Australia to the Korean peninsula. In response to missile test by Pyongyang last month, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated, "North Korea launched yet another intermediate range ballistic missile. The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment."

Story continues

Source: 38North

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The Supreme Court holds the view, dating all the way back to George Washingtons time, that it will not give legal advice, but will only decide lawsuits that involve a live controversy. That is the way it interprets the power given to it by the Constitutions Article III.

On Friday afternoon, the court raised the prospect that it may not have the authority to decide one of the most important cases of the current term: a major constitutional dispute on religion-government relations. It sent a letter to lawyers on both sides of the case, Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer, asking them to react to a policy change by the new governor of Missouri offering religious groups access to government aid programs.

Up to yesterday, the state took the view that any program that provided any kind of financial aid to churches or church-affiliated groups was barred by the Missouri state constitution, which has a quite strict church-state separation mandate. The key question in the case is whether it violates the federal Constitution to deny religious organizations equal access to state benefits that have nothing to do with religion.

That issue is raised in an appeal by a Columbia, Mo., church, Trinity Lutheran, claiming that it was discriminated against when it was denied a chance to participate in a state program that turns used tires into surface materials for school playgrounds. Schools compete for a limited number of grants.

The nine Justices, including the newest, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, are scheduled to hold a one-hour hearing on that case next Wednesday morning. For now, that is still scheduled, but that could be reconsidered after the lawyers file their replies  due by noon next Tuesday.

Missouri Governor Eric R. Greitens, a Republican elected last November, announced on Thursday that he was changing state policy to permit religious organizations to apply to take part in the playground surfacing grant program.

Before we came into office, the governors statement said, 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.

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If the Supreme Court takes the position that the governor is able to change policy, and concludes that the Columbia church could newly apply for a grant for a rubberized surface for its school playground, it could conclude that the case no longer presents a live controversy under Article III. If so, it would probably have to dismiss the case, although it might go ahead with the hearing and explore the Article III question then.

When Trinity Lutheran first filed its lawsuit in January 2013 against the denial of its application, it specifically said it desires to participate in future grants from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, including future Scrap Tire Programs.

In fact, that state agency on Friday updated its website to announce that it is has just opened a new grant cycle for the playground surfacing program. The application form shown on that website says explicitly that private schools are eligible to apply. The form says nothing about excluding a religious school from eligibility.

The churchs lawsuit sought only a ruling that its federal constitutional right to equality in non-religious public programs had been violated, and a court order to the state agency to stop that kind of discrimination. It did not ask for money damages for the denial  a request that, if it had been made, might keep the case alive without regard to its chances for a future application.

The court takes a fairly firm view about limitations on its authority to decide cases brought to it. In recent years, it has tightened significantly the requirement that an individual or company oer association can only sue in federal courts if they can show that they will be directly harmed by the wrong they claim has been committed.

But the court has been even more committed, throughout its history, to deciding only cases at which real legal interests are at stake. That is based on its interpretation that Article IIIs grant of authority to decide only a case or controversy operates as a flat bar to issuing advisory opinions. That tradition dates back to a polite refusal by the court, in 1793, to give President Washington legal advice about the legal meaning of a treaty.

While different Justices often take differing views on how strict to insist upon proof of injury as a minimum requirement for Article III jurisdiction, none of them has thought the court could simply dispense legal advice, separate from a genuine lawsuit.

If the court now finds that it cannot decide the Trinity Lutheran case, that will be a disappointment for at least two reasons: first, because it was a highlight of a court term in which an eight-Justice court has felt it had to shy away from major controversy while it was still short one member, so it has accepted a good many technical, low-impact cases, and, second, because it was going to provide a test case for where Neil Gorsuch stands as a Justice on religious freedom because his prior views on that broad topic generated some of the strongest challenges to his nomination to the court.



One other high-profile case that the court had been preparing to decide this term has already dropped off of its docket. That case posed, for the first time, a test of the Justices view on the latest civil rights movement controversy, on the scope of legal equality for transgender people. A Virginia case involving the rights at school of a transgender boy was sent by the court back to a lower court to assess the meaning of a change in federal policy on that broad question by the new Trump Administration.

Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011 and has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com.

Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly
Malala Yousafzai made history again as the youngest recipient of another prestigious honor

Two years after she made history as the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, girls education activist Malala Yousafzai has become the youngest United Nations Messenger For Peace. On Monday, the 19-year-old accepted the highest honor that can be bestowed by the United Nations. Yousafzai used her speech to emphasize that shell continue to fight for girls right to education.

I stood here on this stage almost three and a half years agoand I told the world that education is the basic human right of every girl, Yousafzai said. I stand here again today and say the same thing.

Yousafzai was targeted by the Taliban in 2012 after she spoke out about the importance of education for girls. She was shot in the head as she returned from school and, after her recovery, Yousafzai rose to international fame. She has used her platform to continue promoting this incredibly important message.

Once you educate girls, you change the whole community, you change the whole society, Yousafzai said. You are the real change makers. If you do not stand up, change will not come. It starts with us, and it should start now.

malala

Messengers of Peace are selected by the United Nations to highlight the organizations work and bring further attention to key causes.

Yousafzai joins the likes of Jane Goodall, Charlize Theron, Stevie Wonder, and Leonardo DiCaprio, all of whom currently hold the same title.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised Yousafzais courageous defense of the rights of all people, including women and girls, to education and equality and unwavering commitment to peace during Mondays ceremony. The teen, who never ceases to inspire, hopes to attend Oxford University in the fall and recently kicked off a girl power trip around the world to meet with girls in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
A Virginia man was found guilty of capital murder in the death of his baby son, who officials said he plotted to kill from nearly the time he was born to get a life insurance payout.

Joaquin Shadow Rams will be sentenced to life in prison for the 2012 killing of 15-month-old Prince McLeod Rams, Judge Randy Bellows ruled Thursday, according to The Associated Press.

On October 20, 2012, Rams called 911 saying his son had a seizure and had stopped breathing.

Efforts to revive Prince were unsuccessful and he was declared dead the next day.

Rams claimed his son died after suffering a fever-induced seizure, but prosecutors contended that Prince was either drowned or suffocated, and noted that the kind of seizures he had actually been suffering from are not fatal, the AP reported.

Read: 8th Grader Tells 911 Dispatcher the Man Inside Him Killed His Dad's Girlfriend: Report

Bellows concluded that the seizures the child had been experiencing simply gave the defendant his alibi, his way to justify how Prince came to die in his care.

He also concluded that Rams planned to kill his son ever since he took out life insurance policies totaling more than $500,000 in September 2011  just two months after the child was born.

It was the fourth time the little boy had been alone with Rams since a civil judge that summer granted him unsupervised visits over the objection of Princes mother, Hera McLeod, the AP reported.

McLeod left Rams when Prince was about two weeks old and reportedly feared for the safety of her son if left with her ex-fiance.

Its sad that my son had to be the one who put him away, McLeod told the AP after the conviction.

Princes passing was the last in a series of deaths of those close to Rams, officials said.

His ex-girlfriend, Shawn Mason, was shot and killed in 2003, while his mother, Alma Collins, died in 2008 in what was initially ruled a suicide.

Story continues

Read: Dad Admits to Killing Son, 7, Whose Remains Were Found in Pig Barn

Rams collected a payout of more than $150,000 following the death of his mother, authorities said.

Prosecutor Paul Ebert told the AP that Rams is a suspect in both of those cases, and authorities will later decide whether to bring charges.

Joseph Velez, Collins son and the half-brother of Rams, reportedly said he wants justice in his mothers death.

My hearts dancing that we finally got some justice, but my mother did not kill herself, he said.

Rams showed no visible reaction when the verdict was announced, according to the AP. He waived his right to a jury trial in exchange for prosecutors vow to not pursue the death penalty.

His attorneys said they plan to appeal the conviction but declined to comment further.

Watch: Duo Staged Adopted Son's Murder to Mimic 'Manchester by the Sea' Plot: Officials

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An Illinois man wrongfully convicted of the 1957 kidnapping and killing of a 7-year-old girl was granted a certificate of innocence this week after serving four years of a life sentence, making it possible for him to sue the state.

Jack McCullough was found guilty in 2012 of the murder of Maria Ridulph, who was kidnapped on December 3, 1957 while playing in the snow outside of her Sycamore home.

Maria and a friend had been approached by a young man who offered them piggyback rides, the friend told CBS.

He stopped to talk to us... told us that his name, his name was Johnny, Kathy Chapman told 48 Hours.

Maria jumped on the mans back, went home to get a doll, returned and then Chapman left to get mittens. When Chapman came back, both Maria and the man were gone.

Marias remains were found months later in a forest.

Read: Charges Dropped Against Woman Arrested in 1989 Killing of Sarah DeLeon

McCullough, who lived in the community and was 18 at the time of Marias disappearance, was cleared as a suspect in the 1950s, but investigators again focused on him after one of his half-sisters told authorities their mother said on her deathbed that she believed he may have killed Maria, CBS wrote.

The former police officer always maintained his innocence, telling cops that he had been 40 miles away when Maria disappeared.

But evidence was kept out of McCulloughs trial that supported his alibi, officials said.

A report from DeKalb County States Attorney Richard Schmack said evidence, including phone records, showed McCullough had been in Rockford, about 40 miles northwest of Sycamore, to enlist in the Air Force at the time of the abduction.

It would have been impossible for McCullough to have kidnapped Maria and driven to Rockford in time to make a documented telephone call and meet with recruiters, Schmack said.

I truly wish that this crime had really been solved, and her true killer were incarcerated for life. When I began this lengthy review I had expected to find some reliable evidence that the right man had been convicted. No such evidence could be discovered, Schmack said in a statement at the time. Compounding the tragedy by convicting the wrong man, and fighting further in the hopes of keeping him jailed, is not the proper legacy for our community, or for the memory of Maria Ridulph.

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Read: Police Determined to Find Killer of Child Whose Murder 20 Years Ago Inspired Amber Alerts

McCullough was ordered to be released in April 2016, and on Wednesday, DeKalb County Associate Judge William Brady granted him a certificate of innocence.

But the judgement did not dissuade Marias sister, Pat Quinn, from believing the right man had been charged with her sisters murder.

Do I feel Jack McCullough killed my sister? Quinn said outside the court, CBS wrote. Yes, I do.

McCullough is undecided on whether to file a lawsuit or seek compensation, Aisha Davis of the Chicago-based Exoneration Project said.

Were all very glad that he doesnt have to worry about this being over his head, and he can finally move on, she said.

Watch: Man Convicted In 1979 Cold Case Disappearance of Etan Patz

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So much for a global warming slowdown. New data released on Friday shows that March 2017 was the second-warmest on record, behind March of last year. The global average surface temperature was 1.12 degrees Celsius, or 2.016 degrees Fahrenheit, warmer than the 1951-1980 average.

The two top March temperature anomalies have occurred during the past two years.

SEE ALSO: Earth just had its second-warmest February on record

March of last year was the hottest such month on record, with a temperature anomaly of 1.27 degrees Celsius, or 2.28 degrees Fahrenheit, above the 20th century average for the month.

March of 2017 was only the eighth month in NASA's database to have a global temperature anomaly at or above 1-degree Celsius, or 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit. This is especially relevant since world leaders have committed to limit global warming to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, below preindustrial levels by the year 2100.

Graphic showing March 2017 coming in just behind March 2016.

Image: nasa

Recent monthly temperatures have come perilously close to one climate guardrail that concerns low-lying developing nations, which favor a temperature target of 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Celsius, above preindustrial levels. If global temperatures exceed this level, leaders have warned, small island states such as the Maldives and Kiribati would face an existential threat from sea level rise.

Interestingly, the global average temperature anomaly was greater in March than it was in February, and with hints of another El Nino event developing during the next six months, such a warming trend may continue.

According to the global map of temperature anomalies, Europe and all of Russia, particularly Siberia, were much warmer than the 20th century average. Much of the United States was also relatively warm, with the exception of Alaska, which was cooler than average.

The entire year of 2016 was the hottest on record, with last year's temperatures exceeding all previous years since record-keeping began. It is possible, though not likely, that 2017 will beat 2016 to become the third-straight warmest year on record.

NOAA and NASA scientists have said that human-caused global warming was responsible for a majority of the annual temperature gains, including the annual record set in 2016.

However, scientists warnings are falling on deaf ears in the Trump administration, with officials like Scott Pruitt, who leads the Environmental Protection Agency, rejecting mainstream climate science altogether.
Photo credit: Mark Thompson / Getty

From Road & Track

Two-time F1 champ Fernando Alonso shocked the motorsports world yesterday when he announced that he'd skip the Monaco Grand Prix to contest the Indy 500. Alonso's team, McLaren, actually worked out a deal with Andretti Autosport to get Alonso in the car for the race, but that might not be the end of McLaren's IndyCar ambitions.

Mansour Ojeh, one of McLaren's most important shareholders, told Motorsport (via Motor1) that its entry in the 101st Indy 500 might not be a one-off.

"The Indy 500 is the only IndyCar race we'll be entering this year, but we may possibly repeat that in years to come," said Ojeh. "It's just possible that we may even run a full-works McLaren IndyCar operation at some point in the future. We'll see."

McLaren entering IndyCar is a natural progression for the company, thanks to its current F1 engine supplier Honda. The Japanese giant is currently one of two engine suppliers for the IndyCar series.

McLaren also has a storied history at Indy: With Offenhauser-powered cars, the company won first with Mark Donohue in 1972, then with Johnny Rutherford in 1974 and 1976.

In the same interview, Ojeh also reiterated that McLaren is seriously considering a return to Le Mans in some capacity.

"We may potentially enter the Le Mans 24 Hours again some timewe won it outright in 1995 with our iconic McLaren F1 GTRbut to be clear we have absolutely no definite plans to do so at this stage," he said.

An IndyCar entry from McLaren would certainly be a big deal. Who knows? A Honda-powered Andretti-entered piloted by an F1 driver won the 500 last year. If McLaren and Alonso can achieve a good result this year, a works IndyCar effort will seem like a real possibility.

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By Brian Love PARIS (Reuters) - He admires the late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and Venezuelan former president Hugo Chavez, and he has little time for German Chancellor Angela Merkel: Jean-Luc Melenchon, French would-be president, is a true tax-and-spend leftist. If elected, the 65-year-old leader of the small Left Party says France would spend 100 billion euros of borrowed money on vast housebuilding and renewable energy projects to stimulate economic growth and job-creation. He would impose a 90-percent supertax on earners of 400,000 euros a year upwards, reject EU rules on deficit reduction and call a "Frexit" referendum to quit the European Union if Merkel and other leaders refuse to radically change course, notably by turning their backs on years of financial austerity. If French voters pick any of the other three top contenders in a presidential vote that comes to a head on May 7, Melenchon warned a rally on April 12: "You'll be coughing blood". The rivals are centrist Emmanuel Macron, favourite in polls, Francois Fillon, a right-winger who wants to slash public spending and the public employment workforce, and Marine Le Pen, whose biggest difference with Melenchon is her stand against foreigners. Like Le Pen, he is a member of the European Parliament, but no fan of the direction the European Union has taken. Poverty and poor economic growth, he says, are a result of laissez-faire economics and an allergy to deficit-spending that he blames on Merkel's Germany. By spending heavily and hiking public sector wages, he says, the French economy will grow faster, knocking the jobless rate from 10 percent to six percent by end of term in 2022, buoying tax income for the state and social services. The man who left the Socialist Party after three decades in 2009 to pursue a tougher brand of socialism wants to nationalise key sectors like airports and motorways, create a public banking giant and legalise cannabis. He wants to devalue the euro to boost trade competitiveness. He promises to veto free-trade pacts, end European Central Bank independence from politicians, quit the International Monetary Fund and pull France out of the NATO military alliance. The quest for environment-friendly agriculture, industry and alternatives to nuclear and carbon-based power is an opportunity France and Europe must seize, he says; hence the pledge to spend much of his 100 billion euros stimulus on new power projects. Instead of the free trade agreements he denounces, Melenchon advocates alternative forms of cooperation. His manifesto lauds a Latin American accord under which Chavez sent oil to Cuba and Castro dispatched eye-doctors to treat thousands of Venezuelans blinded by cataracts. A distrust of traditional media has led him to rely heavily on social media to reach out to voters. He boasts a bigger Youtube following than U.S. President Donald Trump has during the race to the White House. He uses hologram technology worthy of Star Trek movies to address rallies, usually sporting a hybrid of traditional proletarian jackets, while a virtual-reality Melenchon does the same job at rallies elsewhere. Born in the Moroccan port city of Tangiers, Melenchon attributes his fiesty character to his Mediterranean roots. He is naturally more muted about his rise to fourth place in polls, days from the April 23 opening vote. He surged in the same way in 2012 but was knocked out with a less impressive score on voting day. (Reporting By Brian Love; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
For more than 10 years, images of the war in Afghanistan dominated news coverage. We were reminded daily of the brave men and women who were fighting the war on terror under impossible conditions. Since the war ended in 2014, we don't see much of that anymore. For many of us, it would be easy to forget that thousands of U.S. service members are still in harms way. This week, we learned Army Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar, of Harford County, was killed in action when his unit came under fire in western Afghanistan. De Alencar joined the Army after graduating from Joppatowne High School. He was a decorated Special Forces weapons sergeant, a devoted husband and father of five children. This week, those of the Jewish faith are celebrating Passover. Christians will gather with their families this weekend in celebration of Easter. I hope you'll keep Sgt. Mark De Alencar and his family in your thoughts. With heightened tensions around the world, many more brave men and women may be called away from their families in service to our country. We all could do better in thanking them for their service.
Mexico City (AFP) - Mexican authorities arrested a man suspected of shooting dead a US border guard in 2010 and intend to extradite him to the United States, prosecutors said.

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, with other suspects, the killing of US border patrol guard Brian Terry in December 2010.

Terry "was killed in a gunfight between US Border Patrol agents and members of a cartel 'rip crew' that regularly patrolled the desert along the US-Mexico border looking for drug dealers to rob," said John Kelly, President Donald Trump's secretary for Homeland Security.

Four members of that crew have been sentenced to jail in the US and the last remaining one is believed to still be at large, said Kelly, who thanked Mexican authorities for arresting Osorio-Arellanes.

"Under the Trump administration, we have renewed our cooperation with Mexico to better secure our border and address cross-border crime," Kelly said in a statement.

"This latest arrest illustrates the commitment of the administration to seek justice for the brave law enforcement personnel who risk their lives every day to protect the border," he added.

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.
(WASHINGTON) U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to South Korea on Sunday in what his aides said was a sign of the U.S. commitment to its ally in the face of rising tensions over North Koreas nuclear program.

Pences Seoul stop kicks off a long-planned 10-day trip to Asia his first as vice president and comes amid concerns that Pyongyang could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test. President Donald Trump has warned against further provocations, sending an aircraft carrier group to the region as a show of force. His officials have been assessing tougher economic sanctions as well as military options to curb North Koreas nuclear ambitions.

Pence plans to celebrate Easter with U.S. and Korean troops on Sunday before talks on Monday with acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn.

Were going to consult with the Republic of Korea on North Koreas efforts to advance its ballistic missile and its nuclear program, a White House foreign policy adviser told reporters, previewing Pences trip.

Pence will land in Seoul the day after North Koreas biggest national day, the Day of the Sun. The White House has contingency plans for Pences trip should it coincide with a another North Korean nuclear test by its leader Kim Jong Un, the adviser said.

Unfortunately, its not a new surprise for us. He continues to develop this program, he continues to launch missiles into the Sea of Japan, the adviser said.

With the regime its not a matter of if its when. We are well prepared to counter that, the adviser said.

Pence expects to talk about the belligerence of North Korea at stops in Tokyo, Jakarta and Sydney, the White House adviser said.

But the need for free and fair trade will also be a theme, the adviser said.

Trump campaigned on an America First trade policy, complaining that trade partners in Asia and elsewhere had taken advantage of the United States.

One of his first acts in office was to remove the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama.

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Withdrawing from the TPP shouldnt be seen as a retreat from the region. On the contrary, our economic presence in the region is enduring, the adviser said.

On Tuesday, Pence will kick off economic talks with Japan requested by Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The discussions will focus more on setting a framework for future talks rather than on specific industry issues, a White House official said.

Pence will meet with business leaders at each stop, including in Jakarta, though he was not expected to wade into the weedy details of disputes between the Indonesian government and U.S. companies like mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Inc .

Were going to discuss the business environment in Indonesia in a general sense, a White House official said.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
President Donald Trump slashed funding for the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Department in his federal budget blueprint, but NASA was virtually untouched. Recently revealed documents uploaded by Motherboard show Trumps transition team wanted to know how NASAs technology could be used for the private industry  and mining on the moon.

Trumps team asked NASA to provide data and examples of technology that could be used commercially, records obtained through a freedom of information act request show. Trumps agency review team also inquired about the space agencys plan to search the moon for useful raw materials and the potential for mining there.

"As ... research and technology efforts mature, appropriate technologies are transferred to industry and commercialized through multiple programs and approaches to benefit a wide range of users, ensuring the nation realizes the full economic value and societal benefit of these innovations," NASA responded.

NASA clarified it was not against for-profit space exploration, documents show, plus the space agency has been working with the private industry for years. NASA also said its looking to turn over many of its low-orbit functions to the private industry while the agency leads its international and commercial partners in the human exploration of deep space."

When it comes to mining on the moon, NASA said the moons southern polar region could harbor "polar volatiles," including water, hydrogen and methane that could be easy to mine. NASA also told Trump's team the polar volatiles are a "critical long-term resource" that could be used for future human missions.

However, commercial mining on the moon could conflict with the Outer Space Treaty, which was signed by the United States and dozens of other countries.

The treaty states:

The exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind.

Story continues

Throughout the communications between NASA and Trumps transition team, the agency emphasized research was primarily for scientific purposes.

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Good morning. These are todays top stories:

U.S. drops mother of all bombs in Afghanistan

The U.S. dropped a massive and powerful bomb in Afghanistan to destroy a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS militants were using to move around freely, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said yesterday. Pentagon officials called the GBU-43B weapon the mother of all bombs, according to the Associated Press. The largest non-nuclear weapon U.S. forces have ever used in combat killed at least 36 ISIS fighters, the AP reports, citing officials in Afghanistan. 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 at a news briefing.

Tensions over nuclear North Korea intensify

A top North Korean official warned Friday that the country is prepared to strike back against the U.S. if President Donald Trump takes reckless military action against them, according to the AP. Vice Minister Han Song Ryols remark comes amid fears that North Korea will conduct a nuclear test over the weekend and concerns over how the U.S. would respond to it. Trump tweeted that the U.S. will properly deal with North Korea if China does not. China today called on both nations to stop provoking and threatening each other, according to Reuters.

Daughter of United Airlines passenger speaks out

A daughter of Dr. David Dao, the passenger who was forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight, said at a news conference yesterday that she was horrified and sickened to see her father be violently dragged off a plane on videos that have gone viral since the Sunday incident. Dao lost two teeth and suffered a concussion and broken nose in the high-profile confrontation, one of his attorneys said. Meanwhile, United pilots said in a joint statement released through their union that they are infuriated by what happened.

Also:

NASA has revealed new hints of life in space.

A Virginia father has been convicted of killing his young son to collect life insurance.

Story continues

Four college students in Idaho were injured after a test rocket exploded, officials said.

A Six Flags roller coaster in Maryland got stuck with 24 people on board.

Taiwan has banned people from eating and selling cat and dog meat.

Ahead of Easter on Sunday, take a look at photos from LIFEs pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1955.

One run may add seven hours to your life, according to a new study.

A Friends musical is opening off-Broadway in New York City this fall.

The Morning Brief is published Mondays through Fridays. Email Morning Brief writer Melissa Chan at melissa.chan@time.com.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
Seoul (AFP) - North Korea's army on Friday vowed a 'merciless' response to any US provocation, as tensions soar over Pyongyang's nuclear programme and speculation mounts that it is preparing a fresh weapons test.

Pyongyang's rogue atomic ambitions have come into sharp focus in recent weeks, with United States President Donald Trump vowing a tough stance against the North and threatening unilateral action if China failed to help curb its neighbour's nuclear programme.

As hostilities in the region surge Trump has sent an aircraft carrier-led strike group to the Korean peninsula to press his point, while the North has launched a flurry of rockets.

In a statement on official news agency KCNA, the North's Korean People's Army said Trump had "entered the path of open threat and blackmail against the DPRK".

Citing Washington's recent missile strike on Syria, the typically bombastic statement boasted that US military bases in South Korea as well as Seoul's presidential Blue House "would be pulverized within a few minutes".

"The closer such big targets as nuclear powered aircraft carriers come (to the Korean peninsula), the greater would be the effect of merciless strikes," the statement added.

Earlier Friday Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said a conflict over North Korea could break out "at any moment", warning there would be no winner in any war.

China, the country's sole major ally and economic lifeline, has come under increasing pressure to curb Pyongyang's militarism, but Beijing fears dramatic action could cause the regime's collapse, sending a flood of refugees across its borders and leave the US military on its doorstep.

Trump has repeatedly said he will prevent Pyongyang from its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile capable of reaching the mainland United States.

The US president also flexed his military muscle last week by ordering cruise missile strikes on a Syrian airbase the US believed was the origin of a chemical weapons attack on civilians in a northern Syria town.

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On Thursday the US military dropped the biggest non-nuclear bomb it possesses on Afghanistan, targeting a complex used by the Islamic State group.

A White House foreign policy advisor said Friday the US is assessing military options in response to the North's weapons programmes, saying another provocative test was a question of "when" rather than "if".

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, fuelling speculation it could carry out a sixth test.
In recent years, observations made using NASAs Curiosity rover and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) have provided ample evidence that water once flowed on Mars surface. On Tuesday, the space agency released another image captured by the MRO showing layered deposits of sediments in the Melas Basin.

Scientists believe that the basin, located in the red planets southern hemisphere, once had a 1,300-foot-deep lake. According to NASA, the new image, which shows a cluster of steeply inclined light-toned layers bounded above and below by unconformities, is indicative of a break during which erosion of pre-existing layers was taking place at a higher rate than deposition of new materials.

The layered deposits in Melas Basin may have been deposited during the growth of a delta complex, NASA said in a statement accompanying the image. This depositional sequence likely represents a period where materials were being deposited on the floor of a lake or running river.

Melas Basin

Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona

Data previously collected by the MRO and Curiosity has bolstered the theory that roughly 4.3 billion years ago, Mars had enough water to cover its entire surface in a liquid layer about 450 feet deep. Evidence also suggests that long after solar winds stripped the red planet of its atmosphere, turning it into the cold, arid world it is today, lakes of water and snowmelt-fed streams still existed on its surface.

The MRO has been orbiting the red planet since 2006, and has beamed back striking photos of Mars to Earth every month. Last August, NASA published its largest dump of images captured by the MROs HiRise camera, releasing a cache of over 1,000 photos that show the Martian surface in all its glory  from dunes and craters to mountains and ice caps.

All the photos in the image dump were taken in May, when Mars experienced its equinox  a period during a planets orbit when the sun shines directly on its equator, lighting up both its poles. Coincidentally, as Alfred McEwen, the director of the Planetary Image Research Laboratory, explained to Popular Science at the time, the equinox overlapped with the period when Mars and the sun were on the opposite sides of Earth  a phenomenon that facilitates unobstructed communication between the MRO and ground control.

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As a result, the satellite was able to send a hefty amount of data in a short period of time.

The entire collection of images captured so far by the HiRise camera can be viewed here.

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No one symbolizes the populist nationalism on which Donald Trump ran more than White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, the former chairman of Breitbart News.

So Bannons newly precarious position in the administrationan ascendant, more centrist faction associated with Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner is trying to take him down--is about more than just Bannon the man. It is about id versus superego. Its about the place of the hard right in the administration, and whether the movement spearheaded by Bannon can govern. And if Bannon goes, the backlash could be considerable. In fact, even with him still in the White House, that backlash has already begun, with some of Trumps most vocal supporters becoming restive over his flip-flops on Syria, China, the Ex-Im bank and other issues.

I think that Steve has come to be the symbol of keeping the flame of the Trump revolution in the White House, said Sam Nunberg, a former Trump adviser. So I would assume that there would be hysteria all over talk radio and conservative media were Steve not in the White House and the White House would be run by Democrats. Nunberg specified that he was referring to Gary Cohn, Trumps top economic adviser, who is among Bannons greatest opponents and who has become a target of Bannon allies in the right-wing media.

Bannon isn't a red line for me, but I'm already feeling apathetic, said new right pro-Trump blogger and Twitter personality Mike Cernovich, who has recently been among those tweeting a #KeepBannon hashtag. (Theres also a related protest planned for outside the White House on Saturday.) Messaging from Trump's administration sounds like what we'd have received from Mitt Romney. Trump's base won't turn on him as much as they'll check out.

Recommended: North Korea and the Risks of Miscalculation

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Bannons fall from grace began in earnest last week, when he was removed from the principals committee of the National Security Council. His position there had been controversial from the start, as political advisors do not normally serve on the committee. Bannon and his allies presented the move as not a demotion but instead just part of the plan, with Bannon telling me reports he had threatened to quit were absurd.

Since then, both Bannon and chief of staff Reince Priebus have been seen as in danger of losing their jobs. The two have formed an alliance under pressure after initially appearing to be at odds.

Yeah, I think theres gonna be a backlash, said Lee Stranahan, a former Breitbart News reporter who quit the site after conflict with its Washington editor Matt Boyle. What Ive been trying to do is factually make people aware that theres a solid reason for the backlash and its not just personality but ideology. Trump did not run on what Ivanka Trump and her circle of friends want.

Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Cohn, and Dina Powellthe deputy national security advisorhave formed a rising center of power within the White House as Bannons position becomes more threatened. The Kushner-Cohn axis is seen as pushing Trump in a more centrist direction. According to a source close to the White House, Kushner and Cohn want to control the Chief of Staff position, and they know theres an expiration date on Reinces forehead but they now realize Steve is a problem for them. Bannon is alone and hes surrounded, said longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone on MSNBC on Thursday.

Recommended: Sean Spicer Throws In the Towel on Defending Trump's Policy Shifts

Bannon and Kushner held a meeting last week that was intended to mend fences. And Bannons side, the source said, believed an agreement had been reached. But then Joe Scarborough, who Bannon allies believe is close with Kushners camp, repeatedly attacked Bannon on television and on Twitter this week. And in the most troubling sign, Trump himself appeared to distance himself from Bannon in an interview with the New York Post, saying Bannon was not involved in my campaign until very late and emphasizing that he is his own strategist.

Bannon still has his job as of Friday. But even if he keeps it, the war against him both inside the West Wing and via the media has led to an unavoidable impression of imminent downfall. Daylight is even appearing between him and the young senior adviser for policy Stephen Miller, a former Jeff Sessions aide de camp who has been close with Bannonand was the subject of a Politico story on Thursday calling him Trumps new favorite Steve. (A senior White House official acknowledged to me that Miller is sort of becoming his own power center.)

The White House is aware of the potential for backlash if Bannon is removed.

One source close to the White House told me that Bannon could be reassigned, though its TBD and There is an attempt to repair the disagreements. A senior White House official told me talk of a reassignment was total nonsense.

We are focused on dealing with the problems keeping Americans up at night, not the overblown palace intrigue stories the media is obsessed with, said deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Recommended: 4 Reasons Why Republicans Couldn't Come Up With a Popular Health Plan

It sort of odd because from the inside were not feeling that, said the first senior White House official of the drama surrounding Bannon. Steves around, he does his job. Its not different.

This official pointed out that the White House is aware of the potential for backlash if Bannon is removed, and said the gossip is that hes not going to leave.

Steve definitely has the pulse of a very significant part of the presidents base, and has had the confidence of the president in terms of communicating with that constituency, the official said. Certainly the political folks would be concerned about that issue.

Another source close to the White House argued that this concern is overblown.

I think some people at the White House including the president might be overly concerned about this, I really dont think thats a problem for them, the source said. Steve and Breitbart do not have much pull with conservative media, their influence overstated. They could turn against Trump and he wont like it for sure, Im not sure it will matter.

After running a flurry of anti-Kushner stories, Breitbart has cooled down in recent days. Business Insider reported that Breitbart writers had been ordered by editors to stop attacking Kushner.

But the sites history with Bannon, who shaped it into the aggressive pro-Trump organ it became over the course of the 2016 election, leaves a lingering threat in the air. Could it be weaponized if he leaves?

Itll be open warfare against those that Bannon has dubbed the West Wing Democrats and the people who were behind his fall from grace, from Trumps good graces, said Kurt Bardella, a former spokesman for the site. And I suspect that the ideological and policy direction that Trump takes will come under significant scrutiny from Breitbart and the Laura Ingrahams and Mark Levins of the world.

I think that theyll wait until something definitive happens with Steves position until they unleash their dogs of war, Bardella said.

One friend of Bannons argued that Breitbart has actually been caught flat-footed by the twisting allegiances inside the White House, and was unprepared for what became the real threat to Bannons position.

You had some of them fighting with Sean Spicer and Reince Priebus when in reality the real opponents are Gary Cohn, Dina Powell and Jared Kushner, they were the real opposition, the friend said. They have been amassing troops at the border ever since November 8.

It would be an absolutely massive boon to Breitbart if he returned, the friend said of Bannon. I also think it would be a good check on the administration.

If I were him, I would look at the outside group very strongly, the friend said, referring to a pro-Trump political group associated with the Mercer family of Republican donors who are close with Bannon and with Trump called Making America Great. The New York Times reported recently that Rebekah Mercer had held discussions about what Bannon could do if he leaves the White House.

Even despite the fact that Bannon is in place for now, the backlash on the base towards Trump is massive, this friend said. The prevailing consensus is wheres the beef? All the things youve campaigned on, all the promises.

Whats still unclear is how broad the backlash to Trumps shifts and Bannons diminished status truly is , what it means, and whether the unhappiness is shared by a majority of Trump supporters and not just Trumps most diehard nationalist fans.

Last week I received an email from Patrick Howley, a former Breitbart writer who left last year after the election and is in the process of launching a competing site called Big League Politics.

Im declaring war on Gary Cohn, read the subject line. I asked what he meant. Howley said, A sustained campaign of opposition research, agitation, and media manipulation intended to completely undermine Gary Cohn in the conservative and populist nationalist movements so that he cannot become White House chief of staff.

But on Thursday, Howley backed down when I asked him about this again.

Bannon, he said, had not asked him to lay off Cohn. But I know that he is in a position now where hes being a team player and not fighting with other people in the White House. He doesnt have to tell me something for me to take a cue, or Boyle for that matter.

For now, Bannon is not gonna resign unless things get really horrific, said another source close to the White House. But if hes neutered, what difference does it make?

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Lagos (AFP) - Nigerians rallied Friday to mark the third anniversary of the mass abduction of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram, as their parents cling to the hope that they can be safely returned.

Parents of the missing girls, who congregated at the school in the northeastern village of Chibok, described their kidnap as an unending "nightmare" but said the negotiated release of 21 last year had given them strength.

Spearheading the rallies, broadcast on national television, was the Bring Back Our Girls movement, which urged the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to ramp up efforts to free the 195 girls still believed to be being held by the radical Islamic group.

Rebecca Samuel, mother of Sarah, said the past three years had been unbearable and urged the government to do more to help.

"The incident that happened three years ago is still a nightmare to me. It is still fresh as if it happened last night ... the absence of my daughter made me cry everyday."

But she added: "I have a strong belief that I will see my daughter sooner than later. The government is trying but I believe they can do more than what they are doing."

More than 1,000 people, including diplomats, attended a rally in the capital Abuja while prayers were being held in the country's commercial centre Lagos.

Several thousand people also attended a rally in Maiduguri, capital of northeastern Borno state, the centre of the Islamist insurrection.

Twenty-one girls were released in October 2016 after negotiations between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government brokered by the ICRC and the Swiss government.

Fifty-seven escaped after the kidnap while three others were found or rescued by the military. Some have had babies in captivity.

"When we marked their two years (since the abduction), we hadn't gotten any one of them but today, we have 24 of them," said Esther Yakubu, whose daughter Dorcas was among those taken.

"And by the grace of the Almighty, the rest will be back and you will all rejoice with us," Yakubu added.

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The Chibok schoolgirls have become a symbol of the Boko Haram insurgency that began in 2009 and has left at least 20,000 people dead.

Despite a military fight-back, villages near Chibok have seen a wave of suspected Boko Haram attacks in recent months.

A presidential spokesman said Wednesday negotiations were ongoing with "foreign entities" for the release of those still held by the fundamentalist group active in Nigeria's northeast and which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

Having started as an extremist sect Boko Haram has mushroomed in recent years into an ultra-violent jihadist movement which uses mass kidnapping as a recruitment tool.

In December, Buhari triumphantly announced the "final crushing" of the group, which he described as being "on the run" after an army offensive flushed them out of their stronghold in the huge Sambisa forest.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau denied the claim and said that some of the abducted girls were killed in Nigerian airstrikes against his group.

Support from abroad came in the shape of a British government statement Friday.

"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," a foreign ministry statement read.

Although the extremists have been pushed back the situation remains extremely difficult in the northeast region bordering Chad, Cameroon and Niger amid almost daily attacks and kidnappings.

"Boko Haram continues to abduct women and girls but also young boys ... they are raped, beaten and forced to carry out suicide attacks," said Makmid Kamara, Amnesty International representative in Nigeria.

Earlier this week, UN children's agency UNICEF accused Boko Haram of using an "alarming" number of children, mainly girls as suicide bombers, saying 27 children had been used for such attacks this year to date, compared with nine for the same period last year.

The Islamists have increasingly been using children to attack crowded markets, mosques and camps for internally displaced people in the northeast and the broader Lake Chad region.

Buhari, who has promised to see the Chibok girls rescued, said Thursday that "we must not lose hope".
By James Pearson and Ju-min Park SEOUL (Reuters) - Many South Koreans marked "Black Day" on Friday, but it had nothing to do with concerns that North Korea may conduct a weapons test, or that the United States, the South's main ally, may launch a pre-emptive strike to stop it. It had nothing to do with Good Friday or Black Friday either. "Black Day" in South Korea is a day for singles, marked by eating "jajangmyeon", a noodle dish topped with a thick sauce made of black beans. It's celebrated by singles as a response to "White Day", an Asian Valentine's Day which falls a month earlier, on March 14. As tensions grew to a fever pitch elsewhere over the likelihood of North Korea conducting a nuclear or long-range missile test, possibly this weekend, there was little sign of concern in South Korea's capital, Seoul, which lies within range of the North's artillery. "Outside South Korea, some people are worried, but we don't feel like that in our daily lives," said Choi Na-young, an office worker in central Seoul. "All I can do is just try my best and work hard," said Choi, as she queued for noodles with colleagues. "So no matter what the outside world thinks, I came here to enjoy Black Day". "Black Day" was trending on Twitter and was the leading news item on the Naver web portal in South Korea, which has one of the world's highest percentage of Internet users as a percentage of population. The nonchalance about the possibility of conflict with the North has grown in recent years in the South, which remains technically in a state of war with its neighbor. The 1950-53 war between the two ended in an armistice, and no peace treaty was signed. In 1994, when North Korea's founding president Kim Il Sung died, there was panic in South Korea that conflict could be just around the corner. And when North Korea shelled the South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong in 2010, some South Koreans stocked up on dried food and canned goods, fearing the skirmish could escalate into a full-blown war. Over time, however, sentiment has changed and South Koreans, especially young people, have become used to the bellicose rhetoric and nuclear bluster in the region. Retailers in Seoul said there was no indication that people were hoarding food or goods in preparation for a conflict. "There is no panic buying. None at all," said a spokesman at the Lotte Mart supermarket. After North Korea's third nuclear test in 2013, the most talked-about term on South Korean web portals and social media networks was "Innisfree", a popular cosmetics brand which had just announced big discounts. "Usually, the farther one is from Korea, the more one expects there to be war," said Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Kookmin University. (Additional reporting by Heekyong Yang; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
By Brian Goldsmith

Saturday marks a celebration for North Korea, the anniversary of the birth of its founder, Kim Il Sung. But for the rest of the world, its a day of wariness and worry.

Will Kims grandson, Kim Jong Un, use the occasion to flex its nuclear muscle?

Experts believe North Korea currently has about 10 nuclear weapons, and enough nuclear material to make 100 more. Key to a successful weapons program isnt just the nuclear warhead, but a missile to deliver it to a target. Intelligence agencies estimate that the Norths missiles could reach South Korea or Japan right now, and the continental U.S. by 2026.

How, and why, did this isolated, impoverished nation develop into a nuclear power? And what does it mean for the United States?

In the 1950s, the Korean War, which split North from South, put the fear of God in Kim Il Sung. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who commanded U.S. forces in Korea, wanted to attack the North with a nuclear weapon. MacArthur was stopped by President Harry Truman, but Kim knew that only if the North had a nuclear weapon could the country prevent a future attack.

Later that decade, the Soviet Union began training North Korean scientists and signed a nuclear cooperation deal with its communist ally.

In the 1960s, the North opened its main nuclear research facility, about 55 miles north of Pyongyang, the capital.

Even as the North spent years and billions developing a nuclear capacity, it also signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which forbids the development of a nuclear program.

By the 1990s, North Korea used the threat of withdrawing from that treaty to win concessions from the West. At the same time, the North was gaining secret nuclear know-how from partners in Pakistan.

During the past two decades, the North Koreans signed, then violated, nuclear agreements, all while building up their nuclear program.

In 2006, Kim Jong Il, the current leaders father, conducted the countrys first nuclear test. Since then, it has conducted four more tests. The most recent one, last September, was the strongest ever.

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How have the U.S. and the rest of the world responded?

With sanctions, U.N. resolutions, covert efforts to sabotage the program and lots of tough talk.

President George W. Bush said in 2006, Once again North Korea has defied the will of the international community, and the international community will respond.

In 2009, President Barack Obama said, On the Korean Peninsula, North Korea has abandoned its own commitments and violated international law. Its nuclear and ballistic missile programs pose a grave threat to the peace and security of Asia and to the world.

Recently President Trump told Fox Business, 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. And I will say this: [Kim] is doing the wrong thing.

But its unclear whether these words and actions are enough to put North Koreas nuclear genie back in the bottle.

It remains to be seen how the Trump administration will ultimately respond. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said, The president is not one who is going to telegraph his response. I think he keeps all options on the table. He keeps his cards close to the vest. He added, The last thing we want to see is a nuclear North Korea that threatens the coast of the United States or, for that matter, any other country or any other set of human beings.

Whatever the U.S. does, at least when it comes to North Koreas nuclear program you can say, Now I get it.
Not long after the United States Navy dispatched a carrier strike group in the direction of the Korean peninsula following a North Korean missile test last week, Pyongyang vowed to counter the reckless act of aggression and hinted at catastrophic consequences. The remarks came amid rising tension in the region as satellite images seem to indicate that North Korea is preparing for a possible sixth nuclear test, and as U.S. President Donald Trump warns that North Korean President Kim Jong Un is doing the wrong thing and that we have the best military people on earth.

Theres nothing particularly unusual about this sort of creative, bellicose rhetoric from the North Korean regime, which routinely threatens to do things like turn Seoul into a sea of fire or fire nuclear-armed missiles at the White House and the Pentagonthe sources of all evil. North Korea needs to be taken seriously as a hostile regime in artillery range of a close U.S. ally, and potentially in missile range of another. But its leadership lobs threats so promiscuously and outlandishly that one can build in a discount factortheres a long track record of unrealized North Korean threats to judge by. In that context, the probability that any given one will be realized is quite small.

Recommended: How the Syria Strike Flipped the U.S.-Russia Power Dynamic

The regime has never much liked the annual joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises, and has made its feelings known; the exercises have tended to carry on every year without direct consequences to the personnel involved. Nor has the regime ever welcomed American aircraft carriers in its nearby waters or been shy about saying so; those, too, have come and gone unmolested.

Whats different now is Donald Trump. Whereas many of his predecessors steered sedulously clear of escalatory rhetoric, preferring to treat various North Korean leaders as recalcitrant children at worst or distasteful but nevertheless semi-rational negotiating partners at best, Trump has threatened North Korea via Twitter, declaring that the regime is looking for trouble. As my colleague Uri Friedman pointed out Thursday, three successive presidents prior to Trump, since the Clinton administration considered military action against the Norths then-nascent nuclear program, have opted for trying negotiations rather than risk a strike. Its apparent that none succeeded in halting the nuclear programs progress. But its equally apparent that the kind of massive conflagration on the Korean peninsula that world leaders are now warning against has been avoided since 1953.

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For allies, enemies, and observers alike, though, Trump appears to be a wild card, and self-avowedly so. Even foreign-policy positions that are predictable for an American presidentcondemning the use of chemical weapons in war, say, or not deriding NATO as obsoletewere unanticipated reversals from this particular president. Trump himself has said that America needs to be more unpredictable; as Kevin Sullivan and Karen Tumulty reported in The Washington Post this week, he has made it so, leaving diplomats to ask what exactly the White House intends to do on issues ranging from border-adjustment taxes to Russia. (Russians are themselves confused: A foreign ministry spokeswoman told my colleague Julia Ioffe and other journalists this week: We dont understand what theyre going to do in Syria, and not only there. ... No one understands what theyre going to do with Iran, no one understands what theyre going to do with Afghanistan. Excuse me, and I still havent said anything about Iraq.)

Recommended: The Brilliant Incoherence of Trumps Foreign Policy

On the other hand, where coercive diplomacy is concerned, there are clear advantages to a posture of: Dont try it. You have no idea what Im capable of. From Cold War deterrence resting on the guarantee of mutual assured destructionyou hit me with nukes, I will strike back, even if we incinerate the worldto Barack Obamas vow to take unspecified measures against Russian hacking at a time and place of our own choosing, presidents routinely court risks and instrumentalize uncertainty as a negotiating tactic. If you extract a concession because an enemy fears an attack you had no real intention of carrying out anyway, so much the better. At the very least, theres the practical advantage that comes with not telegraphing your intentions to an enemy trying to prepare for your next move.

Yet its also the case that uncertainty raises the risks of miscalculation on either sideand, in a tense confrontation between two nuclear powers, the potential costs. Threats of preventive strikes, or even leaks that such strikes could be under consideration, can prompt the other side to want to strike first. Theres a reason that, when NBC reported Thursday based on intelligence sources that the U.S. was prepared to implement exactly such an option, senior officials from the Pentagon quickly disavowed the story and declared it extremely dangerous. Theres a reason that the Chinese foreign minister is urging all sides to no longer engage in mutual provocation and threats, whether through words or deeds, and [not to] push the situation to the point where it cant be turned around and gets out of hand. Even the most predictable of leaders must make decisions about each others likely actions, and have imperfect information even with the best intelligence, and act on those educated guesses. When two leaders each habitually bluster and exaggerate, theres a higher likelihood of making a catastrophic mistake based on a bad guess.

Recommended: Are the Nationalists Losing the War for Trump's White House?

This is the case even though the underlying circumstances that could prompt escalation are not terribly dangerous in and of themselves. If North Korea conducts a nuclear test this weekend, it would be its sixth, meaning that its program is advancing but is not necessarily much more dangerous than it was a week ago. There may not even be a test: reporters told to plan for a big event in the country on Friday were ushered to the unveiling of a new road and apartment complex. As Anna Fifield writes in The Washington Post, Expectations for a nuclear test or missile launch in the lead-up to Saturdays celebrations in Pyongyang have not come to pass. Instead, there are signs that the regime is getting ready to hold a huge parade this weekend, perhaps showing off new missilessomething that would qualify as the big event it had heralded. Even if a nuclear test does materialize, the likelihood of U.S. retaliation is low. The Associated Press reported Friday afternoon that, following a two-month review of its North Korea strategy, the Trump administration had chosen a strategy of maximum pressure and engagement, involving increasing pressure on Pyongyang with the help of China, North Korea's dominant trade and military partner. (The shape of the engagement part is so far unclear; Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has rejected the negotiation option, though this administration is nothing if not flexible.)

In the end, the risks may prove self-mitigating by virtue of their enormity. The Korea expert Victor Cha recently warned Friedman about the possibility of millions of casualties resulting from war in the Korean peninsula, if North Korea launched nuclear or conventional strikes against South Korea and Japan. The international-relations scholar Robert Jervis, who has written extensively on deterrence and the Cold War, recently told me that there were a number of times the Cold War looked desperate and the worst never occurred and that deterrence, as a basic feeling, is a powerful inhibitor. Assuming that logic holds, North Korea will at the very least reap a propaganda payoff just from demonstrating its ability to stoke anxieties around the world with a few coy comments about something big in the days before a national holiday. Maybe thats all theyre after.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
From Esquire

(Permanent Musical Accompaniment To This Post)

Being our semi-regular weekly survey of what's goin' down in the several states where, as we know, the real work of governmentin' gets done, and where Ma Rainey and Beethoven both unwrap a bedroll.

We begin this week in the newly insane state of North Carolina (Art Pope, Prop.), where their incredible desire to make a bad thing worse continues to amaze and astound. Just recently, the entire government got together and cobbled together a watery "compromise" on the bathroom bill that was lame enough to buy off the NCAA. Undaunted, the state legislature (Art Pope, Prop.) moved ahead with a bill that wouldwait for itmake marriage equality illegal. From NBC News:

The Republican-sponsored bill, titled the Uphold Historical Marriage Act, asserts the U.S. Supreme Court "overstepped its constitutional bounds" when it struck down North Carolina's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. "The General Assembly of the State of North Carolina declares that the Obergefell v. Hodges decision of the United States Supreme Court of 2015 is null and void in the State of North Carolina, and that the State of North Carolina shall henceforth uphold and enforce Section 6 of Article XIV of the North Carolina Constitution, the opinion and objection of the United States Supreme Court notwithstanding," the bill reads.

What makes this measure remarkable should be obvious. It is outright nullification, the presentation of an argument that was pretty much settled at Appomattox. It also is an out-and-out refusal to recognize the Supremacy Clause. This is the most naked assertion of these philosophies since Joe Johnston surrendered to Bill Sherman at Bennett Place in Durham. This was obvious even to the Republican party of North Carolina (Art Pope, Prop.), according to CBS News:

House Speaker Tim Moore of Kings Mountain said in a statement Wednesday that the bill introduced this week won't be considered because the nation's highest court "has firmly ruled on the issue."

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Still, you may wonder, how does a bill so clearly beyond a pale that's existed for 152 years get brought up at all? Well, perhaps it's because people in the newly insane state of North Carolina go out and actually vote for guys like this. From the News and Observer:

A commenter reminded Pittman that the Supreme Court ruling settled the law on gay marriage and that the lawmaker should "get over it." Pittman's 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."

Punchline?

Pittman is the pastor of Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church in Stanly County and has served in the House since 2013.

Old times they are not forgotten, I'm fairly sure.

Let us move along to South Dakota, where the newly energized "war" on drugs has taken an alarming turn. From the Times-Argus:

Through the patterned light, he saw a fifth officer filming the procedure. His pants were loosened and pulled below his waist. Then, pain. A nurse at Avera St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre inserted a pencil-sized tube into Sparks' urethra to drain his bladder. Moments later, an officer with the Pierre Police Department held a cup of Sparks' urine that soon would be sent off for drug testing. "It was degrading," Sparks said. "I was angry. I felt like my civil rights were being violated."

Pretty safe call, I'd say.

Hours earlier, police responded to a domestic dispute at Sparks' home. When officers observed him acting "fidgety," they asked for a urine sample. When Sparks refused, police sought a warrant from a Hughes County judge to obtain a urine sample by "medically accepted means." In Pierre, those means have repeatedly included forcibly catheterizing people who refuse or are unable to provide a sample. Officers subjected a 3-year-old boy to a similar procedure in February as part of a child welfare investigation, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. "Quite frankly, it's cruel and barbaric to forcibly catheterize anyone, let alone a 3-year-old child, and this process raises serious constitutional concerns," said Heather Smith, executive director of the ACLU of South Dakota. The Pierre Police Department and Avera Health declined repeated requests for interviews. The police department deferred questions to the Hughes County State's Attorney's office, which also did not respond to multiple phone calls.

Tell me again that normalizing torture overseas doesn't have a corrosive effect at home. They put a bag over a guy's head and stick a tube up his dick. How is this not torture? And, if somehow it isn't, how about this?

Kirsten Hunter said her 3-year-old son, Aksel, was forcefully catheterized at the Avera hospital in Pierre in late February after her boyfriend failed a urine analysis. Authorities wanted to have her and her two children tested to see if they also had drugs in their system. Pierre police officers and a Department of Social Services employee showed up at her home and said if her kids couldn't produce urine, they would be taken from her. Hunter said her son isn't potty-trained. So while she and her 5-year-old daughter were able to provide a urine sample, her young son couldn't. He was held down and forcibly catheterized by nurses. "They just shoved it right up there, and he screamed so bad," Hunter said. "He's still dealing with a staph infection, and we are still giving him medication."

A three-year-old, forced against his will into a painful medical procedure so as to gather evidence against his mother's boyfriend? There are too goddamn many places in this country where the Constitution doesn't reach because the people who swear to uphold it don't give a damn about it. And with an attorney general committed to ramping this foolishness back up again, god knows when, if ever, they'll start giving a damn about it again. A three-year-old. My god in heaven.

Let's skip on down to Louisiana, where they're still trying to wind down the many deplorable policies on which "Bobby" Jindal planned to run for president back when that idea didn't make people dissolve into hopeless laughter. One of these "reforms" changed the way worker's compensation claims were handled. A local judge ruled that these "reforms" pretty much were designed to make filing these claims harder, and not easier. From The Louisiana Voice:

Judge Johnson struck down provisions which:

Stipulated that when a carrier/self-insured employer fails to return LWC forms within the five business days it is deemed to have denied such request for authorization;

Provided an automatic "tacit denial" of medical treatment;

Allowed OWC to enforce variances from medical treatment guidelines;

Denied treatment not covered by medical treatment guidelines;

Allowed the OWC a workers compensation carrier to arbitrarily submit-and the OWC medical director to accept-any information it desires without notifying the injured worker of the "evidence."

The suit was brought against the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) in 2013 by attorney Janice Hebert Barber and several physicians and injured workers who were denied benefits under the new law. Baton Rouge attorney J. Arthur Smith III represented each of the plaintiffs. Also named as defendants were LWC Secretary Curt Eysink, Hataway, and former OWC Medical Director Dr. Christopher Rich.

This is what is called a "business-friendly" environment by ambitious Republican governors like "Bobby" Jindal, who warped faster than any other piece of presidential timber this side of Scott Walker.

And we conclude, as is our custom, in the great state of Oklahoma, where Blog Official Sagebrush Topiary Inspector Friedman of the Plains brings us yet another wonderful argument for retrograde policies that are going to pass anyway. From Public Radio Tulsa:

The severity of the diagnosed birth defect does not matter. Women would be prohibited from aborting a fetus expected to live even just a few hours after birth, and there is not exception for the life or health of a mother. House Democrats pressed Faught on why there are no exceptions for cases of rape or incest either, asking whether those are an act of God. "Well, it's an act of sin. We live in a sinful world. Men and women do horrible things, but God can bring beauty out of ashes," Faught said.

These really are the fcking mole people.

This is your democracy, America. Cherish it.

Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Vice President Mike Pence is opening his trip to the Asia-Pacific region amid increasing tensions in North Korea over the regime's nuclear and missile programs.

Pence is set to arrive Sunday in South Korea as President Donald Trump vows that Kim Jong Un's government is a "problem" that will be "taken care of."

The vice president's 10-day trip comes as North Korea celebrates the 105th anniversary of the birth of national founder Kim Il Sung, which falls on Saturday and is North Korea's most important holiday. A large-scale military parade is expected.

Tensions have been on the rise along the Korean Peninsula with the arrival 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.

White House advisers say it's possible that the regime could attempt to showcase its nuclear program or launch ballistic missiles during Pence's trip.

Pence will also travel to Japan, where he is expected to discuss the possible framework of bilateral trade talks, and make stops in Indonesia and Australia.
Washington (AFP) - US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis is heading to the Middle East and Africa next week for a series of meetings with regional allies, the Pentagon said Friday.

The trip will be Mattis's fourth overseas since he became President Donald Trump's defense secretary. It comes amid heightened tensions with Russia following the US military strike on a Syrian air base in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack.

The trip includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Qatar and Djibouti.

Mattis is making the trip to "reaffirm key US military alliances, to engage with strategic partners in the Middle East and Africa, and to discuss cooperative efforts to counter destabilizing activities and defeat extremist terror organizations," the Pentagon said.

In Israel, Mattis will meet with President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. He will also visit the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem.

US-Russia relations are at a low point after Trump ordered the missile strike on a Syrian air base last week. Moscow has been conducting a military campaign in Syria to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Mattis and regional US allies are also expected to discuss the growing influence of Iran.
Its Pharmalittle, and its Friday! Meghana from the Readout filling in today, but fear not  Ed Silverman will be back at you Monday with more news about the pharma world. Heres what we got:

Pfizer said it unknowingly sold execution drugs to the Arkansas Department of Corrections through the distributor McKesson, Bloomberg writes. The statement followed a report in the New Yorker saying Arkansas plans to execute seven people by the end of the month.

Read the rest...
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  A horse that got loose and blocked traffic at a Philadelphia intersection has been corralled by police using carrots.

Police believe the horse got loose from the city's Fairmount Park stables. Officials there haven't commented.

The horse was seen galloping through the streets of the city's Fishtown neighborhood before being captured by police Friday morning.

Officers used carrots to attract and calm down the horse so they could put it in a trailer.
In the last decade, public approval of Congress hit an all-time low. Indeed, the esteemed bodywhose design and power is outlined in Article I of the Constitutionappears to have lost some of its power. Some observers blame the imperial presidency and executive overreach; others point to Congress own internal dysfunction and obstruction.

What is Congress proper constitutional role? What forces have undermined Congress in recent years? And what, if anything, should be done to restore its power?

Joining We the People to discuss are two of Americas leading constitutional experts.

David Pozen is Professor of Law at Columbia Law School.

Nicholas Quinn Rosenkranz is Professor of Law at the Georgetown University Law Center.

Show Notes

This show was edited by Jason Gregory and produced by Nicandro Iannacci. Research was provided by Lana Ulrich and Tom Donnelly. The host of We the People is Jeffrey Rosen. Special thanks to Zach Morrison and the Columbia chapters of the American Constitution Society and the Federalist Society for their partnership in producing this event.

Continue todays conversation on Facebook and Twitter using @ConstitutionCtr.

Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly.

Please subscribe to We the People and our companion podcast, Live at Americas Town Hall, on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

We the People is a member of Slates Panoply network. Check out the full roster of podcasts at Panoply.fm.

Despite our congressional charter, the National Constitution Center is a private nonprofit; we receive little government support, and we rely on the generosity of people around the country who are inspired by our nonpartisan mission of constitutional debate and education. Please consider becoming a member to support our work, including this podcast. Visit constitutioncenter.org to learn more.
Chicago (AFP) - Police captured a Wisconsin man early Friday, ending an intense manhunt launched after he allegedly robbed a gun shop and sent an anti-government manifesto to US President Donald Trump.

Joseph Jakubowski, 32, was arrested without incident on a farm in the midwestern state of Wisconsin, the Rock County Sheriff's Office said.

A force of some 150 local, state and federal police had been searching for the suspect since April 4, when officials say he broke into the Armageddon Gun Shop in the city of Janesville, Wisconsin and stole more than a dozen firearms.

Authorities said the suspect had spoken of plans to carry out unspecified attacks, and wrote and mailed the White House a 161-page long screed.

Sheriff Robert Spoden described the manifesto as "a long laundry list of injustices that he believes the government and society and the upper class have put forth onto the rest of the citizens."

Police received a tip late Thursday that a man matching Jakubowski's description was "camping" at a farm near Readstown, Wisconsin, a municipality some 130 miles northwest of Janesville.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation had recently doubled its award for information leading to the suspect's arrest to $20,000.

The threat prompted area schools to close last Friday prior to a scheduled spring break, and patrols were increased at local churches because Jakubowski's manifesto had included "anti-religion sentiment."

State governor Scott Walker also scrapped an annual Easter egg hunt scheduled for Saturday amid the manhunt.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Authorities say a Florida middle school teacher accused of producing and receiving child pornography has killed himself in Tennessee.

Metro Nashville police announced on social media Friday that 33-year-old Corey Perry died at a local hospital after a gunshot wound to the head. Police say Perry appears to have shot himself at a Nashville motel just before FBI agents arrived to arrest him.

Officials with Palm Beach County Schools have not said whether any of Perry's victims attend Howell L. Watkins Middle School, where he taught computer science. Officials have confirmed that some of the identified victims attend Palm Beach County schools.
Rome (AFP) - Pope Francis deplored the suffering of migrants, victims of racism and persecuted Christians as some 20,000 worshippers gathered at Rome's Colosseum to hear his Good Friday prayer.

"Christ, our only saviour, we turn towards you this year with eyes lowered in shame," the pope told the crowds outside the former gladiators' battleground, their faces lit by candlelight.

"Shame for all the images of devastation, destruction and shipwrecks which have become ordinary in our lives," Francis said in an apparent reference to Mediterranean migrant disasters that have left at least 590 people feared people dead this year.

The pope also spoke of the child abuse scandals that have rocked Catholicism in recent years, expressing "shame for all the times when bishops, priests and the religious have scandalised and hurt" the Church.

"Shame for the innocent blood, spilt daily, of women, children, migrants, people persecuted for the colour of their skin or for their social or ethnic group -- or for their faith in you," he said.

The Easter holy week commemorating the last days of Jesus's life had a bloody beginning last Sunday with attacks claimed by the Islamic State group on two Coptic churches in Egypt that left 45 people dead.

Egyptian Copts observed a solemn Good Friday with prayers and fasting, as the community reeled from the bombings. Despite concerns over security, Francis is planning to go ahead with a visit to the country later this month.

In Rome, security was tight for the night-time ceremony, with road blocks and metal detectors in place as worshippers gathered to hear the leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics. Three thousand officers were deployed to protect the Colosseum.

This year an Egyptian couple and their three young daughters carried a large cross for part of the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession, descending through the Colosseum and then outside into the crowd.

Story continues

Worshippers from Portugal and Colombia -- two countries the pontiff is set to visit in May and September respectively -- also took part in the procession, taking turns to carry the cross along with two Chinese Christians.

A small group of believers carry a cross between 14 "stations" evoking the hours in the run-up to Jesus's crucifixion during the Via Crucis procession.

Francis, 80, sat under his traditional red canopy next to a large cross lit with torchlight for the ceremony, which for the first time included a meditation written by a secular woman, French professor Anne-Marie Pelletier.

Good Friday is the second of four important days in the Christian calendar beginning with Maundy Thursday and culminating in Easter Sunday, which commemorates Christ's resurrection.

On Saturday, the pontiff will take part in an evening Easter vigil in St Peter's Basilica, before celebrating Easter mass on Sunday and pronouncing the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to Rome and the world.
Think you're Hello Kitty's biggest fan? Step aside, because your fandom has nothing on this world record holder.

Masao Gunji, a resident in Yotsukaido, Chiba, Japan, holds the Guinness World Record for most Hello Kitty memorabilia with an incredible 5,169 items lining the walls, tables, and floors of his bright pink home.

SEE ALSO: Sanrio fans rejoice! There's a new cafe where you can gorge on Hello Kitty sweets

With the help of his wife, Gunji built his extraordinary collection over the course of 35 years. The expansive assembly of all-things Hello Kitty ranges from stationary, plushies, towels, bento boxes, clocks, kitchenware, and bento boxes.

Take a look his unbelievable collection here:

Hello Kitty has always cheered me up when I was unhappy, the collector said.

Gunji's neighbors, who are fans of his extensive collection, encouraged him to count his items so that he could apply for the Guinness record.

Asako Kanda, another collector from Japan, previously held the record with 4,519 Hello Kitty items. Now that he's the record holder, Gunji says he continues to add to his collection whenever he can.

How much bigger can it get!?

(H/T Guinness World Records)

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The decision by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to rescind reforms making student loan servicers more accountable was just the latest salvo against student borrower protections that were built up the last several years.

The guidelines, put in place by the Obama administration last year, were rescinded even as problems mount with many of the companies that manage payments for students who take out federal loans, including Navient, the largest student loan administrator and the target of federal and state lawsuits.

The withdrawal of the guidelines comes as the Department of Education is issuing new contracts to the loan servicers. The reforms would have applied to the companies that win the contracts when the current agreements expire in 2019. Navient is one of the three finalists.

The shift means student borrowers need to be even more vigilant and research all repayment options on their own, double-check that their payments are credited properly, and always keep good records, among other precautions, consumer advocates recommend.

The guidelines that were taken away laid out really basic, commonsense guidance for how servicers should act so that borrowers can navigate repayment, says Suzanne Martindale, a staff attorney and education debt expert at Consumer Reports. Removing these is incredibly shortsighted and will likely cause greater problems down the road for students and families.

The guidelines called for major changes in student loan servicer practices, including new standards for responding to borrower problems in a timely way, providing economic incentives to give high-quality customer service, and imposing penalties for poor performance.

DeVos' move on Apri 11 is just the latest sign that the Trump Administration's Department of Education is shifting its focus away from reforms in the education loan industry, says Rohit Chopra, a senior fellow at the Consumer Federation of America and former student loan ombudsman at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Story continues

In March, DeVos rescinded a 60-day grace period to allow students in loan default to get back on track and avoid a fee of 16 percent of their loan balance.

Also last month, the Education Department said it would delay implementing the gainful employment rule, an Obama-era regulation that penalizes college vocational programs if graduates accrue more debt that they can pay with post-grad earnings.

"We have a couple of signs now that this administration is not taking consumer protection seriously," says Persis Yu, director of the National Consumer Law Center's Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project.

Critics of the Obama-era student loan regulations say it's difficult and unreasonable to expect loan servicers to comply with multiple layers of new rules.

The companies are for-profit enterprises that tend to have lower-skilled, lower-paid workers. The workers make their money by achieving repayment results, not by dispensing advice to borrowers.

Still, others assail the entire system, saying it's broken and that students are suffering. They believe student loan servicing should be handled by the government and the debt dischargable in bankruptcy, like credit card debt, among other reforms.

DeVosappointed by President Trump and confirmed in early Februarysays the patchwork of new regulations is unfair and confusing to the industry.

Explaining her decision Tuesday, DeVos said the process for awarding contracts to loan servicers has been subjected to a myriad of moving deadlines, changing requirements, and a lack of consistent objectives. She said getting rid of the guidelines would remove impediments to efforts to ensure borrowers do not experience inefficiencies in service.

But her vague explanation didn't address a major issue facing student borrowers, and the main reason for creating the guidelines in the first place: Students need better information from loan servicers about the most suitable repayment options available, including income-based repayment plans that allow students in need of financial help to lower payments based on their current wages.

A Growing Problem

Problems with student loan servicers are well-documented and on the rise. The CFPB says it has handled more than 40,000 complaints related to education loan servicing and debt collection in the last five years.

Last month, the CFPB reported a 429 percent increase in student loan complaints about servicers from December through February, compared with the prior year. Consumers say servicers process payments incorrectly, make it harder for them to enroll in more affordable payment plans, and fail to act when borrowers complain.



Defaults are also rising sharply. Last year, 1.1 million federal loans were in default, up 15 percent from 2015, according to an analysis by the Consumer Federation of America.

Meanwhile, the case against Navient, brought in January by the CFPB and state attorneys general in Illinois and Washington, is still being fought.



The lawsuit alleges that even though a majority of federal student loan borrowers qualify for an income-based repayment plan, Navient provided inaccurate or inadequate information about the option. The CFPB has accused Navient of making it harder for borrowers to pay according to what they could afford, an illegal practice.

How to Handle Problems With Your Student Loans

The Department of Education estimates that about 1 in 4 student loan borrowers is in default or late on his or her loans. Seventy percent of those in default are eligible for lower monthly payments on federal student loans, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office.



If you have student loans and your servicer isnt giving you the help you need, heres what you can do to protect yourself:



Keep good records. Make sure you know what kind of loans you have and keep records of what you owe and the payments youve made. If they're federal loansmost student loans arethey'll be in this national database. Private loans dont offer the same consumer protections and flexible payment plans that federal loans do. When you contact your servicer, keep a record of who you talked to.

Know your options. If youre struggling to make payments and have federal loans, there are a number of different payment plans that can reduce your monthly bill. But the options can be confusing and student loan servicers often give out bad information. Use the Department of Educations Repayment Estimator to calculate your federal student loan payments under each repayment plan. Or try the CFPBs Repay Student Debt tool, which is an interactive guide that takes borrowers through their repayment options, especially when facing default.

File a complaint. Many student loan servicers have their own ombudsman whose job it is to help borrowers resolve problems, according to financial aid expert Mark Kantrowitz. If your servicer isn't helping you, you can file a complaint with the CFPB whether you have federal or private loans. For federal loans, you can also file a complaint on the Department of Educations loan complaint site, which was launched in July.







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Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright  2006-2017 Consumer Reports, Inc.
Children who witness domestic violence may be more likely to have psychopathic traits in adulthood, according to a new study.

In the study, the researchers looked at psychopathic traits among nearly 130 male prisoners and asked the men whether they had witnessed domestic violence in childhood. Although the term "psychopath" is sometimes incorrectly used by non-experts to describe someone who is brutish or cruel, in psychology, the term has a specific meaning. The traits of a psychopath include an unrealistic sense of superiority to other people, a tendency to manipulate others, a lack of empathy and a tendency to commit antisocial actions such as crimes.

Previous research had found a link between experiencing abuse in childhood and a higher risk of developing psychopathic traits. However, the new study is the first to show that even witnessing the abuse of one's family members in childhood is related to psychopathic traits among adults who have committed crimes, study co-author Michael Koenigs, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, said in a statement. [Understanding the 10 Most Destructive Human Behaviors]

In the new study, the researchers looked at psychopathic traits among 127 prisoners in Wisconsin. The researchers chose to study prisoners because psychopathy is much more common in this population compared with the general population, said lead study author Monika Dargis, a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, the researchers focused on the prison population to better understand more severe presentations of the disorder, she said.

The scientists evaluated those prisoners' levels of psychopathic traits using a scale that ranges from zero to 40, with a score of 30 or more indicating that a person is a psychopath.

Results identified 51 prisoners (about 40 percent) as psychopaths, the study said. The researchers found that the prisoners who had seen parents or siblings abused at home during childhood were more likely to score highly on the scale of psychopathic traits than those who did not witness domestic violence in childhood, said the study, published in February in the journal Law and Human Behavior.

Story continues

However, although the study shows that there is a link between witnessing domestic violence in childhood and psychopathy, the results do not prove that witnessing domestic violence in childhood is a cause of psychopathy, Dargis said.

The exact mechanisms behind the potential link are unclear, the researchers said. However, it is possible that children who observe the manipulative and coercive behaviors displayed by the perpetrators of domestic violence may eventually develop these behaviors too, Dargis said.

But it is also possible that kids learn to manipulate and lie to avoid being victimized by the perpetrators of domestic violence at home, Dargis told Live Science. In other words, these children develop psychopathic behaviors to avoid becoming targets of the abuse that has affected their other family members.

One limitation of the study was that the researchers collected their data at a single point in time, and therefore the researchers were not able to examine a potential causal relationship between witnessing domestic violence and the development of psychopathic traits, the scientists said. Future research, conducted over longer periods of time, should examine how witnessing domestic violence in childhood may contribute to, or aggravate, the development pf psychopathic traits, the researchers said.

Originally published on Live Science.

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Dubai (AFP) - Reporters Without Borders said Friday it was "appalled" at a death sentence handed to a veteran journalist by a court in Yemen's rebel-held capital.

The court in Sanaa, which is controlled by Iran-backed Huthi insurgents, on Thursday found Yahya al-Jubaihi guilty of spying for neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it was the first death sentence issued against a journalist in Yemen.

"This Huthi-imposed death sentence sets a dangerous precedent for journalists in Yemen," said Alexandra El Khazen, the head of RSF's Middle East desk.

"Issued at the end of an unfair trial, it constitutes a grave violation of international law. We urge Huthi leaders to free this journalist at once," she said.

The Huthis hail from Yemen's Shiite-linked Zaidi minority in northern Yemen.

Since March 2015, oil-rich Saudi Arabia has been leading a deadly military intervention against the Huthis and their allies in the kingdom's impoverished neighbour.

The Huthis, supported by 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.

Yemen's press union on Thursday condemned the sentence as "arbitrary" and accused the rebels of "targeting press freedom".

It said Jubaihi, 61, was seized from his home on September 6.

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.

Eight reporters were killed in Yemen last year, according to the International Federation of Journalists.

RSF says at least 16 journalists and media workers are currently being held by armed groups in Yemen including the Huthis and Al-Qaeda.

Yemen is ranked 170th out of 180 countries in the organisation's 2016 World Press Freedom Index.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Romanian officials say a fugitive businessman and former lawmaker indicted on wide-ranging corruption charges has been detained in Serbia, months after he illegally left the country.

Interior Minister Carmen Dan on Friday said Serbian police took Sebastian Ghita into custody overnight in Belgrade. He is being investigated on charges of using false documents from a European Union state. Extradition procedures will begin after Serbian police complete their probe. Romanian police said law enforcement agencies from 10 countries helped in the case.

An arrest warrant was issued for Ghita when he illegally left Romania in December after he was charged with bribery, blackmail and money laundering.

While missing, Ghita released a series of televised allegations boasting of a close family relationship with a top intelligence officer, who stepped down amid the furor.
Fresh off his Moscow meeting with U.S. Secretary Rex Tillerson, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced he will visit Abkhazia for the opening of the Russian Embassy there.

Abkhazia, like Georgias other Russianoccupied region South Ossetia, declared independence in the 1990s. Like South Ossetia, it is not recognized as independent by the vast majority of countries around the world. It is, however, recognized as independent by  and financially supported by  Russia, with which Abkhazia, in Nov. 2016, established a new military force over which Russia, per the agreement, will have control in times of war. At the time, then-State Department spokesperson John Kirby said, We do not recognize the legitimacy of this so-called treaty, which does not constitute a valid international agreement.

But Russia is seemingly undeterred, given that it is opening an embassy in Abkhazia during Lavrovs visit, which will take place on Apr. 18 and 19. The opening of an embassy is clearly meant to indicate that, yes, Russia, still means to act as though Abkhazia is an internationally recognized independent country.

The announcement of Lavrovs visit comes, intentionally or otherwise, on a particularly fraught day: Friday is the 39th anniversary of a massive protest in Georgia against Soviet rule. On April 14, 1978, thousands, many of them students, took to the streets to protest a proposed change to the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republics constitution that would have diminished their language by equating in with Russian under the law. The opponents succeeded in blocking the change. The protest was one of the main outbursts of mass protest in Georgia, where dissidence took a nationalistic bent in no small part because it was an occupied country.

Thirty nine years later, Russia offers a reminder that that has not entirely changed.

Photo credit: NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images
MOSCOW (AP)  Russia says it has hosted regional consultations on Afghanistan intended to help national reconciliation.

The Russian Foreign Ministry says the meeting involved senior diplomats from Afghanistan, China India, Iran, Pakistan and ex-Soviet Central Asian nations.

It said in a statement that participants in Friday's talks supported the Afghan government's peace efforts and urged the Taliban to stop fighting and engage in a direct dialogue with the government.

Russia had also invited the U.S. to join the consultations, but it refused.

U.S. State Department acting spokesman Mark Toner said Thursday that while Washington supports regional peace efforts, the Moscow consultations "seemed to be a unilateral Russian attempt to assert influence in the region that we felt wasn't constructive at this time."
(MOSCOW) - International organizations on Thursday urged the Russian government to investigate the reported abuse and killings of gay men in Russias southern republic of Chechnya.

The respected Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported earlier this month that police in the predominantly Muslim republic of Chechnya have rounded up more than 100 men suspected of homosexuality and that at least three of them have been killed.

Chechen authorities have denied the reports, while the spokesman for leader Ramzan Kadyrov insisted there were no gay people in Chechnya.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called upon the Russian government in a statement to put an end to the persecution of people perceived to be gay or bisexual ... who are living in a climate of fear fueled by homophobic speeches by local authorities.

Separately, the director of the human rights office at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Michael Georg Link, said Thursday that Moscow must urgently investigate the alleged disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment of gay men in Chechnya.

After two separatist wars in the 1990s, predominantly Muslim Chechnya became increasingly conservative under late President Akhmat Kadyrov and then his son Ramzan.

Novaya Gazeta also reported this month that Chechen authorities are running a secret prison in the town of Argun where men suspected of being gay are kept and tortured.

Several hundred people rallied on Wednesday evening outside the Russian embassy in London, waving rainbow flags. One placard read Love is love in Russian.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
Russia on Friday called for "restraint" over the situation in North Korea, warning against any "provocative steps" after Washington said it was assessing military options in response to the country's weapons programs.

"Moscow is watching with great concern the escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

"We call for restraint from all countries and warn countries not to pursue actions that could consist of any provocative steps," he added.

Speculation has mounted in recent days that Pyongyang is preparing to fire a trial nuke or missile when it marks a major anniversary on Saturday, prompting US President Donald Trump to pledge the matter "will be taken care of."

Trump has sent an aircraft carrier-led strike group to the Korean peninsula to press his point, in one of a series of signals indicating his willingness to shake up foreign policy strategy.

Russia's North Korea envoy Alexander Matsegora on Friday said he does not rule out a test or launch in the near future, expressing concern that Trump could take a fateful decision without any North Korea experts on his team.

"If Mr. Trump would listen to a Russian Korea expert with 40 years of experience, I would advise him not to do it," he told RIA-Novosti of a potential US strike.

"Right now we all must stop at the edge of the abyss and not take this fateful step," he said.
By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's most famous campaigning newspaper said on Friday it had appealed to the Kremlin to protect its staff after Chechen clerics said the paper faced "retribution" for alleging that gay men in Chechnya were being tortured and killed. Novaya Gazeta published an article this month which said authorities in the majority Muslim southern Russian republic had rounded up over 100 gay men or men suspected of being gay and tortured them. It said at least three of them had been killed. Kremlin critics saw the report as further evidence that Moscow allows authorities in Chechnya to run the region - which has been consumed by two wars since the Soviet collapse - as a feudal fiefdom in exchange for separatist and radical Islamist sentiment being brutally suppressed. Chechnya's Moscow-backed president Ramzan Kadyrov denies allegations human rights are routinely flouted. His spokesman Alvi Karimov called Novaya's report "an absolute lie", saying there were no gay men in Chechnya to be persecuted. "Nobody can detain or harass anyone who is simply not present in the republic," Karimov told the Interfax news agency. Novaya's report also caused outrage among Chechnya's Muslim clerics, who adopted a resolution saying it had insulted the dignity and Islamic faith of Chechen men and society. "We promise that retribution will catch up with the hate-mongers wherever and whoever they are and with no statute of limitations," the resolution read. Dmitry Muratov, Novaya's editor, said on Friday that the resolution was an incitement to violence and that he was worried about his staff's safety. "This resolution is encouraging religious fanatics to retaliate against our journalists," he said in a statement, calling on the authorities to protect journalists and stop anyone whipping up hatred against them. Two of Novaya's reporters specialising in Chechnya - Anna Politkovskaya and Natalya Estermirova - have been murdered in the last decade. Neither case has been fully solved. Set up with financial help from ex-Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993, Novaya Gazeta is well-known in Russia for its investigations into official corruption, its reporting on Chechnya, criticism of the authorities and coverage of the opposition in a media landscape where most big-circulation newspapers are loyal to the Kremlin. The Kremlin said it was following the situation closely and that anyone who thought Novaya's report was false should contest it through the courts. "We are against any actions that could pose a threat to the safety or lives of journalists," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Peskov said that reports about gay men being tortured in Chechnya could not be regarded as reliable at this stage however, and that the Kremlin was not aware of the police receiving any complaints on the subject. Novaya said Russian investigators had so far ignored a request it sent to the authorities to investigate the contents of its report. (Additional reporting by Denis Pinchuk; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Sailor Jerry Teams With Harley-Davidson

Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum has hooked up with Harley-Davidson in a national campaign. The promotion features 22 custom Harleys designed by high profile artists and visionaries from around the United States including Harley-Davidson's own Styling Team.

This 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 leading up to Harley-Davidson's 115th Anniversary in 2018. 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.

The motorcycles will be unveiled in a public celebration at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee on May 2, 2017. The bikes will then be available for viewing around the country all summer at liquor retailers, Sailor Jerry's Fleet Week New York celebrations, the Harley-Davidson Museum and more. Fans will have a chance to win a motorcycle through a sweepstakes program kicking off on May 15. 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.

Sailor Jerry

"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.

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. For more information, visit www.sailorjerry.com.
HONG KONG (Reuters) - More than 50 construction workers hired for a casino resort on the Pacific island of Saipan staged a street protest on Friday demanding to be paid, after their employer was charged with illegally importing Chinese workers on tourist visas.

The Chinese workers, who entered Saipan on tourist visas and are not allowed to work, demanded that casino contractor MCC International Saipan, a unit of state-owned Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd, pay them wages, said eye witnesses.

"MCC return my hard earned money," read a protest banner, according to a Facebook live update. The Facebook videos could not be verified independently by Reuters.

MCC did not respond to a request for comment.

"No passports. No work. No money," said local legislator Ed Propst, who observed the protests.

Hong Kong-listed Imperial Pacific operates the Best Sunshine Live casino in Saipan. MCC is one of the contractors engaged to complete construction of the casino resort.

"Imperial Pacific International is strongly reiterating that it does not condone the hiring and or employment of individuals by illegal means," the company said in an email to Reuters.

"Imperial Pacific International is emphatic in its request to all of its contractors and subcontractors to follow all local and federal labor and immigration laws and regulations in the conduct of its business, including and in particular, the hiring of construction workers."

MCC, together with Beilida Overseas (CNMI) Ltd, were charged by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on April 3 with illegally importing and employing Chinese workers, including one who died in March, court documents showed.

Saipan is part of the Northern Mariana Islands and has been controlled by the United States since the end of World War Two.

Its cash-strapped government approved a casino in 2014, after which Chinese investment has skyrocketed and Chinese signs and business have mushroomed across the island.

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Since Imperial Pacific opened a temporary casino on the island under two years ago, its revenues have wildly outperformed the top casinos in Macau in spite of Chinas battle to stop capital flight.

Scrutiny of the new Saipan casino project has intensified after the death of a construction worker in March and an FBI raid in April that found a list of more than 150 undocumented workers in a contractor's offices, as well as a safe containing several thousand dollars in U.S. currency, several hundred Chinese yuan and employee pay stubs.

Imperial told Reuters in April that it had paid construction contractors "requisite fees for processing needed applications for workers to work on the construction problems".

The company said it opened its new casino on March 31 but the attached resort remains unfinished with equipment strewn across the workplace. There has been a slew of more than 100 work-site injuries from fractures to crushings in the past year, volunteers helping the injured told Reuters.

(Reporting by Farah Master, Additional reporting Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Michael Perry)
Dubai (AFP) - Activists feared Friday for the safety of a young Saudi woman they say was returned to the kingdom against her will, in a case highlighting tight restrictions on women.

Dina Ali Lasloom, 24, intended to flee to Australia to escape a forced marriage, Human Rights Watch cited a Canadian witness as saying.

The witness said Lasloom approached her while in transit at the airport in Manila, saying "airport officials had confiscated her passport and boarding pass" for a Sydney-bound flight.

The Canadian said she helped Lasloom film social media videos about her plight. In one of them she said: "If my family comes they will kill me," HRW said.

Arranged marriages are the norm in Saudi Arabia, where a "guardianship" system requires a male family member, usually the father, husband or brother, to grant permission for a woman's study, travel and other activities.

"Lasloom's whereabouts are currently unknown," HRW said in a statement from Manila.

The Canadian witness, who spent several hours with Lasloom at the airport in Manila, reported that two of Lasloom's uncles arrived, the New York-based watchdog said.

It also quoted an airline security official as saying he heard Lasloom "screaming and begging for help" on Tuesday before security personnel and men who appeared to be Middle Eastern carried her "with duct tape on her mouth, feet and hands" at the airport.

Asked about the HRW statement by AFP on Friday, the Philippine immigration department said it had held no one of Lasloom's name and no Saudi national.

"There was no Saudi national by that name who presented herself," spokeswoman Antonette Mangrobang said.

- 'Guardianship' system blamed -

"As far as immigration is concerned, we did not hold any Saudi national."

The spokeswoman said that if Lasloom was a transiting passenger, then she would not have passed through immigration and it would have been up to the airline to decide what happened to her.

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A Saudi activist told AFP that Lasloom, who lived in Kuwait, "was brought back by force to Riyadh and is now in custody."

A female medical student, Alaa, who went to the Riyadh airport to support Lasloom, was arrested when she tried to inquire about her whereabouts, the Saudi activist said.

The activist worried that both women could be detained "for a long time".

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was on a state visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday and Tuesday when the incident occurred.

The Berlin-based European Saudi Organization for Human Rights told AFP that "the seriousness of what Dina Ali is facing" stems from the guardianship system.

"Women's rights are... the most prominent human rights problem in Saudi Arabia," the group said.

The Saudi embassy in the Philippines said on Twitter that "the information that has been circulating over social media is untrue."

It described the incident as a family matter and said: "The citizen has now returned with her family to the homeland."

Human Rights Watch called on Saudi Arabia to reveal whether Lasloom is with her family or is being held by the state at a shelter.

"Lasloom is at serious risk of harm if returned to her family. She also faces possible criminal charges" for alleged parental disobedience and harming the reputation of the state with her public cries for help, the watchdog said.

It called on the Philippine government to also investigate and hold accountable "any of their officials who failed to protect Dina Ali Lasloom", as required by international law.

Madawi al-Rasheed, a visiting professor at the London School of Economics Middle East Centre, wrote on Twitter that Lasloom's case is "a classic... in which state and family cooperate against women in KSA" (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).
Sean Spicer opened his first White House Press Briefing appearance since Tuesdays, when he claimed Hitler had not used gas on his citizens, announcing the U.S. had, for the first time, dropped the most powerful non-nuclear bomb ever used in battle. Spicer said the blast targeted a system of tunnels and caves in Afghanistan used by ISIS fighters to move around freely, making it easier to target U.S military advisers and Afghan forces in the area.

Spicer declined to say whether Trump was aware or had signed off on the decision to deploy this weapon for the first time, saying Im not going to get into those details and would let Defense handle lead on this one. This, in marked contrast to press-briefing tradition in these situations  and to Trumps detailed tick-tock about ordering the recent missile strike in Syria as he and Chinas President Xi Jinping ate beautiful chocolate cake at Mar-a-lago.

So, reporters did not even try to ask Spicer whether it was no coincidence the so-called MOAB was dropped in the same province where Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar of 7th Special Forces Group had been killed on April 8, as a talking head had suggested earlier Thursday morning to Air Force Times.

Asked about the dizzying pace at which Trump recently has been flip-flopping on campaign positions  China no longer is a currency manipulator, NATO no longer is irrelevant, ordering that missile strike in Syria after arguing against military action there  Spicer insisted that its the circumstances not Trump, that have changed.

f you look at whats happened, those entities, or individuals in some cases, or issues, are evolving towards the Presidents position, he said. He pointed to NATO members having upped their defense spending. When asked to discuss the other flips, Spicer talked NATO some more.

With the federal government funded through April 28, and Trumps non-flip-flopping on plans to up military spending by $54B and to build that wall on the Mexico border, Spicer got asked how those talks are going. Were making significant progress and feel good about the momentum, Spicer answered,adding coyly, I dont want to get into whos going to be naughty or nice.

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Photo credit: Getty

From Redbook

You may have come across articles or ads online that promote Christina El Moussa's super-successful anti-aging skincare line. But don't believe the hype: Those ads are fake. TMZ reports that the Flip or Flop star is trying to get companies to stop using her name to endorse products without her permission.

Her lawyers are sending out a number of cease and desist letters, warning 23 different companies that they should take the fake articles down or else. But it's tough to figure out who exactly is doing this, and who is making up quotes and entire stories that are totally fake.

The Wrap reported in February that one of the scams, which has since been taken down, looks like an article from People that claims El Moussa created the skincare line so she could be financially independent from her ex, Tarek.

"This is absolutely NOT true, and it is a bogus website. This is not from People's website, and is clearly a scam with a made-up website address to give the false impression that Christina endorses this product or has made these false claims," her spokesperson told the website. "This is clearly an example of someone trying to take advantage of the current difficult situation she is going through in the public eye."

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Photo credit: Instagram

From Redbook

It's not surprising when twins have a special bond - after all, they typically do just about everything together, at least for the first few years of their lives. Cases in point: the Frozen reenacting twins and the brothers who can't stop partying all night long. But this super sweet photo shows a pair of twin sisters whose bond is already as strong as can be - and they're still in utero.

Carissa Gill and Randy Good, a Pennsylvania couple expecting twin girls, went into Fetal Vision Imaging for their standard 25-week ultrasound, but they weren't prepared for what they'd see. The clear-as-day 3D image showed their daughters apparently sharing a kiss in the womb.

Can you believe that timing? The photo almost looks posed. (Though, for the record, their ultrasound tech insisted it wasn't faked.)

Fetal Vision shares photos of many of its clients' gender reveal sonograms on Instagram. But understandably, Gill and Good's photo is one of its more popular shots.

"It was just so exciting to see them like that," Gill told Inside Edition. "I didn't think that they were going to be that close together, but they are, and it was just so beautiful to see." The full video showed even more of the kiss in action. "It first started off 'Baby B' was kissing 'Baby A' on the cheek and then they started getting closer and then they actually kissed on the mouth," she continued. "You can see their mouths open and close, it was just so cute."

The identical twins - who will be named Isabella and Callie, according to Gill's Instagram - even surprised the ultrasound technician. "I've done 15,000 of these, and I've never seen twins face-to-face, looking like they're kissing," John Hamburg of Fetal Vision told The Huffington Post. "Usually, one's head is up and the other is down."

Gill was happy to see her photo go viral, because, well, it's pretty freakin' adorable. "I would love to share this story with the world," the expecting mom told Fox 29. "Pregnancy is a beautiful thing to capture, especially when you get to see moments like this."

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(h/t Huffington Post)

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With Adam Rawnsley

Will Saturday be the day? Were one day out from April 15, which marks the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Koreas founding father and grandfather of Kim Jong Un, the latest repressive ruler of the impoverished police state. The date has long been circled on the calendars of military planners and policy makers around the globe as one that sees the North show off its military strength, including missile launches.

This year looks to be extra special, as Pyongyang is expected to conduct a its sixth nuclear test in the last decade  which many analysts expect to be its biggest.

The impending tests, and the record number of missile launches over the past several months have pushed the North Korean threat to the top of White Houses priority list, FPs Paul McLeary reports, 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 sown 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.

Recent satellite imagery taken of the Punggye-ri test site has shown the continued movement of North Korea military personnel and construction around the base. The North has conducted all of its five nuclear weapons tests in underground tunnels at the site.

Response? The U.S. has dispatched an aircraft carrier and other naval assets to sail closer to the Korean coast in recent days, and maintains dozens of military aircraft on nearby Okinawa. Several intelligence officials have told NBC News that Washington is prepared to launch a preemptive strike with conventional weapons against North Korea should officials become convinced that North Korea is about to follow through with a nuclear weapons test, though other news outlets, including FP, have been unable to verify those claims.

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Visit. Vice President Mike Pence is due to arrive in Seoul on Sunday on the first stop of an Asia tour, where hell huddle with regional leaders.

Goes boom. American military commanders in Afghanistan used a 21,000-lb bomb to blow up an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, employing one of the countrys most powerful non-nuclear bombs for the first time ever in combat. The MOAB, as its known, was dropped from a Special Operations MC-130 cargo plane, and wiped out a tunnel complex In Nangarhar province.

By Friday, Afghan officials were saying that 36 militants were killed in the blast. Given that each bomb costs about $16 million to manufacture, you can do the math on how much the U.S. taxpayer just spent to kill each fighter.

Wipe out ISIS? 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 FPs Emily Tamkin and Paul McLeary. The U.S. military estimates there are somewhere between 600 and 800 Islamic State fighters operating in Afghanistan, and 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.

Friendly fire. The strike came on the day that the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq announced that days earlier, one of its planes hit an outpost manned by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces near the Syrian city of Taqba, killing 18 of the fighters. The strike was called in by another SDF unit, which thought their fellow militia members were an Islamic State formation.

The strike highlights some of the dangers inherent in the stepped-up bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria, in which strikes are approved more quickly, and at a lower level, than they had been in the past. It also comes in the wake of several other recent incidents in which U.S. pilots have been accused of mistakenly killing civilians in both Iraq and Syria. FP has lots more on those strikes, and the ongoing investigations, here.

He said it. On Thursday, President Donald Trump alluded to his hands-off approach to targeting, which stands in stark contrast to the Obama administrations often unwelcome involvement in choosing targets and signing off on bombing runs. What I do is I authorize my military, Trump said. We have the greatest military in the world, and theyve done the job, as usual. We have given them total authorization, and thats what theyre doing.

Wiki what? New CIA Director Mike Pompeo excoriated WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange on Thursday in his first public remarks since taking over the spy agency, reports new FP intelligence reporter Jenna McLauglin.

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, and looks like 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. Pompeo also appeared to threaten U.S. action against the site, saying that WikiLeaks can no longer hide behind free speech arguments. It ends now, Pompeo said.

Theres some awkwardness here, however. Last summer, as the site published fresh disclosures from hacked emails of the DNC, Pompeo happily and promptly 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. Wikileaks responded by reposting Pompeos now-deleted Tweets.

Welcome to SitRep. Send any tips, thoughts or national security events to paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or via Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley.

Twitter fight. North Korea is angry with President Donald Trumps incessant aggressive tweeting, according to the countrys vice foreign minister. Vice Minister Han Song Ryol told the AP in an interview that Trumps penchant for social media bravado is making trouble on the Korean Peninsula and that the president is always making provocations with his aggressive words. Han also engaged in the customary North Korean issuance of war threats. Referring to Pyongyangs powerful nuclear deterrent, he said, we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a U.S. pre-emptive strike.

Politics of investigation. The head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) says the U.S. contention that the Assad regime used chemical weapons against the town of Khan Shaykhun is a credible allegation. The comment came at a meeting of the U.N. in which the U.S. ambassador to the group, Kenneth D. Ward, unloaded on the Syrian government and Russia, accusing the Assad regime of still harboring chemical weapons and saying Russia is looking to bury the truth about them. The OPCW is currently engaged in a fact-finding mission to investigate the incident. In an interview this week, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied that a chemical weapons attack had even taken place, labeling it a fabrication.

Personnel. The Trump White House has given the nod to Boeing senior vice president for Patrick Shanahan to be its next deputy secretary of defense, but Defense News reports that Shanahans lack of experience working in the Pentagon may make life difficult for him once he makes it through a lengthy confirmation process. The news outlet spoke to former Defense Department insiders who said Shanahan is going to have to get up to speed fast on the buildings often labyrinthine workflow and politics as he takes over from Obama administration holdover Bob Work. Shanahans recent past as a defense industry executive will also likely extend his confirmation process as he works to divest himself of financial interests in the company.

Confirmation. President Trumps pick for Army Secretary, however, looks like hell have an even tougher time in the confirmation process because of his harsh views of transgender people. The Hill reports that LGBT rights groups are gearing up to oppose Mark Green for Army Secretary because of his comments claiming transgender is a disease, that armed citizens should fight the government to stop its enforcement of rights for such groups, and because of legislation he sponsored in the Tennessee state Senate allowing therapists to deny care to LGBT people. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has signaled opposition to Greens nomination, saying she has serious concerns about him.

Tomahawks. The Tomahawk cruise missile garnered a fair amount of positive press in the wake of the Syrian airstrike, with slightly gauche comments from NBCs Brian Williams calling its launch a beautiful sight and gushing praise from President Trump himself. Nonetheless, National Defense reports that the missiles days may be numbered, according to Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Paul Selva. Selva told an audience at the Air Force Association that the Navy is looking to retire the Tomahawk in favor of a new land attack cruise missile that can offer more lethality and survivability than its predecessor.
In 2010, I entered the Army as an officer, solemnly swearing to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. It was the proudest moment of my life, continuing a family tradition of service stretching back three generations to World War II. I remember the awesome weight of my oath as I pledged to serve during a time of war. That oath later led me to make the most difficult decision of my life. In May of 2016, I sued President Obama for issuing an illegal order for me to engage in the battle against the Islamic State. I believe his order violates the Constitution and the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which forbids on-going warfare without the specific consent of Congress.

I made this decision while assigned as an intelligence officer to the command headquarters of Operation Inherent Resolve in Kuwait, and only after months of internal turmoil. Over and over, I weighed the obligation to my oath against my desire to continue serving with my unit against a reprehensible enemy. In 2015, the law professor Bruce Ackerman explained in The Atlantic why he believed an individual soldier would have standing to challenge the presidents decision. Holding the deep concerns I did on the missions legality, I read that article, and after much further contemplation, decided I was compelled to act by my loyalty to the Constitution. I remember blankly staring at the computer screen before hitting the button to send the email with my signed legal paperwork. This simple act meant that I would be unable to continue my familys tradition of career military service, and that I might not be allowed to finish the last four months of a year-long deployment with my soldiers. I believe I did not have a choice.

The Constitution is clear; only Congress can declare war. This decision was central to the Founders plan. As James Madison explained, "the constitution supposes, what the History of all Governments demonstrates, that the Executive is the branch of power most interested in war, and most prone to it. It has accordingly with studied care vested the question of war to the Legislature."

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Recommended: North Korea and the Risks of Miscalculation

People have asked me many times what truly motivated my decision to launch the lawsuit. Did you hate Obama? Its as if whatever I say in those subsequent seconds will drive their response to my actions one way or the other as they seek to determine if I am partisan friend or foe.

The truth is that I am a largely non-partisan soldier confronting a fundamental dilemma. On the one hand, I believed that the war was illegal because Obama failed to gain the congressional consent required. On the other hand, I was a soldier, and it was possible that there were legal arguments that had escaped my attention which might justify the presidents actions.

When faced with this dilemma, I turned to the only available option that allowed me to continue to serve with honor. I asked the federal judiciary to determine whether Obamas failure to gain congressional consent was indeed a violation of the War Powers Act and the Constitution. While this question was pending in the courts, I would continue to serve in Operation Inherent Resolve just as I had before.

However, if the judges refused to hear my case and provide an independent judgment, I would then be faced with only two stark choices. In one, I could follow my own judgment that told me the order was unconstitutional and must be disobeyed, and thereby likely subject myself to a court-martial. In the other, I could betray my oath to the Constitution by continuing to engage in an unconstitutional war.

Recommended: Are the Nationalists Losing the War for Trump's White House?

With the lawsuit pending before the federal courts, I followed every order given to me during the final months of my year-long deployment. I eventually returned home with my unit as the slow process of judicial review began. While my legal action may have given my personal dilemma public prominence, I was unique only for the action I chose to take, and not for being deeply troubled by the legally questionable nature of the mission.

After returning home, I faced another difficult choice. My first seven years of service as an officer were coming to an end, and I decided that I could not continue on active duty and run the risk of serving again in an unconstitutional war. Nevertheless, I remain a member of the individual ready reserve for at least a year, subject to recall for service in one or another constitutionally questionable missions.

Despite this continuing vulnerability, the district-court judge who heard my case refused to resolve my dilemma, ruling instead that I lacked standing to raise my constitutional challengewhich she held raised political questions that should not be resolved by the judiciary. That ruling has been appealed. Im asking the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to recognize the seriousness of the dilemma I confront, along with all the other servicemen and women serving their country.

In granting standing and hearing the merits, the appellate court would not only allow us to continue serving in support of the mission with honor while it resolves the constitutional issues in a thoughtful fashion. It would also clarify the fundamental issues at a time when the American people are engaged in a renewed debate over presidential war-making provoked by President Trumps Tomahawk strikes in Syria.

I also believe that by taking these core issues seriously, the Court of Appeals would encourage the president and Congress to examine their obligations to the Constitution, precisely as the Founders envisioned. They might also help ordinary Americans confront their own responsibilities to preserve the Founders vision of the republic.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
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.
Sri Lankan soldiers dug through rubbish with their bare hands Saturday looking for survivors after a huge garbage mountain collapsed destroying 145 homes and killing at least 19 people.

Four children were among the dead following Friday's incident at Kolonnawa on the northeastern edge of the capital, Colombo national hospital spokeswoman Pushpa Soysa said.

The 300-foot (91-metre) high dump came crashing down on neighbouring homes Friday as the country marked the traditional new year.

Military spokesman Brigadier Roshan Seneviratne said troops were keeping up a rescue operation 24 hours after disaster struck, but feared that chances of finding anyone alive were slim.

Businessman Saman Wimalasiri was one of the first responders and said he helped to rescue several people trapped inside wrecked homes.

"We used ropes and pulled out an elderly woman who was trapped under the debris of her own home," Wimalasiri told AFP. "It took us about four hours to get her to safety."

He said some areas could not be reached because the garbage slide had made them unstable.

The initial rescue was carried out by volunteers such as Wimalasiri before President Maithripala Sirisena ordered hundreds of troops to search for survivors through the night.

Police said 145 homes were destroyed.

- 'Moving mountain' -

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is currently visiting Japan, said arrangements had been made to remove the garbage dump, but it came crashing down before relocation work could begin.

"Those who lost their homes and those who have to be relocated will be compensated," Wickremesinghe said in a statement. "we will deliver on our promise to remove the garbage dump."

Guttila Silva, a former mayor and local politician, said residents were angry that the Colombo Municipality had continued to dump hundreds of tonnes of garbage at the site daily, despite safety concerns.

About 800 tonnes of solid waste is added per day to the open dump.

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"People are naturally angry because their protests were ignored," Silva said. " I fear the death toll could go up because more than a dozen are still missing."

Police said a total of 145 homes, mostly shacks, were destroyed when a side of the garbage mountain came crashing down on Friday following heavy rain the previous day and a fire hours earlier.

More than 600 people were given temporary shelter at a government-run school in the area as authorities looked for alternative accommodation for those living near the dump.

Many residents had evacuated their homes before the disaster because of the heavy rain.

"The casualties would have been much higher if most people had not left their homes earlier in the day," a disaster management official told reporters at the site.

Three homes in the area were destroyed in February last year following a minor garbage slide and the authorities had warned another 25 households to evacuate because of risks to them.

Sri Lanka's parliament was warned recently that the 23 million tonnes of garbage rotting at Kolonnawa was a serious health hazard.

Efforts are under way to generate electricity using solid waste as fuel.
An rare alliance of Hungarys far right and left are coming to the rescue of Budapests embattled Central European University, an unexpected development that could offer the institutions best hope of survival.

Hungarys center-left parties, including the mainstream socialist party, all independents, and, unexpectedly, the far-right Jobbik party are pushing for a court review of the constitutionality of a law that would effectively shut the university and which is broadly seen as an attack on George Soros, who founded the university in 1991.

A quarter of Hungarys members of parliament need to make a request to force judicial review of the law, which was adopted by Hungary on Monday. The alliance between the various left parties and Jobbik is seen as enough to meet that threshold easily. But its noteworthy that the Jobbik MPs are supporting the court review not because of their fondness for CEU but because they see it as a stick in the eye to Hungarian President Viktor Orban, whose Bolshevik agenda they oppose.

This is certainly not the only form of opposition the law has seen, as the attack on the young university has sparked indignation in Washington and in European capitals.

U.S. lawmakers weighed in on Tuesday, saying efforts to close CEU would harm Hungarian higher education and impact bilateral relations between our two countries. Also on Tuesday, acting State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said at a press briefing, Were urging the Government of Hungary to suspend implementation of the law.

The European Peoples Party (EPP), the pan-European coalition party to which Orbans Fidesz party belongs, is thinking of cutting ties with Fidesz (though, to the consternation of some non-Fidesz members of Hungarian parliament, they have not done so yet). Meanwhile, the European Commission is assessing the Hungarian laws compatibility with European law. On Friday, over 400 authors and artists have signed a letter in support of CEU.

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But the left-right coalition driving the court review is the least expected reaction to the law  but perhaps the one that promises to be most effective. CEU rector Michael Ignatieff has previously noted that Hungarian basic law has a clause protecting academic freedom. And Hungarys former president, Laszlo Solyom, has called the law clearly unconstitutional.

And with far-right Jobbik helping the center-left to take the law to court, Hungarians  and observers around the world  can see if the countrys constitutional court thinks so, too.

Photo credit: ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images
Lausanne (AFP) - A grey-haired woman in her early 60s daintily lifts small trays topped with different varieties of marijuana to her nose, sniffing each of them carefully.

"Which one would you recommend for someone with medical issues?" she asks salesman Paul Monot, co-founder of the DrGreen shop in western Switzerland.

Posters of bright green cannabis plants advertise its wares, which, like those sold openly in a growing number of shops across Switzerland, are completely legal.

There is a catch however: They won't make you high.

"There is no psychotropic effect of our weed," says Monot, at his store in Lausanne.

On display are four varieties of legal cannabis boasting familiar names such as Skunk and Purple Haze, and an identical appearance and smell as their illegal counterparts.

Since 2011, cannabis containing up to one percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) -- the component that gets recreational users high -- can be sold and consumed legally in the wealthy Alpine country.

That compares to a 0.2-percent limit in most European countries, which effectively blocks all sale of cannabis flowers since crossbreeding plants to consistently contain below that level of THC has so far proved impossible.

Switzerland was eager to enable large-scale production of non-drug cannabis, especially to exploit another active component, cannabidiol (CBD), used in a range of products, from cosmetics to pet food, and increasingly valued for its potential health benefits.

- Taxed liked tobacco -

It has taken years for the low-potency cannabis business to develop and demand to grow, but recently shops like DrGreen have been booming.

Monot and his partner launched in December and are already raking in sales of up to 100,000 Swiss francs ($99,500, 93,400 euros) a month.

Swiss media have cited estimates that sales of legal cannabis are currently about 100 million Swiss francs annually.

Trade really took off after health authorities in February ordered the low-THC cannabis be taxed like tobacco and carry similar health warnings, making it clear just how legal the product is.

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"For the past month or so, it has just been exploding,... and we're surfing the wave," Monot told AFP.

Aziza, 37, said she only discovered a few weeks ago that legal cannabis was on sale in shops near her Geneva home.

"I love this stuff," she said, adding she had become increasingly concerned about the rising THC-levels in the illegal product she liked to smoke.

"With this stuff, I feel the same relaxation as before, but since there is no high, I can still get things done and play with my kids," she said.

- 'Sort of oasis' -

Monot buys the cannabis he sells in bulk from a producer in northern Switzerland, KannaSwiss, which has also seen an explosion in sales.

"Switzerland has become sort of an oasis" for legal cannabis, said KannaSwiss co-founder Corso Serra di Cassano.

KannaSwiss counts around 10,000 square metres (108,000 square feet) of outdoor growing space and plans to soon triple the 800 square metres it has indoors.

"Demand in Europe is very big, and we're the only country at the moment that has laws that make this possible," Serra di Cassano said.

Canada has just unveiled legislation to fully legalise recreational marijuana use, making it only the second country to do so, after Uruguay.

For many, the Swiss offer seems too good to be true.

"So this stuff is 100 percent legal?" asks a man in his 20s with several visible piercings and tattoos as he sniffs the DrGreen Skunk. "Can I smoke it on the street?"

Monot says he spends much of his time advising customers how to use his products without getting into trouble.

If police are suspicious, they can demand to test the cannabis in a laboratory for THC levels and hand the bill to the user if it is above one percent, along with a fine for illegal possession.

Monot urges the man to smoke discreetly and suggests he hold onto his receipt, pointing out that as long as the seal on the plastic container is not broken, the product inside is guaranteed to be legal.

- 'Calming' -

The cannabis plants KannaSwiss and others specialise in are bred not only to have low THC levels but also high levels of CBD.

CBD is considered anti-inflammatory and to have numerous potential therapeutic benefits, such as for panic attacks or as pain relief.

"It really calms the nervous system, but without any psychoactive effects," Serra di Cassano said.

Many people also buy the low-potency cannabis to help wean themselves off the illegal variety.

Legal cannabis currently sells for between seven and 18 Swiss francs a gramme, on a par with the street price for the THC-loaded illegal marijuana.

- 'Wild West' -

KannaSwiss specialises in making CBD oil, also used for therapeutic and relaxation purposes, which sells for between 17 and 50 francs a gramme depending on its concentration.

But while that business is booming, Serra di Cassano says the regulation of legalised cannabis is not yet tight enough.

"It's a bit the Wild West," he said, worrying that without strict controls poor-quality and even health-hazardous weed could reach the market, or that dishonest sellers could mix illegal cannabis with KannaSwiss' product.

"We would like to see (this business) continue for a long time," Serra di Cassano said.

But he said he feared that "if people misbehave and don't treat it with respect, I don't think it will be around for very long."
One month after teen Elizabeth Thomas went missing, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is probing 381 leads in the disappearance of the student suspected of being kidnapped by her teacher Tad Cummins, AL.com reported Thursday.

TBI received 1,481 tip-offs on 15-year-old Elizabeth and 50-year-old Cummins, the bureaus public information officer Susan Niland said, according to AL.com. Of these, 1,100 leads have been dismissed and TBI continues to investigate the remaining, Niland added.

Law enforcement officials declared an Amber Alert in Tennessee and Alabama after Elizabeth disappeared March 13 and issued a warrant against Cummins for kidnapping and having sexual contact with the minor. Authorities received several tips on the pairs reported sightings  of which, TBI confirmed one in Oklahoma City, where the two were captured March 15 on security footage of a Wal-Mart. The video came to light two weeks after Elizabeth and Cummins were spotted at the retail store.

Elizabeth is a student at Maury Countys Culleoka Unit School, where Cummins worked as a health science teacher. The school fired him from the job after the alleged kidnapping.

The Maury County District Attorney Brent Cooper urged the teen to call her family even if risked his investigation into the criminal case against Cummins, according to CBS-affiliate WHNT-TV.

"We don't care if she calls to tell them, 'I'm happy, I'm with him. I'm happy and I don't want to come home.' At least then they'll know she's okay," Cooper said.

On Tuesday, Cooper said Cummins left a note for his wife Jill Cummins on day he went missing  likely to mislead authorities.

"If you look at it now after knowing what's happened, it's obvious the note was just an attempt to buy some extra time before his wife raised the alarm," said Cooper. "I would say that there's a decent chance that some federal laws have been violated at this point, and certainly there could be additional state charges depending what we can prove once they've been located."

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The district attorney also said Cummins is on blood pressure medication and should be in need of a refill. Pharmacies and doctors have been told be on lookout for the student-teacher duo.

Separately, Cummins family urged him to return.

No matter where you are, daddy, no matter what youve done we just want you to come home, Cummins 29-year-old daughter Erica Osborne said during an interview with ABC News on Thursday. We miss you so much. Were here for you, no matter what anytime, any place, anywhere.

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Bangkok (AFP) - Hordes of revellers armed with plastic water guns poured onto Thai streets on Friday for a second day of watery warfare to ring in the kingdom's traditional new year.

Known as Songkran, the Thai holiday is celebrated by paying respect to elders and sprinkling water over Buddha figures at local temples.

But the festival has also become one of the world's biggest -- and booziest -- water fights.

Every April rowdy street parties erupt across the nation as hundreds of thousands of Thais and tourists don floral shirts and drench each other with brightly-coloured water pistols.

Similar but smaller water festivals are also held in neighbouring Buddhist countries like Myanmar and Laos.

The burst of colour was especially striking this year in Bangkok, where many Thais have worn only black and white for the past six months to mourn the October death of the deeply revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

"At its peak I think there were hundreds of thousands of people in Silom," city official Vallop Suwandee told AFP, referring to a downtown Bangkok district that has become a Songkran hotspot.

"Overall the situation is orderly," he added.

Many see the soggy celebration as a fun-filled respite from the sweltering heat that engulfs Thailand during its hot and dry season.

But the military junta that came to power in 2014 has tried -- mostly in vain -- to rein in the revelry with bans on skimpy clothing and restrictions on alcohol.

The generals have also struggled to curb drink driving, which surges during the holiday week, earning it a reputation as Thailand's "Seven Deadly Days".

Authorities reported 167 road deaths over the first three days of this year's festival -- a toll only marginally lower than the 181 deaths recorded over the same period last April.

The number of road accidents was also up slightly, according to the Interior Ministry, with nearly half of the crashes involving drunk drivers.
BENSHEIM, Germany (Reuters) - Thousands gathered in the southwestern German town of Bensheim on Friday to watch a procession that seeks to remind locals of the meaning of Easter - an important festival in the Christian calendar - by re-enacting Jesus Christ's crucifixion. Actors decked out as Roman soldiers in shiny armor and red gowns accompanied the actor playing Jesus, who sported a beard and crown made of twigs and carried a large wooden cross through the picturesque town center in a tradition that spans decades. The procession, which depicts scenes from the Bible, is known for its elaborate props and costumes and is performed in Bensheim every year on Good Friday - when Christians believe Jesus was crucified. The tradition was started there by Italian migrants in the 1980s. "They do it in such a life-like way, it is so believable - it hits the mark," said Joachim Klenk, one of the spectators. Edith Lorek, another spectator, enjoyed watching the procession with her friends: "I'm a believer and for me it's important because it reminds me of Good Friday, the whole story." According to the Christian faith, Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, symbolizing death is not the end but rather a new beginning. (Reporting by Reuters Television and Kai Pfaffenbach; Writing by Michelle Martin; editing by Susan Thomas)
About four years after the Supreme Court took away the governments strongest authority to protect minority voters rights, a backup power under the federal Voting Rights Act  weaker and harder to use  is now being threatened, just as federal courts have begun applying it.

At issue now, as it was when the Supreme Court decided the case of Shelby County v. Holder in June 2013, is a form of government supervision of voting rights that goes by the technical term, pre-clearance. When operating against a state or local government, that means that officials cannot put any new voting law or procedure  however minor  into effect without first getting approval in Washington, D.C.

Three cases now developing in federal courts based in Texas are testing whether the variation of pre-clearance will take the place of what the Supreme Court scuttled. And there are already serious challenges facing that prospect, in each of those cases.

Congress created pre-clearance in passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. By then, Congress had grown frustrated over a repeated cycle of passing specific new protections for minority voters, only to find that some state and local governments quickly devised new restrictions on those voters. The response that Congress chose was to streamline federal review of voting laws in areas where racial bias had stubbornly persisted.

No longer would minority voters and civil rights groups have to challenge restrictions, one law at a time in one case at a time. Instead, the burden of proving that a new law was not discriminatory was imposed on the governments that planned to adopt a change in voting. Because of their record of discrimination, those jurisdictions had to ask either the Justice Department or a special federal court in Washington to decide whether to allow the new law to go into effect. Such a law might actually seem to be racially neutral, but that had to be proved.

Pre-clearance worked exactly as Congress had hoped: over the decades that it was in operation, it had a major impact on breaking down barriers to minority voting.

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But the Supreme Court became convinced in recent years that this form of federal oversight was a deep intrusion into the sovereign power of the states to conduct elections and that, in any event, the formula that had put some states, counties and cities under a pre-clearance duty was found to be out of date.

Finding in the Shelby County case that times have changed, the court in its 5-to-4 decision nullified that formula, and, with it, the duty of any jurisdiction to get pre-clearance under the laws Section 5. The court did not say that Congress could not re-impose a pre-clearance duty under Section 5, provided it wrote a new formula on who would have to submit to that. Congress has not done so, and the political reality seems to be that it simply wont.

As soon as Section 5 became ineffective, there was a rash of new activity in many states and local jurisdictions, adopting anew or putting into effect previously-stalled restrictions that fell most heavily on minority voters  such as photo ID requirements.

The Shelby County ruling did not disturb another part of the 1965 law  Section 3. That, too, involves a potential pre-clearance duty. Under Section 3, no state, county or city government is automatically required to get pre-clearance to change voting laws. Voters and their lawyers have to challenge each new provision after it was adopted, in separate lawsuits.

If the challengers wanted to have a court strike down such a law under the Constitution, and not just under the Voting Rights Act, they had to prove not only that it actually discriminated against racial or ethnic minorities, but also that it was passed with the specific purpose of discriminating.

If the judge found such an intent, then Section 3 gave the judge the authority to impose the Washington pre-clearance obligation for all future changes in voting in that state or locality, and to do so for a period of years.

Federal judges do not appear to be eager to take that step. For example, a federal appeals court that last summer struck down a series of voting restrictions adopted by the North Carolina state legislature almost as soon as the Supreme Court decided the Shelby County case.

The appeals court ruled that those laws were so severe that they brought back memories of the Jim Crow era of deep racial hostility. The court found that the changes were adopted with the specific intent to discriminate against black voters, but it refused to require Section 3 pre-clearance for future North Carolina voting laws. It simply blocked enforcement of the specific laws at issue.

Earlier this year, however, a federal trial judge in Houston, District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal, became the first since the demise of Section 5 pre-clearance to impose Section 3 pre-clearance as a remedy for a discriminatory voting practice. That case involves a shift of the way voters in Pasadena, Texas, elect the members of the city council. Judge Rosenthal, after finding that the change discriminated intentionally against the citys Hispanic voters, adopted a six-year period of pre-clearance for any future change in voting laws in that locality.

That case has now moved on up to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. And that is where one major threat to Section 3 remedies has arisen. It came in a legal brief filed by the state of Texas last month, supporting an appeal by the city of Pasadena as far as the city is challenging the remedy of Section 3 pre-clearance. That remedy, the state brief asserted, must be sparingly and cautiously applied.

The states filing argued that misuse of that mode of pre-clearance threatens to re-impose the same unwarranted federal intrusion that Shelby County found could not be justified under the Constitution. The brief contended that Judge Rosenthal had engaged in such a misuse of this provision by imposing it for only a single incident of discrimination  the one-time change in the method of electing the Pasadena city council.

The only circumstance in which a Section 3 pre-clearance remedy is valid, under either the specific language of Section 3, the reasoning of the Supreme Court in 2013, or the Constitution, the Texas brief contended, is when a judge can conclude that the discrimination was pervasive, flagrant, widespread, and rampant.

The Fifth Circuit Court has been centrally involved for years in Voting Rights Act cases, because the state of Texas (located in that Circuit) has so often been sued for discrimination in voting. If that court were to read the Section 3 pre-clearance provision in the limited way that the state seeks, that would be a major setback in this legal field.

In two other Texas cases working their way through lower courts, the judges have found intentional race or ethnic bias in voting laws  one in Corpus Christi involving the state of Texass very strict voter photo ID requirement, the other in San Antonio involving the boundaries for several election districts for Texas members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Both of those courts are now considering pre-clearance as a possible remedy, but have not yet imposed it. Both almost certainly will be guided by what the Fifth Circuit Court decides in the Pasadena case about the scope of the Section 3 pre-clearance remedy.

Another threat to the Section 3 remedy arises from the view that the new Trump Administration has already begun to take on enforcement of federal voting rights laws and on the Constitution as it applies to voting. In the voter photo ID case now before a federal trial judge in Corpus Christi, the Trump Justice Department recently dropped its claim that the law involved intentional race discrimination. Minority voters and civil rights groups are still pressing that claim on their own.

Of course, the Justice Departments view of what constitutes race discrimination in voting will be crucial when any state or local government is ordered to seek pre-clearance, and they will choose to seek it from that Department in the new Administration because that probably would enhance their chances of getting clearance.

Sooner or later, a pre-clearance case under Section 3 is going to reach the Supreme Court, and the Justices would then be in a position to say what that remedy means, and whether its scope is narrowed under the reasoning of the Shelby County decision.

Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011 and has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com, where this post first appeared.

Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly
By Ahmad Sultan and Hamid Shalizi ACHIN, Afghanistan/KABUL (Reuters) - The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan said on Friday that the decision to deploy one of the largest conventional bombs ever used in combat was purely tactical, and made as part of the campaign against Islamic State-linked fighters. As many as 36 suspected Islamic State militants were killed in the strike on Thursday evening in the eastern province of Nangarhar, Afghan defence officials said, adding there were no civilian casualties. Amaq, the news agency affiliated with Islamic State in the Middle East, carried a statement denying that the group had suffered casualties in the attack, citing an unidentified source who had been in contact. The statements could not be independently verified, and on Friday Afghan and foreign troops in the vicinity were not allowing reporters or locals to approach the scene of the blast. The strike came as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to dispatch his first high-level delegation to Kabul, amid uncertainty about his plans for the nearly 9,000 American troops stationed in Afghanistan. Nicknamed "the mother of all bombs," the weapon was dropped from an MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar, bordering Pakistan. Nicholson said he was in constant communication with officials in Washington, but the decision to use the 21,600-pound (9,797-kg) GBU-43 bomb was based on his assessment of military needs and not broader political considerations. "This was the first time that we encountered an extensive obstacle to our progress," he said of a joint Afghan-U.S. operation that has been targeting Islamic State since March. "It was the right time to use it tactically against the right target on the battlefield." Afghan and U.S. forces were at the scene of the strike and reported that the "weapon achieved its intended purpose,", Nicholson said. Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said no civilians were harmed in the massive blast that targeted a network of caves and tunnels that had been heavily mined. "No civilian has been hurt and only the base, which Daesh used to launch attacks in other parts of the province, was destroyed," Waziri said in a statement. He was using an Arabic term that refers to Islamic State, which has established a small stronghold in eastern Afghanistan and launched deadly attacks on the capital, Kabul. The GBU-43 is a GPS-guided munition that had never before been used in combat since its first test in 2003, when it produced a mushroom cloud visible from 20 miles (32 km) away. The bomb's destructive power, equivalent to 11 tonnes of TNT, pales in comparison with the relatively small atomic bombs dropped on Japan at the end of World War Two, which had blasts equivalent to between 15,000 and 20,000 tonnes of TNT. MIXED REACTIONS In Achin village, about 3 miles (5 km) from the remote, mountainous area where the bomb was dropped, witnesses said the ground shook, but homes and shops appeared unaffected. Qari Mehrajuddin first saw "lightning like a thunder storm" followed by the roar of an explosion, an all-to-familiar sound for residents of the war-torn area. "I thought there was a bombing just outside my home," he said. In reality, the blast was around three miles away, its massive impact bigger than any before seen in the region. Some locals welcomed the strike. "If you want to destroy and eliminate Daesh, then even if you destroy my home we won't complain, because they are not human beings, they are savages," said Mir Alam Shinwari, using an Arabic term for Islamic State. Away from Achin, reactions were mixed. "The fact is that America used their big bomb here to test its effectiveness," said Kabul resident Asadullah Khaksar. "If America wants to eliminate Daesh, it is very easy because they created this group." Residents of Achin said they had got used to seeing militants climbing up and down the mountain, making occasional visits to the village. "They were Arabs, Pakistanis, Chinese and local insurgents coming to buy from shops in the bazaar," said Raz Mohammad. "TESTING GROUND" On Friday, the village was swarming with Afghan and international troops, as helicopters and other aircraft flew overhead. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's office said in a statement the attack was a part of a joint operation by Afghan and international troops. "Afghan and foreign troops closely coordinated this operation and were extra cautious to avoid any civilian casualties," it said. But former president Hamid Karzai condemned the use of the weapon on Afghan soil. The Taliban, the main security threat to Afghan and NATO forces trying to quell their stubborn insurgency, also denounced 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 Islamic State in Afghanistan, said in a statement. American officials said the bomb had been positioned for possible use in Afghanistan for "some time" since the administration of former president Barack Obama. The United States has steadily intensified its air campaign against Islamic State and Taliban militants in Afghanistan, with the Air Force deploying nearly 500 weapons in the first three months of 2017, up from 300 in the corresponding 2016 period. Thursday's strike was not the first time Islamic State fighters have been targeted by heavy American bombardment in Nangarhar, where a U.S. special forces soldier was killed battling militants a week ago. Last year, B-52 bombers operating out of Qatar flew at least two missions in Afghanistan for the first time since 2006. Such aircraft can carry as much as 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg)of bombs, missiles, or other weapons on each mission. In March, U.S. forces conducted 79 "counterterror strikes" against Islamic State in Nangarhar, killing as many as 200 militants, according to the U.S. military command in Kabul. U.S. military officials estimate there are about 600 to 800 Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar, but also in the neighbouring province of Kunar. The United Nations has raised concerns that the American air campaign is swelling civilian casualties in Afghanistan. Last year, air strikes by international forces caused at least 127 civilian deaths and 108 injuries, up from 103 deaths and 67 injuries in 2015, the United Nations said. (Additional reporting by Josh Smith in KABUL and Mostafa Hashem in CAIRO; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Clarence Fernandez)
Warning: This story contains spoilers for The Fate of the Furious



It was the kiss that launched 1,000 tweets: In the trailer for The Fate of the Furious, Vin Diesels Dominic Toretto locks lips with Charlize Therons baddie Cipher in front of his wife, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez). How? Why?! It turns out Cipher blackmailed Dom into working for her by threatening to kill the son he never knew he had. So how did Dom get out of this bind? By teaming up with his nemesis and using a very special necklace. Confused? Let us explain:

When were Dom and Elena together?

Way back in the fourth Fast film, Fast & Furious, Doms childhood sweetheart Letty appeared to die in a car explosion. In Fast Five, Dom moved on and romanced Brazilian cop Elena (Elsa Pataky). The two were living a peaceful, explosion-free life together in Spain at the beginning of Fast & Furious 6.

But Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne The Rock Johnson) tracked them down and told them that Letty was still alive. She apparently lost her memory and joined a group of terrorists led by Owen Shaw (Luke Evans). Elena, being an incredibly understanding person, eventually tells Dom to go save Letty, which he does.

MORE 10 Fate of the Furious Plot Holes That Only Make the Movie Better

When did Elena get pregnant?



Elena tells Dom in Fate of the Furious that she found out she was pregnant right before Letty returned. That means she probably knew she was pregnant at the end of Fast & Furious 6, and through Furious 7. Elena appeared twice during those films. First, at the end of Fast & Furious 6 when she tells Letty, no hard feelings, she can have Dom. Shes back in the beginning of Furious 7 when Shaws brother, Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), attacks DSS headquarters. Deckard blows up Hobbs office, and Hobbs saves Elena by grabbing her as they are launched out of a window.

That means that Elena was pregnant when she flew out of a building and landed on a car, which could not have been great for the baby. Mere details...

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Dom didnt know

Elena says she planned on telling him about the baby after he and Letty got back from their honeymoon in Cuba. Seems odd since the baby looks to be well over a year old when we finally see him. Also, she hasnt named him for an entire year. Again, odd not to mention impractical.

Matt Kennedy-Universal Pictures/APCharlize Theron in The Fate of the Furious.

Cipher turns out to be the ultimate Fast & Furious baddie

Theyre the Russian nesting dolls of villains. Lets work backwards: Cipher has multiple terrorists, including Jakande (Djimon Hounsou) from Furious 7 and Owen Shaw from Fast & Furious 6 on her payroll. Shaw was also the boss of the drug lord Braga (John Ortiz), the man who ordered Letty to be killed in Fast & Furious. And it was Owens death that led Deckard to wreak havoc on the crew in Furious 7.

So basically Cipher is responsible for all of the bad things that have happened to the Fast family in the last five films. If you had any doubt that shes really bad, she kills Elena just because Dom was flirting with his own wife. Talk about cold.

MORE How The Fate of the Furious Handles Paul Walkers Death

Matt Kennedy-APCharlize Theron and Vin Diesel in The Fate of the Furious.

Dom calls on another family for help



The Shaw family doesnt love Cipher: She recruited Owen Shaw to her team and then left him for dead in a hospital when Dom threw him off a plane in Fast & Furious 6. Dom figures this out after Cipher tells Deckard he chose the wrong team when she breaks into the crews super-secret headquarters and gives them all wicked concussions.

Dom somehow manages to reach out to the Shaw brothers mother (Helen Mirren, who we hope will get behind the wheel of a car in Fast & Furious 9). He then pretends to kill Deckard. Shaws mother is waiting for him in the ambulance to devise a plan to take down Cipher and save Doms baby while Dom is busy stealing nukes in Russia.

While its great that Owen and Deckard saved Doms baby, lets not forget that the brothers are responsible for the deaths of Doms friends, Gisele (Gal Gadot) and Han (Sung Kang) in Fast & Furious 6. In fact, the plot of Furious 7 centered around the gang tracking down Deckard to kill him and avenge Hans death. Considering all the trouble he went to in the last movie, Dom seemed to forget all of that pretty quickly when he decided to team up with the Shaw brothers this time around.

How did Deckard fake his death?

Leo (Tego Calderon) and Santos (Don Omar) are two members of Doms crew from Fast & Furious and Fast Five. They bicker while they pull recon jobs-like clogging up the toilets in a police station so they can masquerade as janitors to infiltrate it. At the end of Fate of the Furious, we see them gambling their millions in Monaco. They werent in the last two Fast films but return for a brief cameo in Fate as two fake ambulance drivers who move Deckards dead body.

MORE We Ranked Every Possible Detail of the Fast & Furious Movies

How is Deckard able to track Ciphers plane?



If that cross necklace looked familiar, its because its been kicking around the Fast franchies for years. Dom gave it to Letty before she died and started wearing it again in her memory. It fell off during a fight in Fast Five and Elena picked it up and started wearing it around (which is sort of weird). Dom got it back from her and gave it to Letty to try to help her regain her memory in Fast & Furious 6. She, in turn, gave it to Owen Shaw to prove she didnt care about Dom. Later, Deckard Shaw dropped it at the site of Hans murder as a sort of threat to Dom. Dom retrieves it when he visits Tokyo to bring Hans body home.

And now, besides sentimental value, it apparently has a super-powerful tracking device implanted inside. This clever move leads Shaw to Doms sons location, setting up the delightful scene in which he kicks bad guys butts while carrying a baby.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
Reguengos de Monsaraz (Portugal) (AFP) - Facing a shortage of Roman Catholic priests, women churchgoers have stepped in to lead Sunday services in villages in southeastern Portugal, a sign the ageing communities are open to change.

In the tiny church of Carrapatelo, a village overlooking the vineyards of the Reguengos de Monsaraz region, Claudia Rocha stands before a dozen mostly elderly female churchgoers wearing a black dress and sneakers.

Her leather jacket and smartphone sit on the front-row bench as the 31-year-old leads what the church terms "Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest" with ease.

After prayers and church hymns, she makes comments on the day's biblical reading, a form of preaching.

At the end, Rocha hands out communion wafers representing the body of Christ that were blessed by the priest beforehand, but wine is not part of the ceremony.

"This church would be closed if I wasn't here. Who cares if I am a woman, a deacon or a priest? What matters is having someone from the community who maintains our connection with the priest, even when he isn't here," she tells AFP.

- No misgivings -

A divorced social worker without children, she is one of 16 laypeople -- eight men and eight women -- chosen by Father Manuel Jose Marques to help ensure regular attendance at the seven parishes he presides over.

"It might seem strange and new, but we haven't invented anything here. It's a tool that has long been set out in the Church's guidelines, for cases when it's absolutely necessary," says the 57-year-old priest.

The practice of Sunday services being led by laypeople in a priest's absence take place in a number of countries, including Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and the US.

It began in the 1980s, when services were prepared with a priest or ordained clergy member, resembling mass but without the rite of consecrating bread for communion or the Eucharistic prayer.

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The Vatican and many clergy members have refused to encourage the practice, fearing a trivialisation of the tradition of Mass.

Father Manuel had no such misgivings.

To him, the need to set up Sunday services without a priest became apparent as soon as he took on his seven parishes around 16 years ago.

Before, there had been three priests for the seven parishes in Reguengos de Monsaraz, a town in the region of Alentejo between Evora and the Spanish border.

He assembled a group of 16 volunteers aged between 24 and 65 from varied backgrounds.

"These are people who have experience with faith and welcoming Christ, and who know how to talk about it," he says, noting he makes no distinction between men and women.

Lay women step in, too, in other rural parts of Portugal, whose population of 10 million is overwhelmingly Catholic but only counts around 3,500 priests for 4,400 congregations.

- 'Very sensitive subject' -

Last August, Pope Francis set up a group to study the role of women deacons in the early days of Christianity.

While he ruled out the possibility of ordaining female priests, the move was considered a potentially historic opening towards a place for women in the Church.

"It is a very sensitive subject, but what we have done is very simple. In this tiny village, we are quite a bit ahead of the Vatican," says Rocha.

The progressive Father Manuel says he believes "women would be very good priests and deacons" but is quick to add: "It's not the opinion of one priest, or even 10 that makes theology."

"We are living in the heart of an open community, the difference between men and women is no longer as strong as it was in the past," says Dora Cruz, who teaches catechism in Campinho, a village of 700 people.

"But women's equality doesn't necessarily come from priesthood," adds the 31-year-old mother and kindergarten teacher.

Members of the congregation approve of having a woman behind the altar.

"People found it strange at first -- a woman leading Mass? But now we're used to it," says Angelica Vital, a 78-year-old pensioner.

"If we're short of priests, I think they should be allowed to marry -- they are men, like any other!" she adds, with a devilish grin.
Despite escalating losses in Iraq and Syria, the ability of ISIS to continue to carry out (or inspire) attacks far beyond those countries should not be overlooked. This spring alone, the group has claimed bombings or assaults in Sweden, Egypt, and the United Kingdom.

As defeated fighters return home from the frontlines, here are the top five countries of origin for ISIS foreign fighters - as ranked by a 2016 study for the National Bureau of Economic Research - and why each has reason to worry:

Tunisia

Of the six countries caught up in the Arab Spring, democracy has taken hold only in Tunisia. And it looks to have staying power: Six years on from the ousting of autocratic President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, 86 percent of Tunisians say democracy is the best system of government, up from 70 percent at the time of the revolution. More importantly, enthusiasm for democracy comes at a time when just 15 percent of Tunisians believe the economy is doing well and 90 percent say corruption is prevalent.

Unfortunately, Tunisias newfound enthusiasm for democracy is not shared by all. Roughly 6,000 Tunisians have left home to join the ranks of ISIS, the highest per capita rate in the world. The ISIS admirers who stayed behind are just as worrying; it was a Tunisian inspired by ISIS social media who was responsible for the 2015 beach shooting that left 38 dead (most of whom were foreign tourists), the deadliest terrorist attack in the history of modern Tunisia. Democratic growing pains, ongoing economic struggles, and the return of defeated jihadis will continue to give ISIS openings into the country.

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi kingdom, an active promoter and sponsor of Wahhabism, the fundamentalist strain of Islam that serves as the backbone of modern Islamic extremism, is the second largest source of foreign fighters for ISIS-roughly 2,500 have joined. Its also a terrorist target itself. In July 2016, it suffered a triple suicide bombing attack across three cities; in May 2015, an ISIS bombing killed 21 people.

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The kingdom came into being when tribal leader Abdulaziz al-Saud conquered the land we now know as Saudi Arabia in 1932 and struck a deal with clerics to solidify his rule; al-Saud and his descendants (todays royal family) manage the security, politics and foreign affairs of the country, and the clerics have charge of religious matters. The marriage remains troubled, because the royal family is more open to dealing with the West than its clerical counterparts. Thats why ISIS considers modern Saudi Arabia a perversion of Islamic statehood. And that isnt going to change.

Russia

The ISIS corps stem from well beyond the Middle East. Russia is no stranger to terrorism either; more than 3,500 people have died in 800+ attacks in the country since 1970. The latest took place just last week when a bomb exploded in the St. Petersburg subway, killing 14 people. No group has yet claimed responsibility, but Russian state media has suggested links to ISIS or other international terror franchises. The assailant has been identified by Russian authorities as Akbarzhon Dzhalilov, a 22-year old Russian national born in Kyrgyzstan.

Russias history with terrorism centers mainly on the Northern Caucasus regions of Chechnya, Dagestan, and Ingushetia, predominantly Muslim regions that have sought independence from Moscow, often through violent means, off and on for nearly three hundred years. The collapse of the USSR in 1991 breathed new life into the regions independence movements and led to two particularly bloody wars in Chechnya that claimed thousands of lives. In 2002, Chechen militants took 912 people hostage in the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow; 130 of those hostages ended up being killed. In 2004, Chechen rebels stormed a school in Beslan and took more than 1,200 hostage; more than 330 people were killed, including 186 children.

Foreign religious extremists like ISIS have made headway into recruiting from the North Caucasus, including from the migrant communities in major cities to which Dzhalilov may have belonged. Russian President Vladimir Putin himself estimates that between 5,000 and 7,000 people from Russia and other former Soviet republics have travelled to Syria to take up arms with ISIS and other militants. For Russia, the fight against Islamic terrorism is oftentimes a fight with itself.

Turkey

Turkey has its own fraught relationship with an ethnic minority agitating for independence. The Kurds are an ethnic group that number between 20 and 40 million who straddle the borders of Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Armenia. Denied their own state when the borders of modern Turkey were established following World War I, they are now the worlds largest stateless ethnic group. Kurdish fighters have spent decades fighting the Turkish government to carve out an independent state for themselves, and some have resorted to terrorism; over the last three decades, more than 40,000 people have been killed in clashes between Turks and Kurds.

Complicating matters is that Kurds in Syria are one of the most effective forces fighting both Assad and ISIS. Their success could create an independent Kurdish state inside Syria, which might encourage a larger share of Turkish Kurds to take arms with the same goal. So one of the greatest terrorist threats against Turkey is also a threat to ISIS.

At the same time, roughly 2,100 Turks have travelled to Iraq and Syria to join ISIS. Since 2015, more than 400 people have been killed in terrorist attacks throughout the country. In other words, Turkeys terrorism problem is only becoming more complicated.

Jordan

Rounding out the list of top sources for ISIS foreign fighters is Jordan, which has seen nearly 2,000 people join ISIS over the last few years. Like Turkey, which is hosting 2.9 million Syrian refugees, Jordan is also taking in more than its fair share of the regions displaced people-the 655,000 Syrians its putting up represent 8.5 percent of its total population of approximately 7.5 million.

Relative to the rest of the Middle East, terrorist attacks in Jordan are quite rare, a fact which has earned it the unofficial title of Kingdom of Peace. That peace was broken in December 2016 when ISIS terrorists attacked the popular tourist destination Karak Castle, killing 10 people in the process and injuring another 34. It was the first civilian-targeted terrorist attack in Jordan in more than a decade. For a group as PR-savvy as ISIS, being regarded as a safe place is an invitation for bloodshed.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP)  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared in a massive parade in the capital city on Saturday celebrating the birthday of his late grandfather and North Korea founder Kim Il Sung. North Korean state television showed Kim, wearing a black suit and white shirt, stepping out of a black limousine and saluting his honor guard before walking down a red carpet. He then walked up to a podium and clapped with senior government officials to address the thousands of soldiers and a massive crowd taking part in the parade at Kim Il Sung Square. The parade may also feature some of the country's most valuable military hardware, such as its prototype intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Prototype intercontinental ballistic missiles have highlighted a broad range of military hardware North Korea displayed in a massive parade honoring the country's late founding father. North Korean state television showed what appeared to be several KN-08 and KN-14 missiles rolled out on trucks at the parade Saturday celebrating the 105th birthday of Kim Il Sung. Third-generation dictator Kim Jong Un watched in delight from a podium. Military analysts say the missiles could one day be capable of hitting targets as far as the continental United States, although the North has yet to flight test them. North Korean soldiers also rolled out another large rocket that appeared to be the size of an ICBM, but what a South Korean military analyst said hasn't been seen before.

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP)  President Donald Trump's tweets are adding fuel to a "vicious cycle" of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea's vice foreign minister told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Friday. The official added that if the U.S. shows any sign of "reckless" military aggression, Pyongyang is ready to launch a pre-emptive strike of its own. Vice Minister Han Song Ryol said Pyongyang has determined the Trump administration is "more vicious and more aggressive" than that of Barack Obama. He added that North Korea will keep building up its nuclear arsenal in "quality and quantity" and said Pyongyang is ready to go to war if that's what Trump wants.

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BEIJING (AP)  There can be no winners in a war between the U.S. and North Korea over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programs, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday, while pledging support for dialogue between the sides. Wang's comments mark the latest attempt to cool tensions by North Korea's most important ally and key provider of food and fuel aid. Any fighting on the Korean Peninsula is likely to draw in China, which has repeatedly expressed concerns about a wave of refugees and the possible presence of U.S. and South Korean troops on its border. China also has grown increasingly frustrated with the refusal of Kim Jong Un's regime to heed its admonitions, and in February cut off imports of North Korean coal that provide Pyongyang with a crucial source of foreign currency.

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Trump administration has settled on its North Korea strategy after a two-month review: "Maximum pressure and engagement." U.S. officials said Friday the president's advisers weighed a range of ideas for how to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear program, including military options and trying to overthrow the isolated communist dictatorship's leadership. At the other end of the spectrum, they looked at the notion of accepting North Korea as a nuclear state. In the end, however, they settled on a policy that appears to represent continuity. The administration's emphasis, the officials said, will be on increasing pressure on Pyongyang with the help of China, North Korea's dominant trade partner.

Japan says it is maintaining high levels of surveillance and taking "every possible measure" to respond to any contingency on the Korean Peninsula, where North Korea is warning of war and more nuclear tests. The Japanese Foreign Ministry declined to comment on specific parts of an Associated Press interview with North Korea's Vice Minister Han Song Ryol, who on Friday said his country will conduct its next nuclear test whenever its leadership sees fit. The U.S. says it is considering military action if that happens. The Foreign Ministry says Japan is coordinating with the U.S., South Korea and other countries and will continue efforts to convince North Korea to refrain from further provocations and comply with U.N.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  The biggest non-nuclear bomb ever dropped in combat by the U.S. military killed 36 militants in eastern Afghanistan, officials said Friday, and villagers in the remote, mountainous area described being terrified by the "earsplitting blast." The strike using the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, was carried out Thursday morning against an Islamic State group tunnel complex carved in the mountains that Afghan forces have tried to assault repeatedly in recent weeks in fierce fighting in Nangarhar province, Afghan officials said. U.S. and Afghan forces have been battling the Taliban insurgency for more than 15 years.

ISLAMABAD (AP)  A senior Pakistani official says an Indian naval officer who faces the death penalty for espionage and sabotage will not be immediately executed because he has the right to appeal his conviction by a military tribunal. Sartaj Aziz, the prime minister's adviser on foreign affairs, told reporters Friday that Kulbhushan Jadhav is entitled to file a mercy petition to the army chief if an appellate court upholds his conviction. Aziz's comments were aimed at easing tensions with India, which has warned Pakistan of serious consequences if it executes Jadhav. He said Jadhav can also seek a pardon from the president of Pakistan.

Some quotes from the AP interview with North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song Ryol in Pyongyang on Friday: "Whatever comes from the U.S., we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it." "If the U.S. comes with reckless military maneuvers, then we will confront it with the DPRK's pre-emptive strike. We've 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. pre-emptive strike." The country's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "It is not the DPRK but the U.S. and (President Donald) Trump that makes problems.

WASHINGTON (AP)  Vice President Mike Pence is opening his trip to the Asia-Pacific region amid increasing tensions in North Korea over the regime's nuclear and missile programs. Pence is set to arrive Sunday in South Korea as President Donald Trump vows that Kim Jong Un's government is a "problem" that will be "taken care of." The vice president's 10-day trip comes as North Korea celebrates the 105th anniversary of the birth of national founder Kim Il Sung, which falls on Saturday. It's North Korea's most important holiday and a large-scale military parade is expected. Tensions have been on the rise along the Korean Peninsula in recent weeks over concerns about North Korean aggression.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  The remains of the Wampanoag leader who forged a peaceful relationship with the Pilgrims will be reburied at his original gravesite in Rhode Island.

Members of the Wampanoag Nation have spent 20 years tracking down the remains and artifacts of Massasoit Ousamequin. It was their "spiritual and cultural obligation," said Ramona Peters, who coordinated the effort.

Ousamequin signed the first treaty with the Pilgrims after they arrived on the Mayflower, promising in 1621 in the village that became Plymouth, Massachusetts, to protect each other, according to the Wampanoags. The peace lasted for decades.

Ousamequin was buried on a hilltop in Warren overlooking Narragansett Bay. His remains and artifacts were scattered when a railroad was built through the burial site nearly two centuries after his death and archaeologists and local residents dug there.

Objects belonging to Ousamequin, which translates to "yellow feather," became part of collections in seven museums. A private ceremony is planned for May at the gravesite.

A federal law that took effect in 1990 requires museums to transfer remains and any associated burial objects to culturally affiliated tribes. The purpose of the law, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, was to allow for reburials consistent with tribal traditions. Peters said it has been difficult because there was resistance from some museums at first.

"Native Americans across the country appreciate Congress passing this, which makes the entire repatriation possible," she said Friday.

Ousamequin's artifacts include a pipe, knife, beads and arrowheads.

The Rhode Island Historical Society has repatriated about 75 items to the appropriate tribes since the law's passage, including artifacts belong to Ousamequin. They were donated as relics in the 1800s, but collections aren't assembled in that way today, said Kirsten Hammerstrom, director of collections.

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"Grave goods are not something we dig up and accept. They belong to the tribe," she said.

Peters is a citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Members of her tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head and the Assonet Band of Wampanoag helped with the effort.

The Wampanoags have collected hundreds of funerary objects that were removed from the burial ground on the hill and held dozens of burials for their ancestors whose graves were disturbed, Peters said.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be able to do this for our ancestors," she said.
North Korea's weapons of war rolled through Pyongyang streets Saturday and it promised "nuclear justice" in response to any atomic attack as leader Kim Jong-Un mounted a spectacular show of strength.

Tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions are stretched to the limit, with US President Donald Trump deploying an aircraft carrier battle group to the region.

After a 21-gun salute, tens of thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen goose-stepped through Kim Il-Sung Square turning their eyes towards the high balcony from where Kim watched, flanked by officers and officials.

Some detachments carried assault rifles or rocket-propelled grenades, others were equipped with night-vision goggles and daubed in face paint. One troupe was made up of sword-wielding women.

Tanks came next through the square -- named after Kim's grandfather, the North's founder -- followed by the objects of world concern.

A total of 56 missiles of 10 different types were displayed, culminating in enormous rockets on articulated trailers and on 16-wheeler vehicles.

The nuclear-armed North is under United Nations sanctions over its weapons programmes, and has ambitions to build a rocket capable of delivering a warhead to the US mainland - something Trump has vowed "won't happen".

Ostensibly Saturday's event was to mark the 105th anniversary of Kim Il-Sung's birth -- a date known as the "Day of the Sun" in the North -- and a squadron of warplanes flew overhead forming the number.

But it was also intended to send an unmistakable message to Washington about the isolated country's military might.

Kim's close aide Choe Ryong-Hae declared that the North was a "powerful nuclear-armed state in the Orient and Asia's leader in rocketry".

It could "beat down enemies with the power of nuclear justice", he said, and was "prepared to respond to an all-out war with an all-out war.

"We are ready to hit back with nuclear attacks of our own style against any nuclear attacks," he said.

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- Fever pitch -

The 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty and Pyongyang says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against a possible US invasion.

It has carried out five nuclear tests - two of them last year - and multiple missile launches, one of which saw several rockets come down in waters provocatively close to Japan last month.

Speculation that it could conduct a sixth blast in the coming days to coincide with the anniversary has reached fever pitch, with specialist US website 38North describing its Punggye-ri test site as "primed and ready" and White House officials saying military options were "already being assessed".

After dispatching the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and an accompanying battle group to the Korean peninsula Trump told the Fox Business Network: "We are sending an armada."

"He is doing the wrong thing," he added

of Kim. "He's making a big mistake."

China, the North's sole major ally, and Russia have both urged restraint, with Beijing's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warning Friday that "conflict could break out at any moment".

The North is aiming its message at China as well as the US, analysts say.

Beijing's priority remains preventing any instability on its doorstep, and it has been unnerved by the sabre-rattling.

But diplomats in Pyongyang point out that the North raises its rhetoric every spring, when Washington and Seoul hold annual joint military exercises that it views as preparations for invasion.

It has not previously held a nuclear test in the month of April.

- Testing times -

Military specialists keep a close eye on Pyongyang's parades for clues about developments in its capabilities.

The hardware displayed Saturday included what appeared to be new ICBMs or prototypes, and the Pukkuksong submarine-launched ballistic missile, which Pyongyang successfully test-fired last August, reports and analysts said.

The rockets carried on articulated trailers appeared to be longer than the North's existing KN-08 or KN-14 missiles, analysts said.

Chad O'Carroll, managing director of specialist service NK News, told AFP they could be a liquid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile, or an early version of one, even though Pyongyang has yet to formally announce it has an operational ICBM.

"It will be a big game-changer once it is deployed in service but they have got a long testing schedule ahead," he said.

"We'll probably see more engine tests or component tests building up eventually to an actual test of the full unit."

- 'Long live!' -

Pyongyang could use the parade as a show of strength in preference to a nuclear test, analysts said.

It wanted to send "a tough message to the United States in response to the Trump administration's recent rhetoric and the military steps the United States has taken", said Evans Revere of the Brookings Institution in Washington.

Another missile launch or nuclear test "can't be ruled out", he said, but the recent US cruise missile strike on Syria and Washington's tough stance "may give Pyongyang some pause".

"A parade is a highly visible but non-kinetic way of showing off capabilities," he told AFP.

Kim did not address the rally himself on Saturday, instead waving and smiling as ecstatic crowds of flag- and flower-bearing civilians -- men in suits, women in traditional hanbok dresses -- filed past him behind the military display.

"Long live!" they chanted, some in tears.
Madrid (AFP) - Troublemakers sparked panic sparked at Seville's nighttime Good Friday processions, famed for their religious floats, hooded penitents and crowds of spectators, seriously injuring one person, Spanish authorities said.

Emergency services said eight people were detained in connection with the incidents, from 04:00 local time (0200GMT) on Friday, which sent people running in panic and leaving children in tears along procession routes throughout the city .

One man was later released, though he could still face charges, authorities in the southern Spanish city said.

In a statement, the Cecop centre that oversees security during the annual processions said those detained had "shouted", used metallic objects to make loud noise or made "wild gesticulations" to create panic in the thousands-strong crowds.

An AFP photographer present said she heard what sounded like a stampede of galloping animals, and then a mass of people pushed towards her.

Standing on the Isabel II bridge that straddles Seville's Guadalquivir River, she climbed onto a lamppost.

"There were children, women with prams," she said, adding that some people rushed down steps towards the river, falling over themselves in panic.

"The first thing people think is that there is a terrorist attack."

Spanish media reported that some of those later detained shouted "Allah is great" as well as slogans in favour of the Basque separatist group ETA.

But Ricardo Gil-Toresano, the central government's representative in Seville, said there was no link to extremism.

"It's got nothing to do with Islamist groups, ETA, or any known terrorist group," he told reporters in comments broadcast on Spanish television.

"They wanted to create the utmost panic with their shouting," he added.

An initial probe showed that there were three initial movements of panic, which sparked a "domino effect" in other parts of the city, Cecop said.

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"These are isolated cases without any apparent connection that are similar to cases of vandalism and hooliganism," it said.

The situation was later brought back under control and the processions continued.

Cecop said three of those arrested were "common delinquents".

Some 17 people were taken to hospital for injuries and panic attacks, it said.

One of them was in intensive care in a serious condition with a head injury.

Organised by religious brotherhoods and featuring huge floats of wooden sculptures of religious scenes accompanied by hooded penitents, the processions known as "La Madruga" are the high point of Easter Week festivities in Seville.

This morning's early incident mirrors a similar outbreak of panic in 2000 in Seville's Good Friday processions, which left 52 people injured.

Good Friday is the second of four intensive days in the Christian calendar culminating in Easter Sunday, which commemorates Christ's resurrection.
President Donald Trump recently launched a high-profile White House initiative to combat the growing problem of opioid drug abuse in America. Yet his expected selection to oversee the nations drug laws is a congressman from an opioid-ravaged district whose signature legislative accomplishment is a bill that shielded prescription opioid distributors from law enforcement scrutiny.

The White House is expected to name Rep. Tom Marino, R-Pa, to be the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)  a position often referred to as the nations drug czar. Marino is a former prosecutor who has represented a rural district in northeastern Pennsylvania since 2011. The ONDCP declined to comment for this story and Marinos office did not respond to multiple requests for comment as well.

Read: Ohio Opioid Epidemic: 13-Year-Old Boy Dies Of Heroin Overdose

If appointed, Marino would be the first member of Congress to become drug czar. He would come to the job after pulling in big money from an industry that is producing and distributing the nations most deadly legal drugs. Marino has received more than $150,000 in donations from the pharmaceutical industry in his political career, including $71,000 for the 2016 election, according to records at Maplight.org and Opensecrets.org. The data show Marino has received more money from the pharmaceutical industry than any other sector.

As the nation faces an opioid crisis fueled by the mass production and marketing of addictive prescription drugs, some physicians fighting the epidemic view Marinos possible ascent to drug czar as a betrayal of rural communities ravaged by opioids  many of which voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump.

This is the opposite of draining the swamp, Dr. Andrew Kolodny, the co-director of Opioid Policy Research at Brandeis University and co-founder of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing (PROP), told International Business Times. In the midst of a public health crisis [Trump] is putting at the helm of the ONDCP someone who has worked for the opioid lobby against efforts to bring the epidemic under control.

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Its hard to overstate how deadly the opioid epidemic has been for Americans. Since 1999, the number of overdose deaths from opioids has quadrupled, as did deaths from prescription opioids like oxycontin, fentanyl and hydrocodone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many experts blame this rise on the makers of opioid prescription drugs, like Purdue Pharma, the creator of oxycontin, which pled guilty to misleading doctors about the drugs addictiveness and agreed to pay $600 million in fines in 2007. Three Purdue executives also agreed to pay a total of $34.5 million in fines.

This epidemic was created by pharmaceutical companies, Georgetown Universitys Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman told IBT. She is the director of PharmedOut, a group that advocates for responsible prescribing practices. Thats not too strong to say.

The epidemic has only intensified since Purdues guilty plea in 2007, and now cities and counties are bringing lawsuits against drug distributors  the companies that sell drugs wholesale. The three largest distributors  McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen, which together generated $430 billion in 2015 and account for 85 percent of the drug distribution market  have agreed to pay $230 million in fines to the federal government and opioid-plagued West Virginia since late December. The fines were connected to charges that the companies failed to report suspicious orders of pharmaceuticals.

According to Maplight.org, all three companies have given multiple campaign donations, totaling between $13,000 and $15,000, each to Marino who wrote legislation that made it harder for the DEA to take companies off a registry that allows them to distribute controlled substances. If the companies were dealt this penalty, they could potentially incur a far greater financial hit than fines.

Marino introduced three versions of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act between 2014 and 2015 before H.R. 471 passed the House. In the Senate, Orrin Hatch, R-Ut, who received more money from the pharmaceutical industry than anyone in Congress between 2010 and 2016, introduced a companion bill. The legislation was eventually signed by President Barack Obama last year, but not before DEA Deputy Assistant Administrator Joseph Rannazzisi had a conversation with congressional staffers that provoked the ire of Marino, who said Rannazzisi told staffers the bills sponsors were supporting criminals. (Rannazzisi told the Washington Post he said the bill would protect defendants in our cases.)

During a congressional hearing, Marino told Rannazzisis boss the comments offended him immensely, and the congressman even asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Rannazzisi had tried to intimidate members of Congress. Rannazzisi was eventually replaced at the DEA in 2015 and retired shortly after. He did not reply to multiple requests for comment for this story.

Rep. Marino has made it very clear he is on the side of opioid manufacturers, PharmedOuts Fugh-Berman told IBT. The bill he supported made it hard for the DEA to go after distributors and wholesalers of drugs. The DEA was having its hands tied even before Trump got into office but this appointment will make things much worse.

It could also put Marino in tension with others in the Trump administration. Late March, Trump convened the first meeting of the Presidents Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis at the White House. The commission is led by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has dedicated the last year of his increasingly unpopular governorship to fighting the opioid crisis, and who governs a state that is home to 14 of the worlds 20 largest pharmaceutical companies.

Christie

Photo: REUTERS/BRIAN C. FRANK

Tough On Marijuana

As drug czar, Marinos job would be to coordinate drug policy across a variety of unrelated federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department (which houses the DEA), Health and Human Services and the Department of Education, according to former drug czar Gil Kerlikowske.

The job is breaking down silos and bringing together all of those assets, so they can coalesce around a mission, Kerlikowske, who served as drug czar under Obama from 2009 to 2014 before becoming the U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner, told IBT. You also have the bully pulpit of being part of the White House.

Kerlikowske was the chief of Seattle Police before taking the job, but didnt think the czar should necessarily come from a law enforcement background.

Coming from Congress, I think thats healthy, and probably a good idea, Kerlikowske said. He also added that Marinos history as a prosecutor would be an advantage, because it would be pretty hard to cast him in the light of being soft on drugs.

While Marino has helped the opioid industry during his career in Congress, he has not been as friendly to the marijuana industry.

Marino voted against allowing Veterans Administration doctors to prescribe medicinal marijuana to veterans in states where the drug is legal, and also voted against lowering obstacles to the production of hemp, the non-psychoactive part of the cannabis plant. He even voted against legislation that prevented the Justice Department from pursuing medical marijuana businesses that were legal under state law.

This tough-on-marijuana view aligns Marino with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has said marijuana is only slightly less awful than heroin and has sparked concerns about a return to the War on Drugs policies of the past. But while the Trump administration has signaled a tough stance on marijuana with its drug czar and attorney general picks  in spite of the fact a majority of Americans support legalizing the drug  it has simultaneously shown a deference to the pharmaceutical industry. Trumps nominee to head the FDA is Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who has advocated for deregulation in the medical industry and received over $400,000 from pharmaceutical and medical device companies between 2013 and 2015, according to ProPublica.

Controversial End To Prosecutorial Career

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Marino could face questions about his law enforcement record  and a scandal that nearly ended his political career.

In 2007, Marino resigned from his position as a federal prosecutor after it was revealed Pennsylvania casino owner Louis DeNaples put down Marinos name as a reference on a gaming application at the same time Marinos office was investigating DeNaples for ties to organized crime. After his resignation, Marino went to work as in-house counsel for several DeNaples businesses. In 2010, during his first run for Congress, Allentowns Morning Call reported Marinos resignation came as he was being investigated by the Justice Department for his ties to DeNaples. The investigation was closed when Marino resigned, the report said.

In spite of that news, which broke just a month before election, Marino won his first term by nine percentage points over Democratic incumbent Chris Carney. The margin of victory grew to over 40 points in Marinos election win in 2016.

Its likely any special election held for Marinos vacant seat will be won by a Republican. In Lycoming County, Trump trounced Hillary Clinton, getting 69 percent of the vote to the Democratic candidate's 25 percent. That same county saw an 80 increase in drug overdose deaths between 2014 and 2015, according to the DEA. The story is the same in many places throughout the country.

Many people in regions of the country hit very hard by the opioid addiction epidemic voted for Trump, Kolodny said. To the extent that many of them voted for Trump because they felt Obama failed on the opioid addiction epidemic I expect they will be very upset by this choice.

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After some initial confusion in February and some scrambling in March, President Trumps White House hosted its first Easter Egg Roll on Monday, continuing a tradition dating to as early as 1872, when Washington children gathered on the grounds of the Capitol for the ovoid festivities.

Welcoming guests to the White House South Lawn, Trump appeared with first lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron.

>>> See photos of this years White House Easter Egg Roll

Were going to come out and join you, enjoy your company for a roll, a great Easter Egg Roll. I dont know if were going to be successful, but I know a lot of people, theyre going to be successful. Ive seen those kids, and theyre highly, highly competitive, Trump said.

Photos of the first family with the Easter Bunny quickly went viral, as did a clip of the first lady nudging the president to remind him to put his hand on his heart during the national anthem.

The Easter Egg Roll has ballooned into the largest White House event of the year, with tens of thousands of guests attending annually, but a New York Times report last week cast some doubt on whether the upstart administration was up to the task.

>>> See historical photos of the White House Easter Egg Roll

Wells Wood Turning & Finishing, the Buckfield, Maine-based company that provides the wooden eggs for the event, was forced to publicly remind the White House in February to reach out to beat the ordering deadlines.

In a Friday interview with Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric, Chris Chandler, the president of Wells, noted the multifaceted approach to planning the White House Easter Egg Roll. He said the tweet was an attempt to contact anybody and everybody who was involved with the event.

The small company, in addition to manufacturing items ranging from rolling pins to furniture parts, has supplied commemorative eggs to the George H.W. Bush Library, various museums, governors offices and the Veterans Administration, in addition to the White House  its most prominent customer.

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Chandler insisted that the comparatively late notice from the White House was not a challenge for his highly skilled, hardworking team, which hopped right on the assignment.

And with potentially Trumpian flair, a higher percentage of the eggs are golden than in years past. Chandler could not confirm that the request for gold eggs came directly from the commander in chief, a noted enthusiast of all things gilded.

According to the events website, the White House is set to host 21,000 guests Monday for the daylong event, a sharp decrease from the 37,000 who attended last year. The White House ordered fewer than half the previous number of eggs for the occasion. Still, Chandler admitted it was one of the small companys most prized assignments.

We really appreciate the opportunity to make something of this prominence for the children of America at the premiere national park of our country, which is the White House, Chandler said.

It definitely has a kind of elevated levity to it.
The Pennsylvania congressman who appears to be President Trumps choice for national drug czar has a track record that is making him a lightning rod for criticism in the drug-treatment community and among advocates for patients' rights.

Tom Marino, a former district attorney and federal prosecutor from Williamsport, is a well-known drug warrior. A staunch opponent of legalizing both medical and recreational marijuana, Marino also has advocated locking up non-violent drug offenders until they submit to treatment.

As drug czar, Marino would oversee the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which advises the president on drug issues and coordinates national and global anti-drug efforts. His appointment would require Senate confirmation.

The Republican was one of the first members of Congress, along with fellow Pennsylvania Rep. Lou Barletta, to openly support Trumps presidential candidacy. At campaign rallies, Trump saluted Marino and Barletta, nicknaming them Thunder and Lightning. The pair remain among the presidents most vocal and loyal advocates.

Marino, a self-described deplorable, also has been one of the most vociferous opponents of the Affordable Care Act. Better known as Obamacare, the ACA has helped provide more access to drug treatment services to poor people under an expanded Medicaid program.

Us "Deplorables" are about to start. Well over 500 bikers showing support for @realDonaldTrump. pic.twitter.com/xpDEEJnSTo  Tom Marino (@Marino4Congress) October 9, 2016

In Congress, Marino voted multiple times against protecting residents of states where cannabis is legal from prosecution under federal drug laws, rejected allowing the Veterans Affairs Department to administer medical marijuana to veterans, and cast votes against measures that would allow industrial hemp.

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Marino has said he recognizes that the nation is suffering from a substance abuse epidemic. In 2015, there were more than 52,400 overdose deaths, and nearly 13,000 of those fatalities related to heroin, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The situation has hit Pennsylvania particularly hard, and is felt acutely in parts of Philadelphia and the suburbs.

Its Marinos get-tough solutions his critics find troubling. In congressional testimony, Marino said drug abusers should be held in a secured hospital-type setting under the constant care of health professionals.

After people pleads guilty to drug possession charges, Marino said, they should be placed under intensive treatment program until experts determine they should be released under intense supervision. If this is accomplished then the charges are dropped against that person.

Many advocates say forcing treatment isnt legal and wouldnt work.

Im not sure it would pass constitutional muster, said Roseanne Scotti, director of the Drug Policy Alliance in New Jersey. No medical professional would think this is a good idea. No expert on treatment would think it was a good idea.

Forcing treatment is rarely, if ever, effective, Scotti said. For instance, heroin users who return to the street after a court-mandated stint frequently die of an overdose soon after release because they have reduced their tolerance for the drug, but dont receive the support they need afterward to stay clean.

Were not just setting them up for failure, Scotti said. Were setting them up to die.

Repeated calls to Marinos office on Thursday requesting comment were not returned. His office was closed in observance of Good Friday.

Marinos allies, however, say hes just what the nation needs.

This will be wonderful if the president picks Tom, said Rob Gleason, the former chair of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, who helped guide Marino on his ascent to Congress.

According to Gleason, the Trump administration is considering re-elevating the drug czar position back to a cabinet-level post. As recently as February, Trump weighed eliminating the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which Marino is now in line to direct.

The really good thing is that its not an afterthought, Gleason said. This could be a momentous step in the War on Drugs.

Val DiGiorgio, a Chester County attorney and current chair of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, described Marino as a simple country lawyer who worked hard to rise to national prominence.

Hes definitely not a hardliner. Hes more pragmatic, DiGiorgio said. But hes definitely a conservative.

The opioid epidemic, DiGiorgio said, is such a problem in Pennsylvania, and as a former prosecutor, Tom understands and is more plugged-in than most.

Others take a darker view of the three-term congressman and his agenda.

Adam Bates, an analyst with the libertarian Cato Institute, said Marino makes no distinctions in how he views people with substance abuse issues, whether they be occasional marijuana users or heroin users struggling to stay alive.

He just says that people should be committed to a hospital/prison. This involuntary commitment of everyone who is a recreational drug user is bizarre and not workable," Bates said. "The cost would be exorbitant and the effect on liberty would be terrifying. 

Chris Goldstein, a marijuana legalization advocate and cannabis columnist for Philly.com, said treatment facilities are overtaxed and few beds are available for those who need them most.

Were already at capacity, Goldstein said. Well have to build scores of treatment prisons just to deal with that new population.

Roland Lamb, deputy commissioner of Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disABility Services, said he was generally disappointed that the Trump administration had chosen to focus on drugs as a criminal-justice matter. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has committed to what many consider a failed war on drugs and Trump recently appointed Gov. Christie, also a former federal prosecutor, to lead the commission to combat opioid abuse.

Its not as simple as just saying no, Lamb said. The solutions require action that is much deeper than that.

Lamb said hundreds of thousands of Americans become dependent on opioids each year after receiving a legitimate prescription for opioid painkillers. They were saying yes to pain management and ended up addicted, Lamb said.

As a congressman, Marino tussled over drug policy with Obama appointees. He was once accused by a top Drug Enforcement Administration official of supporting criminals by putting the interests of pharmaceutical companies ahead of controlling the opioid epidemic.

Marino co-sponsored a prescription drug bill that the head of the DEAs diversion program later said was a gift to the industry. The DEAs Joseph Rannazzisi claimed the legislation  which passed unanimously in 2016 and was signed into law by President Barack Obama  prevented the agency from cracking down on companies that broke the law by not reporting suspicious orders of dangerous drugs.

Marino shot back, accusing Rannazzisi of intimidation and serious misconduct.

After he was forced to retire in 2015, Rannazzisi told the Guardian that pharmaceutical lobbyists had too much power, and that Congress would rather listen to people who had a profit motive rather than a public health and safety motive.

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President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. (Photo-illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Jim LoScalzo/Pool via CNP/MediaPunch and IPX, KNCA via Reuters, AP)

Nearly all U.S. presidents are tested early in their tenures, but the speed with which Donald Trump and his administration have climbed the escalation ladder toward a showdown with North Korea over its nuclear weapons has been dizzying.

A military confrontation with the heavily armed regime in Pyongyang would be frightening under any circumstances, but the dangers are multiplied by the personalities involved. As two untested and mercurial leaders face off, the world waits to see who will blink first.

It was just two months ago that President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were dining at Mar-a-Lago when news came of a North Korean missile test, causing the presidents young national security team to scramble for a response before curious diners at the exclusive club. Roughly two weeks later, U.S. and South Korean forces began an annual military exercise that Pyongyang viewed as provocative. Five days later, North Korea launched four ballistic missiles simultaneously into the Sea of Japan, and the U.S. military announced the deployment of an advanced missile defense system to South Korea.

After intelligence reports recently suggested that North Korea is preparing for its sixth nuclear weapons test on April 15 to celebrate the 105th birthday anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the current leaders grandfather, the Pentagon ordered the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike force to the Korean peninsula. Multiple senior U.S. intelligence officials then reportedly told NBC News that the administration is prepared to launch a preemptive military strike against North Korea if it follows through with the nuclear test.

An image taken from a video released by the Department of Defense shows the moment a MOAB struck the Achin district Nangarhar province in Afghanistan, where U.S. officials said a network of tunnels and caves was being used by militants linked to the Islamic State group. (U.S. Department of Defense/handout via Reuters)

As if to underscore that message, on April 14, the U.S. military for the first time dropped the largest conventional bomb in its inventory on an Islamic State cave complex in eastern Afghanistan. The 20,000-pound GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB)  nicknamed the mother of all bombs  was developed in the early 2000s to deter Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein from developing his own weapons of mass destruction. That followed by a week the cruise missile strike on a Syrian airbase in response to Bashar Assads chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held city  an operation that coincided with Trumps dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago.

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Any inference that the use of the MOAB was meant to send a signal to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is completely justified, according to a source knowledgeable of top Defense Department deliberations. The tactical goal was to kill ISIS fighters who had gained a foothold in eastern Afghanistan, he said, but it was also meant as a strategic shot across the bow of the North Korean regime. That message was apparently received loud and clear in Beijing, which has sent its top nuclear negotiator to North Korea, and according to intelligence site Stratfor, has suspended regular Air China flights to Pyongyang.

I do think the Trump administration is using the Syrian missile strikes and dropping the MOAB to send a message to North Korea, especially because in the latter case using our biggest conventional bomb was operational overkill, and there were other smaller weapons that could have done the job, said Ian Williams, associate director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The MOAB is so big it must be dropped out of the back of slow-moving cargo aircraft, he noted, so it has limited usefulness against North Korean targets guarded by a robust air- defense system. But I think the administration was aiming for the psychological impact. Theres risk to that kind of pressure, though, because the more insecure the North Koreans feel about a preemptive strike that destroys their missile, nuclear or command-and-control capabilities, the more likely they might be to launch a preemptive strike of their own.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, deployed in Afghanistan earlier this week. (Photo: Elgin Air Force Base/handout via Reuters)

This is not the first time that North Koreas determination to acquire nuclear weapons that can threaten the United States and its allies has brought the two countries to the brink of war. In the summer of 1994, then Secretary of Defense William Perry was poised to implement Op plan 5027, which called for a preemptive strike using cruise missiles on the nuclear reactor at Yongbyon. The plan also called for reinforcements of U.S. forces in Korea, and the evacuation of American civilians from South Korea.

What most worried Perry then  and concerns him even more today  is that a preemptive U.S. strike could quickly escalate to an all-out war on the Korean Peninsula that the Pentagon has estimated would claim one million lives.

The difference is back then this evil regime didnt yet have a nuclear arsenal and today it does, and that poses a much greater danger, Perry said in an interview. Pyongyang would almost certainly avoid using nuclear weapons preemptively because that would be suicidal, he said, but its likely to respond with conventional artillery buried in caves in the mountains along the demilitarized zone overlooking the South Korean capital of Seoul.

A U.S. preemptive strike would likely involve cruise missiles such as the Trump administration launched in Syria, which was a relatively low-cost and successful operation. But unlike in Syria, North Korea is likely to respond militarily in a way that does terrible damage to South Korea, and might rapidly escalate to an all-out war that the North Koreans are bound to lose. A doomed North Korean regime about to be overthrown might then unleash nuclear Armageddon.

On the current rung of the escalation ladder, however, Perry believes the Trump administration has actually accomplished two important objectives: convincing the North Koreans that the U.S. is serious about possible military action, and convincing the Chinese that it is in their interest to find a way to defuse the crisis. Those two preconditions present a rare opportunity for successful diplomacy with North Korea, if that is the Trump administrations strategy, he said. But I dont know if they even have a strategy.

A Korean Peoples Army soldier stands between flags in Pyongyang on April 13, 2017. (Photo: Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump prides himself on not showing his hand in negotiating deals, a style that creates tensions and huge uncertainties when applied to geopolitics involving nuclear weapons. Greatly adding to the risk is an inexperienced young Korean dictator in Kim Jong Un, whose paranoia has already led him to murder a number of close aides and his own uncle and half brother. I worry that Kim Jong Un is different from his father and grandfather, because hes very inward looking and unpredictable, and apparently bent on constantly sending messages of his own invincibility, said Bill Richardson, former New Mexico governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, who has negotiated with the North Koreans on a number of occasions to win the release of Western hostages. Whether its murdering family members or ratcheting up the pace of nuclear weapons tests and missile launches, he said, the North Korean leader has exhibited an unrestrained streak of aggression. I really do believe this is the most dangerous time Ive ever witnessed on the Korean Peninsula.

James Kitfield is a senior fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress.

Read more from Yahoo News:
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Trump administration has settled on its North Korea strategy after a two-month review: "Maximum pressure and engagement."

U.S. officials said Friday the president's advisers weighed a range of ideas for how to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear program, including military options and trying to overthrow the isolated communist dictatorship's leadership. At the other end of the spectrum, they looked at the notion of accepting North Korea as a nuclear state.

In the end, however, they settled on a policy that appears to represent continuity.

The administration's emphasis, the officials said, will be on increasing pressure on Pyongyang with the help of China, North Korea's dominant trade partner. The officials weren't authorized to speak publicly on the results of the policy review and requested anonymity.

The new strategy will be deployed at a time of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. U.S., South Korean and other officials are closely monitoring the North amid indications it could conduct another missile test or nuclear explosion to coincide with an important national anniversary this weekend.

Pyongyang has undertaken five nuclear tests since 2006.

An influential Washington think tank estimated Friday that North Korea could already have up to 30 bombs.

The Institute for Science and International Security cited a worrying increase in North Korea's nuclear program, but said the arsenal may only have been as large as 13 atomic weapons at the end of 2016. Its research suggested a range between 10 and 16 such weapons two years earlier. The institute's estimates are based on what it believes the North has produced in plutonium and weapons-grade uranium. The margins represent uncertainty as to whether North Korea has one or two uranium enrichment facilities.

The North has owned up to one such facility, at its Nyongbyon nuclear complex, but the U.S. government assumes it has more.

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"The bottom line is that North Korea has an improving nuclear weapons arsenal," said David Albright, the institute's president.

He said the North may have a handful of plutonium-based warheads it can mount on medium-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching South Korea and Japan. But it's doubtful the North is currently able to build reliable, survivable warheads for an intercontinental ballistic missile that can strike the U.S. mainland, he said.

As for the Trump administration's policy, the U.S. officials emphasized that no engagement of North Korea is currently taking place. Although China advocates for diplomatic outreach, the focus for now is on pressure.

The officials said the goal of engagement would have to be North Korea's denuclearization. It cannot lead to an arms control agreement or reduction of the North's atomic arsenal that would imply American acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear power.

The officials are hopeful China and Russia would agree to tighter U.N. sanctions on North Korea if it conducts another nuclear test. They pointed to a recent editorial in a state-run Chinese newspaper advocating tighter restrictions on selling oil to North Korea.

Beijing's decision earlier this year to cut off coal imports from North Korea also are being seen as a hopeful sign. Coal sales are an important source of revenue for Kim Jong Un's government, and the U.S. says China has turned back some shipments in recent days. Russia and China are critical to any pressure campaign on North Korea because they both hold veto power on the U.N. Security Council.

In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, North Korea's Vice Minister Han Song Ryol said President Donald Trump's tough tweets toward Pyongyang were adding to a "vicious cycle" of tensions. Han said if the U.S. shows any sign of "reckless" military aggression, Pyongyang is ready to launch a pre-emptive strike of its own.

Trump, who last week acted unilaterally in ordering a cruise missile strike on Syria, has been using America's military might to send a message to Kim. An aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, is heading to waters off Korea in a show of force. Trump has repeatedly issued ambiguous threats that if Beijing isn't willing to do more to squeeze the North, the U.S. might take the matter into its own hands.

But a U.S. military official, who requested anonymity to discuss planning, said the U.S. doesn't intend to use military force against North Korea in response to either a nuclear test or a missile launch. The official said plans could change in the unlikely event a North Korean missile targets South Korea, Japan or U.S. territory.

___

AP National Security Writer Robert Burns contributed to this report.
supermoon full moon reuters 3

Donald Trump's transition team asked NASA for details on its for-profit partnerships, and sought information about the potential to mine resources on the moon, according to a trove of internal documents obtained by Motherboard.

According to the documents, the questions from Trump's Agency Review Team (ART) largely focused on the interests of commercial space companies and NASA's potential help them turn profits.

Here's the topline request on one document:

The ART has requested the following information:

Provide data and examples of how NASA does technology development (perhaps even in the form of products) when working with industryfor example, types of contracts/partnerships and IP [intellectual property] arrangements. The interest is in how the results of government-funded development get disseminated (or not).

In documents sent back to the ART, NASA repeatedly pointed out that its role is scientific, with the agency primarily focused on extending research and exploration into parts of space private industry can't reach.

However, NASA's responses also emphasized the ways the agency works to support industry, and mentioned projects it has developed with commercial partners.

"NASA envisions a future in which low Earth orbit is largely the domain of commercial activity while NASA leads its international and commercial partners in the human exploration of deep space," the agency wrote.

The documents also included a slideshow with details about the potential for mining operations on the moon. One of the challenges of lunar mining, NASA pointed out, is that it's difficult to locate deposits of useful minerals from space. A ground-based prospecting mission would likely be necessary.

NASA explained that the US, along with Taiwan, is developing a concept for a lunar "prospector" mission.

Capture.PNG

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The prospector mission would focus on investigating resources on the moon that would be necessary for human habitation, including oxygen, hydrogen, and other valuable compounds.

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There are a number of other resources on the moon, including rare earth metals, that could be of interest to commercial companies. But, as Motherboard points out, strip-mining the moon for profit could put the US at risk of violating the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which forbids unilateral private use of space resources.

Whether Trump will actually push for mining on the moon remains to be seen, of course. But the arm of NASA that deals with human spaceflight is one of the few scientific sectors of the non-military government that isn't facing major cuts in the White House's budget proposal.

NOW WATCH: Watch SpaceX change the game for spaceflight by launching and landing its first used rocket in history





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By Ayesha Rascoe PALM BEACH, FLA. (Reuters) - The Trump administration will not make public White House visitor logs, the records that detail who has visited President Donald Trump and his staff on official business, his office confirmed, in a departure from a practice that was established under former President Barack Obama. White House Communications Director Michael Dubke said in a statement on Friday that "the grave national security risks and privacy concerns of the hundreds of thousands of visitors annually" was the reason for keeping the records secret. Transparency advocates had praised Obama's decision to release the logs, although his administration argued the disclosure was not required by law but instead was voluntary. As a result, Obama's team frequently redacted names from the list of visitors that were released to the public, including celebrities and donors who were sighted on the White House grounds. The logs offer the most comprehensive look at who has access to the president and his team. Examining the logs provides insight into which interests are lobbying the White House and who may have more influence in the administration. Trump has continued the Obama policy of not allowing administration staffers to become lobbyists after leaving their government job, a rule that carries no enforcement mechanism and that they have already waived for one staffer. The announcement that the logs would remain secret quickly drew criticism from watchdog groups. "Elected officials work for the people and we deserve to see government business conducted in transparent daylight," Faiz Shakir, political director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. "The only reasonable conclusion is to believe the Trump administration has many things it is trying to hide."During the Obama administration, conservative watchdog groups sued the Secret Service, which maintains the records, in an attempt to make unredacted copies publicly available. After Trump took office, a liberal watchdog group has taken over the fight, filing a lawsuit on Monday demanding the records. Separately, Democrats in Congress have filed legislation to force the administration to release visitor logs from Mar-A-Largo, the president's Palm Beach estate where he has spent most weekends since becoming president. The legislation is unlikely to gain any traction because Republicans control the legislative body. (Reporting by Ayesha Roscoe; Writing by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Bernard Orr)
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey could re-evaluate or suspend all agreements under its migration deal with the European Union if the bloc does not give a positive response on visa-free travel for Turks, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday. The Turkish government agreed in early 2016 to help curb a flood of migrants into Europe from its territory, in return for visa-free travel for Turks to Europe. But Brussels first wants Ankara to modify anti-terrorism laws that it says are too broad. In an interview with broadcaster A Haber, Cavusoglu said the migrant deal and visa liberalisation were a package. "If we get a negative response from the EU we have the right to re-evaluate and suspend all of these agreements," he said. "The EU needs to give the visa-free travel our people deserve." Relations between Turkey and the European Union have deteriorated sharply in the run-up to a referendum on Sunday which could grant sweeping powers to President Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey has warned before that the migrant deal was in jeopardy. Last month Erdogan said he could hold a referendum on whether to continue EU accession talks, and victory in Sunday's vote would strengthen his domestic position in his dealings with the bloc. Erdogan has repeatedly accused the German and Dutch governments of acting like Nazis after they banned, on security grounds, referendum campaign rallies by Turkish officials. "Its high time we disarmed verbally. The Nazi insults are unbearable," German Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Roth said in an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper due to be printed on Sunday. Campaigning for the referendum had been "anything but fair," Roth added. "Whoever visits Turkey can see the extent to which the Yes campaign dominates the streets." Cavusoglu said Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in a telephone call on Thursday to improve relations that have been strained over their diverging policies on Syria. "We will strengthen our ties with Russia on maintaining a ceasefire in Syria, (finding a) political resolution, and humanitarian aid. We will make our ties with Russia even stronger," he said. "Though there are violations (of Syria's ceasefire accord), we see that the fighting has stopped to a large extent. We want to continue cooperation with Russia. He said that a planned visit to Russia next week by Turkey's deputy prime minister and economy minister aimed to "lift current restrictions on trade", which has been hit by the political rift between the two countries. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay in Ankara and Michelle Martin in Berlin; Writing by Dominic Evans; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Ankara (AFP) - Whenever Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held a rally in the campaign for a new presidential system, a picture of a smartly-dressed man with a piercing gaze hangs next to his own giant portrait.

That is Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk -- who in 1923 created the modern Republic out of the ashes of the decayed Ottoman Empire.

Ataturk has since been regarded with near religious awe by many Turks as the saviour of the Turkish nation, an icon whose memory it remains a criminal offence to denigrate.

And although he died in 1938, Ataturk has emerged as a key player in the campaign for Sunday's referendum on whether to grant Erdogan greater powers.

Both government and opposition have squabbled over who is the true inheritor of Ataturk's legacy and whether modern Turkey's first president would have voted 'Yes' or 'No'.

For the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Erdogan is undermining the secular and democratic pillars of modern Turkey set up by Ataturk.

But for the president, he is continuing the legacy of the man whom he calls "Gazi (warrior) Mustafa Kemal" by creating a great Turkey that can stand up to foreign powers.

- 'Only one Ataturk' -

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the CHP which Ataturk formed, told AFP the proposed system would be a move away from the founding father's ideals.

"If someone comes and takes democratic standards backwards, this would mean the start of a process against Ataturk's envisaged revolution," Kilicdaroglu said.

While Turkey is an overwhelmingly Muslim nation, Ataturk established secularism as its overriding principle and it is this legacy opponents accuse Erdogan of trying to undermine with a creeping Islamisation.

Under his rule, the government has lifted a ban on female students wearing the Islamic headscarf in the public sector and schools.

The government has also encouraged the opening of Imam Hatip schools which mix religious education with a modern curriculum.

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Earlier this year, a new draft curriculum expected to begin in September came under heavy scrutiny after it was accused of removing references to Ataturk.

Gulsun Bilgehan, granddaughter of Ataturk's right-hand-man and successor as president Ismet Inonu, said the curriculum draft showed there were attacks on Ataturk's legacy.

Bilgehan argued Erdogan would "certainly have a place in history, as prime minister, as president of the Turkish Republic but among others," she said.

But the CHP MP added: "There will only be one Ataturk."

Yusuf Tekin, education ministry undersecretary, insisted Ataturk remained important to the curriculum and children's education.

Tansel Colasan, chairwoman of the Kemalist Thought Association which seeks to defend the legacy of Ataturk, said the government wanted to create an anti-secular mentality through education.

"They want to erase the values of the republic including secularism, women's freedom, to remove the wisdom of Ataturk and Inonu," she added.

- 'Transform Turkey' -

But Erdogan angrily rejects charges he is ripping up Ataturk's legacy, saying Turkey's founder would have supported the presidential system.

One key change under the new constitution is that the president can be affiliated to a political party, just as Ataturk was to the CHP while he was president.

Last month, German daily Bild said Ataturk would have voted 'No' to the changes after a diplomatic row between Turkey and Europe over Turkish ministers banned from rallies.

But Erdogan responded by saying that Ataturk would have supported him: "What we want to do, Ataturk already did."

Some Western observers also note Ataturk's rule was far from a shining example of democracy, with significant limits on press freedom and political opposition.

For Jean-Francois Perouse, of the French Institute of Anatolian Studies, the "regime of Ataturk was authoritarian" and "the system under Ataturk should not be idealised".

Erdogan appears intent on carving a place in Turkish history that rivals that of Ataturk, and is set on being in power in 2023 when modern Turkey celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Ataturk's achievements were as far-ranging as changing the entire alphabet for the Turkish language from an Arabic system to a Latin script and ordering that all Turks -- including himself -- should have surnames.

Erdogan too, analysts say, sees himself similarly as a transformative leader of historic proportions.

"Erdogan now wants to amend the Turkish constitution so that he can become head of state, head of government and head of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)," said Soner Cagaptay, author of the forthcoming book "The New Sultan".

"Just as Ataturk engineered Turkeys sociopolitical landscape, Erdogan, too, wants to transform Turkey top-down, but as a deeply Muslim society," Cagaptay added.
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan ruled out on Friday extraditing German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel to Germany while he is in office, repeating his assertion that Yucel is a "terrorist agent". Yucel, a national of both countries, was arrested two months ago on charges of making propaganda in support of a terrorist organization and inciting the public to violence. Yucel denies the charges. Erdogan said that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had asked him to extradite Yucel but that he had denied her request saying the journalist would be tried in Turkish courts, which he said would ensure a fair trial. Erdogan said there was no doubt Yucel had links to the outlawed Kurdish militant group PKK. "This person is a complete terrorist agent. Not all journalists are clean," he said. "But we will do what is necessary, within the framework of the law, against those who act as agents and threaten my country from Qandil," Erdogan said, referring to a PKK base camp in northern Iraq. Yucel, a reporter with the German daily Die Welt, was initially detained after he reported on emails that a leftist hacker collective had purportedly obtained from the private account of Berat Albayrak, Turkey's energy minister and Erdogan's son-in-law. Since a failed coup attempt in July, Turkish authorities have arrested 40,000 people and suspended 120,000 from jobs in the police, military, the civil service and the private sector. Western governments have criticized the crackdown but Turkey says the measures are necessary given the security threats it faces. (This story has been refiled to fix typo in headline) (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Photo credit: U.S. Air Force - Getty Images

The U.S. Air Force dropped the the second largest conventional bomb in its arsenal, and the largest conventional bomb to be used in combat, on ISIS forces in Afghanistan today. Thirty feet long and weighing as much as a F-16 fighter, the GBU-43/B bombalso known as Massive Ordnance Air Blast, MOAB, or "Mother Of All Bombs"is designed to destroy enemy forces both in the open and in enclosed spaces.

The bomb was reportedly used on an Islamic State tunnel complex in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province. A U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command MC-130 Combat Talon transport aircraft dropped the GPS-guided bomb out of the cargo ramp.

Here's a video of a past test:

The GPS-guided MOAB weighs 21,700 pounds and is filled with 18,700 pounds of H6 explosive . The thirty foot long aluminum casing weighs only 3,000 pounds, which is an unusually low proportion of the bomb's overall weight. Unlike many bombs, for which steel shrapnel is a primary effect, the MOAB is designed to generate explosive shockwaves and is stuffed as full of as much explosive as possible. A bomb that kills through overpressure, the MOAB is well suited for destroying cave complexes. Waves of pressure entering a cave system cause injuries and fatalities, and the shock can collapse earthen tunnels.

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force photo.

The GBU-43/B was developed in-house by the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate. It was first tested in March 2003 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, when it produced a mushroom cloud that could be seen up to 20 miles away.

Believe it or not the U.S. has a second, even larger bomb. The GB-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) GBU-57 A/B weighs 30,000 pounds and is designed to penetrate underground concrete structures.

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By Ahmad Sultan and Hamid Shalizi ACHIN, Afghanistan/KABUL (Reuters) - The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan said on Friday that the decision to deploy one of the largest conventional bombs ever used in combat was purely tactical, and made as part of the campaign against Islamic State-linked fighters. As many as 36 suspected Islamic State militants were killed in the strike on Thursday evening in the eastern province of Nangarhar, Afghan defense officials said, adding there were no civilian casualties. (GRAPHIC - "Mother" of all conventional bombs http://tmsnrt.rs/2p3gvQI) Amaq, the news agency affiliated with Islamic State in the Middle East, carried a statement denying that the group had suffered casualties in the attack, citing an unidentified source who had been in contact. The statements could not be independently verified, and on Friday Afghan and foreign troops in the vicinity were not allowing reporters or locals to approach the scene of the blast. The strike came as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to dispatch his first high-level delegation to Kabul, amid uncertainty about his plans for the nearly 9,000 American troops stationed in Afghanistan. Nicknamed "the mother of all bombs," the weapon was dropped from an MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar, bordering Pakistan. Nicholson said he was in constant communication with officials in Washington, but the decision to use the 21,600-pound (9,797-kg) GBU-43 bomb was based on his assessment of military needs and not broader political considerations. "This was the first time that we encountered an extensive obstacle to our progress," he said of a joint Afghan-U.S. operation that has been targeting Islamic State since March. "It was the right time to use it tactically against the right target on the battlefield." Afghan and U.S. forces were at the scene of the strike and reported that the "weapon achieved its intended purpose,", Nicholson said. Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said no civilians were harmed in the massive blast that targeted a network of caves and tunnels that had been heavily mined. "No civilian has been hurt and only the base, which Daesh used to launch attacks in other parts of the province, was destroyed," Waziri said in a statement. He was using an Arabic term that refers to Islamic State, which has established a small stronghold in eastern Afghanistan and launched deadly attacks on the capital, Kabul. The GBU-43 is a GPS-guided munition that had never before been used in combat since its first test in 2003, when it produced a mushroom cloud visible from 20 miles (32 km) away. The bomb's destructive power, equivalent to 11 tonnes of TNT, pales in comparison with the relatively small atomic bombs dropped on Japan at the end of World War Two, which had blasts equivalent to between 15,000 and 20,000 tonnes of TNT. MIXED REACTIONS In Achin village, about 3 miles (5 km) from the remote, mountainous area where the bomb was dropped, witnesses said the ground shook, but homes and shops appeared unaffected. Qari Mehrajuddin first saw "lightning like a thunder storm" followed by the roar of an explosion, an all-to-familiar sound for residents of the war-torn area. "I thought there was a bombing just outside my home," he said. In reality, the blast was around three miles away, its massive impact bigger than any before seen in the region. Some locals welcomed the strike. "If you want to destroy and eliminate Daesh, then even if you destroy my home we won't complain, because they are not human beings, they are savages," said Mir Alam Shinwari, using an Arabic term for Islamic State. Away from Achin, reactions were mixed. "The fact is that America used their big bomb here to test its effectiveness," said Kabul resident Asadullah Khaksar. "If America wants to eliminate Daesh, it is very easy because they created this group." Residents of Achin said they had got used to seeing militants climbing up and down the mountain, making occasional visits to the village. "They were Arabs, Pakistanis, Chinese and local insurgents coming to buy from shops in the bazaar," said Raz Mohammad. "TESTING GROUND" On Friday, the village was swarming with Afghan and international troops, as helicopters and other aircraft flew overhead. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's office said in a statement the attack was a part of a joint operation by Afghan and international troops. "Afghan and foreign troops closely coordinated this operation and were extra cautious to avoid any civilian casualties," it said. But former president Hamid Karzai condemned the use of the weapon on Afghan soil. The Taliban, the main security threat to Afghan and NATO forces trying to quell their stubborn insurgency, also denounced 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 Islamic State in Afghanistan, said in a statement. American officials said the bomb had been positioned for possible use in Afghanistan for "some time" since the administration of former president Barack Obama. The United States has steadily intensified its air campaign against Islamic State and Taliban militants in Afghanistan, with the Air Force deploying nearly 500 weapons in the first three months of 2017, up from 300 in the corresponding 2016 period. Thursday's strike was not the first time Islamic State fighters have been targeted by heavy American bombardment in Nangarhar, where a U.S. special forces soldier was killed battling militants a week ago. Last year, B-52 bombers operating out of Qatar flew at least two missions in Afghanistan for the first time since 2006. Such aircraft can carry as much as 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg)of bombs, missiles, or other weapons on each mission. In March, U.S. forces conducted 79 "counterterror strikes" against Islamic State in Nangarhar, killing as many as 200 militants, according to the U.S. military command in Kabul. U.S. military officials estimate there are about 600 to 800 Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar, but also in the neighboring province of Kunar. The United Nations has raised concerns that the American air campaign is swelling civilian casualties in Afghanistan. Last year, air strikes by international forces caused at least 127 civilian deaths and 108 injuries, up from 103 deaths and 67 injuries in 2015, the United Nations said. (Additional reporting by Josh Smith in KABUL and Mostafa Hashem in CAIRO; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Clarence Fernandez)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - A U.S. police officer is being questioned after arriving in Taiwan and turning in a gun, having apparently inadvertently brought the weapon in her carry-on bag from Los Angeles, Taiwan's aviation police said on Friday. The 43-year-old officer from California, identified as Nell Grant, told airport police the pistol and six bullets were in her bag because of her negligence and she did not know how she passed through airport security in Los Angeles with it. "When she entered Taiwan, she realized she had a gun with her. She reported it to airport authorities," the Aviation Police Bureau said in statement. Grant, who was had been intending to transit through Taiwan on her way to Bangkok, had been barred from leaving Taiwan and referred to prosecutors for further questioning, a bureau officer told Reuters. Neither Grant, who flew in on Thursday to Taiwan's main airport, the Taoyuan International Airport, nor prosecutors were immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Faith Hung; Editing by Robert Birsel)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force will this weekend deploy a small number of F-35A fighter jets to Europe for several weeks of training with other U.S. and NATO military aircraft, the Pentagon said on Friday. In a statement, the Pentagon said that the deployment would allow the U.S. Air Force to "further demonstrate the operational capabilities" of the stealthy fighter jet. It did not name the countries where the aircraft would be deployed to. The F-35, which is the Pentagon's costliest arms program, has been dogged by problems. The Pentagon's chief arms buyer once described as "acquisition malpractice" the decision to produce jets before completing development. During last year's election campaign, President Donald Trump criticized Lockheed Martin Corp for the F-35's cost overruns. Days after taking office in January, Trump announced his administration had been able to cut some $600 million from the latest U.S. deal to buy about 90 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. The United States is expected to spend some $391 billion over 15 years to buy about 2,443 of the F-35 aircraft. F-35s are in use by the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, and by six countries: Australia, Britain, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands and Israel. Japan took delivery of its first jet in December. Lockheed said last month that Spain, Belgium and Switzerland were in talks with the company about buying F-35s. (Reporting by Washington Newsroom)
Uber drivers just won a major victory  but only in Brazil.

A judge in Sao Paulo ruled that a driver in the city had to be considered an employee of the ride-hailing giant. Uber plans to appeal the decision.

"By connecting drivers and users, Uber creates thousands of flexible opportunities for generating income," Uber said in a statement.

Uber drivers are considered independent contractors, which means they work for Uber but aren't entitled to employee benefits or protections. That model is key to Uber's success  and the successes of gig economy companies like TaskRabbit and Instacart that also rely on fleets of independent workers.

Uber has faced similar cases in the United States, including a major class-action lawsuit in California. DoorDash paid $5 million to settle a lawsuit over the same issue just last week.

In Brazil, Uber was ordered to pay the driver involved about $25,000, which included compensation for holidays and contribution to a severance fund  the kind of benefits actual, official employees are entitled to.

WATCH: This paper can fold itself into a beautiful crane
(Reuters) - Ride-hailing service Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] generated $6.5 billion in revenue last year and its gross bookings doubled to $20 billion, the company said on Friday. Its adjusted net loss was $2.8 billion, excluding the operation in China it sold last year, Uber said. As a private company, now worth $68 billion, Uber does not report its financial results publicly. It confirmed the figures in an emailed statement after Bloomberg reported the results. Uber did not provide first quarter figures, but a spokeswoman said they "seem to be in line with expectations." For the final quarter of 2016, gross bookings increased 28 percent from the previous quarter, to $6.9 billion. But Uber's losses grew to $991 million in the period, as revenues grew 74 percent to $2.9 billion from the third quarter. In a separate emailed statement, Rachel Holt, Uber's regional general manager for the United States and Canada, said: "Were fortunate to have a healthy and growing business, giving us the room to make the changes we know are needed on management and accountability, our culture and organization, and our relationship with drivers. Uber has been rocked by a number of setbacks lately, including detailed accusations of sexual harassment from a former female employee and a video showing Chief Executive Travis Kalanick harshly berating an Uber driver. The company is in the process of hiring a chief operating officer to help Kalanick manage it, repair its tarnished image and improve its culture. Two of Uber's high-level executives recently said they intended to leave, and last week the company's communications head announced her departure. (Reporting by Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Rigby and Dan Grebler)
Port-au-Prince (AFP) - Sandra Honore -- a diplomat from Trinidad who has headed the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH since July 2013 -- says the UN will keep tabs on progress in the country even after the mission shuts down.

Following the UN Security Council's decision on Thursday to end the mission by the end of October, she also spoke to AFP about allegations of sexual abuse committed by UN peacekeepers in the poor Caribbean country.

Q: MINUSTAH has inflicted significant harm, in terms of the sexual abuse committed by UN peacekeepers. Doesn't that constitute an enormous failure for the mission that arrived in 2004 to aid the country?

A: "It goes without saying that every case is regrettable. We are doing everything to conduct a rigorous investigation, to report to our headquarters and communicate with those countries where the responsible peacekeepers are from in order to carry out legal procedures when necessary. In cases where babies have been born, we are working with those countries to determine paternity through DNA tests if needed. We are also providing counseling for victims."

Q: The effort to combat the cholera epidemic caused by Nepalese UN peacekeepers is still largely underfunded (with barely $2 million raised of the $400 million needed). Do you understand the anger of victims who see MINUSTAH's departure as a sign that those responsible will not be punished?

A: "Very soon after he took office, UN Secretary General (Antonio) Guterres appealed to member states in an effort to relaunch the call for contributions to the new drive. (...) The United Nations has been working with the government on this since 2010. Between October 2010 and the end of 2016, the United Nations has backed the government by mobilizing more than $330 million in support of the national plan to eliminate cholera. UN agencies have been working on this constantly since the epidemic began."

Q: With the departure of the peacekeepers, Haitian civil society is worried about the politicization of the police. The changes within the national police this week (a personnel reshuffle following a rock-throwing incident against the motorcade of President Jovenel Moise) were a bad sign. Do you share that fear?

A: "I have received a commitment from the government that national policy can develop and remain apolitical in order to protect and serve all Haitian people. I hope the government's commitment will be strengthened and that we will see its effects. Yes, there have been changes in the police this week. These changes have been explained as stemming from the desire to strengthen certain aspects of the national police's work. I believe the government understands the comments from Haitian civil society and certain international partners about the pressing need for the police to remain apolitical in the service of the entire population."
HARRISBURG -- Martina White laughs when someone points at the stopped clock that hangs on one of the pale walls in her mostly bare office in the state Capitols sprawling basement.

Well have to get that fixed soon, she says, before turning out the lights after a long afternoon of listening to her colleagues bicker on the floor of the opulent state House chambers. The clock is just a cheap office decoration, really, but it works as an apt symbol for a state government that is often viewed as being incapable of moving forward on the most urgent issues of the day.

White is supposed to be something different, something new: a no-nonsense millennial from Northeast Philadelphia who, in 2015, became the first Republican to win an open House seat in the city in 25 years, despite the fact that she had no political experience.

While most young lawmakers learn to make names for themselves slowly, White immediately planted herself at the forefront of two of the most contentious, hotly-debated issues of our time  immigration and police transparency.

Shes trying to turn up the heat on Mayor Kenney by pushing, for a second time, a bill she authored to strip state funding from Philadelphia unless he surrenders its sanctuary city designation. White also created legislation to delay the release of names of officers who are involved in shootings, over the objections of activists and even Police Commissioner Richard Ross.

Some of her peers gush that White is a breath of fresh air, a novice who nonetheless excels at old-fashioned, retail politics and winning over labor unions, such as electricians Local 98, that have typically backed Democratic candidates. Others peg her as an empty pol who is just following the Us vs. Them playbook that helped propel President Trump to the White House  and divide the country along the way.

White appears to relish being a state representative in the middle of political tug-of-wars. But she also seems a little unsure of the attention that position attracts, knowing that people will look at her and question her motives, and speculate about her future.

Story continues

Its been a lot for her to digest in a short amount of time. And it all started with some small talk at a clambake.

An unlikely offer

Some politicians weave together intricate, inspiring backstories about how they ended up in elected office  think heavy doses of obstacles overcome, mixed with heeding a patriotic call to serve the public.

The About Martina page on Whites website doesnt seem to have patience for such blather; it offers the basics in six short paragraphs, from the committees she serves on (Urban Affairs, Health, Judiciary, and Consumer Affairs) to a few personal tidbits (Parkwood resident, with a bachelors degree in business administration from Elizabethtown College).

Besides, at 28, it doesnt take White long to tell her life story. She grew up in the Northeast  first in Chalfont, then Somerton  and her grandfather once owned a large trucking company called Martys Express. (Joe DeFelice, the chairman of the Philadelphia Republican Party, says his father once drove a truck for Whites grandfather.)

The oldest of John and Lisa Whites three children, she dreamed of working in finance, not politics. I always thought Id go into business, she says one afternoon in late March.

She studied abroad while in college, at the University of Gloucestershire in England, and expanded her worldview beyond the boundaries of County Line Road and Roosevelt Boulevard.

After graduating from Elizabethtown, White landed a job at Metlifes Independence Wealth Strategies. My experience there was really just working with local families and small businesses, she says. It gave me a perspective on the real issues people are facing: Can I save enough money to pay for my retirement? Am I even going to be able to retire? 

The people skills White developed while working in finance would serve her well when a series of political dominoes fell and presented her with an unlikely opportunity.

Then-state Rep. Brendan Boyle vacated his seat in the Northeasts 170th District in January 2015 to go to Congress, and a special election was called to find his replacement.

Democratic voters outnumber Republicans 2-to-1 in the 170th, which includes the 58th and 66th Wards, and keeping that seat blue should have been easy. But the party was tripped up by infighting over potential candidates.

Lt. Gov. Mike Stack selected Sarah Del Ricci, the wife of a longtime friend and political ally, over the objections of Boyle, who backed an aide named Seth Kaplan.

Republicans thought outside the box. Months before Boyle left his seat, Alice Udovich, a committeewoman in the 58th Ward, invited White to a summer clambake the Republican Party hosts at Cannstatter Volksfest-Verein in the Northeast.

Udovich had watched White grow up alongside her own children; she knew her to be a civic-minded young woman. So Udovich posed an unexpected question to White: Are you interested in running for office?

We often say that wed like to get young people involved in politics, that we need some fresh minds, says Udovich, an administrative assistant for Republican City Councilman Brian ONeill. But when I first brought up Martinas name, [the party] didnt take it so seriously.

White wasnt sure how to respond. But she agreed to meet with local Republican officials, who peppered her with mostly softball questions. They asked me, What ward and division are you in? White says, laughing, and I was like, Naaaah, I dont know what a ward and division are. I guess this isnt going to work out.

DeFelice says the party had a handful of older candidates with deeper civic ties to choose from, but still felt drawn to White. When we sat down with all of them, she just shined above the rest, he says. She said, Look, Ill quit my job tomorrow and start knocking on doors. It was different for us.

"How old are you?"

White dove headfirst into a political world she barely knew. She took a leave from Independence Wealth Strategies and started canvassing the 170th during a winter that was memorable for its plunging temperatures.

There were some folks who were like, How old are you? because I look like Im 12, White says with a wry grin.

But she won the crucial backing of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5, many of whose members live in the Northeast. It was a combination of things, explains FOP president John McNesby. The Democratic Party couldnt get its act together, and Martina emerged as a person who had passion for law enforcement.

When the special election was held in March 2015, White cruised to an eye-popping 11-point victory over Del Ricci. DeFelice and local Republicans finally had something to celebrate.

Her first order of business in Harrisburg was to introduce a resolution naming 2015 the year of the law enforcement officer. A few months later, she showed up at the FOPs headquarters on Caroline Road to announce she was introducing a House bill to prohibit anyone other than a district attorney or state attorney general from releasing the names of officers involved in shootings until 30 days after the incident, or after an investigation is finished. The bill was a clear rebuke of a policy instituted by then-Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey to identify cops within 72 hours of a shooting.

Ramseys policy mirrored other police departments across the country that were trying to become more transparent and regain trust in minority communities.

Nobody wants to see their name out there and have it be a target of negativity and this stuff that a lot of times isnt necessarily even true, White says. And they have to go back out into the community to protect us from the bad guys, even though their names are going to be thrown out to the wolves.

White says the 72-hour policy jeopardizes the safety of cops and their families. Why would somebody need the persons name so quick, she asks, unless they were going to be trying to do something potentially to their family, or to the officer themselves?

Ramsey and reform-minded supporters countered that there hadnt been evidence of the policy leading to retaliatory attacks.

But Whites bill passed through the House last October with bipartisan support, attracting votes from five members of Philadelphias delegation. Gov. Wolf vetoed it. Ross, Ramseys successor, has said its backers may be missing the bigger picture.

Freshman Democratic state Rep. Chris Rabb, who represents Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy and part of West Oak Lane, is skeptical of his colleague. I think she has an evidence-free piece of legislation that serves the goals of the FOP, but not the police, he says.

Clashing narratives

Shes already a star, crows state Rep. John Taylor, who has represented the River Wards in the citys 177th District since 1984.

Taylor says hes been impressed with his fellow Republican's willingness to tackle controversial issues that other young pols might avoid. Shes no pushover.

But theres a flip side to that coin. A group of immigration activists last April recorded an impromptu discussion in Whites small, Harrisburg office about her sanctuary cities bill that quickly turned heated. The confrontation ended with White yelling for them to leave her office.

Erika Almiron, the executive director of a South Philadelphia-based advocacy organization called Juntos, was among the group of 25 or so visitors who were in Whites office that day.

They had walked in unannounced after visiting other legislators, and found White alone behind her desk. Her bills are meant to incite fear and criminalize Latino immigrants, Almiron says. She couldnt articulate her position, and she started saying she felt threatened.

White says she she tried to be cordial, even though she had to be on the House floor to present a bill. The narrow room filled quickly, and one Juntos member can be heard asking White if she wanted to be Trump in Pennsylvania.

It was overwhelming, and there was no one else who knew that I was actually in my office, White says. It was certainly the first encounter I had with a large group like that as an elected official.

Trump, of course, looms over any discussion about immigration policies. White wont say if she voted for the president  she fared better than he did in the 170th when she beat Democratic challenger Matt Darragh in November  but she remains steadfast in their shared criticism of sanctuary cities.

Her legislation, House Bill 28, promises to hold sanctuary cities such as Philadelphia liable for crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, and withhold state funds that are not constitutionally mandated from cities that are not cooperating with federal immigration officials. (The state Senate is also considering a separate sanctuary cities bill.)

I want to make sure that if there is someone here illegally and they are committing crimes in our community, that somethings being done about it, White says, adding that she believes Kenney has overstepped his bounds.

Kenney says he recently met with White in City Hall. The dialogue was that she was not going to pursue [the bill]. That was in my office, and thats what she said, he said, sighing. There was staff there. And shes introduced it again.

White falls silent for a moment when told about Kenneys comments, then insists that the opposite is true, that she made clear she planned on reintroducing her bill.

Look, shes a very nice person, Kenney says. I like her personally. But why you would ever put in any legislation to defund your own city makes absolutely no sense to me, especially since the most likely area of defunding is going to be the police, who probably made up the largest amount of her district as far as residents are concerned.

His comments were echoed to a degree by national FOP leaders who expressed concern during a recent White House visit that proposed federal funding cuts to sanctuary cities might inadvertently hurt law enforcement.

White argues the onus is on Kenney. Zero dollars will be withheld as long as youre doing whats right, she says. But theres a chance the bill could backfire on them both if its successfully adopted, a possibility she dismisses.

White has made her presence known as one of the record-high 40 women in the traditionally old, male-dominated House. Maybe shell dig in for a 33-year run like John Taylor, or listen to supporters who are already telling her to consider a bid for Congress. Either way, it would probably be unwise to underestimate her.

Sometimes you hear people say, Oh, its not that persons time yet, its just not in the cards for them,  she says. I think you kind of make whats in the cards for you.

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Washington (AFP) - The United States is assessing military options in response to North Korea's weapons programs, a White House foreign policy advisor confirmed Friday, saying another provocative test was a question of "when" rather than "if."

As speculation mounted that Pyongyang is preparing to fire a trial nuke or missile on a major anniversary Saturday, the official said the United States was poised to deal with the security threat posed by North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

"Military options are already being assessed," the adviser said on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic, describing a fresh test as "possible."

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.

"They have telegraphed a bit, it's no surprise that the anniversary is on Saturday, traditionally he has the big parade and rolls out his weapons and his mock weapons," said the adviser.

"Unfortunately it's not a new surprise for us, (North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un)continues to develop this program, he continues to launch missiles into the Sea of Japan. With the regime it's not a matter of if, it's when."

The comments came after President Donald Trump told reporters that the "problem" of North Korea "will be taken care of."

- 'Complicated' -

The ominous comments came the same day the US military dropped the biggest non-nuclear bomb it possesses on Afghanistan, targeting a complex used by the Islamic State group.

Trump also flexed his military muscle last week by ordering cruise missile strikes on a Syrian airbase the US believed was the origin of a chemical weapons attack on civilians in a northern Syria town.

And a US aircraft carrier and its naval strike group has been diverted to the Korean peninsula.

Trump has repeatedly said he will prevent Pyongyang from developing a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.

Story continues

It was a main topic of discussion when Trump met then president Barack Obama shortly after the November election, with Trump being warned he may face a difficult choice early in his presidency.

Trump subsequently asked his advisers to give him all options for dealing with the nuclear-armed North.

But privately the White House acknowledges that striking North Korea would be a "much more complicated piece of business" than the Syria strike, in the words of a second senior administration official.

Any US strike on North Korea could prompt retaliation against allies or US forces in South Korea or Japan.

But there are few good diplomatic or economic options for the Trump administration.

The North is already under multiple sets of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and appears to see these programs as insurance against regime change.

- Pence to Asia -

In a Wall Street Journal interview, Trump said a recent meeting with China's President Xi Jinping dissuaded him of the notion that Beijing could compel North Korea to change course.

"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."

On Saturday Trump will dispatch Vice President Mike Pence to the region to firm up resolve among allies.

Pence will visit South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Australia, with North Korea high on the agenda in each capital.

With the exception of Indonesia, the United States has a treaty obligation to come to the defense of all those countries -- an obligation Trump has sometimes appeared to call into question.

Pence will be looking to assure allies that commitment is "ironclad," according to one White House official.

"We are fully committed to our security alliances, especially in the face of our evolving security challenges, as we've seen the nuclear threat of North Korea."
China and Germany are not manipulating the value of their currencies to gain an unfair trade advantage, but both should do more to reduce their large trade surpluses with the United States, the Treasury Department said Friday.

The decision was expected after President Donald Trump this week reversed himself and said China was not a currency manipulator.

And although the administration's first report to Congress on the foreign exchange policies of US trading partners continues the stance of the Obama administration, putting six countries with troublesome policies on a watch list, it takes a much tougher tone.

Unlike the previous administration, which issued its final report in October, the latest semi-annual report urges specific policy actions the countries should pursue that would lead to a lower trade surplus.

Trump repeatedly pledged in his election campaign to name China as a currency manipulator on his first day in office -- prompting fears of a trade war -- but did not do so. He publicly retreated from that position after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Florida last weekend.

China met only one of the three criteria required to be labeled a currency manipulator -- a large trade surplus with the United States -- while Germany also met a second: a current account surplus amounting to more than three percent of the nation's economic output.

Beijing has not intervened recently in markets to weaken the value of its currency -- the third criteria -- and in fact has tried to keep the renminbi from falling further amid the country's relatively sluggish growth rate.

Germany, as part of the eurozone, cannot act unilaterally to change the value of the euro.

A weaker currency makes exports cheaper compared with those of competitors. Declaring a country a manipulator would set off a process including negotiations that could culminate in punitive trade sanctions on the offender.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said ensuring a level playing field for US businesses is an "essential component of this administration's strategy."

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"Expanding trade in a way that is freer and fairer for all Americans requires that other economies avoid unfair currency practices, and we will continue to monitor this carefully," he said in statement.

Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Switzerland also were again included on Treasury's monitoring list.

- China must open economy -

Even though China has not moved to keep its currency weak in the past three years, the country "has a long track record of engaging in persistent, large-scale, one-way foreign exchange intervention, doing so for roughly a decade," the Treasury Department said.

That "distortion in the global trading system... imposed significant and long-lasting hardship on American workers and companies."

With a trade surplus in goods with the United States of $347 billion last year, and continued policies that restrict free trade and foreign investment, "Treasury will be scrutinizing China's trade and currency practices very closely."

The large goods surplus "underscores the need for further opening of the Chinese economy to American goods and services, as well as faster reform to rebalance the Chinese economy toward greater household consumption."

Beijing also will need to prove that the recent stance of not trying to weaken the currency is "a durable policy shift," even if the renminbi begins to appreciate again.

- Germany should spend more -

The Treasury Department said Germany should take steps, notably spending policies, "to encourage stronger domestic demand growth," something the country's trading partners and the International Monetary Fund have been urging for some time.

Increased demand "would place upward pressure on the euro... and help reduce its large external imbalances," increasing domestic consumption, including of imported goods.

Those imbalances include its $65 billion goods trade surplus with the United States last year, and what the department calls "the worlds largest current account surplus at close to $300 billion."

The report also called on Japan to do more "to revive domestic demand and combat low inflation while avoiding a return to export-led growth."

This would include more "flexible" government spending policies, and continued reforms to boost the labor market and increase productivity of the Japanese economy.
Washington (AFP) - Not much about Donald Trump's administration has followed presidential tradition, and here's another example: it is asking the American people what government departments and agencies they would like to see reformed or even axed.

Options include the CIA, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and even the Executive Office of the President.

A website created by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (itself among the choices) allows people to make suggestions as Trump moves to make good on a pledge to streamline a bureaucracy he derides as bloated and inefficient.

A questionnaire on the White House website lists 20 departments or agencies of the US federal government and more than 100 offices within them.

Above this menu is the question, "What agency would you like to reform?"

Further down is the question "What agency would you like to eliminate?" and then a menu for people to give a reason.

The options include the idea that such and such an office is not necessary, duplicates the work of another or should not be the work of the federal government in the first place. People can also write in their own reasons.

Reorganizing the government was one of Trump's main campaign pledges.

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In a video that features on this web page, Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget reaches out to people with "any experience with the federal government, if you've had good stories, or bad stories about how the federal government has served or failed to serve you."

"President Trump calls it draining the swamp," he said, adding "and we can't do that without your help."

After taking power, Trump imposed a temporary hiring freeze on the federal government. It was replaced this week by what Mulvaney calls a more strategic plan that does a staffing analysis department by department.

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Over the next 11 months the administration wants to carry out a complete overhaul of federal departments and agencies, for example by merging some.

"This is really a blank sheet of paper," Mulvaney told a news conference on Tuesday.
Washington (AFP) - Encouraged by a sharp downturn in illegal border crossers, the US administration is ramping up a crackdown on undocumented immigrants, taking aim at both Central American laborers and Indian tech workers in Silicon Valley.

Police, prosecutors and judges have been ordered to take a harder line against all illegal immigrants, detaining anyone without papers and vigorously prosecuting more of them.

Hiring standards for immigration agents are being eased to quickly beef up their ranks, more facilities to hold detained immigrants are being built, and more judges are being added to handle cases.

And officials have been directed to round up illegal immigrants, even those in the country for decades, at places that used to be safe -- courthouses, town halls, and cities offering them sanctuary.

Meanwhile designs are underway for construction of a wall along the entire 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) US-Mexico border that President Donald Trump promised. It won't be a full physical barrier all the way along, but strategically erected wall sections interspersed with stretches of technology-dependent surveillance.

"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," Attorney General Jeff Sessions told border patrol agents on Tuesday.

- Border-crossers down -

Trump came into office promising to expel the estimated 11 million people living in the United States illegally, who he says steal American jobs and fuel crime. Most are from Mexico, and many of them have been here for decades, raising families, owning homes and businesses.

Three months into the Trump administration, the number of illegal border-crossers has plunged to a four decade low, according to the Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP).

Apprehensions of illegal border crossers in March dropped to 16,600, down 30 percent from February and 64 percent from a year ago.

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It is too early to see any pickup in deportations, which take longer to process. But Tom Jawetz, vice president in charge of immigration policy at the Center for American Progress think tank, says there is a clear change in immigration enforcement.

Sessions this week ordered CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain anyone who crosses the US-Mexico border without legal documents and present them to a judge. In the past, most were just delivered back over the border.

He also ordered prosecutors to lodge felony charges when someone is caught sneaking in for a second time. Those who transport and harbor illegal immigrants risk jail, as does anyone caught using false papers, common among illegal immigrants.

"The lawlessness, the abdication of the duty to enforce our immigration laws and the catch-and-release practices of old are over," Sessions declared.

Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly has authorized CBP and ICE agents to go after illegal immigrants in places they once felt safe. An increasing number have been rounded up in public offices applying for licenses, reporting crimes, even meeting immigration officials to legalize their residence.

California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye protested in a letter to Sessions and Kelly that such areas were supposed to be protected and accused ICE of "stalking" people who "pose no risk to public safety."

But the two officials said the arrests will continue, criticizing any policies that offer sanctuary to illegal aliens.

- Legal immigration also pressured -

With some Republicans in Congress calling for a 50 percent cut in legal immigration, Trump has also ordered a tightening in that area.

He ordered a temporary halt to refugee arrivals and is fighting courts to implement a halt on arrivals from six mostly Muslim countries. Visa applicants in many countries say they are facing longer waits.

Sessions and Kelly warned technology companies bringing in skilled workers under the H-1B visa program that the government will take a tougher line with any company abusing that program. Previous permissions for H-1B workers' spouses to also work could be eliminated.

But as the campaign picks up pace, economists and immigration experts warn a crackdown will remove an economic boon and overwhelm the justice system.

"The benefits that immigration brings to society far outweigh their costs," nearly 1,500 Democratic- and Republican-aligned economists, including six Nobel laureates, said a letter to Trump.

Jawetz said the crackdown is unjustified, given that there has been a "net outflow" in Mexicans in the past few years.

"A large share of people who are coming across our southwest border today are people who are seeking asylum, who cannot and should not be prosecuted for illegal entry," he added.

Chasing undocumented immigrants from public spaces also has negative effects for US society, he said.

"What we know from law enforcement in Houston, in Los Angeles, El Paso and elsewhere, is that individuals are no longer reporting crimes the way they once were, and are no longer cooperating with prosecutors to put criminals behind bars."
Mexico City (AFP) - Crooked cops, greedy governors and pusher-prosecutors: corruption and drug crime reach to high places in Mexico, which is getting a jolt from US efforts to hunt down top suspects.

Analysts say officials have been getting away for decades with corruption in a country dominated by big, powerful drug gangs.

"There is a systemic problem of corruption among the local and state-level authorities," said Alejandro Hope, a former Mexican intelligence agent who is now a security consultant.

In the latest high-profile case grabbing headlines this week, the former Tamaulipas state governor Tomas Yarrington was arrested in Italy on Sunday.

In 2000 he posed smiling with the then-governor of Texas and future US president, George W. Bush.

Expelled in December from Mexico's governing Institutional Revolutionary Party, Yarrington is wanted on charges of drug-related crimes by both Mexico and the United States.

Mexican authorities offered $800,000 for Yarrington's capture. But analysts say what most speeded up his arrest was pressure from up north.

"His detention has happened because the United States wanted it to, not so much because the Mexican government made a decisive decision," says Hope.

Opposition lawmaker Jorge Lopez Martin of the National Action Party called for Yarrington to be judged in the United States and not Mexico, "so that there can be no room for impunity."

- Impunity -

An "impunity index" study last year by the University of the Americas Puebla found that fewer than five percent of crimes reported in Mexico end up being punished.

"There is so much corruption, so much impunity, the judicial system is so easily corrupted and the penal system is so useless that it not only allows the drug trade but actually encourages many people to commit crimes," said Jose Antonio Crespo, a political analyst at the Economic Research and Teaching Center.

"They know that the likelihood of being punished is minimal and that with a bit of luck they can buy off the judge and escape."

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Police in California last month arrested the chief public attorney of the western Mexican state of Nayarit, Edgar Veytia, accused of trafficking cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine.

"They grabbed him there. Over here no one knew about it," Crespo said.

"Often it is the United States that puts an end to impunity. Here, they turn a blind eye."

- Drugs -

Federal authorities have vowed to crack down on crime, but corruption makes that difficult.

The Federal Police last week acknowledged apparent wrongdoing by a senior agent in its drug squad: Ivan Reyes Arzate, who was serving as a liaison with US police.

Reyes turned himself in to police in Chicago after learning that he was being investigated for warning drug gangs when they were infiltrated or spied on.

The force's commissioner Manelich Castilla vowed to crack down on dodgy officers.

"There will be no place in the Federal Police for those who betray the ideals of this institution and the ideals of the country," he told a news conference.

"They will be pursued and punished."

- Embezzlement -

Mexicans know the cost of drug crime, which has killed thousands. But corruption angers them even more, Hope says.

One recent case involved the fugitive former governor of the violence-stricken eastern state of Veracruz, Javier Duarte.

He was found to have left behind a store of artworks, antiques, luxury goods and even school and medical supplies apparently intended for social programs.

Embezzlement "generates much greater anger than just links to the drug trade," Hope said.

He said the problem goes back years but is being talked about more nowadays thanks to investigative journalism and social networks.

"The public has got fed up... and even more so when it involves the theft of public money."
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  The U.S. military is sending dozens of regular troops to Somalia in the largest such deployment to the Horn of Africa country in roughly two decades.

The United States pulled out of Somalia after 1993, when two helicopters were shot down in the capital, Mogadishu, and bodies of Americans were dragged through the streets. Even now, Somalia's fragile central government is struggling to assert itself after the nationwide chaos that began with the fall of dictator Siad Barre in 1991.

The U.S. Africa Command on Friday said this deployment is for logistics training of Somalia's army, which is battling the extremist group al-Shabab that emerged from the country's years of warlord-led conflict. About 40 troops are taking part.

The U.S. in recent years has sent a small number of special operations forces and counter-terror advisers to Somalia, and President Donald Trump recently approved an expanded military role there. It includes carrying out more aggressive airstrikes against al-Shabab and considering parts of southern Somalia areas of active hostilities.

The country's new Somali-American president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, last week declared a new offensive against the extremist group, which is based in Somalia but has claimed responsibility for major attacks in East Africa, including the Garissa University attack in neighboring Kenya in April 2015 that killed 148 people.

Al-Shabab also caused alarm in February 2016 when it claimed responsibility for the bombing of an airliner that made an emergency landing with a gaping hole in the fuselage shortly after taking off from Mogadishu.

The extremist group this week announced that its recent escalation of deadly attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere is in "doubled response" to Trump's approval of expanded U.S. military efforts. On Sunday, Somalia's new military chief survived a suicide car bomb attack following his swearing-in, while 13 people were killed. A day later, a suicide bombing at a military academy in Mogadishu killed at least five soldiers.

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Al-Shabab was chased out of Mogadishu several years ago by national and African Union multinational forces but still controls some rural areas. Meanwhile, fighters pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group have emerged in the northern part of the country.

Pressure is growing on Somalia's army to assume full security for the country as the 22,000-strong African Union force plans to leave by the end of 2020. Last month, the head of the AU mission said Somalia's army has been unable to take charge as expected.

The AU force will begin withdrawing in 2018, "and if this departure begins prior to Somalia having capable security forces, large portions of Somalia are at risk of returning to al-Shabab control or potentially allowing ISIS to gain a stronger foothold in the country," the head of the U.S. Africa Command, Commander General Thomas Waldhauser, said last month.

___

Anna reported from Johannesburg.
Kabul (AFP) - The United States has dropped a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, otherwise known as the 'Mother of All Bombs', on an Islamic State stronghold in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province.

It is the first time the bomb, developed in the early days of the Iraq war, has been used in combat.

- How powerful is the MOAB? -

The 9.8-tonne guided bomb, the largest non-nuclear weapon in America's arsenal, is described by the US-based GlobalSecurity.org watchdog as "large, powerful and accurately delivered".

It is a demolition bomb containing 18,700 pounds (8,480 kilogrammes) of the explosive H6, the watchdog's website says, with a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT.

Nine metres (30 feet) long, with a diameter of one metre, according to GlobalSecurity.org, it is the largest-ever satellite-guided, air-delivered weapon in history. Popular Mechanics described it as weighing as much as an F-16 fighter jet.

Guided by GPS, it is dropped from the cargo ramp of a C-130 transport plane with its descent slowed by parachute, meaning it can be deployed from a greater height -- giving US pilots more time to reach safety.

It is a concussive bomb, meaning it is designed to detonate before it hits the ground. Its thin aluminium skin helps to maximise its blast radius and generate a shockwave which Wired.com said can reach up to 150 metres.

- Who made it? -

It was developed in 2002-2003 by Alabama-based aerospace and defence company Dynetics in partnership with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), according to the company's website.

The website said the bomb's preliminary concept was developed into a detailed design within just three months, and successfully tested three times in 13 days. It was first produced for use in the early days of the Iraq war.

According to the Air Force, the last time the MOAB was tested in 2003, a huge mushroom cloud could be seen from 20 miles (32 kilometres) away.

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- What was the target? -

The US Air Force said the target of Thursday's bombing was a tunnel complex in Achin district in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State (IS) militancy on the border with Pakistan.

Achin District Governor Esmail Shinwari said the bomb landed in the Momand Dara area while the defence ministry said the attack killed at least 36 IS militants. A damage assessment is still being carried out.

The area is extremely remote and mountainous, inaccessible to government forces. It is north of Tora Bora, the complex network of caves from where Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden gave US forces the slip and escaped into Pakistan in late 2001.

The US said it believed the area was so remote that no civilians were in the area.

The strike hit a system of tunnels and caves that IS fighters had used to "move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces" nearby, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

Wired.com said a concussive bomb such as the MOAB has the advantage in such terrain: "Its blast can turn corners, and push all the way to the furthest reaches of a cave."
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) (AFP) - Uzbekistan said Friday the suspect in last week's deadly Stockholm truck attack had ties to Islamic State jihadists and the West had been warned about him.

Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old Uzbek national, is in custody on suspicion of mowing down a crowd on a busy street in the Swedish capital, killing four people.

Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said Akilov was radicalised after moving to Sweden in 2014 and the Central Asian nation's intelligence service had passed on information about him.

"During his stay abroad, he was recruited through the internet by emissaries of the international terrorist organisation the Islamic State," Kamilov said in quotes from a press briefing published by the ministry.

Kamilov said Akilov had "actively encouraged compatriots to go to Syria to participate in military operations" for the group.

"He repeatedly propagated propaganda videos of terrorist content through internet messengers to his relatives and other connections in Uzbekistan, trying to persuade them to commit violent actions against Uzbek authorities, government officials and law enforcement agencies," Kamilov said.

"Information about the wrongful acts of Rakhmat Akilov was transferred via the special services to one of our Western partners to further inform the Swedish side," he added, without giving more details.

A spokeswoman for Sweden's foreign ministry told AFP that it "had not received such information".

Russian agency Interfax on Wednesday quoted an anonymous security source in Uzbekistan who said a warrant had been issued for Akilov's arrest on extremism charges in February.

Swedish police are currently holding Akilov, whose lawyer says he has already confessed to driving a stolen truck through the crowd and into the front of a department store in central Stockholm.
Caracas (AFP) - Venezuelan authorities said Friday they had arrested two opposition youth leaders, the latest move in a crackdown against ongoing anti-government protests that have left five people dead.

Thursday night saw the latest eruption of riots in a country hit by food shortages, as protesters in a town near the capital threw Molotov cocktails and police fired tear gas.

Jose Sanchez and Alejandro Sanchez were arrested "for organizing terrorist acts and assaults against the peace of the country," Interior Minister Nestor Reverol wrote on Twitter.

The two are youth leaders of the Justice First party, one of the main groups in the center-right coalition pushing for Socialist President Nicolas Maduro to be removed from office.

Venezuelan authorities drew international criticism last week for banning the party's most prominent figure, Henrique Capriles, from public office for 15 years.

Reverol said the two detainees "confessed to taking part in this week's violence."

The latest in more than a week of violent clashes erupted overnight Thursday to Friday in the town of Los Teques near the capital.

Protesters mounted barricades and hurled Molotov cocktails, and police fired tear gas, photographs on social media showed.

Capriles, governor of the surrounding Miranda state, said 15 shops were looted, including several bakeries.

Speaking at a news conference, he alleged that "all the acts of vandalism" were ordered by the government.

The pro-government mayor of Los Teques, Francisco Garces, on Twitter blamed the looting on "violent opposition factions."

- More protests vowed -

Five people, including a 13-year-old boy, have been killed since April 6 in clashes with riot police during a wave of protests against Maduro.

Justice First rejected Reverol's allegations. It wrote on its Twitter account that the two youth leaders were "abducted" by military intelligence forces.

"Nestor Reverol, the real terrorism is the one you are leading by repressing the people," it wrote.

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Maduro is fighting off efforts to oust him as Venezuela struggles with shortages of food and medicine.

The country has the world's biggest oil reserves but has suffered from a fall in the price of crude over recent years.

The next major organized rallies called by opposition leaders are set for Wednesday next week.

They are expected to be the next big showdown in an increasingly fraught crisis that has raised international concerns about 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 Capriles from politics.

Those moves have raised international condemnation including from the United States and the European Union.

Maduro has resisted opposition efforts to hold a vote 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.
By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to South Korea on Sunday in what his aides said was a sign of the U.S. commitment to its ally in the face of rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear program. Pence's Seoul stop kicks off a long-planned 10-day trip to Asia - his first as vice president - and comes amid concerns that Pyongyang could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test. President Donald Trump has warned against further provocations, sending an aircraft carrier group to the region as a show of force. His officials have been assessing tougher economic sanctions as well as military options to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Pence plans to celebrate Easter with U.S. and Korean troops on Sunday before talks on Monday with acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn. "We're going to consult with the Republic of Korea on North Korea's efforts to advance its ballistic missile and its nuclear program," a White House foreign policy adviser told reporters, previewing Pence's trip. Pence will land in Seoul the day after North Korea's biggest national day, the "Day of the Sun." The White House has contingency plans for Pence's trip should it coincide with a another North Korean nuclear test by its leader Kim Jong Un, the adviser said. "Unfortunately, it's not a new surprise for us. He continues to develop this program, he continues to launch missiles into the Sea of Japan," the adviser said. "With the regime it's not a matter of if - it's when. We are well prepared to counter that," the adviser said. 'FREE AND FAIR' TRADE Pence expects to talk about the "belligerence" of North Korea at stops in Tokyo, Jakarta and Sydney, the White House adviser said. But the need for "free and fair trade" will also be a theme, the adviser said. Trump campaigned on an "America First" trade policy, complaining that trade partners in Asia and elsewhere had taken advantage of the United States. One of his first acts in office was to remove the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama. "Withdrawing from the TPP shouldn't be seen as a retreat from the region. On the contrary, our economic presence in the region is enduring," the adviser said. On Tuesday, Pence will kick off economic talks with Japan requested by Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The discussions will focus more on setting a "framework" for future talks rather than on specific industry issues, a White House official said. Pence will meet with business leaders at each stop, including in Jakarta, though he was not expected to wade into the weedy details of disputes between the Indonesian government and U.S. companies like mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Inc . "We're going to discuss the business environment in Indonesia in a general sense," a White House official said. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Michael Perry)
When will this brand learn it is toxic ?

Victoria's Secret, the world's most misguided authority on sexiness, released its annual "What is Sexy" list, and (spoiler alert!) it's exactly what you think it is. Young, white, and thin.

SEE ALSO: What models of diverse identities really think of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

The results were reportedly decided by the public, though the website announcing the list's winners proudly declares, This is what sexy means to us." While the list has a few winners that stray from the above precedent, the numbers are unquestionably stacked in favor of thin white women.

Mandy Moore tops the list for "sexiest actress," Taylor Swift for "sexiest entertainer," Lady Gaga for "sexiest songstress," and Lauren Conrad for "sexiest mogul." Sigh.

Image: Richard Young/REX/Shutterstock

Image: Beretta/Sims/REX/Shutterstock

Of course, all women on this list are beautiful and strong - but its blaring lack of diversity cannot be ignored. Yes, Vanessa Hudgens won "sexist style risk taker," Priyanka Chopra won "sexiest red carpet look," and Jamie Chung won "sexiest festival style," but what even are those categories? While thin white women top the list in their professional field, women of color win nonsensical categories like "sexiest festival style." It's invalidating, VS (do better).

Priyanka Chopra at the 43rd Annual People's Choice Awards

Image: Chelsea Lauren/REX/Shutterstock

Exceptionally, Rocky Barnes won "sexiest fashion social star," and Desi Perkins won for "sexiest beauty social star."

Beyond the lack of racial diversity amongst winners: there is no - repeat no - size diversity on the list, a complaint about the company's 2016 winners that was apparently ignored. Thin is still (all that's) in, according to Victoria's Secret.

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We probably shouldn't be surprised considering the brand's consistently homogenously-sized annual fashion show.

Victoria's Secret, for God's sake, let's do better in 2018.

WATCH: Students build an electric wheelchair that can climb stairs
Fifteen years ago, when I graduated from Pomona College, there were landlines in the dorm rooms, a paper directory with everyones number, and a thriving culture of friendly prank calls. Almost no one used laptops in class, in part because there was no Wi-Fi. The launch of Facebook was a couple years off. And if a Google search for a peers name yielded anything I was unaware of itthough I published scores of news and opinion articles for student publications across four years, the only ones that potential employers ever saw were the literal newsprint clippings that I mailed to them.

I never realized how good that I had it. Or so I kept thinking when I returned to the Claremont Colleges this week. I was there for a panel discussion on campus speech that couldnt have been more timelydays before, protesters tried to shut down an appearance by Heather Mac Donald, the Manhattan Institute scholar who authored The War on Cops and regularly criticizes the Black Lives Matter movement. But the couple days that I spent wandering around campus, talking with perhaps three dozen students, left me more preoccupied with something I hadnt fully appreciated. Silicon Valley innovations have changed nearly every community in America. Yet I wonder if residential colleges arent among the most profoundly changed. I wonder if social media and surveillance culture especially affect young learners. I wonder if the cost of making mistakes now feels too high to risk them as often.

Recommended: North Korea and the Risks of Miscalculation

Nearly everyone I encountered at the five colleges was smart, thoughtful, and friendly, or at least non-hostile. But across racial, gender, and ideological lines, on gorgeous campuses where folks tend to like their professors and have lots of good things to say about their academic lives and friendships, many described a digital communications culture that sounded oppressiveand that didnt exist in the very recent past.

I hesitate to draw any sweeping conclusions based on a few dozen undergrads in Claremont. But I am at least struck by how little the radically changed campus communications landscape is explored even as campus speech norms loom so large.

Would you help me to remedy that? I have questions for people at all institutions of higher education, especially students at schools where lots of undergrads live on campus. Whether you answer one or all 10, or just share this with college students, Id be grateful.

When subjects of disagreement are discussed on your campus, what share of the conversations happen in mediums that almost anyone can access (like a campus newspaper, a public lecture, or a post on Twitter) and what percentage happen in relatively closed mediums like an invite-only Facebook group? Insofar as closed groups are operating, how big are they? How are they composed? What are the costs and benefits that they bring to a campus community? Todays students are more likely than their predecessors to have what they do on campus exposed to the wider world, even when theyre not trying to draw mass attention to themselves (as in protests or college football). Publish a college newspaper article and you might find yourself trending on Twitter or on the front page of Reddit; break into the campus swimming pool and go skinny dippinga frequent occurrence when I was at Pomonaand you may find a hi-res photo posted online; wear the wrong hat on Halloween and you might find yourself labeled a racist in a caption below a photo of your most ill-advised sartorial moment. The odds any one student will get Internet famous are still low. Still, how does the mere risk affect how students conduct themselves? What viewpoints do you or those you know hold, but refrain from expressing for fear of being called out? What are the different ways a view deemed problematic might be criticized? What is it about certain responses that you find chilling? Do you feel its hard to have campus friendships across ideological lines? Why or why not? If nothing that you did at college would affect your job prospects, what would you do that you dont do now, because youre guarding against career setbacks? If all social media were somehow banned or magically banished from your college community, what would improve about the experience and what would get worse? How often do you check some website or phone app dreading that someone will have said something hostile or negative or cutting or mocking or threatening? What do you like and dislike most about the present communications environment on campus? Do you expect to like your post-collegiate community more or less in this respect? Why? For students who live on campus, what percentage of your communications with other people who live on campus happens on your phone versus in person? When you imagine bygone eras of campus life, whether the desktop computers and landlines known to the class of 2002, or the pre-computer era, do you look upon that technological landscape with envy, or would you hate it? Why?

Answers to any or all of those questions, or any other insights that seem related, are greatly appreciatedemail conor@theatlantic.com, and rest assured that I will withhold all names unless you explicitly tell me that you would prefer that yours be included.

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Donald Trump is nothing if not flexible when it comes to his policy positions. He knows how to seize the limelight, as he did with a surprise strike on Syria, and has been moving along what has charitably been referred to as the learning curve on a host of other issues. No issue shows Trumps willingness to transform more than NATO: I said it was obsolete. Its no longer obsolete, he said recently. The challenge in analyzing this president is in predicting where hell land in his game of global spin-the-bottle. Its impossible to know how likely his shifts are, but a number of foreign-policy issues could be described as soft spotsareas where he is amenable to sudden changes in position. Here are five issues that Trump could easily swing on.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership. The proposed Asia-Pacific trade deal took a thumping in the Trump campaign, and the new president made withdrawing from the deal one of his first acts. Yet the forces opposed to trade on the campaign are on the downswing. Nationalist adviser Steve Bannon is reportedly on the rocks, while Gary Cohn, an advocate of trade deals, is ascendant. Japan and other TPP countries are keeping hope alive for a deal even without the United States, and Tokyo has just declared its not interested in the bilateral deal Trump wants to pursue instead. As geopolitical tensions rise in Asia, Trump is likely to hear from his allies and his more traditionalist advisers that a regional strategy to bind America to the region is desirable. Theres nothing stopping Trump from renegotiating a few aspects of the TPP text and declaring a new dealhe wouldnt even need to change the acronym. Just call it the Trump Pacific Partnership.

Cuba. Few issues illustrate Trumps lack of a core foreign-policy ideology like his dealings with Cuba. During the campaign, Trump mused about opening hotels there, saying, I think its okay to bring Cuba into the fold. But he blasted the Castro government after Fidels death, and indicated that he would reverse Obamas normalization if Cuba didnt meet our demands. But the Castro era is quickly drawing to a close, with Raul, Fidels brother and the current president, having promised to resign in February. Assuming that happens, Trump could easily declare Obamas policy a failure and replace it with his owna fresh start of a new normalization. Especially if his family can get a new hotel out of the deal.

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Recommended: The Brilliant Incoherence of Trumps Foreign Policy

Ukraine. In the wake of the Russian invasion of Crimea, Ukraine occupies a middle-ground of U.S. policy set by former President Barack Obama. Washington led Europe to enact sanctions on Russia, but, despite supportive rhetoric, has not provided lethal military aid to Ukrainian forces fighting Russian-backed separatists in the countrys east. Trumps policy could easily swing either way. A deal with Russia over Syria could lead him to recognize Moscows claim to Crimeaa subject the Ukrainian president raised on a call with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson this weekor Trump could follow the lead of his UN ambassador, Nikki Haley, and go full-bore against Russia on Ukraine.

Sudans Omar al-Bashir. Another option for Trump is to grab quick wins in the press by taking a low-cost but unexpected position. One option to confound his foreign-policy critics would be to turn up the pressure on Bashir, the Sudanese president, who is wanted for war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Sudan hasnt featured much on Trumps radar, despite landing on his various travel bans. But Bashir seemed to expect that Trump would treat him as well as he has treated nearly every other authoritarian, sending congratulations on his election and saying he would be much much easier to deal with. But if Americans know anything about Sudan, its that the word Darfur is synonymous with human rights violations. For a president who clearly enjoys the glow of being the worlds policeman, Trump could make a meal of interfering with Bashirs freedom of movement or even help him find his way to the ICC.

Recommended: How the Syria Strike Flipped the U.S.-Russia Power Dynamic

Mexico. A softening on Trumps harsh rhetoric on Mexico is already in the works. After calling Mexicans rapists and declaring NAFTA a catastrophe, the Trump team has started to engage with Mexico as an actual country and not just as a political punching bag. An anonymous Mexican official told the Wall Street Journal, weve gone from panic to concern, while the plans for revisiting the trade pact look more like a modest modernization than the wholesale withdrawal Trump threatened. Should that go through smoothly, theres nothing stopping Trump from newly embracing President Enrique Pena Nieto ... so long as he pays for the wall.

This article has been adapted from Matt Petersons weekly newsletter for Eurasia Group, Signal.

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The Trump Administration will not disclose logs of those who visit the White House complex, breaking with his predecessor, the White House announced Friday.

The decision, after nearly three months of speculation about the fate of the records, marks a dramatic shift from the Obama Administrations voluntary disclosure of more than 6 million records during his presidency. The U.S. Secret Service maintains the logs, formally known as the Workers and Visitors Entry System, for the purpose of determining who can access to the 18-acre complex.

White House communications director Michael Dubke said the decision to reverse the Obama-era policy was due to the grave national security risks and privacy concerns of the hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Instead, the Trump Administration is relying on a federal court ruling that most of the logs are presidential records and are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

Three White House officials said they expect criticism of the new policy, but believe it is necessary to preserve the ability of the president to seek advice from whomever he wants, with some discretion. They requested anonymity to discuss the policy before a formal announcement.

Under the Trump Administrations directive, logs of those entering the White House complex will be kept secret until at least five years after Trump leaves office-at which point they will first be eligible to be requested by the public, press and scholars. The White House did not say who would maintain custody of the records during his time in office.

Trump officials are quick to point out that the Obama Administration fought in federal court to preserve the right to redact and withhold records, successfully appealing a lower court ruling requiring their release to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. But seeking to live up to Obamas promise to run the most transparent administration in history, his Administration voluntarily disclosed the logs.

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But those logs were incomplete-often obviously so. The Obama-era process allowed the White House Counsels office to unilaterally redact records of those visiting the complex for any reason. The Obama Administration, for instance, took a wide-ranging view of what were considered personal events hosted by the Obamas, leaving off celebrity sightings and meetings with top donors. It also maintained the right to leave off those brought in for sensitive meetings, like interviews for federal judicial nominations. Obama-era officials took other steps to circumvent the logs, scheduling meetings with lobbyists and others at nearby coffee shops.

Trump White House officials are now arguing that the Obama records presented an incomplete picture of who interacted with the Administration. It did create more of a facade of transparency rather than complete transparency, said one White House official.

The ability to scrub them was sort of institutionalized, another official said, noting that the clearance form for visitors to the complex includes a check box allowing requesters to flag a record for later shielding it from public release.

The 2013 opinion was in a case filed by watchdog groups, including the conservative Freedom Watch, which argued that the WAVES records could be released since they were created and maintained by the Secret Service - and thus not exempt from FOIA. Earlier this month, liberal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filed suit in the Southern District of New York against the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Secret Service, for access to the logs on the same grounds. White House officials said they expect that court to reach the same conclusion as the D.C. circuit, but suggested it would seek to litigate to preserve its ability to keep the records secret if necessary.

Last month congressional Democrats introduced the Making Access Records Available to Lead American Government Openness Act, or MAR-A-LAGO Act, which would require Trump to disclose visitors at places where he regularly conducts official business within 90 days. The Secret Service does not maintain WAVES records, or any logs of those who visit the club owned by the president at Palm Beach.

Logs for the Office of Management and Budget, the Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy remain subject to FOIA requests, officials said, but will not be unilaterally disclosed.

White House officials said the Administration is ending the contract for Open.gov, the Obama-era site that hosted the visitor records along with staff financial disclosures, salaries, and appointments. An official said it would save $70,000 through 2020 and that the removed disclosures, salaries and appointments would be integrated into WhiteHouse.gov in the coming months.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP)  Talk about a tip.

A Florida waiter is accused of stealing a $3,000 diamond ring that fell off a customer's finger.

Pensacola police tell news outlets that 27-year-old Wesley Aaron Dicus was arrested Tuesday on charges of grand theft and dealing in stolen property.

The Pensacola News Journal (http://on.pnj.com/2peFxfB ) reports a 39-year-old woman told police she believed the ring slipped off when she put lotion on her hands. The ring was later identified on an online app called OfferUp.

Police say detectives posing as a couple met with Dicus and he offered to sell it to them for $2,000. Police arrested him when the markings on the ring matched the woman's description.

Dicus remains in jail on a $12,500 bond. Records don't list an attorney.

___

Information from: Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com
The U.S. militarys announcement that it dropped the mother of all bombs, one of the largest non-nuclear devices, against an ISIS facility in Afghanistan comes despite the U.S. assessment that only about 700 ISIS fighters remain in the country. Its the first time the bomb has been used on the battlefield.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), which has a yield of 11 tons, targeted the tunnels and caves used by ISIS in Achin district, Nangarhar province, which is on the border with Pakistan. In comparison, Little Boy, the nuclear device dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, had a blast yield of 15 kilotons. Fat Man, which was dropped on Nagasaki, was a 21-kiloton bomb.* In other words, while the MOAB is one of the largest nonnuclear bombs, its far smaller than most nuclear weapons the U.S. possesses or the ones it has used.

The 30-foot-long MOAB was first tested in 2003. NPR reports it was then deployed to bases in the Middle East where it could be loaded aboard an American aircraft such as the the MC-130 Combat Talon, which opens its ramp and releases the weapon, as it did Thursday. The bomb is satellite-guided, making its delivery precise in a way the BLU-82 Daisy Cutter, MOABs predecessor, was not.

Recommended: What's Really at Stake for America in Yemen's Conflict

As ISIS-Ks losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defense, General John W. Nicholson, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, said in a statement, referring to the ISIS-Khorasan group, the Islamic States branch in Afghanistan. This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K.

ISIS is a relative newcomer to Afghanistan, announcing its arrival in the country in January 2015. Since then it has claimed a number of high-profile and often horrific attacks against civilian targetsattacks that have drawn criticism even from the Taliban, whose rebels have fought the Afghan government and the U.S. since 2001. Nangarhar is ISISs stronghold, and it is there the U.S. and its allies in the Afghan military have been fighting the group, targeting militants with airstrikes as well as ground attacks. Just this week, a U.S. special-operation forces soldier was killed in the fighting the area.

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We have been conducting a series of operations against ISIS-K on a regular basis since the beginning of 2016 and have succeeded in reducing their number of fighters almost in half and their territory by two-thirds, Nicholson told the Combating Terror Center at West Point in February. Weve killed their top 14 leaders.

He added: Weve been striking them and eliminating people, but they are adapting. We have reduced their financial flows, but we havent eliminated them.

Recommended: How the Syria Strike Flipped the U.S.-Russia Power Dynamic

The Trump administration has increased the pace of airstrikes the U.S. military has carried out in Afghanistan. From January to March, the U.S. Air Force dropped 450 bombs in the country; that number was close to 1,300 for all of 2016, according to the Air Forces open-source database of such strikes.

Our goal is to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan in 2017, U.S. Navy Captain Bill Salvin, a spokesman for the U.S. military command in Kabul, told Foreign Policy. He said the MOAB has the ability to collapse the tunnels that ISIS fighters use to evade Afghan forces. Its that capability that led to the expectation the MOAB would be used against an underground nuclear facility in a place like Iran or North Korea.

* This article originally mistakenly referred to the nuclear device dropped on Nagasaki as "Fat Boy." We regret the error.

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This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
The Mother of All Bombs was a big hit on Fox News on Friday morning. After the Pentagon released aerial footage of the blast created by the huge, never-before-used bomb delivered to what it said was a web of tunnels being used by ISIS fighters in Afghanistan, Fox promptly set the footage to a suitably jingoistic bit of music and played it on air to the delight of its morning show hosts.

That is what freedom looks like, gushed Ainsley Earhardt. Thats the red, white and blue.

One of my favorite things in 16 years here at Fox News is watching bombs drop on bad guys, chimed in Geraldo Rivera.

Related: Trumps Tough Guy Foreign Policy Falls Flat with Russia and China

But for all the attention given to the decision to use the Massive Ordnance Air Blast weapon, which reportedly killed three dozen terrorist fighters, the attack in Afghanistans Nangarhar Province represents only a new tactic in an existing conflict. What it stole attention from was reports of potentially major shifts in U.S. policy in two other parts of the world: North Korea and Syria.

North Korea

On Thursday night, NBC News reported that the United States is prepared to launch an attack on North Korea to prevent the Kim Jong-un regime from going forward with the test of a nuclear weapon. Citing two unidentified intelligence officials, NBC reported that the U.S. has placed two Navy destroyers armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles on standby near North Korea and has prepared heavy bombers in Guam for possible attacks on the isolated nation.

The US has consistently condemned North Koreas past nuclear weapons tests, responding by tightening already crippling economic sanctions against the Kim regime. However, taking pre-emptive military action in advance of another test would be a massive and unexpected escalation that could place South Korea, a U.S. ally, at risk of retaliation from the North. Seoul, a city of 14 million people, is less than 30 miles from parts of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.

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Related: CIA Director Calls Wikileaks a Hostile Intelligence Service

The Pentagon disputed the NBC report, calling it wrong and very dangerous. But given the rhetoric coming from President Trump over the past week, calling North Korea a menace and promising to deal with the country, there was plenty of reason to wonder  not least of all in Pyongyang.

North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.  President Trump (@POTUS) April 11, 2017

The North Korean government warned that it is ready to go to war if the U.S. attacks, and said that it is now considering a first strike itself.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, according to the state news service Xinhua, spoke openly of the possibility of war resulting from the exchange of heated words.

Related: The Army Has a New Supergun That Can Blow Apart a Tank

We urge all sides to no longer engage in mutual provocation and threats, whether through words or deeds, and dont push the situation to the point where it cant be turned around and gets out of hand, he said. No matter who it is, if they let war break out on the peninsula, they must shoulder that historical culpability and pay the corresponding price for this.

Syria

At the same time, Bloomberg reports that Trumps national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, is pushing colleagues on the National Security Council to reconsider their reluctance to put a substantial U.S. troop presence on the ground in Syria, where a civil war has been raging for six years.

The U.S. has had a small presence in the country for several years, primarily special operations troops to help train allied fighters and to guide airstrikes. More recently, a Marine artillery unit was dispatched to the fight. Adding thousands of troops, though, would completely change the character of U.S. involvement in a brutal war in which another major world power, Russia, is already deeply involved. Nominally, American troops would be fighting ISIS, not the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which Russia supports. However, after U.S. officials called for Assads removal from power, its hard to see how dispatching a major ground force to his country would be seen as anything but an act of war, putting pressure on Assads protectors, Russia and Iran, to respond.

While neither the posturing in North Korea nor the debate over Syria can be easily turned into a Toby Keith video, either one of them by itself is a bigger deal than a bomb with a catchy name being dropped in a war weve been fighting, in one form or another, for more than 15 years.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
The Trump administrations surprise missile strike on Syria raised many more questions than it answered  and the most pressing are those related to the future of the USs relationship with Russia.

The signs are not good. The Kremlin responded to the US strike by suspending the 2015 deconfliction agreement it maintained with the US Air Force. In doing so, it briefly increased the risk of an inadvertent clash between the two armed forces, threatening to turn the fight against the so-called Islamic State (IS) into an exercise in brinkmanship. As Tillerson left Moscow, the future of the agreement was unclear.

Russia also deployed a frigate to the Eastern Mediterranean and issued a joint statement with Iran and Hezbollah, in which the three threatened a military response to any such future US action.

Far from abandoning Assad, as some have prematurely claimed over the past few days (and, indeed, years), Russia seems to be doubling down on its support to his regime. Vladimir Putin himself accused the Trump administration of readying further strikes on Syria based on provocations staged by anti-Assad forces, before pointedly vetoing a UN Security Council resolution calling on the Syrian government to co-operate with any international investigation into last weeks chemical attack.

This will disappoint those who speculated that the Kremlin might abandon him, but it shouldnt surprise anyone  Russia has consistently rejected any form of regime change in the Middle East, mindful of the disaster that engulfed post-Gaddafi Libya. At his recent press conference with Trumps secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, reiterated the point:

This insistence on removing or ousting a dictator or totalitarian leader  we have already been through it. We very well know, only too well, what happens when you do that.

Theres something deeper at work too. Putin has cultivated an image as the restorer of Russias great power status (derzhavnost), standing up to the Western liberal consensus. Abandoning Assad at this point would be to give in to Western pressure, and his domestic audience would regard it as a national humiliation.

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Putins role of choice is a tricky one to play. At home, he holds himself up as the embodiment of Russian masculinity, the embodiment of the countrys restored international status. But abroad, Russias act is more complex: the Kremlin sometimes presents itself as the great challenger of Western liberal hegemony in a multi-polar world, but also readily appropriates Western ideas  humanitarian intervention, the War on Terror  to justify its various interventions within and beyond its sometimes ill-defined sphere of influence.

These theatrics support the hard-nosed vision of Russias national interest that has now held sway for a decade-and-a-half. According to this worldview, international law and institutions are tools for great powers to use in a great game. The Kremlin does not subscribe to the expansive, liberal interpretations of the world order professed by Western states  and it doesnt believe the Western powers really subscribe to them either.

This makes Russias understanding of Trumps motives all the more important.

Reading the signals

Perhaps Trump really did strike Assads airfield on impulse  that it really was the sight of suffering children, along with the exhortations of his by daughter/adviser Ivanka that pushed him into action. Needless to say, such impulsivity comes with multiple dangers. In fact, it could be argued that Trumps failure to clearly signal his intent in the preceding weeks allowed for the chemical attack in the first place. Having heard that regime change was now off the table, Assad took a lethal risk; Trumps response was both unexpected and unannounced.

These sorts of misunderstandings are dangerous enough in the Syrian context; within broader Russian-American relations, they could lead to nothing less than a war between two great powers.

This assumes both that Trump is in fact entirely irrational and that Moscow would consider him that way. Neither is likely  in fact, as with Putin, Trumps style of politics revolves around performance. The question is whether that performance is underpinned by some wider worldview that might lend his adminstrations foreign policy some substance.

The saga of the US strike and its aftermath clearly has a theatrical bent. Trump is trying to make his mark, assuming the role of the anti-Obama, a man of action with no time for endless multilateral fence-sitting. The strikes also divert attention from the chaos and brewing scandals of his young presidency. But they can also be interpreted as a signal to both allies and adversaries, simultaneously a show of resolve and a demonstration of unpredictability  in itself a deterrent of sorts. Whether or not this signal was intentional, the Kremlin is familiar with the style.

This makes the behind-the-scenes discussions on Tillersons visit to Moscow doubly important. If Tillerson confirmed that the strike was an act of astute power politics dressed up as sentimental impulsivity, he will have validated the Kremlins probable interpretation. That would make this incredibly tense moment just a little less unstable, since the two powers would at least share a frame of reference for each others actions.

But if the Kremlin understands Trumps behaviour no better than it did before Tillerson paid it a visit, Russian-American relations might inch ever closer to a dangerous precipice. Should they tip over the edge, the results would go far beyond mere theatre.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Kevork Oskanian 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.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The wolverine, a carnivore confined to colder climates since the last Ice Age, has re-established a tenuous foothold further south in a Belgian wildlife park. A female cub of the species that also includes badgers and martens was born in February in the Domain of the Caves of Han park south of Brussels, finally emerging from its den this week, a park spokeswoman said. Wolverines spread through Europe in prehistoric times but are now confined to Scandinavia and parts of Russia and North America. Conservationists have voiced concern that their habitats are shrinking further as global temperatures rise. There are currently around 1,300 wolverines living in Europe, including 116 in 45 zoos and wildlife parks, the spokeswoman said. The park plans to transfer the new arrival, who has yet to be named, to a zoo once she has reach reached maturity in about two years. (Reporting by Farah Salhi; editing by Robert-Jan Bartunek and editing by John Stonestreet)
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Gov. Scott Walker has cancelled his annual Easter Egg Hunt because of concerns about safety while authorities search for a fugitive who is suspected of robbing a gun store in southern Wisconsin and sending an anti-government manifesto to the White House.

Dozens of police have been searching for Joseph Jakubowski since the gun store was robbed in Janesville on April 4, about 60 miles southwest of Milwaukee.

A statement from Walker and first lady Tonette Walker says the couple is "sad to miss one of our favorite events."

The hunt had been scheduled for Saturday.

Authorities have urged the public to call with information of his whereabouts but they're warning people not to approach him because they believe he is armed and dangerous.
An east Tennessee woman is returning home from the hospital after her husband accidentally shot her in the stomach while hunting a squirrel last year.

Read: Teen Accidentally Shoots, Kills Self on Instagram Live as Friends Watch

Bye bye hospital after [six months] and one week, Brenda Durkee, of Dandridge, wrote on Facebook. Thank you for all your prayers.

Her lengthy stay in the hospital began six months ago, when her husband Bob Durkee spotted a squirrel in their backyard, eating the last of their petunias.

Bob was putting away his shotgun after shooting the pest, when the gun unexpectedly went off again, shooting his wife in the stomach.

I can still see it in my mind, Brenda said, according to WVLT. I can see the fire shoot out of the end of the gun [] Blast, it just went off.

Bob said it was an accident, and he was devastated: I didnt know what I was going to do if she passed away. I dont know how I was going to live without her.

Read: Boy, 5, Who Lost Feet in Lawnmower Accident Gets Running Blades, Thanks to Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor

Through Brendas recovery, the couple turned to their faith.

I had prayers going out all over the world, she said.

Bob added, God is good.

Watch: Driver Who Miraculously Survived After His Car Flipped Multiple Times Reunites With His Rescuer

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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 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)
Photo credit: YouTube

From Town & Country

After a video of Dr. David Dao being dragged off of United Airlines flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville went viral, the 69-year-old physician has found himself thrust, willing or not, into the national spotlight. In a press conference Thursday morning with his lawyers and his daughter, we learned Dao intends to take legal action against both United Airlines and the city of Chicago.

Here's what else we learned:

Dao is a doctor in Kentucky



This whole incident started when Dao refused to give up his seat on a flight from Chicago to Louisville because he needed to get back to see his patients. According to People magazine, "His license permits him to practice internal medicine at an outpatient facility once a week." Dao's wife Teresa is also a doctor, and has a pediatric practice in Elizabethtown.

Dao has five children.



His daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper, spoke at Thursday's press conference:

"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 that we have received from all over the world these past few days. We would also like to thank the physicians, the nurses and all of the hospital staff that has taken care of my dad. It has been a very difficult time for our entire family, especially my dad and we are truly grateful for all of your support."

And when asked about her father, Pepper further said,

"My dad is a wonderful father. He has raised, with my mother, five great children who have gone on to do great things, and will continue to do great things. He is a loving grandfather, and at the end of the day, that is the person who we are trying to protect and take care of."



Four of Dao's five children are doctors.





For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

During Thursday's media event, Pepper revealed that what happened to her father has turned her whole family's lives upside down. "As my immediate family, and my husband and children are here in Chicago, we are deeply affected by it," she said. "Our lives have been interrupted and our normalcy is not where it was on Sunday morning."

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It is also affecting her four siblings, all of whom are doctors. "My siblings who all have thriving careers and are in graduate schools, their lives have been interrupted," she said. "As some of you may know, theyre in the healthcare field, and they are trying their best to do their job without further interruption from local media, whomever might be stepping into their lives right now."

Dao is a Vietnamese refugee.

Despite some initial speculation that Dao was of Chinese descent, his daughter clarified during Thursday's event that her mother and father had both immigrated to the United States from Vietnam. His lawyer, Tom Demetrio, revealed that Dao compared what happened on that flight to the fall of Saigon:

"He said that he left Vietnam in 1975 when Saigon fell, and he was on a boat and he said he was terrified," Demetrio said, sharing a conversation he had with his client. "He said that being dragged down the aisle was more horrifying and harrowing than what he experienced in leaving Vietnam.

His injuries will require surgery.



Dao was discharged from the hospital Wednesday night and he is still recovering from a number of ailments including a concussion, a broken nose, and injury to the sinuses. He is also now missing multiple teeth, and will be undergoing reconstructive surgery, according to his lawyer.



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Photo credit: chokkicx - Getty Images

From Popular Mechanics

Whether you work remotely or you're just really precise about personal cybersecurity, Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are becoming a popular choice to secure your browsing history. That's especially true following some much-hated regulation changes from the Federal Communications Commission back in 2017ahem, a reversal on rules that required your internet service provider (ISP) to ask for explicit permission before accessing your personal data.

All of that precious information, including where you are, who you talk to and what you say online, can be protected with a VPN. But here's the thing: you're just forking over the secrets of your browsing history from your internet service provider over to your VPN provider. That sounds a bit confusing but it's about the equivalent of switching from cable to a bunch of streaming packagesthere is still a company that can potentially profit from selling your data. That's why it's imperative that you choose your VPN service wisely.



Why use a VPN?

Everything you need to know about a VPN is right there in the name: private network. Instead of connecting directly to the internet at large, you connect to your VPN through your internet service provider, and and then your VPN connects to the rest of the web.

VPNs are often used to let remote workers get into their company's private corporate network even when they're not physically in the office, and they work the same for the average consumer. Virtual private networks let you appear as if you're somewhere you're not, and add a few extra layers of security along the way.

You get two main benefits from using a VPN. First, by using a server hosted by your VPN, you can pretend to be in a different countrythis is often used to access content from different regions, although the likes of Netflix are now cracking down on the practice.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, your VPN provider encrypts all of the traffic going to and from your computer, so it's much more difficult for someone else to tap into your communications or see your browsing history. That someone could be a casual hacker in the same coffee shop as you or a government agency keen to take a peek at your online activity, or even your ISP, which might be interested in recording and selling your browsing history.

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You don't need a VPN to get online, but those are the key reasons to consider it.

How a VPN does and doesn't protect you

VPN software sits on your computer (or phone) and makes a secure, encrypted, trusted link to the VPN company's servers. Then, it fetches whatever you want from the web.

While that does is make it very hard for someone to tap into the communications between you and the VPN server, the VPN company itself can keep logs of your activity the same way your ISP could were you not using a VPN. Most promise not toprivacy, after all, is ostensibly the reason they exist in the first placebut carefully check the small print for details.

It's important to note that VPNs don't necessarily make you anonymous on the internet, although some VPNs do claim to. Facebook and Google will of course know whenever you sign in, no matter which VPN server you're connecting from, and websites can still leave cookies on your machine to log your visits from one particular browser. Also, anyone who has direct access to any of your devices will always be able to see what you are doing unless you are decrypting your data by hand, one byte at a time.

Plus, with the right legal authority, some law enforcement agencies may be able to monitor your devices directly, or force your VPN service to give up records of your actions if you, your VPN, and the law enforcement agency in question all share a jurisdiction, even if those records are just the times you went online. What can be found out about you can vary significantly depending on the law in your part of the world (or where the VPN is based), the services you've been accessing, and the policies of the VPN company you've signed up with, but you should think of a VPN as adding extra privacy and security rather than guaranteeing complete anonymity.

VPNs can also slow down your download and upload speeds, because you're adding a middle stage to your connection to the internet. Some VPNs have faster servers than others, adding yet another consideration to think about when picking a one to sign up with. And that brings us to the biggest, thorniest issue.

Choosing a VPN

There's no getting around it: Picking a VPN is difficult. You're placing your trust in a VPN provider to be more upstanding about security and user privacy than your ISP is, and there's little in the way of regulation or control when it comes to who can set up a Virtual Private Network and rent it out.

In theory, VPNs should have your best interests at heart, as they only survive by offering privacy to their users. In reality, however, things are more complicated. Some VPNs can have troubling fine print, less than ideal business practices, or roots in countries with laws that don't favor privacy. Worse yet, some VPNs can simply be scams designed to collect data for the express purpose of selling it.

That said, there are good VPN services out there, and you can find them with a little detective work. Put together a shortlist based on reputable reviews in the tech press, user feedback, and how long these VPNs have been around. Perhaps most importantly, a good VPN costs money, full stop. Any service that operates "for free" needs to be monetizing somewhere, and it's probably through the sale of your data.

If you know any tech-savvy, security-conscious web users, get advice from them too. Independent reviews online, like the one put together by That One Privacy Site, can be helpful too, though watch out for reviews and round-ups with affiliate links that may have been paid for by the VPNs themselves. Ultimately, only you can choose what VPN is best for your needs, just don't make that decision lightly.

Setting up and using a VPN

The good news is that setting up a Virtual Private Network is a lot more straightforward than deciding who to sign up with, and a lot of VPN companies actually put ease-of-use as one of their biggest selling points.

With pretty much any VPN you pick, you'll typically get client software to install on your computers and mobile devices, which you then log into. All of the heavy encryption and security protection is taken care of for you, so in a couple of clicks you can be online and surfing the web as normal.

Most VPNs give you a choice of servers to connect to, usually in different parts of the world, so you can choose where on the globe you want to appear. Choose one in France, for instance, and all the websites that you visit will think that you're sat at a computer somewhere in France.

Keep an eye on your VPN client for details like download speeds and connection status (don't connect to any sensitive sites before the connection is established). Some tools will automatically recommend a server for you, based on how busy it is and how many other users are hooked up to it.

Even after you're up and running, keep an eye on the other services out there, and of course the ever-changing privacy law landscape, if you want to stay as safe as possible. Remember that staying protected online is about more than just using a VPN too, and there are other measures you need to know about.

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'Style Ideas' is currently only available as a new feature in the Image Search in the Google app for Android and on mobile web.

Google has just announced an update to its Image Search app which enables you to see what a fashion item you're interested in would look like worn on a model or blogger.

The new Style Ideas feature could seem quite basic at first. But haven't we all all asked ourselves how a jacket or dress would sit on the waist or shoulders in real life, or wondered which pants would go with a pair of shoes we're eyeing?

The idea is simple: in addition to the standard retail photo of a fashion product, Google will show you other photos of the same item worn by one of the brand's official models or a blogger, who has teamed it with other things.

"With style ideas you can see real-life options of what bag and jeans look stellar with those red high heels you've been eyeing", Google explained in a blog post.

"Style Ideas" is currently only available in Image Search on mobile web and in the Google app for Android.
Computer analysts say files released by hacker Shadow Brokers showed the NSA had found and exploited numerous vulnerabilities in a range of Microsoft Windows products widely used on computers around the world (AFP Photo/PAUL J. RICHARDS) (AFP/File)

Washington (AFP) - Files released by the mysterious hacker Shadow Brokers suggested Friday the US National Security Agency had penetrated the SWIFT banking network and monitored a number of Middle East banks.

The files, according to computer security analysts, also showed the NSA had found and exploited numerous vulnerabilities in a range of Microsoft Windows products widely used on computers around the world.

Analysts generally accepted the files, which show someone exploiting so-called "zero-day" or hitherto unknown vulnerabilities in common software and hardware, came from the NSA.

They are believed stolen from a hyper-secret hacking unit dubbed the "Equation Group" at the key US signals intelligence agency.

"The tools and exploits released today have been specifically designed to target earlier versions of Windows operating system," said security specialist Pierluigi Paganini on the Security Affairs website.

They "suggest the NSA was targeting the SWIFT banking system of several banks around the world."

The files appear to indicate that the NSA had infiltrated two of SWIFT's service bureaus, including EastNets, which provides technology services in the Middle East for the Belgium-based SWIFT and for individual financial institutions.

Via that entry point the agency appears to have monitored transactions involving several banks and financial institutions in Kuwait, Dubai, Bahrain, Jordan, Yemen and Qatar.

In a statement on its website EastNets rejected the allegations.

"The reports of an alleged hacker-compromised EastNets Service Bureau network is totally false and unfounded," it said.

"We can confirm that no EastNets customer data has been compromised in any way."

SWIFT said in a statement that the allegations involve only its service bureaus and not its own network.

"There is no impact on SWIFT's infrastructure or data, however we understand that communications between these service bureaus and their customers may previously have been accessed by unauthorized third parties."

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"We have no evidence to suggest that there has ever been any unauthorized access to our network or messaging services."

Shadow Brokers first surfaced last year offering for sale a suite of hacking tools from the NSA. There were no takers at the price stated of tens of millions of dollars, and since then the hacker or hackers have leaked bits of the trove for free.

Analysts say many of the exploits revealed appear to be three years old or more, but have some unknown vulnerabilities that could still be used by other hackers.

No one has yet discovered the identity of Shadow Brokers, or of the hackers that gained access to the NSA materials.
NASA doesnt usually hold news conferences for minor discoveries or observations, so when the agency announced that it would be holding a press conference this week to talk about oceans on other planets, we knew it had to be something particularly interesting. Well, the event just wrapped up and to call the news interesting would be an incredible understatement. NASA just revealed that Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, appears to have everything it needs to support oceanic life. Woah.

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Enceladus, which measures 313 miles across, is only the sixth largest of Saturns moons, but when it comes to the search for life its already the most exciting. Its a frigid world with a thick layer of ice completely covering it, but past observations of the moon have revealed huge geysers of water spewing from its surface, meaning that theres liquid water hidden beneath.

When the Cassini orbiter took a cruise through one of those plumes of water it discovered a significant amount of molecular hydrogen, which sciences believe is likely being created by reactions between water and extremely hot rock at the moons core. With ice on its surface and steamy reactions happening at its core, that means theres a huge range of water temperatures in between, which substantially increases the chances that life could be supported there.

The combination of energy and elements is a tantalizing mix that has researchers very excited, but its also only a blueprint for life being supported, and thats a far cry from confirmation that its actually there. And, even if it is, it may well be microbial, which would still be a groundbreaking discovery, but not exactly the kind of thing you see in a sci-fi movie. In any case, the news is exciting, and could be enough to prompt further research and perhaps one day a trip to Enceladus itself.

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The first two launches of NASA's deep-space capsule Orion could be delayed, setting back its Journey to Mars (AFP Photo/MC1 Gary Keen)

Washington (AFP) - NASA will probably delay the first two missions of its Orion deep-space capsule, being developed to send astronauts beyond earth's orbit and eventually to Mars, the US space agency said.

A report by NASA's Office of Inspector General cited technical as well as budget challenges.

The first launch of the Orion spacecraft atop the planned Space Launch System, or SLS -- set to become the world's most powerful rocket when it flies -- is currently scheduled for early November 2018 with no crew.

A second mission carrying astronauts is envisioned for August 2021 at the earliest.

However, "NASA's initial exploration missions on its Journey to Mars -- EM-1 and EM-2 -- face multiple cost and technical challenges that likely will affect their planned launch dates," the report said of the conclusions from a nine-month audit.

It cites delays in the development of the Orion service module, provided by the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as technical risks from changes in the design of the capsule's heat shield.

The audit also reported delays in the development of software for the SLS, Orion and ground systems at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

"We are concerned NASA will not be able to resolve all necessary software validation and verification efforts in time to meet a November 2018 launch date for EM-1," the report said.

The total cost for the SLS, Orion and ground systems development programs is expected to reach some $23 billion by the end of fiscal year 2018.

Manned exploration of Mars is expected to exceed $33 billion by 2033.

The White House in February asked the space agency to conduct a feasibility study of the cost, safety, and technical constraints of adding astronauts to the first Orion mission in late 2018.

The report also questions the feasibility of NASA's plans to launch a manned mission to Mars in the late 2030s or early 2040s. The agency has not provided target mission dates for a manned orbit of Mars or landings on the planet's surface or nearby moon, it said.

To achieve its goal of sending humans to the vicinity of Mars in the 2030s, NASA must carry out "significant development work on key systems such as a deep space habitat, in-space transportation, and Mars landing and ascent vehicles" in the 2020s, the report added.

"The Agency will need to make these and many other decisions in the next 5 years or so for that to happen."
A new patent has been awarded to Microsoft, and it includes details about a device that could be the long-awaited Surface Phone.

Microsoft released its biannual transparency report Thursday, and with it came its first National Security Letter (NSL) the company received from the FBI.

The FBI uses NSLs to obtain customers information from tech firms. In 2014, the FBI sent an NSL to Microsoft seeking data that belonged to a customer.

Read: Microsoft Office Hack: Microsoft Patches Problem In App That Spread Malware

Microsoft follows other tech companies that have previously disclosed NSLs in their transparency reports, including Google, Yahoo and Facebook.

The reforms in the USA Freedom Act were a positive step forward and we believe reasonable limits on the routine use of government secrecy should be adopted more broadly, Microsoft said in a post. There are times when secrecy is vital to an investigation, but too often secrecy orders are unnecessarily used, or are needlessly indefinite and prevent us from telling customers of intrusions even after investigations are long over.

Apart from the NSL, Microsoft said it received more than 61,000 legal requests for customer data from law enforcement agencies last year. However, the number is less than the amount requested in 2015 -- 74,311. The company said most of the requests in 2016 came from the U.S., U.K., France and Germany.

Read: How To Change Privacy Settings On Docs.com: Microsoft Makes Sensitive Docs Publically Searchable

Microsoft and other tech firms, including Apple and Google, have been at odds with the U.S. government over privacy.

Microsoft was in a dispute last year with the U.S. government over access to data stored in foreign countries. A judge decided Microsoft and other companies could not be forced to give up customer email stored outside the United States to the FBI.

Last month, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and Cisco teamed up to back Google in an amicus brief after a court ruled the search engine company to hand over emails stored on servers overseas following an FBI warrant. The companies cited Microsofts previous case in the amicus brief.

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As massive of an improvement as the Nintendo Switch is over the Wii U, it still has its share of issues. The battery only lasts a few hours, the kickstand is flimsy and the charging port is positioned at the bottom of the tablet, making it impossible to charge while playing in tabletop mode. None of these issues are deal-breakers for most Switch owners, but they do hinder what could be the best portable consoles on the market.

Thankfully, someone has decided to solve all of these problems (and more) with one simple accessory.

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InDemand Designs SwitchCharge is a battery case for the Nintendo Switch expected to ship in August. The creators are currently raising money for the case on Indiegogo, where over 1,800 backers have already more than doubled the $80,000 goal. With 23 days left, the campaign is primed to be a huge success.

The primary feature of the SwitchCharge case is its 12,000mAh battery, which should give Switch owners up to 12 hours of uninterrupted game time. The case is also equipped with a sturdy, adjustable kickstand, 2 game card storage slots, quick charge technology and a USB-C port on the side (perfect for tabletop mode).

InDemand Design is asking for $85 for a SwitchCharge case and power supply, but you can save a few dollars by purchasing a set of multiple cases. The company plans to begin shipping SwitchCharge cases in July, with deliveries expected to arrive in August. As this is an unreleased project, we cant say whether or not it does everything it claims to do, but it looks like it could be the ultimate all-in-one accessory for the Switch.

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For years, Star Wars Celebration has served as the official fan gathering to celebrate the Star Wars franchise. It began nearly two decades ago, and while it has skipped a few years along the way, its back once again this weekend at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Thousands of fans in Orlando and watching online are looking forward to hearing news about season 4 of Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Battlefront II and seeing the stars of the movies, but the most anticipated event of all has to be the panel for The Last Jedi, which begins at 11:00 AM ET on Friday, April 14th.

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Thankfully, you dont need to be in attendance to watch the panel, as Lucasfilm is hosting The Star Wars Show live from the convention center every day of the event (April 13th  April 16th). If you want to be among the first to learn new details about The Last Jedi (and possibly see the first trailer) tune in below:

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson will appear on stage, reads the description of the panel. There will be plenty of surprises and special guests on the panel to keep the excitement brewing and speculation spinning throughout the rest of the weekend.

If you care about more than just the eighth movie in the Star Wars saga, you can stay tuned to the live stream all day for more exclusive interviews, panels and guest appearances. And if you were moved by the Carrie Fisher tribute on Thursday, you might want to check out Mark Hamills tribute at 5:30 PM ET.

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CNN brought Donald Trump surrogate Jeffrey Lord back this evening to address his remarkable statement from this morning calling President Donald Trump the Martin Luther King of healthcare.

Jeff, I want to give you a chance to explain yourself, what you meant by your earlier comments, Anderson Cooper began soberly.

Sure, Lord began from his Pennsylvania study, as his ever-present Ronald Reagan photo smiled and waved over his right shoulder.

I wasnt comparing President Trump and Dr. King, Lord insisted, adding  you know its coming  who, by the way, the latter, was a hero of mine when I was a kid.

All day long, media had been howling over Lords having called former The Apprentice star-turned-POTUS the Martin Luther King of health care. Lord appeared on the cable news networks New Day to discuss reports that Trump was threatening to cut Affordable Care Act subsidies to the poor as a means of getting Dems to the table on Obamacare repeal and replace.

What I was doing was comparing their strategy. Dr. King quite specifically  and I knew this when I was talking about this on air this morning  was talking about creating a crisis, Lord told Cooper this evening on CNNs AC360.

He then began to read from Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail, which I am well familiar with, Lord said, reading a line from Kings 1963 defense of non-violent resistance to racism:

Non-violent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such attention, that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks to so dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored.

Donald Trump isnt taking to the streets; he has the power of the presidency, Lord acknowledged. But clearly, if he withholds payments from insurance companies, which Wall Street Journal said would result in a meltdown, thats a crisis, Lord said. So he is doing the same thing: creating a crisis to get to a negotiation. Thats the point. Period.

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Coopers other talking head, contributor Bakari Sellers, called Lords remark an affront to Kings legacy and emblematic of the culture of ignorance and anti-intellectualism ushered in by Donald Trump.

What we saw him do was pervert Kings writing, Sellers continued.

Donald Trump is trying to bring Democrats to the table to gut a piece of legislation which has insured many and saved lives. If he is successful, people will die in rural hospitals like the one I used to represent will close, warned Sellers, a former member of the South Carolina House.

Sellers noted his father marched with King and that many people were beaten and many people were killed so that I could sit on this set today and the fact that someone can make this comparisonshows just how low our political discourse has sunken.

Lord, in response, said his father lost his job and later a business because he stood up for black Americans when we lived in the south in 1965. He seemed to suggest Sellers was playing the race card, though he did not use those exact words. Sellers thought so, anyway:

I am not using a race card, Sellers shot back, saying, Im a black American citizen who stands on the shoulders of people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In our political discourse we have to remove these Hitler and Nazi comparisons  and Donald Trump is not Martin Luther King Jr., Sellers said.

His remarks came one day after Donald Trumps press secretary Sean Spicer suggested Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad was a worse butcher than Hitler, because Hitler had not used chemical weapons on his own people. Spicer, in his defense, apologized.

Sellers suggested, in so many words, he hoped Lord would do same, telling Lord, I hope you are empathetic enough to see how disrespectful this is.

Lord doubled down instead, accusing Bakari of making something up out of whole cloth, adding by the way, I stood in line for six hours to pass Robert Kennedys casket and touch the flag when I was 17 years old.

I dont know whether youre old enough to have been there. I was there, Lord said, acting like hed won the I was there competition because, of course Sellers isnt old enough.

This crisis youre talking about creating  it got four little girls blown up in a church. It got people assassinated, including Dr. King, Sellers said, getting back to the subject.

To put a button on how intellectually dishonest this is, and how you are perverting his legacy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. actually said that of all forms of inequality or injustice, inequality in health is the most shocking and inhumane.

Those were Democrats he was fighting against, Lord said of King.

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Two years after announcing their separation, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have legally filed for divorce, closing a long chapter of marital limbo.

From their dedication to healthy co-parenting and frequent family vacations to infidelity rumors and candid tell-all interviews, the last two years have seen a lot of ups and downs for the estranged couple, and ET is taking a look back at their separation journey.

PHOTOS: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner: A Look Back at Their Romance

June 30, 2015 -- Affleck and Garner Announce Their Split

One day after their 10th anniversary, the pair released a joint statement announcing their intention to go their separate ways.

"After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the statement read. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

Even in their joint statement, the couple made it clear that they would put the emotional well-being of their three children -- 11-year-old Violet, 8-year-old Seraphina and 5-year-old Samuel - before themselves, and they stayed true to that goal in the two years that followed.

July 3, 2015 -- Off to the Bahamas

Affleck and Garner seemingly predicted the kind of media attention their split would generate, so the pair planned a family vacation with their children to their shared home in the Bahamas just days after announcing their break-up.

"They got the kids out of L.A. as soon as school was out," a source told Us Weekly at the time. "[The Bahamas] is a place they've been going to for years that's very private and special for their kids."

WATCH: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Split: 'Not One Thing Has Changed,' Source Says

July 6, 2015 -- All Together in Atlanta

A little over a week after announcing their split, Ben flew out to Atlanta to stay with his ex and their kids at a house in Atlanta, Georgia, while Garner filmed Miracles From Heaven.

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While hanging out in the Peach State, Affleck took his family out for fun day trips, reportedly got an adorable puppy as a gift for his kids and generally did all the regular dad stuff, all while still wearing his wedding ring.

This was the first of many trips Affleck would make to visit his family in Atlanta over the next few months.

July 17, 2015 -- The Start of "NannyGate"

Nearly three weeks after his split from Garner was announced, rumors began to swirl that Affleck was romantically linked with the family's nanny, Christine Ouzounian.

Speculation exploded when Ouzounian tipped off the paparazzi, telling them that she would be meeting Affleck at a rental house in Los Angeles where he was staying at the time. She was photographed pulling up in Affleck's Lexus, and handing him a bottle of champagne.

Soon after, tabloids published reports claiming Affleck had been dating Ouzounian while still married to Garner. The actor's reps slammed the reports, telling ET, "all allegations of a romantic relationship are baseless and untrue," adding, "The story is complete garbage and full of lies."

PHOTOS: Biggest Celebrity Cheating Scandals

August 10, 2015 -- Still Rocking the Ring

Affleck and his best buddy, Matt Damon, reunited on the red carpet at the premiere of Project Greenlight, and the bearded star was still wearing his wedding ring as he posed for photos and chatted with others in attendance. He didn't, however, stop for interviews.

Two weeks later, Affleck was spotted in public without his ring for the first time.

August 28, 2015 -- Garner Comes Home

The actress wrapped production on Miracles From Heaven and returned to California in late August, where she was spotted at the family home in the Pacific Palisades. Garner was noticeably sans wedding ring, and was accompanied by the family's new nanny.

September 3, 2015 -- Therapy and Smiles

After weeks of sparking reconciliation rumors, Affleck and Garner raised some fans' hopes when they were spotted laughing and smiling together as they left a pediatrician's office in L.A.

Earlier in the day, the pair were spotted at a marriage counseling center, where they arrived and left separately, and their demeanors were markedly less jovial. However, many thought it was a good sign that they appeared to be putting in the effort to work on their relationship.

WATCH: Jennifer Garner Compares Split to Jennifer Aniston & Brad Pitt's, Plus 12 More Revelations From Her Vanity Fair Tell-All

September 30, 2015 -- Garner's Red Carpet Debut

The actress looked happy and radiant in her first post-split red carpet appearance at the Chanel candlelit charity dinner held at the Chanel Robertson boutique in Los Angeles. Garner stunned in a black, knee-length Chanel dress, which she paired with strappy heels. One accessory that was missing, however, was her wedding ring.

Garner's first public appearance, at the Think It Up education initiative telecast, actually came two weeks earlier, but the actress didn't walk the carpet, and dressed cool and casual for the fundraising event, where she spent much of her night hanging out with fellow "conscious uncoupler" Gwyneth Paltrow.

February 12, 2016 -- Valentine's Vacay

Affleck and Garner decided to spend the 2016 Valentine's Day weekend together, taking their kids to Montana where they stayed in a condo that they own. However, the seemingly romantic timing had nothing to do with attempts at reconciliation, but was based on their kids' school schedule.

WATCH: Jennifer Garner Talks Her 'Modern Family' With Ben Affleck, Says 'It Has to Be' About Their Kids

February 26, 2016 -- Garner Gets Candid With Vanity Fair

The actress sat down for a no-holds-barred interview with Vanity Fair, where she went into surprisingly candid detail about her failed marriage, and even dished on her estranged husband's alleged affair with their nanny.

"Let me just tell you something," Garner said. "We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny. She had nothing to with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation."

Garner was clearly pained by the split, and defended her relationship with Affleck, sharing, "You can't have these three babies and so much of what we had. He's the love of my life. What am I going to say about that?... He's the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous."

Despite the praise, she admitted that her husband was a "complicated guy" who could run hot or cold, depending on any number of factors: "When his sun shines on you, you feel it. But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it's cold," she explains. "He can cast quite a shadow."

WATCH: Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Spotted Together in Paris, Spark Reconciliation Rumors

March 16, 2016 -- Affleck Reacts to Vanity Fair Tell-All

Affleck had nothing but support for his ex's decision to go public with details about their marriage and separation, telling The New York Times, "She felt like she wanted to discuss it and get it out there and get it over with, so she could say, 'Look, I already talked about it -- I don't want to do it again' It's fine. She's allowed to talk about it."

Affleck stressed that he had nothing but love and respect for Garner, despite their marital strife, and explained, "Jen's great. She's a great person. We're on great terms. I just saw her this morning, so that's the reality that I live in."

Affleck sat down with Ellen DeGeneres a few days later, where he echoed those sentiments, sharing, "We're good friends and we're doing our best Our kids are fabulous and we're working our best for them."

June 23, 2016 -- Affleck Thanks Garner for His Career Success

The Argo star opened up about when his career hit rock bottom while appearing as a guest on the premiere of Bill Simmons' short-lived HBO talk show, Any Given Wednesday, and he credited his ex for helping him kick off his comeback.

In the early 2000s, Affleck starred in a string of critically panned and commercially unsuccessful films, including Daredevil, Gigli, Paycheck, Jersey Girl, and Surviving Christmas. After becoming a "punchline," he decided to focus on directing in the hopes of being taken seriously again.

"I got sort of obsessed with [working hard], and my wife was really, really instrumental in me doing a lot of that work," Affleck said, referring to getting his directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone, off the ground. He would go on to direct the critically acclaimed dramas Argo and The Town, which helped him reclaim his A-list status.

WATCH: How Jennifer Garner Helped Ben Affleck Turn His Life Around

September 29, 2016 -- Garner's Parenting Advice

The actress opened up to Today Parents about her efforts to be a role model for her young children.

"I try to be the best version of myself and to have faith that they're watching me as carefully when I do something right as they do when I roll through a stop sign," she said. "I don't think empathy is something you can drill in someone's head. You have to have faith that, while your kids can seem to be selfish and concerned only about the word 'mine' sometimes, overall, they are watching you really carefully, and if you care about other people, they will too."

It's this intense dedication to setting a positive example for their kids that seem to dictate the pair's ethos when it comes to co-parenting. In August, Garner addressed their efforts during an interview with the Today show, where she explained, "It has to be [all about the kids]. You don't have a choice. It has to be We are definitely a modern family. We're doing really well."

December 13, 2016 -- The 'World's Greatest Mom' Award

Affleck made it very clear that he still had a lot of love for his ex when he while speaking at the New York Times' Times Talks, where he called Garner the the "world's greatest mom." The actor and director was also asked what the defining moment of his life was, to which he replied, "the birth of my children," adding, "I think the meaning of life is to make good people."

WATCH: 7 of Hollywood's Friendliest Divorces

March 14, 2017 -- Affleck Checks Out

The star took to Facebook last month to reveal his struggles with alcohol addiction and announce that he'd just completed another treatment stint, all for the sake of his kids.

"I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I've dealt with in the past and will continue to confront. I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be," he wrote. "I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step."

Affleck also thanked his estranged wife for her endless support, writing, "I'm lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I've done the work I set out to do. This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery."

April 13, 2017 -- Affleck and Garner Finally File

Nearly two years after announcing their separation and intent to divorce, the pair actually filed the paperwork. Garner and Affleck filed both their petition and response -- which mirror each other exactly -- together, and without legal representation.

According to TMZ, who first reported the news, the pair did not sign a prenuptial agreement, and are still in the process of negotiating a monetary settlement. Additionally, they are seeking joint legal and physical custody of their children. Spousal support terms have not yet been specified.

WATCH: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner File for Divorce

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We all love entertainment, but when it comes to a cost, many people tend to retreat and find alternative things to do. We have all had our mood spoiled by finding our favorite series on a site only to realize we cannot watch it until we pay. And then there is the problem of spending and finding that your connection is not good enough to download or even stream. Why let such challenges ruin your day? We've decided to help you sort this problem by providing a list of 20 of the best sites where to download series for free.

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What could be more irritating than opening your browser and attempt to download a series from many download sites but fail? It's a simple task, but only if you know the right locations to download free movies. Unfortunately, there is a sea of series download sites, many of which are illegal. Sometimes you might be successful to download the series, but you will be subjecting your device and yourself to a lot of risks. These unlawful sites are usually a gateway to a tone of malware, so be warned. Sometimes you might think you have eliminated such a problem by using free online torrent sites.

20 best sites where to download series for free

There can be no worse way of jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Torrent sites are good, but they will most likely get you in legal trouble. Furthermore, you might use a torrent site today, and the next minute you can't find it because Google has deleted it. The only solution is identifying the many legitimate sites that provide a free series download. Here are 20 best websites that might help you download your favorite series:

1. YouTube

Image: instagram.com, @youtube

Source: Facebook

YouTube is one of the best sources through which people can search for and enjoy any kind of videos. The advantage of YouTube is that it is accessible from anywhere in the world. The only thing you require is an internet connection, and you are good to go. Here are thousands of free movies and series. You can always find software for downloading series from YouTube.com. You have to look for a software that doesn't require you to add an extension or install other third-party packages. After this, you will visit YouTube and search for popular channels that may contain the series you are looking for.

READ ALSO: The Richest Actor in Ghana 2017

2. Retrovision

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A visit to this site opens up a world of many classics and TV shows. The variety of content on this site is very diverse. What's more, this source for series has an android app that goes by the name Classic UHF. This app can be used to grab and watch content on the go. It is a growing trend where many sites are creating free movie apps to help people access tailored content quickly. Retrovision TV is genre-specific which makes it very user-friendly when searching for series.

3. The Roku Channel

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Source: Depositphotos

This popular site comes with free streaming channel websites for downloading movies. Many people believe that Roku can only be accessed if you have Roku hardware, but this is not the case. You can easily access the channel from any device. This movie site boasts of hosting many popular films and series. To make it easier for people visiting the site, Roku.com has arranged its content in various categories based on genre. The content is updated regularly, and all you have to do is sign up and enjoy the free collection. Because this site was initially made for users in the US, those from other countries can access the site by a VPN.

READ ALSO: Ghana versus Nigeria: Most handsome actors

4. Crackle

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Source: Facebook

Crackle is a free series downloading site owned by Sony. Sony produces its movies and series so naturally, you access lots of series and entertainment here to watch. All that is demanded from you is simple signup and creation of a watchlist of your favorite series. The site has an exciting feature that recommends content for you based on your priorities and preferences. This site offers more content for free as opposed to many websites. However, to pay for these free services, users have to be tolerant of ads and commercials.

5. Open Culture

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Source: Facebook

As the name may suggest, openculture.com is open to a variety of content ranging from free series, movies, online courses, and free language lessons. Open Culture has been around since 2006 and has its content differentiated by six significant sections. These sections are Movies, Online courses, Language Lessons, e-Books, Textbooks, Audiobooks. As you can see, this is a great site to visit as it entertains and educates you. If you are only interested in the movies and series section, you can access more than 1,150 movies.

6. MoviesFoundOnline

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Moviesfoundonline.com is a great place to find free movies and other videos online. To make your search easier, it filters content to display the most viewed videos and recent uploads to the site. MoviesFoundOnline is a host for thousands of free movies such as cult classics, documentaries, and comedy. It is where you can find public domain movies and has the strict observance of copyrights.

7. PopcornFlix

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Source: Facebook

Popcornflix.com is a free movie streaming website. The site is a product of Screen Media Ventures. Here you can access lots of public domain movie content and other original productions. Content on the site can easily be accessed from any device without the need to spend money. Series found on the site fall into different categories such as drama, comedy, action, documentary, and horror, among others. It is popular for TV shows and a full National Geographic series catalog.

8. Classic Cinema Online

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Classiccinemaonline is dedicated to fans of classic cinema. If you are one of them, you wouldn't know what you have been missing until you visit the site. Classic Cinema Online allows you to download the content and helps you use the sorting feature available. The site is elementary and straightforward to use.

9. Kanopy

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Kanopy.com is yet another free movie download site. To access the collection of movies and series on this site, one is required to have a library card. These cards are issued by various campuses and public libraries all over the world. Each library gives access to different content.

READ ALSO: Ghana versus Nigeria: Most handsome actors

10. Vimeo

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Source: Facebook

Vimeo.com is very similar to YouTube. It has a vast collection of free movies and series to offer. Vimeo also allows you to host, share, and view videos. The site is highly recommended due to its clean layout making it safe for those downloading content. Here you get access to many free independent movies, series, and documentaries. The site also has a special section where visitors can pay for on-demand content.

11. Yahoo View

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Source: UGC

Yahooview.com makes it to the list of credible sites where one can access free series to download. Yahoo's movie section can be accessed outside the United States using a VPN. Its online movie content is sorted in a clean interface, thus making it easy for viewers to interact with it. It's upon the individual to select a genre from the variety provided. Here you can find great series, movies, and documentaries. If you see a free film or series here, get your hands to it quickly because they are often placed on the site for a limited duration before their time lapses.

12. Hulu

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Source: UGC

Hulu.com is another excellent site to download movies with unrivaled services. There is a free account, but it only gives you access to restricted content. Subscribers get to enjoy free series movies, TV episodes, and documentaries. Android Apps and iOS also support the site.

13. GrabTheBeast

GrabTheBeast is a famous TV website that lets its users download episodes, series, and shows for free. It has numerous English television shows and web series that one can download even without registration. It is effortless to download an episode from this site. All one has to do is to look for the show they want by its name, then pick the episode they want, and then click on the download link.

GrabTheBeast offers its users several video quality options. It means that one can choose to download their show in HD 720p, SD 480p, or Full HD 1080p. GrabTheBeast also grants its users subtitles for each episode in case they have difficulties hearing. This service is also free and does not require any registration.

14. Adder

Adder is one of the best sites to download your favorite movies. It is straightforward to navigate, granting its users smooth searches and their favorite television series, by just a few clicks. A user can choose to download their movies and television shows in Full HD, SD, or in H video quality format. The exciting thing about it is the fact that it gives its users direct download links for every episode. Therefore, if you prefer direct download links, then adder is the place to be.

15. Yify TV

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Source: UGC

Yify TV is a popular site due to its contents. It offers its users downloads of various television shows, televisions series, and even games. Yify TV recently launched a section that has television series and shows. The section has so many latest episodes of the various series and shows and is assuring users they can get every episode they want. The site has a very appealing user interface, which has made it very easy for users to access the uploaded contents. The contents are updated regularly, assuring its users of fresh and latest episodes.

16. 01Torrent

01Torrent is one of the best free download sites because it contains the latest television shows, series, games, and movies. It has one of the most massive user bases, which has made 01Torrent maintain a reliable 24/7 customer support team. Its interface is user-friendly, and its contents are well-arranged into segments. These segments are classified into those of movies, television shows, and games.

It goes to mean that you can get anything in this download platform. It could be NASCAR races, the latest episode, a trending movie, or even the trending reality television show. If you are searching for a download site that grants its users quality videos, then 01Torrent is the site for you. It even supports speed downloads of up to 2.0MB/s.

17. Today TV Series

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Source: UGC

Today TV Series allows its users to download television shows, games, software, and movies. It has over 3.5M verified torrents. It goes to mean that you get a software, the latest reality episodes, trending movies, or a late-night shows in Today TV Series. Al these contents have been arranged systematically in sections, making it very easy for the user to access them. The content is updated frequently, assuring its users of fresh and trending content.

18. Torrentz2

Although Torrentz2 may not be so popular, it, however, has one of the best collections of television shows, games, and movies. Its user interface is amicable and intuitive, making it the preferred download site of most people. The user can enjoy download speeds as high as 2.0 MB/s.

19. o2TVSeries

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Source: UGC

o2TVSeries is a popular free download site for series. It is an old site, making it have one of the largest collections of television series compared to other free downloading sites. Although the site has a more old-school appeal, it is, however, straightforward to navigate through. If you are looking for a soap opera to download, search for it by its name. You can also choose to browse through the various categories in the site. You can download a favorite television show in SD, HD, or Full HD.

20. The Internet Archive

Image: facebook.com, @internetnetarchive

Source: Facebook

The Internet Archive allows its users to download free television series, music, books, and movies. You can acquire hot pieces of stuff from this site such as the original Jungle Book, Iron Mask, Night of the Living Dead, and many more. The site continues to grow every day and frequently adds content.

These are just a few of the best websites where to download series in 2019. There are probably thousands of other great sites you can visit for the same purpose. Use any of the above to enjoy your favorite series collection.

READ ALSO: Real ages of Yaw Dabo, Don Little, other popular Ghanaian diminutive actors

Source: YEN.com.gh
1. Yes. Taxpayers are funding its operation; they should have a voice in the naming process.

2. Yes. The city should operate with a spirit of inclusivity. Residents will be responsive.

3. No. Public input can be problematic; rejection of suggestions can be divisive for residents.

4. No. Residents elect council members to make decisions on their behalf. No input is needed.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say whether public input would be more of a benefit or a hindrance.

Vote

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No

Yes, a light case

Yes, two or more light cases

One serious case

Two or more serious bouts

Vote

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AUBURN  Judge Kevin Wallace sentenced 15 people for criminal offenses during hearings in DeKalb Superior Court I Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Damien Fulmer of the 0200 block of Spencerville Road, Hicksville, Ohio, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, all suspended except 20 days, for operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of at least 0.15 grams, a Class A misdemeanor. He received one year of probation and was fined $100. His driving license was suspended for 90 days.

Ashton Tuggle of the 7700 block of Garman Road, Auburn, was sentenced to 180 days of incarceration, all suspended except 60 days, for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor. The sentence may be served on community corrections. He received one year of probation and was fined $1,0o0. His driving license was suspended for 90 days.

James Snyder of the 2300 block of Point West Drive, Fort Wayne, was sentenced to one year of incarceration, all suspended except 120 days, for operating a vehicle while intoxicated having a previous conviction, a Level 6 felony. The sentence may be served on community corrections. He was placed on probation through April 10, 2018, and was fined $100. His driving license was suspended for 180 days.

Erik Swartz of the 8000 block of Spruce Creek Place, Fort Wayne, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years of incarceration and fined $1 for theft, a Level 6 felony.

James Garrett of the 4200 block of C.R. 19, Auburn, was sentenced to 60 days in jail and fined $1 for possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.

Jonathan Crouch of Poplar Way, Yoder, was sentenced to 60 days in jail and fined $100 for driving while suspended, a Class A misdemeanor. His driving license was suspended for 90 days.

Haley Coleman of the 500 block of South Cedar Street, Auburn, was placed on the judgment withheld program for being a minor consuming alcohol, a Class C misdemeanor. If she successfully completes the program, the charge will be dismissed.

Ryan Koch of the 1200 block of Rohm Drive, Auburn, received a 90-day suspended sentence and up to one year of probation for driving while suspended, a Class A misdemeanor. He was fined $75.

Justin Richardson of the 100 block of East Van Vleek Street, Waterloo, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, all suspended except 96 hours, for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor. He received one year of probation and was fined $100. His driving license was suspended for 90 days.

Jessica Shaffer of the 100 block of Michigan Avenue, Corunna, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, all suspended except 96 hours, for operating a vehicle with an unlawful alcohol concentration, a Class C misdemeanor. She received one year of probation and was fined $100. Her driving license was suspended for 60 days.

Christopher Gilbert of the 4800 block of Green Meadow Drive, Fort Wayne, received a one-year suspended sentence and one year of probation for conversion, a Class A misdemeanor. He was fined $1.

Ivan Saravia of the 800 block of South Indiana Avenue, Auburn, was sentenced to 20 days in jail and fined $75 for driving while suspended, a Class A misdemeanor. His driving license was suspended for 90 days.

Corey Shibler of the 200 block of East Railroad Street, Hudson, was sentenced to one year in jail, all suspended except 20 days, for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor. He received one year of probation and was fined $100. His driving license was suspended for 90 days.

Deven Shaw of the 5100 block of East 620 South, Wolcottville, was fined $1 for theft, a Class A misdemeanor.

Jesse Gross of the 200 block of East High Street, Garrett, received a 90-day suspended sentence and up to one year of probation for theft, a Class A misdemeanor. He was fined $1.
ANGOLA  An Angola man did well for the second year in a row in the Bearded Hero contest last weekend in Fort Wayne.

The event is in its second year, and Jonathan Redding took third place in beards 0-4 inches for the second time. Held Saturday at Yolo Event Center, it raised funds for two Fort Wayne area charities. Spectators paid $10 and competitors paid $20. All the proceeds, including a raffle and event T-shirts, went to Erins House for Grieving Children and the Mustard Seed Furniture Bank of Fort Wayne. More than $5,000 was raised.

Last years recipient was a childrens burn unit, said Redding, who plans to continue participating in beard competitions.

I do it for fun, he said. He now has two whimsical trophies for his stand-out stubble. Saturday, he was one of 14 contestants in the 0-4-inch category who paraded before judges that evaluate beard length, quality and grooming.

They may ask you questions, said Redding.

He has been growing his current beard for about seven months.

Im not shaving this one, he said. He said his 8-year-old daughter Olivia loves it. His wife, Dee, said she thinks Jonathan is very handsome and is proud of his high standing at the Bearded Hero.

I just want to keep doing this, said Jonathan, who gets alerts on Facebook from beard events and beard clubs.

On July 1, the Cleveland-based Beards of the Old Northwest will hold Beards Behind Bars at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio, to help the Ohio State Reformation Society with restoration efforts on the landmark featured in the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption. The Mad Viking Beard Club will host its fourth annual Battle of the Beards May 27-28 in Warrendale, Pennsylvania.

Redding, a 1997 Fremont High School graduate whose father, Tom Redding, often sported a beard, said hes had facial hair since high school, from a goatee to a full beard and mustache.
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President Donald Trumps threat to halt some subsidies for health insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act would threaten coverage for 2,030 La Crosse County residents, according to Citizen Action of Wisconsin.

Citizen Action, a left-leaning organization headquartered in Milwaukee, warned after the Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act imploded for lack of support in March that Trump might resort to deliberate sabotage to doom the ACA.

Trump suggested in a Wall Street Journal article Wednesday that Democrats better negotiate a repeal with him or he would stop paying insurers part of their reimbursements under Obamacare.

At issue are cost-sharing-reduction payments that decrease deductibles, co-pays and out-of-pocket maximums for moderate-income enrollees under Obamacare. They are different from the premium tax credits most low-income patrons receive to decrease premiums.

The House sued the Obama administration two years ago, contending that Congress had not appropriated the money to cover the cost-sharing-reduction payments. A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for May 22, but the Trump administration could end the payments simply by refusing to provide a government defense against the lawsuit.

I dont want people to get hurt, Trump told The Wall Street Journal. What I think should happen  and will happen  is the Democrats will start calling me and negotiating.

Some Democrats indeed started calling him, and they dug in against his demand.

U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California denounced Trumps statement as appalling and accused him of trying to manufacture a crisis, according to a Politico report.

In the U.S. Senate, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York shot back at the president, Our position remains unchanged: Drop repeal, stop undermining our health care system, and we will certainly sit down and talk about ways to improve the Affordable Care Act.

Halting payment on the cost-sharing elements would cripple coverage for 2,030 in La Crosse County  nearly half of the 4,154 enrolled in Obamacare in the county, according to the independent Kaiser Foundation. Statewide, it would affect 124,376 residents, which also is about half of the 242,863 residents enrolled in the Badger State.

Breakdowns on the number of people of other counties in southwest Wisconsin were not available Friday.

Cost-sharing-reduction payments are projected to total $7 billion this year, an amount that breaks down to $1,136 per beneficiary, according to Kaiser.

Kaiser and other health care experts say removing the payments would dramatically increase premiums, co-pays and deductibles, making premiums unaffordable for even moderate income people, they say. It also could prompt insurers to abandon the marketplace, leaving millions of enrollees without an insurance option.

Insurance premiums would jump by 17 percent in Wisconsin, according to Kaiser.

Moderate-income Wisconsinites would see their cost-sharing rise dramatically if President Trump follows through on his threat, Citizen Action predicted.

Several organizations have tried to persuade Trump that the marketplace must be steadied to avoid havoc this year.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was among eight influential trade groups, including Americas Health Insurance Plans and the American Medical Association, that wrote the president a letter stressing that point, according to the Huffington Post.

The most critical action to help stabilize the individual market for 2017 and 2018 is to remove uncertainty about continued funding for cost sharing reductions, the letter said.

Trump expressed confidence to the WSJ that his threat would prompt Democrats to parley because they own Obamacare.

However, he acknowledged, The longer Im behind this desk and you have Obamacare, the more I would own it.
The La Crosse Common Council voted 9 to 5 against rezoning a house at 1541 Wood St. from a single-family house to a multi-family triplex on Thursday evening.

The rezoning received support from the Judiciary and Administrative Committee in a 6 to 2 vote, but previously supportive committee member Jai Johnson said she regretted voting for the rezoning after driving past the house that evening.

Johnson told the council that the neighborhood and lack of off-street parking changed her mind.

That is a beautiful neighborhood on the North Side ... I just cant see supporting something that would take it in the opposite direction of where we want neighborhoods to go, Johnson said.

There are four parking spots available: two in the garage and one each on the north and south sides. Johnson questioned whether two vehicles would fit in the garage.

Council member Andrea Richmond spoke in favor of opening up the house to renters. She cited the prior use of the house as a triplex when it was first build in 1889.

Richmond said the proximity of the property to schools such as Logan High School and Northside Elementary School would make it attractive to families who cannot afford to buy homes.

Im more disappointed that were taking other issues here, which I dont agree with, Richmond said the council. You got a large amount of house here, and I think it should go forward as it was a triplex when it was built.

Council member Audrey Kader cited her personal experience of living next to multi-unit housing developments as why she opposed the rezoning, while council member Robert Seaquist cited the tax base as his issue with rezoning the property.

The issue is that we have it in black and white that rental units in this city are dragging down our tax base, Seaquist said.

The council also agreed to refer ordinances that would restrict businesses and vendors selling alcohol, including all-you-can-drink specials and limiting the serving size of beer to 12 ounces.

Another highly debated item on the agenda was the repaving of part of Losey Boulevard, which was ultimately re-referred.

Thursdays was the final council meeting for Bob Seaquist, Jai Johnson, James Cherf, Richard Becker, Dick Swantz, Francis Formanek and Audrey Kader. Formanek, Kader and Swantz did not run for re-election, and Seaquist, Johnson and Cherf lost to challengers. Becker, on the council since 1991, lost to fellow council member Paul Medinger.
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
A Wisconsin fugitive accused of stealing an arsenal of firearms and sending an anti-government manifesto to the White House was arrested Friday after a retired school counselor found him camping on his property and calmly talked to the man before calling authorities.

The arrest of Joseph Allen Jakubowski settled fears among residents and law enforcement over what he might do with his stockpile of weapons and ammunition. In his manifesto, Jakubowski detailed a long list of grievances against the government and law enforcement, and threatened unspecified attacks.

His arrest came about 6 a.m. Friday, when tactical officers surrounded his campsite in a field near Readstown and arrested him without incident, said Jeffrey A. Gorn, the property owner who called authorities. Readstown is about 125 miles northwest of Janesville, where the manhunt for Jakubowski began on April 4.

Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden described his campsite as primitive, consisting of only a tarp, and said Jakubowski looked disheveled and like he had not slept in some time.

Gorn told The AP he was driving his four-wheeler on his property late Thursday night and checking his deer stands when he spotted a blue tarp and discovered a man camping on his land. Gorn said he didnt realize it was Jakubowski, the 32-year-old target of an intense manhunt by at least 150 federal, state and local law enforcement officers for more than a week.

Gorn approached the tent fashioned from the tarp and asked if anyone was inside. Jakubowski came out.

He said he was off the grid, Gorn said. And I told him, Youre not too far off the grid. Youre on my grid. 

Gorn, 58, a former high school guidance counselor, said he talked with Jakubowski for an hour.

He seemed angry at the way he views society, how he believes money is controlling society, Gorn said, adding that the man was extremely cordial.

He never raised his voice, never showed any sign of doing anything inappropriate. I shook his hand twice, Gorn said. He wanted me to see his points of view. He wanted me to see what he had written to various people.

Gorn said Jakubowski asked for food and asked if he had to leave the field. Gorn told him he could stay the night. When he returned to his house, Gorn said he felt a bit uneasy with the campsite and called the Vernon County Sheriffs Office. Law enforcement officers began to descend on the property in the dark and set up a perimeter around the camp. Gorn estimated 100 officers arrived and sat down with him to look over maps of the property. A thermal imaging camera showed Jakubowski was in the tent, he said.

Tactical officers moved in about 6 a.m. and arrested Jakubowski without resistance, according to the Rock County Sheriffs Office. Gorn said he didnt see any weapons at the camp, but Milwaukee-based FBI special agent Justin Tolomeo said authorities recovered five firearms, including a long gun, and a samurai sword.

Tolomeo said federal prosecutors are considering more charges, in addition to the weapons charges Jakubowski faces for allegedly stealing firearms.

The full scale of (Jakubowskis) actions are under review, Tolomeo said.

Jakubowskis capture quieted concerns after authorities said Thursday they were investigating a letter threatening Easter attacks on churches in Wisconsin, specifically around Sussex, purportedly sent by Jakubowski. Officials did not confirm its authenticity.

An Easter egg hunt at the governors mansion that was cancelled Thursday because of the hunt for Jakubowski was back on for Saturday.

Janesville Police Chief David Moore earlier said Jakubowski cited concerns about President Donald Trump in his 161-page manifesto, but that he didnt make any specific threats.

The sheriffs office said Jakubowski filmed a video of himself dropping his manifesto, addressed to Trump, into a mailbox and speaking of a revolution before the manhunt began. He warned in the video that whoever received the manifesto might want to read it.

Authorities believe Jakubowski drafted a letter of apology to the owner of a gun store in his hometown of Janesville before stealing 18 guns, two silencers and ammunition on April 4.

News of Jakubowskis capture brought relief to residents of Janesville.

With the kind of weaponry he had, he couldve done extensive damage, said Richard Erdman, owner of The Coin Shop, a pawn shop downtown. He said his wife had been avoiding the mall, fearing it could be the target of an attack.
MOORHEAD, Minn.  Alarm bells are going off around the state as homeless shelters and housing organizations witness a troubling rise in the number of seniors looking for help.

I think were starting to see the beginning of the wave, said Sue Koesterman, executive director of Churches United for the Homeless shelter in Moorhead. And Im not sure how broadly this is being engaged yet. It needs to be talked about.

Across Minnesota seniors still constitute a relatively small part of the overall homeless population, but they are the fastest growing segment of homeless people, according to the Wilder Foundation homeless survey.

Its a problem thats expected to intensify as a wave of baby boomers age into retirement over the next 20 years. But the growth isnt being driven by chronically homeless boomers turning 65.

James McKinstra, a housing case worker with Mahube Otwa community action partnership in Detroit Lakes, works in several rural counties. He said hes seeing a steady increase in homeless seniors. About a third of his clients have been homeless at various times in their lives, but two-thirds are experiencing homelessness for the first time, he said.

If theyve never experienced homelessness and theyre in their 60s or 70s, its just a huge shock to her system and they dont know how to respond, he said.

McKinstra said the problem is masked by the fact that not all homeless seniors end up in shelters. Couch surfing is common. Some people live in abandoned trailer homes or pile up debt for temporary housing.

Betty Hanson, 73, found her Social Security wasnt enough to even pay rent in the Detroit Lakes area. She says apartments she looked at ranged from $800 to $1,000. If you only make $800 and some dollars, then thats impossible, she said.

For several years, Hanson lived out of a suitcase, traveling between Minnesota and Arizona, staying with her adult children or renting a room from people looking to earn a little extra cash.

I never considered myself homeless, but I guess I was, she said.

Finally, at her daughters urging, Hanson started asking about subsidized housing. With McKinstras help, she became eligible for a program targeting homeless seniors that allowed her to move into a one bedroom apartment where the rent is based on income.

I love my little place here, she said. Its just big enough. Living room, kitchen, bathroom, storage room, bedroom. Thats all I need.

A recent study Maxfield Research prepared for a consortium of housing organizations projected that as soon as 2020 there will be a need for 23,000 new affordable housing units for seniors in Minnesota.

Thats a staggering demand, said Barbara Dacy, executive director of the Washington County Community Development Agency and president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. But it really does quantify this collision between demography and a gap in the marketplace for low-income seniors.

For many low-income seniors affordable housing would be $400 a month. Rents are two or three times higher in many parts of Minnesota.

Dacy says developers are hesitant to build low-income units.

Developers are savvy investors so if you have to charge a lower rent but your operating costs are higher than that, there has to be a gap financing, she said.

But current prospects for government help with that gap financing are slim. A proposal at the Minnesota Legislature to allow bonding for affordable senior housing projects did not get a hearing this session. In Washington, the Trump administration is proposing significant cuts to grants that help fund affordable housing programs.

In the absence of a concerted effort to reverse these trends, Sue Koesterman expects to see more seniors showing up at her Moorhead shelter.

It offends me as a pastor that someone who is at end of life should have to receive hospice care in a dorm in a homeless shelter, she said. To me thats just offensive to my sense of human dignity.

I think were starting to see the beginning of the wave. And Im not sure how broadly this is being engaged yet. It needs to be talked about. Sue Koesterman, executive director of Churches United for the Homeless shelter in Moorhead
Since 2010, the residents of Wisconsin, in particular the rural residents, have endured one blow after another to our well-being. We have suffered the underfunding of road maintenance, loss of local control of our water to large commercial interests using high-capacity wells, the systematic destruction of our public school system to subsidize the wealthy as they send their children to private schools, and now the continuing efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

The Republicans continue to repeal burdensome regulations, harping on the benefits for the corporations and ignoring the effects on the people. There is a reason for regulations. They are there to protect the population. The town of Onalaska and the village of Holmen are experiencing first-hand what happens when regulations are repealed or ignored. The wells in the western portion of these municipalities have been contaminated with nitrates and bacteria, and farmers have seen their water table drawn down by high-capacity wells so that ponds, streams and individual wells are drying up, but the big corporate operations using these practically unregulated high-capacity wells are doing just fine.

Our public schools have suffered from huge cuts to their budgets under the Republicans while the money went elsewhere to create jobs. The governmental agency responsible for creating jobs has given tens of millions of dollars every year to corporations to create jobs and somehow cannot account for millions more ... but, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, net job creation was zero. Meanwhile public money is diverted from public education to subsidize private schools. while programs are cut and our schools are consolidated.

Many Wisconsin families need two breadwinners to get by and in rural areas many farm families rely on the ACA to get health insurance. Now the Republicans are continuing in their attempt to repeal the ACA and replace it with a plan that is a tax cut for the wealthy and reduces or eliminates coverage for millions of working families. How much longer can working families continue to survive being used by the Republicans as an ATM for their wealthy special-interest backers?

We need to stop the flow of our tax money to the special interests. We need to stop the destruction of our environment for the benefit of the special interests so the resources are available to all.

Instead, use our tax money to fund our public schools, repair our infrastructure, get high-speed internet access to our rural areas and improve the ACA instead of replacing it with yet another tax break for the wealthy.

I dont believe the Republicans will do this.
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Vernon County Sheriff John Spears and Richland County Sheriff James Bindl report the apprehension of 32-year-old, Joseph Jakubowski, the wanted fugitive from Rock County in southeastern Wisconsin.

The Vernon County Sheriffs Office received a credible tip Thursday night at 7:11 p.m., indicating Jakubowski was spotted in a remote location on Estes Road, off Co. U, between Readstown and Viola, in Vernon County. The complainant said the man, who matched Jakubowskis description, was found camping on private property and when asked to leave he refused to do so.

Soon after area law enforcement agencies set up a perimeter where Jakubowski was spotted and multiple law enforcement agencies maintained the perimeter throughout the night. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also responded and Jakubowski was taken into custody, without incident, at approximately 6 a.m., Friday morning, April 14.

According to Vernon County authorities, Jakubowski, gave up peacefully, and charges against the suspect were coming. A news conference was planned for Friday afternoon. Firearms were located in the area Jakubowski was apprehended and he was transported to the Rock County Jail, in Janesville, following the arrest.

Jakubowski was accused of driving through the front window of Armageddon Supplies, a store near Janesville on April 4, where he stole 18 guns. He also mailed a threatening 161-page manifesto to President Donald Trump. Soon after the robbery Jakubowski is believed to have torched his car before vanishing. Jakubowski has been the source of a nationwide manhunt ever since.

The manifesto police believe Jakubowski wrote before going on the run provided multiple insights into his mental state of mind. The manifesto included threatening statements against public officials which detailed specific examples of how the government has wronged him and he calls the government a gang of terrorists.

Assisting the Vernon and Richland County Sheriffs Offices with the apprehension of Jakubowski were: Crawford County Sheriffs Office; La Crosse County Sheriffs Office; Rock County Sheriffs Office; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Wisconsin State Patrol; Readstown Police Department; La Farge Police Department; Richland Center Police Department; Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation; West Central Metropolitan Enforcement Group; Middleton Fire Department (UAV air support); Readstown EMS; Kickapoo Rescue Squad; and Vernon County Emergency Management.

Law Enforcement would like to thank all of the agencies who responded quickly and worked tirelessly and efficiently to bring safe closure to this situation.

Further media inquiries concerning the investigation and custody of Jakubowski can be directed to the Rock County Sheriffs Office at (608) 757-5255.
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."
An artificial intelligence, or AI program has again beaten a group of human poker players to win $792,000 in virtual money.

The AI program won during a recent competition against experienced poker players in China. More than 36,000 hands were played during a 5-day competition on Chinas Hainan Island.

The computer went up against a group of six human players led by Alan Du, a winner in the 2016 World Series of Poker tournament. The human team said it attempted to play against the AI system like a machine, rather than using traditional methods of humans.

The winning system is called Lengpudashi, or cold poker master. It was developed by engineers at Americas Carnegie Mellon University. A previous version of the AI system beat four top poker players in the world in a U.S. competition last January.

Artificial intelligence is the capability of a computer to learn to perform human-like operations and make decisions. This can be achieved by putting large amounts of data into a computer for processing.

Algorithms are also used to help computers learn through experiences the same way humans do. This kind of AI technology is used in machine translation systems like Google Translate.

Last year, Googles AI system AlphaGo beat a Korean champion in the ancient Chinese board game Go.

The two wins show how AI development has greatly increased in the ability to succeed against humans. But poker differs from Go in that a player keeps his cards hidden from the opponent. Poker players also use techniques to trick opponents into thinking they have a better hand than they actually do. This is one area where a computer can find it hard to match human thinking and actions.

But a co-creator of the Lengpudashi program, Noam Brown, said the computer even performed well in this part of the competition.

People think that bluffing is very human -- it turns out that's not true, said Brown, a computer scientist and student. A computer can learn from experience that if it has a weak hand and it bluffs, it can make more money, Brown told Bloomberg.

Brown and Carnegie Mellon professor Tuomas Sandholm won $290,000 in the competition. The money will go to Strategic Machine Inc., a company started by the two to develop AI.

The company is involved in many other areas besides games. These include AI solutions that can be applied to business, negotiation, cybersecurity, political campaigns, and medical treatment.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on AI? Have you had any personal experiences with it? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

poker  n. card game in which players bet money of the value of their cards

virtual  adj. representing something without actually being it

hand  n. the cards held by a player in a card game

master  n. person who becomes very skilled at something

algorithm  n. set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process

card  n. small piece of stiff paper used to play games

bluff  n. pretend to do or know something to trick someone into doing what you want


Facebook is removing the accounts of people who use its social media program to send out fake news stories.

Facebooks security team said it found people who use their real names act responsibly. But it said people who use false names are the ones most likely to post fake stories.

Facebook is also canceling 30,000 fake accounts in France.

The company said it is removing fake accounts with the most traffic to limit misinformation before the countrys presidential election.

The election will take place on April 23. A second vote between the top candidates is planned for May 7 if no candidate gains a majority in Aprils election.

One way Facebook says it hopes to remove fake accounts is by looking for people who repeatedly post the same information. Facebook also looks for users who increase their messaging on Facebooks messaging system.

Facebook was criticized for having fake stories on its service during the final three months of the 2016 American presidential election.

Professors Hunt Allcott of New York University and Matthew Gentzkow of Stanford University in California released a research paper on the issue last month.

They found fake stories were shared more often on Facebook than reports from news agencies such as NBC News, the New York Times and Washington Post. They said most of the fake news posted on Facebook favored Trump, who defeated Clinton in the November presidential election.

Our database contains 115 pro-Trump fake stories that were shared on Facebook a total of 30 million times, and 41 pro-Clinton fake stories shared a total of 7.6 million times, the professors wrote.

One of the most popular false reports was a story that Democrat Hillary Clinton sold weapons to Islamic State militants. Another was that Pope Francis endorsed Republican Donald Trump, the news website BuzzFeed said.

As of December 2016, Facebook said it had 1.23 billion daily active users worldwide.

Shabnam Shaik is Technical Program Manager on the Protect and Care Team at Facebook.

In a statement, he said Facebook is improving its systems to make it easier to respond to reports of abuse, and to cancel fake accounts and prevent accounts from being compromised.

Not everyone is pleased by Facebooks new security efforts. Some comments about Shaiks announcement raised questions.

One user, whose first name is Deb, said: I would really like to believe you, but I have reported many fake accounts and fake news stories only to be told that the account doesnt violate community standards.

Im John Russell.

Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English based on reports from the Associated Press, Facebook, and joint research by New York University and Stanford University. Mario Ritter was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. How do you try to figure out what is true and what is false on social media?

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

fake - adj. not true or real

post - v. to add a message or information to an online message board

account - n. someone who signed up to use a service

database - n. a collection of pieces of information that is organized and used on a computer

respond - v. to do something as a reaction to something that has happened or been done

standard - n. a level of quality that is considered acceptable


Christians in Egypt are asking the government for better security after two recent bombings killed dozens at two churches.

Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for the bombings, which killed 45 people on Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is a holy day for Christians to celebrate Christs arrival at the city of Jerusalem, a week before Easter.

Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered a three-month state of emergency in response to the bombings. It gives his government sweeping powers to deal with what he calls enemies of the state.

On Wednesday, Egyptian officials named Mahmoud Hassan Mubarak Abdullah as the suspected suicide bomber in the attack. The government said he had connections to people who carried out earlier terrorist attacks in Egypt.

Bishop Macarius is head of the Coptic Christian church in the Egyptian city of Minya. Macarius said the state of emergency will not provide enough protection.

Security solutions never succeeded alone, he said. No state in the world should be a police state, either here or elsewhere. Emergency all the time makes people nervous.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of the 92-million people in mostly Muslim Egypt. It is the largest Christian minority in the Middle East.

Religious hostility increasing

A new report by the Pew Research Center says that hostility toward people based on their religious beliefs are increasing.

Pew said that the percentage of countries with high levels of religious hostility increased from 23 percent in 2014 to 27 percent in 2015. It is based on the latest information collected by Pew.

So have government restrictions on religion.

Pew said the percentage of countries with very high levels of restrictions on religion increased from 24 percent in 2014 to 25 percent in 2015.

Pew said that Russia, Egypt, Pakistan and Nigeria had the highest level of religious restrictions.

Pew noted that the U.S. State Department reported in 2015 -- that the Egyptian government failed to protect Christian targeted by kidnappings and extortion. That was well before the Palm Sunday bombings, Pew said.

Other religions also under attack

But Christians are not the only religious people under attack. Pew said that Boko Haram militants in Nigeria reportedly killed thousands of people. Some resulted from indiscriminate acts of violence, but other attacks targeted Christians and Muslims seen as opposed to Boko Haram.

In Europe, 33 of 45 countries reported hostile acts against Jews in 2015, Pew said.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York addressed Coptic Christians attending services recently at St. Patricks Cathedral in New York City.

If you see the hope and the resilience of the Coptic people that are here with us now in New York after all theyve been through  their faith wont let them down, Dolan said.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said it stands with Christians in Egypt and Christians worldwide.

The fact that (the) terrorist attacks took place during Palm Sunday and targeted Coptic Christians as they were conducting their service inside the churches, testified to the inhuman barbarity of the terrorists, said the ADL, a Jewish human rights group.

Macarius said Sundays celebration of Easter will include the usual prayers. But because of the recent bombings, it will not include Easters usual celebrations and visits from famous people.

But the first scheduled visit to Egypt by Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, is still scheduled for April 28-29.

I'm Jill Robbins.

And I'm Bruce Alpert.

Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English based on reports by Reuters, Pew Research Center and other sources. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page.

____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

response - n. something that is said or written as a reply to something

sweeping - adj. wide in range or amount

solution - n. a way of getting something done

pyramid - n. a very large structure built especially in ancient Egypt that has a square base and four triangular sides which form a point at the top

extortion - n. the crime of getting money from someone by the use of force or threats

resilience - n. the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens

faith - n. a belief in something, such as religion

testify - v. to talk about or say in an honest and confident way


A government-run Vietnamese website says U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to President Tran Dai Quang wishing to promote cooperation on economics, trade, regional and international issues.

The Vietnamese president mentioned Trumps letter during a meeting with Ted Osius, the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam. But there has been no U.S. comment on the matter.

Experts on U.S.-Vietnam relations say Vietnam officials were worried that, under Trump, the U.S. would reduce support for the Southeast Asian nation. The letter eased Vietnams concerns. But they do not expect any immediate action.

Vietnam was expected to be one of the countries to benefit from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. But Trump pulled the U.S. out of the trade agreement after he took office in January.

Last year, Vietnams exports to the U.S. were worth over $38 billion, but it only received $8.7 billion of imports. It would take many years if Trump wants to negotiate a deal that would balance trade between the U.S. and Vietnam.

Adam McCarty is an economist in Hanoi. He said in spite of the letter, Trump might view Vietnam as a country that takes jobs away from the United States. That may affect how his administration deals with Vietnam.

Some experts on Southeast Asia say the relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam could become about more than jobs and trade. That would happen if the U.S. asks for Vietnams help in dealing with China.

Carl Thayer is a retired professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia. He said even if Vietnam pursues a good relationship with the U.S., the efforts could come undone if Trump mostly deals with China instead of countries in Southeast Asia.

The U.S., under both Barack Obama and Donald Trump, has expressed interest in limiting Chinas expansion in the South China Sea. It is not clear whether Vietnam is part of the U.S. plan.

Kevin Snowball is the chief executive of PXP Vietnam Asset Management in Ho Chi Minh City. He said Vietnam will not want to offend China, its largest trading partner, by making deals with the U.S.

At the moment, worry about the U.S., Trump or China does not seem to be affecting Vietnams trade.

Were still doing extremely well with or without TPP, with or without Trump, Snowball said.

Im Dan Friedell.

Ralph Jennings wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

Do you think the relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam will be better or worse in the coming years? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

cooperation  n. a situation in which people work together to do something

sophisticated  adj. highly developed and complex
On Nov. 1, Linn Benton Food Shares warehouse in Tangent received two truckloads of food and household supplies arranged by the local branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
What others say

United, remember when you put customers first?
Greetings District 36. It was a very exciting week in Lincoln. FFA members from across the state descended on Lincoln for the annual state FFA convention. The blue jackets of FFA members are a great sight to behold! I'm so proud of the agricultural programs offered in our schools. It would be hard to find a program more successful than FFA. FFA offers our students exciting learning opportunities that help prepare them for future success.

In 1928, Nebraska FFA became one of the first state charters granted by the National FFA Organization. Over 8,000 students in Nebraska are members of FFA in 176 chapters across the state. Many of these chapters are found in Legislative District 36. Members have the opportunity to participate in ag-focused competitions and activities that enrich a student's educational experience.

Many students were able to visit the State Capitol to learn more about their government. This brief civics lesson is important for our youth. The responsibility of the Legislature is to create the best environment possible for business, including agriculture, our number one industry. The success of our state will depend on these young leaders and the convention gives them the tools they will need to be successful. It is rewarding to see so many participate in this great program and I congratulate those that attended this year's convention.

There continues to be a great deal of discussion in the Legislature about K-12 education. We have 245 public school districts with 26,000 teachers and 358,000 students across the state. A large portion of our state's budget goes to fund public education. Each year through the state aid formula (TEEOSA), the Legislature distributes nearly $1 billion to our schools, about 21% of the total state general fund budget. The problem is that under the current formula only 66 school districts receive equalization aid from the state. Only a few school districts in Legislative District 36 receive any meaningful amount of equalization aid. As ag land values have increased over the last decade, the state aid to rural schools has decreased because the TEEOSA formula shows the rural schools have the "resources" available to serve their students. This is simply not a fair result to taxpayers in rural areas.

Few things are more important than the education of our kids. First of all it's required by our Constitution but more importantly it's an investment that pays huge dividends in the future. The question becomes how do we continue to fund education and at the same time provide a level of property tax relief. This is the question we wrestle with each day at the Legislature and it will be one of the most important discussions we have in the remaining 30 days of session.

If you have any thoughts on these or other issues in the Legislature, please feel free to contact me at (402) 471-2642 or by email at mwilliams@leg.ne.gov. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your representative in the Legislature.
Its official. The Senate has confirmed Judge Neil Gorsuch as the next Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court. He will be an excellent justice for the American people.

Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution entrusts members of the Senate with a responsibility vital to our democracy: providing advice and consent on the presidents Supreme Court nominees. The significance of this task cannot be overstated. I take it very seriously.

To determine if Judge Gorsuch possessed the qualities of a Supreme Court justice, I met personally with him in my office. I watched his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Judge Gorsuch answered questions from members for approximately 20 hours. I evaluated his background and legal record. Through it all, he showed us that he will be an extraordinary addition to the Court.

Judge Gorsuch has sterling credentials. He earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia and a law degree from Harvard. He also received a doctor of philosophy from the University of Oxford. Outside of academia, he clerked for two Supreme Court justices, worked in a top law firm, and held a senior post at the Department of Justice.

A Supreme Court justice should have a certain judicial temperament. Without question, Judge Gorsuch has the right one. When introducing Judge Gorsuch at his confirmation hearing, Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) stated that [a]s a person and as a lawyer, Judge Gorsuch exemplifies some of the finest qualities of Colorado. A state filled with people who are kind to one another, who by and large do not share the conceit that one party or one ideology is all right and the other is all wrong.

Nebraskans can relate to this description of our neighbors in Colorado. We are kind. We value independence, honesty, and fair-mindedness. Judge Gorsuch does too.

During his four-day confirmation hearing, Gorsuch repeatedly proved his commitment to the rule of law. Several of my Democrat colleagues agree, and cited it as why they supported his nomination. For example, Senator Heitkamp indicated that she would vote to confirm Judge Gorsuch because [h]e has a record as a balanced, meticulous, and well respected jurist who understands the rule of law.

Furthermore, while serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, Judge Gorsuch demonstrated he is well within the mainstream. In total, he has decided 2,700 cases. Ninety-nine percent of the time he sided with the majority. Hes authored opinions in 800 of those cases. Ninety-eight percent of the decisions in these cases were unanimous. Thats a solid record and it has earned him respect from jurists and scholars across the political spectrum.

Finally, Judge Gorsuch has promised to apply the law equally and fairly to all people. As he said during his confirmation hearing: everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. This is a fundamental part of his judicial oath. Its a commitment one must make when their decisions are going to affect the rights and freedoms of millions.

I was proud to support Judge Gorsuch and I think he will do an exceptional job for the American people. I congratulate him on his confirmation and wish him well as he takes his place on the bench of our nations highest court.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
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.
Over 500 public Seders were attended by thousands of Jews in Russia this year.

In Moscow alone, there were over 150 public seders, including those held at synagogues, Jewish community centers, and nearly thirty different Chabad houses. The Seders were organized by language, age groups, and levels of religious knowledge, so that every Jew could attend a seder suited to their needs.

A seder that stands out is the one that was held in Butyrka Prison, Moscows oldest jail, where in the 140-odd years since its founding, many Jews had been imprisoned for the crime of observing Torah and Mitzvot. Today, it is the site of a true Passover seder.

The seders around Moscow were facilitated by young men from around Moscow who were sent both throughout capital and to cities across Russia that do not have permanent emissaries.
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LOS CABOS, MEXICO  Set along the dramatic coastline of San Jose del Cabo with panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez, Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve will make its debut in early 2018. This much anticipated opening marks the fourth extraordinary resort in the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio, and the second in the Caribbean and Mexico region.

"We are extremely excited to add the exquisite Zadun to the evolving and expanding portfolio of Ritz-Carlton Reserve, an elevated standard of luxury set in remarkable locations. We are particularly excited by the growth this opening represents for our beautiful and diverse region," said Tim Sheldon, President, Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International.

The name Zadun is inspired by the unique topography and dunes of the region  dunas in Spanish  and meant to evoke the transformative, pure experiences guests have at Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties around the globe. Set in some of the world's most prized destinations, these rare estates draw inspiration from their locale and native cultures and offer a highly personal connection between guests and the location. The striking design of Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve will celebrate the desert and the sea. Evoking a true sense of San Jose del Cabo, the resort's buildings are placed gently along the steppes of the land, as if they are one with the landscape, rising out of the earth to create the ultimate desert luxury.

Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve will feature 115 elegantly appointed suites and villas, many with their own private plunge pools. The Reserve also features a collection of Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residences.

"Guests will be enchanted from the moment they arrive. The property celebrates one of the most captivating locations in the world, and the deeply attentive, caring Ladies and Gentlemen of Ritz-Carlton Reserve will bring Zadun to life," Sheldon said.

Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve joins Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico; Phulay Bay in Thailand; and Mandapa in Bali, Indonesia in offering a serene and transformative escape to the world's most discerning travelers. Each Reserve is entirely unique, a rare

place set aside for those who appreciate a personalized experience and the most meaningful local immersion. More information about Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and reservations are available at www.zadunreserve.com.

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 8,100 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy, its highly awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website, and for the latest company news, visit Marriott News Center. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.
TWIN FALLS  A pedestrian pathway along Canyon Springs Road may not have the funding it needs to move forward after this winters estimated $9 million damage to city streets.

The City Council unanimously approved a request Monday to use up to $4.4 million in street department reserves for immediate needs related to the damage. Which means it would be short of money in the bank to pay for a $4.1 million walking path.

One of the casualties, if you will, is theres only so much money, Public Works Director Jon Caton told the Council. Seven hundred thousand is being set aside in street funds to reconstruct the roadway, and $1 million is already being used from the wastewater bond.

 The trail would not be funded. It was estimated in excess of $4 million. Theres simply no funding.

The Council had voted in January to enhance designs for a Canyon Springs Road project  originally estimated to cost $4.8 to $5.8 million  to create a pathway, reconstruct the road and add rockfall mitigation.

An engineering firm was delayed in its studies due to weather, Assistant City Engineer Troy Vitek said. The firm is figuring an updated cost estimate for the project, and staff could come before Council in two weeks with a recommendation.

Depending on the engineers study, rockfall mitigation at Canyon Springs Road may come at a higher cost if this winter did even more damage to the canyon walls, Vitek said.

But without the extra street reserves, funding the trail would be a big unknown. Rockfall mitigation would cost around $700,000 from street funds. The road reconstruction would be funded by $1 million of a wastewater bond the city set aside knowing its wastewater treatment plant upgrades would damage the road.

Paying for the pathway with a bond would be difficult because it would need voter approval and have to go through more state regulations, Vitek said.

The Canyon Springs Road reconstruction may appear on the citys 2018 budget.

Meanwhile, Catons team identified more than 40 places where road pavement has major damage. In his list of priority projects, there are four street sections that will need complete reconstruction. Seven will need a mill and inlay.

Combined with a 15 percent contingency, these immediate projects will cost close to $4.4 million.

This winter really kind of exposed our roads and our systems, City Manager Travis Rothweiler told the Council. Part of this is the sins of our past, recognizing that maybe we as a community and an organization didnt invest in our roads maybe the way that we should.

And the full damage may yet to be seen until a few years out.

Road reconstruction should begin this summer, but with contractors scrambling to fill a number of orders, Caton said he would not be surprised if some items get delayed. The city will phase projects.

Were going to construct as we go and if we get close to the budget limit were going to stop where we are, he said.

The city does not know if it would receive state money to deal with flooding damages  or how much.

And its budget woes extend beyond upcoming road maintenance. The city streets department spent $22,000 of its $10,000 budget on snow and deicing materials through March, and $15,600 of its $18,000 overtime budget.

I just dont see that we have any choice, Councilman Chris Talkington said of allocating reserves toward repairs. We barely have our head above water because of this bad winter.

Mayor Shawn Barigar said he appreciated road crews work done so far to temporarily address potholes.

Get the bids out now, he said. Good luck.
BURLEY  Police say a Heyburn man pulled a knife and punched a man in southwestern Burley on April 10.

Emmanuel Isaiah Carnell, 20, is charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor battery. The aggravated assault charge carries an enhancement penalty for using a deadly weapon.

A witness said they saw Carnell with two other men in a white BMW drive past an apartment building where the altercation took place.

The witness said the car stopped at the park, and the three men got out and stared at them. Carnell pulled the knife, saying, You wanna get down or what? witnesses told police.

One man knocked the knife out of Carnells hand, according to police reports, then Carnell punched the man, knocking him to the ground.

I thought he was going to stab me, the man said.

Deputies found a knife, and they saw a mark on the mans face where he had been hit.

Carnell told officers that he and his buddies had just left the probation office when they stopped at the park.

He said they were cracking jokes, and they must have told a joke that made the man mad. Carnell said he did not have a knife and he was trying to avoid the man. Carnell claimed the mans injuries must have been caused by a fall on the pavement.

A preliminary hearing is set for April 21 in Cassia County magistrate court.

He is being held at the Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center in lieu of $150,000 bond.

The maximum sentence on a charge of aggravated assault is 20 years in prison. The maximum sentence on misdemeanor battery is six months in jail and a $100 fine.
TWIN FALLS  A judge is deciding whether a Twin Falls Police detective circumvented the constitutional rights of murder suspect Gerardo Raul Chavez when he interviewed him earlier this year without a lawyer present.

Chavez, 19, of Buhl is charged with first-degree murder for the drive-by slaying of 15-year-old Canyon Ridge freshman Vason Lee Widaman. Jose Daniel Alvarez, 20, is also charged with murder.

In February, about three weeks after his case went to preliminary hearing and he was bound over to Twin Falls County District Court, Chavez requested a meeting with Ken Rivers, the lead detective in the case. Prosecutors say Chavez waived his right to have his attorney present during the meeting; Doug Nelson, his attorney, says the interview was illegal.

District Judge Richard Bevan will now decide whether to allow the evidence gleaned during the interview or whether to suppress it.

The legal basis for this motion (to suppress) is grounded in the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution  which prohibit law enforcement from questioning a criminal defendant who has expressed his right to remain silent and his right to have counsel present during any questioning, Nelson wrote.

But a defendant who knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently waives their right to talk without an attorney can do so, Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said.

Loebs says Chavez waived that right; Nelson says any client of his who speaks to law enforcement without him present clearly isnt making an intelligent decision.

But neither lawyer would say what Rivers and Chavez discussed during the Feb. 20 interview, though Nelson said the interview is not critical to the case.

The Times-News requested a copy of the interview, which was submitted into evidence during a hearing Tuesday; Bevan has called a hearing for next Tuesday to decide whether to release the video to the newspaper.

The judges decision on whether to allow the interview as evidence in the case rests in large part on a conversation Rivers and Chavez had about Nelsons availability, according to both attorneys.

Chavez asked to speak with Nelson before the interview, the defense attorney said, but Rivers told him Nelson wouldnt answer because it was Presidents Day and Nelson wouldnt be working.

Loebs said Chavez agreed to do the interview anyway, without conferring with Nelson first. Nelson said it was a ploy to get Chavez to talk without his lawyer, and he was working on Presidents Day anyway.

That whole interaction is on videotape, Nelson said. Thats part of the analysis: If Rivers was trying to steer him away from communication with his lawyer, then maybe his waiver was not made knowingly and voluntarily. Its up to Judge Bevan to decide. Grant thinks its one way, I think the other way.
TWIN FALLS  Springtime is crucial for teachers: It determines their pay and benefits for next school year.

Teachers union negotiations are starting up across the Magic Valley. Jerome School District held its first meeting Thursday, while the Twin Falls School District starts Tuesday.

Each spring, teachers union and school district leaders bargain over topics such as pay and health insurance. It affects contracts for hundreds of certified employees  such as teachers and school counselors  for the upcoming school year.

Generally, the biggest topic of debate is salary and benefits. That tends to be number one on everybodys list, said Wiley Dobbs, superintendent of the Twin Falls School District.

The meetings are open to the public, but usually sparsely attended. The decisions, though, have a huge impact on working conditions.

Once teams reach a consensus  usually, after a couple of months  a final document called a collective bargaining agreement is drafted.

It goes to the school board and union members for final approval.

In Twin Falls, negotiation teams use interest-based bargaining, where they tackle one topic at a time. Most school districts use that format, Dobbs said.

Its much more collaborative than traditional bargaining, said Peggy Hoy, a middle school math teacher and co-president of the Twin Falls Education Association. We work it out together.

Twin Falls has used that format for several years. The change came after teams reached an impasse in 2013 and had to call in a federal mediator.

Across south-central Idaho, some negotiation teams only meet once a year. But in Twin Falls, district officials and teachers union representatives gather for monthly breakfast meetings to talk about issues as they arise.

The Twin Falls Education Association is also surveying teachers to gather input on what to negotiate this year, Hoy said.

Teachers arent required to join a union. But if they do, they pay membership fees to have a union leader negotiate on their behalf.

In Twin Falls, more than half of teachers are union members.

Here are three topics that may come up during negotiations:

Career ladder

A career-ladder law took effect statewide in July 2015. It will boost pay over five years with the goal of better attracting and retaining teachers.

It was the heavy-lift year in the legislature for funding the career ladder, Dobbs said.

State legislators approved a public education budget for next year that includes an additional $62 million for the next step of the career ladder.

We were pleased that the Legislature came through with the full amount, Dobbs said. Now, its just a matter of working with the association to figure out where to place it.

Negotiation teams will work to figure out how the money will be allocated in the school districts salary schedule. That determines how much a teacher is paid based on their years of work experience and level of education.

If you compare (our salary schedule) with others, there are a great number of differences from district to district, Dobbs said.

Its a matter of figuring out at the legislatures intent for how the money should be used, he said, while balancing the desires of our district.

Health insurance

In Twin Falls, health insurance increases probably wont be dramatic for next year, Hoy said.

State legislators appropriated nearly $10 million this session to help school districts cover health insurance premium increases.

During negotiations, teams will decide who  the school district or employees  will take on any additional costs. In past years, the Twin Falls School District has often absorbed those expenses.

Demands on teachers

As Hoy surveys teachers, a common theme is emerging: the increase in workload theyre facing.

The demands that the teachers have keep coming up year after year, she said. Thats something that has been a recurring theme and I think thats going on across the state.

Its a topic that will likely be debated, which both sides vying for a solution.
The car was apparently headed east on Fairview when it went off the road, hit a power pole and continued through a field into the building, police said.

Information was not immediately available about whether the woman died before the crash or as a result of it.

Boise police are investigating Fridays crash.
CIA director Mike Pompeo gave a speech Thursday, railing against WikiLeaks as a "hostile intelligence service."

His appearance at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, among his first forays into the public eye since being confirmed, came several months after WikiLeaks' publishing stolen emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta as well as the Democratic National Committee and just over a month since WikiLeaks published a trove of files it said were from the CIA. The CIA has neither confirmed nor denied their veracity.

In his Thursday speech, Pompeo accused WikiLeaks, its founder Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, a former contractor who leaked NSA documents to journalists, of disseminating classified information to "make a name for themselves."

Pompeo has in the past called for Snowden to receive the death penalty.

He said people at the CIA found praise for WikiLeaks "both perplexing and deeply troubling."

"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," Pompeo said. "It's time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is: a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors, like Russia."

During the question and answer portion of the event, Pompeo said because Assange was not a US citizen and lived in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, he "has no First Amendment freedoms."

Although WikiLeaks describes itself as a media organization exposing powerful governments and companies, Pompeo said he viewed this as false.

"These are not reporters doing good work," Pompeo said. "These are people who are actively recruiting agents."

Pompeo said past administrations had been "squeamish" about going after people who published secrets he considered harmful to the US.

During the campaign rally in October, Trump said he loved WikiLeaks and regularly touted their disclosures. For a time before taking office, Trump did not endorse a report from the US intelligence community accusing Russia of being behind the hacks and using WikiLeaks to disseminate them in order to hurt the Clinton campaign.

Russia has denied any wrongdoing, and Assange has said WikiLeaks' source was not Russia.

WikiLeaks responded to Pompeo's comments in part by referencing a now deleted tweet he sent during the campaign referencing WikiLeaks' DNC trove.

Iran and North Korea

Until Trump tapped him to lead the CIA, Pompeo was a Republican member of Congress from Kansas. He was an outspoken critic of the Obama administration and the US nuclear agreement with Iran, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA.

As CIA director speaking at CSIS on Thursday, he was considerably less outspoken about his issues with the Iran deal, but did say Iranians were "on the march" and cited missile launches, their support of the Houthis in Yemen and military involvement in Iraq in the past two years.

"The list of Iranian transgressions has increased dramatically since the date that the JCPOA was signed," Pompeo said.

Pompeo said he viewed working with both European and Middle Eastern allies as integral to countering Iran, but also said the US' recent cruise missile strike on Syria likely sent a message of US strength to Iran.

"What I mean by that is, this was a decision-making process that was decisive, thoughtful and truly based on a factual understanding of the geopolitical importance of the things that are facing our nation today."

He went on to say the Iranians "ought to take note of the fact that this administration" is willing to take different measures than past administrations.

Pompeo also spoke about nuclear proliferation in North Korea and the potential of another nuclear weapons test in the coming days.

"Multiple administrations have tried to deal with the threat of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of putting a nuclear warhead into the United States, and we're simply closer now than we have ever been at any time in North Korea's history," he said. "As the knowledge base increases and the capacity to deliver that increases and draws closer, it both reduces the option set to prevent it and makes more likely that you get a bad decision on a tough day from the leader of North Korea."

Like Trump, Pompeo said China was of utmost importance to solving the issue.

Asked if there was hope China could turn back or end the North Korean nuclear weapons program, Pompeo said, "I'm counting on it."
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.
May 1 is Law Day. Isnt that just a time when lawyers and judges get together to hype the legal system? I suppose it is that, but it is much more. It is a time to reflect on the remarkable system that the United States has established to adjudicate criminal charges and resolve civil disputes. Our system is admired by people and businesses around the world and it is responsible for making America the greatest economic power and moral beacon on the planet.

At the very foundation of our country is a dedication to the rule of law. People in America can generally walk down the street with the comfort of knowing they will not be accosted without good reason by government authorities. That is simply not the case in so many countries around the globe. There are many laws at both the federal and state levels that protect Americans from arbitrary government action. We take those protections for granted. We know that if we speak out against government policy we wont be whisked off to a detention facility. People in Russia, China, and a myriad of other countries dont have legal systems that will protect them against suffering punishment for voicing dissent. Witness the poisonings and assassinations of regime opponents in present-day Russia.

America grew into an economic powerhouse because of its observance of the rule of law. Businessmen in the U.S. and from around the world know that their assets will not be arbitrarily confiscated by the government. It is a given that the judicial system will decide disputes between and among people and businesses in a fair and impartial manner. With the assurance that their funds and investments will be safe from plunder by agents of the state, entrepreneurs have been willing to innovate and build businesses that fuel growth in the U.S. economy. Compare that with countries like Russia where successful businessmen who do not support the Putin regime have found themselves facing phony criminal charges and having their assets confiscated.

Due process is a hallmark of Americas legal system. People cant be deprived of a property interest by the government without proper notice and an opportunity for a hearing. Where property is taken for a public purpose, such as a highway, the property owner is entitled to just compensation. People suspected of crimes are entitled to a variety of protections all of the way through investigative and court proceedings. Federal due process protections are applied in state courts through the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment also ensures that citizens throughout the country have equal protection under the law.

The foundation of our rule of law was laid out in our remarkable Constitution. The framers laid out the rights of citizens but also embedded provisions to prevent the erosion of those rights, what we often call checks and balances. Governmental power was divided among three branches  Congress was given the power to enact laws, the president was charged with faithfully carrying out those laws, and the judiciary was charged with applying the law. The courts cannot make their own laws but they routinely say how the Constitution and congressional laws are to be interpreted. One thing that the courts have historically done is to act as a check on the other two branches  to make sure that laws passed by Congress do not violate the Constitution and to make sure that the president does not exceed his lawful authority. They do neither unless a litigant brings a challenge to government action before the court.

Some people have the impression that judges base their decisions upon their own personal beliefs. I wont deny that this happens on occasion but I believe it is a rather rare occurrence. Often constitutional or statutory language can be interpreted in more than one way. This does not occur often, but when judges disagree on the proper interpretation there is generally merit on both sides. It does not necessarily show that judges are imposing their personal opinions. I served on the Idaho Supreme Court for 12 years and cant recall an instance where one of my colleagues decided a case based on his personal beliefs. I do know that each of my colleagues decided cases in conflict with his personal opinions. That is because they respect and observe the rule of law.
In a previous column on India, and how it suffered under colonialism, I mentioned:

If you are looking for the upside of British colonialism, you are more likely to find it in the wealthier and better-treated Singapore or Malaysia.

Why might this have been true? Part of Indias colonial curse was its high population, which meant the British viewed it as a source of soldiers, and a captive market for goods, rather than an area whose value could be internalized through direct economic development.

When it comes the British history in India, I think of letting the interior fester as a big part of the core problem. Most of India was and still is interior. You might look at the coastal regions, but given that British policy forced India to accept free trade for British goods, without receiving the same privileges in return, the coastal regions became rent-seeking imperial clusters more than possible rivals to Hong Kong or for that matter Manchester.

Singapore, in contrast, was built around its port, and the British encouraged further developments in that direction, even as early as Raffles in the 1820s. The city didnt/doesnt have much of an interior or for that matter much population (about 1,000 when the British took over). Keeping the people servile didnt seem worth the trouble, because they could neither fight nor buy in great numbers. Instead, you can think of British policy as trying, selfishly, to maximize the value of Singaporean land to the British. But that wasnt such a nasty process, as the British Navy made Singapore more focal as a trade center, with a later boost from the opening of the Suez Canal. Note that as late as the mid-1960s, just before independence, about 20 percent of Singaporean gdp was British defense spending.

Singapore as port and entrepot developed the entire nation, all the more as the induced spirit of enterprise later spread to manufacturing. This in turn gave the territory the possibility of a relatively inclusive and egalitarian future. Unlike with India, the British rulers never imagined a future where Singapore might threaten them economically, or politically, and so they could just let matters rip. The British felt, more or less correctly (until the Japanese invasion), that improvements in the value of Singapore would be captured by them.

So it was keeping an option on captive buyers and fighters (India) vs. maximizing the value of the land for Empire (Singapore). Both were selfish strategies, but the latter did better for the colony in question. Hong Kong seems to fit comfortably into this framework, though other cases might be considered (Barbados vs. Guyana? Ghana vs. Uganda?).

Singapore also benefited from having most of its relevant colonization come later, whereas India had a damaging East India Company period in the 17th and 18th centuries, when imperialism often was more brutal and less sophisticated.

Non-Singaporean Malaya/Malaysia would require a post of its own. In that case, and also with Singapore more narrowly, an evaluation of British rule cannot be separated from major changes in the exports and also corresponding changes in the ethnic composition of the territory. The Singaporean national anthem is still a song written in Malay, and by law it must be sung as such.
China has highlighted the need for an end to the historical injustice in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the hope that it would bring peace to the turbulent region. Speaking in Beijing at a joint press conference with the visiting Palestinian Authoritys (PA) Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the injustice can no longer continue and must be corrected.

Beijing has embarked on very limited actions in the past although Minister Wang Yi explained that they played a positive and constructive role in the Middle East for years. It is unclear if it signals a change of policy in the region amid Wang Yi emphasizing that there is no geopolitical consideration in its role, nor [sic] intention to make a balance with any other country. The region has been a ground field of strategic battles between world powers.

According to PA-owned Wafa news agency, the discussions between the two minsters included political and diplomatic efforts to revive the stalled peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Minister Maliki is hoping for a balanced and constructive role from Washington in reactivating the peace process.

Wang lamented that it has been seventy years now since the Jewish State was created through a UN resolution and what we see is that our Palestinian brothers have yet to establish an independent state with full sovereignty. China wants a just and comprehensive solution to the conflict based on the pre-1967 borders.

Maliki hoped that Beijing will continue to do more of this kind of approach, in order to see peace ultimately achieved in our region.

Israel has not reacted to the comments and its major ally, the U.S, is also silent about it for the moment.
Moroccan intelligence services helped Spain avert several terrorist attacks in recent years, member of the Royal Spanish Academy Luis Maria Anson Oliart said.

Moroccan security services alerted on multiple occasions their Spanish peers on eminent attacks that could have a destructive outcome on Spain similar to the bombing that rocked France, Belgium, Germany, the UK and Italy, Anson Oliart said in an article.

Anson Oliart commended the creation of Moroccos FBI, the Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), and lauded the performance of Moroccan security services.

Thanks to Moroccan intelligence services and to the actions led by the BCIJ and their cooperation with Spanish security services, our country, which endured the attacks of March 11, 2004, could avert attacks similar to those that took place in France, the UK, Italy and Germany, he said.

Moroccos intelligence and security services led joint operations with Spanish counterparts enabling the dismantling of international terrorist networks.

The information provided by Moroccos intelligence services has been vital in preventing several attacks across Europe. Morocco provided the tip-off that enabled French police to locate the whereabouts of the mastermind of Paris attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud.

Moroccos domestic intelligence service also alerted German counterparts on September 19, 2016 that Anas Amiri was about to perpetrate a terrorist attack on German soil. And this is what he did in December.
The findings come on the heels of a February study by many of the same researchers showing that physicians often fail to recommend genetic testing for breast cancer patients at high risk for mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which are strongly associated with ovarian and other cancers.

In this study, the researchers asked 2,502 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer whether they had received genetic testing, and if so, whether the testing and any discussion of results occurred before or after breast surgery.

They found that of the 666 women who had received testing, 59 percent were considered to have a high risk of a dangerous mutation in a cancer-associated gene. About one-quarter of these women had genetic testing only after surgery  meaning critical decisions were made about their care before information about their mutation status was available. Delays in testing were particularly pronounced in women who lacked private health insurance.

The researchers then polled the surgeons who treated the women in the survey. They found that, when compared with doctors who had treated 51 or more newly diagnosed breast cancer patients during the previous year, doctors who had treated fewer than 21 breast cancer patients were: less confident in discussing the results of genetic testing with patients, more likely to order the genetic test without referring women to a genetic counselor, less likely to delay surgery in order to have test results available for surgical decision-making and more likely to manage a patient with variants of uncertain significance in the same way they would manage patients with proven high-risk mutations in cancer-associated genes.

Our findings suggest that we are not maximizing the benefit of genetic testing for our patients with breast cancer because of barriers related to timeliness of testing and lack of expertise necessary to incorporate results into treatment decisions, said Katz, who is a professor of medicine and of health management and policy at the University of Michigan.

Expertise to interpret the results

Although genetic testing has become more common and less costly, its also become more confusing. The advent of multiplex gene panels that simultaneously test for mutations or variations in many different genes can render results that are difficult to interpret without the help of a trained genetic counselor. Uncertainties as to the meaning of test results may lead less-experienced surgeons to recommend aggressive treatment in the form of bilateral mastectomies, or cause women to opt for what they may feel is the safest option to manage their cancer.

Were learning that clinicians knowledge of breast cancer genetics can be highly variable.

Conversely, high-risk women who do carry dangerous mutations need this information to make informed decisions about their health care choices.

The gaps identified in this study are striking, said Jagsi, professor and deputy chair of radiation oncology at the University of Michigan. It is critical to ensure that patients at high risk for known cancer-associated mutations are fully informed of the potential benefits of genetic testing, and counseled accurately about the meaning of test results.

Were learning that clinicians knowledge of breast cancer genetics can be highly variable, said Kurian, who is a member of the Stanford Cancer Institute. Its important for women at high risk of carrying a dangerous mutation to see someone with expertise in cancer genetics when planning their care. Unfortunately, in many cases genetic counselors may not be optimally integrated into the care of newly diagnosed cancer patients, making it difficult to rapidly triage these patients. Our study highlights the urgent need for improved patient access to cancer genetics experts, particularly genetic counselors, and for educating physicians about the appropriate use of genetic testing and interpretation of test results.

Researchers from the University of Southern California, Emory University and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center also contributed to the study.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant P01CA163233), the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kurian has received research funding from Invitae, Myriad Genetics, Ambry Genetics, GenDx and Genomic Health.

Stanfords departments of Medicine and of Health Research and Policy also supported the work.
Algerian authorities have finally been compelled to face the reality and admit the failure of their economic model based on crude oil exports and trade.

Global oil prices have fallen sharply over the past years, leading to significant revenue shortfalls in many energy exporting nations, including Algeria, member of the OPEC.

The falling prices of oil have unveiled the weakness of the Algerian economy. So, the decision-makers and the government of this North African country have been urged to build a non-oil economy, based on agriculture and industry like thriving neighboring country Morocco.

The Algerian 2030 vision for economic development calls for economic diversification to reduce its dependency on hydrocarbons. But this goal will be hard to achieve due to bureaucracy, widespread corruption and political instability in this authoritarian country.

In all sectors of public service (electricity, gas, water, rail transport, telecommunications), tariffs are subsidized for social considerations but this financial support is no longer possible as shown by 2017 appropriation bill

Cuts to public spending, raised revenue through VAT and taxes on electricity, fuel and tobacco in the 2017 Finance Bill triggered unrest earlier this year when rioters in the eastern city of Bejaia clashed with police.

European commissioner Miguel Arias Canete has called lately on Algeria to improve the regulatory framework for investments, expressing concern for the security situation in this country.

Algerias regime has so far escaped the revolts that overturned other governments in the Arab world thanks to social handouts. It has held off unrest by redistributing the countrys substantial oil revenues, but this tactic is no longer working.

If left unaddressed, the social, economic, and political grievances festering beneath the surface in Algeria could rapidly escalate into popular revolts that threaten the countrys stability and the whole region.

According to some experts, the Algerian government must engage political reform or face the possibility of collapse as the number of the disgruntled and the unemployed is soaring, edging explosive situation.
Renegade Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar stated that the signed arms deal with the Russian friends are being hampered by the 2011 UN arms embargo on Libya considering that it makes it difficult to implement these contracts because Moscow would only resume supply when it is lifted. Haftar stressed that the Libyan National Army (LNA) will welcome supplies from any country in order to defend and stabilize Libya as he described it as a logical move since they are not interested in arming themselves for aggressive purposes.

Russia was Libyas main weapon supplier under Colonel Gaddafi and it is believed to be supporting Haftar following the latters numerous visit to Moscow and meeting with senior officials. Amid reports that Russia is interested in having a base in Libya, Haftar said such issues have not been discussed at all with the Russian in their meetings. He downplayed the need for it because the local, regional and international conditions for such a project do not exist now and Russias giant fleet in the Mediterranean can fulfill similar tasks.

Haftars role in the Libyan crisis has been a dividing matter and efforts to sideline him have proven futile. He questioned the effectiveness of the UN-backed authorities based in Tripoli as he accused the Presidency Council of being incapable of exerting its authority over armed groups in the capital but rather focused on him. Haftar also deplored clashes with the national forces controlling the western region in Misrata as he called for the national army and any national forces to orient their actions towards terrorist organizations that believe exclusively in the logic of force.

While acknowledging neighboring Egypt for being at the forefront of the countries which are making maximum effort to help the sides of the Libyan conflict reach an agreement, the Field Marshall said Donald Trumps administration is now at the stage of gathering information about the political situation in Libya before taking a position.
The interior ministry of Morocco announced late Wednesday the arrest of seven men in the city of Fez and Moulay Yacoub in terrorism related investigations.

The seven men were part of a terror cell operating in the two cities. Their arrest was made possible thanks to countrys Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ), the ministry noted.

The cell according to the ministry was active in the recruitment of would-be terrorists for the Islamic State group (IS) in Iraq and Syria. The sympathizers of the terror group are sent to the two hotbed conflict zones in view of receiving military training.

The ministry further noted that the cell was link to previous terror cell busted in past by the BCIJ. First elements of the investigation led to the seizure of some important sums of money, knives, electronic equipment as well as some military uniforms.

The leader of the cell according to security officials also sponsored the trip three Moroccan IS sympathizers in the Syria in view of getting combat techniques.

A brother of one of the arrested, has been also condemned earlier for terrorism related charges. He belonged to a dangerous busted cell which was planning terror attacks in the Kingdom and in a European country that ministry stopped short to mention.

Other members of the Fez and Moulay Yacoub cell also have siblings fighting in the ranks of IS in Iraq and Syria, ministry added.

The North African country has been placed at among top countries to attack by the global terror cell. Around 500 IS members are said present in the kingdom.

In January, the BCIJ also nabbed seven other people operating in the cities of El Jadida, Sale, El Gara, Boulaaouane and Douar Maatallah.
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.
State take care for mountainous regions

By Messenger Staff

Georgian online media outlets have reported that the last resident of Georgias mountainous village of Ardoti in the Khevsureti mountainous region will be forced very soon to leave his home village due to very poor living conditions and unemployment.Niko Ardoteli serves as a border guard there, but this year he turns 55 and will have to quit his job due to his age.Ardoteli was the last resident living in the village, and has tried his best to live there for a number of years, with his wife and three children living in the country's lowlands.Speaking to local media, Ardoteli says he had to send his family to the lowlands in the eastern part of the country, due to the very poor economic conditions and lack of educational opportunities for his children.Figures from 2002 revealed that 164 villages in Georgia were deserted, and 152 villages were barely inhabited, with 10 families or less.Responding to this, the current state authorities have tried to address the situation.From January last year, a Mountain Law came into effect, through which each family living in the countrys mountain regions will receive 100 GEL of monthly financial aid from the state for two years following the birth of every newborn child. This financial aid will increase to 200 GEL for every third, fourth and subsequent child.Also, mountain residents will enjoy a non-taxable income if their salary is 6,000 GEL or lower.Individuals and legal entities in mountain regions will be exempted from profit tax for 10 years.Those who permanently live in a mountain region will be exempt from property tax for any land they own.State-funded schools and other educational institutions in mountainous regions will enjoy increased vouchers.In the situation wherein the country faces sharp economic problems, it is extremely hard to create acceptable conditions in the mountain regions, which are isolated in the winter period from the main land.Steps to preserve the population in such areas should have started long before, however, governments didn't pay enough attention.All the governments in Georgia have complained about the Russias creeping occupation, which is a serious problem of course.However, at the same time they took no genuine steps to support the mountain villages.The mountainous villages that have been emptied at the Russia-Georgia border may very easily become a future target for occupants and any other potential aggressor.The government must somehow suspend the process, popularise tourism and create relevant infrastructure to keep people in mountainous regions and trigger interest in the young generation for them to return to their roots.The government should pay additional attention to this problem and elaborate the situation which will attract ordinary Georgians to settle there.
The News in Brief

NGOs on Amendments Relating to the Electoral System



We (TI, ISFED, GYLA) would like to respond to a legislative package presented by the Georgian Dream majority to the Constitutional Commission. The package proposes abolishment of the majoritarian component of the electoral system but it does not ensure proportionality between votes garnered and the parliamentary seats gained by the party. Further, political parties will not be able to run as a political bloc in elections, and Georgian constituents will not be able to vote directly for the president of Georgia.



The electoral system and distribution of mandates: the fact that the package proposes abolishment of the majoritarian system is worthy of recognition; however, it also proposes granting the undistributed seats to the party that garnered most votes. As undistributed seats may amount to 10% of total seats or more, granting them to a single party will substantially increase the disproportion between the number of votes actually gained by the party and the number of seats that it was given. Here we must also note that the reason why scrapping of the majoritarian component of the electoral system has been demanded is that it leads to a disproportion between the number of seats that political parties gain and the number of votes receive in elections. We understand the motivation to ensure stability but using such means to this end is unjustified and unfair. Changing the electoral system will be pointless if the proportional electoral system will still lead to unfair and disproportionate distribution of man



dates. We believe that after transitioning to the proportional system, undistributed mandates should be distributed between parties in proportion to votes that they garnered.



Re. The election of the president: the package proposes abolishment of direct elections for the president to have the president elected indirectly, by the Parliament of Georgia. Considering the development of democracy and voters best interests, we believe that the president should be elected by direct popular vote. Abolishing direct elections for the president is not a necessity driven by the parliamentary model as many European countries with a parliamentary system of governance elect the president by direct popular vote despite the presidents limited powers.



If the direct election of the president will still be abolished, it is important that it does not affect the upcoming presidential elections in 2018. Instead, the new regulation for election of the president should come into effect for 2023 presidential election in order for it to be free of political undertones and not be perceived as a decision made because of certain individuals. We welcome that the parliamentary majority has voiced similar position but statements made by the chair of the Constitutional Commission about how enactment of proposed new regulations for election of the president may depend on views that the president expresses is categorically unacceptable. Such statements undermine constructive discussions and reinforce suspicions that proposed new regulations are the result of personal feelings toward current president of Georgia.



Re. abolishing blocs: the bill proposes the abolition of electoral blocs and cites the need to support development and reinforcement of parties as an argument. We believe that even if such regulations dont come into effect for the next elections, they are too radical of a measure and are inadvisable. Such measures will be especially unacceptable if the existing 5% threshold is maintained and the proposed rule of distribution of mandates is approved.



Here we must also note that often electoral blocs are created for financial or other material or non-material gains, which is clearly a negative fact. To address such practice and rule out any illegitimate manipulations, we recommend amending applicable legislation. Such approach will ensure that parties are no longer focused on creating a bloc for financial gains, which will help strengthen political parties in a long-term perspective; on the other hand, if parties still decide to set up an electoral bloc, such decision will be motivated purely by political interest and the desire to win elections, which is a valid justification.



Determining the date for parliamentary elections: the bill proposes a fixed date for parliamentary elections  first week of October in the calendar year when the parliaments term of office expires. This could be motivated by the intention to avoid a misunderstanding that occurred in the process of setting the date for the parliamentary elections in 2016. Having a fixed date is not a problem; however, adopting a new regulation due to a misunderstanding that occurred once seems a bit extreme. Here we must also note that scheduling elections in the first week of October will take a toll on campaigning since the pre-election period will mostly be in summer when majority of voters are on holidays. Therefore, it could be more appropriate to discuss scheduling parliamentary elections in Spring.



We urge the Chair of the Constitutional Commission and the commissioners to support the following: replacing the existing electoral system with a proportional model of voting, including proportionate distribution of undistributed seats, in order to prevent any unfair and disproportionate outcomes; maintaining electoral blocs; maintaining the direct election of the president, at the very least for the 2018 presidential elections.

(ISFED, TI, GYLA)




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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.
Montanas craft breweries, including the three largest in the state that are all located in Missoula County, will now be able to sell beer in tasting rooms on premises and still can and keg up to 60,000 barrels a year.

The Montana House of Representatives has approved amendments made by the Montana Senate to a bill, HB 541, that would raise the so-called brewery cap.

The bill will now be sent to Gov. Steve Bullock, who must sign it before it becomes law. A spokesperson for Bullock said he will be reviewing the legislation. Bullock has a tap for craft beer at his house in Helena, and often posts pictures of Montana brewers delivering kegs to his front door on social media.

The previous limit for craft brewers was 10,000 barrels a year, a limit that was surpassed long ago by Big Sky Brewery and forced them to start giving away free samples in the tasting room.

Kettlehouse Brewing Co., which recently built a new facility in Bonner that will produce 20,000 barrels annually, is now able to have a tasting room on site. And Bayern Brewing Co., which is currently pushing right up against the limit, will be able to continue to sell beer in its popular tasting room.

HB 541 is the most important legislation weve seen for Montanas craft brewing industry in 18 years," said Matt Leow, executive director of the Montana Brewers Association. "The Legislature has signaled a green light for Montana breweries to grow, giving breweries the confidence to make investments to expand their production. That means more jobs, increased demand for Montana-grown barley and greater access to Montana craft beer."

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Adam Hertz, R-Missoula, and co-sponsored by Rep. Ellie Hill, D-Missoula, and Rep Greg Hertz, R-Polson.

The Senate amended the bill to limit breweries to selling no more than 2,000 barrels on premise. The Montana Tavern Association withdrew their opposition to the bill with the inclusion of the taproom limitations.

Rep. Hertz brought a great bill that was turned on its head in the Senate Business and Labor committee, Leow said. We are pleased that the Senate restored the bill to 60,000 barrels. While we would prefer a clean bill without the new taproom limitations, the limits are set high enough that they will not impact what any breweries are currently doing.

With this change, Im confident Montana will see millions in new capital investment and hundreds of new jobs, Hertz wrote on his Facebook page.

Tim OLeary, the owner of Kettlehouse Brewing, said that the bill makes it possible for him to have a taproom that sells beer at the shiny new facility in Bonner on the banks of the Blackfoot River, where Logjam Presents is building a new outdoor music amphitheater on Kettlehouse property.

"This provides us a great opportunity,'' O'Leary said. "I should say an unexpected opportunity.

OLeary said the main function of the new facility is to can and keg beer so it can be exported to multiple locations across the state, including Billings.

Our new canning machine has improved the quality of the beer and lengthened the shelf-life and the brewhouse is much more efficient, he said. We are just excited about a new packaging facility, and to add on this opportunity is a nice push.

OLeary said having a taproom at the other two Kettlehouse locations has been a vital part of the business model, as it has for other breweries.

We wouldnt be even talking today if we didnt have the ability to sell three pints between noon and 8 p.m. starting in 1999, he said. It really saved us as a business. Its really probably the reason why 80 percent of brewers are still open. We wouldnt be here without it. We are grateful to our industry partners for the compromises in 1999 and today.

OLeary said the new law will allow breweries to expand and hire more workers.

Its a good thing for Missoula County because the three largest breweries in the state are all located here, he said. Its a testament to the community and support for local products.

Neal Leathers, one of three co-founders of Big Sky Brewing, said if Bullock signs the bill, the brewery's taproom will start selling beer once the law takes effect in October.

"We will be able to sell beer for on-premise consumption," he said. "So there will be one more summer of everything being give-away, but that's not really good for anyone, except if you are looking for free beer. It definitely will change come October."

Leathers estimates that the brewery has given away $4 million worth of beer over the last 10 years, based on what they could have sold it for.

"This new law will be especially good for Missoula," he said. "Kettlehouse will be able to open a taproom at its new location and Bayern will be able to keep selling beer on premise."

He said that even very successful taprooms in the state sell about 1,200 barrels a year, so the new limit for taproom consumption would only affect a brewery if it had two very successful taprooms.

"This is good news," he said.
Is a free Western Montana Fair more fair? How will it fare?

In its inaugural meeting Thursday, the Fair Event Committee debated the idea, before unanimously recommending it to the Board of County Commissioners.

Event Manager Tom Aldrich, who proposed free admission, sat in on the meeting, as well as Fairgrounds Director Emily Bentley.

It is a public service for the community, Aldrich said of the fair. And because of that, it is important we make it available to anyone, regardless of economic status.

Aldrich argued the numerous advantages: free admission would bring people back to the fair multiple days, where earlier they may only have gone once in the week; it would decrease the hassle for 4-H parents required to buy tickets to help their children set up exhibits, and it would ease fair staff training and security requirements related to large amounts of cash on site.

He acknowledged its a financial risk. The fair earned $43,000 last year from gate admission. But he said every years fair is a risk, and hes confident concessions and carnival earnings would go up at least 10 percent this summer.

We have noticed a strong correlation between free admission days and carnival sales, he said. I really strongly think its going to be no sweat making it up this year.

Just as important, he said, "were not going to increase prices for the arena events to try to make up for it.

All the concessions are run by, or donate to, area nonprofits, Aldrich said, giving more money back to the community than into the countys account.

Brooke Martin supported the move. Missoula County residents pay for the fairgrounds, why do they have to pay to use it? Martin asked. But she said that with free admission, the fair should seriously consider increased security.

Free admission doesnt mean the gates are flung wide, Aldrich said. Theyll still have volunteers manning the gates, checking bags, counting visitors and offering help, just no admission sales.

But a new law enforcement strategy is in the works, he added.

After approval by the committee, the proposal will go to the Board of County Commissioners for approval.

Chief Operating Officer Chris Lounsbury said in March the board, though advisory only, would still be taken seriously by the board of county commissioners and their decisions would be essential to keeping the annual event running smoothly.

Typically the commissioners are pretty deferential to advisory boards, he said. While they do deviate sometimes  they do take that piece pretty seriously.

When the idea for a new committee was announced in April of last year, Bill Nooney Sr., a 40-year member of the Western Montana Fair Board, was skeptical an advisory only board would be the best direction for the fair.

After they get their feet on the ground and a little experience, they'll need to be able to make decisions they arent going to have to run past people downtown who arent even aware of how a fair should be run, he told the Missoulian.

The committee adopted a set of standard bylaws, which require their meetings be public and agendas posted online at missoulafairgrounds.com.
While police are still searching for a man who fired a gun Wednesday during an altercation outside a Missoula apartment building, charges have been filed against another person in the case.

On Wednesday morning, 17-year-old Lacey Moore called police saying she was being held at gunpoint before her phone call died. As officers were responding, they received a report a shot had been fired, but all the people in the parking lot of the complex had left the scene when they arrived.

Acting on a tip, Moore was found safe at a Missoula hotel on Thursday.

Cory Lee Kendall, 43, is charged with felonies for endangering the welfare of a child and solicitation of evidence tampering in relation to the case.

Kendall was originally found and questioned by police on Wednesday, after which he was released. At the time, Kendall was wearing a holster and a gun was in his car, although police say he is not believed to be the shooter from the incident at the apartment building.

According to a court affidavit, a .45-caliber shell casing was found in the parking lot.

On Thursday, police found Kendall at the motel where they located Moore. The court affidavit describes Moore and Kendall  who is termed a methamphetamine dealer  as being in a relationship with each other.

In an interview with investigators, Kendall denied supplying her drugs but allegedly said he did give her money for meth and helped her to buy meth from others.

In 2011, Kendall was charged with selling his medical marijuana to a 16-year-old described in court documents as his girlfriend. He eventually pleaded guilty to felony drug possession with intent to distribute under a plea agreement with prosecutors. District Court Judge Robert Dusty Deschamps imposed a three-year deferred sentence in the case.

Kendall is being held on a $50,000 bail imposed by Justice of the Peace Landee Holloway following his initial court appearance on Friday.

Sgt. Travis Welsh with the Missoula Police Department said the agency is still investigating the case, including searching for the suspected shooter, described only as a 6-feet-tall white male with shaggy brown hair.
Law enforcement officials have canceled their missing person advisory after Lacey Moore, 17, was found and is safe.

Moore had called 911 Wednesday morning saying she was being held at gunpoint outside an apartment building in Missoula.

Sgt. Travis Welsh of the Missoula Police Department said after receiving a tip, Moore was found at a hotel on the 3800 block of Brooks St.

"Other than being hungry, she is in good health," he said.

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 University of Montana wants to "reassert and rebrand" its liberal philosophy of education.

The flagship campus wants to pay staff "a living wage at a minimum."

UM also wants to "establish a Chief Diversity Officer" under the Office of the President.

And it wants to assess student services from beginning to end.

Those goals are outlined in UM's strategic plan released Thursday in an email to the campus community from UM President Sheila Stearns. Called "UM Strategic Vision: Creating Change Together," version 1.0. notes more than 1,000 people on campus, in the city of Missoula, and across the state gave input into the document.

"Our campus community has engaged in a yearlong inclusive, transparent, and data-driven process with broad participation from faculty, staff, students, and external friends of our university," Stearns said in the email. "Collectively, you have co-authored a promising, distinctive future for the University of Montana."

The email notes members of the Strategic Planning Coordinating Council will take questions about the plan at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, April 14, in Gilkey 105.

Stearns is serving as interim president, and she noted the plan will help inform the search for a permanent president.

***

Dean Brock Tessman said the idea to update UM's strategic plan came from former President Royce Engstrom last April.

UM had experienced leadership change even before Engstrom departed in December 2016 at the request of the commissioner of higher education. Plus, it was struggling with enrollment and budget challenges, and it had been five years since the last plan had been written for UM, Tessman said.

The landscape for higher education continues to shift as well.

"I think that this plan is really about changing the culture that we have on campus in some really positive ways," Tessman said. "The first strategic opportunity that we mention is investing in our people."

Anytime an organization faces challenges, it must support its students, staff, faculty, and administrators, even as it asks employees to sometimes do more with less, he said.

***

The goal to "rebrand" came about because UM doesn't want to get caught up in other people's terminology, he said. He said the core skills UM develops in students include communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and a sense of ethical responsibility.

"Those skills and values cut across our entire curriculum," Tessman said.

They're unique to UM, and it will broadcast them as such. According to the plan, UM will "tout this model of education as one that best prepares all students, regardless of major, to be flexible leaders in a rapidly changing world."

Undergraduate education and research excellence also are key, the chair said.

"That's the path forward for the University of Montana," Tessman said. "We are exactly the perfect kind of university for a student to come and receive individualized attention, to feel a sense of community, to work closely with professors, but also to work with world-class faculty on the cutting edge of their field."

Some of the ideas in the plan will cost money, but Tessman said the vision isn't one that's meant to be realized in the next three months or even in the next year. However, he said it's important to have a guide in place that can serve as a compass for other planning efforts underway.

"It's more important than ever right now to be thinking strategically and have some kind of logical consistency as we work through a challenging time and plot the path forward," Tessman said.
I was recently asked about sanctuary citieswhat they are and how they fit into Americas immigration policy and our criminal justice system. I thought it an interesting topic worthy of an article.

The encyclopedia defines a sanctuary city as cities in the United States that have policies designed to not persecute undocumented immigrants. These practices can be by law (de jure) or my habit (de facto). Put another way, sanctuary cities do not enforce immigration laws. Sanctuary cites often do not allow their law enforcement personnel to inquire about immigration status. Furthermore, sanctuary cities will not inform immigration officers if an illegal immigrant has been convicted of breaking the law.

The most common situation which occurs in my courtroom is when an illegal immigrant (generally from Mexico) is charged with a felony, often criminal distribution of dangerous drugs for carrying (referred to as muling) drugs into Yellowstone County. Once convicted, immigration is informed and that defendant is deported. In a sanctuary city, deportation does not occur because immigration is not informed of the criminal conviction. There are two downsides to this situation, in my opinion. First, Montana must pay for the cost of imprisoning the illegal immigrant, and two, the illegal immigrant, now a convicted felon, is not forced to leave our state and go home.

***

History of sanctuary cites

Though very different in scope and intent, sanctuary cites have been in existence for thousands of years, and have been associated with most faiths, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. In the U.S., the first policy adopting what would become sanctuary city type ordinances was initiated in Los Angles in 1979. Special Order 40 states: Officers shall not initiate police action with the objective of discovering the alien status of a person. Officers shall not arrest nor book persons for violation of title 8, section 1325 of the United States Immigration code (Illegal Entry).

I once heard a quip that a long time ago God took the United States and tilted it back and forth, and everyone who did not have a grasp on reality slid to California and New York. It is laws like this that make me wonder if this is not far from the truth.

Some states have gone the other way and banned sanctuary cites (Georgia) and some require law enforcement to notify immigration officials if an immigrant is arrested (Arizona). The Montana Legislature has a bill pending (House Bill 611) making it illegal for local governments to ignore federal immigration requests to detain illegal immigrants.

***

Federal law on immigration and latest executive order

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1997 outlawed ordinances allowing city workers to not inform immigration of illegal immigrants and allowed deportation of illegal immigrants committing even misdemeanor crimes, such as shoplifting.

On Jan. 25, President Trump issued an executive order defunding cities or counties that did not comply with federal law. Of course, immigration officials depend on local law enforcement to be their eyes and hands on the ground when it comes to rounding up illegal immigrants, as they are the ones coming into contact with illegal immigrants.

Generally only those illegal immigrants who break the law are brought to the attention of the system. If an illegal immigrant never breaks the law, they often (with exceptions) do not hit the radar of immigration officials. In my mind, if an illegal immigrant breaks the law they conclusively forfeit any privileges they have enjoyed in the United States. They should be deported post haste.
I write to address and correct a factual error contained in the opinion which ran in this publication on April 5 titled Candidates: Stand with Montanans for a 28th Amendment, and to provide relevant background for the free speech topics addressed therein.

In that opinion, which is signed by former Montana Supreme Court Justice Jim Nelson, former Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger and others, it is represented that Initiative 166, passed by the voters in the general election of 2012, was upheld by our Supreme Court. This last statement is factually incorrect and I am surprised that a former justice of the Montana Supreme Court would advance this error in such a public manner. To wit:

In late 2013, I-166 was struck as unconstitutional by the First Judicial District Court in Lewis and Clark County in Case No. CDV-2012-1003, Rickert v. McCulloch. The court invalidated that portion of the initiative which required our state legislators to craft legislation designed to overturn the United States Supreme Courts ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and that charged the Montana Legislature with ratifying any amendment to the United States Constitution that establishes that corporations are not human beings with constitutional rights.

The court held that not only did I-166 unconstitutionally compel the Legislature to reach specific legislative results under the threat of criminal liability for not voting as I-166 directed that body to do, which such action the court stated was repugnant to the basic tenants of our representative form of government guaranteed by the Montana Constitution, but the court also held the initiative improperly attempted to get around the plain language of Article V of the United States Constitution.

While the court did uphold that portion of the initiative which reads that it is a state policy that corporations are not entitled to constitutional rights because they are not human beings, the court even took issue with that policy statement section of I-166 because the statement was an incomplete statement of current law as handed down by the United States Supreme Court.

As referenced above, I-166 was never upheld by our Supreme Court. Rather, the district court decision striking down I-166 as unconstitutional in substance was never appealed to the Supreme Court. Therefore, the court never even had the opportunity to rule to uphold the initiative, let alone uphold the initiative as alleged. How do I know this to be factually correct? It is because I was the lead counsel on the case for the two Montana citizens who challenged I-166 as unconstitutional.

I also find Justice Nelsons apparent support for Initiative 166 in 2017 to be curious considering his legal contrary opinion of the initiative at the time it was being run. In 2012, Nelson characterized the initiative as at bottom, simply a feel-good exercise exhibiting contempt for the federal government and, particularly, the United States Supreme Court.

Further, at that time, Nelson indicated that if a 28th Amendment were passed addressing corporate free speech rights, such an amendment would likely alter freedom of speech definitions within the First Amendment. To this end Nelson stated, and I quote, Personally, I like the First Amendment the way it is, and I would not want anyoneespecially a politically polarized and dysfunctional Congresstinkering with it. God only knows what might come out of that effort. With this last statement, I wholeheartedly agree and, gentle reader, there you have, as Paul Harvey used to say, the rest of the story.
Accessible huckleberries to the long-awaited and much anticipated acquisition of a 10-acre parcel of land needed to complete Milltown State Park. The property, owned by Champion International and then International Paper, was donated but came with tangled details that took several years to iron out. The successful agreement will allow the company to keep six acres that includes a landfill while the park takes ownership of an area that will provide improved public access, once construction is complete. Meanwhile, park officials will continue working toward the other planned park amenities, including more trails, a boat ramp, a picnic area and paved parking lots.

Chokecherries to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its incomplete ban on cyanide traps known as M-44s. These spring-loaded devices are smeared with bait to attract predators such a coyotes, and spray cyanide to poison the animals to death. Last month, however, a 14-year-old boy was injured when he came across one of the devices on federal land near his home; his Labrador retriever was killed. In response to that incident and a petition from environmental groups, the Agriculture Department issued a temporary ban on M-44s in Idaho. The prohibition on M-44s should be permanent and nation-wide, as several groups are now seeking to accomplish through a lawsuit filed in federal court in Montana.

Huckleberries to the many state legislators who voted in favor of House Bill 516, and especially to its sponsor, Rep. Kim Dudik, D-Missoula. The new legislation will allow taxing jurisdictions to sue over delinquent property taxes of $250,000 or more, and will specifically allow Frenchtown-area tax collectors to sue M2Green Redevelopment LLC, which bought the former Smurfit-Stone mill site six years ago and has racked up an unpaid tax bill of more than $1.3 million. That unpaid tax money left a gaping budget hole for the Frenchtown School District, the Frenchtown Rural Fire District and Missoula County. HB 516, which passed by large bipartisan majorities, promises to help remedy that injustice.

Chokecherries to the relocation of the State A-C Track and Field Meet from Missoula to Laurel. The meet, which was scheduled to take place over Memorial Day weekend next month, typically brings scores of competitors and their families to town to stay in local hotels, eat at local restaurants and shop at local stores. It brought a sizable economic boom that will be enjoyed this year by the businesses of the greater Billings Metropolitan Area. While its understandable that unpredictable weather has left the completion date of the Missoula County Public Schools stadium in question, and the Montana High School Association was playing it safe by moving the meet, the loss of this fun and financially beneficial competition still stings.

Huckleberries to Montanas work to better protect children in state custody. This week, Gov. Steve Bullock signed four bills recommended by a commission that studied the heartbreaking problem of children in Montanas foster care system, which at last count was responsible for more than 3,400 kids, the highest ever in state history. The four bills:

set deadlines aimed at speeding up cases to establish permanent guardianship,

appoint court-appointed special advocates to represent the interests of abused children in court,

ensure foster parents provide appropriate opportunities for children in their care to pursue extracurricular activities and interests; and

allow legislators to review child welfare records.
In spite of the overwhelming support in the Legislature and from citizens across Montana, our governor chooses foreign law over Montana law.

Gov. Steve Bullock is quoted as saying, The intent of these bills is to target a particular religion and group of people for disfavored treatment. Exactly how does this target anyone for "disfavored treatment"? He also said the measure would "upend our legal system and debase what we stand for as Montanans and Americans.

Governor, Im not sure what you stand for, but I and 90 percent of Montanans stand for the constitutions of Montana and the United States of America. That would be the Constitution you swore to uphold when you took the oath of office as our highest elected official.

As a citizen of this great state, might I remind you of your oath to "support, protect and defend the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the state of Montana).

Senate Bill 97 did not target any particular group or people. It was designed to affirm, without a shadow of a doubt, Montana laws for Montana courts. When you, sir, choose foreign law over the laws you swore to uphold, you deserve to be recalled from office.

Ed Kugler,

Big Arm
I write in support of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester's decision to oppose Judge Neil Gorsuch's appointment to the Supreme Court.

Other readers have written letters saying that his vote shows a blind allegiance to the Democratic party. I disagree. Instead, I view his vote as a brave decision to uphold his values in the face of enormous pressure from Republicans and outside groups like the National Rifle Association.

I opposed the appointment of Gorsuch, but my reasons had nothing to do with who nominated him. I opposed him because his past rulings and stated positions did not align with my values. Implying that any opposition to Gorsuch reflects whiny partisanship is unfair and inaccurate.

I believe that Tester made his decision for similar reasons. He knew that opposing Gorsuch would cost him votes and he did it anyway. Claiming that he always votes with his party ignores the fact that he voted yes on 11 out of 19 Cabinet nominees. His record demonstrates that he makes hard decisions not as a Democrat, but as a principled legislator for our state.

Thank you, Senator Tester.

Kathryn Downie,

Missoula
A man convicted of shooting a Missoula man in the head in 1996 and who has been wanted on a $1 million warrant since he cut off his GPS monitor last summer has been arrested in Arizona.

According to the Associated Press, Chad Earl Williams was arrested Thursday by the U.S. Marshals Service. Local police in Cottonwood, Arizona, received a tip that Williams might be in a motorhome in the area. He was found at a convenience store and was arrested without incident.

In 1996, Williams was sentenced to 60 years in the Montana State Prison with 25 years suspended after he was convicted of shooting Louis Donald Craighead twice in the head and at least once in the stomach while trying to rob him. Craighead survived the attack.

In June, Williams was involved in a seven-hour standoff in Bozeman after being found in a mobile home while he was wanted for allegedly violating the terms of his probation.

After he surrendered and was brought back to Missoula, he posted a new $100,000 bond before allegedly cutting off his GPS bracelet and absconding in August, days before he was set to be sentenced for probation violations.

Missoula County District Court Judge Robert Dusty Deschamps eventually issued a new $1 million warrant for Williams arrest.

Williams had several petitions to revoke his probation issued last spring, including allegations of positive tests for methamphetamine, possession of weapons and failure to report to his supervising officer.
HELENA  An East Helena man has been sentenced to 135 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for possessing child pornography.

Richard Charles Saari, 33, pleaded guilty in November to receiving child pornography, and he was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell in Helena.

A Helena Police Department investigation launched in August 2015 found that Saari had enticed an underage girl he met online to send him sexually explicit images of herself via cellphone, a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Offices says.

Officials later seized an electronic storage device from Saaris East Helena home, which contained sexually explicit images of at least 11 girls under age 18. Authorities believe he received the images between approximately December 2013 and September 2015, the release says.

The Helena, Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force works tirelessly to ensure communities are safe from offenders who prey on our children, Federal Bureau of Investigation Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Rick Shelbourn said in the release. This case reflects the success of that collaborative effort and the commitment to protect societys most vulnerable from those who exploit them.

Saari will likely serve his entire prison sentence because there is no parole in the federal system, the release says. However, he will have the opportunity to earn a 15 percent sentence reduction for good behavior.

Saari is also required to pay a $100 special assessment and a $5,000 assessment for the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Helena Police Department, the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs Office, East Helena Police Department, DHS-Homeland Security Investigation and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
Editor's note: This column was corrected on April 14, 2017, to reflect that David Howard is a state senator, not a state representative.

---

Sen. David Howards recent op-ed concerning the Montana Supreme Courts proposed amendment to the Montana lawyers Rules of Professional Conduct misses the mark.

The rule change under consideration would clarify that it is not only professional misconduct for a lawyer, in conduct related to the practice of law, to engage in harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, marital status and socioeconomic status, but it is also misconduct to harass or discriminate on the basis of a persons sexual orientation or gender identity. Nothing in the proposed rule change limits the lawyers ability to accept, decline or withdraw from representing a client in accordance with the Rules nor does the proposed change impair a lawyers freedom of speech or freedom to exercise religion.

Sen. Howard begins his piece comparing the Courts consideration of the rule change to kangaroos roaming from the judicial (b)ranch into the legislative (b)ranch, leaving kangaroo poo on the Legislatures porch. His fix is Senate Joint Resolution 15, which will corral the kangaroos and drive them back.

Sen. Howards analogy is inapt and his conclusions are wrong.

First, it is not the function of the Legislature to make Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers. That power is imposed specifically in the Supreme Court pursuant to Article VII, Section (2)(3) of Montanas Constitution. Accordingly, there is no separation of powers issue. The Court is not exercising a power granted to the Legislature.

Second, the proposed rule change pertains to harassment and discrimination in conduct related to the practice of law. The Rule does not impair a lawyer-legislators right of free speech. Indeed if a lawyer-legislator wants to stand on the floor of the Senate or House and make disparaging or bigoted comments about gay people, or black people, or women or Jews, or Poles, or immigrants he or she may exercise his or her free speech right to do so as a legislator. Legislating is not practicing law; if it were, every legislator would have to be lawyer.

Third, SJ 15 is anything but the polite missive described by Sen. Howard. Rather, the Resolution is a four page rant replete with questionable legal conclusions, sweeping hyperbole and directed at the Courts Constitutional Power to make lawyer practice rules and against the American Bar Association. Indeed SJ 15s selective outrage focusing on the addition of sexual orientation and gender identity to the Rule (without reference to the other discriminatory classifications) bespeaks more to institutional homophobia, than to any legitimate constitutional concerns.

Fourth, it bears stating that there is no constitutional right to discriminate protected anywhere in either the Federal or State Constitution. As far as a lawyers right to practice his or her religion, the proposed rule change does not affect that in the slightestthe lawyer may still worship in church, read his or her Bible, pray to Jesus or God, and hate the very air that gay people breathe. Practicing religion is not practicing law; and the proposed rule change pertains to the latter, not the former.

Fifth, the same goes for free speech. The Rule presently does not and, if changed, will not, prohibit a lawyer from speaking his or her mind about any subject. If he or she wants to write an op-ed or make a speech decrying gay marriage, or demonizing immigrants or marginalizing women, or insulting Mormons, the First Amendment and Article II, Section 7 guarantees his or her right to do so. The Rule presently and, if amended, will, only prohibit harassment or discrimination in conduct related to the practice of law.

Sixth, and, more to the point, if a lawyer can be disciplined for discriminating in the practice of law against black people (whom he or she believes to be inferior to whites), how is it different that he or she can be similarly disciplined for discriminating in the practice of law against gay, lesbian or transgender people (whom he or she believes have been condemned by God to the eternal fires of hell)? If there is no constitutional problem with the former, why the latter?

Sen. Howards parade of horribles is just that -- baseless fearmongering directed against gay, lesbian and transgender Montana citizens.

In short, beware the bull, not the kangaroo.
College students who hail from one of Montanas seven Indian reservations often struggle with culture shock when they step on campus.

Koshay Main, 21, a junior from Browning on the Blackfeet Reservation, said she had trouble relating to mostly white peers at the University of Montana-Western.

But now a new Multicultural Center at the Dillon college opened on April 3 with a Crow blessing to help curb homesickness and ease students into college life.

Its something for security, especially with us being away from our parents, said Main, 21, a business major whose role as a Montana American Indian Student Scholar boosted her clout on campus, giving her a say in the centers creation.

Main felt out of place her freshman year when she looked around and there were very few other Native American peers.

Growing up with all Native Americans in your school then coming here and not knowing how to act, where to go  I think the cultural center helps with that, she said.

Clearly enamored with the new social-oriented space, adorned with donated weavings and artwork, Main credits Natacha Doney, a visionary friend and 2016 Montana Western graduate, with sparking the idea of a diversity center.

In a Montana American Indian Student Scholars workshop last year with Angela McLean, Doney wondered aloud why Montana Western lacked a center when many of Montanas other colleges have something similar. McLean is the director of American Indian and Minority Achievement and K-12 Partnerships for the state Commissioner of Higher Education.

I noticed at different universities, my friends showed me pictures of their cultural centers, Doney said from her new home in Dodson on the Hi-Line, where she teaches English to grades seven to 12. I thought that was kind of odd, since there are seven reservations in Montana.

Professor Ilene Cohen, director of Montana Westerns Student Success program and one of several center collaborators on the project, said 152 students identify as non-white. Total enrollment, at last count, was 1,501, including distance learners.

With McLeans guidance, the center came to fruition.

The student senate stepped forward and said they (were) willing to help with it, said Cohen. Initially, we had talked about a Native American center.

It encompasses a broader base of students now.

From Mains perspective, the center has already made a difference in her comfort level on campus.

How I felt my first year, when I first came down here to Western, I noticed it was white-based and there wasnt many Native Americans, Main said. Being the only Native in a class, I felt like I was an outsider, the new person. I didnt know where to go and who to ask for help.

Delaney Hansen, outgoing president of the Associated Students of the University of Montana Western, said she would like to see this center as a place where students, faculty, and staff can meet to discuss and explore diversity.

It should be an environment that encourages and supports diversity in thought, culture, and race, Hansen added.

Open from 8 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m. daily, the center offers computers, kitchen appliances, a conference area, and comfy couches. Cohen hopes to extend hours for students. Addressing student homesickness should make a difference, she added, as no other Montana college is as far away from any reservation.

Its definitely a work in progress, said Cohen. If you build it, they will come. Its a beautiful space  very warm and welcoming. Im super excited for the students.
HELENA  In his unsuccessful bid to be elected as Montana's governor last year, Republican Greg Gianforte convened town halls, held press conferences and publicized his travels. Months later, he has shifted his strategy as he campaigns for the state's only congressional seat left vacant after Ryan Zinke became the U.S. Interior Secretary in March.

Gianforte is maintaining a relatively low profile that keeps him out of the reach of Democratic operatives and protesters who have shown up at Republican events in recent months. His Democratic challenger, Rob Quist, has criticized Gianforte for not holding more events ahead of the May 25 special election.

Instead of appearing at large rallies or holding town hall meetings, Gianforte has relied on television ads to get his message out while presiding over coffee klatches, chamber of commerce mixers and unpublicized gatherings. While he has spoken one-on-one with news outlets, he has yet to hold the kind of media events that were common during his run for governor. It's a strategy that's been seen across the U.S. as GOP members of Congress avoid town halls and constituent meetings to keep their distance from protesters angry about President Donald Trump's agenda.

"Our only guess why he doesn't want any interaction with us is that he's going to get push back," said Robbie Gammack, a member of a nascent network of progressives called Big Sky Rising.

Shane Scanlon, Gianforte's spokesman, disputed assertions he has avoided the public.

"He's been talking and listening to Montanans about fighting against federal overreach and standing up to the special interests and bringing accountability to Washington," Scanlon said. "We're not concerned about protesters."

The House election is a different race with a different set of dynamics from the governor's race. Gianforte is campaigning for an open seat held by Republicans for two decades  and not trying to oust a popular Democratic incumbent, Gov. Steve Bullock.

Quist, a well-known musician, has hit the road hard with his populist message, campaigning in 40 of the state's 56 counties for town halls on health care, roundtables with veterans and rallies with supporters. He will need the energy of his party's base and its activism to fuel his campaign.

Gianforte, though, is "sitting in the catbird's seat," according to Montana State University political scientist Dave Parker, who says it's not crucial for him to build more name recognition after last year's lengthy and expensive gubernatorial campaign.

"What additional gain is doing all that (now) aside from putting himself at risk from trackers or somebody videoing him making a gaffe?" Parker said.

An independent Republican group has done much of the heavy hitting for Gianforte, pledging $750,000 for anti-Quist television advertising.

Quist has also been sidetracked by having to explain why he only recently resolved three state tax liens because of unpaid taxes, plus revelations of bad debts and soured business relationships. He's blamed high medical costs for his financial troubles.

The closer-than-expected outcome of another special congressional election in Kansas earlier this week could worry Republicans. The national party is dispatching Donald Trump Jr. to boost the Gianforte campaign with fundraisers next week in Billings, Bozeman, Hamilton and Kalispell.

"The special election could be a time for voters to vent their anger," said Jeremy Johnson, a political science professor at Carroll College in Helena. "You've seen more and more protests in Montana and more energy on the Democratic side than we've seen in a long time, if ever."

In January, an estimated 10,000 people converged in Helena for a women's rally. A week later, hundreds of environmentalists packed the Capitol rotunda to voice concerns the Trump administration might limit access to public lands.

More than 20 demonstrators showed up at the airport in Bozeman in February to greet Republican Sen. Steve Daines. Days later, he abruptly rescheduled a visit to the Capitol but said it had nothing to do with the hundreds of protesters awaiting him.

While Gianforte has no obligation to meet with potential constituents, critics want to him to be more available.

"If you want to represent Montanans, you need to go out and meet them, even those who don't like you," said Ben Lamb, a lobbyist on public lands policy.
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WASHINGTON  Maybe we should muzzle the wag-the-dog talk.

MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell led off his show Friday night with an alarming report: Russian President Vladimir Putin may have told Syria's Bashar al-Assad to launch last week's chemical attack to let President Trump respond militarily  thereby boosting Trump's standing in the United States and dispelling the belief that he is too close to Putin.

"It's perfect," O'Donnell said, telling viewers "what you won't hear is proof that that scenario that I have just outlined is impossible, because ... with Donald Trump anything is possible."

I'm a fan of O'Donnell, and it is technically true that we can't prove that Putin didn't orchestrate the attack to boost Trump. But by that logic, we can never prove to everybody's satisfaction that there wasn't a second gunman on the grassy knoll, that Vincent Foster wasn't murdered, that there wasn't a controlled demolition inside Building 7, that former president Barack Obama didn't forge his birth certificate, or that the government isn't controlling our minds with fluoride.

But speculation without evidence is at best distraction, and at worst it allows Trump's defenders to discredit the whole story about Trump's contacts with Russia and Russia's attempts to tilt the election his way.

Certainly, Trump's behavior has shown that he's capable of anything. But we don't need to speculate. Putin did conspire to help Trump win the presidency. That's damning enough without letting allegations of a chemical-attack conspiracy cloud the whole thing in paranoia.

The chemical conspiracy, as The Washington Post's Avi Selk noted, debuted on a left-wing site called the Palmer Report. This is part of a larger phenomenon that has already taken root online, where in some quarters full-blown cases of Trump Derangement Syndrome have already broken out. Trump won the presidency and now governs by creating a parallel universe with alternative facts. There's a temptation among his opponents to respond in kind. But the way to counter Trump is to speak the truth, not to fight him with more fake news.

Trump's campaign, transition and nascent presidency have generated liberal conspiracy theories worthy of Glenn Beck and Alex Jones. Check these days with Snopes, the conspiracy-busting website, and, right there alongside the usual urban legends ("woman arrested for training squirrels to attack her ex-boyfriend," "female mortuary worker was arrested after becoming pregnant by one of the corpses she was preparing for burial"), you'll find them confronting various products of the vast left-wing conspiracy:

"Senior White House officials 'openly admitted that the chemical strike against Syria had no actual purpose.'"

"Donald Trump has vowed to reinstate the draft."

"Devin Nunes' financial wealth is invested in a wine company with 'strong ties' to Russia."

"Attorney General Jeff Sessions is to be disbarred from the Alabama State Bar Association due to a letter of complaint filed by 2,000 attorneys from across the U.S."

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) "ordered the exhumation of the body of Clinton associate Vince Foster."

Some have gained considerable traction, such as Google engineer Yonatan Zunger's late January post on Medium that the travel ban was "the trial balloon for a coup d'etat." As BuzzFeed noted, Huffington Post contributor Alex Mohajer built a case that Trump was involved in the $11 billion sale of Russian oil giant Rosneft. One well-subscribed theory has it that Trump's early filing for reelection in 2020 was actually a conspiracy to silence his critics.

Robert Reich, the former Clinton cabinet member, has detected a "Trump plot to control American universities" in conjunction with chief strategist Steven K. Bannon and former Breitbart News provocateur Milos Yiannopoulos. And a dubious Twitter account claiming to be anti-Trump government officials, "@RoguePOTUSStaff" has amassed 850,000 followers by tweeting unsubstantiated news about the White House.

Brendan Nyhan, a Dartmouth government professor, explained in the New York Times in February why left-wing conspiracy theories appear to have gained since the election: "Political psychology research suggests that losing political control can make people more vulnerable to misinformation and conspiracy theories." How else could people have fallen for the satirical report of a British outlet alleging that Queen Elizabeth II said she can legally kill Trump with a sword if he enters Buckingham Palace?

That would indeed be newsworthy, if true. But here's something even more newsworthy: The Putin regime meddled in U.S. elections to help secure the victory of a president to whom it has had extensive ties. And that one happens to be true.
MISSOULA  One man has been arrested in the investigation of a missing teenager who called police saying she was being held at gunpoint outside a Missoula apartment complex on Wednesday.

Cory Kendall, 43, who was found and questioned by police after the incident, is being held on suspicion of felony endangering the welfare of a child and misdemeanor obstruction of justice.

Sgt. Travis Welsh with the Missoula Police Department says the charges stem from the incident involving 17-year-old Lacey Moore, who was found safe Thursday.

Police have been investigating since Moore called 911 Wednesday morning saying she was being held at gunpoint near an apartment building at the intersection of Milwaukee Way and Catlin Street.

Her phone call went dead, and as officers responded, they received another report of a shot being fired. By the time they arrived, the people who were allegedly involved in the incident had fled.

Acting on a tip, police found Moore at a hotel on the 3800 block of Brooks Street on Thursday.

Welsh said Kendall is not the alleged shooter, who was described as a 6-feet-tall white man with shaggy brown hair. He is still being sought.
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 []
SAN DIEGO  Through Republican and Democratic presidential administrations, the top federal prosecutor on California's border with Mexico has resisted going after people caught entering the U.S. illegally on their first try and instead targeted smugglers and serial offenders.

That approach may face a day of reckoning under President Donald Trump.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions' new directive on border crimes suggests prosecutors in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas will be forced to tow a narrow line.

He says each should consider felony prosecution for anyone convicted twice of entering illegally and develop plans to target first-time offenders and charge them with misdemeanors that could send them to jail for up to six months.

The president and attorney general typically set broad priorities for the Justice Department's 94 appointed U.S. attorneys and give them significant leeway. Prosecutors in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona have taken a stance closer to what Sessions wants.

Not so in California's Southern District covering about 140 miles (225 kilometers) of border from San Diego to Yuma, Arizona.

The federal government prosecuted 639 cases of illegal entry in California in the 2016 fiscal year, compared to 19,037 in the Southern District of Texas and 14,567 in the Western District of Texas, according to Syracuse University's Transaction Records Access Clearinghouse. South Texas is the busiest corridor for illegal crossings but that alone doesn't account for the huge disparity.

Peter Nunez, the top federal prosecutor in the district from 1982 to 1985 who believes the change is long overdue, said Trump is the first president since Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s to make immigration enforcement a top priority and U.S. attorneys "will not be able to ignore that."

Immigration cases already make up about half of arrests in federal courts and more along the 2,000-mile border with Mexico. Any increase is likely to meet resistance from some judges and prosecutors in California.

James Stiven, a retired federal judge in San Diego, told the U.S. Sentencing Commission last year that the California border district chose its cases carefully, "preserving resources throughout the federal criminal-justice system rather than squandering them on unproven 'zero-tolerance' approaches." Of the proposed shift announced by Sessions on Tuesday, he said, "I can't imagine it would be well-received by the judges."

Carol Lam, who was named U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California in 2002 by President George W. Bush and forced to resign nearly five years later, prosecuted fewer immigrant smuggling cases and turned limited resources on "the most dangerous offenders," according to a report by the U.S. Justice Department's internal watchdog on the bungled dismissals of Lam and eight other U.S. attorneys.

The Justice Department's inspector general concluded Lam's low immigration and firearms caseloads led to her firing. Some Republican members of Congress and at least one Democrat, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, questioned Lam's record on immigration.

But her successor, Karen Hewitt, took a similar approach to immigration from 2007 to 2010. By the time Hewitt left, most border districts had embraced zero-tolerance policies. There were 70 crossers shackled together at the ankles each day for lightning-quick appearances at the federal courthouse in Tucson, Arizona, and 80 a day in tiny Del Rio, Texas.

First-time offenders generally spent less than a week behind bars but their misdemeanor convictions exposed them to felonies if caught again.

Hewitt focused on smugglers and generally avoided prosecutions of first-time crossers. She told Joanna Lydgate for a 2010 article in the California Law Review that her approach was "consistent with what the public (in the Southern District of California) would like to see."

Laura Duffy, Hewitt's successor, hewed to the same strategy until she resigned in December to become a state judge. U.S. attorneys often change under new administrations, and Trump is expected to name permanent replacements soon.

Illegal entry prosecutions have plummeted in Arizona and New Mexico in recent years, so those districts may also be in for big changes.

Paul Charlton, the top federal prosecutor in Arizona from 2001 to 2007, said prosecutions require more judges, attorneys and prison beds. He questioned whether it's worthwhile to pursue lower-level immigration offenses with limited resources.

"Your rhetoric has to match your pocketbook if you want to go through this the right way, and even then, you have to realize that the deterrent effect (of prosecutions) will only go so far."
Back Room Wines proprietor Daniel Dawson has sold his wine shop in downtown Napa to Felicia and Prashant Patel of Napa, effective May 9.

Under the stewardship of Dawson, Back Room Wines built a reputation for its extensive selection of small production boutique wines from Napa Valley and beyond, plus imported wines and specialty spirits, with a legion of loyal customers both locally and around the country, said a news release.

After 15 years of selling and enjoying wine at Back Room Wines, I am pleased to be leaving the shop in the hands of such capable new owners, said Dawson.

Under their care, I know the shop will continue to evolve while maintaining its character and place in the Napa community.

Prashant Patel has lived in Napa since age 2. He owns Invictus Marketing, a local web design company that works with national clients.

Felicia Patel, who will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the shop, has a background in wine retail, having run two family-owned wine and spirits shops in Tennessee before moving to Napa to marry Prashant in 2013.

Most recently, she was a customer service manager at govino (the wine glass company), which recently relocated to Southern California.

The Patels said they are eager to maintain Back Room Wines quality and reputation.

After running my familys wine shops in Tennessee, my dream was to open a similar shop when I moved to Napa, said Felicia Patel. But starting one from scratch in the heart of wine county was daunting.

The stars aligned when the opportunity to purchase Back Room Wines came up. I knew I had found the perfect fit.

We are excited to combine Felicias experience and charm with my background in the digital channels, said Prashant Patel.

Were not planning to make any major changes. Dan has created a model that works, and we will continue that moving forward. The main difference will be the extra dollop of southern hospitality my wife brings.

He added, Some of my clients may be wondering about the fate of my company, Invictus, but it will be business as usual. The main difference is that Back Room Wines will be one of our newest clients.

Sean Nelson, a wine merchant with Back Room Wines for the last two years, will continue to work at the shop under the new proprietors, said the news release.

Dawson acknowledged that selling the business is bittersweet.

It has been a rewarding journey, one that has made me many friends on a personal and professional level, he said.

I thank everyone who has supported the shop all these years, and hope they will continue to do so with the new owners. I see more success ahead for Back Room Wines as downtown Napa continues to blossom into a world-class visitor destination.

Dawson said that after 15 years of more than full-time work, I am planning to take a break to enjoy time with my family while I figure out what is next for me.

Back Room Wines opened in 2002 in downtown Napa and has been in its current location since 2008. The shop carries a selection of small production boutique wines from Napa Valley and beyond, plus imported wines and specialty spirits.

The wine bar features wines by the glass or flight, and weekly tasting events highlight varietals and wines from all over the world.

Back Room Wines is located at 1000 Main St. in downtown Napa.
This week's recipe roundup is all about simple, delicious meals that can be on your dinner table in as little as 15 minutes.
Napa County supervisors appreciate the ever-growing number of tourists staying at the ever-growing number of local hotels, but also see such challenges as giving hotel workers local housing options.

Visit Napa Valley made its annual report to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. It spends about $7 million annually promoting the Napa Valley to potential visitors who stay overnight in hotels.

Lodging revenue for the 12 months ending last June topped $373 million, said Cassandra Walker on behalf of Visit Napa Valley. That marked the seventh consecutive year of growth. By comparison, revenue in 2009 was less than $200 million.

Napa County and its cities share in the wealth through a transient occupancy tax on hotel stays. In 2015-16, the tax brought in $12.6 million for county government coffers, or 6 percent of the general fund budget.

In that sense, the growth in hotel stays is good news for county government and the services its provides.

What that means to me as a county, it means more money, Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza said.

But more hotels are being built, such as the six-story Archer Hotel in downtown Napa. Pedroza said that means more workers will be needed in a county that already has a housing shortage.

Pedroza said hes looking for more data to have a discussion about hotel growth sustainability at some point in the future.

I think the fact and reality is your success has created pressure on housing and transportation, Pedroza told the Visit Napa Valley representatives. If we dont address that, there will be more concerns.

Walker said Napa County added 190 hotel rooms from 2012 and 2016, bringing the total to 5,000. The county will add another 525 rooms by the end of 2018.

Visit Napa Valley will increase its sales and marketing efforts to ensure a smooth absorption of these new rooms, she said. The 73 percent occupancy rate in 2015-16 indicates theres a market to be tapped.

Five thousand sounds like were a legitimate destination in the world, Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht told the Visit Napa Valley contingent. We have enough for the world to come and visit  Im sure you will market whatever there is and make whatever there is a screaming success.

Wagenknecht too expressed concerns about housing the needed workforce as hotel growth continues. He doesnt want to see that expected, two-year growth rate of 525 rooms continue indefinitely.

To editorialize, I dont think it is sustainable for a long period of time, Wagenknecht said. Five thousand is a good number.

Supervisor Diane Dillon represents the county on the Napa Valley Tourism Corporation Board. She said the hotel representatives on the board talk about sustainability issues and are concerned.

Theyre not oblivious to that, she said.

Among other things, Visit Napa Valley runs the Napa Valley Welcome Center in downtown Napa. In 2015-16, the center served 139,367 guests, collected consumer data from 15,067 visitors and booked 1,086 room nights at its lodging desk.

Visit Napa Valley hired a new advertising agency, MeringCarson of Sacramento, in 2016 and worked on its Legend Has It advertising campaign to tell the Napa Valley story. It redesigned its website as well.

Also, Visit Napa Valley is having Destination Analysts do a 2016 visitor profile survey and a tourism economic impact report.
Elizabeth Starrels sat in the examining chair of a Washington ear, nose and throat specialist in October 2012, weeping in frustration and pain.

For the previous four months, Starrels, then 52, had been battling painful mouth sores that were getting worse. Eating had become a near impossibility, and Starrels, who was largely subsisting on smoothies, had lost 20 pounds.

Her dentist and an oral surgeon told her she had thrush, a yeast infection caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth that can result from antibiotics. The rinses and medicines they prescribed worked only briefly or not at all.

The ENT whom she saw next disagreed. He suspected that her problem was an inflammatory disease. When Starrels, a registered nurse who works at MedStar's Georgetown University Hospital, broke down, telling the doctor she didn't think she could live with the pain, his response was brusque.

"He told me I would have to learn to live with it - I had no choice," she recalls. The doctor offered to prescribe an antidepressant.

Starrels said that the ENT's reaction had a galvanizing effect: She didn't need an antidepressant, but she did need someone who seemed interested and willing to help her. "As a nurse," she said, "I could advocate for other people but not for myself."

Two months and several additional doctors later, Starrels received a new diagnosis as well as effective treatment. She also found encouragement online, through a support group whose help she considers invaluable.

"I was so grateful to have a diagnosis and to know that there was a treatment," she said, adding that her pain is now gone. Her chronic disease is in remission - one she hopes will be long-lasting.

- - -

In January 2012, nine months before she wound up in the ENT's office, Starrels, who lives in Northwest Washington, woke up with frequent nosebleeds. She attributed them to dry air in her home and, because they were minor, did not seek treatment.

In May, she developed a stone in her salivary gland and received two 10-day courses of penicillin. These harmless stones, which form for unknown reasons, contain calcium and can cause pain and swelling if they block a duct, obstructing the flow of saliva.

Soon after she stopped the drug, Starrels developed painful mouth ulcers, similar to canker sores, which triggered the first of several visits to her dentist.

When the rinses and creams the dentist prescribed didn't help, he referred her to an oral surgeon in his building. The oral surgeon told her he thought she had thrush, although she did not have its characteristic white patches, but rather, raw sores.

Starrels soon noticed that in addition to sores in her mouth that had spread to her gums, her gum tissue seemed to be sloughing off.

Eating had become incredibly painful, although drinking was tolerable. Starrels was living on protein shakes and smoothies as well as yogurt and sweet potatoes - foods that required little or no chewing and were not irritating.

The ENT diagnosed oral lichen planus, a chronic autoimmune disorder that has no known cause. The disorder, which causes mouth sores, is not contagious and is usually treated with topical numbing creams or, in more severe cases, corticosteroids such as prednisone, which reduces inflammation. A second specialist in oral medicine concurred but told her he had little new to offer.

Starrels decided it was time to look elsewhere.

In November, a few weeks after the ENT appointment, she traveled to Philadelphia to see an oral medicine specialist at the University of Pennsylvania. A week earlier, to her dismay, a spray of fluid-filled blisters had erupted on her chest.

The doctor peered into her mouth and told Starrels he didn't think she had lichen planus. He suspected her problem was pemphigus vulgaris, a rare autoimmune disease, and urged her to see a dermatologist immediately to undergo a biopsy of the blisters, which could help confirm or refute the diagnosis.

- - -

Pemphigus vulgaris (and a related disorder called pemphigoid) is a serious and incurable disease that is usually caused by an overreaction of the immune system, which mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells, especially the mucous membranes. There are several types of pemphigus that cause painful blisters elsewhere on the body. Pemphigus vulgaris, the most common form, generally starts with mouth sores and progresses to eruptions elsewhere. It is not contagious and does not appear to be hereditary, although the disease is linked to genes that are more common in people of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent, and among Eastern European Jews.

The disease, most common in middle age and among the elderly, affects an estimated 3 in 100,000 people worldwide and is treated with a variety of medications that quell inflammation. Before the advent of corticosteroids, it was usually fatal.

"Everyone who has pemphigus carries a gene that increases the risk of disease, but only about 1 out of every 10,000 people who has the gene actually gets pemphigus," said Grant J. Anhalt, a professor of dermatology at Johns Hopkins who specializes in treating blistering skin diseases. Scientists don't know why only a fraction of those who carry the gene are affected.

Starrels was able to undergo a biopsy the day after her appointment at Penn. The procedure was performed by a dermatopathologist - a doctor trained in both dermatology and pathology - who is a partner of Starrels' dermatologist. The biopsy yielded preliminary confirmation of pemphigus vulgaris, which was confirmed by pathologists at Johns Hopkins.

A few weeks later, at the recommendation of her dermatologist, Starrels saw Anhalt.

"He basically said, 'There's no cure for this disease, but I have a very good treatment,'" Starrels remembers him telling her, to her great relief.

Starrels' case is typical, Anhalt said. It takes patients an average of six months to a year to receive a diagnosis, largely because the telltale symptom - mouth sores - has numerous causes and because pemphigus is rare. Her frequent nosebleeds, he said, were a harbinger of the disorder.

"Not thinking of pemphigus is the norm," he said. "The real bell goes off when people have oral ulcers that don't improve and then develop skin ulcers."

By the time they see him, patients are understandably anxious. "They go online and see the pictures or read the blogs and think, 'Oh my God, my life is over.' "

Anhalt, who has treated 300 patients between the ages of 4 and 89 for various forms of the disease (one form of which he helped discover in 1990) has increasingly relied on periodic infusions of rituximab, a drug approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration granted the drug, which is in a Phase III clinical trial, breakthrough therapy status, a designation that could speed its approval for pemphigus and facilitate insurance coverage. Other drugs, including prednisone and CellCept, an immunosuppressant drug often used to prevent organ rejection, are also prescribed, sometimes in combination.

Rituximab, which has been successful in severe cases where other drugs did not work, is expensive, costing around $20,000 for a round of treatment. Because it has not been approved to treat pemphigus, "getting it paid for can be a problem," Anhalt said. Early treatment can result in faster and more durable remissions.

Starrels said that the diagnosis was a shock but that she was relieved to learn what was wrong and grateful to find a doctor who displayed both compassion and expertise.

"I had been in agony but was really trying to make the best of it," Starrels said.

She began taking prednisone and CellCept and then underwent the first of three rituximab infusions. Her insurance covered the first round without difficulty. Coverage of the last round was initially denied, but it was covered after Starrels appealed.

Over a period of months, her sores and blisters cleared up and her pain vanished. Her first remission lasted 18 months. The average remission lasts between 1.5 to 2.5 years, Anhalt said, but he knows of one patient whose remission has exceeded a decade.

Starrels said she has found great support online, through the International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation, a California-based group founded by a patient. The group has connected her with other patients and has been hugely helpful in managing the emotional and practical aspects of living with a difficult disease.
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.
On behalf of Community Projects, Inc., a 501 c (3) nonprofit organization, we would like to thank Kastner Honda for facilitating the sale of a donated car through our Donate a Car program.
When our family lived in Provence, the lessons of hello and good-bye were riveted into the habits of our 8-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter. The local children, even the most rebellious young ruffian, greeted each visitor, Bonjour Monsieur, Madame, looking us in the eye, shaking hands, and offering a side-to-side kiss.

The au revoir was equally essential. Brought in from playing, the child would bid farewell with the side to side kiss, calling a bientot (see you soon) as we walked to our car. There were no exceptions.

By the time we left France, Sam and Julie were well versed in doing the same. Now, they teach their own children the art of acknowledging the presence of others, as my daughter describes it.

The older I am, the more I recognize vivid emotions that are part of these small rituals. Both the beginning and the ending of an encounter are inextricably intertwined: The remembrance of one becomes invested in the other until we can hardly tell which comes first. Good-bye sets the stage for the next hello.

My friend Fred once prayed,   beginnings make us anxious, endings make us sad   He had a talent for noticing the obvious and saying it aloud.

Im near the end of my sojourn in St. Helena. From July 2009 until now seems like only a few months, not years.

They are treasured years, I can assure you. It is impossible to effectively frame the time and equally absurd to attempt expression of an adequate good-bye.

Your legendary kindness as a community will go with me: At the Post Office and the library I adore. Movies with my longtime friend, Patti, at the Cameo, then Markets bar or Cindys. Sunshines counter, Safeways line; the Bakery and the Roastery, every errand involves elegance and beautiful people.

Then the ecumenical community from our Wednesday morning gatherings  Julie, Mac, Marjorie and Jonathan  to Lenten encounters; individual pastors or congregational members. And now, the blessing of Amys friendship as well.

Of course, I have daily been glad for the grace-filled St. Helena United Methodist Church. Come July, theyre poised to welcome Pastor Burke Owens and his wife, Caroline. This is a congregation that lives up to their motto, Lifting Spirits, Anchoring Lives.

I leave with you the message I herald: Take care of the rising generation. This is our most demanding task, whether we have children at home or not.

Will we meet again? Probably. Ill be far away after June 30 until the end of 2017, but eventually Ill be back for a visit. We all hope for, and even count on this reunion. But as the poet (Jane Hirshfield) writes, I know that hope is the hardest love we carry.

Thats one reason why learning to say good-bye and hello is more difficult than we reckoned. The reality of those words embodies our vulnerability, our deepest fear.

Heres how Fred finished his prayer,   but You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, and in You we rest like a child on our Mothers breast. Amen.
Biochemist Maria C. Linder celebrates 40 years of service to the University.

Four decades ago, Cal State Fullerton biochemist Maria C. Linder left her research and teaching post at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to join Cal State Fullerton  and has never looked back.

The nationally recognized scientist moved to the West Coast for personal reasons: Her husbands job relocation to the Los Angeles area.

I never expected to be out here in California, said Linder, who was an associate professor of chemistry at MIT and grew up in New York City. Im a city girl, so it was a big change.

When I applied, I didnt think Cal State Fullerton was likely to be the right place for me. But during my interview, I was impressed by the faculty in the department and the college, and found there was a culture of research from the start  that I could balance my research with teaching.

Linder, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was recognized April 12 for her 40 years of service during the 2016-17 University Awards Program.

Linder, who earned her bachelors degree in chemistry from Vassar College in New York and her doctorate in biochemistry from Harvard University, has been a mentor to hundreds of students in her laboratory. Students have collaborated with her on research that focuses on examining how copper and iron function in the body. Her work also has contributed to a greater understanding of cancer.

Over the years, Linder has garnered over $12 million in research grants, authored 137 scientific publications and two books, directed the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Scholars Program, and has received numerous accolades for her research and teaching.

Those honors include CSUFs 1985 Outstanding Professor Award and the inaugural recipient of the L. Donald Shields Excellence in Scholarship and Creativity Award in 2013. She also received the California State University Wang Family Excellence Award in 2007, and last year, became a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

At age 78, Linder, who has a stepson and four grandchildren, has no plans on retiring. To this day, she commutes by car to campus from her home in Burbank. She and her husband of nearly 43 years, Gordon Nielson, settled there as a compromise so he was close to work, and she was near a metropolitan city.

Linder wants to continue doing research and educating future scientists: Im proud of my own research accomplishments, as well as the work of my students. Its been rewarding to be a mentor and interact with the wonderful young people entering the sciences, and to help them achieve their goals.
Posted by Mike Levine | August 27, 2009

The Associated Press reports that Toyota has decided to end operations at the New United Motor Manufacturing Plant in Northern California, where the Toyota Tacoma midsize pickup truck is produced. The Tacoma is the best selling truck in its segment.

Tacoma production is expected to move to Toyota's truck plant in San Antonio, Texas, where the Tundra full-size truck is currently built. Tacomas are also assembled at a Toyota factory in Tijuana, Mexico.

The NUMMI plant was established in 1984 as a 50/50 joint venture with General Motors. NUMMI began producing a truck, originally called the Hilux, in 1991. Four years later, the Hilux was redesigned and re-named the Tacoma. NUMMI had been producing approximately 163,000 Tacomas a year.

[Source: Autoblog via The Associated Press]
Mine rescue team shows off its skills in competition

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill.  The fledgling mine rescue team at Southern Illinois University Carbondale got the chance to show off its skills earlier this month during a competition at the University of Kentucky.

The Rescue Dawgs, which got its start in 2016, finished fourth in the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Explorations Eastern Collegiate Mine Rescue Contest, April 1 in Lexington, Ky. Also competing in this years contest were teams from the University of Kentucky, Virginia Tech University, Penn State University and West Virginia University.

Large, regional universities with roots in mining and heavy equipment operation have a vested interest in staying up-to-date with the latest safety and rescue approaches and protocols, which encourages them to support such teams. The Rescue Dawgs team is part of a Registered Student Organization at SIU known as the Saluki Miners. The team formed when mining engineering students became interested in learning more about mining safety and rescue, and it is believed to be the first collegiate mine rescue team in Illinois.

The team began training for events in 2016, using the mine simulation and firefighting training center at Rend Lake College. Since then, the team has spent time slowly acquiring equipment donated from local underground mines.

Satya Harpalani, professor or mining and mineral resources engineering at SIU, and faculty adviser to the students, said there are several reasons that SIU chose to field a mine rescue team.

First, nine out of 13 mining schools do participate. Hence, it is a good idea for SIU to have a presence there, Harpalani said. Second, participation does require a lot of practice and teamwork, and these are clear signals of dedication and desire and ability to work with others. These characteristics help the students marketability.

The team from SIU placed higher than two schools that have long-standing mine rescue teams.

Members of the team, their class, major and hometown, include:

Ben Butcher, team captain and senior in mining engineering from Carlinville

Amadeusz Lord, gas monitor and junior in mining engineering from Poplar Grove

Justin Bollini, map reader and senior in mining engineering from Godfrey

Gopi Bylapudi, gas monitor and doctoral student in engineering science

Reece Kurre, radio operator and senior in mining engineering from Perryville, Mo.

Dan McManus, fresh air base and senior in mining engineering from Lockport

Liz Cox, fresh air base and victim and sophomore in pre-engineering from New Tazewell, Tenn.
SIU to host chemistry symposium on April 22

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Earth Day will bring a day of chemistry and support for science to Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the community.

The Cal Meyers Memorial Organic Chemistry Symposium, along with a local March for Science, are set for April 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The events are free and open to the public.

The symposium, which takes place every two years, is funded by a $3 million endowment from Cal Meyers, a former faculty member and distinguished professor at SIU. It is aimed at bringing together organic chemists from the Midwest to provide a low-cost opportunity for graduate and post-doctoral students to present research alongside established academic researchers.

The symposium, which takes place in the John C. Guyon Auditorium at Morris Library, will feature David W.C. MacMillan, professor of chemistry at Princeton University. His presentation, titled New Photocatalytic Reactions, is scheduled to begin at 3:50 p.m. that day.

Kyle Plunkett, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at SIU, said MacMillan is a well-known top researcher in the field of organic chemistry.

He is very well known in our field for coming up with new organic chemistry reactions that have impacted things such as drug discovery, Plunkett said. He is a very prominent researcher.

The symposium also will include presentations from four other renowned professors and four graduate students from several Midwest universities, Plunkett said.

Midway through the symposium, organizers also will hold a March for Science, during which participants will march in support of funding for scientific research and science-based public policy as part of a national event. The march will begin at 1:15 p.m. at the fountain in front of Morris Library and continue into downtown Carbondale, with participants returning to Morris Library by 2:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Plunkett at kplunkett@siu.edu.
UC Santa Cruz associate professor of film and digital media John Jota Leanos is the recipient of a 2017 California Documentary Project grant from California Humanities.

Leanos was awarded $30,000 to support Eureka!--a multi-platform, half-hour animated documentary and interactive graphic novel that traces key moments of colonial California and the making of the West from Native and Latina/o perspectives.

His documentary blends cartoons, music, and humor to illustrate an alternative social history of California.

Leanoss project was one of 14 new film, audio and interactive media projects documenting vital California subjects and issues that were awarded California Documentary Project grants this year totaling $400,000.

The winning projects ranged from a film about LGBT refugees and asylum seekers in the Bay Area; to a podcast and radio series exploring questions of race, culture and black identity; to a portrait of the Portuguese American community in Californias Central Valley; to an interactive web-based reflection on the 25th anniversary of the Los Angeles riots from the Korean American communitys perspective.

The California Documentary Project supports high-quality humanities-based media projects that seek to document California in all of its complexity. Since 2003, it has awarded over $5 million to film, audio, and interactive media productions that inform and engage broad audiences through multiple means.

California Humanities continues to support films and interactive media projects that share stories of California and help us better understand our past, present, and future, noted Julie Fry, President & CEO of California Humanities. Were proud to support these 14 new extraordinary projects.
Top foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz also warned India to stop issuing "rhetorical statements" against Islamabad over the issue.

"He was sentenced as per the law of the land.. He (Jadhav) was involved in subversive activities in Pakistan, and was holding two passports, for which India has no answer."

Aziz slammed India's claim that Jadhav, a former naval officer, was captured in Iran. Aziz in fact claimed that Jadhav is a serving Indian naval officer.

"It's all rhetoric that he was captured in Iran. He has the right to file a review in the Supreme Court and also file a mercy petition to the Army Chief and the President in 40 days."

Aziz also said that Indian statements on the issue could lead to diplomatic tensions. "We should respect each others' sovereignty."

India has said if Pakistan goes ahead with the hanging of Jadhav, it would amount to premeditated murder.

--IANS ahm/rn

( 197 Words)

2017-04-14-16:00:18 (IANS)
New Delhi [India], Apr 14 (ANI-NewsVoir): SRM Group has the ambitious plan to build and create a new research intensive university in Amaravati. Envisioned to be a university of world-class standards, SRM University, AP - Amaravati is to be a globally connected and regionally transformative centre for research and education. In ten years, SRM Amaravati will have more than 20,000 students and 1500 faculty members in areas of engineering, medicine, liberal arts, management, law and humanities. The admissions for SRM University, AP - Amaravati for the year 2017-18 is now open inviting candidates to apply for its B.Tech engineering programmes. The candidates are required to apply at the official website www.srmap.edu.in. Only students who have secured a rank within 1,25,000 in JEE Mains 2017 or within 35,000 in SRM JEEE 2017 or a minimum of 1200 in SAT are eligible to apply. In addition to this, students should have secured a minimum of 60 percent in Class 12 Board Examinations in each of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The scores in JEE Main/ SRM JEEE/ SAT will have a weightage of 70 percent; the remaining 30% is for the interview and student portfolio representing students' achievements The selection criteria has been designed in a manner to ensure students with an all rounded development are selected. Direct admissions will be given to meritorious students - National Level Olympiad participants, NTSE/ KVPY scholars, students in the top 5000 ranks in JEE Mains, national and state board toppers. The deadline for applications is 15 May 2017. The personal interview will commence from June 1 and end on June 10, 2017. The academic session will start in the first week of August 2017 SRM University, AP - Amaravati will initially launch programs in Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics, Electronics and Communication and Mechanical Engineering. The strength of the cohort will be 240 for the year 2017-18. SRM University, AP - Amaravati has a strong focus on fostering a culture of multi-disciplinary learning and research. To promote this, the university will allow students enrolled in engineering programs to pursue their interests in non-engineering subjects such as economics, liberal arts through a minor degree. The courses will be taught by expert faculty from India and abroad. The university is working with Perrett Laver, the international search firm specializing in recruitment in the higher education space for recruitment of Vice Chancellor, Deans and senior faculty members. The university is also working on establishing collaborations with leading international institutions in areas such as curriculum development, faculty development and research. To create a vibrant learning environment, the university is working with Perkins + Will, design architects from USA to design the learning and living spaces. (ANI-NewsVoir)
"We found the illegal cash in the house of ex-corporator Nagaraj, 54, during a search conducted on a court warrant in a criminal case and seized the banned notes in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination," Hennur Police Station Inspector N. Srinivas told IANS.

Nagaraj was not present when the police knocked at his house around 5.00 a.m., as he allegedly fled on learning about the search team.

Police also faced resistance from Nagaraj's family in entering the house and had to break open the main door with the help of a blacksmith for the search operation.

"As the search operation is continuing, further details will be given later," said Srinivas.

Nagaraj is alleged to have been involved in converting black money into white by exchanging the old currency notes since they were banned on November 8.

He was elected as an Independent corporator of the Bangalore Municipal Corporation in 2002 from the Prakashnagar civic ward in the city's west.

He also contested the 2013 state assembly elections from the Gandhinagar segment in the city centre as a candidate of the Badavara Sharmikara Raitara Congress (BSR-Congress) but lost to ruling Congress nominee and former minister Gundu Rao.

The ex-corporator is alleged to have recently kidnapped a city businessman for ransom and is also facing criminal charges of laundering unaccounted money.

--IANS str/fb/vgu/dg

( 257 Words)

2017-04-14-16:22:08 (IANS)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the BHIM-Aadhaar digital payments platform has the potential to revolutionise the Indian economy while empowering common Indians in the same way as did the Constitution, framed by B.R. Ambedkar, whose 126th birth anniversary is being celebrated across the country on Friday. Launching the new combined platform here, he said that by enabling each Indian to pay digitally using their biometric data on a merchant's biometric-enabled device, the BHIM-Aadhaar will be like a SmartPhone with a biometric reader and boost digital payments in a manner unprecedented anywhere in the world. It is a step towards a "less-cash" economy and combating the black money menace, he said. "'DigiDhan' is a 'Safai Abhiyaan' to free the nation from corruption and black money," Modi stated. The new app will enable payments with just a 'thumb' impression, which can be used by even an illiterate person to pay digitally with his/her biometric data on a merchant's biometric-enabled device. "Any citizen without access to SmartPhone, Internet, debit or credit cards will be able to transact digitally through the BHIM-Aadhaar platform," Modi said. "It will make digital payments easy for people who cannot read or write, thus realising Babasaheb Ambedkar's vision of social and financial empowerment for all. Nothing can stop its progress," he said. Modi said India's unprecedented digital payments revolution has attracted the attention of the world with some countries even seeking India's help to implement it for them. The Prime Minister also launched two new incentive schemes for the BHIM-Cashback and Referral Bonus with an outlay of Rs 495 crore for a six-month period to ensure digital payments culture permeates down to the grassroots. Under the Referral Bonus Scheme, both the existing user who refers BHIM and the new user who adopts it would get a cash bonus of Rs 10 credited directly to their accounts. Similarly, under the Cashback scheme, the merchants will get cash back of Rs 25 on every transaction using BHIM. "I appeal to my young friends... I want the support of India's youth in the movement towards increased digital transactions," Modi said. Both schemes will be administered by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) and implemented by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Besides, 32 banks, including public and private sector and regional rural entities are now on board with three lakh merchants so that they can start accepting payments using BHIM-Aadhaar. Shortly after the Prime Minister's announcement, NPCI CEO and Managing Director A.P. Hota announced in Mumbai the launch of the BHIM-Aadhaar app which can be downloaded from Google Playstore and iOS as an updated version 1.3, in 12 Indian languages. It will cater to around 40 crore account holders whose Aadhaar card details are linked with their bank accounts and would require only the customer's finger-print for authentication, he said. The BHIM App, launched in December 2016, has created a new world record with 1.90 crore downloads in just four months enabling an unprecedented increase in number of transactions made using several user-friendly digital payments methods. Till November 2016, the volume of all digital transactions was 280,000, worth Rs 101 crore, which zoomed 23 times to 6,380,000 digital transactions valued at Rs 2,425 crore. At the same time, the Aadhaar Enabled Payments have doubled from 2.5 crore in November 2016 to over five crore in March 2017, and Immediate Payment Service transactions jumped from 3.6 crore to 6.7 crore during the same period. Modi also felicitated winners of a mega-draw of two national incentive schemes for digital transactions. A 20-year-old electrical engineering student from Maharashtra's Latur town, Shradha Mengshete bagged the Rs 1 crore Mega Draw for Lucky Grahak Yojana. She had made a transaction of Rs 1,590 through her RuPay card to pay an EMI for her new mobile phone. Under the Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana for merchants, Anand Ananthapadmanabhan of GRT Jewellers in Tambaran, Chennai, won the Rs 50 lakh top prize for accepting a Rs 300 digital payment. He immediately announced it as a donation to the Clean Ganga Campaign. Earlier in the day, Modi paid homage to the Indian Constitution's architect, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, revered as Babasaheb Ambedkar, on his 126th birth anniversary. He also inaugurated the 6660x3 MW Koradi Thermal Power Project, and laid the foundation stones for the Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Management and All India Institute of Medical Sciences to come here. --IANS qn/vd/dg ( 748 Words) 2017-04-14-18:04:08 (IANS)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a new set of enabling provisions to resolve the problem of banks' mounting non-performing assets (NPAs), or bad loans. Through the notification titled "Revised Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework for banks", the RBI has said the new set of provisions, effective from April 1, override the existing PCA framework, and are based on the financials of each bank as of March 2017. The new framework will be reviewed after three years. Under the revised framework, if a bank crosses the third level of risk threshold (where a bank's common equity tier I capital falls below the threshold of 3.625 per cent by 3.125 per cent, or more) it will either be amalgamated or merged, or taken over by another entity. "Breach of 'risk threshold 3' of CET1 (common equity tier 1) by a bank would identify it as a likely candidate for resolution through tools like amalgamation, reconstruction, winding up etc," the notification said. The apex bank also said that in case a "bank defaults in meeting the obligations to its depositors, possible resolution processes may be resorted to without reference to the PCA matrix". "A bank will be placed under PCA framework based on the audited annual financial results and RBI's supervisory assessment. However, RBI may impose PCA on any bank during the course of a year, including migration from one threshold to another, in case the circumstances so warrant." The revised PCA framework is applicable to all banks, including small and foreign banks. The new framework also places capital, asset quality and profitability as the key areas for monitoring. Besides, the over-riding indicators tracking capital, asset quality and profitability will be capital to risk assets ratio (CRAR), CET1 ratio, met NPA ratio and return on assets, respectively, the notification said. A bank's "leverage will be monitored additionally as part of the PCA framework and any breach of any risk threshold will result in invocation of PCA," it added. If a bank breaches the risk levels or leverage levels, RBI said "promoters/owners/parent in the case of foreign banks" will have to bring in capital to meet the special supervisory requirement. Breach of risk threshold 2 will attract restrictions on branch expansion, as well as domestic and overseas higher provisions, as part of the coverage regime, RBI said. Breach of risk threshold 3 will invite mandatory actions of threshold 1 and 2, along with restrictions on management compensation and directors' fees and any other corrective actions such as removal of officials and supersession or suppression of the board. At its first monetary policy review of the fiscal on April 6, the RBI said it would come out with a revised PCA framework. The NPAs of state-run banks at the end of last September rose to Rs 6.3 lakh crore (almost $100 billion), as compared to Rs 5.5 lakh crore at the end of June 2016. --IANS bc/dg ( 495 Words) 2017-04-14-18:10:12 (IANS)
Acknowledging the contribution being made by Japanese companies in India, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday urged them to avail of the opportunities on offer as India shapes to increae the share of manufacturing in its GDP to 25 per cent in the coming years. "India wants to increase the contribution of manufacturing sector to GDP to 25 per cent," a Commerce Ministry statement quoting Sitharaman said here. Manufacturing currently contributes in the range of 15-16 per cent to India's GDP. She was addressing a gathering at the India Investment Seminar in Tokyo organized by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). Sitharaman is on an official visit to Japan leading a delegation and she met her Japanese counterpart Hiroshige Seko and business leaders of Japan at the Tokyo conference on Friday. According to the statement, Sitharaman also spoke of various initiatives like the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund for infrastructure financing, the Digital India program to connect 250,000 villages with optical fiber and the Jan Dhan scheme. Both countries discussed ways of increasing bilateral trade and investments at the meeting between Sithraman and Seko, the statement added. Japan is the third largest foreign investor in India, with a cumulative investment $25.2 billion made between the 2000-2016 period. --IANS bc/vd ( 218 Words) 2017-04-14-23:28:07 (IANS)
Venting out his anger on Twitter, the 43-year-old wrote, "The footage of our soldiers being slapped and heckled is sickening.. their restraint admirable. Action must be taken immediately."

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. (ANI)
The 30-year-old actor has not ruled out a possible return as Edward Cullen, reports aceshowbiz.com.

"I'm always kind of curious. Anything where there's a mass audience or seemingly an audience for it, I always like the idea of subverting people's expectations," Pattinson said.

There's no such reboot in development as of now, but Pattinson still believes that "there could be some radical way of doing it, which could be quite fun".

The actor, however, says it will be "difficult" to make another film in the popular movie franchise because "there's no source material."

Previously, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group said more "Twillight" movies were possible, but those are yet to be confirmed.

--IANS ks/rb/vt

( 136 Words)

2017-04-14-13:38:09 (IANS)
Dengue, now a seasonal menace every year in India, has arrived rather early this time. Cases are already being reported from different parts of Delhi-NCR in March and April itself, months before the monsoons. The primary reason for this, according to experts, is construction work in different parts of the city and poor upkeep of overhead and curing tanks in residential areas. According to the WHO, there are about 190 million cases of dengue worldwide with 96 million cases needing treatment. In India too, there is 25% increase each year, mainly attributed to heavier monsoons and ineffective preventive steps to check mosquito breeding. In this scenario, what can be done? What steps can common citizens take? Dengue is a tropical disease that originates from four different viruses. Carried by the Aedes egypti mosquito, symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains as well as skin rash. While there is currently no vaccine for dengue, it can be prevented by improving hygiene levels and prevention of mosquito breeding. Dr Amitabh Parti, Additional Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, gives some useful information and tips below: What are the most commonly associated symptoms that could be associated with the onset of Dengue? Severe headache Pain behind the eyes Nausea and vomiting Swollen glands Muscle and joint pain Skin rash High fever reaching 40C/ 104F Why are some people more susceptible to Dengue? They live in a high-risk zone which has dingy, unclean surroundings with stagnant water that encourages mosquito breeding Some of them have been infected with dengue before They have low immunity Their platelet count is low A probable diagnosis can be made by assessing: The temperature Associated symptoms such as nausea and vomiting Rash and general pain The common tests used in dengue diagnosis are: Complete Blood Count ELISA test for dengue NS1 Ag PCR for detecting viral DNA Serum IgG and IgM test Suggested approach on Treatment: Please seek medical advice immediately if common symptoms persist Drink plenty of fluids Symptomatic relief can be sought using NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as paracetamol Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen since they can increase the risk of bleeding Follow instructions of medical practitioners diligently If Dengue fever progresses to dengue shock syndrome, look out for these symptoms and visit your nearest hospital immediately: Severe pain in the abdomen Myalgia Fluid accumulation in the liver Hemorrhages Nausea Fluid accumulation in the chest Headache How to prevent dengue: Make sure all egg-laying habitats of mosquitoes, such as open and stagnant water sources are cleaned up If there are any open water sources you cannot eliminate, cover them and apply appropriate insecticides Use protections such as window screens, long-sleeved clothes, insecticide-treated materials, coils, vaporizers and repellant creams to avoid being bitten by mosquitos A person can suffer from dengue a second time if the viral strain is different from the initial infection. So ensure adequate protection (ANI)
A team of doctors here has successfully operated upon a seven-month-old baby from Iraq who was suffering from polymelia -- a birth defect involving limbs -- to give him a new lease of life. Polymelia is a birth defect in which the affected individual has more than the usual number of limbs and, in this case, the boy, named Karam who was brought to the hospital in a very critical condition, had eight limbs. "Both the legs of the baby which were protruding out of the stomach were connected through his sternum (the breastbone) and there was no abdominal wall defect. His blood veins were also adjoined to his liver veins," Ashish Rai, Senior Consultant, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Jaypee Hospital, told reporters here. With the help of complex microscopic technique, these veins were separated and then his legs protruding out of his stomach were removed from his body. When Karam was brought to the hospital he was just two-weeks-old. His limbs and the intestines were distorted along with situs inversus of the intestine with an extremely rare condition where a conjoined twin did not fully form and was partially absorbed. The team of doctors observed the baby and considering the risk factors, decided to perform the critical surgery in three stages. In the first stage, Karam's clubfeet was treated and the two limbs which were protruding out of his stomach were removed. In the second stage, the doctors performed "PA Band" surgery so that his left ventricle can control his entire body's blood circulation after the treatment and he can undergo a 'Double Switch Surgery' in future. In the third stage of the surgery, the other two limbs were also removed from his body. "The level of the surgery was complicated as it took almost eight hours but we did not face any major issues. We had planned the surgery thoroughly. We had done all the investigation earlier regarding the case," Gaurav Rathore, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement Department, Jaypee Hospital, told IANS. "There are just five or six known cases worldwide of this condition," Rathore added. --IANS vc/na/dg ( 360 Words) 2017-04-14-18:34:08 (IANS)
Last year Skyscanner, the leading global search engine, revealed the top destinations for Indians to look out for in 2017. The destinations were Amsterdam, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Budapest and Madrid. But now with data from around 50 million users, they have revealed the best to book your travel to these destinations. The data from Skyscanner shows that booking 24 weeks prior to departure is the ideal time to book tickets. Bookings for Bali and Kuala Lumpur are best secured 25 weeks prior to departure, however the website notes that both destinations receive the most bookings two weeks prior to departure where flight prices witness a surge of 16% and 11%, respectively, compared to the average fare from across India. Travellers who have their sights set on Europe can avail 17% saving on fares to Amsterdam when they book 24 weeks in advance. But, people planning to visit Budapest can have a sigh of relief as the destination provides flexible weeks to travelers in terms of getting the optimum flight fares, where one can book 12, 20 or 23 weeks prior to departure and still save 13% on the flight ticket, while to explore Madrid, Skyscanner recommends the best time to book is 15 weeks in advance. Commenting on the analysis, Reshmi Roy, Growth Manager, Skyscanner India said, "Knowing the best time to book flights is key to getting a good deal, so it's surprising that nearly three-quarters of Indian Travellers don't know when the best time to book travel is and 69% are way off in their estimations, guessing the best deals on flights can be found less than 12 weeks before departure. Furthermore, the majority of travellers are overspending by leaving booking until the last minute! The data also tells that September and December are the best months to travel these trending destinations, overall. Although February is the ideal month to visit Amsterdam and Budapest as travellers can avail savings of eight percent and nine percent, respectively, on tickets. Skyscanner recommends April for a visit to Bali, where they can save up to 10% on flight prices and September as the perfect month to book for Kuala Lumpur where travellers can save a whopping 18% on average fares. A European favourite, Madrid will be best enjoyed in November where one can avail 17% less than the average fare. Skyscanner notes that Madrid races ahead in terms of popularity with 164% searches more than the average. Coming close on its heels is Budapest with 150% searches in popularity followed by Amsterdam, Kuala Lumpur and Bali which receive 88%, 55% and 47% searches in popularity. The survey also revealed that 72% of Indian travellers do not know the best time to book travel for their holidays. While a meaty 31% of respondents correctly assume booking more than 12 weeks in advance is the best time book flights. Additionally, 11% feel that booking last minute is the key to getting a good deal, Skyscanner's data analysis shows booking 24 weeks prior to departure is the ideal time to book tickets. (ANI)
Following the MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) bombing over the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province by the U.S., the Indian political fraternity on Friday applauded the move, calling out to other nations to come together against terror. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP SubramanianSwamy called the move super, and asked out for a cooperative action against the menace of terror. He tweeted, "US President Trump's blasting with Mother of all bombs the ISIS hideout in Afghanistan is Super. Need US Israel India compact against terror." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">US President Trump's blasting with Mother of all bombs the ISIS hideout in Afghanistan is Super. Need US Israel India compact against terror</p> Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) <a href="https://twitter.com/Swamy39/status/852709963944402944">April 14, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tewari called out for more such actions in order to put an end to other growing terrorist groups. He tweeted, "If US can drop MOAB on ISIS Khorasan-how is LET, Jaish -e- Mohmmad ,Jamat-Ul-Dawa any different? Why not one on Muridke? Terror is seemless." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If US can drop MOAB on ISIS Khorasan-how is LET, Jaish -e- Mohmmad ,Jamat-Ul-Dawa any different? Why not one on Muridke? Terror is seemless</p> Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManishTewari/status/852714061720465408">April 14, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump dubbed the MOAB bombing as a successful event, saying the country is proud of its army. "We are very very proud of our military. Gave military full authorisation. Another successful event," Trump said. White House press secretary Sean Spicer had earlier confirmed that the U.S. dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, also known as the "Mother of All Bombs" or "MOAB," over the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province 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 a press briefing on Thursday. Spicer added that they used all necessary precaution to avoid civilian causalities and collateral damage. Asserting that the United States takes the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) very seriously, Spicer said that U.S. has denied operational space to the terror group in order to defeat them. "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." he said. According to CNN, 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 ammunition 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 ammunition was developed during the Iraq War. (ANI)
"Puthandu Vazthukkal" (New Year greetings) is how friends and relatives greeted one another in the morning in person or over the phone.

The New Year is celebrated on the first day of Tamil month Chithirai, which normally falls on April 13 or 14 annually.

"We went to the nearby temple after getting up early," J. Muralidharan, a resident of Mylapore in south Chennai told IANS.

The houses are decorated with 'kolam' (rangoli) outside the front door. Mango leaf streamers adorn the door frames.

All the popular temples here - Kapaleeswarar Temple, Sri Parthasarathy Temple - were crowded with people since morning. At big temples, the almanac for the New Year was read.

At home, Tamilians feasted on dishes like vada and payasam (sweet dish) and other savouries were being prepared.

The special dish of the day is the 'mango pachidi' made with neem flowers, jaggery, mango, green chilli, salt and tamarind juice representing the six major human emotions.

Tamils in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other places also celebrate the New Year on the first day of Chithirai.

--IANS vj/ksk

( 209 Words)

2017-04-14-09:54:07 (IANS)
Three persons killed and six others seriously injured in a electrocution when they try to erect huge cut outs of Dr Ambedkar at Kyathamaranhalli which came into contact with live electric wire here last night. Police said the victims have been identified as city corporation employee Manikanta (50), painter Kumar (40) and tail worker Shivu (25). Six others injured have been admitted private hospital. The incident occurred as the deceased persons along with others were on the preparations on the eve to celebrate Dr Ambedkar Jayanthi today and making efforts to erect the 30 feet Dr Ambedkar cutouts iron frame which touched the live electric wire and all of them affected with electric shocks. Kumar killed on the spot while Manikanta died on the way to hospital and Shivu succumbed to burn injuries in the hospital. N R Mohalla police registered a case in this connection.UNI BSP RS JK 1010 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1229392.Xml
One-way traffic from Srinagar to Jammu will ply today on the 300-km-long national highway, connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country."Hundreds of empty trucks, which had come with essentials, particularly fresh vegetables, chicken, meat and oil tankers, besides passengers vehicles, left for Jammu from Srinagar, a traffic police official told UNI. However, no vehicle will be allowed from the opposite direction as only one-way traffic will continue to ply on the highway till further orders.Traffic on the highway has been disrupted frequently since January 6, when there was first major snowfall in the valley, due to landslides and shooting stones though Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been working tirelessly to put through the traffic from both ways. Meanwhile, all- out efforts are being made to put through the national highway, connecting the Ladakh region with Kashmir valley. However, recently, the road was put through from Srinagar to Gumri on this side of the Zojila pass for light vehicles only. Work on snow clearance operation was going on from both sides of the Zojila pass.Similarly, there was also fresh snowfall on historic Mughal road, badly affecting snow clearance operation. The road, which is seen as alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu highway, was to reopen on April 15 after remaining closed for the past four months.Dozens of far-flung and remote areas, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), remained cut off from their respective district headquarters for the past four months due to accumulation of snow.UNI ABS SV 1017 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-1229390.Xml
As an initiative to improve e-governance in Manipur, Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh launched two websites at his office chamber in a function held here today at the CM Secretariat. The newly launched websites are Digital Application for Review by Public and Nation (DARPAN) www.ppmonitor.in and Anti-Corruption Cell www.accmanipur.in. N Biren Singh said to transform the entire ecosystem of public services through the use of information technology, the new government has taken such a daring step which is committed to giving transparency, accountability and for a corruption free Manipur to the people of the State. He further said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has already launched the "Digital India" campaign, so with the launch of these two websites the new government calls for a new paradigm of 'Digital Manipur' to improve the e-governance in the State.The chief minister stressed that the primary objective of these e-governance projects is to monitor the developmental projects and to curb corruption in the State. He also appealed that the government needs the support and co-operation of the people and the media houses so as to promote the digital movement in the state.During the function, a demonstration on the technical know-how of the websites and how to lodge a complaint through mobile by using these web applications was also done. The website DARPAN is developed by the Planning Department, Government of Manipur. The objective of this website is to inform the people of the State about various projects being taken up by the government of Manipur regarding the latest information and current status of the projects and to stop any fake or incorrect status report by using GPS location verification. The function was attended by Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, MLAs, Chief Secretary and other officials. UNI NS RN 1159 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-1229454.Xml
Tamilians marked their new year with merriment and devotion with folk plays, dances and songs in the Union Territory today. Clad in new dresses, long queues were seen in front of several temples here, including the famous Manakkula Vinayagar temple and the Panchamukha Anjaneyar temple at Panjavadi, near here since morning.Special poojas were performed in all the temples and a special "Abishekam" was performed to the 32 ft tall Anjaneyar idol at the Panjavadi temple to mark the occasion. Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his cabinet colleagues, Lok Sabha member R Radhakrishnan, and leaders of different political parties, among others, greeted the people on the occasion.UNI PAB SDR SV 1139 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1229414.Xml
The BJP top leadership and the members of the crucial National Executive are all set to launch saffron party's aggressive expansion plans in Odisha and eastern India during their two-day meet beginning in Bhubaneswar tomorrow. The party's poll strategists are determined to reap maximum leads in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from the Eastern and India's south-eastern coastal region --- where the party has been traditionally weak as compared to north and western states.The BJP leaders see Odisha as one state where the "ideological" acceptance of a pro-Hindutva party would be easier -- unlike Assam where it was once viewed with jaundiced eyes due to 'north Indian tilt' or even in neighbouring West Bengal where the voters have largely remained pro-Left.The Bengali voters are largely perceived to be "culturally and intellectually pro-Left" and hence BJP's politics of neo-nationalism, liberal economic policy and Hindutva slant always faced basic "ideological barriers"."This is not the case is Odisha," a source said pointing at the local people's inherent faith in good old oriental values. The recent gram panchayat elections gave BJP nurture big hopes in Odisha, where it has overshadowed the Congress as the principal Opposition party. The BJP came second, securing 294 of the total 851 zila parishad seats, a massive increase from its tally of 36 seats in the 2012 local-body polls.The BJP vote share had increased to 21.88 per cent in Odisha in 2014 Parliamentary polls and the party could win one seat while with 26 per cent vote share, the Congress could not win any seat. The state's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) remains at top winning 467 seats in local polls while it had won 20 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats.More UNI DEVN SV 1124 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1229417.Xml
Instead of giving students a holiday on birth anniversaries of legends, Uttar Pradesh schools will now have discussion on the life, work and ideology of that specific person on the legend's birth date.

According to reports, the schools remain closed for 120 days in the name of jayantis and national holidays.

Stressing on the commitment of the government to extend all possible help to the poor and maginalised people, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said will work for all sections of society without discrimination.

For the first time ever, the BJP in Uttar Pradesh has ordered all primary government schools to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar this week, in an attempt to build its image as that of a pro-dalit political force.

All school children from Classes one to eight will celebrate the occasion with a discussion on his life, struggles an ideology. The celebrations began on April 13 since the following day has been declared a holiday.

Earlier on Thursday, the Uttar Pradesh government made an announcement to end caste-based reservations in private medical and dental colleges across state. An order has been passed to do away with the quota for candidates belonging to SC, ST and OBC categories. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], Apr. 14
Nagaland BJP unit has decided not to observe 'Digital India' today, on April 14 since the day falls on Good Friday, saying it is an important sacred day of Christians. In a statement the State BJP further appealed to the Central Government to avoid holding events on important Christian days or any other important days of other religion. Appreciating the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold the Digital India Day, BJP unit said the Digital India campaign launched in July 2015 was to ensure that Government services are made available to citizens electronically by improved online infrastructure and by increased high speed Internet connectivity even in rural areas. The Nagaland BJP unit at the same time said it was also very important that the sanctity of religious days are also observed and maintained in the true secular character and traditions of the constitution. The party further greeted the people "a blessed Holy weekend and Happy Easter," the statement said. Meanwhile, the Nagaland Government has announced that it will not be observing any activity related to promotion of Digital Payment tomorrow, on April 14, as the day being a public holiday for the Good Friday. According to a press statement issued by Nagaland Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar informed that the Government of India is going to organise Mega Draw and Digi Dhan Mela on April 14 for promotion of digital payment. In this connection, a video conference was held on April 7 by Government of India, where senior officers from the State Government participated. It was informed that the programme will be organised in 100 cities in the country. The list of locations does not include any place in Nagaland, it said. UNI AS RN 1325 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-1229591.Xml
Security forces today burst teargas shells to disperse protestors after Friday prayers in downtown Srinagar and Sopore in Baramulla district.Trouble started immediately after prayers were over in historic Jamia Masjid, where hundreds of protestors took to the streets outside the mosque to protest against the death of eight civilians in clashes during Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency bypoll on April 9.Shouting slogans, the agitators tried to march towards the main Nowhatta Chowk.However, security forces deployed in the area swung into action and stopped the demonstrators from moving ahead. As they didn't back down, security forces burst teargas shells to disperse the agitators, who were regrouping and pelting stones.Massive clashes also erupted after Friday prayers were over at Jamia Masjid in Sopore. Shouting 'anti-forces' slogans, hundreds of protestors took to streets outside Jamia Masjid in Sopore after Friday prayers against the civilian deaths.When people tried to take out a protest march, security forces burst teargas shells to disperse the crowd which started pelting stones.Eight youths were killed and over 50 injured in security force and police action on anti-election protestors during bypolls in Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency on April 9. Around 100 security force personnel were also injured in the clashes which marred the bypoll that witnessed only 7.14 per cent voter turnout.UNI BAS RSA SNU 1516 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-1229682.Xml
To mark the birth anniversary this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay his visit to Nagpur in Maharashtra to pay tributes to Dr Ambedkar.

Across the region comprising eight districts, various factions of Dalit community, social organisations, government offices, panchayati raj institutions have organised programmes to pay tributes to the 'Mahamanav' on this occasion.

This morning, all parties Ambedkar Jayanti Ustav Samiti members in the city paid homage to Dr Ambedkar at Bhadkal gate, in a function that was presided over by Samiti president Manmohan Singh Oberoi.

This year, first time the Samiti has obtained a permission from local bodies and police department to drop flowers on Dr Ambedkar statue at Bhadakal gate by an airplane during 1500 hrs to 1530 hrs in day, said Uttam Ambhore, district BJP chief of SC morcha.

Police have made bandobast to avoid any untoward incident in the city as well as in the region during the celebrations. UNI VKB SW SNU 1511

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Advocating for opposition unity to take on BJP in the coming elections, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati today said she was not averse to stitching alliance to halt saffron party's juggernaut. Addressing a gathering on the occasion of the 126th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar here, which also happens to be the 33rd foundation day of the BSP, Ms Mayawati said,''BJP has always ditched and misled Dalits for its political gains.''Attacking the BJP, she said that the party was doing all drama to claim that they are the only honest people in this country and the opposition leaders and workers are corrupt.Ms Mayawati paid rich tributes to Baba Sahab Ambedkar." Ninety per cent of the Sikhs, Muslims, Parsis, Buddhists Dalits and backwards had been denied their rights by the upper caste. Kanshi Ram took the pain to unite them. But unfortunately, these manuwadi forces had once again created differences,'' she said. ''The BJP had openly supported the anti-Mandal movement after dislodging the V P Singh government which shows their anti-Dalit attitude,'' she said.Though announcing to suspend BSP's protest against the Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs) till the Supreme Court give its verdict on the matter, Ms Mayawati continued her attack on the BJP on the issue and even claimed that in UP, the party had won 250 seats of the total 325 by tampering the EVMs. She also thanked the party rank and file for holding a massive protest on April 11 against the use of EVMs in the elections. SC is likely to hear the EVMs case on May 8.The BSP president also alleged that the Narendra Modi government was misusing government machinery against her and her family members. "Like 2003, the present BJP government was doing every thing to tarnish the image of my family members and harass them. UP government's announcement to hold probe in the sale of sugar mills and in the construction of Memorials was just an effort to malign my image. There was nothing wrong in these as the state cabinet had decided the matter," she said.Trying to counter the UP poll results which 'hinted' that Dalits have deserted her as she had tried to woo the Muslims, she made it clear that it was a misconception spread by the BJP. " Dalits have voted for me enmass along with the Muslims as they know very well that a BSP government is always pro-Dalit and pro-Muslim," she added. UNI MB SV 1351 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1229504.Xml
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today paid his tributes to the architect of the Indian Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar on his 126th birth anniversary.On this occasion, he announced that all schools would teach and hold programmes on the birth and death anniversaries of great personalities."There will be no holidays in the schools on the birth anniversaries of great personalities, instead children would be taught about them," he announced.Addressing a gathering at Ambedkar Mahasabha, Mr Adityanath said, "Schools should not be closed on the birth and death anniversaries of great personalities; instead they should celebrate it by teaching the children about their ideology and works."Announcing that the Dalit students would now get scholarships in technical courses, he said his Government would not tolerate any disparity or untouchability."The Constitution which was drafted by Dr Ambedkar has been promoted by the people while Dalits have been connected with the main stream of the society," he claimed. He said Dr Ambedkar had given voice to all citizens of the country through Constitution.UNI MB SW SNU 1436 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1229580.Xml
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati today alleged that the Yogi Adityanath Government in Uttar Pradesh was doing nothing and was just trying to get media publicity.In the meanwhile, Ms Mayawati today set up a five-member committee of the senior party leaders who would meet the Chief Minister and raise several issues related to the bad conditions of the memorials and the woes of the people of the State. "This committee will meet Mr Aditynath and apprise him about the bad condition of the Dalit icon memorials besides taking up problems of the common people," she said."This Yogi Government is doing nothing and only holding meetings day and night. Publicity done through media is the only achievement of this around one month old Government," she claimed.Addressing party workers and leaders on the occasion of the party's 33rd Foundation Day and 126th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, the former UP Chief Minister said that this team would comprise of Lalji Verma, Ramachal Rajbhar, Nasimuddin Siddique, Satish Chandra Misra and Ashok Sidharth. The team will meet the CM and talk only about the memorials and people's problems and will not take up any personal matter.The BSP which was eyeing to form the Government in the just concluded Assembly polls in UP, was relegated to third spot with winning just 19 seats after contesting all the 403 Assembly seats.Ms Mayawati, in her address, commented on every political issue related to meat shops, triple talaq, school fees and expansion of the party base."The meat controversy was intentionally done by the BJP Government to harass a particular community which was opposing them in the elections while the State Government was overlooking the problem of exorbitant fee structure of the private schools," she said.About the triple talaq issue, she said the matter should be left to the Muslim community.Asking the party leaders and workers to camp in their areas from May 1 to spread party's base, she exhorted the leaders to go before the people and raise their issues before the Government. But, she strictly asked the leaders not to meet any BJP legislators, MPs or Ministers to seek their advice.UNI MB RSA SNU 1447 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1229602.Xml
Dr BR Ambedkar, the architect of Constitution, opposed reservations on the basis of religion, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu said today.Speaking at a meeting organised here by BJP SC Morcha on the occasion 126th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, Mr Naidu said that the reservation based on the religion only leads to conversions.Conversions were the cause of social tensions and communal disharmony. Appeasement politics should come to an end, he said.Mr Naidu said that the reservations should be on the basis of backwardness, poverty and marginalisation not on the basis of religion. The BJP was opposing reservations on the basis of religion since the beginning not now (after Telangana Government announced it). The party also opposed it during YSR and Chdandrababu Nadu regimes too, he said.The Union Minister said that the greatest sin committed by the Congress and the Leftist was to indulge in the vote bank politics dividing society and ignoring development. "We will set right it. India was secular from ages because of inherited ethos and values and will remain secular. Sarvejana Sukhinobhavantu -- has always been our motto," he said.Mr Naidu said that the spirit and life of Dr Ambedkar would continued to guide us till we realised this new social order and a New India.To perpetuate the memory of such a great mind and soul and to undo the neglect heaped on him by the Congress party since Independence, the Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up several projects on the occasion of the 126th Birth Anniversary of Dr Ambedkar.The power of reason in Dr Ambedkar's voice for equality and social justice was too powerful to be overlooked. His life and saga of struggle were too forceful to be ignored or relegated to political oblivion by political conspiracies. He stirred the conscience of our nation and spoke for humanity. "Prime Minister and BJP will do everything to take forward the legacy of Dr Ambedkar," he said. MORE UNI VV JW SNU 1641 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1229842.Xml
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh today alleged that Farooq Abdullah headed National Conference was responsible for the mess in the State."Dr Farooq Abdullah and his party are responsible for the situation that we are facing today in Jammu and Kashmir," Dr Singh told the mediapersons at the sidelines of a function here this afternoon.He said, "these are the people who talk of democracy but when it come to 'democratic process', they create hurdles in the course of action."Reacting on Dr Abdullah's statement that some stone pelters were 'Government paid', the Deputy Chief Minister termed it 'condemnable and unfortunate' asserting that these people instigate them (stone pelters) and blame the Government.Referring to the stone pelters assaulting and humiliating CRPF men in Valley, Dr Singh reiterated that it was 'unfortunate' and stern action against perpetrators would be taken."This shows how disciplined are our security forces as they didn't open fire as they had not 'orders', despite that they were facing allegations of Human Right violations, Dr Singh said, adding, "it is the responsibility of Government to take action against culprits."He said that to his knowledge, FIR stands registered in this regard and some accused too have been arrested while investigations are on.Replying to a query about Agenda of Alliance (AoA), Dr Singh said that in the larger interests of people of the State, both Centre and State Governments would initiate to restore peace and development in the State as agreed under AoA. UNI VBH JW SNU 1723 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1229902.Xml
On the occasion of the 126th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu laid foundation stone for the construction of Ambedkar memorial, consisting of 126 feet tall Amabedkar statue, Buddhist meditation centre, convention centre and study centre, to be constructed at about Rs 98-crore in 20 acres of land at Inavolu village.Addressing a public meeting on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Andhra Pradesh is the first State in the country to install 126 feet tall Ambedkar statue. He said that Dr Ambedkar would remain in the hearts of the people forever. The ideology of Ambedkar should be carried forward to the next generation, he said.He criticised that the Congress party humiliated Ambedkar by getting him defeated in election. The Chief Minister recalled the suffering, which Ambedkar faced in his childhood. Mr, Naidu highlighted that the Government had spent Rs 39,055-crore for the welfare of Dalits for the last three years. He also listed out the welfare schemes, being implemented for the SCs and STs in the State.Earlier, the Chief Minister collected the soil, brought from Ambedkar birth place Mhow village and spread it on the foundation area. Buddhist monks recited mantras and conducted prayers at the programme. Dy Chief Minister N Chinarajappa, Assembly Speaker K Shiva Prasad and a host of ministers, MLAs and other dignitaries were present.Meanwhile, Congress leaders paid floral tributes to Ambedkar here today. At a programme held in the Congress office, APCC Vice-president MJ Ratnakumar garlanded the portrait of Ambedkar and paid homage. At a Similar programme, BJP leaders garlanded the portrait of Ambedkar and paid floral tributes.UNI DP JW SNU 1748 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1229960.Xml
According to Crime Branch sources, one accused Faim Qureshi was arrested along with 75 notes of Rs 2,000 denomination totaling Rs 1,50,000 in value. He told police that one Danish Ali provided him the notes for circulation.

Later, police arrested Danish from outside his house and seized 15 notes of Rs 2,000 denomination and 3 notes of Rs 100 denomination totaling Rs 30,300 in value. Danish confessed before police that he, Jitendra and Wasim used to print fake notes at Jitendra's photo studio.

Jitu and Wasim were arrested. Thirteen notes of Rs 2,000 denomination and 26 notes of Rs 100 denomination were seized from them. A colour printer, a scanner-cum-colour printer, a CPU, a pen drive and paper cutting material were seized from Jitendra's studio.

Danish, who was the mastermind, said that he began printing counterfeit currency because he was reeling under huge debt.UNI SN-PS SHS 1804

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Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has assailed what he described as the misleading propaganda of political and religious outfits against his stand on fundamentalism and radicalism, as manifested in his decision not to meet the Canadian defence minister during the latter's forthcoming visit to India. The reactions showed that these outfits, including the SGPC, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), were completely lacking in national pride, the Chief Minister said. Capt Amarinder asserted that the State Government was regularly tracking and monitoring the activities of Khalistani sympathisers and others having any kind of links to extremist forces inimical to India. "Our assessments and decisions are based on these reports", he said, reiterated that while he was ready to provide security and protocol treatment to Harjit Singh Sajjan, during his proposed visit to India later this month, there was no question of meeting the Canadian Minister. Capt Amarinder made it clear that the security and protocol treatment to be provided to Sajjan, when he visits Punjab, would be at par with what would be accorded to the Indian Defence Minister on a visit to Canada. It will be neither more nor less, he added. The Chief Minister came down heavily on the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) for their criticism of his stance, saying the religious body, which claims to protect the interests of Sikhs and the ethos of Sikhism, seemed to have forgotten the treatment meted out to its leaders by hardliners in Canada. Do they have no sense of pride, he asked, adding that those opposing his principled stand on the issue were encouraging Khalistani sympathisers, thus fanning the possibility of the revival of Sikh extremism. Countering SAD leader Sukhbir Badal's statement dubbing him as 'anti-Sikh', the Chief Minister said the former deputy chief minister was trying to mislead the people by spreading false propaganda.More UNI DB SNU 1757 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-1229903.Xml
An alleged Islamic State (IS) activist from Kerala, Murshid Mohammed, is believed to have been killed by the "Mother of all bombs" dropped by the US in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province on Thursday, the intelligence wing of Kerala Police said on Friday. However, neither the police nor the relatives of the youth have been able to confirm whether Mohammed was among the 36 IS militants killed after the US military struck the terror group's position in eastern Afghanistan with a massive 10-tonne missile-powered bomb. The bomb -- dropped on an IS cave complex in Achin district of Nangarhar province bordering Pakistan -- is claimed to be the biggest-ever non-nuclear bomb. Speaking to IANS, a top intelligence officer in Kasargode said that around Thursday midnight they got information of Mohammed, a youth in his mid 20s, being killed in the US military assault. "The information of the death came to a relative of Mohammed and unlike a similar news received in February about the death of another youth from here, this time there are no pictures (to establish the death)," the officer said. "We do not have any more details," added the officer, who did not wish to be identified. In February, 26-year-old Hafeesudin, who also hailed from here and was member of a group of 21 Keralites who were reported to have joined the IS in Afghanistan, was killed in a drone attack. Then the relatives of the dead were sent pictures, but this time the relative of Mohammed received only a message that he was killed, according to the Kerala Police's intelligence wing. An official attached to the Chandera police station near here, where the message was received, said they also had the information that Mohammed had died. "Since the probe in this case is done by the NIA (National Intelligence Agency), we do not have any more details," said the police officer. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had last year informed the state assembly that 21 people, including children, were missing and this included 17 from Kasargode district and four from Palakkad district. --IANS sg/nir/dg ( 357 Words) 2017-04-14-18:00:08 (IANS)
"Based on video and other evidence, five persons have been detained for questioning in connection with the heckling of a CRPF jawan in Chadoora of Budgam district," police said.

A video had gone viral showing some youth kicking a CRPF trooper on April 9 after the polling process ended in the constituency.

Senior officers of the CRPF had said the exemplary restraint shown by the trooper was testimony to the fact that the CRPF had been discharging its duties in Kashmir with restraint and under extremely difficult conditions.

In another development, state police chief S.P. Vaid confirmed that an FIR has been lodged against a paramilitary trooper who is seen in a video shooting directly at the head of a stone pelter during protests in Budgam on April 9.

Eight civilians were killed in bloody clashes between the security forces and protestors on April 9.

Of these, seven protestors were killed in Budgam and one in Ganderbal district.

--IANS sq/ahm/dg

( 196 Words)

2017-04-14-18:56:07 (IANS)
Union Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh today said the BJP would come into power in West Bengal in next general elections. Mr Singh said after meeting with the party functionaries at Ballygunge and Alipurtold a media conference that BJP would form the next government in Bengal. He said this whilst being asked about BJP's move in the post Kanthi South by-poll result in East Medinipur where saffron brigade came second to winner TMC and Left parties were distant third and lost deposits. Bengal will go to general elections in 2021. Answering reporters, Mr Singh, however, avoided questions, particularly on the ruling Trinamool Congress government headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Mr Singh also avoided questions on the alleged presence the JMB operatives from Bangladesh in the state. He said the Centre was keeping a close watch on everything happening in the country. Party sources said Mr Singh during meeting with the karyakarta suggested them to work hard and go to villages and work for the people. He said the BJP won all the elections in recent years owing to work with the people. The union minister said the state leaders will have to ground work for party's strength. On the other hand Union minister for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation Uma Bharati criticised the Mamata Banerjee government saying it has no leadership. " Whatever state government sends for projects, including on the Ganga, they are mostly incomplete and for these deficiency the Cetnre can not allot funds," Ms Bharati alleged. She claimed the Mamata Banerjee government was suffering from illusion and they have lacked in the leadership for proper guidance. The Mamata Banerjee government pursues politics of hatred and lacked development outlook," Ms Bharati alleged.UNI PC BM -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0214-1230215.Xml
Volunteers of the Dravidar Kazhagam and Tamil activists today held a demonstration near the Swadeshi cotton mills. The agitation was to condemn former BJP MP Tarun Vijay for describing the south Indians as "black". The volunteers shouted slogans against Mr Vijay. The agitation was led by local leader Siva Veeramani.UNI PAB JW SB 1808 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1230000.Xml
Expressing apprehension that India's huge 'demographic dividend' of 600-million-youth could become a 'demographic liability' due to lack of job opportunities, President Pranab Mukherjee today called for setting up educational institutes of international standards to help secure for India its rightful place in the world.Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the Bengaluru BR Ambedkar School of Economics, an institution planned by the Karnataka Government as an institute of excellence on lines of the London School of Economics, the President lauded efforts of the State Government to establish a skill university to bridge the gap between the graduates coming out of college and employability and also to enhance entrepreneurship.He said initiatives like the development of skill development university by the Karnataka Government could help turn this demographic dividend into an opportunity and help secure for India it's rightful place in the world. ''If we are able to convert our demographic dividend into an advantage, it will be a great advantage. It will help India secure it's rightful place in the world,'' the President said. The President also said that if India aspires to become a leading economic power of the world, it should not just look at the growth in its GDP but also it's Global happiness index. ''If we aspire to be one of the leading economic powers of the world, yes, we need not just to achieve growth in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). We should also look at development in terms of Gross National Happiness (GNH).''For, the concept of development has changed now and international organisations like the World Bank and IMF are talking not only about development in terms of GDP but also in terms of GNH,'' the President said at the function, which was also attended by Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah, state Governor Vijubhai Rudabhai Vala, Karnataka Higher Education Minister Basavaraaj Rayareddi, Karnataka Chief Secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia , Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar , Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation D V Sadanand Gowda and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.More UNI AR RSA SNU 1930 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1230153.Xml
Taking another major step towards the elimination of VIP culture from Punjab, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has prohibited the inclusion of names of any Government functionaries, including ministers and MLAs, on foundation stones and inaugural plaques. The Chief Minister himself is not excluded from these orders, which are aimed at building a stronger connect between the Government and the people by removing the VIP culture barriers, an official spokesperson today said. All projects and programmes, including those inaugurated by the Chief Minister or any of his Cabinet colleagues, MLAs or other officials, would from now be dedicated to the people of Punjab, Capt Singh has announced. The spokesperson said while there was no bar on the Government functionaries and leaders inaugurating or laying the foundation stone of any building or project, the practice of having their names inscribed on such stones or plaques was being discarded with immediate effect, following explicit orders from the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister has also urged his ministerial and party colleagues to be humble in dealing with any member of the public. "We are in this position today because of the people of the State and it is our duty to treat them with full respect and humility at all times," the Chief Minister said, according to the spokesperson. Capt Singh had, soon after taking over the state's governance and in line with the Congress manifesto promise, given up the symbolic red beacon light on his vehicle as a gesture to show his commitment to shedding the VIP culture. All cabinet ministers had also followed suit, even though the manifesto had exempted the Chief Minister and the ministers from the red beacon ban ambit. The Chief Minister had again reiterated this commitment to shrugging off the VIP culture a few days ago when he preferred to queue up for entry, check-in and boarding at the Chandigarh airport instead of accepting preferential treatment while leaving for a business trip to Mumbai. The Punjab Cabinet had, at its maiden meeting, approved a series of measures, including removal of the red beacons, to rid the state of the VIP culture. The Congress manifesto has listed this as a key promise for the Government. The Congress Government, said the spokesperson, was totally committed to implementing every single promise in the party manifesto in a time-bound manner.UNI DB SW SNU 1937 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1230194.Xml
Union Food Processing Industry Minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today asked the Congress government why has it started discrimination against Bathinda and the Malwa region by deciding to close down the Maharaja Ranjit Singh State Technical University (MRSTU) immediately after coming to power. Referring to news reports stating that that the Congress government had initiated the process to revoke the previous SAD-BJP government's decision to set up the MRSTU at Bathinda, Ms Badal said setting up of this institution was a well planned move aimed at giving a much needed boost to technical education in the Malwa region. "The previous government took this step following expert advise that there was a need to broadband the technical institution footprint across the state. This was also in consonance with the Skill India programme. The aim was to give a major boost to skill development through this University and consequently make our youth employable. Closing down the Varsity will adversely effect our youth". Stating that the move to close down the varsity was part of the vendetta politics unleashed by the Congress in the state, Ms Badal it was strange that an institution which had been made financially viable and was under construction was being closed. She said the Congress already had a long history of taking back from the people instead of giving them anything. She said Finance minister Manpreet Badal also had a responsibility towards Bathinda which he also represented as legislator of the city seat. "Manpreet had promised development of Bathinda. But till now he has not brought a single project to Bathinda", she said and added that Manpreet should stop focusing on red light removals alone and speak out about what he was doing for Bathinda and what he would do to keep the technical university in the area. She said Manpreet should also explain why Bathinda district was facing power cuts now and why interest on cooperative loans had been increased. "People are still waiting for fulfilment of poll promiseswhose goal post has been shifted to three months because the government has no game plan for their implementation", she added. Making it clear that the SAD would not sit idle in the face of any discrimination against Bathinda, Ms Badal said "we will start a people's movement against this move. Parents will ask Congresslegislators of the area as to why they are denying their children a chance at acquiring quality technical education and a chance at success in life. I will also take up this issue at all levels to ensure the character of MRSTU is not changed under any circumstances", she added. UNI DB SB 2000 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1230211.Xml
Announcing that all the BPL households would get free power connections and the entire state would be covered with smart electric meters, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today announced that the state would get 24x7 electricity by November 2018. "People will have to pay for the services but the government will provide free power connections to the BPL families in urban and rural areas. Besides, every household will be covered with smart meters so that there are no irregularities in the consumption of power," he said. "I know the people of UP are honest in paying their power bills and they do not support illegal power connection or support other irregularities," he added. Claiming that this BJP government has done what no other government had even thought of by taking different decisions within a month which was pending for the past three to five years, Yogi disclosed that the previous Samajwadi Party government lacked leadership." We have done everything with the same officials of the previous government," he said. He also said that when the Centre was moving fast, UP too will have to run fast to cover up the delay made by the previous government. The CM was speaking after the UP government signed the much awaited agreement with the Union Power ministry on ' Power for All' scheme besides signing four other agreements with EECL to provide cheaper LED bulbs and tube-lights, power efficient fans and 10,000 solar pump sets. Union minister of state for power Piyush Goel, along with UP power minister Shrikant Sharma and his deputy Swantradeo Singh and deputy CM Dinesh Sharma were present during the signing of the agreement at the CM's residence this evening. Yogi said from today, the 126 birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, the UP government will provide 24 hours power to the district headquarters, 20 hours to the tehsil headquarters and 18 hours power in the rural areas. He said pending dues of the defaulters would be accepted in installments while surcharge on the dues have been waived off by the government. Besides the power, the government today launched the digital e-payment of electricity bills, introduction of toll free number 1912 and distribution of subsidised LED bulbs , tubelights and fans. The CM also dedicated to the state around 25 power sub-stations to streamline the transmission and distribution network in the state. " The day to launch these scheme is a dedication to Dr Ambedkar who had a dream that all the villages were connected with electricity and Dalits to get educated so that they can compete with others," he said. Lambasting the previous government for doing nothing for the state, the CM said yesterday 150 ambulances were flagged off for which the Centre had given money in 2014 while there are several schemes which were blocked by them. He said all the street lights in the state would be LED and the scheme has been started with Allahabad when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited there on April 2 during the Allahabad High court programme. He said that BHIM app. launched by the PM today will be a great help for the power consumers in UP as they can now pay their bills through that app besides there are 60,000 centres in the state through which they can pay their bills. MORE UNI MB SB 2020 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1230205.Xml
Holidays in schools can be curtailed as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today suggested that schools should remain open during birth and death anniversaries of great personalities of India, so that children could learn about the sacrifices of these leaders. Suggestion came when the CM was addressing a function at Ambedkar Mahasabha here on the occasion of the 126th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar. "Educational institutions should not close during birth and death anniversary of great personalities. Instead, teachers should educate children about these personalities and the great work they have done for nation building," Mr Yogi said. The CM was, however, mum on holidays in government offices. Uttar Pradesh is notorious for having public holidays in government institutions, including schools. Governments offices and educational institutions remain closed for over 100 days. These holidays include 48 gazetted holidays which comprise birth anniversary of 23 great personalities including Guru Govind Singh, Karpoori Thakur, Maharishi Kashyap, Chetti Chand, Lord Mahavir, Md Hazrat Ali and Mahatama Gandhi.Government schools remain closed for over 60 days in winter and summer vacations while government officers get 17 restricted holidays. He said, "It is high time that students should know about great personalities. The Government will bring a new amendment by which schools should not be closed on the birth and death anniversaries of great personalities but their anniversary should be celebrated in schools." He said his government believes in equality. Dalit students will get scholarships in higher and technical education. There will not be any disparity in extending scholarships to students. Meritorious students should get exposure as well as those who are deprived of basic necessities of life should get all these facilities," he said. "The Constitution, drafted by Dr Ambedkar, has helped in bringing poor and deprived in the main stream. The country is indebted to Dr Ambedkar for giving voice to all citizens of the country through Constitution," he said adding that Constitution means we should follow its principles in letter and in spirit. In Ambedkar Mahasabha, he garlanded the statue of Dr Ambedkar. Governor Ram Naik was also present in the function. Later in the day the CM launched BHIM App to promote digital transaction during a DigiDhan Mela. "This BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) will help in controlling black money. Digital transaction is the nest mode to control corruption. If country wants to progress economic corruption should end and in this BHIM can play a stellar role," he said. "The BJP Government in Uttar Pradesh is committed to end corruption and bring transparency in its working. The beginning has been made. We have ordered e-tendering in all departments particularly in development authorities," he said.UNI MB PY 2006 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1230263.Xml
Rejecting as 'inconclusive' the report of the Zora Commission, the Punjab government today constituted a fresh Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice (Retd) Ranjit Singh, to investigate all cases of sacrilege in the state. The government, through a notification issued by the Department of Home Affairs and Justice, has included all sacrilege incidents, including those involving the Srimad Bhagwad Gita and the Holy Quran Sharif besides Sri Guru Granth Sahib, in the ambit of the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission's terms of reference. The new Commission, set up under Section 11 of the Commission of Inquiry Act 1952, has a tenure of six months. The Commission, headed by the former judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court, will conduct an inquiry into the cases of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Srimad Bhagwad Gita and Holy Quran Sharif. It will also inquire into the detailed facts and circumstances and chronology of events of what actually happened and to identify as a matter of fact the role played by various persons into what happened in the various incidents of sacrilege in Faridkot and other places in the state. Giving details of the notification, an official spokesperson said the Commission will enquire into the truth of what occurred in such incidents and factual role of the persons who may have been involved. The Commission has also been tasked to enquire into the firing in Kotkapura on October 14, 2015 and village Behbalkalan, District Faridkot, in which two persons died. As per its terms of reference, the Commission will identify and inquire into the role of the Police officers/officials in incomplete/ inconclusive investigations into the earlier incidents of sacrileges so far. The notification follows the state government's conclusion, after taking into careful consideration various factors including the Punjab Advocate General's advice, that the Justice Zora Singh Commission, set up by the previous government, "has not answered the very substance of the reference i.e. an inquiry into the incident of sacrilege and the role of the police force." In his advice, the Punjab Advocate General had also observed that the Commission did not complete the fundamental limb of the inquiry i.e. the truth of what occurred in such incidents and the factual role of the persons who may have been involved. "The findings in the Commission are broad on such aspects and it has not named or identified precisely the role of the persons involved. Also certain aspects and issues entrusted to it remain unanswered and are not dealt with in depth to enable the Government to reach definitive conclusions," the Advocate General had concluded.Noting that there had been further incidents of sacrilege even after the establishment of the Zora Commission, the Punjab government felt that the "matter is of utmost public concern and importance, requiring a proper and comprehensive inquiry."UNI DB PY 2019 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1230249.Xml
More than 26.82 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has arrived in the Haryana mandis so far. Five government procuring agencies have purchased 26.81 lakh metric tonnes and traders have purchased more than 536 metric tonnes of wheat at Minimum Support Price, a Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department spokesman said here today. He said the procurement process was running smoothly in the mandis. Giving details of the wheat procured by government agencies, he said that more than 6.70 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has been procured by Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, whereas Haryana state Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (HAFED) has purchased more than 8.79 lakh metric tonnes of wheat. He said Food Corporation (FCI) has purchased more than 3.25 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, Haryana Agro Industries Corporation have purchased more than 2.29 lakh metric tonnes and more than 5.77 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has been procured by Haryana Warehousing Corporation. The spokesman said that district Kaithal was leading in wheat arrival where more than 3.60 lakh metric tonnes of the crop had been procured followed by district Karnal, which recorded more than 3.43 lakh metric tonnes of wheat arrival. Similarly, more than 2.74 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have been arrived in Jind, more than 2.29 lakh metric tonnes in Palwal, more than 2.10 lakh metric tonnes in Sonepat, over 2.02 lakh metric tonnes in Kurukshetra, more than 1.45 lakh metric tonnes in Panipat, over 1.29 lakh metric tonnes in Fatehabad and over 1.11 lakh metric tonnes in Ambala. He said 91,771 metric tonnes of wheat had arrived in Hisar, 69,584 metric tonnes in Faridabad, 64,212 metric tonnes in Rohtak, 56,437 metric tonnes in Bhiwani, 52,748 metric tonnes in Mewat, 48,208 metric tonnes in Yamunanagar, 44,150 metric tonnes in Jhajjar, 39,157 metric tonnes in Gurugram, 13,922 metric tonnes in Narnaul and 11,568 metric tonnes in Panchkula.UNI DB PY 2022 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1230284.Xml
Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shivpal Yadav in a surprise move met BJP president Amit Shah in Delhi today. However, Mr Yadav refused to speak to media about the meeting saying no such meeting took place and it was only the figment of imagination of the media. The SP sources, however, told that Mr Yadav was camping in Delhi since Tuesday to meet Mr Shah. After meeting the BJP president, he returned to Lucknow yesterday. Earlier on April 5, Mr Yadav had met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath along with his son Aditya Yadav. The meeting of Shivpal Yadav has triggered speculations that he is attempting to join the BJP as he has been marginalised in the SP by his nephew Akhilesh Yadav and he sees no future for himself in the party. Sources, however said Shivpal Yadav, through his meetings with Mr Adityanath and Mr Shah, is mounting pressure on Akhilesh Yadav to initiate the unity efforts in the party and end the discord within the first family of the party. A Rajya Sabha MP of the SP said this kind of deadlock at the very top of the party cannot be allowed to continue for an indefinite period as it has already taken a heavy toll in the form of the worst ever poll debacle of the party in recent state assembly elections. The feud in the first family of the party came to the fore in September 2016 and continues unabated. "Instead of drawing the lessons from the poll debacle with both the factions trying to paint each other as the villain rather then thinking of the challenged ahead. We have to face the election of the urban local bodies and the by election to two assembly and two Lok Sabha seats in coming months and the party seems to be clueless," said the RS MP. ''The open offer given by Mayawati for alliance with any party for the future political battle will also add to the pressure on Akhilesh Yadav to respond the live up to the expectations of his supporters. Before responding to Bahujan Samaj party offer Akhilesh Yadav will have to restore order in his party and end the dispute'', said the SP leader. The SP leaders, however, expect little from both the factions as both seems to be adamant to fight till the end. The battle of supremacy within the SP has reached an interesting stage where both uncle Shivpal Yadav and nephew Akhilesh Yadav are waiting for other to strike first. Shivpal wants to desert the party and Akhilesh wants to throw him out of the party. Shivpal is in the process of forming new party and Akhilesh is waiting for that day. Yet both the factions have refrained so far from firing the salvo. The rift within the first family of the SP is growing with each passing day and the prospects of reconciliation are nil. UNI MB PY2159 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1230400.Xml
Speaking as Chief Guest at the Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Samman Samaroh conducted here by the city-based Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication on 'Responsibility of Media and Literature for Harmonious Society', he said, "Not only English but also Arabic and Persian words are being used in Hindi journalism."

Senior journalists U Upadhyay and VM Tiwari were awarded the Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Samman for 2014 and 2015 respectively, a release said.

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Chairman NK Sai said, "The Naxalism menace cannot be resolved on the basis of police action. Society's cooperation should be solicited."

Speaking on the occasion University Vice-Chancellor BK Kuthiala said, "Journalists should not become postmen of information but intellectual warriors."UNI AC PY SB 2245

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-1230420.Xml
U.S. President Donald Trump has called the MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) bombing over the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province as an another successful event, saying the country is proud of its army. "We are very very proud of our military. Gave military full authorisation. Another successful event," Trump said. White House press secretary Sean Spicer had earlier confirmed that the U.S. dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, also known as the "Mother of All Bombs" or "MOAB," over the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province 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 a press briefing on Thursday. Spicer added that they used all necessary precaution to avoid civilian causalities and collateral damage. Asserting that the United States takes the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) very seriously, Spicer said that U.S. has denied operational space to the terror group in order to defeat them. "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." he said. According to CNN, 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 ammunition 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 ammunition was developed during the Iraq War. (ANI)
Indian dhow 'Al-Kausar', which was hijacked off the island of Socotra by pirates, on Thursday, was released by the Somalian Authorities to the Indian Navy custody. 'Al-Kausar' was hijacked on April 1. The vessel was taken to the port of Hobyo, on the eastern coast of Somalia and 10 crew members were captured and held by pirates. The Indian Navy 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 remained standby for any other contingency operations. 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 April 11, and the other eight crew were freed on April 12. The 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. The Indian Navy formally accepted the dhow 'Al-Kausar' from the Mayor of Hobyo, Somalia at about 4 p.m. on April 13. The INS ship deployed for the operation took over the dhow and escorted it into international waters and onward towards its next destination. The ship further conducted a medical checkup for all the crew members and provided necessary supplies for the onward journey, prior resuming anti-piracy patrol operations. (ANI)
Asserting that the United States takes the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) very seriously, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that they have denied operational space to the terror group in order to defeat them. "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 in press briefing on Thursday. Spicer also confirmed that the U.S. dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, also known as the "Mother of All Bombs" or "MOAB," over the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province 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," he said. Spicer added that they used all necessary precaution to avoid civilian causalities and collateral damage. Earlier, CNN had 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 ammunition was developed during the Iraq War. Last week, a Green Beret of the U.S. armed forces was killed during a combat operation against ISIS State in Afghanistans Nangarhar Province. American forces in Afghanistan are primarily charged with advising and assisting Afghan security forces as part of NATOs Resolute Support mission, but the U.S. military also conducts counterterrorism combat operations against groups such as ISIS and al-Qaida under its unilateral Freedoms Sentinel operation. (ANI)
Members of a family traveling to the beach for the Easter vacation were among those killed in the accident that took place on Thursday.

The Michoacan firefighters association has confirmed that 29 people were killed in the accident, local media reports said.

Thirty-eight people were in the bus when it collided with a fuel tanker truck carrying 40,000 liters of gasoline on the Siglo 21 freeway in Petacalco, Guerrero, near the Michoacan border. (ANI)
The pro-independence American Friends of Balochistan (AFB) organized a candlelight vigil for victims of Pakistan's crimes against humanity in Balochistan at the Dupont Circle in Washington D.C. last evening, and also called on the global community to stop Pakistan from executing Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav The protesters including Baloch, Indian, Afghans and various Jewish groups together condemned the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistani military court. Ahmar Mastikhan of the American Friends of Balochistan said, "I strongly condemn Pakistan military for giving death sentence in a military court. It is a violation of international law to try someone in a military court. Kulbhushan was arrested in Iran and transported to Pakistan. Now, they are saying that he was supporting the freedom of Balochistan." The AFB also said the irony of the day is that the "Butcher of Balochistan", General Pervez Musharraf, who started a brutal military operation against the Baloch people in 2005, will be in Washington DC to speak at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, just one block away from Dupont Circle. "Pakistan Generals, though in bed with China, regularly visit U.S. to seek funds for their rogue army that has put tears in the eyes of millions of Baloch people, Afghans and Indians," the AFB said. "Gen Musharraf, who ordered the assassination of Balochistan governor and chief minister Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, also launched the Kargil war against India in 1999, profusely bled Afghanistan by backing the Taliban and also hosted the No. 1 enemy of the US- Osama bin Laden," it added. The AFB further noted that the Pakistan army, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence and Frontier Corps are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Balochistan, violating more than two dozen items of the 30 items of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. "Thousands of Baloch patriots have been killed and dumped in recent years and upwards of 20,000 of them are either victims of enforced disappearances or have been buried in mass graves, simply for demanding freedom for their homeland," the AFB said, adding that Pakistan army's 'Hitler-style' brutalities have largely gone unnoticed in the world and the AFB vigil seeks to create awareness about them." The AFB, while calling upon Afghan Americans and Indian Americans to stand shoulder to shoulder with Baloch victims of crimes against humanity in Balochistan, pointed out that Balochistan was illegally annexed by Pakistan in March 1948, but Islamabad failed to crush the Baloch desire of freedom. The AFB said, "Pakistan in the past in its dealings with the US, which upholds the ideals of liberty, freedom and the right to pursuit of happiness, always hoodwinked Washington for dollars. "Islamabad's greed for USA funding is unmatched but on top of it, Pakistan army and Inter Services Intelligence protected Osama bin Laden, who attacked the financial and military nerve centers of America on the fatal day of 9/11, aiming to bring down the US on its knees. Little did they know, Americans were resilient enough to quickly come back." The AFB added, "Islamabad has tested and abused the niceties of US tax payers who gave billions of dollars to Pakistan, thinking, they would help them fight terror, but they kept the very enemy of USA, Osama bin Laden, in their own bedroom in Abbottabad." The AFB also called upon the Trump administration to cut off US military help to Pakistan. "How long will USA continue to serve these jackals, who don't care two hoots about the lives of freedom loving American and Baloch people-or for that matter Afghan and Indian lives--, but only care about the greenbacks." Afghan feminist Habiba Ashna and founder of Afghan Women in Dialogue, called upon Afghan Americans and all people who believe in justice and freedom for all to attend the vigil. "Balochistan with its high concentration of natural resources, including oil, coal, gold, copper and gas reserves, which generates substantial revenue for the Pakistan establishment -and the only deep-sea port at Gwadar, which is also being controlled by Pakistani establishment- is the poorest province where people lack basic necessities," Ashna said, adding that Pakistan army and ISI have been brutally targeting Baloch patriots demanding freedom, while protecting terrorists in Balochistan. "Any Baloch who stands up for their rights is targeted by the Pakistan Army and ISI. As humans, it is our duty to raise our voices and stand up for our Baloch brothers and sisters," the Afghan feminist urged. Nabi Baloch, a founding member of the AFB, recalled that the organization was launched in the US in fall 2006 in the backdrop of Pakistan army commandos' assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti on Musharraf's order. "Not a single Baloch is safe in Pakistan. Islamabad's state terror and crimes against humanity are most unconscionable and need to stop," he said. Nabi Baloch thanked the Afghan American and Indian American communities for standing in solidarity with the Baloch victims of Pakistan atrocities in Balochistan. (ANI)
The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously today to end its 13-year-long peacekeeping mission in Haiti and replace it with a smaller police, which would be drawn down after two years as the country boosts its own force.The peacekeeping mission, one of the longest running in the world and known as MINUSTAH, has been dogged by controversies, including the introduction of cholera to the island and sexual abuse claims.The 15-member Security Council acknowledged the completion of Haiti's presidential election, along with the inauguration of its new president, as a "major milestone towards stabilization" 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 on his way into the meeting."Peacekeepers do fantastic work but they are very expensive and they should be used only when needed," Rycroft said. "We strongly support the ending of this mission turning it into something else. And I think we'll see the same thing elsewhere."The shutdown of the 346 million dollars mission, recommended by UN chief Antonio Guterres, comes as the United States looks to cut its funding of UN peacekeeping. Washington is the largest contributor, paying 28.5 per cent of the total budget.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.Lucien Jura, a spokesman for Haitian President Jovenel Moise, paid tribute to the UN mission."The UN has held our hands to help us through very difficult steps, but we cannot indefinitely depend on them for the country's security and stability," he said.UN peacekeepers were deployed to Haiti in 2004 when a rebellion led to the ouster and exile of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It is the only U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Americas.Haiti suffered a two-year political crisis until the recent election and inauguration of Moise as president. 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 United Nations 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 due to cholera and Haiti's government believes the United Nations still has work to do on it."The UN promised to help eradicate the disease in the country and assist families who lost their loved ones. We expect the UN to fulfill its commitments," said Moise spokesman Jura. REUTERS PS 0436 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1229330.Xml
US Vice President Mike Pence will travel to South Korea on Sunday in what his aides said was a sign of the US commitment to its ally in the face of rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear program.Pence's Seoul stop kicks off a long-planned 10-day trip to Asia - his first as vice president - and comes amid concerns that Pyongyang could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test. President Donald Trump has warned against further provocations, sending an aircraft carrier group to the region as a show of force. His officials have been assessing tougher economic sanctions as well as military options to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions.Pence plans to celebrate Easter with U.S. and Korean troops on Sunday before talks on Monday with acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn."We're going to consult with the Republic of Korea on North Korea's efforts to advance its ballistic missile and its nuclear program," a White House foreign policy adviser told reporters, previewing Pence's trip.Pence will land in Seoul the day after North Korea's biggest national day, the "Day of the Sun." The White House has contingency plans for Pence's trip should it coincide with a another North Korean nuclear test by its leader Kim Jong Un, the adviser said."Unfortunately, it's not a new surprise for us. He continues to develop this program, he continues to launch missiles into the Sea of Japan," the adviser said."With the regime it's not a matter of if - it's when. We are well prepared to counter that," the adviser said.Pence expects to talk about the "belligerence" of North Korea at stops in Tokyo, Jakarta and Sydney, the White House adviser said.But the need for "free and fair trade" will also be a theme, the adviser said.Trump campaigned on an "America First" trade policy, complaining that trade partners in Asia and elsewhere had taken advantage of the United States.One of his first acts in office was to remove the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama."Withdrawing from the TPP shouldn't be seen as a retreat from the region. On the contrary, our economic presence in the region is enduring," the adviser said.On Tuesday, Pence will kick off economic talks with Japan requested by Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The discussions will focus more on setting a "framework" for future talks rather than on specific industry issues, a White House official said.Pence will meet with business leaders at each stop, including in Jakarta, though he was not expected to wade into the weedy details of disputes between the Indonesian government and US companies like mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Inc ."We're going to discuss the business environment in Indonesia in a general sense," a White House official said. REUTERS SDR PM0936 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1229375.Xml
In a development posing as a major embarrassment for U.S. President Donald Trump, his posh resort in Palm Beach, Florida, was slapped with 13 health violations at its last kitchen inspection in January. Three violations were categorized as "high priority" by Florida's Division of Hotels and Restaurants, in which two were related to keeping raw in coolers that were set above the mandated maximum temperature of 41 degrees, reports CNN. State sanitation and safety laws define high-priority violations as "those which could contribute directly to a foodborne illness or injury and include items such as cooking, reheating, cooling and hand-washing." Another violation was for serving undercooked seafood that "not undergone proper parasite destruction," the inspector's report said. The inspector ordered the fish to be "fully cooked or discarded." The inspector further said the temperature issue was resolved after the chef called a technician, who discovered the coolers' settings were mistakenly set to defrost. "We take food safety very seriously and 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," said a spokeswoman for the Mar-a-Lago Club in a statement sent to CNN. Since taking office as President, Trump has spent many weekends at the resort and has also played host to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for dinner there in February. (ANI)
The country's vice foreign minister, Han Song Ryol, was quoted by media, as saying that the Korean Peninsula is passing through a "vicious cycle".

Ryol was further quoted, as saying, that countries like the United States should not expect Pyongyang to not to respond if a a pre-emptive strike was launched on it.

He warned Washington to avoid what he called "reckless military maneuvers", adding that North Korea has the required powerful nuclear deterrent to counter such a move.

He said if a war was in the offing with the United States, North Korea is ready for such an eventuality.

Vice Foreign Minister Ryol's warning came a day after President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to North Korea not to engage in new provocations, such as a nuclear test.

"North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of," President Trump said shortly after the US military had fired a bomb on a tunnel and cave network of the ISIS in eastern Afghanistan, claiming the lives of about 36 terrorists.

Meanwhile, the United States has ordered the movement the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and other warships into waters off the Korean Peninsula and is conducting its biggest-ever joint military exercises with South Korea.

North Korea, on the hand, is reportedly preparing to go through with a sixth nuclear test.

North Korea's key ally China is on record, as saying that military action of any kind is not a solution or a deterrent to reduce existing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. (ANI with inputs)
The museum, set to open in 2019, will exhibit, through documents and photographs, different testimonies and cases of violation of basic human rights at the hands of the Kim Jong-un regime, Efe news reported.

Stories of various defectors' experiences before they left the insular state will comprise most of the documentation, a Unification Ministry spokesperson told Yonhap news agency.

The ministry, which is currently deciding on whether to directly manage the museum or indirectly through a foundation, launched the project following the passing of a related law in September 2016.

The law established the creation of a South Korean government agency to investigate and document the human rights situation in North Korea.

A report, published in 2014 by the UN Commission of Inquiry, conducted an in-depth analysis that reveals the systematic violations of human rights in North Korea.

The document exposes possible crimes against humanity such as extermination, murder, slavery, disappearances, summary executions, torture, sexual violence, forced abortions, deprivation of food, forced displacement of people, as well as political-, religious- and gender-motivated persecutions.

The report is based on the testimonies of 240 people, including 80 survivors of the labour camps known as "kwanliso".

--IANS ksk/dg

( 239 Words)

2017-04-14-14:48:08 (IANS)
In his first major public appearance since taking the top intelligence post in President Donald Trump's administration, Pompeo on Thursday took aim at WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked confidential information about NSA surveillance to news outlets before seeking refuge in Russia, The Hill magazine reported.

"It's time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is: A non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia," he said.

Pompeo said disclosures by Assange and Snowden have done "great harm to our nation's national security and they will continue to do so in the long term", adding that the revelations have hurt the US's relations with foreign partners.

The Trump administration has been publicly critical of WikiLeaks since inauguration, even though the President staunchly backed them as a candidate, reports the magazine.

WikiLeaks targeted Trump's opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, throughout the presidential campaign, publishing hacked emails from her campaign chairman and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) that led to damaging leaks.

Trump declared on the campaign trail, "I love WikiLeaks".

On Thursday, Pompeo cited the intelligence community's January report concluding that the GRU, Russia's foreign military intelligence unit, used WikiLeaks to release hacked emails from the DNC to influence the presidential election.

Pompeo called Assange "a fraud, a coward hiding behind a screen", skewering him for exposing information about democratic governments rather than authoritarian regimes.

Last month, WikiLeaks published purported CIA hacking tools in a series of releases called "Vault 7".

Experts have largely described the content of the releases as unsurprising, noting that WikiLeaks has exaggerated what they reveal. But the releases have nevertheless inflamed the debate over government surveillance.

Pompeo did not comment on specifically on those releases on Thursday, but underscored the CIA's job as a foreign intelligence agency, not an organisation that targets Americans.

"We are not tapping anyone's phone in my home town of Wichita," The Hill magazine quoted Pompeo as saying.

He also accused Snowden of committing "treason" by leaking top-secret NSA files, adding that his disclosures have made it more difficult for US intelligence agencies to track terrorists and given them tools to hide in "digital forests".

"He was no whistleblower," Pompeo added.

--IANS ksk/dg

( 402 Words)

2017-04-14-14:56:06 (IANS)
Pakistan has asked India to refrain from issuing statements that could aggravate hostility between the two sides post the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav. In a press briefing on Friday, Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said there is need to arrest growing crisis in Pakistan-India relations before it becomes serious. Aziz claimed that due process was followed in the trials that led to awarding death sentence to Jadhav for espionage and subversive activities in Pakistan. He said that Jadhav was tried under the law of the land in a fairly transparent manner and awarded punishment on the basis of credible and specific evidence of his involvement in financing terrorism and carrying out subversive activities in Pakistan. Putting the ball in India's court, he also claimed that the Letter of Assistance requesting specific information and access to certain key witnesses was shared with New Delhi earlier in January this year. "Inflammatory statements and rhetoric about 'pre-meditated murder' and 'unrest in Balochistan' will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose," Radio Pakistan quoted Aziz as saying. The Advisor said that a number of steps were taken during Jadhav's trial to ensure transparent under Pakistani law and Pakistan Army Act. "His confessional statement was recorded before a magistrate; a qualified officer was provided to defend him throughout proceedings; all statements of witnesses were recorded under oath in the presence of accused and Jadhav was allowed to ask questions from witnesses," he added. About options available to Jadhav, he said the convict has right of appeal within forty days to an appellate court and he may lodge a mercy petition to the Army Chief within sixty days of the decision by the appellate court. Aziz added that the convict may lodge a mercy petition to the President of Pakistan within 90 days after the Chief of Army Staff's decision on the mercy petition. (ANI)
Buses evacuated thousands of people from two rebel-besieged Shi'ite villages in northwest Syria today and rebels began to leave two towns near Damascus with their families, under a deal between the government and insurgents.Similar agreements have been reached in recent months, with Syrian rebels leaving areas long-besieged by President Bashar al-Assad's forces, sometimes in exchange for Shi'ite Muslim residents moving from the villages surrounded by the mostly Sunni insurgents.After six years of fighting a civil war, Damascus has gained the upper hand against rebels in the west of the country, and been able to negotiate the deals from a position of strength thanks to Russia's intervention since 2015 and increased support from Shi'ite allies Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah.The opposition says the deals amount to forced demographic change and deliberate displacement of Assad's enemies away from the main cities of western Syria.The government says the deals allow them to take back control and to restore services in the wrecked towns.Early today, residents of the mostly Shi'ite villages of al-Foua and Kefraya, besieged by rebel forces in the insurgents' northwestern Idlib province stronghold, left on dozens of buses, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.The buses arrived several hours later on the outskirts of government-held Aleppo city in northern Syria, the Observatory said.Meanwhile, buses carrying rebel fighters and their families left the government-besieged town of Madaya near Damascus and close to the Lebanese border, the Observatory and a pro-Damascus military media unit reported.The evacuation of nearby Zabadani, another town surrounded by government forces and their allies and included in the deal, appeared to have been delayed. No buses had yet left the town, but that evacuation was expected to begin later on Friday.The convoys from Madaya and Zabadani are to head for Idlib.A member of one of the Shi'ite parties said 60 buses were moving through the town of al-Foua.A similar number of buses were leaving Madaya, the Observatory said. State television reported that engineering teams and Syrian forces would soon enter the town.DAMASCUS HOLDS UPPER HANDAbout 5,000 people were being transported from the Shi'ite villages, and more than 2,000 from Madaya. The convoys include hundreds of fighters from each side, the Observatory said.Syria's population is mostly Sunni Muslim. Assad is from the Alawite religious minority, often considered an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam.Assad's forces and their allies have fought rebels for six years in the conflict that grew from a popular uprising in 2011.Russia's intervention around 18 months ago has helped him gain the upper hand militarily, despite diplomatic pressure and support for the rebels by Western and Gulf Arab states. Rebels and Islamist factions have fought back and achieved recent advances in some areas.The United States escalated its involvement in the conflict last week, striking an air base in Washington's first deliberate direct attack on Syrian government forces.Assad achieved his most significant victory to date in December, driving rebels out of long-divided Aleppo.An evacuation deal for rebel fighters from Aleppo also involved insurgents allowing people to leave al-Foua and Kefraya. REUTERS SHS BL1655 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1229871.Xml
Uzbekistan's security services warned a western ally before last week's deadly truck attack in Stockholm that the suspected perpetrator was an Islamic State recruit, Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said today.Kamilov told reporters that Rakhmat Akilov had been recruited by the jihadist group after he left the Central Asian nation in 2014 and settled in Sweden."According to the information that we have, he actively urged his compatriots to travel to Syria in order to fight at Islamic State's side," Kamilov said, adding that Akilov had used online messaging services."Earlier (before the attack), information on Akilov's criminal actions had been passed by security services to one of our Western partners so that the Swedish side could be informed."Kamilov did not identify the intermediary country or organisation.A spokesman for Sweden's security police declined to comment on Kamilov's statement. The police said last week they had intelligence on Akilov in 2016 that they could not verify.An Uzbek security source said on Wednesday that Akilov had tried to travel to Syria in 2015 to join IS but was detained at the Turkish-Syrian border and deported back to Sweden.The source added that Uzbekistan authorities had in February put him on a wanted list of people suspected of religious extremism. REUTERS SHS PR1755 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1229889.Xml
The top US military commander in Afghanistan said today the decision to deploy one of the largest conventional bombs ever unleashed in combat, was a purely tactical decision made as part of the campaign against Islamic State-linked fighters.As many as 36 suspected Islamic State militants were killed in the strike yesterday evening, Afghan defence officials said, adding there were no civilian casualties.The strike came as US President Donald Trump dispatches his first high-level delegation to Kabul, amid uncertainty about his plans for the nearly 9,000 American troops stationed in Afghanistan.Nicknamed "the mother of all bombs," the weapon was dropped from an MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of the eastern province of Nangarhar bordering Pakistan.Nicholson said he was in constant communication with officials in Washington, but the decision to use the 9,797-kg GBU-43 bomb was based on his assessment of military needs and not broader political considerations."This was the first time that we encountered an extensive obstacle to our progress," he said of a joint Afghan-US operation that has been targeting Islamic State since March."It was the right time to use it tactically against the right target on the battlefield."Afghan and US forces were at the scene of the strike and reported that the "weapon achieved its intended purpose,", Nicholson said.Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said no civilians were harmed in the massive blast that targeted a network of caves and tunnels that had been heavily mined."No civilian has been hurt and only the base, which Daesh used to launch attacks in other parts of the province, was destroyed," Waziri said in a statement.He was using an Arabic term that refers to Islamic State, which has established a small stronghold in eastern Afghanistan and launched deadly attacks on the capital, Kabul.The GBU-43 is a GPS-guided munition that had never before been used in combat since its first test in 2003, when it produced a mushroom cloud visible from 32 km away.The bomb's destructive power, equivalent to 11 tonnes of TNT, pales in comparison with the relatively small atomic bombs dropped on Japan at the end of World War Two, which had blasts equivalent to between 15,000 and 20,000 tonnes of TNT.At a village about 5 km from the remote, mountainous area where the bomb was dropped, witnesses said the ground shook, but homes and shops appeared unaffected."Last night's bomb was really huge, when it dropped, everywhere, it was shaking," said a resident, Palstar Khan, adding that he believed no civilians were in the area hit.He praised the strike, saying killing Islamic State fighters was a "positive move."Other residents said they saw militants climbing up and down the mountain every day, making occasional visits to the village."They were Arabs, Pakistanis, Chinese and local insurgents coming to buy from shops in the bazaar," said resident Raz Mohammad.'TESTING GROUND'Today, the village was swarming with Afghan and international troops, as helicopters and other aircraft flew overhead.Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's office said in a statement the attack was a part of a joint operation by Afghan and international troops."Afghan and foreign troops closely coordinated this operation and were extra cautious to avoid any civilian casualties," it said.But former president Hamid Karzai condemned the use of the weapon 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 social media network Twitter.The Taliban also denounced 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 Islamic State in Afghanistan, said in a statement.American officials said the bomb had been positioned for possible use in Afghanistan for "some time" since the administration of former president Barack Obama.The United States has steadily intensified its air campaign against Islamic State and Taliban militants in Afghanistan, with the Air Force deploying nearly 500 weapons in the first three months of 2017, up from 300 in the corresponding 2016 period.Thursday's strike was not the first time Islamic State fighters have been targeted by heavy American bombardment in Nangarhar, where a US special forces soldier was killed battling militants a week ago.Last year, B-52 bombers operating out of Qatar flew at least two missions in Afghanistan for the first time since 2006.Such aircraft can carry as much as 32,000 kg of bombs, missiles, or other weapons on each mission.In March, US forces conducted 79 "counterterror strikes" against Islamic State in Nangarhar, killing as many as 200 militants, according to the US military command in Kabul.US military officials estimate there are about 600 to 800 Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar, but also in the neighbouring province of Kunar.The United Nations has raised concerns that the American air campaign is swelling civilian casualties in Afghanistan.Last year, air strikes by international forces caused at least 127 civilian deaths and 108 injuries, up from 103 deaths and 67 injuries in 2015, the United Nations said.REUTERS SHS PR1747 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1229967.Xml
Describing Pakistan and China as 'iron brothers', Sharif said the relation between two nations have achieved a higher level of all -weather cooperative strategic partnership, reports Radio Pakistan.

He said China's progress in last three decades has been a model for other developing countries.

The Prime Minister's remarks come days after his government approved three new three new road infrastructure projects of the CPEC.

Built at a cost of USD one billion, CPEC's aim is to complete the missing links to connect the Gwadar port with China's Kashgar city.

CPEC is a collection of infrastructure projects currently under construction throughout Pakistan. Originally valued at $46 billion, the value of CPEC projects is now worth USD 62 billion (ANI)
Before travelling to Moscow for talks with his Russian and Syrian counterparts, Zarif criticised Washington's unilateral move and reiterated his call for an impartial international investigation into the attack, Efe news reported.

Washington's bombing of the Syrian Shayrat Airbase on April 6 came in retaliation for the chemical attack allegedly launched by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against Idlib province's town of Khan Sheikhoun.

Iran, Russia and Syria deny that the authorities in Damascus were behind the attack, in which more than 80 people were killed and hundreds injured.

The head of Iranian diplomacy has in recent days talked to many of his counterparts in a bid to persuade them of the need to open an impartial investigation.

Later on Friday, Zarif is set to meet with his Russian and Syrian counterparts, Sergey Lavrov and Walid al-Muallem, with whom he will also hold bilateral meetings.

The central issue of the talks will be discussing measures to prevent the undermining of political settlement efforts in Syria in the context of the US strike, the Russian foreign ministry said.

--IANS vgu/dg

( 208 Words)

2017-04-14-18:54:07 (IANS)
Pakistan today toughened its stand on the issue of death sentence to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, saying that inflammatory statements and rhetoric about ''pre-meditated murder'' and ''unrest in Balochistan'', will only result in escalation and hostilities. ''More active diplomacy is therefore needed to arrest the growing crises in India-Pakistan relations before it becomes even more serious,'' Mr Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said. His remarks came after Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale today met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua to demand consular access and copy of the death verdict to Jadhav, who has been charged with espionage and subversion in Balochistan. Mr Aziz said India should explain why Jadhav was possessing two passports, one with a Muslim identity. ''Kulbushan Jadhav was tried under the law of the land in a fully transparent manner. His sentence is based on credible, specific evidence proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan,'' he said addressing a press conference here. He rather accused India of ''non-cooperation and lack of response to Pakistan's request for legal assistance, due to which consular access has not been provided to Mr Jadhav.'' India had also not allowed consular access to many Pakistani prisoners for many years despite repeated requests, he added. He said Letter of Assistance requesting specific information and access to certain key witnesses was shared with the Government of India on 23 January, 2017, but there has been no response from the Indian side so far. ''Mr Jadhav confessed before a Magistrate and the Court that he was tasked by the Indian Intelligence Agency, RAW, to plan, coordinate and organise espionage and sabotage activities aimed at destabilising and waging war against Pakistan,'' he said. Mr Aziz said Jadhav has the following options available: He had the right to appeal within 40 days to an Appellate Court.He may lodge a mercy petition to the COAS within 60 days of the decision by the Appellate Court.He may lodge a mercy petition to the President of Pakistan within 90 days after the decision of COAS on the mercy petition. UNI XC NAZ RSA SNU 1946 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1230192.Xml
The Urdu language edition of the book on Chinese President titled "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" was launched in Islamabad on Friday in a ceremony attended by Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Around 300 Pakistani and Chinese officials, academicians and researchers participated in the ceremony along with Jiang Jianguo, vice head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, reports Xinhua news agency. Speaking at the occasion, Sharif said the rich content of the book is both "enlightening and inspiring" and Chinese President Xi Jinping shares his experiences and thoughts with wisdom, empathy and kindness. "What has touched me most is that this book is not just about high politics, but also about moving stories of common people, their lives and inspirations about hard work and family values. In our times, the peaceful development of China has stimulated peaceful rise of the entire world," said Sharif. He added that "this book is as much about our contemporary world as it is about China. This book is as much about Chinese dream as it is about the global dream to have peaceful, harmonious and connected world." For his part, Jiang said Pakistan is China's good friend, good neighbor, good brother and the prioritized partner of the Belt and Road Initiative, adding that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project of the initiative and has created more than 10,000 jobs for the locals in Pakistan. "We fully believe that after our joint cooperation and coordination, a more prosperous and better Pakistan will be presented in front of the world," said Jiang. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong said the English version of Xi's book launched here in 2014 was warmly welcomed in the Pakistani society and the Urdu version will facilitate more Pakistani readers to understand Xi's philosophy of governance, adding that the completion of the Urdu version becomes a new symbol of friendly cooperation between China and Pakistan in the new era. The book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" contains 79 speeches, talks, interviews, notes and letters of the Chinese leader between November 2012 and June 2014. Till date, it has been translated into 16 languages and has a distribution of over 6.2 million copies around the world. (ANI)
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi discussed Syrian crisis and the situation on the Korean peninsula in a phone call today, Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.The two ministers also discussed the schedule of bilateral contacts, the ministry said. REUTERS PY AN2051 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1230365.Xml
The Kerala Police, which had sought the Interpol's help to issue a red corner notice for Alexandro Mariano, got information from Kenya that he has been arrested.

A team of Kerala Police officers will now leave for Kenya to bring Mariano to the state capital.

Last August, a gang of six Romanians tampered an ATM of the State Bank of India, using duplicate ATM cards and withdrew Rs 2.50 lakh.

Soon after the theft came to light, police arrested two Romanians and was on the lookout for the rest of the gang, who were all identified from their passports, which they had submitted while checking into a hotel in Thiruvananthapuram.

--IANS sg/vgu/vm

( 154 Words)

2017-04-14-21:38:07 (IANS)
A British woman was stabbed to death by a Palestinian man on a tram in Jerusalem on Friday. She has been named as 21-year-old University of Birmingham student Hannah Bladon. Bladon was stabbed several times in the chest while she travelled on a tram in Tzahal Square and died in hospital. A 57-year-old Palestinian man was detained at the scene, BBC reported. She commenced her studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in January 2017 as part of a student exchange programme. She was expected to complete the programme in September. The Hebrew University offered its condolences to Bladon's family, saying in an official statement that "the university condemns such acts of terror and murder that hurt innocents who have come to Jerusalem to enrich their knowledge." Bladon had been taking classes in bible studies, archaeology and Hebrew at the Rothberg International School, part of The Hebrew University. The school said: "Her friends described her as an inquisitive and adventurous student who made the most of her opportunity to learn and experience life in Israel." According to police spokeswoman Luba Samri, the attacker, who holds an Israeli ID, was released from a psychiatric hospital in northern Israel shortly before the incident. He was on his way home in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Ras al-Amud in East Jerusalem. An off-duty policeman travelling on the tram is believed to have pulled an emergency brake and then overpowered the attacker with the help of another passenger. However, a statement released by Israel Security Agency Shin Bet called the suspect a "terrorist," saying he might have carried out the attack in an attempt to get killed by the police. "He recently tried to commit suicide, in a hospital in northern Israel, by swallowing a razor blade," Xinhua news agency quoted the agency as saying in the statement. "In 2011, he was convicted of sexually abusing his daughter," it added. A man and a pregnant woman, who apparently sustained injuries when the rail went into an emergency brake, also needed hospital care, according to a spokesman for the MDA, an Israeli emergency medical service company. The rail service in the city was temporarily halted, said a statement by Citipass, the company that operates the rail. Israel's President Reuven Rivlin said he was "filled with sadness about the attack" and that his thoughts and prayers were with the family of the victim. The attack came amid the Jewish holiday of Passover. The police in the city have been on high alert as tens of thousands of Jews arrive for prayers in the Western Wall inside East Jerusalem's Old City, and some even go to visit the flashpoint al-Aqsa compound, a hilltop site above the Western Wall regarded as sacred by both Muslims and Jews. The incident also came amid a spate of violence that broke out in September 2015. Since the beginning of the unrest, Palestinians have killed 41 Israelis and two US nationals, while Israeli forces and civilians killed at least 241 Palestinians, a Jordanian and two African asylum seekers, most of them alleged attackers, according to Israel. --IANS lok/ ( 526 Words) 2017-04-15-01:42:08 (IANS)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 01:43:43|Editor: yan

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LAGOS, April 13 (Xinhua) -- At least two soldiers were killed in a shootout with suspected sea pirates in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, a military spokesperson said Thursday.

Abubakar Abdulahi, Spokesman of the Joint Military Force deployed to protect oil facilities in the Niger Delta, told reporters that the incident occurred on Wednesday.

He said the soldiers were part of a team dispatched in response to a distress call on an attack by pirates operating in southern Ijaw area of the state.

Three members of the team also sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving medical attention, Abdulahi added.

He added that efforts were on to bring the perpetrators to book.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 01:43:43|Editor: yan

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PARIS, April 13 (Xinhua) -- In La Garenne city in Paris' northern suburbs, Julie -- a jobless young woman -- was looking at presidential candidate posters.

"I'm looking to all these faces hoping they will tell me something to help making my decision. But I find nothing," she said joking.

To the 26-year-old mother of two children, the presidential campaign is a "total blur." Initially, she had chosen independent contender Emmanuel Macron. As the election neared, she became more hesitant.

"I thought Macron could bring solutions to jobless youth and improve the country's economy given his program. But, his inexperience as an elected official makes me wonder if he should rule our country for five years," she told Xinhua.

Julie is one of millions of French voters who could abstain in this year's presidential contest scheduled for April 23 and May 7.

A recent Odoxa poll showed three quarters of French voters were certain to vote. However, nearly half of them were yet to make their final choice of which candidate to support following an unpredictable campaign.

Jean Horlamus, a caretaker, is a supporter of veteran right politician Alain Juppe who lost the conservative primary to Francois Fillon in November 2016.

"Juppe embodies experience and unity. Unfortunately, he was beaten by Fillon who has made rightists voters in disarray following the fraud scandal," he said.

"I cannot trust Fillon and I cannot find myself agreeing with other candidates' programs. Maybe, I'll choose at the last minute, maybe I won't vote," he added.

Unlike the 2012 presidential election, which had been a clear two-horse race between the conservative incumbent president Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist challenger Francois Hollande, the 2017 competition for the Elysee Palace remains difficult to predict.

Outgoing president Hollande decided not to seek a second term. Additionally, fraud scandals have tainted far-rightist Marine Le Pen's bid and engulfed that of Fillon.

Recent surveys showed a spectacular surge in popularity of far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon. However, he was seen at third place behind the two front-runners Le Pen and Macron.

Opinion polls predicted for months that Le Pen would win the first round with Macron taking second place, sending the duo to a May 7 run-off where he would comfortably beat her.

Bernard, a 47-year-old worker at a private chemical products company, is a traditional Socialist voter. He said: "Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon has not enough credentials to win. So, I think that Macron is the best and deserves my vote to echo Socialists' interests," he said.

Ten days ahead election's first round, 45.7 million voters were registered to cast their ballots on April 23. Pollsters expect a record high abstention rate at 35 percent

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Thomas Guenole, political scientist and professor at Sciences Po University, said: "The election is quite unpredictable because voters have become too unstable in their voting behavior. They decide much later. They hesitate much longer, and they have much less reluctance to vote for an unusual party."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 01:48:46|Editor: yan

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LAGOS, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria has engaged local and international intermediaries in reaching out to Boko Haram for the release of the Chibok schoolgirls in captivity, President Muhammadu Buhari said Thursday.

The administration was willing to bend over backwards to make the abductors of the girls release them, the Nigerian leader said in a message to mark the coming 3rd anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls on April 14.

He said the government would do everything to secure the freedom of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls in captivity of Boko Haram.

"I wish to reassure the parents of the Chibok girls, all well-meaning Nigerians, organizations and the international community that as a government, we are unrelenting on the issue of the safe return of our children," he said.

"I trust that soon, our collective efforts will be rewarded with the safe return of our schoolgirls to their families, friends and their communities," he added.

Buhari said 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 people.

He appealed to the parents and all Nigerians not to lose hope on the return of the remaining schoolgirls.

More than 200 schools girls were seized by armed men who stormed their dormitories on the night of April 14, 2014, at the Girls Secondary School in Chibok. Some had managed to escape while others remained unaccounted for.

On Oct. 13, 2016, 21 girls were freed following negotiations between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram, which claimed responsibility for the abduction.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 01:48:47|Editor: yan

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MOSCOW, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Justice Ministry said Thursday that it will appeal a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on compensation for survivors of a 2004 terrorist attack.

The ECHR ruled earlier in the day that Russia should pay a total of nearly three million euros (3.2 million U.S. dollars) to the plaintiffs, who accused Russian security forces of misconduct when delivering them from the terrorists.

"The European Court ruling has not become effective and will be appealed within the three-month deadline," the Russian Justice Ministry said in a statement.

In September 2004, more than 30 armed terrorists took over 1,100 people hostages for three days at a school in the city of Beslan in the Russian Republic of North Ossetia.

More than 330 people, including 180 children, lost their lives and over 750 people were injured in a raid by Russian security forces against the terrorists.

Representatives of 409 Russian citizens, who were the victims or relatives of the victims in the Beslan attack, filed a lawsuit to the ECHR, charging Russian security forces for using excessive force and failing to take sufficient steps to minimize civilian casualties.

The Russian Justice Ministry said the ECHR judges did not understand the gravity of the hostage crisis and the details and risks of the rescue operation.

The ministry claimed that no hostages were injured by weapons used by Russian security forces during the raid.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that the ECHR ruling is "absolutely unacceptable" and Russia will take all necessary legal actions in response.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 02:08:54|Editor: Tian Shaohui

African immigrants, whose boat sank off the Libyan coast, gather upon their rescue in Tripoli, capital of Libya, on April 13, 2017. 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. (Xinhua/Hamza Turkia)

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 04:09:31|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- NASA's Cassini spacecraft detected the presence of molecular hydrogen in water plumes erupting from Saturn's icy moon Enceladus, the U.S. space agency announced Thursday, suggesting that the distant world has almost all the conditions necessary for life.

"We detected hydrogen in the plume of Enceladus," Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said at a webcast news briefing. "This is a very significant finding because the hydrogen could be a potential source of chemical energy for any microbes that might be in the Enceladus ocean."

With this finding, "we now know Enceladus has almost all of the ingredients that you need to support life as we know it on Earth," Spilker said.

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.

Cassini has not yet shown phosphorus and sulfur are present in the ocean of Enceladus, but according to NASA, scientists suspect them to be, since its rocky core is thought to be chemically similar to meteorites that contain the two elements.

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 one percent is hydrogen and the rest is a mixture of other molecules including carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia.

The new findings, published in the U.S. journal Science, are an independent line of evidence that hydrothermal activity is taking place in the ocean of Enceladus, a small, icy moon a billion miles farther from the sun than Earth.

Previous results, published in March 2015, suggested hot water is interacting with rock beneath the sea, and the new findings support that conclusion and add that the rock appears to be reacting chemically to produce the hydrogen, NASA said.

In a related perspective, Jeffrey Seewald of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who was not involved in the study, described the findings as "an important advance in assessing the habitability of Enceladus."

"If correct, this observation has fundamental implications for the possibility of life on Enceladus," Seewald wrote. "Chemical disequilibrium that is known to support microbial life in Earth's deep oceans is also available to support life in the Enceladus ocean."

Also on Thursday, NASA researchers using the Hubble Space Telescope reported in The Astrophysical Journal Letters additional evidence of plumes erupting from Jupiter's moon Europa, indicating that the ocean-bearing world may be another ideal place to look for alien life.

"It's another great day of science," Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, told reporters. "With this research, we're making a big step forward towards answering the question: is there life out there?"
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 04:19:34|Editor: ZD

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Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic (3rd L) meets with Zhang Chunxian (2nd R), member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in Belgrade, Serbia, on April 12, 2017. (Xinhua/Predrag Milosavljevic)

BELGRADE, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic have met respectively with a delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) headed by Zhang Chunxian, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

During the separate meetings with the leaders on Wednesday, Zhang said the new consensus to deepen bilateral relations between China and Serbia was reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who made a successful visit to Serbia last year and President Nikolic, who paid a visit to China recently.

He said the two countries should fulfill the achievements through the Belt and Road Initiative and the "16+1" cooperation mechanism, so as to jointly build a community of common destiny and mutual benefit between the two countries.

Zhang said CPC is willing to deepen the exchange with political parties in Serbia, to further boost progress of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Serbia.

Zhang also introduced the new strategies and the new concepts of governance since the 18th National Congress of the CPC.

Nikolic said China is a great friend for Serbian people and an important partner in world stage for Serbia, strengthening the cooperation with China is the priority for Serbia's foreign policy.

Serbia will boost progress of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries under any circumstances, he added.

Prime Minister Vucic stressed that pragmatic cooperation between Serbia and China achieved great progress with substantial achievements in recent years.

Serbian Progressive Party is willing to deepen the cooperation with China within the Belt and Road Initiative and the "16+1" cooperation mechanism, so that the people from both countries can enjoy the concrete benefits, added Vucic, who's also the leader of the party.

Heading the CPC delegation, Zhang started his visit to Serbia on Tuesday at the invitation of the Serbian Progressive Party. During the visit, Zhang also met on Thursday with the leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia Ivica Dacic, who also serves as the country's foreign minister.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 04:24:35|Editor: Tian Shaohui

Lawyer Thomas Demetrio, who is representing David Dao, the passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight, speaks during a press conference in Chicago, Illinois, the United States, on April 13, 2017. The passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight on Sunday night may file a lawsuit against the company, his lawyer Tom Demetrio said at a press conference Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

CHICAGO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight on Sunday night may file a lawsuit against the company, his lawyer Tom Demetrio said at a press conference Thursday.

While answering questions from reporters, Tom Demetrio said the passenger, David Dao, 69 years old, has a serious concussion, a broken nose, injury to the sinuses, and lost two front teeth as a result of the incident, adding the passenger also has psychological injuries because the rudeness of the treatment by security officials.

The lawyer said they have taken the first legal steps toward filing a lawsuit.

During the same press conference, Dao's daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper told reporters that "what happened to my dad should not have happened to any human being, regardless of the circumstance."

"We were horrified, and shocked, and sickened to learn what had happened to him and to see what had happened to him. We hope that in the future, nothing like this happens again."

Pepper thanked the medical team and people from around the world for what she described as an "outpouring of prayers, love, and concern."

Video of the incident has gone viral on social media, with commentators accusing United Airlines of racism and having included several calls for a boycott.

The video shows three security officers from the Chicago Department of Aviation pulling the passenger David Dao out of his seat, and in the ensuing struggle, hitting his head on the armrest. The video then shows that Dao was dragged off the plane by the arms.

During a press conference on Thursday morning, the attorney told reporters that the City of Chicago bears responsibility as well.

"So were these three officers, these storm troopers, for a moment, doing the right thing? No, not at all," Demetrio said. "This was not a troubled passenger. This was not a nutjob. This was not a threat to anybody. Should he have been unceremoniously dragged out of that plane the way he was? He's a 69-year-old man. Is that really the way we went to treat the aged disembarking that plane?"

The viral reaction also extended to the markets as United Airlines stock dipped up nearly 4 percent during the morning session after the incident, and the Chief Executive Officer has publicly apologized in an interview with U.S. media.

"He was a paying passenger, sitting on our seat in our aircraft and no one should be treated that way period," Munoz said. United Airlines' stock has since recovered most of that loss.

Due to the concussion, Demetrio said that passenger David Dao has no recollection of the incident, and was released from the hospital on Tuesday night. According to the attorney, Dao will likely drive home to Louisville from Chicago, instead of taking a plane.
The aerial photo shows the Alexander Hamilton Bridge over the Harlem River in New York City, which recently underwent a full renovation. China Construction America Inc (CCA) is the company in charge of the renovation. (Xinhua/Courtesy of CCA)

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.
This illustration shows Cassini diving through the Enceladus plume in 2015. New ocean world discoveries from Cassini and Hubble will help inform future exploration and the broader search for life beyond Earth. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- NASA's Cassini spacecraft detected the presence of molecular hydrogen in water plumes erupting from Saturn's icy moon Enceladus, the U.S. space agency announced Thursday, suggesting that the distant world has almost all the conditions necessary for life.

"We detected hydrogen in the plume of Enceladus," Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said at a webcast news briefing. "This is a very significant finding because the hydrogen could be a potential source of chemical energy for any microbes that might be in the Enceladus ocean."

With this finding, "we now know Enceladus has almost all of the ingredients that you need to support life as we know it on Earth," Spilker said.

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.

Cassini has not yet shown phosphorus and sulfur are present in the ocean of Enceladus, but according to NASA, scientists suspect them to be, since its rocky core is thought to be chemically similar to meteorites that contain the two elements.

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 one percent is hydrogen and the rest is a mixture of other molecules including carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia.

The new findings, published in the U.S. journal Science, are an independent line of evidence that hydrothermal activity is taking place in the ocean of Enceladus, a small, icy moon a billion miles farther from the sun than Earth.

Previous results, published in March 2015, suggested hot water is interacting with rock beneath the sea, and the new findings support that conclusion and add that the rock appears to be reacting chemically to produce the hydrogen, NASA said.

In a related perspective, Jeffrey Seewald of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who was not involved in the study, described the findings as "an important advance in assessing the habitability of Enceladus."

"If correct, this observation has fundamental implications for the possibility of life on Enceladus," Seewald wrote. "Chemical disequilibrium that is known to support microbial life in Earth's deep oceans is also available to support life in the Enceladus ocean."

Also on Thursday, NASA researchers using the Hubble Space Telescope reported in The Astrophysical Journal Letters additional evidence of plumes erupting from Jupiter's moon Europa, indicating that the ocean-bearing world may be another ideal place to look for alien life.

"It's another great day of science," Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, told reporters. "With this research, we're making a big step forward towards answering the question: is there life out there?"
Attorney Thomas Demetrio, who is representing Dr. David Dao, speaks during a news conference on April 13, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

CHICAGO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight on Sunday night may file a lawsuit against the company, his lawyer Tom Demetrio said at a press conference Thursday.

While answering questions from reporters, Tom Demetrio said the passenger, David Dao, 69 years old, has a serious concussion, a broken nose, injury to the sinuses, and lost two front teeth as a result of the incident, adding the passenger also has psychological injuries because the rudeness of the treatment by security officials.

The lawyer said they have taken the first legal steps toward filing a lawsuit.

Crystal Dao Pepper (R), daughter of Dr. David Dao, speaks during a news conference on April 13, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

During the same press conference, Dao's daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper told reporters that "what happened to my dad should not have happened to any human being, regardless of the circumstance."

"We were horrified, and shocked, and sickened to learn what had happened to him and to see what had happened to him. We hope that in the future, nothing like this happens again."

Pepper thanked the medical team and people from around the world for what she described as an "outpouring of prayers, love, and concern."

Video of the incident has gone viral on social media, with commentators accusing United Airlines of racism and having included several calls for a boycott.

The video shows three security officers from the Chicago Department of Aviation pulling the passenger David Dao out of his seat, and in the ensuing struggle, hitting his head on the armrest. The video then shows that Dao was dragged off the plane by the arms.

Attorney Thomas Demetrio (L) who is representing Dr. David Dao speaks during a news conference as Attorney Stephen Golan (C) and Dao's daughter Crystal Dao Pepper look on April 13, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

During a press conference on Thursday morning, the attorney told reporters that the City of Chicago bears responsibility as well.

"So were these three officers, these storm troopers, for a moment, doing the right thing? No, not at all," Demetrio said. "This was not a troubled passenger. This was not a nutjob. This was not a threat to anybody. Should he have been unceremoniously dragged out of that plane the way he was? He's a 69-year-old man. Is that really the way we went to treat the aged disembarking that plane?"

The viral reaction also extended to the markets as United Airlines stock dipped up nearly 4 percent during the morning session after the incident, and the Chief Executive Officer has publicly apologized in an interview with U.S. media.

"He was a paying passenger, sitting on our seat in our aircraft and no one should be treated that way period," Munoz said. United Airlines' stock has since recovered most of that loss.

Due to the concussion, Demetrio said that passenger David Dao has no recollection of the incident, and was released from the hospital on Tuesday night. According to the attorney, Dao will likely drive home to Louisville from Chicago, instead of taking a plane.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 07:00:08|Editor: ZD

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MINSK, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday said that Belarus has all possibilities to increase food supplies to China's Hunan province, local media reported.

During the meeting with China's Communist Party Secretary of Hunan Province Du Jiahao in Minsk Lukashenko said Belarus is interested increasing food supplies to Hunan Province and first of all dairy products.

The president added Belarus is also interested in the successful implementation of the earlier-signed contacts and in particular those with China's Zoomlion. He reminded a Belarusian-Chinese company was registered in the Mogilev free economic zone in February 2017 to produce construction and utilities special-purpose vehicles.

Lukashenko also said Belarus and Hunan Province need to develop closer ties in the fields of culture and education.

For his part, Du Jiahao said the cooperation between Belarus and Hunan Province should be an example of cooperation for other Chinese regions.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 09:36:57|Editor: Tian Shaohui

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WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Two Secret Service agents have been fired over a breach of White House grounds in March, U.S. media on Thursday cited law enforcement sources as saying.

The two Uniformed Division officers who were fired were in charge of posts at the Treasury Building and at an entrance to East Executive Avenue, both serving less than a year on the job, CNN cited the source as saying.

A man was arrested on March 10 for entering White House grounds. Caught near the southern entrance of the presidential residence, he was identified as 26-years-old Jonathan Tran. It is understood that U.S. President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time.

The incident is still under investigation, according to the Secret Service.
CANBERRA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Australians are installing solar panels in huge numbers according to energy experts, following recent crippling blackouts which have left many residents fearing for their energy supplies.

On Friday, Warwick Johnston from energy consultancy firm Sunwiz said that solar panel installations in March had been "very impressive for 2017", reaching their highest level in five years.

"We already saw a surge starting to build up in 2016, and we were wondering if that was going to continue into 2017 and it really has just continued to skyrocket," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

According to Sunwiz, the sunny state of Queensland was home to the most installations, accounting for 25 of the total 91 megawatts of capacity fitted in March 2017 -- something Johnston said was enough to power around 5,500 homes and businesses.

Installations were also up in the states of New South Wales and Victoria -- home to the nation's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, while South Australia also recorded a bumper month for installations.

Johnston said there was no doubt recent crippling blackouts, in which up to 100,000 homes in South Australia were left without power during a searing heatwave earlier in the year, had caused a number of residents to consider installing their own solar panels.

"People are certainly aware of the benefits of solar power and storage to offset or protect against grid blackouts, and that has been a driving factor in the uptake of solar," he said.

"We're seeing the uptake occur in states which weren't affected by those blackouts as well, so it really is people being aware that solar panels are a great way to beat rising electricity bills." Enditem
PHNOM PENH, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Friday expressed his grave concern over the situations in Syria and the Korean peninsula, and urged relevant parties to exercise their utmost restraint.

"As a state member of the United Nations, Cambodia expresses our deep concern over the situations in the Middle East, especially in Syria, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," he said during the opening ceremony of the Cambodian New Year celebrations at the Angkor Archaeological Park in northwestern Siem Reap province.

"We call for (all parties concerned) to exercise their utmost restraint and try to settle dispute through negotiations," he said, adding that "both firing missiles and using chemical weapons result in tragedy."

Hun Sen's calls came after the United States fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack.

Western powers, including the United States, blamed the government of Bashar al-Assad for the attack.

The Syrian government denied possession of chemical weapons.

In the Korean peninsula, tensions grew as the United States has sent a nuclear aircraft carrier task group to the waters off Korean Peninsula in what it called a "reaction to provocations" by DPRK's recent missile tests.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 12:12:56|Editor: ZD

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By Will Koulouris

SYDNEY, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A former Australian ambassador to China believes that the Belt and Road Initiative will provide a definitive boost to not only the Australian economy, but also that of the world.

The initiative, launched by China in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trading routes, leading to mutually beneficial economic outcomes for every nation it reaches.

One of the ways in which the initiative will improve outcomes is through infrastructure bringing access to otherwise unavailable natural deposits, which former Australian Ambassador to China, Geoff Raby told Xinhua on Friday is an important part of achieving economic success.

"The Belt and Road is focusing on infrastructure development, but there are clearly some very important natural resource deposits, not just coal but in many areas, that could benefit infrastructure investment under the initiative," Raby said.

"To liberate those resources, where currently, they are not commercial to develop, but under the Belt and Road, it opens up all of that."

Raby contends that not only will the initiative be beneficial in opening up new natural resource opportunities, but also drive further need of commodities from existing partners to China, like Australia, to fuel the infrastructure growth that will take place as a result of the exciting developments in the pipeline.

"The extent that Belt and Road investment, wherever it is, increases global demand for steel, that certainly benefits Australia quite directly. Both in terms of iron ore, but also coking coal," Raby said.

"So it's a very positive development for Australia in that respect."

But, Raby insists that increased demand for commodities is not the only benefit to Australia, and rather, there is a more definitive, and direct benefit that will stem from the initiative; increased prosperity in the many nations that it touches with its prosperity changing, nation building projects.

"There is another, second order aspect to the Belt and Road Initiative that people don't really focus on, but they should. The infrastructure build, in developing countries, in poorer countries, the infrastructure built there by China helps to lift those countries overall level of economic growth," Raby said.

"That is a real benefit to Australia."

The economic relationship between China and Australia is built on mutual understanding, and win-win scenarios, and Raby was quick to point out the significance of the ongoing cooperation between the two nations.

"It is the most important economic relationship Australia has, and will ever have in the future. It will encompass everything, and Australia's economic fortunes are very closely tied up with China's." Raby said.

The relationship is not a one-way street however, and Raby believes that Australia has played a major role in supplying China with the resources, and services, to fuel the demand of the burgeoning middle class, and continue the supply-side growth success China has achieved.

"I think Australia and China, as I have said for many years, are highly complementary economies, they fit together very well," Raby said.

"And I think we are going to see that even more so, as China is transitioning now into a consumption led economy. Where the whole range of Australian services will be increasingly in demand by the growing Chinese middle class."




HANOI, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Demand for new skilled staff at Vietnamese enterprises increased in the first quarter (Q1) of 2017, according to local job recruitment agencies on Friday.

Recruitment demand for middle- and senior-level staff rose by 73 percent year-on-year in Q1, according to the latest report by Navigos Search, the popular provider of executive search services in Vietnam.

In the period, most of the positions were in such sectors as manufacturing, IT, consumer goods and retails, banking and finance, and business services, reported state-run news agency VNA on Friday.

The IT sector alone witnessed a 2.5 times increase in labor demand over the past five years, according to Navigos Search General Director Nguyen Phuong Mai.

Due to limited English proficiency of the local work force, most CEO positions in large IT companies are held by foreign representatives. Besides, English skill now is set as the top priority that overweighs even technical skills during recruitment process.

In 2016, the recruitment demand for middle- and senior-level staff rose by 54 percent compared to the previous year.
Door God woodcut paintings are believed to be able to protect home in China.

A centuries-old woodcut painting is coming to life thanks to Zhang Rongqiang's craftsmanship. The man in southwest China's Sichuan Province has engaged in restoring such endangered folk art for nearly a decade.

Zhang used to collect woodcut prints in Sichuan's Jiajiang County, which is known for age-old block-printing techniques. He began to try making one when he could no longer find such paintings back in 2010.

Woodcut paintings used to be must-have decorations for Chinese lunar new year and other festivals. In the past, a pair of such paintings with images of two legendary majestic warriors were put up on the gate of almost every home to protect their safety, known as Door God.

A classic woodcut print of Sichuan Province's Jiajiang County.

Jiajiang County's woodcut is not only popular in Sichuan Province for its impressive warrior images, but was also listed as an intangible cultural heritage under national protection in 2008.

"Since there were no such paintings available here, I began to look all around for a craftsman to teach me how to make it," Zhang said. He failed to find anyone, but met a collector of old woodcut printing plates. So, Zhang began to learn woodcut printing largely based on the man's collection.

Woodcut plates

It needs six steps or six plates to print a multi-color Door God. Each plate is carved with different patterns and painted with different colors, and the image can be printed step by step, or board by board, accordingly. Papers are then left to air dry before each of the next five procedures continue.

It takes a sophisticated craftsman a week alone to produce two dozens of half-finished paintings of each of the abovementioned six phases.

The board or plate also requires strict processing that may last six months. Work includes but is not limited to soaking, steaming, retting, cleansing, polishing and stitching.

Zhang Rongqiang is carving a woodcut plate.

Zhang is now running a workshop of simply five craftsmen to meet the narrow demand.

But his efforts to sustain the workshop is paying off.

"A black pottery factory is seeking business opportunities with us recently," Zhang said, "besides, we have received 120,000 yuan (about 20,000 U.S. dollars) as support from the local government this year."

Samples of derivatives of woodcut prints designed by Zhang Rongqiang's workshop

Zhang used part of the fund to innovate their products, such as designing derivatives of tea cups, lampshades and table cloth.

He is convinced that more people will like his woodcut paintings. (All photos by Wang Di)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 12:27:59|Editor: ZD

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SAN JOSE, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Costa Rica on Thursday closed a national park after Poas Volcano erupted suddenly late Wednesday, spewing ash and cracking the crater's dome.

The Costa Rica National Parks System (SINAC) said the closure was aimed at minimizing the exposure to ash and gases that can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and skin of people and animals.

The temporary closure will also give scientists an opportunity to "carry out necessary studies and assessments" of the unusual phreatic eruption, or blast of steam mixed with volcanic material.

"We went around the active crater and what most caught our attention was that the dome is cracked," Raul Mora, a volcanologist with the University of Costa Rica, told the daily La Nacion.

"Part of what the volcano spewed was part of the dome's structure, and much of that material fell on top of the visitor center and the mirador," he said.

OVSICORI, Costa Rica's volcano and earthquake monitoring agency,estimated the eruption lasted some 40 minutes.

Poas Volcano is located just 40 km north of the capital San Jose, in Alajuela Province. Although it is active, the most recent period of eruptive activity ended in 1954.

The country's Turrialba Volcano, located in the east, is usually the one making headlines for sending plumes of ash and smoke 4,000 meters into the sky.
HANOI, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese rice exports continued to face numerous challenges in the first quarter (Q1) of 2017 when the country has seen its rice exports sharply plunging since 2013, local media reported on Friday.

Official statistics showed that in the 2009-2013 period, Vietnam was among the world's three biggest rice exporters. In 2012 in particular, Vietnam surpassed Thailand to become the world's top rice exporter with over 7.7 million tons.

However, since 2013, the country's rice export volume has been on the downward trend, posting the seven-year low in 2016 with nearly 4.9 million tons of rice sold abroad.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), in Q1, Vietnam shipped around 1.28 million tons of rice to the world market, earning 566 million U.S. dollars, down 18.1 percent in volume and 17.3 percent in value year-on-year.

The Q1 average rice export price hit 426 U.S. dollars per ton, down 1.6 percent year-on-year.

The decline in Vietnam's rice exports was blamed on the decrease in its key traditional markets, including China and the Philippines, reported local Vietnam Economic Times (VET) on Friday.

Although China is seen as the "salvage" for Vietnam's rice exports, and it continued to top Vietnam's rice importers, Vietnam saw negative signals in rice exports to China in Q1 as China lifted its rice standards imported from ASEAN countries, including Vietnam.

Accordingly, since Jan. 1, 2017, only 22 Vietnamese companies have been qualified to export rice to China.

In addition, Thailand is discharging its rice inventory, which has lowered global rice prices, while the Philippines, one of the key markets of Vietnamese rice, recently announced that it would stop rice imports to protect the domestic production, said the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) on local CaFeF online newspaper on Friday.

Addressing the possible inventory of Vietnamese rice amid the sluggish market situation and the current peak harvest time for Winter-Spring crops in the country's southern Mekong Delta, VFA has urged local firms to develop the domestic market by building high-quality rice brands to meet with demands of domestic consumers as well as reduce the export pressure.

To facilitate the rice branding, VFA proposed the Vietnamese government to reduce the value added tax imposed on local firms from five percent to zero percent in the next 5-7 years, reported VET.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 13:13:08|Editor: Tian Shaohui

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BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Li Yunfeng, former executive vice governor of eastern China's Jiangsu Province, is under investigation on suspicion of taking bribes, the Supreme People's Procuratorate announced Friday.

Li, also a former member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Jiangsu Provincial Committee, has been placed under "coercive measures," which may include summons by force, bail, residential surveillance, detention and arrest.

Further investigation is underway.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 13:33:13|Editor: Tian Shaohui

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BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Weibo, a Chinese Twitter-like service, has been punished for spreading pornography, as part of a nationwide crackdown, the anti-pornography authority said Friday.

The National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications in February launched a new round of its national campaign against the production, sale and distribution of illegal publications and online erotic content that could affect juveniles.

Investigators found that Weibo started providing audio-visual programs in February 2015 without obtaining a license, and such content contained obscene videos.

Weibo was fined 30,000 yuan (4,359 U.S.dollars) by Beijing administrative law enforcement, and required to immediately rectify the problem.

The office asked all online service providers to learn lessons from the Weibo case, tackle pornography and shut down accounts with illegal content.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 14:28:25|Editor: Mengjiao Liu

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RIO DE JANEIRO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Michel Temer on Thursday released a video in which he denied corruption accusations against him.

Temer was one of the dozens of politicians mentioned in the testimonies of former executives of construction company Odebrecht, which said the politicians had benefited from illegal campaign funding.

In the video, Temer said he had meetings with an Odebrecht representative in 2010 during the presidential campaign in which he was elected vice president.

However, he denied that illegal funding was discussed at the meeting, stressing that no wrongdoing was committed.

"It is true that I participated, in 2010, in a meeting with a representative of one of the country's largest companies. It is a lie that I heard any references to financial amounts or shady businesses of the company with politicians. That never happened, neither in that meeting nor in any other meeting I held in my public life with any people or companies," Temer said.

According to former Odebrecht executive Marcio Faria, Temer took part in a meeting which discussed Odebrecht's "purchase" of Temer's party PMDB for 40 million U.S. dollars.

The testimonies, which were made public earlier this week, involved a third of the Brazilian Senate, eight members of Temer's cabinet and 42 House representatives. They will be investigated by the Chief Prosecution Office.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 14:33:28|Editor: Mengjiao Liu

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BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military in Afghanistan on Thursday dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat by the force to strike an Islamic State target, sparking different responses from various sides.

This is the first time that the U.S. military used in combat a GBU-43 or Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, nicknamed "the mother of all bombs."

U.S. President Donald Trump, who gave the order for dropping the MOAB on an IS cave complex in Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan, labeled the event a "success," saying he was "very, very proud of the military."

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," the Pentagon said in a statement.

ISIS-K refers to ISIS-Khorasan, the terror group's affiliate in Afghanistan.

John W. Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said in a written statement that the 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."

The bomb, weighing about 9.5 tons, is designed to take out deeply buried targets like reinforced bunkers, and can unleash 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.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said: "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."

DIFFERENT VOICES

However, Trump's decision has already been questioned by political opponents, and the military effect on Afghan war is doubted by many.

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii said on Thursday the president needs to explain why the U.S. military dropped in Afghanistan its largest non-nuclear bomb, which had never been used in combat before.

"I don't know if the use of MOAB is wise or not," Schatz wrote in a Twitter post. "But the Commander-in-Chief or his people should explain what they did and why."

Douglas Macgregor, a retired army colonel and veteran who led armored cavalry in Operation Desert Storm, said: "Strategically, the strike had no impact on the war in Afghanistan where 40,000 Taliban fighters are regaining the ground lost over the last few years and crushing the U.S. trained - and - equipped Afghan army and police."

"The strike is not meaningful in any strategic sense. The only conclusion any reasonable military analyst can reach is that the president is badly advised," he said.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned on Thursday the U.S. decision, writing in a Twitter message: "I vehemently and in strongest words condemn the dropping of the latest weapon, the largest non-nuclear bomb, on Afghanistan by U.S. military."

"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. "It is upon us, Afghans, to stop the U.S.."

Igor Morozov, member of the Russian Federation Council's foreign affairs committee, told Sputnik on Thursday the use of a GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb by the United States in Afghanistan threatens to incite a new arms race.

"The U.S. test of the new bomb in Afghanistan is an attempt to establish the world dominance with an element of a military threat which may initiate a new round of arms race and increase tension in the world," Morozov said.

Morozov suggested Russia initiate a discussion about the recent U.S. test at the UN Security Council.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 14:48:31|Editor: Mengjiao Liu

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MOSCOW, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem discussed the Syrian situation during a meeting here Thursday, Russia's news agency TASS reported Friday.

"The settling situation is going through a difficult period, and today's meeting is very timely," Lavrov was quoted as saying by TASS.

Lavrov pointed to the provocative U.S. strike against the Syrian airbase al-Sharyat, adding that the hysteria on the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria should not undermine the efforts on settling the conflict in the framework of the processes in Astana and Geneva.

"Attempts are underway to undermine the ceasefire regime, agreed on in Astana and welcomed in the United Nations (UN) Security Council," Lavrov said.

He also said the attack was fully discussed at a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and they reached an understanding that an attack should not be allowed to be repeated.

Lavrov said Russia has prevented the repetition of U.S. aggression. However, he did not exclude that there might be more attempts at aggressive acts.

On April 6, the United States launched 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian military airfield, located in the Syrian province of Homs, in response to what U.S. President Donald Trump called a "horrible chemical weapons attack" in the Syrian city of Idlib.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced the U.S. strike as an "aggression against a sovereign state in violation of the norms of international law."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 14:48:31|Editor: Mengjiao Liu

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PYONGYANG, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of the Democratic People's Repulic of Korea (DPRK), has lately highlighted the role of special forces of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in combating enemy forces of the United States and South Korea.

Local official media said Thursday that Kim, who is Supreme Commander of the KPA, has recently inspected several units of KPA special forces in the army, navy and air force, saying he was satisfied with their full preparedness for war.

When guiding the "Dropping and Target-striking Contest of KPA Special Operation Forces - 2017", Kim listened to a report on the program of the contest and issued an order for start at the observation post, said Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Seeing light transport planes made zero-feet flights in the sky dropping combatants, Kim was pleased that "the commanding officers of those task forces and pilots of the transport planes properly fixed the dropping place, the flight altitude and the dropping moment in a coordinated operation and they seemed to have made a deep study of the reconnaissance data about the enemy targets."

The contest was held at a time when tension is increasing between the DPRK and the United States over Washington's threat to stage military strikes against Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile tests.

The DPRK military has vowed to make its own preemptive strike at a time it considers appropriate.

With about 100,000 or 10 percent of the KPA personnel, the special forces are an elite force known for several infiltration operations in South Korea and abroad, notably the attack upon the Chong Wa Dae presidential palace in Seoul in 1968 and a submarine infiltration on the western coast of South Korea in 1996.

In January 1968, 31 KPA special force fighters attacked the Chong Wa Dae presidential palace, two of whom escaped back home alive while 29 were killed.

In September 1996, a submarine of the KPA was grounded off the western coast of South Korea and 26 special force fighters infiltrated the inner land for nearly two months. Most of them were killed in fighting with South Korean and U.S. forces.

As tension with the United States upsurges, the DPRK has again reminded its antagonists of its feared special forces which could strike with precision enemy targets in a non-conventional, guerrilla-style warfare.

"Those combatants carrying out their duties independently and proactively were reminiscent of fierce tigers crossing the mountain ranges in the southern half," Kim was quoted as saying during the recent drill.

"After watching an automatic rifle live bullet firing of combatants of the special operation battalion under the direct control of KPA Unit 525, he said that the bullets seemed to have their eyes and they were crack shots that never miss targets," said the KCNA report.

Kim said the contest, successfully conducted "in the significant time marking the 105th birth anniversary of former president Kim Il Sung, is like a gift of loyalty presented by the powerful revolutionary Paektusan army to the president who had worked heart and soul to round off the KPA's combat preparations, urging its service personnel to intensify trainings with national reunification in their minds at all times."

Kim Il Sung, founder of the DPRK, was a guerrilla fighter against Japanese army during World War II at the Paektusan mountain region on the border between China and Korea.

His birthday falls on Saturday, April 15, which is celebrated here as "Festival of the Sun."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 15:28:43|Editor: xuxin

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Afghan army soldiers stand near a checkpoint, 2 km from the explosion core area in Achin district of eastern Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, April 14, 2017. At least 36 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed after the U.S. forces in Afghanistan struck their position with a large bomb in eastern Nangarhar province, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Friday morning. (Xinhua/Rahman Safi)

KABUL, April 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 36 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed after the U.S. forces in Afghanistan struck their position with a large bomb in eastern Nangarhar province, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Friday morning.

On Thursday evening, the U.S. military dropped a GBU-43 or Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, the largest non-nuclear bomb, on an IS cave complex in Achin District, Nangahar Province bordering Pakistan.

"The strike has destroyed an IS headquarters, three IS hideouts along with several bunkers and deep tunnels as well as huge amount of weapons and ammunition," the Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement.

No civilian was hurt following the raid which took place in Mohmand Dara village, Asadkhil area of the district, the statement noted.

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, the U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, which is part of NATO-led Resolute Support said after the strike.

"U.S. forces took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties with this strike. U.S. forces will continue offensive operations until ISIS-K (IS) is destroyed in Afghanistan," it said.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has hailed the attack on the IS position.

"Precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties with this air strike. Assessment of the casualties to the ISIS-K is in process," the Afghan Presidential Palace said in a statement.

Achin has been regarded as IS stronghold.

The mountainous province with Jalalabad city as its capital, 120 km east of Kabul, has been the scene of clashes between security forces and IS militants since the emergence of IS there in early 2015.

More than 1,900 IS militants, several Afghan security forces and two U.S. soldiers have been killed in Achin and neighboring district since 2015, according to Afghan military officials.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 16:14:01|Editor: Mengjiao Liu

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WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States will set "a much better tone" for bilateral relations in the next few decades if they properly handle trade frictions, a U.S. expert said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

While U.S. President Donald Trump had repeatedly criticized China's currency and trade policies and threatened to impose high tariffs on Chinese imports during the campaign, Henry Levine, senior advisor at leading U.S. consulting firm Albright Stonebridge Group, believed the two countries could well manage their trade frictions through bilateral dialogues and the dispute settlement mechanism within the World Trade Organization (WTO).

PROPER MANAGEMENT OF TRADE

"I am hoping, and I tend to think, that the United States is not going to go down the road of (imposing) WTO-illegal unilateral tariffs on Chinese products because the United States is one of the biggest trading countries in the world," Levine said.

"If the United States is simply going to ignore WTO rules, that will encourage many other countries around the world to ignore WTO rules, and eventually we end up in chaos as far as international trade is concerned," he said.

Levine, who used to work at the U.S. Department of State and Department of Commerce, also believed a trade war between the world's two largest economies is very unlikely because of their growing economic interdependence.

"Our two economies are highly interdependent, and therefore if either country seeks to harm the other economically through whatever means, then it'll hurt that country as well," he said.

With regard to U.S.-China economic relations, "I think we have not seen any of the dramatic steps that Trump had talked about in the campaign" since he took office in January, Levine noted, adding the new administration has gradually gained a better understanding of the reality of the world and the complexity of U.S.-China relations.

Trump on Wednesday said his administration would not label China a currency manipulator, the latest move distancing him from one of the biggest economic promises he made on the campaign trail.

As China is trying to keep its currency from falling further, "I think virtually all objective observers agree that it would be ridiculous for the United States now to determine that China is a currency manipulator," Levine said.

NEW DIALOGUE MECHANISM

He added that the meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week would also help the Trump administration understand the importance of keeping the world's most important bilateral relationship stable.

The outcome of the first meeting between the two leaders "was somewhat more positive than many people had expected," Levine said, noting the most important outcome was "the chance for the two leaders to get to know each other and increase their mutual understanding."

"You can see that, to the extent that the United States and China are cooperating to the maximum amount on these issues, the entire world will be much better off, and those problems are easier to solve," he said.

At the meeting, the two leaders agreed to create a four-pronged high-level dialogue mechanism to deal with major issues on security, economic relations, cybersecurity and law enforcement, and people-to-people exchanges, in a bid to expand mutually beneficial cooperation while managing their differences.

Compared to the annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) mechanism held under the Obama administration, Levine said the new mechanism "makes a lot of sense" as it lets both the Secretary of the Treasury Department and Secretary of the Commerce Department lead the U.S. side, as market access, industrial overcapacity and many other economic issues fall under the Commerce Department, not the Treasury Department.

Yet he adopted a wait-and-see approach for this new high-level dialogue mechanism. "What we need to watch and see is whether there can be some concrete achievements that come out of this mechanism," Levine said.

Based on his experience as a chief U.S. negotiator for the annual U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, Levine believed Beijing and Washington could reach a deal in 100 days to address trade concerns.

"When you're involved in negotiations like that, you know there are a lot of ways to come up with positive outcomes. Sometimes they're more significant and substantial, sometimes they're a little less significant and substantial, but it's almost always possible to put together a package of items that both sides can announce as steps forward."

CHINA'S ECONOMIC REFORM

However, unlike in the past, China has to understand that there are two sets of economic agendas on the U.S. side to deal with, he added.

On the one hand, the Trump administration has been focusing on the trade deficit with China; on the other hand, the U.S. business community, especially major multinational companies, emphasizes increasing access to the Chinese market and greater use of market forces in the Chinese economy.

Levine suggested that a full implementation of the economic reform agenda laid out in the third plenary session of 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee will greatly contribute to "stabilizing and even improving U.S.-China relations overall for decades to come."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 16:54:26|Editor: xuxin

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ANKARA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Turkish jets launched an air operation against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq late Thursday, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Friday.

According to a General Staff statement, Turkish jets on late Thursday destroyed seven shelters and several weapons storage bunkers used by the PKK in northern Iraq's Zap region.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Turkey has kept its troops in northern Iraq since December 2015 in the name of fighting against the Islamic State group, despite Baghdad's opposition.

Last October, Turkey's parliament voted to extend the deployment of an estimated 2,000 troops across northern Iraq by a year to combat "terrorist organizations."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 17:19:31|Editor: Yamei

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Zhang Dejiang (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis in Riga, Latvia, April 12, 2017. Zhang paid a three-day official visit to Latvia, which ended on Friday. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)



RIGA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China and Latvia have pledged to enhance parliamentary exchanges and step up their all-round cooperation.

Visiting top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang and Latvian leaders agreed on this during Zhang's three-day official visit to the country, which ended on Friday.

While meeting with Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis, Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), hailed the stable growth of bilateral ties over the past years, especially since the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic ties last year.

Calling Latvia a trustworthy good friend and partner of China in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region and the European Union, Zhang said China greatly appreciates the positive attitude of the Latvian government, parliament and society in developing friendly cooperation with China.

Vejonis said Latvia-China ties are experiencing an all-time high, adding that he believed Zhang's visit would promote the further growth of bilateral cooperation in various areas.

He said he hoped to cement all-round cooperation with China and upgrade bilateral ties.

During his meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis, Zhang said the Belt and Road Initiative, put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, had witnessed important progress in China's cooperation with countries along the route.

"China appreciates Latvia's participation in the Belt and Road project, and the successful hosting of the fifth China-CEE summit late last year," Zhang said, urging to make full use of existing bilateral mechanisms to facilitate stronger cooperation.

China encourages its enterprises to invest in Latvia, and hopes to increase agricultural and wood product imports from the country, he added.

Zhang called on Latvia to play a positive role in cementing Europe-China cooperation, and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

Considering China as Latvia's most important partner in Asia, Kucinskis said his country is ready to play a greater role in the Belt and Road Initiative and CEE-China cooperation. He welcomed Chinese companies to participate in Latvia's infrastructure projects, including ports and a joint railway project in the Baltic Sea area.

During their talks, Zhang and Latvian Parliament Speaker Inara Murniece agreed to boost closer parliamentary cooperation, consolidate political trust and facilitate cultural exchanges.

Murniece said the Latvian parliament expects to forge closer ties with the Chinese NPC to contribute to the sustained growth of bilateral relations.

Zhang and Murniece signed an MOU regarding cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries.

During his stay in Riga, Zhang met with leaders of various parties of the Latvian parliament, calling on them to support friendly ties with China. He also paid a visit to the National Library of Latvia.

Latvia is the first leg of Zhang's four-nation tour on April 12-21, which will also take him to Lithuania, Belarus and Russia.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 17:34:34|Editor: xuxin

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BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday warned that no one would win if there was war on the Korean Peninsula, advising against anything that would escalate the situation.

"We urge all parties to refrain from inflammatory or threatening statements and deeds to prevent the situation on the Korean Peninsula from becoming irreversible," Wang said when meeting with the press following talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

"There has been heightened tension between the United States, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The precarious situation deserves our attention and concern," Wang said.

China has always opposed any rhetoric or actions that escalate tension and historically dialogue has proved to be the only solution, he said.

"On the Korean Peninsula issue, it is not the one who espouses hasher rhetoric or raises a bigger fist that will win," Wang said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 17:49:37|Editor: Yamei

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BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has praised late local official Liao Junbo for his excellent service, calling on Party members and officials to learn from him.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction letter in praise of Liao, who died in a traffic accident while heading for a meeting on March 18.

Liao was vice mayor of Nanping City in southeast China's Fujian Province.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 17:59:39|Editor: Yamei

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BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will on Saturday publish an article on China's security outlook.

The article will be released in the eighth issue of the Journal this year, under the byline of Zhong Guoan.

Rather than a zero-sum game, absolute security or alliance theory, President Xi Jinping's overall national security outlook proposes universal inclusiveness in the spirit of "building a community of shared destiny," according to the article.

The article said the outlook is a major development of the CPC's national security theory and enriches the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The overall national security outlook will help to realize national rejuvenation, the article said.
Members of Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement protest along the streets of Abuja, capital of Nigeria, Jan. 8, 2017. The protesters on Sunday marked 1,000 days since the abduction of the Chibok School Girls by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria's Borno State on April 14, 2014. (Xinhua/Olatunji Obasa)

LAGOS, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria has engaged local and international intermediaries in reaching out to Boko Haram for the release of the Chibok schoolgirls in captivity, President Muhammadu Buhari said Thursday.

The administration was willing to bend over backwards to make the abductors of the girls release them, the Nigerian leader said in a message to mark the coming 3rd anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls on April 14.

He said the government would do everything to secure the freedom of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls in captivity of Boko Haram.

"I wish to reassure the parents of the Chibok girls, all well-meaning Nigerians, organizations and the international community that as a government, we are unrelenting on the issue of the safe return of our children," he said.



Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari (Front-R) talks to the rescued Chibok schoolgirl, Amina Ali-Nkeki (Front-L), during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in the capital Abuja, Nigeria, May 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Olatunji Obasa)

"I trust that soon, our collective efforts will be rewarded with the safe return of our schoolgirls to their families, friends and their communities," he added.

Buhari said 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 people.

He appealed to the parents and all Nigerians not to lose hope on the return of the remaining schoolgirls.

More than 200 schools girls were seized by armed men who stormed their dormitories on the night of April 14, 2014, at the Girls Secondary School in Chibok. Some had managed to escape while others remained unaccounted for.
People hold candles during a night vigil commemorating the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda at Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on April 7, 2017. Lighting the flame of hope and laying the wreath at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre marked the start of the 23rd commemoration of the 1994 genocide in which more than one million people in Rwanda, mainly Tutsi and moderate Hutus, were killed. (Xinhua)

KIGALI, April 14 (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.

People hold candles during a night vigil commemorating the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda at Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on April 7, 2017. (Xinhua)

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.
PARIS, April 14 (Xinhua) -- French magistrates have asked the European Parliament to suspend immunity of far-right presidency front-runner Marine Le Pen as part of an investigation into alleged misuse of parliamentary salaries, a local report said on Friday.

Investigating judges issued at the end of March a request to lift Le Pen immunity so that she would be questioned into the allegation that she used European fund to pay her party staff, local broadcaster Europe 1 reported.

The judges also requested suspension of immunity of Marie-Christine Boutonnet, another far-rightist legislator over using European salaries to pay assistants working for the party, the report added.

Speaking to France info radio earlier on Friday, Le Pen said the judge's request was "a normal procedure."

The European Parliament has accused Le Pen of paying party staff working in France with European Union (EU) funds worth 340,000 euros (361,114 U.S. dollars), after she claimed they were European parliamentary assistants.

Citing her parliamentary immunity, the anti-immigrant and eurosceptic presidential contender, in March, refused magistrate's summon over the affair, saying she will accept to answer judges' questions over the fake job claim after the two-round election scheduled for April 23 and May 7.

In December 2016, French prosecutor opened an investigation for breach of trust, fraud and forgery following the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) initial findings.

Last month, the European Parliament suspended Le Pen immunity in another inquiry in relation with tweeting images of Islamic State violence. (1 euro=1.062 U.S. dollars)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 18:49:54|Editor: Yamei

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BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A senior United Nations (UN) official has hailed China's achievements in poverty reduction, saying the Belt and Road Initiative can help the world alleviate poverty.

The United Nations is paying great attention to and is willing to take an active part in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held in Beijing next month, said Nicholas Rosellini, UN resident coordinator and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) resident representative in China.

The UNDP praised the continuous efforts and achievements made by China in reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development, Rosellini said during a visit to the Xinhua headquarters in Beijing Thursday.

He also said that the UN institutions, including the UNDP, are willing to strengthen cooperation with Xinhua, the largest and most influential media outlet in China.
PYONGYANG, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Foreign guests have been arriving here to attend a ceremony Saturday to mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, founder of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday.

The foreign guests are showing solidarity with Pyongyang at a time when tensions are very high between the DPRK and the United States over U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to attack the country if it carries out nuclear or missile tests again.

The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Thursday gave a reception for the party delegations of several countries, mainly Asian ones, said the KCNA.

Delegations and delegates of the organizations which study Kim's thoughts on Juche, or self-reliance, have also arrived here. Among them is Kenichi Ogami, a Japanese scholar who serves as secretary general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea.

Visitors from a dozen countries who promote Kim's ideas and friendship with the DPRK have also come to pay tribute to the late leader at the invitation of the DPRK government. Meanwhile, more than 70 foreign journalists are here to cover Saturday's event.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 18:59:57|Editor: Yamei

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Sao Tome and Principe Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada in Beijing, capital of China, April 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Sao Tome and Principe Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada in Beijing, calling for mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.



Relations between China and Sao Tome and Principe have opened a new chapter, said Xi, saying that Sao Tome and Principe's return to the China-Africa family of friendly cooperation complies with the trend of the times.

China highly appreciates the important contributions made by Prime Minister Trovoada in promoting the normalization of relations between China and Sao Tome and Principe, he said.

Xi said China is willing to work with Sao Tome and Principe to jointly push forward mutually beneficial cooperation and the establishment of a comprehensive cooperative partnership featuring equality, mutual trust, and win-win cooperation.

Trovoada said the resumption of diplomatic ties with China had received extensive support in Sao Tome and Principe.

Sao Tome and Principe will firmly adhere to the one-China policy, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 18:59:59|Editor: Lu Hui

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GUANGZHOU, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Lu Ziyue, former mayor of Ningbo in east China's Zhejiang Province, went on trial for accepting bribes on Friday.

Prosecutors accused Lu of taking advantage of his positions to seek benefits for units and individuals and of accepting money and valuables worth more than 147 million yuan (21.35 million U.S. dollars) between 1999 and 2016.

The case was tried at the Intermediate People's Court of Zhuhai City in south China's Guangdong Province.

Lu confessed to his crimes during the trial, according to the court. The verdict will be announced at another date.

The CPC discipline inspection agency announced in June that Lu had been expelled from the CPC and dismissed from public office following a corruption investigation.
File photo taken on April 7, 2016 shows South African President Jacob Zuma (C) looks at the logo of Standard Bank. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

CAPE TOWN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The South African government will do what it can to avoid a further downgrade, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Thursday.

Urgent steps must be taken to prevent international rating agency Moody's from downgrading South Africa's credit rating, Gigaba said in Cape Town after a meeting with local investors.

Gigaba assured investors of policy certainty in different policy programs, including the mining and telecommunications sectors.

He pledged that the government would take immediate action to improve the financial performance and governance of state-owned companies.

Gigaba said he is planning to meet with the Moody's to ensure the agency that South Africa is willing to continue on the course of fiscal discipline and reducing the country's debt.

"We will do all we can to avoid another downgrade and one of the ways to do that is to engage with Moody's directly," he said.

Moody's has put South Africa on review for a possible downgrade after Standard & Poor's and Fitch downgraded the country's rating to junk status respectively on April 3 and April 7.

The downgrades followed a drastic cabinet reshuffle by President Jacob Zuma on March 31. The reshuffle saw the sacking of well-respected Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, a move that rattled the nerves of investors. Gigaba, former minister of home affairs with less financial experiences, replaced Gordhan.

A third downgrade by Moody's is expected to raise the possibility for a recession.
KABUL, April 14 (Xinhua) -- No civilian casualties were reported following Thursday's massive U.S. bombing against an Islamic State (IS) position in Afghanistan, the U.S. and NATO commander said on Friday.

On Thursday evening, the U.S. military dropped a GBU-43 or Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, the largest non-nuclear bomb, on an IS cave complex in Achin District, eastern Nangahar Province bordering Pakistan.

"We have Afghan and U.S. Forces at the site and we see no evidence of civilian casualties nor have there been reports," Gen. John Nicholson told a press briefing here.

This is the first time that the U.S. military used in combat the massive bomb, nicknamed "the mother of all bombs."

"This was the right weapon against the right target," he said, adding that "I want to assure the people of Afghanistan that our forces took every possible precaution to prevent civilian casualties."

At least 82 militants of IS group had been killed following the raid that also destroyed a big IS hideout along with several bunkers as well as a 300-meter-long tunnels, according to Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman of provincial government.

Earlier Friday, the Afghan Defense Ministry, based on initial findings, said that 36 IS militants were killed by the attack.

The mountainous province with Jalalabad city as its capital, 120 km east of Kabul, has been the scene of clashes between security forces and IS militants since the emergence of IS there in early 2015.

More than 1,900 IS militants, several Afghan security forces and two U.S. soldiers have been killed in Achin and neighboring districts since 2015, according to Afghan military officials.
TIRANA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Albania's parliament is set to hold the first round of voting for the country's new president on April 19, local media reported Friday.

The parliament said it was about to start preparations for the first round of voting for the country's new president, after a request from the ruling Socialist Party (SP) parliamentary group.

Under Albanian Constitution, the voting can go over five rounds in total secrecy and without debates.

Experts explained Friday that during the first three rounds, a three fifth majority is needed to approve a candidate, while at the last two rounds a simple majority is required to elect a new President.

But if after five rounds of voting no candidate gets the required votes, the parliament will be dissolved and the country will go to early elections in 45 days.

This means that if the ruling SP-SMI coalition decides to elect the new president without the consent of the opposition, Albania's current political crisis might further escalate.

And this seems to be the potential scenario since the Albanian opposition are still boycotting parliament.

The opposition parties here, led by the Democratic Party, also refused to register for the upcoming general elections scheduled for June 18 after their request for the formation of a caretaker government here was turned down by the current government.

On the other hand, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has declared that the country's new president will be proposed by the SP-SMI coalition, stressing that it was up to them to decide.
Several Syrian soldiers are seen on a damaged ancient temple in Palmyra of central Syria, on April 1, 2016. Syria's ancient city of Palmyra has been retaken by Syrian government forces from the Islamic State fighters. However, the city full of antiquities and ancient architectures has suffered destruction during the IS control. (Xinhua/Yang Zhen)

NICOSIA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus has stopped several people from travelling to Syria to join the Islamic State(IS), a high official said on Thursday.

Alexandros Zenon, permanent secretary of the Foreign Ministry, said that at least 18 people had been stopped in Cyprus when they arrived in order to travel to Syria through the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus.

"They were sent back to their countries of origin," Zenon told the state-run Cyprus News Agency.

Foreign diplomats have said that many extremists arrived in the past in Cyprus, a European Union member state, and then crossed into the part occupied by Turkish troops, from where they travelled to Turkey and then either to Syria or Iraq.

Zenon said these "so-called foreign fighters" were intercepted in 2015.

He added that from then on they stopped using the Cyprus route because they found out that it was not easy to travel to Syria either directly or through Turkey, as the authorities there applied stricter checks.

Zenon said Cyprus is in close cooperation with many countries to prevent terrorist actions, adding that the cooperation has been very effective.

He added that due to its geographical position, Cyprus is in close cooperation with the security and intelligence services of countries both in the region and further away.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 19:45:08|Editor: xuxin

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ISTANBUL, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Friday detained five suspected Islamic State (IS) militants in Istanbul believed to be planning a sensational attack ahead of Sunday's constitutional referendum, local media reported.

Anti-terror teams, acting on intelligence tips, launched simultaneous operations in the districts of Beyoglu, Bahcelievler and Beykoz, the Hurriyet daily said.

According to the daily, three of the detainees were believed to be planning an attack in the name of IS, while two others, including one of Tajik origin, were captured for traveling to "conflict zones" and carrying out operations for the militant group in Istanbul.

The IS is responsible for a number of deadly attacks across Turkey over the past year, including one on New Year's Day at a nightclub in Istanbul that claimed 39 lives.

The authorities have increased security measures ahead of the vote, but three people were killed on Tuesday in a bombing attack in Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, claimed by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.

Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said lately that over 250,000 security personnel and more than 120,000 members of the gendarmerie had been posted to ensure the security of the referendum across the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 19:45:09|Editor: xuxin

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JERUSALEM, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A knife-wielding Palestinian went on a stabbing spree in Jerusalem's light rail on Friday noon, "severely" injuring a British student, Israeli officials said.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the assailant was shot and "neutralized."

The attack, amidst the Jewish holiday of Passover, took place in the IDF Square, located near East Jerusalem' Old City.

Eyewitnesses told local media that the knifeman entered one of the trailers and tried to stab passengers.

A spokesperson for the MDA emergency medical service said a woman was rushed to the Sha'arey Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem in a "fatal" condition.

Samri identified her as a 25-year-old student and tourist from England.

In addition, Israelis man and a pregnant woman, who were apparently light injured as the rail went into an emergency brake, the MDA spokesperson said.

The rail service in the city was temporarily halted, said a statement by Citipass, which operates the rail.

The attack was part of a spate of violence that broke out in September 2015.

Since the beginning of the unrest, Palestinians have killed 41 Israelis and two U.S. nationals, while Israeli forces and civilians killed at least 241 Palestinians, a Jordanian, and two African asylum seekers, most of them alleged attackers, according to Israel.

Israel accuses the Palestinian National Authority of "inciting" the unrest. The Palestinians say it is the result of 50 years of Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, home to more than five million Palestinians.
ZAGREB, April 14 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were seriously injured Friday in an explosion at a wheat silo in Vranjic, north of Split, the second largest city of Croatia, Croatia News Agency HINA reported.

Firefighters were at the site of the explosion, putting out a fire that broke out after the explosion.

Preliminary information indicated that more people were believed to have been injured in the explosion.

The cause of the explosion has yet to be known and an investigation is under way, according to the HINA report.
Wajeeh Nuseibeh, door keeper of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, removes the upper lock on a ladder, in Jerusalem's Old City, on April 14, 2017.(Xinhua Photo)

JERUSALEM, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A knife-wielding Palestinian went on a stabbing spree in Jerusalem's light rail on Friday noon, "severely" injuring a British student, Israeli officials said.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the assailant was shot and "neutralized."

The attack, amidst the Jewish holiday of Passover, took place in the IDF Square, located near East Jerusalem' Old City.

Eyewitnesses told local media that the knifeman entered one of the trailers and tried to stab passengers.

A spokesperson for the MDA emergency medical service said a woman was rushed to the Sha'arey Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem in a "fatal" condition.

Samri identified her as a 25-year-old student and tourist from England.

In addition, Israelis man and a pregnant woman, who were apparently light injured as the rail went into an emergency brake, the MDA spokesperson said.

The rail service in the city was temporarily halted, said a statement by Citipass, which operates the rail.

The attack was part of a spate of violence that broke out in September 2015.

Since the beginning of the unrest, Palestinians have killed 41 Israelis and two U.S. nationals, while Israeli forces and civilians killed at least 241 Palestinians, a Jordanian, and two African asylum seekers, most of them alleged attackers, according to Israel.

Israel accuses the Palestinian National Authority of "inciting" the unrest. The Palestinians say it is the result of 50 years of Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, home to more than five million Palestinians.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 20:15:15|Editor: Yamei

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BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Quarantine officers rushed onto the scene and emergency response measures were initiated after a delegate, played by an actor, showed signs of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) upon arrival at Beijing airport.

The simulation was part of an emergency response exercise held by the Beijing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau ahead of the first Belt and Road Forum, which is scheduled to be held in the capital from May 14 to May 15.

More than 20 heads of state and government, over 50 leaders of international organizations, 100 ministerial-level officials, as well as 1,200 delegates from various countries and regions will participate in the forum.

The full details of the security and preparatory steps taken by Beijing are yet to be released, but local authorities and enterprises are already eager to see what opportunities will be created by the upcoming forum.

In Nan'an, a city in the coastal province of Fujian, trucks carrying raw stones and finished stone products are running in constant streams to and from a stone showroom owned and run by Yingliang Group.

"Our raw stones are imported from countries along the Belt and Road, and 30 percent of the finished products go back to where they came from. The Belt and Road Initiative has brought us new investment opportunities," said Liu Liang, chairman of the group.

More than 300 stone companies in Nan'an have cooperation agreements with countries along the Belt and Road, with combined annual production value surpassing 60 billion yuan (8.7 billion U.S. dollars).

Nan'an is just one of the cities in Fujian to make the most of opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative, a grand trade and infrastructure plan proposed by China in 2013. Building upon the ancient trade 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.

Fujian has issued a package of policies -- spanning infrastructure, trade and investment facilitation and industry cooperation -- to further cement its place as an international hub.

"I hope more supporting policies emerge from the forum, ones that benefit small- and medium-sized private enterprises like mine," Liu said.

His view was echoed by Zhang Jianhai, general manager's assistant at Fujian Qunfeng Machinery, who hopes the forum will result in more cooperation projects.

Qunfeng produces brick machines and equipment related to environmental protection. As most countries along the Belt and Road are developing countries, Zhang said, they are in urgent need of better infrastructure. The company's latest projects under the initiative are business deals with Vietnam and Indonesia, each worth more than 20 million yuan.

For small- and medium-sized companies, Zhang hopes government departments could offer specific analysis and advice on investment opportunities. "In this way, those interested can ensure their proposals answer the brief," he said.

Lyu Jianzhong, chairman of Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce (SRCIC), will attend the forum.

He said infrastructure building, trade and investment, financial support, and personnel exchange are key areas of cooperation under the framework of Belt and Road.

He hopes that the forum will offer a platform where nations can freely discuss policies that will facilitate international trade, cooperation and cultural exchanges.

The initiative has boosted trade and investment between China and countries along the routes and offered a solution to global economic difficulties since 2013.

China's combined imports and exports with countries along the Belt and Road topped 6.3 trillion yuan in 2016, up 0.6 percent from 2015, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.

"The upcoming forum aims to reiterate China's commitments to opening up, and to building a community of shared development and destiny," said Huang Maoxing, head of School of Economics, Fujian Normal University.

"It is a response to the rising trend of protectionism -- the world economy needs to be universally-beneficial and inclusive," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 20:15:15|Editor: xuxin

Israeli officals inspect the site of the attack near East Jerusalem' Old City, on April 14, 2017. A British student was killed and two Israelis were injured in a "terror" attack carried out by a knife-wielding Palestinian in Jerusalem's light rail on Friday noon, Israeli officials said. (Xinhua/Guo Yu)

JERUSALEM, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A British student was killed and two Israelis were injured in a "terror" attack carried out by a knife-wielding Palestinian in Jerusalem's light rail on Friday noon, Israeli officials said.

The woman casualty, identified by police spokeswoman Luba Samri as a 25-year-old tourist and a student from England, was stabbed by a 57-year-old Palestinian passenger in the light rail.

A spokesperson for the MDA emergency medical service said the woman, whose name was not disclosed, received a CPR at the scene before she was rushed to the Sha'arey Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem.

About an hour later, the hospital announced that she succumbed to her wounds.

According to Samri, initial investigation showed that the assailant went on the light rail as a passenger. When the rail reached the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Square rail stop, near East Jerusalem, he pulled out a knife and stabbed the British tourist.

An Israeli man and a pregnant woman, who were apparently injured as the rail went into an emergency brake, also needed hospital care, the MDA spokesperson said. They sustained light injuries, according to the spokesperson.

The police first said the assailant was shot but later Samri said that a policeman who was on the rail noticed the incident and arrested him without shooting.

Samri described the stabber as a "mentally disturbed" Palestinian from Ras al-Amud, a Palestinian neighborhood of East Jerusalem, a territory that Israel had occupied in the 1967 Middle East War and later annexed in a move never recognized by the international community.

Samri added the suspect holds an Israeli ID.

The rail service in the city was temporarily halted, said a statement by Citipass, the company that operates the rail.

The attack came amidst the Jewish holiday of Passover.

It also came amidst a spate of violence that broke out in September 2015.

Since the beginning of the unrest, Palestinians have killed 41 Israelis and two U.S. nationals, while Israeli forces and civilians killed at least 241 Palestinians, a Jordanian, and two African asylum seekers, most of them alleged attackers, according to Israel.

Israel accuses the Palestinian National Authority of "inciting" the unrest. The Palestinians say it is the result of 50 years of Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, home to more than five million Palestinians.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 20:25:18|Editor: An

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Jiang Jianguo (2nd, R), Vice Head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, donates the Urdu version of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (2nd, L) at the release ceremony at the Prime Minister Secretariat in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on April 14, 2017.(Xinhua/Liu Tian)

ISLAMABAD, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Urdu language edition of the book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" was launched here on Friday and the launching ceremony was attended by around 300 Pakistani and Chinese officials, academicians and researchers.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Jiang Jianguo, vice head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, participated in the ceremony.

In his speech, Sharif said the rich content of the book is both "enlightening and inspiring" and Chinese President Xi Jinping shares his experiences and thoughts with wisdom, empathy and kindness.

"What has touched me most is that this book is not just about high politics, but also about moving stories of common people, their lives and inspirations about hard work and family values. In our times, the peaceful development of China has stimulated peaceful rise of the entire world," said Sharif.

He added that "this book is as much about our contemporary world as it is about China. This book is as much about Chinese dream as it is about the global dream to have peaceful, harmonious and connected world."

For his part, Jiang said in his speech that to create a community of shared future of mankind is an important idea in the book since it aims to build a world with lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness as well as cleanliness and beauty, adding that this idea points out the direction of the development of the human society and a new method for international problems.

Jiang said Pakistan is China's good friend, good neighbor, good brother and the prioritized partner of the Belt and Road Initiative, adding that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project of the initiative and has created more than 10,000 jobs for the locals in Pakistan.

"We fully believe that after our joint cooperation and coordination, a more prosperous and better Pakistan will be presented in front of the world," said Jiang.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong said the English version of Xi's book launched here in 2014 was warmly welcomed in the Pakistani society and the Urdu version will facilitate more Pakistani readers to understand Xi's philosophy of governance, adding that the completion of the Urdu version becomes a new symbol of friendly cooperation between China and Pakistan in the new era.

Mushahid Hussain, chairman of Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, said Pakistan is grateful to China and Chinese President Xi for reposing faith and confidence in Pakistan and its people through the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

"Because the CPEC today is a factor for national unity and progress and prosperity of the people of Pakistan, the provinces of Pakistan, particularly the less developed regions of Pakistan in the quest to build a better and more prosperous future," he added.

The book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" contains 79 speeches, talks, interviews, notes and letters of the Chinese leader between November 2012 and June 2014. To date, it has been translated into 16 languages and has a distribution of over 6.2 million copies around the world.

The book helps readers around the world better understand China's development, domestic and foreign policies, and response to the concerns of the international community.

Akram Zaki, former Pakistan ambassador to China, told Xinhua that the Urdu version of the book will help more Pakistanis understand the new level of partnership of the two countries through the CPEC.

"Most of Pakistanis don't know English and if they want to know what glorious things Chinese leadership is doing, this book will provide to the people who are fond of reading. They all talk about CPEC and China-Pakistan friendship, now they will know the significance of China-Pakistan friendship," he said.

Farrukh Sohail Goindi, chief of the Jamhoori Publications in charge of the Urdu version's translation, said it is an honor and pleasure for him to translate a Chinese president's book in Urdu. "Through this book, we can understand the Chinese politics, the vision of Chinese president and the role of China-Pakistan friendship in the region and all over the world."

Goindi, who reads the book five to nine times in different periods in different stages, told Xinhua after the ceremony that Urdu is an opinion-making language in Pakistan and through Urdu publication, a commoner can easily understand the role of China, the leadership of China, and the economic and political roles of China.
Seventeen-year-old Palestinian Huwaida Al-Zaree (R) tries to solve problems in her technology book in front of her house in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on April 17, 2016. April 23 is the World Book and Copyright Day.(Xinhua/Wissam Nassar)

PARIS, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will celebrate this year's World Book and Copyright Day with a major focus on the needs of the blind to have easy access to printed materials.

"In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNESCO advocates for the rights and needs of persons with disabilities and encourages the effective use of accessible, adaptive and affordable ICTs," said the Paris-based UN body.

Less than 10 percent of the millions of books published worldwide each year are published in formats accessible to the blind. The figure fell to 1 percent in developing countries, according to the World Blind Union (WBU).

"World Book and Copyright Day is an opportunity to highlight the power of books to promote our vision of knowledge societies that are inclusive, pluralistic, equitable, open and participatory for all citizens," said UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova.

Working on improving the blinds' "effective participation in society" by facilitating access to books, UNESCO is organizing on April 24 a conference on accessibility issues, entitled "Accessibility, what are the challenges in publishing?"

Celebrated every year on April 23, the World Book and Copyright Day is an opportunity "to promote reading, publishing and protection of intellectual property," UNESCO said in a press release.

For this year, Guinea's capital Conakry is named World Book Capital "on account of the quality and diversity of its program," in particular " its focus on community involvement," as well as "for its well-structured budget and clear development goals with a strong emphasis on youth and literacy," it added.
BISHKEK, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) have decided to grant Moldova observer status in the union, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev said Friday.

"The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council decided to welcome and support Moldova's intention to obtain the status of an observer state in the EEU," said Atambayev in Bishkek.

At their meeting, leaders of the EEU countries discussed main macroeconomic policy guidelines for 2017-2018 and economic cooperation with third countries, in particular, an interim agreement that will lead to the formation of a free trade zone between the EEU and Iran.

The EEU, which was formed in 2015, is an economic union of states located primarily in northern Eurasia, namely, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 21:05:27|Editor: Yamei

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Sao Tome and Principe Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada in Beijing, capital of China, April 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Sao Tome and Principe Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada in Beijing, calling for mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.

Relations between China and Sao Tome and Principe have opened a new chapter, said Xi, saying that Sao Tome and Principe's return to the China-Africa family of friendly cooperation complies with the trend of the times.

China highly appreciates the important contributions made by Prime Minister Trovoada in promoting the normalization of relations between China and Sao Tome and Principe, he said.

Xi said China is willing to work with Sao Tome and Principe to jointly push forward mutually beneficial cooperation and the establishment of a comprehensive cooperative partnership featuring equality, mutual trust, and win-win cooperation.

On pragmatic cooperation, Xi said China will support Sao Tome and Principe to improve its national comprehensive development plan, and boost mutually beneficial cooperation in tourism, fishery and agriculture.

China will facilitate Sao Tome and Principe's efforts in realizing independent and sustainable development by supporting its infrastructure construction, human resources development and security capacity building, said Xi.

He called on the two sides to enhance exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, health care, think-tanks, media, youth and women, so as to increase mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Sao Tome and Principe on combating piracy and transnational organized crimes, he said.

He also suggested the two sides enhance communication and coordination on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, climate change, peace and development in Africa, and other international and regional issues.

On China-Africa relations, Xi said China supported a stronger Africa through unity and was willing to work with Africa to push forward the establishment of China-Africa community of shared future and interests.

Trovoada said the resumption of diplomatic ties with China has received extensive support in Sao Tome and Principe.

Sao Tome and Principe will firmly adhere to the one-China policy, he said.

He highly appreciated China's African policy of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith, and is ready to strengthen high-level visits with China following the spirit of mutual respect and trust.

Sao Tome and Principe is willing to enhance cooperation with China in the areas of economy and trade, infrastructure, tourism and security, and deepen mutual support in international affairs, he said.

His country will also work to deepen the traditional friendship between Africa and China, said Trovoada.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 21:35:33|Editor: An

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Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao (R) meets with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki in Beijing, capital of China, April 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Vice President Li Yuanchao on Friday reaffirmed that China supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their national legitimate rights and interests.

While meeting with the visiting Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki at the Great Hall of the People, Li noted that China firmly supports the Middle East peace process and the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their national legitimate rights and interests.

Li expressed his hope that Palestine and Israel will work together to resume their peace talks as early as possible and achieve results.

Hailing the traditional friendship between the two countries, Li said China and Palestine had expanded cooperation in various fields. "China is willing to, together with Palestine, continue supporting each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns."

Riyad al-Malki thanked China for its support for the just cause of the Palestinian people, hoped to deepen political mutual trust and cooperation and expected China will continue to play a bigger role in the Middle East issue.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 22:05:38|Editor: Liangyu

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Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem (L), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (C) and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attend a joint press conference in Moscow, Russia, on April 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Evgeny Sinitsyn)

MOSCOW, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Russia, Iran and Syria proposed an on-site investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Syria last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

"We insist on conducting a meticulous, objective and unbiased investigation into the alleged chemical weapon attack by Syrian aircraft on April 4," Lavrov said at a joint press conference after talks with his Iranian and Syrian counterparts, Mohammad Javad Zarif and Walid al-Muallem.

The three agreed that the probe should be carried out by a well-balanced team of experts under the auspices of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the UN chemical weapons watchdog, Lavrov said.

Russia and Iran hailed the readiness of the Syrian government to accept such a mission, he added.

On April 7, the United States launched 59 cruise missiles against a Syrian military airfield in the province of Homs in response to the gassing of civilians in Khan Sheikhoun in the province of Idlib

Washington blamed the Syrian government for the attack. But Russia said it might have been caused by the explosion of chemical weapons stored by rebels in a local depot during a raid by the Syrian Air Force.

Russia, Iran and Syria unanimously regarded the U.S. missile strikes as an aggression in brutal violation of international law and the UN Charter, Lavrov noted.

"We insist that the United States and its allies should respect the sovereignty of Syria and abstain from similar actions," he said.

At the press conference, Syria's Muallem reiterated that his government no longer possesses chemical weapons and the destruction of its previous stockpiles had been confirmed by the OPCW.

"We do not use chemical weapons against terrorists or our own people. We condemn any use of chemical weapons," said the Syrian top diplomat.

For his part, Iran's Zarif said the gassing accusation should be clarified as soon as possible.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 22:30:45|Editor: xuxin

Iranian senior principlist cleric Ebrahim Reisi (C) gestures as he arrives to register for the upcoming presidential race at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, capital of Iran, on April 14, 2017. Reisi, who is commonly believed to be the main conservative rival of the incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, called for "respect to the law" by both people and the officials. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

TEHRAN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Iranian senior principlist cleric, Ebrahim Reisi, registered for the upcoming presidential race in Iran on Friday.

Reisi, who is commonly believed to be the main conservative rival of the incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, called for "respect to the law" by both people and the officials.

Democracy and democratic elections is attainable by reference to the people's vote and respect to the law, he told reporters after registration.

Reisi, appointed by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is currently the custodian and chairman of the Shrine of Shiite Imam Reza in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad.

He was previously served positions in Iran's Judiciary, as the Attorney General from 2014 to 2016, and Deputy Chief Justice from 2004 to 2014 for ten years.

He was also Prosecutor and Deputy Prosecutor of Tehran in 1980s and 1990s. Presently, he is a member of Assembly of Experts from South Khorasan Province, being elected for the first time in 2006 election.

On Tuesday, Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli announced registration of candidates for Iran's 12th presidential race slated for May 19.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 22:30:48|Editor: yan

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ISTANBUL, April 14 (Xinhua) -- As Turks go to the polls on Sunday over whether to accept amendments to the constitution to make way for a presidential system, "No" campaigners feel confident about their victory, though many polls indicate a neck-and-neck race.

According to polls made public in the past week, both "Yes" and "No" camps may emerge victorious by a small margin by garnering 51-52 percent of the votes.

Some polling companies give a slightly higher percentage -- ranging between 53 and 58 percent -- mostly favoring yes.

Dividing Turks is the contentious issue of whether to turn to an executive presidency from the parliamentarian system put in place ever since the republic was founded in 1923.

Those campaigning for "No" look confident that they are ahead in the polls, while leading figures of the "Yes" campaign -- members of the ruling party -- have been cautious on the issue.

"Let me say it clearly: Despite all the pressure by the state, the ruling party, the no vote will win," said Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), in a live interview on TV on Wednesday night.

Earlier in the day, he also maintained, based on latest surveys, that at least 53 percent of the voters in Istanbul would say no.

As Turkey's most populous city, Istanbul has almost one fifth of all the voters in the country except for expats.

The yeasayers argue that the switch to the presidential system would help the country achieve better economic progress and fight more effectively against terrorism by accelerating the decision-making process.

In an apparent bid to win over nationalist voters, they have often charged that whoever votes no is on the same side with terrorists.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), in power since 2002, also says the executive presidency would ensure stability in politics by eliminating the risk of coalitions under the parliamentarian system.

For their part, the naysayers counter that granting sweeping powers to the president without checks and balances could lead the country to disaster.

According to "No" campaigners, a stronger presidency would mean a change in Turkey's democratic regime rather than its political system, a development that would lead to a dictatorial one-man rule.

The ruling party rejects the claim, saying any person elected by popular votes can not be called a dictator.

Voting yes for the 18-article constitutional amendments is handing over the fate of the nation to a single person, the naysayers caution.

"The regime can no longer be called a democracy should these amendments enter into force," Abdullatif Sener, a former AKP deputy prime minister, told Xinhua.

The state structure the package aims to put in place would turn Turkey into a plaything for imperialism, he added, indicating it is always easier to pressure one single person.

According to the amendments to be voted on in Sunday referendum, the president will be authorized to change all top-level bureaucrats by a presidential decree without parliament's approval.

The "Yes" block is composed of the ruling AKP, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who headed the party, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) as well as the Grand Unity Party (BBP), a minor nationalist party not represented in parliament.

The remaining two parties that have seats in parliament, the CHP and the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) are campaign for "No." The conservative Felicity Party (SP), which appeals to religious voters like the AKP, is part of this camp.

The SP got only 0.7 percent of the votes in the last general election in 2015, but could have a significant influence over AKP voters as it is the party out of which the AKP was originally born in 2001.

The AKP won 49 percent of the votes in Istanbul in the last general election, while the MHP had almost 9 percent.

The Islamist AKP garnered 49.5 percent of all the votes in the 2015 election, while the MHP got almost 12 percent, the CHP over 25 percent and the HDP almost 11 percent. The right-wing BBP got slightly over half a percent.

Both the MHP and the BBP grassroots, however, are hugely split about the referendum. Around half a dozen former MHP deputies, most of them former leading party figures, are campaigning for no.

Meral Aksener, one of those MHP figures, claimed during a TV interview last week that the "No" camp will win around 54 percent of the votes.

Aksener also maintained that 80 percent of the MHP voters will say nay in the referendum. Some polling companies and MHP dissidents say the figure may be as high as 90 percent.

The MHP rejects the claim.

The "Yes" campaign will get a clear victory in the polls, Semih Yalcin, a MHP deputy chairman, said on TV on Thursday, noting conservative voters represent 64-70 percent of the country's population.

In contrast, President Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim have so far refrained from uttering any figures regarding polls, although they maintain yes votes are ahead and rising.

"Looking at the polls, there has been a very serious increase in yes votes," Erdogan said during a live TV interview on Thursday evening.

Yildirim was asked in a live interview the night before whether there were any poll results he would like to share with the public. While stating he has no doubts about a "Yes" win, the premier's response revealed his expectation of a neck-and-neck race.

When asked if yes votes would comfortably win, he said there is no need to get into details and that 50 plus one percent of votes would be enough for a win.

Yildirim has often defended the shift to the presidential system, saying a boat should not have two captains at the helm, referring to the posts of prime minister and president in the current system.

The ruling party argues the sharing of executive powers between the prime minister and the president is a source of major problems in governing the country due to potential differences of opinion.

Latest remarks by a top presidential adviser may also imply Erdogan does not see a "Yes" win much probable in the plebiscite.

"If things are determined to be lacking (in the package to be voted on), we might need to address them and go to the people again," Mehmet Ucum was quoted as saying by bloomberg.com on Thursday.

If "No" wins, another referendum could be held, Ucum reportedly added.

Arguing the nation is about to make a huge revolution in the referendum, the top adviser said, "The people are taking a step to establish their own state. Happy April 16!"

The remarks once again caused controversy, while the ruling party flatly denied the amendments package is aiming at a change of regime in the country.

In the face of a murky picture, many who did not bother to go to the polls in the past are expected, out of concern about democracy, to cast their votes this time.

"We are at a very critical crossroads. The question we are to answer is this: Will we be governed by democracy or dictatorship?" Fikret Baskaya, president of the Istanbul-based Free University, told Xinhua.

Baskaya, a professor of economics, is among those who did not care much about voting in the past, but is now calling on everybody to go to the polls.

Maintaining that the AKP is putting this package to the vote as it is aware of the party losing capacity to rule the country even in a caricature of democracy, he said, "That's why they want to introduce a one-man system to the core, but people will not allow that."

The package is much criticized for greatly weakening the parliament, eliminating checks and balances while creating an all-powerful president who would also have a strong control over the judiciary.

After getting elected president in 2014, Erdogan has spoken on various occasions in favor of unity of powers to the detriment of separation of powers. He is the country's first president elected by popular votes.

Back in November last year, the president revealed that he sees himself as a shepherd, arguing those who fail to grasp the philosophy of shepherding can not successfully rule.

Turkey has been under an emergency rule since a failed coup last July. Tens of thousands of civil servants, academics, military members and police officers have been dismissed for allegedly being linked to the network behind the coup and other terror groups.

Dozens of media outlets have been shut down by government decrees and over 150 journalists are reportedly put in jail on the same charges.

As race is heating up in the run-up to the referendum, it is widely argued by "No" campaigners and some polling companies that polls may well give a defective result since some people could have avoided revealing their intention to vote no.

One could badly fail when making a prediction based only on polls this time, Ozer Sencar, president of the Metropoll polling company, told Xinhua.

The margin of error in the polls usually varies between 1.5-2.2 percent.

The timidity of people to answer questions presented by pollsters was reflected in Metropoll's work.

"Two out of three people used to answer our questions, but we were only able to survey one out of every 3.1 people this time," said Sencar.

Even if "Yes" wins, Turkey will switch to the presidential system only after the polls in 2019 when Erdogan's current term ends. Parliamentary elections will be held at the same time.

A yes vote will introduce an immediate change in only two areas: the lift of the ban on the president having ties with his party after election, and the reelection of members of Turkey's top judicial body, the Higher Board of Judges and Prosecutors.

Under the current Constitution, a president is required to be impartial and cut off therefore all ties with his or her party after election.

If the "Yes" camp wins, Erdogan will again be able to join and head the AKP while serving as president.

This will allow him to select without violating the Constitution all AKP deputy candidates ahead of a general election and keep thereby a tight control over the party.

Should the amendments are accepted, Erdogan will personally select four of the 13 members of the top judicial body. The justice minister and his or her undersecretary are natural members of the board.

The remaining seven members will be elected by parliament where the ruling AKP has a dominant role.

Based on the current composition of parliament, the AKP would determine all the seven members without support of the opposition, Ilhan Cihaner, a CHP deputy, noted in an article in the Birgun daily early this month.

The amendments authorize the president to select, without the approval of parliament, as many government ministers and vice presidents as he likes.

According to the current constitution, the president is not accountable before the law for any of his acts other than treason.

The AKP's proposal introduces accountability before law for the president, but makes it more difficult for the president to be referred to the Constitutional Court for trial.

The current legislation asks for 276 votes in parliament to refer the president to the Constitutional Court for trial, while a new constitution demands 400 votes for the same purpose, though the number of deputies will increase from the current 550 to 600.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 22:30:50|Editor: An

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BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- China's banks extended 4.22 trillion yuan (613 billion U.S. dollars) in new yuan loans in the first quarter of 2017, down from 4.61 trillion yuan last year, central bank data showed Friday.

At the end of last month, total outstanding yuan-denominated loans stood at 110.83 trillion yuan, up 12.4 percent compared with the previous year.

A slowdown in credit expansion means that the economy is levering up at a slower pace, according to Tom Orlik, chief Asia economist at Bloomberg.

Total social finance, a measurement of funds that non-financial firms and households get from the financial system, stood at 162.82 trillion yuan at the end of March, up 12.5 percent year on year, according to the PBOC data.

"The year-on-year growth of social finance in the first quarter suggests that support for the real economy has not eased off," said Ruan Jianhong, head of the Survey and Statistics Department at the central bank.

A breakdown of loan data also showed milder growth in mortgage lending, with outstanding real estate loans rising 26.1 percent year on year, down 0.9 percentage points compared with the overall growth in 2016.

The new data implies that government measures to address property speculation have begun to take effect, said Dong Ximiao with the Renmin University of China.

M1, a narrow measure of money supply which covers cash in circulation plus demand deposits, rose 18.8 percent from a year earlier to 48.88 trillion yuan. M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, grew 10.6 percent to about 160 trillion yuan, according to a People's Bank of China online statement.

M0, the amount of cash in circulation, was up 6.1 percent to 6.86 trillion yuan.

China's M2 target this year is growth of around 12 percent, one percentage point lower than the 2016 target.

"The smooth deceleration of M2 growth signals the implementation of the 'prudent and neutral' monetary policy and strengthened government supervision over the mounting leverage among financial institutions," said Ruan.

Ruan said M2 growth in the first quarter is in line with overall economic development.

Official data also indicated yuan-denominated deposits grew by 5.06 trillion yuan in the first quarter, with outstanding deposits at 156trillion yuan.
Jiang Jianguo (2nd, R), Vice Head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, donates the Urdu version of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (2nd, L) at the release ceremony at the Prime Minister Secretariat in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on April 14, 2017.(Xinhua/Liu Tian)

ISLAMABAD, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Urdu language edition of the book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" was launched here on Friday and the launching ceremony was attended by around 300 Pakistani and Chinese officials, academicians and researchers.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Jiang Jianguo, vice head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, participated in the ceremony.

In his speech, Sharif said the rich content of the book is both "enlightening and inspiring" and Chinese President Xi Jinping shares his experiences and thoughts with wisdom, empathy and kindness.

"What has touched me most is that this book is not just about high politics, but also about moving stories of common people, their lives and inspirations about hard work and family values. In our times, the peaceful development of China has stimulated peaceful rise of the entire world," said Sharif.

He added that "this book is as much about our contemporary world as it is about China. This book is as much about Chinese dream as it is about the global dream to have peaceful, harmonious and connected world."

Jiang Jianguo (L), Vice Head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, speaks at the release ceremony of the Urdu version of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" at the Prime Minister Secretariat in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on, April 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Tian)

For his part, Jiang said in his speech that to create a community of shared future of mankind is an important idea in the book since it aims to build a world with lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness as well as cleanliness and beauty, adding that this idea points out the direction of the development of the human society and a new method for international problems.

Jiang said Pakistan is China's good friend, good neighbor, good brother and the prioritized partner of the Belt and Road Initiative, adding that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project of the initiative and has created more than 10,000 jobs for the locals in Pakistan.

"We fully believe that after our joint cooperation and coordination, a more prosperous and better Pakistan will be presented in front of the world," said Jiang.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong said the English version of Xi's book launched here in 2014 was warmly welcomed in the Pakistani society and the Urdu version will facilitate more Pakistani readers to understand Xi's philosophy of governance, adding that the completion of the Urdu version becomes a new symbol of friendly cooperation between China and Pakistan in the new era.

Pakistani readers receive the Urdu version of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" after the release ceremony of the book at the Prime Minister Secretariat in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on, April 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Tian)

Mushahid Hussain, chairman of Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, said Pakistan is grateful to China and Chinese President Xi for reposing faith and confidence in Pakistan and its people through the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

"Because the CPEC today is a factor for national unity and progress and prosperity of the people of Pakistan, the provinces of Pakistan, particularly the less developed regions of Pakistan in the quest to build a better and more prosperous future," he added.

The book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" contains 79 speeches, talks, interviews, notes and letters of the Chinese leader between November 2012 and June 2014. To date, it has been translated into 16 languages and has a distribution of over 6.2 million copies around the world.

The book helps readers around the world better understand China's development, domestic and foreign policies, and response to the concerns of the international community.

Akram Zaki, former Pakistan ambassador to China, told Xinhua that the Urdu version of the book will help more Pakistanis understand the new level of partnership of the two countries through the CPEC.

"Most of Pakistanis don't know English and if they want to know what glorious things Chinese leadership is doing, this book will provide to the people who are fond of reading. They all talk about CPEC and China-Pakistan friendship, now they will know the significance of China-Pakistan friendship," he said.

Farrukh Sohail Goindi, chief of the Jamhoori Publications in charge of the Urdu version's translation, said it is an honor and pleasure for him to translate a Chinese president's book in Urdu. "Through this book, we can understand the Chinese politics, the vision of Chinese president and the role of China-Pakistan friendship in the region and all over the world."

Goindi, who reads the book five to nine times in different periods in different stages, told Xinhua after the ceremony that Urdu is an opinion-making language in Pakistan and through Urdu publication, a commoner can easily understand the role of China, the leadership of China, and the economic and political roles of China.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 22:40:52|Editor: yan

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BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military on Thursday dropped a GBU-43, or Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, on an Islamic State (IS) cave complex in Afghanistan, killing at least 36 suspected IS militants and producing a mushroom cloud visible from 32 km away.

It was the first time that the U.S. military has used in combat such a bomb, dubbed the "Mother of All Bombs," a smart re-interpretation of the initials MOAB.

The bomb weighs about 9.5 tons, with 8.2 tons of explosives filled. Its destructive power depends on the formula of the explosives, and it can be eight times as powerful when filled with specific explosives.

Experts say that the bomb's munition is not ordinary one, but high-energy fuel which is more effective when used to hit hideouts like caves and tunnels.

Meanwhile, the bomb can consume a large quantity of oxygen in the air when it explodes, thus suffocating personnel nearby to death, they say.

The bomb is designed to hit soft targets such as surface facilities, tunnel entrances and troop concentrations. It is dropped by aircraft, guided to its target by Global Positioning System and slowed by a parachute.

MOAB was first tested in March 2003 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Since 2003, such bombs have been manufactured in the southern state of Oklahoma.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 22:45:54|Editor: An

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BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Swiss President Doris Leuthard will attend the Belt and Road forum for international cooperation in Beijing on May 14 and 15.

Jorg Gasser, head of Switzerland's state secretariat for international financial matters, made the announcement Friday at a press conference at the Embassy of Switzerland in China.

Gasser is visiting China along with a delegation headed by Swiss Finance Minister Ueli Maurer.

"The Belt and Road Initiative is a very important proposal," said Maurer, adding that Switzerland is willing to cooperate with China on project financing, risk control and insurance under the mechanism.

"Given the Belt and Road Initiative is a grand plan, we want to know China's consideration and plan before we find out a specific way to take part in the initiative, such as on large infrastructural projects and risk control in financial sectors," said Gasser.

Speaking highly of the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) that entered into force on July 1, 2014, Swiss Ambassador to China Jean-Jacques De Dardel said that he is optimistic about the "great potential" for cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Switzerland was the first European country to sign a bilateral FTA with China.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 22:50:56|Editor: yan

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MOSCOW, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Friday called on relevant countries to exercise restraint to cool down the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Moscow is watching the escalation of tensions with great concern and asks relevant countries to refrain from provocative actions, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

He reiterated Russia's non-proliferation stance, adding that all crises should be settled with political and diplomatic methods.

The United States has sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters near the Korean Peninsula in what it called a "reaction to provocations" by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with recent missile tests.

Pyongyang on Friday warned the United States of "toughest counteraction" to its "reckless military provocation."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 23:36:03|Editor: yan

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ANKARA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed in a bomb attack in Turkey's southeast province of Van on Friday, Dogan News Agency reported.

The handmade explosives placed in a culvert in the Catak district of Van left a soldier and a village guard dead, Dogan said.

The explosive device was detonated by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, according to the report.

An air operation launched by security forces to capture terrorists is going on in the area.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015 after a brief period of reconciliation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-14 23:46:04|Editor: yan

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ROME, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday it was horrified to learn that three workers contracted as porters by WFP's office in Wau, South Sudan, were killed during violence that wracked the city earlier this week.

The three men -- Daniel James, Ecsa Tearp and Ali Elario, all citizens of South Sudan -- appear to have been killed on Monday as they tried to make their way to a WFP warehouse, where they worked as porters. Two died of machete wounds and the third was shot.

"We are outraged and heartbroken by the deaths of our colleagues, who worked every day to help provide life-saving food to millions of their fellow countrymen," a WFP statement quoted WFP country director Joyce Luma as saying.

"Our sympathies and condolences are with their families. Their dedication will not be forgotten, and we call on the South Sudanese authorities to hold those responsible for this unspeakable violence accountable for their actions," Luma added.

The Rome-based UN food agency also said it learned of the workers' deaths on Thursday from the company that employed them, which is contracted by WFP to provide loading and unloading services at the Wau warehouse.

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli (L) meets with Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, in Tallinn, capital of Estonia, April 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Pang XingLei)

TALLINN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli has expressed appreciation for Estonia's support and participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, calling on both sides to fully tap the potentials to step up economic and trade cooperation.

Zhang made the remarks while meeting with Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid on Thursday evening in Tallinn, capital of the Baltic country.

Estonia is an important country by the Baltic Sea and an important partner of China in the Central and Eastern Europe, Zhang told Kaljulaid.

"China hopes the two countries can integrate each other's development strategies so as to add new impetus into the bilateral cooperation," Zhang said.

He called on both sides to fully explore cooperation potentials in the areas of infrastructure construction, production capacity, equipment manufacturing, agriculture and information technology in order to step up the bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Zhang said China is willing to discuss with Estonia the possibility to cooperate on the Rail Baltic, an international rail connection that will connect Estonia with Central and Western Europe and its neighbors.

China attaches great importance to the relations with Estonia, said the vice premier. The two countries celebrated 25th anniversary of forging diplomatic ties last year, marking that the bilateral ties have entered a new stage of steady and mature growth, he added.

China would like to further cement traditional friendship with Estonia, enhance mutual trust, expand two-way cooperation so as to lift the relationship to a new height, Zhang said.

For her part, Kaljulaid said her country pays great importance to the exchanges with China at various levels under the "16+1" cooperation mechanism.

The "16+1" refers to China and the 16 Central and Eastern European countries.

Estonia would like to take the opportunity of the Belt and Road initiative to expand its economic cooperation with China, she said.

Estonia will take the rotating EU presidency in the second half of 2017. Zhang said China firmly supports the European integration and hopes Kaljulaid and her country can exert active influence within the European Union (EU) so as to promote China-EU relations.

Kaljulaid said it is in line with both sides' interests that the EU conducts free trade with more partners. Estonia is committed to forging ahead EU-China ties, she added.

She also expressed her willingness to visit China at an early date and confidence in a brighter future of Estonia-China cooperation.

On Thursday night, Zhang also held talks with Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas, calling on both countries to boost high-level exchanges and cooperation in areas including transportation and logistics, agriculture, culture and tourism.

He reaffirmed that China will continue its reform and opening up policy featuring mutual benefit and win-win results.

Ratas noted that the two countries' economic ties now are the closest ever in history, expressing willingness to deepen bilateral cooperation in areas of economy and trade, transportation, logistics and third-party market.

Estonia hopes to welcome more Chinese tourists, Ratas added.

Zhang arrived in Tallinn Thursday afternoon from Moscow for a two-day visit. This is the second leg of his nine-day visit to five Eurasia countries. The trip will also take him to Slovenia, Albania and Kazakhstan.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-15 00:36:12|Editor: Liu

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Aerial photo taken on April 1, 2017 shows Xiongxian County, north China's Hebei Province. China announced Saturday it would establish the Xiongan New Area in Hebei Province, as part of measures to advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region. The New Area, about 100 km southwest of downtown Beijing, will span three counties that sit at the center of the triangular area formed by Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei's provincial capital Shijiazhuang. (Xinhua/Wang Xiao)

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Xiongan New Area's most important role is as a new home for Beijing's "non-capital" functions, according to Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.

The creation of Xiongan New Area is a major historic and strategic decision that will be crucial for the millennium to come, and President Xi Jinping has been directly engaged in the planning process, Zhang told Xinhua.

The Xiongan New Area will be a green, livable and modern urban area, a region led by innovation-driven development, a demonstration area of balanced development, and a pioneering region of open development, Zhang said.

Quoting Xi, the vice premier said development of the new economic zone should protect the local environment, avoid becoming an industrial hub led by traditional industries and the real estate sector, lift growth of neighboring areas and seek higher levels of opening up, such as participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Development of the Xiongan New Area will explore new ways of addressing the problems of big cities, promote innovation and new growth engines, optimize the urban pattern and bridge the gaps in economic growth and public services in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Zhang added.

The decision to set up the Xiongan New Area was made in a "scrupulous, prudent, methodical and democratic" manner, with senior officials of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region development team meeting many times to discuss such issues as the restoration and protection of the region's vast freshwater wetland Baiyangdian, Zhang said.

Zhang outlined key tasks to ensure steady and orderly progress.

The government will use the most advanced planning philosophy and international standards to create a green, smart area.

Development of Xiongan will move on gradually and methodically with no large-scale real estate development or illegal construction.

The government will strive to balance developing infrastructure and receiving Beijing's non-capital functions.

A clean slate will allow the government to set up a lean, efficient and uniform management body and use market-oriented measures to finance the work, the vice premier said.

The plan for the Xiongan New Area was officially announced on April 1. The new economic zone will span Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin counties in Hebei Province, eventually covering 2,000 square kilometers, with a population of 2 to 2.5 million.

Addressing a central economic meeting at the end of 2014, Xi said that transferring Beijing's non-capital functions, lowering its population density and promoting economic and social development commensurate with its population and resources must be at the core of coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

During Communist Party of China (CPC) meetings in April 2015, Xi suggested investigating the possibility of a new city in Hebei, built according to new development concepts.

On March 24, 2016, Xi heard a report on the creation of Beijing's "subsidiary center" in the eastern suburb of Tongzhou and another area -- Xiongan -- where non-capital functions would be transferred from Beijing.

On May 27, 2016, Xiongan New Area appeared for the first time in a report reviewed at a Political Bureau meeting of the CPC Central Committee.

Visiting the location on Feb. 23 this year, Xi expressed satisfaction with the location, population and natural resources of Xiongan.

"It's a good choice, as it will not create too much trouble for locals, involves only a small amount of relocation and something can be achieved in a short time," said Xi.

According to the president's plans, the Xiongan New Area will primarily be the receiver of non-capital functions from Beijing, including some administrative and public institutions, company headquarters, financial institutions, higher education institutions and sci-tech units.
Photo taken on April 11, 2017 shows military vehicles during the U.S.-South Korea joint Exercise Operation Pacific Reach in Pohang, South Korea. (Xinhua/Lee Sang-ho)

MOSCOW, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Friday called on relevant countries to exercise restraint to cool down the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Moscow is watching the escalation of tensions with great concern and asks relevant countries to refrain from provocative actions, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

He reiterated Russia's non-proliferation stance, adding that all crises should be settled with political and diplomatic methods.

The United States has sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters near the Korean Peninsula in what it called a "reaction to provocations" by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with recent missile tests.

Pyongyang on Friday warned the United States of "toughest counteraction" to its "reckless military provocation."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-15 03:37:32|Editor: Liu

Israeli officals inspect the site of the attack near East Jerusalem' Old City, on April 14, 2017. A British student was killed and two Israelis were injured in a "terror" attack carried out by a knife-wielding Palestinian in Jerusalem's light rail on Friday noon, Israeli officials said. (Xinhua/Guo Yu)

JERUSALEM, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Israeli authorities named the British victim of a knife attack in Jerusalem on Friday as Hanna Bladon, a 21-year-old student.

At noon Friday, Bladon was stabbed on light rail by a Palestinian passenger, who was described by the police as a "mentally disturbed man," before dying of her wounds about an hour later in a hospital.

Bladon, a student of Birmingham University in England, commenced her studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in January 2017 in a student exchange program. She was expected to complete the program in September.

The Hebrew University offered its condolences to Bladon's family, saying in an official statement that "the university condemns such acts of terror and murder that hurt innocents who have come to Jerusalem to enrich their knowledge."

According to police spokeswoman Luba Samri, an initial investigation indicated the assailant as a passenger on the light rail. When the rail reached the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Square stop near East Jerusalem, he pulled out a knife from a shopping bag and stabbed Bladon.

The police first said the assailant was shot, but a later statement said an off-duty policeman on the rail witnessed the incident and arrested the stabber without shooting.

The suspect has been taken into custody, Samri said.

According to Samri, the attacker, who holds an Israeli ID, was released from a psychiatric hospital in northern Israel shortly before the incident. He was on his way home in the Palestinian neighborhood of Ras al-Amud in East Jerusalem.

However, a statement released by Israel Security Agency Shin Bet called the suspect a "terrorist," saying he might have carried out the attack in an attempt to get killed by the police.

"He recently tried to commit suicide, in a hospital in northern Israel, by swallowing a razor blade," the statement read.

"In 2011, he was convicted of sexually abusing his daughter," it added.

A man and a pregnant woman, who apparently sustained light injuries when the rail went into an emergency brake, also needed hospital care, according to a spokesman for the MDA, an Israeli emergency medical service company.

The rail service in the city was temporarily halted, said a statement by Citipass, the company that operates the rail.

The attack came amid the Jewish holiday of Passover.

The police in the city have been on high alert as tens of thousands of Jews arrive for prayers in the Western Wall inside East Jerusalem's Old City, and some even go to visit the flashpoint al-Aqsa compound, a hilltop site above the Western Wall regarded as sacred by both Muslims and Jews.

It is not the first time that a Palestinian suffering from personal, mental or moral distress has chosen to commit a terrorist attack in order to escape their problems, according to Shin Bet.

The incident also came amid a spate of violence that broke out in September 2015.

Since the beginning of the unrest, Palestinians have killed 41 Israelis and two U.S. nationals, while Israeli forces and civilians killed at least 241 Palestinians, a Jordanian and two African asylum seekers, most of them alleged attackers, according to Israel.

Israel accuses the Palestinian National Authority of "inciting" the unrest. The Palestinians say it is the result of 50 years of Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, home to more than 5 million Palestinians.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-15 04:38:15|Editor: yan

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MEXICO CITY, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A fiery head-on collision between a tanker truck ferrying fuel and a passenger bus in south Mexico was caused by the bus driver, officials said on Friday.

The accident, which occurred on early Thursday along a highway in the border region between the states of Guerrero and Michoacan, left 24 people dead, including the drivers of both vehicles, and nine people injured.

A security spokesperson for Guerrero state, Roberto Alvarez Heredia, said an investigation by both state and federal police found the bus had moved into the opposite lane and crashed head on into the truck, which was laden with fuel.

Shortly after the impact, the tanker truck exploded into flames, burning to death most of the victims.

"The driver of the passenger bus made some type of mistake leading him to invade the opposite lane and crash into the front of the tanker truck that was full of fuel, which caused a fire and obviously the tragic outcome," Alvarez told Radio Red news.

The forensics studies were backed by firsthand accounts from the nine survivors, who are being treated at a hospital in Michoacan, he said.

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 the Easter weekend.
Photo provided by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 1, 2017 shows top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un (Front) recently guiding the Korean People's Army Tank Crews' Competition-2017. (Xinhua/KCNA)

By Lu Jiafei, Guo Yina

WASHINGTON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The United States should not insist on any preconditions for direct talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and China's "suspension for suspension" proposal could serve as the basis for further negotiation, a U.S. expert said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Joel Wit, senior fellow at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, said the recent increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula seemed puzzling.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are rising as the DPRK on Friday warned of "toughest counteraction" in response to what it called "reckless miliary provocation" after the United States sent USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters near the Korean Peninsula in what it called a "reaction to provocations" by the DPRK with recent missile tests.

"I don't see why tensions are going up," said Wit. "There's nothing that has happened in the past month that necessitated sending a carrier battle group there, or increasing tensions."

Tensions could heat up if the DPRK conducts a new nuclear test, but right now nothing had happened that could really change the situation dramatically, he added.

Long before joining the Johns Hopkins University, Wit served as senior advisor from 1993 to 1995 to Robert Galluci, then chief U.S. negotiator with the DPRK during the Korean Peninsula nuclear crisis of 1994. Later, Wit became the U.S. official in charge of implementing the 1994 U.S.-DPRK Agreed Framework from 1995 to 1999.

He told Xinhua that the main lesson from dealing with the DPRK in the past two decades is to realize that the DPRK is not irrational as the United States would think.

"They keenly understand their own national interests, and act on those interests. Right now their main national interest is to build nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them. That's very clear to them," said Wit.

The main reason for the DPRK to move forward with its nuclear weapons program is "to defend itself against what it feels is a threat from the United States and U.S. allies in the region, South Korea and Japan," said Wit.

"In the past, there have been times when they thought their national interests required better relations with the United States, and as a result of that, they were willing to limit their nuclear weapons program, or even get rid of it," said Wit. "We need to keep that in mind as we try to find a way out of this problem."

In his first trip to Asia in March, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said there would be no negotiation until the DPRK agreed to dismantle its nuclear programs.

However, Wit said that there should not be any preconditions for establishing an "informal get-together" between the United States and the DPRK to explore whether formal talks are possible.

"At that first get-together, or maybe more than one meeting, we shouldn't have any preconditions," Wit told Xinhua. "It should just be a discussion about issues each side is concerned about."

Only after the first step of discussions back and forth will both sides be able to determine whether the informal contact can evolve into formal negotiations which might actually address the issus both are concerned about.

"It's pretty straight forward, but we can't insist on preconditions for that initial step," said Wit.

If the U.S. direct engagement with the DPRK falls short of the expectations, then tougher measures, such as more sanctions could be used to increase pressure on the DPRK before exploring a new dialogue, Wit suggested.

"We could impose more sanctions, but it's not really having an effect. We can cooperate, and tighten the noose a little bit more, but it's never going to be enough," said Wit. "What's enough is to tighten the noose, but also to keep open the channel of a possible dialogue."

Back in March, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed "suspension for suspension" to defuse the looming crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

"As a first step, the DPRK may suspend its nuclear and missile activities in exchange for the suspension of large-scale U.S.- Republic of Korea (ROK) military exercises," Wang told a press conference at the time.

This will help the parties to break out of the security dilemma and return to the negotiating table, according to Wang.

Calling the Chinese proposal a "first proposal that might not necessarily acceptable to both countries," Wit said that the proposal would work if both the United States and the DPRK were willing to do it.

"It (the Chinese proposal) could be the basis for further negotiation," said Wit.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-15 04:58:21|Editor: yan

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by Ronald Ssekandi

LAMWO, Uganda, April 15 (Xinhua) -- As the day broke on Thursday, South Sudanese refugee Joseph Okumu at Ngomoromo, a small border post in the northern Ugandan district of Lamwo, was anxiously waiting for the trip to his next destination in Uganda.

Okumu fled to Uganda about a week ago after his home town Pajok was engulfed in fighting between government troops and rebels. His family joined the over 5,000 South Sudan refugees who fled the fighting and are now at Ngomoromo.

Buses and trucks on Wednesday started transporting the refugees from the border post to a new refugee settlement in Palabek about 60 km away from the border post.

Carrying a few of their belongings like mattresses, cooking utensils, the refugees boarded the buses to create space at the already crowded border post.

They are being transported by the Ugandan government and the UN refugee agency UNHCR to the new settlement where they will be given plots of land to settle down.

"We have been transporting them to West Nile but now were are taking them to the new settlement so that we can decongest this place. Since last week we have had around 5,000 South Sudan refugees here at Ngomoromo," Joy Bamutya, a refugee officer with the Ugandan government told Xinhua.

After the 60-km bumpy and dusty ride, Okumu's family arrived at Palabek Refugee Settlement. They went through health screening and were given a hot meal.

Okumu's family will after 24 hours be given a piece of land where he will set up a tent for shelter and also cultivate.

At the settlement, there was already a beehive of activities as different families are setting up camp. Relief agencies like the UN World Food Programme are also setting up a food store.

OVERCROWDED CAMPS

The opening of Palabek Refugee Settlement followed the rapid filling up of other refugee settlements that are hosting South Sudanese refugees.

Of the over 1.5 million South Sudanese who have fled the country since fighting broke out in December 2013, over 800,000 are in Uganda.

Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement that was opened up early this year quickly filled up, making it the largest refugee camp in the world. The camp hosts over 30,000 South Sudanese refugees.

Many refugees are rushing to Uganda, which is acclaimed for its open refugee policy and where refugees are given land to settle and cultivate.

Yet the country has warned that it is at a breaking point as it does not have enough resources to accomodate the increasing number of refugees.

The country and aid agencies have called for increased international assistance but little is trickling in.

Relief agencies like the UN World Food Programme are struggling to provide food to the increasing number of refugees.

Last year, the food aid agencies reduced the food rations given to refugees who fled South Sudan earlier than 2013 so that it can be able to cater for the new arrivals.

Relief experts argue that the major global powers seem to be concentrating more on other crises in the world, for instance the Syrian crisis.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni while meeting the visiting South Sudan's First Vice President Taban Deng Gai earlier this week urged the leadership to help end the bloodshed.

"I call upon all people of South Sudan to refrain from violence. The only politically viable way is peace and dialogue to achieve development," Museveni said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-15 05:03:24|Editor: yan

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A new study calls for policymakers tailor decisions regarding deforestation around Africa's unique dynamics and uncertainties while the region expands production of in-demand commodity crops such as cocoa, soy and oil palm, at the cost of tropical forests.

Published in Environmental Research Letters, the study provides the first comprehensive assessment of how international demand for commodity crops is affecting sub-Saharan Africa's tropical forests, second in size only to the Amazon in South America and almost 30 percent of the world's total.

Since 2015, agricultural production in the region has grown at the fastest rate globally, and cropland is predicted to expand more than 10 percent by 2025.

With its abundant cheap land and labor, sub-Saharan Africa would seem an obvious next step for multinational companies looking to expand farther, as integrated production of in-demand crops has moved away from areas where land is scarce and where natural resource regulations are robust, and moved to tropical regions such as Southeast Asia and South America, where Brazil and Indonesia alone accounted for more than 60 percent of global tropical deforestation from 2000 to 2005.

Although deforestation rates in Africa remain well below those in South America and Southeast Asia, the region has lost an area of intact forest about the size of Iceland since 2000.

Africa's forests, contained primarily in the Congo Basin, are an important source of local income.

In addition to regulating climate, safeguarding water quality and controlling disease, the forests feed and provide subsistence means to at least 100 million people living nearby.

Forest products such as logs generate an average of 6 percent of sub-Saharan Africa's gross domestic product, triple the world average.

"We are starting to better understand issues related to large-scale agricultural expansion in the tropics," said lead author Elsa Ordway, a graduate student in the Stanford University School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences. "In Africa, we have the opportunity to take lessons learned from other regions and recommend preventive policies."

Expansion of commodity crop production in sub-Saharan Africa has so far been driven primarily by small- and medium-scale local farmers who boost the regional economy and can expand with less disruption to forests. As multinational companies move in, they are more likely to acquire land by clearing intact forest due to property conflicts resulting from the region's land tenure complexities.

These companies have bought up a land area larger than Costa Rica in the Congo Basin, mostly for crops such as oil palm and soy, in recent years.

The study's authors suggest Africa could be spared the massive deforestation that large-scale monoculture has wrought on regions such as Southeast Asia by implementing policies that prioritize forest conservation and local control of the land.

In particular, they recommend policies that would alleviate poverty in local regions and incentivize forest conservation rather than the widespread deforestation that has accompanied agricultural expansion in other regions.

"Civil society, policymakers and private companies can benefit from many years of trial-and-error with anti-deforestation policies in South America and Southeast Asia to design more effective interventions in sub-Saharan Africa," co-author Eric Lambin, a professor in the School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences, was quoted as saying in a new release from Stanford.

Among the possible solutions: promoting investment that ensures small and medium-scale farmers continue to drive agricultural expansion in order to alleviate poverty and avoid land tenure conflicts, encouraging shade cultivation of crops such as cocoa to incentivize forest cover conservation, and finding ways to engage African consumers on deforestation issues.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-15 05:03:25|Editor: Liangyu

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Lawyer Thomas Demetrio, who is representing David Dao, the passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight, speaks during a press conference in Chicago, Illinois, the United States, on April 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

By Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Some U.S. lawmakers and an Asian-American rights group are demanding answers from United Airlines after its violent removal of an Asian-American passenger from a flight on Sunday night.

Earlier this week saw a video going viral of David Dao on social media. The 69-year-old Asian-American physician was violently removed from an overbooked United Airlines flight by security officers to make room for crew members at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago after refusing to give up his seat as requested.

The video of the incident posted online has been viewed millions of times worldwide, and caused a global uproar and grabbed headlines in multiple countries.

Many people in the United States, Vietnam, China and a number of other countries have expressed outrage at the mistreatment of Dao, who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s.

"It remains to be seen if Dr. Dao was racially profiled for removal from the United flight, but we believe a full and transparent investigation is necessary to determine if there were racial biases at work," John C. Yang, president and executive director of Washington-based rights group Asian Americans Advancing Justice, said in a statement sent to Xinhua.

The use of force in this situation was "inappropriate," Yang said.

"The incident is also indicative of the continued concerns that vulnerable communities, including African Americans and Latinos, have raised for a long time regarding use of excessive police force," he said.

Asian Americans have faced the same discriminatory challenges for over 100 years, and have seen a renewed surge in hate and discrimination against them, Yang said.

"It is easy to understand why some would question the motives of the airline, airport security, and law enforcement personnel as targeting an Asian American, a community of people often falsely viewed as the least likely to speak out against situations like this one," Yang said.

"The fact that the victim is Asian American and from a distinguished profession should only further prove to Asian Americans that we all have to be part of this broader coalition against hate, police brutality, and disparate treatment of communities color and other marginalized communities," he added.

Members of the U.S. Congress have also expressed concern, as U.S. House Representative Judy Chu, a Chinese American, has written both to the United Airlines and to the U.S. Department of Transportation demanding answers.

Chu, chair of the U.S. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said she is extremely "disturbed" over the violent treatment of Dao.

"It is unacceptable to treat any human being in this manner, and the United Airlines has to change its policy," Chu told Xinhua in a phone interview on Wednesday from her home state of California.

A bipartisan group of senators also sent a pair of letters earlier this week to United, demanding a "full accounting" of what happened, and are demanding a response by next week.

The letters were signed by Senators John Thune, the Senate's third highest ranking Republican, and Bill Nelson, a Democrat representing Florida, Roy Blunt, a Republican representing Missouri, and Maria Cantwell, a Democrat representing Washington State.

In a separate letter to United Airlines, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono joined a group of senators earlier this week to demand answers from the airline.

"Consumer trust and confidence are critical to ensure this industry continues to thrive, and we hope United Airlines will work diligently to immediately address this incident and make necessary improvements to ensure it does not occur again," the letter said.

While United CEO Oscar Munoz has apologized, lawmakers argue that United's response seemed not to understand the level of outrage worldwide over the incident.

In response to the United incident, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen is drafting a bill to make it illegal to forcibly remove passengers from commercial airlines, and is now seeking co-sponsors for the legislation, according to local media.
Passengers wait to check in at a counter of the United Airlines at the O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, the United States, April 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

By Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Some U.S. lawmakers and an Asian-American rights group are demanding answers from United Airlines after its violent removal of an Asian-American passenger from a flight on Sunday night.

Earlier this week saw a video going viral of David Dao on social media. The 69-year-old Asian-American physician was violently removed from an overbooked United Airlines flight by security officers to make room for crew members at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago after refusing to give up his seat as requested.

The video of the incident posted online has been viewed millions of times worldwide, and caused a global uproar and grabbed headlines in multiple countries.

Many people in the United States, Vietnam, China and a number of other countries have expressed outrage at the mistreatment of Dao, who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s.

"It remains to be seen if Dr. Dao was racially profiled for removal from the United flight, but we believe a full and transparent investigation is necessary to determine if there were racial biases at work," John C. Yang, president and executive director of Washington-based rights group Asian Americans Advancing Justice, said in a statement sent to Xinhua.

The use of force in this situation was "inappropriate," Yang said.

"The incident is also indicative of the continued concerns that vulnerable communities, including African Americans and Latinos, have raised for a long time regarding use of excessive police force," he said.

Asian Americans have faced the same discriminatory challenges for over 100 years, and have seen a renewed surge in hate and discrimination against them, Yang said.

"It is easy to understand why some would question the motives of the airline, airport security, and law enforcement personnel as targeting an Asian American, a community of people often falsely viewed as the least likely to speak out against situations like this one," Yang said.

"The fact that the victim is Asian American and from a distinguished profession should only further prove to Asian Americans that we all have to be part of this broader coalition against hate, police brutality, and disparate treatment of communities color and other marginalized communities," he added.

Lawyer Thomas Demetrio, who is representing David Dao, the passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight, speaks during a press conference in Chicago, Illinois, the United States, on April 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

Members of the U.S. Congress have also expressed concern, as U.S. House Representative Judy Chu, a Chinese American, has written both to the United Airlines and to the U.S. Department of Transportation demanding answers.

Chu, chair of the U.S. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said she is extremely "disturbed" over the violent treatment of Dao.

"It is unacceptable to treat any human being in this manner, and the United Airlines has to change its policy," Chu told Xinhua in a phone interview on Wednesday from her home state of California.

A bipartisan group of senators also sent a pair of letters earlier this week to United, demanding a "full accounting" of what happened, and are demanding a response by next week.

The letters were signed by Senators John Thune, the Senate's third highest ranking Republican, and Bill Nelson, a Democrat representing Florida, Roy Blunt, a Republican representing Missouri, and Maria Cantwell, a Democrat representing Washington State.

In a separate letter to United Airlines, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono joined a group of senators earlier this week to demand answers from the airline.

"Consumer trust and confidence are critical to ensure this industry continues to thrive, and we hope United Airlines will work diligently to immediately address this incident and make necessary improvements to ensure it does not occur again," the letter said.

While United CEO Oscar Munoz has apologized, lawmakers argue that United's response seemed not to understand the level of outrage worldwide over the incident.

In response to the United incident, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen is drafting a bill to make it illegal to forcibly remove passengers from commercial airlines, and is now seeking co-sponsors for the legislation, according to local media.
JUBA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday condemned the killing of three workers contracted as porters by its office in South Sudan's Wau during violence earlier this week.

WFP said in statement that it learned of the death of three men, all citizens of South Sudan, on Thursday from the company that employed them, which is contracted by WFP to provide loading and unloading services at the Wau warehouse.

"We are outraged and heartbroken by the deaths of our colleagues, who worked every day to help provide life-saving food to millions of their fellow countrymen," WFP Country Director Joyce Luma said.

The UN agency said the three citizens of South Sudan appeared to have been killed on Monday as they tried to make their way to a WFP warehouse. It added that two died of machete wounds and the third was shot dead.

South Sudan has been embroiled in more than three years of conflict since December, 2013.

According to the UN, the conflict has made the East African nation one of the hostile environments for aid workers to operate as at least 79 aid workers have been killed since the civil war began.

Last month, gunmen ambushed and killed six aid workers on a road linking the capital Juba to Pibor in Boma State last month.

The UN estimates that 1.5 million people have been forced into neighboring countries and another 7.5 million people across the country are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, and a localized famine was declared in February in parts of northern unity state.
SWMCOL workers protest again

President of the Industrial General and Sanitation Workers Union Robert Benacia described the working condition for workers as inhumane. They are putting workers at further risk of being poisoned because we have indiscriminate dumping of toxic materials in these landfills. Workers are amongst the most hazardous conditions in the country. He said the condition at the landfill in not only affecting workers but the entire country because the dust blowing off the landfills contaminates Port-of-Spain and anywhere west of the landfill.

We have hospital waste, industrial waste, radio waste, dead and decease animals coming in here, you name it, and that is mixing in with carbon materials and blows like dust.

They need to place landfill management as a priority. We need to hear about time lines and the plans and how they want to implement, how it is going to affect the SWMCOL and the workers, and funding provided. Benacia said they are again calling on the Public Utility Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and Finance Minister Colm Imbert to settle all back pay immediately, and addressed the issues raised by the union.

The workers staged their first protest this week on Monday.
State loses appeal

He thanked the judges after the States appeal was dismissed and embraced his attorney Richard Mason. Samad was one of several police officers who went to George Street, Cunupia, on February 5, 2003, to execute a search warrant at Bernard Albarados home. At the time he was armed with an Uzi sub machine gun which he claimed was accidentally fired resulting in the death of Albarado.

In a majority ruling yesterday, Justices of Appeal Alice Yorke- Soo Hon and Mark Mohammed held that the judge was correct not to send the case to the jury since the prosecution failed in its duty to establish that a prima facie case had been made out against Samad. In this case, the direct evidence and the medical evidence are in violent conflict, Justice Yorke-Soo Hon said.

She held that by withdrawing the case from the jury, the judge acted in the best interest of justice and did not usurp the jurys function as the State claimed in its appeal. Before getting to the stage of inviting the jury to consider the evidence, the prosecution must have established a prima facie case. The difficulty for the prosecution is that they were unable to pass this first hurdle because there was a material defect in that they were unable to produce any evidence to support the trajectory of the bullet and explain the exact manner in which the deceased met his death, Yorke-Soo Hon said.

She also held that the evidence of the three eye witnesses was inconsistent with the evidence of the pathologist. Justice of Appeal Rajendra Narine dissented. Albarados wife Sharon Albarado, testified that as her husband got up from where he was sitting, a shot was fired. It struck Albarado in the back, exited and struck a washing machine.

Another witness claimed Albarado was in the process of getting up when he was shot while a third witness gave a different account of what took place. A post mortem report, prepared by forensic pathologist Dr Hughvon des Vignes, revealed that the bullet entered the left side of Albarados body and moved in an upward trajectory through his body and was then lodged in the knob of a washing machine one metre away.

Samads case was that he tripped and as he was falling, in an effort to break the fall, he relaxed his grip on the front of the firearm and while going down he grabbed the firearm and the strap snapped. There was then a loud explosion and the firearm discharged one round before he fell to the ground.

According to Samads account, after his fall he realised Albarado had been shot. Albarado was taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Samad was on suspension after he was charged with manslaughter, following a coroners inquest which ended in December 2004. Attorney Travers Sinanan represented the State at the appeal.
Top cop: Police doing its best

ACP Hackshaw was responding yesterday to statements made by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, in a televised interview. The Prime Minister stated: I am not satisfied in any area of crime management, crime detection and crime suppression. I am not satisfied with any area. It is an intractable problem that has been with us for some time. According to ACP Hackshaw, serious crimes have decreased by 20 percent. The detection rate has seen a 52 percent success rate in the Eastern Division, 60 percent in South Western and 37 percent in Tobago Division. He said the six other divisions have already achieved a 20 percent success rate.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister also spoke about alleged corruption in the police service. Rooting out corruption in the police service is fundamental to the creation of a police service that a population can trust and officers themselves can trust their colleagues, PM Rowleys said.

In response, ACP Hackshaw said: The Professional Standards Bureau continues to investigate officers over alleged misconduct and misbehaviour along with the Police Complaints Authority.

There are mechanisms in place to have these activities managed and investigated. Efforts to reach Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams for comments on the Prime Ministers comments proved futile while the president of the Police Social And Welfare Association Michael Seals said that he would first have to review the PMs statements before giving a response.
BOAT BOBOL

In a live interview yesterday on Radio 95.5 FM, Rowley defended his Government from allegations of inaction as the inter-isle cargo ferry service continues to flounder badly, by saying there is another side to the story and that Government has more information than its critics.

In fact, that matter is now on the way to the Office of the Attorney General. Because of how the public has been manipulated, it is important the Government provide all the information and all the documents, Rowley said.

Amid all criticisms, he said there is probably criminal conduct in other quarters. He said many of these critics are just mouth pieces for persons who have had, their noses in the trough, in an arranged situation. You have people committing Government to expenditure of millions and millions of dollars, without appropriate authority. You see persons starting out at one end as lawyer for the port and then being a broker for the boat. IMPROPER PROCEDURE Saying all details will be publicised, Rowley said he does not want the population to think Government is stupid. People have been the beneficiary of largesse coming their way because of improper procurement procedure, he alleged. Saying he told AG Al-Rawi to read the documents, Rowley assured relevant persons would be held accountable.

He expressed shock at how documents show that an initial six-month contract, turned to a 12-month contract, followed by demands for a five-year contract.

And as it is happening inside of the (Port Authority) board you are seeing board members taking positions that would be of interest to the public. He said the problem goes back to the very beginning, starting with the boat being unsuitable as it could not be moored at the Tobago Terminal at Queens Wharf.

So they started mooring it at the Hyatt Hotel. He said the Galicias engines are destroying the seafront at the Hyatt and if continued will likely incur a bill for damages.

If Government allows that to continue for five years well end up with a $200 or $300 million bill to fix the Hyatt. Secondly, if we are to take it to the Queens Wharf well have to dredge every two years at a cost of $50 million. SINANANS CLAIM On Wednesday, in Parliament, Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan refuted Tabaquite MP Dr Suruj Rambachans claim of gross incompetence by Government over the Galicia.

Sinanan said that in 2013 (under the former regime) the Port Authority hired an attorney, NB Alfonso and Co, the firm of attorney Nyree Alfonso.

A tender by the authority was won by firm Intercontinental, Sinanan said in the House, adding that this firm allegedly said Alfonso was their broker. The contract ran for six months and later extended to 12 months, Sinanan added, but at the same rate favourable to Intercontinental.

Sinanan said soon after becoming minister, in December, he was asked by John Powell of Intercontinental for a five-year contract or else Powell would pull the boat from service. I consider that to be economic blackmail, Sinanan hit.

Further, the minister alluded that the Galicia is unsuitable because its present berthing causing cargo trucks to block the Hyatt entrance. Sinanan said he told the Port board to spec a replacement boat. Cabinet has already approved the tendering process for purchase of a brand new cargo vessel for Tobago. They also approved the tendering process for the hiring of a cargo vessel for three years. Ill be taking a note to Cabinet for the purchase of two new fast ferries for passenger transportation to Tobago.
Rowley should re-check himself

Rowley said that Rogets comment was not good for the nation at a time when this country is in a recession and must do all it can to remain competitive and attract investments from global energy players.

Speaking to reporters while union members staged a protest outside of TSTTs human resource offices on St Vincent Street in Portof- Spain, Remy yesterday stated, Let me say without fear of contradiction the CWU, over the years, relentlessly pursued a national agenda. He cited the unions efforts for TSTT, to remain in the hands of locals and its objection to the closure of the Tourism Development Company (TDC), as examples of this national agenda.

Remy had a pointed suggestion to the leader of the government. If the Prime Minister is of the belief that we (in the trade union movement) are not (patriotic) he needs to re-check himself. This union is more patriotic than the Prime Minister and (Tourism Minister) Shamfa Cudjoe! Reiterating that the CWU is a true patriotic union, Remy declared, I am convinced that what we are saying is very nationalistic.

What they are saying is destroying the country. Alleging that Cudjoe was misleading the country about the reasons for the closure of the TDC, Remy said the CWU will present its proposal to restructure this company next week.

He repeated the unions call for a report  used to justify the TDCs closure  to be made public and for Rowley to fire his Tourism Minister. Noting the hint dropped last week, by Roget, of a major announcement either on May Day or Labour Day in June, Remy said the CWU will be part of those efforts under the banner of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM).

Reminding reporters that JTUM has withdrawn from the National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC), Remy said, We are mindful of the current economic circumstances but that must never be used as an excuse to exploit workers. Against this background, Remy said the union has concerns about the contents of the Mid-Year Review to be presented by Finance Minister Colm Imbert. In the absence of a genuine forum, we are going to question the figures that are going to come out (in the Mid- Year Review) and we will do what we have to do as a labour movement to challenge those things.
Nyree Alfonso: Claims totally erroneous

Alfonso said that as a maritime lawyer, with the experience of selling over 20 vessels including oil-tankers, she was approached by the Port Authority and asked to use her extensive network of brokers, to help procure a vessel to replace the Warrior Spirit.Alfonso said she never underwent any tender process.

I was asked to use my expertise.

Now I wish I had said no. But I am a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and thought that I should be using my expertise (to the benefit of the nation. Alfonso said that within a week, she sourced five or six vessels for the authority to choose one from.

Asked if she charged a brokers commission and if so, was this a conflict of interest as at the time she was attorney for the Port Authority, Alfonso said she did not charge a commission but charged for her time as a lawyer, for the hours and hours spent sourcing vessels.

I dont see how a conflict of interest could arise. I am asked by a client to help them. I didnt participate in the tender nor in the evaluation.

I had no power to select or choose, she insisted.

Asked about claims by Government that the firm Intercontinental, had described her as their broker, Alfonso said, If Mr Powell (of Intercontinental) said so, he never said that to me. Alfonso sent Newsday a copy of part of her letter, dated June 3, 2014, to the Port Authority, saying she had spent much time and energy to locate the Super Fast Galicia.

The letter said that the authority deemed the Galicia acceptable and said it would launch a limited tender request to invite bidders to tender suitable vessels. In the letter, Alfonso said she advised the Galicias owners and partners to work with a local agent to participate in the tender.
More ferry woes yesterday

One man said he was at the terminal since 10 am with relatives, to travel on the ferry at 3 pm.

However, The Express did not arrive until 3.30 pm and it would be taking passengers who were waiting to depart at noon. The man said he travels to Tobago annually for Easter and while there have been delays in the past, yesterdays was one of the worst.

When Newsday visited the terminal, hundreds of persons were in long lines leading to the ticket counters while others waited for news on the next sailing. When I tell you that Im fed up, Im fed up, one man remarked. Another man wondered why Caribbean Airlines could not use one of its larger jets to carry persons to and from Tobago, if there were delays with the ferries.

Contacted yesterday, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan confirmed there was a delay with the Express. However he said the TT Spirit is operating and the water taxis will be used to supplement the Spirit and the Express over the Easter weekend.

The cargo vessel, Super Fast Galicia (which leaves TT on April 21), will continue to operate on the sea bridge over Easter. Sinanan said the new board of the Port Authority was meeting yesterday to continue to looking at options for the sea bridge beyond the Easter period.
OSHA says it is actively pursuing complaints

The complaint relates to the employees of the EXL 11 offshore rig, owned by Rowan Companies, who downed tools on March 30 after complaining that there was a series of accidents and incidents on the rig which caused damage to plant and injury to people over the past two months. Twenty- two workers, subcontracted by Lennox Petroleum to work on the rig, protested outside bpTTs offices at Queens Park South in Port of Spain on April 3 complaining about their removal the previous weekend.

Labour relations officer for the OWTU Lindon Mendoza claimed the workers were unceremoniously removed through an order of the High Court after they ceased work under, what he said was, the established stop work policy.

OSHA said in a statement that after receiving the complaint, a safety and health inspector from the agency contacted the chief labour relations officer of the OWTU to verify the complaint and the next day (April 2) two inspectors flew to the rig by helicopter to begin the investigation.

The agency said its response to the OWTUs complaint is consistent with its approved procedure for documenting, assigning and beginning investigations within 24 hours of receiving a complaint.

In the statement, the agency said that between March 2016 and March 2017, OSHA has conducted more than 1,100 inspections; investigated more than 400 complaints and issued 69 enforcement notices which are being closely monitored.

The agency added that it has taken 50 cases to the Industrial Court within the last year and will soon hire eight more inspectors to improve the capacity of its inspectorate and enhance its mandate to improve safety and health in workplaces.
Plea Bill before committee

The bill is now being considered in committee stage and discussions will continue when the House sits again on April 28.

In committee, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar had sought to get the Government to commit to a time-line for having the bill take effect, suggesting August or September.

However Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said he must first meet the Law Association to discuss any training needed ahead of these changes to courtroom procedure. He said Government is very anxious to effect the bill.

Well be judged by the people, he said.

Well do our best and move with alacrity. While admitting that the bill is not a magic bullet for a criminal justice system that did not become broken overnight but a longer period, Al-Rawi outlined his architectural approach to bringing a remedy.

He said he began a case by case inspection of the prison system including noting what crime victims were exposed to, how fast inmate cases moved, and what were the solutions.

The gap between crime and conviction is way too long, he said.

Al-Rawi became emotional as he related a tale of a taxi driver who was waiting to testify against two bandits.

The bandits broke into his house one night, put a gun to his head and blew his brains out, all over his eleven year old daughter.

Because of the length of time taken for that robbery case to get to court, it soon became a murder case. Im quite upset about what Im saying. He said while MPs verbally jostled each other in Parliament, citizens were watching them closely.

When we as parents are mortified and afraid watching our children cross the road at night to go to the neighbours house, where are we as a society? Our criminal justice matters are just not moving. He said from 2012 to 2015, some 371,000 criminal cases were filed in the magistrates court and 20,872 in the High Court. He calculated that the latter figure meant each of ten High Court judges should dispose of 2,087 cases per year. He said that of 226 criminals matters filed at the High Court, only 111 cases are approved for trial, a 49 percent rate per year.

He added that out of 2,010 people who are on indictment before the High Court, only 118 are dealt with. Apparently referring to the High Court, he said the backlog was some 68,000 cases.
POS mayor calls on citizens to show more love

Speaking yesterday at the Brian Lara Promenade at the launch of Love you can Feel, an initiative of the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC), Martinez said, Several other countries are experiencing the vulnerability and erosion of the peace, oneness and love that once permeated our lovely twin-island State. He said the programme was designed to give participants a chance to show love and care for their neighbours and communities, rekindle spiritual counselling, health and wellness consultations, combined with nutritional consultations and education across the country. He called the USC students champions saying that they had the winning strategy of using love.

He noted that the university was celebrating its 90th anniversary, proving that it had stood the test of time. Martinez thanked the USC for having the vision and foresight to initiate the programme saying that its timing could not be better.

Martinez said citizens are living in challenging, fearful and perilous times but but is encouraging all to keep the faith.

We must all continue to be our brothers keeper, he said. He said programmes such as Love you can Feel are what Will allow healing and connectivity amongst people and bring back that love to care for and protect and to take social responsibility for each other. He said people must overcome their human impulses to marginalise, physically mistreat and mentally hurt or oppress their brothers and sisters
Hosein: Dont pay delinquent garbage contractors

Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein made this statement during a meeting with Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan and councillors of the Chaguanas Borough Corporation (CBC) at the Ministrys Kent House offices, Maraval yesterday.

Told that garbage collection at Enterprise North/Esmeralda and Munroe Road/Caroni Savannah Road had not been taking place on the collection days of Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Hosein said the council had the responsibility to prevent a health hazard from taking place by the non-collection of the garbage.

He noted that over one week had passed without garbage being collected and this posed a serious hazard to public health, with animals scattering the garbage along the roadways leading to an offensive odour.

This situation cannot continue. I am appealing to the Chaguanas Borough Corporation to ensure that this matter is corrected with immediate effect.

If a garbage contractor is not performing the duties, then they must not be paid.

Garbage collection is an essential service to the people that is provided at the level of local government, and if the work is contracted out, then the responsibility is on us as local government practitioners to ensure that it is completed.

And this should be a message to all corporations, Hosein said.

He said residents had made numerous complaints regarding the accumulation of garbage in their communities and had also expressed concern that it would not be collected given the upcoming long weekend in observance of Easter.

Hosein promised to monitor the collection of garbage and ensure it was improved across the entire country, and that those contracted to provide these services perform at a high standard. Hosein said the Ministry was working towards the establishment of a system which would allow citizens to rate the services they receive from their respective corporations.
MSJ: Implement Public Procurement Act

Abdulah insisted in his statement that any new contracts for the supply of vessels on the sea-bridge, whether those contracts are short, medium or long term, should be done in a totally transparent manner so that the public can be satisfied that the best decisions are being made in the interests of all.

The statement said the breakdown of contractual arrangements for the service between Trinidad and Tobago of the Super Fast Galicia indicated a total lack of regard and respect by successive governments for Tobago. Abdulah said that there should never arise a situation where the vital transportation link of a dedicated cargo vessel becomes broken.

He said all the information in the public domain with respect to the contractual arrangements for the Super Fast Galicia point to a total lack of regard and respect by successive governments for Tobago  residents, business-people and visitors alike.

The statement said that the original contract for this vessel was made by the United National Congress in 2014 and was for a short term period; yet that Government did not move to ensure that a medium or even a long term arrangement was put in place before the expiry of that short term contract
PM: CoP approves firearms licenses

In rejecting a call from Barataria/ San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan for the creation of a commission to do these evaluations either on its own or parallel to the CoP, Rowley said, I dont want to suggest that we solve one problem by creating another. He explained there is an appeals tribunal for persons to seek redress from in these matters. The Prime Minister said Government has gotten this tribunal back into operation after being non-functional for some considerable time.
GATE report fell through the cracks

Rowley recalled making a commitment on this matter but admitted that this had apparently, fallen through the cracks. The reports recommendations were used to guide Cabinets decision last July to improve GATEs efficiency.

Rowley also said that once the School Improvement Project in Laventille is assessed, the project will be undertaken in other parts of the country. The Prime Minister said there has been no discontinuation of payments to private sector partnership stakeholders of the Early Childhood Education Centres and Government is committed to the future of the Universal Early Childhood Education Programme.

Later in the sitting, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said note will be going to Cabinet to treat with the employment of 75 school social workers, once his ministry takes receipt of a particular report.
Moroccan security services announced Wednesday the arrest of seven members of the terrorist organization Isis. The cell was active in the northern city of Fez and nearby town of Moulay Yacoub. Its members were busy working to recruit volunteers for the extremist group.

According to Moroccan interior ministry, the police seized bladed weapons, military uniforms, money and electronic equipment during the raid.

The arrest of this new cell is part of Moroccos tireless war against terrorism. The North African country has placed counterterrorism at the top of its priorities following the Casablanca terror attacks in 2003 and the subsequent attacks of 2007 and 2011.

Moroccos Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ), the judicial arm of the domestic intelligence service, has tracked militants since Islamic State seized large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014-2015.

Moroccos counterterrorism strategy is based on vigilant security measures, regional and international cooperation, and counter-radicalization policies.

As the international coalition intensified its airstrikes against Isis in Iraq and Syria, the extremist group started moving to North Africa and particularly to Libya where the jihadists have enhanced their influence and presence.

Moroccos counterterrorism efforts mitigated the risk of terrorism but the country continues to face threats, largely from numerous small, independent violent extremist cells.

The Moroccan authorities have dismantled multiple groups with ties to international networks that included ISIS. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Isis continue efforts to recruit Moroccans.

According to some experts, one of the main factors helping to keep Moroccos jihadists in check is the competence of its security forces. The countrys powerful intelligence agency, national police force, paramilitary police and Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (Moroccos version of the FBI) work closely with their American and European counterparts, receive extensive training and are highly proficient.

Moroccan intelligence has even helped to avert attacks elsewhere with the information it collects and shares with its regional and international partners.
Moroccan National Security authorities announced Thursday they were handed over by Turkish authorities the fourth suspect in the assassination of lawmaker Merdas killed in his car early last month.

The suspect according Security is the nephew of the main suspect; a municipal authority, lover of Abdellatif Merdass wife.

The man was arrested in Turkey where he flew to after gunning down Merdas behind his wheel on March 7, in the city of Casablanca. He has been under international arrest warrant.

Known by the justice, the man was extracted on board a plane which landed in Mohamed V international airport in Casablanca.

Three people have been already arrested in connection with the crime. Merdass wife, her lover and the lovers sister have been found guilty and regarded as accomplices of the assassination.

Casablanca court of appeal late in March announced that sex, money, desire to digress were main motives of the crime.
Khalifa Haftar, head of Libyan National Army (LNA) aligned with UN-back President Council (PC) rival government has lambasted claims that Russia has agreed to supply him weapons in despite the UN-imposed arm embargo.

Speaking to Russias Sputnik agency in an interview, the self-style army commander indicated that Moscow as it claims is not ready to resume arm supply to Libya due to the UN current embargo on the country since 2011.

Haftar has travelled several times to Moscow to negotiate arm purchase for the LNA. Sources and reports indicated that Russia intended to smuggle arms through Algeria or Egypt.

The Libyan army commander has become Russias mouth-piece in the Libyan crisis. Even though he has not yet received arm supplies, Haftar has also secured transfer of LNA injured fighters in Russia for treatment. Dozens of wounded have already been flown to Russia for treatment.

Haftar who claims to fight terrorism in Libya, has been fighting against terrorists in Benghazi and in the eastern part of the country.

He also noted that given the Russian refusal, the LNA could turn to any other supplier adding that it was logic as part of the fight against terrorism.

This is logical. No one should deny it as we do not want to arm ourselves for aggressive purposes but only to defend and stabilize our country.

He also denied in the interview that Russia has no plan to establish a military base in the oil-rich country given its giant fleet in Mediterranean.

Russia has been increasing in presence in Libya through the army commander. US military officials last month pointed out that Moscow was establishing in military base in Egypt near the Libyan border in other to have more influence on Libya.

Accused and decried by UN-backed and Tripoli-established PC, Haftar is increasingly becoming a major figure head in the political crisis.

After receiving a major boost early this week from the United Arab Emirate (UEA), Haftar also reportedly met with an unidentified Senior US military official in the Abu Dhabi. Reports say, the Emiratis arranged the meeting and tried to convince Americans to work with the Libya army commander as a key partner in the fight against terrorism in Libya and in the region.
Egyptian President al-Sisi Thursday pledged that Palm Sunday Church bombers will not go scot-free as he visited Head of Coptic Christians.

The Egyptian leader paid a supportive visit to Pope Tawadros II days after Sunday bombings which left 45 people dead.

Two bomb attacks decimated Palm services in two Coptic Churches in Alexandria and in Tanta, north of Cairo.

Al-Sisi in a speech hours following the attacks announced a three-month state of emergency while also vowing to address terrorism in the country.

The interior ministry identified Mahmoud Hassan Mubarak Abdullah, 31-year old Suez resident as the subside bomber who blew up himself at Saint Marks Cathedral Church in Alexandria.

The ministry also that Abdullah had links with the Islamic State group (IS) which responsibility for the two attacks.

Authorities also said they are working to identify the Tanta attacker and as well as 19 other suspects believed in the connection with the attacks. A 100 thousand Egyptian pound ($5,515.72) reward has been promised for any information on them.

Al-Sisis support comes ahead of Pope Franciss late April visit. The Head of the Roman Catholic Church has maintained his trip despite threats by IS for further attacks. The Vatican indicated that Cairo has promised to secure the Popes safe trip.
Following his private trip to Cuba, King Mohammed VI flew to Miami where he will hold his first talks with US President Donald Trump, French speaking magazine, Jeune Afrique, reported.

Jeune Afrique learned from sources at the Royal palace that President Trump would offer a dinner in honor of the Moroccan Monarch on Sunday.

The meeting with Trump comes after the King had spent a holiday in Cuba, an arch adversary of Moroccos territorial integrity known for its longtime support for the separatist thesis in the Sahara.

During his private stay in Cuba, the King was said to have held diplomatic talks with Cuban officials to pave the way for a normalization of relations between the two countries following 37 years of severance of diplomatic ties on the backdrop of Cubas support for the Algeria-backed Polisario militias.

Cuba has long been a stronghold of the Polisario in Latin America. The Caribbean country has offered training to separatist executives, diplomats and military officials.
The Algerian-backed separatist movement, the Polisario, gave its initial agreement on the appointment of former German President Horst Kohler as Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General to the Sahara in place of US diplomat Christopher Ross.

Moroccan news website, Le360, reported that an official Polisario source said that the UN Secretary Generals proposal for the nomination of Horst Kohler has been accepted.

Horst Kohler will be officially appointed by the new UN Secretary General Antonio Gueterres upon receiving the approval of the parties to the conflict: Morocco and the Polisario, which acts upon the orders of its paymaster and host, Algeria.

In this respect, le360 portal contacted a diplomatic source, which said, speaking under anonymity, that the former German President, among others, has been proposed to replace Ross. The same source added that Kohlers chances to be appointed UN emissary to the Sahara are higher.

Given his background, Kohler is expected to lead UN mediation in the regional dispute over the Sahara with pragmatism, unlike his predecessor Christopher Ross whose stands reflected connivance with Algeria and a willingness to change the parameters of negotiations.

After eight years as UNSG Personal Envoy, Ross left a legacy of failures on the Sahara issue. His term was marred by partial reports, a worn-out negotiation process devoid of prospects for progress and biased and unbalanced guidance to the UN.

Kohler is an economist by profession. Prior to his election as President, he had a distinguished career in politics and the civil service and as a banking executive. He was President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development from 1998 to 2000 and head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2000 to 2004. From 2012 to 2013, he served on the UN Secretary Generals High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
O Canada, we stand on guard for weed. Photo: Chris Roussakis/AFP/Getty Images

Leaders of Canadas Liberal Party unveiled a proposal Thursday that would make the country only the second in the world to legalize recreational marijuana, allowing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to deliver on a campaign promise and inching the nation ever closer to replacing the maple leaf on its flag.

The proposal, which the party hopes to make law by July of 2018, sets a minimum purchase age of 18, which is one year below the legal drinking age in most Canadian provinces and three years below the minimum age set in U.S. states that have legalized recreational weed. Provinces would be able to set higher age limits if they so choose. With an eye toward the effects of legalization on minors, the plans calls for significant penalties for those who engage young Canadians in cannabis-related offences.

Bill Blair, a government official quoted in a release about the proposal, says legal weed will mean less access for kids. I know firsthand how easy it is for our kids to buy cannabis, he says. In many cases, it is easier for our children to get cannabis than it is to get cigarettes. Todays plan to legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to cannabis will put an end to this.

The law would allow adults to legally possess as much as 30 grams of marijuana, around an ounce, in public. It would also allow them to grow as many as four marijuana plants in their homes. The proposal calls on individual provinces to set up their own commercial markets and to determine where, how, and for how much marijuana will be sold. If certain provinces decide against setting up those markets, residents will be able to order weed online.

The governments plan puts an emphasis on the issue of driving while high. Along with a zero tolerance approach for those driving under the influence, the plan calls for robust public spending on a PSA campaign about the dangers of impaired driving. It also says police should be equipped with oral drug screeners that could be used to facilitate detection and investigation.

For Americans excited by the prospect of scooping up legal weed across the border and bringing it home, theres some bad news. Moving pot across international borders would remain a serious criminal offence under the new law. But it doesnt say anything about partaking while youre up there.
Donald Trump meets with police officers. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Donald Trump ran an ethnonationalist cult-of-personality presidential campaign, in which his status as a (real) nonpolitician and (imaginary) business genius would allow him to transcend and solve every policy problem. He has retained the ethnonationalist themes, while abandoning, one by one, almost every other populist element differentiating him from the generic Republican brand.

The neutering of the nonracial elements of Trumps populism has been a continuous process. After listening for ten minutes, I realized its not so easy, Trump told The Wall Street Journal this week. He was specifically referring to North Korea, which he had believed China could handle quickly and easily  but, after a short historical education, realized is a knotty issue replete with trade-offs. Yet that line could easily be applied to every issue Trump has been educated about.

As he has come into contact with a concrete agenda, every heterodox promise has given way to conventional GOP positions. Trumps pledge not to cut Medicaid while replacing Obamacare with a terrific plan that would include insurance for everybody, with better coverage than they have now, turned into endorsement of a conventional Republican plan that would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid and throw tens of millions of people off their insurance. He has oriented his domestic policy around traditional Republican priorities: deregulation, especially of the financial sector and fossil fuels, and regressive tax cuts. Report after report finds chief executive officers streaming into the White House and essentially dictating policy.

The economic-nationalist elements of Trumps agenda have all either quietly disappeared or been reversed outright. He has ignored his loud promise to renegotiate NAFTA. He has admitted that China, another longtime bete noir, is not, in fact, a currency manipulator. He came out in favor of the Export-Import Bank, after Boeings CEO educated him on it (Instinctively, you would say, Isnt that a ridiculous thing? he told The Wall Street Journal. It turns out that  lots of small companies are really helped!) and turned his ballyhooed lobbyist ban into Swiss cheese. On economic policy, Trump has become a conventional party man whose ideas reflect the agenda of the lobbyists and wealthy individuals who have his ear.

His reversal on foreign policy is more dramatic. Having once denounced NATO, he now praises it. (It was once obsolete; it is no longer obsolete.) He has brought Russia hawks into his administration and ceased lavishing Vladimir Putin with praise (in part because doing so lends even more credence to the ongoing investigation of his campaigns cooperation with Russias election interference). After repeatedly lambasting the Obama administration for intervening in Syria, which he called a quagmire  noting, Assad is killing ISIS  he attacked Assad for using chemical weapons against civilians.

Eli Lake reports that H. R. McMaster, Trumps chief national security adviser, is formulating plans to send tens of thousands of ground troops to Syria for an extended campaign to destroy ISIS and allow for reconstruction afterward  i.e., an occupation. That is an astonishing turn for a president who has not only presented himself as an original opponent of the Iraq War, but endlessly lamented the sums spent on the war and the occupation, which he said could have been used for rebuilding the United States. Indeed, Trump used his imagined status as farsighted Iraq Waropponent to beat back every attack on his manifest ignorance of foreign policy, during both the primary and the general election. There is no telling whether Trump will follow McMasters plan; but the mere fact that he has ceded so much authority to a conventionally hawkish interventionist, after having ridiculed his partys neoconservative wing, shows how far he has lurched already. The ideological distance between Trumps economic and foreign policy and George W. Bushs has collapsed.

From the perspective of 2017, more than eight years after Bush departed office, the comparison between the two presidents may sound comforting. That is largely because Bush has disappeared into his painting studio, his reputation benefitting from both his general absence from the political scene and the particular contrast with his frightening, orange quasi-nemesis. It is easy to look back on Bushs tenure as comparatively benign  but Bushs presidency was a period of gross misgovernance. His legacy includes not only Iraq and Katrina, but his obsession with cutting taxes for the rich, a comprehensive fealty to the business lobby, rampant corruption, refusal to take any steps to limit climate change, and a deregulatory agenda that set the conditions for the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

The Bush presidency was the most comprehensive governing failure of any administration since at least Herbert Hoover, and it ought to have poisoned the partys national brand as deeply as it did Hoovers GOP (which did not win another presidential election for twenty years). But the Republican Party managed to largely skirt the reputational fallout from the Bush catastrophe. It did so, in part, through the tea party: Conservatives hailed right-wing protests against Barack Obama as a call for ideological purity, cleansing the supposed big-government, cronyist tendencies of the Bush administration. The Republican Party of the Obama era insisted it had learned the lessons of the Bush years, when its agenda had devolved into little more than shoveling cash to K Street. The post-Bush GOP was allegedly sadder and wiser and filled with righteous abhorrence for the temptations of lobbyists and deficit spending.

Those lessons have all been forgotten. The Republican government, under Trump, has retraced the steps it took under Bush  from the obsession with tax cuts for the rich, to the vanishing line between the partys paid lobbyists and its public servants. The reality is that, contrary to the willful misreading of conservatives elites, the tea-party revolution was not fundamentally a reaction against deficits or crony capitalism: It was a heavily racialized backlash against social change. And that spirit  the true animating spirit of the grassroots right  has lived on in Trumps presidency.

My magazine story from a few weeks ago identified Trumps ethnonationalism as the one clearly successful strand of his presidency. Trump has drawn from a relatively continuous line of thought, running from his early history as a landlord who excluded African-Americans, to a demagogue who publicly demanded the execution of five innocent minority teenagers, to a politician who ultimately brought the alt-right into the Republican coalition. His agenda for law enforcement, immigration, and national identity has reinforced the unifying ethnonationalist theme that allowed him to prevail over his more orthodox Republican competitors. In the weeks since my piece was published, that agenda has continued to race forward. The Department of Homeland Security is ramping up its capacity to assemble Trumps promised deportation force. And the Department of Justice is eliminating a commission on forensic science, which had refuted some questionable methods used by law enforcement.

As my essay argued, Trumps ethnonationalism reverses a trend in the Republican Party: Beginning with Bush, it had repudiated its Southern strategy and attempted to craft a racially inclusive message that would broaden the constituency for its oligarchic economic agenda. Bush and his ideological heirs sought to compromise on immigration while taking seriously minority concerns about discriminatory law enforcement. Trump has reversed Bushs aspiration for a racially inclusive party completely, while rediscovering his economic blueprint.

The Trumpian mix of K Street economics and Breitbartian racial messaging is not a perfectly natural one. Trumps vicious ethnonationalism makes his wealthy advisers and donors (many of them the same people) uncomfortable, especially the portions that disrupt their transborder workforce. And Trumps elitist economic policy is the opposite of what his downscale white base thought he would deliver. But it fits together closely enough to function. The political reality Trump has discovered through trial and error is that he is delivering each constituency the thing it most craves. Trumps white-identity politics satisfy his voting base enough to make his plutocratic economics tolerable. And the financial and political elite are willing to swallow their qualms about his ugly ethnonationalism because they are going to get paid. If you thought George W. Bush was generally swell, but too racially inclusive, you are going to like Trumps presidency.
The sedative midazolam is one of the drugs Arkansas is alleged to have obtained improperly. Photo: Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Two European drug companies that say Arkansas improperly obtained their drugs have asked a federal judge to stop the state from using them in the planned executions of seven inmates over ten days.

Fresenius Kabi USA and West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp. filed briefs Thursday that say the companies have rules preventing the distribution of their drugs for use in lethal injections. Distributors of the drugs agree not to sell them for executions, The Atlantic reports, but Arkansas found one willing to break that agreement and promised not to reveal its identity.

In addition to the broken rules, the companies are upset that their drugs will be used to kill, which is an obvious PR hit. The use of the medicines in lethal injections runs counter to the manufacturers mission to save and enhance patients lives, and carries with it not only a public-health risk, but also reputational, fiscal, and legal risks, the filing said.

Arkansas is set to begin its execution spree on Monday as it hurries to put inmates to death before its supply of the sedative midazolam expires. The drug, which was reportedly manufactured by West-Ward Pharmaceuticals, is the first drug delivered in lethal injections and it has a spotty track record.

After the two planned executions Monday, two more men are set to die on April 20 and two more again on April 24. On April 27 the state will kill only one man after the eighth death-row inmate scheduled to die was granted a stay earlier this month.

The inmates have challenged the states plan in court and hearings in that lawsuit ended Thursday. A decision is expected to be handed down before the first execution Monday.
The Pentagon released video of Thursdays blast. Photo: USAF

At least 36 ISIS fighters were killed Thursday when the U.S. dropped the mother of all bombs on a network of underground tunnels in Afghanistans Nangarhar province, Afghan officials said Friday.

The tunnels, which house the majority of the 600 to 800 ISIS fighters believed to be in the country, are used to launch attacks against Afghan forces. Previous attempts by the Afghans to advance on the area had failed, which is why the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb was brought in. The largest nonnuclear bomb ever deployed in combat by the U.S., it was designed to create an enormous, concussive blast thats particularly good at destroying underground positions. The bomb did just that, officials say, destroying three cave complexes and several weapons caches.

A #MOAB bomb strikes #ISIS cave & tunnel systems in eastern #Afghanistan. The strike was designed to minimize risk to Afghan and U.S. Forces pic.twitter.com/7pfBYQzk5F  U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) April 14, 2017

Officials say the bomb did not kill any civilians, but it was felt by many; windows broke and walls rattled tens of miles away. Residents living three miles away told the New York Times that their entire homes were destroyed.

One man living a mile and half away told the Guardian that he thought his own home was being bombed. The earth felt like a boat in a storm, Mohammad Shahzadah said. Last year a drone strike targeted a house next to mine, but this time it felt like the heavens were falling.

Naweed Shinwari, mayor of Achin district, where the tunnel complex is located, told the Guardian, My relatives thought the end of the world had come. He added that he didnt think such a big bomb was necessary: It terrorized our people.

Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai shared a similar opinion on Twitter.

I vehemently and in strongest words condemn the dropping of the latest weapon, the largest non-nuclear #bomb, on Afghanistan by US...1/2  Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) April 13, 2017

2/2 military. This is not the war on terror but the inhuman and most brutal misuse of our country as testing ground for new and dangerous...  Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) April 13, 2017

2/3 weapons. It is upon us,Afghans, to stop the #USA.  Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) April 13, 2017

President Trump, meanwhile, described the bombing as another successful event. Asked if he authorized the bombing, he dodged the question and said, What I do is I authorize my military. We have the greatest military in the world and they have done a job, as usual. We have given them total authorization.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un inspects his military forces in an undated photo released by North Koreas state news agency on April 14, 2017. Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images

After taking his second major military action in less than a week, President Trump was asked on Thursday if dropping the mother of all bombs on an ISIS target in Afghanistan should serve as a warning to North Korea.

I dont know if this sends a message, it doesnt make any difference if it does or not, Trump said. North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of.

How, exactly, North Korea will be taken care of remains unclear. Trump has repeatedly suggested that the U.S. will move to curtail North Koreas nuclear program, even if China wont. However, General John Hyten, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, recently said a solution that does not involve China does is not feasible. Trump seemed pleased by whatever assurances he received from Chinese president Xi Jinping during their meeting last week, but on Thursday morning he made another vague threat of unilateral U.S. action.

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

A senior U.S. official said last week that the recent review of the United States North Korea policy de-emphasizes direct military action, but preemptive military strikes hadnt been ruled out. On Thursday afternoon, a report from NBC News suggested they were very much on the table:

The U.S. is prepared to launch a preemptive strike with conventional weapons against North Korea should officials become convinced that North Korea is about to follow through with a nuclear weapons test, multiple senior U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News.



 The intelligence officials told NBC News that the U.S. has positioned two destroyers capable of shooting Tomahawk cruise missiles in the region, one just 300 miles from the North Korean nuclear test site.



American heavy bombers are also positioned in Guam to attack North Korea should it be necessary, and earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group was being diverted to the area.



The U.S. strike could include missiles and bombs, cyber and special operations on the ground.

The report sparked great alarm, particularly because North Korea appears poised to stage a sixth nuclear test any day now. Saturday is the birthday of North Koreas founder, Kim Il Sung, and in recent days theres been activity around Punggye-ri, the site of the previous tests. The independent monitoring agency 38 North said the area appeared to be primed and ready.

New satellite images suggest that North Korea might soon conduct a nuclear test, perhaps its most powerful yet https://t.co/CD2MeCL8G0  New York Times World (@nytimesworld) April 13, 2017

However, other journalists said multiple sources were pushing back on the NBC News report:

Multiple sr defense officials say this report is "wildly wrong" "crazy." Pentagon pushing back on NBC report, call it "extremely dangerous." https://t.co/BLnoPHnhj9  Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) April 13, 2017

Administration official calling NBC report re possible preemptive strike totally wrong https://t.co/unzqiJgGwp  Justin Sink (@justinsink) April 13, 2017

My sources say a pre-emptive strike is NOT planned, contrary to what @NBCNews reporting, but retaliation likely if missile/nuke device test. https://t.co/ec4BaMC2Sa  Steve Herman (@W7VOA) April 13, 2017

NBC noted that South Korea would have to sign off on any preemptive attack:

Implementation of the preemptive U.S. plans, according to multiple U.S. officials, depends centrally on consent of the South Korean government. The sources stress that Seoul has got to be persuaded that action is worth the risk, as there is universal concern that any military move might provoke a North Korean attack, even a conventional attack across the DMZ.

Senior Trump administration officials told The Wall Street Journal that even a U.S. military response to a provocation from North Korea this weekend is unlikely. They said the U.S. military is capable of intercepting North Korean missile tests, but they worry that could escalate the situation and anger China.

Trump praised China for turning coal-carrying cargo ships back to North Korea this week, and it appears that the administration wants to wait to see if China actually steps up pressure on its neighbor.

Had a very good call last night with the President of China concerning the menace of North Korea.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2017

Some former U.S. officials told the Journal that theyre skeptical, since China disappointed the last two administrations after suggesting they would help rein in North Korea.

Plus, Kim Jong-un isnt going to wait to see how things play out. In an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, North Koreas viceforeign minister said the country certainly will not keep our arms crossed if the U.S. launches a preemptive strike. Vice Minister Han Song Ryol said North Korea will launch a nuclear test whenever it sees fit, and added President Trumps tweets to the nations list of grievances against the U.S. Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words, he said. Its not the DPRK but the U.S. and Trump that makes trouble.
The ever-belligerent Maine governor doesnt think hed be a very good senator, but is thinking about running  or maybe appointing himself  anyway. Photo: Derek Davis/Press Herald via Getty Images

Amidst all the general caterwauling about a broken Washington and a broken Congress, theres now hope on the horizon for a breath of fresh air in the U.S. Senate, one who would give Americans the kind of calm, reasonable, pragmatic voice they crave: Paul LePage. Per the Boston Globe:

Maines Republican governor says hes strongly considering running for the U.S. Senate, but also feels he wouldnt make a very good legislator.

Gov. Paul LePage made the comments on a radio appearance on WGAN-AM on Thursday morning. The two-term governor is termed out of his current job in 2018 and he has been the source of speculation about his next move.

Most of said speculation has revolved around a 2018 LePage challenge to Senator Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. Hes considering it, even though he doubts he would be good at the job and is concerned committee meetings would be boring.

Since hes not that jazzed about the gig, perhaps LePage should make a Senate run conditional on someone talking Eliot Cutler into running as well  Cutlers two independent candidacies for governor aided LePages election in 2010 and reelection in 2014 by pluralities.

There is possibly a different, easier route for LePage to get from Augusta to Washington: Senator Susan Collins has been openly talking about returning to Maine next year and running to succeed LePage. If she won, under current state law LePage would get to appoint someone to finish the last two years of Collinss Senate term. He might find the most qualified candidate to be the belligerent man staring back at him from the mirror.
A rendering of the hotel that will never be. Photo: Alterra Worldwide

A developer who calls himself the Turkish Trump has scrapped plans to open the first hotel under the Trump Organizations Scion brand after fierce public backlash.

Announced last October, Scion was designed as a boutique line of smaller properties with lower room rates than Trump Hotels, and without the toxicity of the family name. But the Dallas project, spearheaded by developer Mukemmel Mike Sarimsakci, did not fly under the radar.

Protesters staged rallies at both the proposed site of the hotel and at Dallas City Hall. More than 1,000 people signed a No to Scion petition. And it wasnt just the involvement of the Trump Organization that drew opposition; Sarimsakci has his own checkered business history and murky international ties, according to an investigation by the Dallas Morning News.

The negative attention was enough for Sarimsakci to tell city councilmembers this week that the Dallas Scion is dead. This is already the second time public protests have led Sarimsakci to kill a deal with the Trump family: In November, he canceled plans to turn a St. Louis building into a Scion after protesters filled the streets. The emotions were very, very high, and we decided at that point it was not constructive to put that through, he told New York last month. We said, Well do a Marriott.
Here comes trouble. Photo: Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images

Ever since the United States put the fate of the world in the hands of an ill-tempered reality star, people have sought comfort in the thought that Donald Trump might outsource his administrations most important decisions to the adults in the room.

This was a reasonable hope. But it was also one that elided a troubling fact: Nearly all the adults in the Trump administration are men who make war for a living.

On Thursday, one week after Trump ordered a missile strike against the Assad regime, the United States hit Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed. When the commander-in-chief was asked to explain the rationale for this unprecedented use of force, he replied, What I do is I authorize my military.

So, we have given them total authorization, Trump continued.

JUST IN: Trump says he's "proud" of "very successful job" the military did with the use of 'The Mother of All Bombs' https://t.co/G3qGtUdiu8 pic.twitter.com/DheqU0SsRl  CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) April 13, 2017

Our future is up to the generals. Here, according to Bloombergs Eli Lake, is what the generals are up to:

Senior White House and administration officials tell me Trumps national security adviser, General H.R. McMaster, has been quietly pressing his colleagues to question the underlying assumptions of a draft war plan against the Islamic State that would maintain only a light U.S. ground troop presence in Syria. McMasters critics inside the administration say he wants to send tens of thousands of ground troops to the Euphrates River Valley. His supporters insist he is only trying to facilitate a better interagency process to develop Trumps new strategy to defeat the self-described caliphate that controls territory in Iraq and Syria.



The White House and administration officials say Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford and General Joseph Votel, who is in charge of U.S. Central Command, oppose sending more conventional forces into Syria. Meanwhile, White House senior strategist Stephen Bannon has derided McMaster to his colleagues as trying to start a new Iraq War, according to these sources  White House and administration officials familiar with the current debate tell me there is no consensus on how many troops to send to Syria and Iraq. Two sources told me one plan would envision sending up to 50,000 troops.

Were not going into Syria, Trump assured Fox Business earlier this week. But, according to Lake, the president has yet to hear from his advisors, who want to reach consensus around a plan to defeat ISIS before presenting it to the president. So, the adults may yet change his mind.

After all, what Trump does, is he authorizes his military.
A 2003 test of MOAB in Florida. Photo: USAF via Getty Images

After developing it 14 years ago, the U.S. has for the first time used the second-biggest non-nuclear weapon in the militarys arsenal in battle. Officially called the GBU-43/B, the bomb is also known as the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) or the mother of all bombs. The 22,000-pound weapon was dropped Thursday on an ISIS cave complex near Afghanistans border with Pakistan.

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, the Pentagon said in a release. ISIS-K is shorthand for the Afghan branch of the Islamic State.

General John W. Nicholson, who commands U.S. forces in Afghanistan, is quoted in the release explaining the rationale behind using the bomb. 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, he said.

After its use Thursday, the MOAB became the largest non-nuclear weapon to be used in U.S. combat. It is not, however, the largest conventional weapon in the U.S. arsenal  that distinction belongs to the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 30,000-pound bunker-buster that has never been used in combat.
Hillary Clinton pauses during an interview with Nicholas Kristof at the Women in the World Summit on April 6 in New York. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Ive done what I could in this space to avoid the subject of Hillary Clinton. I dont want to be the perennial turd in the punchbowl. Id hoped wed finally seen the last of that name in public life  its been a long quarter of a century  and that we could all move on. Alas, no. Her daughter (angels and ministers of grace defend us) seems to be positioning herself for a political career. And Clinton herself duly emerged last week for a fawning, rapturous reception at the Women in the World conference in New York City. It simply amazes me the hold this family still has on the Democratic Party  and on liberals in general. The most popular question that came from interviewer Nick Kristofs social-media outreach, for example, was: Are you doing okay? Heres Michelle Goldberg: I find myself wondering at odd times of the day and night: How is Hillary? Is she going to be all right? Seriously, can you imagine anyone wondering the same after Walter Mondale or Michael Dukakis or John Kerry blew elections?

And everywhere you see not an excoriation of one of the worst campaigns in recent history, leading to the Trump nightmare, but an attempt to blame anyone or anything but Clinton herself for the epic fail. It wasnt Clintons fault, were told. It never is. It was the voters  those ungrateful, deplorable know-nothings! Their sexism defeated her (despite a majority of white women voting for Trump). A wave of misogyny defeated her (ditto). James Comey is to blame. Bernie Sanderss campaign  because it highlighted her enmeshment with Wall Street, her brain-dead interventionism and her rapacious money-grubbing since she left the State Department  was the problem. Millennial feminists were guilty as well, for not seeing what an amazing crusader for their cause this candidate was. And this, of course, is how Clinton sees it as well: She wasnt responsible for her own campaign  her staffers were. As a new book on her campaign notes, after Clinton lost the Michigan primary to Sanders, The blame belonged to her campaign team, she believed, for failing to hone her message, energize important constituencies, and take care of business in getting voters to the polls. So by the time the general-election campaign came round, theyd fix that and win Michigan, right?

In case you forgot just how somewhat unhinged the 2016 election was.

Let us review the facts: Clinton had the backing of the entire Democratic establishment, including the president (his biggest mistake in eight years by far), and was even married to the last, popular Democratic president. As in 2008, when she managed to lose to a neophyte whose middle name was Hussein, everything was stacked in her favor. In fact, the Clintons so intimidated other potential candidates and donors, she had the nomination all but wrapped up before she even started. And yet she was so bad a candidate, she still only managed to squeak through in the primaries against an elderly, stopped-clock socialist who wasnt even in her party, and who spent his honeymoon in the Soviet Union. She ran with a popular Democratic incumbent president in the White House in a growing economy. She had the extra allure of possibly breaking a glass ceiling that  with any other female candidate  would have been as inspiring as the election of the first black president. In the general election, she was running against a malevolent buffoon with no political experience, with a deeply divided party behind him, and whose negatives were stratospheric. She outspent him by almost two-to-one. Her convention was far more impressive than his. The demographics favored her. And yet she still managed to lose!

But  but  but  her deluded fans insist, she won the popular vote! But thats precisely my point. Any candidate who can win the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes and still manage to lose the Electoral College by 304 to 227 is so profoundly incompetent, so miserably useless as a politician, she should be drummed out of the party under a welter of derision. Compare her electoral college result with Al Gores, who also won the popular vote but lost in the Electoral College: 271 to 266. For that matter, compare hers with John Kerrys, who lost the popular vote by 1.5 percent  286 to 241. She couldnt even find a halfway-decent speechwriter for her convention speech. The week before the election, she was campaigning in Arizona, for Petes sake. And she took off chunks of the summer, fundraising (at one point, in the swing states of Fire Island and Provincetown). Whenever she gave a speech, you could hear the air sucking out of the room minutes after she started. In the middle of an election campaign, she dismissed half of the Republican voters as deplorable. She lost Wisconsin, which she didnt visit once. I could go on.

And so I find myself wondering at odd times of the day and night: Why is Trump in the White House? And then I remember. Hillary Clinton put him there.

Every day, the incoherence deepens: Hes going to cover everyone, but hes going to push 24 million people off their health insurance. Hes going to wipe out the debt, but his tax cuts and spending spree will add trillions to it. Hes never going to intervene in Syria, but he just did. Hes going to get Mexico to pay for a big, beautiful wall, but he isnt. China is a currency manipulator, but it isnt. The media is the enemy of the people, but he is on the phone with them every five minutes and cant stop watching CNN and reading the New York Times. Hes going to be a tightwad with taxpayers money, unlike Obama, but his personal travel expenses are on track to be eight times more than his predecessors. Hes going to work relentlessly for the American people but he spends half his days watching cable news. Weve got to be very, very tough in foreign affairs, but when he sees dead babies on TV, he immediately calls General Mattis and lobs 59 Tomahawk missiles. He has a secret plan to defeat ISIS, but pursues Obamas strategy instead. He is for the forgotten men and women of America, but his tax plan  which is itself changing all the time  benefits the superrich and depends on removing health insurance for the working poor. He wants to be friends with Russia, but he doesnt. Hes going to challenge Chinas policy on Taiwan, but he isnt. He is against crony capitalism, but he is for it. Hes going to keep the focus on America, but just upped the ante in Yemen and Afghanistan. Hes a deal-maker, but he cannot make deals even with his own party. Hes a great manager, but his White House is consumed with in-fighting and he cannot staff his own administration. Hes a populist who stacks his cabinet with Goldman Sachs alums. Hes going to pressure China to take on North Korea, but after listening for ten minutes to Chinas dictator, he changes his mind.

I could go on. You can try to argue that Trump has simply pivoted to the center, like so many other presidents before him. But the statements he has made in just the last six months, and the policies he has pursued for the last three, have gyrated so wildly, have so little consistency, and make so little sense that there is no assurance that in another three months, he wont be back where he started, or somewhere even more clusterfucked.

What on earth is the point of trying to understand him when there is nothing to understand? Calling him a liar is true enough, but liars have some cognitive grip on reality, and he doesnt. Liars remember what they have said before. His brain is a neural Etch A Sketch. He doesnt speak, we realize; he emits random noises. He refuses to take responsibility for anything. He can accuse his predecessor and Obamas national security adviser of crimes, and provide no evidence for either. He has no strategy beyond the next 24 hours, no guiding philosophy, no politics, no consistency at all  just whatever makes him feel good about himself this second. He therefore believes whatever bizarre nonfact he can instantly cook up in his addled head, or whatever the last person who spoke to him said. He makes Chauncey Gardiner look like Abraham Lincoln. Occams razor points us to the obvious: He has absolutely no idea what hes doing. Which is reassuring and still terrifying all at once.

One cant help but wonder if the evidence in the above video is proof Trump simply doesnt like his new job at all.

Do you know the real reason Dr. Dao was so brutally tackled and thrown off that United flight? It was all about white supremacy. I mean, what isnt these days? That idea is from the New Republic. Yes, the cops seemed to be African-American, as the author concedes, so the white-versus-minority paradigm is a little off. Yes, this has happened before to many people with no discernible racial or gender pattern. Yes, there is an obvious alternative explanation: The seats from which passengers were forcibly removed were randomly assigned. New York published a similar piece, which argued that the incident was just another example of Trumps border-and-immigration-enforcement policies toward suspected illegal immigrants of color. That no federal cops were involved and there is no actual evidence at all of police harassment of Asian-Americans is irrelevant  its all racism, all the time, everywhere in everything.

Its easy to mock this reductionism, I know, but it reflects something a little deeper. Asian-Americans, like Jews, are indeed a problem for the social-justice brigade. I mean, how on earth have both ethnic groups done so well in such a profoundly racist society? How have bigoted white people allowed these minorities to do so well  even to the point of earning more, on average, than whites? Asian-Americans, for example, have been subject to some of the most brutal oppression, racial hatred, and open discrimination over the years. In the late 19th century, as most worked in hard labor, they were subject to lynchings and violence across the American West and laws that prohibited their employment. They were banned from immigrating to the U.S. in 1924. Japanese-American citizens were forced into internment camps during the Second World War, and subjected to hideous, racist propaganda after Pearl Harbor. Yet, today, Asian-Americans are among the most prosperous, well-educated, and successful ethnic groups in America. What gives? It couldnt possibly be that they maintained solid two-parent family structures, had social networks that looked after one another, placed enormous emphasis on education and hard work, and thereby turned false, negative stereotypes into true, positive ones, could it? It couldnt be that all whites are not racists or that the American dream still lives?
Photo: Instagram

Facebook announced yesterday that its newest Instagram feature, Stories, has surpassed 200 million daily active users. New, of course, is relative: The disappearing-video format, which has redefined social media, was invented and pioneered by Snapchat, before being shamelessly ripped off by Instagram. But even a stingy estimation of Instagrams figures means that a group of people about the size of the population of Pakistan is either posting Stories to Instagram, or checking out their friends Stories every day. To celebrate, Facebook introduced a new feature  stickers that users can place on objects in a video to track the videos movements. If that sounds familiar, it should: Like Stories, pinned stickers that move along with video are a Snapchat feature that Facebook has recycled for its own social network.

A bad sign for Facebook, right? A formerly pacesetting business must be out of ideas if its just copying ideas from a newer and more creative competitor. Except, as of its IPO earlier this year, Snapchat boasts only 161 million daily active users. In the span of less than a year, Instagram managed to rip off Snapchats defining feature, and then surpass it.

That Instagram Stories are already seeing more users than Snapchat confirms a couple of assertions. The first is, more than any single product or feature, the social graph (friends, family, and the links between every part of your social circle) that most networks maintain is their single most important asset. Instagrams Stories are successful, in part, because you didnt need to build an entire new friends list. The second is, Facebook is completely unafraid of leveraging its enormous social graph to make use of its competitors innovations and choke those competitors out. This is obviously terrifying to Snapchat  but users should be terrified, too.

Theres a long, not-so-proud history in the tech industry of larger companies enfolding smart features and ideas from smaller ones into their platforms, often killing small businesses in a single move. The company most famous for this behavior is Apple, which once updated its Sherlock search bar to copy a feature from a third-party app called Watson, obviating Watson, and giving rise to the term Sherlocking. (Apple is still up to this: Its new screen-dimming feature Night Shift is just a version of a popular app called f.lux.)

Sherlocking works because the larger company has access to the platform itself. Millions of people already used Apples OS, were captive to updates, and were inclined to take the most frictionless road to functionality; with Sherlock, not only could Apple introduce new search features to the millions who would never have seen Watson otherwise, but it could also entice Watson users away by making Sherlock identical in features and easier to use.

Facebook introducing Stories to Instagram (and its other apps) isnt Sherlocking  in fact, in some ways, its worse. Rather than taking third-party apps built to run on its platform and making their features native, its taking a defining feature from a direct, smaller competitor, and putting all of its social-graph muscle behind it. And as yesterdays numbers show, its working.

Snapchat isnt as big as Facebook  which means it not only has fewer users, but that those users are less likely to have their entire social circles on the app. This less comprehensive social graph means that Snapchat needs a real competitive edge to bring people over to its app. For a long time, that edge was Stories, a fresh and interesting type of social-media post.

But if Stories is on Instagram  where youre likely already following, and being followed by, your entire social circle  what can Snapchat really offer? Instagrams Stories product isnt different that Snapchats, or an improvement on it. Its just on the app that everyone else is already on. When Facebook introduced a Stories feature to its main app a few weeks ago, it was clear that the social network was taking a kitchen-sink approach  introducing to its app as many features and doodads as possible. Why would an app make itself almost unusably overstuffed? Because for all of Facebooks problems, it knows that people wont leave it, since that would also mean cutting off a primary means of contact with their social circles. What this ultimately means is that Facebooks dominant size and expansive social graph will block out any competitors, simply by mimicking the most attractive new features.

Facebook, since it launched Instagram Stories, has argued that Stories is a format, more than a proprietary piece of technology owned by Snapchat. This is a fair defense. (Arguably, stories is a social-media commodity.) But Facebook is not copying just one feature of Snapchat, its also copying the apps layout (swiping between camera screens, public feeds, and your inbox). And this week, Facebook changed its direct-messaging software to more closely mirror Snapchats. Its also already introduced cut-and-pasted geofilters, stickers, and virtual face masks to its Stories products on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This has gone far beyond copying a single feature from Snapchat  Facebook is stripping the smaller app and installing its parts, and because of its size, it can get away with it.

This is not to say that Snapchat is doomed. Instagram adding users does not correlate directly with Snapchat losing them. Plus, Snapchat does have one defining feature that Facebook will never have, which is strong branding as a privacy-conscious company. Part of the reason Instagram was able to rip off Stories so easily was because Stories is public-facing. Private messaging, which Snapchat built its company on, is still a key feature. Facebook, with all of its creepy data mining, cant really compare.

But the competition between Facebook and Snapchat is about more than just which one will have more users  its about increasing concentration in an increasingly less dynamic industry. So far, criticism of Facebooks Snapchat imitations had been couched in language of morality and taste  its a bad look. But when its considered as a business strategy, employing Facebooks sheer magnitude as leverage to box out competitors, it sounds less like a dishonorable practice, and more like an anti-competitive, monopolistic one. Just as Microsoft was accused of using the size of its user base to win browser wars, Facebook looks as though its using the size of its user base to win social wars  or, really, to build an impregnable wall around its kingdom.
RCA RecordsJack Antonoff has revealed the title and release date for his next Bleachers album. The band's sophomore effort is called Gone Now, and will be released June 2.

"The album sounds exactly what it was," Antonoff writes on Twitter. "Someone alone in a room trying to make sense of loss and how to move on."

Gone Now features 12 tracks, including the previously released single "Don't Take the Money." That track features guest vocals from Lorde -- in fact, Antonoff says the album includes "an amazing cast of friends and idols who pop in for moments or send me things."

Bleachers will kick off a headlining tour in support of Gone Now on April 25 in New York City.

Here is the Gone Now track list:

"Dream of Mickey Mantle"

"Goodmorning"

"Hate That You Know Me"

"Don't Take the Money"

"All My Heroes"

"Everybody Lost Somebody"

"Let's Get Married"

"Goodbye"

"I Miss Those Days"

"Nothing Is U"

"I'm Ready to Move On/Mickey Mantle Reprise"

"Foreign Girls"

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Choate. Photo: Choate.edu

At least 12 former teachers at the elite Connecticut boarding school Choate Rosemary Hall have sexually molested students since the 1960s, according to the New York Times. The abuse was detailed in a report released by the school on Thursday, including instances of intimate touching, intimate kissing, and at least one rape.

The school received a complaint about the abuse from parents of a Choate student in the early 1980s, after their daughter contracted herpes from an English teacher, the Times reports. Additionally, the report  which was prepared by an investigator for Choates board of trustees  revealed that a teacher raped a student on a school trip to Costa Rica, and that in 2013, two alumni complained of abuse they experienced as students. Yet, the abuse was never reported to the police. Per the Times:

In some cases, teachers were allowed to resign after being confronted with evidence of misconduct, and administrators wrote letters of recommendations for teachers who were fired.

The findings of abuse at Choate  located in Wallingford, Connecticut  come after a string of investigations into similar accusations at other prestigious private schools, including Horace Mann and Poly Prep in New York City and St. Georges School in Rhode Island. They are closed systems, especially residential private schools where kids are separated from their parents. Its not like a public school, with people coming in and out all the time, Paul Mones, a lawyer that represents victims of sexual abuse, told the Times. There are many more opportunities for teachers to do this.

The Boston Globe published an article in 2016 detailing abuse at the school, and Choate appointed an investigator shortly afterwards, the Times notes. The investigators report includes the names of 12 former faculty members who allegedly abused students  and in some instances, the sexual relationships continued after the students left the school.

The reports description of the aftermath of the alleged Costa Rica incident was particularly disturbing. Per the Times:

In the Costa Rica episode, a Spanish teacher named Jaime Rivera-Murillo is said to have raped a 17-year-old student in a swimming pool after drinking heavily with a group of students. Another student came to the young womans aid. The next morning, students told the schools administration what had happened, and the dean of students went to Costa Rica to investigate. Mr. Rivera-Murillo was called back to the school and fired for just cause, but he went on to work at several other Connecticut schools, including as the principal of a high school in Litchfield County. He resigned from that post this month after the Choate investigator contacted him and the district superintendent.

The chairman of the board of trustees, Michael J. Carr, and Choates headmaster, Alex D. Curtis, apologized and thanked victims for coming forward in a letter accompanying the report.
Photo: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

You dont look French, says the woman sitting next to me on the white leather couch. Were at Pioneer Works, a converted Brooklyn factory fostering artistic and scientific creativity (and, judging by the crowd gathered for the monthly meetup that is Second Sunday, experimentation in fashion). I spot a woman with pink and purple hair, but she pales in comparison to the creature prancing around in a gold mask and iridescent aluminum jacket. With my grey coat, plain jeans, and black Converse, I feel very under dressed. And, I thought, very French. Well, I am, I tell the woman sitting next to me. She looks at me suspiciously.

The woman is French too, obviously. Only people from my country go about contradicting complete strangers. As it turns out, we are both recent imports to New York City, and on the same visa: the O-1, for aliens with extraordinary ability. Its reserved for artists and athletes, and we belong to the first category. Another extraordinary alien! she says to me. We find the official description very funny. In Old French, the word alien means strange, and nowadays its mostly used to refer to extraterrestrial life. Un alien  thats how I often feel in France, with my platinum hair and eccentric outfits.

I was born and raised in Pariss very bourgeois 16th arrondissement. The ambient conservativeness, coupled with an innate need to protest, quickly turned me into a pint-sized punk. At age 4, I started cutting my own hair. The rebelliousness took many forms in subsequent years, most of them sartorial: I attended a strict Jesuit school, so clothes became the best way to express disagreement with the rules. While the preferred style was pleated skirts and penny loafers, I opted for bell-bottom trousers, Nirvana shirts, and skateboard sneakers. Even with the cool kids, I felt like a misfit. While they all dressed in Levis jeans and Gap sweaters like their favorite Friends characters; I was obsessed with Daria Morgendorffer.

Just as rigid as the Jesuits reglement, the dress code known as What French Women Wear reigns supreme in Paris. Its cardinal virtues are little black dresses from Sandro, perfectly fitted APC jeans, a Saint Laurent tuxedo jacket, and patent-leather ballerina flats from Repetto. As for the capital sins: Sneakers with skirts, tights and sandals, flip flops on the metro, and wearing more than three colors at once.

French style is all about being in the know, and even though I was born there, I constantly felt like Id missed the memo. My ballet flats were golden and shiny (a far cry from the requisite black matte), my go-to jeans were gigantic denim dungarees, and my pants were slouchy black Topshop trousers covered in glitter. Where do you think you are, on the rue Saint-Denis? asked the members of the good-taste brigade when they saw my version of the LBD, a bright-red velvet bodycon from American Apparel. (The rue Saint-Denis, by the way, is where the prostitutes hang out in Paris. Its also where I found a perfect pair of platform sandals covered in leopard-print velvet.)

Two years ago, I packed my gold suitcase with tropical-print denim shorts, python sandals, and neon silk tunics, and headed to New York City for the summer. As soon as I stepped inside the Brooklyn-bound J train, I knew Id found my kin. Even the men had rainbow-colored rucksacks and had platinum hair. Over the next two weeks, staying with friends in Chinatown and Bushwick, I took my sparkly pants to museums and galleries, and my flowery jumpsuit to dim sum and ice-cream parlors. During the last weekend of my trip, I attended a loft party in Williamsburg, where people wore oversized overalls and sexy disco dresses. I was seduced by the joie de vivre with which New Yorkers dressed. I flew back to Paris wearing a dog-print sweater and a pair of 80s Guess jeans Id bought at Beacons Closet. I was certain New York was the planet I belonged on.

The following September, I quit my job, left my apartment, and spent a year migrating back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean. In the treasure troves that are New Yorks thrift stores, I bought tacky and tasteful garments from all over the world, and felt more at home than ever before. One rainy day in May, while trying on a pair of iridescent Birkenstocks and Lee baggy jeans at my favorite vintage store in Bed-Stuy, Fleetwood Macs You Can Go Your Own Way started playing on the stereo. I took it as a sign, and decided to apply for a visa.

Isnt this a weird time to be moving to America? asked pretty much everyone I knew in Paris. I had submitted my petition three days after Trump signed his ban on immigration. On the contrary, I felt lucky, and ready to prove to the world that America forever remains a nation of aliens. I was wearing my Lee baggy jeans the day I got the approval email from my lawyer, and I wore them again for my interview at the U.S. embassy. A week later, I was at the airport with the brand-new visa in my passport.

What does a free woman wear for a one-way trip from Paris to New York City? Velvet leggings, Air Max sneakers, and a black cashmere Bompard sweater. No glitter, no zebra print. I was chic and monochromatic, and bored to death by my own outfit. What is happening to me? I wondered on my way to Pioneer Works a week later, wearing the baggy jeans once more, with bleach-stained Converse and my boyfriends baby-blue sweater. Has moving to America for real made me more French than ever? Before reaching the bus stop, I passed a thrift store. Of course I went in. Ten minutes later, hidden under my grey wool coat, was the most beautiful thing Ive ever seen: A silk leopard-print jacket, complete with cowboy fringe and epaulettes.
Photo-Illustration: Photo: iStockphoto/Getty Images

John, 61

Prison psychiatrist

Los Osos, California

I moved to California from Texas at the behest of my wife, who pretty much said, Ive had it  I wanna move to California. Id planned to set up a private practice when I got here. Its a lot more varied and a lot more gratifying. But it also tends to be all-consuming.

I needed some cash flow, and I started working at a mens prison. I found that it was a lot easier: I didnt have any overhead. I wasnt on call every night. I had paid vacations. I found myself sleeping better. My mother and my wife  the two people who know me best  said, We cant believe how much more relaxed and easy you are to be around!

When you work at a prison, you have to go through a lot of security checkpoints. It takes me a good 20 minutes to get to my office. There are guard towers everywhere, and they have people who have guns. The compound is surrounded by two 20-foot chain-link fences with coiled razor wire on the top. In between the two fences are electric wires, to make it so nobodys getting out of there.

Before I go to my office, I pick up  they call em pads. Its like a garage-door-opener that is specific to my office. If an inmate is trying to assault me or I feel unsafe, I hit it and Ill get something like 15 custody officers there within moments. Ive probably used it once or twice in 20 years. More often than not, you have false alarms. Ive done that maybe three or four times, where you accidentally sit on it or hit it inadvertently, and then all the custody officers run. You have to buy them doughnuts the next day to get them to forgive you.

I see about 8 to 12 inmates a day. They come to my office about every half hour to 45 minutes. Theres a custody officer right in front of the clinic and hell say on the PA, Joe Smith, report to C quad Psych Services at this time. The officer pats them down to make sure they dont have any weapons, and I usually meet them at the door and walk them into the office. Almost 80 percent of the time its fairly friendly. You know: How are you doing today, Mr. Smith? Come on in  shut the door as youre coming in. Then I just begin the interview.

Most of the patients I see have been there for some time, and I know them. About four times a week, well see somebody new or new problems arise. Maybe 25 percent of the people we see will feign mental illness to keep from being transferred out of state. Californias overburdened, so they try to send them out to Arizona or Mississippi and so forth. Nobody wants to do that. Theyre not allowed to send mentally ill patients out of state. Or theyre gang members and wanna do some free time, some easy time, and not be around dangerous situations.

Many are willing to go to great lengths to stay in the mental-health program. Theyve been known to scratch their wrists. They dont cut it very deep but  you know. Theyll say they have chronic pain; theyll claim depression, or say that they are having auditory hallucinations. Theyll tell us that little green men come to their cells at night and talk to them. Theyll be telling me, I hear voices  I wanna be on medicines.

A lot of inmates, theyre sullen and angry and, Ahh, you dont care  youre just like all the rest of the doctors around here. Youre just part of the system. Youre just as bad as the cops. You ask them, Whats bothering you? Can you tell me a little bit about that? I said Im depressed! Youre the doctor! Why dont you just give me something? Theyll get very angry if you dont give them the exact kind of medicine they want  and sometimes the medicine they want is either inappropriate or addictive.

Some of the inmates are what we call antisocial. This is kind of what the public would think of as a criminal. I saw a young man the other day: He has very little guilt or remorse, and hes proud of how tough he is and how people dont want to mess with him. He says that he wants to work on his anger issues. But really, a lot of these guys, what theyre really struggling with is dealing with the consequences of their impulsive behavior. They dont have any trouble with emotional problems until they get caught.

But Im hesitant to write anybody off. Id rather be swept up in their lie than be cynical and miss something. If youre gonna make a mistake, you want to err on the side of caution. That being said, if I ask the cell-block custody officer if he has any observations about a patients behavior and he says, Oh, yeah, hes having fun on the yard  hes out there talking with his homies, that doesnt dovetail very well with him telling us how depressed he is.

We spend a lot of time helping inmates modulate their feelings, talking about appropriate ways to deal with anger. They just fly into a rage  yelling profanity, or, in the worst circumstances, hitting somebody. Were talking basics: impulse control. Learning how to delay gratification. Things you wouldve hopefully learned as a kid. Like, I can be angry and not hit you.

The patients that Im most able to be helpful with are ones struggling with depression, anxiety, or psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Of my total caseload, Id say that that makes up maybe 10 to 25 percent. People who are profoundly depressed, who feel wretched about letting their family down. Often, theyve had drug or alcohol problems, and once they get off the drugs, theres a great deal of remorse. Those are the people we can make a difference with, both with medications and brief psychotherapy and counseling. The number of head injuries we see is truly astounding. I mean, its gunshot wounds to the head, beaten with a bat, unconscious for days.

Theres nobody that is not gonna be worse as a result of being in prison. If you already have difficulties, its only gonna make that worse. Theyre having trouble coping and dealing with the rules and being away from their families and not having anybody they can really open up to.

There was an inmate who suicided  successfully. Hed killed his wife after he caught her cheating on him. After twenty years, he realized how horrible that was, and how he had no right to do that. He never forgave himself for it. If youre a cardiologist, youre gonna lose some patients to heart attacks. And if youre a psychiatrist, sooner or later, someones gonna kill themselves.

When inmates have a long time in prison  the inmates have actually taught me this  there are four things they do to survive. Youve gotta exercise regularly. Youve gotta keep growing mentally: reading, learning a new language. Its helpful to develop some sort of spiritual program, to try and figure out, Why have I gotten here, what is my life, how can I have meaning? The final thing is: who are you hanging out with? There are cliques  they call it politics  where blacks gotta be with blacks, whites gotta be with whites, and, you know, you cant be talking to so-and-so and that kind of stuff, otherwise people get beat up or stabbed.

This is even true for staff members. Its an oppressive place, and theres a lot of negativity. How do you keep your outlook positive and hopeful, yet realistic? I kind of do all those things I mentioned that the inmates do. I try and be realistic. I try and help each person as much as I can, and if I see that this is not a person amenable to any help, I try to at least not alienate them.

One of the questions I ask in interviews is, Do you feel like theres anyone in your life who you feel sure loves you? To laypeople that seems like a foolish question, but many of these inmates will look at you like youre foolish for even thinking that love exists. Maybe one in five had an intact family. Many grew up in foster homes. A patient with a good prognosis is more likely to have a family who loves him, people who care about him, and he feels bad about letting them down, so hes got a lot of motivation: I wanna get it right this time.
I'm glad it's ending in a timely matter and not getting dragged out, but I'm still gonna miss it.

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I will miss it so much, but I'm glad that they aren't drawing it out unnecessarily.

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Yasss, Kween! Tatiana, Fuck me up with your acting abilities!!



She's amazing and I'm going to miss this show when it's over 

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They could never catch up to the quality of the first season so yeah, ready for last season.

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queen of the clones

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Give her another Emmy for this promo alone lol

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Right?! This trailer gave me chills lol.

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I am not ready for this to be over. That trailer is sorta cheesy though. I don't think there's been a good one since season 1.

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aw it's ending? i haven't watched since season 2 but i really, really need to catch up

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Ugh, Fe is my fave <3

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I lost interest and stopped watching in the 3rd season. What happened with the male clones?

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Season 4 is leagues better than season 3.

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Season 4 is way better. Still not S1 good, but leagues ahead of S3

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i stopped watching mid season 3, but i went back and finished it and got to season 4 which was miles better than 3. it was more of a callback to season 1, obviously it will never capture the perfection that is season 1, but it was close tho

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I'm sad to see this go because it's one of my favorite shows but am glad they aren't going to try and drag it on like other shows.

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I've seen 5x01, AMA! (Well, maybe not anything, because I am often confused by this show. But I'll try.)

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how did you manage to see it???!!!??

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Just through work; we screened it at a ~special event.

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My big questions are 1) how high are the stakes really? please tell me they don't reset things at all after burning down the motherfucking village with the S4 finale and 2) DO WE GET KRYSTAL

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I still need to watch S4. I heard it was pretty great compared to S3 (so bad, imo).

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S4 really reorients the show back to S1 tone, imo. It was so much better than 3 w/o a doubt.

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I actually almost quit during season 3 but season 4 is amazing

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S4 is sooo much better than S3.

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I wished they let Krystal become part of clone club,.

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fingers crossed!

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she's not a clone though??

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FUCK CHECHNYA this is awful.



Edited at 2017-04-14 05:30 pm (UTC)

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I couldn't find a phone number for the state department, so I sent a message through their contact form on their website. I was surprised they wrote back within a few hours. the website actually mentions that there may be a processing time of 3-5 days, so I was surprised to get a fast response:



This is their response:



The United States Concerned by Reports of Detentions and Deaths of LGBTI Individuals in Chechnya, Russia

Press Statement

Mark C. Toner

Acting Spokesperson

Washington, DC



April 7, 2017

We are increasingly concerned about the situation in the Republic of Chechnya, where there have been numerous credible reports indicating the detention of at least 100 men on the basis of their sexual orientation. Some reports indicate many of those arrested have been tortured, in some cases leading to death. We categorically condemn the persecution of individuals based on their sexual orientation or any other basis.



We are deeply disturbed by recent public statements by Chechen authorities that condone and incite violence against LGBTI persons. 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.



Thank you for contacting the U.S. Department of State.





Bureau of Public Affairs

Office of Public Engagement

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hmmm





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I'm glad their acknowledging that it's happening, but they need to fucking do something. Put sanctions on Russia.

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Good on you for actually bringing the issue up with government reps. So many people never take advantage of their ability to communicate with their government.

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I was reading about this as it emerged in Pink News a few days ago and just like... started crying in the middle of a hipster coffee shop :(((



They were saying they're the first Concentration Camps since WW2? fuck EVERYTHING tbqh.

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There are definitely concentration camps in north korea. probably other places too. i wouldn't be shocked



Edited at 2017-04-14 05:56 pm (UTC)

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Tbh that's true. I'm sure people just ~Spicey them up. Internment Camps! Work Camps!



Is there still time to sign up for Mars One?

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ugh, jr tr*mp's tweet is just further proof we've elected a youtube comment section to the white house

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It's so sad that this bs is still happening. Let people live in peace.

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Read the Guardian article. It's very shocking and tough to read (and potentially triggering), but it's important to know.



Russia has the power to put a stop to this, as Chechnya is a Russian territory. The US should do everything in its power to demand action from Russia, including putting sanctions on Russia. Idk if that's gonna happen.

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sanctions have not hurt Putin or his buddies & instead have had awful effects of the large poverty stricken Russian population & poor EU countries who had depended on trade with Russia, leading to pro-Russia politicians/parties gaining more power in those countries, so how abt sth else



Edited at 2017-04-14 05:41 pm (UTC)

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Yup

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i remember, early on, when the sanctions were just introduced, lots of food just disappeared from supermarkets and i had to smuggle food for my family from europe. it wasn't fun.

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yep :|

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Idk if that's gonna happen.

DJT's regime is anti LGBT so, no.

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Putin supports the Chechen warlord guy, so that ain't happening. Putin probably supports it.

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Putin is anti-LGBT himself. He does not give a shit and neither is he going to step in the way of Kadyrov doing anything.

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I've really only seen the news about what's happening with Russia on tumblr, and now here.



On the whole Chick-Fil-A thing: Just don't eat there if you don't want to. Nobody is forcing you to go there and buy their food. They choose to lose out on business by closing on Sundays, so it's pretty obvious the owners are uber-religious.

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There was a post here not too long ago with a bunch of people saying they know chick-fil-a is horrible but they can't give up their sauce and whatever else, it was...odd. But yea if you want to protest a company not giving them your money is a good start.



Edited at 2017-04-14 05:39 pm (UTC)

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that post was a real trip to read, more so bc I feel sure quite a few of them are otherwise so vocal about lgbt issues. idk how much of an ally you can be though if you're incapable of giving up some fucking sauce.

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WTF, Chick-fil-a paid for part of my college education and for those of many friends, but I'm not beholden to some fucking fast food. Also, that sauce is super easy to replicate at home.

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Things like that are why I was so surprised that I mean, there are other fast food options. Geez...Things like that are why I was so surprised that #GrabYourWallet campaign worked for so many companies. Granted, it still hasn't worked for Amazon but it worked for a surprisingly large number (and huge) companies.

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The protester aren't eating there. They are also exercising their first amendment right.

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what I dont understand is... chick fil a isn't even that good lol they'll have car lines wrapped around the store during lunch and i'm just like ???

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IA. Also, I ate there once and it was about $3 more than it should've been and wasn't that good. They always send coupons to get free breakfast and I just toss it. But some people can't let it go.

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ppl who are materially affected by businesses/owners who monetarily support anti-gay groups/help spread homophobia have a right to protest/boycott that

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I only had chik fil a once when my aunt picked me up from the airport and handed me a salad from there cuz she thought I'd be hungry. It was not good. The chicken was badly trimmed too.

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whats happening is so deplorable

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this is fucking awful. so sad.

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Jesus Christ.

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i hate the world

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Stupid

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I want to punch that woman hard.

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ugh our state. do you have a link on twitter for this? must RT



Edited at 2017-04-14 06:12 pm (UTC)

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Holy fucking shit

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"I think picking on her is the wrong idea" are you fucking kidding me, after this bitch stands there and can't even give a simple no when he asks if she's frightened of lgtb children? spare me.

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Oklahoma seems like trash tbh

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the sass from that lady! I want to slap the heck out of her (and the guy too but at least he's responding in a semi polite way)



Edited at 2017-04-14 08:57 pm (UTC)

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How long before Americas starts doing this?

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I'm sure jeff sessions and mike pence are wondering how they can do this

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I was watching the Rachel Maddock show last night and she pointed out how Sessions was planning to call all illegal immigrants filth at the Nogales, AZ border speech but chickened out.



Also, that they're trying to deport a mother and her 3 you daughter (an American citizen) who suffers from seizures because the mother is specially trained to take care of her.



I really don't understand what the fickle is going on in America rn.

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What a dumb comment

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why does the topic of any international crisis always have to revert back to this stuff potentionally happening in the US

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Jesus fucking Christ

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I don't even know what to say. This is awful.

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European ONTD, is there something we can do about this? Can we raise it to our MEP's? Like even if it's just signing a damn online petition or whatever. It's really horrible and I feel helpless. A lot of my gay friends have been sharing this on FB and I feel like I want to do something but I just don't know what.



Edited at 2017-04-14 05:45 pm (UTC)

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They're trying to get LGBTQ Chechnyas out of the country and into other parts of Europe. Maybe contact a refugee program in your area and express your concern about them? See if they can help prioritize resettling for them? If there's anything you can do to help?

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To my knowledge many Chechen refugees or migrants end up stuck in Belarus. It's difficult for them to get to the EU. I work with refugees sometimes but I've never met one from Chechnya. They usually end up in Poland I think.

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it might help to contact your local mp too, see if they can't bring the issue up in parliament or w/e, the recess ends a few days I think. I think for an issue like this you would be able to contact other mps, especially bc it's such an important issue, there are sure to be some who would want to say something about this.

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This is the only form of contact I could find. Couldn't find a phone number.



https://register.state.gov/contactus/contactusform



If you're not in the US, contact your equivalent department



Edited at 2017-04-14 06:09 pm (UTC) Btw Amnesty International is asking the general public to contact the state department and demand action.This is the only form of contact I could find. Couldn't find a phone number.If you're not in the US, contact your equivalent department

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-She cut her tour short to start a family with him to try to save the marriage.



why do people keep thinking this works? who keeps telling them this?!

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It's because for some reason people are afraid to be alone. I know so many people who would rather be in a shit relationship and compromise on the things they want instead of just being happy by themselves and doing exactly what they want with their lives.

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this and/or they get trapped in the whole I will sacrifice myself for my child and stay in this shitty relationship because it's the ~best thing~ to be in a fucked up home environment

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having a fix-it baby is never a good idea

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men like to tell women it's their fault the relationship is falling apart bc they're working all the time and then the women go and quit their job or whatever and 'OOP sry it wasn't that at all!!! i just had to blame u one last time!!!' #valarmorghulis

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ugh my friend just gave birth to her "save the relationship" baby and she's only 23



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Love makes you do dumb things. I guess she thought she was the exception!

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mte, start blaming yourself at that point

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It's literally the worst thing you could do in that situation.

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society tbh

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man her people are WAY out in front of this. way to allude to stereotypes, classy pr people.

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He posted this on his website:



"You shall most certainly be tried in your possessions and in your persons; and indeed you shall hear many hurtful things from those to whom revelation was granted before your time, as well as from those who have come to ascribe divinity to other beings beside Allah. But if you remain patient in adversity and conscious of Him  this, behold, is something to set one's heart upon. - 3:186"

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What does that mean, generally speaking? LMAO durrrr

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Why would her PR people make her want to be like Madonna when they have a rilvry?

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What people? It's a damn tabloid. They're a famous couple getting a divorce and people are gonna write their own version of shit for clicks like they always.



Idk why in a gossip site people still think tabloids are beacons of truth & everything is a "leak" as if tabloids don't make up 99% of the stories

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Sad but not shocking - the whole thing seems weird and idgi.



Edited at 2017-04-14 08:00 pm (UTC)

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MTE.



All things considered, I agree. Not surprising in the slightest, lbr.

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Why do people keep thinking having kids will save a marriage?

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Nothing wrong with being alone or-as morbid as it might sound- dying 'alone.' So long as you have loving friends and family around you, it's all good.

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And then you find someone awesome. And then he moves across the country. =(

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lmao ok sis



Props for staying 2 months past the contract though.

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LMAO

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a colleague of mine converted to a religion before getting married. her husband makes a lot of money so they lead a cushy life, i'm not hating on her for making the decision, she gets to be a stay at home mom and not worry about the bills, travel and do all that fancy stuff. but i'm not sure that signing away everything is how i'd want to go about things tbh. i know that some people are truly good with arrangements like that but there are also some that feel a lot of resentment and i wouldn't even want to risk that additional stressor

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I think it's really weird to convert for a spouse. Unless they genuinely helped you see something that made you want to do it anyway, but otherwise...

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Has having a child ever helped any marriage on the rocks ever?



All of this stuff sounded like shit that should've been worked out before y'all tied the knot.

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Shit like this really makes me appreciate those who get a divorce and don't offer the public any justifications.



you want to get a divorce get one. the only person who'd ever owe me an explanation for wanting one, would be the person i married.



don't get me wrong, i know that 99 percent of celeb "news" is made up bullshit or shit that's stretched from a hair of truth, but lawd just once i want someone to say, "I got a divorce because I wanted one. Scratch that, needed one."

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I know she's ~~iconic or whatever, but I never understood her appeal. I think she had awesome abs once...? That's all I've got on Janet Jackson.

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Back in the day when "Control" came out, she was just so important. I'm a white woman in fucking germany and still her messages of feminism coming from her own very personal experience worked as a confirmation of my own thoughts. And - you could dance your ass off while you got empowered by her words.

Everything after that was like you and your best girlfriend were having a meaningful conversation.

And the music was great, epic, just like her groundbreaking videos. She was certainly the queen of the 90s, don't underestimate her relevance as an artist and as a feminist hero.





Edited at 2017-04-14 08:20 pm (UTC)

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Speak this gospel!! I couldn't possibly agree more!

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then you need to do more research

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you sound young.

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The stream of quality music and videos that she released with Control, Rhythm Nation, Janet and Velvet Rope (and even All For You) is something so many other artists could only dream of...

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lol sweet summer child

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Were you born after the USSR fell or

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oh, honey

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She's just famous in the USA and in Brazil. But then again, I probably have stans in Brazil.

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yeah, I don't remember a single thing about her except the nipple super bowl

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The thing is, she has always been unreliable when touring, it goes on and on for decades now. I did not even bother to buy a ticket because she rarely bothers to shows up, especially here in Europe.



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I still laugh my ass off about that one.

Also: I still love Janet to pieces!

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lmfao read ha!

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Every time this is posted I have to comment. Every. Single. Time.

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for one of the greatest pop performers, her touring legacy is horrible. so much of what she gained from her first three (3.5...4?) tours is lost to her inconsistency. she didn't want to tour after TVR ended in 99 and she probably should have given herself a 10 year break

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Let's face it, she held out just long enough to get PAID! $500MM goes a long ways towards feeling better.

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I will always HATE him and the white people who made her the guilty part and him the nice guy next door who accidently was on stage. Assholes1!!!!!

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The FCC killed her career.





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You're right. He just held her down so they could run her over with the bus.

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why? the whole thing was obviously planned on both their parts, they're both responsible. that being said, I don't think it should've been as big a deal as it was, it's just a boob. boobs never killed anybody.

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Lol Janet ruined her own career.

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fuck wissam and eissa



VELVET ROPE PT 2 IS COMING <3

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y do u wanna fuck a baby?

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With a daily import rate of 9.17 million barrels of crude last month, China broke its own previous record and overtook the U.S. as the largest importer of the commodity globally, both in March and in the year to date.

One of the reasons for the spike in imports was teapots scrambling to get crude after they finally received their import quotas from the government. Last year, there was worry that they would not be assigned new quotas with Beijing giving preference to state-owned giants, but this failed to pass.

Most of the cargoes going to teapot refiners were scheduled to arrive in March, hence the record-breaking number. Some shipments for state refiners probably accounted for the rest of the increase  they were bought in December and January from North Sea producers and only arrived at their destination in March.

The increase in imports means that China has amassed a crude oil inventory of 1.7 million bpd, one analyst from HIS Markit told Reuters. The number is unprecedented, but in the coming months imports are bound to fall, Harry Liu noted, as Chinese refineries enter maintenance season. Other analysts share the opinion, with some expecting a sharp drop as soon as this month.



Related: Chinas Electric Vehicle Market Is Unbeatable

Over the first quarter, Chinas oil import rate averaged 8.49 million bpd, versus 8.17 million bpd for the U.S. According to Bloomberg, the trend of rising imports will continue as more refineries come on stream, fuel use expands, and the government ramps up its strategic reserves.

Meanwhile, domestic output is declining. For January and February, the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics reported a combined output of 31.44 million tons, or 230.455 million barrels, down 8 percent on an annual basis. The decline was a result of field depletion and the higher production costs associated with it.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Energy Transfer Partners $3.8-billion Dakota Access pipeline will begin carrying crude oil from the Bakken play to Illinois on May 14, the company said in a regulatory filing. The pipeline was loaded at the end of March, after months of protests from indigenous communities and environmentalists.

Initially, the protests led the previous administration to suspend the project, but when Donald Trump became President, the launch of the Dakota Access was the first executive order he signed.

Now protests are continuing, with acts of vandalism also a possibility, after last month reports emerged that the FBI is investigating two such acts at a section of the pipeline in Sioux County, Iowa. Energy Transfer Partners said that attacks had been carried out in South Dakota as well, which was later confirmed by local authorities.

The pipeline project was subject to environmental reviews that concluded it is safe for the environment and will not encroach on sacred lands, but the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and its supporters are not giving up the battle, despite two court rulings in favor of the pipeline.

Meanwhile, activists are closing their accounts in banks that have taken part in funding Energy Transfer Partners project. Perhaps the most striking example of this was the city of Seattles decisionthe result of vigorous lobbying from anti-DAPL campaignersto sever its links with one of the pipelines creditors, Wells Fargo. Now, there are campaigns in several other cities to do the same.



Related: IEA: Oil Markets Are Balancing At A Rapid Pace

Three of the 17 banks that provided the funding for the projects have now pulled out, among them Dutch ING, Norwegian DNB, and just recently French BNP Paribas. The French bank said it had sold its $120-million share in the funding scheme after an extended and comprehensive review of the project including consultation with all stakeholders.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com for Oilprice.com

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Gasoline prices will hover around $2.46 per gallon this summer, 23 cents higher than last summer, according to a report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) published today.

Still, the price is 70 cents lower than the five-year average, which now includes the effects of 2.5 years of bearish oil markets. The EIA said the higher prices this summer reflect recovering oil prices from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) recent deal to cut oil output by 1.2 million barrels for the first half of 2017.

Gasoline prices reflect four main components: crude oil prices, wholesale margins, retail distribution costs, and taxes, the agency said. Because the latter two are generally stable, movements in gasoline prices are primarily the result of changes in crude oil prices and wholesale margins. Each dollar per barrel of sustained price change in crude oil or gasoline wholesale margins translates into a change of 2.4 cents per gallon in product prices.

The 23-cent increase will lead to a $200 increase in energy costs for the average American household over the summer compared to 2016, the EIA estimates. Last year, gasoline prices were the lowest since 2004.

Gasoline prices will vary across the country based on each states energy infrastructure and regulatory framework.

Prices on the West Coast are often the highest in the country because California requires a blend of gasoline that is relatively costly to produce and some states in the region have relatively high state gasoline tax rates, the report said. Gasoline prices in Gulf Coast states are often among the lowest in the country because of relatively low state tax rates and abundant gasoline supplies, as the region is home to about half of U.S. petroleum refining capacity.

By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com

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As OPEC discusses a six-month extension of the oil production cut agreement that it struck in November, Nigeria plans to continue ramping up its own output.

The country, which is exempt from the agreement because its market share was severely affected by militant activity in the Niger Delta, is planning to complete repair work on the Forcados pipeline and maintenance at the Bonga field by July. Following these, crude oil production should rise to 2.2 million barrels daily, from 1.27 million bpd in March. Last months figure was affected by maintenance at Bonga, which produces 225,000 bpd.

Nigerias Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu told Bloomberg in an interview that he hoped the other OPEC members agreed on an extension, so international benchmark prices could remain above $50 a barrel. Nigeria will join the market rebalancing efforts as soon as it returns to the daily production rate from before the string of militant attacks that crippled its oil industry over the last two years.

It has now been three months without bombings and repairs at the Forcados terminal, which was a preferred target for the militants, are apparently proceeding as planned. Back in February, the Oil Ministry said Forcados, which processes some 250,000 bpd of the same-name crude blend, could be back online within weeks, but that turned out to be too optimistic. Forcados was last bombed by the Niger Delta Avengers in early February.

With rising crude production and improving oil revenues, Nigeria earlier this week announced it will make the first payment under a $5.1-billion debt deal with five international oil companies by the end of April.



Related: Copper Prices Could Rise As Another Major Copper Mine Goes On Strike

In exchange for the payments, the companies, including Shell, Chevron, Total, Eni, and Exxon, are supposed to increase their investments in Nigerias oil and gas industry. The five majors account for 80 percent of Nigerias oil extraction through joint ventures with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. The debt was incurred as a result of NNPCs inability to hold up its end of the bargain with regard to investments to be made by the joint ventures.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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North Sea crude oil and condensate production will decline by 40,000 bpd next year as fewer new projects come online, according to research from ESAI Energy. Before that, however, production will rise by 50,000 bpd to reach some 2.9 million bpd this year.

The increase this year will come on the back of new projects and light maintenance schedules, ESAI Energy said as quoted by Trend news agency, which will offset the depletion of legacy fields in the area.

In its report, ESAI Energy noted that explorers in the North Sea had benefited from higher oil prices like the rest of the industry, despite field depletion.

By renegotiating service contracts and focusing on the most promising fields, companies have been able to bring online projects, sanctioned at higher crude prices, profitably. Producers in the UK also received a small assist from the government in the form of reduction in the headline tax rate from between 50-65 to 40 percent, the research company said.

The North Sea has seen quite a lot of activity recently. Earlier this year, Shell struck a deal with Chrysaor to sell it most of its assets there for $3.8 billion, significantly reducing its decommissioning costs associated with the mature fields.

BP, another giant with a substantial presence in the area, agreed to sell its Forties pipeline network  the oldest and largest in the North Sea  for $250 million to UK-based chemicals company Ineos, which is set on building a presence in the area.



Related: Iran Ramps Up Oil Output As OPEC Production Falls

At the same time, some explorers are making new discoveries, potentially significant. Hurricane Energy, for example, announced in early April that it has struck whats possibly the biggest untapped oil deposit in the UK continental shelf.

The Greater Lancaster Area may contain as much as 590 million barrels of crude  an upward revision from Hurricane Energys 2013 assessment of the field, which stood at 200 million barrels. Potentially but it could rise to as much as 1 billion barrels. Production, however, will only start in 2019, at an initial target rate of 17,000 bpd.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Regulatory filings show that ExxonMobil CEO turned U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made $27.4 million last year, according to a new report by Reuters.

He, along with several other top-level executives at the publicly traded company, enjoyed raises in 2016, even though Exxons net income was cut in half due to bearish oil markets. Exxon has been selling assets and cutting costs to deal with 2.5 years of low oil prices.

A corporate filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shows an increase in Tillersons salary of four percent and an eight percent increase in the value of his stock options in 2016.

Since Tillerson began his position as Secretary of State in February, the government has paid him a $207,800 annual salary. In light of potential conflicts of interest, the former executive gave up rights to $2.8 million in unvested Exxon stocks and roughly $4 million in potential bonuses for 2017.

The rest of Tillersons stock is in a trust valued at $180 million, which will be paid out to him over the course of ten years. He is barred from working in oil and gas for ten years. If he violates this agreement, all of the contents of the trust will be donated to a charity of neither his nor Exxons choosing.

The freshman head of U.S. foreign policy is currently in Moscow, where he met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday. Following the meeting, he told reporters that relations between the countries were at a low point due to disagreements over Syria, Russian meddling in American politics, and other issues.

"As to the question of the interference with the election, that is fairly well established in the United States and I think that has been spoken to on the Hill as well with the Congress. It's a serious issue," Tillerson told reporters in the Russian capital.

By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com

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By Dr. Bud Pierce

In 1859, Oregon became Americas 33rd state. The authors of Oregons Constitution wisely term limited Oregons Governor, Secretary of State, and Treasurer. These founding citizens realized that politicians consolidate power when elected to political office. With increasing time in office, political power only increases. Special interests, including the very wealthy, big business, and powerful labor, ask for favors in exchange for political support. These favors generally enhance the control and the ease of living for these special interests and their members, to the detriment of ordinary everyday Oregonians. The political class controls the machinery of government, and incumbent office holders are shielded from accountability by the bureaucracy. Many political office holders seek to control the press, to control information available to the public.

While there are term limits for Oregons Governor, Secretary of State, and Treasurer, there are no term limits for members of Oregons State Senate or State House of Representatives. At the founding of our state, our state government was weak and only had minor impact on the daily lives of Oregons citizens. Over the past 158 years, the size and influence of federal, state, and local government has increased dramatically. Citizens labor from January into May to pay their increasing burden of taxes. The laws and rules of federal, state, and local governments number in the millions. Because of the power of Oregons state government, the 90 elected members of Oregons Senate and House have enormous impact on the daily lives of Oregons citizens through their rule-making and taxation policies.

Sadly, Oregons legislature is failing Oregons citizens. We need reform of our educational system that fails so many of our students. We need frugality and increased efficiency of state government. We need tax reforms that reward work and investment. Oregon needs dramatically improved infrastructure, affordable housing for our citizens, an end to homelessness, and effective treatment of our mentally ill. Our current legislature, which is dominated by career politicians, is unable to muster the courage to pass legislation to solve these problems. We need to solve the legislative timidity and gridlock to improve the lives of everyday Oregonians.

The answer is to elect new political leaders. We need new leaders with the courage to take on the challenging issues of our time. We need leaders who do not fear the next election, but who relish the challenge of solving the unsolved problems. We need people to represent us who can take the tough vote. In every election, challengers do arise to take on no-action incumbent politicians. Yet, incumbents win due to the power of special interests, control of the bureaucracy and control of the press. What is the answer?

We should return to the wisdom of the writers of Oregons Constitution. Let us term limit Oregons legislators to eight years of service out of every 12 years. This will allow new people to step forward to be elected to legislative office and new opportunities to solve our intractable problems. Term limits will allow legislators to step away from the Legislature, to re-connect with Oregon regular citizens as non-politicians, and to still stand for re-election. This is the balance that we are looking for; this is the way to create great legislative bodies.

Let us work together to make term limits happen to give Oregonians a chance to solve our states problems and move forward.

This post originally appeared on budpierce.com
Pakistan would not become part of any alliance against Muslim state: Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday assured the National Assembly that Pakistan would not become part of any alliance against a Muslim state. Responding to a calling attention notice, he said that the terms of reference (TOR) of the Saudi-led military alliance would be unveiled by Saudi authorities next month.



He said that the TOR of the alliance, which is to be led by former Chief of the Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif, and its aims and objectives will be presented in parliament before formally deciding whether Pakistan should become part of it or not.



We have committed to safeguarding Saudi Arabias soil for the safety and sanctity of the two holy sites  Makkah and Medina  but we will not become part of any conflict against any Muslim state, including Iran, the defence minister said, responding to the notice moved by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MNA Dr Shireen Mazari.



Besides Ms Mazari, other PTI leaders, including Asad Umar, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Ayesha Gulalai and Dr Arif Alvi, also spoke on the issue and expressed concern over Pakistans membership of the alliance without complete knowledge of its TOR, aims and objectives.



The PTI was the only party that remained vocal on the issue after the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) staged a walkout and no other opposition leaders spoke on the matter.



The defence minister informed the house that the Saudi government would hold a grand meeting in May, where it would unveil the TOR. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former COAS Gen Raheel Sharif will attend the event, he said. He termed it a ceremonial alliance, saying that it could be called the Saudi Arabia or Pakistan-led alliance of 41 Muslim states, since there was an understanding between both countries that Gen Raheel Sharif would lead the alliance whenever it is formed.



He said that after the TOR was made public, the former COAS would formally apply for an NOC, required by any retired government officer if he intended to serve anywhere within two years after his retirement. The NOC is issued to retired armed forces personnel under a laid-down procedure, he added.



Mr Asif recalled that a joint session of parliament had unanimously passed a resolution last year on the issue of Yemen-Saudi Arabia conflict, directing that Pakistan would not join any alliance against any Muslim country. We will follow this resolution in the case of Saudi-led alliance of Muslim states too, he added.



Rather, we will act as a mediator in case the alliance is used against any other Muslim country, he assured the house.



But before he could continue, PPPs Dr Shazia Sobia pointed out a lack of quorum, preventing the defence minister from explaining further.



Earlier, Dr Mazari asked why Pakistan was joining the alliance without knowing its TOR.



Dr Mazari was of the view that Pakistan should avoid joining any military alliance because the country had already paid a heavy price for becoming a part of past military alliances, such as the one against Russia when it tried to invade Afghanistan, or the Nato alliance in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks.



She said that 10 of the 41 Muslim states in the Saudi-led group had already made an alliance against Yemen. If Pakistan joins the Saudi-led alliance, will it become a part of another alliance against Yemen or not, she asked.



Asad Umar said that joining the Saudi-led alliance was the biggest decision taken by the government during its four-year term. Such a big decision cannot be taken so simply, he said, adding: It will be unfair with the people of Pakistan if this decision is taken without taking parliament in confidence.



Arif Alvi said Pakistan could not accept any use of Pakistani army against any other state. It is a very dangerous matter. We should not be a part of any secret alliance, he added.



Ghulam Sarwar Khan said Saudi Arabia was a brotherly country and Iran was not only a brotherly country, but a close neighbour as well. We should not become a part of any move against Iran, he said.
From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As...
Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the American Authors Association

Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the Military Writers Society of America.
GLENS FALLS  A two-time felon was jailed Thursday for allegedly biting off part of a man's ear during a fight last week, authorities said.

Nicholas F. Lanza, 49, of Ridge Street, was charged with second-degree assault, a felony, in connection with an April 6 brawl in his home on Ridge Street, according to Glens Falls Police.

Glens Falls Police Detective Lt. Peter Casertino said it was unclear what led to the fight.

The victim, a Hudson Falls man, needed surgery to try to re-attach the portion of ear that was severed, but it was unclear whether it was successful.

Casertino said the investigation was ongoing and an additional arrest was possible.

Lanza was arraigned and sent to Warren County Jail without bail. He has two prior felony convictions, including one for felony sexual abuse, so no bail could be set.

Casertino and Glens Falls Police Detective Sgt. Seth French are investigating the case.
GLENS FALLS  Locally, more than 8,000 children are at risk of losing their health insurance if funding for the Childrens Health Insurance Program is not extended, said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., during a visit to Glens Falls Hospital on Friday morning.

A child who is ill cant function properly, the U.S. Senate House minority leader said to a group of about 100. Getting good health care for our kids is very important.

Schumers stop was the first of many planned throughout the state in his effort to push Congress to promptly extend funding for CHIP, known as Child Health Plus in New York, which is scheduled to expire on Sept. 30.

According to Schumer, the CHIP program is authorized through 2019, but no new funding is available when the fiscal year ends this fall.

Glens Falls Hospital President and CEO Dianne Shugrue said Friday that she and others visited Schumer and asked him to come to the hospital.

The senator is a man of his word, Shugrue said. That was less than a year ago and here he is.

Under the current program, nearly 20,000 children in the Capital Region are enrolled. Locally there are 1,447 children enrolled in Warren County; 1,648 in Washington County; 4,186 in Saratoga County; 782 in Essex County; and 78 in Hamilton County.

Forty percent of the children in the Glens Falls School District are covered by Medicaid and CHIP, said Kate Breslin, president and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy in Albany, during the Schumer visit. Data shows that when kids get the care they need, the more likely they are to succeed in life.

According to Schumer, the uninsured rate went from 15 percent to less than 5 percent for the states children.

A family of four, making under $95,000, is qualified for CHIP, the senator said. This helps working families.

Dr. Kevin Gallagher, chief medical information officer and a primary care physician at the hospitals Granville Family Health Center, told the story of a young patient he was scheduled to see on Friday.

One of my patients, a 7-year-old girl, has multiple congenital abnormalities. She has a lot of challenges, he said. She has to take trips to Boston for care.

As Gallagher explained, the girls family has employer-supported insurance, but because they have so many medical costs, the family cannot afford the high premium for their other daughter.

They are able to have CHIP coverage for their other daughter, he said. CHIP will expire on Sept. 30, but my patients will need care on Oct. 1 and beyond.

According to a Yale University study published last week, more than 8 million children nationally risk having their health insurance coverage disrupted if federal funding for CHIP is not extended beyond 2017.

In this study we explored two current policy alternatives: extending federal funding for CHIP or enrolling children in the existing health insurance Marketplace plans, said Alon Peltz, a postdoctoral fellow in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program at Yale School of Medicine, in a news release. If CHIP funding is not renewed and children with chronic conditions shift to coverage under Marketplace plans, their families face increased annual out-of-pocket expenses ranging from $233 to $2,472. Families with children who have epilepsy, diabetes or mood disorders may face the highest costs.

Schumer said that while there is bipartisan support for extending CHIPs funding, there are detractors.

Some people want to cut back, he said on Friday morning. It was close last time.

In 2015, Schumer led the charge to extend CHIP funding and saved New York from losing an estimated $414 million in federal funds. At the time, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., drafted an alternative plan for CHIP funding that lowered income thresholds and transferred more responsibility for the federal program to states.

Hatch could not be reached on Friday afternoon regarding his current stand on extending the programs funding.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, supports CHIP reauthorization, said spokesman Tom Flanagin on Friday afternoon in a written response to a Post-Star question. She has voted to support the program in the past. She will be working with her colleagues in the House on a bipartisan basis to reauthorize CHIP, he said.

Schumer said extending the funding is critical.

When it comes to something as important as health care, we cannot allow a situation to arrive in which children cannot get the check-up or prescription they need because their family cannot afford the payments or the insurance, he said. Allowing this programs funding to expire is simply unacceptable and I will be pushing my colleagues in Congress to pass an extension without delay. No family should ever have to make the agonizing decision between taking their child to the doctor and footing the cost of exorbitant medical bill they cannot afford.
GLENS FALLS  While in Glens Falls on Friday morning, Senate House Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said he did not receive advance notice of a U.S. military strike on an Islamic State stronghold in Afghanistan on Thursday that killed 36 militants.

According to a news release by the U.S. Central Command, the strike on a tunnel complex in Achin district of Nangarhar province, near the Pakistan border was part of ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS.

Schumer, who was visiting the area to launch an initiative aimed at making sure the nations children do not lose the protections of the Childrens Health Insurance Program, said he is leary of repeating the mistakes of Iraq.

The strike  a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb dropped from a U.S. aircraft  levied 11 tons of explosives on the militants. And several news accounts in the Associated Press describe the bomb as the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military.

This is the right munition to maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K, said Army Gen. John W. Nicholson, commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan in the release.

Nonetheless, Schumer said he urges caution, especially with putting troops on the ground.

We lost 5,000 women and men (who fought in Iraq), the senator said. And Iraq is not much better than it was before.

U.S. and Afghan forces have been battling the Taliban insurgency for more than 15 years and military officials said on Thursday that the strike was an important move toward dismantling bunkers and tunnels that thickened the IS defense.

Schumer also said the military cannot put more troops on the ground without the approval of Congress.

If they introduce the idea of more troops, they have to come back to Congress, he said.

According to the Associated Press, 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.

Prior to the Afghanistan strike on Thursday, the U.S. Central Command announced that an airstrike earlier this week had accidentally killed 18 rebel fighters battling IS in northern Syria in the worst friendly-fire incident of that conflict.
QUEENSBURY  Jury selection was planned for Monday, as scheduled, in the case of the Lake George man charged with homicide counts in last summers boat crash on Lake George.

The schedule was confirmed after an appeals court took no action on a request to move the case out of Warren County.

Lawyers in the case of Alexander M. West had not gotten any request for oral arguments or a ruling from the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court as of early Friday evening. Authorities believed the appeals court would wait to see how jury selection goes next week before deciding if the motion should be considered.

Counsel in the case had a final pretrial hearing Friday afternoon before Warren County Judge John Hall to discuss evidentiary issues and whether any agreements could be made to speed up the trial.

Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan and lead defense counsel Cheryl Coleman did agree on some issues related to chain of custody of some evidence, which will negate the need for a number of witnesses.

They did not agree on stipulations on cause and manner of death of 8-year-old crash victim Charlotte McCue, as Hogan told Hall that will be a central part of the case.

The defense has claimed that the boat on which Charlotte was riding was violating Navigation Law by not yielding to Wests boat, but Hogan said her office believes it was not a crossing situation and testimony about the injuries was needed to show that.

I believe its an overtaking, Hogan said. It shows the trajectory of the Larson (driven by West) up and over the Garwood (on which Charlotte was riding).

West, 24, of Lake George, has pleaded not guilty to a 12-count indictment that includes a top count of second-degree manslaughter and numerous lesser counts, such as vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and boating while ability impaired for the crash last July 25.

He is accused of boating recklessly after drinking and using illegal drugs when he drove into the antique wooden boat that Charlottes grandfather was operating. Charlotte, who was in Lake George on vacation with her family from California, was killed instantly and her mother suffered a serious back injury.

Police have alleged West was at an all-day party on Lake George known as Log Bay Day before the crash, and that he and his friends fled the crash scene and hid from police for more than 12 hours.

The collision was captured by the surveillance camera of a home on Trinity Rock Road, and that video will be shown during the trial.

Hall said 90 or so jurors will be brought in for Mondays jury selection, but Hogan and Coleman asked that more be brought in to ensure that enough are available for the first day. Nearly 500 in all were summoned, but many have asked to be excused, and not all of those who remain will be asked to come for the first day.

I dont think were going to need anywhere near that number, the judge said. I dont think were going to need to do more than two days (of jury selection).

Coleman had made a motion to change venue in the case, arguing that her client cannot get a fair trial in Warren County because of pretrial publicity.

West has been free on bail, on electronic monitoring, since November, and Hall agreed Friday to allow the monitoring anklet to be removed after Coleman told the judge the county Probation Department indicated it would consent to removal.

He has been an impeccable pretrial probationer, Coleman said of West.

The trial is expected to take about three weeks. West faces up to 7-1/3 to 22 years in state prison if convicted of the weightiest charges.
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Intelligence officials told NBC News that the US was prepared to launch a preemptive strike against North Korea with conventional weapons if it was certain the reclusive nation was going to perform another nuclear-weapons test, according to an NBC News report.

The officials reportedly said the US had two destroyers capable of shooting Tomahawk cruise missiles into North Korea  the same type of weapon used to strike a Syrian airfield last week.

Voice of America's Washington bureau chief, Steve Herman, cited sources disputing the notion that the US was readying a preemptive strike, saying instead that retaliation was "likely" if North Korea conducted another nuclear test.

Other sources also came forward to challenge NBC News' report. Fox News' national security correspondent, Jennifer Griffin, tweeted: "Multiple sr defense officials say this report is 'wildly wrong' 'crazy.' Pentagon pushing back on NBC report, call it 'extremely dangerous.'"

Earlier Thursday, President Donald Trump said, "North Korea is a problem  the problem will be taken care of," during remarks he gave after the US dropped a massive 21,000-pound bomb on an Islamic State complex of tunnels in Afghanistan. Trump said, however, that the Afghanistan operation was not meant to be a warning to North Korea.

Still, NBC News noted that US bombers were available in Guam to strike the Hermit Kingdom. Additional forces, including the USS Carl Vinson aircraft-carrier strike group and a US Air Force WC-135 "nuke-sniffer" were being relocated into the area of operations during the past week.

North Korean officials mirrored the US statement on Wednesday, saying they would use a nuclear weapon to "hit the US first" if there were indications of a strike from the US.

"By relentlessly bringing in a number of strategic nuclear assets to the Korean Peninsula, the US is gravely threatening the peace and safety and driving the situation to the brink of a nuclear war," a North Korean statement said, according to NBC News.

Regardless of whether the US is prepared to launch a preemptive strike, recent evidence suggests that North Korea may be gearing up for its sixth nuclear test underground.

Recent satellite images from 38 North, a research group from the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, indicates "unusually high levels of activity" at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, the same location where four of the past tests were conducted. This latest satellite imagery also comes amid another VOA report that cited US officials saying a device at a nuclear test site "could be detonated Saturday or even sooner."

Saturday marks 105 years since the birth of Kim Il-sung, North Korea's founder. The nation has in the past conducted other extravagant military displays on special dates  in April 2012, the country fired a long-range rocket before the 100th anniversary of his birth. That mission failed.

Officials from China, North Korea's main ally, delivered a warning against continued provocations.

"Military force cannot resolve the issue," China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, said in a Reuters report on Thursday. "Amid tensions we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks."
"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.

"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.
It probably helps these young investors' outlook that Netflix has become ubiquitous among their age group. In a recent survey of US college students, commissioned by LendEDU, only 8% of respondents said they didn't have a Netflix account. That means that a whopping 92% have Netflix. Netflix is also the most popular video platform among teens, beating out both YouTube and cable TV in a recent Piper Jaffray survey.

Wall Street analysts are expecting Netflix's subscriber growth numbers, the big focus for investors, to come in at around the company's guidance.

Netflix isn't the only stock favorite among millennials. Following Snapchat parent company Snap's IPO, young investors were out in droves to buy.

"I bought it even when I was pretty positive I would not make a profit in the short run, but just because I am a fan of the product," Chris Roh, a 25-year-old software engineer in San Francisco, told Reuters.

"Snap's IPO revitalized investing among the younger generation," Robinhood cofounder Baiju Bhatt told USA Today. "We also saw a surge in new accounts, with many new customers opening up their first brokerage account."
READ MORE: Kwahu comes alive with heavy dose of entertainment

Other activities to mark the National Paragliding Festival include hiking and biking.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Catherine Afeku, has disclosed that Ghana will soon have a paragliding school to train local paragliding pilots.

In an interview with Citi FM, she disclosed that Ghana is in talks with pilots from the USA who have agreed to train some Ghanaians.

We are in talks to establish the pilot training school to help nurture indigenous people, you know there are a lot of Ghanaians interested in learning so we have spoken to the pilots from USA who have agreed to train our local people. Three of the pilots have their own schools in USA so it wont be difficult, she said.

She added: our youth who will have the chance to be trained in this program will also be employed and this will reduce the unemployment rate in the country. We turn to have a lot of foreign nationals who visit the country day in day out, and not only during Easter, so this will also boost the tourism sector and bring foreign exchange.
READ MORE: Bugri Nabu blames Agbogbloshie unrest on political undertones

He said: I think the IGP is wrong this time and I think we have to sit and resolve the matter at the core of the issue and I can tell you that relocation is never the issue. If you move Konkombas here and Dagombas there, what about the rest?

If they are not ready, they should let us sit down around a table and discuss issues that can resolve the matter because this is a very sensitive issue that is brewing up in the North so we shouldnt talk about relocation now. The IGP should sit up and let us come to the table to talk about the issue.

The IGP has said that relocating residents of Old Fadama will ensure there is peace in the area.

Speaking at a press conference at the Police Headquarters in Accra, he 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.

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.

READ MORE:2 dead after Konkombas and Dagombas clashes at Agbogbloshie

Two people died after a recent clash between Konkombas and Dagombas at the Agbogbloshie Yam Market on Tuesday. Several others were left injured.

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].
READ MORE:2 dead after Konkombas and Dagombas clashes at Agbogbloshie

He made the comments after touring Ghanas biggest slum to assess the aftermath of Tuesday's conflict and also meet with the community leaders.

Known for his explosive comments, Nabu told the press after his visit that, It is a political issue started by NDC government [in] 2009 when they picked power.

What they did was very badTo be honest with you if you look at the case, mobile phone or chop bar [eatery] cannot bring this clash. It is not true, there is something behind it, he said.

The conflict was reported as a clash between Dagombas and Konkombas but Nabu said it should not be treated as a conflict between the two ethnic groups but as a criminal act.

It is a criminal act that is why it should not be treated as a conflict between Konkombas and Dagombas. It is a criminal, so why should it be treated [as an ethnic conflict], he said.

Two people died after the recent clash while five persons have been arrested, according to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command.

Police is yet to confirm what sparked the bloody conflict but eyewitnesses say it was over a phone theft.

A joint military and police team have since been deployed to the scene to restore calm.

The Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, ASP Effia Tenge said the police retrieved some locally manufactured weapons from the suspects arrested so far over the incident.

Meanwhile, over 30 people have been rendered homeless at Agbogbloshie following the clashes.
A combined police and military team has been dispatched to the area to restore calm.

The Yendi District Police Commander, DSP Patrick Kwapong, has told Accra-based Citi FM that no deaths were recorded but several persons sustained injuries over the incident.

It is still unclear what triggered the renewed clash, but residents say it might be a reprisal attack of last years incident where many Bimoaba communities were torched.
The three-day event, attended by President Nana Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia and Ministers of State, saw the Nigerian leader attend as a resource person.

A 3-day government retreat was held at Peduase Lodge over the weekend. We agreed amongst ourselves the priorities and the goals of our government and the strategy for achieving them, president Akufo-Addo said in a Facebook post.

He said the retreat presented government officials with an opportunity for greater bonding, in an environment of candour, frank exchanges and mutual respect.

Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, was there to assist us in our deliberations, as a resource person, He said.

Obasanjo has a long relationship with the New Patriotic Party dating back to the administration of former president John Agyekum Kufour.

He was instrumental in supplying Ghana with oil and gas when the Ghanaian economy was on its knees.

The N1 highway in Accra, 37, was named after him by Kufour in 2007 for his support to Ghana when the country was going through difficult times.

He governed Nigeria from 1999 to 2007.
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"My worst nightmare was that the President would ... go down this populist 'burn it to the ground' ideology," said Beck to CNN anchor Anderson Cooper on Thursday night. "The good news is he's not going that way."

After meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, Trump said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he would not label China a currency manipulator  one of his major declarations from the 2016 campaign. The shift, Trump said, was intended to get China to help "solve the problem in North Korea."

Trump also reversed his previous statement on the Export-Import Bank, a bank that has been referred to as part of a "crony" capitalist establishment by the conservative factions of the Republican Party.

"But actually, it's a very good thing," Trump said in The Journal. "And it actually makes money  it could make a lot of money."

However, Beck wasn't as convinced. "The president is on the verge of beginning to look like another Republican who said stuff, didn't mean it, and turned into Reince Priebus or Paul Ryan  and that's not good," he warned.

Beck then hearkened Trump's recent change to a conversation with President George W. Bush in the Oval Office the day President Barack Obama assumed the White House.

"Candidate Obama said that he would just fly over the borders ... and if he had to, he would bomb Pakistan," Beck said. "I remember thinking, 'My gosh, you don't bomb an ally.'"

"And [Bush] pointed to his desk in the Oval Office and he said, 'Don't worry, whoever occupies that seat behind that desk ... will quickly find out that their hands are tied and they'll end up doing almost exactly as I have done.'"
Constituents peppered the Republican lawmaker with questions about President Donald Trump's actions in office, and his broader agenda on climate change, the president's taxes, the Supreme Court and Planned Parenthood.

Much like other GOP town halls held since Trump assumed the Oval Office, attendees railed against Flake, many of whom accused him of being a rubber stamp for Trump. Flake, like Reps. Jason Chaffetz, Mike Coffman, and Sen. Mitch McConnell before him, attempted to answer the audience's concerns, though most explanations drew shouts and boos from the crowd.

That was especially evident when an audience member asked Flake about Trump's nearly weekly trips to his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.

"Does this concern you at all? Do you approve a budget for these weekly excursions," an unidentified woman asked. "If yes, how much is that? And if no, why do you have no desire to control President Trump's spending or his personal profit from that spending?"

The audience erupted. Flake answered: "As I mentioned, I wasn't critical of the last president or the president before that for what they do on their time off."

"That's something we'll deal with when we deal with the budget," Flake said, "but I'm not going to tell the president where he can and cannot spend his weekends."

Flake often criticized Trump during the 2016 election and dramatically confronted the then-candidate at a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill in July.

Though Flake's town hall on Thursday did not appear to have a large presence of demonstrators as those of some high-profile congress members in recent months, Flake at times struggled to contend with fits of chanting and jeering from the crowd at the Mesa Convention Center.

"Can you please take your job more seriously, senator? We would appreciate it," one woman asked, displeased with Flake's response to a question about holding Trump accountable.

"Three things always come out: the sun, the moon, and the truth  why don't you get in front of those," a man asked, concerning the congressional investigations into potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

On a question about Republican leaders' refusal to hold confirmation hearings for Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, Flake said the move was not without precedent. A man in the audience shouted, "Bulls--t!" as the crowd chanted "shame on you."

"When do you feel like you'll have the backbone or conviction to put country over party and impeach him," a man asked Flake of Trump. "I don't care for Mike Pence either, but he's not as dangerous as Trump," the man said.

Not all of the questions were hostile, and some constituents applauded Flake for sharing his time. The senator extended the meeting by one hour to take more questions, but the mood frequently returned to a bitter note. "Can you just remind me when you're up for reelection," one woman asked. The audience erupted in cheers at the question.

Flake replied: "I think everybody knows."
The White House has been consumed by increasingly visible drama between warring camps led by Trump's more moderate son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Trump's chief strategist, Steve Bannon, an anti-Wall Street economic nationalist.

Cohn is reportedly working to cut through Washington drama and politics to enact his agenda of reforming the tax code, crafting an infrastructure plan, cutting financial regulations, and renegotiating international trade agreements.

He has hired about two dozen policy experts to help him develop these plans, according to The Post.

"Cohn might be a newbie to policy and Washington, but you have to give him credit for one thing," Gene Sperling, the director of the NEC under President Barack Obama, told The Post. "While others seemed engaged in ideological and 'House of Cards'-like staff warfare, he quietly and quickly focused on the first rule of governing: He hired some competent, professional staff at the NEC, and it has paid off for him."

Cohn, who received a $285 million payout when he left Goldman to advise Trump on domestic and global economic policy in January, may have moved to Washington, but he's maintaining his ties to Wall Street. He recently had drinks at the Four Seasons with Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein, according to The Post.

Kushner, Cohn, and Dina Powell, a former Goldman colleague, appear to be behind Trump's recent shifts toward a more moderate economic agenda.

Over the past week, Trump has retracted his criticism of Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen; said he would not, as he had promised, label China a currency manipulator; and announced his support for government subsidies for exports.
The Vice President, who was apparently responding to the request of the governor on creating more presence of the company in the state, said Africa remained one of the major strategic continent that it is willing to invest in.

To him, "We are committed to changing the lives of the people here we are working very closely with the government in the area of health and hygiene.

"Reckitt Benkiser is a global pioneer health and hygiene that operates in 80 countries of the world and its products are present in over 200 countries of the world.

"Africa is one of our major strategic continent that we like to invest in. We are committed to changing the lives of the people here and we are working very closely with the government in the area of health and hygiene.

Sadfar noted that, "The greatest significance for us here is that we see Nigeria as the number one country in Africa. We believe that Nigeria will certainly shine as the number one country in Africa. With this we have been focusing proportionately in Nigeria and I think one of the key things here is that Ogun State critically important for us because our factory is based in the State and the business friendly policies and the pioneering policies of the State have reached far and wide in the world and we really appreciate the leadership of the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

"As we speak we are building the largest distribution centre in Africa in the our factory in Ogun State," he said.

The. Group Managing Director (GMD), Rahul Murgai said the company had touched the lives of over five million mothers and five million school children in the last few year, saying, "We go to schools and we meet expectant mothers with a message of good health and hygiene and we are talking to them about basic things like washing their hands, ensuring that they maintain good sanitation around their schools and toilet hygiene.

Our larger objective is to ensure that this nation becomes more hygiene and healthier and the nation is able to prosper even more. We have partnered with the Ministries of Health of several States. We use these children to pass across our message of hygiene.

The company chairman, Chief Olu Falomo said the company was proud of the achievements of the State, "mostly we are proud of the support you are giving to industries. One day other states will act like this for this country to develop.

"We have been in Ogun State for quite sometime. We are very responsible but quite corporate organization and we have been playing our role very creditably. We will always cooperate with the government."
We think slavery doesn't exist in these modern times How wrong. Not only does slavery still exist it is happening here in America.

Several Nigerians who were desperate to get to Europe by any means possible are now slaves in Libya.

Nigerians and other citizens from Africa countries are being auctioned in slave markets in Libya. The North African country serves as a passage to Africans who want to get to Europe. From Libya, they take a boat to Europe if they don't drown in the sea.

Some Nigerians are kidnapped by smugglers and sold in slave markets. They demand ransom from the families of these Nigerians and if they cannot pay they are sold as slaves.

"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, said Othman Belbeisi, who is the International Organization for Migration's chief of mission for Libya.

These Nigerians and other Africans are sold in public and parking spaces report the BBC. "People are purchased for between $200 and $500 and are held on average for two or three months" Belbeisi further said.

Women have it a whole lot worse as many of them are raped and forced into prostitution.
Hadejia told newsmen on Friday that the state government has concluded plans and acquired enough drugs in case of outbreak of meningitis.

The deputy governor said that the state government has also commenced public enlightenment campaign on the prevention of the disease.

He advised the people to avoid sleeping in crowded rooms and to always live their doors and windows open to allow for enough ventilation.

He said that meningitis is associated with hot period and therefore urged the people not to engage in self-medication, but report any sickness to the nearest hospital for prompt medical attention.

NAN reports that on April 7, the state announced the discovery of five cases of CSM in four local government areas of the state, with one person reported dead and four on admission.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abba Zakari, who disclosed this to newsmen, said the state had adopted urgent measures to curtail the spread of the disease, following reported cases in some states and the neighbouring Niger Republic.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the two confirmed cases were in Abuja Municipal and Abaji Area Councils.

Mohammed said that result from the laboratory test between Tuesday and Wednesday had shown that the two victims were infected with type C of CSM.

He explained that one of the victims in Nuku village of Abaji area council came from Sokoto State where it was allegedly that one person had died of meningitis.

He added that another six-year-old child in Garki Area 8, Abuja, was also confirmed at the Jabi Federal Medical Centre, Abuja.

According to him, these were the only confirmed cases FCT had recorded so far since the outbreak, adding that there are 10 suspected cases in the past where six persons died.

The scribe said that his agency had cordoned off the area where the two victims reside to immunise and sensitise residents against the disease.

Mohammed therefore advised FCT residents to desist from self-medication and report to hospital when they notice any sign of CSM, which include fever and stiff neck or neck pain.

He also enjoined residents to avoid crowded places especially this Easter season where people were travelling to villages for the celebration.

He added that people must ensure ventilation in their homes and cultivate the habit of hand washing as well as covering of mouth while coughing or sneezing to avoid the spread of the disease.
According to a report by TheCable, a showdown between policemen and mothers of some of the abducted girls ensued when they had insisted on seeing President Muhammadu Buhari to demand the whereabouts of their daughters.

It was further reported that the refusal of the policemen to allow the women get the President's audience got them protesting.

ALSO READ: Chibok Girls: 1000 days of keeping hope alive

If you give me my baby now, I will go back, Esther Yakubu, one of the mothers reportedly said.

Continuing, she said: Which patience do you want me to exercise? He is celebrating the graduation of his own children, I also want to celebrate the graduation of my children.

When a similar incident happened in Lagos, they rescued them because they are children of rich men.

I want to talk to the president myself as a mother. My daughter is still in captivity, I cant leave without seeing the president today.
The stash of cash was found on a property in upmarket Ikoyi, Lagos, last Wednesday.

Acting on a tip-off, personnel of the EFCC deployed minimum force to slam open flat 7B, No. 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi.

According to the EFCC, whistle-blowers had told of a haggard looking woman who was in the habit of going in and out of the apartment at the oddest of hours; a Ghana-must-go bag perched on her head.

Once inside the apartment, the anti-graft operatives found $43,449,947, 27,800 and N23,218,000 in raw cash, neatly arranged and concealed in cabinets.

The cabinets themselves were hidden behind wooden panels of a bedroom wardrobe.

The cash totalled a cumulative $50M and at the time of writing, no one has claimed ownership of the find.

However, the building where the cash was found, now has names attached to it.

Immediate past chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu, who initially denied owning the building, later released a statement saying although he owned the property, he's since sold same to developers and various occupants.

"I acquired the land and jointly developed the property using a bank loan I obtained about nine years ago", Muazu said.

He added that; "However, all the flats have been sold to prospective buyers in order to pay back the loan. I do not own or occupy any of the apartments.

"I sold all the apartments through established estate agents. As such, I have no knowledge or interest in who purchases or rents any of the flats.

"I commend the efforts of the officials of the EFCC and the government's drive at fighting corruption", he added.

A former Managing Director, Operations, at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue was also initially linked to ownership of the cash.

But even she has washed her hands off the stash.

Reports say Nnamdi-Ogbue who admitted to residing in one of the apartments in the building, was taken in for interrogation by EFCC operatives, Thursday, and has since been released.

Transport minister Rotimi Amaechi, has also been linked to the cash.

But when Pulse called him on Friday, Amaechi said he owns no property in Lagos and strenuously denied that the money is his.

Lere Olayinka who is a spokesperson of Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose, was among the first set of persons to link the discovered money to Amaechi.

According to Olayinka, the apartment where the money was found "is owned by the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

"The house was built by Alhaji Adamu Muazu through a loan from GTBank. He could not repay the loan so GTB took over the house and allocated the penthouse to Muazu and two flats.

"Rotimi Amaechi bought two of the flats (7A and 7B). He then gave 7A to (television talkshow host) who is suspected to be his girlfriend".

Olayinka continued: "But the flat 7B where the money was found belong to Rotimi Amaechi.

"This is believed to be cash kept for 2019 elections.

"Let's see how the cover up game goes".

ALSO READ: 5 sums of money recovered by agents through whistleblowers

In a swift reaction, Amaechi's spokesperson, David Iyofor arrived all guns blazing on Olayinka.

"Big liar. Demonic liar! Listen, you disgusting pig, Rotimi Amaechi is not connected or linked in any way whatsoever to the house or money", Iyofor tweeted at Olayinka.

He wasn't done with his rant: "Where is your proof? If you think you can link Amaechi to the House and money by tweeting this rubbish, then you need to have your head examined.

"You better hear well before your ear sends you to prison. Lying is not playing politics. You don't play politics by tweeting outright lies".

But there's another layer to this developing saga.

According to ThisDay newspaper, the money actually belongs to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

The daily writes that the money was kept in the Ikoyi apartment for a covert operation being put together by the NIA.

ThisDay's version of events reads in part:

"The NIA said the cash had been stashed away in the apartment by NIA for a covert operation but was shocked on Wednesday when news broke that its operation had been compromised by the acting Chairman of the EFCC Ibrahim Magu and his personnel.

Opening up on how the raid of the apartment occurred and what transpired subsequently, a security official revealed that when the EFCC officials got to Osborne Towers, they were confronted by three or four NIA operatives who showed them their ID cards and confirmed that property in the said apartment belonged to the NIA.

However, they were ignored and excitable Magu and his operatives went ahead to move the cash found in the apartment and made a great show of the discovery of another cash haul.

When the Director General of the NIA, got wind of what had happened, he immediately got in touch with Magu and informed him that the money belonged to his agency and their cover had been blown by the action of the EFCC.

All Magu said to him was okay I have heard, and took no action to correct his mistake.

When Magu remained unyielding, the DG asked him to inform Mr. President that the funds belong to the NIA and were meant for an ongoing covert operation.

We dont know if Magu eventually reported the incident to the president, but we know that Mr. President has instructed that the funds should be returned to the the security source revealed.

Certain reports claim that the NIA has denied ownership of the money.

Director-General of the NIA, Oke, stopped short of denying ownership of the money when he told Sahara Reporters that he has a headache and can't comment on the story.

His initial response was that the money doesn't belong to the NIA as certain sections of the press had claimed.

On Friday, Pulse drove to the Osborne towers in Ikoyi--Nigeria's newest cash apartment.

However, stern looking security personnel who have been keeping an eye on the property since the discovery, wouldn't let us get any closer or take pictures.

Pulse has also put phone calls across to Wilson Uwujaren who is the spokesperson of the EFCC and Ibrahim Magu who is the acting Chairman of the EFCC.

Both men have refused to confirm or deny the version that says the money belongs to the NIA.

Repeated phone calls to the cellphones of both personnel of the anti-graft agency, have returned unanswered, seven hours after.

Pulse would later send a text message to Uwujaren which read as follows:

"Good day Sir. Is there truth to media reports that the $50M discovered in a Lagos apartment belong to the NIA and was being used for a sting operation?"

The text message was sent at exactly 7:59am on Friday, April 14, 2017.

At the time of filing this story, nine hours after, Uwujaren is yet to text a response our way.

The EFCC has been on a money finding spree in recent times, thanks to a whistleblower policy launched last December by minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun.

A whistleblower is entitled to between 2.5%-5% if their snitching abilities lead to discovery of looted public funds.

There's a secure portal for whistleblowers to lodge their information.

The portal guarantees anonymity for the whistleblower.

In February of 2017, the EFCC found $9.8M hid in a bunker in Kaduna, north of Nigeria, thanks to information provided by a whistleblower.

The cash has since been claimed by Andrew Yakubu, a former Group Managing Director of the NNPC.

Earlier in the week, the EFCC also unraveled around N250M in cash in a Lagos market and a further N448M at a shopping plaza in the nation's commercial capital.

Activities of whistleblowers may have led the EFCC to the recovery of over $250B since whistle blowing became a thing in Africa's most populous country.
On Wednesday, April 12, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said it discovered the funds in a fireproof safe at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos state.

Fayose's aide, Lere Olayinka had tweeted that the money was traced to Amaechi, to which the minister's spokesman, David Iyofor denied, describing Olayinka as a "big liar."

"Just hearing with one ear that Amaechi may have link to the House," Olayinka wrote on the microblogging site, and Iyofor fired back: "Liar. You better hear well before your ear sends you to prison."

Olayinka wrote again: "Cover up game has started! Rotimi Amaechi owns the house."

Iyofor responded: "Where is your proof? If you think you can link Amaechi to the house and money by tweeting this rubbish, then you need to have your head examined.

"Big Liar! Demonic Liar! Listen, you disgusting pig, Rotimi Amaechi is not connected or linked in anyway whatsoever to the house &/or money."

However, the ownership of the funds has generated controversies as different persons, who have been fingers as the owners of the funds, have denied the ownership.
The governor, who stated this while fielding questions from State House correspondents after joining President Muhammadu Buhari to perform the two-rakaat Jumaat weekly prayer at State House Mosque, Abuja, on Friday,

In the memo, El-Rufai alerted President Buhari that he was losing the vision and the momentum with which All Progressives Congress (APC) started its Change Agenda.

The governor also in the memo, advised the President to effect changes in the leadership of some federal agencies and establishments, and to communicate constantly with Nigerians, so they will know the plans of his government.

El-Rufai, however, told the State House correspondents that he was not stopped from coming to the Aso Rock, and that nobody can stop him from visiting the Villa.

According to him, he stopped frequenting the villa because the President needs quality time to rest and also attends to challenges of governance.

No one ever stopped me from coming to the villa and no one can stop me from coming to villa.

As a governor I come here, I have blank cheques, no one checks me at the gate but I believe what the President needs is for those that love him to keep away from him and allow him to rest.

The President needs quality time to rest because it is meeting too many people that strains leadership.

I am a governor and I know that when I meet 10 people in a day I get really tired, it is not the paperwork, it is not really the memos approving them or asking questions that strain a leader, it is the stream of visitors.

I do not want to contribute to the Presidents problem by coming here every day. I am in touch with him, he added.

The governor, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to show more understanding and love to the president by allowing him to rest and also concentrate more on his private and official engagements, saying that visitors stress leaders.

Let me appeal to all of us that love the President to please allow him some space so that he will recover.

We need him and the country needs him, it is in our interest for the stability of the country, we should just let him be.

It is absolutely necessary lets us leave him to do his work in the privacy of his room or his office without strings of visitors. Visitors stress leaders.

El-Rufai also described his relationship with Buhari as cordial, saying that the relationship had never been strained in anyway.

He, however, acknowledged that there were people within the presidency that like me and there are those who dont and it is normal.

My relationship with the President has never been strained in anyway. I met with him lastnight,

I did not talk about things like that but our relationship with him is like that of father and son and it is privilege for me.

Meanwhile, Chief Imam of the State House Mosque, Sheik Abdulwaheed Sulaiman, has called on Muslims and Christians to unite as brothers and sisters given the common Abrahamic origin of their religions.

The Chief Imam made the call in his Friday sermon with Buhari, some members of the National Assembly, ministers, El-Rufai and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state in attendance.

He stressed the need for unity among the followers of the two major religions, asking them to share kindness and hospitality.

We all belong to God and to Him we will be going back, he said.

Suleiman also urged all Nigerians to continue to support the administration of President Buhari as it fights corruption and insecurity in the land, at the same time seeking economic recovery and prosperity for all.
He said: I am disappointed that a private communication to the highest office in the land can be leaked and it was leaked from the villa.

The governor also blamed some of the president's aides saying some people around the President leaked the memo he wrote to Buhari back in September 2016.

This is a fact. I was told by those who published it we live in an age where anything you write or say can be leaked. I have no ill motive but I wanted to communicate with the president what many Nigerians are talking about and what steps can be taken to improve governance of the country and move the country forward," he said further.

That was my motive and if tomorrow, like I said, I see anything that the president needs to know I will discuss with him and I will articulate and put it into writing and on the record for him to have a reminder document to work on.
It is believed that Obuah's ordeal in detention facilitated his death.

The ex-CSO was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) shortly after Jonathan left office for allegedly benefiting from an oil bunkering deal.

While in detention at the DSS headquarters, he embarked on hunger strike.

ALSO READ: Why Jonathan's former CSO was hospitalised

Obuah was later released after his lawyer cried out over his client's health condition.
Magu made the comments on Thursday, April 13, during an interactive session with EFCC staff in commemoration of the agencys 14th anniversary.

We will continue to fight corruption whether anybody likes it or not. Because, we know that, that is the only way we can bring succor to this country. Now that we have found ourselves in this position, please, let us put heads together, Magu said.

My door is completely open. If something is going on wrong, please come and tell me. If you dont want to show your face, just write a letter to me. Information is very important. I am alone, if you dont tell me what is wrong, I would not know.

I dont want to know what is right, just tell us how we can correct the system itself, because the system needs correction every day. People are complaining about corruption in the EFCC, which is not good. We should not allow some individuals to spoil our names here.

If you go to United States of America and the United Kingdom, they are all awash with news about us because of this Malabu case. So we are succeeding. Be part of the success. Forget about your own interest. Consider the overall interest of this country and the interest of the nation, he added.

The EFCC, on Wednesday, April 12, discovered about $50 million, believed to be looted funds, in a flat in Ikoyi, Lagos.

ALSO READ: Adamu Mu'azu reportedly owns property raided by EFCC
Lere Olayinka, spokesperson of Ayo Fayose Ekiti state governor, had alleged that one of the flats in the property situated on Osborne road, Ikoyi, belongs to Abudu.

Cover up game has started. Rotimi Amaechi owns the house. Mo Abudu lives in Flat 7A, money found in Flat 7B, Olayinka had tweeted.

In a quick reply, lawyers of Abudu, Streamsowers & Kohn, says she has never been given an apartment by Rotimi Amaechi, the minister of transportation.

Our attention has been drawn to certain false statements being peddled by individuals on several social media platforms, the attorney wrote.

The statement, which was signed by Etigwa Uwa, SAN read: These false statements relate to the recent news story emanating from the EFCC that it discovered some money in a property at 16 Osborne Road Ikoyi and Mo Abudu received the apartment as a gift from Hon Rotimi Amaechi, her alleged boyfriend. Mo Abudu unequivocally states that these allegations are completely false, malicious and without any merit.

Contrary to these false statements, Mo Abudu does not live in Flat 7A or 7B, has never lived in Flat A or 7B and the apartment she lives in was never a gift from any person. Mo Abudu did not receive any apartment as a gift from Hon. Rotimi Amaechi or any other person. Rather, the apartment was purchased by our client in the open market for fair value.

Please note that the publication of such false statements is actionable and gives rise to claims against any person who publishes these false statements. We have the instruction of our client to trace and proceed against any person who participates in the circulation of these false and malicious statements, the statement read.
Sanusi made the call in Abuja on Friday at the inaugural annual lecture to mark third anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok Girls with theme: Where goes our girl-child, our nation goes.

According to him, BBOG should always endeavour to draw attention of the Federal Government and other stakeholders to the plight of girls and women in the society following activities of Boko Haram terrorists

The emir, who was represented by his daughter, Hajiya Shahida Sanusi, explained that as at today in Dalori II Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp near Maiduguri alone, more than 1,500 girls were either pregnant or nursing babies.

Our interest should be in bringing back all our girls but after these girls are brought back, we need to ask ourselves as well where are they being brought back to? What kind of society?

How much better is the normal environment we take for granted than Boko Harams camps he asked.

The traditional ruler stressed the need for the BBOG to shift its focus to the broader social reality of women in Africa, Nigeria and especially the North.

We all claimed to be horrified by what terrorists have done and we all call this primitive and barbaric but what about the situation where your girls out of schools were forced into marriages against their consent

Such girls are often turned into mothers at a young age and exposed them to serious health risks and sometimes inflict beatings and verbal abuse on them

It is often not the fault of girls or their parents, what do they do if there are no educational and health system made available for the poor? he asked.

Also speaking, the Chairperson of the occasion, Prof Alele Williams urged government to equip the military to rescue the remaining Chibok girls.

Williams said that it had taken too long and government had no excuse not to rescue the remaining 195 girls in captivity.

One of the parents of the abducted girls, Mrs Rebekah Samuel who broke down in tears, appealed to government and international community to redouble their efforts at rescuing their children in captivity.

 Three years not three days neither three weeks nor three months, Government help us, President Buhari help us

Samuel commended the effort of BBOG movement for their tireless efforts at ensuring the abducted girls are returned to their families.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 276 girls were abducted from Government Secondary School (GGSS)Chibok in Borno state on April 14, 2014.
iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Wisconsin authorities are investigating a letter sent in the mail that made unspecific but violent threats against churches in Waukesha County. The author of the letter claims to be Joseph Jakubowski, the fugitive accused of robbing a Wisconsin gun shop and sending a manifesto to President Donald Trump.



The Waukesha Sheriff's office is currently determining the authenticity of the letter, which threatened violence against a number of unspecific churches on Easter Sunday.



"At this time, while the investigation continues, we are unable to substantiate the threat nor its author," a statement from the sheriff's office said on Thursday.



The letter suggested the threats would be in the Sussex area of the county, some 25 miles northwest of Milwaukee.



The FBI has an outstanding $20,000 reward for information related to capture of Jakubowski, who is considered "armed and dangerous" and who sent the president a manifesto littered with anti-religious and anti-government rhetoric.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
He called for special prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari, and for Gods control in all situations in Nigeria.

Okorocha made the call in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, in Owerri on Friday.

He urged all Christians to be mindful of the import of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the symbol of Christianity.

He also advised them to shun selfishness as demonstrated by Christ through his death.
Of course, was among the party.

The venue was the Aguda House--official residence of Nigeria's Vice President--tucked in the presidential villa in Abuja.

The event was billed for 5pm, but didn't commence until 8:30pm when Osinbajo walked in, flanked by a sprinkling of aides.

As a room full of young, middle-aged journalists and state house officials stood to acknowledge the VP's presence, he motioned to everyone not to bother.

"Please, sit down", he said, "there's no need to get up".

His seat had been stationed on the other end of the room, facing the small audience.

Osinbajo wasn't comfortable with the sitting arrangement, so he whispered to Tolu Ogunlesi (Special Assistant on Digital/New media to the President), Babafemi Ojudu (Special Adviser to the President on political matters) and Laolu Akande (Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity) to tinker with their set-up.

The VP's argument was that he wouldn't want to strain his voice in a bid to get heard.

He needed a good ol' microphone, he said.

You know, the 1,2,3,4 testing...testing kinda microphone.

The problem? There was no microphone in sight.

But there was a lapel mic.

His aides pointed at the lapel mic clipped on his shirt. Certainly, that should do.

Not enough, Osinbajo said.

Ogunlesi and Akande exchanged puzzled glances.

They had to come up with a solution pretty fast. They had little choice.

ALSO READ: How Osinbajo prepares for his speeches

The only solution in sight was to move the VP closer to the audience.

And so it was. The VP's chair was moved and then the show began.

"I apologise for coming in late", Osinbajo commenced, explaining that he'd been attending a couple of other official meetings; which dragged on and on.

He did look tired and a tad drained of energy.

But when he began answering questions he had scribbled on his iPad, the energy returned.

"I hope you've all had something to drink", Osinbajo asked his guests.

Of course, no one had had anything to drink at that point. The night was still young.

When a few persons answered in the negative, the Vice President joked about some of his staff having to contend with a pay cut for that oversight, sending the room into laughter.

It was the perfect ice breaker that set the tone for the rest of the conversation.

Osinbajo took questions from everyone and there were no "no-go areas"--no off limits.

All questions were valid and welcome.

On his iPad, Osinbajo entered each person's name next to their media house(s) and the question(s) they had put forward.

Nigeria's Vice President was at ease here with the young and angry; or if you are Reuben Abati, "the facebooking, twittering children of anger".

He would cackle before answering the trickiest of questions and at one point, he had to correct a young man who, when putting forward a fusillade of questions, referred to the Vice President "as a lawyer".

"I am not just a lawyer", Osinbajo said with a broad smile, "I am a very distinguished and highly respected lawyer", he added to more rounds of laughter from his audience.

Twice or thrice much later, he would go on to refer to himself as "a very distinguished lawyer at that."

Here was a man comfortable in his own skin and displaying no airs at all.

It was an art straight from the play-book of the deftest of politicians.

Not once did Osinbajo make reference to a document or prepared notes as he took questions on the fate of the Chibok Girls still in Boko Haram captivity, the humanitarian crisis in the north east, a faltering economy, reforming the judiciary, equipping the police to better deal with the crisis in Southern Kaduna, corruption within the presidency, the rejection of Magu by the senate, the state of the nation's power sector and a whole range of other issues of national concern.

His answers arrived extemporaneously, albeit laced with the clarity, intellect and wisdom of ancients.

To listen to Osinbajo speak from close quarters felt like learning at the feet of a university professor or drinking from the wellspring of knowledge of an egghead.

His cadence was lucid and crisp. Not a word seemed out of place.

This was his turf and he was loving it!

However, it was on the subject of the existence of a cabal within the presidency, where Osinbajo left everyone rolling with laughter all over again.

The question came from

"Your excellency, there have been rumours of a cabal acting with some impunity within the presidency. Does this cabal really exist and who are its members?"

Osinbajo was already half chuckling as he readied himself to answer the question.

"Cabals are supposed to be secret", he said, "I really don't know where these guys are....I am still looking for those guys. Honestly, I don't know where they are. I can't tell you that I know where those fellows are."

On another occasion, Osinbajo couldn't control his laughter when the name of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, was thrown into the conversation.

"Fayose is the best example of disobeying court orders...", he said.

At other times, like when discussing the abducted Chibok Girls, Osinbajo showed plenty of resolve and determination.

"Within what I can disclose, I can say that there's a lot of negotiation going on to release the Chibok girls. As you are all aware, there are two Boko Haram factions and that has complicated the negotiation process. However, day by day, engagement on this issue is going on. No one in the presidency is taking this lightly.

"It's a matter that concerns everyone. I do not know a single day where no one is passing me information on the Chibok Girls", Osinbajo said.

Once everyone was done asking their questions, Osinbajo asked if there were more questions in the locker.

He was ready to engage and charm some more.

If the young men and women here had thought they had enough to rattle the former Lagos Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, they shuffled out of Aguda House feeling disarmed and threadbare.
The alleged fraud is said to have been perpetrated between 2006 and 2017.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, Hope Uzodinma, disclosed this on Thursday, April 13, which was the second day of meeting with representatives of all commercial banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and ministry of finance.

He said documents containing names of importers allegedly involved in the act have been given to the commercial banks to study.

Uzodinma said further investigations on each of the importers commence once the committee gets reactions from the banks.

He said: "The senate is worried with the state of our economy and we have decided to investigate the dwindling value of our Naira as well as the state of forex that is affecting the economy negatively.

"We will publish the names of importer and banks involved in this fraudulent act.

"The purpose of giving the banks these documents is for them to go and identify the importers that were their customers and work out ways of returning the un-utilised portion of the foreign exchange allocated to them.

"We have the names of the importers, how much was given to them and other details, which are contained in the documents handed over to the banks."

ALSO READ: CBN orders banks to open FX sales point at major airports

The senator lamented that Forex is released to fictitious importers while genuine importers are denied access, causing economic hardship in the country.

"We profiled utilisation of Forex within the period and went further to establish that letters of credit for doing business were linked to companies abroad.

"We did not stop there, we also went to customs and there was no evidence of import duty payment, payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) and other requirements," he said.

Uzodinma said the banks have until May 3 to appear before the committee, which is after the might have studied and made submissions on the documents given to them. He said the three weeks ultimatum was given to the bank so that they can have enough time to adequately study the documents and not come up with excuses.
According to a report by Premium Times, Oke confirmed that the recovered cash was a discreet allocation released to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for major but covert security projects.

Though Oke reportedly refused giving more details, the NIA boss had reportedly met with President Muhammadu Buhari to explain details of the crucial and covert security projects" which the cash was reportedly released for during ex-President Goodluck Jonathan's tenure.

It was further reported that ex-President Jonathan approved the funds for the 30-year old secret service agency after the past Director General, Olaniyi Oladeji, explained need for some crucial and covert security projects.

The report also revealed that the NIA boss got wind of the operation by the EFCC and had contacted acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu but met dead wall as the anti-agency continued with the operation.

ALSO READ: Confusion rages over ownership of N50m

Premium Times also reported that the President had directed Oke to formally lodge a complain to the presidency on what transpired and how Magu allegedly blew a cogent and covert operation by the NIA.
Shahida stated this at the inaugural lecture of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group in commemoration of the three-year abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls on Friday, April 14, 2017.

Emir Sanusi recently came under attacks for declaring northern Nigeria as the poorest part of the country.

Shahida represented her father at the event.

My father has always been a part of one controversy or the other and its normal for us. We are not scared anymore, Shahida said.

I know that he has always wanted to be the emir of Kano but to him, if it comes between what is right, what his conscience tells him and choosing the throne, he would happily give up the throne.

My father is not afraid of giving up his throne if it stands in the way of speaking the truth. Those who think that my father would keep quiet because he wants to hold on to his throne, I think they dont know my father.

And honestly, he has been a source of inspiration and pride. He never fails to fight. He fights for progress, liberty, justice and equality. Those who think they know my father should know that he will never be silenced by blackmail and intimidation.

He lost his position once as the governor of the and I remember his quote that you can suspend a man but you can never suspend the truth. I know he does not mind being the most unpopular emir so long he speaks the truth, she added.

In a video message to the group, Sanusi said those who consider his as a 'problem' will have a bigger problem dealing with his children.

Those who are opposed to my views or think I am a problem have a much bigger problem to deal with in the next generation of the Sanusis. They are far more radical, they are far more progressive, they far more committed and they are far more fearless, the traditional ruler said.

The Emir maintained that anyone who challenges the system would face blackmail and intimidation

Anyone who challenges a system or fights for the voiceless must be ready for a serious backlash. Character assassination, slander, blackmail and intimidation are the normal tools employed by those who defend and profit from the status quo, he added.

Sanusi further called on the BBOG to "transform itself from a group defined by the narrow focus on an incident, to one that addresses the broader social reality of African women, and particularly women in Nigeria, especially the North."

Also speaking at the event, Prof Grace Alele-Williams, Nigerias first professor of Mathematics Education noted that the abduction of the Chibok girls has made Nigeria to a "laughing stock" among other nations.

Prof. Williams who wondered if the Chibok girls abduction was an agenda of the government added that Nigeria would not regain her place as the giant of Africa unless the life of every citizen begins to matter.
Speaking on the third year anniversary of the abduction of the girls on Friday, March 14, 2017, Saraki pledged that the Senate will continue to do everything within its power to advocate for the return of the remaining Chibok girls.

The Senate president stated that the safe return of the remaining Chibok girls will signify the closure of a dark chapter in Nigerias history.

I speak on behalf of all Nigerians who truly care, mothers and fathers especially, who cannot imagine the pain of not knowing whether or not one's abducted child is alive or not, the Senate President said.

I know that this government is continuing to explore all options to secure the release of the remaining girls. We will continue to support the administration's efforts in every way that we can.

Saraki expressed optimism that one day, all the Chibok Girls will be returned back to their loved ones, while reassuring Nigerians and the international community that Nigeria will not stop looking for its missing school girls.

They are our daughters. We will not stop looking for them. We will not give up the fight until they return back home to us."
She also told Efe that she has wealthy men with private jets hitting on her. Her comments led to a heated conversation on various social media.

During an interesting chat with Pulse Nigeria, the Big Brother Naija 2nd runner-up explained the controversial comment when asked if she thought it affected her chances of winning.

According to her, she doesn't regret the comment. She also stated that she is happy with the winner and if she lost the prize money because of the comment, then 'such is life.'

"People will always have opinions. To be honest, I don't know why people loved me enough to keep me there seven times that they put me up for possible eviction," said TBoss.

"But, I still stand by that. With the debts I have, that money go finish. At the end of the day, I may end up not having One million.

Explaining that she would not have anything for herself, TBoss said, "Please, I hope to have one handbag for myself, one nice handbag for myself, give my mum, send some money to my dad, start up projects; we have so many pet projects that I want to do, the money is gone.

"Am I gonna buy makeup or drink it away? No! I have Godchildren. Also, I made a promise, I have this lady, she is a widow, she is very special to me. And I really want to help her send her children to school.

"The money don finish. I'm sorry, but, I don't regret that comment. If that made me not win, such is life. I'm happy with the winner."
Mr Dayo Adeyeye, Publicity Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, stated this at news conference on Friday in Abuja.

Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, had at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday alleged that the stakeholders meeting convened and chaired by former President Goodluck Jonathan was sponsored by both governors.

Ojougboh, who claimed to be speaking for PDP National Chairman, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, alleged that Wike spent N50 million to host the meeting.

Adeyeye said that the committee would have ignored the allegations since Ojougboh was not an officer of PDP, but stated that doing so may send wrong signals to unsuspecting members of the public.

He said that the PDP was not surprised that Ojougboh would hallucinate and found pleasure in castigating the two governors at every turn.

He said that it was unfortunate that Ojougboh had never been able to utter a single word of criticism against his paymaster, the ruling party.

Adeyeye recalled that the meeting was agreed at the residence of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Aliyu Gusau, in the presence of Sheriff, Prof. Wale Oladipo, Sen. David Mark, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi and Sen. Ben Obi.

In the light of the above, therefore, it is uncharitable for Ojougboh to allege that the stakeholders meeting was organized and sponsored by Wike and Fayose.

Indeed, it is the height of indecency for Sheriff and Ojougboh to allege that a person of Jonathans standing could be induced by anyone, not the least a governor, to organize the meeting, he said.

Adeyeye said that indecency was the nature of Ojougboh and his sponsors, adding that it was the reason they had no qualms in dragging decent people into mud.

He also denied Ojougbohs allegation that Wike bribed the Judiciary with five million dollars to get justice on the Rivers Governorship Election at the Supreme Court.

We have been reliably informed that the latest accusation against the judiciary is part of their calculated and clandestine plot to blackmail the Justices of the Supreme Court.

That was what they did to the Justices of the Special Appeal Panel during the Ondo State Gubernatorial Election case.

He requested the Supreme Court to find out from Ojougboh who among its officers that Wike disbursed the five million dollars to as he alleged.

Let Ojougboh be informed that he cannot pitch the good people of Rivers against their loving and performing governor over his childish and mindless allegation of financial impropriety.

Adeyeye advised all PDP chapters in the states to ignore any directive regarding national convention by Sheriff.

He also described the purported National Executive Council (NEC) meeting being summoned by Sheriff on May 3 as total fraud, politically and legally.

He urged chairmen of the states chapters of the party to disregard Sheriffs request for the submission of delegates lists on or before April 27.

Adeyeye said that PDP would announce meetings of its various organs at an appropriate time after due consultation with all stakeholders.

On ongoing campaign by Sheriff in the South-East and South-South zones, he commended PDP stakeholders in the regions for not partaking in such illegality.

The presence of the two deputy governors was solely on grounds of hospitality.

The PDP is not organizing any campaign or rally around the country at the moment.
Ize-Iyamu told party leaders and supporters at a forum attended by the state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, that the judgment would be appealed at a higher court.

From the snippets I heard, the tribunals judgment cannot stand in the higher courts. This case must be pursued up to the Supreme Court,  he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-man tribunal led by Justice Ahmed Badamasi on Friday dismissed the petition filed by Ize-Iyamu and the PDP for lack of credible evidence to prove their case.

The tribunal, therefore, upheld the election of Gov. Godwin Obaseki of APC.

Orbih thanked their supporter and assured them that the journey ahead would be shorter.

I want to thank God that we have all been able to reach this part of the journey. What gladdens my heart is that God will vindicate us in the long run.

Do not be dismayed. We are still hoping for your support. I urge you all to be calm and refrain from being provoked.
Obaseki said this while speaking with newsmen in Benin on Friday after the tribunal affirmed his victory at the Edo 2016 Governorship election.

The governor said that the judgment would rekindle his energy to work for the people of the state.

He noted that the judgement was well-researched and clear that the opposition had no ground or merit in their petition.

Obaseki said, this judgment is clearly a testimony that we won our election free and fair and that the people of Edo are solidly behind our party, APC and our government.

We thank God, we thank the judges, we thank our counsel for the amazing job they have done.

We want all of you to go back peacefully and observe a wonderful holiday, " he said.

The tribunal affirmed the victory of Obaseki as the winner of the Governorship election held on Sept. 28, 2016.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, challenged Obasekis election, alleging widespread irregularities.
What makes lovers stronger and closer, what strengthens the emotional ties they have is their ability to always reconcile and move away from negativity.

This process is usually set in motion by a partner apologising, and the other partner forgiving enough to accept that apology.

According to Pulse readers, when it comes to offering apologies in relationships, women don't excel that much.

When asked in an article previously published here, about 85% of our readers say women are really bad at apologising while the remaining 15% disagree with that opinion.

ALSO READ:10 signs that your partner needs you to be more romantic

It is unclear, however, if women don't apologise because they don't know how to, or because they are just not humble enough to do so.

One way to understand this behaviour is to consider how guys are often told before marriage to be ready to apologise to their wives even when they are not wrong so as to keep the peace and happiness in the marriage/relationship.

That somehow teaches women to not take responsibilty for their actions in their relationships and marriages, right?

But is that really why this non-apologetic trait seems quite popular or are there some other reasons for this?
One rally was being held in the capital Abuja, where Nigeria's second most influential traditional Muslim leader, the Emir of Kano, was to make an address and lead prayers.

Parents of the missing were congregating at the school where their daughters aged 12 to 17 were kidnapped in the northeastern village of Chibok on April 14, 2014.

Participants were set to plant trees as a symbolic gesture in memory of the missing girls.

Another rally was due in the country's commercial centre Lagos.

Fifty-seven girls escaped in the immediate aftermath of the kidnapping while three others were found or rescued by the military. Some had babies in captivity.

Last October, 21 were freed after negotiations between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government brokered by the ICRC and the Swiss government.

The Chibok schoolgirls have become a symbol of the Boko Haram insurgency that began in 2009 and has left at least 20,000 people dead.

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.

A presidential spokesman said Wednesday negotiations were ongoing with "foreign entities" for the release of those still held by the fundamentalist group active in Nigeria's northeast and which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

Having started as an extremist sect Boko Haram has mushroomed in recent years into an ultra-violent jihadist movement which uses mass kidnapping as a recruitment tool.

In December, Buhari triumphantly announced the "final crushing" of the group, which he described as being "on the run" after an army offensive flushed them out of their stronghold in the huge Sambisa forest.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau denied the claim and said that some of the abducted girls were killed in Nigerian airstrikes against his group.

Support from abroad came in the shape of a British government statement Friday.
"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.

"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."

jpegMpeg4-1280x720The 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.
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.

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.
Following is a summary of the cases facing two of the top five contenders:

Francois Fillon

The 63-year-old former premier has been charged with misusing public money in respect of payments totalling 680,000 euros ($725,000) to his wife Penelope over more than 20 years from funds made available to lawmakers for parliamentary assistants.

French MPs are allowed to employ family members but Fillon has failed so far to convince investigators that Penelope -- a low-key figure who had previously claimed to have had little to do with her husband's career -- earned her salary, which exceeded 10,000 euros a month in 2007.

She herself has been charged with complicity in the affair and concealment.

Prosecutors are also looking into whether they forged a document to justify the payments.

Fillon is also being investigated over payments to two of the couple's children from funds for Senate assistants between 2005 and 2007. Fillon said his daughter Marie helped him write a book and that son Charles compiled notes for him. The younger Fillons later transferred part of the funds to their parents, fuelling suspicions that they had not earned the money.

A staunch Catholic who had campaigned as a man of integrity, Fillon has also been charged over payments to Penelope from a magazine owned by a billionaire friend of his, Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere, and for failing to declare an interest-free loan from Ladreit de Lacharriere to a transparency watchdog.

Fillon has since repaid the loan.

Finally, he is being investigated for possible influence peddling over revelations that he accepted gifts of expensive bespoke suits from a lawyer known for his links to African leaders.

Marine Le Pen

Far-right leader Le Pen, 48, also goes into the election with several investigations hanging over her party and her entourage.

The European Parliament accuses the eurosceptic National Front (FN) leader of using funds for parliamentary assistants to pay staff members for party work in France. Two FN members have already been charged with concealment.

Le Pen invoked her immunity as a member of the parliament to duck out of questioning last month. French prosecutors have asked the parliament to lift her immunity so that she can be prosecuted.

The funding of several campaigns of the FN, which regularly complains of being stretched for cash, has also come under scrutiny.

A close friend of Le Pen's, Frederic Chatillon, is accused of illegally funding the FN's campaign in municipal, European and departmental polls in 2014 and 2015.

Chatillon already faces trial, along with two FN officials, over the party's 2012 general election campaign. The three are accused of setting up a scheme to overcharge for campaign expenses that were reimbursed by the state.

Le Pen is also being investigated by French prosecutors for distributing violent images after tweeting pictures of Islamic State atrocities. The European Parliament has already lifted her immunity from prosecution in that case.
The offensive by the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by military strongman Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar threatened to trigger a broader conflict with forces allied to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

The unity government, the rival administration in eastern Libya and their respective backers are battling for influence in the North African country which has been wracked by chaos since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

So far tensions between the two sides had been mainly limited to the country's north.

But last week, the LNA launched an offensive on the Tamenhant airbase on the outskirts of the city of Sebha.

The most important airbase in the south, it is a base for the "Third Force", one of several powerful pro-GNA militias from the western city of Misrata.

Haftar's LNA "wants to achieve a victory in the southern region of Fezzan to boost its position & GNA is mobilising to prevent that", analyst Mohamed Eljarh of the Atlantic Council tweeted.

Potential for clashes

The UN-backed government, which both Haftar and Libya's eastern-based parliament have refused to recognise, has announced a counter-offensive against the LNA.

World powers this week sounded the alarm over the clashes, and in a joint statement, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council called for de-escalation.

"We underline the difference between acts against the terrorist threat and acts that can lead to further deterioration of the situation in Libya," they said.

To date, the unity government had largely avoided displaying open hostility towards Haftar, who is accused of wanting to establish a military dictatorship in Libya.

But "local armed groups and tribes could be caught into this fight and things could spiral out of control," said Mattia Toaldo, a Libya specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Haftar's forces say the Tamenhant base was a launching pad for rival fighters who seized key northeastern oil terminals from their control last month.

The unity government has denied any link to the attacks on the terminals, which the LNA retook days later.

But analysts say Haftar lacks the forces he needs to battle his rivals in the south.

'Militarily too weak'

Claudia Gazzini of the International Crisis Group said the LNA had won the support of some groups in the south but was "still militarily too weak to take on the Third Force".

The southern region of Fezzan, long neglected by authorities in the capital Tripoli, relies heavily on drugs and arms smuggling and human trafficking.

The region is also a key route for sub-Saharan African migrants attempting to reach Europe illegally from Libya.

Rival tribes in the region often clash over control of border areas near Chad, Niger and Sudan, lucrative routes for people traffickers.

Gazzini said the region's close economic ties with the city of Misrata, whose powerful militias mostly back the unity government, meant many locals feared a "vendetta" in the event of an attack.

The tribes "know that any attack against Misrata could result in a freezing of trade between the north and the south, and people would suffer from that", she said.

In April, representative of the southern tribes met GNA and Italian officials in Rome to sign a peace deal to stem the flow of migrants by tightening controls along the southern border.

But analysts are sceptical about the plan's chances of success.

Human trafficking is one of the region's main sources of income, Gazzini said.
The four men, Alexander Shpakov, Stanislav Zimovets, Yury Kuliy and Andrei Kosykh, all between 30 and 40 years old, had all been arrested and are in custody.

They "used violence against representatives of the authorities" during the "unsanctioned action", said a statement from Russia's Investigative Committee.

The anti-corruption rally on March 26 was called by opposition politician Alexei Navalny following his report on alleged luxury properties controlled by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev through shadowy foundations.

The gathering -- and other smaller ones around the country -- was the largest in years to challenge the Russian authorities and ended with around 1,000 arrests.

The committee's statement said Shpakov "hit the face of a police officer several times", Kosykh hit an officer several times, including "with his foot in the head", and Zimovets "threw a brick into a national guard officer."

"Irrefutable evidence" has been collected implicating the four, including video footage, claimed the Investigative Committee, also accusing "organisers" of the rally of misleading people into thinking it was allowed by city hall.

Earlier Thursday Russian media reported that investigators also broke into the home of opposition activist Vyacheslav Maltsev in the town of Saratov and flew him to Moscow as part of a probe into an assault on a government employee.

Maltsev last year ran for a parliament seat and keeps a popular YouTube channel with critical political commentary.

Navalny called the probe into violence against police at the rally "fabricated".

The populist politician -- who is has said he will stand for president at an election next year -- has announced another round of protests for June 12.

Russian authorities have a history of launching high-profile cases after major protests, notably the probe into violence at the May 6, 2012 rally which led to dozens of people being prosecuted, including for throwing a lemon.
Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said Akilov was radicalised after moving to Sweden in 2014 and the Central Asian nation's intelligence service had passed on information about him.

"During his stay abroad, he was recruited through the internet by emissaries of the international terrorist organisation the Islamic State," Kamilov said in quotes from a press briefing published by the ministry.

Kamilov said Akilov had "actively encouraged compatriots to go to Syria to participate in military operations" for the group.

"He repeatedly propagated propaganda videos of terrorist content through internet messengers to his relatives and other connections in Uzbekistan, trying to persuade them to commit violent actions against Uzbek authorities, government officials and law enforcement agencies," Kamilov said.

"Information about the wrongful acts of Rakhmat Akilov was transferred via the special services to one of our Western partners to further inform the Swedish side," he added, without giving more details.

A spokeswoman for Sweden's foreign ministry told AFP that it "had not received such information".

Russian agency Interfax on Wednesday quoted an anonymous security source in Uzbekistan who said a warrant had been issued for Akilov's arrest on extremism charges in February.
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.

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.
The sharp language came after President Donald Trump said the North Korea problem "will be taken care of", as speculation mounts that the reclusive state could be preparing another nuclear or missile test.

"Lately, tensions have risen... and one has the feeling that a conflict could break out at any moment," Wang said. "If a war occurs, the result is a situation in which everybody loses and there can be no winner."

Whichever side provoked a conflict "must assume the historic responsibility and pay the corresponding price," he said in a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Trump has sent a aircraft carrier-led strike group to the Korean peninsula to press his point, one of a series of signals that indicate his willingness to shake up foreign policy strategy.

The US military on Thursday dropped the biggest non-nuclear bomb it possesses on Afghanistan, targeting a complex used by the Islamic State group.

Trump also flexed his military muscle last week by ordering cruise missile strikes on a Syrian airbase the US believed was the origin of a chemical weapons attack on civilians in a northern Syria town.

The moves are seen as an implicit warning to North Korea that Washington is not afraid to use force.

Trump has repeatedly said he will prevent Pyongyang from its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile capable of reaching the mainland United States.

A White House foreign policy advisor said Friday that the US is assessing military options in response to the North's weapons programs, saying another provocative test was a question of "when" rather than "if."

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, which have fuelled speculation it could carry out a sixth test.

But Beijing has long opposed dramatic action against Pyongyang, fearing the regime's collapse would send a flood of refugees across its borders and leave the US military on its doorstep.

"Dialogue is the only possible solution," Wang said.

Any US strike on North Korea could prompt retaliation against allies or US forces in South Korea or Japan.

But there are few good diplomatic or economic options for the Trump administration.

The North is already under multiple sets of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and appears to see these programs as insurance against regime change.
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.
US President Donald Trump called the mission "very, very successful."

The huge bomb, delivered via an MC-130 transport plane, has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT, and the weapon was originally designed as much to intimidate foes as to clear broad areas.

"The GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat," Air Force spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder said.

Achin district governor Esmail Shinwari said the bomb landed in the Momand Dara area of Achin district.

"The explosion was the biggest I have ever seen. Towering flames engulfed the area," Shinwari told AFP.

"We don't know anything about the casualties so far, but since it is a Daesh (IS) stronghold we think a lot of Daesh fighters may have been killed."

General John Nicholson, who heads US Forces Afghanistan, described the weapon as the "right munition" to reduce IS obstacles and maintain the momentum against jihadists in the region.

The strike hit a system of tunnels and caves that IS fighters had used to "move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces" nearby, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

"We must deny them operational space, which we did," Spicer added.

The Afghan government was aware of the US plan to bomb the IS tunnel complex, presidential spokesman Shah Hussain Murtazawi suggested.

"Heavy casualties have been inflicted on the enemy," Murtazawi said on Facebook, ruling out the possibility of civilian casualties.

IS in Afghanistan

The US military on Tuesday said an American special forces soldier had been killed while conducting operations against IS in Nangarhar, although it was not clear if Thursday's strike was connected in any way.

Military officials declined to immediately provide additional details.

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. US forces have conducted a number of air strikes on jihadist bases in the area since August last year.

IS, notorious for its reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, has been making inroads into Afghanistan in recent years. It has attracted disaffected members of the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban as well as Uzbek Islamists.

But the group has been steadily losing territory in the face of heavy pressure both from US air strikes and a ground offensive led by Afghan forces.

The Islamic State group's strength in Afghanistan has fallen to 600 to 800 fighters from 3,000 in early 2016, NATO has said, adding that it killed the top 12 IS commanders in the country last year.

According to the Air Force, the last time the MOAB was tested in 2003, a huge mushroom cloud could be seen from 20 miles (32 kilometers) away.

The MOAB was rapidly developed in 2002-2003 around the time of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Despite its massive power, the MOAB still pales in comparison to a nuclear weapon.
Gethsemane plans 2 events

The 2016 movie, "Risen," will be the focus of a group discussion planned 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 17, at the Davenport Main Library, 321 N. Main St., Davenport. The session is on the lower-level small meeting room.

It is suggested participants watch the film in advance. For information, contact the Rev. Luke Boehringer, 563-359-0144 or check online: gethsemane144.org.

Also at Gethsemane, there will be a special presentation on the children of India at 10 a.m. on Satirday, April 22, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 2410 E. 32nd St., Davenport.

The Rev. Dr. Richard Krause will speak on the ongoing work in India through Children's Homes and Schools. The public is welcome. For information, contact the minister, Boehringer, or check online: gethsemane144.org.

Muslim author visits Augie

Muslim author and speaker, Zohra Sarwari, uses humor and personal experiences to promote tolerance, in communities like the Quad-Cities.

On April 19-20, she will visit Augustana College, Wallenberg Hall. On April 19 at 7 p.m., the talk is "I Am Not A Terrorist!" On April 20, at 10:30 a.m., she addresses the topic: "Are Muslim Women Oppressed?"

Both events are in the hall, located on the second floor of the Denkmann Building.

Sarwari, the mother of four, and published author of 15 books will also take questions from the audience. The public is invited.

Faith Lutheran helps 'stamp out' cancer

The Quad-City Stamp Club will host the 40th "Stamp Out Cancer" auction Saturday, April 22, at Faith Lutheran Church, 1611 41st St., Moline. Auction items may be viewed at 11 a.m., and the event begins at 1 p.m. Some 600 lots will be offered with a total estimated value of $100,000.

Money raised is donated to local chapters of the American Cancer Society. For information contact event organizers, Linda IntVeld, at muffin4023@aol.com or Leen IntVeld, lmintveld@yahoo.com.

Grace Camp plans special retreat

The annual Spring Retreat is planned for May 4 at the Andrew Retreat Center at Grace Camp, DeWitt. It offers an afternoon session, noon to 3 p.m., and an evening session, 6-9 p.m. Each begins with a salad meal and devotions.

Delores Thomberg will speak on her book, "God's Grace is Sufficient."

Reservations are requested by May 1. Call 563-357-0780, or send to Maribeth Penningroth, 1410 Westwood Dr., DeWitt, IA 52742. The retreat fee is $10.

Holocaust survivor to speak

A survivor of the Holocaust, Doris Fogel, will speak Sunday, April 24, at Augustana College, Rock Island. Fogel was a young girl in World War II when her father died, her mother suffered a nervous breakdown, and family members helped her to escape to China in 1939. However they spent eight years in the Hongkew Ghetto and in internment camps.

The talk is 7 p.m. in Wallenberg Hall, on the second floor of the Denkmann Building on the Augustana campus, 3520 7th Ave., Rock Island.

Fogel grew up in Peoria. She is retired after serving as executive director of the Jewish Federation in Indiana and now lives in Chicago. For questions contact Janina Ehrlich, 309-794-7299, or message: janinaehrlich@augustana.edu
Action Iowa will hold a series of Tax Marches from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday as a way to demand to see President Donald Trumps tax returns to rule out conflicts of interest.

The marches will take place in the Quad-Cities, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City and Des Moines.

In the Quad-Cities, the march will begin at Schwiebert Park in Rock Island. Marchers will then walk to the Internal Revenue Service office that is located in Davenport at 101 W. 2nd St.

For more information, contact Emilyne Slagle at 515-537-4674.

-- Thomas Geyer
A multi-state manhunt for an accused carjacker ended peacefully Wednesday in Iowa City.

A team of law enforcement officers, led by U.S. Marshals from Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, arrested a Mississippi man without incident as he was standing outside an Iowa City department store, according to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Office.

Omar Christolis Bankhead, 24, was wanted by the Clinton, Mississippi, Police Department after he was accused of carjacking a Mississippi College student at gunpoint in a campus parking garage on April 2.

Security camera footage and the publics assistance enabled police to identify Bankhead as the suspect.

Police obtained a warrant for Bankheads arrest on April 4. But by that time, authorities had received information that Bankhead may have left the state.

On April 6, a white 2015 Kia Optima  the same vehicle Bankhead is accused of carjacking in Mississippi  was found in Moline by Moline police officers. Bankhead was not with the vehicle.

On Wednesday, law enforcement officials developed information that Bankhead was possibly staying near the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City.

Just before 4 p.m. Wednesday, officers spotted Bankhead outside a department store at 919 Highway 1 West in Iowa City. Officers arrested him without incident.

Bankhead was transported to the Johnson County Jail in Iowa City where he is awaiting extradition proceedings back to Mississippi.
2 sentenced in weapons cases

Two convicted Davenport felons have been sentenced to federal prison in separate weapons possession cases.

During a hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court, Davenport, Damarcis Latrell March Jr., 20, was sentenced to 45 months, or three years and nine months, in prison after pleading guilty in October to possessing a loaded Haskell Hi-Point .45-caliber handgun.

Marchs sentence will run consecutively, or back-to-back, with a five-year prison sentence he is serving in Illinois Dixon Correctional Center on a 2015 attempted armed robbery conviction out of Rock Island County.

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections website, March is expected to be paroled Nov. 6. He then will be taken into federal custody to serve the sentence on the weapons conviction.

Cody Lee Motz, 26, was sentenced to 70 months, or five years and 10 months, during a hearing Thursday, also held in U.S. District Court, Davenport.

In November, Motz admitted he possessed a Lorcin Model L22 handgun that Scott County investigators seized from his home during a drug investigation.

Motz was one of 46 people arrested between August 2015 and February 2016 in an investigation by the Scott County Sheriffs Office known as Operation Methed Up. The state charges against Motz were dropped after federal authorities filed the weapons charge.

In May 2013, Motz pleaded guilty in Scott County District Court to a charge of third-degree burglary, a Class D felony under Iowa law.

Under federal law, anyone who has been convicted of a felony is barred from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Accused carjacker arrested in Iowa City

A multi-state manhunt for an accused carjacker ended peacefully Wednesday in Iowa City.

A team of law enforcement officers, led by U.S. Marshals from Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, arrested a Mississippi man without incident as he was standing outside an Iowa City department store, according to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Office.

Omar Christolis Bankhead, 24, was wanted by the Clinton, Mississippi, Police Department after he was accused of carjacking a Mississippi College student at gunpoint in a campus parking garage on April 2.

Security camera footage and the publics assistance enabled police to identify Bankhead as the suspect.

Police obtained a warrant for Bankheads arrest on April 4. But by that time, authorities had received information that Bankhead may have left the state.

On April 6, a white 2015 Kia Optima  the same vehicle Bankhead is accused of carjacking in Mississippi  was found in Moline by Moline police officers. Bankhead was not with the vehicle.

On Wednesday, law enforcement officials developed information that Bankhead was possibly staying near the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City.

Just before 4 p.m. Wednesday, officers spotted Bankhead outside a department store at 919 Highway 1 West in Iowa City. Officers arrested him without incident.

Bankhead was transported to the Johnson County Jail in Iowa City where he is awaiting extradition proceedings back to Mississippi.

 Times staff

Shots-fired incident reported in Moline

Moline police are looking for a green or black Oldsmobile after a shots fired incident Thursday night.

The incident occurred in the are of the 1400 block of 27th Street.

The incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers of the Quad-Cities at 762-9500.

 Times staff
Wells Fargo is not prepared to end its 32-year relationship with the city of Davenport.

Patrice DeCorrevont, executive vice president of Wells Fargo's Government and Institutional Banking Group, said the banking giant will attempt to retain the city as its client after Davenport announced its intentions to release a request for proposals for new banking services.

In March, Wells Fargo's institutional Community Reinvestment Act rating, or CRA, was downgraded by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to "needs to improve," making Wells Fargo ineligible for city funds.

"Our intention is to respond," DeCorrevont said. "It might end up being thrown out, but we will let the city of Davenport make that decision. This is a 32-year relationship that we don't wish to see go."

The CRA rating, established in 1977, "requires financial institutions to meet the credit needs of their entire communities, including low- and moderate-income (LMI) neighborhoods."

Davenport's depository policy establishes that financial institutions must have a "satisfactory" or above rating for both its national and local CRA ratings in order to receive city funds.

Wells Fargo is the primary holder of the city's checking and savings accounts, which hold more than $100 million in total. In 2012, Wells Fargo held $1.1 billion in deposits for the entire metropolitan statistical area.

While it received an outstanding rating in Iowa and the Quad-Cities, Wells Fargo's institutional rating was downgraded because of the "extensive and pervasive pattern and practice of violations across multiple lines of business with the bank, resulting in significant harm to large numbers of consumers."

The bank settled with consumers for $110 million in March as a result of the unauthorized opening of up to 2.1 million accounts of which customers might not have been not aware.

Five years ago, Wells Fargo also settled with minority homebuyers after steering African-American and Hispanic customers into subprime mortgages, which caused them to incur higher rates and fees than white customers.

DeCorrevont said Wells Fargo has continued to monitor how the rating will affect its business because Davenport is not alone in having a depository policy in place with CRA requirements.

With approximately 5,500 city, county, state and other government clients, DeCorrevont called those accounts "a very large piece of the wholesale of products and services Wells Fargo offers," but he could not estimate what toll the downgrade would have on its business.

Some cities and states took a proactive approach to removing funds from Wells Fargo in 2016 when the unauthorized account scandal broke.

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs, for example, announced the indefinite suspension of $30 billion in annual investment transactions in October.

Although Wells Fargo has been embroiled in these scandals, Mike Rizer, executive vice president of community relations, said the ratings downgrade was not reflective of Wells Fargo's community investment as the bank was the No. 1 lender to small businesses, African-Americans and Hispanics.

"We were disappointed in the rating given that our performance was outstanding in all categories," Rizer said. "In each and every one of those, and when you look at our performance nationally, we're actively meeting those needs of low- and moderate-income communities, placing our branches in those areas, and supplying mortgages and loans to small businesses."

Wells Fargo has requested to expedite the timing of its next CRA rating. Regardless of the outcome, Rizer said it will not have an effect on the financial institution's practices.

"We're going to keep on doing what we're doing," Rizer said. "We self-assess ourselves each year to make sure we're in position to meet the community's needs."

Local focus

As Davenport seeks a new depository for its funds, the City Council has asked for more emphasis to be placed on loans and mortgages aimed at developing the central city.

In response to Finance Director Brandon Wright's recommendation to seek new banking services, Alderman Bill Boom, 3rd Ward, wrote in an email that "Davenport prides itself on its diverse population and our actions should support our words."

While Rizer and DeCorrevont expressed disappointment in Davenport's decision, Wells Fargo's practices paint a favorable picture of its investment in the Quad-Cities.

In the OCC's report, which analyzed 2008-12, it found that Wells Fargo's "grants and investments exhibit adequate responsiveness to the needs identified in the (assessment area)."

Projects included a $1 million investment to fund the building of the Holiday Court apartments, as well as $3.7 million for the building of the Harrison Lofts.

Wells Fargo also was lauded for extending a $150 million line of credit to a tax credit investment fund, which used $7.2 million to build a 41-unit housing project in Davenport that was restricted to LMI households.

Beyond receiving outstanding local CRA ratings, the most recent Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, or HMDA, data showed Wells Fargo provided $3.8 million in credit to LMI communities and $6 million in credit to LMI borrowers in Davenport in 2015.

Out of its 188 small business loans, 58 were extended to LMI communities, accounting for $4.2 million.

Additionally, Wells Fargo received the Minority-Owned, Women-Owned and Start-Up Small Business Awards from the Small Business Administration in Iowa in 2016.

The question remains for Wells Fargo how Davenport will treat its proposal given that the financial institution will not comply with city policy.

"These local ordinances are meant to make sure they are working with companies that are doing the right thing and working with the marginalized communities," Rizer said. "The (national CRA) rating is not correlated with what we're doing in the community."
Here's the afternoon forecast from the National Weather Service.

There's a chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms before 3 p.m., then showers land maybe even a thunderstorm between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. East wind 5 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent with new rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible with higher amounts in thunderstorms.

Tonight showers and thunderstorms are likely before 11 p.m. Skies will be mostly cloudy with a low around 59 degrees.

Saturday there's a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Skies will be partly sunny and breezy with a high near 78 degrees.

Stroller Strides is no walk in the park

On a warm day at Bettendorfs Veterans Memorial Park, youll likely pass by plenty of stroller-pushing moms.

You might pause, however, when you see a crew of moms launch into a set of bicep curls or hill repeats  with their toddlers along for the ride.

Thats what happens when Fit4Mom Quad-Cities, a group of active-minded mothers, get together for Stroller Strides, classes that next week will start transitioning outside to Veterans Memorial following a season of indoor workouts. Read more.

Alleged Mississippi carjacker nabbed in Iowa City

A multi-state manhunt for an accused carjacker ended peacefully in Iowa City.

A team of law enforcement officers, led by U.S. Marshals from Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, arrested a Mississippi man without incident as he was standing outside an Iowa City department store, according to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Office.

Omar Christolis Bankhead, 24, was wanted by the Clinton, Miss. Police Department for allegedly carjacking a Mississippi College student at gunpoint in a campus parking garage on April 2.

Security camera footage and the publics assistance enabled police to identify Bankhead as the suspect.

Police obtained a warrant for Bankheads arrest on April 4. But by that time, authorities had received information Bankhead may have fled the state.

On April 6, a white 2015 KIA Optima  the same vehicle Bankhead allegedly carjacked in Mississippi  was found in Moline by Moline police officers. Bankhead was not with the vehicle.

On Wednesday, law enforcement officials developed information that Bankhead was possibly staying near the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City.

Just before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, officers spotted Bankhead outside a department store at 919 Highway 1 West in Iowa City. Officers arrested him without incident.

Bankhead was transported to the Johnson County Jail in Iowa City where he is awaiting extradition proceedings back to Mississippi.

Fugitive in theft of guns arrested in Wisconsin

A fugitive accused of stealing weapons from a Wisconsin gun store and sending an anti-government manifesto to the White House has been arrested after nine days on the run.

Joseph Allen Jakubowski was found Thursday night in Vernon County, about 125 miles northwest of Janesville, Wisconsin, his hometown, according to the Rock County Sheriff's Office.

More than 150 law enforcement officials had been searching for Jakubowski, 32, since April 4 when authorities say he broke into a gun store in Janesville.

The Rock County Sheriff's Office says Jakubowski wrote a 161-page manifesto in which he detailed a long list of grievances against the government and spoke of plans to launch attacks with the 18 firearms he allegedly stole.

Before the manhunt, the sheriff's office says Jakubowski filmed a video of himself dropping his manifesto, addressed to President Donald Trump, into a mailbox and speaking of a "revolution." He warned in the video that whoever received the manifesto "might want to read it."
Copies of a former Quad-City-based artists paintings may soon end up in many more households throughout the U.S. and Australia.

Buyers, however, will first have to assemble Patrick Costellos works before they can admire his depictions of lush, green landscapes in Ireland, which recently caught the eyes of a couple puzzle manufacturers.

Ceaco, a Massachusetts-based puzzle maker, recently turned three of Costellos oil paintings into 750-piece jigsaw puzzles, which now are available in Barnes & Noble stores throughout the U.S., including the one in Davenport.

I would never dream in a million years I would be in the puzzle business, Costello, 77, said from his home in Carefree, Arizona.

The self-taught artist spent 20 years working in the commercial art market in the Quad-Cities, which included a stint at the Quad-City Times.

He then bought and renovated an 1869 grist mill in 1978 in Maquoketa, Iowa. Costello spent 30-plus years illustrating from a studio on his property in Jackson County, which also housed a public gallery.

He and his wife, Joan, moved to the Southwest in 2012. In his prime, Costello enjoyed the outdoors, but a surge of health issues, including esophageal cancer and diabetes, has slowed him down.

His family said this out-of-the-blue puzzle deal could not have come at a better time.

"Its a rough time," said Tracy Costello, who shares her home with her folks. "My dad needed this so bad to lift his spirits."

Costello recently finished chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment and will undergo surgery next month.

Ive felt better, Costello said. Its just one damn thing after another, but thats life.

But how did the puzzle companies  including Holdson, a New Zealand-based corporation that turned four of his works into 1,000-piece puzzles  discover his works?

Well, Costello belongs to the Sonoran Arts League, and every fall, the organization presents Hidden in the Hills, a popular studio tour and sale in the region.

During the event last November, longtime licensing agent Dean Berko, who lives within a mile of Costello, happened upon the artists at-home studio, and immediately realized an opportunity for them both.

"I saw his wonderful artwork, and thats when I knew his work would be very appropriate for jigsaw puzzles," said Berko, who launched his company, Lifestyle Licensing International, more than three decades ago.

Specifically, Costello's detailed, colorful and storytelling scenes drew Berko's attention. When it comes to puzzles, he noted, the more detailed, the better.

"They want it to be hard," he said, describing his client and friend's work as "beautiful" and "romantic."

"That is truly what puzzle makers are looking for," he said.

Costello said he signed a contract with Berko and will reap a share of the royalties for every one of his puzzles that sells.

"It's nice to be honored," said Costello, who grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, before moving to Davenport as a teenager.

Despite his ailments, Costello said he has a collection of 20-30 photographs, all of which hold "emotional quality" in his mind, that he hopes to recreate at some point.

"I've always painted from the heart," he said, calling art his refuge for the past 57 years. "I go to my easel, and Im always able to get lost in there. Its a great place to put your mind."

If Costello's puzzles are a hit, Berko said he is "100 percent confident" they are just scratching the surface of this venture.
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Another piece of reasonable, science-based legislation. Another dire fate in the Iowa House.

This time, it is common-sense medical marijuana policy that looks doomed due to the House GOP's affinity for the 1950s.

An expansion of Iowa's draconian medical marijuana policy is speeding through the Senate, reports The Gazette of Cedar Rapids. It easily cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee on a voice vote, only hours after a subcommittee unanimously supported it.

Then, reporters asked House Republicans about their peers' efforts in the upper chamber. Those House Republicans responded by turning on the fire hose and flooded the place with cold water. It's just too much right now, they said. It's just another step toward a world of jobless stoners dancing to Phish's droning guitar solos instead of going to work, they worried.

The Senate draft is not a wholesale legalization effort. It's not even your standard buy-a-joint with a doctor's note-type system that's so popular in more than half the country. No, the Senate draft still bans the smoking of pot, with or without medical consent.

The Compassionate Use of Cannabis Act does, however, drastically expand the list of ailments for which cannabinoid pharmaceuticals can be prescribed, including post-traumatic stress and cancer. As such, it has the backing of numerous advocacy organizations supporting veterans, cancer survivors and those with afflictions included within the draft.

The bill would, finally, also permit production of marijuana-based medicines in Iowa. At least four growing and manufacturing operations would be licensed within Iowa by Dec. 1, the bill says. A dozen dispensaries also would be approved.

Boil it down: It would comfort the sick. It would create jobs.

But, by all accounts, the House just won't have it.

The very concerns about creating a society where "anyone can get it" doesn't make much sense, because the legislation explicitly bans pot smoking. Such a standard is farcical if considered from a broad view of medicinal drug policy. Opiates are quite literally destroying entire communities in some parts of the country. It's a scourge rooted in easy access to powerful, highly addictive pain killers.

Marijuana is not without risks and pitfalls, research says. But it might as well be cotton candy next to oxycodone, a legal, poorly regulated opiate that renewed the nation's taste for being comfortably numb.

Only misinformed stereotypes and a nonsensical commitment to terrible policy  rejected by conservatives and liberals alike  fuel revolts like this against reasonable marijuana policy. The war on drugs was a massive, costly failure that achieved little but heavily armed police forces and prisons stuffed to the brim with nonviolent offenders.

But the GOP-run Iowa Senate isn't looking to follow Colorado's legalization effort. It isn't even moving to make smokable weed available to someone wracked with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy.

It does expand the type of cannabinoids that would be available. It does expand the drug's permissible use to a host of other diseases that, according to research, benefit from the plant's effects. It does permit the production of said drugs within Iowa, a potentially significant boost to the state's pharmaceutical sector.

The House is under significant pressure to do something, mind you. Iowa's basically useless marijuana trial period will expire in July, if nothing is done. Look for the House to basically extend the existing program with almost no time before adjournment.

And thousands of Iowans would again be denied access to a drug that could improve their very lives.
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, praised U.S. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley's handling of the Judiciary Committee confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch on Monday. Her quote, "... and he ushered all that through flawlessly."

Just a reminder that millions of us will recall that this nomination was stolen from our last president and given to the present White House occupant, while that occupant and his staff remain under FBI investigation for contacts with Russia.

Yes, Sen. Grassley looks to have some of the flawless skills of a consigliere to a major crime family. If amorality is the way to "Make America Great Again," I guess our Republican senators have it covered.

Sue Griswold

Riverdale
Disneynature's new film, "Born in China," a documentary, is a little over an hour but it was shot over three years. Dame Jane Goodall, an ambassador for Disneynature, said the imagery was breathtaking and shows the personality of the multiple species captured.

"These photographers wait year in and year out and so they're able to show the characters of these animals," she said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. "And people say, 'Oh, Disneynature gives animals a character.' No, the animals have their own character."

The film also shows another side of China. Viewers see a snow leopard hunt in terrain unfit for most mammals, a mother giant panda with her cub, and raucous golden monkeys jumping on high forest trees, sending the branches crashing to the ground as they chase and play.

The documentary, Disneynature's seventh theatrical release, is out April 21, the day before Earth Day. John Krasinski narrates but Goodall has done her part to promote the ambitious project, directed by Chinese filmmaker Lu Chuan.

A portion of tickets sales from the film's opening weekend will benefit the World Wildlife Fund.

Goodall, 83, has studied chimpanzees for 55 years in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. She has worked for decades on conservation and animal welfare issues. China, she said, should be commended for its work protecting pandas and snow leopards.

Loud shrimp named after Pink Floyd

OXFORD, England | A newly discovered species of shrimp that uses a bright pink claw to create a sound loud enough to kill small fish has been named for Pink Floyd.

The shrimp found on Panama's Pacific coast has been dubbed Synalpheus pinkfloydi in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. Oxford University Museum of Natural History researcher Sammy De Grave is one of three researchers credited with discovering the creature. He says the description of the shrimp was "the perfect opportunity to finally give a nod to my favorite band."

According to Oxford, pistol or snapping shrimps close their enlarged claws at a rapid speed to create an imploding bubble. The result is a sound so loud it can kill or stun a fish.

Pink Floyd is also honored in nature with a damselfly named after its 1969 album "Ummagumma."
A male hiker who was injured on Black Elk Peak was airlifted from Custer State Park on Thursday afternoon, local officials said.

The man was found near high rock formations, about two-thirds of the way up the 7,200-foot peak, according to a Facebook post by the Custer County South Dakota Search and Rescue.

Dispatch received a call about the incident around 11 a.m., said Custer County Sheriff Rick Wheeler, after hikers on the summit of the nearby Little Devils Tower heard calls for help.

The Facebook post said: Rescuers reached the patient and began treating him while others started planning the best route out for what would have been a long, difficult carry out. The location was described as rough country with lots of downed timber, about 1,000 feet from the nearest trail.

Around 3 p.m., the hiker, in his 20s, was flown out by a South Dakota National Guard helicopter amid winds gusting 25 mph, Wheeler said. The man was taken to Rapid City Regional Hospital for treatment. The cause and nature of his injuries, as well as his current medical condition, were unclear as of Friday afternoon.

Other agencies that responded included the Custer County Ambulance Services and Hot Springs Life Flight, according to the social media post. Black Elk Peak, formerly known as Harney Peak, is the highest point in South Dakota.
Gov. Dennis Daugaard joined a group of state and local officials on Thursday morning to mark the official opening of the renovated Chemical and Biological Engineering/Chemistry building on the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology campus.

Better than celebrating the past or the present, I like celebrating the future, Daugaard said. Thats what this building represents. It represents the students who will study here and learn here, become entrepreneurs like their professors, start companies, and create a better economic future in South Dakota.

Kicked off in the fall of 2015, the $6.6 million renovation of the building was completed in January. The upgrades include new laboratory spaces, modernized classrooms for teaching and research, improved office space for faculty and staff, new elevators, and upgraded student lounge areas, with new windows and a third-floor deck overlooking the Quad.

Daugaard and School of Mines President Heather Wilson convened on the lawn outside the CBEC building on a blustery but sunny day to celebrate what Wilson said represents a significant step forward in the education of the schools students.

This kind of a facility is going to allow us to teach to a very high standard, which is what we expect here at the School of Mines, Wilson said. Its going to also help accommodate the growth weve had here at the School of Mines over the last six years.

Every student at the School of Mines has to take a chemistry course, which means that at some point every student will receive instruction at the CBEC building. This is why its important, Wilson said, that it be a fully modernized facility.

Using funds appropriated by the state legislature from the higher education facilities fund in 2014, the project renovated 7,000 square feet of the old CBEC building and added 4,000 square feet of space to the existing structure.

During a tour down the shiny un-scuffed corridors, students were visible through windows, already attending classes in the upgraded rooms.

In one of the improved research laboratories, chemistry professor Zhengtao Zhu smiled as he shook hands with the governor and answered questions about the modernized space. When he started at the School of Mines 10 years ago, he was placed in a small lab that wasnt very conducive to research or instruction.

This was all an old organic lab, a very old setup, Zhu said with a sweep of his hand. This new setup is very state-of-the-art.

The improvements at CBEC are the latest in a round of facility upgrades on campus, including recently completed work at the King Center and Placer Hall. The next building slated for renovation is the McLaury building, one of the oldest buildings on campus. During the first of several renovation phases at McLaury, the building will get a new elevator, windows, bathrooms and improvements to the exterior and foundation of the building.

South Dakota Regent John Bastian joined Daugaard and Wilson in their praise for the improvements to CBEC.

This renovation brings this building in line with state-of-the-art laboratories and teaching spaces around the state and nation and helps keep Mines among the best of STEM schools, Bastian said.
In its second major display of military might in one week, the US dropped its most powerful non-nuclear bomb on ISIS positions in a remote part of Afghanistan.

Afghan officials said 36 militants were killed in the strike in Nangarhar province, near the Pakistan border, where the US military previously estimated ISIS had 600 to 800 active fighters.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordinance Air Blast bomb (MOAB) was dropped Thursday night on a network of fortified underground tunnels that ISIS had been using to stage attacks on government forces.

The GPS-guided munition is known as the "mother of all bombs" and is capable of destroying an area equivalent to nine city blocks.

The blast destroyed three underground tunnels as well as weapons and ammunition, but no civilians were hurt, Afghan and US officials have said.

Residents in nearby villages said the blast shattered their windows and that it created a boom so loud that they feared their own homes had been bombed.

Scrutiny over US strikes

The commander for US forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, defended the use of the bomb and confirmed the target of the strike was the network of tunnels that ISIS fighters use to move around and protect themselves from Afghan and US forces.

"This was the right weapon against the right target," he said.

Nicholson gave a vague response to a question by reporters on who exactly ordered or greenlighted the strike, saying only that he enjoyed a certain amount of "latitude" to make decisions in his chain of command.

He confirmed that the strike was carried out in coordination with Afghan officials and said that the mission had conducted rigorous surveillance before, during and after the operation to prevent civilian deaths.

"Let me be clear -- we will not relent in our mission to fight alongside our Afghan comrades to destroy ISIS-K in 2017," he said, referring to ISIS' regional branch.

The US bomb was dropped as Washington comes under increased scrutiny over its military actions in the Middle East -- three US-led airstrikes in the past month that have killed civilians or allies.

On Tuesday, the US-led coalition in Syria killed 18 of its own allies from the Syrian Democratic Forces, in what it described as a misdirected airstrike. The US is also investigating two of its own strikes in Iraq and Syria, which Iraqi officials and activists in Syria say killed dozens of civilians.

But US President Donald Trump said Thursday the Afghanistan bombing was "another successful job."

The Afghanistan bombing -- along with the US' first airstrikes against the Syrian regime last week -- mark a dramatic change in attitude for Trump, who advocated an isolationist, America-first foreign policy during his election campaign.

In just the last week, Trump has overseen the use of some of the most powerful weaponry in the US arsenal.

He once said the invasion of Afghanistan was a mistake, though he later walked back that statement, saying that he "always supported" US involvement in the country.

A deafening blast

Residents in villages kilometers away from the target area felt Thursday's powerful strike as if bombs had fallen nearby.

A local resident living around two kilometers (1.5 miles) from the blast told CNN he heard an "extremely loud boom that smashed the windows of our house."

"We were all scared and my children and my wife were crying. We thought it had happened right in front of our house," he said.

"I have witnessed a countless number of explosions and bombings in the last 30 years of war in Afghanistan, but this one was more powerful than any other bomb as far as I remember."

Another Afghan man, 46-year-old Abdul, who lives three kilometers from the site, described the thick cloud of dust that formed after the deafening blast.

"We were unable to see each other at home because of the excessive dust inside the room," he said.

"I was feeling that boom 'til the morning."

Why now?

Afghanistan's ambassador to the US, Hamdullah Mohib, said the colossal MOAB was dropped after fighting had intensified over the last week. US and Afghan forces had been unable to advance because ISIS -- which has expanded into Afghanistan in recent years -- had mined the area with explosives.

Locals told CNN that more than 3,000 families had fled the district in the past year or so since the militant group established its presence.

One man, who did not want to give his name for fear of ISIS retaliation, said there were no civilians left in the area the group controlled.

The region the MOAB struck butts up against the porous Pakistan border. The rocky landscape is dotted with caves and defensive tunnels, making it easy to hold and hard to attack, according to CNN International's diplomatic editor Nic Robertson, who has previously reported from the Afghan mountains.

On Twitter, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani approved of the strike, saying it was designed to support the Afghan National Security Forces and US forces conducting clearance operations in the region.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, however, denounced the use of the weapon.

"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," he said on Twitter.

Afghan war 'at its lowest point'

While the war in Afghanistan has largely slipped from public consciousness in the US, replaced by the conflict in Syria and ongoing tensions over North Korea, there are still around 8,400 US troops in the country engaged in counter terrorism operations.

Those troops are separate to a wider NATO-led effort to train, advise and assist the Afghan army and police force.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee in February, General Nicholson warned of a stalemate in the country. He told US lawmakers the current troop level was insufficient and there was a "shortfall of a few thousand" advisers to train the Afghans.

According to CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen, "the war in Afghanistan is at its lowest point for the Afghans and their American allies since the Taliban were overthrown in the months after 9/11."

The Taliban "control or contest" about a third of the population of the country, Bergen said, citing senior US military officials. That's around 10 million people -- more than the population ISIS controlled in Syria and Iraq at the height of its power during the summer of 2014, he added.

First MOAB strike

This is the first time a MOAB has been used in the battlefield, according to the US officials. The 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 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.

CNN's Angela Dewan, Ehsan Popalazia, Ryan Browne, Zachary Cohen, Jim Acosta, Jeremy Diamond, Ehsan Popalzai and Euan McKirdy contributed to this report.
I havent seen this level of violence since the 1970s.

A bold statement that came from Richard Little Whiteman as he described the current crisis on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Those words coming as he chaired the Oglala Sioux Tribes Law & Order Committee meeting on the morning of April 5.

His statement struck me as I stood at the podium at the OST Administration Building in Pine Ridge village. I and several others representing Rapid City and Pennington County were there to address the violence Mr. Little Whiteman was talking about.

The reality is that the reservation and Rapid City arent separate communities anymore. What affects Rapid City also affects our neighbors to the east. Tackling this rise in drug-fueled violent crime requires a "we" mentality. "We" need to increase collaboration among all facets of our two criminal justice systems if we are to have any chance of getting a handle on these problems.

As I addressed the Law & Order Committee, I felt it was appropriate to acknowledge the deep-rooted historical trauma that often hampers such discussions. I also stressed the importance of preserving tribal sovereignty in any discussions moving forward. Those two points were acknowledged, and I proceeded to illustrate the need for an increased level of collaboration.

The reality is both of our communities have experienced similar spikes in violent crime. 2015 was a record year for violence in Rapid City, with nine homicide investigations taking place in our jurisdiction alone. More recently, the RCPD has investigated four homicides in just the first three months of 2017. Even more shocking is the recent homicide rate on the Pine Ridge Reservation. In 2016, according to the Rapid City Journal, Pine Ridge saw 17 homicides, including the shooting death of 13-year-old TeCa Clifford.

To put this in perspective required a little more digging into the numbers. The per-capita homicide rate on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is quadruple the rate for Chicago in 2016. Even compared to cities more notorious for high murder rates like Baltimore and St. Louis, the reservation has them beat two-fold.

Earlier, I referenced TeCa Clifford because the circumstances surrounding her completely tragic death perfectly illustrate the need for better collaboration between our two communities. The alleged shooter in that incident has had a felony warrant from our jurisdiction since December of 2015. It stemmed from a Rapid City Police Department arrest during which he was in possession of methamphetamine among other illegal items. If her shooter wouldve been apprehended for his warrant, TeCa would still be alive today.

Unfortunately, for at least the last hundred years, the tribal, state, and local criminal justice systems have been structured in a manner that inhibits collaboration in obtaining and trying wanted felons in each others jurisdiction. This has resulted in the reservation being considered a safe haven for criminals to avoid accountability for their actions. While they are avoiding accountability, they are also avoiding an opportunity to address the root cause of their criminal behavior, which often times is substance abuse.

I yielded the floor for discussion and it became clear that much of the committee was in agreement that something needs to change. Committee members used the phrase "tangled spider web" to describe the current extradition process and emphasized the obvious reality that OST Public Safety is severely under-resourced.

It wasnt too long ago when they had over 100 police officers. Today, the number of officers is closer to 20. The current homicide rate clearly reflects this severe deficit. Fortunately, each of South Dakotas congressional representatives had a staffer present at the meeting so the message can be shared with budget appropriators.

Ultimately, the committee decided an appropriate action moving forward. Members of the committee have agreed to the formation of a work group consisting of stakeholders from the tribal justice system and stakeholders from the Rapid City/Pennington County justice system.

This work group will report back recommendations in 90 days that could enhance collaboration among both systems. Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom, States Attorney Mark Vargo and I are committed to working together on this committee to address critical public safety issues in our communities. I am hopeful we can prioritize public safety over jurisdictional politics so that we can create a new history for our future generations.

Its what our two communities deserve. Were all in this together.
NEWCASTLE, Wyo. | Vernon Dean Simmons went home to be with the Lord on Friday, April 7, 2017. He had been taking care of the spring fence repair on his ranch on a beautiful warm spring day. He had started his third pickup load of the old fence posts that he had gathered this week from along the fence row. He had completed all the fence repairs needed ahead of time. He had had a good day taking care of things, which is what he always did. However he was tired and he laid down in the front seat of his pickup to rest before returning home. This is where his family found him laying in his pickup parked on a half section pasture four miles from the house. He appeared to be peacefully asleep but he was now with the Lord as a young man of 30.

Vern was born on Sept. 21, 1928, to Jay and Hanna (Harms) Simmons in their sod house in Weston County. His mother was attended by two mid-wives, Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Katie Hamm. In addition to his parents, his family at the time of his birth was a sister, Hazel and two brothers, Elvin William and Virgil Jay, who was also his best friend. His sister, LuElla and brother, Don were born later. Vern and Virgil had a remarkable childhood learning to ride horses, breaking broncs, and ranching and farming. They also learned the value of hard work and the lessons of responsibility that were essential to pioneer families in this wonderful new land called Wyoming.

Schooling was important to the family and Vern attended first grade in a school close behind the buildings of their family ranch, the next years were spent at a school two miles north and then with his siblings he attended the Fairview School District. The Clareton school was where they went to the eighth grade, which they took twice because their parents thought that would be enough school. However, Vern wanted to continue his education and earned enough credits to graduate with the Newcastle High School Class of 1946.

When his brother Virgil came home from serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Vern and Virgil bought the Shook Place Ranch and a two-ton truck. They started their business hauling coal and cords of wood to all school houses between Midwest and Sundance for the winter. They also hauled coal to ranches in most of Weston and Crook counties and Newcastle homes. Their business expanded to ownership of two rental apartments and a rental house in Newcastle.

On March 8, 1956, Vern and Anna Lane were married at the Methodist Church in Upton. When Vern and Anna celebrated their 61st Wedding Anniversary this year, he announced to the gathering of family that he had a very good life and he felt like he had been on their honeymoon all this time.

Not long after their marriage, Vern and Virgil bought a farm together near Nisland, SD, on the Belle Fourche Irrigation District. Virgil and his wife Eleanor moved there, while Vern and Anna were on the Jay and Hanna home ranch. The fall of 1959, Vern and Anna purchased the Florence Hamm Ranch and moved there to live. They were busy rebuilding the fences and buildings on this property. It was at this time that Vern perfected his Simmons fence corner which consisted of one post and a deadman. He was proud of this construction and often he said that even his grandchildren would not have to replace these. Vern and Anna bought the Elk Mountain ranch with a forest service permit and for 30 years hauled cattle for the summer up there on the Teepee cattle allotment.

Vern was a responsible man, a hard worker and always kept busy looking after his cattle and completing his fence work, often even before the repairs were needed. However he did like to take the time to visit with his neighbors. In addition to taking care of his home, ranch and family, Vern felt a strong obligation to contribute to the community where he lived. With this in mind Vern spent 25 years serving on the ASCS County Committee, 10 years as a 4H Leader, and 5 years serving on the FHA Committee.

Family was important to Vern and he especially liked to visit the Simmons Family Reunion in August in eastern Nebraska and Kansas on alternate years. He also enjoyed Anns Family Reunion in June 2016 in western Nebraska.

Vern leaves his wife of 61 years, Anna Lane Simmons of the family home; a son, Joseph and Michele Field Simmons of rural Weston County; a daughter, Jacqueline and Keith Parks of Newcastle; and grandchildren, Jason and Marie Simmons of Tempe, AZ, and Ashley and Dennis LaRoche of rural Weston County. He is also survived by brother, Don Simmons and friend Karen Abbas, of rural Weston County; sister-in-law, Eleanor Simmons of Newell, SD; as well as many nephews and nieces in Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, California, and Colorado; and a host of good friends and neighbors.

Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Leo (a child of 6 months old,) Elvin and Virgil; sisters, Hazel Simmons Niemcyk and LuElla Simmons Mahoney; brothers-in-law, Gene Mahoney, Felix Niemcyk, Albert Niemcyk; and nieces, Linda Simmons and Jamie Emmert Mattison.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at the First United Methodist Church, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. A reception will follow at the Senior Citizens Center.

Burial will be at a later date at the Upton Greenwood Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the 4-H Clubs of Weston County.

Worden Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Former head of Russias Mari El Republic Markelov denies guilt in corruption case

MOSCOW, April 14 (RAPSI)  Former head of Russias Mari El Republic Leonid Markelov has denied his guilt in a large-scale corruption case, RAPSI reports from the Basmanny District Court on Friday.

Markelov objected both to the charges and investigations request to put him in detention. He pleaded not guilty to receiving a 235 million-ruble (about $4.1 million) bribe. According to the ex-head of Mari El, investigators are confused regarding figures related to the transfer of money between companies and individuals. Law enforcement agencies believe that transfer of bribe was disguised by fictitious deals involving organizations controlled by the defendants in this case.

Markelov insists that financial relations between the companies were related to the construction of a large agricultural holding. Former head of the region called himself a lobbyist, in a good sense of word who managed to attract 370 billion rubles ($6.4 billion) of investments into the dead region. He added that he could not influence transfer of government subsidies to the Akashevskaya factory.

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 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.

Alleged accomplice Natalia Kozhanova is charged with mediation in bribery. She was put in detention on Friday.

On April 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted voluntary resignation of Markelov, who was governing the region for 16 years.
Russia's post service found guilty of violating anti-competition law

MOSCOW, April 14 (RAPSI)  The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has found Russia's post service Pochta Rossii to be guilty of violating anti-competition law by refusing to grant access to mail delivery infrastructure to another communication service provider, the Services statement reads on Friday.

The case against Pochta Rossii was launched after it ignored a warning issued by the FAS regarding the application filed by FPS company. The company claimed that Pochta Rossii refused to sign a contract over provision of services related to the transportation and delivery of mail within the territory of the Russian Federation.

According to the deputy head of FAS Anatoly Golomolzin, indiscriminate access to the mail delivery market is a necessary requirement for establishing competition.
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.
The 1950s era tree-lined towns are populated by fashionably clothed people doing typical activities - dad reading the paper, mom preparing dinner, kids playing in the living room. The tables are set. Refrigerators and pantries stocked with fresh food. Other folks sitting in their cars or strolling along the streets.

Nothing really out of the ordinary  except, these towns were not real at all. The people, the animals were actually mannequins occupying buildings not meant to be lived or worked in. These towns, now referred to as doom towns, were built in a surreal environment to test the effects of atomic bomb testing at Yucca Flat, Nevada. The military wanted to determine what would happen to a typical American town if it were hit by a nuclear bomb.

Los Angeles civil defense officer Jean Wood recalled a 1955 test code-named Apple-2. The sight of that tremendous mushroom cloud rearing itself high over our head was one of the most awe-inspiring sights I or anyone else will ever see.

The U.S. conducted hundreds of nuclear tests during the 1950s and 1960s at the height of the cold war. While vital for national security, the airbursts rained dangerous radioactive fallout. While officials were confident that any fallout could be contained within a 125 radius of the test site, it was later revealed that winds carried fallout over much of the United States. As the public became more aware of the fallout risks, there were increasing demands for ending atmospheric nuclear testing. In August 1963, the United States, the USSR, and Great Britain ratified the Partial Test Ban Treaty that eliminated atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. Underground atomic detonations ended in 1992. Between 1951 and 1992, the U.S. conducted over 900 nuclear tests.

Remnants of structures and moon-like craters are all that remain of those doom towns. The once super-secret sites are now tourist stops located about 75 miles from Las Vegas. Tours are led by guides who recount workdays stimulated by office-rattling shock waves and frenzied retreats due to radiation leaks. Occasionally, small groups of tourists are allowed to snoop around in the rooms where mannequins once stoically awaited their fate.

Visitors are assured that they wont be exposed to dangerous radiation, provided they dont disturb soil behind contamination warning signs. However upsetting that might be, the test site still attracts upwards of 8,000 visitors a year.

Unfortunately, buildings were not the only things exposed to the effects of an atomic bomb. Many service personnel were used as human guinea pigs, being exposed to harmful nuclear radiation and fallout. Besides men crouching in trenches, pilots and their crew were instructed to fly directly into mushroom clouds. Others parachuted directly to the blast site shortly after detonation. Many men said they were able to see the bones in their hands as the flash passed by them. The military wanted to learn what effects, if any, the nuclear detonations had on people and equipment. Follow-up studies have shown that approximately 20 percent of these veterans fathered children with birth defects and many others suffered fatal diseases.

Although no tests have taken place since 1992, the Nevada Test Site remains ready in case the president orders the resumption of testing. Currently, there is a two-year readiness period before testing could resume should the president lift the moratorium.
The Ravalli County Museum has received a grant from the Montana History Foundation to help preserve and protect the historic legacy of Montana represented in its collections.

We really love that foundation because it really gets right to the core of what the museum is all about, and that is preserving history, said Tamar Stanley, museum director. They understand what small museums struggle with.

We wrote the grant for the care of the museums collection. The goal is to embrace 21st Century museum best practices while providing a collection more accessible to the public.

Stanley said the funding will help with proper storage for the current collection and provide archival storage for newly acquired collections.

In the last few years we have really seen a surge of people coming to us with truly unique collections that they want to see housed at the museum, she said. The museum has gained credibility about our practices and how we take care of peoples treasured objects.

Increased donations that have to be properly stored and cared for include the wood tool collection belonging to Bob and Jane Cron. It includes more than 250 items from wood crafting to manufacturing made in the 20th Century and earlier.

As we gain credence in the museum world for being a good repository for peoples collections, we have to take that responsibility very seriously, Stanley said. We have to provide proper archival storage prioritized by the greatest threat.

She explained that a textile is more vulnerable and fragile and would receive a higher priority than agricultural machinery.

This $4,000 grant will allow us to buy a portion of the materials and supplies to create proper storage for some of those items, Stanley said.

It also allows us to create an educational component to our collection. There are some pieces that can be handled by children and used in a very direct service manner to complement a childs activity that we are having. Some of the items are fragile and arent to be touched and they are put in cases and left in cases.

Stanley said the museums goal is to always have something representative that can be hands-on. The artifact of the week is an item for handling during Hamilton Farmers Market each Saturday.

If people can see it and touch it, thats great, people really like that, she said. The Montana History Foundation grant allows us to make those continued improvements to our collection storage.

The museum hosts a Saturday Learning Adventure Series from 10 a.m. to noon each Saturday.

Let Your Imagination Soar is the kite building and flying event this Saturday, with an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM).

We are devoted to our educational programming because it solidifies what the museum experience looks like, Stanley said. It can be educational, direct learning, lighthearted and families can join in.

Kites have held a place of high importance through the centuries in many cultures, especially China and Japan.

On Saturday, children choose their templates, build, design and decorate their own kites, then learn how to make them fly. If the weather is good, the kites will fly outside; if the day has poor weather, the flights will happen upstairs in the museum.

Stanley said Bruce and Beth DeFoor teach children kite building using science, physics, dynamics, math and art. The couple owns the worlds largest windsock and has taught art to students in K-12 and college.

Stanley said the event is usually well attended.

We usually get a big turnout for this event and the kids love learning how simple it is to build something so universally enjoyed, she said. The dynamics of things in flight captures everyones imagination.
America must return to conservative principles of less government,reduced taxes, less spending and a balanced budget! Cut,cap and balance!
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The US has dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat on Afghanistan, the

said on Thursday.





To target what the military described as a tunnel complex used by the Islamic States Afghanistan affiliate, the US for the first time used what the military colloquially calls the mother of all bombs, the

.





Designed for destroying underground targets but not itself a deep-earth penetrator weapon, the GBU-43/B has the explosive yield of more than 11 tons of TNT. The massive bomb is dropped from air force planes and detonates before reaching the ground, resulting in an enormous blast radius. Only the Massive Ordnance Penetrator GBU-57, which has never been used in war, is a larger conventional weapon.





The psychological effect on survivors or observers is considered an added impact of the weapon.





Asked whether he had authorized the bombing, Donald Trump said: Everybody knows exactly what happened. What I do is I authorize my military. We have the greatest military in the world and theyve done a job as usual. We have given them total authorization and thats what theyre doing and frankly thats why theyve been so successful lately.





Nicholsons command said it took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties, without defining those steps, but gave no word on the impact to Afghan civilians.

-

More
Vin Diesel and his gang are back for yet another round of supercharged ridonkulousness with The Fate of the Furious, the eighth film in the ever-expanding, infectious cars and crime franchise.

Like a boisterous but fun relative who keeps rolling around to the door, a new Fast & Furious movie has become a bi-annual expectation at this point; their popularity seemingly pushing the needle forever further and further. In turn, so too are the characters, in their own tricked-out vehicles of choice. (What would a F&F movie be without a wish fulfillment scene of the protagonists picking out the world's coolest cars, then driving them, maybe trashing them?)

The whole crew is back, led first by Diesel's street racing Robin Hood, Dom Torreto and then by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's supercop, Luke Hobbs. Also returning to their respective passenger seats are Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Elsa Pataky and Michelle Rodriguez. To varying degrees, they're all loyally fulfilling their required Sulu/Chekhov/Uhura dynamics: Flying the ship, staying out of the way, stepping up when needed, and reacting to bigger things. They all have a noteworthy token moment or two, while Rodriguez bears the brunt of selling the weight of the plot's drama. She does it well.

Jason Statham's role grows this time around (don't think too hard about his murderous past) and his character's brother (Luke Evans) gets to join the action. The action is satisfying and swift, if busy and disposable. Basically, it's in keeping with the competent momentary thrills of all the recent F&F films.

Director F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton, The Italian Job remake) steps into the ringmaster role, effortlessly juggling all the balls he's been tossed. Fate of the Furious falls right in line with the previous work of Justin Lin (parts three though six) and James Wan (part seven). The result is the best film of the series since the course-correcting Fast Five. In short, it's got all the tremendously expensive nonsense and over-the-top globe-spanning spectacle we've come to expect, but upping the all-around ante while mercifully simplifying the plot. (A stolen nuke! A hero gone rogue! Must reset the status quo by the end! 3,2,1 - GO!!)

The first race in the movie, through an unduly sexy Havana, hinges on Toretto and his longtime love and new wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) having modified the car he's driving with highly volatile compressed chemical canisters. For good measure, he tears off the hood and doors right before the race. If it doesn't hum, spin or burn, it's out! It'll only weigh him down, baby.

The opening race is rightly thrilling, with a button at the end to demonstrate what a swell guy Toretto is. Which is paramount to laying down the stakes for the twist that's to come. It's all properly standard screenwriting, and also helpful to anyone watching who hasn't seen the other seven movies. What, pray tell, would it possibly take for this man to betray his "family"?

Kurt Russell, returning as expository government black-ops guy Mr. Nobody, is the very embodiment of authoritarian snark in a suit, and nothing else. He's basically hanging around with a smirk on his snerk. Scott Eastwood joins him as his new by-the-book assistant who needs to learn to break the rules.

Helen Mirren makes her heretofore unlikely F&F debut as the mother of an established character. Her scenes are quick and kind of fun, and probably all shot in an afternoon. These actors are nice to have around, but in a Hollywood that has no idea what to do with aging former leads, being poured into transparent prestige-boosting mini-roles in spectacle driven franchise pictures such as this seems to be the best they can hope for. I do hope they enjoy their paychecks.

Charlize Theron, another big name newbie to these parts, makes out with far more screen time and plot vitality. Also, her thin dreadlocked hair extensions are something to behold. That said, most of her time is spent slanking around her dark helicarrier-like base of operations and sitting in front of a busy computer console. As the villain of the piece, she's an effectively evil femme fatale for the global tech age.

Which raises a problem, honestly. Far too much of these latter-day Fast & Furious movie hinge more and more on computer hacking and talk of satellite technology than gear-head knowhow and burning of rubber. Fate of the Furious is the most egregious offender yet, its "car porn" aspects, while still prominent, also feeling entirely tokenized.

High speed chases still break out everywhere our heroes go, but ultimately, it always seems to come down to someone clickity-clacking on a keypad, zooming around with a mouse, or swiping the right motherboard. Nevertheless, the movie survives on the strength of its knowing sense of its own nuttiness (the best, craziest scene in the movie is a "top this!" moment smack in the middle brought on by some wicked hacking) but we're reaching the point of saturation.

Of all these people, dare I say that the only make-or-break name in the cast is Diesel. Vin Diesel is truly one of the gloriously weirdest movie stars of all time. He's a most formidably unique screen presence with almost zero range. With his steely eyes and doughboy demeanor, he could crack your jaw one moment and burst out sobbing the next. His very ethnicity is undecipherable, his voice in a register all its own.

At this point, F&F is all we care to see him in. We don't want to see any more of Riddick, and we do not want to see him as Agent xXx. Remember that time he put on a bad wig and starred in a Sidney Lumet movie? Interesting. But no to that, as well. Yes, we'll take him voicing a talking tree in Guardians of the Galaxy. But when it comes to full-on Vin Diesel performance, it's basically Toretto or bust. Good thing for him that these movies absolutely need him, and Universal Studios needs these movies. And good thing for all parties that they've become enormous, surefire event pictures.

The reason for the Diesel/F&F synthesis is one that is as simple as the franchise itself needs to be: the Fast & Furious movies are, at their core, hard-hitting actioners on the surface with a tender center that's not afraid to reveal itself, sometimes simultaneously. They're big and loud and colorful and sometimes overcrowded, but doggonit, they're also the silly comic book soap opera we can't stop buying.

The lack of obvious self-irony may be too much for some critics and audience members, but the makers of these films know what they've got under the hood. As they won't let us forget, we don't abandon our family. No matter how crazy it is.
Set for its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, Son of Sofia appears to be a coming of age story that is told from a refreshing angle.

Here's a synopsis:

After her celebrated debut, The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas, Elina Psykou returns with Son of Sofia, a dark, yet tender coming-of-age fairytale that strikes a masterful balance between realism and dreams, much like its young lead.

The story revolves around 11-year-old Misha, who flies from Russia to Athens in the summer of 2004, to join his mother, Sofia, after having spent a long time apart. What he doesn't know is that there is a father waiting for him there. While Greece is living the Olympic dream, Misha will get violently catapulted into the adult world, riding on the dark side of his favorite fairy tales.

We expect to hear more about the movie during the Tribeca fest. Visit the festival's information page about the film for more information.

For now, here's a brief clip that gives a taste of the tone.


 "Three Reasons Why Virginia May Execute an Innocent Man" | Main | Is Arkansas really going to carry out seven (uneventful?) executions over the next two weeks? 

April 14, 2017

Over-burdened New Orleans public defenders talk of challenges to 60 Minutes

As previewed here, this Sunday night's broadcast of 60 Minutes will have a notable segment on the New Orleans justice system with notable commentary from attorneys who have work in the New Orleans Public Defenders Office. Here is how the segment is previewed:

New Orleans public defenders tell Anderson Cooper that innocent people have gone to jail because they've lacked the resources and time to defend them properly Past and current attorneys of the New Orleans Public Defenders Office tell Anderson Cooper they believe innocent clients have gone to jail because they lacked the time and resources to defend them properly. The system is so overburdened that in 2016 New Orleans Chief Public Defender Derwyn Bunton began ordering his staff to refuse to take on clients facing the most serious felonies. Coopers report on the New Orleans justice system will be broadcast on 60 Minutes Sunday, April 16 at 7 p.m. ET/PT. All nine of the attorneys agreed when asked by Cooper if they believed an innocent client went to jail because they didnt have enough time to spend on their case. When 52 attorneys are responsible for 20,000 criminal cases a year, as in New Orleans, they do their best says Bunton. But often, indigent defendants will not get the quality defense they are entitled to. You cant provide the kind of representation that the Constitution, our code of ethics and professional standards would have you provide, says Bunton. Asked if its not better to have a busy lawyer than no lawyer, Bunton does not hesitate, No. A lawyer poorly resourced can cause irreparable harm to a client. Cooper follows one case of a man arrested in New Orleans who sat in jail for more than a year before an attorney presented evidence to the court showing he did not even match the suspects description. He also speaks to the mans original public defender who got so fed up with not having the time to provide quality defense, she quit. At the time, Lindsay Samuel represented nearly a hundred clients facing a life in prison. She felt she was Always coming up short. The first thousand clients you feel terrible. The second thousand clients, you feel awful, she recalls. Every day my clients are going away for a decade and I just move along to the next client, says Samuel. Bunton shows Cooper a warehouse full of the nearly half million cases handled by his office in the past decade. He says 90 to 95 percent of the defendants in those cases pled guilty, many because they lacked confidence in an overburdened public defender being able to provide them with an adequate defense. The justice system in New Orleans has become a criminal processing system says Bunton, A conveyor belt that starts when you are arrested and then theres hands that touch you on your way to prison, he tells Cooper. Its not about figuring out...your innocence...and thats what we are fighting to change, says Bunton.

April 14, 2017 at 11:59 AM | Permalink

Comments

The defense bar is worthless.

It can be replaced by an email service between prosecutor and defendant. All they do is hand carry plea offers and return with acceptances.

There is no evidence they add any value whatsoever, even in a tribunal. The verdict results of pro se criminal litigants are better. The judge can look out for the legal rights of the pro se defendant.

These worthless rent seekers have some nerve demanding more money.

Anderson Cooper: stupid spawn of rich moron, Gloria Vanderbilt, CNN, Yale grad. Blames America First, Hates America Most. Dismissed.

Posted by: David Behar | Apr 14, 2017 10:47:11 PM

Well, lets hope the spring breakers go to Florida, where they can party till its time to fly back.

Posted by: MidWestGuy | Apr 15, 2017 9:08:37 AM

The state should fund defense more on par with prosecution. It's probably not going to happen soon, as prosecutors are the stepping stone for politics/careers. Also immunity for DA is excessive.

Posted by: ash | Apr 16, 2017 1:23:49 AM

Post a comment
James Gray's , based on the best selling book by David Grann, is an epic adventure that brings to mind cinematic classics like Lawrence of Arabia, Apocalypse Now, and similar stories centered on obsessive men wading through plots rife with thorny racial issues.

The Lost City of Z centers on a fictionalized version of one Colonel Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), a member of the Royal Artillery living in the shadow of his disgraced family name after his father loses the family fortune. Hoping to make a climb up the social ladder, Fawcett accepts an assignment from the Royal Geographical Society to map an uncharted river in the Bolivian jungle, leaving behind his wife, Nina (Sienna Miller), and their infant son, Jack, for the two year assignment.

Fawcett is joined by the often drunk but always loyal surveyor, Henry Costin (an unrecognizably bearded Robert Pattinson). As they journey through the treacherous jungle and along its deadly river (complete with piranhas!), they are almost killed by the area's indigenous people, and must bring their journey to an end just as Fawcett becomes convinced he is on the verge of discovering the remains of a previously unknown civilization.

When he returns to England, he reports on his findings. Hunnam does a great job in this scene, as he stands before the Geographical Society, his booming voice and passionate words eventually able to persuade the naysayers that he was on the verge of a discovery that would change what the West believed to be true about the birth of civilization and the "savage races."

Of course the Fawcett of the film is far more progressive than the Fawcett of real life, who was actually convinced he was going to find proof that white men were behind this long lost ancient civilization, which better explains why the Society was actually so willing to send him back to Bolivia for further proof.

In actuality Fawcett went on eight separate expeditions through Bolivia, and while the film wisely cuts that number down to three, it still suffers a bit from repetition, and by the third trip, you may find yourself thinking, "Bolivia....S**t. I'm still only in Bolivia."

Wisely, the film breaks up the expeditions with Fawcett's returns to home, as his family grows bigger with the addition of another son and a daughter. Miller has one great scene that elevates her role above the usual "wife complains about her husband working too much," in which she tries to make the case for her own ability to accompany him to Bolivia, holding the horrors of childbirth over his head as the ultimate "tough motherf**er" card; if she can push a child through her vagina, surely she can handle a trip through the wilds of Bolivia. Fawcett, and, of course, the mores of the day, strike her down.

The film also finds time (it's about 140 minutes long) to throw World War I into the story, with Fawcett deployed to the front lines and its trenches and chemical warfare. The horrors of these scenes are a slightly obvious but still affective ironic commentary on just what constitutes savagery and civilization.

Grey chose to shoot the film on film, no easy feat considering the Colombian jungle locations and the need for daily film development, but by doing so, he was able to capture the classic look and feel of those epic films gone by. The scenes in the jungle  and some lovely surreal moments that bring the jungle into Fawcett's life in England  are so lush you can almost smell the trees and feel the oppressive humidity.

The Lost City of Z uses classic cinematic style, but puts a modern spin on a classic adventure story, with a white hero who has no desire to conquer the natives, and, in fact, is eager to engage with them. (A scene where Fawcett and his crew are able to get the Bolivians to drop their spears and welcome them into their village by merely singing at them is an amusing play on the classic malapropism "music has charms to soothe a savage beast.") While this may not be true to the history of the actual man and his adventures, it's a change that makes the movie easier to swallow. Ultimately, The Lost City of Z is the type of movie they don't make any more....because they kind of shouldn't.

The Lost City of Z is currently playing in New York and Los Angeles, and opens everywhere else in the US on April 21st.
The Bay Area's public radio and TV broadcasting station KQED is selling six megahertz of broadcast spectrum to the FCC for $95.4 million  a figure that's seriously in excess of its $70 million annual budget, the Business Times relays.

"KQED is in the unusual position of holding three FCC television broadcast licenses comprising 18 megahertz of overlapping spectrum in the Bay Area, broadcasting from towers in San Francisco, San Jose and Salinas," the non-profit organization said in a statement. The federal government and wireless providers want to ease congested wireless networks and help enable 5G services, and the broadcast spectrum was sold to the FCC at auction.

Why did KQED have all those megahertz in the first place? "This extensive coverage made sense earlier in the 20th Century when television used analog technology and most viewers received the signal over the air. Today, the vast majority of Bay Area residents receive their television via cable or satellite services, and digital broadcast technology now supports multiple channels of programming from each tower."

Those who fear losing service can save their concern for, say, the Trump administration's threatened cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In fact, the profit from the sale will come in handy. 90 percent of the 3 million people who tune into to KQED's TV station  the set using cable, satellite, or internet  won't need to do anything to continue receiving it. The 10 percent who still use an antenna might have to refocus their ranges on San Francisco or Salinas instead of San Jose. "KQED estimates that less than 1,000 might have reception issues after the change, and the station will work directly with those viewers to mitigate any problems," the release explained.

The KQED Board carefully evaluated the opportunity presented by the auction and we retained outside financial and technical counsel to advise us. After many months of deliberation, the Board decided this was a unique opportunity coming at a pivotal time in KQEDs history, KQED board chair Chuck Kissner said in a statement. The bulk of the proceeds are to be invested in KQED's endowment  doubling its size.

Related: Watch The Trailer For This Maya Angelou Documentary That Premieres Tonight On KQED
An Outer Sunset man who was arrested last year for making threats on Twitter against Acting Police Chief Toney Chaplin has been arrested again, this time for making in-person threats against a neighbor and his family. 60-year-old Donald Eric Hoganson made headlines last July after he was identified as the person behind this Twitter account, where he posted a message showing a photo of a guillotine, a photo of a sign that said "White Trade Only", and a photo of Chaplin, who is African-American, with the message, "Let us behead this black man, please! Praise God Almighty!"

Hoganson is apparently mentally ill, suffering from schizophrenia, and has been known in the neighborhood for posting swastikas, racial slurs, and various handwritten messages in his ground-floor apartment window on the 2600 block of Ortega Street. Last month, as KRON 4 reports, Hoganson was arrested again after making criminal threats against Henry Vega and a family member of his.

According to Vega, Hoganson said, "I guess we will have to kill the both of you and we will take care of you two," and Vega says, "I had to take it seriously. I was pretty upset."

Vega was asked to testify at a criminal hearing, and he says that Hoganson has not been around the neighborhood since his arrest a month ago. "[He's] Possibly going to the state hospital in Napa. I had to testify. I thought I would have to again, but they found him incompetent, so as of now, I dont have to testify again," Vega tells KRON 4.

As we learned after Hoganson's arrest last July, he's had previous brushes with the law, including a 2002 indictment for allegedly threatening to kill an FBI agent outside the bureau's Sacramento office. That indictment was eventually dismissed after Hoganson was determined to be incompetent to stand trial.

He's lived in the Outer Sunset in this same apartment for six years, but according to police his behavior has grown more erratic over the last year.

One neighbor in his building, a Chinese-American woman, told KRON 4 last year that Hoganson made frequent offensive remarks to her about Chinese people, to which the woman responded "If you don't like Chinese people, why do you live in a Chinese house?"

Hoganson also has a blog, which he has not written on since his arrest last July, where he refers to himself as Bethesda, or Don Bethesda, apparently in reference to the angel who blesses the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem in the Gospel of John.

Previously: Outer Sunset Man Named As Alleged Twitter Troll Seeking Beheading Of SFPD's Acting Chief
You'd have to be stoned to fall for a scam like this, which is exactly what makes it a good scam. An Eventbrite page has been advertising $20 tickets for the annual **free** and un-ticketed 4/20 event in Golden Gate Park according to the Chronicle, sold by an organizer called "Kind Friends Advertisement." With friends like these...

The advertisement, which encouraged potential attendees to "buy your ticket here, to avoid standing in line," has been removed by Eventbrite, and it's not clear how many tickets were sold. "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," the ad continued.

Following California's vote to legalize recreational marijuana, this year's 4/20 is the first officially city-permitted incarnation of the event. It's not totally inconceivable that, one day, the event could be ticketed, although "selling out" like that would probably cause an uproar. Still, the event is far from free, at least for the city and San Francisco taxpayers. Last year, 4/20 revelers left 11 tons of garbage in the park, costing $25,000 in cleanup fees. At this year's permitted 4/20, official sponsors will help shoulder that cost.

If you suspect you're being conned, you can always check the Bay Area's Better Business Bureau Page  it's a good way to avoid shelling out for events like last year's NYE party aboard a yacht with K-CI & JoJo that feature no Yacht or K-Ci & JoJo. Save your cash for weed and snacks.

Previously: This Year's 4/20 Will Indeed Be City-Permitted For The 1st Time
It's been almost four years since Barry White, then 23, allegedly walked into the Jewelry Mart in SoMa to dispute a purchase for which he thought he had overpaid and ended up killing two people and severely injuring another, and the case is just now going to trial. As the Examiner reports, his defense attorney is accusing the prosecution of intimidating one of the defense's expert witnesses, an out-of-state forensic psychologist who is set to testify as to White's mental condition at the time of the killings.

The brutal murders at the Gift Center and Jewelry Mart  the wholesale jewelry marketplace that is housed in the same building that is now home to Airbnb's corporate offices at 888 Brannan  were captured on video and called by District Attorney George Gascon "one of the most calculating, most brutal homicides" he had ever seen at the time. White allegedly walked into Victoga Inc., one of the stores inside the Jewelry Mart, on a Friday afternoon to dispute the price he paid for a piece of a jewelry, seeking a refund of around $300. White argued with store owner Vic Hung, and at one point asked for change to feed a parking meter. White left the store and returned armed with a revolver and a folding knife. He allegedly waited for some other customers to leave the store before he approached Hung again and shot him three times, along with store employee Lina Lim, 51. Another employee, 35-year-old Khin Min, ran at White in a panic, and he allegedly tried to shoot her but had run out of bullets, so he sliced her throat, nearly decapitating her.

Remarkably, Hung survived his injuries (he was also stabbed), but the other two died. White then allegedly reloaded his weapon and proceeded to leave the store and fire on SFPD officers who had responded to the scene, inside Taqueria Dos Amigos next door. Officers would later find an illegal AK-47 in the trunk of White's car.

More remarkably, it's taken four years to bring this case to trial despite the fact that the prosecution has apparently very high quality surveillance footage of the entire event.

Dr. James Merikangas is scheduled to testify in White's defense, and last week Deputy Public Defender Kwixuan Maloof filed a motion in court accusing Assistant District Attorney Diane Knoles of trying to dissuade Merikangas from testifying. Merikangas is not licensed to practice in the state of California, and the prosecution has contacted the state medical board and contended that Merikangas could face a fine for his testimony. Maloof said in the motion, "The only reason for the prosecution to prompt the California Medical Board to launch an investigation into [a] defense material expert is a misuse of power to preclude and/or scare off material defense expert from testifying."

Per the Examiner, Judge Ethan Schulman has said in court that the DA's Office's actions "could well constitute prosecutorial misconduct," and he has scheduled a hearing on the matter for Monday.

White, now 27, remains in San Francisco County Jail, held without bail.



Previously: Details Emerge In Gruesome Brannan Street Murders


Uber has released a very controlled peek at its financial situation to Bloomberg, a first for the ride-hailing giant that's exercised its right as a private company to tell the public as little as possible about its profits and losses. The rosy picture it paints couldn't possibly have anything to do with the endless series of scandals the company has experienced in recent months, so we won't discuss those. In numbers that excluded its China business  Uber sold its operation to rival Didi Chuxing last summer, ending an expensive rivalry that cost the company at least $1 billion in losses last year  Uber insisted its sales growth outpaced its losses.

Uber's gross increase from bookings was 28 percent over the last three months of 2016, up to $6.9 billion. The company generated $2.9 billion in revenue, representing a 74 percent increase over the third quarter, and losses rose 6.1 percent over the same period to $991 million. As Columbia University business professor Jeff Jones told Bloomberg, Thats a lot of cash to burn in a quarter.

Aswath Damodaran, a finance professor at New York University, echoed that sentiment in another statement to Bloomberg. This is a cash-burning machine," Damodaran said.

"Were fortunate to have a healthy and growing business, giving us the room to make the changes we know are needed on management and accountability, our culture and organization, and our relationship with drivers, Rachel Holt, who is in charge of Ubers US ride-hailing business, wrote in a statement to Bloomberg.

Those are numbers with serious caveats, Business Insider adds. Per the Bloomberg piece, Uber's revenue is "only the portion Uber takes from fares, except in the case of its carpooling service; the company counts the entire amount of an UberPool fare as revenue." Furthermore, Uber's loss statement "doesnt account for employee stock compensation, certain real-estate investments, automobile purchases, and other expenses."

Burn, baby, burn.

Related: Uber Created Fake Lyft Accounts To Track Rival Drivers In Program Codenamed 'Hell'
Since its first broadcasts 10 years ago, Radio Milwaukee has made Milwaukee music an integral part of its playlists, pledging to play at least one song from a local artist an hour. That's peanuts compared to what the station's new spin-off HD2 radio channel and streaming station will be playing, however. On June 20, the station will announce a 24-hour broadcast called 414Music.fm, which will play Milwaukee music old and new around the clock. The station revealed the new channel on the air today at 4:14, in conjunction with Milwaukee Day (April 14, or 4-14).

For local artists a little sore about never having cracked Radio Milwaukee's playlist (you know who you are), this could be your chance to score some airplay. The station has put out an open call for submissions.

Were launching something that the city has never had beforea 100% Milwaukee music service that will connect Milwaukee music to listeners anywhere and everywhere, program manager Jordan Lee said in a statement. We want Milwaukee musicians, past and present, to submit their music now. This is your city, your scene, and we need your help.

All-Milwaukee music will be broadcast and streamed around the clock on 414Music.fm, a new HD2 radio channel and stream that 88Nine Radio Milwaukee (WYMS 88.9-FM) will launch June 20, the station announced Friday.

According to the station's press release, "414Music.fm will be simulcast on 88Nines HD2 frequency, online at www.414Music.fm and on the stations app. Milwaukee musicians are encouraged to visit the stations new website, www.414Music.fm, to upload their music for consideration."

It's a welcome use of the station's HD2 signal. Those extra airwaves are generally pretty underused in this market, but if you've got an older car stereo system that doesn't get HD radio, this might be a good excuse to upgrade.
Screenings

Free blood pressure screenings, 9:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays at Countryside Senior Living, front lobby. No appointment necessary.

Programs/Self-Help Groups

Al-Anon Information Center, call 712-255-6724.

Al-Anon and Alateen, meetings locally. For times, dates and locations of area meetings, call 712-255-6724.

Alcoholics Anonymous, beginners information, call 712-252-1333.

Arc of Woodbury County, serving the mentally challenged, 5:15 p.m. meeting, second Monday of the month at Mid-Step Services, 4303 Stone Ave. For families and interested persons.

Child Care Resource and Referral, provides resources, education and advocacy for children, parents, and child care providers. Assists in child care needs. For more information, call 712-277-1180.

Co-Dependence Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at First Lutheran Church, Fireside Room.

Co-Dependents Anonymous (CODA), 10 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St.

Compassionate Friends, 7 p.m. fourth Wednesday of each month (third Thursday in November and second Sunday December) in Mercy Medical Center's Leiter Room. For families who have lost children. Contact Nancy Webb 712-212-4032 or Don Mulder 712-541-5512.

Clinics

Siouxland District Health immunization clinics, call for appointment, 712-279-6119 or 1-800-587-3005.

Information

Family and Addictive Illness series, for more information, call 234-2300.

Iowa Fathers, 6 to 8 p.m. fourth Tuesday of each month at Hope Lutheran Church, Education Building, 218 W. 18th St., South Sioux City, Neb. Support group to help single, divorcing and divorced parents residing in the state of Iowa.

Mercy Pathways Outpatient Program, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, on the third floor, Mercy's Central Medical Building, 801 Fifth St., Suite 360. Provides hope, help, opportunity to connect through group therapy for individuals experiencing personal, relationship, psychiatric issues. For more information, call 712-279-5991.

Narcotics Anonymous, meetings daily, various times, dates and locations. For more information, call 712-279-0733.

Overeaters Anonymous, 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3700 Indian Hills Drive; 6 p.m. Tuesdays at St. John's Lutheran Church, 402 Lane Ave., Storm Lake; 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Church of the Nazarene, 226 N. Main St., Viborg, S.D.; 5:30 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays at Newman Center, 320 E. Cherry St., Vermillion, S.D.; 10:30 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St. A 12-step recovery program for people who have problems with food and weight. No fees.

St. Lukes Outpatient Behavioral Health Program, 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Thursday on fifth floor of St. Luke's, located at 2720 Stone Park Blvd. Offers several levels of outpatient care including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and group therapy. This program provides support and integrated treatment to individuals experiencing personal or relationship issues as a result of their mental illness. For more information and admission criteria, call 712-279-3906.

Sobriety By Faith, 8:30 a.m. Saturdays at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For more information, call James Mothershead at 712-577-9715.

The Link-Recovery and Freedom, 1603 Glen Ellen Road; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday workshop, and Christian 12-step meeting 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. For all ages. Call Dee at 389-7432.

Women in Recovery, meets monthly at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For details, call 712-255-4623.

Tarahouse Meditation Center, 8 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 6:30 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, all at 3112 Rebecca St. Three easy 10-minute sessions in small group; beginners welcome. For more information, call 490-6410.

Blood pressure and blood sugar screening, 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays in the lobby at Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Free to public.

Support Groups

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Hawkeye Club basement, 420 Jones St. For more information, call 277-5935.

Celebrate Recovery, Bible-based 12-step recovery group. Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive. Childcare provided. 712-490-3343. All welcome.

PFLAG of Siouxland, (Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays), 7 p.m., fourth Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November. St. Mark ELCA Church, 5200 Glenn Ave., in the upstairs meeting area. 712-258-3116.

Singles widowed and divorced, all ages, 4 p.m., Sundays. McDonald's at Sixth Street and Lewis Boulevard. 712-252-2675.

GriefShare, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814.

HIV/AIDS Support Group, meets weekly. For more information, call Darla or Teri at Siouxland Community Health Center, 712-252-2477 or 888-371-1965.

Hospice of Siouxland, seeking volunteers. For more information, call 712-233-4144 and ask for a volunteer coordinator.

La Leche League of Siouxland, breastfeeding support group meets every third Thursday at 11 a.m. at Morningside Lutheran Church. Children are welcome. For more information, call Mary at 712-546-7280 or Jacquie at 712-255-2998.

Living Each Day Cancer Support Group, 7-8 p.m. second Thursday of the month, Floyd Valley Hospital, Conference Center Room 2, Le Mars, Iowa. Open to all cancer patients, cancer survivors and family members. No charge. Pre-register by calling 712-546-3441 or 800-642-6074, ext. 441.

Mom and Baby Support Group, 10-11 a.m. last Monday of the month at the Orange City (Iowa) Hospital, lower level. For new moms and babies. 712-737-5260.

Tri-State Sober Project, 12-step meeting, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Friendship Community Church, 305 Sergeant Square Drive, Sergeant Bluff. 6-7 p.m., Thursdays, Transitional Services of Iowa, 1221 Pierce St., Sioux City.

Doug's Donors Support Group, information for organ donors and recipients, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Fridays, 5:15-6:30 p.m. second Thursdays of the month at Mercy Cafeteria Woodbury Room. 712-277-1050.

Divorce Care, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814.

NAMI Siouxland, (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Support Group meets 6:30 p.m., second Tuesday of the month at Friendship House, 1101 Court St. For individuals and family members dealing with mental illness. 712-255-4209.

New Life Life Support Group, 3:30 p.m. every Saturday at 2929 W. Fourth St. Spiritual 12-step program. For more information, call Donald at 712-574-1744 or James at 712-255-7624.

Orphan Sunday, 3:30-5 p.m. Sunday at Sunnybrook Community Church loft, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive.

Post Polio Support Group, 11 a.m. first Thursday of the month at Perkins Restaurant by Menards. 712-490-8213.

Relationship Support Group, 7 p.m. Fridays at Marketplace Mall. For more information, call 239-3129.

Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Individual and Support Groups. For more information, call CSADV in Sioux City at 712-258-7233; Plymouth County at 712-546-6764; Monona County at 712-423-3443. Advocacy and support available 24 hours a day at 1-800-982-7233. All services free of charge and confidential.

Sickle Cell Disease Support Group, 11 a.m. third Saturday of each month at St. Luke's Hospital, meeting room 1. For patients, their family and any concerned member. Call La'Keshia Rainey at 712-203-2019 for more information.

Single and Parenting, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814.

Sioux City Association of the Deaf, 7 p.m. third Saturday of the month at Morningside Church of Christ, 5015 Garretson Ave. Regular meeting, September-May; no meeting, June, July, August and December.

Siouxland Autism Support Group, second Thursday of the month at Northwest Area Education Agency, 1520 Morningside Ave. For more information, call Julie Case at 712-490-8939.

Siouxland Epilepsy Support Group, 5 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at Prestwick Apartment Clubhouse, 4230 Hickory Lane. For anyone diagnosed with seizures or epilepsy and family or friends. For more information, call Steve at 274-6927.

Siouxland IC support group, meets quarterly in Sioux City. For patients struggling with interstital cystitis. For more information, call Jacque Dundas 316-641-9766.

Siouxland Informational Group for the Blind, 2-5 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Northern Hills Retirement Community, 4002 Teton Trace. For more information, call 712-266-8926 or 258-8151.

Grief support group, 5:30-7:30 p.m., beginning Oct. 5 for 13 weeks (may join at any time), Crescent Park United Methodist Church, 2826 Myrtle St., Sioux City. Scott, 712-899-6315.

Siouxland Ostomy Association, 2 p.m. first Sunday of each month (except September, which will be second Sunday; and no meetings June, July, August), in Room 300 at Mercy Medical Center, 801 Fifth St. For more information, call Dick Lindblom at 251-2453.

Siouxland Parkinson Disease Support Group, 1 p.m. fourth Monday of the month at Siouxland Center for Active Generations, 313 Cook St. For more information, call Sally Reinert at 402-987-3516.

South Sioux City Weight Support Group, 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at St. Paul United Methodist Church, South Sioux City. For more information, call 494-1401 or 494-2133.

Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland, 520 Nebraska St., Suite 101: Women's Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Wednesday of the month; LGBT Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Friday of the month; Adult ADHD, 6 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; Advocacy Group, 1:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month. For more information, call 712-255-1065.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, group meetings various times, days and locations in Siouxland. For information on the chapter in your area, call 1-800-932-TOPS.

Voice Disorder Support Group, meets as needed at Mercy Medical Center, Buena Vista Room. 712-279-2686.

Women's Peer Support Group, in Wayne and South Sioux City, Neb., for those who have experienced domestic abuse. For more information, call the Wayne office at 402-375-4633 or 1-800-440-4633; in South Sioux City, call 402-494-7592. Help and support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services free and confidential.

Woodbury County D.M.D.A., noon-2 p.m. first Saturday of the month at Country Friendship Acres, 4501 West St.; 7-8 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at 515 Court St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at 441 W. Third St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at 409 W. Third St. in the Community Room. Support group for people with disabilities and mental disorders.

Natural Mamas in Siouxland, 1 p.m., third Tuesday of each month in the Garretson room of the Morningside Public Library. All ages of children are welcome to come with moms. For sharing natural living tips, recipes, natural remedies and health, homemaking, mothering, etc. For more information, call 402-913-0038 or visit their Facebook page.

A Step Beyond support group, 3:30 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, except for August, November and December when it meets at 5:30 p.m. (no meeting in January) at the Christy-Smith Resource Center, 1819 Morningside Ave. For more information, call 712-276-7319.

Divorce care, 5 p.m., Sundays. Fireside room, Morningside Lutheran Church, 700 South Martha St.

Gamblers Anonymous meetings, 4 p.m. Thursdays at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 315 Hamilton Blvd.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Morningside Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave.; 7 p.m. Tuesdays, St. John Lutheran Church; 7 p.m. Sundays, Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St.. 712-277-2901.

Art therapy support group, 5:30 p.m. second Thursday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. Registration required, call 252-9387.

After Breast Cancer Support Group, 5:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call Brenda, 252-9370.

After Prostate Cancer Support Group, 5:15 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call 252-9426.

Alzheimer's Association, Big Sioux Chapter Support Group, 2 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; 4 p.m. third Tuesday of the month (under age 65) at 201 Pierce St., Suite 110 (Famous Dave's building); and 6 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the Barnes and Noble Cafe. For more information, call Emily Lord at 712-279-5802.

Christy-Smith Funeral Homes of Sioux City, extensive grief library at the Morningside location. Open to the public during weekday hours. For more information, call 276-7319.

Chronic Pain/Chronic Illness Support Group, 7:30 p.m. fourth Wednesday of the month in the lower level of the Orange City Hospital. For more information, call 712-737-5260.

Connections Area Agency on Aging, and Mercy Medical Centers Older Adult Services Welcome to Medicare, 1:30-4 p.m., the first Friday of every month at Connections Area Agency on Aging, 2301 Pierce St. To pre-register, or for more information, contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 712-279-6900.
Orthodox Easter service

SIOUX CITY | Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, will visit Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 900 Sixth St., at 9 a.m. Saturday to celebrate Orthodox Easter services. A reception will follow.

The Holy Saturday morning service is the beginning of the Paschal vigil, a series of services that extend through Sunday evening.

Good Friday and Easter services

SIOUX CITY | Good Friday services at Augustana Lutheran Church, 600 Court St., will begin with services at noon and 7 p.m. and will feature the passion of Jesus according to St. John, bidding prayers, procession of the cross and solemn reproaches.

Vigil of Easter will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday with an entrance into the dark tomb, traditional readings and first communion of Easter. Sunday Easter services will be held at 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Spoken holy communion will be given at the 8 a.m. service, festival holy communion with organ and brass quartet will be at the 10:15 a.m. service. 712-255-7694.

SIOUX CITY | The Diocese of Sioux City will hold Good Friday and Passion of the Lord service at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Cathedral of the Epiphany, 1000 Douglas St. A multi-lingual Easter Vigil will be held at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Several people will be fully initiated into the Catholic Church through reception of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist 712-255-1637.

SIOUX CITY | Faith Lutheran Church, 3101 Hamilton Blvd., will hold Good Friday services at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. 712-258-4820.

SIOUX CITY | Faith United Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave., will hold a community worship service at 6:30 p.m. on Good Friday in the sanctuary. Easter services will held at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

The music department will present a special Introit on Easter Hymn and individual selections. The Rev. Dave Koehler will give the message. 712-276-3121.

SIOUX CITY | Grace United Methodist Church, 1735 Morningside Ave., will hold Good Friday Taize Service at 7 p.m., an Easter Vigil at 11 p.m. on Saturday, a Easter Sunday worship service at 10 a.m. and a 5:30 p.m. praise service on Sunday. 712-276-3452.

AKRON, Iowa | New Horizons United Church of Christ, 141 Reed St., welcomes the community to Easter Sunday services held at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Brunch will follow the 9 a.m. Easter Sunday service. 712-568-3446.

The Akron Community Good Friday service will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 251 Main St.

SIOUX CITY | Peace Reformed Church will host Easter brunch held from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. on Easter Sunday, followed by an Easter worship service at 9:30 a.m. 712-258-0486.

SIOUX CITY | The community is invited to Good Friday services at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport. Easter Sunrise service will be held at 6 a.m. Sunday at Stoney Creek Inn. Easter services at Redeemer will be held at 7:45, 9:15 and 10:45 a.m. with brunch served from 7-10:30 a.m. 712-276-1125.

SIOUX CITY | St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Seventh and Jennings, will hold Good Friday services at 12:15 and 6 p.m. Friday. A traditional Easter service will be held at 8:15 a.m. and a contemporary service will be held at 10:45 a.m. Sunday.

SIOUX CITY | Riverside United Methodist Church, 617 Wright Ave., will hold a Good Friday service at 7 p.m. Friday.

SIOUX CITY | Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2915 Glenn Ave., will hold Easter services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The services will be led by the Rev. Mark Volkers.

SIOUX CITY | Whitfield United Methodist Church, 1319 W. Fifth St., will host a spring rummage from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. April 21 and from 8 a.m. to noon April 22. Easter Sunday service will be held at 8:45 am.
LOS ANGELES  Varun Soni straightened his shoulders and grasped the lectern, his dark suit flanked by the stately white robes of priests and ministers.

A beloved professor had been stabbed to death. As USCs head chaplain, it fell to Soni to help the hundreds gathered outside that day to process their loss.

And so he spoke to them of the stories hed collected, the pain hed shared, the grief he had witnessed. And he offered words to help them, though not from the Bible or any other religious text.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel, he said, quoting Maya Angelou, before he bowed his head in a universal Amen.

Soni is an unusual college chaplain. He is a Hindu. He has a law degree. In 2008, when USC hired him as its dean of religious life, he was the sole head chaplain at a major American university who was not only not a Christian but not an ordained Christian at that. Today, at a time when differences  religious and otherwise  grow ever more fraught and complex, he remains all but alone in breaking the Protestant chaplain mold, except for a rabbi at Dartmouth, another at Wesleyan, a Buddhist at Emerson.

Its very, very hard to divorce the pomp and circumstances of academia from particularly Protestant traditions, said Dena Bodian, president of the National Assn. of College and University Chaplains. Chaplains like Varun enable us all to rethink what chaplaincy in higher ed could look like.

The job, after all, is about much more than Christianity. As USCs spiritual leader and moral voice, Soni oversees about 90 campus religious groups including atheists and agnostics, Bahais and Zoroastrians.

Inside and outside the lecture halls and dormitories, he bridges what he sees as the gap between the slow-moving wheels of academic change and a new generations impatience with tradition. He counters the tendency to split apart and subdivide with a message of tolerance, coexistence and respect.

If we want to know what religion is going to look like in the United States in 20 years, just look at whats happening on college campuses now, he said. Particularly at a time when our country is so polarized, and people arent speaking to each other.

Soni himself exemplifies the many in the one. He holds five degrees  from Harvard Divinity School, UC Santa Barbara, UCLAs law school and the University of Cape Town, where he wrote his doctoral dissertation in religious studies on Bob Marley as a spiritual figure who used his work to spread a divine message.

The son of immigrant doctors, he was raised in Newport Beach, where he went to a Catholic elementary school and learned from his best friends, who were Jewish, and his grandfather, a Buddhist who grew up around Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi, thats why I went to law school and studied religion, Soni said, nodding to a framed portrait hung alongside the Dalai Lama and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in his office. Those are my guys  people who brought together the spiritual and the scholarly world for the purposes of social change.

What better place to bridge these two worlds than a college campus?

Its not easy, Soni acknowledged, to guide a generation that grew up seeing religion as a source of terrorism and patriarchy, whose institutions covered up child abuse and preached discrimination. More and more millennials are rejecting formal religion but seeking a spiritual sense of purpose.

It helps that Sonis approach centers more on commonality than God.

Were oriented around meaning and purpose and authenticity and identity and significance, he said. My concern is that as students leave traditional religious congregations, they havent been taught how to build an intentional community of like-minded people in a way that creates empathy and compassion and a sense of belonging. Thats compounded by the fact that this is a generation that was born into technology  . You may have 500 friends on Facebook, but what does that mean in real life?
NORDONIA, Ohio -- Tessa Puma, the Nordonia kindergartner who recently lost part of her leg to a rare infection, has a long road to recovery ahead of her.

One thing's for sure: She and her family will not have to go it alone.

Support from the Nordonia community and beyond has been pouring in ever since news of her illness and surgery began spreading.

The Nordonia school district planned a "pinkout" Friday for Tessa and her family. All students were encouraged to wear pink, Tessa's favorite color, and bows, Tessa's favorite hair accessory. As news about the pinkout spread through social media this week, the Cuyahoga Falls, Kent, Ravenna, Stow-Munroe Falls, Tallmadge and Twinsburg districts joined in.

Tessa had to have her left leg amputated from the knee down last weekend because of a rare condition called necrotizing fasciitis. The condition was caused when bacteria from a strep throat infection got into her bloodstream and spread.

During her most recent surgery last Wednesday, Tessa's amputation was cleaned up and her leg bone was shortened and covered with soft tissue to form a stump for a future prosthesis, said Dr. Pat Riley Jr., Tessa's pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Akron Children's Hospital, last Thursday.

Group A strep in Tessa's bloodstream traveled to her leg and other parts of her body, killing tissue, skin, and, in a very rare occurrence, muscle. She also had to have some muscle removed from her shoulder, Riley said.

She needs two to three skin graft procedures starting this week, Riley said. Eventually a prosthetic company will get involved and come talk with Tessa and her family, but not for at least several weeks.

That first weekend, doctors at one point feared for her life, Riley said.

"[March 31] was the worst night of my career," Riley said. In his nine years as a doctor, Tessa's was the worst case he had seen. He's seen two others, both in adults. He is convinced had Tessa been an adult, she would not have made it, and credits the resiliency of being a 6-year-old, something that hits close to home with him. He is also the father of a 6-year-old girl who loves to dance.

"It's amazing how strong they've been," he said of Tessa and her family.

Stable but still in the intensive care unit, she now has her signature big pink bow in her hair and painted pink nails. Her breathing tube is out.

"She is talking to us, and watching paw patrol!" her mother, Tina Puma, posted on Facebook. "I said i wanted to send a picture to her Daddy and she smiled so big and pretty for it!! Our always smiling babygirl is back!"

Away from the hospital, a groundswell of support for Tessa and her family is taking shape.

The school pinkout idea began with Nordonia parent Dana DiPenti, mother of Rushwood Elementary School first-grader Bella DiPenti, 6, who has danced with Tessa at Center Stage Dance Studio in Northfield for two years. Last summer Bella and other Rushwood first-grade girls played T-ball with Tessa.

DiPenti got the idea from a post on Facebook in which someone said they were wearing a pink T-shirt for Tessa.

"I was trying to think of something we could do with the PTA and school collectively," DiPenti said. "[I thought], the kids can wear pink. My son wouldn't have a problem wearing pink at all."

Once Rushwood Principal Jacqueline O'Mara posted the pinkout plans on social media, it caught on.

"It's something so small and easy for the kids to do to show support for their friend," DiPenti said. "The kids are just happy to be a part of it and help their friend."

In addition to planning the pinkout, the Rushwood staff has made personal financial contributions to the family, and the student leadership team is selling wrist bands that say "Tessa Strong," O'Mara said. Nordonia senior Julianne Konicek designed a sticker featuring a bright pink bow, ballet shoes and Tessa's name with the hashtag #TESSASTRONG. Fundraisers are being set up by community groups, and businesses such as Stan's Northfield Bakery are reaching out as well. Stan's is selling pink-and-white #TessaStrong cookies, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the Puma family. "Dance on Little One," the bakery said in a recent tweet.

"I think the support being shown is awesome," Nordonia Superintendent Joe Clark said. "Nordonia is family, and the care people show for each other is inspiring."

Schools in other districts are inspired to help out as well.

Tallmadge Middle School's administration tweeted to Clark that it would "represent some PINK Friday with you to support Tessa! Spread the word people of twitter!"

Tallmadge Assistant Principal Jeff Manion saw the call to action on social media, and the students picked it up from there, discussing it at their daily morning meeting, Principal Rob Kearns said.

"Our students identify local causes that they identify with," Kearns said. "This story resonates with our students because it strikes so close to home. Nordonia is one of our Suburban League partners. Our students identify closely with their schools and community."

"I think it's ... cool to see other districts join in," Clark said. "As an aside, you hear so much about today's kids being self-centered and narcissistic. I couldn't disagree more. I think kids today are more empathetic, caring, inclusive and generous than any other generation of kids in history."

They are in good company.

"All of these groups are coming together with a wave of pink clothing to send a simple message to Tessa, that she isn't alone in her current battle and she is a hero to us all," Rushwood Principal O'Mara said.
SIOUX CITY | The driver in an Oct. 31, 2016, crash that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old passenger has been charged with a pair of felonies for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene after the crash.

Eduardo Herrera, 18, of Sioux City, was charged Friday morning with vehicular homicide, a class B felony, and with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, a class D felony.

According to court documents, Herrera was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier shortly after 1:30 a.m. Oct. 31 when the vehicle struck a parked 2008 Dodge Caravan in the 1500 block of West Second Street. The front-seat passenger, Miguel Silvas-Sanchez, of South Sioux City, was ejected and died of his injuries.

A backseat passenger, 16-year-old Vicente Cancino, also of South Sioux City, was treated and released from a local hospital, according to police records of the event.

Documents say Herrera left the scene following the crash. Later in the day, Herrera went to UnityPoint Health -- St. Luke's for treatment, and the Sioux City Police Department was contacted. Documents say a blood sample was taken under Iowa's implied consent law.

Court documents say Herrera's blood tested positive for both alcohol and a metabolite of THC and would have been above the legal limit at the time of the crash.

Further information gathered from the black box recorder in Herrera's vehicle showed that seconds prior to the crash, Herrera had been driving 76 mph. The speed limit in the crash area was 25 miles per hour.

Herrera was booked into the Woodbury County Jail Friday morning and is being held on $25,000 bond. His next court appearance will be 9 a.m. April 24.
ONAWA, Iowa | Randy Lee, a soldier who grew up in Soldier, Iowa, enjoys the challenge of directing his "troops" at American Coating & Welding, a small business he founded in Onawa in 2015.

"Something like one out of every seven veterans starts their own business," said Lee, who served with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan in 2010-11.

"We were deployed for duty overseas on my birthday, Oct. 28, 2010," said Lee, 35. "We came home on my next birthday."

Lee, who served in an engineering company, helped construct buildings throughout Afghanistan during his tour of duty. The unit, he said, averaged constructing one facility every four days. "We re-did buildings after bombings," he said. "We faced mortar fire. It wasn't secure at all."

Still, Lee said there were other soldiers and members of the Special Operations forces, for example, who served in more dire conditions.

Unfortunately, the company Lee had worked for prior to his deployment closed while he was in Afghanistan. Lee returned home and learned he had no job to which he could return.

"I was unemployed until I used the GI Bill to pay for my training to become a deputy," said Lee, a 2000 graduate of Boyer Valley High School and later a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Lee signed on as a deputy with the Monona County Sheriff's Department and worked there until 2015, when he turned to his own company full-time.

"This began in my garage, just me working for myself," said Lee, who also possesses a master's degree in human services.

American Coating & Welding offers a range of powder coating, sand blasting, dustless blasting and welding and fabrication work. Lee and his three employees have tackled everything from classic cars and trucks to making flatbed units to redoing horse trailers.

"We're also doing work for some Sioux City firms and area companies that build farm equipment," said Lee, who noted that the dirt work at his new shop site began in September 2015. The building, which measures 104 feet by 60 feet, is a Morton structure that was completed in January 2016.

"At the start, I was out on the floor and we were working sunup to sundown," Lee said. "As time went on, I transitioned into the office more where I do the bookkeeping, sales, customer service and everything except the taxes.

"There are learning curves in running the business, but I've had many great business owners give me advice," he said.

Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican and a veteran herself with overseas duty, visited American Coating & Welding to thank Lee for his service while congratulating him for running a successful start-up.

"Joni Ernst wasn't just here as a senator, but as a veteran," Lee said. "She's very genuine."

It is said that more than 10 percent of manufacturing businesses are owned by a veteran.

As he walked through the shop, Lee pointed out a dozen or so doors hanging in the company's giant oven unit. Across the facility was the powder coating booth the employees and Lee assembled. After walking through a doorway, Lee greeted Ruben Yanak, his fabricator, and Mike Mathison, his father-in-law, as they worked to hook up wiring on a truck.

"We are making a flatbed for a customer and we have to do the body work underneath," Lee explained.

When asked about the selection of the name American, Lee paused and searched for the proper words to explain his choice. In many instances, he said, company founders often attach their surname to the firm.

"I guess I didn't feel comfortable having people work for me," he said. "Because when I'm gone someday, there might be someone else running the company."

The American name, he added, suggested he and his employees are working for and serving more than a core group of people.

In addition, the name and the U.S. flag he has as a background on his business card, are a nod of sorts to the country he served while maturing as a leader during his tour of duty.

"The military helped me with discipline," Lee said. "I learned there how to run a team, and how to deal with stress. To me, our military has the world's strongest training program."

Plus, veterans like Andy Alexander, a former US Army Ranger, continue to support and give Lee any advice he seeks in getting American Coating & Welding off the ground.

"The name (American) made sense," he said. "It still does."
CHEROKEE, Iowa | Cherokee County authorities say someone has been sneaking off with road signs near the cities of Cleghorn and Marcus. The county is now offering a reward for information leading to the culprit's capture.

A news release issued earlier this week by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said recently, more than 20 road signs have either been stolen or damaged. Department public information officer Barb Staver confirmed that number Friday, saying they include a wide variety of signage.

"We have everything from stop signs, railroad crossing signs, the weight limit for trucks, the green street signs -- every kind of sign," she said. "This is getting quite expensive for the county roads department."

The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the capture of the culprit.

Anyone with information can reach the sheriff's department at 712-225-6728.
SIOUX CITY | Siouxlanders could hear a few rumbles of thunder as showers move through the region over the next 24 hours, but conditions are expected clear up in time for a sunny Easter Sunday.

Showers are likely to begin as early as the mid-morning hours today and will continue on and off throughout the day. Mike Gillispie, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, said Sioux City could expect about a quarter inch or less of accumulation.

"The best chances are from noon through three or four oclock to see some showers and thunderstorms," he said.

Friday night's low will be 57 degrees, with another chance for rain. Gillispie said showers will move back in after midnight and continue through the morning hours Saturday, bringing another quarter to half inch to the area. Thunderstorm chances will increase with the overnight storms, although none should be severe. Saturday's high will be 70 degrees with a low of 40.

Gillispie said all told, Sioux City will likely see about one-half to three-quarters of an inch of rain, with totals closer to one inch in the Spencer, Iowa, area.

Conditions will clear up by Saturday night, and Sunday looks to be warm and sunny, with a high of 68 degrees and a low of 42. Monday will be partly sunny with a high of 68. Chances for showers will move back in Monday night into Tuesday.
HOLSTEIN, Iowa | A 20-year-old Sioux Falls woman was flown to Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City with suspected serious injuries Thursday evening after a single-vehicle crash along Highway 20 in Ida County.

The Iowa State Patrol says the crash, which occurred shortly before 8:30 p.m. Thursday, happened after the driver of the vehicle, who sustained minor injuries in the crash, was distracted by his cell phone.

According to a crash report, Amanda Lee Conklin was the front seat passenger in a 1995 Honda Civic driven by Zachary Ryan Rosburg, 24, of Sioux Falls.

The two were traveling east on Highway 20 when Rosburg was distracted by his phone and crossed the center line. The report said Rosburg corrected and went onto the shoulder of the road, then over-corrected the opposite direction, crossing both lanes and entering the north ditch. The car vaulted over a driveway and landed in a field, and Conklin was ejected through the side window, according to the report. She was not wearing a seat belt.

Conklin was airlifted to Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City with suspected serious injuries. A Mercy spokeswoman was not able to publicly share information on Conklin's condition Friday morning.

Rosburg, who had worn a seat belt, was transported to Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove with minor injuries. He has been cited for failure to maintain control of the vehicle.
WASHINGTON -- 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 what's going wrong. He must find a scapegoat. The latest object of his opprobrium would seem to be Steve Bannon, the chief White House strategist.

But dumping Bannon would only underscore the extent to which Trump is a political weathervane, gyrating wildly with the political winds. He's "populist" one day, conventionally conservative the next, and centrist the day after that. His implicit response is: Who cares? Let's 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 won't do at the tony country club party Trump wants to throw for himself.

And so Trump, in an interview with The New York Post's 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 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."

Hmm. Contrary to Trump's claim, he has known Bannon since 2011 and appeared nine times on Bannon's 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 weathervane 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 Obama having his "wires tapped" -- to distract from inquiries into his campaign's possible ties to Russia's effort to subvert the 2016 election.

But Tuesday brought a reminder that the story won't go away until it's resolved. The Washington 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 Page's role to "low-level.") The news was an indication of the seriousness of the investigation of links between Trump's campaign and Russia. While Trump hopes that his administration's complete about-face on Vladimir Putin -- from fawning praise to hostility -- will settle the matter, it won't.

And then the good people of Kansas' 4th Congressional District cast ballots in a special election on Tuesday. While Republican Ron Estes hung onto the seat over Democrat James Thompson, Estes' 6.8 percent margin was anemic in comparison with Trump's 27-point win in the district last year. And Republican Dan Pompeo, whose appointment as Trump's CIA director created the opening, was re-elected last year by a margin of 31 percent.

This swing will petrify Republicans in Congress who, up to now, have largely stayed in line behind Trump. It's also likely to give additional spine to Trump's GOP critics, both on the far right and among politicians 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 Trump's 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.
DES MOINES | President Donald Trump may start to lose some of his most ardent supporters if he is unable or unwilling to accomplish more of the goals he laid out on the campaign trail, U.S. Rep. Steve King, a Republican from conservative northwest Iowa, said Thursday.

King, during taping of this weekends episode of Iowa Press on Iowa Public Television, said Trump has done some good things during his first three months in office, but also said he would like to see more, especially on immigration.

King has long been a staunch advocate for greater enforcement of the nations immigration laws and the elimination of immigrant-friendly policies implemented by President Barack Obama.

In particular, King wants the repeal of two programs  Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans  that protect from deportation some immigrants living in the country illegally.

I am not at the level of being happy with, so far, what Donald Trump has done, King said. Hes done some good things and seems to have put a lot of good things in place. But DACA and DAPA still exist ... and Ive told the president this: Every day you dont address this it gets harder and harder to do.

Trump often said during the presidential campaign that he would repeal those Obama-era immigration programs. Thats not the only policy shift Trump has made since moving into the White House. In recent weeks he has changed on his stance on using military intervention in Syria, whether China is intentionally devaluing its currency, and his support for NATO and the federal governments export credit agency.

King said if Trump continues to depart from the promises he made during the campaign, he risks losing the support of those who voted for him.

I think that theres that risk. I wouldnt say that is the case today, King said. His base is starting to get uneasy because they havent seen this movement on DACA and DAPA. Theyre not quite confident yet on the (border) wall, but the messages are clear out of the White House that well build that wall.

I look at the to-do list that comes out of the campaign promises of Donald Trump ... theres a lot of check marks behind that. But there are a few to go (that) he has to do or hell lose his base. And I think thats an important message for the president to receive.

Trump also said on the campaign trail that he wants Mexico to pay for construction of a wall along its border to help prevent illegal immigration into the U.S. But Trump, according to reports, plans to ask Congress for $1 billion to help start construction of the wall.

King did not indicate any concern that Trumps supporters will be upset that U.S. taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill for a high-cost project that Trump said would be funded by another country. King said the U.S. could find revenue streams  from jobs that U.S. companies are choosing to keep in the country instead of sending outside its borders, a possible tax on wired money transfers from the U.S. to Mexico, or using money confiscated from illegal drug operations  that would offset the costs of building the wall.

There are a lot of ways to do the math on this, King said. I think well get to that point where one day theyll be able to say, Yes, (Mexico) did pay for it.

King said the border wall is also important to help stem the tide of illegal drugs coming into the country from Mexico and contributing to drug overdose deaths here.

Among other topics discussed during taping, King declined to say whether he will run for a ninth term in the U.S. House, but did say he enjoys working with all-Republican control in the nations capital.

King said he supported the Trump administrations decision to conduct a missile strike on a Syrian airfield, but said he is hesitant to embrace a plan to remove Syrian president Bashar al-Assad from power without knowing the plan for filling that power vacuum.

As to Congressional Republicans failed attempt at undoing Obamas health care reforms, King said he thinks it was a mistake to attempt to repeal and replace the law in one fell swoop, that Republicans should have repealed measures first and then introduced new measures later.
When US President Donald Trump took office on January 20, the new administration's policy on North Korea was unclear.

Here's how events have unfolded.

January

The day before Trump recited the oath of office on the Washington Mall, the North Korean leadership already had prepared its own unique welcome for the incoming President. On January 19, US intelligence satellites picked up signs of activity at North Korea's Chamjin missile factory southwest of Pyongyang, in an apparent readying of a test of two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

Ten days later -- January 29 -- as Defense Secretary James Mattis prepared for his first visit to Asia, it was reported that the country was preparing to restart a plutonium reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear facility, according to analysis of new satellite imagery from 38 North, a North Korea tracking project.

February

The Trump administration kicked off the month with Mattis' East Asian jaunt, landing February 2 at the Osan Air Base outside Seoul. Top of the agenda was a key component of South Korea's defenses against its northern neighbors' aggression -- the THAAD missile interception system.

Three days later, February 5, the US and its East Asian ally Japan successfully downed a test medium-range ballistic missile with a new interceptor launched from a guided-missile destroyer.

North Korea didn't take long to respond. On February 11, it reported it had successfully completed the launch of a new ballistic missile, the previously unknown Pukguksong-2, according to state media. It was the North's first missile test of the Trump era.

Things took a twist worthy of a movie plot later that month. On February 14, alleged North Korean agents reportedly murdered Kim Jong Un's half brother, Kim Jong Nam, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) with VX nerve agent.

Shortly after, in the wake of the DPRK's missile test and the resultant growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, China banned imports of Chinese coal for the remainder of the year. China's Ministry of Commerce said the decision was made to comply with a UN Security Council resolution that China helped draft and pass last November.

March

March was an even busier month for the Korean Peninsula. It kicked off, on March 6, with North Korea's firing of four ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan (also known as the East Sea) in what Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described as "an extremely dangerous action."

The missiles, three of which landed within 200 miles of Japan's coastline in its exclusive economic zone, were fired as part of a drill targeting American military assets in Japan by North Korea's Hwasong artillery units, North Korean state media KCNA said.

On the heels of the multiple launch, South Korea's US-built THAAD missile defense system -- which China vigorously opposes -- arrives on the peninsula. As it was delivered, China's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, warns that the US and North Korea are set for a "head-on collision" with neither side willing to give way.

On March 14, the US, along with allies South Korea and Japan, responded to the North's earlier missile tests, dispatching high-tech missile defense ships to the same area where Pyongyang had previously fired the four missiles. The Aegis warships began exercises to improve their capability to shoot down enemy ballistic missiles, the US Navy said in a statement.

The maneuvers came as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson embarked upon his first Asian trip, landing in Japan on March 15.

Five days later, Pyongyang again ratcheted tensions by testing a rocket engine, one which showed "meaningful" signs of progress, according to South Korean officials. Meanwhile, in the face of the looming threat from North Korea, Japan begins to hold evacuation drills to prepare for any potential North Korean missile launched aimed at the country.

The North Koreans launched another missile just days after the engine test, but it exploded "within seconds of launch," according to US Pacific Command. As March wound down, Pyongyang once again went back to its engine tests -- technology could possibly be used in an eventual ICBM.

In a separate move, the US announced that the US Marines deployed F-35B aircraft to South Korea for the first time as part of an exercise.

April

Trump began the month by declaring, on April 2, that the US would be willing to go it alone to restrain North Korea's nuclear weapons program should China fail to change the situation.

Two days later, as Trump prepared to meet his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, North Korea fired another ballistic missile off the coast of the Korean Peninsula, US and South Korean officials said. As the two leaders sat down to steak and pan-seared sole at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump made the decision to pull the trigger on a missile strike in Syria -- the biggest military action of his presidency and a declaration of intent for Pyongyang.

Shortly after, North Korea issued a forceful response to the deployment of a US naval strike group, including the 97,000-ton carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to the region April 10, saying it would counter "reckless acts of aggression" with "whatever methods the US wants to take."

Days later, monitoring group 38 North said its analysis had concluded that North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear site is "primed and ready" for a sixth nuclear test. Also on April 13, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the country may already have the capability to deliver missiles equipped with sarin nerve agent.

Meanwhile, the US waded again into military action, dropping a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), the US military's largest non-nuclear weapon, on an ISIS hideout in Afghanistan, the first time this type of weapon has been used in battle, according to US officials.

Two days later, at an annual military parade in Pyongyang, the North Korean regime showed off a bevy of new missiles and launchers at its annual military parade.

Part of the display were two new ICBM-sized canisters as well as North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missile, and a land-based version of the same for the first time, according to analysts.

The following day, April 16, another attempted missile launch by the Kim regime failed, US and South Korean defense officials told CNN.

After the attempted test, US Vice President Mike Pence, visiting the South Korean side of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) on April 17, warned North Korea not to test the resolve of the US "or the strength of our military forces."

North Korea's UN deputy representative, Kim In Ryong, responded, warning that the US actions and rhetoric have "created a dangerous situation in which thermonuclear war may break out at any moment on the peninsula and poses a serious threat to world peace and security."

After boasting that the USS Carl Vinson strike group was being dispatched to the Korean Peninsula in a "show of force," the US was forced to walk back the claims after it emerged that the ships in question were actually on their way to participate in military exercises in the Indian Ocean, some 3,500 miles in the opposite direction.

Instead, the strike group will arrive off the Korean Peninsula by the end of April, multiple US defense officials told CNN.

The Pentagon announced on April 18 that it will conduct two major tests of its ability to shoot down missiles launched out of North Korea in May.

On April 19, the UN Security Council tried to address North Korea's latest missile launch with a proposed statement that would have condemned the test, but Russia used its veto to torpedo the motion.

The same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Beijing was "gravely concerned" about North Korea's recent nuclear and missile activities. Lu also praised recent US statements on the North Korean issue.

CNN's James Griffiths, Paula Hancocks, Joshua Berlinger, Ben Westcott, Ivan Watson, Yoko Wakatsuki, Hidetaka Sato, Eli Watkins, Dana Bash, Barbara Starr, Richard Roth, Tim Schwarz, Zachary Cohen, Jeremy Diamond and Steve Almasy, and journalist Taehoon Lee, contributed to this report.
Smart Rating: 97.47

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef

Original: "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964)

Smart Rating: 95.22

In the Southwest during the Civil War, a mysterious stranger (Clint Eastwood) and a Mexican outlaw, Tuco (Eli Wallach), form an uneasy partnership. The Man With No Name -- also known as "Blondie" -- turns in the bandit for the reward money, then rescues him just as he is being hanged. When Blondie's shot at the noose goes awry during one escapade, a furious Tuco tries to have him murdered. The men re-team abruptly, however, to beat out a sadistic criminal and the Union army and find $20,000 that a soldier has buried in the desert.
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. It offers a range of skin care products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, body care, exfoliators, acne care and oil correctors, facial masks, cleansing devices, and sun care products; and makeup products, such as lipsticks, lip glosses, mascaras, foundations, eyeshadows, nail polishes, and powders, as well as compacts, brushes, and other makeup tools. The company also provides fragrance products in various forms comprising eau de parfum sprays and colognes, as well as lotions, powders, creams, candles, and soaps; and hair care products that include shampoos, conditioners, styling products, treatment, finishing sprays, and hair color products, as well as sells ancillary products and services. It offers its products under the Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, MAC, Bobbi Brown, La Mer, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Smashbox, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle, GLAMGLOW, Kilian Paris, Too Faced, Dr. Jart+, DECIEM, and The Ordinary brands. The company sells its products through department stores, specialty-multi retailers, upscale perfumeries and pharmacies, and salons and spas; freestanding stores; its own and authorized retailer websites; third-party online malls; stores in airports; and duty-free shops. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
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Tableau Software, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides business analytics software products. It offers Tableau Desktop, a self-service, powerful analytics product with data; Tableau Server, a business intelligence platform for organizations; Tableau Online, a hosted software-as-a-service version of Tableau Server; Tableau Prep, a data preparation product for combining, shaping, and cleaning data; and Tableau Public, a cloud-based platform for analyzing and sharing public data. In addition, it offers Visual Query Language (VizQL) for databases, which is a computer language for describing pictures of data, including graphs, charts, maps, time series, and tables of visualizations; Live Query Engine that interprets abstract queries generated by VizQL into syntax understandable by database systems; and Hyper, an in-memory data engine technology that helps customers to analyze a range of data sets by evaluating analytical queries directly in the transactional database. Further, the company provides support, maintenance, training, and professional services. It serves organizations in various industries, including business services, energy and telecommunications, financial services, life sciences and healthcare, manufacturing and technology, media and entertainment, public sector, and education, as well as retail, consumer, and distribution industries. The company sells its products directly, as well as through indirect sales channels, such as technology vendors, resellers, original equipment manufacturers, independent software vendor, and distributors in the United States, Canada, and internationally. Tableau Software, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
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.
On March 21, the Criminal Justice Committee of the Florida Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 628 (SB628). This bill would align Floridas HIV criminalization laws with current science, modernizing them.

The Health Policy Committee of the Florida Senate will vote on this bill next. Three other Senate Committees and the Florida House still have to approve it, before it becomes law.

SB628 brings Floridas HIV criminalization laws, written in the 80s, into this century. It requires proof of intent to infect and reduces the maximum sentence. Gender neutral, it replaces sexual intercourse with sexual conduct. SB628 treats HIV as one among many sexually transmitted infections.

A conviction under current law results in a felony with five-year maximum sentence. Under SB628, a conviction would result in a misdemeanor with a one-year maximum sentence.

SB628 requires proof of intent to infect. Use of a condom or compliance with a prescribed treatment would disprove intent to infect. As SB628 requires proof of a substantial risk of transmission, it would exclude spitting.

SB628 replaces the term sexual intercourse with the term sexual conduct. Sexual conduct would include both mixed- and same-sex sexual conduct. The bill defines sexual conduct to include anal intercourse, vaginal intercourse, and oral sex, including rimming.

This bill normalizes HIV as one of many bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic sexually transmitted infections. SB628 adds human papilloma virus and hepatitis to these infections.

Kamaria Laffrey, Florida Community Organizer for Sero Project, an HIV-criminalization reform group, defined modernization as making the laws current." She referred to a growing consensus that people with a suppressed viral load cannot transmit the virus. She stressed the importance of keeping your message clean and relatable to the legislators in your state.

Some people associated with Black Lives Matter have criticized modernizing HIV Criminalization Laws. They charge that lawmakers, police, prosecutors, and judges target Black people for excessive punishment. They cite racial differences in mass incarceration and police violence as evidence. Even modernized HIV criminalization laws could still leave Black people vulnerable to police and prosecutorial excess. As a woman of color, Laffrey understands this criticism. She, however, remains focused on what can work to improve peoples lives now.

The first step to viral suppression consists in knowing ones HIV status. Laffrey described HIV criminalization as punishing those that know their status and privileging those that are ignorant. As such, these laws discourage HIV testing.

Laffrey lauded SB628 as a bi-partisan effort. Rene Garcia, a Miami-Dade Republican has sponsored this bill. Daphne Campbell, a Miami-Dade Democrat, has cosponsored it. Laffrey described Garcia as very straightforward on what's possible and what's not. They have been able to talk about necessary compromises, but have focused on modernization.

She said, We really lucked out with Garcia. He has a history of supporting HIV issues in Florida. Garcia also chairs the Miami-Dade Getting to Zero Task Force. That group advises that county how to control HIV.

Laffrey also praised the Florida HIV Justice Coalition, the activists behind SB628. She described them as, A passionate bunch of people that are excited about this process happening in Florida. Watching reform happen in Iowa and Colorado, I was on the edge of my seat wondering when this would happen in Florida. They're just an amazing group of people that are in it for the long haul.

The Florida HIV Justice Coalition meets once per month via webinar. Between meetings, people communicate via email. If someone wants to know more about this group, they can email Laffrey at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . If they would like to join, they can ask Laffrey to add them to the listserv.

Follow Sean McShee on Twitter @SeanMcShee
Coffee Design is proudly sponsored by Savor Brands , your boost in coffeedence through maximizing designs in packaging, sustainability and tech.

Norwegian coffee company Temperato roasts coffee under their LIPPE branding and works with artist and coffee-enthusiast Henrik Placht for their gorgeous coffee packaging. The designs draw upon Russian Constructivism, German Bauhaus, and French pumps. We love it! We talked to Philip Skopakov to learn more.

Tell us a bit about your company.

The company was established in 1998 by Alexander and Pia von der Lippe. They were delivering equipment to the Norwegian domestic market, primarily the Rancilio Silvia espresso machine and the Rocky grinder. Both Alexander and Pia were students at the time, finishing their Masters in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry respectively. The business grew organically from that point onward. Alexander did paper rounds and Pia taught part time to provide for themselves and their two small boys or to make ends meet in the early days. In 2002 the business had finally grown enough to provide for the family and the couple opened a small specialty shop in the Bislett area of Oslo, providing the market with all sorts of gadgets and coffee for domestic use whilst also slowly starting to supply to the professional market.

During 2006 they started planning for their own roastery, a dream that had been with them since the beginning. A brand new 15 kilo Joper roaster was installed in 2007 and the story continued. Coffee branded as LIPPE was well accepted by the market from day one and ever since, roasting volumes have steadily grown.

When did the coffee package design debut?

The first LIPPE design was launched back in 2008 and the present design was launched at the Gothenburg world of coffee trade show in 2015. The story behind the present design goes back a bit in time though:

In autumn 2013 the artist Henrik Placht, who lives in the neighborhood of the roastery, came by to get his Rancilio Silvia machine repaired. He was given a tour of the roastery and then suggested that the LIPPE packaging design should be taken to a higher level, to match the quality of the coffee. The idea lay dormant for some time, until almost one year later, Pia picked up the phone and asked Henrik if he would be interested in decorating the worlds most beautiful and fantastic coffee packaging.

Who designed the package?

Henrik was extremely excited about the project and started cooperating with the designer Anders Hofgaard from NODE Berlins Oslo office. Several of Henriks paintings were considered as inspiration for the design, but one painting in particular stood out:

In the artists own words: Im a big coffee nerd and brew my own coffee in my studio. It was really nice of Pia and Alexander to ask me to help them to make a design for them to stand out. I think what made us unique is the fact that Im an artist and not a designer. To use an artist was very smart from LIPPE and I think that the collaboration with NODE BERLIN OSLO was really perfect. Anders Hofgaard and I had a connection and an understanding of each other from the beginning as we had worked together previously.

The bag designs come from a painting that has a visual language that refers to Russian Constructivism and draws from German Bauhaus aesthetics. The original artwork was originally 3 pieces about totalitarian states and human evil. Henrik continues Its really strange that it ended up on coffee bags

One more thing that is important to mention is the reason why the bags have neon colours on the base. That is because of Henriks love for Christian Louboutin shoes for women. He says, I think he makes really sexy shoes and I was thinking how could I steal that little thing that he has with the red underneath. So I just did the same with the bag, matching three different neon colours that go together with the design, colours and the lane colour palette too.

What coffee information do you share on the package?

The sticker on the coffee bags contain a short taste description, geographical data, info about the farmer, type of processing, variety, weight, date of production and intended type of use (filter or espresso). For the teas, there is a taste description, origin, content and a recommended brewing time and temperature.

Whats the motivation behind that?

The idea is to keep the information on the label short and easily understandable, keeping only the essentials of taste, origin and processing.

Where is the bag manufactured?

The bags are produced in South Korea in cooperation with Dutch Pack.

For package nerds, what type of package is it?

Our 250 gram bags are doypacks with a tear notch for easy opening. From this year also a laser cut with a re-sealable zip lock. The 1 kg bags are called quadro seal and are side folded. All the bags except the tea bags have valves to let excess gases out. The bags are matt varnished and consist of two layers, PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) and PE-EVOH (Polyethylene Vinyl Alcohol).

Is the package recyclable/compostable?

The bags do not contain aluminum so they are completely recyclable or can be used as an energy source.

Where is it currently available?

The coffee is available through our web-store, as well as cafes, bakery outlets and coffee shops throughout Norway. We are also regularly featured in Kaffeboxs roaster of the month. We are currently considering other coffee subscription services. Send us a message if you would like to see our coffees in your next coffee delivery!

Thank you!

Company: LIPPE Kaffe

Location: Oslo

Country: Norway

Design Date: 2015

Designer: Henrik Placht

Coffee Design is a feature series by Zachary Carlsen on Sprudge. Read more Coffee Design here.

Photos provided by Lippe and photographed by Jonni Studios.
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
Harness racing returned to Mohawk Racetrack on Thursday evening, and among the top performers on the opening night card was the Shadow Play gelding, Pauly Wally.

The four-year-old, who joined forces with trainer Dean Nixon last month, extended his winning streak to three-in-a-row thanks to a come-from-behind score in an impressive clocking of 1:52.1  the co-fastest clocking on the 10-race card.

Pauly Wally, who was sent off as the 4-5 favourite in the $16,000 conditioned event, got away third for driver Louis Philippe Roy. Louis The Shark and Big Bad Bill took turns on the lead through fast fractions of :27, :55.2 and 1:23.1, but it was Pauly Wally who then used his rallying skills to sail by in the late stages of the contest en route to the win by 2-1/4 lengths over Beyombo. Big Bad Bill was third.

Ontario partners Tony Basile of Toronto and Andy Atlas of Whitby share ownership on the gelding, who is now 5-for-7 this season after going 0-for-16 last year. The win pushed his lifetime earnings over $32,000.

Total handle for the opening night card soared over $1.7 million.

To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results  Mohawk Racetrack.
President Trump Defunds State Abortions

Contact: Liberty Counsel, 407-875-1776, Media@LC.org; Press Kit



WASHINGTON, April 14, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- President Donald Trump has signed into law H.J. Res. 43, a resolution which allows states to withhold federal funds from facilities that provide abortions.

H.J. Res. 43 overturns former President Barack Obama's rule from the Department of Health and Human Services that forced states to provide family planning grants under Title X funds to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. After the House first passed the measure, the Senate voted 50-50 for the bill, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote to approve the measure.

Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the U.S., performing at least 300,000 abortions every year. The signing of this resolution will now allow states to proceed to defund Planned Parenthood.

"We celebrate the signing of H.J. Res. 43 and undoing Obama's parting gift to the abortion industry," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "Taxpayers should not be forced to fund human genocide. Now the states have the option to spend Title X money on comprehensive health care clinics to help women and girls rather than killing innocent babies," 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.
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.
CHALLIS, Idaho  Billijo Beck and her 10-year-old daughter Grace walked the dusty path between Challis Wild Horse Corral pens the afternoon of April 5 looking for an addition to their stables.

There were 18 horses in the Bureau of Land Management corrals, which are few miles southeast of Challis.

The Becks peered through metal bars at horses eating hay and nuzzling each other in the sunlight.

Theyre so pretty, Grace said. Ive never seen a horse like them before.

The horses are wild  baited with hay, trapped and gathered from the Challis Herd Management Area in an attempt to control the horse population and preserve balance in the regions ecosystem.

If theyre allowed to expand and reproduce unchecked, they can really harm the range lands to the point where it isnt suitable habitat for them or other animals, BLM Wild Horse and Burro Specialist Kevin Lloyd said.

According to genetic testing, horses were first released near Challis in 1899, when locals used the range as an open breeding ground, Lloyd said.

BLM created the management area in 1983 in response to the The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, which mandated protection and control of free-roaming equines on public lands.

Bordered by the Salmon River to the north, the East Fork of the Salmon River to the west, U.S. Highway 93 to the east, and a ridgeline to the south, the Challis Herd Management Area is the largest of six in Idaho. About 280 wild horses inhabit more than 167,000 acres of Douglas fir patches, sagebrush basins and riparian zones.

BLM also permits cattle grazing on most of the area from May through October.

Local ranchers livestock couldnt compete with forage-consuming wild horses before the management area was created and populations were actively managed, said Gary Ingram, who has owned a ranch near Challis since 1974, and grazes nearly 500 cattle in the area.

Horses are out there 24/7, so if you have large numbers, that really deteriorates the resource because it doesnt have a chance to rest, he said. Before they started gathering those horses there was no grass between the sagebrush plants. Now there is.

BLM also manages horses in the Challis area in relation to other wildlife. Apart from being priority sage-grouse habitat, the area hosts large predators, including wolves and bears, along with herbivores including bighorn sheep, deer and antelope, all of which can be threatened by excess horses.

Managing horse populations can be difficult because adoption numbers have plummeted in recent years, Lloyd said.

We used to gather 10,000 horses bureau-wide and adopt off 10,000 horses. Then we gathered 10,000 horses and only adopted two or three thousand, which is how weve ended up with so many, he said.

BLM cares for about 50,000 horses off-pasture, mostly in privately contracted corrals and ranches. Each horse is estimated to cost taxpayers $50,000 over its lifespan.

Gathers happen every three to five years in the Challis area.

This year, the bureau hoped to gather around 150 horses, adopting off 50 and treating the remaining animals with a fertility control vaccine to curb reproduction. The gather will wrap up at the end of April, but with only 19 horses gathered  one died of malnutrition  BLM wont meet its quota.

This is the first time the bait and trap method has been used for a widespread gather in the Challis area, and theres still some kinks to be worked out, Lloyd said. With about 30 to 100 more horses than is appropriate for maintaining the range, BLM will likely need to conduct another gather sooner than usual.

Adoptions from this years gather will help in the meantime, however. Wild horse adopters pay a $125 fee. Lloyd showed the Becks around the wild horse corrals April 5.

A few geldings had splotches of missing hair where they were wounded on the range. In one pen a couple of fillies stood by what BLM officials assumed was their pregnant mother.

Mom, we have to get one; we have to we have to, Grace said.

The Becks previously had adopted two wild BLM horses.

They walked from pen to pen, stopping at one with a couple of clean-looking geldings the family may adopt after they become available.

Adopting a wild horse is a service to the animal, Beck said.

Theres thousands upon thousands of them just sitting in pens, Beck said. Youre not paying thousands of dollars for a domestic horse, and you still have a wonderful animal even if they dont have a fancy pedigree.
About a dozen animals may be all that remains of the woodland caribou in the endangered Southern Selkirk herd that roams near the U.S.-Canada border, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Reporting on the annual late-winter helicopter survey conducted last month by the Selkirk Caribou International Technical Working Group, the department's weekly Wildlife Program report showed the photo above and said, "This small herd of 11 caribou is the extent of the Selkirk population as photographed north of Canada Highway 3 near Kootenay Pass in British Columbia."

A similar survey in 2015 found 14 caribou remaining in the herd, which survives high in the Selkirks on lichen from old-growth trees during the winter while roaming on top of the deep mountain snowpack.

More of the caribou subspecies roam farther north in Canada, but they, too, are struggling.

Dramatic measures have been undertaken in attempts to save the Southern Selkirk herd, which suffers from old-growth habitat destruction, highway collisions in Canada and predation. Lawsuits have challenged U.S. Forest Service decisions to reduce habitat protections for caribou.

Eleven wolves were killed in the Southern Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia by provincial wildlife staff last year during a winter effort to reduce predation on the dwindling caribou herd that ranges in Canada as well as in Idaho and Washington.

The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho contracted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2015 to write a draft endangered species recovery plan for the South Selkirk herd.
Bagging a gobbler in the spring turkey seasons that open April 15 in Idaho and Washington 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 can't fully cover the topic of turkey hunting in a three-hour class.

Since his retirement as a Washington Fish and Wildlife police officer, he's been working as a field rep for the National Wild Turkey Federation. He's 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 that's red, white or blue - the 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, don't 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 they're effective, but so so are grenades."

Be ethical: Go beyond the basic laws to be a good sportsman by not moving in on someone else's 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.
An Oregon man suspected of robbing the Castle Rock McDonalds restaurant while armed with a handgun Wednesday evening was arrested after reportedly stealing a car and leading police on a high-speed chase into Lewis County.

Trask O. Williams, 27, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery, attempt to elude, possession of a stolen vehicle, obstructing law enforcement, resisting arrest and driving on a suspended license.

Williams last known address was in Fall Creek, Oregon.

According to a Castle Rock police press release, Williams entered the McDonalds restaurant at 1040 Dougherty Drive at around 7 p.m. Police said he went behind the counter and proceeded to steal money from the register. When confronted by employees, Williams reportedly reached for a gun tucked into his waistband. Employees fled the restaurant and called 911.

Castle Rock police officer Jeff Gann responded and spotted Williams at the Gateway Shell Station across the street from McDonalds attempting to put gas into a stolen 1989 Jeep Cherokee, the release said. When Gann confronted Williams at gunpoint, Wlliams dove into the stolen vehicle and fled. A pursuit ensued northbound on Interstate 5.

Law enforcement from the Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office, Lewis County Sheriffs Office, Toledo Police Department, Chehalis Police Department, Centralia Police Department, along with Washington State Patrol troopers, joined the I-5 pursuit. Spike strips were deployed at least twice, but even after blowing out one of the tires, the driver still did not stop.

About 30 minutes into the chase, police say Williams exited the freeway at Exit 79 northbound in Chehalis. When his vehicle became disabled, he then fled on foot and was caught following a short foot chase by Lewis County sheriffs deputies.

Williams was taken to the Cowlitz County Jail where he is being held on $75,000 bail.
In its second major display of military might in one week, the US dropped its most powerful non-nuclear bomb on ISIS positions in a remote part of Afghanistan.
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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 startup trying to steer the rapidly expanding self-driving car industry in a new direction.

Luminar kept its work closely guarded until Thursday, when the startup 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, Uber and major automakers.

Lidar systems work by bouncing lasers 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 lasers. Russell says Luminar's version, consisting of its own patented hardware and software, will provide 50 times more 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 wasn't 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 don't have to constantly baby-sit and take control" of autonomous cars.

If Luminar's lidar lives up to its promise, some of the world's biggest technology and auto companies may have been upstaged by a precocious entrepreneur who says he memorized all 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 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 the company's infancy.

One of Luminar's early investors is a venture capital firm backed by Thiel and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. Russell also 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 CEO of his company. Most of Luminar's roughly 150 employees are older than him, including his former mentor in photonics, 45-year-old Jason Eichenholz, now the company's chief technology officer. Russell's father, a former commercial real estate specialist, is the company's chief financial officer. Now Russell will have to prove he has indeed invented something revolutionary.

While 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, CEO of Efficient Power Conversion, which supplies chips for lidar. The systems currently cost thousands of dollars apiece.

"You don't 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 being manufacturing 10,000 lidar units at a 50,000-square-foot plant in Orlando, Florida, this year. Russell won't disclose what they'll cost. About 100 of the lidar systems will be tested by four makers of autonomous cars that Luminar isn't identifying. The partners include technology companies and automakers, Russell said.

The Lidar Landscape

Luminar will be competing against other lidar suppliers such as Velodyne and Quanergy Systems, which have each raised $150 million so far. Velodyne's backers include Ford Motor, 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 spun off from Google's 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 lidar's 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.

Waymo's 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 isn't impressed. "It's very easy to build an autonomous vehicle that is safe 99 percent of the time," he said. "It's that other 1 percent that's the tricky part."

Associated Press
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If you are in a dilemma about which photo to set as your profile picture on social media, let a stranger choose it for you. It will convey better first impressions, a new study has found. Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Australia, found that images selected by strangers conveyed more favourable first impressions than images people select for themselves.

This is in contrast to previous researches that showed that people tend to portray themselves more favourably than others. "Our findings suggest that people make poor choices when selecting flattering images of themselves for online profile pictures, which affects other people's perception of them," said David White, lead author of the study.

The study involved 102 students who were asked to select two out of 12 photos of their own face that they would like to set as profile picture in three online network contexts -- social networks, dating sites and professional networks. The participants were then asked to do the same for 12 images of a randomly selected stranger.

"People tend to select images that highlight positive personality traits in line with the context of the website that the image was for," the findings published the journal Cognitive Research revealed. "If you want to put your best face forward, it makes sense to ask someone else to choose your picture," White noted.
Aditya Madanapalle

Two long running Nasa missions, the Hubble Space Telescope and the Cassini mission to Saturn, are providing the evidence necessary for further scientific investigations into extraterrestrial life.

Global subsurface oceans on other planetary bodies in the Solar System are prime locations where life could exist outside the Earth. The Cassini team published a research paper showing that there is a chemical source of energy on Saturn's moon, Enceladus. The Hubble team has published additional evidence of plumes of water erupting from the surface of Europa, a moon of Jupiter.

Life as we know it on Earth requires liquid water, a source of chemical energy to support metabolism, and the right mix of ingredients including oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorous and sulfur. Cassini has detected the presence of nearly all the requirements on Enceladus, except for phosphorus and sulfur.

Scientists suspect that the rocky core of Enceladus may have phosphorous and sulfur as well, considering the elements were found in meteorites that are thought to be chemically similar to the kind of rocky core Enceladus has.

If only Cassini had the right instruments needed to study the plumes erupting from Enceladus, the Nasa researchers would have more direct evidence on the subsurface ocean on the icy moon. Unfortunately, Cassini does not have the required instruments as the plumes were discovered by Cassini only after making the long trip to Saturn.

Cassini only had instruments designed to investigate the outer atmosphere of another of Saturn's moons, Titan. The same instruments were used to study the plumes of water erupting from Enceladus, and found that 98 percent of the plume is water, with trace amounts of hydrogen, ammonia and methane.

The finding indicates that if microbes are on Enceladus, they can thrive in the environment. Hunter Waite, lead author of the Cassini study says, "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".

The plumes of water from icy moons with global subsurface oceans such as Enceladus and Europa, allow scientists to study the subsurface oceans without having to drill through the ice sheets covering most of the planets, and sending robotic probes into the oceans.

On Enceladus, @CassiniSaturn detected hydrogen gas pouring into the subsurface ocean from hydrothermal activity on the seafloor #OceanWorlds pic.twitter.com/IdDjzHisUP  NASA (@NASA) April 13, 2017

Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for Nasa's Science Mission Directorate says "This is the closest we've come, so far, to identifying a place with some of the ingredients needed for a habitable environment. 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." Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist says "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."

The Juno spacecraft is in orbit around Jupiter, but the mission has been designed in such a way that Juno does not go anywhere near Europa, to avoid contaminating the icy moon in case it had life. The Hubble space telescope is observing Europa from a distance for evidence of plumes of water, similar to the ones seen on Enceladus. New evidence points to a region on Europa where activity suspected to be water plumes have been consistently observed years apart. Observations from the Galileo spacecraft was used to corroborate the Hubble findings, to show that the region was unusually warm. William Sparks of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland said "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". Although Europa was long suspected to have a global subsurface ocean, scientists only confirmed it last year after directly imaging what were suspected to be plumes erupting from the surface using the Hubble Space Telescope.

Probable plumes on Europa seen by @NASAHubble in 2014 & again in 2016 add evidence of intermittent eruptions from surface #OceanWorlds pic.twitter.com/HAgvTpLjpH  NASA (@NASA) April 13, 2017

The plumes on Europa are an attractive site for future robotic explorations of the subsurface ocean. The Nasa Europa Clipper mission planned to be launched in the 2020s is an autonomous drone meant to explore the ocean and hunt for evidence of life. A fleet of underwater drones is being tested in the oceans of the Earth, in preparation for the Europa clipper mission.

Jim Green, Director of Planetary Science, at Nasa says, "If there are plumes on Europa, as we now strongly suspect, with the Europa Clipper we will be ready for them."

Nasa accompanied the announcement with the launch of a sub site, dedicated to the known sources of water in outer space. The Orion Nebula produces enough water every day to replace all the water in the oceans of the Earth sixty times over. Water molecules have been found in accretion disks around stars, during the phase in stellar evolution when planets are being formed. There is evidence for liquid water in the interiors of asteroids and comets. Mars once had an ocean on its surface, similar to the one found on Earth.

There are believed to be oceans on three of the moons of Jupiter, including Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. Ganymede could even have a saltwater ocean. Water is believed to exist on three Saturn moons as well, Enceladus, Titan, and Mimas.

Triton, a moon of Neptune, might have a subsurface ocean, but this is a theory that requires confirmation. Mysterious fault lines on Pluto could also be evidence of a subsurface ocean. Water vapour has been discovered in the atmosphere of HAT-P-11b, an exoplanet 120 light years away.

Nasa's Spitzer, Hubble and Kepler missions are investigating exoplanets across the universe. Nasa will soon add the most powerful space telescope ever built, the James Webb Space Telescope to its arsenal.

Among other objectives, one of the aims of the James Webb Space telescope is to investigate the possibility of life on the Trappist-1 exoplanets. Seven earth sized planets in orbit around an ultracool dwarf star 40 light years away, is a promising candidate for the presence of extraterrestrial life.
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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.

Reuters
tech2 News Staff

Shenzen in China has something of a reputation for being a hub for spare parts and accessories. Its home to the manufacturing facilities of the electronic world, after all. The creator of the YouTube channel Strange Parts decided to tap into Shenzens market and find out if he could build a fully functioning Apple iPhone from parts bought off the street.

As it turns out, he could.

The choice of building an iPhone 6s rather than an iPhone 7 was an easy one. Spare parts for the newer iPhone were just too hard to come by. It made more sense to attempt to build an older model.

Scotty Allen, the creator of said channel, dropped by Shenzen to build his phone and recorded the whole experience on video.

Allens original plan was to literally build the iPhone from scratch. This included assembling the LCD and digitiser unit, soldering the motherboard, and more. As it turns out, this wasnt so easy. Some of the parts were hard to come by and a lot of the equipment was too expensive to purchase for this project.

Regardless, Allen did his best and in the end, managed to build himself a fully functional iPhone 6s 16 GB model in Rose Gold. Rose Gold wasnt his first choice of colour, but he couldnt get a black TouchID module and an appropriate back.

For the screen, Allen purchased a broken screen and had its LCD replaced. A far cry from building one himself, but it was the only option he had.

The motherboard (or logic board) was even more complicated to get. The problem, Allen found, was that Apple cryptographically ties the logic board to the Touch ID sensor. This is to prevent tampering with the TouchID sensor, but this also means that you cant pair a random sensor with a random board. They must both be part of the same set and cryptographically paired by Apple.

While its possible to get a separate Touch ID and logic board unit and make a functional iPhone, Touch ID wont work and the home button will just be a button and not a sensor. Allen didnt want this.

Owing to these limitations, Allen had to buy the whole board and attached sensor. It took him a while to get this unit.

The rest of the components were easy to find. The battery, he said, was dirt cheap, costing him around $5 (around Rs 322) and appeared to be genuine.

And thats about it. With these essential components and a little bit of help from the locals, Allen built himself a fully functional iPhone 6s.

The question thats still nagging at the back of your mind is, of course, the price. Whats the point of building it yourself if its too expensive, right?

Well, the finished product did not cost more than $300 (around Rs 19,000), says Allen. Allen, however, spent a lot more than that, something closer to $1,000 (around Rs 65,000) which is more than the price of a new phone. He spent that money on parts and equipment he didnt need, but coupled with the amount of time and trouble it took to get everything together, it may not have been worth it.

For the sake of proving a point, wed say it was more than worth it.
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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 capitalization of 331 trillion won ($293 billion), the South Korean firm has emerged as Asia's 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 year's Galaxy Note 7 fires. But the stock is losing steam, up just 3% so far in April, and some investors are questioning the company's 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. "There's no reason to be the first to jump off, but those worries will grow as time passes." Samsung's 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 Samsung's 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 percent 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. "We're basically going to see the chip profit double this year from 2016 and people will start considering whether that can be matched next year," HDC's Park said. "As time passes we'll 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.

Reuters
PTI

Railways will go ahead with the proposal for running trains at a speed of 200 kms an hour on the Delhi-Chandigarh route with French technical help to reduce the travelling time to about two hours.

SNCF - the French railways - will submit the execution strategy and implementation model with detailed cost of the semi-high speed project involving upgradation of the 245 km route.

Currently, Shatabdi Express covers the 245 km distance in about three hours 30 minutes traveling at a maximum speed of 110 kmph.

It was decided at a high-level delegation meeting of SNCF and Indian Railways to opt for speed of 200 km/hr and French railways was asked to prepare the draft document for it, said a senior Railway Ministry official involved with the semi-high speed project.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today met a high-level French delegation and discussed the possibility of running semi-high speed trains on the Delhi-Chandigarh sector.

It was agreed to explore the upgradation of the existing track to enable 200 km/hr speed run on Chandigarh route with French help, said the official.

The French team will submit the final report with details of cost analysis by October.

According to a rough estimate, it is likely to cost about Rs 46 lakh per kilometre for running trains at 200 km/hr, which includes rolling stock, and signal and track upgradation on the Chandigarh corridor.
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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, 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 to 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 and Alphabet'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.

Reuters
Pahela Baishakh being celebrated

Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla calendar, is being celebrated on Friday amid traditional festivities and enthusiasm across the country under tight security cover.



Different socio-cultural organisations and institutions have chalked out various programmes to mark the country's biggest cultural festival at the advent of the New Year.



True to their centuries' old tradition, people from all walks of life gathered at different popular and historic spots at dawn in the capital and elsewhere to welcome the Bangla New Year, 1424 with new hopes and aspirations.



Mughal Emperor Akbar started the Bangla calendar year in 1556 and the celebration of Pahela Baishakh began during his rule. Now it has become an integral part of the Bangali's cultural heritage and tradition and turned into a day of merriment.



Men, wearing panjabi-pyjama, women, attired in saree with red borders, and children in colorful dresses have been thronging traditional Baishakhi Mela (fair) and other cultural functions in the city and elsewhere in the country.



People have been taking 'Panta Bhat (watery rice)' with fried fish, lentils, green chili and onions at home, restaurants and fairs following the rich tradition of Bangla culture.



The day is a public holiday.



On the occasion, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages conveying their New Year's greetings to the people of the country and all Bengal-speaking people across the globe.



Traders and shopkeepers across the country will open 'Halkhata' (new ledger accounts) and entertain customers and visitors with sweets on the first day of the New Year as part of the tradition and culture.



Thousands of people, especially the youths wearing traditional dresses, have thronged traditional venues at different parts of the capital, including Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka University, Shahbagh, Dhanmondi Lake and Hatirjheel, and different spots to celebrate the day.



Meanwhile, an eye-catching amphitheatre and a grand musical dancing fountain, set up at the city's Hatirjheel Lake to attract more visitors and tourists, have been opened as Pahela Baishakh gifts for the city dwellers.



Inaugurating those today, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the newly-constructed architectural establishments -- the amphitheatre and the musical fountain -- are Pahela Baishakh gifts for the city dwellers and the country's people.



The most colourful celebration of the Bangla New Year begins at the Ramna Batamul at dawn with an elaborate programme undertaken by Chhayanaut, a leading cultural troupe with Tagore's famous song 'Esho hey Baishakh, esho, esho (come O Baishakh, come)' under the banyan tree at the Ramna Park.



The celebration by the organisation has reached 50 this year.



Dhaka University authorities have decided to use Bangla mandatory in official activities from this Pahela Baishakh.



Students of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University took out a 'Mongol Shuvajatra (procession of good wishes)' in the morning as part of the carnival led by DU Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique which will parade from Charukala (Fine Arts of DU) to Bangla Motor in the city.



There is a ban on wearing masks during 'Mongol Shovajatra', carrying matches, lighters, handbags and vuvuzelas.



Local administrations arranged discussion programmes and fairs in their respective areas to spread the message and recognition of Pahela Baishakh while foreign missions and embassies will organise it to make it known to others.



State-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar and the private TV channels will air special programmes on the day, while supplements will be published in newspapers.



However, Dhaka Metropolitan Police has imposed various restrictions on Pahela Baishakh celebrations to avert any untoward incident.



Around 11,000 uniformed policemen along with plainclothes ones have been deployed for ensuring security during the celebrations though there is no specific security alert.



However, the programmes to be held at open spaces in Dhaka University area have been asked to shut by 6:00pm. "Elsewhere in Dhaka, those will have to be shut by 5:00pm."



The celebration venues will remain under CCTV surveillance. -- Dhaka, UNB


Nation celebrates Pahela Baishakh amid calls to fight communalism

More than four decades after Baishakh celebrations became a weapon of the Bengali's political war against Pakistani state communalism and since Bangladesh emerged as a secular state, the Bangla New Year has annually returned to record similar national achievements in different times but with a similar context.



Octogenarian artiste-cultural activist Sanjida Khatun has said the "war will continue" as the call in this year's Pahela Baishakh is for raising a powerful voice against communalism with the Awami League, the party that led Bangladesh in the Liberation War with the spirit of secularism, is in power.



Sanjida Khatun`s organisation Chhayanaut has organised one of the main events at Ramna Batamul at dawn on Friday, two days after the hanging of militant leader Mufti Hannan on charges of killing three people in a grenade attack in Sylhet in 2004.



Hannan was also sentenced to death for the murder of 10 people in the 2001 bombing at Chhayanaut's Pahela Baishakh programme.



Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Arts has organised the 'Mangal Shobhajatra', the main procession celebrating the Bangla New Year, with a renewed call for a rejection of communalism across the country.



UNESCO`s recognition of the Pahela Baishakh procession last year as one of the Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity will add a new dimension to the celebrations this year.



In February this year, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor announced a plan to expand the programme throughout the country.



But some radical Islamist organisations like Hifazat-e Islam and Awami Olama League called on the government to cancel the plan, branding such celebrations as conflicting with Islam.



For his part, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan sees no security threat over the celebrations.



Asked whether additional security measures had been put in place following the execution of the HuJI leader, the home minister said: "We don't see any sign of a threat...Our security forces have done whatever is needed.



Though President Md Abdul Hamid has in a message on the eve of the Bangla New Year said Bengali culture of a thousand of years is imbued with non-communal spirit where there is no place for fundamentalism, militancy or terrorism, the governments approval of demands made by communal forces is 'frightening some people'.



Several quarters have voiced concerns over 'the possibility of a rise in militancy' as a result of the governments agreeing with radical Islamists' demand for the removal of the Lady Justice statue from the Supreme Court premises and a recognition of top Qawmi madrasa degree.



Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, however, has said the party is not forging any alliance with the hardliners.



Sanjida, who has seen it all - the rise of militancy and the cultural war against it - spoke to bdnews24.com on the eve of the first day of the Bangla year 1424.



"I've seen how the progressive society is veering towards the right. I've witnessed both cultural activities and militancy."



"This parallel war was always there. We'll have to continue it now," she added.



She also has a word of advice on how to fight the war. "We will have to reach out to the rural people with the story of the Liberation War, history, humanity and the injustice that is being carried out in the name of religion."



Amidst all these worries and anxieties, the people of Bangladesh have joined the celebrations for all.



After accepting the demand to remove the statue from the Supreme Court premises, the Awami League has cancelled its Pahela Baishakh procession in Dhaka, citing public suffering as the reason.



Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, however, has asked the people not to get confused about the Bangla New Year celebrations. She has urged all the people to celebrate the occasion peacefully saying the festival has nothing to do with any religion.



Defending the 'Mangal Shobhajatra', she has said, The art of making clay dolls, pots and other decorative pieces is rooted in our tradition.



Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, one of the key organisers of the procession when it was introduced in 1989, said, "The procession is a cultural affair, a cultural movement. It's a fight against the dark forces and evil practices. The dark forces are trying to stop this procession."



The theme of this year's 'Mangal Shobhajatra' is taken from poet Rabidranath Tagore's line: "Anandaloke Mangalaloke Biraja Satyasundara".



It started at 9:30am from the Faculty of Fine Arts and will end at the same place after parading through Shahbagh intersection, Ruposi Bangla Hotel, Hare Road, Matsya Bhaban intersection, High Court, Doyel Chaattar, Bangla Academy and the TSC.



The Chhayanaut programme started hours before that. The New Year was invited through Ragas at 6:10am. A 'Palagan' (folk musical) was also organised.



A host of cultural organisations, educational institutions, government and non-government offices have organised events to celebrate the Bangla New Year.



Traditional dishes will be served at jails, orphanages, hospitals and children's homes on the day.



People throughout Bangladesh have 'Paanta Bhat' (soaked rice) with smashed lentil or potato and green or red chilli. Fishes, especially Hilsha, are integral to the celebrations of the Bengalis. But this year the prime minister has urged all not to keep Hilsha on their platter because the breeding season is ongoing. -- bdnews24.com






Josepheta Mukobe (left), principal secretary for the ministry of devolution and planning, and Liu Xianfa (right), the Chinese ambassador to Kenya, announce 16 million shillings worth of food donations for drought relief on April 7 in Nairobi. Liu Hongjie/China Daily.

The Chinese community has yet again put a smile on many hunger stricken Kenyans living in arid and semi-arid areas, following a recent donation of foodstuffs worth Ksh16 million ($154, 664).

The donation, which consisted of 144 metric tonnes of wheat flour, maize flour and cooking oil, was donated by the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA) in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Kenya and the Kenya Overseas Chinese Association.

Speaking at the flagging-off ceremony for the food donation on April 6, Josepheta Mukobe, principal secretary of the ministry of devolution and planning, lauded the Chinese community for its timely response to the countrys drought.

"This donation will go a long way to aid the drought situation," she said. "We express our gratitude to KCETA and its member companies, the Kenya Overseas Chinese Association, the Chinese government and the other partners for reaching out to a friend in need."

Mukobe noted that the donation was another testimony to the strong relationship and cooperation between Kenya and China and challenged other international communities to follow suit.

Liu Xianfa, China's ambassador to Kenya, said the donation expressed the goodwill of Chinese nationals in Kenya.

"This donation is not only a reflection of the brotherhood between the Chinese and Kenyan people, but also a display of the responsibility and the commitment of China," he said.

He said the Chinese community in Kenya has always been working hand-in-hand with their Kenyan brothers and sisters to promote the social and economic development of the country.
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SPRINGFIELD  In the wake of a publicly funded Illinois university trying to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a graduation speaker in the midst of a fiscal crisis, a state lawmaker is reintroducing a bill that would ban the practice.

Northeastern Illinois University's board was shocked last week to hear that the school had signed a contract to pay former Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett $30,000 to give a commencement speech. Interim President Richard Helldobler said the school doesn't have to get board permission to make purchases below $50,000. He defended the decision against questions about why the school would pay such an amount given its current financial situation.

"For our students, this is the first commencement in their family for many of them. Why should they have any less?" he asked the board. "To me, it sends a message that first generation minority students should somehow have a lesser commencement than someone at an elite institution. It is a classist and elitist argument, and that is a hill I'm willing to die on."

The school is heavily reliant on state funds and the ongoing budget battle in Springfield is holding up appropriations. To save money, the school cancelled classes on April 11 and 12 and plans to do so again one day in May.

State Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, says this is exactly why taxpayer-funded schools shouldn't be allowed to pay commencement speakers. He is filing a bill that would ban the practice in Illinois.

"It certainly isn't the best use of public funds at a time when the university's laying off workers and furloughing people," he said. "And if you expect to get paid for that sort of speech, you don't deserve to give that sort of speech."

The same version of his bill that was filed last legislative session would allow private funding for speakers.

The university is located on the north side of Chicago and has about 10,000 students.

After public outcry, the Chicago Tribune confirmed that Jarrett agreed to give the speech for free.
SPRINGFIELD  Gov. Bruce Rauner pledged Friday to veto a Democratic-backed measure that would allow the state to cover abortions for its employees and Medicaid recipients.

The governor's office released a statement saying the Republican opposes legislation that would remove prohibitions on state employee health insurance and Medicaid funds from covering abortions. The proposal would also safeguard abortion access in Illinois by striking language in current law that expresses the state's intent to criminalize the procedure if the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized it is ever overturned.

"Governor Rauner is committed to protecting women's reproductive rights under current Illinois law," said Eleni Demertzis, a Rauner spokeswoman. "However, recognizing the sharp divisions of opinion of taxpayer funding of abortion, he does not support HB40."

The legislation is sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz of Chicago, who said Rauner's opposition reveals a lack of regard for the health and economic independence of low-income women.

"The art of discrimination is alive and well in the governor's office," she said, calling the move an attempt to placate his party's "far-right."

Feigenholtz said her measure is needed because Republican President Donald Trump represents an unprecedented threat to women's reproductive rights.

Trump has said he would nominate U.S. Supreme Court justices who oppose abortion rights, and on Thursday he signed legislation allowing states to deny federal money for family planning services to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

The legislation cleared a House committee in February and awaits a floor vote when lawmakers return from a two-week break. Rauner's message could wield a fatal blow to the bill in a chamber where it likely lacks the votes needed for a veto override. Feigenholtz said no Republican representatives are supporting her measure.

During Rauner's 2014 run for governor, he insisted he had no social agenda. Since taking office, he has angered some social conservatives by signing legislation they oppose, including bills expanding access to birth control and requiring physicians who refuse to perform abortions to inform patients where they can go instead.

Several conservative groups, such as Illinois Right to Life and the Archdiocese of Chicago, have called on Rauner to veto the bill.

Republican state Rep. David McSweeney of Barrington Hills recently urged the governor in an interview with a conservative blog to speak out against what he called "radical" legislation that he claimed would increase taxpayer spending to expand abortion access.

Democrats are already highlighting the debate as a campaign issue. Billionaire and 2018 gubernatorial contender J.B. Pritzker released a statement Friday chastising Rauner for misleading voters by calling himself "pro-choice" yet adopting Trump's "extreme agenda."

Eighteen other states have laws on their books that could be used to criminalize abortion if the landmark ruling is overturned, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.

Illinois is not the only state re-examining abortion access under Trump. Oregon is considering a proposal that would require most health care plans to cover abortions. Fifteen other states already help fund abortion coverage.
How can we create jobs, improve the environment, reduce the government deficit, and improve relations with Mexico and our Central American allies? It sounds impossible, but actually its simple  stop mandating that corn-based ethanol be added to gasoline.

The mandate to add ethanol made from corn to gasoline was originally promoted to further energy independence and reduce greenhouse gases. It does neither, however, and it has never made any sense. Now its shortcomings are becoming even more apparent.

This ineffective policy comes at a great cost. In addition to the actual cost of the subsidy to farmers for increased corn production, we are most likely leaving the environment worse off. To meet the ethanol mandate, there is energy-intensive cultivation of corn, often on newly-planted marginal land. The transport of ethanol, which must be by truck, is also energy intensive. Together, the production and transport of ethanol offset all or almost all of any energy savings from substituting ethanol for oil in gasoline. Furthermore, because ethanol contains less energy than oil, using it in gasoline does not lower emissions as more fuel must be combusted.

At the same time, fracking technology and the growth of solar and wind power have enabled us to export both crude oil and refined products in ever-increasing volumes, so the objective of using ethanol to achieve energy independence is much less important.

The additional land put into corn production has often come at the expense of wildlife habitat. The National Wildlife Federation recently issued a report showing that the corn ethanol mandate is responsible for the destruction of millions of acres of wildlife habitat and degradation of water quality.

If corn were used for food instead of for ethanol, two beneficial things would happen. First, we would create more high-paying jobs in the oil and gas industry as demand increased and output was expanded. On balance, this would come without additional environmental harm or increased emissions.

Second, corn prices would fall. This would lower our domestic food prices, especially for meat and dairy products. At the same time, Mexico and our Central American allies are distressed over the increase in the price of corn which has almost doubled since the ethanol mandate began. We export corn to Mexico and other countries, and it is an important food source, especially for lower-income people. As we go back to exporting more corn with an end to the ethanol mandate, our allies will be grateful as corn prices decline.

It is clear, then, that ending the ethanol mandate would create jobs in the oil and gas industry, improve the environment, reduce the federal deficit, and lower corn prices, improving our relations with Mexico and Central American countries. Why not? It should be obvious to members of Congress that they need to act.
Many small towns across the country are struggling to stay alive  and now the media is holding up Cairo as a microcosm of that struggle.

The Cairo leaders interviewed are right that government has failed their community. Illinois, like much of the country, has been locked for decades in a devastating cycle of disinvestment. Our state has failed to invest in communities like Cairo at a time when they have been under assault from global economic forces such as outsourcing and automation, draining away the industrial jobs that once sustained middle-class families.

Now, with the factories closed, the jobs gone, and the middle class vanishing, Illinois government works only for the wealthy and powerful as our governor focuses his policy efforts on destroying unions, reducing wages and benefits, and obliterating our social safety net. To do this, he pits communities against one another based on geography and class through classic "divide and rule" tactics. The only beneficiaries are his wealthy donors and big corporations.

But with a commitment to unity across the diverse regions of our state  recognizing that we are inextricably connected  we can come together and begin making massive investments in jobs and infrastructure. We can remake river towns like Cairo into thriving tourist destinations.

Cairos geography at the confluence of two of Americas busiest waterways, the Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, makes it promising for more development to attract travelers from across the country. Indeed, tourism is an unused opportunity for Illinois all along the Mississippi River. Imagine if the state made capital investments in our river towns by funding and promoting local arts, theater, and hotels and restaurants. Add in a statewide tourism marketing plan, and our river towns will compete on a national stage for tourism dollars. Regionally, we will draw the Louisville, Nashville, Kansas City, and Chicago weekend crowds to our Illinois river towns.

Yet the investments must go beyond tourism alone. Our state needs a large public works program, similar to what we saw during the 1930s when President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal brought our nation out of the Great Depression. Across Illinois, we can still see the results of the New Deal through the parks, libraries, post offices, and other assets that were built eight decades ago.

We, too, could create thousands of middle-class jobs by building things that will still be here eight decades from now. We must invest in public school infrastructure, water and sewer mains, and roads and bridges that are rapidly decaying. Such a program would provide communities with the physical assets they need to attract still more jobs and investment  creating a virtuous (rather than vicious) cycle where investment in communities leads to prosperity for working people and families.

In addition, all communities  from Cairo to Chicago  would benefit from a change in our approach to funding public schools. School districts in Illinois are overly reliant on local property taxes  making a childs zip code a stronger indicator for achievement than hard work. Districts in poor areas get far less money than districts in rich areas, hurting urban and rural communities alike. In fact, Illinois has the nations largest funding gap based on where kids grow up, with schools in high-income districts receiving about 20 percent more funding than schools in low-income districts. Instead, we should increase funding of all public schools by eliminating corporate tax loopholes and making the states wealthiest residents pay their fair share. Pairing economic developments with real changes to the school funding formula will help river towns, and indeed all communities in need, to grow populations and create pathways for prosperity.

Leaders from both political parties in Illinois have spent decades promising solutions to our problems. They havent delivered. People in Cairo and other neglected parts of Illinois are tired of hollow rhetoric and public policies that favor the wealthy, penalize working families, and divide our state.

We cant throw darts at 40 years of disinvestment. We need a statewide, systemic commitment to building a new Illinois for the 21st Century. It has to start with government, it has to tackle jobs, it has to address education  and it has to help all of us. We need a New Deal for Illinois  one that invests in people no matter where they live. Thats the promise I will keep as the next governor of our state.
Thumbs down to the 653 days Illinois has gone without a budget. And, hey, its not like this week is a surprise or anything because our lawmakers are on spring break. Sounds like a perfect time to take a vacation, right? Cmon, its time to get something in place. We, the people of this state, are sick and tired of being the butt of the joke. Lets get a budget so the state can pull itself out of this mess. Its going to take a lot of time to get things right again, and the sooner a budget gets put into place, the sooner we can start the recovery.

Thumbs down to HUD and its handling of the public housing situation. HUD officials announced Monday that those living in the McBride and Elmwood housing complexes will have to move out in the coming months so that it can demolish the run-down-housing. We said it before, and it bears repeating  this is no way to treat people. These people are a part of Cairo. They grew up there. They live there. They are a part of the fabric that is Cairo. To expect them to get up and move without any anger is just not realistic. You have decimated a whole community and you dont care, one resident said Monday during a public forum with HUD officials, echoing the sentiment of most of the crowd gathered. This decision very well could decimate the city, and we wont stand for that.

Thumbs up to the Carbondale City Council passing a resolution Tuesday that makes the city a safe and welcoming community for all residents, regardless of their religion, ethnicity or immigration status. The measure, originally proposed by a group of citizens, essentially says all residents will receive equal protection from local law enforcement regardless of immigration status, and that the city will not allow its resources to be deputized by federal law enforcement for immigration enforcement. This is simply writing down on paper what we do here anyway, said Mayor Mike Henry.

Thumbs up to two fishermen on Cedar Lake who pulled two other distressed boaters to safety this past weekend. The fishermen, Ronald Modglin and Bret Wojciechowski, witnessed a boat capsize as they were crossing the lake. They then pulled the two from the water and took them to a nearby boat launch, where paramedics were waiting. Its this kind of selflessness that makes Southern Illinois a great place to live. Kudos to Modglin and Wojciechowski for the bravery under fire.

Thumbs down to Lyft, a rideshare app that has ceased operations in Carbondale. The San Francisco-based transportation network company launched in Carbondale in February shortly after the City Council passed an ordinance allowing TNCs to operate alongside conventional taxi companies within city limits. That same ordinance, though, is the reason Lyft left the city, saying, the regulations place overly onerous and cumbersome restrictions on passengers and drivers that prevent us from providing the level of service that those who rely on Lyft have come to expect. Why come to town, and just leave weeks later? Do your homework first.

Thumbs up to Ron and Carole Reed for nearly 40 years as proprietors of Cookseys Bait Shop, located on Illinois 148 near Crab Orchard Lake. They are planning to retire and have the shop for sale. For 40 years, anglers and hunters have relied on the Reeds for bait and supplies. And, for nearly 40 years, the same hunters and fishermen have hung out at the bait shop spinning tales. The mom and pop bait shop is a disappearing slice of Americana. Cooksey's will be missed.
The man accused of leading officers in a 45-minute standoff on Wednesday is facing more charges.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell announced that Aaron Daryl Maldonado, 23, of 123 Springdale Drive, is facing five additional charges.

Our officers, as well as those of the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, were in the process of serving a warrant when area residents reported to these officers of two more burglaries that just occurred, the sheriff said. So were serving a warrant for burglary, and nearly catch him in the act of two more.

However, just as the standoff began, nearby residents reported to officers that they allegedly saw Maldonado carrying a TV into his apartment.

After deputies took Maldonado into custody, they found the TV, which was reportedly stolen.

A resident near the apartment complex also reported someone burglarized their home.

The Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office charged Maldonado with petit larceny and two counts each of malicious injury to real property and second-degree burglary.

OCSO spokesman Richard Walker said that during Maldonados bond hearing on Thursday before Orangeburg County Magistrate Jacob Gillens, investigators Rob Boyne and Jarred Kittrell stated that he has been a complete danger to the community since his arrival in Orangeburg in November from Florida.

The investigators asked Gillens to deny bond.

Gillens granted the motion after investigators informed the court of Maldonados extensive criminal history in Florida.

Have you seen your criminal history, sir? Gillens asked. It is not very flattering.

Ravenell said that, even during the 15-minute hearing, OCSO investigators still working on the cases were able to interrupt the hearing to inform the court of other crimes yet unsolved in the Springdale area now have evidence leading back to Maldonaldo. Charges will be presented in the case against him, if it proves true, the sheriff said.

This individual has even stated he came to South Carolina to do this very thing  steal other peoples possessions, Ravenell said. Were simply thankful that in his complete disregard for anyone but himself, no one was injured.

Just hours before appearing in court on the charges brought by the OCSO, Maldonado appeared before Orangeburg Municipal Judge Barney Houser for first-degree burglary.

Houser set his bond at $50,000.

If convicted of first-degree burglary, Maldonado could be sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

ODPS officers charged Maldonado in a burglary of his brothers apartment that took place on April 6.

When deputies assisted the ODPS officers in serving the warrant on Maldonado on Wednesday, thats when he ended up barricading himself inside his apartment.

He fled the apartment and surrendered to law enforcement after deputies fired a low-grade canister of pepper spray into the residence.
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.
I have believed for a long time now that Donald Trump was elected president partly because of the behavior of companies like United Airlines and its large and growing fraternity of institutions that find the individual customer an inconvenience.

We live in an age where we have to take what we are handed by the institutions that are supposed to serve us. We live in an age of frustration. The daily frustration of life has bubbled up in politics, on social media and even in graffiti.

These are some of the institutions of our torment:

 The banks that leave you half an hour on the telephone, pleading to speak to someone  a human being  who might, just might, help you.

 The telephone companies that want you to crawl around the floor, at the behest of directions from a call center in Bangladesh, doing your own repairs.

 The internet providers that will not believe that their systems could need fixing and will only send a technician when all logic and patience is exhausted and someone in the Philippines is satisfied that you do know what you are saying and that English is, in fact, your first language.

 The medical insurance company that has a computer converse with you about a problem with your account.

Nowadays services are provided for high, unexpected fees. Vendors, such as hotels and car rental companies, dissemble about costs. They use marketing to bait and obfuscate  Amtrak excels at this. The fine print is there for the purpose of trapping the hapless customer. The price of everything is calculated as to what can be extracted from you at the time of purchase.

Of course, Trump was not the answer. Electing him may have been electing a fox to protect the chickens. But it was a cry for help from many voters.

Big is not beautiful when it comes to services. It means that you, the customer, are nothing, an impediment, a nuisance, an awkwardness, a de minimis statistic, a grain of sand on the beach of corporate wealth.

Most especially, you are to be kept at arms length, at the end of a computerized telephone system, to be contacted only to upsell or to threaten, if you are a day late with your payment.

When it comes to large institutions  primarily corporations but not-for-profits, like the AARP and the unions, are as guilty  the adage that the customer is always right is inverted: The customer is always wrong and should be fleeced and not heard.

Moreover the customer is a nuisance, an impediment to corporate well-being, and should be kept as far from corporate comfort as possible, preferably by employing computers and automated telephone systems. If human contact is necessary, that sort of customer impudence can be handled by call centers in faraway places.

Limited English is an asset; bloody-mindedness, a virtue. Customer insubordination must be checked firmly and early.

And the contracts. Oh, the contracts! The poor victim who was manhandled off a flight he had paid for had a contract with United, allowing the airline to overbook flights (a kind of fraud, selling a seat they do not have). He did not know he was party to such a contract.

We all have these unilateral contracts  with banks, credit card companies, internet providers, telephone companies  stuffed down our throats all the time. In fact, any time you deal with Big Inc. You pay, they dictate.

I believe that is why some people voted for Trump: They were mad as hell and  not going to take this anymore. Looks as though they were conned again.
For the last six years, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has literally been allowed to get away with murder. This past week his forces once again gassed their own people to death, including women and children, demonstrating Assads complete disregard for the sanctity of human life. With the international community unwilling to take the necessary steps to bring an end to the carnage, the United States took action.

Dozens of missiles were fired by American forces at a Syrian military airfield in response to the chemical weapons attack, which killed scores of people. President Donald Trump has now called for "all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria.

Despite stark warnings by the United States not to use chemical weapons, Assads government did just that in 2013. Unfortunately, the Obama administration made a huge strategic error by declining to live up to our word, and in essence choosing to look away from Assads gross violation of Americas stated red line. In total, more than a quarter million people have been killed in fighting in Syria, with millions more displaced.

The events have been disturbing at a level that is hard to even comprehend. Syrian civilians have been summarily executed. The Syrian military has bombed hospitals, clinics and aid workers trying to bring relief to the injured. Barrel bombs, designed to inflict maximum casualties, have been dropped wantonly on civilian areas not by mistake, but by design.

Today, Russia is continuing to empower Assad by blocking diplomatic moves to hold Syria accountable for its actions. Essentially, Assad is being given diplomatic cover at Turtle Bay so that Russia can retain a foothold and influence in the Middle East.

As news began to break of the latest chemical weapon attack, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations put forward a narrative completely divorced from reality, suggesting that Syrian airstrikes of rebel weapons on the ground released the chemicals that caused the massacre. Such a ridiculous assertion has been widely rejected by experts who contend that the rebels, with their limited military capabilities, certainly do not have access to chemical weapons.

The United Nations and its ability to act against Syria is being cynically stymied by continuous Russian intransigence. Just days before the airstrike, the United States called for collective action by our allies to address the murder and mayhem that continues to be a part of daily life in Syria. Nikki Haley, the excellent U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, deserves credit for speaking bluntly and delivering the truth about the situation.

Her scathing critique of Russia following this latest outrage was on point. Her decision to hold aloft actual pictures of children gassed to death by Assad and his military murder machine were theatrical, but stunningly effective at bringing attention to the gravity of the war and the heinous nature of Syrias crimes. How many more children have to die before Russia cares? she asked.

Haley was right when she asserted that sometimes states have to act in their best interests without waiting for the United Nations. Time and again, the U.N. has proven itself to be completely ineffective when needed the most. America has now delivered a message that it will not stand idly by in the face of Syrian atrocities.

Moving forward, the United States must strike a very careful balance: On the one hand we must assiduously avoid becoming mired in a long-term military conflict in Syria, especially given that it could bring us into direct confrontation with Russia and Iran, which have continued to back the Assad regime.

On the other, Trump has signaled that while the U.N. Security Council may be deadlocked because of Russian support for Assad, America will not allow itself to be constrained by the failure of the international body to respond as appropriate to moral outrages.

Video footage taken at the scene of the latest chemical weapons attack shows women and children foaming at the mouth and writhing in agony. Yes, it is very hard to look at, but we do not have the luxury of continuing to look away. Russia should be ashamed of its support for a maniacal dictator whose depravity appears to know no depths. How many more innocents have to die before the world unites to demand that Russia stop covering for the Assad regime?

What will it take to bring a final end to this horror? That remains to be seen. However, America is signaling that it is willing to boldly lead, and to seek new ways to rally our allies and stop the destruction, bloodshed and murder.
South Carolinas senior U.S. senator, Lindsey Graham, is no stranger to criticism from the Republican right wing. Though he gets top ratings for conservative positions, it appears most people remember that the senator is known for efforts to work across the aisle and find common ground on key issues from judicial nominees and health care to foreign policy and national defense.

In 2016, Graham gained no traction as a GOP presidential candidate despite his record as a hawkish Republican with lots of knowledge of foreign affairs and considerable experience in the ways of Washington. The latter as much as anything may have doomed his candidacy from the start in the year of Trump.

Graham was in 2016 a vocal critic of Trump. He acknowledges not voting for the president and remains today  along with his confidante Sen. John McCain of Arizona  a vocal critic of the president.

A closer look, however, shows Graham is not among the never-Trump camp that finds something wrong with everything about the president. His criticism is based on Trump statements, actions and policies. And he praises Trump when in agreement.

But his high profile nationally as a senator willing to take on the president again has him on the hot seat with the Republican base.

A poll this week by Morning Consult ranked U.S. senators according to opinions about them in their home states. Graham had one of the highest disapproval ratings of any senator, with a 40 percent negative rating in South Carolina. His approval rating is 46 percent, with 14 percent having no opinion. Only Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (47 percent) and McCain (43 percent) have higher disapproval ratings.

In the Winthrop Poll released Thursday, 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.

Perhaps the ratings reflect frustration with GOP lawmakers who are unwilling to support Trump no matter what. If so, that is a shame and is shortsighted.

While critical of Trump, Graham is not among those who will derail the Trump/GOP agenda. Unlike the Freedom Caucus members in the House, Graham is a negotiator, a leader willing to provide input, accept input and reach an agreement.

Consider that a day after Trump labeled the Democrats the ultimate losers in the failed Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Graham urged bipartisanship on the issue moving forward.

"I don't think that one party's going to be able to fix this by themselves," the South Carolina Republican said at a town hall event in Columbia. "I think the president should reach out to Democrats, I should reach out to Democrats, and we should say, 'Let's take a shot at doing this together because it ain't working doing it by ourselves.'"

He continued: "Here's what I think about health care: Obamacare is a disaster and it's going to collapse.

But the long-serving senator said the Trump administration is going to have to work with Democrats if it wants to implement its vision.

"At my core, I'm a fiscal and social conservative, but here's what I believe -- I can't run the country by myself, and we have to work together," he said.

Though his words drew boos from the crowd, Graham deserves credit, not blame. Democrats and Republicans are in Washington work together in government for the good of all Americans.

As far back as 2005, Graham said: "I will fight for the conservative cause because I believe in it. I will break away when I think the country needs me to break away to find middle ground. But I will not use this job to hate people. There are some people on the right and the left, (who) expect you not only to vote with them, but to hate the people they hate. Count me out."

Count us out too. We are all Americans and we're in this together. Thank goodness Lindsey Graham realizes that.
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By Azernews





By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan, enjoying traditional culture and amazing nature, as well as plenty of interesting things youll never see elsewhere, has already turned into a popular destination for people traveling abroad.

Tourists visiting Azerbaijan tend to be interested in every sphere  from historical and cultural sightseeing to leisure, and seek to explore less visited places and check national charisma. Since the tourist flow grows, the number of guides, who are ready to show the country in all its glory, also increases.

Today more than 150 certified guides operate in Azerbaijan, says Nahid Bagirov, Azerbaijan Tourism Association (AzTa) Chairman.

These guides were trained at the courses organized by the Baku Excursion Bureau and the Azerbaijan University of Tourism and Management.

Bagirov noted that hotels and travel companies are recommended to work with certified guides.

Today, unfortunately, there are certified and non-certified guides in the sector. We are sending letters of recommendation to hotels and travel companies and recommend them not to work with non-certified guides. Unfortunately, guides without certificates contact tourists directly around Icherisheher and in other territories and conclude a deal with them, he said.

The fee for service of the certified guides is around 15-20 manats ($9-$12) per hour, while non-certified guides take 5-7 manats ($3-$4.2) per hour, which attracts tourists, according to Bagirov.

The problem is that today we do not have the opportunity to control the uncertified guides, he said.

In 2016, the number of tourists visiting the Land of Fire amounted to 2,242 million people and this is 11.7 percent more than in 2015.

With its towering Caucasus ranges, fertile valleys, thick forests and its beautiful Caspian Sea coast, Azerbaijan is home to a remarkable natural diversity. Huge part of Azerbaijans territory is preserved as national parks and reserves, ranging from desert to highlands, to rolling fertile valleys, and marshlands. These landscapes offer a range of unusual flora and fauna, including ancient mountain villages.

There are ample of things to do in Azerbaijan, be it exploring the country on a horse back or simply savoring the delicious cuisine. The country offers something for every traveler. History lovers can see Gala Fortress, Gobustan, Icherisheher, etc. Adventure seekers can indulge in hiking, horse-riding hunting, etc in Guba, Shamakhi, Lankaran and other regions, or check out the nightlife of Baku.

In addition to the natural and rural attractions, Azerbaijan has a rich cuisine, changing from region to region. Tasting Azerbaijan means enjoying juicy apples, pomegranates, grilled meats, kabab, dolma, bozbash, all perfumed with the herbs of untouched woodlands and the spices of the Silk Road.












By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

The Kazakhstan Culture Days, organized on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, continue in Baku and Shaki.

The Kyzylorda regional Music and Drama Theatre has staged a theatrical performance "Don't leave! All, don't leave..." based on "A Story about the Botanist-Doctor Monsieur Jordan and the Famous Sorcerer Dervish Mastali Shah" by famous Azerbaijani writer Mirza Fatali Akhundov.

The theatrical performance took place at the State Russian Drama Theatre in Baku on April 13, Trend Life reported.

Before the performance, Kazakh actors met with their Azerbaijani counterparts.

The meeting was attended by artistic director of Kazakh Music and Drama Theatre Amir-Temir Hussein Zhusipuli, honored artist Bakitbek Alpisbay, honored cultural workers Zalipa Tolepova, Biktikbek Temirbekhov, actors Zuhra Saypi, Marjan Abisheva, Kanat Arkhabayev.

Azerbaijani delegation at the meeting included People's artist Mabud Magerramov, Safa Mirzagasanova, honoured artists Natalia Sharovskaya, Fuad Osmanov. These actors play the main roles in the play.

Actor Mabud Maharramov informed the guests about creativity of Mirza Fatali Akhundzadeh, and some interesting facts about him.

In turn, the Kazakh actors stressed that it is important for them to present the performance based on writer's work in Azerbaijan.

Amir-Temir Hussein noted that they performed this show only once, and then the theater was closed for repairs. After completion of the repair work in the theater, the play will once again be staged.

The Azerbaijani actors also informed that every two years Shaki hosts an international theatre festival, and expressed hope that the Music and Drama Theatre named after N.Bekezhanov will attend the festival.

The meeting was held in a warm, friendly atmosphere. Both sides expressed sincere interest in sharing their creative experiences, stressing the importance of the Days of Culture to become familiar with art and culture.








By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

The Organizing Committee of the first Booktrailer Festival in Azerbaijan has announced jury members.

Director of the film Studio "Azerbaijanfilm", honored art worker Mushfiq Hatamov, poet, Secretary for creative affairs at Azerbaijan's Union of Writers Ilgar Fahmi, film director, screenwriter, the founder of the production center Cinema Evi Elchin Musaoglu, film critic, writer, film maker Ayaz Salayev, cameraman, honored artist Kanan Mamedov will choose the winner of the festival, Trend Life reported.

The Organizing Committee finalised accepting new applications for the first Booktrailer Festival on April 10. The winners will be defined by secret vote.

Booktrailers will be assessed by each member of the jury individually. In the end, the Organizing Committee will summarize the assessment of each jury member.

The festival, which takes place under the slogan "Promote a book, get promoted with a book!" is timed to the World Book Day or World Book and Copyright Day, held annually on April 23.

Booktrailers are short videos that promote a book or an author, providing a good illustration of the book content. Book trailers are a form of advertising for a book. Produced by publishers, and sometimes authors themselves, they are tools to pique interest in the novel and raise their popularity.

The winner will get a prize in the amount of 1000 manats ($ 558), while the winners of the second and third places 800 manats ($446) and 500 manats ($279), respectively.

For all questions, please contact: [email protected].

Media partners of the event are Trend.az, Day.az, Milli.az, Azernews.az
By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

Reports spread by the Armenian websites about heart problems of blogger Alexander Lapshin, who is under arrest in Azerbaijan, is false, Lapshins lawyer Eduard Chernin told Trend on April 13.

The blogger, who owns citizenship of several countries, will stand trial in Baku for his illegal visits to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

The lawyer said that he met with Lapshin and he has no health problems.

Moreover, Lapshin has been present at the proceeding in the Baku Court of Appeal today, the lawyer added.

The Nasimi District Court in Baku, during a legal proceeding, has extended the detention term of Lapshin for three months.

On April 13, Baku Court of Appeal considered the complaint of the blogger regarding the decision of Nasimi District Court. However, the Court didnt grant the Lapshin's complaint.

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.
By 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.
By Trend





Kyrgyzstan gives priority to relations with the members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in its foreign economic policy, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev said at the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Bishkek April 14, Kabar news agency reported.

He urged his partners within the union for more active joint work.

Atambayev noted that Kyrgyzstan presiding the EAEU this year proposed to create conditions for business development within the union in 2017.

It is important for us to work together to meet four principles: free movement of goods, services, labour and capital," the head of state said.

Moreover, Atambayev noted that importance of work on eliminating the barriers that still exist in the EAEU. According to the president, the executive body of the Eurasian Economic Union - Eurasian Economic Commission should listen to the initiatives and proposals of business to solve this problem.

Kyrgyz president also touched upon the issue of labor migration and asked for more liberal approaches to deportation of migrants who committed minor administrative offenses within the EAEU.
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) welcomed a record-breaking 2,016 new member companies in 2016, an increase of 14 per cent on the previous year, and an average annual growth rate of 33 per cent over the last decade.



DMCC is now home to 13,500 companies, making it the largest Free Zone in the world.



The figures, released in DMCCs 2016 annual report, cap an outstanding year for DMCCs commodities, property and Free Zone portfolio, culminating in being named the worlds leading Free Zone for a second consecutive year by the Financial Times fDi magazine.



Other key achievements included record-breaking trading volumes of over 19.7 million contracts worth $440 billion on the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX), an increase of 36 per cent on 2015; DMCC Tradeflow recording 11,412 murabaha transactions with a total value of Dh58 billion ($15.8 billion), a value increase of 405 per cent compared to 2015; and the appointment of DMCC executive chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem as global Kimberley Process Chair on behalf of the United Arab Emirates, a major honour and recognition of Dubais and UAEs leadership status within the global diamond industry.



Dubai and DMCCs mandated goal of connecting new markets with well-established markets is clear, and in 2016 we achieved it by welcoming an average of seven new companies every working day. This brings significant foreign direct investment to Dubai, said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairman of DMCC.



Dubais advantage of being located at the natural crossroads of the worlds major markets, both in terms of time zone and proximity, means we remain optimally positioned to facilitate global trade. But it is also the unrivalled quality of the infrastructure, the professional support and physical platforms for trade we offer that brings international business to DMCC.



As a partner of choice in the Middle East for businesses throughout the world, we take our responsibility to act in the best interests of those companies very seriously. Everything we do, from introducing digital services, to providing a business friendly regulatory environment, is undertaken with the intention of ensuring our member companies have everything they need to thrive.



Further underpinning DMCCs drive to connect markets and boosting commodities trade along the West to East corridor  connecting directly into Chinas Belt and Road initiative, DMCC launched its international road show in China in October as part of Dubai Week in China. This year, DMCCs international outreach programme launched in the UK in March, Made for Trade Live, will also see DMCC visit Chinas Shanghai and Shenzhen in April.



DMCC also signed over 20 MoUs in 2016 with a strong focus on China and hosted 155 local and international events, including the Kimberley Process Intercessional and Plenary.



DMCCs chief executive officer Gautam Sashittal said: In 2016, DMCC delivered strong performance by attracting a record 2,016 new members to our Free Zone; delivering high quality commercial spaces such as ONE JLT; enhancing products, services and infrastructure for our customers; and by creating new, as well as nourishing more established marketplaces for the benefit of global trade.



We created unique offerings for the agricultural industry, commenced our coffee centre, and fostered greater collaboration across a range of commodity sectors. This will see DMCC bring more industry players and market opportunities to Dubai.



In 2017 we will continue to expand our international reach, form new strategic partnerships; and further enhance collaboration with key industry, trade and government entities locally and internationally, as we continue our journey as the worlds leading Free Zone, he concluded.  TradeArabia News Service
Selling and buying predatory and dangerous animals and birds, including big wild cats such as lions, cheetahs, tigers and leopards, as well as hyenas, crocodiles, predatory reptiles and vultures, will be outlawed in Dubai, UAE from July.



The ban aims to protect people's lives from dangerous animals, Zuhoor Al Sabbagh, director of Public Health Services Department at Dubai Municipality, was quoted as saying in an Emirates official news agency WAM report.



Under the new ruling, all predators should be registered at the Municipality, she noted.



Domesticated cats, dogs, rats, cows, sheep, camels, llamas, alpacas and other non-dangerous animals are not included in the ban.



The list also includes zebras, African wild asses, kiangs, giraffes, rhinoceroses, bears, weasels, aardvarks, mongooses, pronghorns, as well as wild birds such as ostriches, eagles and vultures, gulls, penguins, cassowaries, and marsupials, xenarthrans, bats, snakes, lizards, scorpions, spiders, and others.



In early January, the UAE passed a law banning the private ownership and trade of wild and dangerous animals.
Contura Energy will ditch its collateral bonds in favor of secure insurance to guarantee the cleanup of its Wyoming coal mines after local environmental advocates pushed for stricter accountability.

The clash of interests follows a long series of battles during the coal downturn. Coal companies, environmentalists and state and federal regulators frequently butted heads throughout the period of bankruptcies about the best way to guarantee environmental cleanup after mining.

The Bristol, Tennessee-based firm, a spinoff of Alpha Natural Resources, which declared bankruptcy in 2015, had $71 million in cleanup costs that it planned to collateralize expensive equipment used at its Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines in Campbell County. Combined with traditional insurance and real estate, the bonding covered the full toll of Conturas environmental obligations, close to $264 million in Wyoming.

We had an understanding with [Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality] that Contura Coal West would, at some point in the future, replace its personal property collateralized bonds with third-party surety bonds, the company said in a statement Monday. This action represents the Companys fulfillment of that commitment.

The Powder River Basin Resource Council had protested the use of collateral, criticizing, among other things, the thoroughness of financial fitness statements Contura provided to state regulators when transferring mining permits from Alpha to Contura.

The companys lawyers said in a letter to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality on April 6 that Contura would change its bonding for business reasons, noting that the change should ease the Powder River Basin Resource Councils concerns.

Advocates had argued that collateral bonds were a potential risk to the taxpayer. If the company failed, it would leave the state of Wyoming to sell mining equipment, presumably during a downturn in the coal sector when the value and demand for that specialized equipment would have declined, they said.

The Department of Environmental Quality allows collateral bonding based on a number of stipulations, but regulators agreed with environmental advocates on one point, that Conturas financial data for its collateral bonds was lacking. State regulators instructed Contura on March 7 to re-examine its numbers and either present new figures to the state or adjust bonding plans within 30 days.

Collateral bonds are labor-intensive for companies. They require quarterly reports and yearly assessments of the collateral properties worth. In the end, the investment would have cost the company time and money, said Kyle Wendtland, Land Quality Division administrator for the DEQ.

Too big to fail

The recent Contura bonding skirmish follows a nearly two-year battle about self-bonding, the practice of guaranteeing reclamation obligations based on a companys financial stability.

In the midst of one of the most challenging markets Wyomings coal industry has ever faced, some raised the question of whether giant companies could still be considered too big to fail. They maintained that self-bonding was no longer a safe way to secure coal reclamation.

Like Alpha, two other large Powder River Basin operating companies, Arch Coal and Peabody Energy, staggered into bankruptcy during the recent coal bust. Hundreds of miners were laid off, and production in Wyoming fell to alarming lows. The market stabilized slowly, though the industry is still weaker and less productive than in years past. Continuing challenges pressure the coal sector, from the closure of coal-fired power plants nationwide to low natural gas prices and potential limits on carbon dioxide emissions.

As Alpha Natural Resources constructed its bankruptcy emergence strategy, which included the formation of Contura, the company was pressured to end self-bonding by local groups and by federal agencies.

To the delight of environmental advocates, Arch Coal and Peabody Energy followed suit when they exited bankruptcy  Arch in October and Peabody on April 3.

Wyoming is one of 10 states that currently permits self-bonding at surface mines. Though the formerly bankrupt companies have, or will, replace their self-bonds with secure forms of insurance, Wyoming coal mines currently have about $899 million in self-bonds. The lions share of that sum  $575 million  are Peabody bonds that will be replaced in the coming months.

Trona companies also hold self-bonds for mining operations. In total there are $1.8 billion in self-bonds in the state currently, according to DEQs records.

Regulators have long affirmed the right to continue self-bonding, which Wendtland, the land division official, said has been a successful practice throughout its more than three-decade history.

I think you have to look at all of these (bonding) instruments on their own merits, he said. Sureties have their issues just like self-bonding and letters of credit.

The state is reviewing its regulations regarding bonding and Chapter 11 rules. Any updates will go through the administrative process, with opportunities for public comment along the way, said Keith Guille, a spokesman for DEQ.

Throughout the bankruptcies, the state has resisted the push to end self-bonding altogether, and that view point has not changed, Wendtland said.

[Financial bonding] is very complicated and involved, he said. Rather than say we will pick one or the other, our goal will be to address the underlying risk and how best to address that in the update to the regulations.

Shannon Anderson, a lawyer with the Powder River Basin Resource Council, said she hopes self-bonding becomes obsolete in Wyoming.

[Conturas decision] shows that the trend is going away from self-bonding, that companies can access this surety market, when initially they were concerned that they couldnt, Anderson said. It shows the state does not need to leave this bonding option on the table.

At the least, she hopes state regulators hold companies to a stricter standard before allowing self-bonding.

Its an issue we feel is very important to the state, to the members who live next to these mines and want to see them reclaimed, she said. Until the state changes the law or Congress does that, it will continue to be an option, unfortunately. We hope DEQ will start using its discretion.

A matter of discretion

Discretion is a sticking point for the land advocates, who say the state must do a better job of saying no to companies seeking to self-bond.

For Anderson of the Resource Council, current Wyoming law precludes the post-bankrupt companies from self-bonding given their recent financial insolvency. The formerly bankrupt companies have yet to push for a return to pure self-bonding, which advocates consider little more than an IOU to the state. Moreover, the state has the legal latitude to deny self-bonds. Its not required to give one to every company that meets the basic qualifications, she said.

Peabodys CEO said recently that though the company was replacing its self-bonds, he believed his company still qualified and might seek self-bonds again.

In response to a question on whether the recently bankrupt companies still qualify for self-bonding in Wyoming, DEQ spokesman Guille said he could not speak to hypothetical qualifications. If a company applies for self-bonds, state regulators will make a decision based on the regulations, he said.

As for whether Wyoming should be exercising greater discretion, Guille said much the same. The state has a list of qualifications that companies must meet to self-bond; those rules must be applied fairly and consistently across industries in Wyoming, he said.

Lets put it in the perspective of a regular citizen, Guille said. If they are going to build a house, they want to know what permits they need to get. They want to know what regulations they need to follow. You cant keep having a moving target where you dont know what those standards are.

To those who continue to oppose the practice, Wendtland, the land divisions administrator, said opponents arent looking at the complexity of financial assurances or the strength of Wyomings history applying existing rules and regulations.

A self-bonded coal company has yet to leave Wyoming holding the bag on cleanup, he said. The state has also held companies accountable when their finances disqualified them from self-bonding, he added.

When coal began to fail in 2015, Wyoming was the only state that flagged a company whose declining financial statements meant it no longer qualified for its $411 million self-bonds. The company, one of the largest in the country, was told to provide substitute bonding. But before that happened, the firm declared bankruptcy, and a controversial compromise was reached with state regulators.

The company provided Wyoming a $61 million super-priority claim, meaning the state would be paid first up to that amount. Wyoming allowed the coal firm to continue operating its mines until it exited Chapter 11. That company, Alpha Natural Resources, agreed to replace its unsecured reclamation obligations upon emergence, when a new company, Contura Energy, would acquire its mines in Wyoming.
CASA night at Qdoba Monday

Let Qdoba East be your kitchen from 4 to 8 p.m., on Monday and help the CASA of Natrona County. Visit eastside Qdoba, 5303 E. 2nd St., tell the cashier that you support CASA, and 25 percent of the proceeds will be donated to CASA of Natrona County. Gift card purchases during the event will not county toward the total sales donated, but purchases may be made with active gift cards and will apply.

After school math carnival

The Natrona County Library will host a math carnival for elementary-age students at 4 p.m., on Wednesday, April 19. Casper College students will lead a series of fun, hands-on, interactive math games designed to engage and teach students while helping them get excited about math. Snacks will be provided. Call 577.READ x5 for more information.

Red Hats lunch

The Queen Bee Red Hat luncheon will be at Boscos Italian Restaurant, 847 E. A St., on Wednesday, April 19. Please call Paulette Bott at 237-5472 or Deanna Archibald at 234-8670 to make your reservations.

Izaak Walton hike Wednesday

Izaak Walton League Hike is Wednesday, April 19. Meet at 6 p.m. at the parking at Mike Sedar Park near the pool, or at the BMX Track if the gate is open. We will walk from there to the Yesness Lake. Dogs are welcome but bring a leash as we cross a street. If it snows or rains, well try again the following Wednesday.

Genealogists talk maps at library

The Natrona County Genealogical Society meets at 7 p.m., on Thursday, one time only at the Natrona County Public Library to address the topic of Maps for Genealogy

Maps for Genealogy will briefly introduce some different types of maps that are available and why they are so important to use. We will have examples and will actually find them in our Natrona County Public Library. This meeting is open to the public and is co-sponsored by the library.

Collectors meet

The Casper Antique & Collectors Club would like to thank in advance those who are coming to speak to our members and guests about buying and selling of antiques. They include Sherry Gamble, Liane Chapman, Prairie Wind Estates, Larry Forsberg and Dan Horken.

We look forward to your participation on the panel to help educate others at the general meeting at 7 p.m., on Thursday, April 20, at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Commission, 2211 King Blvd.

Indoor yard/bake sale

An indoor yard & bake sale benefiting the Wounded Warriors Family Support will take place Friday and Saturday, April 28 and 29, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Edgewood Meadow Wind Assisted Living, 3955 E. 12th St. Donations of baked goods and items for the yard sale are welcome prior to the event.

Murder mystery fundraiser for museum foundation

The Fort Caspar Museum Association (the not-for-profit support group for Fort Caspar Museum) is presenting a Murder Mystery Evening fundraiser from 5:30 to 9 p.m., on Friday, May 5, 2017, at the Casper Country Club, 4149 Country Club Rd.

The production is set in the Roaring 20s. When a fun-filled evening is harshly interrupted by gunfire and a gangster falls, 10 customers are identified as witnesses. These witnesses soon become suspects.

Enjoy an Italian pasta dinner as you become detectives in this fun-filled mystery evening. This is a participatory event, and attendees are literally a part of the show. Guests are encouraged, but not required, to get into the spirit of the evening by wearing 1920s flappers and gangsters attire. A costume contest will determine the best outfit. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the mystery will begin at 6 p.m. The meal and soft drinks are included, and a cash bar will be available.

The cost for the event is $40 for individuals and $75 for couples, and tickets must be purchased in advance no later than Monday, May 1. Purchase your tickets in person or over the phone with a credit card at Fort Caspar Museum or in person at the Wyoming Veterans Museum.

For more information, call Fort Caspar Museum at 235-8462, check the Museums website www.fortcasparwyoming.com, or visit FCMAs Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FortCasparMuseumAssociation/.

Buddhists meet

Want to meet Buddhists in Casper? Email: davidvaughn991@yahoo.com.
The day before Easter includes a rally to demand the release of President Donald Trumps tax returns, several Easter egg hunts, a host of church services and a dance for seniors. Here is a summary, as provided to the Star-Tribune.

Rocky Mountain Men of Integrity, a nondenominational Christian mens organization, presents the annual Journey to the Cross at 7 a.m. Meet at Faith Assembly of God, 4301 Casper Mountain Road. Participants who wish to walk to the cross should dress warmly, with solid footwear, as the cross is about a quarter-mile north of the church. Women and older children of all faiths are welcome, as well as men. If they prefer, participants may remain in the sanctuary for prayer.

Saturday Morning Watercolor Session from 10 a.m. to noon at Art 321 is painting on Yupo. These are coordinated by Ellen Black, 265-6783. $10 per session.

Easter egg hunts open to the public are set for the following locations, all beginning at 11 a.m.

City Park across from the Elks Lodge, sponsored by the Casper Elks Lodge, for ages 1 or walking to 12.

Washington Park, sponsored by Highland Park Community Church.

Rolling Hills Town Park, 38 S. Badger Road, sponsored by the Town of Rolling Hills and Rocky Mountain Power. Shuttles for mandatory off-site parking start at 10 a.m.

The Natrona County Librarys Family Lego Club will meet at 1 p.m. The library supplies Legos and ideas. No registration required.

Indivisible Casper will sponsor a free public rally in coordination with the national Tax March at 1:30 p.m. 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.

Mountain Plaza Assisted Living, 4154 Talon Drive, announces its April activities for residents, families and prospective residents: 2 p.m., Easter celebration, food, friendship and fun.

Holy Saturday services will be observed at the following churches:

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1350 E. C St., Holy Saturday Morning (Divine Liturgy), 10 a.m.; Holy Saturday Evening (Resurrection), 11:20 p.m.; Paschal Breakfast to follow.

St. Marks Episcopal Church, Seventh and Wolcott streets: The Holy Saturday liturgy will be at 6 p.m. Holy Week at Cornerstone E Free

Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church, 4100 Casper Mountain Road: Easter worship services will be held at 5:30 p.m. Nursery and childrens ministries will be available at all worship services.

Senior Dance is scheduled at the Eagles Hall, 306 N. Durbin St. Enter at north parking lot door. Dance starts at 7 p.m., with dance music supplied by SwingSounds Band. Admission is $5 per person, children under 15 are free, potluck snacks at 8 p.m., and door prize drawings at 9 p.m.
A former employee of the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission says she was illegally fired and discriminated against because she has diabetes and is black, according to a suit filed in federal court.

The suit, filed in January in the U.S. District Court of the District of Wyoming, alleges that the homeless shelter unfairly fired Susie Belving after requiring her to take a drug and didnt make accommodations for conditions related to her diabetes.

Belving worked as a front desk supervisor at the nonprofit between June 2011 and June 2013. In her suit, she alleges that the organization unfairly fired her when she couldnt complete a urinary drug test because of complications related to her diabetes. In other documents, she alleged that she was made to take more drug tests than other employees because she is black.

Both parties agree on some of the facts in the case. On June 18, 2013, Central Wyoming Rescue Mission supervisors required Belving to take a random urinary drug test. Belving couldnt provide the sample, even after drinking water and waiting 45 minutes.

Belving said in the suit that she was unable to provide the sample because she had pancreatitis and other complications related to her diabetes. She offered to take a blood test instead but wanted to stop at her home first to take prescription pain medicine. Her supervisors said she couldnt do that and she was sent home. She was fired a few days later.

In its response to the suit, the rescue mission stated that it offered a blood test to Belving, but that she refused to take it under CWRM policies. The nonprofit maintains that it followed all policies and laws and denied that it discriminated against Belving. In other documents, the rescue mission stated that it knew that Belving had diabetes but was not aware of the complications that prevented her from urinating.

In an emailed statement to the Star-Tribune, the rescue missions attorney, Rick Koehmstedt, said the mission disagrees wholeheartedly with the claims and allegations made by Ms. Belving.

Central Wyoming Rescue Mission cares very much for its current and former staff members. At the same time, there are certain expectations for employment at Central Wyoming Rescue Mission that are applied equally to all staff as there are some 80 highly vulnerable individuals and families in the Missions care.

He added that without a signed release from Belving, he would be unable to comment further.

In an affidavit attached to a later filing, Belving stated that she was the only black person who worked for the mission and was treated differently because of her race. She said she was made to take drug tests multiple times based on hearsay and that it was because she was black.

The Wyoming Workforce Services investigated Belvings claim and found that there was evidence that showed the nonprofit violated state and federal law, according to court documents.

The evidence supports there is reasonable cause to believe Complainant was denied a reasonable accommodation and that she was discharged due to her disability, the investigator from Workforce Services wrote in a letter.

In the document, the rescue mission alleges that Belving wasnt performing well at work, was often tardy and didnt communicate well. In her suit, Belving said she had been performing well at work and received a raise a month before she was fired. A Workforce Services review of the situation found that Belvings performance was sufficiently satisfactory.

In her suit, Belving asks for damages and punitive fines because the rescue mission discriminated against her for her disability and race. She also asks for damages for lost health insurance, damaging her reputation and causing emotional distress.

The parties are scheduled to meet for a settlement conference on May 4. Belvings attorney, Jeremy Hugus, declined to comment for this story.
A hearing has been set for later this month to consider whether the defamation suit that former Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill filed against a onetime Casper lawmaker should be dismissed.

Laramie County District Judge Thomas Campbell scheduled the April 26 hearing at the request of Tim Stubson, the defendant in the case and a former candidate for Wyomings lone U.S. House seat.

Stubson said he was hopeful Campbell will dismiss the suit.

This whole case is a bit concerning, he said. It aims to quiet political discussion with legal action.

Hill declined to comment about the upcoming hearing in a text message to the Star-Tribune.

As previously stated, I will not participate in trying this case in the media, she said.

Hill filed suit in March 2016 based on comments Stubson allegedly posted on his U.S. House candidate Facebook page last year.

Stubson, a Republican who lost in the primary, was responding to a question about a 2013 law adopted by the Legislature that temporarily removed Hill as head of the Wyoming Department of Education. The Wyoming Supreme Court dismissed the law as unconstitutional.

Stubson allegedly explained the reasons he supported the law, including that Hill had committed many illegal acts that they (legislators) did not disclose publicly, according to a Dec. 12 amended complaint filed by Hills legal team, her husband, Drake Hill of Cheyenne, and Emblem attorney Rob DiLorenzo.

Furthermore, the amended complaint contains a transcript of alleged defamatory remarks Stubson made during a June candidate debate hosted by the Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce and KGAB Radio. Stubson and radio show host Gary Freeman sparred over the law that stripped Hill of much of her power, with the broadcaster saying the legislator took away the peoples right to choose who should serve as state superintendent.

Well I think you mischaracterize the legislation, Stubson retorted, according to the transcript. When you had a state department that wasnt really answering its really basic obligations around the state of Wyoming, something needs to  something needed to happen.

Stubsons attorneys at the Denver firm of White and Steele contend the case should be dismissed because as a candidate for Congress, he had a right to political speech. Hill is a public figure and Hills attorneys exaggerate the impact of his comments, his attorneys argued in the 15-page motion to dismiss the case.

Hills attorneys, meanwhile, maintain that she is no longer a public figure. Stubson uttered falsehoods that are not protected by the First Amendment and his words carried the weight of someone in authority, since he was a legislator, an attorney and a person with intimate knowledge of the Wyoming Houses investigation of Hills conduct at the Education Department, according to a 48-page legal brief the argues for the suit to proceed.

Stubson was served with the defamation lawsuit while he was in Cheyenne, representing his Casper district in the Wyoming Legislature. In 2016, he did not seek re-election. Instead, he ran for Congress and lost to Liz Cheney in the GOP primary.

Similarly, Hill did not seek a second term as superintendent in 2014. She challenged Gov. Matt Mead in the GOP primary in 2014 and lost.

Hill sought a new judge in the defamation case, saying Campbell was biased against her because he ruled against her in the litigation over the 2013 law that was later ruled unconstitutional. Carbon County District Judge Wad E. Waldrip rejected the request, deciding that her attorneys hadnt demonstrated bias.

Public figure

Hills attorneys argued that she is not a public figure since she is no longer state superintendent.

Even public figures fade away over time, and with the passage of time and non-exposure to the public arena, may regain their status as private citizens, they wrote.

Stubsons attorneys disagreed, saying that his statements referred to her actions when she was a public official. Just because she left office in 2014 doesnt mean her status as a public figure is altered, they stated.

Hills status as a public figure precludes her from recovering damages in this case unless she can prove actual malice, meaning she must prove Mr. Stubson knew that his allegedly defamatory communication was false or acted with reckless disregard to the truth or falsity of the communication, they wrote.

First Amendment debate

Hills attorneys wrote there are limits on the First Amendment.

Pure opinion is constitutionally protected, they argued. Opinion, however, is a limited form of speech. False statements of fact are not protected.

No court or impeachment hearing ever found Hill guilty of many illegal acts that Stubson allegedly proclaimed on Facebook, they noted. That means Stubson wrote a false statement.

Stubsons team, while never acknowledging whether he wrote the Facebook remarks, argued this court must consider the special context within which the statements were allegedly made. Statements made in the context of political debate are afforded extra protection.

Courts protect strong and even outrageous political speech on the grounds that ordinary readers or listeners will, knowing pronouncements are being made in political debate, understand theyre opinion or hyperbole, they wrote.

Hills attorneys did not buy the hyperbole argument. They said that a reasonable person or a jury would take the words seriously, given his background.

From his discussion, the word illegal imputed criminality, they wrote. Think of the common use of the word illegal. Illegal drugs means use or possession of substances like methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, marijuana or other substances the use or possession of which carry criminal penalties. An illegal alien refers to a person who can be deported because he or she has entered the country without legal authority.

Stubsons lawyers state Campbell must consider Hills background of political disagreements with him and other Wyoming politicians.

 She is using this lawsuit to re-litigate her troubled tenure as superintendent of public instruction, they wrote.
United Airlines passengers will soon have the opportunity to learn more about Wyoming.

Hemispheres, the airlines in-flight magazine, will feature a collection of stories about the Cowboy State and its place in the global economy. The 16-page supplement is called Dossier: Wyoming and is part of a series focused on economic development opportunities in different areas of the nation.

Travelers who read the material will learn about the states business climate and recreational opportunities.

The Dossier series is intended to interest Uniteds business travelers, who make up the majority of its customers. The print edition of the magazine has more than 3.1 million readers each month, the airline says.

This is an exciting and important global awareness opportunity for Wyoming, Shawn Reese, chief executive officer for the Wyoming Business Council, said in a news release. The magazine conveys Wyomings business advantages, core industries and economic diversification efforts.

If a business or entrepreneur is looking to relocate, expand or invest, this puts Wyoming front of mind.

The magazine chose to focus on the Cowboy State because Wyoming has a good story to tell, said Carsten Morgan, vice president for special projects for Hemispheres. The pages feature coverage of the state and its economy, a by-the-numbers roundup and a list of Wyoming travel destinations.

The magazine supplement also features interviews with Wyoming entrepreneurs and innovators such as Dr. Joseph McGinley of McGinley Orthopaedic Innovations, Shawn Mills of Green House Data, Mike Wandler of L&H Industrial and Chris Michael of Bright Agrotech.
A young filmmaker from Lander is a finalist in a national teen film contest promoting safe driving.

Catherine Marple wrote, directed and even starred in her film, which made the top 10 of the TeenDrive365 Video Challenge.

Marple first appears as a caveman pushing a wheel while reading a stone tablet. A crash and scream ensues. The spot continues through history to modern times, with the message that distracted driving has always been dangerous.

The winner of the Toyota and Discovery Education competition receives a $15,000 cash prize and chance to work with a Discovery film crew to transform the video into a TV-ready PSA, according to the website.

Marple and the other finalists videos are also up for public voting online for the peoples choice award, which includes a $5,000 cash prize.

Home-schooled high school senior Marple would use the winnings for college this fall, when she plans to attend the honors program at Baylor University in Texas, she said. She plans a career as an independent filmmaker.

My goal is to be able to talk to people through the film medium  to touch people, convince them, change the way they view things, that sort of thing  through film, and thats what this contest was about, Marple said. The message that the contest is about is a very, very impactful message. Just in the past couple of weeks, two teens in my community died in a car crash. The topic is very meaningful and very worthwhile.

The competition calls for teens to create a 30- to 60-second video to discourage distracted driving, with messages that may better reach young drivers coming from their peers, according to the website.

Marple filmed her 53-second video in her kitchen and garage against a green screen. She digitally added backgrounds made from construction paper and sound effects. The software editing was most intensive part, Marple said.

Her brother, Chase Marple, also acts in the video, including a scene in which hes driving while looking at a large eye phone.

Preparing a film for competition has already helped her grow her skills, Marple said.

Just by getting in there and doing it, you learn so much about the film art and the process, she said.

Her interests also include visual art, swing dancing and theater, and shes worked with the Wyoming Shakespeare Festival Theater the past few years.

The film in the competition combines Marples love for history and humor. She plans to continue learning and drawing on knowledge as she develops her style and pursues her passion for film.

In a sense its a conglomeration of everything I like: Its storytelling, its theater, its visual art. Its communication and storytelling all in one, she said. In addition to that, its its own unique art form, and that makes it intriguing and fascinating.

Viewers can see the finalists videos and vote once a day through April 18 at http://teendrive365inschool.com/Vote.
Editor:

This is an open letter to Casper about Casper Chief of Police Jim Wetzel. I read the eloquent letter to the editor this morning written by former Marine Corpsman Jeff Ehrich of Galveston, Texas, who served with then-Major Wetzel USMC in Iraq in a platoon of activated Marine Recon Reservists during the bloody fight for Fallujah in 2004.

Doc Ehrich spoke of Jims character and leadership traits, which capitalized on his civilian experience in police work to accomplish their mission and find terrorists using innovative tactics that were adopted then and are still used by the Marines today. Ehrich also stated it was Wetzels decisions in combat that enabled his platoon of Marine reservists to all come home alive. That kind of respect cannot be bought; it has to be earned.

Truth be told, Jim Wetzel grew up in our neighborhood; I knew his dad and mom and our kids played with him, but beyond that I didnt know him personally. I saw Jim as a patient after he and his Marine Reserve unit returned from active duty in Iraq (I have his permission to make this public). He had injured his knee during the Fallujah operation but he toughed it out to stay with his Marines until their active duty commitment was over. This speaks to his courage, character and commitment to see it through with his Marines and the respect they had for him. I eventually did operate on his knee and got to know him then not only as a patient but also as a person and a leader you would want your son or daughter to serve under.

I dont know of the machinations here in Casper that have taken us to the place where we are now, and I will not speculate except to say theres a whiff of hidden agenda. To the powers that be: Suck it up and do the right thing; do not destroy this good man.
To learn more: Visit tucsonsongfest.org

 100  years since Leonard Bernstein was born.

 18  days of events from Jan. 17 to Feb. 4, 2018.

The 2018 Tucson Desert Song Festival celebrates Leonard Bernstein. By the numbers:

2018 Tucson Song Festival lineup

When: Jan. 17 to Feb. 4, 2018.

Where: Various venues around Tucson including Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.; Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd.; and UA Fred Fox School of Music, North Park Avenue and East Speedway.

Who: Arizona Early Music Society, Arizona Opera, Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, Ballet Tucson, New York Festival of Song, True Concord Voices & Orchestra, Tucson Guitar Society, Tucson International Jewish Film Festival, Tucson Jazz Festival, Tucson Symphony, University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music and UA Presents.

Details: tucsonsongfestival.org or the participating organizations' websites.

The highlights:

 Jan. 17, Festival Opening Event, Holsclaw Hall.

 Jan. 18, Somewhere  The Songs of Leonard Bernstein with the Bill Charlap Trio, Fox Tucson Theater. Presented with Tucson Jazz Festival.

 Jan. 19 and 21, Bernstein's Symphony No. 3, Kaddish, with Tucson Symphony, soprano Kelly Nassief, narrator Jamie Bernstein, Tucson Symphony Chorus and the Tucson Arizona Boys Choir.

 Jan. 20, screening of On the Waterfront with an introduction and Q&A by Jaime Bernstein at Jewish Community Center; presented with Tucson International Jewish Film Festival.

 Jan. 22, Symposium: Leonard Bernsteins Jewish Heritage.

 Jan. 23, Symposium: Leonard Bernsteins Impact on American Music with Jamie Bernstein, Matthew Mugmon; presented in partnership with Dan Asia and UA Fred Fox School of Music.

 Jan. 23, TBA at Centennial Hall, presented by UA Presents.

 Jan. 26, True Concord Voices & Orchestra present Bernstein's "Mass," with Jubilant Sykes and UA Dance Ensemble at Centennial Hall.

 Jan. 27, Voltaires "Candide: The Music of Voltaires Time," with Arizona Early Music Society at Grace St. Pauls Church.

 Jan. 27, Bernstein's "Candide," presented by Arizona Opera.

 Jan. 30, Lenny and Friends featuring Steans Institute Singers from Ravinias Steans Institute at Holsclaw Hall.

 Jan. 31, Bernstein: Arias and Barcarolles, presented by Arizona Friends of Chamber Music and the New York Festival of Song at Leo Rich Theatre.

 Feb. 2-4, Ballet Tucson dances Bernstein and Ballet featuring the music of "West Side Story at the Stevie Eller Dance Theater.

 Feb. 3, Young Composers Showcase and Competition at Holsclaw Hall.

 Feb. 3, Tucson Guitar Society presents bass baritone Philippe Sly and guitarist John Britton, at Holsclaw Hall.

 Feb. 2-4, TSO "Trouble in Tahiti" and Three Episodes from "On the Town," at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church and at Catalina Foothills High School.
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some April 14 papers in history. With a subscription to newspapers.com you can search the Arizona Daily Star and many other newspapers using keywords or dates, and download articles or pages.
Freethought Arizona will host the talk Scientology: The History and Future of a Destructive Cult 10 a.m. Sunday, April 16 in the DuVal Auditorium at Banner - University Medical Center Tucson, 1501 N. Campbell Ave.

The speaker Chris Shelton grew up in Scientology and worked within the religion in high-level positions before leaving in 2013, according to press materials.
Pantano Christian Church, 1755 S. Houghton Road, will host its annual New Life Celebration 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 15.

The Easter event includes a 25,000-egg hunt, along with crafts, a petting zoo and train rides. Food will be available for purchase.

The church will host a free pancake breakfast 8 to 9 a.m. and 10 to 11 a.m. and free quiche noon to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 16.
If you want to be part of the #ThisIsTucson Book Club, head on over to Facebook and join us. Each Thursday, we'll post questions in that group related to a set number of chapters we'll read together over the course of a week.

This month we're reading "Margot" by Tucson author Jillian Cantor. A story about if Anne Frank's sister had survived the Holocaust.
One woman raised her hand to share her 40-year secret, something even her 46-year-old son doesn't know. Another spoke up to say she feared that God would no longer love her. A third wept in the back of the room, quietly grieving for those around her.

They were among the dozens of people who gathered on a February evening in a Seattle church parlor to hear from the Rev. Susan Chorley.

The Boston-area pastor had come to talk about abortion -- her abortion.

By speaking about a subject so many deem unspeakable, she'd empowered others to come forward. She says it's always this way.

Chorley, 44, bared her soul about the gut-wrenching choice she never thought she'd have to make. She was a stressed-out new pastor with a 2-year-old son and a crumbling marriage when she had her abortion a dozen years ago.

Far more painful than the procedure, she says, was the isolation she felt afterward. A woman in the ministry who feared being cast out, she suffered in silence.

Not anymore.

Since June, Chorley has been visiting churches across the country to share her story. It's part of a recent effort by a group she helped found years ago to support women and men after abortions.

Called Exhale, the group creates safe spaces to talk about abortion without letting politics intrude.

It's a "pro-voice" philosophy that shuns the "pro-choice" and "pro-life" labels society foists on this hot-button issue. Instead, it encourages compassionate listening and storytelling through various efforts -- including a free and anonymous talkline, the sharing of a viral TED Talk, a 2015 book and Chorley's tour of churches. A documentary film about the mission, "Navigating the Divide," is also nearing completion.

"We try to put people in boxes, and it hasn't gotten us anywhere. It's just caused this huge divide," Chorley said. Whether we like it or not, "abortion is happening among us, and it's time we looked at it and talked about it."

In the middle of a war

Chorley was attending seminary in Berkeley, California, years ago when she met a woman who wasn't afraid to speak up.

At a class for rape hotline volunteers, Aspen Baker said something that left Chorley gobsmacked.

"She said, 'I had an abortion, and I'd like to start a talkline. I'm here to learn how,' " Chorley remembered. "I had never heard someone say that."

Chorley had a similar dream; she imagined building a ministry to help women tell stories people don't want to hear. She was immediately on board.

Along with a few others, the pair helped found Exhale in Oakland, where it is still based. Chorley is on the board of directors; Baker serves as the executive director.

Now 41, married and the mother of a 2-year-old boy, Baker was 24 when she had her abortion.

She was "born in a trailer on the third anniversary of Roe v. Wade" and grew up in Southern California "in the middle of the abortion wars."

She was raised in a Christian community, which she described as "conservative but also very compassionate," and didn't believe that it was anyone's job to tell others what to do with their lives when it came to abortion. But she also knew she'd never have one herself.

And then she found herself pregnant. She was a recent college grad in a new relationship, and what had seemed such an obvious choice in theory felt profoundly different in practice. The decision to have an abortion threw her into a moral crisis about who she was and what she valued.

After the procedure, she assumed the clinic would offer a resource for emotional support, but it didn't. So she was left to search for help on her own. Anti-abortion religious support services were readily available, but she couldn't find anything that was politically neutral.

"I'd had a naive perspective of the world about the kind of choices you face in life. They're not always simple," she said. "Those overarching values that I originally learned from being Christian -- acceptance, love ... and forgiveness -- those things need to be practiced and not just spoken."

Since 2002, Exhale's talkline has offered an anonymous place for people to express their feelings without judgment. It's there for the feminist who is haunted by regret, the Catholic who's overwhelmed with relief and anyone else who needs an ear.

Whether callers dub themselves "pro-life" or "pro-choice" is simply irrelevant.

"Our callers already made their choice," Baker wrote in her book, "Pro-Voice: How to Keep Listening When the World Wants a Fight," which came out in 2015 -- the same year her TED Talk caught fire.

"Our job isn't to decide whether or not theirs was the right or wrong decision but to make sure that they get the unconditional love and support they need to move forward and have healthy lives."

Convincing others of this motive wasn't easy.

When Baker started sharing her vision, people would immediately ask, "Are you for or against abortion?" It's a question she wouldn't answer then and won't now.

Those who support abortion rights were sure Exhale was secretly anti-abortion, while opponents were equally convinced it was an undercover organization for the abortion rights movement.

Exhale never showed up at rallies or protests, which further fueled suspicion.

"To do something different felt like an attack," she said of those early years.

Today, many abortion providers give patients a pamphlet about Exhale. It's a free service that meets a need they don't have the time or money to offer themselves.

Exhale also no longer exists on an island. Like-minded efforts have sprouted up more recently, including Connect & Breathe out of New York. Abortion doulas, who provide emotional support to women during and after abortions, also have stepped onto the landscape.

The pro-voice model, Baker says, is something that extends beyond abortion itself. It's a nonjudgmental approach to living, she says, that can help people grapple with any number of tough topics.

Sharing secrets

As the daughter of a minister, Chorley grew up believing that "God loved me all the way, no matter what." But when she had her abortion, she was no longer sure.

Today, Chorley knows that plenty of people sit in pews weighed down by their own feelings of shame or pain -- not just about abortion. Perhaps they're hiding family secrets of addiction or domestic violence. Maybe they fear being open about their gender identity, sexual orientation, a disability or mental illness.

Chorley and others who subscribe to the pro-voice philosophy want this to change. She believes people should feel safe bringing their whole selves to church -- and to life.

That's why she agreed to be featured in June in a Parents magazine article about moms who've had abortions. And that's what sparked the "Pro-Voice Tour" that landed her in this Seattle church.

When Chorley and her husband became pregnant the second time around, she says, the word "divorce" hadn't been raised yet -- but she suspected it would come up. She and her soon-to-be ex, she told the crowd, agreed that it was no time to bring another child into the family. But just because the decision felt right at the time doesn't mean she didn't struggle. Sometimes, she still does.

She always thought she'd have a second child and has moments when she grieves over the fact that she didn't. The sight of a bumper sticker that reads "Abortion stops a beating heart" can still catch her breath, as do signs held by protesters who call what she did "murder."

"They don't know anything about you," she said of those who publicly judge a decision she never thought she'd have to make. "They feel this privilege to put this in your face."

When her son Franz, now 14, asked her what an abortion was four years ago, she had to be honest with her only child. They'd just driven past an abortion clinic, where protesters screamed and waved signs outside. Franz asked what an abortion was, so she told him.

"Why in the world would anyone do that?" he asked.

She took a deep breath and answered, "I made that decision once," before telling him how hard it was.

Franz sat in the church as she shared this story and weighed in with how he felt upon learning this.

"It took a while to process it," he told the crowd. But then his mom told him about Exhale, and he began to realize, "It's not something I can judge people about, especially my own mother."

Each time Chorley visits churches to share her abortion story, she says, at least a few women come forward afterward to reveal their own.

She describes one woman, nearly 90, who pushed her walker to the front of a church while sobbing.

"I had an illegal abortion when I was 20," she told Chorley. "I never told anyone, and I never thought it would be talked about in a church."

Those gathered in Seattle First Baptist Church are men and women, young adults and the elderly. Several hands go up during the discussion.

"I have this 40-year-old secret, and no one in my family knows," says one woman, who describes her family as "right-wing conservative."

"It's amazing the energy it takes to keep that stuff inside," she continued. "There's so much guilt and shame."

"I have a very conservative friend who's had a couple abortions," a younger woman says. "She didn't have any support after she went through it."

"I was on the pill and got pregnant," says a woman who, already a mother, had her abortion in the early 1970s, when it was still illegal. "I went through a lot of agony. Will God love me? Am I an OK person?"

On a couch in the back of the parlor, a woman weeps.

"I can't imagine having to make that choice," she says. "God's will is our will, and even when we make mistakes, He's there to lift us up."

There was a time, during her darkest days, that Chorley worried that she might go to hell. But she is now kinder and gentler with her herself. An ordained American Baptist minister, she serves as the associate director of an urban ministry where she, among other things, is the director of a domestic violence shelter. She accepts that we all fall short and that she was never alone.

"Why did I grow up not knowing that anyone had been through this experience?" she asked. "Why is that so hidden?"

Being there

In a downtown Oakland conference room, eight women are being trained as Exhale talkline counselors. Several say they wish they'd known about this service when they were struggling after their own abortions.

One said her provider told her to keep it a secret, so she did -- and moved 3,000 miles away from where it happened. It took alcohol abuse and being sexually assaulted, she said, to realize that it was OK to feel pain.

The commitment these trainees have made over six consecutive Saturdays will help ensure that others aren't left to suffer in secret. On a wall hangs a long sheet listing several dozen "myths about abortions." Included are phrases like "Women who have abortions can't be pro-life," "only non-religious people have abortions" and "men aren't affected."

Their trainers guide them in conversations about cultural sensitivity, how to be there for men who reach out and the importance of open-ended questions. They explore ways to highlight the strengths of callers and encourage self-care.

During role-playing exercises, they practice best ways to validate feelings and try out their pseudonyms, which all counselors use.

To the one who's confused: "You don't have to have all the answers right now." To the caller who's wracked with regret: "It sounds like you made the best decision you could with the resources you had at the time." To the one who's steeped in sadness: "It doesn't mean you'll feel this way forever."

Volunteer counselors are expected to work eight two- or three-hour shifts a month in their first year, and they receive the calls at home after being connected through an answering service.

One of the trainers uses the pseudonym "Nina." She works full-time in reproductive health and has been taking calls for Exhale for more than four years. These days, depending on her availability, she takes on one to four shifts each month.

Before getting involved with Exhale, she said, she'd never had a good conversation about abortion. It had always felt too politicized, and she wanted to connect with people who'd had the experience and "get grounded in their reality" -- as she's never had an abortion herself.

The reality for callers runs the gamut.

Nina remembers the woman who came from a family opposed to abortion and who was against it herself but found herself in an abusive relationship when she became pregnant and had her abortion.

She describes the mothers and fathers who call, wanting to know how to best support their daughters who aren't ready to call themselves.

She recalls the woman with bipolar disorder who blamed herself for being sick; she'd desperately wanted the baby but feared that if she went off her medications to continue the pregnancy, she would have killed herself.

She talks about the ones who can't stop crying and the others who feel guilty for feeling relieved.

Faith comes up maybe 10% to 15% of the time, Nina says. To the one who worries that God won't forgive her, Nina might ask, "What does forgiveness look like in your faith?" or "Is your God a forgiving God?" Then, she might say, "Do you feel like you can forgive yourself?"

The longest and toughest call she's had? The boyfriend who, three years after the fact, couldn't shake the guilt he had over persuading his girlfriend to get an abortion.

Nina used to see herself as a "rescuer," she said, someone who had to "fix things." But this work has taught her to let go of that inner voice and accept that her job is to simply be there for people. In giving this way to others, she's helped herself.

"It's enriched my life, how I treat my family members and my friends and how I am toward myself," Nina said. "It's about compassion, and we all need that."

And in today's climate, where the world often seems so divided, actively choosing to not pick sides and honor people's stories feels more important than ever, she says.
In an era when most people receive mail in an inbox, a little neighborhood in central Tucson is offering an old-school opportunity for everyone to experience the power of poetry through a Poetry Mailbox  no stamps necessary.

The Broadmoor-Broadway Village Poetry Crew welcomes the community to celebrate the dedication of a colorful, whimsical mailbox filled with poems from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday on the Treat Walkway just north of Arroyo Chico and south of 2802 E. Croyden St.

Just in time for National Poetry Month, the event will feature readings by Tucson poet laureate T.C. Tolbert, Wendy Burk, Eric Magrane, Marge Pellegrino and three fifth-grade student poets from Manzo Elementary School.

The mailbox is a labor of love for the Poetry Crew, comprised of village residents Joan and Mike Weingarten, Cynthia Holmes, Ryan Brown, Richard Roati, Heather Free, Ginny Kovatch and Elizabeth Salper, who spearheaded the project and will also read at the event.

Salper, who moved to the village in 2000, has been chalking poems on area sidewalks, plazas, benches and outdoor spaces since 2014. In February, she received a stART Grant from the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona under a movement she christened Urban Poetry Pollinators, which seeks to pollinate poetry in outdoor public spaces and foster neighborhood/community connections through poetry.

I feel like something happens when you encounter a poem in a surprising manner on a bench or in walkways  the Treat Walkway is a thoroughfare for cyclists and dog walkers from many neighborhoods and I would love to spread the idea of bringing poetry to life outside of four walls. I have always believed in that, said Salper, who tweaked the idea of poetry boxes found in Portland to create the Poetry Mailbox with the Poetry Crew.

The Poetry Mailbox, which features a flag that can be raised to signal that poems need to be added, is distinguished by a whimsical metal rooster attached to the top and the bold artwork of artist Heather Free.

She has such a great sense of color and design and took it to a groovy Tucson level, said Salper.

Brown, another member of the Poetry Crew who coordinated a free neighborhood library several years ago, helped to prepare the mailbox for painting and planting. He said that poetry group adds to the unique character of the village for adults and children.

It is like a treasure hunt to find poems and read them to our children. It is a nice engagement with the neighborhood and with important aspects of literature and child development, he said.

The Poetry Mailbox will contain poems for children and adults; the public is invited to visit the box and choose poems to read while relaxing on a nearby bench or to take poems home. Poem contributions are also welcome. Salper said that the box will feature a wide variety of verse; she likes poems that bring joy and make us think about our connection to the larger world and other people. She also favors poems about the Sonoran Desert and the natural world as well as work by local poets that showcases the thriving local literary scene.

Ideally, Salper hopes to see the groups efforts expand throughout Tucson.

I believe strongly that poetry unites us and connects us to our community and the shared world and want to encourage and espouse bringing it into public spaces, she said.
In Tucson this week, Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan spoke soothing words to a gathering of county recorders and election officials.

My office has absolutely no interest in going into the voter-registration business, she said Wednesday at the Omni Tucson National Resort. We believe all of the editing of the data files, the adding to the data files is something that belongs to the county recorders. We are not interested in doing that part of the job.

Reagan was trying to defuse a volatile conflict between her and the 15 elected recorders, especially the two from Pima and Maricopa counties. But the words came too late, about three weeks too late.

You may recall that back in January the recorders sent a joint letter to Reagan demanding better communication with her office, especially with her elections director, Eric Spencer. Months passed, more letters were exchanged, many of them dealing with a proposed statewide voter-registration system. The Secretary of States Office is preparing a request for proposals on such a system now, although Arizonas two most populous counties, Pima and Maricopa, operate their own, separate systems.

Then, on March 20, Reagan sent a letter to the Arizona Attorney Generals Office. It asked the office to answer several key questions, among them:

Does federal and state law allow Arizona counties to maintain separate, county-based voter-registration databases?

Under federal and state law governing public records and voter-registration information, is the secretary of state permitted to decline to fulfill a proper request for voter registration information and instead direct the requester to seek that information from each individual county?

These may sound like sensible questions to outsiders. But they landed like a grenade in the middle of the tense relationship between the recorders and secretary of state. Most importantly, Reagan said nothing to the recorders about the idea of requesting an opinion from the attorney general until April 4, two weeks after she had done it.

So much for improved communication!

On April 6, the longtime Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez sent Reagan a fiery response:

Your email states it was sent as part of your ongoing commitment to improve communications between your office and ours. However, your email in reality provided us with notice that you have made a formal request to the Arizona Attorney Generals Office questioning the legality of the Pima County and Maricopa County voter-registration systems, which have been in operation for many years under several former secretaries of state.

This is the heart of the controversy between the recorders and Reagan. The Secretary of States Office helps operate a 13-county voter-registration system, but the states two most populous counties run their own systems, which theyve spent millions of dollars to update.

I would love it if all the counties were on the same system, however I fully acknowledge that that is probably not the way its going to be, Reagan said Wednesday. Thats OK, as long as we can be sure they read each other properly.

Rodriguez has been especially guarded in keeping information from the Secretary of States Office. She hasnt provided, for example, the street file of mapping information that would allow voters to search the secretary of states website to find out where to vote in Pima County. For that information, you have to go to the Pima County recorders website.

Rodriguez told me she was concerned that Spencer, the elections director, was planning to share it with a third-party vendor.

Pima County has spent millions of dollars over the years enhancing our voter-registration system on behalf of the citizens of Pima County, she told me in an email. This included our web page, too. Our system works and (Reagan) wants us to use an off-the-shelf product that is not specifically designed for the state of Arizona.

Possible McSally challenger

A one-time contender for Congress from Tucson is looking at the possibility of running again. Jeff Latas, now 59, ran for the Democratic nomination for Congress in southeastern Arizona back in 2005-2006. Gabrielle Giffords defeated him.

Now Rep. Martha McSally, a Republican, represents the district running from central Tucson southeast to the borders of New Mexico and Sonora. Like McSally, Latas is a U.S. Air Force veteran and served in combat in Iraq in the 1990s.

A Trump candidacy and presidency has driven me to the point that I needed to do something, Latas said. I think I would stand fairly well against McSally, considering my background.

Latas formed an exploratory committee and remains truly undecided about whether hell run, he said. Hell decide in part based on factors such as fundraising and who else enters the race in the Democratic-leaning district.

McSally funding up

Whoever runs against McSally will undoubtedly be facing a well-funded candidate. McSallys campaign reported in an email that it took in nearly $750,000 and has about $630,000 in cash on hand. The fundraising figure was better than in the same period of 2015, the last non-election year.

McSally will undoubtedly be supplemented by significant outside spending, too. In 2016, outside groups spent about $770,000 to help her beat Democrat Matt Heinz, although he never seemed close to beating her.
Marana police arrested a pair Friday in connection with the theft of two kids' bikes from Walmart, authorities said.

Johnathan Patrick Wilber, 21, and Brittany Rayann Silverman, 20, were booked into the Pima County jail on theft charges and unrelated arrest warrants, according to a post on the Marana Police Department's Facebook page.

The bikes, which were stolen from the Walmart Supercenter at 8280 North Cortaro Road on April 9, have not been recovered, the post said.

Surveillance video from the incident showed the bikes parked in front of the store, and a man and woman riding off on the bikes. They then rode up to a parked truck near GameStop at the Arizona Pavilions Shopping Center, according to an earlier Facebook post.
PHOENIX  House lawmakers voted 38-20 Thursday to curb the ability of the disabled and their advocates to sue businesses for violations of laws requiring accessibility.

SB 1406 is designed to end what has become a cottage industry of litigation as a small group of attorneys has filed suits against businesses over violations but then agrees to settle for some cash payment, whether or not the problem is fixed.

There were so many lawsuits pending at one point that Attorney General Mark Brnovich interceded and convinced a judge to consolidate them, eventually getting them thrown out. SB 1406 is designed to deal with future litigation.

But several legislators questioned whether the proffered fix, which now goes to the Senate, goes too far, putting those who are denied access because of physical barriers at a distinct disadvantage in getting businesses to finally comply with the Arizonans with Disabilities Act.

One key provision gives businesses at least 30 days  and in many cases more  to fix a problem before a lawsuit could be filed. That drew derision from Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales, D-Tucson, who said proponents are being insensitive to the needs of those with disabilities.

All they ask for is accessibility to anything that you or I as able bodies would be able to do, whether its attending a social event, whether its seeking a doctor, whether its going to the bathroom, she said. Gonzales said its not like these are new mandates pointing out that the requirements for accessibility have been part of Arizona law for 27 years.

I think it is wrong for us to be giving cure times to businesses, she said.

But House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, who added that language, said it strikes a proper balance between the rights of the disabled and the interests of business.

There had been a consensus among all sides that suing first and making settlement demands was not helpful to those the attorneys said they were representing.

Rep. Don Shooter, R-Yuma, came up with a compromise, including a requirement to notify a business and give it 30 days to fix the problem. Only if the business failed to comply at that point could a lawsuit be filed.

That was not enough for Mesnard.

The language he tacked on does not require an actual fix in 30 days but simply a corrective action plan if the repairs would require obtaining a building permit. And only 60 days after that corrective plan is provided could a lawsuit be filed.

And if theres a delay in getting the permits, then that does not count toward the 60 days.

Rep. Kristen Engel, D-Tucson, said the legislation acts as a perverse incentive to businesses to not bother to fix problems until someone files a claim.

Maybe they know that it is a requirement that they can fix in the 30-day period, she said.

But its still an expense, Engel continued. Its just easier to wait to see if somebody sues you.

Mesnard brushed aside the concern.

Maybe you think therell be that rampant, flippant carelessness in the business community, he said. I seriously doubt it.

Mesnard said hes willing to revisit the issue in future years if that becomes the pattern under the new law.
The Arizona Daily Stars Sportsmens Fund Send a Kid to Camp program raises money so children from low-income households and military families can attend overnight YMCA, Boy Scout and Girl Scout camps and Camp Tatiyee, for school-age children and older teens with special needs, at little or no cost to their families.

Our goal is to raise $190,000 and send 650 local boys and girls to area camps this summer. So far, weve received 657 donations totaling $83,310, which puts us almost halfway to our goal.

Since 1947, the Arizona Daily Star Sportsmens Fund has helped pay for 38,551 children to go to camp. Were one of the oldest 501(c)(3) charities in Arizona.

Your contribution qualifies for the Arizona tax credit of up to $800 for donations to qualifying charitable organizations. Donations are welcome throughout the year.

Recent donations include:

Archie Oftedahl, $350.

Betty Ojeda, $100.

Frank and Kay Ott, $200.

Joyce Palmer, $50.

George and Maria Pappas, $25.

Anant Pathak, $100.

Marlea Peate, $20.

Jack and Linda Peil, $100.

Ray and Mary Helen Pelton, $20.

Jane Peterson, $100.

William and Joan Phillips, $100.

Lonald Pike, $25.

Susie Prescott, $100.

Don Quaintance, $25.

Albert Quick, $50.

Michael Quirk, $25.

David and Mary Anne Reimer, $25.

Patricia Rickards, $200.

Michael Rigby, $25.

Carole Roberson, $75.

Maxine Robinson, $50.

Fred Roby, in memory of Mary Pavlich Roby, $200.

Steven Sabrick, $20.

David Schmidle, $100.

More donations will be acknowledged in the coming weeks.
WASHINGTON - A shooting incident in the metro system in the US state of Atlanta has left one dead and three injured, local media reported Thursday.

The incident took place at around 4:30 pm local time (2130 GMT) in the West Lake Station, and the shooter appeared to be firing randomly at passengers, Atlanta TV station WGCL quoted witnesses as saying.

All of the victims and the perpetrator appeared to be in their 30s, and at least one of the victims was female, according to witnesses.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, the metro's governing body, said the suspect has been arrested and investigation is underway. The nature of the attack is yet unclear.

US President Donald Trump said in January that Atlanta is "crime-infested" during a row with Democratic House Representative John Lewis, who represents Atlanta and its surrounding area.
Organizers of a March for Science in Washington, D.C., say they expect huge crowds in the nations capital and at more than 425 affiliated marches across the globe on Saturday, April 22, including Tucson.

The Tucson group, meanwhile, has shelved its plan to march from De Anza Park to El Presidio Park downtown after learning it would need about $20,000 to barricade North Stone Avenue, hire off-duty police and medics, and take out insurance.

The meat of the event, a Rally for Science at El Presidio Park, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with bands, speakers and booths promoting science outreach, staffed by nonprofits and student groups from the University of Arizona.

Its not quite the same as marching, said Marea Jenness, a Tucson High Magnet School science teacher, who is planning logistics for the event. She also helped with the Tucson sister march of the Womens March in January.

I want to walk, she said. Its the activity that people engage in to show theyre protesting. Its hard to be active at a rally.

Jenness said she will participate in an informal Women March for Science group that is gathering at 9 a.m. at Armory Park to walk along the sidewalks to El Presidio.

Other groups are planning similar mini-marches, she said.

Jenness said organizers decided to pull the plug on the main march after realizing it would be difficult to raise the money to fund all the infrastructure the city required for a permit to march down Stone Avenue. Barricades alone would require about $9,000.

Jenness said she encountered similar costs for the Womens March in January, but that group was able to raise the funds easily on social media.

The Rally for Science also has some competition. April 22 is Earth Day and the UA has scheduled a celebration at Biosphere 2  an event that will include many of its most prominent climate scientists. Earth Day events are also being held that day at the Tucson Childrens Museum and a Peoples Climate March is scheduled at El Presidio Park the following Saturday.

Heatherlee Leary, one of the organizers of the Tucson rally, said the group is still hoping for a turnout of 2,500 to 5,000 supporters of science.

Its a rally and a science-outreach event, she said. Its not only a protest, it is also an opportunity to support the local science community.

Leary, a natural resources student at the UA, said the group is also hosting a prerally speaker series.

Details are on the groups website: marchforsciencetucson.org

Josh Hoskinson, a UA graduate student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, said hes heard mixed response from faculty at the university, some of whom dont want to be viewed as partisan.

The problem is that it is a reaction to the change, and even more so, the mentality of the administration. The proposed budget still reflects the mentality of where the administrations priorities are, and they are not with science, Hoskinson said.

Rachel Gallery, an assistant professor of natural resources at UA, will speak at the rally as a representative of the group "500 Women Scientists." She said she understands the reluctance of some scientists to participate in what could be regarded as political acts.

Scientists, in general, are cautious people, cautious by nature, due to the nature of our jobs and the process we use  the scientific method, she said.

Gallery said she is not marching or rallying against anything. I am marching in support of science, she said.

Its very important for us to show how much science has helped and served society in every single way. I also think that one of sciences most important roles, besides providing a fundamental understanding of how the world works, is to inform policy  present data that can be used to make decisions that affect our lives.

UA environmental scientist Scott Saleska plans to march on behalf of science on Earth Day, April 22, in Washington.

Saleska has personal and professional reasons for concern. The Trump administration has identified his field of study as the target of federal cuts.

The president has called climate change a hoax and his administrator of the EPA, Scott Pruitt, has said there is tremendous disagreement among scientists on the causes of global warming.

This statement is incorrect, said a letter sent to Pruitt by Saleska and 29 other prominent scientists, including UA colleagues Jonathan Overpeck and Joellen Russell.

In fact, we know with an exceptionally high degree of confidence that most of the climate warming over at least the last six decades has been caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities, the letter said.

Saleska said the same group of scientists made the same argument in an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court 10 years ago, when several states successfully sued the EPA to force it to regulate carbon dioxide emissions.

Saleska, who studies the carbon cycle in rainforests, said scientific thought on global warming isnt partisan.

Science doesnt care about global warming. Science doesnt care whether the Earth is destroyed. People care, and then they do something, and we have a Clean Air Act that gives a mandate to EPA to address that risk, he said.

Astronomer Laird Close also plans to join his fellow scientists in D.C. on April 22, even though his field of study is not under attack. He is concerned the administration wants to still the voices of scientists.

Close, a Canadian citizen who has worked at the University of Arizona since 1991, said something similar happened during the administration of former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whose Conservative government ordered scientists not to talk to the press.

Close said early moves by the Trump administration seemed to threaten similar silencing of scientists here.

I saw a parallel with what was going on with the new administration and what went on in Canada. We dont want to see a muzzling of our scientists to push an ideological agenda of any party, he said.

Protesting doesnt come naturally to scientists, Close said.

I actually dont do politics, said Close. I dont view science as Republican or Democratic and I think all scientists feel pretty strongly that way.

Its very important that it doesnt get viewed as a bunch of scientists who are against the current administration, he said.

Close said he hopes large numbers of people turn out to support science.

Obviously, a single person going to Washington and holding up a sign doesnt change anything, he said.

Its an important exercise in civics, so Im excited in bringing my two daughters who are 10 and 12 to sort of see democracy in action. The march for science is something I feel strongly about and I want to pass that enthusiasm on to my daughters.
The Tucson sisters who opened Sew Hip want even new sewers to feel comfy browsing their shop and taking classes.

And if you're not feeling it, Skippy will fix that.

You might even visit the sewing shop just to meet Skippy, an adorable poodle-mixed-with-something from a Phoenix rescue. He's about a year old, hypoallergenic and likely to greet you with bouncy steps, a wagging tail and lots of kisses. He's in most days.

But back to sewing.

Sisters Kristin Owens and Brittany Severns opened Sew Hip, 3400 E. Speedway, a year ago last Saturday. It's in the same strip mall as Whole Foods and Bookmans.

They have long dreamed of owning a business together.

Owens, 34, and Severns, 37, come from a long line of sewers. Their mom and grandmother both sewed  clothes, stuffed animals, curtains, all the things  so the girls learned from an early age during their childhood in Albuquerque.

Both left town at 18, Owens for San Diego, Severns for Austin, and spent years imagining what it would be like to live in the same city and open a shop.

In 2011, Owens moved to Tucson for her husband's job. Severns followed her sister in 2013.

Finally, the timing was right.

"We're both crafty and were in town sewing, and both of us had been in places where there was something a little similar, a kind of sewing, modern-feeling place," Owens says. "We thought there was really an opportunity for it in Tucson."

The sisters wanted to create a space where beginning or new sewers could learn and where a younger crowd could gather.

They host classes for all ages and ability levels and clubs that work on projects together. During school breaks, kiddos can sign up for sewing camps and there are also after-school classes.

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They have an open studio with an hourly rate that gives customers access to six sewing machines and other tools. The shop also hosts parties and girls' nights out, BYOB style.

Our super fun April 101 class! May is open to registration! #sewhiptucson #sewinglife #sewingismytherapy #sewing101 #lineddrawstringbag A post shared by Sew Hip (@sewhiptucson) on Apr 12, 2017 at 1:23pm PDT

Owens and Severn curate fabrics that they like  in the last year upping the variety of garment fabrics sold in response to customer requests. The prints are bright and sweet. If Skippy hasn't convinced you to take up sewing, these prints might.

"There are sewers who are young and sewing fun things," Owens says. "Not every sewer is maybe what the stereotype would be of an old granny quilting, but it was kind of like a secret society. You could only find other sewers on blogs and ordered your fabric from the Internet, so there was a need for a place for sewers of every age."

Owens and Severns see everyone at their shop  kids, men and women, young and old. That includes the "expected demographic of older women," Owens says.

The roughly 1,300-square-foot shop is airy and bright. They were going for an Anthropologie vibe, Severns says. One side of the store operates as a workshop, with the other side heaped with shelves of fabric.

In the back, a gated play area gives mamas a chance to browse fabrics sans kids. That's a feature derived from personal experience. Both have young kids.

"People come in and go, 'Whoa, this is so cool,'" Severns says. "And they have said they're not as intimidated to learn here."

Owens continues.

"Because it can be really intimidating for people who are beginners or who haven't sewn at all to go into a place where clearly everyone is experienced..." she says. "We want to try to put it out there that it doesn't matter if you can't sew at all. That's what we're here for."

For more information or to register for upcoming classes , visit sew-hip.com or call 314-1894.
Help India!

By Amit Kumar, TwoCircles.net

Manual scavenging, a curse of the caste system, remains one of the most degrading jobs in the country for the Dalits. Despite several attempts made by various Dalit-Bahujan organisations to end this practice, it continues unabated in almost all parts of the country. But this has not deterred Bipin Solanki, a 36-year-old from Surendranagar, Gujarat continues to fight the evil practice through all forms of practice through the medium of videos, documentaries and using legal measures as and when necessary.

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Solanki, who belongs to the Bunkar (Scheduled Caste) learnt very early in his life that the Dalits and Bahujans of the society had to fight extra-hard for even the most basic facilities. While growing up, we realised that even something as basic as drinking water was a struggle for our communities. The same applied to education, roads, even health facilities, says Solanki. Given the tight economic conditions at home, education was a challenge; but he nevertheless completed his schooling in Surendranagar. As he enrolled in Gandhinagar University for his graduation, he decided to work also, and given his upbringing, he naturally focussed on working on Dalit-Bahujan issues. From 2005 to 2008, I worked as part of a joint initiative between Navsarjan Trust and Video Volunteers, making small documentaries that highlighted the plight of Dalits and Bahujans of our state, and especially Surendranagar, says Solanki. During this period, he also completed his graduation and LLB from Gandhinagar University. Talking about his degree in law, Solanki says, It became pretty clear to me very clear that if we are to fight injustices against our communities, the legal route remains the most assured and effective way. The Constitution remains the biggest weapon bestowed upon us to fight oppression and especially casteism.

During these three years, Solanki delved deeper into the plight of manual scavengers. Unlike other states where there is a chance that some manual scavengers and Safai Karamcharis might be from non-Dalit-Bahujan backgrounds, in Gujarat this profession remains only for the Valmiki community, he says.

In 2010, during a program for Video Volunteers, he met Yasho Salve from Mumbai, and the two married soon after. Both had been working with marginalised communities for a long time now, and the two started working on various issues, and their association with Video Volunteers continues to this day.

However, it was in April 2015 that while visiting the market in Dhangadhara Taluka, where they had shifted a year earlier, that they came face to face with the absolutely horrible conditions in which the manual scavengers were working. A man, of course from the Valmiki community, was half-submerged in a drain, wearing absolutely no protective gear, clearing the drain. It was a shocking image, one that we had seen for a long time, but this one disturbed us to no end, says Solanki. The couple went home, brought their video camera and started recording the process. Since then, Bipin has almost exclusively focused on the issue of manual scavenging. It was during this period that Solanki also realized the superficial nature of various activists. On the face of it, no one ever says that this practice must continue; yet they will never hesitate to use the issue to make their own careers. They take pictures, make videos and then never come back. I always wanted to ensure that I do not behave the same way, he says.

You cannot eradicate this problem without addressing the caste angle

This is why in August 2016, Solanki made a 4-minute documentary for Video Volunteers, which showed their plight and exposed the claims of the municipalities that manual scavenging had come to an end. The video was seen by a lot of people but the authorities got away by blaming contractors, saying that this would never happen if they were employed directly by the municipality, says Solanki. So, to ensure that the pressure is maintained, he also launched a petition, which was signed by over 20,000 people. With so many reactions to the video, the authorities had to take action and in August 2016, the District Magistrate of Surendranagar formed a committee to look into this issue. I was nominated as a member of the committee, but after the first meeting, I realised that these people are not interested in addressing the issue, he says. When I raised the issue of caste, they looked at me as if I had said something unimaginable. Valmikis are the only ones who do this work. Isnt the committee supposed to then work to improve the economic conditions of the Valmikis? But they kept talking about providing protective gears and nothing more, he adds.

So I quit the committee, he says.

Last year, Xaviers college in Ahmedabad had advertised for the post of Janitors and said that preference would be given to the Savarnas (upper-castes). How many responded? None. In fact, there was a massive uproar and the authorities had to issue rejoinders. You still think this is not related to caste? he adds.

Permanent jobs are only a start, not a permanent solution

Solanki was also not surprised when the committee formed to eradicate manual scavenging achieved nothing and soon petered out into oblivion. So, Solanki has now decided to fight for making the jobs of Safai Karamcharis permanent instead of contracts. He says that in an ideal world, no human should be made to clean drains, but until that happens, it is important to take some steps at least to address their economic conditions. If they are given a permanent job, a number of things happen, he says, referring to the recent decision in Mumbai where Safai Karamcharis were given permanent jobs after working on a contract for years. One, manual scavenging will hopefully be discontinued and if it continues, at least we will be able to question the authorities who will no longer be able to blame contractors. Second, their income will rise by about four-times. As of now, they earn about Rs 3,000-Rs 5,000 a month which will rise to about Rs 20,000 per month if they become permanent.

Solanki adds that the only way as of now for Valmikis to get rid of this profession is to ensure that the next generation does not follow into this profession. The government will promise a lot, deliver little. It is upon the community to ensure that they find ways to earn money in a more dignified manner. Until then, we will keep using all legal tools we have to ensure that no one has to work as a manual scavenger, he says.
Help India!

By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net

Mewat: Five huts of Rohingya refugees caught fire in Nangali gaon, Nooh of Mewat in Haryana, leading to one person being severely burnt, besides loss of household materials.

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The fire also consumed portion of a makeshift mosque, a school and a madrasa.

The fire occurred on Wednesday night after Maghrib prayers, when some people were cooking inside the madrasa. As the huts are made of bamboo and polythene, it quickly caught fire and within no time it engulfed five other huts, said Mohammad Shafi, Chairman of Mewat Trust, which is helping the families in re construction of makeshift huts.

We will start work on makeshift huts from tomorrow so that they dont have to spend their days under open sun, he added.

In another similar incident, fire engulfed more than 8 jhuggis of Rohingya refugees living in Bhagwati Nagar area of Jammu city.

According to one of the refugees, Younous Ahmed, the fire started at 3 am on the intervening night of April 13-14 and consumed more than 8 huts. Fortunately, there was no loss of lives.

Earlier this week, an attempt was made by some miscreants to set on fire to the scrap collected by Rohingya refugee at Bohri area on the outskirts of Jammu.

Last week, Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) while issuing a warning to state and central government to expel the Rohingya and Bangladeshi refugees living in the state had threatened to start their self-styled movement of killing the Muslim refugees, in a case of non-compliance by the government.

Later the president of the chamber, Rakesh Gupta had taken back his words and had termed the statement as one issued in a state of frustration.

(For those who want to help out the fire victims may call Mohammad Shafi, Chairman, Mewat Trust at +91 9999241786)
Help India!

By Raqib Hameed Naik, Twocircles.net

As internet resumed after five days of the blockade in Kashmir, the valley on Friday woke up to see two videos making rounds on social networking websites. In one video a youth, who was pelting stones is seen shot dead by Security force personnel from the point blank range, while in another video a youth is tied in front of an army vehicle used as a human shield against stone pelting.

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The first video belongs to some area in Budgam district which was shot by the polling staff, whereas the second video was shot in Gundipora, Beerwah area also in Budgam district. Both the video has raged a storm on social media websites.



Former Chief minister Omar Abdullah expressed his anguish over the incident on twitter. Heres the video as well. A warning can be heard saying stone pelters will meet this fate. This requires an urgent inquiry & follow up NOW!! he tweeted.

This young man was TIED to the front of an army jeep to make sure no stones were thrown at the jeep? This is just so shocking!!!! #Kashmir, he wrote in another tweet.

He also expressed his outrage over the biased coverage of news channels and wrote,I understand the outrage the CRPF video generated. Im also outraged that the video of the youth on the jeep wont generate the same anger. Lets see channels going ballistic & having discussions with outraged panellists now. Probably not since Kashmir is ours hell with Kashmiris.

On April 9 when by polls wEre being held in Srinagar parliamentary constituency, the security forces shot dead 8 civilians and injured 117 people majorly youths.
According to Cosmopolitan, Princes William and Harry will appear in three American documentaries, honoring Princess Diana. Years after her death, William and wife have finally found a way to honor the beloved Diana. The royals have recently commissioned three American documentaries to mark the 20th anniversary of their moms death. They confirm their appearance in "Diana Vreeland: The Eye has to Travel," "The Conspiracy Files," and "Unlawful Killing." We look forward to these documentaries, and have high expectations.

Diana Vreeland: The Eye has to Travel

The first few episodes of Diana Vreeland: The Eye has to Travel were aired in 2011. The documentary is about the life and career of Lady Diana. Vogue says that the project is directed by Lisa Immordino Vreeland, and produced by Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt and Frederic Tcheng. The new episodes will premiere this winter, and Princes William and Harry would make a brief appearance. The documentary has a total running time of 170 minutes, and can be seen in English, French, Italian and Japanese languages. The project focuses on Dianas move to New York City, where she launched her fashion house.

The Conspiracy Files

This British-American documentary will premiere on BBC.

So far, two series and thirteen episodes of the program have been aired. In its new episodes, Princes William and Harry would play the lead roles. The Conspiracy Files centers around the September 11 attacks, the Pan Am Flight 103 bomb, the Oklahoma City bombing, the 7 July 2005 London bombings, and the death of Diana. There are rumors that the show will be aired this winter, but nothing is confirmed.

We look forward to this short film that is in its final works.

Unlawful Killing

Unlawful Killing is a British-American documentary film, directed by Keith Allen. The story is about the deaths of Diana and Dodi Fayed on August 31, 1997. Associated-Rediffusion is financing the new version. The documentary is currently in the works, and Prince William will play the lead character.

Theres no information about Harrys role in this short film. The story is inspired by a book of the same name. It was written on the Princess of Wales' last days. Vogue says that the Duke and Prince Harry have selected several friends and family members to speak about Diana publicly. Through these short films, they're trying to depict their love for the former princess.
One of the most controversial president's in American history has been Andrew Jackson, whose legacy has been under fire in recent years due to his history of owning slaves. On what would have been his 250th birthday, Jackson was honored by Donald Trump who spoke at the Hermitage museum on Wednesday, which was the former President's old slave plantation.

Trump on Jackson

Andrew Jackson was elected as the seventh President of the United States, serving from 1829 until 1837, and was the founder of modern Democratic Party. While many historians viewed Jackson as a successful commander in chief, touting his military background, modern criticism points to the fact that he owned as many as 300 slaves during his life time.

In addition, Jackson's order to remove mostly Cherokee Indians from their land east of the Mississippi River in 1838 and 1839 resulted in what is known as the Trail of Tears, where up to 4,000 people were killed as a result of starvation and disease. Despite this, Donald Trump honored the former president on his birthday, as reported by The Hill on March 15.

"Andrew Jackson, we thank you for your serve," Donald Trump told those in attendance. "We honor you for your memory. We build on your legacy and we thank God for the United States of America," Trump went on to say. The former host of "The Apprentice" spoke from the old Hermitage plantation that Jackson had built in the early 1800s, and where hundreds of his slaves were forced to live.

Sean Spicer shares photo of Pres. Trump saluting after laying wreath at tomb of Andrew Jackson in Nashville. https://t.co/9ePwOuAUbA pic.twitter.com/ofwsj2Ypkq  ABC News (@ABC) March 15, 2017

"Jackson removed 10 percent of the government workforce. He launched a campaign to sweep out government corporation. Totally! He didn't want government corruption," Donald Trump said, before adding, "He expanded benefits for veterans.

He imposed tariffs on foreign countries." At this point, Trump chuckled and said, "That sounds very familiar. Wait to you see what happens very soon folks. It's time."

Next up

Like Andrew Jackson, Donald Trump also faces allegations of being "hateful" and a "racist." During his campaign for president, Trump was hit with these negative allegations early on, which started with his label of illegal immigrants from Mexico being "rapists" and "murderers." Since then, those who oppose the president have increased their opposition, often going as far as comparing Trump to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party of Germany during the 1930s and early 1940s.
Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders believes that Donald Trump will be a one term president. He doesn't see how Trump can win another election, based on his current policies and the outcry from the American people.

Sanders doesn't think Trump can win in 2020

Bernie explained that in the first three months of Trump presidency, he earned the title of the least popular president in United States history. His policies have not made the American people happy. Sander believes that America wants a change already --noting that it's only been three months under Trump's regime.

The last one-term president was George H.W. Bush, who was defeated by Bill Clinton in 1992. Bernie doesn't see how Mr. Trump can win over America again, especially after all the protests following his election.

Bernie Sanders: Trump will be a one-term president https://t.co/JgsFroKIpP pic.twitter.com/oDwYDw4f45  The Hill (@thehill) April 13, 2017

Bernie told The Associated Press, Regarding the first three months in office, Donald Trump is the least popular president in the history of polling. I do not believe that if Trump continues these policies that hes going to be re-elected [in 2020]. Nor do I think that the Republicans are going to do well in 2018."

Will Bernie run in 2020?

Sanders, 75, ran for president last year but was defeated by Hillary Clinton in the primaries.If Bernie decided to run for president again, he would be 79 years old when it's time to take office.

Many people feel that 79 years old may be too old to handle the demands of being president. However, Bernie has said many times that he is extremely healthy and could handle the requirements of any political position.

Trump's approval rating dropped, again

Trump's approval rating has not risen above 46 percent since he took office.

Generally, people are upset with the policies he's created and has voiced they hope he doesn't make it through one term.

The Democratic politicians have been trying to find a way to impeach him, but so far, Nancy Pelosi claims he hasn't broken the law yet. She assured America that she was watching and the minute he commits an impeach offense, they will begin the process.

Trump Won't Be Re-Elected In 2020, Bernie Sanders Says pic.twitter.com/iL5k8beEpn  Video Tank (@RealVideoTank) April 13, 2017

Americans felt confident that he wouldn't last a month in office. He has made it almost three months now and shows no signs of slowing down.

The cards are stacked against Trump's re-election plans

Bernie believes that the failed health care reform will be a huge problem for Trump if he doesn't get another one passed. Trump promised the supporters and the Republican party that he would get a "better health care plan" in place.

The Health Care Bill failed, but Trump assured America that he would come up with something much better. So far, he hasn't announced any details of the next TrumpCare plan.

Sanders said that Trump's re-election chances rest on the health care bill. Without it, he will lose the election in 2020.

Bernie planning a nationwide tour

According to Occupy Democrats, Bernie and Democratic National Convention chairman (DNC), Tom Perez will visit some of the tossup and leading red states to encourage young people to vote in the 2018- midterm elections. They will visit Maine, Kentucky, Florida, Texas, Nebraska, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada.

Sanders said the purpose of the tour is to fight back against Trump. He hopes to educate voters to encourage them to vote for progressive candidates. He believes that in time, even the red states will start voting for Democratic candidates.

Now that Donald Trump is president for the next four years, Americans have a duty to hold him accountable and force him to do his job.

Do you think Bernie Sanders is right about Trump being a one-term president? Do you think he can get re-elected? Would you vote for Sanders if he ran for president in 2020?
At the White House briefing on Tuesday, Sean Spicer, the White House Spokesman, made a reference that angered a number of Democratic officials, which is why they want him to be fired. In an attempt to criticize the recent use of chemical weapons in Syria, and Russias support of it, Spicer said You had someone who was as despicable as Hitler who didnt even sink to using chemical weapons. The statement was, of course, incorrect  the Nazis might not have used gas in the battlefields during World War II, but they did use gas chambers as a means of slaughtering Jews, disabled people, and many others.

Congress speaks out

Various Democratic Congress members have since expressed their belief that Sean Spicer needs to be fired. Donald Payne Jr, the Democratic representative from New Jersey, said the spokesmans references were disgusting, and that he was diminishing the terror of Holocaust with those references. In Paynes opinion, Spicer should not be the spokesman for the White House any longer, and he should either be let go, or hand in his resignation.

David Cicilline (RI), shares this opinion. He thinks that President Trump needs to react, and fire Spicer immediately. Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, stated that Trump should repudiate the statements made by the White House spokesman, because his remarks are a direct reflection on the President himself.

Pelosi agrees that Spicer needs to be let go, because his diminishing of the Holocaust is a disgrace to all the Jewish families across the United States.

Spicers apology not enough

The White House spokesman compared the Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to Hitler, in an attempt to criticize Russia for supporting Assad. Spicer admitted that he made a mistake, and said that he was just trying to emphasize how atrocious the Syrian leaders attack on his own people really was.

He has since apologized for the Hitler remark, but his apology does not seem to be enough, as his resignation is still expected.

The head of the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect, Steven Goldstein, said that the spokesman was too late with his apology. Goldstein stated that the Center cannot accept the apology because Spicer tried to apologize several times, but just barely got the apology right on his third attempt. He is also of the opinion that Sean Spicer should no longer be the White House press secretary, and that Trump should let him go.
In Russia, the trial against Jehovahs Witnesses continued this week into its fourth day, with the Ministry of Justice attempting to smear the Witnesses by calling former members of the organization to testify. These previous members were all associated with Jehovahs Witnesses  and in some cases were once baptized in the faith  until they were disfellowshipped, or expelled from the congregation.

The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has targeted Jehovahs Witnesses, along with their legal holdings, properties and their right to freedom of worship, and is seeking to have the Administrative Center of Jehovahs Witnesses and its nearly 200,000 members in Russia declared extremist. A ruling in favor of the Ministry of Justice would criminalize the actions of Witnesses simply meeting together to read the Bible or engaging in their house-to-house ministry.

Former members take the stand against the Witnesses

As expected, the prosecution heard testimony from former members who attempted to paint the Witnesses as anti-social. Russian News Agency TASS reports that one former Jehovahs Witness, Natalia Koretskaya, from St. Petersburg, who was part of the organization from 1995 until 2009, told the judge that the organization's members live under full and total control of the Administrative Center, and that the heads of the organization formally watch canonical compliance with the norms but in real fact the talk is about total control of an individuals personal life his intimate life, education and work.

Koretskaya was disfellowshipped from her congregation in 2009 after she started a physical relationship with a man to whom she was not legally married to, TASS reports.

After being removed from the congregation, Natalia testified that she had forgotten how to live in the world because of the organizations strict policy of neutrality.

Testimony was also heard from Pavel Zverev, who joined the organization at 16 years of age. Zverev complained that the organization deprived him of a chance to be successful in life because they prevented him for getting a higher education.

Nina Petrova, a former member who was associated with the Witnesses for three decades, testified that her spiritual mentors persuaded her not to have a family. They convinced me that a family was not needed as the doomsday was close at hand. And when I realized that this was a delusion, it was late, she said.

Witnesses Respond

Lawyers for the Witnesses spoke to the media, stating that the individuals called by the Ministry of Justice to testify were merely repeating the arguments of so-called sectological literature, and that some of them are even named in public sources" as activists who seek to disparage Jehovahs Witnesses. Their testimony can hardly be considered objective or representative of the organization's ideals. Jehovah's Witnesses do not discourage individuals to seek a marriage mate and children if they choose. Nor do they diminish the value of a good education in order to support themselves.

Disfellowshipping?

Jehovahs Witnesses practice a form of discipline called disfellowshipping  following the early Christian congregations practice of removing an individual who commits a gross sin and remains unrepentant for their actions.

Disfellowshipped individuals are still welcome to attend all meetings with the Witnesses and can still take part in worship, but they cannot associate and cannot engage in the public ministry.

To others, the decision may seem harsh or punitive, but following the principle set out by the Apostle Paul from the first-century congregation in Corinth, anyone who is called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner... should be removed from among yourselves. The benefits are that the congregation remains clean in Gods eyes, and the person removed may eventually have a change of heart  in which case they are welcomed back into the fold.

Simply put  There are standards that God expects people to live by. This concept is fundamental to any so-called Christian religion, but over the centuries it has become watered down as individuals look on their faith as a buffet-style choice of what laws and principles fit in with their own personal choices and lifestyles.

That is why, within the doors of any Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses, you will not find a smoker, an alcohol abuser, a homosexual, an unconfessed murderer or criminal, anyone who is sexually immoral, anyone who practices fornication or adultery, or anyone practicing any form of spiritism or the occult.
Over the last week, tension has increased between the United States and North Korea. While Donald Trump has lashed out at the country on his Twitter account, a high-ranking official under Kim Jong-un is speaking out.

Trump's Twitter trouble

Ever since the early days of his campaign for president, Donald Trump used social media as a way to bypass the mainstream news media in an attempt to push his agenda and reach his supporters and potential voters. While Trump was successful in the sense that he was able to lock up the Republican nomination and eventually the White House, it didn't come without criticism from many over his constant use of Twitter.

The former host of "The Apprentice" has often come under fire for lashing out on his social media accounts over a variety of issues, including, but not limited to celebrity critics, his Democratic opposition, members of his own Republican Party, and even several world leaders. In recent weeks, global affairs have dominated Trump's administration, which started after the president decided to launch an attack on a Syrian airbase in retaliation to Bashar al-Assad's chemical attack on civilians earlier this month. The reaction was mixed, which included North Korea pushing back, using it as an excuse to continue their nuclear program. As reported by the Associated Press (AP) on April 14, the country is not pleased with how Trump has handled recent events.

BREAKING: North Korea's vice foreign minister tells the AP it will conduct next nuclear test whenever supreme headquarters sees fit.  The Associated Press (@AP) April 14, 2017

On Thursday, NBC News reported that the United States was set to launch a preemptive strike against North Korea if the country went forward with their plans of a Nuclear Weapons Test.

NBC News cited several senior United States intelligence officials, and noted that a nuclear test could take place as soon as next week. The White House, however, pushed back at the report, labeling it "wildly wrong" and "crazy.

BREAKING: North Korea's vice foreign minister says President Trump is "making trouble" with "aggressive" tweets.  The Associated Press (@AP) April 14, 2017

Despite this, the AP reported late Thursday night that North Korea was speaking out against Donald Trump, appearing to send a threat and a warning over the president's Twitter use and the country's plans at a nuclear weapons test.

"Vice foreign minister tells the AP it will conduct next nuclear test whenever supreme headquarters sees fit," the AP tweeted out. In a follow-up message, a cryptic threat was directed at the billionaire real estate mogul. "Vice foreign minister says President Trump is 'making trouble' with 'aggressive' tweets," the report points out.

US prepared to launch preemptive strike if North Korea goes forward with nuclear test: report https://t.co/G7jI2YrL9e pic.twitter.com/FirqZDlH8b  The Hill (@thehill) April 14, 2017

Moving forward

As of press time, it's unknown what the next step will be regarding the United States, the nation's rivals, and the issue of nuclear weapons and testing. Earlier this week, Donald Trump targeted the nation in question on Twitter, labeling North Korea a "menace" and claiming they were "looking for trouble."
Massive Ordnance Air Blast

The GBU-43, otherwise known as the MOAB or Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, was dropped on the tunnels and caves ISIS occupies in Afghanistan. The MOAB is also known as the Mother of All Bombs. It is a large-yield conventional (non-nuclear) bomb designed to be delivered by a C-130 Hercules. Since its introduction, Russia has tested its "Father of All Bombs" which is claimed to be four times more powerful than the MOAB. The Russian bomb is said to yield an equivalent to 44 tons of explosives with a blast radius of 300 meters, double that of the American bomb.

In addition, the temperature at the epicenter is said to be twice as high as the MOAB.

Testing

The MOAB was first tested on March 11, 2003 and was developed for the United States military by Albert L. Weimorts, Jr. of the Air Force Research Laboratory during the Iraq War, however it was never used in combat. The MOAB was dropped at 7:32 p.m. local time Thursday on a tunnel complex in the Achin district of Nangarhar province where the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State has been operating. Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesman said the bomb had been brought to Afghanistan "some time ago" for potential use.

Minimize risk

The strike was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and U.S. forces in the area.

The bomb is intended to have a high altitude release similar to the Daisy Cutter used in Vietnam. The MOAB, however, falls to the ground without the use of a retarding parachute.

ISIS

ISIS is not just a terrorist group, but is an armed military unit holding about 1/3 of Iraq and Syria. They deliberately keep reporters out by beheading those who try to learn of their mission.

Those that fight them are made up of housewives, farmers, shopkeepers and volunteers. There isn't enough firepower for them so they share their guns with each other, hoping to keep back the tide of ISIS. Many have destroyed their towns and cities, saying "ISIS would destroy them anyway."

Territorial shifting

The group's loss of territory is shifting political positions.

ISIS no longer has a direct line into Europe though the refugee status still remains critical. ISIS has suffered a series of defeats in Syria and with the MOAB bomb dropped in Afghanistan it is hoped to further undermine the organization.

The Pentagon believes the group is in trouble and advises that it is time to ramp up the U.S. led campaign against the terror group with more airstrikes.
Ever since he was elected President #Donald Trump has set out to remove and modify pieces of legislation from the Obama Administration. So far, thanks to elements within the Republican Party in Congress, he has failed with the affordable care act known as Obamacare but he has removed assistance to women and each week sees an announcement of other pieces of Obama legislation. But there is one aspect of Barack Obamas stay in the White House that he cannot remove, the language he gave to the country.

Words of hope

In todays Washington Post David Nakamura describes the differences between the two men that are contained in their choice of words and messages to the country and to the world.

The choice between the nasty world inhabited by Donald Trump as opposed to the world which Barack Obama saw from the White House, a world which had problems but which saw signs of improvement and thus the today is the best world in which to be born.

The statements reported by Nakamura reflect two world views that are legitimate within the experiences of two men who have felt the pressures of sitting in the Oval Office and making decisions that affect the lives of people around the world and in many cases, such as last weeks attack on the Syrian airbase or the attack on ISIS in Afghanistan on Thursday in which the worlds biggest conventional bomb was used for the first time, on whether or not people live or die.

Yet a phrase from Donald Trump in an interview yesterday gave us another insight about the difference between the two men that is more profound that any interpretation of sayings or adjectives.

China and Korea

In an interview in the Wall Street Journal President Donald Trump explained how Chinese President Xi Jinping gave him a brief history of the relations between China and Korea to explain his countrys stance on North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-un.

After that lesson President Trump said that he understood that the situation was not as easy for China as he previously believed.

The exchange between the two Presidents highlighted the difference between Barack Obama and Donald Trump and it is a difference that is being seen in the running of the Administration.

As a businessman Donald Trump dealt with his customers in a world of black and white.

It was a world where dealing was simply a matter of taking or leaving the product on offer. The business world does not have the many shades of every colour that are presented in international diplomatic relations.

On the other hand Barack Obama not only had an academic background and even lectured in Law before entering politics, he had experience on other countries where he saw the realities of impoverished countries such as Kenya. The experience in the Senate also gave him the political insight into what would become the year long negotiations that precede the approval of the Affordable Care Act that Donald Trump still wants to repeal.

Messages

Words give messages and often these messages are weapons and as with all weapons they can misfire on those who use the incorrectly.

Words such as bad, nasty, wrong are appropriate for the tweets that won him enough votes to gain the Electoral College votes to win the Presidency. But these same words did not resonate with the majority of the voters who did not vote for him.

Worse still, quick messages are not the proper mode of address issues of infinite complexity that he is encountering on the world stage. The history between Russia and the Ukraine is just as complicated and bloody as the history between China and Korea and therefore just as complicated to resolve.

Laws and orders come and go but the perceptions and impressions of the individuals are the true legacy that they leave behind. These perceptions come from the words they use and the messages they give the population as much as the acts that they achieve in Office.

While the Obama Legacy is made up of phrases of hope such as the yes we can that won him the first election and was repeated around the world, Donald Trump must understand that his legacy will also include the language he uses to achieve his objectives. It would be sad and tragic for him and the country if the only things that the future remembers of him involve the words nasty and bad.
Recently The United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson commented that when the issue of North Korea arises, all of the options would be on the table. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump recently sent out on Twitter that the #Northern Koreans are looking for trouble, and that if China didn't deal with the country's nuclear arsenal then the US would.

The threat of a dramatic nuclear war

How does that make a person living in #South Korea feel? Probably not so comfortable right now with a new President Trump. Probably like a political pawn in a game of advanced nuclear warfare.

Whilst life still goes on in South Korea, there are some nerves erupting within the populace. On social media there are rumors of a potential all-out nuclear war drawing government officials to speak out in a request for calm. People are nervy. The future is uncertain.

Tensions between South and #North Korea are an enduring and long running fact of life for South Koreans, especially in April when South Korea conducts its annual military runs with the United States. North Korea always responds with hostility to these military exercises, claiming that the US and the South are practicing for an invasion of North Korea. It then steps up its rhetoric and starts sounding threatening, until April is over and relative peace is restored.
On Thursday the Guardian revealed crucial aspects of the history behind the allegations of Russian interference in the presidential campaign in favour of the Republican candidate and now President #Donald Trump. The allegations are serious but they also give hints of a world of international surveillance that we all assume but few of us know about the international network that runs and uses the intelligence gathering services that monitors our countries.

Pine Gap

Growing up in Australia during the Vietnam War it was impossible not to have opinions on the countrys active participation in the war as Americas ally and the international consequences of the decades old alliance.

As the anti war Moratorium movement gathered pace a secretive military base in central Australia began to be named. Popularly known as simply Pine Gap, its official name is the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap and as the name suggests the facility is run jointly by the Australian and American governments and has been the centre of controversy since then.

At the height of the cold war anti American protesters accused the facility of making Australia a nuclear target in the case of a war between the United States and the then Soviet Union. No doubt todays protesters fear the same fate from the new Cold War between Australias ally and Russia whose President Vladimir Putin is a graduate of the KGB Academy and thus trained at the height of the old Cold War.

The photos of the giant white balls that cover the antennas at Pine Gap have been the source of much speculation but in recent years that speculation has become a certainty that the facility is part of a network that is now much in the news due to the reports of alleged contacts between members of the Trump team and Russian agents during and after the election campaign.

Five Eyes

The Pine Gap facility is part of an international alliance for intelligence gathering that goes back to 1946 and was therefore part of the original Cold War. Essentially an alliance of five English speaking countries the agreement originally known as the UKUSA agreement had the intention of gathering what was then known as signals intelligence (SIGINT) which had already played an important part of the recently concluded Second World War with the Enigma case in Great Britain against the Germans and the American efforts in breaking the Japanese codes in the war in the Pacific.

The active part of the agreement is undertaken by the intelligence services of the respective countries, the United States National Security Agency (NSA), the United Kingdoms Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) Canadas Communications Security establishment Canada (CSEC) the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and New Zealands Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB). This group of agencies in now known as the Five Eyes security alliance.

Thus began the spying on the Soviet Union that would pass onto Russia and that led to the revelations that have been haunting the Trump Administration this month.

GCHQ

Yesterdays report in the Guardian was not the first time that the British GCHQ was mentioned in regards to the investigations into Russian interference.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer drew a rare and unusually sharp reply from the British organization when he repeated a Fox News report, since withdrawn, that the alleged wire tapping of Trump Tower tweeted by President Donald Trump had been undertaken by the British at the request of the Obama Administration.

The Guardians report stated that the contacts between Russian agents of the Trump team had been picked up in routine monitoring of Russian agents not only by the Five Eyes countries but also by other foreign security services such as the French General Directorate for External Security (DGSE). The report reveals that Americas intelligence agencies began receiving notifications of the alleged collusion in 2015, much earlier than previously stated.

Over recent weeks the United States has seen the confirmation by FBI Director James Comey in public testimony to the House Intelligence Committee that the intelligence investigations have been ongoing.

Further proof of the veracity of at least part of the leaks was the resignation of Michael Flynn as National Security Advisor due to his contacts with the Russian Ambassador in Washington, the confirmation of the FISA warrant to monitor former Trump Advisor Carter Page reported by the Washington Post and also the continuing allegations against Paul Manafort, Donald Trumps former campaign manager, in regards to his business dealings in Russia and the Ukraine which all form part of the web surrounding the 45th President that only fuels speculation about the possible Russian rile in the election.

Russia

The Guardians revelation coincides with the strain in relations between the United States and Russia over the Al-Assad regime in Syria that heated up as a result of the Syrian government attack on Khan Sheikhoum and the subsequent American retaliation o the airbase from which the attack was launched.

There will be no quick answer to the questions raised by the allegations but the public should be aware that the revelations do not come from simple hearsay but, as can be shown by the list of agencies above, from Americas allies that are worried by what their own monitoring of Russian agents has so far revealed.

The information being revealed is not easy reading for any country, let alone for one that is considered the Leader of the free world.

For this reason the accusation must be investigated and the countrys intelligence services have a duty not only to Americas citizens but also to its long term allies to ensure that the information provided is treated seriously and to ensure that it is either corroborated or to provide the proof that it is false.

In the middle of a new Cold War with an opponent that has proven to be adept at manipulating information any suggestion of underestimating or ignoring the information provided would be tantamount to dereliction of duty by those responsible for the security of the country.

We can only wonder what else will be revealed in the future but we must also hope that definitive answers come quickly because the doubt only undermines the Oval Office in a difficult period of world politics.
Ever since Joy-Anna Duggar revealed that she is getting married, the fans have wanted to know when she will Tie The Knot. Things are going great with Joy and Austin, but she hasn't shared a Wedding Date just yet. Now a picture is being passed around on social networks with a wedding date, but the thing is it just might not be true.

Do they have a wedding date set?

If Joy-Anna Duggar has a wedding date set, then she hasn't shared it with the fans yet. The date that is being shared is from an Instagram page, but it is just a fan page. It isn't an official Duggar page.

They might have an inside scoop, but if so they aren't sharing how they found out the information.

This post says that Joy-Anna and Austin will tie the knot on October 28, 2017 in Springdale, Arkansas. This is the perfect place for them to get married. The timing could be right because that gives them time to plan a wedding, but it isn't too far away either. The Duggar girls are known for having a pretty short engagement, so this timing could end up being about right for her. Her sister Jinger just got married and it does sound like Joy-Anna's wedding will be the next one to actually end up happening.

The issue is nobody knows for sure if this is true or not. The Duggar fans are going crazy and sharing it all over the place.

Joy hasn't told anyone about when the wedding is going to happen yet. Right now, the viewers haven't even got the chance to see the big proposal just yet. This should be all happening on the upcoming season of the show that will air this summer. This is when everyone will get the chance to actually get to know Austin better and see how they interact with each other.

Are you shocked to hear about this wedding date that is being shared all over? Do you think that Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth will really get married in October of this year? Sound off in the comments section below on your thoughts, and don't miss new episodes of "Counting On" when it returns to TLC this summer with the Duggar family.
A contract between a Chinese railcar company and Los Angeles County's transportation agency is expected to bring 64 subway cars, 50 local jobs and $38 million in wages and benefits to the region in the coming years.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and China Railway Rolling Stock Corp Ltd (CRRC) signed the $178 million deal on Wednesday at the Union Station Metro Red Line Station.

The first pilot rail vehicle is expected to be delivered by the spring of 2020, and the entire base order by September 2021.

"The CRRC trains are going to improve a lot of customer experience with new features that the current trains don't have," LA Metro spokesman Dave Sotero told China Daily.

The features include gangways between cars so that passengers can walk through the cars, as well as LED screens inside the trains and active line maps for passengers.

The current railcars are near the end of their useful life now, and the agency will eventually need almost 300 cars to meet the demand for higher frequency and reliability, he said.

Of the 64 HR 4000 rail vehicles, 30 will be used to replace existing Metro Red and Purple Line trains now traveling between downtown Los Angeles, the Mid-Wilshire District and North Hollywood.

The remaining 34 railcars will be used for the Metro Purple Line's first four-mile extension from the Mid-Wilshire District to Beverly Hills when the line officially opens in 2023.

Coupled with up to five options to buy additional subway cars, the total value of the contract is 282 cars for $647 milliono.

Metro chose CRRC because of "the overall best value proposal" offered by the Chinese company.

CRRC had the highest-rated technical offer and lowest price while offering the most robust Local Employment Program and highest US component content, said Metro. CRRC also has an excellent record for on-time vehicle delivery and quality, it added.

The contract will create approximately 50 local jobs generating up to $38 million in local wages and benefits. Approximately 10 percent of all new jobs created will go to targeted disadvantaged workers, according to Metro.

The subway cars' exterior shells will be manufactured in CRRC's facility in Changchun, China, and final assembly will take place in Springfield, Massachusetts. The contract exceeds the federal government's "Buy America" provisions, which require 60 percent of component parts be American-made, according to Metro.

liazhu@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 04/14/2017 page1)
Many Tibetans consider it a luxury to drink tea from a traditional silver-plated wooden bowl. Yet few know where these bowls are made - in the Tibet autonomous region's lowlands, such as eastern Nyingchi prefecture.

Buying an authentic handmade Tibetan bowl today is not cheap, partly because there are fewer and fewer artisans left that make them.

But in this scarcity there is opportunity - something that Pema Dorjee, a village leader from the Aorong township of Mainling county, realized during a fact-finding trip he went on that was organized by the county last year.

"Most people know that traditional bowl making is a craft that urgently needs preserving, but few want to be involved if they cannot benefit economically," said the 40-year-old.

It takes a great deal of patience and skill to craft a traditional Tibetan bowl, and before last year no one in Pema's village had the expertise required.

So he spent 140,000 yuan ($20,300) bringing in seven experts from Gyaca county, Shannan prefecture, to stay in the village for six months and impart their knowledge.

They helped set up a workshop that now employs five craftsmen, who each receive a monthly salary of 2,000 yuan.

It also operates as a cooperative, generating 3,000 yuan per year in revenue for 14 of the village's most impoverished families.

The workshop produces wooden bowls for use with butter tea, sweet tea and noodles, as well as containers to hold roasted barley flour, cheese, butter and snacks.

A tea bowl costs between 30 and 50 yuan, and a box to hold tsamba, roasted highland barley powder, costs about 150 yuan. The most expensive product made in the workshop sells for 6,000 yuan.

The goods are sold to neighboring villages and employees from local construction sites, as well as through a large shop in Lhasa, the region's capital.

Pema actively promotes the workshop's wares on social media and is hoping a new range of designs, featuring symbolic patterns, will sell well.

Ogyen Dondrup, 39, is one of the workshop's craftsmen.

"I have been learning the skills required for almost one year and it was very tough at first, but slowly, I have gotten to grips with it," he said.

"In the past, I did not have a stable job. I collected herbs in the summer, and my average annual income was only 10,000 yuan, but with this new job, my income has increased to more than 20,000 yuan a year."

Pema now plans to conduct further training courses, so that the workshop's craftsmen can learn new ways of decorating their products.

"I am pleased to see young people learning a new craft that will benefit their family, and I am also pleased that my fellow villagers can now have their favorite wooden products made right on their doorstep," he said.
After being supplanted by modern exercise books, Tibetan writing boards are making a comeback

Traditional Tibetan writing boards largely fell out of favor two decades ago as modern paper became more widely available, but today they are witnessing an unexpected revival.

The boards, called jangshing in the Tibetan language, may not offer the same convenience as an exercise book, but they are part of an ancient writing tradition thought to date back hundreds of years.

"Writing boards' popularity in Tibetan schools faded 20 years ago with the widespread use of exercise books, but it has showed a revival during the last few years," said Tashi Phuntsok, a teacher at the Tibet University and one of the founders of Yakgu Children Culture, which works to market traditional Tibetan writing boards through social networking app WeChat.

"The popularization of the computer is another key factor in the writing board's decline, which has led to the decline of the Tibetan calligraphy, too."

Tashi remembers practicing calligraphy on a writing board while at primary school and thinks it is important for students to familiarize themselves with the traditional method, as it was used by generations of famous Tibetan calligraphers.

"The government has been contributing greatly toward cultural preservation and continuation, but the official support is not enough: individuals have to do a better job through their own efforts," he said.

"The design and shape of the boards we produce have to meet the needs and aesthetic standards of modern Tibetan children, but also reflect tradition."

The Yakgu Children Culture's writing boards are made from all-natural materials, while the ink that accompanies them is made from burned barley ash and brown sugar - a cleaner alternative to the sandalwood ash and leftover cheese-making water that was traditionally used to make ink in the Tibet autonomous region, Tashi said.

He believes the recent surge in popularity of writing boards has been caused by greater academic pressure among children.

"The number of subjects being studied has increased, as has the homework, and more students are choosing to learn writing using a board," he said.

He said that he and his colleagues have introduced their boards into a number of Tibetan primary schools and kindergartens, which he said shows thriving demand for traditional writing products.

The company also organized a Tibetan calligraphy exhibition recently, to pique children's interest in the ancient art.

More than 1,000 entries were collected from primary schools across the region, and 100 prize-winning entries were exhibited in the Tibet Mass Art Museum during the seven-day event.

A Tibetan calligraphy instructor was also present providing demonstrations and tuition to those who attended.

"A Tibetan girl attended the activity for six of the seven days and she said her handwriting witnessed clear improvement," Tashi said.

Apart from promoting the use of Tibetan writing boards, Tashi's company also distributes free content such as traditional Tibetan songs, folk tales and articles about the region through their official WeChat account, which has more than 20,000 followers.

Within six months of coming to market, more than 1,000 Yakgu Children Culture writing boards had been sold, and the company has received numerous phone calls enquiring about their products.

Tashi now hopes that the writing board's resurgence in popularity will contribute to a better world.

"Using a writing board can help to save paper and teach more beautiful handwriting," he said.

Contact the writers at palden_nyima@chinadaily.com.cn
The first UK-to-China freight train, laden with containers of British goods, seen during an official ceremony to mark its departure from the DP World London Gateway, Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, England, on April 10. [Photo/Agencies]

Barking and Dagenham, one of London's poorest and most neglected boroughs, has found new fame as the most westerly point of China's new Silk Road rail route.

The first train arrived on January 18 after a 12,451-kilometer journey from Yiwu, Zhejiang province, which took in Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France. It carried goods from China and opportunities for Barking.

The rail route is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, and Barking is the new terminus.

From 1890 to 1959, the borough was developed from a predominately rural part of Essex into an industrial and residential suburb of London. It is set for more changes as Chinese businesses look to invest in the end of the Silk Road rail line.

Darren Rodwell, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, highlighted the importance of working alongside Chinese investors as a way of developing the borough and encouraging new growth.

"I'm doing what my predecessors diddeveloping a pathway for everyone to aspire to. Whether that's Barking and Dagenham residents or friends across the globe, if we have the same vision, then what that does is bring communities together and prevent hatred and misunderstanding," he said.

As well as the benefits for London, Rodwell said Britain also has a lot to offer in return: "The UK is good at arts and crafts, and we're good at innovation and putting that little bit of icing on the cake, so between the two great cultures we are able to come up with great new ways of taking business forward."

Rodwell added that the borough is immersed in history. The suffragette Mary Wollstonecraft came from Barking, and Guy Fawkes left from the borough when he attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament, he said.

The council leader said the area's history is an inspiration for the future. "The Chinese government is developing these 'silk routes' out of China and it wants to work with partners who feel the same when it comes to respecting the past but also moving forward."

Last week, Sino-Australian group ASF announced plans to develop 15,000 affordable homes in the Castle Green area of Barking, which will help alleviate a shortage of homes.

William Franklin, founder of the China Investors Club, said the investment was significant and could lead to more Chinese finance. "With the Northern Powerhouse attracting attention and investment over the last 12 months from Chinese investors on both a commercial and residential basis, it is tremendous to see plans for East London," he said.

"The Castle Green development is a collaboration with Chinese construction companies, and the investment is very much in line with the 'golden era' of opportunities between the UK and China."

Franklin believes this investment will give other Chinese businesses the confidence to look into Barking and Dagenham as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"To build 15,000 homes is great, but it is also about the industrial work that will come along with that as well," he said. "So it is not just about the construction, but also the infrastructure and the ecosystem that will surround it."

According to Steve McCabe, a lecturer in business at Birmingham City Business School, the development has been greeted with enthusiasm: "Anything that can be done to alleviate the extreme housing need, especially affordable housing, is to be welcomed."
By Chai Hua in Shenzhen and Feng Zhiwei in Changsha | China Daily | Updated: 2017-04-14 13:50

A doctor at Aier Eye Hospital in Hefei, capital of Anhui province, examines a patient's eyes. [Photo by Ge Yinian/For China Daily]

China's Aier Eye Hospital plans to purchase the largest listed-eye clinic group in Europe, making it the world's largest ophthalmic medical group.

The company is currently China's largest private ophthalmic chain, owning more than 160 specialized eye hospitals by 2016, and went public on the Shenzhen stock market in 2009.

It announced on Wednesday it had made an offer to buy Spain's Clinica Baviera SA, specializing in laser eye surgery, with the shares valued at 10.35 euros ($10.99) each. Baviera has around 280 ophthalmologists and 76 eye clinics in countries including Spain, Germany and Italy.

The offer will cost Aier 152 million euros, but the plan still needs to be approved by two countries' regulators.

"If the merger is successful, we will become the largest ophthalmic medical group in the world," said Aier Chairman Chen Bang.

He revealed that Aier's ambition is to enter the overseas market after five years and purchasing well-known international ophthalmic medical institutions is a major part of its internationalization strategy.

The strategy also includes jointly setting up ophthalmology schools with foreign institutes and working with world-leading experts, he added.

In 2015, it accelerated its overseas expansion with the acquisition of Asia Medicare Group Ltd in Hong Kong for HK$182 million ($23.5 million), a move to bring its clinical expertise to the mainland market.

In 2016, it speeds up internationalization by setting up a subsidiary in the US with an investment of $50 million as a platform to integrate global ophthalmic resources. In January, 2017, it spent $18 million to buy the US eye center "Wang Vision Institution".

Its latest annual report shows the medical company had revenue of 4 billion yuan ($588 million) in 2016, up by 26.38 percent year-on-year, and its profit surged by 30 percent to 558 million yuan, mainly from refractive, cataract surgery and optical services.

Du Zhou, an analyst at SWS Research Co, a unit of the Shenwan Hongyuan Group Co brokerage, said that the purchase would help Aier bring advanced technology and innovative management models from Europe to meet increasing demand in China's high-end market.

In the past two years, China's healthcare firms have expanded globally to gain high-end medical resources. Since last year, there are about 60 medical overseas M&A projects by Chinese companies with an investment of more than $5.8 billion, according to VCBeat Research, an industry research organization.

Contact the writers at grace@chinadailyhk.com and fengzhiwei@chinadaily.com.cn
Funds brass Wu Chumo has helped clients weather some of the most troubled times. He tells Evelyn Yu maintaining focus and integrity is among the basics for an enterprise's success.

The year 2016 would probably go down as one of the most exigent spans for veteran financial services executive Michael Wu Chumo, with the "black swans" keeping him in total suspense.

It was a clarion call for Wu, who heads up the China operation for global investment and fund management giant Northern Trust Corporation, as he fought to help clients come to grips with the anxiety and uncertainties in a momentous year that virtually threw the financial world off balance.

The disquiet was long, triggered by such shocks as Britain's vote to abandon the European Union and Donald Trump's stunning ascent to the US presidency, as well as growing nervousness over a hard landing for the Chinese mainland economy. Wu was probably seen as the unsung hero in taking pains to convince his institutional investor clients, mostly government and central bank funds or insurance groups, that growth wouldn't be rocked to the core.

Having gone through the mill, business focus will remain the key feature of Northern Trust, says Wu, senior vice-president and country executive for Greater China at the US-based group, which has been in the trade for nearly 130 years, with current banking assets hitting $124 billion.

Wu helms two of the group's key offices in the Asia Pacific - in Beijing and Hong Kong - managing a full suite of services, including global custody, fund administration, investment operations, outsourcing and investment management.

"Asset management and servicing are our prime focus. We are not in retail banking, investment banking or credit cards services. About 75 percent of our company's total revenues in 2016 are fee-generated non-interest income," he tells China Daily.

As of Dec 31 last year, Northern Trust had $6.7 trillion in assets under its custody worldwide. The company's business in Asia Pacific has seen double-digit growth in the past few years. Wu sees the region, especially the Chinese mainland, holding great promise for the future.

"While in America and Europe, wealth is aggregated in mutual funds and governments don't have much money, in the Asia Pacific, massive wealth is in government hands, like central banks, foreign-exchange reserves and various sovereign wealth funds. This offers the biggest opportunity for us here."

Joining Northern Trust in 2008, Wu is credited with having won for the company some of the biggest clients in the region.

In 2006, Northern Trust was one of the first custodians appointed to administer overseas investments for the mainland's National Social Security Fund - the economy's first institutional retirement fund to invest abroad.

Wu played a key role in liaising with mainland financial regulators as Northern Trust expanded its business in the region.

Direct services offered

His first assignment was to start up a branch office in Beijing with the aim of providing direct services to clients. Since Northern Trust isn't a traditional commercial lender, the task had been challenging.

"The regulator had asked: 'You're not engaged in savings and loans services, why do you need a branch office here?'," recalls Wu, adding that it was an arduous job explaining their expertise before the green light came through.

In 2010, Northern Trust hosted a grand reception in the Great Hall of the People to mark the opening of its Beijing branch. Wu had positioned the group to meet the changing economic and regulatory challenges.

Another critical moment came three years later when the Shanghai government launched the Qualified Domestic Limited Partnership (QDLP) - a pilot program that would allow overseas hedge funds raise money on the mainland before converting them into foreign currency for the purchase of overseas shares.

Citadel - one of the world's largest alternative asset managers and a client of Northern Trust - found the scheme a splendid opportunity for it to gain a foothold on the Chinese mainland, and requested that Northern Trust be its fund administrator there to help them obtain a quota.

Financial innovation

"Under the China Banking Regulatory Commission's regulations, we're just a branch, but administering funds is not part of a bank's activities. We communicated a lot with the regulator and the Shanghai Financial Service Office and explained to them the positive impact that innovative products would bring to China's banking segment. We were the first QDLP fund administrator in the market," says Wu.

The cooperation was recognized as a financial innovation by the regulator that year.

Wu sees huge potential on the mainland for various reasons. Their asset servicing structure is currently rather simple, with most clients seeking custodian service. In Hong Kong, where the market is more mature, Wu says there's greater demand for performance evaluation, risk analytics and security lending.

"As China opens up further to overseas investors, the demand for asset servicing will not be constrained to traditional custodianship."

According to Wu, in a low-yield return environment, investors tend to be cost sensitive. Instead of re-inventing their own wheels in terms of operations processing, more investment management companies have outsourced their middle-and back-office functions to Northern Trust to enable them to focus on the front-office aspects of investment management.

He reckons that government regulations could be more aligned with investors' appetites.

There are sectors where regulations are quite relaxed, but investor appetite for overseas investment is not strong, he says. Taking insurance as an example, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission allows insurers to invest as much as 15 percent of their total assets overseas. "Currently, the number stands at just about 2 percent, as domestic insurers are more interested in investing in onshore products."

However, in other areas where investors have a strong appetite, such as private equity investment and cross-border investment, Wu is looking to a more open market.

To overseas investors, what matters most is free flow of capital. "Foreign investment managers are aware that timely repatriation of capital from Chinese mainland could be an issue when their clients ask for redemptions. Capital controls will remain a concern this year," he warns.

He brushed off continued talk of a hard landing for the Chinese mainland economy, saying those who think so apparently are ignorant of the dynamics of China. They don't appreciate the mainland's resolve to enforce regulations and financial reforms as the country shifts from an investment-driven economy to a consumption-driven one.

With ever-changing rules and market uncertainties, "go for a long horizon and focus on fundamentals", he advises.

Contact the writer at evelyn@chinadailyhk.com
Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Palestinian counterpart Riad al-Malki meet with reporters at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Thursday. Wang urged the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel.Wang Zhuangfei/ China Daily

China supports the establishment of a Palestinian state and urges the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Beijing on Thursday.

In a news conference with his Palestinian counterpart Riad al-Malki following talks between the two, Wang said that seven decades after United Nations Resolution 181 was passed, it is "unfair" that Palestine is not yet an independent state with full sovereignty.

Palestine, like Israel, is entitled to statehood, Wang said, adding that "such historical injustice must be put right".

The status of Palestine remains the "root issue" of the Middle East despite other issues that have been popping up in the region, he said.

Wang urged an early resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, which were halted in 2014, and called for an "immediate stop" of actions that undermine the talks and mutual trust.

The talks can start by handling smaller questions before moving to greater ones, Wang suggested, adding that "all parties that have traditional influence on the issue of Palestine should take the lead".

"China will never be absent from any efforts conducive to solving the Palestinian-Israeli issue," he said.

Al-Malki is in China for a four-day official visit that started on Wednesday, which comes less than a month after a visit to Beijing by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Wang said that during Netanyahu's visit, China also pushed Israel to handle the Israeli-Palestinian issue on the basis of a two-state solution.

Al-Malki told reporters that Palestine welcomes and encourages China to engage in "collective efforts to bring peace into our region".

"We do like to see more Chinese involvement in bringing about a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine," al-Malki said.

He added that the fact that China is "a good friend" to both Israel and Palestine will help the country play a role in helping solve the issue.

Wang said what China does in the Middle East is "not driven by geopolitical consideration at all".

"What we pursue is historical justice. What we work for is international conscience," Wang said, adding that China welcomes other countries, such as the United States, to spend more efforts on the Palestinian-Israeli issue.
Yenn Wong thinks that in today's hyper-competitive dining scene, concepts must be "precise". Provided to China Daily

It was an unexpected challenge that marked Yenn Wong's entry into the hospitality segment.

In 2003, her father, Malaysia-based construction and real estate tycoon Danny Wong, acquired a property in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay shopping district. It was a three-star hotel with numerous illegal structures, and he asked his then 23-year-old daughter  who had just graduated from the University of Western Australia  to come up with a business model for the building.

Given her lack of hotel experience, Wong found the prospect daunting at first. The hospitality scene in Hong Kong did not offer a wide array of options at that time. Travelers either opted for swanky five-star hotels or lower-tier accommodation.

In the United States and Europe, however, idiosyncratic boutique hotels provided abundant choice for travelers in the space between luxury and lowbrow accommodation. So, Wong thought it was time Hong Kong caught up with this trend. She tapped critically acclaimed French designer Philippe Starck to give shape to her ideas.

However, the project soon faced a major setback. Severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, hit the city in 2003. No one seemed to know how long the epidemic would last and Wong halted construction for months.

"In hindsight, we should have completed the project, because it cost money to stop the work of contractors and insurers," she recalled.

When Jia Hong Kong, now renamed J Plus Hotel, opened in 2004, the economy had picked up. Strong media coverage of "the city's first boutique hotel", coupled with Starck's participation in the project, stirred a lot of interest.

Accolades followed, including Best Design Hotel by National Geographic. "It was one of the major highlights of my life," Wong said. Three years later, she opened Jia Shanghai in China, another boutique hotel.

The two establishments won further international acclaim by featuring in the Conde Nast Hot List and the Travel + Leisure It List.

The hotels taught Wong many lessons, including how to run restaurants  notably her first dining concept, Opia, an Australia-themed operation at Jia Hong Kong.

Another memorable experience was Issimo at Jia Shanghai where she employed chefs from Naples to deliver Italian fare including Neapolitan pizzas.

The latter inspired her to open 208 Duecento Otto in Hong Kong. And successive hits kept coming, including the tapas venue 22 Ships in Hong Kong's Wan Chai district, with Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton's creative interpretation of Spanish fare.

Yet another outlet was Chachawan, in Hong Kong's Sheung Wan district, dishing feisty Isaan fare  northeastern Thai cuisine  which won rave reviews and long queues outside its premises.

In today's hyper-competitive dining scene, concepts must be "precise", Wong said.

"It's not just about the restaurants being beautiful or the food being so good, now everything has to be right," she added. The food, music, service, ambience and lighting have to be pitch perfect.

To run a successful restaurant in Hong Kong, Asia's crowded mecca for fine dining, is not for the faint hearted. And she runs not just one but a dozen with standout dining concepts.

Looking at some of her acclaimed establishments, you immediately realize there is a formula at work. Wong selects anchor venues in up-and-coming neighborhoods with well-conceived menus and photogenic designs.

A case in point is 208 Duecento Otto, an Italian restaurant at the tail end of Hong Kong's Hollywood Road. It is designed in gorgeous ceramic blue and white tiles with Asian illustrations, courtesy of Turkish design outfit Autoban.

Wong also flew in builders from Naples to craft a Neapolitan-style pizza oven at the site, so chefs can craft pies as close as possible to the originals from this Italian region.

Another example is the art-hub cum-restaurant, Duddell's, at Shanghai Tang Mansion in Central, Hong Kong. Here, patrons can observe works by some world-famous artists while tucking into Chinese food from a kitchen that has consistently earned two Michelin stars to date.

This concept was a collaborative effort with her husband, Alan Lo, who is a cofounder of the Classified Group of restaurants.

Wong's newest venue in Hong Kong is Commissary, at the Pacific Place mall. The Southern Californian eatery serves tuna poke tostadas and fried chicken sandwiches to a predominantly corporate crowd.

"We're not really a mall restaurant group," said Wong. But Pacific Place's parent company Swire Properties approached the hospitality group operator to join the premises.

Malls are undergoing tremendous disruption  with consumers shifting their shopping online, among other factors  and operators like Swire Properties have been shuffling their tenant mix to boost foot traffic.

"Malls need a bit of a revamp, and I think whatever worked in the past is not really working now," Wong said.

She claims malls have become more accommodating, offering reduced rents or longer leases, for example, to lure operators that will bring value to the premises. "There are opportunities that come with difficulties," she said.

The entrepreneur noted the difficulties in the restaurant scene, from diners tightening their purse strings in the current economic climate, to the surge of players entering the industry that has resulted in a very competitive market.

"Everyone wants to be a restaurateur  they think it's fun, cool and easy to make money ... but it's actually one of the riskiest of businesses."

Like the retail sector, the dining sector in Hong Kong is hurting from dampened tourism to the city. During holiday seasons, residents tend to go abroad. During these periods, venues rely on tourists. "But they are not really coming to Hong Kong anymore," said Wong.

She hopes the government will do more to make the city attractive to travelers. One idea is more effort to preserve local food, such as more hawker centers for homegrown fishball and noodle purveyors.

Wong hopes the administration will do more to encourage the younger generation to pick up such trades.

"The government can invest in locations where these people can survive with minimal rents," said Wong, adding that the city has the means  citing the HK$92 billion ($11.8 billion) budget surplus announced in February.

While Wong has a knack for establishing restaurants and bars that generate a staunch following among gastronomes on the hunt for the latest trends, she never envisioned this life when she was young.

Despite her father's business background, a conventional corporate career was not initially part of Wong's plan. She grew up in Singapore and the family encouraged her to figure things out for herself. At an early age she was an avid gymnast and squash player.

"Since youth, my father would put difficult (challenges my way), and it helped me develop quite a strong character, to make sure I'd keep progressing rather than procrastinating," she recalled.

Not one to let her concepts go stale, Wong is switching to other things in Hong Kong. These include a hostel project in Sham Shui Po, an area better known for garments and cheap electronics than hip accommodation.

Wong enlisted high-profile British designer Thomas Heatherwick to fashion a site into a social and community-oriented space that will resonate with millennials. "That's the future, that's how young people network, and it explains the (rise) of coworking spaces," she said.

A food-oriented coworking space is also in development, which will feature a licensed central kitchen for entrepreneurs to test and churn out their concepts.

"We want to move to different areas  to see what else we can do. The market is getting very difficult, so a bit of diversification doesn't hurt," Wong said.
MOSCOW - Russia and the United States agreed on Wednesday to keep fighting international terrorism and continue discussions on resolving the Syrian conflict despite turbulent relations and a string of pending disputes between the two countries.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were fruitful. He said he and Tillerson also had a two-hour meeting and added the discussions showed 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," Lavrov said.

According to Lavrov, both sides reaffirmed their determination for the uncompromising fight against international terrorism. He said discussions also focused on the situations hot spots such as 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," he said. Russia is open to discussions with the US, "and not only to dialogues but also to joint actions".

Tensions between Moscow and Washington deteriorated after the US launched a missile strike on a Syrian military airfield on April 6, which it said was a response to a chemical weapons attack two days earlier in Khan Sheikhoun, purportedly at the hands of the Syrian military.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged all parties on Thursday, especially the US and Russia, to strengthen communication and avoid confrontation over Syria.

He said political settlement is the only viable way to resolve the Syrian issue and called for the international community to continue support for the United Nations to play the lead role.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (right) and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrive at a news conference after their talks in Moscow on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin met earlier with Tillerson.Alexander Nemenov / Afp

(China Daily 04/14/2017 page1)
Beijing expresses regret over failure to reach consensus in UN

China has made arduous efforts to push forward consensus on the Syria chemical weapon issue at the United Nations Security Council and regrets that the attempts have not yet paid off, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry's spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks at a daily news conference.

Russia on Wednesday vetoed a Western draft resolution on an alleged chemical attack in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib. Among 15 council members, 10 voted in favor; Bolivia and the council's veto-wielding power Russia voted against; China, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan abstained.

China abstained on the Security Council draft resolution as "some content can be amended to reach consensus", Lu said.

China's Ambassador to the UN Liu Jieyi specified China's stance after the vote. He said China supports the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons 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 said.

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 UN as the main mediator.

Lu, the ministry spokesman, stressed that China opposes use of the chemical weapons by anybody, in any situation and for any aim.

"Unity inside the UN Security Council is crucial for solving the Syria issue," he added.

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.

On April 4, a reported toxic gas attack hit the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Syria's Idlib, killing more than 80 people and wounding scores of others.

Two days later, the US launched 59 cruise missiles against the Shairat military base in central Syria, where the US 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 OPCW to visit Khan Sheikhoun and the Shairat air base for investigations.

He said that Russia hopes the US can give a constructive response to this suggestion.

The Syrian government denied possession of chemical weapons.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army said that an airstrike on Wednesday by the US-led coalition hit poison gas supplies belonging to the Islamic State group, releasing a toxic substance that killed "hundreds including many civilians" in Deir al-Zor province, Syrian state TV said on Thursday.

Xinhua and Reuters contributed to this story.

lixiaokun@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/14/2017 page11)
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Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to convene the next Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit in October in Moscow, stated Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

April 14, 2017, 12:52 Putin proposes to hold next EAEU summit in Moscow

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 14, ARTSAKHPRESS: Speaking at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, he noted that the improvement of the EAEU agreement should not coincide with the technical corrections at the end of the year, according to TASS news agency of Russia.

Also, the Belarusian president proposed to make 2017 a breakthrough year for the EAEU, and to this end, in his view, several priority measures should be taken.

The Eurasian Economic Union comprises Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
A Chinese army delegation led by Rear Admiral Guan Youfei, Director of the International Military Cooperation Office of the Central Military Commission of China, was in Armenia from Tuesday to Friday, on a working visit.

April 14, 2017, 14:51 Armenia, China MODs sign 2017 cooperation program

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 14, ARTSAKHPRESS: The delegation had meetings with Lt. General Movses Hakobyan, Chief of the General Staff of Armenias Armed Forces, Davit Pakhchanyan, deputy defense minister and chairman of the state committee of military-industry and Levon Ayvazyan, head of the defense policy department of the defense ministry.

The meetings focused on the current process and development prospects of the Armenian-Chinese defense cooperation, international and regional security issues and other issues of bilateral interest.

Agreements were reached on enhancing cooperation in the defense sector and realizing several mutually beneficial projects.

At the end of the visit, defense minister of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan held a meeting with the Chinese delegation, accompanied by Ambassador of China to Armenia H.E. Tian Erlong.

The results of the talks and the agreements were discussed and summarized at the meeting.

The Armenian defense minister highly praised the high level political relations between the two countries and stressed the necessity of enhancing partnership and involving new sectors.

Subsequently, head of the Armenian MOD Department of Defense Policy, Levon Ayvazyan, and Rear Admiral Guan signed the 2017 cooperation program between the defense ministries of Armenia and China.
Devine quoted Vietnam veteran, politician and Kokoda tour guide Charlie Lynn who said: It seems that it was visit without a purpose  no announcements of anything of substance.

Sydney Daily Telegraph columnist Miranda Devine wrote of the visit being somewhere between a non-event and a media debacle."

THE PNG Attitude story about Malcolm Turnbulls visit to Papua New Guinea last weekend triggered quite a response elsewhere in the media as well amongst the 4,200 readers who responded to it on Twitter.

Kokoda is not a place for political tokenism," Lynn said. "Its a pilgrimage to a neglected shrine  a gateway for young Australians and Papuans to learn more about our shared wartime history.

"If the prime minister doesnt understand this he should have stayed away.

Devine wrote how more controversy boiled up when Papua New Guinean journalists were banned from Turnbulls press conference at Bomana War Cemetery.

She quoted ABC correspondent Eric Tlozeks Facebook post expressing disappointment and embarrassment that my PNG media colleagues felt they were not allowed to attend.

And she reiterated PNG journalist Gorethy Kenneths incendiary comment: I really felt like racism crept right back into my face. I got told twice to leave so presser could start.

"I refused at first but I humbled later taking my team PNG newshounds away.

Radio New Zealand International reported Ms Kenneth as saying the directive to exclude local journalists came from the Australian High Commission.

"It did really affect me, she said. In the end, the ABC guy stationed here in Port Moresby [Eric Tlozek] was actually really upset that it had happened to us because he told me in the end it was very offensive.

"He's the one who actually went and spoke to the Australian High Commission officials to advise them that this was not good and they should come and apologise."

Australian officials later apologised for what they said was "a misunderstanding", which itself led to great derision from Papua New Guineans on social media.

The Post Courier commented: Is there a reason why local journalists were discriminated [against] by the Aussies at Bomana during the Australian prime ministers visit? A doorstop interview by the Aussie PM was restricted to overseas journalists, whilst local journos were told not to participate. Discrimination at its best.

Gorothy Kenneth expressed surprised that, after being asked to leave the first press conference, she was also barred from a later one. She was told the opportunities were strictly for the Australian media.

Australia has to do do better in its Papua New Guinea relationship. Our official treatment of Papua New Guineans whether over visas or the kind of blunders and obfuscations that blighted Turnbull's recent visit needs to take a big step up.
HA NOI  Viet Nam needs a number of large and medium-size firms in order to mentor and push forward small businesses, which are the backbone of a healthy economy, according to General Secretary of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pham Thi Thu Hang. She spoke Thurday in Ha Noi at a workshop on developing the private economy.

There will be leading enterprises standing on the top of the pyramid to direct other enterprises to push up the economy, said Hang. She said State-owned enterprise encroachment on private business operations must be minimised, and policies must be formulated to drive up the private sector and develop its competitive capacity.

The seminar, jointly held by the Central Theoretical Council, Vietnam Association of Consumer Goods Development and Hanoi Business Association, was aimed at evaluating the situation of private economic development, breaking down barriers and creating conditions for the private economic sector to boost sustainable operation.

Deputy Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council Nguyen Van Thao said Party and State policies and mechanisms had created the legal basis and favourable socio-economic environment for developing the private sector. In the past two years, the startup movement had been accelerated. More than 110,000 businesses were established in 2016  the highest figure in recent years.

Employing 85 per cent of the workforce, the private sector grew at an average rate of 10.2 per cent per year in the 2003-15 period, contributing about 39-40 per cent of the countrys GDP.

Thao said the private sector had initially formed a number of large-scale private economic groups, but it had not yet become a key driving force for the economy because most business models were intended to turn individual households into enterprises.

A majority of private businesses are operating on a small scale, with low and out-of-date technologies and slow renovation. Their financial capacity, labour productivity, business efficiency, product quality and competitiveness are weak, said Thao.

A presentation at the seminar reported that there are more than 80 per cent of private businesses operating in trade and services, over 10 per cent in industry and only 1 per cent in agriculture.

Agreeing to the measures needed to develop the private economy, the rector of Viet Nam National Universitys School of Economics and Business, Nguyen Hong Son, emphasised the importance of building and implementing national industry policies, which would focus on developing the private economy, encouraging the appliance of modern technologies and renovation and creativeness.

According to the director of the Central Institute for Economic Management, Nguyen inh Cung, the Government has adopted policies on the development of the private businesses. These include encouraging investment in areas subject to sustainable development; accelerating divestment, restructuring, equitisation of State-owned enterprises; building a level playing field for various types of businesses in the Vietnamese market; fostering investment in advanced technologies; renovating and raising the quality of vocational training; and supporting large private businesses to expand to overseas market.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam needs radical collective solutions to promote the fight against corruption and foster a healthy and transparent business environment, Deputy Secretary General of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) said at a conference on Wednesday in Ha Noi.

Vinh said transparency must be placed at the heart of business integrity and every company should exercise integrity by using the toolkit for resisting corruption  an initiative to bolster an incorruptible business environment.

The time is ripe for Viet Nam to strengthen collective bsiness actions as a way to tackle corruption and improve profitability, according to the Centre for Social Governance Research (CENSOGOR).

Collective actions stem from the principle that corruption can not be tackled unilaterally but require a wide stakeholder engagement from businesses, Government agencies and society.

CENSOGOR executive director, Nguyen Thi Kieu Vien, said collective actions provide opportunities for businesses to use the power of the group to tackle systemic corruption issues, such as demands for bribes.

With increased attention to collective actions by enterprises amid the countrys deepening international economic integration, a lot more can be done to foster business integrity in Viet Nam, Vien said.

She said enterprises were both the victims and the cause of corruption, citing the Provincial Competitive Index 2016 showing that 66 per cent of firms paid unofficial charges to Government officials and 59 per cent of foreign direct investment companies paid unofficial charges when clearing goods through customs.

Collective actions are proven effective anti-corruption solution because of significant benefits, Vien said.

For companies, collective actions help protect reputations and brand names. For the economy and society, the benefits would be increasing capital efficiency, improving the business environment and competitiveness as well as strengthening social trust and reducing the costs of corruption.

Vien said that enterprises would need to synchronise measures at three levels - internal, company-to-company and company-to-authority to proactively engage in the fight against corruption.

In addition, Government should improve the legal system and adopt policies to encourage initiatives in corporate anti-corruption, she said.

According to inh Thi Bich Xuan from VCCI, a project on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in fighting corruption in Viet Nam was being implemented to promote collaboration and ensure integrity in business.

Under the 2014-19 project, an online toolkit is being developed as an useful channel for businesses to study and exchange experience and connect in fighting against corruption. The toolkit is expected to be ready this month.

At the conference, experts also shared insights into business integrity in Malaysia and the Philippines.  VNS
HA NOI  Shares stepped back from morning trade on the HCM Stock Exchange on Thursday as selling pressure increased in large-cap stocks on fears of a steeper correction.

The benchmark VN-Index sank for a second day, down 0.17 per cent to close at 724.35 points. The southern market index decreased nearly 0.8 per cent in the previous session.

Nineteen stocks in the VN30 basket that tracks the 30 largest shares by market value and liquidity declined, and only nine advanced. The biggest draggers included Vinamilk (VNM), PV Gas (GAS) and Sacombank (STB), of which Sacombank dropped by the daily limit of 7 per cent.

Shares of this lender have lost nearly 10 per cent since April 7 after Novaland Investment Group (NVL) announced it would not participate in Sacombanks restructuring scheme as planned previously.

Restructuring of Sacombank whose bad debt ratio stood at 5.53 per cent at the end of 2016, nearly twice the rate of 3 per cent allowed by the central bank, is forecast to be a difficult task which requires money, time and transparency.

The State Securities Commission has approved the banks request to postpone the submission of its 2016 financial report. It will hold its annual shareholders meeting on April 28.

Dramatic increases of selling pressure in the second half of the afternoon session, especially in leading stocks, caused the VN-Index to drop in the final trading minutes.

This is negative signal for the overall market, said Tran uc Anh, a stock analyst at Bao Viet Securities Co.

He predicted that market indices were likely to decline on the back of divergent cash flows.

Speculative stocks, such as FLC Group (FLC), Tan Tao Investment Industry (ITA) and agribusiness Hoang Anh Gia Lai Co (HAG) and Hoang Anh Gia Lai Agricultural Investment (HNG), continued their downward spiral.

Saigon Securities Incs retail research said speculative stocks were under heavy selling pressure as they were on the list of stocks using high margin lending of securities companies. Prices of these stocks have increased substantially this year, which prompted profit taking.

On the positive side, recovery of real estate developer VinGroup (VIC), insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), brewery Sabeco (SAB), Mobile World Group (MWG) and Military Bank (MBB) supported the market.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index maintained a modest rise of 0.13 per cent and closed the trade at 90.03 points.

Liquidity remained positive with 242 million shares worth a combined VN4.7 trillion (US$206 million) traded in the two markets.  VNS
HA NOI  The State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) had plans to sell its entire capital in 137 State-owned enterprises from now until 2020.

"Of the total 137 target companies, we are finding it difficult to sell capital in 100 firms," SCIC chairman Nguyen uc Chi told the Tien Phong (Pioneer) newspaper, adding that SCIC would do its upmost to solve the problem.

The five companies in which SCIC will sell its capital in the 2017-18 period are An Giang Stone Exploitation & Processing One Member Company, Trang Tien Trading Co., Ltd, Hoang Quan Appraisal Co., Ltd and the Publishing & Printing company under HCM Citys Publishing Association.

"There are three companies we would like to continue to retain and invest capital in -- SCIC Investment One Member Company Limited, which we established, Ha Giang Mineral and Mechanics Joint Stock Company and FPT Corporation," Chi said.

Regarding the handover process of State capital to SCIC, Chi said the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance had strongly supported them, but just 12 out of 63 enterprises had completed the process, while another 176 companies had yet to agree on the transfer.

SCIC, which was established in 2006, is currently managing State capital in over 500 enterprises, whose businesses range from financial services, energy, manufacturing and IT to telecommunications, transportation, consumer products and healthcare.  VNS
OTTAWA  Viet Nam recorded a trade surplus of US$455.5 million with Canada in the first two months of this year.

Two-way trade reached $717.7 million, a year-on-year rise of 117 per cent.

Canadas exports to Viet Nam surged unexpectedly in January and February, according to trade counsellor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Canada Hoang Anh Dung.

The country exported goods worth $131.1 million to Viet Nam in the period, representing a year-on-year rise of 105.4 per cent.

High growth was seen in commodities such as coal ($38.3 million, up 52.7 per cent), cereals ($38 million, up 1.1 per cent) and flight training equipment and spare parts ($6.8 million, up 3.7 per cent).

Meanwhile, Viet Nam exported goods worth $586.6 million to Canada, a yearly increase of 6.6 per cent.

Viet Nams staples included machines and electronic equipment ($147.7 million), footwear ($9.6 million), apparel products ($63.6 million), woven products ($61.2 million) and timber products ($46.6 million).

With these figures, Viet Nam maintained its leading position in ASEAN in terms of export turnover to Canada.  VNS
HA NOI  The finance ministry has proposed to take over the management of the Enterprise Arrangement and Development Support Fund from the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) to improve its efficiency.

This is part of the proposed amendments to Government Decree 59/2011/N-CP about the transformation of state-owned enterprises into joint stock companies.

According to Deputy minister Tran Van Hieu the fund is currently under the direct management of the SCIC, and the finance ministry is in charge of supervising fund management. But it is difficult for the ministry to actively monitor revenues, expenses and balances of the fund.

This management model makes administrative procedures more complicated and must be changed as the government is speeding up efforts to simplify administrative procedures and improve the business climate.

The ministry has also proposed that proceeds from the privatisation of state-owned enterprises be paid to the fund, which is important to prevent loss-making parent companies from using it to compensate for the losses.

The draft decree also reportedly proposes a new method, book building, for initial public offerings, besides auctions, underwriting and direct deal. Book building is popular for efficient price discovery, which will improve the chances for the IPOs success.

Recent statistics have revealed that though around 96 per cent of state-owned enterprises have begun their equitisation to date, the state capital equitised remained low at eight per cent. - VNS
When Easter Merges for Both Christians and Orthodox

The date for celebrating Easter, among the Orthodox, can be anything but orthodox. The Assyrian, Greek, Russian and other Orthodox, considered the world's first Christians, don't usually celebrate Easter on the same date as Catholics and Protestants. But this year, in a rare occurrence of polemic synchronicity, both the Orthodox Christians and Catholics will celebrate Easter on April 16. Can there be two Easter Sundays? The answer is, in some circumstances, yes. All Christians use the same method for determining the date of Easter, though they can arrive at a different result. As described in "The Reckoning of Time," by eighth-century English scholar, Bede, "The Sunday following the full moon which falls on or after the equinox will give the lawful Easter." The equinox is observed on March 21. This straightforward method, based upon an easily observable natural phenomenon, survived the Schism of 1054 when the Catholic and Orthodox churches split. Still, if you have Orthodox Christian friends or visit a predominantly Orthodox country such as Greece and Russia in late spring, you may find yourself celebrating a second Easter. In some years, the Easter celebration by Greek Orthodox and Christians of other denominations can be separated by as much as six weeks. But not this year. Father John E. Afendoulis, pastor of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in Newport, the only Orthodox Church on Aquidneck Island, provides an explanation. "For the Greek Orthodox, we calculate the date for our Savior's Resurrection based on a decision adopted by the First Ecumenical Council of 325 A.D., where a 19-year-cycle was established for the calculation of the date of Pascha (Easter) taking into account the spring vernal equinox, the Jewish Passover and the Julian calendar," he said. "On the other hand, the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant churches base their calculations on an 84-year-cycle and the Gregorian calendar." At Saint Spyridon, the journey to the Savior Resurrection is introduced four weeks prior to the beginning of The Holy 40 Day Fast. It is similar to other church's Easter celebrations, but it varies based on cultural tradition. "As we transition from this pre-fast period, we enter the beginning of the fast period, and the services start to intensify and are unique to this period, namely the services of Great Compline, the Liturgy of the pre-sanctified gifts, and Friday evening service of the Salutations to the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, which are celebrated on a weekly basis," he said. "The services take a different turn the week before (Easter), when the themes are more pronounced." "On Holy Friday, Christ is removed from the cross while the children receive his body (in the form of an icon) from the cross and help the priest lay him in a tomb, which has been beautifully decorated with flowers and greens, and placed in the center of the church." In the evening, parishioners chant the funeral and Resurrection dirges, followed by a procession into Thames Street with the decorated tomb. Celebrations for the "small resurrection" are held on Holy Saturday morning, with a chanting Resurrection Service at 11:30 p.m. that evening. At the conclusion of the Resurrection service at 1:15 a.m., Easter eggs are distributed and a meal is served in the Community Hall, ending the fast. On Sunday morning, the church will celebrate the agape vespers and the Gospel will be read in various languages of the world. The service concludes with an Easter Egg Hunt for the children.
A former 40 year Atheist analyzes Atheism, without resorting to theism, deism, or fantasy.

***

If You Don't Value Truth, Then What DO You Value?

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If we say that the sane can be coaxed and persuaded to rationality, and we say that rationality presupposes logic, then what can we say of those who actively reject logic?

***

Atheists have an obligation to give reasons in the form of logic and evidence for rejecting Theist theories.
HA NOI  The special preferential policies for Van on Special Economic Zone must make it superior to the countrys existing economic zones and on par with similar models in the region and world over.

During a meeting with provincial authorities on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh required the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh to map out and propose specific incentive policies at the earliest to develop Van on quickly into a special economic zone.

Binh said the policies, which will become legal regulations, must be in accordance with international commitments and actual conditions in Viet Nam, besides ensuring consistency, stability and longevity.

The policies, which need to be consistent with current laws, must be superior in terms of infrastructure, tax, credit and finance so as to attract strategic foreign investors with huge projects, cutting-edge technologies and high-quality human resources, Binh said.

The judicial bodies of the special administrative-economic zone must be designed to be able to legally handle economic and commercial disputes as well as high-tech crime and intellectual property issues, he said.

The deputy PM instructed the planning and investment ministry to work with Quang Ninh Province and complete the project.

To develop Van on Special Economic Zone, the province needs around US$12 billion. The province has so far mobilised approximately VN40 trillion ($1.75 billion) , mainly for infrastructure development.

A VN7 trillion international airport in Van on district, about 50km from Ha Long City, which is home to the world heritage site of Ha Long Bay, is under construction, and is scheduled to become operational in 2018.

Van on has a politically and economically important position as it lies on the strategic transit route from East Asia to Southeast Asia and from ASEAN to China; in Viet Nam - China two corridors, one belt co-operation area; in Nanning - Singapore economic corridor; and in extended Tonkin Gulf inter-regional co-operation area.

Van on Special Economic Zone is part of a Government-approved plan to build three such zones in the country; the other two are Van Phong in the central Khanh Hoa Province and Phu Quoc in the southern Kien Giang Province.

The zones are expected to spearhead the countrys growth and exploit local advantages to drive growth in the area. They will pilot key new economic and administrative policies before they are applied nationwide to develop the maritime economy.  VNS
HA NOI  Shares sank further on Friday on the two national exchanges as investors became cautious over escalating global tensions.

The benchmark VN Index lost 10 points in early morning trading following reports that the US had dropped a massive non-nuclear bomb on ISIS targets in Afghanistan.

The southern market recovered in the afternoon, though it closed 0.81 per cent down at 718.45 points.

The southern index has lost 1.8 per cent in the last three sessions.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index was down 0.43 per cent to close at 89.64 points. It was up 0.13 per cent on Thursday.

Tensions between the United States and Russia over Syria and between the US and North Korea have fueled investors fears of negative impacts on local stock markets.

Roughly 60 per cent of the shares on the HCM Stock Exchange slumped, with only five of the top 30 companies by market value and liquidity advancing.

Fridays slump was mainly driven by investors anxiety over the global instability as well as military risks, analysts at BIDV Securities Co (BSC) wrote in a note.

Major shares like Vinamilk (VNM), Vietcombank (VCB), Vietinbank (CTG), Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), Vietjet Air (VJC), Masan Group (MSN) and PV Gas (GAS) all declined.

Growth of bargain buying in the afternoon trade cushioned the market, with the recovery of speculative stocks like real estate and construction.

Gainers included FLC Group (FLC), Tan Tao Investment Industry (ITA), Hoang Quan Consulting Trading Service Real Estate (HQC), Dream House Investment (DHR), Cuu Long Petro Urban Development & Investment (CCL), Khang An Investment Real Estate (KAC) and Long Giang Investment & Urban Development (LGL).

BSCs analysts predicted the market was likely to rebound early next week and trade around 720 points when investors become more positive.

Trading volume increased slightly to 255.3 million shares on the two exchanges, the value of trades decreased 8.5 per cent, totaling VN4.3 trillion (US$188.6 million).

Foreign investors went against local investors movements in picking up shares worth VN53 billion in the two markets, extending their buying streak to five consecutive sessions.

Gold continue to rise

Local gold prices continued to rise, crossing VN37 million per tael, the highest since February 16, 2017. (One tael is equivalent to 1.2 ounces.)

SJC gold sold by Sai Gon Jewelry Joint Stock Company on Fridays afternoon touched VN37.22 million per tael while it bought at VN36.97, up VN380,000-430,000 over Thursdays selling/buying prices.

Price of gold manufactured by the Bao Tin Minh Chau Jewelry Joint Stock Company was quoted at VN37,030-37,110 for buying/selling, up VN280,000-300,000 over a day earlier. The DOJI Group also hiked its gold prices by around VN300,000 per tael.  VNS
BINH INH  The many mineral exploitation projects in the central region of Viet Nam, either those legally licensed or unauthorised ones, have made a tangible impact on farmlands, particularly in the central provinces of Binh inh and Quang Nam.

For example, the stone mining at Hon Cha Mountain in Phuoc Thanh Commune of Binh inh Province, operated by Hoan Cau Granite Co Ltd, has virtually ruined nearby vegetation. Excavators operating around the clock have laid waste to the sides of the mountain. After heavy rainfall, water flows carry loose soil and sand downhill to the fields below, burying hectares of crops under thick mud.

Nguyen Van Thanh, a farmer from Phuoc Thanh Commune, said his five sao farm (1 sao = 250sq.m) suffered from soil erosion. Four sao have been recovered, and the Hoan Cau Company provided support in terms of fertiliser, however, the output still only reached half of what it used to be, Thanh said.

The remaining farmland was covered with so much sand that there was nothing else to be done, so the company decided to pay compensation of VN1.5 million (US$66) for each crop season. But thats just a temporary solution. I want the company to clear the debris so I can resume normal production, he added.

Le Van ong, chairman of the Phuoc Thanh Commune Peoples Committee, said the compensation for the 2016-17 winter-spring crop season was late, making farmers angry. ong said authorities would force the company to proceed with reclamation activities, returning arable land to the farmers.

ong also said the company has not performed its obligations in designing the clarifier (settling tank to remove solids deposited by sedimentation) and water canals. The company is all promises, he complained.

Huynh Thanh Phuong from the Department of Natural Resources of Tuy Phuoc District said authorities have met the company managers a few times, asking them to build concrete water canals to replace the ditches they are currently using and avoid erosion in anticipation of the coming rain season.

Also, the compensation must be stopped soon in favour of real measures that get farmland back to the farmers, Phuong added.

Dust that wont settle

Cat Trinh Commune authorities (Phu Cat District, Binh inh Province) intended to improve the quality of soil in their jurisdiction, as well as to conduct land aggregation to aid in the modernisation of local agriculture. Hung Thien Long Co Ltd was entrusted with this task.

However, aside from rehabilitating the fields, the company also brought in a convoy of excavators and trucks to exploit the clay below the fields to sell for handsome profits, leaving the farmers to suffer the consequences.

According to the contract, the company is supposed to renovate a total farmland of nearly 45,000sq.m (40,550cu.m of soil in total) in one year, from 2016 October to 2017 October. The specific tasks to be carried out include leveling, building intra-field roads as well as an irrigation system for better productivity. The company is allowed to make profits on "excess" soil from these land preparation operations.

Nong thon ngay nay (Countryside Today) reports that the companys trucks start their noisy operation at 3am, creating a permanent dust cloud, degrading the roads. "Residents have protested numerous times by blocking the trucks path, and watering the roads to prevent dust, said Nguyen Thi Lan, 69, of Phu Nhon Village.

The truck drivers say the clay will be sold to a brick plant in another district, and the rest will be sold to orchards or other construction projects in the area.

inh Nhat Thien Long, director of Hung Thien Long Company, denied the allegations, claiming the soil is used solely in the Phu Cat District, not sold outside.

Cat Trinh Commune authorities confirmed that the excess soil will be used to elevate the ground of the local stadium and future housing, saying the company can sell the excess to orchard owners who want to elevate their land and use the revenues for farmland renovation operations.

According to the communes inspections in 2016, the companys trucks did affect local residents. However, commune authorities did not require the company to register the amount of excess soil, violating the Law on Minerals. The farmland renovation scheme, was not preceded by an environmental assessment, which violates the Law on Environment Protection.

Last month, local authorities finally ordered the company to register the excess soil amount for approval by Binh inh Province authorities. An environmental assessment was also made obligatory. The transportation of "excess" soil will only be resumed after these documents have been obtained.

Huynh Quanh Vinh, deputy head of the Binh inh Provinces Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said the department has not received any document from the company. Overexploitation of the clay will deprive the land of its ability to hold water. The quality of the land will suffer, and so will the farmers. We will conduct a field trip to assess the situation in the area, Vinh added.

Same old issue

In Quang Nam Province  rich with gold, sand and coal  numerous regulations have been issued to protect these resources, but illegal operations still find ways to continue, posing risks to local lives and environment.

Le Van Hong, 70, of ien Ban Town in the province, said sand mining projects are to be found all over the Thu Bon River banks, which he said is most responsible for causing erosion, even more than flooding.

According to Vo Van Minh, 74, exploitation is legal during the day, but the ships also operate illegally after dark. Peoples farmlands are shrinking, Minh said.

Tran Tinh, ien Trung Commune chairman, said last year that erosion took place along 300m of river banks, and nearly 2ha of land had been lost to water. We know that they still covertly conduct exploitation at nights, and we dont have the vehicles to check up on their ships. Even if we could catch them red-handed, they can always produce some sort of likely fabricated legal documents that we have no way to verify, Tinh said.

Responding to peoples complaints, Nguyen Vien, head of the Quang Nam provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, has ordered ien Ban Town to investigate the illegal exploitation.

In a report submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Quang Nam Province said scattered distribution of mineral resources has made it difficult to manage. The province also admitted some commune authorities had not done a satisfactory job of protecting natural resources.

In 2016, 223 inspections were conducted in Quang Nam Province: 340 combustion engines, 26 suction parts, 10 generators, 362 sheds were destroyed, thousands of workers were banished from illegal mining areas. Fines worth VN3.9 billion ($172,000) were issued in 166 violations.  VNS
HA NOI  The Viet Nam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB) and Spanish musicians will perform classical operas, music pieces and ballets at Ha Noi Opera House on April 14 and 15.

The first part of the show will have artists performing opera arias and music pieces; and the second part will be a ballet by Meritorious dancer Phan Van Luong, Viet An and other dancers from the VNOB.

Conductor David Gomez Ramirez will lead both the orchestra and piano soloist Jesus Ma Gosmez Rodriguez to play pieces by contemporary Spanish composers Vicente Ortiz Gimeno and Joan Eric Canet Todoli.

This is the first time that the orchestra will play Gimenos Overture for Symphony Orchestra, while it will be a world premiere for Todolis Piano Concerto No. 1.

Ramirez is one of Spains most promising young conductors and composers. He received the Giraldillo de Oro prize in 2010, the highest award in Spain given by the Cultural Arts and Sciences Association. He has served as a resident conductor in Seville and Coutances Orchestre in France and has guest conducted around Spain and Western Europe. He performed in Viet Nam in 2015 and 2016.

Ramirez returns to Ha Noi this time with pianist Rodriguez. The 1965-born musician has won numerous prizes at international piano competitions in France and Spain and has taught at Spanish, French and Japanese universities. While he has done concert tours through Europe, the US and Japan, this is the first time he will be performing in Viet Nam.

We want to introduce Spanish music, including classical and contemporary musicians, to Vietnamese audiences, said VNOB director Pham Anh Phuong, also the performances artistic director.

Sopranos To Loan and Vanh Khuyen, baritone Manh Dung and mezzo soprano Phuong ong will sing arias by Spanish composer Vicente Martin y Soler, Italian composer Gioachino Antonio Rossini and Mozart.

The chorus will perform two pieces by Bizet and Verdi. Mezzo soprano Thu Quynh, baritone Huy uc and the chorus will perform the Carmen operas famous aria Lamour est un oiseau rebelle (The Habanera).

After the interval, audiences will see the ballet, The Rite of Spring, written by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky in 1913. It depicts a pagan spring ritual, where a group of elders observe a dance in preparation for the death of a girl whom they are offering as sacrifice to the god of spring for his benevolence.

It will be staged by choreographer Pham Minh, who has been a soloist in Frances Ballet du Capitole for 10 years. Minh has modified the work to suit the body shape, rhythm and customs of Vietnamese people, Phuong said. The physical movements as well as the story behind this piece are characterised in Vietnamese style. A mysterious tale combined with Stravinskys beautiful compositions will make for a fascinating ballet.

The performance will begin at 8pm.  VNS
HA NOI  The English version of the historical-non-fiction book Bien Ban Chien Tranh 1-2-3-4.75 (A War Account 1-2-3-4.75) by journalist-writer Tran Mai Hanh recently hit bookshelves in Ha Noi and HCM City.

The 500-page book, published by the National Political Publishing House, has literary and historical value, with authentic documents, considered highly classified at the time by the Republic of Viet Nam (the Sai Gon administration) and the United States of America.

The writer has also quoted in the book documents associated with important events of the country in a precise and reliable manner. The book recounts and depicts accurately and in a lively manner the fall of the Sai Gon administration with Nguyen Van Thieu as its president in the last four months of the American war -- from January to the end of April 1975.

Besides the speech of Nguyen Van Thieu before his resignation, 20 other reference documents included in the annex are top-secret documents related to the war issued by the Republic of Viet Nam and the United States.

These documents, dating more that 40 years ago, are from original documents collected from the study and residence of Nguyen Van Thieu at the Presidential Palace, and the study of General Cao Van Vien, chief of general staff of the Sai Gon armed forces, at his headquarters on April 30, 1975.

Open up history: Cover of A War Account 1-2-3-4. 75 by journalist Tran Mai Hanh

The presentation, abbreviations and English sentences used in these documents have been kept intact in comparison with the original documents. At the end of each chapter, reliable sources of the documents are cited by the author.

The Vietnamese version Bien Ban Chien Tranh was first published in early April 2014. Since then it has been reprinted thrice in large numbers.

In the same year the book won the Literature Award by the Viet Nam Writers Association and then the Southeast Asia (SEA) Writers Award 2015.

The book was translated by Manh Chuong and edited by foreign and Vietnamese English language experts of translation company Metro Writers.

When Hanh asked me to translate his 500-page book within four months, I hesitated at first as it was too long, translator Chuong told Viet Nam News. Yet, when I began reading it, I sometimes spent a whole night engrossed in translation as it was too difficult to resist."

The writer has reflected the historical moments so vividly through the materials he gathered. I think its a unique historic non-fiction book of the time, which no one else has presented in this way, he added.

The book is available at bookshops of the National Political Publishing House and shops offering foreign-language books in Ha Noi and HCM City at VN460,000 (or US$20).  VNS
HA NOI  A photo exhibition featuring 150 photos taken by 30 photographers with disabilities opened yesterday at the Museum of Vietnamese Women.

Titled Inclusive Colours, the art event is being held jointly by the Embassy of Finland in Ha Noi and Inclusive Development Action (IDEA) within the framework of activities celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Independence of Finland and Viet Nams Disability Day (April 18).

Selected from over 1,500 entries, the photographs displayed at Inclusive Colours showcase many themes related to the realities people face in their daily life, employment, livelihood, countryside and family. Each photo presents a real, emotional, humble and diverse look into the life of people with disabilities and their will and aspiration to be included.

We have some disabilities related to our body but no disability in mind and will. Each day goes by, we try to improve ourselves, Nguyen Van Hoa, member of Phuc Triu Communes Association of People with Disabilities, under Thai Nguyen City, said.

Through these photos, we wish everybody sees our determination and tireless efforts for a better life. We understand that through our spirit and will, along with encouragement from our family and support from the community and society, we will overcome all barriers to integrate, he added.

The photos were taken by members of Thai Nguyen Citys Association of People with Disabilities following a five-month training programme organised as part of the project "Promoting Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Viet Nam," implemented by IDEA with financial support from the Embassy of Finland.

Upon visiting the exhibition, you will realise each life is a novel. We respect and adore Hien, Sinh, Son, Hoa, Khai, Nham and others. They are the real artists, never retreating from their destiny but always confidently holding their heads high, Nguyen Hong Oanh, director of IDEA, said.

Inclusive Colours is on until April 23 and is free of charge.  VNS
Le Ngoc Lam, deputy director of the Intellectual Property Rights Department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, speaks to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on the importance of having trademarks during international integration

Why are Vietnamese enterprises not that interested in registering their products trademarks with the Intellectual Property Rights of Viet Nam (NOIP)?

Not all Vietnamese enterprises are fully aware of the advantages they will enjoy when disputes related to their products trademarks with those of other enterprises occur.

Its high time to raise the awareness of intellectual property rights among organisations and individuals in business.

Enterprises should register their products or services with the NOIP. Of course, the enterprises should be given advice about the intellectual property rights before they sell their products. This step is very important as it can help enterprises avoid risks or mishaps.

Intellectual property rights are an essential element in negotiations for many free trade agreements (FTAs) in which Viet Nam has participated in. Why?

All FTAs aim to have a system of intellectual property rights at a higher level of protection, including a wider coverage of protection towards non-traditional trademarks and information transparency during the process of registration and more.

When these FTAs come into force, the Vietnamese market will be flooded with foreign products. Thats why we need to raise the quality of our products so that they can compete with foreign products.

To do this, all Vietnamese enterprises must raise their awareness of intellectual property rights, particularly the legal requirements for their products and services to avoid conflicts with those from other Vietnamese or foreign made goods. Vice versa, if their products are not registered, it is likely that their trademarks may be lost to their competitors.

Up to now many Vietnamese enterprises lack understanding of the advantages of having their products registered with Vietnamese agencies, do you agree?

Results of many studies show that in Viet Nam the value of tangible assets of Vietnamese enterprises accounts for only one quarter of each enterprises total assets. Meanwhile their intangible or brand names take up the rest of their assets. In some cases, they account for more than 90 per cent of the asset value of the enterprises. Thats why the development of intellectual property rights is very important in the course of development of an enterprise.

Having trademarks for their products will help enterprises to focus investment in producing products of high value which can compete.

In addition, the trademarks are intellectual property rights that can be bought and sold on the market. They have also become an important source of finance for enterprises to expand.  VNS
PRAGUE  National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan visited the Karlovy Vary region of the Czech Republic on Thursday as part of her official trip to the European nation.

At a meeting with the Vietnamese delegation, Karlovy Vary City mayor Petr Kulhanek introduced the history of his city, which is the venue of many regional and international film festivals. The city also houses a number of famous crystal producers, he noted.

The mayor spoke highly of the industriousness of Vietnamese people in Karlovy Vary, adding that the second- and third-generation Vietnamese in the Czech Republic have good academic results. He said he views them as a link to strengthen the two nations friendship.

Ngan thanked the local authorities for creating optimum conditions for Vietnamese people to integrate into the Czech society. She said at her meetings with Czech leaders, the two sides agreed on the need to intensify the countries traditional friendship and multifaceted co-operation.

She voiced her hope that Karlovy Vary leaders will encourage local businesses and people to increase trade, investment, cultural and tourism co-operation with Vietnamese localities. She also asked for further favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community there.

The top legislator also invited the regions officials to visit and set up co-operative relations with Vietnamese localities.  VNS
HCM CITY  Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha on Thursday instructed universities to develop their brand by improving training programmes that will attract students.

At a meeting with leaders, staff and students of the private Van Hien University in HCM City, Nha said that many private universities were facing difficulties in enrollment.

Only Van Hien University and a few more had attracted more students, because of their training quality and good brand name, he said.

Students enrolled in these universities are more likely to be recruited by local enterprises or work in member countries of the ASEAN Economic Community, Nha said.

The countrys tertiary education has seen progress, especially in IT, but low quality remains in several majors.

Vu Thi Thu Huong, a lecturer at Van Hien Universitys Tourism Faculty, said that some enterprises do not want to recruit graduates from private universities.

Nha said that low quality and a failure to meet enterprises demands at a number of private universities were the main reasons for the lack of recruitment.

Quality is a decisive element in competition, he added.

To reach a higher quality, universities should increase investment and have strategies to develop facilities, lecturers and training programmes, he said.

Van Hien University, for instance, has received investment for facilities that will cover a total area of more than 85,000 square metres.

In the 2017 and 2018 academic year, the universitys other branch will be put into operation in the citys southern region.

Nha said the universitys investors should also pour money into more facilities for teaching.

As of now, many of the 60 private universities in the country have to rent facilities, he said.

Before investing in construction at universities, investors should prepare sufficient capital for long-term operations, Nha said. They should not be dependent on students tuition for long-term operations.

The Government has issued many preferential policies for investors in private universities, including tax exemption of income in first four years and 50 per cent exemption in the following five or nine years, he said.

Nha said that universities should stand firm on training students well and conducting scientific research that can be applied to new products and technologies.  VNS
Asset recovery in civil lawsuits, particularly those relating to major economic corruption, remains low as authorities have found it difficult to verify the financial status of defendants.  Photo daibieunhandan.vn

HA NOI  Asset recovery in civil lawsuits, particularly those relating to major economic corruption, remains low as authorities have found it difficult to verify the financial status of defendants, said Le Quang Tien, head of Ha Nois Department of Civil Judgment Enforcement.

This was just one of the difficulties that civil judgment enforcement bodies faced when executing court rulings, Tien said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Ha Nois Department of Civil Judgment Enforcement was concentrating on ten major economic corruption cases in which defendants must return over VN269 billion (US$12 million).

The assets that need to be recovered are huge, but the authorities have not been able to confirm if the defendants have sufficient funds to pay or not, he said.

In some cases, their assets are far below the sums they have to return, or the asset is shared with other parties.

In May 2014, the Peoples Supreme Court sentenced Duong Chi Dung, the former chairman of State-owned Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) and Mai Van Phuc, its former general director, to death for embezzling VN10 billion ($474,000) each.

The defendants falsified the technical specifications of a 43-year-old, non-functional floating dock and overpaid for it, causing losses of about VN367 billion ($16.2 million) for the State, according to the indictment.

Dung was also ordered to compensate Vinalines VN110 billion, including VN10 billion for embezzlement and VN100 billion for intentionally violating State regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences.

However, up until now, relevant agencies have only been able to confiscate Dungs visible assets, announcing that he was financially unable to pay any more compensation.

Referring to the Law on Civil Judgment Enforcement 2014, the enforcing body said that Dung did not meet the conditions for the courts ruling to be executed.

Only when Dung is confirmed to have other assets can we continue executing the courts ruling, Tien said, implying that an amount of about VN88.5 billion remains outstanding.

Tran Huu Chieu, the former deputy general director was also found guilty on the same counts. Chieu was sentenced to 19 years in jail and must pay compensation of VN39.16 billion, but as of now still owes VN38.4 billion.

Bui Thi Bich Loan, another defendant in the Vinalines case, was ordered to compensate Vinalines VN6 billion, but was found to own no assets and is currently receiving treatment for cancer in hospital.

Two months ago, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed Directive 05/CT-TTg on enhancing civil judgment enforcement. Accordingly, he directed authorities to uncover the assets of suspects in corruption cases in order to prevent them from being hidden and to help in executing judgments against the accused.

The Ministry of Public Security is asked to direct the nations investigative agencies to locate the assets and ensure the execution of judgments in crucial and complicated cases related to credit, banking and corruption.

The State Bank of Viet Nam was assigned to direct credit organisations to strictly assess clients property before lending them money and to closely co-ordinate with civil enforcement bodies on cases related to credit and banking.  VNS
A doctor at a state mental health facility was arrested for allegedly submitting false attendance records and falsifying patient records.

Morales D. Brown, 59, was charged with third-degree grand larceny, a class D felony. He's also charged with four counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a class E felony.

The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the state inspector general's office. Brown, a psychiatrist at the Central New York Psychiatric Center in Oneida County, is accused of falsifying medical records between August and September 2016 and not attending to patients he claimed to have cared for.

The inspector general's office also found that Brown allegedly submitted false time and attendance records between January and September 2016 for time he didn't work. The false records allowed him to receive payment from the state.

Brown is accused of stealing more than $6,524 from the state.

He was placed on administrative leave Sept. 15.

"As a psychiatrist, the defendant took an oath of the highest ethical standards, yet he chose to disregard his vows, potentially endangering the health and safety of inmate patients," State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott said.

"He further wrongfully enriched himself to the detriment of the state by falsifying his time and attendance records. As a result of my investigation, he is now facing criminal charges."

Brown was arraigned in Marcy Town Court and is scheduled to return May 3.

The case is being prosecuted by Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara.
HA NOI  A draft of a new general education programme was introduced by the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) at a meeting with the press in Ha Noi on Wednesday, with one of the aims of the programme being to instil a love for Viet Nam in students.

The programme was developed using the back-mapping technique to design a programme suitable for students capabilities, said Prof Dr Nguyen Minh Thuyet, editor-in-chief of the programme at the meeting.

Aiming to reduce pressure on students, the programme focuses on developing integrated elementary and lower secondary education (grades 1-9), and a differential and elective upper secondary education (grades 10-12), he said.

The programmes subject system is divided into compulsory courses, differential compulsory courses, electives and compulsory electives, he added.

The 10th grade is identified as a career orientation grade with 11 compulsory courses, he said. These courses are reduced to 6 in grades 11-12 so that students can choose electives that complement their career choices.

The programme aims to develop various qualities in students, including loving ones country, ones people, studying and working hard, honesty and responsibility, he said.

It also aims to develop three general core competencies in students, including self-control and self-learning, communication and collaboration, and problem-solving and creativity, and core competencies in languages, mathematics, social science and natural science research, technology, computer science, aesthetics and physical capacity.

Schools will be encouraged to apply active learning methods with teachers in the role of a co-ordinator, instructing and encouraging students to take part in educational and capability-developing activities.

These activities will be held inside and outside of classrooms as theoretical lectures, experiments, role plays, research projects, conferences and picnics, as well as collective and community service activities.

Three evaluation methods were proposed in the programme, including regular assessments (conducted by teachers), periodical assessments (conducted by schools), and local and nationwide assessments (conducted by accreditation organisations at national and provincial levels).

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Education Minister Nguyen Thi Nghia said the draft will be published on the internet to receive comments from society.

Necessary changes will be added to the draft before it is presented to a national appraisal board and officially implemented in the 2018-19 school year, in accordance with Degree No 88 issued by the National Assembly in 2013, she said.

The leader said that the MoET will develop new ways to assess students for high school graduation once the programme is implemented.

The current high school graduation exams will be maintained until 2020, she said.  VNS

BOX:

List of compulsory courses from elementary to upper secondary education

The compulsory courses for elementary students (grades 1-5) include: Vietnamese, mathematics, foreign language No 1, lifestyle education, life around us, societal exploration, scientific exploration, and technological exploration. The foreign language No 1 course starts at grade 3, but localities with enough capabilities can start at grade 1 with less than 70 lessons per year.

The compulsory courses for secondary students (grade 1-9) include: literature, mathematics, foreign language No 1, civil education, natural sciences, history and geography.

The compulsory courses for grade 10 (the first grade of upper secondary education) include: literature, mathematics, foreign language No 1, economic and legal education, history, geography, physics, chemistry, biology, design and technology, and defence and security education.

The compulsory courses for grade 11-12 include: literature, mathematics, foreign language No 1, physical education, defence and security education, and creative experiences. In addition, each student chooses to take three of the following electives: economic and legal education, history, geography, physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, applied information technology, design and technology, fine arts, and music.
HCM CITY  The foundation layers of residential houses and buildings in HCM City are being designed and constructed without proper State office management.

The foundation layer is designed to avoid buildings that are too high or too low compared to the pavement. It is a national benchmarking system used to determine the levels for roads and other constructions.

However, many houses have foundation layers that are not level with the road.

The issue of foundation layers was brought up when city authorities asked home owners to alter the foundations of their properties if they differed from the nationally-approved standard.

Several residents on Nguyen Xi Street in Binh Thanh District expressed concern that their homes were being inundated during periods of heavy rain. The foundation of the road was previously raised by local authorities to avoid flooding.

After the work was completed, many of the houses in question were at least 1.5m below the road surface, so rain water flowed into the houses during downpours. Home owners had to raise the foundations of their houses to become equal with the road surface. Some even had to demolish their homes and build them from scratch.

A local woman living on Nguyen Xi Street said she had raised the foundations of her home by more than 1.3m, leaving the kitchen behind the house at the previous level. When the road surface was subsequently raised, her house was now a metre lower than the road and the kitchen even more so. This situation can cause serious flooding.

On a number of other streets, home owners must measure the height of their floors compared to the existing road level to make the foundation layers, causing discrepancies in the height between neighbouring properties.

Owners of houses with floors much higher than that of the road needed to construct front porches that illegally encroach onto pavements.

Experts warning

State offices have the task of granting construction permits, including the determination of the foundation layers. Authorities grant such permits based on the current foundation layer of the road, however, many of the citys roads were not built under national standards. This caused a problem, when newly-built houses were not level with the road surface, leading to flooding. The issue was reported on Kinh Duong Vuong Street in Binh Tan District, and on Pham The Hien Street in District 8.

An official from the citys Department of Urban Management said the determination of the foundation layer for construction licencing was based on the standard ground level from the national elevation markers.

However, he said, it was costly to measure the standard ground level from the national elevation markers.

Most districts were granting permits based on the current foundations of roads and pavements.

Deputy head of Phu Nhuan Districts urban management department, Vo Tan Nguyen Khoi, said determining the foundation for building residential houses was mainly based on the existing road foundations.

According to Prof Nguyen Trong Hoa, former director of the citys Research and Development Institute, the management of road construction has been inconsistent.

On some roads, investors failed to make accurate measurements before commencing construction, and some investors built roads higher than the surrounding houses.

These failings led to home owners pre-empting the problem, and making the floors of their houses higher than the road surface to start with.

Another reason for the move was poor public drainage systems, which would overflow into houses.

Nguyen Van Hiep, former deputy director of the HCM City Department of Construction, said that the State must establish a permanent standard elevation level.

At each road or in each area, State offices should provide one or two positions for a standard elevation landmark.

The management board of road projects must publish the parameters of the intended foundations so that people can have access to data and determine the correct foundation for their houses before construction.

Van Hung at, head of the mapping and measuring office at the citys Department of Natural Resources and Environment said that in 2016, it had handed over documents relating to 32 standard elevation landmarks to city authorities.  VNS
President Tran ai Quang delivers speech at a working session with State Audit of Viet Nam leaders on Thursday.  VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang

HA NOI  President Tran ai Quang has urged the State Audit of Viet Nam (SAV) to focus more on sectors and areas with high risks of corruption and cases of public concern to better advise agencies on policies and legal regulation to prevent corruption.

At a working session with SAV leaders on Thursday, the State leader suggested the agency pay attention to areas like land use, natural resources, mining, environment and capital construction.

The SAV should include programmes and projects using foreign loans in its annual auditing programmes, and advise the President, Government and ministries on how to effectively use foreign loans, he said.

Along with giving alerts on arising issues related to fiscal, financial, credit and banking policies, the agency should also consult the Party and State on major procurement and investment projects and annual budget estimates, said the President.

The leader also requested the State Audit speed up drafting documents guiding the implementation of the Law on State Audit 2015, and asked ministries and localities to work with the State Audit and help the agency.

President Quang urged the audit agency to expand international relations and successfully hold the 14th Congress of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) in 2018.

Last year, the State Audit conducted 276 audits and proposed financial corrections related to VN38.3 trillion (US$1.68 billion), the highest figure in its 22 years of operation. It also recommended the adjustment, supplementation, replacement and withdrawal of 150 legal documents to prevent losses and wastefulness.

The agency helped re-evaluate State capital in seven enterprises and revise up the amount by VN20.8 trillion ($917 million). Also, after examining 27 build-operate-transfer projects in the transportation sector, the State Audit proposed cutting the combined duration of toll collecting by 107 years.

This year, the agency will increase the use of advanced technology in its operation to improve working capacity and effectiveness.

It will also perform its role as a member of the ASOSAI Executive Board, while joining working groups of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).  VNS
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with executives of Sun Group, one of the major investors in the countrys tourism with large projects on Phu Quoc Island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang on Thursday.  VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat

KIEN GIANG  Viet Nam offers optimal conditions for investors, especially in tourism, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a meeting on Thursday with executives of Sun Group, one of the major investors in the countrys tourism with large projects on Phu Quoc Island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.

He noted that Viet Nam enjoyed a growth of 20 per cent in the number of tourists in 2016, and 30 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

The PM lauded the firms investments in large projects across Viet Nam, including the worlds longest suspension cable to Fansipan Mountain in the northern province of Lao Cai, saying these have created jobs and contributed to socio-economic growth of many localities and the development of Viet Nams tourism trademark.

Sun Group operates tourism and resort projects in Lao Cai, Phu Quoc, a Nang and Quang Nam.

The groups tourism and resort projects in Phu Quoc include JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort and Premier Residences Phu Quoc Emerald Bay.

Highlighting the Party and States goal of turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector, PM Phuc suggested that the firm and other investors work to introduce unique and impressive tourism products supported by local residents.

He also praised the authorities of Phu Quoc Island and Kien Giang province for adopting mechanisms to attract giant investors in tourism infrastructure, saying it set a good example in tourism development for localities.

In the first quarter of 2017, Phu Quoc Island welcomed about 553,500 visitors, a surge of 82.7 per cent year-on-year, including 139,000 foreigners, up 53 per cent over the same time in 2016.

The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also laid flowers at the Phu Quoc Martyrs Cemetery, the resting place of over 3,500 martyrs who laid down their lives on the island.

During his visit to Kien Giang, the PM is scheduled to meet with provincial leaders about the development of a Phu Quoc special economic zone.  VNS
HA NOI  Japanese security forces on Friday said they had arrested a 46-year-old man who allegedly killed Vietnamese girl Le Thi Nhat Linh.

The man is Shibuya Yasumasa, who works in the real estate sector and is Linhs neighbor.

Earlier, the police issued a wanted notice for the man and arrested him immediately after investigation revealed Shibuya Yasumasas DNA test results matched the DNA on Linhs personal belongings.

On March 24 this year, nine-year-old Linh went missing after she left home in Matsudo City to go to school as usual.

Her body was found at 6.45am on March 26 in a field near a drainage ditch in Abiko, Chiba Prefecture, some 10km from her house.

A day later, her school bag was found in an area near the Tone River in Ibaraki Province, which is some 20km from Abiko.

Investigators said Linhs belongings were found scattered in places which were even not accessed by locals.

They believed Linh was kidnapped right after leaving home at 8am on March 24. The road where she was abducted was located in a residential quarter with few people passing by.

Following analysis, the Japanese police said the suspect clearly seemed to be familiar with the localitys terrain.

Earlier, the police received a video showing a man following a girl who resembled Linh; the man appeared to call out to her.

An elderly volunteer was quoted by JNN Channel as saying Linh may have been forced by the suspect to travel on a shortcut that few people used. If the suspect did not know the terrain clearly, he/she could not have driven to that place.

Besides an injury on her head and garrote marks on her neck, Linh also had an injury on her wrist and scratches on her body.

Linhs case has caused alarm and high dudgeon among the Japanese people. Many parents worry for the safety of their children, who often go to school on their own every day.  VNS
HA NOI  LIXIL Vietnams INAX sanitary ware brand on Friday donated VN1 billion (US$44,000) to support Viet Nam Televisions Tam Long Viet (Vietnamese Heart) Funds heart operation programme.

The programme will provide free surgeries for poor and underprivileged children in Viet Nam with congenital heart diseases. The fund will be used to perform 30 surgeries on under-16 children whose families are too poor to afford the operation.

We consider the donation to the healthy heart operation programme as our corporate responsibility and a business guideline in joining hands with the society to help needy people, especially children in Viet Nam, LIXIL Vietnams general director Masahiko Hiramoto said at the event.

The donation has brought the companys total contribution to the fund to VN7.2 billion ($315,000), bringing the total children to have been helped by LIXIL Vietnam in the past seven years to 200.

Next year, the programme will celebrate its 10th anniversary. To date, the fund has raised around VN91 billion ($4 million) and provided heart surgeries nationwide to more than 3,500 poor children with congenital heart disease. The programme has also supported many hospitals in strengthening their professional capacity and medical facilities, said Viet Nam Televisions deputy chief office and the Vietnamese Heart Fund deputy director o Tien Hung.

The programme was initiated by the Vietnamese Heart Fund, Viet Nam Television and Viettel Group in 2008.

As per health ministry statistics, 8,000 to 10,000 infants are born with congenital heart defects every year in Viet Nam, and around 20,000 children in the country are still waiting for surgery.  VNS
WASHINGTON  The US military on Thursday dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat, targeting an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb - better known by its nickname, the "Mother Of All Bombs" - hit a tunnel complex at 7:32 pm local time in Achin district in Nangarhar province, US Forces Afghanistan said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump called the mission "very, very successful."

The huge bomb, delivered via an MC-130 transport plane, has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT, and the weapon was originally designed as much to intimidate foes as to clear broad areas.

"The GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat," Air Force spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder said.

Achin District Governor Esmail Shinwari said the bomb landed in the Momand Dara area.

"The explosion was the biggest I have ever seen. Towering flames engulfed the area," Shinwari said.

"We dont know anything about the casualties so far, but since it is a Daesh (IS) stronghold we think a lot of Daesh fighters may have been killed."

US Navy Captain Bill Salvin, spokesman for US Forces Afghanistan, said in an email to AFP that a bomb damage assessment was being carried out.

As to the possibility of civilian casualties from such a huge weapon, Salvin said: "Friendly forces scouted the area and noted the lack of civilian presence. The target was chosen to ensure the maximum effect against (IS) while preventing civilian casualties."

General John Nicholson, who heads US Forces Afghanistan, described the weapon as the "right munition" to reduce IS obstacles and maintain the momentum against jihadists in the region.

The strike hit a system of tunnels and caves that IS fighters had used to "move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces" nearby, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

"We must deny them operational space, which we did," Spicer added.

The Afghan government was aware of the US plan to bomb the IS tunnel complex, presidential spokesman Shah Hussain Murtazawi suggested.

"Heavy casualties have been inflicted on the enemy," Murtazawi said on Facebook, ruling out the possibility of civilian casualties.

IS in Afghanistan

The US military on Tuesday said an American special forces soldier had been killed while conducting operations against IS in Nangarhar, although it was not clear if Thursdays strike was connected.

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. US forces have conducted a number of air strikes on jihadist bases in the area since August last year.

IS, notorious for its reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, has been making inroads into Afghanistan in recent years. It has attracted disaffected members of the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban as well as Uzbek Islamists.

But the group has been steadily losing territory in the face of heavy pressure both from US air strikes and a ground offensive led by Afghan forces.

The Islamic State groups strength in Afghanistan has fallen to 600 to 800 fighters from 3,000 in early 2016, NATO has said, adding that it killed the top 12 IS commanders in the country last year.

The MOAB was rapidly developed in 2002-2003 around the time of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

According to the Air Force, the last time the MOAB was tested in 2003, a huge mushroom cloud could be seen from 32 kilometres away.

Despite its massive power, the MOAB still pales in comparison to a nuclear weapon.
NEW YORK  The first trailer for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" has dropped, showcasing a Luke Skywalker who just might be flirting with the dark side.

Director Rian Johnson unveiled a teaser at the "Star Wars Celebration" fan event in Orlando, Florida, on Friday. After he, producer Kathleen Kennedy and the cast chatted for an hour with host Josh Gadd, Johnson premiered a brief trailer for the much-anticipated next chapter in the "Star Wars" saga.

The footage offered few clues but notably featured Mark Hamill's Skywalker intoning from a dark cave that "it's time for the Jedi to end."

Earlier, star Daisy Ridley, who stars as Rey, said part of the story in "The Last Jedi" is that it can be difficult to "meet your heroes." ''The Force Awakens" left off with Rey and Skywalker meeting on a remote island.
Former Vice President Joe Biden will return to upstate New York next month to speak at Cornell University's senior convocation.

The convocation is scheduled for noon Saturday, May 27 at Schoellkopf Stadium. Biden's address will come on the eve of Cornell's commencement cermeony, which will be held Sunday, May 28.

Matthew Baumel, who chairs the convocation committee, said they're excited to have Biden address the senior class.

"No matter what you believe politically, you must respect his outstanding character, leadership and decades-long service to our country, as well as how he has overcome personal adversity," Baumel said. "He is a true American."

Biden served as vice president from 2009 to 2017. Before he was President Barack Obama's running mate, he was one of Delaware's U.S. senators from 1973 to 2009.

Biden's ties to upstate New York have been well-documented. He is a Syracuse University law school graduate and his first wife, the late Neilia Hunter Biden, was an Auburn native. Her family owned the Hunter Dinerant, a restaurant which continues to operate on Genesee Street in the city.

Throughout his long career in public service, Biden has returned to upstate New York for personal and professional appearances.

In 2009, he delivered the commencement address at Syracuse University. He was joined by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, for a Rochester-area event in January 2014 touting the benefits of community colleges.

He traveled to Auburn in June 2014 for a surprise appearance at his niece's wedding. About five months later, he returned to central New York for a funeral. He was spotted dining at Rosalie's Cucina in Skaneateles.

More than a week after his surprise Skaneateles trip, Biden visited central New York again to campaign for then-U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei.

Biden headed to the Rochester area in July 2015 to announce the launch of a photonics manufacturing hub. In November 2015, he spoke at Syracuse University in support of the "It's On Us" campaign to combat sexual assaults on college campuses.

His final public appearance in upstate New York as vice president came in May 2016 when he delivered the Syracuse law school commencement address.

Since leaving office, Biden has announced his involvement in a few initiatives. He's also scheduled some speaking engagements. He spoke at Colgate University last month.
WATERLOO  A Board of Education member raised concerns this week about bias and politicized science in a freshman textbook because of how it presents climate change.

Waterloo Community Schools science leadership team recommended the board adopt Earth Comm, Project-Based Space and Earth System Science for the new earth and space science course all ninth graders will take starting next fall. The cost of the book and related materials, published by Its About Time, is $180,097. It was one of five textbooks the group reviewed.

Board member Lyle Schmitt pointed to a paragraph on global climate change as an illustration of the problems he saw in the chapter dealing with the subject. That spurred a 30-minute discussion before the board approved adopting the materials 6-1, with Schmitt dissenting.

The tone of the paragraph is in line with the public discourse which is sometimes more politicized science than science, said Schmitt. He called for formally adopting supplemental materials in order to balance out some of these biases.

Board member Angie Weekley didnt think that was necessary. I didnt hear that this is going to be the only thing that well use to get students engaged in learning, but this would be one method, she said.

Neither I myself nor any of my staff have taught 100 percent out of the textbook, said Alex Conyers, West High School science department chairman and a member of the group making the recommendation. And I do agree with what youre saying, Mr. Schmitt, that this text could be added to with supplemental material.

Nonetheless, he noted, I do love this curriculum and do think it is absolutely what our students in Waterloo need, they need exposure to this information.

The paragraph Schmitt highlighted focuses on potential changes in agriculture associated with a warming climate. It suggests a northward shift of the regions where certain crops are grown. Some regions might become too dry or wet to support present crops, productivity might decrease and production costs might increase.

That sounds fairly innocuous, but if you look at the overall tone almost every sentence is negative, and theyre speculative, said Schmitt, proposing it should have noted a potential northward expansion of arable land. Most of the studies I have seen said Canada and Russia would be the biggest beneficiaries.

He continued, It totally ignores the fact that with todays technology those areas that get drier can be irrigated very effectively, those that get wetter can be drained. In addition, Schmitt said areas where productivity drops because of warming could potentially make that up by growing the crop twice in a year. He claimed the textbook also doesnt address the dangers of global cooling which is almost always much more severe in its impact.

Conyers took issue with the concerns. I dont think the intention of the paragraph is to speculate on what could possibly happen in the future, he said. Thats completely uncertain ... based on what we currently see in the status quo.

Schmitt said the most obvious error or omission in the textbook is the lack of some sort of optimal temperature for the Earth. The book does not address that subject, he contended, or give a perspective on the current average global temperature.

Thats not science, he said. We dont even have a goal. We dont know if its good or bad.

The scenario in the paragraph is based on the status quo, Conyers reiterated. Its not based on an optimal temperature, its based on current average temperatures. He also pointed out the chapter includes plenty of graphs of historical temperatures, which would allow students to make the connection the earth might be heading for an ice age.

Im not a person who wants to see political views pushed onto science classes, either, said board member Mike Kindschi. But he would be fine with the curriculum as long as teachers adhere to an approach that they not necessarily take a lot of what is written as absolute truth, in that we dont know whats going to happen.

Conyers assured him teachers would not be pushing political or personal agendas. I dont believe that this is a political view, he said. It approaches it from a data-oriented standpoint.
A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Thursday, April 13, 2017:

BRANSTAD SIGNS 14 BILLS: Gov. Terry Branstad signed 14 bills Thursday that included a measure restricting project labor agreements in taxpayer-funded construction projects.

Ive been waiting for this for a long time, Branstad told backers at a bill-signing ceremony, noting he signed an executive order on his first day upon returning to the governors office in January 2011 that effectively made the change, which he says ensures fair competition for Iowas construction workforce.

The bill he signed Thursday now puts the language he ordered by executive action into the Iowa Code.

CANNABIS FEES APPROVED: The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted 14-1 Thursday to approve a schedule of licensing fees that are part of a proposed expanded medical marijuana measure.

Senate File 506, now eligible for debate by the full Iowa Senate next week, would allow the making and dispensing of cannabis products in Iowa for adults to legally possesses and administer under a doctors direction to treat up to 18 debilitating medical conditions.

Under the bill, 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 various medical conditions.

Some majority Republicans in the House have indicated the bill could face problems winning support in their chamber this session.

HIGH MARKS: Gov. Terry Branstad told reporters Thursday he believed the 87th Iowa General Assembly was having a very productive 2017 session under Republican leadership.

Branstads political party took full legislative control in the 2016 election, with margins of 59-41 in the Iowa House and 29-20-1 in the Iowa Senate.

The six-term governor said he is in the process of signing a number of significant policy measures, thanks to the diligent work of majority Republicans and managing a difficult budget situation.

Were going to continue to work with them right through the end of the session on the budget issues, but Im pleased with the policy bills that are now coming through and being signed, and I think its going to go down as a productive session, the governor said.

SENATE CONFIRMATIONS: The Iowa Senate confirmed two of Gov. Terry Branstads appointees to state posts on Thursday.

Senators voted 49-0 to confirm Maj. Gen. Timothy Orr as adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard and Ron Hansen as Iowas superintendent of banking.

Gubernatorial nominees are required to receive a two-thirds majority  or at least 34 affirmative votes  to be confirmed by the Senate.

FINE ARTS STANDARDS: Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise says hes seeking public input on fine arts standards under consideration in Iowa.

Iowans also are encouraged to provide feedback during public forums April 25 in Johnston and April 27 in Cedar Falls.

There will be satellite sites where Iowans can participate as well, Wise said Thursday.

Also, an online survey will be open through May 12, following a state teams recommendation to get feedback on the National Core Arts Standards. The standards were developed by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards, an alliance of national arts and arts education groups.

Fine arts standards serve as a guide for educators to provide a high-quality arts education for students in preschool through 12th grades. Fine arts include visual art, music, theater, dance and media arts.

Feedback from the public forums and online survey will be used to provide guidance to the Fine Arts Standards Adoption Team, which is expected to submit a final recommendation to the State Board of Education later this year.

If adopted, fine arts standards would be optional for school districts.

Iowans can access the online survey regarding the National Core Arts Standards at surveymonkey.com/r/ZF7BCQY.

GAS PRICES RISE: Retail gasoline prices recorded a second week of gains in Iowa, rising by 4 cents to $2.35 per gallon. That compares to the national retail gasoline average was $2.40 per gallon, according to AAA.

Iowas current average price for gasoline is 33 cents a gallon higher than one year ago.

Retail diesel fuel prices in Iowa were up 2 cents a gallon, with a statewide average of $2.47. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $2.07 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel average is 5 cents lower than the national average of $2.52 per gallon.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: I guess we dont understand sustainable budgeting, so why would we keep this?  Rep. Bruce Bearinger, D-Oelwein, talking about a GOP budget plan that zeros out funding for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University
STEAMBOAT ROCK  A Waterloo man was injured after his vehicle rolled into a ditch near Steamboat Rock on Friday.

Medics with Eldora Ambulance took Daniel Minard, 53, to Hampton Family Hospital, according to the Iowa State Patrol.

Minard was traveling north on County Road S-56 south of Steamboat Rock around 11:30 a.m. Friday when his vehicle rolled into a ditch and came to a rest on its wheels. He was wearing a seatbelt, according to the state patrol.
Few issues unify Americans more than their annoyance regarding robocalls  auto-dialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls with unsolicited, often fraudulent sales pitches and occasional deceptive threats.

The Federal Communications Commission soon may provide a bit of relief from that headache.

According to the FCC, an estimated 2.4 billion robocalls occurred monthly during 2016 when consumers were bilked out of nearly $350 million. One out of every seven Americans  mostly elderly  were cheated out of anywhere from $100 to $10,000 by unsavory businesses or individuals using automated lists supposedly regarding Microsoft software problems, debt relief, cruises, devices to assist seniors and deals too good to be true.

Individuals purporting to be Internal Revenue Service agents netted nearly $26.5 million last year alone. Authorities in India put a dent in those operations in October, raiding call centers and arresting 70 people fluent in English. IRS scam calls also emanated from Eastern Europe, Jamaica and the U.S., notably South Florida, the capital of tax fraud for robocalls and stolen IDs.

According to Aaron Foss, founder of the call-blocking technology Nomorobo, For every 10 phone calls you get, roughly three to four of them will be unwanted robocalls.

The FTC reported 64 percent of all complaints it receives pertain to robocalls, making a mockery of the Do Not Call Registry, which the FTC created in 2003 to limit aggravating calls. It provided various exceptions for political organizations, nonprofits, surveys, companies youve done business with and bill collectors (during reasonable hours).

Criminals dont care.

Voice over Internet Protocol technology  think Google Voice, Skype, Vonage and the like  gives scammers, particularly those overseas, the ability to circumvent the registry. Consumers Union, publishers of Consumer Reports, estimates $1.2 billion in fines has been levied against foreign scammers, but the FTC has collected less than 9 percent. The biggest U.S. fines have been $7.5 million for Mortgage Investors Corp., which called more than 5 million numbers on the registry in 2013, and Sprint in 2014.

As one complaint to the FCC stated, This is the wild west, an area of lawlessness. It is the FCCs job to find a solution. Please do it fast.

In response, it formed a task force in collaboration with wireless providers, Apple (iPhones) and Google (Androids) to attack spoofing.

Caller ID spoofing enables calls from one number to appear as if from another, disguising spammer/scammer identities. For instance, the IRS scammers like the Washington D.C. 202 area code, while other tricksters use your area code.

Under a new FCC proposal, wireless providers would be given more tools to foil spamming and scamming, including a database tracking all phone numbers in order to block calls from unassigned or invalid numbers.

A Do Not Originate list would be created with legitimate, existing phone numbers to preclude them from spoofing.

According to new Republican FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Owners of legitimate numbers would be able to stake a claim on their digits, making it easier for call-blocking tech to identify when someone fakes a call using your number.

Do Not Originate would whitelist automated calls from responsible parties  doctors offices, school alerts and other emergency notifications.

Its not an absolute solution.

Not every owner of every phone number is going to put their numbers on the list, of course, and millions of illegally spoofed spam and scam calls would likely still be able to zip around the world, Pai said. But creating and using a Do Not Originate list would cut back on certain kinds of fraud, particularly IRS scams, by allowing phone companies to block calls from scammers pretending to be the tax man when they call potentially vulnerable consumers.

It would address a concern of wireless providers that have the technology to block the calls, but are wary of accidentally interfering with legitimate ones, particularly emergencies, and wanted the FCC to provide a safe harbor.

Call-blocking apps, albeit imperfect, exist:

Nomorobo, free for landlines with a nominal charge for smartphones, automatically blocks many incoming robocalls.

Hiya is a free application using the Whitepages database to identify a caller. Dont answer an unfamiliar number. Enter it into Hiya to see it its legit, then block the scammer.

Call Blocker-Blacklist and Truecaller are similar to Hiya.

Android and iPhones (use the i button in Recents after the call) can block repeat robocalls from a particular number.

As usual, Congress failed to assist consumers. The Anti-Spoofing Act in 2015, sponsored by Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y, and the 2016 Repeated Objectionable Bothering of Consumers on Phones (ROBOCOP) Act sponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., have languished.

The FCC proposal wont stop the scourge, but could diminish the volume  until scam artists devise a different ploy. For now, any help reducing the annoyance would be appreciated.
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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.
Fatal semi crash on I-57 backing up traffic onto I-24
Fillmore Glen State Park in Moravia will be the site of an I Love My Park Day event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 6.

Volunteers will be welcomed to the park, 1686 Route 38, Moravia, to clean up and repair trails and cabins, plant flowers, refresh playground chips and more. It is the second year for the event, and organizers hope to exceed the 2016 volunteer total of 120.

Lunch will be provided to those who sign up in advance; they will receive a T-shirt, which will serve as their lunch ticket.

To volunteer, email fofgnsp@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/groups/fofgn.
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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

Related topics
Roughly a decade ago, Dennis Connor asked himself a question: What if?

What if a man with lots of money and little political experience came along and said, "Hey, Washington is hopeless. They're doing a lousy job." What if that man said, "I can do better," and ran for president?

And what if he won?

That was the foundation for Connor's new novel, "The Syracuse Presidency," a dark political satire that follows a man named Will Baumer, who decides to run for president and relocate the U.S. government to Syracuse.

Born in Auburn, Connor lived a nomadic life in central New York. His father, also an Auburn native, worked for General Electric, which bounced the family back and forth between places like Utica, Cortland and Syracuse.

Then, in 1980, Connor went west in search of fame and fortune.

"The goal was always to get to Hollywood and become rich and famous," he said, noting that he wanted to be a screenwriter. "Sadly, I never found the fame and fortune. But I also never quit."

Connor settled in Burbank, California, with his wife and daughters and began writing, publishing a few novels and plays while working on some pilots for television. Then, in the early 2000s, he got an idea.

"It started out as a comedy where a man ran for president and made his family the cabinet, but then it went into a different direction, as so many things do," he said. "It took on a life of its own."

In a nod to his homeland, Connor decided to set the scene in central New York. And, while reminiscing about his childhood, his main character  Syracusan Will Baumer  was born.

"Every day when I would take the bus to school, I would drive by the Will & Baumer Candle Factory," Connor said, laughing. "It started as an inside joke in my own head, but I've since had people call me looking for candles."

From there, the story of the wealthy Will Baumer flowed, and Connor began exploring the seemingly implausible idea that a billionaire businessman could run for president and win.

Then, in June 2015, Donald Trump announced his campaign for president.

"When I first had the idea  that people would be willing to follow a complete outsider who seems to be rather wacky  it seemed totally absurd at the time," Connor said. "But as history unfolded, I realized I was ahead of my time."

During the Trump campaign, Connor revisited his book, which he originally published back in 2004. He then did what he called a major rewrite and published a new edition of "The Syracuse Presidency" late last year to coincide with the presidential election.

The book primarily takes place in Syracuse and deals with many major political issues, including treason and a terrorist attack on the U.S. And although much of the book is fictitious, Connor said he tried to stay true to his roots.

"In this book, the references are real," he said. "Most of the street names are real and (Baumer) lives in a real house, two doors down from the house where my mother grew up. ... So it's authentic along those lines.

"I left central New York, yet I write about it constantly," Connor added. "It's funny, you want to get away from a place where you don't think you have a great future, but you find yourself looking back. I think maybe sometimes you need to get some distance to gain some perspective."

Connor said he is currently working on two follow-up books: one takes place in Cortland and the other takes place in Syracuse. He also said he hasn't lost sight of his dream to be a famous screenwriter, and would love to see "The Syracuse Presidency" picked up by a movie company someday.

"It's a very tough business ... but it's a fascinating business," he said. "I've had a lot of fun with it and I've never ever limited myself. I never will."
Cayuga County and District Attorney Jon Budelmann have filed a counterclaim against a former employee from the DA's office.

Jeffrey Domachowski, a former assistant district attorney and drug prosecutor, filed a lawsuit in February claiming he was wrongly terminated from his position last summer. The complaint alleges that Domachowski was fired after he reported the DA to an ethics committee for withholding evidence in 2015.

Now, the county and Budelmann have responded with their own lawsuit, which accuses Domachowski of being a faithless servant who committed libel and unemployment insurance fraud.

Faithless Servant

According to the counterclaim, which was filed March 15, 2017, Domachowski committed "misconduct, negligence and/or willful and deliberate betrayal of his duties" by secretly collaborating with defense attorneys to get drug cases dismissed.

In an email to The Citizen, Budelmann referenced private emails between Domachowski and defense attorney Simon Moody in which the former ADA allegedly compromised the prosecution by listing suggestions for Moody's defense.

"Domachowski refused to take direction from myself, my chief assistant and the entire Finger Lakes Drug Task Force," Budelmann said, noting that Domachowski had no prior experience as a prosecutor. "His disloyalty has negatively affected the reputation of the District Attorney's Office and the public's confidence in the criminal justice system (which) has made it more difficult to prosecute criminal cases."

However, Domachowski's collaboration with defense attorneys was not the reason he was terminated, the counterclaim says. Rather, he was discharged on June 15, 2016, for "unethical conduct" in a grand jury presentation earlier that day.

Thus, Budelmann and the county have claimed Domachowski's termination was justified, and asked for $250,000 in damages for being a disloyal employee.

Unemployment Insurance Fraud

In addition to claiming Domachowski was a faithless servant, both Budelmann and the county have said the ex-staffer received thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits he wasn't entitled to.

Upon his termination, Cayuga County allegedly paid Domachowski approximately $400 a week in unemployment benefits for 26 weeks. But, according to the counterclaim, Domachowski was employed in Onondaga County for part of that time.

"(Domachowski) received employment, inter alia, as a Court assigned lawyer through the Onondaga County Assigned Lawyer Program and was compensated and remunerated for those services, without disclosing those earnings to the New York State Department of Labor or the County," the counterclaim reads.

Budelmann added that Domachowski reported he was unemployed until January 2017 when he had been working as a defense attorney in Syracuse since September 2016.

"Why Domachowski received any unemployment benefits or who authorized it, I do not know," the district attorney said. "I can tell you I opposed it."

The county has filed for $11,000 in damages.

Libel

Following an article published Oct. 31, 2016 in the Syracuse Post Standard, Budelmann and Cayuga County have also accused Domachowski of making intentional, false and malicious statements to the press.

According to the counter suit, Domachowski committed libel when he was quoted saying that Budelmann had "secretly withheld evidence" in a total of 15 criminal cases.

In addition, Budelmann said Domachowski was dishonest about filing a complaint against the district attorney before he was fired. According to Budelmann, Domachowski did not file a grievance until Nov. 2, 2016  five months after his termination and two days after the newspaper article was published.

"In retaliation for his termination ... Domachowski went to the press and intentionally made false, baseless allegations that I fired him because he had reported me to various ethics committees for withholding evidence on drug cases," Budelmann said in an email. "Both statements were untrue."

Both Budelmann and the county have sought $500,000 in compensatory damages and $500,000 in punitive damages for defamation.

"Domachowski speaks out of both sides of his mouth," Budelmann said. "His own actions contradict his allegations against me."

Neither Domachowski nor his attorney, Robert Lahm, could immediately be reached for comment.
Apr 14, 2017 | By Benedict

Airbus has successfully flown a 3D printed spoiler actuator valve block made by Liebherr-Aerospace. Liebherr says the part, flown on an Airbus A380 passenger airliner test flight, is the first 3D printed primary flight control hydraulic component flown on an Airbus aircraft.

Liebherr's 3D printed spoiler actuator valve block

It offers the same level of performance as a conventional valve block, but is 35% lighter and made from fewer parts. That might as well be the tagline for additive manufacturingmaking the same things but with less mass and fewer joinsbut it is also a significant step for Liebherr-Aerospace, the aerospace arm of Switzerland's Liebherr Group, as well as Airbus, the aerospace company whose A380 airliner has benefitted from the new 3D printed part.

The valve block, 3D printed from titanium powder, is part of Liebherr-Aerospaces spoiler actuator, and provides primary flight control functions on the A380, which successfully completed its first flight test with the 3D printed part on March 30. Liebherr says the selective laser melting (SLM) manufacturing process used to make the valve block is less complex than other methods, and also helps to keep titanium waste to a minimum.

The 3D printed aircraft part was developed by Liebherr in collaboration with both Airbus and Germanys Chemnitz University of Technology, and was partly funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy. Thanks to the work of all three parties, Liebherr believes that the lightweight 3D printed valve block and future 3D printed parts could contribute to reduced fuel consumption and reduced CO2 and NOx emissions.

The 3D printed spoiler actuator valve block was flown on an Airbus A380

We still have quite a way to go until we can introduce 3D printing technology on a broad scale in the aerospace industry, said Liebherrs Heiko Lutjens. All parts of the process chainfrom the powder material, over the laser parameters, the post processing, up to the final productneed to be optimized in order to improve stability, maturity, and economic efficiency. Nevertheless, the potential and vision of 3D printing will change the way future aircraft generations will be developed.

Liebherr is currently working on other 3D printed aircraft components, including a highly integrated 3D printed rudder actuator. This part combines the valve block, cylinder housing, and reservoir into a single compact housing, massively reducing assembly time and potential for breakage.

Although 2017 has been a comparatively quiet year for Airbus and its additive manufacturing ventures, the aerospace giant did announce earlier this month that it had installed 3D printed parts (an air nozzle and drilling templates) on its A330neo jetliner and BelugaXL airlifter aircraft.

Last year, Airbus lifted the lid on plans to establish a 3D printing Aerospace Factory in Germany. The facility will purportedly be set up in collaboration with high-profile partners such as EOS and the Technical University of Munich.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Alec Ash in The Economist:

Chinese sci-fi is having a moment. Liu Cixins bestselling alien-invasion trilogy The Three-Body Problem has sold more than 4m copies. Since 2015 it has won international fans too, after becoming the first Chinese book to win the prestigious Hugo award for best science-fiction novel, and a major movie is due out this year. But whereas Liu, 53, writes about aliens, physics and mans place among the stars  traditional science-fiction concerns  a new generation of Chinese writers is experimenting with the genre as a way to discuss the realities of 21st-century China. Hao Jingfang won international acclaim when one of her stories, Folding Beijing, won the novella category in the latest Hugo awards. In China the story was hotly discussed online, not just for its literary merits, but also for its social criticism. The story follows Lao Dao, a migrant sewage worker living in the underbelly of the capital who is saving up to pay kindergarten fees for his adopted daughter. Yet this Beijing is divided into three segments: an elite 5m live in First Space, 25m more occupy Second Space and a teaming underclass of 50m are in Third Space, where Lao Dao toils. As well as being separate socially, these strata are physically divorced. Every day at 6am the skyscrapers of one space fold in on themselves and pivot like gigantic Rubiks cubes so that the earth literally turns over to reveal the next lot who have their turn at living above ground. Lao Dao rides the folding, morphing city up into Second and then First Space, smuggling a lovers message and stumbling across an explanation of how the city came to be as it is.

As a commentary on inequality and those who are left behind by Chinas breakneck urbanisation, Haos message is hard to miss. (Her inspiration for the story was a Beijing taxi-driver who complained to her about his daughters high kindergarten fees.)

More here.
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Does anyone remember World War II? It was in all the papers. Well that was the last war in which Congress followed its prescribed Constitutional duty to declare war before actually engaging in one.

It wasn't done for our war against North Korea, Vietnam, or even for George W. Bush's war on Iraq. Yes, Bush went to Congress to get permission to engage in war but he did it in a roundabout way. There was no formal declaration of war by Congress but Congress did transfer their power to do so to Bush, thus doing an end run around our Constitution. In the process, the awesome responsibility assigned to Congress by our founding fathers was effectively dodged.

I bring this up because Mr. Trump's attack on Syria followed the illegal precedent set forth by Republican and Democratic presidents alike. While this seems like a win-win scenario  the president gets to do as he wishes and our gutless Congress can avoid accountability  it is gross violation of our Constitution and the concept of checks and balances. In any case it is ironic that Trump and others have criticized President Obama for not enforcing his "red line" threat against Syria when Obama actually followed our Constitution by requesting authority from Congress (in August 2013), which then refused to authorize even the use of force let alone a declaration of war. Make no mistake about it, Trump's attack on Syria, whether justified or not, was an implicit declaration of war by a sitting president as opposed to Congress.

When Trump was "elected" something happened across America that has never happened before. Millions of Americans were visibly shaken and even scared. This was not because of domestic or international policy differences but because many of us realized that a clueless, mentally unbalanced sociopath had risen to the position of commander-in-chief. So now, thanks to Congress abrogating its authority, the guy who had no idea what the Nuclear Triad is gets to be king.

Trump will likely be emboldened by the approval rating bump he will receive so be ready for more attacks on Syria and then on to North Korea. If Mr. Trump makes it to 2020 without being impeached or resigning, how long will it take his advisors to inform him that no president running for re-election ever lost while America was actively at war? Without Congress, wars are way too easy to start.

Thomas Hanley

Fulton
April 12, 2017

BAGHDAD, Iraq  Every year on March 21, Iraqis gather around the ziggurat of Dur-Kurigalzu, the site of an ancient city dating to the 14th century B.C. that is located northwest of Baghdad, to celebrate Nowruz and the first day of spring. Residents from the city's various sects come together to celebrate ancient festivals near structures such as the ziggurat, built by King Kurigalzu, who ruled between 1438 and 1412 B.C. during the Kassites era in Iraq after the fall of the city of Babylon at the hands of the Hittites in 1595 B.C.

The celebration this year was sponsored by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq in cooperation with Iraq's National Reconciliation Commission and was funded by the Dutch and German Foreign Ministries.

Artist Amal Khudair, who celebrated Nowruz in Dur-Kurigalzu, told Al-Monitor that the monument reminds Iraqis that Iraq has been home to glorious civilizations.

Archaeologist Hameed Sabar al-Fahdawi told Al-Monitor, The ziggurat is particularly important because it is located in Abu Ghraib, an area tarnished by bloody sectarian conflicts." He said that celebrating an ancient festival next to it is a symbolical act that shows Iraqis are still united.

Meanwhile, Mazen Razouki, a member of the Baghdad Council's Antiquities and Tourism Committee, told Al-Monitor, This place is particularly symbolic at the present time because it is an area of cultural contact that represents a promising touristic project. This is why the residents are keen on developing this idea and are calling for the need to reinforce security first so that exploration missions can start working here, especially since many of the archaeologists whom I have met told me that there are hundreds of artifacts buried in the plain surrounding the ziggurat.

Despite the citys historical importance, it has been neglected. The ziggurat, made of soft clay and palm branches, has been eroded over millenia by natural forces, Razouki noted. It is at risk of disappearing if we fail to address the impact of erosion, rainwater and floods.

He went on, The parliaments tourism committee warned of another imminent danger; residential neighborhoods were built too close to the ziggurat due to urban expansion, and as a result, it has been damaged by residents and grazing animals.

He added, We can only see ruins. No one is paying attention to the place and proof is the cracked walls around the ziggurat. Mold caused by humidity has affected up to one meter of the walls, which are now surrounded by thorns and wild plants.

Razouki noted, "The ziggurat has never been sufficiently protected, especially after 2003, following the US invasion of Iraq. Control over archaeological areas was weakened due to the security chaos, and smugglers dug around it to steal the precious pieces buried in the sand. He said protecting the ziggurat requires a sufficient budget that has never been provided, so it is unlikely to see any positive change under the current circumstances.

Dur-Kurigalzus archaeological monitoring department posted a picture on its Facebook page of the ziggurat from above, showing the total lack of tourism infrastructure in the surrounding area. People who visit the ziggurat can clearly see how rainwater and salts have caused cracks in the structure, while a lot of debris and trash can be seen all around the ziggurat. The Engineering Division of the Ministry of Culture conducted maintenance at the ziggurat in 2012 as part of the project Baghdad, the Capital of Arab Culture for 2013. However, there are no tourist facilities around the ziggurat to entice visitors.

Iyad al-Shammari rapporteur for the parliaments tourism and antiquities committee, told Al-Monitor, In order to develop the ziggurat and turn it into an archaeological site, security must be established, noting that some isolated security incidents are still occurring in the area of Abu Ghraib, preventing tourists from visiting.

He said, There is a plan to rehabilitate the place after completely stabilizing the security situation, and we have coordinated with the General Authority of Antiquities in this regard.

One of the [committees] ambitious plans, according to Shammari, is to ask the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for financial and technical support to complete restoration, since the government is undergoing a financial crisis and thus failing to allocate money for restoration works.

Shammari added, The plan includes bringing international companies specialized in the maintenance and protection of such sites to take care of restoration, in addition to contracting with exploration missions to extract the buried artifacts in the region.

Shammari said, The parliamentary committees ultimate goal is to turn Dur-Kurigalzu into a touristic destination by securing proper infrastructure and facilities for visitor.

The ziggurat is only one of dozens of neglected archaeological sites waiting to be converted into archaeological and touristic projects that provide jobs and financial resources for Iraqis, help the economies of the cities where they are located and showcase Iraq's historical heritage to the world.
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. recently honored its top performing stores with the Founders Award at a special ceremony held on March 28 in Texas.

With more than 1,000 JCPenney stores across the country, general manager Hillary Goitia from Flagstaff and Drew Thornton from Cottonwood were among the 85 store leaders recognized by Marvin R. Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer, and Joe McFarland, executive vice president of stores, for significantly contributing to the companys success during 2016.

The annual Founders Award is presented to general and district managers for leading teams that excel in the areas of financial performance, customer and client service, and business expertise.
April 13, 2017

This is no longer a question of an alliance between three parties with no real connection between them and no ideological glue binding them. This is a scandal within the home, within the party. This is how a veteran activist of Hadash from the town of Umm Al-Fahm described how his party blocked an official condemnation by the Joint List party (an alliance of parties that includes Hadash) of the chemical weapons attack by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime forces.

Hadash, a successor to the defunct Israeli communist party, is the largest component of the Joint List, created ahead of the 2015 general elections  a union that made it the third largest faction in the Knesset when it garnered 13 of its 120 seats.

Much has already been said and written about the ideological differences among the parties comprising the list, which were forced to band together or risk disappearing from the Israeli political map after a 2014 decision to raise the electoral threshold (which would have required each to get four seats in order to get into the Knesset). But this latest disagreement, which has become the talk of the Israeli-Arab street, focuses on the particular position of Hadash regarding the war crimes committed by Assads forces against residents of the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province.

The bloody Syrian civil war has already offered spectators all sorts of terrible sights; nevertheless, no one in Israel could remain indifferent to the pictures of civilians  children, women, men  suffering and dying after being sprayed with lethal sarin nerve gas thrown at their town by Syrian army airplanes. On April 9, Israels diplomacy and defense Cabinet met to consider offering medical treatment to children affected by the chemicals, in addition to the treatment provided regularly to Syrians injured in fighting in areas close to the Israeli border. On the same day, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin toured the Ziv Hospital in the northern town of Safed where injured Syrians are hospitalized. At the same time, Israelis set up a fund to provide immediate medical help to Syrian children, and within eight days they managed to collect most of the targeted amount  300,000 Israeli shekels ($82,000).

Given this mobilization, it is clear why Israeli Jews and Arabs alike were astounded when central activists of the Hadash party, considered a bulwark of humane principles, thwarted a proposal to issue a condemnation of Assads forces during a discussion of the issue by the Joint List. Thus, this stance can be interpreted not just as outrageous obtuseness to Assads atrocities, but also as a form of acquiescence.

Following public criticism over Hadashs objection to a Joint List condemnation of the chemical attack, Hadash itself issued an announcement on its website, headlined, Hadash Knesset members condemned the Idlib massacre in the [Knesset] plenary."

The content of the communique is grave and even more outrageous, with Joint List Chairman and Knesset member Ayman Odeh comparing from the Knesset podium the deadly gas attack in Idlib to what he termed the murder of Palestinian children by Israeli air force bombings of the Gaza Strip. Odeh was further quoted as saying, My heart goes out to the children being murdered in Syria, as well as to the children of Yemen and Gaza, without a single word condemning Assad, considered by most world leaders as a war criminal.

From the day he was elected to head the Joint List, Odeh launched a highly publicized campaign designed to bring Israeli Jews and Arabs closer together, claiming at every opportunity that he sought to show the Jews in Israel that the Arabs are an inseparable part of Israeli society. It seems that the words he uttered on the Knesset podium are not compatible with his previous declarations.

A Hadash activist told Al-Monitor this week on condition of anonymity that from the minute the Arab Knesset members were perceived by their communities as supportive of Assad, they  those at the grassroots level  have been targeted for vicious criticism. There are some among us who have dedicated their lives to the faction and its political activity on the ground, and we have had to suffer curses. A woman I know told me you should be ashamed, and I was.

The divisions within Israeli-Arab families and among Israels Arab citizens engendered by the Syrian civil war are as old as the long war itself. There are those who claim that dark forces such as the Islamic State and other Islamist terror organizations are bent on tearing off parts of a united Syria, and Assad is forced to defend the future of the state. Others cannot forgive him for the measures he has taken to remain in power.

I can tell you with full certainty from talking to people that even those who regard Assad as a legitimate leader are shocked by his actions, said the Hadash activist. One cannot murder civilians and explain that you are doing so for the good of the state. And so, Ayman Odeh, Mohammed Barakeh and the rest of the Knesset members of the Joint List are distancing themselves from us, not to mention the Jewish public, which is also attacking me. I have nothing to say in response except that I am ashamed.

In response to a question by Al-Monitor about the comparison drawn by Odeh between Idlib and Gaza, the Hadash activist replied, Theres no question that Israel killed civilians in Gaza, and Hadash condemned the attacks. But in order to denounce Assad for his criminal activity, one neednt resort to comparisons. One can simply denounce, and thats that, without hiding behind the crimes of others.
April 13, 2017

The Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh in southern Lebanon has witnessed six days of intense clashes that have pitted a coalition of Palestinian forces against jihadi factions led by Bilal Badr. The gunfights, which began April 7, have killed at least eight people and, according to Palestinian sources, are linked to the presence of a jihadi cell in the camp that is affiliated with radical organizations such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra) and the Islamic State (IS).

We have every intention of arresting Bilal Badr: He has wreaked havoc in the camp. While the official death count is at eight, we believe that around 12 to 13 people have been killed in the fight," said Fouad Othman, the head of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP).

Badr heads the radical group al-Shabab al-Muslim (Muslim Youth), a coalition that includes remnants of extremist organizations such as Fatah al-Islam and Jund al-Sham. Fatah al-Islam fought the Lebanese army in a three-month battle in 2007 in North Lebanon. Jund al-Sham was also implicated in several rounds of clashes with the Lebanese army in Sidon.

Followers of Badr are for the most part affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. There are elements that have pledged allegiance to IS and fought with Badr in the last few days, a source who has knowledge of Islamic affairs in the camp told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.

According to Othman, Badr is still fighting in the area surrounding his home in Ain al-Hilweh's al-Tiri neighborhood, as he is besieged by a coalition of Palestinian factions. According to Palestinian sources, Badr has anywhere from 20 to 60 followers, but since other factions have lent him support, his number of followers is closer to 200.

Clashes between Badr's followers and Palestinian factions were triggered by a disagreement over the deployment of the Palestinian Joint Security Force in the camp. Badr refused to allow the deployment and also requested [the joint faction] to repair damages caused by earlier clashes between his group and the joint Palestinian factions two months ago, said Hajj Maher Oueid, a commander from the Ansar Allah group.

Members of al-Shabab al-Muslim were recently linked to the attempted attack on the Costa coffee shop in Beirut on Jan. 21. Lebanese soldiers prevented Sidon resident Omar Assi from carrying out that attack. There is a connection between Assi and Badr followers, but details remain murky, added the source, who has knowledge of Islamic affairs.

Assi was a follower of the radical cleric Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, who is now in prison for his role leading a two-day battle in 2013 between the Sidon neighborhood of Abra against the Lebanese army. Twenty Lebanese soldiers were killed during the battle. Assir is a fierce opponent of Hezbollah and accused the Lebanese government of colluding with the militant group. Some of Assirs followers in Sidon are believed to have pledged allegiance to IS.

Assi is the second Assir follower to be linked to a terror attack. In November 2013, another follower, Mouin Abu Dahr, was involved in the suicide bombing of the Iranian Embassy in Beirut. Palestinian sources believe that Assir's radicalized followers have joined forces with extremist factions in Ain al-Hilweh, like Badrs group.

Besides pledging allegiance to IS and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, some of the camps residents have gone to fight in Syria. A maximum of 40 people have joined the ranks of IS and are fighting in Syria and Iraq, Oueid said. In May 2016, two young men, Riad Hawran and Brahim Abdel Kader, were killed fighting alongside IS in Iraq.

On April 4, Lebanon's al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that Egyptian terror organization Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis was training in Ain al-Hilweh. There is no truth in this accusation. We have neither the logistics nor the space for any faction to provide such training in the camp, Oueid said.

The recent clashes in Ain al-Hilweh underline the attempts of the more pragmatic Palestinian factions to crack down on radical elements in the camp. Formed in 2015, the Palestinian Joint Security Force in Ain al-Hilweh includes 17 armed factions; some of those include Fatah, the PLO, the Palestinian National Security Forces, Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, the DFLP, Osbat al-Ansar, Ansar Allah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Peoples Party. The coalition aims to curtail security problems in the camp to avoid the unfortunate experience of the Palestinian camp Nahr al-Bared, which was destroyed in 2007 after extensive fighting between Fatah al-Islam and the Lebanese army.

Interestingly, older jihadi organizations such as Osbat al-Ansar have increasingly taken on the role of mediators. Osbat al-Ansar has gradually abandoned its violent behavior over the last few years. The organization has been crippled by its loss of followers to more extreme groups like al-Shabab al-Muslim. Since then, Osbat al-Ansar has attempted to manage disputes with the more radical Jund al-Sham and Fatah al-Islam.

Members of those last two groups have been victims of a series of mysterious killings in Ain al-Hilweh since 2007. Sources in the camp affiliated with Islamic groups attribute the killings to rogue elements in Fatah.

Several arrests have also drawn public attention to Palestinian camps. In January 2013, the Lebanese army killed a Palestinian member of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, which claimed responsibility for the Iranian Embassy bombing in 2013. The brigades late leader, Majed al-Majed, was reportedly based in Ain al-Hilweh before traveling to Qalamoun, Syria, to pledge allegiance to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani. Lebanese army intelligence arrested Majed upon his return to Lebanon, where he died in army custody. Another Ain al-Hilweh resident, Naim Abbas, was arrested after being linked to attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs.

Ain al-Hilwehs flirtation with jihad and violence will not end with a cease-fire with Palestinian factions. Without the disarmament of factions and the arrest of jihadis in the camp, this latest round of fights may only be one of many to come.
April 13, 2017

April 12 was an intense day in Moscow for US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. After a three-hour talk with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, instead of holding a scheduled press conference, Tillerson was invited to the Kremlin to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Days before Tillerson's visit to Russia there were conflicting reports about whether the meeting with the Russian president had been removed from Tillersons agenda or if it had ever been on the schedule at all. Veteran observers of Russia recognized this as merely one of Putins usual antics to establish that hes calling the shots. In reality, Putin has met all US secretaries of state on their first visits to Moscow.

After a two-hour conversation with Putin, Tillerson and Lavrov held an hourlong press conference. An experienced diplomat, Lavrov seemed comfortable on his home turf going through the issues discussed, praising modest achievements and expressing hope that the remaining disagreements would be tackled constructively by both sides.

Tillerson was picking his words more carefully. He lamented the low level of trust between the two countries and the current state of the relationship between the two foremost nuclear powers.

Those who expected few deliverables were correct. Essentially, there werent many objective reasons for the two parties to agree on many things. They predictably reiterated their positions on Syria, expressed commitment to the Minsk agreements as a framework to settle Ukraine issues and sounded united about denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula  each side with its own idea of how best to do it.

However, one topic discussed during the Tillerson visit was seen as more important to Moscow and Washington than other issues of bilateral and international scope. It was a conversation on how to achieve a non-conflict existence between the two nations. One possible mechanism mentioned  designating professionals to talk through the disagreements between Russia and the United States and brainstorm ways to mitigate them  will also determine the very principles of such an existence. This is a work in progress, but the good thing is, the parties signaled their intent to pursue such an initiative.

Another point they seemed to agree on was that current bilateral problems are exacerbated by what Lavrov called time bombs left behind by the Obama administration. For Tillerson, it may have been a comfortable narrative to justify why the administration was slow to deliver on President Donald Trumps campaign pledge to seek better relations with Moscow. This reasoning is still accepted in Moscow, though it would have scored more points if it had been voiced a month ago. Now, after the Syria strikes, the Russians arent buying into the message as much.

Moscow also seized the moment of direct contact with the top US diplomat to clarify its own positions. On Syria, the departure of President Bashar al-Assad was and remains a non-starter for Russia. What neither Lavrov nor Putin would probably say to Tillerson, but do expect him to understand, is that Russia has invested so much into Syria now, politically and militarily, that Moscows primary concern is less about Assad than about the principle, power and prestige of maintaining its position. Hence, any plan that might move Moscow from this standing would have to involve some face-saving mechanism that the Kremlin could package as a win-win internationally, and as a decision made in Russias best interest domestically.

So far, the US vision has been to get Russia on board by offering Moscow an opportunity to play a constructive role in the humanitarian and political catastrophe in the Middle East. That approach misses a critical point in Russian political psychology: The Kremlin believes it has already stepped up as a constructive player to counter the increasingly destructive forces unleashed by the United States. This belief  no matter how uncomfortably it sits with anyone  is not entirely groundless. Many players in the region perceive Russia in this capacity, even if its just for their own political reasons.

A senior Russian diplomat speaking with Al-Monitor not for attribution said: [Russia] stepping aside from Assad would mean, among other things, an ultimate win for the US regime-change policy. It would indicate that no matter how long you resist this policy, youll be made to surrender. Thats a serious red line in Russias foreign policy thinking, the one that President Putin cannot afford to be crossed  not for all the tea in China, or should I say, a chocolate cake in Mar-a-Lago?

Therefore, Tillersons statement on the importance of Assads departure in a structural, organized manner is seen in Moscow as a positive outcome. It leaves open the prospect of returning to the political process that was underway for several months before the gas attack and the airstrikes.

However, it might be much more difficult to achieve now, as the parties focus on reinforcing their respective and contradictory narratives. Reports of US intelligence intercepting communications between Syrian military and chemical experts about preparations for a sarin nerve gas attack in Idlib are a powerful argument for the audience that shares the American narrative  as Moscow sees it. However, it is producing counternarratives on the Russian side. One such narrative, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, suggests that of all 12 facilities that stored Syrian chemical weapons, 10 were destroyed in the timeline between 2013 and 2016 under the watch of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons  [while] the remaining two compounds are out of reach for the Syrian government since they are located in the territory controlled by the so-called opposition.

Also, as Putins press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, put it: The recitation of mantras on the necessity of Assads departure wont budge Moscows position an inch, nor will it help with a political solution to the Syria crisis. On the contrary, it will only reinforce Russias position on Assad. So far, Moscow has been operating on the principle of presumed innocence and calling for an unbiased probe into the Syria attack. To Russia, a refusal to have such an investigation would show that the case against Assad is being pursued for political rather than humanitarian reasons.

Remarkably, a recent Mir interview with Putin indicates Moscow hasnt reached a concrete conclusion on exactly who perpetrated the attacks. Putins statement that it could have been the Syrian opposition or the Islamic State (IS) is based primarily on the oppositions hope of saving itself in a losing battle and on previous IS chemical attacks in Iraq. On factual grounds, however, Russias arguments look as shaky as the Wests confidence that Assad did it. Yet this state of affairs leaves enough space for US-Russia cooperation on investigating the case, if only inspired by a solid political will.

Though it seems counterintuitive, Russias veto of the UN resolution on Syria proposed by the United States, the UK and France hours after the Tillerson-Lavrov press conference is an important sign of Russias commitment to work with the United States. Deputy Russian UN Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov explained the veto by saying the resolution assigned guilt before an independent and objective investigation could be conducted.

However, Russia probably had decided to veto the resolution even before Tillerson and Lavrov met, to give itself more time to think through the negotiation results. Moscow wanted to come up with a fresh proposal at the UN that would reflect a more engaging approach for both US and Russian interests. Hence came Safronkovs heated and scandalous lashing out against British diplomat Matthew Rycroft, whom he accused of trying to derail a potential agreement on Syria and Assads fate that Moscow had hoped to reach with Washington. "Don't you dare insult Russia! he said at the UN Security Council meeting April 12.

Rycroft had accused Moscow of supporting Assads murderous, barbaric regime.

In general, the visit left a feeling in Moscow that the initiatives Lavrov and Tillerson discussed will face intense scrutiny in Washington. The confrontational rhetoric flying from both capitals will remain prevalent. But the parties have articulated a need and agreed on some  though not many  concrete steps toward managing the situation. Its not likely to lead to a great-power alliance or help both parties accomplish much together. But it might be just whats needed to take the two back from the brink of a direct military clash and spare the world even more uncertainty. Given the current circumstances, this might be the most comfortable paradigm for the bilateral relations  at least until Putin and Trump meet face to face.
April 13, 2017

Turkey is a house divided as it heads for the most critical referendum of its history April 16. At stake is the countrys parliamentary system, which has been the foundation of its secular democracy; this, in turn, for all its deficiencies and interruptions, has survived for nearly a century.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)  under the tutelage of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, even though he is constitutionally prohibited from engaging in party politics  seeks to turn Turkey into a presidential system unencumbered by the checks and balances seen in presidential systems in the West.

The AKP is supported by the right-wing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in this endeavor.

If the proposed constitutional changes are adopted, Erdogan will have control over the legislature  which will remain in place, albeit with reduced powers  and the judiciary; a "yes" vote would make him Turkeys sole ruler.

Erdogans opponents say this is a move toward dictatorship. Erdogans supporters believe this change is necessary to overcome interminable parliamentary squabbling and ensure stability, saying this would make Turkey soar as an economic and political power.

The uncompromising determination with which Erdogan and the AKP have been pushing for a "yes" vote in the referendum has turned this into one of the ugliest campaigns in the history of the Turkish Republic.

No holds have been barred by Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, who have campaigned for a "yes" vote by unabashedly using tactics that ensured that the playing field was anything but level.

They claimed, for example, that a "no" vote is tantamount to supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a listed terrorist organization, and the FETO group, which Ankara says is another terrorist organization headed by Fethullah Gulen, the Islamic preacher accused of masterminding last year's failed coup attempt.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), which is spearheading the "no" campaign, complains that all the organs of state have been mobilized by the AKP to push for a yes vote, including the use of vast state funds.

Meanwhile, media coverage for opponents of the proposed constitutional changes has been seriously restricted, given that a large portion of the media has been co-opted by the Erdogan camp.

As a result of the prevalent atmosphere of intimidation  aggravated by sporadic violence across the country against those canvassing for a no vote  the ostensibly independent media have also been cowed to a significant extent, barring a few exceptions.

Meanwhile Erdogans acolytes in the media, including state broadcaster TRT, have given maximum airtime for those pushing for the proposed constitutional changes.

Murat Yetkin, editor-in-chief of Hurriyet Daily News, points to another aspect of the less than fair campaign that has been conducted for the referendum.

Almost every street in Turkey has been covered almost entirely by "yes" banners, "yes" flags and "yes" posters featuring photos of President Erdogan, Prime Minister Binaldi Yildirim or AKP ministers and mayors, Yetkin wrote in his column.

Little account seems to be given to the cost of this campaign overload. Whats more, the far fewer no banners and posters frequently find themselves removed or torn down by unknown people, he added.

Social media such as Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp have provided an outlet for the no camp, but individual users can be sought out by the authorities on the grounds that they insulted Erdogan or promoted terrorism with their postings.

The referendum will also be held under emergency rule declared after the failed coup attempt last year, which has seen the imprisonment or dismissal of tens of thousands of alleged FETO supporters, including independent journalists, jurists, academics and bureaucrats.

Meanwhile, the war in the southeast against the PKK, which has forced nearly half a million people from their homes, continues, leaving many wondering how they can vote confidently without looking behind their backs.

The European Commission for Democracy through Law (also known as the Venice Commission), which is attached to the Council of Europe that Turkey is a member of, underlined these defects in a report it released March 13.

Erdogan, however, remains undeterred. His current line at rallies for a "yes" vote is to accuse Kilicdaroglu of consorting with coup plotters on the night of the failed coup.

Yetkin said these statements make it seem as if the referendum is not about constitutional changes that will concentrate all power in one hand, but rather about undermining the personality of the main opposition leader.

He pointed to Erdogan and Yildirim's confidence that they will win the referendum, and asked, Why all this worry if yes has already won?

The answer might be that Erdogan will not be satisfied with a slim margin. He wants a strong win in order to make his executive presidency considered to be fully legitimate in the eyes of the world. A result around the 50/50 mark would undermine his claim to be the president of the whole nation.

Meanwhile, opinion polls, which have proved to be unreliable in advanced democracies let alone Turkey, are all over the place, with some showing a strong win for Erdogan, and others predicting he will lose.

The latest polls show a win for Erdogan by a slim margin, but there are pollsters who are staking their careers and reputations on a win for the "no" camp.

Meral Aksener, a rising star on the right wing who was expelled from the MHP for opposing the constitutional changes, has no doubts that the nos will carry the day with a strong margin.

If the result is no, then the president will not be able to obstinately oppose the will of the people, Aksener, who has faced major hurdles  including violence  during her campaign, told a private network. She was clearly intimating that Erdogan will have to review his whole political stance in that case.

Some political analysts predict that the electorate will repeat the pattern of recent elections and vote along party lines, rather than on the merits or demerits of the proposed constitutional changes.

Hurriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi, who stands close to Erdogan, for example, points out that the AKPs conservative female voters will support Erdogan not matter what, in the belief that this is the only way to protect their gains under him, especially with regard to Islamic dress.

Erdogan is also relying on a strong turnout from expatriate Turks in Europe, who represent 5% of the total electorate and who admire his vitriol against European leaders.

Many argue that whatever the outcome of the referendum, Erdogan will opt for early elections, prior to presidential elections in 2019, to consolidate his position in parliament, which will continue to function even if the constitutional changes are adopted.

With strong support in parliament, Erdogan could push for legislation that ensures he stays in power for longer than the two five-year periods allowed for presidents.

If the proposed changes are adopted April 16, they will not come into force until 2019, according to the rules. But it is generally thought that this would not prevent Erdogan from exercising executive powers. He is already using such powers under emergency rule, which appears set to remain in force as long as he desires.

The bottom line is that Erdogan is not going anywhere regardless of the outcome of Sundays referendum. He will be around until 2019 at least, and with a majority in parliament he can ensure that he is in power for the next decade, barring extraordinary developments beyond his control.

There is no doubt, though, that a no vote will shake him politically. Whether it would force him to become an impartial president, as called for by the current constitution, and recalibrate his divisive policies in favor of more inclusive ones remains an open question.

Knowing Erdogan, if he were to do so, he would clearly be acting against his nature.
The maker of Hyland's Baby Teething Tablets and Hyland's Baby Nighttime Teething Tablets is recalling the products at the consumer level.

Hyland's Teething Tablets. (FDA)

A recall on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's website said the tablets "have been found to contain inconsistent amounts of belladonna alkaloids that may differ from the calculated amount on the products' labels."

Belladonna, a perennial herbaceous plant, is a "toxic substance," according to the FDA.

"FDA believes that belladonna represents a serious health hazard to children and that the effects of belladonna are unpredictable," a statement reads. "The agency has stated to the company, 'There is no known safe dose or toxic dose of belladonna in children because of the many factors that affect it.'"

The recall comes just six months after the FDA issued a warning urging consumers to stop using homeopathic teething tablets and gels, as they may pose a risk to infants and children.

Hyland's stopped making the medicines in October 2016. The latest recall covers all Hyland's products that may have still been on store shelves.

The tablets were used to provide temporary relief of teething symptoms. Children who experience seizures, difficulty breathing, lethargy, excessive sleepiness, muscle weakness, skin flushing, constipation, difficulty urinating, or agitation after using homeopathic teething tablets or gels should seek medical care immediately.

For more information, contact the Standard Homeopathic Company by calling 1-800-991-3376 Monday through Friday. Consumers should contact their healthcare provider if they believe they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product.

Click here for more details about the recall.
Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com

8 cool fishing spots at Alabama's beaches

Surf fishing is one of the best ways to enjoy the beach while pulling in some dinner. But Alabama's beaches has a few secret fishing spots to cast a line. Here are 8 you might want to check out. Remember, an Alabama salt water fishing license is required.

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Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com

Perdido Pass, Orange Beach

There's nothing secret when it comes to fishing at Perdido Pass. After all, the city of Orange Beach has spent millions improving and promoting the spot as the premier place to pier fish. In fact, the city is currently extending the boardwalk to hold more anglers. Here, you'll pull in just about every shallow water species. (Photo by Brian Kelly/bkelly@al.com)

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Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com

Intracoastal Waterway off of Canal Road, Orange Beach

There are two parts of Canal Road that are popular fishing spots -- one at the start of the road on the east end and another on the west end after the curve. There's no public parking but plenty of room to pull off, pop the tailgate and have a seat on your cooler. It's also a great place to watch the boats come and go. (Photo by Brian Kelly/bkelly@al.com)

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Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com

Pier at Waterfront Park, Orange Beach

At the east end of Canal Road in Orange Beach is Waterfront Park, a popular fishing spot with locals. The park features a long pier with portions of it covered, too. Anglers like to go to the end of the pier and cast into Bayou St. John. The pier includes some PVC pipes to even hold your rig. There's a variety of species running but at night the speckled trout gather near the lights, so bring a lantern. (Photo by Brian Kelly/bkelly@al.com)

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Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com

Gulf State Park Pier

There's nothing secret about Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores but it is one of the most popular fishing locations at Alabama's Beaches. Stretching more than 1,500 feet out to the Gulf, the pier has 2,448 feet of fishing space available along the rails. You can clean fish here, too. And yes, you'll catch just about everything but no shark fishing despite the fact you'll see lots of them. To fish from this pier is $9 per day but well worth it for the catch, view and overall experience for the whole family.

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Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com

Lake Shelby Pier, Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores

At Gulf State Park is Lake Shelby and several places to cast your line. One of the best is the small pier reaching a hundred yards into the water. It's secluded. Be prepared to have your line broken by a small alligator as they're definitely out there. The lake is teeming with catfish if that's what you're angling for. (Photo by Brian Kelly/bkelly@al.com)

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Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com

Boggy Point, Orange Beach

Off of US 161 is Marina Road but at the tip of Marina Road is Boggy Point, a popular boat launch. But it's also a hot fishing spot from the piers. There's some parking. This is the most popular spot for night fishing but anglers have a lot of success reeling in a variety of species, plus the spot provides a beautiful view of Perdido Pass. But you don't want to get caught fishing without that Alabama saltwater fishing license here. Fish and Game patrol it frequently. (Brian Kelly/bkelly@al.com)

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Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com

Base of Orange Beach Pier

It's not the official Orange Beach pier and you can't fish from it unless you're staying at the hotel, but the casting at the base of this pier at Cotton Bayou in Orange Beach is a hot spot for surf anglers. Fish tend to congregate around the pier, giving anglers lots of chances to pull in white fish and bait fish.

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Brian Kelly | bkelly@al.com

Fort Morgan

Now, if you're lodging at a Gulf-front beach cottage then you've got some of the best surf fishing in Pleasure Island. If you're not staying there then there are a few spots you can park and cast your line. And it's one of the best spots to pull in some big fish. Just make sure you're legally parked.
Briarwood flag.jpg

Briarwood Presbyterian Church wants to have its own police department and the Alabama Senate has passed a bill that would allow it to happen.

(AL.com File )

The ACLU of Alabama said it has sent two public records requests to state agencies seeking information regarding a plan that would authorize Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham to establish its own police department.

"The plan to create a church-operated police force and imbue it with all the powers of the State is unconstitutional," said Randall Marshall, Legal Director of the ACLU of Alabama. "The First Amendment prohibits the government from delegating police powers to a church. If the legislature and governor pursue this unwise course of action, a legal challenge is inevitable."

The records requests demand that state agencies provide all communications with the church and all records relating to the proposal.

"What's not to go wrong?" Marshall said in an interview with AL.com today. "You're taking the power of the state, in one of the core governmental functions, and investing it in a religious organization, and allowing a church to decide what laws to enforce, what not to enforce, and how to use force."

Earlier this week, the Alabama Senate voted to approve Senate Bill 193, which would authorize the Briarwood Presbyterian Church to appoint and employ its own police officers who would "be charged with all of the duties and invested with all of the powers of law enforcement officers" in Alabama. Under the measure, which now moves to the Alabama House, church-employed police officers would be certified by the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission.

The public records requests were sent to the Alabama Peace Officers Standards & Training Commission, which is responsible for certifying law enforcement officers, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The requests ask the agencies to provide all relevant records within 30 days.

"What does the church want its police officer to do if there's illegal drug use going on in the high school: arrest the kid, or step in, counsel him and put an end to drug use," Marshall said. "It opens the door for the church to be determining who should be prosecuted, who should be let go, all with an eye toward adverse publicity for the church."

The church argues that it sometimes has difficulty finding enough part-time security guards to work events at the church, the high school and seminary affiliated with the church.

"That rings hollow," Marshall said. "There are businesses around this country that rely on private security. It doesn't have to be law enforcement officials."

The church has compared its case to colleges, including private religious-affiliated schools, having their own police departments.

Those colleges have boards of directors that are not directly answerable to a church, Marshall said.

He also wondered why Briarwood was singled out among all churches, mosques and temples as being in special need of a police force.

"They've singled out one church and are giving them powers they're not giving across the board," Marshall said. "There's no doubt if this passes, there's a legal challenge to be had. It's highly unlikely it could survive a constitutional challenge."
Ghigna poems.jpg

Charles Ghigna, a children's book author known as Father Goose, shared short poems he'd written about the "Go to Church" sign, left, and one the Vulcan statue in Birmingham. (AL.com File Photos)

Charles Ghigna of Homewood, known as Father Goose, read my story last week on the status of the iconic roadside attraction, the "Go to Church or the Devil Will Get You" sign, and shared a short poem he'd written about it.

Charles Gighna of Mountain Brook, known as Father Goose, has written more than 100 children's picture and poetry books. (CharlesGhigna.com)

Ghigna, who has written more than 100 children's picture and poetry books, showed his love of Alabama's quirkiness by also writing about the Vulcan statue in Birmingham.

For more than two decades the "Go to Church" sign, featuring a red Satan figure, has been a familiar site along Interstate 65 near Prattville. Many residents were dismayed when the sign blew down in a storm last fall. The owners say they plan to re-erect it. Click here to read the full story.

In the meantime, enjoy Ghigna's ode to one of Alabama's most unusual attractions:

Devil by the Side of the Road

Where store-bought billboards are not allowed,

someone's handmade sign to sinners stands

beside Interstate 65 just north of Prattville.

A red, wooden devil with pointed tail

guards over the angry words of its maker:

GO TO CHURCH or the DEVIL Will Get You!

An endless stream of tired Sunday truckers

haul their rigs past the Devil and his scythe;

weary tourists returning home from Florida

ponder its homemade providence;

Saturday night lovers on their way back to Birmingham

wonder of this roadside warning,

question the one who reached into last night's dream

and cursed them with his demonic omen,

with this searing sentence of impending doom.

Ghigna also penned a poem about the Vulcan, the World's Largest Cast-Iron Statue located in Birmingham:

Vulcan

The largest cast iron statue in the world,

made from the iron ore of Red Mountain,

the mountain on which he stands.

Forged from the blood and sweat of Birmingham,

this turn-of-the century sentinel

stepped out of the 1904 World's Fair

to remind the Magic City of its heated heritage,

to remind us all to stand tall, stand proud,

stand together and strong as the steel we are.

A bright full moon rises behind Birmingham's Vulcan statue at Vulcan Park on Red Mountain. (Birmingham News, Hal Yeager)

Join al.com reporter Kelly Kazek on her weekly journey through Alabama to record the region's quirky history, strange roadside attractions and tales of colorful characters. Find her on Facebook or follow her Odd Travels and Real Alabama boards on Pinterest.
For the fourth consecutive year, a group of Christians carried a wooden cross through downtown Birmingham to mark Good Friday, which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus.

"On this holy day, we seek the face of justice in those who are suffering," said Deacon Mark LaGory of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, which helped organized the event.

Michael Ham, a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Roebuck, played saxophone for "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," as the procession sang hymns along the way.

The crucifixion is a difficult event to meditate on, but it's a necessary part of Christian faith, Ham said. "You see the good in the purpose," he said.

"It's when we remember Jesus' arrest, and trial, and the pain he went through, knowing that through his death we receive new life as Christians," said Deacon Kelley Hudlow, communications coordinator for the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. "So we carry a cross through downtown to remind ourselves that there is still injustice in this world, and that God is calling us to something greater than what we are now."
Mantegna,_Andrea_-_crucifixion_-_Louvre_from_Predella_San_Zeno_Altarpiece_Verona.jpg

"The Crucifixion," painted by Andrea Mantegna in 1457-1459 A.D. for the altarpiece at the Basilica of San Zeno in Verona, Italy, now hangs in the Louvre in Paris.

(Web Gallery of Art)

Today millions of Christians worldwide observe the somber holy day of Good Friday, which commemorates the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus.

The faithful often act it out by carrying a large wooden cross and crown of thorns symbolic of the suffering of Christ.

In the streets of Jerusalem, and even in the streets of Birmingham, Alabama, people carry wooden crosses to remember Jesus carrying his cross to his own crucifixion.

Why is it Good?

At first glance, Good Friday seems like the ultimate misnomer. If Jesus suffered and died on this day, then why is it called Good Friday?

On one level, the answer is about the meaning of words.

The term "Good" as applied to Good Friday is an Old English expression meaning holy. It's often called Holy Friday also.

But in another sense, Good Friday is always tied to Easter Sunday, which is a joyful celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. He could not have been resurrected if he had not died first.

Carrying the Cross

In Jerusalem, they follow the Via Dolorosa, or Way of the Cross, retracing the steps of Jesus.

In Birmingham, a group led by St. Luke's Episcopal Church observed Stations of the Cross, meditations on the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus, with a procession beginning in Linn Park.

In the neighboring suburb of Homewood, an afternoon procession along Oxmoor Road included stops at All Saints' Episcopal, Dawson Memorial Baptist, Edgewood Presbyterian and Trinity United Methodist for prayers based on the Stations of the Cross.

Jesus told his followers, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24, New International Version)

Jesus' example can provide strength through suffering, said the late Rev. John Claypool, who was a Southern Baptist preacher in Kentucky and later an Episcopal priest in Alabama.

A Glimpse of Evil

"God really does understand from the inside what it's like to suffer, to be abandoned, to be alone," Claypool said. "You can't realize the absolute marvel of Easter unless you appreciate the suffering of Good Friday."

The events of Good Friday described in the Bible include the trial of Jesus, the shouts of the crowd to "Crucify him!" even when given a choice to free Jesus or Barabbas, followed by Jesus carrying the cross and being hung on it to die.

"Good Friday is so powerfully significant because it gives us a glimpse into the depths of human evil," Claypool said. "You see the best and the worst of human nature."

God shows incredible mercy and patience in the events of Good Friday, Claypool said.

"It's a time to reflect on the dark tendencies that are in all of us," Claypool said.

Suffering Christ or Glorified Christ?

In planning the mural for the Beeson Divinity School chapel dome several years ago, Samford University had to decide how to portray Christ: glorified or suffering.

He is portrayed in the artwork as exalted in heaven - but also with nail prints in his hands - to remember the suffering of the crucifixion.

"Theologically, we must keep Good Friday and Easter together," Divinity School Dean Timothy George explained. "Good Friday without Easter is doom and despair. Easter without Good Friday is empty sentiment and sentimentality. We have to remember what Jesus did on the cross, which is the fulfillment of God's eternal plan for the whole world. It has cosmic consequences."

Taking time to observe the solemnity of Good Friday helps prepare Christians for Easter.

"It's a day to be silent, it's a day to remember, to focus on who Jesus is and what He meant for humanity," George said.
To the editor:

I was so pleased when I read the article "NPA students tour with LA guitar quartet and Arizona Guitar Orchestra."

As the director of the Northland Preparatory Academy guitar program, I witnessed the intensive preparation the five students endured, all to have the opportunity to perform with, arguably, the finest chamber group performing today. Those boys sharing the stage with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet with 32, older and more experienced, players made for a once-in-a-lifetime and rigorous opportunity. The students loved it, I loved it, and the tour was fantastic!

Im thankful that the Daily Sun covered the students' experience and I simply wanted to express my gratitude. First, a thank you to Craig Yarbrough, the executive director of the Grand Canyon Guitar Society, he spent more than a year putting this tour together and invited the NPA kids to audition. Without the society's willingness to extend us this opportunity, fund the entire experience, and work with school programs, the NPA students would never have experienced these wonderful performances.

So, a thank you to Grand Canyon Guitar Society and Craig Yarbrough. Furthermore, a thank you to the conductor Chuck Hulihan, parents, administrators, and the like for making this opportunity a vivid reality for these students. They are grateful and I am grateful. Go guitar and go Flagtown!

THOMAS BYERS
Join us for another stop on our journey through Whitman, Alabama. The goal of the documentary series? Bridge the gap between people. Filmmaker Jennifer Crandall traveled hundreds of miles to capture the essence of America as people across Alabama bring "Song of Myself" by poet Walt Whitman to life. Crandall below tells us more about Bob Tedrow, of Homewood, Ala.

Whitman, Alabama site | On Facebook

Bob Miller, one of the filmmakers on this project, suggested we film Bob Tedrow. It was in the early days of the project, and he had described Tedrow as one of only eight concertina makers in the world. Wow, I'm thinking, there's only eight of them?! Then, what the heck is a concertina?

A concertina is a bellows driven free-reed instrument that looks like a tiny hand-held accordion. It was invented in the 1830s and never gained much popularity beyond the British Isles. "If Britney Spears started playing one, it might become popular, but that's not gonna happen," Tedrow said. "One of the seven dwarves played one. And Pinocchio, but I had never seen one before I traded an old fiddle for one in the 90s."

I asked him why he tried to become an expert in something so unpopular. "I think that every person should leave their ink stain on the world. Anytime you want a niche to call your own, choose something that is hard to do, takes a lot of time, earns very little money, and that niche is all yours. Not a good reason other than hubris. If you look up hubris in the dictionary, my photo is right there."

It took a decade to become an authority. "There might be more [concertina makers] out there in the woodwork but there are probably 10 of us that I know of."

If you pick up one of Tedrow's business cards it reads, "Homewood Instruments - fifty years behind the times." And then there's the clothes he wears, the vests of a different era. His pocket watch. He has a clear aesthetic. He knows who he is. I think it's neat to be so grounded in stuff so analog.

Some people are really at ease with our camera, and Tedrow seemed like one of those people. He came off as totally comfortable, cracking jokes throughout the shoot. It went smoothly. Jason, Tedrow's colleague, was doing his thing, fixing a guitar in the background. The setting of the shop was beautiful.

Tedrow was a great person to have worked with at the start of this project. He helped breathe life into it. After we filmed him and looked at the footage, I was encouraged. Like, this project can actually happen. It became more than just an idea at that point. We had the beginnings of our work, proof we could keep going.

--

By filmmaker Jennifer Crandall, as told to writer Elizabeth Hildreth
Former state Rep. Ken Guin was arrested Wednesday at Walker County Board of Education's central office after, authorities said, he failed to turn off his cell phone and caused a disturbance during a deposition involving his wife.

Guin, an attorney, was representing his wife, Tanya, who was placed on leave from her post as principal of Carbon Hill Elementary/Jr. High last year, for alleged ethics violations, the Walker County school system confirmed.

Jasper police said Guin was charged with trespassing and was released from the city jail. No cash bond was required for his release.

Ken Guin, of Carbon Hill, said he was arrested for "very personal and very political" reasons. He said the allegations made his against his wife are "bogus."

Guin, a Democrat, served the 14th District in the Alabama House from 1994 to 2010. He served as House majority leader from 1997 to 2010.

"Ken Guin was arrested for failing to comply with the simple request of turning off his cell phone during an employment matter with his wife," Walker County Schools Superintendent Jason Adkins said in an email. "After refusing to comply, he was asked to leave. He refused. He was asked to leave multiple times by police officers who arrived on the scene as a result of his behavior, and multiple times he refused."

Adkins said Guin continued to disrupt the meeting after the chief of Jasper police arrived to the central office.

"After 30 to 45 minutes of delay and repeated refusals to comply with police directives, he was arrested," the superintendent said.

Adkins said Tanya Guin was placed on paid administrative leave in August 2016 for improperly handling school funds, violating several school board policies regarding school accounting procedures, allegations regarding conduct unbecoming of an administrator in a public school system, and multiple ethics violations that are currently under investigation.

Ken Guin said he and his wife were targeted because Tanya Guin, the longest-serving principal in the school system, announced plans to run for superintendent against Adkins.

Also, just weeks before his wife was placed on leave, Guin said he filed a lawsuit against Adkins over him having an employment contract though he is an elected official.

Ken Guin said Adkins on Monday scheduled a hearing on Tanya Guin's alleged violations for 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

Tanya Guin's attorney, John Saxon, told AL.com that he attempted to reschedule this hearing because he had to be in court that morning in Birmingham.

Both Saxon and Guin said they agreed that Guin would keep his cell phone on during the hearing in order to text back and forth until Saxon arrived.

Guin said Adkins had no right to ask him to turn off his cell phone, or to order him to leave a public building where he was serving as his wife's attorney.

"What I did was a form of peaceful protest," he said. "I thought he was wrong. I was standing up for my wife. You can't tell a lawyer that he can't be there representing his client."

Guin said Adkins instructed Jasper police Chief J.C. Poe to arrest him. Guin said he plans to fight the charges.

Updated at 2:33 p.m. with statements from Ken Guin and John Saxon.
Former Gov. Robert Bentley said he plans to teach and practice medicine in rural Alabama as he moves into a new phase of his life.

Bentley paused from packing to move out of the Governor's Mansion today to speak with AL.com. Workers carted items from the mansion into a Two Men and a Truck vehicle.

Drinking a glass of sweet tea and smiling often, the former governor said he is relaxed.

"Honestly, I'm free," Bentley said. "You know Gov. Riley went to Alaska. Now I'm not going to do that because I can't ride a motorcycle."

Bentley, 74, resigned as governor on Monday as part of a deal with state prosecutors in which he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors involving campaign funds.

Prosecutors agreed not to pursue possible felony campaign finance and ethics violations for which the Ethics Commission found probable cause.

The resignation, coming with 21 months left in Bentley's second term, cut short impeachment proceedings in the Legislature. A special counsel's investigation accused Bentley of abusing his power to cover up evidence of an affair with former advisor Rebekah Mason.

Still, Bentley said that as time passes he thinks his administration will be viewed favorably.

"I think when all the fog clears and people look back to see the accomplishments that my administration has been able to do, I think they'll grade me pretty well," Bentley said.

Bentley, who had a dermatology practice in Tuscaloosa before becoming governor and has maintained his medical license, said he hoped to teach medical residents at a family medicine program in Centreville. He said his tentative plans also include treating patients in Carrollton and Fayette, possibly on a weekly basis.

Bentley's plea deal requires him to perform 100 hours of community service as a doctor.

"I used to see patients from all over west Alabama and I saw a lot from Centreville," the former governor said. "But I want to teach some residents. I want to prepare some of the young doctors that are going out and I want to teach them some dermatology, because they don't get a lot of dermatology."

Bentley said he plans to live in west Alabama, probably in the Tuscaloosa area.

"I'm really looking forward to some free time," Bentley said. "But I have to be doing something to try to help people. And nothing is greater than treating people that are sick and helping them get well."

Asked what accomplishments he is proudest of, the governor mentioned a $1 billion county road and bridge program, efforts to coordinate and upgrade information technology among state agencies and expansion of the state's pre-kindergarten program.

"I think probably my shining moment in difficult times was when we took care of the people that lost their lives during the 2011 tornadoes," Bentley said.

"I'm looking forward to opening up the Gulf State Lodge. That's one of the things that we wanted to get done. And I feel sure we're going to be able to get that accomplished.

"I think the only thing we didn't get accomplished that I'd like to see done is we need to modernize the prison system. So I'm hoping that the Legislature will have enough courage to do what they need to do."

Bentley had proposed building four new state prisons with an $800 million bond issue.

A different and scaled down prison plan is pending in the Legislature. Bentley was asked if he will continue to follow issues like prisons and other state issues.

"I will follow them but I will not be involved," he said. "I feel it's not my place to be involved now that I'm not the governor.

"I'll be like George Bush. I will not criticize and I will support wherever I can."

Bentley's plea deal prohibits him from seeking or serving in public office.
Hoover police are asking for help locating a runaway girl who may be in west Birmingham.

Keangela Hill, 17, voluntarily left her home in Hoover on March 20 and hasn't returned, according to Hoover police. Hill's guardian spoke to her on April 12, but she refuses to come home.

Police say Hill has friends in the west Birmingham area and often frequents the area.

Hill is described as being a black girl, 5-foot 6 inches tall about 200 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair.

Anyone with information on Hill's whereabouts is asked to contact Hoover police at 205-822-5300 or 205-739-6125.
battle bentley ivey

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, left, greets former Gov. Robert Bentley and then-Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey during a 2012 road project ceremony in Madison. (AL.com file photo)

A figurative darkness covered the state as the final days of the Robert Bentley scandal played out with the governor's resignation on Monday, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said.

During Thursday night's council meeting, Battle repeatedly referred to a dark period as Bentley pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors as part of a deal with prosecutors. That deal also demanded his resignation.

"We went through the darkness this week," Battle said.

Battle also invoked the observance of Easter on Sunday, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"Maybe this is, much like the Easter period, this is part of us coming from a dark period to a very light period," Battle said. "We would hope the state could work together and pull together and we could all pledge our efforts in pulling together to bring the state back to where we need to be.

"We've seen the darkness. Now hopefully we can the light and all of us can come together on that."

Battle, who is expected to announce by the end of the month if he will declare his candidacy for governor, also called for Alabamians to lift up the state, its leaders and new Gov. Kay Ivey, "so we can move forward and, hopefully, redefine the state.

"And leave the dark period behind us," he said.

Battle said he had participated in a couple of conference calls this week with Ivey, along with other mayors from across the state. He also said he will be traveling to Montgomery to meet with Ivey along with the other Big Five mayors - Birmingham's William Bell, Mobile's Sandy Stimpson, Tuscaloosa's Walt Maddox and Montgomery's Todd Strange.

Huntsville is in the midst of $250 million in road project partnerships with the state and Battle said he did not anticipate Ivey's ascension to governor would affect those contracts.
In an exclusive interview on Good Morning America, the wife and daughters of Tad Cummins begged the Amber Alert suspect and accused Elizabeth Thomas kidnapper to come home.

"No matter where you are, Daddy, no matter what you've done we just want you to come home," Cummins' daughter, 29-year-old Erica Osborne, said in the interview that aired this morning. "We miss you so much. We're here for you, no matter what; any time, any place, anywhere."

Cummins, an ex-teacher, has been missing since March 13, when he's accused of kidnapping Thomas, his 15-year-old former student. Authorities have said Cummins, who is wanted in Tennessee for kidnapping and having sexual contact with Thomas, groomed and lured the girl before their disappearances. Cummins, who taught at Culleoka Unit School in Maury County, Tennessee, was fired the day after the disappearances. Here's information about the school system response to the case.

Excerpts of the family's interviews first aired on ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir.

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Also speaking with ABC was Cummins' wife, Jill, who has filed for divorce. She said her husband has been her best friend for 31 years.

"It was, to me, the perfect marriage," she said. "We had everything we ever wanted, two beautiful kids, beautiful grandkids, and I really truly believed that he loved me."

But, in her recent divorce filing, Jill Cummins said irreconcilable differences have arisen in the marriage following her husband's "inappropriate marital conduct."

Jill Cummins previously has publicly asked her husband to turn himself in and bring Thomas home.

Another of Cummins children, Ashlee Conner, 26, told ABC she wants to remind her father of a Bible verse that he taught them growing up.

"There's one thing that he's reminded us for our entire life," Conner said. "...Romans 8:28, and that's, 'God uses all things for the glory of those that love the Lord and are called according to his purposes' and that means even this."

The search for Cummins and Thomas continues, now a month since Amber Alerts were issued in Alabama and Tennessee. Despite receiving more than 1,400 tips, the last known location the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has confirmed is a Wal-Mart store in Oklahoma City on March 15 -- two days after the disappearances.

Authorities this week asked pharmacies to be on the lookout for Cummins, who likely needs a refill on blood pressure medication. Otherwise, authorities are asking the public to remain vigilant in secluded or off the grid areas. The public also is asked to share information about the Amber Alert with anyone south of the U.S. border.

Prior to the Oklahoma sighting, the last information about Thomas and Cummins' whereabouts is from the day they disappeared. Thomas was seen the morning of March 13 when a friend dropped her off at Shoney's restaurant in Columbia, Tennessee. Cummins was placed in Decatur, Alabama that afternoon by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Cummins is wanted in Tennessee for kidnapping and having sexual contact with Thomas.

The video and images from Oklahoma showed their appearances had been altered, including darkening Cummins' hair and changing Thomas' hair color to red.

It's not clear whether Cummins may still be driving a silver Nissan Rogue with Tennessee license place 976-ZPT.

Thomas is a white female possibly with red, strawberry or blonde hair and hazel eyes. She is 5 feet and weighs about 120 pounds. Cummins, believed to be armed with multiple guns, is a white male possibly with dark hair and brown eyes. He is six feet and about 200 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-TBI-FIND. Anyone who sees Cummins, Thomas or the vehicle should call 911.
One month after Amber Alert subjects Elizabeth Thomas and Tad Cummins disappeared, the Tennessee Bureau of investigation is probing 381 leads today.

Since 15-year-old Thomas and her ex-teacher Cummins disappeared March 13, TBI has received 1,481 tips, said public information officer Susan Niland. Of those tips, TBI has closed 1,100 leads and continues investigating nearly 400, Niland said.

Amber Alerts remain active in Alabama and Tennessee.

So far, the only tip that's provided substantiated information is security footage from an Oklahoma City Wal-Mart that showed Thomas and 50-year-old Cummins inside the store on March 15. The footage wasn't shared with TBI, however, until more than two weeks later.

Earlier this week, the Maury County, Tennessee District Attorney asked that pharmacies be on the lookout for Cummins, who likely is running out of blood pressure medication. DA Brett Cooper also revealed information about a letter that Cummins left behind before the disappearances. Cooper told WKRN News Cummins left the note to mislead to investigators.

Cummins is wanted in Tennessee for kidnapping and having sexual contact with Thomas, who was his student at Culleoka Unit School in Maury County. Authorities have said Cummins groomed and lured Thomas before kidnapping her.

Thomas' father, Anthony, filed a court petition last week for potential witnesses to be interviewed in depositions. Anthony Thomas said in the court filing that Cummins threatened and stalked Elizabeth after Cummins was suspended from his teaching job.

Cummins was suspended by the school system after he was caught with Thomas in his classroom in early February. Thomas and the teacher weren't supposed to be in contact because they reportedly had been caught kissing in the classroom Jan. 23.

After Cummins was suspended, Elizabeth "began feeling guilty," the father claims. And, Cummins "played upon this guilt."

Cummins wasn't officially fired by the school until the day after he and Thomas disappeared. Read more about how the school system responded to the incidents here.

Authorities have said Cummins likely is holding Thomas in a secluded or off-the-grid area to keep both out of the public's eye.

In addition to pharmacies, authorities are encouraging the public to share information about the Amber Alert with anyone they know south of the U.S. border. While investigators don't have any information placing Thomas and Cummins in Mexico, they say it's possible the two have made it that far. Mexican police have been notified about the case.

The public is asked to be on the lookout, particularly in rural or secluded areas. Investigators are asking people to be vigilant in parking garages and lots, parks, campgrounds and other off-the-grid places.

Prior to the Oklahoma sighting, the last information about Thomas and Cummins' whereabouts is from the day they disappeared. Thomas was seen the morning of March 13 when a friend dropped her off at Shoney's restaurant in Columbia, Tennessee. Cummins was placed in Decatur, Alabama that afternoon by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Cummins is wanted in Tennessee for kidnapping and having sexual contact with Thomas.

The video and images from Oklahoma showed their appearances had been altered, including darkening Cummins' hair and changing Thomas' hair color to red.

It's not clear whether Cummins may still be driving a silver Nissan Rogue with Tennessee license place 976-ZPT.

Thomas is a white female possibly with red, strawberry or blonde hair and hazel eyes. She is 5 feet and weighs about 120 pounds. Cummins, believed to be armed with multiple guns, is a white male possibly with dark hair and brown eyes. He is six feet and about 200 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-TBI-FIND. Anyone who sees Cummins, Thomas or the vehicle should call 911.
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.
Three years after Boko Haram abducted 276 girls, many grief-stricken families still wait for their children to return.

Abuja, Nigeria  Enoch Mark shuffles along the main corridor in his apartment in a busy neighbourhood in the Nigerian capital.

He walks with a slight limp and has a stiff upper lip after a massive stroke last year. This is just one of the many ailments hes suffered from in the past three years since two of his daughters were abducted by the Boko Haram armed group from their high school in the northeastern town of Chibok.

I lost my two daughters. I lost my peace. I lost my job, he says. He perches on a balcony, overlooking the street below where a handful of people gather outside a church. After a while, Mark sighs.

Time will tell. They will be free one day one time. Im still hopeful. Im still hopeful.

To date, the Nigerian government has not found any of the 276 schoolgirls who were abducted by Boko Haram on April 15, 2014. Fifty-seven of them escaped on their own. Three more were found by locals. With the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Swiss government, the Nigerian government were able to secure the release of 21 girls last year. But thats not enough, Mark says.

If [President] Buhari will be sincere with himself, why cant he put this insurgency under control? Mark asks. How many girls has his government rescued among the Chibok girls? If he will tell himself the truth, does he really mean business as the president of Nigeria?

READ MORE: The midwife who fled Boko Haram

I will fear no Boko Haram

Despite claims from the Nigerian government that Boko Haram has been defeated, the group continues to commit atrocities. According to Human Rights Watch, since the group began its attacks in 2009, an estimated 10,000 civilians have died in Nigeria as a result. A recent report from UNICEF indicates that nearly one in five suicide bombers used by Boko Haram in the past two years has been a child. Girls continue to be used in high numbers to carry out attacks.

Video footage released by Boko Haram shows its members stoning people, cutting off body parts and burning down buildings.

Mark says he was worried that the militants had even beheaded one of his abducted daughters.

It was a rumour that was going around, that my daughter had been beheaded because she refused to denounce her Christian faith, he says.

He requests not to name his daughters for security reasons. But he says one of the 21 Chibok girls who were released last year through negotiations assured him that his daughters are still alive.

As daylight wanes, Mark goes to his room to bring out his Bible. Its heavy, leather-bound with fraying pages. Every evening he reads from it with his wife.

This evening, he reads one of his favourite passages, Psalm 23:4.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no Boko Haram, he says in a booming voice, substituting evil for Boko Haram.

READ MORE: Boko Harams decline raises hopes of the displaced

Stress and heartache for families

On the other side of town, Esther Yakubu prepares a meal for her children. Her daughter, Dorcas Yakubu, is one of the missing girls. In one of Boko Harams videos released last year, Dorcas appeared, standing next to a masked man in army fatigues, and pleaded for the government to meet Boko Harams demands so that she and her friends would be released.

Yakubu says Dorcas was the light of her life.

I have not been the same without her, she says. Seeing her daughter in the video gave her a sense of relief that she may still be alive.

On a Tuesday afternoon, Aisha Yesufu rouses up a crowd of activists from the Bring Back Our Girls group. Yesufu has become a familiar face in the group. They gathered on a pavement earlier this week in the affluent Abuja community known as Asokoro and chanted on the street corner as cars passed.

Bring Back Our Girls has kept the campaign going, but the group has become smaller.

Buhari is not doing us any favours by telling us he will rescue our girls. No, that is not a favour. That is his job as the president of Nigeria, Yesufu shouts, holding up a mic.

Members of the group say they strive to be a voice for the parents of the missing schoolgirls. Its been a difficult three years for the parents. Since the mass abduction of the schoolgirls, Boko Haram has attacked Chibok again at least twice.

Nineteen parents of Chibok girls have since died, having not been able to see their daughters again.

Martha, Marks wife, tries to manage her emotional stress but its taking a toll.

I have hypertension and some ulcers and other sickness in my body, so the thing is paining me seriously, she says, speaking softly in pidgin English.

She makes her way over to the church for womens choir practice. She says participating in church activities helps her forget her sorrows.

Her family is doing the best they can to continue with life. But every day is a struggle, especially after Marks stroke.

Their 12-year-old daughter, Hannatu, worries that she may forget what her sisters looked like. Ruth, who is 16, still suffers from a hip injury from when she ran away from Boko Haram the same night her sisters were kidnapped.

The family has heard the Nigerian governments announcement this week that it is negotiating for the release of the rest of the Chibok girls.

But, theyve grown weary of hearing this claim time and again.

Buhari has not delivered in his promises, Mark says. It is a great disappointment to us all. If he cannot find the girls, he should leave the presidential office to make room for someone who can.
The Flagstaff Education Association, which represents about 40 percent of FUSD employees, wants its seat back at the negotiating table.

Association President Derek Born gave a presentation to the Flagstaff Unified School District Tuesday night asking that the board consider talking a second look at an agreement with the FEA.

The FUSD board let a 20-year agreement with FEA expire at the end of the 2014/2015 school year by a 4-to-1 vote. The agreement allowed FEA to negotiate salary and working conditions on behalf of district employees with the board.

Sarah Ells, a board member at the time, told the Arizona Daily Sun that the board thought FEA didnt represent all of the districts employees because its membership was so low. At the time, membership was about 41 percent of FUSD employees. The board wanted more direct interaction with staff and teachers, she said.

Two committees -- one named "Voice," the other "Negotiation" -- were created to take the place of the agreement recognizing the FEA. The committee members are elected by employees of the district. Two representatives are chosen from each school, one from classified staff and one from certified staff.

Tuesday night, Born said that membership in the FEA is still hovering around 41 percent. But a poll of district staff and teachers in October showed that more than 70 percent of them support FEA and its mission.

Born said the new two-committee process is similar to the old negotiation process, but FEA doesnt have a permanent seat at the table. Born and several other FEA members serve on the committees as representatives of their schools but not representing FEA.

The two committees are run by the superintendent of the district. There is a concern, he said, that every time the superintendent changes, the committees will change and the rules that staff must follow will change.

For example, when the agreement was allowed to lapse, FEA lost a lot of its privileges in the district, Born said. They were no longer allowed to speak at faculty meetings, communicate with members on district grounds or hold meetings in district buildings.

We felt like we were walking on thin ice, he said, adding that some of that came back when Dave Dirksen took over after former Superintendent Barbara Hickman left.

We want to be held accountable to the board, Born said, adding that the association isnt asking to take over the entire negotiation process. It just wants permanent seats on the two committees. The association has the institutional knowledge and knowledge of the districts policies that many of the newer committee members dont, Born added.

Board member Kathryn Kozak pointed out that any FEA members could run for and be elected to a position on either committee.

Yes, countered Born, but they would be there to represent their school, not the association and its positions.

Kozak also said that any agreement with FEA would have to be reapproved each school year.

Born said the association was open to that and saw it as a chance to prove their worth to the district.

Board member Kim Khatibi recommended that the board hold a work session in order to discuss what changes needed to be made to the two committees and if it wanted to restart the agreement with FEA. Khatibi recently announced her resignation from the board because her family was moving to Seattle.

Born pointed out that there had been several work sessions and meetings planned with the Board in February and March that were cancelled.

Board member Kara Kelty said the meetings were pushed off or canceled because the district was dealing with the sudden increase in the minimum wage and finding a new superintendent. Now that things have settled somewhat, the board should be able to turn its attention to this.
An Iraqi man shares his story of fleeing ISIL in Iraq and then in Syria, only to be stopped at the Turkish border.

Abu Ahmad and his family lived in Mosul for their whole lives, remaining through the 2003 US invasion and the 2014 ISIL takeover.

The family faced innumerable challenges amid the war and while living under the oppressive rule of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS). They could not actively resist for fear of punishment or death, and instead tried to continue living their lives as quietly and normally as possible.

But as the war to retake Mosul broke out late last year and life became increasingly dangerous, the family decided to flee, travelling first to live with relatives in ISILs self-proclaimed Syrian capital of Raqqa, and then on towards Turkey.

Abu Ahmad tells Al Jazeera the story of his harrowing journey.

READ MORE: Mosul under ISIL  No internet, no shaving

I worked and owned a clothing store in Mosul, and ISILs invasion had a huge impact on my work. I was unable to sell any of the up-to-date clothing or jeans, because ISIL would not allow their sale.

One day, ISIL fighters entered my store and shouted: Show us what you are selling! They entered the store and threw clothes around. Afterwards, they took some items without paying, and then they left. I did not utter a word. I just wanted them to leave, so I wouldnt end up in jail.

I lived in Mosul with my wife and three sons, aged 12, 15 and 16. When Iraqi army and coalition forces last year began battling to reclaim the city from ISIL, the situation became terribly intense, with dozens of random air strikes and a constant bombardment by coalition warplanes.

Dozens of people were killed or left trapped under the rubble, as there was not enough equipment to help them. At the same time, ISIL refused to let civilians leave, shutting down all exit points from the city.

During the first weeks of these battles, we tried to remain calm, hoping for a quick liberation of the city  but as the weeks wore on, we realised it would not be so easy.





I began to plan a way to leave the city, contacting people who had helped others to leave. I learned that these people were connected with a group of ISIL fighters who would help people leave the city in return for cash. I had no choice but to take the risk. It was better than just sitting and waiting for death to come to our home.

For a payment of around $700, I left with the smugglers in a civilian car, crossing through ISIL checkpoints. The roads were mostly empty, except for a few military cars and ISIL fighters. We travelled at night for several hours until we reached Tal Afar, and then another area called Baag, near the Iraq-Syria border.

We stayed there in a camp for several days, but it was not safe; ISIL fighters controlled the surrounding area, and the air strikes were getting closer.

Eventually we were able to cross the border into Syria. Even though ISIL, from whom we were fleeing in Iraq, also controlled the city, we had family members in Raqqa and we decided to live with them, as we had nowhere else to go at the time.

We paid another $700 to smugglers to get there, and spent days travelling through the Syrian desert before we arrived in the city. We ended up staying in Raqqa for a couple of months. The behaviour among ISIL fighters there was even worse and more extreme.

They arrested me many times. They did not care about my age or the many health issues I was suffering from. They are brutal with civilians, and especially since we had come from Iraq, there was extra scrutiny on us.

We walked through mountains, between trees and through patches of mud. Mothers tried in vain to quiet their babies when they cried. by Abu Ahmed, Raqqa resident

In prison, I met many others who had been jailed for failing to grow out their beard, or smoking, or having a long moustache. After two months in Raqqa, and amid intermittent attacks, I began planning a way to flee to Turkey.

The journey would be long and expensive, but I had no other options.

We arranged for a smuggler to take us through an area controlled by the Free Syrian Army, part of Operation Euphrates Shield, and we left around 8pm. After two hours in the car, we arrived near the front lines of clashes between ISIL and the FSA, and we sat for about an hour without moving.

Around 11pm, the smuggler told us: Run and dont look behind, or you will be killed. Dont let ISIS see you. We were shaking in terror but we did as he said, lowering our heads and running fast, carrying our clothes and bags.

READ MORE: When the tide is turning, ISIL goes apocalyptic

Within hours, we had arrived in a Turkish-controlled area, and we were brought to a house to get some rest. From there, we began travelling towards Turkey. At the Syria-Turkey border, we stayed in a room full of families who were also planning to cross with us.

In the middle of the night, we moved  dozens of people walking at the same time, saying nothing and moving slowly to avoid getting shot by Turkish police. We walked through mountains, between trees and through patches of mud. Mothers tried in vain to quieten their babies when they cried.





As we neared a tunnel, the smuggler told us we were almost at the end of our journey. But all of sudden, Turkish soldiers began screaming and shooting their machineguns. We scattered into the forest; I fell while running, and was shot in my waist. My son was shot in his leg.

Within minutes, everyone had gone. I stayed with my son and three other injured people laying on the ground. We didnt scream or yell, to avoid attracting the attention of police. Eventually, the smuggler came back and helped us to escape the border area; we travelled to a hospital in Harem, Syria, and then moved in with another family in the area.

Our family is still suffering. We dont know where we will end up next. We are running from everything and everyone, just seeking safety and a normal life. Sometimes this seems impossible to reach. We just need our home back.
In South Korea, many ask whether the US could launch military action against the North without first consulting Seoul.

Seoul, South Korea  When US missiles struck a Syrian airfield last week, some in South Korea saw the strikes as possibly indicating a willingness within the administration of US President Donald Trump to take unilateral military action against North Korea  a rogue state much closer to home.

Trump has yet to settle on a clear policy for North Korea, which has long been a diplomatic headache for US policymakers.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that when it comes to the North, all of the options are on the table. Trump recently tweeted that North Korea is looking for trouble, and that if China, North Koreas only major ally, declined to address the problem of North Koreas growing nuclear and missile arsenals, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. Also this week, the US dispatched the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group toward waters near the Korean peninsula, in an apparent show of force.

While all the tough talk hasnt disrupted the general patterns of life in South Korea, there are some jitters among the populace. Rumours of an imminent war have swirled on social media, leading government officials to speak out, trying to keep the situation calm.

On Tuesday, Cho June-hyuck, a spokesman for South Koreas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a regular press briefing that the US would not undertake military action without first consulting Seoul.

Tensions with nuclear-armed, rhetorically hostile North Korea are a fact of life for South Koreans, particularly in April every year, when South Korea holds annual large-scale military exercises with the US.

North Korea routinely objects to the exercises, accusing the South and the US of practising for an invasion of the country, and tends to step up its threatening language accordingly. April is an auspicious month in North Korea, with a few major annual events that the nation has in the past used as occasions to carry out missile launches.

READ MORE: China  Military force wont halt North Korea threat

The conversation in the South

Much of the domestic discussion in South Korea has revolved around the possibility that the untested Trump administration could launch some kind of military action on the North without consulting with their counterparts in the South Korean government.

Some in the South Korean media have expressed concern that the government in Washington will move ahead with action that could compromise the countrys security.

A pre-emptive strike could trigger a second Korean War, wrote Kim Young-hie, a columnist for the right-of-centre JoongAng Ilbo newspaper, on Thursday.

Kim added: South Korea cannot allow the US to make the decision alone to start a war on the peninsula.

Moon Jae-in, a liberal frontrunner for South Koreas May 9 presidential election, addressed the tensions in a post on Facebook. South Koreas security is as important as the US security. Therefore, there must be no pre-emptive strike without South Koreas consent, Moon wrote.

I think South Koreans are nervous, even though the US is unlikely to carry out a pre-emptive strike. The deployment of so much US military power, and neighbouring countries such as China and Japan expressing worries, inevitably makes Koreans anxious, said Seoul National University professor Chang Yong-seok.

READ MORE: US strike group heads towards Korean Peninsula

The US variable

Since taking office, Trump administration officials have spoken of a need to depart from the Barack Obama administrations North Korea policy, commonly referred to as strategic patience, which essentially means waiting on Pyongyang to take verifiable steps toward denuclearisation before any formal dialogue can take place.





Before he was elected, Trump expressed some willingness to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, infamously saying he would have a burger with Kim.

But Trumps recent summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping ended without a clear commitment to increased cooperation on North Korea, and Trump has overseen a show of military force deployed near the country, most notably the rerouting of the USS Carl Vinson.

The two leaders also had a telephone conversation on Wednesday, during which Xi reportedly advocated bringing stability to the peninsula through peaceful means.

By deploying the USS Carl Vinson, Trump is probably trying to show off US power to North Korea. But throughout his tenure, Trump is likely to put pressure on North Korea through rhetoric, rather than military action, said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

OPINION: Whats on Kim Jong-uns mind?

Is the North about to act out?

Satellite imagery from Wednesday released by 38 North, a US North Korean affairs website, showed continued activity at a nuclear test site in North Korea, noting movement of people and vehicles around the area, indicating possible preparations for a test of a nuclear weapon.

On Tuesday, North Korea convened its rubber-stamp legislature for a rare meeting, and Saturday is the birthday of late founding leader Kim Il-sung.

Analysts are watching closely to see if Pyongyang will use the occasion to carry out a nuclear or missile test to display the countrys growing strike capability and drum up patriotism at home.

Chang, the professor, expects some kind of provocation soon. Its likely that theyll launch [a] medium-range missile, just to show off their power, not to actually provoke a war, Chang said.

READ MORE: After Parks ouster, what is next for South Korea?

Life goes on in Seoul

South Koreas Constitutional Court ruled to impeach President Park Geun-hye in March, and a hurried campaign is under way to replace her. On Thursday, the front pages of newspapers from across South Koreas ideological spectrum were all dedicated to analysis of the forthcoming presidential election.

The dominant issues in the campaign are shaping up to not be dealing with North Korea but how to boost a sagging economy and root out corruption from the top levels of South Korean society. Allegations that Park used her power as president to help a friend squeeze millions from large corporations were the main reasons for her impeachment. Park is now in detention, facing criminal charges.

READ MORE: Pyeongtaek  A US base, Americana in rural South Korea

Meanwhile, on Thursday evening, amid cool, pleasant weather, life in Seoul bustled on. In the busy commercial area of Mapo district, barbecue restaurants and coffee shops were filled with after-work customers as usual.

At one particularly busy restaurant, groups of men in suits sat in groups eating platters of jeon  savoury, Korean-style pancakes  which they enjoyed with makgeolli, a Korean rice-based brew.

When asked about the growing tensions, the middle-aged woman serving them said: Im maybe a little nervous. Its impossible to tell what North Korea might do, before adding, Anyway, it makes no difference to me.
There is a stereotype of bustling internet cafes in Lagos full of opportunist young men earnestly trying to dupe recipients of their messages into supplying their credit card details. Three thousand miles away, a very different breed of Nigerian scammer can be found in the cafes of Knightsbridge, central London, funded by the very tax dollars that are so badly needed to develop their homeland.

Between the two cafes is a web of corruption, in the middle of which are the Chibok schoolgirls, now entering their fourth year of captivity. Dismantling the web will be slow and there is more to be done, not only in Nigeria but also here in the UK, to make that happen.

Three years after the world reeled in shock as 276 female school pupils were kidnapped from their classroom, the media attention may have gone away, the celebrity outrage faded, but the vast majority of those girls still remain in the hands of Boko Haram. Fuelling the original attention was one fundamental question: how on earth can a militant extremist group kidnap hundreds of schoolgirls, and get away with it  for three years and counting?

Nigerias battles with the scourge of corruption are no secret and its link to insecurity, and in particular the rise in extremism, is increasingly being understood. This is especially true of the defence sector. Defence corruption is more than just a waste of public money  it can actively enable the insurgent.

War on corruption





In Nigeria, corruption fuels Boko Harams narrative that the state is corrupt, and that only with Islamic law can Nigeria provide a fair and just society. The conclusion is shaky, but the premise that state corruption in Nigeria is a problem isnt; more than $15bn of Nigerian procurement funds are missing at the hands of military officers. This is money that was needed to address Boko Haram 10 years ago, and that is still needed now to contain them. Training, intelligence, administration and communications have all been hindered, and in return Boko Haram has killed thousands of Nigerians and captured many more.

President Muhammadu Buhari was elected in 2015 on an anti-corruption platform, but his results have been mixed. His war on corruption borrowed its nomenclature from Bushs war on terror and Nixons war on drugs, and like its predecessors, results have reflected neither the vociferousness of its proponents nor the industriousness of its foot soldiers. Criticisms of his efforts have ranged from politically motivated prosecutions to ineffective reforms. The scale and depth of the problem makes setting priorities for reform difficult  last year, we published our recommendations for how to tackle the problem. And some positive change has happened, including the amendment of the Public Procurement Act so that defence is included alongside other sectors, instead of being treated as a secretive exception.

OPINION: Can Nigerian youth destroy Boko Harams caliphate?

At the 2016 Anti-Corruption summit in London, David Cameron whispered of Nigerias status as a fantastically corrupt country. Buharis response to the gaffe was accurate, if deflective: I am not going to demand an apology, he said, I am demanding a return of assets. He had a point.

Whether it's the five million Nigerians facing starvation, an elderly patient unable to gain the medical access they desperately need - or indeed a mother of a young girl who has been cruelly snatched from school by Boko Haram, corruption is not a victimless crime. by

Corrupt officials cannot steal public money without a place to hide it. According to Transparency International research, at least 4.2bn of property in London is owned by individuals who are a high corruption risk, of which at least 77.5m comes from Nigerians.

General Sani Abacha reportedly moved millions through British bank accounts controlled by him and his family. The former national Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki has been accused of stealing millions with the intention of buying military equipment to fight Boko Haram; he allegedly spent it on properties in Dubai and London. More worryingly, James Ibori, a former Nigerian governor who is one of the only overseas officials to be found guilty in UK courts of money laundering, has now been released and is aggressively pursuing an appeal against his charges, employing top lawyers with the same money that it is claimed he stole.

Not a victimless crime

Last year the UK and Nigeria signed a memorandum of understanding on the recovery of corrupt money, but there is no public information to suggest that progress has been made since then. However, plans to introduce a public register of the real owners of overseas companies that own property in London will bring much-needed transparency that will make it harder for corrupt foreign officials to use London property to hide their dirty cash. Likewise, new powers that Transparency International has been campaigning for, Unexplained Wealth Orders (pdf), will provide law enforcement agencies with a sharp new tool to investigate suspicious assets.

UK companies can also be complicit in Nigerian corruption. An investigation by Global Witness has recently alleged that Shell paid $1.1bn to the former oil minister and convicted money launderer, Dan Etete, in order to gain access to one of Africas biggest oilfields. Thats more than the entire Nigerian health budget in 2016.

OPINION: Can Nigerian youth destroy Boko Harams caliphate?

If Buhari remains healthy, there will be a champion of this crusade inside Nigeria, but global financial centres need to also ensure they are not acting as safety deposit boxes for those stealing from the Nigerian public purse. Whether its the five million Nigerians facing starvation, an elderly patient unable to gain the medical access they desperately need  or indeed a mother of a young girl who has been cruelly snatched from school by Boko Haram, corruption is not a victimless crime.

Salaudeen Hashimu is a programme officer for the Civil Society Legislative Action Centre.

James Ancell is a project manager for Transparency International.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Call it Cold War 2.0 or any other name, it is beyond doubt that Russia and the West are at a lowest point in their relationship since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The reset of ties that President Donald Trump promised to usher in is over before it even started, cut short by the scandal over Russian interference in the US elections and the US strikes against Bashar al-Assads regime in Syria.





After insisting that US support for NATO is conditional on allies paying in their fair share, Trump is now reassuring everyone that the commitment is ironclad.

Michael Flynn is long gone and Russia sceptics such as Defence Secretary James Mattis and National Security Adviser H R McMaster set the tune.

But can this low point in relations actually lead to a direct conflict between Russia and NATO?

Escalation in Eastern Europe

The war in Eastern Ukraine goes on underreported and Vladimir Putin ratchets up his rhetoric. In a statement on 12 April, he pledged to fight back colour revolutions in any of the post-Soviet countries within the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. As ever, Russia is ready to cut deals with the West outside its near abroad but insists that the latter should stay off limits.

The vexing issue is where the line is drawn separating the Russian from the Western spheres of influence. The three Baltic states fear that they, too, could fall prey to Russian aggression. The traumatic memories of their annexation in 1940 by the Soviets have left a deep imprint. Justifiably or not, the presence of Russian-speaking communities makes the Crimean precedent painfully relevant to Estonia and Latvia.

Putin's calculation appears to be that the scarier he seems, the more political traction he has. by - Mark Galeotti

It is hardly surprising that those nations have cheered NATOs decision to upgrade its role, switching from reassurance to enhanced forward presence, to use the alliances lingo. Not only has NATO developed contingency plans on how to counteract a putative Russian invasion but also resolved to send in battalion-size battlegroups in each of the three Baltic countries, as well as Poland.

The deployment of the 4,000-strong contingent with contributions from 16 member states should be done by next month, with Germany in charge of the force in Lithuania, Canada in Latvia, the United Kingdom in Estonia and the United States in Poland.

In parallel, NATOs Warsaw Summit (July 2016) gave a green light to a multinational framework brigade in Romania, which is essentially a platform for reinforced cooperation with Poland, Bulgaria, Turkey, Canada, US, the Netherlands and Germany.

What NATO is after is not necessarily matching Russias military capabilities along a vast territorial stretch from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In the north, the Atlantic Alliance will need a three-times greater force to repeal a direct attack. Russia has furthermore turned Crimea into a fortress, to use Putins own words. The build-up of naval forces and coastal defences along with the deployment of strategic bombers and advanced anti-aircraft missiles consolidated Russian supremacy in the Black Sea.

However, NATO is setting tripwires and signalling to Putin that it will stand its ground and escalate in the event that Russia crosses the line.





Rightly, many security experts are troubled that the standoff can get out of hand. Russia has responded to Western build-up by incursions in NATO airspace, harassing US and allied ships and aircraft in both the Baltic and the Black Sea, kidnapping an Estonian border guard, launching snap exercises rehearsing invasion or even a nuclear strike in the Baltic, and deploying nuclear-capable Iskander missiles in the Kaliningrad enclave tucked between Lithuania and Poland.

Russia has issued blunt threats against Finland and Sweden in case they abandon neutrality in favour of joining NATO. It is pressuring Belarus to establish an airbase on its soil. Under a nightmare scenario, a minor incident  such as civil unrest by Russians in an Estonian border town  might escalate into an Eastern Ukraine-like insurgency and, heaven forbid, pit NATO against Moscow into a direct military clash.

Russian aggression has its limits

Not to be easily dismissed, these fears are in all likelihood overblown. As Mark Galeotti of the Institute of International Relations Prague noted, Putins calculation appears to be that the scarier he seems, the more political traction he has.

The confrontation with NATO wins points inside Russia where a majority sees the alliance as a threat. But Putin is not in a position to bully NATO in Eastern Europe or indeed haggle with the West using the standoff as a bargaining chip.

OPINION: Trump  Putins best frenemy

The attention of the US and other major players in NATO is focused on Russias moves in Syria. In their assessment, they have done enough to reassure the Eastern Europeans through enhanced forward presence as well as the enlargement to Montenegro (whose accession was recently endorsed by the US Senate).

Russia is talking again to the Atlantic Alliance, after ties were frozen in March 2014. Last month, the Russian chief of staff General Valery Gerasimov was on the phone with General Petr Pavel who heads NATOs Military Committee. There is a mechanism in place to avoid unwanted crises spiralling out of control.

Russia will continue probing NATO to expose the weak spots and the cracks in its defences. But one should not forget that it faces its own constraints. The economic crisis besetting Russia has already resulted in cuts of its defence spending. The ambitious modernisation programme of its arms forces is bound to slow down. Moscow is already overstretched in Eastern Ukraine and Syria.

Last but not least, 2018 will be an election year for Putin who will certainly win but will struggle hard to demonstrate that popular enthusiasm for his leadership has not waned.

Russia comes into the spotlight when it throws its weight around in international politics but, in truth, the important story is what goes on domestically in Russian society.

Dimitar Bechev is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and Research Fellow at University of North Carolina  Chapel Hill. He was formerly Senior Policy Fellow and Head of Sofia Office at the European Council on Foreign Relations and lecturer at the University of Oxford.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
World Food Programme says contract workers were hacked to death with machetes and shot in violence earlier this week.

The World Food Programme said on Friday it was horrified to learn that three of its South Sudanese workers were killed in violence that claimed at least 16 lives earlier this week.





The three men, contracted as porters, appear to have been killed while trying to get to a WFP warehouse amid fighting between rebel and government troops near the western city of Wau.

Two were hacked to death with machetes and one was shot dead, the UN agency said.

South Sudan, which split from Sudan in 2011, has been mired in a crisis since a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar escalated into a military conflict in 2013.

Joyce Luma, the WFP country director, said: We are outraged and heartbroken by the deaths of our colleagues, who worked every day to help provide life-saving food to millions of their fellow countrymen.

She called on South Sudanese authorities to hold the attackers accountable.

Prior to the killings of the WFP staff, the United Nations said at least 79 of its aid workers have been killed since December 2013.

Attacks on aid workers and obstruction of their work have contributed to a man-made famine affecting 100,000 people and threatening another one million in the country.

READ MORE: South Sudanese troops accused of civilian slaughter

Last month, three Kenyans and three South Sudanese aid workers were hauled from their vehicle and shot dead in an ambush  the deadliest single attack on aid workers since the war began.

Some 8,000 people have fled the clashes in Wau, the International Organisation for Migration said on Thursday. They join more than 3.5 million South Sudanese displaced by the war.

Witnesses told news agencies that government-aligned militia had targeted residents based on their ethnic group who are seen supporting the rebels.

The pattern of abuses by government forces against civilians in Wau has become predictable, with soldiers taking revenge against unarmed civilians based on their ethnicity, said Human Rights Watchs Daniel Bekele in a statement.

The UN said in December it had evidence of ethnic cleansing by both government forces and rebels.
Open letter from artists, poets and academics to PM accuses new law of seeking to close democratic institutions.

A group comprising leading writers, poets and academics from across the world is calling for an investigation into a law that could shut the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest.

The bill is seen as part of a wider crackdown on dissent in Hungary.

Award-winning poet and translator George Szirtes, a Briton who was born in Hungary, published the open letter to Viktor Orban, Hungarys prime minister, on April 10  the day the law was signed.

By time of publishing early on Friday, more than 600 people  including the Irish novelist Colm Toibin, Indian poet K Sachidananda and Kurdish poet, translator and painter Choman Hardi  had signed the petition.

OPINION: Why is Hungary trying to shut down a university?

The law reduces Europe, the letter reads. It weakens it. It takes it one step further to the edge of disintegration. It is vital to act quickly.

We ask for a period of intensive fact-finding into the legality of the Hungarian governments law  and its consequences for freedom of education, and for a process of mediation, bringing the parties together around the principle of European rule of law.

The new rule bars institutions based outside the European Union from awarding Hungarian diplomas without a binding agreement between national governments.

Liberal graduate school

Universities will also be required to have a campus and faculties in their home country  although registered in the US, the CEU  a liberal graduate school of social sciences  does not have a campus there.

We are deeply concerned about the passing of the disgraceful law intended to shut the CEU in Budapest., the signatories said. The law, intended for this one specific purpose, is the latest step taken by [Orban] to close out democratic institutions in the country, including press, media and NGOs.

CEU was founded by the Hungarian-born American magnate George Soros.

Tens of thousands took to the streets on April 10 in Budapest to protest the bill, signed by President Janos Ader, filling Kossuth Square outside parliament.

They called on Ader, from Orbans rightwing, populist Fidesz party, to veto the legislation.

Organisers said up to 80,000 people took part in the rally, making it the largest anti-government protest in years.

The English-language CEU has 1,800 students from 100 countries and is ranked in the top 50 universities for political and international studies in the World University Rankings list.

Foreign agents

Critics see the move as another attack by Orban on Soros, whom he accuses of seeking to meddle in politics and undermine Europe by promoting immigration into Europe.

Orban has alleged that nongovernmental organisations supported by Soros, including Transparency International, the corruption watchdog, and Hungarian Helsinki Committee, the rights-advocate, are foreign agents working against Hungarian interests.

A law expected to be passed in May would force NGOs getting more than 7.2 million forints ($24,500) a year from abroad to register with authorities.

OPINION: Orban, Hungary and the walls of Europe

On April 12, the EU threatened legal action in response to recent developments in Hungary.

Frans Timmermans, the first vice-president of the European Commission, said that the EC would also prepare a response to the Hungarian governments Lets stop Brussels! survey, which calls on citizens to answer questions relating to EU policies Orban decries.

As he invited Hungarians to participate in the survey, Orban wrote: The borders must be protected, and the regulation of taxes, wages and public utility charges must also remain in our hands.
Mike Pompeo lashes out at leakers of classified information in his first speech as spy agency chief.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo has called WikiLeaks a hostile intelligence service, using his first public speech as spy agency chief to denounce leakers of classified information.

Pompeo, in an address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank on Thursday, 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 Russias GRU military intelligence service used WikiLeaks to distribute material hacked from Democratic National Committee computers during the 2016 US presidential election.

US 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 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, then 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 US 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.

Damaging leaks

Pompeos 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.

OPINION: WikiLeaks CIA document dump will cause a ripple effect

Pompeo compared WikiLeaks and Assange to leakers of the pre-internet days like former CIA official Philip Agee.

Agees exposing the identities of undercover CIA agents was blamed for the assassination of the agencys Athens station chief in 1974.

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 agencys most sensitive programmes and shared them with journalists.

More than a thousand foreign targets, people, groups, organisations, 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.

US intelligence agencies have struggled to deal with insider threats  their own employees or contractors who steal classified materials and, in some cases, publicise them.
Residents tell of trauma and anxiety as buses transfer civilians and rebels from four towns as part of coordinated swap.

The transfer has begun in Syria of residents of two rebel-held towns in exchange for moving rebel fighters and civilians out of two other towns under an evacuation agreement.

Zabadani and Madaya, both located near the capital Damascus, are besieged by the army of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and allied fighters from Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia group.

Convoys of buses began transporting people from the two towns on Friday under a coordinated population swap that involves a total of four towns.

Fouaa and Kefraya, in northwestern Idlib province, are home to mostly Shia Muslims but have been encircled by Syrian rebels since March 2014.

Residents leaving them will be taken to government-held areas in adjoining Aleppo province.

Living in the unknown

Houssam Mahmmoud, a Madaya resident, was in one of the 60 buses taking civilians to Idlib on Friday.

I left my mother behind. She refused to leave her home and her land, he told Al Jazeera by Skype from the bus.





Two years under siege, hunger, air strikes, cold and rain [has] ended with displacement. We do not know where we are going to live.

Other departures planned for Friday have been postponed till Sunday.

We have been living in the unknown, only to be displaced to another unknown, said Mahmmoud.

[The coordinators] told us to pack one bag only. Each person was given one bag to pack his life and move away.

They woke us up at around 3am and told us we have to hurry. We ran like crazy trying to find our buses.

The transfer was scheduled to begin last week, but has been postponed at least four times.

In advance of the population transfer, at least 50 buses entered Zabadani and Madaya while 100 buses and 20 ambulances arrived in Fouaa and Kefraya on Thursday.

From Idlib to Aleppo

Al Jazeeras Hoda Abdel-Hamid, reporting on Friday from Hatay in southern Turkey near the Syrian border, said the buses started to move early in the morning.

The first buses that moved were the ones leaving Idlib. They have arrived in Aleppo province.

They are still in rebel-controlled areas in western Aleppo and will stay there for a while.

Those moving from Zabadani and Madaya have a much longer way to go through government-controlled areas because there is a lack of trust between the two sides.

The ones who have reached Aleppo will stay where they are until the others moving from Zabadani and Madaya reach rebel-controlled areas. This is a staggered movement of population.

An activist in Fouaa, who requested anonymity, told Al Jazeera that rockets targeted some of the buses on their way out, causing damage to one bus and injuring two people.

There are at least 7,500 people expecting to be evacuated, among them are at least 1,500 rebel fighters, he said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the UK-based monitoring group, said at least 2,100 residents, including rebel fighters, are due to be evacuated from Zabadani and Madaya and transported to Idlib.

INTERACTIVE: Idlib province  Who controls what

The transfer is part of a deal brokered by Iran and Qatar that will see more than 10,000 people evacuated and hundreds of prisoners exchanged.

According to the UN, at least 4.7 million people are living in hard-to-reach and besieged areas in Syria and are exposed to grave protection threats.

As the Syrian conflict enters its seventh year, more than 465,000 people have been killed in the fighting, more than a million injured and over 12 million Syrians  half the countrys prewar population  have been displaced from their homes.

With additional reporting by Diana al Rifai: @D_R_23
A total of 2,074 people brought to safety in a day of non-stop rescues of those stranded in the Mediterranean Sea.

More than 2,000 asylum seekers trying to reach Europe were plucked from the Mediterranean on Friday in a series of dramatic rescues.

An Italian coastguard spokesman said 19 rescue operations by the coastguard or ships operated by non-governmental organisations had saved a total of 2,074 people on 16 overcrowded rubber dinghies and three small wooden boats.

One person was found dead, the spokesman said.

The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) boats Prudence and Aquarius rescued some 1,145 people from nine different dinghies in non-stop operations.

So far today #Prudence and #Aquarius have saved ~1000 #people in 9 different boats from the sea. #EU states keep their blind eyes turned. pic.twitter.com/gWN5MzGoc9  MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) April 14, 2017

MSF later posted a video showing women singing with happiness after their rescue.

After a long and difficult day like this one, these voices and songs of joy and happiness are our best reward. pic.twitter.com/jiW2Yg2xXg  MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) April 14, 2017

The rest of the asylum seekers were picked up by the coastguard, the Phoenix  run by the Maltese Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS)  the German NGO Sea Eye and the German Jugends Iuventa.

In 19 years of covering the migration story, I have never experienced anything like today, said Reuters news agency photographer Darrin Zammit Lupi, who was aboard the Phoenix.

In one operation, it rescued 134 people, all from sub-Saharan counties, he said.

Fridays rescues come a day after a shipwreck left at least 97 migrants feared drowned off the coast of Libya.

According to the International Organisation for Migration, nearly 32,000 asylum seekers arrived in Europe by sea so far this year. More than 650 have died or are missing.

EUs border control agency, Frontex, has accused donor-funded vessels of doing more harm than good by sailing off Libya and acting like taxis, and Italian prosecutors have suggested they may have links with traffickers  a charge they have fiercely denied.

How many people would have crossed if we werent there today, Frontex? Probably the same. How many would have died? Probably, many more, MSF said on Twitter.

Where are Frontex boats in a day like this? it asked. EU states keep their blind eyes turned.

Frontex director says it's a paradox that 1/3 of rescues are done by NGOs. We agree. Where are @Frontex boats in a day like this? pic.twitter.com/MDs4VvCm8t  MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) April 14, 2017

Many more people could have died in a day like this if we arrived few hours later. We are where we're needed,what's the #EU doing meanwhile? pic.twitter.com/jrXFGMCWon  MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) April 14, 2017

MSF said in a tweet that one teenager was found dead in a rubber boat whose passengers were rescued by its ship Aquarius. In 2017, the sea continues to be a graveyard, it said.

A very difficult rescue today for the #Aquarius with one teenager found dead in a rubber boat. In 2017, the sea continues to be a graveyard. pic.twitter.com/2gVh5AOOcd  MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) April 14, 2017

In one rescue operation by MOAS, desperate refugees struggled to stay afloat after they slid off their rubber boat off the coast of Libya. Rescuers jumped into the water to help them.
Afghanistan shouldnt be a testing ground for new and dangerous weapons Hamid Karzai says after US drops mega-bomb.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned the US militarys deployment of the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat, saying Afghanistan should not be used as a testing ground for weapons.

The 9,797kg GBU-43  nicknamed the mother of all bombs  was dropped on Thursday from a MC-130 aircraft in Achin district of Nangarhar province, close to the border with Pakistan, according to the Pentagon.

The target was a series of caves and bunkers used by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Afghan officials said the massive blast killed at least 36 fighters and destroyed the deep tunnel complex.

US says mother of all bombs hits ISIL in Afghanistan

In a series of Twitter posts, Karzai said: 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.

It is upon us Afghans to stop the USA, he said.

I vehemently and in strongest words condemn the dropping of the latest weapon, the largest non-nuclear #bomb, on Afghanistan by US1/2  Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) April 13, 2017

2/2 military. This is not the war on terror but the inhuman and most brutal misuse of our country as testing ground for new and dangerous  Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) April 13, 2017

2/3 weapons. It is upon us,Afghans, to stop the #USA.  Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) April 13, 2017

A current Afghan official also denounced the bombing.

I find the use of the largest non-nuclear bomb, the so called mother of all bombs, on our soil reprehensible & counterproductive, Omar Zakhilwal, the Afghan envoy to Pakistan, also said on Twitter.

If big bombs were the solution, we would be the most secure place on earth today.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghanis office said in a statement the US attack was a part of a joint operation by Afghan and international troops.

Afghan and foreign troops closely coordinated this operation and were extra cautious to avoid any civilian casualties, it said.

US President Donald Trump called Thursdays operation a very, very successful mission.

Towering flames

The ultra-heavy explosive is equal to 11 tonnes of TNT with a blast radius of 1.6km.

At a village 5km from the remote, mountainous area where the bomb was dropped, witnesses said the ground shook from shockwaves, but homes and shops appeared unaffected.

Last nights bomb was really huge. When it dropped, everywhere, it was shaking, resident Palstar Khan told Reuters news agency, adding he believed no civilians were in the area hit.

He praised the strike, saying killing ISIL fighters was a positive move.

READ MORE: On the front line of Afghanistans battle with ISIL

The explosion was the biggest I have ever seen. Towering flames engulfed the area, local governor Esmail Shinwari told AFP news agency.

Inamullah Meyakhil, spokesman for a hospital in eastern Nangarhar, said the facility had received no dead or wounded from the attack.

ISIL denied it suffered any casualties. Security source to Amaq agency denies any dead or wounded from yesterdays American strike in Nangarhar using a GBU-43/B, the groups self-styled news agency said on social media accounts. ISIL rarely admits losses after such attacks.

The Taliban, meanwhile, condemned the bombing.

Using this massive bomb cannot be justified and will leave a material and psychological impact on our people, the armed group said in a statement.

Right time, right target

General John Nicholson, head of US and international forces in Afghanistan, said the weapon achieved its intended purpose.

Nicholson said the decision to use the bomb was based on his assessment of military needs and not broader political considerations.

This was the first time that we encountered an extensive obstacle to our progress, he said of a joint Afghan-US operation that has targeted ISIL since March. It was the right time to use it tactically against the right target on the battlefield.

The GBU-43 had never been used in combat since its first test in 2003.

READ MORE: Dear Donald Trump  Letters from Afghanistan

General Daulat Waziri, spokesman for the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense, said the death toll of ISIL fighters could rise. He said the bombing was necessary because the fortification was extremely hard to penetrate, with tunnels as deep as 40 metres.

It was a strong position and four times we had operations [attacking the site] and it was not possible to advance, he said, adding the road leading to the cave complex was full of mines.

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.

Mark Kimmitt, a retired brigadier-general in the US army and former deputy assistant secretary of defense, played down the use of the GBU-43, saying it is just another tool the military has.
PHOENIX -- Republican state lawmakers on Thursday agreed to impose two new sets of restrictions on initiatives that foes said in combination with already-approved measures will effectively deny the ability of voters to ever again propose their own laws.

SB 1236, approved by the House on a 35-23 party-line vote, would make the committee pushing a ballot measure financially responsible for any acts of fraud or forgery committed by anyone who is paid to gather signatures for the initiative. Those fines would be $1,000 for each violation.

That measure still needs final Senate approval.

Separately, the House gave give final approval to a Senate-passed bill to require that initiatives be in "strict compliance'' with election laws to get on the ballot. That change in HB 2244, which now goes to Gov. Doug Ducey for his anticipated signature after the 34-23 vote, would overturn prior rulings of the Arizona Supreme Court which have concluded that initiatives may be placed before voters if they are in "substantial compliance'' with the law.

The actions came after Rep. Ken Clark, D-Phoenix, urged colleagues to tread lightly.

"We have before us one of the gravest decisions we will ever make here, and that is whether to effectively shut down the initiative process for all but those, the richest interests, inside and out of the state,'' he argued. And Clark said that those imposing the new restrictions now may at some point in the future be sorry when they want to put something before voters, like extending the 0.6-cent sales tax that helps fund education, a levy that will otherwise self-destruct in 2020.

But House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, said the changes in initiative laws are not only appropriate but actually required. He said the Arizona Constitution directs lawmakers to enact measures dealing with voter registration "and other laws to secure the purity of elections and guard against abuses of the elective franchise.''

These two changes come just weeks after Ducey signed a third restriction, this one to outlaw what had been the widely used practice of paying petition circulators based on the number of signatures they gather. What that leaves is the more expensive method of paying people by the hour.

The timing of the three bills is not by happenstance.

Arizonans have had the right of initiative since the first days of statehood.

These come come on the heels of voters last fall approved increasing the state's minimum wage to $10 an hour -- $12 by 2020 -- and mandating that employers provide workers at least three days off a year for sick time. That came over objections of business interests.

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce then tried to have the initiative voided by the courts. And Rep. Isela Blanc, D-Tempe, said when that failed, the businesses turned to their allies at the Capitol.

"The people have not asked for this,'' she said. "It is the Chamber.''

That's not just rhetoric: Chamber President Glenn Hamer sent out an email earlier this week saying new restrictions on initiatives are part of the "to-do list'' for lawmakers.

Rep. Ray Martinez, D-Phoenix, was more blunt, saying the initiative process is being altered because public support for higher wages "pissed off a lot of people.''

Mesnard said the changes are necessary because a 1998 constitutional amendment keeps them from overturning what voters have approved. "There is no room for error,'' he said.

Repealing that would require taking the issue back to voters, something the Republican-controlled legislature has so far been unwilling to do. Instead, SB 1236 mandates that every piece of print advertising and fundraising solicitations for future initiatives must disclose that if the measure is approved it cannot be changed by the legislature except by a three-fourths vote and, even then, only if the amendment "furthers the purpose'' of the underlying measure.

Clark said that language is designed to provide a disincentive to people supporting the initiative. And he also contends it's illegal, amounting to compelling initiative backers to use their resources to advance an argument against their own interests.

But it is that penalty on initiative organizers that Clark said will chill the desire of most groups to propose future ballot measures.

Rep. Heather Carter, R-Cave Creek, said the penalty is appropriate.

"As the committee chair, it is my responsibility as the chairperson of that referendum or initiative committee to make sure that the committee is doing their proper work and they are not committing cases of fraud or forgery,'' she said. "And you do that by properly training your paid circulators.''

Anyway, Carter said, it's not like the idea of holding the organization financially responsible for the acts of people it pays is so unusual, "just as if I were as a business owner.''

Blanc separately lashed out against Republicans for adopting the requirement for initiative circulators to be in "strict compliance'' with election laws but not imposing doing the same for their own candidate petitions.

"There's a level of hypocrisy that I just can't understand,'' she said.
Clashes between Pakistani military and Taliban fighters in Dera Ghazi Khan leave three soldiers and nine Taliban dead.

Islamabad, Pakistan  At least nine suspected Pakistan Taliban fighters and three soldiers have been killed in an attack following a joint military and police raid in the central district of Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistans military says.

Two soldiers were also wounded in the clash, which targeted a suspected Taliban hideout in the Basti Dadwani area of Dera Ghazi Khan, about 490km south of the capital Islamabad, the military said in a statement.

Pakistan Ranger units  a paramilitary force  were carrying out a search operation in the area to arrest other suspects, it said.

Fridays raid came as part of the militarys Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (Elimination of Chaos), launched in the wake of a string of suicide bombings and attacks that killed at least 130 people across Pakistan in February.

Pakistan has launched a series of military operations since 2007 targeting the Pakistan Taliban, known as TTP, and its allies, mostly in the countrys tribal areas.

The last operation, Zarb-e-Azb, was launched in 2014 and targeted Pakistan Taliban bases in their northwestern stronghold of North Waziristan.

Over the course of two years, that operation expanded from North Waziristan to include military raids in towns and urban centres across the country. Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, Pakistans military says, aims to continue to consolidate gains made during Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Last year, Pakistans military said it had killed at least 3,500 fighters belonging to the Pakistan Taliban and other armed groups. In the process, at least 583 soldiers were killed, the military says.
Rescuers search for survivors after fire caused the 91-metre-tall rubbish dump to collapse, burying dozens of homes.

A landslide at a massive waste site in Sri Lankas capital killed at least 19 people, authorities said on Saturday, as emergency workers dug into the mountain of rubbish to save survivors buried in dozens of houses.

The 91-metre high rubbish dump at the northeastern edge of Colombo collapsed on Friday when a fire broke out at its top, engulfing the mountain of rubbish in flames and triggering a landslide that swamped the homes below.

A 13-year-old boy and two girls aged 14 and 15 were among the dead, said Pushpa Soysa, head nurse at the main Colombo hospital.

Three other people pulled from the wreckage of their homes were already deceased by the time they arrived at the hospital, she said.

Another four children  two boys and two girls aged between 11 and 15  succumbed to their wounds overnight, Soysa said on Saturday.

We remain on standby, some people who were pulled out of wrecked homes were brought in overnight, she told the AFP news agency.

The fire broke out as the country marked its traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year, and most people were in their houses celebrating.

Sri Lankas government deployed hundreds of troops and police to dig through mounds of rubbish for survivors.

More than 600 people have fled their homes. Estimates ranged from 40 to 100 homes swamped by the fallen rubbish.

Police spokesman Priyantha Jayakody said police were investigating whether the collapse was a natural disaster or a deliberate act of sabotage.

Roughly 800 tonnes of solid waste is added daily to the 23 million tonnes of rubbish rotting at the open dump at Kolonnawa on the northeastern edge of the capital.

Residents in the area have been demanding the removal of the dump, saying it was causing health issues. The government had planned to clear it soon under a new infrastructure plan.
Vice foreign minister says Pyongyang fully prepared for any American attack and vows to bolster nuclear arsenal.

A North Korean official says his country is ready for war if the United States attacks as a US aircraft carrier group heads for the region. There is speculation that Pyongyang may conduct a sixth nuclear weapons test on Saturday.

Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the Associated Press that North Korea changed its military strategy two years ago when reports emerged of US-South Korea decapitation-strike training to stress pre-emptive actions of its own.

Weve got a powerful nuclear deterrent already in our hands, and we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US pre-emptive strike, he said. Whatever comes from the US, we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it.

He vowed North Korea will keep building up its nuclear arsenal in quality and quantity.

READ MORE: North Korea says its not afraid of US military strike





Tensions between Pyongyang and Washington go back to the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

But the heat has been rising rapidly since US President Donald Trump took office in January.

This years joint war games between the US and South Korean militaries are the biggest so far.

The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier has been diverted back to the waters off the Korean peninsula after heading for Australia , and US satellite imagery suggests the North could conduct another underground nuclear test at any time.

China said on Friday tension over North Korea had to be stopped from reaching an irreversible and unmanageable stage, while Japanese media have said the government in Tokyo is also discussing how to cope with a possible flood of North Korean refugees.

Trump has threatened that if China is not willing to do more to squeeze the North over its nuclear and missile programmes, the US might take matters into its own hands.

READ MORE: China  Military force wont halt North Korea threat

North Koreas military chimed in on Friday saying it would ruthlessly ravage the United States if it chose to attack.

Our toughest counteraction against the US and its vassal forces will be taken in such a merciless manner as not to allow the aggressors to survive, North Koreas official KCNA news agency quoted its military as saying in a statement.

North Korea recently tested a ballistic missile and claims it is close to perfecting an intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear warhead that could attack the US mainland.

Many analysts believe at its current pace of testing, North Korea could reach that potentially game-changing milestone within a few years  under Trumps watch as president.

The North conducted two nuclear weapon tests last year alone. The first was of what it claims to have been a hydrogen bomb and the second was its most powerful ever.

Expectations are high that the North may put its newest missiles on display during Saturdays massive military parade that marks the Day of the Sun, the 105th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il-sung.

Han also did not rule out the possibility of a new nuclear bomb test in the near future.

That is something that our headquarters decides, he said. At a time and at a place where the headquarters deems necessary, it will take place.

READ MORE: North Korea and mounting tensions  The view from Seoul

Annual US-South Korea military exercises have consistently infuriated the North, which views them as rehearsals for an invasion. Washington and Seoul deny that.

Han said Trumps Twitter statements have also added fuel to the flames.

Trump posted a tweet on Tuesday in which he said the North is looking for trouble and reiterated his call for more pressure from Beijing, North Koreas economic lifeline, to clamp down on trade and strengthen its enforcement of UN sanctions to persuade Pyongyang to denuclearise

Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words, Han said. Its not the DPRK but the US and Trump that makes trouble.
David Dao suffered a broken nose and concussion as he was violently removed from a flight in Chicago, lawyer says.

The man dragged off a United Airlines flight in an incident that sparked an international uproar suffered a broken nose and concussion, his lawyer said, adding that he is planning to sue.

David Dao has been released from the hospital, attorney Thomas Demetrio said at a news conference on Thursday during which a member of Daos family spoke out for the first time.

Daos lawyers filed a petition in court requesting that the city, which operates OHare International Airport, and United Airlines preserve evidence related to the incident. 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 were going to be treated going forward, Demetrio said.

For a long time, airlines, United in particular, have bullied us.

David Dao, a 69-year-old Vietnamese-American doctor, was hospitalised after Chicago aviation police dragged him from the plane to make space for four crew members on the flight from the citys OHare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky.

Demetrio said Dao had told him that being dragged down the plane aisle was more terrifying than his experience fleeing Vietnam in 1975.

The lawyer said the law stated that passengers could not be ejected from planes with unreasonable force.

Chicago runs the airport and the citys department of aviation employs the three officers who dragged Dao off the plane.

Horrified, shocked and sickened

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 Sundays incident taken by other passengers and showing Dao being dragged up the plane aisle and with a bloodied mouth circulated rapidly, causing public outrage.

Daos daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper, told the news conference that the family was horrified, shocked and sickened by what happened to her father.

One of Daos five children, Pepper, 33, called him a wonderful father and loving grandfather who had been returning from vacation in California.

What happened to my dad should have never happened to any human being, she said.

Demetrio and a second attorney, Stephen Golan, said neither they nor the family had heard from United yet.

United, in a statement, said CEO Oscar Munoz and the company called Dr Dao on numerous occasions to express our heartfelt and deepest apologies. The company did not say how it would respond to any litigation, or whether the airline would try to settle.

Daos 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 the incident, which would be a precursor to a lawsuit.

At a later city council aviation committee meeting, Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans said the department was investigating the incident and reviewing its training.

United Vice President John Slater said he was not at liberty to say who called the aviation police, but ruled out the planes captain. United has no set policy for physically forcing passengers to deboard, he added.

CEO Munoz is under pressure to contain a torrent of bad publicity and calls to boycott United, including from China, where people have been angered because Dao was an Asian-American passenger.

Demetrio said he does not believe Daos race played a role in what happened.
Amid shortages of food and medicine, thousands take to Caracas streets as campaign to topple the president turns deadly.

Fresh clashes have erupted between police and protesters rallying against the Venezuelan government as a fifth person reportedly dies after being shot during earlier unrest.

Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets in eastern Caracas amid a tropical downpour on Thursday to support a protest movement that appears to be gaining steam even as it turns more deadly.

Venezuela officials confirmed later in the day that a fifth person had died in the wave of anti-government protests now entering its third week.

The public prosecutors office says it will investigate the death of Miguel Colmenares, 36.

He was shot at during a protest in the central city of Barquisimeto on Tuesday.

Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelas socialist president, is fighting off efforts to topple him as Venezuela 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.

Alfonso Marquina, an opposition politician, on Twitter identified the latest death as Antonio Gruseny Calderon and called him another victim of the dictatorship.

Marquina and officials earlier said a 13-year-old boy was shot dead in protests on Tuesday in Barquisimeto.

Maduro supporters blamed

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.

WATCH: Venezuela protesters mount pressure on President Maduro

Also on Thursday, Jose Manuel Olivares, another opposition legislator, 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.

While demonstrations are often held in middle-class neighbourhoods, this most recent wave of unrest for the first time has prompted protests in the slums that have historically been bastions of support for the socialist revolution launched nearly two decades ago by Hugo Chavez, the late president.
Motive not apparent but home minister pledges to hunt down unnamed assailants targeting police officers and civilians.

Officials say eight Tanzanian police officers have been ambushed and killed while returning from patrol outside the commercial hub of Dar es Salaam.

The attack happened on Thursday night in an area called Jaribu.

Ernest Mangu, police chief, said on Friday that the identities of the assailants are unknown.

Times like these require the nation to be together. We mourn our men in uniforms and send condolences to families. #BungaMassacres  Zitto MwamiRuyagwa Kabwe (@zittokabwe) April 13, 2017

The assailants first fired at the driver of the patrol vehicle before killing seven other officers and seizing their weapons.

An investigation has been launched into the killings, he said, adding that the motive was not immediately apparent.

President John Magufuli said in a message to the police chief that I cant even describe how bad this is.

Mwigulu Nchemba, home affairs minister, says he has increased the number of police to hunt down assailants who have killed dozens of police and civilians in recent months.
Allied foreign ministers meet in Moscow over Syrian war and warn Washington following cruise missile strike on airbase.

Russia has denounced last weeks US attack on Syria and warned further such action would derail global security.

The US has said its strike on a Syrian air force base was in response to the Syrian government, which it blamed for launching a deadly chemical attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province that killed at least 87 people.

Russia has claimed the victims were killed by toxic agents released from a rebel chemical arsenal and has pushed for an international probe.

As he hosted his Iranian and Syrian counterparts in Moscow on Friday for a trilateral meeting focused on the Syrian civil war, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said similar attacks would have grave consequences not only for regional but global security.

READ MORE: Syrias war explained from the beginning

We have reiterated our position and were united in stating that the attack was an act of aggression, which blatantly violated the principles of international law and the UN Charter, Lavrov said.

We call on the US and its allies to respect Syrias sovereignty and refrain from actions similar to what happened on April 7, and which have serious ramifications not only for regional, but also global security.





We will not allow the peace process to be disrupted, he added.

The three countries are calling for two investigations, an independent probe into the chemical attack and another investigation into the US missile strike.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem welcomed international inspectors to visit the base, which Washington claimed had served as a platform for the attack.

The Syrian government repeatedly said it does not have chemical weapons. That is because they were all seized in 2014. What happened in Khan Sheikhoun is a fabrication and the Syrian air force did not target anyone with chemical weapons.

We did not use them against terrorist groups or on our own people. We condemn any use of chemical weapons, Muallem said.

In Russias view, the preliminary probe conducted by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the UNs chemical watchdog, should be widened to include experts from many nations, said Lavrov.

If our US colleagues and some European nations believe that their version is right, they have no reason to fear the creation of such an independent group, he said. The investigation into this high-profile incident must be transparent and leave no doubt that someone is trying to hide something.

Al Jazeeras Rory Challands, reporting from Moscow, said Russia, Syria, and Iran were likely to be concerned the Tomahawk missile barrage could signal deeper US involvement in the Syrian conflict.

WATCH: Can Russia abandon Assad?

Up until that missile strike, the US had essentially been reluctant to commit militarily against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It had kept itself fighting ISIL and supporting rebel groups on the ground, Challands said.

Lavrov met earlier this week with his US counterpart Rex Tillerson in Moscow for talks that also focused on the Syrian conflict.

Tillerson emphasised the need to rebuild US-Russian ties, but at the same time condemned Russias support for Assad.

The United States has implicated the Assad government in crimes against humanity, including attacks on civilians with chemical weapons.

Assad said on Thursday the alleged poison gas attack in Khan Sheikhoun was a fabrication to justify a US military strike.
Another suspect escaped after he was taken into custody in connection with last months murder of two UN investigators.

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have arrested two suspects in connection to last months killing of two UN investigators, but one of the prisoners has escaped, according to a senior prosecutor.

The announcement was the first reported sign of progress in an inquiry into the deaths of American Michael Sharp and Swede Zaido Catalan, investigators monitoring UN Security Council sanctions against individuals and armed groups in Congo.

Their bodies were discovered in a shallow grave in late March, two weeks after they disappeared in the remote and sparsely populated Kasai-Central province.

Their Congolese interpreter and three Congolese motorbike drivers who accompanied them have not yet been found, according to the United Nations.

General Joseph Ponde, the armys top prosecutor, did not say when the two suspects were arrested, but said the remaining one had been transferred between facilities on April 4  meaning the operation must have happened more than a week ago.

He referred to the one suspect in custody, Daniel Mbayi Kabasele, as an insurgent.

READ MORE: UN renews smaller DRC peacekeeping force

Four police officers responsible for guarding the suspects had been arrested following the escape, he told journalists.

The UN mission in Congo had no immediate comment.

Millions died in regional conflicts in eastern Congo between 1996 and 2003, most from hunger and disease, and dozens of armed groups continue to fight over natural resources and prey on the civilian population.

Hundreds have been killed and more than one million displaced since last August in central Congos Kasai region owing to fighting between a local militia and security forces. The United Nations has identified at least 23 mass graves.

Their disappearance is the first time UN experts have been reported missing in Congo, Human Rights Watch said.
Activists hold rallies amid anger that government efforts to negotiate the schoolgirls freedom have stalled.

Nigerians on Friday marked three years since the mass abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls by the armed Boko Haram group.

Activists rallied in major cities to urge President Muhammadu Buharis government to do more to free the 195 schoolgirls who remain captive. Efforts to negotiate their freedom appear to have stalled.

It is still a nightmare to me. It is still fresh as if it happened last night, said Rebecca Samuel, whose daughter Sarah remains missing. The government is trying, but I believe they can do more than what they are doing.

READ MORE: Alarming rise in Boko Haram child suicide bombers

After a few of the girls escaped on their own, Nigeria announced the release of 21 of the Chibok schoolgirls in October after negotiating with the group. It said another group of 83 girls would be released very soon.

No one has been freed since then, however.

The government this week said negotiations have gone quite far but face challenges. It refused to give details, citing security reasons.

Buhari on Friday said Nigeria is willing to bend over backwards to secure the schoolgirls release.

It is deeply shocking that three years after this deplorable and devastating act of violence, the majority of the girls remain missing, a group of six United Nations human rights experts, which visited Nigeria last year, said in a statement.

The experts also highlighted the fact that Boko Haram kidnapped thousands of other women and children in past years, most of whom also remain missing.

Amnesty International said it had documented at least 41 other mass abductions by Boko Haram since the beginning of 2014.

READ MORE: Chibok girl recalls miracle release by Boko Haram

The failure of Nigerias former government to free the Chibok girls sparked a global Bring Back Our Girls movement and was a factor in Buharis 2015 election win over the former president, Goodluck Jonathan.

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, Buhari said.

Even at that, their reach is very much confined to a small segment of the northeast.

Boko Harams seven-year uprising has killed more than 20,000 people and driven 2.6 million from their homes. The Chibok schoolgirls have become a symbol of the fighting.
We speak to Marine Le Pens campaign adviser Jean Messiha, and debate what Emmanuel Macron has to offer.

Its election time in France and the first round has become unpredictable, with the polls showing different candidates in the lead, depending on the poll. Who will move on to the second round? And has this race already changed Frances politics for ever?

In this weeks UpFront, we speak to Jean Messiha, the project coordinator for Frances conservative National Front, on whether or not his party has done enough to distance itself from its former controversial leader Jean-Marie Le Pen.

And in the Arena, Socialist Party adviser Laura Slimani debates with Benjamin Haddad on whether his candidate, centrist Emmanuel Macron, will bring change or just more continuity to French politics.

How much has Frances National Front changed?

I dont think France is responsible for the Vel dHiv, conservative French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen told a broadcaster recently, claiming the rounding-up of Jews during World War II was not France.

For many, the inflammatory remarks contradicted her attempts to distance her National Front party from her father and the partys controversial founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen.

According to Messiha, the National Front has moved on from its contentious past.

Our project is englobing; its inclusive, not exclusive, says Messiha. You are talking about history. Dont take the Front National of the 70s as a reference.

When asked about reports of National Front employee Frederic Chatillon commemorating Adolf Hitlers birthday, Messiha called it propaganda.

This is total lies, says Messiha. This is propaganda from the French media who do not want to listen to us on our project.

Today the Front National is a structure that gathered 30 percent, almost, of the vote, says Messiha.

In this special interview, Messiha defends his partys controversial positions on societal and political issues.

Arena  Macron: Mr Continuity, or candidate of change?

On April 23, French voters head to the polls to elect a new leader.

Although polls are quite close, Emmanuel Macron is joint favourite with the National Fronts Marine Le Pen to make it through the first round of the presidential election.

But is his En Marche! movement a breath of fresh air in French politics? Or is he the establishment candidate set to continue many of the unpopular neoliberal policies of the past decade?

Hes just a conservative with a new book cover; its the same book, its the same solutions, says Laura Slimani, adviser to Socialist presidential candidate Benoit Hamon.

Its the solutions that the right and the left sometimes have tried for the past 30 years: liberalising the labour market, reducing public spending, harming our public services, not giving any rights.

One of Macrons campaign advisers, Benjamin Haddad, disagrees, claiming hes the only favourable candidate.

Hes the only one whos running on a positive and optimistic platform when it comes to Europe, says Haddad.

If Macron wasnt a candidate today, wed have a huge risk of having Marine Le Pen being elected. I think hes the best barrier against her.

In this weeks Arena, Laura Slimani and Benjamin Haddad debate whether Macron will bring change to France, or if it will be more of the same.

Follow UpFront on Twitter @AJUpFront and Facebook
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  A Navajo Nation man has been charged with murder and other crimes in the March 11 killing of a tribal police officer.

A federal indictment announced Thursday charges 32-year-old Kirby Cleveland with three types of murder plus escape and firearms counts.

The murder and weapons charges stem from the killing of Officer Houston James Largo. He was gunned down after he stopped a vehicle on a dark road while responding to a domestic violence call in rural New Mexico.

An escape charge alleges Cleveland escaped Feb. 26 from a halfway house.

Officials say U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will decide whether to seek life or death if Cleveland is convicted of the most serious charges.

A defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations.
While UF student Robert Ocampo spends the end of Spring determining how hell earn credits for his Chinese minor, I-Chun Peir uses the back entrance into her office.

Peir leaves campus as soon as possible every day. To use the restroom, shell walk downstairs.

She cant risk running into her coworkers. She says it hurts too much.

When I see their face, I have a wound, and it puts salt on my wound, Peir said. I dont want them to see any (of) my sorrows.

Peir was involved with the UF in Chengdu Summer abroad program for nine years and has been the main director for several years. According to the study abroad website, the price of the trip ranges from about $3,300 to $4,150, not including airfare. Peir said miscommunication surrounding the program led to her removal, and after feeling like she was being treated unfairly, she resigned last month.

The program was subsequently canceled, leaving students like Ocampo, who were registered for the trip, confused.

Right now, I dont want to resign, Peir said. I was so emotional.

She said her resignation was in anticipation of her being fired, but she hoped to finish out her job this Spring and go to Chengdu with her students.

An email from the then-head of the Languages, Literature and Culture department, Ingrid Kleespies, said due to issues surrounding management of the Chengdu program, Peir would be removed from administration. When Peir followed up and asked for her to appeal the decision, Kleespies said the choice was final.

Kleespies declined to comment on anything regarding the Chengdu program and Peir. The current department chair, Akintunde Akinyemi, also declined to comment.

She didnt want to give me a second chance, Peir said. Its unfair to me and my Summer A students.

On March 8, 12 days after Peir resigned and Kleespies took her off the program, an email was sent out to the 17 students who were registered for the program and had already organized their schedules and were expecting to travel to Chengdu in just a few months.

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It said the program would be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.

  

Peir still doesnt know exactly why she was removed.

She said she suspects its because of two decisions she made for the program, but defends them as being fair.

The first was letting her husband, Jih-Kwon Peir, be hired as a teaching assistant for the Summer program. Jih-Kwon, a UF computer and information science and engineering associate professor, was unofficially helping Peir with the Chengdu program from the beginning, she said.

Peir said when she mentioned the extent of his role to officials in the International Center, Susanne Hill, the executive director, said she would be happy to pay him.

When Peir was removed from the program, her husband was as well.

We dont really want to be any trouble, but we feel its unfair, Jih-Kwon Peir said.

Hill also declined to comment.

  

Before both she and her husband were removed from the program, Peir said she was called into a meeting about textbooks. Instead, the discussion turned to her decisions with Chengdu.

Every person just point(ed) to me, she said. Why you put your husband, I say, I didnt do that, UFIC initialed that.

She said her removal also could involve confusion surrounding the trips budget, which she organizes. Peir said she thought the budget had enough money to prevent the cost of the trip being raised by $300 a student.

In an email to the department, Hill said $4,000 was removed from the budget after Peir looked at it. Before Peir could see the email and reply that there was a misunderstanding, both Kleespies and another professor had already replied with confusion.

Peir sent a follow-up email saying that the budget had been enough to cover everything, including a teaching assistant for the department that others were concerned about.

I dont know if she misunderstood, Peir said. Thats why I tried to clear everything.

She said she thought the email would solve the confusion, but then Kleespies emailed her asking to meet regarding her status.

Peir said she jumped to the worst conclusion, thinking of the last meeting where she felt ambushed.

So instead of attending, Peir submitted her resignation but asked to remain for the Summers Chengdu program.

My health condition and the recent events have really taken a toll this year, Peir wrote in her resignation letter. I feel very tired, untrusted and unappreciated.

After being told she wouldnt be directing the Chengdu program, Peir tried to appeal. Kleespies said the decision was final, and Hill said the decision was up to the department.

I emailed everybody, but it looks like nobody listened to that, Peir said. I think they already made a decision at the beginning to just take me off.

  

Robert Ocampo, a 19-year-old UF mathematics sophomore, set aside money designated for rent to fund his trip to Chengdu.

He worked more hours at the OConnell Center to raise the money for the program.

Now, Ocampo wont have to spend the money. But hell have to find a way to earn the class credits.

I kind of had this plan in mind of how I was going to go about the Chinese minor, and it just sort of got chopped up a little bit, he said.

Ocampo said hes unable to afford other programs to China, even with scholarships UF is offering for those who were registered for Chengdu.

Ocampo said the only explanation he heard regarding the trips cancellation was budget issues.

I would assume that kind of thing is done and taken care of before students have finished applying for the program, he said.

  

Peir doesnt know whats next.

She said shell miss teaching her students, many of whom she viewed as her children.

Photos of her with students in Chengdu sit on her offices windowsill. In a few days, shell pack up the pictures, signed by each student, and leave.

In case my innocence could be proved as innocent, then I will feel good, she said. Because now I feel they treat me not fair, and they treat my students not fair.

Contact Romy Ellenbogen at rellenbogen@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @romyellenbogen

Erica Drayer, a 19-year-old UF cultural anthropology sophomore, pets Xixi, a giant panda in May 2014 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Pandas Breeding in Chengdu, China. Drayer is one of 28 UF students studying abroad in Chengdu for a six-week Chinese language program.
Lisa Scott wants to change UFs parental-leave policy.

As soon as she accepted a position at the university nearly two years ago, Scott said she heard colleagues complain about the limited options available to pregnant faculty members.

Upon starting work as an associate professor in the psychology department, the 40-year-old  who wasnt planning on having any more children  joined the United Faculty of Florida union in hopes of making the universitys policy more accommodating toward other women in the years to come.

In the 2015 UF Faculty and Staff Climate Survey, although an exact number was not disclosed, Several respondents expressed concern over the way UF handles maternity-related issues.

The universitys parental-leave policy allows non-union members a one-year window to initiate a six-month period of leave, during which theyll be paid for six weeks. Those wanting to spend more time with their newborns and still get paid are also able to accumulate paid sick leave and vacation, which Scott said can take years to collect.

Twenty-three percent of the climate surveys respondents commented on work-life issues, including child care and maternity leave. One respondent wrote We dont have maternity leave. Plain and simple. Another wrote The current parental leave is a joke. UF wants to be a top 5 university? Then have a parental leave that matches that.

On Jan. 1, after negotiations between the United Faculty of Floridas bargaining unit and UFs provosts office, UFF members were granted a 12-week paid parental leave.

Over the course of six years, faculty members within UFF must eventually pay back the paid time with their sick and vacation days.

Non-union faculty members wouldnt benefit.

Although Scott said she believes the new bargaining-unit benefit is a step in the right direction, its just not enough.

Twelve weeks is still not going to be effective for faculty members, she said. I wouldve loved to have seen a semester-off paid leave. We need to have a clear and consistent policy that can be supportive across the board.

Unsupportive parental-leave policies put women in academia at a disadvantage in regard to obtaining promotions, tenure and competitive offers, Scott said.

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Men are able to go out easily on the market to do that, and women cant because the policies here dont put women on a level playing field, Scott said. Theres what they call a leaky-pipeline problem, in that women tend to drop out of academia.

In a 2016 study published by the Institute of Labor Economics, three economists found that gender-neutral parental policies adopted by institutions such as large research universities can advance mens career paths at the expense of female colleagues.

Family leave policies that allow women to take short periods of time off do not adequately account for the fact that the productivity loss associated with starting a family persists over a much longer time horizon than a few weeks surrounding childbirth, the authors wrote. Having children may therefore reduce the probability that women are promoted because early productivity falls despite the existence of short family leave programs.

UF Human Resources director Stewart King said the universitys parental-leave policy is often misunderstood, and that other universities arent doing much better.

The University of South Floridas policy allows all faculty members to take an entire semester, 19.5 weeks, of paid leave. However, if a faculty member permanently leaves the university soon after, they must forfeit their accumulated sick and vacation time.

At Florida State University, union-affiliated faculty members are eligible to take 12 weeks of paid leave after the birth of a child, similar to UFs policy.

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, employers with 50 employees or more must give workers 12 weeks of unpaid leave following childbirth or the adoption of a child. However, there is no legal obligation to provide additional payment.

King said although no formal complaints about the policy have been lodged with the HR department or provosts office, the universitys administration is looking at different options to improve the environment for new parents at UF.

I would encourage young women wanting to have a child or family to move forward with her life, King said. We recognize that its about work-life balance, so were doing all different types of things at the University of Florida to make sure that employees can take advantages of benefits.

King said UF administrators are considering the possibility of creating a 12-week paid leave policy for the entire university, not just for those who are a part of the union.

It is tough given the fact that women are the ones who do the physical labor and all the different things that are required to have a child, King said. So all the more reason to look at the issue, look at the policy.

Lori Knackstedt had her second child while working as an assistant psychology professor. To adjust, she took an entire Fall semester off.

The following Spring, Knackstedt doubled her workload to make up for lost paychecks. As a new mother, she said it was a less-than-ideal option.

Deepthi Varma, an assistant professor in UFs epidemiology department, said women  especially first-time mothers  need about six months after the birth of a child to bond with their baby and learn new skills like breastfeeding.

These skills become really difficult to learn and master, and thats why you need way more time to be able to spend at home with your baby, she said.

Knackstedt, a non-union member, said the 12-week leave for those who are eligible still doesnt provide full coverage, especially if a womans due date falls in the middle of the semester.

Although Knackstedt was eventually able to make up for lost time, her increased workload took away from the time she would otherwise have spent conducting research, one of the most important components for advancing her career in academia.

UF isnt worse off than other universities in terms of their policy, Knackstedt said. Instead, she thinks poor parental-leave options for females in academia are a nationwide problem. Universities in general have a tendency to not prioritize womens issues, she said.

What administrators might not realize is that these policies that are on the books are really affecting womens choices to have kids, Knackstedt said.

Retired UF sociology professor John Scanzoni said the university is obviously saving money by only granting six weeks of paid leave to those outside the union.

Scanzoni, who taught classes on gender relationships and families at UF, said he thinks the universitys administration just doesnt consider parental-leave policies to be a critical issue.

I dont know why UF is dragging its heels on this, Scanzoni said. Theyre always talking about making UF a top-10 school, and my hunch is  if our leave is only six weeks  well fall far behind.

Contact Molly Vossler at mvossler@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @molly_vossler
He once received an honorary knighthood from the King of Spain.

A bridge in St. Augustine was named in his honor.

President John F. Kennedy shook his hand four days before Kennedy was assassinated.

Those who knew Michael Gannon look back fondly on his remarkable life, one that saw him become a priest, pilot and professor. An author, talk show host and foreign correspondent.

A husband and mentor.

It was a nearly nine-decade life, one that ended Tuesday morning when the longtime UF professor died of natural causes at the age of 89.

His life was kind of like Forrest Gump, said Steve Orlando, a UF spokesperson and friend of Gannon. I mean, he just did everything.

Courtesy to The Alligator Gannon, a Catholic priest, presented former President John F. Kennedy with a copy of the oldest written document on American record from St. Augustine. Four days after their meeting, JFK was assassinated.



It was 1968 when Gannon boarded a plane bound for Vietnam.

War was raging, and Gannon figured he would spend his summer vacation absorbing the horrors of war.

As the war heated up, students fearful of the draft would seek advice from Gannon. Wanting to be able to better advise them, Gannon decided to see what was going on for himself.

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To get to Vietnam, Gannon applied for a press pass with the Florida Catholic, a newspaper that covers most of Florida. He photographed and interviewed people during the war for pieces published in the newspaper and the Gainesville Sun. From hospital wards to orphanages to the war field, Gannon conducted interviews and came to believe the war in Vietnam was immoral.

I think when he came back, it was always in his mind that he was teaching a lot of students who might very well soon be the next causalities in the war, said James Cusick, a curator at the P. K. Yonge Library of Florida History who met Gannon as a graduate student in 1985.

Seeing the war had a large impact on Gannon, Cusick said. He took on the de facto role of mediating between UFs administration and students during anti-war protests.

He interceded numerous times when it seemed like the demonstrations would get violent or where there would be police action against them, Cusick said.

At one 1972 protest, Gannon was hit with a police baton after stopping an officer from throwing tear gas at students.

During the demonstration, students had taken refuge in Krystal Hamburger, a restaurant formerly located where the Chipotle on West University Avenue now sits. Gannon feared if an officer threw tear gas into the building, it would incite panic and cause the students to crash through the restaurants glass storefront, harming or killing them.

He grabbed the officers arm and told him to stop, and a second officer responded by hitting Gannon with his baton.



Gannon addressed a crowd inside the University Auditorium.

His baritone voice served as comfort in the wake of the 9/11 terror attack.

When he began to speak in that deep, booming voice, it was amazing, Orlando said. It had a calming effect on everybody.

Gannons voice, a practiced, radio-smooth tone perfected during his time as an announcer for the South Carolina Gamecocks, has been preserved in recordings of his history lectures.

Steven Noll, a UF professor with the history department, met Gannon as a graduate student in the mid-1980s. He remembers Gannons unbelievable voice.

Michael Gannon could hold an audience still by just reading a phonebook because his voice was so amazing, he said.

Gannon impressed him, Noll admitted, adding that he currently uses one of Gannons books on Florida history to teach his own class.

(He was) somebody who was much more worldly, and somebody who doesnt remind you of an academic even though his academic credentials are fairly impeccable, Noll said. Thats what made him so good, is he could talk in both worlds.



Ask his wife, and shell say a life as full as his shouldnt be mourned.

It should be celebrated.

Haugen said Gannon was always curious, always busy and always dedicated to serving the generations of students he taught over 36 years at UF.

She hopes others remember him for that.

We are not going to mourn a very fine life. A life filled with laughter, friends, good works, justice, Genevieve Haugen said. So we will celebrate his life.

Contact Romy Ellenbogen at rellenbogen@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @romyellenbogen

Michael Gannon, a UF professor with the history department, died Tuesday morning at the age of 89. He was a lifelong advocate for students.
An Alachua County mans chicken-and-vodka dinner was interrupted Wednesday night  by the woman whose house he broke into.

Ronald Gregory Wesly

Ronald Gregory Wesly, 34, was arrested after entering the Archer, Florida, home, removing a chicken from the womans refrigerator and frying the poultry while drinking her Smirnoff vodka, according to an arrest report.

He broke into the home, in the 1000 block of SW 183rd Ave., after the woman left for work, according to the report.

When she returned at about 9 p.m., she found him, kicked him out and called the cops, according to the report.

The woman told deputies with the Alachua County Sheriffs Office that she last saw Wesly walking west on Southwest 183rd Avenue.

Upon arriving to the scene, deputies found fresh footprints in the sand road heading west, and a K-9 unit was deployed to locate Wesly.

Wesly was found standing on Southwest 178th Terrace, but did not comply with a deputys verbal commands to get on the ground, according to the report. Rous, the K-9 unit, then apprehended Wesly on his left arm.

Paramedics provided Wesly with medical treatment before he was taken to the Alachua County Jail. Wesly had two prior convictions of theft in April 2014 in Levy County, which makes this theft charge a felony, according to the report.

Police arrested Wesly on charges of resisting an officer, burglary and petty theft. He was released from jail on his own recognizance Thursday afternoon.

Wesly could not be reached for comment.

Contact Meryl Kornfield at mkornfield@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @MerylKornfield

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The U.S. has seen a boom in feminism lately, something that I, a long-time nasty woman, should be elated about. However, and much to my own dismay, Ive come to realize this new wave of feminism is nothing to be exciting about.

The election of President Donald Trump posed no small threat to women. His policies promised the abolishment of many of our rights and a suggested a bleak future for equality in America.

Many people devastated after Nov. 8 found solace in marches, protests and other efforts at resistance. Women began proudly dubbing themselves nasty women and proclaiming their desire to smash the patriarchy. At the time, these seemed like valiant attempts to preserve womens rights, but the support faded quickly.

After the fanfare of the marches and social media campaigns came to an end, newcomers to the movement suddenly became less interested in the feminist agenda. People realized the effort it takes to constantly resist the patriarchy and advocate for gender equality, and feminism became like any other trend in modern society: It had its peak and it had its downfall.

Although the movement grew in size overall, it has begun to shrink in substance.

Somewhere along the way, people seem to have forgotten the true meaning of feminism. These new feminists arent putting in the work to further the feminist agenda. They are under the illusion that donning a pink pussy hat and decorating their laptop with a nevertheless, she persisted sticker is somehow protecting our rights.

I recognize that, of those who are new to the feminist movement, many are actively working to preserve womens rights and fighting for the future that we need. The efforts of these feminists are commendable, and I do not want to understate their impact.

It seems that commercialized feminism is beginning to replace the activism we really need. Posting a Facebook status has replaced lobbying for bills that will protect women. Wearing a button on your backpack that says you are pro-choice has replaced volunteering at domestic abuse shelters or Planned Parenthood clinics. Wearing a T-shirt that says you believe a womans place is in the house and senate makes it okay to sit silently in class while a professor disrespects a female classmate.

In an age controlled by social media, feminism has become the next trendy thing to have on your Instagram feed and the newest sassy phrase to retweet, but we risk losing sight of the importance of real action.

Dont get me wrong, I would much rather have a world filled with passive feminists than a world filled with active misogynists, but that doesnt mean we should be satisfied with what feminism has become.

I want to urge all so-called feminists to rethink their efforts. Are you making a difference? Have you done anything that will help the women of America and the women of the world, even on a small scale? If the answer is no, if have read this and thought to yourself I might be the sluggish feminist this girl is describing, Id like to suggest that you reevaluate your feminist efforts and become a part of what we need  an active feminist community.

Abigail Miller is a UF journalism sophomore. Her columns appear on Fridays.

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His name is Jared Kushner, and you probably have never heard of him. If you have, then it is only for being the husband of one of the most influential women in the world at the moment: Ivanka Trump. But what many do not know about Jared Kushner is just how significant a role he currently has in the White House, and as he is a man of very few words, this has been a cause of concern. Since long before Election Day, Kushner could be found lurking in the shadows of President Donald Trump as he made his cantankerous, political-landscape-altering, scorched-earth trek through America. The Trump campaign might have had a revolving door of campaign managers and aides, but it was the reserved Mr. Kushner who, as we are now learning, led Trump to the presidency.

The 36-year-old Harvard graduate has had quite the business career of his own  from buying and running the The New York Observer to acquiring 666 Fifth Avenue for $1.8 billion, the highest price ever paid for a single office building in the U.S., when he was just 26. The soft-spoken Kushner has maneuvered his way through the real estate landscape with the same tenacity and disregard for risk as his father-in-law. But what is more fascinating is that Kushner has often been called, by those close to or within the campaign and White House, the individual whom Trump trusts the most.

Since Trump took office, Kushner has been quietly carrying out some critical tasks for the president. The criticisms regarding nepotism are one thing, but there is also some concern over whether Kushner is qualified for some of these jobs. Just this month, Kushner was in Baghdad meeting with the prime minister of Iraq on behalf of the U.S., a role usually first taken by secretary of state or a military general. The two have been discussing military action and policy in the Middle East and the ongoing fight against the Islamic State group. Benjamin Rhodes, a former adviser to President Obama, pointed out this unconventionality, tweeting Kushner in Iraq before the National Security Advisor or Secretary of State. Totally normal.

The same argument Kushner critics use to invalidate his current role in government is starkly similar to that used by Trump critics during the campaign and election: He has no experience in politics or (insert area/field here), so surely he is not capable of doing it at the highest level.

Everyone, even your favorite career politicians, had to start somewhere, and I am confident that Kushner has substantially more deal-making skills and political savvy than most in Washington. If 2016 told us anything, its that America is sick of the word politician being a lifelong career title.

Arguably the most important task a President (or any leader of this country) has is making deals that further the interests of the U.S. This is not very different from what business leaders must do. The president just serves the interests of the U.S. instead of a company. As long as they have experts surrounding and advising them, if someone has the deal-making talent and the overall interests of America in mind, then I dont care how much experience in Washington they have. We simply need better deals.

If President Trump succeeds in the Oval Office, he will prove that we dont have to have lifelong, Washington-bred politicians running the country, but we can instead excel with intelligent leadership and tact.

It was Kushner who got Trump into the presidency. He was the sturdy rock that would reel Trump in after every controversial or outrageous statement, and he still plays a major role in pulling Trump toward safer, more moderate positions. Kushner took charge of the Trump campaigns digital, online and social media presence and was paramount in crafting Trumps overall strategy. And whether you liked the result, it worked.

Andrew Hall is a UF management junior. His column appears on Fridays.

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I think any American at this point who has seen the videos of Syrian children getting gassed by Assad  any of us who has any tendency toward reflection  has been led to ask what exactly his feelings are for. We know that every feeling has a purpose and that, like faith, they were given to us for action. As such, we look inside ourselves and thank God we are morally alive and feel something for the children  but this leads us to another more uncomfortable question. It leads us to wonder whether it is colder to feel something and do nothing than simply to feel nothing.

We almost wish we had the latter, but this is not the case, and a video of gasping, convulsing innocents leads us to rush into war just as a picture of a drowned Syrian child makes us open up our borders to savages. We simply do not see our fathers who will be blown to pieces fighting and our women who will be raped because we did things in the name of other people's children. We feel, perhaps naturally but not rightly, that the children in the videos are our children. We see in the dying eyes of the choking, shell-shocked, dust-covered Syrian child the eyes of our own, and we feel that any offense such as this is worth risking the lives of our friends and our families.

This is because we do not actually see the risk. One thing is real, and the other is imaginary, and we believe that because one thing is imaginary, it can never become real.

War always affects children, and what so many of us have been slow to understand is that before Assad was gassing children, he was blowing them to bits. Bulldozing them over with tanks. Starving them to death. The gas is what got us. All the other things he has done (and any warring power must eventually do), and we have drawn the line at the gas. We made a law that nobody must use gas, and because we made a law, we have made everything else seem like less of a crime. What we have not asked is how many of Assad's friends' children have been killed by the rebels. We have not asked who the rebels are or why they are rebelling or whether they are better than Assad. But we want to meddle in Syria as we meddled in Iraq  as we meddled in Iran  as we want to meddle everywhere we see pictures of people being brutalized. Our hearts and our wallets lead us to break hearts and drain wallets. We worry that Syrians are dying, so we may send Americans to die.

I do not claim to be an expert of realpolitik or international relations or the code we have for butchering one another known as The Laws of War. I do not question that there are laws for tearing your neighbors to shreds and putting holes through them and running them over with tanks and crushing them under buildings and setting them on fire because this is what people must do  a necessary occupation like running a farm or pulling teeth. I do not claim that war itself is unnecessary, or that there must be no joy in it, or that all soldiers must be treated as innocents under the authority of their generals. There are crimes in the midst of this non-crime called war that are more barbaric and offensive than ordinary crimes. What I do question is the timing of it all  whether every child butchered by a tyrant is worth our blood and our sweat and our tears; whether it is possible to stop every villain or necessary; whether I am personally responsible to alleviate all the suffering in the entire world  whether the life of a Syrian child is worth risking the life of my own.

Americans are held responsible when tyrants are bad and held responsible for everything that happens when we topple them. We will never have the world's applause as meddlers, and when we meddle, we are not even willing to see our meddling through. We will never be cleared by the world for our policing when most of the leaders of the world are essentially criminal, and the majority of the people they lead are ignoramuses. The question is not how the Syrians will judge us, but how our own grandchildren will. The stakes are great whether we stay or we go. But I believe in my limited understanding that they are greater if we go.

On a more personal level, this article was especially hard for me to write. What I felt when I saw the Syrian children who'd been gassed cannot exactly be described in words  certainly not by horror, and certainly not by anger. It was worse than these can express. I know how it feels to hold your child in your arms and wonder if he's going to make it  the helpless feeling that nobody is listening, that there is nothing left to do but stand there and weep and hope it all passes. I was lucky, and these Syrians aren't, and that is the difference between us. I called out to God, and they called out to God, and both of us wondered if He heard us at all. Only one of us left with his child intact. I still question whether He loves us or not. I wonder what the Syrian thinks.

To see anyone go through anything like this and then have to make a decision  to decide whether someone else will go through it again or not or whether you will merely change the people who are going through it  is what this essay is about. It is what every debate over refugees and war crimes is about.

I do not want to play God or even run for president. I don't want to decide with the ballot box which mothers will grieve over their children and which won't. But I am an American  and my duty, if I have any before God at all, is to make sure that my family and American families are free from the ravages of war. Sometimes this will mean killing people. Other times it will mean saving them. In the world of international politics, it will most usually mean both. But it will always involve a decision. And I will always hate the fact that God has forced me in my limited capacity to make it.

Jeremy Egerer is the author of the troublesome essays on Letters to Hannah, and he welcomes followers on Twitter and Facebook.
In what is believed to be the first ever federal prosecution for female genital mutilation, a Detroit area doctor has been charged in a case involving two seven-year-old girls from Minnesota.

Jumana Nagarwala of Livonia, Michigan allegedly performed the barbaric procedure with the cooperation of the girl's parents.

Detriot News:

"Acording 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 in a statement. "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." Nagarwala was arrested Wednesday night and arraigned in federal court Thursday. She was dressed in a light-colored, matching dress and khimar, or veil that covered her head, neck and shoulders. Magistrate Judge Anthony Patti scheduled a detention hearing in the case for 1 p.m. Monday. Her attorney and the government will argue over whether or not Nagarwala should be held in prison while she awaits trial. In the meantime, Nagarwala will be held in jail until Monday's hearing. Her attorney, Shannon Smith, who has offices in Bloomfield Hills, declined to comment on the case Thursday. Nagarwala's employer is not identified in court records. But a 44-year-old emergency room physician with the same name is listed on Henry Ford Health System's website with hospital privileges in Detroit and West Bloomfield Township. A Henry Ford spokesman confirmed that Nagarwala works for the hospital system and said she has been put on administrative leave. "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." The FBI investigation alleges Nagarwala removed clitoral skin from two girls who were brought to Detroit earlier this year, activity that violates both federal and state law regarding female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation is an internationally recognized violation of human rights and is popular among certain religious and cultural communities, according to the FBI. The procedure is believed to initiate girls into adulthood and ensure their marriageability, according to Human Rights Watch, a New York nonprofit human rights organization. The practice is most common in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, along with migrants from those regions, according to the World Health Organization.

Worldwide, it's estimated that 200 million women have been mutilated. Only recently have Western countries begun to take the problem seriously. While the actual "procedure" has been illegal in the U.S. since the '90s, the transportation of a minor for purposes of their being mutilated was only made a crime in 2013. Nagarwala was charged with FGM, which carries only a five-year sentence, and with transporting a minor for sexual purposes, which carries a ten-year jail term.

While FGM has been banned in most countries, authorities turn a blind eye to the practice in many areas of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. It is thought that more than a half a million women have undergone FGM in the U.S.

It's hard to imagine a more brutal illustration of gender inequality than forcing young girls to be mutilated in this fashion. The punishment in this case does not fit the crime. Dr. Nagarwala has almost certainly performed FGM on more than two little girls. She should be locked away for the remainder of her life. Robbing her of her freedom is the least than can be done after she has robbed those girls of so much more.
Will the Trump Justice Department do what the Obama Justice Department refused to do?

House Republicans wrote a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions requesting that DoJ open an investigation into the IRS program that targeted conservative groups. The Obama administration refused to hold anyone accountable for the illegal practice.

Specifically, Republicans want the Department of Justice to look into the actions taken by Lois Lerner, who led the tax-exempt division of the IRS during the scandal.

Washington Free Beacon:

Lois Lerner, who headed the tax-exempt status division of the IRS at the time, confessed in 2013 at an American Bar Association meeting that conservative groups were targeted on political beliefs, but blamed low-level employees for the targeting. That same month, Lerner pleaded the fifth at the Oversight and Government Reform House committee. In 2014, the House Ways and Means committee voted to send a letter to the Justice Department to refer Lerner for criminal prosecution. Former President Obama said during the Justice Department's investigation that there was not a smidgeon of corruption at the IRS. Later in October 2015, it was announced that the agency would not bring charges against Lerner, and no one was held responsible. Now, lawmakers are attempting to write to the agency again with a new administration and attorney general to review the evidence. "The Committee's nearly three-year investigation uncovered evidence of willful misconduct on the part of Ms. Lerner," wrote Roskam and Brady. "Despite this fact, and for what many believe were purely partisan reasons, the prior administration refused to review Ms. Lerner's misconduct." "The Committee found that Ms. Lerner used her position to improperly influence IRS action against conservative organizations, denying these groups due process and equal protection rights under the law," the lawmakers said. "The Committee also found she impeded official investigations by providing misleading statements in response to questions from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration." "Finally, Lerner risked exposing, and may actually have disclosed, confidential taxpayer information, in apparent violation of Internal Revenue Code section 6103 by using her personal email to conduct official business," they said.

Lerner more than demonstrated her partisanship when she was a member of the Federal Election Commission, targeting Republican candidates for outrageous treatment. She has so far gotten away with pinning the targeting scandal on a couple of low-level IRS employees in the Cincinnati office. It's clear from the emails that have been recovered  many were deleted when IRS hard drives were destroyed  that the targeting of conservatives was planned at a much higher level and that IRS managers knew they were in violation of the law.

The IRS continues to this day to slow-walk approval of conservative applications for tax-exempt status. As long as career IRS bureaucrats can act with impunity to affect the ability of conservative groups to promote their causes, the political targeting will continue.

Prosecuting Lois Lerner would send a message that such behavior will not be tolerated any longer.
A few days ago, on April 9, Tehran witnessed a painful day for the family members of death row inmates, especially the mothers, whose beloved children are under imminent threat of execution in Iran's prisons.

The families held a protest in front of the parliament in Tehran on Sunday, demanding that the death verdicts against their loved ones be canceled and a law passed banning all executions in Iran, according to a wire posted by the "Human Rights Center of 'No' to Prison, 'No' to Execution."

The presence of women and mothers was notable at this rally. During the past 38 years, mothers have been at the forefront of challenging the silence and terror imposed by the tyrannical rule of the ayatollahs, their crackdown forces, and their secret agents of the regime. The mothers held pictures of their sons or daughters with their names on them. "We pray for those on death row, that their lives may be spared," one mother said, as she burst in tears.

Another courageous mother showed the letter of her son to the others, which read: "My dear mother, I hope you always remember me, you will see my smile through the happiness of the face of people near soon. I sacrificed myself, such a death is glorious, and you must be proud of it. Never cry for me."

It was one of thousands of horrific stories, given the mullahs' willingness to engage in summary executions, for political and non-political crimes.

"Thousands of women in Iran tried to find their disappeared or those on death row and tried a variety of methods to pressure the government to release information about them and stop their execution," one woman at the rally said. "We are standing with families who have had their loved ones put on death row," another women activist said.

As the rally started, Iran's security forces and secret agents at the scene began insulting the protesters in an attempt to disperse them. The police warned them with a bullhorn that arrests were imminent if they continue the rally. The police also did not permit anyone to take any film footage of the rally, and in some cases, mobile phones were confiscated. A number of people at the rally said security agents arrested several protesters, many of whom were relatives of death row inmates.

Iran uses the death sentence to silence dissent and send a message to anyone who dares to speak out against the authorities. Nearly 3,000 people have been executed during the tenure of Iranian president Hassan Rouhani alone, which began in August 2013. The regime ruling Iran has the highest number of executions per capita of any country on Earth.

The mothers' motivation to save their children's lives and improve the future conditions in prisons inspired many to take action, however risky. Over the 38 years of mullah rule, mothers spent hours in front of the notorious Evin prison or in front of the justice department or parliament, pleading to save the lives of their children.

What the ayatollahs fear most is that the women's protest today to stop the execution of their children will empower them if they succeed, broadening their horizons far beyond the familiar domestic role. Indeed, this transformation of women from the current survival mechanism to that of a political voice is a common thread for Iran's dictators, linking many other women in Iran. That is why Tehran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, showed fear in his address upon the occasion of the Nowruz or New Year's message last March 21, when he said: "A woman at home is the source of peace, the source of peace for the man, and the source of peace for the children."

Dictators and especially the mullahs in Iran have always sought to prevent women from being active outside their homes, just as they have prevented them from having economic power and or any voice in the political structure. They know they are playing with fire by rousing these women with the executions of their children.

Hassan Mahmoudi is a human rights advocate and social media journalist seeking democracy for Iran and peace for the region.
Now that the Beltway talk of a rift between President Trump's advisers, Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner, is old news, the mainstream media have gotten a new fixation: how Steve Bannon would take revenge on President Trump if Trump were to cut him loose.

They haven't even got a story yet, they haven't got any evidence he's gone, and already they're cooking up goosebumps for themselves with scenarios of Darth Vader revenge.

Consider this beauty from Politico: If Trump Fired Bannon, Would He Seek Revenge?

Or this one from Vox: If Trump fires Steve Bannon, he might regret it

Or this one from Raw Story: Trump firing Bannon would set off something close to 'Apocalypse Now': Bannon ally

Politico's Ben Schreckinger writes:

I asked friends and foes alike to imagine how, should Bannon get the boot, the pugnacious populist might exact his revenge. Taken together, their suggestions amount to an epic, Kill Bill-style revenge saga that starts with Bannon leaking personal dirt on his enemies to the tabloids, using the megaphone of Breitbart News to exacerbate divisions inside the administration, and siccing an army of internet trolls on his adversaries to harass and defame them. It ends with Bannon using Cambridge Analytica data to identify and primary their vulnerable allies in Congress, then releasing a "Where Trump Went Wrong" documentary on the eve of the November midterms and finally  in this revenge fantasy's epic climax  running against Trump himself in 2020.

Sounds like the stuff of a leftist Obamaton's dream. And it makes me think that if Steve Bannon didn't exist, the mainstream media would have to invent him.

Because here's the money quote from Politico that follows:

Neither Bannon, who has shown no signs of disloyalty to the president, nor the White House responded to requests for comment.

That sounds like a non-story. But they can't leave it alone, because already they have projected vast magical powers on Bannon, something Trump himself has downplayed.

It's unfortunate there has been infighting in the White House, given that none of the players in question is genuinely objectionable, compared to what we saw in the previous administration. What is actually known is that President Trump has asked his aides to stop fighting and undercutting each other over policies and work together to advance the Trump agenda. What's more, Trump has asked them to "make up." It's not enough that they initiate detente; he really wants them just to get along. As far as we can tell, that seems to be what they are doing.

Is that enough of a story for the mainstream press? Not really. In fact, for them, it's so bad that they are resorting to imaginary scenarios as news instead.
As New York Times columnists David Brooks, Gail Collins, Nicholas Kristof, et al. go with their anti-Trump vituperations, there goes Bret Stephens, formerly of the Trump-agnostic Wall Street Journal, to join them.

Surprise, surprise. The anti-Trump Bret Stephens has left The Wall Street Journal for the anti-Trump New York Times.

Simple question: Does The New York Times really need another columnist to inspire The Resistance to, quoting from the title of Mr. Kristof's April 13 column, "Stand Up to Trump and Win"? So many columnists, writing so many vitriolic effusions, attacking just one individual  and all on A.O. Sulzberger, Jr.'s dime.

Mr. Kristof, in his April 13 column, advised the elites to stop being so "lofty" and get down to the bread and butter. He then suggested that the movement aim for numbers and ease up on "purity." Finally, Mr. Kristof noted the importance of "ridicule." In that regard, he might have cited this from Mark Twain's notebook, set down about the time Twain wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court: "Irreverence is the champion of liberty and its only sure defense."

Thing is, our friends on the left don't seem to have much sense of sarcasm and irony, left alone a sense of humor. Consider candidate Trump's reaction to claims that the Russians hacked into the computers at the Democratic National Committee. Candidate Trump hoped the Russians would release all of Hilary Clinton's emails  and the Democrats immediately claimed that Mr. Trump was in cahoots with the Russians...and haven't stopped, have they?

Only last week, Hillary Clinton elevated her claims of Russian hacking to the level of aggression against the USA. Compared to this accusation, her additional explanations for losing  the "misogyny" problem (henceforth, should men be barred from voting?) and the Comey factor  seem to be mere trifles. It must be noted that Ms. Clinton delivered her explanations in the course of being interviewed at the Women in the World Conference by Nicholas Kristof. What a coincidence! (Mr. Kristof devoted one of his Times columns to the interview but omitted Ms. Clinton's contention that her defeat is attributable to Russian aggression.)

As a member of the "what if" crowd, this observer cannot help but think, "what if" Russian aggression had not served to block Hillary Clinton from returning to the White House, in her own right, this time? How would the sense of political humor fare? Certainly, Stephen Colbert would not be enjoying revived TV success, nor would the career of Alec Baldwin have rebounded  unless, that is, you are certain that either of these gentlemen would have relished skewering Hillary Clinton as they regularly ridicule President The Donald.

Seems to this observer that political humor in the age of President H. Clinton would have been frowned upon  to the point of becoming a basis for hate speech prosecutions, and the First Amendment be darned. After all, if misogyny helped elect President Trump, how could misogyny not be the basis of criticism of President H. Clinton delivered in ridicule?

Mr. Kristof ended his April 13 column with this observation: "Trump can survive denunciations, but I'm less sure that in the long run he can withstand mockery."

Anyone doubt that any New York Times columnist, including, now, the newly hired Bret Stephens, would tolerate even a smidgen of "mockery" directed at Hillary Clinton  or any Democrat, for that matter? (They do seem to support, if sub silentio, the vulgar anti-Trump rants of the new chair of the Democratic National Committee. Talk about "deplorable.")

By the way  the stench of elitism reached the Times crossword Monday, April 10. (The easiest Times Crossword day of the week.) The clue for 69 across was "Joe___ (ordinary sort)." The answer consisted of these five letters: "SCHMO." Gosh, crossword editor Will Shortz, you couldn't have made it DOAKS?
President Donald Trump struck Syria with dozens of cruise missiles on April 6 for Syria's chemical attack on civilians. What was rather amazing about this was that the president didn't ask permission from Congress, the United Nations, NATO, or even the New York Times. He did not engage in endlessly debating the pros and cons of this action; he just did it, right on the heels of the gas attack.

A week later, out of the blue, we hear that the U.S. military has dropped a massive GBU-43 21,600-lb. bomb on an ISIS nest in Afghanistan. Boom! This is the first time this weapon has been used in combat in spite of being in our arsenal for over a decade.

In between these actions, the president ordered a U.S. Naval aircraft strike force, lead by the USS Carl Vinson, to the waters of the Korean peninsula in response to the continual threats from North Korea.

Several questions come to mind, given these actions of the past week.

Would the Iranians have dared to capture a U.S. naval vessel and humiliate its crew, as they did on January 12, 2016, under the administration of President Barack Hussein Obama, if Trump had been commander-in-chief?

Do you think the Russians might now pull in their horns in Ukraine and eastern Europe with Trump in the Oval Office instead of Obama?

And will America get cooperation from China in helping the world get rid of the psychopath running North Korea  something Obama never tried to do  now that Trump has put his foot down?

Everyone but the most hopeless Obama sycophants, which includes most of the mainstream media, knows the answer to those questions.
Put Bruce Springsteen in your 1985 Ford Taurus C.D., because the 1980s are back!

Remember Central America and communists meddling in El Salvador and Nicaragua? Well, we are not sure what Mr. Putin is doing in Nicaragua these days. We can safely assume that he is not promoting U.S. interests.

According to Joshua Partlow, visitors to Guatemala are speaking Russian again:

On the rim of a volcano with a clear view of the U.S. 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.

Well, so what are these Russians up to?

Let's start by saying we are watching one of the many examples of Mr. Putin feeling a vacuum created by the U.S. Under President Obama, Latin America was completely overlooked unless we were talking about illegal immigrants crossing the U.S. border.

Furthermore, Mr. Putin is simply hoping to add a piece to his intelligence apparatus. Why not put an antenna in Nicaragua if the U.S. looks the other way?

What do we do? We don't have to go to war over Nicaragua, but we can remind the Russians that this is our neighborhood, and they are not welcome.

Secondly, we can make it very clear to the government in Managua that a Russian antenna in their country is a very bad idea that will have consequences.

From Syria to Ukraine, Mr. Putin discovered that the U.S. under President Obama was into "hope and change" rather than defending our interests. Nicaragua is a perfect opportunity to show the Russians that the new sheriff in the U.S. won't look the other way.

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
There is a possibility that North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un may have reached the end of his free ride for developing a nuclear weapon.

Reports from top Pentagon officials appear to indicate that the U.S. may strike North Korea with conventional weapons if Kim even just tests another nuclear bomb.

The anniversary of the birth of North Korea's found Kim Il-sung is this weekend  the most important holiday for Kim's regime. The government has hinted at a "big event," which many Western analysts believe could be another test of the North's nuclear weapons program.

If so, and if the reports out of Washington are true, we may be at war on the Korean peninsula before the weekend is out.

NBC News:

The U.S. is prepared to launch a preemptive strike with conventional weapons against North Korea should officials become convinced that North Korea is about to follow through with a nuclear weapons test, multiple senior U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News. North Korea has warned that a "big event" is near, and U.S. officials say signs point to a nuclear test that could come as early as this weekend. The intelligence officials told NBC News that the U.S. has positioned two destroyers capable of shooting Tomahawk cruise missiles in the region, one just 300 miles from the North Korean nuclear test site. American heavy bombers are also positioned in Guam to attack North Korea should it be necessary, and earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group was being diverted to the area. The U.S. strike could include missiles and bombs, cyber and special operations on the ground. The danger of such an attack by the U.S. is that it could provoke the volatile and unpredictable North Korean regime to launch its own blistering attack on its southern neighbor. "The leadership in North Korea has shown absolutely no sign or interest in diplomacy or dialogue with any of the countries involved in this issue," Victor Cha, the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies told NBC News Thursday. On Wednesday, North Korea said it would "hit the U.S. first" with a nuclear weapon should there be any signs of U.S. strikes. On Thursday, North Korea warned of a "merciless retaliatory strike" should the U.S. take any action.

Oh, by the way...Vice President Pence will be in South Korea today.

How much are Kim's threats bluster, and how much are they serious? I don't think anyone can say for sure. There is a school of thought that Kim will use his nukes if he feels that the U.S. is about to overthrow the regime. Since he can't hit the U.S., he would attack South Korea and perhaps even Japan.

China is no doubt burning up the wires today, pleading with Kim not to test a nuclear weapon. But we should not have any illusions about Chinese support for North Korea. If we attack, China will be forced to respond.

It would have been much easier and safer if Bill Clinton, George Bush, or Barack Obama had taken out the North Korean nuclear program while it was still in its infancy and vulnerable. But none of those presidents took action while there was still time to prevent the enormously destabilizing situation of a nuclear-armed North Korea with the missile capability to hit U.S. allies in the region.

It's true that North Korea is not an existential threat to the U.S. at this time. But do we wait until it is before striking? Or do we attempt to derail Kim's mad ambition to launch?

Time may have run out on the North Korean leader  as has his freedom of action.
Less than a week after 49 Egyptian Christians were massacred in two bombings in Alexandria and Tanta during Palm Sunday Mass, Venezuela's socialist thugs stormed a Wednesday Holy Week mass, assaulting the presiding archbishop of Caracas and the church's worshipers and trashing and looting the church. The attack wasn't on the same level as the terrorist bombing, but it signaled an emboldened and increasingly violent state, which may well have been drawing inspiration from the horror in Egypt.

As one wag on Lucianne.com put it, "Communism: the other religion of peace."

The archbishop in question, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Sabino, was no ordinary archbishop. For years he has blasted the horrors of Venezuela's chavismo for leaving the poor more impoverished and hungry than ever, even as it purports to speak in the poor's name. He's denounced dictatorship and warned of its ascent in the country. Along with many archbishops, he's tried to warn Pope Francis that materialistic communism is an unmitigated disaster for the country.

Incredibly, the Vatican response to this desecration of the Mass during the holiest week of the Christian calendar has been...silence. There's nothing about it on Vatican Radio  just radio silence. It's almost a curious echo of the Vatican's lack of outrage over the assault and murder of a French priest as he said mass in Normandy, France.

Christianity may demand turning the other cheek, but the Mass is sacred and there is a Christian duty to resist evil. If the Vatican won't stand up for its people, at a minimum it must stand up for the sacredness of the Mass. Yet somehow it doesn't. And Pope Francis has been notoriously soft on the Caracas regime, doing little to mitigate the situation, as he seems to view both sides with equal moral weight. But it ought to say something when its own archbishop has been attacked at Mass and his church has been looted by criminals at the behest of the state. It ought to defend the sacredness of the Mass.

By contrast, when Pussy Riot's punk rockers tried to desecrate an Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy in Moscow in 2012, President Putin wasted no time shipping them for a two-year stretch in Gulag Archipelago in the frozen wilds of Siberia. Many thought that was draconian, but whatever you think of the punishment, there haven't been any interrupted Divine Liturgies since.

The Vatican continues to say nothing.
Supporters of Donald Trump, many of whom prominently campaigned for his election, are outraged by all the campaign promises he has reversed himself on  NATO, military action in Syria, the Federal Reserve, and the repeal of Obamacare, to name a few. But the straw that may break the camel's back is the issue of immigration and border security.

Trump campaigned against letting more Syrian refugees in; in fact, he was so firmly against them, he said he would deport the ones already here. But what has happened now is that not only is Trump letting in more Syrian refugees, but he is admitting them at twice the rate that Obama did. On this issue, Trump is the political equivalent of not one, but two Barack Obamas.

President Donald Trump called Syrian refugees a "great Trojan horse" during the 2016 campaign, but his administration has resettled them in a quicker pace than President Barack Obama did. Since Trump was inaugurated, 1,401 Syrian refugees have been resettled, State Department figures as of Wednesday reveal. This is more than double the 625 Syrian refugees resettled under President Obama in the same time frame last year. "Bad, bad things are gonna happen," Trump said about Syrian refugee resettlement at an August rally.

But not so bad as to stop Trump from accelerating the admission of Syrian immigrants.

Let's be very clear about two points:

1) The judicial stay on Trump's entry ban has nothing to do with this. A federal judge may have prevented a blanket ban on Syrians entering the country, but only the Trump administration could grant refugee status to individual Syrians. President Trump has the power to deny admission simply by not granting refugee status.

2) These refugees are unvettable. There is no reliable government to check up on these refugees.

Trump has already left many supporters feeling betrayed by his failure to repeal the illegal "DREAMers" program.

Brenda Sparks, an "angel mom" whose son was killed by an illegal immigrant, appeared onstage with Trump at an August campaign event in Phoenix. She said he promised her that he would overturn the program known Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, in short order. While Sparks said she didn't think it would be done immediately, "I had expected it before now." Michelle Dallacroce, an anti-immigration activist, is more pointed. Immigration is "why we voted for Donald Trump," she said. "This could be the most elaborate reality show. I'm wondering, was this all an illusion for us, using our movement so he could get in there?"

And now the Syrian refugees are flooding in, faster than ever before. Immigration and border security was the main issue that Trump ran on. Could opening the door to a new flood of Syrian refugees cost him the nomination in 2020?

If the Syrian refugees merely continue the creeping trend toward sharia law in pockets of American communities, probably not. But if someone Trump lets in commits a terrorist act, after Trump promised not to admit any more Syrian refugees, then I think he will be very vulnerable to a primary challenge.

"Donald Trump dropped an emotional anchor. He captured how Americans feel," said Tania Vojvodic, a fervent Trump supporter who founded one of his first campaign volunteer networks. "We expect him to keep his word, and right now he's not keeping his word."

You can read more here and here about the many Trump supporters who are already halfway off the Trump train.

There is no rational reason related to national security why Trump is letting these refugees into the country.

Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com.
Jerusalem Post, by Joel C. Rosenberg

He wants Egypt to be seen as a trusted, stable ally of the West.

On Wednesday, I had the honor of participating in a two-hour meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi in Washington, DC.

As part of his first state visit to Washington since his election in June 2014 (president Barack Obama never invited him), Sisi addressed a group of Middle East experts at the Four Seasons Hotel, just down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. He made some introductory remarks for about 15 minutes, then took our questions for the next 90 minutes. Afterward, he graciously spent another 20 minutes or so greeting each participant and chatting with us individually.

As a novelist and a dual US-Israel citizen, I found myself deeply humbled to be included in such a gathering. Indeed, as I quipped to a colleague at the meeting, it was quite something to meet the leader of Egypt on the eve of Passover and actually enjoy the experience. But I certainly did.

The conversation itself was held under what are known as Chatham House Rules, so I am not permitted to quote what was said or name those who attended. This allowed the president and the rest of us maximum freedom to have an open discussion without concern that something might be misquoted or cited out of context in the press.

That said, I came away deeply encouraged. As a result of what I saw and heard during the meeting, as well as in President Sisis interactions with US President Donald Trump, congressional leaders and American business leaders, I came away with three distinct impressions.

First, President Sisi is a man determined to rebrand Egypt as a trustworthy and stable American and Western ally after years of political chaos and instability.

Remember, as I noted in a March 7 column in The Jerusalem Post encouraging the Trump administration to move quickly to revitalize ties to Egypt, Sisi came to power amid the most catastrophic meltdown of Egypts social, economic and political order in living memory.

With the Arab Spring and the fall of Hosni Mubarak, the Muslim Brotherhood and Mohamed Morsi tried to impose Sharia law and a brutally violent Islamist regime on a nation that had just overthrown an autocrat. Egypt was on fire. People were dying in the streets. Police stations were burning. Churches were being blown up.

Bizarrely, the Obama administration fully backed the extremist Morsi government. But private investors fled, and the Saudis and Gulf states, deeply opposed to the Brotherhood, stopped providing support to Egypt.

During 2011, as the Arab Spring began, Egypts GDP contracted by more than four percent. During the tumult and uncertainty of the Morsi tenure, growth was almost non-existent, hovering between zero and 2%.

Yet from the moment then-field marshal Sisi and the Egyptian military removed the Brotherhood from power and put Morsi and his extremist colleagues in prison, they have focused all their efforts on restoring order on the streets, reestablishing national stability and beginning the arduous task of rebuilding investor confidence.

The Obama administration turned a cold shoulder the new government in Cairo, and even suspended US aid for a time. But tens of millions of Egyptians breathed a huge sigh of relief and deeply appreciated the downfall of the Brotherhood. They certainly want to fully exercise their God-given freedoms, but they also want stability  and jobs. And there are actually signs of progress.

Egypts economy grew 4.3% last year, and its projected to grow by 5.4% by 2019. Exports are up 25%, while the countrys trade deficit has fallen by 44%.

Far more needs to be done, of course, to reduce taxes, regulations, government spending and debt and streamline the bloated bureaucracy. Sisi needs to create a free-market magnet for foreign direct investment to create enough good jobs for Egypts 93 million people. But his message to the international business community is clear: Egypt is once again stable and open for business  and the pitch is bearing fruit.



UK energy group BG said it would invest $4 billion [in Egypt] over two years and Italian group Eni said it had plans to invest $5 billion over four to five years, reports the Financial Times. BP had finalised an agreement to invest $12 billion in its West Nile Delta concession. Production, due to start in 2017, is expected to meet a quarter of the countrys energy needs. Masdar, an Abu Dhabi- based company, and Saudi Arabias ACWA Power signed memorandums of understanding with the Egyptian government to build power stations valued at $15 billion.



Many similar deals are in the works, and now the Chinese have announced that they are investing upwards of $45b. in massive Egyptian infrastructure projects.



President Donald Trump was right to warmly welcome Sisi to the White House and publicly vow a much stronger US-Egyptian alliance. It was important to reward the leaders in Cairo for the progress that they are making  including their openly expressed desire to be a valued American ally  even as they encourage Egypt to do more, including on improving the human rights environment.



Second, as the former commander-in-chief of the Egyptian military, Sisi is well trained and well positioned to make Egypt an effective leader in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism.



To defeat Islamic State and other violent extremist groups  and to build an effective Sunni Arab counterweight to mounting Shiite Iranian aggression  President Trump needs a strong Egyptian partner. In Sisi he has a leader who intuitively understands the use (and limits) of hard power and isnt afraid to deploy such power.



Especially encouraging is how closely the Egyptians are working with Israel on intelligence and security issues. The two countries are working especially well together in fighting the jihadist groups that have proliferated throughout the Sinai Peninsula.



Trump would be wise not to cut US military aid to Egypt for the foreseeable future. Cairo needs all the help it can get as it fights ISIS and other terrorist groups.



Third, as the leader of the first Arab nation ever to sign a peace treaty with Israel, President Sisi believes Egypt offers a model that can help lead the region to peace with the Jewish state.



What has intrigued me as I have studied Sisi is how much he admires the late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, even though Sadat was assassinated for visiting Jerusalem and agreeing to the 1979 Camp David Accords. Most Egyptians opposed the peace deal then. Many still do.



Perhaps this appreciation for Sadats bold quest for peace explains why Sisi has built such an effective line of communication with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and was willing to participate in a secret peace summit hosted by Jordans King Abdullah II in Aqaba in early 2016. The Egyptian leader has resisted entreaties to get directly involved in the military conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Hes not looking to project power or influence beyond Egypts border. But he strikes me as genuinely interested in  indeed, even excited by  the opportunity to help Israelis and Palestinians return to direct negotiations.



Is a comprehensive peace deal even possible with Gaza controlled by Hamas and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas serving the thirteenth year of his four-year term and unwilling to hold new elections any time soon? Reasons for skepticism abound. But President Trump wants to try. President Sisi and King Abdullah II seem eager to help him. Netanyahu says he, too, is ready. And Abbas hasnt yet said no.



One thing is for sure: Abdel Fattah Sisi is no politician. He doesnt think like one. He doesnt talk like one. He is a general, a man of strategy and action. His strategic objective is to stabilize his country and rebrand Egypt as a friend of America, a friend of the West, a place to do business and a force for regional peace and reconciliation. He is, therefore, an Arab leader worth watching very closely.



The author is a New York Times best-selling author. He has written three novels about the threat of Islamic State, The Third Target (2015), The First Hostage (2016), and Without Warning, which just released. He can be reached at www.joelrosenberg.com.
Wataninet.com, by Nevine Kameel

The Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria has issued a statement explaining what happened on Palm Sunday, 9 April 2017, when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gate of St Marks cathedral in Alexandria claiming 10 lives and causing injuries to scores of individuals. The Church said it hoped the statement would put an end to rumours and inaccuracies circulated on social media concerning the painful incident.

The statement explained that the Holy Mass Pope Tawadros presided over on PalmSunday at St Marks was scheduled to start at 6am and expected to end around 1pm. Messages were sent to St Marks congregation as usual to notify them of this schedule. Prayers started on time with Pope Tawadros participating in the palm procession in the church nave. The ritual praises chanted by the deacons were not curtailed, as rumours said, once it was known that a suicide bombing at Mar-Girgis church in Tanta had claimed lives and injured innocent members of the congregation. Mass ended earlier than planned, little before 12, at 11.50am. According to the statement, the Pope learned about the Tanta church blast near the end of Mass, and was visibly distressed but proceeded with Mass and the subsequent Palm Sunday rituals till the end. He performed the ritual of sprinkling water on the congregation, explaining meanwhile the meaning of that rite. He asked the congregation to pray Lord, give us a good ending, which they said out loud.

The Pope then headed to the papal headquarters located behind the cathedralAlexandria is the original See of St Mark even though the papal seat moved to Cairo during medieval centuries. At 12.40pm a deafening blast was heard. The CCTV cameras showed a man who had come from outside the church and headed to the church gate. He attempted to evade the electronic metal detector gate but the church guard Nessim Bakheet insisted he pass through the electronic gate. The stranger blew himself up; Fahim directly died, as did two police persons who were at the gate.

The statement described the consequent scene: blood spattered on the floor and mixed with palm fronds, roses, and body parts inside and outside the church in a terrible sight.

Ambulances started arriving in a few minutes to move the bodies and the injured to a number of hospitals.

The Pope remained at the cathedral and refused to leave as was claimed by some on social media. He only left when all the rescue operations came to an end.

It was Gods will, the statement declared, that Holy Mass should end earlier than predicted, and that the faithful guard, Nessim Bakheet, should insist that the terrorist passes through the electronic gate. Had Mass ended later, the congregation would have been in the process of leaving the church at the time of the blast; had Nessim failed to do his job the terrorist would have blown himself in the most crowded area or in the papal headquarters. In both cases the outcome would have been even more dramatic than the actual one.

The terrorist accident claimed the lives of police officer Lieutenant Colonel Emad al-Rakaibi, as well as the female police persons Brigadier General Nagwa Abdel-Alim and Corporal Amina Rushdy.

A number of Christians were martyred.Until this statement was issued on 12 April these were:

1. Girgis Ghattas Attallah

2. Hanan Lamei Derias

3. Milad Nazim Girgis

4. Lucinda Christian Kamal (child)

5. Bishoy Abdel Malak Eissa

6. Nessim Fahim Bakheet

7. Ibrahim Girgis Bakhoum

Scores of Muslim and Christian innocent people were injured for no reason other than that they happened to be around the church at the time of the blast. Some of them have left hospital, others are still being treated, and some are in critical condition. Until 12 April there were 12 Christians and nine Muslim still being treated from their injuries in hospitals.

On 12 April Pope Tawadros delegated a number of bishops and priests to visit the injured, Christians and Muslim, in hospital and to convey to them the Popes prayers and good wishes. The delegation included Anba Yulius, Bishop-General of Old Cairo churches; Anba Pavlov, Bishop-General of the Montazah churches; Fr Ruweis Morqos, Deputy General of the Alexandria Patriarchate; Fr Ammonius Adel, Papal Secretary; and Fr Abraam Emile, Secretary-General of the Priests Council. The delegation also included the priests of St Marks and a large number of Alexandria priests.

Watani International

13 April 2017
(ANSA) - Rome, April 14 - A mutliple-sclerosis (MS) sufferer who committed assisted suicide in Switzerland this week voiced the hope in a farewell letter that Italy would become a "civilised" country where euthanasia would be possible. "I really hope that Italy becomes a more civilised country, finally passing a law that lets people end enormous suffering, without end, without remedy, in their own homes, close to their loved ones, without having to go abroad, with all the difficulties involved without excessive expenditure," wrote Davide Trentini, a 53-year-old Tuscan accompanied to the Dignitas clinic in Zurich by right-to-die activist Mina Welby.

"I will leave for my dream holiday", wrote Trentini.

The scientific head of Exit Italia, of which Trentini was a member, Silvio Vitale, said Friday: "I don't hesitate to express our satisfaction that Davide Trentini, one of our members, was able to legally die in Switzerland.

"There remains the anger that he could not do so in Italy among his friends". Vitale said "I, like many other doctors, "am ready to do as my colleagues in Switzerland, Netherlands and Belgium do, and I hope that day is not far off. Vitale added: "A thank you to Minal Welby who accompanied him, challening the hypcrosy of Italian law".

Trentini, committed assisted suicide on Thursday.

Many Italians including the headline-grabbing blind and tetraplegic disc jockey DJ Fabo have been helped to commit euthanasia by the campaigning Luca Coscioni Association, and especially its treasurer Marco Cappato.

Welby, the co-chair of the association, said she would report herself to Carabinieri police today for assisting a suicide, which is a crime in Italy. The Coscioni Association has helped 268 people to die and has accompanied three to the Swiss Dignitas clinic, most taken there by Cappato. MS is a debilitating nerve-wasting disease. Davide had been suffering from it for 26 years, since 1993, and had found his recent years unbearable, sources said.

Welby is the widow of Piergiorgio Welby, an Italian poet, painter and activist whose three-month-long battle to establish his right to die in 2006 led to a debate about euthanasia in Italy, rekindled by DJ Fabo's and other Swiss suicides. A bill on end-of-life issues including living wills, but not euthanasia, is before parliament amid criticism from the Catholic Church and conservative politicians.


(ANSA) - Rome, April 14 - A mutliple-sclerosis (MS) sufferer who committed assisted suicide in Switzerland this week voiced the hope in a farewell letter that Italy would become a "civilised" country where euthanasia would be possible. "I really hope that Italy becomes a more civilised country, finally passing a law that lets people end enormous suffering, without end, without remedy, in their own homes, close to their loved ones, without having to go abroad, with all the difficulties involved without excessive expenditure," wrote Davide Trentini, a 53-year-old Tuscan accompanied to the Dignitas clinic in Zurich by right-to-die activist Mina Welby.

"I will leave for my dream holiday", wrote Trentini.

The scientific head of Exit Italia, of which Trentini was a member, Silvio Vitale, said Friday: "I don't hesitate to express our satisfaction that Davide Trentini, one of our members, was able to legally die in Switzerland.

"There remains the anger that he could not do so in Italy among his friends". Vitale said "I, like many other doctors, "am ready to do as my colleagues in Switzerland, Netherlands and Belgium do, and I hope that day is not far off. Vitale added: "A thank you to Minal Welby who accompanied him, challenging the hypocrisy of Italian law".

Trentini, committed assisted suicide on Thursday.

Many Italians including the headline-grabbing blind and tetraplegic disc jockey DJ Fabo have been helped to commit euthanasia by the campaigning Luca Coscioni Association, and especially its treasurer Marco Cappato.

Welby, the co-chair of the association, on Friday reported herself to Carabinieri police for assisting a suicide, which is a crime in Italy.

She was accompanied by Cappato, who said another person was waiting to go to Swizterland next week.

Welby and Cappato were in the Carabinieri's office for over an hour, after which it emerged that it had been Trentini's mother who asked them for help back in August. Welby said the trip to Zurich had been an "ordeal" and that Trentini had been "in great pain". The Coscioni Association has helped 268 people to die and has accompanied three to the Swiss Dignitas clinic, most taken there by Cappato. MS is a debilitating nerve-wasting disease. Davide had been suffering from it for 26 years, since 1993, and had found his recent years unbearable, sources said.

Welby is the widow of Piergiorgio Welby, an Italian poet, painter and activist whose three-month-long battle to establish his right to die in 2006 led to a debate about euthanasia in Italy, rekindled by DJ Fabo's and other Swiss suicides. A bill on end-of-life issues including living wills, but not euthanasia, is before parliament amid criticism from the Catholic Church and conservative politicians.


(ANSA) - Rome, April 13 - Bomb squads complete with sniffer dogs will be deployed to clear all the areas where Easter events will take place in Rome, city police chief Guido Marino said Thursday. All the areas will be fitted with new CCTV cameras, he said. Authorities have beefed up security in Rome and other Italian cities for Easter after recent international terror attacks. The Vatican is an especially sensitive site but monuments like the Colosseum, where Pope Francis will say the Stations of the Cross on Friday, are also considered at risk.

The Colosseum is to close to visitors at 13:00 for security reasons ahead of the papal event, sources said Thursday. Meanwhile a meeting of the government's strategic anti-terrorism analysis committee (CASA) decided to "intensify security measures on at-risk objectives and places where tourists will gather, like ports, airports and stations." Chaired by Interior Minister Marco Minniti, it OK'd extraordinary security measures for Easter and, "in particular, the ceremonies linked to Holy Week".


(ANSA) - Rome, April 14 - A mutliple-sclerosis (MS) sufferer who committed assisted suicide in Switzerland this week voiced the hope in a farewell letter that Italy would become a "civilised" country where euthanasia would be possible. "I really hope that Italy becomes a more civilised country, finally passing a law that lets people end enormous suffering, without end, without remedy, in their own homes, close to their loved ones, without having to go abroad, with all the difficulties involved without excessive expenditure," wrote Davide Trentini, a 53-year-old Tuscan accompanied to the Dignitas clinic in Zurich by right-to-die activist Mina Welby. "I will leave for my dream holiday", wrote Trentini.

Trentini, committed assisted suicide on Thursday.

Many Italians including the headline-grabbing blind and tetraplegic disc jockey DJ Fabo have been helped to commit euthanasia by the campaigning Luca Coscioni Association, and especially its treasurer Marco Cappato.


(ANSA) - Rome, April 14 - A mutliple-sclerosis (MS) sufferer who committed assisted suicide in Switzerland this week voiced the hope in a farewell letter that Italy would become a "civilised" country where euthanasia would be possible. "I really hope that Italy becomes a more civilised country, finally passing a law that lets people end enormous suffering, without end, without remedy, in their own homes, close to their loved ones, without having to go abroad, with all the difficulties involved without excessive expenditure," wrote Davide Trentini, a 53-year-old Tuscan accompanied to the Dignitas clinic in Zurich by right-to-die activist Mina Welby. "I will leave for my dream holiday", wrote Trentini.

Trentini, committed assisted suicide on Thursday.

Many Italians including the headline-grabbing blind and tetraplegic disc jockey DJ Fabo have been helped to commit euthanasia by the campaigning Luca Coscioni Association, and especially its treasurer Marco Cappato.

Welby, the co-chair of the association, said she would report herself to Carabinieri police today for assisting a suicide, which is a crime in Italy. The Coscioni Association has helped 268 people to die and has accompanied three to the Swiss Dignitas clinic, most taken there by Cappato. MS is a debilitating nerve-wasting disease. Davide had been suffering from it for 26 years, since 1993, and had found his recent years unbearable, sources said.

Welby is the widow of Piergiorgio Welby, an Italian poet, painter and activist whose three-month-long battle to establish his right to die in 2006 led to a debate about euthanasia in Italy, rekindled by DJ Fabo's and other Swiss suicides. A bill on end-of-life issues including living wills, but not euthanasia, is before parliament amid criticism from the Catholic Church and conservative politicians.


Turkish police arrest five in ISIS polling place attack plot Second day of raids, one of the arrested from Tajikistan

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, APRIL 14 - Turkish antiterrorism police arrested at least five suspected members of ISIS on Friday, who police said were preparing "stunning attacks" on polling places this Sunday during the referendum vote on presidentialism.



Three police raids took place simultaneously overnight in Istanbul following a tip, according to Turkish daily Anadolu.



One of the five arrested on Friday is a citizen of Tajikistan who was identified as having experience in "conflict zones".



ISIS sent the order to attack voters to its affiliates through the group's publications in Turkish and Arabic, which defined the voters as "miscreants", Turkish intelligence sources said.



On Thursday, Turkish police in the southern province of Mersin arrested nine other ISIS members suspected of preparing attacks on polling places.(ANSAmed).




- ROME - The Syrian government and rebels have begun evacuations on Friday in four cities under siege, according to the BBC.



The operation, which will involve more than 30,000 people, came about after Qatar and Iran mediated an agreement.



About 80 buses have arrived in Rashidin, west of Aleppo, to take civilians to government-controlled areas.



The same operation is taking place in Madaya and Zabani.
RABAT - More than half of the African migratory population remains on the continent, according to data released by El Habib Nadir, the Moroccan Secretary General of the Ministry for Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs.



"In spite of media reports, movement takes place mainly within African borders, rather than towards Europe or other continents," Nadir said.



He spoke to an international audience in Rabat on the theme "Africa in Movement: Migration, Diaspora and Mobility".



Nadir said the causes of migration must be sought not only in humanitarian crises, but also in the "dynamics of economic development" that he said involve many African countries.



He said the migratory challenge could be transformed into a catalyst for development on the continent.(ANSAmed).


- ISTANBUL - Turkish antiterrorism police arrested at least five suspected members of ISIS on Friday, who police said were preparing "stunning attacks" on polling places this Sunday during the referendum vote on presidentialism.



Three police raids took place simultaneously overnight in Istanbul following a tip, according to Turkish daily Anadolu.



One of the five arrested on Friday is a citizen of Tajikistan who was identified as having experience in "conflict zones".



ISIS sent the order to attack voters to its affiliates through the group's publications in Turkish and Arabic, which defined the voters as "miscreants", Turkish intelligence sources said.



On Thursday, Turkish police in the southern province of Mersin arrested nine other ISIS members suspected of preparing attacks on polling places.


- TUNIS - UN Special Envoy to Libya Martin Kobler said his meeting with General Khalifa Haftar, leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA), at the general's headquarters in Al Marj in eastern Libya on Thursday was "positive".



This was the first time Kobler was received by Haftar.



On Twitter, Kobler said the meeting focused "on obstacles facing implementation of the Libyan Political Accord and the way forward".



On Facebook, Haftar's press office also made mention of the meeting, and said the two leaders "faced topics regarding Libya's future, difficulties and obstacles on the path of the political accord", without providing further details.
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YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Artsakh Republic told Armenpress the Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire more than 45 times firing shots from various caliber small arms at the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

The Ministrys statement reads: On April 13 and overnight April 14 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime more than 45 times by firing over 620 shots from various caliber small arms at the Armenian positions in the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

In the north-eastern direction of the line of contact the Azerbaijani forces fired also 60 mm mortar (14 shells) and anti-tank grenade launcher (5 grenades).

The Defense Army forces of Artsakh took countermeasures for suppressing the Azerbaijani activeness and continued confidently fulfilling their military tasks.
GAVAR, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Rescuers have recovered the body of Hovik Yepremyan, 46, from Sevan Lake at 09:30, April 14, in the area of Artsvanist village. The man was a local of the same village.

Samvel Ohanyan, the head of the village, told ARMENPRESS the man entered the lake on a boat and drowned.

Rescuers suspended search operations at night due to visibility, and in the morning the body was found.

He drowned very close to the shore, thats why the body was discovered soon. Hovik was married, a father of two. One of his sons is serving in the Army, the other just recently departed to work abroad, Ohanyan said.

At 22:05, April 23, the ministry of emergency situations received a call that the man hasnt returned after entering the lake on a boat. Emergency response units were dispatched to the scene.

Rescuers discovered the boat empty. Search operations were launched immediately, however due to unfavorable weather conditions and nighttime darkness the search & rescue operations were suspended.

Rescuers continued searching in the morning at 07:53.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. The State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition has enhanced control in the market ahead of the Easter.

Gayane Sahakyan  the Commissions spokesperson, told Armenpress a working group was formed for that purpose, it conducts monitoring in the eggs market with a toughened, daily regime. We have nearly 20 producers in the eggs market, 4 out of which occupy a leading position, she said.

Gayane Sahakyan said the control in the market ahead of holidays aims at protecting the interests of consumers and economic entities. The Commission didnt reveal violations in terms of price increases from April 7 to 13. Moreover, our examinations allow to state with confidence that the production of local producers is sufficient to meet the growing demands of citizens ahead of Easter, Sahakyan said.

She informed that if in the beginning of the year the average price of eggs was 59-60 AMD, the results of the monitoring show that today this price is maintained. We are going to be consistent, and if the Commission realizes unfair competition manifestations, it will definitely take respective measures, she stated.

Easter will be celebrated on April 16.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. While on a working visit in Kyrgyzstan, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on April 14 took part in the informal meeting of heads of member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Bishkek, press service of the Presidents Office told Armenpress.

Within the frames of the meeting agenda, the CSTO heads of states discussed the draft decision on the CSTO Secretary General and made a unanimous decision to appoint Armenias National Security Council Secretary Yuri G. Khachaturov as CSTO Secretary General from May 2.

The heads of states also decided to award former CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha with CSTO Collective Security Councils 1st Degree of Excellence.

During the meeting issues related to the military-political and military-strategic situation in the CSTO responsibility zone were discussed, a number of additional orders related to countering security threats were adopted.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Board Chairman Tigran Sargsyan presented a report to the Presidents of the EAEU member states during the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council session on the works aimed at strengthening economic relations with third countries, regional and international organization during the period of 2015-2016.

Armenpress reports Tigran Sargsyan stressed that in the sidelines of the international agenda the Commission holds negotiations with key partners, taking into account the business interests of the EAEU member states.

In 2017 the EEC plans to focus on works aimed at reaching some agreements with 7-8 countries, including China, Singapore, Israel, Egypt and Iran. Based on the negotiations results agreements will be signed, defining various privileged trade conditions, including creation of free trade zones.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh Ashot Ghoulyan received a delegation of the members of Francophone Youth Parliament of Armenia headed by its director and the Armenian MP Margarit Yesayan.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the National Assembly of Artsakh, welcoming the guests, Head of the National Assembly Ashot Ghoulyan noted the importance of Francophone youth groups familiarization visit to Artsakh and underlined the role of inter-parliamentary ties.

"By gathering of your peers and friends around you, you have the opportunity to expand the scope of support to our common cause and to contribute to the realization of our objectives for the international recognition of Artsakh, presentation of our region to the world, to develop the basis of the Armenian-French friendship," said Ashot Ghoulyan.

Expressing gratitude for the reception, Margarit Yesayan said that Armenia attaches great importance to the visit of the Francophone Youth Parliament to Artsakh, which will enable them to come up with more reliable source of information for further of communication with foreign organizations or their friends.

Touching upon the involvement of the young Francophones of Artsakh in the international programs of the Francophone, member of the Youth Parliament of Armenia, Shiraz Hovakimian noted that Artsakh has every opportunity to engage the French countries in the atmosphere and the task of the youth is to position Artsakh as the bearer of the values of the Francophonie.

Then the parliament President touched upon domestic and foreign policy developments in Armenia and Artsakh, historical and current cooperation with France.

During the meeting, prospects for bilateral cooperation were discussed and concrete steps were outlined.

Member of Artsakhs parliament, member of the circle of friendship "Karabakh-France" Lernik Hovhannisyan took part in the meeting.

In the evening a meeting of the Francophone youth of Artsakh and Armenia took place in the small conference hall of the National Assembly, during which they signed a joint memorandum. The memo reads as follows:

"We, the members of the Youth Parliament of the Francophones of the Republic of Armenia, are sure that our colleagues from Artsakh can help the Republic of Artsakh become a full member of a large Francophone family, and we are ready to assist our colleagues in the responsible work of creating and establishing a francophone parliament."

It should be noted that in the morning members of the Francophone youth parliament visited school N1 in Stepanakert, where they attended French lessons and got acquainted with francophone students there.

In the afternoon, the group visited one of the military units of the Artsakh Defense Army, communicated with servicemen, got acquainted with their everyday life and visited the sights of the city of Shushi.
Germany has dealt with the long shadow of Nazi-era looting for many years. Now the government is setting aside funding to investigate another dark chapter of the past: the expropriation of works of art by the Stasi, the East German secret police, during the Cold War. The research could open the door to new restitution claims from the families of victims.
The inertia of state funding, allied to the lack of imagination of arts centres, has sapped the fizz from Londons halls, like champagne bottles left uncorked for too long. Where once we were cocks of the concert walk, audiences in Munich and Milan cannot tell one London orchestra from the next. Thats how low we have sunk in five short years. So whats to be done?
A little rain wasnt going to stop kids from swooping up eggs at the Beatrice YMCA on Friday afternoon.

The grassy field outside the YMCA was littered with bright plastic Easter eggs, brimming with candy and temporary tattoos and glistening with fresh rainwater.

There were 1,000 eggs ready for the hunters, and with school being closed for the day, they showed up in droves. Around 150 kids came to the Easter egg hunt, ready to fill their baskets.

The kids at the YMCA made their own baskets from popsicle sticks and markers, some had pastel-colored woven baskets, some had Easter-themed buckets and some kids came with Walmart shopping bags. Whatever the vessel, eggs were going in.

Separated into three groups based on age, they took their positions. Hopping up and down and squirming in anticipation, a quick ready, set, go was all it took for the scramble to begin. They burst onto the lawn like a herd of candy wolves and picked up every egg in less than three minutes.

Our Easter egg hunts are hardcore, said YMCA program director Jennifer Elliott. You've got to be on your game, you've got to train for it.

Even as the rain fell on the hunters, their clothes may have been dampened, but their spirits certainly were not. And theres nothing wrong with getting a little wet, as long as you get candy.

Last year we did it in the pouring rain because we decided we build strong kids here, said Alison Leonard, Beatrice YMCA CEO. I don't think kids today spend enough time in the rain, so it was going to be rain or shine for us today.

With the American Legions egg hunt at Chatauqua Park coming up on Saturday at 11 a.m., Fridays hunters had some advice for future egg-seekers.

All you do to get them all is just do that," Logan Busboom said, making a scooping motion at the grass. "Because they're all on the ground and some are right by each other."

Addison Schafer agreed, though she said technique and skill can sometimes be secondary to a strategic location.

"I just run to the top part of it," she said, pointing to the edge of a sloped section of the field. "grab all of them and make your way down."

Other Easter egg hunts around the area this weekend include one in Wilber at the Legion Memorial Park at 1 p.m. that will feature a petting zoo and coloring. Theres also the yearly Easter egg hunt in Fairbury on the Courthouse lawn for kids.

With so many kids at the YMCA egg hunt, it became clear pretty quickly that some kids werent going to find enough eggs. Thats when the other kids really shined, Leonard said.

One boy was upset because he hadnt found any eggs during the hunt, she said. Instead of filling their mouths with peanut butter cups and Twix bars, the other kids decided to share their bounty.

Without even asking, they all went over and dumped eggs into his basket, Leonard said. It's about caring about others and sharing, and it's hard for kids to do that these days.
Central bank issues new set of enabling provisions under label of revised prompt corrective action framework.

Mumbai: Within a week of promising to issue new guidelines to resolve bad loans problem, Reserve Bank today issued a new set of enabling provisions under the label of revised prompt corrective action (PCA) framework.

The RBI said the new set of provisions is effective April 1 based on the financials of each bank as of March 2017, and override the existing PCA framework. It also said the new framework will be reviewed after three years.

"A bank will be placed under PCA framework based on the audited annual financial results and RBI's supervisory assessment. However, RBI may impose PCA on any bank during the course of a year, including migration from one threshold to another, in case the circumstances so warrant," RBI said.

More importantly, it said if a bank crosses the third level of risk threshold (wherein a bank's common equity tier I capital falls below the threshold of 3.625 per cent by 3.125 per cent or more) the said bank will be either amalgamated or

merged or taken over by another entity.

"Breach of 'risk threshold 3' of CET1 by a bank would identify it as a likely candidate for resolution through tools like amalgamation, reconstruction, winding up etc," RBI said.

It also said in case a "bank defaults in meeting the obligations to its depositors, possible resolution processes may be resorted to without reference to the PCA matrix."

Extending the new provisions to foreign banks, RBI said the revised PCA framework is applicable to all banks including small banks and foreign banks.

The new framework also places capital, asset quality and profitability as the key areas for monitoring and the over-riding indicators tracking capital, asset quality and profitability will be CRAR/common equity tier I ratio, met NPA ratio and return on assets, respectively, it added.

A bank's leverage will be monitored additionally as part of the PCA framework and any breach of any risk threshold will result in invocation of PCA.

On CRAR or capital to risk assets ratio, which is the minimum regulatory prescription and the applicable capital conservation buffer (CCB), it said the current minimum prescription is 10.25 per cent (9 per cent minimum total capital plus 1.25 per cent of CCB as on March 31, 2017).

It said PCA would kick in if a bank breaches either CRAR or CET 1 ratio by up to 250 bps below indicator between 10.25 per cent and 7.75 per cent.

If a bank including foreign ones breaches the risk levels or leverage levels, RBI said promoters/owners/parent in the case of foreign banks will have to bring in capital to meet the special supervisory requirement.

Breach of risk threshold 2 will attract restrictions on branch expansion, domestic and/or overseas higher provisions as part of the coverage regime, it said.

Breach of risk threshold 3 will invite mandatory actions of threshold 1 & 2, along with restrictions on management compensation and directors' fees and any other corrective actions such as removal of managerial persons, superseding the board or suppression of the board.

Credit risk related actions include asking the bank to prepare a time-bound plan and committing it reduce NPAs, plans to contain new NPA generation, strengthening the loan review mechanism, curbs on credit expansion for borrowers below certain rating grades, reduction in risk assets, curbs on credit expansion, reduction in unsecured exposures, loan concentrations to identified sectors, industries or borrowers; sale of assets, action plan for recovery of assets among others.

These measures were promised at the April 7 monetary policy as the bad loans including those already restructured in the system is believed to have touched 15 per cent of the system or USD 180 billion by March 2017.
I once met a young man who had escaped from the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. He shared his harrowing tale of fleeing, capture, jail, and, ultimately, freedom. He is grateful for his new life and shares the enthusiasm of liberation. To this day, for reasons of safety, he has to keep his identity and whereabouts quiet. He lives with the fear of retaliation. His plight is indicative of an entire nation.

The people of North Korea live in a harsh and insular climate marked by fear, desperation, and depravity. The country is defined by a psychological construct of belligerent nationalism, marked by the cult of leadership worship.

North Korea has the fourth largest army in the world, and its leader, Kim Jong-un, has repeatedly threatened us. He is paranoid, young, and he has nuclear weapons. The world has a very serious problem.

While the Korean War is an increasingly distant memory for our nation, perhaps there is no more vivid example of the gift of American leadership than on the Korean Peninsula.

The sacrifice of American troops enabled the people of South Korea to build a flourishing economy, a governing system that adheres to democratic values, and a population that enjoy the general liberties we have in America.

That sacrifice continues today as we have 28,500 troops remaining as a guardian force. While to the North it is a dark scene.

The key to understanding North Korea's power revolves around its neighbor China. The Peoples Republic of China claims to be troubled by North Korea's behavior, yet, in many ways, it plays a double game. China likely cooperates with the North Korean regime in subtle ways below the public radar, possibly lending technology that North Korea could not advance on its own.

North Koreas wild and provocative actions also further Chinese interests by keeping the international eye off of Chinese transgressions: Chinas contradictory capitalistic-communistic model, its militarization of the South China Sea, its belligerent attitude toward transportation in the East China Sea, and its mercantilist maneuvering throughout the world in the name of progress.

From China's viewpoint, it has a legitimate worry about a destabilized North Korea, lest a refugee crisis appear on its doorstep. Moreover, China has a long history of victimization by its neighbors. And it has a long memory. United States troops nearby trouble them. China has plowed its newfound economic largesse into a large military buildup.

Days before a high-profile United States visit by Chinese President Xi, North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile, an entirely predictable response to the Trump-Xi meeting. What is less predictable is where the situation goes from here. As the Administration has stated, the time for "strategic patience" has ended.

A central goal of the United States has been to encourage stable and just economic, governing, and social systems around the world in the interest of international stability. It is the right thing to do and it is smart public policy. Strategic patience allows time for next-generation leaders to understand and seek a new direction.

When necessary, enhanced economic pressure and a robust defensive posture are used to incentivize new directions. However, with North Korea accelerating its destructive technology and threats, strategic patience has reached its limits.

In foreign affairs, we optimally assume that others will behave rationally and according to commonly accepted values. The case of North Korea sadly illustrates the danger when lethal technology is combined with reckless motivation. China's leverage could help deescalate this situation, and we need them to do so. Just as we saw in a missile strike on Syria for gassing children, now we enter into a new phase of strategic impatience.
The actress has been advised complete rest for the next 2-3 days as she is in immense pain.

Mumbai: Deepika Padukone has been travelling excessively and working round the clock, which ultimately has taken a toll on her health.

A source informed a portal saying, Deepika has suffered neck and back pain, due to which she had to cancel the shoot today.

The source also informed, Deepika was to shoot today. But she experienced some pain in the neck. It was slightly unbearable and hence she decided to skip the shoot and rest.

"It was those heavy costumes that made her feel uncomfortable, and if she kept shooting in those costumes, then that would strain her neck even more.The actress has been advised complete rest for the next 2-3 days as she is in immense pain, adds the source.

Ever since the film Padmavati rolled, thereve been various obstacles in their way. Initially, there was news about issues between the two male leads- Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor.

Later, the Karni Sena of Jaipur attacked the filmmaker while its shoot in Jaipur. Followed by a fire breaking out on the sets of Padmavati in Kolhapur, which caused massive harm to the production team.

While the shoot just resumed last week, once again the films shoot is on a halt considering their ladys ill-health.

Get well soon Deepika!

Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati features Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in meaty roles.

The film is expected to release on November 18.
Murshid was among the 21 persons from Kerala, who reportedly went missing after travelling to the Middle East last year.

Kasargod: Another missing youth from Kerala, suspected to have joined the Islamic State group, has reportedly been killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.

Murshid Muhammed, a native of Padna in this district, was killed in a drone attack in Nangarhar province in Afghanistan, said Abdur Rahiman, an Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader in Padna.

Rahiman, also a social activist, said he received the message yesterday on social media app, Telegram.

"The exact date could not be known yet...The message did not come from the usual source...I could not get more details," Rahiman said on Friday over the phone.

Murshid was among the 21 persons from Kerala, who reportedly went missing after travelling to the Middle East last year and were suspected to have joined the terrorist organisation in Syria.

However, Chandera police did not confirm the news saying, "We have no information about it."

Two months ago, another youth T K Hafeesudeen (24), also from Padna, was killed in a drone attack in Afghanistan.
SSP, Lucknow Manzil Saini said another team would be present at a distance and catch anyone passing remarks or harassing decoys.

A team of 15 woman police personnel have been picked for the job in Lucknow. (Photo: PTI)

Lucknow: After the grand success of the anti-Romeo squads in Uttar Pradesh, it is now the Juliets who will carry forward the campaign against street harassers.

The UP Police will now be deploying women police personnel, dressed in civil clothes, as a decoy in public places to catch the harassers red-handed.

A team of 15 woman police personnel have been picked for the job in Lucknow.

SSP, Lucknow Manzil Saini said 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 at spots where complaints of harassment are rampant. These spots include the 1,090 crossing, CIMAP road, Kendriya Vidyalaya in Aliganj, Picnic Spot road, and parks in Gomti Nagar and Mahanagar where women go for evening walks.

The anti-Romeo squads set up by the UP Police has also received flak for harassing young couples, some of whom turned out to be cousins or siblings.

There has been a perceptible decline in instances of harassment 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 1-7 and no arrests were made. The drive will run alongside phase two from now, she said.
PM launches BHIM schemes on Ambedkar birth anniversary.

PM Modi paying tribute to Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar on his 126th birth anniversary at Dikshabhoomi in Nagpur of Maharashtra. Union Ministerd Nitin Gadkari, Prakash Javadekar, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and CM Devendra Fadnavis are also seen. (Photo: PTI)

Nagpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on said the DigiDhan movement was not only about curbing corruption, but also about giving a voice to the poor.

He also launched two schemes, giving a further push to the Centres efforts to create a less-cash system, on the 126th birth anniversary of social justice crusader B.R. Ambedkar.

Mr Modi, who paid tribute to Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi, where the dalit icon had embraced Buddhism, linked the new schemes with his vision of social justice and financial empowerment.

We have been working towards a digital India for quite some time. DigiDhan is one of the initiatives which will become niji dhan (personal wealth) of the poor. It will become the voice of the poor, he told a public meeting here.

The DigiDhan movement is a safai abhiyan (cleanliness movement). It is to fight the menace of corruption, he said.

The Prime Minister launched the BHIM-Aadhaar Pay app, a biometric-based payment system which will make payment through thumb impression a reality.

He also launched incentive schemes for the BHIM  cashback and referral bonus  with an outlay of Rs 495 crore for a period of six months.

Seeking to rope in youngsters to promote cashless transactions, Modi said for every person introduced to the BHIM app, one will get a cashback of Rs 10. If you refer 20 persons a day, you can earn Rs 200, he said.

Under the referral bonus scheme, both the existing users who refer BHIM and new users who adopt it would get a cash bonus which will be credited directly to their bank account.

Under the cashback scheme, the merchants will get a cashback on every transaction on BHIM.

Both the schemes will be administered by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and implemented by the National Payments Corporation of India.
In another incident, nine gold bars, weighing 15 kg, were seized from three persons at Guwahati railway station.

Guwahati: The GRPF and state police have seized demonetised banknotes with the face value of Rs 1.10 crore, nine gold bars and 1.5 kg brown sugar in separate incidents.

The demonetised notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denominations were seized from a vehicle in Paltan Bazar on Thursday. However, the driver managed to escape, police said.

In another incident, nine gold bars, weighing 15 kg, were seized from three persons at Guwahati railway station, a GRPF official said.

The gold bars were seized during a routine checking in Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express and the persons, all residents of Mizoram, were arrested, the official said.

Another man, travelling by Awadh NE express, was arrested after 1.5 kg brown sugar was seized from his possession, police said.
The farmer issue needs to be catered with various measures not just loan waiver.

Mumbai: Bacchu Kadu, an independent MLA from Amravati district has stirred up a hornets nest by taking a dig at Bollywoods dream girl Hema Malini, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of Parliament from Mathura.

While referring to statements made from the ruling benches that alcohol was one of the reasons behind farmer suicide, Mr Kadu attacked the actor-cum-BJP MP saying, If drinking alcohol is the reason for farmer suicide then there are many actors who drink daily. Doesnt Hema Malini drink too? Why hasnt she committed suicide? he asked.

When contacted, Mr Kadu confirmed to this newspaper that he had indeed cited Ms Malini as an example. He claimed that he had made these statements at an event in Nanded on Thursday in a particular context.

I was referring to the statements made by some people from the government that alcohol is the reason why farmers are committing suicide in the context of the loan waiver. The government does not want to do anything. How can you blame alcohol for farmer suicides? Dont actors drink too? Have they committed suicide? I referred to Ms Hema Malini in that context, explained Mr Kadu.

However, Mr Kadu's comments haven't gone down well with the saffron brigade. BJP leaders claim that Mr Kadus statements don't just defame Ms Malini, but every women.

Ms Malini is a well-known figure across the globe, apart from being a member of Parliament. These statements are uncalled for. Farmers commit suicide not just because of bad crops. There are various reasons behind it.

The farmer issue needs to be catered with various measures not just loan waiver. Mr Kadu should not speak in such a manner against any woman. This is unacceptable, said Priti Gandhi, national executive member of BJP's Mahila Morcha.
Residents have demanded that residential parking rates be slashed from Rs 2,000 per month to Rs 560.

Mumbai: South Mumbai citizens have said a big no to involvement of contractors in BMCs new pay and park policy for residents. They have instead demanded a local pay and park supervision body to monitor parking in their area. They have suggested use of dead roads in the vicinity for night parking.

Residents have opposed the controversial pay and park policy in A ward saying that major stakeholders including locals have not been taken into confidence and there are several lacunae in the policy. In a meeting with local BJP MLA Raj Purohit, residents prepared a draft containing suggestions to make the policy more effective. In the draft, they demanded that representatives of BMC, traffic police, Mumbai police and residents be included in the supervision body.

Mr Purohit said, We do not want any contractors in residential areas. Feedback has not been sought from local residents, who will be affected most. The policy also lacks inputs from traffic police and Mumbai police, who maintain law and order. If anything goes wrong, who will the residents approach! There is absolutely no clarity on the guidelines of the proposed policy. Apart from a local supervision body, residents have also suggested utilisation of dead roads for reserved parking in the night. Dead roads are the ones in commercial areas that remain vacant during the night.

Mr Purohit said, If the cars of a particular society outnumber the parking slots available, what is the solution! To overcome this problem, we have suggested using dead roads in zones like Marine Drive, Regal to Sassoon Dock, Crawford Market to Fountain, Mantralaya to Cuffe Parade, and Marine Lines to Queens Road for night parking for nearby residential areas. Residents have demanded that residential parking rates be slashed from Rs 2,000 per month to Rs 560. They have also asked for 24-hour parking slots for residential parking. However, the residential parking scheme is entirely optional and will be implemented only after local residents apply for it, said a senior civic official.
MRVC has just MUTP III as major relief in terms of decongesting.

Mumbai: Mumbai railway officials met state officials after union minister Suresh Prabhu told them to stop lazing around and have a dialogue to fast-track city projects. This comes at a time when tenders for different works for the Mumbai Urban Transport Project III and both elevated corridors are to be floated.

Officials of central and western railway (CR and WR) and Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) met with state officials for projects for Maharashtra and Mumbai, with the latter having just MUTP III as major relief in terms of decongesting the railway from the 72 lakh commuters it sees every day. Among the projects discussed were MUTP III amounting to nearly Rs 11,000 crore; quadrupling of the Virar-Dahanu Road; the new railway line from Panvel to Karjat; link between Airoli and Kalwa; and purchase of 47 new trains.

An official present at the meeting said, Union minister Mr Prabhu conducted a meeting at Bandra almost six months ago but officials from both railways and the state did not take it forward for some reason. The minister then asked CM Devendra Fadnavis whether any progress had been made on issues where both bodies needed to work together. Mr Prabhu realised that nothing serious had been done following which directives were sent to railway officials to take some initiative and call a meeting.

The meeting was necessary from the point of view of procurement of land from state-run bodies for timely completion of projects such as CST-Panvel and the Bandra-Virar elevated corridor.

WR chief public relations officer Ravindra Bhaskar said, The meeting was routine and took place as a result of the fact that union minister Mr Prabhu will be in town on April 18. The meeting was held for clearing doubts and some procedures that need presence of both the state and railways.
Sinha, who received the award recently in the US, was also bestowed the title of AHS Honorary Fellow in May 2016.

The AHS honour is considered as a benchmark for leadership excellence in vertical flight technology. (Representational Image/File)

Mumbai: An India-born aeronautics engineer from Australia has been honoured with the 'World's Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Leadership Award' by the

American Helicopter Society (AHS) International.

AHS is the world's premier professional institution dedicated to vertical flight technology and advancement. It selected Lt. Col. (retd) Dr Arvind Sinha for his distinguished career in vertical flight technology.

Sinha, who received the award recently in the US, was also bestowed the title of AHS Honorary Fellow in May 2016.

The title is granted to Society members who have shown "exceptional leadership, or made innovative or other meritorious contributions, that have significantly advanced AHS International and the vertical flight community."

Sinha is recipient of several awards, spanning military operations, design projects and academia. "The AHS honour is considered as a benchmark for leadership excellence in vertical flight technology," he said.

He is currently the Director of Engineering, Helicopter Systems Division, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), at the Department of Defence, Australia.

Working on Australian Army and Navy aviation platform and systems technologies, he is an expert in Tactical Aerospace Systems, covering helicopters and unmanned Aircraft.

He is a former Professor and Director of Aerospace and Aviation Research Centre at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), and now holds the title of Professor of Aerospace Design at Monash University, an Australian public

research university based in Melbourne.

During his stint with the Indian Army, Sinha commanded elite units of Electronic Warfare and Airborne Special Forces.

As a young Major, he was posted to command an engineering unit on the high-density altitude Siachen Glacier as part of Operation Meghdoot in 1984.

"The average stint there does not exceed 90 days due to the harsh conditions that test human endurance. However, my tenure was extended to two years for operational reasons, and my command was honoured with a Special Operations order," he said.

Sinha said he was selected to pursue a doctorate in Australia based on his IIT Masters work in Helicopter Design for a doctoral project-based application research under an Australian Government-sponsored scholarship with RMIT

University.

Sinha is a former Dean of the Faculty of Aviation in Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering in India. He is an alumnus of Sainik School Satara and the National Defence Academy in Maharashtra.
The meeting of the NDA the previous day, attended by the PM, would have been a shot in the arm for the ruling alliance.

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 famous 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 next 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 has been harrying the saffron party at every turn, but this was forgotten at the meeting. 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 and are still trying to forget mutual rivalries and present a common face to the BJP, although this may take some doing.

Thus, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjees Trinamul Congress was represented at Rashtrapati Bhavan along with its bete noire, the CPI(M) and the other Left parties. From Uttar Pradesh, there was the SP and BSP, parties with a long history of mutual hostility.

The victory of the mahagathbandhan in Bihar last year had led some to believe that the Congress, Lalu Prasad Yadavs Rashtriya Janata Dal and CM 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.
A bill that would prevent cities from passing any regulations that prohibit short-term rentals such as those booked on Airbnb would give hosts who advertise on the app an unfair tax advantage and create safety concerns, said several Nebraska senators who urged their colleagues to kill the measure Thursday.

Senators adjourned for the day without voting on the measure, but the bill's sponsor, Sen. Tyson Larson of O'Neill, said he has enough support to force a vote when it next comes up. He said the measure is crucial to let Nebraska residents earn extra income and avoid restrictions passed in cities around the country.

In New York City, for instance, people who rent out apartments for less than 30 days can face fines of $1,000 per unit for listing an apartment on Airbnb. Other cities have zoning codes that prohibit short-term rentals or limit the number of rentals in a neighborhood.

"We have an opportunity here to promote small entrepreneurs in our communities and ensure Nebraska does not shut down tourism," Larson said.

Airbnb, along with ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft, is part of a new "sharing economy" from which Nebraska can benefit, Larson said. It won't result in out-of-town visitors staying in Omaha neighborhoods every night but would be helpful for major events like the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders conference and College World Series, he said.

But several Omaha-area senators opposed the bill, which they said does little to address safety concerns or ensure that Airbnb users pay into hotel/motel taxes their cities rely on to build tourism and pay municipal bonds.

"We tend to be behind all the time on trends like Uber, like Airbnb, but this is not the bill to address it," said Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue.

Larson said he will work on an amendment to make clear that Airbnb will collect sales tax and hotel/motel tax when customers book Nebraska homes.

The bill would only let cities pass regulations relating to public safety, including controlling traffic and enforcing fire and building codes. Cities could prohibit a short-term rental only if it housed sex offenders, was a sober living home, sold drugs, sold liquor without a license or operated as a sexually oriented business.

Any other regulations would have to apply to all homes, not just those used as short-term rentals.

Sen. Burke Harr of Omaha, who has used Airbnb, said the measure could lead to dangerous situations. He said classmates when he was in high school would rent hotel rooms after prom and get into trouble, but Airbnb lets current high school seniors do more.

"Now you rent a house," he said. "You can do a short-term rental on a house, and you can be a lot louder and be in a lot more danger."

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha said the bill could allow a person to rent out a home or a room for 30 days, let the tenant stay without paying for one day and then rent it again for 30 days, effectively creating a long-term rental property that isn't subject to any rules.

"You wind up running a rental property with no regulations," he said.
In December, 16,000 parents and children were apprehended; in March, the number was just over 1,100.

Washington: President Donald Trump has won the first major battle in his war on illegal immigration, and he did it without building his wall.

The victory was announced last week by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which released figures showing a 93 percent drop since December of parents and children caught trying to cross the Mexico border illegally.

In December, 16,000 parents and children were apprehended; in March, a month in which immigration typically increases because of temperate weather, the number was just over 1,100.

It was a remarkable decline - steeper than the 72 percent drop in overall apprehensions - but for eight DHS officials interviewed by Reuters it was not surprising.

Trump has spoken about the need to crack down broadly on all illegal immigrants. But, internally, according to the DHS officials familiar with the department's strategy, his administration has focused on one immigrant group more than others: women with children, the fastest growing demographic of illegal immigrants. This planning has not been previously reported.

In the months since Trump's inauguration, DHS has rolled out a range of policies aimed at discouraging women from attempting to cross the border, including tougher initial hurdles for asylum claims and the threat of prosecuting parents if they hire smugglers to get their families across the border.

The department has also floated proposals such as separating women and children at the border.

DHS Secretary John Kelly told a Senate hearing on April 5 that the sharp drop in illegal immigration, especially among women and children, was due to Trump's tough policies.

To date, it has been the threat of new policies rather than their implementation that has suppressed family migration.

Mothers and children arent being separated - and DHS has shelved the plan; parents havent been prosecuted, and there is no wall along most of the border. Yet the number of migrants trying to cross  especially women and children  has dropped drastically.

Asked to comment on the policy of targeting women with children, DHS spokesman Jonathan Hoffman referenced the March drop, saying, Those were 15,000 women and children who did not put themselves at risk of death and assault from smugglers to make the trip north.

The White House declined to comment and referred Reuters to DHS.

For months, Central Americans had heard about Trumps get-tough policies. And public service announcements on radio and television presented bleak pictures of what awaited those who travelled north. Some of the ads were funded by the United States, others by United Nations agencies and regional governments.

One radio ad in Honduras featured a mother, saying, Its been a year and I dont know if she is alive or dead. Id do anything to have her here with me. Curse the day I sent her north.

The possibility that mothers and children might be separated at the border caused particular alarm, Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister Maria Andrea Matamoros told Reuters

That worries any mother that wants to go to the United States with their kid, and being separated drastically changes their plans," she said.

Identifying the problem

The policies targeting women and children have their roots in a working group consisting of Capitol Hill staffers and others called together by Trumps transition team in the weeks after the Nov. 8 election.

The group was asked to develop policies to discourage illegal border crossings and more quickly expel illegal immigrants after they crossed the border, according to two of the DHS officials and a congressional aide.

One goal was to help Trump fulfil a major campaign promise: ending so-called catch and release, the practice of apprehending illegal immigrants but then freeing them to live in the United States while their asylum or deportation cases were resolved.

The group quickly identified a major obstacle - the large numbers of women and children continuing to cross the border, said the DHS officials and the aide.

Because a federal court ruling bars prolonged immigration detention of juveniles, the Obama administration generally released mothers and children to live in the United States while awaiting resolution of their asylum or deportation cases.

The incoming Trump administration viewed that policy as providing encouragement for women to make the dangerous journey north with their children in tow. But the new administration was bound by the same court ruling.

New roles

After Kellys confirmation as Homeland Security chief in late January, several members of the original working group stepped into key roles at DHS. Gene Hamilton, who had worked for then Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, became senior counsellor to Kelly, and Dimple Shah, who had been staff director of the House National Security Subcommittee, became deputy general counsel.

Kathy Nuebel-Kovarik, formerly a staffer for Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, became policy chief at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Julie Kirchner left her position as executive director of the conservative Federation for American Immigration Reform to become a top policy adviser at U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

None of the group's members agreed to be interviewed by Reuters. Several DHS officials said that in their new roles they continued to focus on the issue of women and child migrants.

Soon, they had the bare bones of a plan: Since the court ruling on children was an obstacle to prolonged detention, why not separate them from their mothers, sending children into foster care or protective federal custody while their mothers remained in detention centers, the two DHS officials and congressional aide said.

The group also advocated two other policies directly affecting mothers and children: raising the bar for asylum and prosecuting parents as human traffickers if they hired human smugglers.

The thinking was that if they can just implement tough policies for eight weeks - or even threaten to do that - they would see the numbers of families crossing just plummet, said one DHS official familiar with the planning.

Making headlines

On Jan. 25, five days after taking office, Trump issued an executive order ending "catch and release." (A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official said the agency still releases most women and children in compliance with the federal court order.)

A week later, in a town hall with U.S. Customs and Immigration Services officers, Chief Asylum Officer John Lafferty outlined the possibility of separating women and children in a semi-public setting for the first time, according to notes of the meeting seen by Reuters.

For more than a month after that meeting, the proposal did not leak, but after Reuters broke news of it in early March, Kelly confirmed that it was under consideration. Democratic members of Congress blasted the proposal, and within days it had made headlines across Mexico and Central America.

That month, the number of children travelling with guardians apprehended at the border fell to one-third of what it had been in February.

When Kelly and his advisers saw the numbers dropping, they announced they were shelving the idea of separating women and children  at least for now.

Asked whether it may be revived, DHS spokeswoman Jenny Burke said, "Families caught crossing the border illegally, generally will not be separated unless the situation at the time requires it."
Pence will also travel to Japan, where he is expected to discuss the possible framework of bilateral trade talks.

White House advisers say it's possible that the regime could attempt to showcase its nuclear program or launch ballistic missiles during Pence's trip. (Photo: AP)

Washington: Vice President Mike Pence is opening his trip to the Asia-Pacific region amid increasing tensions in North Korea over the regime's nuclear and missile programs.

Pence is set to arrive Sunday in South Korea as President Donald Trump vows that Kim Jong Un's government is a "problem" that will be "taken care of."

The vice president's 10-day trip comes as North Korea celebrates the 105th anniversary of the birth of national founder Kim Il Sung, which falls on Saturday and is North Korea's most important holiday. A large-scale military parade is expected.

Tensions have been on the rise along the Korean Peninsula with the arrival 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.

White House advisers say it's possible that the regime could attempt to showcase its nuclear program or launch ballistic missiles during Pence's trip.

Pence will also travel to Japan, where he is expected to discuss the possible framework of bilateral trade talks, and make stops in Indonesia and Australia.
Trump said he authorised the use of the bomb in Afghanistan and called the mission "very, very successful".

Washington: President Donald Trump has said the US military has been "successful" lately because his administration has given them "total authorisation", as he hailed the forces for dropping the largest non-nuclear bomb targeting an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan.

A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed 'Mother Of All Bombs', was dropped on a tunnel complex of ISIS-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, in Achin district of Afghanistan's Nanagarh province, close to the border with Pakistan.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said yesterday that it was the first-ever combat use of the bomb. A MOAB is a 21,600- pound, GPS-guided munition that is America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb.

Trump said he authorised the use of the bomb in Afghanistan and called the mission "very, very successful".

"It was really another successful job, we are very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event," Trump told reporters at the White House

"Everybody knows exactly what happened, what I do is I authorise our military. We have the greatest military in the world, they've done a job, as usual, so we have given them total authorisation and that's what they're doing, and frankly, that's why they've been so successful lately," he said.

"If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and you compare that to what's happened over the last eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference. So we have incredible leaders of the military and incredible military,and we are very proud of them, and this was another very very successful mission," Trump said.

The US President, however, said he does not know if this would send a message to North Korea.

"I don't know if this sends a message. It doesn't make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem.

The problem will be taken care of. I will say this; I think China has really been working very hard," he said.

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command.

At his daily news conference, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the bomb was dropped at around 7 PM local time in Afghanistan yesterday.

"The GBU-43 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 easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area," Spicer said.

"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 US took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage as a result of the operation," he said.

The strike is part of the ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan, the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) said.

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. According to the Department of Defence, there are about 600-800 ISIS-K fighters in the region where bomb was dropped.
Trump had spent two days with Mr Xi at his Mar a-Lago resort in Florida and spoke to him over phone a day earlier.

Washington: President Donald Trump said that there was a very good chemistry between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping as he assured that US would not label China a currency manipulator and offered to have a good trade deal if Beijing helped to tackle the threat of North Korea.

President Xi wants to do the right thing. We had a very good bonding... I think he wants to help us with North Korea. We talked trade... a lot of things, Mr Trump said at a joint news conference on Wednesday with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg at the White House.

Mr Trump had spent two days with Mr 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, Mr Trump said referring to the latest telephonic conversation with the Chinese President.

But going it alone means going it with lots of other nations, he said.

Mr Trump said he was very impressed with Mr Xi. I think he means well, and I think he wants to help. Well see whether or not he does.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Mr Trump said the US had tremendous trade deficits with everybody, but the big one was with China.

Its hundreds of billions of dollars for many many years... Now, I did say  but you want to make a great deal? Solve the problem in North Korea, he said.

In a reversal from his previous stand, Mr Trump said he would not label China a currency manipulator.

Mr Trump said the reason he changed his mind was China had not been manipulating its currency for months and that step now could jeopardise talks with Beijing on confronting the threat of North Korea, the report said.
Female genital mutilation typically involves the partial or total removal of the clitoris and is barred by numerous international treaties.

New York: A 44-year-old Indian-origin woman doctor has been arrested and charged with performing genital mutilation on girls aged 6 to 8, believed to be the first such in the US.

Jumana Nagarwala has been charged with performing FGM on minor girls out of a medical office in Livonia, Michigan.

According to Nagarwala's profile in the Henry Ford Health System website, she speaks English and Gujarati.

According to the complaint, some of the minor victims allegedly traveled inter-state to have Nagarwala perform the procedure.

The complaint alleges that Nagarwala performed FGM on girls who were approximately 6 to 8 years old. This is believed to be the first case brought under a US law, which criminalises FGM.

Nagarwala, who is an emergency room physician, was arrested and was scheduled to appear in federal court in Detroit.

The number of girls under 18 at risk for FGM in the US has quadrupled since 1997. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 513,000 women and girls are at risk of FGM in the US.

Congress passed a law in 1996 making it illegal to perform genital mutilation or cutting in the US on anyone under than 18. FGM is punishable by up to five years in prison, however, it is not a crime in 26 US states, including Michigan.

"Despite her oath to care for her patients, Nagarwala is alleged to have performed horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims," Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said in a statement yesterday.

Blanco added that the Department of Justice is committed to stopping female genital mutilation in the US and will use the full power of the law to ensure that "no girls suffer such physical and emotional abuse".

Acting US Attorney Daniel Lemisch of the Eastern District of Michigan said 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," Lemisch said.

The complaint said federal agents reviewed Nagarwala's telephone records and further investigation revealed that parents of two minor girls had travelled to Michigan.

The girls were later interviewed by a forensic expert and one of the girls said she was told she was coming to Detroit for a "special" girls trip, but after arriving at the hotel, she learned that she and the other girl had to go to the doctor because "our tummies hurt".

The girls had been taken to Nagarwala, who performed the procedure on the girls.

The World Health Organisation said female genital mutilation comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been cut in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is concentrated.

WHO said FGM, which is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15, is a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
Trump described the bombing as a very successful mission; it was not immediately clear how much damage the device did.

Washington: 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 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.

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.
Trump has blamed the current situation in Syria on Moscow's support of Assad and called the Syrian leader

Moscow: Following Donald Trump's 'animal' remark for Syrian President Bashar Assad in the wake of the Idlib chemical attack, Syria's senior diplomat has come down heavily on the US President.

"If you are an 'animal' yourself, there is no need to think that everyone else is the same. Bashar Assad is the president of a sovereign state, he was elected by the people. And it's the Syrian people who should give him descriptions, not Trump," Syria's Deputy Minister of Expatriates and Foreign Affairs Ayman Susan told Sputnik.

With the West lashing out at the Syrian government of carrying out the alleged chemical attack in Syria's Idlib province on April, Trump has joined the chorus and blamed the current situation in Syria on Moscow's support of Assad and called the Syrian leader "an animal."

However, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem denied the government's involvement in the Idlib incident, saying it never used chemical weapons on either civilians or terrorists operating in the country and would never do so.

The Russian Defense Ministry said 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.

On April 6, the United States had launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian military airfield in Ash Sha'irat in response to the alleged chemical weapon use in Idlib province.
Fr Rafic Greiche describes the situation in the country as "calm". Christians "are not intimidated" and flock to church. Liturgical services continue, but other events have been cancelled. The victims are remembered. Western Christians are asked to visit as pilgrims and tourists. The attacker in Tanta has been identified. Al-Sisi reiterates commitment to the anti-terror struggle.

Cairo (AsiaNews)  Holy Week in Egypt has been marred by attacks against the countrys Coptic community. The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the bombings in Tanta and Alexandria. Some 45 people were killed and hundreds wounded.

Yet, the situation is calm for now. People are flocking to the churches, and wont let themselves be intimidated. There is no climate of fear but there is widespread concern, said Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church.

Indeed, "Christians are not intimidated, he noted. Even so, we decided to cancel the activities associated with the celebrations. Liturgical functions and services for Easter will go ahead as planned. Other public events and activities, like receptions for lawmakers and government officials, have been cancelled out of respect for the victims.

Armed police guard the entrance to St Mark's Church with an imposing security ring to filter people trying to enter the building for Mass, with only regular worshippers allowed in.

In every city, churches and other Christian places of worship are closely guarded. However, some diocese, especially in Upper Egypt, have cancelled celebrations. Services will be limited to "simple prayers, organisers said. A mix of fear, pain, grief and distrust of the authorities prevails in many communities.

Yesterday evening, the Egyptian Interior Ministry announced that it had identified the suicide bomber who blew himself up last Sunday at the Mar Girgis Church in Tanta, northern Egypt, killing 28 people.

The suicide bombers name is Mamdouh Mohamed Amin Baghdadi, born in 1977 in Qena, Upper Egypt where he lived. He was a "cadre" in a terrorist cell; three other members were arrested.

The authorities had already identified the suicide bomber who blew himself up in Alexandrias St Marks Cathedral, seat of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, killing 17. Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II was in the building at the time. This is the second attempt at his life after the Cairo attack in December.

During his visit to Coptic Pope Tawadros II on Thursday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pledged to hunt down the perpetrators of last week's twin church bombings, his office said.

Sisi said that "state agencies were exerting their utmost effort to chase down the perpetrators of those vile acts". In the meantime, he declared a three-month state of emergency and called on the army to protect "vital" installations around the country.

"Christians are not scared, Fr Greiche said. We are accustomed to violence, and we live with our martyrs. There is no fear, but some concern about what will happen if things escalate.

In fact, for many, the latest attacks have revived the idea of emigration, especially "among the more affluent Christians", middle and upper class families who can "afford a different choice."

The Egyptian government "is doing its best," said the Catholic Church spokesman, "but guarding churches and places of worship with soldiers and police is not enough. We must do more to prevent terrorism, and, in this context, intelligence work is crucial. Only then will we prevent new attacks."

In addition to Easter, Egypts Christian communities are also concerned about the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to Egypt on 28-29 April, which the Vatican confirmed in spite of the attacks.

Organisers are vetting security measures for the pope and the faithful. People are worried, but still happy that they will be able to see the pope close-up".

"At this time, we are preparing to celebrate the death and resurrection of the Lord, Fr Greiche said. For this reason, we must maintain a strong faith. After a dark period, there is always new life. We should not be afraid but always be ready."

"For the faithful, it is natural to be stronger than fear, he added. Christians in the West and in the rest of world should come to Egypt, as pilgrims and tourists, to support us and make us feel your closeness." (DS)
by Mathias Hariyadi

Indonesians come into contact with the Church in schools and the workplace. Many catechumens are converted by the testimonies of priests and religious.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  Each year, hundreds of Indonesian teenagers and adults receive the baptism at Easter. Hence, dioceses across the country prepare to celebrate Easter and welcome with joy the new members of the Catholic community.

Many Indonesian catechumens come into contact with the Catholic Church in schools and the workplace. However, most choose to take the path of baptismal catechesis after meeting with priests and religious, who, through their testimonies of faith, become a source of inspiration and conversion.

In Malang, East Java province, Fr Emanuel Wahyu Widodo performed the baptism of 13 adults during Palm Sunday celebrations. A local parishioner, Laurentius Suryono, told AsiaNews that "The catechumens prepared themselves for months".

Fr Sigit Danang Koesworo, from the diocese of Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, told AsiaNews that during the Easter vigil Mass he will administer the baptism on 12 adults and 3 children. "Many others will be baptised in Meratus and in other parishes," he added. On the same day, Fr Agustinus Suwartana Susilo will baptise 40 adults.

Contacted by AsiaNews, Fr Andrianus Maradiyo, parish priest at St Mary the Virgin Mother of Christ, said that "At Easter we will baptise 16 adults."

Eleven people will receive the Sacrament in Boyolali, Central Java, whilst Fr Murdisusanto said that 25 more people will become part of the Catholic community in Yogyakarta.
Following a deal brokered by Qatar and Iran, people began leaving government-controlled Foah and Kefraya and rebel-held Madaya and Zabadani. For the UN, the situation in the four towns is "catastrophic" with thousands "trapped in a cycle of daily violence and deprivation".

Damascus (AsiaNews/Agencies)  The Syrian government and rebel forces have begun an operation to move people away from four besieged towns.

People from Foah and Kefraya, two government-held towns in north-western Syria, have arrived in Rashideen, west of Aleppo, Syrias second largest city, recaptured by government troops in December.

Similar operations have begun in rebel-held Madaya and Zabadani, near Damascus. The humanitarian crisis in Madaya had elicited appeals for action, including from Card Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio to Syria.

More than 30,000 people are expected to be evacuated under the deal brokered last month by pro-rebel Qatar and pro-regime Iran, allowing for the exchange of rebel and government prisoners.

Agence France Presse reported that 80 buses from Idlib province arrived in Rashideen. Evacuation began this morning.

The deal was postponed several times as the two sides failed to overcome a number of obstacles, including last weeks chemical attack on rebel-held Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province.

In March, the United Nations described the situation in the four towns as "catastrophic" with more than 64,000 civilians "trapped in a cycle of daily violence and deprivation".

During the siege, many people are reported to have died as a result of shortages of food or medicine.

Foah and Kefraya, most of whose residents are Shia Muslims, have been encircled by rebels and al-Qaeda-linked Sunni jihadists since March 2015.

Madaya and Zabadani, which are predominantly Sunni, have been besieged since June 2015 by the Syrian army and fighters from Lebanon's Shia Islamist Hezbollah movement.

Overall, some 4.7 million people live in hard-to-reach and besieged areas in Syria, including 644,000 in UN-declared besieged locations.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of Russia, Syria and Iran are due to meet in Moscow in the first meeting of the three allies since the United States launched 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase near Homs.

Washington says its strike was in response to a Syrian government chemical attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, in which more than 80 people were killed. Western powers also blamed the Assad regime.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied carrying out a chemical attack, calling the reports "fabricated". So far, there has been no independent verification of the incident.

The ministers meeting in the Russian capital are expected to consider their next move, including a counter-investigation to prove that the Syrian government was not involved.
A veteran who served in Vietnam was recognized by the Gage County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday.

Joe Hawkins was selected as this months recipient of the veteran honor award, a monthly program established by the board.

Gage County Veteran Services Officer Phil Dittbrenner said in addition to Hawkins service overseas, he was also one of the first men Dittbrenner met in Beatrice.

I was hired on with the Beatrice Police Department, Dittbrenner recalled. He was my first lieutenant. He pointed me in the right direction and showed me the way to do things the right way and I have a lot of respect and appreciate everything hes done.

Hawkins joined the U.S. Army on March 29, 1965 and served until March 28, 1968. He served in Vietnam as a helicopter crewman.

For his service, Hawkins received the Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Accommodation Medal and others.

Hawkins shared stories from his time overseas, and thanked the County Board for hosting the program and recognizing his service.

It does mean a lot, he said. We werent thanked when we came home by any means, so anytime we get recognition it gets very emotional.

Hawkins detailed some of his service experience, including at Lima Site 85, a mission he was part of without warning when he was issued a flight suit with no label and few details.

We were up there about 30 days to get it all set up, he said. We got those boys set up there and they were there about 2  years and they lost it. The Vietnamese army came up and wiped them out. They tried to get help, but couldnt get it.

County Board Chairman Myron Dorn said the stories shared by Hawkins and other veterans demonstrate how important it is to recognize veterans.

Part of what we get to enjoy is the stories, Dorn said. Its amazing some of the stories, what some of our veterans have gone through. Its almost unbelievable. Its hard to realize that you went through all that and are still here.
by Bernardo Cervellera

Public security will not reveal where he was taken, but allow the faithful to deliver some clothes for their pastor. The bishop will celebrate Easter with his faithful. Pressures on the prelate to adhere to the Patriotic Association. A similar fate to that of Msgr. Guo Xijin. It is also pressure on the Holy See.

Rome (AsiaNews) - The bishop of Wenzhou (Zhejiang), Msgr. Peter Shao Zhumin was seized by police and taken to an unknown location. The incident occurred yesterday afternoon. Public security agents, however, have allowed the faithful to bring them some clothes to hand them over to the prelate, a sign that his kidnapping will be long term.

Msgr. Shao is a bishop of the underground Church, recognized by the Holy See as an ordinary bishop of the diocese, after the death of his predecessor, Msgr. Vincenzo Zhu Weifang, on 7 September.

The kidnapping of Msgr. Shao came just hours before the start of the Easter Triduum. One priest believes the bishop's detention is precisely to prevent him presiding at Easter rites given that he is not recognized by the government. Also, sources in Wenzhou diocese said, "Security officials wanted to prevent Bishop Shao from contacting the open Church community in Wenzhou and exercising his episcopal authority over there, such as the blessing of oils.

The fact closely resembles what has happened in recent days to another bishop, Msgr. Vincenzo Guo Xijin, also a member of the underground church, but recognized by the Holy See as an ordinary bishop of Mindong (Fujian).

It is very likely that these enforced disappearances aim to blackmail the two prelates to convince them to join the Patriotic Association (PA), the Party body which wants to establish an independent Church.

In talks between China and the Holy See on an agreement on the appointment of bishops, the CCPA continues to demand that all bishops are members of the PA, thus excluding underground bishops, who reject registration and whom the PA regards as "unreliable."

The situations of Wenzhou and Mindong represent a dangerous exception, that the Ministry of Religious Affairs wants to stamp out.

According to some experts, their abduction and the forced education of the two prelates to "study and learn" is undue pressure on the Vatican to give its endorsement of the conditions imposed by Beijing, in short that only bishops appointed independently and enrolled in the PA can exercise the ministry.

It is a very similar situation to that of of Msgr. Thaddeus Ma Daqin, bishop of Shanghai, placed under house arrest from the day of his ordination because he had resigned from the PA. Later, Msgr. Ma seems to have retracted his positions, expressing appreciation for the PA, but he continues to be kept in isolation.

Msgr. Pietro Shao Zhumin, 54, has been bishop since 2007. The diocese of Wenzhou has a history of strong division between the official and underground Christian communities.

It is estimated that there are about 50 thousand faithful in the Official communities and more than 80 thousand in the unofficial; there are more than 50 priests in the whole diocese.

In recent years, the Holy See sought to reconcile the communities by appointing Msgr. Zhu as ordinary bishop and Msgr. Shao as a bishop with right of succession. But, according to the faithful, who also love and respect Msgr. Shao, "the local government does everything to keep us divided." Msgr. Shao often suffered imprisonment because of his faith. Even at the funeral of his predecessor, he was seized and unable to attend the funeral.
by Matteo Win

The Songkran festival provides Thais a great opportunity to return to their home town and spend time with family. Thai Catholics are engaged in the celebrations as well. Good Friday falls on the first day of Thai New Year. "Jesus washing the feet of his disciples is an exhortation for us to do the same and serve others," said Fr Kriengyot Piyawanno.

Bangkok (AsiaNews)  Despite the long holiday for Songkran, Thai New Year (13-17 April 2017), Thai Catholics plan to celebrate Easter as best they can.

New Year celebrations are a great opportunity for Thais to return to their home towns and spend time with family. For Thai Catholics, it is a time to celebrate Holy Week.

Fasting on Good Friday, which falls on the first day of the New Year, is an example of how their experience of the festive season is different from their fellow citizens.

On Holy Thursday morning, Card Kriengsak kovitvanit, archbishop of Bangkok, celebrated the Chrism Mass with hundreds of priests and religious in Bangkok Cathedral.

One of the concelebrants was Archbishop Paul Tschang In-Nam, apostolic nuncio to Thailand and Cambodia as well as apostolic delegate to Myanmar and Laos.

After the Mass, Card Kovithavanij invited the faithful to congratulate priests who celebrated the silver and golden jubilee of their priestly ordination.

During the Lord's Supper Mass in the Jesuit church of Xavier Hall, Fr Kriengyot Piyawanno delivered a brief homily explaining the significance of Easter celebrations.

"Jesus washing the feet of his disciples is an exhortation for us to do the same and serve others," he said. After the homily, he performed the rite of the washing of the feet of 12 lay people.

In many of Thailands Catholic parishes, like Holy Child Jesus in the Archdiocese of Bangkok, clergymen followed Pope Franciss example and washed the feet of women, children and the sick.

Thailands Catholics number 380,374, or 0.56 per cent of a population of 67 million.

The Diocese of Chaing Mai, which is home to many ethnic groups, has experienced the fastest growth in recent years.
The City of Detroit is considering closing Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport, saying the financial drain isnt sustainable. The airport is on Detroits east side and has long been eyed for redevelopment. Its current financial status has city officials thinking it might not be a bad idea. The airport will lose about $1.3 million this year and its lost money the last two years. You cant continue with the status quo, Jed Howbert, executive director of Duggans jobs and economy team, told The Detroit News. Were going to let the facts lead us where they lead us. Whether it should be aviation  general or commercial  or something else, we need to understand what the options are.

Experts are being brought in to see if the future of the prime real estate should continue to be aviation-related or other uses, including something that might be in demand in Detroit. One of the developments considered is a testing ground for self-driving cars and drones. There is considerable opposition to the notion of closing the field. A city the size of Detroit having an international airport within its city boundaries is a rare asset, District 3 Councilman Scott Benson, who represents the east side, told the News. He said hed like to see the airport promoted with an eye to resuming commercial air service. The last airliner landed at the field more than 15 years ago and all scheduled service goes into Detroit Metropolitan Airport west of the city.
The Air Care Alliance is holding its annual conference on the East Coast this year and public benefit pilots will meet April 21-22 on Long Island, New York. Patient Airlift Services is hosting the event and there are plenty of topics of interest who donate their time and aircraft to help others. We cover current and upcoming regulatory issues affecting public benefit flying such as how the BasicMed process may affect volunteer pilots and their groups; a major session on what is legal and what is not regarding fuel reimbursement policies and the use of group-owned aircraft by volunteer pilots, the organization said in a news release.

After a day of seminars, delegates will be treated to a gala at the Cradle of Aviation Museum with dinner and drinks. Organizers say its important for volunteer groups to stay up on the rules and to interact with each other for ideas and input. You and your board and staff members will join other leaders and staff from many established and new public benefit flying groups who believe that we all benefit from the goodwill and mutual support gained from working together and learning from one another, the group said.
I recently had a beautiful IMC flight on which I relearned how wonderful our capability to operate in the IMC world is. Its easy to lose that awe for the beauty of our environment and the utility of the machines at our disposal as we move safely through this environment. Such is the stuff of poets. So this is not a story of drama over bad weather, near misses or close calls. Its a story of the unique advantage and perspective that the few humans who call themselves pilot have been able to experience and enjoy.

The Mission

I decided to spend a day with my daughter in Atlanta. Its a short trip of only about 150 miles, but the weather can often make it interesting. This day was IMC over most of the southeast.

My route was from Headland, AL to Fulton County, GA. On departure the ceiling was about 900 feet. I picked up my clearance via cell phone: Cleared as filed Takeoff was normal, the engine was happy and about the time I entered the clouds I turned on course, climbing at 850 fpm. I checked in with Departure, was radar identified and cleared to 7000 feet. Passing through about 6200 I advised Departure that this was where the tops were. At 7000, I set cruise power and settled back to enjoy the flight when I was handed over to Atlanta Approach. I even had a nice 10 knot push.

At 9 AM on this Sunday, the frequency was quiet. I began setting up for my arrival. I got the ATIS: wind 080 at 07, ceiling 900 broken, visibility 2 miles in mist, using ILS 8. I noted that one of the ILS 8s IAFs was on the arrival I was flying. Nice. I asked for and got direct to TIINI and my initial descent.

As I descended toward the clouds, I saw a rare and delightful phenomenona glory, which is a sundog surrounding the shadow of the aircraft. This is one of those phenomena that can only be seen from the air with an undercast below and clear, sunny skies above. Your aircrafts shadow has a 360 degree rainbow or halo around it.

I tuned and identified the localizer, and set up the autopilot for the approach. All was well. George did a fine job of following the localizer and glideslope while I managed the power, speed and aircraft configuration. I landed, taxied to the FBO, shut down, gave my fuel order, met my daughter and off we wentall in little more than an hour from takeoff to landing.

Getting Home

After a great visit, I headed home in time to land before sunset. I filed for 8000 with just one leg before an enroute VOR and one after. My clearance was the usual radar vectors to the VOR then as filed.

Atlanta Departure warned me, Im going to have to box you around for the climb. Indeed he did. I took off on Runway 8 and after takeoff got a 360 vector. Above 3000 feet, I got a right turn to 090 and at 5000 was turned south to overfly Atlanta. After getting a few miles south, I was finally given direct to the VOR and 8000 feet. The return flight wasnt quite on top, and there was a little Stormscope activity scattered around my route but nothing of concern.

The arrival into Headland was really fun. I began picking up nearby Dothans ATIS around Columbus, about 80 miles out: Wind 060 at 8. Visibility 1 1/2 in mist. Ceiling 300 overcast. Temperature 12; dew point 11. Altimeter 3006. ILS Runway 32 in use. I made my plan. Id fly the Headland LPV 9 approach with a DA 274 feet AGL and 7/8 mile visibility. If I missed, Id fly the Dothan ILS 32 with a DA of 200 feet AGL and 1/2 mile visibility.

Approach concurred with all that and gave me alternate missed approach instructionsrunway heading to 3000 feet. I was soon cleared direct to DEKKE, the IAF and started down. A few miles from DEKKE I was cleared for the approach. Crossing DEKKE inbound after the turn in hold in lieu of the procedure turn, the LPV approach annunciated on the GPS and showed the glideslope indicator on the PFD. George did his excellent job while I managed flaps and power for the airspeed. I crossed the FAF on altitude at 1700 MSL and captured the glideslope. I began glimpsing the ground at about 550 AGL and fully broke out about 100 feet above DA.

As I drove home, the sun had set, it was a dark night and the temperture-dewpoint spread had gone to zero. Getting on the ground before sundown was the key to getting in to either airport. It had been a really fun IMC day using the full utility of my airplane with absolutely no drama. I had a wonderful sense of awe and fulfillment for the capabilities and accomplishments we so often take for granted.

Bill Castlen is a current Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot, FAA Gold Seal Instructor, Five Time Master CFI, and FAASTeam Representative. In case you didnt notice, he has a passion for flying in IMC.

This article originally appeared in the April 2015 issue of IFR magazine.

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14 April 2017 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

By William Echikson

Europe is often viewed as a digital laggard, running far behind the frontier-pushing United States and Asia. But appearances are deceiving. In fact, according to a new report by the London venture capital firm Atomico, European startups are now taking the lead in artificial intelligence, building new tech hubs, and drawing investment from traditional industrial stalwarts. Last year, a record-setting $13.6 billion was invested in Europes tech sector, compared with $2.8 billion in 2011.

Gone are the days when Europes tech sector largely comprised consumer-oriented e-commerce businesses  often blatant knockoffs of successful US companies. Today, Europe is the home of real pioneering innovation, led by what Atomico calls deep tech  the kind of artificial intelligence developed by Googles DeepMind. Deep tech accounted for $1.3 billion of European venture investments in 2015, delivered in 82 rounds, up from $289 million, delivered in 55 rounds, in 2011.

Europes new tech hubs are emerging in unexpected places, far beyond the early hotspots of London, Berlin, and Stockholm. Atomico pinpoints Paris, Munich, Zurich, and Copenhagen as the cities to watch over the coming years. The French capital, Atomico points out, is already starting to challenge London and Berlin in terms of the number and volume of venture-capital-financed deals.

Europes traditional industries are now awakening to tech. Two-thirds of Europes largest corporates by market capitalization have made a direct investment in a tech company. One-third of those companies have acquired a tech company since the beginning of 2015.

Foreign firms are also rushing to take advantage of Europes tech talent. Google, Facebook, and Amazon have all announced major expansions of their European tech hubs. Transactions worth more than $88 billion took place last year  compared to just $3.3 billion in 2014  including SoftBanks purchase of the British semiconductor-design firm ARM and Qualcomms $47 billion purchase of NXP Semiconductors.

Another study, by the Boston Consulting Group, points out that many small export-oriented European Union member countries  namely, the Benelux, Baltic, and Nordic countries  rank well above the US in so-called e-intensity, which covers IT infrastructure, Internet access, as well as businesses, consumer, and government engagement in Internet-related activities.

These digital frontrunners generate about 8% of their GDP from the Internet, compared to 5% in Europes Big Five (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom). Digitization is expected to generate between 1.6 million and 2.3 million more jobs than it eliminates in these countries between 2015 and 2020.

Of course, Europes tech sector still has its weaknesses, reflected in its failure so far to produce a tech giant to rival the behemoths of Silicon Valley. While European tech entrepreneurs find it as easy as their American counterparts to raise startup funds, US firms enjoy 14 times more later-stage capital. That funding gap would disappear, if European pension funds allocated just 0.6% more of their capital under management to venture investments.

A related weakness is the lack of a true European single digital market. In the US or China, tech entrepreneurs gain immediate access to a massive market. In Europe, they still must navigate 28 different consumer markets and regulatory regimes.

To be sure, the European Commission promised to create a single digital market two years ago, estimating that it could boost the EU economy by 415 billion ($448.5 billion) annually. But Hosuk Lee-Makiyama and Philippe Legrain of the Open Political Economy Network recently delivered a scathing assessment of the results. Europes single digital market, they argue, currently amounts to a jumble of outdated, corporatist, counterproductive industrial policies that favor producers over consumers, big companies over small, traditional incumbents over digital startups, and EU firms over foreign ones.

Instead of liberalizing, the EU wants to regulate. For example, it is working to ban companies from refusing online sales (except for copyright reasons) or setting different prices on the basis of a customers home country. Other dangerous possibilities  such as an effort to regulate data ownership, access, and usability  lie on the horizon.

Despite these risks, the overall trend in Europes tech sector is a positive one. A new appetite for risk seems to be sweeping the continent; Atomico reports that more than 85% of founders say it is culturally acceptable to start ones own company. Add to that deep research talent  five of the top ten global computer science faculties are within the EU  and Europes start-up boom looks sustainable.

Politically, too, there is reason for optimism. Europes digital frontrunners are beginning to organize into a potent force, with 16 small EU countries, from Denmark to Ireland and Estonia, having formed a pro-Internet group. Together, these countries have urged the EU to ban data-localization requirements.

At a time when the US is pursuing protectionist, insular, and backward-looking policies, Europe is stepping up as an innovative and forward-looking economic force. Wouldnt it be ironic if, as now seems likely, it is the supposedly backward EU that ended up leading the way in unlocking the Internets true economic potential?

Copyright: Project Syndicate: Europes Surprising Tech Success

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14 April 2017 10:20 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan will reduce dependence on import of polyethylene and polypropylene, said Farid Jafarov, head of SOCAR Polymer project.

A new polypropylene production plant is planned to be commissioned in the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park in the first quarter of 2018, while a polyethylene production plant in the third quarter of 2018.

Jafarov, talking to reporters on April 13, said that the project is being implemented in accordance with the schedule.

"Approximately 60 percent of the work has already been completed, he added. The project consists of two parts. The construction of a polypropylene production plant has been completed by 73 percent, while a polyethylene production plant - by more than 30 percent."

He added that the plants polypropylene and polyethylene can be used in the medical industry, light industry and in any other field where plastic is used.

Jafarov said that polypropylene and polyethylene produced at those plants will meet the highest international quality standards.

"Of course, meeting the needs of the countrys domestic market will be a priority after launching the production, he said. Polypropylene and polyethylene are expected to be exported to the foreign markets, in particular to Turkey, Russia and European countries in the long term. Some 30 percent of the total production volume will be supplied for domestic needs."

As for the jobs created within the project, he added that at present over 3,000 people are involved in construction work and 300 permanent jobs will be created after the completion of the construction.

The total cost of SOCAR Polymers project is $750 million, 60 percent of which is financed through Gazprombank JSC. Gazprombank granted a ten-year loan for the project in June 2015.

The products of the SOCAR Polymer will be used for the production of high pressure gas, sewage and water pipes, packaging, textiles, stationery, automotive components, electronic and electrical appliances, and medical industry.

Thirty percent of the plants output will be directed to domestic market, while 70 percent  for export to Turkey, Europe and CIS countries.

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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.
14 April 2017 13:48 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The Kazakhstan Culture Days, organized on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, continue in Baku and Shaki.

The Kyzylorda regional Music and Drama Theatre has staged a theatrical performance "Don't leave! All, don't leave..." based on "A Story about the Botanist-Doctor Monsieur Jordan and the Famous Sorcerer Dervish Mastali Shah" by famous Azerbaijani writer Mirza Fatali Akhundov.

The theatrical performance took place at the State Russian Drama Theatre in Baku on April 13, Trend Life reported.

Before the performance, Kazakh actors met with their Azerbaijani counterparts.

The meeting was attended by artistic director of Kazakh Music and Drama Theatre Amir-Temir Hussein Zhusipuli, honored artist Bakitbek Alpisbay, honored cultural workers Zalipa Tolepova, Biktikbek Temirbekhov, actors Zuhra Saypi, Marjan Abisheva, Kanat Arkhabayev.

Azerbaijani delegation at the meeting included People's artist Mabud Magerramov, Safa Mirzagasanova, honoured artists Natalia Sharovskaya, Fuad Osmanov. These actors play the main roles in the play.

Actor Mabud Maharramov informed the guests about creativity of Mirza Fatali Akhundzadeh, and some interesting facts about him.

In turn, the Kazakh actors stressed that it is important for them to present the performance based on writer's work in Azerbaijan.

Amir-Temir Hussein noted that they performed this show only once, and then the theater was closed for repairs. After completion of the repair work in the theater, the play will once again be staged.

The Azerbaijani actors also informed that every two years Shaki hosts an international theatre festival, and expressed hope that the Music and Drama Theatre named after N.Bekezhanov will attend the festival.

The meeting was held in a warm, friendly atmosphere. Both sides expressed sincere interest in sharing their creative experiences, stressing the importance of the Days of Culture to become familiar with art and culture.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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14 April 2017 11:58 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Head of NGO Arts Council Azerbaijan, artist Dadash Mammadov represented Azerbaijan at the first Global Culture Summit in Abu Dhabi (UAE)

The high-level international summit has brought together government leaders and culture professionals and experts to address the role of culture for peace, mutual understanding and sustainable development.

The summit addresses challenges ranging from the preservation of cultural heritage to understanding the disruptions likely to be associated with emerging technologies, from bringing arts education to the young to finding new ways to finance the arts, from combatting threats like extremism to developing public policies that promote creativity and social development.

"Culture summit brought together representatives of over 80 countries. The fact that Azerbaijan is also represented at such a large scale event is very important. The summit agenda covers topical issues and the participation in this forum is important from the point of view of establishing new relations," said Mammadov while talking to Trend Life.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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14 April 2017 16:58 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijans National Art Museum will host a lecture and workshop devoted to the national costumes on April 15.

The lecture will be led by Shafa Rahimov, a senior research fellow at the museum's fund, Day.Az reported.

The participants of the lecture will receive specific scientific information about the styles of suits, which will allow not only to easily identify the marital status and class-affiliation of its owner, but also the geography of the costume. The participants will be informed about ceremonial, casual clothing, headdresses, fabrics, decorations and ornaments of the national costume.

The Museum also invites everyone to a workshop on the art of national embroidery and the traditional techniques of embroidery: takalduz, gulabatin, doldurma. The workshop will be led by Esmira Aghasieva, a research fellow at the museum's fund.

After the lecture and workshop, all participants will enjoy fascinating interactive tour.

The lecture will start at 12:00 in Azerbaijani language and at 13:00 in Russian.

The national costume reflects the ethnographic, historical, and artistic features of folk art, manifested in the creation of certain forms, and the artistic decoration of embroidery, weaving and knitting.

National costumes of Azerbaijanis are unique for their pretty look. Some twelve stages can be identified in the formation of national costume. Each stage saw further development and improvement, corresponding to changing tastes and living conditions.

The women dresses have elegant silhouettes and are cut to emphasizing flexible waist of Azerbaijani beauties. They are decorated with intricate embroidery and beautiful golden band.

Azerbaijani men's clothing is also very distinct. They emphasize the masculinity without restricting a mans rapid movements.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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14 April 2017 10:34 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Reports spread by the Armenian websites about heart problems of blogger Alexander Lapshin, who is under arrest in Azerbaijan, is false, Lapshins lawyer Eduard Chernin told Trend on April 13.

The blogger, who owns citizenship of several countries, will stand trial in Baku for his illegal visits to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

The lawyer said that he met with Lapshin and he has no health problems.

Moreover, Lapshin has been present at the proceeding in the Baku Court of Appeal today, the lawyer added.

The Nasimi District Court in Baku, during a legal proceeding, has extended the detention term of Lapshin for three months.

On April 13, Baku Court of Appeal considered the complaint of the blogger regarding the decision of Nasimi District Court. However, the Court didnt grant the Lapshin's complaint.

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.

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14 April 2017 16:18 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

A growing number of people keep joining the Armenia-Azerbaijan Platform for Peace, created by Azerbaijan to accelerate the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the people's diplomacy.

Professor of Tel-Aviv University, member of Israel-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lev Eppelbaum has made a statement about joining the Platform on April 12.

In his statement, professor noted that whatever is our today, the peace is our tomorrow. For this reason, Eppelbaum believes that an early peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is very important, while respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the internationally recognized borders of both states.

The professor also pointed to importance of the implementation of relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, as well as resolutions and decisions of other international organizations.

In addition, he stressed the importance of the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group aimed at a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Deputy Director of the Institute of Effective Politics of Moldova, political analyst, Doctor of Historical Sciences Ruslan Shevchenko also made a statement about joining the Platform on April 13.

In his statement, the political analyst noted that disaster and destruction will always be the consequences of war and expressed support to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Platform for Peace.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Platform was founded on December 6 in Baku 2016 by a group of Azerbaijani and Armenian public figures and peacekeepers. It was created to bring together representatives of civil society of the two countries for creating dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the sides to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

However, this initiative was negatively perceived by the Armenian government, which started persecution of those Armenians who joined the Platform.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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14 April 2017 11:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Raids carried out by the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry in the first three months of 2017, have revealed 65 people engaged in illegal hunting.

The ministry seized as many as 61 hunting rifles and 147 cartridges from them, as well as 11 birds and four animals killed during the illegal hunting.

Raids aiming to curb illegal hunting in Azerbaijan will be further continued, the ministry reports.

The Ministry employees drew up administrative protocols and submitted claims to the relevant authorities. A total of 56 people were fined in the amount of 58,136 manats ($34,942) administratively. The Ministry appealed to relevant region police authorities to identify other nine lawbreakers.

In April, the Ministrys employees revealed the fact of illegal catching and keeping in captivity of a brown bear in a recreation center in Agdash region. Similar violations were detected in another recreation center in Khachmaz region, where two East Caucasian turs were kept in captivity, and in a recreation center in Fuzuli region, where the employees found two brown bears and three gazelles.

The owners of recreation centers were fined of 500 manats ($300) each, and the animals were transferred to the Center for Recovery and Rehabilitation of Wildlife.

Azerbaijan that locates in nine of eleven possible climatic zones enjoys a great diversity of flora and fauna, and is kind of a heaven for hunters. Here, in the different periods of the year, hunters can hunt for Dagestan wild ox, wild pig, hare, wood pigeons, quail, partridge, waterfowl, sandpiper, woodcock, and chamois. The hunting season in the country opens traditionally in late May-June.

However, the country prohibits hunting in some areas of the country as well as the Caspian Sea islands, green zones, protected areas, near the cities and resort areas.

In order not to be among the violators, hunting enthusiasts should apply to the Baku Ecology and Natural Resources Department and the Ecology and Natural Resources Departments to acquire a hunting permit.

Foreigners can receive a permission to hunt on the territory of Azerbaijan by the decision approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2004 and the law On hunting.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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14 April 2017 14:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces is the richest in the region, reads a report published by Russia Today agency on April 14.

The report highlights that Azerbaijan has increased its military budget by 20 times since the early 2000s, and currently Baku purchases weapons of Russian, Israeli and Turkish production.

The Azerbaijani army is in permanent combat readiness because of the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia, the publication reports.

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.

The skills and combat readiness of the Azerbaijani army are growing year by year, as the countrys Armed Forces regularly conduct military exercises. The Azerbaijani army is supplied with modern weapons and technical equipment for maintaining a high level of combat capability.

Azerbaijan provides the national Army with sufficient military budget every year. Defense spending of Azerbaijan determined in the state budget for 2017 made up 2.64 billion manats ($1.59 billion), which exceeds the spending for 2016.

The army building process is of particular importance for Azerbaijan, as twenty percent of the country's territory is under Armenian occupation and the country is in a state of war with Armenia.

Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims to Azerbaijan. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, but they have not been enforced to this day.

While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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14 April 2017 14:39 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Another plenary session of the Azerbaijani Parliament kicked off in Baku on April 14.

The session agenda includes 36 issues alongside the 2016 report of the Accounts Chamber.

Firstly, the parliamentarians heard the Chamber Chairman Vugar Gulmammadovs report and approved the document after discussions.

MP Siyavush Novruzov, addressing the session, proposed to give additional powers to the Accounting Chamber.

"Violation of the law and financial infringements in various spheres harm the budget. Return of the funds is one of the main conditions, no matter how severe the punishment, "he said, adding that the Chamber should be given the authority to take action in this regard.

MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev, in his speech, proposed to create a budget committee at the Parliament.

The MP noted that the establishment of such a committee in the Parliament as a structure that will monitor the budget is very important.

Hasanguliyev also said that persons assigning public funds should be seriously punished.

The issue on establishment of Interparliamentary Working Group of Azerbaijan and Djibouti was also discussed at the session.

The parliamentarians voted for the creation of the group, which will further develop inter-parliamentary ties with this country.

MP Vusal Huseynov was elected the head of the working group on Azerbaijan-Djibouti interparliamentary relations.

The Parliament also approved the bill "On Restriction of the Use of Tobacco Products" in the first reading.

The bill specifies places where smoking cigarettes is prohibited. In particular, these are educational institutions, sports venues and other mass events, shopping venues, restaurants, cafes, bars and other catering facilities, hotels, health facilities, rehabilitation centers, sanatoria, resorts, social facilities, theaters and cinemas, exhibitions , reading rooms, libraries, museums and other cultural institutions, underground and land crossings, buses (including intercity and international) and taxis, lobbies, transitions and platforms, subway cars, railway, sea and river transport, bus stops, railway stations, river and sea ports, airports, payphones, elevators, common areas of multi-apartment buildings, gas stations, buildings and enterprises where flammable substances, playgrounds, beaches, workplaces of organizations , enterprises, regardless of the organizational and legal form of ownership.

The bill "On pre-school education was also considered and approved in the third reading. The bill stipulates a number of innovations, such as the creation of educational institutions of a new type for preschool children.

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14 April 2017 16:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

GUAM, a regional organization uniting Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, may convene a special meeting in fall of 2017 to explore ways to develop energy cooperation.

Azerbaijan's Minister for Industry and Energy Natig Aliyev met with GUAM Secretary General Altai Efendiyev, to discuss the conditions for the development of energy cooperation between the member countries of the organization.

Efendiyev pointed out that Azerbaijan, which has such advantages as a developed transport system and transport corridors, should seize these opportunities.

The shortest way from Europe to the countries of Central Asia, the Middle and Far East, in particular the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) and North-South, as well as the road and railroads connecting the basins of the Black and Caspian Seas passes through the territory of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan, occupying one of the key positions in creating the shortest transport corridors in the Euro-Asian region, is a major transport hub in Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport system.

Efendiyev proposed holding meetings to expand cooperation in the energy sector within the framework of GUAM in the format Ukraine-Azerbaijan and Georgia-Azerbaijan.

In turn, Aliyev noted that energy cooperation within GUAM can be effective on the basis of any project that meets the common interests of the participating states.

GUAM plans to begin discussions on these issues with other members of the organization in a short time.

A the same time, the Organization is keen to cooperate with third countries and international organizations that share its goals and principles, and are also ready to participate in the implementation of joint initiatives.

GUAM, established in 2006, targets larger economic and humanitarian cooperation, development of socio-economic, transport, energy, scientific, technical and humanitarian potential, intensify political interaction and practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

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14 April 2017 17:13 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea is almost ready for signing.

Special Representative of the Russian President on the delimitation and demarcation of Russia's borders with the CIS countries, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Igor Bratchikov made the statement at the international economic forum "Caspian Dialogue" on April 14.

To date, the Convention is almost ready and the absolute majority of provisions have been agreed upon.These provisions harmoniously balance the needs of all five parties, and do not infringe the national interests of any of the countries," he said. Problems are getting fewer and there are only one or two left. We have really reached the home stretch and we have good chances to offer our leaders this document for signing in the foreseeable future.

Bratchikov recalled that during the 4th Caspian summit, which took place in Austria in 2014, the leaders of the Caspian countries "have reached truly breakthrough agreements, creating the framework of the future Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea."

The task then was set clear: complete work on this document by the next summit, which is to be held in Kazakhstan, he said.

For his part, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Russia, Imangali Tasmagambetov recalled that "the Caspian is not only a place where the geopolitical and military-political interests of regional powers intertwine, but this is primarily a hub where the transcontinental routes of the Great Silk Road converge, connecting East and West."

Earlier on March 6, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, after talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov, said he expects the work on the Convention to be completed at the next meeting of foreign ministers of the Caspian countries.

Determining the legal status of the Caspian Sea has become one of the problematic issues among the five littoral states - Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan since demise of the Soviet Union.

The legal status have remained unsolved during the past two decades, preventing development and exploitation of its disputable oil and gas fields and creating obstacles to the realization of major energy projects.

The Caspian littoral states signed a Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea in November 2003.

Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the northern part of the Caspian Sea in order to exercise sovereign rights for subsoil use in July 1998. The two countries signed a protocol to the agreement in May 2002.

Moreover, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the Caspian Sea and a protocol to it in November 2001, and February 2003, respectively.

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement on the delimitation of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea on May 14, 2003.

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Update: August 2, 2018 - A Eulogy

Infinity

Photo courtesy of Ted McDonald

Mr. Boykin was an extremely gifted teacher who tried his best to make a difficult subject enjoyable.

I was really a jerk as a young man who was a bit too full of himself.

I am still a jerk as an old man who is a bit too full of himself.

The Spasm

I do not know if there is a class in teacher school on how to deal with class clowns, but one of my teachers at CHS knew how to handle my excesses and he did so without saying a word. Below are a couple of examples of my boisterous behavior in class.I was never particular good in math and Geometry was nodifferent. Mr. Wilfred Boykin, as I remember, was a highly dedicated math teacher who seemed to love the subject and attacked the teaching with an enthusiasm that I could not understand. My buddy Clint and I sat next to each other in Geometry in Mr. Boykin's class.During one of his explanations about the Euclidean Geometry concept of infinity, he tried to explain infinity by breaking what today would be a cardinal rule in public school. He actually mentionedHe was making the point that the question and answer would go on forever with no end i.e. infinity. He could have used the chicken and egg example but it would not have had as much impact on a class full of Southern Baptist.Here is the textbook definition:------ Point At Infinity (Yes, I had to look this up again.)After about the fourth Who Made comment, I could not contain myself and blurted out the advertising line from Italian Swiss Colony Wine commercials, which were popular at the time.He barely slowed down, looked at me, and pointed to the door. That was my cue to go into the hall and compose myself. I had been sent to the hall a few times before.While I had a tremendous amount of respect for Mr. Boykin, but I had no interest nor talent in math. I was most likely still a bit angry about my family's move from Atlanta to a podunk town in Dekalb county. While Clarkston was only twelve miles from my old school, it might as well have been in another state. I was a city boy transplanted into a dairy and farm county that was just beginning to bloom into a suburb of Atlanta.Below is a clip of the old commercials for Italian Swill Colony wine. I was not a wine drinker at the time but I occasionally did partake of some home made brew. I posted an article here. This was in the old rock building constructed from Stone Mountain granite. It actually had a fireplace in one of the classrooms.I never thought much about this at the time since I was a 17-year-old smart a$$ trying to impress everyone around except the teachers. Over the years, I came to realize three things about the encounter:I guess you might say that I had an inferiority complex during high school as I was always trying to be the class clown and we all know how twisted most of those guys were. Some grew up to be George Carlin, but I grew up to realize that I was a Jerk. Once during another discussion on the theorems and postulates my boredom overtook me and I went into my "Leg Spasm Routine." Essentially, it started with a slight patting of my foot and worked its way up to my knee slowly and eventually turning into a violent leg movement, which caused me to fall on the floor in spasms. Predictably, after my performance, Mr. Boykin stopped talking and looked at the door and me. I did not need the finger point to understand his meaning and slowly got up "full of myself" and went into the hall.It wasn't until many years later that I finally understood his dedication and have carried a small sense of guilt for making his life miserable that year in 1962. I often wished, I could meet him again and apologize for being such a jerk. On a side note, I do remember the difference between a Theorem and a Postulate. Good work Mr. Boykin.

January 2013

Updated August 2, 2018

Wilfred E. Boykin Eulogoy Passed on July 15, 2018 at the age of 81

As delivered on July 30, 2018 at Glenn Chapel Emory University by Martha Clinkscales; one of his care givers during his declining years.Seven years ago I got a call from a young trust officer at Wells Fargo about services for one of his clients who demonstrated early stage dementia. Thus began Personal Care's relationship with Wilfred Elmo Boykin. Most of us gathered together today are here because we cared for Will and knew him well, and knowing him well means knowing that Will was a hoarder.Will found interest in a wide range of pursuits. He was natively curious and passionate about life. When Joel Penny first introduced me to Will I was charged with the task of helping him clean up his act-which was no easy feat, because Will clearly believed he had nothing to clean up!Another mandate from this initial engagement was that Will remain within walking distance from the Emory campus. Will had high energy, and the disease of dementia supercharged this energy so that he needed to be moving most of the time. He used the Emory campus as his "trail," and he walked through the gardens and the campus frequently.Joel and I made a plan to move Will down the street from his condominium at Somerset Heights, which was packed to the gills, to a new condominium at Clairmont Place, a retirement community with additional supports for Will, such as dining services. Joel and I hoped we could help Will "curate" his belongings and get a fresh start with a decluttered living space ....No such luck! These two buildings were about a half a mile apart, and Will, at 75, had tremendous energy. Soon we received reports that he was hauling furniture, books, knick-knacks, etc. on a dolly from one building to the next! I would classify our effort as mixed at best!Personal Care primarily provides personal care in the form of caregiver support. Joel had hoped that in the beginning Will could get a bit of companion support. The first challenge was that he did not want said support! He indulged Joel's pleadings to have a little help, and then the caregiver would have to keep up with Will's pace-a Herculean task. That is after finding him-also a big challenge because Will was on the go all the time. So the early years of helping Will were ones of as much "invisible" support as we could manage and he would accept.To know Will was also to know that he was a definitive intellectual. His life was built around the pursuits of the mind. He was a mathematician by training and profession. His progression through dementia was both eased and burdened by this intellect. His compensating skills were amazing. Yet the devolving of his mind caused him great frustration and some agitation.Will found great solace in music, which was a part of his life early on. He loved opera, classical music, and sacred music. When I contacted Glenn Memorial to make arrangements for this service I told the administrator and Dr. Albrecht, our esteemed organist, that Will would have preferred a concert recital more than a worship service! He loved walking over to Emory to attend lectures and productions, and visit the museums. Most of all he loved the music, and his love for melody remained with him until his last moments. Will sang through his last week of life.When Danielle Grabol came back to work at Personal Care, after her brief sabbatical to finish her college degree and work at Wesley Woods, she took up the management of Will's care. Eventually he moved to Arbor Terrace. Eventually his care needs increased, and his engagement with the caregivers deepened. A number of you are here this morning. Geralyn, who was with Mr. Boykin in the transition from Clairmont Place to Arbor Terrace, Sandra, Janice and Timikia. Cathy Schaum, our RN who ran interference with Arbor Terrace and Crossroads Hospice is also here. Through the changes in Will's condition he had excellent support through this team.A few weeks ago as it became clear that Will's life was fading, Danielle spoke with me about whether to have a memorial service. We both felt strongly that we needed to honor Will in this way, because we became family with Will. Bob and Sammy Sizemore, neighbors from his years Somerset Heights, remained faithfully part of his life through the ups and downs. Aside from them, Will had no community, except for the facilities in which he lived.In my life I have grown up with a number of proprietary eponyms. I use these big words in homage to Will. Proprietary eponyms are items like Kleenex, Band-Aid, and Xerox, generic trademarks where name and function are eponymous. All of these are familiar to all of you, and none more so than the search engine, "Google." It is so ubiquitous, that now when we search for information on the internet, we often way we "googled" it.Well folks, I googled Will Boykin. And I got a big surprise, actually several surprises.First, through the archives of the Rose Library at Emory, I was able to look at the yearbook from Will's second year at Oxford College. I learned more about Will Boykin from perusing those pages than you might imagine. Will was active in many areas. He was involved in the Methodist Fellowship. He was a member of the glee club, and their accompanist for both years there. He was active in service clubs and honoured in academic clubs. He was one of the editors of the annual itself.The photos speak of a happy and purposeful student, who was engaged in learning and in community. That glimpse into the 1956 annual, entitled MEMORY, helped me understand so much about Will. Incidentally, the annual lists the home address of each classmate, and Wiii's is listed as Halcyondale, Georgia-seriously, try finding Halcyondale Georgia on today's map! I will give you a hint: It is in Screven County. Where, you might ask, is Screven County? Think southeast Georgia. Sylvania is the county seat!Will was born there. His mother was an educator and later the postmistress of Halycondale. His father worked in agriculture. Will was predeceased by his sister. Today his cousin, Sam Mashburn, and his wife Diane, are here to represent Will's small but mighty family.There was much, much more on Google than you might imagine. Most of you know that this kind of internet pursuit can be quite a rabbit hole. Certainly this was the case with my research on Will.First I came across a blog post, written in 2016 by one Bobby Tony, also known as Tony Adams. Titled "Wilfred Boykin - A dedicated teacher vs Class Clown," Adams gives a recollection of the impact that Mr. Boykin had on him as his geometry teacher at Clarkston High School in 1962.Additional google discoveries included a treasure trove of academic publications, many that Will authored, and many that he reviewed for professional journals. Some of the titles include: Trends for Mathematics Education, 1978 A Middle School Extension of Pick's Theorem to Areas of Nonsimple Closed Polygonal Regions 1995 Tips for the Mathematics Teacher: Research Based Strategies ... - EMIS reviews 1998I have pondered the impact that Mr. Boykin's life has had on others, as evidenced in these remarks, and in the trail of teaching, writing, and thinking that I found on the internet, wondering if he had any idea of the difference he made in many, many lives. I can't answer that question. I don't know. Here is what I think: Mr. Boykin had such a strong sense of purpose and passion in his life that for him, the point was following the call, and not dwelling on the impact of his work. He taught with deep joy and engaged, because he did what he loved. Through following he call he changed lives.Did he care? I am certain he did. A few days ago I was cleaning out the last of his effects in his residence at Arbor Terrace. On his dresser was this framed poem, composed, as it notes on the back, by his class, 1998, Macon campus. It is a sweet tribute to his teaching, and it is signed by all of his students. Tucked inside the frame was a sympathy card from these same students. Their tour as Will's students coincided with the year his mother died, and they were grieving with him this great loss.I think of this treasure that Will held onto until the end: the frame that framed a career of teaching that at that point spanned 38 years, my friends. Clearly his passion for teaching and caring never dimmed.I give thanks for each person here. We are bound together through our care for a gentle soul, and deeply passionate spirit, and a man who had great purpose in his life. It is fitting to be on this majestic campus in this beautiful space to celebrate his life. Will believed that his gifts were developed at Oxford College at Emory. Two years later he graduated on this campus. Thank you for being part of this circle today. Thanks be to God.
14 April 2017 17:17 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The Baku-Nakhchivan railway service will operate in three years after the signing of the loan agreement for the construction of the section of the Rasht-Astara railway.

Heads of Azerbaijan Railways Javid Gurbanov told local television channel that preparatory work is underway to sign this loan agreement.

After the train starts to run along this route, it can be said that the [railway] blockade of Nakhchivan will be lifted. Given the average speed of 60 km per hour, a trip from Nakhchivan to Baku may take 28-30 hours, he said.

The head of railways noted that, this will allow increase the tourist flow to Nakhchivan as well as to simplify cargo transportation.

Nakhchivan has a great potential, as from there it is possible to deliver various products by railways, be it mineral water or travertine. I know, in particular, that Belarus is interested in the supply of travertine. Since such deliveries by air or by car are impossible, the railways will be the best solution to this issue, he said.

The Resht-Astara section is part of the Kazvin-Resht-Astara (Iran) - Astara (Azerbaijan) railway, one of the fragments of the North-South transport corridor, which will connect Northern Europe with South-East Asia, thus combining the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia.

The North-South transportation corridor is meant to connect Northern Europe to South-East Asia.

Gurbanov also spoke of the expansion of the countrys railway routes covering the Baku-Pirshagi-Sumgayit-Balajari-Baku, aiming to partially release the capital from traffic jams.

Repair of the Baku Ring Road will finish by the end of this year.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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14 April 2017 17:33 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani are to visit Azerbaijan this year.

Afghan Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohammad Tagi Khalili told Trend that they will take part in the ministerial conference of the Heart of Asia  Istanbul Process.

The envoy added that the conference is likely to take place in the second half of 2017 but the date is yet to be confirmed.

Baku has already hosted a meeting of senior officials of the Heart of Asia  Istanbul process member states on March 17.

Azerbaijan assumed the co-chairmanship of the Heart of Asia  Istanbul process for 2017 in early December 2016.

The Heart of Asia Conference is an intergovernmental organization founded in Istanbul, Turkey. The aim is to provide a platform to discuss regional issues, particularly encouraging security, political, and economic cooperation among Afghanistan and its neighbors.

This region-led dialogue was launched to expand practical coordination between Afghanistan and its neighbors and regional partners in facing common threats, including counterterrorism, counternarcotics, poverty, and extremism.

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14 April 2017 10:43 (UTC+04:00)

By 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.

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14 April 2017 10:08 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR ensures a guaranteed, continuous and reliable gas supply to social sector  households and power generation facilities  based on the memorandum signed with Georgia and the agreements with Georgias Oil and Gas Corporation, says Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Kakha Kaladze.

Kaladze, who is also Georgias energy minister, said in an interview with Trend that this is a factor significantly contributing to increasing the energy security of Georgia.

The minister noted that Azerbaijan, through two gas pipelines, almost fully satisfies gas demand of Georgia.

"Average daily volume of gas supply is about 10.5-11.5 million cubic meters from the sources from Azerbaijan, which is expected to be increased even further with the ongoing development of the second phase of Shah Deniz field," said Kaladze.

The minister said the Georgian side welcomes participation of SOCAR in the energy sector of the country.

"SOCAR Georgia Gas Ltd. performs the largest gasification project across the country. The works are provided under the contract between the government of Georgia and SOCAR signed in 2009. Within the framework of the contract, the rehabilitation and construction of a natural gas distribution network is carried out," he added.

The minister said that in a period from 2009 to 2016, more than 200,000 consumers in about 600 settlements got access to the natural gas network across the country.

"The important part of the project will be performed in 2017. By the end of this year, 75 percent of the population will be able to use the natural gas," he added.

Speaking about the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Power Bridge, Kaladze said it is operating successfully.

"Georgia and Azerbaijan are connected by two high-voltage lines (500 kV and 33 kV), which increased the reliability of connection and cross-border capacity as well," said the minister.

He pointed out that 2016 was remarkable, as for the first time around 1 billion kWh (300 MW) of electricity was transited from Azerbaijan to Turkey via Georgia.

Regarding the process of privatization of the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation JSC, the minister said the option of the companys IPO was in consideration earlier, however, no specific decisions have been made.

He added that no particular possible interest of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR was discussed within the context.

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14 April 2017 11:20 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The U.S. is focusing on the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project and Washingtons support to the project remains stable and long-lasting, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta said.

Cekuta announced about this as he met with Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev in Baku on April 13, the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry said.

Cekuta and Aliyev discussed the Offshore Technology Conference to be held in Houston, U.S. 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, which together make up the SGC project, 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 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.

Speaking about the oil prices in the world market, 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 market.

The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. It envisages the transportation of gas from the Caspian region to the European countries through Georgia and Turkey.



At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage.



As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans Adriatic Pipeline.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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14 April 2017 11:43 (UTC+04:00)

By 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 on 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.

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.

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14 April 2017 10:35 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Europe's future depends on the Turks who live there, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a large public rally on Thursday, Anadolu reported.

"Five million of our brothers who have settled there from Turkey will shape the future of Europe," Erdogan told a rally in the Black Sea province of Giresun ahead of Sundays referendum on constitutional changes.

Erdogan said that in recent months the paint has been wiped off Europe's face and "now they are beginning to show that they are anti-Islam. They have no tolerance for Muslims."

He also said after being closed to Turkish government ministers, some European countries have opened their doors to members of the terror groups that Turkey is fighting.

The president spoke at length over the rift between Turkey and some European governments after German and Dutch authorities barred rallies by Turkish ministers who favor a presidential system.

While European countries barred rallies in support of the Yes campaign, they allowed Turkish opposition figures who back the No side to hold demonstrations without hindrance.

Sundays referendum in Turkey addresses a host of constitutional reforms that would hand wide-ranging executive powers to the president.

The post of prime minister would be abolished and the president would also be allowed to retain ties to a political party.

Other changes include the minimum age of parliamentary candidates reduced to 18 and the number of deputies increased to 600.

Also, simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections for a five-year term would be held in November 2019 under the new Constitution.

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14 April 2017 09:56 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

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.

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14 April 2017 15:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Iran's incumbent President Hassan Rouhani has submitted his name for candidacy in this year's presidential election.



Rouhani has arrived at the Interior Ministry where candidates enroll on April 14, Trend correspondent reported.

The registration process began on April 11 and will continue for five days. Irans presidential election is going to be held on May 19.

Earlier, ex-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Former Minister of Industry Mostafa Hashemitaba, former Oil Minister Seyed Mohammad Kharazi and Ebrahim Raeesi, the chief custodian of Astan Quds Razavi, have registered their candidacies.

The two main rivals in the race are widely expected to be President Hassan Rouhani, and Ebrahim Raeesi.

All hopefuls will be vetted by the Guardian Council, a body that oversees elections and legislation, from April 16 to April 20.

The body may extend the vetting period for five days, April 21-25, looking into candidates grievances.

On April 26-27, the Interior Ministry will formally announce a final shortlist of candidates approved by the Guardian Council.

On April 28, candidates start campaigning until 24 hours before May 19, the voting date for the 12th presidential and 5th city and council elections.

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14 April 2017 17:38 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Kyrgyzstan gives priority to relations with the members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in its foreign economic policy, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev said at the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Bishkek April 14, Kabar news agency reported.

He urged his partners within the union for more active joint work.

Atambayev noted that Kyrgyzstan presiding the EAEU this year proposed to create conditions for business development within the union in 2017.

It is important for us to work together to meet four principles: free movement of goods, services, labour and capital," the head of state said.

Moreover, Atambayev noted that importance of work on eliminating the barriers that still exist in the EAEU. According to the president, the executive body of the Eurasian Economic Union - Eurasian Economic Commission should listen to the initiatives and proposals of business to solve this problem.

Kyrgyz president also touched upon the issue of labor migration and asked for more liberal approaches to deportation of migrants who committed minor administrative offenses within the EAEU.

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Tom Campbell

In 1973, Senator Sam Ervin, a self-described "country lawyer" from Morganton, was chosen to head the Senate Select Committee investigating the Watergate break-in. That investigation ultimately led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon and propelled Ervin, along with his minority co-chair, Howard Baker from Tennessee, into the national spotlight.Senator Richard Burr, from Winston-Salem, is head of the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee and is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 elections, as well as what, if any, involvement the Trump campaign may have had in that interference. One has to wonder if history might be repeating itself.Burr, like Ervin, has never been the flashy representative who constantly seeks the cameras to gain notoriety. The Winston-Salem native is best known for his workmanlike approach in delving into issues like health care and tax reform. His down-to-earth persona is demonstrated by his penchant for wearing loafers without sox and off-the-rack Costco shirts.In the Watergate investigation Ervin continually pledged to let the facts take them to whatever conclusion was called for. Similarly, Burr and minority leader Mark Warner from Virginia have pledged to do the same with the Senate Intelligence Committee investigation. To date they appear to be living up to that posture, unlike their House counterparts. We can all hope that the investigation will be conducted in a fair, bipartisan, truth-seeking manner.Burr readily acknowledges that this is the most important assignment he has undertaken, first as a Congressman and now as a U.S. Senator. The American people deserve and need evidence that our Congress can work together to uphold our laws and protect our rights as citizens. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate to North Carolinians that our elected representatives stand for truth and justice.When Senator Sam began the Watergate hearings, few expected the "smoking gun" revelations that emerged, directly connecting a sitting U.S. President to criminal activities and a cover-up by lying to the people. Few expect that same outcome to result from this investigation, but we do deserve to be able to trust what is concluded from these investigations. Senator Burr is in the spotlight and all will be watching to see how he handles this responsibility. We pray he will continue his pledge to prevent this from becoming a circus-like affair that devolves into the partisan, ugly atmosphere we see too often in Washington and Raleigh.
14 April 2017 15:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan, enjoying traditional culture and amazing nature, as well as plenty of interesting things youll never see elsewhere, has already turned into a popular destination for people traveling abroad.

Tourists visiting Azerbaijan tend to be interested in every sphere  from historical and cultural sightseeing to leisure, and seek to explore less visited places and check national charisma. Since the tourist flow grows, the number of guides, who are ready to show the country in all its glory, also increases.

Today more than 150 certified guides operate in Azerbaijan, says Nahid Bagirov, Azerbaijan Tourism Association (AzTa) Chairman.

These guides were trained at the courses organized by the Baku Excursion Bureau and the Azerbaijan University of Tourism and Management.

Bagirov noted that hotels and travel companies are recommended to work with certified guides.

Today, unfortunately, there are certified and non-certified guides in the sector. We are sending letters of recommendation to hotels and travel companies and recommend them not to work with non-certified guides. Unfortunately, guides without certificates contact tourists directly around Icherisheher and in other territories and conclude a deal with them, he said.

The fee for service of the certified guides is around 15-20 manats ($9-$12) per hour, while non-certified guides take 5-7 manats ($3-$4.2) per hour, which attracts tourists, according to Bagirov.

The problem is that today we do not have the opportunity to control the uncertified guides, he said.

In 2016, the number of tourists visiting the Land of Fire amounted to 2,242 million people and this is 11.7 percent more than in 2015.

With its towering Caucasus ranges, fertile valleys, thick forests and its beautiful Caspian Sea coast, Azerbaijan is home to a remarkable natural diversity. Huge part of Azerbaijans territory is preserved as national parks and reserves, ranging from desert to highlands, to rolling fertile valleys, and marshlands. These landscapes offer a range of unusual flora and fauna, including ancient mountain villages.

There are ample of things to do in Azerbaijan, be it exploring the country on a horse back or simply savoring the delicious cuisine. The country offers something for every traveler. History lovers can see Gala Fortress, Gobustan, Icherisheher, etc. Adventure seekers can indulge in hiking, horse-riding hunting, etc in Guba, Shamakhi, Lankaran and other regions, or check out the nightlife of Baku.

In addition to the natural and rural attractions, Azerbaijan has a rich cuisine, changing from region to region. Tasting Azerbaijan means enjoying juicy apples, pomegranates, grilled meats, kabab, dolma, bozbash, all perfumed with the herbs of untouched woodlands and the spices of the Silk Road.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. Morning high of 68F with temps falling to near 55. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional showers. Low 47F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
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The association of Manufacturers and the millers yesterday met and discussed the process of making the Unga cheaper especially this period that the country has been hit with drought. The Treasury cabinet secretary said that the price of the important commodity was to be reduced in the past few weeks.In the meeting, it was revealed that the government offered only 800000 bags of maize which could only last for eight days. The Association of Manufactures suggested that the government need to come up with other measures of making the basic commodity low priced.The Millers met in Nairobi following the Directives from the government and said that the price of Unga will be dropped for the eight days at between KSH 120-150 per 2kg Packet. When the government maize is over then the price will go back to the same state or over.The millers said that milling the maize does not only depend on the availability of Maize but other factors as well. According to the Millers, the price of Unga will be dropped if the government do the following.Reduce the electricity unit price at least by half. Currently, electricity unit cost Ksh.18. The price of fuel also should be reduced. The company annually taxes should also be reduced from 30% to at least 15-20%. These are the main factors that the millers are facing because they paying so many authorities in Country. There is an annual fee for NEMA, County governments, KRA and KAM.According to the Manufacturers, they said the priced will be hard for them to drop because right now they are at a loss following the increase in Taxes. They said not only in the milling industry but also other companies are facing the same. Or if the government forces them without giving out proper methods then they will be forced to close down their companies and move to other countries. Then it will be easy for them because they will be importing their commodities to Kenya from their own firms like what companies like Eveready, Cadbury and Pepsi are doing.
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At least 36 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants are reported dead after the second major US military strike in a week's time.

36 ISIS members killed, no civilians harmed: Afghan officials

ISIS has not made any announcements regarding attack

RELATED story: US drops largest non-nuclear bomb on ISIS target in Afghanistan

The U.S. military dropped what it called the Mother of All Bombs on ISIS militants in Afghanistan.

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Afghan officials say this Massive Ordinance Air Blast bomb killed 36 ISIS militants and that no civilians were harmed.

This is the second time in a week that the U.S. launched a major attack. Just last week there was a surprise strike on a Syrian airfield.

The Ministry of Defense said in a statement that several ISIS caves and ammunition caches were destroyed by the giant bomb, which terrified villagers on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border with its "earsplitting blast."



This May 2004 photo shows a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast (MOAB) weapon, on display at the Air Force Armament Museum on Eglin Air Force Base near Valparaiso, Fla. U.S. forces in Afghanistan struck. (Northwest Florida Daily News via AP)

And the move is getting a lot of reaction from Congress. Some are insisting that President Donald Trump consult Congress before he acts again.

Trump called this "another very, very successful mission," but he would not say if he directly authorized the bombing.

However, the president is getting support from Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.

Our troops in #Afghanistan are taking the fight to #ISIS. Glad the admin is focused on eliminating terrorist threat & protecting Americans.  Senator Rubio Press (@SenRubioPress) April 13, 2017

And Rubio is not the only Republican praising the bombing:

Pleased Air Force dropped MOAB against ISIL in Afghanistan. Must be more aggressive against ISIL everywhere - including Afghanistan. 1/2  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 13, 2017

I hope America's adversaries are watching & now understand theres a new sheriff in town. 2/2  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 13, 2017

However, Democrats are calling for a plan to be laid out and want Congress to have more input in military decisions.



Afghanistan bombing shows dangerous implications of Congress relinquishing war-making decisions. We must repeal 2001 #AUMF immediately. https://t.co/KXHLC4ciG4  Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) April 13, 2017

The hashtag stands for Authorization for Use of Military Force, which gives the president authorization to take action in order to prevent future terrorist attacks on the U.S. It was put in place after 9/11.

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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. President Donald Trump called Thursday's operation a "very, very successful mission."

The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon, unleashes 11 tons of explosives.

Inamullah Meyakhil, spokesman for the central hospital in eastern Nangarhar province, said the facility had received no dead or wounded from the attack.

District Gov. Ismail Shinwari said there is no civilian property near the airstrike location.

There was no immediate comment from the ISIS group or other militants regarding the U.S. bomb attack.



The Associated Press contributed to this article.


Here's your Tampa area forecast for late Friday into Saturday and Easter Sunday.

Warm Easter weekend



Wind from east



Rain chance late next week



That east wind that has been with us all week will continues into this weekend. It will be breezy overnight into early Saturday morning; therefore, dont be surprised if you smell smoke in some areas because any smoke inland will blow across our region toward the Gulf.

Skies will be partly cloudy with lows in the upper 50s north, but low to mid 60 from the bay south.

Saturday will start out comfortable again with a breeze from the east and pleasantly low humidity. Skies will be mostly sunny and the warmest air will pile up on our side of the state again.

Expect highs a couple degrees warmer this weekend, topping out in the mid to upper 80s. The humidity will be low, though, so it will not feel too bad, especially if you are in the shade.

Saturday night will be nice with partly cloudy skies going mostly clear. Lows will be in the upper 50s to mid 60s.

Sunday will wrap up the Easter weekend on a nice note, with mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies. It will, however, be another warm day, with highs in the mid to upper 80s.

That east breeze pattern will continue, but there are finally some signs of it slowly breaking down next week.



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What kind of message is President Trump sending?

Here is an example of CBS sign off.

I guess you could call that a message.

"The basic operational concept bears some similarity to the BLU-82 Daisy Cutter, which was used to clear heavily wooded areas in the Vietnam War and in Iraq to clear mines and later as a psychological weapon against the Iraqi military. After the psychological impact of the BLU-82 on enemy soldiers was witnessed, and no BLU-82 weapons remained, the MOAB was developed partly to continue the ability to intimidate Iraqi soldiers. Pentagon officials had suggested their intention to use MOAB as an anti-personnel weapon, as part of the "shock and awe" strategy integral to the 2003 invasion of Iraq."

MOAB Link

Maybe I am just a bit picky on this issue, but it seems to me that we are desperately searching for a point when we start looking for a hidden meaning for every action. I fully realize that there are twenty-four hours in a day and seven days in a week. I think that would mean that the term 24/7 is code for " twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week" Back in the early days of Television, there was a Sign-Off Message at the end of the day. It usually was a brief statement indicating that the broadcasting day was coming to an end. Then there would a rendition of the National Anthem while there was a picture and later a video of an American Flag or some patriotic footage. Then would follow the loud sound that indicated all broadcasting was coming to an end. Sometimes there was a test pattern. Then the screen broadcast signal would be switched off and the TV would go into the hazy never-never-land that electronic instruments do when there is not a signal.Now that is what I call a Message. Somewhere in the ever advancing march of technology the Broadcast morphed into 24/7 cable broadcast and the idea of only one message a day was apparently lost. I do notice that FOX News has a brief Sign-off/Sign-On at 6:00AM every morning. They play the National Anthem with the obligatory Flag video. Then they immediately go into the Fox and Friends show.For the rest of the day all TV News shows and Pundits spend 24/7 trying to see if President Trump is sending ato ISIS with the dropping of the MOAB on April 13, 2017. The MOAB is a short forI may be wrong but I dont really think that we need to try to find a hidden message in the dropping of the MOAB in Afghanistan. I think it is just another SIGN-OFF, followed by that fuzzy screen that indicates the day was at an end for ISIS.As a kid, I would occasionally be allowed to play with firecrackers. You could not buy them in Georgia, but if you were lucky enough to get to Alabama you could buy your fill as long as your money lasted. My favorite was the dreaded M80 Firecracker. It would blow up almost anything a young boy could dream about. One thing is for sure though. Every time I lit the fuse of one of those old M80s, I was not trying to send aI was trying to blow something up.Dropping the MOAB stands on its own without interpretation by every pundit on television. If you insist on trying to find a, then here is a short one:I am so proud of myself. I got all the way through this article without having to use thecliche. I hate cliches!!! That may be ain and of itself there.Stay Tuned for my next edition.
A 31-year-old man allegedly demanded his wife kneel in front of him and cut off her own fingers in an act of repentance for trying to divorce him, police say.

Carlos Antonio Quintero now faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony. He was listed as an inmate at the Bexar County Jail on Thursday.

RELATED: $500 million lawsuit filed against Helotes man convicted in shocking attack on young lesbian couple

According to Quintero's arrest affidavit, he assaulted his 50-year-old wife Sunday night, apparently because he was upset that she was going to divorce him.

He allegedly "hit her face, grabbed her neck and pinned her body against her bed before he threatened to cut her fingers off with a knife," the affidavit says.

He told the woman he would "not think twice" about mutilating her because he had done it to someone else before. The woman allegedly pleaded for safety and begged for forgiveness as he "compelled her to kneel in front of him and reconsider her pending divorce to him."

RELATED: Mugshots: La Vernia athletics hazing scandal arrests climb to 13

Quintero then demanded she "cut her own fingers off with his knife as a sign of her repentance," the affidavit says.

The woman tried to convince him that it wasn't necessary for her to cut her fingers off and tried to calm him down by offering to have sex with him.

The following morning, the woman went to a police station while Quintero was at work. Police say she had several bruises and scratches on her face, neck and chest.

RELATED: Man found dead on River Walk was 26, officials say

She told police that they had been in a relationship for 8 years and that she was in fear for her life.

Officers obtained a warrant for Quintero's arrest and booked him into jail on a charge of aggravated sexual assault.

cdowns@mysa.com

Twitter: @calebjdowns
As physician burnout rates continue to climb and physicians struggle complying with CMS' many reporting requirements, HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, said physicians should recommend ideas for new Medicare payment models, according to Bloomberg Law.

Dr. Price urged physicians to provide recommendations during the first Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee meeting. MACRA created the technical committee in 2015.

Here are five points:

1. Dr. Price says CMS' MACRA works under a "one size fits all" approach which is driving burnout. Because physicians face different issues based where they practice, Dr. Price said physicians practicing in underserved or rural areas should give input to specific challenges they face and models that would work well for them.

2. The committee is currently considering physician-focused payment models that aim to move providers off the fee-for-service payment system.

3. The 11-member committee rejected one model so far. The panel vetoed Sacramento, Calif.-based Pulmonary Medicine, Infectious Disease and Critical Care Consultants Medical Group's model because it failed two of the 10 categories the panel uses to assess recommendations.

4. Illinois Gastroenterology Group recommended Project Sonar, a care management program that aims to improve care management for chronic diseases patients with the overall goal of truncating care's costs. Project Sonar is one of the two models that the committee recommended for limited-scale testing.

5. American College of Surgeons-Brandeis Advanced APM submitted the other model that the committee recommended for limited-scale testing. This model utilizes episodes of care to evaluate savings and losses as well as adjust payments based on the quality of care.
More states are moving their Medicaid beneficiaries to private managed care companies, Forbes reports.

Here's what you should know.

1. Illinois, North Carolina and Oklahoma are three of the larger states privatizing their Medicaid programs. Florida and Mississippi are renewing their privatized Medicaid plans.

2. Medicaid Health Plans of America CEO Jeff Meyers said he expects this trend to continue, especially if states reconsider Medicaid expansion. He said to Forbes, "States will realize that such a move can only successfully be made with the budget predictability that managed care provides."

3. Analysts believe the move will bring new customers to Aetna, Anthem, Centene, Molina, UnitedHealth Group and Blue Cross and Blue Shield in droves. Those six payers are already growing their Medicaid businesses, Forbes reports.

4. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, R, plans to move more than 80 percent of the state's Medicaid beneficiaries into private health insurance plans.

5. Consulting firm PwC's 2016 report found 54.7 million Americans are already in a private Medicaid plan said as of last year.
Public health officials are warning the public of the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which people can acquire through mouse droppings. With the weather warming up, officials expect a major uptick in these viral infections, according to The Washington Post.

Here are five points:

1. The respiratory illness kills up to 40 percent of infected individuals.

2. Hantavirus infects people when they breathe in the dust from rodents' urine, saliva and droppings.

3. The virus increases in the spring when people are cleaning their homes and move air around, which may be infused with the virus.

4. Researchers have not created a specific treatment, cure or vaccine for the infection. However, the Post reports if providers recognize an infection early, the individual can receive medical attention in an intensive care unit and have a better likelihood for a recovery.

5. A 2010 outbreak in California-based Yosemite National Park infected 10 people and killed three.
Two years after independent physicians filed a proposal to build Green Mountain Surgical Center in Colchester, Va., state regulators heard from both sides for and against the ASC, during a Green Mountain Care Board Member board meeting, according to VT Digger.

Here are six notes:

1. Alban, Vt.-based Northwestern Medical Center and Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems representatives referred to the ASC as a "for-profit" and "unregulated" project that would increase costs for consumers.

2. Before the board hearing, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems CEO and President Jeff Tieman wrote a commentary against the proposal in the VT Digger, stating the community does not need the ASC. He cited a report a healthcare management firm conducted saying there is ample space available in the community to offer surgeries to residents for at least another 20 years.

3. Amy Cooper, executive director of Burlington, Vt.-based health insurance company Healthfirst, countered the argument that Vermont is the premier health system in the nation, saying the state ranks last in terms of number of surgical procedures that small centers, like ASCs, perform.

4. Ms. Cooper said the ASC would save payers $5.5 million annually and the center would pay income and property taxes due to its for-profit status. She said in the hearing, "This project is not against the hospitals. This project is for the patients. We in the independent practice community here believe there is space for all providers in the healthcare landscape," according to VT Digger.

5. A Green Mountain Care Board Member asked Ms. Cooper if the ASC would implement a company policy to price procedures less than hospitals and if the ASC would have prices posted on their website. Ms. Copper said the ASC would "commit to a lower-price policy" and would utilize a transparency tool. However, the price may change based on commercial insurer negotiations, according to VT Digger.

6. The board is accepting public comments on the proposal through its website and will receive additional public comment on April 19 at its board meeting.

Editor's note: This article was updated on April 17.
Here are three gastroenterologists making headlines the week of April 3, 2017.

The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association selected Amit Singal, MD, as its 2017 Blue Faery Award winner.

New York City-based Pfizer awarded UC Riverside associate professor Declan McCole, MD, a two-year, $150,000 grant to support his inflammatory bowel disease research.

The Ohio Gastroenterology & Liver Institute's Pradeep Bekal, MD, opened the HyGIeaCare Center in February.
Normal-based Illinois State University's Mennonite Nurses Alumni Organization granted Marsha Reeves, RN, the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Here are five takeaways:

1. Ms. Reeves has worked in several healthcare settings, including surgery centers, hospitals and private practices throughout Illinois.

2. She was the director of Bloomington, Ill.-based Eastland Medical Plaza Surgi Center.

3. During her tenure as director of surgical services at Bloomington-based OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Ms. Reeves oversaw the construction of a $10 million surgery wing and GI center.

4. She was also the director of surgical services at Pontiac, Ill.-based John W. Albrecht Medical Center, where she was responsible for the construction and program development for ambulatory, GI, outpatient and inpatient surgery.

5. She is a member of Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing's adjunct faculty.
Physician pay averaged $294,000 in 2016, increasing for the seventh consecutive year, yet only about half of physicians  54 percent  were satisfied with their compensation, according to Medscape's seventh annual "2017 Physician Compensation Report."

Some specialties reported greater contentment than others with their pay. Here, ranked from least to most satisfied, is how specialties stacked up when asked if they felt fairly compensated.

Nephrology  41 percent felt fairly compensated in 2016 (earned an average $280,000)

Endocrinology  44 percent ($220,000)

Urology  47 percent ($400,000)

Infectious disease  47 percent ($228,000)

Allergy and immunology  48 percent ($257,000)

Orthopedics  48 percent ($489,000)

Obstetrics and gynecology  48 percent ($286,000)

Pulmonary medicine  48 percent ($310,000)

Rheumatology  48 percent ($235,000)

General surgery  48 percent ($352,000)

Internal medicine  49 percent ($225,000)

Neurology  50 percent ($249,000)

Cardiology  50 percent ($410,000)

Gastroenterology  51 percent ($391,000)

Pediatrics  52 percent ($202,000)

Plastic surgery  52 percent ($440,000)

Ophthalmology  53 percent ($345,000)

Family medicine  53 percent ($209,000)

Anesthesiology  57 percent ($364,000)

Oncology  57 percent ($330,000)

Critical care  59 percent ($324,000)

Otolaryngology  60 percent ($398,000)

Pathology  62 percent ($293,000)

Radiology  62 percent ($396,000)

Psychiatry  64 percent ($235,000)

Dermatology  65 percent ($386,000)

Emergency medicine  68 percent ($339,000)

Medscape surveyed more than 19,200 physicians across 26 specialties. Compensation for employed physicians includes salary, bonus and profit-sharing contributions. For independent physicians, compensation includes earnings after taxes and deductible business expenses, but before income tax.

More articles on compensation:

Hospital industry's highest-paid CEO made more than $51M in 2016

CEO pay at the 20 largest healthcare companies by revenue

Infection control nurse salary + bonus: 10 notes
Waco, Texas-based Providence Healthcare Network President and CEO Brett Esrock is leaving for a new job, effective May 2, according to a KWTX report.

Here are five notes:

1. Mr. Esrock is leaving to serve as CEO of Health First's Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Fla., a news release from Health First confirms.

2. He has served in his current roles at Providence since 2013.

3. Previously, he was senior vice president and COO at the healthcare network.

4. Steve Province, Providence's current COO, will take over as interim CEO.

5. Providence Healthcare Network is part of St. Louis-based Ascension's Texas Ministry Market.
Residents of Akron, Iowa, are fighting to keep three local family medicine physicians from Akron (Iowa) Mercy Medical Clinic in business, according to a report from the Sioux City Journal.

The physicians submitted their resignations March 14 to Mercy Medical Center Sioux City (Iowa), the facility that leases the clinic, according to the report. They plan to work through the end of their contracts, which expire on June 30.

However, when news of the resignations hit the town of 1,464, petitions began to circulate at local businesses, as well as online, according to the report. The online petition currently has more than 200 signatures. It calls for Mercy and Akron Health Care, the entity that owns the clinic, to terminate the clinic building lease and cede control. "That will enable the Akron clinic to return to local control so we can keep the doctors we know and love in our community," the petition reads.

Two of the three physicians  Cynthia Wolff, MD, and David Wolff, MD  opened the clinic in 1991, and the third physician Allison Schoenfelder, MD, joined the practice in 2006, according to the report.

A Mercy spokesman told the Sioux City Journal the medical center plans to continue to operate a clinic in Akron and staff it with highly qualified physicians.

Read the full report here.

More articles on integration and physician issues:

Quotes from the Front Lines: 'If patients come away saying our caregivers are compassionate, then I'll be happy'

University of Buffalo medical school's dermatology residency program loses accreditation

University of Miami selects current Wake Forest dean to lead medical school
CMS issued a final rule Thursday aimed at stabilizing the ACA's individual health insurance market.

Here are five things to know about the final rule.

1. The annual open enrollment period is shortened from three months to six weeks under the final rule. The 2018 enrollment period will begin Nov. 1 and run through Dec. 15. This change will help encourage individuals to enroll in coverage prior to the beginning of the year, according to CMS. Timothy Jost, a law professor at Washington and Lee University and a health law expert, told The Wall Street Journal shortening the open enrollment period may result in fewer younger consumers enrolling in coverage because they historically sign up for coverage toward the end of the enrollment period.

2. The final rule includes stricter requirements for special enrollment periods. Individuals will have to provide supporting documentation for special enrollment periods outside of the annual sign-up period. "It will encourage individuals to stay enrolled in coverage all year, reducing gaps in coverage and resulting in fewer individual mandate penalties and help to lower premiums," said CMS.

3. Individuals will be required to pay overdue premium payments before enrolling in new coverage with the same insurer. CMS said this change is aimed at encouraging individuals to maintain continuous health insurance coverage throughout the year.



4. The final rule gives insurers more flexibility in deciding how much of consumers' costs to cover. This move could result in insurers offering plans with lower premiums but higher deductibles.

5. The federal government will end its review of health plan network adequacy under the final rule. This oversight will be left to the states, as they are best positioned to review network adequacy, according to CMS.

More articles payer issues:

Independence Blue Cross, University of Pennsylvania Health System ink 5-year contract: 5 things to know

GOP lawmakers in NC propose Medicaid expansion: 5 things to know

Sanford Health Plan sues federal government for $9M in unpaid risk corridors payments
An outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sickened 10 critically ill infants over the course of eight months at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif. While the Orange County Health Department has known about the outbreak since December 2016, the situation was just recently made public, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.

While MRSA mostly causes skin infections among the general public, infection with the antibiotic-resistant bacteria can result in a host of illnesses in the healthcare setting including bloodstream infections, pneumonia and surgical site infections. Among patients with compromised immune systems, MRSA can be deadly.

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Here are nine things to know about the MRSA outbreak at UC Irvine Medical Center.

1. The 10 infected infants were treated in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit when they became infected. County health officials learned of the outbreak when five infants tested positive for the same strain of MRSA in December 2016. Two more infants tested positive later that month, one tested positive in February and the last newborn to test positive for MRSA did so on March 26, according to the report.

2. None of the infants have died, and none have active infections.

3. The source of the infection remains a mystery, but the hospital did take precautions to limit the superbugs' spread: In January, four employees tested positive for the same strain of MRSA, but were treated and have since tested negative, according to the report. In total, 220 employees used antiseptic soap and ointment on their skin and in their noses to kill MRSA to quell the outbreak, and staff and visitors wear gowns and gloves when visiting the infants, among other precautions.

4. The outbreak was brought to public attention after patient safety advocate Marian Hollingsworth filed a complaint with the state regarding the situation. Ms. Hollingsworth reportedly learned about the outbreak from a friend who works at the UC Irvine hospital complex, according to the LA Times.

5. County health officials did not notify the public about the outbreak because they said evidence did not suggest infants being treated in the neonatal unit were at higher risk than infants admitted elsewhere in the hospital, according to the report.

6. Hospital officials did not warn families expecting infants of the outbreak because the infected patients were isolated, according to the report.

7. State health officials began investigating the outbreak on March 20. The investigation concluded on April 3, clearing the hospital of wrongdoing.

8. In statement provided to Becker's Hospital Review, UC Irvine spokesperson John Murray said, "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. All hospitals must periodically manage the presence of drug-resistant bacteria. Since it is not possible to completely eliminate risk, the objective is to develop and sustain an infection prevention program that minimizes the risk of transmission. That is what we did; our aggressive approach was validated by the Orange County Healthcare Agency and California Department of Public Health and presence of the bacteria was not deemed to be a threat to public health."

9. Lisa McGiffert, a prominent patient safety advocate and the director of the Consumers Union Safe Patient Project, commented on the situation in the LA Times report. Ms. McGiffert said that while outbreaks of this kind are sometimes uncovered by the media or written about retrospectively in medical journals, many stay completely under wraps. Ms. McGiffert told the LA Times the public has the right to know about all outbreaks and that such public disclosures would result in hospitals working more diligently on infection prevention efforts.

"Patients have the right to know," she said, according to the report.

More articles on infection control:

2 measles cases identified in Minnesota  source of illnesses unknown

Texas health officials investigate highest incidence of mumps in 22 years

C. diff carriers who show no symptoms can up infection risk in other hospitalized patients
Washington, D.C.-based AdvaMed President and CEO Scott Whitaker shared his thoughts on the device tax and device company inspections, as reported by Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society.

Here are five issues he discussed:

1. Mr. Whitaker believes the tax will be repealed in the second or third quarter of this year.

2. He said, "We feel pretty good that if we move to another vehicle, whether its tax reform, State Children's Health Insurance Program reauthorization, tax extenders, that the Chairman and the leadership of the House  and the Senate, frankly  will support moving it to another vehicle."

3. Mr. Whitaker and AdvaMed support two bills in Congress seeking to overhaul the way the FDA inspects device manufacturers.

4. He trusts the Office of Regulatory Affairs' upcoming realignment will improve inspection issues but wants more to be done to fully fix the situation.

5. Mr. Whitaker also hopes the Medical Device User Fee Amendment is reauthorized this year.

More articles on devices:

Bridging the gap between new spine technology & patients  The role of the Medical Science Liaison



Meeting to highlight 9M implanted PEEK-OPTIMA devices & more: 5 notes



What's in store for the intraoperative 3-D navigation system market? 7 observations
Five neurosurgeons will be recognized for their various achievements and roles in the field of neurosurgery and elsewhere at the 2017 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting in Los Angeles.

Here are the five honorees:

J. Andre Grotenhuis, MD, PhD, of Netherlands-based Radboud University Medical Centre will be recognized with the AANS International Lifetime Recognition Award for his exemplary service to the AANS and the field of neurosurgery.

Former American Board of Neurological Surgery Director Volker K. H. Sonntag, MD, will be recognized with the AANS Distinguished Service Award for his charitable work and public activity.

John Ragheb, MD, of Miami-based Nicklaus Children's Hospital will receive the AANS Humanitarian Award for his neurosurgical work in Haiti.

Robert F. Spetzler, MD, of Phoenix-based Barrow Neurological Institute will be recognized for his technical prowess and skills in the development of new procedures with the AANS Cushing Medal.

Fady T. Charbel, MD, of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago will receive the AANS Cushing Award for Technical Excellence and Innovation in Neurosurgery for his operative skills and approach to surgery.

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14 statistics on orthopedic surgeon benefits



Community-based practices provide less low-value care: study  5 things to know



This state may save $100M by relying on regenerative medicine  5 insights
Four spine surgeons share the most difficult conversation they have ever had to have in the workplace.

Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses.

Next week's question: Can independent physicians survive in today's rather volatile healthcare landscape?





Please send responses to Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com by Wednesday, April 19, at 5 p.m. CST.

Question: What is the most difficult conversation you've ever had with a colleague?

Kern Singh, MD. Co-Director of Minimally Invasive Spine Institute at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (Chicago): Trying to run an efficient and effective study with the colleagues in my research group can, at times, lead to difficult conversations. We'll have studies where it's important for all the physicians to contribute patients to the overall sample, but one member of the team has low enrollment rates. In these situations, even if it may create tension, I make sure to outline the consequences of their low enrollment and how the issue needs to be fixed.

Brian R. Gantwerker, MD. Founder of the Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: I did once have to critique a more senior colleague while I was peer-reviewing something he had done. The colleague was belligerent and very difficult, and even started shouting at one point. I learned a lot. A lot about how professionals do not behave. It was watching how he handled criticism  from yelling, to questioning my credentials, to a rant on how I had no place to criticize him (when the hospital had picked my specifically) and I was able to see how vulnerable some people feel when they are being evaluated. I felt we both could have handled it better, but it was good. I learned how not to act when I would be in the same spot.

Richard Kube, MD. Founder and CEO of Prairie Spine & Pain Institute (Peoria, Ill.): I had to terminate a junior associate. The individual was not following protocol, nor was he meeting productivity goals. I liked the guy and considered him a friend, which made it a very difficult conversation. In the end, keeping it very objective and fact based got me through it. Ultimately, the breakup was amicable. We still talk to each other and he occasionally refers patients to me.

Alden Milam, MD. Spine Surgeon at OrthoCarolina (Charlotte, N.C.): I have had to have the very difficult "you are detrimental to our group" conversation with a colleague. Not an easy conversation to have.
Here are 12 spine surgeons who made the news this week:

Anthony Yeung, MD, founder of Desert Institute for Spine Care in Phoenix, discussed his thoughts on how spine surgery will evolve over the next five years.

The Cervical Spine Research Society elected its 2016-17 officers. Darrel S. Brodke, MD, of Salt Lake City-based The University of Utah School of Medicine was elected president; Jeffrey C. Wang, MD, of Los Angeles-based Keck Medicine of USC was named president-elect; Alexander Vaccaro, MD, PhD, of Philadelphia-based Rothman Institute is vice president; Christopher I. Shaffrey, MD, of Charlottesville-based University of Virginia Health System is treasurer and Rick Sasso, MD, of Carmel-based Indiana Spine Group is the new secretary.

Scott Blumenthal, MD, co-founder of the Center for Disc Replacement Texas Back Institute in Plano, laid out the big challenges and opportunities private practice spine surgeons face today. Dr. Blumenthal also performed the nation's first herniated disc repair surgery with the AnchorKnot Tissue Approximation Kit by Burlington, Mass.-based Anchor Orthopaedics.

Stephen Hochschuler, MD, co-founder of Texas Back Institute in Plano, talked about bundled payments for global episodes of care and how the spine field is adapting to value-based payments.

Kern Singh, MD, of Chicago-based Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush; Brian R. Gantwerker, MD, of the Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles; Richard Kube, MD, of Peoria, Ill.-based Prairie Spine & Pain Institute; and Alden Milam, MD, of Charlotte, N.C.-based OrthoCarolina shared their thoughts on having difficult conversations with colleagues.

More articles on spine:

6 things to know about hospital-acquired infections after spinal deformity surgery



Dr. Morgan Lorio receives 1st ISASS Distinguished Service Award



How 4 spine surgeons dealt with difficult conversations with colleagues
The American Hospital Association will honor orthopedic spine surgeon James N. Weinstein, DO, with the Justin Ford Kimball Innovators Award, according to VTDIGGER.

Here are seven highlights:

1. Dr. Weinstein serves as CEO and president of Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health System.

2. The AHA awards people or organizations developing "an influential, innovative approach to healthcare financing and/or healthcare delivery to improve access or coordination of care."

3. Dr. Weinstein will receive the award on May 8 in Washington D.C., at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting.

4. Under his tenure, Dartmouth-Hitchcock has emphasized a coordinated area-wide care continuum model, with expansions to rural facilities.

5. Before taking on the position of CEO in 2011, Dr. Weinstein was Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic president and The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice director. His leadership helped integrate the two center's research and clinical care to meet population health needs.

6. Dr. Weinstein is a founding member and executive director of High Value Healthcare Collaborative, a partnership of health systems working to boost care quality while reducing costs.

7. About 10 years ago, Dr. Weinstein developed the first Center for Shared Decision Making.

8. In June, Dr. Weinstein will retire from his Dartmouth-Hitchcock posts, but will continue to serve as the Peggy Y. Thomson Chair in the Evaluative Clinical Sciences at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College.
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday reportedly introduced a legislation to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. However, this law will come to effect only from July 2018. Notably, legalizing Marijuana was part of Trudeau's election campaign. Once passed, Canada will become the second nation to legalize marijuana. Currently, Uruguay is the only country that has legalized marijuana.
Prosecutors for the state of Montana have dropped their case against Barry Beach, days after his case in Billings Municipal Court was also dismissed.

A motion filed in Montana's 15th District Court on Friday seeks to dismiss the case that could have revoked Beach's suspended sentence and sent him back to prison. Assistant Attorneys General Ole Olson and Chad Parker filed the motion.

The case against Beach in the 15th District Court was based on allegations in the Billings municipal case. After the Billings City Attorney's Office dismissed its case last week, the state followed suit.

The state's motion said that information from the Billings investigation made it "unlikely" that the state would prove Beach violated a protection order, and thus his suspended sentence.

The 15th District Court includes Roosevelt County, where Beach was sentenced in the 1970s for the killing of 17-year-old Kim Nees in Poplar. Gov. Steve Bullock granted Beach clemency, and he was released in 2015.

The release included a 10-year suspended sentence.

Beach was charged in city court last fall for violating a protection order, which was filed by a woman who says she shares a child with Beach. The woman alleged that Beach was at one point parked outside of her home. In filing the charge, Billings prosecutors said that data from a GPS monitoring unit backed up the claim.

State prosecutors then filed to revoke that suspended sentence based on the municipal allegations, threatening to put Beach back in prison.

Then on April 6, Deputy City Attorney Ben Halverson moved to dismiss the municipal charge. The motion said developments in the case, specifically reliance on testimony from the woman who made the claims, affected the city's ability to prove the case.

Beach hasn't shed scrutiny since his release. In 2016, he was accused of sexually propositioning a 12-year-old girl. Billings City Attorney Brent Brooks said in September that there wasn't enough evidence to charge him.

The woman involved in Beach's municipal case received her protection order about a month later.
A Belfast-born First World War soldier buried under a headstone with no name has been honoured after he was identified as being interred there.

At a moving service at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery in France, a new headstone was dedicated to Lieutenant William Frederick MacHutchison.

He died in 1918, having survived being shot earlier in the war.

His final resting place was a mystery until the grave of an unknown lieutenant in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery was brought to the attention of the Ministry of Defence.

After extensive historical research into the grave and the circumstances surrounding the Belfast officer's death, it was confirmed by the MoD's Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (JCCC) that it was William's.

The service this week was arranged by the JCCC and led by the Rev Justin Bradbury, regimental chaplain with The Queen's Royal Hussars.

Sandra Harper, the great-niece of Lieutenant MacHutchison, travelled from Belfast to attend the service with her son Colin.

She said: "It was a very monumental occasion and something I never envisaged would happen.

"I feel privileged and honoured to have attended something I felt I had to do for generations gone."

Rev Bradbury said: "To make this pilgrimage in Holy Week to enable others to honour the memory of Lieutenant MacHutchison has been a singular privilege."

Expand Close Sandra Harper, her son Colin and the mayor of Villers-Bretonneux at the graveside / Facebook

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William was born in Belfast on October 16, 1893, the son of John and Jane MacHutchison. He had two brothers, George and John, and a sister, Mary. He was educated at St Andrew's College, Dublin, and worked for the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC).

He saw extensive service during the First World War after enlisting in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in 1915 and travelling to Egypt.

He ended up spending two months at the Red Cross hospital in Giza after contracting a severe stomach infection.

William rejoined his battalion in Mudros, where it moved on to Salonika.

At this point he was appointed Acting Quartermaster Sergeant to 30th Battalion Infantry Brigade HQ.

After spending time in Malta, William received a gunshot wound at Struma Valley in the Balkans in late 1916, which meant he was transferred back to the UK.

It wasn't until November 1917 that he was declared well enough to return to action, where he joined the 8/9th Battalion in France.

When the 8/9th Battalion was disbanded in February 1918, he became part of the newly formed 1st battalion.

On March 27, 1918, William was injured during fighting at Morcourt.

He was taken to the nearest dressing station at Lamotte, where he tragically passed away a few days later.
Shelved plans for a 500m gas terminal in the Republic have been revived as a result of Brexit. (stock photo)

Shelved plans for a 500m gas terminal in the Republic have been revived as a result of Brexit, it has emerged. Business advisers PwC have been tasked with finding a buyer to fund the huge Shannon LNG project at Ballylongford, close to Tarbert in Co Limerick.

The site has planning in place for a deep water jetty, storage facilities for liquified natural gas (LNG) and connections to the Irish national gas network.

However, the scheme ran aground two years ago when the original owner, US investor Hess, pulled out in part because regulators said they'd have to contribute as much as 50m a year to support infrastructure, including the cost of interconnectors linking the Irish gas network to supplies from the UK.

That was despite the fact that gas landed via the Shannon Estuary by ship from suppliers in the US and the Middle East would bypass the UK pipes.

It is understood Hess sold Shannon LNG to Sambolo Resources, a private Irish company, in November 2015. Accounts for Shannon LNG, filed with Companies Office in the Republic, state that Sambolo Resources is controlled by its directors, whose separate accounts for Sambolo list as Paddy Power and John Power, both of Monkstown in Dublin.

It is understood that PwC is now advising Sambolo on fresh efforts to secure a financial sponsor to develop the Kerry site, which have gained traction as a result of Brexit.

The project is expected to cost at least 500m, but investors are likely to be able to tap matching funds from public sources.

EU authorities have designated the Ballylongford scheme as a European Project of Common Interest, meaning it could access funding from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and the European Investment Bank.

Irish ministers are thought to be keen to see the site developed, fearing that a post-Brexit trade regime could lead to tariffs being imposed on gas piped into Ireland from Britain.

Shannon LNG is designed to import LNG through a three million tonne a year (mta) terminal, with four LNG-storage tanks, each with capacity for 200,000m and a jetty big enough to handle massive 266,000m Q-max LNG carriers - named because they are the biggest ships that can dock at Qatar's gas terminal.

Shannon LNG also has planning permission to build an associated 500MW combined heat and power (CHP) plant.

Reuters Project Finance International, a highly regarded trade publication, reported that the requirement that operators of the planned terminal contribute to the UK gas interconnector has been dropped as a result of a European draft directive, granting special arrangements to LNG terminals connecting, allowing the project to proceed once a sponsor is found. About 70m has been invested in the project to-date, largely by Hess.

Meanwhile, 600 acres of neighbouring land that is zoned for industrial development is also currently on the market.
May McFettridge would deliver the boot when it was needed.

Eamonn Holmes has suggested Northern Ireland needs a president-like figure head, someone we can all get behind - and one potential candidate has set out her bid for the top job.

"Roll on May Day," says the legendary May McFettridge.

And the Belfast battleaxe is not pulling any punches. Serious manifesto pledges include decent pensions for women, better health care for the elderly, shops opening longer - to reduce unemployment and tap into the tourist trade - and easing of drinking laws.

"And on a bank holiday we all get a day off," she told the Belfast Telegraph in an exclusive interview pitching for the popular vote.

Broadcaster Holmes said the potential president should be above politics, someone we can all get behind, " Someone for high days and holidays".

But May says she won't take any nonsense from the politicos on the hill saying she'll get involved if needs be and deliver a much-needed "big kick up the backside".

"They need to respect each other," she said, "and keep talking, otherwise..."

But before she gets into the office proper, there is the little matter of getting elected in the first place. Since we unleashed our poll on who you think would make a good president, BBC weatherman Barra Best put his name forward - even though we omitted him from the poll.

"Barra who? Sure there would be more chance of George Best than Barra Best," said May.

"He brings nothing but rain anyway."

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Nothing but rain under a Barra Best presidency, says May. Eamonn with May McFettridge Julian Simmons with panto dame May McFettridge John Linehan as May McFettridge May McFettridge Telling it like it is - vote for May. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Nothing but rain under a Barra Best presidency, says May.

Currently in the poll, May is running just behind Dame Mary Peters - as many have done before.

"Mary would make a good president," May did concede, "she could be the first president and me the deputy president."

And on the other contenders?

"Nolan would enjoy getting his big spoon out to stir the pot up, Rory and Michael O'Neill would be good statesmen and Pam Ballentine would have us all riding horses. I once did panto with Julian when he was the baddie and sure he wouldn't harm a fly - he's not the worst and I'd be a good orange woman beside him.

"Vote for May, roll on May Day," she said just moments before jetting off on an 'important trade mission' to Lanzarote.

"To get the pimples off my back," she joked.
The Belfast City Centre Egg Hunt, with special Easter prizes to be won

Conor and Euan Fyfe help Translink launch its Easter adventures which include a special edition train and reduced fares. Families can also hop on-board a special train to Portrush on Easter Monday, get their faces painted and enjoy live entertainment en route to the North Coast

Loretta ODonnell and Finlay Smyth prepare for the Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts in Fermanagh

We pick ten fun-filled outings for your Easter weekend in Northern Ireland.

1. Easter Eggspress Steam Train, Belfast to Whitehead. Easter Monday and Tuesday. All aboard the Easter Eggspress steaming to Whitehead from Belfast Central. Fun for all the family, plus Easter eggs for kids. All tickets 13.

2. Belfast Egg Hunt: The Belfast City Centre Improvement District has hatched an eggs-sellent plan to give families the opportunity to win 500 worth of prizes, with the launch of the Belfast City Centre Egg Hunt. Running until Tuesday, the city has been adorned with 10 giant eggs nestled in shops, hotels and restaurants throughout the city centre. Families are invited to hunt them all down for a chance of a 500 prize.

3. Tommy Tiernan Comedy Night, Newcastle, Slieve Donard Resort & Spa, Saturday, April 22. Promises to be a night of fun and loads of laughter. 8.30pm, over 18s only, 25.

4. Multicultural Festival, Omagh. Easter Monday. Big Family Picnic at An Creagan. A fun-filled day out in the great outdoors. 12-4pm, 3, children under 1 free.

5. Nature Walk and Yoga, Craigavon. Saturday April 22. Take a guided tour of the RSPB's Portmore Lough nature reserve, with highlights including spectacular views over the lough. Bring suitable clothing and footwear. 2-4pm. 10, RSPB members 6.

6. Easter at Carrowmena, Limavady. Easter Sunday to Wednesday. Easter egg canoe hunt and glamping trail. Call 02877 763431 for more information.

7. Showing Off, Derry/Londonderry. Tuesday-Saturday until May 20. VOID Gallery presents a programme of documentary, experimental and dramatic works in association with Women Make Movies (WMM) New York.

8. Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts, Fermanagh. Bunny's left little clues all over Fermanagh for you to solve and pick up your chocolate Cadbury prize. Castle Coole, Florence Court and Crom from tomorrow until Tuesday, from 11am daily. 1.

9. Bushmills Food Tour. April 21-22. Taste local bread, goat bacon, and smoked salmon. And soothe your palate with a glass of Bushmills 12-year-old whiskey. 40pp.

10. National Museums Northern Ireland have Easter events running from Sunday until Tuesday at its three museums - Ulster Museum (Belfast), Ulster Folk & Transport Museum (Cultra, Holywood) and Ulster American Folk Park (Omagh).
Chloe Ponisi-Hutchings (16) was one of five suspected drug deaths last weekend in Belfast. Raised by her mum and great-gran, they tell of the family's utter devastation at loss of their fashion-loving and feisty 'blue-eyed girl'.

As she pulls at the sleeves of her knitted jumper, Sarah Ponisi's eyes fill with tears.

"It's Chloe's," she says.

"She never got the chance to wear it."

Heartbroken mum-of-three Sarah is reeling after the death of her daughter Chloe Ponisi-Hutchings last week. The 16-year-old was one of five people to die suddenly in Belfast across the space of a single weekend, prompting police to issue a warning about the dangers of drugs.

Just more than a week on, Sarah is clinging to any comfort she can and her daughter's clothes, as well as a necklace she'd bought for Chloe's 17th birthday later this month, feel like a start.

"All I want is Chloe back," says Sarah (37). "But I know we can't do anything to make that happen, so I'm not sure what to do with myself.

"I'm wearing this necklace, which she never even knew I'd got her, because it makes it feel like I'm closer to her somehow.

"She'd have loved it. The whole family is absolutely distraught and it's been a struggle every single day since we found out she was gone.

"I can't eat, I can't sleep and we've been in tears every day. If someone is responsible for Chloe's death, then I want them held responsible."

As the investigation into the teen's death continues and the family await toxicology results, neither they nor the police can confirm whether drugs were a factor.

But whatever the cause, the fallout has been devastating - and not just for Sarah.

Chloe, who was training to be a hairdresser, lived with her great-grandmother Helena Valliday for much of her life in the 85-year-old's west Belfast home.

"It was like Chloe had two mummies," says Sarah.

"My granny practically brought me up, and then she did the same for Chloe. She loved us both and did so much for us, and now for her it's like losing her own child too. There are two of us absolutely heartbroken over what's happened to Chloe and I'm afraid of what the stress of it is doing to her. She keeps calling me Chloe by accident, and every time she realises she's done it, she gets upset."

Describing her own relationship with Chloe, Sarah revealed that very often the pair felt more like best friends than mother and daughter.

"We were so close," she says. "We'd fight sometimes about silly things like wearing each other's clothes, but we shared everything too because we were the same size and loved doing stuff together.

"We'd go shopping and she was great for doing my hair and my make-up, she was so talented."

"Although not always," laughs Sarah.

"I remember not long ago she tried to colour my hair and had it in silver foils. I could see them slipping off and it was turning into a disaster.

"In the end it was such a mess I had to go to the hairdresser's to get it fixed, but we had a laugh about it in the end. We had loads of lovely times together and she was always my blue-eyed girl. She always will be."

Even talking about what has happened is a huge step for Sarah, who was initially in denial about her daughter's death.

"I just couldn't get my head around it," she recalls.

"A friend of mine rang on the Monday and told me Chloe's body had been identified at a flat near Great Victoria Street but I just said: 'No, it's not my Chloe'. I just didn't believe him.

"It wasn't until later, when I saw my brother Francis in tears telling me it was her that I realised it was true."

Heartbroken Helena adds: "I was in Dublin when the news about Chloe broke, about to head off to Spain on my holidays. I came straight back up the road when I found out, but it was only then Sarah was letting it sink in herself that it was really our Chloe who was gone.

"It's hard to believe what's happened because she was just everything to us. I remember one of the last conversations I had with her was about those awful ripped jeans the young ones are wearing.

"I was telling her off for having holes in her clothes and she was laughing at me, telling me it was all the fashion."

Sarah recalls seeing her daughter for the last time on April 2, just hours before her death. Chloe, she says, looked beautiful and hugged and kissed her goodbye before saying she loved her.

The teenager had gone out with friends on the Saturday night but failed to arrive back at her great-grandmother's house.

The following day Sarah was frantic with worry and searched high and low until she tracked her down that evening to a city centre flat.

"I was worrying all day because she wasn't back," recalls Sarah.

"And later that day my youngest said something that's haunted me ever since, that she wanted us to find Chloe because she was worried we'd never see her again.

"I kept on trying to get her and eventually she answered the phone to me and I went to this flat in town and saw her. I'd been worried that she was drinking, but when I got there she was stone cold sober and seemed really happy with a couple of her friends.

"Her hair and make-up were immaculate, she was in a new outfit with a lovely new pink leather jacket I'd bought her. It was the first time I saw her in it and she looked absolutely beautiful. She told me she was fine, that she wasn't drinking and that she'd be back home to her great-granny's in a few hours.

"I believed her and I thought she was fine. I was relieved, actually, because before I got there I'd been worried, but she looked so lovely and seemed in such a good mood.

"She seemed fine so I gave her a kiss and a hug and we both said 'I love you', like we always did. It wouldn't have entered my head to worry about drugs. That was the last time I saw her, until I saw her again in her coffin."

Chloe, originally from Antrim town, was buried from her great-grandmother's house last Saturday, and a huge crowd of mourners turned out to pay their respects at St Peter's Cathedral.

Piled up on the mantelpiece in the cosy front room, and surrounded by framed pictures of Chloe, are almost 400 Mass cards.

Part of a huge extended family - Helena had 18 children of her own and has more than 200 grandchildren and great-grandchildren - the devastating repercussions of Chloe's death are being felt far and wide from Belfast to Dublin, Donegal and beyond.

And as well as grieving family members, who almost a week after the funeral continue to mill constantly in and out of Helena's home offering cups of tea and hugs, are the teenager's many friends.

"She was such a popular girl," says Sarah. "She was bubbly and funny and feisty. She'd stand up to anybody, adults, men, whoever. I've always been much more timid but Chloe was such a confident and outgoing girl, I admired her for it.

"She loved her fashion and her hair and make-up, she loved socialising and she loved her friends. She absolutely loved her great-granny, and she loved me too.

"She would have loved all this, to have her picture in the papers, but of course we never imagined she'd have her picture in the papers for something as awful as this. It's unbelievable that we're doing this without her here in the middle of it."

The PSNI said an investigation into Chloe's death is ongoing.

"A 21-year-old man was arrested on April 3 on suspicion of possession of a quantity of class B and class C drugs. He has been released on police bail pending further enquiries."

Post-mortems have now been carried out on everyone who died suddenly last week and police are awaiting the results of further toxicology tests in all five cases.

The PSNI added: "Until toxicology reports are completed it would be inappropriate to speculate on potential drugs links."
MISSOULA  A man convicted of shooting a Missoula man in the head in 1996 and who has been wanted on a $1 million warrant since he cut off his GPS monitor last summer has been arrested in Arizona.

According to the Associated Press, Chad Earl Williams was arrested Thursday by the U.S. Marshals Service. Local police in Cottonwood, Arizona, received a tip that Williams might be in a motorhome in the area. He was found at a convenience store and was arrested without incident.

In 1996, Williams was sentenced to 60 years in the Montana State Prison with 25 years suspended after he was convicted of shooting Louis Donald Craighead twice in the head and at least once in the stomach while trying to rob him. Craighead survived the attack.

In June, Williams was involved in a seven-hour standoff in Bozeman after being found in a mobile home while he was wanted for allegedly violating the terms of his probation.

After he surrendered and was brought back to Missoula, he posted a new $100,000 bond before allegedly cutting off his GPS bracelet and absconding in August, days before he was set to be sentenced for probation violations.

Missoula County District Court Judge Robert Dusty Deschamps eventually issued a new $1 million warrant for Williams arrest.

Williams had several petitions to revoke his probation issued last spring, including allegations of positive tests for methamphetamine, possession of weapons and failure to report to his supervising officer.
The mother of a desperately ill baby has vowed to battle on to keep her alive - despite doctors ruling out surgery she believes could save the tot's life.

May Rose Gibney was born last month and, while experts warned she was unlikely to live for more than a matter of days, the tiny fighter is battling on more than five weeks later.

The youngster suffers from the rare brain condition Encephalocele, which means her neural tube - a structure that goes on to form the brain and spinal cord - did not close completely during pregnancy.

And while the birth defect can only be treated by surgery, consultants with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust have ruled out operating on May Rose because of the high risks linked to her case.

But mum Analee Gibney, from Moy, Co Armagh, and her family are refusing to give up hope, and after a successful recent fundraiser, they plan to use the money to pay for private consultations with neurosurgery specialists in England to find out if anything more can be done.

Thanking friends and family for their support throughout her pregnancy and in the first weeks of May Rose's life, fashion worker Analee (24), said: "I wouldn't have been able to get through my pregnancy without the support of my family and friends, and prayers from people across the world.

"I was overwhelmed by the messages I was receiving from people, some I didn't even know, on social media.

"We also need to raise awareness of Encephalocele. I know it's a very rare condition but when May Rose was first diagnosed I was quite disheartened by the lack of information and statistics available.

"I can't thank the staff in the Belfast Health and Social Trust enough for what they have done for us, but I am adamant that more can be done and I will continue to fight for my daughter.

"The funds that have been raised so far will go towards getting second opinions and third opinions, if that's what it's going to take. I can't imagine my life without my daughter, I really am blessed to be her mother."

A spokesperson said the Belfast Trust was unable to discuss any patient's treatment or care, but added: "However, our clinicians are aware of May Rose's case and will continue to provide the best possible care and advice to her family."
Sinn Feins Conor Murphy (centre) and some of his party colleagues meet business leaders at Stormont yesterday

A senior business leader has voiced optimism that the Assembly and Executive will return after urgent meetings with the two main parties at Stormont.

Business leaders were invited to Parliament Buildings yesterday - the day after the talks to restore devolved government were paused for Easter. The organisations received invitations to briefings by both Sinn Fein and the DUP - held separately.

The surprise invites - only issued on Wednesday evening - came after a letter signed by 19 business and civic organisations earlier this week which urged the five main Assembly parties to reach an agreement.

The open letter, delivered to Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, called on politicians to put aside their differences.

After the meetings yesterday Glyn Roberts, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association, said it was a very useful engagement "on the back of our letter".

"We are very keen to meet with the other three parties. I came away to some degree encouraged. Both parties said they wanted to see a deal and devolution restored."

Mr Roberts said the business representatives wasted no time in putting their message across at the meetings.

"We are faced now with Brexit, the biggest constitutional change since the Second World War and we have no ministers and no government in place," he said.

"Apart from having no voice in the process, what message does that send to the rest of the world?"

Mr Roberts said the prospect of sleepwalking back into Direct Rule was unthinkable because, while devolution had its difficulties and flaws, local ministers could "get things done", including rates reforms to help businesses and new planning legislation to protect town centres.

"Devolution is not perfect but it is a lot better than having unelected, unaccountable ministers from outside," he added.

After the meetings, DUP leader Arlene Foster and her deputy Nigel Dodds said they shared the frustration of the business and civic society representatives about the need for a functioning Executive.

In a statement, they said: "This was a very positive and constructive meeting with representatives from the business community. Having both served as Enterprise Ministers in the Executive we know how important devolution is to growing our economy.

"We share the frustration felt by many within the business community and beyond about the need to have a functioning Executive to act on the issues of importance for our economy.

"The DUP did not lay down any red lines to the restoration of devolution and we would have liked to see an Executive back up and running immediately."

But Mrs Foster and Mr Dodds also repeated their warnings that new demands had been brought into the negotiations.

"The introduction of new demands to the talks process is having a direct impact on people right across Northern Ireland, including the business community," they said. "All parties must make it clear that their top priorities are areas such as health, education and the economy and they will not put narrow party demands ahead of these key issues."

Former Sinn Fein minister Conor Murphy said his party also shared the business community's demand "for a stable Executive that delivers for all its citizens".

"The surest route to political stability is an Executive that respects diversity, treats all of its citizens equally, and conducts itself with integrity. This is what Sinn Fein are working for in the political talks," he said.

"An Executive that disrespects the Irish identity, denies equal marriage and is constantly undermined by financial scandals will not provide stable or effective government. We want to see good government based on the principles of equality, integrity and respect."
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, along with Michelle ONeill and other party colleagues, speaks to reporters at Stormont

Sinn Fein and the DUP are still at odds over the talks to bring back the Assembly and Executive  with negotiations postponed until the week after next.

DUP MP Gregory Campbell warned Sinn Fein had to choose between dealing with the government in London or unionists in Northern Ireland.

But Sinn Feins Sinead Ennis said Mr Campbell was in denial and the DUP had to accept that only implementation of previous agreements would bring progress.

East Londonderry MP Mr Campbell called on Sinn Fein to use the pause in the political talks to rethink their approach.

The DUP is prepared to establish the Executive and work through the range of problems people from across Northern Ireland face.

Sinn Feins closed mind approach has led to Stormont being closed, it needs to change, he argued.

Mr Campbell said Sinn Fein should be looking at the issues which people beyond their closed circle want to get resolved.

In short, there is a lot for everyone to think about over the short Easter break, but whatever way the term political decision-making moving to London is dressed up, Sinn Fein are going to have to make a choice between working with people they dont like in London or those of us they would prefer werent here in Northern Ireland.

South Down MLA Ms Ennis said, however: Gregory Campbell is in denial about the collapse of the political institutions, which was caused by the DUPs handling of the RHI scandal, and the allegations of corruption associated with the scheme, and by their arrogance and disrespect for whole sections of the community.

The impasse in the process is about rights and the failure by the British government and the DUP to implement previous agreements on a Bill of Rights, an Irish Language Act and legacy.
Northern Ireland's benefits blackspots have been revealed in a new government report.

It shows how parts of the region have some of the worst unemployment figures in the UK.

Three areas feature on a list of the 10 parliamentary constituencies with the highest proportion of claimants.

Foyle - where almost one in 10 are out of work - is ranked third.

West Belfast and North Belfast also feature in the top 10.

The details, compiled by the House of Commons library using last month's data from the Office for National Statistics, provides a clear insight into the extent of welfare dependency in some parts of the UK.

Four areas in Birmingham are in the top 10, making the city the UK's benefits capital.

It has been notorious for its deprivation, becoming the focus of the 2014 Channel 4 documentary Benefits Street.

Birmingham Ladywood topped the list, with 10.3% of residents receiving unemployment benefits.

Foyle had a claimant rate of 8.7%, and is listed third. West Belfast was seventh on 7.4% while North Belfast was 10th, with a rate of 6.8%.

Expand Close People claiming unemployment benefits by constituency, March 2017 / Facebook

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SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, who is an MLA for Foyle, said it was further evidence that the north-west region was disadvantaged.

"These statistics once again add weight to our argument for further investment in infrastructure, jobs and services in the North West," he said. "But it isn't just historical neglect that's disadvantaged Derry, from 2011 to 2014 Foyle received just 2.63% of the total financial assistance available from Invest NI. Belfast, by contrast, received over 40%.

"What's needed is regional economic equality. I was working on a Private Member's Bill to deliver that before the collapse of the institutions. Too many families live in poverty, too many young people are forced to leave for work or study, this has all gone on for too long.

"And when the next wave of welfare reform crashes down on families here, the situation will be even worse.

"Addressing this issue is critical. Expanding the university at Magee is critical. It's another reason to get a government up and running as soon as possible."

West Belfast has consistently had one of the highest rates of benefits claims. Around one in five people there are on Disability Living Allowance.

Referring to the latest report, West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said the area had suffered decades of neglect and lack of investment.

"The higher number of claimants in west Belfast is a legacy of decades of conflict with the mental and physical anguish that arose from it," he said.

"It is also an area that has suffered decades of discrimination, neglect and deliberate under-investment. That is now being compounded by the relentless austerity policies being pursued by the British Tory government.

"Sinn Fein wants the full transfer of fiscal powers to the North so we can overturn decades of discrimination and deprivation by British governments."

Earlier this week, official figures showed unemployment in Northern Ireland had fallen for the 12th month in a row.

Some 300 people came off the register in March, putting the jobless total at 31,500.

The Northern Ireland unemployment rate dropped to 5.2% - the lowest it has been since last 2008 - but still above the UK average (4.7%).
CASPER, Wyo.  Wyoming school officials and parents are discussing a proposed policy to drug test some high school students.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/2oDtO9w ) parents and school officials had mixed reactions to the policy during a Wednesday meeting with the Natrona County School District Board's policy committee. The policy would affect students who participate in district activities.

School board member Debbie McCullar, who does not support the policy, said it's missing an educational component. Others who oppose the policy said it only targets the estimated 4,000 high school students who are participating in activities.

Proponents of the policy refer to a Supreme Court ruling that says districts cannot test an entire student body.

School officials said even if the policy does not pass, student drug users should face some sort of repercussion.

___

Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com
Jashua Tremblay's online meeting with Irish victim (14) was random but shows the lengths predators will go to, says prosecutor

One of the lead investigators in the case of a Canadian predator who flew to Ireland to have sex with a teenager he groomed online has said their initial meeting on the internet was random - but their sexual relationship may have continued had concerned neighbours not intervened.

Jashua Tremblay (34) made contact with the 13-year old Irish girl in 2013 on a website that allows people to connect randomly with other users, and went on to make two trips to Ireland where he had sex with her at different locations including hotels, a holiday home and a campsite.

In just 14 months of virtual communication he convinced the teenager, who had recently lost her mother, that they were in a legitimate relationship and would go on to marry.

This week he was jailed for four and a half years. The case has been held up as an example of effective co-operation between law enforcement across international borders.

Details of how the lengths he went to - and how he was eventually convicted - can now be revealed for the first time.

Tremblay was convicted as a result of good old fashion detective work by Irish gardai and expert knowledge in a Canadian prosecutors office with a well-resourced cyber-crimes unit, prosecutor Craig Krieger told Independent.ie.

Speaking about the case for the first time since Tremblays sentence was handed down, Crown Prosecutor Mr Krieger outlined a detailed and comprehensive investigation which eventually left Tremblay with little option but to plead guilty.

Mr Krieger became involved in the investigation in March 2015, five months after locals in an Irish seaside town alerted gardai to inappropriate behaviour between Tremblay and his young victim during a 10-day stay at a holiday home.

At that stage the gardai had gotten quite far, I want to give them credit because, even though they probably figured out early on that they would never see the offender again in Ireland, they nevertheless did quite a bit of old fashioned legwork to gather evidence," he said.

This evidence included a substantial paper trail including accommodation records and car rental details for Tremblays visits to Ireland. CCTV was also collected which showed Tremblay with his victim as they shopped together.

There was also a significant amount of correspondence between the pair on Whatsapp, including audio messages he had sent the victim.

Canadas criminal code allows the authorities there to prosecute offenders who commit sexual crimes against children in other jurisdictions.

The investigation painted an upsetting portrait of how Tremblay preyed on the young girl.

They met on a chat service, similar to Chat Roulette, but moved very quickly to other apps including Whatsapp, Mr Krieger said.

He was upfront about his age, which at the time was 30-years old, and the conversation started off very friendly, then it escalated quiet quickly, Mr Krieger said.

The random nature of the meeting was not unusual Mr Krieger added, but was keen to stress that the case itself and its transatlantic nature is also not typical.

There is no reason to suspect Tremblay deliberately sought an Irish victim.

It was just from the spinning of the wheel, bad luck, Mr Krieger said.

Authorities were not able to recover all of the communication between the pair during their two year correspondence but what was recovered showed that Tremblay had used flattery to convince his victim of the normality of their relationship.

Her devastated dad, in his victim impact statement, described the communication as brainwashing.

We were able to show the judge the detail of the kinds of things he was saying to her. It was quite explicit eventually," Mr Krieger said.

Tremblay sent naked pictures of himself, along with explicit audio messages - disturbing details which were recalled during court proceedings.

Tremblay travelled to Ireland at considerable expense on each occasion but so-called sex tourism is not unusual and paedophiles will often show disregard to barriers such as journey distance, Mr Krieger said.

Many of these predators are so committed to fulfilling their twisted fantasies they will go to extraordinary efforts, Mr Krieger said.

It doesnt matter what kind of quiet, peaceful, rural areas one is in as long as one has access to electricity and an internet signal, these predators are committed.

One of the things that I emphasised to the sentencing judge was that he was willing to cross seven times zones and deal with jetlag for only a seven-night visit and a 10-night visit most people would be reluctant to go on that trip for only seven nights.

Thats another reflection of how fixated this guy was on satisfying his own pleasures and disregarding the effect on the victim, he added.

This was Tremblays first conviction for crimes against children.

In 2013 he was convicted of assaulting his now ex-wife but was given a conditional discharge and probation. His initial visit to Ireland came in his first week of probation.

His first flight to Ireland was less than a week after he was in court for that assault, Mr Krieger he said.

A psychologists report found that Tremblay does not display a preference for teens or pre-teens but would he have continued to offend or preyed on another victim?

Im reluctant to make that kind of prediction but the only reason this relationship ended was because he was caught, because of the vigilance of the neighbours. He was still fully engaged in this relationship at that time, Mr Krieger said.
Irish Taisoch Enda Kenny speaks to the media at Blacksod Harbour, Co. Mayo, Ireland, as the search continues for an Irish Coast Guard helicopter which went missing off the west coast of Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday March 20, 2017. See PA story IRISH Coastguard. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Irish Taisoch Enda Kenny (left) at Blacksod Harbour, Co. Mayo, Ireland, as the search continues for an Irish Coast Guard helicopter which went missing off the west coast of Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday March 20, 2017. See PA story IRISH Coastguard. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Irish Taisoch Enda Kenny speaks to rescue workers at Blacksod Harbour, Co. Mayo, Ireland, as the search continues for an Irish Coast Guard helicopter which went missing off the west coast of Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday March 20, 2017. See PA story IRISH Coastguard. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

An Irish Naval ship and specialist boats near to Blacksod Lighthouse, Co. Mayo, Ireland, as the search continues for an Irish Coast Guard helicopter which went missing off the west coast of Ireland. PA

The Irish Naval Service vessel L.E. Eithne (rear) and the search vessel Granuaile in Blacksod Bay, Co. Mayo, Ireland, as the search continues for an Irish Coast Guard helicopter which went missing off the west coast of Ireland.

Members of the Irish Coastguard continue searching along the coastline near Blacksod, Co. Mayo, Ireland

The wreckage of Rescue 116 which crashed off the west of Ireland

A Garda boat passes LE Eithne at Blacksod, Co Mayo, during the mission to recover the Rescue 116 crew

The last recorded words of the ill-fated crew of the Irish Coast Guard's Rescue 116 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".

Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The body of Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, a 45-year-old mother-of-one, was the first to have been recovered from the ocean Tragedy: Captain Dara Fitzpatrick PA The coffin arrives for the funeral of Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, who died in the Coast Guard helicopter tragedy off Blacksod, Co Mayo at St Patrick's Church, Glencullen. Picture date: Saturday March 18, 2017. See PA story IRISH Coastguard. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp The body of Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, a 45-year-old mother-of-one, was the first to have been recovered from the ocean

The AAIU called for CHC Ireland, which operates the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopters, to review and re-evaluate all 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 Rad Alt 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.
Boris Johnson's alliance with Jean-Marc Ayrault is a sign that he is working to build support

Boris Johnson and his French counterpart have urged the international community to make sure those responsible for the Syrian chemical weapon attack are held to account.

The Foreign Secretary and J ean-Marc Ayrault said the world had a "moral duty" to do more, stressing that it was "crucial for international peace and security" to uphold the ban on the use of the weapons.

The pair said there would be "no impunity" for those responsible for the attack, which they said was "highly likely" to have been carried out by Bashar Assad's regime.

They said two aircraft took off from Shayrat on April 4 - a "regime-run, Russian-supported airbase" which was later targeted by US missiles as Donald Trump ordered a retaliation for the atrocity.

"It seems highly likely that they bombed civilians... with murderous gas," the pair wrote in a strongly-worded Guardian editorial.

"What followed is too grim to describe. Painful, indiscriminate and long-lasting agony for babies, women and the elderly.

"Deaths by the score. Hundreds of wounded who will bear the scars for ever.

"It brings shame on the Syrian regime and its supporters. It brings shame on the world. How long can we endure this?"

Mr Johnson's alliance with Mr Ayrault is a sign that he is working to build support, having appeared isolated over the issue of sanctions at a gathering of G7 foreign ministers in Italy.

The Foreign Secretary is understood to have floated the idea of sanctions against the Syrian military commanders responsible for the attack, but Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano said there was "no consensus" on the issue.

Foreign Office sources said Mr Ayrault supported Mr Johnson's calls for evidence to be gathered to identify those responsible and then target them with sanctions or war crimes charges.

They supported the independent Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) investigation into the attack, saying: " The international community has a moral duty to go further.

"It is our responsibility to uphold the strict prohibition of chemical weapons.

"It is our responsibility to ensure that those who conducted such chemical attacks are held accountable. It is crucial for international peace and security.

"In the name of the international community, the OPCW fact-finding mission will investigate the attack.

"The joint investigation mechanism, an independent UN-OPCW body, will then say who is responsible.

"We are confident in this process and we fully support it. There will be no impunity."

Syrian leader Mr Assad has dismissed the alleged chemical weapons attack in Khan Sheikhoun as a "fabrication" to justify the US missile strikes.

But the two foreign ministers said: " Regime denials should impress no one.

"Assad said it was the terrorists. But then Assad claims not to have barrel bombs, not to bomb civilians, not to torture, 'because it would be illogical'.

"No barrel bombs? Their images are everywhere. No attacks on civilians? Refugee camps in Turkey are replete with their victims.

"No torture? Amnesty International found that in the Saydnaya prison alone, 13,000 were slaughtered."

British scientists had analysed samples from the victims of the Khan Sheikhoun attack which tested positive for the sarin nerve agent or a sarin-like substance.

"When children are gassed, we can take no more abject lies," Mr Johnson and Mr Ayrault said.

"Our analysis indicates that two Syrian fast jets were in the vicinity of Khan Sheikhoun, and within range of likely impact sites.

"We believe that it is only the regime that has the capability to make such an attack. So it is highly likely that attack was carried out by the Assad regime."

The pair criticised Russia for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution on Syria and accused Moscow and Tehran of covering up details of Mr Assad's chemical weapons use.

But their article does not accuse Russia of being involved in the attack and sources said Mr Johnson had not pushed for sanctions against Russian individuals at the G7 meeting.
Undated handout photo issued by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the young British tourist Hannah Bladon who was stabbed to death in Jerusalem on Good Friday. PRESS FCO/PA Wire

A young British woman who was stabbed to death in Jerusalem on Good Friday has been named as Hannah Bladon.

She was attacked while travelling on a light rail train near the Old City, which was packed as Christians celebrated Good Friday and Jews marked Passover.

Mark Regev, Israel's ambassador to the UK, said: "My thoughts are with the family and friends of UK student Hannah Bladon, who was murdered in a senseless act of terror in Jerusalem today."

Ms Bladon, 20, a student at the University of Birmingham, had been on an exchange programme with the Rothberg International School at Hebrew University of Jerusalem since January.

She was attacked by a Palestinian man who pulled a knife from his bag and repeatedly stabbed her as the tram neared Jerusalem's City Hall.

An off-duty policeman pulled an emergency brake and tried to intervene.

He told the Israeli Police Spokesmanship: "I was on the Jerusalem Light Rail with my family and during the journey I heard shouts of 'attack, attack'.

"I immediately pulled on the manual emergency break of the train, ran to the scene of the attack and charged at the attacker, neutralising him so that he cannot continue to harm innocent people."

Paramedics treated Ms Bladon at the scene and rushed her to hospital, but she later died.

A pregnant women and 50-year-old man were also injured when the tram came to a sudden stop and in the aftermath of the attack.

Police detained a 57-year-old man at the scene, and Israeli Police Superintendent Micky Rosenfeld said the attack was carried out by an "Arab terrorist" from Rasel Amud, in east Jerusalem.

Israeli intelligence services Shin Bet said the attacker had a history of mental illness, that he recently tried to commit suicide in hospital by swallowing a razor blade and that he was convicted of sexually abusing his daughter in 2011.

It said: "This is not the first time that a Palestinian suffering from personal, mental or moral distress has chosen to commit a terrorist attack in order to escape his problems."

The Foreign Office confirmed a Briton's death, saying it is supporting her family.

The Hebrew University spoke of its "deep sorrow" over Ms Bladon's murder, saying: "We extend our deepest condolences to her family."

It added: "The university condemns such acts of terror that harm innocent people, and especially a student who came to Jerusalem to study and widen her academic horizons.

"The university administration and staff will provide all necessary support to students, faculty members and their families in Israel and around the world.

"Hannah Bladon came to the Hebrew University as part of a student exchange from the University of Birmingham.

"Hannah began her studies here at the end of January 2017 and was supposed to continue her studies until the end of the current semester."

The Rothberg International School said Ms Bladon was studying classes in bible studies, archaeology and Hebrew during her exchange programme.

It said: "Her friends described her as an inquisitive and adventurous student who made the most of her opportunity to learn and experience life in Israel.

"Her family has been notified. All other Rothberg students are safe."

The University of Birmingham said it was "deeply saddened" over Ms Bladon's death and said it would be supporting any students affected.

Israeli president Reuven Rivlin said he was "filled with sadness" and that his country's "thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim".

He said: "This week thousands have come through the ancient gates of Jerusalem, to celebrate the feasts of Passover and Easter throughout the city - while the security forces work to ensure the safety of the dear residents and visitors to the city.

"And so we will continue to do. Terror can never overcome us. Terror will never destroy our lives here."

The Board of Deputies of British Jews tweeted its condolences, saying: "Our hearts go out to family of the British woman murdered by a terrorist in Jerusalem, an unholy attack as city marks Passover & Good Friday."

The Jewish Leadership Council added: "We are horrified to hear of the murder of a British tourist near Old City of Jerusalem at a time of faith & peace. Send deepest sympathies."
Some black and minority ethnic teachers feel they are subjected to racist stereotypes, the NUT has found

Teachers from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds are being given projects rooted in stereotypes rather than reflecting their personal strengths, a survey of BME (black and minority ethnic) staff has found.

Evidence from more than 1,000 teachers in England found additional workloads included black teachers being asked to lead their school's Black History Month activities, instead of being put in charge of intellectual teacher and learning responsibility (TLR) roles.

Some also claimed the bosses relied on stereotypes as an excuse to hand BME teachers classes with the "most challenging behaviour".

The survey, for the National Union of Teachers (NUT) by race equality think tank Runnymede Trust, found 32% of male and 27% of female teachers did not feel staff were comfortable talking about race or sexism.

Respondents said structural barriers such as racism - including assumptions about capability based on racial and ethnic stereotypes - were everyday experiences for BME teachers.

In particular, BME teachers spoke about an invisible glass ceiling and a widespread perception among senior leadership teams (SLT) that BME teachers "have a certain level and don't go beyond it".

One primary school teacher of Caribbean origin said: "You can bring experiences of your own culture, get children to ask questions about culture, to lead on faith and Black History month.

"(But) having to deal with difficult conversations, you become the mentor for BME, given classes with the most challenging behaviour. It's the result of stereotypical assumptions."

Kevin Courtney, NUT general secretary, said: " Racism is not discussed enough in schools, even at a time when intolerance is increasing within society.

"These findings remind us that it is a defining feature of BME teachers' lives and deeply affects the experience of young black people. It is urgent we open up conversations about racism in staff rooms, in classrooms and in the curriculum.

"Children come to school in a world that is not equal. BME teachers and pupils face racism in the streets, in popular culture and in employment.

"Strategies to better use the potential of schools and colleges to reduce racism are urgently needed. The NUT will be using the good practice identified in schools via this research to develop practical tools for schools to challenge the effects of racism."

Dr Zubaida Haque, research associate at the Runnymede Trust, said: "Government and school leaders should be concerned that over 60% of black and ethnic minority teachers are thinking of leaving the teaching profession.

"Our survey found that BME teachers were not only overwhelmed with the mountain of paperwork but they are also beaten down by the everyday 'micro-aggressions' in the staff room and the low expectations and support by senior staff in their schools.

"This has led to BME teachers feeling undervalued, isolated and disillusioned with their careers."

The NUT's annual conference is being held in Cardiff over the Easter weekend.
China has warned that conflict could break out "at any moment" over North Korea amid fears it is preparing to launch a sixth nuclear test or more missiles in defiance of UN sanctions and stark warnings from the US.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it was necessary to prevent the situation on the Korean peninsula from going down "an irreversible route".

Earlier, North Korea's vice foreign minister blamed President Donald Trump for escalating tensions through his tweets and expansion of military exercises, saying the US was becoming "more vicious and more aggressive" under his leadership than it had been under President Barack Obama.

"We will go to war if they choose," Han Song Ryol told the Associated Press.

"Whatever comes from US politicians, if their words are designed to overthrow the DPRK system and government, we will categorically reject them," he said.

The US has sent an aircraft carrier to waters off the peninsula and is conducting its biggest-ever joint military exercises with South Korea.

China may also have deployed as many as 150,000 troops to the North Korea border on Sunday, as part of these exercises.

Expand Close North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, stands with officials as he cuts the ribbon at the official opening of the Ryomyong high-rise district, Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, stands with officials as he cuts the ribbon at the official opening of the Ryomyong high-rise district, Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Pyongyang, meanwhile, recently launched a ballistic missile, and some experts say it could conduct another nuclear test at virtually any time.

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At the end of last month 38 North claimed satellite images showed the regime was very close to carrying out a nuclear test, while foreign journalists in the region were warned to prepare for an 'important event' ahead of North Korea's biggest national holiday this Saturday.

Expand Close Han Song Ryol accused President Donald Trump of making trouble with aggressive tweets (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Han Song Ryol accused President Donald Trump of making trouble with aggressive tweets (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

The 'Day of the Sun' commemorates the birth of Kim Il-Sung, the founder and president of North Korea, who adopted 'Il-Sung' (of the Sun) as one of his names during guerrilla campaigns in the 1930s.

US Vice President Mike Pence will also travel to South Korea on Sunday, in a signal of commitment to defending the country from North Korean aggression.

The White House said the purpose of the trip was to "consult with the Republic of Korea on North Korea's efforts to advance its ballistic missile and its nuclear program".

Expand Expand Previous Next Close North Korean military soldiers walk along the Ryomyong residential area. (AP/Wong Maye-E) WEST PALM BEACH, FL - APRIL 6: U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping after he arrived at Palm Beach International Airport April 6, 2017 in West Palm Beach, Florida. President Xi is in Florida to meet with President Donald Trump to discuss a range of sensitive issues including trade and North Korea at Trump's Mar-a-Lago retreat. Tillerson and Xi were accompanied by their wives Renda St. Clair and first lady Peng Liyuan. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp North Korean military soldiers walk along the Ryomyong residential area. (AP/Wong Maye-E)

Jean H Lee, a Fellow at the Wilson Center and the first American journalist granted extensive access on the ground in North Korea, told The Independent:

This type of rhetoric is routine for this time of year - but that said, we have a couple of new factors. One is obviously President Trump, and the unpredictability of his statements and actions has created an unusually volatile situation.

The pace of North Koreas development of nuclear weapons is of chief concern - they have certainly been ramping up the testing.

"Every time Pyongyang tests, they get closer to developing the technology they would need to put a nuclear weapon on a course to strike the US.

Another major concern is the aircraft carrier strike group in Korean waters. Everyone has their gun poised, and if somebody makes a move it could erupt into a deadly conflict. It has happened in the past, and the last few days have shown us that the Korean War not over."

Ms Lee also said she thought sanctions against North Korea would be a more effective course of action to pursue.

Threatening to consider all options, including a pre-emptive military strike is, of course, inflammatory. Well have to wait and see whether this is the right approach.

"North Korea is actually benefiting greatly from this stand off - as it plays into their desire to appear to be perceived as a strong country.
Murder suspect Harris Binotti is wanted for questioning by police in Burma

Interpol has joined the hunt for a British teacher wanted over the death of a colleague in Burma.

English teacher Gary Ferguson (47), from Bangor, Northern Ireland, was living in Myanmar (formerly Burma) with his wife Supatchaya Sichompor and four-year-old son Jeremy.

He was found dead with head and chest wounds in Rangoon in November last year.

Burmese police said Harris Binotti, thought to be from Dumfries but who has also lived in Aberdeen, has not been seen since he and Mr Ferguson had been drinking together in the commercial capital of the country.

The 26-year-old is wanted on suspicion of carrying out the attack, but is understood to have left the country, also known as Myanmar, shortly after the death.

Interpol has now issued an international 'red notice' alerting police forces around the world that Mr Binotti is wanted for extradition.

The notice states that he faces a charge of murder and describes him as 1.68m (5ft 5in) with brown hair and blue eyes.

Both men taught English at the Horizon International School in the city, which is also known as Yangon.

Mr Ferguson had worked there for a year while Mr Binotti had been there for around three months.

A Facebook page for Mr Binotti shows that he had a number of different jobs before taking up a post as an English teacher in Rangoon.

Expand Close Gary Ferguson with his son Jeremy / Facebook

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Whatsapp Gary Ferguson with his son Jeremy

These ranged from being a holiday representative, a ski representative and an assistant duty hotel manager.
Julian Lennon is looking to nurture a new generation's commitment to the environment, with a little help from a white feather.

The first-born son of the late Beatle John Lennon has co-authored Touch the Earth, a picture book for children as young as three about the world's water problems, from polluted oceans to the need for clean drinking water in the developing world.

Out later this month, the book from Sky Pony Press has a group of children loaded into a plane called the White Feather Flier as they span the globe and learn about the need for filtration, irrigation and ocean life protection.

With illustrations created both by hand and computer, it is the first of three children's books he plans, in line with the environmental and humanitarian work of his White Feather Foundation.

"We've failed miserably in looking after our environment. I think this is a great way to approach children into realising what's at stake, and to help educate and help them make decisions about the right things to do for the future," Lennon said. "It's for those with inquiring minds who are asking why?"

Lennon has taken on environmental issues in song, including his 1991 Saltwater, and in film, including the 2006 documentary Whaledreamers, covering a gathering of indigenous and tribal leaders that explores connections among whales, dolphins and humanity.

Appealing to the next generation of prospective eco-warriors grew out of his friendship with co-writer Bart Davis after the two put aside plans, for now, for 54-year-old Lennon to write a biography. But he hasn't completely abandoned the idea.

"I feel time's marching on, you know. A lot of my friends and people I know are popping their clogs," Lennon laughed. "You know, who knows what's next? It's in the cards in the next few years, absolutely, before it's too late."

The former Beatle's son with his first wife, Cynthia shares the story of the white feather at the back of the book.

"On the odd occasion when I saw dad he mentioned once that should he ever pass, a way he would let me know that he was OK, or that we were all going to be OK, would be in the form of a white feather," Lennon explained. "I thought that quite peculiar. I told mum about it, too, and we just sort of went on with life."

Later, while on tour in Australia, he was presented with a white swan feather by an aboriginal tribal elder of the Mirning people.

"It was a freaky moment, but one I took to heart immediately," he said. "I realised that this was about stepping up to the plate now and, you know, I can sing all I want about this stuff but am I actually going to do something about it? So I spent 10 years making a documentary about the Mirning people."

It's also when he established his foundation, visiting Ethiopia with the head of a clean water initiative and touring schools and health clinics in Kenya. A portion of the books' proceeds will go the foundation, which now does a range of work, including providing scholarships for girls in Kenya.

Lennon's father was shot dead in 1980. His mother died two years ago of cancer aged 75. Lennon dedicates the book to Cynthia, and he established the Kenya scholarships in her name.

"I talk to her every night, pretty much," Lennon said. "She has given me the strength to carry on. Where I'm at at the moment, I feel very strong, very zen-like. I just want to do the right thing. To try to continue to be the best that I can be. That was all based around wanting to make her proud. I try to continue all the work that I do in her name."

AP
There can be no winners in a war between the US and North Korea over nuclear weapons and missile programmes, a Chinese minister has said.

Foreign minister Wang Yi pledged support for dialogue between the sides and urged them to take a flexible approach.

It is the latest attempt to cool tensions by North Korea's most important ally and key provider of food and fuel aid.

Any fighting on the Korean Peninsula is likely to draw in China, which has repeatedly expressed concerns about a wave of refugees and the possible presence of US and South Korean troops on its border.

"Once a war really happens, the result will be nothing but multiple loss. No one can become a winner," Mr Wang said at a news conference with French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

"Therefore, we call upon all the parties, no matter verbally or in action, to stop provoking and threatening each other and not to allow the situation to become irretrievable and out of control," he said.

Mr Wang added: "As long as dialogue takes place, it can be official or unofficial, through one channel or dual channels, bilateral or multilateral. China is willing to give support to all of them."

Last month, he urged North Korea to suspend its nuclear weapon and missile tests in exchange for South Korea and the US putting their war games on hold, reviving a proposal first raised by Pyongyang.

Washington swiftly dismissed the idea, but observers say administration officials may be more amenable to renewed dialogue with the North.

Despite historic ties as neighbouring communist states, China has grown increasingly frustrated with the refusal of Kim Jong Un's regime to heed its admonitions.

In February, China cut off imports of North Korean coal that provide Pyongyang with a crucial source of foreign currency.

From Monday, the Chinese flag carrier Air China will suspend flights from Beijing to Pyongyang, state broadcaster CCTV said. Air China and North Korea's Air Koryo are the only two airlines serving that route.

Earlier, North Korea's vice minister Han Song Ryol said his country will keep building up its nuclear arsenal in "quality and quantity".

He said Pyongyang is ready to go to war if that is what US president Donald Trump wants.

Chinese experts said they see little immediate possibility of hostilities breaking out, but warned that Beijing will respond harshly to any further North Korean nuclear tests.

Director of Jilin University's Institute of Northeast Asian Studies Guo Rui said Mr Trump's domestic troubles should prevent him taking such action, while North Korea does not appear to be on a war footing.

Another nuclear test would invite tougher measures from Beijing, Mr Guo said.

Pang Zhongying, of the School of International Studies at Beijing's Renmin University, agreed that military action was unlikely but said another North Korean nuclear test would mark "the crossing of a red line" that China was prepared to respond to.

AP
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Sage grouse are being airlifted into southwestern North Dakota with high hopes that this native bird can be saved here.

The operation airlift started last week, and it may be another week until the state Game and Fish Department crew is able to capture enough wild birds in Wyoming to meet its goal of 40 females and 20 males.

The once plentiful bird has declined to near extinction in this state and the ongoing project to transplant them and hopefully reinvigorate the population has an air of desperation.

Were at the end of our rope here, and were doing whatever we can to keep the population from being extirpated, said upland game management supervisor Aaron Robinson. Extirpated is another word for disappeared or wiped out.

No question, the numbers here are bleak: There are maybe 10 males, where once 400 strutted and danced for the hens in the claypan flats and big sagebrush country in southwestern Bowman County, edging up into Slope County, Robinson said.

West Nile is one killer over time but so is the lost big sagebrush habitat, fragmented by the development of oil and gas wells.

Robinson is catching some shuteye when he can and is up all night with the crew, searching for and spotlighting grouse on a lek, or dancing grounds, in southern Wyoming near Rawlins. Its spring and the birds are congregating for the annual mating ritual, though the females are for some reason hanging back this year.

There are a lot of challenges, the weather and our exhaustion. But the big issue is the females  theyre not around the lek and theyre difficult to find, he said. Were hoping they come in next week, but were down here until we get it done."

As of late April 4, the crew of six had captured 14 males and 10 females. More males will be trapped than transported because only one in three has a viable sperm count thats required to inseminate the females. The idea is that brooding hens will be more likely to nest and settle into their new home.

When enough birds are ready to go, theyre individually boxed, flown in and quietly released on a known lek on remote Bureau of Land Management land in Bowman County. The quick flight in a Cessna 182 is less traumatic to the birds than a nine-hour drive.

It takes a lot of effort. We find the birds by their eye-shine and, once we find them, we have to be quick. Last night, I found three hens that I tried to capture, but two flushed and I was able to catch one, Robinson said.

Besides the insemination process, the sage grouse are weighed and radio-collared. A graduate student will spend his summer monitoring the new arrivals to see if they adapt, reproduce, if chicks survive and if the birds stick around.

Whether this works is a huge unknown. Re-establishing a population takes years and years, and there is a high likelihood that it wont work, Robinson said.

In a normal population, half of all sage grouse die every year so population growth is a long-term proposition.

We have to give this some time so any offspring can start influencing the population," Robinson said.

Jeb Williams, wildlife chief, said the department plans to repeat the operation again next spring and then take a wait and see approach.

If this is helping enough, it may be something longer. Our goal is to reverse the declining population with the expectation that we will never have a large population, but, hopefully, well see stability or maybe an increase, he said.

This airlift is a first for North Dakota, although other states have transplanted sage grouse.

The sage grouse solution is a deeply cooperative one among Western states, which joined an initiative to rebuild sage grouse numbers to prevent it from being listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Ranchers and other landowners have been involved in habitat programs to improve conditions and, in 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found the bird does not face extinction across its 173 million-acre range and withdrew it as a candidate species under the Endangered Species Act.

That was good news for the bird and for ranchers, who wanted to be proactive in helping the birds survive rather than reactive to federal restrictions once the birds were listed, Williams said.

We appreciate the work that landowners have done, he said. Nobody wants to see this bird be listed.

Meantime, a very fragile group of newcomers is settling into one of the last best areas of big sagebrush habitat in North Dakota. Its possible the very future of the bird in North Dakota rests with them, and Williams hopes they dont follow some strong internal urge to call it quits and head back toward home.

Wed appreciate it if they stayed, he said.
Pick an area of the world and its likely that Dr. Andrew Gregory has a hand in research there. From India to Germany to Kenya to the U.S., from forests to prairies, he and his many student researchers are collecting data and studying the effects of humans on the natural world.

Gregorys enthusiasm for his work and his ability to transmit that zeal to students, plus his commitment to empowering them to develop their own natural curiosity, thinking and analytical skills, have earned him their affection and admiration. Gregory was named the 2017 Master Teacher by the Student Alumni Connection. The award includes a $1,000 cash prize.

As much as students like him, Gregory likes them. I find that I am inspired by my students; their energy, enthusiasm and passion reminds me of those better parts of myself, he said in his teaching statement. I also sometimes overhear students talk about a class they took from me and describe it as: a lot of work but worth it; I simply grin and think, Yes!

He believes teachers should be adaptable and able to meet the students where they are. They should be knowledgeable and be able to make complex concepts and principles seem simple and intuitive. They need to be genuine, open and honest with students.

His students know he cares about them. His nominators wrote, He takes steps to ensure that his students succeed outside of his classroom. He is awesome, and he works to ensure education is more than just sitting in a classroom.

By pairing hands-on experiences with complex material, Gregory strengthens and reinforces student learning.

Education is not simply a matter of an expert transferring knowledge into students minds, he said. Rather the goal of the educator should be to provide students with the opportunity to engage higher level synthetic thought processes, which will allow them to make links between their schema and real-world experiences. The key conceptual framework of my teaching philosophy is to recognize that learning takes place in students minds and the role of the instructor is to act as a conduit to facilitate that event.

A faculty member in the School of Earth, Environment and Society http://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/earth-environment-and-society.html, Gregory is not easily categorized. As a spatial ecologist and spatial geneticist, I am fascinated by how natural areas, wildlife and plants are dealing with what humans have done, he said.

This could mean helping Kenya preserve its Kakamega Rain Forest, an important natural resource, or studying the ditches in Wood County, which to others might seem dull but which, because of their state of benign neglect, to Gregory are teeming with fascinating information about native and non-native plants.

A prolific scholar, he finds creative ways to enhance his teaching and thereby student learning in part by enlisting students in his research and giving them real work that is of value not only to them and the research but to local and national and international environmental agencies and governments.

When I started teaching Field and Lab Methods at BGSU, I wanted to provide students with authentic experiences, Gregory said. I also wanted to use my teaching to train a potential pool of field techs for my research. To accomplish this, I reached out to Toledo Metroparks Native Plant (TMPNP) Nursery and developed a collaboration with them. The 3100 students would provide post restoration monitoring for restored prairies and TMPNP would come demonstrate how TMPNP is working to restore prairies throughout the Oak Opinions region. Thus, students in 3100 are actually doing post restoration monitoring of local rangeland restoration projects.

In 2016, he was presented the faculty mentor award by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship http://www.bgsu.edu/provost/center-for-undergraduate-research-and-scholarship.html. He encouraged other faculty not to hesitate to take students along on research expeditions, humorously acknowledging that many things can and will go wrong, but that the overall experience will be well worth it for students and faculty alike  an apt example of his zest for discovery and adventure.
For the record, the ice went out on Lake Tschida last week and so did we  or something like that. Our diaries show that last spring the ice was gone on March 7, so were a bit behind this year. But then again who cares.

Unlike most folks, I have been somewhat monitoring our Legislature's activities. To say theyve struggled to balance their budget would be an understatement. Unlike the 2015 session, where there was more money than stuff to spend it on, the 2017 session has been hobbled by more stuff than money.

I have to give the majority party credit in the sense that they have done a pretty good job of balancing the state budget without raising taxes. However, during the fat times theyve lowered taxes and are presently suffering from that. For instance, back in the oil boom revenues far exceeded expectations so it seemed like a good idea to lower income and corporate taxes, as well as oil taxes, etc. Then the boom busted and here they are trying to figure out what can be cut without damaging needed services.

Lets go back to the boom for a minute. As I recall, we were the envy of the nation. The media along with our leaders magically turned us the economic gold standard for others to emulate. While the rest of the country struggled we were suffering from being the fastest-growing in the nation. There were more high-paying jobs than people to fill them and once the word was out thousands of people moved here, causing an economic boom that was difficult to keep up with.

Then the price of oil fell and our economy once again faded. The interesting part is that while we faded the rest of the country continued to recover from the 2008 recession. During the boom we seemed quite proud to be the fastest-growing state in the union coupled with all the other things that success brings, including the notion that somehow our political leaders had come up with some sort of economic miracle. I remember seeing our leaders on national television discussing how they positioned North Dakota to be the envy of the nation and, boy, were we proud of all this adulation.

When asked how long this boom would last we were told it would go on for a long time because the Bakken is a resource, not just a blip like the past oil booms, so our leaders did all they could and then some to keep up with the boom.

Well, the boom has busted, the price of oil collapsed from $100 per barrel to $40 per barrel and the drilling faded along with our economy. Many of us enjoyed this boom but knew that it had much more to do with the price of oil than anything our political leaders had done, but we did have high hopes that we were wrong.

So here we are today watching our Legislature attempting to balance our revenue with our expenditures and the process isnt pretty as all the prognostications indicate that things might still get worse than they are now. So hundreds of jobs have been eliminated along with many vital programs and its not been a pleasant undertaking for our leaders nor the folks who benefit from state services or revenues.

At this rate legislative leaders hope to wrap up shortly after Easter, and like most legislative sessions the end will involve a variety of train wrecks that cause all sorts of angst and when theyve done it will be once again safe for most of us to come out from hiding  maybe.

So having been there, done that, I wish our leaders great success and Id like to thank them for their service as well as wish them all a full recovery.
Inspiring the community to take Action Today for a Better Tomorrow is the goal of Earth Week 2017 (April 17-21). The week includes the popular annual Eco-Fair, guest lectures, an environmental-themed film, a tree planting and the regular Friday Night Lights. All events are free and open to the community.

President Mary Ellen Mazey will kick off Earth Week at 11 a.m. April 17 with an update on the Universitys progress with its Climate Action Plan, where sustainability efforts are now and priorities for the future. She will speak outside McFall Center.

That evening, Abiye Alamina, economics faculty member, will present Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: How Economists Think About These Issues. His talk will begin at 7 p.m. April 17 in 208 Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Alamina will examine questions about how to reconcile businesss basic goal of generating profits with socially desirable and responsible goals such as sustainability and how that might be achieved.

Earth Week this year coincides with the start of the campus When You Move Out, Dont Throw It Out, the collection of clothing, household goods and packaged and canned food in preparation for student move-out. All items are donated to local food pantries and shelters. Open to the community, over the course of its existence the initiative has spared tons of usable goods from area landfills. Collection boxes will be located in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, Outtakes stores, the Greek houses and residence hall lobbies.

On April 18, nature writer and former park ranger Jordan Fisher Smith will share Engineering Eden: The True Story of a Violent Death, a Trial and the Fight Over Controlling Nature. He will speak at 7 p.m. in the Union Theater. According to publisher Penguin Random House, his book is the fascinating story of a trial that opened a window onto the century-long battle to control nature in the national parks. When 25-year-old Harry Walker was killed by a bear in Yellowstone Park in 1972, the civil trial prompted by his death became a proxy for bigger questions about American wilderness management that had been boiling for a century. At immediate issue was whether the Park Service should have done more to keep bears away from humans, but what was revealed as the trial unfolded was just how fruitless our efforts to regulate nature in the parks had always been. Smith uses Harry Walkers story to tell the larger narrative of the futile, sometimes fatal, attempts to remake wilderness in the name of preserving it. Smith's talk is sponsored by the Department of the Environment and Sustainability.

"The fascinating story of a trial that opened a window onto the century-long battle to control nature in the national parks."

The Eco-Fair, on April 19, is a yearly highlight of Earth Week. The Union Oval will be filled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with representatives from campus and community environmental clubs and organizations sharing information and offering ways to get involved. During the fair the Environmental Service Club will conduct a trash audit to help discover what is being thrown away on campus headed for the landfill, with the goal of finding alternate solutions. In case of rain, the Eco-Fair will be held in the lobby of Memorial Hall.

April 20 brings the documentary The Economics of Happiness. Hosted by the Department of the Environment and Sustainability, the screening begins at 7 p.m. in the Union Theater. The film describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. As governments and big business continue to push for growth in the form of increased global trade, were seeing an increase in climate chaos, senseless war, fundamentalism, financial volatility, income inequality and the consolidation of corporate power. At the same time, people around the world are resisting those policies, demanding a re-regulation of both trade and finance. And, far from the old institutions of power, communities are coming together to re-build more human-scale ecological economies based on a new paradigm  an economics of localization.

Rounding out the week, on April 21, BGSU students and Campus Operations will take a tangible step toward the University obtaining Tree Campus USA designation by planting trees funded by campus partner Coca-Cola. BGSU is part of the annual Arbor Day effort to increase the number and variety of trees across the country. Not only do trees beautify the environment, they emit oxygen and help clear carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the air as well, and their benefit lasts for many years. To see the value of a single tree, visit the Tree Benefit Calculator. The plantings will take place from 1-2 p.m. between Kohl Hall and Carillon Place.

That evening brings Friday Night Lights, when a team of BGSU students goes about campus turning off lights and unused electronics in empty classrooms and other spaces. The savings in energy and cost from this weekly volunteer effort has been substantial and helps the University reach its goal of carbon neutrality. Volunteers meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Union Theater before moving out on their rounds.

Earth Week is co-organized by the Office of Campus Sustainability and the Department of the Environment and Sustainability with participation of campus clubs and organizations.
Interview with Mikhail Gorbachev - the last President of the Soviet Union

Interview with Mikhail Gorbachev - the last President of the Soviet Union |

Von: By KAI DIEKMANN and DANIEL BISKUP (photos)

He has become old. Supported by his walking stick, he slowly and laboriously drags himself out of his office and walks a few steps to the brightly lit conference room  to the big, long table.

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last President of the Soviet Union. The man without whom the Berlin Wall would not have come down so peacefully. The man who  in the eyes of many Russians  is responsible for the demise of the glorious Soviet Union. To the great majority of Germans, he is a hero. In his home country, he is considered by more than a few to be a tragic figure. In March he has turned 86. Illness and age have left their marks on his face.

However, his passion for the great questions of history has not suffered from this at all. His latest book, Plea to the World has just been published. How is Helmut Kohl? is his first question. A conversation about Germans and Russians, war and peace.

BILD: President Gorbachev, 30 years ago now, you initiated the end of the conflict between East and West with your politics of Glasnost and Perestroika. Today, Russian tanks are stationed in Eastern Ukraine, and Crimea has been annexed by Moscow. Can you understand why Europe fears Russia again?

Auch interessant

Mikhail Gorbachev: Independently of who is feeling what, one must take Russia seriously  as a nation that deserves respect. Nobody is more concerned about Ukraine than we Russians are. Im sitting in front of you here, and the question makes me think of my mother. My mother was Ukrainian. The second woman in my life, Raissa, whom I also lost, was Ukrainian, too. You mustnt lump everything together and engage in propaganda. It seems that there are forces that have an interest in sowing hostilities between Russians and Ukrainians and in creating tension between our two countries.

Let us take a look back at more peaceful times. When the last Russian solider was pulled out of Germany in 1994

Gorbachev: As I had promised.

some people even proclaimed the end of history. What went so terribly wrong with the relationship between Russia and the West?

Gorbachev: The relationship between the Russians and the Germans was great. Its impossible to overestimate this: two nations that were dragged into a horrible, bloody war by fascism, and who used to be enemies. Almost half of the European part of the Soviet Union was occupied by the Germans. I experienced this personally as a child; I experienced first hand what it meant to live under German occupation. And despite all of this, we still managed to trust each other, to approach each other and to reconcile with each other. Stalin once said: Hitlers come and go, but the German nation, the German people, remains. All Russians share this view.

Together, we Russians and Germans possess a unique combination of qualities and skills. We Russians lack much of what characterizes the Germans, and the Germans probably lack something that we Russians have. We complement each other in an astonishing, unique way. We must not allow for the destruction of what our two nations have created together.

Nevertheless, you accuse the West of not having kept its promises. Are you personally disappointed by friends like Helmut Kohl or George Bush when it comes to their commitment to Russia?

Gorbachev: I do think that they could have done more. Much of what has since happened has been directly related to the collapse of the Soviet Union. We cannot blame anyone for the dissolution of the Soviet Union. However, many people in the West were secretly rubbing their hands and felt something like a flush of victory  including those who had promised us: We will not move one centimetre further East.

Does Russia feel cheated by the West?

Gorbachev: I would put it like this: the West  and primarily the US  have moved away from central joint agreements. Please remember, in the second half of the 1980s, the USSR and the US took unprecedented steps together! They began reducing their nuclear arsenals. Just think of it: 80 percent of the nuclear potential that had been built up during the Cold War years was destroyed back then. Moreover, both sides conceded that nobodys security was compromised by this process.

However, the West then used Russias weakness after the dissolution of the Soviet Union to declare itself the winner of the Cold War. The principle of equality in international relations was forgotten, and thus we all ended up where we are today.

These days, both the US and Russia are talking about modernizing their nuclear weapons more openly than they have for decades. Is a new arms race imminent?

Gorbachev: It is not merely imminent. In some places, it is already in full swing. Troops are being moved into Europe, including heavy equipment such as tanks and armoured cars. It was not so long ago that NATO troops and Russian troops were stationed quite far away from each other. They now stand nose-to-nose.

Are you concerned about your lifes work  the end of the Iron Curtain? Should we be preparing for a new Cold War?

Gorbachev: The language of politicians and the top-level military personnel is becoming increasingly militant. Military doctrines are formulated increasingly harshly. The mass media pick up on all of this and add fuel to the fire. The relationship between the big powers continues to worsen. This creates the impression that the world is preparing for a war. So all the indications of a Cold War are there.

Could the Cold War turn hot?

Gorbachev: Well, anything is possible if we just keep watching, sit back and do nothing.

Let us talk about Russia. Does Russia still feel like a European state? Do we still share the same values?

Gorbachev: Yes.

But is Russia still a democracy, at all?

Gorbachev: Russia is on the path to democracy. Its halfway between. There are approximately 30 emerging nations that are in transition, and we are one of them. Since nothing works perfectly all the time, we are constantly being provoked by the accusation that we are not a democracy.

Do you personally trust Vladimir Putin?

Gorbachev: I have often criticized certain steps taken by our state leadership. But yes, I trust him.

How much longer will Putin be able to maintain his policy of confronting Europe and the West if the economy continues to decline?

Gorbachev: Dont have any false hope in this respect! We are a people willing to make whatever sacrifices we need to. I cannot think of another people that would be similarly willing to make so many sacrifices. In the war alone, almost 30 million people were killed.

And today? What can we expect today? What can we now expect from many friends who were once devoted to Russia? Today, many of them, of all people, are toughening sanctions or demanding new sanctions. Are they doing this in order to punish Russia? I think that we  Russians and Germans  must re-establish contact, solidify and develop our relationship, and find a way to trust each other again. Remember my words: we are in favour of being friends with the Germans  for all times. Our people also want this. I am speaking for the Russian public here. I represent the public opinion.

In his interview with BILD, the new American president, Donald Trump, called NATO obsolete

Gorbachev: I share his opinion. Back in the days, we dissolved the Warsaw Pact. There was a meeting of the NATO Council in London that concluded that what was needed then was a political alliance, not a military alliance. I hope that NATO will return to this question.

What are your expectations of the new President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Gorbachev: I congratulated him 

who is considered to be someone with a great understanding of Russia?

Gorbachev: We do not need any special understanding. Nor do we need a particularly large amount of understanding. Simply understanding would be enough. Maybe some people are profiting from Russias having mud thrown at it. I am deeply saddened that the German leadership  I deliberately say German leadership, because I find it hard to imagine that the German people are in support of this  has allowed for the decline of the German-Russian relationship. For I am absolutely convinced that the Germans, the people in Germany, do not want for there to be a newfound enmity between them and the Russians.

By German leadership, do you mean Chancellor Angela Merkel, who primarily supports the sanctions against Russia?

Gorbachev: I like her; I hold her in very high esteem. On a personal level, I feel great sympathy for her. This is probably why I sometimes pass judgement so emotionally.

Mikhail Sergeyevich, what will your compatriots remember you as: a hero, who brought freedom, Glasnost and Perestroika, or the man who lost a vast empire?

Gorbachev: You know, history will ultimately make the right judgement. I firmly believe that my work and my efforts were not in vain. I will continue to further the cause to which I have committed myself until the very end.

PS: Sind Sie bei Facebook? Werden Sie Fan von BILD.de-Politik!
For Immediate Release, April 14, 2017 Contact: Roger Peet, (503) 753-7027, toosphexy@gmail.com

Tierra Curry, (928) 522-3681, tcurry@biologicaldiversity.org Salmon Mural Unveiled at Portland Airport as Part of National Endangered Species Project 'Sockeye Salmon Bring the Ocean to the Mountains' Now On Display PORTLAND, Ore. As part of the Center for Biological Diversity's national endangered species mural project, a local artist has created an exhibit at Portland International Airport depicting the journey of Columbia River sockeye salmon. The nationwide art series aims to connect communities with local imperiled wildlife by highlighting threatened species of regional significance. The new 15-square-foot exhibit, Sockeye Salmon Bring the Ocean to the Mountains, is a PDX Art Program feature on display in Concourse D. Endangered salmon are of utmost cultural significance to the Pacific Northwest, so Portland International Airport is the perfect place to host a mural of endangered Columbia River sockeye, said local artist Roger Peet, who spearheads the endangered species mural project. Turning bright red as they mature, sockeye salmon return from the Pacific Ocean to their home rivers when they are between three and eight years of age. Their epic journey can cover thousands of miles and brings nutrients from the ocean upstream as the salmon spawn and then die in their natal streams. The endangered species mural project brings together art, science and conservation to foster connections between human communities and imperiled wildlife, so we hope this exhibit inspires all those who encounter it to reflect on their connection to local endangered species, said Tierra Curry, a scientist at the Center. The endangered species mural project has installed 10 murals in public spaces around the country. The airport installation is one of two features in Portland. A celebration for an in-progress mural of the streaked horned lark, a songbird, and Kincaid's lupine, an endangered Willamette Valley prairie wildflower, is planned for April 30 at Artist & Craftsman Supply on North Lombard, a local business that offered its wall to be part of the national project. Around the country, murals already in place include a mountain caribou in Sandpoint, Idaho; an Arctic grayling in Butte, Mont.; a monarch butterfly in Minneapolis; a jaguar in Tucson, Ariz.; a blue whale and a yellow-billed cuckoo in Los Angeles; a watercress darter in Birmingham, Ala.; a pink mucket pearly mussel in Knoxville, Tenn.; a white fringeless orchid in Berea, Ky.; and a Dakota skipper butterfly now at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, originally installed on a warming structure at the Oceti Sakowin water protector camp.
For Immediate Release, April 14, 2017 Contact: Kelly Fuller, Western Watersheds Project, (928) 322-8449, kfuller@westernwatersheds.org

Allison Jones, Wild Utah Project, (801) 328-3550, allison@wildutahproject.org

Steve Holmer, American Bird Conservancy, (202) 888-7490, sholmer@abcbirds.org

Michael Saul, Center for Biological Diversity, (303) 915-8308, msaul@biologicaldiversity.org

Jeremy Nichols, WildEarth Guardians, (303) 437-7663, jnichols@wildearthguardians.org 15,000-acre Bureau of Land Management Fracking Plan Endangers Sage Grouse in Utah FILLMORE, Utah Conservation groups today condemned a U.S. Bureau of Land Management proposal to auction off 14,943 acres of public land in central Utah for fracking and drilling, which will hurt an imperiled population of greater sage grouse. The Bureau previously announced that it would include lands occupied by the Sheeprocks sage grouse population and designated as priority habitat in its sage grouse plans in its September 2017 oil and gas lease auction to be held at the Fillmore, Utah office. We've lost so many sage grouse in the Sheeprocks area that the government has had new ones brought in from other places and released, said Kelly Fuller, energy campaign coordinator with Western Watersheds Project. It's a waste of money trucking in new sage grouse and then putting their habitat on the auction block. In February the BLM issued a press release vowing to increase protection for sage grouse and their habitat in the Sheeprocks Mountain area of Juab, Tooele and Utah counties. The Sheeprocks population dropped by nearly 40 percent over the past four years, triggering mandatory changes in how the agency manages this iconic western bird. Sage grouse are canaries in a coal mine. Their population numbers are indicators of environmental health, and when they're not doing well, it's a wake-up call that it's time to do something, said Allison Jones, executive director of Utah Wild Project. In 2011 the BLM assembled a blue-ribbon panel of sage grouse experts, called the National Technical Team, to make recommendations on land-management strategies that would allow sage grouse to survive. These experts recommended closing priority sage grouse habitats entirely to oil and gas leasing. BLM's decision defies reason, said Michael Saul, a senior attorney in the Center for Biological Diversity's Public Lands Program. The agency's own plans require emphasizing oil and gas leasing outside the most important habitat for sage grouse. But despite admitting that the Sheeprocks population is in critical condition and requires more protection, BLM officials want to encourage drilling in the sagebrush? It makes no sense. Even now the sage grouse are gathering at dawn at their traditional mating grounds, called leks, where they dance and breed year after year. For the greater sage grouse to recover, energy development needs to be located outside priority habitat, said Steve Holmer, vice president of policy at American Bird Conservancy. This project ignores what the hard trigger in the Utah plan is telling us: that sagebrush country needs more conservation, not more drilling. The mission of Western Watersheds Project is to protect and restore western watersheds and wildlife through education, public policy initiatives and legal advocacy.

American Bird Conservancy's mission is to conserve native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.2 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. The Wild Utah Project strives to advance our mission of providing science-based strategies for wildlife and land conservation.
Earth Day 2017 -- Come See Us in More Than 250 Cities

There's never been a better Earth Day to speak up for the wild. This year -- thanks to a big group of amazing volunteers -- the Center will be present in more than 250 Earth Day cities in all 50 states. In more than 100 of those cities, we'll have tables where we'll offer petitions to sign, advice on actions to take, and pre-stamped postcards you can send to your member of Congress urging protection for endangered species, our climate and public lands. In some cities, we'll have volunteers distributing our Endangered Species Condoms; other volunteers will circulate at events with our Trump Pledge of Resistance for you to sign in person. (Actually you can sign the pledge with any Center volunteer.)



It's the first Earth Day since the election of Trump, so take a moment to make your voice heard. Come find us at one of these exciting events on Saturday, April 22.
It can be tough to be a vegetarian. You have to work harder than everyone else to make sure youre getting all the nutrients your body needs. So, when its time to take a
NEW YORK, US: A group of Tesla shareholders has urged the electric car maker to recruit two independent directors to add to the company's board to limit the influence of co-founder and chief executive Elon Musk.

 Maurizio Pesce via Wikimedia

The shareholders, who together manage $721 billion through public and private investment organisations, said in a letter to Tesla lead independent director Antonio Gracias that the electric car maker needed to update its seven-member board, which is largely unchanged from the days before the company went public and remains dominated by Musk allies.

Since the initial public offering in 2010, the company has broadened its operations and soon faces a "defining moment in its development," with the launch of the Model 3 sedan, Tesla's first car aimed at the middle market, the letter said.

"Could put at risk ability to exercise independent judgment"

"While meeting the technical definition of independence, five of the six current non-executive directors have professional or personal ties to Musk that could put at risk their ability to exercise independent judgment," the letter said.

"A thoroughly independent board would provide a critical check on possible dysfunctional group dynamics, such as groupthink."

Tesla's board includes Gracias, a shareholder and board member of SpaceX, another Musk company; Musk's brother, Kimbal Musk; and Brad Buss, a former chief financial officer at SolarCity, also founded by Musk and later bought by Tesla in a move that was criticised by many on Wall Street.

Looking to add new board members

A Tesla spokesman said the company is looking to add new board members.

"We are actively engaged in a search process for independent board members, which is something we committed to do several months ago, and expect to announce new additions fairly soon," the spokesman said.

Tesla on Monday overtook General Motors to become the largest US automaker by market capitalization.

However, Tesla slipped back behind GM on Wednesday when its shares slid 2.3%. The shareholder letter was signed by officials from a New York city office overseeing public investment funds, retirement funds from the states of California and Connecticut, Hermes Equity Ownership Service and CtW Investment Group.

The group also called for annual elections for all board members, replacing the current system of staggered votes, in order to enhance director accountability.

The investors requested a response to the letter by 24 April 2017 and a meeting with the board to discuss the issue.

Source: AFP
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Members of the Mandan High School Future Business Leaders of America chapter attended the 50th annual N.D. FBLA State Leadership Conference in Bismarck, April 2-4. Over 60 FBLA chapters from across the state participated in this conference, where approximately 1,300 students had the opportunity to test their business skills against other students from around the state in a variety of individual, team and chapter events.

Students can enter events such as accounting, computer applications, public speaking, job interview, website developmen, or business ethics. The culmination of the competitive events program is the awards ceremony where winners are recognized for their accomplishments. In addition to the competitive events, students had the opportunity to attend workshops, vote for the 2017-18 state officer team and network with members from around the state.

The following students placed at the conference: accounting I, Kiana Haug, sixth place; advertising, Kaycee Fry, first place; agribusiness, Carson Breuer, first place, and Tyanna Fulliam, 10th place; entrepreneurship, Landrey Yantzer and Tyanna Fulliam, first place; introduction to business, Landrey Yantzer, first place, and Treyton Barstad, ninth place; introduction to financial math, Kiana Haug, fifth place; marketing, Jordan Kadrmas and Treyton Barstad, first place; MOS exam (Word), Jordan Kadrmas, second place; organizational leadership, Katherine Ausborn, 10th place; sales presentation, Carson Breuer, second place; and social media campaign, Kaycee Fry, second place.
Two news items from across the state catch Bluestem's eye today. They're both instructive about what Republican control of the Minnesota legislature means.

At the Minneapolis Star Tribune, J. Patrick Coolican reports in With Republicans leading Legislature, allies ready to reap benefits:

Sometimes its money straight from state coffers. Other times its a tweak to a narrowly focused regulation. With Republicans in charge of the Minnesota Legislature, their allies are seeing priorities elevated at the Capitol. Republicans are trying to use their state House and Senate majorities to re-engineer Minnesota government in a cheaper, leaner, more business-friendly direction. But they are also pushing for a host of policy changes  tax cuts and credits, subsidies and regulatory relief  that would benefit traditionally GOP-aligned sectors like insurance, energy, agribusiness, homebuilding and other industries. In some cases, the help extends to a single company. Like a manufacturer in northwestern Minnesota, or a shrimp farm in the southwest. . . .

Read the article at the Star Tribune. In the Rochester Post Bulletin, Brian Todd reports in Lawmakers question spending priorities, at the dam in Lanesboro:
The Masonic Foundation of Bismarck is offering six $1,000 scholarship this year to Bismarck graduating seniors.

The scholarships are available to seniors graduating from Bismarck high schools and planning to attend a North Dakota college or university.

To apply for the scholarship, Bismarck seniors should contact their school counselors. The application deadline is April 21.

For more information, contact Jon Mill, chairman of the Bismarck Masonic Foundation at 701-220-3657.
The Bread Belief! According to the French people, it is believed that when a loaf of bread is kept upside-down on the table, it will bring hunger and bad luck to both the giver and the recipient as well.

Table Belief! Wonder who started this rumoured belief! It is said that in Russia, people believe that unmarried people should avoid sitting at the corner of the table! This is because they will find difficulties in finding their life partner or even in getting married.

Roof Tiles Belief! In Germany, it is believed that if a person is having difficulty while dying, one can ease out the process by lifting up three tiles on the roof (on a lighter note: wondering if the soul is confused on its way to exit!)

White Colour Belief! If you are in China, then you need to know about this belief, as you might end up hurting people's sentiments. It is believed that the colour white is associated with death/mourning. One needs to avoid sending invitations or flowers which are white in colour as well.

Fire Belief! In Russia, it is believed that sick animals should be driven through the fires or through the places where the fire has been burned the previous morning! Also Read: Myths and Beliefs Of A Stopped Clock!

Sleep Belief! In Japan, it is believed that a person will have a short lifespan if he/she sleeps at night with his/her head facing north. But when a person dies, it is customary that the corpses are laid with the head facing north! We're not sure why this is practiced.

Gum Chewing Belief! In Turkey, you would think twice before whipping out the chewing gum, as people here believe that if a person is chewing gum at night, then he/she is actually rotting dead flesh!
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FARGO  A recall effort against City Commissioner Dave Piepkorn is likely to run afoul of state law, City Attorney Erik Johnson said in a Tuesday letter to Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.

But the Fargo attorney wants Stenehjem to weigh in and settle the matter.

Johnson disagrees with Secretary of State Al Jaeger, whose office in March gave petitioners the go-ahead to gather the 3,504 signatures needed to force a recall election of Piepkorn.

According to the state Century Code, an official whose office is on the ballot at a regularly scheduled election occurring within one year is not subject to recall, the city attorney said in his letter.

The question is what is the event that must happen more than a year before June 12, 2018, which is when Piepkorn would already be on the ballot if he were to seek re-election.

If it begins when the city auditor finds there are enough valid signatures to call a special election, then Jaeger is right and theres time for the recall to happen before the one-year buffer kicks in.

If it begins with the special election itself, then Johnson is right and Fargo voters couldnt see Piepkorn on a city ballot until 2018.

Andrew J. Lenzmeier, chairman of the recall committee, wondered if the letter wasnt a way for Piepkorn, who has gained notoriety for his statements on settlement of refugees here, to shut down the recall. Though he didnt have a tally of the signatures gathered so far, Lenzmeier said Wednesday hes confident his group will have enough by the May 12 deadline.

Johnson said he didnt coordinate with Piepkorn at all. He said the two didnt talk about the recall prior to sending out the letter, and he only called him afterwards to tell him about the letter as a courtesy.

As the city attorney understands it, Jaegers office has long used the day an election is called to determine if it falls afoul of the one-year rule. By state law, the city auditor has 30 days to make the call after receiving and certifying the signatures, which means it would have to happen no later than June 11.

Lenzmeier has said his group intends to submit signatures on May 8.

In his letter, Johnson cited several reasons why he thinks Jaegers practice is incorrect. The Century Code appears to be silent on the matter, and Jaegers office has said it could find not attorney generals opinion on the issue.

The state constitution, Johnson said, also specifies a period during which an official may not be recalled, and there the date of the special election is the event that counts.

The way the Century Code was amended in 2007 also supports that conclusion, he said. The event used to be the date the petition is submitted to the secretary of state for approval for circulation, he said, but lawmakers chose not to specify any event when amending the law, which probably means they meant to make the special election itself the event.

State law says a special election may not be held earlier than 95 days and later than 105 days after the city auditor certifies all signatures. Assuming signatures are submitted May 12, a special election could be as late as Sept. 24, around nine months before Piepkorn must run for re-election.

Johnson said he doesnt know how early the Stenehjems office can provide an opinion and realizes that the attorney generals staff may be busy during the ongoing legislative session.
Few people would argue it is a good idea for pregnant women and new moms to use addictive drugs.

Babies exposed to alcohol and addictive drugs in the womb are likely to experience excessive or high-pitch crying, vomiting and diarrhea. In the first year of life, health care costs are more than double that of normal, healthy babies. And as they grow up, some may have physical or developmental impairments.

It's unknown exactly how many babies are born each year with neonatal abstinence syndrome in North Dakota. A task force devoted to the issue of substance-exposed newborns found that 120 babies were diagnosed with NAS and claimed on Medicaid in 2013. Representatives from the Three Affiliated Tribes, Spirit Lake Tribe and Turtle Mountain Tribe approximated that 183 babies were born there with NAS in 2015.

But debate continues over how to stop the problem.

While some people believe criminal penalties are necessary to steer women away from drugs and into treatment, others contend prosecution makes things worse. It's hard to prosecute these cases consistently and the threat of jail time scares women away from valuable medical care.

This controversy has emerged in debate over two bills  one that offers help and monitoring to addicted moms and another that would reduce penalties for using drugs  in the state Legislature this session. The bills are aimed at keeping drug users out of jail and into treatment, in light of the increasingly visible addiction problem in the state.

During the previous legislative interim, a task force composed of legislators, state agency representatives and medical providers, concluded criminal penalties are not the way to stop pregnant women and young moms from abusing drugs.

"Early identification and intervention are critical elements in the prevention of NAS, and criminalization of drug abuse during pregnancy strongly discourages pregnant women from seeking addiction treatment and prenatal care," the report stated. "Criminalization appears to adversely affect babies born to addicted mothers without reducing the incidence of NAS."

The task force further recommended home visiting programs to ensure trained workers can help prevent abuse and neglect by addicted mothers.

A bill sponsored by a legislator who took part in the task force is trying to address the issue along those lines.

Sen. Nicole Poolman, R-Bismarck, said that SB2251 gives child protective services the ability to intervene with the services and treatment for moms with substance exposed newborns, helping get them to treatment and create safe care plans for the baby and other kids at home.

This procedure could be be triggered by a simple phone call report from a doctor or family member, according to Poolman. It would not require the rigorous assessment usually needed to bring in child protective services or prove criminal charges in court.

"It gave CPS the ability to go in just based on the phone call and provide those services without punishing Mom," said Poolman, adding that authorities can still pursue charges if the women do not comply.

Poolman said she believes the bill should apply to pregnant women. But as written it appears to only apply to newborns, defined as "an infant younger than 28 days of age."

There will need to be some good statewide education on the program for doctors and others who interact with these moms, Poolman said. A May 5 meeting hosted by Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota is intended to help spread the message about best practices for working with these cases.

"You need to send a strong message to women across the state that were not going to punish you. You dont need to hide in the shadows," Poolman said.

The bill was signed by Gov. Doug Burgum last month.

A next step for the state would be screening all pregnant women and newborns for NAS, Poolman said. That way, the state could have an accurate count and a better method to allocate resources.

But some people still believe there is a role for criminal charges in fighting this problem. That came out in prosecutors' opposition to a provision in a criminal justice reform bill that would reduce penalties for using drugs. The far-reaching criminal justice reform bill, HB1041, once included a provision to reduce the penalty for ingestion of a controlled substance from a Class A to a Class B misdemeanor. A conference committee has decided to leave the penalty at a A misdemeanor except for marijuana, according to Sen. Kelly Armstrong, R-Dickinson, a member of the committee.

Ingestion is a charge some prosecutors use against pregnant women and new moms who use drugs, because child-endangerment charges can't apply to fetuses.

Wells County State's Attorney Kathleen Murray is one of those prosecutors. Three to five times yearly, she will charge pregnant women with ingestion as a way to get them into treatment or scare them away from drugs. Sometimes, shell ask a judge to sentence the mom to drug treatment or seek a suspended sentence to pressure her into staying clean.

"It allows that time period we can hold over their heads to say, if you dont go to treatment, quit using, there are statutes we can criminally charge you with," she said.

Murray argued that a reduction to the 30 days maximum would hamper her abilities, pointing to cases where women continued using even after an ingestion charge.

"If they completely refuse all our help  do we not now have a higher obligation to that child?" Murray asked. "If youre going to intentionally refuse all these services we have, shouldnt there be some kind of a sanction?"

Armstrong, who worked on both pieces of legislation, said the ingestion statute and the alternative assessments may at times work together.

"I think (SB)2251 is the carrot. Ingestion and A misdemeanor probation is the stick," he said.

But ultimately, the problem has not yet been solved, Armstrong contended.

"These are imperfect solutions to a really complicated problem," he said. "But the conversation is being had, and its moving forward."
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.
A committee of House and Senate lawmakers approved a bill Friday that proponents said will add protections for confidential informants used by North Dakota law enforcement.

House Bill 1221, known as Andrews Law, is named after Andrew Sadek, a North Dakota State College of Science student who was found dead after working undercover for police to earn a lesser sentence for a drug charge he faced. Autopsy results were inconclusive, but Sadeks parents argue their son was murdered because of his work as a confidential informant.

Tammy Sadek, Andrews mother, criticized changes made in the Senate last month that she said weakened the bill. But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Kelly Armstrong, R-Dickinson, said at the time it would be hashed out in a conference committee.

On Friday afternoon, that committee approved a new bill that requires law enforcement agencies to undergo training before using confidential informants and mandates that the Peace Officers Standards and Training Board write rules that execute reasonable protective measures for a confidential informant.

The bill also requires law enforcement agencies to execute a written agreement with an informant. The agreement must include the informants right to speak with an attorney and to stop working as an informant, along with other stipulations.

The attorney general would be required to authorize an independent investigation if a confidential informant dies.

Tim OKeeffe, an attorney representing the Sadeks, said he had seen a bill draft Thursday and was comfortable with the direction lawmakers were going.

From the revised bill that was being put forward, I thought it was a good compromise and a good start in reforming the situation that in my mind is clearly a problem, he said.

The bills primary sponsor, Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, said he was satisfied with the new legislation.

It absolutely sets up a statutory framework for safeguards and benefits for confidential informants who are working with law enforcement, Armstrong said. The concern with the original bill was never the idea or concept of confidential informant reform. The concern was the unintended consequences of some of the language of the original bill.

The bill now awaits action on the House and Senate floor.


A file photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): India and Britain on Thursday agreed to deepen their bilateral defence engagement in an array of areas including in counter-terror cooperation, maritime security and co-development of military hardware.



Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Britain's Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon held extensive talks during which they also agreed to work closely on eliminating the scourge of international terrorism.



The two sides set out a "shared vision" for the India-UK defence partnership and this enduring defence partnership will encompass not only cooperation in defence industry but also stronger military to military engagement, a joint statement issued after the delegation-level talks said.



While 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, it said.



Jaitley and Sir Michael also decided to explore establishing a secure communications method in order to share classified material. The two countries will also consider upgrading their bilateral general security arrangement.



In the meeting, Jaitley welcomed the UK's interest in manufacturing in India as evidenced through recent announcements including the 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.



The two Ministers also 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.



"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 the statement.



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.



The two sides also agreed to build a range of "capability partnerships" focusing on varied aspects of military effectiveness such as specialised training and exchange of best practices in areas of counter terrorism, counter improvised explosive devices (CIED), maritime security and shipbuilding.



"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," said the statement.




A file photo.

KATHMANDU (PTI): 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 neighboring 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.


MINOT  Ward County will pay $75,000 to Sheriff Steve Kukowski in exchange for his resignation and an agreement not to sue the county for defamation or any other potential claim. At the same time, the prosecuting attorney has asked the district court to dismiss the three misdemeanor charges brought against Kukowski in connection with jail operations and the October 2014 death of a former inmate.

The Ward County Commission voted 4-1, with John Fjeldahl dissenting, to approve the resignation agreement Thursday. Maj. Bob Barnard, who has been acting sheriff since Kukowski was suspended by the governor last June, was appointed to fill the position until after the November 2018 election.

The commission spent about a half hour discussing the agreement and the circumstances that led up to it. Kukowski was scheduled to go to trial in July on the misdemeanors, and next week faced a hearing as part of a removal process put in motion by former governor Jack Dalrymple.

Fjeldahl called the timing of the resignation agreement ironic and questioned whether the commission's action can absolve Kukowski of any wrongdoing. State's Attorney Rozanna Larson pointed out the agreement states that neither the county nor Kukowski is admitting wrongdoing.

"The county does have potential of a lawsuit being filed against the county," she said. "Anybody can file a lawsuit, and that would extend all these matters out and cost the county and the sheriff more money."

That caused Fjeldahl to ask, "Are we doing something wrong as a county? Have we done something wrong that we have to be absolved?"

Larson replied that anytime someone is removed from office, there is potential for a lawsuit. She added there are "weaknesses" in the case against Kukowski that could place liability on the county.

The agreement states it is a "settlement of a disputed claim in which the county is a potential party." Under the terms, Kukowski will step down as sheriff at the close of business Saturday.

In connection with his resignation, the county will make a one-time payment of $75,000 to Kukowski, who will return all county-owned property in his possession. He agrees to fully release the county and its affiliates from all liability for damages, claims, attorney fees or expenses of any kind occurring up to Saturday. He agrees to give up any claim he may have under federal and state employee protection laws. The agreement extends to any claim for wrongful discharge, breach of contract, promissory estoppel or breach of an express or implied promise, misrepresentation or fraud, retaliation, infliction of emotional distress or defamation.

The agreement was signed Wednesday by Kukowski and his attorney, Peter Welte, and on Thursday by Larson and Commission Chairman Larry Louser.

Commissioner Alan Walter said the agreement was drafted by attorneys based on conversations during a closed, executive session of the commission on Tuesday. Commissioners first saw the draft about an hour and a half before Thursday's meeting.

"It was several of our opinions," Walter said, "that if we can get this thing settled for this amount of money and get this stuff out of the courts, it's going to save us money."

The cost of Kukowski's ongoing salary and a state-ordered jail monitor was listed at about $20,000 a month.

"That's the reason we decided to go forward with this  saving the county some money, being fiscally responsible, but also, in my mind, to be fair about this. I don't think it's been fair with the sheriff through this whole process," Walter said.

"I just want this to be as fair as it would be to any citizen in the county, and I am not comfortable with this," Fjeldahl said. "Here we are offering up a settlement  or whatever the term for it is  adding more cost."

He said if the county wanted to limit its costs, it could have done so by withholding Kukowski's pay. Fjeldahl had been the only dissenting vote last December on a motion to cut off the pay that Kukowski has continued to receive since his suspension.

"In the end, we are paying for it again and we are using rationale that the bills that have piled up are somehow out of our control," Fjeldahl said.

"We hired someone outside this county office to do the investigation twice. Both came back with recommendations to proceed," he said. "So we have hired and paid dearly for those things and ignored the recommendations and now we are going to make it go away. That's why I am not in favor of what we are doing here."

Fjeldahl added there is nothing in the document about withdrawing the court-ordered jail monitor, which he had thought was to be part of the agreement and the cost savings. Larson said the county has no say in that matter.

The Department of Corrections appointed a monitor to suggest improvements at the Ward County Jail in response to deficiencies identified in a report prepared following the death of Dustin Irwin, who had been housed in the jail and died after transfer to Burleigh County. The 18-month monitoring period originally set by the state ended last June, but the state decided to continue the monitoring indefinitely, at Ward County's expense.

Barnard reported to the commission Thursday that Ward County will be the first county in the state to meet rigorous new state jail standards. He expects to receive confirmation from the Department of Corrections within days that the jail complies with the standards.

Fjeldahl also questioned the $75,000 settlement with Kukowski, saying it was developed based on a portion of what Kukowski reported his attorney bills are. Larson clarified the agreement is not payment of a bill but a compromise and settlement.

Commission Shelly Weppler said there was talk of paying part of Kukowski's legal costs, but commissioners generally were appalled by the idea and decided it wasn't the direction they wanted to go. She said the agreement does not state, and she does not support, paying Kukowski's legal expenses. She would have supported a severance package had it been permissible with a resignation, but since it is not an option, she supports the agreement as worded to bring the matter to a finish, she said.

Weppler and Louser also stressed that the idea of a settlement agreement didn't originate with the commission but with Kukowski, who through his legal counsel indicated his interest in retiring.

Kukowski's resignation ends the removal process that has dragged out for about a year. The county commission had sought unsuccessfully in January to have Gov. Doug Burgum drop the removal proceedings. Fjeldahl had been the lone dissenting vote in the commission's decision to make the request of the governor.

Should Judge Lolita Romanick accept the prosecution's request to dismiss the misdemeanor case, it would end the criminal legal proceeding as well. Kukowski was charged with the crime of public servant refusing to perform duty and two counts of reckless endangerment for having inadequately trained jail staff, failing to ensure adequate medical care for inmates, failing to get Irwin medical care and maintaining a jail population greater than recommended for the size of the facility.

A civil case ended in December 2015 when the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund, insurance carrier for the sheriff department, settled with Irwin's estate for $230,000.


A file photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): 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 on Thursday.



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.


Good Friday, the day of the year us Irish do the most ranting about, due to the pub closure.

Although this year the government lifted the ban, which finally puts an end to the 90-year-old restriction, but theres one catch, it doesnt come into play until next year.
A man is in a serious condition after a road traffic collision which occurred at the junction of Harolds Cross Road/Grove Road, Terenure, at approximately 3.55pm today.

The cyclist was struck by a lorry.
Police are looking to trace a man over the death of a 20-year-old Irish man in Manchester city centre.

Dylan Crawford, from Ireland, was reportedly found unconscious in Spear Street in the eary hours of Wednesday and was later taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary.

A post-mortem examination was inconclusive as inquiries continue to establish the death of Mr Crawford, from Killygordon, County Donegal.

Two men arrested on suspicion of theft and supplying prohibited drugs continue to be questioned as police issued a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the death.

Detective Inspector Rebecca Boyce, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Our investigation into Dylans death continues and we have now released an image of a man we want to speak to.

"If you recognise him or the clothes he is wearing, please get in touch.

"We are still keen to speak to 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, and it may be vital to our investigation."

In a statement issued on Thursday, Mr Crawfords 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 22-year-old college student who was body slammed to the ground by US police has spoken to ABC Good Morning America about her ordeal.

Michealla Surat suffered injuries to her face and legs as well as a concussion, following the incident which occurred outside a Colorado bar on April 6.
Update 6.58pm: A British student who was stabbed to death in Jerusalem today has been identified as Hannah Bladon.

Update 4.55pm: A 57 year-old Palestinian man has been arrested after a British woman was fatally stabbed in Jerusalem.

It is understood he had a history of mental health problems.

Earlier: A young British tourist has been stabbed to death in Jerusalem.

The woman, thought to be in her early 20s, was attacked while she travelled on a light rail train near the Old City, which was packed as Christians celebrated Good Friday and Jews marked Passover.

The woman was rushed to a medical centre but died soon after.

Israeli police say she was attacked by a Palestinian man who stabbed her repeatedly.

Two other people, including a 30-year-old woman, received minor injuries in the incident this morning when the tram came to an emergency stop, it was reported.

The Times of Israel said paramedics from Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's national ambulance service, tried to save the injured woman and carried out cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on her before taking her to Jerusalem's Haddash Hospital Mount Scopus.

MDA tweeted: "Stabbing attack in Jerusalem. MDA EMTs (emergency medical technicians) and paramedics treating a severly (sic) injured individual.

"EMTs and paramedics treating and performing CPR on a woman in her 20s. MDA teams evacuating 25 year old woman in critical condition with stab wounds to her upper body part to hospital.

"MDA teams also treated 30 y/o pregnant woman and 50 y/o man who were injured during the incident."

Zeevi Hanfling, a emergency technician, said: "Police officers led me into the train where a young girl was lying unconscious (with) stab wounds to her upper body part."

Police detained a 57-year-old man at the scene, and a spokesman told the Times of Israel he appeared to suffer from "mental problems".

Superintendent Micky Rosenfeld said the attack, which took place near Tzahal Square, was carried out by an "Arab terrorist".

Tweeting a photo of an apparently blood-stained knife, he said: "Arab Terrorist arrested who carried out attack is from Rasel Amud", adding that security in the area had been increased.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are in touch with local authorities following an incident in Jerusalem on April 14."
An attack on a tunnel complex in Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the US military left 36 Islamic State militants dead and no civilian casualties.

The attack was in a remote mountainous area of Nangarhar province near the Pakistan border where there had been heavy fighting between Afghan forces and Islamic State (IS) militants.

The Ministry of Defence said in a statement that several IS caves and ammunition caches were destroyed by the giant bomb, which terrified villagers on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border with its "earsplitting blast".

Pentagon officials described it as the "mother of all bombs".

The US maintains over 8,000 troops in Afghanistan, training local forces and conducting counter-terrorism operations.

Over the past year they have largely concentrated on a surge of attacks by the Taliban but on Friday the US military appeared entirely focused on IS.

"This is the right weapon for the right target," said US general John W Nicholson, Nato commander in Afghanistan.

The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon, unleashes 11 tons of explosives.

US president Donald Trump called Thursdays operation a "very, very successful mission".

General Daulat Waziri, of the Afghanistan Ministry of Defence, said 36 IS fighters were killed by the blast and the death toll could rise.

This image made from a Thursday, April 13, 2017 video released by the U.S. Department of Defense shows a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb strike on an Islamic State militant cave and tunnel systems in the Achin district of the Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan.

He said the bombing was necessary because the tunnel complex was extremely hard to penetrate, with some as deep as 40m.

"It was a strong position and four times we had operations (attacking the site) and it was not possible to advance," he said, adding that the road leading to the complex "was full of mines".

Pakistani villagers living near the Afghan border said the explosion was so loud they thought a bomb had been dropped in their village by US planes targeting terrorists in Pakistan.

"I was sleeping when we heard a loud explosion. It was an ear-splitting blast," said Shah Wali, 46, who lives in the village of Goor Gari, 15 km (9 miles) from the border with Nangarhar.

"I jumped from my bed and came out of my home to see what has gone wrong in our village."

Mufti Khan, a resident of Achin in Nangarhar, said: "The whole house was shaking. When I came out of my house I saw a large fire and the whole area was burning."

DOD video shows a 2003 test of the so-called "mother of all bombs," which the US just dropped on Afghanistan https://t.co/2v2XudxccH pic.twitter.com/uiNmRt3rMP  CNN International (@cnni) April 14, 2017

Another Achin resident, Mohammad Hakim, voiced his approval, saying: "We are very happy and these kinds of bombs should be used in future as well, so Daesh is rooted out from here."

Daesh is the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

"They killed our women, youths and elders sitting them on mines. We also ask the Kabul government to use even stronger weapons against them," Mr Hakim added.

The US estimates 600 to 800 IS fighters are present in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar.

Inamullah Meyakhil, spokesman for the central hospital in eastern Nangarhar province, said it had received no dead or wounded from the attack.

District governor Ismail Shinwari said there is no civilian property near the strike location.

The Site Intelligence Group, which tracks extremist organisations, reported a statement from the Afghan Taliban condemning the US for its "terrorist" attack.

The statement said it is the responsibility of Afghans, not the US, to remove Islamic State from the country.

AP
A program to curb recidivism among former inmates is failing to stop Indigenous men returning to Canberra's jail.

While the ACT's Throughcare program cut recidivism by 23 per cent overall, Indigenous men were twice as likely to reoffend after getting out of jail than their non-Indigenous counterparts after going through the program, researchers from the University of New South Wales found.

Concerns have been raised that the ACT's anti-recidivism program, Throughcare, is not stopping Indigenous men returning to jail. Credit:Rohan Thomson

Former ACT chief minister Jon Stanhope said he was "disappointed" the evaluation contained little data about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander outcomes.

The 114-page UNSW evaluation of the program contained just 11 lines about Indigenous clients, he said.
Last November millions of Americans, especially women and girls, were devastated that Hillary Clinton, the most qualified candidate ever to seek the office of US president, was defeated by Donald Trump.

Apart from fear at what kind of president Trump would be, there was widespread mourning that a woman candidate had come so close and not made it.

How long will we have to wait to see a woman in the White House was a frequent refrain. Not so long, it turns out.

Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, has assumed a role that appears to make her more powerful than anyone else in the building. Apart from her father, that is.
The project will create "tens of thousands of jobs" and generate "an enormous amount" in taxes and in royalties, revenues for federal and state government", the Prime Minister enthused. Meanwhile Barnaby Joyce has been banging the drum about how the coal will light up hundreds of thousands of poor households. In other words, lending our taxes to the billionaire proprietor would do India's poor people a favour.

In New Dehli this week Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull met with billionaire Gautam Adani, whose company intends to seek a concessional loan of $900 million from the Australian taxpayer to support building the Carmichael coal mine, which would be Australia's largest, with the express purpose of shipping coal to India.

The Adani coal mine in the Galilee Basin of Central Queensland looks like the Trump presidency did around this time last year: a bad idea with foreseeable bad consequences that may yet prove unstoppable.

For now, new native title legislation that would remove one obstacle is blocked in the Senate, but the government is determined to fix that. With Adani Mining promising jobs and $22 billion in royalties to the state, Annastacia Palaszczuk's Labor government wants it to happen and so does Federal Labor, along with the CFMEU and AWU. The latest in a long line of sticking points since the idea was first mooted in 2010 is whether the company gets the taxpayer loan to fund a rail line that would carry the coal to the coast. Political opinion is divided with two Liberal MPs  Victorian backbencher Sarah Henderson, and Queenslander Bert van Manen  adding their voices to those, including Labor leader Bill Shorten's, who say the mine should have to stand on its own two feet without taxpayer assistance.

It would be a very bad look indeed if the project goes ahead with the help of funds from the Australian public. It not only goes against this government's belief in the wisdom of the free market, but would be yet another piece of embarrassing climate change denialism that sets us apart from more forward-thinking nations  including China and India  that are walking away from coal in favour of renewables.

The pivotal question for now is whether the project meets the eligibility criteria for a loan. The fact that the loan would only be available if the project couldn't proceed otherwise (or would be seriously delayed) creates the bizarre situation that taxpayers are left footing the bill when commercial lenders baulk.

But it's not up to politicians to decide whether Adani Mining gets the loan, although resources minister Matt Canavan, a strong supporter of the Carmichael mine, has the ultimate sign-off on disbursement of the loan funds. It's up to the board of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund to make a fully independent assessment on commercial grounds. Taxpayers are entitled to expect the board to be scrupulously diligent in its decision.

To date more than a dozen banks and other funding sources have declared they won't back the project or have pulled out of existing funding arrangements. The project's opponents say it's no longer financially viable, if it ever was. It augurs badly that India's coal and power minister Piyush Goyal has repeatedly stated a goal to stop importing coal, even specifying a time frame of between two and three years, so Adani coal imports would be up against the tide.
North Korea prepares to celebrate Saturday's anniversary of the birthday of its founder and Kim Jong-un's grandfather, Kim Il-sung. Credit:AP Historically the world has only been able to influence North Korea to the extent that it can influence China, upon which North Korea depends for the funds that keeps the regime in place and the food that keeps the population fed. In November last year, around the time Barack Obama and Donald Trump were captured together in awkward photographs at the White House, the outgoing President warned the incoming one that his first great foreign policy test would be on the Korean peninsula. An American soldier stands guard during the US-South Korea joint exercise in Pohang, South Korea, last Tuesday. Credit:AP To much of America's foreign policy establishment, the horror of the prospect of conflict was compounded by not only the brashness of North Korea's new leader, Kim Jong-un, but by their lack of faith in their own new President.

In August last year dozens of former Republican national security officials, many of them former top aides or cabinet members for President George W. Bush, signed and published a letter saying they would not vote for Trump. Illustration: Richard Giliberto Today, the world watches on as Trump's "powerful armada", led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson  and joined by Japanese warships  steams into the region and North Korea prepares to celebrate Saturday's anniversary of the birthday of its founder and the leader's grandfather, Kim Il-sung. It is the sort of anniversary that the regime has traditionally celebrated with an explosive act of defiance, like a missile or nuclear weapons test. Japan's Prime Minister has raised the prospect of a chemical weapons test, while South Korea has vowed to "mercilessly retaliate" against any aggression.

Earlier this year China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi likened the US and North Korea to two accelerating trains heading for collision. Kim has declared North Korea is in the final stages of developing an intercontinental missile. Trump has vowed  via Twitter  that this "will not happen". How did it come to this? As Obama suggested in November, this crisis has been a long time coming. The war that began in 1950, when North Korean invaded South Korea and the US and its allies including Australia, on behalf of the United Nations, stepped in to defend the South, ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty. Technically the war never ended.

As South Korea rapidly industrialised and engaged with the western world, North Korea became a pariah, almost entirely dependent on China (which had taken its side in the war) and devoted itself to building its military capacity. In 1985 North Korea ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty and the following year it opened its first test reactor. Ever since, it has pursued not only nuclear weapons but the capacity to launch them. In 2003 it withdrew from the non-proliferation treaty and in 2006 held its first underground test of a nuclear weapon. Though at times over the years the regime has been persuaded to slow its development program, since Kim Jong-un has been in power the tempo of the testing has only increased. Last year it conducted its largest nuclear test and this year it has fired a series of ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan. In the near future, should it not abandon its program, it will soon develop a missile that puts parts of the US  and Australia  in range.

Trump's decision to fire off a volley of missiles at Syria while sitting down to dinner with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, might have served only to spur Kim's determination to secure a missile capable of striking the US. It can't have escaped his notice, observes Euan Graham of the Lowy Institute, that if Saddam Hussein or Muammar Gaddafi had such a weapon, they would probably not be dead now. What next? So far the world has responded with sanctions, but with 90 per cent of North Korea's trade going through China, they have been ineffective without China's full co-operation. China's interest in North Korea is conflicted too. It is increasingly frustrated by the unruly behaviour of its client state and its brash new leader. But while it would like to see a nuclear-free Korean peninsula, it does not want the North Korean regime to collapse  it prefers to have a buffer on its border rather than a unified Korea that might tilt towards the west.

It must find a way to prosecute a sanctions regime that applies pressure to the Kim's regime without destroying it. Kim will feel secure from invasion only once he has the capacity to strike the US. And without a significant military career of his own he needs to burnish his authority within his own regime. The US, says Graham, might be able to live with a nuclear North Korea, but not one that can strike its west coast. Much of the international calculation depends on the character of the two nation's leaders. Kim, says Graham, has proved willing to take significant risks, noting the recent brazen murder of his half-brother by agents acting in Kuala Lumpur airport. So far the Trump administration is proving to be difficult to read.

Partly this is because it is so new  the world has yet to learn to read the signals emanating from the White House or the State Department. Trump has constantly changed course on policies he resolutely advocated during the campaign, and his senior staff have been engaged in a very public turf war between the nationalist strategist Steve Bannon and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, a man perceived to be both more outward looking and more temperamentally moderate. The uncertainty has made some observers nervous. Once upon a time analysts and diplomats could read the semaphore coming from Washington. Not any more. The China scholar Robert Daly told Fairfax Media: "On that, I can only resort to interpreting Donald Trump's tweets." But Graham says Trump's unpredictability, combined with the sense he is less cautious than his predecessor, has been useful in this instance. "China has great influence over North Korea. And China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won't," he said.

Trump told the Financial Times in an interview in the Oval Office earlier this month. "If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will." Trump's comments had perhaps stirred China to take more serious action to bring North Korea to heel. Those comments came after his Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, said the period of "strategic patience"  which Graham describes as Obama's term for doing nothing  had come to an end. By the end of the week, even as the USS Carl Vinson ploughed towards Korean waters, it seemed Trump's threat to act alone was more likely to refer to sanctions than a military attack. Tillerson had reportedly said in Russia that the US agreed the North Korean situation could only be solved through political means.

The question remained, to what extent would China help? Historically, China has been accused of not wanting to risk instability on its northern border, fearing a flood of refugees, by inflicting economic sanctions that could cripple North Korea. It had used a loophole in UN resolutions that allowed trade classed as aid to be sent to North Korea, if it prevented the civilian population suffering adverse humanitarian consequences. But the mood of Chinese state media and China's North Korea watchers this week has been clear: North Korea's nuclear weapons program and missile launches are not in China's strategic interests, and have to stop. Chinese public sentiment has hardened and will support the Chinese government taking new and tougher sanctions against its rogue neighbour, including cutting Chinese oil supply to North Korea, the Global Times tabloid editorialised this week.

This week the Global Times, which is state-controlled, wrote in its editorial that North Korea had one way out  stop its nuclear program and accept Chinese security protection. The alternatives were the potential for US attack, or to collapse under tougher United Nations sanctions. China's Foreign Ministry has declined to comment on reports that China's nuclear envoy, Wu Dawei, agreed this week with South Korea that tougher sanctions that would be "unendurable" to North Korea will be implemented by China, if passed in the UN Security Council. The US is reported to be pushing for China to crack down on Chinese trading companies that continue to deal with a network of North Korean front companies, allowing the regime to generate income. China cutting off its crude oil pipeline to North Korea, which is classed by China as "aid", has been touted as another potential step by Chinese media. South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told his parliament this week that some of the proposed sanctions had been agreed, but not all.

Was this negotiation  how hard to go on sanctions  the catalyst for Trump's tweet this week that the US would solve the problem without China? China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday said it would not support unilateral sanctions that harmed China's interests. North Korean coal tankers were turned away from Chinese ports this week, after an order from the Chinese government on Friday that Chinese trading companies must reject North Korean coal. The order came after President Xi met in Florida with Trump. It was the latest step by Beijing to show it was finally strictly enforcing UN sanctions imposed in November after North Korea's fifth nuclear test last September. Chinese customs data was released on Thursday which officials said proved Chinese coal imports from North Korea had plunged by half in the first quarter of 2017, after a February ban by Beijing on any more coal imports this year in line with UN sanctions.

The coal import ban followed Kim Jong-un apparently assassinating his half brother in Malaysia, and a North Korean missile launch in February. The next barrage of missiles, fired into the sea off Japan in March as the US and South Korea conducted military drills, prompted the Chinese government to warn the rising tension on the Korean peninsula was dangerous and could lead to conflict. When the US rushed to deploy a controversial missile shield and radar in South Korea, designed to protect the South Korean population from North Korean missiles, but also allegedly capable of spying on Chinese military activity, relations between South Korea and China plunged. Nonetheless, in the wake of the summit between Xi and Trump and a subsequent phone call, China, the US and South Korea appear to be working in concert to curb North Korea. This is not to say that the threat of conflict has entirely abated.

As North Korea moves towards long-range missile capacity, some analysts have speculated that Australia could be targeted, particularly because it lacks a missile defence system. Graham believes this threat might be over estimated given that the North Korean regime has spent years casting the US, Japan and South Korea as its main enemies. Either way, he says, the US would ask Australia, which has already fought in Korea, to contribute should a war break out on the peninsula. Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, believes that if North Korea fires another test missile the US will seek to shoot it down. Such an action would not necessarily precipitate a war, though a first strike on North Korean nuclear facility might, says Jennings. Should that happen, there is a high likelihood of mass casualties. In its recent analysis of a potential war with North Korea, the intelligence consultancy Stratfor predicted that the South Korean capital, Seoul, would be targeted by massed artillery fire from across the border, and suffer significant civilian casualties. Similarly, civilians in North Korea would suffer as those batteries were silenced.
A 15-year-old boy is in an "extremely critical" condition after being shot in the head while lying in his bed in a south-west Sydney home on Friday.

Police are hunting for the gunman, who fled from the home in Moresby Avenue, Glenfield, after what has been described by police as an "execution-style" shooting.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Brett confirmed on Friday morning that the boy was shot as he lay in bed just after 6am.

His step-siblings, aged one and nine, his mother and his step-father were also present.
A woman allegedly blew more than five times over the limit after she crashed a car into a Gold Coast fish and chip shop on Friday morning.

Emergency services were called to Rio Vista Boulevard in Broadbeach Waters about 11.40pm, with five people inside the shop at the time of the crash.

A car has crashed into a fish and chip shop on the Gold Coast, with the driver allegedly blowing over the blood-alcohol limit. Credit:7 News Queensland - Twitter

The female driver of the car allegedly recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.277 at the crash scene and the shop suffered major structural damage.

Paramedics assessed one female patient, reportedly the driver, and took her to Gold Coast University Hospital with neck pain.
Almost two million enforcement orders have been issued to Victorians who have failed to pay their fines in the past financial year.

The latest annual report by the department's Infringement Management and Enforcement Services shows enforcement orders rose more than 6 per cent on the previous year to about 1.86 million.

Traffic infringements account for the majority of notices issued. Credit:Rohan Thomson

Enforcement orders are issued when infringements remain unpaid and can result in a range of actions from suspension of vehicle registration to bailing a person to appear in court.

The total number of infringements issued in the past financial year hit almost 5.07 million, compared to 5.32 million the year before.
The family of Claremont man Dino Hadzic, who went missing from his St Georges Terrace office on Monday, has issued a frantic public appeal for information.

Mr Hadzic, 32, caught the train to work from Loch Street train station, turning up as normal at 7am on Monday to his job as electrical draughtsman for BHP Billiton.

Dino Hadzic, of Claremont, is missing. WA Police have appealed for help to find him.

He was wearing business clothes, topped with a dark leather jacket.

He greeted colleagues in a normal manner, his brother Edo Hadzic said. Police checked his computer records, which showed he logged on and began work as usual.
Kabul: An almost 10,000-kilogram bomb dropped by US forces on an Islamic State hideout killed about 90 militants in eastern Afghanistan, officials said on Friday, raising further questions about the already controversial decision to use such powerful ordnance on the battlefield.

In comments on Friday in Kabul, General John Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, defended the strike as "the right weapon against the right target" and called the militants' hideout "an extensive obstacle to our progress."

US and Afghan troops went on the offensive against a local Islamic State branch in March. The group, which is based in Nangarhar province, has staged deadly attacks on civilians but failed to break out of its stronghold in the east.

General Nicholson said that the "chain of command allowed me the latitude to make assessments on the ground" and deploy the GBU-43, one of the largest non-nuclear bombs in the US arsenal. Used for the first time in combat Thursday, the weapon, also known as a Massive Ordnance Air Blast or MOAB, "achieved its intended purpose", he said.
A largely vacant trailer park near downtown Dayton testifies to an economy devastated by the "Great Recession". Credit:Steve Bennish There was the friend of an in-law, who died from an overdose after returning from university, the friend of my brother who simply "disappeared" five years ago only to reappear in the obituaries last week. The fellow graduates I knew at high school and elementary school, former co-workers, so many of whom fell into the spiral and couldn't climb out. Familiar names I see on Facebook or in obituaries. Dayton's fall into the opioid epidemic started with economics and pharmaceuticals. A father and daughter in an East Dayton neighbourhood ravaged by the drug epidemic. Credit:Steve Bennish Offshoring gutted Dayton, a city of inventors where the Wright Brothers were born and built the first airplane, where the self-starter for the automobile was invented, where the first cash register was built. A city that held more patents than most countries during the mid-20th century.

Dayton held on to its automotive jobs longer than most communities until Delphi, a General Motors parts subsidiary, went bankrupt and then moved its operations to Mexico and China. A pair of scrappers fight blizzard conditions to deliver their haul of aluminium cans to the scrapyard. They may earn $30 to $50 for the lot. Credit:Steve Bennish My dad worked at one plant while I was in college. I worked at a warehouse up the road, packing large equipment for overseas shipping. I remember the general manager coming back after taking measurements to ship the production lines from my father's plant to India. I literally packed my father's job and sent it overseas. Montgomery County coroner Kent Harshbarger outside the door to the morgue. On April 12, 12 of the 13 bodies in the morgue are overdose victims. Credit:Steve Bennish

Dayton lost 15,000 jobs just from Delphi. Nearly every suburb and small town had a Delphi parts supplier; they were out of business, as well as the pizza places, restaurants and bars that served the local workers and neighbourhoods. The total number of people affected is incalculable. A Narcan kit at the community centre used for drug overdoses. Credit:Steve Bennish After the GFC, which we called "The Great Recession", the only thing left for some Daytonians was the abandoned plants and houses. They led to a new kind of market. Steve Bennish, who covered political economy in the Dayton Daily News until last year, witnessed it first hand and told the stories of the Scrappers.

While Dayton no longer exported cars, it was exporting recycled scrap metal. Given this experience, many Daytonians and Ohioans were sceptical of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Recycled scrap metal is now one of the US's biggest exports. Locals spent hours digging through the dirt where former buildings stood, on the hunt for scrap metal to sell to recyclers. In these circumstances, it is no surprise that the 2008 economic crash coincided with the explosion of heroin and other opioid addiction. Unemployment in the US at that time meant no health insurance, which means taking pain medication or drugs. US President Donald Trump visited Dayton frequently as a candidate  his message of reviving manufacturing and bringing jobs back to our shores resonated in Ohio.

When he said America was in decline, the Democrats and many voices on major op-ed pages were enraged, but they had never been to Dayton and scrapped aluminium in abandoned houses in below freezing weather for 12 hours a day to make $US25. Their family hadn't been destroyed by an addiction epidemic that wasn't for a hedonistic high but in search of feeling normal, without pain. While the major media searches for answers as to why the white working and middle classes voted for Trump, it's simple. Our way of life is dying in many ways  not because of the oft-cited "demographic" changes, but because of economics, addiction and a steep decline in quality of life. Because the dreams of retiring aren't coming true, and many will work until they die. To those not listening, Trump was a brick thrown through the establishment's window.

So saving his voters should be Trump's legacy With the current state of the Trump presidency, it could last eight years, eight months or eight weeks. But it's still enough time for Trump to save lives, particularly the people in the Rust Belt facing this spiralling crisis. He should follow the example of George W. Bush, who pushed the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. At the time when the bill was passed in 2003, Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson wrote, "fewer than 50,000 on the African continent were given proper anti-retroviral medicines to curb the disease. By the time Bush left office the number reached 2 million, as of 2012 it was 4 million." Those people would be dead without Bush's program.
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Its a marriage of pop and punk!

A pair of guitarist with deep roots in the New York City music scene have finally teamed up for a joint solo tour. Power pop artist Tommy Keene and pioneering punk player Ivan Julian will both play at Williamsburgs Union Pool on April 19, each doing solo sets and then teaming up for a few tunes, and Keene is excited at the prospect of playing with his old friend.

I think it will be really interesting, said Keene. We both like a lot of the same music. Hes a little more into the bluesy, jazzy, punk side and Im a more melodic guy. But it works!

The two met in the 1970s at legendary punk venue Maxs Kansas City and immediately hit it off. Julian was playing guitar with Richard Hell and the Voidoids, while Keene was in the band Razz. When both acts broke up, the two almost teamed up, but a last-minute tour commitment kept Keene from joining the Outsets.

I almost joined, but I didnt, because I got an offer to go on tour with Suzanne Fellini, Keene recalled with a chuckle. The money was too good to resist.

Julian would go on to work with the Clash, Shriekback, Matthew Sweet and the Fleshtones, while Keene became a cult figure in the power pop and New Wave scene, releasing more than a dozen critically acclaimed solo albums over the next 30 years.

All the while, Keene and Julian stayed in touch. Last October, not long after Julian won a long battle with cancer, an impromptu conversation led the two to finally team up.

Ivan asked me, What are you doing next?,  said Keene. I told him I was going to Japan for some live dates, and then I would be doing a solo tour. He said, Can I jump on that? 
They went from not feeling it to seriously wheeling it.

Citi Bikes got a dubious reception when they arrived in Bedford-Stuyvesant in 2013; now, many locals are singing the bike-sharing programs praises.

Residents initially opposed the bikes and their space-hogging curbside docks because they saw them as evidence of encroaching gentrification, said a representative of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, which launched a pro-Citi Bike campaign about a year after rows of the blue two-wheelers started showing up on area streets.

The effort was challenging in neighborhoods going through gentrification, and I think oftentimes when people see change in their community, they see that change as another signal of that, said Tracey Capers, a vice president of the corporation, which surveyed Bedford-Stuyvesant locals and concluded that bike use in the area should be encouraged.

We were looking at the health of the neighborhood, jobs, and environmental development, and when Citi Bike came to the neighborhood we took that on as an effort to see how we can change the conversation, said Capers. We mounted a multi-faceted plan and strategy of acceptance of Citi Bike into the community.

Residents surveyed by Restoration representatives said they were concerned about the safety and affordability of Citi Bikes, how to operate them, and whether they were primarily intended to be used by newcomers to the area. Capers said the corporation responded by holding Citi Bike-themed community events, and distributing brochures and posters around the neighborhood showing blacks and Latinos riding the bikes.

We showed them that it can be used as a tool and it can be used by them, said Capers. To create a culture of biking we held family-centered events with children so they can learn to ride, and showed them that it was exercise, its affordable, and it can save you time.

The Restoration Corporation has tracked the growth of the Citi Bike program since its arrival in Bedford-Stuyvesant, and reports that ridership spiked in the year between May 2015 and May 2016, rising 56 percent during that period as compared to a 46 percent jump citywide. The tally among residents of New York City Housing Authority developments in the neighborhood was even more dramatic, with Citi Bike trips skyrocketing 225 percent from May 2015 to May 2016.

Those results have convinced Capers and her Restoration Corporation colleagues that predominantly minority communities across the city should embrace Citi Bike.

We want to get these [in] more [minority] communities because the bikes are more environmentally friendly, and they allow residents to commute efficiently and more comfortably in their neighborhoods, she said.
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.
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- A nearly five-month investigation has resulted in the arrest of the owner of an Ocean Springs martial arts studio after investigators say he sexually molested at least two juveniles.

Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell said 48-year-old Allen Todd Pisarich was arrested by U.S. Marshals Thursday afternoon. Pisarich is the owner of The Academy for Mixed Martial Arts at 8711 Old Spanish Trail, across from Ocean Springs Middle School.

Ezell said the investigation started last November after the Jackson County Sheriff's Office was notified of

allegations of sexual abuse and inappropriate conduct by Pisarich with juveniles he knew and with whom he had contact.

Pisarich was taken to the Jackson County Adult Detention Center, where he remains in custody pending an initial appearance in Jackson County court Monday.

Ezell said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the JCSO at 228-769-3065/3063, or Mississippi Coast Crimestoppers at 877-787-5898.
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...
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Aaron Hernandez

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez cries as he turns to defense attorney Ronald Sullivan reacting to his double murder acquittal at Suffolk Superior Court Friday, April 14, 2017 in Boston. Hernandez stood trial for the July 2012 killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado who he encountered in a Boston nightclub. The former NFL player is already serving a life sentence in the 2013 killing of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia, Pool)

(Stephan Savoia)

BOSTON -- The families of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado filled the first two rows of benches in a small Suffolk County Courtroom Friday, some fearful of what was about to come.

The jury had deliberated for 37 hours in the murder trial of former New England Patriots star Aaron Herandez, who was charged with gunning down de Abreu and Furtado in July 2012. Their families had shown up every day, packing those rows. For six excruciating days of deliberations, the families would arrive in the morning and return just before 4 p.m., a dozen of them waiting, praying for justice.

Just before the jury announced its verdict Friday afternoon, an older woman in the second row had remove herself from the courtroom. Two others helped escort her out. She leaned on them as she slowly walked out, looking like she was on the verge of fainting.

And minutes later, when Aaron Hernandez would turn his head to nod in approval toward his girlfriend, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, who was seated in the third row, many members of the de Abreu and Furtado families had already fled the courtroom, crying hysterically.

Not guilty.

Hernandez, who had been in great spirits throughout the week of deliberations, had tears welling up as he was escorted out of the courtroom.

Jenkins-Hernandez wiped her eyes with tissues, her left leg trembling, in the minutes after the verdict came down.

The jury released a brief statement following the verdict, but did not take questions.

Hernandez's lawyers pinned the murder on a friend, Alexander Bradley, who was driving Hernandez's Toyota 4Runner the night of the the shooting.

Bradley testified against Hernandez in the case and was given immunity.

In a press conference Friday, Hernandez's lawyers buried Bradley, imploring journalists to "investigate" a nightclub shooting in Hartford, Conn., a crime for which Bradley is already imprisoned.

Defense attorney Ronald Sullivan said Bradley was the dangerous one, and added this about his client: "Aaron is a beautiful young man, a happy-go-lucky young man."

Hernandez is serving a life sentence for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd. He was convicted in April 2015. The state's highest court will automatically review the decision.
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The Easter Bank Holiday weekend is officially under way and, although the temperature may be a little chilly at the moment, fingers crossed the sun will make an appearance.

Easter is the perfect time to get out and about exploring and there are some wonderful places right on our doorstep including Conkers and Twycross Zoo. We have come up with five family attractions in Leicestershire for you to go out and about to enjoy.

1. TWYCROSS ZOO

(Image: Amy Haydock)

Until April 23, the zoo is putting on a range of engaging and exciting activities to mark Easter and the spring celebration of new life. The Easter egg hunt challenges you to search for hidden eggs around the zoo to find out intriguing facts about the zoo's animals. When you've finished, you can enter the daily prize draw to win a 12 month membership for two people.

There are also many animal babies and youngsters to see, including the latest arrival, a critically endangered Bornean orangutan baby. Stop off at the Himalaya Centre and you'll find the new Vine Cafe and The View Restaurant which looks out on the snow leopard enclosure.

2. CONKERS

In addition to the variety of indoor and outdoor activities, Conkers, at the heart of the National Forest, is running a range of special events during the Easter holidays. Over the coming week, they include Ras King Bo Bo - an African powered acrobatic circus show and workshop, the eccentric scientist live experiments, and Trevor Hill's Animal Encounter - including snakes!

Plus, very soon visitors will be able to experience a new 4D cinema, where you will be immersed into a world of special effects including lightning and smells.

3. GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY

There's lots going on at the Great Central Railway, in Loughborough. This weekend, you can enjoy the Easter Vintage Festival, which runs until Monday, April 17. Step back in time to a country fair at Quorn and Woodhouse station, where there's gallopers and a big wheel, traction engines, craft stalls, vintage cars, commercials and tractors. There's also a real ale tent with live music everyday.

Then, from Tuesday to Thursday, the Easter Holiday programme continues. You can meet Alice in Wonderland and The Mad Hatter on the platform at Loughborough station and the Easter Bunny, who will be travelling on the steam train at the Great Central.

4. TWINLAKES

The all-action theme park at Melton Mowbray is running an "Eggstreme Easter" event. You can travel through a land of chocolate heaven, take in the stunning views and see the magic of the world of Easter before meeting the Easter Bunny in the UK's first and only Chocolate Easter Bunny's Grotto, where there's gifts waiting for good girls and boys.

Your help is also required to find the thousands of free chocolate egg tokens hidden around Twinlakes. Hand them into the gift shop and exchange for a yummy chocolate!

5. NATIONAL SPACE CENTRE

Boldly go into space with the National Space Centre's inspiring pioneers at the Pioneering Space event, which runs until April 23.

In the Live Pioneer Show you can join the Mission Commanders to discover some unusual space firsts. You can even make your own moon scape, and design, build and launch your own spacecraft in Soyuz vs Saturn.

Plus, in One from the Vaults, join Science Interpreters from the University of Leicester and the Public Programmes team to get your hands on some of the exciting space artefacts that are not on display.

* This story originally appeared in the Burton Mail's sister paper the Leicester Mercury .












The Chocolate Block is a cult wine, sold on allocation to export markets. A blend (mostly Syrah, with some Grenache and Cab and a little Cinsault and Viognier), the 2014 vintage I quaffed recently was full-bodied and rich, with layers of complexity

By clubbing wines (and beer) with spirits in its recent ruling on the location of retail shops, bars and restaurants across India, the Supreme Court has done a disservice to the cause of differentiating low-alcohol beverages from high-strength spirits.It is recognised worldwide that wine is a low-alcohol beverage, which is farmer-friendly and good for health. Yes, drinking a lot of wine will get you drunk, but consumption of anything (even water) in excess is harmful, and wine certainly provides a more desirable alternative to mood-altering beverages.It is unfortunate that many of the retail outlets that used to dot the landscape around New Delhi loudly announced their standing as purveyours of libations other-than-hooch by proclaiming that they were an English Wine & Beer Shop on their shop-front signage. This reinforced the popular perception that there is little to differentiate between the various categories of alcoholic beverages.
The India Foundation is mulling watershed projects in drought-hit Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, a senior official said, adding this had nothing to do with the case filed against the company in the southern state for drawing excess water or the cola boycott called by the traders' association.

"We are looking at taking up water-related projects in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Currently, we have one watershed project in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district," Himanshu Thapliyal, Programme Manager, India Foundation, said on a recent visit to Madhya Pradesh.

"We don't work near our plants. The projects we undertake do not have anything to do with the company that makes and sells beverages," Thapliyal said of the case filed by the state government.

Partnering with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) Haritika, the foundation has implemented an integrated programme in Patna village of Chhatarpur in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh.

The village is around 80 km from Khajuraho, famous for its temples with erotic sculptures.

"It was a water-critical village area," Thapliyal said.

The integrated project included construction of a check dam, solar-powered bore wells, digging of ponds and others.

"Following the construction of check dam, ponds and bore wells, farming in over 200 acres has begun on a serious note. Orchards for guava, mango and gooseberry, and vegetable farms have been developed in Patna village," Avani Mohan Singh, Chief Functionary at Haritika, told a team of visiting journalists from Chennai.

Earlier, farming was done for one season and for the remaining time, the villagers went out as labourers.

"They also used to collect Mahua flowers that had fallen from the trees and sell them to traders. The flowers are used for making a locally-consumed alcoholic beverage. The Mahua flower also has some medicinal value and some drug firms buy them," Singh said.

He said the villagers would get around Rs 15 per kg of Mahua flowers from the traders.

"I have now guava, mango and gooseberry trees on my land. Chilli is an intercrop. Earlier, I used to have only one crop a year," said Ramadhin, a farmer owning around 2.5 acres of land.

"Prior to the project, even corn could not be grown. But now the situation has changed and the incomes of the village families have gone up," Govind Singh, a villager, said.

"The village youth are now staying put and are not migrating," added another villager.

A not-for-profit company registered under the Section 25 of the Act, the India Foundation, provides funds to NGOs, beneficiary organisations and cooperatives for sustainable development projects.

The Foundation funds projects relating to water, the environment, healthy living and social issues.

According to Thapliyal, the Foundation ensures the project's sustainability and maintenance of the assets created by involving the beneficiary community.

In the last 10 years, the Coca-Cola India Foundation has participated in 27 water-related projects, of which 12 are in various stages of progress.

"We have funded over 150 check dams in the areas where we have watershed programmes. We have covered around 540 villages during the last 10 years," Thapliyal added.

"Nearly 80 per cent of our water projects are in Rajasthan and the Bundelkhand region," he said.
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.
Kishore Biyani-led on Friday announced the launch of the Future C&D Lab in Bengaluru, which would focus on the consumer and digital space to bring in next-generation innovations using artificial intelligence, big-data analytics, blockchains, Internet of Things, robotics and allied technologies. The research and development activities will be supported through a ~100-crore accelerator fund that will be set up to fund the operations, technology development and IPR creation by the teams working at the lab.
Item 1:

Deloitte acquired most of the assets of Day1 Solutions Inc., a cloud consulting firm to provide deeper cloud expertise. CIO Magazine explains, "Deloitte needs Day1 for the same reason Accenture needs Genfour, Genpact needs Rage Frameworks and Infosys needs Panaya. The problem for Deloitte and for every traditional services company is that their clients do not believe they have the digital skills to lead the digital transformation journey the clients want their business to undertake."

Think about that yourself. Do you provide proof of your digital chops to your clients? Would they be comfortable coming to you for cloud migration plans or strategy or advice?

Item 2:

The Lookout Breach Report: "With over 1.45 billion compromised accounts, emails, social security numbers, dates of birth, and other data types, March was the biggest month for exposed data this year." Yes Cyber-Security is indeed needed. I personally am tired of all my data being hacked from companies that don't protect it.

A 451 Research survey on Security Pain Points and Concerns showed that "User Behavior is a top concern across companies of all sizes - while other issues such as Endpoint Security present a bigger problem for smaller companies. In contrast, Cloud Security and Data Loss/Theft pose a greater threat for very large organizations."

Item 3 is SD-WAN announcements

Coredial and Cincinnati Bell are the latest Velocloud wins. I find it funny that Zero Outages re-branded as the first SD-WAN company at their mostly unmanned booth.

Windstream is wholesaling SD-WAN now. Probably Velocloud. At this rate SD-WAN is already a commodity and Cisco/ADTRAN need to be afraid. The CPE isn't coming from them any more. It isn't being distributed by Tech Data either!

Westcon-Comstor Adds Viptela's SD-WAN Portfolio

Item 4: M&A:

After buying Hunt Telecom and Uniti Fiber scoops up pure-play fiber company, Southern Light to move itself away from just being dependent on Windstream. UNITI also bought Tower Cloud and PEG. Maybe Alpheus or FiberLight will be next.

Item 5: More M&A:

Broadvoice bought a company to add in analytics and user experience. "XBP's core strengths is in deep reporting and analytics integration, enabling customers to better understand user behavior. For example, tools like Advertising Analytics allow users to measure and follow through on outreach campaigns, from local to nationwide. Other tools like voice recording on-demand and voice-to-text conversion provide solid, searchable data that enhance successful client relationships."
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In an indication of future plans to introduce electric mobility in its biggest market, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), the parent company of Maruti, said it would invest Rs 1,200 crore in setting up facilities to produce automotive lithium-ion battery packs in India. The investment will be made through a joint venture with Toshiba and Denso. SMC will have a 50 per cent equity in the project while the two partners will have 25 per cent each. Further investments will be done as and when required.
Vedanta's overall power sales were higher by seven per cent in FY17 on account of ramp-ups of its units- Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd (TSPL) and Balco. The third unit of TSPL was capitalised during the year, contributing to significantly higher power sales.

Total commercial power sales by moved up from 12,121 units to 12,925 units.
Even as the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre has been pushing for more transactions through the digital medium, Delhi Police has arrested two people for allegedly supplying data on credit cards of users to operators of fake call centres. These operators allegedly duped individuals on the basis of these data and transferred money from their accounts. With the investigation still on, more arrests related to this fraud are expected.
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.
A software engineer has been arrested for allegedly recording intimate moments with his wife and streaming them live on a porn site using his laptop for money. The accused, a resident of Jeedimetla in the city, had been live streaming videos recorded through his laptop's webcam, which was positioned in his bedroom.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated various development works in Nagpur to mark the 128th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, on Friday said the people of the country should strive to fulfil the dreams of the freedom fighters.

He said each Indian should have a house in the next five years. "We have a dream for 2022. The poorest of poor should have a house of his own. And that house must be equipped with electricity, water and other facilities. There should be hospitals and schools in the neighbourhood," Modi said.

Referring to Ambedkar, Modi said he did not have a trace of bitterness or revenge in him despite facing struggles in his life.

Earlier, Modi paid homage to the architect of the Indian Constitution, Bharat Ratna Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on the occasion of his 126th birth anniversary here on Friday.

Arriving here on a daylong visit for various engagements, Modi started his day with a visit to the historic monument, Deekshabhoomi, where Babasaheb Ambedkar and over 600,000 followers had embraced Buddhism on October 14, 1956.

This 'Dharmantar' is considered the biggest mass religious conversion at a single location in history that took place 61 years ago.

Modi, accompanied by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, went around the Deekshabhoomi and later garlanded a large bust of Babasaheb Ambedkar installed there.

A series of functions has been organised to mark the Ambedkar Jayanti on Friday across Maharashtra, including at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur and Chaityabhoomi in Mumbai, where Babasaheb Ambedkar was cremated following his death on December 6, 1956.

Born on April 14, 1891, Babasaheb Ambedkar was the first Law Minister of the Independent India, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution who dedicated his life for the uplift of Dalits, women and labourers, and was posthumously conferred the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 1990.
BSP supremo Mayawati on Friday said the Supreme Court should decide the issue of according to the Constitution to ensuring justice for Muslim women.

"Our party wants the Supreme Court to take a decision on the issue of as per the Indian Constitution, keeping the state and central governments out," she said while speaking at Ambedkar Jayanti function of the party here.

"From media reports, it does not seem that senior persons associated with the Muslim personal law boards are serious about Muslim women getting justice on the issue of ...We do not feel that the board will be able to ensure justice for Muslim women soon...The apex court should ensure justice for them," she said.

In October last year, Mayawati had criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his stance on the issue, saying such matters should be left to the Muslim community and not be raked up, specially on election eve, for political gains.

"The prime minister and the central government instead of interfering in the issue of triple talaq should better leave it to the Muslim community to form a common opinion," she had said.

Raising a question mark on the functioning of the Yogi Adityanath government, Mayawati said its policies are hollow. The closure of slaughterhouses has forced those involved in its trade to knock the doors of the court, she said.

On demands to close down liquor shops in populated areas, she said her party supported it but termed as unfortunate the BJP government's silence on the issue for its economic gains and capitalist mentality.

They have maintained silence as they know that the areas where there are liquor shops are inhabited by Dalits, backwards and the poor among the upper castes whom this government wants to harm though liquor shops, she said.

On farmers' loan waiver, she said that loans up to only Rs one lakh have been waived off and this is a betrayal for people who were promised full loan waiver by Modi while campaigning for the recent Assembly polls.

"Farmers are sitting on dharna also in the capital but the BJP government is not concerned about them," she said.

On the law and order issue, she said there was no improvement visible under the Yogi government and crime in the state is going on as before.

"(But) for diverting attention (from such issues) this government is using media to focus on probes into the works of the earlier governments," she said.

"Our party is not against probe in scams like the one relating to memorial construction but it should not be conducted with a casteist, religious mindset or for political vendetta," she said.

On the massive departmental reviews being undertaken by the chief minister, she said merely enacting laws, holding reviews or its publicity in media will not improve the lot of people.

She also lamented a lack of upkeep of the memorials and statues set up by her government in honour of great ideologues of her party. She also formed a five member committee of her partymen to inspect them and meet the Chief Minister in this connection besides making their report public through the media.

She also cautioned her party leaders not to meet BJP or other party MPs, MLAs or ministers for redressal of problems faced by their people or partymen and instead meet officials for the purpose.
The Lahore High Court Bar Association said on Friday that it will take action against any lawyer who extends his services to Indian Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court.

"The LHBA has unanimously decided to cancel the membership of any lawyer who offers his services to Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav," Lahore High Court Bar Association Secretary-General Amer Saeed Raan said after a meeting of the bar today.

He said the bar has asked the government not to bow to any foreign pressure in the case of Jadhav.

"India has declared Jadhav its son and is putting pressure on the Pakistani government for his release. We demand that the Indian spy who is involved in playing with lives of Pakistanis should not be spared and the government (should) ensure his hanging," he said.

Earlier, Pakistan's top military commanders under army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa made it clear that "no compromise" shall be made on such "anti-state acts".

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.

India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government.
Three days after Pakistan announced that an Indian national, Kulbhushan Jadhav, had been sentenced to death for espionage, India has said that it has no information about a missing Pakistani retired officer whose disappearance has led to media speculation about an imminent spy swap.
After the high priests and the Jewish Sanhedrin failed to exam Jesus to find fault in Him, they didn't take the gracious opportunity Jesus offered to them to exam themselves to check their own guilt before the Lord. Jesus Christ is the perfect lawmaker and the lawkeeper. There is no way for anyone on earth to prove that Jesus is a lawbreaker, since He breaks no law. On the contrary, the Jews who captured Jesus and tried Him were lawbreakers. They knew Jesus' innocence, but still were determined to kill Him.

At that time, the Jews were subject to Romans. The Romans allowed them a good deal of self-government, but didn't give them the legal right to carry out death penalty. The Jews had made many attempts to kill Jesus illegally. However, none of these attempts succeeded because God forbade. If the Jews had themselves been able to kill Jesus, it would have been by stoning. But Jesus said that when He was "lifted up from the earth", He would "draw all men to" Himself. "He said this to show the kind of death He was going to die." Jesus' prophecy had to be fulfilled so He had to die on the cross which the Romans commonly used to carry out death penalty. The Jewish leaders had no choice but left it to the Romans to kill Jesus on the cross. They had to take the trouble to do that during Passover. "The Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanliness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover." There was no law to forbid Jewish people to enter a gentile's house. But the Jews who delivered Jesus to Pilate were too religious to enter the gentile governor's palace for fear of contracting, not a legal, but only a traditional pollution to keep them from eating "the Passover". They came along with the prisoner; they might accuse their prisoner much more effectually if they had gone inside the governor's palace. But they were so careful of ceremonial and ritual cleanliness that they would not enter Pilate's palace, yet they were busy doing everything possible to crucify the Son of God. They made no scruple of breaking through all the laws of equity to persecute Jesus to the death. John exposed the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders. They had no trouble to have an innocent Jesus murdered, yet they were afraid of ceremonial defilement.

Though the hour was early, rather than asked the Jews to wait or demanded them to enter the residence of a Gentile, Pilate accommodated the Jews' religious scruples and moved himself outside to meet these conspiring religious leaders. He put the most reasonable question to them that could be and asked the Jews, "What charges are you bringing against this man?" The Jews had formulated their charge against Jesus was to be "blasphemy". They knew well that Pilate would not proceed on a charge like that. They first attempted to induce Pilate to accept their verdict and condemn Jesus upon it, then execute Him with a trial. The Jewish leaders replied to Pilate, "If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over you." They could not have answered Pilate with more disdain. They couldn't bring a legal charge against Jesus according to Roman's law, but they wanted Pilate to have Jesus killed lawfully.

Pilate wasn't a total idiot. The Jews looked very rude and uncivil to him. He didn't like the idea that the Jews reached their verdict first and then tried to use his hands to kill a person without a legal charge. Pilate said to the Jews, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." Pilate would rather not take the case and seemed ready to turn Jesus' accusers away. He was unwilling to do them the service they required. Pilate's reply forced the Jews to reveal their true intention. The Jews objected, "But we have no right to execute anyone." Nothing but the death of Jesus would satisfy them. "This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled." Jesus' death would be by crucifixion, lifted up on the cross. No word of Jesus shall fall to the ground. He can never either deceive or be deceived. The Jews charged Jesus as a deceiver, but they had their spirit so directed as to help to prove Jesus' words to be true.

Pilate then went inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, Are you the king of the Jews?" To the Romans, "king" meant a political rival. Even though there was nothing in the manner or attire of Jesus to a royal claimant, Pilate was bound by his office to take care of the interests of the Roman government. Pilate asked his first question to Jesus to determine whether Jesus intended to set Himself up as a king against Caesar. The Gospels are unanimous in giving this question as the first words addressed by Pilate to Jesus. There is irony and doubt in his question. He asked it because Jesus didn't look like a revolutionary or a criminal, the only types of people who would claim to be the king of the Jews in the face of Rome.

Jesus answered Pilate's question with His own question to him, "Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?" Jesus admits that He is a king, but not a political rival in the sense Pilate thought. He asked the question to appeal to Pilate's conscience. No one could deal with Jesus for Pilate; he must deal with Jesus himself. Jesus invited Pilate to find truth about Himself. Pilate turned down Jesus' gracious offer by saying, "Am I a Jew? It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" Pilate proclaimed both his complete indifference to Jesus' true identify and that his despise of Jews. Pilate only wanted to find out what Jesus did to make the Jews so relentless in their hatred. If Pilate had been as inquisitive as he ought to have been in this matter, he would have found out the Jews were outrageous against Jesus because He did not set up a temporal kingdom in opposition to the Roman power. The Jews would have been so far from siding with Romans against Jesus if they could have made Jesus their king, and have fought under Him against the Romans.

In His next reply, Jesus gave a more full and direct answer to Pilate's first question, explaining in what sense He was a king, not a secular king, for His interest was not supported by secular methods. Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." Jesus answered He truly was a king with a kingdom. And Pilate might have been relieved at Jesus' answer that His kingdom was not of this world. Therefore Pilate said to Jesus, "You are a king, then!" This is a half-question and half-exclamation. Our Lord chose to enlighten Pilate as to the nature of His kingdom in His next answer to Pilate. Jesus said, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth." Jesus spoke to Pilate of truth in its absolute sense. The secret of the universe, exclusively revealed in and through Him who is the Truth. Jesus tells us why He came into the world. He came to witness to the truth; He came to tell us the truth about God, the truth about ourselves, and the truth about life. Jesus then challenged Pilate with the choice to recognize and receive His testimony by saying, "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." Pilate had the opportunity to listen to Jesus' own testimony and choose to belong to those "on the side of truth". Pilate responded to the greatest opportunity of his life with a good question to Jesus, "What is truth?" Sadly, he didn't care about the answer the Truth Himself could give him. He didn't wait for Jesus to give him an answer even he knew that Jesus was telling him truth. Why should we assume that Pilate knew Jesus was telling the truth? Because "he went out again to the Jews and said, I find no basis for a charge against him. Pilate was convinced there was no cause for death in Jesus. He publicly declared Jesus innocent. His duty as honest judge was inescapable. However, the Gospel of Luke records that when he learned that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent Jesus to Herod who was the ruler of Galilee. He tried to shift his responsibility to Herod. But Herod was unable to find guilt in Jesus and sent him back to Pilate.

In the situation when both Herod and himself found no guilt in Jesus, Pilate didn't have the courage to release Jesus. He was willing to trim the matter, and please all sides. He went on to try another way of escape from dealing directly with Jesus himself; but again that is precisely what no one can do. The Gospel of Matthew tells us, Pilate proposed to the crowd that had gathered, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" He didn't propose this appeal to the Jewish leaders only. "For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him." About then, Pilate's wife sent him an urgent message, warning him, "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." Pilate worshipped the gods and goddess of Rome. He had ignored the opportunities of his post in Judea to know the living God. God was merciful to Pilate and gave him many solemn warnings and opportunities to know the truth of the unique prisoner who was brought to him by the Jews. Even his wife's message suggested his household knew something about Jesus. Probably Pilate had heard how Jesus had been attended the other day with the "Hosanna" shouted by the common crowd; he somehow looked upon Him to be the favorite of the multitude, and the envy only of the leaders, therefore he made no doubt but the crowd would demand the release of Jesus, and this would stop the mouth of the prosecutors. Anyway, if Pilate had had the honesty and courage for being a judge, he would not have named an innocent person to be competitor with a notorious criminal for this favour. He should go straight forward to discharge Jesus.

"But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed." "Barabbas had taken parts in a rebellion", was "a notorious prisoner". The crowd was ready to choose any man, however undeserving, rather than Jesus.They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" They cried all again and again. How fierce and outrageous they were. How foolish and absurd they were. Barabbas was a breaker of the law of God; and yet he shall be spared, rather than the One who reproved the pride, avarice, and the tyranny of the priests and elders. It is a strange, almost insane scene: a cruel, ruthless Roman governor trying to spare the life of Jesus against the efforts of the Jewish leaders and crowd. They all understood perfectly that Jesus was innocent under Roman's law.

The crowd was inflexible. Pilate found it impossible to go against both the Jewish leaders and the crowd. "Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! And they stuck him in the face." Pilate seemed to think that scourging would suffice. He hoped that the more moderate would take pity upon Jesus when they saw His scourged body, for scourging was so cruel a punishment that the condemned person often died under its infliction. Pilate's compromise meant Jesus suffered more than if he had simply consented to Jesus' crucifixion. Pilate chose to put Jesus through this added indignity to postpone that final choice and fulfilling his recognized duty. The soldiers had no special malice against Jesus, but the Roman military system made them hard of heart. They were trained to toture prisoners in professional way. The occasion gave these gentile soldiers opportunity to show their contempt for the Jews by mocking Jesus as their king.

Pilate thought that he might avoid having to give the verdict of the cross by giving the verdict of scourging. But that is what no man can do. Pilate went on to try what another round of appeal could do. He led Jesus out broken by the scourging and showed Him to the crowd. Pilate said, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." Pilate tried to swing the balance by this appeal to emotion and to pity. But no man can hope that appeal to others can take the place of his own personal decision. Pilate must make his own decision. He publicly announced Jesus' innocence for the second time, but still didn't make the right decision to discharge Him. Pilate called attention of the crowd, "Here is the man!" He probably hoped the terrible marks Jesus bore might touch the stubborn hearts of the crowd. He didn't realize how bloodthirsty Jesus' accusers were.

"As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw" Jesus, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" Pilate's expectation came to naught, for none of the Jewish leaders ever wavered in their demand for crucifixion. They raised their voice in full chorus for the crucifixion of Jesus. They began by hating Jesus because they felt envy toward Him. They finished in a great hysteria of hatred, howling like wolves, "Crucify! Crucify!" The hatred of the leaders made them lose all sense of proportion. Unreasonable and most absurd, they would not accept Pilate's declaration of Jesus' innocence. They demanded Jesus to be crucified. "But Pilate answered, You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him. Pilate publicly declared Jesus' innocence for the third time, but still he didn't let Jesus go freely. What was he armed with power for, but to be the guard of justice? Pilate did not have enough courage to act according to his conscience and his position.

Pilate spoke ironically since he knew the Jews could not kill Jesus by Crucifixion. The Jews understood that Pilate was taunting them, practically accusing them of attempting to put an innocent man to death, they defended themselves by boasting of their law. They had indeed an excellent law, but in vain did they boast of their law, when they abused it for such bad purpose. They said, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God." They had made no mention of this fact because Pilate was under no obligation to enforce their law; but they mentioned it now to justify their cause. They could not incense Pilate against Jesus by alleging that He pretended Himself a king, they urged this, that He pretended Himself a God. The Jewish leaders' words had an unintended effect on Pilate who was a superstitious idol worshipper. When he heard that his prisoner allegedly claimed not only to royalty, but also to deity, "he was even more afraid." Even natural conscience makes men afraid of being found fighting against God. This was the last time God would plea with Pilate. Pilate turned back into the palace for his last personal contact with Jesus. He asked Jesus, "Where do you come from?" Pilate sought to know whether Jesus was of heaven or of earth, but Jesus was silent, for the motive of the question was not right. Pilate did not wish an answer that he might give or withhold worship; but he might know how strenuously he should defend Jesus. But innocent life is to be defended at all hazards, it matters not whether it is human or divine. And God had already given Pilate all he needed to believe and act honestly by acquitting Jesus. The silence of our Lord was not a sullen silence, in contempt of the court; it was a patient silence. It should cause Pilate to open his mind to think what the Lord said and did right in front of him. Sadly, Jesus' silence did not cause Pilate to reconsider his position in regard to righteousness and the fear of God. Pilate said, "Do you refuse to speak to me? Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Pilate made decision in his pride as though the power of the Roman Empire was all that mattered. How Pilate magnified himself, and boasted of his own authority. But he magnified his power to an exorbitant degree when he boasted that he had power to crucify one whom he had declared innocent.

When Pilate used his power, our Lord silently submitted to it; but when he grew proud of it, our Lord made him know himself, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." Jesus spoke with His royal dignity. Pilate had no ultimate power over Jesus. From beginning to end, the Crucifixion of Jesus never reads like a story of a man caught up in an inexorable web of circumstances over which he had no control. It is the story of our Lord's last days which was a triumphant procession towards the goal of the Cross. Those who took part in the proceedings against Jesus were actually those who were on trial. At Jesus' trial, the judges were judged. The scales of God's justice weighed Pilate and Jewish leaders and found them all guilty of sin. Pilate condemned the innocent brought before him, but the Jewish leaders searched out and arrested the innocent that they might enjoy His Crucifixion.

By then, Pilate had made about six attempts to release Jesus without hurting his own interest. The last effort that Pilate made to release Jesus was recorded as "Pilate tried to set Jesus free." It seemed Pilate's former attempts to release Jesus were nothing compared to this last effort. As we have seen, Pilate had before this tried to win the consent of the leaders that Jesus be released, but the last attempt was probably an actual attempt to set Jesus free because he was completely convinced that Jesus was innocent. But the Jewish leaders had a final weapon to use that struck fear in Pilate's heart. They kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar." The Jews blackmailed Pilate into crucifying Jesus. Pilate saw at once that these envy and murderous Jews could make out of the present occasion a charge against him, which could cost him his position. In spite of God's solemn warning to him and Jesus' powerful appeals to his conscience, in spite of his absolute conviction of the complete innocence of Jesus, Pilate feared man more than God. He chose Caesar to be his king, not Jesus Christ. "He brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as Stone Pavement." It was still early in the morning on the day of Preparation of Passover. Pilate mounted the judgment-seat that he might formally reverse himself and condemn himself. He said to the Jews, "Here is your king." As he had tried to waken the Jews' compassion by saying, "Here is the man!" he now made a final attempt to shame them by saying, "Here is your king!"

Pilate himself sinned against the full blaze of the glory of God, so did the Jews. The Jews shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate asked one more time, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." This was the most astonishing thing the chief priests could say. They denied every principle they had in order to compass the death of Jesus Christ. It was a terrible picture. In their hatred, the Jews forgot all their principles, even their God. The multitude began by wanting Jesus as a political Messiah to deliver them from Caesar's oppression, by the end, they rejected Jesus, and embraced Caesar.

Pilate fully knew what was right and just, but he chose wrong. Again and again he announced publicly that Jesus was innocent. However he chose to hand Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified. The Gospel of Matthew tells us, before Pilate announced the decision which he made in his heart, "he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd." His guilt would not be washed away by water, only by the blood of Jesus which he was about to shed. Then He made another public announcement, "I am innocent of this man's blood, it is your responsibility!" Pilate's act was only symbolic, intended to show that he regarded the crucifixion of Jesus as a murder, and therefore meant to wash his hands of the guilt. This was indeed a wishful thinking. The Jews in their rage took upon themselves and their children all the responsibility by saying, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" Pilate and the Jews were both guilty of the Crucifixion of the Son of God. God alone determines the extent of their responsibility, and He alone decides when their punishment shall end. But we know that it ends for all when they repentantly seek His forgiveness.
Mizoram government on Thursday informed the NITI Aayog that the state might not be able to organise celebrations of Digidhan Mela (Digital India Day) on April 14 as the day coincides with .

Chief Secretary Lalmalsawma, in a letter to Amitabh Kant, Chief Executive Officer of the NITI Aayog indicated that the Christian-dominated state of Mizoram would not celebrate the Digidhan Mela on Friday.

Meanwhile, the ruling Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today slammed the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for selecting Good Friday, one of the most sacred days of the Christians as Digital India Day.

"The BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre had earlier appointed Christmas Day as Good Governance Day which was an insult to the religious sentiments of the Christians," a press statement issued by the MPCC said.
On March 31, 2017, the Gujarat state assembly amended the states laws to extend the maximum sentence for cow slaughter from seven years to a life term and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. The amendment made offences under the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act of 1954, which criminalises cow slaughter as well as transportation of cows for slaughter and possession of beef, non-bailable.
Pakistan on Friday rejected India's 14th attempt for consular access to alleged spy and maintained the trial sentencing him to death was according to the laws of the country.

Pakistan also said that India had not responded to "specific information" sought on Jadhav in January -- which New Delhi has rejected.

Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in Islamabad with a request for consular access to Jadhav and also sought a copy of the charge-sheet against him.

The request was turned down. "We demanded a meeting (with Jadhav), but they denied," Bambawale told reporters after meeting Janjua.

India said it has sought consular access to Jadhav 13 times earlier, but was refused each time.

Making a statement on Jadhav's arrest and trial, Pakistan's top foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz slammed the "inflammatory statements and rhetoric of premeditated murder" issued by the Indian government, which he said would only escalate tensions.

He also asked how Jadhav, "an innocent man", could have two passports.

At the time of his arrest in March 2016, Jadhav had one passport in his name, and a second in the name of Hussain Mubarak Patel.

"Why was Jadhav using a fake name in his identity documents," Aziz asked.

Aziz said the April 10 sentencing of Jadhav was "as per the law of the land" and was a "fully transparent process". He said Jadhav, who belongs to Maharashtra in India, had been involved in subversive activities in Pakistan.

To Indian claims that Pakistan has not responded to its letters seeking information on Jadhav, Aziz said that New Delhi has not responded to a "Letter of Assistance requesting specific information and access to certain key witnesses" sent on January 23 this year. "There has been no response from the Indian side so far."

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in Kolkata, denied the charge, saying: "No no, that's not true."

Rajnath also said he felt that Jadhav did not get a transparent trial. "All efforts are on to get Kulbhushan justice. India will go to any extent to get him justice," he said.

Aziz said that Jadhav had the right to appeal within 40 days to a higher court.

Jadhav, who was tried by a military court, could also file a mercy petition with the Army Chief within 60 days of the decision by the appellate court. His last option was to file a mercy petition with the President of Pakistan within 90 days after the decision of the army chief.

He said Jadhav's sentencing was based on "credible, specific evidence" proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan.

Rejecting Indian contention that Jadhav was a retired naval commander, Aziz said that India had failed to provide any "credible explanation of why their naval commander was in Balochistan".

Jadhav is said to have been arrested in a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area.

Aziz said India's lack of cooperation and refusal to provide Pakistan legal assistance in the case were the reasons why consular access had not been provided to Jadhav.

The adviser said Jadhav's "confessional statement" had been recorded before a magistrate and the proceedings were conducted under proper laws.

A qualified legal officer was also provided to defend him in court proceedings, he said.

The developments are likely to impact on the already strained diplomatic relations, which have steadily worsened over the past few months over the Kashmir issue and terror attacks, which India has blamed on Pakistan.
It will take effective prevention, accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment to successfully eliminate . But none of this will help if the causative agents become resistant to the drugs used for treatment. The Conversation Africas and Medicine Editor Joy Wanja Muraya spoke to Dr. Jeremiah Waweru Gathirwa and Ruth Monyenye Nyang'acha researchers at the Kenya Medical Research Institute about the countrys work towards using medicinal plants as a potential anti-malarial drugs.
Union Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia on Thursday said that more people and business units would come under the tax net once the goods and services tax (GST) regime was implemented from July 1.
The Voluntary Certification of Professionals introduced on June 22, 2015  the first World Day after the UN announced one  has started producing the ancient arts first-ever government approved practitioners at a steady pace. In November 2016, Union State Minister of AYUSH Yesso Naik had informed the Lok Sabha that the government had certified 734 professionals in 17 months.
Prime Minister on Friday will release the Aadhaar-based mobile app which will enable digital payments using biometric data. One would be able to make digital payments without having a mobile phone, internet connection, debit or credit card.
To attract investment and boost investors confidence in the law and order machinery of Uttar Pradesh, the government is mulling posting a Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officer in select industrial clusters of the state.
The process of absorbing 30,000 officers of the five associate initiated by the State Bank of India (SBI) hit a roadblock on Thursday with Hyderabad High Court issuing the interim orders, directing the country's biggest lender to not act on the options given by these staff till June 15.
The Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) & Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that there is an active consideration", in consultation with Shipping Ministry, on reviving the option of sending Haj pilgrims via sea route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in the coming days. It was stated by Shri Naqvi while addressing a training of trainers programme at Haj House in Mumbai, today. Shri Naqvi said that a high-level committee, formed by the government to frame the Haj Policy 2018 according to Supreme Courts 2012 order, is exploring to revive the option of sending pilgrims via sea route to Jeddah. .

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Shri Naqvi said that dispatching pilgrims through ships will help cut down travel expenses by nearly half as compared to airfares. It will be a revolutionary, pilgrim-friendly decision. The practice of ferrying Haj pilgrims between Mumbai and Jeddah by waterways was stopped from 1995. At present, devotees undertake the journey by air from 21 embarkation points across the country. .

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Shri Naqvi said that another advantage with ships available these days is they are modern and well-equipped to ferry 4,000 to 5,000 persons at a time. They can cover the 2,300-odd nautical miles one-side distance between Mumbai and Jeddah within just two-three days. Earlier, the old ships used to take 12 to 15 days to cover this distance. The high-level committee will soon submit its report. .

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Shri Naqvi said that the new Haj Policy is aimed at making entire Haj process easier and transparent. Haj pilgrims facilities will be in focus of the new Haj policy. .

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Shri Naqvi said that the Minority Affairs Ministry, in coordination with other concerned agencies, had started preparations for Haj pilgrimage very early. The Ministrys aim is to provide world class facilities to Haj pilgrims. The Minister said that the measure to make Haj process online has produced good results. A total of 1,29,196 Haj applications were done online. .

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Shri Naqvi said that the increase in Indias annual Haj quota by Saudi Arabia Government has benefitted about all the states as quota of the states for Haj 2017 has also been increased significantly. Saudi Arabia has increased annual Haj quota of India by 34,005. The decision in this regard had been taken during signing of bilateral annual Haj agreement between India and Saudi Arabia at Jeddah on 11th January 2017. It is the biggest increase in the quota of Haj pilgrims from India after several years. .

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About 99,903 people went to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for Haj from 21 embarkation points across India through Haj Committee of India during Haj 2016. Apart from this, about 36,000 Haj pilgrims had proceeded for Haj through the private tour operators. .

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For Haj 2017, a total of 1,70,025 people will go to Haj pilgrimage from India out of which 1,25,025 pilgrims will go through Haj Committee of India while 45,000 people will go through Private Tour Operators. .

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In the three-day training programme, officials from Haj Committee of India; Royal Consulate of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Saudi Airlines; Air India; Customs; Immigration and doctors are informing about Dos and Donts" during Haj. It include information about transport, accommodation in Saudi Arabia and laws of Saudi Arabia. More than 500 trainers from different states are participating in the programme. The trainers will now train the pilgrims in training camps. .

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Pilate had again and again pronounced Jesus' innocence, yet in the end, he signed the warrant for Jesus' execution. He delivered Jesus not to his own officers, but to the prosecutors, the chief priests and elders, so excusing the wrong to his own conscience. But the soldiers still had to attend the execution. They "took charge of Jesus" and led Him away to the place of execution. The Son of Man was delivered into the hands of wicked and cruel men. Both the priests and the soldiers joined in leading Him away.

Jesus carried His own cross and went out to the place of the Skull or Golgotha. The soldiers obliged Jesus as long as He was able to carry His cross to add His misery. Jesus did not oppose being led away, as the Scripture must be fulfilled, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. It is us who deserved to be led forth as criminals to be execution. But Jesus was led forth for us, that we might escape the death. He went forth, not dragged against His will, but voluntary in His sufferings. He went out of Jerusalem which had been set apart by God as His special city for the Jews to worship Him in the temple there. Jesus was thrust out of Jerusalem as a criminal. "They crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side and Jesus in the middle." They crucified Him among the real criminals. He was made sin for us; therefore the cross was laid on Him.

"Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek." The soldiers who walked ahead of the condemned man usually carried a sign which listed the criminal's crimes. The notice nailed on Jesus' cross was different from any other. Instead of listing crimes, Pilate ordered the sign proclaiming Jesus' identity. Jesus is crucified because of who He truly is. The sign was written in three great languages of the ancient world, so all could understand. Pilate wrote a sarcastic inscription meant to annoy the Jews, but it was true beyond his understanding. God had a greater purpose: for all people to recognize the glory of His Son. Jesus is not only the King of the Jews, He reigns over all. Out of all the nations, God chose to reveal Himself to the Jews first. But the Jewish leaders accused King Jesus of blasphemy. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews', but that this man claimed to be King of the Jews." The chief priests objected to this title. They felt it was false, because they didn't believe that Jesus was the King of the Jews. They also believed it was demeaning, because it showed Rome's power to humiliate and torture even the "King of the Jews." Only a short while before, Pilate had submitted to the Jewish leaders' demand to crucify Jesus because they blackmailed him. Now he had the courage to stand up to the chief priests' protest. He answered, "Whatever I have written, I have written." He probably wanted to repay these leaders for getting him involved in crucifying an innocent man. But Pilate was guilty on his part. Had Pilate acted on what he knew about Jesus since he had the privilege of speaking with Jesus face-to-face, or took the warning given to him by God through his wife's dream seriously, his name would be remembered as one of greatness instead of one of shame.

On the day of Jesus crucifixion, there was another sign nailed on His cross. It was unseen by people around, but seen by God. This invisible sign could not be physically visible at all, simply because it was too long and too wide. On this sign, there was an endless list of charges against all whose sins cost Jesus His life. Apostle Paul explained to us in Colossians 2:13-14, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." God Himself nailed all believers' sins to the cross. He is the only One who can write the long list. No one can add or subtract. As believers, we can be joyful and take confidence that Jesus took our ugly sins with Him on His cross.

"When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

'Let's not tear it,' they said to one another. 'Let's decide by lot who will get it.' This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, 'They divided my garment among them and cast lots for my clothing.' So this is what the soldiers did." Our Lord Jesus suffered this terrible humiliation of being stripped of clothing without complaint. The soldiers stripped Jesus of everything except the crown of thorns on His head and the invisible sign listed all believers' sins on His naked body. It might seem that Jesus had no control over Himself being stripped of clothes, yet the invisible hand of God guides all things, so that a specific prophecy might be fulfilled.

Before Adam and Eve sinned, they "were both naked, and they felt no shame." Our Lord Jesus is sinless. He felt no shame of His own when He was stripped of clothing. But He felt our shame because He was made sin for us. When Adam and Eve first chose to disobey God, they immediately "realized they were naked" both inwardly and outwardly. The obedient Son of God never chose to disobey His Father. So He was covered by righteousness all over Him. Adam and Eve made pitiful attempt to cover their shame. "They sewed fig leaves together and made covering for themselves." "The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them." In order to do this, God sacrificed an animal of atonement to cover the two sinners for them to have limited access toward Him and toward each other. The sacrifices for sin that God commanded in the Old Testament point to this same reality. When God sacrificed His perfect Son naked on the cross as atonement for sinners, He clothed all who believe in His Son with His own perfect righteousness. He washed all believers clean in His Son's blood. The believers receive "garments of salvation" and "a robe of His righteousness". We as believers can enjoy the forgiveness of sin and have the right to stand with God on the basis of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. God honors no other covering. If we try to come before God on the basis of our own righteousness, we are naked and need to be clothed.

While His enemies continued to squabble with one another about what should be the right wording on the notice which announced His crimes and dividing His clothes by lot, Jesus Himself continued to love His followers and direct them to share in His love. John was probably the only disciple of the eleven standing near the cross. But at least four women risked everything to stand there. "Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son.' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." Even at a moment when Jesus deserved to be self-focused, He remained others-centered to the end. Jesus focused on His mother and His beloved disciple. He entrusted His mother to His beloved disciple. It could also assume that the disciple was given into the care of His mother. The mother and the beloved disciple together symbolize the new family, the new Christian community. That new community is to share in His own relationship with the Father and to participate in the divine life, which is characterized by love. This Christian family community is the fruit of His death. The life of the community derives from Jesus' own giving of Himself, and in turn such self-giving is to typify the community itself.

After Jesus provided for His mother, He prepared to die. Later knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, I am thirsty. A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, It is finished. With that, he bowed His head and gave up His spirit. Jesus took care to fulfill every detail the Scriptures foretold so His final triumph would be complete. Jesus asked for His thirst to be quenched so He might be conscious to the end and finish all the work His Father had given Him. The soldiers unknowingly also fulfilled Old Testament symbolism by offering Jesus the drink. He accepted the drink to wet His parched lips and dry throat so He can make one final announcement to the world with a "great cry." Jesus shouted in triumph, "It is finished." Jesus' final word is the cry of a winner. Jesus' words applied not to His death, but to the battle against sin, death and Satan. He shed His own pure and clean blood to defeat His enemies. He didn't shed anyone elses blood, not even His enemies. Jesus had finished the eternal purpose of the cross. It stands today as a finished work.

Jesus bowed His head in peace. This speaks of a peaceful act, like lying down on a pillow to sleep. This was not hanging the head in defeat. Jesus' life was not taken from Him. He had complete authority to lay down His life and to take it up again. Death had no hold over the sinless Son of God. He stood in the place of sinners, but was never a sinner Himself. He could not die unless He gave up His spirit. John does not say that Jesus died and then His head slumped over, but rather that He bowed His head, and then gave up His spirit. The order of Jesus' actions is important in order to describe His death as a voluntary act with an attitude of submission. As the obedient Son, submissive to His Father, Jesus shows characters of the true King in His death, confirming the message of the visible sign over his head.

When Jesus shed His blood on the cross, His blood also washed the invisible sin clean. Before this happened, sin leaves us exposed, with no covering and no place to hide from the holy God. But after Jesus' blood wiped away our records of sins, believers can stand in front of the very presence of the holy God and experience complete oneness with Him in love. Such love is only really possible when sin has been taken away, since the essence of sin is a false self-love that prevents one from sharing in the life of God, which is love. Jesus' death is both a revelation of the love of God and an example of such self-giving love. It is surely the greatest of all mortal sins to reject His love, to ignore it, or to profess not to need it.
Commerce and Industry Minister highlights the investment opportunities available in India to increase the contribution of manufacturing sector to 25% of GDP .

The Indian delegation led by the Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman met Mr Hiroshige Seko, Minister for Trade Economy and Industry (METI), business leaders of Japan and addressed a gathering of about 250 participants at the India Investment Seminar organized by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Tokyo today. .

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At the India Investment seminar, Mr Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman & CEO, JETRO spoke of the enormous interest of Japanese companies to diversify beyond automotive sector. Indian ambassador to Japan, Mr. Sujan R. Chinoy, mentioned that Commerce and Industry Minister's visit would further strengthen our existing strategic relationship with Japan. .

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Smt. Sitharaman in her keynote address acknowledged the experience and contribution of Japanese companies in India. The Minister talked about investment opportunities available in India with the goal to increase contribution of manufacturing sector to 25% of GDP by 2025. She also spoke of the various reforms and initiatives like National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) for enhancing infrastructure financing, Digital India program to connect 250,000 villages with optical fiber and Jan Dhan Mission. .

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Mr. Ramesh Abhishek , Secretary DIPP in panel discussion on 'Make in India' threw light on the massive investment potential of India. By 2025, India will be the world's youngest nation with average age of 29 years and have a GDP of USD 20 Trillion in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms. The 'Make in India' program is driving the change in mindset to cater to this huge potential. He gave examples of Business reform action plan (BRAC) on which states are being ranked on Ease of Doing Business (EODB) and upgradation of Intellectual Property Regime. It was discussed that the Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy, Medical Devices are the sectors of the future providing diversification opportunities to Japanese investors. .

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Mr. Shaurya Doval, Director India Foundation, stressed that the Government has increasingly turned business friendly in India and considers businesses as equal partners in India's growth. Mr. N.K. Singh, former Member of Parliament, concluded the panel echoing the positive sentiment on investing in India. .

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During the bilateral meeting with the METI Minister, issues inter alia including progress on Japanese Industrial Townships, bilateral trade, diversification of investment sectors and resolution of difficulties faced by Indian Pharmaceutical and IT companies in Japan were discussed. .

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The Commerce Minister also met leading Japanese companies in Automotive, Healthcare, Internet and Energy sector and discussed opportunities and their plans for India. .

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Indian Academy of Highway Engineers signs MoU with University of New South Wales for establishing Centre of Excellence in Smart Transportation .

In line with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways vision to influence and adopt global innovation into the transportation sector, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry through the Indian Academy of Highway Engineers and University of New South Wales (UNSW) to set up a Centre for Advanced Transportation Technology and Systems (CATTS). The MoU was exchanged between the Director of IAHE Mr. V L Patankar and Vice Chancellor of UNSW Prof. Ian Jacobs on April 10th, 2017 in the presence of Simon Birmingham, Australian Minister for Education. The vision for CATTS is to: .

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Accelerate the evaluation and adoption of new transportation technologies and explore market opportunities for them in India and Australia. .

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Conduct research, development and training in the areas of transport system modelling and data for smart cities. .

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This would be the worlds first transportation centre involving two countries committed to seeing technological innovation for economic development through improved safety and reduced congestion. .

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At least 36 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed by the Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, or MOAB, which the US dropped on a tunnel complex of the terrorist group in Afghanistan on Thursday, Afghan officials said on Friday.
Diversified healthcare company on Friday agreed to buy Alere Inc at a lower price than it had previously offered, ending a prolonged legal battle over the company's plan to acquire the diagnostic-testing company.

Abbott's revised offer values Alere's equity around $5.3 billion, down from the about $5.8 billion value announced in February last year, the said in a statement.

Abbott will now pay $51 per share for Alere, compared with its earlier offer of $56 per share.

Alere shares closed at $42.31 on Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange while those of Abbott ended at $42.67.

In April last year, Abbott had raised concerns about the accuracy of various representations, warranties and covenants made by Alere in the earlier merger agreement, and had offered to pay $30 million to $50 million to terminate the deal.

Waltham, Massachusetts-based Alere, which makes tests for infections such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and dengue, sued Abbott in August last year in an attempt to force the company to move ahead with the deal.

In December, Abbott filed a suit to terminate its proposed acquisition of Alere, citing a "substantial loss" in the value of the diagnostics company since they struck a deal in February 2016.

Abbott and Alere said on Friday that the had agreed to dismiss their respective lawsuits, and the deal is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2017.

The deal will help Abbott expand in point-of-care diagnostic testing, a market that is growing as physicians increasingly adopt rapid tests that speed up treatment.

Point-of-care tests provide results to doctors in a matter of minutes and can be conducted in the physician's office, an ambulance or even at home.

Illinois-based Abbott sells medical devices, nutritional products and baby formula.

The news about the revised deal was first reported by Financial Times, citing people close to the matter.

Up to Thursday's close Alere shares had risen 8.6 percent this year while Abbott had gained 11.1 per cent.
has long wanted to be a tech hub, but distance was an issue. Now, at a moment of political upheaval around the globe, that isolation has become a selling point. A municipal programme to fly in 100 developers next month  wine them, dine them and offer them jobs  was expected to draw 2,500 applications. But the recruitment effort, called LookSee Wellington, was besieged with over 48,000 entries, including workers at Google, Amazon, Facebook, MIT and NASA. At one point so many people checked out the program that the website failed.
China warned that a war on the Korean Peninsula would have devastating consequences as the US threatened military retaliation against North Korea if it proceeds with a nuclear test this weekend.
In the run-up to Easter, it is customary for Egypts Coptic Christians to go to church every evening. Churches are packed with worshippers  as they were on Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017, when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the altar in a Coptic church in Tanta, about 90 miles north of Cairo, killing 29 people and injuring 71  some of them gravely.
Demonstrators at the concourse of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport where more than 1,000 people gathered to protest the order restricting immigrants' entry to the US
An Indian-origin female doctor in the US was arrested and charged with performing female on girls as young as six-year-old.

Jumana Nagarwala, 44, was charged with performing the procedure on six- to eight-year old girls at a medical clinic in Livonia, Michigan, reported WXYZ TV channel on Thursday.

Nagarwala, who is an emergency room physician at a hospital, was investigated after the authorities received a tip-off.

If found guilty, she faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Female was made illegal in the US in 1996.

According to a criminal complaint, some of the children were brought from out of state for the illegal procedure.

Female (FGM) is considered the complete removal or partial removal of the clitoris, known as a clitoridectomy. FGM is internationally recognised as a violation of the human rights of women and girls.

Prosecutors said Nagarwala had performed "horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims", according to the report.

Some travelled to her practice from outside the state of Michigan and were told not to talk about the procedure, they added.

Nagarwala appeared in a federal court in Detroit and was remanded in custody.

"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 US 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."

The US Congress passed a law in 1996 making it illegal to perform genital mutilation or cutting on anyone under 18. Twenty-five US states also have laws prohibiting the practice.

Prosecutors in Michigan said they believe it is the first case of its kind brought under the federal law.

The complaint said federal agents reviewed Nagarwala's telephone records and further investigation revealed that parents of two minor girls had traveled to Michigan.

The girls were later interviewed by a forensic expert and one of the girls said she was told she was coming to Detroit for a "special" girls trip, but after arriving at the hotel, she learned that she and the other girl had to go to the doctor because "our tummies hurt".

The girls had been taken to Nagarwala, who performed the procedure on the girls.

The affidavit, according to reports, also said that many of her victims were from Michigan.
Attorney General went to the border in Arizona on Tuesday and declared it a hellscape, a ground zero of death and violence where Americans must take our stand against a tide of evil flooding up from Mexico.
It has been a warm few days in London and at the British Library we feel that Spring has sprung. Spring is, of course, a time when it rains sweet rain and little birds stay up all night singing amorous songs. Or so Geoffrey Chaucer (c.13431400) would have us believe. And we see no reason to doubt that this is what happens. So, to celebrate the arrival of Spring, we have digitised one of our manuscripts of Geoffrey Chaucer's collection of pilgrims' stories, The Canterbury Tales. In the image below you can see the famous opening lines, which read, Whan that aprille with his schowres swoote / The drought of marche ha perced to e roote [When that April with his showers sweet/ The drought of March has pierced to the root'].

The opening of the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales: Harley MS 7334, f. 1r.

The Canterbury Tales was written at the end of the fourteenth century and tells the story of a group of 29 pilgrims who meet while travelling to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury. To pass the time on the journey, they decide to each tell two tales to the assembled company on the journey there and the journey home. The result is regarded as a master-work of medieval literature. The Tales, however, are unfinished. The poem never describes the return journey and not all the pilgrims who appear in the poem's prologue end up telling a tale. The prologue describes a plowman among the company, for example, whose tale is nowhere to be found. The poem survives in 92 manuscripts -- some of them only tiny fragments and others beautifully decorated masterpieces. Yet none of these manuscripts date from Chaucer's lifetime. Trying to work out what Chaucer intended has been a headache for editors for over a century.

The number of pilgrims' tales and their ordering differs between the copies, so debate continues to swirl concerning the relationships between these manuscripts. The manuscripts do not only vary in the order of the stories included: some copies include additions that were not Chaucer's work. Both Harley MS 7334 and Harley MS 1758 include the 'Tale of Gamelyn' as a conclusion to the 'Cooks Tale', which breaks off after only 58 lines in most copies. Someone was evidently uncomfortable with such untidiness, and made an attempt to tie off the loose ends.

The Cooks Tale: Harley MS 1758, f. 45v.

Some people have argued that the Canterbury Tales is intentionally unfinished, that Chaucer deliberately left such hanging ends, to encourage readers to engage with their own tales. Whatever the truth might be, it did not dampen the works popularity. Chaucer died in 1400 and in the century after his death he was celebrated by poets like Thomas Hoccleve (c. 13681426) and John Lydgate (c.13701450), who wrote about him as the father of English literature. One of the earliest portraits of Chaucer appears in a manuscript of Thomas Hoccleves Regiment of Princes, Harley MS 4866, which is now online.

Chaucer with a rosary in Thomas Hoccleves Regiment of Princes: Harley MS 4866, f. 88r.

John Lydgate was such a super-fan of Chaucer that in his poem, The Siege of Thebes, he imagines himself bumping into the Canterbury Tales pilgrims on their road to Canterbury.

Lydgate bumping into Chaucer's pilgrims, from 'The Siege of Thebes', by John Lydgate, Royal MS 18 D II, f. 148r

The Canterbury Tales was among the first books to be printed in English. William Caxton printed the Tales in 1476 or 1477. It appears to have sold well  he brought out a new edition in 1483, complete with woodcut images of the pilgrims. Both versions are available for comparison through the British Library's Treasures in Full website.

After the Reformation, the incompleteness of the Tales gave later writers an opportunity to reframe Chaucer's work. A fake anti-Catholic story called The Plowmans Tale was added to The Canterbury Tales and reprinted in various editions of Chaucers works throughout the 1540s and 1560s. This gave some people a rather odd idea about Chaucer's intentions. The protestant historian John Foxe (1516/171587) wrote in his Actes and Monuments that by reading Chaucer, people in a bygone age were brought to the true knowledge of Religion.

Recent years have produced a trove of riches for those studying the Canterbury Tales. The most highly regarded manuscripts of the work, the Hengwrt Chaucer and the Ellesmere Chaucer, are already online. These are believed to have been written by Adam Pinkhurst, a scribe who knew Chaucer personally. But there is still more to learn about the text beyond these two books and we hope that by making another manuscript available digitally, more discoveries might be made.

Mary Wellesley & Andrew Dunning

Follow us on Twitter @BLMedieval
The US military dropped its largest non-nuclear explosive device on an Islamic State target in Afghanistan on Thursday. So, what exactly is the big deal, so to say, given that the US has been hitting targets in Afghanistan with a variety of ordinances for over a decade and a half now? The answer might lie in what the "Mother Of All Bombs" (MOAB) actually is, beyond the obvious fact suggested by its nickname  that it is a very large bomb.
on Friday reportedly warned the United States not to be militarily adventurous and think of initiating a missile strike on its soil.

The country's vice-foreign minister, Han Song Ryol, was quoted by media, as saying that the Korean Peninsula is passing through a "vicious cycle".

Ryol was further quoted, as saying, that countries like the United States should not expect Pyongyang to not to respond if a a pre-emptive strike was launched on it.

He warned Washington to avoid what he called "reckless military maneuvers", adding that has the required powerful nuclear deterrent to counter such a move.

He said if a war was in the offing with the United States, is ready for such an eventuality.

Vice-foreign minister Ryol's warning came a day after President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to North Korea not to engage in new provocations, such as a nuclear test.

"North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of," President Trump said shortly after the US military had fired a bomb on a tunnel and cave network of the ISIS in eastern Afghanistan, claiming the lives of about 36 terrorists.

Meanwhile, the United States has ordered the movement the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and other warships into waters off the Korean Peninsula and is conducting its biggest-ever joint military exercises with South Korea.

North Korea, on the hand, is reportedly preparing to go through with a sixth nuclear test.

North Korea's key ally China is on record, as saying that military action of any kind is not a solution or a deterrent to reduce existing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Call it the case of the missing billion(s). That is the mystery facing s QCOM -1.12% shareholders heading into the companys fiscal second-quarter report next week.


The Trump administration should "shake things up" and hit terrorist groups inside Pakistan, a top former American diplomat has said, identifying the Taliban sanctuaries in the country as a "big problem" for Afghanistan.

The remarks came as the US dropped a massive bomb - the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used by Americans in a conflict - near the Pakistan border in Afghanistan's Nanagarh province.

The US said the bomb targeted a tunnel complex of Islamic State-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group.

Zalmay Khalilzad, who served as the US ambassador to the United Nations and Afghanistan in the Bush administration, said the terrorist sanctuaries inside Pakistan "should not be accepted as (just) sanctuaries".

The US and NATO forces were being attacked by terrorists hiding in those sanctuaries and "if we are attacked from those places... They would be legitimate targets for a response," Khalilzad said during a discussion at the Hudson Institute, an American think tank, on Friday in Washington.

Khalilzad, who had hosted Donald Trump for his first foreign policy speech during his presidential campaign, said, "Perhaps we have to do something to shake things up."



He called for changing the balance on the ground from the one of stalemate that has favoured the Taliban to the one that favours the Afghan government and the coalition forces.

"I am encouraged by what is going on in terms of the review - to weaken the adversaries and strengthen the government, to strengthen it not only militarily but also economically and politically, but also to review the policy towards Pakistan, because I think one of the big problems of Afghanistan is the policies of Pakistan: the sanctuary policies," he said.

Robin Raphel, a former assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, felt the US should not walk away from the region at this point.

Raphel, however, opposed the idea of an "all-out war" against Pakistan. "In my view, at the end of the day there has to be a negotiated political solution in Afghanistan, which would undoubtedly include some of the conservative elements including the Taliban in the government," she said.

Hussain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the US and the director, South and Central Asia, at the institute, who moderated the discussion, said Taliban are irreconcilable, a sentiment shared by Khalilzad, who said the alliance between the Taliban and Pakistan was the main problem.

"You cannot have reconciliation, if the insurgency feels that time is on its side. You cannot have a successful negotiation if there are safe sanctuaries. You cannot have successful negotiations if they feel that the Americans are going to leave," Khalilzad said.

He also suggested ways to deal with the issue. "One, the military balance has to change in favour of the Afghan government. Two, Pakistan has to confront with the choices.

"If we are attacked from bases in another country, we have the right to defend ourselves. It is a principle of law. We are there on the basis of a UN Security Council resolution and at the invitation of the Afghan government. We should not be accepting a safe sanctuary. We ought to make that very very clear to Pakistan," he said.

"I hope that (National Security Adviser Lt Gen) H R McMaster makes that point clear when he sits across the table when he is in Islamabad," he said, but added that Pakistan's "legitimate interests" should also be respected.

The discussion was held in the backdrop of the Trump administration reviewing its policies to break the stalemate in Afghanistan.

"Decisions made about policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan will have a crucial impact on the outcome of the global war on terrorism and Islamist extremism," Haqqani said.
When they had passenger David Dao forcibly removed from an internal flight in the US, staff at apparently forgot two golden rules of marketing.
US President Donald Trump has called the MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) bombing over the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province another successful event, saying the country is proud of its army.
Encouraged by a sharp downturn in illegal border crossers, the US administration is ramping up a crackdown on undocumented immigrants, taking aim at both Central American labourers and Indian tech workers in Silicon Valley.

Police, prosecutors and judges have been ordered to take a harder line against all illegal immigrants, detaining anyone without papers and vigorously prosecuting more of them.

Hiring standards for immigration agents are being eased to quickly beef up their ranks, more facilities to hold detained immigrants are being built, and more judges are being added to handle cases.

And officials have been directed to round up illegal immigrants, even those in the country for decades, at places that used to be safe - courthouses, town halls, and cities offering them sanctuary.

Meanwhile designs are underway for construction of a wall along the entire 3,200-kilometre US-Mexico border that President Donald Trump promised. It won't be a full physical barrier all the way along, but strategically erected wall sections interspersed with stretches of technology-dependent surveillance.

"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," Attorney General Jeff Sessions told border patrol agents on Tuesday.

Trump came into office promising to expel the estimated 11 million people living in the United States illegally, who he says steal American jobs and fuel crime. Most are from Mexico, and many of them have been here for decades, raising families, owning homes and businesses.

Three months into the Trump administration, the number of illegal border-crossers has plunged to a four decade low, according to the Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP).

Apprehensions of illegal border crossers in March dropped to 16,600, down 30 percent from February and 64 percent from a year ago.

It is too early to see any pickup in deportations, which take longer to process. But Tom Jawetz, vice president in charge of immigration policy at the Center for American Progress think tank, says there is a clear change in immigration enforcement.

Sessions this week ordered CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain anyone who crosses the US-Mexico border without legal documents and present them to a judge. In the past, most were just delivered back over the border.
A public interest suit against insurance companies investing in stocks has again sparked a debate on ethical investing. However, insurance companiesor any investor for that matter could risk underperformance by eliminating companies from their portfolios.
The move by two Tata trustees of filing a suit that Life Insurance Company (LIC) disinvest from ITC, a cigarette-manufacturing firm, can be seen as part of a larger global trend, where investors are being pushed to step out of activities that are seen as debilitating to either public health or the environment.
The Police on Thursday unearthed a body of a tech student 48 hours after completion of the burial ritual after hundreds of diploma students of entire Tripura gathered in Agartala and blocked roads, demanding proper investigation of unnatural death of one of the classmate.

Agitating students doubted whether there is any facility in the state for proper investigation of the mutilated body and if at all Anwara Choudhury, the first year student of the Women Polytechnic College whose body was found, shall get justice.

The deceased student reportedly died an unnatural death four days back (on last Sunday) in a government hospital here but surprising the hospital authority marked it as natural and released the body for burial and without any autopsy.

Reportedly, Anwara was rushed to the hospital as she complained of stomach ache after consuming noodles but later she died.

An orphan, after her mother died in her childhood and father missing, Anwara was sheltered in the house of her maternal uncle and agitating students doubted that she might have be poisoned for her property.

The students blocked roads from all direction in front of the Agartala City Centre in the evening and launched a candle protest demanding justice for deceased Anwara.

Sutupa Dey, a protester said, "We want justice for one of the student who had an unnatural death."

Agitating students doubted something fishy and wanted to know why in spite of unnatural death, the dealing doctors released the body of Anwara without proper autopsy.

However, after passing of two days since the burial took place, the police under pressure had unearthed the body yesterday and sent it for autopsy but agitating students doubt if at all the state forensic laboratory has facility for autopsy.

Meanwhile, another agitating student Ankit Roy said, "We doubt that she might have been murdered because some of us personally knew her. He mother died when she was a child and father was missing so she use to stay with her maternal uncle and often she was in depression but we did not know the actual reason. We believe that her death was unnatural and a murder though we do not have any prove."

"We are protesting because in spite her unnatural death there was no postmortem and without that (autopsy) her body was buried during the night hours. Since we are technology students we know that after passing of 48 hours there is no facility for postmortem in Tripura but today after passing of four days the body has been taken out and sent to the GB (hospital) for postmortem. We want the actual report of postmortem," he added.

West Tripura district District Magistrate Dr Milind Ramtek, along with senior police officials, had a long negotiation with the agitating students and on his commitment, the road was opened after passing of more than two hours.

The District Magistrate said that doctor had certified the death as nature but police had taken a suo moto case as per the order of the court.

He also assured that there are adequate forensic labs in the state for autopsy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three Democratic senators have asked the Government Accountability Office for more information about states tax-credit K-12 choice programs .

In a Thursday letter, Sens. Patty Murray of Washington, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, and Ron Wyden of Oregon said they are interested in more information about these programs given the strong possibility of federal legislative activity on tax-credit vouchers at the federal level in the near future. Murray is the top Democrat on the Senate education committee, while Wyden is the top Democrat on the Senate finance committee, which would be the committee responsible for writing a tax credit for private school scholarships into the federal tax code. Whitehouse is also on the Senate education committee.

The senators asked the GAO to examine these four questions about tax-credit programs:



How have states structured tax credit voucher or incentive programs? What financial accountability regulationsincluding any requirements intended to guard against fraud, waste, and abusehave states established for organizations that administer and manage the programs? How have selected organizations administered tax credit voucher or incentive programs (including any steps taken to ensure transparency, efficiency, and accountability)? How have selected states monitored these programs? What are the best practices and the challenges the programs have encountered?

Noting how these programs vary across states, the three senators wrote to the GAO that, These inconsistencies make it challenging for policymakers to assess the consequences of of instituting these types of tax credit schemes on fiscal accountability.

We wrote a few months ago that tax-credit scholarships could be one of several ways that President Donald Trumps administration and Congress could use to promote school choice from Washington. There are two main paths for new tax-credit legislation on Capitol Hill, although each of them has its own challenges.

Strictly speaking, tax-credit scholarship programs and vouchers are structured differently. Tax credit scholarships function through donations from organizations to scholarship-granting organizations in exchange for tax credits, while vouchers use payments from state governments to parents. (The District of Columbia also has a voucher program.)

Read the full letter below:

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
A British woman in her twenties has been stabbed to death in Jerusalem according to police, as thousands of Jewish and Christian pilgrims thronged the city's holy sites for Good Friday and the continuing Passover holiday.

The attack, reportedly involving a Palestinian assailant, took place on the city's light railway near the Old City. She was stabbed in the chest several times.

According to the Guardian, authorities at the Hadassah hospital in Mount Scopus later announced that the woman had died of her injuries, as the Israeli media outlets identified the victim as a British citizen.

The alleged attacker was arrested at the scene.

Yoram Halevi, a police commander in the city, told Israel radio that the suspect had a history of domestic violence and mental illness.

A statement issued by the Israeli domestic security service - the Shin Bet - said the attacker, identified in a number of Israeli media reports as Jamil Tamimi from the Palestinian neighbourhood of Ras al-Amud, had also had a conviction for sexual assault.

"This is another incident of many in which a Palestinian suffering from mental health or personal issues has chosen to carry out an attack as a way out of his problems," the Shin Bet statement said.

The police had been on high alert for Passover, when tens of thousands of Jews pray at the Western Wall inside the Old City and some visit the flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque compound above it.

The compound, which is the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest site to Jews who refer to it as the Temple Mount, is the source of constant tensions.

Jews are allowed to visit but not pray at the site.

Palestinian fears that Israel will seek to change those rules have repeatedly led to violence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday expressed his concerns over the poor poll percentage in Srinagar by-polls due to the prevailing tension in the Kashmir Valley.

"It is a matter of concern, we have decided, we will do something," he said.

The repolling in 38 polling booths in Srinagar parliamentary constituency yesterday recorded the lowest ever in the electoral history of the state. A measly two percent of voters cast their votes.

Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Shantmanu, said only 709 people among more than 35000 registered voters cast their votes. At around 21 polling booths recorded zero percent voting.

Yesterday, a voter turnout of 7.13 percent was recorded in the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-poll.

"Total 709 people voted today. Now, overall polling is around 7.13 percent in Srinagar Lok Sabha by-poll. No untoward incidents were reported," Shantmanu said.

1.4 percent voter turnout was recorded polling till 12 noon in Budgam where re-polling took place at 38 voting stations.

Some days ago, a school designated as polling station for Anantnag by-polls was set on fire in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. A Panchayat Ghar was also set ablaze in Pulwama district.

A Government Middle school, in Shopian's Padarpora was set ablaze by unidentified people and on Sunday, the Government High School in Pulwama was razed to the ground in a similar manner.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Condemning the Pakistan military court's move of giving death sentence to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, the government on Friday said Islamabad's belligerent behavior is not acceptable, adding it will make best efforts to solve the matter.

"This is absolute belligerency on the part of the Pakistan government. The denial of Consular access is something which is a right of an individual. I think Indian Government is making best of its efforts and the course of action will be decided in the future," Union Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy told ANI.

He added that this is a diplomatic issue now.

"Snatching a person's right will not be accepted internationally as well," Rudy said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Defence Minister Subhash Bhamre said the government would take required actions in this context.

"Every possible move will be taken by the government to provide justice to Jadhav," he said.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan asked India to refrain from issuing statements that could aggravate hostility between the two sides post the death sentence to Jadhav.

In a press briefing, Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said there is a need to arrest the growing crisis in Pakistan-India relations before it becomes serious.

Aziz claimed that due process was followed in the trials that led to awarding death sentence to Jadhav for espionage and subversive activities in Pakistan.

He said that Jadhav was tried under the law of the land in a fairly transparent manner and awarded punishment on the basis of credible and specific evidence of his involvement in financing terrorism and carrying out subversive activities in Pakistan.

Putting the ball in India's court, he also claimed that the Letter of Assistance requesting specific information and access to certain key witnesses was shared with New Delhi in January this year.

"Inflammatory statements and rhetoric about 'pre-meditated murder' and 'unrest in Balochistan' will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose," Radio Pakistan quoted Aziz as saying.

The Advisor said that a number of steps were taken during Jadhav's trial to ensure transparency under Pakistani law and Pakistan Army Act.

"His confessional statement was recorded before a magistrate; a qualified officer was provided to defend him throughout proceedings; all statements of witnesses were recorded under oath in the presence of accused and Jadhav was allowed to ask questions from witnesses," he added.

About options available to Jadhav, he said the convict has right of appeal within forty days to an appellate court and he may lodge a mercy petition to the Army Chief within sixty days of the decision by the appellate court.

Aziz added that the convict may lodge a mercy petition to the President of Pakistan within 90 days after the Chief of Army Staff's decision on the mercy petition.

A military court in Pakistan earlier this week found Jadhav guilty on two counts of espionage and sentenced him to death.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has shared the state's chargesheet against alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and a timeline of his trial.

His comments came at a press briefing on Friday following backlash from India post the death penalty to Jadhav.

"Kulbushan Jhadav, who is responsible for espionage, sabotage and terrorism in Pakistan, has been tried according to the law of the land in a fully transparent manner while preserving his rights as per the Constitution of Pakistan. Due process has been followed while proceeding against Jadhav. All further action in this regard shall also be taken in accordance with our laws," claimed Aziz.

Aziz stated that Jadhav was tried by Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Section 59 of the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 and Section 3 of Official Secret Act of 1923 while claiming that the latter was provided with a legal counsel in accordance with provisions of law.

Sharing details of some terrorist activities in which Jadhav allegedly had direct involvement, Aziz said:

- He sponsored and directed IEDs and Grenade Attacks in Gawadar and Turbat.

- Directed attacks on the Radar station and civilian boats in the sea, opposite Jiwani Port.

- Funded subversive secessionist and terrorist elements through Hawala/Hundi for subverting the Pakistani youth against the country, especially in Balochistan.

- Sponsored explosions of gas pipelines and electric pylons in Sibi and Sui areas in Balochistan.

- Sponsored IED explosions in Quetta in 2015, causing massive damage to life and property.

- Sponsored attack on Hazaras in Quetta and Shia Zaireen enroute to and back from Iran.

- Abetted attacks through anti-state elements against LEAs/FC and FWO in areas of Turbat, Punjgur, Gawadar, Pasni and Jiwani during 2014-15, killing and injuring many civilians and soldiers.

Azizi further said that the court found Jadhav guilty. The espionage case against him was tried by the FGCM and concluded under Pakistan Army Act Section 2 and Official Secret Act 1923. His sentence for espionage was endorsed on April 10, 2017.

The proceedings of this case went through different stages in accordance with legal requirements over a period of one year. Following is the timeline:

1. Confessional Video statement of Kulbushan Jhadav, the active RAW operative - 25 March 2016

2. Initial FIR in CTD Quetta - 8 April 2016

3. Initial interrogation - 2 May 2016

4. Detailed interrogation - 22 may 2016

5. Joint Investigation Team constituted on 12 July 2016

6. Confessional statement under Section 164 CrPC - 22 July 2016

7. Recording of summary of evidence - 24 September 2016

8. 1st proceeding - 21 September 2016

9. 2nd proceeding - 19 October 2016

10. 3rd proceeding - 29 November 2016

11. 4th proceeding - 12 February 2017

12. Death sentence endorsed on 10 April 2017

According to Aziz, following steps were specifically taken to ensure transparency under the Pakistani Laws and Pakistan Army Act.

1) His confessional statement was recorded before a Magistrate under Section 164 CrPC.

2) The proceedings were conducted under the Law of Evidence (Qanun-e-Shahadat 1984) in the competent court

3) A law qualified field officer was provided to defend him throughout the Court proceedings

4) All statements of witnesses were recorded under oath, in the presence of the accused, in the court.

5) Commander Kulbushan was allowed to ask questions from witnesses.

6) During the trial, a fully qualified, law officer of Judge Advocate General (JAG) Branch remained a part of the Court.

7) Punishment after the trial was awarded by the highest forum.

As per law, Jadhav has following available options

1. He has the right to appeal within 40 days to an Appellate Court.

2. He may lodge a mercy petition to the COAS within 60 days of the decision by the appellate court.

3. He may lodge a mercy petition to the President of Pakistan within 90 days after the decision of COAS on the mercy petition.

Meanwhile, India today demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the chargesheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Jadhav and sought consular access to him.

Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case.

The Indian side also conveyed that it will appeal the order and is studying the Pakistan Army Act for the same.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale on Friday asked Pakistan to provide a copy of the charge sheet filed and the judgement given against Indian while strongly raising this issue.

The Indian side also conveyed that it will appeal the order and is studying the Pakistan Army Act for the same.

In a meeting with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, the Indian envoy sought consular access to Jadhav for the 14th time. However, Janjua said since it is a case of espionage, consular access can't be granted contrary to the Indian High Commission's claim that the same must be granted under international law.

A military court in Pakistan earlier this week found Jadhav guilty on two counts of espionage and sentenced him to death.

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.

India has strongly objected to the sentencing, saying consular officials were denied access to Jadhav during his trial.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had earlier this week issued a stern warning to Pakistan, saying that Islamabad should be wary of taking such an extreme step as it could result in damaging the bilateral relations between the already hostile neighbours and vowed to go "out of the way" to save Jadhav amid an outrage in India.
Pakistan's Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has become the youngest honorary citizen of Canada after she was awarded the title during an honorary citizenship ceremony in Ottawa.

"I'm humbled to accept honorary citizenship of your country," CNN quoted Malala as saying during a speech to the House of Commons, where she got a standing ovation from parliamentarians.

"While I will always be a proud Pashtun and a proud citizen of Pakistan, I'm grateful to be an honorary member of your nation of heroes," she added.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presented a certificate along with a flag to Malala which documented her citizenship.

"Thank you, Malala, for your inspiring words. It was an honor to host you in our House -- which I hope you'll now consider you're House, too," Trudeau said in a tweet after the event.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had recently appointed Malala a UN Messenger of Peace to promote girls education.

The appointment took place more than four years after a Taliban gunman shot her in the head on her school bus in 2012.

At 19, Yousafzai is the youngest Messenger of Peace, the highest honour given by the United Nations for an initial period of two years.

She was also the youngest person to win the Nobel peace prize in 2014 when she was 17.

"You are not only a hero, but you are a very committed and generous person," Guterres told Yousafzai.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric had earlier announced that the 19-year-old education advocate will focus worldwide attention on the need for all girls to go to school.

Yousafzai became the youngest-ever Nobel laureate in 2014 when she was recognised for her advocacy of the right of all children to education.

Her campaign led to a Taliban assassination attempt near her home in Swat that left her severely wounded.

She went to Britain for medical treatment and now goes to school there.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended his greetings to states across the nation celebrating various festivals, wishing for joy and prosperity in everyone's lives.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his 126th birth anniversary and wished Bengal on its New Year.

Shubho Nabo Barsho to my Bengali friends. Wishing you all on Poila Boishakh & praying for a wonderful year ahead.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2017

Prime Minister Modi also extended his greetings to the people of Assam on the auspicious occasion of Bohag Bihu.

Wishing the people of Assam on the auspicious occasion of Bohag Bihu.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2017

Down south, Prime Minister Modi wished his Tamil sisters and brothers on the occasion of Puthandu and hoped for good health for Malayalis on the occasion of Vishu.

Greetings on Puthandu to my Tamil sisters & brothers. May the year be full of happiness, good health and prosperity.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2017

On the special occasion of Vishu, I convey my good wishes to the people of Kerala. I pray the coming year brings joy & good health.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2017

On Maha Vishuba Sankranti, the Prime Minister wished the people of Odisha.

Greetings to all Odia people on Maha Vishuba Sankranti. May all your

wishes be fulfilled in the coming year.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2017

Today is a day, when the entire India is immersed in the colours of festivals, proving how multi-cultural and diverse it is as a nation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SRM Group has the ambitious plan to build and create a new research intensive university in Amaravati. Envisioned to be a university of world-class standards, SRM University, AP - Amaravati is to be a globally connected and regionally transformative centre for research and education.

In ten years, SRM Amaravati will have more than 20,000 students and 1500 faculty members in areas of engineering, medicine, liberal arts, management, law and humanities.

The admissions for SRM University, AP - Amaravati for the year 2017-18 is now open inviting candidates to apply for its B.Tech engineering programmes. The candidates are required to apply at the official website www.srmap.edu.in.

Only students who have secured a rank within 1,25,000 in JEE Mains 2017 or within 35,000 in SRM JEEE 2017 or a minimum of 1200 in SAT are eligible to apply. In addition to this, students should have secured a minimum of 60 percent in Class 12 Board Examinations in each of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

The scores in JEE Main/ SRM JEEE/ SAT will have a weightage of 70 percent; the remaining 30% is for the interview and student portfolio representing students' achievements The selection criteria has been designed in a manner to ensure students with an all rounded development are selected.

Direct admissions will be given to meritorious students - National Level Olympiad participants, NTSE/ KVPY scholars, students in the top 5000 ranks in JEE Mains, national and state board toppers. The deadline for applications is 15 May 2017.

The personal interview will commence from June 1 and end on June 10, 2017. The academic session will start in the first week of August 2017

SRM University, AP - Amaravati will initially launch programs in Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics, Electronics and Communication and Mechanical Engineering. The strength of the cohort will be 240 for the year 2017-18. SRM University, AP - Amaravati has a strong focus on fostering a culture of multi-disciplinary learning and research.

To promote this, the university will allow students enrolled in engineering programs to pursue their interests in non-engineering subjects such as economics, liberal arts through a minor degree.

The courses will be taught by expert faculty from India and abroad. The university is working with Perrett Laver, the international search firm specializing in recruitment in the higher education space for recruitment of Vice Chancellor, Deans and senior faculty members.

The university is also working on establishing collaborations with leading international institutions in areas such as curriculum development, faculty development and research. To create a vibrant learning environment, the university is working with Perkins + Will, design architects from USA to design the learning and living spaces.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Following Donald Trump's 'animal' remark for Syrian President Bashar Assad in the wake of the Idlib chemical attack, Syria's senior diplomat has come down heavily on the U.S. President.

"If you are an 'animal' yourself, there is no need to think that everyone else is the same. Bashar Assad is the president of a sovereign state, he was elected by the people. And it's the Syrian people who should give him descriptions, not Trump," Syria's Deputy Minister of Expatriates and Foreign Affairs Ayman Susan told Sputnik.

With the West lashing out at the Syrian government of carrying out the alleged chemical attack in Syria's Idlib province on April, Trump has joined the chorus and blamed the current situation in Syria on Moscow's support of Assad and called the Syrian leader "an animal."

However, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem denied the government's involvement in the Idlib incident, saying it never used chemical weapons on either civilians or terrorists operating in the country and would never do so.

The Russian Defense Ministry said 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.

On April 6, the United States had launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian military airfield in Ash Sha'irat in response to the alleged chemical weapon use in Idlib province.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The U.S. Department of Justice dropped an Obama-era lawsuit challenging North Carolinas House Bill 2 bathroom bill Friday after the states legislature voted to replace the law with a new measure.

But civil rights groups say the laws replacement does not eliminate concerns about discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity for the states residents, including transgender students in its public schools.

The move comes after the Trump administration backed away from the Obama administrations efforts to protect transgender students , rescinding guidance that said Title IX requires public schools, colleges, and universities must respect students gender identity in decisions like pronoun usage and facilities access.

H.B. 2 prohibited local anti-discrimination ordinances and restricted access to restrooms and locker rooms in public buildings, including public schools, based on the biological sex listed on a persons birth certificate, even if that sex differs from their current gender identity. Its replacement, H.B. 142, restricts school boards and other local public agencies from setting policies on access to multi-stall restrooms and other facilities, leaving that authority in the hands of the state. H.B. 142 also puts a freeze on local anti-discrimination ordinances until 2020.

The ACLU and Lambda Legal said Friday they planned to keep fighting the replacement law through a separate lawsuit the groups originally filed to challenge H.B. 2.

The Trump Administration may want to use the fake repeal of H.B. 2 as an excuse to further turn their backs on the transgender community, but the rest of us arent going to give up that easily, James Esseks, director of the ACLUs LGBT Project, said in a statement. Well continue this fight as long as it takes to truly strike down this disastrous law for good.

North Carolina remains the only state to have passed a law that restricts transgender students facilities access in schools, but several other states are considering similar legislation this year.

Related reading on transgender students:

Follow @evieblad on Twitter or subscribe to Rules for Engagement to get blog posts delivered directly to your inbox.
The Chennai Police on Friday registered a case against state ministers K. Raju, U. Radhakrishnan, R. Kamaraj and government's special representative N.T. Sundaram on IT Department's complaint.

The IT Department had asked the police to register a case against them for allegedly obstructing raids at Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar's residence.

The official clarified that a total seizure in Bengaluru raid is Rs. 14.80 crore in old notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 along with documents of various properties.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that President Donald Trump has a 'fantastic' relationship with the U.S. intelligence community.

Responding to a question about President Trump's relationship with the intelligence community, Pompeo said, "It's fantastic".

The audience giggled after knowing the response of Pompeo, to which the CIA Director said that he means it..

Pompeo's remarks have ended the speculations on the rift between Trump and intelligence officials.

The CIA Director said that he meets Trump nearly each day to brief him.

He said the CIA is committed to providing Trump the best analysis on what he is interested in on a given day and what they see as pressing, The Hill reported.

Trump had earlier said that the classified information is illegally given out by "intelligence" like candy which he described as "Very un-American".

"The real scandal here is that classified information is illegally given out by "intelligence" like candy. Very un- American!" Trump said in a tweet.

He also said that the reports which are saying that his advisors were in constant communication with Russians known to U.S. intelligence are an attempt to cover-up the many mistakes made in Hillary Clinton's losing campaign.

Pompeo, who had previously been the U.S. Representative for Kansas's 4th congressional district, was selected by President-elect Donald Trump to be the nominee for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate 66-32 on January 23 this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Urdu language edition of the book on Chinese President titled "Xi Jinping

Around 300 Pakistani and Chinese officials, academicians and researchers participated in the ceremony along with Jiang Jianguo, vice head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, reports Xinhua news agency.

Speaking at the occasion, Sharif said the rich content of the book is both "enlightening and inspiring" and Chinese President Xi Jinping shares his experiences and thoughts with wisdom, empathy and kindness.

"What has touched me most is that this book is not just about high politics, but also about moving stories of common people, their lives and inspirations about hard work and family values. In our times, the peaceful development of China has stimulated peaceful rise of the entire world," said Sharif.

He added that "this book is as much about our contemporary as it is about China. This book is as much about Chinese dream as it is about the global dream to have peaceful, harmonious and connected ."

For his part, Jiang said Pakistan is China's good friend, good neighbor, good brother and the prioritized partner of the Belt and Road Initiative, adding that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project of the initiative and has created more than 10,000 jobs for the locals in Pakistan.

"We fully believe that after our joint cooperation and coordination, a more prosperous and better Pakistan will be presented in front of the world," said Jiang.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong said the English version of Xi's book launched here in 2014 was warmly welcomed in the Pakistani society and the Urdu version will facilitate more Pakistani readers to understand Xi's philosophy of governance, adding that the completion of the Urdu version becomes a new symbol of friendly cooperation between China and Pakistan in the new era.

The book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" contains 79 speeches, talks, interviews, notes and letters of the Chinese leader between November 2012 and June 2014.

Till date, it has been translated into 16 languages and has a distribution of over 6.2 million copies around the .

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ever wonder what would happen, if vital blood components like white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs) andplatelets are deficient in your body?

Not only would you would be prone to severe infections due to the low WBC (the infection fighting cells in the body), severe bleeding due to a low platelet count (type of cells that help blood clot and protects from bleeding), you could also be prone to chronic fatigue and complications related to progressive anemia (low RBC count / hemoglobin). Any of the three could be fatal!

Dr. Punit L Jain MD, DM (Hematology - CMC Vellore), Fellow (Leukemia) MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA and Consultant- Hematology and Stem cell Transplant at Global Hospitals, Mumbai, says, "Aplastic anemia is a condition with all of these dysfunctions combined in just one disease and presents with pancytopenia (reduction of three cell lines) on a checkup. It can occur at any age, though more common when young."

Patients symptoms may vary based on the severity of the disease. The low platelets can manifest with just persistent gum or nasal bleeding, easy bruising, or an uncontrolled bleeding in stools or urine or even heavy bleeding during menstrual periods.

The low WBC count may cause severe infections, which may cause high grade fever. Extreme tiredness or just plain long term fatigue, dizziness, breathlessness on exertion or even at rest may be some other symptoms of the low hemoglobin.

It is this heterogeneity in this disease that makes it imperative to understand and identify such rare disorders as early as possible, to be able to give it an optimum chance of cure.

The exact incidence of this disease in India is not known, but a recent report from AIIMS institute in Delhi suggested that almost 20% - 40% of the referred patients with pancytopeniahave were later diagnosed with aplastic anemia.

Aplastic anemia is not cancer and if rightly identified and diagnosed, has a much higher rate of success than many cancers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday expressed his concern over Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence and said that the government will go to any extent to ensure justice to the alleged Indian spy.

"All efforts are being made and will go to any extent to ensure justice. According to me, no transparent trial was given to him (Kulbhushan Jadhav)," Singh said.

Singh earlier on Tuesday told the Lower House that how Jadhav can be a spy when he had a valid Indian visa.

He also took on Pakistan for denying consular access to Jadhav.

"Basic norms of law and justice were violated. I want to tell the House that the government will do whatever it takes to make sure Kulbhushan Jadhav gets justice," Singh said.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan asked India to refrain from issuing statements that could aggravate hostility between the two sides post the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav.

In a press briefing, Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said there is a need to arrest the growing crisis in Pakistan-India relations before it becomes serious.

Aziz claimed that due process was followed in the trials that led to awarding death sentence to Jadhav for espionage and subversive activities in Pakistan.

He said that Jadhav was tried under the law of the land in a fairly transparent manner and awarded punishment on the basis of credible and specific evidence of his involvement in financing terrorism and carrying out subversive activities in Pakistan.

Putting the ball in India's court, he also claimed that the Letter of Assistance requesting specific information and access to certain key witnesses was shared with New Delhi in January this year.

"Inflammatory statements and rhetoric about 'pre-meditated murder' and 'unrest in Balochistan' will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose," Radio Pakistan quoted Aziz as saying.

The Advisor said that a number of steps were taken during Jadhav's trial to ensure transparency under Pakistani law and Pakistan Army Act.

"His confessional statement was recorded before a magistrate; a qualified officer was provided to defend him throughout proceedings; all statements of witnesses were recorded under oath in the presence of accused and Jadhav was allowed to ask questions from witnesses," he added.

About options available to Jadhav, he said the convict has right of appeal within forty days to an appellate court and he may lodge a mercy petition to the Army Chief within sixty days of the decision by the appellate court.

Aziz added that the convict may lodge a mercy petition to the President of Pakistan within 90 days after the Chief of Army Staff's decision on the mercy petition.

A military court in Pakistan earlier this week found Jadhav guilty on two counts of espionage and sentenced him to death.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday expressed concern over the 2 per cent turn out in the re-polling held in 38 polling stations under the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

He also assured that Narendra Modi government will do "something" to earn the confidence of the voters.

"It is a matter of concern. We are not only thinking but we have decided to do something," he told reporters here but declined to give the details of what the government will do about it.

Asked about the purported videos of human rights violation by forces in Kashmir, Rajnthan Singh said: "I can say the security forces are providing security putting their own life at stake in the crisis situation in ."

To a specific query about a video clip allegedly showing a Kashmiri youth tied to the front of a moving vehicle of the security forces as a human shield against stone-pelters, he said he had no such information.

"Whatever and wherever any such thing happens, it will be looked into. I have not received any such information. When I get the information, then I will answer this question."

He said an FIR has been lodged and action was on regarding the treatment meted out to the Central Reserve Police Force troopers who were carrying the Electronic Voting Machines during the election.

Video clips, which went viral, showed a group of youths heckling and even pushing the troopers as they wound their way.

"The way the CRPF troopers carrying the EVMs were treated, I had ordered that FIR be lodged. The FIR has been lodged now. Interrogation is on," said Rajnath Singh.

--IANS

bdc/ssp/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday said the Centre is "actively considering" a plan to resume -- after 22 years -- the use of the Arabian Sea route to ferry Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and consultations with the Shipping Ministry are already on.

He said the "revolutionary and pilgrim-friendly decision" of sea travel will cut down travel expenses by nearly half compared with air fares. The use of the sea route between Mumbai and Jeddah for Haj was discontinued in 1995.

"A high-level committee, formed by the government to frame the Haj Policy 2018 as per the Supreme Court's 2012 order, is exploring the issue for sending pilgrims via the sea route to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia," the Minister of State for Minority Affairs said at a training programme at the Haj House here.

The committee will soon submit its report to the government.

At present, Haj pilgrims travel by air from 21 points across the country.

The minister said another advantage was that ships nowadays are modern and well equipped to ferry 4,000 to 5,000 persons at one go.

"They can cover the 2,300-odd nautical miles between Mumbai and Jeddah in just two-three days. Earlier, ships used to take 12 to 15 days to cover this distance," he said.

He said the new Haj policy is aimed at making the entire pilgrimage process easier and transparent. Facilities for pilgrims will be the focus of the new policy.

In 2016, as many as 99,903 pilgrims went to Jeddah for Haj through the Haj Committee of India, besides nearly 36,000 persons who went through private tour operators.

In 2017, a total of 1,70,025 persons will go for Haj from India, including 1,25,025 through the Haj Committee and 45,000 others through private operators.

This year, he said, 129,196 applications were received online.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs along with other agencies has started preparations for the biggest annual pilgrimage very early in coordination with various agencies, he added. The aim is to provide world class facilities to Haj pilgrims.

With an increase of 34,005 in India's annual Haj quota by host country Saudi Arabia, announced last year, all Indian states will benefit for this year's pilgrimage, Naqvi said.

"The decision was taken during the signing of a bilateral annual Haj agreement between the two countries at Jeddah on January 11. It is the biggest increase in the Haj quota for India after many years," the Minister said.

More than 500 trainers from different states are participating in the three-day training programme that deals with various dos and don'ts to be adhered to during the pilgrimage. They are enlightened about transport, accommodation and laws in Saudi Arabia, among other things.

Officials from the Haj Committee of India, Saudi Arabia Consulate, BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, Saudi Airlines, Air India, customs and immigration departments and doctors are involved in the endeavour.

These trainers will further train prospective pilgrims at different camps across the country.

--IANS

qn/tsb/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aiming to secure a stable supply of memory chips for its iPhones, US tech giant Apple may invest billions of dollars to obtain a substantial stake in struggling Japanese conglomerate Toshiba's chip business, media reported on Friday.

Apple executives are also considering joining hands with chip manufacturer Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision, for taking a big stake in Toshiba's semiconductor business.

"Japanese government officials have expressed concerns about Toshiba selling critical technologies to overseas buyers. Apple would have Toshiba keep some shares so the Japanese and US firms combined will have a majority stake," Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported.

Last month, Apple suppliers Foxconn and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced their intention to bid for a stake in Toshiba's memory chip unit.

Later, TSMC dropped out of the bid, leaving Foxconn as the highest bidder at $27 billion.

Early this year, Foxconn announced that it is teaming up with Apple to set up a display-panel manufacturing facility in the US at an investment of $7 billion.

The facility could create between 30,000 and 50,000 new jobs and could include the production of TV screens in addition to smartphone displays.

Foxconn has most of its factories in China where it assembles Apple's iPhones.

--IANS

anuj/na/vt

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Union Water Resources Minister on Friday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form the government in Bengal "with a clear majority" in the next assembly polls.

"BJP will form the government in Bengal with a clear majority, just as we saw in Assam and in Haryana where, once upon a time, only one or two of our MLAs used to be elected. In the forthcoming assembly polls in the state, the BJP will win with a clear majority," Bharti said on arrival at the Howrah railway station.

Bharti's comments come in the wake of her party finishing second in the by-poll to Kanthi Dakshin assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district.

State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress retained the seat with the BJP pushing the Left Front candidate to the third position.

Banerjee, has, however, accused opposition parties in Bengal of transferring votes to one another and said she was least bothered about who emerged as her party's principal opposition.

The Bengal assembly polls are scheduled to be held in 2019.
This columnist's teenage daughter explained the latest politically correct views on "gender identity" to her mother and me.

I learned that many young people in Asia are adopting the position promoted by two terrifying extremist groups in the West, a scary US tribe called "Californians" and the UK's even more frightening "Guardian Readers".

These groups say you must legally recognise people as whatever they claim to be -- or risk being sued for discrimination.

I'm pretty chill on all this. If a man feels he is a woman or a dodgy real estate salesman thinks he is President of the United States, let them.

Furthermore, I like the idea that everyone should be legally forced to recognise, for example, that this writer is a handsome, intelligent, good man trapped in the body of a lazy, evil dwarf.

But my chill attitude was challenged when a US reporter friend told me about Pablo Gomez Jr, a man recently charged with the murder of a young woman. After his arrest, Gomez announced that he was a girl "inside" and thus needed to be sent to a women's prison. In most countries, police would have slapped him around and told him not to be silly. But this happened in California so law enforcement officers are now legally required to hold doors open for him, comment on his hair and the like.

Obama spread the California policy across the country. In most states now, police must ask arrested people "How do you identify" and accept the answer given.

"A person with a full beard and complete male 'plumbing' who claims to identify as female will be put in the female cell block," Deputy Sheriff Paul Harding confirmed. "Complaints from female prisoners about the person who looks exactly like a man sleeping and showering with them in their cell block are not valid."

A UK reporter told me that British murderer Peter Laing also told cops that he felt like a girl inside. They duly sent him to a women's prison under his chosen name (Ms Paris Green) where he kept having sex with the other inmates. They told him to behave and transferred him to a second women's jail -- where the same thing happened. "He's just trying to manipulate the system," complained a family member of his victim. Police have now risked the wrath of Guardian Readers by putting him in a male jail.

A police friend tells me cops in Asia assign arrestees to male or female prisons after a simple visual check of their "undercarriage". In Thailand, this means that many "ladyboys" end up in male prisons and some are delighted, according to a 2013 study by Phuketwan, a Thai news service: "Ladyboys commit crimes, most often petty theft, just so they can return to the jail."

I told my kids that laws which force police officers and teachers to let male tricksters into females' safe spaces were a bad thing, but the most important thing was to be kind to everyone, including people of non-standard gender.

I also told them that I myself started life as a man trapped in a woman's body. And then, after nine months, I was born.

(Nury Vittachi is an Asia-based frequent traveller. Send ideas and comments via his Facebook page)

--IANS

nury/vm/sac

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After Gov. Robert Bentley resigned amid a heap of scandal earlier this week, Alabamas newest governor, Kay Ivey, surprised educators by showing up to the states school board meeting Thursday, according to al.com reporter Trisha Powell Crain.

Bentley faced campaign and ethics violations and allegations that he used public resources to carry out and conceal an affair with his former top aide.

The governor in Alabama chairs the states board of education and, as I mentioned Wednesday , is in charge of the creation of the states accountability plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

But Crain notes that Gov. Bentley rarely attended state board meetings. In November,at an Alabama Association of Regional Councils conference, he said that the states schools suck and challenged education leaders to do something about it. Ironically, Crain points out, Bentley also served as the chair of the National Governors Associations Education and Workforce committee.

Gov. Ivey, a Republican, is a former high school teacher, and she made that known during a short speech at the beginning of the board meeting.

Education is the foundation for economic development, she said. Public education will be a high priority. Work with me, and Ill work with you.

You can watch the entire meeting here:

After the speech, she left.

The board proceeded to talk about the states takeover of Montgomery schools, one of the largest districts in the state, the states accreditation process, and the standardized tests it uses. The board then released a report that said graduation rates were down 4 percent (Alabama was found to have inflated its graduation rates earlier this year).

BREAKING: @AlabamaDeptofEd announces 2016 federal 4-year HS graduation rate is 85%. Down from reported 2015 rate of 89%. #ALBOE  Trisha Powell Crain (@Trish_Crain) April 13, 2017

And Michael Sentance, the states superintendent, told board members that the state will now turn its ESSA accountability plan in this September rather than in April, as was originally planned.
China has warned that conflict could break out "at any moment" over North Korea amid fears that it is preparing to launch a sixth nuclear test or more missiles in defiance of UN sanctions and stark warnings from the US.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday said it was necessary to prevent the situation on the Korean peninsula from going down "an irreversible route", Efe news reported.

"Anyone who provokes war on the Korean Peninsula will assume responsibility and pay the price," said the minister.

The US has sent an aircraft carrier to waters off the peninsula and is conducting its biggest-ever joint military exercise with South Korea.

Wang Yi said during a joint press conference with his French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, that if war occurs, "the result is a situation in which everybody loses and there can be no winner."

Amid increasing tensions with the threat of a possible nuclear test by North Korea on the peninsula, the Chinese minister urged all parties not to let things evolve into an "uncontrollable" situation.

The warnings came ahead of the birth anniversary celebrations of Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea, which are scheduled to be held in Pyongyang this weekend.

It is expected that the country may carry out a new nuclear test as USS Carl Vinson, a US aircraft carrier with a navy strike group on board, is sailing in waters near the Korean Peninsula.

Wang also noted that China is always firmly opposed to any action likely to increase the tension, adding that in this crisis the winner will not be the one who exhibits more strength.

The Chinese minister urged all parties to suspend their weapons trials and military manoeuvres as a preliminary step to resuming dialogue.

Wang added that that Beijing is ready to listen to any useful proposals.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Geng Shuang, said the North Korean nuclear test "would be dangerous and irresponsible."

Wang and Ayrault revealed at the press conference held after their meeting that they had discussed bilateral issues and major international crises such as the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the civil war in Syria.

The French minister said they also addressed the growing threat of North Korea's military programme, adding that China and France are determined to achieve denuclearisation on the peninsula.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
French investigators have requested the European Parliament to waive the immunity of far-right presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen in a probe over her alleged misuse of European Union funds to pay for party assistants, the media reported on Friday.

According to reports, Paris's prosecutor's office launched an investigation in 2015 to look into the EU parliamentary assistants fraudulently paid for their services with EU funds while working for Le Pen's National Front (FN) party.

In particular, Le Pen's personal assistant had reportedly received about 340,000 euros ($360,000) of EU money, Europe 1 broadcaster reported.

The request for waiving Le Pen's parliamentary immunity was filed in the European Parliament in late March.

The National Front leader described the move as "normal".

"It's a totally normal procedure, I'm not surprised," she told France Info radio.

Their request is unlikely to be approved by European lawmakers before the two-round presidential election.

The EU body had demanded her to repay almost ?300,000 ($318,000) by January 31.

Le Pen has denounced since the beginning a "political operation", mounted in particular, according to her, by former European Parliament President Martin Schulz.

Last month, European lawmakers lifted her immunity in a separate case which concerns her tweeting pictures of Islamic State violence.

She is one of the frontrunners in the first round vote to be held on April 23.

Opinion polls show her coming first or second and qualifying for a crucial second round on May 7, said reports.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police seized 15 kgs of gold and arrested three people for trying to smuggle it on Friday from the Guwahati railway station, officials said.

"Based on a tip off, we carried out a search in the New Delhi bound Rajdhani express train during which the gold was recovered," a Government Railway Police (GRP) official said.

The gold was in biscuit form.

The three boarded the train from Lumding, he added.

In another incident, GRP officials also recovered 1.5 kg of brown sugar from the New Delhi bound Avadh Assam Express train at the station late Thursday night and arrested one person.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped a fine of Rs 50 lakh on Tehri Hydro Development Corporation for dumping construction debris in river Alaknanda in Uttarakhand.

The order issued on Thursday also says that the construction company will remove the debris dumped in the river and to restore it to its original state, else face a further fine.

The debris was from the construction of Vishnugad-Peepalkoti hydro-electric project (HEP) on the river in the state's Chamoli district.

The NGT has also orderd the contractor working on the behalf of hydro-power company to pay a sum of Rs 20 lakh.

"We impose environmental compensation of Rs 50 lakh upon Respondent no. 1. (Tehri Hydro Development Corporation). This compensation shall be paid within two weeks from today to the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and the Central Pollution Control Board in equal shares. The amount shall be utilised for environmental protection after obtaining the orders of the Tribunal," said a the bench headed by NGT chief, Justice (retd.) Swatanter Kumar.

"A sum of Rs 20 lakh shall be recovered from sub-contractors or agents operating on behalf of the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation, who were responsible for excavation and carriage/dumping of waste and have thrown the same into River Alaknanda," said the bench adding that the sum will be recovered within four weeks.

The green tribunal has also sought explanation from Public Works Department of Uttarakhand, to show cause as to why environmental compensation be not imposed upon them, as the debris was being dumped in the water bodies.

"Further, we direct Respondent no. 1 (Tehri Hydro Development Corporation), its contractors, subcontractors or agents to remove the entire dumped debris from River Alaknanda and restore the same to its original condition within four weeks from today," it said, adding that in case of default, the corporation will pay Rs 25 lakh which will be used by a committee set up the NGT at the relevant time for removal of the muck from the river and also for protective measures.

The green tribunal also asked the central government, state government and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation to direct installation of efficient transportation monitoring

system to ensure that such projects do not cause any pollution in the river.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua told Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale that the "rhetoric" in the Indian Parliament on the sentencing of was "un-warranted" and fuelling hatred against Pakistan.

While refusing the request for consular access to Jadhav, Janjua told the Indian envoy that the hatred against Islamabad was not "conducive" for promoting cordial bilateral ties, a Foreign Office statement said.

Pakistan's top diplomat was referring to Indian statements that if Pakistan carries out the hanging of Jadhav it would amount to "premeditated murder".

Pakistan refused for the 14th time the Indian request for consular access to Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court for subversive activities and waging war against Pakistan.

Bambawale later told reporters here, "We demanded a meeting (with Jadhav), but they denied."

Janjua told Bambawale that India had not provided consular access to Pakistanis in Indian prisons for years, despite repeated requests and follow-up by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

India said it has sought consular access to Jadhav 13 times earlier, but was refused each time.

Earlier, Pakistan's top foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz said that consular access can not be provided in "espionage cases".
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided, despite the recent floods in Lima in Peru, to go ahead with its 130th session there this September, which will elect the host city of the 2024 Olympic Games.

Peru was doubtful to host the week-long IOC session due to the recent floods, reports Xinhua news agency.

"The IOC and the Peruvian government confirmed that preparations for the IOC session, to be held in Peru in September, are going ahead as planned," IOC said in a statement on Thursday.

Peru President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said: "The eyes of the world will be on Lima. Hosting the IOC session will send a vital message to the world that we are ready to welcome the world after the emergency situation."

IOC President Thomas Bach emphasised that the decision to keep Lima as the place for its session became possible after the Peruvian government's assurances.

"The Peruvian government has given us all necessary assurances that the IOC session will be organised in a great way," commented Bach.

The IOC announced a donation of $600,000 to support Peru's recovery efforts last week.

The 130th session will see the election of the host city of the 2024 Olympic Games between Paris and Los Angeles.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni will pay an official visit to the US and Canada later this month, officials said.

Gentiloni will arrive in the US on April 19, visiting the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, Xinhua news agency reported.

He will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on April 20.

A joint press conference would follow the meeting, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's office.

Gentiloni will then travel to Ottawa on April 21, and hold talks with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.

The trip is going to take place shortly ahead of a summit of the Group of Seven (G7) major economies, which is scheduled in the city of Taormina, Sicily, on May 26-27.

Italy assumed the rotating presidency of the G7 this year.

The group comprises the world's seven major developed countries -- the US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan on Friday said Indian "spy" Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced according to the country's laws and that India had not responded to "specific information" sought on him in January.

Top foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz, in a press briefing on Jadhav, also asked how "an innocent man" could have two passports.

At the time of his arrest in March 2016, Jadhav had two passports on him, one in his name, and a second in the name of Hussain Mubarak Patel.

"Why was Jadhav using a fake name in his identity documents?' he asked.

Aziz also slammed the "inflammatory statements and rhetoric of premeditated murder" issued by the Indian government, which he said "will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose".

Aziz said the April 10 sentence on Jadhav was "as per the law of the land.. He (Jadhav) was involved in subversive activities in Pakistan."

He said that India has not responded to a "Letter of Assistance requesting specific information and access to certain key witnesses" that was shared with them on January 23 this year. "There has been no response from the Indian side so far."

Stating that "fully transparent process" had been followed in the sentencing, the top diplomat said Jadhav had the right to appeal within 40 days to a higher court.

Jadhav, who was tried by a military court, could also file a mercy petition with the Army Chief within 60 days of the decision by the appellate court. His last option was to file a mercy petition with the President of Pakistan within 90 days after the decision of the army chief.

He said Jadhav's sentence was based on "credible, specific evidence" proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan.

Rejecting Indian contention that Jadhav was a retired naval commander, he said that India had failed to provide any "credible explanation of why their naval commander was in Balochistan".

Jadhav is said to have been arrested in a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area.

Aziz said India's lack of cooperation and refusal to provide Pakistan legal assistance in the case were the reasons why consular access had not been provided to Jadhav. India has said it had sought consular access to him 13 times, and was refused each time. On Friday, its 14th request was turned down.

The adviser said Jadhav's "confessional statement" had been recorded before a magistrate and the proceedings were conducted under proper laws.

A qualified legal officer was also provided to defend him in court proceedings, he said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti on Friday blamed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for failing to provide leadership to take forward developmental projects and only indulging in " of hatred". The state's ruling Trinamool Congress however dismissed the charges.

"They (the state government officials) are under an illusion. They have no guidance, no leadership. There is nobody to guide them because Mamata has badly propagated of hatred in Bengal. She has not propagated of development," Uma Bharti told the media here.

She said the lack of guidance is responsible for the state's "poor condition".

"That is why Bengal's people, IAS and IPS officers, engineers have lost the concept of development, good law and order... they have lost their brilliance and their impact and this is why Bengal is in shambles," she said.

Criticising the projects that are implemented by the state government, Uma Bharti said she is "frustrated" with the execution of the irrigation schemes.

"People in Bengal are not getting the benefits of the Central schemes. I am myself frustrated with the irrigation schemes because whenever they develop a project, there are a lot of gaps and we can't release funds for it.

Rubbishing the BJP leader's claims, Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said the state has seen "unprecedented development" since his party came to power.

He urged the central government to release the fund for the state that has been stopped so far.

"Bengal has been floosed with Mamata Banerjee's developmental initiatives in the last six years. I would once again ask the Central government to think about the betterment of the state and release the funds for various state welfare projects that has been stopped by them," Chatterjee said.

"The state government is in favour of progress and development. We are always there for the betterment of people," 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.)
Timothy D. Walker, author of the new book, Teach Like Finland: 33 Simple Strategies For Joyful Classrooms , agreed to answer a few questions.

Timothy D. Walker is an American teacher living in Finland. He has written extensively about his experiences for Education Week Teacher, Educational Leadership, and on his blog, Taught by Finland. He is a contributing writer on education issues for The Atlantic.

LF: You write a lot in the book about the life of a teacher in Finland being much more sane than our lives here in the United States. Can you talk about the differences and what you think would be required in order to make some of those modifications here?

Timothy D. Walker:

One of the major differences is scheduling. Finnish law allows teachers to incorporate a 15-minute break for every 45 minutes of instruction, and those frequent breaks keep students and their teachers fresh throughout the school day. Also, Finlands teachers benefit from having significantly less hours of classroom instruction each week. At my Helsinki public comprehensive school (grade one to grade nine), a typical full-time teaching load is only 24 classroom hours each week. Thats representative of what youd find at other comprehensive schools in Finland. Deduct those 15-minute breaks from the workload, and Finnish teachers are only spending about 18 hours instructing their students. A recent teaching survey showed that U.S. teachers, compared to their international peers, spend the most weekly hours instructing their students: 27 hours per week, on average.

In short, its harder for U.S. teachers to stay balanced when theyre spending many hours in the classroom with few breaks. (As someone who burned out while teaching in the States, I can empathize.) There are other systemic differences, but I think the allocation of time is the starkest one.

I find it difficult to imagine that American schools will start adopting a Finnish style teaching schedule. That said, we can learn from the mind-set of many Finnish teachers. In my experience, they value free time and collaboration in a way Im not used to seeing among American educators, and those priorities support their overall well-being. I devote an entire chapter of my book to the subject of mind-set.





LF: A common criticism of holding up Finlands schools as a model is that its success is less due to its teaching methods and more due to its homogenous population and lack of poverty. How do you respond those criticisms?

Timothy D. Walker:

Its a fair critique, and Finland, undoubtedly, benefits from little poverty and minor diversity. Look at Massachusetts , one of the wealthiest states, and you can see why we should exercise caution when interpreting Finlands high scores on international standardized tests such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). If you disregard their performance in math, 15-year-olds in Massachusetts produce PISA results on par with the worlds top performing countries.

In my book, I try to shy away from explaining Finlands high international standardized test scores. Im more interested in identifying strategies that support joyful teaching and learning.

LF: Lets say Im a teacher who is intrigued by Finlands schools. What are some simple changes I can make over the next week to begin testing out some of your 33 Simple Strategies?

Timothy D. Walker:

While I taught in the United States, I often ate lunch alone in my classroom. I didnt exactly grasp the value of having casual conversations over meals. In Finland, it was a different story: my school required that I eat with my students and other teachers on a daily basis--and this shift helped me to see the importance of this practice. In Teach Like Finland, I suggest setting aside time for regular meals with your students and colleagues to develop stronger rapport.

At my Finnish public school, I witnessed my fellow teachers welcoming one another into their classrooms on a regular basis. Its a wonderful practice. When we invite each other into our classrooms, we can tap into one anothers strengths. I recommend trying a teacher swap -- you teach a lesson in a colleagues classroom, and your colleague teaches a lesson in your classroom.

LF: In what ways, if any, do you think schools in the United States might have an advantage over those in Finland?

Timothy D. Walker:

I love this question, because its usually posed the other way around. Yes, U.S. schools have a number of advantages. One major advantage is pedagogical innovations. In my opinion, America boasts some of the finest ideas in education. In fact, Finland has borrowed several innovative practices from America and implemented them on a national scale, such as a concept called Me & MyCity, which I describe in my book.

In America, social-emotional learning (SEL) is widely accepted as highly important. Ive met many US teachers who are intentionally addressing the social and emotional needs of their students. Thats a wonderful thing! In Finland, Ive found that SEL is still viewed as a novel idea. Id say this is a specific area where America can teach Finland.





LF: How long did you teach in the U.S. prior to moving to Finland, how long have you been there, and what are your future plans?

Timothy D. Walker:

I taught in the United States for 4.5 years before moving to Helsinki during the summer of 2013. In Finlands capital city, I taught fifth and sixth grade students for two years and then my family and I moved about 200 miles north to the city of Kuopio, where I took a break from teaching to focus on writing. This summer were moving back to Helsinki and I plan to return to the classroom as a full-time teacher! Im excited.

LF: Is there anything I havent asked that youd like to share?

Timothy D. Walker:

Im a big believer in the idea that we can learn a lot from one another, as long as were reflective and humble. This message is at the heart of Teach Like Finland.

LF: Thanks, Timothy!
A Romanian, part of a six-member gang broke into an ATM in the Kerala capital, has been picked up when he arrived at a Kenyan airport on Friday, police said.

The Kerala Police, which had sought the Interpol's help to issue a red corner notice for Alexandro Mariano, got information from Kenya that he has been arrested.

A team of Kerala Police officers will now leave for Kenya to bring Mariano to the state capital.

Last August, a gang of six Romanians tampered an ATM of the State Bank of India, using duplicate ATM cards and withdrew Rs 2.50 lakh.

Soon after the theft came to light, police arrested two Romanians and was on the lookout for the rest of the gang, who were all identified from their passports, which they had submitted while checking into a hotel in Thiruvananthapuram.

--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 paid homage to the architect of the Indian Constitution, Bharat Ratna Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on the occasion of his 126th birth anniversary here on Friday.

Arriving here on a daylong visit for various engagements, Modi started his day with a visit to the historic monument, Deekshabhoomi, where Babasaheb Ambedkar and over 600,000 followers had embraced Buddhism on October 14, 1956.

This 'Dharmantar' is considered the biggest mass religious conversion at a single location in history that took place 61 years ago.

Modi, accompanied by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, went around the Deekshabhoomi and later garlanded a large bust of Babasaheb Ambedkar installed there.

A series of functions has been organised to mark the Ambedkar Jayanti on Friday across Maharashtra, including at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur and Chaityabhoomi in Mumbai, where Babasaheb Ambedkar was cremated following his death on December 6, 1956.

Born on April 14, 1891, Babasaheb Ambedkar was the first Law Minister of the Independent India, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution who dedicated his life for the uplift of Dalits, women and labourers, and was posthumously conferred the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 1990.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russia, Iran and Syria have proposed an on-site investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.

"We insist on conducting a meticulous, objective and unbiased investigation into the alleged chemical weapon attack by Syrian aircraft on April 4," Lavrov said at a joint conference after talks with his Iranian and Syrian counterparts, Mohammad Javad Zarif and Walid al-Muallem, respectively.

The trio said that the probe should be carried out by a well-balanced team of experts under the auspices of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the UN chemical weapons watchdog, reported Xinhua news agency.

Russia and Iran hailed the readiness of the Syrian government to accept such a mission, Lavrov said.

On April 7, the US launched 59 cruise missiles against a Syrian military airfield in response to the Assad's regime's chemical weapons attack that killed at least 89 people in Syria's Idlib province.

Washington blamed the Syrian government for the attack. But Russia said it might have been caused by the explosion of chemical weapons stored by rebels in a local depot during a raid by the Syrian Air Force.

Russia, Iran and Syria unanimously regarded the US missile strikes as an aggression in brutal violation of international law and the UN Charter, Lavrov noted.

"We insist that the US and its allies should respect the sovereignty of Syria and abstain from similar actions," he said.

At the press conference, Syria's Muallem reiterated that his government no longer possesses chemical weapons and the destruction of its previous stockpiles had been confirmed by the OPCW.

"We do not use chemical weapons against terrorists or our own people. We condemn any use of chemical weapons," said the Syrian top diplomat.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Following the Dalai Lama's week-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh, India on Friday made it clear that there is no change in its policy towards Tibet and on the border issue with China.

"Let me make it absolutely clear that there is no change whatsoever in government of India's policy towards the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Bagay said on Friday.

He was asked whether the Tibetan spiritual leader's visit to the northeastern state of Arunachl Pradesh from April 4 to 11 signalled a change in India's policy on Tibet or on the border negotiations with China.

"Similarly, our approach to seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question remains unchanged," Baglay said.

Beijing has been very vocal in its protest over the Dalai Lama's visit to the northeastern state, saying it would hurt India-China ties.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over 200 children along with other demonstrators staged a protest outside the White House against US President Donald Trump's immigration policies, the media reported.

According to the organisers, the group included children from Miami, New York, Colorado and the Washington D.C. area who began their journey to the capital last week to "send a message" to the President, The Hill magazine reported.

They stopped in Atlanta and the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina before ending their trip here.

Under the slogan "We belong together", the protesters on Thursday gathered at Lafayette Park, in front of the presidential mansion, to "raise the community's awareness that we should be united".

"The reason why I'm here is that the President wants to separate families. He shouldn't do it, because it's bad to do that. We need for him not to do it," seven-year-old Nayahuari Mesa, who was here with her three-year-old brother and parents from New York, told Efe news.

Her mother, Felicia Martinez said that Nayahuari was aware of the situation and, although fortunately her husband was able to acquire permanent US residence just a month ago, after 12 years as an undocumented migrant, she wants to be part of the fight to prevent other families from suffering possible separation.

Legal immigrants and undocumented migrants, as well as families who were able to take advantage of the immigration relief plans pushed by former President Barack Obama, joined forces to make clear to the Trump administration that they were not going to give up.

Rosana Araujo, from Uruguay, came in the caravan that drove up from Miami, as part of the Women Working Together organisation, said that she is one of those immigrants without papers who could be separated from her US-born son.

"We came with our children, we're a group of fathers, mothers and kids who - in (Easter Week) - want to send a message: that family unity exists," Araujo, who has been in the US without papers for 14 years, told Efe news.

"Let the raids stop, let there be more protection for immigrants, for each community to become a sanctuary community, for our mayors, commissioners and representatives to support the community and not cooperate with the police," she said.

She was referring to the threats from the Trump administration against the so-called "sanctuary cities", which by municipal decision do not persecute immigrants based on their immigration status.

Both Latinos and African Americans, to shouts of "Up with education, down with deportation", also joined the protes.

More than 11 million people are estimated to live illegally in the US, and about six million US-born children are at risk of being separated from their parents if the latter are deported.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Researchers have developed a diagnostic platform based on the gene editing tool CRISPR which could one day be used to respond to viral and bacterial outbreaks, monitor antibiotic resistance, and detect cancer.

The researchers adapted a CRISPR protein that targets RNA as a rapid, inexpensive, highly sensitive diagnostic tool.

The new tool, dubbed SHERLOCK (Specific High-sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing), can be designed for use as a paper-based test that does not require refrigeration.

It is well suited for fast deployment and widespread use inside and outside of traditional settings -- such as at a field hospital during an outbreak, or a rural clinic with limited access to advanced equipment, the researchers said.

"There is great excitement around this system," said study co-author Deborah Hung from Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US.

"There is still much work to be done, but if SHERLOCK can be developed to its full potential it could fundamentally change the diagnosis of common and emerging infectious diseases," Hung said.

In a study published in the journal Science, the researchers described how this RNA-targetting CRISPR enzyme, Cas13a, was harnessed as a highly sensitive detector -- able to indicate the presence of as little as a single molecule of a target RNA or DNA molecule.

The scientists demonstrated the method's versatility on a range of applications, including detecting the presence of Zika virus in patient blood or urine samples within hours, and rapidly reading human genetic information, such as risk of heart disease, from a saliva sample.

"We can now effectively and readily make sensors for any nucleic acid, which is incredibly powerful when you think of diagnostics and research applications," said Jim Collins, Professor of Bioengineering at MIT, and faculty member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard.

"This tool offers the sensitivity that could detect an extremely small amount of cancer DNA in a patient's blood sample, for example, which would help researchers understand how cancer mutates over time," Collins said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti on Friday went all guns blazing at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of fanning fundamentalism and of hatred, while falling to provide leadership to implement development projects.

On a day's whirlwind trip to the state, during which she attended both official meetings and political programmes, she termed as "baseless" the state government's allegations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to inflict violence by conducting armed rallies in the name of religious celebrations.

"These allegations are baseless. They don't make any sense. Mamata Banerjee is intentionally doing fundamentalist . She is propagating the of hatred," Uma Bharti told the media after a rally in West Bengal's Howrah district.

She said that rallies on the occasion of Ram Navmi and Hanuman Jayanti were part of age-old traditions of Hinduism.

"Such rallies are a part of our age-old traditions. If the law and order situation in the region is good, police can monitor such rallies without any problems. Rallies like these were conducted earlier as well," she claimed.

Uma Bharti accused Banerjee of appeasing one community and promoting communalism in the state.

"Mamata is trying to appease just one community in the state. She is doing politics of communalism to retain her power," she claimed.

Uma Bharti also asserted that her will form the government in West Bengal "with a clear majority" in the next assembly polls.

"The people of the state are voting for BJP now as they can see a clear alternative to the Trinamool. Slowly people would stop considering Mamata Banerjee as an alternative. Then the BJP would come to power with a clear majority," she said.

Uma Bharti's comments came a day after the BJP displaced the Left Front to take the second place in the Kanti Dakshin assembly by-polls comfortably won by the Trinamool.

Turning to administrative matters, Uma Bharti alleged that Banerjee has failed to guide the state bureaucrats.

"They (the state government officials) are under an illusion. They have no guidance, no leadership. There is nobody to guide them because Mamata has badly propagated politics of hatred in Bengal. She has not propagated politics of development," she said.

The Minister said the lack of guidance is responsible for the state's "poor condition".

"That is why Bengal's people, IAS and IPS officers, engineers have lost the concept of development, good law and order... they have lost their brilliance and their impact and this is why Bengal is in shambles," she said.

Criticising the projects that are implemented by the state government, Uma Bharti said she is "frustrated" with the execution of the irrigation schemes.

"People in Bengal are not getting the benefits of the Central schemes. I am myself frustrated with the irrigation schemes because whenever they develop a project, there are a lot of gaps and we can't release funds for it.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who was also in the city, appeared much more restrained in criticising the state government, but nevertheless echoed Uma Bharti in saying said his party would form the government next time.

"Agli bar BJP sarkar (Next time, there will be BJP government). Kanthi Dakshin bypoll election made the indication clear that BJP is making progress."

Rajnath Singh, sought cooperation from the state government, but complained it had not codified the rules of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA).

Rubbishing Uma Bharti's claims, Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said the state has seen "unprecedented development" since his party came to power.

He urged the central government to release the fund for the state that has been stopped so far.

"Bengal has been flooded with Mamata Banerjee's developmental initiatives in the last six years. I would once again ask the Central government to think about the betterment of the state and release the funds for various state welfare projects that has been stopped by them," Chatterjee said.

"The state government is in favour of progress and development. We are always there for the betterment of people," 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.)
The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday signed an agreement with the Centre for "Power for All".

The agreement was signed in presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal.

UP was the only state in the country which had not signed the scheme aimed at providing power to all, said Goyal, and also lauded state Power Minister Shrikant Sharma and his team for wrapping up the agreement in such a short time.

It was also announced that from now on, power consumers in the rural areas will be able to make digital payments of their electricity bills.

A 24x7 toll free number - 1912, was also activated across the state for people to complain about any power related issues. An MoU was also signed for providing of 10,000 solar panels by the Centre.

A scheme of providing LED bulbs, tube lights and energy efficient fans at cheap rates was also kicked off with the signing of an agreement between the Energy Efficiency Services Ltd and the state government.

Goyal also credited Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar of being the visionary behind the giant strides being taken by the Narendra Modi government in the power sector, adding that it was the architect of the Indian constitution who had visualised the concept of power for all and that electricity and irrigation facilities were big tools in the hand of people for development.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is chalking out an international road map, while wanting to follow in the footsteps of its American counterpart. The goal of the is to inspect pharma companies and their manufacturing units in other countries, especially the US, across Europe, Japan and China. The national drug regulator would conduct risk-based assessments of companies which supply to India, an official at the told Business Standard.
Its an intolerable insult. A crore of rupees was offered for the head of a mere (black, to quote the Bharatiya Janata Partys Tarun Vijay) Madrassi, albeit chief minister of Kerala. Yet West Bengals first woman chief minister, an international player, is rated a measly Rs 11 lakh. Its worse than the sop of a solitary Black Cat while political nobodies strut around surrounded by a dozen sinister-looking, gun-toting commandos. Can any other Indian politician snub a foreign prime minister as Mamata Banerjee did again last week? Can even Narendra Modi, leave alone Keralas Pinarayi Vijayan, rock the electoral boat in another country?
Tips to Help Your Criminal Lawyer Win Your Case

If you've been charged with a crime, your main priority is to get those charges dismissed or win your criminal case at trial. And the best way to do those things is to have a good criminal defense attorney on your side.

But whether you win or lose your case won't entirely be on your lawyer's account. There are ways to can help -- and hurt -- your case, beginning from your first contact with police and ending with a jury verdict. Here's how to be an asset to your attorney in your criminal case.

Saying the wrong thing to law enforcement can mean your case is over before it began. Admitting to the crime or lying to investigators (which could garner more criminal charges) can negatively impact your prospects, so know what you should and shouldn't say to cops long before you even meet your lawyer.

The best way to help your lawyer win is to choose the best lawyer. And that doesn't always mean the most expensive. Public defenders can often have the most experience with prosecutors and judges. But don't go chasing a bargain attorney who is unfamiliar with criminal trials. Finding the right lawyer for you is the first step to winning your case.

One of the big reasons for picking an attorney you're comfortable with is the fact that you'll need to tell him or her your side of the story. The best way for your lawyer to defend you is if they know all the facts, even those that don't put you in the best light.

While guilt for a former offense isn't proof that you committed this crime, certain past convictions can affect current or future criminal cases. The last thing you want is for you and your lawyer to be blindsided by your record.

Knowing why prosecutors dismiss criminal charges generally can help you specifically. You can help your lawyer build your defense or attack the prosecution's case, perhaps avoiding a trial altogether.

Each criminal case is unique. If you've been charged with a crime, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

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has not only ended FY17 on a disappointing note, with lower-than-expected March quarter performance, albeit marginally, but has also started FY18 on a weaker wicket.

For one, volume growth of 7.74 per cent for the March quarter is almost back to the levels of 7.23 per cent seen in the September 2014 quarter, when Vishal Sikka was brought in as MD and CEO.

Second, has given an operating profit margin guidance of 23-25 per cent for FY18 compared with 24-25 per cent in FY17 (actual FY17 at 24.7 per cent), leading analysts to downgrade their earnings estimate. The early ones show brokerages have cut net profit estimates for by three-six per cent. An analyst at a domestic brokerage said the muted revenue growth guidance in constant currency terms at 6.5-8.5 per cent for FY18 was only a slight variation with consensus estimates of 7-9 per cent, but the lower margin guidance had upset the Street. The Infosys stock was the biggest loser in the Sensex, shedding 3.9 per cent on Thursday.

Analysts believe Infosys will achieve revenue growth of 7.5 per cent in FY18, broadly the same (7.4 per cent) that it achieved in FY17. But, multiple headwinds on the margin front such as increasing on-site costs and rupee appreciation are making matters worse. Analysts have cut margins by about 80 basis points, which would take it below 24 per cent in FY18, thereby prompting the cut in earnings. Ashish Chopra, IT analyst at Motilal Oswal Securities, said the weaker margin guidance and March quarter revenue miss drove a three per cent cut in earnings estimates. While there are positive BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance) undertones, it is not reflecting in deals and higher IT budgets in the segment yet; it could come in the second half of FY18, he said. Emkays analysts have cut their FY18/19 EPS estimates by four-five per cent each.

The Infosys management, however, indicated the margin band takes into account the lower revenue trajectory, pricing decline and currency volatility. To drive efficiencies, it is looking at higher employee utilisation, lower on-site costs, higher offsite-onsite mix and keeping employee costs steady to drive profitability.

Infosyss March quarter numbers were below estimates on all counts. Going ahead, the company expects its performance to improve in the US (62 per cent of revenues). It hopes that with rate hikes and expectations of lower regulatory interventions in the US financial sector, the finance vertical (largest vertical, accounting for 33 per cent of revenues) will do better in H2FY18. Given the store closures in the US, the worry is the retail and consumer packaged goods vertical, whose share in overall revenues fell 50 basis points sequentially to 14.1 per cent.

The bigger issue for Infosys is its traditional services business (over half the revenues) are not growing, and newer businesses (digital) are taking time to ramp up. While the company has improved on many fronts such as large deals, client penetration, automation and digital business, in the near-term expect the stock to underperform during this transition to newer business streams, says an analyst.

While clarity on capital allocation (Rs 13,000 crore) for dividends/buybacks helps and would act as a cushion for the stock, it is little solace given the muted growth and margin projection. Moreover, the $20-billion target for 2020, too, seems a bit far-fetched given the FY17 figure of $10.2 billion.
Larger-than-life cutouts of Prime Minister compete for space with those of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his legendary father Biju Patnaik at traffic intersections and pedestrian pathways of the wide and leafy roads of Odisha's capital, hosting a three-day BJP executive meeting that started Friday.
BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday accused Bihar minister with concealing ownership of a land in Aurangabad district in his election affidavit and annual assets declaration.

Tej Pratap, the state health minister in the Nitish Kumar government, had purchased land for Rs 53.34 lakh in Aurangabad district in 2010 from seven persons, but neither declared it in his election affidavit in the 2015 Assembly polls nor furnished the same in the annual assets declaration before the state government, Sushil told reporters here.

"It is beyond anyone's comprehension as to why he has not declared the property valued at Rs 15 crore in official records," the senior BJP leader alleged.

Sushil, accompanied by Bihar BJP vice-president Devesh Kumar, said "We will bring it to the notice of the Election Commission through a memorandum annexing the affidavit that did not mention the property and loan taken against it. We will demand the EC to take action."



He also raised questions as to where did Tej Pratap get Rs 53.34 lakh to buy the land in 2010 when he was barely 20 years-old.

"Will the Chief Minister dare to sack him (Tej Pratap)? ...CM Nitish Kumar is silent in order to save his government," Sushil Modi said.
The 126th birth anniversary of Dalit icon Dr B R Ambedkar was celebrated today with traditional fervour across Maharashtra.

In Nagpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi, where the architect of the Constitution embraced Buddhism in 1956 with a large number of followers.

In Mumbai, state Education Minister Vinod Tawde visited Chaitya Bhoomi, the memorial of Ambedkar, and offered floral tributes on the occasion.

Memorial speeches were delivered at special functions and tributes offered in various parts of the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tributes were today paid to Dalit icon B R Ambedkar on his 126th birth anniversary at the Basaveshwara statue in London borough of Lambeth.

The event wasorganised by Former Mayor of London borough of Lambeth Neeraj Patil on behalf of The Lambeth Basaveshwara Foundation.

Speaking on the occasion, Patil said the reason for celebrating Ambedkar's birthday at the Basaveshwara statue was the conceptual relationship shared between the two great men.

He said, "Basaveshwara and Ambedkar fought against untouchability and caste discrimination in the Indian society."



Patil saidBasaveshwara pioneered the idea of Democracy in the 12th century and Ambedkar was the architect of the Constitution for the world's largest democracy.

"Basaveshwara and Ambedkar were both economists and statesmen who resigned from their powerful positions. Basaveshwara resigned from the cabinet of Bijala (the then ruler)and Ambedkar resigned from the cabinet of Nehru. Both promoted gender equality and tolerance and were strong advocates of freedom of speech," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had unveiled the statue of Basaveshwara andhad inaugurated Ambedkar's house on the same day on November 14, 2015.

Basaveshwara statue is not only the first statue to be unveiled by an Indian Prime Minister in the UK but also the first conceptual statue approved by the British Cabinet in the vicinity of the Parliament.

The Ambedkar House in London was bought by Government of Maharashtra and converted into a museum. This is the home where he lived while acquiring higher education in London during 1921-1922.

The Ambedekar house is located in the London borough of Camden.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union (AMUSU) has condemned the filing of an FIR against some student leaders for participating in a protest march against incidents of violence allegedly involving cow vigilantes.

"Police stand by when innocent farmers and cattle-traders are targeted by armed mobs but lose no time to slap cases against those who are exercising their fundamental right for peaceful protest," AMU students union President Faizul Hasan said condemning the filing FIR on students.

He was referring to the students' march on April 12 where he had said he would "fully support" any move for a national ban on cow slaughter. During the protest, he had also demanded establishing fast track courts to try the cases against those indulging in violence in the name of cow protection.

A case has been filed against 81 students at the civil lines police station for taking out the procession without getting official permission.

Hasan said the students' union will hold a special meeting today to chalk out its course of action in the wake of the "coercive step" taken by the district authorities.

Hasan also said the AMUSU is whole-heartedly behind the ongoing efforts for securing justice of Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been awarded death sentence by a Pakistan military court.

"We strongly condemn the inhumane approach of Pakistan and we want that Prime Minister Modi should not hesitate to use his personal equation with his Pakistani counterpart for securing Jadhav's release," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Romanian national was arrested today in Kenya for his alleged role in the high-tech case of ATM fraud in Kerala last year, police said.

Ionut Alexandru Marinoiu, the second Romanian involved in the case, was arrested on the basis of a red corner notice issued by the Interpol based on the Kerala police recommendation.

The police said efforts are being made to bring Ionut to Kerala. He is the second Romanian to be arrested in the case involving six accused.

Earlier on August 10 last year, another Romanian national, suspected to be behind the ATM fraud case along with two other foreigners, was arrested in Mumbai.

The police had then said three Romanians were involved in the racket, in which they had allegedly obtained the details of bank customers and withdrawn their money using fake ATM cards.

The police suspected the electronic device at the ATM counter had enabled the fraudsters collect the secret pin code and card details.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The number of emergency cases being referred to secondary and tertiary level hospitals in Goa has gone up by 50 per cent in the recent times due to the fear of assault by patients relatives, a senior official said.

"It has come to light that almost 50 per cent of the referrals from Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and private doctors to higher hospitals are out of fear of assault by patients relatives," IMA Goa President Medha Salkar told PTI.

"Doctors are acting defensive due to attacks on them. They feel apprehensive about taking any major decisions due to lack of confidence relating to their own security in case of any untoward circumstances which may arise later," Salkar said.

"There is always a fear that the relatives who are medically uneducated will respond in a violent way, if there is death or complications which are totally unforeseen," Salkar said.

IMA's Goa unit had recently petitioned chief minister Manohar Parrikar after a private practitioner from south Goa was assaulted by a woman a couple of days ago. The accused woman is currently on the run after police complaint was filed against her.

Salkar said the issue of doctors safety in various government and private hospitals was discussed with the chief minister.

"The chief minister gave a patient hearing to the problems faced by doctors. We had an appointment with him only for five minutes but the discussions went on for more than 35 minutes," she said.

Discussing the situation in PHCs and with the private doctors, Salkar said "Sometimes you have to take some decisions on the spur of the moment but now doctors are wary of doing so which has increased the load on Goa Medical College and district hospitals. It is high time some steps in this regard are taken."



Salkar said measures like installation of CCTVs at the entrance of doctor's chamber can go a long way in controlling unruly crowd.

She saidIMA is also working on improving communication skill of the doctors.

Salkar said if the patient has any grievances he can approach redressal committee which has to be appointed by authorities under Goa Medicare Act of 2013.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Apex industry body Assocham will organise a three-day business meet from tomorrow on agro-food processing and fisheries where 75 participants from China, Hong Kong and Japan are expected to participate.

Chairman of agri-council (eastern region) Ranjan Sen today said nearly 75 foreign visitors will participate in the meet where Indian companies from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, UP and NE states will showcase their products.

The Indian companies will showcase products in categories like processed food, sea food and meat.

Sen said cracking the exports markets of China and Japan is difficult as these countries have stringent conditions for imports of food products.

There will also be sessions on raising investments, export documentations and procedures during the three-day meet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Manhattan Law Clerk Jumps to Death, Like Lawyer Before Him

A clerk at a Manhattan law firm leapt to his death this week, a month after a lawyer at a nearby law firm committed suicide the same way.

Ken Freeling, an attorney at Covington & Burlington, plunged to his death from his ninth story apartment in March. The clerk, unidentified at the scene on April 10, jumped from the 10th floor offices of Satterlee Stephens.

The deaths appear unrelated, except for the fact that both victims worked at law firms five blocks from each other. It almost goes without saying that law firm life is notoriously stressful, as the American Bar Association acknowledges on its website.

Greater Risk for Suicide

"Lawyers are not immune to suicide," the ABA says. "As research suggests that lawyers experience depression and substance abuse at higher rates than the general population, lawyers may be at a greater risk for suicide."

Freeling, 59, was of counsel at Covington & Burlington and a former partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf. That firm collapsed in scandal.

According to the American Lawyer, a bank claimed Freeling owed $361,000 to cover the balance of a loan used to finance his ownership in the defunct firm. He sued the bank, but a judge dismissed his complaint in 2016.

At the time of his death, police reported that Freeling had been battling with mental health issues and depression. His son, Sam, also took his own life four years ago.

Unanswered Questions

Freeling's death was the second suicide at a Manhattan high-rise that week, where another man leapt from his apartment. On Monday this week, no one from the law firm commented to the press about the clerk's death there.

However, a FedEx employee who made deliveries to the mailroom at the firm said the man looked upset when he last saw him.

"He was quiet and on his phone," he told the New York Post. "It looked like he was stressed as hell."

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More than 1,400 Sikhs from India today celebrated the Baisakhi Festival in Hassan Abdal, a town in Pakistan's Punjab province famous for one of the most sacred sites of Sikhism.

The officials of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandik Committee also took part in the festivities.

ETPB Chairman Siddiqul Farooq inaugurated the festival. Speaking on the occasion he said the board would continue facilitating the visiting Yatrees.

He said the ETPB is establishing the Guru Nanak University in Nankana Sahib and Ghandara University in Taxila.

"The federal Higher Education Commission has allocated Rs 1bn for each project and construction work will soon begin," he said and reiterated that the people of both countries want peace.

Baisakhi is an ancient festival dating back to the 17th century, also marks the beginning of a new solar year and harvest season. It is one of the most significant holidays in the Sikh calendar, commemorating the establishment of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib in 1699 by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

To mark the celebrations, devotees, irrespective of Sikh religion, throng at Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassan Abdal. The celebrations start when devotees with flowers and offerings in their hands, proceed towards the Gurdawaras and temples before dawn.

The Indian Sikhs would also visit Gurdwara Janamesthan Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Sacha Soda in Farooqabad, Gurdawara Kartarpur Narowal and Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore.

The Yatrees will visit Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore on April 18, Kartarpur Narowal on April 19 and return to Lahore on the same day. A seminar title 'Besakhi' will be held in Lahore on April 20 where Punjab Governor Malik Rafique Rajwana will be the chief guest.

The Yatrees will return to their homeland, India on April 21.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Miniratna PSU Balmer Lawrie & Co Ltd has said it is investing Rs 50 crore for construction of two cold chain warehouses to tap the growing demand for temperature controlled warehousing facilities.

Of the Rs 50 crore, the PSU would be pumping some Rs 33-34 crore from internal accruals as it has sufficient free cash, company Chairman and Managing Director Prabal Basu said.

The company was constructing two temperature controlled warehouses - one at Delhi NCR and the other at Patalganga, Maharashtra, Balmer Lawrie director (services) K Swaminathan told PTI.

This project has also been approved for subsidy recently by the government which is promoting such projects to reduce wastage of perishable items by 10 per cent.

"The NCR cold warehouse will be opened in May and by September, Patalganga will be operational. The project will focus on vegetables and fruits. Patalganga will be mainly act as sourcing hub and NCR as distribution centre," he said.

The company also has one operational warehouse at Hyderabad. The three warehouses would support modern retail, restaurants and food & beverage sector.

Each of the cold chain warehouses would have about 3800 tonne storing capacity. The company will also procure 18 air-conditioned vehicles for its own logistics.

With these three warehouses, Balmer Lawrie completes first phase of the cold chain infrastructure project.

"Once these gets stabilised, another three temperature controlled warehouse will be planned with its presence in the eastern region," Basu said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Billie Lourd has paid a tribute to her late mother Carrie Fisher as she attended a Star Wars Celebration event.

The 24-year-old actress remembered her late mother - who was famed for playing the Rebel Alliance leader Princess Leia - at the event in Orlando, Florida and spoke of the similarities between the "Star Wars" character and her late mother, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"My mom used to say she never knew where Princess Leia ended and Carrie Fisher began. She was imperfect in many ways but her imperfections and willingness to speak about them are what made her more than perfect," Billie says.

"My mom, like Leia, wasn't ever afraid to speak her mind and say things that might have made most people uncomfortable. (She was) the strong soldier of a woman 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.

"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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Brazilian President Michel Temer has angrily rejected an allegation that he was involved in a multi-million dollar bribe paid to his party by the Odebrecht construction conglomerate.

"This never happened. Not at this meeting nor at any other which I held during my public life with any person or legal entity. I would never put my reputation at risk," he said in a video address yesterday.

This week, a Supreme Court justice opened corruption probes into almost 100 politicians, including many close to the president.

Temer is not being targeted in any investigation because he has immunity while in office.

However, testimony underpinning the decision to launch the probes included an allegation that in 2010 Temer headed a meeting in Sao Paulo where his PMDB party negotiated a bribe from major Brazilian engineering firm Odebrecht.

Former Odebrecht executive Marcio Faria told prosecutors as part of a plea bargain that his company made the deal to win a contract with state oil enterprise Petrobras. The amount was allegedly USD 40 million, or five per cent of the contract's value.

"It was clear that we were talking about a bribe," Faria said in his testimony.

Temer responded Wednesday in a written statement, then took the unusual step of making a second statement in a short video address yesterday.

"I'm not afraid of fact, I never was. What repulses me is lies. It's 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 23-year-old British female tourist was stabbed to death in Jerusalem today and her attacker arrested, police said.

The attack took place on the tram close to the Old City, where Christian commemorations were under way for Good Friday as Jews marked the week-long Passover holiday.

Israel's domestic security agency Shin Bet said the suspected attacker was a 57-year-old Palestinian resident of east Jerusalem.

Police had been on high alert for Passover when tens of thousands of Jews pray at the Western Wall inside the Old City and some visit the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound above it.

The compound, which is the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest site to Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount, is the source of constant tensions.

Jews are allowed to visit but not pray at the site.

Palestinian fears that Israel will seek to change those rules have been the source of repeated violence.

A wave of unrest which erupted in October 2015 has claimed the lives of 260 Palestinians, 41 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean, a Sudanese and a Briton, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, the Israeli authorities say.

Others were shot dead during protests or clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

The violence has greatly subsided in recent months.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China's rapid strides in digital technologies have indirectly inspired India to digitise its economy, TCS' Asia-Pacific president has said.

In mobile payments and artificial intelligence, China is already leading and has shared its expertise with its neighbours, Girish Ramachandran said.

The Belt and Road Initiative will help China bring some of its world-class technologies to economies along the trading routes, he said.

"The initiative is a great opportunity for global trade, and to build connectivity," Ramachandran has been quoted as saying by state-run China Daily on Friday.

Chinese technologies are making inroads in India, exemplified by the export of Ant Financial Services Group's wireless payment solutions to Paytm.

The two signed an agreement in 2015 to create an Alipay clone in India.

India, like China, does not have an entrenched credit card culture. So with the right technologies and business models, jumping from cash to mobile payment is not difficult, he said.

On Friday, Paytm covers 150 million users in India and enables people to complete a variety of purchases and access microloans with a scan of their phones, he said.

"The demonetisation accords with the Indian government's push to combat the black market, increase transparency and digitise the economy. Clearly, China has played a significant role in this," he said.

From the all-in-one app WeChat, to some of the nascent artificial intelligence start-ups, Ramachandran said China has exhibited huge potential in the global high-tech race.

It is now time for China to properly brand these technologies and make them available overseas.

"Most of the apps, technologies and services are being used in China only. Turning them into world-renowned brands would pave the way for China's next phase of growth," he said, adding that the Belt and Road Initiative would certainly drive that goal.

China's high-tech giants have already entered the South Asian market.

Tencent Cloud, the cloud business division of Tencent Holdings Limited, has established overseas services nodes in India and a data centre in Singapore to provide "secure and cost efficient" IT infrastructure, the Daily report said.

UCWeb Inc, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, announced the launch of a We-Media Reward Plan 2.0 in India to encourage and sponsor self-publishers and content distribution through the internet, it said.
Violent clashes broke out in the Moroccan city of Fes as security forces fired tear gas at radical leftist students.

Activists and reports yesterday said some 45 people from both sides had been injured in the confrontation on the edge of the central city's university campus and outside the main court.

The protesters had come to offer support to two leftist students appearing in court, charged with the murder of an Islamist student who died of his injuries after clashes between the two camps in April 2014.

Local authorities said "several" members of the security forces were injured and had to be taken to hospital, adding: "The protesters used violence and threw stones."



Abderrahim Lamrabet from the local branch of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH) said 25 students had been injured, while the Economiste newspaper said around 20 members of the security forces were taken to hospital.

Authorities said 17 students were arrested.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A "conflict could break out at any moment" over North Korea, China's foreign minister Wang Yi said on Friday, warning there would be "no winner" in any war, as tensions soar with the US.

"Dialogue is the only possible solution", he said during a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault in Beijing.
Punjab Congress today asked Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan to clarify his stand on Khalistan, a day after Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said he would not meet him as he is a "Khalistani sympathiser".

"It is important and in the interest of the good and friendly relationship between India and Canada that Sajjan clarifies his stand on this sensitive issue," state Congress leaders and MLAs said in a statement.

They also criticised the Canadian High Commission's statement on the matter.

"It is surprising that the High Commission has preferred to remain quiet on the specific issue that is of serious concern and consequences for the peace-loving Punjabis," they said, alleging that instead of clarifying on the issue, the High Commission has tried to cover it up and put up a vague defence.

The Congress leaders also advised the Akali and Aam Aadmi Party leaders not to try to be more loyal than the king by defending Sajjan when he himself had not denied his association with Khalistani sympathisers and supporters.

Senior Congress leaders and MLAs, including Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukh Sarkaria and Navtej Cheema, reiterated that the Canadian Defence Minister and some of his ministerial and parliamentary colleagues had a "known affiliation with anti-India forces".

"Moreover, none of them has denied these charges, while leaders like Sukhbir Badal, Sukhpal Khaira and HS Phoolka have gone overboard in defending them for reasons best known to them," they pointed out, while questioning the intent of these leaders in defending the Canadian lawmakers.

"Or, is it because you go there (Canada) with a begging bowl," they asked Khaira and Phoolka in particular.

The Congress leaders asserted that the chief minister had only reiterated a fact, which Sajjan had not denied himself.

"There is no question of insulting a Punjabi or a Sikh in stating a fact about political leanings and inclinations of a particular leader just because he happens to be a Punjabi or a Sikh," they said and strongly supported Amarinder's stand in refusing to meet Sajjan.

"We need to draw a clear line as Punjab cannot afford to play with fire, which people like Sajjan are stoking and fanning in Canada, that has a dangerous potential to engulf the state and push it back into the dark days.

"This will also send a strong message to everyone that there cannot be any compromise on safeguarding peace and harmony in Punjab," the statement read.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ahead of the Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll, a state Congress delegation has accused the Mehbooba Mufti government of failing on all fronts and demanded imposition of Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir so that free and fair elections can be held.

The delegation, led by J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief G A Mir last evening met Governor N N Vohra and submitted a Memorandum demanding imposition of Governor's rule in view of the total failure of the State government on all fronts, state Congress spokesman Ravinder Sharma said.

The delegation apprised that Governor of the worsening situation evident from the large scale violence and the unprecedented lowest ever poll percentage and the total failure of the government to provide conducive atmosphere and security environment to ensure successful conduct of elections, Sharma said.

The party also complained about the partisan role of the present dispensation in the conduct of elections and that there is large scale resentment against the present ruling coalition, he said.

The Congress spokesman said "the party demanded that any future election should be conducted under the governor rule in order to ensure free, fair and successful conduct and the election commission should take on board the opposition to assure the free, fair and transparent conduct of elections".

Anantnag Lok Sabha will go to polls on May 25 this year as the Election Commission of India (ECI) fixed the fresh date of polls after deferring voting scheduled on April 12.

In the memorandum submitted to the Governor, Mir expressed concern over the situation in Kashmir Valley in the wake of large scale violence and loss of precious lives during the disruptions of poll process on April 9.

While the situation on the ground continued to be grim, the governments of State and Centre decided to go for Lok Sabha bypolls at this critical juncture without visualizing the ground situation, especially the security environment and the negative fall out of such a move at this juncture, he said.

The Election Commission's decision to hold the elections is always based on the inputs of the State and centre governments, he said.

Abruptly after the polls in Srinagar Lok Sabha, the candidate of the ruling coalition for Anantnag seat sought postponement of polls, he said adding that he did so in order to save the ruling coalition from the imminent defeat.

"All of a sudden, we came to know of the deferment of polls for Anantnag, and its rescheduling for May 25, without seeking any prior views and consultations with the opposition candidates", he said.

Under these circumstances, we are of the firm belief that these elections can't be held in fair and impartial manner under the present dispensation in the State, in view of its partisan role and atmosphere of resentment and hatred against this government because of its total failures and various acts of omissions and commissions to handle the situation, Mir said.

"As such, your kind indulgence is sought to impose Governor rule to ensure free, fair and successful polls to the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat and in order to save situation from furthering worsening to the level of no return difficult to retrieve it, which will be against the overall national interests," he said.

The Election Commission of India may be apprised of our concerns, so that for taking any further decisions in this regard, we should be taken on board to address our genuine apprehensions for the free , fair and successful conduct of the exercise, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After Colin Dickey wrote about United CEO Oscar Munoz's nonpology for the savage beating of Dr David Dao, he was taken to task for accusing the CEO of writing in the "passive voice."







The closer Dickey looked, the more he concluded that "passive voice" is not a good characterization of the style employed by corporate America; rather, the instantly recognizable "Bureaucratic Style" "makes use of both active and passive constructions, but its purpose is uniform: to erase and efface any active agent on the part of the bureaucracy."

Dickey's essay on Bureaucratic Style is fascinating.



To begin with, the bureaucratic style works to erase cause. Here is Munoz's description of the start of the incident: "On Sunday, April 9, after United Express Flight 3411 was fully boarded, United's gate agents were approached by crewmembers that were told they needed to board the flight." Setting aside the passengers for a second, in this sentence there are two named actors: the gate agents and the crewmembers. You might expect, then, that this all started when the crewmembers approached the gate agents and told them they needed to board the flight. However, a closer reading of the syntax implies this is not the case; the crewmembers themselves "were told they needed to board the flight." Who told them? The sentence does not make this clear, even though it is this unnamed actor, presumably a supervisor, who set this entire chain of events in motion. Deliberately pushed back as far off the stage as possible, there is no one here to responsibly hold accountable for subsequent events.

Munoz repeatedly makes reference to established procedures: "Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this." Here we have what seems to be a nice use of the active voice: We have actors ("our employees") and they are doing something specific. But the figures responsible for establishing procedure are nowhere to be found. Whenever possible, bureaucratic style will shift responsibility to immutable rules and directives that appear spontaneously from the ether.

When bureaucratic agency is absolutely unavoidable it will be couched in a simpering use of adverbs to clear any wrongdoing: "We politely asked" a customer to deplane, to whom "we approached to explain apologetically," and so forth. Only with the utmost reluctance does the state ever act, and even then it does so patiently, politely, apologetically.

Add to this the free use of obvious falsehoods. Munoz states that employees told Dao "was being denied boarding," when in fact he was already sitting on the plane. Munoz claims employees were following United's "involuntary denial of boarding process," but their Denied Boarding Compensation rules cover oversold flights, and this flight was not oversold or overbooked.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the 'DigiDhan' movement was not only about curbing corruption, but also about giving a voice to the poor.

He also launched two schemes, giving a further push to the Centre's efforts to create a less-cash system, on the 126th birth anniversary of social justice crusader BR Ambedkar.

Modi, who paid tribute to Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi, where the Dalit icon had embraced Buddhism, linked the new schemes with his vision of social justice and financial empowerment.

"We have been working towardsa digital India for quite some time. DigiDhanis one of the initiatives which will become 'niji dhan' (personal wealth) of the poor. It will become the voice of the poor," he told a public meeting here.

"The DigiDhan movement is a safai abhiyan (cleanliness movement). It is to fight the menace of corruption," he said.

The prime minister launched the BHIM-Aadhaar Pay app, a biometric-based payment system which will make payment through thumb impression a reality.

He also launched incentive schemes for the BHIM -- cashback and referral bonus -- with an outlay of Rs 495 crore for a period of six months.

Seeking to rope in youngsters to promote cashless transactions, Modi said for every person introduced to the BHIM app, one will get a cashback of Rs 10.

"If you refer 20 persons a day, you can earn Rs 200," he said.

Under the referral bonus scheme, both the existing users who refer BHIM and new users who adopt it would get a cash bonus which will be credited directly to their bank account.

Under the cashback scheme, the merchants will get a cashback on every transaction on BHIM.

Both the schemes will be administered by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and implemented by the National Payments Corporation of India.

BHIM-Aadhaar, the merchant interface of the BHIM app, paves the way for digital payments through the Aadhaar platform.

This will enable the citizens to pay digitally using the biometric data like thumb imprint on a merchant's biometric- enabled device, which could be a smartphone with a biometric data reader.

Anyone without access to smartphones, internet, debit or credit cards will be able to transact digitally through the BHIM-Aadhaar platform.

"This will make digital payments easy even for those who cannot read or write, thus realising Ambedkar's vision of social and financial empowerment for all," Modi said.

The prime minister had recently expressed gratitude to the people, saying that over the last few months, the country had witnessed an atmosphere where people in large numbers participated in the digital payment 'Digidhan' movement.

Commenting on the Aadhaar-based digital payment mobile app, he said, "The BHIM app is positively impacting several lives across the country.

"We are reaching a time when mobile phones will be where financial transactions will take place."



In December 2016, Modi had launched the BHIM app to facilitate electronic payments by consumers. In March, the government launched Aadhaar Pay, a new Android-based app.

"Transactions can be possible (even) with less cash," Modi said.

Highlighting the importance of digital transactions, he said, "Five security personnel guard an ATM. At times, there are problems in providing security to someone's life but there is security for ATMs.

"The BHIM-Aadhaar Pay app is such a modern and apt facility which even the technologically advanced countries do not have.

"It will pave the way for digital payments through the Aadhaar platform. This will enable every Indian citizen to pay digitally using their biometric data like thumb imprint on a merchant's biometric-enabled device which could be a smartphone with a biometric data reader."



Modi said that day was not far when reputed universities of the world will come to India to conduct case studies on the BHIM-Aadhaarapp.

"It will become the basis for what could be a financial change in the world. This initiative will become a world phenomenon. Similarly, the DigiDhan initiative has been well received in different parts of the country," he added.

"There was an era when the thumb was a sign of being illiterate. Now, the thumb (used for Aadhaar-based transactions) has become your strength," said Modi.

Awards worth Rs 250 crore have been given to boost less- cash transactions, he said.

"Those who got this award should now become ambassadors of the less-cash campaign," he added.

The prime minister also felicitated the winners of the mega draw of incentive schemes to promote digital payments -- the Lucky Grahak Yojana and the DigiDhan Vyapaar Yojana.

Shradha, a girl from Latur in Maharashtra who won Rs 1 crore, was also felicitated by him.

Dwelling on the importance India attached to renewable energy, Modi said, "One of the sectors to which we devote significant efforts is renewable energy, which is vital in the 21st century."



Modi, who also laid the foundation stones for an IIM, an IIIT and an AIIMS at Nagpur, said, "The projects inaugurated today will help our youngsters."



He also dedicated 1980 MW of the Koradi thermal power project to the nation.

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Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh today said the fight against terrorism was universal and concerned the entire humanity, referring to the US bombing on Islamic State (IS) complex in Afghanistan.

"They (the US) have taken action against a terrorist organisation which they have already been doing. Fight against terrorism is the fight for all of us," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

The US military yesterday dropped a GBU-43/B, colloquially known as "Mother Of All Bombs" or MOAB, to target tunnels and bunkers built by the Islamic State fighters in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, which killed 36 militants and destroyed their mountain hideouts near Pakistan border.

Speaking on the death sentence awarded to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan, he said, "New Delhi will ensure that the interests as well as lives of its citizens are protected anywhere in the world."



Singh, former Army chief, said the nation was quite clear on its stand that the allegations against Jadhav were baseless.

"To term him a spy is an imaginary thing as no spy moves along with his passport. If anything happens to him, we will term it as a pre-meditated murder," he said.

46-year-old Jadhav was recently awarded death sentence by a Pakistani military court on charges of alleged espionage and sabotage activities.

India has demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Jadhav, and also sought consular access to him.

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Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Girish Chandra Saxena, whose tenure saw a significant decline of militancy in the Valley, died here this morning after a brief illness.

He was 90.

Saxena breathed his last at 4.30 AM today after he was rushed to a hospital following breathlessness, his brother and former Cabinet Secretary Naresh Chandra said.

The funeral pyre of Saxena, who served as the governor of the troubled state twice, was lit by his grandson Varun in the presence of political leaders and senior bureaucrats, including National Security Advisor A K Doval.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and serving and retired officers from RAW and Intelligence Bureau also gathered at the crematorium to pay their last respects to Saxena.

Born in Agra in 1928, Saxena, an IPS officer of the 1950 batch of Uttar Pradesh cadre, who also headed the country's external snooping agency RAW from 1983 to 1986, is survived by his wife and two daughters.

He first took the charge as the Jammu and Kashmir Governor on May 26, 1990, barely a few days after the religious head of Muslims in Srinagar Mirwaiz Malauvi Farooq was gunned down allegedly by militants of Hizbul Mujahideen.

He had succeeded Jagmohan, who quit owning moral responsibility for civilian killings which had taken place during the funeral procession of the Mirwaiz. Over 50 people had died during the alleged massacre by security forces.

Saxena continued as the Governor till March 13, 1993 during which his focus was on winning the trust of the locals.

He was credited with the revival of intelligence gathering mechanism of the state police. His experience at the RAW came in handy in discharging his duties from the Raj Bhavan.

After his first stint as the Governor, Saxena was again brought to the state in 1998. He was lauded for his efforts which turned the state police into an effective counter insurgency force.

"No militancy can be fought without the local police," he had once said during his second stint as the Governor.

Chandra recalled that 10 days back his brother, while being wheeled of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a private hospital, had held the hand of the doctor and said, "I don't have any stress other than the happenings in Jammu and Kashmir.

"He was deeply committed, even at this age, about the developments and happenings in Jammu and Kashmir," he told PTI.

Former J&K chief ministers, the father-son duo Farooq and Omar Abdullah, while condoling his demise, said a visionary has been lost.

"I recall my association with Governor Saxena. He was very cool in extreme situations and always had a humane approach to any problem," Farooq said.

Omar said, "It's a sad for me. He (Saxena) had always guided me during my initial days in politics."



After his retirement from the RAW in 1986, Saxena served as an advisor to the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi till January 1988.

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Major General G D Bakshi (retd) on Friday urged the government to file a habeas corpus in Pakistan courts to find out if Kulbhushan Jadhav, sentenced to death in the neighbouring country on the charges of spying, is still alive.

The veteran expressed apprehension that Jadhav might have already been killed by Pakistan through "insane torture" and the country is trying to cover up the "judicial murder".

"He was kidnapped, taken to Balochistan and tortured insanely to make him confess to all sorts of things which he did not do," Bakshi told a two-day convention on Nationalism and Patriotism organised by Veterans India.

"We suspect Jadhav was tortured to death and the so- called trial is a move to cover up the judicial murder," he said.

"Therefore our lawyers should file a habeas corpus in Pakistani courts and make them produce Jadhav before a court and before media cameras," Bakshi said.

He said Pakistan has detained 56 Indian army men since 1971 and is not behaving like a civilised nation by choosing not to send them back.

"India gave back many Pakistan prisoners to show how civilised we are. But when Pakistan is not doing so, we need to put pressure which will change its behaviour," he said.

"I am happy to see the Parliament came together for Jadhav after ages," he said.

Former Indian naval staff Jadhav was sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan on the charges of spying. The Indian government reacted strongly to the development saying if the sentence were to be carried out it would be considered as "pre-meditated murder".
An India-born aeronautics engineer from Australia has been honoured with the 'World's Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Leadership Award' by the American Helicopter Society (AHS) International.

AHS is the world's premier professional institution dedicated to vertical flight technology and advancement. It selected Lt. Col. (retd) Dr Arvind Sinha for his distinguished career in vertical flight technology.

Sinha, who received the award recently in the US, was also bestowed the title of AHS Honorary Fellow in May 2016.

The title is granted to Society members who have shown "exceptional leadership, or made innovative or other meritorious contributions, that have significantly advanced AHS International and the vertical flight community."



Sinha is recipient of several awards, spanning military operations, design projects and academia. "The AHS honour is considered as a benchmark for leadership excellence in vertical flight technology," he told PTI.

He is currently the Director of Engineering, Helicopter Systems Division, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), at the Department of Defence, Australia.

Working on Australian Army and Navy aviation platform and systems technologies, he is an expert in Tactical Aerospace Systems, covering helicopters and unmanned Aircraft.

He is a former Professor and Director of Aerospace and Aviation Research Centre at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), and now holds the title of Professor of Aerospace Design at Monash University, an Australian public research university based in Melbourne.

During his stint with the Indian Army, Sinha commanded elite units of Electronic Warfare and Airborne Special Forces. As a young Major, he was posted to command an engineering unit on the high-density altitude Siachen Glacier as part of Operation Meghdoot in 1984.

"The average stint there does not exceed 90 days due to the harsh conditions that test human endurance. However, my tenure was extended to two years for operational reasons, and my command was honoured with a Special Operations order," he said.

Sinha said he was selected to pursue a doctorate in Australia based on his IIT Masters work in Helicopter Design for a doctoral project-based application research under an Australian Government-sponsored scholarship with RMIT University.

Sinha is a former Dean of the Faculty of Aviation in Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering in India. He is an alumnus of Sainik School Satara and the National Defence Academy in Maharashtra.

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India today demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of its national Kulbhushan Jadhav and sought consular access to him.

Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying.

"I have asked for a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav," Bambawale told PTI.

"They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have again requested the Pakistan Foreign Secretary to give access to Jadhav so that we can appeal," he said.

Sources in New Delhi said apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhav's family appealing against the verdict.

Pakistan's top military Generals yesterday decided not to make any "compromise" on the death sentence given to 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 death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General 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.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India said today it would appeal against the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav and demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the army court order in the case, besides seeking consular access to the retired Indian navy officer.

This was conveyed by Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale to Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua during a meeting sought by him.

"We would definitely go to appeal against the judgement but we cannot do it unless we have the details of charges and the copy of verdict. So, my first demand was to provide us the details of the charge-sheet and copy of the verdict," he said.

Expressing disappointment over Pakistan turning down India's request for consular access to Jadhav, the Indian envoy said, "They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have forcefully asked for consular access on the basis of international law and on humanitarian grounds as he is an Indian national."



Apart from diplomatic options, India is also exploring legal remedies permitted under Pakistan's legal system.

Bambawale also said that he has no information about former Pakistani army officer Mohammad Habib who reportedly went missing from Nepal. Pakistani officials suspect that Indian spy agencies were behind his disappearance.

The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General 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. However, India denied Pakistan's contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by the Pakistan authorities.

India had made it clear to Pakistan that given the circumstances of the case, absence of any credible evidence to substantiates the concocted charges against Jadhav, farcical nature of the proceedings against him and denial of consular access to him, the people and the government of India will consider carrying out of the army court verdict as a "premeditated murder".

Pakistan today rejected India's accusation that there was no credible evidence against Jadhav, and warned that "inflammatory" statements over his death sentence would only result in escalation of tension in the bilateral ties.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that due process of law was followed in Jadhav's trial.

India had yesterday criticised the Pakistan government for not sharing Jadhav's location and details of his condition and said that the international norm to provide consular access was not followed. India and Pakistan have a bilateral agreement on consular access.

Meanwhile, there was no official confirmation on reports of India asking its high commission in Pakistan to go slow on visas to Pakistan nationals in wake of the development.

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Union Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar today said India was trying to secure justice for Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court.

"Injustice has been meted out to him (Jadhav). A kangaroo court has slapped this charge. In spite of all these, we are trying to secure justice for him. We are eager for his return," he told a press conference here.

Akbar said the government's stand on the issue was clarified by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

A military court has awarded death sentence to 46-year- old Jadhav on charges of espionage and sabotage.

Singh had stated yesterday that India will go to any extent to ensure justice for Jadhav.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay had said yesterday, "India has no knowledge of Kulbhushan Jadhav's location and condition. We are making all efforts to get him back but we can't reveal the steps that will be taken in this regard."



On the Kashmir issue, Akbar said, "Anti-democratic forces are instigating from behind. We want a free and fair atmosphere in Kashmir."



Regarding the controversy on beef in Uttar Pradesh, the Union minister said, "Uttar Pradesh's Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh has given a clarification."



Stating that West Bengal was facing a "deep crisis", Akbar said "lack of jobs, rising corruption and a stagnant economy" were the main problems of the state.

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Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today paid tributes to B R Ambedkar on his 126th birth anniversary.

Paying homage, Das said the people need to know about Ambedkar and he deserves the same position as Martin Luther King.

"The state government is providing houses to homeless widows under Bhim Rao Ambedkar Aawas Yojana. Very soon, a Schedule Caste Commission will be formed in the state for the welfare of the Schedule Castes," an official release said quoting Das.

The Chief Minister garlanded the statue of Ambedkar at Doranda here.

Stating that Ambedkar stressed on education and the modern concept of democracy was developed by him, Das said Jharkhand government has started the 'Vidyalay Chalo Chalain Abhiyan' to eliminate dropout rates and maximise admission.

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American writer-producer Micheal Pellico, who has scripted Raveena Tandon-starrer "Maatr", says political leaders view the unity of women as a threat to their hegemony.

Pellico, also the executive producer of the upcoming thriller, says his film is based on the idea of women's unity.

"Political leaders live in fear that women will unite someday and stand up as a group. They know that when women unite, it spells trouble for their governments. 'Maatr' is an extension of this idea."



Pellico says he found director Ashtar Sayed perfect to realise his vision.

"When I met Ashtar, I realised that both of us shared a common passion and anger about the situation surrounding rape and other violent crimes against women. We wanted the story to be told with the international audience in mind.

"We made a conscious effort right from the beginning that the story may be based in India but owing to its subject, it is important that it is made in an international style so that it appeals to a larger audience. I don't want people to think that this story is only made for India."



Pellico says that cases like 2012's Nirbhaya gang rape are not uncommon but when it comes to reporting the crime the victim is often discouraged and asked to hide her identity due to social stigma.

"It happens so many times that ridiculous excuses are given for the rape - that the girl's clothes were inappropriate, she was drinking, she went out with men late in the night, partied and so on. We often mistreat and terrorise the victim, instead of taking care of them. We don't try to understand the trauma they go through."



The writer says that "Maatr" is not about seeking revenge, it is about seeking justice.

"When I was writing this story, I was sure that this woman is not a superhero. She doesn't know any martial arts. She's an everyday common woman. 'Maatr' is not about seeking revenge, but justice.

"What I want to show the audience, especially the women, is that every woman possesses the mental strength, resolve and intelligence to seek justice."



"Maatr" is slated to release on April 21.

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A fugitive accused of stealing numerous weapons from a Wisconsin gun store and sending an anti-government manifesto to the White House was arrested Friday after nine days on the run, sheriff's officials said.

Joseph Allen Jakubowski was found in Readstown, about 125 miles (200 kilometers) northwest of Janesville, Jakubowski's hometown, where the manhunt for him began April 4.

The Rock County Sheriff's Office said the break in the investigation came when a property owner in Readstown called the Vernon County Sheriff's Office yesterday evening to report a suspicious man camping on his land.

The property owner told authorities the man matched Jakubowski's description and that he was refusing to leave.

The office said in a statement that tactical officers surrounded Jakubowski and arrested him around 6 a.M. Friday without incident.

More than 150 law enforcement officials had been searching for Jakubowski, 32, since April 4 when authorities say he broke into a gun store in Janesville, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) southwest of Milwaukee.

Yesterday, Gov. Scott Walker cancelled an Easter egg hunt, which had been scheduled for Saturday, citing security concerns. It was not immediately clear if the annual tradition would go ahead as planned now that Jakubowski is in custody.

The Rock County Sheriff's Office says Jakubowski wrote a 161-page manifesto in which he detailed a long list of grievances against the government and spoke of plans to launch attacks with the 18 firearms he allegedly stole.

Janesville Police Chief David Moore said Jakubowski cited concerns about President Donald Trump in his manifesto but that he didn't make any specific threats.

The sheriff's office said Jakubowski filmed a video of himself dropping his manifesto, addressed to Trump, into a mailbox and speaking of a "revolution" before the manhunt began. He warned in the video that whoever received the manifesto "might want to read it."



Yesterday, WTMJ-TV posted 35 pages of handwritten documents to its website that it said were an unidentified law enforcement official verified as Jakubowski's writings. Rock County Sheriff's Office Commander Troy Knudson said the writings appeared genuine.

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Unidentified men shot dead three persons at Laxmanpur dera village here, police said today.

The deceased have been identified as 40-year-old Manoj Singh, Santosh Rai (30) and Ram Vachan Rai (65). Manoj was a resident of Burnoha village while Santosh and his grandfather, Ram Vachan, hailed from Laxmanpur dera village, Superintendent of Police Upendra Kumar Sharma said.

The miscreants started firing indiscriminately at the trio which led to their death. All of them died on the spot, the SP said.

Sharma said that Santosh Rai and Ram Vachan Rai were killed when they were trying to save Manoj Singh from the gunshots. The exact motive behind the attack is not yet known, he said.

Bodies have been handed over to their family after conducting post-mortem, the SP said.

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Another missing youth from Kerala, suspected to have joined the Islamic State group, has reportedly been killed in a drone strike in .

Murshid Muhammed, a native of Padna in this district, was killed in a drone attack in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, said Abdur Rahiman, an Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader in Padna.

Rahiman, also a social activist, said he received the message yesterday on social media app, Telegram.

"The exact date could not be known yet...The message did not come from the usual source...I could not get more details," Rahiman told PTI today over phone.

Murshid was among the 21 persons from the state, who reportedly went missing after travelling to the Middle East last year and were suspected to have joined the terrorist organisation in Syria.

However, Chandera police did not confirm the news saying, "We have no information about it."

Two months ago, another youth T K Hafeesudeen (24), also from Padna, was killed in a drone attack in .
Taking forward the BJP's aggressive dalit outreach, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flew into Nagpur to pay homage to Bhimrao Ambedkar at 'Deekshabhoomi' where the architect of the Indian Constitution had embraced Bhuddhism 61 years ago.

Modi, who has often profoundly praised Ambedkar for his struggle, and claimed the previous Congress governments failed to give the dalit icon his due for his contributions to nation building, paid floral tributes to him at Deekshabhoomi to mark his 126th birth anniversary.

It was at Deekshabhoomi in 1956 that Ambedkar had led his followers in converting to Buddhism against the oppressive and discriminatory caste system in the Hindu society.

Modi stood at the place, which has become a shrine for dalits and neo-Buddhists, with folded hands for a few minutes in prayer.

The Prime Minister's visit to Nagpur is being seen as an extension of his and BJP's efforts to reach out to dalits, a move which helped the party shore up its performance by leaps and bounds in the key cow belt state of Uttar Pradesh where it formed its government after a hiatus of 15 years.

Ahead of his visit, Modi tweeted yesterday that he was "extremely honoured" to be visiting Nagpur on the "very special occasion" of Ambedkar Jayanti.

In Nagpur, the seat of the RSS, BJP's ideological mentor, Modi inaugurated a raft of development projects, including an IIIT, IIM and AIIMS.

From Deekshabhoomi itself, the Prime Minister also launched two new schemes under application BHIM, the first four letters of the towering dalit leader's name, for referral bonus to individual users and cash back for merchants to incentivise them.

Modi had launched the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app in December 2016 for facilitating electronic payments.

The BJP's vigorous scheduled castes outreach was also manifest in the party naming the venue of its national executive meeting in Bhubaneshwar after dalit poet Bhima Bhoi. Modi is scheduled to arrive in Bhubaneshwar for the two-day meet tomorrow.

"The national executive meeting venue has been named after revolutionary poet Bhima Bhoi. The saint poet had unique ideology which is being followed by crores of people in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand," Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is supervising the preparations, told journalists.

BJP is making determined efforts to expand its influence in Odisha after the party put up a remarkable performance in the panchayat elections in the state, finishing next to only the ruling BJD, which is in power for the last 17 years.

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President Donald Trump has hailed the US military's "very, very successful" strike on an Islamic State tunnel complex in Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat which killed 36 militants and destroyed their mountain hideouts near the Pakistan border.

In another dramatic show of military force after the bombing of a Syrian airfield with 59 Tomahawk missiles, the US military yesterday dropped a GBU-43/B, colloquially known as the "Mother Of All Bombs" or MOAB, to target tunnels and bunkers built by Islamic State fighter in Nangarhar province.

Trump said he authorised the use of the MOAB - Massive Ordnance Air Blast - and called the mission "very, very successful".

"It was really another successful job, we are very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event," Trump told reporters at the White House.

The MOAB, developed for use in the Iraq war and first tested in 2003, is dropped from an aircraft on a pallet. A MOAB is a 21,600 pound, Global Positioning System (GPS)-guided munition that is US's most powerful non-nuclear bomb. Its main effect is a massive blast wave - said to stretch for 1.6 kms.

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command. It's the first-ever combat use of the bomb, said Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump.

"Everybody knows exactly what happened, what I do is I authorise our military. We have the greatest military in the world, they've done a job, as usual, so we have given them total authorisation and that's what they're doing, and frankly, that's why they've been so successful lately," Trump said.

The bombing in Afghanistan was the second major incident when the US military in recent days have shown its combat prowess, after missile strikes on a Syrian airfield.

"If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and you compare that to what's happened over the last eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference. So we have incredible leaders of the military and incredible military, and we are very proud of them, and this was another very very successful mission," Trump said.

He, however, said he does not know if this would send a message to North Korea.

"I don't know if this sends a message. It doesn't make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of. I will say this: I think China has really been working very hard," he said.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that the tunnels and caves IS fighters used to "move around freely" were targeted as they make it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area.

"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 the US took "all precautions necessary" to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage.

The strike was part of efforts to defeat Islamic State's local affiliate ISIS-K in Afghanistan, the US Central Command said.

Nangarhar borders Pakistan and is a hotbed of militancy. According to the Department of Defence, there are about 600- 800 ISIS-Khorasan fighters in the area where the bomb was dropped.

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Nepal's Supreme Court has ordered the police to arrest within a week a ruling Maoist party leader convicted in a murder case during the decade-long insurgency.

The court ordered the inspector general of Nepal Police to arrest Bal Krishna Dhungel of CPN (Maoist Centre) and put him behind bars within a week.

A single bench of justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai issued the order in response to a contempt of court case filed by advocate Dinesh Tripathi on Wednesday.

The apex court yesterday asked the police chief to deploy all its resources and arrest Dhungel and present him before the court through the Department of Prison Management within 7 days.

The former Maoist lawmaker was found guilty of killing Ujjan Kumar Shrestha of Okhaldhunga in 1998.

The Okhaldhunga District Court in 2004 had convicted Dhungel of murder and ordered life term for him. But in 2006, the Rajbiraj Appellate Court gave him the clean chit.

He was elected lawmaker in the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections.

The apex court in 2010 overturned Rajbiraj Appellate Court's decision and upheld Okhaldhunga District Court's verdict.

The Baburam Bhattarai-led government in November 2011 had recommended presidential clemency for Dhungel, but it was rejected by the court.

Despite the SC order, Dhungel has not been arrested.

The Maoist party has maintained that the Ujjan Kumar murder case is a "political" one and that it should be dealt with by a transitional justice body.

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Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today invited Japanese companies to explore investment opportunities in India and highlighted the Centre's various reform initiatives to boost infrastructure landscape in the country.

Sitharaman in her keynote address acknowledged the experience and contribution of Japanese companies in India. The Minister talked about investment opportunities available in India with the goal to increase contribution of manufacturing sector to 25 per cent of GDP by 2025.

Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who addressed a gathering of about 250 participants at the India Investment Seminar organised by Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Tokyo today about investment opportunities available in India, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a statement.

She also spoke on the various reform initiatives like National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) for enhancing infrastructure financing, Digital India programme to connect 250,000 villages with optical fiber and Jan Dhan scheme.

The Indian delegation led by Sitharaman met Hiroshige Seko, Japan's Minister for Trade Economy and Industry (METI) and several business leaders.

DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek in a panel discussion on 'Make in India' threw light on the massive investment potential of India.

By 2025, India will be the world's youngest nation with average age of 29 years and have a GDP of USD 20 trillion in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

The 'Make in India' programme is driving the change in the mindset to cater to this huge potential.

He gave examples of Business Reform Action Plan (BRAC) on which states are being ranked on ease of doing business (EODB) and upgradation of Intellectual Property Regime.

It was discussed that the electric vehicles, renewable energy, medical devices are the sectors of the future providing diversification opportunities to Japanese investors.

During the seminar, Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman & CEO, JETRO, spoke on the enormous interest of Japanese companies to diversify beyond automotive sector.

Indian ambassador to Japan Sujan R Chinoy mentioned that Sitharaman's visit would further strengthen India's existing strategic relationship with Japan.

Shaurya Doval, Director India Foundation, stressed that the Indian government has increasingly turned business friendly and considers businesses as equal partners in the country's growth.

During the bilateral meeting with the METI Minister, issues inter alia including progress on Japanese Industrial Townships, bilateral trade, diversification of investment sectors and resolution of difficulties faced by Indian Pharmaceutical and IT companies in Japan were discussed.

Sitharaman also met top business leaders of leading Japanese companies in automotive, healthcare, internet and energy sector and discussed opportunities and their plans for India.

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More than 26.82 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has arrived in the mandis of Haryana so far.

Out of this, the five government procuring agencies have purchased 26.81 lakh metric tonnes while traders have procured more than 536 metric tonnes at the Minimum Support Price, a spokesman of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department said here today.

Giving details of the wheat procured by government agencies, he said more than 6.70 lakh metric tonnes has been procured by Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, whereas Haryana State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (HAFED) has purchased more than 8.79 lakh metric tonnes.

Food Corporation of India has purchased more than 3.25 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, Haryana Agro Industries Corporation more than 2.29 lakh metric tonnes and more than 5.77 lakh metric tonnes has been procured by Haryana Warehousing Corporation.

The spokesman said Kaithal district was leading in wheat arrivals where more than 3.60 lakh metric tonnes of the crop had been procured, followed by Karnal, which recorded more than 3.43 lakh metric tonnes of wheat arrival.

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Pakistan's exports to India have grown despite border tensions and war of words between the two neighbours, according to a media report.

According to Dawn News, a recent report by the State Bank of Pakistan showed that Pakistan's exports to India grew during the first eight months of 2016-17 fiscal while imports fell by 23 per cent.

During the period, the two countries were locked in bitter rivalry with terror attacks by Pakistan-based militant groups, Kashmir and border tensions impacting ties.

However, this seems to have had little impact on bilateral trade relations, the report said.

The trade balance was in favour of India, it noted.

Growing by 14 per cent, exports from Pakistan to India amounted to USD 286 million in July-February. Imports from India fell by 23 per cent to USD 958.3 million from USD 1,244 million recorded a year ago.

People who are in favour of better trade relations with India have to face harsh criticism in Pakistan. The same situation prevails across the border, the media report said.

One reason for Pakistan's improved exports to India is high cement demand in the neighbouring country. This has offset the negative impact of a decline in Pakistan's cement exports to Afghanistan and South Africa, the report said.

The SBP said cement exports continued their downward trend, with the largest share in the year-on-year decline in the first half of 2016-17 originating from two markets -- South Africa and Afghanistan.

"A slight consolation was continued strong demand for Pakistani cement from India. This partially offset the declines witnessed in the two other major markets," said the SBP report.

For more than five years, the balance of trade has been in favour of India as Pakistan failed to create a market for its products in the neighbouring country. Political resistance to better trade relations continues to exist in both countries, it said.

In the first eight months of the current fiscal year, Pakistan recorded a trade deficit of USD 672 million with India. The deficit was USD 993 million in the same period of the last fiscal year.

Imports from India in 2015-16 were worth over four times the exports from Pakistan. In fact, imports from India were at a five-year high, although political and diplomatic relations with the eastern neighbour were at a low ebb, the report said.

Pakistan imported goods worth USD 1.8 billion in 2015-16 compared to the exports of just USD 400 million.

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An organisation of Kashmiri pandits today demanded "bifurcation" of Kashmir to carve out a separate homeland for displaced "pandits and nationalist forces" as it termed the Valley as an "ungoverned region".

"Kashmir Valley has virtually become an ungoverned area. The separatists and anti-India forces have become powerful. There is virtually no space left for the nationalist forces," Chairman, Panun Kashmir, Ajay Chrungoo claimed while talking to reporters here.

Chrungoo said, "The time has come when the government should bifurcate Kashmir and crave out a homeland for Kashmiri pandits".

"The policies pursued by the government of India in Jammu and Kashmir have failed because it has relied upon harnessing soft-separatism instead of nourishing nationalism. The Prime Minister should personally intervene and abandon the Agenda of Alliance, the common minimum programme between PDP and BJP on the basis of which the government was formed in the state," he said.

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Civilians and fighters began evacuating four towns besieged by rebels and government forces today under a deal brokered by opposition backer Qatar and regime ally Iran.

An AFP correspondent in rebel-held Rashidin, west of Aleppo city, said at least 80 buses arrived in the region from government-held Fuaa and Kafraya in Idlib province . A rebel source in Idlib told AFP "the implementation of the deal started in the morning".

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the beginning of the evacuation.

Madaya resident Amjad al-Maleh, who spoke to AFP on the phone from one of the buses leaving opposition-controlled Madaya and Zabadani at around 6:00 am (0300 GMT), said: "We just left now, around 2,200 persons in around 65 buses".

More than 30,000 people are expected to be evacuated under the deal, which began on Wednesday with an exchange of prisoners between rebels and government forces.

All 16,000 residents of Fuaa and Kafraya are expected to leave, heading to government-held Aleppo, the coastal province of Latakia or Damascus. Civilian residents of Madaya and Zabadani will reportedly be allowed to remain if they choose.

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A senior Russian lawmaker says the US is a greater threat to global peace than North Korea.

Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the upper house of Russian parliament, said today "the most alarming thing about the current US administration is that you can't be sure if it is bluffing or really going to implement its threats."



He says "America objectively poses a greater threat to peace than North Korea," adding that "the entire world is scared and left guessing if it strikes or not."



Kosachev says there is a "small hope" that President Donald Trump's administration would listen to warnings from Russia and China not to use military force against nuclear- armed Pyongyang.

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Activists feared today for the safety of a young Saudi woman they say was returned to the kingdom against her will, in a case highlighting tight restrictions on women.

Dina Ali Lasloom, 24, intended to flee to Australia to escape a forced marriage, Human Rights Watch cited a Canadian witness as saying.

The witness said Lasloom approached her while in transit at the airport in Manila, saying "airport officials had confiscated her passport and boarding pass" for a Sydney-bound flight.

The Canadian said she helped Lasloom film social media videos about her plight. In one of them she said: "If my family comes they will kill me," HRW said.

Arranged marriages are the norm in Saudi Arabia, where a "guardianship" system requires a male family member, usually the father, husband or brother, to grant permission for a woman's study, travel and other activities.

"Lasloom's whereabouts are currently unknown," HRW said in a statement from Manila.

The Canadian witness, who spent several hours with Lasloom at the airport in Manila, reported that two of Lasloom's uncles arrived, the New York-based watchdog said.

It also quoted an airline security official as saying he heard Lasloom "screaming and begging for help" on Tuesday before security personnel and men who appeared to be Middle Eastern carried her "with duct tape on her mouth, feet and hands" at the airport.

Asked about the HRW statement by AFP today, the Philippine immigration department said it had held no one of Lasloom's name and no Saudi national.

"There was no Saudi national by that name who presented herself," spokeswoman Antonette Mangrobang said.

"As far as immigration is concerned, we did not hold any Saudi national."



The spokeswoman said that if Lasloom was a transiting passenger, then she would not have passed through immigration and it would have been up to the airline to decide what happened to her.

A Saudi activist said that Lasloom, who lived in Kuwait, "was brought back by force to Riyadh and is now in custody."



A female medical student, Alaa, who went to the Riyadh airport to support Lasloom, was arrested when she tried to inquire about her whereabouts, the Saudi activist said.

The activist worried that both women could be detained "for a long time".

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was on a state visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday and Tuesday when the incident occurred.

The Berlin-based European Saudi Organization for Human Rights said that "the seriousness of what Dina Ali is facing" stems from the guardianship system.

"Women's rights are... The most prominent human rights problem in Saudi Arabia," the group said.

The Saudi embassy in the Philippines said on Twitter that "the information that has been circulating over social media is untrue."



It described the incident as a family matter and said: "The citizen has now returned with her family to the homeland."



Human Rights Watch called on Saudi Arabia to reveal whether Lasloom is with her family or is being held by the state at a shelter.

"Lasloom is at serious risk of harm if returned to her family. She also faces possible criminal charges" for alleged parental disobedience and harming the reputation of the state with her public cries for help, the watchdog said.

It called on the Philippine government to also investigate and hold accountable "any of their officials who failed to protect Dina Ali Lasloom", as required by international law.

Madawi al-Rasheed, a visiting professor at the London School of Economics Middle East Centre, wrote on Twitter that Lasloom's case is "a classic... In which state and family cooperate against women in KSA" (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).

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Six workers were seriously injured today after a fire broke out in a chemical factory near Mansurpur village here, police said.

The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital.

The fire was believed to have been caused by a short circuit, police said, adding that an investigation is is underway.

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The electoral fate of nine candidates, including National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, will be known tomorrow as the stage is set for counting of votes for the bypoll to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

Abdullah, whose only electoral defeat has come in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, is locked in a direct contest with ruling PDP's Nazir Ahmad Khan.

The counting of votes will begin at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here tomorrow at 8.00 AM, an election official said.

The counting of migrant votes will simultaneously take place in Jammu, Udhampur and New Delhi, the official said.

The bypoll to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was held on April 9, with the constituency recording its lowest voter turnout of 7.13 per cent.

The polling day was also marred by violence which left eight persons dead and scores of others, including security personnel, injured in clashes with stone-pelting protesters.

The Election Commission conducted a repoll yesterday on 38 polling stations which were worst hit by the poll day violence.

The repoll saw an abysmal turnout of two per cent.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shantmanu today visited SKICC to review the arrangements made for the counting of votes.

"The CEO inspected strong room and counting centers and received a detailed briefing of the arrangements. He was accompanied by Returning Officer and District Electoral Officer Srinagar, observers and other officers concerned," an official spokesman said.

Shantmanu said besides the presence of observers, the entire counting will be video-graphed.

The CEO inspected the counting halls established for each of the assembly segment, and was briefed about the security arrangements inside and outside the venue.

During his visit to the media centre, the CEO also directed the officials to provide full assistance to media fraternity in disseminating the .

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A 20-year-old student died here allegedly after he drowned in a lake while trying to pose for a selfie today, police said.

The incident occurred at Sirohi village when Aayub Khan, a first year BCA student, along with his three friends had gone to a nearby lake, police said.

While Aayub died, his other friends were rescued by other tourists present by the lake, SHO Preetpal Sangwan said.

The body has been sent for postmortem, he said, adding further probe is on.

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A Kuwaiti man suspected to be a member of the Islamic State group was today deported by the Philippines to face charges at home, a justice department official said.

Hussein Al-Dhafiri, one of the two suspected IS members arrested in the Philippines last month, was flown out of the country to Kuwait, undersecretary Erickson Balmes said.

A statement from the Kuwaiti embassy said Dhafiri was due to be tried in his home country.

"Evidence obtained by Kuwait's state security agencies also showed that he is planning to carry out terroristic attacks in the State of Kuwait," the statement said.

Dhafiri was arrested along with a Syrian woman Rahaf Zina, also named as a member of the jihadist group.

Zina and Dhafiri married after her high-ranking IS commander husband was killed in Syria, said Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.

He earlier said the pair had entered the country as part of plans for "a bombing operation" in the Philippines or Kuwait.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned that IS members might make their way into the country by infiltrating its Muslim communities, concentrated in the south of the largely Catholic country.

The Philippines has been battling with Muslim extremist groups for years in the remote southern region, some of whom have since pledged allegiance to IS.

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Three Dalit youths today tried to end their lives by consuming some poisonous substance near the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in Dhoraji town in Rajkot district to press for their demand of a policeman's arrest.

Police said, after the incident, the youths-- Punit Bagada, Raju Saundarva and Mayur Chaudhari-- were rushed to a hospital in Junagadh, where they are now "out of danger".

The trio allegedly tried to commit suicide near the Ambedkar statue, where several people had gathered to pay their tributes to the Dalit icon on his 126th birth anniversary, police said.

"Bagada, also known as 'Jonty', is a listed bootlegger. He had recently lodged a complaint against a constable of Dhoraji under the Prevention of Atrocities Act," Rajkot Superintendent of Police (SP) Antrip Sood said.

As per Bagda's complaint, when was in the custody of Dhoraji police some time back on the charges of bootlegging, the constable had beaten him up. Later, Bagda had filed a complaint against the policeman, following which a case had been registered against the latter, Sood said.

"Demanding immediate arrest of the constable, Bagda and two of his relatives consumed poisonous substance near the Ambedkar statue today," the police officer said.

They are now being treated at a hospital in Junagadh and are out of danger, Sood added.

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A deal to build a new Trump-brand hotel in Dallas has been abandoned.

A spokeswoman for the Trump Organization said yesterday that the president's company told the developer not to pursue the deal with the city council.

The developer, Mike Sarimsakci, declined to comment when reached by phone.

City council member Philip Kingston, who opposed the project, said Sarimsakci told him and another council member this week that he was switching to another hotel operator because of local concern "about the Trump name."



Sarimsakci signed a letter of intent for a Scion hotel in a redeveloping section of downtown. Scion is a new brand that the Trump Organization is trying to roll out. It would feature lower prices than the luxury Trump Hotels and cater to a younger audience.

The project, however, drew intense media and public scrutiny because of the Trump name and Turkish-born Sarimsakci's plan to involve investors from Turkey, Qatar and Kazakhstan whom he would not identify. He later said he had ruled out foreign investors.

Ethics experts said that outside money, whether foreign or American, raised the possibility of people trying to gain favor with the Trump administration by doing business with the president's company.

The publicity around the Dallas project appears to have annoyed the Trump Organization.

The company does not announce deals before they are signed and prefers to keep the specifics of deals private, the Trump Organization spokeswoman said.

But, she added, "This developer made quite a bit of noise about a potential deal," and when he called to ask about pursuing the deal further with city officials, "We told him that he should not.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a two-day visit to India beginning April 30 during which the two countries will explore ways to strengthen anti-terror cooperation and deepen trade and investment ties.

Erdogan's overnight visit will comes barely days after a referendum in Turkey on April 16 on whether to change the country from a parliamentary democracy to a executive structure led by the president.

The Turkish president will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 1 on key bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

With Turkey being a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the issue of India's membership bid of the elite group is likely to figure during the talks between the two leaders.

Turkey is not opposed to India's NSG membership but has been maintaining that the powerful bloc should come out with a system to consider entry of the countries which are not signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), diplomatic sources said.

China has been opposing India's membership of the NSG on the ground that it is not a signatory to the NPT.

Enhancing anti-terror cooperation will be among the focus areas during Erdogen-Modi talks.

After a failed coup in July last year to topple Erdogan, Turkey had blamed Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO) for it and said the outfit has "infiltrated" India.

Calling the FETO is "secretive transnational criminal network" with presence around the world, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, during a visit here last year, had said "Unfortunately, the FETO has also infiltrated India through associations and schools."



Issues relating to regional security, situation in the Middle East, particularly Syria, are likely to figure during talks between Modi and Erdogan.

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Venezuelan authorities said today they arrested two opposition youth leaders, the latest move in a crackdown on anti-government protests that have left five dead.

Jose Sanchez and Alejandro Sanchez were arrested "for organising terrorist acts and assaults against the peace of the country," Interior Minister Nestor Reverol wrote on Twitter.

The two are youth leaders of the Justice First party, one of the main groups in the center-right opposition coalition pushing for President Nicolas Maduro to be removed from office.

Venezuelan authorities drew international criticism last week for banning the party's most prominent figure, Henrique Capriles, from public office for 15 years.

Reverol said the two detainees "confessed taking part in this week's violence."



Five people, including a 13-year-old boy have been killed since April 6 in clashes with riot police during a wave of protests against Maduro.

Justice First rejected Reverol's allegations. It wrote on its Twitter account that the two youth leaders were "abducted" by military intelligence forces.

"Nestor Reverol, the real terrorism is the one you are leading by repressing the people," it wrote.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Caracas in the latest eruption of unrest yesterday, AFP reporters saw.

Maduro is fighting off efforts to oust him as Venezuela, once a booming oil-exporting nation, struggles with shortages of food and medicine.

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 Capriles from politics.

Those moves have raised international condemnation including from the United States and the European Union.

Maduro has resisted opposition efforts to hold a vote 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.

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New CIA Director Mike Pompeo has termed whistle-blower collective WikiLeaks, whose leaking of classified documents have embarrassed the US, a "non-state hostile intelligence" agency which is often helped by Russia.

In his first public address as the Central Intelligence Agency chief, Pompeo said "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."



He said US intelligence services had found that Russian state-owned television network RT actively collaborated with the website.

Pompeo, a former Republican Congressmen who once applauded disclosures by WikiLeaks, said the intelligence community at CIA finds the celebration of entities like WikiLeaks "both perplexing and deeply troubling".

"WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service," he said.

But his harshest words were directed at its founder Julian Assange, and at former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who had leaked classified documents from the National Security Agency in 2013. "(They) seek to use that information to make a name for themselves" and "care nothing about the lives they put at risk or the damage they cause to national security".

Pompeo said Assange claims to harbour an overwhelming admiration for both America and the idea of America. "But I assure you that this man knows nothing of America and our ideals."



"We know this because 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," Pompeo said.

"When Snowden absconded to the comfortable clutches of Russian intelligence, his treachery directly harmed a wide range of US intelligence and military operations. Despite what he claims, he is no whistle blower. True whistleblowers use the well-established and discreet processes in place to voice grievances; they do not put American lives at risk," he said.

Pompeo said Assange's actions have attracted a devoted following among some of the most determined enemies.

Following a recent WikiLeaks disclosure, an al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula member posted a comment online "thanking WikiLeaks for providing a means to fight America in a way that AQAP had not previously envisioned," the CIA Director claimed.

"That Assange is the darling of terrorists is nothing short of reprehensible," he said.

Assange, an Australian citizen, has been living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He received political asylum from the South American country after skipping bail to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted in connection with a rape case.

And Snowden lives at an undisclosed location in Russia after initially traveling to Hong Kong following his disclosure of the documents. Russia granted him asylum soon after.

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A 19-year-old youth was allegedly shot dead by his juvenile friend following an argument during a drinking session in outer Delhi's Mundka area, police said today.

The incident took place last night when Siddhanth and his friend were drinking liquor. They had an argument, following which the juvenile shot at Siddhanth with a countrymade pistol, a senior police officer said.

Hearing the gunshot, their family members rushed to the spot and took Siddhanth to a hospital, where he died during treatment. Police were informed by the hospital authorities.

The juvenile was apprehended from the area. The reason behind the shooting is not clear yet. The families also have not shared any details about what could have led to the argument, the officer said, adding both the families are quite close to each other.

Siddhanth was a Class XII student and his father is in property business, the officer said.

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Banks' loans rose 5.1 percent in the two weeks to March 31 from a year earlier, while deposits rose 11.8 per cent, the Reserve of India's weekly statistical supplement showed on Friday.

Outstanding loans rose 3.16 trillion rupees ($49.08 billion) to 78.82 trillion rupees in the two weeks to March 31. Non-food credit rose 3.18 trillion rupees to 78.28 trillion rupees, while food credit fell 19.30 billion rupees to 539.30 billion rupees.

deposits rose 2.63 trillion rupees to 108.05 trillion rupees in the two weeks to March 31.
Since demonetisation drive, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been encouraging digital transactions in the country. But the recent arrest of a man for allegedly supplying stolen credit cards data to call centres might make you think twice to adopt the same.

Delhi Police have arrested a man who allegedly was in possession of humoungous amount of data. He sold this information to fake call centres whose employees would in turn call the victims and try to obtain one time passwords (OTPs) from them.

The accused Puran Gupta (33) was arrested while Delhi Police were investigating a Citibank credit card fraud.

The police said the probe is underway and more arrests related to this scam are expected in the coming days.
Bengaluru police on Friday recovered demonetised currency worth Rs 40 crore from the residence of a former Corporator, V Nagraj, in the city.

The probe team raided Nagraj's residence after the police received an information regarding the availability of cash in scarpped notes.

"We found the illegal cash in the house of ex-corporator Nagaraj, 54, during a search conducted on a court warrant in a criminal case and seized the banned notes in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination," Hennur Police Station Inspector N Srinivas told media.

The police raided his residence early morning around 5 o' clock. However, Nagraj was not present at his home when the team knocked off his residence.

The police is presently counting the notes recovered from Nagraj's residence. Sources from the police said that Nagraj is a historysheeter.

Nagaraj is alleged have been involved in converting black money into white by exchanging the old currency notes.

He was elected as an Independent corporator of the Bangalore Municipal Corporation in 2002 from the Prakashnagar civic ward in the city's west.

He also contested the elections against KPCC working president M Dinesh Gundurao in 2004 and lost by 400 votes.








There should be no holiday in schools on birth anniversaries of great personalities instead students should be taught about them on such days, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said today.

"There should be no holidays in schools on birth anniversaries of great personalities. Instead special two-hour programme should be held to teach students about them," Adityanath said while addressing a gathering on the occasion of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar's 126th birth anniversary.

Children should be motivated to learn about tradition of personalities and their contribution for the country, he said, adding that his government would provide uniform, copies and books to students of primary schools.

"There will be no discrimination and injustice in this government rule. Government is committed to security of 22 crore people of the state and no one will be allowed to flout law," Adityanath added.

Paying tributes to the father of Indian Constitution, the Chief Minister said Ambedkar was against "playing politics" at the cost of the country.

UP Governor Ram Naik also addressed the gathering and emphasised on following the constitutional obligations while paying tributes to Ambedkar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched BHIM-Aadhar platform - a biometric-based payment system - in Nagpur. BHIM-Aadhaar Pay app will allow users to make payments through the fingerprint scanner, by authenticating the biometric details of a user with Aadhaar database.

BHIM, also known as Bharat Interface for Money, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi three months ago to provide a tool that can be a one-stop solution for all digital payments.



The app, which will be available for download to merchants across the country, will link your Aadhaar number and biometic fingerprint to complete a transaction. To enable the transactions through BHIM-Aadhar, merchants will have to purchase fingerprint scanners.

With more than 1.8 crore downloads of the app which is available both on the Google Play Store and the iOS App store, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched two new offers to reward BHIM users. These two schemes are:



BHIM Referral Bonus Scheme (For Individuals)

The Referral Bonus scheme will incentivize existing BHIM users for bringing new users on the BHIM platform and encouraging the new users to do transactions with others using BHIM or by referring new users on BHIM. Hence, the bonus will be paid to both the referrer and the new user of BHIM (referee). The referral will be considered successful only after 3 unique successful financial transactions have been completed by the new user.

On completion of minimum 3 unique successful transactions totalling only Rs 50 to any 3 unique users (either to customers or to merchants), the referrer and the referee will be notified about the bonus amount via notification in BHIM app. The referrer will get Rs 10 per successful referral, while the new users will get Rs 25 for downloading and transacting from BHIM App.

BHIM Merchant Cashback Scheme

The scheme incentivizes not just one-time adoption of BHIM by merchants, but will also encourage transactions via BHIM mode (either QR code or VPA or Mobile number or 'Pay to Aadhaar'). The cashback to the merchant can be up to Rs 300 per month, with each merchant eligible to win up to Rs 1800 in 6 months.



What is BHIM Aadhar app?

BHIM Aadhar is a new Aadhar Payment App is a new Android smartphone application being launched by the Narendra Modi government to encourage the use of digital payments. BHIM Aadhar Pay smartphone payment app would also eliminate the fee currently being charged by the private card companies such as 'MasterCard' and 'Visa'.

Who should install Aadhar Pay app?

Aadhar Pay App is need to be installed by merchants only i.e. only the shopkeepers, showrooms need to install aadhar pay app and the users who wants to pay using aadhar pay only need to link their aadhar number with their bank accounts. Shopkeepers/ Merchant can download aadhar pay to take payments from customers from their aadhar linked bank accounts using their biometric scan.



How to download BHIM Aadhar Pay app?



Merchants would just need to download the Aadhar Pay App and connect their smartphones to the biometric scan machine to accept the payments from customers. The merchants would also be required to connect their bank accounts and register themselves on the app.

The application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store by searching for 'Aadhar Pay' and clicking the download link.

How it works?

Merchants would be required to download the BHIM Aadhar Pay payment app on their android smartphone connected to a biometric reader. The biometric reader is currently available for just Rs 2000. If a customer wants to make payment, then he/she just need to enter his Aadhar Number in the app and select the bank from which the payment is to be made and use the biometric scan as the password for the transaction.

Upon entering the Aadhar Number, the app would automatically fetch the bank accounts linked with your Aadhar number, then the customer can make the selection of bank for payment as per his/her choice

How will it help?

The Aadhar Pay App for merchants would help eliminate the long waiting period and hassle of getting a new POS (Point of Sale) machine. At present there are only 15 lakh POS machines deployed by the banks across the country. SBO alone has deployed over 3 lakh terminals followed by HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank.

BHIM Aadhaar Pay app is made available on a merchant's smartphone. Customers can pay the merchant by selecting the Bank's name and filling only one field on the merchant's phone - the Aadhaar number. The customer's fingerprint is the password used to authenticate the transaction.

Customers need not use debit or credit cards, download mobile applications or even carry a mobile to make cashless transactions. The solution eliminates the hassles of remembering passwords, account numbers, or setting up of virtual payment addresses and using USSD codes to transfer money.

The acceptability of digital payments has also been very poor among the merchants in the country. One of the biggest reasons behind this is India being a cash dominated country and 2%-3% charges taken by the card companies such as Visa and MasterCard.

The lack of connectivity has also made it difficult for the merchants in the country to adopt digital payment systems. There are about 5 Crore merchants in the country at present and only 15 lakh POS machines for a population of more than 125 crore.

Not only for the merchants, the BHIM Aadhar Payment would also be helpful for customers to get rid of their stacks of plastic money, confusing sets of passwords and their digital payment accounts passwords being stolen. Also, the customers need not to download a digital payment wallet or even a smartphone.

Customer benefits:

Customers don't need to have an android phone or any other technology to make payments. No service tax or any other extra charge on the payments using Aadhaar payments app. There is no need to carry debit card or credit card. No need to remember PINs, MPINs and passwords. Instant Payments through aadhaar bridge system this is similar to Aadhaar Enabled Payment system (AEPS). Affordable payment solution for merchants as well as customers.
Within a week of promising to issue new guidelines to resolve bad loans problem, Reserve Bank today issued a new set of enabling provisions under the label of revised prompt corrective action (PCA) framework.

The RBI said the new set of provisions is effective April 1 based on the financials of each bank as of March 2017, and override the existing PCA framework. It also said the new framework will be reviewed after three years.

"A bank will be placed under PCA framework based on the audited annual financial results and RBI's supervisory assessment. However, RBI may impose PCA on any bank during the course of a year, including migration from one threshold to another, in case the circumstances so warrant," RBI said.

More importantly, it said if a bank crosses the third level of risk threshold (wherein a bank's common equity tier I capital falls below the threshold of 3.625 per cent by 3.125 per cent or more) the said bank will be either amalgamated or merged or taken over by another entity.

"Breach of 'risk threshold 3' of CET1 by a bank would identify it as a likely candidate for resolution through tools like amalgamation, reconstruction, winding up etc," RBI said.

It also said in case a "bank defaults in meeting the obligations to its depositors, possible resolution processes may be resorted to without reference to the PCA matrix."

Extending the new provisions to foreign banks, RBI said the revised PCA framework is applicable to all banks including small banks and foreign banks.

The new framework also places capital, asset quality and profitability as the key areas for monitoring and the over-riding indicators tracking capital, asset quality and profitability will be CRAR/common equity tier I ratio, met NPA ratio and return on assets, respectively, it added.

A bank's leverage will be monitored additionally as part of the PCA framework and any breach of any risk threshold will result in invocation of PCA.

On CRAR or capital to risk assets ratio, which is the minimum regulatory prescription and the applicable capital conservation buffer (CCB), it said the current minimum prescription is 10.25 per cent (9 per cent minimum total capital plus 1.25 per cent of CCB as on March 31, 2017).

It said PCA would kick in if a bank breaches either CRAR or CET 1 ratio by up to 250 bps below indicator between 10.25 per cent and 7.75 per cent.

If a bank including foreign ones breaches the risk levels or leverage levels, RBI said promoters/owners/parent in the case of foreign banks will have to bring in capital to meet the special supervisory requirement.

Breach of risk threshold 2 will attract restrictions on branch expansion, domestic and/or overseas higher provisions as part of the coverage regime, it said.

Breach of risk threshold 3 will invite mandatory actions of threshold 1 & 2, along with restrictions on management compensation and directors' fees and any other corrective actions such as removal of managerial persons, superseding the board or suppression of the board.

Credit risk related actions include asking the bank to prepare a time-bound plan and committing it reduce NPAs, plans to contain new NPA generation, strengthening the loan review mechanism, curbs on credit expansion for borrowers below certain rating grades, reduction in risk assets, curbs on credit expansion, reduction in unsecured exposures, loan concentrations to identified sectors, industries or borrowers; sale of assets, action plan for recovery of assets among others.

These measures were promised at the April 7 monetary policy as the bad loans including those already restructured in the system is believed to have touched 15 per cent of the system or USD 180 billion by March 2017.
Japanese carmaker Suzuki Motor Corp., which owns 56 per cent in the country's leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki India, has entered into a joint-venture with Toshiba Corporation and Denso Corporation for automotive lithium-ion battery packs in India.

The new agreement is expected to meet the needs of hybrid, electric and other alternative fuel for the Indian market where fuel efficiency norms and stringent emission standards are kicking in.

Suzuki, in a statement, said that higher attention is being paid to environment and the new CO2 standards for automobiles in India. "In the Indian automotive market where compact cars are the mainstream models, introduction of sustainable technology suitable for such affordable cars is required. The battery pack manufacturing joint venture by the three companies will realise a stable supply of lithium-ion battery packs in India in the course of promoting sustainable cars in the country and will contribute to 'Make in India' initiative by the Indian Government," Suzuki said in a statement.

The joint venture is expected to come up within 2017 and the battery manufacturing is expected to commence shortly. The initial capital expenditure will be 20 billion Japanese yen (approx Rs 1,200 crore). It will be capitalised at 2 billion Japanese yen (approx Rs 120 crore). Suzuki will have 50 per cent stake in the new entity while Toshiba will hold 40 per cent and Denso the rest 10 per cent.

The establishment of the joint venture company will be further examined in details by the three companies, and will be subject to approval by respective authorities in accordance with applicable competition laws.
*M*ake what you will of this. In the modern era of partisan polarization, which can be dated back to the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, only the presid...
Rev Fonki Samuel, PCC Moderator W. Musa

The Synod, which is highest body of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, has debunked allegations; the Moderator Rt. Rev Fonki Samuel has been summoned to appear before a Court in Buea concerning the Anglophone crisis.

The Guardian Post Newspaper writes that the Communication Secretary of the PCC, Rev Mokoko Mbue Thomas said it was only a rumor and told reporters that to the best of his knowledge the PPC Moderator has not been summoned except the said summon is still to reach them.

The rumor which spread like wild fire in the dry season alleged that his summon was even read in some PCC churches in the North West region.

Many see this new campaign as a way to give the dog a bad name to hang it. In March this year it was rumored that the PCC Moderator had declared a blank academic year in all Presbyterian schools. But this was later disclaimed by the Communication service on March 14 on the official website of the PCC.

Rumor of this summon even went as far as alleging that even the President of Cameroon Baptist Convention, CBC and Catholic Bishops of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province were all asked to appear before a Court in Buea in a date not yet announced.

Prime Minister Philemon Yang after his visit to the North West region said Government will work with Clergymen to determine when schools will reopen especially in their schools.

The PCC has 22 Secondary schools, 233 Primary and Nursery schools with 640 and 980 teachers respectively. All these schools have remained closed since the strike action began.

By Wilson MUSA
Bangolan village damages last year (File picture) W. Musa

Hundreds of Villagers in Bangolan, a village situated in Babessi sub division,Ngoketundjia division in the North West region have stormed the village square demanding the departure of their Fon Chaffah Isaac XI.

The villagers; women, men and youths say the say Fon Chaffah has overstayed his welcome in the village. Acording to them, he is no longer their traditional ruler and must leave.

Fridays protest comes one year since the people of Bangolan staged a fierce demonstration which led to the death and several persons injured by bullet wounds.

On March 19, 2016, the Bangolan palace was under attack when angry villagers besieged the palace demanding the Fon to leave. The Fons son was allegedly shot before palace guards retaliated by shooting and wounding some villagers.

The alternate Senator who sued for peace in February last year has never seen peace in his village.

Villagers accused him of defiling the tradition by publicly denouncing traditional practices by attending a crusade with Apostle John CHI.

Salim, a man selected by the villagers as their new chief died last year under unclear circumstances.

By Wilson MUSA
News / Africa

by Staff reporter

Cape Town - Six rifles have been stolen and soldiers held up during a robbery at a military base in Harare, Khayelitsha, early on Friday.News24 understands that five armed suspects stormed the 9 South African Infantry Battalion Base, overpowering guards at the gate and stealing their R4 rifles and ammunition.The robbers forced the guards inside the base and overpowered five more soldiers in the armoury guard room.It is understood the robbers forced the soldiers to open a safe.A total of six rifles were stolen during the robbery.SA National Defence Force spokesperson Brigadier General Mafi Mgobozi confirmed the robbery, saying no further details were available as officials were still at the scene.Police could not be immediately reached for comment.In August last year a group stole military equipment, assault rifles and hand grenades from the Simon's Town Naval Base.They were arrested.One of the three taken into custody, Duncan Gouvias, was earlier in 2017 handed an effective 43 year jail sentence.
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 ...
News / Local

by Staff Reporter

VICE President Emmerson Mnangagwa has broke his silence on sustained attacks from Higher Education Professor Jonathan Moyo over Command Agriculture project.Mnangagwa said he met Moyo in person and challenged him over his criticism yet he was a beneficiary of the same scheme.Mnangagwa said no single person including Moyo was 'commanded to join Command Agriculture', Herald reported Friday."The major attack of Command Agriculture came from my colleague Professor Moyo, so I met him."He is a beneficiary of Command Agriculture. He has 80 hectares, very good crop in Mashonaland Central, so when I met him I said my brother, but you criticise Command Agriculture when you are benefiting so much and we are supporting you."He said no my brother, Vice President, I am not attacking Command Agriculture, l have been attacking information that is coming out about the $500 million fund. It is not explained to the public, people will think there is some mismanagement of some sort."I said no! but you understand you are in Cabinet, we always explain these things in Cabinet, and we discuss these things in Cabinet. This is why each time I have opportunity to discuss these things, I mention what actual funds have come to the programme, that is what has happened" he told the Herald.He added, "When I see people criticising Command Agriculture, I do not have time to look at the criticism."I continuously want to improve on what is there."In fact, those who criticise will have eaten. They do not criticise when they are hungry, so we must make sure we produce more food for them to eat and criticise.""We introduced Command Agric, which many people have criticised because of the word 'command.'"But I would want anybody to bring anyone who had been commanded to join Command Agriculture. There is nobody."Moyo has on several occasions been running a string of messages on social media denouncing the scheme adopted by Government last year.In one of the messages on March 6 following a story published by our Harare Bureau, Prof Moyo wrote on his Twitter handle: "Report by @Herald Zimbabwe that Command Agric exceeds target' is at best premature & at worst needlessly false!"He went on to post on March 10 that "1/2: Maize is on 1,3m ha: 1,1m is Presidential Input Scheme; 153 102.60ha is Command Agriculture & the rest private!"Prof Moyo on the same date added "2/2: Command Agriculture targeted 400 000ha but contracted 247,035ha of which 191 124ha (77 percent) were tilled & 153 102.60ha (61 percent) were planted on!"On March 11, he also wrote that, "Command is a tried & tested military concept. It is also a great in programming. But in civil matters command is an oxymoron & non starter!"He added on his Twitter handle: "After merchants of Command Agriculture poured $500 million to plant maize on 153 102.60ha, they now want a Command Economy!"In another tweet Prof Moyo wrote: "Better listen to agro-economists on how $500 million was commandeered to plant maize on just 153 102.60ha when the $500m was meant for 400 000ha!"
News / National

by Simbarashe Sithole

There are unconfirmed reports that a member of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) identified as Trymore Ruzane who worked at Mutimurefu Prison is on the run.A source told Bulawayo24.com that Ruzane is "wanted by police ...he is accused of sleeping with a 13-year-old girl.""All hell came to light after the girl was refused entrance at the church gates by church prophets at a ZCC church session. She was told to confess her sins before allowed entrance," the source said."That's when she divulged that she was in a sexual relationship with a prison officer since February this year."According to the source the story then came to the attention of senior church members as well as the girl's parents.The matter was then reported to Masvingo Rural Police, Ruzane was summoned to the police which he did.Said the source: "The police, through trust that he was a Prison officer, released Ruzane and told him to report at the police station the following day.""That was the last time the accused person was seen. Now his whereabouts are not known and he is no longer reporting for duty as well."
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.

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Opinion / Columnist

Let's not be naive and assume that Jacob Zuma is going to leave office because a couple hundred thousand people took a day off from work and took to the streets and sang in three part harmony urging him to step down. That's not quite how politics of power works.Nor is the dissent within the ANC strong enough to get rid of Jacob Zuma. Gwede Mantashe, much by the prophecy of Julius Malema, has already changed his tune and is squarely back in Zuma's corner.The ANC parliamentary caucus will once again vote in an echo of Zuma's defence  he has had enough time to refocus that group, Jackson Mthembu  ANC parliamentary leader has softened since the midnight reshuffle  and the NEC are too afraid about the security of their own smallanyana skeletons to enact any meaningful and impactful action against the tyranny of Zuma. The ANCWL was never not going to support Zuma, and the ANCYL will sing for their meals to whatever tune they're told to sing to.The worst thing is to think Jacob Zuma is politically stupid. He may just be the most politically genius person of our time. And the sooner we realise just how smart and tactful he is, the better prepared we will be for him. He definitely pre-empted the backlash he is facing right now and he has adequately prepared for. Unfortunately, we will not be getting rid of Jacob before the end of his term of office. And even his "end of term" remains questionable.Importantly, we need to sincerely and accurately interrogate whether Zuma really is the centre that holds together all South Africa's problems, and at least the biggest of South Africa's problems.The tone of the anti-Zuma protests seems to suggest that if we get rid of Zuma, our problems will evaporate into thin air. Somehow our collective naivety has led us to believe that in the absence of Zuma our economy will grow between 3 and 5 percent year-on-year; the poor masses of Diepsloot and all apartheid spatial planning resultants that resemble the make of the violent poverty of the majority of South Africans will finally wake up to jobs; suddenly women will be safe on our streets, blacks will get the land back, fees will fall and corrupt state officials will spend their time behind bars instead of being promoted the more corrupt they get; racism will disappear and South Africa will wake up to the surprise of an egalitarian Utopia that the timbre of Mandela's voice had us believing in all along  and that all of this was just a bad dream.The reality is that none of that will happen. Corruption lives and breathes beyond Jacob Zuma. The ANC only continues to survive as an organisation if and only if those who occupy positions of power and leadership equally participate in its post democratic culture of corruption. If you dare challenge that system, you will be gotten rid of.Julius Malema is yet to explain to the country how he ended up owing SARS the millions he has been required to pay back off of his R20 000 salary as president of the Youth League and he is yet to sincerely apologise for that. We can't expect him to lead any differently when he has failed to own up to his own mess.The DA is yet to account for its own share of irregular procurement practices in the Western Cape and how it also took money from the Guptas. Importantly, the companies in corporate South Africa who have been implicated in corrupt and dishonest business practices by the Competitions Commission are yet to ask for forgiveness for their share of misdeeds.Putting aside corruption, is it genuinely Jacob Zuma's fault that the financial sector remains untransformed? How can it be that the JSE is still strongly in the hands and control of the white minority of South Africa?Is it Jacob's doing that black people are treated like sub-human inconveniences at the hands of white people who, on the daily, pay black people less than their white counterparts who are equally as qualified as them doing exactly the same job as them and that black people are only hired in corporate South Africa when the companies realise their BBBEE rating is in trouble.These are things that we all (well, at least the affected parties) will continue to echo at the picket lines even after Zuma. Unemployment will remain the reality of the black youth in South Africa as long as the structure of the economy remains untransformed and the majority of the land in the hands of the few.Zuma and his omnipotent network remains a cancer that eats into the fibre of South Africa, but to reduce the problems of South Africa to him is disingenuous to the continuous structural inequality of South Africa that remains drawn along racial and gender lines.Crucially, we then need to sincerely ask ourselves, are we protesting against Jacob Zuma or are we also protesting against our collective complicity in scourge of South Africa. Because if we don't see ourselves as contributors to the problem  particularly if you are White and if you are a man  then any protest against Zuma will be in vain. We need to dispel the delusions of a post-Zuma Utopia.- Dickson is a socio-political analyst and an award winning competitive debater currently ranked Africa's nr. 1 debater. Follow him on Twitter: @Oliver_Speaking.
H N Protech pvt ltd, a technology service provider is calling out for interns for a service and support engineer internship. It is a paid opportunity with a monthly allowance.

Role of the interns:

The selected intern(s) will work on following during the internship:

Testing devices tools

Installing devices

Giving emergency assistance

Preparing documentation

Giving technical assistance

Planning maintenance work

No. of Internships available:

10

What are the benefits of joining the service and support engineer internship?

Certificate

Pre placement offer (PPO)

Eligibility

Only those candidates can apply who:

are available for full time (in-office) internship.

can start the internship between 13th Apr'17 and 13th May'17.

are available for duration of 6 months (preferred, not mandatory).

are from Delhi and neighboring cities.

have/ are pursuing UG/PG degrees in Engineering (B.Tech/B.E/MCA & Similar).

are currently in any year of study or are recent graduates

When

Start date can be any time between 13 April and 13 May

Duration

6 months

Stipend

Rs 5000

Where

Delhi

How to apply?

Apply through internshala here

About H N Protech Pvt Ltd (http://www.hnprotech.com):

H N Protech pvt ltd has maintained its position as an industry pioneer and leader and has world-class brands like Honeywell, Panasonic, SAMSUNG to support in our endeavor. To keep pace with ever growing technology trends and the convergence of Communication & Information Technology H N Protech offer total solutions under one roof catering to Small, Medium & Large size companies; Residences; Hotels; SOHO segments amongst other sector. The solutions offered to the customers are comprehensive solutions so that they can focus on their core business only.

Learn and Earn Through Operations Internship this Summer
April 14, 2017: British universities have called on the government for a "new immigration policy" to encourage international students to choose the UK, after recent figures showed a "worrying decline" in the number of students from countries like India.

Universities UK, the representative body for higher education institutions, expressed concerns this week over a "worrying decline" in the number of international students coming to Britain due to a perception of being unwelcome.

It urged the British government to drop international students from its annual target of immigration cuts. "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," said Dame Julia Goodfellow, President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kent.

"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," she said. In reference to the realities of Brexit, she said: "As the UK prepares to exit the EU, it is more important than ever.

Find Out Why UK Is Losing Its Popularity Among Indian Students!

"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," she said.

In reference to the realities of Brexit, she said: "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."

The most recent figures on international students in the UK showed a worrying decline in the number of new international enrolments over recent years, Goodfellow said. "At the same time, competitor countries such as the USA and Australia have seen increases. Both countries open their arms to international students and classify them as being non-permanent or temporary residents in their immigration systems."

Her comments followed a new ComRes poll commissioned by Universities UK which found that nearly 73 per cent of the British public were in favour of international students coming to study in the UK.

Also read: Study in UK: Guide for international students

The poll released yesterday reveals that most members of the British public do not view international students as immigrants to the UK. The results show that only 26 per cent of the British public think of international students as immigrants when thinking about government immigration policy.

Goodfellow added: "It is clear that the British public does not see international students as long-term migrants, but as valuable, temporary visitors. They come to the UK, study for a period, then the vast majority return home. "The UK could be doing much better than this. The UK has the potential to be one of the world's fastest growing destinations for international students, building on its current status as the second most popular destination for international students [after the US]."

The public poll of over 4,000 adults conducted last month also found that 75 per cent of the British public agreed that international students should be able to work in the UK for a fixed period of time after they have graduated, seen as a major factor behind the drop in international student numbers in recent years.

The latest Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), UK's official agency for the collection, analysis and dissemination of quantitative information about higher education, had revealed earlier this year that while Indians remain the third-largest category of students from outside the European Union, they registered a decrease of 9 per cent in 2015-16 over the previous year.

"India saw the largest percentage decrease, at 44 per cent between 2011/12 and 2015/16. In numbers, this meant that in 2015/16, the number of student enrolments domiciled from India was 13,150 less than in 2011/12. It is worth noting however, that the decline in student enrolments domiciled from India began a year earlier, in 2010/11," the HESA said in its analysis.

Universities UK and other groups have been lobbying the government to ease its immigration policy towards students over the years. "Over the last five years, the number of Indian students attending UK universities has halved. I have consistently asked the government to remove students from the net migration target," said Lord Bilimoria, leading Indian-origin entrepreneur and Cobra Beer founder, who himself came to the UK as a student.

"We should immediately re-introduce the two-year post- study work visa, which I fought hard to introduce before its withdrawal in 2012, to allow foreign students to implement their much needed skills here and help boost our economy," he added.
Opinion / Columnist

PDP Party President Tendai Biti will deliver a key note address at the Annual General meeting of the South African Law Society on 21 April 2017.The meeting which shall take place at an International Convention Centre in South Africa will be held under the theme "The State of the Profession-Looking Forward."It will be against the context of the 20th anniversary of the South African Constitution. Mr Biti will speak to the challenges lawyers face practicing in a Constitutional democracy. He will draw parallels of the environment in South Africa with that in Zimbabwe where political interference is high even in the Judiciary.The Law Society of South Africa will bring together its six constituent members The Black Lawyers Association, the Cape Law Society, the Kwazulu Natal Law Society, the Law Society of Northern Provinces and the National Association of Democratic Lawyers.The meetings will also be attended by all local lawyers of the hosting town; Mr Biti will be the guest of Honour.Mr Biti has been recognised for his efforts in using constitutional law as a tool for social change and his consistent human rights work.He recently attended a conference in South Africa on the rights of prisoners where he made a presentation on the issue of those imprisoned for life's right to parole and the efforts to ascertain progressive clauses of the Constitution.Mr Biti will soon explore the law around the right to vote in national elections for inmates. He is currently working with a number of Zimbabweans in diaspora to file an application on the right to vote for the people who live abroad.Recognising all the hard work and commitment to human rights and constitutional law, the Law Society of South Africa through the Co-Chairpersons, Mvuzo Notyesi and Jan van Rensburg decided to give him the honour to address the august event of Legal Practitioners in the Republic of South Africa.The People's Democratic Party is proud to have a leader of Mr Biti's ilk, his work is recognised the world over. In 2011 he was recognised as the best finance Minister on the continent after propelling the economy in Zimbabwe to a 12% growth rate, making it the fastest growing economy on the globe.He was invited to prestigious institutions like the Centre for African Development where he was an expert on developing economies and fragile states. The President has also presented lectures on security sector reform at Universities in the United States of America.Our party is therefore committed to providing thought leadership and top drawer solutions not only in Zimbabwe but the world over.
Never before have there been so many phenomenal options in the supercar market. Whether its the Ferrari 488 GTB and Lamborghini Huracan from Italy, the British McLaren 675LT or Americas insane Corvette Z06, its really hard to make a wrong choice.



But which of this current crop of supercars is the fastest around a track?

To find out, YouTuber Alejandro Salomon recently headed to Willow Springs with all four, plus professional racing driver Tristain Vautier. The winner isnt all that surprising, but some of the other results are.

At the hand of the French driver, the McLaren 675LT lapped the circuit in 1 min 26.42 seconds. Rather amazingly, the three-year-old Lamborghini Huracan came home in 1 min 26.54 seconds, a seriously impressive time considering it is the entry-level model and not even the potent Performante version. In third came the Ferrari 488 (1:26.92) while the Corvette Z06 put up a respectable 1:28.40.

Looking beyond simple on-track performance, which of the four would you like to drive the most?

VIDEO
Automakers from Germany are discussing whether to follow the lead of French group PSA and publish more realistic fuel economy figures in order to boost consumer confidence.



Previously, PSA published so-called real fuel consumption for a great number of Peugeot, Citroen and DS models, after applying a new testing protocol.

Recently, VW Group CEO Matthias Mueller stated that his company is also discussing a similar action with its German competitors in the VDA. I expect that we will come to a solution in the foreseeable future, said the VW boss.

However, according to Autonews, VDA president Matthias Wissmann refused to give any hints as to what testing protocols they might use, or whether consumer and environmental advocacy groups would participate.

We are in constructive talks with the Federal Transportation Ministry on the question how we can improve transparency, but we have not concluded the discussions, said Wissmann.

During a press event in Geneva last month, T&E director of clean vehicles, Greg Archer, went on to say that PSAs real world test results showed how in many cases, fuel consumption turned out to be higher by more than 40% than the certified figure. He also said that PSAs testing protocol helped show that fuel economy measurements can be reliable and reproducible.

Volkswagen and Co. to follow PSA Group and T&Es lead? Would be good news for consumers, concluded T&E exec William Todts.

PHOTO GALLERY
A shocking video showing a Californian police officer violently detaining an alleged jaywalker has surfaced online.



Filmed by a woman named Naomi Montaie, the video begins shortly after the Sacramento officer reportedly observed a man crossing the street unlawfully.

The officer claimed that after the pedestrian was observed jaywalking, he walked away before the two faced each other in the road. The man can be seen removing his jacket and according to authorities, challenged the officer to a fight.

The officer then briefly grabs the man by the neck and violently throws him to the ground before wildly punching him for no apparent reason.

In an initial statement, the Sacramento Police Department (SACPD) said, For an unknown reason, the officer threw the pedestrian to the ground and began striking him in the face with his hand multiple times. Within a few moments, additional officers arrived to assist in handcuffing the suspect.

Following the incident, the police officer was placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

Sacramento police then released a video (the second one below) captured by one of the dash-cams in a patrol car. After a preliminary review of the in-car camera videos, reports and facts surrounding the case, it was determined that the officers actions appeared to be outside of policy, said SACPD.

The victim was held in Sacramento Main Jail before being released Tuesday morning.

Investigative staff determined that there were insufficient grounds for making a criminal complaint against the pedestrian, said the department in a statement. Because of this information, a police sergeant responded to the jail to process the paperwork required to drop the criminal charges and seek his release from custody. At approximately 2:30 a.m. this morning, he was released from custody and issued a court date for his outstanding warrant.

SACPD said that both the administrative and criminal investigation into the officers actions will occur concurrently.

Warning  some viewers may find the following video disturbing

VIDEO
Hyundai has unveiled the facelifted 2018 Sonata at the New York Auto Show.



Looking virtually identical to the Korean model which was introduced last month, the North American variant has a sportier front fascia with a larger grille that is flanked by LED-infused headlights.

The refreshened styling continues further back as customers will find restyled taillights, new alloy wheels, and a rear Hyundai badge that doubles as a trunk release button. The Sonata Sport and Sonata 2.0T go one step further as they are distinguished by a mesh grille, unique bumpers, and gloss black window trim.

The cabin invokes a sense of deja vu but the company has added a revised instrument cluster, a new three-spoke steering wheel, and an updated center stack with new switchgear. Buyers will also find a second row USB charging port, an upgraded infotainment system, and an improved navigation system with a birds eye view feature.

On the safety front, the 2018 Sonata gains a standard Blind Spot Detection system as well as Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. Certain models can also be equipped with a new Lane Departure Warning system and an improved Lane Keep Assist function.

The changes are more than skin deep as engineers installed a stiffer torsion bar and a recalibrated steering system. The company says these changes will help to improve responsiveness as well as on-center steering feel. Lastly, Hyundai modified the rear suspension by adding new bushings and thicker trailing arms to better handle heavy suspension loads.

While the company was coy on performance specifications, the automaker confirmed the Sonata 2.0T will continue to be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that develops 245 hp (248 PS). However, it will now be connected to a new eight-speed automatic transmission which replaces the previous six-speed unit.

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Video
[April 13, 2017] Robbins Arroyo LLP: Walter Investment Management Corp. (WAC) Misled Shareholders According to a Recently Filed Lawsuit

Shareholder rights law firm Robbins Arroyo LLP announces that a class action complaint was filed against Walter Investment Management Corp. (NYSE: WAC (News - Alert)) in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The complaint is brought on behalf of all purchasers of Walter securities between May 3, 2016 and March 13, 2017, for alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by Walter's officers and directors. Walter operates as an independent servicer and originator of mortgage loans, and a servicer of reverse mortgage loans in the United States. View this information on the law firm's Shareholder Rights Blog: www.robbinsarroyo.com/shareholders-rights-blog/walter-investment-management-corp-apr-17 Walter Accused of Failing to Implement Adequate Internal Controls According to the complaint, Walter issued a series of filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC (News - Alert)") containing false information about the company's financial position. On February 29, 2016, Walter subitted its Form 10-K in which the company articulated reassuring expectations for its recent rebranding and consolidation of Ditech Financial. Specifically, Walter stated that the rebranding would improve the company's recapture performance, and in a separate SEC filing, acknowledged that Ditech's reorganization was intended to improve efficiencies and profitability of its reverse mortgage business. The complaint claims that Walter's statements were false and misleading because Walter omitted pertinent facts concerning its financial condition, including that: Ditech had a material weakness in its internal control over operational processes, Walter therefore had deficient internal controls over financial reporting, and Walter was involved in fraudulent practices that violated the False Claims Act.



Walter's true financial condition was revealed on March 14, 2017, in the company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, in which Walter concluded there was "a material weakness in internal controls over financial reporting related to operational processes associated with Ditech Financial default servicing activities." The report further detailed that Walter "did not design and maintain effective controls" in connection with its business activities including identifying and resolving foreclosure tax liens in a timely manner and processing loans in bankruptcy status. Because of Walter's poor internal controls, the company made several adjustments to reserves in the fourth quarter of 2016 totaling $16.3 million. Additionally, Walter revealed that one of its three operating segments, Reverse Mortgage Solutions, received subpoenas on June 16, 2016 and January 12, 2017, from the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for potential violations of the False Claims Act. On this news, Walter's stock fell $1.05 per share, or 38.89%, to close at $1.65 per share on March 14, 2017. Walter Shareholders Have Legal Options

Concerned shareholders who would like more information about their rights and potential remedies can contact attorney Leonid Kandinov at (800) 350-6003, [email protected], or via the shareholder information form on the firm's website. Robbins Arroyo LLP is a nationally recognized leader in shareholder rights law. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits, and has helped its clients realize more than $1 billion of value for themselves and the companies in which they have invested. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413006238/en/

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A rather special 2004 Ferrari Enzo will hit the auction block thanks to RM Sothebys in May and is bound to sell for many millions.



What youll immediately notice about this Enzo is that it is even more red than most. Thats because the original owner was one of just a few who ordered the car to have its Rosso Scuderia body color also applied to the rear diffuser, side skirts and front splitter. Almost every other Enzo has black trimmings instead.

The car was delivered to its original owner from Switzerland back on April 15 2004. It was later imported to Japan and purchased by the current owner two years ago who has since imported it to France.

It receives Ferrari Classiche certification in 2016 and benefited from a full service last year that cost 15,000 euros ($15,977).

It is difficult to say how much the car will sell for on May 27 but considering its high mileage (13,500 km), a figure in the $2 million range seems likely.

PHOTO GALLERY
Shocking CCTV has surfaced online showing a group of brazen thieves crashing a stolen Toyota Tundra into a gun shop before making off with multiple firearms in Zephyrhills, Florida.



The incident occurred early Sunday morning and was over in just 31 seconds. In surveillance footage, the blue Tundra can be seen smashing through the storefront at high speed before three masked thieves enter on foot behind.

All were wearing hoodies and one can be seen smashing the glass cases holding the guns with a hammer. He and an accomplice then hurriedly stash their bags with numerous hand guns while the third thief appears to run off holding a number of rifles and/or machine guns.

Unfortunately for the criminals, police believe they have discovered the identities of at least three and are offering a $2,500 reward to help catch them, reports ABC Action News.

VIDEO
A hub for cartooning has been forming in a place that you might not expect: Columbus, Ohio. Its already home to the Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) festival and the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, and now, Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) has announced big news: starting in fall 2017, students can major in Comics & Narrative Practice at CCAD.

In the new major, students will work with comics professionals to learn how to write, illustrate, and publish their own sequential art. Columbus is in a unique positon to become a major center of comics study in the country, says Stewart McKissick, Chair of CCADs Comics & Narrative Practice and Illustration majors.

CCAD, one of the oldest private art colleges in the United States, already has a strong tradition of illustration, which makes the comics program a natural fit. In the program, students will create original comics and graphic novels and learn how to shape narrative elements and invent signature styles, stories, and characters. Theyll also meet with top industry practitioners and gain practical experience with story pitches, prepress, budgeting, and marketing.

Were going to have robust business content as well so the students who come out of this program will have a good understanding of the comics industry today and the skills and strategies they need to participate in it, McKissick says.

Interest in comics has been growing for years at CCAD. Our students have increasingly been making them on their own and asking for more comics in the classroom, says McKissick.

For the past two years, in fact, students in CCADs Illustration program have partnered with professional comics writers including Kelly Sue DeConnick (known for writing Captain Marvel), Grace Ellis (Lumberjanes), and Eisner Award winner Matt Fraction to produce a comics anthology called Spitball. That publication showcases student illustrations featuring all sorts of different topics and highlights the idea that comics today can be about anything.

Spitball has resulted in a major project for CCAD student Shae Beagle, who is working with Lumberjanes Ellis on Moonstruck, a new comic book that Image Comics will launch this summer.

Beagle, who will graduate from CCAD in May with a BFA in Illustration, first met Ellis when they were paired together for Spitball. The experience has been amazing, says Beagle. From the first little mini-comic we did in Spitball, Grace and I worked together really well. We had really similar senses of humor and ways of thinking.

Laurenn McCubbin, Assistant Professor in CCADs Comics & Narrative Practice major, says Beagles success is impressive, but not surprising. Its a pretty remarkable thing that Shae is still in school and getting published, said McCubbin, who is also the editor on Moonstruck. Ive known Shae since they were a first-year student; Ive had them every single year, and Ive always known that they were incredibly talented. I was really happy that their time at CCAD was able to give them this kind of opportunity.

McKissick adds: This great success that Shae Beagle, an Illustration student making comics, is having is an example of exactly why CCAD is launching this program.

Beagle is not the only person with CCAD connections working on the book: Moonstrucks colorist, Caitlin Quirk, is a 2016 CCAD Illustration grad. And a number of other recent CCAD grads are also finding success in the comics world, including 2016 CCAD Illustration grad Alissa Sallah, who is the editor and colorist on an upcoming romance comic Sleepless (also from Image Comics).

CCAD anticipates that graduates of the program will find work in a broad range of artist practices, including as independent artists, writers, publishers, comics illustrators, colorists, letterers, storyboard artists, and character developers for comics, animation, gaming, and toys.

To be a part of the pioneering class of Columbus College of Art & Designs groundbreaking program devoted to telling stories with words and images, visit the schools web site CCAD.edu.
Photo: Angus Reid Institute

As we head into the Easter weekend, a study shows a majority of Canadians have some degree of spiritual belief.

While figures show B.C. holds the highest number of non-believers, the study also suggests highly religious people are happier and more engaged with their communities.

Faith in Canada 150 and the Angus Reid Institute have released a joint report that finds Canadians are much less hostile toward religion than declining church attendances might imply.

Key findings break the total population into four segments, including:

Non-believers (19 per cent)

Spiritually uncertain (30 per cent)

Privately faithful (30 per cent)

Religiously committed (21 per cent)

Broken down by provinces, 27 per cent of B.C. residents are non-believers, and they are second only to Quebec in terms of spiritual uncertainty at 33 per cent.

The most devout religious followers in Canada are on the prairies, where approximately three-in-ten from Saskatchewan, Alberta or Manitoba are religiously committed.

The numbers also show more Canadians view the word 'religion' negatively than postively.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the study found that higher levels of belief were correlated with higher levels of personal happiness, charitable giving, volunteerism and overall community engagement.

Faith communities in Canada that have been growing in recent years have been those that include large numbers of immigrants, many of whom are non-white and non-Christian, according to the report.
Photo: Google Street View Summerland visitors centre.

A hotel room tax may come to Summerland, with the chamber of commerce discussing the the feasibility of the municipal and regional district tax this year.

The Summerland Chamber of Commerce held its annual general meeting, including discussions on the year to come. The chamber also elected its board of directors, including Erick Thompson of ET2media, who was elected chamber president.

The vote came at the chamber's annual general meeting, with four board members voted into two-year terms by acclamation. That included Thompson, who is a returning board member, Kari Harding of RSD Permium Apparel and Accessories, Nick Ibuki of Summerland Varieties Corporation and Spencer Brown of Brown Benefits.

The board also has three board members still with a year left in their two-year terms: Marion Christian of Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, Julian Scholefield of Okanagan Crush Pad and Colin Powell of IGA Summerland.

The AGM also offered the chamber to look at its plan for the year ahead, looking at three main areas that the chamber operates in: member services; business retention, expansion and attraction; and tourism.

In that first area, the chamber says it's looking to expand communications with members and plan new activities during small business week.

In terms of business retention, expansion and attraction, the chamber is calling "business walks" in 2016 a success they intend to continue in fall 2017. Meanwhile, a social media campaign called #discoverhome, which was intended to promote shopping locally, received over 40,000 hits on social media.

This year, the chamber intends to conduct a feasibility study in the area of agricultural business expansion in partnership with the District of Summerland.

Over 12,000 guests hit the Highway 97 tourism centre run by the chamber, with 2,000 more encountering visitor centre employees at local markets.

The chamber will also be discussing the feasibility of the MRDT hotel room tax in Summerland. That tax, implemented in places like Osoyoos and Penticton, is intended to raise funds for promoting tourism in a municipality.
Photo: Contributed

Crops in the North Okanagan are almost a month behind last year, but considering last year was three weeks ahead of normal, it's not that bad.

Tom Davison, of Davison Orchards Country Village, said by by this time last year's peaches, cherries and pears were all in blossom.

It's been quite a spring. The contrast in 12 months is mind boggling, said Davison, adding apples were in blossom by April 17 last year.

This year, they are still basically dormant, which Davison said is good because the trees are not being negatively impacted by the cold, wet weather.

He said it is not really accurate to compare this year to last because while this year has recorded lower-than-normal temperatures, last year was seeing higher-than-normal temps.

The long cold winter also caused some concerns about the impact it would have on certain fruits like peaches, which typically do not do well in cold weather.

However, Davison was relieved to find the fruit trees survived the winter relatively unscathed.

At this point it looked like everything wintered OK, he said. There was some damage, but it looks like the peach crop should be alright.

But Davison, like so many other residents, is ready for the arrival of typical Okanagan spring weather, and that means the sun.

It would be fabulous to get some warm temperatures to get the blossoms out. We would like things to be blooming in early May.

Davison recommends people do not put out their vegetables or bedding plants just yet.

With that much snow in the mountains, there is always a risk of frost, he said.
Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

An Okanagan Falls resident allegedly in dispute with several Bridesville locals was found guilty of assault on Thursday in Penticton court.

Judge Gale Sinclair handed down the verdict and a suspended sentence following the trial of Charles Houle.

Houle, 55, was facing charges including assault and mischief $5,000 and under, in connection to an incident on Dec. 2, 2014.

An apparent dispute between several Bridesville residents and Houle came to a head on Dec. 4, 2014, when the RCMP called a meeting to deal with Houle and his disagreements with the community.

The court heard that on that Dec. 2, Ronald Street flew in from where he was working in Alberta to attend the meeting. While he was walking through the town, Houle drove by in a pickup truck, turned around, and came back screaming.

A fight ensued, and Houle and his passenger, Johnathan Taylor-Miller ended up assaulting Street and breaking the windshield of a friend's car with his cell phone, before driving away.

Witnesses spoke of problems with the salvage business Houle was running.

Houle, who represented himself at the trial, testified that he was a hard-working man and that residents of the town were jealous of his business.

He claimed did not get out of the truck and participate in the fight and that the victim threw a bag of beer which broke the windshield.

In handing down the verdict, Sinclair stated either there is some huge conspiracy happening here, or there isn't, eventually siding with the Crown, finding Houle guilty sentencing him to 12 months of probation.

Taylor-Miller was recently sentenced for his involvement in a different violent assault on Ronald Street, for which Houle was an accomplice.

Houle's trial date on that matter is coming up soon.
Photo: Beautiful B.C.

This has to be the wettest  and the coldest  spring I have experienced in the Okanagan.



It is rather depressing that Facebook likes to remind you how beautiful it was on the same day last year with temperatures in the mid-20s and as high as 27 degrees.



But if it is any consolation, flowers dont grow in a dry desert. Is this penance for a beautiful, late spring? I would like to think so.

My cherry blossom has been trying to show its face for a few weeks now and a magnolia in our back yard seems terrified to commence its short-lived, but resplendent, bloom.



I don't mind the rain. In fact, over time, it will recharge aquifers, keep our forests moist and nobody has to water their lawns for a few months after all this rain, so perhaps it is good.

What I don't appreciate is that while it was raining here a few days ago, the temperature was three degrees. In fact, as I write this, snow flakes are falling, on April 13. It is like being back in Canmore.



I have to consider it conditioning. I have a pending move to the Kootenays where there is typically a little more rain than here. Thankfully, that rain (in a normal year) is condensed into one month.



My family and I have had an amazing time in the Okanagan and we will be visiting here a lot. The most important reason will be because we have our first grandchild joining us later this month.

Yes, I know, strange timing, but it wasn't planned that way.



The drive from here to Kaslo (our new address) is delightful and I need to be here every few weeks, so the road will become very familiar to me whether on my motorbike or in the car.



The motivation comes from a deep desire to live in the mountains  the Monashees, Purcells and Selkirks.

After having lived in Canmore for so many years, we have found ourselves missing the mountain lifestyle. For several years, we have been going to Kokanee Glacier and hiking in the alpine with friends. The decision to move just evolved over time.



Kaslo is a delightful, little mountain village nestled on the shore of Kootenay Lake just north of Nelson and the famous Ainsworth Hot Springs. The lake is lined with gigantic and majestic mountains and the climate well, typically a few degrees cooler in the summer and a few degrees warmer in the winter.



The population of Kaslo hasn't really changed much in about 100 years, which is also part of the appeal to me. It will be a place to rest and recover from frantic business travel and other adventures.

The Okanagan has provided that respite for many years now but frankly, life is an adventure. It is time to create some fresh adventures.



In a normal year, moss would not grow under my feet, this year there is moss on the bottom of my webbed feet.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: CTV

An Alberta agency that investigates police says Calgary officers made a series of mistakes as they investigated the disappearance of a young indigenous man who was later found dead.

But the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team says it does not believe those errors in Colton Crowshoe's case were the result of racism or that they amounted to a crime.

"The evidence gathered in the ASIRT investigation clearly demonstrates that the initial stage of this investigation was beset by a series of assumptions, errors, and oversights by (Calgary Police Service) personnel," executive director Susan Hughson said Thursday afternoon.

"I want to make it clear, CPS has not been cleared of wrongdoing. CPS's investigation into Colton Crowshoe's missing person complaint was not done properly. The one thing we can say is that it was not the result of racism that we could find evidence of, but they are not cleared."

Police charged 18-year-old Crowshoe in July 2014 with trespassing and break and enter. He was released from custody and was last seen on video walking away from a police station in good spirits.

But a few days later his family reported him missing and, three weeks later, his body was discovered in a city retention pond. An autopsy determined his death was a homicide and that case remains unsolved.

Crowshoe's relatives alleged police did not take their missing person report seriously and accused the force of racism.

Hughson said ASIRT reviewed 28 other missing persons investigations and could find no evidence race played a role in how Crowshoe's was handled.

Still, the investigation was botched.

"Several of the missing person policy protocols were not followed," she said. "As a result, there was minimal investigation of the missing person report, no follow-up or file continuity, no accountability or file ownership, a failure to document relevant new information, and most importantly, no police-initiated communication with the family.

"They (the family) may have been wrong about the racial profiling potentially, but they are not wrong that there were problems with Colton's missing persons investigation."

The family also alleged that Crowshoe was roughed up during his initial arrest.

ASIRT examined that allegation as well and found that there were no grounds for criminal charges against officers.

"In this case, it is clear that at the time this contact occurred, the officer is in the lawful execution of his duties. He is doing his job," Hughson said.
Photo: Twitter - Tinhorn Creek

The Golden Mile Bench sub-appellation, which surrounds Oliver, was the subject of a small symposium at Vancouver's Science World Thursday evening.

Road 13 Vineyards' Joseph Luckhurst helped to organize the Origins of Wine: The Golden Mile Bench, a talk to about 300 attendees at Science World as part of its fireside chats.

"I'd been working with Science World for a bit, and we wanted an opportunity to work with the iconic landmark, at a cool venue, and do something for what's probably B.C.'s most iconic wine region," Luckhurst said.

"It's an opportunity for the, all the wineries of the Golden Mile Bench to get together, get people a chance to see what we're doing, what the Golden Mile Bench wines are, and then a panel discussion."

The Golden Mile Bench, according to Luckhurst, is the province's first sub-appellation, announced only two years ago.

"We have some large wine growing regions in British Columbia, such as the Okanagan Valley, and the Golden Mile Bench is a region within the ... Okanagan Valley," Luckhurst said of defining the Golden Mile Bench sub-appellation. "It's scientifically proven to have distinct soil types, distinct terroir. Just a unique growing region altogether."

A couple of the main defining features of the Golden Mile Bench, according to Luckhurst, are the elevation and the air drainage in the area, which are distinct from the rest of the Valley.

The event, which included talks and the panel discussion, as well as some wine tasting, was open to a maximum of 300 seats, and sold out.

"This is the first time we've actually really gotten together as a group and done a really comprehensive tasting like this," Luckhurst said of the Golden Mile Bench group.

That, he says, provides the group an opportunity to learn from one another, and try to make a more unified step forward as a sub-appellation.
[April 13, 2017] Meed Joins With Oracle to Enable Swifter Global Implementation Of Innovative Digital Platform

Meed, the Santa Monica-based company committed to bringing socially-conscious innovation to the financial sector, today announced a collaboration with Oracle (News - Alert) to deliver its innovative suite of digital financial services to banks worldwide. "Oracle has been clear in its belief that banks now have to embrace digital technologies to 'future proof' their businesses, or be left behind as fintech disruption transforms their industry," said Les Riedl, President of Meed. "It's a position that mirrors our own, and one that's borne out by our experience every day. As we seek banking partners for our innovative program of financial inclusion and mobility, it's clear that older legacy systems lack the flexibility and adaptability required by the latest digital banking solutions. Oracle's leading edge platforms afford us the ideal means to integrate rapidly and efficiently with socially-conscious banks and credit unions, both in the U.S. and worldwide." Meed will integrate with Oracle's Digital Banking Experience (OBDx) solution, using the Oracle platform to deliver end-to-end digital experiences while leveraging existing IT infrastructure investments including core banking systems. Meed's innovative business model revolutionizes the marketing,delivery and consumption of financial services for digital consumers, thereby delivering differentiation, competitive advantage and incremental growth for participating banks. Meed combines a specially designed product suite and state-of-the-art smartphone app with a unique, patent-pending social marketing model that provides an efficient, highly profitable acquisition engine for banks and a residual income stream for consumers.



Following a successful November launch in Vietnam, Meed has enjoyed exponential growth and is projecting to hit over 300,000 users in Vietnam alone by year end. After just 3 months, Meed's app achieved the highest overall consumer rating of Vietnam Banking Applications1. Meed will next launch in the United States, Colombia, Mexico and India as it works towards a goal of establishing a global network of Member Banks in 30 countries by 2021. About Meed

Headquartered in Santa Monica, CA (News - Alert), Meed is on a mission to redefine financial inclusion and mobility by making financial services more affordable, convenient and aligned with the needs and behaviors of digital consumers. Meed provides a new global platform for a community of networked Member Banks and Credit Unions, Corporate Members and individual users. For more information, visit http://www.meed.net/. About Oracle Oracle offers a comprehensive and fully integrated stack of cloud applications and platform services. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), visit www.oracle.com. 1 Appannie.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413006243/en/

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Photo: Contributed

Canada has announced sanctions against 27 high-ranking officials in the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says in a statement that those people are now subject to an asset freeze and dealings prohibition.

Freeland says adding their names to the sanctions list is part of international pressure on the Assad regime to end indiscriminate violence against its own people, like this month's chemical weapons attack, and engage in meaningful negotiations.

Earlier this week, Freeland urged Russia, a longtime a supporter of Assad, to break with the Syrian president and help broker his departure in order to establish a lasting peace in the troubled region.

Freeland says the new sanctions against key officials are part of Canada's continued efforts to pressure the Assad regime to stop the violence against innocent children, women and men.

The statement issued Friday says Canada is contributing to investigations on the use of chemical weapons and the collection of evidence to support the prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria.

"Last week's chemical weapons attack in southern Idlib is a war crime and is unacceptable," she said. "Canada is working with its allies to end the war in Syria and hold those responsible to account."

Canada has committed $1.6 billion to efforts in the region to provide humanitarian, security, stabilization and development assistance, in addition to having welcomed more than 40,000 Syrian refugees to Canada.
Photo: The Canadian Press Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks to the media during a shared press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem following their talks focused on Syria in Moscow, Russia, Friday, April 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

Russia, Syria and Iran strongly warned the United States Friday against launching new strikes on Syria and called for an international probe into last week's chemical attack there.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who hosted his Iranian and Syrian counterparts at a trilateral meeting in Moscow, denounced last week's U.S. attack on Syria as a "flagrant violation" of international law and warned that any further such action would entail "grave consequences not only for regional but global security."

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said the meeting sent a "strong message" to Washington. Iran's Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasized that the participants warned that any unilateral action by the U.S. is unacceptable.

The U.S. has blamed the Syrian government for launching a deadly chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun that killed over 80 people on April 4, and responded by striking a Syrian air base. Russia has alleged that the victims were killed by toxic agents released from a rebel chemical arsenal and warned against putting the blame on Damascus until an independent inquiry has been conducted.

Moscow vetoed a Western draft U.N. resolution Wednesday, saying it failed to mention the need to inspect the area of the attack.

Lavrov on Friday accused the U.S. and its allies of what he described as attempts to stymie an international probe into the attack. He expressed strong skepticism about a preliminary investigation conducted by the U.N. chemical weapons watchdog, saying that its experts have failed to visit the site and it has remained unclear to Russia where the samples have been taken and how they have been analyzed.

In Russia's view, the probe conducted by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons should be widened to include experts from many nations, he said.

"If our U.S. colleagues and some European nations believe that their version is right, they have no reason to fear the creation of such an independent group," Lavrov added. "The investigation into this high-profile incident must be transparent and leave no doubt that someone is trying to hide something."

Lavrov said the U.S. strike on the Syrian base has undermined peace efforts in Syria and reflected Washington's focus on ousting Syrian President Bashar Assad's government. "Such attempts won't succeed," Lavrov said.

The three ministers also discussed the beefing up of U.S. forces on Jordan's border with Syria. Moallem said. He added that Russia, Iran and Syria have "common procedures against any aggression," but wouldn't offer any specifics.

Lavrov that Moscow has asked Washington about the purpose of the buildup and received assurances they were there to cut supply lines between the Islamic State group factions in Syria and Iraq.

"We will keep monitoring the issue, since the only possible reason for using military force on the territory of Syria is to fight terrorism," Lavrov said.

Russia has staunchly backed Assad's government throughout a civil war that has dragged into a seventh year. It has conducted an air campaign in Syria since September 2015, saving Assad from imminent collapse and helping reverse military fortunes.
Photo: The Canadian Press In this July 27, 2013, file photo, North Korean soldiers turn and look towards leader Kim Jong Un as they carry packs marked with the nuclear symbol at a parade in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea's vice foreign minister Han Song Ryol said in an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, April 14, 2017: "We've 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. pre-emptive strike." (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

President Donald Trump's tweets are adding fuel to a "vicious cycle" of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea's vice foreign minister told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Friday. The official added that if the U.S. shows any sign of "reckless" military aggression, Pyongyang is ready to launch a pre-emptive strike of its own.

Vice Minister Han Song Ryol said Pyongyang has determined the Trump administration is "more vicious and more aggressive" than that of Barack Obama. He added that North Korea will keep building up its nuclear arsenal in "quality and quantity" and said Pyongyang is ready to go to war if that's what Trump wants.

Tensions between Pyongyang and Washington go back to President Harry Truman and the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. But the heat has been rising rapidly since Trump took office in January.

This year's joint war games between the U.S. and South Korean militaries are the biggest so far  the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier has been diverted back to the waters off Korea after heading for Australia, and U.S. satellite imagery suggests the North could conduct another underground nuclear test at any time. Pyongyang recently tested a ballistic missile and claims it is close to perfecting an intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear warhead that could attack the U.S. mainland.

Many experts believe that at its current pace of testing, North Korea could reach that potentially game-changing milestone within a few years  under Trump's watch as president. Despite reports that Washington is considering military action if the North goes ahead with another nuclear test, Han did not rule out the possibility of a test in the near future.

"That is something that our headquarters decides," he said during the 40-minute interview in Pyongyang, which is now gearing up for a major holiday  and possibly a big military parade  on Saturday. "At a time and at a place where the headquarters deems necessary, it will take place."

The North conducted two such tests last year alone. The first was of what it claims to have been a hydrogen bomb and the second was its most powerful ever. Expectations are high the North may put its newest missiles on display during Saturday's parade.

The annual U.S.-South Korea 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 North's leadership have fanned Pyongyang's anger.

Han said Trump's tweets have also added fuel to the flames.

Trump posted a tweet Tuesday in which he said the North is "looking for trouble" and reiterated his call for more pressure from Beijing, North Korea's economic lifeline, to clamp down on trade and strengthen its enforcement of U.N. sanctions to persuade Pyongyang to denuclearize.

Trump has threatened that if Beijing isn't willing to do more to squeeze the North, the U.S. might take the matter into its own hands.

"Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words," Han said. "It's not the DPRK but the U.S. and Trump that makes trouble." North Korea's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

He added: "We will go to war if they choose."

Han said the sanctions approach is misguided and cited the opening ceremony of a sprawling new high-rise residential area in Pyongyang on Thursday as evidence that sanctions have failed to ruin the country's economy. Leader Kim Jong Un presided over the ceremony before about 100,000 residents and a large contingent of foreign journalists who have been allowed in to cover the holiday.

Han dismissed the suggestion Trump made last year during his presidential campaign that he was willing to meet Kim Jong Un, possibly over hamburgers.

"I think that was nothing more than lip service during the campaign to make himself more popular," Han said. "Now we are comparing Trump's policy toward the DPRK with the former administration's and we have concluded that it's becoming more vicious and more aggressive."

Han said North Korea changed its military strategy two years ago, when the reports of "decapitation strike" training began to really get attention, to stress pre-emptive actions.

"We've 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. pre-emptive strike," he said. "Whatever comes from the U.S., we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it."
Photo: The Canadian Press An Afghan commando stands guard at Pandola village, near the site of the U.S. forces' bombing in Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. 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 every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

The attack on a tunnel complex in remote eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military left 36 Islamic State militants dead and no civilian casualties, Afghanistan officials said Friday.

The attack was carried out in a remote mountainous area of Nangarhar province near the Pakistan border where there had been heavy fighting in recent weeks between Afghan forces and IS militants. The Ministry of Defence said in a statement that several IS caves and ammunition caches were destroyed by the giant bomb, which terrified villagers on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border with its "earsplitting blast."

The U.S. maintains over 8,000 troops in Afghanistan, training local forces and conducting counterterrorism operations. Over the past year they have largely concentrated on thwarting a surge of attacks by the Taliban, who have captured key districts, such as the Helmand province, which American and British troops had fought bitterly to return to the government.

But on Friday, however, the U.S. military appeared entirely focused on the Islamic State group.

"This is the right weapon for the right target," said U.S. Gen. John W. Nicholson, NATO commander in Afghanistan, at a news conference.

The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon, unleashes 11 tons of explosives.

Gen. Daulat Waziri, spokesman for the Afghanistan Ministry of Defence, said 36 IS fighters were killed by the blast, and that the death toll could likely rise. He said the bombing was necessary because the tunnel complex was extremely hard to penetrate, with some as deep as 40 metres (43 yards).

"It was a strong position and four times we had operations (attacking the site) and it was not possible to advance," he said, adding that the road leading to the complex "was full of mines."

Pakistani villagers living near the Afghan border said the explosion was so loud they thought a bomb had been dropped in their village by U.S. warplanes targeting terrorists in Pakistan.

"I was sleeping when we heard a loud explosion. It was an earsplitting blast," said Shah Wali, 46, who lives in the village of Goor Gari, 15 kilometres (9 miles) from the border with Nangarhar. "I jumped from my bed and came out of my home to see what has gone wrong in our village."

Wali said dozens of other villagers also came out of homes and later he went near the border, where he met with other residents. He said he could see smoke in the sky.

Mufti Khan, a resident of Achin in Nangarhar, said, "It was between seven or eight local time when it happened. The whole house was shaking. When I came out of my house I saw a large fire and the whole area was burning."

Another Achin resident, Mohammad Hakim, voiced his approval for the strike, saying "We are very happy and these kinds of bombs should be used in future as well, so Daesh is rooted out from here," using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.

"They killed our women, youths and elders sitting them on mines. We also ask the Kabul government to use even stronger weapons against them," Hakim added.

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. President Donald Trump called Thursday's operation a "very, very successful mission."

"I want a hundred times more bombings on this group," said Hakim Khan, 50, a resident of Achin district, the site of the blast.
Photo: Twitter

A poem that was written on a University of Calgary stairwell as an act of rebellion in the 1970s has been restored after accidentally being painted over.

He is one little frog, but he looms large in the minds of many students who have passed through the Faculty of Arts over the years.

The archives start in 1978, the poem, as near as we can imagine, was first inscribed in 1974 by a handful of students, Ian Kinney, who restored the poem in 2007, told CTV Calgary.

The poem 'Leon the Frog,' if that is its name, is about the journey of Leon the Frog as he ascends the stairs on his way to the light at the top of the stairs, and in many ways one could phrase this as the journey through life.

The artwork was originally put in the stairwell of the Social Sciences building by a group of students without permission, but was never removed before now.

When it was painted over in March by crews that mistook it for graffiti, the response was immediate.

"There was a huge outcry because it was quite beloved by people in the faculty and people campus-wide, so when we put out the call for volunteers, firstly we had to put a cap on it because so many people responded, said Rodgers.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The shooting that killed a man and wounded three other riders Thursday on an Atlanta public transit train appears to be a "targeted, isolated incident," officials said.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority police Chief Wanda Dunham said in a statement late Thursday that officers arrested a suspect in the death of Zachariah Hunnicutt at the West Lake station. She did not release the suspect's name or details about what led to the shooting.

The shooting happened about 4:30 p.m. Thursday near the station, which was closed for several hours afterward.

MARTA spokesman Burton said one man died at the scene. Two men and a woman who were wounded by gunfire were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital.

Grady spokeswoman Denise Simpson said the victims there were in stable condition with wounds that were not life threatening. In addition to the three shot, one person injured in the panic was brought to the hospital, she said.
Photo: The Canadian Press

An amusement park roller coaster stalled Thursday evening outside of Washington, D.C., leaving 24 riders stuck 30 metres up in the air.

Prince George's County Fire/EMS spokesman Mark Brady said on his Twitter account that the riders came to a standstill about 5:30 p.m. at Six Flags America in Largo, Maryland.

Helicopter video from WJLA-TV showed six cars.

TV video showed firefighters in a rescue bucket talking with the passengers, none of whom appeared to be in distress, Brady said.

Brady said all 24 of the riders were safely brought to the ground by 9:20 p.m.

Six Flags America said in a statement: "Joker's Jinx did not complete its regular ride cycle, causing it to stop at a safe location on the track. The Prince George's County Fire Department is onsite to assist in getting the riders safely off the ride. The safety of our guests is our highest priority and the ride will be closed for a thorough inspection before reopening."
Photo: The Canadian Press John Slater, a United Airlines vice president, testifies at a City Council committee hearing in Chicago on Thursday, April 13, 2017. Slater 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 United flight in which Dr. David Dao was dragged from on Sunday. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

United Airlines and the city of Chicago may find themselves the target of lawsuits by the man who was dragged off a United plane in Chicago last week after refusing to give up his seat.

One of Dr. David Dao's lawyers, Thomas Demetrio, said as much Thursday during a news conference in which he suggested that Dao could be "a poster child" for the mistreatment of passengers by the airline industry.

"It took something like this to get a conversation going," attorney Demetrio said.

Dao was forcibly removed from a fully-booked United Express flight out of O'Hare International Airport on Sunday to make room for crew members.

Demetrio said the 69-year-old Kentucky physician and father of five lost two teeth and suffered a concussion and broken nose during the incident. He also indicated that Dao will be suing the airline and the city of Chicago, which employs the airport police who dragged Dao down the aisle, his face bloody.

Demetrio said the video showed an extraordinary instance of something that happens too routinely: Airlines overbooking flights then bumping paying customers.

It also exposed a corporate culture in which airlines  and United in particular  have long "bullied" passengers, he said. The situation could have been avoided if the airline, which offered $800 travel vouchers and a hotel stay for passengers to rebook on another flight, had simply upped their offer, Demetrio said.

"I hope he becomes a poster child for all of us," he said. "Someone's got to."

Dao, who didn't attend the news conference, was released from a local hospital late Wednesday and will need reconstructive surgery, Demetrio said. He said his client was in a "secure location" because he has been hounded by media, but that he would speak at a future date.

One of Dao's children, Crystal Pepper, said the family was "horrified, shocked and sickened" by what happened.

Early on, United CEO Oscar Munoz added to what was already a public relations nightmare for the company 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.

The union for the airline's pilots issued a statement Thursday seeking to distance them from the incident, pointing out that it happened on a United Express carrier that is "separately owned and operated by Republic Airline" and that United pilots weren't flying the jet. It also said United pilots are "infuriated" by what happened and blamed the incident on the "grossly inappropriate" actions of the security officers.

The three officers who removed Dao have been suspended from their jobs at the Chicago Aviation Department.
Photo: Colin Dacre Horgan speaks with reporters in Penticton

B.C. NDP leader John Horgan said an NDP government would be open to the sale of marijuana in government liquor stores, pharmacies and dedicated dispensaries.

He made the comments while campaigning in Penticton, on the same day the Trudeau Liberals unveiled marijuana legalization legislation.

Shortly after the federal Liberals formed government, Horgan said he sent finance critic Carole James and public safety spokesman Mike Farnworth to Washington State and Oregon, two legal states.

An option to use public liquor stores is a good one, we already have trained staff and a distribution network across the province, he told reporters, adding that many medicinal users would be most comfortable in a pharmacy.

Then of course, youve got the third option, which is emerging right across BC, and those are small local dispensaries, I believe that there is room all in the marketplace, he added.

Horgan also remarked that the government will need be to careful not to set the price point too high or the black market will remain.
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[April 14, 2017] E-commerce fraud increased 33 percent in 2016

COSTA MESA, Calif., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Understanding where fraud takes place matters so businesses and consumers can be diligent in protecting themselves. Fraudsters continue to migrate their activities online as more merchants switch to EMV terminals and consumers receive chip-and-pin credit cards. Experian analyzed this trend in a new report, the 2016 E-commerce Fraud Attack Rates rankings, that analyzes millions of e-commerce transactions and ranked the top states, cities and ZIP codes for shipping and billing fraud across the United States. View our interactive e-commerce fraud map of the Unites States The data represents the attempted fraudulent e-commerce transactions against the population of overall e-commerce orders ranked by the fraud attack rate.Delaware, Oregon, and Florida were the top-ranked states for billing and shipping e-commerce fraud in 2016. Both Oregon and Delaware saw an increase in e-commerce billing fraud attacks of over 200 percent. Three states, Florida, California and New York, accounted for more than 70 percent of total e-commerce billing fraud attacks. "One of the major drivers for the increase in fraud attacks is the continued adoption of EMV terminals for chip-and-pin credit cards. While these cards reduced counterfeit credit card fraud at the point-of-sale, they have driven fraudsters online. This pattern is similar to what other EMV markets saw when transitioning to chip-and-pin cards," said Adam Fingersh, Experian general manager and senior vice president of Fraud and Identity Solutions. "As more compromised data becomes available from breaches, it's easir for fraudsters to get their hands on identity data requiring consumers and businesses to stay diligent in protecting themselves."



Download the 2016 Experian e-commerce fraud attack rates rankings According to Experian's rankings of e-commerce fraud attack rates for 2016 the data shows:

South El Monte, CA was the top ranked city for both shipping and billing fraud in 2016. The billing fraud attack rate was nearly double that of the second-ranked city, Port Reading, NJ .

was the top ranked city for both shipping and billing fraud in 2016. The billing fraud attack rate was nearly double that of the second-ranked city, . Miami, FL , was home to the most ranked ZIP  codes for e-commerce fraud accounting for 17 of the top 100 for shipping fraud and 20 of the top 100 for billing fraud.

, was home to the most ranked ZIP codes for e-commerce fraud accounting for 17 of the top 100 for shipping fraud and 20 of the top 100 for billing fraud. 10 states saw an increase of over 100 percent in shipping fraudulent orders  Alaska , Colorado , New Mexico , Idaho , North Dakota , Maine , Montana , Iowa , South Dakota , and Wyoming . Experian hosted a recent EMV fraud webinar with Julie Conroy from Aite that looked at how businesses and customers are affected. Additional fraud analysis of the rankings shares more of that data trends. Having the right fraud solution in place can help businesses prevent losses especially when it comes to authenticating consumers while still maintaining a positive customer experience. Experian's fraud and identity business is a global leader in the identity and fraud market saving more than $2 billion worldwide. About Experian Experian is the world's leading global information services company. During life's big moments  from buying a home or a car to sending a child to college, to growing a business by connecting with new customers  we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help individuals to take financial control and access financial services, businesses to make smarter decisions and thrive, lenders to lend more responsibly, and organizations to prevent identity fraud and crime. We have 17,000 people operating across 37 countries and every day we're investing in new technologies, talented people and innovation to help all our clients maximize every opportunity. We are listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and are a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Learn more at www.experianplc.com or visit our global content hub at our global news blog for the latest news and insights from the company. Experian and the Experian marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. Experian is a nonexclusive full-service provider licensee of the United States Postal Service. The following trademark is owned by the United States Postal Service: ZIP. The price for Experian's services is not established, controlled or approved by the United States Postal Service. Contact: Matt Tatham

Experian Public Relations

1 917 446 7227

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/e-commerce-fraud-increased-33-percent-in-2016-300439797.html SOURCE Experian

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[April 14, 2017] EPA Recognizes Panasonic Eco Solutions North America With 2017 ENERGY STAR Partner Of The Year -- Sustained Excellence Award

NEWARK, N.J., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Eco Solutions North America, a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America (Panasonic) has been named a 2017 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year  Sustained Excellence Award winner for continued leadership in protecting our environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. Panasonic Eco Solution's accomplishments will be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. on April 26, 2017. Panasonic Eco Solutions, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2010, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency, as well as for its critical role supporting future improvements to ENERGY STAR ventilation fans. An ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year in 2010 and 2011, and Sustained Excellence Award recipient every year since 2012, Panasonic Eco Solutions will again be honored in 2017 with the EPA's most prominent award for its long-term commitment to innovation and sustainability. With the highest efficacy (up to 18.6 CFM/Watt) of any ENERGY STAR rated ventilation fan, Panasonic continues to exceed standards with virtually every product in its lineup, where guidelines exist. "It's hard to overstate the value Panasonic places on our partnership with ENERGY STAR," said Patricia Monks, Product Manager, Panasonic Eco Solutions North America. "We are so incredibly proud to be recognized by the EPA for the eighth consecutive year. This award is emblematic of our shared vision to crete a healthier more sustainable environment through our commitment to energy efficiency and innovation. We are dedicated to providing a comprehensive line of high-performance, low-cost ventilation solutions that respect the environment and reduce costs for our customers."



In 2015 alone, ENERGY STAR and its partners saved American businesses and consumers 503 billion kilowatt hours and $34 billion dollars on their energy bills, while achieving broad emission reductions. The 2017 Partner of the Year  Sustained Excellence Awards are bestowed upon a diverse set of organizations that have demonstrated continued leadership in energy efficiency. Winners hail from small, family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 organizations  representing energy-efficient products, services, new homes, and buildings in the commercial, industrial, and public sectors.

For a complete list of 2017 winners and more information about ENERGY STAR's awards program, visit www.energystar.gov/awardwinners. About Panasonic Eco Solutions North America

Panasonic Eco Solutions North America is a division of Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America, a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic was featured in Fortune Magazine's 2016 ranking of 50 companies that are changing the world and doing well by doing good. Specifically cited were its smart and sustainable technologies, including its contributions to smart cities and the electric vehicle revolution. Learn more about Panasonic at http://www.panasonic.com/business/pesna/eco-construction-solutions/. About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR has 16,000 partners working to protect the environment through greater energy efficiency, including manufacturers, retailers, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies, and home builders. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have saved American families and businesses $430 billion on their energy bills and 4.6 trillion kilowatt-hours of energy, while achieving broad emissions reductionsincluding 2.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. ENERGY STAR is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For 25 years, EPA's ENERGY STAR program has been America's resource for saving energy and protecting the environment. Join the millions already making a difference at energystar.gov. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/epa-recognizes-panasonic-eco-solutions-north-america-with-2017-energy-star-partner-of-the-year----sustained-excellence-award-300439789.html SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America

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[April 14, 2017] Pirooz Parvarandeh, Founder of the Iranian Americans' Contributions Project, Speaks at Stanford University on Organization's Mission and Methods

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Earlier this week, Mr. Pirooz Parvarandeh, Founder and President of Iranian Americans' Contributions Project (IACP) https://ia-cp.org/ gave a presentation for the Hamid and Christina Moghadam Program in Iranian Studies at Stanford University. He outlined the newly formed organization's educational mission to document and highlight the contributions and impact of this key segment of American society upon America and, by extension, the world. The organization is registered in California and is active across the country. During his introductory remarks, Dr. Abbas Milani, the Moghadam Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford, said: "Though much has been written about the significant financial, managerial, technological and intellectual contributions of the Iranian-American community, this research, using rigorous methods, and the savvy and social commitments of the best of Silicon Valley, offers a chance for us to know, free from any hyperbole, the exact nature and dimension of this contribution." Parvarandeh, a technologist who has held senior positions in Silicon Valley's semiconductor industry over the past few decades said: "Given the currently charged debate about the role o immigrants in our society, we are focused on shedding light on the contributions of Iranian-Americans in an objective and systematic fashion."



"For example, we use publicly available databases and mapping software to enable accurate estimates of not only the many thousands of Iranian-American physicians or lawyers in various counties and states, but also the number of patents held by this group, which is in the tens of thousands. This data will be used to quantify the impact of this community on job creation and the US GDP". Using data-mining techniques and in-depth interviews, IACP undertakes original research and disseminates its findings on the presence and work of Iranian Americans in multiple fields of endeavor in the United States, including in the professions (engineering, healthcare, law, etc.), business, civil service, the sciences, as well as the arts and humanities.

Alongside its quantitative and data-driven methods, IACP conducts in-depth and long-form interviews with notable Iranian-Americans in multiple fields that are published in the Huffington Post https://ia-cp.org/stories. IACP has concluded some 40 of these interviews so far, and aims to produce scores more, which aim to delve into the details of where and how they have contributed to America and the world. IACP also aims to work with the mainstream media to bring greater coverage to this key segment of American society. For more information on this talk, see https://iranian-studies.stanford.edu/events/documenting-contributions-iranian-americans-new-approach You can view the YouTube video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss9CvEPR2xM To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pirooz-parvarandeh-founder-of-the-iranian-americans-contributions-project-speaks-at-stanford-university-on-organizations-mission-and-methods-300439856.html SOURCE Iranian Americans' Contributions Project

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[April 14, 2017] Amazon.ca and the Walrus Foundation Unveil Shortlist for the 41st Annual First Novel Award

The six finalists were selected by Tanis MacDonaldhead judge, author, and finalist for the Gabrielle Roy Prize in Canadian literary criticism; the winner will be announced on May 25 at a gala hosted by Shelagh Rogers The winner will be chosen by a panel composed of MacDonald; Casey Plett, winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction; and Gurjinder Basran, winner of the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize SEATTLE, April 14, 2017 /CNW/ - Amazon.ca and the Walrus Foundation today announced the nominees for the 41st annual First Novel Award (www.amazon.ca/firstnovelaward), which celebrates the remarkable achievements of first-time Canadian novelists. This year's finalists will each receive over $6,000 in cash and prizes, and the winner will receive additional prizes totaling over $40,000. Head judge, Tanis MacDonald, selected all six of the finalists. The author of three books of poetry, Tanis was a finalist for the Gabrielle Roy Prize in Canadian literary criticism in 2013 for her study of elegies, The Daughter's Way. She is an associate professor in the Department of English and Film Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, where she teaches Canadian literature and creative writing. Additionally, she has served on the juries for the Edna Staebler Award in Creative Non-Fiction and the Edna Staebler Laurier Writer-in-Residence program. The finalists for the 2017 Amazon.ca First Novel Award, listed alphabetically by each author's last name, are: White Elephant, Catherine Cooper (Freehand Books)

(Freehand Books) Accordeon, Kaie Kellough (ARP Books)

(ARP Books) So Much Love, Rebecca Rosenblum (McClelland & Stewart)

(McClelland & Stewart) Mysterious Fragrance of the Yellow Mountains, Yasuko Thanh ( Hamish Hamilton Canada )

( ) The Break, Katherena Vermette (House of Anansi) "It was a distinct pleasure to be intoduced to the dozens of great books that were entered into this year's competition," says head judge, Tanis MacDonald. "The writing and publishing of a first novel is a huge accomplishment in itself. If I had it my way, the shortlist would not have been short at all. While all six books show a great range of styles, perspectives, and subject matters, they have in common a remarkable reach. Each book stretches towards the telling of big story  sometimes via intimate connections  in which people puzzle over history as it has happened (or is happening) to them and how they will live in the face of change. I feel very lucky to have read these books early on in their predictably long shelf lives. I encourage everyone to read them all."



The winnerselected by a panel composed of Tanis MacDonald, Casey Plett, and Gurjinder Basranwill be announced at the annual Amazon.ca First Novel Award ceremony, which will be held on May 25, 2017, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. "Over the past 41 years, the First Novel Award has attracted the leading talent in new Canadian literature, and this year is no exception," said Alexandre Gagnon, Vice President of Amazon.ca. "The First Novel Award represents the future of Canadian novelists by recognizing up-and-coming talent and supporting their careers from the very start. I hope our customers dive into each and every one of the novels on the shortlist and are as impressed with them as we are."

Established in 1976, the First Novel Award program has launched the careers of some of Canada's most beloved novelists. Previous winners include Michael Ondaatje (1976), Joan Barfoot (1978), Joy Kogawa (1981), W.P. Kinsella (1982), Nino Ricci (1990), Rohinton Mistry (1991), Shyam Selvadurai (1994), Anne Michaels (1996), Margaret Gibson (1997), Andre Alexis (1998), Alan R. Wilson and David Macfarlane (co-winners, 1999), Eva Stachniak (2000), Michael Redhill (2001), Mary Lawson (2002), Michel Basilieres (2003), Colin McAdam (2004), Joseph Boyden (2005), Madeleine Thien (2006), Gil Adamson (2007), Joan Thomas (2008), Jessica Grant (2009), Eleanor Catton (2010), David Bezmozgis (2011), Anakana Schofield (2012), and Wayne Grady (2013). For additional information about the finalists and the Amazon.ca First Novel Award, visit www.amazon.ca/firstnovelaward or thewalrus.ca/amazonfirstnovelaward. About Amazon Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews. About the Walrus Foundation The Walrus Foundation is a registered charitable non-profit (No. 861851624-RR0001) with an educational mandate to create forums for matters vital to Canadians. The foundation is dedicated to supporting writers, artists, ideas, and thought-provoking conversation. We achieve these goals across multiple platforms, publishing The Walrus magazinewhich focuses on Canada and its place in the worldten times a year in print, tablet, and mobile editions; curating and producing the national series of public Walrus Talks; convening annual sector-based leadership dinners; posting original, high-quality content daily at thewalrus.ca; and designing such digital projects as Walrus Ebooks and Walrus TV. The foundation also trains young professionals in media, publishing, and non-profit development. SOURCE Amazon.ca

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SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Announces an Investigation Involving Possible Violations of Federal Securities Laws by Certain Officers and Directors of Bingo Nation Inc.

Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of Bingo Nation Inc. (OTCMKTS: BLTO) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.

On April 11, 2017, Bingo Nation received a notice from OTC Markets announcing that the stock would be delisted following discovery of "ongoing promotional activities having the effect of encouraging trading of the issuer's securities in the OTC market." Then on April 12, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued an Order to suspend trading through April 27, 2017 citing "concerns regarding (i) the accuracy and adequacy of publicly available information in the marketplace and (ii) potentially manipulative transactions in Bingo Nation's commo stock." To obtain additional information, go to:







http://zlk.9nl.com/bingo-nation-blto

or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170414005229/en/
Top 10 Vendors in the Global Data Center Security Market from 2017-2021: Technavio

Technavio has announced the top ten leading vendors in their recent global data center security market report until 2021. This research report also lists 14 other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period.

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Technavio has announced the release of their 'Global Data Center Security Market 2017-2021' report. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The research study by Technavio on the global data center security market for 2017-2021 provides detailed industry analysis based on the type of security (logical security and physical security) and geography (the Americas, EMEA, and APAC).

"The global data center security market is projected to grow to over USD 8 billion by 2021, at a CAGR of close to 11% over the forecast period. The rising number of data center constructions are leading to a subsequent increase in demand for data center security, thereby driving the market growth," says Abhishek Sharma, a lead analyst at Technavio for data center research.

Competitive vendor landscape

Many global and local vendors are available in the global data center security market for both physical and logical security solutions. This creates competition based on price, features, and reliability of the product to enhance the data center's security. Many customer enterprises in the market prefer to adopt integrated physical and logical security solutions offered by vendors to ensure better management of the entire data center's security requirements. Vendors are also offering software-defined security solutions to enterprises with innovations that can identify vulnerabilities in deployed systems.

Request a sample report: https://www.technavio.cm/request-a-sample?report=56104







Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

Top ten vendors in the global data center security market

Bosch Security Systems

Bosch Security Systems is a global supplier of technology and services across industry verticals such as automotive, consumer goods, and construction.

Check Point Software (News - Alert) Technologies

Check Point Software Technologies is a global pure-play security vendor that offers a range of security appliances and software for data center environments along with security management.

Cisco Systems (News - Alert)

Cisco Systems is a multinational corporation involved in the design and manufacture of several products and services for the IT sector with a strong presence in the data center industry.

Fortinet (News - Alert)

Fortinet is one among the global leaders in network security. It is working on innovations to create high-performance network security platforms for data center IT infrastructure.

Honeywell International

Honeywell International, through its Honeywell Security division, designs and manufactures security and automation solutions for commercial applications such as data centers.

Intel

Intel, through McAfee (News - Alert), offers a wide range of security products for data center logical security. These security products aid the security of every aspect of the data center environment.

Schneider Electric

APC, a subsidiary of Schneider Electric, designs and manufactures physical security products for data center environments worldwide.

Siemens

The Building Technologies division of Siemens enables the building of safe and secure buildings and infrastructure, including data centers. The company's security solutions cover all aspects of the data center from the perimeter to the rack.

Trend Micro (News - Alert)

Trend Micro develops innovative security solutions for businesses and consumers. Its modern data center server security platforms for virtual, physical, and cloud environments offer benefits such as higher performance preservation, increased virtual machine densities, and revenue generation.

Tyco International

Tyco International is one of the leading organizations for business security solutions in North America.

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About Technavio

Technavio is leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, resellers, and end-users.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected].

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[April 14, 2017] USANA Schedules First Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call

USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE:USNA) today announced that first quarter results will be released after the close of market Tuesday, May 2, 2017. Shortly following the issuance of the Company's earnings release, the Company will post a "Management Commentary, Results and Outlook" document on the Company's website (www.usanahealthsciences.com) under the "Investor Relations" section of the site. The following morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, USANA will hold a conference call to discuss this announcement with analysts and institutional investors. The call will consist of brief remarks by the Company's management team, before moving directly into questions and answers. The call will be broadcast over the Internet and can be accessed at http://www.usanahealthsciences.com.



The webcast is also being distributed over Thomson's (News - Alert) Investor Distribution Network to both institutional and individual investors. Individual investors can listen to the call through Thomson's individual investor center or by visiting any of the investor sites in Thomson's Individual Investor Network. Institutional investors can access the call via Thomson's password-protected event management site, StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com). About USANA

USANA develops and manufactures high-quality nutritional supplements, healthy foods and personal care products that are sold directly to Associates and Preferred Customers throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Thailand, France, Belgium, Colombia and Indonesia. More information on USANA can be found at http://www.usanahealthsciences.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170414005231/en/

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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 most violent cities in the world are clustered in Latin America, according to a recent ranking by the Citizens Council for Public Security, a Mexican nonprofit group. Nineteen of the cities with the highest per capita murder rate per 100,000 residents were in Brazil, eight were in Mexico, and seven were in Venezuela. (Only cities with a population over 300,000 were ranked.)

Those figures might not surprise anyone whos gotten used to seeing news stories about violence in places, such as Caracas and Juarez. But what might be more unexpected is the country with the fourth-highest number of cities on the list: the United States.

Four U.S. towns ranked among the worlds most dangerous, according to the councils ranking. Some had higher murder rates than non-U.S. cities with notoriously unsavory reputations (at least among some Americans), such as Cali, Colombia; Kingston, Jamaica; or Tijuana, Mexico.

The American cities with the highest murder rates probably wont shock anyone who keeps an eye on national crime figures, though. They include downtrodden cities in the Midwest, on the East Coast, and in the South.

What city isnt on the list? Perpetual punching bag Chicago. Although murders were way up in Chicago in 2016 and violence in the city captured national attention, the city had a per capita homicide rate of 27.7 per 100,000. Thats higher than many other large U.S. cities but not enough for it to rank among the worlds most violent. The city at the bottom of the councils rankings, Durban, South Africa, had a homicide rate of 34.43 per 100,000.

Chicago might not be among the most violent cities in the world, but one of its Midwestern neighbors definitely is.

4. Detroit

Worldwide rank: 36

36 Murder rate per 100,000 residents: 44.60

Detroit had 302 murders in 2016 and a population of 677,116. In 2015, the Motor City had the second-highest violent crime rate in the U.S. after St. Louis, according to FBI data. (Youll see St. Louis later on this list.) That year, there were 880 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents. While some parts of the city, such as the downtown area, are undergoing a resurgence, other neighborhoods are still struggling with poverty and violence, MLive reported.

The second U.S. city on the list has long struggled with violent crime. It had the highest murder rate in the U.S. in the 1990s.

3. New Orleans

Worldwide rank: 34

34 Murder rate per 100,000 residents: 45.17

New Orleans had 176 murders in 2016 and a population of 389,617. The city had more per capita shootings than Chicago in 2016, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported, with an average of 10 incidents per week. Thats a rate of 133 per 100,000 residents. Still, the number of murders is much lower than it was in the mid-90s. In 1994, 424 people were killed in the city, and the murder rate was 86 per 100,000 residents.

Violence in the next city captured national attention in 2015 after a controversial arrest.

2. Baltimore

Worldwide rank: 26

26 Murder rate per 100,000 residents: 51.14

Baltimore had 318 murders in 2016 and a population of 621,849. Its the second-most violent city in the U.S., according to the Citizens Council for Public Securitys ranking. The city made national news in 2015 due to riots following the Freddie Gray arrest, and not much has been done to address the citys problems in the intervening years, the Baltimore Sun reported. Crime is up, and arrests are down. 2016 was the second-deadliest in the city after 2015.

The most violent city in the U.S. is in Missouri.

1. St. Louis

Worldwide rank: 14

14 Murder rate per 100,000 residents: 60.37

St. Louis was the most violent city in the U.S. and the 14th most violent in the world in 2016. The Midwestern city was just slightly less violent than Cape Town, South Africa, in terms of number of people killed per 100,000 residents. In 2016, there were 188 murders in St. Louis, which had a population of 311,404. Violent crimes were up 4.4% in 2016 over 2015, according to data from the St. Louis Police Department.

Several other cities on the councils list share a close connection with the United States.

Most dangerous border cities

In addition to the four cities within the United States on the list, several Mexican cities that share a border with the U.S. also ranked among the worlds most violent.

Because people in border communities often move back and forth between countries for work, school, and family reasons, weve mentioned them here. However, crime in border cities doesnt necessarily spill over into the U.S. Two of the safest cities in the United States (according to Congressional Quarterly) abut two cities with a high murder rate.

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Worldwide rank: 37

37 Murder rate per 100,000 residents: 43.63

Juarez, which shares a border with El Paso, Texas, had 607 murders in 2016 and a population of 1.39 million. The murder rate was just slightly lower than in Detroit.

While violence is clearly a problem in Juarez, the situation has improved from a few years ago, when drug cartel wars caused some to dub it the most dangerous city in the world. In 2010, at least 3,000 people were killed in the city. The number of murders eventually fell, but in the past year or so, theres been another uptick in violence.

Tijuana, Mexico

Worldwide rank: 22

22 Murder rate per 100,000 residents: 53.06

Tijuana shares a border with San Diego. With a combined population of nearly 5 million, the two cities make up the second-largest cross-border metro area in the U.S. (after Detroit and Windsor, Ontario). The region is also home to the busiest land border crossing in the world. On the Mexican side, there were 871 murders in 2016, making it the most violent year in the citys history, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Tijuana has a population of about 1.6 million.

Most of the murder victims are drug addicts and low-level dealers, according to the Union-Tribune. The number of killings in the city has recently started to rise again after dropping off following a previous spate of violence from 2008 to 2010.

The final two places were highlighting from the list of most violent cities arent near the U.S. border, but they attract lots of American tourists.

Dangerous vacation destinations

Several of the most violent cities in the world are  or once were  popular vacation destinations for Americans. While crime and other factors mean these cities arent necessarily the hot spots they might have been in the past, theyre likely to attract more U.S. tourists than some other spots on the councils list.

Mazatlan, Mexico

Worldwide rank: 27

27 Murder rate per 100,000 residents: 48.75

The resort town of Mazatlan on the Pacific coast is back on the list of the worlds most violent cities. (It last made the ranking in 2012.) In 2016, there were 245 murders in the city of 502,547, and its murder rate was slightly lower than Baltimores. However, the city is generally safe for tourists, especially if you stay within the city center.

The second-most violent city in the world was once a posh vacation destination for the rich and famous.

Acapulco, Mexico

Worldwide rank: 2

2 Murder rate per 100,000 residents: 113.24

Acapulco, where stars including Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra once vacationed, is now the second-most violent city in the world, just behind Caracas, Venezuela. While resort areas in popular tourist destinations are often relatively insulated from serious crime, thats not necessarily the case in Acapulco, where murders have happened on the beach in full view of visitors.

Holland America cruise line recently eliminated the Pacific coast city from its list of ports of call because of security concerns. The U.S. government also has Acapulco on its list of no-go places for employees.

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A Chicago personal security device startup emerged from the "Shark Tank" with a $100,000 investment deal from Barbara Corcoran, one of of the biggest names in real estate, a key market for the device. But more importantly to the company, Corcoran agreed to let the brand use her image  all in exchange for an 18 percent ownership stake.

Guard Llama offers an emergency device that provides a one-button connection to law enforcement.

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Two co-founders, Joe Parisi and Nick Nevarez, taped the ABC business pitch show in Los Angeles last September, approaching the celebrity investors seeking $100,000 in exchange for 5 percent. They eyed inventor Lori Greiner, appealing for her for her QVC connection, and real estate business founder Corcoran, for partnerships. Real estate agents are one of groups the company targets for sales.

The startup said the network TV appearance, for which it hosted a viewing party at 1871 Friday, was more about the promotion, since Parisi said Guard Llama has secured $1.1 million from Chicago angel investors and had $300,000 in revenue in 2016, when it came out of beta.

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"The goal was to get Barbara because we had strong ties to the industry already and Barbara, we felt, connected with our target demo," Parisi said.

While Kevin O'Leary was willing to kick $100,000 for the initial 5 percent the company offered, plus $5 for each subscription sold until he made 20 percent on the initial investment, Guard Llama was willing to offer more equity to someone who was part of their target market.

"For Kevin O'Leary, it would have been more of a stretch," Parisi said. "Barbara's face on our product would push us there faster."

Corcoran initially wanted 20 percent of the company for her $100,000, along with $2 per sale until she got her money back.

It wasn't totally smooth sailing for the startup and the taping. Mark Cuban called the product horrible. Both he and Grenier, who said she liked the product, bounced citing too many liabilities. Guest shark Chris Sacca said he didn't think the direct sales model was scalable and the brand was off.

And a llama the company rented for the presentation did some business of its own as the sharks were responding to the pitch.



The team and hundreds of supporters at the 1871 auditorium missed the first few minutes of Guard Llama's national debut of the broadcast as Parisi was thanking supporters before turning on the broadcast in the middle of their appearance.

Parisi came up with the idea in 2010 while he and co-founder Adam Havey were Northern Illinois University students and a freshman was raped and murdered in a local park. Her body was found with her cellphone nearby.

When Guard Llama users click the wireless remote's button, it connects via Bluetooth to a smartphone app. The app then sends location information and a personal profile, including a user's photo and medical history, to a dispatch center that relays the information to local public safety agencies.

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The device is tied to a subscription service that costs $9.95 a month; an app-only version of the service costs $2.95 a month. The Chicago-based company contracts with a Springfield-based call center owned by co-founder Havey's family.

Most competitors, Parisi said, are apps that alert friends and family, who are expected to contact police; they also have the extra step of needing to be found and opened in cases of distress.

"Everyone's finally starting to understand all of the things that have to be perfect in order for you to get 911 assistance. You have to locate the phone and dial and then have a conversation and know your exact location," he said.

Guard Llama has 10 employees in Chicago; the company also has six full-time dispatchers who are employed by the Springfield call center.

The company is opening a call and retention center in Washington, D.C., area, where Nevarez lives, while sales and app development will continue from Chicago.

Cheryl V. Jackson is a freelance writer.

Twitter @cherylvjackson
Email me: carolineld at aol.comTwitter: Carolineld More about the blog here
T-Mobile, Dish Network, Comcast and AT&T were among the biggest winners of a historic government auction of wireless airwaves, the Federal Communications Commission said Thursday.

The auction will transfer a significant amount of spectrum  the invisible radio waves that carry voice, video and data  from TV stations to companies in other industries eager to build out wireless data networks. For consumers, the results may mean bigger internet pipes or a faster experience.

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T-Mobile spent the most out of all the bidders, dumping $8 billion into the contest. That enabled the company to walk away with new spectrum in virtually every U.S. market, said company chief executive John Legere in a tweet.

Phones that support the new airwave frequencies will likely become available later this year once manufacturers get on board, T-Mobile added. (Winners such as T-Mobile have up to 12 years to begin putting their new airwaves to use. Carriers that fail to meet that target could have their spectrum reclaimed by the FCC.)

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The radio waves in question are highly prized because of their ability to travel long distances and to penetrate walls  something that higher frequency waves have difficulty doing.

Comcast spent $1.7 billion on the auction, mostly in larger markets in its own cable footprint, according to Craig Moffett, an analyst at MoffettNathanson. The news comes days after Comcast announced its own cellphone service, Xfinity Mobile, which relies primarily on Wi-Fi for connectivity but could benefit by the addition of cellular spectrum in places without Wi-Fi.

Comcast spent about half as much as analysts expected, while Dish surprised them by bidding $6.2 billion  nearly double initial expectations, said Jonathan Chaplin, an analyst at New Street Research. It's unclear what Dish chief executive Charlie Ergen intends to do with those airwaves, but analysts have said that the company could seek to sell that wireless real estate to other companies.

To make the auction work, as many as 175 broadcast television stations agreed to give up their place on the airwaves in exchange for a payout. Over the coming months, the vast majority of those stations will be moved to a different spot on the airwaves, with most sharing a channel with another station. Just 12 stations will go off the air entirely, meaning their programming will vanish from viewers' television screens rather than show up on a different channel.

The television station to win the largest payout was WWTO, a Chicago-based station that will receive $304 million. And New Jersey Public Broadcasting, the biggest winner among non-commercial stations, will receive a total of $332 million for agreeing to relocate two stations. It is unclear what they plan to do with the money.

The first channels to relocate will not do so for another 18 months, according to the FCC. And TV stations that are changing channels or will go off the air will be expected to notify their viewers ahead of time with on-screen banners and other guides.

The auction was billed by federal officials as a once-in-a-lifetime event for cellphone carriers, cable companies and TV stations  an unprecedented opportunity to acquire enormous amounts of high-value, "beachfront" airwaves. After a separate auction for slightly higher-frequency spectrum raised some $45 billion in 2015, a record amount, analysts initially believed that the FCC's TV spectrum auction would perform similarly.

But much to some observers' dismay, the analysts gradually lowered their expectations over the following months, and in the end, cellular carriers mostly stayed out of TV airwaves auction. Verizon did not bid at all, and AT&T made a $910 million purchase  barely 10 percent of what T-Mobile spent. Analysts said the award of roughly 20 megahertz of spectrum to AT&T in a separate government contract may have helped convince AT&T to spend less in the auction.

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"The broadcasters showed up and, except for T-Mo, the carriers did not," said Preston Padden, a former Disney executive and a broadcast industry advocate.

FCC officials told reporters Thursday that analysts, not the agency itself, were responsible for raising monetary expectations for the auction, whose revenues will help fund the TV channel changes and pay down the national debt.

Judging an auction by its starting estimates is rarely accurate, said Gary Epstein, chair of the FCC's incentive auction task force.

"If you're bidding on a Rembrandt and the opening bid is ten bucks, you don't expect to get ten bucks," he told reporters on a conference call Thursday.

Epstein went on to add that the auction did what it was supposed to do: Find a meeting point between supply and demand for an increasingly sought-after physical resource.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos listens during a meeting between President Donald Trump and business leaders in the State Department Library of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. The same day, DeVos withdrew a series of policy memos issued by the Obama administration to strengthen consumer protections for student loan borrowers. (Evan Vucci / AP)

Message to people wondering how they are ever going to handle all their student loans: Be tough. Pay up. Don't expect the federal government to play Mr. Nice Guy.

In a surprising twist after a presidential election in which young adults pleaded for relief from $1.3 trillion in student loans, the Trump administration doesn't look like it's going to coddle federal student loan borrowers. In fact, it's rolling back Obama-era reforms that would have made it easier on borrowers.

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The U.S. Department of Education under Obama had discovered through numerous studies that people with student loans were getting awful service  even incorrect information  when they called student loan call centers to find out what to do with their loans. Reforms, which were outlined but not yet implemented, were supposed to fix the problems.

Among the problems: Student loan call centers not answering phone calls from borrowers at convenient times, not telling borrowers how to make payments they could afford, and not warning borrowers about extra fees. Instead of providing customer service, the staff taking borrower calls often simply shoved them through the system, according to the studies. Borrowers reportedly were pushed into skipping payments instead of being told how to handle their obligations.

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In frustration, many borrowers have been giving up and walking away from their student loans without paying anything. Studies claim this is a significant driver of defaults, and a burden for taxpayers. About $137.4 billion in federal loans are now in default.

Yet, with a new administration in charge of student loans, the reforms aimed at curing those ills were aborted in a memo this week from Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. What she plans to do instead of the reforms isn't clear. The department didn't respond to my request for more information. But consumer advocates are worried that she will allow old practices to continue and leave student loan borrowers without the help needed to avoid defaults.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's take on the change is: "The Department of Education has decided it does not need to protect student loan borrowers."

Madigan has been among those calling for reforms for years. Besides consumer groups, the Government Accountability Office and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have conducted detailed studies faulting the Department of Education for not policing the private companies, known as loan servicers, it hires to collect loan payments and answer calls from student borrowers.

Madigan's office is suing one of the largest companies with a government contract, Navient Corp., descended from Sallie Mae.

The suit claims that instead of serving 12 million borrowers with $300 billion in student loans and helping them onto the right track for paying their loans, Navient incentivizes its employees to get rid of callers quickly.

The complaint says: "Instead of taking more time to discuss other options with borrowers, such as income-driven repayment plans, Navient saved itself money and cost borrowers millions of dollars in added interest on their loans.  They repeatedly misled borrowers about their options to bring their loans current."

Under the Obama-era reforms the suit would have been important if Illinois won the case. The reforms required that the Department of Education consider the track records of servicers they hire. But with the DeVos memo to abandon those reforms, consumer advocates are wondering if track records will be considered.

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"Only time will tell if the government is on the side of borrowers or servicing companies," said Rohit Chopra, a fellow of the Consumer Federation of America. He has been a critic of past practices. The system, he said, has been "working well for the student loan industry and failing borrowers, taxpayers and the economy."

Navient is not the only servicer that has been criticized in student loan servicing studies, but it is among the largest. The Consumer Federation of America said government data suggest Navient has had a poor track record on getting students into affordable payment plans.

Navient spokeswoman Patricia Nash Christel said that the company has been effective in putting borrowers into affordable plans. In response to the Illinois suit, Christel said the company "will vigorously defend against these false allegations and continue to help our customers achieve financial success."

With reforms now on hold and the future unclear, borrowers may continue to face inattentive staff and even inaccurate information if they are struggling with their loans. Chopra said it's important for people with student loans to understand that they can get their monthly payments reduced if their incomes are too low to handle full payments. Read about income based repayment plans here: www.tinyurl.com/q8u77e2.

A study by the GAO in 2015 said that half of people making their student loan payments would have qualified to pay less under government rules that take income into account. But only 13 percent of the borrowers knew to ask for the lower payments. Whether your servicer helps you or not, use this form to apply for affordable payments: www.tinyurl.com/m5e6hrk. Beware of private firms offering to help you get loan payments reduced. There are a lot of predators taking advantage of borrower confusion.

gmarksjarvis@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @gailmarksjarvis
An attorney representing the family of David Dao, the passenger dragged off a United flight, as well as Dao's daughter, addressed the media Thursday. (Ally Marotti / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

Despite self-inflicting one of the deepest corporate wounds suffered by a U.S. company, United Airlines still has enough inherent business and marketplace strength to save itself from greater, longer-lasting damage.

Of course, that's provided the air carrier doesn't continue to foul up and can muster the management moxie needed to stop the carnage that began Sunday. That's when O'Hare International Airport security yanked and then dragged an uncooperative United Express passenger out of his seat on a fully loaded jet to open a spot for airline personnel bound for the same destination.

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A 30-second video, shot by a fellow passenger, went globally viral, as did others.

Nearly a week into this controversy, United CEO Oscar Munoz has repeatedly failed to quell an irate flying public, which is blasting the airline on social media, calling for boycotts and even cutting up United's Mileage Plus credit cards in protest. Lawmakers are angrily targeting United, and lawyers for the beat-up passenger, Dr. David Dao, are teeing up to sue the airline and the city.

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Yet despite this relentless battering of Munoz and his airline's image, there looms another reality: Travelers will still buy tickets, United will continue to fly, and it's going to make a lot of money.

Why? Because the Chicago-based airline has a virtual lock on an enormous share of an airline passenger market that provides consumers with increasingly scant flying choices. Last year, United served 339 destinations, 54 countries and 143 million passengers.

Still, while the passenger removal debacle is an exceptional episode, it's not the first time United has been forced to regroup. In recent years, the carrier has emerged from bankruptcy, confronted labor unrest and survived airline industry merger mania.

On that last score, United has become one of the country's aviation elite.

Think about it: The combo of American, Southwest, Delta and United controls about 70 percent of the domestic market, according to 2016 U.S. Department of Transportation data. Within that mix, United is the fourth biggest, with a 14.5 percent share.

As a result, many travelers, whether they're super angry at United or not, are going to find it difficult to sidestep the airline.

Yes, there may be competition on more lucrative and popular air routes, but with most commercial flights being solidly booked, the travel options are far and few.

Speaking of size and scope, United operates domestic airport hubs in major cities including Chicago; Denver; Houston; Newark, N.J.; San Francisco; and Washington, D.C.

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In addition, United's frequent flyer programs and hand-held booking and information technology, such as a one-stop shopping app, have the power to keep more people in the fold.

Then there is human nature.

Skeptics will point out that most people tend to have short memories, including air passengers.

Last August, for instance, Delta Air Lines suffered a whopping computer meltdown that forced it to ground thousands of flights worldwide. It took weeks to straighten everything out.

In the midst of those troubles, only 27 percent of 20,000 people surveyed said they would fly Delta next time. But, by early September, 39 percent of respondents said they would use Delta, according to YouGovBrandIndex, a New York-based researcher that daily tracks consumer attitudes toward brands.

While that isn't the best apples-to-apples example, because the circumstances of the United Express episode are more viscerally disturbing, it shows that widespread anger can subside if the airline resolves the problem.

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But finding a resolution keeps eluding United's CEO Munoz and his team.

Putting aside the failed on-the-ground airline and security management logic that started this whole imbroglio, Munoz has since offered a couple of written "apologies" that sounded more like he was blaming the injured passenger instead of condemning the violence and vowing to get to the bottom of the matter.

On his third round, Munoz appeared on network TV and said all the right things about being appalled by what happened to Dao, but even that mea culpa smacked of a calculated message and didn't sound very contrite.

There's another problem.

With his responses, Munoz comes across as an operations guy  someone more interested in making sure the jets fly safely, on time and fully loaded.

Don't get me wrong, a safe and precise United is a paramount concern to everyone.

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Moreover, I truly appreciate that labor relations (especially when dealing with a unionized workforce) is a huge internal concern and showing respect for your people, who are working hard and stressful jobs, is an admirable trait.

But running United shouldn't be all about logistics and keeping the employees happy.

United seems to have forgotten it is in the customer service business.

Somewhere along the line, that realization and commitment is getting lost at the carrier, which has often been chastised by consumer advocates and regular folks for instances of rude and dismissive treatment of passengers, usually more than most of its competitors.

Putting aside the legalities of the Dao case, Munoz should have found a way to lead the charge for his customers.

What's more, he should have immediately condemned what happened, which was pretty self-evident from the video, and rallied his team to come up with a plethora of ways to make amends with passengers  the sooner the better.

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"Everyone needs to know the brand is about (being) friendly and safe," says Neal Roese, a professor of marketing at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Is that too heavy a load for United?

Right now, the airline is saying it's committed to issuing a report April 30 providing details behind the incident and how it intends to make procedural or policy changes, a puzzlingly slow response time to an urgent problem.

Perhaps CEO Munoz believes running out the clock will allow the controversy to peak while the airline's considerable operational strength helps it prevail in the marketplace.

If so, that's a cynical and misguided approach to dealing with a calamity that probably won't destroy United but can surely shake it up for a very long time to come.

roreed@chicagotribune.com

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NBC Tower in Chicago on Aug. 8, 2013. Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, was both a buyer and a seller in the Federal Communications Commission spectrum auction. After selling its frequency, Spanish-language WSNS will share channels with co-owned WMAQ-Ch. 5. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Six Chicago-area TV stations, including Fox-owned WPWR-Ch. 50, NBC's Telemundo outlet WSNS-Ch. 44 and PBS affiliate WYCC-Ch. 20, will be changing channels after selling their over-the-air broadcast frequencies to wireless carriers.

The combined Chicago TV frequencies sold for about $758 million in a Federal Communications Commission spectrum auction, which repurposed a chunk of the broadcast airwaves for wireless mobile use.

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Nationwide, 175 broadcasters sold their licensed frequencies, freeing up 70 megahertz of spectrum and netting just over $10 billion. The two-phase auction started last spring as the FCC sought to accommodate growing mobile demand by consolidating the television airwaves.

All of the Chicago stations are expected to continue broadcasting by shifting to shared frequencies with other stations over a 39-month transition period. Viewers who watch the stations over the air, however, will ultimately have to change channels to stay tuned. Stations are scheduled to begin moving in November 2018.

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The Chicago-area auction total includes more than $304 million for WWTO-Ch. 35 in LaSalle County  the highest price paid for any station in the nation. WWTO is owned by California-based Trinity Broadcasting Network, which bills itself as the largest Christian TV network in the world.

TBN did not respond Thursday to a request for comment.

WPWR-Ch.50 sold its spectrum for $160.7 million, while NBC-owned WSNS-Ch.44 fetched $141.7 million. WYCC, owned by City Colleges of Chicago, netted $16 million in the auction.

The Chicago broadcast spectrum buyers included AT&T, T-Mobile, Dish Network (through ParkerB.com Wireless) and Comcast (through CC Wireless Investment).

Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, was both a buyer and a seller in the auction.

NBC-owned stations relinquished spectrum in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, receiving proceeds of $481.6 million. All of the stations will share channels with other NBC-owned stations, a Comcast spokeswoman said Thursday. In Chicago, Spanish-language WSNS will share with co-owned WMAQ-Ch. 5.

Comcast, which this month announced the launch of its Xfinity Mobile wireless service, spent about $1.7 billion in the auction, buying spectrum in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Philadelphia.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @RobertChannick
Tanya Moses, 58, of Harvey, works as a home health aide, earning about $10.50 an hour. Cobbling together enough hours, on minimum wage, makes it difficult to pay her bills. (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune) (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

Business was slow one brisk spring morning at the Dairy Queen in suburban Northbrook. Bernadette Simpson, manning the Blizzard machine, churned an ice cream treat and then made a show of holding it upside-down to demonstrate its gravity-defying thickness, as company policy requires her to do.

Simpson, 48, started working at Dairy Queen two years ago for $8.50 an hour, a quarter more than the state's minimum wage, and now earns $10.25.

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She enjoys the job  "How can you not be happy working with ice cream?" she said  but scrapes by.

"I clip coupons, we look for sales, we keep things very low-key and we try to save as much as we can," said Simpson, a single mom of two who lives with her teenage daughter in Buffalo Grove.

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Bernadette Simpson, shift leader at a Dairy Queen in Northbrook, on April 7, 2017, holds a Blizzard frozen treat upside-down to demonstrate how thick it is. Simpson, 48, of Buffalo Grove, earns $10.25 an hour and is scraping by. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

"All change goes into a jar that's not touched, and come the end of year we take it to the bank and trade it for cash for the holidays."

Scraping by was not part of Simpson's original plan. She went to nursing school and worked in health care before she left to raise her kids and care for her ailing grandmother. But when she tried to go back to work 15 years later, after her grandmother died, employers wouldn't hire her because she'd been out of the workforce so long, she said.

So Simpson joined the swelling ranks of low-wage service workers, who increasingly look more like her: older, raising families, without many other options.

As Illinois considers raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, up from the current $8.25, advocates say the changing face of the low-wage worker is a reason why the minimum wage must be a living wage.

But some businesses insist a hike could kill them, causing more harm to workers and communities than good.

Ed Schubert, whose family owns the Dairy Queen franchise where Simpson works, said he can't imagine how he'd keep his shop afloat with a $15 minimum wage, a rate he thinks shouldn't apply to his largely teenage staff.

I'd give us five years and we'd be out of here. Whether we sell it to somebody or just be done, I don't know.  Ed Schubert, Dairy Queen owner

"I'd give us five years and we'd be out of here," said Schubert, 66, who bought the shop nearly 44 years ago. "Whether we sell it to somebody or just be done, I don't know."

Even Simpson is on the fence about supporting a statewide hike, uncomfortable with the notion that her 16-year-old would make that much out of the gate.

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Still, she said, for herself a bigger paycheck "would be fabulous."

Illinois legislators are considering a bill introduced by House Democrats to slowly raise the state's minimum wage to hit $15 by 2022, following the example of California, New York and Washington, D.C., as well as several cities. The first increase, to $9, would go into effect Jan. 1. Small business owners  but not franchisees  would get tax credits at first to help.

The bill recently cleared a House committee and will go for a vote before the full House possibly this month, though even if it passes in the House and Senate it could face a veto by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. Rauner has said that he supports a smaller increase in the minimum wage as part of a larger effort to reduce regulations on businesses.

One survey found Illinoisans to be skeptical. TSheets, a time-tracking software, polled 500 Illinois residents and found two-thirds said they believed the $15 proposal would fail and nearly half said they did not support it; another 20 percent were indifferent. But they didn't support the status quo, either. Only 6.5 percent of those surveyed believed the minimum wage should stay at $8.25. A raise to $12 was the most popular choice.

Home health aide Tanya Moses cleans the television April 10, 2017, in the Chatham neighborhood home of 84-year-old Lee Williams, seen in the backround. Moses, 58, of Harvey, earns $10.50 an hour as a home health aide one day a week but is interning with SEIU Healthcare Illinois, making $15 an hour to sign up and organize members. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

Workers, on one side of the debate, and businesses, on the other, both say it's a matter of survival.

To Tanya Moses of south suburban Harvey, who earns $10.50 an hour working as a home health aide, it's also about respect.

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"For people to think that this isn't an important job, something's wrong," Moses, 58, said. "We don't want to pay the people to take care of the people."

While fast-food and retail workers often are the face of minimum wage, low-wage work is widespread in health care, and home health aides are among the fastest growing segments of the labor market.

The number of home care workers in the U.S. has doubled in the past 10 years, to about 2.2 million, and the field is projected to add another 634,000 jobs by 2024, according to the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute. But they are paid little and have inconsistent hours.

Last year, cobbling together 21 hours of work a week with three clients, Moses went two months without lights in her home because she chose to pay the gas bill instead of the electricity bill. She didn't tell the neighbors, embarrassed to be without lights at her age, and filled her house with thick candles.

How are you going to pay the cost of living if minimum wage doesn't go up? How? I mean, seriously?  Tanya Moses, who makes $10.80 as a health aide

"The house smelled good all the time," Moses chuckled.

Moses works for Addus HomeCare, which serves 33,000 customers weekly in 24 states. More than half of its $401 million in service revenues last year came from Illinois, paid mostly by the state's Department of Aging, according to its annual report.

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President and CEO Dirk Allison said in an emailed statement that "Addus supports higher pay rates for the hardworking and dedicated team that provides such valuable services to our aging adult population."

He added: "It is also important that wage increases be funded through adequate rates of reimbursement by the state."

Moses, who speaks with don't-mess-with-me urgency, said $15 hourly pay might allow her to pay both the gas and electric bills, perhaps get her off of public assistance.

She spoke as she swept the kitchen floor of her client Lee Williams, an 84-year-old widower whom she calls "Mr. Lee." Williams lives in an apartment in the Chatham neighborhood on Chicago's South Side that he shared with his wife of 54 years. Since she died three years ago, Williams said he needs help cleaning, cooking and paying bills.

Moses grew up nearby. She shimmied a bit as she recalled the dance lessons she took in Tuley Park, then described a rough adolescence. Turned out of the house by an abusive stepfather when she was 13, she slept on the streets and worked at McDonald's earning $1.90 an hour, she said.

The experience gave her sympathy for other people's struggles. A few years ago she took in a pregnant young woman who was living in a condemned home. Moses now lives with her and her two kids, aged 2 years and 9 months, relying on the young woman's Link card for food.

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The young woman makes minimum wage at a pizza restaurant but her hours are unreliable, Moses said, so she's training to become a home health aide as well.

Moses spent that morning making Williams breakfast, washing the shiny buildup off the bathroom walls and scrubbing the oven, but the job is about more than that, she said.

Williams hadn't received his diabetes medication so they called the pharmacy to make sure it came the next day, Moses said. And a broken smoke alarm had been beeping for a week when she arrived.

Ed Schubert, owner of Dairy Queen in Northbrook, recently testified at a House committee hearing on the proposed minimum wage increase, he is seen here at the Dairy Queen in Northbrook on Friday, April 7, 2017. With a staff comprised largely of entry-level teens, Ed thinks a hike to $15 is too rich for their experience level and may hurt teen employment prospects because employers like him wont' think them worth hiring. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Moses has little patience for what she sees as broad disregard for people, whom she is committed to helping.

She said she was sickly when she was young and spent time in hospitals, which shaped her view.

"The way doctors and nurses was then, they was nasty," Moses said. "So my thing was, I'm going to grow up and be a nurse and take care of people, because they don't have no care for nobody, no compassion. So that has been my goal."

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Moses worked as a certified nursing assistant and ran an assisted living facility, but her goal to become a nurse got waylaid  "marriage and kids and life," she explained. She stopped working to take care of her mother, who died in December, and now has to retake the certified nursing assistant test if she wants to practice again.

Moses, a union activist with SEIU Healthcare Illinois, which represents about 50,000 of the state's home health care and child care workers, said she is focusing her energy now on the wage fight. She has scaled back work to one day a week while she undertakes an internship with the union, which pays her $15 an hour to sign up new members and organize existing ones.

It isn't easy, she said. Many workers resent the 3.3 percent taken out of their paychecks for union dues.

"If I don't go out there and speak for these people to get this money, they're not going to get it," Moses said.

Across town at the Northbrook Dairy Queen, other concerns weighed on Ed Schubert.

He's been trying to retire, and last year he transferred management to his daughter, Jennifer Spencer.

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Spencer, 44, has worked at the Dairy Queen since she was 14, and though she left for a time to work on a factory assembly line, she found her way back. She got married at the Dairy Queen, saying her vows in front of the cash registers. Her son works there too.

"There's too many memories, I couldn't give it up," Spencer said.

But Schubert doesn't see how the math will work with a $15 minimum wage.

He aims to spend 20 to 25 percent of his revenues on payroll, with the rest of his budget consumed by rent, operating costs and corporate fees. During a typical year he is left with a modest profit of 3 to 4 percent, which ranges from $30,000 to $60,000.

Schubert doesn't think he could boost revenue enough to absorb a big rise in payroll costs. He calculates that if he has 10 people working for him on a busy summer Saturday, he would have to do $400 in sales each hour. Now, he's "not even close."

Raising prices is a possibility. But Schubert estimates he'd have to increase prices by 10 to 20 percent, and he worries that such a hike would hurt sales.

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Schubert, who hires many teens during the summer, advocates for a "three-tier minimum wage," which takes age into account. His suggested breakdown: Teens 14 to 17 earn at least $7 or $7.50 an hour, 18- to 23-year-olds earn a minimum of $10, and adults 24 and up have a minimum of $13 an hour, which is the minimum approved by Chicago and Cook County. (Chicago is slowly stepping up its minimum wage to $13 by 2019 and Cook County will reach $13 by 2020, though several towns have opted out of the county law.)

With that mix, Schubert said he could make it work. Without it, teens could find themselves out of a job because they can't compete with more experienced workers, he said.

As Schubert worries about what might happen if the wage goes up, Moses worries about what has happened because it hasn't.

Crime might not be so bad if parents didn't have to work two jobs and leave their kids alone, she said.

A common argument against raising the minimum wage is that people who don't like what they're making should work harder or try a different field.

Moses said that's not the point. Costs have gone up while wages have not.

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"How are you going to pay the cost of living if minimum wage doesn't go up?" she said. "How? I mean, seriously?"

aelejalderuiz@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @alexiaer
Viral videos of a passenger being dragged from a United Express flight last weekend were a reminder for travelers that buying a ticket doesn't mean you'll have a seat when the flight takes off.

Dr. David Dao's flight wasn't oversold in the typical sense, when airlines sell more tickets than they have seats available, and his experience was extreme. Nonetheless, outrage over the incident has led to calls for airlines to back off when it comes to overbooking, or at least work harder to avoid forcing passengers off flights.

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Dao, 69, was one of four passengers told to leave a flight from Chicago to Louisville, Ky., on Sunday to make room for airline employees. When Dao refused to give up his seat, the airline called Aviation Department officers, who dragged him from the plane. Dao sustained a concussion, broken nose and other injuries, according to his attorney, and widely shared videos of the incident put airlines' policies around oversold flights and bumping passengers in the spotlight.

While some travelers are only now discovering the fine print they agree to when buying a ticket, too-full flights are nothing new. The industry says deliberate overbooking helps keep airfares low, while the ability to bump passengers helps airlines manage scheduling problems while keeping as many passengers happy as possible.

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The extra scrutiny has already led to some changes  United said Friday it will start requiring airline employees traveling for work to book their seats at least an hour before departure, preventing situations like Dao's flight, where passengers had to give up their seats to employees after boarding. But bumping likely isn't going away anytime soon.

Airlines can legally bump passengers from a flight, and major U.S. carriers did so about 475,000 times last year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. That translates to one passenger bumped for about every 1,390 people who successfully boarded. But fewer than 1 in 10,000 passengers were involuntarily bumped; about 91.5 percent of people volunteered to take a later flight, typically receiving compensation such as credit toward future flights.

Many airlines will sell more tickets than they have seats on routes where they expect a few no-shows who make a last-minute switch or simply miss their flight. From the airline's perspective, any seat empty when the plane takes off is a missed chance to sell a ticket  even if it means selling the same seat twice.

"Overbooking helps keep fares down because it provides a mechanism to make sure they get as much money from each flight as possible," said Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and founder of Atmosphere Research Group.

The practice may have become more noticeable in recent years as flights have grown fuller, leaving less room to maneuver when airlines need to shift passengers to later flights, Harteveldt said.

In Dao's situation, United decided to put four crew members on an already full flight. Had the airline not given passengers' seats to those crew members, additional flights out of Louisville, Ky., Dao's destination, would have been delayed or canceled, United said. From the airline's perspective, inconveniencing a handful of passengers in one city might make sense if it means keeping a planeload happy in another.

Passengers can also get bumped if problems like bad weather or equipment issues mean the airline needs to switch to a smaller airplane.

When a flight is overbooked, airlines must first try to get passengers to volunteer to take a later flight. Although it's not required, most will sweeten the deal, often with vouchers for future travel.

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If the airline can't convince enough travelers to volunteer, it can select passengers to rebook on the next available flight. United, for instance, says it considers factors like fare class, frequent flyer status, itinerary and how far in advance passengers check in, and avoids bumping unaccompanied minors and people with disabilities.

Loyal first-class passengers are unlikely to get picked. The first-time customer with a bargain airfare likely has a higher risk, said Brian Sumers, airline business reporter at travel industry website Skift.

Some airlines are also more likely to bump travelers than others. Last year, passengers had the highest odds of getting bumped on small, regional carriers, according to a MileCards.com analysis of Transportation Department data. Airlines where passengers were least likely to get bumped, such as JetBlue, Frontier and Hawaiian, often serve leisure travelers who probably don't want to change their plans at the last minute.

The Transportation Department requires airlines to give involuntarily bumped passengers a written statement outlining their rights and explaining how the airline chooses whom to bump, along with compensation based on the price of the ticket and the length of the delay.

Involuntarily bumped domestic passengers who arrive less than an hour late to their destination aren't entitled to any payment. Those held up between one to two hours get twice the value of their fare, up to a maximum of $675, and for those delayed more than two hours, compensation doubles to four times their fare, at most $1,350.

Some have proposed raising those limits, last increased in 2011, to encourage airlines to work harder to find volunteers. U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, has said she will propose legislation to ban involuntary bumping altogether, instead requiring airlines to increase offered compensation until enough passengers willingly give up their seats.

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Harteveldt called the idea "well-intentioned, but impractical."

Airlines would always rather find a volunteer than force a passenger on a later flight. But they're also working against a clock. When schedules are tight, spending too much time trying to recruit volunteers could mean a delayed flight.

If any changes do come out of the uproar over Dao, they're more likely to be measures encouraging airlines to work harder to avoid bumping passengers against their will, rather than strict limits, Harteveldt said.

Industry group Airlines for America said it was "premature" to speculate since no specific bills had been introduced, but warned against "unnecessary regulatory actions."

"I think the airline industry will do everything they can to avoid new regulations being imposed, but to achieve that, they'll need to do a better job policing the situation themselves," Harteveldt said.

In addition to requiring employees to provide more advance notice when booking seats, United said it will not ask law enforcement officers to remove passengers from flights unless it is a matter of safety and security, and plans to improve training programs "to ensure our employees are prepared and empowered to put our customers first."

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United said it will share results of a review of its policies around oversold flights, and actions it plans to take, by the end of the month.

lzumbach@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @laurenzumbach
The Illinois Masonic Children's Home, which has operated for more than 100 years in La Grange, first as an orphanage and later as a group home, is closing its doors.

The home, which houses 19 youth at 441 9th Ave., will close in late June.

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Joseph Farrell, junior grand deacon for the Masons of Illinois, said one reason is the declining number of children families housed in the facility.

"The model we employ of housing children has gone out of vogue," he said. "The model today is to keep families together."

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He said the board of the Illinois Masonic Children's Home Corporation voted to close the facility for children from troubled homes, as well as another it operates in Murphysboro in southern Illinois. That facility houses 16 children. Spero Family Services, a social services agency, has opted to buy the Murphysboro home and will continue to provide housing and other services to those children.

Farrell said the decision to close the facilities was hard, and was made after much deliberation.

"There was not one happy face at the table," said Farrell, who lives in Chicago.

The youth ages 8 to 18 who live in the La Grange home will be placed with their families or in another appropriate setting, he said. He said a committee of staff and caseworkers is evaluating each case to decide what the best placement will be for each child.

He said his organization will continue to serve the youth who are in the homes.

"We made a promise to take care of them through high school and college up to a bachelor's degree," he said.

Unlike what many may believe, the children in the La Grange and Murphysboro homes have continued to have relationships with their families.

"The parents of all the children have maintained their guardianship," he said. "A lot of times they (the youth) are only there during the week and go home on weekends."

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Another reason the Masons are getting out of residential care is liability concerns. A statement from the Masons notes that a Texas home lost a $6.9 million lawsuit and has closed. Another closed in California following legal troubles and a multimillion payout.

According to an article in 2002 in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, at least $6.9 million was paid to settle lawsuits alleging sex abuse at the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas' Masonic Home.

While there have been no such problems at the La Grange home, Farrell said liability is a major issue.

"We're not even sure we could be insured because insurance companies do not want to be in this business and rates have gone up," he said.

The home in La Grange was originally operated as an orphanage and was founded more than 100 years ago. At its peak in 1931, there were 314 children in the home, Farrell said.

The original orphanage at Ninth Avenue was sold in the late 1950s and was turned into a nursing home. Today, it is operated as Meadowbrook Manor nursing home. The group home, which is next to Meadowbrook Manor, was started around the same time as when the orphanage was sold.

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The statement from the Masons estimates that it spends about $2.4 million, or $60,000 per resident a year, to provide residential care to the youth in La Grange and Murphysboro.

"With a new program, we could do so much more with that money," Farrell said.

Instead of operating the group homes, Farrell said the organization is starting a new effort that will provide scholarships, pay hospitalization, tuition and for other costs of families in need. Initially, at least, the program will serve the families of the 60,000 masons in Illinois. It also will provide targeted aid to school districts, Farrell said.

"It will cover the gamut, from counseling services to college scholarships to grants to school districts," he said.

Herb Lindberg, area deputy grandmaster for the Illinois Masons, said many members of the organization are sad they will no longer be involved with the residential homes.

"It makes most of the Masons sad because what you lose is the physical part of it," he said.

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Lindberg, who lives in Romeoville, said members frequently took part in helping the youth by holding pizza parties, taking them to ballgames or fishing.

"That part is going to be lost. That's always hard," he said.

The 9-acre property will be sold. Farrell said the organization has a letter of intent from a buyer, but said he is not ready to disclose any details of the sale.

"The property will be sold and more than likely it will become homes," Lindberg said.

amannion@tribpub.com

Twitter @triblocalam
Soak your waffles in egg batter and crisp them up in a skillet for a wonderful French toast-waffle hybrid. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

In 2010, former Chicagoan Daniel Shumski took an appliance (the waffle iron) that most of us assumed had only one purpose (making waffles) and unveiled a whole world of new culinary possibilities. He explored this uncharted territory on his blog, The Waffleizer, posting recipes for bread pudding and burgers, among other oddities, which led to "Will It Waffle?" his 2014 book featuring 53 recipes.

So where does someone who links himself with a very specific cooking device go next? Eventually, Shumski realized he had to branch out. "I think after I made so many things in the waffle iron, I don't know what had the power to surprise me any more," he says. Then he looked to an even more ubiquitous piece of equipment: the cast-iron skillet.

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In his new book, "Will It Skillet?" out April 4, Shumski offers 53 recipes celebrating this classic kitchen workhouse. "The skillet is something I've cooked with as long as I've cooked for myself," Shumski says. But he'd never considered quite how much it could do.

The key selling point of cast iron for Shumski is its versatility: "You can start cooking on the stovetop, and then finish in the oven." The book's recipe for potato-crusted ham quiche is a great example of this technique, he says. The ingredients are sauteed, then the skillet goes into the oven to finish cooking.

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That's just the beginning of the surprising functions of the cast-iron skillet. Shumski also uses the skillet to toast bread, char vegetables for salsa, and smash masa for homemade corn tortillas. "I was really interested in pushing to see if there are more uses," Shumski says. "(Corn tortillas) are a great example. You can go out and buy a tortilla press, but what you need is something fairly heavy and flat. Lo and behold, it's the skillet."

If you're looking for the ideal recipe to help you transition from waffle irons to cast-iron skillets, none works as well as his recipe for French-toasted waffles, which he calls a "perfect marriage" of what people know him for and his new book. "A mini homage to my roots, while taking it in a new direction," he says. Waffles are soaked in an egg-and-milk mixture and then cooked in the skillet. In the intro to the recipe, he notes that while it's impossible to make waffles from scratch in an iron skillet, "it's possible to make them better."

Along with recipes, Shumski offers some advice on how to properly season and maintain a skillet (you can use water but no soap), plus a tidy history of cast iron that stretches back to 206 B.C.

Though he currently lives in Montreal, Shumski lived in Chicago for a number of years, even working at the Chicago Tribune for a while. That explains how a very credible recipe for deep-dish pizza pops up. But when asked about his favorite restaurant serving deep dish, Shumski declines to answer. "I have deep-dish favorites, but there's no way I would ever reveal it," he says. "I tried to present what the best of what deep-dish has to offer, to people who don't live in Chicago. I would never hope to compete with the places in Chicago."

What's Shumski's next project? He's tackling the trendy kitchen item of the moment, the instant pot. Watch for that book in October.

nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @nickdk

French-toasted waffles

Prep: 20 minutes

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Cook: 4 minutes per waffle

Makes:2 servings

If using packaged waffles, they shouldn't be frozen solid when you start, but they don't need to be completely thawed, either. Most store-bought waffles will thaw sufficiently in the time it takes to preheat the skillet and combine the other ingredients. Home-made waffles are likely denser and may take more time; it's better to let them thaw about 15 minutes before you start.

2 large eggs

12 cup milk

14 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Pinch of salt

4 frozen waffles

Unsalted butter, for greasing the skillet

Maple syrup and salted butter, for serving

1 Preheat a cast-iron skillet (any size that will fit your waffles) over medium-low heat for 2 minutes.

2 While the skillet heats, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and salt in a pie pan or baking dish.

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3 Place 1 waffle in the egg mixture and soak it until it has absorbed some of the liquid. A thin waffle may need only a quick dip; a thicker one may need about 30 seconds. Flip the waffle with a fork and soak the other side.

4 Melt about 1 teaspoon unsalted butter in the skillet. Use the fork to pick up the waffle, and allow excess batter to drip off, tilting the waffle if necessary for the liquid to escape the nooks and crannies.

5 Place the waffle in the skillet and cook it until golden brown, about 2 minutes. (Thicker Belgian-style waffles require as much as an extra minute.) Use a spatula to flip it, and cook until the other side is golden brown, about 2 minutes. (Again, allow another minute for thicker waffles.)

6 Serve the first waffle immediately or keep it warm in an oven preheated to its lowest temperature. Repeat steps 3 through 5 with the remaining waffles.

7 Serve warm, with maple syrup and butter.

Nutrition information per serving

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303 calories, 13 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 201 mg cholesterol, 33 g carbohydrates, 7 g sugar, 13 g protein, 619 mg sodium, 2 g fiber

Potato-crusted ham quiche

Prep: 45 minutes

Cook: 60 minutes

Makes: 6 servings

3 tablespoons olive oil

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1 1/4 cups diced white or yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)

8 ounces white mushrooms, sliced

1 teaspoon salt

5 ounces baby spinach

1/2 cup diced cooked ham

2 medium russet potatoes (about 1 pound total)

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1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

6 large eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 cup shredded mild cheese (such as fontina, Gruyere or Swiss)

1 Preheat the oven to 450F with one rack in the middle.

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2 Add 2 teaspoons of the oil to an 8-inch cast-iron skillet and heat over medium heat until the oil is hot, about 2 minutes. Add the onion, mushrooms and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, and the mushrooms are cooked through, about 10 minutes.

3 Add the spinach in two batches, cooking and stirring each time until the spinach wilts, about 30 seconds. The spinach will barely fit in the skillet at first, but will cook down quickly when stirred. Remove the skillet from the heat.

4 Drain off as much liquid as possible and scrape the vegetables into a large bowl. Add the ham and set aside. Wipe the skillet clean.

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5 Use a paper towel to rub 1 teaspoon of the oil into the skillet.

6 Using the coarse side of a box grater or a food processor, shred the potatoes. (You should have about 3 1/2 cups.) Squeeze the shreds in a clean kitchen towel until they're as dry as you can manage. (The potato might discolor the towel. Remove the discoloration by immediately rinsing the towel under cold running water.)

7 In a medium-size bowl, toss the potatoes with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Press the potatoes into the skillet in an even layer across the bottom and all the way up the sides.

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8 Bake until the potatoes are golden brown at the edges, about 30 minutes.

9 Remove the skillet from the oven and set the oven temperature to 325F. In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, mustard and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. The ham and vegetables may have given off liquid as they sat. If so, drain it off. Distribute the cheese evenly atop the potato. Spread the ham and vegetables in an even layer over the cheese. Pour in the egg mixture. Bake until the eggs are set at the edges (the center may still jiggle a bit), about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer should read 170F in the center. Remove the skillet from the oven and transfer it to a rack to cool slightly, about 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Leftovers can be refrigerated in a covered container for up to 2 days.

Nutrition information per serving

320 calories, 20 g fat, 7 g saturated fat, 219 mg cholesterol, 19 g carbohydrates, 4 g sugar, 18 g protein, 650 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
Phil Vettel visits 6-month-old Entente in Lakeview where chef and partner Brian Fisher composes beautiful and delicious plates. Just dont ask him to define them. (Sean Leidigh/WGN-News video) (Chicago Tribune)

Chef career paths can be wildly uneven, but Brian Fisher's 12-month ride has been especially fascinating.

Fisher went from chef de cuisine at the highly progressive Schwa, to opening chef at the TV-themed Saved by the Max (or, as I call it, The Pop Up That Wouldn't Leave), to heading the kitchen at Entente, a casual and creative newcomer that opened in late 2016.

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"It was a crazy year, I'll tell you that," Fisher said.

Fisher had been nosing around for a chance to open his own place ("but I had no set plan or investors") when the Saved by the Max gig popped up. "It was an interesting opportunity," he said, "and I needed the money."

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Saved by the Max could have been the ideal, cash-the-check-and-phone-it-in situation, but tellingly, Fisher didn't play it that way. He used Korean spices and Goose Island beer to give depth to the chicken and waffles, added bold Middle Eastern accents to the chicken wings and used Kewpie mayonnaise on the double cheeseburger, a luxe touch appreciated by maybe 1 in 200 guests.

Perhaps the food gods, pleased by such demonstrations of respect, brought Fisher to the attention of Arami owner Ty Fujimura, who was planning a new project in Lakeview. Thus was born Entente, which Fisher calls a restaurant "rooted in what we both believe in."

Entente sits on a stretch of Lincoln Avenue not generally sought out by the fine-dining crowd, but every lover of food should lock this address into his or her GPS. Entente is the complete package, presenting downright delicious food, a robust wine-beer-cocktail program (tip of the hat to bar director Meghan Konecny) and whip-smart, engaging service.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 10 Wedge salads are rarely beautiful, but this one, with Benton's ham, tomatoes and cambozola (a very mild blue cheese) certainly is. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Fisher and pastry chef Mari Katsumura (who worked under Dana Cree at Blackbird, and was pastry chef at Acadia and Grace) make a formidable creative team. The fruits of their collaboration can be appreciated in the "pumpernickel pretzel," essentially a thinking-chef's take on a charcuterie plate. Instead of multiple proteins, there are unctuous folds of silky Benton's ham surrounding a saucer of beer-cheese fondue. Acidity arrives via pieces of fermented sauerkraut and pickled pineapple, and Katsumura's toothsome, salt-flecked pretzel rolls are the stars of the plate.

Elsewhere, her toasted sourdough slices make a fine conveyance for Fisher's chicken-liver mousse, topped by a clarified aspic bearing Old Fashioned flavors (orange, rye, angostura), pearls of orange puree and freeze-fried satsumas. The flaky, fluffy buttermilk biscuit, matched to seasonal butter, is a $6 option worth every nickel.

More Benton's pork, this time in bacon form, contributes to a beautifully composed wedge salad (typically the least-attractive plate on any menu) with tomatoes, tomato powder and cambozola cheese (a very mild blue). Fisher's kale Caesar is a seafood-forward version, fortified with fried smelt and dusted with bottarga.

Among the larger plates, I love the pan-crisped exterior and soft, yielding interior of the octopus; the eye-catching presentation includes tiny mounds of pureed potato, dots of eggplant blackened with squid ink and a chunky powder made from olive oil and espelette pepper. Another gorgeous composition weaves such country staples as cornbread, crowder peas, collards and ham hock into elegant companions for fat-rich medallions of Berkshire pork loin.

Chef Brian Fisher went from chef de cuisine at the highly progressive Schwa to opening chef at the TV-themed Saved by the Max to heading the kitchen at Entente. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Slices of duck breast are packed together in a tidy package with dirty Himalayan rice burnished with duck heart and liver; the arrangement intentionally forces the diner to savor all the dish's elements in every bite. Even the straightforward chicken breast demonstrates extraordinary commitment. The golden-skinned, Maldon-flecked breast is served alongside escarole, flageolet beans and chicken-thigh sausage, gathered together and topped with tiny flowers  a literally edible floral arrangement.

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Katsumura's desserts deliver more than they promise. Hidden inside the simple-sounding profiterole is white-chocolate cremeaux with cherry extract and sour-cherry jam, flanked by sassafras and root-beer ice cream and a shoelace-thin, undulating root-beer tuile. Her cheesecake is more colorful than an artist's palette, the fluffy cake disks ("like angel food and cheesecake had a baby," the chef described it) arranged with shattered meringue, vanilla-kissed citrus segments, frozen coconut marshmallow, candied orange and blood-orange sherbet. And the tres leches cake (banana now; the flavoring was pumpkin on my visit) offers flavors so reminiscent of cereal milk that Katsumura crowns it with a tuile made from cornflakes.

The narrow restaurant is broken up into two seating areas. The rear space, done with natural-tone, rough-edged tables and adjoining the kitchen pass-through, looks a lot like the back room of Arami. The front room, slightly smaller, includes dark-wood tables and Entente's eight-seat bar. The spaces are comfortable, and if the appointments lean toward the austere, that just makes Fisher and Katsumura's visuals even more dramatic.

pvettel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @philvettel

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

Entente

3056 N. Lincoln Ave.

872-206-8553

www.ententechicago.com

Tribune rating: Three stars

Open: Dinner Tuesday-Saturday

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Prices: Main courses $15-$33

Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V

Reservations: Strongly recommended

Noise: Conversation-challenged






In the opening moments of "Frantz," the latest intricately layered mystery from the French writer-director Francois Ozon, a German woman named Anna (Paula Beer) visits the grave of her fiance, a soldier recently slain in the trenches of World War I. You can sense the war's immense reach in a few fleeting details  a man who whistles in Anna's direction is missing an arm  but also in the eerie quiet that has descended on the town's cobbled streets and in the somber cast of the movie's black-and-white images.

If you happen to have seen Ernst Lubitsch's "Broken Lullaby," the 1932 antiwar drama on which this new film is based, you might also sense something more: a curious and telling shift in perspective. Lubitsch's film, adapted from a play by Maurice Rostand, was a rare message picture from a director celebrated for his exquisite comic touch, unfolded through the eyes of a French veteran making an unexpected visit to the grieving loved ones of a dead German soldier.

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"Frantz" retains the earlier film's central premise and pacifist themes. A Parisian musician named Adrien Rivoire (Pierre Niney) has come to pay his respects to Dr. Hoffmeister (Ernst Stotzner) and his wife, Magda (Marie Gruber), and to share his memories of their fallen son, Frantz (played by Anton von Lucke in flashbacks). But this time, the story's moral and dramatic fulcrum is Anna, whose loving, protective attitude toward the Hoffmeisters, whom she regards as her own parents, is matched by her intense curiosity about this stranger in their midst.

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The presence of a Frenchman in Germany so soon after the Great War does not go unremarked upon by Dr. Hoffmeister, who receives Adrien coldly at first, or by the glowering locals  one of whom, Kreutz (Johann von Bulow), wants to marry Anna himself. Adrien, for his part, is sympathetic but not entirely above suspicion. His recollections of many happy hours spent with Frantz in Paris before the war, visiting museums and playing the violin together, bring the Hoffmeisters no small measure of solace. But his sad eyes and halting, fearful demeanor seem to tell a darker, more unsettling story.

That story will not be revealed here, though Ozon, a master of misdirection and one of French cinema's most prolific chroniclers of gay desire, delights in raising the sort of romantic possibilities that are easier for an audience to countenance now than they were in 1919. More than once, "Frantz" hints that it will reveal itself as a homoerotic reworking of "Broken Lullaby." But Ozon has something simpler and no less intriguing up his sleeve.

One of the director's chief aims here  articulated with rueful clarity by Stotzner's sober-minded doctor  is to eliminate the distractions of nationalism and politics, and to remind his characters and his audience of the unimaginable suffering endured on both sides of the conflict. Not for nothing has Ozon rechristened the dead German soldier "Frantz," playfully evoking both his own name, Francois, and the nation of France itself: It's as if he were suggesting that the responsibility for a man's death does not always belong to his killer alone.

At one point, Ozon goes so far as to deconstruct a famous scene from "Casablanca," investing a moment of unambiguous moral triumph with undercurrents of menace and dread. By this point, "Frantz" has shaken off the last vestiges of "Broken Lullaby" and plunged forward in an entirely new narrative direction, one that begins when Anna boards a train for France and sets out to find answers of her own.

In doing so, she becomes the latest in a line of richly conflicted Ozon heroines  the women played by Charlotte Rampling in "Under the Sand" and Catherine Deneuve in "Potiche" come especially to mind  forced to confront impossible situations, usually set in motion by the men in their lives. Anna, reeling from devastation and disbelief to a startling rush of desire, doesn't know what either the past or the future holds, but she rises to the occasion with a bracing mix of clever calculation and pure instinct.

Something similar might be said of Ozon, whose work often attempts  not always successfully, but always impressively  to bridge the gap between style and feeling, between his flair for formal trickery and his desire to usher the viewer into a realm of unbridled emotion. In perhaps his most Ozonian gesture, he occasionally floods cinematographer Pascal Marti's monochrome palette with a sudden infusion of warm color, usually to signal a flashback to happier times. These moments are sometimes dreams, sometimes memories and sometimes beautiful lies, which is very much to the director's point.

One of the key questions he's asking here is about the moral necessity of telling a falsehood, particularly when the need to shield those already in mourning from further pain becomes its own moral imperative. "Frantz" achieves its own version of this paradox. It is a cunningly crafted fiction, full of visual artifice and narrative sleight-of-hand, that by the end could hardly feel more sincere.

justin.chang@latimes.com

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"Frantz"  3.5 stars

MPAA rating: PG-13 (for thematic elements including brief war violence)

Running time: 1:53

Opens: Friday. In German and French with English subtitles.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
swimsuit (sold out), similar style here (top & bottom  on sale!) and here | sunglasses |earrings

If you follow CBL on Instagram youre probably like, we get it Kat youre obsessed with La Paz. I dont even know how to begin to describe our week in paradise at the residences of Playa de la Paz. I shared a sneak peek into the beginning of the week here, but I keep calling it my second honeymoon except with girlfriends.

We were the first group to stay in the private three-bedroom residence at Playa de la Paz, and this property is unique because there are both units for sale and rent. We had the luxury of peeking into a penthouse unit and one-bedroom unit and they both mirrored ours with incredible kitchens (complete with a wine fridge of my dreams), gorgeous marble bathrooms and tubs, multiple views of the Sea of Cortez and the options of furnished or unfurnished. I cant imagine a more fabulous second home!

We spent the week snorkeling, swimming with sea lions and whale sharks, getting massages on the terrace, having sunset dinners on the beach (along with a mariachi band!), exploring the downtown area of La Paz, doing yoga by the beach Carla the incredible concierge for Playa de la Paz helped organize our entire stay and provides these services to any renter or owner of the units. A dream!

La Paz is a charming and private town about two hours from the Cabo International Airport. I loved that we didnt see a single person on the beach  its completely serene and private. I think this would be such a fabulous vacation spot for a family or a couple seeking some relaxing time away. There are several high profile and influential people who favor La Paz for this reason  they can get away with complete anonymity.

Some of my recommendations for anyone looking to visit this beautiful area are at the bottom of this post!

sunglasses | top, love this dress version | similar denim | earrings | lip in Tilt

swimsuit (sold out), similar style here and here | sunglasses | bag

This photo above is Pichilingue Beach!

L to right: blue swimsuit | hat

white swimsuit

similar black swimsuit here and here | bracelets | similar hat here

swimsuit (sold out in coral), similar pink style here and here | hat via Brooklyn Hat Company, similar style here

swimsuit | hat | similar bracelets here and here | sunglasses

dress  I would recommend sizing down | earrings | sunglasses | bag (part of the Shopbop Sale!), also love this one

dress | sunglasses | heels | bag, also love this one

photos by Michelle Preau

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Now onto the good stuff  my recommendations, aka food and activities (!!!).

Food  we ate at our rental unit for several meals but did make it out and these were definitely my favorites:

Cafe Santa Fe  maybe the most delicious caprese salad freshest ahi tuna Ive ever had. I even loved the steak tartar and I never eat steak tartar! Not to mention their lobster pasta left this carb-lover speechless. Yes  we had all of these dishes in one meal and it was beyond!

Restaurant Playa Pichilingue  this may have been my overall favorite. Its no secret I could eat Mexican food everyday and the guacamole, shrimp and salsa at this open-air restaurant hit the spot. Its right on the turquoise water of the Sea of Cortez, so we just pulled up by boat after snorkeling all morning. Heavenly!

Nim  this was our last dinner in La Paz, and the atmosphere was adorable and the food (and margaritas) were fantastic. The menu varies from traditional dishes to oysters, ceviche and daily fish catches. The menu was also in both Spanish and English which was amazing!

Activities:

The Cortez Club  I cant begin to share how much I enjoyed Fisher and Lorenzo. These two guys were our captains, and they took us on an all-day adventure at sea that Ill never forget.

If you look into activities in this area of Mexico, youll see that snorkeling and diving are probably two of the biggest must see and do things to conquer during your visit. They were extremely knowledgeable with all of our questions (and spoke excellent English), and they managed to guide us to areas full of swimming dolphins and manta rays. Ive never had an experience like this in my life and if you read this post you know that I literally had tears in my eyes being surrounded by so many dolphins! Pretty sure that will never happen again in my life.

Museo de La Ballena  this is a whale museum that is new to the downtown area and quite impressive!

Pichilingue Beach  this is where we had lunch, but its also a gorgeous beach that I think is definitely worth visiting. The color of the water is like a painting  doesnt seem real!

So all in all, I think its safe to say that visiting Playa de la Paz was one of the best vacations Ive had in quite a while, and now Im peer pressuring my dad to look into properties. I mean, a girl can dream, right?!

Have any of you been to Cabo or La Paz recently? Id love to hear some of your favorite things you did during your stay! Thanks so much for reading! XO 
Neither Richard Wagner nor Gabriel Faure nor Arthur Honegger was particularly religious, but all three composers wrote music that is associated with aspects of Christian religious belief. It was to such music that Charles Dutoit turned for the Easter weekend program that concludes his two-week podium engagement with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Center.

You could hardly ask for greater contrast in musical style than what was to be heard in works by the German, French and Swiss composers on offer at the performance Thursday night. Dutoit had the measure of all three scores, placing each in its proper sound-world and, in the case of the Faure Requiem at the end of the program, summoning further refinements of tone color and expressiveness from the Chicago Symphony Chorus.

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So accustomed are Chicago audiences to hearing the grander, more dramatic requiem settings of Verdi and Brahms that the sublime understatement of Faure's treatment  by far the kindest, gentlest of the great requiem settings  comes as something of a shock, at first, as profound refreshment for the senses later on. (Also shocking was the fact that the Faure Requiem had not been performed at a downtown CSO concert for 24 years.)

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Dutoit opted for the final revision of the score with full orchestra that is most commonly performed today, but even here he maintained an intimacy of perspective that harked back to Faure's original plan. The chorus numbered just under 100 voices, supported by a chamber orchestra roughly half that size. The conductor's expressive restraint, within not-too-deliberate tempos, worked to the benefit of a requiem that once was described as "a lullaby of death."

The sound produced by director Duain Wolfe's highly disciplined choral aggregation was at all times clear, refined, well-balanced and finely blended, flowing easily over the accompaniment of small orchestra and organ. The sound had body and presence regardless of dynamic level. When the big choral shout of praise that is the "Osanna in excelsis" arrived, it stood out in thrilling relief after the quiet contemplation that had gone before. And the sopranos with their luminous timbre made a magically delicate effect in the concluding vision of heaven, "In paradisum."

The vocal soloists also were at one with the prevailing mood of consoling intimacy.

With her bright, meltingly beautiful sound, Israeli soprano Chen Reiss delivered the "Pie Jesu" as the simple, childlike prayer it was meant to be. Matthias Goerne's burnished baritone and deep sensitivity to the Latin text made him ideal for his two solo sections. He made eloquent use of his darker colorations for the soloist-led "Libera me" chorus and brought great subtlety to the "Hostias" portion of the "Offertorium."

When dedicated champions of Honegger's music like conductors Charles Munch and Ernest Ansermet walked the earth, it looked as if the Swiss master's symphonies would take hold in the active orchestral repertory. But that never quite happened, unfortunately, which makes the rescue efforts of Dutoit that much more valuable. An Ansermet protege, he is today's leading advocate of his Swiss compatriot's music.

Honegger's Symphony No. 3 (1946) bears the subtitle "Liturgique" because each of its three movements bears a title taken from the Catholic mass for the dead. But if there are liturgical associations in the work, the strife and anguish of its response to the brutal world conflict Honegger had just lived through make them more mystical than spiritual.

This is one of the most powerful symphonic statements of the last century, and it was wonderful to have it back at the CSO after a 16-year absence. The reading Dutoit drew from the CSO argued the score's considerable merits with searing conviction. Honegger's vision of wartime struggle and despair was conveyed without any feeling of struggle in the orchestra, where precise rhythmic definition and clear textural balance ruled. When the music finally emerged from crisis to catharsis, the effect was shattering.

The program opened with the Good Friday Music from Wagner's "Parsifal," effectively a miniature tone poem depicting the awakening of innocent nature as an aspect of Christian redemption. Dutoit allowed it to unfold in a long, unbroken line, elastic of phrasing, full but never pressured of sonority.

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A pity the familiar band of heedless coughers was again out in force at Orchestra Hall.

In other CSO news, the orchestra has named Stacie Frank as vice president and chief financial officer, succeeding Isabelle Goossen, who retired last month after 16 years in the post. Frank, 42, comes to the CSO from the Chicago-based energy company Exelon Corp., where most recently she was senior vice president and treasurer.

John von Rhein is a Tribune critic.

jvonrhein@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @jvonrhein

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

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Where: Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.

Tickets: $34-$222; 312-294-3000; www.cso.org

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
The two young people who flail around in the first act of Bathsheba Doran's compassionate and ultimately complex play, "The Mystery of Love & Sex," which opened Thursday night at Writers Theatre in Glencoe, are what's often called soul mates. You know, girl-and-boy friends from childhood who have spent hours sipping juice on the tire swing, then Gentleman Jack in their dorm rooms, dreaming about their futures, learning together about the mysteries of you-know-what, and generally becoming so close over so much time that actually dating would feel a lot like hanging out with your sibling.

Which would be weird.

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Perchance you have such a person in your life. (I do, and it doesn't matter how long we go between seeing each other.) Either way, the soul mate generally has enjoyed decent Hollywood and literary branding, old friends generally turning out to be our best friends. So there is something rather refreshing about Doran's more critical look at these young friendships that dance on the edge of Eros; something original about her probing of how little some of us actually reveal as children, often for very good reason, however close the friend; and her assertion that our soul mates actually can stymie our growth in matters of love, sex and self-actualization.

As they head off to college, both Charlotte (Hayley Burgess) and Jonny (Travis Turner) are exploring their own sexuality and trying to figure out if they are gay. The difference is that Charlotte wants her Jonny to be part of her discovery  even to the point of her getting naked in her dorm room and suggesting herself as a test case for his stubborn virginity  but enigmatic, secret-filled, close-to-the-chest Jonny is much less of an open book.

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This confuses Charlotte the needy, the character with whom the playwright clearly has the most sympathy and who, her own questions notwithstanding, believes in the pair as emblematic of all that is good about America  a Jewish girl and an African-American boy, of complex sexuality both, loving each other to bits.

Some of the older audience members at Writers (which generally attracts a mature crowd) must have been rolling their eyes at intermission, thinking they were watching HBO or had paid to watch a play about their kids (or grandkids) and that these neurotic young characters would, of course, figure their relationships out in the fullness of time, as most of us eventually do. But in Act 2, this gradually deepening play (which premiered in 2014 at the Lincoln Center in the New York under the direction of Sam Gold) takes more turns with plenty of multigenerational relevance.

Doran doesn't stop at love and sex, but homes in on what happens when a pair of flawed parents belonging to Charlotte (Howard and Lucinda, played by Keith Kupferer and Lia Mortensen) pretty much adopt Jonny, the child of a single mother, as their own kid. That, at least, is what this liberal pair thinks they are doing, even though the object of their affection sees it as something more complicated. Add in the new megaphones for the politics of racial identity, and their ability to run roughshod over personal connections outside established divisions, and a newly radicalized Jonny starts to become interested in the professional activities of his surrogate father, a writer of detective fiction whose works aren't as progressive (what pulp fiction is?) as his affection for his young critic.

That sets up a very timely conflict between the two men  the older feeling betrayed after all of his personal support and love for the younger; the younger pulled between understanding how much he gained from this relationship and still wanting to climb over this famous straight white man. It's a dilemma penned with fairness to all sides  but it's only a part of a short but dominant act that also explores the power and the necessity for reconciliation, being as we all only pass this way once.

Marti Lyons' production, staged with simplicity, thank the Lord, in Writers' smaller space, is mostly a very honest and credible production that displays this director's familiar skills at casting. Burgess, who is excellent and feels entirely present in every moment, takes every advantage her character can offer her. It's a very rich performance mostly matched by Turner, who knows how to play enigmatic characters like this one. It's only in his guy's unraveling that there are further mysteries to probe.

As the 'rents, characters sketched too broadly in some scenes, Mortensen and Kupferer still ultimately manage to be moving  there is one act of generosity in Doran's Act 2 that sent tears to my eyes with a weird kind of speed, this being a development both unexpected and metaphorically quite perfect. This really is a hopeful and atypically intimate kind of play  ideal for different generations of a family, whether or not that's a group defined by birth.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter@ChrisJonesTrib

Review: "The Mystery of Love & Sex" (3 stars)

When: Through July 2

Where: Gillian Theatre at Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe

Running time: 2 hours

Tickets: $35-$80 at 847-242-6000 or www.writerstheatre.org
Warning: Spoilers ahead

Chicago students Avani Shah and Evan Robinson experienced the holiday blues on Thursday's episode of "MasterChef Junior."

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They served two of the three worst dishes in the holiday-themed challenge to recreate judge Gordon Ramsay's signature beef wellington, and Avani was sent home.

The episode started off promising for both kids. The 10 junior chefs were split into five pairs and tasked with replicating gingerbread house decorations in 20 minutes.

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Avani, a Lincoln Park student who lives in River North, was paired with Texan Shayne Wells. Evan, a South Loop student who lives in Hyde Park, was paired with Georgia resident Justise Mayberry.

Evan Robinson, 11, has made it through several rounds on the Fox reality show "MasterChef Junior." His Boy Scout troop and a local Girl Scout troop will hold a viewing party when the next episode airs April 6, 2017. (Terrence James / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

"In Chicago, we make these all the time, but I am not necessarily the best. Like, I'm almost done, I put the last thing on, and then all of a sudden, poof, it falls apart," Evan said.

The judges praised the "near-perfect" roof made by Evan's team and said Avani's team accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. In the end, New Yorker Cydney Sherman and New Jersey resident Peyton Copeland won the challenge and immunity for the second round.

The remaining eight contestants had to make a beef wellington and two side dishes. Many of the kids struggled, including Avani.

"I'm getting really confused with everything, because, like, it's just not going the way I planned," she said.

Avani served cauliflower mash, carrots and black peppercorn sauce with her wellington. Judge Christina Tosi said she wasn't a fan of the mash and the mushroom duxelles wasn't spread evenly through the wellington.

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"Now I know there were some technical errors, but that's how we learn," Tosi said.

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Evan served his wellington with a cranberry compote, roasted brussels sprouts and pancetta and a mushroom sauce.

"The hero is the wellington. It's seasoned beautifully. It's cooked really nicely. I'm just a little bit miffed, the pastry, had you glazed that nicely, would have come out golden brown. But it tastes good," Ramsay said.

Evan and Avani landed in the bottom three with Mississippian Mark Coblentz. Mark and Avani were sent home.

"I came to the 'MasterChef' kitchen to show Gordon and Christina, I might be 8, but I can cook some really great dishes," Avani said. "I'm never going to forget all the friends I made. It has been the best experience in all my eight years of living."

Said Evan: "Wow, that was a close call. I'm happy I made it, but it's sad to see two more of my friends go home."

Eight contestants remain on Season 5 of "MasterChef Junior," which airs 7 p.m. Thursdays on Fox. The winner is slated to receive $100,000.

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How did the 3 Chicagoans fare on Thursday's episode of 'MasterChef Junior?'







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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Even if you haven't watched HBO's "Veep," you may have heard of it in recent months.

There's a line going around amid opponents of the Trump administration about the Trump administration: "It's the plot of 'House of Cards' with the cast of 'Veep'"  essentially, bumbling people trying to pull off byzantine plots.

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And now the thing itself, memorialized in that political barb, is back for a new season on HBO beginning Sunday. The series starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus  brilliant as a vain, venal, clueless political hack who lucks into becoming America's first female president  comes out of the chute bucking and snorting, every bit as sharp and funny as in recent seasons.

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That was no sure thing because the setting for "Veep" has changed. When last we saw Louis-Dreyfus' Selina Meyer, she had lost a bid to retain the presidency that was gained when the man she served alongside as vice president resigned.

So much of the potency of the show seemed to lay in revealing the pettiness and the breathtaking human frailty hidden from the public behind Washington, D.C.'s office doors. This show took a while to find its footing: The first year, especially, was too broad, too far from realism in its take on American politics, but it has gained in depth and wit every season. Still densely layered and unsparing toward its characters, Season 6 is able to continue that trend.

But now Meyers' crew of loyal aides and hangers-on  stocked with Chicago actors  has mostly scattered to wherever politics can deliver them the next paycheck. Where are they now? For one example, Amy Brookheimer, Oak Parker Anna Chlumsky, is in Nevada running a gubernatorial campaign and insulting the entire state as inbred and out-of-date. The language she uses, of course, in this gleefully bawdy series, is far more colorful.

Veteran political operative Ben Cafferty, Chicagoan Kevin Dunn, has taken a gig at Uber, where he immediately uses racial slurs and then tries to apologize by saying, "No, it's OK, my wife is Oriental. All of them have been."

And Meyer herself is trying to get a low-rent version of the Clinton Foundation off the ground. The malleability of her beliefs is revealed in her first TV interview when she suddenly adds AIDS to what was to be her pet cause, literacy. But she may have notions beyond cozying up to potential donors, raking in speaking fees and insulting everyone around her.

To say more would spoil the first episode's series of dark, delightful surprises. Suffice to say that, even unmoored from political office and Washington, "Veep" remains the top tier of contemporary TV comedies, a pointed satire of American politics and the kinds of characters it attracts.

sajohnson@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @StevenKJohnson

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Syphilitic tax dodger Al Capone retains his tight grip on the imagination of the federal government 70 years after his death, it seems.

With Tax Day fast approaching, the National Archives this week for the first time posted online records from the Outfit boss's famous 1930 trial.

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Archive staff confusingly say it's part of a federal "Stress Awareness Month," but you might also consider it a warning of what happens when you fail to file with the Internal Revenue Service.

Capone, of course, was taken down by the taxman after a string of charges connected to his gangsterism failed to stick.

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The dry court documents published by the National Archives this week mostly make for unexciting reading. If they're not quite as anti-climactic as the goofy 1986 live TV special in which Geraldo Rivera spectacularly revealed that Capone's vault was, er, empty, they might make filling out your 1040 seem like fun by comparison.

There are, though, a few moments of humor.

You might recall the hullabaloo of the final, ludicrous courtroom scene in "The Untouchables," in which Robert DeNiro, playing Capone, rants and raves as (against Capone's will!) his lawyer enters a guilty plea on his behalf.

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In the real case, Capone pleaded not guilty and was convicted by a jury. Newspaper accounts of the time noted that Capone shouted, "I'm not through fighting yet!" as he was led away.

But the moment of the verdict was rather less exciting  pathetic, even.

A transcript published by the National Archives shows that Capone's attorney, Albert Fink, uttered as hopeless an argument as Chicago's federal court has likely ever heard.

"But, your honor, do you think that hardly fair?" Fink said.

File your taxes, people.

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kjanssen@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @kimjnews
Mayor Rahm Emanuel talks with school staff members before meeting with students participating in a dropout and violence prevention program at Parker Community Academy, 318 W. Normal Parkway on March 14, 2017, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

It's bad politics to inflate the public's hopes in one moment, only to burst them with a pinprick the next.

The slow exhalation of gas is usually a smarter play.

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So it was deflating to hear Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently give life to one of my most fervent dreams, only to immediately snuff it out.

"I was a dancer," Emanuel told budding hoofers at Dyett High School for the Arts in Washington Park earlier this month. "I had a scholarship to Joffrey. I didn't do it."

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With a roomful of doubting students looking up at him, the stage was surely set for our mayor to cut loose  and deliver what so many of us have secretly been waiting for these past five years  by tapping into his ballet training for an impromptu performance.

Yet Rahm once again demurred, telling the students they didn't want to see him dance, a statement as disingenuous as it was disappointing.

What he said next only reinforced the sense that we may be missing out on something special. "The one thing I will tell you about dance is it takes discipline," he said, adopting the persona of the stern dance instructor from "Fame," Miss Berg. "If you don't learn anything else: You cannot be casual about it if you want to be good at it."

In a line worthy of Broadway, he continued, "Remember this: When you're on the stage, you're not just there to recite the steps, you're there to dance."

Emanuel, of course, has made no secret of his training at the Evanston School of Ballet and Sarah Lawrence College, the fact that he continued to take weekend ballet classes as a senior adviser in the Clinton White House, or that he is a regular attendee at the Joffrey, where he is regarded as a knowledgeable and sophisticated aficionado.

Loose-limbed with an unmistakably graceful dancer's gait, the mayor moves with an elegance that often eludes his public comments. At the age of 57, he remains in remarkably good shape, thanks to a punishing regime of pre-dawn swims.

But beyond the occasional quasi-pirouette as he spins on his heels and whirls from the stage at the end of a news conference, he has never made good on the promise of his talent.

For his own good, and the benefit of the city he leads, isn't it time he did?

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Calculating to the end, Rahm was likely burned by infamous 2013 cellphone footage of him dancing in Grant Park to the sound of that summer, Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines." Unkind commentators suggested that the sunglasses-wearing mayor, who was captured slowly unpeeling his tie as he shimmied his hips back and forth, appeared to be "dry humping a chair."

It is true that the video was not flattering. The accusation, though, that the mayor was some kind of embarrassing dad who ought to put his libido back in its dusty box, was surely a misdiagnosis. The problem wasn't that Rahm was too unbuttoned, but rather that he was not free enough. Hemmed in by rows of seating, he could not truly let go.

There is a well-known black-and-white photo of a young, lithe, leotard-clad Rahm, sporting a Leo Sayer-style 'fro as he turns to the camera, barefoot, in what appears to be a dance studio. A copy hangs on the City Hall press room wall.

The most remarkable thing about the picture  once you have gotten over the sight of the mayor in a leotard  is Rahm's calm, self-possessed pose.

It's hard to imagine him so untroubled today, even if he looks more secure in office following the election of President Donald Trump than he did a year ago, dealing with the potentially ruinous fallout over the Laquan McDonald case.

Part of the mayor's appeal to voters has always been his macho man shtick, the threat of barely suppressed anger that is supposed by many to be necessary to run a big, ethnically diverse city. Mayor Richard M. Daley relied on a similar "Strong Man" gambit.

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Rahm's occasional efforts to show a gentler side, such as the soft-focus election ad in which he donned a sweater, sat on a sofa and solemnly intoned that he knew he could "rub people the wrong way," rarely come across as authentic. Even now, six years into his mayoralty, he invariably looks more comfortable dishing advice to fellow Washington, D.C., insiders than he does mixing with everyday Chicagoans.

Dance potentially offers a more convincing expression of the mayor's creativity. While it would be the crassest form of armchair psychology to suggest that he has spent his high-flying political career trying to suppress his ballerino past under a mountain of triathlons, curse words, veiled threats and other forms of untrammeled machismo (Rahm after all frequently refers to his training, as he did again this week), it's hard to escape the sense that Rahm is overcompensating for something.

Perhaps it's a sentimental notion, but if Rahm put on a really big dance number, he might free himself, and us, from the narrow constraints of his public persona. He'd show himself to be animated by something other than raw political calculus. And by taking a risk with his dignity, he might even seem a little bit more human.

Sure, he might also benefit politically. But it would be good for Chicago, too: A little vulnerability goes a long way when it comes to establishing trust. A generous, civic gesture by the mayor might encourage others to reciprocate, and that, in turn, might make him a little less likely to play the bully.

Fanciful, maybe. But he doesn't have to go all gooey. The actor Christopher Walken, as terrifying a screen presence as Hollywood can muster, exuded menace dancing in the classic Spike Jonze-directed video to Fatboy Slim's hit "Weapon of Choice," for example.

Nor am I suggesting that Emanuel submit himself to the indignity of "Dancing With the Stars," where he would be dressed up in a frilly shirt and made to strut around like a fool with an ironed-on grin.

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What I have in mind is something along the lines of the promotional advertisements for California that then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared in, in which snowboarders and beach bums frolicked in the sun before the gubernator announced, "WELKOM TO GALIFORNIA."

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Rahm's brother, superagent Ari Emanuel, has the film world connections to ensure only the highest production values. How about a pastiche of Hollywood musicals, with Rahm splashing in puddles up and down Michigan Avenue a la "Singin' In The Rain," hoofing in the style of "A Chorus Line" on a Loop "L" platform, pouncing like a character from "Cats" in a Little Village alley, and ending up, debonair in top hat and tails, leading Amy Rule around a nighttime Buckingham Fountain, with the skyline lit up behind him? Throw in some crowd scenes in the style of "Thriller" and "Blues Brothers," and you've got a winner.

Whatever you think of Rahm, wouldn't that be fun, a finger in the eye of all the national politicians and talking heads running down our city?

With his deep knowledge of and respect for the art form, Rahm might protest, again, that he was not up to the task, or that it is unfair to make such a request.

To which I can only respond, "Dance, Rahm, dance!"

And in the words of one of "Fame's" most enduring characters, Coco Hernandez, "It's gotta be spectacular, you know. How bright our spirits go shooting out into space, depends on how much we contributed to the earthly brilliance of this world."

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kjanssen@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @kimjnews
Mary Ann O'Rourke, left, and friends take their new Easter bunnies for a swing in the Beverly neighborhood. circa 1961. (Mary Ann O'Rourke / provided photo)

Warning: This cute Easter story contains references to the dubious treatment of animals.

The stories recounted here by several Tribune readers are warm and fuzzy, but they are also cautionary tales. They date back to an innocent, ignorant time in America, when giving and getting pets for Easter was a common, guilt-free practice.

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We'll begin with Mary Ann O'Rourke, who brought this topic to my attention.

"Easter was all about new creatures for the O'Rourkes," she says, dutifully adding, "and the Resurrection, of course."

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"Every Easter," she went on, "our South Side Beverly backyard would turn into a mini-farm. One time it was chicks, then bunnies, then ducks. We named one Moby Duck. He broke his leg so we put it in traction in a Barbie doll bed."

Mary Jane ORourke seems to be squeezing her pet Easter duckling in this photo circa 1962. (Mary Ann O'Rourke / Mary Ann O'Rourke)

Another year, O'Rourke's mom brought the kids a lamb, which they named Barbara Mutton.

"We fed her with a baby bottle. She slept in one of our old cribs in the basement. She baa'd at night so one sibling would have to sleep on a cot next to her with a hand in the crib. Poor lamb didn't last long. She had terrible digestive problems so Dad took her back to the farm."

Barbara Mutton's fate sounds better than what befell other Easter pets.

"I once won a little bunny at a raffle at the movies the day before Easter," reports former WGN-AM radio host Kathy Fruin O'Malley. "I think my dad built some sort of makeshift box to keep it in, and within days, the neighbor's dog got at it and he went to bunny heaven."

C'est la vie for many an Easter pet, as Brian Witt's story further confirms.

"My sister got a pair of female rabbits," Witt recalls. "One got out of the hutch and ran away. The other was kidnapped by a coyote a few weeks later."

This was all the more shocking because it happened in the city, where coyotes in those days rarely roamed.

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Amy Jahnke's Easter pet story, set in 1983, has an equally dark ending, but with a twist.

"My sister and I were each given a quail," she recalls. "They coexisted peacefully for a while, cared for by my sister. Then my quail ended up killing my sister's quail. It was tragic."

Her sister, she notes, eventually found a career in animal rescue.

Once upon a time, dyeing pets in Easter colors was as acceptable as dyeing eggs. It's still done, but widely condemned.

"1966," says Pamela Halloran. "Our neighbor gave me 4 chicks in a basketyellow, pink, blue, green."

She played with them until dinnertime, when her father, no fan of pets in any season, announced, mysteriously, "The chicks are on their way to the rainbow farm in Wisconsin."

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Here's a different angle on the Easter pet story, from my colleague Marie Dillon.

As a member of FFA, Future Farmers of America, Marie bred rabbits year-round in her Arizona town and, reluctant to kill them for meat, sold bunnies as pets. Bunny demand was high at Easter, and she timed their gestation so she had plenty of white ones ready to dye pastel.

This was the 1970s, she notes, before the founding of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

"Just before you put them up for sale, you mix up a batch of dyes just like you would for coloring eggs. Vinegar, water, food color. No, you don't dip the bunnies. You sponge the dye on them with a cotton ball. They dry nice and fluffy."

She charged $3 each and, thanks to the elementary school across the street and three little sisters who took the bunnies for show and tell, made a fortune.

My own memory of Easter critters is dim so I consulted one of my brothers.

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"We did get some little pet ducks when we were living in Macon, Ga.," he recalled. "I have no memory of what happened to them. We probably let them die."

I'm sorry to say I think he's right.

Little critters are still given as Easter gifts, but we live in more enlightened times. Animal advocates issue alerts about the hazards, reminding us that animals aren't toys, that adorable chicks turn into noisy chickens and bunnies grow up to be hungry rabbits.

Our enlightenment means that not as many children today will have sweet, sad tales of their short-lived Easter pets, but they can sleep easy knowing that a marshmallow Peep will never be condemned to bunny heaven.

mschmich@chicagotribune.com
Beyond the chocolate bunnies and commercialism, Easter is a time of solemn reflection and renewal for many Christians.

In the week preceding Easter, called Holy Week, thousands of people across Northwest Indiana joined a countless number of people across the world in honoring the sacrifice Jesus Christ made. While the there are some secular events during Holy Week such as decorating eggs and Easter egg hunts, the focus for the faithful is commemorating Jesus' final days on Earth  his Crucifixion, burial and Resurrection.

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"We find that Christ came to conquer death, that he is the giver of life and that we, in turn, received the promise of new life," said the Rev. James Greanias, pastor of St. Iakovos Greek Orthodox Church in Valparaiso.

The interpretations vary among different denominations, but the concept of observing Jesus' execution and resurrection is universal.

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The Rev. Rebecca Smith, of Hobart First United Methodist Church, acknowledged the world is a stressful place fueled by often misleading but rapid communication through social media. "Reflective thinking and fact gathering is often exchanged for knee-jerk responses."

Smith said Easter signals the remembrance of God's love for us. "It's a love that puts to death the negative, the life-sapping actions and attitudes.  God is the only one who can create life out of nothing. May we value life, all life. May we celebrate the Resurrection and live in its victory."

As children of faith, Smith said, it's paramount to pray for God's reign throughout the world and that leaders are guided with decisions that benefit the whole.

"For the message of the cross is this: death doesn't define us. Life does."

Greanias said Holy Week is undoubtedly the busiest time of the year for the church.

"During Holy Week we have between 19 and 20 services and it's a very meticulous process," he said.

For Orthodox Christians, Holy Week begins Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday where attendees celebrate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.

"We receive palm branches to show that we accept Jesus as King and are willing to follow him to the cross," Greanias said.

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During Friday's service, the body of Christ  represented by an icon  is removed from a wooden cross, wrapped in a white linen sheet and is carried outside in a procession with the entire congregation carrying candles.

"That represents Christ taking the light into the darkness; taking the light into Hades," Greanias said.

But overall, Holy Week takes the church members down an extensive but rewarding journey, he said.

"We really do go down into the depths, the first three nights are called to understand the reality of death and judgment," he said. "So we go down into the depths of our own sinfulness in the dark and we experience the sorrow of Christ, but in the process of all this there's also the hope and the joy of the coming Resurrection. "

In Valparaiso, the Rev. Roger Bower, of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, said he will share scriptures about the importance of hope and the transformation that happens through hope.

"Your past is passed. Your present has a presence to it and your future has a hope. That hope is found in Jesus the risen one," he said.

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Despite the uncertainty and destabilizing forces in the world, Bower said his parishioners haven't fallen into despair.

"We don't want them to get to that point. We've been intentional in trying to be as inspirational and motivational as we possibly can," he said.

Bower said his congregation does what it can to ease the burdens of local residents. It works with Meals on Wheels, a homeless ministry, and hosts Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops.

"They are engaged in the community and making a difference," he said.

Although there aren't as many services held during Holy Week as the Orthodox church, Willie Joyner, pastor of Tarrytown Missionary Baptist Church, said there are still a few services.

For most Baptist churches, Holy Week concludes with an Easter church service that is highlighted with kids giving Easter speeches or reciting poems dressed in their Sunday best, Joyner said, adding that Easter service is one of his most crowded services of the year.

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Joyner said his message on Easter Sunday will be simple: "Jesus died, he was resurrected and it gave us a chance to make it into the kingdom of heaven," he said.

"Without Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, none of us would have eternal life. So we need to understand that he was pinned on the cross for us. ... That's what he did for us."

Bower spent Wednesday at the Porter County Jail meeting with inmates. "We're just trying to do what Jesus commanded."

He said he spent an hour talking about the Resurrection and about finding God in their lives.

The Rev. Frieda Scales, interim pastor at the Griffith Lutheran Church, will tell her flock that the resurrection of Jesus is the beginning that has no end.

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"The life of Jesus is the beginning of working for justice, feeding the poor.  What Jesus did is what we're doing now. Jesus lives and lives in us."

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She said her church works with a local charity called Love INC of Greater Hammond to provide linens and clothing for people in need.

Like many Christian ministers, Scales said she'll share the passages from Matthew when Mary and Mary Magdalene go to the tomb of Jesus.

"They meet him on the path and he tells them to go get the disciples.  Here are these two women who had been with Jesus for three years as he was ridiculed. Now, he was finally dead and maybe they had some peace, but suddenly he's up again as they meet him on the path.  It's a beginning that has no end."

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

jaanderson@tribpub.com

Twitter @JavonteA
President Donald Trump salutes as he steps off Air Force One as he arrives at the Palm Beach International Airport, onApril 13, 2017, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Alex Brandon / AP)

Hoping to duplicate the massive turnout from January's women's march, activists in Chicago and beyond are busy spreading the word about a Tax Day protest Saturday aimed at pressuring President Donald Trump to release his tax returns.

Like the women's march, Saturday's event in Chicago will coincide with similar demonstrations in cities across the country. The downtown event kicks off at 11 a.m. with a rally in Daley Plaza followed by a march. With meteorologists predicting temperatures near 80 degrees and thousands indicating via social media that they're ready to march, the turnout could be sizable.

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But be warned: Getting around downtown might be tough. Chicago police and emergency management officials were drawing up plans to manage large crowds and traffic that could include rotating street closings, according to a police spokesman.

That happened in January  the day after Trump's inauguration, when about 250,000 attended the Chicago women's march, effectively shutting down several Loop streets. Millions of others participated in similar events across the world to voice disapproval over the new administration.

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Chicago's rally and march was the brainchild of documentary filmmaker Taran Singh Brar, who started the group Tax Day Chicago and a corresponding Facebook page earlier this year calling for the Tax Day march. Comedian Frank Lesser tweeted the suggestion the day after the Jan. 21 women's march.

The marches and rallies here and beyond correspond with the traditional deadline for filing income taxes: April 15. Because the filing date fell on a Saturday and because Monday is a holiday in Washington, D.C., this year's deadline was extended to Tuesday.

"Trump claims no one cares about his taxes. The next mass protest should be on Tax Day to prove him wrong," Lesser wrote on Twitter.

Since then, at least 60 national groups including MoveOn.org and the Service Employees International Union have signed on to participate in Brar's local protest, signaling a huge turnout. A protest permit filed with the Chicago Department of Transportation estimates a crowd of 6,000 people, though he's optimistic that those groups, along with a sizable portion of the 10,000 people who indicated they would attend via the Tax Day Facebook page he set up, will boost attendance. But he says he's ready to march all by himself.

"Whether it's 5,500 or 50,000, we're marching rain or shine," Brar said.

Since the election campaign, critics have called on Trump to release detailed tax returns, saying they would reveal whether past business dealings would pose any conflict in his job as president. Trump has said that only reporters care about him releasing his tax returns and that "you learn very little" from the documents.

Brar's group also started a crowdfunding effort last month to bring the 16-foot inflatable rooster known as "Chicken Don" to Saturday's rally. The hulking chicken with Trump-like gold-plated hair, which has become the Tax Day mascot since a San Francisco writer and activist wrote that Trump "was a big chicken" for not releasing his taxes, will make an appearance at Saturday's rally. "We're making it fun and peaceful and family friendly," Brar said.

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Organizers say they've invited U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Mike Quigley and the Rev. Jesse Jackson to speak at the Daley Plaza rally. Officials with Schakowsky, Quigley and Jackson have not returned messages left by the Tribune to confirm whether they'll attend. After the rally, the crowd is expected to march north toward Trump Tower. The event is expected to end about 2:30 p.m.

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Brar said that no matter where people are on the political spectrum, they should attend Saturday's rally and march, stressing that Trump's taxes reached beyond partisan politics.

Trump has not released his tax forms and could be the first sitting president since Richard Nixon to not release at least some of his tax returns. Last month, two pages of Trump's 2005 IRS Form 1040 showed that Trump paid about $38 million in income taxes on more than $150 million in income the year before.

A January ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 74 percent of those surveyed said Trump should release his tax returns. In a recent Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll of registered voters, 53 percent said Trump should be forced to release his tax returns, and 51 percent said Trump's taxes are either very or somewhat important to them.

"We live in a very politically polarized environment.  The one thing that seemed to escape is the tax return issue," Brar said. "A lot of things break down along party lines, and this one seems to escape and in an environment that's so highly polarized, I think we ought to maintain that."

wlee@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @MidNoirCowboy
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. RENARDO HUDSON, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. CITY OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, Defendant, KEVIN KNAPP, individually and in his official capacity as an employee of the City of Atlanta Police Department, Defendant-Appellant. No. 16-16184 Decided: April 13, 2017

Before MARTIN, JULIE CARNES, and JILL PRYOR, Circuit Judges.

Renardo Hudson brought suit against City of Atlanta Police Officer Kevin Knapp pursuant to 42 U.S.C.  1983. He claims his constitutional rights were violated after he was unlawfully arrested based on intentionally fabricated probable cause. Hudson also brought Georgia state law claims against Knapp. Knapp moved for summary judgment, arguing he is entitled to qualified immunity for the federal claims and official immunity for the state law claims. The district court denied Knapp's motion. After careful review of the record, we affirm.

I.

We review de novo the district court's disposition of a summary judgment motion based on qualified immunity. Lee v. Ferraro, 284 F.3d 1188, 1190 (11th Cir. 2002). Whether Knapp is entitled to qualified immunity is a legal question. Id. [O]ur analysis must begin with a description of the facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Id.

On the afternoon of February 20, 2013, Hudson was lawfully parked on the side of a street in Atlanta, Georgia, sitting in his car. Knapp saw Hudson sitting in the car, and ran the license plate number. Knapp says he suspected the car was stolen. He claims the registered owner of the car had an active warrant for arrest in the name of Charles Gray. Knapp says the warrant listed Hudson's full name as an alias for Charles Gray. Hudson, in fact, is not Charles Gray. He does have a close relationship with Charles Gray though, and considers him a brother.

Knapp initiated a traffic stop and Hudson gave Knapp his license and registration. In his report, Knapp said he cross-checked the warrant against Hudson's driver's license, and found the name, date of birth, social security number, height, and weight all matched. He also said he compared photos of Hudson and Gray, and then confirmed the warrant's validity.

However, Hudson submitted a variety of exhibits to the court that contradict Knapp's claims. Hudson gave a copy of his driver's license to the court. It has his name on itRenardo Hudson, not Charles Grayand does not have a social security number printed on it at all. And Hudson managed to get a copy of the active warrant against Charles Gray, which he also submitted to the court. The name, date of birth, height, and weight listed on the warrant did not match Hudson's driver's license. Along with it, Hudson provided documentation showing the warrant for Gray had been administratively closed since 2011 because Gray was incarcerated. Hudson also provided the court with a copy of his vehicle's registration. It listed his name, Renardo Hudson (not Charles Gray), as the vehicle's registered owner in the state of Georgia. Hudson also says he does not resemble Charles Gray, who is heavier and has much darker skin.

Knapp arrested Hudson, and told him there was a warrant for his arrest as Charles Gray. Hudson told Knapp he was not Gray and that Gray was serving a federal prison sentence in Tennessee or Kentucky. Knapp replied: I don't care whether you are or not, I'm locking you up. Knapp did not take Hudson's fingerprints or call to check if Gray was, in fact, incarcerated. Knapp tightly handcuffed Hudsonso much so that he says it caused breathing problems as well as wrist, shoulder, arm, and back pain for which he later needed treatment. Knapp placed Hudson in the back of his car for over an hour, never checking the cuffs.

Knapp took Hudson to the Fulton County Jail. Hudson was held there for two days before two DeKalb County deputies arrived and said it was clear that Hudson was, in fact, not Gray. Hudson was released eight hours later without being charged.

Hudson filed a complaint with the City of Atlanta Police Department, but the complaint was closed. He then sent the City of Atlanta an ante litem notice, as required under O.C.G.A.  36-33-5, informing the city he intended to bring this action. Hudson filed this action, alleging his rights under the Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments were violated by his unlawful arrest and seizure, as well as the use of excessive force. He also brought several state law claims. Knapp moved for summary judgment, arguing he is entitled to qualified immunity for the federal claims and official immunity for the state law claims. The district court denied Knapp's motion and this appeal followed.

II.

We conduct a two-step inquiry to decide whether qualified immunity should be granted: (1) taken in the light most favorable to the party asserting the injury, do the facts alleged show the officer's conduct violated a constitutional right; and (2) [i]f a constitutional right would have been violated under the plaintiff's version of the facts, [we] must then determine whether the right was clearly established. Lee v. Ferraro, 284 F.3d at 1194 (quotation omitted and alteration adopted). Because it is undisputed that Knapp was acting within the scope of his discretionary authority, the burden is on Hudson to show that qualified immunity is not appropriate. Id.

A.

Hudson argues Knapp violated his Fourth Amendment rights by falsely arresting him and then using excessive force in the course of the illegal arrest. Because Hudson argues the excessive force was a result of an illegal arrest, this claim is subsumed in the illegal [ ] arrest claim and is not a discrete excessive force claim. Jackson v. Sauls, 206 F.3d 1156, 1171 (11th Cir. 2000). Hudson says Knapp intentionally fabricated probable cause to unlawfully arrest him.

In order to be entitled to qualified immunity on a false arrest claim, Knapp must have had arguable probable cause to arrest Hudson. Lee, 284 F.3d at 1195. Whether an officer possesses  arguable probable cause depends on the elements of the alleged crime and the operative fact pattern. Brown v. City of Huntsville, 608 F.3d 724, 735 (11th Cir. 2010). Showing arguable probable cause does not [ ] require proving every element of a crime. Id. The relevant inquiry is whether reasonable officers in the same circumstances and possessing the same knowledge as the Defendants could have believed probable cause existed to arrest Plaintiff. Kingsland v. City of Miami, 382 F.3d 1220, 1232 (11th Cir. 2004) (quotation omitted). We evaluate whether an office had arguable probable cause based on the information known to the defendant officers or officials at the time of their conduct, not the facts known to the plaintiff then or those known to a court later. Wilkerson v. Seymour, 736 F.3d 974, 978 (11th Cir. 2013) (quotation omitted).

Knapp does not allege he ever witnessed Hudson commit a crime. Instead, he says he reasonably believed Hudson was Gray, and that DeKalb County had an active, outstanding warrant for Gray's arrest. If Knapp is to be believed, then he acted on a reasonable mistake and did not violate Hudson's constitutional rights. See Rodriguez v. Farrell, 280 F.3d 1341, 134546 (11th Cir. 2002). But for qualified immunity, we must determine whether Hudson's rights were violated under Hudson's version of the facts. Lee, 284 F.3d at 1190.

Based on Hudson's version of events, we conclude his constitutional rights were violated. Hudson says he was simply sitting in his own car, parked on the side of the road, when Knapp approached him. Then, he says Knapp lied about his vehicle being registered to Gray; lied about his driver's license matching the information for Gray's arrest warrant (and that warrant being active); lied about him being listed as an alias for Gray; and lied about him looking like Gray. Knapp then arrested him on this basis. And when Hudson told Knapp he wasn't Gray, Knapp replied I don't care whether you are or not, I'm locking you up. According to Hudson's version of the facts, therefore, Knapp intentionally lied about Hudson matching an arrest warrant for someone else. That is undoubtedly a constitutional violation. See U.S. Const. amend. IV; see also Kingsland, 382 F.3d at 1233 (If the defendants fabricated or unreasonably disregarded certain pieces of evidence to establish probable cause or arguable probable cause, as alleged, reasonable officers in the same circumstances and possessing the same knowledge as the defendants could not have believed that probable cause existed to arrest the plaintiff.).

Knapp argues the district court ignored his version of events, and impos[ed] on him the extraordinary, and unprecedented, obligation to also introduce documentary evidence supporting his claims. But under this Court's precedent, [w]e do not weigh conflicting evidence or make credibility determinations; the [plaintiff's] evidence is to be accepted for purposes of summary judgment. Wate v. Kubler, 839 F.3d 1012, 1018 (11th Cir. 2016). Hudson's version of events not only conflicts with Knapp's, but is also thoroughly supported by objective, documentary evidence that Hudson provided to the district court. This Court cannot allow a probable cause determination to stand principally on the unsupported statements of interested officers, when those statements have been challenged and countered by objective evidence. Kingsland, 382 F.3d at 1228. Thus, we proceed to whether the constitutional violation was clearly established.

B.

We determine whether the constitutional right was clearly established under the plaintiff's version of the facts. Lee, 284 F.3d at 1194. In this circuit, the law can be clearly established for qualified immunity purposes only by decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, or the highest court of the state where the case arose. Jenkins by Hall v. Talladega City Bd. of Educ., 115 F.3d 821, 826 n.4 (11th Cir. 1997). This inquiry is limited to the law at the time of the incident, as an official could not reasonably be expected to anticipate subsequent legal developments. Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818, 102 S. Ct. 2727, 2738 (1982).

Under Hudson's version of the facts, Knapp intentionally falsified the facts necessary to establish probable cause. This Court has long held falsifying facts to establish probable cause is patently unconstitutional. See Kingsland, 382 F.3d at 1232 (pointing to cases decided in 1997 and 1989). Therefore, this constitutional right was clearly established under Hudson's version of the facts. Knapp is not entitled to qualified immunity.

III.

Knapp also appeals the district court's denial of his official immunity for Hudson's state law claims. Hudson brought state law claims against Knapp for false imprisonment/excessive detention and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Under Georgia law, police officers are entitled to official immunity from state law claims in their personal capacity under certain circumstances. Cameron v. Lang, 549 S.E.2d 341, 344 (Ga. 2001); see Ga. Const. art. I,  2, para. IX(d). Under this immunity, Knapp is liable only for (1) ministerial acts negligently performed; or (2) discretionary acts performed with malice or an intent to injure. Cameron, 549 S.E.2d at 344; see Ga. Const. art. I,  2, para. IX(d).

There is no dispute that Knapp's conduct constituted a discretionary act under Georgia law. Therefore, the relevant inquiry is whether Knapp acted with malice or an intent to injure. See Cameron, 549 S.E.2d at 344; Bailey v. Wheeler, 843 F.3d 473, 485 (11th Cir. 2016). Hudson argues Knapp acted with actual malice by intentionally fabricating probable causean intentionally wrongful act. Knapp argues the facts show he did everything in his power to protect [Hudson's] rights and that Hudson would be hard pressed to make such a showing.

For Georgia's official immunity,  actual malice'requires a deliberate intention to do wrong. Merrow v. Hawkins, 467 S.E.2d 336, 337 (Ga. 1996). It requires not only ill will, but also the intent to do something wrongful or illegal. Adams v. Hazelwood, 520 S.E.2d 896, 898 (Ga. 1999). To avoid summary judgment, Hudson must allege the actual malice necessary to overcome official immunity for discretionary acts. Murphy v. Bajjani, 647 S.E.2d 54, 60 (Ga. 2007); see also Reed v. DeKalb Cty., 589 S.E.2d 584, 588 (Ga. Ct. App. 2003) (To avoid summary judgment, [the plaintiff] had to offer some evidence that [defendants] acted with actual malice or deliberate intent to injure her.).

We have already explained Hudson's allegations that Knapp intentionally fabricated probable cause to arrest him. Hudson says Knapp lied about a number of things to arrest him on a baseless charge. And he has provided thorough documentation to support his allegations. This meets the requirements of Georgia law to show a deliberate intention to do wrong, or actual malice. We therefore affirm the district court's denial of official immunity to Knapp on the state law claims.

IV.

Qualified immunity is, as the term implies, qualified. It is not absolute. Kingsland, 382 F.3d at 1233. Based on the facts as Hudson relates them, a constitutional violation surely happened. Based on Knapp's story, it was a reasonable mistake. However, at summary judgment, it is not our role to decide which way tough facts point. Instead, we must accept the plaintiff's version of events, and determine whether genuine material questions of fact exist that are best suited for a trial. Our careful review of the record shows us they do.

AFFIRMED.

FOOTNOTES

. Knapp says Hudson abandoned the state law claims by failing to address them in the response to Knapp's motion for summary judgment. However, the record shows Hudson did, in fact, respond to Knapp's assertions about the state law claims.

PER CURIAM:
Chicago's city Law Department released videos April 6, 2017, of the events leading up to the July 4, 2013, shooting death of 17-year-old Christian Green by veteran tactical Officer Robert Gonzalez, 42, in Englewood. (Chicago Tribune)

There's no dispute that black teen Christian Green had a gun on him when he was fatally shot by a Chicago police officer during a chase on the Fourth of July nearly four years ago.

But while Officer Robert Gonzalez claimed that 17-year-old Green turned and pointed a weapon at him before he opened fire  an account backed up by the three other tactical officers at the scene  a lawyer for Green's mother told a Cook County jury on Friday that story makes no sense.

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Green had already tried to ditch the weapon once as officers chased him in two unmarked vehicles into a vacant lot, attorney Victor Henderson said in his closing argument of a trial over the family's wrongful death lawsuit. The skinny teen was running full-tilt away from the police and was about to make an escape when one of the 11 bullets fired by Gonzalez struck him in the back.

Chicago police Officer Robert Gonzalez, who killed Christian Green, 17, in 2013, leaves the courtroom at the Daley Center on April 4, 2017. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

"Christian is 5 feet 5 inches, 116 pounds," Henderson said. "He's being chased by a Crown Vic. He's got to be scared to death! ... If you heard the story that these officers told and it was just regular people, you wouldn't believe it. Because it isn't true."

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Assistant Corporation Counsel Victoria Benson, however, said Gonzalez was absolutely justified in firing at Green once he saw the open barrel of Green's semiautomatic handgun pointed at him. She said that while "no one wanted that day to end the way it did," it was Green's own actions that led to his death.

"Why would Officer Gonzalez decide to kill Mr. Green for no reason?" she said. "He wouldn't, and he didn't."

The 10-member jury began deliberating the case at about 12:30 p.m. Friday and recessed their discussions after 4 1/2 hours without reaching a verdict. Deliberations are scheduled to resume Monday morning.

Henderson did not ask for a specific dollar award should the jury find in favor of Green's mother, Patricia. But he asked them to consider the pain and suffering Green suffered as well as the grief his family continues to go through  the kisses his mother no longer gets in the morning, the graduations, birthdays and grandchildren she will never see.

"The money doesn't bring Christian back, but it is a symbol," Henderson said. "It shows that, yeah, he was somebody. Yeah, he mattered. Yeah, he counts."

According to court records, Gonzalez and his partner, Officer George Hernandez, were patrolling around 1 p.m. on July 4, 2013, when they responded to a call that fellow tactical Officers Manuel Leano and Douglas Nichols Jr. were chasing a person with a gun.

Surveillance footage from a nearby liquor store played during the trial showed Green trying to throw a gun into a trash can as he sprinted up to the intersection of 57th and State streets. The gun bounced off the can's rim onto the sidewalk. Green doubled back, bent quickly and picked it up before taking off again.

Gonzalez testified that he saw Green pick up the weapon and yelled at him from his unmarked SUV, "Police! Drop the gun! Drop the gun!" But the teen ignored him, he said. As the vehicle came to a stop at the edge of the lot, Gonzalez said he saw the barrel of Green's gun pointed in his direction from about 25 feet away, but he could not recall the exact position of the teen's body at the moment he opened fire.

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"I was just focused on the gun," Gonzalez testified. "That barrel was pointed right at me, and I fired my weapon as quickly as I could."

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 Christian Green, 17, was shot by Chicago police July 4, 2013. His family is calling for a federal investigation into his shooting. (Provided by family)

Green was struck in the left side of his back by a bullet that pierced his lung and heart before exiting his chest. He died en route to Stroger Hospital. His gun, meanwhile, was found in the vacant lot about 75 feet from his body, according to court records.

Henderson has alleged that a shoddy investigation by the Police Department and the Independent Police Review Authority allowed Gonzalez and his colleagues to conspire to get their stories straight before they were interviewed about the shooting. The much-maligned IPRA ruled in September 2014 that the shooting was justified.

The officers' accounts of the shooting were contradicted last week by an eyewitness, Laticia Whitehead, who said she saw Green running full speed away from the police and that he never turned before Gonzalez opened fire. After the boy jerked and fell to the ground, Whitehead said, the officer who shot him got out of the vehicle, put a foot on his motionless body and started yelling.

"Mother------! You wanna run? Huh? Huh?" Whitehead quoted the officer as saying in a videotaped deposition played in court. "You see how f------ far you got?"

Though she said she bore no animosity toward police, Whitehead testified she would "never forget what that officer said to that baby."

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"They didn't have to do that to him," she said, breaking into sobs on the video being played for jurors last week in the darkened Daley Center courtroom. "He was just running. That's all he was doing."

In his closing argument Friday, Henderson noted that Green's body was found 150 feet from where the shell casings from Gonzalez's weapon landed on State Street, calling into question the officer's claim that he could clearly see the barrel of the gun pointed at him.

Henderson also said it made no sense that Gonzalez would miss 10 of 11 shots from just 25 feet away.

"Officer Gonzalez is sitting here telling you guys a bunch of lies because he doesn't want to admit that he did something wrong," Henderson said as Gonzalez, dressed in a gray suit, sat expressionless at the defense table.

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The Green shooting was one of three fatal police shootings Gonzalez was involved in over a two-year span, records show. In the other two cases  the 2012 shooting of 16-year-old Rickey Childs and the 2014 shooting of Ronald Johnson III, 25  it was Gonzalez's partner who opened fire.

Henderson was barred by the judge from asking Gonzalez about the other police shootings he's been involved in or his alleged connection to a corrupt team of officers in the early 2000s.

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Last week, Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson was called to testify because at the time of Green's shooting he was the acting street deputy who responded to the scene and signed off on the officers' use-of-force reports of the incident. He also gave a sworn deposition in the lawsuit last year.

Johnson testified that police officers are sometimes justified in shooting a fleeing suspect in the back. He recounted being shot at years ago by a fleeing suspect who had turned and pointed a weapon at him, grazing him in the head.

"Just like this," testified Johnson, demonstrating for the jury by moving his body a quarter-turn and pointing with his finger like a handgun at the wall behind him. "So I know it can happen."

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @jmetr22b
A formerly homeless man was sentenced to 54 years in prison Thursday for the 2010 slaying of a 94-year-old Chicago retiree who had once taken him in.



Cook County Judge Stanley Sacks ordered Gilbert Feliciano, 46, to serve the prison sentence for home invasion, robbery and murder of Stanley Letkiewicz.



Letkiewicz, a retired machinist and World War II veteran, had noticed Feliciano begging for change outside of a store and decided to allow him to stay at his home in the 2800 block of North Long Avenue in Chicago's Cragin neighborhood.



For several months, Letkiewicz paid Feliciano for cleaning or fixing things in the basement and the attic, but the living arrangement became strained after Feliciano's behavior became erratic and, at times, violent, according to Letkiewitz's relatives.



Letkiewicz ended the situation in September 2010 after Feliciano punched him and took his wallet, police said.



About a month later, a neighbor who noticed Letkiewicz's basement window open went to check on him. The neighbor discovered the senior badly beaten and his home ransacked.

Letkiewicz was taken to the hospital, where he was able to tell authorities who his attacker was before he died a little more than a month later.



Feliciano was arrested nearly a year after the attack, according to court records. He was found guilty of home invasion, robbery and murder of in December.




Three north suburban men who said they were targeted as suspects in the 2015 shooting of Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz before authorities declared his death a staged suicide, filed a federal class-action lawsuit Thursday against several north suburban police departments, the FBI, Illinois State Police and the Lake County sheriff's office.

Raymond Willoughby, Damien Ward and Dan Cooper say in their lawsuit they were unlawfully arrested based on Gliniewicz's vague description of two "male whites" and one "male black," whom he was fictitiously pursuing before his death.

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The lawsuit alleges the Fox Lake Police Department had "good reason to suspect from the very outset that Gliniewicz's death was a suicide."

"Despite that, they allowed this manhunt for a fabricated cop killer," said Gregory E. Kulis, who represents the men.

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The men say officers handcuffed and held them in custody for up to 10 hours and attempted to enter Ward's homes without a warrant. Cooper also alleges in the lawsuit he "asked and tried to leave but was pushed around and told he couldn't leave."

Kulis said law enforcement officers tested his clients for gunshot residue and pressured at least one of them into giving his DNA if he wanted to leave. Officers also used an ultraviolet light to inspect one client's pants and bike.

Gliniewicz was found dead Sept. 1, 2015, shortly after he radioed that he was pursuing three suspicious individuals on foot. Authorities launched a widespread search of the area, using hundreds of officers with dogs and helicopters.

For two months, Gliniewicz was portrayed as a hero shot down in the line down of duty. But in November 2015, authorities announced they had determined the officer committed suicide, staging the scene to make it look like a homicide to avoid possible consequences for years of alleged theft from the village's Explorer youth police training program.

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The lawsuit also seeks to represent anyone who was "stopped, questioned, arrested, or otherwise detained and deprived of their liberty as purported suspects in the nationally publicized murder" of Gliniewicz. Though the precise number is unknown, Kulis said he is aware of others who were targeted in the investigation.

"The only information Gliniewicz conveyed with respect to his fictitious 'murderers' was their race," the lawsuit states. "Accordingly, the ensuing investigation proceeded without the benefit of any information regarding the suspects' location, destination, motivation, age ... or anything else that would distinguish the suspects from the estimated approximately 70.1 (percent) of Lake County residents fitting these threadbare descriptions."

Defendants listed in the lawsuit include former Fox Lake police Chief Michael Behan and members of the Major Crime Task Force that investigated Gliniewicz's death, including the police departments of Fox Lake, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach and McHenry, the Illinois State Police and Lake County sheriff's office and several unnamed FBI agents, deputy sheriffs, state police agents and police officers in multiple municipalities.

The Fox Lake Police Department could not be reached for comment.

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Kulis also represented two other men who filed a case in connection with the Gliniewicz investigation that was settled, he said.

hschroering@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @OhItsHeather
New Fraternal Order of PolicePresident Kevin Graham arrives for a 40-second statement, thanks media and quickly leaves the stage at the FOP headquarters in Chicago on April 13, 2017. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

On his first full day as president of Chicago's largest police union, Officer Kevin Graham appeared at a news conference to address reporters seeking details of his plan for leading the embattled rank-and-file of the police force.

With cameras and reporters ready at the Fraternal Order of Police lodge in the West Town neighborhood, Graham spoke for one minute, offered no specifics, said "thank you" and left without taking questions.

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Graham's brief appearance the day after he won election to the post did little to define his approach to various issues facing the union and Police Department  including impending contract negotiations laden with political significance.

Those negotiations will take place amid the continued reverberations of a white officer's videotaped shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald. The release of video of that incident in November 2015 led to ongoing calls to overhaul the department, and advocates for reform have called for Mayor Rahm Emanuel to reject provisions that were in prior FOP contracts that gave officers protections from disciplinary investigations.

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Among the changes pressed by advocates are allowing anonymous complaints against officers, reworking a provision allowing officers 24 hours to make statements after a shooting and no longer allowing officers to amend statements after watching video of an incident.

On Thursday morning, City Council Black Caucus Chairman Ald. Roderick Sawyer, 6th, said the 18-member group he leads will vote against a new police contract if reforms of that type aren't included. He also said he has enough support from aldermen outside the caucus to kill a proposed contract.

Graham has not answered or returned phone calls from the Tribune, and a union official and officer who has acted as his spokesman, Martin Preib, asked for questions via email and referred a reporter to the positions stated on a blog set up for the union election slate Graham led, called "The Blue Voice."

Preib responded to emailed questions with, "We're not going to negotiate the contract in the media."

In news releases, Graham has blasted the past union administration, the media and federal authorities who have criticized the department.

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Graham also vowed in a news release before the election that his administration would "do all we can" to recoup health and pension benefits he blamed the past administration for losing. He vowed also to hire "the best labor firm to help negotiate our contract."

Graham did give an interview Thursday to WGN-TV, and the station posted a clip lasting about four minutes online. He promised "very good communication" with the Police Department, City Hall and Chicagoans. Graham also defended some provisions of the contract protecting cops from disciplinary investigations and said of the black aldermen, "I haven't seen anything that they have proposed that is going to make things better."

At his news conference, Graham, a 21-year veteran officer, said it was a "very busy time" as he assembled a team to lead the union. He said he had a "very productive" meeting with outgoing President Dean Angelo Sr., who lost his re-election bid.

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He thanked the assembled media, said he looked forward to talking further in the next few weeks and left the room.

Outside, Angelo packed up a vehicle. As he said his goodbyes to reporters, his mood appeared buoyant.

dhinkel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @dhinkel
The Illinois State Capitol is seen in Springfield on Jan. 24, 2017. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

You may be sweating through the annual race to file your income tax returns on time, but the state of Illinois is still trying to get tax returns that were due two years ago from hundreds of the very state employees whose salaries you pay.

Two incumbent state lawmakers are among the 312 people who the Department of Revenue determined are getting state checks but still haven't filed returns for calendar year 2014, which were due two springs ago.

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Each has already been assessed a $250 penalty for delinquency and faces an additional penalty equivalent to 10 percent of any taxes owed.

The lawmakers appear to be the highest-ranking stragglers out of thousands of state workers whom the revenue agency originally identified and contacted after matching W-2 tax forms to payroll records. Because individual tax returns are confidential, the Department of Revenue would not name any of the workers, providing only a numerical breakdown by category of state job.

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A first round of notices, sent last summer, called on the state workers to file their returns or explain why it was unnecessary, the administration said. A second round went out in March.

"It's outrageous," said Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, particularly given that "a lot of Democrats and Republicans are talking about raising taxes."

A member of the House Revenue and Finance Committee, McSweeney said he plans to meet this year's deadline  11:59 p.m. April 18  for his own taxes, that he has filed on time in prior years and that state workers "should be held to a higher standard."

The vast majority of the tardy filers are rank-and-file workers at 26 agencies under Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who oversees tens of thousands of workers. They include two employees of the Illinois State Police, seven tollway employees, nine from the Department of Employment Security, 17 from the Department of Transportation, 24 from the Department of Children and Family Services, 54 from the Department of Corrections and 119 from the Department of Human Services.

There are also 13 workers under Secretary of State Jesse White and one under Attorney General Lisa Madigan  both Democrats  and four court staffers.

Not surprisingly, the biggest agencies tended to have the most delinquents, just as they did when the Tribune reviewed a similar agency effort done in 2001. The number of delinquents is down since then, but so is the number of state employees overall.

No one in the governor's office or any of his agency directors landed on the list, the administration said.

Also hit with $250 penalties were roughly 300 former state workers who held those jobs when the returns were due two years ago, officials said.

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To be sure, any late payments will not make even a tiny dent in the state's roughly $13 billion backlog of overdue bills. The money coming in from the cross-checking exercise is meager: $21,166 collected so far, out of $22,570 in tax liability.

In a state operating without a full budget for two years and spending more than it is taking in, the move may represent a small step toward accountability. But in a season when most residents are filing returns and paying up if they owe, the symbolism of state employees not doing the same is grating nonetheless.

"It is frustrating and annoying" for citizens, said Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation.

Department of Revenue Director Connie Beard, who pressed for the review, said state employees "should set an example for Illinois taxpayers by filing tax returns in a timely manner."

Beard said her agency identified "noncompliant state employees in an effort to bring them into compliance with state tax law and employee Code of Personal Conduct."

The state income tax law requires people to file a state return if they file a federal income tax return or if they didn't need to file a federal return but had Illinois-based income bigger than any exemption.

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Initially, five lawmakers popped up in the first round of notices, but some have responded.

"Three of the legislators were either issued a refund or were determined not to have tax liability sufficient to warrant further follow-up," revenue spokesman Terry Horstman said by email.

The agency would not disclose what liabilities would be high enough to go after, something the agency refers to as "tolerance thresholds."

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The remaining two lawmakers have what the revenue agency calls "unresolved tax returns."

"We assume a tax liability is still due," Horstman said. But because the number of exemptions and other withholding can vary, "we can't determine for sure" until the lawmakers reconcile the issue, he said.

In all, the Department of Revenue identified and sent first-round notices to 5,497 people who didn't file. Of those, 1,528 responded and their cases were resolved through tax payments, refunds or other factors, such as determining that the people lived in other states. Another 3,366 cases were closed when the state determined the tax liability was below its "continued costs of collection," officials said.

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The others  the 312 currently getting state checks and the roughly 300 former state employees  received the second notices and got dunned for penalties, officials said.

"The notion that some government officials have not fulfilled this requirement will do nothing to build confidence in the state of Illinois," said the Civic Federation's Msall, adding: "The notion that any government employee or public official would think they are held to a lesser obligation than the general citizens is very disappointing."

rlong@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @RayLong
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)

Police investigating the fatal shooting of a Cook County judge earlier this week are looking into the possibility that the attackers targeted the judge's girlfriend for personal reasons, law enforcement sources say.

The only suspect charged so far  the alleged getaway driver  is related to a former husband of the judge's girlfriend, the Chicago Tribune has learned.

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She ended that marriage two years ago after discovering he might be a bigamist, and he later secured an emergency order of protection against her after alleging she had threatened to shoot him, court records show.

In court Thursday, prosecutors disclosed 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.

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Cook County Associate Judge Raymond Myles (Circuit Court of Cook County)

At a bond hearing for Joshua T. Smith, identified by authorities as the getaway driver, prosecutors said the gunman had been tracking the movements of Myles' girlfriend for two to three weeks to learn her schedule.

In a videotaped statement to detectives, Smith said his partner laid 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 surprised the woman by the back garage of the two-story brick residence, shooting her in the left thigh, prosecutors said. But the gunman was unable to snatch her purse away from her, according to law enforcement sources.

Apparently hearing the gunfire, Myles, 66, emerged onto the rear porch and confronted the gunman. He was shot five times and killed. The girlfriend, 52, survived.

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.

The gunmen had been led to believe the judge's girlfriend might be carrying as much as $3,000 in cash, according to the sources.

Police are still seeking the gunman and are investigating a possible third participant, the sources said.

Smith, 37, was ordered held without bond at the hearing Thursday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, the same courthouse where Myles had worked for years and won respect as hardworking and friendly. He faces felony charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery as well as 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 owned the getaway car but did not know about the robbery plot.

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Court records show that the judge's girlfriend had her marriage declared invalid in February 2015 after receiving information leading her to believe her husband, then 72, had been married to another woman when the two wed in Markham nearly 11 years earlier.

According to a transcript of court proceedings in February 2015, the judge's girlfriend testified she had only recently learned of her husband's alleged bigamous relationship when the other woman died.

"And that is something that he did not disclose to you at the time of the marriage, is that correct?" the judge's girlfriend was asked in court.

"Yes," she replied, according to the transcript.

"And you recently confronted him with this information, and he did not deny that fact, is that correct?" the attorney asked.

"Yes," she answered.

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As a result of the divorce, the ex-husband had to move out of the house the two shared because the judge's girlfriend had bought the residence before their marriage, according to the records. She also retained control of a vacant lot she owned on the South Side as well as a 2007 Saab and 2007 Lincoln. The ex-husband kept a 2003 Ford.

Later, in August 2015, as part of the divorce case, the ex-husband obtained an emergency order of protection after alleging in court that his former wife had cursed at him and threatened to shoot him.

(Tribune Graphics)

"I am afraid that she will do what she says because she is in need of (a) mental evaluation," the ex-husband submitted in his handwritten petition, records show.

He went on to say his former wife "made him scared(,) nervous and fearful of his life."

On Aug. 17, a judge ordered the former wife to stay away from the ex-husband's residence. The former wife was served on Aug. 28 with court papers notifying her of the order of protection.

A few days later the order of protection was extended to Sept. 23, 2015, but it was vacated on that date when her former husband failed to appear in court.

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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.

Melissa Staples, the Police Department's chief of detectives, has said video surveillance in the area of the judge's home played a crucial role in identifying the getaway car, and its license plate, used in the attempted holdup. The cameras did not capture the shooting itself, however, she said.

Tactical officers found the suspected getaway car  a red 2005 Pontiac Sunfire  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.

jgorner@chicagotribune.com

mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @JeremyGorner

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Twitter @crepeau
Jasmyn Almodovar walked up an empty driveway at the Cook County Jail on Friday afternoon, taking small, halting steps.

Her father's double murder conviction in 1995 had kept him behind bars almost her entire life.

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But a Cook County judge on Friday tossed out Roberto Almodovar's conviction after a stunning about-face by prosecutors.

So 23-year-old Jasmyn stood alone at the jail's gate with her hands in her pockets, hoping to watch her father walk out a free man.

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Just before 2 p.m., he came into view. Jasmyn ran straight toward him.

"It felt like I was in a movie or in a dream," she said later.

Her father picked her up for a long embrace as their friends and family cheered.

"I knew I was going to beat this case," he said. "I just didn't know when."

Almodovar and co-defendant William Negron were convicted in 1995 of a double homicide from the year before. The case against them rested on eyewitness reports obtained in part by now-retired Chicago police Detective Reynaldo Guevara, who since has come under fire over allegations he coerced witnesses and framed innocent people in dozens of investigations.

Attorneys for the two men argued for years that their clients deserved a new trial, an effort that culminated in heated closing arguments Monday afternoon. But In a dramatic reversal just two days later, the office of State's Attorney Kim Foxx, who was elected on a reform plank in November, announced it no longer was "in the best interests of justice" to proceed with the case.

Negron will remain imprisoned on a separate murder conviction that also dates to the 1990s, his attorney stated.

In dismissing both men's convictions, Judge James Linn said he was "stunned" by the prosecution decision to abandon the case.

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"I'd never seen anything like this," the longtime judge said before tossing their convictions.

No physical evidence linked Almodovar to the 1994 double homicide, according to an investigation led by former U.S. Attorney Scott Lassar, who found it "more likely than not" that Almodovar was in fact innocent of the murders.

Arally for Roberto Almodovar and William Negron, who saythey were framed by Chicago police, outside the Leighton Criminal Court Building on April 10, 2017. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Jennifer Bonjean, Almodovar's attorney, condemned what she called "a system that allows wrongful convictions to happen and then get covered up."

About two dozen family members and supporters waited in the sun outside the jail on Friday afternoon to witness Almodovar's release.

Mary Rodriguez, Almodovar's aunt, had brought him new clothes and shoes to wear.

"He told me, 'Don't you give me white gym shoes,'" she said. "That's all they could wear (in prison)."

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Almodovar walked out in blue patterned sneakers, wearing glasses with his hair gray, a stark contrast to the old photo of him printed on the shirts worn by many of his supporters.

Among the supporters outside the jail was Armando Serrano, 44, who spent 23 years behind bars on a conviction also tied to Guevara.

Charges were dropped against him and co-defendant Jose Montanez last year at the request of the state's attorney's office, then headed by Anita Alvarez.

"There's a horrible thing happening in that building right there," Serrano said, pointing to the Leighton Criminal Court Building behind him. "Innocent people, lost in the system."

Life outside has been a difficult adjustment, he said, and he wanted to support Almodovar's family.

"Take it easy, enjoy family," he said when asked his advice for Almodovar. "Don't lose sight of the people that have been with you."

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Guevara has been under increased scrutiny as more people have come forward to accuse him of coercing witnesses and abusing suspects. In recent years, he has repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

In 2009, Juan Johnson was awarded $21 million in damages after serving more than 11 years on a murder conviction that was overturned after a 2004 retrial. Witnesses at the retrial said Guevara had bullied them into saying Johnson was the killer.

Serrano and Montanez were convicted on the testimony of a witness facing four felony charges. He recanted in 2004, claiming Guevara had fed him the story.

The dismissal of charges in Almodovar and Negron's case gave hope to other families whose loved ones were convicted on the strength of Guevara's investigation, said Esther Hernandez, who alleges that Guevara framed her sons, Juan and Rosendo, in a 1997 slaying.

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The allegations against Guevara constitute a pattern of intimidation and coercion, attorneys for Almodovar and Negron had argued in their bid for a new trial.

Almodovar, who will turn 42 later this month and has asked his mom for a turkey dinner and his favorite cake, said he plans to spend time with family and maybe go to school to learn a trade.

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He also needs to learn how to use a cellphone: "I'm new to everything," he said.

And he made a promise to daughter Jasmyn to teach her how to ride a bike, even if she already knows.

"The thing is, I kind of don't (know), so it's perfect," Jasmyn said.

mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @crepeau
Billionaire investor and businessman J.B. Pritzker on Friday put $7 million of his fortune into his Democratic bid for Illinois governor, a further reflection of the big money that will flow into the 2018 race.

The contribution comes little more than a week after Pritzker formally kicked off his campaign. He previously put $200,000 into what had been an exploratory committee.

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Pritzker, who has a net worth estimated by Forbes of $3.4 billion, has indicated he would be willing to self-fund his campaign for governor and assist in other Democratic races as he seeks the opportunity to take on Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in November 2018.

Rauner, a former private equity investor, put $50 million of his own money into his re-election campaign fund in December, and aides have said that was just a start. In winning the governor's office in 2014, Rauner used $27.6 million of his own funds  part of a campaign that spent a record $65.3 million.

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Governor candidates can put as much of their own money into their bids as they want. In addition, contribution limits were lifted last month when another Democratic hopeful, Chris Kennedy of the iconic Massachusetts political family, put $250,100 into his campaign fund.

Kennedy and Pritzker, heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, have come to be viewed as the two Democratic establishment candidates in the primary contest, though each are seeking to attract progressive Democrats. Northwest Side Ald. Ameya Pawar and state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston have made appeals to populist progressives in their campaigns for the nomination and urged Democrats not to go with wealthy candidates to take on Rauner.

Pritzker is a founder of the private investment firm Pritzker Group, and he founded the tech hub 1871. He has long been involved in politics and has donated millions for Democrats at the national level, including to support Hillary Clinton's failed 2016 presidential bid.

rap30@aol.com

Twitter @rap30
John Slater, vice president of operations for United at O'Hare International Airport, and Margaret Houlihan Smith, managing director of corporate and government affairs for United, testify as the Chicago City Council Aviation Committee holds a hearing April 13, 2017, about United Airlines forcibly removing a passenger from a flight at O'Hare. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Whether the Chicago aviation police officers who dragged a United Airlines passenger from a plane had the authority to do so became a focus of a City Council hearing Thursday  but a definitive answer was elusive.

Jeff Redding, deputy commissioner of safety and security for the city's Department of Aviation, told aldermen that operating procedures bar aviation officers from boarding a plane "if it's a customer service issue."

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"If it is a customer-service related incident, then you don't need to board the plane at all," Redding said. "If there's no threat, there's no imminent threat or no charges being drawn, then you don't need to board the plane. There's no purpose for it."

Asked by Ald. Daniel Solis, 25th, if David Dao's refusal Sunday to leave a plane to make way for airline employees was a customer service issue, Redding declined to respond directly. He noted an investigation into the incident that has triggered nationwide criticism for United and O'Hare International Airport personnel.

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"I can't respond to that right now," Redding said. "It's part of an ongoing investigation, and I need to be careful not to impugn somebody's rights."

Also constraining the response of aviation officials and United representatives at the hearing was the fact that Dao, who suffered injuries during the incident, is being represented by a high-profile legal team.

That personal injury firm of Corboy & Demetrio has gone to court to require the city to preserve all documents related to the incident, Jeffrey Levine, the city's chief assistant corporation counsel, told the Tribune. Such a move often is a prelude to litigation.

Redding's comments came during a hearing at which aldermen spent about two hours asking questions of United and city aviation officials and often expressing indignation in front of TV news cameras from around the country. Ald. Ed Burke, 14th, led the charge..

At one point, he sarcastically asked John Slater, United's vice president of operations at O'Hare, if passengers who refused to get off the plane are "told that they could be dragged off the plane by law-enforcement officers and have their teeth knocked out and their nose broken and their head concussed."

He accused United of violating "basic civil rights of American citizens under color of law to further increase United Airlines' bottom line," even as he admitted the council had little power to make a difference.

"There is very little this municipal government can do to correct the abuses of the corporate governance at United Airlines," Burke said. "But what this City Council can do is assure the public that this will never happen again in Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports."

In making that assurance, Burke was referring to the role of the aviation officers, who have police training but are not armed with guns. They must rely on sworn Chicago Police Department officers to file an arrest report, although the guards are allowed to detain people until city police arrive.

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The three officers involved have been placed on paid leave pending an investigation, Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans said. She said a review of the operating procedures was already underway when the incident occurred.

But much of the hearing reinforced earlier responses United and Aviation Department officials made in the days after other passengers posted video online of Dao being removed from the plane and bloodied in the process.

Margaret Houlihan Smith, managing director of corporate and government affairs for United, called it a "terrible incident. ... It does not reflect our values."

And Slater called it "a very disturbing moment we pledge will never happen again. ... We failed."

hdardick@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ReporterHal
ROME  Thousands of people, including nuns, families with toddlers, and young tourists, endured exceptionally tight anti-terrorism checks to pray at the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum, where Pope Francis expressed shame over humanity's failings.

Francis, wearing a plain white coat, presided over the traditional, evening Way of the Cross procession from a rise overlooking the popular tourist monument as faithful took turns carrying a tall cross and meditations were recited to encourage reflection on Jesus' suffering and crucifixion.

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After the 90-minute-long procession ended, Francis, in a quiet voice, read a prayer he composed that alternated expressing shame for humanity's failings and hope that "hardened hearts" will become capable of forgiving and loving.

With Easter two days away, Francis said faithful look to Christ "with eyes lowered in shame and with hearts full of hope."

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Such shame, he said, derives from "all those images of devastation, destruction, shipwrecks, that have become routine in our lives." Hundreds of thousands of migrants have endured hardships at the hands of human traffickers to try to reach Europe, which has increasingly been rejecting them, and thousands of them have perished at sea during the last few years.

Evoking wars and conflicts, as well as attacks on Christian minorities, Francis also voiced shame for "the innocent blood spilled daily by women, children, immigrants, and persons persecuted because of the color of their skin, or for the ethnic or social group they belong to, and for their faith" in Jesus.

The pontiff also made a reference to clergy's handling of sex abuse of minors, saying: "shame for all those times that we bishops, priests and other clergy scandalized" the church.

Hours before the evocative, candlelit ceremony, pilgrims underwent the first of two rounds of security checks that started while they still were blocks away from the ancient arena. There was a heavier-than-usual police presence keeping watch on every aspect of the event.

Anti-terrorism measures have been heightened for large public crowds after several vehicle attacks in Nice, Berlin and other European cities.

Police opened handbags and backpacks. They checked computers, and, in at least one case, asked an Italian woman to open a package. It turned out to be a tray of pastries, and the woman good-naturedly offered one of the sweets to the officer.

Streets surrounding the Colosseum were closed to traffic, armored vehicles blocked intersections, bomb-sniffing dogs were used and police checked chemical toilets with scanners for explosives near the Colosseum.

"I believe that we have a situation in which we Europeans have to unite and take the issue of security very seriously," Jose de Laoz, a businessman from Spain, said while the security sweeps were conducted near the Colosseum.

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Terrorism's repercussions were being felt in Christian communities across the Mediterranean. In Egypt, Coptic churches announced that Easter services would be limited to prayers, without festivities. The measure was taken after twin bombings killed 45 people at churches on Palm Sunday.

In Rome, the Good Friday gathering was calm as participants, estimated by Vatican security to number 20,000, clutched candles in the silence of a warm night. Some parents hoisted children on their shoulders so they could watch. Many people kept their eyes fixed on a towering cross, studded with lit candles glowing against the Colosseum's ancient stone.

Hours earlier at the Vatican, Francis prostrated himself in prayer during a Good Friday service in St. Peter's Basilica. The 80-year-old pope lay for several minutes before the central altar.

Patricia Thomas contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump's tweets are adding fuel to a "vicious cycle" of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea's vice foreign minister told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Friday. The official added that if the U.S. shows any sign of "reckless" military aggression, Pyongyang is ready to launch a pre-emptive strike of its own.

Vice Minister Han Song Ryol said Pyongyang has determined the Trump administration is "more vicious and more aggressive" than that of Barack Obama. He added that North Korea will keep building up its nuclear arsenal in "quality and quantity" and said Pyongyang is ready to go to war if that's what Trump wants.

Tensions between Pyongyang and Washington go back to President Harry Truman and the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. But the heat has been rising rapidly since Trump took office in January.

This year's joint war games between the U.S. and South Korean militaries are the biggest so far  the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier has been diverted back to the waters off Korea after heading for Australia, and U.S. satellite imagery suggests the North could conduct another underground nuclear test at any time. Pyongyang recently tested a ballistic missile and claims it is close to perfecting an intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear warhead that could attack the U.S. mainland.

Many experts believe that at its current pace of testing, North Korea could reach that potentially game-changing milestone within a few years  under Trump's watch as president. Despite reports that Washington is considering military action if the North goes ahead with another nuclear test, Han did not rule out the possibility of a test in the near future.

"That is something that our headquarters decides," he said during the 40-minute interview in Pyongyang, which is now gearing up for a major holiday  and possibly a big military parade  on Saturday. "At a time and at a place where the headquarters deems necessary, it will take place."

The North conducted two such tests last year alone. The first was of what it claims to have been a hydrogen bomb and the second was its most powerful ever. Expectations are high the North may put its newest missiles on display during Saturday's parade.

The annual U.S.-South Korea 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 North's leadership have fanned Pyongyang's anger.

Han said Trump's tweets have also added fuel to the flames.

Trump posted a tweet Tuesday in which he said the North is "looking for trouble" and reiterated his call for more pressure from Beijing, North Korea's economic lifeline, to clamp down on trade and strengthen its enforcement of U.N. sanctions to persuade Pyongyang to denuclearize.

Trump has threatened that if Beijing isn't willing to do more to squeeze the North, the U.S. might take the matter into its own hands.

"Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words," Han said. "It's not the DPRK but the U.S. and Trump that makes trouble." North Korea's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

He added: "We will go to war if they choose."

Han said the sanctions approach is misguided and cited the opening ceremony of a sprawling new high-rise residential area in Pyongyang on Thursday as evidence that sanctions have failed to ruin the country's economy. Leader Kim Jong Un presided over the ceremony before about 100,000 residents and a large contingent of foreign journalists who have been allowed in to cover the holiday.

Han dismissed the suggestion Trump made last year during his presidential campaign that he was willing to meet Kim Jong Un, possibly over hamburgers.

"I think that was nothing more than lip service during the campaign to make himself more popular," Han said. "Now we are comparing Trump's policy toward the DPRK with the former administration's and we have concluded that it's becoming more vicious and more aggressive."

Han said North Korea changed its military strategy two years ago, when the reports of "decapitation strike" training began to really get attention, to stress pre-emptive actions.

"We've 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. pre-emptive strike," he said. "Whatever comes from the U.S., we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it."

How much such comments are bluster, or how realistic they are, is hard to gauge.

Later Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said all sides must stop provoking and threatening and start taking a flexible approach to resuming dialogue. He said China is willing to support any such effort.

"Once a war really happens, the result will be nothing but multiple-loss. No one can become a winner," Wang said. "No matter who it is, if it wants to make war or trouble on the Korean Peninsula, it must take the historical responsibility and pay the due price."

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Han's remarks on the North's readiness to conduct a nuclear test and even go to war reveal the "true colors of North Korea's government that is bellicose and a breaker of regulations."

The ministry issued a statement saying North Korea will face strong punishment it will find hard to withstand if it makes a significant provocation, such as another nuclear test or an ICBM launch.

Military experts generally agree a shooting war with North Korea would likely be far more costly than something along the lines of the recent targeted strike Trump ordered against a Syrian air base believed to be linked to a chemical weapons attack by the regime of Bashir Assad. That attack alarmed the North and was condemned as "unpardonable" by Pyongyang, which counts Syria as an ally.

Even without nuclear weapons, the North could cause severe damage with its conventional artillery batteries aimed at the South Korean capital of Seoul.
Tony Sanborn, who spent nearly 30 years in prison for a 1989 murder conviction, was freed on bail in Portland, Maine, on April 13, 2017, after a witness recanted her testimony. (Ben McCanna / AP)

PORTLAND, Maine  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.

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"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.

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"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.

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.

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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.

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The area where the crime took place was frequented by shipyard workers, sailors and fishermen, in addition to street kids and others.
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.

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.
Mayor Richard J. Daley is accompanied by his son Richard M. Daley after a press conference on Sept. 2, 1974. (Ernie Cox / Chicago Today)

There's something almost eerie about the similarities between the year 1955  a milestone in Chicago's political history  and this year, which could be another milestone.

As 1955 began, Chicago had a mild-mannered, likable, but somewhat ineffectual mayor in Martin J. Kennelly.

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Kennelly became mayor in 1947 because reform-minded ex-GIs were kicking out old-time boss rule in city after city.

To avoid that happening here, the Machine trotted out Kennelly, a successful businessman who looked and sounded good.

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Their idea was that the silver-haired Kennelly would sit quietly in his office, cut ribbons, go to banquets, be a charming figurehead and not meddle with the way the aldermen looted City Hall.

For the most part, it worked. But by 1955, the Machine was ready to take back the mayor's office.

So it turned to Richard J. Daley, one of a younger, cleaner breed of Machine politicians.

Yes, despite his later reputation as the boss of all bosses, in those days Daley had rather nifty credentials for a Machine creature.

As a young state legislator, he developed a reputation for being honest, hard-working, quiet but effective.

He later served ably in the late Gov. Adlai Stevenson's do-gooder Cabinet as revenue director, which gave him credibility among Stevenson's liberal-reform supporters.

Then he was elected Cook County clerk, a patronage-rich office that he ran efficiently and without scandal.

So although Daley had spent his life in the Machine, and knew all its tricks, he was seen as superior to the Paddy Baulers, Botchy Connors, Joe Gills and other cigar chompers.

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Although not a wild-eyed reformer, he was considered somewhat progressive. While not a preachy liberal, he was considered a reasonable man on social issues.

Most important, he didn't have firm ties to the many feuding factions in the Machine. He managed to distance himself from their squabbles, while remaining part of the big picture.

So when the Machine decided that it was time to dump nice-guy Kennelly, Daley stepped in, knocking Kennelly out of the primary.

And, of course, the next 20-plus Daley years are history.

So let us jump forward to the present.

Again, we have a mild-mannered, likable, somewhat ineffectual mayor:

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Eugene Sawyer.

Like Kennelly, Sawyer was put in that office by Machine types because it suited their short-range survival strategy. One can even say that Sawyer, like Kennelly, was installed to beat back the threat of self-styled reformers.

But now that his usefulness has been served, the Machine types are looking to replace him with one of their own. Or someone they hope will be one of their own.

This time it's Richard M. Daley, son of Boss. You like parallels? I'll give you parallels.

Just as his father did, Richard the Younger has been running a county office, that of state's attorney, efficiently and without scandal.

Just as his father did, Richard the Younger has stayed out of the bickering and feuding that has fragmented the Democratic Party. In his dad's day, it was South Side against North Side, as well as tussles within each group. Today, it's white against black, Hispanics getting in their jabs, as well as tussles within each group.

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Just as his father did, Richard the Younger has forged political ties with liberals and reformers. This week, a group of them held a press conference to declare that he's their guy.

It's as if the late Daley left a blueprint, titled: "Okay, Kid, here's how you get to be mayor."

When Daley the Elder ran the first time, Kennelly said it was the forces of graft and evil (Daley) against the forces of goodness and reform (Kennelly).

Daley loftily responded: "Let's talk about the issues. I do not believe in dealing in personalities."

Today, Ald. Tim Evans and his supporters are saying that the choice is between the "progressives," (which is more delicate than saying blacks) and the "conservatives," (which is more tactful than saying whites).

And Richard the Younger, scrambling for the high road, says: "I don't believe in talking about personalities or using labels. Let's talk about the issues."

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Both Daleys even have their Eastern-European ethnic adversaries, who saw it as a fight to the death.

In the case of Richard the Elder, it was Ben Adamowski, who thought that just because he was smarter, quicker, far more articulate, and better looking, he should be mayor. He quit the Democratic Party and became a Republican in order to carry on his blood feud with Daley.

In the case of Richard the Younger, it's Ed Vrdolyak, who thinks that just because he's smarter, quicker, more articulate and better looking, he should be mayor. And he's switched parties to better carry on his blood feud. Knowing Eddie, it's liable to last for life.

I don't know how this is all going to turn out, but right now the words of Yogi Berra come to mind:

"It's like deja vu all over again."
Businesses already face spools of red tape when they attempt to set up shop in Chicago. Especially restaurants. Alcohol, food, valet parking, outdoor seating, signage and canopies require separate types of permits. Want to open a small cafe? Prepare to make numerous trips to City Hall  and don't forget your wallet.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has tried to streamline the process by reducing the number of licenses required to open a business. He has expanded the online license application process and established a small business resource center within City Hall.

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But he also has to deal with aldermen who want to micromanage establishments in their wards.

Aldermen have significant influence over development. They can help prospective businesses navigate City Hall. They can discourage certain types of economic development from coming at all. They can raise a stink about a sidewalk cafe. They can put ward-centric referendums on the ballot to create special zones. They review all building permits. They oversee parking restrictions, street closures, tree-trimming, block parties.

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But their influence over development in their wards is supposed to be balanced against the rights of property owners. Their control is also supposed to be buffered by the hundreds of professionals within city government who oversee day-to-day zoning, permitting and inspections.

A proposed ordinance would swing that pendulum even further toward aldermanic control by creating a new hurdle for businesses.

Sponsored by Ald. Gregory Mitchell, 7th, the proposal would require that city departments notify an alderman of any license application, renewal, investigation or inspection in his or her ward. The proposal would require department heads to bring aldermen directly into the fray of otherwise routine city business. Aldermen would then have 20 days to make a recommendation for or against the application.

Whose decision do you think would carry more clout, the alderman's or the rank-and-file city worker's?

Just about any category of business in Chicago requires a special permit: nail salons, pet services, dry cleaners, tax preparers, social clubs, home offices, catering companies, restaurants, taverns, hotels, day cares and even street performers. There's more, but you get the idea.

"It's a large hurdle to open a business in Chicago," says Tanya Triche Dawood, vice president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, which is concerned about the proposed ordinance. "Before you can open, it takes a lot of time and it costs money. It's not always seamless. One department tells you something. Another department says another thing.

"We're not saying aldermen shouldn't have the opportunity to know or weigh in, but recommending or not recommending, that for us sets off red flags."

Dawood says an alderman's ability to step in when a lease is already signed or a development is underway would big-foot property owners' rights.

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"I always try to caution (businesses) to meet with the alderman. It's a good thing to do. But if a business owner has already invested, and most of the time that's what has happened, they could get caught up on some issue that the alderman has," she says.

Dawood said she plans to meet with Mitchell to get a better understanding of his proposal, which so far has 17 co-sponsors. We tried to reach him, too, but he didn't return our call.

From our read, this is a proposal that would expand aldermanic control, not keep it in check. Aldermen already have enough clout over development in their wards. The last thing property owners and taxpayers need is an ordinance that fortifies it.

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Today, a shout-out to Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, leaders from opposite ends of the political spectrum who recently shook up the public education status quo:

 In Arizona, Ducey signed a bill that vastly expands the state's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. Those allow parents to receive their child's share of state education funding to pay for private school tuition, home-schooling costs, tutoring or other services. All 1.1 million Arizona public students will now be eligible, although annual enrollment will be limited. That's a signal flare to other states  Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana among them  that are moving to give more students the same kinds of choices, via voucher or other scholarship programs. The goal is to help children free themselves from dead-end schools and bloom elsewhere. Lawmakers and educators in those states should be scrambling to keep up with Arizona. And Illinois? It remains a sleepy backwater when national leaders talk about programs that expand children's choices. The forces of the status quo  teachers unions and their Democratic allies  have squashed every effort to free Illinois kids from underperforming public schools via voucher programs. "We put the children's interests ahead of the adults'." Right.

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 In Chicago, Emanuel launched a controversial initiative: Starting in 2020, students will be required to compose a post-graduation plan in order to earn a diploma. High school seniors would have to show proof they've been accepted into college, or the military, or into a trade or a "gap-year" program. A job or job offer would also meet the requirement. No plan, no diploma. Emanuel wants to change CPS students' expectations. "Just like you do with your children, college, post-high school, that is what's expected," Emanuel said. "If you change expectations, it's not hard for kids to adapt."

About 6 in 10 students already make those plans without district prodding. CPS officials hope to wrangle the others to follow suit by tying plans to diplomas. It's easy to quibble with this new requirement in a district that is so financially shaky that it may close school doors three weeks early. But we're optimistic: No, students won't really be denied a diploma if for no other reason than the procrastinators can always claim they'll go to City Colleges, a system that basically accepts all comers. The point here is that expectations create reality. Parents should start early and deliver often the message that a child needs a post-graduation plan. But that message isn't always delivered or accepted. If schools have to intervene to ensure that students move toward building a career or furthering their education, then where's the harm?

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We asked CPS officials if they knew of any other major districts (or even smaller ones) doing something like this. They didn't. Some experts told Tribune reporters that they'd never heard of anything like it either. That's exciting  and risky. Some people fear another graduation requirement could cause some youngsters to drop out. But former Education Secretary Arne Duncan says no. "Young people don't drop out because school is too hard," he wrote in a Tribune op-ed. "They drop out because it is too easy and they are not engaged. They don't understand how it's relevant to their lives."

We've promoted other game-changing reforms to help children in Illinois as part of our Schoolchild's Bill of Rights. Those include expanding high-quality charter schools and launching a state-funded voucher program to expand school choice for the many thousands of children in failing schools.

President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos share the same page: They seek more choices for families. They want parents to decide whether a child will get a better education at a neighborhood public school, a charter, a magnet or a private school. We hope that energy translates into legislation to encourage more states, including Illinois, to embrace vouchers and other status quo disrupters.

Duncan's Education Department pushed a set of accountability, charter school and teacher-quality reforms under the rubric of Race to the Top. Why can't DeVos' Education Department do the same to expand choice?

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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)

Two beaches at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore had to be closed Tuesday and the National Park Service announced that "people and their pets should have no contact with the water of Lake Michigan or Burns Waterway in the West Beach and Portage Lakefront areas."

The problem wasn't the familiar one of a high bacteria level, caused by leaky septic systems or farm runoff. It was something more alarming: a chemical spill from a U.S. Steel plant.

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The chemical, hexavalent chromium, was accidentally discharged into a waterway just 100 yards from Lake Michigan, which provides drinking water for some 10 million people. None has been detected in the lake itself. You may not know the name, but if you've seen the movie "Erin Brockovich," you know this chemical as the pollutant found in the water supply in Hinkley, Calif., and blamed for cancer and other illnesses in residents. Pacific Gas & Electric eventually paid a $333 million settlement for its role in the contamination.

The exact risk posed by this chemical is subject to debate, but no one disputes that it's a potent toxin. Inhaled, it can cause lung cancer. On skin, it can produce irritation and ulcers. A 2008 report by the federal government's National Toxicology Program said that when ingested by lab animals in drinking water, it causes oral and small intestine cancers.

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"Even a single gallon of hexavalent chromium could contaminate billions of gallons of drinking water," David Andrews, senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, told the Tribune's Michael Hawthorne.

(Tribune Graphics)

The metal has been found in Chicago's drinking water, in amounts lower than the maximum allowed in California but higher than the goal set by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment in 2011. The Environmental Protection Agency has yet to set a specific standard for this type of chromium. It has been at work on a review of its health effects for years, but has yet to draft a regulation based on that review.

These are among the many responsibilities of this federal agency, a prime target of President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts. His plan calls for reducing its appropriations by nearly a third and getting rid of one-fifth of its employees  the biggest suggested hit for any agency. The program that covers the EPA assessment of hexavalent chromium would be eliminated altogether.

Trump's rejection of President Barack Obama's efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is well known, reflecting the Republican Party's skepticism about the human contribution to global warming. Combating climate change is a new and formidable task for the EPA, and the efficacy and cost of such efforts make it a contentious topic of debate.

But assuring clean air and water is an old and fundamental task of federal regulators, as set out in environmental laws passed under the Republican administration of Richard Nixon nearly half a century ago. And it's not controversial. No one wants his or her family to have to breathe polluted air or drink unsafe water. No one wants to face the sort of dangers inflicted on the residents of Flint, Mich.

The question about this type of chromium is what concentration in drinking water is unsafe. Making that determination is up to the EPA, and it won't get done if the agency is deprived of the resources needed for that job. Before Congress agrees to Trump's cuts, lawmakers need to carefully assess what the public expects from the agency  and what is required to meet those needs.

It's easy to forget that some of what the federal government does in the way of regulation is valuable and popular. A toxic spill 100 yards from your drinking water supply is a bracing reminder.

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The U.S. relationship with China? It's complicated. The two sides are economically entwined yet geopolitical adversaries in the Pacific, where China's ambition to project power risks colliding with the U.S. commitment to keep peace.

The biggest potential flashpoint is nuclear-armed North Korea, a rogue state that exists in almost complete isolation  except for its tight relationship with China. North Korea is utterly reliant on China for energy and other forms of trade.

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As we write, North Korea is rumored to be preparing another test of a nuclear bomb, and a U.S. Navy carrier strike group is cruising off the Korean coast to send the North a message to keep its finger off the trigger. If only the U.S. could compel China to drive North Korea to the negotiating table over its nukes program.

That hope's been around for a long time, and has done little but provide the North with time and space to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. China doesn't consider North Korea a military threat and, more to the point, isn't wishing for the sudden demise of Kim Jong Un's regime because the collapse of North Korea would create chaos on the border with China.

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Curiously, there are hints of common ground between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping over North Korea, though plenty of reasons to be skeptical. After Trump and Xi met in Florida and spoke again by telephone, Trump sketched out a potential deal in which China reins in North Korea in exchange for trade benefits. "I think he wants to help us on North Korea," Trump said of Xi at a Wednesday news conference.

Yes, well, that would be great.

But Trump is new to the job of president, a neophyte on global affairs and inclined to look at danger zones the way he approached the real estate game: He believes desirable outcomes are just a matter of negotiation. Trump acknowledged his thin grasp of Korean issues when he told The Wall Street Journal in a Wednesday interview that Xi had provided him with an illuminating overview of China-North Korea relations. "After listening for 10 minutes, I realized it's not so easy," the president recounted. "I felt pretty strongly that they had tremendous power" over North Korea, "but it's not what you would think."

There you have some bad news about Donald Trump's unusual presidency: At times he doesn't even know what he doesn't know. The good news, maybe, is that coming in fresh provides the opportunity for a different approach. Trump says he considers himself flexible on many issues, and proved it by doing an about-face on previous criticism of China. As a candidate, he attacked China on trade, declaring the Chinese "the greatest currency manipulators ever." He told the Journal never mind, they aren't.

Putting aside prickly trade disputes with China appears to be a big part of the deal Trump envisions reaching with Xi. He said at the news conference that he told the Chinese, "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."

There's foolishness in Trump's hurtling from position to opposite position, yet there's cleverness too. His three immediate predecessors lackadaisically watched as North Korea became a nuclear menace. If Trump can work with Xi to defang Pyongyang, we wish him every success. Thanks to decades of American dithering and denial, Trump inherited no better option.

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Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington for the presidential inauguration of their father, Donald Trump, on Jan. 20, 2017. (Saul Loeb / AP)

I don't want to do this. I really don't.

But I've been triggered. Triggered by Donald Trump Jr.

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On Thursday morning, a few hours before his dad dropped a city-leveling bomb in Afghanistan, the slick son-of-a-president decided the most important thing he could do with his time was fire off a tweet mocking some students at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

He linked to a post on the conservative website The Daily Caller. It was a snide story about how some lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students as well as some straight students at the private Catholic university were concerned about the opening of a Chick-fil-A restaurant.

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The company is run by a conservative Christian family that opposes same-sex marriage and has, in the past, contributed to a number of anti-LGBT groups. According to the university newspaper, The Duquesne Duke, the students in question asked the Student Government Association for a resolution encouraging university officials to reconsider bringing Chick-fil-A on campus.

Clearly an issue of national importance.

So Donald Trump Jr. tweeted: "Luckily these students wont likely have to tackle issues more stressful than a yummy chicken sandwich in their lives... Oh Wait #triggered."

The term "triggered" has become a favorite of folks on the far right, used to mockingly dismiss any form of sensitivity expressed by liberals or anyone with a modicum of compassion.

So Donald Jr.  a sneering internet insult hurler known for sharing tweets from conspiracy kooks  thinks a random bunch of university students are worthy of mockery from the son of the president of the United States.

Those young men and women at Duquesne are doing what college kids do: taking a stand, expressing themselves, peacefully raising an issue about something they find concerning. They're not triggered.

Me, on the other hand? I'm triggered as hell.

Because I don't like seeing innocent young people held up for ridicule by an entitled rich twerp with 1.5 million Twitter followers and a family that's presently running the country.

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Trump Jr. doesn't know these students. He doesn't know anything about the issue beyond the blah-blah right-wing hit job he linked to in his tweet, and that's assuming he even read the whole story in the first place.

"Luckily these students wont likely have to tackle issues more stressful than a yummy chicken sandwich in their lives."

Really, rich guy? You want to go up against some LGBT kids in the stress department?

Did you stop to consider what young people  and older adults, for that matter  endure just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity? Bullying. Discrimination. Family rejection.

Have you looked at the suicide rates for younger LGBT people?

Why don't you come to Chicago and I'll take you over to the Center on Halsted or the Broadway Youth Center where they work with homeless LGBT youths. You can talk to them about yummy chicken sandwiches and how little stress they'll have to face in life.

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Those Duquesne students talked about "safe spaces" on campus. Is that what triggered you? Because if you want to have a conversation about safe spaces and whether universities are coddling students too much, that's a fine subject to debate. Why don't you start a national discussion  seriously. You might do something positive.

It would be far better than spouting off on Twitter.

Those students didn't deserve the negative attention you sent their way. And this country doesn't need its president's grown children acting like petulant teenagers eager for a retweet or the online respect of dirtbags.

You can accept the responsibility that comes with your family's lofty position. Or you can cater to a pack of hateful Twitter users who knock people down to distract themselves from the fact that they're nothing and nobody.

You chose the latter option with your tweet, going after a bunch of college students with a lame joke and a "#triggered" hashtag. That was a punk move.

And that's why I'm triggered.

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You're powerful and picking on the powerless.

And you're rich, but still acting like a penny waiting for change.

Listen to Rex Huppke and WGN radio host Amy Guth discuss presidential politics each week on the "Guth and Huppke on Politics" podcast at www.chicagotribune.com/guthhuppkepodcast.

rhuppke@chicagotribune.com

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Brace yourselves, it's President Trump 2.0

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As President Donald Trump's 100th day in office draws near, here's the good news: Fears of a rising Trump autocracy under the president who boasted "I alone can fix it" now look way overblown. Team Trump looks far too incompetent to pull that off.

Instead, the president's inner circle appears to be undergoing a shake-up. Hard-right political strategist Steve Bannon has been losing ground as presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner, Bannon's traditionalist rival in a widely leaked power struggle, moves up.

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Lesson: It is seldom a good idea to wage war with the boss' son-in-law.

Recent days also have seen a new Donald Trump emerge, a Trump 2.0 whose policy positions mark a sharp U-turn from those of candidate Trump.

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Remember the Trump who said NATO was obsolete? He appreciates it now as a "great alliance" without admitting that his earlier criticisms on the campaign trail were woefully inaccurate. He claimed, for example, that NATO "doesn't cover terrorism" when, in fact, it does.

Remember his loud-and-often-repeated campaign promise to declare China a currency manipulator "on Day One" of his presidency? In a Wall Street Journal interview Wednesday he declared that it was not. It turns out China ended such practices a few years ago.

Similarly, candidate Trump promised to scrap the Export-Import Bank. President Trump likes it now.

The opposite has happened to his oddly lavish praise of Vladimir Putin and Russia. These days he and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sound like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (gasp!) as they admit to a collapse in trust between the two nations.

And who could forget how Trump beseeched President Barack Obama in 2013 to avoid bombing Syria after President Bashar Assad killed hundreds of civilians with chemical weapons? After seeing photos of the grisly realities of such bombing on children, a shocked President Trump recently stepped up and sent a message via 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian military airfield. Although the attack's practical impact on Assad's brutality appears to have been negligible, Trump no longer shies away from the notion of America as the world's police officer.

Instead he reminds me of Emily Litella, the late Gilda Radner's grumpy commentator character on "Saturday Night Live," who would rant indignantly about some issue she simply had misheard ("What's all this fuss about saving Soviet jewelry?") only to calm down after she was corrected and say with a chipper smile, "Never mind."

Trump's core supporters might feel betrayed by such reversals, but I doubt it. For one thing, he prudently has limited his course corrections to foreign policy, which doesn't move the approval needle with his base nearly as much as such hot-button domestic issues as employment, immigration, health care, tax reform and border security.

And as we media types learned on Election Day, we may be obsessed with what Trump says, but his supporters care more about how he makes them feel. His relentlessly upbeat and hyperbole-filled salesmanship keeps his approval ratings, already at record lows for a new presidency, from sinking even further.

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Yet his White House has been a jumble of dysfunction. His staff is divided by palace intrigues, power struggles and robust streams of leaks. Some of his staff are merely inexperienced with how government works. Others, like the hard-right former Breitbart News boss Bannon, are downright hostile to it.

Bannon has been outspoken about "dismantling the administrative state," an exotic-sounding label for what most of us know simply as the bureaucracy. But insiders say his failure to surround himself with allies, unlike Kushner and other rivals, has left him exposed and vulnerable.

He receives blame for the haphazard immigration executive orders that quickly and mercifully were blocked by the courts. His naive attempts to strong-arm conservative House Republicans into voting for the Grand Old Party's plan to repeal and replace Obamacare only backfired. Having won their conservative districts by bigger margins than Trump did, they were not about to be bullied by the new White House team in town.

That's a relief. Every new president may wish he (or, someday, she) had absolute power to legislate what they want. But sometimes the same institutions that frustrate us with their sluggishness can stop unchecked power  and incompetence  from running off the rails.

Clarence Page, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/pagespage.

cpage@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @cptime

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If you're lucky, Tax Day is second Christmas. If you're not, it's still a reason to drink heavily. Whether you're celebrating or drowning your sorrows, these Tax Day deals around Chicago will keep you afloat as the federal government sorts through your finances.

*All events take place on April 18 unless otherwise noted.

Half-off drinks at AliveOne

2683 N. Halsted St. 773-348-9800

Swing by this Lincoln Park spot to indulge in half-off beer and cocktails during happy hourarguably the most necessary happy hour of the entire year. You can also score $2 and $3 craft pints all evening.

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Buckets at Commonwealth Tavern

2000 W. Roscoe St. 773-697-7965

If you're looking to really put the "drown" in "drown your sorrows," dive into the special $15 Miller Lite and Coors Light bucket deals at this Roscoe Village gastropub. If you're not bemoaning your struggles, celebrate with $4 Blue Moons.

Anti-Adulting Tax Day Party at Easy Bar

1944 W. Division St. 773-227-4644

Forget about the hours you just spent slaving away over your yearly earnings and deductions. Head to this retro video game party at Easy Bar during their half-off everything happy hour and play Sega, Super Nintendo and Nintendo NES classic.

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Chocolate Hazelnut bars at Bistronomic

$4.18 Desserts at Bistronomic

840 N. Wabash Ave. 312-944-8400

Get your sweet tooth fix at this Gold Coast spot with all dessert offerings available for only $4.18 with the purchase of an entree. Snag a baked Alaska with vanilla ice cream, toasted meringue and caramelized almonds or the chocolate hazelnut bars with feuilletine, ganache and orange Grand Marnier sauce or any other item on the menu. 5-10 p.m. Reservations: bistronomic.net

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

Tax Day Drink Combo at Remedy Bar

1910 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-698-7715

Let Remedy Bar live up to its name and drink your tax-related problems away with a beer and shot combo of Miller High Lifethe champagne of beers, obviouslyand an Evan Williams bourbon shot for $8.

Tuscany on Taylor

"2 For Tuesday" Special at Tuscany on Taylor

1014 W. Taylor St. 312-829-1990

Take your boo thang or your bestie for some moral support and head to Tuscany on Taylor for a half-priced appetizer with the purchase of two drinks. Reservations: tuscanychicago.com

Tax Day Happy Hour at SafeHouse Chicago

60 E. Ontario St. 312-313-1007

Celebrate the government receiving all of your income information by turning into a secret agent at SafeHouse with $4 domestic beers, $5 well drinks and $6 house wines. Select appetizers also available for $6. 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Discounted dinners at Gejas Cafe

340 W. Armitage Ave. 773-281-9101

If you're celebrating the stress being lifted off your shoulders with your boo, head to Geja's for $20.17 off each premier dinner package from Sundays to Thursdays the entire month of April. Reservations: gejascafe.com

$4.18 Deals at Rush Bar

540 N. Michigan Ave. 312-836-0100

Grab MillerCoors drafts and select appetizers for $4.18 at Rush Bar at the Marriott on the Magnificent Mile. Nosh on house olives with sherry and citrus, pickled vegetables or kettle chips while you try to forget that we have to do this all again next year.

The Kerryman

$4.18 glasses of wine at The Kerryman

661 N. Clark St. 312-335-8121

This Irish bar will toast to funding the government with $4.18 glasses of wine and half-priced bottles of wine all day. If you want to try your luckor test your knowledgehang out for trivia at 7 p.m. to try to win back some of the money you just parted with. Reservations: thekerrymanchicago.com

Tax Relief Happy Hour at Lottie's Pub

1925 W. Cortland St. 773-489-0738

Normal happy hours are so last fiscal year. Head to Lottie's for Tax Relief Happy Hour from 4:18-7:18 p.m. Get your grub on with $4.18 burgers and $4.18 local pints including Half Acre, Lagunitas, Goose Island and Revolution.

Draft Beers and Nachos at Simone's Bar

960 W. 18th St. 312-666-8601

Head to Pilsen for $5 nachos, $4 TBD draft beers and $1 off craft beers to escape the confines of adult life. If you stick around, you can try your hand at trivia to give yourself a little pick-me-upif you're smarter than everybody else, that is.



@shelbielbostedt | sbostedt@redeyechicago.com
Quick! Think of something interesting to say at dinner Friday night. If nothing's coming to you, here are your conversation starters for the weekend.

The digit: 8

How many "Fast and Furious" movies have there been anyway? This many. "The Fate of the Furious" hits theaters this weekend with Charlize Theron and her grace, Helen Mirren, starring as villains. Word on the street is Mirren, 71, had an itch to drive in a "Fast and Furious" movie, and she noted she's one of the few people on set who knows how to drive a gear shift.

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POTUS No-Mo-tus

The filming schedule of HBO's "Veep" runs ahead of reality, but have fun watching between the lines when Season 6 begins April 16. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars in this political satire as former president of the U.S, Selina Meyer. Meyer struggles to resume normal life after her days in the White House. Maybe she should call former President Barack Obama for some tips; we see you living it up, Barry!

The One That Got Away

John Mayer's new album, "The Search for Everything," drops this weekend. Hollywood might call him a womanizer, but he created some buzz a couple months ago when he admitted his new single "Still Feel Like Your Man" is about missing Katy Perry after their break-up in 2014. Sad. Dear John, it looks like karma is finally catching up to you.

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Chano4Mayor

Some fans of Chicago native Chance the Rapper have started a website to endorse and encourage Chance Bennett to challenge Rahm Emanuel and run for office in 2019. Fans were perhaps encouraged by Bennett's song "Somewhere in Paradise" where Chance himself considers running: "They say I'm savin' my city/ Say I'm staying for good/ They screamin' Chano for mayor/ I'm thinkin' maybe I should." This plea from hip-hop lovers comes after Bennett announced a $1 million donation to Chicago Public Schools and the New Chance Arts and Literature Fund, which will benefit schools in need of an updated arts program.
With National College Decision Day coming up, Nancy Davis, a college counselor at John Hersey High School, is looking forward to recognizing the achievements of high school seniors, who soon will officially declare their post-graduation plans.

As seniors at John Hersey High School prepare for college, a career or service in the military, Pioneer Press recently caught up with Davis, who shared her enthusiasm for her own job.

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Davis spends her days at the Arlington Heights high school guiding and supporting teens as they make critical, and often difficult, decisions about their future.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about National College Decision Day?

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A: I don't know the exact year it was started but this year, it will be officially celebrated across the U.S. on May 1, but we are recognizing it at Hersey on Friday, April 28. It started out as a celebration of the final day for students to make the choice of what college they will attend. This is the seventh year we will be celebrating National College Decision Day at Hersey, which also recognizes students who, after graduation, will be starting a job or serving in the military. It's a very celebratory day here at Hersey, and even our teachers wear their college shirts as we all celebrate our graduating seniors' accomplishments.

Q: How soon do you start working with students on deciding on where they should apply to college?

A: We like to plant the seeds early  their freshman year  and we hold college night events for freshmen and sophomores, talking to them about how they can be college ready, the decisions that are involved, and the courses they need to take. It's all about getting them to be aware of the process. But most of the important decisions are not made until they are juniors and seniors.

Q: Do you also work with students' parents to help familiarize them with the college application process?

A: Yes, because a choice of college is really a family decision, so talking to parents is an important part of my role. The district offers many programs for parents. In recent years, we've seen a shift and there have been changes to the federal financial aid program. Families with financial need can get assistance, and those with upper incomes have the resources to pay for college, but middle-income families in particular have felt the squeeze. I've spent more time in the last couple of years talking to families about financial aid and raising awareness that it needs to be part of the final decision of where a student will go to college. I do think financially it has become more of a struggle.

Q: Is it bittersweet to know that all of these seniors you have worked with for four years will soon be graduating?

A: Yes, it's always a little bittersweet. I love graduation day, and watching the students crossing the stage to get their diplomas. I will not have met all of them, but I will know more than half of them. There's always a couple of students who are disappointed that they didn't make their first choice of college, but most of them end up really excited about where they're landing. Part of my job is to ensure that in addition to applying to their 'reach' schools, I strongly encourage students to also apply to colleges where they know, based upon their grades and test scores, they will probably be accepted. There really are not too many surprises, but students should always have a back-up plan.

Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.

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kcullotta@tribpub.com

Twitter @kcullotta
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.






The historic Dickson-Murst Farm is located in Montgomery. (Cathy Janek / The Beacon-News)

Every now and then, a rocking chair will appear at the door of the farmhouse of Montgomery's historic Dickson-Murst Farm.

Unwanted by their previous owners, the chairs will gain a new coat of bright red paint and a new life as a resting stop for visitors to the farm, thanks to the handiwork of the farm's dedicated group of volunteers  the Dickson-Murst Farm Partners.

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Painting rocking chairs is just one of many jobs taken on by a dozen or so dedicated volunteers who comprise the Dickson-Murst Farm Partners.

Formed in 2006 after the 4.3-acre Dickson-Murst Farm was purchased by the Conservation Foundation from the village of Montgomery, the Dickson-Murst Farm Partners have a mission to "educate the public about what goes on in farm life from an earlier era," according to Ken Wolf, a founding member of the group.

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Along with that comes maintenance of the farm's many outbuildings.

With a long and rich history in the community, the Dickson-Murst Farm was settled in the mid-1800s by Simon Dickson, farm officials said.

Over time, the farmland was divided up among his descendants. Eventually, some of the land was sold to developers.

When the farmhouse and adjacent buildings were within weeks of being demolished by developers, the village of Montgomery stepped in and purchased the property.

Subsequently, the Conservation Foundation purchased the property from the village for $10.

Today, the Conservation Foundation uses the main house for office space, and the rest is left to the Dickson-Murst Farm Partners.

The group members, who share a passion for historic farming, meet monthly to discuss repairs to the farm and organize farm-related events for the community.

At its most recent meeting, the group discussed its upcoming Spring at the Farm event, which is scheduled for May 7. The annual event draws thousands out to the farm for food, demonstrations, exhibits and tractor rides.

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Other community events planned for this year include a Beer, Bands and Barns event in July and a Day on the Farm in August.

"Shorty" Dickson, one of the members of the Dickson-Murst Farm Partners, has a unique connection to the group. Born and raised on the farm, Dickson, who lives on an 80-acre parcel of land across the road from the farm, said the nearby subdivisions and increased traffic is a stark contrast from his younger days working on the farm when all he could see was cornfields.

Now a volunteer who also shares historical information about the farm, Dickson and the other volunteers take on numerous jobs around the farm.

In addition to planning the events, member Jeff Nakaerts said, "We do a little bit of everything. We do construction work, maintenance work and harvest corn."

Farm volunteers still plant corn and wheat each year using equipment that would have been used by farmers in the 1940s and 1950s, before all the new technology, Wolf said.

The corn and wheat is sold or donated to farmers who bring their animals to farm events.

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Some of the group's members, such as Ron and Dee Curvis, who moved from Chicago to Yorkville, have no background in farming but joined the group for the camaraderie.

Dee Curvis runs the farmhouse kitchen organizing the food, which is sold at farm events, and Ron Curvis assists with painting many of the farm's buildings.

Others, like Oswego's Neal Woessner, who grew up on a farm, said the group's shared interest in historic farming was one of the reasons he joined, but also for the "connection of people and great circle of friends."

New members are always welcome, the group stressed.

Cathy Janek is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

Spring at the Farm

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What: Event featuring food, exhibits, demonstrations and more

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 7

Where: Dickson-Murst Farm, 2550 Dickson Road, Montgomery
The bar area at Miller's Ale House in Chicago Ridge. The chain is looking to build a location in Aurora. (Jim Boyce / Daily Southtown)

A Florida-based bar and restaurant is looking at opening along Route 59 in front of the Meijer store in Aurora.

Miller's Ale House is looking at leasing property to build one of its restaurants at 778 N. Route 59, adding onto the 78 locations it already has in 11 states. The restaurant would be built on two lots of the Meijer subdivision, where Luigi's House restaurant used to be. That building has been torn down.

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"It will be smaller than the previous building, but pretty much in the same location," said Tracey Vacek, an Aurora city planner.

The City Council Planning and Development Committee Thursday recommended a revision to the final plan for the building, which will go on to the City Council Committee of the Whole next Tuesday.

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Colleen Marnell, a civil engineer representing Miller's, said the restaurant would have a bar, an outdoor patio, and windows that would open in good weather to have an open air feel. She said officials are planning to start building in late April or early May, but she is unsure what the opening date would be.

Miller's Ale House first location was in Jupiter, Fla. in 1988, and has spread to 78 spots in 11 states, according to its website. It has locations already in Illinois in Chicago Ridge, Lombard and North Riverside. In addition to the Aurora site, it plans to build in Schaumburg and Norridge as well, Marnell said.

Slord@tribpub.com
State Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, left, and state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, addressed a crowd of over 70 who came out for a town hall meeting Wednesday night at Wheatlands Elementary School in Aurora. (David Sharos / The Beacon-News)

Education and funding for veterans programs was on the minds of many during a town hall meeting in Aurora Wednesday night hosted by two local state legislators.

Virginia Narofsky, of Aurora, is a teacher who said she is passionate about the future of education in Illinois.

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"I want to see the funding for education restored and maybe change the Republican Party into the education party," she said.

Narofsky joined more than 70 constituents representing Naperville, Aurora, and other communities who were briefed on events in Springfield during the meeting at Wheatlands Elementary School.

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State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, and state Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, each presented updates on topics ranging from economic reforms and attempts to balance the state budget to issues involving education and funding of social services.

Residents asked questions via cards submitted before the presentation as well as during an open forum.

"I'm concerned, like most people, about the budget and where the 'red line' is before we do something," said Jack Thew of Naperville. "Regarding vets  I feel they deserve as much as they can get."

Holmes said the "average person doesn't realize the extent of the state's budget crisis."

Former state employee George Cramer of Naperville said that before retiring he served as the assistant director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and that he remains concerned about issues affecting veterans. He also expressed concern about education funding.

More than 70 people filled the gym at Wheatlands Elementary School in Aurora Wednesday night for a town hall meeting that featured state Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), left, and state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, (D-Oswego). (David Sharos / The Beacon-News)

"I grew up in Cook County, and there were always education problems there," he said. "It seems like since the recent election, a lot more is coming apart."

Kifowit said there are some things getting done in Springfield.

"Despite the budget impasse, we still have passed the first comprehensive plan regarding veteran suicide as well as hate crime legislation," she told the crowd. "We also have legislation regarding network adequacy where an insurance company that has been providing service can't leave you unprotected if they decide to move."

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Kifowit said she is also working on organ donation issues and legislation regarding "unclaimed life insurance."

The evening attracted many who said they regularly attend meetings, plus others like Sylvia Marshall, of Aurora, who said she has lived in the area for 27 years but Wednesday was the first time she had attended a local political meeting.

"I don't have any specific issues or concerns, but I'm interested in learning more about what's going on," she said. "I want to know more about the political climate and what our representatives are working on."

Kifowit said "it was important to hear the stories of people in need" who have been affected by the lack of a state budget.

"We need to invest in human capital, and I'm personally committed to balancing the budget and feel both parties are to blame," she said. "Residents still need to be diligent and call their local representatives and have their voices be heard."

David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
Thousands took part in the Living Stations of the Cross procession through the East Side of Aurora Friday. (Linda Girardi / The Beacon-News)

Thousands came out in Aurora to take part in the annual Living Stations of the Cross procession Friday through the East Side of the city.

The Living Stations of the Cross, which commemorates one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar, traces the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

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Parishioners from several Aurora churches portrayed biblical figures at each of the 14 stations, which told the story of the final journey of Jesus Christ, from his walk with the cross to his last spoken words.

A crowd gathered in front of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where Monsignor Arquimedes Vallejo and Bishop David J. Malloy of the Rockford Diocese gave opening prayers and remarks in Spanish and English.

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"We are physically walking with Jesus, and it takes effort from all of us," Malloy said.

Bishop David J. Malloy of the Rockford Diocese and the Rev. Msgr. Arquimedes Vallejo of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with Eduardo Elias, who portrayed Jesus at the Living Stations of the Cross Friday in Aurora. (Linda Girardi / The Beacon-News)

Juan Elias, accompanied by his wife, Judith, and three daughters, Genesis, 6 months, Jaliyah, 9, and Karen, 11, said that although he's attended the Stations of the Cross in Guanajuato, Mexico, this was his first time in Aurora.

"It is important to remember all those thousands of years ago when people shouted aloud, 'crucify him.' They didn't realize then who Jesus was," Elias said.

At each of the stations, roughly a block and a half from one another, several hundred more people joined the group. There were different actors, along with biblical images, a candle and two crosses for each station.

The final station was at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, where an estimated 5,000 people filled the streets and both sides of the sidewalks. Parishioners also came from St. Joseph, Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Peter and St. Therese Catholic churches.

Eduardo Zepeda was asked to portray Jesus at the first station.

"It's a humbling experience," Zepeda said.

The Living Stations of the Cross procession Friday drew thousands to the East Side of Aurora. (Linda Girardi / The Beacon-News)

His wife, Alexandra Zepeda, said she grew up going to the Stations of the Cross. She said this year in particular was special not only because her husband portrayed Jesus but also because it was the first time they brought their two young boys, Eduardo, 8, and Emanuel, 6.

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"The prayers at each station can touch people in a different way. I remember coming as young as 6 years old," she said.

Vallejo said each year he is made hopeful by the number of people that faithfully participate in the procession.

"This is the way to open our hearts and minds to the Lord," Vallejo said. "At each station, there is a beautiful and meaningful story of love and sacrifice for the salvation of the world. Our families know the cross is the bridge to heaven. That is why the Stations of the Cross each year is so well attended. We have generations of families that come."

This year marked the fourth year Malloy, the leader of Catholic churches in 12 counties in the Rockford Diocese, accepted an invitation to Aurora's Stations of the Cross.

"By physically walking these blocks, we are walking with Jesus. It helps our heart get closer to Jesus," he said. "People are moved by the Stations of the Cross, and it encourages others to join them."

Vallejo said that it is important for people to come together at events that focus on togetherness and love.

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"There is violence and confusion in the world," Vallejo said. "We pray through the Lord's suffering for peace in the world so people can live together in harmony as brothers and sisters."

Bishop David J. Malloy of the Rockford Diocese and the Rev. Msgr. Arquimedes Vallejo of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aurora pray at the Living Stations of the Cross event Friday on the East Side of Aurora. (Linda Girardi / The Beacon-News)

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
McKay Brothers is a company involved in microwave data transmission. It plans to increase the size of its cell tower near Eola Road to 350 feet. (McKay Brothers / Handout)

A 200-foot-tall cell tower by the corner of Diehl and Eola roads near Aurora will be rebuilt to a height of 350 feet to ease transmission of data for financial markets.

By a vote of 16-1, the DuPage County Board this week allowed a zoning variance that permits McKay Brothers, of Oakland, California, to go ahead with construction.

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McKay provides microwave data transmission where speed can play a factor, company officials said.

At Tuesday's meeting, County Board member Jim Zay raised some concerns about the plan.

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"I am against this," he said. "Will this set a precedent for future towers to increase to 350 feet?"

County zoning board staff responded that precedent would not apply because every case such as the cell tower is individually evaluated on its own merits.

McKay officials said the company is in the process of upgrading its network of microwave towers between Chicago and New York, and increasing the height of the Eola Road tower would preclude having to site another tower between Aurora and Chicago.

District 6 County Board member Bob Larsen cast the lone vote against the proposal.

The cell tower is located just northeast of the Diehl and Eola Road intersection.

McKay Brothers did not immediately respond to a request on the timetable for construction of the new tower.

Gary Gibula is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
What started as an emergency training session at Waubonsee Community College eventually led 18 emergency response agencies to be dispatched to the college for a false alarm.

On April 4  the second day of a three-day course on Waubonsee's Sugar Grove campus  a classroom exercise called for an instructor to text a phone number as part of a simulation, Waubonsee spokeswoman Amanda Geist said. But the text, which referenced a shooting or injuries in Waubonsee's Todd Library, instead went to a private citizen in northwest suburban Rolling Meadows, who called 911, Geist said.

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For about 15 minutes, police swept the building that houses the library and two adjacent buildings, and employees enacted safety plans, Geist said. Geist was in the parking lot, and ran into the college's student center and helped students prepare, hiding and turning off lights, she said.

All told, responders from 16 police or sheriff's agencies and two fire districts were dispatched to the college, Geist said. Kane County sheriff's deputies were dispatched at 3:50 p.m. and learned by 4:06 p.m. the threat was not real, spokesman Lt. Patrick Gengler said.

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Illinois State Police alone dispatched 19 cars, but only three had arrived before they were called off, Master Sgt. Matt Boerwinkle said. The Kane County Sheriff's Office sent 16 cars, including deputies, detectives, school resource officers, and Gengler, though not all made it to the scene before they learned there was not, in fact, an active shooter on campus.

A Kane County supervisor on the initial response believed there was a possibility the report of an active shooter was not legitimate in part because more people didn't call in to report a shooter, Gengler said. But the sheriff's office didn't adjust its response until Waubonsee confirmed it was a "classroom exercise," he said.

Gengler said the situation could have been avoided with communication to law enforcement from those providing the training. No law enforcement officers were notified beforehand that a group would be conducting an exercise, he said.

"Typically, you hear that this is an exercise, people know ahead of time and if you don't have any of that information, in your initial response you have to treat it as legitimate," Gengler said. "I can only imagine if we said, 'hey, this doesn't seem real,' and it turned out to be a legitimate call."

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute helped organize the training  a "multihazard emergency planning institution training" that included an element on active shooters  through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, institute program manager Eric Arnold said. It was funded by a grant, and FEMA-certified instructors are required to teach the course, he said.

Institute officials did not contact local law enforcement, and Arnold said that's not their role.

"It is the role of the on-site folks and the hosting organization to notify those local authorities what is taking place," he said.

The agency is reviewing the incident, and will be providing recommendations to FEMA to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future, he said.

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FEMA spokesman Mark Peterson said the training involved agency-accredited instructors and FEMA curriculum, but the agency did not organize the event. If the agency were to host a training, officials would "work with the host" to notify local law enforcement, he said.

A different spokeswoman, Brittany Trotter, said, "We do not as a matter of protocol inform local authorities. All community engagement is the responsibility of the local hosting institutions."

Geist said Waubonsee didn't notify local law enforcement because the school provided the space but did not arrange the class. When Waubonsee has hosted other emergency preparedness sessions for its staff, officials notify area authorities, she said.

"It wasn't our event. Not our curriculum, not our instructors," Geist said. "Nothing about it was Waubonsee."

After the false alarm, Waubonsee is looking at its emergency planning and a task force will look at new safety plans. The school is looking to learn from the unexpected "emotion of that day," she said.

Though school officials are grateful there was no tragedy, the incident was tough, she said.

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"Even without a tragedy, it's been traumatic for many of the people that were involved and engaged in the day," she said. "So we are working hard to kind of deal with the after effects of having all of that on campus. And the fear that day. The fear was very real."

sfreishtat@tribpub.com

Twitter @srfreish
The 170-vote, 1.1 percent margin in the April 4 mayoral contest is no surprise or record-beater, given the 32-vote plurality in 1977 or the minuscule 24-vote margin of 1985.

What was different in this election was that of the four serious contenders in the race, only one was a male of pure European descent, competing for Aurora's top office with a Hispanic female, an African-American male and a Philippine-American.

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It was a historic election by any measure, all the more so with the election of Richard Irvin, Aurora's first African-American mayor and its first minority mayor, ever.

Richard, who was my opponent in both 2005 and 2009, is a very intelligent individual who did not come up the easy way. He was raised in public housing and perhaps it could be fairly said that he literally pulled himself up by his boot-straps as he served in the Army during Desert Storm, after which he attended and graduated from law school. He has gotten where he is today through hard work and determination. It is also abundantly clear that Richard loves his hometown and I know he will do everything in his power to keep our community moving forward.

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Aurora has evolved over the decades into an extremely diverse community and city government has also seen important changes over the past several years with the appointment of our first African-American police chief, our first female police chief, African-Americans in such key posts as Human Resources, Purchasing Director and Director of Communications and Hispanic leadership in our Community Services, Public Properties and Parks Departments. Despite the troubled economic times of recent years, these executives not only maintained, but enhanced the level of city services.

Aurora's future success will depend on all of us working together to create opportunity, to maintain a reasonable level of equity and fairness amongst ourselves and to fully realize that we are all in this thing called Life, together.

The soon-to-be Mayor Irvin is ideally suited to make this all happen, if he reaches out beyond the slender majority that elected him, to the entire community. I have no doubt that Richard has the tools and the will to do so.

Despite emerging from the Great Recession in a position of strength, Aurora faces difficult challenges ahead. The inability of our state government to function is costing us all millions of dollars each week that goes by in dead-lock. The growing dominance of internet shopping over local retail sales is a serious job and tax-base threat to Aurora and cities everywhere.

Nonetheless, the City of Aurora has come a long way over the past 15 years, markedly reducing crime, bringing nearly a half-million visitors a year to a vibrant downtown, working collaboratively with our educational institutions and Park District to improve academic and recreational amenities and creating a job-healthy environment that has recently brought us Amazon and other high-tech companies.

We are a much improved city, but we have much more to do. Let us lock arms with our new mayor  Mayor Irvin  and, together, take Aurora to even greater heights.

Tom Weisner is a former mayor of Aurora
Hamilton County Department of Education officials announced a new pilot program providing open enrollment opportunities for students.

Rivermont Elementary School and Brown Academy will pilot a new open enrollment process for K-5 students for the 2017-2018 school year.



Interested parents may fill out the open enrollment form at the schools May 1-31, 2017. The number of open enrollment slots will be determined by the schools principals. Open enrollment positions will be filled in a first-come, first-served basis.



Parents have told us they want more choices, said HCDE Chief Academic Officer Jill Levine. So we looked at innovative ways to open up more opportunities for parents across Hamilton County. We are thrilled more parents can now get the chance to discover two schools that offer rich arts and STEM programs.



For parents interested in learning more about two of Hamilton Countys hidden gems, Brown Academy will hold an open house May 9th from 6-7 p.m. Rivermont Elementary will hold its open house May 18th from 5:30-6:30 p.m.



Brown Academy Principal Emily Baker looks forward to welcoming more students to her school. Open enrollment will allow us to showcase the innovative programs going on at Brown, including our partnership as we build a lab school with UTC (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga), she said. Brown Academy is located on the UTC campus.



Laboratory schools are schools operated by a college or university used especially for student teaching and the demonstration of cutting-edge classroom practices.



Rivermont Elementary Principal Nikki Bailey hopes more parents discover the schools new focus. We emphasize STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and project-based learning in our school with plans to build an outdoor classroom and greenhouse, she said.



If the pilot program is successful, additional schools could participate in open enrollment in the future, as space allows.


Years ago, people didn't know a lot about the effect on parents after the birth of a premature infant.

But because of recent medical advances and neonatal intensive care units (NICU), more than 90 percent of premature babies who weigh around two pounds or more survive. Ones who weigh a little more than one pound also have more than a 60 percent chance of survival, according to KidsHealth.org.

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The stress felt by parents after having an infant in NICU has a familiar name  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). According to a 2009 story by the New York Times, many parents with children that have been in the NICU are likely to develop PTSD.

The Inverness-based Society for the Preservation of Human Dignity (PHD) is trying to make a difference for these parents, specifically those served by Northwest Community Hospital, through the group's "2017 Spirit of Dignity Gala."

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The gala begins at 6 p.m. April 29 inside the Biltmore Country Club, 160 Biltmore Drive, North Barrington. Funds from this "elegant evening of fine dining, auction, raffles and dancing" will support PHD's new neonatal community outreach program at Northwest Community Hospital, according to the group.

"PHD is working with Northwest Community Hospital to support their work in the neonatal intensive care unit," said Claire Miller, a spokeswoman with Preservation of Human Dignity. "PHD's master level licensed therapists will be working in the Northwest Community Hospital NICU with parents that are experiencing depression, anxiety or perhaps grief due to the loss of one twin."

Three therapists from PHD will work in the NICU at the hospital once a week, she said.

"All of this is done free of charge, and the money raised at the 2017 PHD Gala supports this new, exciting program that will help parents through difficult times," Miller said. "This initial NICU program will serve as a model and PHD will be contacting other hospitals in the future to partner with.

Tom Negovan, from WGN News, will emcee the gala. About 200 guests are expected to attend the event this year. PHD's fundraising goal is $100,000, and they are already halfway to their mark through corporate and private sponsorships, according to the group.

Sally and Tom Fedus, of Inverness, also are the honorary chairwoman and chairman of the event. Tickets, available at $200 a person or $1,800 for tables of 10, may be purchased at www.sphd.org or by calling Charlene Okigawa at 847 359-4919, ext. 25.

Kimberly Albrecht is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press. Reach her at kimproductions@sbcglobal.net.
Do the most cursory research on the most segregated cities in the United States and you'll find the Chicago has the dubious honor of being firmly ensconced in the Top 10. According to 2016 census figures, Chicago and Milwaukee are the fifth and third most segregated cities in the country. St. Louis, comes in at 13.

On April 20, the Vernon Area Public Library plans a deep dive into the lives and communities those statistics present in a program, "How Contemporary Writers Depict Racism & Segregation: Author Panel." The program will feature a trio of acclaimed authors whose work explores segregation  both historic and current  in Chicago, St. Louis and Milwaukee.

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"All you have to do is glance at the headlines to see how important this topic is," says Roz Topoloski, panel moderator and Vernon Area Public Library Public Programming and Events Coordinator. "I think in general our community is pretty liberal-thinking and very interested in learning about the issues that face our society. And I think they're frustrated and concerned as well that we're still dealing with this issue."

Topolski, with local book club leader Judy Levin, has been working since last summer to put the panel together. "We started talking last summer about how we wanted to approach this from varied perspectives and locations," says Topolski. The authors on board  non-fiction author/WBEZ reporter Natalie Moore, St. Louis novelist Denise Pattiz Bogard and Milwaukee activist/short story writer Jennifer Morales  represent just that.

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Moore's 2016 release "The South Side: A Portrait of Chicago and American Segregation" is a series of reported essays that explore Chicago beyond the "world class city" label touted by politicians and represented by the likes of Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile. Moore doesn't shy away from politics: Her book also unpacks the institutions and policies that keep Chicago segregated more than half a century after Martin Luther King marched here.

Bogard's novel "The Middle Step" unfolds in St. Louis, where a white suburban mother grieving from a miscarriage decides becomes a foster parent to four troubled teenagers. The 2015 book takes on privilege, race, abuse, poverty and as well as the complex dynamics that come into play when a privileged suburbanite fosters children from a world that's wholly unknown to her.

For short stories, Topolski turned to Morales, whose "Meet Me Halfway: Milwaukee Stories" contains nine perspectives on race and community in Milwaukee, told by characters ranging from white school teachers to Puerto Rican teenagers.

Topolski is expecting between 75 and 100 people to attend the panel. With the mantra "attendance-awareness-action" in mind, she hopes the conversation won't end with the panel. "We're going to have a long list of additional reading materials and to places where people can volunteer," says Topolski.

The Vernon Area Library District serves Lincolnshire, Prairie View, parts of Vernon Hills, Buffalo Grove, Riverwoods, Long Grove, Vernon Hills and Ella and Vernon Townships.

Author panel on race and segregation

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 20

Where: Vernon Area Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire

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Admission: Free, but registration is required.

Contact: 847-543-1485; www.vapld.info.
Gladys Marquez, a teacher at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, has received an award from the Illinois Education Association. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)

A Blue Island teacher who has advocated overhauling the country's immigration system has received a prestigious award from the Illinois Education Association.

Gladys Marquez, an English teacher at Eisenhower High School, received the 2017 Reg Weaver Human and Civil Rights Award from the teachers union during its recent representative assembly held in Chicago.

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The IEA's awards committee cited Marquez's work to educate her community on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows some undocumented students to receive a temporary waiver from deportation.

The award is named after Reg Weaver, who had served as president of the IEA and later the National Education Association.

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Along with receiving the award, Marquez, who chairs the Hispanic Caucus for the National Education Association, also was elected by IEA delegates to the board of directors of the NEA.

Marquez said she was nominated for the award by Dan Argueta, a teacher in Schaumburg School District 54 who has worked with her on DACA informational programs at Eisenhower.

"I couldn't believe (receiving the award) because I love my students; I love my community," said Marquez, a Blue Island native and daughter of immigrants. "The work is part of who I am."

The tag of "undocumented" or "illegal" brings on an "enormous feeling of inadequacy and insecurity as to whether they belong here or not," she said.

"Just imagine going through life feeling like you're not wanted," Marquez said. "Every child should feel safe and wanted and should not live in fear."

Under President Donald Trump's administration, that fear has become more profound, she said, although the president has insisted that stepped-up efforts to deport immigrants living in the U.S. illegally are aimed at those with criminal records. At a February news conference, Trump said that he would "show great heart" toward students and others who are covered by DACA.

In her 15th year at the school, Marquez teaches bilingual and English language learner classes.

Marquez said that most of her students are immigrants. Students will read articles about immigration issues from time to time as part of their studies, she said.

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After the presidential election and the increased attention on immigrants, "many (students) were very worried," Marquez said.

DACA allows some children living in the U.S. illegally  depending on factors such as their age when they came to the U.S., school status and criminal history  to receive a two-year deferment from deportation, as well as have access to necessary papers to obtain a driver's license or Social Security number or to get a job. Some 800,000 people are covered by that program, instituted by President Barack Obama in 2012. The deferment doesn't grant citizenship or legal status.

An executive order signed by Obama in fall 2014 expanding DACA would have taken effect in early 2016 and given temporary protection from deportation to more children and their parents. Several states challenged the constitutionality of the action, and a court injunction kept the expansion from taking effect.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

The matter went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which last June deadlocked in a 4-4 vote, leaving the lower court ruling intact and blocking the expansion. The high court's vote did not affect those protected by the original DACA program.

The fee for applying for DACA approaches $500 and requires students to provide extensive supporting paperwork. The expansion of DACA would have meant students would have needed to reapply every three years rather than the current two.

Marquez, a Frankfort resident, was able to secure grant funding for a DACA filing clinic held about a year ago at Eisenhower, covering the fees for about three dozen students who were able to enroll. Attorneys also volunteered their time to help with the process, she said.

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Still, she noted, there are many children who don't fit the criteria for DACA and who are unable to get a work permit or receive a driver's license or work permit. Students in the U.S. illegally, including those covered by DACA, can't receive federal financial aid for college.

"They are shadow children," Marquez said of those ineligible for the temporary protection DACA offers. "They live in the shadows of what could be but isn't and can't because of a piece of paper."

mnolan@tribpub.com

Twitter @mnolan_j
Governors State University has acquired grant funding to start a new course designed to help active military members and combat veterans to use the arts to help them express their experiences. (Susan DeMar Lafferty / Daily Southtown)

American military personnel, veterans and their families who have experienced, or are experiencing, post-combat stress may find release and possibly literary insights in a new course scheduled to be offered at Governors State University in the late fall.

A course called Dialogues on the Experience of War, overseen by Professor Rosemary Johnsen and College of Arts and Sciences interim Dean Andrae Marak, is intended to help participants talk and write about their experiences in a structured environment. It will be led by at least five GSU students who are active members of the military or veterans who have undergone an intensive eight-week training course.

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The class is funded by a $100,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant Johnsen and Marak obtained with the help of the university's Student Disability Services and the Veterans Resource Center.

Johnsen is an English professor born on an American military base in Frankfurt, Germany, to a career soldier who served two tours of duty in Vietnam. She has a Ph.D. with a specialization in Great Britain's Post World War I period, and teaches upper-division and graduate courses in literature and popular culture. Marak is a professor of history and political science who served in the National Guard and Army Reserve from 1986-95. He has a Ph.D. in Latin American studies.

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Johnsen said combatants have a tradition of transforming their trauma into poems, short stories and other creative enterprises.

"The humanities have long been an important means of responding to war and its consequences," she said. "Through war-related poetry, fiction, film and memoirs, program participants will be able to better engage in making meaning of experiences of war  their own and that of others."

That, Johnsen and Marak said, should include World War II veterans, whose post-traumatic stress disorder was shrugged off as a weakness.

Marak said in addition to better understanding PTSD, modern military demographics and battle conditions are markedly different from those of the 1940s and 1950s.

For example, the "front line" concept associated with WWII and the Korean War blurs in modern warfare, which now includes women in situations where "everyone's in a combat role," Marak said.

The Selective Service System, which started in World War I and lasted until 1973, drew American males from different geographic, ideological and religious backgrounds.

But today, Marak said, men and women join the Armed Forces for economic reasons  like him, or for ideological reasons.

"Because the draft's over, (military service) is not a real common experience," he said. "The officer corps is almost all conservative."

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He stressed "Dialogues on the Experience of War" is open to anyone who served or is serving in the military  regardless of combat experience.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Marak acknowledged those who've been in combat will be more candid about their experiences when talking to others who've served, and most candid when talking to other post-combatants. Marak said he wasn't in combat.

"It's OK, we all have different things to say to different audiences," he said, "that doesn't make it any less truthful."

Johnsen said she is optimistic participants will benefit from the class, noting, "Things like poetry and art have long been a means of expression for veterans. It can be coded or indirect. It can be a means for them to work through things they can't articulate and help them to better understand their experience."

But, she said, she and Marak also recognize the class could trigger strong emotions in some participants.

To that end, Kevin Smith and other representatives from the Veterans Resource Center will be on hand, she said.

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"We have built-in support that will be available," she said.

Dennis Sullivan is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander on Thursday released the following statement after Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price released a final rule on health insurance market stabilization:

Todays action by Secretary Price is an important step to begin stabilizing the Affordable Care Acts collapsing individual insurance market. The urgency remains for Congress and the administration to continue helping the 4 percent of insured Americans--approximately 230,000 Tennesseans-- who dont get insurance from work or Medicare or Medicaid and buy their insurance on an Affordable Care Act exchange. These are millions of our most vulnerable citizens, and theyre facing higher premiums and few options. Some are even likely to have zero options next year, which means their Obamacare subsidy will be as useful as having a bus ticket in a town with no buses.

"I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the Trump Administration to give states flexibility to offer more choices of lower-cost insurance, stabilize the individual market, and pass my legislation with Senator Corker to give Americans with a subsidy and zero insurers the option to buy insurance offered outside of the Affordable Care Act exchanges.

Senator Alexander and Senator Bob Corker last month introduced the Health Care Options Act of 2017, legislation to rescue Americans with Affordable Care Act subsidies who have zero options for health insurance on the exchanges for the 2018 and 2019 plan years.

Specifically, the Health Care Options Act of 2017:

 Will allow Americans who live in counties in which there are zero health insurance options on the Affordable Care Act exchange to use their subsidy to purchase any health insurance plan outside of the exchanges, as long as the insurance is approved for sale by the state. That means Americans on the exchanges will have options to purchase insurance where the Affordable Care Act has left them with none. This option would be given to individuals who live in a county where the Secretary of Health and Human Services certifies there are no options on the ACA exchange.

 When the HHS Secretary certifies that there are zero insurance options on the exchange, the legislation will waive the Affordable Care Acts requirement to buy a specific health care plan or pay a fine. The laws individual mandate penalty will not apply to these individuals.

 The legislations temporary authority would only be in place through the end of the 2019 plan year.
The Cook County state's attorney's office has sued to block the apparent winner of Markham's mayoral race from taking office.

The complaint, filed Wednesday, asks a circuit court judge to declare that Roger Agpawa isn't eligible to hold the office because of a felony conviction.

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Unofficial vote totals show Agpawa, who is fire chief in Country Club Hills, receiving 42 percent of votes cast for mayor, compared with 16 percent for candidate Perry Browley.

In August 1999, Agpawa pleaded guilty to mail fraud as part of a federal medical insurance fraud case. With that conviction on his record, Agpawa, by law, would not be eligible to take the oath of office, and the state's attorney had, prior to the election, threatened legal action of Agpawa was declared with winner and tried to claim his seat.

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As part of a federal court conviction, Agpawa avoided jail time but was ordered to pay restitution, serve three years' probation and perform 200 hours of community service work. He would need a presidential pardon in order to hold municipal office.

Agpawa referred questions about the suit to his lawyer, who couldn't be reached for comment.

Also seeking to become Markham's mayor as write-in candidates were Kenneth "Mojo" Muldrow Jr., who has served as a police officer in the city for 31 years and is president of the Markham Park District, and Errol Powell, who ran a write-in campaign for Markham mayor in 2013.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

There were 786 write-in votes cast in the April 4 mayor's race, according to the Cook County clerk, but which way those votes were divided won't be revealed until after the official canvas of votes later this month.

The court complaint notes that any person convicted of an "infamous crime" is not eligible to hold any office of "honor, trust or profit." In Illinois, an infamous crime is one that "violates commonly accepted principles of honesty and decency," and mail fraud "has historically been deemed an infamous crime," the state's attorney argues.

The state's attorney had previously threatened, late last month, to take legal action should Agpawa be declared winner and attempt to take the oath of office.

In situations where the person elected to municipal office is ineligible or otherwise unable to serve, members of the Village Board or City Council can appoint one of their own members to serve as interim officeholder until the next election, according to Ken Menzel, general counsel for the Illinois State Board of Elections.

The second-highest vote getter can't be appointed to the job, and election law doesn't provide for a special election to be held to fill a vacant municipal elected post, he said.

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mnolan@tribpub.com

Twitter @mnolan_j
A missing Dolton man was found Wednesday unhurt in Chicago after wandering off from a nursing home group outing, Homewood police said.

Thord Umbenstock, 64, a Countryside Nursing Home resident, disappeared Tuesday afternoon from Walmart, 17550 S. Halsted St., Homewood, officials said.

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After leaving the Walmart at about 3:27 p.m. Tuesday, Umbenstock was spotted getting off a Pace bus at 95th and State. About 9:30 Wednesday night, Umbenstock walked into the Chicago Police Department Jefferson Park station, officials said. Police recognized him from a photograph that had been sent there and contacted Homewood police.

A detective responded to that location and Umbenstock was admitted to a Chicago hospital for evaluation. Caregivers told police that he has a history of mental health disorders, officials said.

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Countryside had no comment.

mmccall@tribpub.com

@MatthewMcCall_
This 53-year-old bridge over I-80 in New Lenox, which is part of the Old Plank Road Trail, will be replaced this month by the Illinois Department of Transportation, as it plans to upgrade the I-80 interchange at U.S. 30.- Original Credit: (Forest Preserve District of Will / HANDOUT)

Those who hike and bike the Old Plank Road Trail through New Lenox will soon be crossing a new bridge over Interstate 80.

As the Illinois Department of Transportation plans for the eventual improvement to the I-80 interchange at U.S. 30 in New Lenox, it first needs to install a higher and wider bridge, replacing the existing 53-year-old structure.

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The $1.4 million bridge project will create a more aesthetically pleasing trip for trail users, said Ralph Schultz, chief operating officer for the Forest Preserve District of Will County, which manages the 21-mile OPRT along with five other governmental agencies from Joliet to Park Forest.

"Trail users will have a unique opportunity to view motorists and commerce moving along one of America's great cross-country interstates, and highway travelers will be able to see the runners, walkers and cyclists who are enjoying the trail," he said in a news release.

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IDOT is financing the project, but the forest preserve district did approve the plans, Schultz said.

The new 227-foot bow truss structure will replace a 171-foot two-span through plate girder structure that was originally built in 1964 to carry the Joliet and Northern Indiana Railroad over the interstate.

The bridge will be similar in appearance to the Orland Park Bikeway Bridge over Route 45/LaGrange Road, Schultz said.

The two I-80 bridge spans are scheduled to be delivered to the site during the week of April 17, according to project manager Jeff Gillan, of Coal City-based D Construction, which was hired by IDOT to install the new bridge and remove the old one. Concrete supports for the new bridge are already in place.

Installation will occur between midnight and 5 a.m. on the day selected for the work, and I-80 traffic will be stopped for about 30 minutes as the two bridge spans are put in place, Gillan said in a news release.

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Trail users will not be affected by the project because the old bridge will not be removed until the new one is opened, just east of the existing one.

Once the spans are installed, the contractor will pour a concrete deck on the bridge and create asphalt links to the existing trail, a process that will take about two weeks.

IDOT spokeswoman Gianna Urgo said the state is still identifying a funding source for the interchange project and has no timeline yet for that improvement project.

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In other trail news, the forest preserve district recently awarded a $148,400 contract to Frank Burla and Sons Builders of Channahon, to construct an extension to the DuPage River Trail at the south end of Hammel Woods in Troy Township, from its terminus in Grinton Grove, under Route 52, to Eastshore Drive in the village of Shorewood.

Forest preserve commissioners also recently approved a $24,850 contract to Christopher Burke Engineering to design a trail and two bridges along Black Road to connect the Rock Run Greenway Trail and DuPage River Trail in Joliet. That construction project will be funded by $2.2 million in grants.

slafferty@tribpub.com

Twitter @SusanLaff
A rendering showing The Reserve apartment development planned for the northeast corner of 183rd Street and Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park. (Village of Tinley Park)- Original Credit: Handout (Nolan, Michael / HANDOUT)

Tinley Park has reached a tentative $2.45 million settlement with Ohio-based developer Buckeye Community Hope Foundation to resolve litigation filed over its proposed apartment complex in the downtown business district, village officials announced Thursday.

As part of the proposed settlement, which is scheduled to be voted on at the village board's April 18 meeting, Buckeye will drop its plans to build "The Reserve," a 47-unit apartment building catering to low-income renters at the northeast corner of 183rd Street and Oak Park Avenue, Mayor Dave Seaman said.

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"It was recognized, certainly by our side, that the cost of pursuing [litigation] would be prohibitive, and this seems to be the best solution on everybody's part," he said.

The Daily Southtown reported last July that Tinley Park had spent nearly $129,000 in its defense of the Buckeye lawsuit, according to village records. It's unclear exactly how much has been spent on top of that over the past 10 months, but village manager Dave Niemeyer said it was "considerably more" than the previously reported amount.

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Per the terms of the tentative settlement, Tinley Park will pay Buckeye $75,392 from the village's general fund. Buckeye will receive an additional $684,608 from a legal settlement fund held on behalf of Tinley Park by the Intergovernmental Risk Management Association, the village's insurer. IRMA will then pay Buckeye another $1.69 million out of its own fund, for a total settlement of $2.45 million.

The legal settlement fund, Seaman explained, is a reserve fund that accumulates over time when the insurance premiums the village pays exceed the insurance claims it pays out.

"The insurance company basically sets a certain amount of money aside for good experience, and that's what it is," he said. "To date, we've had pretty good experience with litigation, so this is how those things get formed."

While the proposed settlement with Buckeye will wipe out virtually all of Tinley Park's legal settlement reserve, Seaman said it wouldn't have a negative impact on the village's bottom line.

"That's what it's there for," he said. "It's being used for the purpose that it was created and intended."

The mayor said the proposed settlement, however, could have a minor impact on the insurance premiums the village pays.

"It's going to have some negative impact on us," he said, "but I don't believe it'll be substantial, once again, because I think we've got a pretty good track record."

Buckeye, which could not immediately be reached for comment, sued the village after the proposed development stalled last year, held up by the village's Plan Commission, which tabled a vote on the development in early February 2016 amid strong opposition from residents.

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The village and developer had been at odds over the need for the complex to be built with street-level commercial units, village officials said.

The village argued that street-level commercial units were necessary due to zoning restrictions in the downtown business district, while Buckeye maintained that its apartment development had been in compliance with village codes at the time the Plan Commission considered the project. Enforcing street-level commercial requirements, Buckeye argued, was discriminatory against affordable housing.

In November, the U.S. Department of Justice got involved in the dispute, filing a separate lawsuit against Tinley Park that alleged officials violated federal fair housing laws by not approving the apartments.

"It's not an issue that the village was trying to block affordable housing," Seaman said Thursday. "The problem was the developers wanted that entire building to be residential and that just wasn't what the board felt was in the village's long term interest."

Seaman said the village's position that street-level commercial units be mandated in the area where the Reserve had been proposed was an "economic impact issue."

"That's part of our downtown district zoning, and as such, we felt it important that commercial be a component of that," he said.

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Niemeyer said the village had attempted to negotiate with Buckeye to get it to adhere to its zoning code, but that the developer was not able to comply with the demand.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

"[Buckeye] determined that they just weren't going to be able to do that, and that's when we entered this discussion about a settlement," he said. "That's really what kind of drove it."

Niemeyer said the village's insurer also had pushed strongly for it to settle with Buckeye.

"They really wanted us to settle this case," he said. "They were threatening to pull coverage if we didn't agree to engage and put money toward the settlement.

"The money we're putting forward is, in all likelihood, less than we would have paid on attorney fees going forward."

While the village's proposed settlement with Buckeye would not automatically clear up the pending Department of Justice suit, officials hope they'll drop it once the settlement is finalized. Niemeyer said the village had filed a motion to dismiss a couple months ago and was still waiting on a response from the federal government.

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zkoeske@tribpub.com

Twitter @ZakKoeske
"These are halls of justice  not mercy," the prosecutor bellowed before the jury as I wiggled uncomfortably in the back of the courtroom, notebook in hand.

I was fresh out of college and covering courts in Texas when I first wrestled with the notion of justice vs. mercy.

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Justice is when society gives someone a punishment it thinks a defendant deserves. Mercy, on the other hand, is when it extends a hand of compassion.

We are all for compassion when it is we who are standing before the judgment seat. But we aren't so much for it when it is someone who has wronged us.

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I just finished reading "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson. He's a Harvard-educated lawyer who has devoted his life to representing those sentenced to death.

He famously was able to prove one of his clients was factually innocent and have the conviction thrown out.

Sometimes our society makes mistakes.

And the death penalty is something that makes me uneasy.

It has since I met a man named Gary Gauger. He was wrongly convicted of murdering his parents in rural McHenry County. He served two years on Illinois' death row before his conviction was thrown out.

I met Gauger back in 1990 when he dropped by my office, which was then in the Illinois statehouse. He told his tale of wrongful conviction and left me speechless.

I'm libertarian in my philosophy, which means I support limited government. And let's face it, there is no greater intrusion of government than when it chooses to kill one of its citizens.

And after 30 years of covering government, I've come to the conclusion that it does very little very well.

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Even when it comes to the death penalty, in recent decades Illinois managed to sentence 13 men to die who were factually innocent.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

For this reason, I'm glad Illinois no longer has capital punishment.

While Gov. Pat Quinn signed the legislation outlawing the death penalty, it is really Gov. George Ryan who deserves the credit. During his four years in office, he moved from being a supporter of the death penalty to being the nation's most vocal opponent of capital punishment. He is the man who emptied Illinois' death row.

I used to say, "I support the death penalty because some people don't deserve to live."

And, no, I haven't become naive. I know there are still bad people among us who should be banished to be forever away from society.

But what does society gain by killing? Retribution?

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Well, perhaps it's time to temper our justice with a bit of mercy.

Scott Reeder, a veteran statehouse journalist, works as a freelance reporter in the Springfield area and produces the podcast Suspect Convictions.
A Saturday motorcycle ride is set for a Carpentersville couple killed in a crash Sunday in unincorporated McHenry Township.

Crystal Lake resident Jeff Kylloe is coordinating the ride to the remembrance and funeral services for Dennis Edward Spears Jr., 49, and Tanya Schafer, 42, at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Century Lodge 492 building, 492 50&1/2 Main St. in Carpentersville "to celebrate the life of two beautiful souls."

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Those with motorcycles who want to join should meet at the corner of Charles Miller and River roads at 12:30 p.m. and travel together to the service in Carpentersville.

Doors for the service will open at 2 p.m. Saturday, with military funeral honors at 3 p.m. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows ceremony will follow.

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Kylloe is grieving the loss of his longtime friends.

"Dennis was my riding partner and best friend," Kylloe said. "Both Dennis and Tanya were amazing people with the most beautiful hearts and souls. They would do anything for anyone."

Spears and Schafer also adored each other, he said.

"They were so much in love. A love you don't see very often and I know they could not have gone on without the other," Kylloe said.

Spears and Schafer were killed Sunday after the motorcycle they were on collided with a minivan after 7:50 p.m. at the intersection of River and Charles J. Miller roads, in unincorporated McHenry Township.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the motorcycle, driven by Spears, was heading south on River Road and had a green light at the intersection with Charles J. Miller Road, according to officials. A 2014 Chrysler Town & Country minivan driven by a 41-year-old Wonder Lake woman was heading north on River Road and turning west on Charles J. Miller Road. The van's driver failed to yield to the motorcycle, leading to the crash, according to the news release from the McHenry County Sheriff's Office.

Dennis Edward Spears Jr. and Tanya Schafer (Scott Szczesny / HANDOUT)

Wisconsin resident Scott Szczesny initially met the couple through a political discussion a few years ago on Facebook. They then met in person at an environmental protest in Chicago against Monsanto.

Spears, a veteran and member of the Fox Valley Libertarian Party, recently volunteered to take over the role of membership director for the Libertarian Party of Illinois, Szczesny said.

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"They just came back from the Libertarian Party of Illinois state convention that was held in Tinley. They were big on individual rights and liberties, personal choice and self-ownership. Pro-Constitution and the Libertarian Party. They helped open my eyes to many things over the years," Szczesny said.

Spears often went by Paws, Szczesny said, and recently Schafer had the gas cap on their new motorcycle engraved with the nickname.

"Dennis and Tanya were a great caring and loving couple," Szczesny said. "Their third anniversary just passed on March 26, which was also Tanya's birthday."

They both loved to ride the motorcycle, as well as spend time with friends, family and their rescue dog, a German Shepherd named Stella, he said.

"They were the type to always make others laugh and smile. When Tanya would get going she had this snort that you couldn't help but laugh along with," Szczesny said. "They were just great, loved, life of the party type of friends who are already missed."

A post on the Libertarian Party of Illinois Facebook page said Spears was active in his community and with the local Odd Fellows chapter, in addition to working toward liberty at both state and local levels.

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"Dennis had a heart of gold and will be sorely missed as both a friend and a fellow activist," the post said.

Erin Sauder is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
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Here is the latest jail booking report from Hamilton County:

ADAMS, JAIMEE N

209 CROLL ST CHATTANOOGA, 37410

Age at Arrest: 27 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

---

AR-RAHMAAN, RAPHEAL

2311 EAST 14TH STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37404

Age at Arrest: 27 years old

Arresting Agency: Federal Marshall

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

---

BELL, MICHAEL TYRONE

717 E 48TH STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37410

Age at Arrest: 55 years old

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

---

BRADLEY, DARYL WAYNE

3301 TAYLOR STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37406

Age at Arrest: 22 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF

---

BURKHART, ROBERT FRANKLIN

1334 FLORIDA ST CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 46 years old

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County

FUGITIVE FROM GEORGIA

---

CARRINGER, SCOTT LEE

HOMELESS ,

Age at Arrest: 26 years old

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County

FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN CATOOSA COUNTY, GA)

---

CAWOOD, ALEXANDER AVERY

18285 ALBAMARLE DRIVE HIXSON, 37343

Age at Arrest: 27 years old

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER 500

---

CHAPMAN, STEPHANIE

409 S CORTEZ STREET NEW ORLEANS, 70119

Age at Arrest: 41 years old

Arresting Agency:

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

---

COLLIER, ANTONIO LAMAR

119 TIMBLE CIRCLE APT 63 CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 39 years old

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County

FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FL)

---

DANIELS, TARA DANIELLE

352 DUCKTOWN STREET SODDY DAISY, 37379

Age at Arrest: 40 years old

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy

DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE

---

DAVIS, ADAM KEAN

4074 ARBOR PLACE LN CHATT, 37416

Age at Arrest: 32 years old

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County

FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN WALKER COUNTY, GA)

---

DAVIS, JAMARCUS KISHON

1511 Eucalyptus Dr Chattanooga, 37411-123

Age at Arrest: 20 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

---

DOUGLAS, CEDRIC JERMAINE

7604 STANDIFER GAP RD APT 1403 CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 22 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga

THEFT OF PROPERTY

---

EAKER, JOHN EVERETT

5901 ST.

JAMES AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37412Age at Arrest: 31 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeFAILURE TO APPEAR---FAIRES, AMERKA LEDYIA3818 KINGWOOD CIRCLE EAST RIDGE, 37412Age at Arrest: 53 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeVIOLATION OF PROBATION (DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENC---FLORES, MORIAH JOY9234 HOPI TRAIL OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaTHEFT OF PROPERTY---GOFF, DARRELL WAYNE1927 WILKES SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE---HENDERSON, GREGORY SCOTT6118 CHAMPION ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 49 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---HILL, STEPHEN LEBRON264 WATER STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: Chatt. Housing AuthorityCONTEMPT OF COURTCONTEMPT OF COURT---HISSA, CAYLEE NICOLE1115 THOMAS DRIVE APT A HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 22 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyFUGITIVE (WALKER COUNTY, GA)---HOPSON, MYILAH3767 WILCOX BLVD CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 22 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaTHEFT OF PROPERTY UNDER 500---HOUSLEY, ELIZABETH GAIL711 OLD HIGHWAY 70 LENOR, 37772Age at Arrest: 53 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyOBTAINING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE BY FRAUD---HURT, ROBERT CLARENCE2709 CITICO AVE APT L 6 CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE---JACINTO, JASMIN GABRIELLA5057 OOLTEWAH RINGGOLD OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 21 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDOMESTIC ASSAULT---JORDAN, LEBRON EDWARD4121 CENTRAL AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37410Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaFRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDFRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDFRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDFRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDFRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDFRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD---KENDRICKS, GREGORY OMAR369 ROGERS RD CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyPOSSESSION OF MARIJUANA FOR RESALEDRUG FREE SCHOOL ZONECARRYING WEAPONS ON SCHOOL PROPERTYPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA---LAYNE, CANDICE4203 SHADY OAK DR OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 37 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyCRIMINAL IMPERSONATIONPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEFAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE---LEE, BROOKE ROSALIND5321 MCDONALD ROAD MCDONALD, 37363Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---LEVERETT, CORDARRYL DEJUAN3811 JUANDALE TR CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 28 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE---LONG, LINSEY ALEXANDRA1200 DOUG DALE ST. CHATTANOOGA, 37415Age at Arrest: 28 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyVIOLATION OF PROBATION (DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAFAILURE TO APPEAR---LOPEZ-MIRANDA, CARLOS EDILBERTO1813 S WILLOW STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 22 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---MANDELLA, JESSICA MARIE207 SPEARS AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37405Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDOMESTIC ASSAULT---MASSINGILE, ANTONIO MAURICE1108 NEW YORK AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37417Age at Arrest: 31 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---MCDONALD, TERRY3513 3RD AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---MEDLEN, JONATHAN LYNN6149 MARIE LANE HARRISON, 37341Age at Arrest: 38 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDOMESTIC ASSAULTDOG AT LARGE---MOORE, ASHLEY TRAVIS227 KAREN DRIVE RINGGOLD, 30736Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---MORGAN, CHRISTIAN6212 RAMSEY HARRISON,Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaTHEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $1,000---OWNBY, CHARLES GILBERT1132 HIGHWAY 19 ANDREWS, 28901Age at Arrest: 63 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyCRIMINAL TRESPASSING---PHILLIPS, KATHERYN LOUISE4009 W ROAD SIGNAL MOUTAIN, 37377Age at Arrest: 70 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEDRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINEDRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CARE---POLLARD, PATRICK ALLEN6800 HIXSON PIKE HIXSON, 37415Age at Arrest: 23 years oldArresting Agency:Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---PRESTON, TYSEAN L2100 BENNETT AVE APT#B CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 26 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaPOSS.A FIREARM DURING COMMISSIION OR ATTEMPT TO COPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIACONTROLLED SUBSTANCES SCHEDULE VI---SANDERS, LYLE T2 ABELIA LN CHATTANOOGA, 37415Age at Arrest: 54 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaAGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC)AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC)---SCOTT, TANYA DENISE4306 9TH AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 41 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaVIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHE---SHAHAN, BRYAN KEITH1515 SHAHAN LN BIRCHWOOD, 37308Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDRIVING WITHOUT LICENSE---SMITH, JONATHAN ALLEN4309 OAKLAND AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37410Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---SMITH, MICHAEL WAYNE3500 REDDING ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 37415Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaVIOLATION OF PROBATION (BURGLARY OF AN AUTO)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (BURGLARY OF BUSINESS)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHI---SMITH, TIMOTHY EARL1547 HWY 41 RINGGOLD, 30736Age at Arrest: 48 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyFUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN CATOOSA COUNTY, GA)---SYLVESTER, TYSON LAMAR1705 VERONA DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaTHEFT OF PROPERTY---TOWNSEND, DYLAN MARK7629 HUNTER ROAD HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 21 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBURGLARYCRIMINAL TRESPASSINGTHEFT OF PROPERTY---YORK, ANITA MARIE7734 HARPER ROAD HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 40 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

Here are the mug shots:

ADAMS, JAIMEE N

Age at Arrest: 27

Date of Birth: 12/31/1989

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga



Last Date of Arrest: 04/13/2017

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT BELL, MICHAEL TYRONE

Age at Arrest: 55

Date of Birth: 06/02/1961

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County



Last Date of Arrest: 04/13/2017

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

BRADLEY, DARYL WAYNE

Age at Arrest: 22

Date of Birth: 10/04/1994

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga



Last Date of Arrest: 04/13/2017

Charge(s):

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF BURKHART, ROBERT FRANKLIN

Age at Arrest: 46

Date of Birth: 09/20/1970

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County



Last Date of Arrest: 04/13/2017

Charge(s):

FUGITIVE FROM GEORGIA CARRINGER, SCOTT LEE

Age at Arrest: 26

Date of Birth: 04/12/1991

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County



Last Date of Arrest: 04/13/2017

Charge(s):

FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN CATOOSA COUNTY, GA) CAWOOD, ALEXANDER AVERY

Age at Arrest: 27

Date of Birth: 03/02/1990

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County



Last Date of Arrest: 04/13/2017

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY OVER 500 CHAPMAN, STEPHANIE

Age at Arrest: 41

Date of Birth: 07/05/1975

Arresting Agency:



Last Date of Arrest: 04/13/2017

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

COLLIER, ANTONIO LAMAR

Age at Arrest: 39

Date of Birth: 07/18/1977

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County



Last Date of Arrest: 04/13/2017

Charge(s):

FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FL) DANIELS, TARA DANIELLE

Age at Arrest: 40

Date of Birth: 09/13/1976

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy



Last Date of Arrest: 04/13/2017

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE DAVIS, ADAM KEAN

Age at Arrest: 32

Date of Birth: 07/11/1984

Arresting Agency: Hamilton County



Last Date of Arrest: 04/13/2017

Charge(s):

FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN WALKER COUNTY, GA)
United Airlines, Aviation Department Grilled During City Council Hearing

By Stephen Gossett in News on Apr 13, 2017 9:05PM

United Airlines officials and the commissioner of Chicago's Department of Aviation apologized at a hearing in front of the City Council Aviation Committee for the violent dragging of Dr. David Dao from his flighteven as UAL officials were limited in what they could say, due to to pending litigation and investigations.

We deeply, deeply regret what happened, said Margaret Houlihan Smith, Managing Director Government Affairs for United, calling Dao's removal "unacceptable mistreatment."

Ginger Evans, Commissioner of the CDA, told the committee that she felt extreme regret for how officers handled the situation. Evans said the department would pursue increased training in verbal de-escalation tactics and emotional intelligence.

She also said that an outside, "international" security expert would review Chicago's airport policies.

A directive had been issued in January to change labels on aviation security officers' jackets to read "security" instead of "police," according to the CDA commissioner. Evans said she would prefer to answer at a later time" as to why the ASOs' outfits still read "police" on Sunday.

Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward) meanwhile, was in vintage demonstrative form as he laid into the panel. The incident took "passenger mistreatment to astonishing new levels" he said, adding that city law enforcement should not be doing the dirty work for the Friendly Skies Airline.

A United representative said most situations in which would-be passengers are asked to give up a space are handled at the gate, prior to boarding. "Unfortunately... we failed," he said.

John Slater, vice president of OHare operations of United, said he was limited in what we can say today." But even without delving into policy detail, when asked about passenger "bumping," Slater said, "There's no script for this."

Passengers were offered compensation and a hotel to volunteer off the plane, he said. When asked how often United offers the maximum $1350 allowed under the law to incentivize removals, United said it would answer later through committee.

Deputy Commissioner of Security for CDA Jeff Redding said that aviation security officers are not supposed to board planes in order to handle customer service incidents, per department policy. Whether or not Dao's case constituted a customer service incident, Redding said he could not say due to the investigation.

Representatives from United said it will finish a review of pertinent policies by April 30.

Dao suffered a broken nose, a concussion and lost two front teeth in the violent removal, one of his attorneys, Tom Demetrio, said at a press conference earlier on Thursday. Dao was released from a Chicago hospital on Wednesday, Demetrio said. Three aviation officers have been place on leave due to the incident.

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. Demetrio said there will "probably" be a lawsuit, one that could be directed toward both United and the City of Chicago.

This post has been updated.
U.S. Steel Slammed Over Dangerous Chromium Spill Near Lake Michigan

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Apr 13, 2017 9:52PM



Chicago, via Indiana. Photo by Chicagoist Flickr Pool user Eric Allix Rogers

U.S. Steel has come under fire Thursday after it was found to have leaked dangerous, hexavalent chromium into an Indiana tributary that flows into Lake Michigan.

The leak took place at the Burns Waterway near Portage, Indiana, on Tuesday, April 11, and was reported to authorities by U.S. Steel Midwest Plant in Portage. Hexavalent chromium is a toxic chemical, made famous in the movie Erin Brockovich, that is used to keep steel from rusting and has been linked to stomach cancer. U.S. Steel allowed the chemical to spill from a broken pipe near its Gary Works plant in Indiana.

Near the site of the spill, the Ogden Dunes community shut off its drinking water intake and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore closed four beaches around Portage, according to the Tribune. The city conducted emergency water testing at its 68th Street water intake crib, according to the Tribune, and found no unusual changes.

Chicago's tap water "remains safe to drink," the mayor's office said in a statement Thursday afternoon, but Mayor Rahm Emanuel nonetheless released a statement chastising U.S. Steel for the release of the chemical. He also called on U.S. Steel to "immediately explain how they allowed a dangerous chemical into a Lake Michigan tributary where it could harm millions of people in Indiana and Illinois, and what they are doing to ensure this never happens again," and took a jab at the Trump administration efforts to cut the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The full statement, below:



"The fact that these dangerous chemicals have not reached Chicago's water supply is simply due to good luck, and not good actions by U.S. Steel. We cannot and will not tolerate careless conduct by companies that could threaten the health and safety of our residents, Emanuel said. U.S. Steel must immediately explain how they allowed a dangerous chemical into a Lake Michigan tributary where it could harm millions of people in Indiana and Illinois, and what they are doing to ensure this never happens again. At the same time, this incident is a warning to us all that if the Trump administration's plan to cripple the EPA is enacted, there will be no one left to protect residents from bad actors like U.S. Steel."

The Trump administration has called for the dismantling of EPA offices that work to protect American water sources by toughening and enforcing the standards on dangerous metals in drinking water. The administration is also trying to slash the funding to a Great Lakes cleanup and restoration program that, among other goals, works to clean up toxins in the Great Lakes caused in part by pollution from U.S. Steel.


11 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend



The Rolling Stones' Exhibitionism Exhibit opens this Saturday on Navy Pier. Image via Exhibitionism's website.

The Rolling Stones, Willy Wonka and Dan Savage? The weekend couldn't get much more awesome.



FRIDAY APRIL 14

OLD TOWN SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: The legendary Old Town School of Folk Music celebrates their 60th Anniversary with a free open house at 7 p.m. The party features a series of jam sessions, workshops and student performances showcasing the wide variety that the school and venue offers. Stick around for the Voice of the People singalong, featuring protest songs from spirituals to hip hop. Visit their website for more information and a full schedule.





2017 HUMP! Tour Teaser from HUMP! Film Festival on Vimeo.

HUMP FILM FEST: Everyone knows Dan Savage from his Savage Love column and lovecast podcast where he gives non judgemental sex advice. His HUMP! Film Festival comes to the Music Box Theatre Friday and Saturday nights only at 7:30 and 9 p.m. The carefully curated fest features short dirty movies from people who arent porn stars, but share the spirit of sex-positivity. Theres a little something for everybody at the fest with different body types, ages, sexualities and fetishes. Tickets are $25.

CALLING IT QUITS: Chairlift became famous on the heels of an Apple commercial, but the band blew the precious indie pop that made their name apart with the twisted funk that ran through 2016's Moth. Unfortunately while that album was a big leap forward for the group, it will also serve as their swan song. The band was original scheduled to play Double Doorwhich would have made their final Chicago appearance even more bittersweet had that venue been able to run its natural course. However the show must go on, and Chairlift's final appearance here will now take place at Park West on Friday night.

BACK FROM THE ... DEAD?: Chicago hip-hop group The Cool Kids never really called it quits, they just sort of faded away. Luckily for us the group that injected the Chicago scene with a blast in national exposure with 2008's The Bake Sale has resurfaced and promises that there is more new music on the horizon. This is all the more unexpected since as recently as 2015 the band claimed they were never coming back. But back they are, and Sir Michael Rocks and Chuck Inglish play The Empty Bottle on Friday night as part of that venue's 25th anniversary celebration series of shows.



SATURDAY APRIL 15

THE ROLLING STONES EXHIBITIONISM: The Rolling Stones have defined rock n' roll for decades, and now fans can get what they want with an immersive multimedia Exhibitionism at Navy Pier. The sheltered exhibit spans nine thematic galleries with a fashion gallery, original artworks, vintage instruments, a 3D concert experience and much more. Satisfaction guaranteed. Scheduled to run through July 30. Tickets are $32.



Image courtesy of Hard Rock Cafe.

HARD ROCK BRUNCH + EGG HUNT: Hard Rock Cafe is holding a special Saturday Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt for the kids. Special guest the Easter Bunny will also be in attendance and available for pictures. Seatings at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $17 for kids. Call 312-943-5572 or email Chicago_Sales@hardrock.com to make a reservation.

BRUNCH WITH THE BUNNY: NewCity will also have an Easter Egg Hunt for the little ones with dozens of treasures hidden throughout the plaza from 9:30 to 10 a.m. They'll also have arts and crafts stations and Brunch with the Bunny at Earls Kitchen + Bar until noon.



Image courtesy of Mercadito.

MIXOLOGY ACADEMY: Shake up some spring cocktails and Mercaditos La Mez Mixology Academy from 3 to 5 p.m. The course is led by Beverage Director Paul Tanguey with special guest Dustin Miller of Maestro Dobel Tequila giving guests instruction and a little bit of history. Tickets are $45. Call 312-329-9555 to reserve a spot.

TATTOOS FOR TAILS: Insight Studios hosts another Tattoos for Tails event with all profits going toward local animal rescue One Tail at a Time. Itll be walk-ins only between noon and 8 p.m., so get there early and have an idea in mind for a small or medium size tat or piercing.

WILLY WONKA: Music Box Theatre offers the opportunity to see the scrumdidilyumptious Chocolate Factory on the big screen with a special Easter weekend screening. Theyre showing the original 1971 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder. One screening at 2 p.m. only. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for kids.



SUNDAY APRIL 16: EASTER

ADULT EASTER EGG HUNT: Its truly a party in Logan Square this Easter Sunday with Longman & Eagles Adult Easter Egg Hunt from noon to 2 p.m. Registration begins promptly at 11 a.m. with the hunt to follow around the square, and then a block party back at the restaurant from 2 to 4 p.m. where theyll serve up adult beverages and crown the winners. Register your team of two for $10 by emailing info@longmanandeagle.com.
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.
Photos: Tour The Brilliant Feminist Design & Stunning Studio Of Chicago's Vichcraft

By Stephen Gossett in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 14, 2017 7:05PM



In just over two years, Jenna Blazevich has shepherded Vichcraft to the forefront of the local design scene with her instantly recognizable approach, which works the intersection of precise, crisply stylized visual sense and a badass, suffer-no-fools brand of feminism.

With nary a trace of vogueishness, the political and aesthetic smarts shown off in her work feel like the most ideal design foil for the current climate, when it seems the loudest and shrillest somehow always elbow to the front. We're clearly not the only ones taken, as evidenced by her stunning, thousands-strong Instagram feed, the uber-popular calligraphy workshops she hosts at her impeccably sleek studio, the outpouring of support for her debut solo show, and the way we lose count of how often we happen across her designs on shirts, patches, walls and mugs out in the wild.

We caught up with Blazevich to take a peek inside the famed Logan Square/Humboldt Park Vichcraft digs and chat about her favorite work, growing a small business, what it means to create meaningful political design in the era of Trumpism and Pepsi-ad idiocy, and her solo show, "Nolite te Bastardes Carborundorum," which runs until July at the Cards Against Humanity offices. (The show is open to the public, but only during events. So follow their accounts for the best "in.")

Chicagoist: How long have you been designing products and doing branding/logotype

Jenna Blazevich: On the side of branding-design jobs and completing my undergrad at the University of Illinois-Chicago, I was freelancing under my name and building up the skills to work with clients directly. I designed my first product (the "Self-Employed" patch) about six months into running Vichcraft, and that first product financially funded another run, as well as an additional product.

That ad-hoc method of starting a store has been a decent enough one so far, but running my shop has grown into a significant part of my day-to-day, which still also includes client work, installations, and events. In June, I'll be bringing on Vichcraft's first employee in the role of Studio Manager, and we will be building out the Vichcraft shop much more. We are very excited!

C: Do you have a few favorite items or designs you're most proud of?

JB: "The City Beautiful" piece that I made for Typeforce in January of 2015 was the first piece that I made under the name "Vichcraft," and it's still what I'm most proud of. It marked a significant and intentional shift into creating lettering work that more closely relates to the issues that I personally care about.

My "Self-Employed" patch was the first product that I made, and it's inspired by lyrics from a song by my friend's band, Tweens. It's still one of the products that seems to resonate most with the people, and it remains one of my favorite shop pieces. The "Girls to the Front" lettering is very close to my heart, and it ties together most of the things that inspire me: punk rock, feminism, rebellion and solidarity. It's on the back of a jacket that I wear daily.

C: What can you tell us about your solo exhibition?

JB: My solo show, "Nolite te Bastardes Carborundorum" (a reference to The Handmaid's Tale, and which translates to "Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down"), is really the first time that the most significant things that I've made over the past two years of running Vichcraft is all organized in one place. Both of my Typeforce piecesthe "City Beautiful" and the six hand-embroidered feminist bannersare on display, as well as a collage wall of product and lettering prints I've created over the past two years.

There's also a "Girls to the Front" wall, that showcases the same lettering spread across several different prints and wearables, including a motorcycle helmet, leather jacket, holographic foil, and it's all surrounded by a "Girls to the Front" neon sign. Lastly, there is a Honda CL350 that my boyfriend and I disassembled, stripped, painted, and updated to be a Handmaid's Tale-inspired piece on display.

C: How long have you been running the calligraphy classes, and how has the response kept up?

JB: In 2014, before launching Vichcraft, I taught a few classes around the country under my first and last name, and began working out the kinks of how best to teach a three-hour calligraphy course to a class of 10-15 students. Once I shifted my focus around a bit, and put together a plan to start the studio, it was important to me to still connect with the public and share my lettering knowledge and love of handcraft by means of hosting at least one or two classes a month. My beginner oblique calligraphy classes run once a month in my studio, and I'm consistently surprised and thankful that they still all sell out.

C: Finally, if you can maybe briefly talk about the importance of doing work with your focus at this current political moment.

JB: Vichcraft has (of course) always been very tied to me personally, and the causes, social issues, pieces of writing, and aesthetic styles that interest me as a person. The election year of 2016 was my second year of running Vichcraft, and I was (and am) still developing the most effective ways to use my skills, voice and platform to speak on topics that I'm passionate about.

Post-election, it is still one of my main goals with Vichcraft to do whatever I can to contribute to organizations and projects that are working to resist and counter the moves being made by the current administration. Furthermore, it is extremely important to me that I create feminist work that is as inclusive and intersectional as possible, because feminism is currently being diluted in meaning by companies monetizing the movement, and by self-proclaimed feminists focusing on issues that only relate to women who look and live like themselves. Failing to consider other classes, identities, races, bodies, and religions when doing feminist work results in an inability to progress and unite in a collective fight, and the opposition gains more leverage as a result.
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Indias Goods and Services Tax: Key Terms and Concepts

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The Northern Sea Passage Between Europe and Asia  Russias Developing Arctic Ports

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Indias Silk Road Ambitions and Chinas OBOR Intentions

Chinas OBOR initiative has taken the limelight, but expanding and developing the Silk Road is not purely a Chinese play. India had sixteen key Silk Road trading sites in ancient times, more than any other country excepting China, and is currently developing its own Silk Road ambitions.

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About Us Our Briefing updates are written by and provided by the various regional offices of Dezan Shira & Associates throughout Asia. To obtain a complimentary subscription to Asia Briefing please click here. To contact Dezan Shira & Associates concerning foreign investment and assistance in Asia, please email us at asia@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 ASEAN 2017

Doing Business in ASEAN introduces the fundamentals of investing in the 10-nation ASEAN bloc, concentrating on economics, trade, corporate establishment and taxation. We also include the latest development news in our Important Updates section for each country, with the intent to provide an executive assessment of the varying component parts of ASEAN, assessing each member state and providing the most up-to-date economic and demographic data on each.

An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2017

Doing Business in China 2017 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in China. Compiled by the professionals at Dezan Shira & Associates in January 2017, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Chinese market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to keep up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes.

An Introduction to Doing Business in Hong Kong 2017

Doing Business in China 2017 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in China. Compiled by the professionals at Dezan Shira & Associates in January 2017, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Chinese market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to keep up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes.

An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2017

An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2017 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in India. As such, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Indian market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to stay up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes.

An Introduction to Doing Business in Singapore 2017

An Introduction to Doing Business in Singapore 2017 provides readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Singapore and outlines the citys role as a trading hub within ASEAN. The guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, and social insurance in the city-state.

An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017

An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam. Compiled by Dezan Shira & Associates, a specialist foreign direct investment practice, this guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, payroll, and social insurance in this dynamic country.
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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.
Top negotiators from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) met 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 (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. [Photo/Xinhua]

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.
The passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight on Sunday night may file a lawsuit against the company, his lawyer Tom Demetrio said at a press conference Thursday.

Crystal Dao Pepper (R), daughter of David Dao, the passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight, speaks during a press conference in Chicago, Illinois, the United States, on April 13, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

While answering questions from reporters, Tom Demetrio said the passenger, David Dao, 69 years old, has a serious concussion, a broken nose, injury to the sinuses, and lost two front teeth as a result of the incident, adding the passenger also has psychological injuries because the rudeness of the treatment by security officials.

The lawyer said they have taken the first legal steps toward filing a lawsuit.

During the same press conference, Dao's daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper told reporters that "what happened to my dad should not have happened to any human being, regardless of the circumstance."

"We were horrified, and shocked, and sickened to learn what had happened to him and to see what had happened to him. We hope that in the future, nothing like this happens again."

Pepper thanked the medical team and people from around the world for what she described as an "outpouring of prayers, love, and concern."

Video of the incident has gone viral on social media, with commentators accusing United Airlines of racism and having included several calls for a boycott.

The video shows three security officers from the Chicago Department of Aviation pulling the passenger David Dao out of his seat, and in the ensuing struggle, hitting his head on the armrest. The video then shows that Dao was dragged off the plane by the arms.

During a press conference on Thursday morning, the attorney told reporters that the City of Chicago bears responsibility as well.

"So were these three officers, these storm troopers, for a moment, doing the right thing? No, not at all," Demetrio said. "This was not a troubled passenger. This was not a nutjob. This was not a threat to anybody. Should he have been unceremoniously dragged out of that plane the way he was? He's a 69-year-old man. Is that really the way we went to treat the aged disembarking that plane?"

The viral reaction also extended to the markets as United Airlines stock dipped up nearly 4 percent during the morning session after the incident, and the Chief Executive Officer has publicly apologized in an interview with U.S. media.

"He was a paying passenger, sitting on our seat in our aircraft and no one should be treated that way period," Munoz said. United Airlines' stock has since recovered most of that loss.

Due to the concussion, Demetrio said that passenger David Dao has no recollection of the incident, and was released from the hospital on Tuesday night. According to the attorney, Dao will likely drive home to Louisville from Chicago, instead of taking a plane.
Three telecom operators have vowed their full support for the Xiongan New Area, which could become China's first region to test out a large-scale commercial 5G network, Shanghai Securities News reported.

China Unicom said the company will make serving the Xiongan New Area a priority, and establish a special working team to plan and promote related work.

China Telecom said it would establish a gigabit optical network in the new area, fully covering e-Surfing 4G and Narrow Band Internet of Things, or NB-IoT. The company also plans to build a 5G trial network in advance, as well as cloudnetwork integration layout.

China Mobile also said it plans to build a 5G mobile communication network in the area, ensuring all-optical high-speed broadband infrastructure could be completed in one step.

China Mobile said the company fully supports turning the Xiongan New Area into a green smart city and innovation development pilot region. It will speed up the digitization service layout and promote the development of Internet of Things, cloud computing, big data, e-government and e-Commerce.

Three telecom operators are all paying close attention to the Xiongan New Area to ensure that a gigabit optical network could be established in one move, Fu Liang, an independent TMT (Technology, Media, Telecom) analyst told the newspaper.

"It's possible that Xiongan could become China's first region to try out large-scale commercial application of 5G network," Fu added.

China announced plans to create Xiongan New Area on April 1, which authorities described as a "major historic and strategic choice crucial for the millennium to come."

The new area, about 100 kilometers southwest of downtown Beijing, is designed to advance coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and cure "urban ills" such as traffic congestion and air pollution in the capital.
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Yu Zhengsheng (3rd L), chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over a biweekly consultation session on cultivation of patriotic young and middle-aged person in the religious group in Beijing, capital of China, April 13, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese political advisors met on Thursday to brainstorm on how to nurture more outstanding people who are both religious and patriotic.

Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top advisory body, chaired the biweekly meeting.

Members of the CPPCC National Committee said that generally the country lacks high-caliber and influential personages among various religious groups.

It is an important duty for all religious groups to train more believers that "are politically reliable, accomplished in religious study, moral and can play a role in critical moments."

Some members suggested government authorities encourage the establishment of more religious education institutions and give them more support in capital and land use.

They also called on religious groups to improve curriculums and training of faculty.

Authorities should improve training and provide more job opportunities for outstanding candidates, and strengthen daily supervision over them, some political advisors suggested.

The country should also improve national education system to make all religious people better educated, some advisors said.
You are here: Home

People rush to get a train at the Xidan Station in Beijing Subway. [Photo/China.org.cn]

The number of permanent residents in Beijing's six main urban districts dropped by about 353,000 last year, according to the municipal bureau of statistics on Thursday.

The reduction is more than the entire population of Iceland.

Beijing plans to cap its population at 23 million by 2020, reducing the population in six core districts by 15 percent from the 2014 level.

The bureau of statistics found residents' image of the city had improved.

A survey showed that 72.3 percent of those polled had confidence in Beijing's becoming a high-class livable city, up 2.1 percentage points from the previous year, and 63.3 percent found the city more livable than last year.
On April 16, Turkish citizens are voting on whether they agree or disagree with the establishment of a presidential system in their country. President Tayyip Erdogan is not legally allowed to exercise executive powers. According to the current Turkish Constitution, it is the prime minister who enjoys these powers.

Visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a joint press conference with his Croatian counterpart Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (not seen in picture) at the Presidential Palace in Zagreb, capital of Croatia, April 26, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

By proposing and organizing the Sunday referendum, Erdogan hopes that Turkey will abandon parliamentary democracy and will enter a new political era. He campaigns for a "yes" vote while his political opponents  mainly the Republican Party (CHP), the pro-Kurdish one (HDP) and some minor coalitions of the Left  strongly oppose him and campaign for a "no" vote.

Surveys conducted so far have not given a clear projection on the result of the referendum. Some show that the "yes" response has the lead and others predict a "no" victory. Analysts talk about a "neck and neck" race. It is wiser to wait for the official vote instead of anticipating the outcome. Several polling companies have completely failed in the past and cannot any longer be regarded as reliable.

here are three main factors which will define the result of the referendum. The first is whether supporters of the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) will show unity and cohesion in supporting Erdogan's cause. The second is whether voters of the Nationalist Party (MHP), who seem to be divided in some opinion polls, will finally opt for a "yes" or "no" vote. And the third is how general undecided voters will think and act on Sunday.

Arguments of the two political camps are contradictory. Erdogan underscores the importance of a "yes" result for the stability in Turkey. He says that uncertainty will not any longer characterize domestic politics and promises good governance. In the past, he explains, prime ministers and presidents did not always smoothly cooperate. In his view, this can change with the constitutional amendment if accepted by the majority of citizens.

By contrast, Erdogan's political opponents argue that checks and balances will be weakened if a new president can concentrate almost all powers. They are also skeptical about the continuation of his dominance. Although politics is often unpredictable, it is likely that the current Turkish president will win the presidential election of 2019 and 2024, to stay in power until 2029. If a snap election is called between 2024 and 2029, Erdogan will be able to even extend the permitted ten-year term for a longer time.

The day after will be difficult for Turkey irrespective of the referendum result. Divisions are evident for years and they have been intensified since 2013. Erdogan has introduced a religious aspect in politics which is endorsed by a significant half of the population but is considered an anathema by the other half.

The situation has deteriorated due to internal political tensions. At the beginning it was the disagreement between Islamists and Kemalists. And now it is also the clash between the Turkish president and cleric Fethullah Gulen. Following the failed coup of July 15, 2016, the former embarked on a crackdown operation against supporters of the latter.

Erdogan can be even more assertive if he wins. Therefore, some say that a "no" vote will put some limits to his objectives and facilitate a milder and conciliatory approach. Others, however, believe a governance gap will be created in the case of Erdogan's political defeat which might cause new instability.

At the foreign policy level, the main concern in the West is whether Turkey  under the rule of a more powerful Erdogan  will change its orientation moving more towards the East. There has been a general discussion on the matter since August 2016 when the rapprochement between Ankara and Moscow began. The Turkish president is very careful in making strategic choices.

He often disagrees with the U.S. and he does not hesitate to blame it publicly but he refrains from ignoring the obligations of Turkey as a NATO member state. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson did recently visit Ankara where he did not come to an agreement with the Turkish side on crucial themes such as the American support for Kurdish forces in Syria and the extradition of Gulen.

The recent air strikes against a Syrian military base create new momentum for the bilateral cooperation though. Erdogan positively sees the establishment of terror-free zones in Syria.

The Turkish president acts similarly vis-a-vis the EU. He threatens Europe, he accuses it for not proceeding with the visa-liberalization deal, he often blackmails it with a potential cancellation of the agreement on the refugee crisis but he keeps a minimum level of collaboration alive. Erdogan attempts to diplomatically bargain. He does not seek to freeze his country's relations with traditional partners in a period during which he is internationally isolated.

In six years, in 2023, Turkey will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic. The ambition of Erdogan is to build a reputation better than that of the founder of the Republic, Kemal Ataturk. His ambition goes hand-in-hand with Sunday's referendum. Whether he wins it or not, he is the politician shaping the course of Turkey's future.

George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
 Flash

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).
The Police Contract Battle Is Running Deep & Turning Odd

By Stephen Gossett in News on Apr 14, 2017 3:27PM



Photo: Scott Olson / Getty Images

The pushback against aldermen's effort to reform the police union contract displayed a wild flair for the dramatic on Thursday. The same day that members of the Black Caucus spoke out adamantly in favor of scrapping or tightening controversial measures that give police cover (too much, they say) the incoming police union chief reportedly said barely much at all at a 45-second press conferencealthough his reticence spoke volumes.

First up, the Black Caucus again threatened to kibosh a contract proposal that doesn't clean up the current one's thornier allowances. Those current specs include an affidavit requirement, which effectively roadblocks anonymous complaints; the 24-hour so-called cooling off period that officers have before making a statement after police-involved shootings; and a clause that allows disciplinary record older than four years to be destroyed.

Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th Ward), chairman of the caucus said on Thursday, via the Tribune:

"The FOP contract has been preserving and protecting a culture of racism and violence in our Police Department for far too long. Now is our chance to change that once and for all, and I would challenge the FOP to contact us and meet with us to discuss what's beneficial for the entirety of the city of Chicago, not just the rank-and-file members of the Police Department."

But the brand-new Fraternal Order of Police head, Kevin Graham, a hardliner who bested Dean Angelo in a high-turnout runoff election on Wednesday, seemed to make a between-the-lines pushback at an oddly reticent press conference.

The Tribune reports:

With cameras and reporters ready at the Fraternal Order of Police lodge in the West Town neighborhood, Graham spoke for one minute, offered no specifics, said "thank you" and left without taking questions.

New @ChicagoFOP7 prez Kevin Graham calls presser, says practically nothing. Finishes in 45 seconds. pic.twitter.com/UcZiWpsJ8Z  The Daily Line (@thedailylinechi) April 13, 2017

It was a decidedly non-splashy approach, but in line with the steely-reserve look Graham displayed in a statement following his win, a statement that drew crystal clear battle lines.

Graham said in part on Wednesday, "We look forward to immediately preparing for the upcoming contract negotiations, fighting the anti-police movement in the city, and obtaining fair due process and discipline for our members."

The showdown happens of course against the backdrop of potential broader police reforms, in the wake of the Justice Department's scathing report, issued in January, following a yearlong probe into the Chicago Police Department. That report found that the contract played a part in the lack of progress on misconduct cases. As WBEZ points out, 98 percent of the of 30,000 complaints, lodged over a five-year period, were not thoroughly investigated, the report said. Graham, meanwhile, was critical of his opponent for the FOP presidency, Angelo, for even cooperating with the DOJ.

The police contract expires June 30. If this week is any indication, both sides are prepared for the fight that will likely come before.
China Change

Chen Guiqiu, April 9, 2017

To the honorable Director He,* greetings:

Director He, as you can tell from the salutation, I continue to treat you respectfully.

Left to right: Chen Jiangang, Liu Zhengqing, and Chen

Guiqiu in front of the Changsha 2nd Detention Center in

December, 2016.

I was shocked to learn that you led a group of people to visit Xie Yang in the detention center. Did you know that for the last month Xie Yangs own defense lawyers, Liu Zhengqing ()and Chen Jiangang, have been prevented from seeing him? Their legally stipulated rights have not been protected, and yet you were allowed to pay a visit. Can you tell me why?

Do you know the details of how Xie Yang has been tortured for over more than a year? Did you know that, because we exposed the details of the inhumane torture he was subject to, I was summoned, interrogated, and threatened at the end of last year? Did you see the reports vilifying Xie Yang run by CCTV, Phoenix, and Global Times in early March this year? Did you know that lawyer Chen Jiangang has been investigated, intimidated, and threatened? Did you know that he is currently having trouble in his practice and that he has two young children to provide for? Did you know that lawyer Liu Zhengqing has attempted to visit Xie Yang on numerous occasions, including many personal trips to the detention center, whereupon he has simply been rudely told to go away?

We have already clashed once before over this, last September. At the time, Xie Yang had been locked up for 16 months and hadnt once been able to see his defense lawyers, yet you managed to see him several times! How strange, given that I had never hired you, or met you  yet you were somehow able to enjoy the extralegal privilege of meeting with my husband. And now, without even asking me for a cent or seeking my signature on a Power of Attorney letter, youve happily gone to the detention center to see Xie Yang, while the lawyers that I myself hired to defend him, who traveled long distances to Changsha, couldnt see their client? As a lawyer, why is your allegiance aligned with certain people, and not the law?

Though its nothing unusual in todays society, your eagerness to do the governments bidding still gave me a shock. This is because I know that many years ago you left your post as a judge and were determined to become a lawyer. You seemed to be one of those who knew where the future of China was headed, and knew how to maintain a basic sense of human decency. Youre over 50 years of age, yet you still allow yourself to be led by the nose. Is it that you need to help frame up Xie Yang so you can bolster your political credentials? Or is it that they promised you a huge cash reward for cooperating? While you grieve for the recent passing of your own mother, have you considered that Xie Yang too has aging parents who are hoping for their sons return? And that his brothers and sisters are all waiting to be reunited with him?

What is the purpose of your meeting Xie Yang, anyway? Did you go to try to force him to sign papers commissioning you as his lawyer? Why are you willing to be the scapegoat for these people? Do you want to become Xie Yangs lawyer, enter a guilty plea on his behalf, and send him to jail? What Im thinking is: even though you may be gaining benefit from doing this, and gaining illicit privilege, you may not be able to enjoy peace for the rest of your life. Surely youve heard of the many cases where ordinary people fight back against the injustice inflicted on them. I personally have no way of guaranteeing that, in Xie Yangs case, theres no relative or friend who wont take excessive measures in his defense.

The right and wrong in this case is so clear that a four-year-old would understand! Perhaps in your heart you do understand, but you are bound by mutual interest with the relevant organs, have to do what they ask you to, and get rewarded for doing so, in the face of overwhelming public condemnation.

I heard that you dont like to go online, so Im going to ask one of your colleagues to share with you the reports from the three media mentioned above, accusing us of fabricating the torture, so you can watch them together and exercise your meticulous legal reasoning, of which I think youre still capable. You can see for yourself how how the top-tier state media outlets of the country represent the twisted logic of the relevant departments handling the case; see for yourself the pure idiocy of it all; and realize how you are becoming part of this web of lies theyre weaving. You could still back away from this travesty, unless you believe that the sun can rise in the west if the people in power say so, and everyone else in China are deaf, dumb, and blind.

Id like to think your actions thus far are a slip of judgment after a talk, or a drinking party, with certain people. But when it comes to Xie Yangs case, we wont let this happen. Please, think it over carefully.

Xie Yangs wife, Chen Guiqiu

April 5, 2017

*He Xiaodian is the head of Hunan Gangwei Law Firm () in Changsha where Xie Yang was once an associate.

ChinaAid Media Team

Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985

Email: [email protected]

For more information, click here
MOSCOW - 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.
Editor's Note: As China holds an international forum on the Belt and Road Initiative in Beijing next month, China Daily talks with business leaders over their views and their participation in the developments.

Terrence Curtin, CEO of TE Connectivity

We understand the Belt and Road Initiative's significance in promoting economic growth and regional cooperation, and we appreciate the tremendous efforts China has put into this gigantic project.

We regard the many infrastructure projects proposed under the framework of this initiative as enhancing connectivity across Asia, Europe and Africa. This presents a large opportunity for TE, as we are well positioned to offer our unparalleled connectivity and sensing technologies and products in the energy infrastructure, ICT (information and communication technologies) infrastructure, railway links and many other sectors.

We are also encouraged by the China's welcome attitude to foreign participation into this project. As the Belt and Road forum will gather many world leaders to discuss the road map forward in Beijing, I believe companies like TE will have more opportunities to participate in the initiative and contribute to its success.

Shen Difan, general manager of AliExpress

The Belt and Road Initiative is conducive to lower trade barrier, address trade imbalances and enhance economic interdependence. While globalization benefits large multinational corporations, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to unlock the potential of SMEs by enhancing connectivity, and e-commerce is a critical channel to reach that goal.

AliExpress aims to serve 1 billion users globally within seven years and build a "cyber Silk Road" following the initiative. This will be achieved via collaboration on cross-border payment, express delivery and local partnership.

Ondrej Frydrych, CEO of Home Credit China

The Belt and Road Initiative has built a broad international platform for both China and economies on the routes and also generated strong momentum of economic growth in the countries, which not only further enhances the opening up of China but also provides tremendous opportunities for Chinese companies, especially those in service and manufacturing sectors, to "go global".

As a long-term player in Chinese market, Home Credit not only devotes itself to the development of local consumer finance industry, but also supports to promote the Belt and Road Initiative implementation and the globalization of our Chinese partners. We provide them with consumer finance solution which covers the entire process of loans, consumption, payment and credit system construction, so as to help them exploit Southeast Asia and other emerging markets rapidly. The collaboration is showing good results, and the initiative has brought even more opportunities in those markets and offered a platform where we could better integrate mutual resources.

Jan Rinnert, chairman of Heraeus

The Belt and Road Initiative is an encouraging and visionary initiative. Today's it's more focused on physical infrastructure investment, with substantial financial systems in place such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as the cornerstone. In the future it will lead to cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

The initiative would require extra efforts and coordination among public-private partnership, something that Europe can share some experiences with China.

The initiative will lend new momentum for the company's growth. Actually Heraeus has already been doing business in countries along the route. In the future, we look forward to the digital and data infrastructure building under the Initiative where there is a larger role for us to play.

Jose Vinals, chairman of Standard Chartered Plc

The Belt and Road Initiative is the most important single initiative that exists and it is fostering cross-border integration in terms of infrastructure, cross-border investment and international trade. China is championing the initiative, which is very fundamental.

We are very strategically supporting this initiative, because we think it's very important for all the countries we serve in Asia, Middle East and Africa. The initiative, by enhancing infrastructure that allows the countries to be connected, therefore promoting investment and trade, is a major factor to support growth, development and the prosperity of those countries.

Standard Chartered last year participated in 40 deals related with the initiative. For example, we have supported Chinese governments to develop water power plants in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Leif Johansson, chairman of the board of Ericsson

The Belt and Road Initiative is a very good articulation of something that can be good for many countries.

It is built on an old thought of connecting the world trade, but of course it will be built in reality with new technology, all the way from airports, logistics and infrastructure on communication that Ericsson can help.

Song Hailiang, chairman of Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co Ltd (ZPMC)

The Belt and Road Initiative is a grand international theater in which actors, directors, and scriptwriters must include people from various nations. The initiative starts with physical connection of high-speed roads, railway, airports and ports. With that in place, it would evolve into a broader platform to strengthen trade and cultural ties.

The platform would push the once loose, isolated and bilateral agreements into deepened multilateral cooperation. It will unleash huge value as times passes by.

ZPMC is a pioneer and a steady enforcer of the initiative. More than 50 countries along the route have ZPMC equipment installed, and I expect the number to grow as the initiative brings synergies and radiates to more nations.

The company is eyeing to expand to Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, and other countries in West Asia.

Jean-Pascal Tricoire, chairman and CEO of Schneider Electric SA

It is a very responsible thing for China to support the countries along the route of the Belt and Road Initiative to get better infrastructure. With the fast development of China in the past few years, it has accumulated rich experience and had real competency in building infrastructure, meanwhile, many countries are in need of that kind of infrastructure.

Therefore, this initiative is a great plan, probably one of the biggest plans within this century. We see a lot of potential in working together with Chinese enterprises as we have strong presence in the countries along the route of the initiative, we could support the plan.

Schneider Electric could provide complete solutions through its product, technology and service to create value for concrete, steel and water treatment sectors. When Chinese companies go abroad and look for partners, we could help them to be their assistant as we have already been there, owning engineers and service teams there, which could help these enterprises reach local standard, grow faster there as well as help them export.

Gao Yan, CEO of thyssenkrupp Greater China

The Belt and Road Initiative helps coordinating development policies, forging connected infrastructure construction and also strengthening trade relations in the regions involved.

As the CEO of thyssenkrupp Greater China, I see great opportunities for us to participate in and contribute to this initiative by leveraging our outstanding engineering expertise and rich experiences.

I am looking forward very much to the good cooperation with Chinese partners along with this initiative to bring mutual benefits.

Girish Ramachandran, Asia Pacific president of Tata Consultancy Services

The Belt and Road Initiative is a great opportunity for global trade, and to build connectivity for China around the world by enabling a more efficient supply chain. The whole initiative for reviving the Silk Road is technology-driven, and it will in turn help China bring some of its world-class technologies to economies along the route. The Belt and Road Initiative will also drive Chinese brands to gain international fame, which is set to pave the way for China's next phase of growth.

TCS is a strong believer and supporter of globalization, and the Belt and Road Initiative certainly serves that purpose. We generate 95 percent of total revenue from outside India, and the initiative will continue to fuel business momentum for us. While certain countries are looking inward, I hope it's a passing cloud and more people will see opportunities in the initiative.

Chen Qihua, vice-president of Caterpillar Inc and chairman of Caterpillar China

The core of the Belt and Road Initiative lies in bringing interconnectivity to the ancient trade routes through infrastructure construction. That's exactly what Caterpillar is delivering on all fronts.

As part of Caterpillar's long-term commitment, we will continue to facilitate Chinese indigenous partners on projects along the Belt and Road economies.

We are planning to organize a group of Chinese large contractors to go on an inspection tour in Africa and the Middle East in April, where Caterpillar owns mature dealership network and rich resources.

The initiative will benefit our efforts to promote interactions between Chinese contractors seeking overseas opportunities and service providers in host countries.

Gregory Hayes, chairman and CEO of United Technologies Corp

We have already started it with bringing the technology center for high-rise construction here to Shanghai to develop the markets along the Belt and Road Initiative. We also use China as a base to export across Asia and even back to the US on the escalators. It remains an opportunity for us to continue to expand manufacturing for export.

Our strategy is to continue providing innovative, cost-competitive and sustainable technologies for the aerospace and building industries for all the markets along these two trading routes. Also focus on creating new value for our customers through investment in new technologies and digital initiatives.

Alexei Chekunkov, CEO of Far East Development Fund

The Belt and Road Initiative is the most important international agenda launched by China. It is a policy of Beijing taking the leadership to save globalization, for the sake of China as well as for the world. While some people relate the Belt and Road to certain geographical lines or corridors, this is not true. The initiative is absolutely international and multidimensional, bringing many nations not necessarily along the route to the table.

The Belt and Road Initiative would serve as a guidance and unlock the full potential of Chinese companies to reach out to economically viable international projects and they are mutually beneficial.

Under the roof of the initiative, potential for Chinese investment into Russia's Far East region is at least 10 times bigger than it is now. This year, the fund is expected to partner with China's State-owned enterprises in creating two joint investment funds on gold and copper mining, as well as infrastructure and real estate projects.

Alain Crozier, Microsoft corporate vice-president, chairman and CEO of Greater China region

The Belt and Road Initiative has the potential to drive digital transformation because it empowers organizations to move quickly and scale around the world. This transformation will expand cooperation and connectivity among countries to boost China's economy, enhance national competitiveness and security.

At the same time, the initiative aims to establish a more open economic environment for foreign companies. We see all of this as an opportunity for the IT industry to be a key enabler of productivity, efficiency, innovation and prosperity across the broadest set of industries and services.

Liu Jie, vice-president of Carestream Health Inc and president of Carestream's Greater China Cluster

The Belt and Road Initiative is a medium - and long-term strategy that will further increase China's global influence. Hopefully, during the next few years, this strategy will produce great policy dividends, including investment opportunities in infrastructure construction, services and multiple industry chains.

Homegrown and multinational corporations need to expand overseas and conduct exchanges and cooperation to better complement each other's advantages. We expect multinationals - which hold inherent advantages in technology, standards and services - to actively take part in the initiative and drive economic development.

(China Daily 04/14/2017 page8)
CRRC subsidiary hopes to win contract for Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed link

Chinese rail vehicle manufacturer CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive will upgrade its facilities in Malaysia this year as it looks to win the service contract for the upcoming Singapore-Malaysia high-speed rail project, its chairman said.

China Railway and China Railway Signal and Communication sent teams to Singapore in December in the hopes of beating international rivals from Japan, South Korea and Germany to win the project.

The 350-kilometer high-speed railway between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, first proposed in 2013, is considered a game-changer. By linking the two major Southeast Asian countries, the railway will shorten the travel time between the two capitals from four hours to 90 minutes.

Eyeing this lucrative opportunity, Zhou Qinghe, chairman of CRRC Zhuzhou, a subsidiary of railway vehicle and equipment maker China Railway Rolling Stock Corp, said the company's expansion into Southeast Asia was in line with the aims of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The trade and infrastructure network, proposed by China in 2013, envisions a Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, covering about 4.4 billion people in more than 60 countries and regions in Asia, Europe and Africa. "The Belt and Road Initiative will help China export more high-speed rail technologies to a number of lucrative markets during 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period," Zhou said.

"As most countries along the routes of the initiative - especially in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe - are planning to build high-speed rail lines or upgrade their existing railway systems, they are willing to acquire technical support from China to assist in the daily operations, maintenance, staff training and other services."

China Railway submitted a detailed plan, including high-speed train designs, terminus station construction blueprints, noise and vibration data, and tender documents for various construction periods, to transportation authorities in Singapore and Malaysia earlier this year.

Malaysian branches

Southeast Asia is no new market for the group, however, as it has already set up manufacturing and maintenance facilities in Malaysia.

CRRC Zhuzhou opened a $131 million manufacturing facility in Malaysia's Perak state in 2015, which is managed by CRRC (Malaysia) Railway Vehicles and will act as the company's gateway to other member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The plant is capable of manufacturing various types of rail vehicles, from bullet trains to mass-transit trains and electric locomotives.

CRRC Zhuzhou has already supplied 18 metro-engineering maintenance trains to Singapore and they are now being used on the city state's urban rail network. "Because most Southeast Asian nations have just started to build new railway lines or bought new trains, they are keen to acquire technical support from China in the daily operations, maintenance, staff training and other services," Zhou said.

CRRC Zhuzhou's ASEAN plant is involved in production, assembly, testing, maintenance and refurbishment, with an annual production capacity of 100 electric trains and light-rail vehicles.

CRRC Kuala Lumpur Maintenance Sdn Bhd, another CRRC Zhuzhou subsidiary, was launched in 2011. It has 116 staff, of which 90 percent are local workers.

"Benefiting from the location, CRRC Zhuzhou can provide timely maintenance services for the new railroad and reach more countries in Southeast Asia," said Zhou, who has worked in the export business for more than two decades.

Maintaining rail equipment can be a lucrative business in itself, according to Liao Hongtao, deputy general manager of the company. "Even though a lot of money can be made from selling trains, providing maintenance services can also be profitable," he said, adding that many core parts need to undergo extensive maintenance after a year of use.

At present, the maintenance subsidiary's main business involves servicing the 38 sets of six-car electric multiple units and 50 sets of light rail vehicles on Malaysia's Ampang Line. More than 90 percent of its revenue comes from the local market.

Global network

In the ASEAN region, CRRC Zhuzhou's main markets are Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, where there is rising demand for electric locomotives and mass-transit trains for city and suburban lines.

CRRC Zhuzhou has six subsidiaries covering more than 10 countries and regions across Asia, Europe and Africa. Last year, the company established a European subbranch in Austria, opening itself to the continent's high-end market through international acquisitions and collaborations. The global rail and transit industry will be worth $240 billion this year, with maintenance services accounting for half that figure, according to a study by the Paris-based International Union of Railways in July.

However, CRRC Zhuzhou faces fierce competition from foreign rivals such as Siemens of Germany and Bombardier of Canada, who have their own global service networks to boost revenues in major markets such as Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

CRRC Zhuzhou understands the importance of building a complete network as part of its global expansion, according to Liao, its deputy general manager. "The tactic of establishing an ASEAN rail center in Malaysia is based on our market share in the country and its geographic location," he said.

Wang Zhipeng, a professor of rail transportation at Beijing Jiaotong University, said: "In the long term, China and the ASEAN economies will count on enhanced regional cooperation, especially in rail transportation, to stimulate trade and attract investment while improving regional economic integration."

Zhou of CRRC Zhuzhou said: "Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia's ongoing plans to build a high-speed rail link will further fuel the hope that Southeast Asia could one day have a system similar to the one in Europe."

With his eyes firmly fixed on future orders, Zhou predicted that ASEAN members will need 1,100 new carriages, and refurbishment for another 700, within the next five years.

Contact the writers at zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn

A high-speed train manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corp arrives at a maintenance warehouse in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, in July, 2016.Wang Shutian / Xinhua

(China Daily 04/14/2017 page7)
Confusing & Discouraging Answers Come From Hearing On United Airlines, Chicago Aviation Dept.

By Stephen Gossett in News on Apr 14, 2017 2:27PM



John Slater, a United Airlines vice president, testifies at a City Council committee hearing in Chicago on Thursday, April 13. Slater 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 United flight in which Dr. David Dao was dragged from on Sunday. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

Plenty of key questions were met with either cloudy answers or deeply discouraging ones as Chicago aviation officials and United Airlines brass on Thursday both faced often-stern interrogation by a Chicago City Council committee in the wake of the violent removal of a passenger from a flight at OHare International Airport on Sunday.



United Airlines' role



When pressed by an almost performatively feisty Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward), John Slater, vice president of operations for United Airlines at O'Hare International Airport, acknowledged theres no script for how it involuntarily deplanes a passenger. Slater said the situation comes up infrequentlybut Burke and other aldermen pushed back on that sentiment at times in the chamber.

There's "no playbook," Slater said.



Another lingering question remains why Dr. David Daowho suffered a broken nose and concussion and lost two teeth in the incident, according to his lawyerwasnt offered the full $1350 that airlines are permitted to offer for removals. (United previously said they offered Dao $1000; his lawyer said passengers were offered $800.) But at the hearing, United would not say how often the airline proposes the max amount.



Early in the inquiry, Slater made it clear that United personnel were limited in what we can say due to investigations and likely litigation.



Slater said most situations in which passengers are asked to give up a space are handled at the gate, before boarding. "I've never seen a situation like this," he said.



Dao was one of four people asked to give up their seat on the fully booked Kentucky-bound plane and take a later flight, in order to make room for four United crew members. (United targets passengers to bump based on their ticket price paid, whether they are frequent fliers and time of check in, Slater said.) Three people accepted, but Dao, who said he had patients to see the next day, refused to be bumped. An airline staff memberalthough United reps at the hearing would not say which one called authorities, leading to the bloody tangle with Chicago aviation officers. (The three aviation security officers have been placed on leave; and, you might have noticed, United CEO Oscar Munoz is running triage after multiple PR face plants.)



Chicago law enforcement should not be doing the dirty work for the Friendly Skies airline, Burke said on Thursday.



Getty Images



Chicago Department of Aviation's role

As for those aviation officerswho, like all Chicago aviation security, are not part of the Chicago Police Department and dont carry gunsthe picture remained foggy about their roles and restrictions, too. Ginger Evans, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, told committee members that the aviation officers had authority at least to board. At the same time, Jeff Redding, Deputy Commissioner of Security for CDA, said that aviation security officers are not supposed to board planes in order to handle customer service incidents, per department policy. As to whether or not Dao's case constituted a customer service or a security incident, Redding said he could not say due to the investigation.



If there's no imminent threat or no charges being drawn, then you don't need to board the plane, there's no purpose for it,  Redding said, about onboard customer service problems.



During one stretch of Burkes conspicuous grilling, the alderman also asked about use-of-force procedures as related to aviation security officers and how often such training is reinforced. But Redding said guidelines were presently being updatedwhich allowed him to go without giving a more direct answer.



Furthermore, Evans response as to why aviation officers sported police on their jackets during the incident was also wanting. A directive had been issued in January to change labels to read "security" instead of "police," according to the CDA commissioner. But Evans said she would prefer to answer at a later time" as to why no such change was visible on the footage of Daos removal.



Nevertheless, there were some concrete moments to be found: Evans, who expressed extreme regret, said the department would pursue increased training in de-escalation tactics and emotional intelligence. She also said that an outside security expert would review Chicago's airport policies. And United said it will finish a review of its own pertinent policies by April 30.



But overall, many question marks live on. Meanwhile, as court documents have been filed to protect relevant airline and city materials, a lawsuit is all but guaranteedone that could target both United and the City of Chicago.
Joint development to be the dominant theme at Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation next month in Beijing

One month and counting.

More than 20 heads of state and government, as well as 1,200 delegates from countries around the world will descend on Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which will be held on May 14 and 15.

It's a landmark event for the Chinese initiative, launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013.

Since then, the initiative - which consists of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road - has resulted in cooperative agreements with China from more than 40 countries and international organizations, and Chinese companies have invested some $50 billion in mainly infrastructure projects.

One of the aims of the forum is to move the concept from being a China-led initiative involving bilateral agreements to a multilateral concept that will help foster greater global connectivity.

Xi made his ambitions for the Belt and Road Initiative clear at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, when he defended globalization and called for countries to work together to tackle the world's many uncertainties.

"We should join hands and rise to the challenge," he said. "History is created by the brave. Let us boost confidence, take action and march arm-in-arm toward a bright future."

The main tangible elements of the initiative so far are the Silk Road Fund, for which the Chinese government pledged $40 billion in 2014 for investment in countries along the routes, and also the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, whose founding members include many Western countries, including the UK, France and Germany, along with leading Asian countries such as India, Pakistan and Vietnam.

Hugh White, a professor of strategic studies at Australian National University who was an adviser to former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke, believes the forum will be about making clear that the initiative is for everyone, not just China.

"For it to work, it has got to be something that has wider ownership and acceptance than just being a Beijing initiative," he said.

"It has the potential to be something very significant. The countries participating will be involved in creating a vision and framework for globalization for the next few decades. So it is of immense significance."

Joint development

Tom Miller, senior Asia analyst at Gavekal Research and the author of a new book, China's Asian Dream: Empire Building Along the New Silk Road, agrees the aim will be to make clear that the initiative is very much about joint development.

"The mistake you can make about the Belt and Road Initiative is to think it is purely a Chinese project," he said. "It can't be just that, because whatever China is doing, it is doing with enterprises in other countries. So it has to be about joint development."

Edward Tse, founder and CEO of management consultancy Gao Feng Advisory, believes the Belt and Road is still at the formative stage, and the forum will include a progress review and provide a forward vision.

"It is critical for the whole initiative. These leaders are coming together to discuss where to go next. Belt and Road started off as a concept, but the concept changed very quickly into some very tangible ideas like the AIIB and the Silk Road Fund and some very real infrastructure projects," he said.

"We don't have 100 percent clarity as to what it is or will evolve into; on the other hand, the participants have a lot of aligned interests and will want to be part of it."

Some critics of the initiative have seen it as China trying to exert greater geopolitical influence.

Shen Dingli, professor of international relations and executive dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, rejects this notion.

"We have no geopolitical agenda. It is not a strategy. At first it was bilateral, but it can also be China working with two or more countries, and it can also include projects in which China is not involved at all," he said.

"If they want to be involved, Japan can also bid for projects and be part of it. It is a global interconnectivity initiative. China does not have to be involved at all, but it is the country that initiated it, that's all."

Not a Chinese tool

Shi Yinhong, director of the Center for American Studies at Renmin University of China and one of China's leading foreign policy experts, says it would simply not work if it was seen as a Chinese geopolitical tool.

"If it was just about China's geopolitical interests, then other members would become suspicious and have their own concerns," he says.

"It is certainly not the message that China wants to put across. China, of course, does have many geopolitical interests, but it sees them as entirely separate from this initiative."

With the new administration in the United States having a protectionist agenda, the Belt and Road does reaffirm China's commitment to a new form of globalization based on connectivity.

Sun Yongfu, former director-general of the European Department of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, believes this will be one of the strongest messages from the forum.

"I believe the Chinese government would like to use this platform to send a strong message that China supports globalization," he said.

"China is open to different ideas. It does not just want to put its own ideas forward, but also wants to listen to others. It is about what countries can do in cooperation with each other, jointly, bilaterally and multilaterally."

Wang Huiyao, president and founder of the Center for China and Globalization, China's largest independent think tank, said the forum offers the opportunity for some form of restatement of the importance of globalization.

"It could prove to be the new driving force behind globalization and provide the necessary impetus to stimulate the global economy and provide economic growth for the future. It has been three years since it was first proposed, and now is the right time to get to the nitty-gritty."

One of the benefits to China of the Belt and Road Initiative might also be to provide new export markets for its heavy industries that supply the construction sector, now that the domestic economy is slowing down.

"In that way it is a business initiative," said Shen at Fudan Universty. "Selling cement, iron and steel and overcapacity that we don't need at home. People are losing jobs in China and it is a way for them to continue to be employed."

Tse, also author of China's Disrupters: How Alibaba, Xiaomi, Tencent, and Other Companies Are Changing the Rules of Business, thinks this is overplayed.

"There is a lot of business involved, but to equate the Belt and Road Initiative as a way for China to export its overcapacity does not make sense economically. You can't really export products like cement. You cannot realistically transport it from Northeast China to Eastern Europe, as just one example. It is a very local business."

Peter Frankopan, director of the Centre for Byzantine Research at Oxford University and author of the best-selling book The Silk Roads, said the initiative has created major interest in the countries that were along the ancient Silk Road.

"Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Russia and the Central Asian republics have all started to think about their economic futures in terms of these connections," he said.

"The reason there is so much excitement about these routes is that they have existed before. You only have to look back in history to see how all these connections and pathways were made.

"If they have existed before, it can work again. It will lead to a greater level of ease of distributing goods and services along the routes, which will make the whole process cheaper and quicker."

Vision recognized

Rana Mitter, director of the Dickson Poon China Centre at Oxford University, believes many in Europe now see the potential of these new connections.

"If you look at southern Europe and look at the way Chinese investment in Greece, Bulgaria and Romania is rocketing up, these could be more organically connected by this new initiative. I also think Turkey is important in all of this," he said.

The China historian and author of China's War with Japan, 1937-1945: The Struggle for Survival, however, believes there is so far less understanding of the potential benefits in Western Europe.

"If we are talking of the Chancellery in Berlin or the presidential palace in Paris, where there is the distraction of the French election, I think this is the case. There is a certain amount of interest in Brexit Britain about the potential opportunities," Mitter said.

Tse believes the Belt and Road offers a real opportunity for the UK after it leaves the European Union.

"The UK will gravitate more toward China, as its relationship with Europe is uncertain. From the Chinese investor standpoint there are a lot of potential deals to be made in the UK. With the lower level of the pound, a lot of potential targets are looking pretty reasonable right now," Tse said.

Sun, the former Ministry of Commerce European department head, believes many who have signed cooperation agreements will be looking for ideas about their own economic development at the Beijing forum.

"China initially learned a lot from the developed world in terms of technology, setting up special economic zones in the late 1970s and being open to ideas," he said. "It now has 34 years of experience to share with others."

andrewmoody@chinadaily.com.cn

A ship from China rests at Pireaus port, in Greece, last month. China COSCO Shipping Corp became the major shareholder and operator of the port in August. The project is seen as an example of strategic cooperation between the two countries. It is described in Belt and Road Initiative blueprints.Marios Lolos / Xinhua

(China Daily 04/14/2017 page5)
SYDNEY - A former Australian ambassador to China believes that the Belt and Road Initiative will provide a definitive boost to not only the Australian economy, but also that of the world.

The initiative, launched by China in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trading routes, leading to mutually beneficial economic outcomes for every nation it reaches.

One of the ways in which the initiative will improve outcomes is through infrastructure bringing access to otherwise unavailable natural deposits, which former Australian Ambassador to China, Geoff Raby told Xinhua on Friday is an important part of achieving economic success.

"The Belt and Road is focusing on infrastructure development, but there are clearly some very important natural resource deposits, not just coal but in many areas, that could benefit infrastructure investment under the initiative," Raby said.

"To liberate those resources, where currently, they are not commercial to develop, but under the Belt and Road, it opens up all of that."

Raby contends that not only will the initiative be beneficial in opening up new natural resource opportunities, but also drive further need of commodities from existing partners to China, like Australia, to fuel the infrastructure growth that will take place as a result of the exciting developments in the pipeline.

"The extent that Belt and Road investment, wherever it is, increases global demand for steel, that certainly benefits Australia quite directly. Both in terms of iron ore, but also coking coal," Raby said.

"So it's a very positive development for Australia in that respect."

But, Raby insists that increased demand for commodities is not the only benefit to Australia, and rather, there is a more definitive, and direct benefit that will stem from the initiative; increased prosperity in the many nations that it touches with its prosperity changing, nation building projects.

"There is another, second order aspect to the Belt and Road Initiative that people don't really focus on, but they should. The infrastructure build, in developing countries, in poorer countries, the infrastructure built there by China helps to lift those countries overall level of economic growth," Raby said.

"That is a real benefit to Australia."

The economic relationship between China and Australia is built on mutual understanding, and win-win scenarios, and Raby was quick to point out the significance of the ongoing cooperation between the two nations.

"It is the most important economic relationship Australia has, and will ever have in the future. It will encompass everything, and Australia's economic fortunes are very closely tied up with China's." Raby said.

The relationship is not a one-way street however, and Raby believes that Australia has played a major role in supplying China with the resources, and services, to fuel the demand of the burgeoning middle class, and continue the supply-side growth success China has achieved.

"I think Australia and China, as I have said for many years, are highly complementary economies, they fit together very well," Raby said.

"And I think we are going to see that even more so, as China is transitioning now into a consumption led economy. Where the whole range of Australian services will be increasingly in demand by the growing Chinese middle class."
Ni carries products in the warehouse when his shop is shorthanded. He walks fast, because he believes time is money. [Photo/Xinhua]

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) 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.

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 since opening as of last July.

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. [Photo/Xinhua]

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.

Vasiliy Ni sold a batch of balance cars and baby carriages worth 5 million Kazakhstan Tenge (about $16,058) 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.
A worker checks molten steel at an iron and steel plant in Dalian, Liaoning province. Central State-owned enterprises saw their total revenues surge 19.2 percent to reach 6 trillion yuan in the first quarter of the year. [Photo by Liu Debin/For China Daily]

China's central State-owned enterprises saw their net profits surge 26.5 percent year-on-year to 226.4 billion yuan ($32.9 billion) in the first quarter of this year, thanks to measures including mixed ownership reform, the nation's top SOE regulator said on Thursday.

Shen Ying, chief accountant of the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, said the government will tighten State capital supervision, enhance risk control and deepen SOE reform, especially by carrying out reforms in steel and coal industries this year.

"SASAC will also support central SOEs' participation in the development of the newly announced Xiongan New Area in Hebei province, and central SOEs certainly can find a number of growth opportunities in the new area," said Shen.

A total of 91 central SOEs achieved a rise in revenue during the first quarter, with 54 of them, including defense-related industries, construction materials, pharmaceuticals and modern services, witnessing a rise of 10 percent or more, and sectors such as oil, steel and coal experiencing an increase in revenue of at least 40 percent. Central SOEs saw their total revenues surge 19.2 percent to reach 6 trillion yuan in the first three months.

"The reform will be applied to different SOEs based on their situation. Private companies are also encouraged to participate," Shen said.

Shen said the SASAC will accelerate the pace of cutting the number of "zombie companies" and reduce production capacity, and improve efficiency by streamlining the administration of SOEs.

"Zombie companies" are economically unviable businesses, usually in industries with severe overcapacity, kept alive only with aid from the government and banks.

"Overcapacity has become a major problem for both the public and private sectors. The difference is that private enterprises are more market-conscious, reacting through downsizing, shutdowns or bankruptcy when they are unable to generate a profit," said Shen.

Last year, more than 110,000 workers were affected by SOE reform measures such as capacity reductions, and they have received appropriate compensation, according to the SASAC.

"Unsuccessful action against zombie companies poses a major threat to China's economic structure. China therefore is resorting to SOE mergers to create more global powerhouses and avoid cut-throat competition, in addition to restructuring redundant industries to aid supply-side reform," said Nie Huihua, an economics professor at Renmin University of China in Beijing.

Nie said the central government's reforms aim to explore new State-owned asset management models focused on the management of capital rather than the companies, find effective methods for a mixed-ownership economy, and improve the corporate governance structure.

Contact the writers through zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
Travelers walk through the United Airlines terminal at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on April 13, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

United Airlines Inc, the largest US carrier operating on routes between China and the United States, could see its business suffer in China in the short term, but the impact may not be significant, an expert said, even after a video showing a passenger being forcibly removed from a flight went viral.

Zou Jianjun, a professor of the department of economic management at the Civil Aviation Management Institute of China, said in China, whose market was not yet fully mature, price-sensitive consumers may care less about the reputation of a specific company.

"There could be some negative effect on United Airlines on its China-US routes, as some passengers may alter their booking choices, but it's hard to say if there will be any significant impact on its market share," Zou said.

"Passengers may consider overbooking a small probability event. In particular, students and tourists traveling for long-haul journeys between China and the United States, may care most about prices. If United Airlines offered lower-priced tickets, it will still be able to attract many customers," Zou said.

Besides, those passengers who usually book first-class and business-class flights are "unlikely to be influenced by the issue, as they believe that the service in those classes would remain premium", he said.

Currently, United Airlines offers direct flights from major Chinese cities to New York, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Guam.

The direct air routes between China and the US have been one of the most profitable routes, and competition among airlines has intensified. Airlines from the US and China, with Air China being the biggest operator, take similar market shares.

United Airlines said it is bullish about the huge demand for air travel between the two countries. Last year, it launched nonstop flights from second-tier Chinese cities, including Hangzhou and Xi'an, to San Francisco.

It expects a 10 percent annual growth in the number of Chinese tourists traveling to the US.

An employee at a US company in Beijing said that when her company booked their business travel flight tickets from China to the US, they evaluate the flight schedules and price discounts, regardless of the airlines.
Milk powders in a supermarket in Xuchang, Henan province. Geng Guoqing / for China Daily

Feihe Dairy  a leading producer and distributer of infant formula, milk powder and soybean products  has had expediential growth in the past year, increasing 80 percent in sales in 2016.

Since then, in the first quarter of 2017, the domestic baby formula brand has grown by 34 percent, compared to the same time in 2016, and the company's high-end sector has had a 191 percent increase year-on-year.

Feihe Dairy sales reached a total worth of 6.8 million yuan ($980 million) in 2016.

The company competes with more than 70 foreign manufacturers of baby formula in the Chinese infant formula market, which supply more than 1000 imported brands to the public. Feihe Dairy also competes with 108 domestic producers of the product, developing more than 2000 brands.

Cai Fangliang, president of Feihe Dairy, said the goal of the company in 2017 will be to focus on developing and researching their formula, suitable for infants and toddlers.
A ship from China rests at Pireaus port, in Greece, last month. China COSCO Shipping Corp became the major shareholder and operator of the port in August. The project is seen as an example of strategic cooperation between the two countries. It is described in Belt and Road Initiative blueprints. [Photo/Xinhua]

One month and counting.

More than 20 heads of state and government, as well as 1,200 delegates from countries around the world will descend on Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which will be held on May 14 and 15.

It's a landmark event for the Chinese initiative, launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013.

Since then, the initiativewhich consists of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Roadhas resulted in cooperative agreements with China from more than 40 countries and international organizations, and Chinese companies have invested some $50 billion in mainly infrastructure projects.

One of the aims of the forum is to move the concept from being a China-led initiative involving bilateral agreements to a multilateral concept that will help foster greater global connectivity.

Xi made his ambitions for the Belt and Road Initiative clear at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, when he defended globalization and called for countries to work together to tackle the world's many uncertainties.

"We should join hands and rise to the challenge," he said. "History is created by the brave. Let us boost confidence, take action and march arm-in-arm toward a bright future."

The main tangible elements of the initiative so far are the Silk Road Fund, for which the Chinese government pledged $40 billion in 2014 for investment in countries along the routes, and also the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, whose founding members include many Western countries, including the UK, France and Germany, along with leading Asian countries such as India, Pakistan and Vietnam.

Hugh White, a professor of strategic studies at Australian National University who was an adviser to former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke, believes the forum will be about making clear that the initiative is for everyone, not just China.

"For it to work, it has got to be something that has wider ownership and acceptance than just being a Beijing initiative," he said.

"It has the potential to be something very significant. The countries participating will be involved in creating a vision and framework for globalization for the next few decades. So it is of immense significance."

Joint development

Tom Miller, senior Asia analyst at Gavekal Research and the author of a new book, China's Asian Dream: Empire Building Along the New Silk Road, agrees the aim will be to make clear that the initiative is very much about joint development.

"The mistake you can make about the Belt and Road Initiative is to think it is purely a Chinese project," he said. "It can't be just that, because whatever China is doing, it is doing with enterprises in other countries. So it has to be about joint development."

Edward Tse, founder and CEO of management consultancy Gao Feng Advisory, believes the Belt and Road is still at the formative stage, and the forum will include a progress review and provide a forward vision.

"It is critical for the whole initiative. These leaders are coming together to discuss where to go next. Belt and Road started off as a concept, but the concept changed very quickly into some very tangible ideas like the AIIB and the Silk Road Fund and some very real infrastructure projects," he said.

"We don't have 100 percent clarity as to what it is or will evolve into; on the other hand, the participants have a lot of aligned interests and will want to be part of it."

Some critics of the initiative have seen it as China trying to exert greater geopolitical influence.

Shen Dingli, professor of international relations and executive dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, rejects this notion.

"We have no geopolitical agenda. It is not a strategy. At first it was bilateral, but it can also be China working with two or more countries, and it can also include projects in which China is not involved at all," he said.

"If they want to be involved, Japan can also bid for projects and be part of it. It is a global interconnectivity initiative. China does not have to be involved at all, but it is the country that initiated it, that's all."

Not a Chinese tool

Shi Yinhong, director of the Center for American Studies at Renmin University of China and one of China's leading foreign policy experts, says it would simply not work if it was seen as a Chinese geopolitical tool.

"If it was just about China's geopolitical interests, then other members would become suspicious and have their own concerns," he says.

"It is certainly not the message that China wants to put across. China, of course, does have many geopolitical interests, but it sees them as entirely separate from this initiative."

With the new administration in the United States having a protectionist agenda, the Belt and Road does reaffirm China's commitment to a new form of globalization based on connectivity.

Sun Yongfu, former director-general of the European Department of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, believes this will be one of the strongest messages from the forum.

"I believe the Chinese government would like to use this platform to send a strong message that China supports globalization," he said.

"China is open to different ideas. It does not just want to put its own ideas forward, but also wants to listen to others. It is about what countries can do in cooperation with each other, jointly, bilaterally and multilaterally."

Wang Huiyao, president and founder of the Center for China and Globalization, China's largest independent think tank, said the forum offers the opportunity for some form of restatement of the importance of globalization.

"It could prove to be the new driving force behind globalization and provide the necessary impetus to stimulate the global economy and provide economic growth for the future. It has been three years since it was first proposed, and now is the right time to get to the nitty-gritty."

One of the benefits to China of the Belt and Road Initiative might also be to provide new export markets for its heavy industries that supply the construction sector, now that the domestic economy is slowing down.

"In that way it is a business initiative," said Shen at Fudan Universty. "Selling cement, iron and steel and overcapacity that we don't need at home. People are losing jobs in China and it is a way for them to continue to be employed."

Tse, also author of China's Disrupters: How Alibaba, Xiaomi, Tencent, and Other Companies Are Changing the Rules of Business, thinks this is overplayed.

"There is a lot of business involved, but to equate the Belt and Road Initiative as a way for China to export its overcapacity does not make sense economically. You can't really export products like cement. You cannot realistically transport it from Northeast China to Eastern Europe, as just one example. It is a very local business."

Peter Frankopan, director of the Centre for Byzantine Research at Oxford University and author of the best-selling book The Silk Roads, said the initiative has created major interest in the countries that were along the ancient Silk Road.

"Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Russia and the Central Asian republics have all started to think about their economic futures in terms of these connections," he said.

"The reason there is so much excitement about these routes is that they have existed before. You only have to look back in history to see how all these connections and pathways were made.

"If they have existed before, it can work again. It will lead to a greater level of ease of distributing goods and services along the routes, which will make the whole process cheaper and quicker."

Vision recognized

Rana Mitter, director of the Dickson Poon China Centre at Oxford University, believes many in Europe now see the potential of these new connections.

"If you look at southern Europe and look at the way Chinese investment in Greece, Bulgaria and Romania is rocketing up, these could be more organically connected by this new initiative. I also think Turkey is important in all of this," he said.

The China historian and author of China's War with Japan, 1937-1945: The Struggle for Survival, however, believes there is so far less understanding of the potential benefits in Western Europe.

"If we are talking of the Chancellery in Berlin or the presidential palace in Paris, where there is the distraction of the French election, I think this is the case. There is a certain amount of interest in Brexit Britain about the potential opportunities," Mitter said.

Tse believes the Belt and Road offers a real opportunity for the UK after it leaves the European Union.

"The UK will gravitate more toward China, as its relationship with Europe is uncertain. From the Chinese investor standpoint there are a lot of potential deals to be made in the UK. With the lower level of the pound, a lot of potential targets are looking pretty reasonable right now," Tse said.

Sun, the former Ministry of Commerce European department head, believes many who have signed cooperation agreements will be looking for ideas about their own economic development at the Beijing forum.

"China initially learned a lot from the developed world in terms of technology, setting up special economic zones in the late 1970s and being open to ideas," he said. "It now has 34 years of experience to share with others."
Leading international relations expert Wang Yiwei believes China will push forward a new model of globalization at a major forum to be held in Beijing next month.

The director of the School of International Studies and the Center for EU Studies at Renmin University of China believes the case will be made for a more connected world.

World leaders will descend on the capital for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, set for May 14 and 15.

"It will be a landmark event for the Belt and Road Initiative, which will enter its 2.0 phase. The mechanisms will be created to put forward a new type of globalization," he says.

The initiative was launched by President Xi Jinping at the end of 2013 and has resulted in China forging a series of bilateral partnerships with countries, particularly related to infrastructure.

"China has signed bilateral international capacity cooperation agreements with more than 40 countries. This was its 1.0 phase with just China as the hub," he said.

Wang, 45, who was speaking at his office at the prestigious Beijing university, said the challenge of the forum will be to move away from this and put in place an institutional framework for the initiative that will set it on its future course as a multilateral entity.

"The purpose of the forum will be to draft the necessary mechanism so that the initiative is sustainable in the longer term. It needs to move from being largely bilateral to multilateral. Countries should be able to participate in the initiative without China necessarily being involved."

Wang believes the initiative could prove to be as important as the creation of the European Union by its principal architect Jean Monnet in 1958. (It was originally known as the European Economic Community.)

"The Belt and Road Initiative could actually be as important as the European Union. I think it could be that significant. There has never before been such ambition to achieve such global connectivity," he said.

Wang, who is the author of The Belt and Road Initiative: What Will China Offer the World in Its Rise, one of the few books in English about the initiative, says Xi transformed the debate about how countries work together when he defended globalization at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January.

Wang believes the existing version of globalization has not served a large proportion of the world's population very well, and China's version, with a focus on infrastructure is likely to prove more beneficial, to many around the world who are currently in poverty.

"This is real globalization. Under America's version of globalization, 1.3 billion peopleor one-fifth of the world's populationare without electricity, including 300 million people in India alone," he said.

China's globalization "is based on more equal cooperation", and features a focus on South-South cooperation between developing countries, including itself, he said.

The son of teachers from a village in rural northern Jiangxi province in East China, Wang first studied environmental engineering at East China University of Science and Technology.

He switched to international politics and relations at Fudan University in Shanghai, where he received both his master's degree and doctorate before receiving a Fox International Fellowship to study at Yale University in the United States for a year.

He held a number of academic positions in South Korea and China before joining Renmin University in 2013.

He is also the author of 15 books, including Haishang: Revelations on European Civilization, which he launched at the London Book Fair last year.

Wang has also served as a Chinese diplomat, having been scholar-in-residence at the Chinese Mission to the EU for three years.

He believes Europe could play a role in the Belt and Road, but he is concerned about the continent's struggles.

"Britain had the first maritime silk road and colonized the world. The country has exported its legal and political system and even its customs around the world. It is a country that knows the world better than China and also the United States."

Wang said many of the initiative's projects are tangible, such as the railway from Mombasa to Nairobi, Kenya.

"I visited that, and it is an attempt to recreate the same economic success as the Shanghai Yangtze River economic delta in East Africa. The Kenyan president goes to the Mombasa port every three months and says he is eager to copy the China model," Wang said.

The port is being built by the State-owned China Road and Bridge Co.
London's banking sector is working hard to embrace financing activities along the routes of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Banks see the initiative as an opportunity to cement the city's financial strength amid the uncertainties surrounding Brexit.

UK bankers and lawyers have already helped to issue several tax-exempt Green Bonds, and Silk Road bonds, which channel international funds into infrastructure projects along the routes of the initiative.

The Chinese data company BBD has also launched a Belt and Road index in London.

HSBC estimates that Belt and Road development projects will cost up to $6 trillion in the next 15 years, while PwC estimates costs of $5 trillion. Last year, China directly invested $14.5 billion in projects linked with the initiative.

"London doesn't need to be on the Belt and Road map, but we would like to finance the Belt and Road map," said Sherry Madera, special adviser for Asia at the City of London Corporation.

London not only offers money, but also a concerted effort to homogenize Belt and Road infrastructure investment opportunities so the city's institutional investors can tap into projects with a clear understanding of any risks.

London has hosted the issue of several Green Bonds, with the latest being Bank of China's three-year $500 million China Green Covered Bond in November.

As a newly-emerging asset class, the proceeds are typically invested in energy and environmentally friendly infrastructure projects.

Bankers and lawyers are also engaged in discussions led by the International Capital Market Association to establish best practice guidelines for Silk Road bonds.

Although the bonds have so far only been issued in China, Mushtaq Kapasi, the association's chief Asia-Pacific representative, believes international financial centers could be potential locations for bond issuance.

"We believe it would make sense to issue a large number of Silk Road bonds overseas, because the proceeds could finance offshore projects along the Belt and Road," he said.

Helena Huang, China economist at ICBC Standard Bank, said London has a particular advantage for those raising funds via Silk Road bonds: "London's prominent role as the leading international financial center offers unparalleled access to global institutional investors, as well as a wide array of professional experts who specialize in project-financing businesses."
The Lahore rail transit project, one of the first projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor strategy, is under construction in July, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

China Communications Construction Co, one of the country's biggest infrastructure project providers by market share, will boost its overseas sales revenue to 50 percent of its total by 2035 via the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, diversified operation models, and overseas mergers and acquisitions, according to its chairman.

The company's global sales accounted for 35 percent of its annual sales revenue last year, due to the rapid growth of business in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, including Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Baluchistan region, Sri Lanka's Colombo International Financial City project and the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya.

Liu Qitao, company chairman, said the tangible results of the development of the Belt and Road Initiative will generate new growth momentum this year. That will boost revenue growth for both global and Chinese companies, while improving their ability to conduct big-ticket projects and export excess industrial capacity to economies along the two trading routes.

"For example, the flagship project Gwadar Port is the third-largest deep-water port in Pakistan, a country heavily involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. The harbor will be a strategic stronghold along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," Liu said.

The port now operates three multifunctional piers with an annual throughput capacity of between 50,000 and 70,000 20-foot equivalent units, as well as bringing 20,000 jobs to locals. It will also serve as a trade gateway for East and Central Asian countries to other parts of the world.

After the completion of the construction, CCCC will also be responsible for a series of follow-up projects, such as the operation of a free-trade zone in Gwadar Port.

As a pioneer of Belt and Road Initiative projects, the company has established 193 branches and offices in 103 countries and regions. It has more than 60 subsidiaries, including China Harbor Engineering, China Road and Bridge, and Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries. It employed more than 35,700 people in 135 countries and regions by the end of last year.

The group and its subsidiaries have been responsible for various projects in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with construction of more than 2,600 kilometers of highways; 180 bridges, with a total length of 105 km; 63 deep-water berths; 10 airports; and 754 container cranes already completed and 1,800 km of railroad under construction.

CCCC has gradually transferred its pillar business from engineering, procurement and construction projects into new business models such as build-operate-transfer, build-own-operate and public-private-partnership for both public and private sectors.

The company is contracted to build the entire 48.56-km-long E763 Highway, an important part of the Pan-European Transport Corridor II, as well as an important channel linking the Serbian capital of Belgrade to the Port of Bar in Montenegro.

CRBC, its subsidiary, has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Serbia to build the country's first industrial park. The two projects are expected to promote international collaboration in production capacity, help Serbia to upgrade its industrial infrastructure and boost the economy of countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.

Denis Depoux, a senior partner at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, said the Belt and Road Initiative is critical for European companies. For example, the Silk Road Economic Belt starts in China and ends in Europe, and every country between those points is involved. That means the initiative is important for all destination countries and regions.

"China is increasing its share of Chinese technologies, but as a starting point, there is also a significant share of international technologies," Depoux said.

"Its companies, primarily State-owned enterprises, are keen to cooperate with foreign enterprises in order to work in 'third party' countries anywhere along the initiative."

Contact the writers at zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
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Several manuscripts by British writers are to be displayed in China for the first time, according to a press release from National Library of China (NLA) Thursday.

The exhibition, "Shakespeare to Sherlock: Treasures of the British Library," will open on April 21 in China's National Museum of Classic Books, a museum supported by NLA.

The exhibits, provided by the British Library, include an early Quarto edition of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the manuscripts of Lord Byron's Don Juan, Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby, and The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series.

The manuscripts will be displayed alongside NLC items including translations, adaptations and critical responses that showcase the long and productive dialogue between English and Chinese literature and culture.

The exhibition will be part of celebrations for World Book Day on April 23.
By Zhong Nan and Ren Xiaojin in Beijing, and Feng Zhiwei in Zhuzhou, Hunan province | China Daily | Updated: 2017-04-14 09:18

A high-speed train manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corp arrives at a maintenance warehouse in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, in July, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese rail vehicle manufacturer CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive will upgrade its facilities in Malaysia this year as it looks to win the service contract for the upcoming Singapore-Malaysia high-speed rail project, its chairman said.

China Railway and China Railway Signal and Communication sent teams to Singapore in December in the hopes of beating international rivals from Japan, South Korea and Germany to win the project.

The 350-kilometer high-speed railway between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, first proposed in 2013, is considered a game-changer. By linking the two major Southeast Asian countries, the railway will shorten the travel time between the two capitals from four hours to 90 minutes.

Eyeing this lucrative opportunity, Zhou Qinghe, chairman of CRRC Zhuzhou, a subsidiary of railway vehicle and equipment maker China Railway Rolling Stock Corp, said the company's expansion into Southeast Asia was in line with the aims of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The trade and infrastructure network, proposed by China in 2013, envisions a Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, covering about 4.4 billion people in more than 60 countries and regions in Asia, Europe and Africa. "The Belt and Road Initiative will help China export more high-speed rail technologies to a number of lucrative markets during 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period," Zhou said.

"As most countries along the routes of the initiativeespecially in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europeare planning to build high-speed rail lines or upgrade their existing railway systems, they are willing to acquire technical support from China to assist in the daily operations, maintenance, staff training and other services."

China Railway submitted a detailed plan, including high-speed train designs, terminus station construction blueprints, noise and vibration data, and tender documents for various construction periods, to transportation authorities in Singapore and Malaysia earlier this year.

Malaysian branches

Southeast Asia is no new market for the group, however, as it has already set up manufacturing and maintenance facilities in Malaysia.

CRRC Zhuzhou opened a $131 million manufacturing facility in Malaysia's Perak state in 2015, which is managed by CRRC (Malaysia) Railway Vehicles and will act as the company's gateway to other member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The plant is capable of manufacturing various types of rail vehicles, from bullet trains to mass-transit trains and electric locomotives.

CRRC Zhuzhou has already supplied 18 metro-engineering maintenance trains to Singapore and they are now being used on the city state's urban rail network. "Because most Southeast Asian nations have just started to build new railway lines or bought new trains, they are keen to acquire technical support from China in the daily operations, maintenance, staff training and other services," Zhou said.

CRRC Zhuzhou's ASEAN plant is involved in production, assembly, testing, maintenance and refurbishment, with an annual production capacity of 100 electric trains and light-rail vehicles.

CRRC Kuala Lumpur Maintenance Sdn Bhd, another CRRC Zhuzhou subsidiary, was launched in 2011. It has 116 staff, of which 90 percent are local workers.

"Benefiting from the location, CRRC Zhuzhou can provide timely maintenance services for the new railroad and reach more countries in Southeast Asia," said Zhou, who has worked in the export business for more than two decades.

Maintaining rail equipment can be a lucrative business in itself, according to Liao Hongtao, deputy general manager of the company. "Even though a lot of money can be made from selling trains, providing maintenance services can also be profitable," he said, adding that many core parts need to undergo extensive maintenance after a year of use.

At present, the maintenance subsidiary's main business involves servicing the 38 sets of six-car electric multiple units and 50 sets of light rail vehicles on Malaysia's Ampang Line. More than 90 percent of its revenue comes from the local market.

Global network

In the ASEAN region, CRRC Zhuzhou's main markets are Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, where there is rising demand for electric locomotives and mass-transit trains for city and suburban lines.

CRRC Zhuzhou has six subsidiaries covering more than 10 countries and regions across Asia, Europe and Africa. Last year, the company established a European subbranch in Austria, opening itself to the continent's high-end market through international acquisitions and collaborations. The global rail and transit industry will be worth $240 billion this year, with maintenance services accounting for half that figure, according to a study by the Paris-based International Union of Railways in July.

However, CRRC Zhuzhou faces fierce competition from foreign rivals such as Siemens of Germany and Bombardier of Canada, who have their own global service networks to boost revenues in major markets such as Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

CRRC Zhuzhou understands the importance of building a complete network as part of its global expansion, according to Liao, its deputy general manager. "The tactic of establishing an ASEAN rail center in Malaysia is based on our market share in the country and its geographic location," he said.

Wang Zhipeng, a professor of rail transportation at Beijing Jiaotong University, said: "In the long term, China and the ASEAN economies will count on enhanced regional cooperation, especially in rail transportation, to stimulate trade and attract investment while improving regional economic integration."

Zhou of CRRC Zhuzhou said: "Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia's ongoing plans to build a high-speed rail link will further fuel the hope that Southeast Asia could one day have a system similar to the one in Europe."

With his eyes firmly fixed on future orders, Zhou predicted that ASEAN members will need 1,100 new carriages, and refurbishment for another 700, within the next five years.

Contact the writers at zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
Workers pour cement to seal the roof of a building in the China-Belarus Industrial Park in June. [Photo/Xinhua]

China National Machinery Industry, the nation's largest machinery maker by production capacity, is to build more research and development facilities, warehouses, home appliances and parts plants in the China-Belarus Industrial Park this year.

The State-owned company, known as Sinomach, will recruit more staff to work in the park, and set up sales and after-sales facilities for its products.

It is also considering moving more-advanced machinery production lines for heavy and agricultural machinery over the next three years.

Ren Hongbin, chairman of Sinomach, said Belarus, "at the crossroads of an important trade route linking the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, and Russia to the European Union", has special strategic importance.

"The park will serve as an important manufacturing, logistics, technology services, research and development hub for the development of the Belt and Road Initiative," Ren said.

The trade, services and infrastructure networkproposed by the Chinese government in 2013envisions a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road that will cover about 4.4 billion people in more than 60 countries and regions across Asia, Europe and Africa.

Located 40 kilometers from the Belarusian capital of Minsk, with the Moscow-Berlin highway and the capital's airport easily accessible, the industrial park will benefit from its convenient transportation links.

The park also has ideal industrial infrastructure as it is designed to develop mechanical manufacturing, electronic equipment, bio-medicine, chemical engineering, new materials and multimodal logistics.

It can host 200 companies from different sectors, with a capacity of 100,000 workers.

Sinomach specializes in industrial tool-making, construction equipment, agricultural equipment and infrastructure construction, and operates in 35 countries and regions along the two trading routes.

The conglomerate has already attracted Chinese companies China Merchants Group, Bank of China, Lenovo Group and Geely Automobile Holdings to the industrial park.

The park will house major plants producing household appliances, electronics, and engineering and biomedicine facilities.

Chinese high-tech businesses, such as ZTE and Huawei Technologies, are also keen to join the park, Ren said, adding that tax exemptions will be offered to companies for the first 10 years, and 50 percent tax breaks for a further 10 years.

Zhou Liujun, director-general of the Ministry of Commerce's department of outward investment and economic cooperation, said the park is expected to upgrade the economic structure of both countries, promote international industrial capacity cooperation and allocate resources for larger profits on a global scale.

"China's fast-growing 4G network will provide a solid foundation for its manufacturers going forward. This will benefit greener, more efficient and sustainable industrial development in the park," Zhou said.

Belarus is an important member of the Eurasian Economic Union, connecting the Eurasian economy to the European Union. Under the tariff-free policy, products from the park will be sold in Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

The park will also be linked to the Klaipeda Port in Lithuania, granting the companies inside the park a customs bonded area, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Contact the writers at zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corp recently signed an EPCengineering, procurement and constructionproject contract with Russian gas giant Gazprom to take part in construction of the Amur gas processing plant, a move which will secure domestic gas supplies.

Investment in the project is estimated to total $15 billion to $20 billion, and construction will take eight years.

After the project is completed, the plant's annual capacity will reach 42 billion cubic meters of gas, and up to 38 billion cu m will be transported to China.

The Amur gas processing plant is one of the key projects by Gazprom to ensure supply of natural gas to China via the eastern route of the China-Russia natural gas pipeline. Analysts said the project is of great strategic importance to the supply of clean energy to China.

"The AGPP is a typical project along the Belt and Road Initiative. It combines engineering and sales contracts, and Chinese financial institutions are offering financing plans, providing necessary support for the project," said Li Li, energy research director at ICIS China, a consulting company that provides analysis of China's energy market.

Russia is at a prominent position along the Belt and Road Initiative. It has a huge market, and its future development is promising. Eight renowned companies from Asia and Europe took part in competitive bidding for the AGPP project. Because of its advantages in previous performance, price and design, China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corp finally succeeded in winning the contract.

During the contract signing ceremony, Hou Haojie, general manager of China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corp, said: "We see this project as an opportunity to further explore the market along the Belt and Road Initiative."

The energy supply-demand relationship between China and Russia is continuously developing. During the past 10 years, Russia's crude oil supply to China has increased seven times. In 2016, Russia's crude oil export to China surged by 24 percent, replacing Saudi Arabia to become the largest crude oil supplying country.

The AGPP project includes three phases, the first of which is the designing process. The second phase, which China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corps is responsible for, includes the engineering, procurement and construction of the plant. The third phase is a public construction project. At present, the construction process of the first phase and the bidding process of the third phase have almost come to an end.

Contact the writers at zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn
A bottle of Chinese Kweichow Moutai Baijiu. [Photo/VCG]

Chinese baijiu maker Kweichow Moutai has overtaken Johnnie Walker brand owner Diageo Plc to become the world's most valuable liquor company, Bloomberg reported.

Moutai's market value reached $71.5 billion on the Shanghai exchange last Friday, while Diageo's London capitalization was $71.1 billion.

The Chinese group's share price has soared 55 percent over the past year.

Dubbed the "drink of diplomacy", Moutai remains the most popular brand of baijiu among Chinese political and business leaders for official receptions or other events.

The Moutai Group is now working on global expansion plans.
Police officers examine the articles involved in the internet-based pyramid-style schemes in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province on April 13, 2017. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

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), 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.
Chinese President Xi Jinping(C) inspects the Anxin county of Baoding city, North China's Hebei province, Feb 23, 2017. Xiongan New Area, an economic zone about 100 kilometers south of Beijing, will span Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin counties in Hebei province, covering 2,000 square kilometers in the long term with a population of 2 to 2.5 million. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING  Plans for Xiongan New Area, an economic zone about 100 kilometers south of Beijing, are becoming more clear.

The zone will span Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin counties in Hebei province, covering 2,000 square kilometers in the long term with a population of 2 to 2.5 million.

The surprise announcement to set up the new area on April 1 actually represented the results of years of research and rumination by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and is a major strategic decision which will open a new era of development in the region.

Millennium plan

Drawing an analogy to legendary Chinese flood control hero Dayu, who contained flooding by means of dredging rather than obstruction, President Xi Jinping said, "The capital's core functions should be preserved and strengthened, and some inappropriate functions adjusted and weakened."

"Some functions should be transferred to Hebei and Tianjin," said Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Addressing a central economic meeting at the end of 2014, Xi said that transferring Beijing's non-capital functions, lowering its population density and promoting economic and social development commensurate with its population and resources must be at the core of coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

During CPC meetings in April 2015, Xi suggested investigating the possibility of a new city in Hebei, built according to new development concepts.

On March 24, 2016, Xi heard a report on the creation of Beijing's "subsidiary center" and another area where non-capital functions would be shifted from Beijing. The subsidiary center is to be located in the eastern suburb of Tongzhou while the other area will be Xiongan.

Xi stressed that Beijing is at an historic juncture. Tongzhou and Xiongan will form two "wings" for Beijing and create new growth engines for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei.

On May 27, 2016, Xiongan New Area appeared for the first time in a report reviewed at a Political Bureau meeting of the CPC Central Committee.

Calling it a "major historic and strategic decision" that would be "crucial for the millennium to come," Xi said the subsidiary center of Beijing and Xiongan New Area should withstand the test of history, and be the legacy of this generation of CPC members.

People will see that Xiongan New Area, Pudong New Area in Shanghai and Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in Guangdong form a ladder from north to south across the map of China to act as the testbeds for the country's reform and opening up.

These areas are expected to work together to balance the development of China and change the country's make-up which features a strong economy in the south and weaker economic development in the north.

A new wing for Beijing

It took some time to choose the location for an ideal new city.

Under Xi's direct guidance, the process began in February 2015, with the final proposal deliberated and agreed by the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee's Political Bureau on March 24, 2016.

Xiongan sits at the center of a triangular area with Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei's capital Shijiazhuang at the apexes.

With good road and rail access, Xiongan commuters will be able reach any of the three cities in about 30 minutes, The site is only 55 km from Beijing's new airport.

The area also has a pleasant environment with a relatively low degree of urbanization. Less than 100,000 people currently live in the core area, about the same of a regular residential community in Beijing.

Visiting the location on Feb 23 this year, Xi expressed satisfaction with the location, population and natural resources of Xiongan.

"It's a good choice, as it will not create too much trouble for locals, involves only a small amount of relocation and something can be achieved in a short time," said Xi.

According to the president's plans, Xiongan New Area will primarily be the receiver of non-capital functions from Beijing, including some administrative and public institutions, company headquarters, financial institutions, higher education institutions and sci-tech units.

A new city model

During his February visit, Xi called for "world vision, international standards, Chinese characteristics and high goals" in planning and construction.

If all goes according to plan, the area will have an excellent environment, optimal urban layout, great public services and innovative development.

As Xi has stressed on many occasions that eco-protection should be the priority in construction. Xiongan New Area is home to Baiyangdian, one of the largest freshwater wetlands in north China.

Urban design is another keyword. "Every inch of land should be clearly planned before any construction begins," Xi said many times during meetings.

World renowned planners and architects from home and abroad will design Xiongan, with the area to become an exemplar of future city construction.

With a free hand to improve public services, provide better public resources and advance reforms in fields including household registration, investment, trade and city management, Xiongan will attract the very best talent.

In preparation, purchases and projects related to land and property and changes to household registration have been blocked in the three counties since June last year. Local authorities are on high alert against illegal land and housing purchases or construction to guard against speculation.

According to the plans, a major transportation network and basic infrastructure should be in place in Xiongan by 2020. The area will be well connected to Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei by 2022 when the Winter Olympic Games are held.
China's internet and technology sector will continue to be a hot draw among private equity investors, though the value and number of deals may slide in 2017 due to high valuations in the past, according to global consultancy Bain & Company.

Mega deals in this sector, accounting for half the total amount, helped push private equity investments in China to $49 billion in 2016, hitting its second best year on record, said Bain in its latest PE report published on Thursday.

Leading this wave were prolific investors such as Chinese internet firms, State-backed funds and State-owned enterprises, eclipsing the role of traditional private equity funds and venture capitalists.

Contributing to 10 percent of the total deal value, global PE players are losing out to Chinese financial institutions as well as internet giants, headed by Baidu Inc, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Tencent Holdings Ltd, which are shaping up to build their prospective business ecosystems through buyouts and strategic investments.

While the internet upsurge is likely to extend into 2017, high valuations will pose risks for returns and potentially cause a fall in value and the number of deals, said Han Weiwen, managing director of Bain Greater China.

"There is continued enthusiasm in investing in internet technologies and new business models that can disrupt and revolutionize traditional industries via online-to-offline endeavors, such as medical services and fresh food consumption," Han said.

He also noticed a shifting interest, from investing in online platforms to internet-related infrastructure, such as finance, logistics and technology services.

The two largest PE deals in China last year were $4.5 billion received by e-payment giant Ant Financial Services Group and $4.4 billion for online travel site Qunar.com.

In addition to the internet, the healthcare sector, education and consumer products are also viewed as potentially attractive target areas for PE.

Bain also predicted outbound deals cooling down given Beijing's tighter rules on overseas investments and stricter scrutiny of Chinese investment by foreign regulators, but added that the drop would only be temporary and affect mostly State-owned enterprises.

"The macro trend is still strong in terms of Chinese companies going overseas organically and through acquisition," said Michael Thorneman, senior partner at Bain China.

He called the Belt and Road Initiative "a big theme" that could spell opportunities for financial investors in areas such as logistics, transportation, advanced machinery manufacturing and services.
Experts have revealed the steel industry's biggest tasks for the year, so far, have been deleveraging and cutting overcapacity in the sector.

Liu Zhenjiang, director of the China Iron and Steel Industry Association, said the steel industry, in addition to further slashing excessive capacity, should promote an industrial restructure through these types of actions.

Li Xinchuang, director of the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute, agreed and added steel producers should optimize operations, as well as seek green, clean, low-carbon productions.

Li said a modern steel producer should aim to produce high-quality products, enhance energy conservation, and improve air-quality.

Representatives of the National Development and Reform Commission said China aimed to reduce the nation's steel capacity by50 million metric tons this year, and added it would continue to drive the sector into 2018.

The target was built on the progress China made in 2016, cutting 65 million tons of steel - exceeded the previous goal.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's annual steel output stood at 1.1 billion metric tons, before the nationwide campaign, with an apparent consumption of 800 million tons a year.

Zhang Yingying, chief editor of the Iron and Steel Department at Beijing-based JLC Network Technology Co Ltd, said "the new round of overcapacity cuts will cause supplies to run slightly low in several provinces, such as Hebei, Shandong, and Jiangsu - major steel production bases. Prices might decline correspondingly in a small range within a short period."
A housing project in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/VCG]

BEIJING  China's latest land supply measures will have mixed implications for property developers, according to a Moody's report.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and Ministry of Land and Resources announced measures that cities with less than a year's supply of housing inventory should increase the amount of residential land for sale, and cities with more than three year's supply should suspend residential land sales.

The ministries also said that cities and counties with more than 1 million inhabitants should formulate three-year (2017-2019) and five-year (2017-2021) plans for the supply of housing land and make plans public by the end of June.

"We believe that housing price growth will slow in cities where land supply will increase, a credit negative for developers that purchased land at high prices during the past 12 months with the expectation that housing prices will continue to surge," said Chris Wong, a Moody's analyst, in a report.

Wong said this slowdown would pressure gross margins for those developers, while developers operating in cities with large housing inventories -- mainly lower-tier cities -- would benefit as the measures would restrict new supply in those cities.

This situation will give developers a better idea of land supply and should help them manage their expectations on land availability and prices, and subsequently help them manage their land acquisition plans, said the report.

The report said that it remained to be seen if the new measures would materially increase land supply within the next six to 12 months in high-tier cities that have less than six months of inventory, given the limited supply of land suitable for development and the relatively long time frame for redeveloping shantytowns.

The move is among a slew of measures the Chinese government has implemented since late September 2016 to cool fast growth in housing prices, including restrictions on home purchases and increased minimum down-payment requirements.
Wang Dan,an analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit,explains a report the think tank released in Beijing,China,on April 13,2017.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Boosting innovation capabilities among domestic companies is at the forefront of China's supply-side structural reform, experts said on Thursday.

Innovative Chinese companies in the financial internet industry have played an essential role and will maintain their importance in China's supply-side structural reform process, according to Wang Dan,an analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

"China is a world leader in online payment and personal credit system establishment and even the US and Europe should learn from Chinese experiences," Wang added.

Yuan Xin, a research analyst from the same think tank, pointed out that the emphasis on supply-side structural reform stems from a need to solve a pain in China's economy - the mismatch between supply and demand.

China's economy has maintained rapid growth over previous decades, but it still does not produce the full range of goods and services that increasingly wealthy domestic consumers demand, according to a report released by the think tank.

"China's R&D expenditure as a proportion of revenue from principal business by sector has increased continuously in the past decade. The Made in China 2025 plan will further stimulate innovation of Chinese companies," Yuan said.

In 2015 the central government launched the Made in China 2025 plan in an effort to promote high-end manufacturing in China. The plan aims to leverage technologies such as internet of things, cloud computing and big data to upgrade the country's existing manufacturing industries.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) on Wednesday signed a 647 million-U.S.-dollar contract to purchase 282 rail cars from a Chinese company.

China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) President Xi Guohua (4th R) attends the signing ceremony in Los Angeles, the United States, April 12, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Under the contract, LA Metro will firstly pay 178 million dollars for 64 rail cars built by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) to upgrade the U.S. county's subway system.

Of the first batch of HR 4000 rail cars to be delivered by September 2021, 30 will replace the 25-year-old Red and Purple Line trains and 34 will serve the Purple Line Extension that is expected to open in 2023.

"We anticipate there will be 50,000 weekday boardings once all seven new stations are built, and there will be nearly 80,000 new daily trips on this entire Metro rail system as a result of the opening of the Purple Line Extension," LA Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington said at a signing ceremony.

"We are going to need these trains to meet our future ridership demand," he added.

A new facility will also be purchased in the LA region to manufacture major components for propulsion, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting systems.

Therefore, the contract will create about 50 jobs generating up to 38 million dollars in local wages and benefits. About 10 percent of all the new jobs will be created for disadvantaged workers and workers from lower social economic communities.

"We work with the local companies, local government and local educational institutions to create a win-win situation," CRRC President Xi Guohua told Xinhua.

"We will create job opportunities, increase tax revenue and stimulate the local economy through our partnership and collaborations," he said.

As required by LA Metro, the new trains will run up to 120 kph and can be in service for 40 years.

Compared with the existing trains, the new cars also come with improvements for passengers' experience, including active line maps, LED displays and special designs between the train sets which will allow people to move more freely from one car to another.

Washington said LA Metro, which transports about 1.3 million passengers per day, is making the county an "infrastructure capital of the world."

"CRRC is now a partner in that endeavor," he said.
The 2017 China Green Companies Summit will be held in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan province from April 22 to 24. Participants, including representatives of green companies, business leaders and political decision-makers will gather to share ideas, the China Entrepreneur Club said on Thursday.

Well-known business leaders such as Jack Ma, executive chairman of Alibaba Group, Ma Weihua, former president and CEO of China Merchants Bank, Liu Yonghao, chairman of Chinese conglomerate New Hope Group, and Hu Baosen, the chairman of Jianye Group, will attend the summit.

With the theme "Divided Progress: Finding New Economic Drivers", the summit will organize 38 activities and host more than 1,200 guests this year, about 68 percent of those being entrepreneurs, 18 percent being members of the media, and the rest will be from government and non-government organizations.

It will focus on fostering benign businesses, social and natural ecology, helping sustainable green companies play a leading role in industrial upgrading, as well as dealing with rapidly-changing new trends and patterns.

The annual event started in 2008, and as the tenth year of the summit, it will pick up in Central China's Henan province, which has a meaningful history and brilliant civilization, said Cheng Hong, secretary general of China Entrepreneur Club.

Ma Weihua, former president of China Merchants Bank, said that as a traditional agricultural province, Henan has emerged through a large number of outstanding enterprises in science and technology, and fosters new businesses such as cross-border e-commerce.

The summit will provide a good opportunity to communicate with international entrepreneurs, which will have a far-reaching influence, Ma added.
BEIJING  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 on building plants and facilities. These firms have generated $120 million 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, 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 in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, 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 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.
The 3rd China Returnee Entrepreneurship Contest was officially launched in Beijing on Wednesday.

The contest was organized by the Chinese Returned Overseas Scholars Entrepreneur Parks' Alliance under the guidance of several government agencies.

With the theme "Converge Returnee Talents, Boost Innovation and Entrepreneurship", the contest was first held in 2015, attracting a total of 543 participating teams.

More than 30 projects from the previous two contests have landed in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjin, Changshu, Huzhou, Guangzhou and Lanzhou.

Featuring returnee entrepreneurship, the contest requires all participating teams to have at least one returnee, from either studying or working overseas.

Over 200 entrepreneurial parks for returnees nationwide provided support for the competition and more than 100 venture capital organizations were involved.

A special fund, initiated by the Chinese Returned Overseas Scholars Entrepreneur Parks' Alliance, will offer priority investment to the winner, as much as 50 million yuan.

The contest will be divided into three stages: the preliminary round, expert review round and final round. The winner will be awarded with certificates and opportunities to approach institutional investors.

Registration begins on April 12 and ends on July 5.
BEIJING  US President Donald Trump's decision not to label China a currency manipulator is a wise choice that will be highly beneficial to China-US relations.

The US leader's distancing himself from his previous promise shows that he has an increasingly realistic comprehension of the economic and trade connections between the world's top two economies.

The move also shows that Trump has gained a better understanding of how important it is for both sides and the rest of the international community to ensure the world's most important bilateral ties remain stable and even grow after a meeting between him and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, last week in the US seaside resort of Mar-a-Lago.

At their first meeting, the two presidents agreed to expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and manage their differences so as to bring about greater progress to the two countries and their peoples.

Among the many areas in which the two leaders reached important consensus, one is to facilitate the healthy development of two-way trade and investment, which has increased rapidly in recent years.

Bilateral trade in goods hit $519.6 billion in 2016, an increase of 207 times compared with the figure in 1979 when the two countries established diplomatic relations.

Trade in services between the two countries exceeded $110 billion last year and two-way investment reached $170 billion.

In 2015, bilateral trade and two-way investment helped create about 2.6 million jobs in the United States and contributed $216 billion to the US economy, equivalent to 1.2 percent of the US gross domestic product, said a report from the US-China Business Council.

Obviously, both countries, especially the United States, have greatly benefited from such a close trade relationship -- they are now each other's largest trading partner.

As China and the United States account for a third of the global economy and bilateral trade accounts for a fifth of global trade, the steady and healthy development of China-US trade ties is significant for the stability of the world economy, which is struggling to recover.

Against such a backdrop, slapping a currency manipulator tag on China could be counter-productive as it would not only harm the strategic mutual trust between the two countries but also harm bilateral trade relations -- the ballast of bilateral ties -- and increase the volatility of global markets.

What's more, China itself never manipulates its currency nor does it meet the three standards established by the US government to be officially cast as a currency manipulator.

As to the massive trade deficits with China, they are the result of the evolution of the global distribution of industries and global value chains. China, as a main manufacturer of staple commodities, especially consumer goods, has advantages in labor-intensive industries compared with the United States.

Therefore, starting from the Mar-a-Lago meeting that has charted the course for China-US ties, the two sides need to iron out differences with both political wisdom and dexterity to move their relationship forward.

As Trump has become increasingly aware of the gravity of a sound China-US relationship, it is hoped that the United States will continue to work with China to eliminate factors and issues that stand in the way of bilateral ties to further promote their relationship.
NICOSIA  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 ($10.6 billion) 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.
BEIJING  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 metric tons 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.
An employee counts yuan banknotes at a bank in Huaibei, Anhui province, June 22, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Slower growth of new yuan loans issued in the real estate sector reflects the central bank's intention to contain risks, a senior bank official said on Friday.

New housing loans issued in the first quarter reached 1.7 trillion yuan, accounting for 40.4 percent of total new yuan loans issued during the same period, which is 4.5 percentage points lower compared to the year end in 2016, according to the bank.

Declined growth in new net yuan loans in the property market is a significant factor contributing to a slower growth of money supply, according to Ruan Jianhong, head of the statistics and analysis department at PBOC.

M2, broad money supply, grew by only 10.6 percent in the first quarter from the previous year, central bank data showed, compared to 13.4 percent growth in 2016 during the same period.

"A smooth declining trend of M2 reflects that the bank maintains prudent monetary policies and is strengthening supervision to financial institutions, especially to highly leveraged banks," Ruan said.

Ruan also said the central bank will continue with its prudent monetary policies, creating an ideal environment for implementing supply-side reform and restructuring.
This year's China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, will feature more exporters and importers from Belt and Road countries.

Canton Fair spokesman Xu Bing said this year's fair increased efforts to attract exhibitors from these countries resulting in 364 companies from 24 countries along the Belt and Road participating.

Xu said the countries and regions along the Belt and Road are important to the Canton Fair.

Since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, buyers from these countries have accounted for more than 30 percent of all fair participants each year.

As the Belt and Road Initiative is being implemented, trade between China and the Belt and Road countries is booming.

Last year, trade between China and these countries reached $850 billion, accounting for more than 25 percent of total foreign trade.

The Canton Fair will continue to deepen economic and trade cooperation with the Belt and Road countries, Xu said.

This year's Canton Fair will kick off in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, on April 15.

As China's largest trade fair and a barometer of foreign trade, the 121st Canton Fair has about 60,000 booths for more than 24,000 companies from home and abroad.
Omar Ishrak, chief executive of US-based medical device manufacturer Medtronic.

As China increases its efforts to provide low-cost and effective medical services through the government's healthcare reforms, the plan offers potential for all market players, including foreign companies.

Omar Ishrak, chief executive of US-based medical device manufacturer Medtronic, does not regard the reforms as something that would put the brakes on the company's long-term commitment in the country.

He sees the reforms as central in allowing his company to fulfill its mission to expand access to healthcare, and lower costs in healthcare systems globally.

Ishrak has long been fascinated with Chinese culture. He joined the company in 2011 and comes to China at least twice each year.

Leading a company with more than 88,000 employees in 160 countries, Ishrak has created a healthy work/life balance.

His easy-going nature has been welcomed by employees.

In 2016, he was named in Glassdoor's top 50 chief executive list for the second year.

Recently, he spoke to China Daily during the Boao Forum for Asia about how his company plans to embrace opportunities brought by the government's medical reforms. The following are edited excerpts from the interview:

What do you think of your products' competitive edge in the medical device market in china?

In the medical device market in China, we have the leading market share. For our latest product in Chinathe heart valvewe have solid experience that we are proud of to bring to China. I think our competitive edge lies in our understanding the needs of local physicians so that we can customize products to meet their demands.

The China-led Belt and Road Initiative has opened up new business opportunities. How will it benefit your business?

With clearer policies and regulations to be established in time, the initiative may make it easier for us to do business, providing greater access to products and to professional training in neighboring countries.

What do the healthcare reforms mean for your company?

The government's aim of lowering healthcare costs in China is a good cause.

As a medical manufacturer, the company has helped increase Chinese patients' access to healthcare through innovative public and private partnerships and we have a plan to establish a training and education center in Chengdu in Sichuan province, to help medical professionals from Western China to improve their clinical skills.

Future efforts would involve helping improve healthcare quality in remote China, expanding sales and distribution networks to reach more people in need those hard-to-reach rural regions.

The company is opening the first bio-prosthetic heart valve manufacturing site in Shanghai. It is expected that in time this facility will help relieve the shortage of bio-prosthetic valves in China and globally.

A researcher with Medtronic conducts research at the company's R&D center in Shanghai. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Do you think the government has a role to play to make medical products more affordable? What is your suggestion on improving healthcare in china?

China still lags behind compared to developed countries in terms of government spending on basic healthcare. I am not saying that China should increase the spending right away, but it is a fact.

The costs of healthcare remain high compared to other developed nations. Data from the World Bank shows that as of 2014, the US spends 17.1 percent of its GDP on healthcare, but China spends around 5.6 percent of its GDP. There is room for improvement, but the government is on the right track.

How do you meet the demand of customers who are out of reach of the affordable and highquality medical products? How do you make your products more affordable?

The major problem in China is not high costs. The major problem is that even if there are many people who can afford the products, sometimes they have limited access, possibly because they live too far from the clinics.

The first step to address the problem is to try to provide access to everyone who can afford the products. Because the demand is huge in China, and a huge volume itself decreases costs naturally.

We would be able to produce more lowcosts products in China in the future, but we would have stratified portfolios. It depends on how demands for different kinds of products change.

What is unique about the Chinese market compared with other major international markets?

There are more patients and more physicians in China compared to any other area in the world.

In 10 years, probably, the Chinese market would have outpaced the US market.To us, what makes China unique, is that Chinese government has a systematic approach to resolve the huge demand for better healthcare service through managing the pace of investment and by improving training of medical professionals.

In this way costs are controlled. The Chinese government has been leveling the playing field for market players, which makes China a long-term viable market.

Your company received a fine of 118.5 million yuan ($17.19 million) from the National Development and Reform Commission for refusing to let distributors discount prices for medical devices last year. How has this affected your business and strategies?

We have spoken to officials with the National Development and Reform Commission. By and large, there has not been much effect on our business.

We have the best intentions, and we have made adjustments accordingly. The government is keeping an eye on the whole supply chain, and is trying to streamline it. That helps improve the whole business environment and we will watch it carefully. The transparency of law enforcement is good enough, and I don't think there is too much to complain about from the company's perspective.

We now understand where the regulations stand and we will make sure employees understand the rules.

What's your opinion about free trade and globalization?

Healthcare is a global need. If you can help people, no matter where they are in the world, it is a good thing.

The demand is universal and I think there should not be too much disagreement on this point. Putting a barrier on doing this sometimes makes it more difficult but may be unintentional.

We would adapt to local policies. Once the rules are in place, we are a big enough company to make the adjustment.

Have you visited any Chinese hospitals or clinics, and spoken with local distributors and patients?

Yes, I have visited both small and large hospitals in China, and the medical center in Chengdu in Sichuan province. The feedback from the patients is usually good. I have met distributors as well. I will come back to Beijing again this year.

What's your hobby? How do you spend your time after work?

I go hiking a little bit while visiting countries. I love running, just for fun. Hope I can have the chance to hiking in China very soon.
People ride shared bikes along the Chang'an Avenue of Beijing on March 10, 2017. [Photo/People's Daily Online]

The bike-sharing boom offers urban residents a new option for short journeys in cities and is expected to further promote healthy urban development, according to a report issued on Wednesday.

The report, issued by Beijing Mobike Technology Co Ltd and Beijing Tsinghua Tongheng Urban Planning and Design Institute, found that shared bikes had reinvigorated the nation's love for bikes as more Chinese people will opt for bikes rather than cars to make short urban journeys.

A survey of about 100,000 residents in 36 cities reported a 55 percent decline in their trips by car and a 53 percent decrease in their trips via unlicensed motorcycles after they started using shared bikes.

Wang Peng, deputy chief engineer of the innovation center for technology at Tsinghua Tongheng, said that since the debut of shared bikes, people have made less trips by car.

"Previously, trips made by cars accounted for 29.8 percent of the total trips inside the city, while only 5.5 percent of trips were made by bike. Following the booming bike-sharing trend, the proportion of trips by car dropped to 26.6 percent and the proportion of bike rides doubled to 11.6 percent (both privately owned and shared bikes)."

The enthusiasm for high-tech shared bikes is not exclusively among young people. Data from Mobike showed that retired men, usually over 60, traveled the longest distances.

The majority of Mobike users are those born in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, accounting for 70 percent of the total users.

People in Shenzhen top all cities in the number of rides during the period from midnight to early morning. And Shanghai has the largest number of people using shared bikes to travel to work.

Experts said the bike-sharing sector will help improve the overall urban environment.

The emerging bike-sharing boom not only alleviates the traffic congestion in cities, but will also help to make more effective use of urban space, Wang said.

"Taking Beijing as an example, the parking space for a normal-sized car can fit 10 bikes. If more people choose shared bikes, an area equivalent to the size of five Bird's Nest stadiums would be saved."
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The illegal fundraising schemes involved 4 billion yuan (580 million U.S. dollars). [File Photo]

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.
Reporters from Chinese and Russian media outlets visit the headquarters of WeChat in Tianhe district, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Oct 28, 2016. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Monthly active users of WeChat, a popular social networking app run by internet behemoth Tencent Holdings Ltd, rose to 889 million last year, up 28 percent year-on-year, according to a report which was released on Thursday.

The report, released by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, said the number of active WeChat users last year helped directly drive 174.3 billion yuan ($25.3 billion) of information-sector spending, an increase of 26.2 percent on the previous year.

The report said WeChat has helped boost domestic information-sector consumption, a category that includes e-commerce, internet and cloud computing technology.

The government has urged to expand consumption to create new sources of economic growth and to help drive industry upgrading.

The report added that the popular messaging app, which provides a wide range of services, from hailing taxis to paying bills, created jobs for 18.81 million people in 2016, up 7.7 percent year-on-year.

It found that the proportion of older WeChat users was gradually increasing.

Those aged over 55 using voice messages accounted for 22 percent of the total, while their average length of time spent on audio and video calling service reached 82 minutes, higher than other groups of users.

The report also found that WeChat has quickened the transmission of information, changed people's paying habits and the channels with which people get information.

More than 50 percent of users spend more than 1.5 hours daily on WeChat and more than one-third of users often use WeChat for more than four hours, the report said.

Ma Shicong, an analyst at Beijing-based internet consultancy Analysys, said: "WeChat has accumulated a large number of loyal users by providing various services, from instant messaging, information to mobile payments."

WeChat helps make lives easier and more convenient, Ma said.

The report also showed the WeChat official accounts were favored by users, with 36.1 percent of them following or subscribing to accounts related to in news and information.

It added that the number of users of WeChat Pay, the mobile payment platform, has surpassed 600 million, and more than 1 million offline stores get entry points to the platform.

More than 30 percent of users said the WeChat Pay had changed their paying habits as they only need to take their mobile phones when going out to shop.
Girish Ramachandran, Asia-Pacific president of Tata Consultancy Services.

China's rapid strides in digital technologies have indirectly inspired India to digitise its economy, said Girish Ramachandran, Asia-Pacific president of Tata Consultancy Services, the country's largest IT player.

In mobile payments and artificial intelligence, China is already leading and has shared its expertise with its neighbors, he said.

The Belt and Road Initiative will help China bring some of its world-class technologies to economies along the trading routes, he said.

"The initiative is a great opportunity for global trade, and to build connectivity," said Ramachandran.

Chinese technologies are making inroads in India, exemplified by the export of Ant Financial Services Group's wireless payment solutions to Paytm. The two signed an agreement in 2015 to create an Alipay clone in India.

India, like China, does not have an entrenched credit card culture. So with the right technologies and business models, jumping from cash to mobile payment is not difficult, he said.

Today, Paytm covers 150 million users in India and enables people to complete a variety of purchases and access micro loans with a scan of their phones.

"The demonetization accords with the Indian government's push to combat the black market, increase transparency and digitize the economy. Clearly China has played a significant role in this," he said.

From the all-in-one app WeChat, to some of the nascent artificial intelligence startups, Ramachandran said China has exhibited huge potential in the global high-tech race. It is now time for China to properly brand these technologies and make them available overseas.

"Most of the apps, technologies and services are being used in China only. Turning them into world-renowned brands would pave the way for China's next phase of growth," he said, adding that the Belt and Road Initiative would certainly drive that goal.

China's high-tech giants have already entered the South Asian market. Tencent Cloud, the cloud business division of Tencent Holdings Limited, has established overseas services nodes in India and a data center in Singapore to provide "secure and cost efficient" IT infrastructure.

UCWeb Inc, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, announced the launch of a We-Media Reward Plan 2.0 in India to encourage and sponsor self publishers and content distribution through the internet.
Children are seen on a motor bike on the outskirts of Xiongxian county, one part of the Xiongan New Area, Hebei province, April 3, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Three telecom operators have vowed their full support for the Xiongan New Area, which could become China's first region to test out a large-scale commercial 5G network, Shanghai Securities News reported.

China Unicom said the company will make serving the Xiongan New Area a priority, and establish a special working team to plan and promote related work.

China Telecom said it would establish a gigabit optical network in the new area, fully covering e-Surfing 4G and Narrow Band Internet of Things, or NB-IoT. The company also plans to build a 5G trial network in advance, as well as cloudnetwork integration layout.

China Mobile also said it plans to build a 5G mobile communication network in the area, ensuring all-optical high-speed broadband infrastructure could be completed in one step.

China Mobile said the company fully supports turning the Xiongan New Area into a green smart city and innovation development pilot region. It will speed up the digitization service layout and promote the development of Internet of Things, cloud computing, big data, e-government and e-Commerce.

Three telecom operators are all paying close attention to the Xiongan New Area to ensure that a gigabit optical network could be established in one move, Fu Liang, an independent TMT (Technology, Media, Telecom) analyst told the newspaper.

"It's possible that Xiongan could become China's first region to try out large-scale commercial application of 5G network," Fu added.

China announced plans to create Xiongan New Area on April 1, which authorities described as a "major historic and strategic choice crucial for the millennium to come."

The new area, about 100 kilometers southwest of downtown Beijing, is designed to advance coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and cure "urban ills" such as traffic congestion and air pollution in the capital.
LUSAKA  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 to establish the academy and center while 12 ICT lecturers have been trained.

The company, he said, intends to set up a $17,500 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.
SHANGHAI - 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.
China unveils 10-year plan for youth development

Xinhua | Updated: 2017-04-14 07:16

BEIJING - 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.
One of the two panda cubs Xing Ya and Wu Wen is pictured as they are introduced to the public in Amsterdam after arriving from China on April 12, 2017. The three-year-old and five-year-old pandas will stay at Ouwehand Zoo in Rhenen. [Photo/VCG]
An archaeological dig for an ancient king's sunken treasure in Sichuan province battened its hatches on Wednesday, as the annual flood season approaches.

More than 30,000 relics have been recovered so far.

Archaeologists have unearthed gold, silver, bronze and ironware dating back about 400 years since draining a section of the Minjiang River running through Meishan's Pengshan district in early January.

"More than 1,000 items are directly related to the Daxi Kingdom founded by Zhang Xianzhong after the collapse of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and offer evidence the river was where Zhang's fleet of about 1,000 vessels was attacked and destroyed in 1646," said Gao Dalun, president of the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute.

Leading historians have called the discoveries the most important related to the Ming era since the excavation of the Dingling Mausoleum, the burial site of Emperor Wan Li (1563-1620) and his two empresses, in Beijing in 1958.

Sources from the institute said work will likely restart next year thanks to funding from the National Administration of Cultural Heritage. The amount was not disclosed.

Zhang, a native of the area that now forms Shaanxi province, led a farmers' revolt and captured Chengdu, the Sichuan capital, declaring himself emperor of Daxi in 1644.

Chronicles show Zhang was forced to flee the city two years later and was eventually defeated and killed by troops from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) after he and his men were ambushed in a section of the Minjiang River known as Jiangkou by Yang Zhan, a Ming general, who torched the rebels' boats.

Since the 1950s, bulk silver, gold and coins have been found in Jiangkou from time to time. The Meishan police said in October that after more than a year of investigation, they had detained 10 gangs illegally digging for relics and nine illegal trading networks involving 70 people who traded more than 300 million yuan ($44 million) worth of relics from the Jiangkou section.

The move prompted archaeologists to start the first underwater archaeological dig in Sichuan. Temporary dams were built in Jiangkou, and water was drained before Gao's institute started the dig in January.

"After 98 days of digging in an area of more than 20,000 square meters, we have found gold plates that Zhang gave to his concubines, gold coins he used as rewards and silver ingots with the name of his kingdom and year of their manufacture," Gao said.

"We also found gold rings, earrings and hairpins, iron knives, swords, spears, arrowheads, porcelain plates and bowls, bronze locks, keys, sliding weights from a steelyard and thimbles."

According to Zhou Chunshui, an expert in the protection of underwater cultural heritage from the National Administration of Cultural Heritage, the jewelry found in Jiangkou came from common people.

Chronicles in Sichuan suggest that Zhang was cruel, looting wealth from both governments and common people.

huangzhiling@chinadaily.com.cn

Left: Jewels retrieved from the sunken fleet of Zhang Xianzhong, a revolt leader in late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Right: A silver ingot found in the Jiangkou section of the Minjiang River.Huang Zhiling / China Daily

(China Daily 04/14/2017 page4)
Some hospitals and universities will relocate from downtown Beijing to suburbs and nearby Xiongan New Area in Hebei Province to relieve the city of functions nonessential to its role as China's capital, 21st Century Business Herald reports.

Construction on some projects is likely to begin within the year, it said.

Beijing's development and reform commission recently unveiled key construction initiatives for 2017, including nine that involve new, expanded or relocated projects for colleges and hospitals including Renmin University, Beijing Film Academy, Beijing Friendship Hospital and Peking University People's Hospital.

Earlier reports said some of the city's administrative agencies, companies, financial institutes, colleges and research institutes would be moved to Xiongan.

Chen Yao, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said colleges, hospitals and related operations, institutions and agencies could all shift to this area in future.

Yin Zhigang, a Beijing-based researcher, said it is necessary for Xiongan to host non-capital functions that are shifted away from Beijing. "It's not necessary for citizens across the country to come to the capital to see a doctor anyway," he noted.

Colleges closely related to the development of local industries will be the priority, it was added. In Yin's opinion, those set up in Xiongan should integrate with local science and technology industries and companies, and share resources with others.

The New Area about 100 km southwest of downtown Beijing will span three counties that sit at the center of the triangle formed by Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei's provincial capital Shijiazhuang.
The head of a human resources market research company in China has called for companies, based throughout the nation, to strengthen integrity management processes in China's job market, as well as encouraged government officials to improve relevant laws and regulations.

Tian Yongpo, from the Chinese Academy of Personnel Science, said "integrity at work is even more important in such an era with explosive information about jobs", and added, as an example, that the mobility of Chinese labor forces from the year 2010 to 2014 gradually increased .

Tian said, at a forum held by people.com.cn in Beijing on Wednesday, China's floating population grew 12.65 percent, moving from 221 million to 253 million people, from 2010 to 2014.

"Huge information about jobs have accumulated during the process," he said.

"Among explosive information, a problem will certainly arise about information transfer and distortion.

"As a result, our credibility at work is greatly influenced."

He made the comments at the forum before the survey results were published, which claimed that more than 80 percent of respondents found the credibility of Chinese workplaces poor.

The survey collected information from more than 6,000 people, as well as 3,000 human resources managers, and was carried out by 17zhiliao.com, a website that helps companies check background information of potential employees, between March 10 and April 10, 2017.

More than half of the respondents to the survey believed dishonest behavior had resulted in a loss to companies and individuals.

Guo Wenlong, the deputy head for Labor Law Studies of Shanghai Law Society, said the "call for a law is natural since one could not get all the information he needs to (determine if a person in focus is credible or not)."

Guo went on to mention authority figures should improve laws and regulations on the non-competition agreement in the labor law, as the occasional employee has operated in a grey area to avoid company requirements and restrictions.

HR managers listed the worst behavior as missing job interviews, slacking off at work and even job-hopping.

Individuals overstating work performance and experience, as well as falsifying their educational background, were recorded as the most common dishonest behaviors to be seen.

To avoid hiring these types of candidates, 97 percent of HR mangers believed it was necessary to investigate the information job seekers' provided during the early stages of recruitment.

More than 90 percent of job seekers agreed to the necessity of a background check; however, most people believed companies should seek the candidate's approval before undertaking their enquiries.

Li Aijun, a law professor with the China University of Political Science and Law, urged companies to follow China's rules, regulations and laws while undertaking investigations into personal information.

She cautioned the act of obtaining sickness records, property information and particular criminal history records, as these acts could become illegal after a certain point.
Peng Genfu showcases the copied masterpieces at his home in Zhuzhou city, Central China's Hunan province. [Photo from WeChat account of Zhuzhou Daily]

A retired teacher, aged in his 70s, has spent the past five years copying four great classic novels, including Journey to the West, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, A dream of the Red Mansion and Water Margin.

As Zhuzhou Daily reported on Wednesday, Peng Genfu decided to regularly practice calligraphy after retiring from working as a teacher at the Hunan University of Technology in Zhuzhou city, at Central China's Hunan province.

"There is much flexibility after retirement," Peng said.

"I have been fond of calligraphy for many years, ever since I was a child, and hoped to do an intensive reading study of the four masterpieces by copying them," Peng said.

Upon finishing the classics at the beginning of 2017, Peng had his version stacked as high as half a meter on a table at his house.

The manuscripts boast of having more than four million characters  the equivalent of 25 books.

During the first novel, A Dream of the Red Mansion, Peng could only write a few hundred characters at a time and moved up to copying 3,000 characters, at a time, on his second novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Peng then went on to copy the two remaining novels, Journey to the West and Water Margin, in traditional Chinese characters.

To complete the tasks, Peng used more than 30 Chinese brushes and said he overcame the feeling of "giving up" many a time.

"I used to think of giving up the work, however, I encouraged myself to carry on with it," he said.

"I hope perseverance can inspire and encourage young people and future generations," said Peng.
BEIJING -- Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will on Saturday publish an article on China's security outlook.

The article will be released in the eighth issue of the Journal this year, under the byline of Zhong Guoan.

Rather than a zero-sum game, absolute security or alliance theory, President Xi Jinping's overall national security outlook proposes universal inclusiveness in the spirit of "building a community of shared destiny," according to the article.

The article said the outlook is a major development of the CPC's national security theory and enriches the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The overall national security outlook will help to realize national rejuvenation, the article said.
On April 13, the Organizing Committee of Expo 2019 Beijing held a briefing meeting with diplomatic envoys at Beijing Hotel. More than 80 diplomatic envoys to China and representatives of international organizations in China attended the meeting.

Wang Jinzhen, Member of Organizing Committee of Expo 2019 Beijing, Commissioner General of Expo 2019 Beijing; Jiang Zengwei, Deputy Chairmanof Organizing Committee;Jiang Zehui, Deputy Chairwoman of Organizing Committee and other government officials presented the conference.

20 countries will participate in the expo and the invitation received positive feedback

Expo 2019 Beijing, approved by the International Association of Horticultural Producers and International Exhibitions Bureau, is the highest-level State-sponsored international horticultural exhibition.

Following Kunming International Horticultural Exposition1999 and Shanghai World Expo 2010, it is regarded as the largest and highest-level international expo over the past decade.

Since August 2016, the Chinese government issued invitations to a wide range of international communities, kicking off the international promotional work.

So far, hundreds of countries have shown their interest in the expo. Twenty countries including India, Sudan, Algeria and North Korea have been confirmed to participate in this distinguished gathering.

The Netherlands, India and some other countries have already send out their staff to the expo park to choose their exhibition areas. Officials from the German, the United Kingdom, Italian and other countries' embassies said they will confirm their participation soon and send designers to pick exhibition locations.

Columbia Counsellor Alejandro ROA said, China's market and development potential are significant for his country. Columbia will promote their flower products based on the platform of Expo 2019 Beijing, and establish long-term cooperative relations with the provinces, cities and enterprises in China.

Zhou Jian Ping, Executive Deputy Director General of Expo 2019 Beijing said, Expo 2019 Beijing will attract more than 100 participant countries. 2017 is a crucial year for theirpromotional work and they will strive to confirm 80 participating countries in total, Zhou said.
BEIJING -- Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday warned that no one would win if there was war on the Korean Peninsula, advising against anything that could escalate the situation.

"We urge all parties to refrain from inflammatory or threatening statements or deeds to prevent irreversible damage to the situation on the Korean Peninsula," Wang said when meeting with the press following talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

"There has been heightened tension between the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). This precarious situation deserves our attention and concern," Wang said.

China has always opposed any rhetoric or actions that could escalate tensions and, as history has shown us, dialogue has proved to be the only solution, he said.

"On the Korean Peninsula issue, it is not the one who espouses hasher rhetoric or raises a bigger fist that will win," Wang said.

"If war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula, multiple parties will lose and no one will win," Wang stressed.

The foreign minister underscored that the calls for the resumption of dialogue and negotiation are the very opportunities that China has worked hard to find and should all parties grasp them.

China is willing to present a feasible and detailed plan about the "dual-track approach" and "suspension for suspension" and is open to all helpful advice, Wang said.

"The resumption of talks can be flexible. China supports all kinds of dialogue, regardless of if it is formal or informal, about denuclearization or peace mechanism, or involves two, three or four parties," he said.

China has proposed a "dual-track approach" to denuclearize the Peninsula and establish a peace mechanism as well as "suspension for suspension", which would defuse the looming crisis there.

"As a first step, the DPRK may suspend its nuclear and missile activities in exchange for the suspension of large-scale U.S.-ROK military exercises," Wang said at a press conference last month.

The United States has sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters near the Korean Peninsula in what it called a "reaction to provocations" from recent missile tests.

Asked to comment on media reports that the DPRK is prepared to test launch more missiles, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said China was following the developments and that UN resolutions demand the DPRK abandon all the nuclear programs.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Sao Tome and Principe Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada in Beijing, capital of China, April 14, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

The resumption of diplomatic ties between China and African nation Sao Tome and Principe was the right move in the circumstances, President Xi Jinping said on Friday, while calling for more cooperation in all areas.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with the prime minister of Sao Tome and Principe, Patrice Trovoada, who arrived in China on Wednesday for a six-day official visit.

As the bilateral ties between the two countries enter a new chapter, Xi said that China is willing to establish a comprehensive partnership based on equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation.

Trovoada became his country's first prime minister to visit Beijing after the resumption of diplomatic relations in late December.

The resumption came one week after the African nation cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Xi spoke highly of Trovoada's contributions to the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The two nations should understand and support each other on core interests and major concerns, he said.

China is willing to help Sao Tome and Principe improve its development plans, boost cooperation in tourism, fishery and agriculture, and support the country's infrastructure construction, use of human resources and security capacity building, Xi said.

The Chinese president also said the two countries should increase people-to-people communication on education, culture, medicine, media, youth and women to strengthen the friendship.

China is willing to cooperate with Sao Tome and Principe on security including fighting pirates and cross-border organized crime, he added.

The president pointed out that China would like to support the development of African nations, help them achieve sustainable development, and jointly build the China-Africa community of shared destiny.

Sao Tome and Principe firmly upholds the one-China policy, Trovoada said, adding that the resumption of diplomatic ties won wide support in his country.

Sao Tome and Principe is willing to enhance cooperation with China on economy and trade, infrastructure, tourism and security, he said.
NINGBO -- Vice President Li Yuanchao has called for efforts to build mass organizations online presence to sustain closer ties with the people.

During a tour of Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province from Wednesday to Thursday, Li said organizations should use the Internet to better communicate with, serve, guide and mobilize the public.

Grassroots Communist Party of China (CPC) committees should take a leading role in reform involving mass organizations, and help grassroots mass organizations to solve their problems including a lack of personnel, funds or office venue, Li said.

Mass organizations represent people from different lines of work or age groups, such as trade unions, women's groups and youth leagues.
Andrey Denisov, Russian Ambassador to China, says the exhibition builds cultural exchanges between China and Russia. [Photo by Ren Qi/chinadaily.com.cn]

An exhibition of Russian oil paintings was held at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing on April 13.

Museum director Wu Weishan said 100 oil paintings, mostly from the 20th century,were selected for the Reception for Voice of the Volga River exhibition.

The paintings reflect the attitudes of Russian oil painters towards nature and personal characters.

Andrey Denisov, Russian Ambassador to China, said the exhibition is a new form of cooperation between the embassy and National Art Museum of China.

"I'm sure such cooperation will boost the development of cultural exchanges between us," he said.
James Stent. [Photo provided to China Daily]

James Stent's new book is an informative insider account of China's banking system, Andrew Moody reports.

James Stent insists China is not heading for a banking or financial crisis any time soon. The 71-year-old veteran banker says those who argue this underestimate the ability of China's financial managers to deal with the current pressing issues.

"Western critics are not wrong in identifying the problems. They are all real and big and challenging problems," he says.

"The only thing is by the time they've identified them, the Chinese have long since identified them and are working on trying to solve them," he adds.

Stent, who was speaking at the Beijing Jianguo Hotel, is one of the few foreigners to have firsthand experience of Chinese banks, having been an independent director of China Minsheng Bank, China's biggest private bank, and China Everbright Bank.

He was in the capital to promote his new book, China's Banking Transformation: The Untold Story, a brilliantly informative insider account of how the Chinese banking system works.

He says he wanted to address, in particular, the misconceptions many in the West have about the Chinese financial system.

"The most fundamental difference, of course, is that in America it is market capitalism, whereas here it is market socialism."

Stent, both engaging and soft-spoken, and who divides his time between homes in Thailand and California, argues China has more of a hybrid banking system.

"Western banks serve really one end, shareholder value and incidentally bonuses for senior management. In China, banks are not really very much about shareholder value at all, apart from that keeping a score of their efficiency and competence.

"The role of China's banks is to target money where it is needed and help meet overarching national goals. Hence, the annual reports of many Chinese banks begin with the chairman reporting that the bank has successfully supported national economic goals."

One of the major concerns about China is asset bubbles, particularly in the property sector, and the rising level of debt, which some estimate is now 260 percent of the country's GDP.
President of Myanmar U Htin Kyaw (right) with editor Li Mou at the book launch in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Min Thu Wun's Affinity with China - a book in Chinese and Burmese - was unveiled by the President of Myanmar U Htin Kyaw in Beijing on Sunday.

The late Min Thu Wun, the president's father, was a famous poet who is regarded as one of the three luminaries in Myanmar's literary movement called Khitsan (new writing) of the 1930s.

The president attended the book launch at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing during his first visit to China since becoming Myanmar's leader in 2016.

Published by China's Foreign Language Press in April, the book is a collection of Min Thu Wun's essays on China and Chinese literature, reflecting the cultural links between China and Myanmar.

"I would like to extend my gratitude to those who contributed to the book's publishing process," U Htin Kyaw said at the ceremony. "My father put great emphasis on introducing Chinese literature to Myanmar. He thought the two have many things in common."

He still has some of his father's manuscripts, he said.

The book includes the Burmese translation of Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Bai Juyi's poems, modern writer Lu Xun's short stories and ancient Chinese fables.

Li Mou, a professor of Burmese language and literature at Peking University, has written a short biography of Min Thu Wun. Li is one of the editors of the new book.

Decades ago, he helped Min Thu Wun with some of the translations which are included in the book. A student of Burmese language at Beijing Foreign Studies University in the 1950s, Li was among the first Chinese students to visit Myanmar. He met Min Thu Wun while studying in the University of Yangon from 1958 to 1962.
Shi Changhong [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 24 solar terms, a complementary calendar system invented in ancient China, has been brought to life thanks to a creative designer from Southwest China's Guizhou province.

On the eve of this year's Qingming Festival, Shi Changhong released his version of re-produced and packaged characters for each solar term in the form of "moving art" or gifs.

Since their initial release on Zcool, a professional website for design insiders, on March 29, the gifs have won great acclaim among the general public and quickly engulfed social media with millions of hits during the festival period.

"In my mind, the 24 solar items represent a complicated social practice system that is formed through observations of the sun's annual motion, and understanding of the year's changes in season, climate and phenology. But this definition comes from the textbook. After taking a closer look at the gifs, I can understand them in a clear and more direct way," Sina Weibo user Wang Xiaoqian said.

To maximize publicity, Shi released his work in three forms: video, animation and picture, while, the background sounds add to the brilliance.

"When I watch the short video, I can strongly feel the Chinese-style elements hidden in them. And it is really cool to rejuvenate Chinese traditional culture in such a unique way," WeChat user Xiao Feifei added.

"It is really a comfort to me to see so many people like my latest work. To be honest, it would really surprise me if the work does not arouse a sensation among Chinese people," Shi told China Daily.
[Photo provided to China Daily]

Ralph & Russo, a British couture house that recently held a special event in Beijing, has major expansion plans in Asia. Sun Yuanqing reports.

It is not easy to gain a foothold in the world of haute couture, but Ralph & Russo, a British couture house, has managed to do so in merely a decade. The rising couture house recently held a special event in Beijing in collaboration with fashion boutique Lane Crawford.

The clothes on show were a mixture. Some were from its new collection shown at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week in January, while others were older pieces, showcasing different styles and elements of the brand.

With a loyal clientele in Asia, the couture house knows what its Asian clients want.
Daniel Lalonde (right), president and CEO of SMCP, with Evelyn Chetrite (center), founder and artistic director of Sandro, and Judith Milgrom, founder and artistic director of Maje. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The fashion industry in general might be having a challenging time, but some brands are thriving thanks to the sweet spot called accessible luxury, where luxury meets affordability.

SMCP, the French company that owns affordable luxury brands Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot, announced its annual results late last month.

The company achieved net sales of 786 million euros($837 million) last year, a 16.4 percent increase year-on-year, beating the sluggish performance of the industry overall.

In particular, the brand has seen strong growth in China, where accessible fashion increasingly appeals to the burgeoning middle class.

Greater China makes up about 12 percent of the company's total sales. It is also the fastest growing area for the company.

"We are just at the beginning of our story in this region," Daniel Lalonde, president and CEO of SMCP, says in a phone interview after the results.

Lalonde attributes part of the growth to the desirability of the collections developed by its creative teams.

"It has been our big strength to capture that Parisian chic and provide that experience to all our customers. Our business model is unique. We blend luxury and fast fashion, which is very relevant to our consumers," he says.

The company is now developing accessories, including handbags and leather goods, which grew by 41 percent last year.

It is also developing its e-commerce business, which now makes up about 10 percent of the total sales.

The Shandong Ruyi Group, a major Chinese textile producer, bought an 80 percent stake in the company for 1.3 billion euros last year, Reuters reports.

While China has always been one of the priority markets for the company, it has now "slightly accelerated its growth" in the region as the Chinese partner provides strategic advice on the country and the region, says Lalonde.

With more than 1,200 stores in 36 countries by the end of 2016, the company is going to add 100 to 125 new stores this year.

China will take 40 percent of the new store growth, followed by Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, says Lalonde.

"If you look at it per brand, we have fewer stores than the luxury brands. That's where we see tremendous potential," he says.

With a presence in 13 Chinese cities, the brand is going to expand to 20 in three years, he adds.

Meanwhile, the company has opened online stores for Sandro and Maje on Tmall, a major Chinese online marketplace.

And Sandro Homme and Claudie Pierlot will follow on Tmall this year.

SMCP will also develop its own e-commerce site in China this year.
A photograph taken by Yang Hong on April 6 depicts daily life in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Baotou Daily is calling for citywide participation in a photography collection activity launched in celebration of the upcoming 70th anniversary of the founding of Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Residents can hand in photos that reflect everyday life and the development that has taken place in Baotou over the past few years. [Photo/Baotou Daily]
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'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.
MA XUEJING/CHINA DAILY

The newly approved General Provisions of the Civil Law has many highlights, among which are articles specifically aimed at protecting the rights of good Samaritans. According to Articles 183 and 184, people who contravene the new law have to bear the civil liability for those who suffer damage in the process of protecting other people's civil rights and interests, and the beneficiary has to give appropriate compensation to the good Samaritans, especially in situations where the transgressors flee the incident spot or are unable to bear the civil responsibility. In addition, if a good Samaritan causes any damage to the beneficiary, he/she will not bear any civil liability.

The media have termed the articles of the General Provisions of the Civil Law and newly issued local regulations aimed at protecting people who help others as China's "good Samaritan law", saying they will help rebuild the social climate in which people willingly help those in need.

Helping others during emergencies is believed to be one of the basic human virtues and necessary for building social cohesion.

The public wanted the legislature to pass a law to protect good Samaritans after the media highlighted incidents where passersby were indifferent onlookers when other people needed help.

In 2011, 18 people in Foshan, South China's Guangdong province, walked past a two-year old girl Yueyue, who was fatally injured in a car accident, without providing any help. The poor girl later died of her injuries. The tragedy sparked a public outcry against social moral decline, but the situation didn't improve as more such incidents happened across the country.

The media always criticize people who turn a blind eye to those who need their help, and talk about the good old days when such indifference was unheard of. But a more pertinent question is why has people's attitude changed in a short time.

In the landmark case of Peng Yu in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, in 2006, a young man who offered help to an injured elderly woman was ordered by a court to pay 45,876 yuan ($6,659) as compensation to the beneficiary, even though the judge supposed he was not at fault, which seriously dampened people's enthusiasm of voluntarily helping others.

For many, however, the question is not "unwilling to" help but "being afraid of" helping those in need. If the old saying, "one good turn deserves another" remains only on paper, it would be unfair to criticize people's hand-off attitude toward those needing help. After all, self-protection is a natural human trait and cannot be compared with selfishness.

The fact that good Samaritans could not fall back on any law to protect themselves exposed a big loophole in our social justice system. A society that doesn't protect the rights and interests of good Samaritans can hardly be regarded as healthy or fair.

So, instead of simply blaming indifferent passersby or onlookers, we should make efforts to build a legal framework to protect good Samaritans, which is exactly what the new law and regulations will do.

The General Provisions of the Civil Law aims to dispel good Samaritans' misgivings about becoming victims themselves. Apart from awards and reward money, some local regulations also provide more specific and considerable protection to the good Samaritans. For instance, the intention of a draft regulation in Central China's Henan province is to create a "green channel" in hospitals to provide medical treatment for those who are injured while helping others. It is also aimed at prohibiting companies from firing employees who are unable to perform their stipulated duties because of injuries sustained while helping those in need.

The brave and altruistic deeds of good Samaritans are like a balm that soothes the pains of society. As such, how to punish those ungrateful people who frame or try to frame their benefactors should also be the focus of lawmakers.

The author is a writer with China Daily.

wangyiqing@chinadaily.com.cn
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and his US counterpart Donald Trump (L) take a walk to further discuss bilateral cooperation issues in the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the United States, April 7, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump recently held an important meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, which drew the attention of the international community for several reasons.

First, the two leaders reached a strategic consensus on the future of Sino-US relations based on the principle of no confrontation, no conflict, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. Within this framework, they initiated a comprehensive dialogue mechanism that includes diplomatic and security dialogue, comprehensive economic dialogue, law enforcement and cyber security dialogue, and dialogue on social and people-to-people exchanges.

Before the meeting, there were uncertainties, even worries, about the direction the China-US relationship would take after Trump became US president and given the burning issues of the US' trade deficit, the yuan's exchange rate, and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the South China Sea. The reality is, China and the US have plenty of converging interests, both bilateral and international, despite not seeing eye-to-eye on everything. The key to a steady and sound relationship is reaching a comprehensive strategic understanding of the overall direction of bilateral ties, instead of being obsessed with one single issue.

Second, the Mar-a-Lago meeting, where the two leaders compared notes on each other's development strategies and agreed to expand cooperation on various economic and financial issues, has contributed to keeping Sino-US economic ties on an even keel and given the world economy a much-needed helping hand. That the two largest economies have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, instead of fighting trade wars, is in itself no small feat.

The agreements the two sides reached on cooperative measures in bilateral and global economic fields are impressive, because they were achieved against the backdrop of faltering global growth, increasing financial risks amid high turbulence in global capital movement and rising protectionism in some advanced economies.

It seems Trump's "America First" policy does not necessarily mean "China Last". In fact, his "America First" policy can succeed only through cooperation with China.

US officials have often mentioned their country's trade deficit ($347 billion last year) to highlight the imbalance in China-US trade. But deficit and surplus are the two parts of trade, and the US has to find ways to reduce it and restore the balance in trade, rather than adopting a protectionist trade policy.

Xi said at Mar-a-Lago that the two countries, among other things, should consider deepening cooperation in infrastructure construction and energy. In infrastructure, China has the advantage of capital, equipment and capability, and therefore can help the US to improve its infrastructure. On the energy front, the US could export shale oil and gas to China that has a huge demand for energy. Besides, the US ought to consider lifting the ban on exports of dual-use goods to China.

And third, the two leaders paid special attention to regional security and world peace. Media reports say Xi and Trump talked at length about regional security, including the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Therefore, it is not a good sign that the US is talking about a military resolution to the peninsula issue and has moved extra military equipment and personnel, including aircraft carrier groups, into the waters near the peninsula. The US should realize saber rattling will only lead to war not peace.

We strongly urge all parties to stop taking actions that will compromise regional security. We also urge them to seriously consider China's recent proposal of "dualsuspension" to create conditions for restarting negotiations, especially the Six-Party Talks.

East Asian countries, as well as those countries that have interests in the region need to adopt Xi's new security concept based on cooperative and comprehensive security, rather than seeking absolute security at the expense of others.

The Mar-a-Lago meeting has provided guidance on how to manage China-US relations and drawn a clear road map to achieve this goal. The tone and direction have thus been set and now we need to "roll up our sleeves" to concretize the work cut out for us at the meeting.

The author is a former vice-minister of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, and former vice-minister of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The article is an excerpt from "At Mar-a-Lago, Predictability Trumps Uncertainty" published on chinausfocus.com.
Freshmen carry their baggage on the first day of their college life at Huaibei Normal University in Huaibei, Anhui province, Sept 12, 2012. [Photo/IC]

ARTS MAJOR STUDENTS at Xi'an International Studies University have complained that they were charged 11,000 yuan ($1,600) tuition fees every school year, which is higher than the legal standard of 9,000 yuan. The university responded that it had adjusted the tuition fees to the national standard in 2015, and it had reimbursed the amount overcharged in 2013 and 2014. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

After the complaints from students at Xi'an International Studies University, students from several other colleges in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, also complained that their universities overcharged for certain majors. Shaanxi provincial price bureau has said it is investigating the matter.

The case shows that the authorities have been a little loose in regulating university tuition fees.

Xi'an International Studies University had overcharged its art major students for years, but it was not until 2015 that the local price bureau found out and asked it to return the money. Worse, two years after the order was issued, the university has still not finished returning the overcharged tuition fees.

Other universities have reportedly been overcharging for years, too, but the local price bureau did not investigate them until students complained en masse.

The bureau needs to strengthen the regulatory measures and make them clearer to prevent such overcharging from happening again.

An important reason for certain colleges overcharging students is that the documents regulating tuition fees are rather ambiguous, which has left loopholes for colleges to overcharge.

That is why, despite the fact that the Ministry of Education and the National Development and Reform Commission launch inspections at the beginning of every school year, some colleges still overcharge students.

The investigation led by Shaanxi provincial price bureau is still going on, and we look forward to its conclusions. More important, we hope the authorities can strengthen supervision over the universities and reform the tuition fee system so as to plug any loopholes allowing universities to overcharge students.
Internally displaced people who fled Raqqa city stand near tents in a camp in Ain Issa, north of Raqqa, Syria on April 3, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

The Pulitzer Prize, which was awarded this Monday, recognizes journalists' excellent work in questioning and investigation. It put into sharp contrast the lack of quality reporting on Syria by the US mainstream news outlets.

The April 4 chemical weapons attack in Syria which killed civilians, including children, was shocking. The perpetrators, whoever they were, should be identified and punished.

Yet before any investigation could even be carried out, the US government decided unilaterally it was the Syrian government army that launched the attack. US President Donald Trump ordered an airstrike on the Syrian al-Shayrat air force base. Besides destroying military jets, the air defense system and other logistical facilities, the bombing killed and injured a number of civilians.

In the past week, the US mainstream media has mostly focused on Trump's U-turn in his Syria policy, or whether it means another Iraq type of war. Few have asked whether it was the Syrian government army or the opposition army that used the chemical weapons or whether the US airstrike violated international law.

It reminds many of the situation in 2003 when then US secretary of state Colin Powell went to the United Nations to make a case for invading Iraq. The argument was later found to be based on false evidence.

Although they were sharply critical later, the unquestioning US news media at that time has been widely viewed as strengthening the credibility of Powell.

According to a University of Maryland study, 57 percent of US mainstream media viewers at the time believed Iraq supported al-Qaida and was directly involved in the Sept 11 attacks on the US in 2001. And 69 percent believed that Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the 9/11 attacks.

None of these was true.

This time, US mainstream news outlets, except the public service network C-SPAN, did not even cover the heated debate at the emergency meeting on Syria at the UN Security Council on April 7, where diverse views were presented.

For example, Bolivian ambassador to the UN Sacha Llorenti, holding an enlarged photo of Powell in his 2003 presentation at the UN, said the alleged weapon of mass destruction was never found. Sweden's ambassador to the UN Olof Skoog claimed the US missile strike "raises questions of compatibility with international law."

Under international laws, such an airstrike on a country would require the mandate of the UN Security Council unless the US was acting in self-defense.

It was not just the mainstream media. Opinion leaders in major US think tanks did not question the strike much either. Except for the libertarian Cato Institute, few raised any questions about the legality of the airstrike. Of the five Brookings Institution scholars who posted their comments on the institute's website after the US attack, only one, Chuck Call, raised the issue, saying "the act reflects a disregard for multilateral organizations and approaches, and its international legal basis remains unclear".

Charlie Savage of The New York Times was probably one of the few US journalists to delve into the legality issue. His lengthy article on Friday called the air strike into question under both international and domestic laws.

As nations make their stances known, one obvious question that should be raised is how some countries can support the US airstrike at the same time they are pushing for an international investigation. If you support the launch of 59 Tomahawk missiles as a punishment for the Syrian government, you must be certain who was the perpetrator. But when you support an investigation, it means that you are not absolutely sure who actually used the chemical weapons.

I have not heard such a basic question raised by US mainstream media.

The author is deputy editor of China Daily USA. chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
Traditional 'Old Chongqing' - staircase street 1994. [[Photo taken by Bruce Connolly]

Two days downriver from Leshan in Sichuan I arrived at Chongqing, at Chaotianmen. It was July 1994 and I was on a journey by boat following the Changjiang. Although a major inland port there were no docks or quays - seasonal water flow variations meant vessels either tied up at a series of pontoon piers or simply beached on muddy shores with passengers disembarking via wooden planks. Chaotianmen historically has been the gateway and transhipment point to the city - at 160 metres altitude it is the lowest point in central Chongqing.

'Chongqing, rising high above the confluence of the Changjiang and Jialingjiang, is both a 'City on Rivers' and a 'Mountain City'- a reflection not just of its spectacular backdrop but also the steepness of the city's many hills that render use of traditional bicycles almost impossible. The arduous climb up a long flight of stone steps from the river banks at Chaotianmen helps reinforce Chongqing's reputation as one of the 'Three Furnaces of China''. (Bruce Connolly 1994)

Apart from comfortable 'Three Gorges' cruise ships, few passenger boats today traverse the waters of the Changjiang. In March this year I arrived by overnight train from Beijing at modern Chongqing North Station. Onward connection to downtown dramatically illustrated Chongqing's contemporary infrastructure. Unlike most Chinese cities where metros burrow under ground Chongqing has operated since 2005 a unique 'straddle-like' monorail system carrying passengers mostly above ground. This provides not only magnificent views of the city but at night crossing Niujiaotou Jialingjiang Bridge the strings of lights illuminating riverside buildings and bridges.

The monorail brought me near Jiefang Square, effectively the city centre. In 1994 this was a traffic roundabout surrounded mainly by low-rise buildings housing domestic department stores. Today, pedestrianised and with modern architecture, it is home to international fashion brands, coffee shops and more. Nearby, with a unique red and black exterior, rises Chongqing Art Gallery (Jiefangbei Guotai Arts Centre). In March 'Chaotianmen Image Exhibition' featured an extensive photography collection detailing the story of Chaotianmen - its relationship between the rivers and the city. It was an honour to have several of my 1994 images included.

Jiefang and Chaotianmen are within Yuzhong, the fascinating 'Old City' of Chongqing. Physically restricted space, narrow roads, buildings high and close together creates a feeling of 'buzz', of vibrant street life, of a people's city.
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The U.S. military has dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan on an Islamic State target, the Pentagon said Thursday.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday gave the order for the U.S. military to drop a GBU-43 or Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb on an IS cave complex in Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan, the first time such a bomb has been used in combat.

"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," the Pentagon said in a statement.

ISIS-K refers to ISIS-Khorasan, the terror group's affiliate in Afghanistan.

The MOAB, which weighs about 22,000 pounds, is nicknamed "Mother Of All Bombs".
Fu Chengyu, former chairman of Sinopec. [Photo provided to China Daily website]

Chinese enterprises need to become more competitive amid globalization, Fu Chengyu, former chairman of Sinopec, Asia's largest petroleum refiner, told a roundtable forum host by the Center for China and Globalization.

Here are some of remarks from Fu's keynote speech, in which he also urged some companies to update their understanding of internationalization which isnt just about throwing money overseas.

Globalization, when first advocated by the United States, was intended to be an open market that could facilitate investment globally. As a developing country, China joined in and tried to find its say while getting benefits from it.

For multinational companies, globalization per se is in line with improving competitiveness and it also applies to Chinese enterprises who are seeking to develop across the world.

Despite much improvement in the competitiveness of Chinese companies in the past 20 to 30 years, they are still lagging behind their global competitors in terms of innovation and high-end technology.

Globalization, in the end, lies in the competition at a national level and enterprises' level worldwide. Therefore, at the current stage, the priority for Chinese enterprises lies in the elevation of their own competitiveness among their global counterparts.

To improve competitiveness, the first step for Chinese companies is to build up a world-recognized management, execution and operation system from within.

On the other hand, Chinese enterprises should restrain their desire to be a leader or a rule-maker of global trade, instead, we need to participate in the global market first. It would take decades for Chinese enterprises to set up a complete governance system over globalization, which could be a target in the long run.

In the future, Chinese enterprises might encounter more difficulties for investment and trade in the US. That's not because the US is giving up on globalization for protectionism. In fact, they still need overseas markets for their enterprises to expand, but the risk for Chinese enterprises is that the US market would be more unfriendly for foreign enterprises.
Peng Zhiyuan, from Hunan province, is welcomed by colleagues at a pumping station in Sudan.Ren Qi/china Daily

Chinese companies and NGOs are helping to develop schools and other infrastructure in Africa's third-largest country. Ren Qi reports from Khartoum, Sudan.

Editor's note: This is the third installment of China Daily's special series on the Belt and Road Initiative.

Deep in the Nubian Desert, which covers northern Sudan, a Chinese company is helping to provide clean water from the Nile River for drinking and crop irrigation.

China International Water and Electric started construction on the Meroe Dam in the North African country in July 2003, and completed it five and a half years later.

It is the second-largest hydroelectric project on the main course of the Nile and at 9.8 kilometers, the longest dam in the world.

Along with Sinohydro, the company has operated a pumping station on the banks of the river since February 2015.

Wang Hongqiang, the manager of the facility, said the station has five pumps, each of which can deliver 2.4 cubic meters of water a second, and at least three are in operation every day, delivering a combined 7.2 cu m a second to local villages.

The dam is just one of several infrastructure projects that have arisen as a result of Sudan's participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative, a modern version of the ancient Silk Road trading route proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013.

Sudan covers 1.9 million square kilometers, making it the third-largest country in Africa. Dongola, the economic and cultural center, is located in the northern region, where water is scarce.

"The north of Sudan is covered by the Nubian Desert, which is very dry," Wang said. "You only see plants near the water, not in the desert or in villages far from the Nile. Pumping river water is the only way to develop the agricultural industry."

The Nile has been Northeast Africa's most important source of water for drinking and irrigation for thousands of years. The northern section's course is almost entirely in the Nubian Desert as it makes its way toward Egypt. In ancient times, it sustained Egypt and several Sudanese kingdoms.

But until recently, most Sudanese, who did not live near the waterway, had to transport water to their villages themselves.

"Back in the old days, my ancestors had to walk for an entire day to fetch one barrel of water," said Ali Mustafa, 54, who lives in Meroe district, 35 kilometers from the River Nile. "Later, we drove a pickup for hours to fetch water. Now, thanks to the pumping station, we can enjoy fresh Nile water in our homes."

The pumping station near the Meroe Dam provides so many benefits to local villagers that more than 10,000 people attended a ceremony to mark its opening.

According to Wang Hongqiang, the manager of the facility, work on the station is expected to finish in the summer. Construction is much slower than on projects in China because resources are scarce and conditions in Sudan are much worse: "Still, the speed is acceptable and the progress has exceeded our expectations."

Peng Zhiyuan, a 20-something laborer from Hunan province in South China, has been working in Sudan for several months, helping to install a pumping system whose pipes are more than 8 meters long.

Although it is the first time he has worked overseas, Peng said he has already adapted to working near the Nile, adding that his Sudanese colleagues are friendly and helpful, both at work and in their daily lives.

Working in a desert, where there are few inhabitants, poses many challenges. For example, it takes about four hours to drive to the capital, Khartoum, to buy daily necessities.

"Of course, my family was worried about my safety and living conditions before I came to Africa, but I think it's safe here because of the great reputation China has in Sudan," Peng said.

Since the start of the project, more than 40 Chinese have worked on the dam, most of them from the provinces of Shaanxi, Hunan, Sichuan and Shandong, and Chinese companies built most of the basic infrastructure.

China International Water and Electric is helping with a project to raise the Roseires Dam on the Blue Nile, about 520 kilometers southeast of Khartoum. The project, which will raise the level of the dam by 10 meters to a height of 68 m, is worth $396 million.

Humanitarian aid

In addition to providing various types of aid for infrastructure construction, the governments of China and Sudan, along with several NGOs, have also cooperated closely in the field of humanitarian relief under the framework of the Belt and Road initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013.

The Al Birr and Al-Tawasul Organization, a local NGO, is a key partner of the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation in the African country.

Last month, the two organizations held a training workshop for teachers from two schools - the Salah Uddin Alayoubi School and the Khawla Bint Alazwar Basic School - in White Nile State as part of the Smiling Children Project, a humanitarian program that started in August 2015. The project provides education and free meals for more than 1,250 homeless children who have been brought to White Nile from Khartoum.

Ma Zhixin, an official from the Chinese foundation, said its cooperation with the Sudanese NGO continues to move on the right track.

He said the help provided by the two NGOS has benefited local schools in terms of clean water, the general environment and other services that will improve the children's lives. The assistance also allows schools to enroll a larger number of pupils.

China started its charitable NGO project in Sudan by building the Sudan-China Friendship Hospital in the rural area of Abu Ushar, Gezira State.

The hospital, which was completed in July 2011, received financial aid from China National Petroleum, and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has listed it as one of its Model Public Diplomacy Programs.

Since the facility opened, China has continued to provide maternity and infant healthcare in Sudan.

"All the efforts, which started with a network of mothers and infants at Abu Ushar, represent great work in the field of healthcare cooperation between Sudan and China," Al-Khair Al-Noor, a former state minister of health, said.

"Our brothers in China are still supporting Sudan in many fields, and this work touches a very important issue in the provision of medical support for the least well-off people," he added.

Wu Peng, a senior official from the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, said the hospital project, along with other related healthcare aid, provides the African country with Chinese expertise in solving medical problems, and midwifery services have been improved by facility donation and capacity building.

The China-Sudan Maternity and Infant Healthcare Hospital in Abu Ushar is the first cooperative project between the Chinese NGO and its Sudanese counterpart in the field of maternal and infant healthcare.

Hassabo Mohamed Abdul-Rahman, Sudan's vice-president and a former commissioner-general for humanitarian relief, hailed the active and effective cooperation between China and his country. He stressed that projects such as the hospital and Smiling Children are important aspects of bilateral relations, and the friendly exchanges and cooperation between NGOs will further enhance the long friendship between China and Sudan.

Contact the writer at renqi@chinadaily.com.cn
CHICAGO - 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 on ABC television on 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 the incident.

"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."

The promise came three days after a passenger was violently removed from one of its flights to make room for its own employees.

A video of the incident, in which the passenger can be seen with blood on his face, went viral on the internet and sparked social media uproar.

The initial response from Munoz drew harsh criticism. In a letter to employees that was leaked to CNBC on Monday, he described the passenger as "disruptive and belligerent".

However, during his interview on Wednesday, Munoz expressed regret for his earlier comments, saying he did not blame the passenger and that his initial words "fell short" of what he felt.

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.

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.

Attorneys for Dao 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.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (right) and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrive at a news conference after their talks in Moscow on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin met earlier with Tillerson. Alexander Nemenov / Afp

MOSCOW - Russia and the United States agreed on Wednesday to keep fighting international terrorism and continue discussions on resolving the Syrian conflict despite turbulent relations and a string of pending disputes between the two countries.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were fruitful. He said he and Tillerson also had a two-hour meeting and added the discussions showed 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," Lavrov said.

According to Lavrov, both sides reaffirmed their determination for the uncompromising fight against international terrorism. He said discussions also focused on the situations hot spots such as 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," he said. Russia is open to discussions with the US, "and not only to dialogues but also to joint actions".

Tensions between Moscow and Washington deteriorated after the US launched a missile strike on a Syrian military airfield on April 6, which it said was a response to a chemical weapons attack two days earlier in Khan Sheikhoun, purportedly at the hands of the Syrian military.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged all parties on Thursday, especially the US and Russia, to strengthen communication and avoid confrontation over Syria.

He said political settlement is the only viable way to resolve the Syrian issue and called for the international community to continue support for the United Nations to play the lead role.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Palestinian counterpart Riad al-Malki meet with reporters at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Thursday. Wang urged the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel. Wang Zhuangfei/ China Daily

China supports the establishment of a Palestinian state and urges the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Beijing on Thursday.

In a news conference with his Palestinian counterpart Riad al-Malki following talks between the two, Wang said that seven decades after United Nations Resolution 181 was passed, it is "unfair" that Palestine is not yet an independent state with full sovereignty.

Palestine, like Israel, is entitled to statehood, Wang said, adding that "such historical injustice must be put right".

The status of Palestine remains the "root issue" of the Middle East despite other issues that have been popping up in the region, he said.

Wang urged an early resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, which were halted in 2014, and called for an "immediate stop" of actions that undermine the talks and mutual trust.

The talks can start by handling smaller questions before moving to greater ones, Wang suggested, adding that "all parties that have traditional influence on the issue of Palestine should take the lead".

"China will never be absent from any efforts conducive to solving the Palestinian-Israeli issue," he said.

Al-Malki is in China for a four-day official visit that started on Wednesday, which comes less than a month after a visit to Beijing by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Wang said that during Netanyahu's visit, China also pushed Israel to handle the Israeli-Palestinian issue on the basis of a two-state solution.

Al-Malki told reporters that Palestine welcomes and encourages China to engage in "collective efforts to bring peace into our region".

"We do like to see more Chinese involvement in bringing about a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine," al-Malki said.

He added that the fact that China is "a good friend" to both Israel and Palestine will help the country play a role in helping solve the issue.

Wang said what China does in the Middle East is "not driven by geopolitical consideration at all".

"What we pursue is historical justice. What we work for is international conscience," Wang said, adding that China welcomes other countries, such as the United States, to spend more efforts on the Palestinian-Israeli issue.

wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn
WASHINGTON - The US military has dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan on an Islamic State target, the Pentagon said Thursday.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday gave the order for the US military to drop a GBU-43 or Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb on an IS cave complex in Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan, the first time such a bomb has been used in combat.

"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," the Pentagon said in a statement.

ISIS-K refers to ISIS-Khorasan, the terror group's affiliate in Afghanistan.
The US Embassy to China launched the "American Foodie Tour"- a social media contest to promote US tourism and cuisine on April 14 in Beijing. As the latest attempt to lure Chinese visitors, the contest runs until May 19 and each week Chinese netizens are invited to upload their best photos of American regional cuisine to Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter, and compete for great travel prizes. The organizer also broadcasted the launch ceremony live, attracting more than 10,000 viewers during the three-hour event.

Food and drinks showcased at the "American Foodie Tour" launch event at the Ritz Carlton Beijing on April 14, 2017. [Photo by Chen Liubing/chinadaily.com.cn]

Besides Weibo, social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr and professional trip service providers TripAdvisor and its Chinese counterpart Mafengwo has a growing impact on food and tourism industries. With more than 200 million reviews and opinions posted on TripAdvisor, and more than one billion active users on Facebook who post updates and share images, social media dominates the travel industry.

Travel Agencies in China are closing their offline experience centers and digging deeper into social media. Tourism bureaus of various countries such as Britain, Australia and South Korea have all opened official accounts on Weibo and WeChat, a social media application developed by Tencent. And the US Embassy is taking a new step by not only publishing official promotional content, but also inviting netizens to upload authentic photos to make the contest more fun and real.

A test post of the "American Foodie Tour" contest on the official Weibo account of US Embassy to China. [Photo/Weibo]

The reason behind this surge is simple - travel and tourism depends heavily on word-of-mouth to spread opinions and recommendations, and people tend to seek trip information and advice from the sources they trust most, other tourists and people they know. And social media platforms allow customers to easily share tips and suggestions.

With no biased interests involved, user generated content shared on social media is what travelers truly experience, which is more persuasive and reliable. Different from traditional media, travel topics and content on social media can be traced, discussed and re-broadcasted, and largely increase coverage and active time of the travel topics.

Although all netizens are free to post photos and reviews about their travel and food experiences, social media influencers play a much bigger role. News platform Social Media Week pointed out that certain social influencers have built online followings so strong that they dwarf giant brands and do so within the brand's industry.

The latest travel post from Scott's Twitter account. [Photo/twitter]

Scott Eddy, who is constantly on Klout's top 10 Travel Influencer list, has over 1.09 million followers on Twitter. He's been building his brand since the beginning of Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and specifically focuses on travel, hotels, food and wine. Expert and amateur food and travel lovers like Scott share millions of photos daily across social media platforms, which have changed how people research trips, make decisions and share experiences.

Big data analysis can extract basic information such as age, gender, hometown and interests of social media users, and locate potential visitors of travel destinations through capturing and analyzing the information published and followed by users, which saves companies on resources and promotional costs.
The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb is pictured in this undated handout photo.[Photo/Agencies]

KABUL -- At least 36 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed after the US forces in Afghanistan struck their position with a large bomb in eastern Nangarhar province, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Friday morning.

On Thursday evening, the US military dropped a GBU-43 or Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, the largest non-nuclear bomb, on an IS cave complex in Achin District, Nangahar Province bordering Pakistan.

"The strike has destroyed an IS headquarters, three IS hideouts along with several bunkers and deep tunnels as well as huge amount of weapons and ammunition," the Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement.

No civilian was hurt following the raid which took place in Mohmand Dara village, Asadkhil area of the district, the statement noted.

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 US Forces-Afghanistan, which is part of NATO-led Resolute Support said after the strike.

"US forces took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties with this strike. US forces will continue offensive operations until ISIS-K (IS) is destroyed in Afghanistan," it said.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has hailed the attack on the IS position.

"Precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties with this air strike. Assessment of the casualties to the ISIS-K is in process," the Afghan Presidential Palace said in a statement.

Achin has been regarded as IS stronghold.

The mountainous province with Jalalabad city as its capital, 120 km east of Kabul, has been the scene of clashes between security forces and IS militants since the emergence of IS there in early 2015.

More than 1,900 IS militants, several Afghan security forces and two US soldiers have been killed in Achin and neighboring district since 2015, according to Afghan military officials.
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The UN Security Council on Thursday decided to close the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti, known as MINUSTAH, by mid-October this year.

In a resolution adopted here, the 15-nation council decided to extend the mandate of MINUSTAH for a final period of six months and shut down the mission by Oct. 15, 2017.

During the six months, the military component of MINUSTAH shall gradually drawdown, according to the resolution.

A follow-on mission composed of police will replace MINUSTAH from Oct. 16 for an initial period of six months, it said.

MINUSTAH has been working in Haiti since violence and upheaval broke out in the island country in 2004. Since the devastating earthquake of Jan. 12, 2010 in Haiti, the mission has been engaged in efforts to help Haitians with reconstruction and recovery.

China's Deputy Representative to the UN Wu Haitao said withdrawing MINUSTAH and replacing it with a smaller peacekeeping mission are in line with the progress of the situation in Haiti and can help the Haitian government to assume the responsibility of maintaining national security and stability.

China hopes that relevant parties in Haiti will maintain the current positive momentum and safeguard the overall situation of national stability and development, he added.
People evacuated from the two villages of Kefraya and al-Foua, after an agreement reached between rebels and Syria's army, ride a bus at insurgent-held al-Rashideen, Aleppo province, Syria April 14, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

DAMASCUS -- As many as 7,350 people started evacuating four besieged Syrian towns Friday under a mass evacuation deal concluded recently between Syrian government and rebels, a military source told Xinhua.

A total of 60 busses carrying around 2,350 rebels and their families evacuated the town of Madaya and nearby areas toward rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib, the source said, on condition of anonymity.

In return, around 75 busses and 20 ambulances carrying 5,000 people, including fighters, left the Shiite towns of Kafraya and Foa in Idlib countryside toward government-controlled areas in the northern city of Aleppo.

The evacuation process will continue from the aforementioned towns in the next hours.

The actual implementation of the deal started on Thursday, by a swap of detainees between the rebels and the government forces.

On Thursday, the rebels in Idlib released four children and eight women they kidnapped from the Shiite towns of Kafraya and Foa, and returned the bodies of eight government forces in exchange of the release of 19 rebels detained by the pro-government fighters in Kafraya and Foa.

The low-scale swap took place through the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC).

The big evacuation deal, reached late last month, include the evacuation of rebels and their families from the besieged towns of Madaya and Zabadani, which are under the rebel control northwest of capital Damascus, as well as the two Shiite towns of Kafraya and Foa, both pro-government towns besieged by the rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib.

Madaya and Zabdani as well as other surrounding towns are under the control of rebel groups near the Lebanese borders.

The government besieged the towns two years ago, allowing few aid convoys to enter under the supervision of humanitarian organizations in coordination with the SARC.

In the north, Kafraya and Foa are two Shiite towns besieged by the rebels in Idlib, which has largely fallen to the rebel control, mainly the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.

According to the deal, around 3,800 rebels and their families should leave the towns of Madaya, Zabadani and the rebels in Idlib should allow 8,000 people from the two Shiite towns to leave.

Several previous deals saw the evacuation of people from Kafraya and Foa, as well as Zabadani and Madaya, but the current deal seems a comprehensive one that will see a large-scale evacuations from all the peoples in the four towns.
 Flash

The Egyptian interior ministry revealed on Thursday the identity of the suicide bomber who blew himself up inside a church in the Egyptian Nile delta city of Tanta on Sunday, killing 28 Christians.

The ministry said in a press statement that the suicide bomber was identified as Mahmdouh Ameen Bughdadi who was born on June 25, 1977 in Upper Egypt's city of Qena.

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.

Meanwhile, the ministry said that the attacker is affiliated to an extremist group led by a wanted terrorist leader from Qena.

According to the ministry, this terrorist cell carried out a number of terrorist attacks in the country.

On Wednesday, the interior ministry revealed the identity of the suicide bomber who carried out the attack at Saint Mark's Church in Egypt's Alexandria governorate on Sunday and killed 11 Christians and six Muslim police officers.

The ministry added that the attacker is linked to an Islamist terrorist group; apparently the same group that carried out the church attack in Tanta.

However, 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 violence 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 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, the militants 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.
(Photo : GETTY IMAGES) A random operating room.

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A hospital in Guangzhou published private photos of a trans girl patient while doctors were working on her.



Ling Xue, a 17-year-old transgender woman, went to The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province on March 31 to correct her home surgery to remove her testes. But on April 5, the hospital posted on its public WeChat account about Ling's surgery with graphic photos.



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The photos include a hospital staff that measures Ling's enlarged scrotum, Ling on the operating table with her face blurred, and an ultrasound image of her reproductive organs. They also posted her personal details (but not her real name) without Ling's consent.



The post was deleted hours after its original publication at the patient's request, but it has already been viewed more than 8,000 times and reposted in other social media platforms.



"My spirit is close to collapse. Originally, I just wanted the hospital to undo the influence of the post, but that's no longer possible. Now, I'm asking for a public apology and compensation for the psychological damage," Ling told Sixth Tone.



The hospital declined to comment, although Ling said that hospital staff told her they didn't do anything wrong.



Aside from the intimate photos, the post also used male pronouns when referring to Ling and derogatory terms such as zigong, which means "self-castration," which are both offensive to the LGBTQ community.



Ling is planning to take legal actions, but experts warned her it will be difficult as the hospital did not use her real name and blurred her face.



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Tagstransgender, transgender operation in china, LGBTQ, LGBTQ community, lgbtq in China, Post, WeChat, transgender abuse
(Photo : USAF) MOAB.

(Photo : USAF) Massive MOAB explosion.

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The United States today dropped the world's largest non-nuclear bomb -- the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) -- on an underground ISIS tunnel complex in the Archin District, Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan in what was apparently payback for the death of a U.S. Green Beret soldier killed by ISIS five days previously.



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The 10,000 kg MOAB, affectionately nicknamed "Mother of All Bombs" by U.S. troops, was dropped from either a Lockheed Martin MC-130E Combat Talon I or MC-130H Combat Talon II special mission aircraft operated by the United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).



This air burst bomb was pushed out the rear of a Combat Talon; guided to its target by onboard GPS and was slowed down by parachute before exploding some two meters above the ground.



MOAB exploded in the air above what the U.S. military identified was a huge underground ISIS tunnel complex. This mission was the first use of MOAB on the battlefield.



The attack was carried out in a remote mountainous area with no civilian homes nearby. Local Afghan authorities said there have been no reports of injured civilians.



In tests in the U.S., MOAB generated a tremendous blast radius over two kilometers wide, obliterating anything within it.



The Pentagon said it had no early estimate of deaths or damage caused by its attack, which President Donald Trump described a "very, very successful mission."



The U.S. military headquarters in Kabul said the MOAB was dropped at 7:32 p.m. local time on April 13. The U.S. estimates up to 800 IS fighters operate in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar.



On April 8, a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, was killed by ISIS in Nangarhar.



The Pentagon said the MOAB dropped at Nargrhar was brought to Afghanistan "some time ago."



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.



"As ISIS-K's (Khorasan, a branch of ISIS) losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defense," said United States Army General John William Nicholson, Jr., commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A).



"This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K."



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TagsUnited States, GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, MOAB, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, ISIS, U.S. Green Beret, Mother of All Bombs, General John William Nicholson, Jr., U.S. Forces Afghanistan
(Photo : Getty Images) Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain (L) attends a signing ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People on February 19, 2014 in Beijing, China.

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China will finance more infrastructure projects in Pakistan under its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, with investment reaching $62 billion from $55 million, Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair said.



"New investment has been approved for projects in various sectors including [development of] industrial zones," Zubair while speaking at a conference on Wednesday. "We are also in talks to place the Karachi Circular Railway under the CPEC banner."



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China has been heavily investing in Pakistan since it launched the $46 billion CPEC program in 2015. The investment volume grew to $55 billion when several Pakistan officials visited China earlier this year.



Zubair described the new $62 billion investment as good news as citizens could gain dividends from the investment. More than half of the investment ($34 billion) will be allocated into electricity production and distribution. The project aims to add more than 10,000 MW electricity to the national grid by the end of next year.



He also revealed that several other countries have expressed interest on the CPEC project and could become part of the initiative through investments in the industrial sectors.



Other than the infrastructures, CPEC has also brought indirect advantages to Pakistan. Zubair said that foreign information technology firms have started sprouting in the country as China's investment requires IT assistance. China also plans to build industrial parks and railways and roads that will link its western region to Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea via land route.



Meanwhile, the governor also noted that China's investment volume in Pakistan would be higher than $62 billion if private sector investments are included.



"CPEC will create massive economic momentum in Pakistan," Zubair said.



Dagong Chairman Guan Jianzhong is also positive that China's infrastructure development and economic growth support in Pakistan would open Islamabad to the world and bring in more investment.



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Russian President Vladimir Putin said 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.
(Photo : JASDF) F-15J Eagles of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

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Japan reports a record number of aerial interceptions by fighter jets of its Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) of aircraft from the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) venturing too close to its airspace over the East China Sea or the Sea of Japan.



From the start of the year until March 31, JASDF had to warn-off more and more Chinese military aircraft and a few other foreign aircraft, mainly Russian military planes.



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A record number of 851 interceptions of approaching PLAAF planes were made by JASDF jets, mostly Mitsubishi F-15J air superiority fighters. This total was 280 more compared to the corresponding period last year.



The new figure also beats the previous high of 944 incidents in 1984, involving mostly Russian aircraft. What's also worrying Japan today is the increasing aggressiveness of aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces based in the Russian Far East to the west and north of Japan.



The latest government figures showed JASDF encounters with Russian military aircraft rose by 4.5%. Russia usually flies bombers from the north to avoid Japanese airspace.



All Russian Air Force units in the Far East are assigned to the 3rd Air and Air Defense Forces Command with headquarters in Khabarovsk, the second largest city in the Russian Far East. Khabarovsk is also headquarters of the Russian Eastern Military District responsible for all Russian military forces in Asia.



Japanese records show that over the past 12 months (March 2016 to March 2017), JASDF scrambled its F-15J air superiority fighters 1,168 times compared to 873 times in the same period for 2015 to 2016.



Japan is concerned the stepped-up pace of PLAAF air patrols that come close to but don't violate Japan's airspace are also meant to test the air defenses protecting Tokyo, apart from challenging Japan's claim to own the disputed Senkaku Islands.



Japan this year is massively boosting its defense spending as a result of Chinese aggression. The country has approved a record defense budget of $42.5 billion for the 2017-2018 fiscal year beginning April.



The increase in the defense budget is the fifth straight in the five years since Shinzo Abe became Prime Minister in December 2012. It reflects Abe's hawkish views on defense issues, and contributes to his long-term goal of freeing the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) from the constitutional shackles that have bound it to a doctrine of self-defense since after World War II.



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TagsJapan, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, People's Liberation Army Air Force, Sea of Japan, Mitsubishi F-15J air superiority fighters, interceptions, Russian Air Force, 3rd Air and Air Defense Forces Command
(Photo : USAF) USAF laser fighter.

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The U.S. Air Force acknowledges "optical warfare" operations will be essential to future aerial victories and has accelerated the development of airborne "optical radiation weapons" for both offensive and defensive operations.



Developing new offensive and defensive weapons that advance the air force's optical warfare capabilities will be the task of Virginia-based defense contractor Engility Corporation.



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An $8.5 million contract will enable Engility to research into new applications allowing infrared, ultraviolet, lasers and visible light to be used as optical radiation weapons mounted onto combat aircraft. This project is part of the air force's Optical Radiation Bioeffects and Safety (ORBS) program.



Optical warfare means using light instead of radio waves for weapons, communications, sensors, surveillance and defensive measures. It's one aspect of the emerging military discipline called "spectrum warfare that includes electronic warfare and cyber warfare.



Much attention will be given to developing laser weapons that temporarily blind enemies and cause confusion. At the same time, however, the air force also requires protection from similar weapons deployed by Russia and China.



Existing lasers, however, are huge and difficult to mount onto aircraft and other military vehicles. In this regard, Engility's job is to develop mobile laser weapons by April 2020.



Engility will also research into new ways to treat injuries (for example, eye injuries) caused by optical radiation. The company is also expected to develop a system for treating casualties of optical warfare, which includes triage, diagnosis and treatment.



The air force wants to begin testing a low-power laser on a Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft as a proof of concept to show the effectiveness of airborne lasers.



In July 2016, the air force said a Lockheed AC-130W Stinger II gunship belonging to the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) will test its first solid state laser mounted aboard a combat aircraft.



AFSOC wants to either install a 60 kW or a 120 kW solid state laser to be used for knocking-out stationary vehicles, aircraft and fixed communications sites such as radio towers.



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No matter how short or how long, we want to be a family for you.

This slogan captures Pastor Yoon Lees desire for every person who visits and attends Yoido Full Gospel Churchs English ministry (YEM), located in Seoul, South Korea.

YEM has been Lees church family since he moved to Seoul in 2012. But when he first took up the position to lead the YEM congregation, he found that building that community was vastly different from what he had experienced in America. Born in Portland, raised in Chicago, and attended seminary in Southern California, Lee had attended and served in Korean immigrant churches for most of his life, where most of the members were Korean American and were settled down in their respective cities.

Lee found upon coming to Seoul that the congregation at YEM was the complete opposite. Members came from all over the world, and many stayed only for short-term stints of a few months to a few years. Those who would stay for several years were few and far between.

Those were the two things that caught me off guard  the demographic, and the transience, Lee recalled.

But the first church [ever] was like YEM, he added. People from all different nations, gathering in one place for a short period time, and then God sent them out. Once God revealed that to me  I started embracing that.

YEM consists of some 250 members, many of whom have little in common, from the native Koreans, the Korean expatriates from various parts of the world, and the non-Korean members from countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Columbia, Ghana, and Guatemala, to name a few.

Lee says this lack of common ground allows the members to skip the small talk and get to the important stuff really fast.

You cant do small talk anymore, he said. You just get down to what is going on in your life, and thats refreshing.

We have people from the States, from Columbia, from the Philippines, from Ghana. And we just think, Okay, whats something that we have in common? We love the Lord. Okay, lets start there,' said Lee. It becomes very beautiful when you just get down to the most important thing.

Meanwhile, embracing the transient nature of the international community meant breaking some unspoken rules that pastors followed back in America, Lee said.

For instance, while many pastors in the States would implement months-long membership classes in hopes to ensure a healthy base of committed members in the church, such a long-term commitment was often difficult or meaningless for those who may have come across YEM during the second month of their six-month-long study abroad program, for instance.

Lee felt that keeping such a commitment simply for the sake of doing so came at the cost of being able to provide a community that members could belong to as soon as possible in the midst of the transient, fast-paced culture. Instead, YEM focuses on getting people plugged into cell groups as early as their first week at church, and focusing on the training and communication between cell group leaders to discern whether certain individuals may need additional help in understanding the gospel, or if they might cause others to go astray.

While keeping in mind that the members may soon leave Seoul to return to their home countries, or take on another work stint at another nation, Lee said he considers each of the members as potential future partners.

These are not just members while theyre here, but these are partners in the gospel, Lee said.

Lee is hopeful to see more and more members of the international community rising up to take on leadership positions within the church. No matter how short or how long, and regardless of their ethnic background, Lee says, he has been investing in the members in his church family in hopes to cultivate leaders abroad and in Seoul.

Honestly, its been a big blessing, Lee said. I really had to come out to Korea to experience the world in a sense. What God is doing is beautiful, and Im getting a small taste of it here.
I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up.
New legislation reverses Obama's 'parting gift' to the pro-choice movement.

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Image: Andrew Burton / Getty

President Donald Trump signed legislation Thursday that once again enables states to withhold federal family planning funds from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

Trumps action overturned a rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in December, only five weeks before President Obama left office. Many pro-life advocates perceived the HHS regulation, which effectively barred states from prohibiting Title X funds for abortion clinics, as a parting gift from Obama to the abortion industry.

The HHS rule appeared particularly beneficial to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. In recent years, at least 12 states have cut money for Planned Parenthood, some in the wake of various scandals uncovered regarding the countrys No. 1 abortion provider. Courts blocked those actions in some cases, thereby enabling the organization to continue to receive government funds.

Pro-life leaders applauded the presidents enactment of the congressional resolution.

It is a travesty that any taxpayer money goes to support the exploitive work of Planned Parenthood, said Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). State legislatures that seek to prevent that from happening should be respected, not thwarted by federal allies of the abortion industry.

Im thankful for this reversal and pray for the day soon when abortion providers would not operate on any cent of public money, Moore said in written comments for Baptist Press.

The sponsors of House Joint Resolution 43 commended Trump for signing their measure.

Representative Diane Black, a Republican from Tennessee, said the new law places the American ...
home World Pope won't cancel visit to Egypt despite Palm Sunday bombings

Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will push through with his visit to Cairo this month despite the two deadly bomb attacks on two churches in Egypt on Palm Sunday.

At least 45 people were killed in the two suicide bombings that targeted St. George's Coptic Church in the city of Tanta and St. Mark's Coptic Church in Alexandria.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying, "crusaders and their apostate allies should know the bill between us and them is very big, and they will pay it with rivers of blood from their children, god willing. Wait for us, for we will wait for you."

The pope condemned the bombings and called for prayers for the victims during his Angelus address following the Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter's Square.

"I pray for the dead and the injured, and I am close in spirit to the family members [of the deceased and injured] and to the entire community," the pope said, according to National Catholic Register.

"May the Lord convert the hearts of the people who are sowing terror, violence and death, and also the hearts of those who make and traffic weapons," he continued.

Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said that the pontiff will push through with his Cairo visit that was scheduled for April 28 to 29.

Pope Francis intends to share a message of solidarity with the Coptic Church and make a firm appeal for dialogue, peace, and reconciliation with Islamic institutions and Egyptian society.

On April 28, the pontiff will make a courtesy visit to the grand imam of Al-Azhar University, the principal theological learning center for Sunni Islam. About 1,000 people will be able to attend the event, during which the pope and the imam, Ahmed el-Tayeb, will address participants of an international conference on peace.

The Vatican Gendarmerie will be protecting the pope during his visit, while the Egyptian army and the police will be responsible for the security and vigilance in the city.

Coptic Catholic Archbishop Emeritus Antonios Aziz Mina of Guizeh said that the pontiff is not at risk as the security measures will be "very high."

Following the attacks, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi declared a three-month state of emergency and ordered the formation of the Supreme Council to Combat Terrorism and Fanaticism.

Some churches have canceled Easter celebrations this year following the twin Palm Sunday bombings. The Minya Coptic Orthodox Diocese stated that this week's celebrations will be limited to just liturgical prayers "without any festive manifestations."
Although the Venezuelan government has become increasingly authoritarian since the early 2000s, last week was the first time it openly attacked democracy.

On March 29, the Venezuelan Supreme Court, controlled by the executive branch, took over the functions of the National Assembly. Although this is not the first time the Venezuelan government tried to expand its control over other institutions, unlike previous power grabs, so far, this decision has worked against President Nicolas Maduros administration and could potentially ignite regime change.

Eroding democracy

For the past two decades, democracy in Latin America has eroded. Democratically elected presidents like Hugo Chavez in Venezuela (replaced by Nicolas Maduro in 2013), Evo Morales in Bolivia, Rafael Correa in Ecuador and Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua have used constitutional amendments to increase the powers of the executive and stay in office indefinitely. Alone, each of their amendments did not represent a strong threat against democracy. But together, they have turned these countries into competitive authoritarian regimes.

For the most part, the international community has watched the erosion of democracy in Latin America, and in particular in Venezuela, from the sidelines. Pro-democracy tools like the Inter-American Democratic Charter, approved by the Organization of American States in 2001, were designed to deal with overt threats against democracy, such as civilian or military coups.

FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images

But a slow erosion of democracy does not quite fit that bill. Unlike the military dictatorships that governed countries like Brazil (1964-1985), Chile (1973-1990), Argentina (1976-1983) and Uruguay (1973-1985), Chavez, Morales, Correa and Ortega did not take power by force. They did not close Congress or the courts, or cancel elections. On the contrary, they called for nationally elected constitutional assemblies, held referendums and further legitimized their authority using special elections.

See also: - Venezuelans in Houston protest, ask for help. - More latino stories. See More Collapse

In Venezuela, Chavez and, more recently, Maduro, held a total of 11 elections, while they concentrated executive power, destroyed the system of checks and balances and curtailed civil rights. Imposing international sanctions against a regime that keeps such a democratic facade is hard. Without a clear threat against democracy, any move by the international community could be seen as a violation of Venezuelas sovereignty.

SEE ALSO: Venezuelans in Houston protest, ask for help.

Domestically, groups opposing presidents attempting to erode democracy face a difficult situation as well. Unlike civilian or military coups, the erosion of democracy happens over time, giving the opposition ample opportunities to fight back. Because they keep a democratic facade, however, presidents willing to undermine democracy are hard to delegitimize.

It was easy to claim that Augusto Pinochet in Chile was a dictator. He attained power by force and immediately closed democratic institutions, canceled elections and began killing, torturing and detaining his opponents. Not so much Hugo Chavez. He came to power democratically, left Congress and courts open, held elections and allowed the opposition to run for office. Even though electoral contests have not been free or fair in Venezuela since 2008, the democratic facade has made it hard to convince citizens to turn against the government.

The mask of democracy comes off

The mask of democracy in Venezuela, therefore, has put both domestic and international actors in a difficult position. Last year, the government canceled a recall referendum against the president and indefinitely postponed regional elections. Even then, the opposition was unable to galvanize enough support for regime change domestically or abroad.

The Venezuelan Supreme Court rulings changed that. In practice, the government had been circumventing the National Assembly since January 2016, arguing it was in contempt. However, up until March 29, the administration had been able to deflect criticisms. After all, Congress was there: Its members held sessions and produced legislation. The government just failed to follow, enforce or abide by it. For example, last year, the Supreme Court accepted Maduros economic emergency decree, which sought to widen his powers for 60 days.

The minute the Supreme Court said it would take over the National Assemblys functions, however, the democratic facade fell off. This decision is comparable to former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimoris to close Congress and rule by decree for seven months. Similar to what happened then, two weeks ago, several countries in the region, including the U.S., made strong pronouncements against the Venezuelan courts rulings. Regional organizations like the OAS and Mercosur drafted resolutions asking the government to fully restore the powers of the National Assembly and Peru recalled its ambassador.

Domestically, there were also important consequences. The opposition coalition, MUD, strongly condemned the decision. The president of the National Assembly publicly ripped up the rulings transcripts. Since then, the MUD has organized nonviolent protests every other day asking the government to remove the justices and schedule elections. More importantly, perhaps, high-level Chavistas, supporters of former president Chavez, dissented for the first time in a long time. On March 31, the Attorney General Luisa Ortega, who so far had been loyal to the regime, denounced the rulings as unconstitutional and called the government to restore the powers of the National Assembly.

Its unclear what will come of all of this.

So far, it seems that neither opposition nor government is ready to back down. Maduro has used violence to repress the oppositions peaceful demonstrations, but the MUD keeps calling people to the streets.

With these rulings, the government unwillingly opened a window of opportunity for the opposition. By overtly threatening what little was left of Venezuelas democracy, the administration decreased its legitimacy domestically and abroad. In that context, peaceful protests are a valuable tool. They are likely to increase pressure against the government, and with it, perhaps deliver some concessions to the MUD. Although this outcome will not automatically deliver a return to a true democracy, it could potentially pave the way for one.

***

Laura Gamboa, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Utah State University. This article was originally published on The Conversation. You can read the original article.
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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.

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

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.

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

Perry supported Mossi & Ghisolfis decision to bring the site to Texas when it was announced in 2011.

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.

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
The Cleveland community is mourning the death of a high school senior who reportedly committed suicide Thursday afternoon, April 14.

According to Capt. Ken DeFoor, spokesperson of the Liberty County Sheriff's Office, the young man's body was found by his mother around 4:30 p.m. on Wells Cemetery Road off of FM 1011, just outside the city limits for the City of Cleveland.

It is believed the young man took his life by using a handgun, DeFoor said.

Described as a "great kid" by Cleveland Police Chief Darrel Broussard, the teen's name is being withheld because of his age and due to the nature of his death.

"He had only a month of high school left before graduation," said Broussard, who admits the death strikes close to home because he knew the teen and his family. "He wanted to go into law enforcement. It's a terrible loss."

Cleveland ISD Superintendent Dr. Darrell Myers said the district will have counselors available on Monday for those students who are overcome with grief as news of their peer's death becomes known.
 Flash

The economic losses caused by the recent explosions at an ammunition warehouse in Ukraine's eastern Kharkov region is estimated at about 1 billion U.S. dollars, a senior security official said on Thursday.

"Tens of thousands of combat-ready ammunition and tens of thousands of incapable ammunition were stored at the depot. Due to the blasts, we lost ammunition totally worth about 1 billion dollars," Sergei Pashinsky, head of the parliamentary committee on national security and defense, told local media.

After the blasts, Ukrainian authorities are considering transferring all of the country's combat-ready ammunition to special fire-resistant storages made of concrete, Pashinsky said.

On March 23, explosions ripped through a military base near the town of Balakleya, where about 138,000 tons of ammunition were stored, leading to a massive fire and the subsequent detonation of the ammunition.

According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the explosions, which lasted for about a week, have destroyed 70 percent of the ammunition stored at the military base.

The State Security Service of Ukraine suspects that the explosions were caused by an attack on the military base from an unmanned aerial vehicle.
Netflix has released the trailer for its new series "Dear White People." The title alone has some people worked into a froth.

The pilot is written and directed by Justin Simien, who created the film "Dear White People," upon which the show is based.

Simien, 33, is a Houston native and a graduate of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

His film "Dear White People" was released in 2014. A multiple-character character study, it looked at campus politics at a predominantly white Ivy League college. The primary character was a politically-inclined biracial woman who hosted a controversial school radio show called "Dear White People." She was also dating a white teaching assistant, for which her friends gave her grief. Other characters wrestled with issues of identity influenced by race, class and sexual orientation.

"What I wanted to put into conflict, thematically speaking, is identity and self," Simien told the Chronicle in 2014. "If you're completely dedicated to self with no interest in identity, you're lost in the cutthroat culture of America. But if you're all identity, you're also lost. You're stuck in your own culture, and you start to do things that have nothing to do with what you want and need. I think the balance of those ideas was interesting to talk about, particularly through a black lens."

The trailer suggests some of the characters and archetypes are being carried over from the film. Netflix ordered 10 episodes, which will premiere April 28.

Not surprisingly the show has triggered criticism before it even airs.

The same happened with the film. Simien's hope was that people would look beyond the title.

"I keep saying this is a movie about the human experience," Simien said. "Not just the black experience. But you can see it through the eyes of a black person. That's what I'm offering."

Director Justin Simien turned to jazz history when he named the student houses of his fictional Ivy League school, Winchester University, in "Dear White People." Armstrong-Parker and Bechet are storied players of the distinctly American music, one wrought with decades of debate.

"I think jazz is the perfect metaphor for the black experience in America," Simien says. "It was created by black people, and then it became popular with white people, and then there was debate about what was and what was not authentic jazz. You had people fighting over whether it was jazz if white people played it. Of course it was. But the idea that bebop isn't jazz, or what Louis Armstrong did wasn't jazz. To the outside world, it might seem like one experience. But you get inside, and it's a hotbed of disagreement about authenticity."

The provocative "Dear White People" was Simien's first feature film. He made it with an assuredness that heralds the arrival of a strong new voice in cinema. The movie emerged from the Sundance Film Festival with enormous buzz and received excellent reviews, leading to appearances by Simien on "The Colbert Report" and on MSNBC to discuss white privilege following Jon Stewart and Bill O'Reilly's debate on the subject during a recent "The Daily Show."

Simien, 31, says his experience at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts was nothing like that at his fictional school. "PVA was so open," he says. "Diversity wasn't a thing you had to put in the brochure. It was a given. You were constantly engaging with people of different backgrounds and celebrating things that were new."

Even as a child, Simien knew he wanted to work in film, which is why he applied to the performing arts high school even though it didn't have a film department.

"That was my naivete," he says, laughing. "I thought theater would be like film. But it was still the best thing that happened to me. It opened me up completely. The fact that I acted for the first time made me a better director."

As part of his studies, he attended theater productions at the University of Houston and analyzed them in class. Simien says the experience taught him to imagine every decision he witnessed on stage - from lighting to costumes to seemingly flubbed lines - was deliberate. He questioned why. His inquisitive approach drew him deeper into cinema. At 16, he watched director Stanley Kubrick's film "Eyes Wide Shut," but initially it bored him.

"It was talky, it wasn't obvious where the plot was going, there were no great signifiers like, 'This is the inciting incident!' " he says. "But by the end, I was wound up completely. I started thinking about it through that lens I was taught at PVA. Why did he do that? Oh, because he wants me to feel this way about marriage or this or that. You develop a deeper relationship with the film that goes beyond marketing or reviews. It's the way people should see art."
A group of Friendswood residents have asked the city not to approve a rezoning request that would allow a possible Chick-fil-A restaurant to be built near their homes.

Chick-fil-A has not yet made any announcements regarding a Friendswood location, but developers for the land at the intersection of FM 518 and Leisure Lane said during a Tuesday night public hearing that the corporation is "very interested" in moving to the corner near H-E-B.

What do you think about this issue? Tell us in the comments.

Residents of the Eagles Cove subdivision said changing the property from an office park space to a community shopping center would have a negative impact on the neighborhood due to traffic cutting through.

WHERE TO EAT NEXT: Ken Hoffman's guide to fast food

"If I were running for city council, and I'm starting to see signs out there now, my slogan would be 'I will fight to keep Friendswood Friendswood'" said Eddie Carpenter, who lives on Leisure Lane.

"I don't think Friendswood needs to become east Pearland."

Another resident, Miriam Sam, said a new fast food restaurant would not be a good fit for an "affluent and educated community."

"Our residents are not going to work at Chick-fil-A," Sam said. "So I think that keeping it an office space, the way it's currently zoned, is more conducive to welcoming real business and real opportunities."

SETTING RECORDS: Buc-ee's plans world's largest car wash at new Katy location

"It took everything we had to move to Friendswood because Friendswood was more expensive to live in," said Kim Dawson, who said she moved to the neighborhood from Pearland 25 years ago.

"Our definition of quality is to have a safe neighborhood in a small town. If we wanted to live in a big town, we would."

Developers said the Leisure Lane location is a hot property that needs to be used to attract major businesses to Friendswood. They said Panera Bread has also expressed interest in the location.

Friendswood developer Jim Peterson said H-E-B's proximity to the property offers a daily draw of customer traffic that will help attract retailers like Chick-fil-A.

CHICKEN TO GO: Houston rolls out first Chick-fil-A food truck

He added that such restaurants will generate sales tax revenue while giving Friendswood residents more options within the city limits.

"It's really the only Friendswood site that's going to attract this class of retailer to our community," Peterson said.

Resident Skip Evans said the development will help Friendswood improve its image in the general business community. "Friendswood has gotten a reputation in the past of not being a very business-friendly city."

Evans added that "we cannot continue to ignore commercial opportunities."

The city council has not yet had the opportunity to vote on the rezoning request.

You can view the entire meeting on the City of Friendswood website.
Jacob Hargrave and Dean Crockett often sit and discuss their vision to change the way people around the world have access to mosquito repellent on the balcony outside their office in Kingwood Town Center.

Last year, as the world prepared for the Olympic Games in Rio, another global topic was demanding media attention.

"At the time, the news, everybody, was talking about Zika and mosquitoes," Hargrave said.

This prompted Crockett to ask the question: Why isn't mosquito repellent as available as hand sanitizer?

"In most of the world, mosquitoes are a matter of life and death," Crockett said. "Mosquitoes are the most dangerous animal on the planet. They kill more people every year than every other animal combined, including people killing people. This is a global public health issue."

Their solution was to create a mosquito repellent dispenser that could be strategically placed in public areas worldwide for free and easy access to life-saving mosquito repellent.

Eight months later, Verdegen LLC, is on its way to revolutionizing the mosquito repellent business.

They started by reaching out to their friend Chris Paladino, a retired executive with the American Red Cross. Together, they began a 501c3 and began searching for a dispensable mosquito repellent formula.

"We looked high and low for anything that would work in a dispenser," Hargrave said. "There was nothing like a quick-evaporating gel or anything that would work in there."

They realized they would have to create a dispensable formula if their vision was going to work. That was the point at which they decided the venture would be better served if Verdegen operated as a corporation.

"Our vision is that every public place will have mosquito repellent waiting for you  just like hand sanitizer or soap," Hargrave said. "If it's all based on charity, yes, we'll do pretty well and we'll get dispensers out here or there, but if we really want to make an impact, we've got to make it a profitable venture."

The nonprofit still exists. Crockett said they intend to set up their corporation so they can legally use a portion of the profits to fund the charity in order to make these units available to communities in need.

They started reaching out to the public health community to gauge reaction to their concept.

"We have some assumptions that this public access model will meet the needs of the public health community  the people who are trying to solve the problems of mosquito-borne diseases," Crockett said. "So we were asking not only 'Will you buy it?' but also 'When you buy it, does this actually solve a problem?'"

Hargrave said overwhelmingly, the answer was "Yes."

Before moving to their office in Town Center, Hargrave and Crockett began experimenting with different ingredients for their formula in Hargrave's garage. Initially, the formula they created was a botanical solution. However, at the advisement of industry professionals, they decided to make the main ingredient DEET.

"In the public health world, DEET is the gold standard," Crockett said. "They know it works. They know it's safe for pregnant women. They know it's safe for children over two months of age. It is just the single most effective thing that is out there."

Using EPA-approved ingredients helped them cut down on the weight of regulatory burden, but by no means eliminated it.

"From ordering the ingredients to having a finished product that we can sell, everything is EPA-compatible, and we're just going through the paperwork with the EPA to make it EPA approved," Crockett said.

Hargrave said this can be a year-long process or longer.

"What we've decided to do is: In that year while we're waiting to work within the U.S. regulatory framework, we will help as many people around the world as we can," Hargrave said.

The sooner people have access to repellent, the more total people will be helped over time, Crockett said.

"So, those countries where we can get in quickly, we will get in quickly because it's needed now," Crockett said.

One of the groups they reached out to was the Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) of the Cayman Islands.

"We're starting in the Cayman Islands because they've got mosquitoes and the Caribbean's got a real problem with Zika right now," Hargrave said. "The MRCU of the Cayman Islands is the flagship mosquito control for all the Caribbean nations. Most of the Caribbean nations look to the MRCU for help."

Alan Wheeler is the assistant director of the Cayman Islands MRCU and runs the unit's disease prevention program.

"When I first heard of the idea, I thought it was brilliant in its simplicity," Wheeler said. "Mosquito repellents are very effective but the problem with them is that, unless you carry a bottle around with you all the time, you don't have it available when you need it. Having publicly placed dispensers will ensure that you can protect yourself from bites and possible disease transmission when you need to."

Wheeler conducted efficacy experiments on Verdegen's mosquito repellent formula to make sure the concentration of DEET used in the product is effective. According to Wheeler, he found it provided 100 percent protection for over four hours.

The MRCU has placed its first order for the product. Verdegen is shipping 20 dispensers and mosquito repellent solution refills to the Cayman Islands to put in hotels, shopping centers and public places as a pilot program to study, research and gather data on public use.

Wheeler hopes to get the dispensing stations in place before the rainy season starts in June. He hopes this idea will provide a cheap and effective solution to the mosquito problem.

"I am amazed that nobody has thought of this before, as in retrospect it seems like such an obvious idea," Wheeler said.

According to Crockett, the retail sector of the mosquito repellent market globally is a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry. However, he said, there are billions of dollars annually spent on public health, NGO and government programs related to mosquitoes.

"Our goal is to establish the market, show that this model works and that money can be made in it," Crockett said. "That's the thing about capitalism, about commercialism, if there's money to be made, people will start competing to figure out how they can get more of their units out there, which will ultimately be protecting people."

Crockett and Hargrave not only accept the inevitability of competition, they welcome it.

"This thing that we're doing is too big for any one company to do," Hargrave said. "Our goal is to start that ball rolling. We need to go ahead and show them that it can be done, show them that it should be done, and more importantly, show them how to do it."

Eventually, Crockett said, it will be more advantageous for companies interested in pursuing this model to just buy Verdegen and have immediate entry into all of the markets Verdegen has already established the regulatory process in.

"Until then, we need to prove to them that this model works," Hargrave said. "That you can make money helping the poor around the world. We're using capitalism to help the disenfranchised around the world and the communities in need. We're very proud of that."

Mustapha Debboun, director of the mosquito and vector control division at the Harris County Public Health Department, has acted in a consultant capacity, helping to answer questions and provide advice about aspects to consider in the process of bringing this concept to fruition.

His job entails trying to protect and prevent all residents in the city from contracting mosquito-borne diseases, and he said skin-applied repellent is the first line of defense.

"These gentlemen had a good idea," Debboun said. "A lot of times, companies are just trying to patent a product to make a lot of money, but they're just trying to come up with an idea to help and protect people."

Hargrave and Crockett plan to continue moving forward, all while developing with input from global public health professionals and specialists.

Even though they expect this to be a global endeavor, the two Kingwood residents are adamant about keeping the Verdegen headquarters stationed in Kingwood.

For more information, visit www.verdegen.com.
When the first Greater Houston Prayer Breakfast was organized in 1976, it was a way for Houstonians to gather before work and pray for our leaders - elected and appointed officials at the local, state and national level.

On Wednesday, at the 42nd annual breakfast, the goal is exactly the same.

"We pray for the city, we pray for the state and we pray for the country," said Bill Wright, chairman of the planning committee. And now, he said, it seems more important than ever to pray for our leaders, "that they have God's wisdom as they deal with very thorny issues."

Organizers expect more than 100 of those leaders to be at Wednesday's breakfast, including Mayor Sylvester Turner, members of Congress, state representatives and judges.

More Information Greater Houston Prayer Breakfast When: 6:45-8:15 a.m. Wednesday Where: Hilton Americas-Houston, 1600 Lamar Information: Tickets start at $35; register at ghpb.net See More Collapse

This year's speaker is Eric Metaxas, a best-selling author and political commentator who hosts "The Eric Metaxas Show," a syndicated daily radio program. Metaxas' most recent book is "If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty," an examination of the Founding Fathers' intentions and our responsibility to maintain their vision. On Wednesday, he'll be talking about the role of faith in government.

The breakfast attracts about 1,500 people; guests can purchase tables or buy an individual ticket.

Wright, who has been involved with the prayer breakfast for more than 25 years, remembers encountering a remark from Abraham Lincoln: "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day."

"I remember that quote 20 years after I read it," Wright said. "I thought gosh, if Lincoln, who is generally considered to be our best president, felt the need for prayer, certainly our leaders today need it."
As budget workshops inch closer, Montgomery County commissioners will review a program to rehabilitate or replace county building roofs that could save millions in the long run.

During Commissioners Court last week, Building Maintenance Director Paul Case presented a report from Colorado-based Bluefin LLC detailing the roof condition of the county's 105 buildings. The report indicates the company inspected about 1.91 million square feet of roof area. Many of the roofs, the report stated, are over 20 years old.

"While some roofs are in critical need of replacement, restoration and repair, the portfolio as a whole is in fair condition considering the age, which is primarily due to exceptional in-house roof maintenance over the years," the report noted, adding the county needs to put together a strategy to stay ahead of roof failures.

Case said that if the county opts to rehabilitate the roofs instead of waiting to replace them, it could save the county more than $14 million over 10 years. Using a traditional roof-replacement scenario, the county could spend up to $26 million to replace the roofs of county buildings over the next 10 years. With a rehabilitation plan, the county would spend about $11 million over the next 10 years, the report showed.

The plan, Case explained, would require about $1.3 million a year for 10 years to ensure all buildings are addressed without seeing the cost fluctuate each year.

"It allows you to budget long-term," Case said of the set amount each year.

He hopes it is a plan the county could implement for the next budget year.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Clark noted the plan would allow the county to address the roof maintenance and rehabilitation instead of waiting for a complete failure of a roof.

"It is certainly money well spent," Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador said.

Meador pointed out the report shows the roofs on the Montgomery County Jail and the juvenile detention center "are in bad shape."

Case agreed and said he has funding in his budget to address that immediately.

The court accepted the report and will revisit the issue during its budget workshops scheduled for July.
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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.
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.
AUSTIN -- Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez spoke Friday about immigration enforcement and local policing, particularly bills in the Legislature that would punish so-called "sanctuary" cities and counties.

"The lines of authority get confused and blurred when individuals don't know if now local law enforcement is operating as de facto immigration agents," Gonzalez said at a symposium on 21st-century policing at the University of Texas at Austin. He also expressed concern about possible racial profiling and discouraging reporting of crimes.

"Lets be honest. It's going to disproportionately affect the Latino community  people who look like me," said Gonzalez, who was elected sheriff last fall after serving as a Houston City Council member. "The Latino community are not all criminals. ... If I'm a crook, guess who I'm going to target. I'm going to target that community, because they're not going to report me."

CUT TIES: Sheriff stops partnership with federal immigration authorities

The sheriff emphasized Harris County's diversity and the fact that one in four residents was born outside the United States. He cited "stunning" Houston Police Department data recently announced by Chief Art Acevedo indicating a sharp drop in crime reporting by Latinos.

Gonzalez told an anecdote of a woman who called police after her husband became violent, only to see him deported after his arrest. "I should have never called," Gonzalez said the woman later told her attorney. He offered that as an example of how immigrants in the country illegally might decide not to report crimes or decline to serve as a witness in a trial, leaving criminals at large.

A Dallas Police Department deputy chief, Malik Aziz, predicted that if such a bill becomes law it would result in less cooperation.

PRIVATE PRISON: Company plans to build 1000-bed deportation facility in Conroe

"I think our jobs are going to get tougher," Aziz said, though he said the Dallas department had not seen a similar drop in reporting.

The sheriff also said Harris County deputies still cooperate with federal agents requesting immigration detainers on inmates. Gonzalez, however, did withdrew from a controversial partnership with federal immigration authorities that trained a team of county deputies to determine the immigration status of jailed suspects and hold those selected for deportation.

"We still cooperate with federal authorities," Gonzalez said. "Even here in Austin, the sheriff still cooperates with many detainers. ... (The Travis County sheriff) is more of an outlier. But I don't know of any county that doesn't cooperate."
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The 9mm Taurus semi-automatic pistol used to gun down veteran lawman Clint Greenwood is the same weapon used by the killer to shoot himself in the head, investigators confirmed.

Ballistics tests showed that the gun - which was recovered with William Kenny's body the day after Greenwood was shot - was used in both shootings, said Lt. Steve Dorris with the Baytown Police Department.

The match clears up one of the last key questions about the shooting, he said.

"What it means to us is we're certain about the identity of the shooter," Dorris said. "It ties all of that together for us."

MANHUNT ENDS: Massive search for lawman's killer ends in surprising location

Kenny, 64, who had harbored a grudge against Greenwood and other Harris County officials after deputies responded to a police call in 2012, bought the 9mm Taurus in 2014, records show.

He had a legal permit for concealed carry in Texas, Dorris said.

Police used Kenny's photo from the concealed carry license to match him to surveillance video gathered during the Greenwood investigation.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted Baytown police in conducting the ballistics tests to compare the individual rounds used in the two shootings.

On Thursday, the department got word of the match, Dorris said.

CONNECTING THE DOTS: Activist ties deputy constable's death to car thief's shooting

"What it means to us is we're certain about the identity of shooter," Dorris said. "It ties all of that together for us."

Greenwood was shot April 3 as he arrived at work at the Harris County courthouse annex in Baytown. He had started work Jan. 1 as an assistant chief deputy for the Precinct 3 Constable's Office.

Greenwood had spent decades working in the criminal justice system in Harris County, as a reserve deputy constable and private attorney, then as a prosecutor and at the sheriff's office overseeing investigations of peace officers accused of misconduct.

After a week-long investigation, investigators linked the shooting to Kenny, after finding his image on a store surveillance video. Kenny shot himself the day after Greenwood's murder.

County officials say they plan to rename the courthouse annex after the slain officer.

Intense investigation spent seven days solving the brazen killing of veteran lawman Clint Greenwood.

ANATOMY OF A KILLER: Intense investigation spent seven days solving the brazen killing of veteran lawman Clint Greenwood
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Harris County Sheriff's Office investigators have charged a 35-year-old man with multiple counts of capital murder for his involvement in last month's Haverstock Hills apartment shooting that left two people dead and four wounded.

Kenneth Jones is not currently in custody but is expected to turn himself in to authorities, the sheriff's office said Friday. He is the sibling of two other previously identified suspects in the fatal March 26 shooting that took place in the 5600 block of Aldine Bender Road.

BACKGROUND: 2 dead, 4 injured in northeast Houston shooting

Former "America's Next Top Model" contestant Brandy Rusher was among those injured, along with her brother, Isiah Rusher, Arthur Larkin and Ty'bra Baptiste.

The victims who died in the gunfire were Christopher Beatty and Gary Wayne Rusher, Brandy's brother. Rusher, 31, died at the apartment complex. Beatty was transported to Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, where he died from gunshot wounds.

Last month, investigators charged Harvey Jones, 34, with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to court documents. Authorities accused Jones of pointing a semi-automatic rifle at the victims.

He had allegedly gotten into an argument with his common-law wife, Jacqueline Brown, a resident of Haverstock Hills. She was angry people were loitering outside her apartment, according to court documents.

THE CAUSE: Argument over people sitting on stairs sparked shooting that killed 2, wounded 'Top Model'

Harvey's brother, Jeremy Jones, 28, was accused of shooting the victims, hitting the six of them with multiple gunshots. He was charged with capital murder, but those charges were then dismissed after his alibi was deemed credible, according to a Harris County District Attorney's office spokesman.

The Jones brothers didn't live at the property, according to a statement issued by Haverstock Hills management shortly after the shooting.

"This is a call for greater, more collaborative civic action including Haverstock Hills residents, local community leaders as well as city officials," management said in the statement.

Haverstock Hills has a history of violence related to Houston area gangs.

Harris County filed its first gang injunction in 201o in response to the more than 3,000 calls made to law enforcement at the property within one year. A judge made the injunction permanent in 2014, creating a "safety zone" that included the complex, from which dozens of accused gang members were banned.

After the shooting, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee met with Haverstock Hills residents to discuss increased security measures. She said she requested more outdoor lighting, security cameras and a gate-access card to prohibit non-residents from entering the grounds from the complex's owners, Equality Community Housing.

Kenneth Jones is black, 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 250 pounds. He has a heavy build and a scar on his right arm.
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Two San Antonio police officers were arrested on drunken driving charges in a span of less than four hours Thursday night and Friday morning.

Gena Rodriguez, an 11-year veteran assigned to West Patrol, and Harold Thomaston, a 20-year veteran assigned to Central Patrol, were the two officers arrested.

Rodriguez faces a charge of drunken driving with a child under the age of 15 in the car, a state felony. She remains in the Bexar County Jail on an $8,000 bond. Thomaston faces a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving and remains in the Bexar County Jail on a $1,200 bond.

RELATED: 24-year-old Bexar County deputy arrested on drunken driving charge overnight

"DWI is so preventable; I'm disappointed that these two officers would put public lives at risk by getting behind the wheel after consuming too much alcohol," said San Antonio Police Chief William McManus in a written statement. "Both have been placed on administrative leave pending a full internal and criminal investigation."

According to police, Rodriguez rear-ended a 2011 Ford F150 around 10:16 p.m. near Loop 1604 and Culebra Road. Three children were in her car at the time of the accident.

Emergency responders arrived to the scene, but Rodriguez refused to allow them to treat her children, despite one of the children having a bump on his left arm that he said was caused by the accident.

"The officer could smell intoxicants on Rodriguez's breath," a statement from the department says. "He also observed that her speech was slurred and that she was unsteady on her feet."

RELATED: Affidavit: S.A. man stole ID cards, tax records, social security cards of at least 23 victims

A DWI officer evaluated Rodriguez. He suspected she was drunk at the time of the accident and placed her under arrest.

Later, around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Thomaston was stopped by an officer near Wurzbach Road and Fernglen Drive after he allegedly "began to crowd the on duty officer's lane and ran a red light in front of the on duty officer," the statement says.

The officer pulled him over, and Thomaston "was found to have been drinking." He was booked into jail on a drunken driving charge.

Rodriguez and Thomaston were not the only law enforcement officers booked on drunken driving charges overnight.

Sabrina Moreno, a 24-year-old Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputy, was arrested for drunken driving around 2:20 a.m. near Interstate 10 and USAA Boulevard, less than a mile away from the location where Thomaston was arrested.

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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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The Houston crime-scene investigator blamed for errors that could jeopardize dozens of criminal cases was investigated once before because of suspected mistakes, including shoddy work on two officer-involved shootings, according to an internal review released Thursday.

The results, compiled in a May 2016 report, led to additional forensics training and clearance for the investigator to return to work at the Houston Forensic Science Center, the independent crime lab that processes evidence for hundreds of cases each year.

ERRORS: Crime-scene errors put 65 cases under review, audit finds

The investigator's mistakes came to light this week in a crime lab audit sent to the Harris County District Attorney's Office that outlined issues with key evidence in 65 cases, including 26 homicides, five officer-involved shootings and six child deaths since 2015.

The disclosure Thursday that he had prior problems brought swift criticism from Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association President Tyler Flood, who alerted his members to review cases that may have been handled by the investigator.

"You should not have people who are not adequately trained in these positions, period, handling ... murder cases and responsible for maintaining evidence and maintaining the integrity of evidence," Flood said Thursday. "He was not only trained, he was double-trained. You either train them to do the job the right way or you don't let them do the job."

SHOCKING: Texas hazing scandal arrests climb to 13

An assistant district attorney first raised questions about the investigator's work in two officer-involved shootings from 2015. That inquiry prompted Jerry Pena, director of the forensic center's evidence collection division, to initiate an internal review.

The May 2016 report was completed by a sergeant, who served as a technical supervisor in the center's evidence collection division. The review examined an August 2015 shooting involving a Texas Southern University officer responding to an active shooter at a campus apartment complex and an October 2015 shooting involving an Houston Police Department officer ambushed by armed teens while driving his personal vehicle.

The review determined that in both shootings, the investigator overlooked evidence and failed to enter key information into computer tracking systems.

SHOOTING: Three injured in possible gang-related shooting

In the TSU shooting, he did not take photos of the crime scene, officer or murder suspect; he overlooked a cartridge casing that had rolled under the vehicle; and he did not collect the officer's weapon for testing.

The report concluded that there was "some validity" to the prosecutor's complaint and that there had been some "significant" errors.

"There were things that should have been done that were not," the report said. "There was evidence that was found but not documented. There was evidence that should have been found, but was not."

The investigator, Justin McGee  a Houston police officer who has now gone back to patrol  has not been available for comment since the news broke. He joined the Houston Forensic Science Center in July 2014 and was "one of the more senior people on the night shift," according to the report.

BRUTAL: Texas man sued in shocking attack on lesbian couple

His supervisor, HPD Sgt. Jeff Cruser, was cited in the audit for failing to catch McGee's mistakes during routine checks and has been removed temporarily from service, officials said. He likewise could not be reached for comment.

The technical supervisor who wrote the report concluded the investigator was "trainable" and had expressed a desire to remain with the crime scene unit, so he did.

But the errors continued, according to the audit that followed less than a year later.

A supervisor who started working in January questioned the investigator's work, prompting a broad-based review of 88 cases handled by him since 2015, forensic science center spokeswoman Ramit Plushnick-Masti said Thursday.

The audit released this week found that 65 cases had incomplete documentation, including 32 with administrative errors. In eight cases, evidence had been misplaced.

GRISLY DEATH: Father of Texas State student dragged to death accuses 14 people, groups in $10 million suit

The investigator repeatedly failed to collect DNA swabs or test for latent fingerprints, and left sometimes-bloody evidence  a towel on a bed or a belt used to strike a homicide victim  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 revelations were the latest in a string of evidence-related problems that have left prosecutors reviewing hundreds of cases in the past year.

The district attorney's office learned about the widespread problems revealed by the audit on April 3 from the forensic science center and began notifying defense attorneys late Tuesday.

On Thursday, First Assistant Harris County District Attorney Tom Berg emphasized that the office is "vigilant" about mistakes.

TAKING ON GANGS: HPD to assign two squads to state's anti-gang effort

"We have a responsibility, when we find them, to bring them to the attention of the courts, defense lawyers and investigative agencies," he said in a statement.

Police Chief Art Acevedo said Wednesday that the department will conduct an "administrative inquiry" into the problems.

Plushnick-Masti, meanwhile, said the latest revelations have helped the forensic center improve its practices and procedures.

"We have changed some protocols, in collaboration with HPD, to address some of the findings, such as having two crime scene investigators at all officer-involved shootings," she said.
First, investigators contacted the couple's clients  all maintained they had never heard of them.

Next, investigators talked to physicians who supposedly worked on Medicaid bills for the couple's home health care companies but they, too, had never heard of the Amoses.

These discoveries were among the clearest signs to prosecutors that Oluyemisi Amos, 35, and her husband Felix Amos, 66, would represent the latest scam in a string of Houston health care fraud cases.

The couple pled not guilty in Houston federal court Thursday following an indictment for multiple counts of health care fraud totaling more than $24 million.

"Mr. Amos has every confidence in the American legal system and is confident he will be exonerated of these charges," said Felix Amos' attorney Charley Davidson.

Oluyemisi Amos' attorney, Philip Hilder, said his client looks forward to "resolving this matter by having her day in court."

The Houston-area couple are suspected of falsely billing Medicare through their numerous home health companies, Acting United States Attorney Abe Martinez said in a statement. They are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud and money laundering.

The Amoses submitted their first fraudulent claims to Medicare in 2011, after purchasing the Houston-based home health company Advanced Holistic Healthcare Services Inc., according to the indictment. After a year of ownership, the married couple billed Medicare for two years of Advanced Holistic services, eight months of which would have been prior to their purchase of the company.

Medicare then paid Advanced Holistic approximately $2,156,800.

The Amoses said a local doctor certified this bill, but investigators determined this physician did not refer or certify patients for Advanced Holistic's services. He said had never even heard of the company.

The Amoses established a pattern of this fraud over the next four years, according to the indictment.

In 2014, Oluyemisi purchased the home health company Access Practical Solutions, Inc., but this time identified herself as the sole owner. She designated Medicare payments for APS to be deposited in her personal bank account, which totaled approximately $7,308,530 for a four-month period of alleged services.

Later that same year, Oluyemisi became the registered agent and president of GetUpAndWalk, Inc. and transferred all Medicare funds from that account  $4,500,000  into either her or her husband's bank accounts.

The Amoses last suspected scheme took place in 2015, when Oluyemisi became the registered agent and director for Guarranty Home Health Agency, Inc. Medicare paid this company approximately $2,740,000.

The couple allegedly falsified claims for at-home health services for beneficiaries that never received any services.

These beneficiaries were also not ordered to receive services by any of the physicians the Amoses named in their claims, according to court documents.

All the patients and physicians listed in the Amos' Medicare claims denied ever having heard of their home health companies.

Investigators consider Houston a major hub of Medicare fraud, where nearly 200 Houston area residents have been indicted on health care fraud charges since 2009  136 convicted of fraudulently billing for nearly $650 million.

The Houston-based Medicare Fraud Strike Force  a team of investigators from the FBI, IRS, U.S. Department of Justice, local U.S. Attorney's Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General and Texas Attorney General's Office  were responsible for exposing the 2005-2012 Riverside General Hospital $158 million psychiatric scam, one of many others discovered in the Houston area.

In that case, the former president of Riverside, the operator of one of Riverside's satellite locations and a group home owner were each convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to pay kickbacks after the submission of fraudulent claims for partial hospitalization program services to Medicare through the hospital.

Just last month, the owner of Elite P. Care Medical Services, Verona Spicer, 47, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for her part in a $1 million Medicare and Medicaid scam. Earlier this year, physician Faiz Ahmed, 64, was convicted in federal court for his part in a $13 million Medicare plot.
Residents who impede the use of a Houston roadway, or block a sidewalk or building entrance could be charged with a misdemeanor under an ordinance passed Wednesday by City Council.

The ordinance aimed at curbing panhandling was paired with a ban on unauthorized encampments in public places  an effort to crack down on homeless camps that have drawn resident and council member ire in recent months. The encampment ban is set to take effect in 30 days.

Mayor Sylvester Turner said he thinks the new rules help to achieve a "delicate balance" between ensuring safety and helping the homeless.

"The whole notion is to strike a balance between addressing their needs and their concerns and putting them in a better position in their lives, and at the same time the neighborhood concerns in terms of people being in their doorway or blocking the sidewalk," Turner said.

City Council first considered the ordinances last month but delayed a vote after council members offered a slew of amendments to make the rules more restrictive.

The mayor's office did not incorporate requests to modify the encampment ban, but it expanded the ordinance meant to deter panhandling to restrict activity on sidewalks and doorways, in addition to roadways.

The mayor, who has worried publicly about restricting free speech, said the law is meant to minimize congestion.

"We're not penalizing speech," he said. "We are saying your conduct cannot be such that you impede the traffic or the flow of people who have every right to utilize sidewalks, hike and bike trails and their doorways."

Still, Tristia Bauman, a senior attorney for the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, warned of potential constitutional violations, also saying she thought the laws would be ineffective.

"This law as written is constitutionally concerning, and I think it's very vulnerable to legal challenge," she said of the encampment rules. "To create a punishment for people who are attempting to survive on the street when they have no alternative is a violation of the Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment."

Marc Eichenbaum, special assistant to the mayor for homeless initiatives, said the city has worked with groups like Star of Hope and the Salvation Army to ensure there are sufficient shelter beds for the city's homeless.

"For individuals who want to go to a shelter, there is a place for them," Eichenbaum said.

Bauman pointed to those with mental health issues or disabilities who may be unable to go to a shelter.

Turner's plan to curb homelessness, announced last month, also includes proposals to house 500 chronically homeless people by early September and construct alternative, professionally staffed "low-level" shelters under highway overpasses or on private property.

These outdoor spaces are intended to help accommodate people who are unable or unwilling to go to an indoor shelter.

The mayor declined on Wednesday to specify the sites the city is considering and said he was not prepared to say when they would be operational. The city also has yet to release a cost estimate for the shelters.

As for the ordinance meant to address panhandling, Bauman zeroed in on the exception allowing city employees to solicit charitable contributions.

"The exception is what shows that it is not a content-neutral ordinance," Bauman said.

The homeless population in Harris and Fort Bend counties was roughly 3,600, according to the Coalition for the Homeless, down 57 percent from 2011.
Phillip Bryant carries tuna cans and water bottles in his car and often spontaneously delivers them to the poor he sees throughout the Houston streets.

However, Bryant, who describes himself as a devout Christian, contends the city's charitable feeding ordinance prohibits this and also violates his religious rights.

He filed a lawsuit Wednesday night 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. Violation of the ordinance is considered a criminal misdemeanor and is punishable by up to $2,000, according to the lawsuit.

Bryant and his attorneys plan to hold a press conference on Good Friday to discuss the lawsuit. Bryant himself has not been cited for violating the ordinance, said his attorney, Randall Kallinen.

"In the Bible, it's mentioned repetitively feeding the poor, so certainly someone who would be following the teachings of Jesus Christ would say I should be feeding the homeless," said Kallinen, who along with attorney Eric Dick, is representing Bryant. The charitable feeding ordinance has caused controversy since it was established five years ago. The city describes the ordinance as a way to uphold food safety and protect the rights of private property owners, but some homeless advocates view it as a way to regulate the tradition of charity.

'Mixed messages'

Although not mandatory, the city encourages those feeding the homeless to register as a food service organization and receive food safety training. The only required step is a person must seek permission from the property owner before feeding more than five people.

In a related development, City Council passed Wednesday an ordinance to curb panhandling and a ban on unauthorized encampments in public places.

"We want people to be able to feed the homeless whenever, wherever they want to, like they were prior to this law being passed," Kallinen said.

Various petitions have been advanced against the city's charitable feeding ordinance including one started by Kallinen, which has more than 75,000 signatures. The city on Thursday declined to comment about the lawsuit.

Bryant agrees with critics of the ordinance, stating in his suit that it "regulates a natural expression of human compassion" and prohibits him "from sharing food and water with those that need help."

As a Christian, Bryant says he does not want to seek permission to distribute food because he does not know "when Christ will compel him to share food" or when someone in need might ask him for food, according to his lawsuit.

Mike Blockson, outreach coordinator at Covenant House, a homeless youth shelter in Houston, said the ordinance creates more confusion.

"We have an agreement from the city to feed the homeless," Blockson said. "Last year, there were certain parts of the city where they told us we can't feed the homeless, and that's just sending mixed messages."

A right to feed them

For his job, Blockson will scour the streets three to four nights out of the week looking for homeless kids and feeding others he encounters. Before the ordinance passed, he said they were able to feed any homeless persons without seeking permission.

Bryant is requesting a jury trial for his case and ultimately wants the ordinance thrown out. Blockson also agrees with Bryant's religious rights concerning his case.

"If God's calling us to feed them, we have a right to feed them," Blockson said.
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AUSTIN - Entering the fray over where transgender Texans can use public bathrooms, a far-reaching bill that a powerful House committee is scheduled to hear next week would rescind several local ordinances aimed at protecting LGBT people from discrimination.

The one-page proposal, House Bill 2899, would prohibit cities and counties from passing non-discrimination ordinances and would not allow them to add or subtract to the classes of people already protected under state law. Authored by Republican Rep. Ron Simmons of Carrollton, the bill also would nullify all local non-discrimination measures across Texas that do not conform to the state's standards.

Current Texas law includes only race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin and age as protected classes.

Simmons' chief of staff said Thursday that the lawmaker was not available to discuss his bill because he had already left Austin for the Easter holiday. His legislation is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday in the House State Affairs Committee.

Staunch opposition

In March, the Senate approved a so-called "bathroom bill" that would force transgender Texans to use restrooms and other facilities at public colleges and government buildings that match their "biological sex" as designated on their birth certificate. The bill, dubbed the Texas Privacy Act by its supporters, sailed through the Senate on a nearly party-line, but House leaders, including Speaker Joe Straus, have expressed no interest in bringing the bill to a vote in that chamber.

With less than 50 days left in the legislative session , the measure, Senate Bill 6, has not been sent to a House committee.

While Simmons' bill does not mention bathrooms, it would replace non-discrimination criteria approved by city officials with those approved by state lawmakers. In effect, localities no longer could allow transgender people to use public bathrooms that match their gender identity in government-owned buildings because they would not be considered a protected class under state statute.

The initial bill, which Simmons told The Dallas Morning News he intended to amend before Wednesday's hearing, drew sharp rebukes from big-city officials, LGBT rights organizations and the state's largest business group. They have staunchly opposed attempts by some Republican lawmakers to restrict local elected officials' authority to pass their own measures against discrimination, which often include provisions to protect members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.

Jeff Coyle, San Antonio's director of government and public affairs, said the bill, as written currently, would gut the non-discrimination ordinance that city council members approved in 2013.

"We oppose HB 2899," Coyle said in a statement. "We have not seen the revised bill the sponsor plans to substitute, but we are opposed to any legislation that harms our economic competitiveness or preempts our locally-adopted ordinances."

Keeping Texas open

Dallas adopted an ordinance in 2002 prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, which the city defined to include gender identity. It was amended in 2015 to separately define sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, covering all three areas.

Dallas City Councilman Lee Kleinman said the initial ordinance and the recent changes reflect his community's desires.

"We're against it because we have a non-discrimination ordinance, and we certainly don't want it preempted by the state," he said. "This is yet another one of these legislative sessions where they're just so adverse to municipalities; it's unfortunate, and I don't understand it."

After Houston voters defeated a 2015 referendum on its equal rights ordinance - which offered expansive protections to more classes than state or federal law does - the city was left without a non-discrimination policy.

Chris Wallace, president of the Texas Association of Business, also hinted at the group's opposition.

"We remain focused on stopping discriminatory legislation and keeping Texas open for business and inviting for all," he told the Morning News, adding that the association was still looking at Simmons' bill.

Through a spokesman, House Speaker Joe Straus' office declined to comment on the bill.
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A longtime elementary school teacher whose repeated sexual encounters with a 12-year-old student came to light following a high-speed chase in which she let the boy drive her SUV was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison.

Lucinda Rodriguez Caldwell, 41, choked back sobs as she was placed in handcuffs after asking state District Judge Lori Valenzuela for probation.

Although the judge denied the request, she did retain jurisdiction of the case, leaving open the possibility that Caldwell could be released from prison on shock probation sometime in the next six months.

I just want to say that I'm sorry for what I did and I apologize to the court, to (the child) and his family, and to my family, Caldwell said through tears during the brief sentencing hearing.

I have lost so much because of what I did, and I ask the court to let me stay with my family and take care of my children, she said.

Caldwell had been an educator for 16 years and was teaching fifth grade at Cable Elementary in the Northside Independent School District when she was arrested in July 2010 after the boy's father took him to police to report the sexual assaults.

Earlier that morning, at about 3 a.m., the father had recognized the teacher's Ford Explorer outside his house after realizing that his son wasn't home, court documents state.

The SUV sped off and the father pursued in his own vehicle for about 30 miles before both vehicles were pulled over in Hondo.

The traffic officer didn't make an immediate arrest but returned the boy to his father and advised him to contact the San Antonio Police Department, according to court documents.

Caldwell reached a plea agreement in October in which she agreed to plead no contest to indecency with child by exposure  a third-degree felony  instead of aggravated sexual assault of a child, which could have resulted in a sentence of up to life.

Both sides also agreed to a 10-year sentence, with the stipulation that prosecutors would remain silent as Caldwell asked the judge to let her serve the term on probation. In addition, Caldwell agreed to surrender her teaching certificate.

Neither Caldwell's accuser nor his family attended the hearing.

We felt like we had a good case, but the family was worried about putting the young boy through the emotional ordeal of a trial, First Assistant District Attorney Cliff Herberg said of the plea agreement. We wanted to be respectful of the family's desires.

After the allegations were revealed, the boy appeared to withdraw from friends and family, prosecutors said they were told by the family.

Although the boy has since made progress, his father feared that testifying at a trial would cause setbacks, according to Adriana Biggs, chief of the white-collar-crimes division.

Since the arrest, Caldwell and her two children have moved to Eagle Pass. Her husband testified on her behalf Tuesday, suggesting that her exemplary record as a teacher prior to the incident provided a more accurate portrayal of who she is.

She was by all accounts a very good, dedicated teacher, added defense attorney John Carroll. The public humiliation and shame has been very difficult for her to deal with.

ckapitan@express-news.net

Twitter: @HearsaySA
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
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To hear journalists tell it, the 84 days since President Donald Trumps inauguration have exposed us to a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. Self-contained storylines that once would have risen and fallen in distinct waves of public attention have given way to information overload and frequent confusion. Time seemingly blurs as new developments flash like strobe lights from all angles. The traditional news cycle has been killed, and I suggest the culprit was Trump, in the White House, with the lead pipe.

Remember alternative facts? It was just Day 3. The news-time continuum still had a semblance of balance then, even if the underlying factors priming it for carnage had already been set: a sensationalist media with an insatiable appetite for content; massive distrust of the mainstream press; a fragmented social web that incentivizes false information; and a political U-turn in Washington. With his predilection for impulsive action and self-contradiction, the tweeter-in-chief was uniquely suited to overload an already strained system.

The question were left with, posed time and again by journalists on Twitter, in stories, and on podcasts that double as support groups for media whiplash, is whether the public can cope. And consensus speculation is that mere mortals cant possibly keep up.

I have covered politics for the last 19 years. I never remember this much news all at once.  Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) April 6, 2017

I feel like there's a new crazy story about the Trump administration every day. How does a average news consumer even keep up.  andrew kaczynski ? (@KFILE) March 31, 2017

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That was the biggest news week since last week  Farhad Manjoo ? (@fmanjoo) April 7, 2017

Me trying to catch up on all the politics news out of D.C. this morning pic.twitter.com/RyJcwq5mfL  Liam Stack (@liamstack) April 6, 2017

Enterprising news organizations craving new products have not let this potential crisis of public attention go to waste. The Guardians daily CliffsNotes for political news, the self-explanatory Minute, was rolled out with some foresight last year. NBC News has been boiling down each of the Trump administrations first 100 days to a single key moment. Politico has expanded its early morning Playbook newsletter with a midday Power Lunch edition. Should the speed and discombobulation of news continue to accelerate, the franchise may need to detach itself from human eating schedules and align more with that of hobbits: Breakfast Playbook, Second Breakfast Playbook, Elevenses Playbook, and so on.

A new entrant that displays perhaps the most accurate encapsulation of this peculiar moment takes the form of an independent email blast: What The Fuck Just Happened Today? The aptly named roundup does the yeomans work of logging the daily shock and awe in politics.

An abridged recap of the greatest news hits of the not-yet-three-month-old Trump administrationpolicy changes, palace intrigue, military escalationwould read with encyclopedic density. Trumps tweeting and frequent clashes with the media provide a running backdrop, as does the ever-more-complicated inquiry into Russian meddling in last years election. That latter storyline has reached its umpteenth level of complexity, even if we still cant agree on how to pronounce House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nuness last name.

The president and his retinue, meanwhile, empower the likes of Fox & Friends, conspiratorial blog Gateway Pundit, and alt-right icon Mike Cernovich. Fake news has become an overused and increasingly meaningless insult on all sides of the debate. We are entering a space of total metaphysical and informational confusion, Ezra Klein summarized on a February episode of Voxs policy podcast, The Weeds.

The meta-coverage of this phenomenon has tended to focus on how keeping up with the news may induce stresssome pieces pose solutionsand the head of the American Psychological Association even called the potential effects deeply concerning. But what about news comprehension, ostensibly the first goal of journalism?

A Huffington Post/YouGov poll released this week suggests that worries about information overload may be overstatedor at least more complicated than was previously assumed. Just 30 percent of respondents who try to follow current events say that they feel political news is changing so quickly that they cant keep up, according to the survey of 1,000 American adults. Sixty percent say its not a problem, and about two-thirds of all respondents add that following political news now is either just as manageable or even easier than in years past. Older and more Trump-supportive respondents were more likely to say they could cope.

Of course, surveys also occasionally suggest that Americans may not be as well-versed in current events as they think. Yet there seem to be a few possibilities for the disconnect on the publics perceived ability to keep up. The Huffington Posts primary caveat is that respondents might, in fact, be overwhelmed by the news but say the opposite when polled. The rosier take is that media organizations have risen to the occasion more than they themselves understand.

More plausible is that media professionals, academics, and the political class comprise an informational elite that live in a media universe distinct from that of a large portion of the public. They have the interest, energy, and toolkit to navigate the full scope of political information zooming around the internet. Many others tend to stick to familiar sources of their choosing, popping in and out of news depending on the story or day. During a time of intense discussion of the medias disconnect from the publicby ideology, geography, or formal educationit would add yet another fault line to the mix.

Whats clear is that the digital hamster wheel that journalists inhabit will only continue its acceleration. Less so is whether the rest of the public, bereft of the news cycles that act as a sort of on-ramp by focusing attention, will be able to get back on track.

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David Uberti is a writer in New York. He was previously a media reporter for Gizmodo Media Group and a staff writer for CJR. Follow him on Twitter @DavidUberti.
CAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS PICK AND CHOOSE which news outlets they give comments and information to? A lawsuit filed by a New Mexico alternative weekly against the governor could expand the states press freedom protections with a broader definition of censorship. Or it could quash a newspaper-led effort at accountability and transparency in state government, giving elected officials license to ignore smaller media outlets asking uncomfortable questions.

During a three-day bench trial in March, lawyers for the Santa Fe Reporter argued that Gov. Susana Martinezs communications staffers discriminated against them because they didnt like the papers viewpointactions that amount to censorship that violates the state constitution. Reporter staff testified that the administration froze them out after the paper published a major story critical of the governor, ignoring their emails and sitting on their public records requests. The Reporters legal argument is that government cant disregard one news outlets routine requests for comment and information; courts have previously held that the government cant exclude reporters it doesnt like from press conferences or news release email lists. (Disclosure: I have done freelance writing for the Reporter, mostly about food. I have not been involved at all with this lawsuit.)

The Reporter filed suit in state district court in 2013, but years of motions filed by the governors contract attorneys kept the case from trial. Now, both sides are laboring over written closing arguments they are expected to submit in early May. There will be time for rebuttals, and then a decision, which is expected in late spring. A victory for the Reporter could limit the abilities of government officials to delay or deny record requests, and force officials to treat all news organizations equally, despite their size or perceived friendliness.

Knell told the court he believed his job was determining the best way to convey the governors message, and that communicating with reporters was only a small part of it.

THE SUMMER OF 2012 BROUGHT WITH IT the revelation that the governor and administration officials had been using private email accounts to conduct state business. One cabinet secretary (who had been fired by Martinez) said she and other administration officials were told to use personal accounts in order to elude public records requests.

A few months after that, a recording surfaced of the governors chief of staff, Keith Gardner, appearing to confirm as much. I never email on my state email anything that can come back to bite my ass. It is all done off-line. I never  use my state email because it is all done on different stuff cause I dont want to go to court and jail, Gardner could be heard saying. In court, he testified that his comments were taken out of context.

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Shortly after, Martinez ordered all executive branch employees to use official email for state business, and open government advocates lauded her for doing so. But Martineza Republican governor in what was then still her first termhad campaigned on bringing ethics, transparency and accountability to Santa Fe. Smelling hypocrisy, the Reporter sank its teeth in and wouldnt let go.

In more than two-dozen stories published that year, staff writers sniffed around and dug into the inner workings of the administration. Their efforts culminated in a December 2012 cover story, which charged that in Martinezs administration, access is often limited to a privileged few; that many decisions are made behind closed doors; and that public officials have at times done more to avoid transparency than to foster it.

The Reporters story was embarrassing in many ways for the governor. The cover featured a full-page illustration of Martinez as a snarling, angry giant, clutching a filing cabinet full of documents and crashing through the burning ruins of Santa Fe. The story mentioned that some of the emails from that private network (released by the former attorney general, a political rival) revealed a few purchases made by the governor: Spanx, 50 Shades of Grey, and songs by the critically maligned band Nickelback. Those details account for fewer than 50 words in what was ultimately a nearly 4,000-word feature.

After that issue was published, there was a noticeable difference in the Reporters relationship with the governors office, former editor Alexa Schirtzinger testified. After becoming frustrated with getting no responses to their queries, staff writer Joey Peters called Gov. Martinezs cell phone and asked for comments on some stories the Reporter was following. With Martinez on speakerphone and a recorder taping the call, Peters, Schirtzinger and another staff writer, Justin Horwath, listened as the governor suggested they call Enrique Knell, her communications director at the time.

Peters protested that Knell hadnt been returning their calls. Well I wonder why, Martinez said before hanging up.

IN COURT, THE REPORTER LAID OUT its evidence for discrimination. Their lawyer presented a tweet by a Martinez spokesman complaining about a story Horwath published in The Santa Fe New Mexican, where he now works. No surprise given his previous reporting for liberal tabloid, the spokesman tweeted. That tweet echoed an official comment from Knell after the paper filed suit:

Its not a surprise that a left-wing weekly tabloid that published stolen emails containing the Governors personal underwear order would file a baseless suit like this. Their public records requests are treated the same as every other citizen in New Mexico.

The paper cited those examples as evidence that Martinez and her staff were intentionally denying access to the paper because they were unhappy with its coverage. But in court, the defense denied that charge and argued that the governors communications staff was simply too busy to respond to all inquiriesand, even if they could, they were under no obligation to do so. Knell told the court he believed his job was determining the best way to convey the governors message, and that communicating with reporters was only a small part of it.

With limited resources, Knell said, he prioritized responding to the Associated Press and newspapers with higher circulation. The defense suggested that smaller news outlets could get all the information they needed from wire services.

During the trial, the governors lawyer tried to paint the Reporter as a lightweight outlet staffed by amateurs. In cross-examination, he asked Schirtzinger, the former editor, about her education and qualifications. After she listed her degrees from Dartmouth and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he pointedly asked about her brief, post-Peace Corps stint as a dive instructor.

The Reporters lawsuit also charges the governors office with stifling its official records requests and improperly refusing to turn over information about pardon requests and the governors daily calendar. The Associated Press sued for the same records in 2013, and obtained some records as part of a 2015 settlement.

There is this gap between what the retention laws require to be archived and stored and the definition of what has to be released under the public records laws, which are much broader.

The defense suggested reporters from the paper were unreasonably demanding, submitting far more public records requests than other news organizations. Reporter staffers testified that after feeling as though they were shut out, they began submitting requests under the state Inspection of Public Records Act for information they were also requesting via email. Knell said he prioritized the records requests, which the Reporter showed the governors office was able to bunt for months, through extension after extension with no immediate penalty under the law.

The Reporter is also suing for damages in the case, in part to strengthen the enforcement of the public records law, which was weakened by a recent decision requiring that plaintiffs show actual damages.

We hope well win on the idea that if records are improperly withheld you are still able to collect damages, says the Reporters pro-bono lawyer, Daniel Yohalem. And that, in coordination with attorneys fees, will be a disincentive to withholding or delaying documents.

THE CASE MAY ALSO ENABLE REPORTERS to take a bite out of the private email problem. Many public officials have come under fire for using private email accounts and messaging systems, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Vice President Mike Pence, who defended discussing government business on his AOL account when he was governor of Indiana. In many states, including New Mexico, it is not explicitly illegal for public officials to use private accounts, provided that public records contained in them are retained and turned over in response to records requests.

During trial questioning about the Reporters public records requests, Martinez administration officials explained that so few emails had been found, even in their official email accounts, because they simply didnt have them. They had been deleted.

As part of its lawsuit, the Reporter asks that the government be required to do more rigorous searches and to discipline employees who improperly delete records.

This is a persistent problem around the country, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press attorney Adam Marshall tells CJR. There is this gap between what the retention laws require to be archived and stored and the definition of what has to be released under the public records laws, which are much broader.

Attempting to prevent public access to the records of government by narrowing the definition in such an extreme way is dangerous, Marshall says. Its hugely detrimental to the public and the form of democratic governance that we generally uphold as being important.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Gwyneth Doland is a multimedia journalist covering news, politics and culture in New Mexico. A former executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, she is the author of the 2012 and 2015 State Integrity reports for the Center for Public Integrity. She teaches writing, media law and ethics at the University of New Mexico.
MILWAUKEE  A fugitive accused of stealing numerous weapons from a Wisconsin gun store and sending an anti-government manifesto to the White House was arrested Friday after nine days on the run, sheriff's officials said.

Joseph Allen Jakubowski was found in Readstown, about 125 miles northwest of Janesville, Jakubowski's hometown, where the manhunt for him began April 4.

The Rock County Sheriff's Office said the break in the investigation came when a property owner in Readstown called the Vernon County Sheriff's Office Thursday evening to report a suspicious man camping on his land. The property owner told authorities the man matched Jakubowski's description and that he was refusing to leave.

The office said in a statement that tactical officers surrounded Jakubowski and arrested him around 6 a.m. Friday without incident.

More than 150 law enforcement officials had been searching for Jakubowski, 32, since April 4 when authorities say he broke into a gun store in Janesville.

On Thursday, Gov. Scott Walker cancelled an Easter egg hunt, which had been scheduled for Saturday, citing security concerns. It was not immediately clear if the annual tradition would go ahead as planned now that Jakubowski is in custody.

The Rock County Sheriff's Office says Jakubowski wrote a 161-page manifesto in which he detailed a long list of grievances against the government and spoke of plans to launch attacks with the 18 firearms he allegedly stole.

Janesville Police Chief David Moore said Jakubowski cited concerns about President Donald Trump in his manifesto but that he didn't make any specific threats.

The sheriff's office said Jakubowski filmed a video of himself dropping his manifesto, addressed to Trump, into a mailbox and speaking of a "revolution" before the manhunt began. He warned in the video that whoever received the manifesto "might want to read it."

On Thursday, WTMJ-TV posted 35 pages of handwritten documents to its website that it said were an unidentified law enforcement official verified as Jakubowski's writings. Rock County Sheriff's Office Commander Troy Knudson said the writings appeared genuine.

"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.

Jakubowski has had several run-ins with law enforcement, most for traffic violations. But police say he previously resisted arrest and once tried to disarm an officer.
LA CROSSE  The Western Technical College District Board didnt have to look far for its next president.

Western staff announced Tuesday that Boyd native and former Chippewa Falls resident Roger Stanford, the current vice president for academic affairs, will succeed his boss, Lee Rasch, as the seventh president of the college. Rasch, who has led the college for nearly three decades, announced last year that he will retire June 30.

District Board Chairman Dennis Treu said Stanford had a passion for student success and the technical colleges mission. Stanford has a deep respect for the work that has gone into the $79.8 million Vision 2020 strategic plan, Treu said, and offers inspiring ideas to keep the college moving forward.

During his two years at Western, Stanford started a flexible learning initiative that targets working adult students, created a team model to help get faculty more engaged in college priorities such as student success, and led the implementation of a K-12 academy model, including the design of a facility to serve high school juniors and seniors.

He said he decided to come to Western because of the colleges solid reputation and the community support that was apparent when voters approved the Vision 2020 referendum funding renovations and expansions at the campus locations in La Crosse and throughout the region. Stanford said he hoped to be able to build on that as well as bring a strong focus on data analysis and strategic planning to the presidency.

Western has a stellar reputation in the district and the state for high-quality education, and has even garnered national attention for leading-edge sustainability efforts, Stanford said. I look forward to sharing my experience and continuing the momentum for many years to come.

Before coming to Western, Stanford was vice president of instruction at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire. He has also worked in higher education as an instructor, a dean and a director of professional development, in addition to 10 years teaching at the high school level.

Stanford was the first in his family to attend college and is a graduate of the Wisconsin Technical College System, earning his associates degree in marketing management from CVTC. He also earned a bachelors degree in marketing education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, a masters degree in education and professional development from UW-La Crosse, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Capella University.

He was selected from a pool of 35 candidates from across the United States and was one of three finalists the search committee asked to visit campus. All of three of the candidates were invited to closed-door meetings and interviews last week with the district board before the group made its final decision. Stanfords selection will be officially approved at the April 18 board meeting, and he will begin the position July 1.

We had an excellent pool of applicants from which to choose, Treu said. Roger rose to the top based on his extensive experience, his enthusiasm for technical education, and his recognition of the importance of community. He is a perfect fit for Western and the district we serve.

Correction: An earlier version of this article said Roger Stanford was a native of Stanley. He is a native of Boyd.
On March 22, a group of Amazon employees took issue with the company's ads on Breitbart in an email to CEO Jeff Bezos and SVP Jeff Blackburn. Entitled "Amazon Must Stop Advertising on Breitbart News," the email included a petition opposing Amazon's continued advertising on Breitbart, with some 564 signatures.

According to the email, an Amazon employee confronted Blackburn at the company's March all-hands meeting about advertising on a site that the employee said "regularly publishes hateful and bigoted content."

"What is it going to take for us to stop advertising on Breitbart News?" the employee asked, to applause from coworkers.

Blackburn's response, according to the email, was met with "utter silence." He suggested that Amazon's advertising relationship with Breitbart was complicated. "It's making those decisions for us through a third party, industry standard filter that we use," he told the employees. "And that's what you're seeing. Some of the pages on the site that you mentioned are passing through those filters."

While Amazon doesn't have a direct relationship with Breitbart, the company does select the exchanges through which it buys ads, and presumably has some say in how they are targeted. According to the internal email, ongoing employee outcry may have caused the company to review its decision to allow ads to run on the site. "I want you to know that it is something we are looking ... at very regularly," Blackburn said. "We have our eyes on it."

Blackburn's remarks did little to quell unrest among Amazon employees disappointed by the company's ads on Breitbart. In their email to Bezos and Blackburn, the employees attached a PDF of personal comments from "52 additional Amazonians." A few excerpts:

"I am a woman, immigrant, person of color. My employer needs to stand up to this site which is nothing but full of hate."

"When people find out I work at Amazon, the first question they ask is -'How can you justify working for Amazon when they advertise on a hate site?'"

"As a transgender woman, I find it deeply troubling that my employer has not yet pulled advertising from this site."

"'There's no hiring bias against women in tech, they just suck at interviews' - the fact that the company's dollars pay for headlines like this make it very difficult for those of us putting in efforts to recruit and retain more women in technical roles."

Since last year's election, Amazon's leadership has faced consistent pressure from customers and employees to cut its ad ties to Breitbart. A petition on the website SumOfUs.org urging Amazon to "stop investing in hate" now has more than 550,000 signatures. Meanwhile, an anonymous collective of marketers called Sleeping Giants has called out over1,600 advertisers who have since moved their ad dollars away from Breitbart.

When BuzzFeed News first reported on Amazon employee unrest over Breitbart ads in February, 34 employees had filed individual complaints to management. With a petition now in circulation with nearly 600 signatories  many of whom are women, people of color, or LGBTQ  momentum is clearly growing. Amazon has over 340,000 employees worldwide.

Amazon employees told BuzzFeed News that the company had previously been largely unresponsive to their complaints. "They'd been brushing us off," one told BuzzFeed News. But recently there appears to be a movement to address the issue. Sources said Amazon leadership met with an employee representative of the group behind the petition on Tuesday morning.

"They are now taking it very seriously," an Amazon employee familiar with discussions told BuzzFeed News. "It's not a finalized decision, but it's at least moving in the right direction."

Amazon did not return multiple requests for comment on the internal email obtained by BuzzFeed News.
China's southern island province of Hainan has drawn up measures to clamp down on real estate speculation, the official Hainan Daily newspaper reported, the latest in a flurry of steps to tame hot property prices.

Cities across China have been rolling out much tougher real estate restrictions this year in an effort to contain resurgent demand from home buyers and property speculators, as earlier cooling measures appeared to be having limited effect.

While most analysts do not see a high risk of a property market crash, they note increasingly stringent regulations could eventually curb investment and construction, weighing on economic growth.

Hainan's new investment restrictions will prevent buyers from getting mortgages to buy third homes, and will also ban non-residents from buying second newly built homes in the province, the paper said, citing a notice approved by the local government.

Down payments for residents of Sanya, one of China's most popular cities for tourists, have been raised to 50 percent for a second home.

In the rest of the province, residents still paying back previous loans will also have to make a down payment of 50 percent for a second home.

The capital of China's Sichuan province said on Wednesday that newly-bought homes cannot be sold again for at least three years.

China was also forced to crack down on real estate speculation in Hebei after announcing the launch of a new economic zone in the province.
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Got a minute? Great. Get out of your chair, jump up and down, drop your pen or pencil. You've felt it: Gravity. Think back to your school days and recall the elegant equation you were taught: g=9.8 m/s2. Gravity is something Michael Power thinks about a lot. He's a strategist at Investec Asset Management, which manages $115 billion on behalf of third party clients. His advice on where to park some of that money can be summed up in four words: Go east, young investor. "The center of economic gravity continues to move away from the West to the East," he told CNBC's "Street Signs." Power said the financial services industry will look very different a decade from now. "I think it's going to refocus on moving away from indexes, which reflect the past  and that past is very Western-centric  towards a future [that] captures Asia to a far greater degree." Perhaps, just like gravity, that makes sense to many: Billions of dollars have been flowing into Asia and, in particular, emerging markets in the region over the last year. Year-to-date, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index is up 11.96 percent and the MSCI Asia Ex-Japan Index has climbed 13.03 percent. Compare that to the MSCI All Country World Index, which is up 6.03 percent. "I think we're going to see continued outperformance of the emerging markets," Richard Ross, head of technical analysis at Evercore ISI, told CNBC.

What goes up

But those gains may not continue forever. Global debt climbed to more than $215 trillion in 2016 (325 percent of GDP) according to the Institute for International Finance, which also noted that emerging markets accumulated more than $39 trillion in debt since 2006. IIF tweet. IIF tweet 2. "We are seeing some countries where fiscal frameworks are such that countries really need to double down and ensure that they don't get out of hand," said Sudhir Shetty, chief economist of the World Bank's East Asia and Pacific Region.

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Shetty outlined some of the details of a new World Bank report, which said growth in East Asia and the Pacific will stay on track, with economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations likely to expand faster in 2017-18. But he raised the potential impact of monetary tightening in the U.S., along with the risks that could arise in Asia if protectionist and anti-globalization talk turns to action, something the IMF flagged earlier in the week.

The Trump factor

Still, a number of analysts remain excited about emerging markets  and EM Asia in particular. Much of that sentiment has to do with where the global economy has been heading, but it also hinges on President Donald Trump. "People are hedging because if you don't get a Trump fiscal plan, the other side of that trade really is emerging markets," said Luciano Siracusano, chief investment strategist for WisdomTree Investments. For Investec Asset Management's Power, it's not about when Trump's plans will be materialize, but if. In correspondence with CNBC, he argued that Trump is not so much the "Ace of Trumps" or even the "Joker," but is increasingly looking like a busted flush. "The reflation trade has deflated. And I think that what we're beginning to realize at the moment is much of the promise of Trump is not going to be realized mainly because his ability to get much of his program through Congress is severely compromised. I think there was a lot of big talk and it's not being followed up by big action."

Steaks, cappuccinos, and espressos
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Chinese social media users will soon benefit from a flood of new international content entering their feeds.

That's thanks to recent tie-ups between local social media platforms and digital content distributor network Yoola to bring selected content, primarily from the United States and Russia, into the Chinese market. Local partners include social media giants Weibo and Tencent , as well as Youku-Tudou, Toutiao, Miapoi, Kuaishou, Bilibili, Meipai, AcFun, and Aipai.

This comes against a backdrop of Western internet companies, including Facebook and Google , long struggling to gain footing in the Chinese market. Both are currently blocked in the mainland.

Yoola is one of YouTube's multi-channel networks (MCN), third-party service providers that work with YouTube channels to offer audience development, content programming and monetizing services, among others. The company currently manages more than 72,000 channels, driving over 7 billion monthly views with more than 650 million subscribers across the network.

Through a localization process, which includes translating, editing, operating and promoting the content on different networks in China, Yoola is aiming to help influencers gain traction in China  and, in doing so, bridging international content gaps.

"People think that content that works well in the West can succeed in China, but that's not true. There is still a very big language and cultural barrier that we help creators overcome," Eyal Baumel, CEO of Yoola, told CNBC's "Squawk Box."

There are high barriers-to-entry into the Chinese market, Baumel said, "not just in terms of localizing content, but also from understanding and adjusting to Chinese market preferences."

He also cited the differences in monetizing as a key impediment for Western access: "Here in the U.S. and in the West, more than 95 percent of the majority of revenue comes from video advertisements. In China, it's maybe 10 percent, usually less."

Instead, digital gifting, brand integrations and e-commerce drive revenue streams, Baumel said.

Beyond the distribution of content, Yoola is also using its own production studio to explore opportunities in the Chinese live streaming market. "There's a huge opportunity that's not going to slow down," said Baumel. "We are big believers."
"We have a program where if you work nine hours a day for nine days, then you get the tenth day  every other Friday  off," Erickson explains. "Or, you can work for eight-and-a-half hours and work out for 30 minutes."

Health and wellness have been the backbone of the company since day one, Erickson and Crawford tell CNBC. In fact, employees are encouraged to work out 30 minutes a day on company time, meaning they're essentially paid to exercise two-and-a-half hours a week.

Clif Bar & Company owners, husband-and-wife duo Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, like to stay active. After all, the inspiration for their energy bar was born in 1990 when Erickson set off on a one-day, 175-mile bicycle ride.

Clif Bar, which is headquartered in Emeryville, California, makes it easy for its 490 employees to capitalize on the benefit  there's a 2,500 square-foot onsite gym with a bouldering wall, personal trainers, group classes, weights and machines.

"Our participation rate is extremely high," says Erickson, and it's only been beneficial to the company: "Our employees are more enthused and more inspired to work and fulfill their job because they have all these unique benefits."

Plus, this particular employee benefit could be boosting productivity. After all, the most successful people make time for exercise. "I definitely can achieve twice as much by keeping fit," billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson tells FourHourBodyPress. "It keeps the brain functioning well."

Science is in his corner: Studies show that exercise can help you out professionally.

Branson, who wakes up at 5:00 AM to work out, is far from the only successful individual who prioritizes fitness. Dozens of today's top business leaders, from Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg to media guru Oprah Winfrey, exercise regularly.

If it works for them, it could work for you.

Don't miss: Why one CEO shortened his company workday to 6 hours
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 panel's 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.

"We're flying blind into this dramatic set of economic changes," Erik Brynjolfsson, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management, said in an interview.

Mr. Brynjolfsson was a co-chairman of the 13-member panel that drafted the 184-page report, which was published on Thursday by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, a nonprofit organization whose studies are intended as objective analysis to inform public policy. He and the panel's other co-chairman, Tom Mitchell, a computer scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, also wrote a separate commentary in the journal Nature that was published on Thursday, explaining the problem.

More from The New York Times:

Automation Nation: Evidence That Robots Are Winning the Race for American Jobs

AI Is Doing Legal Work. But It Won't Replace Lawyers, Yet

Robots Will Take Jobs, but Not as Fast as Some Fear, New Report Says

Both the report and commentary were spurred by the advances in A.I. in recent years, including document-reading software and self-driving cars, which promise to make inroads into work done by humans. That prospect has created angst for many American workers about the difficulties of adapting to technological change and the failure of institutions to help them.

Yet technologists and academics still differ sharply on how fast the next wave of automation will proceed and how many occupations will be affected. That prompted the panelists to suggest the new data-monitoring tools and the pulling together of government and online data sources to sort through the consequences.

Those moves could eventually give a worker in a declining occupation useful information about a more promising occupation, with some similar skills but also requiring some new ones, Mr. Mitchell said. Then the software tool might also pull information on job placement rates for courses that teach those new skills.

That style of data-driven decision-making is a hallmark of internet companies like Amazon and Google, and it has been increasingly embraced across corporate America. "There's no reason government can't do that," Mr. Brynjolfsson said.
The Charging Bull sculpture in the Financial District of New York City

Some call it "private equity inflation."

It's a problem for the industry that occurs as the market rises over a long period of time. Such a move causes the valuations of acquisitions 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 report this week from database firm 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 fewer deals during the first quarter. The PitchBook report showed that 745 transactions closed during the period, which was a 14 percent decline from the previous three months.
We know you're busy and, these days, it feels like there's more news than ever to keep up with. Well, we've got you covered. Here's a preview the week's biggest money stories to watch for and a quick rundown of how they may affect you.

France's National Front leader Marine Le Pen and Netherlands' Party for Freedom (PVV) leader Geert Wilders take a Selfie during a European far-right leaders meeting to discuss about the European Union, in Koblenz, Germany, January 21, 2017. Wolfgang Rattay | Reuters

WHAT'S HAPPENING: France is electing a new president WHY IT MATTERS: Your trip to Europe may be getting cheaper The French Presidential election is less than 10 days away. After Brexit and Trump's election, populism seems to be at a fever pitch worldwide, but that trend will be tested by this election. All eyes are on right-wing populist Marine Le Pen, leader of the Front National party, who is enjoying a strong showing in the polls. Le Pen's most controversial campaign promise is to take France out of the European Union  a move that could result in the break-up of the Eurozone. Should Le Pen win, the ensuing political uncertainty could, according to analysts, result in a weaker euro and a stronger dollar. That would make your vacation across the Atlantic a little cheaper  so enjoy planning to travel to the EU while it still exists.

A customer gets ready to fill his car with gasoline at a Shell gas station in San Francisco, California. Getty Images

WHAT'S HAPPENING: Tensions in the Middle East are making Wall Street nervous WHY IT MATTERS: The price of gas may be going up Escalating tensions in the Middle East have amped up Wall Street's focus on geopolitics. So far that means that gold, often seen as a go-to asset when the going gets tough, has been in high demand. Oil has also been on the move because, as the risk of Middle East crisis increases, so does the probability of oil production being affected. As oil gains momentum, the price at the gas pump will likely go up right as we kick off spring. So as you begin planning your Montauk road trip, keep the price of gas in mind.

Getty Images
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to South Korea on Sunday in what his aides said was a sign of the U.S. commitment to its ally in the face of rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear

program. Pence's Seoul stop kicks off a long-planned 10-day trip to Asia  his first as vice president  and comes amid concerns that Pyongyang could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test.

Mike Pence Getty Images

President Donald Trump has warned against further provocations, sending an aircraft carrier group to the region as a show of force. His officials have been assessing tougher economic sanctions as well as military options to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Pence plans to celebrate Easter with U.S. and Korean troops on Sunday before talks on Monday with acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn. "We're going to consult with the Republic of Korea on North Korea's efforts to advance its ballistic missile and its nuclear program," a White House foreign policy adviser told reporters, previewing Pence's trip. Pence will land in Seoul the day after North Korea's biggest national day, the "Day of the Sun." The White House has contingency plans for Pence's trip should it coincide with a another North Korean nuclear test by its leader Kim Jong Un, the adviser said. "Unfortunately, it's not a new surprise for us. He continues to develop this program, he continues to launch missiles into the Sea of Japan," the adviser said. "With the regime it's not a matter of if - it's when. We are well prepared to counter that," the adviser said.

'Free and fair' trade
Cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) are two seemingly unrelated technologies that have already transformed how we engage with the world around us. Now, industries are combining these fields for even further changes.

Expect the merger of cloud computing and AI to be an industry-wide disruption. Cloud technology is moving at break-neck speed and leaps in AI become more advanced every day. According to Forrester (News - Alert), the public cloud computing market will be worth $191 billion by 2020. RightScales State of Cloud survey also revealed 95 percent of respondents currently use the cloud, with enterprise adopting both public and private clouds.

Why does this growth matter and how does it relate to the merger of AI and cloud computing? Well get to that, but first, you must understand the relationship between cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Proper AI Cannot Exist Without Big Data and Cloud Computing

To deliver the kind of useful information and interactions we need from it, AI systems must learn over time. Even a simple process for a device like Amazons Echo  also known as Alexa  where the system recommends related products you might like, requires extensive data collection and machine learning.

Over time, that system builds a profile of you. It learns what products you like, how much you like to spend, how often you shop and where and when the best time to make suggestions is. It can accomplish this by analyzing what times you shop most.

The data this system collects must be stored and accessible, and thats where cloud technology comes into play.

Siri, Google (News - Alert) Now, Cortana and even Samsungs Bixby all make use of  and tap into  cloud computing platforms. More advanced examples of this technology include Googles Cloud Machine Learning platform and IBMs Watson.

Simply put, it takes a vast quantity of data for these systems to analyze and learn enough to make appropriate decisions. The AI system is nothing more than a shell, or a body, while the cloud computing platform  and stored data  serves as that systems brain.

How Does Cloud Computings Growth Affect AI?

Cloud technology is being adopted at a surprising rate, as weve already established. Not just by consumers and the average citizen but by corporations and organizations, too. In fact, 32 percent of enterprise respondents run their workloads in the public cloud, while 43 percent run them in a private cloud.

There are several reasons for this, the most important of which being the boost in efficiency for those using cloud platforms. Hardware and maintenance for these systems are handled by a third party, freeing up manpower at the enterprise level. Security and efficiency are improved, which in turn lowers overall operating costs.

This works similarly to how hospitals donate the cost of electronic health record systems to independent practices. Its not offset completely, just alleviated so its more manageable for organizations.

Because benefits are numerous, many companies are adopting cloud computing and cloud storage platforms, which are essentially big data, but they also need something to analyze and facilitate this data. You cant well expect analysts to manually sort through hundreds of terabytes of data at a time to find trends and patterns, can you?

Thats where AI and machine learning systems come into play. The big data  and massive information stores  that these companies have access to are being analyzed by machine learning platforms, in turn, run by a form of AI.

As cloud computing grows, so does artificial intelligence. You cannot have one without the other.

Cloud Computing and AI Are Merging

The merger is perhaps bred out of necessity. The more data and information we collect, the more help we need pouring over it. Combining AI, machine learning and big data means we can analyze, gather and utilize more data than ever before.

This transformation isnt just crucial for big business  expect it to positively disrupt our daily lives. The AI and voice assistant platforms, like Siri and Cortana, will tap into cloud computing to offer suggestions, answers, interactions and more.

If youd like to learn more about AI, 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
The new 50 bank note, with a number of upgraded security features, started circulating on April 4. The note is the fourth member of the second, or Europa, series of paper currency issued for the 19 nations of the European Union.

The new 50 bank note, with a number of upgraded security features, started circulating on April 4. The note is the fourth member of the second, or Europa, series of paper currency issued for the 19 nations of the European Union by the European Central Bank. The 5, 10, and 20 notes are already issued, and the 100 and 200 will be issued at the beginning of 2019. No 500 note will be issued in the second series, because in May 2016 the ECB decided not to produce them anymore. The first series is still in circulation, and the bank says they will be legal tender for the foreseeable future.

The new 50 note has the same orange color, 140-by-77-millimeter size, and Renaissance architectural design style as its predecessor, but differs significantly in its anti-counterfeiting measures. The notes include a holographic foil stripe, also used on the 20 note, called Kinegram ReView, with a portrait window near the top that becomes transparent when looked at against the light. Inside the window is a portrait of Europa, a figure from Greek mythology, that is visible on both sides of the note. The same portrait is also used in the watermark, alongside the emerald number, a device made of optically-variable Spark ink that changes from green to blue when the note is tilted. The note also includes raised print for the visually impaired, a security thread with microprinting, properties that can only be seen under ultraviolet or infrared light, and the rings of the Eurion Constellation to deter photo editing and copying.





Should the United States stop printing $100 notes?: Former Treasury secretary, citing criminal use of denomination, recommends an end to the $100 note.





The ECB says that the 50 note is its most widely used denomination with over 9 billion of them, or 46 percent of all euro bank notes, in circulation. It has also become the most counterfeited  42.5 percent of all counterfeit euro bank notes found in circulation last year. The 50 bank notes of the first series will remain legal tender but will be gradually withdrawn.

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ECB President Mario Draghi took the occasion of the introduction to re-emphasize the importance of cash transactions in the European economy. Even in this digital age, cash remains essential in our economy, he said. A soon-to-be-published survey on cash use, carried out on behalf of the ECB, shows that over three-quarters of all payments at points-of-sale in the euro area are made in cash. In terms of transaction values, thats slightly more than half.
Original images courtesy of the U.S. Mint

The United States Mint announced early this week that five, not four 2017 American Liberty silver medals will be offered. This is somewhat of a polarizing design, so it is leading our Week's Most Read.

Its time to catch up on the week that was in numismatic insights and news.

Coin World is looking back at its five most-read stories of the week.

Click the links to read the stories. Here they are, in reverse order:

5. Would a movie producer blow up real money to make a scene look real?: The firm RJR Props, Atlanta, produces prop money for television and movie companies.

4. Opening day of sales for Proof 2017 American Liberty gold $100 coin uneventful: Collectors had no difficulties April 6 placing orders with the U.S. Mint online or by telephone for the Proof 17922017-W American Liberty gold $100 coin.

3. Second round of sales possible for sold out 2017 Congratulations set: The U.S. Mint April 5 left open the possibility that sales for the 2017 Congratulation set, which recorded an apparent sellout April 4, could be reopened.

2. Mint State 70 Prooflike 2015-W American Liberty gold $100 coin tops $5,000: Modern coins are becoming a niche category for many collectors and this 2015-W American Liberty gold $100 coin fits that bill.

1. Five, not four, 2017 American Liberty silver medals upcoming from U.S. Mint: The U.S. Mints four production facilities will strike five 2017 American Liberty silver medals, not four, and will use four different finishes.

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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.
As expected, Microsoft named May 9 as the date it will issue the final updates for the debut edition of Windows 10 that launched in 2015.

Two months ago, Microsoft had extended support for Windows 10 version 1507 -- Microsoft labels feature upgrades by year and month -- from March to May, but did not specify the date in the latter month. Computerworld anticipated May 9 as the end-of-support because that is the date for the month's Patch Tuesday.

The May 9 retirement was quietly announced on several support documents, including the "Windows lifecycle fact sheet," which lists several kinds of deadlines for various versions of the operating system.

Another document put it plainly. "The time has now come to end servicing for version 1507," the support document read.

Stopping support for Windows 10 editions -- Microsoft released the fourth on Tuesday -- is an important part of the company's software-as-a-service model. The company has pledged to support an individual edition, such as 1507, not for 10 years, as policy required for, say, Windows 7 or 8.1, but only for 18 months or so. That mandate insured Microsoft would not need to craft security patches, fix other bugs or add new features for an increasing number of versions.

By the time Windows 10 1507 slips off the list, it will have been supported for about 21 months. Part of the reason it lasted longer than Microsoft's stated norm was because the firm issued just one feature upgrade -- v. 1607 -- in 2016.

The next Windows 10 edition, v. 1511, could be purged from support as soon as early October. That's because Microsoft has committed to simultaneously supporting just two Current Branch for Business (CBB) builds. At the release of N+2 onto CBB, the company starts a 60-day-or-so countdown. At the end of the 60 days, N drops off the support list. N+1 then becomes N and N+2 morphs into N+1.

Under that policy, N would be 1511, N+1 version 1607 (released in August 2016) and N+2 1703 (this month's feature upgrade). Version 1703 will likely be promoted to the CBB in four months, or August; two months more would put 1511's support demise in October.

Users running 1507 must have upgraded to 1511, 1607 or 1703 by May 10 to receive future security patches, and other fixes or enhancements. Windows 10 1507 will not suddenly fail to boot, however, or degrade, as do copies that have not been activated with a product key.

The only exceptions will be customers whose devices are running v. 1507 from the Long-term Servicing Branch (LTSB), a special release track available only to organizations using Windows 10 Enterprise.
Apple may be considering partnering with its China-based supplier Foxconn to purchase a major stake in Toshiba's semiconductor unit.

In January, Toshiba officially announced it would seek to sell a portion of its flash memory business, including the SSD business of the Storage & Electronic Device Solutions Division, to a not-yet-named buyer.

The Nikkei Asian Review has reported that Toshiba may sell a 20% stake in the memory business for between $1.77 billion and $2.65 billion, "while retaining a majority stake and keeping the new company in group earnings."

Toshiba Based on a vertical stacking or 3D technology that Toshiba calls BiCS (Bit Cost Scaling), the company's NAND flash memory stores three bits of data per transistor, meaning it's a multi-level cell (MLC) flash chip. It can store 512Gbits (64GB) per chip.

Toshiba's solvency and fundraising ability are presently in doubt because of a $1.9 billion accounting scandal and a huge loss related to the purchase of a U.S. nuclear plant business. The company, which invented NAND flash in the early 1980s, had been considering spinning off its semiconductor operations and selling a partial stake to Western Digital (WD) and others, as it tries to cope with a massive impairment loss in its U.S. nuclear power unit.

Neither Toshiba nor WD have confirmed a potential sale, however.

Earlier this year, Toshiba took a writedown of $6.56 billion against its struggling U.S. nuclear equipment operations and it's hoping to rebound from that loss with a sale.

"Its financial problems were a major drag on the growth of its memory business," Sean Yang, research director of DRAMeXchange, said in an earlier interview.

Several potential buyers have been identified in reports, including Apple, according to Bloomberg's news service. Apple is considering investing several billion in Toshiba's memory business, according to the report.

"It seems like they are selling the Golden Goose and keeping the money pit," said Jim Handy, an analyst with Objective-Analysis, referring to Toshiba.

If Apple were to purchase a stake in Toshiba's semiconductor business, it would be a departure for a company that has historically outsourced most of its parts and labor, Handy said.

"Seagate and Western Digital used to believe that vertical integration was necessary in order to compete in the SSD market, although Seagate appears to have changed its tune," Handy said. "A captive source of supply is a good thing to have during a shortage, but can be a millstone during an oversupply."

Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., a major supplier to Apple, reportedly said it was not participating in talks after reviewing a possible deal "with interest."

According to one report, Western Digital (WD) is none too happy about Toshiba's plans to sell its memory business. WD reportedly sent a letter to Toshiba telling it the proposed sale breaches a joint-venture agreement as part of the FlashAlliance to build flash fabrication plants in Japan, which are operated by Toshiba. WD's SanDisk holds a 49.9% share in the FlashAlliance and a Toshiba has a 50.1% share.

Any potential sale by Toshiba might be on hold for now as it deals with WD's concerns.

If Toshiba does sell a major stake in its memory business -- or the entire unit -- it would do little to effect the memory market as a whole from the perspective of supply and demand, according to Handy.

"From the perspective of national security there are significant concerns that Japan will lose control of an important technology, and that it will be owned by a company from a country that has a difficult history with Japan," Handy said, referring to China and Foxxcon. "From WD's perspective it's really strange, since they have a very good working relationship and understanding with Toshiba, but not necessarily with the buyer.

"I like to think of it as your spouse coming in and saying: 'Here's somebody new for you to be married to!' then walking off."
Twice a year, at Easter and Christmas, the press provides handsome quantities of space for coverage of the Christian religion. Hard-pressed editors, aware that bad news is more exciting than good, commission pieces about declining congregations at home and the persecution of ancient churches in the Middle East.

This narrative of embattled decline has become embedded. Aggressive secularism and aggressive Islam are coming to get us: if extinction has not yet occurred, it is at least imminent. That is the received idea of Christianity in large parts of the media.

As someone of conservative temperament, I find this pessimism attractive. The politics of cultural despair, the sense that everything is getting worse and it is probably too late to avert disaster, exercises a seductive appeal.

Matthew Arnold conveyed the sense of Christianity in decline when he wrote Dover Beach, in the mid-19th century:

The Sea of Faith Was once, too, at the full, and round earths shore Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled. But now I only hear Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar, Retreating, to the breath Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear And naked shingles of the world.

A grim message. No one, perhaps, could approach the moral heroism of the poets father, Dr Thomas Arnold, creator of Christian gentlemen.

Yet if one takes a wider view, this pessimism becomes one-sided to the point of absurdity. In much of the world, Christianity is growing. Globalisation means access to information, which leads to conversions in places where one would not have expected them.

A few figures are needed. Let me admit, in a precautionary spirit, that the figures should not be treated as exact. They are unlikely, however, to be so wrong that the trends which they illustrate are mistaken.

According to the Pew Research Centre, there were 600 million Christians in 1910, 2.18 billion in 2010, and will be 2.9 billion in 2050. In a report published earlier this month, it confirmed that Christians are the worlds largest religious group, making up 31 per cent of the global population of 7.3 billion, and went on:

Christians had the most births and deaths of any religious group in recent years, according to our demographic models. Between 2010 and 2015, an estimated 223 million babies were born to Christian mothers and roughly 107 million Christians died  a natural increase of 116 million.

In Europe, numbers of Christians are falling. In many other places, they are growing. Between 1960 and 2000, evangelical Protestantism grew at three times the worlds population rate, and twice as fast as Islam.

Pew expects Muslims to catch up with Christians in total numbers in the coming decades. But fertility rates between the two religions are converging.

China, which before 1949 had four million Christians, in 2010 had 67 million, a number which is growing at seven per cent a year. Africa, which had 8.7 million Christians in 1900, now has 390 million, a number which is expected to grow to 633 million in 2025.

South Korea, which was two per cent Christian in 1945, is now 29.3 per cent Christian.

And sizeable numbers of conversions from Islam to Christianity have taken place in many countries, including Morocco, Nigeria and Indonesia.

The story is one of vitality, not of enfeeblement and petering out. Nigeria contains perhaps 19 million Roman Catholics and 18 million Anglicans. In Iran, there are now between 100,000 and 500,000 Christians, most of whom are evangelical Protestants. As The Guardian reported in 2014:

Irans Christians have traditionally been ethnic Armenians and Assyrians who are able to practice their religion freely as long as they do not proselytise. In the last five to 10 years however, satellite television has ushered in a new era of Iranian Diasporan Christian pastors eager to spread their message of faith to listeners back home. Ethnic Armenians and Assyrians have also begun sharing Christianity with their Muslim neighbours and friends. The proselytising from Muslim-to-Christian converts in the Diaspora as well as Christian neighbours closer to home has led to the religion taking hold throughout Iran in numbers previously unseen. The underground nature of the Christian conversion movement has made numbers impossible to determine accurately.

Here is something to set against the ferocious attacks on ancient Christian churches committed by Islamist terrorists. On Palm Sunday, Egypts Coptic Christians, who make up about ten per cent of that countrys population, suffered two attacks, in which 45 of them were murdered.

A Coptic scholar living in America, Samuel Tadros, has written a piece about this atrocity for The Atlantic:

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church, as Tertullian, the second-century theologian, proclaimed centuries ago. The years have taken their toll: Christianity was largely wiped out of North Africa; the places where Saint Augustine once walked no longer remember his name. Only in Egypt did it survive, the Church of Alexandria, the founding church of Copts, shining alone through Christianitys early centuries. In Egypts deserts, monasticism was born at the hands of Saint Antony the Great, and it was Coptic Popes, from Athanasius to Cyril, who shaped the Christian creed and faith for the whole world.

The Copts, who account for over half of all Christians in the Middle East, and whose cross adorns this article, are grievously threatened, but Tadros refuses to be downhearted:

Such is the story of the Copts. While their Church faces tremendous challenges in Egypt, it is flourishing abroad. In 1970, there were two Coptic churches in the United States. Today there are 250. In sub-Saharan Africa, more than half a million Africans have joined the Church, which is untainted by the legacy of colonialism, and prides itself as an African Church. There is a future for the Copts.

We remember today the crucifixion of Jesus. On Sunday, we shall remember His resurrection. Here is a story of pain and death, but also of rising again to joyful life. There is a future for Christianity.
BROCKVILLE, Ontario  The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) Board of Trustees raised concerns for student safety over U.S. President Donald Trumps U.S. travel ban at their meeting on Wednesday, April 12.

The Presidents Executive Order, if it ever goes into effect, would ban travel from the predominantly Muslim countries of Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia and Yemen for 90 days.

The ban does not affect Canadians or Canadians with dual citizenship, but the school board remains concerned because ultimately, individuals can be rejected or detained at the discretion of American border service agents.

This raises the possibility of students travelling on school trips being denied entry, reads a press release from the UCDSB. The school board is prepared to respond to the heightened screening through: sharing of information regarding the Executive Order with students, their parents and guardians; a requirement that students have cancellation insurance for all overnight school trips; ensuring that principals review federal travel advisories before any departure.

The press release goes on to say that if any student traveling on a school trip who is turned back at the American border for a reason out of their control that that will lead to a cancellation of the trip.

The UCDSB states that eight of their schools will be traveling to the U.S. between March and June of this year, with a possible further 15 trips happening next school year.

The trustees requested a staff report to update them on this issue by the end of the school year.

In February Fadwa Alaoui, a Moroccan born Canadian citizen was turned away at a border crossing in Montreal. Alaoui is Muslim and wears a hijab.

Donald Trumps travel ban is currently not in effect as it is bogged down in the American court system. Several U.S. Federal Judges blocked the Executive Order shortly after it was signed on March 6, and the cases appealing those rulings likely will not be heard before May.
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The Toyota Motor Corp. has announced the release of a wearable robotic leg brace that can be used in rehabilitation institutions in Japan as an aid in physical therapy.

Over a hundred units of the wearable robotic leg brace, dubbed the Welwalk WW-1000, is set to be rented out to physical rehabilitation and medical institutions over a period of three years. Toyota hopes to service all of the 1,500 rehabilitation institutions in Japan despite having to price the rental at around $9,000 (1 million yen) for the initial fee followed by a monthly rental charge of roughly $3,200 (350,000 yen), the Nikkei Asian Review reported.

The Fujita Health University partnered with the auto giant to develop the wearable robotic leg brace. The brace is designed to be worn on one leg at a time, strapped to the thigh, knee, ankle, and foot. A harness supports the upper body while the patient walks on a treadmill. The walking motion is supported by a motor that helps bend and straighten the knee. The therapist then will be able to monitor progress of the system through a touch screen panel while the sensors fine-tune the support on the leg of the patient, the Associated Press reported.

Toyota Motors Corp. hopes to be able to dominate the health robotics industry after the success of their robots in the manufacturing sector. They have begun research and development in robots for medical and nursing care. Toyota also is looking into making robotics a core operation of the company.

The growing market on robotics-assisted rehabilitation has prompted the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry to craft the new Japanese Industrial Standards for support robot safety to establish industry safety standards. This market has not only attracted major Japanese corporations like Honda, Sony, and Panasonic to invest, but also upstarts like Cyberdyne that was created by a professor from the University of Tsukuba.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
Costumes: Without them, movies would just be filled with a bunch of naked people, and who the hell would watch that? (Oh, wait.) Anyway, costumes are a huge part of the filmmaking process -- think of the first time you saw the Wicked Witch, or Darth Vader, or Johnny Depp in a cra-a-azy wig. Sometimes, those same costumes have surprisingly insane backstories that deserve movies of their own, like...

7 Jabba The Hutt Was A Bunch Of Dudes Smushed Together In A Sack

After abandoning the idea of having him be a heavyset Irishman dressed like one of the wildlings from Game Of Thrones, someone came up with the idea that Jabba the Hutt should be a hookah-smoking space slug.

Lucasfilm

"Imagine a pile of rotting garbage who's high all the time. The kids will love it."

It turns out that creating and operating the Jabba puppet was actually a huge ordeal, which is probably why Sesame Street doesn't have any giant slug monsters. In fact, being in the Jabba costume was such a trip, someone recently put together a fascinating documentary about the poor souls who were crammed together in there. For starters, we learned that the suit was apparently designed using half-naked Ken dolls:


D.H. Lawrence in Studies in Classic American Literature.

Never trust the artist. Trust the tale. The proper function of the critic is to save the tale from the artist who created it.
The Week Ending April 14

Topping this week's roundup of companies that had a rough week is Ciber, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and struck a deal to sell its North America and India businesses.

Also making the list this week were security vendor Cylance and communications giant Comcast  both of which experienced the sudden departure of their chief technology officers; the city of Dallas, whose emergency notification system was hacked, setting off the city's emergency sirens; and the PC industry, which saw PC shipments in the first quarter fall to their lowest level in 10 years.

Not everyone in the IT industry was having a rough go of it this week. For a rundown of companies that made smart decisions, executed savvy strategic moves  or just had good luck  check out this week's 5 Companies That Came To Win roundup.
There are IT jobs that you just know are built for failure. They are so big and cumbersome and in some cases are plowing through new ground that unforeseen outcomes are likely. Then there are other situations where an IT pro might just say whoops when that unforeseen result should have been, well, foreseen.

UpGuard has pulled together a group of the biggest instances in the past few years in which the well-intentioned automation of a companys IT systems facilitated a major breach instead.

Healthcare.gov: How an oversight broke the U.S. governments healthcare website

When the U.S. government rolled out the Affordable Care Acts web enrollment tool, Healthcare.gov, in October 2013, it was expected to be a monumental undertaking; and with the delivery of millions of citizens health insurance on the line, the stakes were high. So, when a major software failure crashed the website a mere two hours following its launch, the White House administration suffered a sizeable backlash. Due to a lack of integration, visibility, and testing, the project had significant problems from the start  beginning with over 100 defects with Healthcare.govs account creation feature, dubbed Account Lite.

Given its function, Account Lite was a crucial piece of the Healthcare.gov site, serving as the mechanism by which people would create their accounts and gain access to their healthcare options. This particular module had so many problems that it was assuredly a disaster waiting to happen. Nevertheless, contractors moved forward with it as it stood.

The software release failed, preventing millions from securing healthcare coverage. Whats more, the outage had political ramifications as critics of the Affordable Care Act began citing the outage as evidence of the administrations inability to develop a successful healthcare program. The site was eventually stabilized, but the work that should have been integrated before the release was completed only after the crash occurred.

Dropbox

Dropbox: The buggy outage that dropped Dropbox from the web

No IT team enjoys the experience of an outage, especially when it kicks off a race for your team to implement its emergency procedures. In January 2014, Dropbox found themselves scrambling in this very scenario, when a planned product upgrade took down the sites for three hours.

When a subtle bug in the Dropbox script automatically applied its updates to a small number of active machines, it affected Dropboxs thousands of production servers and caused the companys live services to fail. Fortunately for Dropbox, its emergency procedures were well designed and largely effective. With its backup and recovery strategy, the IT team was able to restore most of their services within three hours. For some of the larger databases, however, recovery was slower  taking the company several days for all of its core services to fully return.

Amazon/DynamoDB: When the DynamoDB database disrupted all of Amazons infrastructure

Just as physical services like freight haulage require physical infrastructures like roads and highways, companies digital services depend on underlying digital infrastructures. When some of Amazons automated infrastructure processes timed out in September 2015, their Amazon Web Services cloud platform suffered an outage. Cascading from a simple network disruption into broad service failure, Amazon experienced a network outage like those traditional on-premise data centers experience, despite its very advanced and integrated cloud platform.

Amazon had a network disruption that impacted a portion of its DynamoDB cloud databases storage servers. When this happened, a number of storage servers simultaneously requested their membership data, exceeded their allowed retrieval and transmission time. As a result, the servers were unable to obtain their membership data, and subsequently removed themselves from taking requests.

When the servers that became unavailable for requests began retrying the requests, the DynamoDB timeout issue manifested itself in a broader network outage. Just like that, a network disruption started a vicious cycle and affecting Amazons customers as it took down AWS for 5 hours.

Opsmatic: recipe for disaster

When managed under traditional server administration, automation often faces the same set of age old IT problems. One of those classic, faulty assumptions is if it aint broke, dont fix it  assuming that all systems are operating the way they should be. When Opsmatics routine server maintenance shut down its whole operation, it was because things werent exactly as they had thought.

In Opsmatics case, a Chef recipe called remove_default_users had been created during the early stages of the companys Amazon Web Services experimentation. Now, long after the test, that recipe was somehow still running against the production servers, unbeknownst to the staff maintaining them.

Like many major outages, this incident was the result of a long, causal sequence of mistakes, none of which were caught until they added up to a giant problem.

Knight Capital: How one tiny mistype cost Knight Capital $1 billion

Knight Capital automated not only its administrative IT processes, but also its algorithmic trading. Unfortunately, this meant that changes and unplanned errors  in handling real money  could happen very quickly. This is the story of how a single error caused Knight Capital to lose $172,222 per second for 45 minutes straight in 2012.

When operating a data center at scale, clusters of servers often run a single function. This distributes the load across more computing resources and provides better performance for high traffic applications. This model requires all the servers in a cluster to use the same configurations, no matter which particular server in the cluster they are using, so that all the applications will behave the same way. However, configurations  even if identical at provisioning  always drift apart.

Despite all of its automation, Knight Capital was still manually deploying code across server banks, and an inevitable human error caused one of its eight servers to have a different configuration from all the others. When one of Knights technicians made this mistake during the deployment of the new server code, no one knew. Thus, from that point forward, the IT staff were operating under the misconception that these servers were identical.

At the same time, a decommissioned code remained available on the misconfigured server. As a result, this server began sending orders to certain trading centers for execution, and the error triggered a domino effect around algorithmic stock trading  costing Knight Capital $465 million in trading loss.

Delta Airlines: automated fleet of flightless birds

Large logistics operations rely on automated systems to achieve the necessary speed to perform at scale. Some airlines struggle to keep those systems functional. Just like traditional, manual methods of systems administration, automated systems suffer from misconfigurations. In the worst-case scenarios from recent years, failure of these systems has cost airlines hundreds of millions of dollars and more in their customers goodwill.

When misconfigurations occur, they are pushed out quickly through automated mechanisms and can bring entire systems down. For airlines, this means flight operations are interrupted, planes are delayed, and money is siphoned out of the business. In one such case in January 2017, Delta told investors that one glitch in their automated system caused an expansive outage, costing the airline more than $150 million.

Google Gmail: Youve got mail?: Gmails 2014 bug-induced failure

When technology giants experience the occasional automation-related outage, an hour of downtime can mean a lot more. For these huge organizations to make any sort of change, they have to do so across thousands of servers. Having always been on the bleeding edge of technology, its no surprise that Google has automated its configuration management. Although employed to make operations easier, when the wrong change is executed in an automated system that means it can propagate far and wide within a matter of seconds.

In 2014, a bug in Googles internal automated configuration system caused Gmail to crash for around half an hour. The incorrect configuration was sent to live services, causing users requests for their data to be ignored, for those services, in turn, to generate errors.

The lesson is that configuration automation is not the same as configuration management. Automation ensure that changes get pushed out across all systems.

Leave a message on our Facebook page about any other failures.
Security solutions provider Webroot has landed Gary Hayslip as its chief information security officer (CISO). Hayslip is well-known in security circles as the CISO and deputy director for the City of San Diego, where he was the driving force behind the Smart City initiative. He is the co-author of The CISO Desk Reference Guide.

Hayslip is expected to guide Webroots information security program and contribute to product strategy. His real-world expertise will help ensure Webroot, which sells endpoint security, network protection, and cloud-based intelligence services, meets and anticipates the needs of its business and consumer customers.

Gary has been at the leading edge of cybersecurity innovation for decades, most recently with his Smart City initiative for San Diego, said John Post, chief financial officer of Webroot, in a press release announcing the hiring. He literally co-wrote the book on best practices for CISOs, and will strengthen our internal InfoSec rigor, while serving as the voice of our most advanced customers for product development.

Hayslip will provide enterprise risk management for Webroot, helping the company cultivate its security program in a flexible and secure manner to meet Webroots growing needs. He will be responsible for the development and implementation of all information security strategies at Webroot, including the creation and enforcement of the companys information security policies, standards, procedures and internal controls. In his role, Hayslip will regularly interface with customers, especially managed service providers (MSPs), to help them realize the potential of advanced cybersecurity to build their businesses.

Webroot is a forward-leaning company in the security space, Hayslip said in a press release. Im excited to lead conversations around the Internet of Everything, and focus on helping partners build profitable security practices.

Hayslip is co-chair for Cybertech and an active member of ISSA, ISACA, OWASP and InfraGard. Hayslip's certifications include CISSP, CISA and CRISC, and he has more than 25 years experience in information security.

What do you think of this hire? Leave your comment on our Facebook page.
COLUMBUS  When Kim and Jill Wolfe sold Midwest Medical Transport two years ago, they had 15 locations spread throughout Nebraska, western Iowa and northern Kansas.

Today, business development director Sean Delancey said the company has more than 30 locations in six states, including South Dakota, Illinois and Arkansas. A location in Missouri is expected to open later this year.

Weve had quite a bit of expansion, he said.

The local business will celebrate its 30th anniversary Saturday with an open house where guests can donate canned goods for the food pantry, give blood to the American Red Cross and grab a bite to eat at the Midwest MedAir hangar at Columbus Municipal Airport.

The Wolfes built the company from a one-ambulance operation to a business with around 400 employees and a fleet of vehicles, including medical helicopters. After growing the business for nearly three decades, they decided it was time to take it easy.

In early 2015, they sold Midwest Medical and Midwest MedAir to Panorama Point Partners, an Omaha-based private equity firm founded by Columbus natives Clarey Castner and Stephen George, who were committed to continuing that growth.

Delancey gave a few reasons for why the company has been so successful.

The service we provide is excellent and its a service every community needs, he said. Everyone needs health care and everyone needs access to health care. We help bring people from smaller communities to bigger cities where they have larger health care facilities.

Midwest Medical doesnt try to take out competitors, he said, but instead works with communities that do not have the ambulance and medical transport services they provide.

We look for where theres gaps and where theres a need for service like ours, he said. We partner with the local chamber and charities, the local health care facility, and look to be a real member of the community.

These communities welcome the company not only for its services but because it also looks to hire locals. Midwest Medical even developed an education program to sponsor people who want to become emergency medical technicians.

We want to create as many jobs as we can in the community to help the local economy and the cities support themselves, said Delancey.

And, he said, theyre planning to continue this rapid growth for years to come.

Theres no limit to the amount of opportunity we find, he said. Whenever we reach out to a large group of communities theres always several of them that want to talk to us and explore the opportunity for us to move to town.

We expect to continue to grow and to continue to make our service better over the next several years, Delancey added.

The Red Cross will be at the Midwest MedAir hangar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and the open house will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free admission and complimentary lunch for those who donate a can of food.
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Car enthusiasts are revving up for car show season, which runs mid-April through October.

From antiques to muscle cars to luxury high-performance cars, energy efficient vehicles and motorcycles, southwestern Connecticut is a hot spot to check out some shows, thanks to the dedicated groups of car buffs who put on annual events.

Click through the slideshow to see some of the local car shows scheduled this season.

Mark Milosky formed the Connecticut Seaport Car Club in 2009 with some friends. The goal: to bring people together, have a good time and raise money for charity.

Milosky, who drives a 1931 Ford Model A Roadster, said his interest in cars is due, in part, to nostalgia.

"When I was young they made really cool cars, and as I got older every car started to look the same," he said. "I thought the styling of cars form the 1950s and 1960s was just fabulous."

Todd Brown, a co-organizer of Caffeine and Carburetors in New Canaan (which will not return for 2017), agrees.

"One of the great things about old cars is that they are mechanical, they're not these high tech, electrical cars," he said. "Everything now is based on technology whereas before you could look at an old Porsche and you could see that someone built every little piece of that car, it wasn't formed in a mold."

The Connecticut Seaport Car Club now has 125 members from Fairfield County, elsewhere in Connecticut and a few people from out of state. They hold monthly meetings in Westport.

Some of the group's most popular events are monthly cruise nights held at Dragone Classic Motorcars in Westport and Port 5 Naval Veterans Hall in Bridgeport. On August 5, the club will host the third annual Antique and Classic Car Show Fairfield University to benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Aside from the good the shows do for charity, Milosky said it's just good fun.

"Everybody loves old cars," Milosky said. "Families bring their children and their eyes light up. When I drive my Model A everyone smiles."
On a day when his red-eye flight from the West Coast was delayed for over two hours, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal foreshadowed his efforts to strengthen a passenger bill of rights.

The consumer-oriented Democrat and former longtime state attorney general said he would propose eliminating a $1,350 compensation cap for travelers who are bumped from overbooked flights.

The federal government would also be able to levy fines against airlines that engage in the practice under a 2017 passenger bill of rights measure that Blumenthal said he plans to unveil on April 24.

Blumenthal, who is ranking member of a consumer protection subcommittee in the Senate, is further seeking to codify state and federal law to make it easier for bumped passengers to sue for punitive damages.

The push by Blumenthal follows a tumultuous week for the airline industry, after a Kentucky doctor was forcibly removed from an overbooked United Airlines flight and suffered what his lawyers said was a broken nose, two missing teeth and concussion. The incident, caught on video, has sparked a national outcry for passenger protections.

The United incident is hardly isolated or singular, Blumenthal told Hearst Connecticut Media. Overbooking has become rampant. The airlines thirst for profits is no excuse to promising a seat that the airlines know that they cant deliver.

United, which has apologized for the incident and said no paying customers would be forcibly removed from future oversold flights, did not respond to a request for comment.

An industry spokesperson warned that travelers could be harmed by a congressional overreach, and said U.S. carriers voluntarily agreed to a 12-point customer service commitment in 1999 to protect passengers.

The practice has enabled carriers to keep fares low, while also managing the no-show rate of passengers on any given route, Airlines for Americas Vaughn Jennings said of overbooking. In the event a flight is oversold, carriers compensate their customers. We continue to caution against taking unnecessary regulatory actions, which could negatively impact the 2.2. million customers who take to the skies every day.

Paul Hudson, president of FlyersRights.org and a member of the Federal Aviation Administrations rule-making advisory committee, commended Blumenthal, but said he faces a uphill battle.

I think it has a snowballs chance in the Republican Congress, Hudson said. Were calling for the secretary of transportation to suspend and end the power of airlines to overbook. We think its obsolete and makes no sense in todays economy.

Blumenthal said he would seek Republican co-sponsors of the legislation, which would also require airlines to be more transparent about fees charged for checking bags and seat selection. He dismissed industry criticism that ticket prices would increase if airlines are no longer allowed to overbook.

That is absolutely no excuse, because the numbers of airlines have been so reduced that many of them have monopolistic power over the most common routes, Blumenthal said. If theres evidence of collusion  and Ive raised this issue in the past, sometimes the airlines seem to be sending disguised messages to each other  there should be an antitrust action.

Blumenthal said the fines havent been set yet in the proposal, which he said would try to remove jurisdictional and legal hurdles that could make it difficult for Connecticut residents using New York City airports.

Where do you sue? he said. Do you use state law or federal law?

nvigdor@hearstmediact.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
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DERBYFor the survivors of the fatal Seymour crash that killed one and injured five Wednesday morning, the psychological wounds are tough to heal.

Theres a lot of anger, said Pastor Dennis Marroquin, who organized a Friday vigil following an incident earlier in the week in which one mourner allegedly fired a gun in the air. We want to focus the energy on a peaceful recovery.

Shyheim Samuel, 20, died Tuesday night after a four-door sedan carrying six youths crashed into a utility pole. Five other people were injured, and are expected to recover from their physical wounds.

There have already been impromptu memorials for Samuel. Marroquin decided to organize the vigil the sooner the better after a Wednesday gathering of mourners turned sour, ending in an arrest.

As Hearst Connecticut Media reported, a gathering early in the day was somber. However, the night ended with an arrest near Fifth Street and Anson Street when the memorial became a revelry. Someone fired a gun in the air, according to a statement from the Derby Police Department.

Emmanuel Fletcher, 20, was charged with interfering with an officer and carrying a pistol without a permit after he was found with a .380 caliber firearm. According to police, the suspected shooter fled the scene and handed the weapon to Fletcher. He was also charged with possession of marijuana, and is scheduled to appear in the Derby Superior Court on April 20. He was held on a $35,000 bond.

The incident was first reported by the Valley Independent Sentinel.

The Friday vigil is organized for 7 p.m., a procession to begin in the basement of the Derby United Methodist Church on Elizabeth Street, where Marroquins Iglesia Nuevos Comienzos (Church of New Beginnings) holds its meetings.

Mayor Anita Dugatto and Superintendent Matthew Conway are scheduled to attend, according to the pastor.

The church performs similar vigils a few times per year in the late Samuels neighborhood, Marroquin said. He hopes the church can be the light in the darkness for the young men and women who have lost their close friend.
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As Dannel P. Malloy shut the door to a third term as governor, a flock of contenders sought heir-apparent status to the unpopular Democrat.

They flooded supporters inboxes with fundraising appeals and vows to chart a new course for a deficit-mired state.

Others opted to stay in the shadows Thursday, not wanting to be seen as rushing to fill the leadership vacuum created by a member of their party.

Their profiles range from Democrats such as state Comptroller Kevin Lembo and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman to perennial office seekers such as Republicans Tim Herbst and Peter Lumaj.

There are mayors: Danburys Mark Boughton, Middletowns Dan Drew, Sheltons Mark Lauretti and a name voters might have never expected to see on the list  Joe Ganim, Bridgeports redemption mayor, who won back his old office after a prison stint for public corruption.

And theres a Kennedy, two-term state Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr., D-Branford, son of the late liberal lion Edward M. Kennedy.

Kennedy was out of the state Thursday and not available for comment, but a source close to the John F. Kennedy nephew said his plans were not predicated on Malloys re-election decision.

Loyalty and ambition

Wyman, the popular Malloy co-pilot and former state comptroller, declined to talk about her political future.

She wants to keep today focused on the governor, said her spokeswoman, Juliet Manalan.

A person familiar with Wymans plans told Hearst Connecticut Media the lieutenant governor has not ruled out a run for the states top office, however. A request for comment was also left Thursday for Lembo.

Boughton, gearing up for a third shot at governor after eight terms as Danburys Republican mayor, said the state needs new blood and innovative solutions to bring jobs back.

I think all of Connecticuts residents can breathe a heavy sigh of relief, Boughton said. The damage has been done.

Malloys decision to forgo a bruising re-election campaign wasnt unexpected, but it did surprise Democrats and Republicans that the governor didnt wait until the June conclusion of the legislative session. Among them was former State Senate Republican Leader John McKinney, of Fairfield, who said he is still undecided on a run for governor.

Clearly, the governors approval ratings are historically low, not just in Connecticut, but nationally, McKinney said. I think Democrats were not looking forward to the governor running for a third term.

Jonathan Harris, Malloys consumer protection commissioner and former executive director of the Connecticut Democrats, said he is waiting in part on Wyman to decide whether to jump into the race.

State GOP Chairman J.R. Romano said Democrats have not inoculated themselves just because Malloy is moving on.

Its not just Dan Malloy thats the problem, Romano said. Its Ted Kennedy. Its Dan Drew. They all believe in raising taxes.

Drew, the three-term Middletown mayor and first Democrat to form an exploratory committee for a run at governor in the 2018 election, said his city has prospered and unemployment there has been cut in half.

Romano would be against Christmas if he thought Santa Claus was a Democrat, Drew said.

Fundraising factors

House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, the first female leader of her caucus, confirmed she is weighing a run for governor, but said it would not be at the expense of her legislative agenda.

When you think about it, whether youre House Republican leader, speaker of the house or governor, our one and only focus is how are we going to get this state back on track, Klarides said. Right now, were very deeply into this budget process and, as House Republican leader, thats my focus.

Most if not all contenders for governor are expected to seek public campaign financing through the states clean elections program, which requires them to raise $250,000 in increments no greater than $100. Qualifying candidates can receive $1.4 million for a primary and $6.5 million for the general election, but the program is off-limits to convicted felons such as Bridgeports Ganim.

The comeback mayor is appealing the prohibition, and his spokesman, Av Harris, confirmed that the 1994 lieutenant governor nominee is eyeing the race.

Hes certainly thinking about running for statewide office, Harris said. Hes been around the block a couple of times.

The former lead prosecutor in the U.S. attorneys office for Connecticut on grafting cases, Hartfords Chris Mattei, is also being floated as a potential candidate.

I have spent my public life trying to be a voice for people who all too often went unheard and unseen, Mattei said. Thats what my public service will always be about. I have been considering a race for governor, and will continue that process in the days ahead.

nvigdor@hearstmediact.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
COLUMBUS  Central Community College-Columbus is celebrating Earth Day next week by looking to the skies.

Devin Paszek, founder of the Aurora, Colorado-based wildlife education organization Natures Educators, will give a presentation Wednesday on raptors, including five of her ambassador birds.

I never guarantee what birds well have, she said. Ill likely have an eagle, owl, hawk and two falcons.

Paszek is a Hastings College graduate with a degree in wildlife biology and emphasis in ornithology. She started the nonprofit her senior year after getting her captive wildlife permit to house predatory birds. After graduating, she relocated to her home state of Colorado.

Paszek will give "Talon Talk" presentations at several CCC locations to discuss the birds' histories, anatomy, hunting strategies and habitats.

Its very audience-driven, she said. I like when people ask questions.

Shell also talk about small things people can do or change in their behavior to benefit predatory birds. One example is not throwing organic matter, such as banana peels or apple cores, out vehicles windows.

Yes, it is biodegradable, but the rodent that comes to eat those, they come near the roads. The raptors try to catch the rodents by the road and get hit by a car, she said.

Following Paszeks presentation, CCC-Cs new biology professor, Lauren Gillespie, will demonstrate how wild birds are captured, processed and handled for research.

Gillespies dissertation at the University of Southern Mississippi monitored how human activity and land management affect the behavior and physiology of the eastern bluebird. She was planning labs for an ecology unit and wanted to incorporate capturing birds.

The experience of holding my first bird was monumental. It absolutely changed my world, she said. Its kind of a unique thing for students to see a bird up close or hold a bird. Its something I like to do with students when I teach if possible.

To do this, she sets up mist nets, which are made of a material too fine for birds to see, around speakers playing birdsong.

(The birds) come investigate, and if net is set up nicely, the bird will fly into the net unknowingly, she said.

The birds measurements are recorded for identification and it's tagged with an ankle bracelet before being released.

Gillespie said she hopes there will be a bird in at least one of the nets for the presentation.

Ideally, I would love to have people be able to see a bird, she said.

Even if the nets are empty, she hopes the audience enjoys the opportunity to connect with nature.

I hope that people enjoy being outside and getting to see some nature up close, she said. Any time we can get people to have an emotional response to nature is positive.

She also hopes attendees will appreciate the experience of doing biological work.

Most biologists have a very strong connection to nature, to earth, to science, she said. In order to spread those ideas I think its important to expose people to the type of situations that foster those responses.

CCC-C will celebrate Earth Day with the following itinerary:

 10 a.m. to noon in the Student Center: Local vendors and organizations, including Shred Monster, J Tech, Navitas, the Nebraska State Fair and Keep Columbus Beautiful, will set up booths to educate people about what they do.

 11:30 a.m. to noon in room 76: Navitas presentation on reducing building usage and costs.

 12:30 to 1 p.m at the bike area: Presentation on the new bike-sharing app.

 1 to 2 p.m.: Tour of the greenhouse.

 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. in the West Education Center, room 205: Talon Talk with Nature's Educators.

 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the maintenance building: Presentation by Gillespie on how birds are captured, processed and handled for avian wildlife biology research.
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

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Photo courtesy of Lebron James Family Foundation

Written by Nikki Igbo of NikIgbo.com

Back in 2011, LeBron James launched the I Promise Initiative as a long-term commitment to the youth of Akron and to address the citys high school dropout rate. Since that time, James has been involved in several activities to reiterate the importance of education to children including creating a four-year scholarship program with the University of Akron to which he pledged $42 million to finance tuition for 1,100 students.

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In continuation of this initiative, the LeBron James Family Foundation (LJFF) is partnering with Akron Public Schools (APS) to open the I Promise School that will specifically target youth who have been identified by third grade as being at-risk in reading and in need of additional scholastic mediation to ensure academic success.

The school, which is slated to open its doors in the fall of 2018, has a proposed vision to create an innovative and supportive educational environment for students and their families by expanding upon APS curriculum with a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) experiential, problem-based learning focus. Third and fourth grade classes will be the first grade levels offered followed by first and second grades in 2019 and finally first through eighth grades by 2020.

This school is so important to me because our vision is to create a place for the kids in Akron who need it most  those that could fall through the cracks if we dont do something, said LeBron James. Weve learned over the years what works and what motivates them, and now we can bring all of that together in one place along with the right resources and experts. If we get to them early enough, we can hopefully keep them on the right track to a bigger and brighter future for themselves and their families.

Just as LeBron James commits to helping students thrive in school, students who participate in the I Promise Initiative also make a personal pledge in support of their own success. According to the LJFF website, these students promise to attend school, complete their homework, listen attentively to instructors, be willing to ask questions and seek answers, and never give up. Students also promise to try their hardest, be helpful and respectful, lead healthy lifestyles, make good choices, have fun and complete school.

What are your thoughts on LeBron James opening this school in his community?

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1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.
Delhi/NCR

MCG commissioner V Umashankar, on April 13, met the team that created a three-dimensional copy of Singapore, called Virtual Singapore, to explore ideas which could be adopted to turn Gurugram into a truly 'smart' city.

Virtual Singapore is a dynamic 3D model and collaborative data platform, including 3D maps of the city. Once completed, it will provide a 3D digital platform to be used by public, private and research sectors, and individuals.

It will enable users from different sectors to develop sophisticated tools and applications for test-bedding concepts and services, planning and decision making, and research on technologies to solve emerging and complex challenges for Singapore.

While Gurugram missed out on being included in the Union government's list of 100 'smart' cities, Delhi has agreed to provide all technical help to transform Gurgaon into a 'smart' city, though the cost will have to be borne by the Haryana government. MCG authorities hope the high-tech solution offered by this team will help plan Gurgaon's future development.

At the meeting, officials of the French company Dassault Systemes, presented an overview of their proprietary solutions that create a 3D copy of the city to enable urban planners and administrators carry out a feasibility or impact analysis of various events that shape the city  whether it is urban planning, citizen services, disaster management or traffic monitoring.

"It was an exploratory meeting, but their level of technology is at least 10 leaps ahead of ours. We told them we'll prepare our own presentation before we meet them again," said a MCG official.

The virtual 3D modelling comprises detailed information such as texture, material representation of geometrical objects, terrain attributes of water bodies, vegetation, transportation infrastructure, etc.

Models of buildings encode the geometry as well as components of a facility, such as walls, floors and ceilings, down to fine details like composition of granite, sand and stone in the material used for construction.

During the meeting, Umashankar talked about projects and initiatives that are being carried out to collect accurate data related to various aspects of Gurugram, to ensure information from these data sets can be leveraged to integrate diverse systems that deliver various citizen-centric services.

"MCG is working on gathering data from various systems, implemented over time. They are multiple, diverse and in some cases do not exchange insights. This is fine so long as we have accurate data and information in some format. The data can be migrated to any standard format for integration with such advanced systems as the one implemented in Singapore," he said.

In the past, these experts have worked closely with the National Research Foundation and showcased transformational aspects of Smart-Nation Singapore.

"The integrated approach will work once the infrastructural data, spread across multiple agencies  at city, state and central government levels  is gathered, cleaned and analysed for use. Ours is a first-of-its kind initiative to create an Indian model without the tremors of technology. We're creating a 'smart' city that will be based on strong fundamentals, and will be a benchmark," he said.

Source: The Times of India, Delhi/NCR



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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.
Princess Diana thought John Major was 'feeble and had difficulty making up his mind', according to Labour MP Ann Clwyd

With the 20th anniversary of Dianas death approaching, its still presumed that she knew nothing about current affairs but Labour MP Ann Clwyd, who met her to talk about landmines in 1997, says in a memoir: I was struck about how well briefed she was.

'The media portrayed her an airhead but that was a long way from the young woman I met that day.

'She was remarkably open and frank and interested in the latest speculation about the date of the general election.

'She said she thought the Prime Minister, John Major, was feeble, and had difficulty making up his mind.

Apropros Diana, Mrs Clwyd asked why she didnt spend more time in Wales, given that she was Princess of Wales.

Diana, by then divorced, said: I dont want to tread on Charless toes and make it difficult for my sons.

Lefty writer Howard Jacobson, 74, promoting his latest novel on Newsnight and referring to Brexit, tells slinky presenter Emily Maitlis: Democracy works best when the people, the demos, are making the right decisions. Spoken like a true Remainer!

TV presenter Eamonn Holmes and his wife, Ruth Langsford interviewing ex-Formula 1 boss Flavio Briatore for a new documentary, cheekily asked to be invited to next months Monaco Grand Prix.

After Briatore, 67, agreed  saying, I invite you and you see it for nothing  a gleeful Holmes reminded him: Thats on tape! (ie, recorded).

Ruth, 57, added: You cant go back on that now! What a pair!

TV presenter Eamonn Holmes and his wife, Ruth Langsford interviewing ex-Formula 1 boss Flavio Briatore for a new documentary, cheekily asked to be invited to next months Monaco Grand Prix

High-flying former Tory staffer Rachel Whetstone, 49, in the news after quitting as an executive of dodgy-sounding taxi firm Uber, was once a pal of Samantha Cameron, 45.

Relations soured in 2004 over Whetstones affair with SamCams stepfather, Tory grandee William Astor, 65.

When reminded that it takes two to tango  ie, Astor was also to blame  David Cameron remarked: Yes, but you cant sack your stepfather. A man of principle!

Royal commentator and biographer Ingrid Seward clashes on Sky with opinion-monger Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, who argued that the Queens distribution of Maundy money  as a wealthy monarch  was un-Christian.

Ms Seward said: Shes talking the most enormous load of rubbish. Ms Alibhai-Brown, 67, responded: I dont think anyone should call anyone elses arguments rubbish. I dont think its polite, so I wont descend to your level. Ladies!

Will President Trump organise a decent Easter egg roll at the White House on Monday?

The popular annual event, which attracted 37,000 participants last year, is said to be in disarray, with thousands of decorated wooden eggs ordered at the last minute and Washington schools in the dark about who is invited.

Whatever happens, wont Trump announce that it was the best one ever?
Billy Connolly was in a restaurant with his daughter Daisy the other night. It was the sort of Australian steakhouse that serves deep-fried onions cut in two to look like flowers.

Daisy, 33, who has learning difficulties so continues to live with Billy and his wife Pamela Stephenson, loves the restaurant. Billy doesnt.

Its terrible. I have to sit there and pretend Im enjoying myself, he says with a merriment about his face that suggests he doesnt have to pretend too hard.

Billy Connolly's comedic legacy will be celebrated in a new programme Billy Connolly & Me: A Celebration

Billy adores his five grown-up children. So much so, you sense hed pluck every hair from his distinctive lions mane of flowing locks to see them happy.

So Im sitting there and I got a pain in my left side, he says. I thought, Im not going to be able to get up from here and Daisy cant help me. So I was working out a way to say to the waiter, Excuse me, can you help me out of the seat? I was concerned. It was a thing that had never arisen in my life before.

It was just one of those moments. In the end I found the table was fixed to the floor so I could use it to pull on. But it was a question Id never asked before. I was wondering what kind of words I should put it in. Should I tell him Ive got Parkinsons or will I just ask him to help me?

Billy was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, a progressive neurological disorder that affects the nervous system, three-and-a-half years ago.

Last year, when we met in New York to mark a National Television Awards Special Recognition Award for his 50 brilliant years in comedy, film, music and TV, the effects of this cruel disease were barely noticeable.

Billy and his wife Pamela Stephenson grace the cover of this week's weekend magazine

Today his left side shakes uncontrollably. Pamela has come with him to the hotel in which we meet, which is a few blocks from their home in Florida where they moved four months ago.

Were here to discuss this weeks ITV special, Billy Connolly & Me, to mark those five decades entertaining us.

The one-hour show features classic clips through the years: Billy bursting onto the stage in Glasgow in the black leotard and the big banana boots that led to his showbusiness break in 1975, Billy dancing naked around the statue of Eros in Trafalgar Square for Comic Relief, Billy on a boat, a bike and a bungee rope for his TV travelogues. Billy dazzling. Electrifying. Full of vim.

The change has been swift. A week ago, he explains, he was put on some medication thats shaken me up a bit.

This is actually the first medication Ive been on. The specialist here in America kept me off it until I got to a certain point and then she put me on it. Theres a whole lot of shaking going on. Its kind of weird, this instability. The only time it stops is when Im in bed and then I cant roll over. He pauses. Laughs. Im like a big log.

Billys humour is a ridiculously contagious thing thats kept many of us laughing for most of our lives. He loves being funny. As a wee boy hed sit in puddles to make people laugh. Hes now 74 but still likes nothing more than to plonk his bottom in the funny stuff of life.

I bought my kids a book at Christmas, The F*** It List: All The Things You Can Skip Before You Die, he says.

Its the things you have on your bucket list but have no intention of doing, like skydiving. I always wanted to skydive because I parachuted, but Im not going to do it now.

Billy and Pamela (pictured in 1990) met on the set of Not The Nine OClock News in 1979 and married ten years later

A sense of humour is absolutely essential. Its the only thing that gets you through. Sometimes I get kind of dark about it. Its because its forever, you know. Its not like having pneumonia and youre going to get better. Youre not going to get any better. A Russian doctor said, Its incurable. I said, Hey, try, we have yet to find a cure. Incurable is so static and terrible. Theres no escape.

Its the first thing I think about in the morning because getting out of bed is quite hard. Its a weird thing because it stopped me playing the banjo and it stopped me smoking cigars.

'It seems to creep up on everything I like and take it away from me. Its like being tested, Cope with that, cope with life without your banjo. Now Im going to make your hand shake so you cant tie your fishing flies any more.

In his darker moments does he ever think theres a stage at which hed decide enough is enough as his old friend Robin Williams, who also suffered with Parkinsons, did three years ago? Billy was deeply upset by his suicide. Robin was a pal whom he loved dearly.

Billy in his standup show 'An Audience with Billy Connolly' where he entertained a host of celebrity fans

Asking waiters to help you out from the table is one of those stages, he says with an honesty that defines this brilliant man. Its like saying to your wife, Could you help me up from the chair? Which hes done upon discovering a chair is too low for him when he arrives.

Its weird. Im trying to stay on the light side because the dark side is unthinkable. Does he ever get angry? Aye, he says. I apologised to Pam yesterday. I said, Ive been a bit gruff. She said, Oh, youre OK. I just get fed up.

Pamela and Billy met on the set of Not The Nine OClock News in 1979 and married ten years later. Shes now an eminent clinical psychologist and bestselling author, but mostly, I suspect, she worries about Billy. She stopped him going down with the ship with his heavy drinking when they first fell in love and would move heaven and earth to be able to do so now.

So much so that last year she decided they should leave their home of ten years in New York for a warmer climate in Florida. He likes nothing more than to spend his days on the boat fishing or drawing.

This one doesnt shake, he says, holding up his right hand. So I can draw. Ive had exhibitions. The other day I drew a half man, half frog. Its lovely here, it makes me feel good, plus when we moved it was winter in New York and I didnt want to be sliding all over the sidewalk. Im not very good with balance. I walk like a drunk man. You have to take that all into consideration. Pamela arranged it.

Right now Pamela is off fetching him some tea and honey. This morning she brought him breakfast in bed. Id already got up so I had to get back into bed, so I had to get out twice just to be nice. He laughs fit to burst. Again, its contagious. You just cant help yourself around Billy. Then he stops. Pauses. Reflects for a moment.

Billy receiving his CBE in 2003

Its kind of drawn us together, he says. Im really dependent on her, you know physically, whereas I used to be the strong guy. Which is kind of pleasant. Its a pleasant thing to lose the strong guy. You dont need it. So its nicer.

In the past, time spent apart seemed to be the glue that held the two of them together. Billy has always been something of an island  a man who likes to be alone. I dont really belong anywhere, he says.

I get along just fine on my own. Even in a crowd I sort of find myself standing quiet, alone, observing. I dont like people I know next to me in the dressing room before I go on stage.

My mind is away somewhere else. So Id ask Pamela not to come. She never understood it. She always thinks its because of the groupies  she calls them floozies. Shes off her head. Its nonsense. I dont floozie. Did you ever? His eyes light up like a paparazzi flashbulb.

Thats one of the great side dishes of showbusiness, he says. To deny you enjoyed it would be a sin. Its like saying you feel nothing for your old girlfriends. I love them all. I think very fondly of them all and I think of them often.

Hang on, Billy. Rewind. Were there lots of floozies? Millions, he says. It was lovely, smashing. Men lie to themselves with consummate ease. They just say, Oh, it doesnt matter. Its not the same thing. I always remember the floozies as great fun. Although I was drunk most of the time so I dont think I was a great lover.

The floozies stopped when he met Pamela. Shes the real thing, he says. It was good for me in so many ways. It was time to change what I was or go down with the ship and she helped me by spotting I was in trouble. I didnt think I was at all.

What it did was drag me into the new world by having children again [Billy had two, Jamie and Cara, from his first marriage to Iris Pressagh and three, Scarlett, Amy and Daisy, with Pamela] and having to face it. So I had to stop doing everything in order to have the energy to cope with these kids, and it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.

Billy, born the youngest of two children in a tenement in Glasgow, was four years old when his mother Mary upped and left the family home. He and his sister Florence were bullied by two aunts who raised them and, when his father William returned from serving in the RAF in Burma, Billy was physically and sexually abused by him too. Such is Billys way of looking at life, hes never really wallowed in self-pity.

Starring alongside Judi Dench in side Mrs Brown, Billy says that the actress helped him relax over his success

Theres no need to be bitter about anything because there are great examples all around you, he says. I always remember going to my friends houses and how different the atmosphere was there. So there was always hope... in the distance.

Again he stops and thinks. This Buddhist thing [Billy, who was raised a Catholic, explored Buddhism after meeting Pamela], this living in the moment is very good for that. This is all there is. The past doesnt exist. You have to make it exist by thinking about it. Moments are all created.

These moments have, by any measure, been pretty extraordinary even for a man gifted with an imagination as huge as Billys. Take, for example, the pals hes made along the way: legends such as Eric Clapton, Sir Elton John and Eric Idle, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, the Duchess of York. Prince Charles is a nice bloke. Hes got a soul, he says. Most of the royals Ive met have been really nice. I like toffs. Its like meeting PG Wodehouse.

There was a doctor I knew in London who was a real toff. He and I were having a cup of tea with friends and someone was saying something about the working class or trade unions. The doctor said, Dont say that in front of Billy. Hell box our ears and call us clots. I was helpless. Billy slips into a posh accent. You clot. His eyes are wet with tears of laughter.

Billy says that a sense of humour is vital to get you through the darker times

I remember Fergies two girls Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice were in our house in Los Angeles where we lived before moving to New York. They were with my girls playing in the dressing-up box. They both came into the room and said, Look, were Princesses. He rolls his eyes in humour.

When I was working as a welder [Billy worked as an apprentice welder before taking up the banjo] I knew I was going to be something. I just didnt know what it was, but I fancied being a somebody. I remember sitting on the propeller shaft looking up the Clyde and designing my album sleeve. I didnt even play the banjo then but I was designing it in my head.

When Billy decided upon the banjo instead of welding at the age of 23 his grandmother, one of the few people who showed him love in his childhood, told him his head was full of daberties. Daberties were sort of stick-on tattoos that you licked and dabbed on your hand. It was the most Scottish thing Ive ever heard. A daberty is nothing, so she meant my head was full of nonsense, which of course it is.

As ITVs Billy Connolly & Me shows, its a nonsense that has brought joy to many from stars such as Dame Judi Dench, David Tennant, and Andy Murray to numerous everyday fans in the street. His career, as he says, went whoosh in 1975 when he told a bawdy joke on BBCs Parkinson chat show about a man who murdered his wife and buried her bottom-up so hed have somewhere to park his bike.

That was an incredible moment of my life, he says. I knew when I did the show it was amazing. I got to Heathrow the following morning to go back to Scotland and a Chinese guy actually asked me for my autograph. I thought, Holy s***. Then I got to Glasgow and everyone was clapping. Can you imagine? It was like a James Stewart film. I liked the fame. Youre a somebody. Loved.

Billy is loved the world over. As interviews with fans on his ITV special show, they know him everywhere from his native Glasgow to Timbuktu. But its his enduring humility that makes him loved. Does he ever make ridiculous demands? Thats a terrible trap to fall into, he says.

Apparently Elton does it. He says this fondly. Elton is, of course, a dear pal. His eyes sparkle with humour as he warms to his theme. He gets white roses with all the sharp bits, the thorns, taken off. The American rock band Three Dog Night requested wheelchairs before a gig because they were going to be so stoned when they arrived.

Harvey Goldsmith, the rock concert promoter, was going to do a book of all the demands made by famous people because he saw all the contracts, but nobody would give him permission. Hes a smashing guy. Hes my Jewish brother. I like him.

His eyes soften. Aye, fames great but if youre not careful you forget what your aim is in life because youre under such tremendous pressure. When I was about 40 I did this deal with myself. I wrote down the things I wanted on a card and stuck it in my wallet.

'Things like where you would like to live, how you would like to live, what you would like to have. You have to give it a good deal of thought before you write it down and then you leave it sticking up so you can see it when you open your wallet. You dont read it but its there poking you in the forehead. Remember, remember.

He says he began to relax a bit more after the success of Mrs Brown, the Oscar-nominated film about Queen Victorias relationship with her Scottish servant in which he co-starred with Dame Judi Dench.

It was Judi Dench who sort of showed me. It was a lovely moment. We were doing the eight-some reel. She was opposite me in the circle and she was looking at me. I thought, F***, she fancies me. What am I going to do? Judi Dench fancies me. Then the penny dropped. She was acting. She was just being that person. You have to give your own self and I did it after that. He pauses. Where was I? Billy is beginning to tire.

He thinks. Continues. I was looking at the card three weeks ago. Everything worked, so things have worked out pretty well. It happens because of the effort you put into your work. It pays off.

'Aye, moments are all created. They dont just happen. I always like it when I walk on stage and they laugh when I say hello.

Will he walk on stage again? Aye, well... he stops. Starts the sentence again. Ill have to see how this medicine works out. Lifes good fun. You must never forget its good fun as well. We used to say in Scotland, We never died a winter yet. Winter comes and winter goes and it never killed us before, so lets get on with it.

Billy smiles at the thought of this. Its time for him to go. He needs to eat and rest. But as Pamela moves to help him up from his chair he says hell try it himself. He manages it. Perhaps the medication is sorting itself out? We live in hope, he says. We do.

Billy Connolly & Me: A Celebration is on Tuesday at 9pm on ITV.
Erasing every trace of the slapstick hes famed for with his comedy characters Mr Bean and Edmund Blackadder to play French detective Maigret left Rowan Atkinson fearing he might just render the pipe-smoking Parisian sleuth too bland.

So he promised to let Maigret off the leash, to let him out a bit if his first two outings, which aired at Easter and Christmas last year, were well received and he decided he wanted to make more.

Well, they were, and now Rowans completed two more murder mysteries adapted from Georges Simenons classic novels  Maigrets Night At The Crossroads, which airs on Easter Monday, and Maigret In Montmartre  and he says well see a very different detective.

Rowan Atkinson returns in a new series of Maigret and he says that he has lightened his character up a little

Im a little more relaxed in the character... not very relaxed but OK, says Rowan, having just finished filming in Budapest, which doubles for 1950s Paris. With its slightly crumbling look, the Hungarian capital still has that gritty feeling of post-war Paris, and with the 1950s cars and outfits on set youre instantly transported there.

My default position with the first two films was to be as serious and withdrawn as possible because I felt that was the safest way of playing him. But hes definitely lightening up a bit.

Your confidence grows and you become clearer about what youre trying to do. Things like this take time to develop.

'Youre never in perfect form straight out of the box. I remember it was several episodes of Mr Bean before we gave him a flat, then suddenly that defined him slightly better. So were still in the foothills with Maigret, but I think these two dramas are more sophisticated.

Rowan in Maigrets Night At The Crossroads which airs on Easter Monday

Night At The Crossroads, written in 1931, is a complex tale of murder, deceit and greed in an isolated country community called Three Widows Crossroads.

A mysterious aristocratic Dane, Carl Andersen, and his sister Else have been living there as recluses for three years, venturing into the nearby town only to pick up their groceries in their old jalopy of a car.

Their isolation is interrupted when the police discover the car  with the dead body of a diamond merchant at the wheel.

The show, which co-stars Lucy Cohu, who played Alec Hardys ex-wife Tess in Broadchurch, as Madame Maigret and Kevin McNally of Pirates Of The Caribbean fame, sees Maigret arrive to interrogate Carl.

Why was the body in his car? What does beautiful but vulnerable Else know? And what compels everyone at the Three Widows Crossroads to be so secretive? After grilling him for hours Maigret is none the wiser  either Carls innocent or a very good liar, and Maigret must discover which.

Maigrets trademark pipe, his fondness for fine alcohol and reliance on uncanny intuition led him to be compared to Sherlock Holmes, created by Arthur Conan Doyle almost 50 years earlier.

Mia Jexen as Else who stars in this weekend's drama

Both had their sidekicks and nemeses, but while Holmes was known for his flamboyant displays of deductive brilliance, Maigret was famed for his gruff demeanour and dogged devotion to each case.

No wonder Rowan shied away from ITVs initial offer of playing Maigret because I tend to play rather odd men. And that was despite having devoured the 75 Maigret novels which were written over a 40-year period from 1931.

So how much has he managed to lighten up Maigret? Lightening him up is perhaps an exaggeration, but there are more opportunities in these two new films for ironic looks or vaguely comic situations, says Rowan, 62.

Its never overtly comic, though, because thats not the nature of Maigret. But with any character, no matter how serious, you can give them a degree of irony or circumspection which can be funny in a gentle way.

Even off-duty, Rowans extraordinary eyebrows are so expressive hes funny without even trying to be. Was it difficult reining them in on set?

I know what you mean because theres a risk with almost anything I do that people will say, Oh, thats a bit like Blackadder. Ooh, I can see a little bit of Mr Bean in that. Its inevitable. I dont think about it and I dont consciously avoid any particular expression  or the eyebrows.

Hes horrified by any suggestion that he took the straight role of Maigret to add some credibility to his CV. Im not doing it because its straight. Im doing it because Im interested in the part, he says.

Thats all Ive ever done, whether the story is Mr Bean washing his underwear in a launderette or Inspector Maigret trying to solve a case. The skills Im employing to play Maigret are exactly the same skills I use to play comedy roles.

Yet theres a sort of a general disregard for comedy in the arts world. Its thought to be inferior. But I think comedy is actually, generally speaking, more difficult than the serious stuff. And yet because its comedy its dismissed as froth which is a shame.

Hes not leaving comedy behind though. I certainly havent turned my back on comedy, he insists, having reprised Mr Bean for a new Chinese movie, Top Funny Comedian.

Mr Bean  or Mr Foolish Bean as hes known in China  will appear in the film, which follows a group of people who head to Macau, Chinas gambling capital, and then get lost. The film is already being compared to The Hangover, especially as Mike Tyson pops up at one point.

It was just a cameo appearance. I just played Mr Bean. I didnt have to speak. The good thing about Mr Bean as a character is hes very self-contained. Then weve got another Johnny English script which were hoping to make this year. Well see how it goes.

Meanwhile, hes delighted Maigrets back on the map. Maigret had fallen out of the publics perception. They were quite a fashionable thing to read when I was young but less so now.

So its like making Shakespeare relevant to our time. There are enough timeless themes in Maigret to make it popular to a modern audience. Im sure well come back and do more of them. Id be surprised if we didnt.

Maigrets Night At The Crossroads will be shown on Easter Sunday at 8pm on ITV.
It's the drink of the decade but fans of Prosecco should not be spending more than 10 on their favourite fizz this Easter, according to experts.

Bottles of the Italian sparkling wine are on sale from 5 to nearly 25 in the supermarkets this weekend.

But a professional drink taster, who tried ten Proseccos priced between 5 and 25, say there's no need to splash out as the best of the lot was named as Sainsbury's own label version, which costs just 10.

Bottles of the Italian sparkling wine are on sale from 5 to nearly 25 in the supermarkets this weekend but one expert found that the cheapest actually tastes the best

Sales of Prosecco have soared in the UK over the last few years and competition between the supermarkets means prices have been kept low.

But like so many other products, the most expensive is not always the best - and the cheapest is not always the worst.

Ten of the best-selling Proseccos were tested by a professional food and drink taster, Martin Isark, including eight supermarket own brands and two popular branded versions.

Sainsbury's Taste the Difference was top but less than half the price of the most expensive, the 24.99 Bottega Gold, which was in fourth.

TOP TEN PROSECCO WINES 1. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference 2013 Conegliano Prosecco Score 9.5/10 Alcohol content - 10.5% Price 10.00 Taster notes: 'Easy drinking fizz that hits your palate's soft spot with a ping, delicate lemon twist.' 2. Molmenti Celot Prosecco Score 9/10 Alcohol content 11%. Price 12.99 Taster notes: 'A boutique Prosecco combining creamy soft bubbles with elegant notes of baked apples.' 1. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference 2013 Conegliano Prosecco. 2. Molmenti Celot Prosecco 3. Aldi Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Score 8.5/10 Alcohol content - 11%. Price 7.99 Taster notes: 'Long lasting bubbles, soft and creamy palate, elegant apple and lemon notes.' 4. Bottega Gold Prosecco Score 8/10 Alcohol content - 11% Price: 24.99 Taster notes: 'Very drinkable, not as good as Sainsbury's but more than twice the price.' 3. Aldi Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore. 4. Bottega Gold Prosecco 5. Canti Prosecco Spumante Score 7.5/10 Alcohol content - 11% Price 10.00 Taster notes: 'One of the leading brands and widely available, a well crafted fizz.' 6. Morrisons Prosecco Score 7/10 Alcohol content - 11% Price 8.50 Taster notes: 'Delicate soft lemon and baked apple flavours on the swallow.' 5. Canti Prosecco Spumante. 6. Morrisons Prosecco 7. Asda Extra Special Prosecco Score 6.5/10 Alcohol content - 11.5% Price 7.00 Taster notes: 'Easy to drink, delicate apple and pear finish, ok but not special.' 8. Tesco Finest Prosecco Score 6/10 Alcohol content - 11.5% Price 8.25 Taster notes: 'Clean with subtle apple and pear drop notes but not worth a special search.' 7. Asda Extra Special Prosecco. 8. Tesco Finest Prosecco 9. Lidl Allini 2016 Prosecco Spumante Score 5.5/10 Alcohol content - 10.5% Price 5.99 Taster notes: 'Does not rock up with flavour but for under six squid, worth a punt if you're in Lidl.' 10. Waitrose NV Glera, Italian Prosecco Score 5/10 Alcohol content - 11% Price 7.49 Taster notes: 'Pay an extra 50p and get Aldi's Prosecco. Leave this one on the shelf.' 9. Lidl Allini 2016 Prosecco Spumante. 10. Waitrose NV Glera, Italian Prosecco Advertisement

Aldi's own label, at just 7.99, was third - at 5 less than second placed Molmenti Celot.

But not all the cheap ones are as good. Rival cut-price chain Lidl's version, the cheapest of all ten at 5.99, languished in ninth place with upmarket Waitrose at the very bottom.

This was particularly surprising as Waitrose's own label Champagne is generally acknowledge as one of the best supermarket bubblies in Britain. Yet its Prosecco is one of the worst.

Martin Isark said: 'Prosecco has become the drink of choice. It is more palatable than Spanish Cava, cheaper than Champagne and has more alcohol than Asti.

'If you want bubbles, and the price of champagne is too much then grab a bottle of supermarket own brand Prosecco. It will hit the spot for price and quality.

'Sainsbury's and Aldi were stars at great value for money.'

Just as Champagne can only come from the region of that name in France, so the Prosecco name is protected by law and can only be officially made in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions of Italy.

Martin Isark added: 'A good Prosecco is subtly flavoured and often so delicate that the notes of lemons, apples, peaches, pear drops and pineapple s are undetectable to the untrained taster.'
The 21 pilot whales lay scattered along the shore, battered and bleeding. For the two rescuers who found them, beached in a remote bay on the Isle of Skye, it was a horrendous sight.

The first thing that went through my mind was utter panic, recalls Noel Hawkins of British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), who was first on the scene that night in June 2015. There were just two of us and we only had limited equipment.

'All we could do was move them by hand. Some of them were thrashing around on the rocks, they were in a bad way.

With marine life facing more threat than ever we reveal how you can do your bit. Pictured: A common seal in the Shetlands

Trying to re-float a pilot whale is an enormous job. Weighing in at up to three tons each, and often distressed or injured, they quickly become confused and land back on the shoreline again.

What Noel and his fellow marine mammal medic desperately needed was a whale rescue pontoon  a sturdy flotation device not unlike an inflatable dinghy that supports the creature and can be used to move it safely into deeper water. But with the nearest pontoon five hours away, they could only wait for more helping hands to arrive.

Laura Shirra, Noels co-rescuer that night, says the manner in which whales respond to humans is extraordinary.

I do believe they know youre there to help them, and having you there keeps them calm, she says. I looked after one whale for eight hours, and only left it twice. Each time it got distressed. When I came back its heart rate would calm down again. There is a real bond that builds up between you and the whale.

Its not just sea life that is at threat with Britain's riverbanks also at risk of human harm

Remarkably rescuers say that singing  particularly from female voices  has a soothing effect on distressed whales.

Laura recalls reciting the nursery rhymes she used to sing to her son to get him to go to sleep in order to keep the whales calm. The whale Laura looked after was eventually able to reach deep waters, but it was one of the lucky ones.

The question of what drives whales into shallow waters has been vexing scientists. Sometimes its because theyre hungry and go searching for fish or squid in shallower waters than they would normally venture into.

But humans are often to blame. In one of Britains worst mass strandings, in the Kyle of Durness in Sutherland in 2011, 39 pilot whales beached after Royal Navy divers detonated unexploded bombs lying on the seabed. Only 20 whales survived.

Excessive noise in the water can kill whales and dolphins as they rely on sound to feed, communicate and find their way round

Offshore drilling, which can confuse whales sensitive sonar, has also been blamed for beachings, and because whales display pod behaviour, if one becomes spooked by a sound then the rest will follow it. With more than 100 whales beached in the UK over the past five years, its a growing problem.

When whales started beaching in large numbers on Scotlands east coast in September 2012, one of the potential causes quickly cited was the sonar being used nearby to survey the ocean floor to find suitable sites for offshore windfarms. The charity Whale And Dolphin Conservation did not mince its words.

Excessive noise in the water can kill whales and dolphins, it said. They live in a world of water and sound. They feed, communicate and find their way around using sound. If you introduce high levels of unnatural noise into that world, then they will suffer.

GRIFF'S TALES FROM THE RIVER BANK For anyone who loves the countryside  and cares about it  the best way to protect it is to get out there and enjoy it. Its closer than you think. I reach natural Britain in my canoe. It transports me to a wonderland of willows and flowering lilies from the bottom of my backyard. We live on the marshland borders of Suffolk and Essex, and our local river is the Stour. Posh folk pronounce it Stower but the locals know that its proper name is the Stoor, and Im lucky enough to be involved with the rivers conservation society, the River Stour Trust. Looking after the river is vital to conserve the wildlife that lives in the water and on the banks. Otters, for instance, have been making a comeback over the past 20 years. There were barely a dozen across Essex in the mid-90s, but thats risen to about 100 in recent years. This is due to natural breeding  the otters clearly approve of what the trust is doing. And there are plenty of other creatures that rely on the Stour: iridescent blue dragonflies, seemingly the size of your hand, herons, trout sliding under the paddles and bossy swans looking after their brood. I can look down to the riverbed glinting with fresh water mussel shells. There are toads and voles somewhere too. The notion that humans and fish, birds, plantlife and animals cannot live alongside each other is flawed. Its important that we limit the damage we do, for example, with chemicals and pollutants, but weve co-existed (in sometimes reluctant harmony) since the Iron Age. Wildlife can adapt itself to man. Man must do the same. Mutual respect is the order. Dogs on leads. Nests left undisturbed. Habitats preserved. Gather little. Pollute nothing. By restoring and maintaining the locks and basins, campaigning to keep the whole river navigable and encouraging more people to use it, the trust does vital stuff to help the wildlife. Volunteers are always needed for the working parties that keep the locks working: you need to be over 18, and skilled carpenters, engineers and builders are especially welcome. But even if youre not handy at fixing a pump engine, the trust is sure to find a use for you... if you dont mind getting muddy. Donations are much needed too, to pay for equipment. This happens to be my favourite area in the world, but Britain is full of such wonderful landscapes. From the Cairngorms to the Devon moors and the Welsh mountains, there are innumerable unspoilt places to lift the soul. These places evolved over countless centuries, moulded by man. Now we must protect them. So if you live by one of the 6,000 or so rivers in Britain then why not do your bit to preserve the wildlife that depends on it. By Griff Rhys Jones Griff is a Vice President of the River Stour Trust, river stourtrust.org. Advertisement

With five new windfarms being planned for Scotlands east coast, the chance of more mass whale strandings is likely to increase.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue is the only charity in the UK dedicated to helping injured marine mammals. Run by a small band of dedicated volunteers, it specialises primarily in seals, porpoises, dolphins and whales, but will respond to stranded sea turtles, otters and sea birds.

It suggests you never handle a baby seal, even if you think its been abandoned. Its parents may be off to find food and they will not return if they smell your scent. It desperately needs more whale rescue pontoons  there are only 22 in the whole of the UK, and only a handful of them in Scotland.

Theres only one for the isles of Harris, Lewis and North and South Uist, while Noel Hawkins helped raise money  with the help of the Scottish Daily Mail  for a new pontoon for Skye.

Costing around 4,000 each, theyre often the difference between life and death for a beached whale. The charity survives solely on donations from the public.

Seven whales died on the Isle of Skye that day in 2015. Had a pontoon been available, more would have undoubtedly survived. Noel Hawkins says that being so close to the whales during a rescue can be devastating.

Theyre noisy and plaintive, calling out in pain and terror. To the rescuers its clear theyre attempting to communicate with each other  and with the humans trying to save them.

They do suffer, and when youre close to them they follow you with their eyes and they cry, says Noel. Its really quite intense. At the end of the June 2015 rescue there were people in tears, breaking down.

'It was very difficult. Whales are a key part of our tourism industry in Scotland, people travel thousands of miles to see them. We should be doing more to preserve them. Theyre incredible animals.

The reward of knowing youve made a difference, when you get to see them swim off into the sunset, is an incredible feeling. Wouldnt you like to experience it?

To help raise money for new pontoons donate to British Divers Marine Life Rescue at justgiving.com/bdmlr/donate or see bdmlr.org.uk. You can also donate by calling 01825 765546.
Geoffrey Rush stars as Albert Einstein in National Geographic's 'Genius'

Fresh from her turn in the controversial drama Apple Tree Yard, in which she played a scientist who has a steamy affair with a stranger, with disastrous consequences, Emily Watson returns to the screen in a somewhat less racy but equally conflicted role this month, playing a scientists wife  Albert Einsteins to be precise.

She was in Prague filming Genius, the ten-part drama about the Nobel Prize-winner, when Apple Tree Yard was broadcast here in January and February  much to her relief.

It was great making Apple Tree Yard but when I saw all the reaction online I did think, Oh my God! she laughs.

I was nervous about the sex at first, I knew some people would disapprove of a middle-aged woman having an exciting affair, but Im glad I did it.

'I was surprised it became such a big deal. It was watercooler-moment TV and I havent really done anything like that before.

Shes back on more familiar territory in Genius, playing a dowdier character in the shape of Elsa Einstein. She and Albert had a very complicated relationship, Emily says.

They were first cousins and by the end of the story theyre a bit like brother and sister. They were always at loggerheads but they were very close. She created a world where he could exist, where he could just be Einstein. She protected him.

Genius is the first scripted drama made by the National Geographic channel and its attracted a starry cast, with Australian Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush playing Einstein, Robert Lindsay as his father and Johnny Flynn, half-brother of fellow actor Jerome Flynn, as the young Albert.

The aim of the show, produced by another Oscar-winner, Ron Howard, is to reveal the man behind the mind and the pivotal role he played in world history.

Emily Watson plays Elsa Einstein, the actress describes the relationship between Albert and his wife as 'very complicated'

For most people Einstein is that scientist with all the hair that looks like an atomic bomb going off, says Geoffrey Rush. But there were so many parts of his life that were a complete revelation to me.

The show is certainly a very modern look at Einstein. When we first meet him hes having extra-marital sex with his secretary against a blackboard covered with mathematical equations.

Its a great way to introduce Einstein and really very funny, says Emily. The secretary ends up with all these chalk equations on the back of her dress and they have to dust them off.

THE SECRET DAUGHTER THAT ALBERT NEVER MET Albert Einstein will always be seen as the archetypal boffin and the embodiment of genius, eccentricity and free thinking. His revolutionary theories changed the way we see the universe, but he was far from a genius in his private life which was a litany of chaotic affairs and messy marriages. He was born in Ulm, southern Germany, in 1879 and encouraged by his parents to be independent. When they moved to Italy in search of work, Albert stayed on at school in Munich, where a teacher said he will never amount to anything. He renounced German citizenship to avoid military service, and was accepted into a Zurich technical college at the second attempt. Here he met fellow student Mileva Maric, a Serb. They began a relationship against the wishes of both sets of parents and married in 1903. The couple had two sons, Hans and Eduard, although letters discovered in 1987 revealed theyd had a daughter called Lieserl in Serbia, where Mileva was staying with her parents. She returned to Zurich without the child and Einstein never met her. The letters suggest she may have died of scarlet fever in infancy. He was soon expressing strong feelings for a Swiss teachers daughter, as well as having an affair with his cousin Elsa. Just months after divorcing Mileva he married Elsa, who had two daughters, Ilse and Margot, from an earlier marriage. His career was a mess too and he ended up in a mind-numbingly boring job in the patent office in Bern as he struggled to gain an academic post. In 1909 he was finally appointed a professor at the University of Zurich. His general theory of relativity followed in 1915, overturning Newtons ideas on gravity, as well as explaining the planets movements and black holes. In 1921 he went to New York with Elsa where the people took him to their hearts. In the same year he won the Nobel Prize for Physics. He was vociferous in his support of civil rights, Jewish issues and pacifism before his death in New Jersey in 1955 aged 76 from an aneurysm. His brain was removed and sections are on display at the Mutter museum in Philadelphia. Advertisement

Einstein had multiple affairs, something Elsa  whose romance with her cousin started when he was still married to the mother of his two sons, fellow physicist Mileva Maric  had to accept.

He had a dysfunctional relationship with women, says Emily. But he was a man full of love. His relationship with his sons was terrible, partly because his relationship with their mother had broken down so terribly.

The younger son Eduard had mental health problems and was diagnosed as schizophrenic. He was resentful of his father because he didnt turn up when he said he would  he was neglectful.

'For a long time Mileva refused to divorce him but when Albert started to become famous, Elsa insisted on it so Einstein promised to give Mileva his Nobel Prize money if he won.

He divorced Mileva and married Elsa in 1919, before winning the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921, investing the money in three properties for Mileva and their children, although she had to sell two to pay for Eduards treatment. But he continued to have affairs throughout his second marriage, which lasted until Elsas death in 1936.

He had lots of other women and in the end Elsa had to accept it and say, OK, you can do what you like but you have to be discreet and put me first. I am Mrs Einstein and you treat me with respect, says Emily.

It kind of worked. It was bizarre but in a way he wasnt really an adult. Elsa understood that what made him so brilliant was his childishness. He never grew out of being curious, and that curiosity changed the way we look at the universe.

The drama has fictionalised certain episodes, for example showing Einstein, who was Jewish, trying to flee his native Germany after being spat on by a Nazi, only to find his application to travel to the USA held up at the American Embassy in Berlin by one of FBI chief J Edgar Hoovers agents before eventually being let out.

In reality Einstein was on a lecture tour in America  where his theories on relativity had made him a star  when the Nazis came to power in 1933. He never returned to Germany and became an American citizen in 1940.

The physicist made friends with and enemies of some of the most important figures of the 20th century. We see his rivalry with anti-Semitic scientist Philipp Lenard, who won the Nobel Prize in 1905 for his work on cathode rays.

Lenard was obsessively jealous of the younger Einstein, calling his work Jewish physics and lobbying the Nobel Prize committee not to honour him.

Einstein became friends with two other Nobel Prize winners  Marie Curie, who developed the theory of radioactivity, and Fritz Haber, who had formulated the poison gas that killed thousands of Allied soldiers in World War I. Charlie Chaplin was a close acquaintance too, as was the psychoanalyst Carl Jung.

The series portrays Einstein as one of the worlds most pivotal figures during a time of huge flux, when he was both revered for his work and reviled for being a Jew. He was a strong Zionist and that was a political pitfall, says Emily.

Elsa knew the more he spoke out politically about Israel, the more they would be a target for anti-Semites. She knew Albert to be a person of great integrity but if he wasnt careful he would endanger their lives.

He persuaded many fellow German-Jewish scientists to leave Germany in the 1930s while they still could, and used his influence to find them jobs in the States.

When he was informed that the Nazis could be working on developing an atomic bomb, he wrote to US President Franklin Roosevelt in 1939 urging him to get the Americans to start a rival project.

As we know, the Americans won that race, although as a lifelong pacifist Einstein tried to persuade them not to use the bomb.

He lived as a protagonist through two major global conflicts, says Geoffrey Rush. He had this fundamental goodness which he radiated to the world and it was the first time a physicist had become a celebrity. But he was mortified at being identified with the atomic bomb.

For Geoffrey and Emily, the project is the third time theyve played husband and wife after 2004s The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers and 2013 war drama The Book Thief. Were like an old couple now, says Emily, whos been married to actor-turned-writer Jack Waters for 22 years.

A big part in wanting to do this show was to work with Geoffrey again but, also, what a great story! We need stories about real people and when you see what Einstein was up against, the anti-Semitism he faced, it makes you think about the lessons of history. But are we listening?

Genius starts on Sunday 23 April, 9pm, National Geographic channel.
A new magazine cover has female surgeons from around the world posting group pictures and spreading the word about gender inequality and the pay gap in the medical field.

On April 3, the New Yorker released a bold cover depicting four female surgeons standing around an operating table, staring down at the viewer with their perfect winged eyeliner.

One female surgeon - Dr. Susan Pitt of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine - was inspired to recreate the cover with three of her female colleagues. After she posted the image to Twitter, other female surgeons from around the world took notice and began sharing their own recreations of the cover.

Cover girls: On April 3, the New Yorker published this Malika Favre-illustrated cover, which inspired female surgeons from around the world to recreate the image

Squad goals: Dr. Susan Pitt (middle left) was the first to recreate the cover, along with three of her female colleagues

Thus far, female surgeons from Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Ireland, Brazil, as well as throughout the United States, have shared their versions of the original New Yorker cover, which was created by French illustrator Malika Favre.

Many of the surgeons participating in the New Yorker cover recreations are using their images to make a point about gender inequality in the medical field.

It's no secret that in most hospitals, women are a minority - in the surgery world, especially. Statistics from the Association of Women Surgeons report that only 40% of general surgeons are women.

Furthermore, salary reports indicate that female surgeons make an average of $20,000 less per year than their male counterparts, creating pay gap of 8%.

Up for a challenge: Since Dr. Pitt's original post, many female surgeons from around the world have been posting their own versions of the 'NYerORcoverchallenge'

The medium is the message: Many of the surgeons posting cover recreations hope to spread the message about gender inequality and the pay gap in the medical field

An Instagram post from Dr. Jessica Shepherd shows a side-by-side of the original New Yorker cover with her gynecology team's recreation. The caption on the photo reads,

'The brilliant cover [...] gave us the idea to show the world that the gender pay gap is not acceptable and we will continue to voice our support to improve wages for women!'

Dr. Pitt, the woman behind the photo-op surgeons have dubbed the '#NYerORcoverchallenge' told BuzzFeed News that it feels like a 'punch to the gut' when someone assumes a woman is not a surgeon.

Both the New Yorker and illustrator Favre have voiced their support for the cover recreations, which continue to crop up on both Twitter and Instagram.

Though the focus of the challenge is to draw attention to the disparity between men and women in the medical field, Dr. Pitt says she remains hopeful:

'[I want] to open people's eyes and minds that women can be surgeons and anything else they want to be.'
When it comes to fashion, we are all inspired by what we see; whether it be a well dressed celebrity, a blow-your-mind catwalk presentation or even a super stylish every-day passerby.

As fashion editors, we're moved by all of the above, and then some. We're exposed to under the radar labels; we get a first-hand look at collections months before they hit stores; we're tapped into brands with chic-yet-cheap offerings and we shop - a lot.

To share our knowledge, FEMAIL brings you Style Swoon, a weekly series of the latest, greatest and on the verge. We hope this weekly Friday series will serve as a buying guide and point of inspiration for the clotheshorses and fashion fanatics alike.

NEW CELEB-ADORED ACCESSORY LINE

Style stars: Lucy Hale, 27, (left) and Zoe Saldana, 38, (right) are already fans of the new accessory line Mercedes Castillo

After years of designing accessories for top designers like Gianfranco Ferre, Donna Karan, and Tory Burch, Mercedes Castillo launched her own eponymous line this season.

Fashion forward stars Lucy Hale, 27, and Zoe Saldana, 38, are already fans of the brand's chic designs, as they have both been spotted out recently rocking Mercedes' sleek heels.

Besides stylish footwear, the line also offers modern handbags and bold jewelry. Prices range from $125 for trendy earrings to $995 for luxe bags.

STYLISH NEW JEWELRY COLLABORATION

Fine jewelry designer Logan Hollowell has teamed up with California-based clothing and accessories brand Johnny Was to create an affordable collection of baubles entitled LOGAN, which launched this week.

The line of pretty jewels was created to 'celebrate the spirit and beauty in nature'.

Each piece in the collection, which includes rings, bracelets and necklaces, is handcrafted in LA using precious stones and materials.

Shop the stylish collection now. Prices start at $75.

FENDI'S NEW STYLE OF SUNGLASSES

Stylish sisters: Gigi, 21, (left) and Bella Hadid, 20, (right) star in the campaign for Fendi's new 'Can Eye' sunglasses campaign

Bella and Gigi Hadid's campaign for Fendi's spring 2017 collection may have dropped back in January but the stylish sunglasses the sisters model in the images are finally available in stores.

The Italian brand's new 'Can Eye' sunnies feature a playful, oversize squared shape silhouette, and the tops of the frames are adorned with studs.

The shades retail for $570, and come in a variety of colors.

REEBOK X LOCAL HEROS

Kick it: Sportswear giant Reebok has teamed up with TKTKTK Local Heroes to release a limited edition version of the Reebok Classic NPC II sneaker

Sportswear giant Reebok has teamed up with street style brand Local Heroes to release a limited edition version of the Reebok Classic NPC II sneaker.

Available in pastel pink and purple, the stylish kicks are crafted from premium leather and feature faux fur panels as well as metallic accents and tie-dye printed insoles.

Get them fast! The Reebok Classic x Local Heroes NPC II are already sold out at Local Heroes but are still available in most sizes on reebok.com.
Social media feeds are filled with posts by loved-up couples.

Most are updates about romantic holidays and important milestones but a handful are guilty of posting pictures and messages that go into the most intimate details of their relationship.

A collection of some of the most embarrassing examples of online over-sharing have been posted in an online gallery.

Some made the cut for overly sentimental messages on their public pages.

Others posted images of their partners using the toilet and shared details about their sex lives that were downright disgusting.

Here, FEMAIL rounds up some of the worst examples...

Up close and personal: This woman seemed proud of her boyfriend's artistic endeavours

Nauseating: This woman wanted all of her followers to know about her boyfriend's affections

Straight from the heart: This woman thought this rather gruesome love note was romantic

Sealed with a kiss: This loved-up couple posted matching kissing images on their profiles

Pillow talk: This couple swapped whispering sweet nothings for public social media posts

Confused: A Facebook friend intervened when a wife accidentally insulted her husband

Late-night love: This young Romeo couldn't wait another minute to share his love
A Texas couple found a heartwarming way to be together for a maternity shoot while the father-to-be was stationed 7,000 miles away.

Navy Corpsman Wesley Bedwell, 21, and his wife Nicole, tied the knot a year ago, and last fall they discovered they were expecting their first child.

Soon after, though, Wesley was deployed oversees, where he would miss the entirety of Nicole's pregnancy.

Cross-continental love: Navy Corpsman Wesley Bedwell, 21, and his wife Nicole posed for a maternity shoot while he was stationed overseas

Bittersweet: Wesley was deployed soon after they learned they were expecting

With her husband halfway across the world, Nicole wanted to find a special way to include him in the pregnancy.

'It's our first baby. Luckily I had a really good pregnancy, but it definitely sucks [that he was away],' she told Inside Edition.

So she enlisted Traci Fugitt, owner of Traci Lynn Photography, to help her out with a very unique maternity photoshoot, inspired by others she'd seen in which one partner was stationed overseas.

Touching: Nicole had to go through the entire pregnancy alone, but wanted to include her husband in a maternity shoot

Looking to the internet: Nicole was inspired by similar photos she had seen

'She had seen the pictures where the spouse was faded into the picture, and asked if we could do something similar,' Traci said. 'Together they decided to split the photo, one side showing Nicole in a field of Texas bluebonnets, and the other with Wesley in Japan, kneeling in dry grass while reaching toward her.'

In an image that has since gone viral, Nicole is seen cradling her bump while wearing a beautiful lace dress on the right side of the frame.

The picture is split down the middle, and on the left Wesley can be seen in his fatigues, kneeling and reaching a hand out to her stomach.

'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,' Nicole said.

She was upset that he was away for the pregnancy of their first child but happy to find something they could do together

Sweet: She said she cried when she saw the picture, as did their families

Surprise! Their daughter, Pyper, was born on Thursday; because Nicole had to be induced, Wesley was able to get home in time for the birth

She wasn't the only one touched by the image. It's been liked hundreds of times on Facebook, and was shared by local news outlets.

'I cried, both of our families cried,' she said. 'We will never be having our first child again. He's my family, so having him included touched my heart. It made me happy.'

In the end, Wesley actually managed to make it in time for the birth of his daughter Pyper on Thursday.

Nicole developed hypertension and was encouraged to enduce by doctors, and the Red Cross helped get Wesley home in time.
There were audible gasps of disbelief at Hastings Magistrates Court this week as Oliver Whiting walked out of the front door a free man.

Given the horror that he has inflicted on his victims, many will sympathise with the tearful scenes of anger and despair that ensued as they and their families watched him leave  ironically, under a protective police escort.

Whiting, a 37-year-old former pub supervisor from Eastbourne in East Sussex, snatched innocuous photographs from the social media pages of female friends  and a relative  and uploaded them on to a pornographic site where users are encouraged to print them off, perform vile deviant acts with them, and post images of themselves doing so.

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It took the skiful detective work of Nikki Elliot to discover the shocking extent of Oliver Whiting's crimes

Among those he targeted was his younger half-sister. Whiting posted a photograph of her aged 16 and in her school uniform, asking other users of the American-owned website how much they would pay to rape her.

That his crime was discovered at all owes much to the skilful detective work of one of his victims  26-year-old Nikki Elliott, a waitress who once worked for Whiting and regarded him as a friend.

But after a year-long battle for justice, not to mention a flawed investigation by Sussex Police, Whiting has narrowly evaded jail with a slap on the wrist six-month sentence, suspended for two years, and an order to attend a sexual offenders rehabilitation programme.

The apparent leniency with which he has been treated is largely due to the fact that his crimes  dismissed at first by police call handlers who told Nikki simply to unfriend him on Facebook  were finally dealt with under the Communications Act 2003, which carries much lighter sentences.

Since he has not been found guilty of any sexual offence, his name will be left off the sexual offenders register and, despite the fact that the images he uploaded included pregnant women and toddlers, he is even free to work with children if he so wishes.

Meanwhile, to his victims enduring agony, the photographs he stole from at least 14 women remain on the pornographic website onto which he uploaded them, and anyone can see them and, in some cases, their names too.

Nikki's innocuous social media photos were taken and uploaded on porn websites based in America by Whiting

Sussex Police says it is powerless to have them removed because the website is based in the United States and therefore out of their jurisdiction. When approached directly, the website demanded 50 a picture to take them down.

Its devastating that after everything weve been through he is not in prison and the photographs are still there, says Nikki, a mother-of-one from Eastbourne, who was the first to raise the alarm about Whitings vile crimes.

She has since received online messages from men saying they want to rape her and posing naked while holding photographs of her.

It doesnt feel as if we have justice or that he has been stopped, she says. Its not even a question of wanting to punish him. He is seriously twisted. My fear is that he will do much worse in future.

Nikki first met Whiting in February 2012 when she went for a job interview at a Harvester pub overlooking the water at Eastbournes Sovereign Harbour marina complex.

Despite uploading photos of at least 14 women, including Nikki, Whiting has not been put on the sex offenders' registry

He was very friendly and personable, she recalls. He said: Tell me all about yourself.

She got the job and Whiting, she says, was not the only supervisor she worked for but he was charismatic and funny and one of her favourites. We got on really well, she says. He knew that I had a boyfriend and there was never anything romantic between us but he really took me under his wing when I was new.

We always used to have a good chat and we shared the same sense of humour.

Sometimes at the end of a shift, Id drop him home in my car, but there was nothing weird or anything that gave me cause for concern.

In April 2013, Nikki, who lives with her 27-year-old fiance, builder Dan Taylor, went on maternity leave. Their daughter Olivia was born in May 2013 and Whiting, who was by now a Facebook friend, even sent his congratulations via the social media site.

She returned to work in April 2014 before leaving for good in February last year to start a new job at another Eastbourne restaurant. Whiting, she says, wished her well in her new job and they parted on good terms.

With hindsight, Nikki actually knew little about him.

Nikki first met Whiting when she went for a job interview at the Harvester pub in Eastbourne

Born to a 16-year-old teenage mother in Surrey in March 1980, he was adopted as a baby by Jenny and Michael Whiting who divorced when he was a teenager. His adoptive father remarried and has another son from this second marriage.

Whiting later re-established contact with his birth mother who went on to marry and have a daughter, Whitings half-sister Charley Hough, who is among his victims.

According to Nikki: He mentioned an ex-girlfriend that he didnt get on with and a son that he wasnt allowed to see. He was very bitter about that. He had the boys name tattooed on his arm. I wonder now if thats why he showed such hatred of pregnant women.

Two months after starting her new job, she received a Facebook message from a woman she didnt know, warning her that her Facebook photographs had been uploaded onto a pornography site.

I couldnt believe it when I clicked on the site, says Nikki. There was a screenshot of my Facebook page, so my name was there too and my profile picture with my then two-year-old daughter in it.

The image had been captioned Daddys Girl and Stuck Up Whore and Slut and also carried the words: Rape me. More than 7,000 people had viewed the images.

It didnt take Nikki long to work out who was behind the stolen images. The Facebook screenshot revealed that the person who had been viewing her page had been a Facebook friend since February 2012 and the porn site profile showed the user was 36  the same age as Whiting at the time.

Nikki says that Whiting is 'seriously twisted' and fears he will re-offend in the future

There were other clues too  photographs of other women, all of whom were also Facebook friends with Whiting. Some of the images had been doctored so that their heads had been merged with bodies of naked models.

There were pictures of family friend, Charlotte White, beneath which Whiting had written: 100 to rape her, 50 to get her pregnant and 20 to make her pregnant (sic).

And naked photographs of an ex-girlfriend. But perhaps most sickening of all, were the school photographs Whiting posted of his half-sister Charley Hough with the caption proper jailbait as well as one of her aged 21 when she was pregnant, accompanied by the words: Now, my pregnant sister.

There was also an incriminating pornographic photograph that Whiting had taken of himself which showed his hand bearing a distinctive silver ring he always wore.

Nikki contacted several of the other women involved to warn them and they agreed that rather than confront Whiting they would report him to the police. But Nikki says that when she did so by phone she was told that it was a Facebook issue and that she should merely unfriend Whiting.

She was given a crime reference number but when she telephoned a second time, she was told that it was a civil matter, not a criminal one, and the number was withdrawn and replaced with a report number.

I was told that I should see a solicitor, she says. I was completely fobbed off.

In fact, Sussex Police did contact Whiting in relation to four of the women whose pictures had been stolen, including his ex-girlfriend and former friend 24-year-old care home worker Charlotte White, whose mother used to play darts with Whiting. But, after he admitted what he had done, they decided not to prosecute him.

Victims Charlotte White, (left) Teresa Weir and Nikki Elliott (right) leave court following Whiting's suspended sentence

Instead, in April last year, he received a police caution for one offence of revenge porn in relation to the naked images of his ex-girlfriend and three offences of sending offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing messages.

That decision provoked outrage among Whitings other victims, including Nikki who received a telephone call from Sussex Polices Head of Crime, Detective Superintendant Nick May.

When Nikki first discovered that Whiting was stealing her photos and uploading them police call handlers told her simply to unfriend him on Facebook

At first he said that they couldnt find any record of my call, says Nikki. But he promised to look into it again.

Whiting, was subsequently re-arrested and charged and at Hastings Magistrates Court this week, he pleaded guilty to 11 offences of making offensive postings, a crime which comes under the Communications Act 2003 and carries a six-month maximum sentence.

Revenge porn  officially known as the sharing of sexual images and films with the intent to cause distress and dealt with under the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, carries a heavier maximum sentence of two years in jail.

Indeed, what Whitings case shows clearly is that both the police and the CPS are limited by the way the law defines such crimes.

Since all his offences  except the naked images of his ex-girlfriend  involved innocuous every-day photographs which were then doctored or used in a sexual way, they are not covered by the Criminal Justice Act and were therefore treated as malicious communications.

While Nikki believes that the law needs to be changed to deal effectively with offenders like Whiting, she also says that had Sussex Police dealt with all his victims together and not simply cautioned him last year, he would in all likelihood have received a more substantial custodial sentence.

Following Whitings appearance in court this week, Detective Superintendant Nick May posted a Tweet saying: Thanks to the perseverance of the victims.

In a statement he said: We learnt a number of lessons from this case and it did highlight the need for us to understand the impact that such incidents can have on the victims.

He said that several of the women involved had helped to produce a training video to help Sussex Police improve the service we offer in such cases.

None of this, of course, is any comfort to Nikki whose pleas for help in getting her photographs removed from the porn site have fallen on deaf ears.

In court it emerged that the U.S. website, which is based in Arizona, has refused to take down the pictures of the victims despite being approached by police and informed they were the subject of criminal proceedings in the UK.

Ironically Oliver Whiting needed a police escort to and from Hastings Magistrates court

Sussex Police says that it cannot remove the images because the site is out of their jurisdiction.

In desperation, Nikki contacted law enforcement agencies in Arizona asking for help but was referred to the FBI. Federal agents asked her to email her concerns and she did so several months ago but has heard nothing back.

Its awful that I have to do this myself, she says. I cant move on while I still have this hanging over me, knowing there is a photograph of my daughter on that website.

Laura Higgins of the UK Safer Internet Centre which runs a Revenge Porn Helpline for victims, says: The police are on the back foot when it comes to digital crime, she says. They need to make this a priority. They need better training and guidance and more empathy with victims.

The case has also angered Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell who is demanding further action is taken. Its absolutely appalling these pictures remain online because it is so devastating for victims and an outrage to justice, she says.

There is something very wrong when this is allowed to happen and I will be speaking to the relevant minister again to find out what more pressure can be brought by the Government with the Americans to get these pictures taken down.

Nikki refuses to believe that Whiting is remorseful - and recalled the moment he defiantly stared at her during sentencing

My view is the law needs to be changed to force perpetrators like Whiting to take down revenge porn images or face new charges and serious financial penalties if they fail to do so. We must get tough on dealing with this growing problem because having these images posted ruins lives for years and is plain wicked.

This week, Whiting, who posted 1,162 photos or messages in a period of just eight months, was hiding behind closed doors at his mothers smart 300,000 detached house on the outskirts in Eastbourne.

According to 69-year-old Jenny Whiting, her son is extremely remorseful over the incident and had tried desperately to get the images removed from the American website. He has tried contacting the website to get the pictures taken down but they couldnt. He has also tried speaking to Sussex Police but they couldnt get them taken down either.

The retired company secretary added: He is very sorry about what he did and regrets it enormously. He made a mistake, for which he has apologised, and is very remorseful. He has apologised. It has been a very difficult time for everyone and he just wants to move on and put it behind him.

Not that Nikki can. She remains unconvinced that Whiting is remorseful. She recalls the moment he made eye contact with her at the end of his hearing this week.

Nearly everyone had left court and I was talking to one of the CPS lawyers, she says. I suddenly felt as if someone was watching me and I turned round and he was just standing there, staring at me. He was defiant. It was really menacing. I didnt see any remorse in his eyes.
The countdown to 'big school' is on for little Prince George.

And before he starts at Thomas's in September, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will no doubt be getting his uniform ready  not to mention checking the route for the school run.

For even though they have an army of staff who could do it for them, Kate and William intend to drop off and pick up their son from the school gates.

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Left: His first day - Four red polo necks: 40 Three V-neck jerseys: 75 Two pairs of navy Bermuda shorts: 46 Six pairs blue/red regulation socks: 42 Black polishable shoes: 34 Regulation rucksack: 13. Right: Summer wear - Summer hat: 6 Six shortsleeved light blue shirts: 66 Six pairs of navy ankle socks: 15

The future king will join the 5,650 a-term pre-preparatory school in Battersea, south west London, in the autumn, two months after his fourth birthday.

The site of the school, in the heart of what is known locally as 'nappy valley', a wealthy enclave largely populated by bankers, media types and 'yummy mummies', is a good four miles from the family's home at Kensington Palace.

The journey over the Thames each morning will take the royals at least half an hour  on a good day  battling through the rush hour traffic.

But there will be no attempt to beat the queues using the 'Blues and twos', courtesy of a police escort. Instead, William or Kate will try to drop George off each morning themselves, depending on their work schedules, with nanny Maria Borrallo taking up the slack.

'They are very hands-on parents and although they acknowledge that it might cause a bit of a buzz to start with, they are hopeful it will soon settle down,' said a source.

Left: Sport kit - Two house coloured Tshirts: 14 Two pairs gym shorts: 6 Laceless trainers: 20. Right: Art class - Red art smock: 30

'It's very important to both of them that George enjoys as normal a childhood as possible, particularly as he settles into a new school, and for them this includes dropping him off at the school gates.'

Last month Kate also told one set of Thomas's parents she bumped into at an official function: 'See you at the school gate.'

One fellow parent joked: 'The fact that they drive a Range Rover means they will fit in very well here during drop-off!'

George, whose birthday in July will make him one of the youngest in his year, could have gone to Thomas's sister school in upmarket Kensington, just a short stroll from home.

But the couple plumped for the Thomas's Battersea outpost as it encapsulated the 'village' feel they were looking for.

Left: Winter wear - Winter hat: 7 Winter scarf (not pictured): 7 Winter gloves: 7 School jacket: 36 Games bag: 9. Right: Rainy day - Cagoule: 22 Two white T-shirts: 12

'Kate wants George  and later Charlotte  to have the same school experience that she did as a child.

'Both she and William very much agree on this and think George will be very, very happy there,' said a source.

And if the proud parents are wondering what their little prince might look like when he starts at Thomas's, then the Daily Mail can offer them a sneak preview.

Ballet kit - Two sports sweatshirts: 26 Two pairs jogging bottoms: 22 Four pairs of white sports socks: 9 Ballet shoes: 17.50

Of course these tongue-in-cheek photographs aren't of George himself. Instead they were posed by a child model with the heir to the throne's head superimposed.

Still, the remarkably realistic images give a very good indication of how William and Kate's loveable 'little monkey' might scrub up in the autumn  and doesn't he look a smart chap?

The total bill  taking into account the multiple pairs of shorts, shirts and jumpers that they will no doubt want to stock up on  comes in at 581.50.

Naturally the uniform is available from 'Sloaney' department store, Peter Jones, in Chelsea  a favourite of Kate's.

In attending Thomas's, George will, notably, become the first direct heir to the throne to attend a co-educational pre-prep school.

The family-run school has 540 pupils and is one of a group of six schools across London.

Society magazine Tatler says it is populated by 'pushy professional parents'.

But while the Good School Guide admits that it is competitive, it says parents simply want 'the best education money can buy'.

Headmaster Ben Thomas has insisted that Thomas's Battersea, is 'about so much more than getting children into their next school' and a huge emphasis is placed on kindness and humility as well.
An arresting photo shows a mother getting a new tattoo while breastfeeding her newborn baby at a tattoo parlor in Florida.

The picture, taken 20 years ago, was shared on Instagram last month by the tattoo artist's current business, Liberty Tattoo in Atlanta, Georgia.

Tattooer Kaki Cannon can be seen at her former place of employment, Ms Deborah's Fountain of Youth Tattoo in St Augustine, Florida, performing one of the first designs in her career on the new mom's arm.

Throwback: Liberty Tattoo, located in Atlanta, Georgia, shared this picture showing their co-founder Kaki Cannon performing one of her first designs on a breastfeeding mom 20 years ago

The mother, who has another tattoo right above her breast, can be seen calmly looking away while Kaki works on her arm, cradling her newborn baby as the child nurses.

Liberty Tattoo revealed while sharing the photo on social media that the client in the photo is Kay's best friend Su.

'Here's Kaki doing one of her first tattoos 20 years ago at Ms. Deborah's Fountain of Youth Tattoo on her best friend Su,' the caption explains.

The impressive photo has now earned almost 8,000 likes on Instagram, with comments deeming the scene 'awesome' and 'crazy' at the same time.

Career: Kaki, who has been in the industry for two decades, learned her craft in Florida before opening Liberty Tattoo (pictured) with her husband Shay in 2002

'This photo is lovely and bad**s at the same time,' one person said of the Instagram image, while another person chimed in to add: 'This is amazing.'

Kaki, who has been in the industry for two decades, learned her craft at the St Augustine tattoo parlor before moving to Miami.

She later headed to Atlanta, her husband Shay's hometown, where the pair opened Liberty Tattoo in 2002.

The couple chose to name the venue after their daughter, who was born during the spring of that year, just a few months before the summer opening.
The NHS has endured its worst ever winter crisis, with waiting times, cancelled operations and bed-blocking running at, or near, record levels.

Official figures yesterday illustrated the scale of the scale of the turmoil to engulf the health service in the face of unprecedented pressures.

Bed-blocking due to a lack of social care places is at a record high with more than 2,500 health patients prevented from leaving hospitals each day - specifically because there is nowhere for them to go.

Yesterday's statistics from MHS England report also revealed nearly 200,000 patients waited at least four hours in A&E between the winter months of December to February - a five-fold increase from just 41,000 five years previously.

Bed-blocking due to a lack of social care places is at a record high with more than 2,500 health patients prevented from leaving hospitals each day - specifically because there is nowhere for them to go

Extreme waiting times also reached record levels, as nearly 2,000 patients were forced to wait at least 12 hours in A&E over the same period.

And cancer referral rates in February were at their second lowest level on record.

Meanwhile, the number waiting more than 18 weeks for operations has soared by 39 per cent in a year, the statistics show. In total, 367,094 patients were waiting this long in February, compared with 263,589 a year earlier.

NURSES PREPARE FOR CRIPPLING STRIKES THIS SUMMER Hundreds of thousands of nurses could go on strike this summer, raising pressure on already-struggling hospitals. The Royal College of Nursing has asked its 270,000 members if they want to take industrial action over a 1 per cent pay rise. The poll, which closes on May 7, asks whether members want to strike or take other forms of action, although another formal ballot would be required by law before any industrial action. The union said the Government has inflicted a 14 per cent real-terms cut on nursing pay since 2010. A formal pay cap of 1 per cent was introduced in 2015 after year-on-year pay freezes in the previous parliament. Janet Davies, RCN general secretary, said: 'Patients won't get the care they deserve from a nursing workforce that is short on numbers and low on morale.' A spokesman for the Department of Health said: 'As is usual practice, the Government accepted independent recommendations about this year's pay uplift. Ensuring pay is affordable helps protect jobs.' Advertisement

Last month Simon Stevens, head of the NHS, suggested that a rise in waiting times for routine procedures - including hip, knee and cataract removal - might be a 'trade off' for improvement in other areas,

The 'bed blocking' crisis has a knock-on impact on the entire health service, with so many beds taken up that operations have to be cancelled and patients have to wait longer to be admitted.

The figures, from February, are the highest since the health service started recording the data in 2010.

And officials think even they may underestimate the scale of the problem.

An NHS England spokesman said: 'Patients who are well enough to leave hospital should be able to do so at the earliest opportunity.

'The majority of delayed discharge days are now linked to availability of social care services.'

Overall 184,900 'bed days' were lost to delayed discharges in February 2017, a 17 per cent on February 2016.

Of those, 36 per cent were recorded as social care problems, but NHS officials said in reality well over half were caused by care home and other social issues.

Looking at the winter months, from December to February, a total of 577,195 days were lost to bed blocking, the highest on record and up from 471,780 in winter 2015/16.

Margaret Willcox, of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said: 'Social workers and care staff have done a fantastic job addressing winter pressures despite the historic underfunding of social care which has put the sector in crisis.

'Without sufficient care at home, people will continue to be admitted to hospital, which will increase pressures on hospital staff already struggling to cope with demand.'

Yesterday's statitistcs report also revealed nearly 200,000 patients waited at least four hours in A&E between the winter months of December to February - a five-fold increase from just 41,000 five years previously.

Extreme waiting times also reached record levels, as nearly 2,000 patients were forced to wait at least 12 hours in A&E over the same period.

And cancer referral rates in February were at their second lowest level on record.

Only 79.8 per cent of patients were seen within 62 days of an urgent GP referral, below the health service benchmark of 85 per cent. The lowest recorded level was 79.7 per cent in January.

Yesterday's statitistcs from MHS England report also revealed nearly 200,000 patients waited at least four hours in A&E between the winter months of December to February - a five-fold increase from just 41,000 five years previously

Experts said the figures demonstrates the scale of the crisis facing the health service.

A spokesman for the Royal College of Surgeons said: 'The NHS is under extreme pressure, trying to manage the huge financial strain while treating more and more patients.'

Saffron Cordery, head of policy at NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said: 'Once again in February delayed transfers of care for patients who were medically fit and ready to leave hospital were close to record levels.

'This is not only a poor use of resources at a time of severe financial pressures. The delays often cause uncertainty, distress and worse outcomes for patients.'

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens last month warned patients to expect longer waits for routine operations, to enable the health service to prioritise urgent cases.

Patients are also waiting longer for surgery.

There were a 100,000 more patients who breached the 18-weeks target wait for surgery in February than there were the year before

In total, 367,094 patients were waiting that long in February, the monthly figures show, compared with 263,589 a year earlier  a 39 per cent increase.
A warning has been issued after a baby girl died after her mother fell asleep while holding her.

One morning last July, the unidentified woman carried her newborn daughter to bed after she was woken for the third time at 3.30am by her screaming.

Trying to stop her crying, she held the 25-day-old infant in her arms while sat up in bed to feed her, an inquest heard.

But without intending to, she quickly drifted off for three hours as a result of her tiredness at her home in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

Mothers must know about the dangers of holding babies in their arms as they fall asleep, a coroner has warned

She noticed her daughter was lying face down next to her and not breathing when she eventually woke at 7.15am.

However, paramedics were unable to save the newborn girl's life, The Northampton Chronicle & Echo reports.

The coroner Anne Pember said: 'She was found lying on her front on the mattress. A post-mortem found evidence that her airway had been blocked.

'This was an accidental death and the mother had no intention of falling asleep.

'Very often, parents will carry their newborn babies to bed with no consequences, but the public must know about the dangers of holding babies in this way.

'This is a very sad and untimely death, and the mother had no intention of falling asleep.'

The safest spot for infant sleep is on a firm surface such as a crib or bassinet without any soft bedding, bumpers or pillows

The inquest heard that the mother had previously been told she was unable to have children, before she was born by emergency Caesarean.

The newborn was described as being 'clingy and whingy' in the days leading up to her tragic death.

Babies shouldn't share a bed with parents because it increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), guidelines stress.

In the UK, just under 300 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year as a result of it, the NHS says.

The exact cause is unknown, but it is thought some babies develop a problem in the way they deal with certain stresses, which affects how they regulate their heart rate, breathing and temperature.

Co-sleeping with parents also presents more opportunities for babies to have their breathing impaired, experts warn.

The safest spot for infant sleep is on a firm surface such as a crib or bassinet without any soft bedding, bumpers or pillows.
Those without a full-time job are at higher risk of having a deadly stroke, scientists warn

Unemployed people now have another reason to leave their house and go down to the job centre.

Those without a full-time job are at higher risk of having a deadly stroke, scientists warn.

A sedentary lifestyle, heavily linked to those without a job, is a well-known risk factor of the potentially fatal blood clots.

While the stress of not having a consistent income to provide for themselves or not could also explain the findings, experts suggest.

However, the Japanese researchers were unable to confirm these as reasons why, were unable to pinpoint a decisive factor.

Osaka University experts analysed data of nearly 42,000 adults between the ages of 40 and 59.

They were monitored over a period of 15 years for the study, which was published in the journal Stroke.

Unemployed men were found to have a 60 per cent higher risk of stroke, while women who experienced a spell without a job suffered slightly less.

However, women were the gender more likely to die as a result of having a stroke. They were 150 per cent more likely to die than those who were continuously employed, the researchers found.

Study author Professor Hiroyasu Iso said: 'The main implication is that job security during the most productive work ages could help reduce stroke risk.

A sedentary lifestyle, heavily linked to those without a job, is a well-known risk factor of the potentiall fatal blood clots

'Those who do suffer a job loss need help in rejoining the labor market in an appropriate career.'

But the researchers warned in Japan, workers are part of a 'life-term employment system'.

Therefore the findings may not apply to other countries because of the cultural differences.

Dr Mike Knapton, of the British Heart Foundation, said: 'This Japanese study showed there is an association between job insecurity and increased risk of having a stroke.

'We do know that work status is associated with heart attack and stroke, but Japan has a very different employment system to the UK, so these findings can not be applied to a UK setting.'

This comes after officials warned in February that one in four people don't recognise the signs of stroke.

Fast treatment is crucial to someone surviving a stroke and recovering fully.

But quick treatment can only be given if someone realises that a stroke has hit - and calls 999 immediately.

An estimated 150,000 people have a stroke each year in Britain, while the figure is around five times higher in the US.

Around one in four people survive, but two thirds of these are left with long-lasting disability, which can include paralysis, speech problems and personality changes.
Women's periods do not synchronize if they live together, a new study claims.

Scientists have been examining the baffling phenomenon ever since a 1971 study showed female college roommates inexplicably ended up with the same menstrual cycle.

The lead researcher Martha McClintock concluded women give off pheromones that influence other women's hormones.

But according to research by the University of Oxford, the whole idea - also known as 'the McClintock effect' - is nothing more than a myth.

New data from period-tracking app Clue shows there is no evidence that periods synchronize

Researchers collaborated with the period-tracking app Clue to analyze data on 1,500 women who responded to a survey, the Guardian reports.

They honed in on 360 women who regularly used the app, do not use hormonal birth control, and have a close relationship with another woman who they see regularly.

Following three menstrual cycles, the researchers concluded that the majority of participants (273) actually saw their cycles become more distanced from their close female friend.

Only 79 pairs experienced the mythical syncing phenomenon.

And there was no clear correlation between menstrual cycles and living together.

The findings are hardly groundbreaking.

Few studies have been able to reach the same conclusion as the 1971 investigation by Martha McClintock at Wellesley College.

The original study looked at 135 American college students living in a dorm and recorded data on when their periods began.

The dorm had four corridors each with around 25 girls living in single and double rooms.

Based on the analysis of around eight menstrual cycles per woman, the study reported an increase in synchronization.

But among random pairings in the dormitory, there was no decrease.

McClintock concluded that the more time that women spent together, the more opportunity there would be for their pheromones to communicate.

This was based on the understanding that women give off two kinds of pheromones that can accelerate and delay ovulation in other women.

Analyses have since shown that McClintock's groundbreaking study was fundamentally flawed.

In fact, even McClintock's former colleague, psychologist Jeffrey Schank who now works at the University of California, Davis, has since found flaws in their own methods.

In a highly-controlled pheromone study on rodents, Schank found that the idea of these two pheromones communicating and influencing one another does not work.
They say money can't buy you happiness - but understanding it could.

A new study has found people who simply have a grasp of finances are far less likely to suffer from anxiety and stress-related illnesses.

It holds true regardless of whether you are rich or not.

Part of the reason, the Japanese researchers conclude, seems to be that the financially literate are able to spend less time hypothesizing about their future, and fret less about life in their twilight years.

A new study has found people who simply have a grasp of finances are far less likely to suffer from anxiety and stress-related illnesses. It holds true regardless of whether you are rich or not

The findings stem from a study which asked people from across Japan to answer questions assessing their calculation skills, understanding of pricing behavior, and financial securities such as bonds and stocks.

Perhaps surprisingly, it is the first published study to investigate links between financial literacy and anxiety about old age.

Associate Professor Yoshihiko Kadoya of Hiroshima University and Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan of Nagoya University asked participants about their accumulated wealth, assets, and lifestyle - and to rate the level of anxiety they felt about life beyond 65.

Overall, they found financial literacy was not particularly high throughout Japanese society.

Predictably, men were more financially clued-in than women, as were people with a high-level education, compared with the lesser-educated.

Those sectors are also more likely to be wealthy.

However, the researchers found that the driving factor to combat anxiety was financial literacy, even among those who did not earn very much.

They concluded that financial literacy helped to shape people's perception towards risk and uncertainty - making them more capable and confident in tackling whatever problems life throws at them.

Professor Kadoya said that financial literacy increases our awareness about financial products, builds a capacity to compare all available financial options, and changes our financial behavior - all which bodes well for our perceptions of, and actual experiences during our seniority.

While financial literacy taken alone was seen to reduce anxiety - its affect was further heightened by other factors.

Married respondents had even lower levels of anxiety about growing old than financially literate singletons. This could be down to married couples together planning more-effectively for the future due to familial responsibilities.

Age also plays a significant role, with anxiety levels peaking around 40. The researchers suggest that people at this age have the most home and workplace responsibilities, but with less money and time to support them, increasing anxiety about the here and now - and the journey ahead.

Interestingly as people get older their anxiety levels drop off on gaining access to social security, government funded health care and pensions - all taking the sting out of the post-retirement blues.

Having dependent children on the other hand increased anxiety levels - presumably due to respondent's worry for their children's wellbeing - as well as their own.

The findings should have implications for Japan and other countries where retirees account for a large and rapidly growing share of the population.

Although Japan has a universal pension system, its benefits depend on an individual's ability to pay throughout their working life. As in much of the developed world, it is increasingly perceived that a pension is insufficient for daily expenses without a backup pool of savings and assets - putting the financially literate at a distinct advantage.

But should we be worrying about our finances in old age at all? Professor Kadoya doesn't think so and says governments need to develop strategies to stem an anxiety pandemic:

'People shouldn't spend time worrying about the future. That is why governments provide pensions, housing, and medical plans. If the perception is that these are not fulfilling their purpose then governments and providers need to look at making them more accessible - if people are still worried then we need to look at educating people about these services that are supplied for their needs.'
Ten infants contracted an antibiotic-resistant superbug in a California hospital's neonatal intensive care unit in the last six months - but officials hid the outbreak from the public until now.

Over the course of eight months from August to March, staff at UC Irvine Medical Center have secretly battled to control a spread of MRSA in one of the hospital's two units for critically-ill newborns.

None of the babies died, officials said, and health inspectors claim the unit is .

However, the hospital still cannot identify the source of the virus - and cases were still being diagnosed as recently as last month.

In December, a further five infants tested positive for the virulent disease. Another three babies were diagnosed with MRSA in February and March.

The outbreak continues despite all 220 staff members being ordered to employ emergency measures, using antiseptic ointment to blitz bacteria from their skin and nostrils.

The revelation sparked outrage, with local families insisting the community should have been informed.

Over the course of eight months from August to March, staff at UC Irvine Medical Center have secretly battled to control a spread of MRSA in one of the hospital's two units for critically-ill newborns. But local patients - and expecting parents - were not informed of the outbreak

Marian Hollingsworth, a mother-of-four and a board member on the state's Healthcare Associated Infection Advisory Committee, revealed she was informed of the situation in August, and filed a complaint with the California Department of Public Health to inform the public.

'I'm a mom of four. I'd be outraged if no one told me,' Hollingsworth told CBS.

'I think hospitals have a lot to learn yet about infection control, and everyone needs to be on it to help prevent it.'

More than a quarter (26 percent) of critically-ill infants who contract MRSA in the ICU die, according to government figures.

The bug, an acronym for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, cannot be treated with conventional antibiotics.

MRSA uses decoys to evade a last-resort antibiotic, research suggests.

Limited treatment options exist for the deadly infection due to the bacteria having developed a resistance to antibiotics.

MRSA uses decoys to evade a last-resort antibiotic, research suggests

One of the few drugs that can be used to fight it - known as daptomycin - only cures a third of patients, leaving many with a poor prognosis.

Decoy molecules are released by the superbug which allows them to escape being killed by the antibiotic, experts found.

The hospital spokesman John Murray insists the hospital kept the infection contained to one unit, and no new uninfected babies were admitted to that ward once the infections were confirmed.

'We do not have evidence that infants admitted to UCI's NICU are at higher risk than infants admitted elsewhere, so a public notification would not serve to prevent or lower the risk of infection transmission,' Murray said.
Do you drive a car with commercial plates and want to save some money while crossing an MCD toll booth? There is a way if you have the will to bend the rules.

A sting operation by Mail Today found that civic workers at DND, Mayur Vihar and Kalindi Kunj are allowing cab drivers to enter the national Capital by taking bribes and letting the vehicles go without a receipt from the corporation which goes to the polls this month.

Apart from kickbacks, drivers in India often use threats, violence, protests and claims of powerful connections to demand toll exemptions.

A driver paying the toll tax at Kalindi Kunj in New Delhi. However, the Mail Today has uncovered that many drivers are not paying the tax, but are instead bribing officials

Around 10.40pm on Monday, a Mail Today correspondent posing as a transporter running 15 cabs and looking to dodge the tariff approached the Municipal Corporation of Delhi staff at the Mayur Vihar toll plaza.

The operator suggested she ask the driver to pay a bribe of Rs 50 instead of taking MCD challan of Rs 100 that is valid only for a single visit.

Otherwise, the driver would have to get a Rs 3,000 pass that is valid for a month.

'Ma'am, if you pay the bribe, you won't get the challan slip but you will be allowed to enter Delhi.

'However, in case someone stops you, you will be held responsible,' he said.

When the reporter asked some cab drivers about how they manage daily entry, many of them said that they get a monthly pass. However, others admitted to bribing the MCD staff.

'Bribing is a common practice at other toll plazas like at DND and Kalindi Kunj'

Another operator at the Mayur Vihar plaza said: 'We are under CCTV surveillance so we cannot take the bribe easily.

'However, bribing is a common practice at other toll plazas like at DND and Kalindi Kunj.'

We reached the Delhi Noida Direct flyway at around 11.30 pm. The toll booth here has been placed in the middle of the thoroughfare, putting motorists' lives at risk. Also, it leads to frequent traffic snarls.

The moment a vehicle crosses the main toll booth in Noida and picks up speed, it runs into the MCD toll booth and often the person behind the wheel loses control over the vehicle.

When the undercover reporter tried to talk to the attendants, they refused to take bribes. However, many truck drivers were caught on camera with Rs 100 notes in their hands when the toll is Rs 500.

One of them said: 'Dekhna, main issi se kaam chalunga (Just watch, I'll make do with this).' He didn't pay the Rs 500 tax for his truck's entry into Delhi and bribed the attendant to get through.

A DND staffer on duty suggested the reporter to ally with one of the attendants who would fix the kickback amount and let the cabs go.

Apart from the traffic snarls and the corrupt practices at the MCD toll plaza at DND, there was another critical problem.

Officials from the transport department's special branch were patrolling with a torch to check the documents of truck drivers.

Officials from the transport department's special branch allegedly risk lives in the dark by coming in front of the speeding vehicles to stop and inspect papers

They risk lives in the dark by coming in front of the speeding vehicles to stop and inspect papers.

The reporter then reached the MCD toll plaza at Kalindi Kunj around 12.20am, still posing the owner of 15 cabs who is starting out in the business.

The toll in charge sitting outside the booth first suggested that the correspondent not try to bend the rules and instead buy a monthly pass.

However, when the reporter stressed on bribing Rs 50 per visit, he agreed to it, adding: 'It's risky and if your driver is caught he may have to pay a heavy challan to the transport department officials.'

The vendor of the toll plaza at Kalindi Kunj told the reporter that if his attendants allow any commercial vehicle to pass with bribe, then the operator suffers a loss. So they have to keep a tight vigil on illegal practices.

The municipal corporation has given the toll plaza to the vendors for three years via open bidding and doesn't delve into their management.

'There are around 137 toll plazas in the city connecting other parts of NCR. Every day, revenue of around Rs 1.5 crore is generated from Delhi and the vendors are supposed to deposit the amount on weekly basis.

'If they come on the defaulter list, the amount from the security deposit is deducted,' an official requesting anonymity said.

Traffic congestion is another upshot of the MCD toll plazas. Mail Today visited the one on Delhi-Gurugram expressway at Shirhaul border and found that negotiating the stretch at peak hours is a challenge for motorists.

'The employees of toll plaza used to stand in the middle of the road to keep an eye on vehicles with commercial number plates. They sometimes jumped in front of high-speed vehicles to stop them,' said Neeraj Bhardwaj, a senior executive of a BPO company in Gurugram who uses the route frequently.

The Shirhaul plaza has six main toll lanes and two to three split ones while vehicles are moving from Gurugram to Delhi.

They have put cylindrical containers in the middle of the road and once a commercial vehicle driver gets a ticket, it is cross-checked by an employee standing 10 metres away in the same lane.

Auto rickshaws are used as taxis across India and such vehicles are sometimes driven by cab drivers seeking to bribe officials (file pic)

The stoppage of vehicles twice in quick succession slows down traffic.

'If some hurdle suddenly appears on the stretch, it will end lead to a pileup with great risk to human life.

'As the normal toll plaza was shifted some two years ago from this place, the MCD toll should also be shifted to somewhere in public interest,' said another commuter, Sunil Malhotra.

Ramesh Kumar, a toll employee, told Mail Today that they put drums in front of commercial vehicles if they refuse to pay toll at the booths.

The operator has also deployed two SUVs that chase down tax dodging vehicles. If an offender is caught by the flying squad, he is made to pay six times the actual toll as fine.
Here's a novel idea that seems to have clicked. At a time when new chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his team are trying to instill the virtue of punctuality in Uttar Pradesh's notoriously lax bureaucracy, a young civil servant is quietly playing his part.

Kumar Prashant - a 2010-batch IAS officer who got his first posting as the magistrate of Chandauli district a few months ago - has introduced the 'attendance with selfie' plan as a disciplinary tool in schools.

'The attendance of students in government schools, especially in rural and remote outskirts, is an age-old problem and what further adds to the menace is the absence and disinterest of teachers,' he told Mail Today.

Teachers are checking their own and their students' attendance with selfies in Uttar Pradesh

'With penetration of mobiles, internet and social networking sites in the remotest parts of developing India, we thought of using it as a more innovative and constructive platform.'

The idea is simple: to use the combination of selfie and social media to make teachers responsible and answerable.

'We made WhatsApp groups at four levels with each level answerable to the next and that's how things are slowly getting streamlined,' Prashant explained.

So a teacher reaches his school on time, signs himself 'present' in the register, takes attendance of students after which he snaps a selfie with the kids and posts it in the first WhatsApp group within 30 minutes.

There are three levels - Nyaya Panchayat Resource Centre (NPRC), block-level group and the district group.

There are no consequences for absentees just yet, but Prashant has hinted at docking pay and bad reports for teachers who don't show up

'The NPRC collects details of schools under its jurisdiction and forwards them to the block. The block after collecting the selfies from NPRCs sends them to the district headquarters.

'A control room is formed at the regional information centre that keeps track on daily basis and a review is held every month,' Prashant said.

The selfie solution started in February this year in the Naugarh block that was once Naxal-dominated and is about 70 km from the district headquarters, the initiative is steadily gaining popularity.

'We plan to cover all primary and upper primary government schools. Network is hardly a problem.

'However, if there is a problem, the teacher can post the selfie when he finds a signal,' the district magistrate said.

The Chandauli administration plans to hold an awareness and participation workshop on April 19-20.

According to officials, students also approve of the idea and are now showing interest in coming to school.

'Education officials have also started visiting schools frequently. We tell students that people across the district as well as the country will praise them,' said Amita Srivastava, district coordinator of girls' education.

At present, no punitive measures are in place, but plans are in the pipeline. 'It is just the beginning, as due to elections, the initiative got stalled.

'However, in future, we will definitely take action against errant teachers and this may include deducting a day's salary or giving an adverse report,' Prashant said.
Terming it a matter of 'public importance', the Supreme Court has directed the city high court to hear a petition which seeks a probe into Delhi's alleged 'auto finance mafia' that sells illegal permits and new three-wheelers at exorbitant prices and turns many of them anonymous.

The plea filed by Rakesh Agarwal of NGO Nyaya Bhoomi claims successive governments ruling the Capital were hand in glove with some financing firms, selling new auto rickshaws worth Rs 185,000 at Rs 450,000.

Agarwal had raised the issue before Delhi High Court in 2010. But the court dismissed his petition on technical grounds saying that there was an internal dispute in the name of Nyaya Bhoomi and this fact was not stated in the PIL.

Illegal auto rickshaw trade can lead to exorbitant prices for consumers and anonymity in ownership, meaning if there's an accident, the driver can't always be traced

It had arisen due to some dispute between Agarwal who was the secretary of the NGO then and its president, it said.

The dispute was finally decided in Agarwal's favour by the lower court last year.

'Having heard Rakesh Agarwal ... we are satisfied that the issue raised by the appellants is of public importance, and therefore needs to be adjudicated on merits,' a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said in a recent order.

Agarwal alleged that as part of the 'nexus' between the 'finance mafia and the government', an old auto is sold to a private financier along with permit who then sells it at three times its official price to another auto driver.

This causes black-marketing of the three-wheelers which raises the cost of operating an auto, eventually leading to overcharging of customers.

Also, the transfer of ownership is not registered with the transport department, effectively turning the auto 'benami', or anonymous.

In the event of a crime committed using such a vehicle, the driver or the owner cannot be traced.

'90 per cent of all autos in Delhi are sold on finance from the finance mafia who give as much as Rs 3.5 lakh of loan per auto clearly demonstrating the black-marketing aspect.

The financiers do not restrict their role to just financing but effectively control the autos by indulging in buying and selling of autos along with permits.

This is a violation of the Supreme Court's order of 16.12.1997 which termed the trading in permits as illegal, Agarwal alleged.

Auto rickshaws are the vehicle of choice for taxi drivers in India

'The price charged by the TSR-financiers for a TSR (three-wheeled scooter rickshaw) is well above Rs 5 lakh along with permit in comparison to the on-road price which is around Rs 1.25 lakh.

'The difference in price is the illegal premium amount charged for the permit which is, admittedly, traded.

'In hundreds of recovery cases registered in various district courts of Delhi, the TSR-financiers have admitted to having sold second-hand TSRs for value in excess of Rs 300,000,' he said.

Explaining further, he said when a person wants to sell his auto, his only option is to approach one of the TSR-financiers because no sale and purchase takes place without their involvement.

The seller is made to sign various blank documents, forms and stamp papers including those that will facilitate transfer of permits.

These documents often come in a bound format, mostly in duplicate and triplicate, and constitute what is known in the trade as a 'File.'

The vehicle is sold along with a loan to another auto driver without registering such a sale or transfer with the authorities. The transport department continues to hold the name and address of the original owner.

This turns the TSR or permit benami. Since by virtue of the custody of the 'File', the control of the TSR lies with the financier, he exploits the auto-driver or new owner to the hilt.
Indian security agencies are trying to ascertain number of Indian casualties in the mega airstrike by US military in Afghanistan.

Agencies claims at least one of the 21 missing youth from Kerala, who have joined ISIS, was killed in the attack as they were last tracked in Afghanistan's Nangarhar area.

According to Indian intelligence officials, 23-year-old Murshid Mohammed, who hailed from Kasaragode in Kerala, was among 36 IS militants killed after the US military struck their bases with a massive missile-powered bomb.

The US dropped a Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb in Afghanistan, targeting ISIS militants, on Thursday

Murshid Mohammed's relative had received information of his death on Thursday through a message on a secured chat app - Telegram.

However security officials claim that there was no picture of Mohammed to establish his death.

The first message they received was at 12.30pm. It read: 'We are having a wonderful life here. One more brother of ours got killed for the sake of Allah. Murshid from Vadakkeppuram. We consider him Shaheed and Allah knows best.'

A second message received by the father on the same day at 7.54 pm confirmed the death of his son.

Murshid was among 21 people from Kerala, who disappeared last year after travelling to the Middle East, and are suspected to have joined the terrorist group in Syria.

Indian intelligence agencies said that the last known location of Indian ISIS recruits was Nangarhar, the region where the US military dropped its 'Mother Of All Bombs' (MOAB) targeting secret tunnels of the terror group.

The NIA is planning to send a team to Afghanistan to ascertain the fate of Indians in the US bomb attack.

The bomb, dubbed 'mother of all bombs' was dropped by the US in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan

The bomb in Afghanistan is alleged to have killed one young man who traveled from Kerala to Afghanistan to join the Islamist terrorist organisation

All these persons from Kerala, including women, were lured in by a handler to be part of the ISIS module in Afghanistan.

ISIS was in the process of setting up a Caliphate in Afghanistan and extensively looking for Indians.

It is not known yet whether Murshid was killed in the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb or MOAB strike on a deep tunnel complex in Afghanistan or in a US drone attack earlier this week.

In February, a youth from Kerala who was believed to have joined the ISIS was killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.
Former Mahila Congress district president, Rachna Sachdeva, accuses other senior party leaders of locking her in an office

In a fresh jolt to the Congress, a former female leader has filed a police complaint against Delhi party chief Ajay Maken and Congress leaders Shobha Oza and Netta D'Souza at Tughlak Road Police Station for 'locking her up in a room, mentally harassing and torturing her'.

Former Mahila Congress district president Rachna Sachdeva said her only fault was pointing out irregularities over ticket distribution in the MCD elections and approaching party vice-president Rahul Gandhi to highlight the issue.

In a bigger embarrassment for the Congress, Sachdeva joined Aam Aadmi Party with 13 other workers of her estranged party on Friday.

She was ceremonially ushered in by party spokesperson Dilip Pandey and other leaders.

Sachdeva even held a joint press conference at the AAP Rose Avenue office warning Congress that 'its future in Delhi and India is weak if it does not take care of foot soldiers'.

Delhi Congress party chief, Ajay Maken, is one of the names listed in the police complaint from

DPCC leader Shobha Oza was allegedly part of the group that 'mentally harassed and terrorised' Sachdeva

When quizzed on the allegations, Congress spokesperson Subhash Chopra said, 'What reaction do I give? People go to the police and also give media statements. This is a law and order issue and police will deal with it as per norms.'

Waiving a copy of her police complaint, Sachdeva said: 'Genuine Congress Mahila workers are not getting their due.

'I realised that Ajay Maken has given tickets for MCD polls to wives and daughters of male Congress leaders. That is not fair as we work very hard.

'When I did not get redressal in the lower ranks, I went to Rahul Gandhi. There, Maken took my mobile number and said he will 'see me after the elections.

'Then All India Mahila Congress leaders Shobha Oza and Netta D'Souza locked me up in the office room and told me how dare I go to Rahul Gandhi?'

AAP utilised the opportunity to 'highlight' how Congress and BJP are crumbling and ground-level workers are abandoning them every day to join AAP.
India on Friday demanded a certified copy of the charge sheet as well as the judgment in the death sentence of its national Kulbhushan Jadhav from Pakistan and sought consular access to him.

The Indian high commissioner in Islamabad, Gautam Bambawale, met Pakistan's foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying.

'I have asked for a certified copy of the charge sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav,' Bambawale said.

Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court

'They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year) and I have again requested the Pakistan foreign secretary to give access to Jadhav so that we can appeal,' he added.

Sources in New Delhi said apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhav's family appealing against the verdict.

Pakistan's top military generals on Thursday decided not to make any compromise on the death sentence given to 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 death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief general 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.

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.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) founder Arvind Kejriwal on Friday claimed there are ten ways to hack Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

'I do not know how to tamper an EVM but there are ten ways to do it,' Kejriwal, who did a BTech in mechanical engineering at IIT Kharagpur, said.

He went on to describe one of the ways to hack the EVMs, which the Election Commission says are foolproof.

AAP chief minister for Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, claimed there are 10 ways to hack an EVM, but he doesn't know how to do it himself

The poll watchdog has even come out with an open challenge for anybody to hack it in the first week of May.

Kejriwal said when the EVM chip is being made, the manufacturer can add some code, virus, bug or a Trojan horse.

According to him, in an RTI reply the government had earlier said they don't know how to decode it.

India uses electronic voting machines for their elections, such as the upcoming MCD civic polls

He questioned that in that case how do we know that the EVM is not hacked.

'Our EVM fight will continue even if we win MCD polls,' Kejriwal said adding they are even ready for a paper ballot.

To support his case the AAP leader goes on to cite cases of countries like USA, Japan and many European nations which have stayed away from EVMs.

He said even the technologically-advanced USA had withdrew EVMs after they found that it could be tampered with.

'Japan uses paper ballot,' he said and compared it with what happened in Bhind and Dholpur where there were reports of EVMs favouring the BJP.

In the meantime, the EC has turned down a request from AAP to delay MCD polls until an arrangement for VVPAT machines are made.

At least 16 Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, have alleged that the EVMs were tampered by the government in the recent state elections.

A delegation of Opposition parties had also met President Pranab Mukherjee over the matter.
These days few self-respecting business people rise to the top of major corporations without that ultimate accolade, the Master of Business Administration (MBA).

The ultimate prize shared by such bigwigs as Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan and Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook is an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

But as a new book, The Golden Passport, by the American writer Duff McDonald, argues, an MBA course may be terrific at telling people how to make money quickly but is hopeless at creating better capitalism alert to social issues, ethics and the environment.

A key lesson from boardroom fiascos is that unless the executive gets on top of the issue within the first 24 hours they generally are doomed

There was a time when you had to reach way back into corporate history to find case studies (a key part of business school teaching) of corporate idiocy and neglect.

In 1984 the US chemical company Union Carbide and its boss Warren Anderson were slow off the mark to deal with the deadly Bhopal explosion in India and the company paid the ultimate price when Union collapsed and executives were prosecuted.

Closer to home, retailer Gerald Ratner never recovered from his description of the jewellery sold in his shops as total crap.

The shining example of how to deal with crisis was Johnson & Johnson in 1992 after shop displays of its market leading painkiller Tylenol were contaminated by cyanide.

Chairman James Burke immediately ordered shelves across the US be cleared of Tylenol, refunded customers who had bought the painkiller and apologised. A relaunch only took place when the company was satisfied it had developed tamper-proof packaging.

Lloyds Bank had to be forced to offer an extra 100m of compensation to business victims of fraud at its Reading branch inherited from HBOS.

Over the last week all manner of corporate ineptitude has come to light. The lauded chief executive of Barclays, Jes Staley, found himself on the naughty step for using the banks own security staff and federal agencies in the US to try to track down a whistleblower.

Lloyds Bank had to be dragged kicking and screaming to offer an extra 100m of compensation to business victims of fraud at its Reading branch inherited from HBOS.

Most startling of all were the horrific scenes from the United Airlines plane in Chicago where Dr David Dao was dragged bleeding and screaming from an overbooked flight.

Suffice it to say that Oscar Munoz, the chief executive of United Airlines since the 2010 merger with Continental

These and incidents such as Wells Fargos shadow accounts for customers, designed to boost bonuses, and Harriet Greens clumsy handling of child deaths on a Thomas Cook holiday in Greece show the cloth ears of trained executives who should know better.

Suffice it to say that Oscar Munoz, the chief executive of United Airlines since the 2010 merger with Continental, has a degree in business from the University of Southern California and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

It is possible to make excuses for Munoz on the grounds that he is a victim of technology in the shape of the smartphones which recorded Dao being removed.

Maybe it is something about the bubble in which many chief executives live that they have not understood how bad decisions can go viral. As damaging as the event itself was the response of the friendly airline United to the whole affair. There was a wooden, corporate-style semi-apology and justification.

This was compounded when Munoz emailed staff in support of their actions. The email was an own goal because of the speed with which it leaked. That Munoz didnt consider the possibility that, in the age of social media, it would quickly emerge is odd.

Munoz may have done an extraordinary job of squeezing costs at United but the fall in the share price, the reputational damage, the ethical shortcomings in putting out two different messages to different stakeholders and millions in compensation claims will make his position untenable.

The simple phrase the customer is always right would have served far better than an MBA. The correct response would have been a fulsome apology to the passenger, an immediate suspension of all the staff involved, over-generous compensation to every traveller on the plane and maybe some gesture towards passengers across the whole network.

A key lesson from boardroom fiascos is that unless the executive gets on top of the issue within the first 24 hours they generally are doomed. John Stumpf of Wells Fargo thought he could battle it out before a Senate committee but emerged so damaged he had to go.

How Jes Staley or Lloyds Antonio Horta- Osorio would come out of hearings before the Treasury Select Committee is hard to know.

They could ask former deputy governor of the Bank of England Charlotte Hogg for advice on what not to do.
Last month, hours after Theresa May triggered Article 50 and Britain's withdrawal from the EU, sterling fell against the euro from 1.151 to 1.145 in early trading, before recovering.

It also dropped 0.49 per cent against the US dollar to $1.239. In January, it was at a 30-year low as May indicated the country could opt for a 'hard' Brexit.

Two weeks later, the pound is back on the up. Yesterday it was trading at 1.1792 and 1.2542.

Fluctuating exchange rates have been a challenge for many of Britain's businesses since the referendum result back in June last year.

Theresa May triggered Article 50 this week, starting two years of Brexit negotiations

Many source raw materials, services and products from Europe, the US and further afield and have seen their profits suffer as the pound has lost value.

Others employ people outside the UK, pay salaries in other currencies or sell most of their produce or services abroad.

With Brexit negotiations beginning and the pound wavering, small businesses may be wondering whether to lock in their costs to provide some certainty - at least for the immediate future.

Daniel Webber, of currency comparison site FXCompared, says: 'Brexit has shown us a consistently volatile pound. Simple currency hedging products, such as a forward contract, can be used to lock in a fixed exchange rate, removing the need to predict the future movement of the pound.

'As such, currency hedging products should be used primarily by SMEs as a budget planning tool.'

If your company knows they have future international financial transactions, a forward contract can be taken out days, weeks, or even months in advance, allowing your financial decision makers the ability to know exactly what exchange rate they will be paying.

Webber adds: 'The future uncertainty is removed and the price of a good or service they are buying or selling is then fixed and can be applied to a company's budget in advance.'

Hamish Anderson, of Money Mover - a firm which allows SMEs to 'fix' exchange rates on payments, says smaller firms that make invoice payments, pay salaries and manage their treasury accounts overseas could benefit.

'Britains small businesses are facing unprecedented levels of uncertainty in light of the UKs vote to leave the European Union,' he says.

'Our aim is to empower SMEs to make informed decisions about currency exchange and global payments by giving full and upfront information about the cost of a transaction.

'We want to help SMEs free up capital set aside to cover uncertainty, and ultimately help them expand their businesses, employ more people, and deliver greater value to the economy.'

But is this too good to be true?

Emma Jones MBE, founder of small business support group Enterprise Nation, explains the risks and potential rewards of taking a punt on the path of exchange rates.

Emma Jones MBE, founder of small business support group Enterprise Nation, explains the risks and potential rewards of taking a punt on the path of exchange rates

Should businesses lock into future exchange rates?

The short answer to this is it depends  one of the issues for some of the small businesses we speak to is that those buying raw materials, products or services from Europe, for example, have already seen a 20 per cent dip in margin because of the exchange rate.

This is unless they had the foresight to hedge long-term last year or are enjoying increased exports due to the drop in sterling.

The pound has fluctuated in value against the Euro significantly since June last year

Many smaller firms are not experiencing the latter because they are not yet well-established in overseas markets  for these firms, growth plans will have to be reviewed.

The implication for very small companies is that their ability to use cash flow to invest in vital business-building including exports and currency hedging is going to be more limited going forward.

The reality is that they are having to go back to suppliers and renegotiate deals to save money that way  and that takes precious time out from the business.

While many could look to raise more capital to invest in hedging, many have already benefited from investment earlier in the pipeline and would find it prohibitively expensive to do so again at this point. The net effect is that they will likely buy smaller quantities and for example have smaller production runs more frequently.

In what circumstances can it work well?

If a business has a well-established customer base in the US or China which operates using dollars, hedging is an excellent idea because this is where the real rewards lie.

If a firm is seeing a constant or even an upturn in demand for its products from overseas because of the price drop due to the fall in sterling, then hedging for the long-term can sometimes be a no-brainer and maximise profits in a time of uncertainty.

Hedging has its own inherent drawbacks just like any form of betting

What are the drawbacks?

Hedging has its own inherent drawbacks just like any form of betting  it could go the wrong way. In this instance, a rise in sterling any time soon seems unlikely, but can never be ruled out.

The other drawback is that it means upfront payments and tying up capital, which, for the reasons already mentioned, is an issue particularly for smaller firms that rely on cash flow and may not be already established in overseas markets.

If a firm is taking on board finance to hedge, this could wipe out any gains and so would need very careful consideration and advice from a financial expert.

How do you do it? Is there more than one way?

I would say take some financial advice on this, but here are some of the ways you can hedge.

Using a hedging agency or bureau is a very simple way to hedge and probably the most common way small firms do this. Obviously its important to shop around to get the best deal for your business.

Quite often there will be an ability to make agreed monthly payments over the course of a year, which works well for small firms or you can use them to make one-off international transfers, which can be an efficient way of doing things. Firms like OFX and Caxton FX are particularly SME friendly.

Another way is to do it via a bank. Major banks offer currency forward contracts, but this is an option that only makes sense for larger firms with bigger volumes. Each contract would be linked with a specific transaction.

Futures contracts are a way to invest in currency at a future date at an agreed rate. This would need to be done via a reputable exchange such as the London International Financial Future Exchange.

Open a foreign bank account and purchase goods or services in the currency. This would only be effective if the sterling is sent into the bank account when it is strong against that currency.

Are there other ways to shelter your business from exchange rate risk?

Getting paid in the currency you most use and raising finance in that currency is one way to do it.

For example, one of our members is running a crowdfunding campaign in dollars.

Whilst being British-based, its products are developed here and made in China, so all its payments are made in US dollars. It makes financial sense for them to make all transactions in US dollars.

Finally, sourcing and producing as much as possible in this country is obviously the best way to avoid having to lose money due to currency fluctuation.
A judge convicted Joaquin Shadow Rams of capital murder on Thursday for killing his 15-month-old son in 2012, in a plot to collect $500,000 in insurance money

A man has been found guilty of plotting and murdering his 15-month-old son for $500,000 worth of life insurance.

On Thursday, a Virginia judge convicted Joaquin Shadow Rams of capital murder in the 2012 death of his son, Prince McLeod Rams, a crime he intended to commit from practically the moment Prince was born, and then carried out as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

Despite being convicted of capital murder in a state with the death penalty, Rams will be sentenced to life in prison, because his defense team waived its right to a jury trial in exchange for prosecutors' promise not to pursue a death penalty.

Judge Randy Bellows' guilty ruling caps a nearly five-year legal saga in which Rams maintained he was unfairly accused of killing his son.

He allegedly drowned the boy but claimed that the child died because he suffers from seizures - the official cause of death was undetermined.

Witnesses gave conflicting medical testimony about the possibility that Prince died from natural causes.

But, in a 62-page ruling that Judge Bellows read aloud from the bench for more than two hours, he methodically dismissed the suggestion that Prince died a natural death.

Judge 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 two months old.

In the summer of 2012, a civil judge granted unsupervised visits to Rams over the objection of the infant's mother, Hera McLeod, who feared for the boy's safety.

Prince McLeod Rams, 15 months, died during an unsupervised visit with his father, Rams, who has insisted for five years that Prince died after after suffering a fever-induced seizure

A judge declared Joaquin Shadow Rams guilty of capital murder in the 2012 death of his son, Prince (pictured). Rams escaped the death penalty, but will be sentenced to life in prison

Prince and his mother, Hera McLeod, who started a blog to honor her son after his 2012 death

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,' Judge 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.

According to the original affidavit, Rams told police that he had heard Prince making 'raspy noises' on October 20. Believing that he 'was having a seizure,' Rams 'carried him to the bathtub, removed his clothing and diaper and put water on him.'

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.'

Prosecutor Paul Ebert said the case was challenging because the medical evidence was 'especially convoluted.'

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.

In his ruling, Judge Bellows agreed with prosecutors' experts, saying the medical evidence on that point is overwhelming.

Rams showed no visible reaction when the verdict was announced. His attorneys said they plan to appeal but declined further comment.

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, and his 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 successfully collected a payout of more than $150,000.

Prosecutor Ebert said Rams is a suspect in both those cases, and authorities will decide later whether to bring charges.

Prince's mother, Hera McLeod, said a judge shouldn't have allowed Joaquin unsupervised visits with their son after she presented evidence that he was a suspect in his ex's death

After Rams' conviction, Prince's mother, Hera McLeod, expressed relief after the ruling, 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.

Alma Collins' son Joseph Velez  and Rams' half-brother  said Thursday that he was glad to see a conviction for Prince's death, but 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 Jaoquin's possession at the time of his arrest in 2012.

'My heart's dancing that we finally got some justice,' Velez said. 'But my mother did not kill herself.'

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.

Rams' formal life in prison sentencing will take place in June.
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.

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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.'
A second Georgia police officer was fired on Thursday, a day after cellphone videos emerged showing one of the officers punching a man who had his hands up and the other kicking the man in the head once he was handcuffed on the ground.

The Gwinnett County Police Department said Thursday afternoon that Master Police Officer Robert McDonald violated department policy and the law. Video showed McDonald assaulting Demetrius Bryan Hollins while assisting a supervisor who had called for backup during a traffic stop about 4pm on Wednesday.

Several hours later, police said that supervisor, Sgt. Michael Bongiovanni, had also been fired after a second video surfaced of him punching Hollins in the face as Hollins put his hands in the air.

Hollins, still bloodied from the beating, spoke about the violent traffic stop in an interview with the Today show on Friday.

The 21-year-old college student said he had a run in with Bongiovanni before, so when he saw him pull him over, he tried to take out his phone to film the talk.

'It was so surreal,' Hollins said. 'He told me to step out of the car. Soon as I stepped out of the car with my hands up ...that's when he punched me in the face.'

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Victim Demetrius Bryan Hollins, 21, spoke out on the Today show on Friday about being beating by two Gwinnett County, Georgia, cops

Robert McDonald (left) was fired when video surfaced showing him stomping on Hollins' face when he was handcuffed on the ground. Michael Bongiovanni (right) was fired shortly after when another video surfaced showing him punching Hollins in the face

In their report of the incident, Bongiovanni and McDonald said that Hollins did not have a license plate and that they tased him when he refused to get out of the car.

But Gwinnett County Police Chief A.A. 'Butch' Ayers said at a Thursday press conference that the video speaks for itself.

'The incident that was depicted upon that video was not mentioned or described in those reports. There is literally no excuse for behavior like this,' Ayers said.

The department has also opened criminal investigations into the behavior of the two officers. The results will be turned over to the county district attorney, who will decide whether to prosecute the two officers.

This is the second video that surfaced of the traffic stop. In the video, Hollins gets out of the car with his hands up and then Bongiovanni hits him in the face

Gwinnett County Police Chief A. A. 'Butch' Ayers said that the officers' report of what happens does not align to the two witness videos

NBC reports that McDonald took responsibility when confronted with video of the incident, but that Bongiovanni defended his actions.

McDonald was hired by the department in August 2013 and graduated from the police academy in March 2014, while Bongiovanni was hired in September 1998 and graduated from the academy in February 1999.

No working number could be found for McDonald, and the voicemail at a number listed for Bongiovanni was full. It wasn't immediately clear whether either man had an attorney who could comment.

Bongiovanni pulled Hollins over in Lawrenceville, just outside Atlanta, police said.

Video filmed by a witness shows Bongiovanni punching Hollins as Hollins stands with his hands up after getting out of the car, police said.

The other video shows Bongiovanni appearing to yell at a handcuffed man who then lies face-down in a left-turn lane of the busy intersection. McDonald runs up and immediately appears to stomp on the man's head before both officers eventually pull him to his feet.

Hollins was still bleeding from the face when he was booked on charges of marijuana possession under one ounce, driving with a suspended license, operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked registration, failure to signal, having a brake light that's not in good repair and obstructing a law enforcement officer

The shift commander initiated an 'immediate investigation' and placed McDonald on administrative leave after Hollins' arrest.

Hollins was driving a red Acura Integra with no license plate and a brake light that didn't work, and switched lanes three times without signaling, according to an incident report filed by Bongiovanni.

Hollins yelled and began to 'act strange,' and based on that and the officer's recollection of Hollins' behavior during a previous arrest in August, Bongiovanni called for backup, the report says.

Hollins yelled and refused to obey orders when Bongiovanni ordered him out of the car and resisted when Bongiovanni tried to arrest him, the report says. There is no mention of Bongiovanni hitting Hollins.

The report mentions McDonald arriving after Bongiovanni had used his stun gun on Hollins and gotten him handcuffed on the ground. It doesn't mention any contact between McDonald and Hollins.

Jail records show Hollins faces charges of driving with a suspended or revoked license, operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked registration, failure to signal, having a brake light that's not in good repair, obstructing a law enforcement officer and having less than an ounce of marijuana. He was released on bond on Thursday afternoon.

Above is the first video that surfaced from the violent traffic stop on Wednesday

Hollins is lying on the ground, handcuffed, and is presenting no danger when McDonald (right) kicks him in the face (pictured, left)

Police released McDonald's personnel file Thursday and said Bongiovanni's would be released Thursday.

McDonald was 'an excellent example of a team player with a strong work ethic' who completed his work on time, was always willing to help others and was courteous and professional with the public, Bongiovanni wrote in an annual evaluation last June. He gave McDonald a rating of 'often exceeds expectations' in many categories and no rating lower than 'generally meets expectations.'

McDonald received a few commendations and recognitions, including sharing the officer of the month honor in November 2015.

He had filed three use-of-force reports explaining why he used his stun gun or physical force in the course of his duties.

He faced a disciplinary loss of his good driving record after he rear-ended another car in his patrol car in June 2015. But the officer who responded to the accident said in a letter to the department's safety review committee that it would have been very difficult for McDonald to avoid the wreck.
A classroom aide who was just feet away during the fatal shootings of a teacher and a student at a San Bernardino, California elementary school says she believes the gunman was 'out for blood'.

Jennifer Downing, an instructional assistant at North Park Elementary School, told The Press-Enterprise that she thinks gunman Cedric Anderson would have killed others besides his estranged wife, teacher Karen Smith, and eight-year-old student Jonathan Martinez, if he hadn't run out of bullets and stopped to reload on the morning of April 10.

'I don't feel like he was just out for (Karen) Smith,' Downing said. 'I feel like he was out for blood.'

Jennifer Downing, a teaching aide, was in the classroom when Anderson entered and starting shooting. She dragged two children out of the classroom and led others to safety

Authorities said that Cedric Anderson, 53, shot and killed his estranged wife, Karen Smith, 53, while she taught a special education class in San Bernardino, before committing suicide

In addition to killing his wife and Martinez, Anderson also shot another student - a nine-year-old boy, who is recovering - before fatally shooting himself.

Downing, Smith and a third teaching aide worked together in the elementary school classroom which normally contained 15 students with varying levels of special needs, including autism and ADHD.

On the day of the school shooting, Downing recalled that one of the students was out sick, leaving only 14 students in the classroom, and they were all about 20 minutes away from recess that morning when Anderson entered the room.

As they were all working at separate tables of students, Downing didn't even realize that Anderson was in the open plan classroom until she heard the first shot ring out.

Downing, pictured on April 10, as she helped to evacuate the elementary school building after Anderson shot and killed two people before turning his gun on himself and committing suicide

'At this time, everybody was heads-down, engaged in their group,' Downing said. 'Everybody looked up and was like "what the heck," ' when they heard the gunshot.

Jonathan Martinez was killed in the shooting

'By the time I looked up, he had already pointed the gun and fired.'

Downing said it took a few seconds for her to even comprehend what was happening and that during that time, Anderson was completely silent as he kept shooting.

She thinks she saw the wounded nine-year-old, identified as Nolan Brandy, get hit and react to the bullet wound, before seeing Anderson shoot Smith.

'So in my mind, I'm thinking "He's shooting anybody and everybody," ' Downing said.

When Downing's initial surprise wore off, she said she grabbed the collar of the child next to her and told him to stand up, before they both went to crouch behind a waist-height storage unit.

As they were hiding, Downing recalled that Anderson 'stopped, and messed with his gun.'

Downing had never seen Anderson (pictured with his wife, Smith) until the day of the shooting

Mourners placed flowers at a sidewalk memorial to Smith and Martinez after the shooting

As soon as he stopped shooting, Downing said, 'That's when I got up, that's when I dragged (the student) by the collar with me. There was a kiddo (a few feet away) who I clothes-lined and grabbed him and held him in my arms.'

Upon reaching the curtain that separated the elementary school student classrooms from each other, Downing said that she told the other students to ' "get out, get out." When I got to the door, I turned around for half a second. That's when I saw all the kids behind me, and that's when we ran.'

Downing didn't know until later on that Anderson had purposely tried to hit people besides Smith.

The other classroom aide told her that 'he raised the gun to her  and it clicked. He was out' of ammunition, Downing said. 'From the second he walked into that room, I did not think he was just out for Ms. Smith, he was out for blood.'

The San Bernardino Police Department said that Anderson fired 10 shots in total, stopping midway to reload his six-shot revolver.
A survivor of male rape was told by a helpline 'men are the attackers, women are the victims', when he tried to talk about his ordeal.

The man, who was 14 at the time, was attacked in a field when he was walking from his school by a 20-year-old.

But when he tried to call a rape crisis hotline eight months later, he was told he could not be helped.

A survivor of male rape was told by a helpline 'men are the attackers' when he tried to reach out for help eight months after being attacked (file photo)

He told the Telegraph: 'I was told very bluntly down the phone that this number is for women and girls.

'I remember her saying "men are the abusers, women are the victims, we need to terminate this call now so we can help victims."'

After his horrific ordeal in 2005, the victim fell into a cycle of bad relationships.

The victim struggled to get help until his second year at university and soon after he helped found Stay Brave UK, a charity dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault.

As little as 3.9 per cent of male rape victims report their ordeal to the police, according to a 2015 study.

Between 2010 and 2014, there were more than 26,000 recorded incidents of males being rape victims, including more than 3,700 in London.

But it is estimated that there could be as many as 679,000 male victims in that time period, according to Greater London Authority Conservatives.

Even though numbers of men coming forward are extremely low, numbers have been on the rise year on year.

Another victim of male rape talked to the Telegraph about how he was drugged and raped while he was celebrating his friend's birthday.

The man, who was 18 at the time, remembered a stranger giving him a drink but soon blacked out.

As little as 3.9 per cent of male rape victims report their ordeal to the police, according to a 2015 study. Another victim of male rape told how he was drugged and raped while he was out with friends (file photo)

He remembered nothing but suffered nightmares after the traumatic encounter.

Months later, the man was on a train when he spotted his attacker, who then listed the things he did to him on his phone.

As he struggled to get help, the victim continued to suffer from the affects of the rape.

He opened up to a friend, who had also experienced sexual assault, a year and a half later when he moved to London.

He told the paper: 'I was just so happy. I was like "god there is someone".'

In 2014, the government launched a 500,000 fund to help aid victims of male rape.

The Male Rape Support Fund and are helping to support 12 centres in England and Wales, including Bristol, Brighton, Manchester, Wirral and Barnsley.

Then-victims minister Damian Green said male rape could make up as much as 12 per cent of all cases of sexual abuse.
Canada is on track to legalize recreational marijuana by next year after the government put forward legislation on Thursday that will see it regulate production.

The legislation left the details of how the drug will be sold up to the provinces. It should be legal by July 2018.

Recreational marijuana usage has been legalized in some form in 26 states and the District of Columbia, and three more are set to join this year, but Canada would be the first Group of Seven country to do so nationally.

Liberals Justin Trudeau and Bill Blair agree with the party's 2015 campaign promise that the drug should be legal for recreational purposes to keep it out of the hands of kids and criminals - new licensing fees and taxes probably won't hurt either

Canadians celebrated National Marijuana Day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in 2016 - now they will have even more reason to celebrate when the drug becomes legal for recreational use in 2018

The legislation will be reviewed in Parliamentary committees, where alterations could be made. But it is ultimately all but guaranteed to pass, as the Liberals have a majority in the House of Commons.

The ruling Liberal party made legalization part of its successful 2015 election campaign and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has argued that it will keep marijuana out of the hands of underage users and reduce drug-related crime.

'Criminal prohibition has failed to protect our kids and communities and we need a new approach,' said Bill Blair, the government's point man on the issue and a former police chief.

The drug has been legal for medicinal purposes but in 2018 there will be a new licensing fee and tax system for retailers selling it for recreational purposes

The government said it will provide details on a new licensing fee and tax system in the coming months. Blair said Ottawa was talking to provinces and producers to make sure the sale price will be 'appropriate.'

The provinces will be responsible for overseeing and approving retail sales of cannabis. Authorities have been battling a rise in illegal dispensaries, particularly in British Columbia and Ontario, for over a year.

In jurisdictions that do not put a regulated retail framework in place, Canadians would be able to purchase marijuana online. The minimum legal age would be 18, though provinces would be able to raise that.

Only cannabis grown by a federally licensed producer will be available for sale, though Canadians could grow up to four plants at home.

Packaging would not be allowed to appeal to youth, include endorsements, or associate cannabis with a certain 'way of life,' according to the legislation. An official panel recommended late last year that the government require plain packaging.

While medical marijuana is already legal in Canada, consulting firm Deloitte has estimated annual sales of recreational marijuana could be as high as $6.5 billion.

Shares of marijuana producers were trading lower following the announcement, though the stocks have seen a run-up in anticipation of legalization.

Canopy Growth Corp fell 3.8 percent to $9.92 Canadian dollars, though the stock has more than tripled in the last year. OrganiGram Holdings Inc, which has nearly doubled, fell 9.7percent to $2.80 Canadian dollars.

The market action was likely a 'sell the news' reaction as the legislation was largely in line with what an official task force recommended last year, said Aaron Salz, founder of Stoic Advisory.

Despite recreational marijuana's all but certain future status as legal, Blair said 'pot pardons' are not under consideration.

He also said until the drug is legal, people need to follow the law.

'The only control that is currently in place is the criminal sanction and the laws,' he said, according to CBC News. ' those laws must continue to be respected and upheld right across the country.
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.'
A grandmother, who was forced to wait in urine-soaked pants for nearly two hours answering questions from a federal agent about a rice-sized piece of moon rock, has been told she can sue over the incident.

Joann Davis, 74, had contacted NASA about the rock and claimed it was a gift to her late husband from astronaut Neil Armstrong.

She had plans to sell it so that she could pay for her son's medical bills.

Joann Davis has been told she can sue the NASA agent who detained her

But lunar material gathered on the Apollo missions is considered government property, and her email prompted an investigation.

Mrs Davis was ambushed by six armed officers in the parking lot of a Denny's in Lake Elsinore, California, as part of a sting operation against her in May 2011.

An indignant federal appeals court on Thursday criticized Davis' detention by NASA agent Norman Conley in the Denny's parking lot, calling it 'unreasonably prolonged and unnecessarily degrading'.

Conley detained Davis even though he knew she was nearly 75 years old, had urinated in her pants during the sting, had reached out to NASA herself and was having financial problems, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said.

Instead of telling Davis that her possession of the rock was illegal and asking her to surrender it to NASA, 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,' 9th Circuit Chief Judge Sidney Thomas wrote.

The very small piece of moon rock, center, taken from Joann Davis during the sting operation

The appeals panel upheld a lower court ruling denying Conley immunity from Davis's lawsuit alleging wrongful detention.

John Rubiner, an attorney for Conley, said he was examining the ruling and had not decided what to do next.

Mrs Davis claimed the moon rock was a gift to her late husband from astronaut Neil Armstrong, pictured

He said a lower court judge, Consuelo Marshall in Los Angeles, determined that Conley had asked Davis if she wished to use the bathroom to clean up and whether she wanted to speak with him at her home, but she declined.

Marshall also said there was no evidence that Mrs Davis or her husband legally acquired or possessed the moon rock.

He said the woman told a confidential informant retained by NASA that she knew of other people who had gotten in trouble for possessing lunar rock, according to court documents. Mrs Davis sought $1.7million for the rock.

In addition to the moon rock, Mrs Davis claimed she had a nickel-sized piece of the heat shield that protected the Apollo 11 space capsule as it returned to earth from the first successful manned mission to the moon in 1969. Investigators did not seek to seize that item.

NASA lunar experts later confirmed the authenticity of the moon rock in Davis' possession, but prosecutors never filed charges against her, the 9th Circuit said.

Armstrong, who died in 2012, had told investigators that he never gave or sold lunar material to anyone, according to an affidavit in the case.
The boyfriend of a 19-year-old woman who tragically plunged to her death from a cliff in Sydney's Royal National Park has been questioned by the police.

Shazia Edah-Tally was found dead at the bottom of a 30-metre cliff near Bundeena, New South Wales, on Thursday - a day after she went missing after becoming separated from her boyfriend.

The 20-year-old man was quizzed as a witness at a police station on Thursday evening.

Police have refused to rule out foul play but are also looking into the woman's mental health, Daily Mail Australia understands.

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Shazia Edah-Tally was found dead at the bottom of a 30-metre cliff near Bundeena, New South Wales, on Thursday

Witness: Miss Edah-Tally's boyfriend (pictured) has been questioned by the police

The 20-year-old man (pictured), who is helping police with their investigation, was quizzed as a witness at a police station on Thursday evening

The teenager was last seen at about 2pm on Wednesday after her partner lost sight of her on the Wedding Cake Rock (pictured) Trail, south of Bundeena, New South Wales

Miss Edah-Tally and her boyfriend where on a bushwalk along the picturesque Wedding Cake Rock Trail on Wednesday afternoon when they lost sight of each other.

The teenager is believed to have gone missing at 2pm but her boyfriend did not call the police until about 5pm.

Her body was found the next morning at about 11am on Thursday and was retrieved that afternoon.

Police said the couple - who had been together for eight months - were running along the coastal track shortly before Miss Edah-Tally went missing.

'The pair were going down this coast track, having some fun and running ahead of each other,' Inspector Steve Worthington told the Daily Telegraph.

'I'm not ruling [foul play] in or out.

'The Coral Track runs close along the cliff face, its a steep cliff in excess of 100 feet in depth from top to bottom.'

Police confirmed that a body found at the foot of a cliff on Thursday morning was that of teenager Shazia Edah-Tally

Miss Edah-Tally's mother (pictured at the scene) had earlier pleaded for her to come home

Miss Edah-Tally had been missing in the bush overnight after becoming separated from her boyfriend while on a walk in Royal National Park (pictured from above)

Miss Edah-Tally's boyfriend joined the search for her body and was seen wearing a black tracksuit and hoodie as he told police where he last saw her.

At this stage police are not treating the case as a criminal investigation. It is not clear how the couple ended up separated.

Before she was found dead, Miss Edah-Tally's mother said: 'We want her to come home. We have faith she will come back.'

She and her younger daughter were both in the park when the woman's body was found.

Miss Edah-Tally did not have any food or water with her when she vanished in the 151-square kilometre park south of Sydney.

Temperatures plunged to 13C as rain set in over the park on Wednesday night, with rescuers forced to temporarily call off the search because of the poor conditions.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.
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The Southern mansion famously featured in the film The Big Chill has been snapped up by a real estate developer for less than half the asking price in 2013.

John Tashjian of the Centurion Real Estate Partners paid $1.76million for the seven-bedroom property known as Tidalholm in Beaufort, South Carolina after it was listed for $4.5million in 2013.

The historic home was originally built for a plantation owner in 1853 before it famously served as the backdrop to the 1983 film that solidified the Hollywood careers of Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, and William Hurt.

The Southern mansion (pictured) famously featured in the film The Big Chill has been snapped up by a real estate developer for less than half the asking price in 2013

John Tashjian of the Centurion Real Estate Partners paid $1.76million for the seven-bedroom property known as Tidalholm in Beaufort, South Carolina after it was listed for $4.5million in 2013 (pictured, the wrap-around veranda)

The mansion was originally built as a single-story summer home to plantation owner Edgar Fripp before the second floor was added four decades later (pictured, the entry way)

Tashjian, who has hired famed interior designer Steven Gambrel to renovate the home, said: 'I am extremely excited and honored to be Tidalhoms next owner.

'I am committed to restoring this storied, historic home to its original grandeur and to serve as its custodian so that it may be enjoyed by future generations,' Tashjian said.

The mansion was originally built as a single-story summer home to plantation owner Edgar Fripp before the second floor was added four decades later.

Tidalholm was turned into a hospital during the Civil War and a guest house from the 1930s to 1970s. It also housed a restaurant on the ground level at one point.

The house was also featured in the 1979 film The Great Santini. Its Hollywood history goes even deeper with writer Samuel Hopkins, who stayed at Tidolholm and penned the short story that was later adapted to the Cary Grant film It Happened One Night.

Tidalholm was turned into a hospital during the Civil War and a guest house from the 1930s to 1970s. It also housed a restaurant on the ground level at one point (pictured, the dining room with a fireplace)

Its Hollywood history goes even deeper with writer Samuel Hopkins, who stayed at Tidolholm and penned the short story that was later adapted to the Cary Grant film It Happened One Night (pictured, the living room)

The historic mansion, which has a wrap-around veranda, sits on a 1.38acre plot that includes a guest cottage and a private dock (pictured, the entrance to the property, and right: the view out to Harbor River)

The historic mansion, which has a wrap-around veranda with stately columns along the frontage, includes original moldings throughout the home.

It hit the market for $4.5million in 2013, and Tashjian snapped up a deal on the property, which also includes its own dock, and a two-bedroom cottage, which was referenced in the Big Chill.

Kevin Costner's character Alex had been renting the cottage where he killed himself, drawing his college friends to reunite at the house for his funeral, where they grapple with their 30-something lives.

Fans of the film will recognize the wide porch and the kitchen where the characters cleaned up after dinner while dancing to The Temptations' Ain't Too Proud to Beg.
A woman who had her father killed after suffering years of sexual abuse at his hands has rebuilt her life with her high school sweetheart husband.

As a popular teenage cheerleader, no one had any idea of the hell that Cheryl Pierson was living through at home - not even her boyfriend, now husband, Rob Cuccio.

Her father James threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone the truth; that she had been raped and abused by him on an almost daily basis since her mother Cathleen fell ill with kidney disease and died in 1985.

'He would say he'd kill me and kill anybody that I told. I believed him,' she told People.

Cheryl Pierson (left, in 1987, and today with her her husband Rob) offered to pay one of her high school classmates $1,000 to murder her father in 1986

Cheryl Pierson is seen above with her father James. Her father James threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone that she had been raped and abused by him on an almost daily basis

James, a 42-year-old electrician, was shot five times in the head and chest on his driveway. He is seen above with daughter Cheryl

Cheryl suffered in silence, when he father threatened to begin abusing her eight-year-old sister, JoAnn, something changed.

One morning at Newfield High School, New York, in 1986, Cheryl, mentioned a recent hitman plot she had seen in the news. She asked her classmates if anyone would be willing to kill for money.

At the time, no-one took her request as anything more than a joke. No-one, that was except Sean Pica, a fellow junior.

He promised he'd do it for $1,000.

By February of that year, James, a 42-year-old electrician was dead  shot five times in the head and chest on his driveway.

Cheryl has now written a book about her experience, called Incest, Murder and a Miracle: The True Story Behind the Cheryl Pierson Murder-for-Hire Headlines

Cheryl, then 16 (pictured with her brother James Jnr. in 1989) said her father had been sexually abusing her for years

Cheryl Pierson (with Lawyer Paul Gianelli in 1987) said she never believed Sean Pica would go through with the murder

Sean Pica, right with his lawyer in 1987, was eventually sentenced to 24 years in jail

Cheryl, who insists she never thought Sean would go through with it, was stunned.

'I was shocked and horrified,' she told the magazine. 'I knew what happened. Sean went through with it.

Despite her disbelief, she and Rob managed to raise $400 to pay off the hitman.

Shortly after the shooting, Sean, Rob and Cheryl were arrested.

Then 16, Cheryl admitted manslaughter and was sentenced to just six months in jail - released in three for good behavior. Rob, 20, was handed probation for criminal solicitation.

But Sean, then 18, was sentenced to 24 years in jail after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

'I feel terrible that I did ask him to begin with,' Cheryl admits.

Cheryl says she has begun a new chapter after prison with Rob and their two children

Cheryl, pictured with her two daughters Samantha and Casey, still has emotional scars but has been able to start again with a new family

Friends and family of the Piersons later say that they suspected that something had been off in the relationship between James Pierson and his daughter, although no-one ever reported any abuse.

James Pierson was described as 'gruff, foul-mouthed man with an aggressive, macho style no one would dispute', according to the New York Times.

The strict father taught his three children to be silent when adults were in the room. They were not permitted to drink any water at the table until they had finished their meal, her brother James Jnr. said.

If he disliked the way his kids spoke or behaved, he would threaten to smack them across the face.

'My father used to threaten me on a daily basis,' she told PEOPLE.

But things got so much worse when Cheryl was ten and her mother was diagnosed with kidney disease.

'I had to take on wifely duties as far as the house but also the intimate things you do with your wife,' she said.

After her mother's death in February 1985, her father forced her to have sex up to three times a day, Cheryl said.

'The more I fought it the more aggressive it became', she said, admitting that she eventually stopped fighting in the hope it would be over 'quicker and easier'.

'I blamed myself for that,' she added.

The mother-of-two, who lives in Long Island, said that even after her father's murder, she didn't feel safe.

While she carries the pain of the abuse, Cheryl has been able to forge a new life for herself

They have been a happy, close family unit ever since. The only blip was when Rob suffered a cardiac arrest in 2012

Friends and family of the Piersons later say that they suspected that something had been off in the relationship between James Pierson and his daughter, although no-one ever reported any abuse. Cheryl is seen with her father above

'The emotional scars will never go away.'

While she carries the pain of the abuse, Cheryl has been able to forge a new life for herself.

On January 19, 1998, she was picked up in a white stretch limo by her brother James, boyfriend Rob and friend Craig to begin a new chapter in her life.

A few years later, Cheryl and Rob were married and expecting their first child Samantha. Three years later, they had their second girl Casey.

They have been a happy, close family unit ever since. The only blip was when Rob suffered a cardiac arrest in 2012.

But thanks to Rob and her family's support, Cheryl says she found the strength to fight for her husband, even after his husband's heart stopped beating.

She refused to believe he would die on her after everything they went through, and to everyone's great relief, his heart started again.

'Rob saved me, then I saved him,' Cheryl says. 'And now we want to save other people.'

Cheryl has now written a book about her experience, called Incest, Murder and a Miracle: The True Story Behind the Cheryl Pierson Murder-for-Hire Headlines, now available on Amazon.
Amusement park visitors had to be rescued by firefighters after they became trapped on a stalled roller coaster 100 feet up in the air.

Two dozen people were trapped for nearly four hours on the Joker's Jinx ride at Six Flags America, in Maryland, on Thursday.

Prince George's County Fire/EMS spokesman Mark Brady said on his Twitter account that the riders came to a standstill at about 5.30pm.

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Firefighters respond to the scene after 24 people became stuck when a roller coaster stalled at Six Flags America

The passengers were stuck 100 feet above the ground for nearly four hours

A spokesperson for the park said in a statement: 'Joker's Jinx did not complete its regular ride cycle, causing it to stop at a safe location on the track.'

The riders, the youngest being nine and ten, were upright when the roller coaster stalled.

Ten passengers were brought down in a cherry picker by about 8.15pm with the rest all being on the ground by 9.20pm.

Footage of the incident showed firefighters in a rescue bucket talking with the passengers, none of whom appeared to be in distress, Brady said.

Javier Valverde was waiting on the ground as his children Julia, 15, and Desidariaus, 13, were stuck on the ride.

Prince George's County Fire/EMS spokesman Mark Brady said on his Twitter account that the riders came to a standstill at about 5.30pm

'You're worried for them because you can't go save them,' He told NBC Washington. 'If there was a ladder, I would have gone up the ladder if I could.'

When he was finally reunited with his children Mr Valverde said he felt 'very, very thankful'.

Six Flags' website describes the Joker's Jinx as having a 'spaghetti bowl' design, with the roller coaster doing 'a cobra roll, a sidewinder loop, a corkscrew, and countless swift reversals'.

It was not until 9.20pm that all the passengers were safely on the ground

Six Flags America said: 'The safety of our guests is our highest priority and the ride will be closed for a thorough inspection before reopening.'

This is not the first time passengers have been trapped on the Joker's Jinx ride.

In August 2014 two dozen passengers became stuck, some for as long as five hours.

A judge later ordered the park to pay one family $60,000 - $10,000 for each family member on the ride.
Nebraska's Larry and Christy Hammer, both retired and in their early 70s, died in April 2016 when a fire broke out in their cabin aboard La Estrella Amazonica cruise ship.

That fire, and the deaths of the Lincoln, Nebraska couple, were due at least in part to gross negligence on the part of the ships crew, a lack of appropriate equipment and a failure to follow safety protocols, according to a report completed by the Peruvian Navy earlier this month, as reported by Fox News.

But because of 1920's Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA), that finding may not mean much in terms of liability for Expediciones Amazonicas, the Peruvian company that owns, operates and manages La Estrella Amazonica.

Neither will it affect the Alabama-based company that organized the trip, International Expeditions , which is owned by Germany's TUI Group.

DOHSA was originally passed to ensure widows of sailors who died at sea could collect their deceased husband's earnings.

Nebraska's Larry and Christy Hammer, both retired and in their early 70s, died in April 2016 when a fire broke out in their cabin aboard La Estrella Amazonica cruise ship; the Peruvian Navy released a report earlier this month placing responsibility with International Expeditions, the Alabama-based company that organized their trip, which is owned by a German company

The act provides that only compensation only be paid for wage earners, not for children or retirees, like the Hammers.

Even when the act does require payment of some kind to survivors of those who pass away at see, it does not provide for any additional compensation for pain and suffering.

The Hammers daughters, Kelly Hammer Lankford and Jill Hammer Malott, were shocked 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 Malott. 'This is deplorable given the egregious facts and the companys misrepresentations.'

'My parents were incredibly thorough when they traveled,' said Lankford. She pointed out that both of her late parents held Ph.Ds. 'They traveled with American companies. They read everything. They watched every webinar.'

The couple is seen here with their family, from L to R: LarryHammer, Kelly Hammer Lankford, Jill Hammer Malott and Christy Hammer

The fire that occurred on the first day of the Hammers' trip was started by a short circuit in a power strip that was provided by the crew, the report said.

The short circuit created a spark that spread to a suitcase, but also a mattress that was not fire resistant.

Mattresses aboard cruise ships are required to be fire resistant under Peru's maritime laws.

The SOLAS Convention, which is the international maritime treaty for the Safety of Life at Sea, also has requirements of the bedding to be used on cruise ships, which International Expeditions advertised compliance with in its promotional materials, according to Malott and Lankford.

But the report found that the bedding did not comply to those regulations.

To add to the series of events that led to the Hammer's demise, the fire alarm did not operate and 'the reaction time of the vessels crew was deficient and quite ineffective.' The crew took more than 20 minutes to rescue passengers, according to the report.

They died on this ship, La Estrella Amazonica; The report said their fire alarm did not go off, and apparently untrained crew-members took 20 minutes to attempt a rescue

'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.

The rescue crew 'included personnel who had not undergone training for their duties  and did not hold certificates of competence for their positions on board.'

There was a roster of emergency responders on the ship. but fewer than half of those included in that roster were involved in the rescue, the report said.

'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.

The heart of Malott and Lankford's mother was still beating when she was pulled from the cabin, the report said. She died on the way to the hospital.

'They robbed our children of their grandparents,' said Lankford, who lives in Kansas City, Kansas.

'Not doing anything for so long seems unimaginable,' said Lankford, the older sister.

When the tragic incident first happened, Malott and Lankford, who were upset by what they said was a lack of information, ran their own investigation which, according to the Omaha World-Herald, uncovered many of the same troubling facts that were cited in the Peruvian Navy's report.

They hired private detectives in Peru, spoke to representatives of the state department and the Peruvian Embassy, and chased International Expeditions.

'There were so many multiple layers of failure on the boat that night,' Malott said.

'I don't want this to happen to another person. This should never have happened to my parents.'

The sisters also claim that International Expeditions promised unlimited time and space for the daughters' investigators to search.

But when they arrived the boat - deemed fit to continue its journey - had sailed off, and their search when it happened was limited to four hours and only certain areas of the ship.

At the time a spokesperson for the company said that the boat was cleared by six agencies who agreed it was fit to continue its voyage, and that an independent inspector examined the alarm and electrics.

But she would not comment on whether the crew were properly trained, and said she hadn't seen the recordings of the fire.

This week, the company issued the following updated 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 La Estrella Amazonica, a vessel that we charter.

The Hammers daughters, Kelly Hammer Lankford (pictured, C) and Jill Hammer Malott, were shocked by both the report and the cruise companys refusal to take responsibility

'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.'

James Walker, a maritime attorney, claims cruise companies often use DOHSA as a shield from liability when tragedy strikes, according to Fox.

'We receive on average a call a month from a family member who loses a parent or child at sea,' said Walker. '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?'

The Cruise Lines International Association has previously spoken on the record on that issue.

'It is not correct to single out the cruise industry as opposing changes to DOHSA,' Christina Perez said, a spokesperson for the association.

'Numerous multiple shipping interests expressed concerns with specific changes to DOHSA when those proposals were considered by Congress several years ago'

Brett Rivkind, the lawyer handling the Hammer case, said it shouldn't even be an issue here.

'[I] 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 said. He has previously testified before Congress about changing DOHSA, according to Fox News.

But Rivkind will try another legal approach to hold the cruise ship company responsible for its liability.

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 are committed to seeing this fight through, and said it's not about money but preventing the future suffering of other families in times of similar tragedy.

'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.'

International Expeditions sent a refund check for the amount of the Hammers' trip to Malott and Lankford, which amounted to $10,000, but the daughters returned it.
A photographer was shocked to open his credit card statement and find $3,700 in charges run up across the world on his account.

Jared Donkin, 23, found transactions in Las Vegas, California, Texas, Britain and Amsterdam on his New Zealand bank account after his bank alerted him to suspicious overnight activity on his card.

'I was emailed at 1am saying that I should contact the bank as there was fraudulent behaviour with my Visa card and told it had be put on hold,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Donkin immediately got in touch with the bank as he was flying to Bali the next day with his family.

Jared Donkin, a professional photographer, was shocked to see the transactions when he logged in online

Approximately $3,700 worth of unsolicited charges were made on the 23-year-old's credit card

'I was nervous that so much money was gone and I didn't know how they had my card details. I don't shop in dodgy places and never buy things online.'

'I viewed my online banking and noticed 5-6 transactions that looked to be world-wide, one in Vegas and one in Amsterdam, and there was around $3,500-3,700 taken out.'

His bank told the 23-year-old they were not sure how his details had been taken but said it can happen all sorts of ways and 'you would never know.'

By the end of the same day the money was credited back to his account.

Jared Donkin (pictured with girlfriend Katrien) found the unauthorised transactions a day before his trip to Bali with his family

Charges had been made in in Las Vegas, Amsterdam, Walnut in California, United Kingdom and Austin, Texas

In a 2016 report from the Australian Payments Clearing Association detailed online credit fraud is on the rise.

CNP (card not present) fraud occurs when a card's information is stolen and used to make purchases or other payments without the card, mainly online.

Nationally and overseas CNP fraud is behind 79% of all Australian card fraud by value, up from 77% in 2014.

By the end of the same day the money was credited back to Mr Donkin's account

An APCA spokesperson said: 'Consumers can do simple things to help prevent online card fraud like keeping their PC security up to date and looking for the padlock before entering card details to make sure the website is secure'.

Fraud obtained by counterfeit cards and skimming fell by 10% to $22.9 million on Australian cards used domestically in 2015.

'Fraud is a constant battle and as the industry's efforts prove effective in this channel, criminals are moving online,' the representative said.
A senior Trump administration official denied reports the US was prepared to launch a preemptive conventional weapons strike against North Korea if it appeared the regime was ready to launch a nuclear weapons test, according to Reuters.

The US fears North Korea will perform the nuclear test to coincide with the national 'Day of the Sun' on Saturday commemorating the anniversary of its founding president Kim Il Sung.

US intelligence officials told NBC if the US is convinced North Korea will follow through on a test, it can preemptively deploy Tomahawk missiles from two warships parked in the region.

Bombers are also being lined up in Guam, and cyber and special operations on the ground may be utilized, the officials said.

But a member of the administration shot down the idea, describing the report as 'flat wrong', while another official told Reuters it was 'speculative at best'.

The Pentagon declined comment, saying, as a policy, it does not discuss future operations 'nor publicly speculate on possible scenarios.'

Trump diverted the USS Carl Vinson (pictured in March) 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

If the US is convinced North Korea will follow through on a test, it can preemptively deploy Tomahawk missiles from two warships, according to US intelligence officials cited by NBC

Satellite images 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

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

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

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.

Aerial photos taken Tuesday show continued activity at the Punggye-ri Nuclear site where US officials fear a nuclear device has been installed in a tunnel ahead of another test.

Tensions remain high after President Donald Trump sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group to the Korean Peninsula.

On Thursday, North Korea said it would launch a 'merciless retaliatory strike' against US military action after issuing another warning the day before.

While a 'big event' slated for Thursday turned out to be the unveiling of new skyscrapers in Pyongyang, US officials told NBC a nuclear test could come as early as this weekend.

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.

China, North Korea's sole major ally and neighbor, opposes its weapons program and 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.'

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also 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.

The smiling North Korean leader is seen watching his 'elite fighting force' on a military training exercise in photos released today

Kim Jong-un made a public appearance in Pyongyang on Thursday, to open a housing project featuring residential tower blocks of various shapes - round, square and octagonal - with the tallest proclaimed as 70 storeys, or 234 metres, high, and including nearly 5,000 apartments in total.

Around 200 foreign journalists are in Pyongyang as the country marks the 105th anniversary of '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.

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

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

This picture taken on April 11 and released by North Korea's news agency on Wednesday shows a national meeting at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang. Foreign journalists were told to prepare for a 'big and important' event on Thursday

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'

Trump revealed Wednesday morning that he had spoken with Xi on Tuesday night about the Pyongyang 'menace'

The US President wrote Tuesday on Twitter that Xi Jinping should pressure his neighbour and close ally into stopping its nuclear program

Washington-based 38 North, who monitors North Korea, has reported 'unusually high levels of activity' at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site over the past four weeks.

New satellite imagery from April 2 showed there was more activity around the North Portal, which is the tunnel where the four most recent nuclear tests have taken place.

Today it was revealed that Kim Jong-Un had overseen a special forces commando operation, watching 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.

Around 200 foreign journalists are in Pyongyang as the country marks the 105th anniversary of 'Day of the Sun'. Kim Jong-Un is pictured today

US President Donald Trump tweeted that he had 'great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea'

KIM UNVEILS 750FT TOWER BLOCK OF FLATS... WITH NO HOT WATER With tens of thousands of adoring citizens looking on -along with invited international media - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on Thursday opened a prestige housing project as he sought to burnish his country's image in the midst of mounting tensions over its nuclear ambitions. The Ryomyong Street development is a collection of residential tower blocks of various shapes - round, square and octagonal - with the tallest proclaimed as 70 storeys, or 770f high, and including nearly 5,000 apartments in total. But the most prestigious flat, a penthouse at the top of the tallest tower has no hot water, reporters found at the opening. The complex stands just down a wide avenue from the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the bodies of Kim's father and grandfather - the North's founding father Kim Il-Sung - lie in state, and its completion was repeatedly promised in time for Saturday's 105th anniversary of Kim Il-Sung's birth. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on Thursday opened a prestige housing project as he sought to burnish his country's image in the midst of mounting tensions over its nuclear ambitions North Korean leader Kim Jong Un cuts the ribbon during an opening ceremony of a newly constructed residential complex in Ryomyong street in Pyongyang Tens of thousands of soldiers, officials and citizens packed a plaza from early morning, waiting in the cold Pyongyang spring air for hours before Kim made his entrance, leading a delegation of senior officials and generals onto the dais. Addressing the throng, Prime Minister Pak Pong-Ju lauded Kim, the third of his family to rule the country. 'I would like to express the greatest thanks in the name of the people and the army to great leader comrade Kim Jong-Un, who wisely led this construction to victory,' he said. 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 over its capabilities. Tens of thousands of adoring citizens watched on along with invited international media There is speculation it 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. Such tensions were entirely absent as Kim took a pair of scissors proffered from a tray and cut a wide red ribbon to rhythmic cheers from the crowd. He waved to his admirers before turning and walking back to his Mercedes limousine. North Korean authorities seek to present their isolated, impoverished country as prosperous and modern, and the project is the third of its kind in as many years in Pyongyang, but by far the largest at nearly 5,000 flats in total. The showpiece penthouse apartments at the top of the tallest tower offer impressive views over the capital and the surrounding countryside, and are furnished with ice green wallpaper and purple sofas - but had no hot water. Advertisement

'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.

It came as Japan warned North Korea may have the capacity to deliver missiles equipped with sarin nerve gas.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: 'There is a possibility that North Korea already has a capability to deliver missiles with sarin as warheads.'

South Korea said today it believed it would be consulted by the United States before any possible pre-emptive U.S. strike against Pyongyang.

China urged the North to halt its nuclear programme in exchange for greater protection from Beijing.

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 ambitions.

'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.

Yesterday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a peaceful resolution to the North Korean problem in a telephone conversation with President Trump on Wednesday.

TENSE STAND-OFF: The U.S. dispatched a naval strike group to the area amid continued missile launches and hot rhetoric from North Korea

Trump warned Tuesday that 'North Korea is looking for trouble', insisting that if China 'does not decide to help,' the US 'will solve the problem without them'

Trump tweeted that he had 'a very good call' with Chinese leader Xi Jinping Tuesday night dealing with 'the menace of North Korea.'

He promised Xi on Tuesday that they would get 'far better' trade terms with the U.S. if they managed to de-fang the hostile North Korean regime.

But in the same digital breath  on Twitter  he pledged to handle Pyongyang with or without Beijing's help.

'I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!' Trump tweeted Tuesday.

And today, he 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.' 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. Advertisement

The president is increasingly concerned with the threat of a nuclear program being developed by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

'North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.' Trump continued Tuesday.

Pyongyang rattled a saber in Washington's direction on Monday, saying it would mount a defense against 'reckless acts of aggression' after the Trump administration sent an aircraft carrier strike group toward the Korean peninsula.

The strike group consists of the USS Carl Vinson, a missile carrier and two destroyers.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency said the North Korean foreign ministry criticized Trump's 'reckless acts of aggression' and said American aggression has 'reached a serious phase.'

Pyongyang 'is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S.,' the ministry insisted.

In April, 2012, North Korea attempted to launch a long-range rocket ahead of the 100th Day of the Sun. State media later confirmed the launch had failed.

On Wednesday, North Korean officials told foreign journalists in Pyongyang invited to mark the national holiday that their schedule had been canceled, and to instead meet early on Thursday to prepare for a 'big and important event'.

Visits by foreign journalists to North Korea are rare and tightly coordinated, and security checks at events attended by leader Kim Jong Un are especially rigorous.

North Korea often uses such visits to showcase new construction projects. In recent weeks workers have been putting the finishing touches to the skyscraper-lined 'Ryomyong' street in central Pyongyang.

Kim has made frequent visits to the street to inspect construction work there, according to state media. North Korea has in the past marked its April 15 holiday with tightly choreographed military parades.
British-born Asma al-Assad, 41, regularly posts pictures on her Instagram account

A social media account of President Bashar al-Assad's wife appears to portray an 'alternate reality' of life in Syria.

British-born Asma al-Assad, 41, regularly posts pictures on her Instagram account showing her speaking to children, holding a baby in a Damascus hospital and embracing a family who lost a loved one in the country's civil war.

It's a stark contrast to the scenes in Khan Sheikhun last week, which saw 87 people killed in a chemical attack.

Horrifying images of dead children and people foaming at the mouth sent shockwaves round the world, after her husband ordered his troops to drop Sarin gas on his own people.

But, if you only followed Mrs Assad's account you would be forgiven for thinking life in Syria is picture-perfect.

She posts professional pictures of her visits, talks and engagement meetings.

One photo, posted on Wednesday, shows her with students who finished top of their class. Another shows her cradling a baby in a Damascus hospital on International Women's Day.

All of the posts use the hashtag '#weloveyouAsma' and reach out to her 120,000 followers. But many people have branded her 'sick', 'twisted' and a 'murderer' in their comments.

One follower described Mrs Assad as 'the devil's side b***h', while another told her to 'rot in hell'.

Syrian expert Andrew Tabler, who worked with the First Lady between 2001 and 2008, said her social media account is designed to portray an 'alternate reality' of life in the war-torn country.

He told Fox News: 'It shows indifference and insensitivity at the highest level. I think she's fully aware of what's going on and it makes your stomach churn.'

Tests carried out on the site in Khan Sheikhun have established the presence of sarin gas, or a similar substance, the UN Security Council heard on Wednesday.

Pictured is the First Lady of Syria Asma al-Assad speaking to children at a school in Iraq five weeks ago

An unconscious Syrian child receives treatment at a hospital in Khan Sheikhun, a rebel-held town in the Idlib province, following a chemical gas attack

One a post 18 weeks ago, she said: 'The most important achievement after all these years..is that our children can now hear us, talk to us, understand us.'

While her husband faces calls to tried as a war criminal, Mrs Assad, who was born in London and grew up in Acton, described the world's reaction as 'propaganda' against the regime.

On her Instagram account, she wrote in Arabic: '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.'

Mrs Assad holds dual citizenship, British and Syrian.

Her parents, both Sunni Muslims, moved from Syria to London in the Fifties so that her father, who is now based at the Cromwell Hospital and in Harley Street, could get the best possible education and medical training.

This photo, posted on Wednesday, shows her with students who finished top of their class

Children get treatment at a hospital after last week's chemical attack by Assad regime forces

This picture shows her Mrs Assad cradling a baby in a Damascus hospital on International Women's Day

A Syrian child receives treatment at a small hospital in the town of Maaret al-Noman after last week's Sarin gas attack

Horrifying images of dead children and people foaming at the mouth sent shockwaves round the world, after her husband ordered his troops to drop Sarin gas on his own people

She was educated at a Church of England school in Ealing before attending a private girls day school  Queens College, Harley Street.

Those who knew her said that, given that she spent the first 25 years of her life in London, Mrs Assad had liberal western values.

Meanwhile, President Assad has branded claims his regime launched a chemical attack on his own citizens '100 per cent fabrication'.

The dictator 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 Syrian president has questioned whether children, such as the twin babies pictured being held by distraught father Abdel Hameed Alyousef, 29, were actually killed in the attack

In response to US President Donald Trump's declaration that Assad was to blame, and subsequent air strike on a Syrian air field, the dictator said Trump must 'eat his words', 'swallow his pride', and perform a u-turn if he wants survive in the job.

Assad made the comment in an interview released today, 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

He would not have ordered the strike as it would have been morally wrong

State Department spokesman Mark Toner dismissed the comments when asked to respond to them Thursday.

'Sadly, its vintage Assad,' Toner said. 'It is an attempt by him to throw up false flags, create confusion. Frankly its a tactic weve seen on Russias apart as well in the past,' he said, turning to Syria's ally.

'There can be little doubt that he recent attack and the chemical weapons attack in Idlib was by the Syrian government  by the Syrian regime.' He added: 'It was, we believe, a war crime.'

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 Trump.

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.

Assad branded Trump 'only one of the performers on their theatre', and said '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'.

He said evidence of the attack 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 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'.

Asked whether he thought there could be further US strikes, he said: '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.'

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.'

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

He accused the US of carrying out its air strike without collecting any evidence his regime was behind the attack, stating: 'The only thing were allegations and propaganda, and then (the) strike.'

The Syrian president said that even if is regime had the means to do so, he would not have ordered the strike on moral grounds.

Assad told AFP: '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.'

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.
Britain's biggest police force has paid out over 200million to a single job agency to rehire its own retired officers and staff.

The Metropolitan Police's spending on recruitment firms for temporary staff has almost doubled in three years as senior officers blame soaring crime rates on budget cuts.

One job agency has even set up its own office within Scotland Yard, charging the force hundreds of thousands of pounds to re-hire 77 detectives who have just retired on their full pension.

The figures, released after a Freedom of Information request, came a day after the force blamed runaway knife and gun crime rates on a 'significant reduction in resources'.

One job agency has even set up its own office within Scotland Yard, charging the force hundreds of thousands of pounds

They show that Reed Recruitment has been paid a total of 219million over the last six years, which is the equivalent of hiring 1,245 police constables.

The true spending on recruitment is likely to be even higher as the force has only provided details of payments to one firm, even though it uses several agencies to hire retired officers and back office staff.

In the last three years Reed has seen its pay from the Met rocket from 26million in the financial year of 2013/4 to over 49million in 2015/16 as roles are increasingly being filled by temporary staff.

The force also paid out nearly 29million in redundancy costs over the same period.

The scale of the spending on recruitment emerged a day after Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt sought to blame a surge in gun crime of 42 per cent and a 24 per cent increase in knife on budget cuts.

He said: 'It would be a naive answer to say that if you cut a significant amount out of an organisation you don't have any consequences.'

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Patricia Gallan has written to every detective due to retire this year and asked them to stay on as the force is short of 748 detectives.

Sources say many stressed detectives being bombarded with 20 cases at once are quitting the once prestigious role to go back into uniform, while officers are being diverted from criminal investigation department offices into inquiries into historical child sex abuse or counter terrorism.

Yesterday Assistant Commissioner Hewitt said the lack of detectives available was having an impact on crime detection rates, which have fallen in every major crime group, adding: 'That's a real area of concern for me.'

Scotland Yard has recently advertised for investigators to join its Trident gang squad and Sapphire sexual offences units, offering 19 an hour to temps willing to interview victims and witnesses, research suspects, assess crime scenes and prepare case files in shootings, stabbings and rapes.

But officers are furious that millions is being spent on temporary staff at a time when crime rates are soaring and the force has made more than 2,100 police staff redundant as part of a 600million cuts package.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation said: 'I am shocked that we have spent that sort of money on recruitment when it could have paid for 1,200 cops instead.

'The issue is people don't want to do the detective job anymore, detectives sit in front of computers dealing with 20 to 30 crimes and being lambasted for not solving them all.

'Whereas the shift pattern for uniformed officers is now much better and they don't have to do the overtime like CID.

'It is having a massive impact because there are big holes and so they are using detectives that have retired who are probably being paid twice as much.

'It's absurd, they are just going around in a big circle not solving the problem.'

Figures released after Freedom of Information requests show the issue is not confined to Scotland Yard as other forces are also paying millions of pounds to recruitment firms.

West Midlands Police forked out 1.7million to recruitment agencies between April 2013 and March 2015.

In the same period Nottinghamshire Police paid out 3.5million and British Transport Police also spent 1.1million, paying 8,000 in finders' fees for some roles.

Yesterday John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'This is an extraordinary amount of money to spend on recruitment agents and taxpayers footing the bill will be left astonished.

The Metropolitan Police's spending on recruitment firms for temporary staff has almost doubled in three years

'Reports of officers being re-hired after retiring on full pensions will also raise eyebrows as taxpayers would want to know the details of these arrangements.

'At a time when rank and file police officers who put their lives on the line for us are facing pay cuts or worse, it is simply indefensible that millions are lining the pockets of recruitment agents.'

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said using agency staff was the quickest way to fill vacancies and stressed that the bulk of payments to Reed are for staff salaries.

She said: 'As the Met goes through substantial organisational change to deliver significant cash savings whilst responding to the ever changing demands of keeping London safe, we have adopted a deliberate strategy to use a higher number of agency staff who are sourced through Reed to bring in specialist skills and fill short term resourcing needs.

'It is often quicker to engage individuals like retired officers on a short term basis through an agency such as Reed as they have banks of people ready for such roles.'

She added: 'The number of people currently working in the Met recruited through the agency is just 1.5 per cent of our total workforce.

'The vast majority of the money paid to the agency is for the salaries of those employed through the agency and working for the MPS on short term contract basis - not recruitment fees.

'We have 77 former officers filling detective roles in this way - that's just 1.11 per cent of our overall detective workforce. This is a sensible route whilst we further increase our detective numbers.'

A Reed spokesman said: 'The services we provide to the Met Police have been procured via a public sector framework following an Official Journal of the European Community tender process designed to drive value and efficiencies.'
Rogue landlords are exploiting vulnerable people by offering free accommodation in exchange for sex, charities have warned.

They say the deals take advantage of those unable to afford spiralling rents and 'go as close to the edge of the law  without breaking [it]'.

Websites hosting adverts for such offers are being urged to tackle the problem.

As young people and the low-paid are priced out of accommodation, particularly in south-east England, 'sex for rent' adverts have sprung up online.

As young people and the low-paid are priced out of accommodation, particularly in south-east England, 'sex for rent' adverts have sprung up online

One classified advertising site, Craigslist, carried more than 100 such listings in a single day, a BBC investigation found.

A female student who answered one of them said she felt it was her only option.

She added: 'He took me into his living room, got me drinks, and then after that it was just straight upstairs  He would do what he wanted, forcefully, and I just sort of went along with it.'

Labour MP Peter Kyle said classified websites should stop allowing the adverts or Parliament should intervene.

'If [websites] don't stand up to this and then accept their responsibility, I will be pushing for legislation to do it for them,' he said.

A string of charities have backed his calls for a crackdown.

Mel Potter, of the Brighton Oasis Project for women, said: 'It's something that potentially can trap someone and put them at risk of violence and abuse.'

Andrew Wallis, of anti-slavery charity Unseen, added: 'I think these adverts go as close to the edge of the law that they possibly can without breaking the law.

'The [landlords] would argue [tenants] have chosen voluntarily to enter that situation. The trouble is when you have a vulnerable person who then becomes exploited, the concept of choice soon disappears.'

Paul Noblet, of homeless charity Centrepoint, called for advertising sites to consider a 'voluntary code' under which the offending posts could be removed.

One of the adverts on Craigslist, from the owner of a 'small two-bedroom house near Hull', says: 'Money is not an issue, I would prefer some company.

'There are some stipulations to the living arrangements  This would be a mutual benefits arrangement. Free rent, paid in other methods.'

Meanwhile, a 'City worker' living in a 'luxurious spacious apartment' in central London was seeking 'a dominant attractive woman who in return will place me beneath her beautiful feet and boss me around'.

The 35-year-old asked anyone interested to send photos of themselves and their 'lovely feet'.

Other adverts included a man in Maidstone, Kent, seeking a woman to move in and pretend to be his girlfriend.

Labour MP Peter Kyle said classified websites should stop allowing the adverts or Parliament should intervene

A double room in Rochester, Kent, was said to be available in exchange for unspecified 'services', while younger men were targeted by a post from a Brighton property owner.

An 'open-minded naughty sexy girl' was requested by a London landlord, who added: 'Send your pictures, age, name, maybe nationality  Room can be used to work from like massage etc or just to live in.'

One landlord told the BBC: 'I was thinking once a week, something like that, I'm happy as long as there's sex involved.'

Another said: 'As far as the apartment's concerned, it's as if we're flatmates. It's all the bills, the rent, free.'

But he added: 'You agree sort of like a couple of times a week, pop into my room sort of thing.'

A landlord who defended the arrangement as a 'friend with benefits' situation, added: 'You can argue that high rent charged by landlords is taking advantage too.

'There's no compulsion for them to do this. Everyone goes into it with their eyes wide open. I am the last type of person who'd like to take advantage. Both sides have something the other person wants. I see it as a win-win situation.'

He rejected claims it could be construed as sexual exploitation, saying that people working in jobs they did not enjoy was 'like a form of prostitution'.

Craigslist did not respond to requests for comment.
Officers believe murderer Khalid Masood, 52, acted alone

Police believe Westminster killer Khalid Masood acted alone in preparing and carrying out his murderous rampage.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police were investigating whether the 52-year-old was acting with others, but it has now been revealed all indications point to Masood having acted alone.

Since his crazed attack on March 22 which killed five innocent victims, police made 12 arrests across Britain but all of them have been released without charge.

A 30-year-old man detained on March 26 in Birmingham on suspicion of preparation of terrorist attacks was the last to be released by police.

According to The Guardian, a source close to the investigation said: 'The indications are he acted on his own, and that is rare.'

Masood killed four people on Westminster Bridge as he drove his rented hire car along the pavement before leaping out and stabbing Mr Palmer to death.

Investigators discovered it took just 82 seconds between the first victim being hit by the Hyundai and Masood being shot dead just inside the gates of Parliament.

Romanian architect Andreea Cristea, 31, PC Keith Palmer, 48, American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, Aysha Frade, 44, and Leslie Rhodes, 75, all died when Masood carried out his crazed attack.

Andreea Cristea, 31, PC Keith Palmer, 48, Kurt Cochran, 54, Aysha Frade, 44, and Leslie Rhodes, 75, died when Masood carried out his crazed attack. Pictured, police at the scene

Floral tributes surround the Palace of Westminster following the funeral of PC Keith Palmer

Officers have also revealed Masood was behind the wheel of a vehicle seen driving around Westminster in the hours leading up to the attack, as he carried out a reconnaissance mission.

The attack lasted barely a minute and a half, as it began at 14:40:08 on Wednesday, when the car that Masood was driving over Westminster Bridge first mounted the northbound pavement.

FIVE INNOCENT VICTIMS KILLED :: Andreea Cristea, 31, was on Westminster Bridge with her partner Andrei Burnaz. Ms Cristea was thrown into the River Thames and subsequently suffered a blood clot on the brain and later died in hospital. :: Leslie Rhodes, 75, from Clapham, south London, died at King's College Hospital on the night after the attack after life support was withdrawn. :: Kurt Cochran, a US tourist from Utah, was killed on Westminster Bridge after Masood drove his car into unsuspecting pedestrians. :: Aysha Frade, 44, who worked in administration at independent sixth-form school DLD College London in Westminster, also died on the bridge. :: Pc Keith Palmer, a 48-year-old husband and father and Charlton Athletic season ticket-holder, was stabbed to death in the attack. Advertisement

He continued towards Bridge Street along both the footpath and road until 14:40:38 before crashing into the perimeter fence of the Palace of Westminster.

At 14:40:59, the first 999 call was made to the Met reporting the incident.

Masood left the vehicle and was shot by a police firearms officer inside the Palace of Westminster boundary at 14:41:30.

Police chiefs say they may never know what motivated Masood to commit the worst terror atrocity on British soil since the July 7 attacks in 2005.

They no longer believe he was supported by a wider network after releasing 12 people, including his wife, who were arrested in London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, who is the Senior National Coordinator for UK Counter Terrorism Policing, said after the attack: 'We still believe that Masood acted alone on the day and there is no information or intelligence to suggest there are further attacks planned.

'Even if he acted alone in the preparation we need to establish with absolute clarity why he did these unspeakable acts to bring reassurance to Londoners, and to provide answers and closure for the families of those killed and the victims and survivors of this atrocity.

'We must all accept that there is a possibility we will never understand why he did this. That understanding may have died with him.'

A red rose is placed in front of the police helmet of PC Keith Palmer, the officer who was killed in the London attack on March 22

The movements of Khalid Masood 1964 - Born Adrian Elms on Christmas Day in Dartford, Kent. 1966 - His single mother, Janet Elms, later marries in Crawley, West Sussex and they later move to Tunbridge Wells, Kent and Rye, East Sussex. 1983 - In November that year, he picks up his first conviction, for criminal damage. 2000 - Jailed for two years for grievous bodily harm. When he is released, he moves to the East Sussex village of Northiam. 2003 - Aged 39 and running an aerial installation firm, he is jailed for six months for possession of a knife. 2004 - After being freed from prison, he marries Muslim Farzana Malik in Medway, Kent. It is unclear for how long they were married but they are now believed to be divorced. 2005 - Believed to have taught in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. 2006 - Said to have lived in Crawley and to received visits from police. 2008-2009 - According to his CV, he returned to teach in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 2009-2012 - He is believed to have lived in Luton having changed his name to Khalid Masood. His CV claims he worked at a language school. 2012 - Set up his own teaching firm in Birmingham. Advertisement




Violent meth addicts are being placed in induced comas to protect hospital staff from being bashed at work.

Emergency physician Simon Judkins said Australian hospitals lack the resources to otherwise restrain drug-affected patients who attack doctors and nurses.

'We've put them into comas just to control them,' he told The Age. 'It's a last resort but it happens pretty frequently.

Violent meth addicts are being placed in induced comas to protect hospital staff from being bashed at work (file image)

Emergency physician Simon Judkins said Australian hospitals lack the resources to otherwise restrain drug-affected patients who attack doctors and nurses (file image)

'Many hospitals are not set up to look after their staff... It's getting worse and worse and people are just absorbing it.'

Mr Judkins said more funding is needed to ensure the safety of hospital staff.

His comments come after two female nurses were allegedly held hostage at knife point at Royal Melbourne Hospital on Monday.

A 60-year-old man has been charged with false imprisonment, threat to inflict serious injury and aggravated assault.

Ice use is leading to an extra 231,000 emergency and psychiatric hospital admissions in Australia every year (stock image)

A staff member at the hospital, who wished to remain anonymous, told 3AW Radio the problem is worsening.

'This sort of violence is so common in the hospital and I wish it was reported more,' they said.

Ice use is leading to an extra 231,000 emergency and psychiatric hospital admissions in Australia every year, a recent study found.
The identity of an Oregon father, who shot dead his two young daughters before turning the gun on himself after setting his Land Rover on fire in a shootout with police, has been revealed.

Jaime Cortinas, 42, was involved in a deadly altercation with police after his wife frantically called 911 informing officials that her husband had kidnapped her daughters on Wednesday morning.

When an officer spotted his dark Land Rover at a gas station parking lot and approached Cortinas, the man fired at him with a handgun before setting his SUV on fire with his children inside the car.

The Gresham Police Department said on Thursday that an autopsy confirmed that Cortinas had shot his daughters Janet Cortinas-Duran, eight, and Jasmine Duran-Cortinas, 11, multiple times before the blaze.

Jaime Cortinas, 42, shot dead his daughters Janet Cortinas-Duran, eight, and Jasmine Duran-Cortinas, 11, before setting his SUV (pictured) on fire and turning the gun on himself

Officers smashed the car window to try to pull the children out of the back seat, but both were already dead. Cortinas died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound from his .32-caliber handgun, according to the autopsy.

The girls' mother reported to police that her husband was armed, dangerous and suicidal, and had disappeared with their daughters early that morning, according to authorities.

Officer Matt Anderson was the officer who spotted Cortinas' car and exchanged shots with the man.

Anderson fired at Cortinas multiple times but did not kill him and none of the officer's rounds hit the children, Gresham police Sgt. John Rasmussen said.

Gresham police smashed the car window to try to pull the girls out of the back seat, but both were already dead. Cortinas died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound

No officers were shot but multiple suffered minor injuries while breaking into the burning SUV, including strains, burns and smoke inhalation.

All officers involved have now been placed on administrative leave according to standard protocol.

A neighbor of the family said that he never noticed any signs of brewing trouble, he told KOIN6.

Robert Forthan said: 'There wasnt anything abnormal and they seemed happy. I was really saddened, mainly [for] the kids. Their future is gone.'

Community members have started a memorial to honor the girls, who attended Glenfair Elementary School.

Classmates who were friends with the sisters launched balloons with notes inside of them at the parking lot where Janet and Jasmine tragically died.

Friend Aniyah Revees said to KOIN6: 'We dont want to forget them, we want [them] to be in a better place and be free.'

She wrote in her balloon letter: 'When you guys died I was heartbroken, I couldnt believe that happened. I was really frightened.'

The girls' mother reported to Portland police that her husband was armed, dangerous and suicidal, and had disappeared with their daughters early Wednesday morning

Unique Spivey wrote in a note: 'We were really close friends, and youre in a better place now.'

Resident Kimberly Ritter told the Outlook: 'Children should never be involved in this type of violence. I feel for the mother. I could not handle something like this.'

Sgt. Rasmussen earlier said of the situation: 'It's a horrible and horrific situation for all involved. It's one of those situations that we don't know exactly what we're walking into.

'So when we pull up to a situation, we're trying to assess what's going to happen, and then things unfold very rapidly, and maybe that initial thought of how this might go changes very quickly.'
Four people were shot on the MARTA train system in Atlanta on Thursday afternoon, and one person is dead, say news reports.

A suspect, who is reportedly in custody, began shooting while inside one of the trains about 4:40pm, according to Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

The deceased victim was identified as Zachariah Hunnicutt, 29. Witnesses said he was with his girlfriend and children on the train, according to WSBTV.

Two men and a woman who were shot were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and are in stable condition, according to officials. And another person was injured in the ensuing panic but not shot.

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The MARTA public transport system near the West Lake Station stop was the scene of a shooting inside a train

At least one witness said the shooting looked random.

The suspect reportedly started shooting moments after the train departed the Hamilton E Holmes station, headed toward the West Lake Station, reported CBS 46.

Police have not yet released the name of the suspect, who was reportedly caught by police when he tripped and fell while trying to escape.

The MARTA station at the West Lake stop was the scene of a random shooting, according to early reports

Cedric Peterson, who escaped the shooting, said there was 'no argument, no fussing' before the man, who was 'bopping his head' to his headphones began shooting

One of Hunnicut's relative, Sharonda Hunter, told WSBTV that the victim was a father: '"He was not a gang banger. He was not a bad person. He worked. He was good to his children. I don't want to hear anybody else on the news saying different.'

The Blue line trains was shut down for several hours and other lines slowed

Fire, ambulance, and police can be seen on the scene of the bizarre shooting that may have been random

Another victim, said to be in his 50s or 60s, was apparently shot in the leg, said the outlet.

'He said he was in an ambulance on his way to Grady [Hospital]  He said he didn't know he had got shot. He said he got shot in the back of his leg,' said an unidentified friend of the man.

Another woman, Jamisha Cofield, told the outlet that her aunt and uncle were also shot.

'She got shot in the side and the leg. But they keep saying that my uncle's not deceased, but why haven't they brought him up here to get help? So that's the question of that,' she said.

Cedric Peterson, who was on the train during the incident, said the suspect walked into the train calmly and was listening to headphones and 'bopping his head.' He said there was 'no argument, no fussing.'

Commuters were shocked when around rush hour shooting started in one of the trains

Then he told CBS 46 that the riders heard a 'large crash' and then 'pop pop pop.'

'Yo, man, this is a shooting,' he said he thought to him. 'I'm running for the door.'

He said a group of people ran for the door between cars but one of the doors was stuck and they ended up piled on top of each other.

He said when the train pulled into West Lake Station, everyone ran out, and then they saw police.

'It's good to be alive,' he said.

The Blue train line was shut down for several hours during the investigation, with commuters catching provided buses.
Lars Maischak, an American history professor at Fresno State University in California, apologized again Thursday for a tweet he posted on February 18 that said President Donald Trump 'must hang' to save American democracy

An American history professor at Fresno State University in California apologized again on Thursday for a tweet he posted on February 18 that said President Donald Trump 'must hang' to save American democracy.

The professor, Lars Maischak, said he has temporarily left Fresno while the university is on spring break, after receiving death threats and hundreds of hate emails since the tweet was highlighted by far-right websites such as Breitbart News.

'I regret making these tweets,' Maischak said. 'I wrote them to an audience of 28 followers on Twitter under the assumption they would be read by people I know.'

Maischak said he sent the tweet in February to voice personal despair over comments by Trump and actions by the current U.S. government and was not trying to incite violence.

The tweet said: 'To save American democracy, Trump must hang. The sooner and the higher, the better. #TheResistance #DeathToFascism.'

Breitbart posted an article Saturday saying the tweet and others on Maischak's account showed opinions that 'explain why universities across the country are now viewed with disdain by the average, salt-of-the-earth Americans.'

The tweet said: 'To save American democracy, Trump must hang. The sooner and the higher, the better. #TheResistance #DeathToFascism'

Maischak deleted his Twitter account on Wednesday and said he is prepared to take full responsibility for his statements.

Fresno State has distanced itself from the comments, saying they reflect Maischak's personal views and not those of the university.

University President Joseph Castro said he appreciated Maischak's apology, calling it 'a first good step' in calming critics, the Fresno Bee reported.

The university was committed to free speech and was taking the matter seriously, Castro said. He said officials had contacted federal authorities, adding his main concern is the safety of students and the campus community.

Maischak deleted his Twitter account on Wednesday and said he is prepared to take full responsibility for his statements

Maischak first issued an apology for his actions in the form of a written statement published by the Fresno Bee on Wednesday.

'I apologize for the tone and content of my statements made on Twitter,' the statement read.

'I ask forgiveness of those who felt threatened or offended by them. It was never my intent to harm anyone, nor to encourage others to harm anyone. My statements each represent the end point of a dark train of thought triggered by my despair over the actions of the present US government. That is what I meant by calling them "dark predictions." It felt cathartic at the time to write them down.

Now under federal investigation, Maischak said he is keeping the Secret Service abreast of his whereabouts, he said; President Donald Trump is seen here in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC on Thursday

'With 28 followers on Twitter at the time, I never expected them to be read by anyone but a close circle of acquaintances who would know to place them in their context. To treat Twitter as of no more consequence than a journal was a poor decision. I have deleted my Twitter account, to preclude the possibility that anyone reading my statements in the future would take them as encouragement to act violently or unlawfully. In this spirit, I am prepared to take full responsibility for my statements.'

Following Maischak's apology, the president of Fresno State University released this statement:

'I appreciate Dr. Maischaks apology and willingness to take accountability for the statements made on his Twitter account. In his note to me, Dr. Maischak reiterated that it was not his intent to incite violence or harm others, however, Fresno State has a responsibility to continue a review of the situation. As previously stated, the University takes this matter seriously and is handling it in accordance with applicable law, policy and the requirements of the faculty collective bargaining unit agreement.'

Now under federal investigation, Maischak said he is keeping the Secret Service abreast of his whereabouts, he said.

'I am not in Fresno. I fear for my life,' the professor said, adding that when school resumes next week his classes on Monday and Tuesday will be canceled.
A hardline Muslim group which was condemned for encouraging husbands to beat their wives with sticks has claimed they have been unfairly attacked by critics.

Sydney primary school teacher Reem Allouche told the women's arm of hardline political group Hizb ut-Tahrir that men are permitted to beat 'disobedient women'.

In a 30-minute video, Ms Allouche and fellow panellist Atika Latifi demonstrated how to use a small stick called a 'sivaak' to hit women.

Hizb ut-Tahrir were widely criticised by politicians, members of the media and other Muslims - but the radical group have hit back, claiming they were being 'hounded' by liberals.

A hardline Muslim group which was condemned for encouraging husbands to beat their wives with sticks has claimed they have been unfairly attacked by critics

Writing on Facebook, the group said: 'We firmly believe that we, as a community, must not shy away from the clarification of Islamic injunctions, however controversial, let alone succumb to reinterpretations of Islam forced by liberal hounding.

'In fact, the greater the pressure, the greater our adherence to Islam must be.'

They accused people of 'mud-slinging at Islam' and claimed the group deplored domestic violence.

Their statement went on to accuse Today Show presenter Ben Fordham - who was among those who condemned the Islamic group - and the government of 'the consistent shameless demonisation of Muslim women (and Islam generally)'.

These are the same folk who are a hundred times louder on terrorism and extremism, simply because it sells, than on the domestic violence, which is a far greater menace in this country,' the group continued.

'This is just another opportunity, just another day of the week, in which to attack Islam and Muslims as they do every other day.

'As such, they can continue talking to themselves as far as we are concerned, pretending to occupy the moral high ground while throwing stones from glass houses.

'We firmly refuse them their demand of interrogating Islam for they are in no position to lecture anyone on women or violence.'

Sydney primary school teacher Reem Allouche (left) told the women's arm of hardline political group Hizb ut-Tahrir that men are permitted to beat 'disobedient women'

In the shocking video, 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 laugh.

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'.

Waleed Aly discusses the recent online video where two Muslim women are seen suggesting domestic violence is acceptable

The pair agree that men have the right to beat their wives because husbands take a 'leadership' position within the family.

The federal government slammed the 'abhorrent' video, with Minister for Women Michaelia Cash saying domestic violence had 'no place' in Australia.

Islamic leader Keysar Trad apologised at the weekend for saying hitting women was a 'last resort'

In a live monologue on the Today Show, Fordham said hitting women was 'assault', 'illegal' and wrong'.

'It's never okay to hit your wife. Never. That's called assault. If you hit a woman, you're a coward. It's not okay to hit your wife gently, or softly, or occasionally or any other way you want to spin it,' he said.

The Project's Waleed Aly also criticised the group, saying it was 'infuriating' that the views on women such as those held by Hizb ut-Tahrir still exist within the Muslim community.

Meanwhile Muslim scholar Silma Ihram told Sky News that the passage of the Quran the group were using to justify violence had been taken out of context.

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'.
Kevin Chapman (pictured outside court) allegedly exposed his genitals and attempted sexual manoeuvres with the bike

A man exposed himself before 'trying to have sex with a motorbike' in a busy city centre, a court heard.

Folkestone Magistrates' Court heard Kevin Chapman allegedly exposed his genitals and attempted sexual manoeuvres with the bike.

On the same day, it is also alleged the 33-year-old punched and kicked the same Blue Suzuki motorbike in Canterbury, Kent.

The alleged mechanophiliac claims he remembers dropping his trousers, but denied exposing himself and 'grinding' the vehicle.

He also denied kicking and pushing the motorbike and claimed he was pushed into it by homeless people.

Chapman, from Ashford in Kent, pleaded not guilty to indecent exposure and causing criminal damage to the bike at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

The court heard Chapman had 'no recollection' of indecently exposing himself on March 27.

Chapman, from Ashford in Kent, pleaded not guilty to indecent exposure and causing criminal damage to the bike at Folkestone Magistrates' Court (pictured)

Chapman also denied kicking and pushing the motorbike (similar to the one pictured) and claimed he was pushed into it by homeless people

Chapman was said to be receiving treatment, had something to drink and overdosed on the day of the allegation, the court heard.

He will face a trial at the same court on June 13.

In a separate case, Chapman also appeared at the same court for sending obscene messages on January 2 and pleaded not guilty.

According to psychology studies, mechanophilia is a term given to a person who is sexually aroused by machines such as bicycles, motor vehicles, helicopters, ships, and aeroplanes. Mechanophilia is a crime in the UK.

Lynda Huppatz, prosecuting, said: 'A gentleman said he received a message saying "I'm coming for you, it's your last day. I'm gonna cut you up so you are not recognisable".'

Chapman will face trial for this allegation on June 8 at Folkestone Magistrates' Court.
A European couple who have lived in the UK for their entire adult lives are devastated after the government refused to give their London-born children permanent British residency.

Dutch Jan-Dinant Schreuder and Spanish Monica Obiols have lived in Britain for decades, but decided to apply for the right to remain in Britain after 'panicking' in the aftermath of the Brexit vote.

The Home Office approved their requests. But their children - who were born in Britain - had their applications refused because Mr Schreuder and his partner were born abroad.

Mr Schreuder and Ms Obiols said officials sent them a letter claiming there was not enough evidence to show they lived permanently with their parents.

Jan-Dinant Schreuder and Monica Obiols (pictured) have lived in Britain for decades, but decided to apply for the right to remain in Britain after 'panicking' after the Brexit vote

Their children - who were born in Britain - had their applications refused because Mr Schreuder and his partner were born abroad. The family are pictured above

Ms Obiols told the Guardian it had been a 'bureaucratic nightmare'.

'What evidence are they supposed to have? They don't have council tax bills or proof of where they live. They are children,' she said.

'They have gone to school here all their lives, English is their mother tongue. I was just so shocked when we got the refusal letters.'

The Home Office said the family were never at risk of being split up and that all their right remain unchanged while Britain remains part of the EU.

But Mr Schreuder and Ms Obiols decided that, following the referendum, they wanted to have paperwork for the entire family in case they ever needed to prove their status.

Mr Schreuder, a secondary school teacher who was born in Holland but has lived in Britain since he was three, applied for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

Special needs teacher Ms Obiols, who has lived in the UK since 1988, applied for a permanent residency (PR) card for herself and their son, 15, and 12-year-old daughter.

In order to secure permanent residence for a child and to demonstrate that they have lived in the country for the last five years, applicants usually require a letter from their school or confirmation from the school over the phone, according to the Home Office

Both their children have Spanish passports and, under EU law, nothing more needed to be done to establish their right to remain in the UK because they have an EU passport.

But despite issuing the couple with the cards, the Home Office sent notices to the children stating that their applications had been refused.

Mr Schreuder said: 'It was surreal. I was so shocked that (it was) the children, who, probably of all people, were most deserving... I feel quite devastated.'

WHAT ARE THE RULES? In order for a child to secure permanent residence, parents must demonstrate that the youngster has lived in the country for the last five years. The Home Office said applicants usually require a letter from their school or confirmation from the school over the phone. Anyone who is born in the UK after 1983 can also become a British citizen if one of their parents has UK citizenship or is considered 'settled' in Britain at the time. Advertisement

In order for a child to secure permanent residence, parents must demonstrate that the youngster has lived in the country for the last five years.

The Home Office said applicants usually require a letter from their school or confirmation from the school over the phone.

But, for anyone who is born in the UK after 1983, they can become a British citizen if one of their parents has UK citizenship or is considered 'settled' in Britain at the time.

An immigration lawyer told the Guardian that the Home Office should have approved the applications on these grounds, because Ms Obiols would have been considered 'settled' once she had exercised her EU treaty rights for five years.

Ms Obiols said she had attached copies of the children's birth certificates to the applications, but the Home Office said the 'required evidence was not provided'.

A spokesman added: '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.'

They added that they were in the 'process of resolving the situation'.
The horseshoe crab is one of the planets oldest living creatures, but there are fears that the marine arthropods could become extinct due to the over-harvesting by biomedical laboratories who drain 500,000 of them yearly for their distinctive blue blood.

Elements found within the horseshoe crab's blood have invaluable talent to detect infection. The blood's clotting agent is used by scientists to make Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL).

Medical researchers and scientists use LAL to detect Gram-negative bacteria like E.coli in drugs that are injectable, including insulin, implantable medical devices and hospital instruments.

Once LAL, which is still the only test that has received FDA approval, comes in contact with toxins, it turns from a liquid to a clotted gel.

The cost for horseshoe crab blood is reportedly as high as $14,000 per quart, according to Popular Mechanics.

There are fears that horseshoe crabs could become extinct due to the over-harvesting by biomedical laboratories who drain 500,000 of them yearly for their distinctive blue blood. Above is a rack of the crabs having their blood drained into bottles in a Virginia lab

Elements found within the horseshoe crab's blood have invaluable talent to detect infection. The blood's clotting agent is used by scientists to make Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL). Above a technician prepares groups of the crabs for bleeding

Harvest quotas put in place by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) only regulate bait fisherman who use horseshoe crabs to catch eels and conch.

Biomedical laboratories do not have a limit as to how many horseshoe crabs they can take, as their harvest numbers have increased significantly over the past few decades.

In the 1990s, it's estimated that the U.S. biomedical industry harvested 200,000 to 250,000 crabs yearly.

But according to the ASMFC's 2012 stock assessment report, more than 610,000 crabs were harvested by the U.S. biomedical industry.

'We were successful in exempting ourselves from quotas,' Thomas Novitsky, a scientist and former CEO of Associates of Cape Cod, an LAL company in East Falmouth, Massachusetts told Popular Mechanic.

Medical researchers and scientists use LAL to detect Gram-negative bacteria like E.coli in drugs that are injectable, including insulin, implantable medical devices and hospital instruments. Above is someone pointing at the part where the blood is drawn for use

'We lobbied the ASMFC, telling them we're not hurting the crabs. We're putting them back.

'We have a very important medical application here, so give us a break and don't put the regulations on us.'

The labs have argued that the crabs go back into the water and recover after having a third of their blood drained.

However, once back in the water, it has not been fully researched or discovered as to what exactly happens to horseshoe crabs or if they can even survive after having both their blood drained and being out of water for such a long period.

New evidence has shown that the death rate of bled horseshoe crabs is much higher and that females ability to spawn is impaired.

In addition, evidence found that 'bled crabs become disoriented and debilitated for various lengths of time, Novitsky told Popular Mechanic.

'There's been a dramatic effect,' Novitsky said.

'The industry will unite and say these studies were done in a lab, and you can't compare that with what's done in nature, but that argument doesn't hold water.'

New evidence has shown that the death rate of bled horseshoe crabs is much higher and that females ability to spawn is impaired. In addition, evidence found that 'bled crabs become disoriented and debilitated for various lengths of time. Above is a horseshoe crab in water

A horseshoe crab subcommittee was created in 2012 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which sets the global standards for species extinction.

Just last year, the subcommittee decided that the American horseshoe crab is 'vulnerable' to extinction, which is one notch below 'endangered'.

The crabs are now at a higher level of danger compared to the last assessment in 1996.

In addition, the report from the subcommittee noted that crab populations could fall a drastic 30 per cent over the next 40 years, as the risk does vary by region.

Scientists Meghan Owings and Win Watson, who teaches animal neurobiology and physiology at the University of New Hampshire, also fear that horseshoe crabs could go extinct as a result of the demand for crabs increasing thanks to the medical devices market in the U.S.

By 2020, the medical devices market in the U.S. is expected to grow about 25 per cent, as global pharmaceutical markets are expected to increase as much as eight per cent, Popular Mechanics reported.

If the species of horseshoe crabs declines, it not only becomes an issue for conservationists, but the entire world due to the fact that LAL is the only substance that is able to detect gamma-negative bacteria in the health field.

'Every man, woman, and child and domestic animal on this planet that uses medical services is connected to the horseshoe crab,' a conservationist told Popular Mechanics.
It took nine firefighters more than five hours to remove a three-year-old boy's finger from a bathtub plughole.

Tom Canty's father James, from Melbourne's Kew East, said he tried to remove his son's finger without success before he called the fire brigade on Thursday evening.

'He always puts things down the basin in the bathroom. You don't really realise until someone tries to free him that it's a big deal,' Mr Canty told Nine News.

It took nine firefighters more than five hours to remove a three-year-old Tom Canty's finger from a bathtub plughole

Tom is pictured with his mother at Box Hill Hospital waiting to have the plughole removed from his finger

'Tom was a real trooper. He had headphones, an iPad... he was laughing.'

The construction of the bathroom meant cutting the plughole from the bath was more difficult than normal, firefighters said.

With his finger firmly jammed in the hole, the youngster watched videos throughout the five-and-a-half hour rescue operation.

Tom's finger and the plughole (pictured) were finally separated at Box Hill hospital at around midnight

Tom, pictured left with his family, is always putting things down the plughole, his father said

He was finally freed from the bath at about 11.30pm after getting stuck before 6pm on Thursday.

His finger and the plughole were finally separated at Box Hill hospital at around midnight.

Melbourne Fire Brigade Commander Brian Rogasch praised the boy for remaining calm and throughout the long episode and rewarded him with a trauma teddy.

The construction of the bathroom meant cutting the plughole from the bath was more difficult than normal, firefighters said

The youngster watched videos with his family throughout the five-and-a-half hour rescue operation
Two of the four men found brutally murdered and mutilated by MS-13 in Long Island park have been named.

George Tigre, 18, and Justin Llidicura, 16, are believed to be among the friends discovered in Central Islip Park on Wednesday morning. Authorities say all four victims were between 16 and 20 years old.

Police say the four were repeatedly stabbed all over their bodies in the gang-style killing.

George Tigre (left and right) is believed to be among the friends discovered in Central Islip Park on Wednesday morning

Justin Llidicura (left and right) is also thought to be among the four who were repeatedly stabbed all over their bodies in the gang-style killing

'We are not releasing the date or time they were killed, but these homicides occurred within the past few days. This is one incident,' Commissioner Tim Sini, Suffolk County Police Department said. 'He was beaten to death. Brutally. It wasn't like they shot him and left it. They beat him to death brutally.'

Sini also said that police are investigating whether gang MS-13 were behind the murders.

'There's no question MS-13 still exists in Suffolk County,' Sini said Thursday at a press conference. 'This is a long-term war and make no mistake about it  it's a war. It's all hands on deck until we solve these murders.'

Family members of Tigre and Llivicura said that police had confirmed that their sons were dead. So far the other victims have not been confirmed.

George's brother William Tigre, of Bellport, said he'd received a call shortly after the bodies were found from a friend who said he's seen his brother get murdered, he told ABC News.

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)

William, 21, told the New York Post that friend, Alex Ruiz, was 'a member of MS-13.

'He called me, the friend in MS-13, he called me last night at 6:30 and told me my brother is here,' William said on Thursday.

He said that he had 'escaped from the car' and 'saw my brother being killed.

'He told me my brother was here. He gave me this address [to the park].'

William added that he had checked George's computer and found messages from him that said, 'I don't want to do these things anymore. I want out.'

Justin Llidicura's, 16, family said that detectives are investigating whether he is among the four victims, as a family member said he was last seen on Wednesday heading towards the park. He hasn't been heard from since.

'When his parents woke up, he wasn't at home,' the relative said. 'So they called his phone multiple times. He never answered. It just went straight to voicemail. The phone was cut off. That's when they got worried, because it was almost like a full day.'

Frany Novoa said her 21-year-old son William is also missing although police say the four victims were aged between 16 and 20.

'They're kids,' she said. 'I don't know what they're involved in, who they're around.'

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.

Authorities are yet to reveal whether the bodies discovered on Wednesday are linked to the previous youths' deaths.

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

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.

Nisa's mother Elizabeth Alvarado described her loss as 'the worst pain that any mother could feel.'

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.

Nisa Mickens, 15, (left) and Kayla Cuevas, 16, (right) were murdered in September in suspected gang murders

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.

But local families say they are still too scared to venture out at night because the gang problem has spiraled out of control in recent years.
A weapon is believed to have been used in the suspected murder of a man found dead near Melbourne's Monash University.

The man's body was found face-down in a garden area of a Notting Hill apartment block on Friday morning by a woman.

Paramedics were called to Rusden Place in Notting Hill on Friday around 9.30am but were unable to revive the man.

Homicide detectives say they are yet to formally identify the Asian man, believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s.

A man's body was discovered near the entrance to an apartment building about 9.30am

They're still unsure exactly how long his body was lying in the garden area before being discovered near a staircase about 9.30am.

'At this stage we don't know how he was assaulted and we won't have those details until the post-mortem is conducted,' Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen McIntyre told reporters on Friday.

A extensive doorknock of flats on Rusden Place was unable to uncover a witness to the fatal incident.

'No one has given us any information to connect us directly to this death,' Det Snr Sgt McIntyre said.

Police believe a weapon was used in the suspected murder of a man found dead near Melbourne's Monash University

A second crime scene has been set up in the car park under the apartment block as police try to determine if the victim owned one of the cars.

Many of the residents in the apartment block and nearby properties attend classes at Monash University's largest campus, Clayton.

'I was home all night and didn't hear anything,' Rob Howes told AAP outside his nearby townhouse.
A 15-year-old boy who was shot in the head by a masked intruder inside his home in Sydney this morning has died.

Brayden Dillon was shot at point-blank rage as he lay in his own bed on Friday morning after a man broke into his family home on Moresby Street in Glenfield.

He was taken to hospital in an 'extremely critical' condition but died shortly after 11am, police said.

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Brayden Dillon, 15, died hours after he was shot in the head inside his own home

Brayden Dillon was shot at point-blank rage as he lay in his own bed on Friday morning after a man broke into his family home on Moresby Street in Glenfield

A 15-year-old boy who was shot in the head by a masked intruder inside his home in Sydney this morning has died

He was taken to hospital in an 'extremely critical' condition but died shortly after 11am, 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'.

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 - died at The Children's Hospital in Westmead, 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 earlier that shooter entered the boy's home and then 'forced entry to the victim's room'.

The teenager's face was covered in blood as he was wheeled into an ambulance

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

Vile Facebook messages were sent to the ex-girlfriend of a 15-year-old boy shot dead in a suspected revenge attack in Sydney

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 and the public have been warned not to approach him but to immediately call triple-zero.

Since Brayden's death, a string of vile Facebook messages have been sent to his ex-girlfriend.

The taunting messages sent to his former partner say his death was 'revenge' and that he 'should have seen this coming'.

A teenage girl who owns the account that sent the messages told Daily Mail Australia she had been hacked and claimed she did not send the sickening messages.

The messages were sent just hours after Brayden was fatally shot by a masked intruder who had broken into his bedroom at his family home in Glenfield.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that police had visited Brayden's home at least three times in the last two years.

He is alleged to have tried to stab his mother in one of the incidents, while another allegedly saw him damage property inside the home.
Promising young doctor Chloe Abbott is one of four junior doctors to take her own life in the past six months.

The 29-year-old Sydney woman's suicide on January 9 has shed light on the shocking suicide epidemic currently rocking the medical industry.

Ms Abbott's devastated mother Leonie Eagles spoke out about her daughter's death this week in the hope she could prevent the same thing from happening to other young doctors.

'I had a daughter that loved her life, her sisters and her boyfriend. And to think that she's given that up because of the position that medicine has put her in is just heartbreaking,' she told ABC's 7.30 program on Friday.

Promising young doctor Chloe Abbott (pictured) is one of four junior doctors to take her own life in the past six months

'They can't sweep this under the carpet and say "we'll look at it in six months, we'll look at in in 12 months", four more people could have lost their lives in six months.'

Ms Abbott was admitted to a psychiatric inpatient ward just months before her death.

Her medical registration was also suspended.

Her death has now prompted industry professionals to speak out against laws surrounding mental illness  laws they say are stopping young doctors like Chloe Abbott from asking for help.

Ms Abbott's death has now prompted industry professionals to speak out against laws surrounding mental illness  laws they say are stopping young doctors like Chloe Abbott from asking for help

Chloe Abbott (far right) with her mother Leonie Eagles (far left) and sisters Micaela (centre left) and Jessica Abbott (centre right)

In New South Wales there are mandatory reporting laws which require a treating doctor to report a doctor if they declare mental health problems.

That doctor is then reported to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, which is forced to conduct an investigation into that doctor's fitness.

Psychiatrist Dr Helen Schultz told Daily Mail Australia on Friday the system failed doctors  especially those who were most vulnerable.

Dr Schultz said the system of mandatory reporting discouraged doctors from being honest and ultimately from seeking help.

'Doctors are worried they will be reported so they don't speak out for fear of losing their licence,' she said.

Psychiatrist Dr Helen Schultz (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia on Friday the system failed doctors  especially those who were most vulnerable

'If a doctor is seeking help and is not putting the public at any danger, they should not need to be reported.

'We don't want the public at risk, but it's the doctors who we're putting at risk.'

Dr Schultz said mandatory reporting was an 'absolute breach of privacy and confidentiality' and often harmed doctors rather than helping them.

She said she knew a doctor who killed himself after finding out his medical registration had been suspended due to reports he was mentally unfit.

'The tragedy is you get the notification and if you're already vulnerable, it might be the reason you're pushed over the edge,'

Dr Abbott's suicide has prompted medical professionals to come forward and condemn the industry's mandatory reporting laws

She said doctors were often given no warning they had been reported, and only found out when they received a letter in the mail that their license was suspended.

Dr Schultz urged doctors grappling with mental illness to avoid speaking out at the workplace for fear they would lose their medical license.

'Find a GP you trust and keep it away from the hospital, keep it away from your employer absolutely,' she said.

Dr Schultz stressed it was important to talk to someone if they were struggling to cope.

'Please, nothing is more important than your own health. If you're struggling, you can ask for help and you can get better,' she said.

Australian Medical Association president Professor Brad Frankum said he wanted the rules to change so doctors were not in fear of reprisal if they declared a mental illness

She also revealed she reached out for help herself while studying medicine  but said she would not do it now in the era of mandatory reporting.

'I wouldn't. I'd be in fear to,' she said.

Australian Medical Association president Professor Brad Frankum said he wanted the rules to change so doctors were not in fear of reprisal if they declared a mental illness.

'In Western Australia there is a different legislation in place where the one treating doctor does not have to report their colleague and we feel that that means people are less fearful about admitting to health problem and getting proper treatment for it,' he told the 7.30 program.
Vice President Mike Pence will travel to South Korea on Sunday in the face of rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear program.

Pyongyang said Friday that war could break out on the Korean Peninsula 'at any moment' following US President Donald Trump's Thursday warning that 'North Korea is a problem' that 'will be taken care of.'

Pence's Seoul stop kicks off a long-planned 10-day trip to Asia - his first as vice president - and comes amid concerns that North Korea could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test.

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Vice President Mike Pence will travel to South Korea on Sunday in the face of rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear program

Pyongyang said Friday that war could break out on the Korean Peninsula 'at any moment.' North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is pictured here in an undated photo passed out by the country's state-run news agency this week at an undisclosed location

President Donald Trump waves to supporters as he arrives on Air Force One at the Palm Beach International Airport to spend Easter weekend at Mar-a-Lago resort. He said Thursday before he left that 'North Korea is a problem' and will be' taken care of'

North Korea will celebrate the birthday of national founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.

The national holiday has been marked by a show of military might from North Korea in the past, and a website dedicated to Korean coverage, 38 North, has reported on satellite images that show the country's nuclear site 'primed and ready.'

Trump has warned against further provocations, sending an aircraft carrier group to the region as a show of force.

His officials have been assessing tougher economic sanctions as well as military options to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

Pyongyang said Friday that Trump's actions were 'pushing the situation there to the brink of war' as it accused him of placing 'nuclear strategic assets.'

'This has created a dangerous situation in which a thermonuclear war may break out any moment on the peninsula,' the North Korean military told state-run news outlet Korean Central News Agency.

Trump has been pressuring China to exert its influence on North Korea to prevent an all-out war in the region.

'The way youre going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea,' Trump says he told China's Xi Jinping. 'Otherwise were just going to go it alone. That will be all right, too.'

Fully armed US Aircraft from the 18th Wing during the no-notice exercise in the Korean Peninsula

The tension around North Korea is high ahead of a major North Korean holiday, the birthday of its founding dictator Kim Il Sung, tomorrow

China's foreign minister Wang Yi said Friday there would be 'no winner' if that happens.

'The result is a situation in which everybody loses and there can be no winner,' he told reporters in Beijing. 'Dialogue is the only possible solution.'

Pence plans to celebrate Easter with U.S. and Korean troops on Sunday before talks on Monday with South Korea's acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn.

'We're going to consult with the Republic of Korea on North Korea's efforts to advance its ballistic missile and its nuclear program,' a White House foreign policy adviser told reporters, previewing Pence's trip.

Pence will land in Seoul the day after North Korea's biggest national day, the 'Day of the Sun.' The White House has contingency plans for Pence's trip should it coincide with a another North Korean nuclear test by its leader Kim Jong Un, the adviser said.

'Unfortunately, it's not a new surprise for us. He continues to develop this program, he continues to launch missiles into the Sea of Japan,' the adviser said. 'With the regime it's not a matter of if - it's when. We are well prepared to counter that.'

Pence expects to talk about the 'belligerence' of North Korea at stops in Tokyo, Jakarta and Sydney, the White House adviser said, in addition to Seoul.

'The overriding message that the Vice President will be taking on a national security side to South Korea is that our long alliance between the U.S. and South Korea is the linchpin of peace and prosperity,' a White House official said.

The official said Pence would also make it clear 'that the President takes national security as a top priority, and that we have an ironclad commitment to all of our allies in the Asia Pacific that we take their defense very seriously, and that is unwavering.'

Mark Lotter, spokesman to the vice the president, similarly said on Friday to MSNBC's Kristen Welker, 'The message, the vice president's message is to show our support with our allies. And the fact that we are there with them and we'll confront this threat together.'

But the need for 'free and fair trade' will also be a theme, a White House adviser said.

Trump campaigned on an 'America First' trade policy, complaining that trade partners in Asia and elsewhere had taken advantage of the United States.

One of his first acts in office was to remove the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama.

'Withdrawing from the TPP shouldn't be seen as a retreat from the region. On the contrary, our economic presence in the region is enduring,' the adviser said.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned there would be 'no winner' if a conflict broke out between the United States and North Korea

On Tuesday, Pence will kick off economic talks with Japan requested by Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The discussions will focus more on setting a 'framework' for future talks rather than on specific industry issues, a White House official said.

Pence will meet with business leaders at each stop, including in Jakarta, though he was not expected to wade into the weedy details of disputes between the Indonesian government and U.S. companies like mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Inc.

'We're going to discuss the business environment in Indonesia in a general sense,' a White House official said.

Pence and his wife, Karen, will also travel to Australia and make a stop in Hawaii on their way back.

Trump had a testy call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull a week and a half after taking office during which he criticized a refugee deal that his predecessor signed on to.

The United States agreed to take 1,250 refugees being held at offshore detention centers off its allies hands before Trump took office.

Outraged, Trump said in a tweet that he planned to 'study this dumb deal.'

A White House official speaking about Pence's trip on background said the United States 'is living up to its agreements, and the President is confident that the necessary vetting procedures are in place to protect Americans while, at the same time, accepting refugees through the deal struck by the Obama administration.'
A man has been stabbed in the stomach after a fight outside a Victorian police station.

Two men were involved in the incident outside the Wodonga police station just after 11am on Friday, police say.

The injured man was taken in a stable condition to an Albury hospital.
Wisconsin Scott Walker has cancelled his annual Easter egg hunt over an alleged threat by an armed fugitive.

The holiday event at the governor's mansion on Sunday was axed 'due to a threat toward top government officials' after Joseph Jakubowski, 32, sent a letter threatening violence against local churches.

Jakubowski, 32, from Janesville, has been on the run since April 4 when he robbed the town's Armageddon gun store, stealing 18 weapons.

The fugitive then reportedly 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.

Now authorities in Wisconsin are investigating the letter, in which someone purporting to be Jakubowski, threatened violence against Sussex area churches on Easter Sunday.

So far, police have not been able to determine whether the letter is authentic and are carrying out further analysis, but they are taking the threat of violence very seriously.

The governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, left) has cancelled his annual Easter egg hunt after armed fugitive Joseph Jakubowski (right), sent a threatening letter to local churches

Authorities in Wisconsin are investigating a letter, purportedly posted by the gunman, in which he threatened violence against Sussex area churches on Easter Sunday

The governor has since decided to cancel his annual Easter egg hunt as a safety precaution

'We received a letter from an individual purporting to be Joseph Jakubowski,' Waukesha County Sheriff's Department Lt. Phillip Carini said.

Waukesha authorities stepped up security around churches in Sussex and are putting additional safety plans into effect for Easter Sunday.

Gov. Walker also canceled his annual Easter egg hunt over the safety concerns for himself and the general public.

'We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause due to the short notice,' a Thursday email from Walker's wife Tonette said, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. 'We are sad to miss what is one of our favorite events at the executive residence.'

A huge manhunt is underway for Jakubowski, who is suspected of robbing a gun store in his local town of Janesville on April 4, making off with 18 weapons including a fully automatic M-16 and abandoned his burnt out truck.

He is also accused of sending an anti-government manifesto to President Trump.

Jakubowski mailed the 161-page hand-written manifesto to President Trump in which he espoused his anti-government, anti-religious philosophy and threatened violence.

Jakubowski's car was found burning not far from the gun shop after the robbery

Dangerous: Janesville Chief of Police David Moore, left, said: 'He was researching survivalist tactics and he has some survivalist equipment.'

Speaking Thursday, Janesville Chief of Police David Moore said: 'He was researching survivalist tactics and he has some survivalist equipment.'

Chief Moore was speaking alongside Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden as the officers gave a more detailed picture of the man who has so far eluded the law despite the efforts of more than 170 officers and the combined forces of the FBI, ATF, Secret Service, State and City police and Rock County Sheriff departments.

On Wednesday they released pictures of Jakubowski's distinctive tattoos. On Thursday Sheriff Spoden admitted that they have been unable to decipher all of them and now believe he may have tattooed himself.

Sheriff Spoden said: 'We do believe that he my have created [some of the tattoos] himself.'

On Wednesday the reward for information leading to Jakubowski's capture was raised from $10,000 to $20,000 and to date officers have received more 700 tips.

Sheriff Spoden said: 'The majority of the tips are coming in locally and throughout the state of Wisconsin but we've received some from out of state and as far afield as Texas and Oklahoma.'

According to Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden, 54, law enforcement concluded their searches of lakes and rivers this morning but there are countless abandoned properties and cottages that lie unused at this time of year where Jakubowski could be hiding out.

The officers admitted that they could not rule out that somebody is harboring or aiding Jakubowski and they have yet to determine what, if any, event triggered his actions.

They said that Jakubowski had disseminated several copies or versions of the manifesto mailed to the president but that they do not know how many copies exist.

Sheriff Spoden explained: 'You may have people who have received it and didn't take the time to read it. Speaking candidly sometimes it rambles on and doesn't make a lot of sense.'

The last known address for fugitive Joseph Jakubowski in Janesville, Wisconsin

Police on Monday released pictures of Joseph Jakubowski's tattoos as they ramped up the search for the Janesville, Wisconsin man. The tattoo on the left reads 'Jigga' and the one on the right is the letters BOS

The car registered to Jakubowski was found burning on a rural road not far from the gun shop he robbed after sending the letter

He suggested that some recipients may even have discarded of the document without reading its contents.

The FBI continue to analyze the manifesto which Chief Moore described as 'anarchistic' and filled with 'a lot of anger' directed against government, the police and religion. There were, however, no specific threats towards people or locations.

Sheriff Spoden added: 'He uses the word slave quite a bit. He feels that politicians have abused their power.'

Earlier today sections of the manifesto emerged in which the often rambling Jakubowski refers to health insurance, taxes and religion as examples of the government trying to brainwash its citizens.

'We the people should be out for these sick minded people belonging to the system! We need to spill their blood!' he wrote.

He also attempted to justify his actions of robbing the gun store and taking a haul that included 18 guns, including a fully automatic M-16, two gun silencers, multiple rounds of ammunition and tactical clothing including a bullet proof vest and helmet.

Jakubowski is believed to be the man seen in this surveillance video of a gun shop burglary in Janesville, Wisconsin last Tuesday night

He wrote: 'I have never been a thief! I hate thieves! However since this system has stolen my natural right to protect and defend lifethis system has left me no choice but to commit crime to have the means to protect life!'

He also ranted that 'Priest and churches control the presidents and the banks.'

Both Chief Moore and Sheriff Spoden stressed that there had been no specific threats leveled against any religious institutions going into the Holiday weekend but that, should Jakubowski still be at large, the manpower is in place for heightened security and additional patrols at places of worship.

Chief Moore described the case as 'unique.' He said: 'Many times whit mass casualty events we have the mass casualties first and after we have this lengthy investigation and often we find there were indications that could have been caught.

'In this we have some clues going into this which we are investigating in hopes of stopping what could be a mass casualty event.'

Sheriff Spoden described what Jakubowski has done so far as, 'correctible' with both officers urging him to 'do the right thing' and hand himself.
The family of Tad Cummins, a teacher who went missing with his 15-year-old student exactly one month ago, urged him to return home in a new interview.

'No matter where you are, Daddy, no matter what you've done we just want you to come home. We miss you so much,' Cummin's daughter, Erica Osborne said on ABC.

She added: 'We're here for you, no matter what anytime, any place, anywhere.'

The Tennessee teacher allegedly abducted Elizabeth Thomas on March 13, and the two, thought to be in a sexual relationship, were last spotted two days later.

Their last confirmed sighting was at a Walmart in Oklahoma after they had both dyed their hair. Authorities have not yet been able to locate them despite a nationwide manhunt.

Pharmacy staff across the country are now being asked to keep an eye out for Cummins, who is believed to be running out of his blood pressure medication.

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Tad Cummin's daughter, Erica Osborne (above) urged her father to come home and said: 'We're here for you, no matter what anytime, any place, anywhere'

His wife Jill Cummins revealed Tad had left her a note before his disappearance, but a district attorney said it was a 'diversion'. Pictured right, the teacher's other daughter Ashlee Conner

The 50-year-old's wife Jill Cummins revealed her husband had left her a note before his disappearance, but she declined to disclose the message, citing the ongoing investigation.

But Brent Cooper, the district attorney for Maury County, Tennessee, told WREG: 'Its obvious that it was a diversion, just a way to try and buy some extra time and give us a false lead of what direction they might be going.' The note did not mention Thomas.

Jill Cummins, who has since filed for divorce, said: 'He was my everything, he was my best friend for 31 years.

'It was, to me, the perfect marriage. We had everything we ever wanted, two beautiful kids, beautiful grandkids, and I really truly believed that he loved me,' she said.

Cummins (right) allegedly abducted Elizabeth Thomas (left) on March 13, and the two, thought to be in a sexual relationship, were last spotted two days later

Cummins' other daughter Ashlee Conner, wanted to remind her father of Romans 8:28, a Bible verse she learned from him.

'There's one thing that he's reminded us for our entire life. And that's Romans 8:28, and that's, 'God uses all things for the glory of those that love the Lord and are called according to his purposes' and that means even this,' Conner said.

Thomas' father previously said Cummins misled his daughter to believe the health sciences teacher was a former intelligence officer living the high life.

'He convinced her that he had been a secret agent and ... that he had all kinds of money,' Anthony Thomas told HLN. 'It was clear that he had really put a lot of notions into her head.'

Her sister, meanwhile, fought back tears when she revealed Cummins had begun showing up unannounced at her sister's work shortly before the pair disappeared together, with his last visit just two days before the girl's abduction.

'She would go and tell people to tell him she wasn't there and she would go and hide until he left,' explained Sarah Thomas.

'She thought it was the only way. She felt uncomfortable.'

Authorities believe Thomas may have gone willingly with Cummins, who they say has been grooming her for sex for some time.

This image of Elizabeth was taken on March 13, the day she vanished. She appears to be holding a bundle of clothes

With the two now on the run for a month, authorities say Cummins should be due for a refill on medication to control his blood pressure.

Cooper toldABC News that pharmacists should be mindful of customers who look like Cummins or Thomas and alert authorities.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Amber Alert for Elizabeth when she first disappeared.

Cummins is wanted by authorities on charges of aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor.

On March 12, the day before they vanished, Cummins was spotted buying women's dark brown hair dye at a Tennessee Walmart. He also appeared to have bought men's toiletries.

Days earlier, he took out a $4,500 loan and was also seen filling up his silver Nissan Rogue with gas on the day of their disappearance.

Surveillance footage from a Walmart in Oklahoma two days after they vanished is the last confirmed sighting of the pair

Cummins was spotted buying women's dark brown hair dye at a Tennessee Walmart the day before they vanished. He also appeared to have bought men's toiletries

Police believe Cummins, who Elizabeth has known for more than two years, brainwashed her into abandoning her family.

Cummins was suspended from his teaching job at the time they disappeared. Another student claimed to have seen the pair kissing in Cummins' classroom back on January 23.

He was not officially fired by the school district until he disappeared with the girl on March 13.

Cummins had left a note for his wife Jill Cummins before he vanished with the teenager. Investigators have revealed they think the note was a diversion to throw them off the trail
Jay Pharoah has spoken out for the first time since being fired from Saturday Night Live, and claims that the popular show only wanted him to impersonate famous black people.

The 29-year-old comedian often impersonated Barack Obama during his six years as an SNL cast-member, but was shockingly let go last August along with the show's one-time Donald Trump impersonator Taran Killam ahead of its 42nd season.

During a radio interview on New York's HOT 97 on Wednesday, Pharoah shared his feelings about his time on SNL and how he felt pigeonholed as just an impressionist.

'You go where you're appreciated,' Pharoah began.

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Jay Pharoah (above) has spoken out for the first time since being fired from Saturday Night Live, and claims that the popular show only wanted him to impersonate famous black people

The 29-year-old comedian often impersonated Barack Obama (above impersonating Obama on SNL) during his six years as an SNL cast-member, but was shockingly let go last August

'And if you have multiple people on the cast saying things like you're so talented and you're so able and they don't use you and it's unfair and it's making us feel bad because they don't use you and you're a talent...'

He went on to claim that SNL puts people 'into boxes', as he felt he became the person on the show to impersonate a number of black celebrities, including former GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson and actor Will Smith.

'They put people into boxes. Whatever they want you to do, they expect you to do. And I'm fiery too I'm not a 'yes n****.' That's not me,' he added.

Pharoah, who became widely known for his spot-on impressions of Jay Z and Drake, said that he thinks SNL 'gave up' on him.

He also thinks that they 'gave up' on the character of Obama.

'If you really noticed, for the last year and a half, they didn't do any Obama sketches,' he said.

Pharoah, who became widely known for his spot-on impressions of Jay Z (above left impersonating Jay Z in 2014) and Drake, said that he thinks SNL 'gave up' on him

'I was like, 'Just let me do my character and we'll be fine.' [They] didn't want to do that.'

Pharoah explained that not seeing his version of the former president interact with Alec Baldwin's Donald Trump was a major missed opportunity.

He added that Baldwin was even looking forward to the interaction before Pharoah was let go from the show.

On the other hand, Pharoah said that he 'respects the hell' out of SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels (pictured)

The Virginia native also discussed in the interview his involvement with adding more black performers and writers to SNL.

He shared that he was almost fired in 2013 for pushing to diversify the staff and cast-members, as he took credit for Leslie Jones and Sasheer Zamata being added to SNL.

'I am the reason it happened,' he claimed.

On the other hand, Pharoah said that he 'respects the hell' out of SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels even though they had some 'shaky times'.

'I met Lorne Michaels and I ain't been broke ever since,' Pharoah said using a pitch-perfect Chris Rock impression.

Since departing from the show, Pharoah has been keeping busy.

He is set to star in the new Showtime series White Famous, which is based on Jamie Foxx's experience in Hollywood.
The teenage couple who fled hospital with their three-day-old baby have vowed to fight for the little girl and revealed they haven't seen her since she went back to hospital.

Jayden Lavender, 14, and his girlfriend Jenifer Morrison, 15, cried as they faced the media the day after taking their daughter from Sydney's Nepean hospital over fears social services would take her.

The young mother told 7 News she hasn't seen her baby girl Aria since she was returned to hospital and hasn't even been allowed to supply breast milk for her.

'I dont know what I have done wrong me and Jayden will be awesome for her,' she said.

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Jenifer Morrison (right), 15, and her boyfriend Jayden Lavender, 14, (pictured) fled from Nepean Hospital near Penrith in the early hours of Thursday morning

'I dont know what I have done wrong me and Jayden will be awesome for her,' she said

Jayden was just 13 years old when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant with his child

Jayden cradles his newborn daughter Aria as his mother Tracy Lavender stands behind him

The young parents hid their newborn daughter under a blanket and left the hospital under the cover of darkness at 12.15am on Thursday.

The trio spent the night camping in a tent purchased from Kmart, before finally returning to the Dharruk home where they live with Jayden's mother Tracy Lavender.

Jayden and Ms Lavender confirmed to Daily Mail Australia they hadn't been able to see Aria since she'd returned home.

'She's back in the hospital and they haven't let us visit,' Ms Lavender said.

'She is going to be there for me and I will be there for her I will fight for her,' Ms Morrison said

Jayden and Ms Lavender confirmed to Daily Mail Australia they hadn't been able to see Aria since she'd returned home

'She is going to be there for me and I will be there for her I will fight for her,' Ms Morrison said.

The teenagers have been reportedly told they are 'too young to decide' what happens to the child.

Mr Lavender, 14, described the little girl as his 'pride and joy' after falling in love with her at first sight.

The Lavender family home where the baby was to live with her parents was fire-bombed after news the children had taken their baby from hospital.

Mr Lavender, 14, described the little girl as his 'pride and joy' after falling in love with her at first sight

Tracy Lavender - Aria's paternal grandmother revealed the attack which happened on Thursday night left the family 'terrified.

'You can see the burning from the firebombing last night,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'Yeah, someone did it while we were sleeping.'

The pair said the newborn was OK despite having spent the night in the elements.

Friends of the young parents say the pair fled hospital because they feared authorities may take their daughter.

'Jayden's dad would always tell them DOCS was coming for the baby,' one told Daily Mail Australia on Friday.

The young couple and their baby daughter live at Ms Lavender's home (pictured) in Dharruk in Sydney's west

A trail of burnt grass through the front yard leads to a heavily scorched and boarded-up door

The home has seemingly come under attack from fire. Friends of the young parents told Daily Mail Australia the couple fled hospital out of fear their daughter could be taken from them

'They've got everything they need for the baby... it's got its own room and bed.

'But they just got scared from hearing s*** like that and because they haven't got a stable home.'

The house the couple live in with the newborn's grandmother and two other children is a rundown, single storey home.

A trail of burnt grass through the front yard leads to a heavily scorched and boarded-up front door.

Neighbours in the area told Daily Mail Australia that police were regularly called to attend disturbances at the home.

'At night time there's always yelling and screaming, and "f*** this and f*** that",' one local said.

Ms Lavender (pictured) 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 teenage parents hid their baby Aria Jayde (pictured) under a blanket and secretly left Nepean Hospital at 12.15am on Thursday

The young couple spent 16 hours on the run with their daughter before they were found safe about 12km away from the hospital in Willmot on Thursday afternoon.

The baby was taken back to hospital and the teens were interviewed by police. No charges have been laid.

Ms Lavender said her son knew it was wrong to leave hospital without being discharged.

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

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)

'I knew there was nowhere he could turn,' she told AAP.

It was Father's Day when Jayden, aged just 13 at the time, learned Jenifer was pregnant.

He proposed to her weeks later and they began planning a wedding - with the blessing of Ms Lavender.

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 young couple are engaged but unable to legally get married.

'Jayden would not walk away from her,' Ms Lavender said on Thursday. 'He's been by her side since she told him she was pregnant.'

Outside hospital on Thursday she said: 'The baby's healthy - seven-and-a-half pounds, I knew that my son would look after his baby and his girlfriend.'

'At the end of the day it's breaking both of their hearts, they've never done nothing wrong.

'They don't want to be apart from their baby, they're good parents.'

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 the teenagers' first instinct was to run

The teenage couple had just $80 in cash and a few pairs of clothing for Aria

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.'

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.'

The teens were interviewed by police on Thursday evening while baby Aria was assessed back in hospital.

The teens were interviewed by police on Thursday evening while baby Aria was assessed back in hospital

The teens were interviewed by police on Thursday evening while baby Aria was assessed back in hospital
An overcrowded primary school says they don't have anywhere to put the growing number of students, with 60 girls per toilet and 'less than seven square metres of playground space per child'.

Chatswood Public School, on Sydney's north shore, is built to hold 800 students but has 1,249, with another 300 expected to enroll over the next three years.

Overcrowding had meant lunch and recess times are staggered and students are forced to go to the toilet during class because the facilities become too busy during their free time.

Chatswood Public School (pictured) is so overcrowded that there is 60 female students per toilet and 'less than seven square metres of playground space per child'

'We have 11 kindy classes at the moment and I'd say we'll get the same next year, another 220 kids,' Brett Backhouse, president of the school's P&C, said.

'Out of 52 classrooms, 22 are temporary demountables.

'Our kids don't even have classrooms.'

He says if numbers continue to grow they will 'have to plonk a demountable' in the playground space.

Up to 400 students have been moved to high school land across the road, also known as the 'Bush Campus', as the main campus is unable to support the large student body.

'There's no play space at Bush Campus,' Mr Backhouse said.

'We have 400 kids trying to use a play area with no grass, as the foot traffic has eroded it away.'

If they want to use the library, children at the Bush Campus have to walk up the road back to the original site.

Up to 400 students have been moved to high school land across the road, also known as the 'Bush Campus', as the main campus is unable to support the large student body (stock image)

Brett Backhouse, president of the school's P&C, says they have turned to the government for help, and have even offered to use their own funds to make some short term solutions (stock image)

'We don't have anywhere to put them,' Mr Backhouse said.

'We're the biggest school on the north shore and we have less than seven square metres of playground space per child.'

Mr Backhouse says they have turned to the government for help, but despite offering to use their own funds to make some short term solutions they have received very little direction or appropriate help.

Mr Backhouse presented a petition with around 1450 signatures to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian asking for a clear plan for the future of the school

One government suggestion was to move the enrolment boundaries in the area, but Mr Backhouse says due to the numbers of students in the immediate areas, this would not offer much of a solution.

'We have 900 students living in the medium and high density apartments within 900 metres walking distance to the school,' Mr Backhouse said.

'They're not going to walk through the school to go to another school.

'The Department's numbers are flawed, we would still have to put 100 kids somewhere.'

Mr Backhouse presented a petition with around 1450 signatures to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian asking for a clear plan for the creation of permanent classrooms, annexing the Bush Campus and for the Department of Education to acquire land for the school.

He said despite speaking with Ms Berejiklian twice in March, he has not received any correspondence since.
A trailblazing New York state judge whose body was found floating in the Hudson River is thought to have taken her own life after her brother and mother both committed suicide around Easter two years apart from each other, police say.

The body of State Court of Appeals Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam was retrieved fully clothed from the Hudson by the NYPD harbor unit on Wednesday - one day after her husband of less than a year reported her missing.

Abdus-Salaam, who was the first African-American woman to serve on New York state's highest court and a cancer survivor, began taking medication for 'darkening moods just a few weeks before her apparent suicide,' the New York Daily News reported.

According to those who knew her, her life was also marked by personal tragedy as her mother committed suicide on Easter in 2012 aged 92, the New York Times reported. Two years later her brother shot himself to death around the same holiday.

Despite being widely hailed in several published reports as 'the first female Muslim U.S. judge,' she was not a practitioner of Islam. She adopted the surname 'Abdus-Salaam' when she married her first husband, who was a Muslim.

But a spokesman for the Court of Appeals told the New York Times that she was not Muslim.

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

According to those who knew Abdus-Salaam (above in 2015), her life was also marked by personal tragedy as her mother committed suicide on Easter in 2012 aged 92, the New York Times reported. Two years later her brother shot himself to death around the same holiday

Authorities investigating the case said Thursday that they found her medications, as she did not leave behind a suicide note and there were no signs of foul play.

Detectives are looking for surveillance video to see if it revealed her movements along her possible path. They are also looking to see if it supports the theory that she committed suicide.

On Thursday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters, 'Obviously, we're still waiting for the full investigation, but to the extent that the challenges and the stresses in her life contributed to this, it's a reminder that even the most accomplished people still deal with extraordinary challenges inward, and we don't get to see that.'

Sources told the Times that Abdus-Salaam, 65, had been stressed recently at work.

She apparently had recently told friends and a doctor that she was suffering from stress.

Her close friend Dr. Marilyn Mobley told the Times that Abdus-Salaam had a 'heavy caseload and was in demand as a speaker'.

She noted that the 65-year-old jurist may have had difficulty handling the pressure.

'What she shared with me is she had been under a lot of stress recently and that she was having trouble sleeping, 'Mobley, who saw the judge two weeks ago in New York for breakfast, stated.

'The truth is she was accomplished, resilient and strong, and she had a breaking point like everyone else. I fear it got there.'

The 65-year-old judge (pictured with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo) was found fully clothed, with no obvious signs of trauma suggesting foul play

Hours before she disappeared, the 65-year-old woman 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.

Adbus-Salaam 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 and still had a MetroCard in her pocket.

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.

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 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.

'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.'

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, who was twice divorced, 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 de Blasio 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 Arlington, 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.'

For readers seeking support, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or by clicking here.
The United Airline's pilots union released a statement on Thursday regarding Dr. David Dao's violent removal from Flight 3411 originating out of Chicago on Sunday.

The union contended that the Chicago Department of Aviation's 'grossly inappropriate response' was to blame for the events that transpired, according to the United Master Executive Council's statement.

The United Master Executive Council represents the airline's 12,500 pilots.

The statement also pointed out that the plane from which Dr. Dao was ejected was one of which that was separately owned and operated by Republic Airlines.

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The United Airline's pilots union released a statement on Thursday regarding the violent removal of Dr. David Dao (pictured) from Flight 3311 originating out of Chicago on Sunday

'This occurred on one of our contracted Express carriers, separately owned and operated by Republic Airline, and was ultimately caused by the grossly inappropriate response by the Chicago Department of Aviation,' the pilots wrote according to Business Insider.

'The safety and well-being of our passengers is the highest priority for United pilots, and this should not have escalated into a violent encounter,' the union's written statement read.

'United pilots are infuriated by this event.'

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.

Dao suffered a broken nose and concussion, his lawyer said Thursday.

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.

Louisville, Kentucky teacher Jason Powell wrote a letter to the editor of the Chicago Tribune recounting his experience aboard that flight.

He said 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.

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.

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 (R); Dao is pictured being dragged from the plane (L)

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.

Both United and Chicago Department of Aviation officials were questioned by Chicago alderman on Thursday.

'We deeply deeply regret what happened and we commit to you that this type of situation will never happen again aboard our aircraft,' said Margaret Houlihan Smith, representative for United Airlines.

'This has been a learning moment for all of us at United. we know we can do better and we will do better.'

Ginger Evans represented the Chicago Department of Aviation at the questioning.

'I want to reassure you that we are going to thoroughly review every aspect of our operation,' Evans said.

One United official briefly summarized why the Chicago Aviation Security team was called, before going on to admit, again, that what happened was inexcusable.

'One of the customers, Dr. Dao, refused to deplane. Our team felt that they needed additional assistance and called for the Chicago Aviation Security to discuss the matter with Dr. Dao and escort him off the flight,' United's John Slater said.

'What transpired from there was a very disturbing moment we will pledge to never happen again.'

The pilots' union made it a point to clarify that no United employees where involved in the physical aspect of Dr. Dao's removal.
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North Korea upped its warmongering with Donald Trump today in a series of menacing boasts threatening to 'ravage' US troops amid fears the two countries are heading for war.

The secretive state vowed to 'pulverize' US bases and South Korean capital Seoul if it was threatened by the US military, which is carrying out drills on the Korean peninsula. A US aircraft carrier group is steaming towards the region.

It claimed it would 'ruthlessly ravage' the US if Washington attacked. China warned the region could go to war 'at any moment'.

The rhetoric comes after North Korea warned that President Donald Trump's 'troublemaking' and 'aggressive' tweets have pushed the world to the brink of thermo-nuclear war.

Pyongyang's Vice Minister Han Song Ryol accused Trump of building up a 'vicious cycle' of tensions and warned the US against provoking North Korea militarily. He said: 'We will go to war if they choose.'

He added the country would continue developing its nuclear program and conduct its next nuclear test whenever its leaders see fit.

In the past week Trump has shown his willingness to launch military strikes, with US missiles deployed in Syria and Afghanistan.

North Korea, led by dictator Kim Jong-un, vowed to 'pulverize' US bases and South Korean capital Seoul if it was threatened by the US military, which is carrying out drills on the Korean peninsula

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un was pictured this week overseeing a special forces commando operation, as leaders warned a war could break out imminently with the US

In other developments today, as tensions heighten in the Korean peninsula:

The North Korean Foreign Ministry's Institute for Disarmament and Peace warned a thermo-nuclear war could break out at any moment

China's foreign minister Wang Yi said anyone who provokes conflict would 'pay the price', and said there would be 'no winners'. China warned war could break out 'at any moment'

Air China announced that flights between Beijing and Pyongyang will be suspended from Monday

The Kremlin voiced concern about the escalation of tensions, and called for 'restraint' from all parties

The Korean People's Army in North Korea threatened to 'pulverize' US military bases in South Korea, and the South Korean presidential Blue House

North Korea cited US-South Korean wargames, the deployment of a US aircraft carrier to the peninsula last weekend, as well as Trump's recent tweets as the cause of the threat of war

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said saying Han's remarks reveal the 'true colours of North Korea's government that is bellicose and a breaker of regulations'

Japan said it is maintaining high levels of surveillance and taking 'every possible measure' to respond to any contingency on the Korean peninsula

The US has been carrying out operations in the Korean peninsula alongside Japanese allies to enhance combat readiness

US Army soldiers were pictured today taking part in exercises close to the border between North Korea in Paju, South Korea

Fully armed US Aircraft from the 18th Wing during the no-notice exercise in the Korean Peninsula

North Korea's military said it would 'ruthlessly ravage' the United States if Washington chose to attack.

The Korean People's Army statement boasted that US military bases in the South 'as well as the headquarters of evils such as the (South Korean presidential) Blue House would be pulverized within a few minutes'.

Han's earlier comments come as tensions rise over the possibility Kim Jong-un's regime will launch another nuclear weapons test tomorrow as North Korea marks the national holiday Day of the Sun, commemorating the birth of the country's founding father Kim Il Sung.

Military officers visit the birthplace of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, a day before the 105th anniversary of his birth, in Mangyongdae, just outside Pyongyang, today

A North Korean soldier pictured today gazing across the Yalu river opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong, on a day when China warned war could break out 'at any moment'

North Korean officials warned President Trump against acting aggressively against the secretive state

At the same time, a spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry's Institute for Disarmament and Peace issued a statement condemning the United States for attacking Syria last week, while also calling for 'peace by strength'.

'The US introduces into the Korean peninsula, the world's biggest hotspot, huge nuclear strategic assets, seriously threatening peace and security of the peninsula and pushing the situation there to the brink of a war,' the North's KCNA news agency said on Friday, citing the statement.

RUSSIAN LAWMAKER WARNS 'US IS A GREATER THREAT THAN NORTH KOREA' A senior Russian lawmaker said the US is a greater threat to global peace than North Korea. Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the upper house of Russian parliament, said today: 'The most alarming thing about the current U.S. administration is that you can't be sure if it is bluffing or really going to implement its threats.' He said 'America objectively poses a greater threat to peace than North Korea,' adding that 'the entire world is scared and left guessing if it strikes or not.; Kosachev said there is a "small hope" that President Donald Trump's administration would listen to warnings from Russia and China not to use military force. Advertisement

'This has created a dangerous situation in which a thermo-nuclear war may break out any moment on the peninsula and posed serious threat to the world peace and security, to say nothing of those in Northeast Asia,' it said.

In a statement, the North Korean military, quoted by state media agency KCNA, said: 'Our toughest counteraction against the US and its vassal forces will be taken in such a merciless manner as not to allow the aggressors to survive.'

The statements were criticised by South Korea's Foreign Ministry, which said Han's remarks revealed the 'true colours of North Korea's government that is bellicose and a breaker of regulations'.

It said North Korea will face strong punishment it will find hard to withstand if it makes a significant provocation, such as another nuclear test or an intercontinental ballistic missile launch.

China immediately responded, saying anyone provoking conflict will 'pay the price'.

China's foreign minister Wang Yi said today there would be 'no winner' in any war, as tensions mount with the US.

He told reporters in Beijing: 'Dialogue is the only possible solution.'

Wang stated: 'Lately, tensions have risen with the US and the ROK (Republic of Korea in the South) on one side, and the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the North) on the other, and one has the feeling that a conflict could break out at any moment.

'If a war occurs, the result is a situation in which everybody loses and there can be no winner.'

Wang said that whichever side provoked a conflict 'must assume the historic responsibility and pay the corresponding price'.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists: 'Moscow is watching with great concern the escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula. We call for restraint from all countries and warn countries not to pursue actions that could consist of any provocative steps.'

US troops carrying out military exercises near the border between North and South Korea in Paju, South Korea, today as tensions escalate

US Air Force 44th and 67th Fighter Squadron F-15 Eagles and 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron E-3 Sentries taxi down the runway in the joint drills with Japan which have provoked North Korean anger

The tension around North Korea is high ahead of a major North Korean holiday, the birthday of its founding dictator Kim Il Sung, tomorrow

North Korea blames Trump and the US for the rising tensions, according to Han, who cited US-South Korean wargames, the deployment of a US aircraft carrier to the peninsula last weekend, as well as Trump's recent tweets on Tuesday that the North is 'looking for trouble'.

Han's remarks, on the eve of the country's biggest national holiday, the 'Day of the Sun', were released hours after a member of the Trump administration denied a report claiming the US was prepared to launch a pre-emptive strike to halt any nuclear test at the weekend.

North Korea's vice foreign minister Han Song Ryol blamed President Donald Trump on Friday for 'making trouble' through his 'aggressive tweets'

He ordered air strikes on a Syrian air base in response to a chemical weapon attack and yesterday dropped the 'mother of all bombs' on a network of caves in Afghanistan, killing 36 ISIS fighters.

In another show of force, US military planes have been conducting military drills alongside Japan in the Korean peninsula.

On Tuesday the US President 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! U.S.A.'

Trump's recent tweets on Tuesday said the North is 'looking for trouble'

Trump also called North Korea a 'menace' earlier this week and tweeted that if China doesn't do its part to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, the US 'will solve the problem without them'.

Han said: 'As long as the nuclear threats and blackmail go on with the military exercises, we will carry forward with our national defense buildup, the core of which is the nuclear arms buildup.'

He also talked of a sixth nuclear test, saying: 'That is something that our headquarters decides. At a time and at a place where the headquarters deems necessary, it will take place.'

The North Korean official dismissed the suggestion Trump made last year during his presidential campaign that he was willing to meet Kim, possibly over hamburgers.

'I think that was nothing more than lip service during the campaign to make himself more popular," Han said.

'Now we are comparing Trump's policy toward the DPRK with the former administration's and we have concluded that it's becoming more vicious and more aggressive.'

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned there would be 'no winner' if a conflict broke out between the United States and North Korea

Trump diverted the USS Carl Vinson (pictured in March) toward the Korean peninsula last weekend in a show of force against North Korea

US Vice President Mike Pence will embark on a 10-day visit to Asia, starting in South Korea on Sunday with contingency plans should it coincide with a nuclear test, a White House adviser said.

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.

Experts do not believe North Korea has a deliverable long-range nuclear weapon, or intercontinental missiles.

But that could change within the next few years, as experts say North Korea could have a viable nuclear warhead and a ballistic missile capable of hitting the US mainland during Trump's watch as president.

'KIM MAY BE ABLE TO STRIKE THE U.S. MAINLAND WITHIN FOUR YEARS' WARNS EX-CIA DIRECTOR Dennis Wilder warned that North Korea could be able to launch missiles that can hit the US west coast within four years North Korea could be capable of carrying out a missile strike on the US mainland within Donald Trump's first term as president, a former presidential adviser has warned. Dennis Wilder, who was a special assistant to George W Bush, urged world leaders not to underestimate Kim Jong-un. Wilder, who has served as CIA deputy assistant for East Asia and the Pacific, told ABC that North Korea could develop long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of hitting the US west coast within four years. He said: 'We believe, and American intelligence estimates say this, that the North Koreans could have such a weapon within the next four years. In other words, during the term of President Trump.' But he warned that as tensions heighten, it is the South Korean population which is currently at the greatest risk from Pyongyang. Wilder said: 'Seoul is within artillery range of the demilitarised zone. We know that this is a dangerous situation for the South Korean people and the 10 million people there.' Advertisement

Aerial photos taken Tuesday show continued activity at the Punggye-ri Nuclear site where US officials fear a nuclear device has been installed in a tunnel ahead of another test.

And Han, referring to North Korea as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, said Friday: 'If the US comes with reckless military maneuvers then we will confront it with the DPRK's preemptive strike.

'We've 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.'

The message had been echoed in the days before, when North Korea said it would launch a 'merciless retaliatory strike' against US military action.

Pyongyang also recently launched a ballistic missile and some experts say it could conduct another nuclear test at virtually anytime.

Satellite images 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

But North Korea blames Trump and the US for the rising tensions, according to Han.

'Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words. So that's why. It's not the DPRK but the U.S. and Trump that makes trouble,' he said.

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 North's leadership have fanned Pyongyang's anger.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to South Korea on Sunday in what his aides said was a sign of the U.S. commitment to its ally

'Our stance toward their hostile policy is strident and clear-cut,' Han said. 'Now the Trump administration is thinking about several options as regards the DPRK. Those options include such reckless options as headquarter decapitation and the pre-emptive strike.

'Whatever comes from the US, we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it.'

US intelligence officials told NBC if the US is convinced North Korea will follow through on a test, it can preemptively deploy Tomahawk missiles from two warships parked in the region.

Bombers are also being lined up in Guam, and cyber and special operations on the ground may be utilized, the officials said.

But a member of the administration shot down the idea, describing the report as 'flat wrong', while another official told Reuters it was 'speculative at best'.

The Pentagon declined comment, saying, as a policy, it does not discuss future operations 'nor publicly speculate on possible scenarios.'

North Korea gears up to celebrate the 'Day of the Sun' Amid rising regional tensions, Pyongyang residents have been preparing for North Korea's most important holiday: the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. Saturday's holiday, known as the Day of the Sun, normally includes an immense military parade and synchronized public performances, sometimes involving tens of thousands of people. North Koreans placed flower baskets and bouquets below portraits of founder president Kim Il Sung on Friday. A light rain fell in the capital, as people wearing gumboots and holding umbrellas walked past portraits of the late leader and signs proclaiming 'Sun Day is the most significant event in North Korea'. Government minders have not confirmed any details about Saturday with visiting foreign journalists. However, it is likely the current leader, Kim Jong Un, will make an appearance. North Korean schoolgirls perform at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace on Friday, April 14, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea Children perform a variety dance and music show during an organised tour of the Childrens Cultural Palace for visiting foreign journalists on the outskirts of Pyongyang on April 14 Such pageantry reinforces the cult of personality around the Kim family, three of whom have ruled North Korea with a vice-like grip. The visiting journalists saw nothing out of the ordinary in Pyongyang despite the talk of war. However, when foreign journalists visit North Korea, their movements are closely managed and they are usually restricted to Pyongyang. Conversations with people are monitored by government 'minders', who also provide translations into English. Near the birthplace of Kim Il Sung, a pilgrimage spot for North Koreans, commuters on Friday moved briskly on and off the subway, young women holding umbrellas walked by, clasping arms, while two children in blue school uniforms shuffled down the street holding a flower basket almost their own size. 'If the enemies want to wage war with our leaders, we have nothing to fear because we will win,' said Jon Myon Sop, who works at a bus station. 'I know about how tensions are rising on the Korean Peninsula and how the U.S. and its puppet countries have brought their military assets to the region.' Cho Hyon Ran, a tour guide at the site, said: 'We don't want war but we are not afraid of war because we have strong power, our country is the strongest one in the world now. 'You can see all people are laughing, all people are singing, all people are celebrating the Sun's day,' she said in English. 'We are not afraid of anything.' North Korean school boys sing at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace on Friday, April 14, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea Amid rising regional tensions, Pyongyang residents have been preparing for North Korea's most important holiday: the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung North Korean schoolgirls attend a dance class at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace ahead of the Day of the Sun Advertisement

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to South Korea on Sunday in what his aides said was a sign of the U.S. commitment to its ally.

NORTH KOREAN CRISIS: HOW THE WORLD REACTED Key developments which have happened following Vice Minister Han Song Ryol's comments today: Japan is maintaining high levels of surveillance and taking 'every possible measure' to respond to any contingency on the Korean Peninsula. It is coordinating with the US, South Korea and other countries and will continue efforts to convince North Korea to refrain from further provocations and comply with UN resolutions banning Pyongyang's missile technology development.

A senior Russian lawmaker says the US is a greater threat to global peace than North Korea. Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the upper house of Russian parliament, said: 'The most alarming thing about the current US administration is that you can't be sure if it is bluffing or really going to implement its threats.' He said: 'America objectively poses a greater threat to peace than North Korea.'

The Kremlin is watching the developments around North Korea with 'great concern.' President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is calling on all parties to show restraint and refrain from any provocative action.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry has criticised comments by North Korea's vice foreign minister Han Song Ryol, saying they reveal the 'true colours of North Korea's government that is bellicose and a breaker of regulations'. It says North Korea will face strong punishment it will find hard to withstand if it makes a significant provocation, such as another nuclear test.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says there would be no winners in an armed conflict between the US and North Korea over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programs. Wang said that all sides must stop provoking and threatening each other and take a flexible approach to resuming dialogue.

Some Chinese experts said they see little immediate possibility of hostilities breaking out between the US and North Korea, but say Beijing will respond harshly to any further North Korean nuclear tests. Director of Jilin University's Institute of Northeast Asian Studies Guo Rui said President Trump's domestic troubles should prevent him taking such action, while North Korea doesn't appear to be on a war footing. Guo says although the tension on the Korean Peninsula is high, it's not high to the point of having an imminent war. Advertisement

Pence's Seoul stop kicks off a long-planned 10-day trip to Asia - his first as vice president - and comes amid concerns that Pyongyang could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test.

President Donald Trump has warned against further provocations, sending an aircraft carrier group to the region as a show of force. His officials have been assessing tougher economic sanctions as well as military options to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

Pence plans to celebrate Easter with US and Korean troops on Sunday before talks on Monday with acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn.

'We're going to consult with the Republic of Korea on North Korea's efforts to advance its ballistic missile and its nuclear program,' a White House foreign policy adviser told reporters, previewing Pence's trip.

Pence will land in Seoul the day after North Korea's biggest national day, the 'Day of the Sun.'

The White House has contingency plans for Pence's trip should it coincide with a another North Korean nuclear test by its leader Kim Jong Un, the adviser said.

'Unfortunately, it's not a new surprise for us. He continues to develop this program, he continues to launch missiles into the Sea of Japan,' the adviser said.

'With the regime it's not a matter of if - it's when. We are well prepared to counter that,' the adviser said.

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.

China, North Korea's sole major ally and neighbor, opposes its weapons program and 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.'

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also 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.

Kim Jong-un made a public appearance in Pyongyang on Thursday, to open a housing project featuring residential tower blocks of various shapes - round, square and octagonal - with the tallest proclaimed as 70 storeys, or 234 metres, high, and including nearly 5,000 apartments in total.

Around 200 foreign journalists are in Pyongyang as the country marks the 105th anniversary of '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.

Washington-based 38 North, who monitors North Korea, has reported 'unusually high levels of activity' at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site over the past four weeks.

New satellite imagery from April 2 showed there was more activity around the North Portal, which is the tunnel where the four most recent nuclear tests have taken place.

It was revealed that Kim Jong-Un had overseen a special forces commando operation, watching 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.

'IT WAS LIKE THE BULLETS HAD EYES': KIM PRAISES TROOPS AFTER SPECIAL FORCES TRAINING DRILL North Korean despot Kim Jong-un this week oversaw a special forces commando operation as tensions soar with Washington over Pyongyang's nuclear programme. Pictures released by state media show the dictator looking on from an observation post and smiling as special forces troops dropped from light transport planes 'like hail' and 'mercilessly blew up enemy targets'. According to the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim praised his troops for their precision, saying 'the bullets seemed to have their own eyes'. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has overseen a special forces commando operation, state media said on April 13. Pictured, an undated photo of the regime's special operation forces It did not identify when and where the operation had been held. The agency's report said: '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.' 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. The smiling North Korean leader is seen watching his 'elite fighting force' on a military training exercise in photos released today The Rodong Sinmun - the official mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party - carried several photos from the contest showing firefight excercises 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 Advertisement

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
Some went on to teach at other schools, include a teacher who allegedly raped a student and then became principal of a high school

Teachers were often allowed to resign and even got recommendation letters

In all cases, police weren't called and the allegations were covered up or hushed up

Choate-Rosemary Hall School admitted sexual abuse of male and female students went on from 1963 to 2010

Twelve former faculty and staff members at an elite Connecticut boarding school who allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct with students that went on for decades were named in a new report.

An investigator hired by Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford released the report Thursday that graphically recounts the alleged experiences of 24 former students.

The report says the alleged sexual misconduct took place between 1963 and 2010 and included 'intimate kissing,' 'sexual intercourse' and 'forced or coerced intercourse.' Victims were both male and female.

The New York Times reported that the report said that teachers had sexually molested and in at least one case raped a student.

Exclusive boarding school Choate-Rosemary Hall has apologized for alleged sexual misconduct that went on from 1963 to 2010 involving 24 students

No current faculty or staff members have been implicated in the misconduct claims and there are no reports relating to any current students.

The report notes that in some cases the school acted quickly in response to the alleged sexual misconduct, but in other cases it did not.

Police were never notified and in some cases teachers were allowed to resign and then given letters of recommendation. The school has issued an apology.

Former US presidnet John F. Kennedy is the most famous former pupil to have attended Choate-Rosemary Hall

'We hope that through this report, our community can address the issue of adult sexual misconduct in a frank and direct manner,' a letter written by Michael J. Carr, the chairman of the board of trustees, and Alex D. Curtis, the headmaster said. 'Throughout this self-examination, our goal has been to come together as a community to provide validation and support to those who suffered from abuse, to learn from the past.'

In the early 1980s, a parent complained to the school about their daughter contracting herpes from an English teacher. In another case, a student was said to be raped while on a school trip to Costa Rica.

In that case, the teacher, named Jaime Rivera-Murillo, allegedly raped a student 17-year-old student in a swimming pool after drinking with students. Another student came to her aid.

Rivera-Murillo was fired after several students reported the incident, but he was fired with 'just cause' and went on to work at several other Connecticut schools, including becoming principal of a high school.

He resigned this month after the Choate investigator contacted him and the superintendent of schools. According to the report, he admitted drinking with students but denied a sexual assault.

Ivanka Trump, daughter of Donald Trump, also attended the prestigious school. Other notable students include actors Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Jamie Lee Curtis

Of the 12 faculty members identified, five are dead.

The school actively worked to cover up the crimes, the report said, handling allegations 'internally and quietly.' Suspects were able to go on and work at other educational institutions, their reputations intact.

'They are closed systems, especially residential private schools where kids are separated from their parents,' Paul Mones, a lawyer who represents victims of sexual abuse, told the times. 'Its not like a public school, with people coming in and out all the time. There are many more opportunities for teachers to do this.'

Teachers accused of sexual assault were often allowed to resign and then given letters of recommendation and went on to other schools

Cheyenne Montgomery graduated from Choate in 1992 and said she was abused by two different teachers there, she told the Times.

She said first her math teacher, Angus Mairs, seduced her into what started to feel like a 'boyfriend-girlfriend situation.'

When he left the school, she recounted her experience to her French teacher Bjorn Runquist, and that relationship became sexual as well. He left for Kent, and retired in 2013.

As early as 2010, another faculty member, Charles Timlin, kissed and made inappropriate sexual comments to a female student. Although the school knew about his conduct, he wasn't fired until the student's father called the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.

The posh boarding school counts JFK and Ivanka Trump as former students. New York attorney Nancy Kestenbaum had been hired to investigate claims that staff had sex with their students at the institution.

Parents pay boarding fees of up to $56,000 for their children to attend.

It has taught generations of the upper-classes in New England, including the former president and others related to the American political elite.

As well as JFK and Ivanka Trump, Choate's alumni include former Democratic party presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson, author of the USA Trilogy John Dos Passos and philanthropist Paul Mellon.
One of the world's leading drug companies 'plotted to destroy supplies of life-saving cancer medicines' over a battle to drive up prices in Europe, it has been claimed.

South African firm Aspen Pharmacare is understood to have proposed the wastage during a row with the Spanish health service in 2014, while it is also said to have threatened to stop supplying medicine to Italian authorities a year earlier.

The price drive began after the firm, whose European headquarters is based in Dublin, bought the rights to five cancer medicines from British firm GlaxoSmithKline.

South African firm Aspen Pharmacare is accused of threatening to destroy supplies of life-saving cancer drugs as part of a plan to drive up prices in Europe (file picture)

According to The Times, the company wanted to impose rises of up to 4,000 per cent after purchasing the 'portfolio' of drugs from GSK for more than 270million in 2009.

The paper reported that in 2013 the cost of leukaemia drug busulfan rose from 5.20 to 65.22 in England and Wales, a 1,100 per cent jump, while blood cancer medicine chlorambucil went from 8.36 per pack to 40.51.

It is understood Aspen was able to impose the price rises by taking advantage of a loophole that allows increases if a brand name is dropped.

An investigation by the Times claims a 'cache of documents' revealed Aspen 'threatened to stop supplying drugs' to Italy in 2013 if authorities did not agree to price rises, and a year later 'threatened to destroy stocks' should Spanish health bosses not do the same.

It is understood Italian authorities subsequently agreed to the rises following a period of medicine shortages that were 'allegedly orchestrated to increase pressure'.

Dennis Dencher, chief executive of Aspen Pharma Europe, told the Times price rises were at 'appropriate levels' to 'promote long-term sustainable supply' and added the previous prices were 'unsustainable'.

The firm also denied any shortages of medicine were deliberate but did not address questions on the destruction of drugs from the paper.

It is claimed the company threatened to destroy stocks of medicine meant for Spain unless health bosses in the country agreed to huge price rises. In England and Wales the cost of leukaemia drug busulfan rose from 5.20 to 65.22 per packet, a 1,100 per cent jump (file picture)

The price increases in the UK were not approved by the Department of Health because they were 'unbranded', with prices for such products usually controlled by competition in the market.

It is understood a lack of competition enabled the increases to be implemented and the Government has pledged to bring in new laws to end 'excessive rises'.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: 'No pharmaceutical company should exploit the NHS.

'We are working closely with the Competition and Markets Authority on unwarranted price rises of unbranded generic medicines, and where companies have breached competition law, we will seek damages and invest that money in the NHS.

'We are also bringing in new laws this year so we can take action against excessive price rises on unbranded generic medicines.'

MailOnline has approached Aspen for comment.
This is the moment a group of paedophile hunters trapped a man who had allegedly tried to groom a 14-year-old girl for sex - and streamed it on Facebook Live.

The Hunted One confront the 44-year-old man in a south London supermarket car park, where they claim he has sent videos of himself performing lewd acts to the 'minor' he believed he was talking to.

'Would you sent that to your own children?' they ask the man, who is dressed in a white top - and when he shakes his head and gives a mumbled 'no' they retort 'No? So just our children, then?'

This man was allegedly meeting a girl he believed to be 14 years old at a south London supermarket

They approach the car and tell him not to move, adding: 'Don't bother deleting stuff, you're going nowhere.'

At first, the man seems fairly relaxed - calling himself 'a silly boy' when he is first confronted by The Hunted One's team.

'I'm just really confused. I'm going to be honest with you and just say, it would have actually not happened. I was going to drive off.'

He then says he was going to drive off, which the team refutes by saying they had received a text with his exact location in the car park.

They then lean into his car and pull out condoms.

The suspect claims that he was going to drive away (left), but the group lean into his car and pull out condoms (right)

Around 40 minutes into the hour-long clip, police arrive and speak to him for 15 minutes, before he is put into a squad car.

A police spokesman said: 'Police were called at around 2.35pm on Thursday, 13 April to a report of a man planning to meet a 14-year-old child at car park in Jenner Close, Sidcup.

'There was no child for the man to meet, members of the public who had been in contact with the man over the internet, had brought him to the location.

'Officers attended and arrested a 44-year-old man on suspicion of attempting to meet a child following grooming.

Around 40 minutes into the hour-long clip, police arrive and speak to him for 15 minutes, before he is put into a squad car.

'He was taken into custody at a south London police station, where he remains.'

The Hunted One is one of a number of similar emerging groups, which speaks to potential perverts online, pretending to be a minor and attempting to lure them into face-to-face confrontations.

When they reveal their identities, usually in a public place, they quietly keep them there and wait for police to arrive.
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The Mother Of All Bombs that obliterated 36 ISIS militants and a rat-nest network of tunnels and caves was 'the best weapon to clear an obstacle' in an ongoing offensive against 20 terror groups in Afghanistan.

A fter dropping the most powerful non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat in Eastern Afghanistan, the Pentagon has confirmed it received no orders to flex military muscle and that it had been merely a decision taken on the ground.

The bomb has been given the nickname the 'mother of all bombs', a play on MOAB which is an acronym standing for Massive Ordnance Air Burst, and weighs a staggering 21,000lbs.

It was dropped at 7.32pm 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 close to the Pakistani border.

President Donald Trump called it a 'very, very successful mission' and some Afghan residents have welcomed the blast and even called for more.

There were no civilian casualties, according to the Ministry of Defense statement, which also said that several ISIS caves and ammunition caches were destroyed.

The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, unleashes 11 tons of explosives and vaporises anything within its 300m blast zone.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

That MOAB's first practical test was carried out on March 11, 2003 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and the plume of smoke is pictured here

General John Nicholson, who heads US Forces Afghanistan, said: 'The soldiers have already resumed their offensive as they continue to press south into these ISIS cave sanctuaries.'

A member of Afghanistan's special forces unit keeps watch in Achin district of Nangarhar province, in eastern Afghanistan on April 14, 2017, a day after the blast that killed 36 ISIS militants

General John Nicholson speaks at a press conference following the deployment of the Mother of All Bombs in Afghanistan

An Afghan special forces soldier points his gun towards the enemy lines in Achin district of Nangarhar province, in eastern Afghanistan, where the US Air Force dropped the 21,600lbs 'mother of all bombs'

John Nicholson listens to a question at a press conference during which he said his soldiers were fighting 20 terror groups in Afghanistan

The military used a GBU-43 (pictured), which weighs a staggering 21,600 pounds, and has earned the moniker 'Mother Of All Bombs

General John Nicholson, who heads US Forces Afghanistan, said: 'The soldiers have already resumed their offensive as they continue to press south into these ISIS cave sanctuaries.

'This entire offensive, not just the use of one weapon, shows the commitment to defeat ISIS in Afghanistan this year.

'It's one we encountered on the battlefield.

'Since early March we have been conducting offensive operations in Southern Nangarhar, but this was the first time we encountered an extensive obstacle to our progress which compromised of IED belts, tunnels and caves.

'This was the best weapon to use to remove that obstacle and allow us to continue with our offensive operations into Southern Nangarhar.

Commander of the Resolute Support mission and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan General John W Nicholson leaves a press conference

'That is all there is to the timing.

'It was the right time to use it tactically against the right target on the ground.'

It has also emerged the US and its Allied forces are not only battling ISIS militants, but 20 terror groups in the area who have been known to work together.

General Nicholson said: 'The reason we think the whole world needs to be focused on Afghanistan is the potential convergence of different terror groups in this area.

'We have seen evidence of 20 different designated terror organisations in Afghanistan and Pakistan and from time to time we see the members cooperate between different groups and this is a grave concern for us.'

Afghanistan officials confirmed the attack left 36 Islamic State group fighters dead and that damage was caused to the underground terror network.

It is understood they are the same type of tunnels and caves once used by Osama bin Laden to move from Afghanistan to Pakistan in an attempt to evade capture by coalition forces.

Hakim Khan, 50, a resident of Achin district where the attack took place, said: 'I want 100 times more bombings on this group.'

US officials estimate 600 to 800 ISIS fighters are present in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar, and the attack was seen as a direct offensive against the group.

The huge bomb, delivered via an MC-130 transport plane, has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT, and the weapon was originally designed as much to intimidate foes as to clear broad areas.

'The GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat,' Air Force spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder said.

Achin District Governor Esmail Shinwari said the bomb landed in the Momand Dara area.

'The explosion was the biggest I have ever seen. Towering flames engulfed the area,' Shinwari said yesterday.

'We don't know anything about the casualties so far, but since it is an ISIS stronghold we think a lot of fighters may have been killed.'

US Navy Captain Bill Salvin, spokesman for US Forces Afghanistan, said a bomb damage assessment was being carried out.

As to the possibility of civilian casualties from such a huge weapon, Salvin said: 'Friendly forces scouted the area and noted the lack of civilian presence.

'The target was chosen to ensure the maximum effect against ISIS while preventing civilian casualties.'

Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai used Twitter to condemn the weapon's use.

'I vehemently and in strongest words condemn the dropping of the latest weapon, the largest non-nuclear bomb, on Afghanistan by US military,' he said.

'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.'

President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that he had authorized his military commanders to take actions like the one put into play on Thursday

The MOAB being tested back in 2003 by the US Air Force

A general view of Achin district, in Jalalabad, after US forces dropped the bomb in Afghanistan targeting a complex network of ISIS caves and tunnels

Huge: The MOAB test fired in 2003 shortly before final preparations for it to be loaded onto an MC-130 attack aircraft

General Nicholson, who heads US Forces Afghanistan, described the weapon as the 'right munition' to reduce ISIS obstacles and maintain the momentum against jihadists in the region.

The strike hit a system of tunnels and caves that IS fighters had used to 'move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces' nearby, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

ISIS' CAVE NETWORKS The caves bombed by the US Air Force had previously been impenetrable. Little is known of the specifics of the complex rat-nest in Achin district of Nangarhar province, but they are within touching distance of the Tora Bora tunnels used by Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda cronies. They were carved more than 1,000ft into the White Mountains, could accommodate 2,000 terrorists and even had its own hospital. It seems unlikely ISIS' model would be anywhere near as sophisticated. A series of tunnels found under an Iraqi town in 2015 belonging to the terror group is probably closer to the reality of the caves attacked by the MOAB. There were 40 individual routes discovered running hundreds of metres and although it didn't have its own hospital, terrorists did have access to electricity and sleeping quarters. Advertisement

'We must deny them operational space, which we did,' Spicer added.

The Afghan government was aware of the US plan to bomb the IS tunnel complex, presidential spokesman Shah Hussain Murtazawi suggested.

'Heavy casualties have been inflicted on the enemy,' Murtazawi said on Facebook, ruling out the possibility of civilian casualties.

A crater left by the blast is believed to be more than 300 meters (1,000 feet) wide after it exploded six feet above the ground. Anyone at the blast site was vaporized.

President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that he was 'very, very proud' and called the operation 'r eally another successful job. We're very, very proud of our military.'

The Pentagon is denying that the attack was a revenge strike despite the fact that it came in the same area of Afghanistan where a Green Beret soldier was killed on Saturday.

Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar of the 7th Special Forces Group was cut down by enemy small arms fire while his unit was conducting counter-ISIS operations.

Trump suggested he had not personally ordered the bomb strike but delegated authority to commanders in the field.

'Everybody knows exactly what happened. So, what I do is I authorize my military ... We have given them total authorization,' he said.

The move marks the fulfilment of a 17-month-old campaign promise Trump delivered in Iowa, when he scoffed at ISIS terror forces and said he 'would bomb the s**t out of them' if he became president.

It also comes at a moment in the young Trump presidency when tensions are rising with Russia over its role in Syria, where ISIS has its headquarters.

The MOAB was pushed out the back door of a giant cargo plane on Thursday, flying to its target with GPS guidance. A MOAB has only been exploded once before - in a 2003 test

Mushroom cloud: This was the aftermath of the test explosion seen outside Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Then-candidate Donald Trump told an Iowa audience in November 2015 that he would fight ISIS from the air as president: 'I would bomb the s**t out of them'

The explosion will also send a saber-rattling message to North Korea and Iran that rogue states' nuclear-weapons ambitions could be met with brute force.

Trump said of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un: 'I don't know if this sends a message. It doesn't make any difference if it does or not.'

The Department of Defense is denying that Thursday's attack was revenge for Saturday's death of Green Beret sergeant Mark De Alencar in the same region of Afghanistan

'North Korea's a problem. The problem will be taken care of.'

White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that MOAB is 'a large, powerful and accurately delivered weapon' whose use was intended to collapse underground spaces used by ISIS terrorists to move freely and attack U.S. and allied troops.

'The United States takes the fight against ISIS seriously, and in order to defeat the group we must deny them operational space  which we did,' Spicer said.

He referred reporters' questions to the Pentagon and ignored a shouted question about whether Trump had been aware the bomb was dropped before or during the military operation.

Trump said during a November 2015 campaign rally in Fort Dodge, Iowa that ISIS was 'making a tremendous amount of money' because of 'certain areas of oil that they took away' after the Obama administration withdrew U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

'They have some in Syria, some in Iraq. I would bomb the s**t out of them,' he said to wild cheers.

'I would just bomb those suckers. That's right. I'd blow up the pipes. ... I'd blow up every single inch. There would be nothing left.'

HOW THE MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS KILLS PEOPLE: VAPORIZED BODIES, CRUSHED INTERNAL ORGANS AND SUFFOCATED TO DEATH The GBU-43, otherwise known as the Mother of All Bombs, or MOAB unleashes a devastating fireball that incinerates anything within 30 feet when it first detonates. In the milliseconds following the initial blast, all the oxygen would have been sucked out of the tunnels and for hundreds of feet around, literally sucking the life out of terrorists, suffocating them as their lungs imploded. Then, in a flash the fiery shockwave would have blasted outwards at the speed of sound for up to a mile, causing huge concussive injuries to anyone caught in its path, essentially smashing them to death, while at the same time leveling buildings and trees. Ears would have been left bleeding and internal organs battered by the staggering force of the blast. Anyone caught inside the tunnels would have been crushed as the force of 19,000 pounds of highly complex explosives caused them to collapse on the ISIS terrorists. Anyone left alive would have been shocked and left in awe by the ferocity of the blast - the psychological scars staying with them forever. The Pentagon estimates that up to 800 ISIS soldiers were in the area at the time of the blast. Its frightening power was unleashed by the United States for the first time on Thursday when it was dropped on an ISIS camp in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province, in order to obliterate underground tunnels used by the terrorists. A crater left by the blast is believed to be more than 300 feet wide after it exploded just six feet above the ground. Anyone at the blast site was vaporized. The energy released by the nearly 19,000 pounds of highly complex explosive, would have caused a barometric shock wave known as 'overpressure' that moves at the speed of sound away from ground zero. Classed as a thermobaric bomb - 'thermo' for heat and 'baric' for pressure, the MOAB features a two stage detonation powered by H6 explosive which contains powdered aluminum. The first blast detonates and spreads highly flammable aluminum dust and the second is the baric blast - which literally sucks oxygen out from cave tunnels before rapidly becoming an expanding shock wave. Both the implosion and the blast wave cause massive internal damage to anyone who has not been already been incinerated by the detonation, with most injuries to hollow organs such as the ears, lungs and stomach. Anyone in the tunnels who did not have the life sucked out them would have then been crushed to death by the sheer force of the explosion. MOAB: The Mother of All Bombs - otherwise known as the GBU-43 would obliterate most of Times Square with a yield blast of 0.011 KT Sheer power: The effects of a MOAB detonation are explained below - 1: FireBall - 2 - Air Blast - 3 - Continuing Air Blast and 4 - Burn injuries 1: The MOAB would technically explode as an airburst weapon, albeit from six-feet and not thousands, like a nuclear bomb. 2: As the bomb ignites the alumimum dust and nearly 19,000 pounds of explosives a shock wave sucks the air from another 160-feet of prime Manhattan real estate and destroying Broadway. Concrete buildings are severely damaged and fatalities are also close to 100 percent here. 3: The dissipated air blast continues on to more than 300-feet, damaging more residential buildings and causing injury to anyone caught up in the blast and more fatalities. 4: People up to 330-feet away from Ground Zero would suffer 3rd degree burns and some would suffer the loss of their limbs. Key stats: Known as the 'Mother Of All Bombs'

The U.S. military's largest non-nuclear weapon

Each bomb costs around $16 million (12.8 million)

Its explosion is equivalent to 11 tons of TNT and the blast radius is a mile wide

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 meters) long and 40 inches (1 meter) wide

Weighs 21,000lbs (9,500kg)  heavier than the Hiroshima nuclear bomb

Leaves no lasting radiation effect How it's deployed: The bomb has 'grid' fins that fold into the body and then open up in flight to help control its descent

It can only be deployed out of the back of a 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

It accelerates rapidly to its terminal velocity and is partially guided to its target via satellite

It explodes six feet (1.8 meters) above the ground

The idea behind this 'airburst' mechanism is to spread its destructive range Advertisement

Preparations: This was the scene as the only other MOAB to be exploded was readied for action in 2003 in Florida. The tail rotor is part of the guidance system for it to exploded over a specified target

ISIS IN AFGHANISTAN ISIS forces operating in Afghanistan have been digging in in Nangarhar province, prompting the U.S. military to drop a 21,000 MOAB ordinance on their underground stronghold. ISIS-K is an ISIS affiliate whose name stands for ISIS Khorosan, operating in Central Asian territory. The group has been using such tactics as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and tunneling. Recruits from from Pakistan and Central Asia. 'As ISIS-K's 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 There are between 600 and 800 fighters there, Foreign Policy reported. Afghan forces backed by U.S. forces opened up an offensive against them just last month. 'Our goal is to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan in 2017,' 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 haven't 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. U.S. authorities have viewed the group with increasing concern due to its growing strength. Policymakers also fear that ISIS forces may migrate there as allied military campaigns advance on other ISIS strongholds. Advertisement

A specialized MC-130 'Hercules' cargo aircraft released the weapon at 7pm 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 US 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 U.S. fast-tracked the MOAB in 2003 for use in Operation Iraqi Freedom, but the Defense Department later decided that the enemy provided too little resistance to justify its deployment.

It was available to the Obama administration throughout the former president's entire two terms, but he never deployed it in combat.

Its first practical test was carried out on March 11, 2003 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

The Pentagon confirmed Thursday that the explosive colossus was dropped in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, making it the first time America's largest non-nuclear weapon has been used in a combat situation.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said it was the first ever combat use of the bomb, which contains 11 tons of explosives.

Stump said the bomb was dropped on a cave complex believed to be used by ISIS fighters in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, very close to the border with Pakistan.

Gen. John Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement about ISIS that 'as ISIS-K's 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].'

News reports suggest Nicholson made the decision to drop it from the sky.

He added that '[t] he 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.'

The ISIS faction in Afghanistan is known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria-Khorasan province, or ISIS-K.
This dad had a hilariously excited reaction to finding out he has a son after having had five girls in a row.

Kennedy Zarour, from Waldwick, New Jersey, sat in with expectant wife Natalie, who was filming her husband's reaction, while she had a Caesarean section on March 8.

Wearing a surgical mask, the dad-of-six confirms he wants to know the gender of his baby and when a nurse tells him it's a boy he jumps straight out of his seat and starts shouting.

After screaming at the top of the lungs 'Oh my god, I love it' and 'Yeah baby, I got a boy' and giving his wife a kiss, Kennedy is asked to sit down by one of the doctors.

Ms Zarour said later: 'It wasn't a case of being excited, we were both stunned.'

'After five girls, the odds seemed to be against us so we couldn't help but celebrate.

'We didn't know what the gender was so I figured I would record in case it was a boy as I wouldn't want to miss my husband's reaction.

This dad had a hilariously excited reaction to finding out he has a son after having had five girls in a row

'It was all worth it and we celebrate all of our children every day.'

The couple welcomed their new son Gerard into the world six days earlier than expected.

Kennedy has two 20-year-olds, Ariana and Colette, from a previous relationship and the couple have Mia, five, Jolie, three, and Giselle, 18 months.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel had infuriated the heads of her intelligence services by turning to the UK for advice on how to combat her country's escalating Islamic terror threat.

Respected news magazine Focus reports in its latest issue that 18 months ago she met the heads of MI5, MI6 and the director of GCHQ, the agency which was discovered to have conducted covert surveillance on Germany.

Her contacts with the British have rankled German spooks. One anonymous official said to the magazine: 'In 12 years she has not once attended one of the weekly security briefings for her government.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, pictured, has been criticised by her own security services for asking British spy chiefs for help in countering the growing Islamic terror threat at home

Former Prime Minister David Cameron, left, invited Mrs Merkel, right to Chequers in October 2015 where she met senior figures from MI5, MI6 and GCHQ according to German media

In return, Mrs Merkel handed Mr Cameron an intelligence report conducted by her own BND foreign intelligence service on Russian president Vladimir Putin, pictured

'Why does she travel to England then? Does she not trust her own people anymore?'

According to Focus David Cameron arranged for her to meet intelligence chiefs at Chequers in October 2015.

Present were Andrew Parker of MI5, Alex Younger, chief of the global foreign intelligence service MI6 and GCHQ's Robert Hannigan.

The German authorities officially 'knew nothing' of the meeting at which Focus says Mrs. Merkel handed the British a report from her own BND foreign intelligence agency a report about President Putin and the situation in Crimea by way of thanks for their briefing.

Relations between British and German spymasters have hit rock bottom in recent months because London believes its counterparts in Berlin cannot be trusted to keep secrets.

At a time of escalating Islamic terror threats across Europe the German BND is being frozen out by GCHQ and the NSA in America.

Both London and Washington believe insecure German data servers have led to the leaking of tens of thousands of classified documents to the Wikileaks whistleblower platform.

Robert Hannigan of GCHQ attended the secret briefing in Chequers in October 2015

British and US intelligence chiefs believe insecure German data servers were responsible for the leaking of tens of thousands of classified documents to Wikileaks and Julian Assange

They also refuse to hand over secret intelligence data demanded by left wing and Green politicians in Germany which they fear will be aired in parliament.

'It has now reached the point where there is virtual radio silence between the two biggest and most important intelligence services of the western world and the BND of Germany,' said a source.

'Germany is worried because it needs the umbrella protection of these agencies. It is virtually blind without it.'

Relations between the German BND and the British security services have been hit by allegations GCHQ had been monitoring Mrs Merkel's office.

Despite the rising threat of Islamic terrorism in Germany, Berlin is being frozen out of intelligence briefings by GCHQ and the US National Security Agency because of fears over the integrity of the German's data systems.

Washington and London believe that highly classified documents shared with the Germans were hacked - possibly by the Russians - and leaked to Wikileaks.

It is understood that in November 2014 there was a meeting in Berlin between Sir Simon McDonald, the then British ambassador to Germany, together with Patrick McGuinness, Deputy National Security Adviser for Intelligence, Security, and Resilience at the Cabinet Office, and high security officials in Angela Merkels government.

The British made it plain at the meeting that co-operation between Britain and Germany was becoming increasingly problematic because of leaks.

A source familiar with the meeting said: They stressed that a secret service is just that and that its workings and operations must remain secret and they felt that Germany was leaking them like a sieve.

Britain told the Germans that the freeze on information would not only apply to MI6 and GCHQ but also to the Metropolitan Police, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the UK Border Force.

The source said: It has now reached the point where there is virtual radio silence between the two biggest and most important intelligence services of the western world and the BND of Germany.

Germany is worried because it needs the umbrella protection of these agencies. It is virtually blind without it.

High-grade information on jihadists, their movements and terror plans as discovered by London and Washington and directly involving Germany, are no longer being passed on as a matter of routine.

The upheaval has been caused in part by left-wing and green politicians still fuming over the spying activities carried out in Germany by Americas National Security Agency, which involved the eavesdropping on Mrs Merkels personal mobile telephone.

The German government requested Britain to release details of the secret operations to a committee probing the NSA and other foreign spy agency activities in the country.

The move was forced by politicians of the hard-left Die Linke and the environmentalist Green parties.

Both the UK and America refused to send any of the requested files to Germany. Included among them was a demand for information about a 2013 operation handled by both countries - and in co-operation with the BND - which was, and remains, top secret but was known to involve a massive surveillance programme on suspected Islamic terrorists across Europe.

Britain fears a big debate in the German parliament which would lay open secret sources and intelligence gathering techniques.

A BND insider said: Never has a friendly nation been asked to divulge its secrets in this way. It is outrageous and we completely understand the fury that this has unleashed in Whitehall. But it has left us vulnerable.
A young couple in their 20s and a baby have been rescued after driving their car 30 metres off a cliff.

Emergency services were called to Loch Valley Road in Loch Valley, Victoria about 2.30pm on Friday afternoon.

An SES Victoria spokesman told Daily Mail Australia two adults and an infant were in the car at the time.

A young couple in their 20s with a baby have been rescued after driving their car 30 metres off a cliff in Loch Valley, Victoria (pictured) about 2.30pm on Friday

The man and baby were up on the bank, while the woman was still stuck inside the car by the time SES arrived, the spokesman said.

He said authorities were unsure how the pair escaped the car and ended up on the bank, while the woman was still inside.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the woman was trapped in the car for more than an hour as emergency services worked to free her.

Once freed she was then winched by an Air Ambulance helicopter.

The man had a wrist injury and was taken to Warragul hospital in a stable condition.

The child had no obvious injuries but was taken to the same hospital for further assessment.

The woman had a head injury and was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition.

An SES Victoria spokesman said the man and the baby were up on the bank when emergency services arrived. He said they were still trying to establish how they escaped from the car. The woman was trapped for more than an hour before being winched to safety
French investigators are asking the European Parliament to lift far-right legislator Marine Le Pen's immunity so that she can face possible prosecution over suspected misuse of parliamentary salaries.

Le Pen, a leading candidate for France's presidential election April 23 and May 7, has immunity from prosecution as a European Parliament member.

The Paris prosecutor's office said on Friday that investigating judges issued the request, and it is being transmitted by the French government to the European Parliament.

French presidential election candidate for the far-right Front National (FN) party Marine Le Pen delivers a speech during a campaign meeting in Corsica

Le Pen said on Francetvinfo that it's 'the normal procedure'. She has called the accusations unfounded.

The case concerns suspicions that Le Pen and others in her anti-immigration National Front party used parliamentary aides for party activity while they were on EU-financed salaries.

The European Parliament last month lifted her immunity in another investigation, over tweeting gruesome images of Islamic State violence.

The presidential race currently looks tighter than it has all year, just over a week before voting opens as a new opinion poll put the four leading candidates only three percentage points apart.

The two highest scorers in the first round on April 23 will go through to contest a run-off on May 7. The race has been tightening for weeks, even though centrist Emmanuel Macron remains favourite.

According to the poll by Ipsos-Sopra Steria for Le Monde newspaper, Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen will tie on 22 percent each in the first round next Sunday, with the far-left's Jean-Luc Melenchon and conservative Francois Fillon on 20 and 19 percent respectively.

Le Pen, a leading candidate for France's presidential election April 23 and May 7, has immunity from prosecution as a European Parliament member

That made the most likely second-round scenario one that pits Le Pen against Macron. Consistently with most other surveys, the poll showed Macron winning that face-off with 63 percent of the vote.

Other polls have also been showing the race tightening during April, with the two leaders losing ground and the chasing pair, especially Melenchon, picking up support.

Melenchon's rise on the back of a strong performance in television debates is worrying investors, who fear his hostility to the European Union and plans to repeal pro-business labour reforms.

Polls show that Le Pen, who is also hostile to the EU and wants to dump the euro currency, have consistenly shown that she will not win the presidency regardless of who she faces in the run-off.

However, some polls show that should Melenchon reach the second round, he could win there.

Friday's Le Monde poll had Macron beating Melenchon with 55 percent of the second-round vote, but it said Melenchon would beat Fillon and Le Pen, with the 65 year-old winning 60 percent in each case.

The poll was conducted on April 12 and 13 among 1,509 people.
Baking fans have revealed their scepticism over the new Great British Bake Off line-up after Channel 4 released the first official image.

Published on Twitter at 12am today, Bake Off alum Paul Hollywood, 51, presenter Sandi Toksvig, 58, comedian Noel Fielding, 43, and cookery school founder Prue Leith, 77, are seen holding cupcakes as they stand in front of a table filled with Victoria sponges and other baked goods.

But Great British Bake Off viewers have shown they are unimpressed with the new line up - with one viewer claiming Noel and Sandi look like a 'single mum and her goth son'.

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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?)

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]

Between I and K wrote 'You can tell just by looking that this show is under proofed and overworked'

Sophie likened Sandi and Noel to a 'single mum and her goth son' much to the amusement of Twitter users

Danny Hayes likened the new presenting line up as a father introducing his children to his other family

One fan said: 'You can tell just by looking that this show is under proofed and overworked.' (sic)

Twitter user Chloe was also pessimistic and said: 'Name a bigger downgrade, i'll wait.'

Others used memes and jokey images to show their sadness over the line up change.

One person, called Jas, used a series of images which said the change in presenters and judges was an 'upgrade' that he hoped would 'go back', while Leanne Evision used a photograph of Batman saying 'I don't want this'.

Daniel Pashley said he hoped for the apocalypse as he didn't like the new presenters

Chloe described the announcement as a 'big downgrade' from Mel, Sue and Mary Berry

Leanne Evison used a funny photograph of Batman saying 'I don't want this' to show her despair

But some of the show's fans were more open minded - and even upbeat.

One said: 'Why's everyone hating on the new #gbbo line up. I am so excited for Paul Hollywood and Noel Fielding to start a bromance.'

Another wrote: 'It doesn't bother me at all - I like Sandi and Noel and I think it will be every bit as good as it was on the BBC. You'll see! #GBBO'

It was revealed Channel 4 would be airing the show in 2017 after Love Productions, the company that makes the show, confirmed that they had parted ways with the BBC in September.

Jude however, said Sandi and Noel are 'funnier than Mel and Sue' showing he has high hopes for the new series

Mr Hollywood is the only returning member of the original series, which previously featured Mary Berry as a judge and Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins as presenters.

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.

Channel 4 confirmed in March that Sandi and Noel would be replacing Mel and Sue, while Prue will take Mary's role.

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

The broadcaster is said to have offered Love Productions a 25 million-a-year deal, which was thought to be more than 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.

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

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.
Christopher Laidler, 31, died after falling three stories from a guest house in Pattaya, Thailand, at around 4.30am on Friday

A 31-year-old British tourist has died after he plunged from the third floor of a guest house in the Thai resort of Pattaya.

Christopher Laidler was killed after he fell naked into the street outside the Sweetheart Agogo club at 4.30am on Friday morning.

Medics performed CPR at the scene and he was put into an ambulance, but died before he could reach hospital.

It is thought that Mr Laidler was in the party city along with thousands of other revellers to celebrate the Songkran New Year, when people soak each other with water pistols.

Shocked witnesses told the Bangkok Post that there was no warning before Mr Laidler fell into the road in front of them.

Police said there were no signs of a struggle in his room, and his valuables were untouched. Officers added that Mr Laidler was staying in the room alone.

CCTV tapes are being reviewed and inteviews have been carried out to try and determine why he fell.

The Walking Street Guest House, where Mr Laidler was renting a room, is located above the go-go bar, which is on the first floor.

The building sits along Walking Street, the most notorious party spot in the city.

It is the same guest house where Steve Balfour, 35, a former Scottish solider, was found dead last year, The Sun reports.

Pattaya is known as the sex capital of Thailand, largely financed by tourists who come to drink in the city's many bars.
Vladimir Putin has a weapon four times more powerful than the US' monster bomb that killed 36 ISIS militants in Afghanistan.

The Mother Of All Bombs (MOAB), which belongs to the US Air Force, weighs a staggering 21,600lbs.

But the Russian version - called the Father Of All Bombs - weighs just 15,560lbs and is packed with the equivalent to 44 tons of explosive TNT.

This is four times more than the US' model which obliterates anything in its blast zone, which is twice that of the MOAB.

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The Father Of All Bombs, four times more powerful than the US' Mother Of All Bombs launched

Russians' Father Of All Bombs was tested in 2007 - four years after the US model was tested

A Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) weapon is prepared for testing at the Eglin Air Force Armament Center March 11, 2003, but it is four times less powerful than a Russian model tested in 2007

Vladimir Putin (left) has a bomb at his disposal said to be four times more powerful than Trump's (right)

It has been given the nickname the 'mother of all bombs', a play on MOAB which is an acronym standing for Massive Ordnance Air Burst.

Known officially as a GBU-43B, it unleashed 11 tons of explosives and vaporised everything within its 300m blast zone.

But Russia has an even more powerful weapon dubbed the father of all bombs.

Putin's monster explosive is known officially as the Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power and is reportedly four times bigger than MOAB.

Father Of All Bombs Mass: 7.1 tons TNT equivalent: 44 tons (88,000lbs) Blast radius: 300 metres (984ft) Guidance: INS/GPS Advertisement

Mother Of All Bombs Mass: 8.2 tons TNT equivalent: 11 tons (21,600lbs) Blast radius: 150 metres (492ft) Guidance: GLONASS Advertisement

It carries 44 tons of TNT and explodes in the same way as its American counterpart, obliterating anything within the blast zone, collapsing buildings and producing huge blasts and aftershocks.

Although - like the MOAB - it is not nuclear, the aftermath of the bomb could be comparable to a nuke being deployed.

It was test-fired by the Russians in 2007 where the temperature produced by the blast was also twice as high than that in the MOAB.

The US military used a GBU-43 (pictured) to bomb ISIS in Afghanistan, which weighs a staggering 21,600 pounds, and has earned the moniker 'Mother Of All Bombs'

Previously, the US bomb's blast zone had been predicted as 150m, but it left a 300m crater in the in Achin district of Nangarhar province when it was dropped at 7.32pm local time Thursday on a tunnel complex, killing 36 ISIS militants.

The Russian FOAB's blast zone has been predicted as twice that of the US bomb and even though it is smaller in size, because of the temperature it explodes at and the fact there are four times more explosives crammed inside, it is much more powerful.

Although the figures relating to the FOAB have been widely circulated by the Russians, there are no public pictures of it, which has led US defense analysts to question the claims of its power and size.

However, if true, the device would be the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in the world.

It was successfully field-tested in the late evening of September 11, 2007, and the new weapon was aimed to replace several smaller types of nuclear bombs in its arsenal.
Western security services were told the man who drove a truck into shoppers in Stockholm was an ISIS fanatic before he carried out his attack, Uzbek authorities say.

Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said on Friday that 'one of our Western partners' had been informed of 39-year-old Rakhmat Akilov's 'criminal activities'.

Mr Kamilov went on to say that Akilov used online messaging services to encourage people to travel to Syria and join the terror group. He did not say which nation had been informed, or precisely when.

Uzbek authorities say they told 'one of our Western partners' that Rakhmat Akilov, 39, the Stockholm truck attacker, was a member of ISIS before his deadly rampage

Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said Akilov was using online messaging apps to try and recruit people to travel to Syria and fight for the terror group

Akilov confessed to carrying out the attack which killed four people and left 15 others injured in court earlier this week (pictured)

Police sources said Akilov, pictured being taken into custody by investigators, told them: 'I am a Muslim and a support ISIS.'

Akilov has admitted being behind the attack which killed four people and injured 15, telling police: 'I am a Muslim and I support ISIS.'

Mr Kamilov added that Akilov was recruited by terrorists after leaving his home nation in 2014 in order to settle in Sweden.

An Uzbek security source said this week that Akilov had tried to travel to Syria himself in 2015 to join Islamic State but was detained at the Turkish-Syrian border and deported back to Sweden.

The source added that in February this year Uzbekistan's authorities had put him on a wanted list for people suspected of religious extremism.

Akilov has claimed the order to carry out his attack, which also saw him armed with an explosive device which failed to detonate, came directly from ISIS commanders.

'The bombing in Syria needs to stop,' he told police while being interrogated.

Appearing at Stockholm District Court this week hidden under a green jacket, he pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

'Akilov confesses to a terrorist crime and accepts his custody detention,' his lawyer Johan Eriksson told a court custody hearing in Stockholm.

A Swedish prosecutor demanded that Akilov remain in custody under maximum restrictions.

Under the conditions, he would be kept in solitary confinement without access to television or internet and will not be allowed to communicate with the outside world.

When the judge asked for a plea, Akilov's lawyer Mr Eriksson said: 'My client has confessed that he is responsible for these allegations.'

Torture claims: Akilov's lawyer Johan Eriksson told a court custody hearing in Stockholm: 'Akilov confesses to a terrorist crime and accepts his custody detention'

Destruction: Akilov left 15 wounded after ploughing a stolen beer truck, above, through crowds of people in one of the Swedish capital's busiest shopping districts.

The killer then exchanged whispers with his lawyer before the judge ordered the court cleared of spectators so that the rest of the case could be heard in secret.

The court had already rejected Akilov's request that his state-appointed lawyer be replaced with a Sunni Muslim, official documents revealed.

The request was filed by his representative Mr Eriksson, one of Sweden's top lawyers, who wrote: 'According to my client, only a lawyer with that background could represent his interests in the best possible way.'

Mr Eriksson told MailOnline that he has gotten on well with the terrorist, despite the killer trying to replace him with a Muslim attorney for a second time. 'We have a good relationship,' he said.

He said his client will now undergo a psychiatric assessment to establish whether he is mentally sound - standard procedure in all murder cases in Sweden.'

'The evaluation is to see whether he is fit to be imprisoned or if he should be hospitalised after the trial has ended.'

The lawyer made clear, however, that he had 'personally seen no evidence' to suggest that Akilov is mentally unsound.

The results of the initial assessment will allow the court to decide whether the killer will require a more in-depth evaluation. The investigation could take a year, the lawyer added.

Akilov's confession comes amid claims the alleged terrorist's asylum bid in Sweden was rejected after investigators discovered he had lied about being tortured in his homeland.

Akilov applied for asylum in 2014 under the false name 'Rahmatgon Kurbonov', the Dagens Nyheter newspaper reported.

Lies: Akilov's confession comes amid claims the alleged terrorist's asylum bid in Sweden was rejected after investigators discovered he had lied about being tortured in his homeland. Pictured: Footage purportedly showing Akilov being arrested following the terror attack

'Death is too good for him': Chef who tried to stop Stockholm terrorist says he is 'satisfied' the attacker will 'suffer' in prison A chef who tried to stop the Stockholm terrorist when he went on Friday's rampage today said 'death is too good for him'. Reacting to the news that fanatic Rakhmat Akilov, 39, has this morning pleaded guilty to the atrocity, Gaeton Graham, 43, said: 'I think death is what he wanted to achieve and he didn't get it. 'Seeing him pleading guilty is a bit of satisfaction for people like me. Thank God now he will face justice.' Justice: Gaeton Graham, above, a chef who tried to stop the Stockholm terrorist during his rampage, said he is satisfied he confessed and said 'death is too good for him' He added: 'He got what he deserved. If I had caught him I'd have killed him, but going to jail for life is better. He'll have time to suffer.' Australian-born Mr Graham, 43, ran after the speeding lorry when he saw it mowing down innocent people. He was determined to grab Akilov before he got away. Mr Graham told MailOnline: 'Around me, loads of people were screaming.' He added: 'I'm not a hard man, but I just felt so angry with this guy driving down the street hitting innocent people that I just really wanted him to be taken into custody.' After the terrorist disappeared, in desperation, Mr Graham went down into the subway to try to find him but was unsuccessful. CCTV has since shown that the killer entered the subway a few minutes after Mr Graham was looking for him. Horror: Australian-born Mr Graham, who chased the speeding lorry, told MailOnline: 'Thank God now he will face justice.' Pictured: The aftermath of Akilov's rampage Witness: Married chef Mr Graham said he saw the lorry turn a corner at excessive speed before it ploughed into people and crashed into a department store in Stockholm Married Mr Graham had been on Adolf Fredrik Kyrkogatan, in Stockholm, when he saw the lorry turn the corner at excessive speed. He said: 'I could get out of the way because I saw the truck coming down Adolf Fredrik Kyrkogatan from around 70 metres away. He drove with considerable precision. He added: 'I've been having counselling because I've been unable to sleep or eat after what I have seen.' Advertisement

He claimed authorities in his native Uzbekistan had falsely accused him of being a terrorist and had tortured and assaulted him in custody.

The fanatic told the Swedish Migration Board that he had been arrested during a demonstration and was subsequently tortured by police for nine days.

However, a medical examination showed that torture had not taken place. Investigators concluded that his identity could not be confirmed as he had used several aliases when applying for asylum.

A court also questioned his version of events, saying that his description of conditions in prison was too vague. He was unable to describe its appearance and anybody who was in prison with him.

'This was something he should have been able to describe quite thoroughly after nine days in prison,' the court said.

'He also hasn't given us information about other people in the demonstration even though he claims to have known many of them.'

The court found that Akilov's story became more exaggerated as the case continued.

Akilov said that he was only able to escape a longer prison sentence after his brother paid $10,000 in bribes.

The court found this information unlikely, however, since he could not provide any details about how the money was paid.

Tragedy: Young mother Mailys Dereymaeker, right, was revealed as one of the four victims of the terror truck. She leaves behind a young toddler. British music executive Chris Bevington, left, a married father of two, was one of four killed in Friday's horrific attack

Tribute: Mr Bevington, pictured, 41, who was living in Stockholm, was the first victim to be named

Remembering in prayer: A young boy offers a heartbreaking tributes to the dead and to the heroism of the emergency services, as memorials were laid across Stockholm in memory of the four victims and many more wounded

Minute's silence: In front of a sea of flowers, a woman weeps with emotion as Sweden fell silent for a minute's commemoration for the victims of Friday's terror attack

Light in the dark: Flowers and candles spread out across the scene of the terror attack in Stockholm as thousands paid their own personal tribute to the four victims killed by a careering truck

During court hearings, the fanatic said that he came from a wealthy family and that his wife and children were still in his home country.

His journey to Sweden took place by truck via Denmark and was arranged by his brother, he said, but the court found that this was also not reliable.

In conclusion, the court decided that there was no reason to grant him asylum or citizenship in Sweden and ruled that he should be deported.

'His story cannot be seen as something he has experienced himself and therefore he is not in need of asylum,' the court's verdict said.

The fanatic appealed the ruling, but on 14 December 2016 this was dismissed. Akilov was given four weeks to leave the country voluntarily, but failed to do so.

In February, the case was handed over to police to enforce the deportation but by that time Akilov had gone to ground.

The latest victim of Friday's terrorist atrocity in Stockholm was today named as 69-year-old Lena Wahlberg, an Amnesty International representative.

Mrs Wahlberg, a stepmother of two who had been married to her husband for 37 years, is the second of two Swedish citizens to have been killed in the attack. The other was an 11-year-old girl.

Mrs Wahlberg was from Ljungskile, a small town in western Sweden near Gothenburg, and was in the capital as a tourist.

She owned four properties with her husband and was the local president of Amnesty International in her hometown.

Other victims included Mailys Dereymaeker, a Belgian psychologist who worked with failed asylum seekers who were being deported.

Gone: The latest victim of Friday's terrorist atrocity in Stockholm was today named as 69-year-old Lena Wahlberg, above, an Amnesty International representative

Loved: Mrs Wahlberg, a stepmother of two who had been married to her husband for 37 years, is the second of two Swedish citizens to have been killed in the attack

Moment of contemplation: Passersby gathered in silence to look at the candles burning in memory of the dead at the scene of Friday's terror attack

Messages of peace: A woman places a post-it note on an already covered window of a shop in Stockholm, Sweden. Among the dead is Chris Bevington, a Briton who worked for Spotify

The mother of one, from Lembeek, near Brussels, was waiting for friends from work when the carnage struck.

Ms Dereymaeker, who had an 18-month-old toddler, worked with illegal immigrants facing deportation like her alleged killer, Akilov.

The psychologist and music enthusiast who played the flute was in Stockholm for a well-deserved break with friends from work.

'It is difficult for me to talk about her death,' a friend told local media. 'She played the flute and taught music to children'.

The mayor of Lembeek said: 'I met her several times. I know her parents very well. They are very nice people who have lived in Halle for a long time.'

Mr Pieters added: 'I'm shocked after each attack, but when you put a face on a victim and personally know her parents, it's even worse.'

Ms Dereymaeker was the second victim to be identified after Briton Crispin Bevington, 41, was named yesterday. An 11-year-old girl from Sweden was also among the dead.

Today, the fourth victim was reported as a woman from Uddevalla, a small town in western Sweden. A local newspaper contacted the alleged victim's family but they declined to comment.

As Sweden held a minute's silence for the victims, politicians demanded greater powers to monitor failed asylum seekers.

Floral tribute: A police car was garlanded in memorial flowers in the aftermath of the vicious attack that left four dead

Saddest display: In a stunning but heartbreakingly sad gesture of remembrance, a police van was garlanded in flowers, Swedish flags, candles and balloons

People whose applications for asylum have failed could be made to report to police stations in a crackdown on the estimated 12,000 migrants awaiting deportation from the country.

Workplace inspections could also be stepped up in a bid to root out those served with papers to leave Sweden and deported the back to their home countries.

The tough new measures are being demanded after it was revealed Akilove had been told to leave Sweden in December.

Like thousands of other failed asylum seekers he disappeared, and police admitted they had no idea where he was despite apparent sympathies to the IS terror cause bringing him to the attention of the country's security services.

According to figures from immigration officials there are up to 12,000 people in the country who should have been deported.

The Swedish Migration Board believes the figure will soar to 50,000 by the year 2021.

Latest figures from the Migration Board show that 24,000 people were deported last year after Sweden accepted 163,000 asylum seekers in 2015.

The number of people attempting to settle in Sweden last year dropped to just under 30,000 after the country turned its back on mass immigration.

'This is a wake up call for Sweden, ' said Paula Bieler, immigration spokesman for the Swedish Democrat Party.

Writing against terror: Messages of support for the victims and of defiance against the terrorists fill the board that covers the crash site, where the truck smashed into a department store

'We now have to look into the possibility of giving the police more powers. It is outstanding in a bad way that we have 12,000 people in this country who have been told to leave and we don't know where they are.

'The police should be given more powers. One way would to make the migrants reports to a police station on a regular basis. They could also have greater powers to carry out workplace inspections and deportations carried out.'

Bieler, and the leader of the Swedish Democrats Jimmie Akesson, want to see the Government take immediate action to deport failed asylum seekers back to their country of origin.

'We have agreements in place with these countries that they should be taken back. They have tried to gain asylum here and they have failed. They do not have the right to stay in this country,' said Bieler.

Akesson said it was a 'scandal' that the alleged killer had been allowed to remain in Stockholm.
The co-pilot of doomed Irish coastguard helicopter Mark Duffy said 'we're gone' as the Sikorsky S-92A spiraled out of control on March 14 killing all on board.

According to an interim report by the Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit, Captain Dara Fitzpatrick was at the controls of the chopper when it crashed in the early hours of the morning off the coast of Mayo.

At the time of the crash, the helicopter, R116, was attempting to land in poor weather conditions at Blacksod lighthouse in north Mayo to refuel. The helicopter planned to approach the lighthouse from the sea when it crashed.

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Rescue 116 lost control on March 14 while flying over Blackrock Lighthouse, pictured

Air crash investigators found sections of the doomed helicopter's horizontal stabiliser, circled, near the lighthouse where the aircraft was due to land on the morning it crashed on March 14

Air crash investigators found wreckage of the helicopter on top of the lighthouse in Mayo

All four crew members died after the helicopter crashed while on a rescue mission

However, due to the incredibly poor weather conditions, the helicopter dropoped down to 200 feet some 10 miles from its destination and continued at 75kt with its landing gear down.

One of the final waypoints in the flight management computer was Blackrock lighthouse, which is nine nautical miles from its destination.

The computer did not have the 310 feet elevation of the rock and the lighthouse in its system. As the helicopter was in landing mode, its ground proximity warning radar only provided alerts from 10 feet ahead of the aircraft.

Air crash investigators found part of the aircraft's tail rotor mechanism on top of the 50ft light house. The helicopter's horizontal stabiliser showed damage caused by the tail rotor.

The 50ft high lighthouse sits at an elevation of 282 feet according to Irish Aviation Authority charts.

Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, left, was flying the helicopter at the time of the fatal accident

A transcript of the cockpit voice recorder revealed the final words of the crew

However, details of the cockpit voice recorder showed how the aircraft rapidly lost control so quickly that the crew were unable to make an emergency Mayday call.

The final 1 minute 40 seconds of the doomed mission showed the helicopter was flying normally until the final few seconds.

Captain Fitzpatrick, who had been sitting on the right hand seat of the helicopter was found in the water following the crash.

Her co-pilot Mark Duffy's body was recovered from the cockpit which was lying on the sea bed.

The bodies of winchmen Ciaran Smith and Paul Ormsby are still missing, presumed dead.

According to the report, the helicopter departed Dublin to provide top cover for a second rescue helicopter, R118 which was due to winch an injured crewman from a fishing trawler off the west coast of Ireland.

Co-pilot Mark Duffy was the last voice on the cockpit recorder recovered by investigators

The bodies of winchmen Paul Ormbsby, left, and Ciaran Smith, right, have yet to be recovered

R116's mission was to provide communications between R118 and the coastguard as radio signals can prove problematic at low levels at sea.

After leaving Dublin, the crew decided to land in Blacksod to refuel rather than Sligo Airport.

The report said Captain Fitzpatrick told other crew members it had been a considerable period of time since she had previously landed at Blacksod. The co-pilot replied he had not been there recently either.

According to the voice recorder 26 seconds before the crash the crew received an 'Altitude, Altitude' warning which the commander identified as 'just a small little island'.

The helicopter had just passed over a small outcrop of rocks 0.65 nautical miles to the west of Blackrock.

Some 13 seconds later, a rear crew member warned the pilot 'looking at an island just in, directly ahead of us now guys, you want to come right [Commanders Name]'

The crew member probably saw the island using an infrared camera.

Commander Fitzpatrick responded: 'OK, come right just confirm?'

The rear crew member replied: 'twenty degrees right yeah'.

The flight data recorder reported the helicopter changed direction, although the rear crew member said, according to the report, 'with increasing urgency': 'Come right now come right COME RIGHT'.

The flight data recorder said the helicopter 'rapidly pitched nose up during the two seconds prior to the initial impact'.

According to the report: 'Following the initial impact, the data indicates that the helicopter climbed while experiencing large changes in pitch, roll and yaw angles.'

Before the crew member's warning, the helicopter was flying at 200 feet on the radio altitude at a speed of 75kts on a heading of 120 degrees.

Following the warning, the flight data recorder showed 'significant inputs on the cyclic and collective data parameters.'

Crash investigators found the aircraft's horizontal stabiliser on a rock near an outhouse beside the lighthouse.

The report said: 'Tiles on the roof of the outhouse exhibited damage, consistent with being struck by falling debris.'

According to the report: 'The horizontal stabiliser exhibited significant damage and distress, with damage to the graphite tip and leading edge; it separated from the tail rotor pylon at the root.

'The trailing edge of the root (approximately 20 inches in length) separated from the main structure. A piece of a leading edge erosion strip from one of the tail rotor blades, one and a half inches in length, which was recovered on the rock, was found to fit into a gouge in the horizontal stabilizer mounting structure.'

Investigators one tail rotor control cable pulley from a platform at the top of the light house, while fractured pieces of a wheel rim were found near the helipad.
The teenage couple who fled hospital with their three-day-old baby have vowed to fight for the little girl and revealed they haven't seen her since she went back to hospital.

Jayden Lavender, 14, and his girlfriend Jenifer Morrison, 15, cried as they faced the media the day after taking their daughter from Sydney's Nepean hospital over fears social services would take her.

The young mother told 7 News she hasn't seen her baby girl Aria since she was returned to hospital and hasn't even been allowed to supply breast milk for her.

'I don't know what I have done wrong me and Jayden will be awesome for her,' she said.

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Jenifer Morrison (right), 15, and her boyfriend Jayden Lavender, 14, (pictured) fled from Nepean Hospital near Penrith in the early hours of Thursday morning

'I dont know what I have done wrong me and Jayden will be awesome for her,' she said

Jayden was just 13 years old when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant with his child

Jayden cradles his newborn daughter Aria as his mother Tracy Lavender stands behind him

The young parents hid their newborn daughter under a blanket and left the hospital under the cover of darkness at 12.15am on Thursday.

The trio spent the night camping in a tent purchased from Kmart, before finally returning to the Dharruk home where they live with Jayden's mother Tracy Lavender.

Jayden and Ms Lavender confirmed to Daily Mail Australia they hadn't been able to see Aria since she'd returned home.

'She's back in the hospital and they haven't let us visit,' Ms Lavender said.

'She is going to be there for me and I will be there for her I will fight for her,' Ms Morrison said

Jayden and Ms Lavender confirmed to Daily Mail Australia they hadn't been able to see Aria since she'd returned home

'She is going to be there for me and I will be there for her I will fight for her,' Ms Morrison said.

The teenagers have been reportedly told they are 'too young to decide' what happens to the child.

Mr Lavender, 14, described the little girl as his 'pride and joy' after falling in love with her at first sight.

The Lavender family home where the baby was to live with her parents was fire-bombed after news the children had taken their baby from hospital.

Mr Lavender, 14, described the little girl as his 'pride and joy' after falling in love with her at first sight

Tracy Lavender - Aria's paternal grandmother revealed the attack which happened on Thursday night left the family 'terrified.

'You can see the burning from the firebombing last night,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'Yeah, someone did it while we were sleeping.'

The pair said the newborn was OK despite having spent the night in the elements.

Friends of the young parents say the pair fled hospital because they feared authorities may take their daughter.

'Jayden's dad would always tell them DOCS was coming for the baby,' one told Daily Mail Australia on Friday.

The young couple and their baby daughter live at Ms Lavender's home (pictured) in Dharruk in Sydney's west

A trail of burnt grass through the front yard leads to a heavily scorched and boarded-up door

The home has seemingly come under attack from fire. Friends of the young parents told Daily Mail Australia the couple fled hospital out of fear their daughter could be taken from them

'They've got everything they need for the baby... it's got its own room and bed.

'But they just got scared from hearing s*** like that and because they haven't got a stable home.'

The house the couple live in with the newborn's grandmother and two other children is a rundown, single storey home.

A trail of burnt grass through the front yard leads to a heavily scorched and boarded-up front door.

Neighbours in the area told Daily Mail Australia that police were regularly called to attend disturbances at the home.

'At night time there's always yelling and screaming, and "f*** this and f*** that",' one local said.

Ms Lavender (pictured) 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 teenage parents hid their baby Aria Jayde (pictured) under a blanket and secretly left Nepean Hospital at 12.15am on Thursday

The young couple spent 16 hours on the run with their daughter before they were found safe about 12km away from the hospital in Willmot on Thursday afternoon.

The baby was taken back to hospital and the teens were interviewed by police. No charges have been laid.

Ms Lavender said her son knew it was wrong to leave hospital without being discharged.

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

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)

'I knew there was nowhere he could turn,' she told AAP.

It was Father's Day when Jayden, aged just 13 at the time, learned Jenifer was pregnant.

He proposed to her weeks later and they began planning a wedding - with the blessing of Ms Lavender.

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 young couple are engaged but unable to legally get married.

'Jayden would not walk away from her,' Ms Lavender said on Thursday. 'He's been by her side since she told him she was pregnant.'

Outside hospital on Thursday she said: 'The baby's healthy - seven-and-a-half pounds, I knew that my son would look after his baby and his girlfriend.'

'At the end of the day it's breaking both of their hearts, they've never done nothing wrong.

'They don't want to be apart from their baby, they're good parents.'

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 the teenagers' first instinct was to run

The teenage couple had just $80 in cash and a few pairs of clothing for Aria

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.'

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.'

The teens were interviewed by police on Thursday evening while baby Aria was assessed back in hospital.

The teens were interviewed by police on Thursday evening while baby Aria was assessed back in hospital

The teens were interviewed by police on Thursday evening while baby Aria was assessed back in hospital
A mother-of-three who set up a GoFund Me page for a terminally ill boy's family before blowing the cash on online gambling sites has been jailed for 10 months.

Sharlene McNeilly, 30, had known Alex Kyrillou since they were children and offered to set up a charity page to support his family after his son Oliver was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.

Over a seven-month period generous family, friends and strangers paid 2,123 into the crowdfunding account.

But the gambling addict used the plight of the nine-year-old boy as a 'cash cow' and 'frittered' the money playing online Gala Bingo slot machine games.

Sharlene McNeilly (left), 30, offered to set up a fundraising page for Oliver Kyrillou (right), who had been diagnosed with a brain tumour, but frittered away the money on online gambling

A court heard mother-of-three McNeilly spent the winnings on lavish gifts for her own family.

After Oliver's tragic death in February 2016, eight months after his diagnosis, Mr Kyrillou asked McNeilly for the money so he could pay for his funeral but she claimed there was a hold up caused by Go Fund Me.

He contacted the website directly only to be told all the money had been taken out of the account already.

The police were called and McNeilly confessed to taking it.

Mr Kyrillou, from Christchurch, Dorset, had set up his own taxi company but closed it down when Oliver was diagnosed so he and wife Amy could spend the precious last months with their son. This meant money was tight for the family.

Mr Kyrillou, 32, told the court how McNeilly had posted on social media just weeks after his son's death boasting about expensive gifts she had bought her daughter, seemingly with the winnings she made from gambling.

She even married her partner while she was awaiting sentence for her crime.

Mr Kyrillou told Bournemouth Crown Court the stress of the case at the same time as the loss of his son made 'life feel unbearable'.

Alex and Amy Kyrillou (pictured) wanted the money to pay for their son's family but McNeilly had spent it

His family has continued to face financial struggles and have been helped out by many of the same people who thought they had already supported them through the fundraising page.

He described it as 'heartbreaking' that his other son Harry, eight, even offered his piggy bank to help pay for the family's food.

He said: 'We trusted Sharlene to manage the page, all of our attention was focused on Oliver.

'When I realised Sharlene had stolen from us, money we were relying on and so desperately needed, I felt betrayed and angry that a friend could do that when we were at our most vulnerable.

'It completely pushed me over the edge.

'I am still unaware why she has done this to my family, I have had to explain to people who donated that their kind and generous donation has been stolen.

'The most upsetting thing for me is that every time I think of my son it is tainted because of what Sharlene has done.

'What was more outrageous was when I saw her posting she had bought expensive new toys.

'She does not work and I cannot help thinking the death of my son has been used as her cash cow.'

Simon Edwards, prosecuting, said McNeilly had accrued in excess of 3,000 from gambling with the charity money.

He said: 'She continued gambling with the money after Oliver died.

McNeilly even continued to spend the money after nine-year-old Oliver (left and right) died

His other son Harry, eight (pictured with his brother), even offered his piggy bank to help pay for the family's food

'She told police her intention was to raise 3,000 and collected sums of money from various unsuspecting members of the public.

'She simply frittered it away. None of the money was ever forthcoming despite repeated requests by Oliver's family. They were met with bogus reasons.'

McNeilly, from Christchurch, pleaded guilty to one count of theft.

Rufus Taylor, defending, said McNeilly was a woman of previous good character and the sole carer for her husband, who has an emotional unstable personality disorder, and her three children.

Mr Taylor said: 'This started off with the best of intentions. She was a friend of the family and wanted to raise money for Oliver.

Just a week after Oliver's death, McNeill was posting boastful posts about spending the money

'Unfortunately she was, and remains, in the grip of this addiction and so she thought she could increase the fund. She started gambling with it and continued until it was all gone.

'It's about as mean an offence as one can imagine. It is appalling what she did.

'She has been ostracised, understandably, by her mother and friends.'

But Judge Jonathan Fuller said it was a 'very serious case' and sentenced McNeilly to ten months in prison.

He said: 'There was a considerable financial struggle going on within the family as they sought to be by Oliver's bedside.

'Many people gave generously to that site believing it was going to go to such a cause but none of it did.

'You fobbed Mr Kyrillou off with excuses and he was left without that assistance he and the family fully deserved.

'What makes matters worse is following Oliver's death, just as you had spent the money beforehand, you continued to spend it.

'With stakes back you generated a total sum of 3,000. Those winnings were never put back into the fundraising account, they went into your pocket. One must be very sceptical about the position you presented to the police.

'The emotional and financial impact as they sought to care for their son and discovered what you had done, against the background of financial struggle, was enormous.

'This wasn't just a breach of trust of the Kyrillous, but those family and friends who gave the money.'
Kanae Kijima, 42, has married twice since she was detained in 2009

A Japanese 'black widow' faces being hanged for murdering three boyfriends she met online.

Kanae Kijima, 42, killed the men through carbon monoxide poisoning by burning charcoal briquettes after giving them sleeping tablets.

She met them online and dated them for their money before killing each in the space of eight months.

Kijima, who has married twice since she was detained in 2009, faces execution after Japan's Supreme Court on Friday dismissed her final appeal.

Her legal team has claimed her innocence, saying the three men were likely to have committed suicide.

The death penalty has overwhelming public support in Japan, despite repeated protests from European governments and human rights groups.

Executions are by hanging but it can take years before they are carried out.

The case has been closely followed in Japan and major media flashed news of the top court decision across television screens.

Kijima writes a blog from the detention centre where she has been held, detailing her life inside, the food and talking about men she likes.

In the latest post on Thursday, she wrote to her readers: 'I hope to see you again somewhere someday.'

Kijima's first victim, 53-year-old Takao Terada was found dead in Tokyo in January 2009.

Kenzo Ando, 80, died in his home in Chiba prefecture in May 2009, and three months later 41-year-old Yoshiyuki Oide was found poisoned in a rented car, also from briquette fumes.

Kijima killed the men through carbon monoxide poisoning by burning charcoal briquettes

Kijima was convicted without the witness testimony or confession often relied upon in Japanese prosecutions.

Instead prosecutors rested their case on layers of circumstantial evidence, such as Kijima's purchases of sleeping pills and coal briquettes, in addition to the fact that she had met with each man shortly before he died.

She was also found guilty of seven other lesser crimes, including fraud and theft.

In another 'black widow' case, Chisako Kakehi, 70, is awaiting trial in June for allegedly killing several men.
Kitsch paintings depicting Turkey's president with Bana Alabed and Aylan Kurdi have emerged just days before a landmark referendum in which he seeks to expand his powers in the country.

One piece in the exhibition entitled 'The Leader Of The Century' showed Recep Tayyip Erdogan embracing Bana Alabed, the girl who tweeted of her life inside war torn Aleppo. Images of bomb battered buildings surround them.

Another shows a ghost-like Erdogan floating above the sea with his arms stretched towards Aylan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy who washed up on the Turkish coast after the smugglers boat carrying his family capsized.

A third painting, housed in the Kizilay Metro Art Gallery in an Ankara subway, shows Erdogan celebrating with Turkish citizens on Bosphorus Bridge, where Turkish military officers surrendered following a failed coup last year.

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Kitsch paintings depicting Turkey's president with Bana Alabed and Aylan Kurdi have emerged just days before a landmark referendum which could redefine the country's political landscape. Pictured: A painting of President Erdogan with Bana Alabed, the young girl who tweeted about her life inside war torn Aleppo

One piece in the exhibit in Ankara shows a ghost-like Erdogan floating above the sea with his arms stretched towards Aylan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian refugee who washed up on the Turkish coast

Another painting, housed in the Kizilay Metro Art Gallery in an Ankara subway, shows Erdogan celebrating with Turkish citizens on Bosphorus Bridge - the scene of a failed military coup last year

Photos of the 18-piece exhibit by Turkish artist Faysal Bugday have emerged on social media ahead of a deadlocked referendum vote which could redefine Turkey's political system.

If Erdogan's 'Yes' campaign is victorious, it will abolish the office of prime minister and enable him to centralism all state bureaucracy under his control and to appoint cabinet ministers himself.

He expressed confidence that the new presidential system would be approved, saying there were no longer undecided voters.

The vote - the results of which will be revealed on Sunday - will take place under a state of emergency which has been in place since last summer's failed coup.

Since the revolt, as many as 47,000 have been arrested in the biggest crackdown in Turkey's history.

Analysts regard the referendum as a turning point in the modern history of the country.

Supporters see the new system as an essential modernisation step for Turkey to streamline government but opponents fear it risks granting Erdogan authoritarian powers.

Photos of the 18-piece exhibit by Turkish artist Faysal Bugday have emerged on social media ahead of a deadlocked referendum vote in which Erdogan, right, seeks to expand his powers in the country

If Erdogan's 'Yes' campaign is victorious, it will abolish the office of prime minister and enable him to centralism all state bureaucracy under his control

Erdogan, pictured with Bana Alabed, expressed confidence that the new presidential system would be approved, saying there were no longer undecided voters.

The vote - the results of which will be revealed on Sunday - will take place under a state of emergency which has been in place since last summer's failed coup. Pictured: Aylan Kurdi, whose image appeared in the Ankara exhibition

One poll showed the 'Yes' camp marginally ahead on at 51.5 per cent but another gave the lead to a 'No' vote on of 51.2 per cent.

Erdogan will speak in Konya, the Anatolian city seen as the heartland of conservative supporters who have benefited from his rule, later today.

The referendum is being held after a bloody year of terror attacks in Turkey, which have largely blamed on jihadists and Kurdish militants.

Adding to security concerns, Turkish police on Friday detained five suspected Islamic State jihadists in Istanbul accused of planning a 'sensational' attack targeting the weekend referendum.

Turkish authorities had on Tuesday detained another 19 suspected IS supporters in the Aegean city of Izmir, accused of planning to sabotage the vote.

Bana Alabed, who featured in Bugday's art exhibit, met Erdogan at his palace in Ankara after her evacuation from the city in December.

Erdogan hugged the girl emotionally and also held Bana and her brother as they sat on his knees flanked by the president's wife Emine.

'Very happy to meet with Mr Erdogan,' Bana wrote on a tweet above a picture of her nestling up to the cheek of the smiling Erdogan.

Erdogan, pictured with British Prime Minister Theresa May, will speak in Konya, the Anatolian city seen as the heartland of conservative supporters who have benefited from his rule, later today

The young Syrian girl was one of thousands of people evacuated from once rebel-held areas of Aleppo in the last days under a deal brokered by Turkey and Russia.

In September 2015, Erdogan rang the father of Aylan Kurdi, who also featured in the bizarre collection in Ankara.

The Presidential Office, revealed that Erdogan offered his condolences to Abdullah Kurdi after the passing of his two wife and children en route to Turkey via the Aegean Sea.

He is reported to have said: 'I wish we had been welcoming you in our country.'
A university has been blasted for positioning a human statue by artist Antony Gormley on the edge of its library roof.

The stone sculpture has been mistaken by many as a real person - with many fearing it creates connotations of suicide.

It was erected on top of the University of East Anglia (UEA), in Norwich, on Tuesday, but its placement so close to exam season has been described as 'tactless'.

Suicide rates among university students - currently at their highest level in more than a decade - have come under the microscope recently.

This stone sculpture by Antony Gormley, on the roof of the Library of Nowich's University of East Anglia, has been mistaken by many as a real person

The focus follows a spate of suspected suicides at Bristol University, with five students believed to have taken their own lives in six months.

Pharmacist Michael Wood, 47, who works nearby, said: 'Did nobody think it might be a bad idea to put what looks a suicidal person on top of a building?

'From a distance, it looks like someone who is about to jump. You are more likely to think that than assume it might be a piece of art.

'It's clearly not been thought through and it's come at a really bad time of year when many students struggle with exam season.

'It's nothing short of bad taste and I can't see anyone except the university being in favour of it.'

Many UEA students have also taken to Twitter to criticise the art installation.

Harry Dyer said: 'Creepy Anthony Gormley statue going up on top of our library at UEA...they're invading/contemplating jumping...

'Love his work, & it fits with our other sculptures, but I think it's potentially a poor choice, especially at dissertation crunch time...'

UEA Graduate Kimberley Davies, 22, said: 'It's a bit tactless to put a statue on top of a building filled with people on edge during exam season.'

And @sherlock-speare tweeted: 'No offence UEA, but putting a statue of a human on top of a high building is probably not a good idea??'

Dr Esmee Hanna added: 'I like Gormleys work but not sure too of library is good taste given some universities may have had students jump off said buildings.'

'Sombreros are a no-no, but making passers-by think someone's about to commit suicide is art - I'm out.'

Many who have seen it feel it creates connotations of suicide

Antony Gormley is a British sculptor who is best know for sculpting the Angel of the North in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, which was erected in February 1998.

He is also known for Another Place on Crosby Beach near Liverpool, and Event Horizon, a multi-part site installation which premiered in London in 2007.

In 2008, Gormley was named as one of the 100 most powerful people in British culture'.

His roof-top sculpture installed at UEA is one of three which were commissioned as part of a Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts project.

The others will be installed in locations around the university's campus.

A spokesman for UEA defended the work, saying they were 'thought-provoking and offer both spectacle and surprise'.

The x3 ANOTHER TIME project will be officially unveiled on April 22, and the statues were selected from Gormley's ongoing series Another Time (1999-2013).

The latest additions are part of wider plans to expand the sculpture trail at the university, which already includes works by Liliane Lijn and Henry Moore.

A spokesman for UEA said: 'The Another Time series involves sculptures being placed at different focal points and sightlines, including roof level which are thought-provoking and offer both spectacle and surprise.

'The locations were chosen in response to the remarkable architecture of the Sir Denys Lasdun university buildings.

'All staff and students have been made aware of the new art installation on campus, and where the sculptures will be located.'

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
Hannah Bladon, 20, (pictured) was stabbed to death on a Jerusalem train

The British tourist who was killed during a knife attack in Israel on Good Friday has been named as Hannah Bladon.

The 20-year-old was stabbed multiple times in the abdomen with a kitchen knife on a tram close to the Old City, where thousands of Christians had gathered.

Police have arrested Jamil Tamimi, 57, a Palestinian man from East Jerusalem who was described as mentally unstable, after onlookers wrestled him to the ground.

Ms Bladon, who was a student at the University of Birmingham, travelled to Israel to study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Medics performed CPR on the young woman at the scene before she was taken to hospital in critical condition, where she later died.

In a Facebook post earlier this year she wrote she was 'OK' after a wave of terror attacks in the country.

She said: 'Thanks guys. I'm ok thanks! Security is really tight on campus so no worries at mo (sic)!

'Managed to see a lot of sites before starting my classes today so defo (sic) having a great time! Xx'.

Mark Regev, Israel's ambassador to the UK, said: 'My thoughts are with the family and friends of UK student Hannah Bladon, who was murdered in a senseless act of terror in Jerusalem today.'

During the shocking attack, an off-duty policeman pulled an emergency brake and tried to intervene.

He told the Israeli Police Spokesmanship: 'I was on the Jerusalem Light Rail with my family and during the journey I heard shouts of 'attack, attack'.

'I immediately pulled on the manual emergency break of the train, ran to the scene of the attack and charged at the attacker, neutralising him so that he cannot continue to harm innocent people.'

Hannah Bladon, 20, believed to be a student visiting Israel as a tourist, has been killed during a knife attack near Jerusalem's Old City

Police say they arrested Jamil Tamimi, 57, a Palestinian man from East Jerusalem who is 'mentally unstable' and tried to commit suicide earlier this year

Hannah was given CPR at the scene before being taken to hospital with multiple stab wounds where she later died (murder weapon, pictured)

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem said: 'The Hebrew University and the Rothberg International School express our deep sorrow over the murder of a British student, Hannah Bladon, in today's attack.

'We extend our deepest condolences to her family and we share in their sorrow.

'The university condemns such acts of terror that harm innocent people, and especially a student who came to Jerusalem to study and widen her academic horizons.

'The university administration and staff will provide all necessary support to students, faculty members and their families in Israel and around the world.

'Hannah Bladon came to the Hebrew University as part of a student exchange from the University of Birmingham.

'Hannah began her studies here at the end of January 2017 and was supposed to continue her studies until the end of the current semester.'

Arye Jaffe, paramedic from United Hatzalah medical organisation, told Mail Online: 'There was a lot of blood. It was a big mess.

'There was a bunch of policemen already there and there were police medical and civilians treating her.

Video from the scene shows police and members of the public dragging the man from the tram by his arms and legs before he is arrested

The British woman was taken to hospital in critical condition with multiple stab wounds to her abdomen, but later died from her injuries

'I tried to get near her head where it was possible to manage the other medics and to manage the victim's breathing.

'After stopping the blood I took steps to reduce the pressure on he chest and put a tube in to her to help her to breathe.

'I saw that the pulse had stopped and tried to stimulate her heart mechanically and then with medicine.

'She had extreme injuries in her upper abdomen and her extremities and as I was treating her, she lost her pulse.

'We tried CPR and when ambulance arrived to take her to the ICU I went with them, assisting them to the hospital, where doctors attempted open hear surgery to save her, but it was unsuccessful.'

The Foreign Office confirmed a Briton's death, saying it is supporting her family.

The University of Birmingham said it was 'deeply saddened' over Ms Bladon's death and said it would be supporting any students affected.

It was reported that Hannah took courses on Bible Studies, archaeology and religion at the university's Rothberg International School. She had been studying religion at the University of Birmingham since 2015.

Officers said the attacker got on the tram and rode one stop before launching his knife attack.

A police spokesman said the suspected attacker had tried to commit suicide earlier this year.

Miriam Levy, 32-year-old medic with Magen David Adom, added: 'There was a lot of blood everywhere and a young woman on the ground of the train.

'We tried CPR and evacuated her to the hospital as soon as possible.

The attack happened on a tram near the Old City, which was packed with thousands of Christians celebrating Good Friday

A pregnant woman in her 30s hurt her stomach after the train stopped suddenly, while a man in his 50s injured his leg trying to get away from the attacker

'There was a lot of noise when we got there, there was a lot people trying to treat her and help her. We had to ask the police to get all the people who couldn't help to move away.

'She was stabbed all over the upper part of her body -- chest, abdomen, limbs. it was a very serious stabbing.

'I've not seen this kind of severity apart from in hospitals -- it was my first time seeing it out in the field.

'I felt pity for this woman, she was so young, and on the other hand I needed to try to stay focused.

'It's so awful that a British woman came here to visit and this happened -- it makes me sad. Israel is more than this, but it's this kind of thing that leaves the hardest marks.'

A pregnant woman in her early 30s injured her stomach after the tram came to a sudden stop and a man in his early 50s hurt his leg trying to escape the attacker.

Israel's President Reuven Rivlin said: 'I am filled with sadness, as I received the terrible news of the murder of a young girl in the terror attack in Jerusalem.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim, and we wish all the injured a swift and full recovery.

'This week thousands have come through the ancient gates of Jerusalem, to celebrate the feasts of Passover and Easter throughout the city - while the security forces work to ensure the safety of the dear residents and visitors to the city. And so we will continue to do.

'Terror can never overcome us. Terror will never destroy our lives here.'

Hundreds of police were on the streets of Jerusalem in order to safeguard crowds of pilgrims who travel from all over the world for Easter celebrations and Passover

While religiously-motivated stabbing attacks in Jerusalem not uncommon, there has been a significant drop in violence over recent months

The area was cordoned off following the attack, which happened during Good Friday commemorations in the city

A UK Foreign Office Spokeswoman said: 'We are in touch with local authorities following an incident in Jerusalem on 14 April.'

Police had been on high alert for Passover when tens of thousands of Jews pray at the Western Wall inside the Old City and some visit the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound above it.

The compound, which is the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest site to Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount, is the source of constant tensions.

Jews are allowed to visit but not pray at the site.

Palestinian fears that Israel will seek to change those rules have been the source of repeated violence.

A wave of unrest which erupted in October 2015 has claimed the lives of 260 Palestinians, 41 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, the Israeli authorities say.

Others were shot dead during protests or clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

The violence has greatly subsided in recent months.
A Syrian UN envoy has accused Israel of helping ISIS by bombing government sites in the war-torn country.

The extraordinary claim was made by Bashar al-Jaafari, who accused the Israeli government of 'adding fuel to the fire'.

The comments were made at a UN Security Council meeting about the conflict in Syria.

The extraordinary claim was made by Bashar al-Jaafari, who accused the Israeli government of 'adding fuel to the fire'

Jaadari said, the Jerusalem Post reports: 'The direct Israeli support to ISIL, through attacking Syrian Army sites in Palmyra city on March 17, 2017, added fuel to the fire and made things worse.'

He also claimed Israel had treated injured terrorists.

In the March attack referred to, Syria claimed a government military site was attacked, while Israel claimed it was targeting a shipment of weapons being delivered to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Syria opened fire on Israeli planes, prompting Israeli defence minister Avigdor Liberman to warn it that it would destroy Syrian air defence systems if it happened again.

Jaafari also claimed the US was helping rebel groups, including ISIS, to fight the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

It branded a US missile attack last week on the Shayrat Air Base as 'flagrant aggression'.

Yesterday an interview was released by AFP in which under-fire Syrian president Bashar al-Assad denied carrying out a chemical attack which killed 87 people

He alleged that the United States, Britain, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Kordan had armed jihadist groups with chemical weapons, then claiming it was the Assad regime which used them.

Jaafari said: 'This serious aggression had been plotted long in advance inside the secret rooms of intelligence agencies of Tel Aviv, Riyadh, Doha, Ankara, Amman, Washington, London and Paris.'

Yesterday an interview was released by AFP in which under-fire Syrian president Bashar al-Assad denied carrying out a chemical attack which killed 87 people.

Footage of the atrocity in the Idlib province sent shockwaves around the world, but Assad said: '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.'
A shopper was caught on CCTV plunging 12ft through an open trap door into a pet store cellar.

Shopper Teresa Aprea, 52, plummeted through the cellar door - and broke her leg falling down 15 steps in front of horrified shoppers.

The shocking CCTV footage inside the Reggae Reptiles store in Neath, Wales, shows Ms Aprea walking around the corner before she disappears from sight.

Two female shoppers hold up their hands in horror as shop workers then run to the injured shopper's aide.

Ms Aprea broke her leg in three places - but the pet shop in Skewen, near Neath, South Wales, claimed the cellar opening was taped off and there were warnings in store.

The shopper said: 'I was walking around the aisles and as I turned the corner I fell down 15 steps into the cellar as I didn't realise that the hatch was open.

'I landed on my foot resulting in me fracturing my leg in three places, while I have severe bruising all over the feet, legs and arms.'

Shopper Teresa Aprea (left), 52, plummeted through the cellar door - and broke her leg (right) falling down 15 steps in front of horrified shoppers

Ms Aprea, of Neath, also said she had a long wait for help as she lay in the storage cellar.

Angela Cottam, owner of Reggae Reptiles, said: 'She was in the other aisle looking around the shop and she fell down the hatch despite only being in the shop for three minutes.

'As she was walking towards the hatch I shouted "Watch the hatch," but she seemed to me to be in a world of her own and fell down.

'Ben, the manager, was down the cellar and I was stood at the top, the hatch was only open for five minutes.

The shocking CCTV footage inside the Reggae Reptiles store in Neath, Wales, shows Ms Aprea walking around the corner before she disappears from sight

'We immediately called an ambulance and we did everything we could to help her.

'I washed her feet for her and we tried to keep her comfortable.

'I served the two customers that were already in the shop and then we closed.

'It was a nasty accident and I am really sorry that it happened,' she said, but added that she didn't believe Ms Aprea was looking where she was going.
Interpol has joined the hunt for a British teacher who is suspected of murdering his 47-year-old colleague in Burma following a massive drinking session.

Harris Binotti, 26, from Dumfries, Scotland was drinking with Gary Ferguson in Rangoon, Burma in November 2016 on the day of the murder.

Mr Ferguson's body was discovered by his Thai wife in Binotti's apartment. He had suffered stab wounds to his face and chest.

Interpol has issued a 'red alert' seeking the arrest of Harris Binotti, right, who is suspected of the murder in Burma of his teaching colleague Gary Ferguson, left, in November 2016

Police said Binotti, pictured had been seen 'drinking and fighting' with Mr Ferguson on the day of the murder and subsequently fled the country without telling anyone

Burmese police believe Binotti fled the country immediately after the murder.

Interpol has now issued a 'red alert' for Binotti seeking his extradition to Burma from wherever he is hiding.

Binotti has not been seen since the drinking session in November.

The 26-year-old is wanted on suspicion of carrying out the attack, but is understood to have left the country, also known as Myanmar, shortly after the death.

Interpol has now issued an international 'red notice' alerting police forces around the world that Mr Binotti is wanted for extradition.

Harris Binotti, pictured, was last seen on the day of the murder in November 2016

The notice states that he faces a charge of murder and describes him as 1.68m (5ft 5in) with brown hair and blue eyes.

Both men taught English at the Horizon International School in the city, which is also known as Yangon. Mr Ferguson had worked there for a year while Mr Binotti had been there for around three months.

A Facebook page for Mr Binotti shows that he had a number of different jobs before taking up a post as an English teacher in Rangoon.

These ranged from being a holiday representative, a ski representative and an assistant duty hotel manager.

A police officer in Rangoon said: 'At the time they were together drinking. They were talking and fighting.'

Mr Ferguson and the suspect both taught English at the Horizon International School in the city, which is also known as Yangon.

The victim had worked there for a year while the suspect had been there for around three months, a school spokesman said.

He said: 'We don't know exactly what happened.

'They were together and they had been drinking and enjoying the night and after that he (Mr Ferguson) was found dead on Sunday morning.

'They were friends but they had been drinking.

'He (Mr Binotti) is now missing and there is an investigation.

'We send our condolences to Mr Ferguson's family.'

Mr Ferguson's wife is thought to be Thai.

A school secretary, who gave her name as Yamin, said: 'We are very shocked about the news. These two teachers were very close friends so everyone is shocked.'
Canadian HIV/AIDS researcher Dr Mark Wainberg, 71, died Tuesday of an asthma attack that he suffered while swimming off a Bal Harbor, Florida, beach with his family

A Canadian HIV/AIDS researcher died of an asthma attack while swimming off a Florida beach on a family vacation.

Dr Mark Wainberg, 71, was in the water Tuesday afternoon when his son lost sight of him, Bal Harbor police Captain Mike De La Rosa told the Miami Herald.

De La Rosa said Wainberg's son then spotted him and had tried to rescue him. Other beachgoers went into the water and assisted his son in bringing him onto the shore.

CPR was started and Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue crews took Wainberg to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

'Canada and the world have lost a great scientist and a great man,' Dr Julio Montaner, director of the British Columbia Center for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, told The Globe and Mail.

Red flags were flying Tuesday due to a National Weather Service report of strong currents.

Wainberg's son said that he saw his dad in the water at this beach and tried to rescue him

Wainberg was on the first team to discover the anti-viral drug Lamivudine to treat HIV/AIDS in 1989, which helped extend the survival of patients.

Wainberg was on the first team to discover this anti-viral drug Lamivudine to treat HIV/AIDS

But Wainberg did not limit himself to lab work, becoming an advocate for more available and affordable HIV/AIDS treatment and destigmatizing those living with the disease.

More recently, Wainberg's research led him to believe that HIV could be cured with medication.

'Mark Wainberg was a giant in HIV science. His work contributed to saving millions of lives,' said Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS.

He was awarded the Order of Canada and the Legion dhonneur, the highest honors for civilians given by Canada and France, respectively.

In 2015, Wainberg was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in 2015 'for having made the world a better place'.

Video Courtesy McGill University
Three baby koalas have been stolen from a wildlife carer, leaving her devastated.

The three baby koalas, aged about 14 months, were stolen from their carer's home in Ormiston in Brisbane on Thursday night.

Samantha Longman told Daily Mail Australia the baby koalas will die if they aren't returned to her care soon.

'They are still milk fed babies,' she said.

'And two of them are sick at the moment and need medicine, I don't know how long they will survive without it.'

Three koala joeys have been stolen from a wildlife carer's home in Brisbane. One of the babies, a small female, pictured, needs medicine to survive

Samantha Longman told Daily Mail Australia the baby koalas will die if they aren't returned to her care soon

The koala carer has been looking after orphan joeys for 14 years - raising them from just days old until they are ready to be released into the wild.

'These babies are nowhere near ready to be let back into the wild.

'And the stress of being taken will trigger sickness in them - I am so worried.'

The koalas were in an enclosure in the woman's backyard with other jouveniles.

'They took the three friendliest ones, they just would have walked right up to them.

'They would have thought it was me going in there to feed them again, now they are gone.'

Ms Longman doesn't want to know who took them or why, she just wants them returned to her.

'I have tied two koala cages to my letter box and turned the security light off, I just want them back so I can look after them.

Two males were also stolen, the joeys' carer claims the friendly koalas would have 'walked right up to the people who stole them

'If they have been released into the wild I need someone to tell me where so I can go get them, even if they leave a note in the mailbox.'

One of the joeys is female, the other two are males. They weigh between two and a half kilograms and three kilograms and each have noticeable features.

'The little girl has no fur on her sides,' Ms Longman said.

'One of the boys has a lesion on his head, and the other is a really, really dark charcoal grey colour.'

The devastated carer says she has 'been crying non-stop' since finding the babies missing this morning and has contacted the police.

Queensland police are asking anyone in possession of the joeys hand them in to their local police station or call the RSPCA for assistance.

The joeys are too young to fend for themselves and will likely die if they are released into the wild, police said.
Howard Stern has called on President Trump to 'fire' Sean Spicer following the White House press secretary's 'inappropriate and insensitive' comments on the Holocaust.

The radio and television personality branded Spicer a 'laughingstock' who speaks 'fluent moron'.

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.

Radio personality Howard Stern has called on Donald Trump to fire Sean Spicer

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

Poll Do you agree with Howard Stern - should Sean Spicer be fired? Yes - get rid of Spicer No - Spicer should stay Do you agree with Howard Stern - should Sean Spicer be fired? Yes - get rid of Spicer 523 votes

No - Spicer should stay 147 votes Now share your opinion





During the Holocaust, Hitler's Nazis used toxic gas to systematically exterminate millions of Jews.

Speaking on his SiriusXM radio show Stern, 63, said: 'When I heard this, I was like, Trumps got to fire this guy.

'Spicer managed to make Assad look good. He actually got him to look not so bad for using chemical weapons on his own people because the discussion became, Sean Spicer, how could you not know that Hitler marched his own people - Jews, gypsies, homosexuals - to concentration camps and turned on chemical gas.

'It was somewhat remarkable that a guy this high up in the administration wouldnt know this.

'The guys just not informed, and its kind of embarrassing  its just embarrassing. But its entertaining as hell.'

Spicer has repeatedly apologized for his comments

He added: 'If youre looking for ratings and youre looking for comedy, theres nothing better than this.'

'But if Im President Trump, Im like, well Jesus Christ, were a laughingstock.'

Spicer has repeatedly apologized for his comments, telling CNN that he 'mistakenly used an inappropriate and insensitive reference to the Holocaust, for which frankly there is no comparison'.

And on Wednesday morning the press secretary said: 'I screwed up. From a professional level, I think it's disappointing because I think I let the president down.

'It was not a very good day in my history.'
A sacked school principal and former president of the Maori Principals Association has admitted to exchanging porn through email on a school computer.

Peter Witana, sacked as principal of Kawakawa Primary School in 2014, was under investigation for financial mismanagement of school funds when pornographic images were found on his computer, according to The New Zealand Herald.

The NZ Disciplinary Tribunal Decision in 2016 found Mr Witana would keep his teaching license despite 1,552 pornographic images found on his school issued laptop.

Peter Witana (pictured) was principal of Kawakawa Primary School for nearly 20 years and was sacked from the top job in 2014

The tribunal's decision meant Mr Witana will have to show a copy of the decision to any future employer for the next two years.

The tribunal also decided he could not hold a position of leadership or financial responsibility until the Manager, Teacher Practice at the Education Council were satisfied.

The tribunal findings discovered the images were 'offensive, distasteful and degrading of women' and found it to be a serious misconduct, according to the report.

Mr Witana did not access the images on the internet, but had the images in his email account.

But the former Kawakawa Primary School principal was primarily under investigation for borrowing school funds and paying it back in the school account at the end of the year.

Mr Witana served as Kawakawa Primary School principal for nearly 20 years

While he would always pay the money back, Mr Witana had a 'yellow book' where he recorded his expenditure on small items such as petrol, stationary and food, the report read.

At one stage the amount owing peaked at $10,084.51.

The report said Mr Witana accepted he was: 'Allowing a situation to develop where he used the school as a provider of an interest-free loan to the extent of about $10,000 was serious misconduct.'

Mr Witana served as Kawakawa Primary School principal for nearly 20 years.
The daughter of a New York Police Department officer killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks has been sworn in as a member of the force.

Brittney Roy, of Massapequa Park on Long Island, was sworn in Thursday along with 473 other recruits during a ceremony held at the city's police academy in Queens.

Her father, Sergeant Timothy Roy, was assigned to the NYPD's surface transit enforcement division.

Brittney Roy, pictured center, was sworn in as a New York City police officer on Thursday along with 473 other recruits. Her father died in 9/11

Timothy Roy, Brittney's father, was a Sergeant assigned to the NYPD's surface transit enforcement division and was working in Brooklyn courts when the terrorist attack occurred. He rushed to the site and died trying to help. His body was found the following March

He was working in Brooklyn courts when the terrorists flew two planes into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

The 36-year-old Roy rushed to Lower Manhattan to help. He was last seen by the South Tower before it collapsed. His body was found the following March.

'The day before Saint Patrick's day, which was his favorite holiday, he was found,' Roy told the New York Daily News.

Brittney Roy, now 22, was 7 years old when her father died.

The University of Rhode Island graduate says says she always dreamed of becoming a police officer.

'Since I was very young, I grew up seeing heroes,' she said. 'It's just always been a dream to be one of them.'

Brittney Roy, pictured at age 10 with her mother Stacey and a photograph of her father Timothy, said: 'Since I was very young, I grew up seeing heroes.' She added: 'It's just always been a dream to be one of them'

The New York Police Department tweeted about one of its newest members. Regarding Roy, Police Commissioner James O'Neill said: 'Shes really thrilled to be here and carry the legacy of her father'

Roy is part of a 474-person crew of recruits, of whom 95 are foreign-born.

The new recruits represent 44 different countries and speak 27 different languages.

The NYPD tweeted about her new role: 'Meet Brittney Roy, daughter of NYPD Sgt. Timothy Roy who was killed on 9/11.

'Today, Brittney joined the NYPD. Let's say thank you & congrats.'

Police Commissioner James O'Neill told the Daily News: 'Shes really thrilled to be here and carry the legacy of her father.'
A group of fishermen thought they were in deep water when they spotted the monster relative of a great white shark off the British coast.

The colossal 17 stone (230lb) porbeagle was spotted by Paul Rowse off Hartland, Devon, on Thursday, on a boat run by Dan Hawkins of Reel Deal Chartered.

Those on board battled for nearly an hour to catch it.

It comes just a few days after Cornish anglers pulled a 28 stone fish in just yards from swimmers on a beach.

The colassal 17 stone porbeagle shark was seen off the coast of Devon and caught by a group of fishermen

Paul said: 'There was a 40 minute battle to get it aboard.

'It was a big, strong fish - it was a good size.'

The beast was released back into the sea after it was caught.

A few days ago, stunned anglers reeled in an eight-foot shark after a dramatic struggle just yards from swimmers on a Cornish beach.

Sam Narbett, 39, and friend Ian Tyldesley, 55, spotted the Porbeagle shark, a member of the Great white family, hunting for seal pups off the coast of St Ives.

The anglers spent 90 minutes fighting the 28st razor-toothed predator after it became hooked on one of their lines.

Porbeagle sharks are members of the same shark family as Great Whites, which is why they look so similar.

This shark was spotted just a few days after a 28-stone porbeagle was pulled up in Cornwall

Porbeagle sharks can grow up to 12ft long and weigh 600lbs, but are usually half that weight and more like 7-8ft in UK waters.

They are powerful, squat-bodied sharks and are found in UK waters during the Summer months. They stay far out, hunting mackerel, squid and herring.

According to British Sea Fishing, a 10ft long porbeagle weighing 550lbs was caught off the coast of North Devon in May 2012.
Fugitive caught: Sergio Morales Soto, a 19-year-old undocumented immigrant suspected of raping a girl in Maryland, was arrested aboard a plane at the Atlanta airport on April 5

A 19-year-old undocumented immigrant suspected of raping a girl in Maryland was arrested aboard a plane at the Atlanta airport when his Guatemala-bound flight was delayed because of severe storms.

Sergio Morales Soto was apprehended by federal agents while trying to flee the United States on April 5 , a day after he was accused of sexually assaulting a minor in Marydel, Maryland.

We were able to locate which aircraft he was on, actually to the point of which seat he was on. Then we went on board the aircraft and apprehended him, Deputy Special Agent in Charge, Gregory Wiest, of Homeland Security Atlanta, told the station WSB-TV.

Following his arrest, Soto was transported back to Caroline County, Maryland, to face six counts of rape, sex offense and assault.

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Soto was apprehended by federal agents (pictured above during arrest) when his Guatemala-bound flight was delayed because of severe storms in Atlanta

The investigation into Soto began on April 4 when police and sheriff's deputies in Maryland received a report accusing the 19-year-old of sexually assaulting an underage girl.

A warrant was issued for Soto's arrest and law enforcement officials launched a manhunt involving the US Department of Homeland Security, which helped track down the fugitive less than 24 hours later.

Federal officials learned from police in Atlanta, Georgia, that Soto had boarded a flight from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in the early hours of April 5 and landed at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for a connecting flight to Guatemala.

Due to inclement weather conditions in Atlanta that day, Soto's connecting flight was delayed, allowing Homeland Security agents enough time to catch up to the wanted suspect.

Soto was then put on another flight, in handcuffs and chains, and transported back to Caroline County, Maryland, to face six counts of rape, sex offense and assault

The 19-year-old was then put on another flight, this time in handcuffs and chains, headed back to Maryland.

ICE spokesman Bryan Cox confirmed to the station WMDT that Soto is a Guatemalan national who was unlawfully residing in Delaware.

An immigration detainer has been filed against Soto pending the resolution of the criminal case in Caroline County.
A New Zealand cafe has landed in hot water after banning customers wearing burkas, but the owner claims it is merely a safety measure.

Coffee and Gems store, in New Zealand's Auckland, displays a sign on the door reading 'No Burkas, No Hoodies, No Sunglasses, No Helmets'.

Auckland Auckland Councillor Cathy Casey took to social media to vent her outrage over the sign, before lodging a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

Coffee and Gems store, in New Zealand's Auckland, displayed a sign on the door reading 'No Burkas

The Albert-Eden-Roskill ward councillor told NZ Herald she believed the sign was discriminatory and illegal.

'It looks as though the business is basically flouting the Human Rights Act. I've checked the Act and it says you can't discriminate on the grounds of religion and the grounds of sex.'

She said she planned to contact the owner of the store, which sells coffee and second hand jewellery, as soon as they open after the Easter long weekend.

'If the Human Rights Commission rule that it's discriminatory then it is and it's kind of wider than just that one shop.'

Ms Casey's photograph of the store divided Facebook commenters, with some arguing it was discrimination but others claiming it was a safety measure.

The owner of the store, Llannys Burgess, told NZ Herald she put the sign up years ago after a man attacked a customer with a machete, leaving her fearing for her safety.

Auckland Councillor Cathy Casey believes the sign is discriminatory and illegal
Megyn Kelly made her triumphant return to the media world on Thursday, when she proved to be the most popular girl in the room at The Hollywood Reporter's annual soiree to celebrate the 35 most powerful people in the the industry.

It was a big night for Kelly, who was seeing and speaking to some of her media friends for the first time in over three months while also being honored for the second year in a row.

Kelly looked fresh and elegant for her big welcome back party, with her blonde hair loosely pulled back and her natural makeup look consisting of little more than some blush and lipstick.

She wore a stunning stud-embellished crepe dress from Joseph Altuzurra in custom black that retails for $1,100, and dressed it up with some silver drop earrings and a number of silver rings scattered across her fingers.

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Very big deal: Megyn Kelly attended a party celebrating the release of The Hollywood Reporter's annual list of the media's 35 biggest power players on Thursday (above)

Team time: Kelly, 47, was one of the honorees for the second year in a row, and at the event spent time with her new NBC colleagues Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie (above)

Fox and friends: Also being honored was her former Fox News coworker Sean Hannity (above), and the two shared a giant embrace when they saw one another at the party

The former Fox News anchor has been laying low ever since she announced back in January that she would be spreading her feathers and heading over to the Peacock Network when her contract was up with the cable news leader, where she has worked for more than a decade.

When asked on the red carpet if she was looking forward to getting back into the swing of things over at NBC, Kelly said: 'I've spent enough time staring at the refrigerator, it's time to do some news.'

Kelly, 47, seemed elated to be out and about again as she was photographed smiling and laughing with colleagues past and present including NBC stars Savannah Guthrie and Lester Holt as well as her former Fox News buddy and occasional adversary Sean Hannity.

The two could be seen grinning from ear-to-ear in one photo as they embraced each other in the middle of the event, which was held at the still-under-construction Four Seasons Restaurant in New York City.

Guthrie and Holt were also honorees at the event, as was Hannity, who was listed alongside Bill O'Reilly on the THR list this year.

O'Reilly, who announced on Thursday night that he was heading off on what he claimed was a long-planned vacation in the wake of an explosive article detailing sexual harassment allegations made against him during his two decades at Fox News, was not in attendance on Thursday.

Tense evening: Fox News co-president Bill Shine was also an honoree and attended with his wife, Darla Shine (above)

Questions raised: Reporters at the event wanted answers as to the future of Bill Reilly at Fox News (New York reporter Gabriel Sherman's tweet above)

Otherwise occupied: O'Reilly (above in 2008) was one of the honorees this year but did not attend after taking off on what he claims was a planned vacation last week

Fox News co-president Bill Shine, another of the honorees, was in attendance however, and was questioned about O'Reilly's future at the network by a number of the reporters at the event.

New York writer and reporter Gabriel Sherman, who first wrote about the sexual harassment allegations involving the network and Roger Ailes back in 2014 when he released his biography of the CEO, was one of those who approached Shine hoping for a scoop on Thursday.

'At @THR party, I asked Fox News co-president Bill Shine what plan is for O'Reilly. "I'm just going to have a good time tonight," he said,' wrote Sherman on Twitter.

Shine also did not appear to spend much time with the former shining star of his network, as he and Kelly were not photographed together over the course of the night.

Kelly meanwhile is also keeping her lips closed about O'Reilly, despite the fact that the Fox News host went after her in a big way last November for alleging in her memoir that she was sexually harassed by Ailes during her time at Fox News.

Supportive spouse: Kelly was escorted by her constant companion, husband Douglas Brunt (above)

Ailes and his lawyer have previously denied Kelly's claims.

'I'm not interested in basically litigating something that is finished that makes my network look bad. Okay?' said O'Reilly in response to Kelly's bombshell revelation in her book.

'I'm not interested in making my network look bad at all. That doesn't interest me one bit. '

Kelly then fired back the following day, saying: 'I believe that Roger Ailes made the company look bad.'

Ailes was one of the 35 media members who made the cut last year for the THR honor, but did not make a repeat appearance in 2017 after stepping down from his post as CEO at the network back in July.

Photo bomb: Once at the event, Megyn was quickly greeted by one of her biggest admirers, CNN anchor Don Lemon (above)

Fan club: Lemon and Kelly then spent a good deal of time speaking with one another inside the party

Kelly was escorted to the event by her husband, novelist Douglas Brunt.

The couple posed for photos together on the red carpet, and beyond that point Brunt seemed keen to avoid the flashing lights and stand off to the side while his wife caught up with her friends.

Among those who Kelly was snapped speaking to were Hollywood producer and Malia Obama boss Harvey Weinsten and designer Zac Posen.

There were also a great deal of photos that showed Kelly being fawned over by her biggest fan in the industry and quite possibly the world, Don Lemon.

The CNN anchor and Kelly were seen posing together on the red carpet at the event and then having a long chat with one another once inside the event.

It was widely believed before she made her announcement in January that Kelly would be heading to CNN should she decide to leave Fox News.

New friends: Kelly and Guthrie were photographed deep in conversation at one point during the event (above)

Scoring access: Kelly also hobnobbed with Malia Obama's boss Harvey Weinsten (left) and designer Zac Posen (right)

Stuck in the middle: An animated Kelly posed for a photo with Holt and his wife Carol Hagen (above)

Those rumors began to pick up steam last summer when she and Dana Perino were seen enjoying some late-night libations at the CNN Grill with Lemon, Anderson Cooper and the network's head honcho Jeff Zucker at the Democratic National Convention.

In the end though it was NBC that Kelly chose and it seems that she is now ready to get started - with early rumors of a possible interview with Russian president Vladimir Putin in the works.

There is also a good chance she might be able to score a sit down with her old frenemy - President Donald Trump.

When asked about their relationship by The Hollywood Reporter, Kelly said: 'He and I have been in touch since his victory - I called him - and had a great talk. He was quite gracious.'
A 16-year-old girl allegedly shot her 15-year-old friend, and with the help of an older man and then dumped her body on the side of a road in Florida.

The body of Melanie Mesen Medina was discovered around 8.30am on Tuesday by a passerby who found the teen lying on the side of Ziegler Road in Orlando, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said Medina's fully clothed body showed signs of trauma and they believe she was dumped there overnight.

Anonymous tips from Crimeline received on Wednesday led detectives to Ramsys Cruz-Abreu, 22, and early Thursday morning police arrived at his apartment near Conroy Road, Sheriff Jerry L Demings said in a press conference.

A 16-year-old teenager allegedly shot her 15-year-old friend, Melanie Medina (left), and with the help of Ramsys Cruz-Abreu (right), 22, dumped her body on the side of a Florida road Monday night

Medina's body was discovered around 8.30am on Tuesday by a passerby who noticed the teen lying on the side of Ziegler Road (pictured) in Orlando

Demings said Abreu was attempting to leave the apartment in an black, four-door Acura with a bullet hole in the windshield and a handgun on the front seat.

Abreu was then taken into custody and questioned. He told deputies that he, Medina and the 16-year-old teen were in the car around 11pm Monday when she shot Medina inside the vehicle.

He said the two girls were friends, and after the shooting, he and the teen drove to Ziegler Road where they disposed of Medina's body.

Demings said Abreu was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to second-degree murder.

Police located and questioned the 16-year-old girl, who told them that she shot Medina.

Police located and questioned the 16-year-old girl, who told them that she shot Medina (left and right). The teen's name has not been released because she is a minor and charges have not been filed

The teen's name has not been released because she is a minor and charges have not been filed.

'I think it was just convenient for them. It was a location they could go, they felt they could dump the body without being discovered by others,' Demings said.

Demings said the investigation is ongoing and that 'evidence is still being collected' to determine exactly what happened inside the vehicle that led to the shooting.

Medina was an eighth-grader at Corner Lake Middle school until recently.

Her parents withdrew her from school on April 6, according to school officials, but it is unclear why.

The investigation is ongoing and 'evidence is still being collected' to determine exactly what happened inside the vehicle that led to the shooting. Investigators do not believe there are any more suspects involved in Medina's (pictured) death

Detectives are working with the state attorney's office to determine additional and appropriate charges.

She has been 'somewhat cooperative' with the investigation, authorities said. But she is not currently under arrest and she is in the custody of her parents.

Demings also said there is no indication the shooting was a targeted attack.

'At this time, we have no indication that this is a case related to human trafficking,' he said.

'What it is related to is a few very young people, teenagers, who were out doing some very adult-like things that they shouldn't have been involved in.'

Demings and Crimeline Executive Director Barb Bergin said this case highlights the importance of community involvement when it comes to solving crimes.

'Information was coming in from citizens,' Bergin said, adding that it was 'immediately sent over to the detectives who are working this case, which led them to be able to get to suspects' identities'.

According to Bergin, Crimeline received 20 or fewer tips related to Medina's death. She urges anyone with additional information about the death to step forward.

Demings said investigators do not believe there are any more suspects involved in Medina's death.

Abreu is being held on $50,000 bond at the Orange County Jail.
An African-American woman in California filed a lawsuit against Albertsons after a checkout clerk assumed she was on food stamps.

Deirdre Harris, 42, said the incident occurred on January 27 at the Albertsons off Alton Avenue and Culver Street in Irvine, California.

Harris told The Mercury News that she was pulling out a debit card to pay for her grocery items when the clerk asked her if she wanted to use her electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card, colloquially known as food stamps.

'I felt completely demoralized,' said Harris, an Orange County native who works as a fashion brand consultant. 'For me, it was a very clear reminder - a painful reminder - that we do not live in a post-racial era.'

Deirdre Harris (right), 42, is suing Albertsons for wrongly assuming she was on food stamps

After speaking with three supervisors, including Ron Foss, a regional manager at Safeway, Albertsons parent company, Harris said she was told that the clerk was simply offering her free reusable bags because those on food stamps do not have to pay for them.

Foss offered Harris $500 as compensation for her emotional distress but she refused and filed the lawsuit.

Safeway's investigation into the incident found no evidence of discrimination or racial profiling, according to the company's follow-up letter.

Harris said this is not the first time she has experienced subtle racism in Irvine, a city that is less than one per cent African America.

The incident occurred on January 27 at this Albertsons. A company investigation into the event found no evidence of discrimination or racial profiling

Her attorney, Chris Mears, said the clerk's actions and the company's reaction to the incident violate Californias Unruh Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Harris said she wants the company to make changes to prevent something like this from happening again.

'I filed this lawsuit not just for my two children, but also as a professional who works with emerging brands and social startups,' she said. 'If you are silent, you are part of the problem. Nothing changes when you are silent. I had to ask myself, if Im not taking steps toward progress, then, what am I doing?'
Blanco Middle School counselor Lisa Rogers

A school counselor in Texas has been arrested on suspicion of having sex with a student.

Lisa Rogers, who leads the Blanco Middle School's guidance and career department, was detained on Tuesday the district officials were notified that night.

The mother is accused of having what is described as an 'inappropriate relationship' with a pupil at the school which is based 51 miles north of San Antonio and 50 miles west of Austin.

Parents were informed with a letter home on Wednesday that read: '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.

'We are providing counseling services to students on our high school and middle school campuses, and will do everything we can to support them during this time.

'Due to the sensitive nature of the allegations and the need to be vigilant in protecting student privacy, there is no further information the District can share regarding this matter.

'I thank you for your continuing support of our students and our school community.

'If you have any questions about this, please contact me directly.

'Thank you very much.'

Lisa Rogers, pictured, is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student

The district also issued a statement on the issue.

It read: 'Blanco Independent School District is aware that Lisa Rogers has been arrested and is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

'The district can offer no further details, but very much appreciates the respect and care our community has shown for our students and staff during this difficult time.'
A 19-year-old Walmart cashier has been indicted for sexually assaulting ten women he met on social media, authorities in Alaska announced on Thursday.

Jim Persey, 19, of Anchorage will face 24 felony charges, 13 of which are for sexual assault, KTUU-TV reported.

He was also indicted for using a 'dangerous instrument' to cause injury to some of his victims.

The first two women who came forward and accused Persey of sexual assault last year say that the meetings were arranged through MeetMe, a social media app.

The women told police that while the meetings were voluntary, the sexual encounters turned violent.

The first assault victim claims that Persey forced her to have sex with him and 'choked her until she was seeing stars,' according to investigators.

Authorities in Alaska indicted a 19-year-old man for allegedly sexually assaulting 10 women whom he met on social media. Jim Persey (above), 19, of Anchorage will face 24 felony charges

He was also indicted for using a 'dangerous instrument' to cause injury to some of his victims. Persey was first arrested for alleged sexual assault in April 2016

The second victim also alleged that Persey used violence, threats, and coercion to force her to have sex.

She said that Persey used a knife to threaten her and then choked her until she lost consciousness.

She eventually woke up and escaped to a neighbor's house, where she called for help.

Persey told police that he believed the women were enjoying their encounters.

As questioning proceeded, he would admit to striking one of his victims in the face 'about seven times.'

Police said that Persey was 'angry about all of the things he had been through and he felt that [a victim] was another person who "didn't give a [expletive] about [him]".'

Police began to suspect that Persey was a serial attacker after the first two assaults were committed against women that met him through MeetMe, a social media app

'Due to the violent nature of the assaults and the method in which Persey used to meet his victims, there is concern that there could be more victims of Persey,' police said last year after the suspect's initial arrest.

Persey, who according to his Facebook profile works at Walmart, was first arrested for alleged sexual assault in April 2016.

Anchorage police began investigating Persey for an additional sexual assault committed a few months before.

Authorities at the time suspected that there were more victims.

The prosecutor assigned to the case said that after police put out a public notice announcing the arrest, more victims came forward.

'The detectives had to take the time to interview those individuals,' the prosecutor, Gustaf Olson, said.

'That process is one that took time. Those individuals were treated with dignity and respect through the entire process.'

Police began to suspect that Persey was a repeat sex offender after the first two assaults were committed against women that met him through MeetMe.

The first two women who came forward and accused Persey (above) of sexual assault say that the meetings were arranged through MeetMe

MeetMe is a social networking service. Formerly known as myYearbook, MeetMe reaches over 1.5million users per month, according to Quantcast.

Most of MeetMe's users are in the United States.

If convicted, Persey faces up to 99 years in prison. Bail was set at $100,000.

Persey's first appearance in court is scheduled for Friday.

Prosecutors believe that there may be more victims who have yet to come forward.

'If you believe you were the victim of a sexual assault, please call 911,' the District Attorney's Office said in a statement.

'If you have information you believe may be relevant to this case, please contact Anchorage Police Detective Chris Thomas at (907) 786-8900. If you want to provide information anonymously, you can call Crime Stoppers at (907) 561-STOP.'
An RAF airman and his pet ferret have made history by becoming the fastest human-animal duo to hike across Hadrian's Wall for charity.

Charlie Hammerton, 22, and his brown ferret Bandit hiked 84 miles in three-and-a-half days from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway, in Cumbria - to combat the deadly motor neurone disease that killed his mother.

The pair set off on Monday afternoon, just after his mother Jan Hammerton's funeral back at the family home of Ipswich, in Suffolk.

Charlie Hammerton, 22, and his brown ferret Bandit hiked 84 miles in three-and-a-half days from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway, in Cumbria

The pair set off on Monday afternoon, just after his mother Jan Hammerton's (pictured with a young Charlie, right) funeral back at the family home of Ipswich, in Suffolk

Their journey makes them the fastest man and ferret to ever walk across the route of Hadrian's Wall.

And as well as raising over 3,000 for two charities, Charlie admitted the exhausting ordeal has helped with his devastating loss.

He explained: 'I started the walk as me grieving - I wanted to get out on the open air and go for a walk with my mate Bandit.

'Now it's over all that is behind me and it's a really emotional time.

'It might have seemed a slightly crazy thing to do but it's good to be able to throw myself into the hike and doing something positive.

Charlie and Bandit got some extra support from fellow ferret owners before setting off on the walk

'It's extra hard to complete with a hiking partner who is just six inches tall - and sharing a tent is no fun as while he sleeps like a log.

'Bandit also stinks like only a happy healthy ferret can.

'But it's been absolutely beautiful up here and the most amazing thing has been the number of people who have recognised us from TV coverage.

'Just as I was walking up today, someone said, 'You're that boy on the news aren't you?

'Bandit is good company and goes most places with me but his conversation is limited so it's been great to meet up with locals along the way - even for just a few miles.'

History tells us that Bandit may not be the first ferret on the Wall for there is some evidence that Roman soldiers routinely used ferrets in hunting rabbits.

Ferrets may have spread to the northern European continent during the spread of the Roman Empire, although others have suggested they arrived with Norman invasions.

Charlie, Bandit and a female companion by the Angel Of The North

Charlie chose Hadrian's Wall because he said the Romans were the people who 'domesticated the ferret' and would have walked their ferrets along the same route.

During their hike they were joined by other ferrets and their owners for support - as well as dogs, horses and even a cat.

Charlie was fundraising for St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich, where his mother passed away peacefully on March 2nd, and the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association.

There is no cure for MND, which attacks the nerves that control movement, leaving people unable to move, talk and, eventually, breathe.

Charlie explained: 'The hospice was brilliant with my mum.

'I also want to support the work the MND Association does, to make sure that no one has to go through what mum did in the future.'

This is Charlie's first experience of walking the Wall, although he has seen it from the inside of an RAF Chinook helicopter.

He works in logistics for the Royal Air Force at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire where Bandit is the base's unofficial mascot.

Charlie chose Hadrian's Wall because he said the Romans were the people who 'domesticated the ferret' and would have walked their ferrets along the same route

Charlie added: 'I thought about walking the length of England to begin with but I don't really have the time so I thought why not do the breadth?'

On his JustGiving page, Charlie explained how he was fundraising for all those who cared for his mother.

He wrote: 'On 2nd March my mother Jan Hammerton, died of motor neurons diseases.

'She had been ill for many years and she peacefully passed in the comfort of St. Elizabeths Hospice.

'My travelling companion and I decided it would be great to idea to walk the coast to coast hike over the Hadrian's Wall Path in as little as three-and-a-half days, raising money by sponsorship.

'A noble undertaking to any hiker, but there is a massive twist to this fund raising challenge. My hiking partner is a ferret.

Charlie and Bandit entertain and elderly couple and a child during their travels across the ancient wall

'When we complete our task, we will be the first man and ferret team to walk the entire path, especially in as fast a time as three and a half days!

'We've chosen to raise funds for two organisations. Firstly, the efforts of the St. Elizabeth Hospice staff in Jan's final weeks were heroic; without them this whole process would have been much more painful.

'Secondly we've nominated the Motor Neurons Disease Association because I believe that with the correctly applied funding, MND can be effectively combated.

'Donate for research, donate for adventure, donate for Jan - a friend, champion and mother.'
Police are investigating 58 allegations of child abuse against Dr Kenneth Milner, pictured, who died 41 years ago

Police are investigating 58 allegations of abuse against a late doctor at a former mental hospital where child patients were drugged and thrown into padded cells.

A string of allegations have been made against Dr Kenneth Milner, who died 41 years ago, about his conduct at Aston Hall Children's Hospital near Derby, of which he was in charge.

The psychiatrist and hospital chief superintendent is alleged to have injected children with the truth serum sodium amytal before sexually abusing them.

Dozens have said Milner, who had previously worked at Broadmoor and Rampton hospitals was trying to 'normalise' naughty children.

He died in 1976 just one year after he left the institution, having worked there between 1947 and 1975.

Police launched Operation Hydrant with health and social workers to investigate the abuse claims.

Yesterday officers confirmed they were investing 58 allegations of abuse against Milner with more potential victims coming forward.

Writing a letter to the alleged victims, Derbyshire Police said they have recorded '58 crimes regarding various offences involving the actions of Dr Milner and treatment at Aston Hall'.

It reads: 'I am satisfied that all former residents who have indicated they wish to be contacted by the police have been identified and approached, in addition to this we are continuing to see further individuals coming forward.

'In addition to this, we have a large amount of information regarding previous staff members.

David Martin, pictured, alleges Dr Milner 'injected him with something' and then gave him ether to 'make him go to sleep', leaving him unable to remember what happened to him

'This is currently being reviewed I will then make a decision as to which staff members will be approached by the investigations team.

'We are now in possession of a report regarding the practices at Aston Hall. Based on this, we are currently in the process of recording various crime types in relation to accounts given by former residents.

'Once we are satisfied all accounts have been obtained, we will prepare a report for consideration of the Crown Prosecution Service.

'I would like to take this opportunity to re-emphasise that, although this work is extremely time consuming, the investigation team remain focused and committed to establishing the facts as to what took place.'

David Martin, 55, claims he was abused twice by Dr Milner at Aston Hall while aged 12 and 13, including on his first day at the hospital.

The father-of-five said: 'I was kicking and screaming on my way to Aston Hall. I remember being with some people from social services.

'When I was there, I was grabbed and put in a cell. That night Dr Milner and two nurses came into the cell.

Dr Milner worked at Aston Hall, pictured, for 28 years and several patients have come forward with allegations against him

'He gave me an injection and put a mask on me when I was tied down. He then gave me ether. But after that I don't remember what happened. It made me go to sleep.

'I was experimented on while I was asleep. It happened to me twice and it was wrong.

'Once you're in a place like that and things happen, it's sick. It stays on your mind and people have wrongly labelled me in life because I stayed there.'

He claimed the abuse has caused him to 'struggle with relationships and trusting people'.

He added: 'They made me feel mentally ill by being there but there was nothing wrong with me.

'I was never perfect and I did get in trouble. But there was nothing wrong with me.'

Mr Martin said he was relieved the police were investigating Mr Milner over the allegations.

Mr Martin said he was 'relieved' police had launched the investigation

He said: 'It's a very good feeling because finally someone has listened to what we said.

'Finally, we can say for certain that what happened to us was wrong.

'It should never have happened. What we went through was terrible. I'm very pleased with the police investigation.

'They have been thorough and expert. It's been complex for them and us.

'Now I know many victims want to continue to push and get a conclusion to this.'

Another alleged victim, Trevor Bell, 62, claims he was forced to take drugs when he was 13 after Milner labelled him an 'uncontrollable child'.

Mr Bell, who now lives in Sydney, had been in and out of care homes since the age of two.

He said: 'When I first went in I thought it was going to be just another home but it wasn't.

'I couldn't run away from this one. I met Dr Milner on my second day and he explained about my treatment.

'He called it narco analysis but it was sodium amytal. They stripped me, put me in a padded room, everything was white.

'They gave me an injection, then put a pad over my face, covering everything except my nose. And then he poured ether on my face.

'They said they wanted to find out where things had gone wrong when I was a kid, why I was misbehaving. I was 13 years old. I didn't understand a thing.'

Police say they are now in possession of a report regarding the 'practices' at the hospital, pictured, under Dr Milner's charge

Mr Bell is now working with a lawyer to get his medical records.

Sodium amytal is a strong barbiturate described as a 'truth serum' because it makes the recipient lose all inhibitions.

Mr Bell added: 'According to Dr Milner we were out of control kids. We were an experiment.

'We had no rights, no love, nothing. Just a piece of meat for someone to play with.'

Amanda Solloway, MP for Derby North, who raised the issue in Parliament, said: 'I think it's very important that this has come in the public domain and the update from the police shows that anybody who was ever abused at any point in their life should feel confident to come forward because it will be taken seriously.

'Crimes have been identified and that is positive. I want to thank the police as well. This is an ongoing investigation that has been detailed and shows they are taking this seriously.'
A Muslim woman claims airport staff told her she would have to take off her hijab if she wanted to get on a flight to London.

Aghnia Adzkia was passing through security when she was asked to take off her religious headscarf.

Ms Adzkia claims to have been discriminated against and says she saw nuns passing through security without being asked to remove their habits.

The Indonesian citizen who lives in London made a video of her experience at Ciampino Airport in the Italian capital of Rome on Sunday.

In the clip the Goldsmith's University student can be seen repeatedly demanding to see the law stating that the hijab must be removed at an airport security check.

But the officers were adamant that they would not let her pass unless she followed their rules.

The female security official can be heard saying: 'You could hide something in your hair. If you don't take it off, we do not know if there's something inside, okay? You are not safe for us.'

She alleges that a female security staff member asked her to follow her to a private room so she could check the hijab.

But Ms Adzkia refused to take off her hijab claiming she was being unfairly targeted.

She claims a male security officer then dragged her out of the security area in an 'indecent way' grabbing her bag and shouting at her to be quiet.

Aghnia Adzkia (pictured) was passing through security when she was asked to take off her religious headscarf

Ms Adzkia claims to have been discriminated against and says she saw nuns passing through security without being asked to remove their habits at Ciampino Airport (pictured)

Ms Adzkia posted a furious social media post about the experience, which she says took place as she was traveling to London.

She wrote: 'I wasn't prepared to trust them unless they could cite me a law or provide me with a legal document that saying they were authorised to have to check what is underneath of my hijab.

'It is a matter of human dignity and rights. For what reason were they asked me to take off my hijab?'

She added: 'I AM A MUSLIM HIJABI, NOT A TERRORIST!

'The way they treated me has shown that they do not respect a Muslim female wearing the hijab.'

Ms Adzkia posted a furious social media post about the experience, which she says took place as she was traveling to London

Later the same evening, Ms Adzkia booked a ticket to fly to London from Leonardo da VinciFiumicino Airport, also in Rome.

Security staff again asked her to remove her hijab, this time she agreed and was able to get her flight.

Ms Adzkia wrote: 'I wanted to prove to them that I have nothing to hide and that I am not a terrorist.

'In the meantime, I saw two nuns wearing headscarves, but they weren't asked to take them off.

'Is this what you call fair treatment and respect? Where are my human rights?'

A social media post by Ms Adzkia has received 20,000 views and more than 100 comments after being shared more than 400 times

A social media post by Ms Adzkia has received 20,000 views and more than 100 comments after being shared more than 400 times.

But an official at the Indonesian Embassy argued that, when in Rome, Aghnia should have complied with the security officers' wishes.

Aisyah Allamanda, an official based in Rome, said: 'The numerous times I've flown out of Rome's airport, I also experienced the same kind of security check as I also happen to wear a hijab.

'The same applies to others who wear the hijab at Rome KBRI, female Muslims believe that they can't take off their headscarves in public so they are provided a private room for a female officer to carry out the check.

'If we refuse, I can understand if the security officer acts aggressively towards us.'

Speaking to MailOnline, Ms Adzkia said: 'I completely understand about what is going in the world lately. I stand against terrorism and that's not Islam.

'Yet, what I've experienced in Rome was shocking, the way they treated me indecently has shown discrimination. I understand if it is for security reason, but why did they not give me a second to read the law?'

Speaking to MailOnline, Ms Adzkia said: 'I completely understand about what is going in the world lately. I stand against terrorism and that's not Islam'

A spokesman for the Rome airport said: 'What happened to Ms Aghnia Adzkia solely and exclusively concerns compliance with safety procedures. The passenger, when passing the security gates, set off an alarm in the head area and it was therefore necessary to investigate the case, which could not be overlooked. For this reason, our staff asked her to go through to a private room, where they could check her head and headdress, as is strictly required by European and national laws, the purpose of which is to ensure safety and civil cohabitation.

'When Ms Aghnia refused to remove her headdress, requesting to read the legislation, she was shown the National Security Programme, which was promptly translated into English by our staff. Further to her continued refusal, our staff were forced to move the passenger away from the control area. Ms Aghnia subsequently returned to that area (and, on that occasion, filmed the video) and then left Ciampino airport. She later departed from Fiumicino airport on another flight, passing through security without any issues, this time removing her headdress.

'We are truly sorry for the fact that the young passenger had a negative experience whilst travelling via Ciampino airport. At the same time, however, we reiterate that what happened is completely unrelated to any form of discrimination. The passenger simply did not wish to comply with basic security requirements, which are implemented with due care and sensitivity by our staff, in the interests of safety for all passengers, including Ms Aghnia Adzkia.'
Sheriff's officials say a man suspected of stealing firearms from a gun store and sending President Donald Trump an anti-government manifesto has been arrested in southwestern Wisconsin.

The Rock County Sheriff's Office says 32-year-old Joseph Jakubowski was captured around 6am Friday near Readstown, Wisconsin.

The sheriff's office said in a statement that he was captured without incident.

Readstown is 160 miles west of Milwaukee.

'On April 13, 2017 at approximately 9:30 PM, the Vernon County Sheriffs Office received a report of a suspicious person on a farmers property on Estes Road near Readstown, WI,' the statement read.

'Investigators assigned to the Jakubowski case were sent to that location along with tactical support to assist local authorities in determining whether the suspicious individual was related to the manhunt.'

'The suspicious person complaint reported that a male matching the description of Jakubowski was camping at that location and refused to leave when he had been asked to do so.'

Sheriff's officials say a man suspected of stealing firearms from a gun store and sending President Donald Trump an anti-government manifesto has been arrested in southwestern Wisconsin

'Local authorities established a perimeter and tactical support was sent in to investigate.'

'Shortly before 6:00 AM, tactical officers made contact with the suspicious person at the campsite. This subject was taken into custody without incident and positively identified as Joseph A. Jakubowski, our wanted fugitive.'

More than 150 law enforcement officials had been searching for Jakubowski since April 4 when authorities say he broke into a gun store in Janesville, about 70 miles southwest of Milwaukee.

The Rock County Sheriff's Office says Jakubowski wrote a 161-page manifesto in which he detailed a long list of grievances against the government and spoke of plans to launch attacks with the 18 firearms he allegedly stole.

The above photo shows the exterior of the Armageddon Gun Shop in Janesville, Wisconsin, which was allegedly robbed by Jakubowski on Tuesday, April 4

Jakubowski is believed to be the man seen in this surveillance video of a gun shop burglary in Janesville, Wisconsin on April 4

Investigators say the suspect seen in this surveillance video stole 'a large quantity of high-end handguns and rifles' from the gun store

Officials released pictures of Jakubowski's distinctive tattoos, saying that they had been unable to decipher their meaning

Authorities are investigating a letter threatening Easter attacks on churches in Wisconsin purportedly sent by Jakubowski.

The letter mailed by someone claiming to be Jakubowski threatens unspecified violence on Sunday at churches in the Sussex area, about 25 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

Rock County sheriff's officials are trying to determine if the letter is authentic.

Officials believe Jakubowski also wrote an anti-government manifesto indicating his dislike for religion and a desire to carry out unspecified attacks.

Meanwhile, Governor Scott Walker has canceled his annual Easter egg hunt scheduled for Saturday while Jakubowski remains at large.

Last week, investigators obtained the 161-page manifesto Jakubowski mailed to Trump.

It was filled with barbs directed at officials from all levels of government, Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden said last week.

Law enforcement officials last week gave a more detailed picture of the man who for days eluded capture despite the efforts of more than 170 officers and the combined forces of the FBI, ATF, Secret Service, State and City police and Rock County Sheriff departments.

They released pictures of Jakubowski's distinctive tattoos.

On Thursday Sheriff Spoden admitted that they have been unable to decipher all of them and now believe he may have tattooed himself.

Sheriff Spoden said: 'We do believe that he my have created [some of the tattoos] himself.'

In this April 4, 2017 frame grab from a surveillance video released by the Rock County Sheriff's Office, Joseph Jakubowski makes a purchase at a gas station in Janesville, Wisconsin

The car registered to Jakubowski was found burning on a rural road not far from the gun shop he robbed after sending the letter

Last week, investigators obtained the 161-page manifesto Jakubowski mailed to Trump

FBI agents are seen above on Thursday providing tactical support to sheriff's detectives during a search for Jakubowski in Janesville

On Wednesday the reward for information leading to Jakubowski's capture was raised from $10,000 to $20,000 and to date officers have received more 700 tips.

The FBI continued to analyze the manifesto which has been described by authorities as 'anarchistic' and filled with 'a lot of anger' directed against government, the police and religion.

There were, however, no specific threats towards people or locations.

Sheriff Spoden added: 'He uses the word slave quite a bit. He feels that politicians have abused their power.'

Authorities on Thursday released additional excerpts of the manifesto in which the often rambling Jakubowski refers to health insurance, taxes and religion as examples of the government trying to brainwash its citizens.

'We the people should be out for these sick minded people belonging to the system! We need to spill their blood!' he wrote.

He also attempted to justify his actions of robbing the gun store and taking a haul that included 18 guns, including a fully automatic M-16, two gun silencers, multiple rounds of ammunition and tactical clothing including a bullet proof vest and helmet.

Janesville Chief of Police David Moore (left) and Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden (right) talked to the media earlier this week about the ongoing manhunt for Jakubowski

An electronic billboard in Janesville shows a 'wanted' photo of Jakubowski last week

He wrote: 'I have never been a thief! I hate thieves! However since this system has stolen my natural right to protect and defend lifethis system has left me no choice but to commit crime to have the means to protect life!'

He also ranted that 'Priest and churches control the presidents and the banks.'

Janesville Police Chief David Moore described the case as 'unique.'

He said: 'Many times with mass casualty events we have the mass casualties first and after we have this lengthy investigation and often we find there were indications that could have been caught.'

'In this we have some clues going into this which we are investigating in hopes of stopping what could be a mass casualty event.'

Sheriff Spoden described what Jakubowski has done so far as, 'correctible' with both officers urging him to 'do the right thing' and hand himself.
An author claims world politics is shaped by Christianity with most of the world leaders - including Theresa May (pictured) - being inspired by their faith

An author claims world politics is shaped by Christianity with most of the world leaders - including Theresa May - being inspired by their faith.

Nick Spencer says most of the prominent leaders around the world are inspired by religions, including all but one of Britain's six most recent Prime Ministers.

Theresa May is a practising Christian while David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Margaret Thatcher also had strong faiths while in office. Even Tony Blair - who was forced to operate under Alistair Campbell's 'we don't do God' edit - was a man of strong faith when he was in Number 10.

Mr Spencer, research director of the Theos thinktank, has written a book called The Mighty and the Almighty: How Political Leaders Do God.

In the book, he examines the faith of 24 prominent politicians, mostly in Europe, the US and Australia, since 1979.

The Guardian reports that he writes: 'The presence and prevalence of Christian leaders, not least in some of the world's most secular, plural and 'modern' countries, remains noteworthy.

'The idea that 'secularisation' would purge politics of religious commitment is surely misguided.'

In the book, Mr Spencer describes Mrs May as having a 'strong ideology shaped by her upbringing and faith'.

Born into a religious family where her father was an Anglican vicar, Mrs May has spoken publicly about her faith, notably on Desert Island Discs, where she said she was a 'regular communicant' of the church.

She has previously said how religion is 'a moral backing to what I do and I would hope that the decisions I take are taken on the basis of my faith.'

She said it is wrong to 'flaunt' religion in British politics but once told the Commons: 'Our Christian heritage is something we can all be proud of.'

Her predecessor David Cameron, in 2008, famously described his faith as a bit like the patchy reception for Magic FM in the Chilterns where he lives, adding: 'It sort of comes and goes'.

David Cameron (left) described his faith as a bit like the patchy reception for Magic FM in the Chilterns, adding: 'It comes and goes'. Gordon Brown (right) was private about religion

Even Tony Blair (pictured in July last year) - who was forced to operate under Alistair Campbell's 'we don't do God' edit was a man of strong faith

He added: 'That sums up a lot of people in the Church of England.

'We are racked with doubts, but sort of fundamentally believe, but don't sort of wear it on our sleeves or make too much of it. I think that is sort of where I am.'

Brown, whose father was a minister of the Church of Scotland, spoke of his 'moral compass' but for the most part kept religion private.

Blair generally avoided talking about religion during his decade in Downing Street, fearing he would be viewed as a religious fanatic. His spin doctor believed the British public was instinctively distrustful of religiously-minded politicians.

But Blair converted to Roman Catholicism after his term as PM ended and later spoke of the difficulties of talking about 'religious faith in our political system'.

He described how he had wanted to give a speech during a time of crisis and wanted to end my words with "God bless the British people".

Margaret Thatcher (pictured) was, according to author Eliza Filby, the 'most religious prime minister since William Gladstone'

Angela Merkel (pictured), the German chancellor, is a strong Christian but keeps her faith private. She described religion in 2012 as a 'constant companion'

He said: 'This caused complete consternation. Emergency meetings were convened. The system was aghast. Finally, a senior civil servant said, with utter disdain: "Really, Prime Minister, this is not America you know".'

John Major was not a man of faith, but Margaret Thatcher was, according to author Eliza Filby, the 'most religious prime minister since William Gladstone' - a description which was later conferred on Blair.

The book also at five US presidents: Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. It also addresses five European leaders, three Australian prime ministers and Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Putin has increasingly presented himself as a man of serious personal faith, reportedly prays daily in a small Orthodox chapel next to the presidential office.

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, is a strong Christian but keeps her faith private. She described religion in 2012 as a 'constant companion.'
The military is investigating a decorated Navy SEAL for his side job as a porn star.

Navy Chief Special Warfare Officer Joseph John Schmidt III, 42, has served in the military for 23 years, during which he received several valor awards and was even the face of the SEAL program website.

But when he's not training, fighting overseas or recruiting, Schmidt has been making porn films under the name 'Jay Voom', the San Diego Union-Tribune has learned.

In the past seven years, Schmidt has starred in 29 films, most of them with his wife and the mother of his kids, porn star Jewels Jade.

Navy SEAL Joseph John Schmidt III (center) has been moonlight as a porn star, mostly in films starring his wife of 15 years, Jewels Jade (left)

The Navy is currently investigating Schmidt (left) because he didn't get official approval for the side work

Eight months away from retirement, Schmidt's rank and pension are now at stake as the Navy investigates whether he violated rules by not getting official approval for his side job.

While Schmidt declined to comment for the Union-Tribune's article, his wife Jade was forthcoming.

She said that she first appeared in porn in 2001, but quit two years later to focus on being a wife and a mother.

In 2005, the couple set up a real estate company in Virginia, where Schmidt was stationed at the time.

But after two years of losses that Schmidt's $60,000 a year salary couldn't cover, the family went into debt and had to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Jade says she went back to doing porn in 2005, when they racked up $1.8million in personal debt due to a failed real estate venture. She brought in her husband (couple pictured left and right) as an actor to cut costs on her films

It was during this time that Jade decided to start stripping to make money, spending long weeks in Las Vegas and sending the money home. Eventually, beaten down by their $1.8million in personal debt, Jade says she returned to porn.

'Its helped our family. It got us out of a lot of financial issues we were going through,' Jade told the Union-Tribune. 'I could take care of the child. I could try to get us out of financial debt.'

Jade continued to star in porn when the family moved to Coronado, California in 2009, but said it wasn't by choice. By that point, she rose to be one of the most recognized porn stars and getting other jobs became impossible due to her reputation.

Jade said she thinks it would be unfair for her husband (left) to be punished since so many of his co-workers knew about the work for years

She says fame didn't translate to financial success though.

She says the films she produced rarely made money, and in order to cut costs, she enlisted her husband to work as an actor.

What's creating a problem for Schmidt now is the fact that he didn't fill out mandatory paperwork seeking clearance from his chain of command to work as a porn actor.

Navy officials say he did fill out paperwork to sell herbal supplements, however.

Had he filled out that request, it's likely it would have been denied anyway since servicemen are barred from work that risks 'press or public relations coverage' or could 'create an improper appearance.'

In the past seven years, Schmidt has starred in 29 porn films

What's more, the military has a history of punishing officers for betraying these rules.

For example, when Air Force Staff Sgt, Michelle Manhart posed nude in a 2007 Playboy magazine spread, she was removed from her position as a training instructor and was demoted.

A threat of demotion will have a serious impact on Schmidt, who is just eight months away from retirement. A demotion would impact how much he gets in his pension.

But his wife thinks it would be unfair to punish her husband now, when so many of his co-workers have known about his work and said nothing.

'They knew about it at work,' Jade said. 'He got called in and they said, "Look, keep it on the low, dont mention the SEAL name and blah, blah, blah."

'He was always pretty open about it with the command. I mean, honestly, all of his buddies knew about it. Everybody knew about it,' she said.
Haigh's Chocolate have shared the detailed process that goes into each of their brightly wrapped Easter eggs ahead of the holiday weekend.

In a three-part short video, the confectioner shows how the egg shape is formed and set before showing off the delicate wrapping process.

While the creation of the egg is done almost entirely by machine in Adelaide, each chocolate is then painstakingly hand wrapped.

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Haigh's Chocolate factory in Adelaide shared video to their Facebook account to show followers how their Easter eggs are made

The video shows melted chocolate being dispersed into half-egg-shaped moulds through a machine.

Each sheet of moulds is then joined with another to form a full egg, and the sheet is attached to a machine which spins the chocolate to ensure it creates a whole egg.

When the chocolate sets, it is placed on to a conveyor belt, and employees sit on the side with piles of brightly coloured foil.

Melted chocolate is poured into moulds and attached to a spinning machine which spreads and sets the chocolate into an egg shape (pictured)

Haigh's Supply Chain Manager Peter Millar says the factory would create 4.5million eggs for Easter

They are seen picking up an egg and wrapping it delicately in the foil before twisting each end to seal it.

Haigh's Supply Chain Manager Peter Millar told Nine News the factory would create 4.5million eggs for Easter.

'It's a very busy time for us We start producing the chocolate just after Christmas, and it's finished just the week before Easter,' he said.

Woolworths believes they will sell 13million Easter chocolates over the holiday, and an extra 150,000 kilograms of chocolate, Australian Food News reported.
Mary Chapa filed the suit against killer David Malcom Strickland on Wednesday

A young woman who survived a brutal attack that left her with permanent disabilities and killed her teenage girlfriend is suing her assailant and his father for $500 million.

Mary Kristene Chapa filed the suit against killer David Malcom Strickland in Sinton, Texas on Wednesday.

Strickland attacked Chapa, then 18, and her girlfriend Mollie Olgin, 19, at a seaside public park in June of 2012.

'We weren't even there for five minutes and we end up seeing this guy walk by,' she told Dateline NBC. 'I got this weird feeling and we wanted to hurry up and get out of there. And the next thing you know, he's right there on Molly's side, with a gun.'

The killer, then 26, stripped the two women, bound them, blindfolded them with duct tape and sexually assaulted them in the park.

'We we both asked each other if we were okay, and that was the last thing we both asked each other,' Chapa said.

Then the women were both shot in the head, execution style.

Mollie Olgin (left) and Mary Chapa (right) were high school sweethearts, until Olgin's life was cut tragically short in a brutal 2012 assault

Strickland (left) attacked Chapa, then 18, and her girlfriend Mollie Olgin, 19, (together right) at a seaside public park in June of 2012. Though Chapa survived Olgin did not

Police arriving at the scene at first thought both women were dead, until Chapa was found breathing

'I was already at the stage like, I'm going to die, this is it. And I hear the gun go off, and then I went black,' Chapa said.

Police arriving at the scene at first thought both women were dead, until Chapa was found breathing. Olgin did not survive.

The random assault baffled investigators until an anonymous letter to Chapa's father attempted to point the finger at a former roommate of Strickland's for the crime.

Investigators later traced the letter to Strickland, who was convicted of capital murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault in September of 2016 and is serving life in prison without parole.

Chapa has remained defiant, speaking out about her ordeal and working on a book as she attended classes at Coastal Bend College.

'I take bullets,' her Facebook profile reads.

Chapa's suit reveals some of the suffering the young woman has gone through.

'She has tunnel vision; she walks with a limp; and she has undergone extensive physical rehabilitation and medical treatment,' the suit says.

Chapa's suit reveals some of the suffering the young woman has gone through after the shooting. She has tunnel vision, walks with a limp, and has gone through extensive rehab

'She will need treatment and substantial assistance with daily tasks for the balance of her life.'

The suit says Strickland 'sneered' at Chapa and her family throughout the trial, 'cavalierly' maintaining his innocence despite 'overwhelming evidence against him.'

Also named in the suit are Strickland's father, Larry Strickland, and his business Taft Pharmacy.

The father 'was well aware of his son's violent tendencies, but did nothing to warn others or take action to stop his son's proclivities,' the suit claims, adding that the Glock .45 used in the crime was 'acquired due to the efforts' of Larry Strickland.
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A migrant camp which housed 1,500 people in Dunkirk has been demolished after it was destroyed by fire.

French authorities sent in heavy machinery today to demolish the remaining structures amid fears that the displaced migrants may try and sneak aboard trucks into Britain.

Several migrants were photographed clambering aboard British trucks as they headed to the channel port.

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Heavy machinery began the task of demolishing the migrant camp of Grande-Synthe in northern France just days after many of the make-shift buildings were destroyed by fire

Some 600 of the 1,500 people living at the camp have gone missing since the fire on Monday

Already there have been reports of migrants sneaking on board trucks heading to the port

Truck organisations fear many of the migrants will try and sneak aboard lorries heading for the cross channel ferries

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) said drivers will be targeted by more people trying to cross the Channel after the demolition of the shelters at the Grande-Synthe camp near the port of Dunkirk.

RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: 'Already we are seeing migrants return to the Calais area, all with the same goal: to reach the UK by whatever means possible and that usually means on the back of a truck.

'They have no thought for either their own safety or of anyone else.

'A sudden influx of well over 1,000 displaced migrants will only make what is already a bad situation much, much worse.

'I am greatly concerned that the only people who may come out of this well will be the people smugglers  those that make a living through human trafficking.'

The Road Haulage Association warned the safety of trucks and their drivers were at risk due to the migrants seeking to cross the channel from northern France into Britain

The remains of the structures were put into massive bins to be hauled away for disposal so migrants cannot reuse them

Much of the camp was destroyed on Monday following a row between rival smuggling gangs

Mr Burnett added: 'Of course we sympathise with those migrants who travelled with very little and who have now been left with nothing more than just the clothes they stand up in.'

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said around 600 migrants are missing after being evacuated from the camp.

The fire broke out on Monday night, hours after a fight between Kurdish and Afghan residents.

Britain has committed around 85 million to reinforce security in the Calais region.

Work on one project  a 13ft high concrete structure dubbed the 'great wall of Calais'  began along the main motorway to the port in September.

French authorities moved the migrants on specially hired coaches to official reception centres where they will be processed

The camp was destroyed in a major fire on Monday which was believed to have started following a row between gangs
A furious father chopped off a 15-year-old boy's penis and gouged out his eyes because he believed the teen was sleeping with his daughter, it is claimed.

The boy's family say their son was kidnapped by the older man and three of his friends in Lahore, Pakistan, before he was mutilated.

The teen had to be rushed to hospital where medics managed to save his life, but he has been left blind and crippled.

A 15-year-old boy in Pakistan has been left blind and mutilated after his family say he was kidnapped and mutilated by an angry father

The incident came to light on Tuesday after the boy's family claimed the girl's family were responsible, and demanded action against them.

The boy's father claimed: 'The girl's dad and his accomplices kidnapped our son from his school and took him to a deserted place near Ravi river.

'They brutally chopped off his sexual organ and pricked his eyes in revenge, and then fled.'

The teen's parents say the other father believed their son was sleeping with his daughter, so he had him kidnapped and mutilated

The teenager was found bleeding profusely by a passerby, who took him to hospital.

The incident is being investigated by Lahore Police, who have arrested all the accused in the case.

Senior police officer Haider Ashraf said: 'We will submit the report of the case after completing investigation.'
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is demanding an early end to Congress' two-week recess so lawmakers can discuss Donald Trump's military posturing before he strikes again.

Responding to a report that said President Donald Trump could take pre-preemptive action in North Korea, Pelosi told House Speaker Paul Ryan he must bring Congress back for debate and classified briefings.

'The Presidents escalation in Syria and his saber-rattling on North Korea demand serious and immediate Congressional scrutiny,' she said in a Thursday evening letter.

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House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is demanding an early end to Congress' two-week recess so lawmakers can debate Donald Trump's military posturing before he strikes again. Pelosi told House Speaker Paul Ryan that he must bring Congress back for classified briefings

The US fears North Korea will perform the nuclear test to coincide with the national 'Day of the Sun' on Saturday. Intelligence officials told NBC the US can preemptively deploy Tomahawk missiles from two warships parked in the region if North Korea appears ready to follow through.

White House officials swatted down the report immediately as Washington tried to deescalate tension with North Korea ahead of the anniversary of its founder's birth, a national holiday holiday on which it has been known to display its military force.

One senior Trump aide told Reuters that the NBC report was 'flat wrong.' Another said it was 'speculative at best.'

The Pentagon would not comment. It told Reuters it would neither speculate on future operations 'nor publicly speculate on possible scenarios.'

Trump has kept his military options close to his chest, making it a policy to keep adversaries, and allies, guessing at what he might do next.

He ordered the Pentagon to drop bombs last week in Syria with no advance warning that he had changed his position. Once against the use of force in the internal conflict, Trump OK'd the action after watching children die in a sarin gas attack that was carried out by Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's army.

A week later Trump cleared a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb for launch in Afghanistan.

Asked by NBC's Kristen Welker if the non-nuclear blast sent a message to North Korea, Trump said, 'I dont know...It doesnt make any difference if it does or not.

'North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of,' he ominously stated, bringing up China and his belief that the country's president would step up in the conflict.

Trump diverted the USS Carl Vinson (pictured in March) 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

Fully armed US Aircraft from the 18th Wing are also conducting a no-notice exercise in the Korean Peninsula. The actions being interpreted as provocations by North Korea

Trump had said earlier in the day, on Twitter, '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!'

North Korea's military responded on Friday with a warning that war was on the way.

'This has created a dangerous situation in which a thermonuclear war may break out any moment on the peninsula,' it told state-run news outlet Korean Central News Agency.

North Koreas Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Han Song Ryol, told CBS News in an on-camera interview that it is Pyongyang's view that 'Trump is openly pursuing a policy to annihilate North Korea by force of arms.'

His decision to send the USS Carl Vinson and its accompanying Navy strike group to the Korean Peninsula and conduct a joint U.S.-South Korean military exercise are being interpreted as provocations.

Han said North Korea will act if it feels threatened by the United States.

'If the U.S. comes up with a dangerous military option, then the first card is in our hands. Well deal with it with our pre-emptive strike. This means war,' Han told CBS.

The US could act over the Easter weekend, but the likelihood seemed slim, with Vice President Mike Pence headed to South Korea on Saturday.

'North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of,' Trump ominously said on Thursday, just before he left the White House for Mar-a-Lago

Trump said Thursday that the US will handle North Korea if China won't

Still, Mark Lotter, spokesman to Pence, told NBC's Welker on Friday that 'all options are on the table.'

'The president has made it clear that we're not going to telegraph but he also has said that all options are on the table. Together the global community will come together and deal with this,' he said.

Lotter would not detail those options after Welker asked what those were, aside from an air assault and sanctions.

'I don't want to get into the specific aspects where we may, or how the United States may respond,' he told her on an MSNBC program. 'What we ultimately want to see is a deescalation of the crisis into North Korea, to welcome them into the global community.'

He added, 'It's going to take a lot of effort and a lot of work by our partners and allies to make that happen.'

After Trump's surprise strike on Syria last week, legislators from both the Republican and Democratic Parties argued that Trump must have congressional approval for additional military actions in the Middle Eastern country.

With the Easter and Passover holidays on the horizon, they were dismissed, however, before they could engage in a substantive debate about the War Powers Resolution.

It requires the president to ask for and received Congress' permission for military action lasting longer than 60 days.

Trump's administration has said it did not need congressional authority to bomb Syria. The president has the authority to take imminent action under his Article II powers, administration officials argued.

The same could be said of a one-time strike in North Korea, even though the act would be sure to incite a longer-term war.

Pelosi, the former speaker of the House who now represents the minority party in Congress, said NBC's report on the possibility of a preemptive strike against North Korea should be enough to bring Congress back into an emergency session, regardless of the Easter holiday.

'Every day, the President gives Congress reason to return and debate the use of force,' the California congresswoman said in a Thursday evening statement. 'Speaker Ryan must call Congress back into session for classified briefings and debate.'

The Democrat said, 'Congress must do its duty and honor our responsibility to the Constitution.'

A Ryan aide told DailyMail.com Friday that the speaker has no plans to cut the break short.
Jaime Rivera-Murillo was accused of sexually assaulting two students in 1999 while teaching Spanish for Choate

A prestigious boarding school says a Spanish teacher it fired in 1999 after two students accused him of sexual assault was able to continue his education career for the next 18 years at several other schools that weren't notified of the allegations.

Jaime Rivera-Murillo is among 12 former faculty and staff members at Choate Rosemary Hall named in a report the Wallingford, Connecticut school released Thursday, accusing them of sexual misconduct with students over the past several decades. Rivera denies the allegations.

Rivera just last week resigned as principal of Wamogo Regional High School in Litchfield after its school superintendent was notified by Choate officials about the allegations. His teaching career spanned at least two other high schools in the 18 years he was fired from Choate.

The explosive allegations stem from an incident in October of 1999, when Rivera was a Spanish teacher for Choate.

He was leading a fall semester study abroad program in San Jose, Costa Rica, when he led a group of students on a weekend excursion.

Late on a Friday evening, Rivera and five students were 'hanging out' at a resort swimming pool and nearby bar, the students recalled in interviews with investigators.

Rivera is among 12 former faculty and staff members at Choate Rosemary Hall named in a report the Wallingford, Connecticut school released Thursday, accusing them of sexual misconduct with students over the past several decades

As the night went on, Rivera 'became overly friendly' and 'touchy-feely' with one 15-year-old female student, placing his hand on her leg and groping her breast, according to a memo of the investigation conducted less than 24 hours later.

Later, in the pool with a 17-year-old female student, Rivera got even more personal.

'I have these problems. I am a man,' he told her, adding that he and his wife were separated, according to the memo.

The student said that Rivera kissed her, put his hand on her underpants, and moved her into a dark area of the pool, which had an island in the center of it.

Rivera then 'removed his shorts,' and 'entered her anus with his penis,' memo says.

Another student claims he found Rivera in the midst of 'thrusting' into the young girl, and yanked the teacher away from the girl.

Interviews this year with the students involved substantially correspond to the contemporaneous accounts, with the exception that the 17-year-old now says that Rivera was trying to penetrate her when he was interrupted.

Rivera denied the claims at the time and in a 2017 interview with investigators, saying that he simply had some 'local moonshine' and returned to his room.

But the Spanish teacher was fired from Choate for 'just cause' after the school investigated the assault allegations.

Rivera (left and right) denied the claims at the time and in a 2017 interview with investigators, saying that he simply had some 'local moonshine' and returned to his room

The incident seems to have never been reported to any authorities, and Rivera retained his ability to teach.

The report indicates that he taught at Henry Abbott Technical High School and Newtown High School in Connecticut, as well as Harrison High School in New York.

Rivera could not be reached for comment on Friday.

No current faculty or staff members at Choate have been implicated in the misconduct claims and there are no reports relating to any current students.

The report notes that in some cases the school acted quickly in response to the alleged sexual misconduct, but in other cases it did not.

Police were never notified and in some cases teachers were allowed to resign and then given letters of recommendation. The school has issued an apology.

The posh boarding school counts JFK and Ivanka Trump as former students. New York attorney Nancy Kestenbaum had been hired to investigate claims that staff had sex with their students at the institution.

Parents pay boarding fees of up to $56,000 for their children to attend.

It has taught generations of the upper-classes in New England, including the former president and others related to the American political elite.
A student, 23, has grabbed a handful of chips from a stranger's pub meal and landed in court after he was surrounded by police officers for the crime.

The man was eyeing off the chips from a parmigiana on the counter when he was drinking with mates on Australia Day at the Great Western Hotel in Melbourne.

Feeling as if the meals had been sitting there for too long, the man swiped some chips and quickly left the pub.

A 23-year-old student swiped some chips from a pub meal at the Great Western Hotel

The man took the chips off a chicken parmigiana (Stock Image)

'The chips had gone cold, the chef wasn't watching. We took some chips and took off,' he told The Herald Sun.

It wasn't until they were at another pub police arrested the 23-year-old for theft.

The student said the police seemed almost apologetic.

'In fairness, they seemed as embarrassed and as annoyed to have their time wasted by this as I was.'

The man faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday on a single count of theft with magistrate Frank Holzer smirking when reading out the offence, according to The Herald Sun.

The student was ordered to pay $50 to the Salvation Army and be on good behaviour for four months.
Thousands of veterans took to the streets of some of the UK's major cities to protest the 'witch hunt' prosecutions of veterans who served in the Troubles.

Ex-servicemen dressed in ceremonial ties and berets from several regiments gathered in London, Belfast and Glasgow, four days after the nineteenth anniversary of the historic Good Friday agreements.

Tensions ran high on Friday morning in the Northern Irish capital, following counter-protests by hardline republicans.

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British military veterans hold a rally near the Mall in London following the prosecution of ex-servicemen who fought in the Troubles

Dennis Hutchings, who is facing a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to a fatal shooting in 1974, addresses the crowd in London

400 Northern Ireland army veterans from Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans take to the street of Glasgow during a simultaneous protest

And the supporters of British troops were also out in force in Belfast, where Union Jacks can be seen being waved, as the crowds cheer

The demonstration was organised by British military campaign group, Justice For Northern Ireland Veterans (JFNIV).

The group claims a series of high-profile prosecutions and investigations into alleged abuses by British soldiers in Northern Ireland amount to an unjust 'hounding' of servicemen compared with the Government's treatment of former IRA members.

Among those who addressed the crowds adjacent to the capital's royal thoroughfare, the Mall, was former soldier Dennis Hutchings, who is facing a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to a fatal shooting in 1974.

JFNIV organiser Alan Barry said he was pleased with the show of support from the estimated 3,000 people attending at the London event, at Horse Guards Parade.

Mr Barry, who is a Northern Ireland veteran of the Grenadier Guards, said the group always agreed that genuine crimes should be prosecuted, but said the majority of investigations into alleged abuses were unfounded.

He said: 'No soldier ever left barracks with the intention of committing murder.

'When we left barracks, we left barracks on patrol, and if we were fired at, we fired back.'

Protesters also gathered at a simultaneous military veterans' rally at Horse Guards Parade, in London

More crowds in London, dressed smartly in suits or military uniform, holding up banners in protest of the prosecutions

Around 3,000 people took to the streets of the British capital, in addition to the other two demonstrations. Many can be seen waving flags as they march along

Protesters line up along Whitehall. JFNIV organiser Alan Barry said he was pleased with the show of support

The procession can be seen here playing the drums and playing the bagpipes as they march down Whitehall

Mr Barry said the group's 'next mission' will be to march on Stormont if the Government continued to pursue prosecutions.

After hearing from political activists and former soldiers, the gathered ranks of supporters arranged in a column and marched to the Cenotaph, where a rendition of the Last Post was played against a swell of bank holiday traffic.

Mr Hutchings said he was 'absolutely gutted' to be facing trial.

The 75-year-old, from Torpoint in Cornwall, said: 'Of course I'm feeling nervous about it because you don't know what way it's going to go.'

In Glasgow, the group of nearly 300 veterans lined up in George Square before beginning their march through the city.

Paisley Comrades Pipe Band led the procession, with some marchers holding banners reading Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans.

More protesters - these from the Ulster Defence Regiment - at the military veterans' rally at City Hall, Belfast, organised by Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans

But hardline Republicans held a counter demonstration against the military veterans' rally outside City Hall, Belfast

Dissident republican Colin Duffy (centre) with republicans during the counter demonstration. They feel the prosecutions are just, and can be seen with signs saying 'British state murderers have Irish blood on their hands'

Further signs at the counter protest can be seen with the slogans such as 'Brit paras shot my daddy'

The two opposing sides clashing in the same area in Belfast required a large police presence

Bookended by two police vans, a small group of police officers walked along with the march to help control the increasing traffic.

Good Friday shoppers on Buchanan Street and Argyle Street stopped to watch and take photos of the march.

One of those marching was Steve Simpson, ex-First Battalion Scots Guard.

He said: We feel that the government has let us down. We followed what we were supposed to do and now were being persecuted for it. Until our voice is heard we will keep marching.

Another ex-soldier, John Hunter of the Edinburgh Regiment, wore his medals proudly on his chest and said: The witch hunt thats going on in Norther Ireland is unacceptable. Theyre dragging 68 year olds into court. They pardoned the IRA in the Easter Sunday agreement. It really is like a witch hunt.

Coming in a full circle, the veterans marched back up Queen Street and onto George Square where they gathered to listen to speaker Kenny Corcoran.

Mr Corcoran from Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, helped organise the march and served in the Core of Royal Engineers from 1977 to 1992.

He spoke passionately to the attentive crowd and said: No service person ever threw a bomb into a chip shop full of women and kids. No service person ever enticed three young men from a pub, take them down and slaughter them and left them at the side of the road for school kids to find in the morning.

Soldiers are not above the law by any means, but the law has thoroughly investigated these cases at the time. These surges have been brought to appease the Sinn Fein, IRA.

The demonstration was organised by British military campaign group, Justice For Northern Ireland Veterans, some of whom are seen here holding up a banner

More crowds in the streets of Glasgow protesting against the 'witch-hunt' prosecutions of former soldiers

Any judge who takes these cases will be under the ultimate pressure from Sinn Fein, IRA, to bring a guilty verdict against our soldiers.

In his speech he referenced the letter given by MP John Reid to Tony Blair as part of the Good Friday agreement.

Mr Corcoran said: In that letter it clearly stated that the agreement would not extend to her majesties forces. We want to know if this information was hidden from the government of the day to push the agreement through and leaving us wide open to allegations and prosecutions.

Be under no allusion gents, every Norther Ireland veteran is under the microscope, but like the triggers, we will not go away. We will fight this government tooth and nail, we will parade in every major town and city of Britain until the people of this island realise what effect a witch hunt like this has on us. And until the people of this island stand behind us and stop all of these prosecutions.

Margaret Thatcher would turn in her grave if she could see what was happening to her boys. Ladies and gents I thank you warmly for coming today and showing the government that we will not take this lying down and we certainly will not go away.
TheShadowBrokers hacking group has released a new batch of documents purportedly taken from the National Security Agency, which suggests that American spies have burrowed deep into the Middle East's financial network.

The documents appear to show that the NSA compromised the Dubai office of the anti-money laundering and financial services firm EastNets.

The company said Friday that the leaked documents were dated and denied that any customer data had been affected.

A screenshot showing 'Eternalromance,' one of the hacking tools leaked by ShadowBrokers

TheShadowBrokers, which startled the security experts last year by releasing some of the NSA's hacking tools, has recently resumed pouring secrets into the public domain.

In a first for TheShadowBrokers, the data includes PowerPoint slides and purported target lists, suggesting that the group has access to a broader range of data than previously known.

'This is by far the most brutal dump,' said Comae Technologies founder Matt Suiche, who has closely followed the group's disclosures and initially helped confirm its connection to the NSA last year.

In a blog post, he said it appeared that thousands of employee accounts and machines from the EastNets' offices had been compromised and that financial institutions in Kuwait, Bahrain and the Palestinian territories had been targeted for espionage.

Global anti-money laundering and financial services firm, EastNet, led by CEO Hazem Mulhim, appears to have been the target of NSA espionage activity according to a hacker group leak

In a statement, EastNets said there was 'no credibility' to the allegation that its customers' details had been stolen.

The company, which helps connect customers to the financial world's electronic backbone, SWIFT, said the ShadowBrokers documents referred to a 'low-level internal server' that had since been retired and that a 'complete check' of its systems had turned up no evidence of any compromise.

The denial drew skepticism from those who'd reviewed the files.

'Eastnets' claim is impossible to believe,' said Kevin Beaumont, who was one of several experts who spent Friday combing through the documents and trying out the code.

Comae Technologies founder Matt Suiche says it appears that financial institutions across the Mideast were targeted for espionage purposes by the NSA

He said he'd found password dumps, an Excel spreadsheet outlining the internal architecture of the company's server and one file that was 'just a massive log of hacking on their organization.'

Repeated messages seeking clarification from EastNets went unreturned.

Beaumont said there was bad news in the release for Microsoft as well, explaining that the malicious code published Friday appeared to exploit previously undiscovered weaknesses in older versions of its Windows operating system  the mark of a sophisticated actor and a potential worry for many Windows users.

The opinion was seconded by Matthew Hickey of Prestbury, England-based cybersecurity company Hacker House.

Cybersecurity Hacker House's Matthew Hickey believes the info dump's Microsoft Windows hacking tool is 'an absolute disaster'

'It's an absolute disaster,' Hickey said in an email. 'I have been able to hack pretty much every Windows version here in my lab using this leak.'

'We are reviewing the report and will take the necessary actions to protect our customers,' a Microsoft spokesperson told WIRED, which reports that if the leaked Windows code is as devastating as it appears to be, it could leave millions of Windows users at risk until the appropriate patches are created.

Hickey told WIRED that the Windows hacking tool appears to target all recent version of Windows, with the exception of the latest, Windows 10.

Several of the tools would let a hacker remotely gain the ability to run their own code on a targeted Windows-operated machine.

'There are exploits here that are quite likely zero days that will let you hack into any number of servers on the internet,' Hickey told WIRED. 'This is as big as it gets. Its internet God mode.'

Suiche said other documents in the ShadowBrokers release suggested an NSA effort to monitor the world's financial transactions that went beyond EastNets.

'I'll bet it's not the only SWIFT service bureau that's been compromised,' he said.

The NSA did not immediately return emails.
Russia has claimed there is 'growing evidence' that the gas attack which killed 87 Syrian civilians was staged.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking at a press conference with his counterparts from Iran and Syria, said publications in the UK and US have highlighted 'many inconsistencies' in official versions of events.

Lavrov also attacked the chemical weapons watchdog for failing to send experts to Khan Sheikhoun, the village hit by the gas, to investigate.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says publications in the UK and US have highlighted 'many inconsistencies' with versions of events surrounding last week's gas attack

Lavrov spoke at a press conference with Walid Muallem (left) and Javada Zarif (right), his counterparts from Syria and Iran

'We consider it unacceptable to analyse events from a distance,' he said.

Lavrov said Assad's opponents had 'in essence' given guarantees for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to visit the location where at least 87 people died, but the watchdog was refusing to go.

'They say still that it is not very safe, but they cannot put forward convincing arguments,' Russia's top diplomat said.

Russia has rejected accusations from the West that its Assad's forces were responsible for a chemical attack and has lashed out at the US for its cruise missile strikes last week against a Syrian air base.

The OPCW said Thursday that a fact-finding mission was analysing samples gathered from 'various sources' and that allegations a chemical attack took place in the Syrian rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun were 'credible'.

Lavrov said Russia, Iran and Syria have demanded a 'thorough, objective and unbiased investigation' under the auspices of the OPCW, insisting it must use 'independent experts', including from Moscow.

Lavrov said there was 'growing evidence' the gas attack was fake, and criticised the chemical weapons watchdog for failing to go and investigate

Russia's comments come after Bashar al-Assad also denounced reports of the attack as '100 per cent fabricated' and questioned if children featured in videos were really dead

Russia on Wednesday vetoed a Western-backed UN resolution demanding that the Syrian government cooperate with an investigation into the alleged attack, blocking Security Council action against Moscow's ally for the eighth time

Russia and Iran are the firmest allies of Assad's regime and have deployed forces to the war-torn country to back him in the country's brutal six-year conflict.

Lavrov was meeting with his counterparts from Syria and Iran in a show of support for Damascus after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Moscow earlier this week.

Lavrov repeated the Kremlin's condemnation of the US missile strike in Syria and said Washington was seeking 'excuses for regime change'.

'These attempts will not succeed, this will not happen,' he said.

His comments come after Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad, spoke out for the first time since the gas attack on Wednesday, when he also accused it of being faked.

Assad said reports of the attack were '100 per cent a fabrication' and questioned whether children featured in footage distributed online were really dead.

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.'

Russia has staunchly defended its Middle Eastern ally throughout the civil war there, blocking attempts to remove Assad and throwing their weight of confidence behind statements he has made.
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On this day 152 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a show in Washington, DC.

To commemorate Lincoln's momentous life and his tragic end, stunning colorized photographs of the conspirators in his assassination have been revealed.

Digital colorist Marina Amaral, from Brazil, has released eight in-color photos that provide valuable insight into what the conspirators might have looked like.

Lincoln, the 16th U.S. President who led the country through the Civil War, was shot in the back of the head after 10pm by John Wilkes Booth in the presidential box at the Ford's Theatre.

The president, along with his wife Mary Todd and companions Major Henry R. Rathbone and Clara Harris, were attending a production of 'Our American Cousin.'

Lincoln succumbed to his wounds the following morning at Peterson House, where he died after 7am.

The assassinations were part of a conspiracy to kill the president, Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William H Seward.

Digital colorist Marina Amaral produces in-color renderings of historical figures and events. She had previously made one of Abraham Lincoln (pictured). For the 152nd anniversary of his assassination, which was on April 14, 1965, she released eight photos of conspirators in the plot to kill Lincoln, the vice president and the secretary of state

He was killed only five days after Confederate General Robert E Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S Grant at Appomattox Court House.

The Civil War would formally end on May 9, with a proclamation by President Andrew Johnson, and continued violence mostly tapered off that June.

The nationwide hunt for John Wilkes Booth eventually took authorities to Garrett's Farmhouse in Virginia. Co-conspirator David Herold was also at the farmhouse.

It was there that Booth hid after fleeing the nation's capital and moving between various Confederate sympathizer houses including Mary Surratt's house.

Booth, who was originally from slave-state Maryland and held vehemently anti-abolitionist views, would not surrender to soldiers and initiated a doomed shootout.

He was fatally shot in the neck and died on the morning of April 26, nearly two weeks after Lincoln's assassination. He was 26 years old.

Booth's final words, soldiers said, were: 'Tell my mother I did it for my country ... useless, useless.'

John Wilkes Booth (1838-1865) fatally shot Abraham Lincoln in the back of the head while the president was attending a performance at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC. Lincoln died the following morning. At right, an in-color photo shows what Booth might have looked like in his mid-20s

Lewis Powell, who used Payne or Paine as an alias, was supposed to assassinate William Seward, then-Secretary of State.

The same night Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre, Powell entered Seward's home near the White House under the guise of making a delivery.

Seward was recovering from injuries sustained during a carriage ride the previous week and was attended to at his home by family.

Powell, a Confederate soldier wounded at Gettysburg, managed to approach Seward's bedside and slash him across the face before he was attacked by Seward's son, Augustus.

Seward was left with permanent scars but survived the attack.

Powell fled the scene but was quickly caught and executed along with Mary Surratt, David Herold, and George Atzerodt on July 7. They died by hanging.

A native of Alabama, he was 21 years old.

Lewis Powell (1844-1865) was tasked with assassinating Secretary of State William H Seward on the night of April 14. Powell entered Seward's home under a ruse and was able to slash Seward across the face before being subdued by Seward's son, Augustus. Powell was executed in July 1865. The photo and in-color rendering above are from 1865, when he was 21

David Herold, born to a wealthy Washington DC family and a graduate of what is now Georgetown University, was to assist Powell in killing Seward.

Herold guided Powell to Seward's home and was to wait outside while the murder took place but became frightened by the commotion inside and fled.

Herold eventually crossed paths with Booth and the pair made their way to Garrett's Farmhouse.

While Booth refused to surrender and was shot, Herold gave himself up and was tried and executed alongside Powell, Surratt and Atzerodt. He was 23.

David Herold (1842-1865) had the role of guiding Powell to Secretary of State Seward's home the night of April 14. He fled the scene after hearing the commotion stemming from Powell's failed assassination attempt but was later caught and surrendered. He was executed alongside Powell at age 23. He is pictured at age 23

George Atzerodt, originally from Germany, came to the United States at age 8 and was living in the Washington DC area during the civil war.

He owned a carriage repair business and became involved in the Confederate cause, which at some point brought him into contact with John Wilkes Booth.

He was to assassinate Vice President Andrew Johnson at the Kirkwood House, a hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue where Johnson was staying, on the night of April 14.

Atzerodt booked a room at the hotel and asked the bartender about Johnson's whereabouts.

The conspirator, rather than finding and killing Johnson, ended up drinking and walking around the capital that night.

He was arrested at his cousin's Maryland home on April 20 and was executed on July 7. He was 30.

The role of George Atzerodt (1835-1865) in the sordid affair was to assassinate Vice President Andrew Johnson at the Kirkwood House, a hotel where Johnson was staying. But he did not even try to kill Johnson and ended up drinking and walking around the capital. He was executed along with Powell and Herold at age 30. Pictured: Atzerodt at 30

John Surratt was the daughter of Mary, who was executed on July 7, 1865 with three other co-conspirators.

The Surratts, who owned a tavern in Maryland, remained loyal to the South during the Civil War and their home became a hotbed of Confederate activity.

John Surratt acted as a spy for the Confederacy and came into contact with John Wilkes Booth, with whom he devised a failed plan to kidnap Lincoln in 1864.

He allegedly worked to bring in other conspirators to kidnap or kill the president, vice president and secretary of state.

Not directly taking part in the assassinations himself, Surratt fled to Canada following the events of April 14 and lived a fugitive's live.

At one point, he even served as a Papal Zouave in the former Papal States, in present-day Italy, but his cover was blown by an old friend and he was brought back to the US in 1866.

By the time he returned, his mother had been executed for her role in the assassination.

He claimed to have no knowledge of the assassination attempts and his high-profile case was declared a mistrial.

He lived the rest of his days in Maryland and died in 1916 at age 72.

John Surratt (1844-1916), who is pictured in Papal Zouave garb from his time as a fugitive, was involved in a previous plot to kidnap Lincoln but claimed to have had no involvement in the assassination attempt. He fled the United States following the events of April 14 and his mother, who was found to have been involved in the plot, was executed. He is pictured in his mid 20s

Edmund Spangler was a carpenter and crew member at Ford's Theatre whose involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate Lincoln was not conclusively proven.

Spangler, a Confederate sympathizer, allegedly stopped an audience member from pursuing Booth in the commotion following the gunfire.

He was found guilty of a diminished role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to six years in prison but his sentence was commuted by President Johnson in 1869.

He died in 1875 at the age of 49.

Edmund Spangler (1825-1875) worked at Ford's Theatre, where Lincoln was assassinated. He was a Confederate sympathizer who allegedly worked to assist Booth. While he was found guilty of conspiracy and was sentenced to six years in prison, his sentence was commuted by President Johnson in 1869. He is pictured in 1865 at the age of 40

Samuel Arnold was a Confederate soldier who denied any involvement in the assassination plot but was part of the earlier kidnapping one.

He became involved in the 1864 kidnapping plot after he was discharged from the Confederate army for health reasons.

Arnold returned to the Washington DC area, where he was born. He was raised in Maryland.

He allegedly ended his involvement in Booth's conspiracies and was in Virginia on the fateful night of April 14, 1865.

But a court found him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He was pardoned by President Johnson in 1869 and died in 1906 at age 72.

Samuel Arnold (1834-1906) was part of the earlier kidnapping plot but claimed no involvement in the assassination plot. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for his alleged role in the conspiracy but was pardoned by President Johnson in 1869. He is pictured in 1865 at the age of 31

Michael O'Laughlin (also spelled as O'Laughlen) was raised on the same street as John Wilkes Booth and fought for the Confederacy until 1862, when he left for health reasons.

Like Arnold, O'Laughlin was involved in the kidnapping plot but not, it is believed, in the murder plot. He was in Baltimore when Booth shot Lincoln.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment for his alleged role in the assassination conspiracy and died in prison in 1867. He was 27 years old.

It is not clear if, whether he had lived, President Johnson would have pardoned him.

Michael O'Laughlin (1840-1867), like Arnold, claimed to have had no involvement in the assassination plot but was sentenced to life imprisonment for his alleged role. He died in prison in 1867 at the age of 27. Pictured: O'Laughlin in 1865

Amaral tweeted about her recent works: 'For the first time in authentic colors: The conspirators of Lincoln's assassination.

'Today is the 152nd anniversary of his death.'

She added that 'what was most interesting about this series is that we were able to reproduce the actual colors of their clothing.'

Other work from Amaral includes photographs of Senator John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy on their wedding day and a portrait of English Writer Virginia Woolf.

I started colorizing photos when I found a few colorizations on the internet by accident,' she previously told MailOnline.

As I've always been very passionate about history and Photoshop, I started practicing and trying to develop my techniques on that very same day.'

She colors every millimeter of the pictures by hand - and never uses shortcuts or guesswork.

I never start to work with a photo without first researching the story behind it. Then, I collect the greatest amount of information that can help me with the colors,' she said.

I like to say that the process of the colorization itself is like a traditional painting: many hours of work are required, as well as a lot of study, a lot of patience, and many layers of different colors.'

She wrote on her website: 'Every completed work has gone through long and in depth research, and is supported by the opinions of experts in each particular area if necessary, to faithfully reproduce the original colors and atmosphere.'
People have been warned not to eat seafood or go fishing near Brisbane Airport.

It comes four days after a dangerous firefighting foam spewed out of a Qantas hangar and escaped into the storm water system.

About 22,000 litres of the foam, believed to have contained perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), was released as a result of a sprinkler system fault within the hangar on Monday night.

People have been warned not to eat seafood or go fishing near Brisbane Airport, four days after a dangerous firefighting foam spewed out of a Qantas hangar on Monday and into a nearby creek (pictured)

While about three-quarters was contained, it's likely thousands of litres of the foam still seeped into the wider environment and caused the deaths of 20 nearby fish.

Four days after the leak, health authorities warned people to avoid eating seafood or fishing near the potentially contaminated area around the lower reaches of the Brisbane River, from Bulimba Creek to Fisherman Island, and north to Shorncliffe.

The warning coincided with Good Friday, when those of the Catholic faith generally abstain from eating meat and opt for fish instead.

Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles said the spill was 'very substantial' and the state government was in the process of phasing out the chemicals used in the foam.

The recently introduced Queensland ban of firefighting foams containing perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) didn't apply to the airport site because it was controlled and regulated by the Commonwealth, he said.

Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles said the spill was 'very substantial' and the state government was in the process of phasing out the chemicals used in the foam

Nevertheless, Dr Miles said the incident should 'send a message' to industries that they should dispose of the firefighting foam if they have it.

'This is a chemical that has caused concern worldwide,' Dr Miles said on Friday.

The Minister stopped short of blaming Qantas for the spill, but said the department would use 'all of its powers' to ensure appropriate penalties were applied if necessary.

A spokesperson for Qantas says the company is investigating the cause of the foam leak.

'The foam is used as a fire retardant and is required to be installed in the hangar under aviation safety regulations,' they said.

'While most of the fire retardant was contained, some overflowed and made its way into a nearby creek.

A spokesperson for Qantas says the company is investigating the cause of the foam leak, which is believed to have killed 20 fish

'The creek was quickly bunded to stop the fire retardant from flowing downstream.

'We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously. We notified the Queensland Government and were working with Brisbane Airport on the clean-up and the investigation.'

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said there was 'no consistent evidence' that exposure posed a threat to humans.

A joint investigation between the Queensland and Commonwealth governments is now underway, and environmental officers have taken water samples from the polluted site, with test results due back next week

'(But) I understand this was a significant spill (and) avoiding seafood consumption from the impacted area in the short term is a sensible, cautious approach,' Dr Young said.

A joint investigation between the Queensland and Commonwealth governments is now underway, and environmental officers have taken water samples from the polluted site, with test results due back next week.

Last November, residents living near defence bases at locations including Oakey, in southern Queensland, were given free access to blood testing after firefighting foam containing PFOA seeped into local soil and groundwater.
The wife of former Tennessee teacher Tad Cummins who is accused of going on the run with his 15-year-old student a month ago said the missing girl was like a 'third daughter' to them and she had no reason to suspect her husband of infidelity.

Cummins, 50, who has been married to wife Jill for more than 30 years and has children and grandchildren, allegedly abducted Elizabeth Thomas on March 13, and the two, thought to be in a sexual relationship, were last spotted two days later.

Their last confirmed sighting was at a Walmart in Oklahoma, 700 miles away from home, after they had both dyed their hair. Authorities have not yet been able to locate the runaway pair despite an intense nationwide manhunt.

One month into the search, Jill Cummins and her and Tad's two daughters, Erica Osborne and Ashlee Conner, sat down for a new interview with ABC, begging the father-of-two to come home.

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Scorned wife speaks: Jill Cummins, the wife of disgraced Tennessee teacher Tad Cummins, told ABC she had treated 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas as her 'third daughter' before her husband and the teen ran away together last month

Tad Cummin's daughter Erica Osborne (left) urged her father to come home and said: 'We're here for you, no matter what anytime, any place, anywhere,' His other daughter, Ashlee Conner, is pictured right

'No matter where you are, Daddy, no matter what you've done we just want you to come home. We miss you so much,' Cummin's daughter, Osborne said. 'We're here for you, no matter what anytime, any place, anywhere.'

Mrs Cummins tearfully said that after 31 years of marriage, which she characterized as 'perfect', she could not fathom that the man she called her 'best friend' and her everything was lying to her about his relationship with Thomas, his student, whom she thought he was merely mentoring.

'She would come to him with her problems,' Jill said of the girl, adding that she and Tad would sometimes take Thomas to church with them.

'In fact, I called her our third daughter sometimes,' Jill said.

Cummins (right) allegedly abducted Elizabeth Thomas (left) on March 13, and the two, thought to be in a sexual relationship, were last spotted two days later

When allegations first emerged accusing Tad of kissing Thomas at school, he denied the claims and Jill was convinced that he was innocent.

'I really, truly believed that he loved me,' said Jill. 'It's very selfish of him to have done this.'

Jill has filed for divorce from Tad after he ran away with Thomas. She speculated that her husband left because he was ashamed and could not face his family.

'It's kind of like a death because the Tad I knew is gone,' she said. 'I love him, I forgive him... but that doesn't mean I could ever trust him again because he betrayed my trust to a point that it's totally broken.'

Jill revealed her husband had left her a note before his disappearance, but she declined to disclose the message, citing the ongoing investigation.

But Brent Cooper, the district attorney for Maury County, Tennessee, told WREG: 'Its obvious that it was a diversion, just a way to try and buy some extra time and give us a false lead of what direction they might be going.' The note did not mention Thomas.

Jill has filed for divorce from Tad after he ran away with Thomas. She speculated that her husband left because he was ashamed

Cummins' daughter Ashlee Conner wanted to remind her father of Romans 8:28, a Bible verse she learned from him.

'There's one thing that he's reminded us for our entire life. And that's Romans 8:28, and that's, 'God uses all things for the glory of those that love the Lord and are called according to his purposes' and that means even this,' Conner said.

Thomas' father previously said Cummins misled his daughter to believe the health sciences teacher was a former intelligence officer living the high life.

'He convinced her that he had been a secret agent and ... that he had all kinds of money,' Anthony Thomas told HLN. 'It was clear that he had really put a lot of notions into her head.'

This image of Elizabeth was taken on March 13, the day she vanished. She appears to be holding a bundle of clothes

Her sister, meanwhile, fought back tears when she revealed Cummins had begun showing up unannounced at her sister's work shortly before the pair disappeared together, with his last visit just two days before the girl's abduction.

'She would go and tell people to tell him she wasn't there and she would go and hide until he left,' explained Sarah Thomas.

'She thought it was the only way. She felt uncomfortable.'

Authorities believe Thomas may have gone willingly with Cummins, who they say has been grooming her for sex for some time.

With the two now on the run for a month, authorities say Cummins should be due for a refill on medication to control his blood pressure.

Cooper told ABC News that pharmacists should be mindful of customers who look like Cummins or Thomas and alert authorities.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Amber Alert for Elizabeth when she first disappeared.

Cummins is wanted by authorities on charges of aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor.

On March 12, the day before they vanished, Cummins was spotted buying women's dark brown hair dye at a Tennessee Walmart. He also appeared to have bought men's toiletries.

Days earlier, he took out a $4,500 loan and was also seen filling up his silver Nissan Rogue with gas on the day of their disappearance.

Cummins was spotted buying women's dark brown hair dye at a Tennessee Walmart the day before they vanished. He also appeared to have bought men's toiletries

Police believe Cummins, who Elizabeth has known for more than two years, brainwashed her into abandoning her family.

Cummins was suspended from his teaching job at the time they disappeared. Another student claimed to have seen the pair kissing in Cummins' classroom back on January 23.

He was not officially fired by the school district until he disappeared with the girl on March 13.

Surveillance footage from a Walmart in Oklahoma two days after they vanished is the last confirmed sighting of the pair

Cummins had left a note for his wife Jill Cummins before he vanished with the teenager. Investigators have revealed they think the note was a diversion to throw them off the trail
A murderer who stabbed his former housemate to death in a 'savage' street attack after serving time for a similar killing in Sweden has been jailed for life.

Sivan Amin, 37, stabbed his former flatmate Mircea Gheorghe Cozmiuc, 23, at least 23 times on his doorstep in Carter Road, Wolverhampton, and left him to die in September last year.

He then fled the scene in an Audi, which was traced by police and found to have blood on the accelerator.

Sivan Amin (left) stabbed his former flatmate Mircea Gheorghe Cozmiuc (right) on his doorstep last year

Amin, originally from Iraq, came to the UK as an asylum seeker in 2000. When his application was rejected, he went to Sweden instead, where he was jailed for murder in 2008 after shooting his friend Deren Omar Mohammed with a pistol at close range.

He was released in 2014 and then returned to the UK  but it is not clear how or when he did.

Birmingham Crown Court heard Amin had lived with Mircea in a shared house - after meeting in 2015 - and said he loved him 'like a brother'.

But he became jealous of his friend's relationship with a fellow Romanian Andrei - Bourceanu who had moved into the property.

Amin was kicked out of the house in June last year after a dispute over the rent, in which police were called. He later threatened to 'put a bullet through' his housemate and began sending threatening messages to Mr Cozmiuc, his sister and a female friend, making reference to stabbing.

Amin then armed himself with a knife and launched a frenzied attack on Mr Cozmiuc, while wearing a balaclava, as his former housemate set off to go to work at an Amazon warehouse at 7am on September 3.

During the trial, the jury heard Amin was caught after an eagle-eye neighbour noted down the registration plate of the car he sped away from the scene of the killing in.

The court also heard that police found a number of threatening and abusive messages from Amin on Mr Cozmiuc's mobile phone and Amin had posted homophobic messages on Instagram, including pictures of Mr Cozmiuc and his friend Mr Bourceanu with the caption 'gays' and 'homo rats'.

Judge Melbourne Inman QC said: 'You originally came to this country in 2000 when you were unsuccessful in your asylum application. You then went to Sweden and at some point and by some means returned to this country.

'I am satisfied that you are singularly an extraordinarily dangerous man.

'You are only 37 but you've already murdered two people and murdered them for reasons and in circumstances that are likely to recur throughout your life.

'You were seen to move your victim's arms out of the way in order to stab him where you aimed.

Birmingham Crown Court (above) heard Amin had lived with Mircea in a shared house and said he loved him 'like a brother'

'You severed both carotid arteries on each side of his neck and there were many penetrating stab wounds to his abdomen, chest and vital organs.

'This slaying arose from your very violent reaction to your extreme jealousy or feelings of betrayal when Mr Cozmiuc appeared to have transferred his friendship and affection from you to Mr Bourceanu.

'This was a particularly savage and brutal attack in which you stabbed Mr Cozmiuc no less than 20 times.'

The judge said there were no mitigating factors at all and told Amin he had 'shown not a shred of remorse during the entire trial', while jailing him for at least 40 years.

Before passing sentence, he added he had considered imposing a whole-life term.

The judge said: 'I have considered hard and long whether a whole-life order must be imposed. In my judgment the circumstances here fall on or about the borderline.

'I am not sure that a very lengthy minimum term would not properly amount to just punishment for this very serious crime and for that reason a whole life order would not be the correct sentence.'

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Inspector Jim Munro, from West Midlands Police, said: 'It was a savage attack where Amin had only one thought - to kill.

It appeared Amin may have become jealous of Mircea's other friendships and resulted in him carrying out this brutal attack.

'He now faces a substantial period behind bars.'
Indian army officers tied a protester to the front of their jeep to act as a human-shield against his own stone-throwing comrades.

A shocking video shows the man bound to the vehicle after reportedly pelting stones at officers to protest against Indian rule during a local poll in Budgam, Kashmir.

A Hindi man can be heard saying 'stone throwers will meet a similar fate' as the convoy drives past horrified villagers during the Srinagar by-election.

Indian army officers tied a protester to the front of their jeep to act as a human-shield against his own stone-throwing comrades during a local poll in Kashmir

Army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said in a statement on Friday the video was being examined.

'The contents of the video are being verified and investigated,' he said.

Army sources claimed it was an 'act of self defence' as polling officers faced a mob of stone-throwers, according to NDTV.

As the crowd reportedly swelled in size, 15 army officers appeared to be outnumbered, the sources said.

'They were sure to be lynched there since the crowd size increased and opening fire would have resulted in a blood bath.

'To defend themselves, the Company Commander caught hold of a protestor and tied him to his jeep,' sources said.

Army and polling officers reportedly then left the area safely without any more stone throwing and the protester was handed over to the police.

A shocking video shows the man bound to the vehicle after reportedly pelting stones at officers to protest against Indian rule in Budgam, Kashmir

A Hindi man can be heard saying 'stone throwers will meet a similar fate' as the convoy drives past horrified villagers during the Srinagar by-election.

Budgam district was the scene of violence this week as police and paramilitary officers opened fire on thousands of protesters shouting slogans against Indian rule during a local poll.

Eight civilians were killed and dozens wounded in the election violence, including troops who were pelted with stones.

The footage of the man bound to the jeep caused outcry and demands for an immediate inquiry.

'This young man was TIED to the front of an army jeep to make sure no stones were thrown at the jeep? This is just so shocking!!!' the state's former chief minister and opposition leader Omar Abdullah posted on Twitter.

He added: 'A warning can be heard saying stone pelters will meet this fate. This requires an urgent inquiry & follow up NOW!!

'This young man was TIED to the front of an army jeep to make sure no stones were thrown at the jeep? This is just so shocking!!!' the state's former chief minister and opposition leader Omar Abdullah posted on Twitter

Rights activists say Indian forces in Kashmir have been using human shields since the late 1980s, when an armed insurgency against Indian rule erupted across the territory.

'These kinds of crimes have gone unnoticed here for decades. Now, because of an explosion in social media, it's finally coming out,' Kashmiri activist Khurram Parvez said.

Last month, a photo of an 11-year-old Kashmiri boy being forced to do sit ups by Indian troops triggered widespread condemnation.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in its entirety.

For decades rebel groups have been fighting the roughly 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the territory, demanding independence or merger of the region with Pakistan.

Soldiers battling armed rebels often come under a hail of stones from civilians in the Muslim-majority region, where anti-India sentiment is rife.
Elisabeth Webb (pictured), 27, said it was 'disgusting' and said it has sworn her mother off chocolate this Easter

An artist has sworn off chocolate this Easter after claiming to have discovered a human tooth inside a Cadbury's Creme Egg.

Catherine, 50, picked up a box of the famous treats from WH Smith's at Birmingham Airport earlier this week after flying to the UK from Paris to spend the holiday with her family.

She tucked into one egg and enjoyed it so much she reached for another - but soon wished she hadn't bothered as halfway through, she claims to have made a grim discovery.

Speaking on behalf of her mother, Elisabeth Webb, 27, said: 'It was inside the actual egg. While she was eating the second one, at the last bite she felt something hard in her mouth thought it was a nut or something but it was actually a tooth.

'It appears to be a milk tooth as no roots, it's absolutely sick and very dangerous from a health point of view.

'She won't be eating anymore Cadbury's eggs this Easter - none of us want the last three eggs,' she said.

Miss Webb added: 'It is beyond disgusting, from a health point of view it could have diseases, I can't believe something like this could happen today with health and safety.'

The family believe the tooth looks like it has come from a child's mouth but have no idea how it could have got there.

Catherine, 50, picked up a box of the famous treats from WH Smith's at Birmingham Airport earlier this week after flying to the UK from Paris to spend the holiday with her family

Sickening: Elisabeth Webb said her mother was shocked and horrified after claiming to have found a tooth tucked inside a Cadbury's Creme Egg

The family believe the tooth looks like it has come from a child's mouth but have no idea how it could have got there

'It's definitely not my mother's tooth, she is nowhere near old enough to start losing her teeth  she has them all,' Miss Web, from London, said.

'We honestly have no clue how this could have happened, I've reported it to Cadbury's and we're waiting to hear back,'

The specimen, which appears white in the images, was inadvertently cleaned off from the chocolate while Catherine accidentally ate it.

'I think this has put her off from eating Cadbury's forever, there will be no chocolate bingeing this Easter,' she said.

Cadbury's said it was investigating the incident.

A spokesperson said: 'We are very sorry to hear about this highly unusual experience.

'We would like to reassure people that quality is of paramount importance to us and we take all complaints very seriously.

'We will launch a full and thorough investigation into this matter, including contacting the consumer so we can arrange for the return of the product, to aid with this investigation.'
The 15-year-old boy shot dead in an 'execution-style' killing on Thursday morning was the victim of a revenge attack following a deadly brawl ten months ago, police said.

Brayden Dillon's older brother Joshua was allegedly involved in a bloody brawl in Panania last June which ended with the stabbing death of Adam Abu-Mahmoud, 18.

Joshua Dillon, then 18, was with friend James Rivera, and an unnamed friend, 17, when the three young men allegedly became involved in a fight, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

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Police believe the death of 15-year-old Brayden Dillon on Thursday morning was a revenge attack on the family following the stabbing death of Adam Abu-Mahmoud, pictured, last june

Brayden Dillon was shot at point-blank rage as he lay in his own bed on Friday morning after a man broke into his family home on Moresby Street in Glenfield

Vile Facebook messages were sent to the ex-girlfriend of a 15-year-old boy shot dead in a suspected revenge attack in Sydney

The young men were allegedly verbally abused by Abu-Mahmoud and his friend as they drove down the street.

Instead of ignoring the alleged abuse they allegedly stopped the car and a brawl erupted.

The dead boy's brother and his 17-year-old friend were charged over the death and refused bail.

Police believe the 15-year-old's murder was an act of revenge over the killing.

Daily Mail Australia earlier revealed taunting text messages which backed up those beliefs.

Brayden Dillon's older brother Joshua was involved in a bloody brawl in Panania last June which ended with the stabbing death of Adam Abu-Mahmoud, 18, pictured

Forensics at the scene of Abu-Mahmoud's stabbing last year

Dillon's older brother and his 17-year-old friend were charged over the death and refused bail

The vile Facebook messages were sent to the 15-year-old's ex-girlfriend.

The string of taunting messages claim his death was 'revenge' and that he 'should have seen this coming'.

A teenage girl who owns the account that sent the messages told Daily Mail Australia she had been hacked and claimed she did not send the sickening messages.

The messages were sent just hours after Brayden was fatally shot by a masked intruder who had broken into his bedroom at his family home in Glenfield.

Brayden Dillon, 15, died hours after he was shot in the head inside his own home

The Facebook messages say: 'He should of seen this coming [sic].

'It's called revenge.'

They continue: 'And braydens a mutt. And he deserved everything his just got. Hahahahh. He's gone now. Can't bring back the dead hahah [sic].'

In a later message, the user says 'we all knew this was going to happen'.

'Maybe you didn't but I did, and I know who shot him as well. Been planned for 6 months.'

The girl who owns the Facebook profile insisted that her Facebook had been 'hacked' and said one of her friends also knew the password for her account.

A 15-year-old boy who was shot in the head by a masked intruder inside his home in Sydney this morning has died

He was taken to hospital in an 'extremely critical' condition but died shortly after 11am, police said

She later wrote in a public post: 'I'm sorry for what was said and its 100% wrong, my Facebook's hacked, honestly I don't know when the f***s on my account but I changed my password [sic].'

Police have refused to comment on whether Brayden's shooting was a 'revenge attack' linked to another fatal attack.

Brayden was shot at point-blank rage as he lay in his own bed on Friday morning after a man broke into his family home on Moresby Street in Glenfield.

He was taken to hospital in an 'extremely critical' condition but died shortly after 11am, 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'.

After shooting the boy in the head at close range, the intruder - whose face was covered - escaped back out of the front door.

The teenager - who was seen being loaded into an ambulance with his face drenched in blood - died at The Children's Hospital in Westmead, 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 earlier that shooter entered the boy's home and then 'forced entry to the victim's room'.

The teenager's face was covered in blood as he was wheeled into an ambulance

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

'The mother is extremely distressed. Shes at hospital with her son,' he added.

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 and the public have been warned not to approach him but to immediately call triple-zero.
The American engineer who designed the biggest ever non-nuclear bomb to be used in combat would have felt pride and professional satisfaction if he were still alive to see it deployed.

Albert Weimorts, who died in 2005, would have felt he finally accomplished a mission that he started in 1990 when he began work on bunker busting bombs, his son Mike told DailyMail.com in an seclusive interview

Weimorts, who died in 2005, would have felt he finally accomplished a mission that he started in 1990 when he began work on bunker busting bombs

Albert's most powerful creation was the device that became known as the Mother Of All Bombs which this week was dropped on a remote region of Afghanistan to destroy a complex of caves and tunnels hiding ISIS fighters.

Mike told DailyMail.com that his father enjoyed his work and thought that it would ultimately save lives of American troops

His father was deeply religious and considered himself a moral person. Albert accepted his job as a somber responsibility - and had faith in the military to use his work properly.

Mike said: My father felt that if we do have to resort to this it's important we be on the winning side.

Mike said that it was emotional hearing that the MOAB had finally been deployed and that afterwards he got out his fathers awards and newspaper clippings to reminisce about his life.

Albert Weimorts (right), the creator of the Mother of All Bombs (with Joseph Fellenz, lead model maker) looks over the prototype before it was painted and tested

The bomb killed 36 ISIS fighters in Achin district, Nangarhar province in Eastern Afghanistan and was a show of force by the military amid rising tensions with North Korea and Syria.

The device is 30ft long and at 21,000lbs is so heavy that it needed to be launched out the back of a cargo plane.

The MOAB explodes 6ft above the ground and sucks all the oxygen out of a space and lights the air on fire, instantly killing anyone within hundreds of metres.

The bomb would also destroy underground spaces that terrorists were hiding in and collapse anything nearby with miniature earthquakes.

Mike Weimortstold DailyMail.com that his father enjoyed his work and thought that it would ultimately save lives of American troops

Albert, who died of brain cancer aged 67, worked for the Air Force Research Laboratory and was chief engineer at its Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso, Florida.

He started developing 'Bunker Buster' bombs in 1990 after Iraqi leaders began using hardened underground defence facilities that were impenetrable to normal weapons.

The MOAB, or GBU-43/B, better known as the Massive Ordnance Air Blast, contains 11 tonnes of TNT and has a blast radius of one mile either side of the explosion.

The military had intended to use it in the second Iraq War but did not have a suitable target until this week in Afghanistan.

Mike, 52, an attorney from Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, said: My father was always proud of his effort to advance military objectives and to ultimately save lives of American troops.

He would have felt a certain sense of pride and professional satisfaction that this was able to demolish some underground tunnels that were allowing them to store troops and weapons.

I think he would have been proud of those efforts - ultimately it's all about minimising the loss of American soldiers.

Mike said that when his father retired, the papers he got from the Air Force Research Laboratory said that he had placed in the hands of the military the tools that allowed them to achieve their objectives.

The military used a GBU-43 (pictured), which weighs a staggering 21,600 pounds, and has earned the moniker 'Mother Of All Bombs'

He said: That's pretty moving.

Mike said that the deployment of the MOAB made him think a lot about his father and said that it was bittersweet that his development was able to help the effort but that he was unable to see it used.

Mike said: I spent a lot of time thinking about him that night and Im very proud of him.

Albert was born in 1938 in DeFuniak Springs, Florida and grew up in Mobile, Alabama before graduating from Mississippi State University with a degree in mechanical engineering.

His early work in the Air Force was as a project engineer on the shipping of toxic liquids and he joined the munitions directorate in 1966. In the 1990s he did two tours as a weapons inspector for the UN in Iraq.

Mike described his father as somebody who always felt strongly about contributing and was very very dedicated to his job.

POWERFUL: New Pentagon video shows the explosive power of the MOAB dropped in Afghanistan

He said: He enjoyed his work. He was an engineer. He was born to be an engineer. He could hardly talk to you without a piece of paper to explain things. He liked the precision of numbers, he was very methodical.

Albert, a father-of-three, never drank, was a quiet person and a committed Christian who was the chairman of the Deacon Board of two different local churches.

Mike said: When people asked him about his inner calm he said it was due to Jesus and because he found comfort and strength in his faith.

He was a very moral man and very thoughtful and he had to square it with the nature of his work.

When we talked about it he said it was a sombre responsibility. He accepted it as such.

He had faith in military leaders to put it to the correct use and always in the back of his mind ultimately knowing that the destruction...ultimately it saved American lives.

Another of Alberts achievements was the GBU-28 Bunker Buster used in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 which, remarkably, was developed in just five weeks.

Mike said that contrary to some reports he did not think it was specifically designed to target former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

He said: I think the way my dad would have felt about it, it was developed to take out these hardened targets. Hed been to Norway looking at Nazi submarine bases and bases built into mountains.

They may have been using it with an eye towards Saddam being in one of those facilities but these hardened targets seem to be beyond the reach of anybody.

Making them vulnerable would shake up leadership and take up their processes.

I dont think my dad thought he was specifically going after Saddam. When the generals become vulnerable rather than just troops on the ground it changes things.




A German bus driver faces a possible 8,500 fine because he refused to allow a woman wearing a niqab to board the service.

The incident happened in Emden, Lower Saxony according to local media.

Police claimed they are investigating the incident, which they describe as 'an administrative offence'. The maximum fine is 8,500.

The pregnant woman was told she could not get on a bus because of her niqab, file photograph

The incident happened on Thursday in the Lower Saxony city of Emden, Germany, file picture

According to The Local.de, the woman, who is pregnant, was travelling on Thursday with her husband.

It is understood the bus was a privately operated service.

The woman's husband reported the matter to police and to the local council.

The private company was contracted by the city of Emden to run the service.

Temmo Poppenga of Emden city authority said: 'This type of thing cannot be allowed to happen and must not be repeated.'
Curtis E Thompson, 32, of Lawrenceville

A pedophile has been sentenced for paying children in cash and sneakers to perform sexual activities with other minors and stream it so he could watch online.

Curtis E Thompson, 32, of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, befriended the unnamed victims on Facebook before taking advantage.

He was sentenced to 20 years in prison without parole for forcing the minor to engage in filmed physical acts and paying the children in clothing or cash.

Using the pseudonym Frank Lucas, Thompson used Facebook Messenger and FaceTime to encourage minors to either record the conduct or stream it online for him to watch live.

He knew the people he was talking to on the internet were under the age of 18 and sent a photo of wads of cash to them to show he could pay them.

Thompson previously pleaded guilty before US District Judge John Michael Vazquez to one count of production of child pornography.

He was charged on November 10, 2015, and has been in custody since that date before Judge Vazquez imposed the sentence yesterday in Newark federal court.

The ordeal for the victim lasted four months, form May 2015 through to September.

The victims were paid through MoneyGram transfers or goods were shipped to them.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Vazquez sentenced Thompson to lifetime supervised release.
A caller tells emergency dispatchers during a shooting at a San Bernardino elementary school that she's scared and has locked herself in the office.

Police on Friday released portions of the 911 calls from the shooting that left a teacher and student dead. In one of the short tapes, a caller identifies the shooter as a teacher's husband.

'I'm scared,' the caller says before the tape cuts out.

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Downing, pictured on April 10, as she helped to evacuate the elementary school building after Anderson shot and killed two people before turning his gun on himself and committing suicide

Authorities said that Cedric Anderson, 53, shot and killed his estranged wife, Karen Smith, 53, while she taught a special education class in San Bernardino, before committing suicide

Jonathan Martinez, eight, died in hospital on Monday after being shot by his teacher's estranged husband at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino

People pray before placing flowers at a sidewalk memorial to the teacher and student who were fatally shot Monday at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, California, on April 11

Police say 53-year-old Cedric Anderson walked into his estranged wife's classroom Monday and opened fire, targeting her but also hitting two of her students.

Karen Smith and 8-year-old Jonathan Martinez were killed. Nine-year-old Nolan Brandy is expected to recover from a gunshot wound in the abdomen and a cracked rib.

Brandy's parents, Leon and Rachel Brandy, told CNN that their son is in good spirits and ready to leave the hospital.

'In the beginning, it was very surreal and just we couldn't believe it,' said Rachel Brandy. 'We know our son is going to be all right, so we are truly thankful for that.'

Nolan Brandy posed with his parents in a photo of him smiling from his hospital bed - just two days after the horrifying attack.

The school's 520 other children held hands as they were led by teachers across the playground and on to buses to be taken away from the scene

The photo, released by school officials, shows 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.

Leon and Rachel Brandy were thankful for the outpouring of community support after the shooting, they said in a statement issued by school officials.

'Please continue to pray for him and also for Jonathan Martinez's and Karen Smith's families,' the family said in the statement.

Rachel Brandy told CNN that she knew Smith and Anderson because she would lead weekly reading groups in the classroom.

Students from North Park Elementary School enter Cajon High School to be reunited with their parents after a shooting at the elementary school

'It just keeps replaying in my head and because I was in that classroom, I'm just imagining it more so, thinking about where each person was at the time that this happened,' she said.

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 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.

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.
It was a spectacle that would put most Bonfire night celebrations to shame.

But this incredible pyrotechnics display was actually Chinese police destroying tens of thousands of illegal fireworks to stop them getting onto the black market.

Ensuring the contraband doesn't end up in consumers hands was carried out only for the second time by the authorities in Huangshi City, in Central China.

Dazzling footage shows police setting off thousands of confiscated fireworks destined for the black market in Huangshi City, Central China. Police said the amazing display lasted more than an hour

The pyrotechnics - more than 30,000 boxes of them - were collected over a year from illegal firework factories as well as from illegal cargoes.

The dazzling footage, now being widely shared on Chinese social media, shows police igniting them all inside a giant quarry.

Officials said they used sticks of dynamite to set off the boxes but also doused them in diesel to speed up the process.

The dazzling footage, now being widely shared on Chinese social media, shows police igniting them all inside a giant quarry

Illegal goods grow sold in China tend to increase during the Chinese New Year period, where it is customary to set off fireworks in order to ring in the new lunar year

The video shows the fireworks erupting in a dramatic crescendo, which the police said continued for an entire hour.

Illegal goods grow sold in China tend to increase during the Chinese New Year period, where it is customary to set off fireworks in order to ring in the new lunar year.

In spite of the fact that major Chinese cities such as capital Beijing and Shanghai have already banned the use of fireworks for environmental reasons, residents in the rest of China are free to purchase and use pyrotechnics.

But many are manufactured and acquired through illegal channels, which leads to large-scale confiscations carried out by the authorities.
The rise of the alt-right movement has many people nervous about the spread of neo-Nazi sympathies  and the furry community is apparently not immune to these political trends.

In shocking news, the Rocky Mountain Fur Con, the annual event that brings together furries, has been canceled after a splinter group known as the Furry Raiders came under fire for embracing 'altfur' symbols similar to those of Nazis and fascists.

The chairman of the event posted a message on Twitter saying that the Furry Raiders have started to promote intolerance within the furry community.

'The furry community and Rocky Mountain Fur Con have always strived to be a place of inclusion; a place where furs from all walks of life, differing religious, political, social and personal views can come together to celebrate the thing that we have in common, the love of our fandom,' wrote Sorin, the chairman of Rocky Mountain Fur Con.

Rocky Mountain Fur Con, the annual event that brings together furries, has been canceled after a splinter group known as the Furry Raiders came under fire for embracing 'altfur' symbols similar to those of Nazis and fascists.

The leader of the Furry Raiders, Foxler Miller (above), dresses in a fox suit with an armband that bears a paw print, though critics say there is too strong a resemblance to the swastika

Foxler was also pictured on Twitter raising his arms in what appears to be a Nazi-like salute, but he denies the accusation that he is a neo-Nazi

Furries are anthropomorphic animal characters, meaning they have human qualities or characteristics, that can be any member of the animal kingdom - including the non-furry ones.

Those in the furry fandom often create their own character, a fursona they'll adopt in furry online communities, and fursuiters will create a costume specifically for that identity.

Now the furry community has been torn asunder by accusations that the Furry Raiders are flirting with fascism.

Their leader, Foxler, dresses in a fox suit with an armband that bears a paw print, though critics say there is too strong a resemblance to the swastika.

The outrage over the Furry Raiders led the chairman of the Rocky Mountain Fur Con to announce that he is canceling the event

Despite the armband and a picture that surfaced on Twitter showing him lifting his arm in what looks like a Nazi salute, Foxler denied that he is advocating neo-Nazi ideology, according to The Daily Beast.

Nonetheless, there has been a rise in fascist furries that has alarmed many in the community.

'[The Furry Raiders] are an organization with a very confusing past and a very confusing history,' Zachary Brooks, the chairman of the Fur Con, told The Daily Beast.

Despite the armband and a picture that surfaced on Twitter showing him lifting his arm in what looks like a Nazi salute, Foxler denied that he is advocating neo-Nazi ideology

Nonetheless, there has been a rise in fascist furries that has alarmed many in the community

Furries are anthropomorphic animal characters, meaning they have human qualities or characteristics, that can be any member of the animal kingdom - including the non-furry ones

'The community had taken a lot of issue regarding some symbolism that the head of the Furry Raiders had chosen to utilize for his group,' said Zachary Brooks, the head of Fur Con. 'It was causing a lot of controversy'

'The community had taken a lot of issue regarding some symbolism that the head of the Furry Raiders had chosen to utilize for his group. It was causing a lot of controversy.'

'People overreacted [to the paw print armband],' he told The Denver Post.

'As it got more and more heated, people started talking about beating up people wearing the symbol.'

'They said "We've got a right to protect ourselves and we are going to bring weapons".'

Furry Raiders (above) angered their furry brethren when they snatched up a large bloc of hotel rooms for the scheduled convention in Denver. Brooks said that reserving the large number of rooms amounted to 'a power grab' meant to dilute the influence of other organizations

'It was seen by many as a malicious act by them to try to control who could and couldn't attend,' Brooks said. 'So that's what really began the controversy with them'

The election of Donald Trump has bitterly divided the furry community - igniting the rise of the 'altfur' movement that some have accused of flirting with fascism

When news of the Furry Raiders' massive bookings spread throughout the community, it sparked a backlash 'antifa furry' movement. The rising anti-fascist movement operated under the banner 'Nazi Furs F*** Off'  and the protest began to grow online

The threats of violence forced convention organizers to require more security, the cost of which turned out to be prohibitive.

The Furry Raiders angered their furry brethren when they snatched up a large bloc of hotel rooms for the scheduled convention in Denver.

Brooks said that reserving the large number of rooms amounted to 'a power grab' meant to dilute the influence of other organizations at the convention.

'It ended up being a significant portion of rooms that prevented our other attendees from coming in and enjoying the convention,' Brooks told The Daily Beast.

'It was seen by many as a malicious act by them to try to control who could and couldn't attend. So that's what really began the controversy with them.'

When news of the Furry Raiders' massive bookings spread throughout the community, it sparked a backlash 'antifa furry' movement.

The rising anti-fascist movement operated under the banner 'Nazi Furs F*** Off'  and the protest began to grow online.

One 'fursona,' Deo, even tweeted a joke saying that she 'couldn't wait to punch these Nazis.'

The joke was inspired by the incident in which Richard Spencer, a white alt-right nationalist, was filmed being punched in the face during a protest march in Washington, DC.

The convention was scheduled to take place on August 11.

Its organizers were also found to have been affiliated with the 'sovereign citizens' movement, which advocates a refusal to pay taxes.
Arizona authorities say a man and two women were killed early Friday morning in a wrong-way wreck on a Phoenix freeway.

The wrong-way driver was a 22-year-old man driving a car with Colorado license plates and the women were ages 19 and 20 and apparently sisters, said spokesman Raul Garcia of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. They were in a white car with North Carolina plates.

The man had driven five or six miles southbound in the opposite lanes before slamming into the white car.

This photo provided by the Arizona Department of Public Safety shows the mangled remains of cars involved in a fatal accident on the Northbound Interstate 17 in Phoenix on April 14

The wrong-way driver was a 22-year-old man driving a car with Colorado license plates and the women were ages 19 and 20 and apparently sisters in a white car with North Carolina plates

Garcia said the identities of those killed in the wreck on Interstate 17 shortly after 2am aren't immediately available, but Grand Canyon University confirmed that two of the three were students there.

He said Arizona troopers are working with authorities in Colorado and North Carolina to notify relatives.

Garcia said it's not immediately known whether the wrong-way driver was impaired and that a determination of that will come from toxicology tests conducted by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office.
More than a week after Pepsi came under fire for its 'tone deaf' ad starring Kendall Jenner, a new poll has shed light on how some people really felt about it.

The soda-maker made waves last week after airing the advert that appeared to trivialize the Black Lives Matter movement, forcing Pepsi to cancel it the next day.

And since the fiasco, Morning Consult has gathered reactions to the ad from 2,200 people and found that overall 44 percent of their respondents actually liked the ad, with 50 percent of people between ages 18-29 who were quizzed among those who liked it.

Respondents were asked to indicate in real-time whether they had a favorable or unfavorable view of the commercial they were watching.

And the results are astounding, as opinions started to diverge among Democratic and Republican viewers.

A new poll is seeking to shed some light on how some people really felt about Pepsi's 'tone-deaf' ad featuring Kendall Jenner. Respondents were asked to indicate in real-time (pictured) whether they had a favorable or unfavorable view of the commercial as they watched it

In the real-time graphic, the two parties' opinions seem to stay the same until images of protests flash across the screen. The protests cause the blue line, to move up, and the red line, to move down. But both lines immediately move down when Kendall pops on the screen

In Morning Consult's real-time graphic, the two parties' opinions seem to stay the same until images of protests flash across the screen.

The protests cause the Democrats, which is illustrated by the blue line, to move up, and the Republicans, illustrated by the red line, to move down.

But as soon as Kendall is featured during a photo shoot in the ad, the both lines inch down.

The lines both inch up and down as viewers indicated which parts they liked and the ones they didn't.

According to Morning Consult, 44 percent of poll respondents said they had a more favorable view of Pepsi after watching the video, compared to a quarter who said it gave them a less favorable view.

About 32 per cent of Americans said the ad made them more likely to buy Pepsi products, versus the 20 per cent who were less likely.

A quarter of young people between ages 18 to 29 said they had a less favorable view of Pepsi after watching the ad, and one out of five said it made them less inclined to buy Pepsi products.

According to Morning Consult, 44 per cent of poll respondents said they had a more favorable view of Pepsi after watching the video, compared to a quarter who said it gave them a less favorable view

About 32 per cent of Americans said the ad made them more likely to buy Pepsi products, versus the 20 per cent who were less likely. Morning Consult's chart illustrates views of Americans by ethinicity and age

Meanwhile, 17 percent of people age 18 to 29 gave the ad a '1' or 'not favorable at all' ranking after watching it, as did 18 per cent of white people, 14 per cent of African-Americans and 12 percent of Hispanic participants.

Twenty-two per cent of independent voters also gave the ad a '1' ranking, higher than the rate for Republicans and Democrats.

The commercial, filmed in Bangkok for the brand's new Live For Now moments campaign, begins with a protest of young demonstrators holding aloft signs which proclaim statements such as 'Love' and 'Be part of the conversation'.

The march continues past a photoshoot where none other than Kendall is posing, in a short silver dress with platinum blonde hair, in front of a camera.

Her attention is drawn to a protester who gestures for her to join the movement.

Suddenly awakened to the cause, and perhaps the frivolity of a life of fame and photoshoots, the 21-year-old rips off her blonde wig, wipes off her makeup and joins the crowd. She is now 'one of them'.

When the crowd approach a line of cops, Kendall has the solution: Pepsi.

She hands over a can to the most an officer and the crowd erupts in cheers as he takes a sip.

Kendall pumps her fist in the air while the cop, seemingly won over by the gesture, shares a look with his colleague to say, 'well, they can't be that bad'.

People drew comparisons with Black Lives Matter protester Leshia Evans who faced police wearing riot gear during a demonstration over the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge. Evans was arrested moments after the picture was taken.

People drew comparisons with Black Lives Matter protester Leshia Evans (pictured) who faced police wearing riot gear during a demonstration over the fatal shooting following the shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge

But the director of photographer for the shoot said the advert was based on this 1967 protest from Washington DC where Jan Rose Kasmir confronted the American National Guard outside the Pentagon during an anti-Vietnam march

Martin Luther King's daughter wrote a sarcastic response to the commercial on Twitter, suggesting her civil rights activist father would have been better off with the canned drink

However Bjorn Charpentier, the director of photography for the Pepsi advert, insisted the shoot had nothing to do with that demonstration, according to TMZ.

He instead said it was based on a photo from the Flower Power protest against the Vietnam War in 1967 in Washington DC where a defiant protester faced down guns while holding a flower - which became a symbolic action of protest against the controversial conflict.

Bernice King, the daughter of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, wrote on Twitter: 'If only daddy knew about the power of Pepsi', while sharing a photograph of her father clashing with police on the front-line of a protest.

PEPSI'S STATEMENT CANCELING THE AD Pepsi was trying to project a global a message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly, we missed the mark, and we apologize. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are pulling the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position. Advertisement

It was also slammed by other stars and celebrities on social media, including Lena Dunham, Questlove, Judd Apatow, and Patton Oswalt.

Not to mention Saturday Night Live mercilessly poked fun at the commercial a few days later.

Following the outcry, Pepsi announced it canned the commercial in a statement released on April 5.

It said: 'Pepsi was trying to project a global a message of unity, peace and understanding,' the statement read.

'Clearly, we missed the mark, and we apologize. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are pulling the content and halting any further rollout.

'We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position.'

Pepsi had previously defended the commercial in a statement, claiming it was 'a global ad that reflects people from different walks of life coming together in a spirit of harmony, and we think that's an important message to convey'.

On April 8, it was reported that Pepsi could potentially face legal action after the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) spotted actors wearing their police emblem.

The commercial was also slammed by other stars and celebrities on social media, including Lena Dunham, Questlove, Judd Apatow, and Patton Oswalt

It was later reported that the San Francisco Police Department (right) accused Pepsi of illegitimately using the bureau's logo in the commercial (left). Although the two do not appear identical, both patches bear the words 'San Francisco Police' with an eagle spreading its wings

The SFPD reportedly accused the company of illegitimately using the bureau's logo in the commercial.

Although the two do not appear identical, both patches bear the words 'San Francisco Police' with an eagle spreading its wings, but with a different color scheme, TMZ reported.

An SFPD spokesperson said the department is now investigating if the company received permission to use the name and logo.

'It's not 100 percent identical but it appears to be our patch,' Spokesperson Officer Robert Rueca told ABC 13.

Although the logo in question was only seen in behind the scenes footage and was not actually aired, Pepsi released the video online which drew a lot of views. The soda company has not responded to the claims.

Several people criticized the ad and the Pepsi company for 'mocking' the Black Lives Movement - which began after the deaths of dozens of black men at the hands of police.

Violence between police and protesters have been reported at numerous such demonstrations which have even resulted in fatal shootings in some cases.

Kendall wore her hood up and her hand over her face as she made her way through LAX, after returning from Paris on Saturday, in the midst of outrage over her insensitive Pepsi commercial

Kendall has claimed she had no involvement in the creative process behind the commercial

Meanwhile, an insider acknowledged Pepsi had made a mistake in hiring Kendall for the role.

'The original intent of the commercial was to mirror all the global protests trying to make this world a more equal place for everyone.

'But they shouldn't have had a celebrity face tied to it if they wanted to try and send a strong message like this,' the source said.

Kendall did her best to hide from the controversy surrounding her Pepsi commercial on Wednesday when she landed in Paris.

The reality TV star shielded her face as she was hurried through the terminal in France.

As she left the airport, she pulled her jacket up over her face and a security guard held out his hands in an attempt to block her from sight.

Kendall has also claimed she had no involvement in the creative process behind the commercial, according to TMZ.
The US Navy is banning vaping on ships after at least a dozen reports of explosions and injuries.

Naval commanders said in a statement Friday that the temporary electronic cigarette policy aims to protect sailors and the fleet. It starts next month.

Officials cited overheated batteries in vaping equipment as the problem. Explosions have led to fires, first-degree burns and facial disfigurement.

The US Navy is banning vaping on ships after at least a dozen reports of explosions and injuries. Here sailors puff on e-cigarettes aboard the Theodore Roosevelt aircraft in 2015

During a recent eight-month stretch, 12 incidents put sailors out of work for a combined 77 days. Injuries also restricted some to light duty for a total of five months.

Two sailors had their e-cigarettes explode in their face, resulting in facial and dental injuries, the Navy Times reports.

The policy goes into effect May 14, but sailors at sea can request extensions. The Navy says it will make a final determination on e-cigarettes after more analysis.

Vaping will still be allowed on land in designated areas.

The problem of exploding e-cigarettes isn't limited to the Navy.

Two sailors had their e-cigarettes explode in their face, resulting in facial and dental injuries

Surgeons and firemen have warned about the dangers of e-cigarettes after treating a string of civilian smokers injured by exploding devices.

The number of injuries caused by exploding e-cigarettes is on the rise, the FDA has warned, with 66 explosions occurring in 2015 and early 2016 alone.

That's compared with 92 explosions between 2009 and September 2015 - averaging around 18 a year, or 27 per cent of the most recent totals.

And those figures could be an undercount - just one hospital, Seattle's Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, says it has seen about 23 patients with e-cigarette burns since it started tracking them informally in October 2015.

The policy goes into effect May 14, but sailors at sea can request extensions and vape on land

Faulty batteries, coupled with increasing popularity, are the suspected culprits in the dramatic increase in injuries. The industry maintains e-cigarettes are safe when used properly.

The problems with the devices are linked to their lithium-ion batteries, which help vaporize liquid nicotine into a mist that distributors and some health experts say is far less harmful than traditional tobacco cigarettes.

The same types of batteries are used safely in many consumer electronics, but they've also been behind fires in hover boards and smartphones.
A group of House Democrats have asked the FBI to suspend Jared Kushner's security clearance over his failure to disclose meetings with foreign agents during the period the election and the inauguration.

Kushner left meetings with the Russian ambassador to the United States and the head of a sanctioned bank with ties to Vladimir Putin's government off his security forms.

His lawyer said the omissions were unintentional. Democratic lawmakers told the FBI the flagrant violation of the rules shouldn't be tolerated.

'The fact that Kushner is President Trumps son-in-law does not place him above the law,' Virginia Rep. Don Beyer and four other lawmakers said. 'Anyone else would face severe discipline for failing to disclose meetings with foreign officials, a material omission which potentially amounts to a criminal offense.'

A group of House Democrats have asked the FBI to suspend Jared Kushner's security clearance over his failure to disclose meetings with foreign agents during the period the election and the inauguration

Kushner, the president's son-in-law turned senior White House advisor, was the president's point person for foreign contact in the transition.

He says he met with dozens of foreign representatives in the lead-up to Trump's inauguration at the president-elect's request.

Those meetings were missing from a questionnaire he submitted to the FBI and the Office of Personnel Management, the New York Times revealed earlier this month.

The questionnaire is required, along with a full background check, for senior officials applying for for security clearance.

'Withholding, misrepresenting, or falsifying information' is a grave offense, the form warns.

Applicants who do not follow the guidelines can be denied employment, lose access to classified information or worse.

Prosecutions are rare and officials are allowed to submit amended documents if the omitted information is deemed an oversight, as Kushner has contended.

Beyer, the Virginia Democrat and Reps. Ted Lieu, Jamie Raskin, Jerrold Nadler and Peter Welch told the FBI in an Thursday evening letter than Kushner's interim security clearance should be revoked, nonetheless.

'Mr. Kushner signed a legal document that withheld details about significant meetings with foreign officials, including meetings with allies and emissaries of Vladimir Putin. This action throws Mr. Kushners judgment into serious question and doubt,' the congressmen said.

The progressive legislators said they are 'gravely concerned' about the repeat omissions they have seen within the Trump government when it comes to meeting with Russian representatives.

Kushner is pictured second from left in a secure room at President Donald Trump's Florida resort last week as missiles rained down on Syria. As of early April, he had interim security clearance that was subject to review

'Mr. Kushners lack of candor about meetings with Russian officials appears to be part of a larger pattern of dissembling and deception on Russian contacts from the Trump team, and we believe the public deserves the truth about why these meetings took place and what they mean for U.S. foreign policy,' they said.

Jamie Gorelick, Kushner's lawyer, told the Times his form was submitted prematurely on on Jan. 18. The FBI was immediately notified of the mistake, Gorelick said, and new documents were prepared.

The revised forms had not been submitted to the FBI at the time of the article's publication. Kushner intends to turn them in when he sits for questioning by the FBI, the Times said.

As a result, Kushner was granted interim security clearance that is subject to review.

The Trump official offered to speak with Senate intelligence investigators about his meetings with the Russian representatives that were first disclosed in media reports as part of their probe into election meddling and collusion.

A secret meeting with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador, took place in December at Trump Tower.

Kislyak was smuggled though a private entrance, out of view of the television cameras that were fixed on the traditional entrance during normal business hours throughout the transition. He met with Kushner and ex-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

A second meeting was set up with Kislyak that a deputy to Kushner attended. After that Kushner met with Sergey Gorkov, head of Russia's Vnesheconombank, at Kislyak's request.

Kushner left meetings with the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, pictured, and the head of a sanctioned bank with ties to Vladimir Putin's government off his security forms

White House spokeswoman Hope Hicks told the Times that they did not talk about US sanctions on the bank that are the result of Russia's incursion in Ukraine.

Kushner and Gorkov did not discuss funding for a Fifth Avenue building the real estage magnate was planning to redevelop with Chinese company Anbang Insurance Group, either.

Still the head of his family business, Kushner Companies, the president's son-in-law has come under scrutiny for the meetings he held at Trump's behest before he began to divest.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has said that Kushner was 'doing his job' when he met with Kislyak and Gorkov. But that was before VBN said in a statement that its interest in meeting with Kushner was related to his real estate business and was non-governmental.

The Times said in its early April report on Kushner's incomplete forms that he left dozens of foreign officials off his contact form - not just the two Russians.

Other foreigners he met with were not disclosed in the article that was based on source information.

In a statement, Kushner did not provide the names of those officials, either, even as he admitted to having 'numerous contacts with foreign officials' in his capacity as an adviser to the president-elect.

'I would be happy to provide additional information about these contacts,' his message to the FBI said.




The Trump administration has decided not to release visitor logs showing who comes in and out of the White House complex, breaking with an Obama-era practice that a White House official called 'a facade of transparency' on Friday.

Time was first to report the development, which means Americans won't know until at least five years after President Donald Trump leaves office exactly who he and his top aides are meeting with.

White House communications director Michael Dubke told the magazine that the decision was due to 'the grave national security risks and privacy concerns of the hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.'

The Obama White House published most of its visitor logs online, but reserved the right to scrub them for virtually any reason. Some officials took meetings at coffee shops and other locations outside government buildings in order to circumvent record-keeping.

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The White House says it will not release records showing who comes in and out of the White House complex, walking through gates like these on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC

The U.S. Secret Service records the name of everyone who visits the White House's 18-acre complex, from foreign heads of state and lobbyists to elementary-school tour groups, but the public won't see any of it until at least five years after Donald Trump leaves office

Trump deserves 'some discretion' to take advice from outsiders without prying eyes

Time cited three White House officials who said the decision is needed to give the president the opportunity to seek outside advice 'with some discretion.'

And the Obama-era openness 'did create more of a facade of transparency rather than complete transparency,' one White House official said.

'The ability to scrub them was sort of institutionalized,' another told Time.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer told DailyMail.com during Tuesday's press briefing that the administration wasn't quite prepared to announce how it would handle visitor log records.

'I think we should have an answer on our policy very shortly on that,' said Spicer.

The American Civil Liberties Union fumed in a statement from political director Faiz Shakir that 'we deserve to see government business conducted in transparent daylight.'

'The only reasonable conclusion is to believe the Trump administration has many things it is trying to hide,' Shakir added.

Barack Obama's White House published incomplete records, omitting anything and everything officials didn't want to public to know

The administration has shown no indication that it will release information about visitors to Mar-a-Lago, where the president has spent a majority of his weekends since Inauguration Day

Singing from the same hymnal was Sen. Tom Udall, a New Mexico Democrat.

'This stunning decision from the Trump White House raises an obvious question: what is President Trump trying to hide?' he asked.

'Once again, this administration is stonewalling information that Congress and the American people have a right to see. Americans simply deserve to know who has access to the president and who is working to influence policy at the highest levels,' Udall said.

The right-leaning transparency group Judicial Watch argued Friday that White House visitor logs should be open to the Freedom Of Information Act process, with the U.S. Secret Service having the discretion to screen them for exclusion according to the law's built-in security loopholes.

'President Trump should simply allow the Secret Service to apply FOIA to its White House visitor logs. The Secret Service can protect the personal privacy of some visitors while upholding the rule of law,' said Tom Fitton, the group's president.

Fitton told DailyMail.com last week that the Obama administration 'fought to keep these records away from the American people under FOIA, and they concocted a system that no one thought was reliable to voluntarily disclose visitors.'

Three government watchdog groups sued the Department of Homeland Security last week, hoping to use the federal FOIA law to get the Trump logs from the Secret Service, which maintains them.

In addition to the mystery of who goes in and out of the White House, the administration has shown no indication that it will release records showing who is meeting with the president at his private Florida resort club, Mar-a-Lago.

Congressional Democrats have introduced a bill that would force all those records into the open  along with those reflecting the president's meetings at Trump Tower in New York City.

It's called the Making Access Records Available to Lead American Government Openness Act  the MAR-A-LAGO Act.

With a Republican-led Congress in charge of the Capitol, the legislation is little more than a publicity stunt.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, the National Security Archive and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University are plaintiffs in the FOIA lawsuit.

But using that law to gain access to visitor logs will be practically impossible: A George W. Bush administration-era policy had the Secret Service denying FOIA requests for the records, saying they fell under the more restrictive Presidential Records Act.
Frail Yoko Ono was spotted for the first time in months as she enjoyed some fresh air in New York's Central Park on Thursday.

The 83-year-old wife of the late Beatle John Lennon flashed a smile alongside a young man and two assistants, who pushed her around in a wheelchair.

She wore her signature hat and a pair of sunglasses, along with a pair of Nike sneakers as she rolled along in the park.

Yoko Ono (left and right) was spotted for the first time in months as she enjoyed some fresh air in New York's Central Park on Thursday

The 83-year-old wife of the late Beatle John Lennon flashed a smile alongside a young man (right) and two assistants (left and center), who pushed her around in a wheelchair

Ono was seen speaking privately for awhile with the young man (pictured)

Ono was seen speaking privately for awhile with the young man. She didn't get out of the wheelchair at all during the 30 minute outing.

She was last seen in public in February, a month after she joined thousands of protesters marching the streets of NYC for women's rights.

At the time she was seen arriving at New York's JFK airport, where she was helped through the terminal by an assistant.

Ono was wearing a grey fedora and shielding her face with round sunglasses, the artist and peace activist clutched her bag on her lap and she was pushed out of the terminal.

She is one of the number of celebrities who has been vocal in their opposition to Donald Trump.

Ono joined the rally in New York in January where thousands marched through the streets for women's rights and against the president.

The pair laughed as they chatted. Ono didn't get out of the wheelchair at all during the 30 minute outing

Ono wore her signature hat and a pair of sunglasses, along with a pair of Nike sneakers as she rolled along in the park

In February, Ono (pictured) was spotted arriving at New York's JFK airport where she was helped through the terminal by an assistant pushing her wheelchair

It was also reported in February that plans were underway for a biopic about Ono and John Lennon's love story

She was pictured smiling and holding hands with Whoopi Goldberg as they rallied. Ono later tweeted a photo of herself with fellow protesters holding signs reading 'woman power' and 'imagine peace'.

Also in February, it was revealed that a biopic movie may be in the process of being made on Yoko and Lennon's love story.

Producer Michael De Luca is said to be working with Ono to track her relationship with her late Beatle husband and their anti-war efforts, according to Hollywood Reporter.

'The story will focus on ripe and relevant themes of love, courage and activism in the US - with the intention of inspiring today's youth to stand up for and have a clear vision for the world they want,' De Luca said in February.

'I am also honored and privileged to be working with Yoko Ono, Anthony McCarten and Josh Bratman to tell the story of two amazing global icons,' he added.

When Ono was spotted in January and February, she was also in a wheelchair, but it's unclear if she is ill or has trouble walking.

Yoko was joined by Whoopi Goldberg in New York in January where they marched through the streets with thousands of women's rights protesters
A grandmother who abused her seven-year-old granddaughter and terrorized the girl while dressed as a witch she called Nelda has been sentenced to three consecutive life sentences, as shocking video of the cruel charade emerges.

Geneva S. Robinson, 51, was sentenced in Oklahoma City on Thursday, after having pleaded guilty to five counts of felony child abuse. Her boyfriend Joshua Granger, 33, was sentenced to 30 years for his role in letting the abuse go on.

Prosecutors say that Robinson ran a 'house of horrors' where the victim was 'repeatedly tortured' and told that witches and creatures lived in the attic when she lived there in 2014.

'What she did was horrific and what she did will forever impact this child and her siblings,' Assistant DA Merydith Easter told Judge Michele McElwee at sentencing, The Oklahoman reported. 'She deserves the same amount of mercy that she showed this child, and that's none.'

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At sentencing, prosecutors for the first time revealed in court an alleged video of Robinson dressed as Nelda. The video shows a figure dressed in black and wearing a wig

Geneva Robinson is seen in court on Thursday. The grandmother received three consecutive life sentences for abusing her 5-year-old granddaughter in 2014 as the witch Nelda

Prosecutors say that Robinson (left) often dressed as the witch Nelda, while her boyfriend Granger (right) masqueraded as a demon called 'Coogro'

Prosecutors say that Robinson often dressed as the witch Nelda, while Granger masqueraded as a demon called 'Coogro'.

At sentencing, prosecutors for the first time revealed in court an alleged video of Robinson dressed as Nelda.

The video shows a figure dressed in black and wearing a wig, with her hands painted green and what appears to be a mask.

'Grandma's sick because of you. You go with the witch,' Granger can be heard telling the terrified girl.

The child pleaded, promising she'd be good. 'I promise, witch. I promise,' the girl said.

'Nelda' replied in a shrill cackle: 'You lie, you lie, you lie, little girl.'

'I promise, witch,' the girl further pleaded, 'I won't do mean to Grandma. I won't hit Grandma. I won't be mean.'

'Give me a fork and a knife,' shrieked 'Nelda'. Prosecutors say Robinson told the girl that witches eat bad children.

Delivering her sentence, Judge McElwee held up two photos of the young abuse victim, taken before and after she was sent to stay with Robinson.

The first showed a smiling girl with 'sparking eyes', the judge said. The second showed the girl with her hair buzzed off, bruised, blistered and unsmiling.

'You know what died?' the judge asked Robinson. 'Those sparkling eyes from an innocent girl.'
An 11-year-old boy is seriously injured after he was mauled by a 'tame' lion in the kitchen of a farmhouse in South Africa.

Kristian Prinsloo was visiting a family friend, who hand-rears lions, with his grandmother Mari Strydom, 75, near Ellisras.

Witnesses said a lion left its usually locked cage on the farm and attacked him from the back.

Kristian Prinsloo, 11, is fighting for his life after he was mauled by a lion at a family friend's home in Ellisras, South Africa. The young boy had visited the farm before and met the lions

Kristian's heroic grandmother pulled the big cat from him, saving his life.

He was taken to a local hospital before he was transferred to Pretoria.

Father Herman Prinsloo, 47, told the Telegraph: 'Kristian is in a very critical condition.

'At the moment there is no brain activity. We ask that everyone please keeps praying to God that Kristians starts to function again and that he makes a full recovery.'

Kristian suffered injuries on his neck and back and his vertibrae was also damaged.

He was visiting his grandmother during the holidays and visited the farm before.

Mr Prinsloo said the farm is usually careful about opening and closing the cages where the three lions live.

The boy suffered injuries to his vertibrae, neck and back. Kristian was saved by his grandmother Mari Strydom, 75, who wrestled the big cat from her grandson

Cordelia Britton, of animal charity Four Paws UK, said: 'This is obviously a very tragic case and our thoughts are with the boy and his family. We hope he makes a full recovery.

'Sadly this is further evidence, if any was needed, that wild animals such as lions should not be kept in domestic environments and can never truly be "tamed" and remain unpredictable.

'Not only does this sort of habitat significantly impact the animal's welfare, it can be very dangerous for humans in the vicinity, as this unfortunate incident demonstrates.'
Kathleen Biden broke down crying in court on Friday as her divorce to Joe Bidens son Hunter was finalized, marking the end of a tumultuous split that included drug and cheating allegations and a romantic affair between Hunter and his dead brothers widow.

Hunter, 47, who has been living in Delaware with his former sister-in-law, Hallie, did not show up at the hearing at D.C. superior court.

Kathleen, 48, wept quietly as she told the court that she and her husband of two decades had lived separately for the past six months and there was no reasonable prospect of reconciliation. At one point, the judge briefly paused the proceedings to pass her a box of tissues.

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Over: Kathleen Biden (above leaving court on Friday) broke down in tears as she detailed the collapse of her marriage to a judge on Friday

United front: The 48-year-old mother of three wept while she told Judge Craig Iscoe that she and her husband had lived apart for six months and would not reconcile

No shows: Hunter Biden (left in March) and new lady love Hallie (right in March) were not in court on Friday

Kathleen wore a black sheath dress and cardigan and dabbed at her eyes as the judge signed the divorce decree.

I appreciate the emotion that is often present in matters such as this, said Judge Craig Iscoe.

Kathleen filed for divorce in December. Although she accused her ex-husband in court records of blowing the familys savings on drugs and prostitutes, neither side contested the divorce and they reached a private settlement agreement.

Hunter has been dating Hallie, the 43-year-old widow of his late brother Beau Biden who passed away from brain cancer in 2015, for the past few months.

He and Kathleen were married in 1993, and would have been celebrating their 24th wedding anniversary this July.

Kathleen is still living in the Washington, D.C. home she shared with Hunter, who she kicked out in July 2015 and then apparently allowed back in at some point last year.

The couple has two adult children and a 15-year-old daughter Maisy who is close friends with Sasha Obama

Kathleen had asked for sole custody of her minor child in her divorce documents filed on December 9 of last year.

That is over a year after Kathleen claims she and Hunter formally separated in October 2015, which was three months after she kicked him out of their home on July 5, 2015 because of 'his conduct the night before.'

Kathleen does not detail that conduct in her filing, which would have occurred one month after Hunter lost his brother Beau to brain cancer.

The divorce papers cite 'irreconcilable differences between the parties concerning Defendant's conduct' as the reason for terminating the union.

Kathleen later gets a bit more specific in a motion she filed back in February, claiming that Hunter's 'drug use and infidelity' played a role in the split.

Difficult day: Judge Iscoe passed Kathleen a box of tissues at one point during her statement to the court to dry her eyes

Homeward bound: Kathleen is still living in the Washington, D.C. home she shared with Hunter along with their 15-year-old daughter Maisy

Family mourning: Hallie Biden is surrounded by her children Hunter and Natalie with her now boyfriend Hunter behind her at Beau's funeral

In court records obtained by the Dailymail.com, Kathleen accused Hunter of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars of marital funds' on his own interests  including 'drugs, alcohol, prostitutes, strip clubs and gifts for women with whom he had sexual relations.'

She claimed the former vice presidents son left the family with 'no funds to pay legitimate bills' and maxed-out credit-card debt.

'The parties' outstanding debts are shocking and overwhelming,' said Kathleen in the Feb. 27 court filing. She added that they had 'bounced three checks to their housekeeper and owe medical providers and therapists for outstanding bills.

Kathleen also claimed that Hunter was in possession of a large diamond worth approximately $80,000, which he had allegedly concealed from her.

After the Dailymail.com reported on the court records, the couple petitioned the judge to seal the file, but the judge declined. Since then, Kathleen and Hunter have quietly reached a confidential settlement agreement related to financial and custody issues.

Picking up the pieces: Kathleen had asked for sole custody of her minor child in her divorce documents filed on December 9 of last year.

New chapter: In court filimngs, Kathleen claimed that Hunter was in possession of a large diamond worth approximately $80,000, which he had allegedly concealed from her

Hunter and Hallie have yet to be photographed together since news of their relationship broke, and DailyMail.com caught the two going to great lengths to avoid the cameras when they were both spotted at a Walgreens in early March.

Hunter and Hallie both exited the store separately after their trip to the pharmacy and drove off in different vehicles.

When news broke of the new couple, Joe and Jill provided a comment stating how happy they were for the couple.

There was no mention by the Bidens however of Kathleen.
Family members on Friday identified the four victims who were found brutally murdered and dismembered in a Long Island park earlier this week as boys between the ages 16 and 18.

The bodies were discovered in a park at the intersection of Lowell Avenue and Clayton Street in Central Islip on Wednesday morning. Police said the four were repeatedly stabbed and mutilated.

Relatives named the deceased as 16-year-old Justin Llivicura; 18-year-old Jorge Tigre, and cousins Michael Banegas and Jefferson Villalobos, both aged 18.

Tigre's sister Monica, 20, spoke about her brother's death to the New York Daily News telling them she thought the notorious MS-13 gang were behind it. She said: 'He kept his distance from them... I think they set a trap for him.'

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Names of the dead: Michael Banegas (left) and his cousin Jefferson Villalobos (right), both aged 18, were identified by relatives as victims of a quadruple murder in Long Island

Jorge Tigre (left), 18, and Justin Llivicura (right), 16, were said to be among the friends discovered slaughtered in Central Islip Park on Wednesday morning

A police car is parked near the site where four bodies were discovered in Central Islip, Thursday, April 13, 2017

And his mom Bertha Ullaguari, 43, said that Tigre had been trying to steer clear of the crew two high school students were killed in September.

She said: 'They've had been harassing him at school.

'On Sunday, he told his uncle 'They keep harassing me.'

Llivicura's mother, Bianca Zhicat, told ABC 7 New York she believes her son, whom she described as a quiet, non-violent boy, also believes he might have been lured to his death on Tuesday night by a fabricated party invitation.

Family members revealed that one of Llivicura's limbs and an ear had been chopped off, and the bodies of the other three victims were also dismembered.

Villalobos' cousin Yensy Fuentes, 20, told NBC 4 New York that the boy had traveled to New York from Pompano, Florida, with his grandmother a week ago to visit family in Brentwood. He would have celebrated his 19th birthday next month.

Fuentes described in graphic detail the state of Villalobos' body when it was found in the park on a paved footpath Wednesday, revealing that half of his face was missing, and they had to rely on a religious tattoo on his arm to identify him.

Banegas, Villalobos' cousin, was suffocated with a plastic bag and his face was unrecognizable, according to Fuentes.

Makeshift memorial: Villalobos and Banegas' loved ones arrived in the park where they were slaughtered to leave bouquets of flowers and crosses in their memory

The cousins' family members mourned on the spot where their mutilated bodies were found

The female cousin also revealed that the family learned of the killings from a mutual friend who was in the Central Islip park the night of the murders but managed to escape.

The unnamed friend allegedly told Villalobos' relatives he was with a group of people in the park when he saw men armed with machetes emerge from the trees.

'The gang members came out and told them to kneel down,' said Fuentes, 'and then he was just able to run for his life. He was the only one that made it out.'

Vacationer: Villalobos ad traveled to New York from Pompano, Florida, with his grandmother a week ago to visit family

On Friday, Villalobos and Banegas' loved ones arrived in the park where they were slaughtered to leave bouquets of flowers and crosses in their memory.

As of this afternoon, Suffolk County police have not officially identified any of the four victims.

'We are not releasing the date or time they were killed, but these homicides occurred within the past few days. This is one incident,' Commissioner Tim Sini, Suffolk County Police Department said. 'He was beaten to death. Brutally. It wasn't like they shot him and left it. They beat him to death brutally.'

Sini also said that police are investigating whether gang MS-13 were behind the murders.

'There's no question MS-13 still exists in Suffolk County,' Sini said Thursday at a press conference. 'This is a long-term war and make no mistake about it  it's a war. It's all hands on deck until we solve these murders.'

Family members of Tigre and Llivicura said earlier that police had confirmed that their sons were dead.

George's brother William Tigre, of Bellport, said he'd received a call shortly after the bodies were found from a friend who said he's seen his brother get murdered, he told ABC News.

William Tigre (;eft) told reporters Thursday that an acquaintance notofied him Wednesday night that his 18-year-old brother, Jorge (right), was one of the victim

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)

William, 21, told the New York Post that friend, Alex Ruiz, was 'a member of MS-13.

'He called me, the friend in MS-13, he called me last night at 6:30 and told me my brother is here,' William said on Thursday.

He said that he had 'escaped from the car' and 'saw my brother being killed.

'He told me my brother was here. He gave me this address [to the park].'

William added that he had checked George's computer and found messages from him that said, 'I don't want to do these things anymore. I want out.'

Justin Llidicura's, 16, family said that detectives are investigating whether he is among the four victims, as a family member said he was last seen on Wednesday heading towards the park. He hasn't been heard from since.

'When his parents woke up, he wasn't at home,' the relative said. 'So they called his phone multiple times. He never answered. It just went straight to voicemail. The phone was cut off. That's when they got worried, because it was almost like a full day.'

Frany Novoa said her 21-year-old son William is also missing although police say the four victims were aged between 16 and 20.

'They're kids,' she said. 'I don't know what they're involved in, who they're around.'

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.

Authorities are yet to reveal whether the bodies discovered on Wednesday are linked to the previous youths' deaths.

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

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.

Nisa's mother Elizabeth Alvarado described her loss as 'the worst pain that any mother could feel.'

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.

Nisa Mickens, 15, (left) and Kayla Cuevas, 16, (right) were murdered in September in suspected gang murders

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.

But local families say they are still too scared to venture out at night because the gang problem has spiraled out of control in recent years.
Adorable footage captures Britain's only jaguar cub cuddling up to her proud mother just days after her birth.

The tiny spotted cat has yet to be named and is said to be thriving at Paradise Wildlife Park, in Hertfordshire.

carefully cleaning her sweet cub in the straw-bed enclosure.

Adorable footage captures Britain's only jaguar cub cuddling up to her proud mother just days after her birth

The tiny spotted cat has yet to be named and is said to be thriving at Paradise Wildlife Park

However she hasn't realised her baby can't eat meat yet and can be seen dropping giant meals by her child.

The video also shows the tiny jaguar being carefully checked by the vet and she fits snugly into his hands.

Although the brave professional won't be able to do this for long as the cub could grow to a staggering 2.5ft tall.

The tiny beast can also be seen baring its tiny teeth as she learns how to roar.

The video also shows the tiny jaguar being carefully checked by the vet and she fits snugly into his hands

Although the brave professional won't be able to do this for long as the cub could grow to a staggering 2.5ft tall

It is the first jaguar that has ever been born at the popular attraction, in Broxbourne - which is just 20 miles from London

Amazingly the new arrival came one day after the zoo launched its new charity the Zoological Society of Hertfordshire, entering the world on April 2.

And it is the first jaguar that has ever been born at the popular attraction, in Broxbourne - which is just 20 miles from London.

It will be months before Kedera and dad Kumal can show off their child to the public though.

As the zoo will be keeping a close eye on its new arrival to make sure she grows up healthily.

It will be months before Kedera and dad Kumal can show off their cub to the public

The zoo will be keeping a close eye on its new arrival to make sure she grows up healthily

Charity director, Lynn Whitnall , said: 'We're obviously all delighted at the news of the birth of our jaguar cub'

Charity director, Lynn Whitnall , said: 'We're obviously all delighted at the news of the birth of our jaguar cub.

'The breeding programmes at Paradise Wildlife Park have achieved some fantastic results over the years, especially amongst our big cats.

'I'm incredibly proud for all the staff and keepers at Paradise whose hard work and dedication have led to this - not to mention Kumal and Kedera of course.

'It's a wonderful way to welcome the launch of our new charity Zoological Society of Hertfordshire.'

Jaguars are classified as 'near threatened' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature

It is estimated that there are just 15,000 of the south American big cats left in the world

They can grow to be 6ft long and can weigh as much as 17 stone

Jaguars are classified as 'near threatened' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

It is estimated that there are just 15,000 of the south American big cats left in the world.

They can grow to be 6ft long and can weigh as much as 17 stone.
Doctors are prescribing twice as many antidepressants in British seaside towns than in the rest of the UK.

Blackpool takes the top spot for the most prescriptions out of Britain's 326 districts - followed by Sunderland and East Lindsey in Skegness, NHS data has revealed.

Psychologists said that coastal 'ghost towns' faced specific problems like 'high crime and low life expectancy' which could explain the higher figures.

Doctors are prescribing almost twice as many antidepressants in British seaside towns than in the rest of the UK - with Blackpool (pictured) taking the top spot for the most prescriptions

Blackpool has the highest rate of an antidepressant prescriptions - with 2.11 issued per person in 2016, compared with a national average of 1.16. Sunderland and East Lindsey were in second and third place, with about 1.99 prescriptions per person

In Blackpool 2.11 anti-depressants were issued per person in 2016, compared with a national average of 1.16.

Sunderland and East Lindsey were in second and third place, with about 1.99 prescriptions per person.

GPs prescribed antidepressants 64 million times in 2016, an increase of more than 600 per cent in 25 years.

Experts said the trends in the study - carried out by database analysis firm Exasol - were linked to anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

Clinical psychologist Dr Jay Watts said the seaside towns tended to be 'ghost towns' with multiple problems contributing to mental health issues.

Blackpool has the lowest life expectancy for men in the country, and last year topped the list for alcohol-related hospital admissions, she told The Guardian.

'You've got high deprivation, high crime, low life expectancy, loads of alcohol problems,' she explained.

Sunderland, in the north east of England, came second in the list, with about 1.99 prescriptions per person (pictured, Roker Pier)

East Lindsey in Skegness (pictured) came third. Psychologists that coastal towns faced specific problems different to the rest of the UK that could explain the higher figures of prescriptions like 'high crime and low life expectancy'

Peter Kinderman, president of the British Psychological Society, said many of the areas left people listless due to a 'lack of opportunity, lack of a sense of meaning and purpose in life'.

'You've got the financial consequences on families, consequent pressure on relationships; a toxic mix of how social and economic factors can put pressure on our mental health and psychological wellbeing,' he told The Guardian.

Mr Kinderman said that lack of funding meant there was not enough support for people struggling with mental health problems.

However he added that he did not blame GPs for prescribing anti-depressants as it was better than offering nothing.

It comes after figures in 2015 showed that a t least one in 11 British adults now take antidepressants, according to research which lays bare our reliance on pills.

The UK has has the fourth-most medicalised population in Europe when it comes to antidepressant drugs, academics have found.

Some 9 per cent of adults in the country took the pills in 2015, three times as many than the 3 per cent of adults who took antidepressants in troubled Greece.

Peter Kinderman, president of the British Psychological Society, said many of the areas left people listless due to a 'lack of opportunity, lack of a sense of meaning and purpose in life'

In an EU league table of prescribing published yesterday in the British Journal of Psychiatry, the UK came fourth out of 27 nations, behind only Portugal, Lithuania and Malta.

Experts say the statistics, compiled by psychiatrists at Kings College London, may reflect the fact that patients are more willing to ask for help than they have been in the past, as stigmas about mental illnesses fall away.

But they also warn that the statistics also shine a light on the crisis in Britains mental health services, where many people have to wait many months for counselling and are left to cope with pills instead.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of the mental health charity Mind, said: This is worrying as, while antidepressants can be very effective for some, they are not the solution for everyone and should never be used as a first-line treatment for mild depression.

It is very possible that some areas of the country with particularly high prescription rates simply dont have other forms of treatments, like cognitive behavioural therapy or counselling, as readily available.
A female reverend has revealed how she had an abortion nearly 12 years ago and how the mother-of-one suffered some sadness in not having two children.

Reverend Susan Chorley was in a crumbling marriage, had a two-year-old son and was stressed out as relatively new pastor when she decided to get an abortion.

Since June, the 44-year-old has begun to publicly reveal her secret as she speaks at seminars for a project she has launched with other women who have had abortions as a way to advocate for 'pro-voice' discussions.

Chorley, of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, said she had to confront the issue when her son asked her about abortions and the Boston-area minister admitted she had a bit of sadness over not having a second child.

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Reverend Susan Chorley, 44, revealed she had an abortion 12 years ago when she had a two-year-old son and was in a crumbling marriage, in an interview published Friday

Speaking of people who protest abortion clinics and advocate for pro-life, Chorley said in an CNN interview: 'They don't know anything about you. They feel this privilege to put this in your face.'

Speaking to Parents, she said: 'I had envisioned myself as a mom of two children.

'So theres a little bit of sadness about that, but I think it was the best decision for our family at the time.'

The ordained American Baptist minister said she told her son Franz, who was 10 years old at the time, about her decision to have an abortion after they drove past a clinic that protesters were waving signs at.

Chorley said she told her son Franz, 14, about her abortion when he was 10 years old and he has said: 'It took a while to process it. It's not something I can judge people about, especially my own mother'

She told him about her decision and said she believes he understands, even though it took her a bit longer to come to terms with her choice.

Her son Franz, 14, spoke at a seminar where he detailed his experience of learning of Chorley's abortion at a young age.

Speaking to an audience at his mother's seminar in Seattle in February, Franz said: 'It took a while to process it. It's not something I can judge people about, especially my own mother.'

Chorley said that at her lowest points she believed she would go to hell for what she had done but now is kinder on herself, reported CNN.

Since June, the Boston-area pastor has begun to publicly reveal her secret as she speaks at seminars for Exhale, which she launched with other women who have had abortions as a way to advocate 'pro-voice' discussions

Chorley is currently the Associate Director and Minister of Programs for the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry in Roxbury, Massachusetts.

She teamed up Exhale, for which she is a co-founder and board member, several years ago.

Exhale is community-led nonprofit that primarily functions as a hotline for women who have had abortions and offers services, training, and education to empower people to achieve post-abortion health and well being, according to its website.

Chorley said the group's pro-voice message is aimed at stopping the labels of pro-life and pro-choice, and wants to focus on listening to women's stories.

She said to CNN: 'We try to put people in boxes, and it hasn't gotten us anywhere. It's just caused this huge divide.

'Abortion is happening among us and it's time we looked at it and talked about it.'
A six-year-old boy was hit by a car outside his school - just one week after the council axed its lollipop lady due to budget cuts.

Brenden Donnelly was knocked down as he crossed the busy main road in Dagenham, east London, while holding on to his mother Carly's buggy.

The 'shaken' youngster was struck at a spot that was previously manned by a crossing attendant who would stop traffic so children could cross safely.

Brenden Donnelly, six, was hit by a car while crossing the road outside his school with his mother Carly (both pictured) just a week after the council axed its lollipop lady

Brenden was crossing the road at a pelican crossing with his mother Carly, older sister Louanne, and younger brother Reiden last Friday.

But as he stepped off the kerb a teenage girl walking with her younger brother grabbed Brenden's arm and he stopped, causing him to be hit by the car.

His father Paul, said: 'He crossed the road with my wife who had the buggy with her, and tried to get across the road.

'The girl grabbed his arm and he didn't know what to do and panicked a bit. He hit the front passenger side and rolled along the car.

'When people saw it they couldn't believe it wasn't much worse.

'He is a very lucky boy, he was a bit shaken, there's no broken bones. He has a red mark on his face, but it could have been much worse and thankfully he was uninjured.

'The driver stopped and was very shaken. Thankfully he was going below the speed limit.

The 'shaken' youngster was struck at a spot that was previously manned by a crossing attendant who would stop traffic so children could cross safely

As Brenden stepped off the kerb a teenage girl walking with her younger brother grabbed Brenden's arm and he stopped, causing him to be hit by the car (pictured, scene where he was hit)

'It's a main road going through Dagenham, it's not a quiet road. There have been a lot of accidents there, it's very fast and cars often fly up there to catch the lights at the main junction.

'A lollipop lady needs to be there. Someone in a high-vis jacket who's over 5ft is much more likely to be seen than a kid who is only 3ft.

'Drivers have more chance of seeing a lollipop man or woman as it's an extra pair of eyes in an area where a lot of kids cross going to school.

'A child's safety should be paramount for any council, they shouldn't be cutting safety measures when it comes to kid's well-being.'

The 33-year-old, who works as a duct fitter, and his wife Carly plan to meet their MP, Margaret Hodge, to discuss the removal of lollipop ladies from the area's schools.

A council spokesman said: 'We are very sorry to hear about this accident and we hope the little boy is okay now.

'We understand why the lollipop service was popular with parents which is why we tried to save the service for years, included appealing to local businesses and schools to step in and fund their local crossing patrol.

'But on the whole this sadly proved to be unsuccessful, which is why we had to make the difficult decision to stop the service as we're forced to save tens of millions of pounds thanks to government's cuts.

'While we are glad to hear the driver stopped, this incident is a timely reminder that drivers can't be too careful on our roads.'
More than 20 members of two different stag parties were escorted off a flight to Prague following reports of drink-fuelled rowdy behaviour.

The Jet2 service from Manchester Airport was taxiing to the runway when the captain decided to return to the terminal and call police.

Photographs showed police officers on board the plane before it was able to take off on Friday - and their actions delayed the flight by at least three hours.

Passengers reported how officers initially escorted three people from two different stag parties off the jet.

Officers arrived on the plane at Manchester Airport and escorted 23 men off the aircraft on Friday

Some of the remaining members of the two groups are then said to have protested and were also allowed to leave.

In all police were reported to have returned four times to remove passengers from the plane.

Some 23 men were 'off-loaded' from flight LS887, which was due to depart at 3.15pm, a police spokesman said. By 6.15pm it had still not taken off.

Greater Manchester Police said a man was arrested and later handed a fixed penalty notice for a public order offence.

One passenger, Lauren Sian, posted a picture of police on board the aircraft and wrote: 'Stag party removed by police from jet2 plane for damaging property, swearing and being disruptive.'

The captain is said to have told passengers over the PA system: 'I have a zero tolerance approach to antisocial behaviour towards the cabin crew.'

Smiling staff are then said to have handed out free bottles of water as police dealt with the incident.

One passenger told the Manchester Evening News: 'Police re-embarked for a fourth time.

'The captain asked them to tell the remainder of the group they could fly but that it was now a dry flight and if they kick off there will be consequences when they land.

'The group was loud but I don't know exactly why they were kicked off.'

When some men were escorted off, the majority of one of the stag dos walked off in protest, she added.

A spokeswoman for Manchester Airport said they were aware of the incident and that officers from Greater Manchester Police had been called.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: 'At 3.45pm GMP officers at the airport assisted with the removal of a group of passengers from a Jet2 flight en-route to Prague.

The flight from Manchester to Prague was delayed for at least three hours after police arrived at the scene

'One was issued with a public order fixed penalty notice. In total 23 passengers were off-loaded.'

A Jet2 spokesman: 'Flight LS887 from Manchester to Prague had to return to the parking stand today after our crew called for police assistance.

'We would like to thank Greater Manchester Police for their assistance this afternoon and will be fully supporting the investigation and where required will prosecute if that is deemed necessary.

'We apologise to all other customers for the inconvenience that this has caused at the start of their Bank Holiday weekend, however as a family friendly airline we will not let the behaviour of a disruptive few spoil the flight for everyone else.'

Meanwhile four stag revellers were prevented from travelling on a Ryanair flight from Stansted to Valencia after a shoe was thrown at the cockpit.

A group of thirty men, including the groom, dressed as a superhero called 'Willyman', complete with a fake penis, had been waiting to board the plane on the tarmac when the incident occured.

The shoe hit the cockpit window as the captain sat inside. Ground crew were called and two men were escorted off the jet.

A couple more from the party left the plane to try to convince staff to let their friends back on but they were also stopped from re-boarding the flight, which took off an hour late.

An onlooker told The Sun: '(The groom's outfit) was basically a Superman costume but with a fake penis dangling down between his legs. I don't think that went down well.

'We were delayed by about an hour. Everyone was furious.'

Ryanair said it does not tolerate disruptive or unruly behaviour at any time.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye is reportedly being given special treatment in the prison where she is held over corruption allegations.

She was allowed to stay in prison guards' swanky offices at the detention centre in Seoul while her cell was being renovated, according to local media.

Reports said she demanded new wallpaper in her cell after she refused to get in because it looked 'unclean'.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye is reportedly being given special treatment in the prison where she is held over corruption allegations

It is said that she is being held away from other inmates and her huge cell is normally for six people.

The prison denied allegations of preferential treatment saying it was an 'inevitable' decision to separate Ms Park from other inmates due to 'security reasons.'

Park was accused of colluding with her friend, Choi and a former presidential aide, both of whom have been on trial, to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations set up to back her policy initiatives.

The court said Park had 'completely hidden the fact of (Choi's) interference with state affairs'.

Park was also accused of soliciting bribes from the head of the Samsung Group for government favours, including backing a merger of two Samsung affiliates in 2015 that was seen as supporting the succession of control over the country's largest 'chaebol' conglomerate.

Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee has been accused of bribery and embezzlement in connection with the scandal and is in detention. His trial began on Thursday.

It is said that she is being held away from other inmates and her huge cell is normally for six people

He and Samsung have denied wrongdoing.

While Park's supporters clashed with police outside the court, elsewhere in the city people welcomed her ouster.

A recent poll showed more than 70 percent supported her impeachment.

Police blocked the main thoroughfare running through downtown Seoul in anticipation of bigger protests.

Prosecutors have named Park as an accomplice in two court cases linked to the scandal, suggesting she is likely to be investigated and could face legal proceedings.

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn was appointed acting president and will remain in that post until the election. If Hwang resigns, as some media have speculated he may to run for president, the finance minister will take over as acting president.

The U.S. State Department said it would continue to work with the acting president and whoever becomes the next president.

Relations with China and the United States could dominate the coming presidential campaign, after South Korea this month deployed the U.S. THAAD missile defence system in response to North Korea's stepped up missile and nuclear tests.

China has vociferously protested against the deployment, fearing its sophisticated radar could see into its own missile deployments.

North Korean state media denounced Park as a criminal.

'She had one more year left as 'president' but, now she's been ousted, she will be investigated as a common criminal,' the North's state KCNA news agency said.
Tip of the day: Do not place an advertisement in a trade magazine celebrating the 'integrity' of a client one week after the release of a report detailing his alleged harassment of female employees.

Bell and Company, the accounting firm who is responsible for handling the $18million Bill O'Reilly takes home each year as host of his Fox News show 'The O'Reilly Factor,' showed their appreciation for their client in The Hollywood Reporter after the magazine named him to their list of the 35 most powerful people in the media industry.

The company purchased an ad to herald O'Reilly's hard work and character in that issue, two things that had come under fire by the time the magazine hit newsstands.

That is when Media Matter, the progressive media watchdog group, decided to make some edits to the original ad in light of the recent allegations.

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Mistimed message: Bill O'Reilly's accounting firm took out an ad in 'The Hollywood Reporter' praising him for being named a media power player

Edited edition: Media Matters edited to say 'don't applaud a sexual predator' and said his 'pithy comments' were instead 'racy comments'

The Bell and Company ad featured a drawing of O'Reilly in a suit with his arms crossed and over the illustration was a note.

'We applaud our friend and client Bill O'Reilly in recognition of his long career filled with integrity in reporting, talking points, pithy comments,' began the ad.

'[A]nd a lifetime of generosity, kindness, loyalty & support for his many friends and loved ones.'

The Hollywood Reporter did not respond to a request for comment so it is unclear when Bell and Company placed this ad or when the trade publication went to print.

Upon seeing this, Media Matters got out their yellow highlighter and offered some very strong edits to the text of the ad.

'Is this even him?' reads the first line, noting that the ad shows O'Reilly drawn from the neck down and there is no face to confirm the identity of the subject featured in the spot.

Next up is his crossed arms, with a line written in that reads: 'Why are you hiding Bill?'

The word 'applaud' is underlined in the ad, with a note stating: 'don't applaud a sexual predator.'

And right after that the word 'client' is also underlined, with eh note: 'they're not advertising with him tho.'

A notation is also made on the line about recognizing O'Reilly's long career that reads: 'hopefully not much longer.'

O'Reilly (above in October) is currently on vacation

His 'integrity in reporting' is edited to read his 'sexism in reporting' and his 'pithy comments' instead become his 'racist comments.'

Meanwhile, his trademark 'talking points' are changed into 'baseless points.'

Moving down, O'Reilly's 'lifetime of generosity, kidness, loyalty & support' are crossed out to just read 'nah' and Media Matters writes under the comment on his 'many friends' the letters 'lol.'

It the end, it proved to be a very pithy takedown.

O'Reilly said after the release of the New York Times report that his job made him a 'target', adding that he settled to save his children from distress.

He issued a statement that read: 'In my more than 20 years at Fox News Channel, no one has ever filed a complaint about me with the Human Resources Department, even on the anonymous hotline.

'But most importantly, I'm a father who cares deeply for my children and who would do anything to avoid hurting them in any way. And so I have put to rest any controversies to spare my children.

'The worst part of my job is being a target for those who would harm me and my employer, the Fox News Channel.

'Those of us in the arena are constantly at risk, as are our families and children. My primary efforts will continue to be to put forth an honest TV program and to protect those close to me. '

The O'Reilly Factor attracted an average of more than 3.9million viewers in the first quarter of 2017 - up from 3.3million in 2016 as the show wnters its third decade on the air.

It remains the most-watched cable news program this year despite the controversy, and is now being hosted by Fox News staple Dana Perino while O'Reilly is on vacation.
The picnic in the spring evening sunshine started on time. A smiling young man in a crisp apron served fresh baguettes, rice dishes and salad from a trestle table on the grass as indie music played. There was a party atmosphere.

Nearly 50 guests, sporting hoodies and beanie hats, appeared as if from nowhere on the dot of six oclock and seemed delighted with the hospitality on offer. They had, after all, travelled a long way and their journey was far from over.

Yet the open-air picnic a few days ago was controversial. It was hosted by charity workers for hungry migrants at a secret location in Calais, the port in northern France just 22 miles from Dover where, until a few months ago, 6,000 waited to try to hide inside lorries on Channel ferry crossings to England.

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The Mail has discovered hundreds of illegals have returned to Calais and are sleeping rough on scrubland. They are being supported by charities giving them free food and clothing

Last autumn, the Calais Jungle  a shanty camp built by migrants, with kebab shops, halal restaurants and even a brothel, church and mosque  was bulldozed by the French authorities, who dispatched its residents to 400 centres all over France, where they were offered tickets home or the chance to claim asylum.

Many evaded the authorities, however, and moved up the coast to another migrant camp at nearby Dunkirk.

This week a fire, caused by a turf war between Kurdish and Afghan people-smuggling gangs tore through the Dunkirk camp, which was run by the charity Doctors Without Borders. Some migrants were left with knife wounds  and 600 of them are missing.

Last month, mayor Natacha Bouchart tried to ban the regular and persistent distribution of meals to migrants. She said it threatened the peace of the local people, but was overruled by senior judges

When the Jungle was pulled down, Calais townsfolk sighed with relief. We hoped it was a fresh start for our lovely city after years of having migrants here, said one high-ranking local politician this week. But they are coming back because England is still the magnet and Calais is the set-off point.

The Mail has discovered that hundreds of illegals are now in Calais. Every week more arrive with hopes of getting to Britain, as they sleep rough on scrubland just a stones throw from the former Jungle.

They are being helped to survive by myriad English and French charity workers who dole out sleeping bags, fresh clothes and free food  largesse that has sparked a political backlash in Calais.

Last month, mayor Natacha Bouchart passed a decree banning the regular and persistent distribution of meals to migrants, saying it threatened the peace and security of local people.

But she was overruled by senior judges in the regions main city of Lille, who declared that under EU human rights laws it was inhuman and degrading to deny migrants assistance.

It was, they decided in their wisdom, not charity handouts luring migrants to Calais but rather their desperate hope of getting to Britain.

Whatever the truth  and Mayor Bouchart may appeal against the Lille decision  Calais is returning to its old troubled self, with migrants on the seafront, the beaches, in woods and on port roads as they try to climb into the back of UK-bound lorries.

Police vans patrol 24 hours a day, trying to catch them and get them deported.

I talked to five young Eritreans as they marched over a road bridge overlooking the former Jungle camp at 7pm. Each was carrying a blue sleeping bag wrapped in polythene which, they said, had just been given to them by charity workers.

We lived in the Jungle for four months. When it was pulled down we were sent to live at a centre in the middle of France, said Merhawi, a 16-year-old who spoke good English.

We didnt like it and it was not near England. We are back, and going to sleep under the trees tonight. Yes, its cold, but we can survive with the sleeping bags.

Suddenly he cowered in the shadows as he heard a car coming. We have to run now, he explained. We dont want the police to catch us and send us away again.

With that, he and his friends strode on along the road before slipping through a hole in a wire fence marked with the word private and leading to scrubland.

Merhawi has been here before but plenty of the new arrivals in Calais slipped into Europe only recently, being among the 20,000 to have reached Italy so far this year on traffickers boats from Libya. A British diplomat has just warned that more than a million more are in North Africa, waiting to follow them across the Mediterranean.

Calais is returning to its old troubled self, with migrants on the seafront, the beaches, in woods and on port roads as they try to climb into the back of UK-bound lorries. Pictured, lorry driver Peter, 27, shoos away a group of migrants looking at his truck

One of the arrivals drawn to Calais is Eritrean Gaitom Hatas, 18, whom I found lying in the sunshine with two friends on grass near the ferry port. He was waiting for a charity van to pull up and bring him some lunch of sandwiches and water.

Pulling his hoodie round his face nervously, he said: We came from Libya on a boat to Italy in February, then got a bus via Paris to Calais. Every day and night we try to get to England. I have relatives in Liverpool and they expect I will arrive there soon.

Gaitom looked thin and tired. We couldnt stay here without help, he said, as the van arrived with two volunteers on board.

The police try to throw us out, so we hide most of the time. We use text messages to arrange a time and place to meet the charity people for our food.

When the Jungle camp was at its peak, 200 migrants a week were managing to reach Britain by smuggling themselves through the port of Calais.

The UK benefits system is one of the most generous in Europe, but a flourishing jobs black market allows those arriving illegally (and refusing to claim asylum to avoid the attention of immigration authorities) to earn cash to send to their families back home. It is a constant lure to migrants.

When the Jungle camp was at its peak, 200 migrants a week were managing to reach Britain by smuggling themselves through the port of Calais. Pictured, a group of migrants carrying new sleeping bags from charities

Christian Salome, head of the most respected of northern French charities, LAuberge des Migrants, told me: I think numbers in Calais have now reached 400 but more arrive all the time.

Many are sleeping rough not far from the former Jungle. We give out a lot of sleeping bags. We take their used ones back after two or three nights because they are so damp and dirty. We wash them and hand them fresh ones.

I saw three Afghans begging for food at a huge charity warehouse on an industrial site on the outskirts of Calais. It contains food, clothes and sleeping essentials and is staffed by volunteers from England and France.

Proudly, the charity workers count the donated goods given away and post the total on a board outside the warehouse, with a message to migrants saying Welcome. We love you for being here.

It shows that 1,897 items were handed out in Calais in the fortnight up to March 20.

The hungry Afghans had emerged from woodland near the gates of the warehouse and, after shaking hands with a volunteer, left with chicken, rice and water, which they wolfed down as they sat on the pavement.

One of them, 18-year-old Arfan, said he was in France illegally, had relatives in Manchester and London and was trying to join them. When the police drove up, stopped and asked for his papers, he just laughed at them, saying: None, none. Shaking their heads, the officers drove away.

Arfan and his friends obviously know Calais well. A few minutes later they walked into the Lidl supermarket next door to the charity warehouse and bought two cans of an energy drink and a carton of milk, nodding greetings to the checkout staff.

Under the Lille judges ruling, charities are meant to feed migrants in Calais only once a day. But their white vans criss-cross the town from morning till night and beyond, and they provide far more help than this.

Sue Jex, head of Britains Care4Calais, said recently that charities in the town had a duty to assist arriving migrants because they lived in conditions far worse than when the Jungle existed.

Yet in an increasingly febrile atmosphere, police play a cat-and-mouse game with migrants and charity volunteers. Officers have seized charity tents from over the heads of migrants sleeping rough, so they are forced to get up and move on.

A few weeks ago, a group in a field were tear-gassed by riot police as volunteers served them a free breakfast, according to a local charity called Utopia56.

The migrants free picnic on a Wednesday night was held right next to a lorry refuelling station, close to the port and the former Jungle but tucked away behind an industrial estate, out of sight of police patrols.

The charity worker in the crisp apron doling out food was helped by a group of female volunteers, one carrying a canvas bag marked with the words Help Refugees. The volunteers hugged the migrants, who hugged them back. There was airkissing and general camaraderie.

1,897 items were handed out in Calais in the fortnight up to March 20. The migrants free picnic on a Wednesday night was held right next to a lorry refuelling station, close to the port and the former Jungle

Among the guests were the Eritreans Merhawi and Gaitom whom I had already met. They sat on the grass listening to the music, eating heartily, laughing and chatting.

As darkness fell the party carried on, eventually breaking up after ten at night.

By then, of course, the guests had to be on their way. Nearby lorries were parked waiting for early-morning ferry crossings to Dover. Perhaps some drivers wouldnt spot a stranger climbing in the back for an illegal journey to England?

Sure enough, I soon witnessed migrants trying to get into lorries close to the picnic site. One group, who later told us they were Eritreans, banged hopefully on the side of a Romanian-registered truck which was waiting to refuel at an unmanned diesel service station. The migrants ran back into the trees when they were spotted by us and heard by the driver in the cab.

In a frightening incident, a 27-year-old lorry driver called Peter, from Heysham, Lancashire, was stalked by migrants who crept out of the bushes (also near the picnic site) as he filled up his truck carrying cardboard sheets to England.

The four approached the back of the lorry while Peter was at the front. We watched them and shouted a warning to him.

As the migrants escaped, they turned to throw a rock at us for spoiling their chance.

Peter told us he filled up at the diesel stop because it was near the port: Two weeks ago I was here when eight migrants got in the truck, he said. I had to tell them I was going to Marseille, not the UK, before they got out.

His ruse worked  but it wont every time.

When they first shut the Jungle, the migrants disappeared, Peter said. Now they are all over the place again. Ill warn other drivers not to come here and that Calais is in trouble.

The Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett has also sounded the alert, saying: The Jungle camp might have disappeared but the issue of illegal immigration clearly hasnt. These people will stop at nothing to get to the UK.

Fuel services are not policed, so they are the ideal place for them to break into vehicles. Were worried it will be another summer of hell for lorry drivers.

Munching his charity sandwich near the port, Gaitom, with his exhausted brown eyes, reinforced these fears. We dont come here only for the free food, he told me. Its because everyone knows this is the best place to find a lorry going to England.
The former head of public prosecutions called for a judicial inquiry into the beleaguered Sir Edward Heath probe yesterday after the only suspects to be arrested were released without charge

The former head of public prosecutions called for a judicial inquiry into the beleaguered Sir Edward Heath probe yesterday after the only suspects to be arrested were released without charge.

No one is now likely to be prosecuted despite 1.1million being spent by Wiltshire Police investigating lurid child abuse claims against the former Prime Minister for almost two years.

Wiltshire Chief Constable Mike Veale is under pressure from MPs to resign after he was reported to have said allegations made against Sir Edward were true.

Now Lord Macdonald, the former director of public prosecutions has written to the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson demanding a judicial inquiry into what he described as outrageous behaviour by the force.

It comes amid fears that senior officers will seek to bury their report on the late politician by dumping it on the national child abuse inquiry.

Wiltshire Police has already briefed the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and has pledged to pass on a confidential report on Operation Conifer when it is wound up in June.

But critics fear that the report, which is expected to conclude that there is not enough evidence to prosecute anyone for any offence, will be swallowed up in the avalanche of evidence being examined by the child abuse inquiry which means it could take years before the truth emerges.

Lord Macdonald has compared the probe to Scotland Yards botched Operation Midland into claims of VIP child sex abuse by a fantasist known as Nick, saying: What I find really troubling about this inquiry is it seems to exhibit all the flaws of Operation Midland.

It started with police holding a really outrageous press conference outside Ted Heaths home talking about victims before an inquiry had started.

If they dont have enough evidence to prosecute anyone they should have wrapped this up months ago.

Wiltshire Chief Constable Mike Veale is under pressure from MPs to resign after he was reported to have said allegations made against Sir Edward were true

In the letter to the Commissioner backed by Lord Armstrong, who was Sir Edwards principal private secretary during his time as Prime Minister from 1970 to 1974, and Lord Hunt who chairs the Sir Edward Heath Charitable

Foundation, he wrote: My worry, as a former Director of Public Prosecutions, is that the allegations that you have been investigating against the late Sir Edward Heath raise significant issues of national security that the IICSA is not remotely equipped to deal with.

If it is true that, as Prime Minister, Sir Edward was able, under the noses of his security officers and the intelligence agencies, to engage in offences of paedophile sexual abuse, that would raise the most serious questions of national security: either those authorities were complicit in such behaviour, or they were entirely ignorant of it.

In the first case they would be guilty of gross corruption, in the latter appalling incompetence.

Patently, these are emphatically not matters for an inquiry such as the IICSA, and wildly beyond its remit.

The letter comes just a day after it emerged that the only two people to have been arrested during the probe had been released without charge.

Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, who was falsely accused of child abuse by a fantasist who has also made allegations against Sir Edward is a critic of Operation Conifer

The force was accused of a cynical publicity stunt last November when it only announced the arrests in response to criticism of a witchhunt, even though the two people had been held weeks earlier.

Contrary to police guidelines, Wiltshire refused to release even basic details including what they were arrested for, save that it was in connection with child protection issues.

The Mail now understands that the two arrested did not know Sir Edward and had never met or worked with him or in politics. But the force refused to publically state this.

Last night Lincoln Seligman, the godson of the late politician who died in 2005 said: We were led to believe that these people were arrested in the context on the inquiry into Edward Heath, and that they were indeed in some way connected to him.

If that was not the case, and if that wrong impression was deliberately encouraged to justify continuing to investigate Heath, then the police have some serious questions to answer.

Leading criminologist Dr Richard Hoskins, who was asked to examine some of the evidence against Sir Edward, warned last year that police had been fed a catalogue of fabrication.

Yesterday he said: Mike Veale wants to quietly shuffle this report into the child abuse inquiry so they can bury it, while he retires.

Theyve had 21 officers and staff on this and they havent found a scrap of evidence.

Mike Veale should resign.

He has made public statements about the progress of the investigation using these arrests as an example and now there is a sense of a deck of cards falling.

Wiltshire MP James Gray said: If there is no evidence whatsoever as it seems, this is a ridiculous waste of money, of police time and it has besmirched the name of a former Prime Minister'

It is now becoming clear that no one will face any action and this investigation has been a huge waste of taxpayers money.

Wiltshire MP James Gray said: If there is no evidence whatsoever as it seems, this is a ridiculous waste of money, of police time and it has besmirched the name of a former Prime Minister.

This investigation has been a disgrace from the start when they stood in front of Edward Heaths house in an indication that he was guilty.

Since then the chief constable has been rushing around trying to justify what they had done.

If the Operation Conifer report is published and it reveals there was no evidence against Ted Heath or against anyone else, then the chief constable has to go.

Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, who was falsely accused of child abuse by a fantasist called Nick, who has also made allegations against Sir Edward, added: The only tangible evidence that Operation Conifer was cost effective in police eyes - the arrest of 2 people - has blown up in Chief Constable Veales face.

Wiltshire Polices media campaign of self-defence should end now with the publication of their draft report about Heath to the media.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: Two people had been arrested in relation to Operation Conifer. Both have now been released without charge at this time. Operation Conifer remains a live investigation and we will not be commenting further.
Connie Yates cant remember exactly how she and partner Chris Gard made the agonising journey from the High Court on Tuesday afternoon.

All she recalls is an usher handing her a box of tissues. Then an anguished, almost primal howl of No! from Chris as he slumped in agony in the seat next to her. Then relatives gently lifting her to her feet, and leading her, sobbing and stumbling, through the darkness of Court 47 and into the bright, spring sunshine outside.

Connie and Chris had just been told by a judge that it was time to allow their adorable, eight-month-old son Charlie to die. The judge had ruled, with the heaviest of hearts, that the babys life support system should be withdrawn.

The plight of eight-month-old Charlie Gard, who suffers from the incredibly-rare mitochondrial depletion syndrome, has captured the nation's hearts

Charlie is the golden-haired baby who captured the nations hearts. He was born with a type of mitochondrial depletion syndrome, known as RRM2B, which is so rare he is believed to be only the 16th sufferer in the world.

The condition, caused by one in a million faulty genes inherited from each of his parents, saps energy from his muscles, lungs and other organs. Currently, he is being kept alive on a ventilator at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London, where Connie, 31, and Chris, 32, have been keeping a vigil by his bedside for the past six months.

In their desperate search for hope, the couple had found a U.S. doctor trialling a pioneering treatment and, last month, set about raising the 1.2 million needed to transfer Charlie overseas.

However, this week, after hearing evidence from medical experts, High Court judge Mr Justice Francis ruled that in all likelihood Charlie had suffered severe and irreversible brain damage and there was little hope the treatment could achieve anything positive for him.

Charlie, he said, should be allowed to die with dignity and it was time to let him go.

On hearing these final words, Connie says her first instinct was to get back to hospital and to cuddle her baby as soon as possible.

She remembers sitting silently in the back of a black cab with Chris, each of them in their own private hell, as they tried to comprehend that their child was, in her words sentenced to death.

This week a High Court judge ruled that, in all likelihood, Charlie had suffered severe and irreversible brain damage

That morning, as I do every morning, Id dressed him in a clean outfit and kissed his pink cheeks. In that surreal moment, all I could think of was holding Charlie in my arms. Kissing his chubby little face, nuzzling my face in his silky hair, breathing in his special smell.

Back at Great Ormond Street Hospital, there was the now familiar walk through the reception area with its colourful chairs, down a corridor, through several sets of double doors and into the intensive care unit where Charlie has remained on life support. That was perhaps the longest walk of all.

Maybe people were looking at us thinking, theres that couple, Charlie Gards parents, she says. And I am sure by then all the staff on the unit must have known the verdict.

But if they did, I didnt notice. All I could think of was getting back to Charlies bedside. I saw him lying there, our beautiful son, and my heart broke.

Someone pulled the curtains round us. Chris took the little stuffed monkey he carried into court every day  so we always had a little part of Charlie with us  out of his pocket and sat it next to Charlies other monkey. He has two of them  so he was never without his special toy.

Connie's husband Chris took Charlie's stuffed monkey to court with him - 'so we always had a little part of Charlie with us'

That was the point Chris and I clung together and truly broke down. I told Charlie I was sorry that wed let him down, that we hadnt managed to do enough.

Connie believes  and she and Chris are both adamant on this  that on that day, like all others, their son knew his parents were there beside him.

The judge was told Charlie had been left severely brain damaged by his condition, but Connie insists a part of him still remains.

We are his parents who have spent over 3,000 hours with Charlie and we know him better than anyone, she says.

We are absolutely convinced he is not in pain. When he feels our presence, he tries to open his eyes as much as he can, so we do not believe he is blind. Because we know our son, we do not believe Charlie has the structural brain damage doctors say he has.

We know as parents, he does have a sleep/wake cycle. We can wake him up by tickling his feet. We can soothe him to sleep by stroking his head.

If we thought there was absolutely no hope we would not have fought for this.

But if there is even the slimmest chance of a treatment working, and the doctor in the U.S. told us he believes there is, what loving parent would not take that chance?

We have only ever wanted to improve Charlies quality of life. We would never have sought this if we thought it would bring Charlie more pain. But why is it so different from a child with cancer having painful and distressing chemotherapy which might not work?

Chemotherapy is known to cause serious side-effects but does that stop doctors from offering it? I defy any parent whose child has cancer not to try chemo even if it has the tiniest chance of success.

The High Court ruled that is unlikely continuing treatment will result in 'anything positive' for Charlie

It is why, despite the verdict, both she and Chris want to fight on and if possible  something their lawyer is currently looking into  appeal Tuesdays ruling.

Right now, they simply cannot contemplate removing Charlies life support or preparing to say goodbye.

When I think about willingly turning off Charlies life support, with him dying in our arms, I cry uncontrollably. Its so hard because he is so stable  he is growing before our eyes. Only this week I had to order more Babygros in bigger sizes as he is thriving. Every day he looks more and more like Chris. He has chubby squeezable little legs, his hair needs to be combed more . . . Letting Charlie go is something we would have faced up to, would have prepared for and accepted, if we felt wed exhausted all chances of treatment.

We have never said we would want him to remain alive as he is right now, lying in a hospital bed. If the treatment didnt work or caused him pain then we would be the first to let our son die.

To us that would be dying with dignity as we would have given him every chance. We would be letting Charlie die knowing we simply could not have done more.

It is knowing there is something that could make him better, which we are simply not allowed to give him, which is so devastating.

As loving parents who are putting our child first, I cannot put into words how heartbreaking it is to have our parental rights stripped away from us and to have decisions made about our child by strangers.

The couple have not given up hope yet though and are hoping to raise 1.2 million to give Charlie specialized treatment in the U.S

Connie, on maternity leave from her job as a carer for adults with severe learning difficulties and disabilities, adds: I have also seen for myself how doctors and hospitals sometimes dismiss someone as having no chance of living for years or having much quality of life.

And time and again Ive seen those prognoses proved wrong. People Ive cared for have outlived their prognosis, they have learned to do things professionals thought were impossible.

Who are we to judge quality of life? I would say some disabled people are happier than able bodied people who seem to have it all. They dont have the pressures of a mortgage to pay like the rest of us  they live a simpler existence. Life is precious; the other option is no life at all.

The couple from South London were thrilled when they discovered that they were expecting Charlie.

Chris says he is a special child who was sent to us, says Connie. Some women say they see themselves having two or three children but I was never one of those. I used to wonder if Id ever have a child because I always had a fear of being sick. So getting pregnant was a worry.

But being pregnant with Charlie was a wonderful experience and carrying him made me stronger as a person.

Charlie was born a healthy 8 lb 3oz in August last year, and at first all seemed perfect. He began smiling and gurgling at six weeks, but two weeks later, the familys happy bubble was burst.

Despite being breastfed, he began choking and declining his feeds. He started to lose weight and strength and developed aspiration pneumonia  a lung infection caused by the inhalation of food or liquid. It was then he was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital, ending up in their intensive care unit.

Connie says that she has seen doctors 'sometimes dismiss someone as having no chance of living for years or having much quality of life'

Connie says: When doctors gave us the diagnosis we had no idea it was something considered terminal. How could we? Just weeks ago we had a healthy, happy little baby.

We were told there was a million to one chance that either of us would carry this faulty gene. This genetic condition came out of the blue. To go from being an ordinary couple having our first healthy baby to this, well . . . Connie struggles to find the words.

They could not accept, however, that nothing could be done for Charlie. After spending every waking hour researching their sons condition, Connie found a treatment, known as nucleoside therapy, being trialled in the U.S.

While much has been made about this treatment not having been tried on an animal or human with RRM2B it has been successfully trialled and is working on those people with TK2, a similar type of mitochondrial condition  with the only reported side-effect being diarrhoea.

She says: One little boy, who has TK2 and was the first to try nucleoside therapy in America, is now aged six. Although still ventilated, he is well enough to enjoy trips to the movies and zoo.

He grows stronger every day. His parents say they took the same slim chance and have absolutely no regrets.

When it was suggested back in December, Great Ormond Street was reluctant to try the treatment in the UK  which would involve giving Charlie the nucleoside drug in his milk  because it was untested and considered unlikely to be of any benefit to a child with Charlies severe problems.

Connie and Chris, a postman, were delighted, therefore, when the doctor said he would be willing to treat Charlie in America.

The couple set about raising the 1.2 million needed to transfer their son to the U.S. in a specially adapted medical plane, followed by two months of treatment.

The U.S. doctor said this was long enough to see if the treatment would work. We knew it was experimental and did not want to be a burden on the NHS, says Connie.

Connie says the strain the family has been under is 'immense', but she feels like she and Chris have bonded over going through the 'nightmare' together

Knowing the public were so supportive was amazing. I cannot explain how uplifting the messages have been from kind people all over the world.

Many tell their own stories of triumph over tragedy  families whose loved ones came out of a coma when doctors believed they were brain dead, people told there was no hope only to find a treatment after all. It was those messages that helped us.

The pair were also hugely supported by their own family members who ran an astonishingly successful social media campaign. Sometimes wed check the gofundme page and it would go up by thousands within minutes. We can never thank everyone who donated to the fund enough for giving us the hope, she says.

The money is  pending an appeal  still earmarked to take Charlie to the US. The couple have funded their legal expenses themselves, and their barrister acted for free. If the worst happens they say they will be setting up a charity in Charlies name.

At the moment though the money is only for Charlies treatment, says Connie firmly.

They are unable to look further into the future.

The strain weve been under as a couple has been immense, admits Connie. Weve lived in parents accommodation at the hospital. We havent been to our flat since Charlie was admitted in October last year and I cant recall the last time Chris and I did anything normal such as watch TV.

Connie says that she has to fight for Charlie, because she could not live with 'what if'

I am sure lots of couples would split up under such strain  they might have found they couldnt agree on a course of action. Chris and I have always agreed and we have both made all the decisions together as a couple.

We are also bonded by the fact that we have gone through this nightmare together. He is the only one who knows how I can possibly feel as a person, and vice versa.

They now face an agonising wait of up to three weeks to see if an appeal is going to be possible. During that time Charlie will remain on life support at Great Ormond Street with his parents spending as much time with him as possible, sitting by his bedside, telling them they love him.

They are hoping there is still a way of getting Charlie to the U.S. Someone has set up a petition in a bid to overturn the judges decision. The money for the treatment is safely in Charlies bank account. He has been granted a passport just in case.

This isnt about us being selfish, keeping him alive because we cant bear to let him go, Connie says.

It is because if we did not fight for this chance, we will have to live with the what if for ever. Its that what if which for us would be so unbearable.
Finn Mitchell-Stubley (pictured) fell 50ft through a roof in West Yorkshire - and miraculously survived

The grandson of a legendary portrait artist who once painted the Queen has miraculously survived a 50ft fall through a factory roof.

Finn Mitchell-Stubley, 12, was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary on Thursday after plummeting through a factory roof in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire.

His grandfather was Trevor Stubley, whose 500 portrait commissions included ones from the Queen and novelist JB Priestley.

The youngster was with a friend when he fell through the roof of Premier Hank Dyers and was rushed to hospital with leg injuries.

Staff there gave him first aid and comforted him while they waited for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to arrive but they initially wondered where he came from.

He suffered a slight fracture of his pelvis but does not require surgery.

His mother, Kirsty Mitchell, 45, said: 'He has been a very lucky boy.

'He has certainly learned his lesson and won't be doing that kind of thing again. Apparently he fell through a fragile part of the roof.'

Miss Mitchell, a school nurse from Holmfirth, said the experience had been 'surreal'.

She added: 'My partner and I were at home and we saw the Yorkshire Air Ambulance flying over our home. I didn't have a clue that it was anything to do with us.

The youngster was rushed to hospital and suffered a slight fracture of his pelvis but does not require surgery

'I didn't find out until around three hours later at 5.30pm when Finn's father, Gabriel, who's a firefighter, rang me. An ex-firefighter who had worked with him had found out and phoned him.

'Finn said he shut his eyes as he fell through the air. It seems unbelievable but when he landed on the floor he got up and walked straightaway. I think he must have been in shock.

'He was as white as a sheet. There were people in the area who helped him.

'He's been given a reprimand. He shouldn't have been there but now he is coming home to rest with me. He has been a very lucky boy.'

Charlotte Heaton, an administrator at Premier Hank Dyers, said: 'We believe some boys had been climbing on the roof at the back near the pond and one of them fell through the corrugated roof.

Staff there gave him first aid and comforted him while they waited for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to arrive but they initially wondered where he came from

'According to my boss he fell about 15 metres. He must have climbed to get up there. The first I knew was when the first aider came in with him and it was like: "Where did he come from?"

'He was very pale and confused. I called an ambulance and he was taken to the first aid room.

'The ambulance came straightaway and the air ambulance and he went to hospital in the helicopter. He's been very lucky.'
An underage teenager has been arrested after allegedly breaking into a liquor store and fleeing on foot with a trolley full of alcohol.

The boozed-up 17-year-old was found by police in Kilsyth, east of Melbourne, at 1.40am on Saturday morning.

Police believe the teenager smashed open a window at the liquor store on Mt Dandenong Road and was spotted pushing a trolley along Tennyson Avenue.

The boozed-up 17-year-old was found fleeing on foot with a trolley full of alcohol in Kilsyth, east Melbourne (stock image)

Bottles of alcohol were also found dropped outside the front of the store.

Police found the teenager carting the stolen booze after patrolling the area and allege he 'did not get very far'.

The underage thief was arrested and has been lodged for being drunk in a public place, and is expected to be charged with burglary.

The name of the targeted liquor store was not released by police however there are several alcohol shops located along Mt Dandenong Road in Kilsyth.
An autistic 10-year-old boy arrived at his school to take a standardized test, only to be arrested as his confused and helpless mother looked on.

John Benji Haywood's mother Luanne filmed her distraught son being handcuffed at the Okeechobee Achievement Academy in Florida on Wednesday and repeatedly asked why her son was being apprehended.

While Haygood knew her son had been suspended for attacking a member of staff at the school in November 2016, she had no idea there was a warrant out for his arrest.

John spent the night at a juvenile facility in Fort Pierce before he was released the next morning under house arrest.

John Benji Haywood, an autistic 10-year-old boy, arrived at his school to take a standardized test on Wednesday. He was arrested instead

The boy cried and pleaded with the school resource deputies not to touch him in the disturbing cell phone video his mother posted on Facebook

The boy cried and pleaded with the school resource deputies not to touch him in the disturbing cell phone video his mother posted on Facebook.

According to a school incident report, John was suspended for punching and kicking a school employee, who his mother claims is 6ft 4inches and weighs about 300 pounds.

John had been homebound for several months, and returned to school on Wednesday to take a standardized test.

Unbeknownst to the 10-year-old or his mother, the school employee he allegedly attacked decided to press charges, and the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office issued an arrest warrant.

John was suspended for punching and kicking a school employee, who then pressed charges against the 10-year-old boy. Pictured, John being led out to a patrol car

The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office issued an arrest warrant and John spent the night at a juvenile facility in Fort Pierce before he was released the next morning

When John arrived at school on Wednesday, an officer recognized the boy, who was then handcuffed and led into a police car.

In the video footage taken by his mom, John be seen crying in a chair and telling the two cops, 'I don't want to be touched! Please don't touch me!'

Luanne can be heard trying to reassure her son while asking the police for an explanation. But they ignore her and march the 10-year-old outside.

Luanne then asks, 'Can you tell me what is going on? Or have any paperwork that you can show me? Excuse me?'

But the cops continue to ignore her while John says, 'I don't know what's going on!'

As the boy is led into the patrol car, Luanne says: 'He has autism. He doesn't know what's going on, he's scared to death and he's 10 years old.'

The cops ignored John's mother Luanne (above) while she repeatedly asked for an explanation as to why her 10-year-old son was arrested. The sheriff's office and the State's Attorney's office claimed they were unaware John was autistic

But the sheriff's office said they were unaware the boy was autistic. The State's Attorney's Office made the same claim, and said they would take it into account going forward.

The school district released a statement that read: 'It has been district procedure to invite students in to take the Florida Standards Assessment. The district would not invite someone to one of our campuses for the sole purpose to arrest.'

John, who is accused of battery on a school employee - a third-degree felony - is scheduled to appear in court on May 11.
Google faced accusations of irresponsibility yesterday over its failure to block links to online pharmacies trading illegally in prescription-only drugs.

A Daily Mail investigation found potentially dangerous drugs for sale without prescription from dozens of pharmacy websites, including so-called abortion pills and a controversial acne drug linked to several teenage suicides.

MPs called for the internet giant to monitor and block links to the illicit traders amid warnings that medicines bought from illegal sites could be contaminated with other substances.

Google  the most used search engine in the world  cannot remove websites from the internet but can stop webpages from appearing in its search results.

It has previously come under fire for its failure to bar links to graphic jihadi propaganda videos and child pornography.

Journalists used Google to find websites selling prescription drugs including sex-change hormones, sleeping pills, cancer drugs, statins and antibiotics.

They were available to buy within minutes following a simple search, and involved minimal checks or health questions from the online pharmacies.

The majority of sites did not warn of potential side effects or verify the buyers age, and those that did only required a box to be ticked, and access to a credit card. Dr Sarah Wollaston, the chairman of the Commons health committee, said the illicit trade in prescription drugs was very worrying and called for Google to do more to monitor or block such searches.

The Conservative MP and former GP told the Mail: They are generating vast profits and they have vast resources to monitor this sort of thing. They should take it down. Labour MP Chi Onwurah said: Google has to recognise it is more than just a platform.

Google faced accusations of irresponsibility over its failure to block links to online pharmacies trading illegally in prescription-only drugs. Pictured: Google HQ in Victoria, London

It is organising the worlds data and it does need to take responsibility for that.

It is illegal to sell medication in the UK without a licence, or to sell prescription drugs without a prescription. The UK regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), shut down 4,760 websites selling medicines without a licence last year but warned it was impossible to control the vast number of unlicensed pharmacies illegally selling drugs online.

Journalists were able to buy the so-called abortion pill in less than three minutes from US and Canadian websites for around 100 a kit and with minimal questions asked about age or health issues. The drug is only available in the UK with medical approval.

Google cannot remove websites from the internet

Various hormone replacement drugs used as part of a sex change process were available for sale in less than five minutes from an unlicensed pharmacy site in the South Pacific. The controversial acne treatment Roaccutane was bought in five minutes and arrived in three days from a website in Turkey, with limited questions about age or health issues.

Twenty users of the treatment killed themselves in two years between 2012 and 2014, although an MHRA review concluded there was insufficient data to prove it caused psychiatric problems.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: Its highly concerning to see these prescription drugs  which can be highly dangerous if taken incorrectly or against medical advice  are so readily available online.

We would urge all patients to refrain from purchasing prescription drugs from unverified websites, and instead seek the help of a healthcare professional.

Neal Patel, of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, warned that tests on drugs sold from such sites had found they could be contaminated with other substances, including illegal drugs such as crystal meth.

An MHRA spokesman said: We would like to warn people that medicines purchased from websites, particularly websites based overseas, cannot be guaranteed to meet proper standards of quality and safety.

A Google spokesman said: We remove links from our results in a limited number of circumstances, such as when we are in receipt of a valid legal request.
Education Secretary Justine Greening is facing a High Court battle with the National Union of Teachers over allowing academies to select pupils for 'grammar streams'

Education Secretary Justine Greening is facing a High Court battle with Left-wing activists over allowing academies to select pupils for grammar streams.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) wants to stop the schools from using a test to siphon off the very brightest pupils so they can be given more advanced work.

Supporters of the streams say they boost social mobility by allowing children from lower-income families to have an academically rigorous education.

But the NUT has branded them illegal and is threatening to start a judicial review against the Government.

It also wants to take legal action against individual schools by reporting heads to the Schools Adjudicator.

Some multi-academy trusts (MATs) already have grammar streams, which are more extreme than traditional sets.

While many schools have top, middle and bottom sets, this separation often happens only after several years in school and in just a few subjects.

A grammar stream takes pupils from age 11 and covers all subjects.

In some instances the grammar stream class is taught on a separate site. According to the Government, MATs are able to pool their resources to stream by ability on a larger scale.

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In practice, this means they can stream by ability  provided these pupils have been admitted to the schools on a non-selective basis.

These pupils can then be educated on a part-time basis at different sites, provided they remain registered to their original school and receive some of their education there.

The Government says the streams are legal as selection occurs after students have been admitted. But the NUT, one of the most radical teaching unions, said this amounts to sneaking grammar schools in through the back door.

Schools face strike chaos Teachers are threatening fresh walkouts that could throw schools into chaos over funding shortages. The National Union of Teachers is considering a nationwide strike over budget cuts they fear may result in redundancies. It said members could be balloted for industrial action next year if the Government fails to give move money to schools in the Autumn Budget. It would mean more than 300,000 members walking out of classrooms. Activists will also join other teaching unions in a day of action, when they will lobby Parliament over funding. The NASUWT union is due to hold votes on industrial action this weekend. The Department for Education said funding was at a record level of more than 40 billion, set to rise to 42 billion by 2019-20. Advertisement

Kevin Courtney, NUT general secretary, said: We know the Government has no manifesto backing for grammar schools.

The Government is looking at other ways of selective schooling  having off-shoots, and having selective schools within a multi-academy trust. We think that would be illegal and open to legal challenge.

A vote on taking legal action is expected to take place at the unions annual conference in Cardiff today. It comes amid plans by Theresa May to create the first new wave of grammar schools in decades.

The Prime Minister is considering imposing quotas for less privileged youngsters whose parents joint earnings are less than 33,000.

She also wants to encourage MATs to pool pupils to create more grammar streams.

A Department for Education spokesman said streaming has always been allowed and that it helps teachers give every child an appropriately stretching education.
Hospital patients are being woken at 4.30am to be washed because staff have no time to care for them during the day, NHS whistleblowers have revealed.

The elderly are left hungry at mealtimes as no one has time to help them eat, while others are moved to different wards in the middle of the night.

The reports were made to the Care Quality Commission confidential whistleblowing helpline. Charity Age UK called them 'profoundly dispiriting' and said they highlighted 'basic' failings in care.

In one hospital, newly-qualified junior doctors were doing ward rounds instead of consultants. At another, whistleblowers revealed there were only four nurses for a ward of 46 patients.

Hospital staff (stock photo) are so busy that some patients are being woken up at 4.30am to be washed as they don't have time to do it during the day

Allegations at other NHS trusts included racism towards patients, faulty equipment, managers manipulating waiting list figures and staff bullied for raising concerns.

Patient campaigners said it was 'very sad' that patients were being woken at night as staff were so overworked.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: 'We all know our hospitals are under great pressure but some of the failings complained about here are really basic. In particular, it is profoundly dispiriting to be still reading about older people not getting the help they need to eat and drink in hospital.'

The CQC helpline for reporting concerns was set up following the Mid Staffordshire scandal, in which hundreds died from poor care.

The Mail obtained anonymised details of 86 allegations from the five most complained-about NHS trusts in 2016 under Freedom of Information Act laws. Many are still under investigation.

They lay bare the crisis in the NHS following the busiest winter in A&E for 15 years. A lack of social care funding has left elderly patients trapped on wards even when 'medically fit'. Many have not been allocated a care home and cannot be helped to return home.

There were 22 complaints by medical staff about the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs three hospitals in Wakefield, Dewsbury and Pontefract. Whistleblowers warned staff shortages meant patients were treated with 'a lack of respect and dignity'. They said patients were woken at 4.30am or 5am to be washed by night staff, as nurses had no time in the day.

At mealtimes, staff did not help patients eat. Food was simply placed in front of them then taken away uneaten. Patients were made to wait to use the commode and their buzzers were answered by healthcare assistants instead of nurses.

At Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Trust, which runs hospitals in Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole, staff made 20 complaints. These included allegations they were bullied by managers who manipulated waiting list times and covered up errors.

Patients had to wait too long for test results and operations were cancelled at the last minute. Ward rounds were carried out by newly-qualified junior doctors instead of consultants.

Some elderly patients (stock photo) are moved into different wards during the middle of the night

North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust received 21 complaints. Barts Health Trust in London got 13 while Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust in East London received ten. Four of the five trusts are rated as 'requires improvement' by the CQC, while Barts is rated 'inadequate'.

Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern, said: 'Staff are doing what they can but there are too many patients and too few staff. There just isn't time to do the physical jobs that are necessary.'

Liz McAnulty, of the Patients Association, said: 'Reports of problems such as one trust staffing a ward of 46 patients with only four nurses are seldom the result of simple inhumanity on the part of care staff ... they arise from rotten institutional cultures, often as a result of cost pressures within a hospital.'

The CQC said the number of whistleblowing enquires it received for each trust did not reflect the actual number of reported concerns, as some enquires included multiple complaints while others were repeat calls about the same issue.

David Melia, director of nursing and quality at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 'We encourage our staff to raise concerns in whatever way they feel most comfortable. To make sure we learn from these concerns we keep a record of them and look for any themes or patterns.'

Jayne Adamson, of Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Trust, said: 'Our staff have a duty to raise concerns and we actively encourage them to do this.' A Barts Health spokesman said it had made improvements to cut bullying.
When it comes to your profile picture, a total stranger knows what's best for you, according to new research.

Images selected by strangers convey a much more favourable first impression than images people select for themselves, according to the study.

The findings contradict evidence which suggests that we portray ourselves in a good light in our profile pictures - instead it seems we're doing it all wrong.

 Slide me  This participant selected the top, second from left photo for her professional profile picture but strangers thought she looked better in the bottom, second from left one. Research showed people appeared more attractive, trustworthy, dominant, confident or competent in pictures that other people chose for them

WHAT DID THEY DO? Researchers took 102 students and asked them to select two out of 12 photos of their face that they were most likely to use as profile pictures in three contexts - on social networks, dating sites and professional networks. Participants for the study then did the same for 12 images of a randomly selected stranger. Researchers found people tended to select images that highlighted positive character traits in line with the context that the image was for. However, when the researchers showed these images to strangers, the results were different. When asked to rate how attractive, trustworthy, dominant, confident or competent the person in them appeared, they found that the images people had selected for themselves made a less favourable impression than images selected by others. Advertisement

'Our findings suggest that people make poor choices when selecting flattering images of themselves for online profile pictures, which affects other people's perception of them', said Dr David White, from the University of New South Wales, who led the study.

'This effect is likely to have a substantial impact on online interactions, the impressions people form and the decisions they base on them, including whether to employ, date, befriend or even vote for someone.'

Previous studies have shown that people make judgements about an individual's character and personality within a split second of seeing a photograph of a face.

'Our results have clear practical implications; if you want to put your best face forward, it makes sense to ask someone else to choose your picture', said Dr White.

Researchers took 102 students and asked them to select two out of 12 photos of their face that they were most likely to use as profile pictures.

Volunteers selected them for three different contexts - on social networks, dating sites and professional networks.

 Slide me  This participant thought he looked best in the bottom right photo for his dating profile. However, strangers selected the top row, second from right one. Researchers concluded that people make sub-optimal choices when selecting their own profile pictures

They then did the same for 12 images of a randomly selected stranger.

Researchers found people tended to select images that highlighted positive character traits in line with the context that the image was for.

'Our results demonstrate that people know how to select profile pictures that fit specific networking contexts and make positive impressions on strangers: dating images appear more attractive, and professional images appear more competent', said Dr White.

However, when the researchers showed these images to unfamiliar viewers (i.e. strangers), the results were different.

When asked to rate how attractive, trustworthy, dominant, confident or competent the person in them appeared, they found that the images people had selected for themselves made a less favourable impression than images selected by others.

Researchers took 102 students and asked them to select two out of 12 photos of their face that they were most likely to use as profile pictures. Pictured are two datasets

'We conclude that people make sub-optimal choices when selecting their own profile pictures, such that self-perception places important limits on facial first impressions formed by others', researchers said in the paper which in published in the journal Cognitive Research.

The authors do not give an explanation of why this might be the case.

'One apparently plausible account of our findings is that, somewhat paradoxically, these self-enhancing biases in perception may in fact interfere with a person's ability to discriminate between images when selecting one to portray a positive impression,' they said.

This suggests that perceiving yourself as more positive may impede your ability to see you have picked a bad photo.

'Future research needs to investigate the mechanisms that underlie the choices people make when selecting profile pictures to find out why people seem to have a limited ability to select the most flattering images of themselves,' Dr White said.

Researchers asked students to select two out of 12 photos of their face that they were most likely to use as profile pictures in three contexts - on social networks, dating sites and professional networks

This research comes shortly after Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) and King's College in London found users subconsciously adopt different personas unique to each social network.

The same person will be unrecognisable on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram, researchers found.

Most of us have multiple social media profiles but a new study shows that we totally change who we are for each of them.

For instance a photo of someone's colourful Starbucks drink may be popular on Instagram, but the same image post to LinkedIn would be frowned upon.

This stems from our need to fit in within the culture of each of the sites and in the future such studies could help people engineer the 'perfect' social media profile.
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Could there really be primitive life busily trying to evolve on an icy wasteland moon of Saturn called Enceladus? If indeed there is, we should all gaze at the sky tonight in wonder.

For what is so extraordinary about Nasas claims is that Saturn  in cosmic terms  is so amazingly close to us. We may not be able to see its famous rings without a telescope. But to the unaided eye, it appears as a bright and very beautiful golden star, not twinkling but shining with a steady light.

Although it is almost 800million miles away, the fact we can see the planet whose moon may be host to primitive life is almost spooky, imparting a very tangible sense that we may not be alone.

Earlier this year a team of international scientists using advanced telescopes announced they had discovered at least three planets with benign conditions which might support life orbiting a red dwarf star, equivalent to our sun. They described it as a holy grail in the search for evidence of extraterrestrials.

But those planets were 39 light years away  or 240trillion miles. This new frontier on Enceladus is very much closer to home.

And the fact that Nasa has now identified hydrogen on the moon means there is a possibility that primitive microscopic single-celled animals could be thriving on Saturns sixth largest moon.

The evidence from the Cassini probe indicates that if so, they would be living on the sides of hot jets called hydrothermal vents, sunk deep in ocean floors beneath the moons frozen surface.

Amazingly, this is almost a carbon copy of how life began on Earth. Or, to put it another way, it is just the type of brutal beginning that our own planets first creatures endured.

In March, British scientists produced powerful evidence to show the evolution of life on Earth began around similar seafloor vents to those on Enceladus. They had discovered proof of the worlds oldest fossils, which are up to 4.28billion years old, in Quebec, Canada.

These tiny fossils  half a millimetre long and half the width of a human hair  are believed to be the remains of bacteria that lived underwater around hydrothermal vents deep in Earths primordial oceans. The origins of life may have developed very soon after the oceans formed 4.4billion years ago, says Matthew Dodd, a University College London geochemist who led the study.

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

Those bacteria are not only ancient, they are extremely resilient. The microfossils structures are almost identical to micro-organisms we see in similar hydrothermal vents today, adds Dodd.

This parallel with the origins of life on Earth, in particular, is why astronomers and evolutionary scientists are in such a froth of excitement and speculation.

But the speculation should be tempered with pragmatism.

Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that any primitive organisms that did exist on Enceladus could evolve into advanced life forms, we have to accept that conditions on the moon are more hostile than it is possible to believe.

The hot rocks at the bottom of Enceladuss oceans that give rise to the thermal vents where life may exist push the liquid environment to 90C. If a fish did evolve, it would be instantly broiled and battered.

These boiling reservoirs are vaporised into high-pressure plumes of fluid that are shot in 800mph jets through cracks in the moons surface, where they fly hundreds of feet above. Some of them even get sucked into one of Saturns rings as space debris. Thats where many of the moons possible inhabitants are most likely to end up. Or they might land back on the ice-bound wasteland that is the surface of Enceladus, where temperatures are a nightmare minus 201C, and the only atmosphere detected is volcanic gas and those vapour plumes.

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

Which brings us back to Earth  both literally and metaphorically.

The fact is that our planet provided the perfect benign conditions to support rapid evolution.

Earths nurturing oceans, warm air and vast continents allowed those first micro-organisms to develop into ever more complex creatures  to crawl from the sea, to colonise the land and sky, and to evolve and keep evolving, to create the world that we enjoy today.

Those ancient fossils of lifes first creatures show that, in cosmic terms, life on Earth evolved very rapidly indeed.

Back in the 1940s, a renowned Italian physicist Enrico Fermi suggested that, with 100billion stars in our galaxy, it was logically inevitable that intelligent life should have evolved elsewhere in the universe as well.

Whats more, he added, a highly evolved extra-terrestrial life form should have colonised the galaxy by now. Some scientists go so far as to say that there are around 60billion planets in the Milky Way alone capable of supporting 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

But that leaves a huge paradox, which has become known as the Fermi paradox  if this is true, where are the aliens? Why, despite our ever growing knowledge of space and 40 years of intensive searching, can we not find them?

The answer may simply be that conditions on Earth are unique. That only a many-billions-to-one combination of random factors has led to the conditions on Earth that support higher forms of life such as us humans.

Astronomer Royal Martin Rees says that, even if all the ingredients for life were there on any body such as Enceladus, there is no guarantee of its existence even in a primordial form.

We dont know how the first life was generated from a soup of chemicals, he explains.

It might have involved a fluke so rare that it happened only once in the entire galaxy  like shuffling a whole pack of cards into perfect order.

Which is why we should raise our eyes to Saturn tonight  and thank our lucky stars for the wonders of our blue planet.
At first glance, it looks like any other clothing hook.

But on closer inspection, this sinister device contains a hidden camera that spies on people getting undressed.

Police have issued a warning to stay away from hooks like this, and for the public to report them if they see them in public toilets and dressing rooms.

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At first glance, it looks like any other clothing hook. But on closer inspection, this sinister device contains a hidden camera, circled in red, that spies on people getting undressed

WHAT WE KNOW These 'spy' hooks can be bought online by anyone globally for as little as 20 ($25) They have a battery life of 2 hours and are being advertised as 'home security devices' Common spots for hidden cameras are inside dressing rooms, hotel rooms, and public bathrooms Last year, police in Florida warned that these hooks had been found on walls in three public toilets around the state Advertisement

The 'spy' hooks can be bought online by anyone globally for as little as 20 ($25).

They contain miniature cameras which film from a small hole at the top of the plastic.

Last year, police in Florida warned that these hooks had been found on walls in three public toilets around the state.

The Florida Keys sheriff said at the time: 'Anyone who has a public restroom on their property needs to check them closely.

'If you find anything suspicious you think might contain a hidden camera, don't touch it. Call us right away and we will respond.

'Keep in mind, though, that these are very small cameras that can be mounted in many locations and hidden in many seemingly every-day items.'

Police have issued a warning to stay away from hooks like this, and to report them if they see them in public restrooms and dressing rooms. Anyone can place the hook in a public restroom, then retrieve it and download the footage onto their PC

According to a Facebook post made by Monroe County Sheriff's Office, all of the cameras had been models that can be purchased online as 'home security devices.'

Common spots for hidden cameras are inside dressing rooms, hotel rooms, and public bathrooms, according to NBC.

Private investigator Carrie Kerskie told NBC: 'Nowadays, with the advances in technology, all you need to do is insert a MicroSD card.

'The battery life for these coat hooks, I looked it up, is two hours.

'Then, you just take it out, pop it in the computer, and you have all your images,' said Kerskie.
A tiny seahorse makes itself look exactly like a piece of coral to hide from predators swimming around it.

The 2cm tall camouflaged pygmy seahorse stays incredibly still, changing colour to its surroundings to stop it from being spotted.

Wildlife photographer Suzan Meldonian was diving 80-feet below sea level for an hour off the coast of Aniloa, in the Philippines, when she spotted the creature in the coral.

Can you spot? A tiny seahorse makes itself look exactly like a piece of coral to hide from predators swimming around it

The 2cm tall camouflaged pygmy seahorse stays incredibly still, changing colour to its surroundings to stop it from being spotted

Her stunning images appear to show just the weaving coral, but on closer inspection you can also see the pink seahorse, with bobbles on its body.

Ms Meldonian, of Boca Raton, Florida, said: 'When I first saw it I was shocked at how absolutely tiny and perfectly blended into the background it was.

'Because they are so well camouflaged it is really easy to lose sight of them while you are diving.

'You have to study the coral really closely for any slight differences in the patterns or little movements before you can decipher where the animal is.

'With seahorses of any type, they are very delicate and fragile creatures and so you must take care not to stress them too much while diving around them.

Wildlife photographer Suzan Meldonian was diving, 80-feet below sea level, for an hour off the coast of Aniloa, in the Philippines, when she spotted the creature in the coral

The photographer's stunning images appear to show just the weaving coral, but on closer inspection you can also see the pink seahorse, with bobbles on its body

'Being underwater is amazing, it's another layer - a world within a world.'

Seahorses are one the slowest swimmers in the sea - but what seahorses lack in speed, they make up for in stealth.

The creatures' delicate heads are designed to prevent disturbances in the water that would alert prey to their approach.

This is important, as their dinner - tiny crustaceans called copepods - can rapidly sense ripples and escape at breakneck speed.

Despite being just 1mm long, the copepod is one of the worlds fastest animals, capable of breathtaking acceleration over short distances - the equivalent to a 6ft person swimming underwater at 2,000mph.

SEAHORSES VERSUS COPEPODS: AN UNDERWATER ARMS RACE... Seahorses are renowned for being poor swimmers. Although different species can travel at varying speeds, the slowest is the dwarf seahorse - which can only reach speeds around five feet an hour. But the seahorse is the equivalent of a stealth fighter jet - it's head and body is shaped so that it causes minimum disruption as it moves through water. Their prey, on the other hand, are among the fastest-known animals in the world. Copepods, despite being just 1mm long, have the ability to 'jump' short distances with an amazing burst of speed. This seemingly foolproof flight mechanism is triggered when the copepod - short-sighted in most cases, and eyeless in some species - detects vibration or disruption in the surrounding water. It means that the sneaky seahorse can capture the speedy copepod in 90 per cent of encounters. Advertisement

But even this impressive flight mechanism is no match for the ponderous, hungry seahorse.

Lead scientist, Brad Gemmell, of the University of Texas, said: A seahorse is one of the slowest swimming fish that we know of.

But it is able to capture prey that swim at incredible speeds for their size. We wanted to know why.

Suzan Meldonian, of Boca Raton, Florida, said: 'When I first saw it I was shocked at how absolutely tiny and perfectly blended into the background it was'

The creatures' delicate heads are designed to prevent disturbances in the water that would alert prey to their approach

Seahorses are one the slowest swimmers in the sea - but what seahorses lack in speed, they make up for in stealth.

Several years ago Dr Gemmell's team used high-speed 3D imaging techniques to study the dwarf seahorse, Hippocampus zosterae, from the Bahamas and the US.

Writing in the journal Nature Communications, Dr Gemmel said that the unusual shape of a seahorse's head helps prevent waves forming in front of its snout.

This allows the creatures to sneak up on their prey without being detected.

He added: It's like an arms race between predator and prey, and the seahorse has developed a good method for getting close enough so that their striking distance is very short.

Seahorses have the capability to overcome the sensory abilities of one of the most talented escape artists in the aquatic world - copepods.

People often don't think of seahorses as amazing predators, but they really are.

The seahorse is the equivalent of a stealth fighter jet - it's head and body is shaped so that it causes minimum disruption as it moves through water.

'You have to study the coral really closely for any slight differences in the patterns or little movements before you can decipher where the animal is,' said wildlife photographer Suzan Meldonian from Florida

This crafty seahorse took the term 'master of disguise' to a whole new level with its ingenious disguise
For decades the demise of radio has been a hot topic, with songs such as Radio Gaga and Video Killed The Radio Star predicting a decline in listeners.

But 80s pop songs may have been wrong  as it appears we are entering a new golden age of radio which is seeing more people access their favourite stations online.

However, surge in digital listeners could trigger the end of FM listening as early as this year.

Radio use in the UK is now at record levels, with 48 million adults listening to more than 1 billion hours each week, according to industry monitor Rajar

Radio use in the UK is now at record levels, with 48 million adults listening to more than 1 billion hours each week, according to industry monitor Rajar.

However rather than buying a traditional radio to tune to FM, there has been a huge shift in the number of people accessing live streams through their tablets and smartphones.

The change is happening so quickly that some analysts predict digital listeners will become the majority within a year  and it could spell the end of FM.

Once this is reached, the government will undertake a review which could result in the FM being switched off.

Norway became the first country in the world to end FM radio when it cut the signal in January this year.

Even five years ago this situation was unthinkable, said Ford Ennals, chief executive of Digital Radio UK, the company overseeing the nationwide digital switchover.

During the last three months of 2016 170 new local and national digital stations were launched, bringing the total number in the UK to 339. Despite its current success, digital radio will have to adapt to shifting listening habits as younger listeners replace older ones

People predicted radio would fall away  its extraordinary when you think about the fragmentation of the media, he told the Financial Times.

A NEW GOLDEN AGE OF RADIO Radio use in the UK is now at record levels, with 48 million adults listening to more than 1 billion hours each week, according to industry monitor Rajar. However rather than buying a traditional radio to tune to FM, there has been a huge shift in the number of people accessing live streams through their tablets and smartphones. The change is happening so quickly that some analysts predict digital listeners will become the majority within a year  and it could spell the end of FM. Advertisement

During the last three months of 2016 170 new local and national digital stations were launched, bringing the total number in the UK to 339.

Despite its current success, digital radio will have to adapt to shifting listening habits as younger listeners replace older ones.

Data suggests that just over half of people between the ages of 15 and 24 listen to live radio, compared with 88 per cent of people over the age of 55.

BBC Radio 1, which is principally focused at a younger audience, lost 1 million listeners last year.

Bob Shennen, director of Radio at the BBC, said: Young people are just not listening for as long, but added the medium was very good at reaffirming its core values.

The BBC currently enjoys a dominant share of the total listening hours in the UK, account for 53 per cent, with Radio 2 alone accounting for 17 per cent.
Mini drones, invisibility cloaks and guns that shoot around corners may sound like gadgets used by James Bond in the 007 films  but, they are among many devices now found in the real world.

With the worlds military totaling more than $1.6 trillion dollars, futuristic weapons far beyond what 'Q' could have ever imagined are under development in the labs, and have even begun to make their way into the hands of human soldiers.

Although Q may never have fathomed some of the cutting edge technology now used in the real-world, the genius inventor may have predicted others, such as jetpacks.

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While Q may have created a slew of futuristic gadgets, he could still not have fathomed what soldiers and police officers would be using today. Shanghais SWAT team is utilizing guns that shoot around corners (pictured) are leaving serious criminals nowhere to hide in China

While Bond had his own personal genius inventor named Q at his beck and call to create weapons at a moments notice, the world has researchers working around the clock in order to come up with the best and baddest designs  before anyone else beats them to it.

Shanghais SWAT team is utilizing bendable firearms that let the operator see and shoot around corners.

Officers are able to aim 60 degrees around the corner to attack an armed target without exposing themselves to a counterattack.

The weapon consists of a handgun, or pistol, fitted to the front of the system, which is fired from the back portion of the device using an ordinary trigger.

Some of the futuristic weapons have been used in the battlefield, while some are still being developed in secret labs, regardless, the lethal devices are far beyond what James Bond's (left) Q (right) could have ever imagined

REAL-LIFE 'JAMES BOND' WEAPONS - JetPack - Fake fingerprints - Invisible cloak - Mini spy drones - Guns that shoot around corners Advertisement

Pulling a grip underneath changes it from its bent configuration straight, allowing operators to use it normally.

And the high-resolution camera and monitor lets them observe their target from different vantage points.

Military agencies have also employed their own cutting edge technology that pulls inspiration from the insect world.

The Dragonfly drone, which can fit in the palm of a hand, will spy on enemy positions and gather intelligence for the military and British agents.

It is inspired by the biology of a dragonfly, with four flapping wings and four legs to enable it to fly through the air seamlessly and perch on a windowsill to spy on terrorists.

It is one of the futuristic pieces of kit currently being developed for the Ministry of Defence and the UKs security forces as part of the MoDs new innovation project.

The Dragonfly drone, which can fit in the palm of a hand, will spy on enemy positions and gather intelligence for the military and British agents. It is one of the futuristic pieces of kit currently being developed for the Ministry of Defence and the UKs security forces

A Star-Wars style laser weapons system which will be able to burn holes in enemy drones will also be added to the Armys new kit.

Currently in development, the laser will target and defeat aerial threats such as drones or conventional aircraft from the ground.

The Dragonfly drone (pictured), which can fit in the palm of a hand, will spy on enemy positions and gather intelligence

Another real world gadget doesn't seem to fit in the Bond world, but is something many could image seeing in the Star Trek or Harry Potter films - an invisibility cloak.

Researchers from Queens Mary University of London coated a curved surface with a material made of nano-sized particles.

The 'composite' material had seven distinct layers, where the electric property of each layer varies depending on the position.

The combined effect of all of these layers is to 'cloak' the object.

This means a structure can hide an object that would normally have caused an incoming electromagnetic wave to be scattered.

The researchers said the technology might not lead to the invisibility cloak made famous in J.K Rowling's Harry Potter novels quite yet.

But they said it a practical demonstration could result in a step-change in how antennas are tethered to their platform.

Q may not have thought of today's futuristic weapons, but he may have inspired some of them - such as jetpacks and fake fingerprints.

In the 1965 film Thunderball, viewers watched Bond, played by Sean Connery, soar through the air strapped to a jetpack that Q called the Bell Rocket Belt.

The gadget was a lower-power rocket propulsion device that let the wearer travel and leap over small distance.

It instantly became a hit among Bond fans, leaving many to wonder when they could also take to the skies like 007  in 2016 the public saw that dream get closer to a reality.

SWIMMING BULLETS DSG Technology has developed a range of supercavitating ammunition that can effectively swim longer distances to hit the target. As a result, the firm says the Cav-X bullets can be used with standard weapons in multi-environment battles for diver support, harbour protection, and even submerged shooting positions. The Cav-X supercavitating bullets come in 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and 12.7 mm, and can be fired from air to water, water to water, and water to air, including partially-wet weapons, semi or full auto, according to DSG. The ammunition relies on cavitation effects to optimize range and accuracy when fired through water. This occurs when water pressure is lowered below the waters vapour pressure, forming bubbles. And, when the bubble envelops the object  in this case, the bullet  it reduces the drag. Advertisement

David Mayman, a former commercial pilot from Australia, worked with a team of engineers to build a one-person vertical take-off device and demonstrated his personal prototype over London in October.

In a four minute flight he flew around 100 feet (30 meters) into the air above the River Thames in East London, zipping back and forth towards the ExCel conference center.

The JB-10 JetPack is powered by two miniature jet engines run on aviation fuel that sit either side of a harness and can be controlled using two joysticks.

A lot of us spent time in our youth fantasizing about what it would be like to follow Buck Rogers up into the air with our very own jetpacks, Mayman said at the debut.

In the 1965 film Thunderball, viewers watched Bond (left), played by Sean Connery, soar through the air strapped to a jetpack that Q called the Bell Rocket Belt. A former pilot (right) built a vertical take-off device and demonstrated his personal prototype over London in Oct

We are getting a lot closer to launching a commercial product but there is still much further that we can take our design and ideas.'

If all goes well, you could be taking to the skies with your own JetPack in 2019.

Six years after Bond took to the skies Q gave him a new set a fingerprints.

In the 1971 Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever, Q supplied Bond with fake fingerprints that he used to fool Tiffany Case into believing he was Peter Franks.

The silicon-like prints seamlessly laid on top of Bonds natural prints.

In the 1971 Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever, Q supplied Bond with fake fingerprints (pictured) that he used to fool Tiffany Case into believing he was Peter Franks

Michigan State University demonstrated how easy it was bypass an Android fingerprint sensor with office supplies in just 15 minutes. The technique involved a method using a 300 dpi scan of a fingerprint to print, conductive ink, glossy paper and a standard inkjet printer (pictured)

And real world hackers are also using phony prints to pretend they are someone else  but in order to trick smartphones.

Researchers from Michigan State University demonstrated how easy it was bypass an Android fingerprint sensor with office supplies in just 15 minutes.

The technique involved a method using a 300 dpi scan of a fingerprint to print, conductive ink, glossy paper and a standard inkjet printer.

Once the fingerprint was scanned, researchers were able to print it out on paper using special ink.

Then they simply cut the images the same size as a real finger print, placed it on the phone and successfully unlocked it.

Once the printed 2D fingerprints are ready we can then use them for spoofing mobile phones, reads the published study.

The 'composite' material had seven distinct layers, where the electric property of each layer varies depending on the position.

The combined effect of all of these layers is to 'cloak' the object. This means a structure can hide an object that would normally have caused an incoming electromagnetic wave to be scattered.

The researchers said the technology might not lead to the invisibility cloak made famous in J.K Rowling's Harry Potter novels quite yet.

But they said it a practical demonstration could result in a step-change in how antennas are tethered to their platform.
As many carmakers move ahead in the self-driving car race, one firm is expanding its operations to ensure it is not left behind.

General Motors is set to hire 1,100 people over the next five years for its research and development facility in California.

The new employees will be working at the Cruise Automation unit that the firm acquired last year, which is currently testing over 50 Chevrolet Bolt vehicles with self-driving technology in San Francisco, Scottsdale, Arizona and metro Detroit.

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General Motors is set to hire 1,100 more people over the next five for its researcher and development facility in California. The unit is currently testing over 50 Chevrolet Bolt vehicles with self-driving technology in San Francisco, Scottsdale, Arizona and metro Detroit

General Motors (GM) has already added some 150 engineers to the Cruise Automation unit since purchasing it for $581 million in 2016  it started with just 40.

Now, the firm has posted 30 job openings to its website with the hopes of filling the positions quickly.

In addition to increasing its staff, GM also announced it will be investing an additional $14 million into the unit.

'Expanding our team at Cruise Automation and linking them with our global engineering talent is another important step in our work to redefine the future of personal mobility,' said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra.

'Self-driving technology holds enormous benefits to society in the form of increased safety and access to transportation.'

'Running our autonomous vehicle program as a start-up is giving us the speed we need to continue to stay at the forefront of development of these technologies and the market applications.'

GM TEAMS UP WITH LYFT General Motors announced a $500 million investment in Lyft late last year, as a joint effort to develop a fleet of self-driving taxis. And what although this idea seemed like a distant dream, the duo has announced plans for a testing program on public roads by 2017. The program will use Chevrolet Bolt electric taxis and 'included customers in a yet-to-be disclosed city'. In addition to the testing program, Lyft is working on a new app that will be used for the autonomous cars. The app is still a prototype, but will list the option for an autonomous car and there is a GM OnStar assistant to answer questions or report issues while you're en route to your destination. Passengers will also use it to tell the car when to 'go', when they've finished with the rid and the car can leave. Advertisement

The new investment will include repurposing an existing facility in San Francisco that will more than double Cruise Automation's research and development space.

The Cruise Automation team plans to move into the new space by the end of the year and hire more than 1,100 new employees over the course of the next five years.

'We are excited to significantly expand our footprint in California and continue on our rapid growth trajectory,' said Kyle Vogt, CEO of Cruise Automation.

'As autonomous car technology matures, our company's talent needs will continue to increase.

'Accessing the world-class talent pool that the San Francisco Bay Area offers is one of the many reasons we plan to grow our presence in the state.'

The Cruise Automation team plans to move into the new space by the end of the year and hire more than 1,100 new employees over the course of the next five years. In addition to increasing its staff, GM also announced it will be investing an additional $14 million into the unit

California Governor Jerry Brown's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) allocated an $8 million tax credit to GM Cruise for this expansion.

The incentive was approved by the California Competes Tax Credit Committee at a meeting in Sacramento.

'GM's investment is further proof that California is leading the nation in the design, engineering and deployment of autonomous vehicles,' said Panorea Avdis, director of the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development.

'Today, GM joins hundreds of other companies that have received a California Compete Tax Credit award in return for adding good-paying jobs in the state, and we look forward to working with them on their continued expansion in California.'
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North Korea has long been one of the world's most mysterious domains.

A communist nation with a closed-door policy against outsiders, and one which journalist Adam Baidawi was keen to get inside.

Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Mr Baidawi reveals the story behind a set of captivating images he took there and his week-long quest as an undercover reporter to find out what life is really like for the people who live behind those doors.

Journalist Adam Baidawi was keen to get inside North Korea, where his group of fellow tourists were accompanied at all times by guides like this one

Asked to summarise the agenda being forced upon himself and the rest of his tour group, he states: 'It was an agenda of normalisation. 'At every given chance, it was, "Hey, see? We have that here too. We're not as wildly different as your government might have you believe"'

'I worked for three years, on and off, to make this story happen,' Mr Baidawi tells MailOnline.

'It's not terribly difficult for most people to access a tourist visa. But professional journalists and photographers are blanket banned.'

Mr Baidawi booked his trip though an external tour company and didn't disclose his profession.

Still, as a tourist, he says, there's absolutely no way to be alone in North Korea.

North Korea has long been one of the world's most mysterious domains - a communist nation with a closed-door policy against outsiders

Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Baidawi reveals the story behind these captivating images and his week-long quest as an undercover reporter to find out what life is really like for the people who live here

He explains: 'It's not terribly difficult for most people to access a tourist visa. But professional journalists and photographers are blanket banned'

Mr Baidawi, who spent three years setting up his trip, booked though an external tour company and didn't disclose his profession

'You have two "tour guides" with you at all times,' Mr Baidawi explains, describing them as 'meticulously trained' with an 'eerily polite' tone.

'You're required to stay in tourist-only hotels,' he goes on. 'You're isolated from the rest of Pyongyang  isolated from any real, authentic, human contact with locals.

'It's not possible to walk outside the hotel alone. You're not popping down for a morning jog, or exploring the city by sunset.'

All sorts of rules of conduct apply when visiting this country. For a start, you can't address it as 'North Korea', but instead, 'the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea'.

According to Mr Baidawi, inhabitants of North Korea such as this lady on a train were equally as fascinated to see tourists as the other way around

Workers such as these men are tasked with building towering bronze statues of North Korean leaders, past and present

Mr Baidawi visited a number of schools in North Korea - 'only the best ones' - where the country's most talented children are taught subjects including music

Dance is an incredibly important part of the country's national identity, and children like this are trained to a high standard from a young age

Mr Baidawi reveals: 'There's an understanding that malicious actions have very, very serious consequences.

'Though all of the tourists in our group had very strong feelings about the regime, there was a level of restraint  and, in a funny way, respect. Like it or not, we were guests in their country.'

As for taking photos, the rules varied.

'We were told strictly not to photograph soldiers, and, oddly, construction sites,' he says. 'They kept telling us, "Please, please  only photograph beautiful things. Other countries will try to use bad photos against us."'

Mr Baidawi flew in from Beijing to North Korea's eerily empty airport (pictured), which only had two scheduled flights that day

Most of the vast, squeaky-clean halls are for show and sit completely vacant since travel in and out of the country is not for the majority of the population

North Korea's daily newspaper (pictured) is also printed in English, and is tightly regulated by the government - with only positive news shared

School children are taught history in classrooms plastered with violent illustrations of American soldiers, rendered as pointy-featured villains (not seen here)

Mr Baidawi spent much of the tour in the nation's capital, Pyongyang, which he describes as an 'immaculate joyless Disneyland ' - and a far cry from the rest of the country, where poverty is rife.

'Away from the machine that is the capital, things get a little messier,' he says.

'Those in-between moments that I'd been looking for  the petulant school children and tired farmers and shy, reclusive locals  emerged a little more.'

Mr Baidawi visited a number of schools in North Korea - 'only the best ones' - where the country's most talented children are taught history in classrooms plastered with violent illustrations of American soldiers, rendered as pointy-featured villains.

To honour the country's leaders, citizens regularly perform perfectly choreographed mass dances like this one, which go on for more than an hour

Hand-crafted mosaic monuments to the Kims, shrouded in floral displays, are a common sight in the capital of Pyongyang

People gather to admire a lavish fireworks display for the former prime minister Kim Il-sung's birthday. He died in 1994

One of North Korea's traffic ladies, apparently hand-picked for their beauty so as to impress tourists and visitors

'After a few days, you come to realise just how all-encompassing the propaganda machine is,' he remarks.

'These citizens are victims of it from day dot. They're spoon-fed a narrative from birth. I saw one beautiful eight-year-old girl burst into tears of passion while singing a song about the country's leaders.

You come to realise just how all-encompassing the propaganda machine is

'They have no access to information that presents a different point of view. I felt so, so hopeless for them.'

Asked to summarise the agenda being forced upon himself and the rest of his tour group, Mr Baidawi states: 'It was an agenda of normalisation.

'At every given chance, it was, "Hey, see? We have that here too. We're not as wildly different as your government might have you believe."'

Looking at his photos, however, all evidence seems to point otherwise.

Revellers gaze at portraits of their leaders, whose faces appear everywhere from inside homes and shops to the facades of huge buildings

As a tourist, there's absolutely no way to be alone in North Korea according to Mr Baidawi, who snapped this cyclist passing by

'You have two "tour guides" with you at all times,' he explains, describing them as 'meticulously trained' with an 'eerily polite' tone. Pictured, a citizen wanders across an otherwise empty path

'You're required to stay in tourist-only hotels,' he goes on. 'You're isolated from the rest of Pyongyang  isolated from any real, authentic, human contact with locals'

Mr Baldawi adds: 'It's not possible to walk outside the hotel alone. You're not popping down for a morning jog, or exploring the city by sunset'

All sort of rules of conduct apply when visiting this country. For a start, you can't address it as 'North Korea', but instead 'the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea'

Mr Baidawi reveals: 'There's an understanding that malicious actions have very, very serious consequences'

He adds: 'Though all of the tourists in our group had very strong feelings about the regime, there was a level of restraint  and, in a funny way, respect. Like it or not, we were guests in their country'

As for taking photos, the rules varied. 'We were told strictly not to photograph soldiers, and, oddly, construction sites,' he says

'They kept telling us, "Please, please  only photograph beautiful things. Other countries will try to use bad photos against us"'

Mr Baidawi spent much of the tour in the nation's capital, Pyongyang, which he describes as an 'immaculate joyless Disneyland ' - and a far cry from the rest of the country, where poverty is rife

'Away from the machine that is the capital, things get a little messier,' he says. 'Those in-between moments that I'd been looking for  the petulant school children and tired farmers and shy, reclusive locals  emerged a little more'

On the constant stream of propaganda, Mr Baidawi remarks: 'These citizens are victims of it from day dot. They're spoon-fed a narrative from birth. They have no access to information that presents a different point of view. I felt so, so hopeless for them'

Life in Pyongyang goes on as normal while international tensions simmer between North Korea and the West

Despite heightened tensions on the international stage, a series of images taken in North Korea today, a day ahead of the Day of the Sun festival, reveal that life goes on as normal in the secretive state.

North Korea upped its warmongering with Donald Trump today in a series of menacing boasts threatening to 'ravage' US troops amid fears the two countries are heading for war.

But new images show commuters bustling around Pyongyang's central station, as the nation prepares to commemorate the 105th birthday of former leader Kim II Sung on 15 April.

Pyongyang's Vice Minister Han Song Ryol accused Trump of building up a 'vicious cycle' of tensions and warned the US against provoking North Korea militarily. He said: 'We will go to war if they choose.'

North Korea's military said it would 'ruthlessly ravage' the United States if Washington chose to attack. The Korean People's Army statement boasted that US military bases in the South 'as well as the headquarters of evils such as the (South Korean presidential) Blue House would be pulverized within a few minutes'.

Han's earlier comments come as tensions rise over the possibility Kim Jong-un's regime will launch another nuclear weapons test tomorrow as North Korea marks the national holiday Day of the Sun, commemorating the birth of the country's founding father Kim Il Sung.

Despite heightened tensions on the international stage, a series of images taken in North Korea today, a day ahead of the Day of the Sun festival, reveal that life goes on as normal in the secretive state

North Korea upped its warmongering with Donald Trump today in a series of menacing boasts threatening to 'ravage' US troops amid fears the two countries are heading for war

New images show commuters bustling around Pyongyang's central station, as the nation prepares to commemorate the 105th birthday of former leader Kim II Sung on 15 April

Pyongyang's Vice Minister Han Song Ryol accused Trump of building up a 'vicious cycle' of tensions and warned the US against provoking North Korea militarily. He said: 'We will go to war if they choose'

A North Korean female traffic police is seen by a road in Pyongyang, left and a North Korean commuter takes an escalator in an underground subway station in Pyongyang, right

North Korean youths in uniform are seen through train window in a subway train station in Pyongyang. North Koreans are preparing to celebrate the 'Day of the Sun' festival, commemorating the 105th birthday anniversary of former supreme leader Kim Il-sung on 15 April, as tension over nuclear issues rise in the region

A North Korean female conductor stands in front of a mural in a subway train station in Pyongyang, left and North Korean commuters Ri Chang-rim and Jo Kwang-hyole pose for a photo in a subway train station in Pyongyang, right

North Korea's military said it would 'ruthlessly ravage' the United States if Washington chose to attack. The Korean People's Army statement boasted that US military bases in the South 'as well as the headquarters of evils such as the (South Korean presidential) Blue House would be pulverized within a few minutes'

Han's earlier comments come as tensions rise over the possibility Kim Jong-un's regime will launch another nuclear weapons test tomorrow as North Korea marks the national holiday Day of the Sun, commemorating the birth of the country's founding father Kim Il Sung

A military officer wearing medals visits the birthplace of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, a day before the 105th anniversary of his birth, in Mangyongdae just outside Pyongyang
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Thrill-seeking Brits are snapping up alternative holidays to nuclear disaster zone Chernobyl, extremist Iran, North Korea and even famine stricken Sudan.

Dylan Harris set up Manchester-based, Lupine Travel, to cater for danger tourists who are desperate to explore some of the most hostile destinations in the world.

The company offers a six day holiday to Sudan for 645 per person and the popularity of the holiday has prompted Mr Harris to put on an extra trip in December, following two sell out tours of the country earlier this year.

Thrill-seeking Brits are snapping up alternative holidays to nuclear disaster zone Chernobyl, extremist Iran, North Korea and even famine stricken Sudan, above

Dylan Harris set up Manchester-based, Lupine Travel, to cater for danger tourists who are desperate to explore some of the most hostile destinations in the world. A roadside full of debris in Liberia, above

Mr Harris who organised 50 group tours last year, said he always made sure his clients were completely safe before travelling. Above, left and right, is a deserted Chernobyl with hundreds of gas masks and rusting beds seen during a tour

Mr Harris, who organised 50 group tours last year, said he always made sure his clients were completely safe before travelling.

The 38-year-old said: 'During the actual tours themselves I am completely certain over the safety of them and there is no worry or concern whatsoever.

'The only time I encounter issues is when I am carrying out research for tours. It takes a long time to properly search our routes and itineraries along with people on the ground to get to a level where it is safe enough to take tourists out there.

'During past research trips I've been arrested, thrown in jail, up in court, had my transport ambushed, taken sanctuary in the British Embassy and much more.'

Above Dylan Harris pictured meeting a local in North Korea. He said: 'During the actual tours themselves I am completely certain over the safety of them and there is no worry or concern whatsoever'

The 38-year-old added: 'The only time I encounter issues is when I am carrying out research for tours. It takes a long time to properly search our routes and itineraries along with people on the ground to get to a level where it is safe enough to take tourists out there.' Above, a UN hut in Lebanon

He added: 'I basically go through all the difficult stuff before I know whether somewhere is safe enough to send clients to or not.

'Afghanistan has been at the top of my list for a while due to the incredible scenery and unique history but at the moment, the areas I'd like to run trips to are too unsafe.

'Attacks there are too indiscriminate and so it will have to wait for a while yet. Likewise with Syria, a country of great historical sites and warm welcoming people but it's been completely closed off now for five years and no sign of that changing any time soon.

Above, an image taken in North Korea. The dangerous travel expert admitted: 'During past research trips I've been arrested, thrown in jail, up in court, had my transport ambushed, taken sanctuary in the British Embassy and much more'

Although Syria and Afghanistan are at the top of Mr Harris' bucket list he is waiting for both destinations to become safer before visiting. Above, a tour in North Korea

Travelling like locals: Camels are pictured in Sudan and a learner driver in Liberia, as tour groups immerse themselves in the culture and lifestyle of the region

'Business has really increased over the last couple of years. I've gone from pretty much running the company by myself to now having multiple staff all over the world.

'It's certainly our regular clients that have helped this happen.

'We have a huge return rate for clients and this encourages us to search out new destinations for them. The feedback from them spreads around as well as we pick up new clients from that.

'Also though in general I think there's a huge growing market for people wanting to experience something different from a holiday.'

'Business has really increased over the last couple of years. I've gone from pretty much running the company by myself to now having multiple staff all over the world,' said Mr Harris. Above, a tour party in Sudan
Filmmaker Fede Alvarez is set to direct the revival of Labyrinth, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Honored by his hire, the Uruguayan auteur said the original adventure 'made [him] fall in love with filmmaking' and that he 'couldn't be more thrilled' to share the tale with a new generation of fans.

The 1986 Jim Henson fantasy is making its way back to the big screen, thanks to TriStar Pictures.

Leading through the Labyrinth: Filmmaker Fede Alvarez has been pegged to direct the new Labyrinth film

Talking to Deadline Alvarez said, 'Labyrinth is one of the seminal movies from my childhood that made me fall in love with filmmaking.

He continued, 'I couldnt be more thrilled to expand on Jim Hensons mesmerizing universe, and take a new generation of moviegoers back into the Labyrinth.'

In addition to Alvarez, Lisa Henson of the Jim Henson company will produce while screenwriter Jay Basu is pegged to co-write the script with the Evil Dead director.

A beloved classic: The original film followed teenage Sarah, played by Jennifer Connelly, on a quest to find her baby brother, who has been captured by the Goblin King, played by musical icon David Bowie (seen above, Connelly left, Bowie right)

Creators of the Labyrinth redux have been keen to remind people that the new film is not a remake, sequel or reboot of the fantasy original, but rather a continuation of the classic story.

The original Labyrinth follows the story of a teenager (played by a baby-faced Jennifer Connelly) who must navigate her way through a magical maze in order to save her baby brother from the clutches of the Goblin King Jareth, played by an ever-mystical David Bowie.

The story will pick up to follow a 'mythical princess' searching for her father inside the perilous labyrinth.

There is yet to be any talent attached to the feature.

Thrilling the box office: Alvarez made a name for himself with the sleeper hit Don't Breathe, a horror-thriller which grossed $160million last summer

Alvarez made a name for himself with the sleeper hit Don't Breathe, which came out of left field to gross nearly $160million worldwide. Basu is a relative unknown, with several feature screenplays under his belt.

Before the director and writer takes on the other worldly fantasy, Alvarez and Basu will team up to develop Girl in the Spider's Web, the sequel to Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Production for Labyrinth doesn't have a start date, but filming probably won't begin until at least 2018.
Last week, viewers of Emmerdale were left in bits as fan favourite Ashley Thomas [played by John Middleton] took his last breaths on the ITV soap.

Finally losing his battle against dementia, the moving storyline came to a climax as Ashley died in bed, with his wife Laurel [Charlotte Bellamy] left lying beside him, hugging his body.

And while viewers may have thought they'd witnessed the worst of it, Thursday night's episode put them through the mill again when Ashley made an appearance from beyond the grave.

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The ghost of Easter past! Ashley Thomas makes shock return to Emmerdale despite dying last Friday... leaving viewers emotional wrecks AGAIN over character's death

The funeral took place in Thursday's episode, after which Laurel fell asleep, exhausted, on the sofa.

But as she dozed, Laurel heard Ashleys voice, prompting her to wake.

Across the room, Ashley was on the TV screen, telling her she was dreaming.

The sequence was a poignant way in which Ashley could 'say a proper goodbye' to his wife, having suffered from dementia in his later life and not truly being able to recognise her.

'I couldnt go without saying goodbye could I? Not properly anyway,' he said. 'I tried to stay and to remember, I fought so hard to remember every single thing.'

Ashley told Laurel that he felt at peace now, and reminisced with her about their lives.

Touching: The sequence was a poignant way in which Ashley could 'say a proper goodbye' to his wife, having suffered from dementia in his later life and not truly being able to recognise her

Poignant: Ashley spoke to his wife as she rested next to the TV to listen to her late husband

'I notice you didnt wear your bee costume he laughed, referring to when she came to the village in fancy dress.

Ashley told her it was one of her 'finest moments' and had made 'the top 10' as she rested next to the TV to listen to her late husband.

Ashley explained he had a top 10 of Laurel moments which he had been clinging on to while fighting dementia.

He then listed them: Their (two) weddings, how she treated his daughter Gabby as her own and how she coped when their son Daniel died.

Distraught: Laurel told him she couldn't handle not having him around

Distraught, Laurel told him she couldn't handle not having him around.

His response to this was: 'Youll do all the things I couldnt, go everywhere, do everything, love til your heart bursts, laugh til it hurts.

'Im at peace now, I want you to be too. You can, you will, carry on for me.'

With a final 'I love you' and a last 'goodnight', Laurel woke up from the dream smiling.

Fans were left in tears during Friday night's episode of Emmerdale after Ashley lost his battle with degenerative vascular dementia.

Sad: Fans were left in tears during Friday night's episode of Emmerdale after Ashley lost his battle with degenerative vascular dementia

Viewers immediately took to Twitter to praise the heart-wrenching scenes - penning it a 'poignant' and 'wonderfully acted' portrayal of the disease.

And they flocked to Twitter again on Thursday, declaring that the post-funeral TV scene had set them off yet again.

'Thought I had already cried at Ashley's death, and then you do that to me! Was not prepared, crying all over again!' typed one viewer.

Farewell: Fans were left in tears during Friday night's episode of Emmerdale after Ashley Thomas sadly lost his battle with degenerative vascular dementia

'#Emmerdale is just too much. I'm a bit freaked out. Why are Ashley and Laurel having a conversation when he's gone. How heartbreaking,' another frantic fan asked.

'Ashley & Laurel's final goodbye was totally heartbreaking,' a third wrote, as a fourth echoed: 'Crying my eyes out at #Emmerdale. Bit close to home but so well acted and poignant. Good night Ashley.'

A fifth typed: 'Omg, Laurels dream where Ashley appears to her, to reassure her she'll be ok, it's incredible & emotional, great job #Emmerdale, great job!'

One last goodbye: The emotionally-charged scene finished with Laurel cuddling her husband one final time

Speaking of the scenes, actress Charlotte Bellamy told The Mirror: 'Its important to have this scene. It was really nice for the audience to see Ashley as Ashley again, to finish off this whole story of dementia.

'I imagine people who have endured or had to deal with a relative all these years theyve lost them, they never got to say goodbye. I imagine those people, all they wanted was to say goodbye to that person when they knew who they were.

'And, cleverly, thats what Emmerdale have done  given that moment of Ashley saying the things that maybe other people would want to say to that person. It is beautiful, it is absolutely heartbreaking, but it is joyous.'

The 22-page script only took one take for Charlotte to shoot and is being regarded as one of the most poignant scenes in Emmerdale's history.
Naomi Frederick and F. Murray Abraham (pictured) in The Mentor

The Mentor (Ustinov Studio, Bath)

Rating:

A German comedy? How can it possibly work?! The answer is with F. Murray Abraham at the helm.

Hes currently best known for playing the treacherous Dar Adal in TVs Homeland. But the actor, who won an Oscar in 1984 for his role as Salieri in Amadeus, has talents for comedy, too.

Personally, Id pay to watch him read the Maastricht Treaty, but luckily hes turned up in Bath to do this genial 90-minute play instead.

Written by German Daniel Kehlmann, deftly translated by Christopher Hampton, Murray Abraham plays an ageing writer whos been invited to mentor a young admirer at a country location.

But his cranky character is more interested in the font of his devotees work than in its content. Cue much fury, wailing and gnashing of teeth from the younger man.

Theres a lot of potential for the story to disappear up its own posterior, but Murray Abraham steers it clear, styling his haughty curmudgeon as a wily old crank. Hell only drink Speyside malt and he will not abide a television in his room.

The actor has the kind of craggy face you can ponder for hours: alternately owlish and playful.

Daniel Weyman as the younger writer is brilliantly blithe about his mentor. Skinny, neurotic and needy, Weyman nurtures a defiant battle cry: I may be a terrible writer, but I go to the gym!

As Weymans willowy wife, Naomi Frederick is an amusing mirage of a devoted partner, holding back her true opinion of her husbands toe-curling play.

No less watchable is Jonathan Cullen as the failed artist turned arts administrator, obliged to broker this battle of egos.

Its quite an achievement to get Murray Abraham to lead them all in such an obscure play in such a tiny (120 seater) venue. But boy is it worth it.
Bucket

Rating:

Two days after the return of Peter Kays sitcom-with-seatbelts, Car Share, the BBC decides its the perfect time to launch another on-the-road comedy starring a bickering couple stuck behind the wheel.

As a piece of scheduling incompetence, its impressive. But I dont suppose Frog Stone, the writer and co-star of Bucket (BBC4), is applauding. She must feel like a Robin Reliant being bullied off the road by Peter Kays juggernaut.

The real pity is that Bucket is a much funnier show. It has bawdy jokes, a proper plot and a mother-daughter relationship that isnt so much dysfunctional as dangerously unhinged.

Miriam Margolyes plays Mim (right), a bullying, neglectful mum of 70 who blackmails her only child Fran into chauffeuring her round the country as she ticks off goals on a bucket list

Best of all, it stars Miriam Margolyes at her raucous, foul-mouthed best. She plays Mim, a bullying, neglectful mum of 70 who blackmails her only child Fran (played by Frog) into chauffeuring her round the country as she ticks off goals on a bucket list.

Mim is a horror. In the opening scene she breaks wind mid-sentence while munching on a hard-boiled egg. Anyone who saw Margolyes in the retirement documentary The Real Marigold Hotel knows the actress is capable of even worse. It certainly makes for a convincing performance.

Mother and daughter are careering around in Mims ancient BMW held together with bumper stickers, most of them obscene. The interior is piled high with plastic tat and discarded wrappers  a hoarders home on wheels.

If Fran was as coarse as her mother, this would just be crass. What makes it believable and sometimes poignant is the difference between the women  Fran is terrified of other people, filled with self-doubt and still a virgin at 35.

Homecoming of the night Ten-year-old Daniel in Bradford was desperately waiting for his dad to return from an Army tour of duty on The World According To Kids (BBC2). Their first heartfelt welcome back hug was lump-in-the-throat TV. Advertisement

That is beyond Mims comprehension. A vigorous advocate of free love all her life, she can only think of one possible reason why her daughter has never slept with a man, and she explains her theory crudely and often. Mum! cringes Fran, Im not gay . . .

Mim claims to be dying from cancer, though shes vague on the details and this might turn out to be another of her brutal manipulation techniques. Either way, shes determined to live life with her foot on the pedal, even if she does leave a trail of crashes in her wake.

The script lacks a little confidence in places, especially when Mim and Fran get out of the car. But if the Beeb gives it a chance, this show will gather pace.

One things for sure. You wont see Peter Kay doing a Mim on Car Share, roaring down a dual carriageway with his torso poking through the sunroof  shouting: Carpe bloody diem! and lifting up his cardie.
She's the glamorous wife of former NRL star Anthony Minichiello usually spotted on the red carpet or at exclusive parties.

But on Thursday Terry Biviano was, like many other parents, being dragged around by their kids at the Easter Show at Sydney Olympic Park.

The 42-year-old took to Instagram to share a series of snaps of herself and three-year-old daughter Azura at the show grounds.

Being dragged around! Terry Biviano was like many other parents being dragged around by their kids at the Easter Show at Sydney Olympic Park

In one photo, the shoe designer is being pulled in another direction by Azura

Terry mixed functionality and design in her ensemble, a pair of black skinny pants, a khaki green jacket wrapped with a Gucci belt (worth $605 AUD) wrapped around her trim waist and a white T-shirt.

She matched the outfit with a pair of white sneakers, and accessorised with a dark brown tinted Ray Ban round sunglasses (worth $200 AUD), gold hoop earrings and a Chanel Boy Bag (worth over $6000 AUD).

Selfie time! The 42-year-old took to Instagram to share a series of snaps of herself and three-year-old daughter Azura at the show grounds

Fashionista! Terry mixed functionality and design in her ensemble, a pair of black skinny pants, a khaki green jacket wrapped with a Gucci belt wrapped around her trim waist and a white T-shirt

The fashionista captioned her post: 'Being dragged around... #EasterShow #mumslife'

Terry also shared a selfie from what appears to be the carousel, with the caption: Easter Show FUN with my little (bunny emoji) #firsteastershow #bigday

Followers of the chic WAG swamped her comments section with compliments on her and her daughter's stylish looks.

Easter chic: She accessorised her look with a pair of dark brown tinted Ray Ban sunglasses, gold hoop earrings and a Chanel Boy Bag

One wrote: 'Superstyin' mum and daughter.'

Another commented: 'Only you could look so amazing at the Easter show!! @terrybiviano'

While someone else said: 'Best dressed girls there!'

Terry and Anthony will be spending over half a million to revamp their rundown $3million 1970s style Vaucluse home.

'It is in its very early stages, the slab hasn't even been laid yet,' she said in a report by The Daily Telegraph.
The Sense Of An Ending (15)

Verdict: Exasperatingly slow

Rating:

Fast & Furious 8 (12A)

Verdict: Mega-silly but mega-fun

Rating:

The novel on which this film is based won the prestigious Man Booker prize in 2011. It was written, very stylishly, by Julian Barnes. But heavens, it was dreary. Its not a long book, but once I picked it up, I couldnt stop putting it down.

The cinematic version is acted, also very stylishly, by a top-notch British cast including Jim Broadbent, Harriet Walter, Michelle Dockery, Emily Mortimer and, the star turn, gliding into the action late, like an imperious, veteran bird of prey finally ready to disperse all lesser beings, Charlotte Rampling.

The Sense Of An Ending is acted very stylishly by a top-notch British cast including Jim Broadbent and Michelle Dockery (both pictured). Unfortunately, like the book, Ritesh Batras film is a monotonous trudge through the unfulfilled life of a self-absorbed elderly man

Did I say action? I meant inaction. Unfortunately, like the book, Ritesh Batras film, adapted for the screen by Nick Payne, cannot overcome what fundamentally it is: a monotonous trudge through the unfulfilled life of a self-absorbed, mildly unpleasant, rather drippy elderly man.

This is Tony Webster (Broadbent), whose back story features love triangles and student suicide, but still somehow manages to seem utterly colourless.

After less than ten minutes, the chap next to me in the cinema emitted what I mistook for a frustrated hurrumph, but turned out to be the opening salvo in a heroic symphony of snoring that lasted until the final credits, when people noisily shuffling towards the exit gave him his own personal sense of an ending.

It would be unfair to say that he didnt miss anything. Theres an acting masterclass going on, for one thing, although I suspect that the world depicted here, of achingly middle-class, North London liberals high on green tea and self-satisfaction, is one the cast already know pretty intimately.

As Tony, Broadbent delivers one of those pitch-perfect melancholic performances of his, as a divorced curmudgeon with little going on in his life except the forthcoming birth of a grandchild.

This is Tony Webster (Broadbent, pictured with Charlotte Rampling), whose back story features love triangles and student suicide, but still somehow manages to seem utterly colourless

Yet even that doesnt seem to excite him any more than the vintage cameras he sells in his tiny shop, at least not until he accompanies his daughter, Susie (Dockery), to a National Childbirth Trust antenatal class, because her barrister mother, Tonys ex-wife Margaret (Walter), is unavailable.

I should probably warn you that tonight will probably feature lesbians, Susie tells her father beforehand. And she herself is having her baby by artificial insemination. In some ways, this film could practically be a documentary about Islingtons Guardian-reading, almond croissant-scented bourgeoisie.

Tony has an edgily cordial relationship with Margaret (enabling some fizzing chemistry between Walter and Broadbent, who keep frowning at each other beautifully). But she is as exasperated by him as, not half an hour into the film, we all are.

Tony's younger self is played by Billy Howle, while his girlfriend is depicted as a young woman by Freya Mavor (and later by Rampling) at Bristol University back in the Sixties

She is especially miffed to learn that there is a whole slice of his past that he has never revealed to her. This becomes relevant when he receives a solicitors letter telling him that a woman he last saw decades earlier has left him a diary in her will.

That woman is Sarah Ford, played in flashback, with gorgeous flightiness, by Mortimer.

She was the sexy mother of Veronica, Tonys girlfriend (depicted as a young woman by Freya Mavor, and later by Rampling) at Bristol University back in the Sixties. But the diary wasnt hers. It belonged to Tonys charismatic schoolfriend Adrian Finn (Joe Alwyn), who came to a tragic end after he, like Tony (whose younger self is played by Billy Howle), fell under the dangerously seductive spell of the Ford family.

For Tony, the spell was cast during a weekend in the country with the Fords, all of whom seemed much more worldly than him.

Perhaps it is that episode which gives this film distinct echoes of Joseph Loseys 1971 adaptation of LP Hartleys celebrated novel The Go-Between, and indeed of the 2015 TV remake, in which the old codger looking back on distressing long-ago events was played by none other than the pained nostalgia specialist ... Jim Broadbent.

But just as Barness source novel is not nearly as compelling as Hartleys book, nor do the film versions match up.

As The Sense Of An Ending labours back and forth between the Sixties and the present day, we slowly come to understand why Tony might be troubled by reawakened memories. But it is maddeningly heavy going.

From a ponderous trudge to a frenzied joyride, Fast & Furious 8 is just about everything The Sense Of An Ending is not. It is also an action movie as preposterously plotted as any you will ever see, and the silliness starts with its identifying digit. Can you believe theyve churned out eight of these films, each faster and more furious than the one before? It is as if everyone involved is increasingly addled by rising kerosene fumes.

But  and it is a big, turbo-charged but  it has a surprisingly intoxicating sense of fun. Even Helen Mirren pops up, doing some uproarious hamming as a souped-up, even Cocknier version of Peggy Mitchell from Eastenders. Ill give you til Ive finished my cuppa  and Im f****** thirsty, she snarls.

Alas, the great dame has only a cameo role. The stench of boys-with-toys testosterone is tempered mainly by a female super-villain, played with wild-eyed relish by a dreadlocked Charlize Theron. Her name is Cipher, and she is a cyber-terrorist determined to steal nuclear weapons in a bid to make the entire planet dance to her demented tune.

Fast & Furious 8 is just about everything The Sense Of An Ending is not. It is also an action movie as preposterously plotted as any you will ever see, and the silliness starts with its identifying digit.

Lining up to stop her are the usual posse of craggy musclemen, again assembled by Kurt Russells wise-cracking covert forces chief, and played by Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. Anyone suffering from male-pattern baldness should not miss this film (by Straight Outta Compton director F. Gary Gray). It proclaims that not only do you need biceps as big as medicine balls to save the world, but also a head as smooth as a bowling ball.

However, for most of the insanely over-the-top action  which includes some spectacular stunts and what is surely the biggest pile-up in movie history as Cipher, hacking into the computer systems of hundreds of cars, fiendishly turns New York into her own private Scalextric set  Diesels Dominic Toretto is on the side of the baddies.

Why has he gone rogue? Because Cipher is holding a gun to the head of the baby son he didnt even know about, a son he sweetly names Brian in tribute to his former compadre (the late Paul Walker).

So, if Ciphers dastardly scheme is to be thwarted, that leaves Hobbs (Johnson) and Shaw (Statham) to overcome their mutual animosity, not to mention lines such as I will beat your ass like a Cherokee drum.

Its very hard to pick the silliest slice of dialogue, or the most ludicrous moment from a film defiantly made up of dozens of them, but Hobbs stopping a nuclear missile with his bare hands takes some beating.

So, notwithstanding the flourish of girl power, be prepared for alpha-male showboating on a grand scale, and none of it happens quietly. I cant guarantee that youll love Fast & Furious 8, but you definitely wont fall asleep.
Charlize Theron was once again flawlessly stunning as she stepped out in a thigh-skimming mini dress for an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

The statuesque blonde, 41, headed to the show's Hollywood studio on Thursday in the patterned black and white number that featured long sleeves.

Her choice of outfit showcased her long and enviably lean legs.

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Cool blonde: Charlize Theron was once again flawlessly stunning as she stepped out in a thigh-skimming mini dress for an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live

The actress left her shoulder-length hair loose with an off-center parting and styled in gentle waves.

She sported a pair of cat-eye sunglasses and accessorized with diamond earrings.

Charlize completed her look with pointed toe black sandals with a wide ankle cuff and very tall stiletto heels.

Stylish: The statuesque blonde, 41, headed to the show's Hollywood studio on Thursday in the patterned black and white number that featured long sleeves

Leggy look: Her choice of outfit showcased her long and enviably lean legs and she added pointed toe black sandals with a wide ankle cuff and very tall stiletto heels

Flawless: The actress left her shoulder-length hair loose and styled in gentle waves. She sported a pair of cat-eye sunglasses and accessorized with diamond earrings

The South African-born star is busy promoting her latest movie The Fate Of The Furious that opens this weekend.

She joins Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and Jordana Brewster in the latest installment of The Fast & The Furious franchise.
She was dumped as the face of Australian luxury brand Oroton last month.

But Rose Byrne hasn't let that get her down.

The 37-year-old actress appeared to be in good spirits as she stepped out in a chic pant suit ensemble at the 92nd Y Cultural Institution and Community Center in New York City on Thursday night.

Monochromatic chic! Rose Byrne has stepped out in a pant suit ensemble to discuss her role in the soon-to-be released television drama film The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Rose was at the venue to discuss her role in the soon-to-be released television drama film The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which stars Oprah Winfrey in the titular role.

She kept her look minimalistic and monochrome with black cigarette trousers and a black singlet top.

The Bridesmaids star teamed the black ensemble with a loose fitting gray tweed suit jacket with folded sleeves.

Understated style: The 37-year-old kept her look minimalistic and monochrome with black cigarette trousers and a black singlet top, and a loose fitting gray tweed suit jacket with folded sleeves on top

Standing strong: Rose Bryne was dumped as the face of Australian luxury brand Oroton last month

Her looked was matched with a pair of black peep toe mule heels and a drop down pendant.

Rose let her ombre brunette and blonde shoulder length tresses down to frame the minimal makeup on her face.

She posed for the cameras at the event without partner, actor Bobby Cannavale - who was likely at home taking care of their one-year-old son Rocco.

Glammed up! Rose posed for the cameras at the event without partner, actor Bobby Cannavale

Strolling around: It's likely at home taking care of their one-year-old son Rocco

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks TV movie is based on the book of the same name about an African American woman who's cervical cancer cells were found to be the most important cells ever discovered as they can reproduce on their own.

She posed alongside American journalist Claudia Dreifus, Renee Elise Goldsberry who plays the younger Henrietta Lacks, the author of the book Rebecca Skloot, the real Shirley Lacks, and her daughter Jeri Lacks.

In the HBO TV film, Rose plays science writer Rebecca Skloot who writes the New York Times bestseller.
Surprisingly, complaining about sand getting everywhere was NOT his biggest embarrassment.

Hayden Christensen returned to Star Wars Celebration on Thursday for the first time in 15 years, to thunderous applause.

The 35-year-old delighted fans at the annual convention in Orlando, which is extra special this year as it is celebrating 40 years of the space saga.

Return of the Jedi: Hayden Christensen returned to Star Wars Celebration for first time in 15 years on Thursday

The actor, who played Anakin Skywalker in Episodes II and III revealed his biggest embarrassment from prequels, and it wasn't him saying how the Jedi were evil from his point of view either.

'All the lightsaber work was some of my favourite parts of getting to play this character, it was a childhood dream come true,' he said.

'But I had been conditioned from a very young age to make the sound effect and I know this is something that Ewan struggled with too but it was a difficult habit to break!'

His co-star Ewan McGregor, who played mentor-turned-rival Obi-Wan Kenobi, had confessed the exact same thing after filming the Phantom Menace in 1999.

Snap hiss: The 35-year-old confessed he couldn't stop making lightsaber noises on set

Shut up: He admitted director George Lucas had to keep reminding him the sound effects were added post production

Older than him: The 35-year-old delighted fans at the annual convention in Orlando, which is extra special this year as it is celebrating 40 years of the space saga

Bad guy: The actor played Anakin Skywalker in Episodes II and III

'Sometimes [creator and director] George [Lucas] you would come over and in a very encouraging way you would say, "Hayden that looks really great but I can see your mouth moving - you don't have to do that, we put the sound effects in afterwards!"

'I was so focused I wasn't aware I was doing it,' he added. 'Still, to this day, it just happens!'

He was joined on stage for the chat with the man himself, who relinquished creative control of the Star Wars universe when he sold it to Disney in 2012 for just over $4billion.

The boss: He was joined by Ian McDiarmid, who played the evil Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, who turned Anakin to the Dark Side to create Darth Vader, and who is solely responsible for the all the wars in Star Wars

The old crew: They chatted with creator Lucas, and emcee Warrick Davis

They also chatted with emcee Warwick Davis, who has played six different characters in the Star Wars Universe so far, most memorably Wicket the Ewok in Return Of The Jedi.

The foursome was completed by Ian McDiarmid, who played the evil Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, who turned Anakin to the Dark Side to create Darth Vader, and who is solely responsible for the all the wars in Star Wars.

Warwick was joined by plenty of big names in the Star Wars universe besides, including a surprise appearance by Han Solo himself, Harrison Ford.

Han and Luke: Warrick was also joined by Mark Hamill, while Harrison Ford made a surprise appearance

Zing: Davis immediately poked fun at the 74-year-old's recent piloting mishap when he jibed: 'I cant believe we managed to keep it a secret considering you landed your plane on I-4,' referring to the local highway in Florida

Boo: Sadly Luke and Han will never reunite on screen since the latter was killed off in The Force Awakens

Coming: Hamill was only seen in the closing shot of The Force Awakens, but is set to play a much bigger part in The Last Jedi

Davis immediately poked fun at the 74-year-old's recent piloting mishap when he jibed: 'I cant believe we managed to keep it a secret considering you landed your plane on I-4,' referring to the local highway in Florida.

Harrison laughed along with the audience before shaking his head and replying: 'Yeah, but it was a good landing!'.

In February, Harrison mistakenly landed his single-engine plane on a taxiway instead of the runway at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.

The actor was full of jokes as Warwick got to business and asked him how Star Wars impacted his life when it first came out 40 years ago.

Busy: Davis has played six different characters in the Star Wars Universe so far, most memorably Wicket the Ewok in Return Of The Jedi

Other favourites making appearances on day one included (L-R) Anthony 'C-3PO' Daniels, Billy Dee 'Lando Calrisian' Williams, and Peter 'Chewbacca' Mayhew

Out with the old: Billy Dee is being replaced by Donald Glover in the upcoming Han Solo spin off, set well before the original trilogy

'Oh, it's made no difference whatsoever' he quipped, to more laughs from the audience.

Han was joined on stage by his original trilogy co-star Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker; sadly Luke and Han will never reunite on screen since the latter was killed off in The Force Awakens.

Other favourites making appearances on day one included Anthony 'C-3PO' Daniels, Peter 'Chewbacca' Mayhew and Billy Dee 'Lando Calrisian' Williams.

John Williams, who has scored all seven films so far, also conducted a live orchestra through some of the famous themes.

Legend: John Williams, who has scored all seven films so far, also conducted a live orchestra through some of the famous themes

Samuel L Jackson, who played Jedi Master Mace Windu who was killed by Palpatine in Revenge Of The Sith, made an appearance via video link, where he pleaded with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy to somehow bring him back.

Another deceased Jedi Master appearing via video from beyond the grave was Qui-Gon Jinn AKA Liam Neeson, who joked he was currently shooting a movie in which Jar Jar Binks had turned to the Dark Side.

Day one of Star Wars Celebration was kicked off by a moving tribute to Carrie Fisher, who played the beloved Princess Leia, and who passed away in December.

Before a tear-jerking montage of the late actress, her daughter Billie Lourd - who had a small cameo alongside her mom in The Force Awakens - addressed the crowd in a white Princess Leia-inspired dress, describing her as a 'strong soldier of a woman'.

Missed: Carrie Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd addressed the crowd in a white Princess Leia-inspired dress

Moving: Day one of Star Wars Celebration was kicked off by a moving tribute to Carrie, who played the beloved Princess Leia, and who passed away in December

RIP: Before a tear-jerking montage of the late actress, her daughter Billie Lourdaddressed the crowd, describing her as a 'strong soldier of a woman'

'My mom used to say she never knew where Princess Leia ended and Carrie Fisher began,' she said.

'She was imperfect in many ways but her imperfections and willingness to speak about them are what made her more than perfect.

'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,'

Co-stars: Billie had a small cameo alongside her mom in The Force Awakens

Sad: The touching montage was a tear-jerking reminder of how funny and talented the late actress was

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.'

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.

Star Wars Celebration continues throughout the weekend, with the eagerly awaited first trailer for December's The Last Jedi expected to make its debut.
She's no stranger to putting her best foot forward when it comes to taking over the red carpet.

And Thursday night was no different for Brie Larson as she attended the Los Angeles premiere of Free Fire held at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood and the exclusive after-party at NeueHouse presented by Casa Noble Tequila.

The 27-year-old Room star flaunted her svelte figure in a chic black gown with cutout sheer lace panels.

Showstopper! Brie Larson attended the Los Angeles premiere of Free Fire held at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood on Thursday night

The Academy Award-winning actress looked exquisite in the full-length feminine number.

She flashed a glimpse of her ample cleavage and long slender stems in the low-cut frock.

A patent leather belt cinched around the Kong: Skull Island starlet's waist, further highlighting her flawless physique.

Sheer beauty! The Academy Award-winning actress looked exquisite in in a chic black gown with cutout lace panels

Fancy footwear! The 27-year-old Room star added extra height to her 5ft 7in frame in a pair of black strappy Christian Louboutin stilettos

Brie styled her silky golden tresses in soft relaxed curls which fell just above her shoulders.

The star added extra height to her 5ft 7in frame in a pair of black strappy Christian Louboutin stilettos.

Brie was also spotted with her hunky co-star in the film, Armie Hammer, 30.

Good company: Brie paused for a snapshot with her hunky co-star Armie Hammer, 30

Hollywood hunk! The Los Angeles native smoldered on the red carpet in a burgundy tropical dress shirt and brown leather brogues

Perfect pair! Armie was joined by his stunning wife of nearly seven years, Elizabeth Chambers, 34, who stunned in a white vintage gown

The Los Angeles native smoldered on the red carpet in a burgundy tropical dress shirt and brown leather brogues.

Armie was joined by his stunning wife of nearly seven years, Elizabeth Chambers, 34, who stunned in a white vintage gown.

Elizabeth oozed old Hollywood glamour as she cut a ladylike figure in the long flowing garb.

Going for comfort: Enzo Cilenti, 42, opted for a laid-back look in U.S. army coat, khakis and denim vest

Dapper! Sam Riley, 37, who plays Stevo, and Sharlto Copley, 43, who portrays Vernon in the action film, were polished to perfection in black fitted suits

Enzo Cilenti, 42, opted for a laid-back look in U.S. army coat, khakis and denim vest.

Meanwhile, Sam Riley, 37, who plays Stevo, and Sharlto Copley, 43, who portrays Vernon in the action film, were polished to perfection in black fitted suits.

Ben Wheatley's thriller Free Fire is set in Boston in 1978, and tells the story of a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two gangs which turns into a shootout and a game of survival.

It also stars Cillian Murphy, Jack Reynor and while it originally premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, it's set to hit theaters in the U.S. on April 21.

Pretty as a petal! Actress Natalie Morales, 32, looked lovely in a ruffled black dress adorned with red roses throughout
If you are sensitive to swear words  turn down your speakers now.

Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L Jackson get VERY profane in the latest teaser for The Hitman's Bodyguard.

In just 90 seconds, there are two sh*ts, two a**es, three f*cks, four motherf*ckers, a goddammit, and even the Lord's name is used in vain, once.

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Cover your ears: Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L Jackson get VERY profane in the latest teaser for The Hitman's Bodyguard

The clip sees Reynold's bodyguard briefly explain to Jackson's hitman why he needs his services.

'I'm a triple-A rated executive protection agent, and you're the most wanted hitman in the world. My job is to keep you out of harm's way,' he explains... before Jackson burst into laughter.

But his guffaws are quickly cut short when Reynolds punches in square in the face.

Lol: The clip sees Reynold's bodyguard briefly explain to Jackson's hitman why he needs his services

No thanks: But after hearing his pitch, Jackson bursts into laughter

Quiet you: But his guffaws are quickly cut short when Reynolds punches in square in the face

And I....: To set the tone of the comedy, Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You - the theme song of her more straight-faced 1992 hit opposite Kevin Costner, The Bodyguard - plays throughout

To set the tone of the comedy, Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You - the theme song of her more straight-faced 1992 hit opposite Kevin Costner, The Bodyguard - plays throughout.

As outrageous gunfights, car chases and explosions unfold behind him, an irked Reynolds vents to a terrified bystander.

'I hope they kill him I really do,' he seethes. 'This guy single-handedly ruined the word motherf*cker.'

Explosions: Jackson can be seen wreaking havok

Car chases: He speeds around the city, but looks bored whnn Reynolds is behind the wheel

Gun fights: The 'most dangerous hitman in the world' also engages in multiple shootouts

Had it up to here: Meanshile, an irked Reynolds vents to a terrified bystander

The trailer concludes with Jackson speeding in a car and jamming on the brakes, sending Reynolds flying through the windshield.

'What happened to the seatbelt rule?' he shouts after him.

The film, which stars Gary Oldman and Salma Hayek, is set for release on August 18.

It also stars Elodie Yung, who plays Elektra in Netflix series Daredevil, making it a mini Marvel Cinematic Universe mini reunion of sorts, with Deadpool and Nick Fury.

Coming soon: The film, which stars Gary Oldman and Salma Hayek, is set for release on August 18

Avengers assemble: It also stars Elodie Yung, who plays Elektra in Netflix series Daredevil, making it a mini Marvel Cinematic Universe mini reunion of sorts, with Deadpool and Nick Fury

Profane: In just 90 seconds, there are two sh*ts, two a**es, three f*cks, four motherf*ckers, a goddammit, and even the Lord's name is used in vain, once
A documentary delving into the life of the late Heath Ledger, is set to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 23.

And an interview with the team behind the footage on news.com.au, has revealed the star's inability to switch off his manic energy.

'He'd sleep either zero or two hours a night for years,' co-director Derik Murray told the publication.

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'He'd sleep either zero or two hours a night for YEARS': The late Heath Ledger's manic energy was revealed on news.com.au, as documentary delving into the actor's life is set to premiere

Derik revealed Heath's manic energy had plagued him for years.

'He'd sleep either zero or two hours a night for years. He would call people up in the middle of the night,' he shared.

Musician and friend Ben Harper told of a similar occurrence, to be shown on the documentary.

The 47-year-old tells of how the 10 Things I Hate About You Star would often show up unannounced at his house, for breakfast, at six in the morning.

The life of Heath: I Am Heath Ledger, tells of the star's friendship with Matt Amato, 49, the pair having co-founded production company, the Masses

Candid: Nine years following the tragic death of Heath, Matt decided to open up about his friendship in the documentary: 'This is definitely more the truth than anything else that's out there,' he told news.com.au

I Am Heath Ledger, tells of the star's friendship with Matt Amato, 49, the pair having co-founded production company, the Masses.

Nine years following the tragic death of Heath, Matt decided to open up about his friendship in the documentary.

'This is definitely more the truth than anything else that's out there,' Matt told news.com.au.

Insisting on getting ex-wife Michelle Williams' approval, he noted: 'She said, ''We should do something now. Matilda (their daughter) is curious''.'

Approval: Insisting on getting ex-wife Michelle Williams' approval, producer Matt Amato noted: 'She said, ''We should do something now. Matilda (their daughter) is curious'''

Family ties: Heath and Michelle, who met on the set of Brokeback Mountain in 2004, shared a daughter, Matilda, now 11

Heath was found dead on January 22, 2008 at the age of 28, from an accidental overdose of prescription medication.

He was living alone at a New York apartment at the time, having split from his girlfriend, actress Michelle Williams, in 2007.

The couple, who met on the set of Brokeback Mountain in 2004, shared a daughter, Matilda, now 11.

Matilda who was just two years old when her father passed away and remains living with her mother in New York City.
She's wrapped her popular HBO series Girls and on Thursday, Lena Dunham was back in Brooklyn filming scenes for a new project.

But the actress, 30, got a little bit more than she bargained for after donning a patterned mini dress.

The number appeared to ride too far up her thighs as she walked risking a reveal she no doubt didn't wish for.

Oops! Lena Dunham's patterned mini dress appeared to ride too far up her thighs as she walked risking a reveal she no doubt didn't wish for during filming a new project Thursday

Dunham clearly realized her predicament and quickly moved to grab hold of the frock's hem wrestling it back down over her upper thighs.

She was bare-legged in short gray socks and red sandal heels, which was not helpful in the situation she found herself in.

The Girls star was shooting a scene for a short film she is making with Australian actor and Vikings star Travis Fimmel.

Saucy: The Girls star had gone bare-legged in the bottom-skimming number as she shot scenes on location in Brooklyn

Working: The Girls star wore gray socks and dark red heels and carried a black purse on a strap slung over one shoulder and she carried a large smart phone in one hand

On location: It's not known what the film is about. But Dunham clearly seemed to be having a good time, sticking out her tongue in a cheeky gesture and laughing on the location set

It's not known what the film is about.

But Dunham clearly seemed to be having a good time, sticking out her tongue in a cheeky gesture and laughing on the location set.

The actress, who also writes and directs, had a black purse slung on a strap over one shoulder and carried a large smart phone.

Newly trim: Dunham's recent weight loss - which she has joked is a result of the trauma of President Trump's election - was fully on display in her skimpy outfit

New co-star: The Girls star was shooting a scene for a short film she is making with Australian actor and Vikings star Travis Fimmel

Her co-star Fimmel was dressed in faded blue jeans and a long-sleeved gray top.

He sported a full beard and a mop of hair.

Earlier in the day, Dunham had posted an image to Instagram showing her getting the long hair extensions required for her new role.

In keeping with her idiosyncratic sense of humor, she captioned the snap: 'That hair that says "I just murdered my much older minister husband and escaped with his valuables in a Walgreens bag".'
Last summer, they welcomed their first child together after falling in love on the set of their TV series The Americans.

But the show is not the first time Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys met.

While on Watch What Happens Live, Matthew revealed that they met at a kickball party ten years before they started working together, where he had 'drunkenly asked her for her number.'

Quite a story: While on Watch What Happens Live, Matthew revealed he met Keri Russell at a kickball party ten years before they started working together

The 42-year-old explained to host Andy Cohen during the Thursday episode, with Keri seated beside him, that they first crossed paths when 'she asked me to open a beer after a kickball party.'

The Welsh actor noted that their first meeting took place in the parking lot, jokingly calling it 'very romantic.'

Matthew said: 'I drunkenly asked her for her number when she was a young, single, slip of a thing, so I sort of knew then when I was 26.'

Ten years later, they were cast as on screen husband and wife for the spy drama The Americans.

Later, Matthew didn't hesitate when asked to name his least favorite Keri Russell movie on Thursday's episode of Watch What Happens Live.

Work together: Keri and Matthew play a couple on The Americans and also are a couple in real life

Keri recalled after doing readings and a 'heavy dose of fight training, all sweaty, at lunch, you said "Oh, you know we've met before;" and I said, "No, we haven't."'

She continued: 'You said, "Yeah, we've met before, like 10 years ago at kickball." As soon as he said that, I knew exactly what [happened] and I opened my eyes, like, "Oh! Of course I remember that."'

Keri also divulged that 10 years prior, Matthew left her a 'drunken voicemail' following their first meeting.

She playfully added: 'You were that buffoon that wouldn't stop calling.'

Joint appearance: Keri said they were appearing jointly together for the first time on a talk show

Funny guy: Matthew kept the one-liners coming during the half-hour Bravo chat show

Later on the show, Matthew didn't hesitate when asked to name his least favorite Keri Russell movie.

'Waitress,' the 42-year-old Welsh actor quickly told host Andy Cohen during a game of Plead The Fifth.

Keri, 41, started laughing and Matthew continued ribbing her 2007 comedy.

'It was a terrible film. Every inch of celluloid that was used was a crying waste,' Matthew said straight-faced.

'He's never seen it,' Keri assured Andy, 48.

Waitress was written and directed by the late Adrienne Shelly who also appeared in a supporting role that marked her final film appearance before her murder at age 40.

Andy at the start of the show welcomed The Americans co-stars to the Bravo clubhouse with a zinger.

Hit comedy: The former Felicity star is shown in a still from the 2007 comedy Waitress with Lew Temple and Cheryl Hines

'Their show is banging and so are they,' he quipped of the co-stars turned couple.

Keri revealed that it was their first joint appearance together for a chat show interview.

'We figured it was late night and we could do it,'said the former Felicity star.

She performed admirably in a game called Are Those Rhys' Pieces? in which she had to identify whether close-up pictures of body parts belonged to her beau or another celebrity.

Matthew also played a game called Playing The Field that involved trivia questions about his Brothers & Sisters co-star Sally Field.

He was roped into Plead The Fifth after Keri declined to answer a question.

The host: Andy Cohen welcomed Keri and Matthew into the Bravo clubhouse

Game time: Matthew played a game called Playing The Field involvong Sally Field trivia

High score: Keri also played a game called Are Those Rhys' Pieces?

Regualr game: The actress also played Plead The Fifth with Andy

She was first asked about a Mickey Mouse Club edition of Shag, Marry, Kill with Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling and JC Chasez.

'That's awful. I'm pleading on that,' said Keri, who first appeared on TV as a member of the All-New Mickey Mouse Club.

'Does that mean I have to shag Justin Timberlake?,' Matthew quipped.

Game time: Keri looked on as Matthew tried to answer a trivia question about Sally Fields

Keri reversed her decision and instead answered that she would kill JC because he's an understanding friend, shag Justin because he's a good dancer and marry Gosling since he's a nice Canadian.

She then 'pleaded the fifth' when asked to name the most over-rated actress working today and that opened the door for Andy to ask Matthew about his least favorite Keri movie.

Matthew also revealed The Americans producers have kept them in the dark about how the FX series will conclude during its sixth and final season next year.

Good idea: The actress joked about having her TV daughter Paige on The Americans changing her name to Monica Lewinsky as the series concludes

He plays Philip Jennings while Keri portrays his wife Elizabeth who are both deep cover Soviet KGB officers living near Washington DC in the 1980s with their children Paige and Henry.

Matthew said he would like to see a 'slow mo gun fight' at the end of the series.

'I really love one specific one. Paige changes her name to Monica Lewinsky and then she becomes that,' Keri said of her on-screen daughter played by 19-year-old Holly Taylor.

The 13-episode fifth season premiered in March and the final 10-episode sixth season will air in 2018.

'This show in Russia is a comedy,' cracked Matthew who maintained a steady flow of one-liners during the half-hour episode.

Having fun: Keri enjoyed a hearty laugh as Matthew put his sense of humor on display

Fan favorite: The actress rose to fame playing Felicity Porter on Felicity from 1998 to 2002

The couple welcomed son Sam together in May 2016.

Keri also has five year-old daughter Willa and nine-year-old son River with ex-husband Shane Deary.

Andy during the show also promoted the reboot of the Love Connection match-making game show that he will host on Fox starting May 25.

Dog pageant: Keri posed with dogs that were dressed up as her famous characters
I had a wonderful time last weekend meeting and talking with many of you through the Northeast Astronomy Forum 2017, at Rockland Community College, in Suffern, New York. The Rockland club and especially the driving force of Al Nagler and Tele Vue Optics should be commended again for pushing forward the nations best telescope show, now older than 25 years.

I was handicapped a bit this year by being hit with a cold the day before, and so as some of you saw, simply stood in a daze chatting all day on Saturday at the Astronomy Magazine booth. Sunday I was a little bit more mobile, and got around a little bit to talk with some old friends. But as you know, the conversations roll on and on and on and before you know it, the times up.

Nonetheless, I saw some exciting things at NEAF. I wanted to share some images I shot with you, which will follow this . . . and more to come on what was discussed at NEAF. Some neat projects coming down the road . . .
Cody Walker is in Australia for a series of charity events in honour of his late brother, The Fast And The Furious star Paul Walker.

And on Friday, Cody revealed to Daily Mail the ninth installment of the blockbuster film franchise series will be filmed and set Down Under.

'The fans deserve Fast And The Furious 9 down here. It's always somewhere new and they haven't been here yet. It's long overdue,' he said.

'Long overdue': Paul Walker's brother Cody (pictured) has claimed Fast and the Furious 9 will be filmed and set in Australia, calling the decision 'long overdue'

He also confirmed Vin Diesel, who plays Dominic Toretto, is 'very interested' in shooting the next film in Australia.

Cody hinted that while he does not appear The Fate Of The Furious, he is meeting with Vin Diesel to discuss a possible role in the next sequel.

He filled in as Paul's Bryan O'Conner character in Furious 7, following the actor's death in 2013 - but Cody now hopes to play a 'brand new role.'

Support: Cody also confirmed Vin Diesel, who plays Dominic Toretto, is 'very interested' in shooting the next film in Australia. Pictured: Vin Diesel and Paul Walker in 2013

Cody will attend a series of #Drive4Paul car rallies in support of the late actor's Reach Out Worldwide disaster relief charity, which he now runs.

Speaking of his Australian tour, Cody said: 'It's nice to see some blue skies, I can't believe it's been two years since I was last here.

'I love Australia, It's great to be here again. The amount of support and the loyalty of the fans to Paul, the franchise and Reach Out Worldwide is so great.'

For the fans: 'The fans deserve Fast And The Furious 9 down here... it's long overdue,' said Cody, who is in Australia for a charity tour in honour of his late brother

Cody will appear at VIP The Fate Of The Furious screenings in Warriewood on Friday, Narellan on Saturday, then Craigieburn, Melbourne on Sunday and Indooroopilly, Brisbane on Monday.

Following each screening, except Narellan, he will join fans on #Drive4Paul car rallies to raise money for Reach Out World Wide and commemorate Paul's life.

He is also attending charity car shows in each suburb, with full details available on the event's website, Drive4Paul.com.au.
To Cody Walker, his late brother Paul was a hero, a role model, and the 'coolest man in the world'.

And he looked excited to get the chance to finish what his brother started as he arrived at Sydney Airport on Friday.

After being picked up in a luxury Maybach, Cody will attend a series of #Drive4Paul car rallies in support of the late star's Reach Out Worldwide disaster relief charity, which he now runs.

Paul Walker's brother Cody arrived in Sydney Airport on Friday. He is in Australia for a series of #Drive4Paul car rallies in support of Paul's disaster relief charity

Cody was joined by celebrity publicist Max Markson, who is organising the tour.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Cody said: 'It's nice to see some blue skies, I can't believe it's been two years since I was last here.

'I love Australia, It's great to be here again. The amount of support and the loyalty of the fans to Paul, the franchise and Reach Out Worldwide is so great.'

Charity work: He looked excited to get the chance to finish what his brother started as he arrived Down Under

Cody was joined by celebrity publicist Max Markson, who is organising the tour

'I love Australia, It's great to be here again': Cody told Daily Mail Australia he was excited about his long weekend tour

Cody - who stepped in with his brother Caleb to film Paul's scenes after his fatal car crash in 2013 - was also greeted by a red Porsche upon arrival, before settling on the Maybach.

He is now heading to a VIP charity screening of The Fate Of The Furious in the suburb of Warriewood.

He will then embark on a #Drive4Paul fundraising road trip.

Cody stepped in with his brother Caleb to film Paul's scenes for Furious 7 after his fatal car crash in 2013

Cody is a car enthusiast, and thanked the 'amazing' Australian fans for throwing support behind an event so close to his heart.

'It never ceases to amaze me how much love their is for the franchise and for Paul, it just makes me really happy,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Pausing for a moment to gather his emotions, he continued: 'He was a huge example for me and we were really close and it's just so awesome.

'Paul had the biggest heart in the world.'

Cody admits the decision to film his brother's final scenes was not an easy one

Cody admits the decision to film his brother's final scenes in Furious 7 was not an easy one.

'It wasn't an automatic, "Oh yeah of course" moment. It totally caught me by surprise. The whole movie was almost cancelled,' he said.

'They had gone on break over Thanksgiving, and were supposed to resume filming on the Monday when Paul was killed in the accident.'

Following the 2013 accident, Cody took over the charity Paul had been running

Cody said that despite the 'rollercoaster of emotions', he made the right decision.

'After some family discussion and thinking on it, we felt that ultimately Paul wanted the movie to be finished, and if me and my brother needed to step in to film the movie then we absolutely would.'

And from the moment he walked onto set, he was greeted by nothing but support.

'He wasn't looking for recognition for anything, people didn't know about his organisation until he passed away,' Cody explained

'It was a positive experience. I got to spend three months attached to the hip of my other brother at a time when we needed brotherly bonding more than ever,' Cody said.

'And to work with the people Paul called family for over a decade, it was really an incredible experience.

'Everyone had their own unique and special stories about how amazing Paul was, and it absolutely helped with the healing process,' he added.

Following the 2013 accident, Cody took over the charity Paul had been running.

Cody will appear at VIP The Fate Of The Furious screenings in Warriewood on Friday, Narellan on Saturday, then Craigieburn, Melbourne on Sunday and Indooroopilly, Brisbane on Monday

'He wasn't looking for recognition for anything, people didn't know about his organisation until he passed away,' he explained.

'It was about him wanting to legitimately reach out and help people. It was something he funded 100 per cent on his own, from his pocketbook.

'How amazing is that? It doesn't get any cooler than that, it just doesn't.'

Following each screening, except Narellan, he will join fans on #Drive4Paul car rallies to raise money for Reach Out World Wide and commemorate Paul's life.

Cody will appear at VIP The Fate Of The Furious screenings in Warriewood on Friday, Narellan on Saturday, then Craigieburn, Melbourne on Sunday and Indooroopilly, Brisbane on Monday.

Following each screening, except Narellan, he will join fans on #Drive4Paul to raise money for Reach Out World Wide and commemorate Paul's life.

He is also attending charity car shows in each suburb, with full details available on the event's website, Drive4Paul.com.au.
Matthew McConaughey has gone back to the 80s for his latest film role as the father of a teen undercover informant for law enforcement in Detroit.

The Oscar winner is currently shooting White Boy Rick in Cleveland, Ohio, and has been spotted on set rocking slicked back hair and a very vintage mustache.

And on Thursday, the actor, 47, got a visit from his wife of five years, Camila Alves.

That 80s look: Matthew McConaughye was spotted on the set of White Boy Rick in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday rocking slicked back hair and a very vintage mustache

Camila, 35, looked lovely as ever as she showed up wearing skinny jeans and a gray sweater.

The Brazilian-American beauty, who shares three children with the Hollywood star, wrapped a long black scarf around her neck and added a pair of colorful sneakers.

She carried a thermos flask and her smartphone and her dark hair was styled in voluminous waves.

Devoted spouse: The actor's wife of five years, Camila Alves, paid him a visit wearing skinny jeans and a gray sweater with a black scarf around her neck and multicolored sneakers

The film based on a true story follows the transformation of Richard Wershe Jr. who at 14 became an undercover police informant but went on to become a major drug trafficker.

After three years as a major drug dealer, he was arrested and is currently serving a life sentence in prison.

Richie Merritt, 15, from Baltimore, plays Richard Jr. and McConaughey plays his blue collar father Richard Sr. Bruce Dern and Piper Laurie play the teen's grandparents.

Chameleon McConaughey is well known for committing himself wholeheartedly to physically transforming himself for his roles.

He famously lost 38 pounds to play a man with HIV/AIDS in Dallas Buyers Club that earned him a Best Actor Academy Award.

Prior to his current role, he sported a bushy full beard and longer hair as he promoted the adventure movie Gold.
He's the younger brother of late Fast And The Furious actor Paul Walker.

And Cody Walker has arrived in Sydney with wife Felicity Knox for a charity tour organised by publicist Max Markson.

They were photographed on Friday soaking up the sun at the Sydney Opera House.

Smile! Cody Walker has arrived in Sydney with his wife Felicity Knox for a charity tour in honour of his late brother, The Fast And The Furious actor Paul Walker

Cody is in Australia for a series of#Drive4Paul car rallies in support of Paul's Reach Out Worldwide disaster relief charity, which he now runs.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Cody said: 'It's nice to see some blue skies, I can't believe it's been two years since I was last here.

'I love Australia, It's great to be here again. The amount of support and the loyalty of the fans to Paul, the franchise and Reach Out Worldwide is so great.'

Fun in the sun: They were photographed on Friday outside the Sydney Opera House

Legacy: Cody is in Australia for a series of #Drive4Paul car rallies in support of Paul Walker's Reach Out Worldwide disaster relief charity, which he now runs

Cody - who stepped in with his brother Caleb to film Paul's scenes after his fatal car crash in 2013 - will be attending a VIP charity screening of The Fate Of The Furious in Warriewood.

He will then embark on a #Drive4Paul fundraising road trip.

Cody admits the decision to film his brother's final scenes in Furious 7 was not an easy one.

Down Under: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Cody said: 'It's nice to see some blue skies, I can't believe it's been two years since I was last here'

'It wasn't an automatic, "Oh yeah of course" moment. It totally caught me by surprise. The whole movie was almost cancelled,' he said.

'They had gone on break over Thanksgiving, and were supposed to resume filming on the Monday when Paul was killed in the accident.'

Cody said that despite the 'rollercoaster of emotions', he made the right decision.

Tragedy: Cody stepped in with his brother Caleb to film Paul's unfinished scenes in Furious 7 after his fatal car crash in 2013

'After some family discussion and thinking on it, we felt that ultimately Paul wanted the movie to be finished, and if me and my brother needed to step in to film the movie then we absolutely would.'

And from the moment he walked onto set, he was greeted by nothing but support.

'It was a positive experience. I got to spend three months attached to the hip of my other brother at a time when we needed brotherly bonding more than ever,' Cody said.

Cody will appear at VIP The Fate Of The Furious screenings in Warriewood on Friday, Narellan on Saturday, then Craigieburn, Melbourne on Sunday and Indooroopilly, Brisbane on Monday

'And to work with the people Paul called family for over a decade, it was really an incredible experience.

'Everyone had their own unique and special stories about how amazing Paul was, and it absolutely helped with the healing process,' he added.

Following the 2013 accident, Cody took over the charity Paul had been running.

'He wasn't looking for recognition for anything, people didn't know about his organisation until he passed away,' he explained.

Following each screening, except Narellan, Cody will join fans on #Drive4Paul car rallies to raise money for Reach Out World Wide and commemorate Paul's life

'It was about him wanting to legitimately reach out and help people. It was something he funded 100 per cent on his own, from his pocketbook.

'How amazing is that? It doesn't get any cooler than that, it just doesn't.'

Cody will appear at VIP The Fate Of The Furious screenings in Warriewood on Friday, Narellan on Saturday, then Craigieburn, Melbourne on Sunday and Indooroopilly, Brisbane on Monday.

Following each screening, except Narellan, he will join fans on #Drive4Paul car rallies to raise money for Reach Out World Wide and commemorate Paul's life.

He is also attending charity car shows in each suburb, with full details available on the event's website, Drive4Paul.com.au.
He's the homegrown Hollywood star whose latest movie is already smashing records even before its released.

But Chris Hemsworth showed he's always got time for his fans as he happily posed for photos and took selfies on Good Friday.

The Thor: Ragnarok actor, 33, was fresh from surfing practice in Byron Bay when he encountered some friendly locals.

Suits you, sir! Chris Hemsworth was fresh from having a surf in Byron Bay when he ran into some fans on Good Friday

Looking muscular in a black wetsuit, Chris was spotted carrying his surfboard after a dip in the ocean.

And as he walked along a path, Chris met a group of fans and agreed to take a photo with them.

A fellow surfer took a picture of the Ghostbusters star with a passer-by before the actor took a few selfies himself.

What a swell guy! The Hollywood actor, 33, showed he's always got time for his fans as he happily posed for photos and snapped selfies

Say 'Thor'! As he headed along a path, Chris met a couple of fans, who asked for a photo

Totally rad, dude! A fellow surfer took a picture with the Melbourne native

Making a scene: The Byron Bay resident attracted some interest from locals

Solid as a rock! Looking muscular in a black wetsuit, Chris was spotted carrying his surfboard after a dip in the ocean

Chris, a local celebrity in Byron Bay, was also happy to talk with another fan as he made his way up the path.

Recently, the Avengers star has been spending time with Matt Damon and his family, who flew to Australia last week.

The Hollywood actors and their families were pictured The Pass on Tuesday, enjoying a day at the beach.

Fancy seeing you here! Chris, a local celebrity in Byron Bay, was also happy to talk with another fan as he made his way up the path

Family friends: Recently, the Avengers star has been spending time with Matt Damon and his family, who flew to Australia last week

Meanwhile, Chris' upcoming film Thor: Ragnarok became the most viewed trailer in Marvel and Disney's history within its first 24 hours of release.

The movie, which is released in Australia in October, was viewed 136 million times.

Chris has played the role of Thor since 2011. He was previously known as Kim Hyde on Australian soap Home And Away.

Famous faces: The Hollywood actors and their families were pictured The Pass on Tuesday, enjoying a day at the beach
Elizabeth Hurley showed off her impeccable figure when she posted a very sexy Instagram on Thursday.

The 51-year-old actress hit the beach in The Seychelles wearing a very skimpy red bikini from her own collection, flaunting her ample assets and incredibly toned tum.

Letting the stunning image do all the talking, she simply captioned the image with the words: '@elizabethhurleybeach @fregateislandprivate.'

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Babewatch! Elizabeth Hurley, 51, showed off her ample assets and toned tummy in a skimpy red bikini as she hit the beach in the Seychelles on Thursday

Elizabeth's sexy outfit had gold embellishments on the straps and tie-sides which contrasted against her golden tan.

Wearing a pair of designer shades, the youthful beauty's brunette locks flowed down past her shoulders.

Cocking her head back a little, she smiled for the photo, which was no doubt being taken by her teenage son Damian Hurley, 15.

Elizabeth posted a similar image on Tuesday, wearing the same bikini but in a light blue colour.

Bikini babe: Elizabeth posted a similar snap on Tuesday in which she wore the same bikini from the collection but in a sky blue colour

Topping up her tan in a daring plunging bikini top, the British beauty displayed plenty of ample cleavage and sun-kissed skin for fans to see.

Zooming in for a closer shot than normal, the brunette gave a subtle tease of her flat and toned stomach while her bust took centre stage in the snap.

Leaving her hair loose and her face completely bare, Liz then let her natural beauty shine through as she showed off an incredibly radiant and youthful complexion for her 51 years of age.

Bikini babe: Liz has been heavily documenting her sun-drenched getaway to the tropical location on social media so far

Perching trendy Aviator sunglasses onto her nose with a small smile on her face, the star looked utterly relaxed and glad to be soaking up the sun in the tropical location.

Liz has been heavily documenting her sun-drenched getaway on social media so far - having shared a stunning video in a leopard print bikini on Sunday.

The actress looked incredible in the clip in which she frolicked around, while the camera effect meant that every inch of her frame was highlighted - proving she was her own best advertisement as a successful swimwear designer.

Wahey! She proved she was her own best advertisement as a swimwear designer on Sunday as she shared a sizzling video of her clad in a leopard print bikini on Instagram

With her toned body and ageless beauty, Elizabeth certainly doesn't need to recruit the services of other models to advertise her eponymous swimwear line.

Instead the ageless beauty keeps her social media feeds clogged with stunning snaps as she strips down to various states of undress.

On Thursday, she took to Instagram once again to share yet another clip of herself - this time looking sensational in a skimpy white bikini.

In the GIF, she is seen blowing kisses at the camera as she stands on the golden sands of a tropical beach while wearing the barely-there, bejewelled number, which she revealed has been named for her 'beautiful friend' Elle Macpherson.

Playing around: The 51-year-old actress looked incredible in the clip in which she frolicked around, while the camera effect meant that every inch of her frame was highlighted

Jumping around: With her toned body and ageless beauty, Elizabeth certainly doesn't need to recruit the services of other models to advertise her eponymous swimwear line

Unsurprisingly, the show-stopping upload racked up more than 10,000 likes in just two hours as hordes of fans gushed over the stunning images.

On Tuesday, the brunette beauty treated fans to another seductive beach snap, showcasing her impressive figure in a plunging navy swimsuit.

The actress looked sensational in the simple yet sexy one-piece, which boasted a gold ring at the bust and a teardrop cut-out running down her stomach.

Lip service: She also shared a clip of herself blowing kisses at the camera while wearing a skimpy white bikini on Thursday

Name: In an accompanying caption, the beauty revealed that she named sizzling two-piece - from her eponymous swimwear line - for her supermodel pal Elle Macpherson

Elizabeth's gym-honed arms and slender legs were on display in the tropical snapshot, which sees the beauty going make-up free behind a large pair of shades.

The Royals star certainly wasn't short of compliments, with her male admirers showering her with compliments. 'How are you still single?', one asked, while another posted, 'What a woman'.

Earlier this week, Elizabeth also shared a beach selfie with her 530,000 Instagram followers.

Looking good: On Tuesday, she treated her fans to another seductive beach snap, showcasing her impressive figure in a plunging navy swimsuit

The screen star pouted in the snap which showed off her pert bust in a skimpy tangerine halterneck bikini top.

Elizabeth shot a wide-eyed, slightly distressed look at the camera and captioned the image 'Valley Of The Dolls'.

She was referring to the cult 1967 film about three young women attempting to make it in Hollywood who succumb to ill-fated romance and the lure of drug abuse.

Ahoy there! Earlier this week, the star looked sizzling in the saucy selfie as she posed in a tiny tangerine bikini top

The face of Estee Lauder rocked a sexy bed-head hairstyle with her highlighted locks swept around her face.

Her lashes were loaded with mascara and she sported a baby pink lip gloss.

The mum-of-one has been enjoying spending some quality time with her 15-year-old son Damian recently.

Elizabeth shared a touching selfie with Damian on Monday with the pair enjoying a long country walk together.

Mother and son time! Elizabeth shared another selfie, this time taken during a long country walk with her 14-year-old son Damian

The Bedazzled star rocked a fur trim hat as Damian grinned sheepishly behind her.

Damian, whose father is Elizabeth's former partner billionaire Steve Bing, is clearly devoted to his famous mother.

The school boy paid tribute to her on Mother's Day by sharing an adorable picture of the pair when Damian was just a toddler.

He captioned the image: 'Happy Mothers Day Mummy xxx'
The Fast And The Furious star Paul Walker's tragic death in 2013 deeply affected his friends and family.

So on Friday, his brother Cody told Daily Mail Australia he is focused on continuing the actor's positive legacy.

Cody spoke about taking over Paul's disaster relief charity, Reach Out Worldwide, following his passing.

'He had the biggest heart': Paul Walker's brother Cody (pictured) spoke about taking over the late actor's disaster relief charity, Reach Out Worldwide, following his tragic death in 2013

Cody is in Australia for a series of #Drive4Paul car rallies and The Fate Of The Furious screenings to raise funds for the charity.

The former Oregon-based paramedic revealed he had big shoes to fill by taking over his brother's organisation.

'Paul had the biggest heart in the world and he was such a good example,' he said.

'He was very fortunate and he knew that. He never lost his way (after becoming famous). He drove a pickup truck 90 per cent of the time!'

'Good example': On Friday, Cody told Daily Mail Australia he is focused on continuing his older brother's positive legacy. Pictured Cody and Paul in 2003

Cody revealed Paul started the charity to 'give assistance to communities that are often forgotten about by the media.'

And he claims his brother decided to keep his involvement in the charity under the radar, and simply focus on helping others.

'That wasn't what it was about,' said Cody. 'Paul wasn't looking for recognition. People didn't know about his organisation until he passed away.'

Humanitarian work: Cody revealed Paul started Reach Out Worldwide to 'give assistance to communities that are often forgotten about by the media.'

Unsung hero: Cody says his brother Paul decided to keep his involvement in the charity under the radar, and simply focus on helping others

'He didn't want people getting involved for the wrong reasons just because he was attached. And he didn't want the media showing up and praising him because that's not what it was about.'

Cody added: 'It was about him wanting to legitimately reach out and help people.

'It was something that he funded 100 per cent on his own, that was from his pocketbook,' he revealed.

Helping hand: '(Paul) didn't want the media showing up and praising him because that's not what it was about,' explained Cody
She's relocated from Chelsea to California in the hope of pursuing her dreams of movie stardom.

And Kimberley Garner looked as though the Los Angeles lifestyle was suiting her down to the ground as she walked her pet pooch Sasha along Santa Monica beach on Wednesday.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 27, showed off her toned tum in a cropped grey vest as she lavished attention on her canine companion during their sunset stroll with a friend.

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California girl: Kimberley Garner looked as though the Los Angeles lifestyle was suiting her down to the ground as she walked her pet pooch Sasha on Santa Monica beach on Wednesday

Puppy love: The former Made In Chelsea star, 27, showed off her toned tum in a cropped grey vest as she lavished attention on her canine companion during their sunset stroll with a friend

Showcasing her toned and tanned physique, the reality TV personality teamed her tiny top with a pair of black denim hotpants and a kooky patterned waistcoat.

Carrying her black leather sandals in her hand as she felt the sand on her toes, Kimberley wore a camera hooked around her neck, suggesting she had taken up a new hobby during her stint in Los Angeles.

The aspiring actress wore her blonde locks loose around her shoulders and wore natural make-up to complement her pretty features.

Kimberley was joined by a female friend and seemed in high spirits as she larked around on the beach while snapping photographs of the idyllic setting.

Top of the crops: Showcasing her toned and tanned physique, the reality TV personality teamed her tiny top with a pair of black denim hotpants and a kooky patterned waistcoat

Watch out, Angelina! Kimberley relocated from Chelsea to California earlier this year in the hope of pursuing her dreams of movie stardom

Pretty as a picture: The aspiring actress wore her blonde locks loose around her shoulders and wore natural make-up to complement her pretty features

The reality star relocated to Los Angeles at the start of 2017 in the hope of finding fame as an actress.

In February, Kimberley was seen toting a gun as she got to work on the set of her first movie, action flick Sweetheart, in the Californian desert.

But it hasn't all been plain-sailing for the carefree blonde, who revealed she suffered a terrifying ordeal when an intruder broke into her Los Angeles home with the intention to 'rape, rob or worse'.

She told her Instagram followers in January: 'Tonight. Was just going to bed in our newly rented house. When we saw a large hooded man at the door at midnight, with a van outside.

Girls just wanna have fun: Kimberley was joined by a female friend and seemed in high spirits as she larked around on the beach while snapping photographs of the idyllic setting

Canine companion: The swimwear designer looked utterly besotted as she cuddled her adorable pet pooch Sasha during their energetic beach walk

Snap happy: Carrying her black leather sandals in her hand as she felt the sand on her toes, Kimberley wore a camera hooked around her neck

New hobby? Kimberley was snapping plenty of photographs as the girls went about their day

Do blondes have more fun? Kimberley's friend was dressed in a crop top and low-slung jeans

'Just me and a girlfriend were alone in the house, which was big and up in the hills in Beverley hills totally isolated. We had no lock on our bedroom door.

'So were very silent and climbed inside the wardrobe in the dark. We were in there for 20 minutes as we heard him try every door around the house, and listened as he broke one.

'Staying very still as we heard him in every room around the house. We called the police and when they finally arrived.

'Caught the hooded man in the house. Not only did they not file a report. They did not take his details and just let him go.

Taking a break: In February, Kimberley was seen toting a gun as she got to work on the set of her first movie, action flick Sweetheart, in the Californian desert

Moving on: It hasn't all been plain-sailing for the carefree blonde, who revealed she suffered a terrifying ordeal when an intruder broke into her Los Angeles home

Woman of many talents: Kimberley studied at the prestigious RADA and LAMDA drama schools after leaving school

'With the patronising advice of 'better go around the house girls to check if the doors are locked' before they left us.

'This man only had bad intentions, rob, rape or worse, and if we hadn't seen him and hid to call the police I hate to think what he was going to do to us.'

Kimberley studied at the prestigious RADA and LAMDA drama schools after leaving school, but shot to fame when she made quite the impact on Made In Chelsea between March and December 2012.

The swimwear designer caused a particular stir among the male cast-members and dated the likes of Spencer Matthews, Jamie Laing and Richard Dinan.

Kimberley said of her time on the show: 'I thought that when Im old Ill look back and think it was a really sweet thing to have done.'

From Chelsea to California: The blonde shot to fame when she made quite the impact on Made In Chelsea between March and December 2012
They've made their romance stand the test of time after meeting in the Love Island villa in Mallorca last summer.

And Olivia Buckland and fiance Alex Bowen looked more loved up than ever as they hit the town at Sugarhut nightclub in Brentwood, Essex, on Thursday night.

The reality star, 24, dressed to impress for her man, 26, showcasing some serious cleavage in a low-cut white vest top for her date night.

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Date night: Love Island's Olivia Buckland and fiance Alex Bowen looked more loved up than ever as they hit the town at Sugarhut nightclub in Brentwood, Essex, on Thursday night

Holding hands as the couple headed inside, Olivia teamed her simple top with a burgundy leather pencil skirt, while draping a black jacket over her shoulders.

The TV personality added height to her frame with a pair of vampy black leather studded heels, and accessorised with a 90s-style choker.

Olivia wore her blonde locks scraped back from her face and accentuated her pretty features with heavily contoured make-up.

Proudly showing off his girlfriend, Alex could not keep the smile off his face as he wrapped his arm around his lady.

Working it: The reality star, 24, dressed to impress for her man, 26, showcasing some serious cleavage in a low-cut white vest top for her date night

The hunk clad his rippling muscles in an edgy all-black ensemble and layered a distressed tan denim jacket over the top with a gold chain necklace.

Sporting a mahogany tan, the scaffolder and fitness model looked as handsome as ever as he accentuated his features with his nose ring.

Despite coming in second place to Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde - who confirmed their split this week - the couple won over the hearts of the nation.

The pair got off to a rocky start in the villa when Alex bedded former Miss Great Britain winner Zara Holland on his first night, a move that resulted in her being stripped of her beauty queen crown.

Hell for leather: Holding hands as the couple headed inside, Olivia teamed her simple top with a burgundy leather pencil skirt, while draping a black jacket over her shoulders

Alex popped the question to the blonde beauty on a romantic trip to New York in December 2016.

The couple's engagement came as a shock to the reality world, after Olivia and Alex met a mere ten months ago, but she is insistent their future is sparkling.

The stunning star revealed they do have plans for children - but will keep an integral element of their love story quiet particularly their various on-screen romps.

She told MailOnline: 'We have said we want kids eventually. We just want to enjoy our time together, we have a lot to do, experiences to have, holidays to take.

'It will be nice but maybe not in the next seven years. I'm still a baby anyway. I would never let my kids watch Love Island!

'There's not as much controversy in sex on TV as there used to be. But I won't be showing my kids Love Island. Maybe keep it secret from them for quite a while.'
They fell in love on The Bachelor Australia in 2013.

And on Friday, Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich proved it's still smooth sailing in their relationship as they enjoyed a Sydney Harbour cruise.

The couple, who are approaching their fourth anniversary in September, took to Instagram on Friday to document their Easter long weekend.

The love boat! On Friday, Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich proved it's still smooth sailing in their relationship as they enjoyed a Sydney Harbour cruise

In one photo, shirtless Tim flaunts his muscular physique as Anna affectionately kisses him on the cheek.

Anna captioned the snap: 'The Love Boat'.

Meanwhile, Tim wrote on his Instagram page: 'I'm either trying to look like or a pirate or the sun's in my eyes.'

Good times! The Bachelor couple, who are approaching their fourth anniversary in September, took to Instagram on Friday to document their Easter long weekend

Later in the day, Anna shared a photo of herself standing on deck in a sheer polka dot jumpsuit.

The criminal lawyer styled her long blonde hair loosely, as she smiled in the afternoon sun.

The romantic snaps will no doubt fuel rumours the couple will soon get engaged.

Wedding bells? The romantic snaps will no doubt fuel rumours the couple are getting ready to announce an engagement

Tim spoke exclusively to Daily Mail Australia about wedding rumours last month at the Myer Autumn fashion collection launch.

When asked if 2017 would be the year they would take their relationship to the next level, he sounded optimistic.

'We're definitely committed and headed in that direction,' Tim said.
The major preps are over. Now the anticipation begins. Time to call the car rental office and reserve a car, hoping it drives well enough to make the 11 1/2-hour trek to Louisville somewhere between tolerable and semi-enjoyable. For that, I also will need to specify the car has satellite radio.

The big day finally arrives and I am out the door by 6 a.m., loading up the car with a miniature version of my lifes belongings, complete with summer and winter clothing, umbrellas, my one sport jacket and ties, and special pillow, but most importantly my precious black bag containing all my Kentucky Derby paperwork  months of notes and transcribed interviews and interesting and historical statistics on as many Derby horses as I could get, past performances, pedigrees, barn lists, past Derby PPs and charts, and important telephone numbers.

Beating Philadelphia rush hour traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I drive past Philadelphia Park Racetrack, Valley Forge, into the series of tunnels cutting right through the Allegheny mountains, and into the hinterlands of rural Pennsylvania, then head southwest just east of Pittsburgh, through Wheeling, West Virginia and into Ohio. Thank goodness for Serius/XM radio and six hours of Steve Byks radio show (live and previous days replay) and the 1950s and 60s music stations.

Zipping across Ohio and then through Columbus and Cincinnati, I am finally in Kentucky, passing my favorite exit sign for Big Bone Lick State Park, then negotiating the final leg of the trip down Interstate 71 into Louisville.

I check into my hotel, for years the Candlewood Suites, which I fell in love with and was my home away from home, already wishing it was morning and my alarm was ringing at 4:30, and I am leaping out of bed to prepare for my first exhilarating morning at Churchill Downs. The alarm actually is of little use because I am up well before that, waiting for it to ring. The anticipation of seeing the Derby horses for the first time and the sights and sounds of the backstretch and seeing familiar faces makes me feel like a kid waking up on his first morning at Disney World. Its hard to believe this is considered a job.

I make sure I have everything  media credential, tape recorders, notepad, binoculars, camera, extra batteries, barn list  check. And, of course, I am already well informed as to who, if anyone, is scheduled to work this morning. The Candlewood Suites always saved one of my two favorite rooms for me, They were right next to the back door and I would dash right out, into my car, and was off to the first day of a new adventure..

Good, its not raining. Nothing worse than having it cold and raining on your first morning and having to negotiate the sea of mud by the horse paths that sucks you right down. The darkness is inviting. The world has yet to rise and only a few cars are scooting down the Waterston Expressway. The brisk chill in the air is invigorating and I dress accordingly, eagerly awaiting my first cup of coffee from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders Association office or the media center.

Making my way through security at Gate 5 (If you ever have any problems, just wave, avoiding eye contact, flash your credential as quickly as you can, and just keep going without looking back). Its sort of like after Michael shot Solazzo in Louies Restaurant and just calmly walked out, dropped the gun, and avoided eye contact. The great Bill Nack was an expert at getting into places he wasnt allowed by simply acting like he belonged there, avoiding eye contact and increasing his gait speed as he entered.

Meandering my way through the barn area to my usual parking spot, either alongside Barn 40 or at the trainers stand by the end gap, I am finally here. Off in the distance across the track are the Twin Spires lit up in amber and blue against the black sky. Before they rebuilt the grandstand on either side, the Twin Spires stood tallest of all, commanding the skyline. Now they seem dwarfed by the massive structures outside them. But they are still spellbinding, and there is nothing like that first glimpse of them to awaken the senses and make you feel as if you are on hallowed ground.

It is about 5:15 and the track is still closed. Most Derby trainers have not yet arrived, so its off to Wayne Lukas barn nearby, where the office lights are on, horses are walking the shed, and Wayne moves about from the office to the barn entrance, ready and willing to talk about his Derby horse if he has one, or everyones elses Derby horse if he doesnt, or any other matter that is on his mind at the moment.

No one is more quotable than the free-speaking Mr. Lukas, so my tape recorder is always well prepared for any Lukas gem to start off the day. One year, he spotted a horse coming off the track heading to the barn and was informed it was Afleet Alex. That muskrat is Afleet Alex? he asked. You gotta love him. By the time I leave his barn I know every Derby horse who isnt looking or training well.

The track opens at 5:30 and the first wave makes its way on. Before they instituted the Derby and Oaks training hours from 8:30 to 8:45 you were always likely to see a Derby horse or two training in the dark (you still may), and before they installed lights on the track there was absolutely nothing to see except the faint images of horses going by, passing by the lights at the poles. Even the striking Derby saddle towels were difficult to make out. Before Churchill Downs laid down the law, Lukas and Todd Pletcher refused to use the Derby saddle towels identifying their horses, leaving people to guess who they were, especially with Pletcher when he would run four or five horses and most all looked alike, mainly bays with no markings.

Nothing changes year to year other than the horses and the storylines and a few unfamiliar trainers. The horses obviously are different, but many reside in stalls once occupied by previous Derby horses, and that always brings back a flood of memories as you remember old times and familiar faces from years past. Every year there are trainers running in their first Derby who you become friendly with, knowing deep down they likely will never be back. It is exciting seeing the majority of the Derby horses for the first time in the flesh and meeting new trainers who youve only spoken to on the phone over the winter.

In the small one-room red brick media center, located about 30 yards from the track on the backstretch, is a large activity board, and in the past there was coffee and donuts before they were moved into the connecting recreation room, whose main purpose was providing a place for you to warm up after the morning light brought a drop in temperature and an increase in wind velocity, sending a chill right through the bone. Fortunately, they also had hot chocolate in case you had your fill of coffee.

One thing about Kentucky weather in late April, you never know what to expect, and you always must bring winter and summer clothes, because it can be 40 one day and 80 the next.

All is quiet outside the media center and you find it hard to believe the mass of humanity that will be gathering there in the days leading up to the Derby and all the TV and radio stations that will be set up, beginning their live shows at the crack of dawn.

Once you have fueled up with a cup or two of coffee, it is time plan your course of action. Where to go first?

You start logically by making the rounds to see as many Derby trainers and their horses as possible, just to renew old acquaintances and introduce yourself to the newcomers. Some years the Derby horses are fairly close to each other, especially years ago when the two Derby barns (Barn 41 and 42) actually were Derby barns, housing many of the horses. But now with so many more Derby trainers who have their own barns, there are fewer horses in the Derby barns and the horses now are spread all over the backstretch, which means lots of walking, which equates to wasted time, especially going to Dale Romans barn, located way down by the track kitchen and quite a hike from all the main activity. And if Dale is not there, then youve gone there for nothing and must decide whether you want to schlep back there later.

There is nothing more interesting than hanging out in Dales office, as a steady stream of characters stop by. And Dale has never been one to suppress his thoughts and opinions.

The first few days at Churchill are meant to confuse and lead one away from objective reporting. These are the days when you become enamored with certain horses, and sometimes their trainers when they welcome you with open arms. Exhibit A horse looks magnificent as you spend quality time alone with him and you love his eye, his head, his powerful hind quarters. His trainer tells you wonderful back stories about him. Thats it, I have my Derby horse. I have my 3,500-word recap already written. Everything from here on will be window dressinguntil you visit your next horse. When youre through with him and his trainer and you bond with the assistant or exercise rider and you get to play with the horse in his stall, you quickly change allegiance. This is now your Derby horsefor the time being.

And so it goes until you have your core of underdog horses and trainers who can stop the Pletcher machine, which usually comes in multiple numbers. Bob Baffert is the other ubiquitous presence every year, but he always provides a good story and fun quotes, and he is, well, Baffert. Steve Asmussen is another who shows up most years, and if you catch him at the right time he can be extremely enlightening and articulate. But if it is the Cinderella story you are looking for that will be a breeze filling those 3,500 words, then you must go elsewhere.

As the days add up, I try to touch base with the trainers of every horse, just to get some background and interesting quotes and see their horse close up. In 2009 I would walk by Barn 42 and see this cowboy on crutches standing outside the barn. That must be the trainer of Mine That Bird. Aah, Ill catch him tomorrow. I barely know who his horse is or why hes here. Well, tomorrow never came and when Mine That Bird shocked the world on Derby Day, the first thought that hit me was, I might as well have arrived in Kentucky 10 minutes before the race. I had nothing. A blank canvas; starting from scratch; two wasted weeks. Reams of paper with quotes and notes that I might as well toss in the trash. Fortunately, I was able to piece together the entire Mine That Bird odyssey by talking to everyone I could after the race, especially Chip Woolleys girlfriend, who provided details that Woolley wouldnt dream of sharing with the media. But that was a mistake I vowed I would never make again.

During that first week and through the weekend, just before the renovation break, I often would get in my car and drive to the far end of the backstretch, down the ramp, through the tunnel, and back up the ramp into the infield. Then its a hard right through the tunnel under the grandstand and out near the Derby Museum, where I park, head up the stairs of the grandstand to watch the horses scheduled to work, as well as the gallopers.

In past years, before the designated training time, the Derby horses would work at different hours, many of them at 5:30 right after the track opens. Once they installed lights on the track, it obviously made viewing the early works much easier. Once in a while you will still get a few Derby horses working early, and there is a feeling of tranquility being in the quiet, darkened grandstand watching the horses train, illuminated by the lights. Many times, whether early or late, owners will accompany the trainers and you can get some great sound bites immediately after a work. Sometimes if a trainer I know doesnt have a large group I will ask to tag along with them. That drive back after the work often is very revealing. These are nervous times for the connections, and your horse working well and getting through it unscathed is one step closer to racings ultimate glory.

My favorite times are in the afternoons after sending in my daily column, which I would write from the hotel, and heading back to the backstretch at 3 oclock to watch several of the Derby horses grazing and getting to know them up close and personal and talking either to their trainer, who is so much more relaxed and open than in the morning, or their assistant trainer, exercise rider or whoever is grazing the horse. These are the quiet times that you relish so much, when the backstretch is serene, with horses grazing on the grass behind barns 41 and 42 by the Longfield Avenue fence. This is when you get the greatest quotes and back stories, and when you can see some of the Derby horses coats bloom a little more each day and you can tell which ones are thriving. This is when their dapples burst out, illuminated by the late afternoon sun.

By the end of the first week, I am already wiped out, mentally and physically, and there is still a week to go, as the rest of the media begins to trickle in daily all fresh and raring to go. Transcribing all my notes from my tape recorder at night is the roughest chore, as I am constantly playing catch-up and almost always fall asleep, usually waking up hours later in the middle of the night with the lights on, my last quotes looking like something between an alien language, hieroglyphics, and doodles gone insane. The last letter I wrote down before losing consciousness extends down to the bottom of the paper. But that was nothing compared to the many times I would doze off right in the middle of a phone conversation with my wife, who knew I was sleeping by the total gibberish I was spewing that had nothing whatsoever to do with our conversation.

But somehow I get a second wind and Derby Week flies by, due mainly to all the activities, the draw, and dinner with friends. The works are usually through by Monday, with an occasional work on Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday the crowds on the backstretch reach their peak and the area outside the media is a place you avoid at all costs, unless you dont mind bulling your way through a sea of humanity, the vast majority of them engrossed in conversation, oblivious to the horses on the track just a few yards away. At the first gap, a gauntlet forms at around 8:15 in anticipation of the stream of Derby horses that will be filing onto the track, first circling for several minutes waiting for the track to open. Over at the second gap, the same scene plays out, as more Derby horses parade onto the track, and most years it is the Baffert horses that command most of the attention.

By now, the notes and transcribed quotes are piling up, and I have a pretty good idea which horses I am rooting for from a professional standpoint. I know where the best stories will come from, which stories will be the easiest to write, and which stories I will struggle having to write. Fortunately, I have never had one of those that have left me wordless, although sometimes I am blank coming up with the all-important opening graphs, hoping that light will go on and quickly.

Finally, we get through the post position draw, with some happy, some crushed, and most relieved, and before you know it, it is Derby morning and I scramble to get dressed, sport jacket and tie, make sure I have all the necessary tools of the trade I will need  two tape recorders just in case and extra batteries.

I am at the track by 5:30 to get a head start and begin making the rounds to make sure everyone is sound and healthy and ready for their big day, and to wish the trainers good luck. You can count on one hand the number of media who come to the backstretch on race day morning, but for many of them, they are beat reporters, especially in past years when there actually were beat reporters, and their main focus is on the result and getting their story in on deadline. The species of newspaper beat reporter we once knew is pretty much extinct, as are the newspapers. Now there is a whole new younger breed of racing scribe, writing mainly for trade publications and various websites.

The day is endless. People are literally shoulder to shoulder so you cant walk around. So you either hang out in the press box or head to the backstretch and just chill there, as the tension mounts.

Finally, the longest day of the year begins to wind down closer to post time. Owners and trainers show up at their respective barns and get ready for The Walk, that so many look forward to  to gaze across the track at the packed grandstand, to be engulfed by the moment, as you walk with your horse past the crowd, with people shouting, mostly Good luck and other words of encouragement.

This is when trainers and owners, although pumped with excitement and overwhelmed by the sights and sounds and overall experience, just hope their horse remains cool and calm. After all it took to get here, you dont want to lose the race on the walkover. I remember one year, all eyes were on the temperamental and unpredictable Fusaichi Pegasus, who handled it all like a pro. I remember Pulpit getting really worked up, One year, Funny Cide uncharacteristically completely lost it, and assistant trainer Robin Smullen had to take him to the inside rail to walk him, while pleading to him, Please, Funny, dont do this to me.

One of my biggest thrills was walking over with I'll Have Another's owner Paul Reddam, along with my colleague Lenny Shulman, which Reddam said helped relax him and brought on a wave of confidence, as we kidded each other. He would always say that walking over with us one of the most special moments of his Derby experience.

As the horses turn at the entrance to the tunnel leading to the paddock, Lenny Shulman and I stake out a place on the track between the sixteenth pole and the finish. In the early years at the DRF I would watch from the porch outside the Racing Form office, where you could literally feel the grandstand shake during the race. Then after going to the Blood Horse and concentrating more on color, I would watch on a TV in the small office just off the tunnel, allowing for quick access to the track as soon as the race was over.

How will I feel after the race? After two weeks in Louisville and so many mornings and afternoons getting to know the horses and trainers and assistants and exercise riders and grooms, will the result make me happy, not only in regard to the 3,500 word-story that is due the following afternoon, but personally, as a fan who has become attached to the horses and friends with the trainers and assistants? There is a sadness knowing so many trainers and owners and their barn help that I have gotten to know well are going to feel crushed and dejected in a few minutes.

As we stand on the track and the horses begin to appear from the tunnel, the strains of My Old Kentucky Home fill the air, as people in the grandstand sing along. Its as if the music is emanating right from the Twin Spires directly behind you, No matter how many times you hear it you cant help but feel a wave of emotion that brings tears to some and chills to others. One jockey said it raised the hairs on the back of his neck.

The horses approach the gate. Theyre off! The cavalry charge roars past you. You have no idea who is where, except what you can make out on the large infield screen. You see flashes of familiar silks storming down the stretch. They flash by you again, this time with one horse often in isolated splendor and on his way to victory. It is over, just like that. So many thoughts race through your mind. Are you happy with the result? Do you have a story? Oh, yes, did you make money? A few seconds later, the story already starts forming in your head. You search for the winning connections or whoever else you can see associated with the winner. You rush to them to try to capture their immediate feelings; the exultation and excitement of the moment. Their emotions are pouring out uncontrollably and you try your best to record it for posterity. There is no need to say anything but congratulations. The script is all theirs.

The rest of the day and night is a blur as it all sinks in; so many thoughts running through your mind. Then come the interviews, trying to catch the winning connections alone for a second. After a brief stop at the noisy jam-packed post-race party at the Derby museum, I walk on the racetrack back to the barn in quiet, reflective solitude to talk to whoever is there and wait for the trainer and possibly the owner to return from the party. Often, youre there until 9:30 or 10; sometimes you get good stuff, other times very little. Dinner is an afterthought on Derby night. No time to get anything, so I always try to have something in the fridge.

Back at the hotel and alone, the exhilaration starts wearing off and now there is only one thing on your mind  your story, transcribing the post-race quotes, sorting through your daily quotes from the past two weeks and months of early notes and quotes compiled since January, hopefully having background on the winner when he was a foal or yearling or early 2-year-old, coming up with an opening if you dont already have one, and most important, assimilating everything to form one cohesive article that tells the entire story in an entertaining and informative manner.

Sunday morning and through the afternoon is non-stop writing. Youre on a roll; cant stop. Finally, the story is finished and you send it in, as a sense of accomplishment and relief hits you. Then, for years, it was off to dinner at John Es with my good friend and colleague Ed Fountaine of the New York Post. This is the time for relaxing and going over the race. The work is over.

By 4:15 a.m. Monday the car is packed up and I am on the road, beating Cincinnati rush hour, then making my two Subway stops, one for breakfast off the Mount Sterling exit in Ohio and the other in Cambridge Ohio for the all-important foot-long veggie sub that hopefully will keep me awake during the interminable 5 1/2 to six-hour stretch across Pennsylvania.

I am home by 4:30, having survived another Kentucky Derby. One week and then its off to Baltimore, and we start all over again.

Those days are over. It is unlikely I will ever gaze upon the Twin Spires again. No more chilly mornings on the backstretch. No more running after trainers for quotes. No more quiet, lazy afternoons watching the Derby horses grazing and talking to assistants and exercise riders about their horses personality. And most of all, no more frenetic, exhausting Derby Days. Its back to watching on TV as I did so many decades ago, and then going out to dinner with my wife.

I am very content, not having to endure the strain it puts on you. But in many ways I miss it, every stimulating minute of it. After all, it is the Kentucky Derby.
She's said to have been banned from Pippa Middleton's upcoming wedding to James Matthews amid fears she could 'outshine' the beautiful bride.

But that didn't stop feisty Vogue Williams - who is dating James' younger brother Spencer, 27 - from posting another sizzling underwear snap to her social media accounts on Friday morning.

Up to her old tricks again, the model, 31, showed off her toned stomach and gym-honed legs in her new Tommy Hilfiger bra and knickers.

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Up to her old tricks: Vogue Williams, 31, posted another raunchy Instagram snap as she posed in her Tommy Hilfiger underwear on Friday morning

The Irish TV presenter styled her ombre tresses into loose curls and let them frame her face in the raunchy snap.

Cheekily hooking her thumb into the waistband of her knickers, Vogue posed suggestively as she flaunted her muscular middle.

The model's scintillating snaps have landed her in hot water with the Duchess of Cambridge's sister, Pippa Middleton, 33, who is due to wed Spencer's brother James, 41, in May this year.

Not happy: The Irish model's scintillating snaps are said to have landed her in hot water with Pippa Middleton, 33, as she plans her upcoming society wedding to James Matthews, 41

The socialite has imposed a 'no ring, no bring' policy to her wedding to her hedge fund manager beau, making it unlikely that Prince Harry can bring girlfriend Meghan Markle, 35, to the big day either.

The couple will tie the knot on Saturday May 20 at the 12th-century St Marks Church in Berkshire, six miles from Bucklebury where Pippa grew up, with Prince George, three, a page boy and Princess Charlotte, who will have just turned two, a flower girl.

Despite Vogue dating James' former Made in Chelsea star brother, Pippa is adamant that the relationship is too fresh for her to be present at the wedding.

A wedding insider told The Sun: 'Pippas view is that Vogues relationship with Spencer is still very new. It wouldnt be appropriate for her to be there after just a few months of dating.

No ring, no bring: Pippa has imposed a 'no ring, no bring' policy to her May wedding

She's not shy! Vogue has been dating James Matthews' younger brother, former Made In Chelsea star Spencer, 27, for a couple of months

'But some people in the circle are pretty shocked because this is her future brother-in-law whos going to end up attending on his own. Its certainly raised eyebrows.'

The source also added: 'Its clear Pippa doesnt want to be outshone by any TV babes on her big day.'

Pippa's millionaire banker fiance popped the question last summer with a dazzling diamond ring worth an estimated 200,000.

James reportedly asked Pippa's father for permission for his daughter's hand before getting down on one knee.

No distractions: Sources have claimed former party planner Pippa doesn't want to be 'outshone' at her May 20 wedding

'James is a traditionalist and very much wanted to do things properly. That meant getting his future father in law's consent,' a friend of the couple told the Daily Mail's Richard Kay.

Spencer appears to be totally loved-up with Vogue, writing a gushing post about her in an Instagram post in which he compared her to supermodel Cindy Crawford.

The charmer wrote the caption: 'I'm dating a younger, better looking, Cindy.'

Vogue is also very taken with Spencer, as she sang his praises for supporting her after she injured her knee on the ski slopes, where the two first laid eyes on each other for Channel 4's The Jump.

Earlier this month, she wrote on Instagram: 'Big thank you to this boy @spencermatthews for looking after me for the last two months.
Amber Heard debuted her new pink locks on Thursday, as she was pictured for the first time since having to leave awards bash early due to an emergency.

She had been due to be honoured at the star-studded unite4:humanity gala last week, but instead exited through a side door before she could accept her award.

While it's unclear whether or not her new change of hair colour was a permanent one, the new look, seen in Hollywood, gave her a slightly more edgy and rock chick appearance.

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She's Heard it's on-trend: Amber debuted bubblegum pink hair on a shopping trip in Hollywood on Thursday... as she was pictured for the first time since having to leave an event early following an emergency

Heading to the shops with her mother Paige and her lookalike sister Whitney, who were not pictured, the star looked fashion forward with her locks styled into curls.

She wore a cute white knitted vest top for the outing, which saw her popping into a picture frame store and she teamed it with a pair of black faded skinny jeans.

Earlier in the day, she had a silk embellished blouse worn on top which she removed in the sunshine.

Looking good She wore a cute white knitted vest top for the outing, which saw her popping into a picture frame store and she teamed it with a pair of black faded skinny jeans

Clearly a dedicated follower of fashion, the ex wife of movie star Johnny Depp wore a sky-high pair of colourful mules.

She wore a selection of necklaces and covered up her newly coloured tresses with a stylish hat as she settled into her new look.

Amber had a plaster on her arm from perhaps a small accident and the other homed a selection of gold bangles.

Changing it up: She wore a selection of necklaces and covered up her newly coloured tresses with a stylish hat as she settled into her new look

Meanwhile, her celebrity pals covered for her when she had to leave her awards event early.

Her friends iO and Cara Delevingne stepped onto the stage in her place, with iO telling the star-studded audience: 'Our dear friend Amber unfortunately suffered a bit of an emergency earlier this evening and she had to go.'

Pictures from the red carpet showed a calm and collected Amber posing nonchalantly in black trousers, hands in her pockets.

Once inside the dining room at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in California the actress was surrounded in a huddle by close pals, including British model Cara.

She looked 'distressed and uncomfortable', reports eonline.

Amber then left through a side door, without her gong, which had been due to be presented by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali-born former Dutch politician.

iO added of her pal: 'I want to also say that I've never seen Amber nervous and I've known her quite intimately for a long time.

'And she's met pretty much everyone that you could be starstruck by. But Ayaan Hirsi Ali is as close to God as you could get for her, so to know that Ayaan was here and for her to have to leave anyway means that it was a very serious emergency. We both are hoping that she's okay.'
Jason Momoa was a big hit on day two of Bluesfest Byron Bay.

The hunky American's outfit had shades of Paul Hogan in Crocodile Dundee as he posed for selfies with fans on Good Friday.

Currently in Australia filming Aquaman, the 37-year-old wore a cowboy hat, a leather waistcoat and a shark tooth necklace.

Mr Popular! Jason Momoa was a big hit with fellow festivalgoers at Bluesfest Byron Bay

Deja vu? The hunky American's outfit had shades of Paul Hogan in Crocodile Dundee as he posed for selfies with fans on Good Friday

Jason's bulging biceps were on display as he was pictured strolling around the five-day music festival.

The Honolulu native, who starred as Khal Drogo on Game Of Thrones between 2011 and 2012, looked in positive spirits as he posed for photos with fans.

Seen laughing and joking with festivalgoers, the Hollywood star revealed his heavy metal side by performing the 'devil horns' hand sign.

In demand: The Honolulu native, who starred as Khal Drogo on Game Of Thrones between 2011 and 2012, looked in positive spirits as he posed for photos with fans

Poser! Seen laughing and joking with fans, the Hollywood star revealed his heavy metal side by performing the 'devil horns' hand sign

Jason has made a big impression since arriving Down Under to film Aquaman, which is slated for a 2018 release.

Production staff working on the film, which also boasts Nicole Kidman among its cast, praised the actor for his professionalism.

'He's made such a good impression on everyone. Everyone can't praise him enough - especially the action guys. He already has so much respect,' a crew member told News Corp on Monday.

Country boy! Currently in Australia filming Aquaman, the 37-year-old wore a cowboy hat, a leather waistcoat and a shark tooth necklace

'He's made such a good impression on everyone': Jason has earned the respect of film industry professionals since arriving Down Under to film Aquaman, which is slated for a 2018 release

After landing the lead role in the comic book adaption, the Conan The Barbarian star professed his excitement at taking on the project.

He said: 'I read the Aquaman script and let me just put it this way, I've never seen a movie that's anything like this. It's going to be a world that you've never seen before, which is really cool.

'We went to space, we traveled all over different worlds, but we never went underwater.

'So it's just a really cool spin on what's below and it uses a lot of great movies that I already love - whether that be Raiders of the Lost Ark to Star Wars to Lord of the Rings to Romancing the Stone.'
He rocketed to fame in Essex but now former TOWIE star Mark Wright is eager to become a name for himself in America .

The TV presenter, 30, certainly turned heads as he stripped off for a shirtless run in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Showcasing his rippling six-pack and bulging biceps, the television star stripped down to just his running shorts to pound the pavements as he worked up a sweat.

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Hitting the pavement: Mark Wright, 30, showed off his impeccable abs and pecs as stripped off his T-shirt while running in Los Angeles on Thursday

The fitness fanatic wore black shorts with aquamarine detailing, white sport socks and trendy lime green trainers for his jog.

He peeled off his t-shirt in the blistering heat and tucked it into the waistband of his shorts, revealing his firm and well-defined tanned chest.

Mark's 2012 eponymous reality show, Mark Wright's Hollywood Nights, was sadly cancelled after just five episodes due to poor ratings.

Fitness fanatic: Sweat glistened on Mark's chest as he ran in Hollywood, where he is apparently meeting with a top agent in the hopes of establishing himself stateside

Jogging star: The actor and his wife Michelle Keegan have been open about their hopes to crack America

But he hasn't given up on his Hollywood dream as he headed out to Los Angeles on Tuesday reportedly to take another stab at US super stardom.

He was spotted meeting with top Hollywood executive Rick Royce while persisting in his prolonged attempt to establish himself stateside.

Mark and his wife, actress Michelle Keegan, 29, have made no secret of their desperation to crack America as they previously revealed they had attended meetings with producers.

In 2015, Mark 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.

Workout gear: The TV presenter sported just a pair of running shorts with aquamarine trim, sport socks and trendy lime green sneakers

Running away from the flop: In 2012 Mark Wright's Hollywood Nights was cancelled after just five episodes due to low ratings

'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, it was claimed that ITV 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.'

Persistent: Despite the flop, Mark hasn't given up and met with top Hollywood agent Rick Royce
They initially sent tongues wagging after sharing a steamy smooch in January - only to claim it was a ploy for publicity.

But Jemma Lucy looked very much close to 'ex-girlfriend' Chantelle Connelly, as she put on yet another eye-popping display for a night out at Samoan Joe's in Coventry on Thursday.

The 30-year-old Ex On The Beach star flaunted her surgically-enhanced cleavage in a perilously plunging khaki playsuit, which bared her skimpy yellow lace bra.

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All eyes on them: Jemma Lucy, 30, looked very much close to 'ex-girlfriend' Chantelle Connelly, as she put on yet another eye-popping display for a night out at Samoan Joe's in Coventry on Thursday

Jemma's look for the evening was appropriately planned for Britain's warmer weather as she flaunted her sensational inked figure.

The low-cut to her one-piece exhibited a peek of her toned tum, while also placing emphasis on her ample cleavage.

Jemma's raven tresses were parted to the side, while her peepers sported smokey red shadow.

She looked in high spirits as she cosied up to stunning Chantelle, who covered up more but still managed to put on a sexy display.

Saucy display: The Ex On The Beach star flaunted her surgically-enhanced cleavage in a perilously plunging khaki play suit, which bared her skimpy yellow lace bra

Enviable figure: Chantelle flaunted her fabulous frame in a clingy white top and nude leggings - which she teamed with brown sock-inspired boots

The reality sensation flaunted her fabulous frame in a clingy white top and nude leggings - which she teamed with brown sock-inspired boots.

She tied her mane into a tight bun and opted for a slick of make-up - opting to place emphasis on her large gold earrings and glitzy choker.

A few days ago, Jemma revealed she had a picture of Chantelle inked onto her leg in homage to their close relationship.

Chantelle and Jemma originally set tongues wagging when they were spotted kissing in public at the end of January.

Forever: A few days ago, Jemma revealed she had a picture of Chantelle inked onto her leg in homage to their close relationship

Sharing a video of the pair together, Jemma claimed: 'Yes, I am going out with Chantelle. We have been together for about a month.'

However, the former Geordie Shore star later tweeted to her 165,000 followers that it was all just a ploy for publicity.

She wrote: 'Just to let everyone know the whole me and @jem_lucy relationship was a laugh since the papers started it we rode it and had the last laugh' followed by two money emojis.

Despite admitting it had all been a ploy, the pair have continued to put on a very cosy display on nights out, and often pictured scantily-clad and sharing a smooch.
They have been inseparable since they started hanging out last summer.

And Lily-Rose Depp, 17, and her boyfriend Ash Stymest, 25, looked loved-up as they arrived back at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday after a cosy break in Paris, France.

The model rocked up in a retro Kiss slogan T-shirt and baggy grey joggers as the cosy couple made their way home from the City of Light.

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Back to reality: Lily-Rose Depp, 17, and her boyfriend Ash Stymest, 25, looked loved-up as they arrived back at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday after a cosy break in Paris

The daughter of Johnny Depp, 53, and Vanessa Paradis, 44, kept a low profile as she matched her airport ensemble with square-shaped sunglasses.

Lily-Rose tossed her ash blonde tresses into a messy bun and went make-up free to showcase her naturally pretty features.

Wearing a similar pair of sunglasses, her model boyfriend stepped out in straight legged chinos and a baggy T-shirt.

Rock chick: The model rocked up in a retro Kiss slogan T-shirt and baggy grey joggers as the cosy couple made their way home from the City of Light

The couple appeared down in the dumps about returning home after enjoying their mini break soaking up culture and cuisine.

Ash was carrying a Chanel goodie bag, proving the model couple have expensive taste during their overseas trips.

Lily Rose stole the show earlier this year at Chanel's Haute Couture SS17 during Paris Fashion Week.

All eyes were on the catwalk queen as she was the main attraction at the show, selected by creative director Karl Lagerfeld.

Homeward bound: The couple appeared down in the dumps about returning home after enjoying their mini break soaking up culture and cuisine

Lily stepped into the shoes of Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner who have previously taken the Chanel runway by storm.

The teenager also plans to follow in the footsteps of her actor father as she has starred in three 2016 flicks; Planetarium with Natalie Portman, The Dancer and Yoga Hosers.

Lily will star in the upcoming comedy thriller Moose Jaws.

The parent trap: Lily's parents are Hollywood actor Johnny Depp, 53, and French model Vanessa Paradis, 44, (pictured at 2008 Academy Awards in Los Angeles)




She's the Real Housewife known for her glamorous lifestyle.

But on Good Friday, Lisa Oldfield was left with a gruesome problem after her pet chickens were 'decapitated' by a feral fox.

She took to Instagram to lament the loss of Gwyneth Poultry, Cluck Norris, Whitney Housthen and Victoria Peckham.

'Absolutely devastated to find all my prize chickens decapitated': Real Housewives Of Sydney's Lisa Oldfield was horrified to discover her chickens were massacred by a feral fox recently

Lisa mourned their loss by posting an Instagram photo of her chickens in happier times, and revealed she was dreading telling her sons Harry and Bert the news.

'Absolutely devastated to find all my prize chickens decapitated and eviscerated by a f**king fox - at a loss as to how to explain this to Harry and Bert,' she wrote.

'RIP Gwyneth Poultry, Cluck Norris, Whitney Housthen and Victoria Peckham. (I'm) heartbroken - any ideas on where I can get a fox trap?'

Sad: Lisa mourned their loss by posting an Instagram photo of her chickens in happier times, and revealed she was dreading telling her sons Harry and Bert the news

The chicken massacre comes after Lisa co-star Victoria Rees made a formal complaint to the police this week, accusing Lisa of 'cyber bullying' her teenage son.

Unlike her fellow Real Housewives Of Sydney, Lisa does not live in the eastern suburbs, instead calling a sprawling property in the Northern Beaches home.

The self-confessed pet lover also keeps an array of animals, which includes two rescue dogs, three horses, two snakes and a parrot.

Family tragedy: The businesswoman took to Instagram to mourn the loss of Gwyneth Poultry, Cluck Norris, Whitney Housthen and Victoria Peckham

Lisa also boasts a wardrobe and fashion collection to inspire envy.

The reality TV star told Manly Daily her wardrobe was a surprise present from husband David Oldfield and is nine metres long.

'I've got racks of handbags, racks for hats, so many clothes  my wedding dress,' Lisa explained.

The wardrobe features floor to ceiling shelves, a dressing table and mirror, and houses 345 pairs of Lisa's shoes.
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Sam Burgess is once again looking for a new tenant for his luxury Bondi Beach apartment.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs star is asking $1850-a-week to move into the two-bedroom property, which he bought for $2.065 million in 2012, according to Realestate.com.au.

After a failed attempt to sell the unit last year, the 28-year-old previously listed it for rent at $2500-a-week fully furnished or $1950-a-week unfurnished.

Your new landlord? Sam Burgess is looking for a new tenant for his luxury Bondi Beach apartment once again. Pictured with wife Phoebe Burgess (nee Hooke)

Coming with stunning views of Bondi Beach, the property features an outdoor terrace and small lawn.

Sam purchased the apartment off the plan in 2012 before heading to England for a brief stint in rugby union.

Along with an equipped kitchen, the apartment complex features valet parking, health club, swimming pool and 24-hour concierge.

Money talks: The South Sydney Rabbitohs star is asking $1850 a week to move into the two bedroom property, which he bought for $2.1 million in 2012

Dropping the price: After a failed attempt to sell the unit last year, the 28-year-old previously listed it for rent at $2500 a week fully furnished or $1950 a week unfurnished

Investment: Sam purchased the apartment off the plan in 2012 for $2.065 million before heading to England for a brief stint in rugby union

Everything you need: Along with an equipped kitchen, the apartment complex features valet parking, health club, swimming pool and 24-hour concierge

The NRL player currently lives with wife Phoebe Burgess (nee Hooke) and their newborn daughter Poppy in a $3.8 million Maroubra home overlooking Lurline Bay.

The couple purchased the three-bedroom property, which is deep in the traditional Rabbitohs players' heartland, in January last year.

The main bedrooms and living areas open onto private balconies and the outdoor alfresco dining patio overlooks the solar-heated saltwater pool.

Family home: The NRL player currently lives with wife Phoebe Burgess (nee Hooke) and their newborn daughter Poppy in a $3.8 million Maroubra home overlooking Lurline Bay

Making a splash: The couple purchased the three-bedroom property, which is deep in the traditional Rabbitohs players' heartland, in January last year

The Lurline Street property was a rare find for the husband and wife. It was last sold in August 1994, for $554,000.

Among its most striking features is four large bedrooms (plus a possible fifth) with the master bedroom featuring a large walk-in-robe and luxurious en-suite, as well as a large home theatre room.

The lovebirds married in December 2015 at Phoebe's parents' home in Bowral before welcoming Poppy into the world in January.
She's the popular TV personality known for being unlucky in love.

And after first rising to fame on Popstars 18 years ago, Sophie Monk is reportedly hoping to star in another reality TV series.

The Daily Telegraph claims Sophie met with Network Ten executives on Thursday to 'pitch herself' as the next Bachelorette.

Will she get the rose? The Daily Telegraph claims Sophie Monk met with Network Ten executives on Thursday to 'pitch herself' as the next Bachelorette

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Sophie and Network Ten for comment.

Earlier this year, it was rumoured former Miss Universe Australia Tegan Martin was in talks for the role.

The I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star later denied the speculation as she is already in a relationship.

New direction? If Sophie does become the next Bachelorette, it will be a departure for the series, which has yet to hire a celebrity for the role

Nope! Earlier this year, it was rumoured former Miss Universe Australia Tegan Martin was in talks for the role - but she denied the claims

If Sophie does become the next Bachelorette, it will be a departure for the series, which has yet to hire a celebrity for the role.

The first Bachelorette, Sam Frost, was a marketing assistant from Melbourne getting another shot at love after being dumped by The Bachelor's Blake Garvey.

And 2016's Bachelorette Georgia Love was a newsreader from Tasmania for regional Australian broadcaster WIN.

Looking for love: The first Bachelorette, Sam Frost, was a marketing assistant from Melbourne getting another shot at love after being dumped by The Bachelor's Blake Garvey

Follow-up: 2016's Bachelorette Georgia Love was a newsreader from Tasmania for regional Australian broadcaster WIN

During her time in the spotlight Sophie has been in several high profile relationships.

She was previously engaged to Good Charlotte's Benji Madden and businessman Jimmy Esebag.

Sophie has also dated Sam Worthington, Ryan Seacrest and, most recently, Eric Grothe Jnr.

Sophie has been open about her relationship troubles, telling the Herald Sun last year she believes her success and fame is intimidating.

'Every guy thinks they want that, but then when they do, it can be emasculating I think,' she confessed.

'I work so hard and I travel so much it is hard to give so much attention to a partner.'
She found national fame winning the Miss Universe Australia beauty pageant.

And now Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell) may on the verge of global success, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The 25-year-old beauty reportedly filmed a commercial for a major brand during her visit to London last week.

A global star? Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell) may be about to break into international modelling, after 'filming a major TV commercial in London', reports The Daily Telegraph

The David Jones ambassador visited England earlier this month, and offered a glimpse of a fashion project on Instagram.

In a social media snap, Jesinta is seen standing on a ladder in a long gown and furry jacket, laughing with two male crew members.

She captioned the photo: 'So much fun filming in London today! Huge thanks to the entire team for all of the laughs'.

'So much fun filming in London today': The David Jones ambassador visited England earlier this month, and offered a glimpse of a fashion project on Instagram

Days earlier, she shared a black-and-white selfie while being chauffeured home after a clothes fitting.

The trip wasn't without some down time though, as she hit up Notting Hill to pose beneath a gorgeous pink-blossom tree.

While it is unknown what brand the commercial will be for, Jesinta has been certainly working hard to build up her portfolio with major labels.

London life! Days earlier, she shared a black-and-white selfie while being chauffeured home after a clothes fitting

Tourist at heart: The trip wasn't without some down time though, as she hit up Notting Hill to pose beneath a gorgeous pink-blossom tree

In the past, she has served as a a David Jones ambassador, and last year she was named the face of Olay Total Effects.

A fashion insider told Sydney Confidential the the model had been trying to establish her own brand.

'Jesinta has done well not to pigeonhole herself... She can work hard and gets what she wants,' the source said.

Growing resume: While it is unknown what brand the commercial will be for, Jesinta has been certainly working hard to build up her portfolio with major labels

Working hard: A fashion insider told Sydney Confidential the the model had been trying to establish her own brand

It comes after Jesinta hinted at her rising status on Thursday by posting a first-look photo from a new 'high end' fashion shoot.

The image showed the brunette rocking an edgy floral knit number, styled by Marina Didovich and photographed by Steven Chee.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Jesinta's representatives for comment.
Not for the first time, Hugh Jackman has been immortalised in wax.

But the latest attempt at capturing the 48-year-old's likeness, at Madame Tussauds in China, fell a little short of expectations when it was debuted on Thursday.

Despite being known for his dark hair in The X-Men franchise, the statue on display in Chongqing features a ginger bouffant hairstyle.

Is that you, Hugh? Madame Taussauds in China unveiled a waxwork of Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman with bizarre ginger bouffant hairstyle

Having captured Hugh's muscular frame down to the last detail, it appears the artists failed to take a close enough look at his hair colour.

Seen with his claws drawn, Hugh's latest waxwork wears a white vest, a pair of jeans and brown leather boots.

Meanwhile, it is not the first time the Hollywood actor has appeared in a waxwork exhibit.

Whoops! The latest attempt at capturing the 48-year-old's likeness, at Madame Tussauds in China, fell a little short of expectations when it was debuted on Thursday

Famous: It is not the first time the Hollywood actor has appeared in a waxwork exhibit

Mr Popular: Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas became the first company to produce a statue of Hugh's Wolverine character back in 2009

Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas became the first company to produce a statue of Hugh's Wolverine character back in 2009.

Addressing the news when it broke, Hugh posted on social media: 'I'm thrilled for Wolverine that he's getting immortalised.

'When I was a very young kid, my very first trip overseas from Australia was to London, and I will never forget my visit to Madame Tussauds there. I remember hanging out there and never wanted to leave.

When Hugh's first ever waxwork was unveiled, he wrote on social media: 'I'm thrilled for Wolverine that he's getting immortalised'

'So I think fans of Wolverine have to go to Madame Tussauds to see him. It's so lifelike, you will expect it to jump at you and slice you in half. That's very cool.'

The iconic pose featured in Hugh's latest waxwork has been recreated with varying degrees of success around the world.

Another effort from China, which was unveiled at Madame Tussauds in Taiyuan three years ago, hardly looked like the character at all.
Sandra Bullock recently made a life changing donation to a retiree in need.

After learning Svend Petersen, the longtime pool manager for the Beverly Hills Hotel, had fallen on hard times and found himself homeless, the 52-year-old actress donated $5000 to the 86-year-old retiree according to The Wrap.

Along with her generous contribution, the Virginia-born actress shared an encouraging message from her son Louis, telling the man nicknamed the 'Poolside Prince', 'Everything is going to be ok!'

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Giving back generously: Sandra Bullock made a generous contribution of $5000 dollars to the beloved Beverly Hills Hotel pool manager after learning about his plight through GoFundMe. Above you can see Sandra in New York in December 2016

The octogenarian tugged at heartstrings when his GoFundMe campaign went viral last week.

Svend, who worked at the iconic hotel as pool manager for over 45 years, serviced bigwigs of Hollywood like Marilyn Monroe and Fred Astaire, becoming known to his famous clientele as the Poolside Prince and the Cabana King.

But according to his GoFundMe page, after retiring Sven was 'swindled' by unscrupulous realtors who manipulated the elderly into selling his house, leaving the beloved pool manager homeless and owing over '$71,000 in taxes' to the IRS.

Hard times: Once the beloved pool manager at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Svend Petersen took to GoFundMe to ask for help. Many people felt for the 86-year-old retiree, who found himself homeless and struggling after being 'swindled' by unscrupulous realtors

'Everything is going to be ok!': The 52-year-old actress shared a hopeful message with her sizable donation, telling the octogenarian things will 'be ok'

Times were so hard for the former Beverly Hills Hotel employee that he said he sometimes went days between eating or managed to subsists on a measly 'two bananas a day.'

Making things all the more dire, the retiree was also recently hospitalized with a serious infection.

The response to Svend's plight was swift and enthusiastic, raising over $30,000 in 10 days - well over the $5900 goal set to help the elderly gentleman find an apartment.

Sandra made sure to spread hope with her generous donation of $5000, posting 'Everything is going to be ok!' a message given to her by seven-year-old son Louis.

Ocean of talent: Although the Virginia-born talent is fond of giving back she'll play a stone-cold thief in her next film, starring as Debbie Ocean in the highly anticipated Ocean's Eight. Above you can see the star on location in Central Park back in November

Bullock is no stranger to charitable giving.

The Southern belle is a huge supporter of the American Red Cross, donating $1million dollars to the organization FOUR separate times.

Although she's a generous giver in real life, Sandra's next role will have her playing a cold-hearted thief.

The talented thespian stars as Debbie Ocean in the highly anticipated Ocean's Eight, due out in 2018.

You can make your own contribution to Svend Petersen at GoFundMe.com.
They have attended a number of glamorous events during their trip to Paris so far.

But Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux enjoyed a more casual day out on Friday, as they indulged in a little retail therapy in the French captial.

The Friends actress, 48, looked effortlessly chic in classic long-line camel coat and Aviator sunglasses as she browsed a number of designer shops with her husband of two years, 45.

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Casually cool: Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux relaxed after a number of glamorous events on Friday, as they indulged in a little retail therapy in the French captial

Chilling out: The Friends actress, 48, looked effortlessly chic in classic long-line camel coat as she browsed a number of designer shops with her husband of two years (above)

The Marley And Me star showed off her naturally chic sense of style as she explored the city in a soft camel coat, which skimmed her slender figure to the floor.

Keeping the look casual for a day of shopping, she layered the jacket atop trendy ripped boyfriend jeans and sporty white trainers for extra comfort.

Jennifer effortlessly tied her look together with a sleek metallic silver handbag and a matching grey scarf, as well as a pair of stylish Aviator sunglasses.

Stunning: The Marley And Me star showed off her naturally chic sense of style as she explored the city in a soft camel coat, which skimmed her slender figure to the floor

Leaving her hair in its glossy, everyday style and sporting minimal make-up, the LA native proved her natural beauty to all as she stepped out in the city with her beau.

Meanwhile Justin matched his wife's casually cool appearance in a simple skinny jeans and cowboy boot combo - jazzed up by a linen grey bomber jacket.

Clearly rubbing off on each other in terms of style after two years of marriage, the famous screenwriter accessorised with sunglasses to match his stunning wife as they spent another romantic day together in Paris.

Effortless: Leaving her hair in its glossy, everyday style and sporting minimal make-up, the LA native proved her natural beauty to all as she stepped out in the city with her beau

Trendy: Meanwhile Justin matched his wife's casually cool appearance in a simple skinny jeans and cowboy boot combo - jazzed up by a linen grey bomber jacket

The pair showed no signs of fatigue from the previous evening, which saw them attend the Festival Serie Mania Opening Night, at Le Grand Rex.

The couple, who married in 2015, had appeared more loved-up than ever as they posed arm-in-arm on the red carpet - with Justin holding one hand cheekily on her rear.

They had jetted to the French captial for the star-studded Louis Vuitton preview last week - but appear to be enjoying an extended stay in the city.

Touring the sights together, the actor had taken to Instagram on Wednesday to share a cosy mirror selfie of the pair - which he wittily captioned 'In Louvre'.

Just the two of us: Clearly rubbing off on each other after two years of marriage, Justin accessorised with sunglasses to match his wife's as they spent another day together in Paris

Busy bees: The pair showed no signs of fatigue from the previous evening, which saw them attend the Festival Serie Mania Opening Night, at Le Grand Rex (above)

In a recent 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,' he explained.

Before continuing: '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.'
Her husband Joe Giudice is in a New Jersey prison for conspiracy and bankruptcy fraud charges 1500 miles away.

But Teresa, who spent most of 2015 behind bars on similar charges, is certainly making the most of her own freedom while partying with friends and family in Puerto Rico on Friday.

The Real Housewives Of New Jersey star has been sharing photos from her idyllic vacation at the Waldorf Astoria on the private island of Palomino.

Cheers: Teresa Giudice uploaded this photo with a friend on Friday, wearing a crochet bathing suit while drinking rum pop drinks

The 44-year-old reality star wore a tri-colored crochet swimsuit in a photo she shared with a friend.

The ladies held up drinks in front of the bar that had frozen ice pops sticking out of them.

Her wedding ring was proudly on display for the picture.

Family time: Daughter Gia was along for the trip, which surely took her mind off of her fathers incarceration

Her 16-year-old daughter Gia posed with her mom in another photo.

The tide could be seen coming to the shore behind them as they smiled on the sunny Caribbean beach.

All four Giudice daughters could be seen on Teresa's Instagram, the trip is surely helping the family cope with Joe's absence.

Two piece: She captioned this bikini photo 'Friends in the sun'

In addition to her crochet swimsuit, Teresa has also posted photos in a purple bikini and a black one-piece.

The table-flipping star seems to be making up for lost time, as she spent most of the year 2015 in prison for similar charges as her husband.

The couple had filed for bankruptcy in 2009, claiming $11million in debt. They dropped their petitions in 2011, but that bankruptcy filing ultimately led to federal fraud charges against them.

Making a splash: Her one-piece showed plenty of skin with it's low cut neckline

Flying high: The family was seen zip-lining across the island

The duo were accused of hiding assets and failing to disclose information about Teresa's 'Real Housewives' salary, their businesses and rental properties.

She was released from jail right before Christmas in 2015 and later wrote a book about her experience called Turning Tables.

After the experience, she returned to filming The Real Housewives of New Jersey and her husband Joe started his turn in prison in March of 2016.

'My baby': Giudice poses with her youngest daughter Audriana while wearing a black romper

Joe's release date is expected to be in early 2019.

The judge in their case wanted to make sure that they both served at different times so their four young daughters would always have a parent present.

In addition to 16-year-old Gia, they also have 12-year-old Gabriella, 11-year-old Milania, and seven-year-old Audriana .
Friday night's edition of Gogglebox broadcast scenes in which the various on-screen viewers that are featured on the show watched a news broadcast about this week's incident on a United Airlines aeroplane.

But fans at home were left raging at their TV sets themselves as Yorkshire-based sisters Ellie and Izzi Warner made a flippant comment about the disturbing event, which saw a 69-year-old man forcefully dragged from a plane, after the flight was declared fully booked.

The incident made headlines - with a video of it taken by another passenger going viral online - and horrified people globally; yet Ellie and Izzi seemed to find it entertaining.

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Sat in their mother's living room in Leeds, the sisters watched the news bulletin in shock with Ellie labeling it 'brutal'.

But a few moments later, she said: 'That would make an amazing Snapchat story'.

Izzi then agreed, saying: 'That would be straight on my story!'

The girls were referring to the social media app that allows users to upload images or videos for followers to see.

The remark, however, was considered crass and disrespectful by Gogglebox viewers - especially in light of the revelation that the victim of the incident will in fact need surgery following the ordeal.

'They should be ashamed of themselves!' Viewers left outraged at Gogglebox sisters Ellie and Izzi and Channel 4 for saying United Airlines incident 'would make a good Snapchat story'

Backlash: Fans at home were left raging at their TV sets themselves as Yorkshire-based sisters Ellie and Izzi Warner made a flippant comment about the disturbing event

Viewers took to Twitter to slam the sisters.

'Could those sisters on #gogglebox get anymore f**king stupid? A man was injured on that plane and all you can do is take the p**s, f**k off!' one person raged.

'Those sisters should be ashamed of themselves saying the united airlines incident would make a great snapchat story,' a second person typed irritably.

'How can those girls joke about that poor man being dragged of the plane just appalling #gogglebox!' a third fumed.

A fourth person echoed: 'Would make an amazing snapchat story! Seriously? Such an ignorant thing to say!'

'The Leeds sisters off #Gogglebox are absolute gobs***s, they're really low to make fun of the guy who got dragged off the plane!' another person posted, followed by: 'Naaaaah those two lassies on #Gogglebox have p**sed me right off [sic]!'

Under fire: Sat in their mother's living room in Leeds, the sisters watched the news bulletin in shock with Ellie labeling it 'brutal'. But a few moments later, she said: 'That would make an amazing Snapchat story'

Controversial: The remark, however, was considered crass and disrespectful by Gogglebox viewers - especially in light of the revelation that the victim of the incident will in fact need surgery following the ordeal

'Well if we needed any more proof as to why the public don't like the Leeds sisters... #Gogglebox,' someone else posted, as another wrote: 'Those two sisters from Yorkshire are everything that i detest about modern society. #gogglebox.'

'The sisters joking that they would put the United Airlines incident on their Snapchat if they were there, they really are thick #gogglebox,' another typed, echoed elsewhere by somebody else: 'Those girls are gonna get dragged to f**k for joking about the airline saga...they shouldn't have aired it tbh [sic]!'

Some called for Channel 4 to sack the girls: 'Surely you have to f**k those dumb sisters off now after those #AmericanAirlines comments!'

'Disgusted at the two girls from Leeds joking about the man being dragged off the plane. Ch4 this is bad!! #NotFunny #Gogglebox #Disgusting!' followed another.

But Channel 4's official Gogglebox account seemed to be in on the joke, itself tweeting: 'When they tell you no booze left on the flight #SnapchatStory #UnitedAirlines #Gogglebox!'

Axe them: Some called for Channel 4 to sack the girls - 'Surely you have to f**k those dumb sisters off now after those #AmericanAirlines comments'

Oh dear: Channel 4's official Gogglebox account seemed to be in on the joke

Screaming: The man who had refused to to give up his seat on the overbooked United flight from Chicago to Louisville on Sunday night was dragged off the plane by three cops

This, in turn, prompted further rage from social media users: 'This is disgusting! Cannot believe that that #channel4 would allow such a tweet #Gogglebox #shouldbeashamed!'

The passenger - Dr. David Dao - was trying to return home from a California vacation with his wife when he refused to give up his seat to an airline crew member on a full United Express flight.

After an altercation with the staff which saw him refuse to de-board the plane, he was eventually manhandled and pulled along the aircraft's aisle, leaving him cut, with teeth missing, and traumatising the other passengers.

Now his lawyer hopes the 69-year-old grandfather and Kentucky physician, who suffered a concussion when he was dragged off the plane at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, becomes 'a poster child' for the mistreatment passengers suffer at the hands of the airline industry.

Bloodied: Dr David Dao is pictured bleeding from the mouth after he was body slammed by cops and dragged off the overbooked United flight at Chicago O'Hare

Speaking out: United's under-fire CEO Oscar Munoz spoke to Good Morning America in his first appearance since the airline's Dr Dao scandal on Sunday night

Attorney Thomas Demetrio indicated Dao will be suing United and the city of Chicago, which employs the officers who were seen on onlookers' phone video pulling Dao out of his seat and dragging him off Sunday's Louisville-bound flight.

Demetrio said the video showed an extraordinary instance of something that happens too routinely: Airlines overbooking flights then bumping paying customers.

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.

Dao was released from a local hospital late Wednesday and will need reconstructive surgery, Demetrio said. He said his client was in a 'secure location' because he has been hounded by media, but that he would speak at a future date.

One of Dao's five children, Crystal Pepper, said the family was 'horrified, shocked and sickened' by what happened.

Since the ordeal, passengers on the flight have been refunded, United has been hounded online by trolls and President Donald Trump has called to but a stop to the overbooking procedure undertaken by US airlines.
CIA Director Mike Pompeo speaks during a discussion on national security at The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on April 13, 2017 in Washington, DC

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.

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.
While Donald Trump's combination of threats and cajoling seems to have produced short-term results, it is not clear how effective it will be in the long-term

From Twitter threats to Tomahawk missiles, US president Donald Trump's unorthodox and seemingly impulsive approach to foreign policy has unsettled China, piling new pressure on its hands-off North Korea policy.

As tensions rise on the Korean peninsula, Beijing appears alarmed by Trump's strident pronouncements as it tries to figure out how to manage the billionaire politician, who insists China handle the Pyongyang problem or suffer the consequences.

"President Trump's penchant for an unpredictable foreign policy does not sit well with Beijing, which calibrates its approach based on careful assumptions of US consistency," said Tiffany Ma of the DC-based National Bureau of Asian Research.

Trump's missile barrage on Syria last week and decision to drop the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat on Afghanistan Thursday revealed his willingness to shake up strategy and conveyed an implicit warning that he is not afraid to use force.

"North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of," Trump said after the "Mother of All Bombs" was dropped, amid reports of activity at a North Korean nuclear test site ahead of Saturday's 105th anniversary of the birth of the country's founder.

The USS Ross fires a tomahawk land attack missile on April 7, 2017, at a Syrian air force airfield

Beijing has long opposed dramatic action against Pyongyang, fearing the regime's collapse would send a flood of refugees across its borders and leave the US military on its doorstep.

But "the US has run out of patience," analyst Ma said.

Trump tweeted Tuesday that "if China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!"

The stick was accompanied by a carrot, with Trump noting "I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!"

The next day, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with Trump on the phone, calling for calm as a US Navy aircraft carrier-led strike group headed to the region in an unmistakable gesture.

- High stakes -

Trump's behaviour has clearly rattled Beijing, the North's sole major ally and economic lifeline, pushing it to take a tougher line against its neighbour, including suspending coal imports from the country for the remainder of the year.

Donald Trump has said that he and Xi had excellent 'chemistry' in their first meeting, telling the Wall Street Journal that the Chinese president explained the North Korea situation to him and "it's not so easy"

"The US might itch to take action against North Korea on its own if Beijing chooses to do nothing. It seems to be a much better choice now for Beijing to get more actively involved," said University of Hong Kong historian Xu Guoqi.

Tensions on the peninsula have soared this week amid speculation of a possible sixth nuclear test, following two last year, as Pyongyang works to develop a long-range weapon that could strike the US.

"China likely recognises that Pyongyang's technical progress has increased Washington's threat perception and sense of urgency," Michael Kovrig of the International Crisis Group told AFP.

And there are signs that even Beijing is running out of patience.

An unusually blunt editorial in the state-run Global Times newspaper earlier this week warned Pyongyang that a new test would be a "slap in the face of the US government" and that Beijing would not "remain indifferent", adding any further provocations could see China restrict oil exports to the country.

- Better idea? -

While Trump's combination of threats and cajoling seems to have produced short-term results, it is not clear how effective it will be in the long-term.

Trump has said that he and Xi had excellent "chemistry" in their first meeting, telling the Wall Street Journal that the Chinese president explained the North Korea situation to him and "it's not so easy."

Beijing has repeatedly called for a "dual-track and suspension" approach where the North would stop its nuclear and missile activities in exchange for the US and South Korea halting military exercises.

But Washington has rebuffed the proposal. Under the Obama administration, the US ruled out diplomatic engagement until Pyongyang made a tangible commitment to denuclearisation.

Although the Trump administration's policy remains unclear, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has echoed the stance.

Last month, a frustrated Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman suggested that "if the US or another country has a better plan, a better proposal, they can bring it out."

"China-US rivalry remains extremely high in the region, and there are reasons to doubt that such rivalry could be put aside to solve the Korean peninsula issue," said Alice Ekman, Head of China research at the French Institute of International Relations.

"On the contrary, the rivalry may crystallise further on the Korean peninsula issue and exacerbate existing tensions."
Hundreds of civilians and fighters who have been under crippling siege for more than two years left four Syrian towns in fleets of buses Friday under a delayed evacuation deal.

There has been a string of such agreements through Syria's six-year civil war. They have been touted by the government as the best way to end the fighting but have been controversial with the rebels who say they are starved out.

Critics say the population movements are permanently changing the ethnic and religious map, but in an exclusive interview with AFP on Wednesday President Bashar al-Assad insisted they were only temporary and people would return to their homes once the 'terrorists' had been defeated.

The evacuation of the four towns - two besieged by the army, and two by the rebels - had been due to start on April 4.

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Syrian opposition fighters stand on top of a vehicle in rebel-held Rashidin, west of Aleppo city, as buses carrying people from government-held Fuaa and Kafraya arrive

A Syrian boy onboard a bus from government-held Fuaa and Kafraya arrives in rebel-held Rashidin, west of Aleppo city, as part of an evacuation deal on April 14

But implementation of the deal brokered by rebel supporter Qatar and regime ally Iran late last month was repeatedly delayed.

At least 80 buses left the government-held towns of Fuaa and Kafraya in Idlib province in the northwest, an AFP correspondent in rebel-held territory said.

They arrived at a marshalling point in Rashidin, west of government-held second city Aleppo.

Most of the evacuees from the two mainly Shiite towns were women, children or elderly people.

Dozens of rebel fighters, including Sunni extremists of Al-Qaeda's former Syria affiliate, Fateh al-Sham Front, stood guard, the correspondent reported.

All of Idlib province bar the two towns is held by an increasingly uneasy alliance between the jihadists and Islamist rebels.

A civilian who was travelling in one of the evacuation buses from the rebel-held towns of Madaya and Zabadani said the operation began at around 6:00 am (0300 GMT).

'We just left now - around 2,200 people in around 65 buses,' Madaya resident Amjad al-Maleh told AFP by telephone.

'Most of the passengers are women and children who started gathering yesterday evening and spent the night in the cold waiting.'

He said that rebel fighters among the evacuees had been allowed to keep their light weapons.

Syrians aboard a bus from government-held Fuaa and Kafraya arrive in rebel-held Rashidin, west of Aleppo city

Syrians onboard a bus coming from government-held Fuaa and Kafraya arrive in rebel-held Rashidin, west of Aleppo city

Syrian opposition fighters in rebel-held Rashidin, west of Aleppo city, monitor as buses carrying people from government-held Fuaa and Kafraya arrive

More than 30,000 people are expected to be evacuated under the deal, which began on Wednesday with an exchange of prisoners between rebels and government forces.

All 16,000 residents of Fuaa and Kafraya are expected to leave, heading to government-held Aleppo, the coastal province of Latakia or Damascus.

Civilian residents of Madaya and Zabadani will reportedly be allowed to remain if they choose. Those who opt to leave with the fighters will head to rebel-held territory in Idlib.

The four towns are part of a longstanding agreement reached in 2015 that requires aid deliveries and evacuations to be carried out to all areas simultaneously.

But access has been limited, with food and medical shortages causing malnutrition, illness and even death among besieged residents.

The UN says 4.72 million Syrians are in so-called hard-to-reach areas, including 600,000 people under siege, mostly by the Syrian army, but also by rebels or the Islamic State group.

There has been a series of evacuations in recent month, mostly around the capital Damascus but also from the last rebel-held district of Syria's third city Homs.

The mainly Suuni rebels have charged that Assad's Alawaite minority-dominated regime is deliberately forcing civilians to leave to alter the country's sectarian map in its favour.

But in Wednesday's interview, the president told AFP that it was the rebels who were driving people to leave their homes.

'We didn't choose it,' he said.

'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,' he said.

'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.'
The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT

The US military's largest non-nuclear bomb killed dozens of Islamic State militants as it smashed their mountain hideouts, Afghan officials said Friday, ruling out any civilian casualties despite the weapon's destructive power.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- dubbed the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- was unleashed in combat for the first time, hitting IS positions in eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday.

The bombing is expected to further erode IS's capabilities in Afghanistan and sends a warning to the much bigger Taliban group ahead of their annual spring offensive.

"As a result of the bombing, key Daesh (IS) hideouts were destroyed and 36 IS fighters were killed," the Afghan defence ministry said, adding that the bombing was carried out in coordination with local military forces.

IS denied it had suffered any casualties, in a statement on its propaganda agency Amaq.

The huge bomb, delivered via an MC-130 transport plane, has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT. It was originally designed as much to intimidate foes as to clear broad areas.

"The mother of all bombs"

Thursday's explosion reverberated for miles and engulfed the remote area in towering flames, destroying what officials called a network of underground IS tunnels and caves that had been mined against conventional ground attacks.

A video released by the American military showed a mushroom cloud rising over the rugged terrain.

The bombardment took place amid rising global tensions as the US military steps up raids against global jihadist groups.

It comes only a week after US President Donald Trump ordered missile strikes against Syria in retaliation for a suspected chemical attack, and as China warned of the potential for conflict amid rising US tensions with North Korea.

- 'Like an earthquake' -

Trump hailed the mission in Achin district as "very, very successful".

An Afghan militant source told AFP from an undisclosed location that local people had described the ground shaking "like an earthquake", with people being knocked unconscious by the blast.

Another militant source told AFP that 800 to 1,000 IS fighters were believed to be hiding in the area, which borders Pakistan.

A 2003 Pentagon handout shows a Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, which the US deployed in combat for the first time in Afghanistan

"Daesh (IS) fighters are active in this area and have overrun our houses," said Achin resident Khair Mohammad, welcoming the bombardment. "We don't care if our houses are destroyed, we want Daesh to be eliminated."

The arsenal was dropped after fighting intensified over the past week and US-backed ground forces struggled to advance on the area. An American special forces soldier was killed last Saturday in Nangarhar while conducting anti-IS operations.

Security experts say IS had built their redoubts close to civilian homes, but the government said thousands of local families had already fled the area in recent months of fighting.

"Precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties," President Ashraf Ghani said on Twitter, throwing his support behind the bombardment.

- US raids surge-

But some officials close to him condemned the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that controls only a tiny sliver of territory and is not considered a huge threat.

"I find the use of the largest non-nuclear bomb, the so called 'mother of all bombs', on our soil reprehensible & counterproductive," Omar Zakhilwal, the Afghan envoy to Pakistan, said on Twitter.

"If big bombs were the solution we would be the most secure place on earth today."

US soldiers have been battling Islamic State (IS) fighters in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province

But John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, insisted it was the "right weapon against the right target".

The Pentagon's announcement of the attack drove markets down, adding to concerns among investors already wary of risks over Syria and North Korea, as well as the outcome of the French presidential election.

Trade in and out of Afghanistan from Pakistan appeared to be flowing as normal, however, with traffic at the Torkham border crossing apparently undisturbed Friday despite the historic detonation roughly 50 kilometres away.

The Taliban, who are expected to soon announce the start of this year's fighting season, condemned what it called "America's heavy use of weapons on Afghanistan".

IS, notorious for its reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, has made inroads into Afghanistan in recent years, attracting disaffected members of the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban as well as Uzbek Islamists.

But the group has been steadily losing ground in the face of heavy pressure both from US air strikes and a ground offensive led by Afghan forces.

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North Korea launched four ballistic missiles in March and many analysts fear the reclusive state could be preparing another nuclear or missile test

China issued a stern warning Friday that a conflict over North Korea could break out "at any moment", as Pyongyang vowed a "merciless" response to any US military action.

Tensions in the region have surged to fresh heights in recent days with speculation mounting that the North is preparing a sixth nuclear test.

A US naval strike force has been deployed near the Korean peninsula, and President Donald Trump has issued stark warnings that the threat posed by Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme "will be taken care of".

A clearly rattled China, under pressure from Trump to prevent any North Korean provocation, said the situation had reached breaking point.

"One has the feeling that a conflict could break out at any moment," Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned there will be "no winner" in any war over North Korea

"If a war occurs, the result is a situation in which everybody loses and there can be no winner," he added during a joint press conference in Beijing with the visiting French foreign minister.

Wang's comments mirrored a warning from the North Korean foreign ministry's Institute for Disarmament and Peace that "thermo-nuclear war may break out any moment".

North Korea has invoked similarly dire scenarios on previous occasions when tensions on the Korean peninsula have spiked, but Beijing's warnings have fuelled international concerns that the current situation is reaching tipping point.

- Atomic jitters -

The North's Korean People's Army (KPA) added its voice to the bellicose rhetoric on Friday with a statement threatening strikes against US military bases and other targets in South Korea.

"The closer such big targets as nuclear powered aircraft carriers come, the greater would be the effect of merciless strikes," said the statement carried by the North's official KCNA news agency.

The US has 28,500 troops stationed on the Korean peninsula which in the last Cold War frontier

Citing the recent missile strike Trump ordered against Syria -- which was widely interpreted as a warning to Pyongyang -- the KPA denounced the US president for embarking on a path of "open threat and blackmail" against the North.

It also urged Washington to "come to its senses" and find a "proper" solution to the current stand-off.

Trump's military muscle-flexing was on display again Thursday when the US on dropped the biggest non-nuclear bomb it possesses on Afghanistan, targeting a complex used by the Islamic State group.

The American president has repeatedly said he will prevent Pyongyang from its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile capable of reaching the mainland United States.

A White House foreign policy advisor said Friday that the US was assessing military options, and added that another provocative test was a question of "when" rather than "if."

US President Donald Trump has sent a naval strike group to the Korean peninsula in a show of force against North Korea

Satellite imagery analysis has noted activity at the North's main nuclear test site ahead of Saturday's 105th anniversary of the birth of the country's founder leader Kim Il-Sung.

The North's sabre-rattling has encouraged a rapprochement between Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, who met face-to-face for the first time late last week at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.

Though his election campaign was marked with acerbic denouncements of China's "rape" of the US economy, Trump dropped his anti-China bombast in Florida, afterwards hailing an "outstanding" relationship with Xi.

- Spotlight on China -

But he insists China -- the North's sole major ally and economic lifeline -- must exert more leverage on Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions or suffer the consequences.

Beijing has long opposed dramatic action against the North, fearing the regime's collapse would send a flood of refugees across its borders and leave the US military on its doorstep.

China's state broadcaster CCTV announced Friday that Air China -- the only foreign carrier operating commercial flights into North Korea -- would suspend services to Pyongyang from next week.

The report gave no reason for the suspension, but noted that Air China has taken similar action in the past because of low passenger volumes.

Despite the mounting tensions, there has been little sign of strain on the streets of Pyongyang in recent days, where the focus has been on preparations for Saturday's anniversary.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on Thursday unveiled the sprawling Ryomyong street development, a prestige housing project repeatedly promised in time to mark the occasion.

Before the international press and tens of thousands of his adoring citizens, he cut a wide red ribbon to rhythmic cheers, before waving and returning to his Mercedes limousine.
A public hearing will be held in May to gather comments on a proposed liquor license at a restaurant to be built at the former Lear/IAC site along Carlisle Springs Road.

The hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m., May 11, at borough hall.

Carlisle Auto Industries asked the borough council to consider a resolution in support of the application for a liquor license at its April 5 workshop meeting. The liquor license would be used at a planned Marcellos restaurant, a locally owned Italian restaurant, that would be built at the corner of Carlisle Springs Road and the proposed extension of A Street.

Developers are seeking that license through a provision in the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board code that allows for liquor licenses to be awarded if it is part of a sizable economic development project, Ritchey said.

The close proximity of a restaurant was a requirement in Carlisle Auto Industries agreement with Homewood Suites by Hilton to bring a rooms-only hotel to the site.

Scheduling the hearing was one of a series of actions taken by the council that are related to the Carlisle Urban Redevelopment Plan.

The borough council also approved the final land development plan submitted by PIRHL Developers for a portion of the former Carlisle Tire & Wheel site.

The plan affects two sections of the site between B and D streets. Green space, including a playground, is planned for the block between B and C streets. B and C streets are to be opened through the former industrial site to provide a connection between College Street and Fairground Avenue.

In the block between C and D streets, 52 housing units will be built, 40 of them 2- or 3-bedroom town homes and the remaining 12 two-family, semi-detached homes emphasizing accessibility.

The borough council also adopted an ordinance accepting land at the site from the developer for the construction of B Street from College Street to Factory Street as part of the Carlisle Connectivity transportation improvement project.

The borough also approved a contract with Herbert Rowland & Grubic Inc. to serve as program manager for both the Carlisle Connectivity project and the Carlisle Urban Stormwater Park at a fee not to exceed $350,000. Borough Manager Matt Candland said that fee may be taken out of the grant funding received by the borough for the projects.

The stormwater park will span five blocks of Fairground Avenue adjacent to the former IAC site.

Finally, the borough council approved an ordinance that provides for right-of-way agreements to be made with property owners along the route of the Carlisle Connectivity project.

The project calls for the opening of A, B, C and D streets through the former industrial sites to restore the grid system in that section of town, and the realignment of the intersection of Carlisle Springs Road and North Hanover Street. The project also includes the installation of three roundabouts at North Hanover and Penn Streets, at B Street and North College Street and at B Street and Fairground Avenue.
A Syrian boy onboard a bus from government-held Fuaa and Kafraya arrives in rebel-held Rashidin as part of an evacuation deal on April 14, 2017

Hundreds of civilians and fighters who have been under crippling siege for more than two years left four Syrian towns in fleets of buses Friday under a delayed evacuation deal.

Men, women and children packed onto buses leaving government-controlled Fuaa and Kafraya and rebel-held Madaya and Zabadani, with many expressing despair at not knowing when they might return.

"When I first went onto the bus, I broke down from sadness, I fell on the ground and they had to help me," said Fuaa resident Abu Hussein.

"I just couldn't bear it."

The deal to evacuate the towns is the latest in a string of such agreements through Syria's six-year civil war.

They have been touted by the government as the best way to end the fighting but rebels say they are forced out by siege and bombardment.

Critics say deals are permanently changing the ethnic and religious map, but in an exclusive interview with AFP this week President Bashar al-Assad insisted the evacuations were only temporary and people would return once the "terrorists" had been defeated.

At least 80 buses left Fuaa and Kafraya in Idlib province in the northwest, an AFP correspondent in rebel-held territory said.

They arrived at a marshalling point in Rashidin, west of second city Aleppo, followed by 20 ambulances.

Syria: evacuation of besieged

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 5,000 people had left the two towns, including 1,300 pro-government fighters.

- 'Madaya cried today' -

The Observatory said 2,200 people from Zabadani and Madaya had left, among them 400 rebels.

Madaya resident Amjad al-Maleh, speaking from a departing bus, told AFP that rebels among the evacuees had been allowed to keep light weapons.

"It is a very bad feeling when you see those who besieged you and killed you with hunger and bombardment right in front of you," Maleh said.

"Madaya cried today -- the ones who stayed and the ones who left."

More than 30,000 people are expected to be evacuated under the deal, which began on Wednesday with an exchange of prisoners.

Syrian opposition fighters stand on top of a vehicle in rebel-held Rashidin, as buses evacuating people from government-held Fuaa and Kafraya arrive as part of an evacuation deal, on April 14, 2017

All 16,000 residents of Fuaa and Kafraya are expected to leave, heading to government-held Aleppo, the coastal province of Latakia, or Damascus.

Civilians from Madaya and Zabadani will reportedly be allowed to remain if they choose. Those who opt to leave will head to rebel-held territory in Idlib.

The four towns are party to a longstanding agreement reached in 2015 that requires aid deliveries and evacuations to be carried out simultaneously.

But access has been limited, with food and medical shortages causing malnutrition, illness and even death among besieged residents.

The UN says 4.72 million Syrians are in hard-to-reach areas, including 600,000 people under siege, mostly by the Syrian army, but also by rebels or the Islamic State group.

- 'They're going back' -

There has been a series of evacuations in recent month, mostly around the capital Damascus but also from the last rebel-held district of Syria's third city Homs.

The rebels have charged that Assad's regime is deliberately forcing civilians to leave to alter the country's sectarian map.

But in Wednesday's interview, the president told AFP that it was the rebels who were driving people from their homes.

A Syrian man aboard a bus from government-held Fuaa and Kafraya arrives in rebel-held Rashidin, as part of an evacuation deal on April 14, 2017

"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," he said.

"But of course they're going to go back to their cities after the liberation."

Assad is facing renewed international pressure after accusations his government carried out a suspected April 4 chemical weapons attack on a northern rebel-held town.

He told AFP that reports of the attack were a "fabrication."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Friday dismissed Assad's comments as "100 percent lies and propaganda."

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is probing the incident, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday criticised the watchdog for failing to go to the site.

"We consider it unacceptable to analyse events from a distance," he said after meeting his Syrian and Iranian counterparts.

"They say still that it is not very safe, but they cannot put forward convincing arguments," Lavrov said.
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Whether you're getting away for foreign shores or staying at home for a lamb roast with the family, Easter celebrations in Britain follow a familiar pattern.

But around the world Christians mark the festival of rebirth in hundreds of different ways, as these images show.

For example, Christians in the Philippines whip themselves bloody with metal chains and are nailed to crosses to experience the suffering of Jesus as an act of holy penitence.

In Jerusalem, people also carry wooden crosses through the streets to honour Christ's sacrifice and remember the miracle of resurrection that followed.

Here, Mail Online has collected pictures showing how different cultures mark Easter around the globe.

Philippines

An act of penitence: A man in the Philippines screams as his feet and hands are nailed to a wooden cross as part of Easter celebrations to honour the suffering of Christ

Suffering: These celebrations are one of the most extreme and striking examples of how people from around the world mark Easter, and is considered an honour

Spectacle: While the participants suffer in the grim-faced ritual, the same cannot be said of the dozens of people who gather around to take photographs of them

Photo op: Similar events are held around the Philippines, drawing crowds in the hundreds, all of whom want to capture the perfect picture for their photo albums

Taking it seriously: In another extreme example of worship, a man in the Philippines is flayed bloody with metal whips

Precy Valencia is nailed to a cross in the Philippine capital of Manila as a sign of her faith and to seek forgiveness for her sins

Not faking: Nails are driven through a man's feet in the Philippines as part of that country's traditional celebration of Easter

For our sins: The practice of self-injury is linked to the Lent, a period of fasting for millions of Catholics around the world

In defiance: Local Catholic leaders have spoken out to condemn the practice in the past, while health officials also disapprove, but the devout worshippers have refused to give it up

Israel

Worshippers in Jerusalem's old city carry a wooden cross through the streets as they celebrate Good Friday in one of the holiest cities on Earth

Thousands of Orthodox Christians gather in Jerusalem's old city for Good Friday processions that trace the route Jesus is believed to have walked on the day of his crucifixion

The route of the procession follows Via Dolorosa, or 'Way of Suffering', which inspired the 14 Stations of the Cross, and ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where Jesus is thought to be buried

Christian faithful travel from around the world to attend the Good Friday procession in Jerusalem, which also draws a large security presence from Israeli authorities (left)

Pilgrims from Ethiopia pray against a cross in Jerusalem's old city as part of Good Friday services to mark Jesus's crucifixion

The procession is known as The Way of the Cross, which many complete while carrying crosses and offering up prayers

Thousands of people gather at the Monastery of the Flagellation before walking down Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, believed to be the site where Jesus was crucified before rising again

As Christians took to the streets to mark Good Friday, elsewhere in the city, the Jewish population was marking Passover

India

In India, reenactment of the crucifixion are also performed by volunteers, such as this man in the southern city of Hyderabad

While not as gory or extreme as reenactments in the Philippines, the man is still whipped while dragging a heavy cross

Christians gather to remember Jesus's crucifixion on Good Friday in Guwahati, India, as Good Friday celebrations happen around the world

Prayers are offered by an Indian mother and her daughter in Hyderabad, India, as they way a reenactment of the crucifixion

In Kolkata, Christian worshippers offer prayed in front of statues recalling Jesus's suffering and crucifixion

Catholic nuns from the Missionaries of Charity parade through the streets of Hyderabad. Christians are one of the smallest minority groups in India, making up around 2 per cent of the population

A white piece of cloth is tied to a cross in Bangalore to symbolise the body of Christ as people mark Good Friday

Christians in Bangalore gather for a drink of buttermilk after offering up prayers on Good Friday as the world celebrates Easter

Dozens of Christians had gathered in front of a large painting of Christ to offer prayers as they remember Christ's sacrifice

England

Actor James Burke-Dunsmore took on the role of Jesus as the crucifixion was reenacted in Trafalgar Square, in London

Around 20,000 gather at one of the city's most iconic landmarks each year to watch the reenactment take place

Two performances take place of Wintershall's 'The Passion of Jesus', which tells the story of Christ's journey to Jerusalem, his betrayal and his crucifixion

Spain

Penitents of the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno and Maria Santisima de los Dolores brotherhood take part in a procession in Aragon, Spain, wearing traditional religious dress

Nazarenes, also known as 'penitent ones', take part in a procession in Murcia. Around 4,000 people will participate in the procession which lasts for eight hours, with many walking it barefoot

Drummers mingle with tourists and worshippers in Aragon, central Spain, as the deeply Catholic nation marks Good Friday

Germany

In Bensheim, actor Julian Lux has a crown of thorns placed on his head as he plays Jesus in a crucifixion reenactment

Around 100 actors take part in the annual performance in Bensheim, with thousands of people gathering to watch

Despite being performed in Germany, the production is staged by local Italian families who started the tradition 35 years ago

Ethiopia

Orthodox Christians, who belong to a sect known as Tewahedo, gather inside the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa

Those who cannot get inside the cathedral offer prayers on the steps outside as they remember the sacrifice of Christ

Pakistan

In Karachi hundreds of faithful pack into a church to hear prayers. While Pakistan is an overwhelmingly Muslim country, Christians still make up around 2 per cent of the population

Good Friday services in Pakistan are held without music, candles or ringing bells as a solemn mark of respect

Lebanon

In Qraiyeh, in southern Lebanon, actors take part in a performance depicting Christ's crucifixion for Good Friday

Lebanon is home to a large number of Christians - they make up 40 per cent of the country's population, second only to Muslims, who make up 54 per cent

Greece

Greek Orthodox priests carry a cross at the Pendeli Monastery, near Athens, which was founded in 1578
An Iraqi baby born with eight limbs has undergone surgery to remove his extra arms and legs.

Karam, seven months, was plagued by an extremely rare condition where a conjoined twin did not fully form.

Instead of growing a separate body, the other undeveloped baby's limbs absorbed into his as a result of polymelia.

But his father flew him to India for the complex operation, hailed as a world first, to remove the unnecessary limbs.

Karam, seven months, was born with an extremely rare condition where a conjoined twin did not fully form - causing him to have eight limbs

But his father flew him to India for the complex operation, hailed as a world first, to remove the unnecessary limbs ( pictured with his parents Gufran Ali, Sarwed Ahmed Nadar, and the team of surgeons at Jaypee Hospital, Delhi)

Seven-month-old baby Karam pictured before the operation to remove the extra limbs

Surgeons at Jaypee Hospital, Delhi, performed a three-stage operation to remove his protruding extra arms and legs.

The rare disorder occurs in the womb when the cells form abnormally during embryonic development.

The embryo begins to develop as conjoined twins. But one twin stops growing, leaving the remaining developments - often limbs - of the undeveloped twin attached to the body of the live baby.

There are just a handful of known cases worldwide of this condition, which made the task more difficult for the doctors.

Senior orthopaedic consultant Dr Gaurav Rathore, who was involved in the surgery, said: 'He was brought to us when he was just two weeks old and his condition was quite unique.

'Most of the surgeries we performed had not been attempted before.

There are just five or six known cases worldwide of this condition, which made the task more difficult for the doctors, they said

A hub of medical tourism, India attracts thousands of patients from all over the world, owing to low costs and high quality of medical care (pictured with his parents)

WHAT IS POLYMELIA? Polymelia is a rare birth defect that only affects only one in a million infants and causes sufferers to be born with extra limbs. The rare disorder occurs in the womb when the cells form abnormally during embryonic development. Sometimes an embryo started as conjoined twins, but one twin degenerated completely except for one or more limbs, which end up attached to the other twin. There are very few known cases of Polymelia around the world. Advertisement

'Till now our journey has been quite successful. Karam is a very courageous young baby. He is in fact a very happy child.'

The first part of the surgery involved removing the limbs sticking out from his stomach, Dr Rathore told local reporters.

Surgeons then corrected a cardiac problem that occurred as a result of his rare condition.

The final procedure saw doctors remove all the extra limbs, though he will require more procedures as he grows older to correct other anomalies.

A hub of medical tourism, India attracts thousands of patients from all over the world, owing to low costs and high quality of medical care.

Karam's father Sarwed Ahmed Nadar, who was initially horrified when his son was born, said his only hope was that his son now grows up normal and healthy.

The 28-year-old said: 'He is my only child and the first-born is always special. There were a lot of risks but I never lost hope.'
Pope Francis (L) presides over the Celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday at St Peter's basilica, on April 14, 2017 in Vatican

An Egyptian family will carry the cross at an Easter procession attended by Pope Francis Friday, with tens of thousands of faithful expected to hold candles aloft in prayer at Rome's Colosseum.

The holy week commemorating the last days of Jesus's life had a bloody beginning last Sunday with attacks claimed by the Islamic State group on two Coptic churches in Egypt that left 45 people dead.

Security was tight at the former gladiators' battle ground Friday, where a small group of believers were to carry a cross between 14 "stations" evoking the hours in the run-up to Jesus's crucifixion during the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession.

Three thousand officers have been deployed to protect the Colosseum, with road blocks and metal detectors in place and police helicopters with infrared systems surveying the area.

Egyptian Christians carry a coffin during the late night funeral of the victims of a blast that killed worshippers attending Palm Sunday mass at the Mar Girgis Coptic Orthodox Church in Tanta, on April 9, 2017

The pope is set to visit Egypt at the end of the month despite the church attacks.

The cross will also be carried for parts of the journey by believers from two other countries he will travel to this year: Portugal, which he will visit in May, and Colombia, where he heads in September.

Francis, 80, will sit under a canopy next to a large cross as he listens to a meditation written for the first time by a secular woman, French professor Anne-Marie Pelletier.

Good Friday is the second of four important days in the Christian calendar beginning with Maundy Thursday and culminating in Easter Sunday, which commemorates Christ's resurrection.

On Saturday, the pontiff will take part in an evening Easter vigil in St Peter's Basilica, before celebrating Easter mass on Sunday and pronouncing the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to Rome and the world.
Apple has obtained a permit to test self-driving vehicles, putting the iPhone maker in competition with Google and others. Pictured here is an autonomous vehicle on a test run north of London

Apple has joined the list of companies with permits to test self-driving cars in California, according to an updated roster released on Friday by state officials.

The iPhone maker has disclosed little about its ambitions when it comes to self-driving vehicles, with chief Tim Cook hinting at plans but the company declining to comment for news reports on long-idling rumors.

Late last year, Apple revealed it is investing heavily in autonomous vehicles in a letter asking the government to make it easier to develop self-driving cars.

Apple issued the letter because it is "investing heavily in machine learning and autonomous systems," an Apple spokesman said in an email to AFP at the time.

The California-based tech giant is expected to focus on software systems, letting partners manufacture vehicles, but would understandably want to be able to test its navigation technology in cars.

Most major auto manufacturers and many technology groups are currently developing autonomous vehicles, considered to be the future of the automobile, along with electric power, with first production models promised for around 2020.

General Motors this week announced that its autonomous driving efforts, investing $14 million and adding 1,100 jobs in a new research center in San Francisco.

While GM is already testing autonomous vehicles through its Cruise Automation unit in California, Arizona and Michigan, the new initiative will ramp up those efforts.

Similar research is being carried out by other automakers including Ford, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota, and by other groups including Uber and Google parent Alphabet.

Continental this week opened a new research center in the heart of Silicon Valley, saying it was dedicated to "mobility innovations and technologies."

Chinese tech giant Baidu, which is working on autonomous driving at its California research center, this week announced the acquisition of xPerception, a US startup that provides visual perception software, along with services and devices for people who are visually impaired.
US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis is heading to the Middle East and Africa next week for a series of meetings with regional allies, the Pentagon said Friday.

The trip will be Mattis's fourth overseas since he became President Donald Trump's defense secretary. It comes amid heightened tensions with Russia following the US military strike on a Syrian air base in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack.

The trip includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Qatar and Djibouti.

Mattis is making the trip to "reaffirm key US military alliances, to engage with strategic partners in the Middle East and Africa, and to discuss cooperative efforts to counter destabilizing activities and defeat extremist terror organizations," the Pentagon said.

In Israel, Mattis will meet with President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. He will also visit the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem.

US-Russia relations are at a low point after Trump ordered the missile strike on a Syrian air base last week. Moscow has been conducting a military campaign in Syria to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Mattis and regional US allies are also expected to discuss the growing influence of Iran.
Ggoose-stepping soldiers pour into Kim Il-Sung Square, in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017

North Korea's weapons of war rolled through Pyongyang streets Saturday and it promised "nuclear justice" in response to any atomic attack as leader Kim Jong-Un mounted a spectacular show of strength.

Tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions are stretched to the limit, with US President Donald Trump deploying an aircraft carrier battle group to the region.

After a 21-gun salute, tens of thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen goose-stepped through Kim Il-Sung Square turning their eyes towards the high balcony from where Kim watched, flanked by officers and officials.

Some detachments carried assault rifles or rocket-propelled grenades, others were equipped with night-vision goggles and daubed in face paint. One troupe was made up of sword-wielding women.

A military parade in Pyongyang marked the 105th anniversary of the birth of North Korea's founder Kim Il-Sung, but also sent an unmistakable message to Washington

Tanks came next through the square -- named after Kim's grandfather, the North's founder -- followed by the objects of world concern.

A total of 56 missiles of 10 different types were displayed, culminating in enormous rockets on articulated trailers and on 16-wheeler vehicles.

The nuclear-armed North is under United Nations sanctions over its weapons programmes, and has ambitions to build a rocket capable of delivering a warhead to the US mainland -- something Trump has vowed "won't happen".

Ostensibly Saturday's event was to mark the 105th anniversary of Kim Il-Sung's birth -- a date known as the "Day of the Sun" in the North -- and a squadron of warplanes flew overhead forming the number.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un took the salute as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and military hardware paraded in Pyongyang in a show of strength

But it was also intended to send an unmistakable message to Washington about the isolated country's military might.

Kim's close aide Choe Ryong-Hae declared that the North was a "powerful nuclear-armed state in the Orient and Asia's leader in rocketry".

It could "beat down enemies with the power of nuclear justice", he said, and was "prepared to respond to an all-out war with an all-out war.

"We are ready to hit back with nuclear attacks of our own style against any nuclear attacks," he said.

- Fever pitch -

The 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty and Pyongyang says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against a possible US invasion.

It has carried out five nuclear tests -- two of them last year -- and multiple missile launches, one of which saw several rockets come down in waters provocatively close to Japan last month.

Speculation that it could conduct a sixth blast in the coming days to coincide with the anniversary has reached fever pitch, with specialist US website 38North describing its Punggye-ri test site as "primed and ready" and White House officials saying military options were "already being assessed".

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un waves following a military parade in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017

After dispatching the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and an accompanying battle group to the Korean peninsula Trump told the Fox Business Network: "We are sending an armada."

"He is doing the wrong thing," he added

of Kim. "He's making a big mistake."

China, the North's sole major ally, and Russia have both urged restraint, with Beijing's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warning Friday that "conflict could break out at any moment".

The North is aiming its message at China as well as the US, analysts say.

Beijing's priority remains preventing any instability on its doorstep, and it has been unnerved by the sabre-rattling.

But diplomats in Pyongyang point out that the North raises its rhetoric every spring, when Washington and Seoul hold annual joint military exercises that it views as preparations for invasion.

It has not previously held a nuclear test in the month of April.

- Testing times -

Military specialists keep a close eye on Pyongyang's parades for clues about developments in its capabilities.

The hardware displayed Saturday included what appeared to be new ICBMs or prototypes, and the Pukkuksong submarine-launched ballistic missile, which Pyongyang successfully test-fired last August, reports and analysts said.

North Korea

The rockets carried on articulated trailers appeared to be longer than the North's existing KN-08 or KN-14 missiles, analysts said.

Chad O'Carroll, managing director of specialist service NK News, told AFP they could be a liquid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile, or an early version of one, even though Pyongyang has yet to formally announce it has an operational ICBM.

"It will be a big game-changer once it is deployed in service but they have got a long testing schedule ahead," he said.

"We'll probably see more engine tests or component tests building up eventually to an actual test of the full unit."

- 'Long live!' -

Pyongyang could use the parade as a show of strength in preference to a nuclear test, analysts said.

It wanted to send "a tough message to the United States in response to the Trump administration's recent rhetoric and the military steps the United States has taken", said Evans Revere of the Brookings Institution in Washington.

Another missile launch or nuclear test "can't be ruled out", he said, but the recent US cruise missile strike on Syria and Washington's tough stance "may give Pyongyang some pause".

"A parade is a highly visible but non-kinetic way of showing off capabilities," he told AFP.

Kim did not address the rally himself on Saturday, instead waving and smiling as ecstatic crowds of flag- and flower-bearing civilians -- men in suits, women in traditional hanbok dresses -- filed past him behind the military display.

"Long live!" they chanted, some in tears.
HONOLULU (AP) - A man who told Honolulu police he killed his mother will be charged with murder once he's released from a hospital.

Yu Wei Gong was arrested Tuesday after he called 911 and told officers who arrived at his Waikiki apartment that he killed his mother.

He was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Homicide Lt. Phillip Lavarias says 26-year-old Gong is no longer under arrest while confined in a hospital. Lavarias says police have a warrant to arrest him as soon as he's discharged.

Police records say he'll be held on $2 million bail. It's not clear if he has a lawyer. Relatives couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Police found human remains in the apartment. Lavarias says detectives are at the medical examiner's office Thursday examining the remains.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Puerto Ricans who want their island to remain a U.S. territory got a boost on Thursday from the administration of President Donald Trump.

The federal Department of Justice said in a letter addressed to Gov. Ricardo Rossello that an upcoming referendum to decide the future of Puerto Rico's political status should include the current status as an option.

Rossello had submitted a draft of the ballot that only included two options: statehood or independence/free association. If a majority chose the latter, a second referendum would be held in October and would ask voters to choose between the two.

The Department of Justice said that kind of ballot would raise questions about the vote's legitimacy.

"(The ballot) is not drafted in a way that ensures that its result will accurately reflect the current popular will of the people of Puerto Rico," the letter stated.

The Justice Department also said the draft contains ambiguous and potentially misleading statements, and that it cannot provide $2.5 million in federal funds to hold the referendum as proposed.

The announcement is considered a blow to Rossello's pro-statehood party.

"This has a monumental impact on the plebiscite," Hector Ferrer, president of the main opposition party that supports the status quo, said in a phone interview. "

Rossello recently campaigned on a pledge to secure statehood and said late Thursday that he still plans to hold the referendum on June 11. He said it would be a binding one that would include three options: independence, territoriality or statehood. Legislators expect to vote on the amended ballot next week.

"Although it's an insult to offer Puerto Ricans the option of colonialism to resolve the serious problems we face, the opportunity to hold a plebiscite endorsed by the federal government is worth taking this step forward for the benefit of the people of Puerto Rico," he said.

The island has held four previous referendums that resulted in no action from U.S. Congress, which has final say on any changes in the island's political status. No clear majority emerged in the first three referendums. In the last one, held in 2012, 54 percent said they wanted a change in status. Sixty-one percent who answered a second question said they favored statehood, but nearly 500,000 left that question blank, leading many to question the results.

The Department of Justice said Rossello's administration should not be guided by the results of the 2012 referendum.

"Nearly five years have elapsed since that plebiscite, during which significant political, economic and demographic changes have occurred in Puerto Rico and the United States," it said. "As a result, it is uncertain that it is the present will of the people to reject Puerto Rico's current status."

The island is struggling to emerge from a decade-long recession, and the ongoing economic crisis has sparked an exodus of half a million Puerto Ricans since 2005.
PHOENIX (AP) - A surprising name has been added to former Sheriff Joe Arpaio's witness list at his upcoming criminal contempt-of-court trial: U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whose agency is prosecuting the lawman for defying a judge's order to stop his immigration patrols.

Jack Wilenchik, one of Arpaio's attorneys, said Sessions' testimony would underscore a contradiction between current federal immigration policy and the 2011 court order that his client is charged with violating.

The attorney general's name was added to the list in a court filing Wednesday night.

FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2017, file photo, former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio leaves U.S. District Court after his latest hearing in the criminal contempt-of-court case against him for violating a judge's orders in a racial profiling case in Phoenix. Arpaio has added a surprising name to the witness list for his upcoming criminal contempt-of-court trial. He is seeking the testimony of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whose agency is prosecuting Arpaio for defying a judge's order to stop his immigration patrols. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

On Thursday night, U. S. District Judge Susan Bolton set new dates for Arpaio's bench trial - June 26-30 and July 5-7.

It had had been scheduled to begin April 25, but Bolton reluctantly agreed Wednesday to the delay after Arpaio's lead attorney quit the case last week. Other lawyers who recently joined his legal team said they didn't have enough time to properly prepare for the trial.

Arpaio, 84, faces the misdemeanor contempt charge for letting his immigration patrols continue after a judge in a racial profiling case had ordered them stopped.

Arpaio has acknowledged prolonging the patrols but insists his defiance wasn't intentional. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to six months in jail.

The 2011 order forbids sheriff's deputies from detaining people based solely on the suspicion that they're in the country illegally.

The judge presiding over the profiling case had concluded that Arpaio's officers continued to detain such immigrants over a 17-month period and turned them over to federal immigration authorities.

Wilenchik said the prohibition on detaining immigrants who hadn't been suspected of committing state crimes conflicts with a federal policy backed by Sessions that calls for all adult immigrants who are caught near the border to be apprehended, rather than being released.

In a speech this week at the Arizona-Mexico border, Sessions said "the catch and release practices of the past are over."

The U.S. Justice Department, whose attorneys are prosecuting Arpaio, declined to comment Thursday.

Paul Charlton, a former U.S. attorney who has been critical of Arpaio's practices and isn't involved in the contempt case, said the chances of Sessions testifying at the trial are slim to none.

He said Sessions was serving as a U.S. senator when the criminal case was brought against Arpaio and likely wouldn't have direct knowledge of the events leading to the criminal charge.

"It would be difficult to image how Mr. Sessions would have anything relevant to say," Charlton said.

____

Follow Jacques Billeaud at twitter.com/jacquesbilleaud. His work can be found at https://www.apnews.com/search/jacques%20billeaud.
John Steele was convinced American soldiers would have been lonesome but for the fury of artillery.

During the night the firing of the heavy guns shakes the ground where we sleep, the Carlisle man wrote the city editor of The Sentinel in a letter dated June 16, 1918. At first, we could not sleep for the noise, but now the noise is music to our ears, and the constant firing of the big guns rocks us to sleep.

Steele was assigned to a group of men tasked with locating and registering the graves of American war dead killed on the Western Front of World War I.

With each grim discovery came the ritual of erecting a cross with the soldiers name and unit designation. Steele had arrived in France six months before and lived out of a pup tent.

I have waded in mud, slept in mud, travelled second-class, third- and fourth-class, rode in boxcars, trucks, hiked and about every way it is possible to travel, Steele said. I had the pleasure of spending some time in Paris; quite a wonderful place. We had a swell dinner (and) plenty of excitement.

Under the gun

Frank Lay could say the same. He was stationed in the French capital on July 15, 1918, when the Germans lobbed heavy artillery shells from a rail gun 75 miles away.

In a letter dated July 18, Lay made the common mistake of calling the Paris Gun Big Bertha, which was not a rail gun at all but a heavy howitzer the Germans used earlier in the war to reduce forts to rubble.

Designed as a terror weapon mounted on a railroad car, the Paris Gun was the first platform used to launch a manmade object into the stratosphere  26 miles up, according to The Military Factory.

One incoming shell landed yards away from where Lay was sitting by a window using a typewriter. The space between me and the landing of the shell contained no obstruction to my view, he wrote in the letter. Window panes about a foot from my elbow broke so that I thought the whole window was falling in ... The chair I was sitting on fell over backwards. It was so comical and even in that critical moment I thought Oh wont they laugh at home when I tell them ...

The Paris Gun was used to try to demoralize French civilians into thinking no place was safe. The terror campaign lasted from March 21 to August 1918 killing 250 Parisians and injuring 620. Lay was unconvinced of its effectiveness.

(I) will say the Germans are wasting their time if they think to scare anyone, he wrote. It only causes one to hate them more. After a second shot, they continued to fall at intervals of 15, 20 and 30 minutes until dark. It doesnt get dark here until 10 oclock.

The Germans ceased firing the Paris Gun at nightfall because they didnt want the Allies to spot the muzzle flashes and train artillery on the rail gun. He tried to visit the locations of shell damage in the city but French police kept the onlookers back 100 to 200 feet.

Not everything about Paris was a warzone. Lay took French lessons at the local YMCA from a native speaker. My teacher is a very nice lady, even if she does paint her lips a bright sparkling crimson.

The village people

Merrill Hummel arrived in a village in France after an uncomfortable train ride. When one tries to get any sleep in a so-called first-class compartment of a railway car he is performing heroic, Hummel wrote in an Aug. 19, 1918 letter to his father. The only thing to do is to sit bolt upright, close your eyes and imagine you are sleeping.

The village that had a pre-war population of 200 to 300 residents was down to about 75, most of whom were senior citizens. All the able-bodied men are at the front or have made the supreme sacrifice, Hummel wrote. The young women have gone to other parts of France, and the few children left do not make noise enough to remind us that they are present.

The only street in the village went by the name Grand Avenue, and a stream flowed alongside it. Each stone house had a stable beside. The stream was fed by a spring located near a chateau of the local marquis on the outskirts of the village.

Before the war, village life was centered at the town hall, which became the headquarters of the American troops occupying the settlement. One day a routine duty became a show of solidarity.

The day after our arrival ... we unfurled the stars and stripes to the breeze from out of a second floor window of the town hall, and one of the French ladies dug out the French colors, fastened them on the iron fence in front of her house and announced that the French colors should always be displayed with the American flag.

This prompted the village school teacher to ask permission to have her students file by the American flag and touch Old Glory. The scene touched Hummel in a very real way.

The stars and stripes mean much to these people who have suffered intensely from this war, and their reverence for it and all that it stands for would furnish food for thought for some people who enjoy its protection 3,000 miles from here. Most of the villagers turn out at 7 in the evening when we have our retreat formation and they seem to take considerable interest in whatever the soldiers do.

Lost in translation

For many of the soldiers, it was their first time away from home in another country. Everything was new and strange to them including the native language. A fellow felt funny trying to make the French understand what we wanted, Private Hugh Heckman wrote The Sentinel in a letter dated Sept. 10, 1918. To overcome the language barrier, Doughboys referred to guidebooks.

Heckman shared the funny story of a soldier in a restaurant who endeavored to piece together his entire meal order in French, only to learn the waitress spoke English when she asked if he wanted dessert.

Shoe leather was so scarce in wartime France that many of the civilians were walking around in wooden shoes.

Most every place you go you see the women working in all the factories, Heckman said. It is remarkable how well France has held up for being in war for over four years.
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.

FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, file photo, Ben Affleck, the director, producer, writer and star of "Live by Night," poses at the premiere of the film at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Court records in Los Angeles show Jennifer Garner and Affleck each filed divorce paperwork on Thursday, April 13, 2017, citing irreconcilable differences for the end of their marriage. The actors announced their intention to divorce in June 2015, and filed virtually identical paperwork Thursday to have joint custody of their three children, who range in ages from 5 to 11. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

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."

The actors met while making 2003's "Daredevil," in which they both played superheroes.

Affleck, a two-time Oscar winner, announced last month that he had recently completed treatment for alcohol addiction.

His breakup from Garner returned him to the tabloids, where he had been a mainstay years earlier because of his relationship with singer Jennifer Lopez.

He lamented the renewed focus on his personal life after years of attention on his role as a parent, and the critical success of the Oscar-winning film "Argo," which he produced and directed.

"This business tends to exaggerate highs and lows," Affleck told The Associated Press. "I've had legitimate lows, movies I didn't like, and I'm very proud of the movies I directed and so on. But you become a cast member in a soap opera that you're not writing. You get the script every day and you find out what your role is that day."
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - A year after the owner and president of a Vermont ski resort were accused by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of massive fraud, a $150 million settlement has been reached.

The federal receiver overseeing Jay Peak ski resort announced Thursday that he had signed a settlement agreement with Raymond James Financial Inc. The settlement money will be used to pay contractors, vendors and investors.

The resort's owner, Ariel Quiros (KWEHR'-ohs), of Miami, and former president Bill Stenger were accused of misusing $200 million raised from foreign investors through a special visa program.

Stenger has settled civil charges with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Quiros' lawyers have said he will be cleared of wrongdoing.

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This story has been corrected to show the financial organization's name is U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) - An Islamic group no longer plans to build a Muslim cemetery in a small Massachusetts town following a contentious fight for approval.

The Boston Globe (http://bit.ly/2p1SR7e ) reports the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester (WUS'-tur) announced Thursday it's dropping its plan for a cemetery in the town of Dudley. The group says it wants to build in Worcester instead.

On Wednesday, federal officials announced they had closed an investigation into whether Dudley violated the civil rights of the group when the town rejected the cemetery proposal. The town later agreed to allow the group to build a cemetery.

Now, the group says it wants to go elsewhere, and has been in talks with Worcester officials for months. The group says the logistics of the plan are still being worked out.

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Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.bostonglobe.com
JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) - The Latest on the manhunt for a fugitive in Wisconsin (all times local):

10 p.m.

Authorities say they are investigating a letter purportedly sent by fugitive Joseph Jakubowski that threatens violence at Wisconsin churches on Easter Sunday.

Police in Waukesha County say the letter was sent through the U.S. Postal Service and mentions churches in the Sussex area, about 25 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

The Rock County Sheriff's Office says the letter is being analyzed and "its authenticity is in question."

A manhunt has been underway since police say Jakubowski robbed a gun store in Janesville, Wisconsin on April 4.

They have warned that the fugitive is considered armed and dangerous and the public should not approach him.

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6 p.m.

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.

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Ehlke reported from Milwaukee.
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) - President Donald Trump's tweets are adding fuel to a "vicious cycle" of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea's vice foreign minister told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Friday. The official added that if the U.S. shows any sign of "reckless" military aggression, Pyongyang is ready to launch a pre-emptive strike of its own.

Vice Minister Han Song Ryol said Pyongyang has determined the Trump administration is "more vicious and more aggressive" than that of Barack Obama. He added that North Korea will keep building up its nuclear arsenal in "quality and quantity" and said Pyongyang is ready to go to war if that's what Trump wants.

Tensions between Pyongyang and Washington go back to President Harry Truman and the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. But the heat has been rising rapidly since Trump took office in January.

Han Song Ryol, North Korea's vice foreign minister, listens to a translator during an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, April 14, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea. Han Song Ryol said the situation on the Korean Peninsula is now in a "vicious cycle." (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

This year's joint war games between the U.S. and South Korean militaries are the biggest so far. The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier has been diverted back to the waters off Korea after heading for Australia, and U.S. satellite imagery suggests the North could conduct another underground nuclear test at any time. Pyongyang recently tested a ballistic missile and claims it is close to perfecting an intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear warhead that could attack the U.S. mainland.

Many experts believe that at its current pace of testing, North Korea could reach that potentially game-changing milestone within a few years - under Trump's watch as president. Despite reports that Washington is considering military action if the North goes ahead with another nuclear test, Han did not rule out the possibility of a test in the near future.

"That is something that our headquarters decides," he said during the 40-minute interview in Pyongyang, which is now gearing up for a major holiday - and possibly a big military parade - on Saturday. "At a time and at a place where the headquarters deems necessary, it will take place."

The North conducted two such tests last year alone. The first was of what it claims to have been a hydrogen bomb and the second was its most powerful ever. Expectations are high the North may put its newest missiles on display during Saturday's parade.

The annual U.S.-South Korea 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 North's leadership have fanned Pyongyang's anger.

Han said Trump's tweets have also added fuel to the flames.

Trump posted a tweet Tuesday in which he said the North is "looking for trouble" and reiterated his call for more pressure from Beijing, North Korea's economic lifeline, to clamp down on trade and strengthen its enforcement of U.N. sanctions to persuade Pyongyang to denuclearize.

Trump has threatened that if Beijing isn't willing to do more to squeeze the North, the U.S. might take the matter into its own hands.

"Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words," Han said. "It's not the DPRK but the U.S. and Trump that makes trouble." North Korea's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

He added: "We will go to war if they choose."

A U.S. State Department official said later Friday the U.S. was aligning "all elements of national power" to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile programs.

The official, who wasn't authorized to be quoted by name and demanded anonymity, lamented Pyongyang's "far too common and far too dangerous" provocations, and said Washington would work with international partners to cut the North's government off "from the rest of the world."

The U.S. seeks nothing more than a "stable and economically prosperous Korean peninsula," not military conflict, the official said. But the U.S. will respond to North Korea's threats accordingly and won't engage Pyongyang until it "chooses a more peaceful way forward."

Han said U.S. sanctions efforts are misguided and cited the opening ceremony of a sprawling new high-rise residential area in Pyongyang on Thursday as evidence that sanctions have failed to ruin the country's economy. Leader Kim Jong Un presided over the ceremony before about 100,000 residents and a large contingent of foreign journalists who have been allowed in to cover the holiday.

Han dismissed the suggestion Trump made last year during his presidential campaign that he was willing to meet Kim Jong Un, possibly over hamburgers.

"I think that was nothing more than lip service during the campaign to make himself more popular," Han said. "Now we are comparing Trump's policy toward the DPRK with the former administration's and we have concluded that it's becoming more vicious and more aggressive."

Han said North Korea changed its military strategy two years ago, when the reports of "decapitation strike" training began to really get attention, to stress pre-emptive actions.

"We've 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. pre-emptive strike," he said. "Whatever comes from the U.S., we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it."

How much such comments are bluster, or how realistic they are, is hard to gauge.

Also on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said all sides must stop provoking and threatening and start taking a flexible approach to resuming dialogue. He said China is willing to support any such effort.

"Once a war really happens, the result will be nothing but multiple-loss. No one can become a winner," Wang said. "No matter who it is, if it wants to make war or trouble on the Korean Peninsula, it must take the historical responsibility and pay the due price."

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Han's remarks on the North's readiness to conduct a nuclear test and even go to war reveal the "true colors of North Korea's government that is bellicose and a breaker of regulations."

The ministry issued a statement saying North Korea will face strong punishment it will find hard to withstand if it makes a significant provocation, such as another nuclear test or an ICBM launch.

Military experts generally agree a shooting war with North Korea would likely be far more costly than something along the lines of the recent targeted strike Trump ordered against a Syrian air base believed to be linked to a chemical weapons attack by the regime of Bashar Assad. That attack alarmed the North and was condemned as "unpardonable" by Pyongyang, which counts Syria as an ally.

Even without nuclear weapons, the North could cause severe damage with its conventional artillery batteries aimed at the South Korean capital of Seoul.

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Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.

In this July 27, 2013, file photo, North Korean soldiers turn and look towards leader Kim Jong Un as they carry packs marked with the nuclear symbol at a parade in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea's vice foreign minister Han Song Ryol said in an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, April 14, 2017: "We've 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. pre-emptive strike." (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

In this undated photo distributed on Friday, April 14, 2017, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, watches a military drill at an undisclosed location. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this photo, distributed via the Korean Central News Agency and the Korea News Service. Tensions are deepening as the U.S. has sent the USS Carl Vinson to waters off the Korean peninsula and is conducting its biggest-ever joint military exercises with South Korea. North Korea recently launched a ballistic missile and some experts say it could conduct another nuclear test at virtually anytime. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

Han Song Ryol, North Korea's vice minister of foreign affairs speaks during an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, April 14, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Han Song Ryol, North Korea's vice minister of foreign affairs speaks during an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, April 14, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Han Song Ryol, North Korea's vice minister of foreign affairs, arrives for an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, April 14, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea. Han Song Ryol said the situation on the Korean Peninsula is now in a "vicious cycle." (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Han Song Ryol, center, North Korea's vice minister of foreign affairs speaks during an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, April 14, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrives for the official opening of the Ryomyong residential area, Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, speaking Thursday at a parliamentary panel on national security and diplomacy, warned that North Korea may be capable of firing a missile loaded with sarin nerve gas toward Japan. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - The biggest non-nuclear bomb ever dropped in combat by the U.S. military killed 36 militants in eastern Afghanistan, officials said Friday, and villagers in the remote, mountainous area described being terrified by the "earsplitting blast."

The strike using the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, was carried out Thursday morning against an Islamic State group tunnel complex carved in the mountains that Afghan forces have tried to assault repeatedly in recent weeks in fierce fighting in Nangarhar province, Afghan officials said.

U.S. and Afghan forces have been battling the Taliban insurgency for more than 15 years. But the U.S. military brought out the biggest conventional bomb in its arsenal for the first time to hit the Islamic State, which has a far smaller but growing presence in Afghanistan. That apparently reflects President Donald Trump's vow for a more aggressive campaign against the group.

This image made from a Thursday, April 13, 2017 video released by the U.S. Department of Defense shows a plume of smoke rising from a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb strike on an Islamic State militant cave and tunnel systems in the Achin district of the Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (U.S. Department of Defense via AP)

The bomb - known officially as a GBU-43B but nicknamed the "mother of all bombs" - unleashes 11 tons of explosives. Pentagon video showed the bomb striking a mountainside overlooking a river valley with a giant blast that overwhelms the landscape and sent up a massive column of black smoke. Agricultural terraces are visible in the footage, but no population centers.

The Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement that the bomb destroyed several IS caves and ammunition caches.

Gen. Daulat Waziri, a ministry spokesman, said 36 IS fighters were killed, and that the death toll could likely rise. He said Afghan forces were at the tunnel complex assessing the damage.

The Islamic State group's Aamaq news agency denied that any of its fighters were killed or wounded, citing a source within the group.

Waziri said the bombing was necessary because the complex was extremely hard to penetrate, with some tunnels as deep as 40 meters (over 130 feet). He called it a "strong position," with troops attacking it four times without advancing, adding that the complex "was full of mines."

"This was the right weapon for the right target," said U.S. Gen. John W. Nicholson, NATO commander in Afghanistan, at a news conference. He added that there were no reports of civilian casualties.

Nicholson said the bomb was intended to eliminate the militants' sanctuary in southern Nangarhar, "and this weapon was very effective in that use."

The office of President Ashraf Ghani said there was "close coordination" between the U.S. military and the Afghan government over the operation, and they were careful to prevent any civilian casualties.

But the massive blast still terrified villagers 20 miles away across the border in Pakistan.

Pakistani villagers living near the frontier said the explosion was so loud they thought a bomb had been dropped in their village by U.S. warplanes targeting militants in Pakistan.

"I was sleeping when we heard a loud explosion. It was an earsplitting blast," said Shah Wali, 46, who lives in the village of Goor Gari, 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the border with Nangarhar. "I jumped from my bed and came out of my home to see what has gone wrong in our village."

Dozens of other villagers also came out of their homes, Wali said. He later went near the border, where he met with other residents. He said he could see smoke in the sky.

"The whole house was shaking," said Mufti Khan of Achin district in Nangarhar. "When I came out of my house, I saw a large fire and the whole area was burning."

Another Achin resident, Mohammad Hakim, approved of the strike.

"We are very happy, and these kinds of bombs should be used in future as well, so Daesh is rooted out from here," he said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.

"They killed our women, youths and elders, sitting them on mines," Hakim added. "We also ask the Kabul government to use even stronger weapons against them."

The U.S. estimates 600-800 IS fighters are in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar. The U.S. has concentrated on fighting them while also supporting Afghan forces against the Taliban.

Trump called Thursday's operation a "very, very successful mission."

"I want a hundred times more bombings on this group," said Hakim Khan, a 50-year-old a resident of Achin.

Inamullah Meyakhil, spokesman for the central hospital in eastern Nangarhar province, said no dead or wounded had been brought to the facility from the attack.

District Gov. Ismail Shinwari added that there was no civilian property near the location of the airstrike.

The Site Intelligence Group, which tracks extremist organizations, reported Friday on a statement from the Afghan Taliban that condemned the U.S. for its "terrorist" attack.

The statement said it is the responsibility of Afghans, not the U.S., to remove the Islamic State group from the country. The two militant movements are rivals.

The U.S. has more than 8,000 troops in Afghanistan, training local forces and conducting counterterrorism operations. In the past year, they have largely concentrated on thwarting a surge of attacks by the Taliban, who have captured key districts, such as Helmand province, which U.S. and British troops had fought bitterly to return to the government.

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Associated Press writers Anwarullah Khan in Khar, Pakistan, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Robert Burns in Washington and Maamoun Youssef in Cairo contributed.

This image made from a Thursday, April 13, 2017 video released by the U.S. Department of Defense shows a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb strike on an Islamic State militant cave and tunnel systems in the Achin district of the Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (U.S. Department of Defense via AP)

Afghan commandos arrive at Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan commandos patrol Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan commando patrols Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan villagers carry items in Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan commandos patrol Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

An Afghan commando jumps in Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A general view of Achin district, in Jalalabad, after U.S. forces dropped Thursday the bomb, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. 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 every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

In this May 2004 photo, a group gathers around a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast (MOAB) weapon, on display at the Air Force Armament Museum on Eglin Air Force Base near Valparaiso, Fla. U.S. forces in Afghanistan struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, April 13, 2017, with a GBU-43B, the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (Mark Kulaw/Northwest Florida Daily News via AP)

This May 2004 photo shows a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast (MOAB) weapon, on display at the Air Force Armament Museum on Eglin Air Force Base near Valparaiso, Fla. U.S. forces in Afghanistan struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, April 13, 2017, with a GBU-43B, the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (Northwest Florida Daily News via AP)

Afghan commandos patrol Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

An Afghan commando works in Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

U.S. forces and Afghan commandos patrol Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

An Afghan commando jumps in Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan commandos patrol Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

An Afghan commando prays in Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

An Afghan policeman treats an injured comrade who was wounded during an operation against Islamic State militants in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan commandos are positioned in Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Smokes rises from the area during an operation near the area bombed by U.S. forces in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces used the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat attack on a tunnel complex in remote eastern Afghanistan which left 36 Islamic State group fighters dead and no civilian casualties, Afghanistan officials said Friday.(AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

U.S. forces and Afghan commandos patrol Pandola village near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

This image made from a Thursday, April 13, 2017 video released by the U.S. Department of Defense shows a plume of smoke rising from a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb strike on an Islamic State militant cave and tunnel systems in the Achin district of the Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan. U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon every used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said. (U.S. Department of Defense via AP)
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A federal judge in Louisiana who took medical leave for treatment of severe alcoholism said Friday there are no grounds to challenge cases resolved in her court.

"I'm not going to downplay the alcohol problem," U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi said in interview with KPLC-TV (http://bit.ly/2oHONrQ ) and The American Press of Lake Charles (http://bit.ly/2nNsgdU ).

But, she added, proceedings were halted "if there ever was an indication" that she was unable to handle her duties due to alcohol.

In this 2013 photo, U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Minaldi speaks during the Empowering Women Luncheon in Sulphur, La. Minaldi, whose unusual behavior on the bench 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, according to court records released Thursday, April 13, 2017. (Marilyn Monroe/American Press via AP)

"There have been thousands and thousands of cases that I have handled where that was never even an issue," Minaldi said.

"I'm sure some will be challenged. Anyone can file a lawsuit regardless of its merit. But, I don't believe for a second that any of those cases, meritoriously, will be challenged."

Minaldi's unusual behavior on the bench preceded her mysterious removal from a string of cases. She was ordered to get treatment for alcoholism so severe that a colleague believes she cannot take care of herself, according to court records released Thursday.

She did not rule out a return to the bench someday, but said she is weighing her options.

"There is no disputing that I am in a battle with alcohol," Minaldi, 58, said. "So far, I'm winning that battle, and I intend to win it for the rest of my life."

She also said she would fight action by U.S. Magistrate Kathleen Kay, a colleague and friend, challenging her ability to handle her own affairs.

Kay said in court documents that Minaldi was diagnosed with "severe Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome," a degenerative brain disorder linked to alcohol abuse.

Documents show she has moved into an assisted living facility specializing in "memory care."

The mandate for Minaldi to complete at least 90 days of substance abuse treatment came from the chief judge of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
ASIA:

KOREAS-TENSION - North Korea's vice foreign minister tells AP in an exclusive interview that President Donald Trump's tweets are adding fuel to a "vicious cycle" of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and warns of war if the U.S. shows any sign of "reckless" military aggression. By Eric Talmadge. With CHINA-NORTH KOREA - Chinese foreign minister: No winners if Korea war breaks out. By Christopher Bodeen. SENT: 480 words, photos; KOREAS-TENSION-THE LATEST; KOREAS-TENSION-QUOTES.

NKOREA-FOUNDER'S BIRTHDAY - N. Korea gears up to celebrate birthday of country's founder on Saturday. UPCOMING: 180 words by 1400 GMT, photos.

AFGHANISTAN - Afghan officials say 36 fighters with the Islamic State group were killed in a U.S. attack on a tunnel complex in a remote eastern part of the country, near the Pakistan border. By Amir Shah. SENT: 400 words, photos.

PHILIPPINES-CRUCIFIXIONS - Filipinos re-enact Christ's crucifixion in gory spectacle. SENT: 230 words, photos.

PENCE-ASIA - Vice President Mike Pence is opening his trip to the Asia-Pacific region amid increasing tensions in North Korea over the regime's nuclear and missile programs. By Ken Thomas. SENT: 120 words, photo.

JAPAN-VIETNAM-GIRL MURDER - Police arrested a Japanese man in connection with the death of a 9-year-old Vietnamese girl near Tokyo, weeks after her naked body was found near a trench. SENT: 180 words, photo.

THAILAND-STREET FOOD - Efforts by authorities in military-ruled Thailand to impose order on the chaotic capital city have a fresh target: cheap and tasty pad thai. By Kaweewit Kaewjinda. SENT: 740 words, photos.

CHINA-BEIJING FILM FESTIVAL - The lack of South Korean films at this year's Beijing film festival has nothing to do with politics, an organizer says. By Louise Watt. SENT: 440 words, photo.

BUSINESS AND FINANCE:

FINANCIAL MARKETS - Asian stocks are lower as investors fret over rising geopolitical tensions and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Many markets were closed for public holidays. By Youkyung Lee. SENT: 370 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US:

The editor in charge at the AP Asia-Pacific Desk in Bangkok is Hrvoje Hranjski. Questions and story requests are welcome. The news desk can be reached at (66) 2632-6911 or by email at asia@ap.org. The Asia Photo Desk can be reached at (81-3) 6215-8941. Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call (1) 877-836-9477.
BEIJING (AP) - There can be no winners in a war between the U.S. and North Korea over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programs, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, while pledging support for dialogue between the sides.

Wang's comments Friday mark the latest attempt to cool tensions by North Korea's most important ally and key provider of food and fuel aid. Any fighting on the Korean Peninsula is likely to draw in China, which has repeatedly expressed concerns about a wave of refugees and the possible presence of U.S. and South Korean troops on its border.

China also has grown increasingly frustrated with the refusal of Kim Jong Un's regime to heed its admonitions, and in February cut off imports of North Korean coal that provide Pyongyang with a crucial source of foreign currency.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Friday, April 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

State media reported late Friday that starting Monday, the Chinese flag carrier Air China will cancel flights from Beijing to Pyongyang due to poor ticket sales.

A booking hotline operator reached Saturday said there were no more flights to Pyongyang for the rest of the month. She said that according to a flight schedule, there would be flights in May, June and July, but that tickets were not available for booking or purchase yet.

Air China and North Korea's Air Koryo are the only two airlines serving that route, with the latter operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

"Once a war really happens, the result will be nothing but multiple loss. No one can become a winner," Wang told reporters at a news conference with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

"Therefore, we call upon all the parties, no matter verbally or in action, to stop provoking and threatening each other and not to allow the situation to become irretrievable and out of control," Wang said.

He urged all sides to take a flexible approach to resuming dialogue.

"As long as dialogue takes place, it can be official or unofficial, through one channel or dual channels, bilateral or multilateral. China is willing to give support to all of them," Wang said.

Wang last month urged North Korea to suspend its nuclear weapon and missile tests in exchange for South Korea and the U.S. putting their war games on hold, reviving a proposal first raised by Pyongyang. Washington swiftly dismissed the idea, but some observers have said administration officials may be becoming more amenable to renewed dialogue with the North.

Earlier Friday, North Korea's Vice Minister Han Song Ryol told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview that his country will keep building up its nuclear arsenal in "quality and quantity" and said Pyongyang is ready to go to war if that's what President Donald Trump wants.

Chinese experts said they see little immediate possibility of hostilities breaking out, but warned that Beijing will respond harshly to any further North Korean nuclear tests.

Director of Jilin University's Institute of Northeast Asian Studies Guo Rui said that Trump's domestic troubles should prevent him taking such action, while North Korea doesn't appear to be on a war footing. Another nuclear test would invite tougher measures from Beijing, Guo said.

Pang Zhongying of the School of International Studies at Beijing's Renmin University agreed that military action was unlikely, but said another North Korean nuclear test would mark "the crossing of a red line" that China was prepared to respond to.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, gestures while speaking during a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Friday, April 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

French, left, and Chinese officials pass a document before the start of a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Friday, April 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault moves his hand across his face during a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Friday, April 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault speaks during a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Friday, April 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault speaks during a joint press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Friday, April 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault speaks during a joint press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Friday, April 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shake hands as they pose for a photo at the end of a joint press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Friday, April 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
ISLAMABAD (AP) - A senior Pakistani official says an Indian naval officer who faces the death penalty for espionage and sabotage will not be immediately executed because he has the right to appeal his conviction by a military tribunal.

Sartaj Aziz, the prime minister's adviser on foreign affairs, told reporters Friday that Kulbhushan Jadhav is entitled to file a mercy petition to the army chief if an appellate court upholds his conviction.

Aziz's comments were aimed at easing tensions with India, which has warned Pakistan of serious consequences if it executes Jadhav. He said Jadhav can also seek a pardon from the president of Pakistan.

Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan last year and a tribunal of the country's military sentenced him to death this month.
Each legislative session thousands of bills and amendments are introduced in the Pennsylvania Legislature. Only a fraction become law, and an even smaller portion receive wide media coverage.

These bills impact the lives of people living in Pennsylvania every day.

Each week The Sentinel will highlight one of the bills that has not received widespread attention.

About the bill

Jury duty  its a term that for many creates a visceral reaction of dread. A not-so-unusual response to receiving a notice to report for jury duty is, "How can I get out of this?"

However, jury duty is a civic duty and vitally important to the criminal justice system.

Rep. Robert Matzie, D-Allegheny County, has introduced a bill aimed at taking a bit of the sting out of having to report to the courthouse.

House Bill 1127 increases compensation for people summoned for jury duty.

Currently, jurors and potential jurors are paid $9 for the first day of service and $25 for each additional day, according to a letter seeking co-sponsorship support signed by Matzie.

Pennsylvania law requires employers to provide time off for employees, but does not require the employer to pay the employee.

This payment methodology creates a financial hardship for many residents who are summoned, Matzie wrote in a co-sponsorship letter.

Matzies bill would require employers pay employees their normal wage or salary for days serving on jury duty.

In return, the employer would be issued a tax credit equal to that amount, according to the bill.

Self-employed people, or those whose sole means of income is commission, would be given a tax credit equal to one months earnings from the previous year under Matzies bill.

The bill also provides unemployed people who are summoned for jury duty be paid using the appropriate rate of unemployment compensation.
NEW YORK (AP) - David McCullough, worried about a president he calls "a cloud" on the American horizon, knows well the consolations of history.

"We've been through much harder times than we're in now," the Pulitzer Prize-winning author told The Associated Press during a recent telephone interview. "Yes, we have had problems and have had dishonest and evil people in positions of responsibility. But we have overcome those challenges and we're often better for it."

McCullough, who turns 84 in July, had for decades been nonpartisan in his public life. He has praised Democrats (John Kennedy) and Republicans (Dwight Eisenhower) and hesitated to directly criticize a sitting president. His history of the Panama Canal, "The Path Between the Seas," was cited by members of Congress from both parties as they deliberated over the Panama Canal treaties, approved in 1977.

FILE - In this May 13, 2011 file photo, historian and author David McCullough poses at the National Portrait Gallery, in Washington. McCullough's latest book, "The American Spirit," is a collection of talks he has given over the past 30 years. Known for such best-sellers as "John Adams" and "The Wright Brothers," McCullough also is one of the country's most popular speakers, in demand at colleges, historical societies and political gatherings, including a joint session of Congress in 1989. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

"When I was a witness to the great debate over the Panama Canal treaties, I saw Congress at its best," he says. "I saw people crossing party lines when they realized it was the best thing to do."

McCullough's latest book is "The American Spirit," a collection of talks he has given over the past 30 years. Known for such best-sellers as "John Adams" and "The Wright Brothers," McCullough also is one of the country's most popular speakers, in demand at colleges, historical societies and political gatherings, including a joint session of Congress in 1989.

Like so many releases this year, "The American Spirit" was conceived well before Trump's election, but takes on new meaning because of it. McCullough, speaking in 2016 at the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, praises the immigrants who helped build the capitol. In a 1994 commencement address at Union College, he warns against the "purists" who shun the "empirical method." At a conference in Providence, Rhode Island, not long after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, he disputes assertions that "everything has changed."

"But everything has not changed," he says.

McCullough works hard on his speeches, spending days or more to find the right words for a graduation or occasion for national reflection, like his 2013 address in Dallas for the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination. His talks have been mini-essays on the evolution of the presidency, the Declaration of Independence, his native Pittsburgh, the role of universities in public policy or the lives of congressional leaders he thinks deserve more attention, from Florida's Claude Pepper to Robert Taft of Ohio. An official at the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, Laura McCulty Stepp, says McCullough came to Washington a few weeks before his speech for research and to get a feel for the actual location.

"He spent quite a bit of time touring the site," says Stepp, the society's vice president, membership and development. "He paid a great deal of attention to detail and to making sure everything he said was accurate. He never assumed anything."

In his address to the society, he lamented the "Dialing-for-Dollars reality" of the current Congress, but last year he had much harsher and more surprising words for the Republicans' presidential contender. In July, he and Ken Burns started the Facebook page Historians Against Trump, featuring videos from McCullough, Burns, Stacy Schiff and others.

"What has the Republican Party come to?" McCullough asked in his video. "He is unwise, he is plainly unprepared, unqualified and, it often seems, unhinged."

For McCullough, being an historian is itself a kind of rebuke to Trump. ("History is an antidote to self-importance," he said during his recent interview.) Politicians of both parties once seemed to compete over who most admired McCullough's biography of Harry Truman. Trump, McCullough says, "not only doesn't read history, he brags about it."

"He talks about how he's never read a biography of a president and that he feels he doesn't need to because he can depend on his instincts and natural genius to decide what he should do," he adds.

Asked what he would tell Trump should he ever have the chance, McCullough said he would urge the president to study his predecessors.

"He has to understand who has occupied that all-important role down through the years and what can be learned from their successes and failures, their conduct in the face of disappointment or in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds."

McCullough is confident about the country, because of history - "who we are, how we got to be where we are, and all we have been through, what we have achieved." He is currently inspired by an act of the Continental Congress from 1787, the Northwest Ordinance, the subject of a book he's working on and hopes to have out in 2019.

The roots of his next book, which he is calling "The Pioneers," can be seen in a 2004 commencement address at Ohio University. The Northwest Ordinance set down guidelines for the governing and admittance of Ohio and four other future states (plus a part of Minnesota) to the union - Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. The ordinance also established rights for the territories, including the prohibition of slavery and a commitment to education, which the ordinance deemed "necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind."

"These are strong, clear declarations of faith in education as the bulwark of freedom," McCullough said in his speech, using words that seem sharpened by the rise of Trump, who as a candidate had boasted of his appeal to the "poorly" educated.

"For self-government to work, the people must be educated."
NEW YORK (AP) - Stephen Colbert wants you to curl up with a good book - by Stephen Colbert.

The "Midnight Confessions" segment from CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is the basis for an upcoming print and audio release, Simon & Schuster announced Friday. "Midnight Confessions," the book, is scheduled for Sept. 5. According to the publisher, "Midnight Confessions" will include Colbert's favorite pleas for forgiveness, along with submissions from audience members. Colbert said in a statement that he wishes the "confessions were made up."

Colbert's previous books include "America Again" and "I Am America (And So Can You!)."
Arkansas' already compromised plan to execute eight men by the end of the month unraveled Friday, with a judge blocking the use of a lethal injection drug and the state's highest court granting a stay to one of the first inmates who had been scheduled to die.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen issued a temporary restraining order blocking the state from using its supply of vecuronium bromide after a company said it had sold the drug to the state for medical purposes, not capital punishment. Griffen scheduled a hearing Tuesday, the day after the first execution was scheduled.

Griffen's order effectively halts the executions, which had dropped to six after Friday's state Supreme Court order blocking one execution and a federal judge halting another last week, unless it's reversed or the state finds a new supply of the drug.

Scroll down for video

Actor Johnny Depp speaks at a rally opposing Arkansas' upcoming executions, which are set to begin next week, on the front steps of the Capitol

Protesters gather outside the state Capitol. Arkansas has not executed an inmate since 2005 because of drug shortages and legal challenges. If carried out, the executions would mark the most inmates put to death by a state in such a short period in modern history

Actor Johnny Depp, left, stands with former Arkansas death row inmate Damien Echols, before speaking at a rally opposing Arkansas' upcoming executions

The execution of Bruce Earl Ward, who was been scheduled April 17 has been halted by the Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas, which has not executed an inmate since 2005 because of drug shortages and legal challenges, had initially planned to execute eight before the end of April, when its supply of midazolam expires.

That plan, if carried out, would have marked the most inmates executed by a state in such a short period since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976.

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge's office said she planned to file an emergency request with the state Supreme Court to vacate Griffen's order, saying Griffen shouldn't handle the case. Local media outlets had tweeted photos of Griffen at a demonstration held by execution opponents outside the Governor's Mansion earlier Friday.

'As a public opponent of capital punishment, Judge Griffen should have recused himself from this case,' Rutledge spokesman Judd Deere said.

Inmates Bruce Ward(top row L to R), Don Davis, Ledell Lee, Stacy Johnson, Jack Jones (bottom row L to R), Marcel Williams, Kenneth Williams and Jason Mcgehee are all on death row

Arkansas is rushing to execute the inmates because its supply of midazolam, a sedative used in the execution drug protocol, is due to expire by the end of April

The order came the same day justices issued a stay for Bruce Ward, who was scheduled to be put to death on Monday night for the 1989 death of a woman found strangled in the men's room of the Little Rock convenience store where she worked. Attorneys asked for the stay after a Jefferson County judge said she didn't have the authority to halt Ward's execution. Ward's attorneys have argued he is a diagnosed schizophrenic with no rational understanding of his impending execution.

'We are grateful that the Arkansas Supreme Court has issued a stay of execution for Bruce Ward so that they may consider the serious questions presented about his sanity,' Scott Braden, an assistant federal public defender representing Ward, said in a statement.

U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker is also considering the inmates' arguments that such a compressed schedule could lead to undue pain and suffering. Baker had not ruled by Friday evening. Arkansas scheduled the executions to take place before its supply of midazolam expires at the end of the month.

McKesson said it had requested Arkansas return its supply of vecuronium bromide after the San Francisco-based company learned it would be used in executions. The firm said Thursday night the state had assured it would return the drug and the company had even issued a refund, but it never was.

Under Arkansas' protocol, midazolam is used to sedate the inmate, vecuronium bromide then stops the inmate's breathing and potassium chloride stops the heart.

Former Arkansas death row inmate Damien Echols speaks at rally opposing the state's upcoming executions, on the front steps of Arkansas' Capitol

Death-penalty opponents in Arkansas gathered in Little Rock Friday to protest the state's plan to execute seven inmates before the end of the month

Baker is also considering a request from two pharmaceutical companies that their products not be used for capital punishment. Fresenius Kabi USA and West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp. filed a court brief Thursday asking the court to prohibit Arkansas from using their drugs.

Arkansas' execution timeline drew condemnation from hundreds of death penalty opponents who rallied at the Capitol waving signs including a large banner that read, 'We remember the victims ... But not with more killing.' The rally was headlined by actor Johnny Depp and Damien Echols, who spent nearly 18 years on Arkansas' death row before he and two other men, known as the West Memphis Three, were freed in 2011 in a plea deal in which they maintained their innocence.

'I didn't want to come back, but when I heard about the conveyor belt of death that the politicians were trying to set in motion, I guess I knew I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't come back and try to do something,' said Echols, who now lives in New York.
ROME (AP) - The widow of an Italian man who became a protagonist in Italy's euthanasia debate turned herself into police on Friday after bringing another terminally ill man to Switzerland to die.

Mina Welby told reporters outside the Tuscan police station that Davide Trentini had administered a fatal IV drip himself on Thursday in Switzerland after doctors there determined he was a suitable candidate for assisted suicide. Trentini, 53, had suffered for nearly two decades from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the neurodegenerative disease better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and said the pain had become too unbearable to go on.

Euthanasia is illegal in overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Italy, and Trentini's announced trip to Switzerland had reignited the long-running debate that flared in 2006 when Welby's husband, Piergiorgio Welby, chose to die. A doctor removed his respirator after he became unable to eat, speak or breathe on his own due to muscular dystrophy.

The case drew international attention after the Catholic Church refused Welby a church funeral.

In the years since, other prominent cases have fueled Italy's right-to-die movement, including that of 38-year-old Eluana Englaro. Her father prevailed in court in 2009 to have her feeding tubes removed after she entered into a persistent vegetative state following a car accident 17 years earlier.

Mina Welby said Friday she hoped that Trentini's very public campaign to end his life would spur changes in Italy's law so that Italians no longer have to go abroad to end their lives via assisted suicide. Noting that his death fell during Holy Week, she called Trentini's 27 years of suffering a "cavalry" of pain and desperation.

"I hope that Italy will adopt a law in which all citizens can have access to a death that they freely choose, and that they believe is right and dignified," she said.

While Welby turned herself into police, there was no immediate word if prosecutors would proceed with a criminal investigation.
HOUSTON (AP) - Texans offensive lineman David Quessenberry was so happy to finish chemotherapy at a Houston medical center that he exuberantly rang an end-of-cancer-treatment bell and broke it.

Quessenberry, who in 2014 was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, had his last treatment Tuesday at the University of Texas MD Anderson Center. A plaque, featuring a bell and a cord, encourages patients who've completed chemotherapy treatment to clang the bell to sound their recovery efforts.

The 300-pound Quessenberry, in a video posted to his Instagram account, is shown ringing the bell with such enthusiasm that he yanked it off the wall - with medical personnel cheering him on.

Quessenberry, who played for San Jose State, was a sixth-round pick in 2013 for the Texans.

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Online:

https://www.instagram.com/davidqberry/?hl=en
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard says it has rescued two U.S. citizens whose boat sank north of the Dominican Republic.

The Coast Guard says Kirk Plender of New Hampshire and John Boone of South Carolina were traveling through the Silver Banks fishing area when their 62-foot (19-meter) boat struck a reef on Thursday and began taking on water.

Officials said Friday the men were found aboard a life raft. They were taken to Puerto Rico and released after being found in good condition.
ISLAMABAD (AP) - Hundreds of Sikh pilgrims from across the world have arrived in Pakistan to celebrate their holy festival of Baisakhi, amid heightened security.

Baisakhi, or harvest festival, is celebrated mainly by Sikhs, who are a small minority in Pakistan.

The festival commences with Sikhs bathing and worshipping at a sprawling pond at a temple in Hasanabdal, about 25 miles away from Islamabad. The Sikh women, wearing colorful dresses, then sing songs and dance to drum beats.

Girls from Sikh community attend a religious festival in Hasan Abdal near Islamabad in Pakistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. Sikh pilgrims arrived from neighboring India and other countries to attend the religious festival 'Besakhi' at a shrine of Gurdwara Punja Sahib, the second most sacred place for Sikhs. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Sikhs from India travel to Pakistan every year to participate in their holy festivals, as their places of worship are typically located in Pakistan's Punjab province, which was divided in 1947 when India and Pakistan gained independence from Britain.

A Sikh pilgrim takes a holy bath with his child during a religious festival in Hasan Abdal near Islamabad in Pakistan, Friday, April 14, 2017. Sikh pilgrims arrived from neighboring India and other countries to attend the religious festival 'Besakhi' at a shrine of Gurdwara Punja Sahib, the second most sacred place for Sikhs. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The remains of the Wampanoag leader who forged a peaceful relationship with the Pilgrims will be reburied at his original gravesite in Rhode Island.

Members of the Wampanoag Nation have spent 20 years tracking down the remains and artifacts of Massasoit Ousamequin. It was their "spiritual and cultural obligation," said Ramona Peters, who coordinated the effort.

Ousamequin signed the first treaty with the Pilgrims after they arrived on the Mayflower, promising in 1621 in the village that became Plymouth, Massachusetts, to protect each other, according to the Wampanoags. The peace lasted for decades.

Ousamequin was buried on a hilltop in Warren overlooking Narragansett Bay. His remains and artifacts were scattered when a railroad was built through the burial site nearly two centuries after his death and archaeologists and local residents dug there.

Objects belonging to Ousamequin, which translates to "yellow feather," became part of collections in seven museums. A private ceremony is planned for May at the gravesite.

A federal law that took effect in 1990 requires museums to transfer remains and any associated burial objects to culturally affiliated tribes. The purpose of the law, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, was to allow for reburials consistent with tribal traditions. Peters said it has been difficult because there was resistance from some museums at first.

"Native Americans across the country appreciate Congress passing this, which makes the entire repatriation possible," she said Friday.

Ousamequin's artifacts include a pipe, knife, beads and arrowheads.

The Rhode Island Historical Society has repatriated about 75 items to the appropriate tribes since the law's passage, including artifacts belong to Ousamequin. They were donated as relics in the 1800s, but collections aren't assembled in that way today, said Kirsten Hammerstrom, director of collections.

"Grave goods are not something we dig up and accept. They belong to the tribe," she said.

Peters is a citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Members of her tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head and the Assonet Band of Wampanoag helped with the effort.

The Wampanoags have collected hundreds of funerary objects that were removed from the burial ground on the hill and held dozens of burials for their ancestors whose graves were disturbed, Peters said.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be able to do this for our ancestors," she said.
NEW YORK (AP) - Is the Force still strong with Luke Skywalker?

The first trailer for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" dropped on Friday, showcasing a morose and withdrawn Skywalker. The two-minute teaser , unveiled by director Rian Johnson at the "Star Wars Celebration" fan event in Orlando, Florida, offered few clues to the film. But it notably includes Mark Hamill's iconic hero gravely intoning, "It's time for the Jedi to end," from a dark cave.

The trailer whetted the appetites of ravenous "Star Wars" fans who turned out in droves in Orlando and online, where the event was streamed live. Actor Josh Gad, a Disney star from another universe ("Frozen," ''Beauty and the Beast"), hosted a panel including Johnson, producer Kathleen Kennedy and cast members Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and a new addition, Kelly Marie Tran.

This image released by Lucasfilm shows Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron in a scene from the upcoming "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," expected in theaters in December. (Industrial Light & Magic/Lucasfilm via AP)

"The Last Jedi" picks off where "The Force Awakens" left off, with Rey (Ridley) meeting Luke on a remote island, filmed off the coast of Ireland. Some shots in the trailer also suggested Skywalker training Rey on the island. In "The Force Awakens," Adam Driver's Kylo Ren has turned to the dark side after being tutored by Luke.

The presentation was mostly a game of teasing hints about the film while revealing very little about it.

"I actually can tell you some things. A small amount," said Ridley, laughing. She said the film will go "deep" into Rey's story and reveal how it can be difficult meeting your heroes - presumably alluding to a cranky Skywalker. "They may not be what you expect," said Ridley to knowing groans in the crowd.

"The Force Awakens" director and "Last Jedi" producer J.J. Abrams has previously hailed Hamill's performance in the film, suggesting it could land him an Oscar nomination. Hamill, the most raucously received star on Friday, said he drew on his own experiences for this new chapter in Luke's life.

"I said: I have to relate to things that are real in my own life to understand where Luke is at this point in his life," Hamill said.

"The Last Jedi" is due in theaters Dec. 15.

It will be Carrie Fisher's last appearance in the core "Star Wars" films that follow the saga of the Skywalker family. Kennedy told ABC News Friday that Fisher, who died in December, will not appear in the planned ninth "Star Wars" film.

"Sadly, Carrie will not be in (Episode) Nine," Kennedy said. "We'll see a lot of her in VIII, which is great."

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Online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB4I68XVPzQ

This image released by Lucasfilm shows John Boyega as Finn in a scene from the upcoming "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," expected in theaters in December. (Industrial Light & Magic/Lucasfilm via AP)
MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) - The Latest on University of Idaho explosion (all times local):

8:30 a.m.

Hospital officials say four people injured in an explosion at the University of Idaho were in good condition on Friday morning.

Eric Hollenbeck, marketing coordinator from Gritman Medical Center, did not release any additional details about their conditions or injuries. Their names have not been released.

UI Vice President Daniel Ewart says all four had to undergo surgery after a device they were using to test fuel for an experimental rocket exploded late Thursday night.

Moscow Police Chief James Fry says federal agents are investigating the incident, but it is not a criminal investigation.

Ewart says the people involved were not intending to launch the rocket. Instead they were using a device made up of a galvanized pipe, which measured about a foot in length and an inch and a half in diameter.

Ewart says he does not know how many people were in the vicinity of the explosion, which happened just before 10 p.m. outside the school's steam plant.

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6:40 a.m.

University of Idaho officials say one person is in critical condition and three others are in stable condition following an explosion in a parking lot where people had gathered to test an experimental rocket.

Vice President for Infrastructure Daniel Ewart says the explosion happened just before 10 p.m. Thursday outside the school's steam plant.

Northwest Organization of Rocket Engineers member and student Grant Thurman says the club tried testing rocket fuel but when one of the club's co-presidents ignited the fuel, it exploded.

Thurman says the man wore face protection but the other co-president standing nearby wore only eye protection.

He says other club members also wore eye protection.

Names of those injured haven't been released.

Authorities investigated the explosion.

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1 a.m.

University of Idaho officials say four people were injured in an explosion that happened in a parking lot where people had gathered to test an experimental rocket.

Officials said in a statement the explosion happened just before 10 p.m. on campus next to a steam plant.

Four people were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Officials say they didn't know the names of those injured.

Officials said there was no danger on campus after the incident.
MILFORD  The doctor who worked on a critically wounded Pennsylvania trooper described his life-saving efforts during testimony Thursday at the trial of a survivalist sniper accused of shooting the trooper and killing another one in the 2014 attack.

Dr. Mohammad Siddiqui said Trooper Alex Douglass had internal bleeding and organ damage from the shooting, allegedly perpetrated by 33-year-old Eric Frein.

Douglass will testify when the trial resumes next week, according to prosecutors, who say the trooper has undergone 18 surgeries and will likely require more.

Douglass was wounded when Frein allegedly fatally shot Cpl. Bryon Dickson outside their barracks in the Pocono Mountains.

Frein was captured after a 48-day manhunt that covered more than 300 square miles of the mountains.

Earlier Thursday, a handwriting expert testified that Frein was the author of a journal describing the ambush and the subsequent manhunt.

The expert, state police Cpl. Mark Gardner, told jurors the handwriting on three crumpled notebook pages that police found in a trash bag near Eric Freins campsite was a match to the defendant.

The journal described how the gunman got a shot around 11 p.m. and took it, watching one of his victims fall still and quiet.

Another prosecution witness, U.S. Secret Service document analyst Julia Barker, testified the notebook pages had the same physical characteristics and chemical composition as a notebook found in the abandoned airplane hangar where Frein was captured.

The notebook contained a journal of Freins movements and daily activities while he eluded the rural dragnet.

Frein faces a potential death sentence if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to charges that include homicide of a law enforcement officer and terrorism.
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - Talk about a tip.

A Florida waiter is accused of stealing a $3,000 diamond ring that fell off a customer's finger.

Pensacola police tell news outlets 27-year-old Wesley Aaron Dicus was arrested Tuesday on charges of grand theft and dealing in stolen property.

The Pensacola News Journal (http://on.pnj.com/2peFxfB ) reports a 39-year-old woman told police she believed the ring slipped off when she put lotion on her hands. The ring was later identified on an online app called OfferUp.

Police say detectives posing as a couple met with Dicus and he offered to sell it to them for $2,000. Police arrested him when the markings on the ring matched the woman's description.

Dicus remains in jail on a $12,500 bond. Records don't list an attorney.

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Information from: Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com
CLEVELAND (AP) - The new county prosecutor in Cleveland appears to have left open the possibility he might not pursue misdemeanor criminal charges against five Cleveland police supervisors for failing to control a high-speed chase in 2012 that ended with two unarmed black people fatally shot in a 137-shot barrage of police gunfire.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a judge in East Cleveland, where the chase ended, can preside over the officers' dereliction of duty charges. The ruling did not address the merits of the charges.

Prosecutor Michael O'Malley said through a spokesman Friday that his office was reviewing the court's ruling and that no decision had been made about whether he would pursue charges against Randolph Dailey, Patricia Coleman, Michael Donegan, Jason Edens and Paul Wilson.

FILE - This April 10, 2015, file photo shows the car driven by Timothy Russell, killed along with Malissa Williams in a 137-shot barrage of police gunfire on Nov. 29, 2012, in Cleveland. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday, April 13, 2017, that a judge in Cleveland, where two unarmed blacks died in a 137-shot barrage of police gunfire on Nov. 29, 2012, can hear dereliction of duty charges against five police supervisors accused of failing to control a high-speed chase involving more than 100 officers. (AP Photo/Aaron Josefczyk, Pool, File)

O'Malley took office in January and inherited the case from his predecessor, Tim McGinty, whom O'Malley defeated last year in a Democratic primary election.

The chase in November 2012 began near Cleveland police headquarters after an officer standing outside the building reported a shot had been fired from a passing beat-up Chevy Malibu. Experts later said it was likely the sound of the car backfiring.

The supervisors initially were charged in May 2014 at the same time patrol officer Michael Brelo was indicted on voluntary manslaughter charges for the deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams. Brelo was the only officer of the 13 who shot at the car charged with a crime. Brelo fired 49 of the 137 rounds, including a final 15-shot volley while standing on the hood of the Malibu.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John P. O'Donnell acquitted Brelo in May 2015 after a bench trial. O'Donnell was scheduled to preside over the supervisors' trial but eventually dismissed the case at McGinty's request after the prosecutor filed identical dereliction of duty charges in East Cleveland.

Attorneys for the supervisors accused McGinty of "forum shopping" and appealed to the 8th District Court of Appeals, which issued an order prohibiting the case from being heard in East Cleveland. The Supreme Court overturned that ruling on Thursday.

The East Cleveland judge, William Dawson, didn't return phone messages Thursday. The court was closed Friday. McGinty's appeal to the Supreme Court said Dawson "takes no position on his authority or jurisdiction" in the case.

FILE - In this June 13, 2014, file photo, six Cleveland police officers, front row from left, Sgt. Randolph Dailey, Sgt. Patricia Coleman and patrolman Michael Brelo; second row from left, Sgt. Jason Edens, Sgt. Michael Donegan, and Lt. Paul Wilson, wait for their arraignment in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in Cleveland. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday, April 13, 2017, that a judge in Cleveland, where two unarmed blacks died in a 137-shot barrage of police gunfire on Nov. 29, 2012, can hear dereliction of duty charges against five police supervisors accused of failing to control a high-speed chase involving more than 100 officers. (Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer via AP, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2016, file photo, Michael O'Malley, a Democratic candidate for prosecutor of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, speaks at a community forum at the Harvard Community Services Center in Cleveland. Through a spokesman on Friday, April 14, 2017, O'Malley, who won the election and took office in Jan. 2017, appears to have left open the possibility he might not pursue misdemeanor criminal charges against five Cleveland police supervisors accused of failing to control a high-speed chase on Nov. 29, 2012, that involved more than 100 officers, and ended with two unarmed black people fatally shot in a 137-shot barrage of police gunfire. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2012, file forensics photo released by the Office of the Ohio Attorney General, bullet trajectories are marked on a Chevy Malibu riddled with gunshots after a high-speed chase that ended in the deaths of two unarmed suspects in Cleveland. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday, April 13, 2017, that a judge in Cleveland, where two unarmed blacks died in a 137-shot barrage of police gunfire on Nov. 29, 2012, can hear dereliction of duty charges against five police supervisors accused of failing to control a high-speed chase involving more than 100 officers. (Office of the Ohio Attorney General via AP, File)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The Latest on lawsuits filed in California over federal funding to sanctuary cities. (all times local):

11:25 a.m.

An attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice says an executive order withholding funds from sanctuary cities applies to a small pot of grant money, not hundreds of millions of dollars as claimed in lawsuits in California.

Protesters hold up signs outside a courthouse where a federal judge will hear arguments in the first lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's executive order to withhold funding from communities that limit cooperation with immigration authorities Friday, April 14, 2017, in San Francisco. U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick has scheduled a hearing on Friday on San Francisco's request for a court order blocking the Trump administration from cutting off funds to any of the nation's so-called sanctuary cities. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)

Lawyer Chad Readler made the assertion Friday in federal court in cases filed by the city of San Francisco and Santa Clara County against the order issued by President Donald Trump.

U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick in San Francisco heard arguments to decide whether to grant a request by the plaintiffs to block the order. He did not immediately issue a ruling.

John Keker, an attorney representing Santa Clara County, said the order refers to all federal funding and is a threat to local governments.

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9 a.m.

About two dozen people protested outside San Francisco federal court Friday before a hearing on a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's executive order to withhold funding from communities that limit cooperation with immigration authorities.

Protesters from immigrants' rights organizations, community organizations, civil rights organizations and legal service providers from San Francisco and Santa Clara counties rallied in solidarity around efforts to block the executive order targeting so-called sanctuary cities.

U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick has scheduled a hearing on Friday.

Santa Clara County is also asking Orrick to block the president's order. The judge has asked the county to make its arguments at the same time as San Francisco.

The administration has not suspended any funding yet, but the two local governments say the order is making it difficult for them to plan their budgets.

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2:25 a.m.

A federal judge in San Francisco will hear arguments in the first lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's executive order to withhold funding from communities that limit cooperation with immigration authorities.

U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick has scheduled a hearing on Friday on San Francisco's request for a court order blocking the Trump administration from cutting off funds to any of the nation's so-called sanctuary cities.

Santa Clara County about 50 miles south of San Francisco is also asking Orrick to block the president's order. The judge has asked the county to make its arguments at the same time as San Francisco.

The administration has not suspended any funding yet, but the two local governments say the order is making it difficult for them to plan their budgets.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) - A judge has declared a mistrial and dismissed all charges against parents in the starvation death of their baby.

The Daily News Journal reports (http://on.dnj.com/2peSKoP) that the judge determined an investigating detective should have obtained the baby's feeding machine as evidence, and said prosecutor Hugh Ammerman permitted the jury to hear prejudicial information.

Twenty-five-year-old Sinead Omer, who is pregnant and has three surviving children, and the baby's father, 27-year-old Terry Craighead, had faced life in prison if convicted of child neglect, abuse and murder.

Their 5-month-old daughter Skyler Rae had heart surgery after being born and was diagnosed with atypical DiGeorge syndrome. She died in 2013.

Defense lawyer Brad Hornby says the machine might have had a technical problem.

Ammerman says he's not sure the ruling can be appealed.

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Information from: The Daily News Journal, http://www.dnj.com
ATLANTA (AP) - The Latest on a multiple shooting at one of Atlanta's public transit stations (all times local):

2:25 p.m.

A 36-year-old man is in custody in connection with the shooting death of another man riding a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit train and wounding of three others.

MARTA police Friday arrested Chauncey Lee Daniels in the Thursday death of Zachariah Hunnicutt at the West Lake MARTA Station. He faces charges of murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and is being held at the Fulton County Jail.

It was unknown if he's represented by an attorney.

MARTA Police Chief Wanda Dunham says they're still investigating the shooting and are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them.

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6:55 a.m.

Police say they plan to increase the numbers of officers patrolling metro Atlanta's transit system after a man was fatally shot.

Police said the shooting on a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit train Thursday appears to be a "targeted, isolated incident."

Transit officials say ridership has been surging as motorists look for alternate ways to get around after a fire beneath an Interstate 85 overpass led to its collapse on March 30.

MARTA Police Chief Wanda Dunham said Zachariah Hunnicutt was shot to death and three other passengers were wounded.

She said the extra police presence would begin Friday.

Dunham says MARTA officers caught the suspect at the West Lake station. She didn't release his identity. The three people hurt in the shooting were hospitalized but expected to survive.
COLVILLE, Wash. (AP) - The Latest on the crash between a school bus and semi-truck in eastern Washington state. (all times local):

12:10 p.m.

Two students, a school bus driver and a semi-truck driver where taken to the hospital after a crash in Washington state.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Jeff Sevigney said Friday that the students and the semi-truck driver had minor injuries. The bus driver is seriously injured.

Sevigney says some parents brought their children to the hospital to have them checked out as a precaution.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but Sevigney says it appears the bus pulled out in front of the truck.

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10 a.m.

A student was taken to a hospital and several others suffered none life-threatening injuries in a crash involving a semi-truck and a school bus Friday morning in eastern Washington state.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Jeff Sevigney told the Associated Press that there were 25 elementary school students and a driver on the bus.

"Early indications are that the school bus failed to yield and pulled out in front of the semi-truck," Sevigney said.

The truck driver was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The bus driver and one student were taken to a local hospital. Sevigney says the child had minor injuries, but the driver suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

The other students were moved to the nearby Hewes Marine Company parking lot where school district staff stayed with the children while waiting to be reunited with their parents.

Sevigney said the crash happened at about 7 a.m. about 2 miles (3 kilometers) north of Colville, which is about 70 miles (112 kilometers) north of Spokane, Washington.
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) - The last time that a state put more than one inmate to death on the same day was more than 16 years ago when Texas executed two condemned killers in back-to-back lethal injections - they were declared dead 33 minutes apart.

Other than the moment when one of the men lashed out at family members and police officers who testified against him at trial, the executions went quietly and without any difficulties.

"I don't remember any problems," said Jim Willett, the warden in the death chamber the evening of Aug. 9, 2000, when the double execution happened. "I'm not trying to make light of it, but if you can do it right once, why can't you do it twice the same day?"

In this April 5, 2017 photo, an exhibit at the Texas Prison Museum shows the three-chemical mixture used by Texas prison officials for lethal injections in the state from 1982 until 2012, when it was replaced by a single drug. Not even Texas, the nation's most active death penalty state, has scheduled multiple executions in a single day in recent years. Arkansas is planning a double execution Monday, April 17 the first since one in Texas in 2000. (AP Photo/Michael Graczyk)

Not even Texas, the nation's most active death penalty state, has scheduled multiple executions in a single day in recent years. In today's capital punishment landscape, death penalty opponents are as vocal as ever and some states have struggled with drug shortages, legal challenges and flawed executions.

Amid all this, Arkansas had scheduled a series of executions starting Monday that would include the first double executions since the one in Texas in 2000. The state initially planned to execute eight inmates in all, starting Monday, with four nights of double executions through the end of the month, as the state rushes to beat an expiration deadline for one of the three drugs it uses to carry out an execution. But after judges halted two of the executions, Arkansas' plan was in limbo Friday after a state judge blocked the use of one of its lethal injection drugs - a decision that could effectively halt the executions altogether.

Some attorneys and anti-death penalty groups question whether the quick turnarounds will stress out the prison staff and cause mistakes. Three years ago in Oklahoma, an attempt to execute two inmates on the same April day was thwarted after the first prisoner writhed and moaned on the gurney in a lethal injection the corrections chief tried to halt before the inmate's death 43 minutes later. An investigation found intravenous lines had been connected improperly, in part because of the "extra stress" from the scheduling of two executions the same day.

That execution led the Supreme Court to review and ultimately uphold Oklahoma's use of midazolam, the same sedative that Arkansas plans to use next week as part of a three-drug protocol. Texas uses a single drug, pentobarbital, in its lethal injections.

Executions of multiple inmates are not new to Arkansas. It has twice executed three inmates on the same day - in August 1994 and January 1997. And it put two inmates to death the same day both in May 1994 and September 1999. Arkansas officials in the past defended the multiple executions as reducing stress and saving overtime costs for corrections personnel.

But more recently, capital punishment has been stalled in Arkansas because of drug shortages and legal challenges. The last execution in the state was in 2005.

Asked about the potential for difficulties if Arkansas were to carry out back-to-back executions, criminal justice professor Robert Lytle said, "If I'm being perfectly honest, I don't know."

Lytle, who teaches at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, said so much attention has been given to the unprecedented timetable.

"I've got to think everybody is dotting their i's and crossing their t's," he said. "I can see some logistical issues creating some difficulties but I'm sure if that's all it is, I can see the Department of Correction will adapt however they need to."

There was a time when executing more than one prisoner on a single day was common - records show at least seven states carried out multiple single-day executions in 1951.

Virginia electrocuted four inmates Feb. 2, 1951, and three more three days later. The men - all black and known historically as the Martinsville Seven - were all convicted of raping a white woman at a time when rape was a capital offense.

That same year in New York, a couple known as the Lonely Hearts Killers were electrocuted back to back March 7, 1951. Two more prisoners were put to death the next day in the same electric chair.

In Texas, records show multiple executions 28 times starting in 1924 when the state took over execution duties from counties and electrocution became the capital punishment method. For its inauguration on Feb. 8, 1924, the new electric chair was used five times.

But since the 1976 Supreme Court decision allowing the death penalty to resume, multiple executions have been rare. The pair of lethal injections that Willett, the former Texas warden, presided over in 2000 was the last of 10 such executions over six years involving only four states: Texas, Arkansas, Illinois and South Carolina.

Willett, who oversaw 89 executions before he retired in 2001 after 30 years with the prison system, said his tenure also included a series of seven lethal injections over 15 days in January 2000, a run similar to Arkansas' planned executions.

"I do remember it seemed to kind of drain me near the end of that January bunch," he said. "I just seemed to be emotionally drained."

In this April 5, 2017 photo, retired Texas prison warden Jim Willett poses for a photo at the Texas Prison Museum, where he is director. The museum in Huntsville, Texas, includes an exhibit of the electric chair used to executed 361 Texas inmates between 1924 and 1964, including five on the first day it was used, Feb. 4, 1924. Willett was warden at the Huntsville Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on Aug. 9, 2000, when Texas used lethal injection to execute two convicted killers. It was the last time Texas carried out two executions in a single day. Arkansas is set to execute eight inmates, two each on four days, starting Monday. (AP Photo/Michael Graczyk)

In this April 5, 2017 photo, an exhibit at the Texas Prison Museum shows the old Texas electric chair used to execute hundred of Texas inmates in Huntsville, Texas, from 1924 through 1964. In Texas, records show multiple executions 28 times starting in 1924 when the state took over execution duties from counties and electrocution became the capital punishment method. For its inauguration on Feb. 8, 1924, the new electric chair was used five times. Arkansas is set to use lethal injection for a scheduled seven executions, two of which are planned for Monday, April 17. (AP Photo/Michael Graczyk)
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (AP) - A Vermont woman has been convicted of manslaughter in the death of her disabled son who had vodka poured into his feeding tube.

The trial of 41-year-old Melissa Robitille, (ROH'-bah-teye) of Hardwick, ended Friday with the guilty verdict from the jury. Deliberations began Thursday in Vermont Superior Court in St. Johnsbury.

The charge against Robitille stemmed from the 2014 alcohol poisoning death of 13-year-old Isaac Robitille, who prosecutors say was blind, had no ears, had a cleft palate and had developmental delays.

Robitillle's former boyfriend, Walter Richters, was sentenced to three years in prison last year for his role in Isaac's death.

WCAX-TV (http://bit.ly/2ocC0dU ) reports Robitille showed no emotion when the jury returned its verdict.

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Information from: WCAX-TV, http://www.wcax.com
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How Trump insurance changes could affect coverage next year

A much tighter sign-up deadline and coverage delays will be waiting for some health insurance customers now that President Donald Trump's administration made changes this week to coverage rules in hopes of stabilizing shaky insurance markets. Insurers welcomed the changes but it remains unclear whether the moves will be enough to prevent the companies from abandoning markets.

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Deadline for filing tax returns is Tuesday this year

WASHINGTON (AP) - Up against it on filing your taxes this year? You can relax a bit. The government has granted a reprieve, thanks to the fact that April 15 falls on Sunday this year - and Monday is a holiday in the District of Columbia. For that reason, people now have until Tuesday to get the returns in. Because of staff and budget cuts at the tax-collection agency, people also are less likely to get audited than in recent years.

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Delta OKs offers of up to $9,950 to flyers who give up seats

Delta is giving airport employees permission to offer passengers up to almost $10,000 in compensation to give up their seats on overbooked flights. Delta's move comes as United Airlines struggles to recover from images of a passenger's forced removal from a sold-out flight.

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Lawyer: Dragged passenger will need reconstructive surgery

CHICAGO (AP) - United Airlines and the city of Chicago may both find themselves the target of lawsuits by the man who was dragged off a United plane in Chicago last week after refusing to give up his seat. That's the indication from Thomas Demetrio, a lawyer for Dr. David Dao. The city employs the officers who were seen on cellphone video pulling Dao out of his seat and dragging him off the flight. Demetrio says Dao lost two teeth and suffered a concussion and broken nose.

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Trump admin. declines to brand China a currency manipulator

WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States has declined to label China a currency manipulator despite President Donald Trump's insistent pledge during the election campaign that he would do so as soon as he took office.

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The iPhone of cars? Apple enters self-driving car race

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Apple is joining the fiercely competitive race to design self-driving cars, raising the possibility that a company that has already re-shaped culture with its iPhone may try to transform transportation, too. Ending years of speculation, Apple's late entry into a crowded field was made official Friday with the disclosure that the California Department of Motor Vehicles had awarded a permit for the company to start testing its self-driving car technology on public roads in the state.

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Facebook targets 30,000 fake France accounts before election

PARIS (AP) - Facebook says it has targeted 30,000 fake accounts linked to France ahead of the country's presidential election, as part of a worldwide effort against misinformation. The company says it's trying to "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."

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Hyland's teething tablets recalled over levels of toxic herb

Hyland's teething tablets are being recalled nationwide due to inconsistent levels of toxic belladonna. U.S. regulators say that makes them a serious health hazard to young children. The manufacturer, Standard Homeopathic Co., stopped making and shipping the tablets last October. It's notifying distributors and stores to return any leftover products, while consumers should throw them out.

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EPA moves to undo tougher pollution limits on coal plants

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Trump administration wants to trash Obama-era rules to limit water pollution from coal-fired power plants. The rule would have required utilities by next year to cut the amounts of toxic heavy metals like arsenic, lead and mercury in the wastewater piped from their plants into rivers and lakes. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt says he will delay compliance with the rule while EPA reconsiders the restrictions.

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US retail sales fell in March, second straight monthly drop

WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans pulled back on spending at auto dealers and restaurants in March, causing retail sales to drop despite signs of a healthy job market. Sales fell a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent after a 0.3 percent drop in February. Over the past 12 months, retail sales have risen 5.2 percent, a sign that that the economy remains on stable footing. Still, there are signs that consumers are growing more cautious.

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U.S. markets were shut for the Good Friday holiday.
North Korea has warned Donald Trump that it is prepared for war and is ready to use its powerful nuclear deterrent.

Vice foreign minister Han Song Ryol blamed the US president 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, Mr Han warned the US against provoking North Korea militarily, saying: We will go to war if they choose.

Han Song Ryol, North Korea's vice minister of foreign affairs speaks during an interview (Wong Maye-E/AP)

He said: If the US comes with reckless military manoeuvres then we will confront it with the DPRKs pre-emptive strike, 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 US pre-emptive strike.

Speaking through an interpreter provided by the foreign ministry, Mr Han was calm and polite but forceful throughout the 40-minute interview.

Tensions are deepening as the US 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 any time.

That is something that our headquarters decides, Mr 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 US mainland on Mr Trumps watch as president - within the next few years.

Mr Han, however, said North Korea blames Mr Trump and the US for the rising tensions.

He cited not only the US-South Korean wargames and the deployment of the aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, but also a tweet Mr Trump posted on Tuesday in which he said the North is looking for trouble.

The president also tweeted that if China does not do its part to rein in Pyongyangs nuclear ambitions, the US can handle it.

Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words, Mr Han said. So thats why. Its not the DPRK but the US 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.

As long as the nuclear threats and blackmail go on with the military exercises, we will carry forward with our national defence build-up, the core of which is the nuclear arms build-up, Mr Han said.

Whatever comes from the US, we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry criticised Mr Hans remarks saying they reveal the true colours of North Koreas government that is bellicose and a breaker of regulations.

It said North Korea will face strong punishment it will find hard to withstand if it makes a significant provocation, such as another nuclear test or an intercontinental ballistic missile launch.
I have lived in the south central Pennsylvania area for more than 50 years, fishing its streams and rivers, hunting in its fields and forests. It is a beautiful area, with many opportunities for sportsmen and women to recreate.

As a sportsman, I am deeply troubled by the executive order signed by the president on March 28.This ill-conceived order threatens the lives and livelihoods of American citizens by attempting to halt the progress that has been made over the past decade on curbing greenhouse emissions. This, and other actions by this administration are an unprecedented assault on Americans rights to clean air and clean water.

The administration has no mandate for such an action. A recent Gallup poll showed that a majority of Americans are concerned about climate change, with 59 percent of respondents believing that the environment should be prioritized over energy production. More and more, Americans are realizing that energy dependence on fossil fuels is a losing proposition, and anyone advocating for the weakening of environmental protections has willfully chosen to ignore all the scientific data available on climate change.

I know that many of the things that I grew up doing, and continue to enjoy in my later years, are at serious risk of becoming lost forever.

Climate change has helped reduce the number of ruffed grouse in the Commonwealth to its lowest total in a century. The grouse cover in the state has endured unusual winter weather patterns that produce rain instead of snow, which, combined with West Nile virus, is causing high mortality rates in grouse. The increasingly mild winter temperatures are reducing the range of the grouse in Pennsylvania to the point that hunters in the southern end of the range are hard pressed to locate any birds at all in what formerly was adequate cover.

Tthe trout population is also increasingly at risk due to higher temperatures in formerly cold water streams. The Susquehanna River, once a world class smallmouth bass fishery, has seen a major downturn in fish populations. There are many factors involved, but high temperatures and low flows contribute greatly to the fish kills that occur on the river. The increase in extreme weather events, be it drought, heat wave, or deluge, are a consideration in this scenario.

Climate change has become a partisan issue. That is unfortunate, and wrong. Reducing greenhouse gases is something that benefits all of us, regardless of where we are on the political spectrum. The executive order alone cannot undo all the positive things that have happened on the environmental front. There will be litigation against every attempted rollback. We need to let our elected officials know that we care deeply about our natural environment.

I urge all Pennsylvania sportsmen and women to contact Sen. Bob Casey and Sen. Pat Toomey and urge them to tell the administration that clean air and clean water are not negotiable.
A young British tourist who was stabbed to death in Jerusalem on Good Friday has been named as Hannah Bladon.

She was attacked while she travelled on a light rail train near the Old City, which was packed as Christians celebrated Good Friday and Jews marked Passover.

Mark Regev, Israels ambassador to the UK, said: My thoughts are with the family and friends of UK student Hannah Bladon, who was murdered in a senseless act of terror in Jerusalem today.

My thoughts are with the family and friends of UK student Hannah Bladon, who was murdered in a senseless act of terror in Jerusalem today.  Mark Regev (@MarkRegev) April 14, 2017

Ms Bladon, 20, a student at the University of Birmingham, had been on an exchange programme with the Rothberg International School at Hebrew University of Jerusalem since January.

She was attacked by a Palestinian man who pulled a knife from his bag and repeatedly stabbed her as the tram neared Jerusalems City Hall.

An off-duty policeman pulled an emergency brake and tried to intervene. He told the Israeli Police Spokesmanship: I was on the Jerusalem Light Rail with my family and during the journey I heard shouts of attack, attack.

Emergency services and police are seen at the scene of an stabbing attack in Jerusalem (Mahmoud Illean/AP)

I immediately pulled on the manual emergency break of the train, ran to the scene of the attack and charged at the attacker, neutralising him so that he cannot continue to harm innocent people.

Paramedics treated Ms Bladon at the scene and rushed her to hospital, but she later died.

#MDA teams also treated 30 y/o pregnant woman and 50 y/o man who were injured during the incident pic.twitter.com/xmfBUy78P1  Magen David Adom (@Mdais) April 14, 2017

A pregnant women and 50-year-old man were also injured when the tram came to a sudden stop and in the aftermath of the attack.

Police detained a 57-year-old man at the scene, and Israeli Police Superintendent Micky Rosenfeld said the attack was carried out by an Arab terrorist from Rasel Amud, in east Jerusalem.

Terrorist who carried out knife attack is from Rasal amud in his 50s. Arrested by police at the scene. Woman in 20s in critical condition. pic.twitter.com/CMi91hvnOp  Micky Rosenfeld (@MickyRosenfeld) April 14, 2017

Israeli intelligence services Shin Bet said the attacker had a history of mental illness, that he recently tried to commit suicide in hospital by swallowing a razor blade and that he was convicted of sexually abusing his daughter in 2011.

The Foreign Office confirmed a Britons death, saying it is supporting her family.

The Hebrew University spoke of its deep sorrow over Ms Bladons murder, saying: The university condemns such acts of terror that harm innocent people, and especially a student who came to Jerusalem to study and widen her academic horizons.

Emergency services and police are seen at the scene of an stabbing attack in Jerusalem (Mahmoud Illean/AP)

Hannah began her studies here at the end of January 2017 and was supposed to continue her studies until the end of the current semester.

The Rothberg International School said Ms Bladon was studying classes in bible studies, archaeology and Hebrew during her exchange programme.

It said: Her friends described her as an inquisitive and adventurous student who made the most of her opportunity to learn and experience life in Israel.

We are deeply saddened to hear about the death of Hannah Bladon. Our thoughts are with her family and friends. https://t.co/GlBp72wqtY  Uni of Birmingham (@unibirmingham) April 14, 2017

The University of Birmingham said it was deeply saddened over Ms Bladons death and said it would be supporting any students affected.

Israeli president Reuven Rivlin said he was filled with sadness and that his countrys thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim.

He said: This week thousands have come through the ancient gates of Jerusalem, to celebrate the feasts of Passover and Easter throughout the city  while the security forces work to ensure the safety of the dear residents and visitors to the city. And so we will continue to do. Terror can never overcome us. Terror will never destroy our lives here.

Our hearts go out to family of the British woman murdered by a terrorist in Jerusalem, an unholy attack as city marks Passover & Good Friday  Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) April 14, 2017

The Jewish Leadership Council added: We are horrified to hear of the murder of a British tourist near Old City of Jerusalem at a time of faith & peace. Send deepest sympathies.
Manchester United and Chelsea face one another this weekend in what is sure to be another highly-charged encounter.

Victory for Antonio Contes men will edge them closer to the Premier League crown while Jose Mourinho needs a win against his former side to bolster Uniteds top-four ambitions.

Here, we pick out some of the key talking points ahead of Sundays Old Trafford clash.

Can Chelsea edge closer to the title?

Last seasons embarrassing title defence cost Mourinho his job at Stamford Bridge and led to some serious soul-searching around the club. Conte was charged with restoring order in the summer and has surpassed expectations given the Blues sit seven points clear at the top with seven matches remaining. Chelsea have beaten United at home in both the league and FA Cup this season and are targeting a fourth successive away victory in the Premier League on Sunday.

Europa League impact?

RESULT: Anderlecht 1-1 Man. United

 Dendoncker 86; Mkhitaryan 37#UEL pic.twitter.com/UJG6u6EBZz  UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 13, 2017

While Chelsea had time to recuperate and refocus after last Saturdays 3-1 win at Bournemouth, United touched down in Manchester in the early hours of Friday morning after their latest Europa League adventure. A last-gasp goal in Belgium earned Anderlecht a 1-1 draw and left Mourinho stewing, with the quarter-final second leg coming just days after the Chelsea match. It means United not only have tiredness to contend with but the fact the crucial return fixture looms large in a competition that offers both silverware and Champions League qualification.

Yet more Old Trafford frustration?

Man Utds #PL unbeaten run now stands at 21 matches (W11 D10 L0)  the joint 10th longest unbeaten run in the history of the competition pic.twitter.com/aV1J5erZlw  Premier League (@premierleague) April 9, 2017

United have gone 21 matches unbeaten in the Premier League since Octobers 4-0 shellacking at Stamford Bridge but 10 of those results have been draws. The inability to turn dominance into goals has been costly this season  rearing its head again in Belgium  and means United have had to share the spoils at Old Trafford on nine occasions, including their last three home outings. United need to quickly find the killer instinct that Mourinho has continually highlighted.

Touchline histrionics

(Adam Davy/PA)

Conte and Mourinho are not exactly shy and retiring characters. The Italians touchline antics have been well documented and got under the United managers skin in October, leading him to pull up his Chelsea counterpart at the end of the match. Mourinho, the most successful manager in the Blues history, was again the centre of attention in last months FA Cup tie, where he reacted to a barrage of abuse by showing the home support three fingers  representing the number of leagues titles he led them to. It would be wise to keep an eye on the dugouts this Sunday.

Hazard warning

So spectacular under Mourinhos guidance as Chelsea won the 2014-15 title, Eden Hazards drop off the following campaign was stark. He was not alone in underperforming during the Blues disastrous title defence but Hazards fractious relationship with the Portuguese was as clear as his upturn following the change in management. The Belgium international has been outstanding again this season and is rightfully among the favourites to be crowned the PFA Player of the Year. Hazard was a thorn in the side on both of this seasons previous meetings with his former manager, who needs to find a way to shackle the 26-year-old on Sunday.
By Eric Walsh and Fransiska Nangoy

WASHINGTON/JAKARTA, April 14 (Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday it would start an investigation into imports of biodiesel from Indonesia and Argentina for possible dumping and subsidisation.

The U.S. International Trade Commission is scheduled to make a preliminary decision by May 8 on whether such imports hurt U.S. producers, the U.S. commerce department said in a statement.

The step, just days ahead of a visit to Indonesia by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, comes after some U.S. biodiesel producers last month asked their government to impose anti-dumping duties on imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia that they say have flooded the U.S. market and violated trade agreements.

"The Indonesian government, especially the trade ministry, will be cooperative in the investigation by providing arguments and supportive data and documents to show that there was no dumping or subsidies," Oke Nurwan, Indonesia's director general for foreign trade, told Reuters.

Indonesia's biodiesel group said it had asked its government to bring up the issue during Pence's visit to Jakarta next week.

Argentine biodiesel exporters and manufacturers have also rebuffed the accusation.

"Now they have to prove everything that they are claiming, which is a sham. It's a protectionist measure," said Claudio Molina, head of Argentina's Biofuels Association, a trade group known by its Spanish acronym AABH.

"We hope that the United States offers a fair process, which will show that there is no dumping or subsidies of Argentine biodiesel," he added.

Argentina is the world's No. 1 exporter of soyoil, used to make biodiesel. Indonesia is the world's top producer of palm oil, which can also be used to churn out the fuel. Both countries rely heavily on resource exports.

Total U.S. biodiesel imports rose to a record 916 million gallons (3.5 billion liters) in 2016, according to U.S. government data published in March. Argentina represented about two-thirds of U.S. foreign imports, followed by Indonesia and Canada.

Indonesia is also facing pressure in Europe, with its government filing a WTO complain against European Union anti-dumping duties on Indonesian biodiesel.

Meanwhile, the European parliament voted last week to call on the EU to phase out use of palm oil in biodiesel by 2020. Indonesia, along with Malaysia, plans to send a joint mission to Europe next month to prevent the adoption of that resolution.

(Reporting by Eric Walsh in Washington and Fransiska Nangoy in Jakarta, additional reporting by Maxilmiliano Rizzi in Buenos Aires; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Eric Beech, Joseph Radford and Bernard Orr)
ANKARA, April 14 (Reuters) - Turkey will hold a referendum on April 16 on changing the constitution to replace its parliamentary system with the executive presidency long sought by incumbent Tayyip Erdogan.

Following are some details about the 18 amendments proposed in the referendum that could change around 70 laws and see Erdogan with enhanced powers and in office until 2029.

If the amendments are passed:

* The office of the prime minister will be abolished. The president will appoint the cabinet and an undefined number of vice-presidents.

* The president will be able to issue decrees to form and regulate ministries and appoint and remove senior civil servants, all without parliamentary approval.

* Decrees will not be allowed on issues concerning human rights or basic freedoms, or to override existing laws. Courts will decide if a decree interferes with the law. Critics say the vague wording of the legal code - and the judicial system's reputation for partiality - mean such rulings may lack independence.

* The president will be able to hold membership in a political party, including the leadership of a party. Currently the presidency is symbolic and above party politics.

* The president will be able to declare a state of emergency and no longer require the cabinet's approval to do so.

* The president will be able to draft the budget, currently drawn up by parliament.

* The State Supervisory Board (DDK), a presidential institution that oversees the activities of public and private bodies, will be able to open administrative investigations, giving the president direct power over a wide range of groups, including the armed forces.

* The number of members of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) will be cut to 13 from 22. The president will appoint four members and parliament seven. The justice minister and his undersecretary will automatically be members.

* If the president were accused or suspected of a crime, parliament will be able to request an investigation with a simple majority, and send the investigation to the Constitutional Court with a vote of two-thirds.

* The Constitutional Court will have the authority to try the president. Twelve of its members will be appointed by the president and three by the parliament.

* Parliament will be expanded to 600 seats from 550. The minimum age to be elected will be lowered to 18 from 25.

* Parliamentary elections will take place every five years, instead of every four, and on the same day as presidential elections

* The president will be able to dissolve parliament, although that would also trigger early presidential elections.

* The president will be able to serve a maximum of two five-year terms. If the parliament decides on early elections during the president's second term, the incumbent will be allowed to run again. (Reporting by Gulsen Solaker and Ece Toksabay; Editing by David Dolan and Andrew Heavens)
BRUSSELS, April 14 (Reuters) - The wolverine, a carnivore confined to colder climates since the last Ice Age, has re-established a tenuous foothold further south in a Belgian wildlife park.

A female cub of the species that also includes badgers and martens was born in February in the Domain of the Caves of Han park south of Brussels, finally emerging from its den this week, a park spokeswoman said.

Wolverines spread through Europe in prehistoric times but are now confined to Scandinavia and parts of Russia and North America. Conservationists have voiced concern that their habitats are shrinking further as global temperatures rise.

There are currently around 1,300 wolverines living in Europe, including 116 in 45 zoos and wildlife parks, the spokeswoman said.

The park plans to transfer the new arrival, who has yet to be named, to a zoo once she has reach reached maturity in about two years. (Reporting by Farah Salhi; editing by Robert-Jan Bartunek and editing by John Stonestreet)
By Laila Bassam and John Davison

BEIRUT, April 14 (Reuters) - Buses evacuated thousands of people from two rebel-besieged Shi'ite villages in northwest Syria on Friday and hundreds of rebels left a town near Damascus with their families, under a deal between the government and insurgents.

A monitoring group said government forces later entered Madaya, the town where rebels had been holed up for nearly two years, taking back control of yet more territory around the capital Damascus as Syria's conflict enters its seventh year.

Similar agreements have been reached in recent months, with rebels leaving areas long besieged by President Bashar al-Assad's forces, sometimes in exchange for Shi'ite Muslim residents moving from the villages surrounded by the mostly Sunni insurgents.

Damascus holds the upper hand against rebels in the west of the country, and has negotiated the deals from a position of strength thanks to Russia's intervention in support of Assad since 2015, as well as backing from Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah.

The opposition says the deals amount to forced demographic change and deliberate displacement of Assad's enemies away from the main cities of western Syria.

The government says the deals allow it to take back control and to restore services in the wrecked towns.

Early on Friday, residents of the mostly Shi'ite villages of al-Foua and Kefraya, besieged by rebel forces in the insurgents' northwestern Idlib province stronghold, left on dozens of buses, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.

The buses arrived several hours later on the outskirts of government-held Aleppo city in northern Syria, the Observatory said.

Meanwhile, buses carrying rebel fighters and their families left government-besieged Madaya near Damascus, the Observatory and a pro-Damascus military media unit reported.

The evacuation of nearby Zabadani, another town surrounded by government forces and their allies and included in the deal, appeared to have been delayed. No buses had yet left the town, but that operation was expected to begin later on Friday.

The convoys from Madaya and Zabadani are to head for Idlib.

A member of one of the Shi'ite parties said 60 buses were moving through the town of al-Foua.

A similar number of buses were leaving Madaya, the Observatory said. State television reported that engineering teams and Syrian forces would soon enter the town.

THOUSANDS EVACUATED

About 5,000 people were being transported from the Shi'ite villages, and more than 2,000 from Madaya. The convoys included hundreds of fighters from each side, the Observatory said.

Buses began arriving from al-Foua and Kefraya on Aleppo's outskirts later on Friday, and passengers were being searched by insurgents before they could cross into government territory, a witness said.

Syria's population is mostly Sunni Muslim. Assad is from the Alawite religious minority, often considered an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam.

Assad's forces and their allies have fought rebels for six years in the conflict that grew from a popular uprising in 2011.

Russia's intervention around 18 months ago has helped him gain the upper hand militarily, despite diplomatic pressure and support for the rebels by Western and Gulf Arab states. Rebels and Islamist factions have fought back and achieved recent advances in some areas.

The United States escalated its involvement in the conflict last week, striking a Syrian air base in response to what Washington said was a Syrian chemical weapons attack that killed scores of people in the northwest of the country on April 4. Assad has denied his forces were responsible. (Writing by Michael Georgy and John Davison; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
JERUSALEM, April 14 (Reuters) - A Palestinian man fatally stabbed a woman on Jerusalem's transit network on Friday, Israeli police said, as Christians marked Good Friday and Muslims held prayers at respective holy sites nearby.

The incident occurred in a train carriage on the light rail network near Jerusalem's municipality building and the walled Old City. TV footage showed blood on the floor of the carriage with police officers restraining a man and carrying him away.

A police spokesman said the assailant was apprehended and the victim was an Israeli woman in her twenties, but Israel Radio said she was a 23-year-old British student. It was not immediately possible to resolve the conflicting accounts.

The Shin Bet domestic security service identified the assailant as 57-year-old Jamil Tamimi and said he was a Palestinian from Arab East Jerusalem with mental health problems who was convicted in 2011 for sexually assaulting his daughter.

"This is one of many instances where a Palestinian suffering personal strife ... chooses to carry out an attack in order to find release for his problems," the Shin Bet statement said.

It added that the assailant had previously tried to commit suicide by to swallow a razor blade.

Friday is sometimes a day of heightened tensions in Jerusalem's Old City when tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers come to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

On Good Friday each year, Christians hold a procession along the Via Dolorosa in the Old City, retracing what they believe was the route that Jesus took to his crucifixion.

A wave of street attacks by Palestinians in Israel, Jerusalem and the Israeli-occupied West Bank since October 2015 has killed 37 Israelis and two American tourists. At least 242 Palestinians have died during the period of sporadic violence.

Israel says at least 162 of the Palestinians killed had launched stabbing, shooting or car ramming attacks. Others died during clashes and protests.

Israel has accused the Palestinian leadership of inciting the violence. The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, denies incitement and charges that in many cases, Israel has used excessive force in thwarting attackers armed with rudimentary weapons. (Writing by Ori Lewis; editing by Mark Heinrich)
NAIROBI, April 14 (Reuters) - Three men working as porters for the U.N.'s World Food Programme were killed in ethnic violence in South Sudan's Wau city earlier this week, the organisation said on Friday, the latest violence against humanitarian workers in the famine-hit nation.

They were among at least 16 civilians killed when soldiers blocked off roads in the northwestern city of Wau and militias aligned to the government went house-to-house, killing people from minority tribes on Monday.

"Two died of machete wounds and the third was shot," WFP said in a statement.

The men appear to have been killed on Monday as they tried to make their way to a WFP warehouse, it said.

Local media have reported a higher death toll from the violence in Wau but it is difficult for reporters to reach the city and local authorities and aid agencies are unwilling to comment.

Violence against aid workers is increasingly common in oil-rich South Sudan, which is suffering the world's first famine for six years. Six aid workers were killed in an ambush last week and 79 have been killed since the civil war began.

The conflict in the world's youngest nation erupted when the president fired his deputy in 2013, sparking a confrontation between two of the country's largest ethnic groups.

Since then, the conflict has broadened and fragmented, drawing in a number of smaller ethnic groups and dividing some of the larger ones. (Editing by Richard Lough)
By Parisa Hafezi

ANKARA, April 14 (Reuters) - President Hassan Rouhani, who registered on Friday to seek a second four-year mandate in a May 19 election, helped end Iran's diplomatic and economic isolation in his first term by clinching a landmark nuclear deal with major powers.

But, despite remaining faithful to Iran's theocratic system, Rouhani has angered hardliners with his calls for improved relations with the West, more freedom of expression and an easing of strict Islamic rules.

"Once again, I am here for Iran, for Islam, for freedom and for more stability in this country," Rouhani told reporters on Friday when announcing his bid.

Rouhani's hardline critics accuse him of having encouraged moral corruption in society by advocating social tolerance. Some erstwhile supporters who had hoped for radical social changes under his presidency are also critical, saying he has failed to stand up to Iran's conservative religious establishment.

"Rouhani is a regime insider. He is loyal to the establishment. He is not a reformist but a bridge between hardliners and reformists," said a former senior official.

"He lacks enough power to confront those who are against reforms, whether social or economic."

The president's constitutional powers are limited. Ultimate authority rests with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has accused the West of using women as a tool to advertise products and satisfy "disorderly and unlawful sexual needs".

Some analysts doubt that Rouhani, who was elected in a landslide in 2013 on a pledge to reduce Iran's isolation and create a freer society, has enough will to improve the country's human rights situation.

Others believe Rouhani has depleted his political capital with the Supreme Leader by securing his consent to the 2015 nuclear deal, leaving nothing for domestic reforms.

Born into a religious family in 1948, the mid-ranking Shi'ite cleric played an active role in the opposition that overthrew the U.S.-backed Shah in 1979. He has held several sensitive jobs in the Islamic Republic, including representing Khamenei for 25 years at the Supreme National Security Council.

Rouhani is also a member of the Expediency Council and the Assembly of Experts, two influential advisory bodies in Iran's multi-tiered power structure. The latter will choose the country's next supreme leader.

ECONOMIC REVIVAL

Human rights campaigners say there have been few, if any, moves to bring about greater social freedoms as Rouhani's main focus has been boosting the sanctions-damaged economy.

Khamenei and his hardline allies have strongly criticised the slow pace of economic revival since the lifting of sanctions last year, part of the nuclear deal with six major powers whereby Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear programme.

Many remaining unilateral U.S. sanctions, have hindered the foreign investment that could fuel an economic recovery.

Strong criticism of Rouhani's economic record by hardliners including Khamenei in recent weeks have led some analysts to speculate whether the president may still be blocked from seeking another term.

The hardline Guardian Council, which vets candidates before they stand, has prevented other influential figures from running in previous elections.

But insiders said disqualifying a sitting president might be very costly for the establishment, especially given a hostile U.S. administration in Washington. President Donald Trump has frequently criticised the nuclear deal with Iran.

"With the deal in jeopardy, the system will be in vital need of Rouhanis team of smiling diplomats and economic technocrats to shift the blame to the U.S. and keep Iran's economy afloat," said Iran analyst Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group.

Influential Shi'ite cleric Ebrahim Raisi, the custodian of a powerful organisation in charge of Irans holiest shrine, appears to be the leading hardline candidate in the presidential race, though some prominent conservatives have already thrown their weight behind Rouhani.

Political analysts said they expected Iranian voters to rally around Rouhani even though many complain that they have still seen few economic benefits from the lifting of sanctions.

"Rouhani is still very popular and he is in a very strong position ... People will vote for him to prevent a hardliner from winning the election," said political analyst Saeed Leylaz. (Editing by Gareth Jones)
By Leigh Thomas and Simon Carraud

PARIS, April 14 (Reuters) - Marine Le Pen has brought the National Front from fringe status into the political spotlight and made herself a real contender to be France's first woman president and its first far-right leader since World War Two.

Since taking the helm in 2011, Le Pen has sought to rid the party of the anti-Semitic image it acquired under the nearly 40-year leadership of her father, ex-paratrooper Jean-Marie Le Pen.

The twice-divorced mother of three has positioned the party instead as an anti-immigrant, Eurosceptic force offering protectionist policies to shelter French workers from globalisation.

Polls have consistently shown Le Pen as one of the favourites to get through the April 23 first round and contest the May 7 runoff.

That would be a step further than her first attempt in 2012, when she failed to reach the second round, and equal the achievement of her father, who reached the second round in 2002, only to lose by a landslide to conservative Jacques Chirac.

While polls suggest the younger Le Pen would also lose in the run-off, they point to a much closer fight this time.

A strong performance by a candidate who wants a referendum on France's membership of the European Union could unnerve financial markets, worried by the prospect of another upset after Britons voted to leave the EU last year.

With her trademark gravelly voice, the 48-year-old never hesitates to lock horns with journalists or rivals on televised debates as she takes on the political establishment.

Her plans to ditch the euro and force the French central bank to fund state spending remain deeply unorthodox although she says her economic policies are more in tune with the anti-globalisation sentiment that propelled Donald Trump to the White House and fuelled Britain's Brexit vote last year.

Le Pen pursued the softer image even at the expense of her relationship with her father, disowning his comments that Nazi gas chambers were a "detail" of history. She had him expelled from the party over his views in 2015.

But she too has shown she can touch a raw nerve, provoking outrage this month when she denied the French state's responsibility in the German-ordered roundup of 13,000 Jews by French police in Paris during World War Two.

Lenders have refused to bankroll her run for the presidency, putting her at a financial disadvantage to other candidates.

The former lawyer is also under investigation over the alleged misuse of EU funds to pay party assistants and for tweeting pictures of Islamic State violence.

She says these are politically motivated attempts to derail her presidential bid.

Le Pen is an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who granted her an audience in the Kremlin in March.

She entered politics by joining her father's party at 18 in 1986.

In 1998, she abandoned her law career to provide legal advice to the party and was first elected to political office in 1998 as a regional councillor in northern France.

She later had the same role in the Paris region before returning to the northern rust belt in 2010. She has also been a member of the European Parliament since 2004.

Living and breathing politics from her youngest years, Le Pen has said her childhood was deeply marked by the explosion of a bomb that destroyed the family apartment when she was eight years old in an incident that remains unsolved.

(Reporting by Leigh Thomas and Simon Carraud; Editing by Adrian Croft)
Fact Box: Teesta River Issue

Published: April 14, 2017

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his hopes for the earliest solution to Teesta Water Dispute to his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina. But, Mamata Banerjee is the sole hurdle to the Teesta river water treaty for the past six years. The controversy is about sharing of Teesta water during the lean season. As water is a state subject, a deal cannot be inked without the approval of CM of West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee is accused of complicating water sharing issues for perceived gains in domestic politics. In 2011, she stopped the UPA government from signing the preliminary agreement with Bangladesh over sharing of Teesta waters.

Facts

Teesta is a river originating in Sikkim and flows through West Bengal and Bangladesh. Around 83% of the rivers catchment lies in India and 17% in Bangladesh. India has a higher share of about 55% of the rivers water. So, Bangladesh wants a higher share than what it gets now. It wants 50% of Teestas waters between the months of December and May to secure the livelihoods of its farmers and fisherman. As per an estimate of Observer research Foundation, five districts in Bangladesh face acute shortages during the dry season due to the withdrawals of the Teestas waters in India.

Negotiations for sharing of river water has been taking place since 1983. In 2011, an interim deal was proposed to be signed which allocated 42.5% of Teestas waters to India and 37.5% to Bangladesh. But due to Mamata Banerjees opposition, the deal was shelved.

Unlike Ganga water sharing in 1996 or the recent exchange of enclaves with Bangladesh, there exists very little opposition for Teesta river water treaty even in North Bengal, where the river flows.

Recently, Mamata Banerjee has proposed linking of three more rivers in North Bengal with Teesta so that there will be enough water to share. But this proposal is termed unviable as the rivers mentioned by Banerjee originates in Bhutan and flows in different gradients when compared with Teesta.

Hydropower generation in Teesta river is another point of contention. In Sikkim alone, there are at least 26 projects that produces 50,000 MW of power. With Banerjees tough stance, Bangladesh may approach an international court or demand share from the hydro-electricity generated in Sikkim.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2017

Topics: India-Bangladesh  Insights  Teesta Water Dispute

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By Ingrid Melander and Simon Carraud

PARIS, April 14 (Reuters) - French judges have asked for far-right leader Marine Le Pen's parliamentary immunity to be lifted, the latest setback in a presidential election campaign in which she is no longer assured of reaching the decisive second round.

The judges are investigating the alleged misuse of European Union funds by Le Pen, a member of the European Parliament, to pay for party assistants. Their request was signed on March 29 but only revealed on Friday. A source confirmed it to Reuters.

Even before the latest twist in her legal woes, a lacklustre performance in television debates, a campaign that has been more focused on her main rivals and a misstep over France's role in World War Two had all chipped away at her poll ratings.

Though opinion polls still put Le Pen in first or second place in the first round of voting on April 23, her three main rivals are now close enough for any two of the four to go through to the May 7 runoff.

An IFOP-Fiducial poll on Friday saw her winning 23 percent in the first round, down 0.5 percentage points from the previous poll and against a high of 27 percent she scored in February.

The same poll saw her main rival, centrist Emmanuel Macron, unchanged on 22.5 percent, while conservative Francois Fillon and leftist firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon each had 19 percent.

Other polls have shown as little as three percentage points between the top four contenders. No opinion poll has shown her winning the runoff.

"The campaign has not focused on immigration or security, which would have allowed her to be at the heart of the discussion. And we're now seeing a bit of an impact from the judicial probes," said Jean-Daniel Levy of pollster Harris Interactive.

"It's all very wide open," Levy said, when asked who would qualify for the runoff.

LEGAL HEADACHES

As well as the row over party assistants, Le Pen's other legal woes include an investigation into the finances of her National Front party in northern France targeting her chief of staff, an investigation into the financing of past campaigns and a probe into her tweeting of pictures of Islamic State violence.

While pollsters had until recently seen little direct impact from these cases on her ratings, Le Pen's refusal to go to a police summons over the EU funds allegations may have hit her support. She based her refusal on her immunity as an EU lawmaker.

A fringe candidate in the presidential election, far-left car factory worker Philippe Poutou, used this to challenge her during a TV debate this month.

His line - "When we workers are summoned by the police, we go, we don't have workers' immunity" - left Le Pen silent and was widely picked up on social media.

Le Pen's denial this week that the French state bore any responsibility for the mass arrest of Jews in Paris during World War Two may also have dented her ratings.

"One can assume that her comments on the Vel d'Hiv have also harmed her," said Emmanuel Riviere of Kantar pollsters. (Additional reporting by Emmanuel Jarry and Michel Rose; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Gareth Jones)
By Jibran Ahmed

MARDAN, Pakistan, April 14 (Reuters) - The ransacked university hostel room of slain Pakistani student Mashal Khan has posters of Karl Marx and Che Guevara still hanging on the walls, along with scribbled quotes including one that reads: "Be curious, crazy and mad."

The day before, a heated debate over religion with fellow students broke out at the dorm and led to people accusing Khan of blasphemy against Islam. That attracted a crowd that grew to several hundred people, according to witnesses.

The mob kicked in the door, dragged Khan from his room and beat him to death, witnesses and police said.

The death in the northwestern city of Mardan is the latest violence linked to accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan.

Those who knew Khan described him as an intellectually curious student who openly professed devotion to Islam but asked many questions.

"Whatever he had to say, he would say it openly, but he didn't understand the environment he was living in," said one of Khan's teachers at Abdul Wali Khan University, who declined to be named for fear of retribution.

Aziz ur Rehman, a caretaker at the hostel who witnessed Khan's debate with his fellow students, said he brought up arcane subjects such as whether the offspring of Adam and Eve - the original humans in Islamic texts as well as Judeo-Christian ones - would have married each other, raising the issue of incest.

Crimes related to blasphemy are a serious offence in Muslim-majority Pakistan, and penalties range from small fines to the death sentence.

At least 65 people have been murdered over blasphemy allegations since 1990, according to figures from a Center for Research and Security Studies report and local media, and dozens more convicted of the crime are currently on death row in Pakistani jails.

The Pakistani government has yet to comment publicly on Khan's killing.

In March, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif issued an order for the removal of blasphemous content online, and said anyone who posted such content should face "strict punishment under the law".

Police say they have arrested 20 suspects involved in Khan's murder and have found no evidence to substantiate blasphemy allegations.

IMAM REFUSES LAST RIGHTS

Rehman, the caretaker, said Khan was alive when the police arrived, but that they did not approach the hostel until it was too late.

"They could have easily saved his life but they stood away from the mob ... I heard one officer say it's good that they sent this non-believer to hell," he said.

Mardan police chief Mohammad Alam Shinwari denied the allegation that officers did not do enough to save Khan.

"When we entered the campus, he had already been killed and the mob was trying to burn his body," he said.

In Khan's home town of Swabi, around 60 km south of Mardan, his father, Iqbal Shaer, said the accusations of blasphemy were unfounded. "First they killed my son and now they are adding salt to our wounds," he told Reuters.

Shaer, who runs a small business selling biscuits and chocolates to local retailers, said he had always been a lover of poetry and literature and encouraged his children to express themselves and appreciate the arts.

He added: "My wife told me this morning that she spent her life taking care of her son, but those who killed him have wasted that long struggle."

At Khan's funeral, the imam at the local mosque refused to read the last rights, according to Swabi resident Salman Ahmed. A technician who was asked to do so in the cleric's place was confronted by several people afterwards.

Khan has since been buried. (Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Kay Johnson)
By Paul Carsten

ABUJA, April 14 (Reuters) - The United Nations' World Food Programme could in a few weeks run out of funding to feed millions living on the brink of famine in Nigeria, four people familiar with the matter said, intensifying one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.

In the northeast, 4.7 million people, many of them refugees from the conflict with Islamist insurgency Boko Haram, need rations to survive, according to the World Food Programme (WFP), one of the main aid groups handing out food. Many of those living in camps for displaced people say they already barely get enough to eat.

"With the money they have right now, and if they won't cut rations, they can only go to May 18," one person said, citing talks with the WFP, who asked to not be named because they were not authorised to speak to media.

The WFP was "reasonably certain" it would get enough funding to last until late June, the person added.

"All humanitarian crises globally are woefully underfunded and for WFP Nigeria is in one of the worst situations for funding," a WFP spokeswoman said.

"We are trying to save lives. We need over the next six months $207 million for Nigeria. At the moment the programme is 13 percent funded for 2017. It's extremely low. Of the four countries facing famine it is the least funded."

The conflict with Islamist insurgency Boko Haram, which seeks to establish a caliphate in Nigeria's northeast, began in 2009 and shows no sign of ending. It has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced more than two million.

Nigeria's northeast is now teetering on the brink of famine, aid organisations say, pointing to two years of missed crop harvests in what was once a breadbasket for the country, and the high likelihood of missing a third.

The approaching rainy season increases the risk of disease spreading, especially within camps for the displaced, adding more stress to efforts to respond to the humanitarian crisis.

The wet season also means tens of thousands of refugees are attempting to return home to farm, despite facing serious dangers, saying there is not enough food provided in the camps to sustain them.

CONTINGENCY PLAN

In a meeting on Monday with the WFP in Nigeria's capital Abuja, donor countries and organisations, criticised the group for not having a satisfactory contingency plan if funding starts to dry up, two of the people with knowledge of the talks said.

The WFP spokeswoman said meetings with donors were genial, open and frank.

"When we are funded and able to get out to the field we are getting to people. This crisis can be averted and we want people to understand this will work if it's funded. We can avert the famine."

The U.S. Embassy in Abuja said the U.S. government was working "urgently and cooperatively with our partners in an effort to address the critical humanitarian needs in northeastern Nigeria".

"There is not adequate funding to sustain the global response to those needs here. Additional resources must be found urgently so that feeding does not stop," the embassy said in emailed comments to Reuters.

The WFP and donors have also locked horns over who is to blame for the lack of funding reaching the aid organisation, with the U.N. agency saying the money promised has not been released to them and donors arguing that basic paperwork still has not been submitted, the two people said.

"There's a dark cloud hanging over them that they'll cut rations," one person said. "It shouldn't be this way."

The WFP, along with other groups, has come under fire in Nigeria for its slow reaction to the humanitarian crisis in the northeast, only launching a full-fledged response last year while other aid organisations had been in the country since at least 2014.

On Wednesday, the U.N. children's fund said its response to the crisis "remains severely underfunded", a warning echoed by many other aid groups.

The United Nations says it needs $1.5 billion in humanitarian aid this year for the Lake Chad region - which spreads across parts of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad - and $457 million had been pledged for 2017 by late February.

Despite the Nigerian army saying the insurgency is on the run, large parts of the country's northeast, particularly in Borno state, remain under threat from Boko Haram. Suicide bombings and gun attacks have increased in the region since the end of the rainy season late last year. (Additional reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Editing by Susan Thomas)
The body of a 12-year-old boy who was buried under the pile of garbage at Meetotamulla was found by the rescue workers this evening, hospital sources said.

Currently, some 12 persons, who were injured due to the Meetotamulla incident were receiving treatment at the National hospital, Colombo.

Meanwhile, Disaster Management Center said residents around the Meetotamulla garbage dump were being evacuated due to the risk of continue to collapse.
Days after Rajinikanth cancelled his trip to Sri Lanka to inaugurate a village following protests in Tamil Nadu, the village has been inaugurated on Wednesday, India Today reported.

The village was developed by Lyca, the organisation which produces Rajiikanth's next film, for Sri Lankan Tamils affected by the war.

Lyca is owned by a Sri Lankan Tamil, and its village has as many as 400 houses. It also happens to be producing Rajinikanth's next film, Enthiran 2.0.

Rajinikanth along with North Province Chief Minister C. V. Vigneswaran and Opposition leader R. Sampanthan were supposed to attend the inauguration of the village.

But it wasn't to be as the veteran actor called off his visit following protests by several 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).

According to India Today, North Province chief minister Vigneswaran, too cancelled his visit to the village at the last minute.

However, Opposition Leader Sampanthan was present for the inauguration.
A 37-year-old Pakistani national who was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake last evening on charges of attempting to smuggle in 1.12 Kgs of heroin had been handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau at (PNB) the Airport, Police said today.

The suspect, who arrived from Dubai, UAE, was arrested by the Customs officials. Police said the heroin haul was found concealed in the suspect's shoes.

He is to be produced in Negombo Magistrate's Court on Friday.
South Asian nations are vulnerable to emerging infectious diseases such as Zika and Ebola, and their level of preparedness is inadequate to protect public health, The Hindustan Times reported quoting a new health analysis.

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.(Hindustan Times)
Taiwan will streamline the visa application process for visitors from Southeast Asian and South Asian countries including Sri Lanka, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Taiwan has said on Wednesday.

According to Focus Taiwan News Channel, the country will expand visa privileges for visitors from Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines.

The decision to make travel to Taiwan easier for citizens from those nations, which came after a cross-agency meeting two days earlier, aims to promote the country's "New Southbound Policy," the ministry has said in a statement.

Taiwan will grant visitors from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos visa-free treatment on a "conditional" basis, it said.

They will be able to apply for a travel permit through the website of the Ministry of the Interior if they have been issued a visa by Taiwan within the past 10 years, it said.

Citizens from Sri Lanka and Bhutan will also be allowed to apply for a tourist visa to Taiwan, the ministry said.

Businesspeople from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan will be able to apply for an e-visa to Taiwan if they obtain recommendations from branch offices of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council in those countries, it added.

The new measures come after Taiwan streamlined the visa process for visitors from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and India last August.

The measures have boosted visits to Taiwan and there have been few cases of visa violations, the government said, leading it to further streamline the visa process to promote tourism and business ties with the region.
The Mineral Area College Lambda Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa inducted 11 new members during ceremonies held March 23 at Long Memorial Hall in Farmington.

The new members inducted were Shellby Boyer, Park Hills; Austin Schwent, Bloomsdale; Katelyn Roth, Bloomsdale; Hunter Draffen, House Springs; Ricardo Devoto, Argentina; Marcos Devoto, Argentina; Cammie Buford, Middlebrook; Bryanne Roth, Perryville; Joanna Royer, Fredericktown and Kallie Pearl, Ironton.

The Lambda chapter of Phi Theta Kappa also honored MAC English Instructor Emily Murdock for her many accomplishments during the years she advised MAC PTK, 2010-16. PTKs accomplishments during her advisory tenure include a mini-conference featuring leadership development skills; mental-health break activities to combat student depression and anxiety during finals week; international awards for faculty advisors Jenny Beck (a Paragon Award, for advisors serving fewer than four years) and Emily Murdock (a Distinguished Advisor Award, for those serving more than four years). PTK won many regional awards, as well.

PTK at MAC is now advised by three faculty members: Dr. Amy Henson, professor of business education; Lana LaBruyere, assistant professor of business education; and Alison Sheets, Career Services director.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society of two-year colleges. MACs chapter was founded in 1926 when the college still operated as Flat River Junior College out of the old Flat River High School building. Its hallmarks are fellowship, service, leadership, and scholarship.
The legend of Achilles has it that his mother Thetis dipped him into the river Styx in order to make him invincible. The water, however, didnt cover his heel and an arrow wound to his heel later killed him.

Pakistan, in comparison, has multitude vulnerabilities, primarily as a result of Pakistan faujs strategic culture stemming from pathological geopolitics infused with a Salafi jihadist ideology, suffused by paranoia and neurosis as recently observed by Col Robert Cassidy, PhD, US Army.

And while the vulnerabilities extend to include socio-ethno-religious spheres of public life, and wreak havoc to its national fabric - the Pakistan fauj with its control over governance, foreign-security policy, infusion of political Islam and NGO/media-bullying has skillfully managed the national narrative to its favour.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on the 70th Independence Day, for the first time in the history of India spoke about suppression and persecution of people in Balochistan by Pakistan.

And while there is great truth that the Pakistani government and its various agencies have treated ethnic Balochs unfairly and repressively, since the forceful annexation of Kalat by Pakistan in 1947, it continues to exploit the mineral rich region for the benefit of the rest of Pakistan and primarily Punjab - for example, in Saindak copper mine, the Pakistani and Chinese central governments will take 50 per cent and 48 per cent of the proceeds, leaving 2 per cent for the province.

Similarly, Balochistan is also gas-rich but only 17 per cent of the gas produced is consumed in the region while the rest is consumed in other parts of Pakistan, feeding into the alienation belief of ethnic Baloch (Reference: International Crisis Group, 2006) - but it is equally true that both Pakistan and India understand the limitation of the Baloch card.

Unlike Bangladesh, which had the advantage of a border with India and population, the Baloch on the other hand are merely 3.5 per cent of overall Pakistani ethnicities (about 6 million) and limited by their lack of border with India.

Even assuming the entire Baloch rise up in Balochistan against Pakistan, they are still only 55 per cent of the population share, and have been consistently decreasing with the influx of Afghans and migration from other provinces of Pakistan.

Therefore, despite genuine grievances and repression, the Baloch are unlikely to succeed in their quest for independence, even with assistance from India.

What then has PM Modi achieved by making a public statement on Balochistan, apart from ruffling a few feathers in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and in fact giving the Pakistani fauj legitimate ground to continue its ruthless suppression of Baloch right activists?

In my opinion, India has calculated the benefit of using the Baloch card, and would possibly continue to use it at various national and international forums, with the limited objective to embarrass Pakistan and remove the potency of the Kashmir card used by Pakistan.

And though using the Baloch card directly challenges Pakistan, and perhaps also delegitimises the Baloch struggle; the subtext of PM Modis Baloch card is unmistakable: get serious about terrorism; or expect a strike at Pakistans Achilles' heel - the Pashtuns.

Pashtuns are the second largest ethnic group after Punjabis, constituting approximately 16 per cent of the population (30 million) in Pakistan, and have a fraternal relationship with the Pashtuns of Afghanistan, who account for another (about) 12 million.

The rulers of Pakistan have been always wary about the Pashtuns, since prior to independence the Pashtuns led by Abdul Ghaffar Khan aligned with the Congress as they considered the Muslim League pro-colonialists.

Pakistan's fauj led by former army chief General Raheel Sharif missed the opportunity to mend ties with Afghanistan - possibly making it their costliest mistake of the present decade. Photo: Reuters

Further, right after the formation of Pakistan, Afghan-Pakistan relations rapidly nosedived, after a military aircraft from the Pakistan air force bombed a village on the Afghan side of the Durand Line.

In response, the Afghan government declared that it recognised "neither the imaginary Durand nor any similar line" and that all previous Durand Line agreements were void.

Kabul on its part until the late 1960s extended support to Pashtun nationalists inside Pakistan and flirted with the idea of Pashtunistan. After the loss of East Pakistan, the Punjabi dominated polity remaining in Pakistan, grappling with insecurities, resorted to use of political Islam against Sardar Dauds government to pre-empt repeat of another Bangladesh.

Zulfiqar Ali Bhuttos government created the Afghan Cell and assigned it a policy to empower Islamists in exile in Pakistan, and establishing a Pakistan friendly government in Kabul.

Against this backdrop, even prior to arrival of the Soviets and initiation of US-funded Afghan jihad, Pakistan had principally and individually supported Islamists in its quest for elusive strategic depth.

Over the years, Pakistan, led by its Punjab-dominated fauj has treated and exploited Pashtuns as cannon fodder, including its own citizens on this side of the Durand Line.

The Pakistan fauj believes that Pashtuns are living on a geo-strategic fault-line and therefore takes a binary approach, which makes them insensible to the concerns of Pashtuns, something reflected in Human Development Index and literacy rates, where Pashtuns rank poorly compared to Punjabis.

What you pursue, will pursue you

Pakistan, fuelled by fear of being sandwiched between archrival India and an independent Afghanistan, has pursued the policy of injecting toxic political Islam in Pashtun society, at the cost of national anarchy. And despite the price that Pakistan continues to bear, there are no signs in let-down in the policy.

Viewing everything through the prism of security, Pakistan's fauj led by former army chief General Raheel Sharif missed the opportunity to mend ties with Afghanistan and scuttled President Ashraf Ghanis peace overtures - possibly making it their costliest mistake of the present decade.

The Pakistan fauj continues to believe and invest in Taliban projects, and uses the population bordering Afghanistan to bring in a regime change in Kabul, in turn wreaking havoc within Pashtun society.

Since 2009, the Pakistan fauj has diligently orchestrated the expansion of the Haqqani network - the main actor of its Taliban project - in tribal Kurram Agency.

Kurram is a region of special strategic importance to the Taliban. In the past, it served as a launchpad for Afghan jihad. This expansion of the Haqqani network and like-minded terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and LeT is having troubling consequences for security and stability, not just in eastern Afghanistan but also in Pashtun-dominated Kurram.

Kurram has a mix of Shia-Sunni Pashtun population, with the upper Kurram, bordering Afghanistan, dominated by Shias. Backed by Pakistan's fauj, the Haqqanis, using violence, have masterfully created irreparable divisions between the two communities.

It is estimated that the violence has left over 2,000 dead and 3,500 wounded. But more importantly, giving Haqqani the leverage to mediate in peace talks between the communities has resulted in Shias agreeing to provide safe house/passage for the Haqqanis to operate inside Kurram.

In pursuit of the elusive strategic depth, Pakistan has alienated Pashtuns on either side of the Durand Line, which is now open to manipulations by foreign powers, including India.

Modi gave an example of this possibility and potency very recently, when Pakistan witnessed its worst terrorist attacks of this year, starting from Parachinar (Kurram) to Lahore to Sehwan (Sindh).

While the attacks have been claimed by various factions and offshoots of the Taliban project, from a geo-politics observational standpoint, it is obvious the attacks were in response to General Raheel Sharifs authorised rail network attacks in India.

What followed the attacks was along expected lines, especially for India - as the Pakistani state, sensing loss of control for the Haqqanis in Shia-dominated (Parachinar) Kurram, responded with a witch-hunt and stereotyping of Pashtuns, who essentially are both victims and pawns in this rivalry.

Pakistan's unimaginative and repressive approach to dealing with terrorism as well as continued pursuit of the Taliban project has ruptured and widened the Pashtun vs Punjabi divide.

Pakistan faces an existential crisis, internally, specifically because of its own policies and relatively because India is both able and now with Modi at helm, willing to pay back Pakistan in the same coin.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I participated in an amateur filmmaking competition with a group of four, and we won it. I am very proud of myself and the hefty cash prize. The money has not been split up yet, and two of the members believe that I should get the largest sum because I did all of the shooting and editing. The third, "Steve," thinks that it should all be split evenly. Steve barely did any work on this film, but he supplied the camera. How should we end up splitting the money? -- Cut!, Denver

DEAR CUT!: Congratulations on your award! This is very exciting. Your biggest challenge is that you did not discuss the division of the prize before winning it. Now, it's a question of group consensus and morals. What I can tell you is that you will never feel good about how you divide the cash prize unless the group agrees on a plan. For what it's worth, you wouldn't have been able to make that film without Steve's camera, so do not diminish his contribution.

To keep peace, I would recommend an equal split. In the future, you can talk among yourselves about how you might handle such a windfall should it come your way.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have made a huge mistake. I asked my friend to pose as my fake boyfriend for a social media post to make my ex-boyfriend jealous. She wore a sweatshirt with her hood up while I faced the camera hugging my "boyfriend." Now, my ex has been badgering me for information about my new boyfriend! This is not what I intended at all -- I just wanted him to see this and want to get back together with me. Should I come clean about my "boyfriend" or just lie? -- Rock and a Hard Place, Seattle

DEAR ROCK AND A HARD PLACE: What do you really want? And why did you feel the need to make your ex-boyfriend jealous in the first place? Is this relationship worth reigniting? If so, come clean and tell your ex what you did to capture his attention. From there, you can attempt to have a frank conversation with him about your desires and hopes for the future and how he could potentially be part of it. You should think long and hard about your future, though. Trying to attract the attention of a man who is extremely jealous could backfire in the long run.

So, again, I ask what do you really want? Make a list -- in writing -- of the attributes you would appreciate in a partner. What appeals to you? What turns you off? List what you want for your future. Children? Type of work? Neighborhood? Sort through all of these questions so that you can get some clarity on how you want to plan your steps. It can be hard to look beyond the moment when emotions are high, but this is the only way that you can gain perspective on whether this man fits into your vision for your life.

DEAR HARRIETTE: How can I go about earning respect as a younger administrative employee at a company? Some of the people I work with are a decade older than me, and even though we have the same position, I still get treated like I don't know what I am talking about because of my age. My experience and education make me qualified for the job, so do I just have to wait until I get older to gain respect from my peers? -- Young'un, Jackson, Mississippi

DEAR YOUNG'UN: This is a classic experience, almost a rite of passage for many young employees. While it is discriminatory for employees to be treated differently because of their age, it happens all too often. There are a few things you can do to support yourself.

Avoid getting into sparring matches with the offenders. They likely are intimidated by the new person in the office and may feel that you are either a current or future threat. Be kind to them despite their bad behavior. Dress professionally. When you look the part, it helps to deflect from your youth. Keep good records of your work and accomplishments so that if anyone attempts to claim your work as their own, you can prove what is yours. Bide your time. After the team gets to know you better, most will relax their unacceptable behavior.

Harriette Cole is a life stylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106
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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe


but NOBODY vetted Barack Obama after Barack Obama politicized his own mother's cancer

for his own political gain during the 2008 democratic race, and then again in the presidential debates.

Did Barack Obama tend to his own mother in any personal way

during her last couple of years of life, when she was dying of cancer in Hawaii?





If I am wrong, or can be proven wrong about my concern, then I will stand corrected.

But until then, the timeline I have been able to put together shows that Barack Obama

chose to finish writing his book instead of being with his mother.

With apologizes to the filmmaker for politicizing his film,Or, did Barack Obama CHOOSE to fly over Hawaii, where his mother was dying of cancer,so he could go to Bali to finish writing his book about his sperm donor father?
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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.
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions. It also offers ProxyEdge, an electronic proxy delivery and voting solution; data-driven solutions and an end-to-end platform for content management, composition, and omni-channel distribution of regulatory, marketing, and transactional information, as well as mutual fund trade processing services; data and analytics solutions; solutions for public corporations and mutual funds; SEC filing and capital markets transaction services; registrar, stock transfer, and record-keeping services; and omni-channel customer communications solutions, as well as operates Broadridge Communications Cloud platform that creates, delivers, and manages communications and customer engagement activities. The company's Global Technology and Operations segment provides solutions that automate the front-to-back transaction lifecycle of equity, mutual fund, fixed income, foreign exchange and exchange-traded derivatives, order capture and execution, trade confirmation, margin, cash management, clearance and settlement, reference data management, reconciliations, securities financing and collateral management, asset servicing, compliance and regulatory reporting, portfolio accounting, and custody-related services. This segment also offers business process outsourcing services; technology solutions, such portfolio management, compliance, fee billing, and operational support solutions; and capital market and wealth management solutions. The company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Lake Success, New York.
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The Albemarle County School Board on Thursday approved spending $32,325 in one-time funding to hire an outside consultant to help the division move forward with its study of teacher compensation.

All board members voted in favor of the matter, but Rivanna District member Jason Buyaki abstained.

The item was pulled from the boards consent agenda last month when Chairwoman Kate Acuff said she wanted to have more time to discuss the details of the spending and what the consultant would do.

The hiring of an outside consultant to work with county school division staff is meant to provide an objective look at current strategies around teacher pay and a comparison to similar markets. The consultant will then compile a report to the division with recommendations.

Lorna Gerome, county director of human resources, said its been 17 years since the school division last adopted a strategy to examine teacher pay. Titan-Gallagher, a compensation and human resources firm, already has been selected by county school staff as the consultant in this study.

Gerome said Titan-Gallagher will look not only at internal factors in Albemarle County and the strategies of school divisions in competitive markets as part of the study, but also at areas outside of Virginia.

Most of the discussion from the School Board was focused on how the consultant will do the work and what they would look at.

Pam Moynihan, board member representing the Rio District, said its important that the consultant come into this without any preconceived notions about the strategy, even if its older.

Yes, its 17 years old and its a good idea to look at it, but at the same time, we shouldnt go in with this idea like, oh well, we have to change it, or we have to put it at this level of the market because we just have to do it, she said.

Gerome and Acuff agreed with Moynihans concerns.

I think the key for me is validating or not our current methodology, and it may be that we validate it and we say this is a good approach and its consistent with other jurisdictions, Acuff said. But I would like to know that since A) it has been almost 20 years, and B) weve had a lot of teacher letters, and I want to be able to assess where we really are.

The conversation for this study began in October during a joint meeting between the School Board and Board of Supervisors. The county sets its teachers salaries partly based on a comparison to a competitive market of similar localities across Virginia.

Starting pay for a teacher in Albemarle County with no prior teaching experience and a bachelors degree is $45,400 a year, according to the countys website. With 31 years experience and a bachelors degree, the same teacher would be paid $68,000.

The divisions goal has been to be just above the 75th percentile in the competitive market. The market includes Charlottesville and surrounding counties, such as Fluvanna, Greene and Louisa. Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties are in the competitive market, as well.

The concern of whether Albemarle County is in the right competitive market was raised by Acuff, who said its her understanding that the consultant will look at that aspect as part of the study.

The School Boards adopted budget includes a 2 percent, or $2.4 million, pay increase for teachers, on average. In addition to that bump, costs for health insurance and contributions to the Virginia Retirement Service are increasing by $1.2 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

The goal right now is to have the study, which began in December, completed by June, school officials said. Any recommendations made and approved by the School Board as a result of the review would be part of the fiscal year 2019 budget process.

Even though approval for the funding to hire Titan-Gallagher was pushed back a few weeks, Gerome said the study is still on schedule.
Members of the public will have a chance to give feedback on the search for the next University of Virginia president at a forum in Newcomb Hall on April 21.

The forum will take place in the Newcomb Hall Ballroom from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and members of the universitys presidential search committee will be there to listen to the public. Organizers will post a live video stream of the forum at virginia.edu/live.

President Teresa A. Sullivan announced earlier this year that she will step down when her contract ends next summer. The 22-person search committee is seeking candidates for the position behind closed doors, but its also taking account of public input.

The committee is accepting public feedback online through its website, presidentialsearch.virginia.edu. Anyone hoping to offer suggestions or make comments also can send their comments to socialmedia@virginia.edu, or use #UVaSearch on social media.
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LONDON - England - Labour's legacy on Britain is a generation of young people who cannot read or write, have anti-social tendencies, are violent and unemployable.

Even if the Tories ever come into power, they will inherit a chav generation of young people who are now a majority within the UKs population.

Statistically speaking, over 94% of Britains youth are now chav under class miscreants. This subsection of the population has also been extended to the now impoverished middle classes. Under Labour, everyone is now a chav. One only has to watch British TV and walk the streets to see the depths to which the UK has plummeted in intelligence levels. Labour has succeeded in dumbing down over two generations of youth to the level of amoeba, Johnson Merrick, chief statistician for TORI polls told the Daily Mail.

It is already extremely hard for employers to employ anyone of any value because of the amount of people who can only write using chav text language.

They have no ability to incorporate language, basic mathematics, logic or historical and scientific analysis. These chavs, as they are called, have infected all strata of society and all media. Their celebrities have also infected every media source and part of our lives to the point of exhaustion. I cant see any way the Tories can reverse this attack on humanity, a Westminster political commentator told the Times on Sunday.

Labour controllers at the Fabian Society have also admitted why they engineered the chav in the first place.

We knew that we needed a long lasting legacy for Britain, that is, apart from total economic ruin. We engineered the chav to infiltrate and corrupt everything about human decency, education and society. This way we could break down all class to be that of the chav class. By destroying the upper classes that have blighted Britain for many centuries by their education, success and leadership, we could bring them all down to the chav class. There is now a semblance of equality in Britain, where chavs now rule. You can see for yourself. Why not stand at a bus stop in some shit hole provincial town on a Friday or Saturday night and see how long you last before a group of chavs come along, beat the living shit out of you and stab you through the ankles with six inch kitchen knives? Ed Balls, senior controller for the Fabian Society told the Observer.


VIRGINIA - USA - The WikiLeaks site, which has heroically revealed documents detailing the extent of the horror in the Iraq and Afghan wars, has a new rival in town.

A spokesman for the recently launched site, WikiPlugs, told ABC news about the new venture: Its real easy. When WikiLeaks discloses documents detailing the mass murder of civilians in the two wars America is currently engaged in, we get a big internet plug and basically plug the leak. Its a piece of code which we call a plug. Its not like a butt plug but more like a sink plug. When anyone logs onto the WikiLeaks site, they just get an image of a plug. This way, the truth about the war crimes will never be leaked.

Rogers Nelson, one of the programmers on the new WikiPlugs project did not reveal where the company received the funding from, but their main office is bang in the middle of the CIAs headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

Were in room 2314b, which is just down the hall from Rummys old room and also a torture room that Dick and Dubya used to enjoy frequenting whenever the building had a fresh meat delivery from Iraq, the CEO for WikiPlugs, Freddy Goering, told CNN.
WINDSOR - England - There really is help for the long term unemployed. After eight long years on the dole Waity Katie has finally hit pay dirt.

Its like winning the lottery after digging for eight long years. Ive struck gold, innit. Look at all the fakkin jewels, its fallin all over the place. Soon Ill ave a big bloomin crown on me bonce. Ill be the pearly queen of Buckingham Palace, the future Mrs Windsor Middleton told the Sun.

Looks like Ian Duncan Smiths initiatives to get the workshy to do some work has finally paid off with Kate Middleton. Soon shell be working like a horse down a coal mine in the Windsor bed serving up some fine taxpayer funded sprogs for the new Windsor lineup.

All over Britain, there were celebrations at the wonderful news that Waity Katie had finally struck gold.

Doris Mableswith, 59, from Billingsgate Market said: This is the appiest day of my life. Wills has gone and got engaged to one of us now, a mere commoner. Soon theyll be serving up bubble and squeak at the palace functions, how about some jellied eels? Im so happy that the snooty Royals have finally come to our level.

Kate Middleton, is set to be the real peoples princess because of her lineage. Unlike the late princess Diana, who came from a pedigree bloodline, Kate seems to be from a much more colourful ancestral line.

Kate Middleton last night said a few words before being whisked away in a horse drawn carriage to Windsor castle: I want to thank my mother, Carole, because if it wasnt for her pushing so incessantly, I would not be in this lottery winning situation right now.
FLORIDA - USA - The Trayvon Martin case has seen multiple threats of violence by African Americans on Twitter, but should the American justice system kowtow to these riot threats?

In essence, this is blackmail. Either the courts adhere to the decision of the baying mobs and current administration or all hell may break loose. By watching the actions of the lifelong democrat judge presiding in the Zimmerman case one can clearly see from her actions that she is supposedly guiding the jury and rooting for the prosecution of an innocent man, George Zimmerman. No doubt, the judge has also fielded threatening calls from Obama and his Attorney General, two bully boys who have to have their own way at all costs. As for Fridays closing arguments, whilst the defence were only allowed one, which they completed in a factual and logical manner, the prosecution were allowed two closing arguments, mainly composed of emotionally charged non factual rhetoric. This is not justice, this is how things are done in lawless countries and banana republics, professor Jerry Brower, a law expert for top Miami law institute Mather & Kelly said on Friday.

One only has to do a search on Twitter to see the double standards of American society with regards to blacks under the regime of Obama.

If George Zimmerman is jailed for the next thirty years because the courts wanted to please African Americans, I am certain the whites would not riot. They just do not do that. Did the whites riot when OJ Simpson was acquitted for the murder of Nicole Simpson? Thats a firm, no! professor Brower added.
LOS ANGELES - USA - Piers Morgan is packing his bags and moving to the Middle East for a new CNN show called 'Jihad Challenge'.

Forget the celebrity bucket challenge, Im off to Syria to do something way more worthwhile. I will talk down any Jihadis from Britain or America into renouncing their ill fated Jihad fight. If everything goes well I should be back for Christmas, an elated Piers Morgan said from his Beverly Hills apartment on Sunday.

The Piers Morgan show will be aired in September broadcast by the CNN network called the Jihad Challenge.

Millions of American viewers who have had to deal with Morgans smarmy self aggrandising irritating twaddle were in a cheery mood yesterday on hearing the news.

Lets hope he goes to Jihad land and doesnt come back, at least in one piece. Weve had enough of Moron. Please let him go on the Jihad Challenge, a CNN viewer revealed on a message board.
Benton County Sheriff Scott Jackson has a far out idea to save money on renting jail space from other counties: sending inmates 160-plus miles away to eastern Oregon.

In light of looming budget cuts and the lack of space in the 40-bed Benton County Jail, Jackson is considering a plan to send inmates to Wasco County at a regional jail facility known as NORCOR. The complex, which serves Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman and Wasco counties, has made an initial offer to take Benton County inmates for roughly $70 per bed per day. Currently, Benton County rents an average of 36 beds per day from Lincoln, Yamhill and Linn counties at about $94 per bed per day.

NORCOR could take pretty much all of our inmates at $70 a day and that would be a significant savings for taxpayers, Jackson said. Ive always thought it was my job to find the most efficient way of doing things. There are a lot of programs Id like to try, but resources are limited. So Im looking at some different ways to manage the resources we have.

Benton County Jail, constructed in 1976 as an add-on to the courthouse, was originally intended as a temporary facility until the completion of a proposed regional jail similar to NORCOR. But that facility was never built.

Voters have rejected bond measures to build a new jail in Benton County in 2000, 2001 and 2015. Instead, voters have supported levies to cover the expense of renting up to 40 jail beds in neighboring counties, at a cost that runs about $1.1 million a year.

Jackson said that even though driving inmates 160-plus miles away to Wasco County would create additional logistics issues ranging from added fuel costs to visitation complications, sending inmates there could still save between $500,000 and $700,000 biannually.

Still, the idea of housing inmates at NORCOR is in the preliminary stages and Jackson said he would want to meet with local defense attorneys and Benton County Circuit Court judges to hear their opinions before taking next steps.

There are some key people that need to be involved in this before we move forward, Jackson said. People need to be comfortable with this. None of us may like it, and we all wish we had a jail that met our needs ourselves, but we dont have that.

Jennifer Nash, a Corvallis defense attorney who also served as a court-appointed defense attorney, said the proposal would essentially force local attorneys to build a relationship with their clients over video conferencing.

You cant build any kind of attorney/client privilege over video, Nash said. In all cases, particularly serious cases, it is critically important to develop a relationship with a client. It takes contact with that client to build that relationship, and you cant have meaningful contact with someone that far away.

Nash also anticipated the proposal would create insurmountable problems for court-appointed defense attorneys.

Court-appointed attorneys get paid a nominal amount of money as it is, Nash said. To provide an additional burden to make the defense attorneys travel six hours would be unacceptable.

Jackson said he planned to schedule a meeting with the Benton County Defense Consortium to address those concerns.

I dont want to dismiss that argument because its somewhat valid and thats some of the negotiation we need to hammer out, Jackson said. Im not completely sold they would have to drive there. But you do lose something not seeing that person in real life.

Nash also said there may be legal precedent that would prevent the county from housing inmates NORCOR. She cited ORS 135.215, which requires a sheriff to detain a defendant in a jail located in the county of the sheriff or, if there is no sufficient jail in the county, by such means as may be necessary and proper therefor or by confining the defendant in the jail of an adjoining county within or without the state.

Vance Croney, Benton County counsel, said the NORCOR proposal would meet legal requirements, citing ORS 169.053, which allows counties to enter into agreements with other counties for the confinement and detention of offenders.

Because this is a specific grant of authority to contract with other counties, this is the one were leaning on, Croney said. I certainly understand the concern. Whether its family, legal representatives or friends, they won't want to travel any further than they have to. From the countys perspective, its about whats best for the organization and for the inmate. Candidly, it boils down to a budget issue. Can we afford jail beds that are close? Are there beds that are farther away that would cost the sheriff less? Thats a strong consideration.
The Lebanon City Council voted 4-0 on April 12 to repeal a city restriction barring recreational marijuana facilities from locating within 1,000 feet of each other.

The issue arose after La Mota, a medical marijuana dispensary, and Modern Forest, a recreational pot store, both opened downtown on Main Street a few storefronts and less than 1,000 feet apart.

The issue came about because the city had adopted a pair of ordinances recently regarding marijuana establishments: In December 2015, the city adopted an ordinance regarding medical marijuana dispensaries. In January of this year, the city adopted an ordinance regarding recreational marijuana outlets.

In a press release this week, Tre Kennedy, the city attorney, said the city recently discovered an ambiguity in the recreational marijuana ordinance. "The issue is whether a medical marijuana facility would fall within the definition of 'marijuana facility,'" the press release said.

In a January memo, councilors were told that the term "marijuana facility" was meant to cover all activities not related to medical marijuana dispensaries. But the actual text of the ordinance could be construed to refer to both types of establishments, and so the 1,000-foot regulations could have applied.

At the meeting, Kennedy briefed the councilors in an executive session on the issue and potential legal ramifications.

After the session, the council decided the best way to deal with the issue was simply to dispense with the 1,000-foot requirement.

After the executive session, Rosa Cazares, the CEO of La Mota, which runs several recreational and medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon, said it was a mistake for the council to eliminate the 1,000-foot requirement because it would create an unhealthy saturation of such establishments in one area.

Cazares said La Mota is in the process of transferring from a medical marijuana facility to a recreational store.

Many other cities have those 1,000-foot buffer zones, she added.

"I think they are important, and the only solution I can come up with other than seeking legal matter is only to allow both of the locations to maintain, and not allow any more because there will be a saturation," Cazares said. "That is happening in Eugene. Our industry isn't like liquor; we are the pioneers of this industry."

Modern Forest co-owner Sven Roberts spoke during citizen comments before the executive session and said he hadn't formed an opinion about what the council should do.

He listed the measures he's taken to assuage community concerns about a marijuana business in town. Those steps include listening to the concerns of community members. He has frosted the bottom part of his windows so that children cannot see inside the store.

He would have frosted them all, he said, had it not caused concerns for emergency responders. Also, he added, some people believe such concealment makes a business look less trustworthy. He has no images of marijuana placed on his store, except for the symbol he's required to display by the OLCC.

Roberts added that the customer mix has been more varied than expected. He said it was a diverse mix of old and young community members.

Were always trying to hear what people are saying to lessen the impact, and be positive contributors to the community, Roberts said.

City attorney Kennedy said the new ordinance passed makes it clear that the term "marijuana facility" refers only to recreational marijuana and not to medical marijuana facilities.

"It clarifies the ordinance and should not lead to any more confusion," he said.

Mayor Paul Aziz added that the council was waiting for direction from the state to pass the ordinance.

"The fact that we didn't have the most perfect law in the the world and that phraseology was just wrong, and it didn't match for our situation," he said. "That was just something new for us, and for the law. I think this is a good change."

City Councilor Rebecca Grizzle said the council wouldn't prohibit two stores selling beer within 1,000 feet of each other.

"There is no legislation that prevents that," she said. "In my mind, marijuana is much the same. I understand keeping it away from schools. I understand some of those provisions, but to legislate that 1,000-foot rule, that does not make sense."

Aziz concurred, noting that when citizens voted on legalization in November it clearly showed that they wanted to have marijuana sold in town.

"We as a council came together and said downtown is an OK place" for marijuana establishments, he said. "I don't see picking and choosing what building or what areas they can be in or house close to each other. I think we have a real good rule other than the 1,000-foot part."

In other business, the city council approved a three-year contract for the Lebanon city attorney with an increase in the hourly retainer from $150 to $175.

The council also voted to move forward to hire Slayden Constructors Inc. to start construction on the water treatment plant, and raw water intake system.
SALEM  A committee charged with identifying ways to improve accountability of the Oregon Department of Transportation has recommended the Oregon Transportation Commission should oversee the state transportation directors position and an internal auditors position should become independent.

Rep. Andy Olson, R-Albany, said Wednesday while meeting with the Democrat-Heralds editorial board, that the OTC directors position was placed under the purview of the governor in 1999, after years of lobbying by then Gov. John Kitzhaber.

Olson said currently the internal auditor position is funded within the ODOT budget, but the committee believes that position should be independent.

Olson is one of 14 members of the Joint Committee on Transportation Preservation and Modernization. A subcommittee composed of Olson, Senators Betsy Johnson, Fred Girod and Kathleen Taylor, and Rep. John Lively delivered their recommendations to the full committee last week.

The larger group is responsible for developing a multi-million dollar transportation package. Olson believes there is still time within this legislative session to pass a transportation package.

The interim committee was named last May and held numerous meetings around the state. Members also met with four former state transportation directors and contractors.

The subcommittee recommends the state should develop a website dashboard where the general public can track projects and provide input about pending or current projects. Olson said the dashboard data would include the estimated cost, target completion date, current spending and potential over or under spending.

Olson said it should be the responsibility of the OTC director to coordinate and promote an integrated transportation system; exercise supervisory control over the department; organize the department efficiently with OTC approval and ensure continuity of governance.

Olson said an efficiency and accountability committee should be implemented and composed of one member from the OTC, the ODOT director or designee, seven division directors and two members of the general public.

The Legislature should also develop a policy that clearly outlines its expectations.

They include:

 Obtaining the greatest benefit from expenditures.

 Providing statewide strategic planning for transportation.

 Promoting coordination between transportation modes.

 Integrating functions to reduce costs.

 Enhancing prospects to obtain federal funds

 Ensuring resiliency from natural disasters to the greatest practical extent.

Olson said the State Transportation Improvement Project selection criteria for statewide projects includes:

 Improves the state highway system

 Enhances safety

 Supports the economy

 Benefits are greater than the costs

 Fosters livable communities

 Environmental stewardship and community sensitivity

 Consistent with greenhouse gas goals

 Ensures resiliency from natural disasters

An interim committee was named in May 2016 and held numerous meetings statewide over the past year.

In addition to public input, the committee also reviewed information gained from a $1 million management performance audit of ODOT. It suggested that although the agency is good at relationship building, it has lacked in efficiency and fiscal management.
New Delhi: State-owned telecom firm MTNL is looking to convert nearly 50 per cent of its fixed line users into broadband subscribers over the next 18 months, as part of plans to increase revenue and retain customers.

At present, nearly 34 per cent of its fixed line customers are also its broadband subscribers.

"In the next 1.5 years, we should gun for 50 per cent of landline customer base becoming broadband enabled customers for us...and that should be driving force for us," MTNL Chairman and Managing Director P K Purwar told PTI.

Terming broadband as a "flagship" offering for Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), Purwar noted at present large number of the corporation's landline customers do not subscribe to its broadband services.

"So, we will be pursuing with them (to sell broadband services) such that the percentage of the broadband customers can also be increased. It will not only increase our revenue but the customer retention will also be better," he added.

The company also plans to take the broadband equipment closer to subscriber premises and has recently "revisited" tariffs plans to tune them with the varying customer requirements, he added.

"To improve broadband speeds, we have installed 140 DSLAMs in Delhi, and 150 in Mumbai in 2016-17. We are looking at similar numbers for 2017-18 so that the customer who are being provided broadband services should be within 1-1.5 kms from our DSLAM areas or broadband equipment areas and hence get better experience," Purwar said.

Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer or DSLAM is a network devices that connects customer digital subscriber lines to a high-speed digital communications channels. MTNL has 15 lakh landline subscribers in Delhi and 18 lakh in Mumbai, while its mobile subscriber base is pegged at 35 lakh in the two metros combined.

The corporation has over 20 broadband plans, said Purwar. He said that MTNL is talking to customer to better understand their requirements.

"We customise broadband packs for different price points... We believe that we should cater to all kinds of customers...from those with higher data usage to students," he said.

In 2015-16, MTNL reported a total annual revenue of Rs 3,197.41 crore and net loss of Rs 2,005.72 crore.
Mumbai: Officers at State Bank of India associate banks have expressed fears over working conditions in new merged entity, according to a report in The Times of India.

Officers from State Bank of Hyderabad and Associate Banks Officers Association members have knocked on the door of Hyderabad High Court with their grievance.

SBI that will become 45th largest bank in terms of asset value in the world after merger has asked these officers to tell the bank their own choices or options. The Hyderabad HC has asked SBI not to act on options given by these officers until June 15.

Officers also allege that SBI management did not give them enough time to think over the options put before them. The petitioners also told the court that the options norm released by SBI came to an end on APril 13, leaving them with almost no choices.

Petitioners fear that they may not get the same treatment that the existing SBI employees are receiving from the bank management. R Vaigai, counsel for SBI officers argued before the court that the SBI management has not yet clarified on new working conditions for his clients.

However, the State Bank of India has told the court that it would act in fair manner and that it was also not able to take a final decision on options given by officers from SBI sister banks.
The billionaire has played a dominant role in Ukrainian politics for more than a decade and twice served in parliament as a member of Yanukovych's now-disbanded Party of Regions.

One of Ukraine's richest men vowed Friday to defend his ownership of a major telecoms company after its shares were impounded by a court following a probe into graft under the deposed Russian-backed regime.

Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko announced Thursday that a Kiev court had "frozen" the shares of tycoon Rinat Akhmetov in the Ukrtelecom company and its subsidiary TriMob.

The decision was issued after a nearly two-year investigation into Ukrtelecom's privatisation under ousted president Viktor Yanukovych in March 2011.

Ukrainian media quoted Lutsenko as saying that Yanukovych's government gave Ukrtelecom for a nominal sum to a shell company based in Cyprus that was purchased by Akhmetov in October 2013.

Akhmetov's main holding company said in a statement to Interfax-Ukraine that it would defend its interests in Ukrtelecom and demand an "objective and independent investigation" of the case.

The billionaire has played a dominant role in Ukrainian politics for more than a decade and twice served in parliament as a member of Yanukovych's now-disbanded Party of Regions.

Ukrtelecom held an effective monopoly over telephone land lines and was an early pioneer in cell phone services prior to its privatisation.

Ukraine's February 2014 pro-EU revolution left Akhmetov and other oligarchs who critics say grew fabulously wealthy thanks to close government connections on the back foot.

Akhmetov soon turned into an early target of an anti-graft campaign launched by post-revolt President Petro Poroshenko.

He defended his interests furiously and the initial vigour of Ukraine's drive to clean up business and politics slowed down.

But world lenders to Ukraine consistently point to the problem as one of the biggest stumbling blocks on the post-Soviet country's path toward a Western-style economy that sees sustainable growth.

Ukraine drew praise in December 2016 for taking over the country's largest private bank PrivatBank from another influential tycoon named Igor Kolomoyskiy.

The central bank later reported that 97 percent of the bank's corporate loans went to Kolomoyskiy and another shareholder.

It added that the deposits of half of Ukraine's population of about 40 million would have been jeopardised had PrivatBank gone under.
The Budget has announced a target of Rs 2.44 lakh crore for Mudra Loans during 2017-18.

New Delhi: Banks exceeded the target under government's flagship scheme PMMY by sanctioning loans of more than Rs 1.80 lakh crore to the unorganised sector last fiscal, notwithstanding the impact of demonetisation on banking services for at least two months.

With the objective to 'fund the unfunded', the government had set a loan target of Rs 1.80 lakh crore under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana in 2016-17. "Sanctions currently stand at Rs 1,80,087 crore with final data still awaited from some of the smaller non-banking lenders," said a finance ministry statement.

Of this amount, Rs 1,23,000 crore was lent by banks while non-banking institutions lent about Rs 57,000 crore.

The government had demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes last November, impacting banking operations throughout the country but it did not have any bearing on the operations of the PMMY scheme. Launched in April 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the scheme provides for loans from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh to small entrepreneurs.

The Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Ltd (MUDRA) focuses on the 5.75 crore self-employed who use funds of Rs 11 lakh crore and provide jobs to 12 crore people. Data compiled so far shows the number of borrowers this year were over 4 crore, of which over 70 per cent were women borrowers.

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 achievements of both public sector banks and private banks have been extremely encouraging. 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 said.

The Budget has announced a target of Rs 2.44 lakh crore for Mudra Loans during 2017-18. There would be a special focus within the Mudra Scheme on convergence with other government schemes, deepening connect with borrowers and meeting credit requirements of trainees completing skilling course, it said.

Mudra Loans are available for non-agricultural activities up to Rs 10 lakh and activities allied to agriculture such as Dairy, Poultry, Bee Keeping etc, are also covered.

The statement further said that Mudra's unique features include a Card which permits access to working capital through ATMs and Card Machines.

"Evaluation studies show that banks have been proactive in identifying and disbursing loans to first time borrowers thereby weaning them away from money lenders. Borrowers particularly value three attributes of Mudra Loans viz, non- insistence on guarantor or collateral, simple documentation and quick processing," it said.

Three products are available under the PMMY namely Shishu, Kishor and Tarun to signify the stage of growth and funding needs of the beneficiary micro unit or entrepreneur.

Shishu covers loans up to Rs 50,000 while Kishor covers above Rs 50,000 and up to Rs 5 lakh. Tarun category provides loans of above Rs 5 lakh and up to Rs 10 lakh.
Government borrows money from market to fund the fiscal deficit, thereby increasing public debt. Moody's has a 'Baa3' rating on India with a positive outlook.

New Delhi: Moody's Investors Service today said India's credit profile would improve if it follows the fiscal discipline path and set up a fiscal council as recommended by the FRBM panel.

The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Committee in its report has suggested that the fiscal deficit, which is the difference between expenditure and receipts, should be brought down to 2.5 per cent by 2022-23 from 3.2 per cent in current fiscal.

The recommendations offer a medium-term framework that focuses on fiscal consolidation, while targeting India's debt-to-GDP ratio as a fiscal anchor, Moody's Investors Service India sovereign analyst William Foster said.

"An effective implementation of fiscal discipline within a framework consistent with the FRBM's recommendation and supported by the set-up of a fiscal council would point to a lower debt burden over time and would support India's credit profile," Foster said in a statement.

Former Revenue Secretary N K Singh-headed panel has also recommended bringing down the Centre's debt-GDP ratio to 40 per cent by 2023 from 49 per cent at present.

The combined centre and state government debt to GDP ratio stands at 68.5 per cent. Rating agencies have often red flagged high debt-GDP ratio of India.

Government borrows money from market to fund the fiscal deficit, thereby increasing public debt. Moody's has a 'Baa3' rating on India with a positive outlook.

Among other things, the FRBM committee wanted the existing FRBM Act 2003, to be replaced by a new Debt and Fiscal Responsibility Act and suggested setting up of a 'fiscal council' to provide forecast and analysis of fiscal deficit as well advise the finance ministry on escape clauses.
LEBANON  The Lebanon School Board made good Thursday on a promise to give a statement about complaints heard in closed session last month but said confidentiality prevents the release of details.

Chairman Russ McUne read the prepared statement during Thursday's meeting.

"The board has responded to the complainant as to its conclusions," McUne read. "The board did not find that any actions of personnel had violated any policy or law."

According to McUne's statement, one complaint raised issues about the board's fulfillment of its duties in negotiating and approving a new contract for Superintendent Rob Hess.

"As has been the practice in this district and in other districts as well, the superintendent submitted proposed contract changes to the board, which were in the board packet one week prior to the meeting, thus giving ample opportunity for the board to review," McUne said.

"This proposed contract was similar to the previously negotiated contract written after previous negotiations between the board and Dr. Hess," he continued. "The only changes were for the purpose of updating the term of the contract and the salary and benefits. After the one-week opportunity to review, the board ratified the contract. The board's procedures were in accordance with district policy and state laws regarding the duties and authority of the board."

Board members voted 3-2 in February to extend Hess' contract through 2021 and to move the date of Hess' evaluation from January to June.

Board members Mike Martin and Kellie Weber, who both voted no, said they had questions and concerns about the contract, which they said they did not feel they had a chance to thoroughly review. Some patrons also have voiced concerns.

On March 21, board members met in a special closed session to discuss "a patron complaint about the board and the superintendent," McUne said.

AT that meeting, McUne told waiting residents a statement would be made public if any decisions came from the discussion. About a dozen people waited for the conclusion of the meeting for the board to give that statement but were told it would be released instead in April.

Following Thursday's meeting, McUne said he could not discuss the details about the board portion of the complaint. He said he could do so only "if I had permission from one of the employees, which I don't."

The Lebanon Community School District has been the subject of controversy in recent months after Hess acknowledged a romantic relationship with a district principal. McUne said he could not comment on whether the complaint discussed involved that relationship.
New Delhi: Moving goods worth more than Rs 50,000 under GST will require prior online registration of the consignment and securing an 'e-way bill' that tax officials can inspect anytime during the transit to check tax evasion.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has issued draft rules on Electronic Way (e-way) bill that require registered entities to furnish, in a prescribed format, GST-Network (GSTN) website information relating to any goods worth more than Rs 50,000 they intend to move within a state or outside.

GSTN will generate e-way bills that will be valid for 1-15 days, depending on distance to be travelled - one day being for 100 kilometres and 15 days for more than 1,000 km transit.

"Upon generation of the e-way bill on the common portal, a unique e-way bill number (EBN) shall be made available to the supplier, the recipient and the transporter on the common portal," stated the draft norms.

The person in-charge of conveyance will be required to carry the invoice or bill of supply or delivery challan, and a copy of the e-way bill or the e-way bill number, either physically or mapped to a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) embedded on to the conveyance.

The rules authorise the tax commissioner or an officer empowered by him on his behalf to intercept any conveyance to verify the e-way bill or the number in physical form for all inter-state and intra-state movement of goods.

Physical verification of conveyances can be carried out on specific information of evasion of tax, as per the rules. The officer will be required to submit a summary report of every inspection of goods in transit within 24 hours and the final report within three days of inspection.

"Where a vehicle has been intercepted and detained for a period exceeding 30 minutes, the transporter may upload the said information in (prescribed form) on the common (GSTN) portal," said the guidelines.

Nangia & Co Director (Indirect Taxation) Rajat Mohan believes that the e-Way bill will give respite to countless transporters as now any transporter whose vehicle has been intercepted and detained for a period exceeding 30 minutes, he may upload the said information on the GSTN portal.

Analysts said this provision will act as a two-way sword as now accountability of the tax officer intercepting the vehicle will increase, but at the same time it will give opportunity to the transporter to file complaint.

"I believe electronic way bills would be the final nail in the coffin for people dealing in black markets or in the unorganised sector," Mohan said.

These e-way bills will also come with a mechanism for self-check where every registered supplier will have to pre-inform the government about the location of goods to be transported, which will also be re-confirmed by the transporter, he added.

Although the draft e-way rules did not specify what documents will have to be filled in the bill, experts said the consigner will have to give the name and address of both the sender and receiver of the goods.

Also, they will be required to give description of the goods, its valuation and weight. The government has already come out with nine set of GST rules earlier this month and today unveiled two set of rules for 'assessment and audit' and 'electronic way bills'.

Mohan said the government is eyeing world-class implementation of GST.

"A country like India where per capital GDP is still comparable to countries like Nigeria and the Philippines, Ease of Doing Business Index 2017 still says we are at 130th position in the world.

With such background, is it economically viable and beneficial to implement GST in highly automated environment? Does infrastructure at Indian tier-II and tier-III cities ready to implement GST?" Mohan wondered.
Guwahati: Union Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia today said that more people and business units would come under tax net once GST was implemented from July 1.

"One of the objective (of GST) is to widen the tax net and it will happen once GST comes into force from July," Adhia told reporters here.

Post-GST, indirect tax collection would see a growth of 10 per cent as per government target, he said. Taking part in a discussion with business community of Assam, Adhia urged traders of to adopt the new system as not many of them migrated to GST mode.

On the occasion, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Assam witnessed a 20.57 per cent growth in tax revenue - from Rs 16,000 crore from Rs 12,000 crore - during 2016-17.

"The non-tax revenue also grew by 23 per cent in this time," he added. Talking about GST, the Minister said, "I don't consider this as a taxation law, but it is a unifying factor for India. Assam will be hugely benefited from this."
New Delhi: Farhan Akhtar has expressed his ire over the video in which a security personnel is being roughed up by a youth while he was returning from a polling booth in Srinagar.

Venting out his anger on Twitter, the 43-year-old wrote, "The footage of our soldiers being slapped and heckled is sickening.. their restraint admirable. Action must be taken immediately."

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.
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt at their candid best.

Mumbai: Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were recently felicitated for their acting honors at an award function held in the city.

Both the actors were in all glee on receiving their respective awards.

On holding the award in his hand, chocolate boy Ranbir was in all praises for patakha guddi Alia.

He went on to refer her as the Amitabh Bachchan of Bollywood today.

Now, thats a big thing!

When further Ranbir was asked about his favourite film of Alia, without a second thought, he mentioned Highway.

Alia received heaps of praises for this film and embarked her as a versatile actress, and not as the one who will be known for only essaying the quintessential roles in Hindi movies.

The effervescent jodi of Ranbir and Alia will be seen together in their upcoming film Dragon.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan also stars in Dragon.
Mumbai: Deepika Padukone has been travelling excessively and working round the clock, which ultimately has taken a toll on her health.

A source informed a portal saying, Deepika has suffered neck and back pain, due to which she had to cancel the shoot today.

The source also informed, Deepika was to shoot today. But she experienced some pain in the neck. It was slightly unbearable and hence she decided to skip the shoot and rest.

"It was those heavy costumes that made her feel uncomfortable, and if she kept shooting in those costumes, then that would strain her neck even more.The actress has been advised complete rest for the next 2-3 days as she is in immense pain, adds the source.

Ever since the film Padmavati rolled, thereve been various obstacles in their way. Initially, there was news about issues between the two male leads- Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor.

Later, the Karni Sena of Jaipur attacked the filmmaker while its shoot in Jaipur. Followed by a fire breaking out on the sets of Padmavati in Kolhapur, which caused massive harm to the production team.

While the shoot just resumed last week, once again the films shoot is on a halt considering their ladys ill-health.

Get well soon Deepika!

Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati features Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in meaty roles.

The film is expected to release on November 18.
Mumbai: Ever since Akshay Kumar won the prestigious Best Actor National Award for his role in and as Rustom, people have been whispering how the superstar lobbied his good friend Priyadarshan, who headed the jury this year, into giving him the award.

Akshay, however, vehemently denied these accusations. While talking about his National Award win with a popular tabloid, the actor clarified, I have completed 25 years in the film industry and I've never called in a favour to bag a movie or an award. As for Priyadarshan favoring me, I think he has answered that question in your newspaper.

Priyadarshan, in an interview with the same tabloid, had said, Akshay Kumar deserved the award and we gave it to him. There were a total of 38 jury members with me on this. How can you question the decision of so many people? Ramesh Sippy headed the jury last year. When he gave Best Actor to Amitabh Bachchan for 'Piku' why didn't anyone question him?

The National Award honour has made Akshay very happy and credits his success to the good wishes of his family. I'm very happy. I consider it the blessings of my parents and the good wishes of my family. Mrs. Funnybones (wife Twinkle Khanna) who always teased me on not getting any awards is happy and my happiness lies in making her happy, he was quoted as saying.

On the work front, Akshay will next be seen in Toilet Ek Prem Katha opposite Bhumi Pednekar and is currently shooting for PadMan alongside Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor which marks the debut of his spouse as a film producer.
Mumbai: Varun Dhawan is all excited and training really hard to get into the skin of his twin characters Raja and Prem in his upcoming 'Judwaa 2'.

Varun is currently shooting for the film in London. And one of the characters ladylove Taapsee Pannu is already in London shooting for her parts.

While Taapsee and Varun are already shooting their portions, Jacqueline Fernandez, the heroine paired opposite the other character has yet not begun her shoot for this film.

A source close to Jacqueline informed a portal saying, "She is going to London in the last week of April. It is a 40-day schedule, so the shoot will continue till mid-May."

We've already seen the great solidarity between Varun and Jacqueline on-screen in 'Dishoom' and glimpses of it are also seen off screen.

Itll be interesting to see the fresh pair of Varun and Taapsee mesmerizing the audience.

Well, we are all excited to see Varun in a double role with these lovely ladies.

There are reports that the original star cast of 'Judwaa', Salman Khan has a guest cameo in the film and Karisma Kapoor has been approached for a cameo too in 'Judwaa 2'.
Mumbai: Jude Law has been roped in to play young Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sequel.

The 44-year-old actor will portray Dumbledore long before the wizard became the headmaster at Hogwarts and Harry Potter's mentor, reported Variety.

David Yates is returning to direct the follow-up to the 2016 film.

Eddie Redmayne will be back to star alongside Johnny Depp, who will play the villain Grindelwald.

Albus Dumbledore is one of the most iconic characters in J K Rowling's wizarding world. Richard Harris made the role popular in the first two Harry Potter movies, while Michael Gambon later took over the part after Harris' death in 2002.

"Jude Law is a phenomenally talented actor whose work I have long admired, and I'm looking forward to finally having the opportunity to work with him," Yates said.

The sequel, which begins production this summer, also reunites producers Rowling, David Heyman, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram.

It will hit the US theatres on November 16 next year.
Chennai: Veteran film star Kamal Haasan today came out in support of the CRPF jawans heckled by some persons in Kashmir, saying it was a "shame" on those who did it and credited the force for setting "a fine example."

"Integrate into India . Shame on those who dare touch my soldiers," the actor-director said in a Twitter post.

"Height of valour is nonviolence. CRPF has set a fine example (by not retaliating)," he added.

In the video, a CRPF man on polling duty is seen being heckled by protesters in Chadoora area of Budgam district on polling day on April 9.

The incident had caused a furore, especially in the social media.
Rating:

Director: Srijit Mukherjee

Cast: Vidya Balan, Gauahar Khan, Pallavi Sharda, Ila Arun, Chunky Panday, Mishti Chakravarthy

When a movie features Vidya Balan, one expects a lot from it. The actress is undoubtedly a powerhouse of talent but a poorly-directed film can easily sweep away the attention from a flawless performer. With Begum Jaan, director Srijit Mukherjee remakes his Bengali film Rajkahini that starred Rituparna Sen Gupta in the lead role.

Begum Jaan (Vidya Balan) owns a brothel and looks after it with the help of the King (Naseeruddin Shah). The ruthless king in return sleeps around with every single girl of the brothel. Amma (Ila Arun), Gulabo (Pallavi Sharda), Rubina (Gauahar Khan) and Shabnam (Mishti Chakravarthy) live with Begum Jaan in her brothel. They all live a happy life until India becomes independent in 1947.

Soon after, their lives change upside down. In the meantime, Mr. Srivastava (Ashish Vidyarthi) and Ilias (Rajit Kapoor) order Begum Jaan to vacate the brothel to draw the Indo-Pak border through it. Begum Jaan refuses to do so and the two tough officials appoint a local goon Kabir (Chunky Panday) to vacate the brothel in a months time. What happens next forms the rest of the plot of the film. Will Begum Jaan vacate the brothel or continue staying there and fight for her rights?

Rajkahini, which was released in 2015, is a 3-hour long film and dealt with individual issues of partition and the journey of prostitutes in the brothel. The girls are nowhere close to what life as a prostitute actually looks like, except for Vidya Balan. Though the film wasn't a commercial hit but it was an art film which was critically acclaimed. Director Srijit Mukherjee tried hard to pick up the best pieces from his earlier film and present in a grand manner, but the film looks very forced upon and animated.

This 134-minute feature is a word-for-word copy from Rajkahini (No jokes since its an official remake of it). Even the cinematography of the film is remade. Srijit Mukherjee took the word liberty a little too seriously while remaking this film. He could have (and should have) easily shot the film in a much different and improvised way. The edit of the film also looks a little abrupt.

Point to be noted that Holi comes in the month of August in the special case of Begum Jaan. Really?? What a creative blunder! First half of the film is quite a yawn fest but the second half picked up pace with Vidya's intense act.

Coming to the actors now, to begin with, Vidya Balan, in an attempt to earn the next National award, overplayed in few scenes but obviously, she knows how to cheat and turn an average scene into gold. Cuss words, puffing hookah, boldness of a sex worker, Vidya has done it all to have a hit and somewhat she is succeeded also. Pallavi Sharda and Gauahar Khan are surprisingly good. The scene where Pallavi kills Vivek Mushran after being betrayed is commendable. Gauhar Khan just steals the show in the scene with her lover Sujit. Misthi is just a prop in the film with literally no dialogues. The only time she opens her mouth is to scream when Vidya hits her hard. Ila Arun, Chunky Panday, Vivek Mushran, Ashish Vidyarthi and Rajit Kapoor are impressive in their respective acts.

The film is watchable but only once. The major hiccup in the film is its poor execution and the whole set up looks fabricated. Maybe a better director would have made this film much more bearable. Watch Begum Jaan for Vidya Balan's impressive performance but don't expect it to be a masterpiece!
Oregon State University has scheduled a two-day clinic next week to vaccinate students against the B strain of meningococcal disease.

Shots will be given from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in the Memorial Union Ballroom. The Benton County Health Department and Oregon Health Authority are assisting OSU.

The clinic is a follow-up to a similar event held in March aimed at curtailing the spread of the disease, which has so far infected three students at OSU. All three were treated at Good Samarian Regional Medical Center in Corvallis and released.

Two vaccines against the disease are available, one requiring two doses and the other three. Students can get either the initial injection or a follow-up dose at next weeks clinic.

So far, about 2,500 students have been vaccinated at the university health center or the March 8-9 clinic, and an unknown number have received the vaccine through private medical providers, OSU officials said this week.

The university and local health officials are hoping to vaccinate a target group of about 7,000 students who live in OSU dorms or off-campus group housing such as sororities and fraternities. While not highly contagious, the disease can be transmitted by prolonged exposure to an infected person and spreads more readily in close quarters.

Meningococcal disease primarily afflicts young people and can be serious, sometimes leading to amputation of the extremities or even death. A 2015 outbreak at the University of Oregon sickened seven people and left one student dead.

The vaccine costs up to $405 for a full course of shots, but OSU officials say assistance is available for students without adequate insurance coverage.
Rating:

Cast: Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Charlize Theron

Director: F. Gary Gray

Knocking a Fast and Furious movie for being unrealistic is a little like ripping The Boss Baby for its misleading portrait of a talking infant in a business suit. In both cases, were talking cartoons. Still, some cartoons resonate more forcefully than others. The original The Fast and the Furious (released 16 years ago, if you can believe it), which was based on an article in Vibe magazine about street racing clubs, was grounded in something at least resembling reality. But as the franchise grew, plots and the stunts grew increasingly more ludicrous. In The Fate of the Furious, our heroes walk away from crashes that would put Captain America on the disabled list. Cars fly through air as if they had wings. And dozens of enemy combatants surface out of nowhere whenever the screenplay calls for an extended action sequence. Fine, thats all to be expected. The problem this time around is the plot is particularly idiotic, the supposedly snappy quips are lame and come at some weirdly inappropriate moments, and its all delivered in an extremely bloated package.

The Fate of the Furious clocks in at a snail-like two hours and 16 minutes, proving you can rev your engines and spin your wheels all over the planet, and yet still move at a snails pace. Fast and furious? More like slow and ponderous. At some point, were just numb to the noise. We kick off the action in Havana, which according to this movie is populated almost entirely by gorgeous women in skimpy clothes. Vin Diesels Dom is on his honeymoon with Michelle Rodriguezs Letty, but it doesnt take long for Dom to find himself in an insanely dangerous drag race that endangers hundreds of lives. The following morning, Dom is coming back from the grocery store (yes, theres an obligatory loaf of French bread sticking out from the bag) when he encounters Charlize Therons Cipher, a vicious cyber-terrorist who speaks like a Bond villain forces him to come to work for her on the spot.

And just like that, Dom is helping Cipher in her evil plan to gain control of the world in a very evil way, so she can continue to be the most evil villain on the planet! (Theron is a lot of fun as the evil Cipher, even though we never even get a hint of why this smart, funny, fashionable, fantastic-looking woman is so angry at the world. She looks like she should be hosting a travel show.) So now Doms the bad guy, but Jason Stathams Deckard Shaw has switched sides from the villains to the heroes, and Dwayne Johnsons Hobbs is a good guy but he winds up in prison, and the good guys and bad guys have switched sides so many times in this franchise its enough to give your brain a flat tire. The clunky script calls for regulars such as Tyrese Gibsons Roman, Chris Ludacris Bridges Parker and Kurt Russells Mr Nobody (thats actually his characters name) to disrespect each other and crack one-liners arbitrarily. Moments after Dom has gone rogue and apparently wants to kill them, theyre making jokes. Even within this ludicrous universe, its jarring to hear these supposedly smart folks, who refer to themselves as family, acting like idiots who dont seem to care if they live or die.

Theres no denying the likability of the cast. Diesel still has the range of a hippo in the sun, but Id rather watch him as Dom than that Xander Cage goof. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham have a few good scenes and Helen Mirren shows up in a few scenes, does a downscale British accent and scores one big laugh. The speechmaking from Dom and others about the importance of family is beyond tiring at this point. The use of a baby as a comedic prop isnt nearly as funny as the filmmakers seem to think it is. And of course the ending leaves plenty of room for another sequel, and another, and another... One of these decades, Dom and Co. will be saving the world in wheelchairs.

By arrangement with Asia Features
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.

Chennai: 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 M. S. Sharavanan of Sri Green Productions had taken theatrical exhibition rights of the Tamil movie for the entire states 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 movies 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 films release. The judge, however, directed Sharavanan to reply to the ACE Medias allegations by April 18.


What have Rashmi Gautam, Anasuya Bharadwaj and Sree Mukhi got in common? Popularity on TV and a great demand in Telugu films! Irrespective of it being the big or small screen, it is talent that matters. I think the edge TV gives us is the spontaneity. Since people see us often, we keep reinventing ourselves so that viewers dont get bored of us, and thats probably a reason people like casting TV actors, shares Anasuya, who is in demand, both on TV and in films. After an important role in Kshanam, and special songs in Soggade Chinni Nayana and Winner, buzz is that she has been roped in for a major role in Ram Charans upcoming film with Sukumar.

Rashmi Gautam

But reaching this stage doesnt come easy. In fact, Anasuya reflects on the hard work that brought her here even though many think she progressed quickly to the present position. Rashmi echoes the same. It hasnt been an overnight success story for any of us. Yes, TV made us household names, and we had our share of criticism. Acceptance wasnt immediate, she says, adding that local talent is often ignored in Telugu cinema as filmmakers approach outsiders to play female leads.

Sree Mukhi, yet another popular name, who recently acted in Indraganti Mohana Krishnas Gentleman has a lot of praise coming her way. Indraganti was all praise for her during the films promotions. He said, If you put her popularity on TV aside, she is a very good actress. She surprised me in the film. Sree Mukhi also struggled a lot as an actress before turning to television. Her popularity on TV led to many offers in films.

We roped her for our upcoming film Babu Baga Busy because of her popularity and following, explains producer Abhishek Nama, adding, She is playing an important role and is one of the four female leads. The producer denies that she is doing a special song in the film.

Praveen Sattaru, the director of Guntur Talkies was surprised to see Rashmi Gautams fan following. He is believed to have said that the film doesnt need any publicity as Rashmi is a big advantage due to her popularity.

Interestingly, all the three actresses have no film background and have come so far purely based on their talent. They all started off with small shows on TV and eventually became popular. People are used to watching a lead actress wearing a bikini on screen, but on TV, when we wear a mini-skirt or show a bit of cleavage, it becomes a big issue. I understand that television is watched by the whole family, but we didnt do anything extraordinary. Times are changing and so are we, says Rashmi.
In India too, there is 25 per cent increase in dengue cases each year. (Photo: Pixabay)

New Delhi: Dengue, now a seasonal menace every year in India, has arrived rather early this time.

Cases are already being reported from different parts of Delhi-NCR in March and April itself, months before the monsoons.

The primary reason for this, according to experts, is construction work in different parts of the city and poor upkeep of overhead and curing tanks in residential areas.

According to the WHO, there are about 190 million cases of dengue worldwide with 96 million cases needing treatment. In India too, there is 25% increase each year, mainly attributed to heavier monsoons and ineffective preventive steps to check mosquito breeding.

In this scenario, what can be done? What steps can common citizens take?

Dengue is a tropical disease that originates from four different viruses. Carried by the Aedes egypti mosquito, symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains as well as skin rash. While there is currently no vaccine for dengue, it can be prevented by improving hygiene levels and prevention of mosquito breeding.

Dr Amitabh Parti, Additional Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, gives some useful information and tips below:

What are the most commonly associated symptoms that could be associated with the onset of Dengue?

 Severe headache

 Pain behind the eyes

 Nausea and vomiting

 Swollen glands

 Muscle and joint pain

 Skin rash

 High fever reaching 40C/ 104F

Why are some people more susceptible to Dengue?

 They live in a high-risk zone which has dingy, unclean surroundings with stagnant water that encourages mosquito breeding

 Some of them have been infected with dengue before

 They have low immunity

 Their platelet count is low

A probable diagnosis can be made by assessing:

 The temperature

 Associated symptoms such as nausea and vomiting

 Rash and general pain

The common tests used in dengue diagnosis are:

 Complete Blood Count

 ELISA test for dengue NS1 Ag

 PCR for detecting viral DNA

 Serum IgG and IgM test

Suggested approach on Treatment:

 Please seek medical advice immediately if common symptoms persist

 Drink plenty of fluids

 Symptomatic relief can be sought using NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as paracetamol

 Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen since they can increase the risk of bleeding

 Follow instructions of medical practitioners diligently

If Dengue fever progresses to dengue shock syndrome, look out for these symptoms and visit your nearest hospital immediately:

 Severe pain in the abdomen

 Myalgia

 Fluid accumulation in the liver

 Hemorrhages

 Nausea

 Fluid accumulation in the chest

 Headache

How to prevent dengue:

 Make sure all egg-laying habitats of mosquitoes, such as open and stagnant water sources are cleaned up

 If there are any open water sources you cannot eliminate, cover them and apply appropriate insecticides

 Use protections such as window screens, long-sleeved clothes, insecticide-treated materials, coils, vaporizers and repellant creams to avoid being bitten by mosquitos

 A person can suffer from dengue a second time if the viral strain is different from the initial infection. So ensure adequate protection.
Bengaluru: A 30-year-old man, who allegedly poisoned his wife and six-year-old son, ended his life by consuming poison in Yalahanka police station limits on Thursday morning. While the father and son died, the mother is battling for life. Debts and losses in business is said to be the reason for the incident.The deceased have been identified as Mithun Kumar and his son Gagan, while his wife Roja, 25, is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

The family, which hailed from Tumakuru, had shifted to Bengaluru nine months ago and was living in Narayanappa Layout. Mithun was running a poultry near Bommasandra.According to the police, the incident took place on around 10.30 am on Thursday and came to light when a relative came to check on them, after they did not answer to his phone calls.The relative found the trio unconscious and with the help of neighbours, he shifted them to a hospital, where the father and son were declared brought dead. As Rojas condition was critical, she was admitted to the ICU.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Mithun had raised loans and had set up a poultry near Bommasandra. As the business was not doing well, he was unable to repay debts. This had also affected his relationship with his wife and the couple fought frequently over trivial issues. Mithuns parents had learnt about it and had visited them in the morning and had advised them not to fight and assured them that things would improve. After they left, this incident took place, police added.
Chennai: A girl employed in a private investment banking firm was assailed late on Wednesday night by a couple in Choolaimedu while she was leaving after feeding a couple of street dogs in Choolaimedu.

The couple who held her accountable for the stray dog menace involved her in an altercation during which they also tried to push her down from the first floor.

Savithra Manoharan, who loves to feed stray dogs in the locality, was leaving when the male started complaining about the accretion in stray dog menace since she began feeding them. Savithra retorted saying she was not the appropriate person to complain to about the menace of strays and that the Corporation of Chennai would be the apt body to deal with those sort of complaints.

The suspect, who flexed his muscles, warned Savithra of dire consequences if her act recurred in that street, besides making male chauvinist comments with his wife acting in chorus and they were joined by an elderly man too. The wife allegedly made a sweeping statement that Savithra was into drugs.

Savithra responded to the trio trying to talk sense into them about gender sensitivity and her free will to feed dogs. The suspect dared Savithra to come up to him and vowed to teach her a lesson if she did. Savithra went to the first floor corridor where the suspect dragged her by her hair and banged her head on the wall. Before that, he stripped Savithra of her gym jacket and her helmet.

The couple also tried to push Savithra over the railing from the first floor and Savithra had to wriggle out of their clutches to save herself. The parting shot by the suspect was, Catch hold of her and lock her inside, let me show her who I am.

Savithra who suffered concussions in the head and cut injuries in both cheeks and lips was admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) and is kept under observation.

A complaint has been lodged with Choolaimedu Police who blamed the girl for having precipitated the situation by trespassing into the couples premises while the girl maintained that she entered the apartment complex to find the door number before lodging a complaint.
Hyderabad: A software engineer was arrested for live streaming a sex act with his wife on a porn site. The man who works for a city MNC said that he did it for money. However, his wife who is also a techie, came to know of the video and lodged a complaint with Cyberabad police. Using the IP address of the Net connection from which the video originated the police traced the suspect. The incident happened in 2016 and his wife lodged a complaint in November 2016. The husband was remanded.

The husband, 33, and his wife, stay at Jeedimetla. As he was going through a financial crisis he started searching for other options. He came to know about demand for male escorts and he registered himself on three websites and posted his mobile number offering services to women. His wife came to know of this and warned him to avoid such things. However, he continued his sexual escapades. In November last, his wife came to know that her explicit video had been uploaded on a porn site and she approached the police.

The police blocked the video and launched an inquiry which led them to Kerala where they caught a person who had uploaded the video, using the IP address of the Gmail account he had used. He said that he had found the video live streamed on a porn chat website and he uploaded it to the porn site. The police booked a case against the Keralite who uploaded the video.

It took the police six months to trace the suspect who was the woman's husband himself. After checking his bank accounts and browsing history and analysing his laptop, police zeroed in on him.By playing a movie on his laptop he diverted his wifes attention and switched on its webcam. Though he filmed the entire act he took precautions that only his wife was visible, ACP S. Jayaram said.

Police found that the chat website which the techie used had around 3,000 members and anyone who liked the video will purchase tokens from the organiser, which will be converted and paid to the person who uploaded the content.
Beldar, resident of Nisarga Dutta Nagar here, was apparently depressed because of financial and family issues, police said. (Representational image)

Nashik (Maharashtra): A 50-year-old man murdered his two children and later set himself on fire, the city police said on Friday.

Sunil Beldar, the accused, died of burn injuries at a hospital Friday morning.

Beldar, resident of Nisarga Dutta Nagar here, was apparently depressed because of financial and family issues, police said.

Thursday afternoon he strangled his daughter Vaishnavi (10) and son Devraj (8) to death, and also tried to kill the elder daughter who is 12 years old by giving her insecticide to drink, police said.

Ashok Bhagat, in-charge of Upnagar police station, said when Sunil's wife realised what had happened, she locked him in his room and raised alarm. Sunil then set himself on fire.

While he died in hospital this morning, the elder daughter was undergoing treatment.

According to the police, Sunil and his wife were living separately and on Thursday he had persuaded her to come back from her parents' house. He had lost his job and started giving private tuitions. Further probe is on.
Pune: 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 on Thursday.

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, said 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."
Hyderabad: A professor fell prey to revenge porn: His morphed images and phone number were uploaded on gay websites.The victim, a resident of LB Nagar, was flooded with calls from strangers at odd hours, seeking a physical relationship and also asking lurid details. On inquiring from a caller, he came to know that his mobile number had been put up on a gay website. The professor complained to the cybercrime police, and said he did not suspect anyone. Police booked a case and sent the pictures to forensic analysis.
The mid-valley's near-constant rain this winter and spring has caused a setback or two for the new station under construction for the Albany Police Department.

"The weather was hard on us," said Jerry Sherman, superintendent for Gerding Builders LLC. "The roofing is a fully adhered roof, so you can't install it in the rain. That's our biggest hindrance right now."

However, Sherman said, he hasn't done any formal calculations to see how much time the company might have to make up, and he's still looking for completion sometime in September.

"Let's just say we're close," he said of the initial construction timeline.

This week, crews with L.P. Company Inc. of Salem were working to frame in the soffits while John Spinney of Double Eagle Construction in Corvallis smoothed the concrete finish on the evidence room for vehicles.

Next week, Sherman said, framing will start for the offices and dispatch center, which will be on the second floor.

The two-story, 40,400-square-foot building, at a budgeted cost of about $12 million, is being constructed in the 2600 block of Pacific Boulevard Southwest. It is still generally on time and on budget, Sherman said.

Voters approved the project, along with a two-story, $7.5-million fire station on Lyon Street, as part of a May 2015 bond measure that gave the city the authority to issue up to $18 million in bonds.
Hyderabad: G Swati, wife NRI Techie G. Madhukar Reddy who committed suicide in US earlier, attempted suicide at her maternal home in Chaitanyapuri early on Friday consuming more than half a litre of Harpic bathroom cleaning liquid due to alleged harassment by her in-laws.

Two days back, she had said that her husband committed suicide due to depression. Doctors said her condition was critical and her dying declaration (DD) was recorded by a magistrate.

On Thursday, her parents slept in one room while Swati and her daughter slept in another. Around 5.30 am on Friday, she consumed the liquid. When she could not bear the pain, she started shouting. Panicked parents rushed her to a hospital where doctors said that she may have consumed more than half litre of the chemical. A team of doctors was monitoring her condition.

She sustained third grade injuries. Her intestines and stomach are damaged badly. She is kept in critical care observation for the next 48 hours. Medical Director of Omni Hospital Dr Venkataraman Reddy said.

Knowing the intensity of the burns, her DD was recorded by a magistrate. Chaitanyapuri Police also registered a case on her parents complaint, a harassment case against Swatis father-in-law G Bal Reddy, mother-in-law Suguna and sister in law Kalpana.
The Choutuppal police had foiled three child marriages last month. Police said the awareness programmes conducted in the interior villages against the practice were bearing fruit.(Representational Image)

Hyderabad: A school student who had participated in an awareness programme to prevent child marriages helped the police rescue her minor friend from getting married. Elsewhere, locals tipped off the police who foiled three other child marriages and rescued two 16-year-old students in Choutuppal on the city outskirts on Friday.

The Choutuppal police had foiled three child marriages last month. Police said the awareness programmes conducted in the interior villages against the practice were bearing fruit.

On Tuesday, SHE teams conducted an awareness programme for about 150 students at Kasturba Gandhi Girls High School in Rampally. One of the students who participated in the programme informed a SHE team about her friends marriage.

During an interaction after the programme, one of the students informed a team member about the marriage of her friend being performed in Rampur thanda. Teams immediately rushed to the village and rescued the girl. Her parents were also counselled, ACP SHE teams Snehitha said.

The other incidents of rescue of child brides took place in Puligirla in Valigonda mandal and at Valigonda where a 16-year-old girl was to be married to a 22-year-old man from Warangal. Locals informed anganwadi workers, who called the police.

At Sunkishala, a 16-year-old Intermediate student was forced into marriage with her 23-year-old relative. The girl was rescued and parents from both sides were counselled and bound over.

Rachakonda commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said whoever permitted, allowed, performed or attended a child marriage could be convicted to two years in jail and be slapped with a Rs1 lakh fine. Police can be informed about child marriages on 100 or WhatsApp on 9490617111. he said.
New Delhi: Stung by its poor performances in Punjab and Goa Assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has changed its strategy of directly attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi ad has decided to focus on "positive campaign" as it faces litmus test in the MCD municipal polls.

A party leader said the AAP will resort to what it did during the 2015 Delhi Assembly polls-- a "positive campaign".

"We are adopting the same strategy used by the party before 2015 assembly polls in which we went to people convincing about the positive work done during our 49-day government.

"We have seen the outcome of a positive campaign in the 2015 Assembly polls and will continue to do that for the MCD polls," said a senior party leader.

Another reason behind not targeting Modi in the MCD polls is the massive victory the BJP scored in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Delhi has a sizable voter population that belongs to the two states.

The AAP leader said attacking Modi directly during the MCD polls campaign may backfire.

In the recent Assembly election in Punjab, AAP could win 20 of 117 seats, while drew a blank in 40-member Goa Assembly.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, AAP's strategy revolved around attacking Modi. Kejriwal himself unsuccessfully contested against Modi from Varanasi.

The party fared badly in the polls failing to win even a single seat in its home turf in Delhi.

The AAP then changed its strategy during the Assembly polls and focused on the works it it did during its 49-day rule. However, its attack on the BJP continued, with barbs on

Modi. The AAP won 67 out of 70 seats in the Assembly polls.

In its MCD campaign, the party is rarely highlight the two years of tussle between the AAP govt and the Lt Governor and "the Centre not allowing the Delhi government to work".

The thrust remains on subsidies on electricity and water, "internationally acclaimed" mohalla clinics and the "revolution" in the education sector.

In the last fortnight, the party exercised a lot of restraint and did not attack Modi even when Lt Governor Anil Baijal ordered recovery of Rs 97 cr spent on advertisements.

When the PWD department of the Delhi government asked the AAP to vacate its office immediately, all the attack was on the BJP and there wasn't a single word against Modi.

In his rallies too, Kejriwal has been vehemently attacking the BJP, but not Modi.

For instance, during a rally at Matiala in west Delhi and Nangloi in north-west Delhi last week, the CM talked about the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and BJP-led MCDs' "inability" to deal with problem of sanitation in the city.

"Don't vote for the BJP. They can't even remain true to their Prime Minister," Kejriwal said.

He also referred to the CBI raid on office of his former principal secretary Rajendra Kumar in the Delhi Secretariat and case registered against PWD Minister Satyendar Jain. Againthere was no reference to Modi.

After the raid on Kumar's office in December 2015, Kejriwal had invited criticism for accusing the PM of staging the raid and calling him a "coward" and a "psychopath".

A sample analysis of Kejriwal tweets, who has over 11 million followers second only to Modi, post Punjab and Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll results speaks volumes on this.

From March 4 to 10-- the week leading up to the results on March 11-- Kejriwal tweeted and retweeted 181 tweets.

Of these, 49 had reference to Modi, almost all bashing him, 22 of were attacking the BJP and the RSS while 88 tweets were eulogising the work done by the Delhi government. Rest were general tweets.

From March 11-17, the week after the results, Kejriwal hasn't sent out even one tweet attacking Modi, but his sporadic attack on the BJP remains.

The attack this time was on the Election Commission over alleged tampering of Electronic Voting Machines.

Interestingly, Kejriwal, who is known for using tweets to put his message across, did not tweet for two days during this period.

But will the "restraint" last long? "Every election has a different strategy. Taking Modi head on is an integral part of party's strategy. It may have been altered for this MCD polls, but not for too long," the AAP leader said.
Nagpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the BHIM-Aadhaar digital payments platform to boost the digital payments revolution in the country.

Prime Minister Modi said, "The Bhim App will give more power to the poor. Soon the poor of the country will chant Digidhan, Nijidhan. Your mobile phone will be your bank."

The Prime Minister further said that the world will study BHIM App's success.

BHIM-Aadhaar, the merchant interface of the BHIM App will pave the way for digital payments by using the Aadhaar platform enabling each Indian to pay digitally using their biometric data on a merchant`s biometric-enabled device like a SmartPhone with a biometric reader.

Prime Minister Modi launched two new incentive schemes for the BHIM-Cashback and Referral Bonus with an outlay of Rs 495 crore for a six-month period to ensure permeating digital payments culture to the grassroots.

Under the Referral Bonus Scheme, both the existing user who refers BHIM and the new user who adopts it would get a cash bonus credited directly to their accounts. Per referral, the government will deposit Rs. 10 to the account holder. The scheme will run till October 14.

Under the Cash Back scheme, the merchants will get a cash back on every transaction using BHIM.

Prime Minister Modi also felicitated some of the winners of the Mega Draw.

Joining the culmination of the DigiDhan Mela, Prime Minister Modi presented awards to the mega draw winners of Lucky Grahak Yojna and DigiDhan Vyapar Yojna.

Rs 1 crore, 50 lakh and 25 lakh mega rewards were announced to small consumers for using Digital Payments Lucky Grahak Yojana.

Daughter of small kirana store owner from Latur District in Maharashtra, Shraddha received Rs 1 crore mega reward by Prime Minister Modi.
Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Police on Friday conducted raids at the office and residence of former corporator V Nagraj alias Bomb Naga, in connection with a kidnapping case.

However, what they found was a stash of demonetised currency notes totalling Rs 25 crores in value, said an NDTV report. After 5 hours, the notes were still being counted.

Some sharp weapons were also recovered from Bomb Nagas house.

#WATCH: Police raids office of former corporator V Nagraj in Bengaluru, recovers more than Rs. 40 crores of demonetised currency pic.twitter.com/GePuOpdmUp  ANI (@ANI_news) April 14, 2017

Nagraj was not at home, following which the police broke the lock and searched the premises.

"On complaint of kidnapping for ransom and robbery, East division of Police of Bengaluru city conducted search and seizure operation here against V. Nagraj, who has been rowdy for a while and was involved in various criminal cases also. On the order of honourable court, we have conducted the raid. Still the search operation is going on," Additional Commissioner of Police Hemant Nimbalkar said to ANI.

"We have recovered some old currency and the counting is still going on. At the same time, sharp edged weapons and some documents pertaining to property are also recovered. The investigation will draw light that for what reason such a huge amount of cash was there especially of old currency and the way he kept the currency is also suspicious. Investigation is still on," he added.

In 2004, Nagraj contested the Assembly elections from the Gandhinagar constituency against Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president Dinesh Gundurao. He lost the elections with a margin of 500 votes.

Throwing light on this case, Nimbalkar said the complainant was kidnapped on the pretext of showing a piece of land to him, and he was called to a particular place. He was later kidnapped from that place. The kidnappers also took away all his money. They, however, later released him on ransom and threatened him not to file any police complaint.
With the closure of nearly 150 liquor shops on National Highway, the officials started relocating the shops to residential areas. (Photo: Representational Image)

Coimbatore: About 35 persons, including Congress and DMK workers, were arrested today when they attempted to lay siege of a government-run liquor outlet in the city, police said.

With the closure of nearly 150 liquor shops on National Highway, the officials started relocating the shops to residential areas, drawing large scale protest from the public, causing hardships to local people, the protestors said.

The agitators shouted slogans against the relocation and attempted to lay siege to the shop, police said.
Chennai: A First Information Report (FIR) was filed on Friday against Tamil Nadu ministers K Raju, U Radhakrishnan, R Kamaraj and state government's special representative NT Sundaram, said ANI.

The Chennai police filed a case against the ministers for obstructing Income Tax (IT) officials during raids at Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskars residence.

IT department had on Thursday filed a complaint against R Kamaraj, U Radhakrishnan and Sundaram for obstructing their officials, and asked Chennai police to take action.

The IT department had last week summoned Vijayabaskar, actor Sarath Kumar and an educationist to appear before it in cases of tax evasion.

Last week, nearly 100 sleuths of the IT department along with security personnel had conducted searches at over 30 locations across the state belonging to the official residence and properties owned by Vijayabaskar and also at the home of Sarath Kumar in Chennai.

The searches on the premises of an associate of the minister allegedly revealed routing of Rs 89 crore for "distribution to voters" in RK Nagar Assembly constituency which goes to the poll on April 12.

Vijayabaskar, who is a prominent loyalist of the AIADMK (Amma) faction, had slammed the raids by the I-T department saying, "their intentions were not fulfilled."

"They have not seized any unaccounted money or documents. Their intentions are not fulfilled by the raids," he had said.

But the Election Commission cancelled the bypoll in RK Nagar late on Sunday, after examining the documents submitted by IT officials.
Vadodara: A Congress activist of Dalit community was injured in a clash with BJP workers following a dispute on who will garland the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar on his birth anniversary.

Before city Mayor Bharat Dangar could reach the spot, Congress worker Mitesh Parmar tried to garland the statue saying he is a Dalit and it is his right to do so. The BJP workers tried to stop him saying that as per the protocol, the mayor will garland the statue first.

This led to an argument and later a clash broke out between the workers of both the parties. The police detained Parmar and took him to Gotri police station where he complained of chest pain and injuries on his body.

Police took him to a nearby hospital for treatment. He was later shifted to the city's SSG hospital. In his complaint lodged with the Gotri police, Parmar said he was "heavily beaten up by BJP workers" in the presence of Mayor Dangar, MP Ranjanben Bhatt and other corporators.

He demanded that action should be taken against those involved in the incident. City Congress unit president Prashant Patel and leader of opposition in Vadodara Municipal Corpration Chandrakant Bhatthu rushed to the spot after the incident.

They staged a dharna alleging that their party worker Parmar was wrongly detained by the police and demanded his immediate release. Meanwhile, Mayor Dangar, BJP MP Bhatt and other party leaders from the city garlanded the statue of Ambedkar and paid rich tributes to him. The local BJP leaders refused to comment on the incident.
Hyderabad: A 18-year-old girl fell off the parapet of a building in the city on Wednesday while talking on her mobile phone. She succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment a hospital on Thursday.

According to the police, the deceased, Edula Mamatha was studying degree second year in a college in Dilsukhnagar. A resident of Saroornagar, she did not venture out of her house for the last four days as she was not keeping well after writing her final examinations.

On Wednesday night after having dinner, she came out into the balcony around 8.30 pm while talking to somebody on her mobile.

While talking, she sat on the parapet wall, but she lost balance and fell down accidentally. She fell to the ground floor on a cement block from the second floor and sustained severe head injuries, said Saroornagar sub-inspector H. Prabhaker.

It is not clear as to whether she fell off immediately after sitting on the parapet wall or she lost balance after sitting on the wall as she was engrossed on the phone.

Mamatas parents, who noticed her fall, rushed her to a nearby private hospital, where she succumbed to injuries on Thursday morning.

Based on a complaint from her father, police registered a suspicious death case and handed over the body to the family after post-mortem.
Hyderabad: The hotel industry in the city is under pressure from the GHMC with regard to purchase of unstamped meat. Hotel owners have complained to the Mayor that the GHMC is barking up the wrong tree. Instead of cracking down on the source  that is, the illegal slaug-htering of animals, and butchers  the civic body is making hotels pay fines for using meat that is not certified by the GHMC.

It is doing so because those in the slaughtering business are vote banks for both the ruling party and the opposition, the hoteliers cla-im. The GHMC does not enter slaughter houses across the city because these are backed by politicians, they say.

S. Venkat Reddy, president of the Telangana Hotel Association, said, The quantity of meat required and procured by hotels, differs. Some need 10 kg, others more or less. For a small qua-ntity of 5 kg for a hotel located in Gachibowli, the management will not travel all the way to the modern GHMC app-roved slaughter house in Bhoiguda; instead the management would buy from a local vendor.

He says hotels look at time and cost management. Big hoteliers will not risk business by compromising on the quality of meat, he said, and made the point that if GHMC wants to regulate the industry, it should either construct more slaughter houses in all zones of the city, or stop the slaughtering at the source.

However, the civic body stands by its decision and says it will continue to raid hotels.

Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy, said, The GHMC warns the owners of hotels and restaurants not to buy meat from illegal slaughter houses. In case of violation found in raids, penalty will be imposed.
We can't guess how the legal battle between Entek International in Lebanon and the state of Oregon will play out.

But we can say what we think should happen next: Entek and the state should reach an agreement to place air monitors near the company's manufacturing plant in Lebanon, so we can get some hard data.

Here's the weird thing about this: We don't sense a fundamental disagreement on this point between Entek and the state. Instead, one of the key sticking points in this controversy hinges on the question of how exactly people in the Lebanon area should be told about why the monitors are being placed.

Even though this is a complex matter, the fundamentals are reasonably easy to grasp. Here are the keys:

 At issue is the amount of trichloroethylene (TCE) used at Entek's Lebanon plant, which employs 500 or so people. The company uses the substance in its manufacturing process. It's a carcinogen.

 By every account, Entek currently is compliant with all its permits and applicable regulatory standards for TCE.

 State officials, however, note that there are nonregulatory standards and federal health-based thresholds for TCE. Those standards do not have the force of law, but the officials say they can be used to identify potential health threats. (The state's nascent Cleaner Air Oregon initiative is among the efforts aiming to set health-based allowable risk levels for air toxics, including TCE.)

 Recent computer modeling by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies suggests that the levels of TCE in the air outside the Entek plant, while still well below the legal and permitted levels, might be higher than some of these nonregulatory standards.

 But the computer modeling does not translate to actual ambient air data, and in some cases might be based on relatively old data: That's why the state was proposing to place the air monitors on private property near the plant. As far as we can tell, Entek (which is working with a consultant, CH2M Hill, on more detailed modeling) has no objection to the air monitors.

 Entek's worries are focused more on the draft communications plan that state officials were proposing to implement a day or two after a meeting last week with the company  a meeting that company officials characterized as an "ambush." The company fears that releasing information about a possible carcinogen could stoke unnecessary fears and harm the company, especially in the absence of the hard data that would be provided by the air monitors. So it got a temporary injunction blocking the state from rolling out the communications plan.

Entek officials met with their employees over the weekend. And the legal battle triggered by Entek's motion prompted the state to essentially detail, in a legal document, most of the information that it would have used in its communications plan. So the only Lebanon residents who don't know about this are people who don't work for Entek or who don't have the time to go through dozens of pages of court filings.

All the more reason for the state and Entek to sit back down and reach an agreement on these fundamentals: CH2M Hill will have data from its most recent modeling ready by April 24, but we're at the point where all the parties need to see the hard data from the air monitors. So let's get those placed.

In the meantime, surely the state and Entek can reach agreement on how to get the word out about the monitoring to interested citizens in a factual, noninflammatory way.

And there's a lesson here for the state: A different approach toward the company might have prevented the court fight in the first place and led to a calmer dissemination of information of importance to Lebanon residents. (mm)
Islamabad/ New Delhi: India said today it would appeal against the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav and demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the army court order in the case, besides seeking consular access to the retired Indian navy officer.

This was conveyed by Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale to Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua during a meeting sought by him.

"We would definitely go to appeal against the judgement but we cannot do it unless we have the details of charges and the copy of verdict. So, my first demand was to provide us the details of the charge-sheet and copy of the verdict," he said.

Expressing disappointment over Pakistan turning down Indias request for consular access to Jadhav, the Indian envoy said, "They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have forcefully asked for consular access on the basis of international law and on humanitarian grounds as he is an Indian national."

Apart from diplomatic options, India is also exploring legal remedies permitted under Pakistan's legal system.

Bambawale also said that he has no information about former Pakistani army officer Mohammad Habib who reportedly went missing from Nepal.

Pakistani officials suspect that Indian spy agencies were behind his disappearance.

Foreign Secretary Janjua said the trial against Jadhav was conducted under the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and Official Secret Act of 1923, according to a statement.

She said that during the period of trial, "due judicial process was followed and he was provided a lawyer in accordance with relevant laws and the constitution of Pakistan".

Janjua alleged that the Pakistanis "incarcerated" in Indian prisons have not been provided consular access for years, despite repeated requests and follow-up by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

She said the "rhetoric in the Indian Parliament was unwarranted and only added to fuelling hatred against Pakistan which was not conducive for promoting cordial ties between the two countries, in accordance with our Prime Minister?s vision for peace in the region."

Pakistan said the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav was based on "credible" and "specific" evidence that prove his involvement in spying and terror activities and asserted that more active diplomacy is needed to arrest the "growing crises" in the Indo-Pak ties.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that due process of law was followed in the trial of 46-year-old Jadhav.

Aziz in a detailed statement read out to the media at the Foreign Office said that India through its reaction was aggravating the situation.

Rejecting Indian accusation of unfair trial, Aziz said that the first FIR against was lodged on April 8, 2016 by police's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.

He said detailed trial was held and all relevant laws including Evidence Act and recording of statement before a magistrate were followed. Jadhav was also provided legal assistance.

"Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is responsible for espionage, sabotage and terrorism in Pakistan, has been tried according to the law of the land, in a fully transparent manner whilepreserving his rights, as per the Constitution of Pakistan,"he said.

"His sentence is based on credible, specific evidence proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan."

Aziz "condemned" the Indian reaction over Jadhav's sentencing and warned that it would further "aggravate the people-to-people hostility".

"I would like to ask India why Kulbhushan Jhadav was using a fake identity impersonating as a Muslim? Why would an innocent man possess two passports, one with a Hindu name and another with a Muslim name? Since India has no credible explanation about why their serving Naval Commander was in Balochistan, it has unleashed a flimsy propaganda campaign.

"Inflammatory statements and rhetoric about 'pre-meditated murder' and 'unrest in Balochistan', will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose," Aziz warned.

"We condemn the baseless allegations from India, especially in the light of the fact that it was non-cooperation and lack of Indian response to Pakistans request for legal assistance, due to which consular access has not been provided to Mr. Jadhav.

"We expect India to behave responsibly and refrain from issuing statements that will further aggravate people to people hostility. More active diplomacy is therefore needed to arrest the growing crises in India-Pakistan relations before it becomes even more serious," Aziz said.

Providing details of the trial, Aziz said that the confessional video statement of Jhadav followed by initial FIR in CTD Quetta on April 8, 2016.

The initial interrogation was done May 2 and detailed interrogation on May 22. It was followed by the constitution of a Joint Investigation Team on July 12.

The confessional statement under Section 164 CrPC was recorded on July 22 and recording of summary of evidence done on September 24.

The first trial proceeding was held on September 21, second proceeding on October 19, third proceeding on November 29, 2016 and fourth proceeding on February 12, 2017. The death sentence was endorsed on April 10, 2017.

Aziz said that a law qualified field officer was provided to defend Jadhav throughout the court proceedings.

Aziz said Jadhav can appeal against the verdict of the military tribunal within 40 days to a military Appellate Court. He can file an appeal to the army chief within 60 days against the decision of the Appellate Court.

Jadhav can file mercy petition to the President of Pakistan within 90 days if the army chief rejects the appeal for clemency.

Aziz listed a several cases of terrorism in which he said Jadhav was involved.

"He was part of sabotage and terrorism in which civilians and security personnel were killed," he claimed.

Aziz also accused that Jadhav orchestrated attacks against minority Shia Hazara community in Quetta.

Aziz also said that India has not allowed consular access to many Pakistani prisoners for many years despite repeated requests.

He also said that all political parties had supported the decision of the military tribunal and the entire nation was united against any threat.

The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General Bajwa after the Field General Court Martial found him guilty of "espionage and sabotage activities" in Pakistan.

India had yesterday criticised the Pakistan government for not sharing Jadhav's location and details of his condition and said that the international norm to provide consular access was not followed. India and Pakistan have a bilateral agreement on consular access.

Meanwhile, there was no official confirmation on reports of India asking its high commission in Pakistan to go slow on visas to Pakistan nationals in wake of the development.
Journalists look at an image of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016, during a press conference by Pakistan's army spokesman and the Information Minister, in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Photo: AP)

Islamabad/New Delhi: India on Friday demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of its national Kulbhushan Jadhav and sought consular access to him.

Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying.

"I have asked for a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav," Bambawale told PTI.

"They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have again requested the Pakistan Foreign Secretary to give access to Jadhav so that we can appeal," he said.

Sources in New Delhi said apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhav's family appealing against the verdict.

Pakistan's top military Generals yesterday decided not to make any "compromise" on the death sentence given to 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 death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General 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.

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.
Kasargod: Another missing youth from Kerala, suspected to have joined the Islamic State group, has reportedly been killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.

Murshid Muhammed, a native of Padna in this district, was killed in a drone attack in Nangarhar province in Afghanistan, said Abdur Rahiman, an Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader in Padna.

Rahiman, also a social activist, said he received the message yesterday on social media app, Telegram.

"The exact date could not be known yet... The message did not come from the usual source...I could not get more details," Rahiman said on Friday over the phone.

Murshid was among the 21 persons from Kerala, who reportedly went missing after travelling to the Middle East last year and were suspected to have joined the terrorist organisation in Syria.

However, Chandera police did not confirm the news saying, "We have no information about it."

Two months ago, another youth T K Hafeesudeen (24), also from Padna, was killed in a drone attack in Afghanistan.
Lucknow: The State Election Commission on Thursday 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 said, adding that he was awaiting a reply in this regard.

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 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.
Kolkata: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today refuted Pakistan's claim of a fair trial being given to retired navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav and said all efforts were being made to secure justice for the Indian national.

"I do not agree with what Pakistan has said. Kulbhushan Jadhav did not get a fair trial," he told a press meet here.

"All efforts are being made to secure justice for Jadhav. We will do everything," he added.

Pakistan, earlier in the day, said the death sentence to Jadhav was based on "credible" and "specific" evidence that proved his involvement in spying and terror activities and that a more active diplomacy was needed to arrest the "growing crises" in the Indo-Pak ties.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said due process of law was followed in the trial of 46-year-old Jadhav.
New Delhi/Islamabad: India is placing its 14th 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.

The 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 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 Jadhavs death sentence. New Delhi also said it had no knowledge of Jadhav's location in Pakistan or his condition, asserting that the government was making all efforts to get him back.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that India will go to any extent to ensure justice for former navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, described by the Indian government as a kidnapped, innocent person.

He said external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had already made the countrys stand clear in this regard and that whatever he had said in Parliament a few days back remains unchanged. We will go to any extent to ensure justice to Jadhav, he added.

On whether 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 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 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, 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 Jadhavs hanging could have on their ties and vowed to go out of the way to save him amid pervasive outrage in the country.

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.

Meanwhile, the UN 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 the Pakistani military court to Jadhav.
Chennai: Condemning the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC)s move to replace the existing Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) notification, 2011, with a new Marine Coastal Regulation Notification (MCRZ), fisherfolk from Chennai and neighbouring districts have threatened to go on strike, if the government does not withdraw the draft.

The new rules,which welcome commercial activities on the shore, is a threat to the marine eco system, cry environmentalists.

Although MCRZ extends to at least 500 metres towards the landward side from the high-tide line demarcated by the government, it encourages certain activities like land reclamation for commercial purposes that were banned earlier.

The proposed changes significantly weaken the essence of the CRZ Notification, introduced with the aim of protecting the coast and securing the livelihoods of the communities that are dependent on a healthy coastline, said Saravanan K, secretary of the Urur Kuppam Fishermens Co-operative Society.

According to the MCRZ Draft, reclamation of water bodies and other wetlands for commercial activities is allowed. Fishermen said that the move would further compromise access to coastal livelihood commons and increase the vulnerability of coastal communities to extreme weather events such as cyclones, heavy rainfall and drought.

Fishermen communities are distressed over the fact that the government chose to dilute the environmental laws, when the implementation of the existing laws itself are quite poor.

The number of increasing cases in the National Green Tribunal on the lines of encroachment makes it evident that the coast is not safe, despite existing stringent laws.

All along our coasts, acres of livelihood spaces including fishing grounds are being lost to illegal development, the existing laws calls for action to be taken on such violations. It is an irony that the violators of environmental laws are not penalized often, said K. Bharathi of the South Indian Fishermens Federation.

The fishermen had not fallen prey to the draft MCRZ notification, which also allows setting up of fish-processing units.

Relaxing the CRZ 2011 will in no way improve the way our coasts are being managed but rather complicate existing problems. If the central government is to proceed, we will organize protests to ensure that the MCRZ is abandoned and the CRZ Notification 2011 is strengthened, added Saravanan K.
RAMESWARAM: The Coastal Security Group police rescued a Sri Lankan Tamil woman of Indian origin and her three children early on Thursday, as they were found stranded in one of the manal thittus (the series of sand mounds that make up the so-called Adams Bridge) in the shallow sea waters of the Palk Strait off Arichalmunai point near Dhanushkodi, the lands southeastern end in this pilgrim-island.

The 28-year-old woman refugee, Ms. Thangam, with her three children, Lakshika (5), Aisthika (4) and one-year-old baby Subeekshan, had been waiting, apparently for a local boat to ferry them to the shores of Rameswaram when they were spotted by the CSG police and safely brought to the Mandapam marine coastal police station.

Enquiries revealed that Thangam, who hails from Thoothukudi, had married a Sri Lankan Tamil Vigneswaran some six years back and had been taken by her husband to Northern Sri Lanka.

After Vigneswaran had left for Saudi Arabia in search of a job, Thangam was said to be frequently embroiled in domestic quarrels with her mother-in-law.

Thangam then decided to return to her mothers place in Thoothukudi and had taken a clandestine boat to Rameswaram from Mannar. Police enquiries revealed that she had purportedly paid an agent `1 lakh to help her ferry back to Rameswaram along with her children, en route to her native Thoothukudi. Further investigations are on.
New Delhi: Terrorist attacks against India are an attempt to "destabilise, break and weaken" the country, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday.

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.
New Delhi: India on Friday made its fourteenth request to Pakistan for consular access to former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav and also asked for a certified copy of judgement and chargesheet of the Pakistani military court that has sentenced Jadhav to death, even as Pakistan hardened its stand, saying Jadhavs trial had taken place transparently and advising India to behave responsibly and refrain from issuing statements that will further aggravate hostility.

Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale on Friday met Pakistan foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by a Pakistani military court on charges of spying.

I have asked for a certified copy of the chargesheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav. They (Pakistan) have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in about the last one year). I have again requested the Pakistan foreign secretary to give access to Jadhav so that we can appeal, Bambawale told news agencies in Islamabad.

Meanwhile, speculation was rife whether India would consider issuing a travel advisory to advise its citizens not to visit Pakistan in the current situation. The Lahore HC Bar Association said that it will take action against any lawyer who extends his services to Jadhav.
Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday demanded the implementation of 12 per cent quota each for Muslims and STs as promised by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti in its 2014 election manifesto.

Addressing a press conference in Gandhi Bhavan, Mr Reddy asked Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to explain why the TRS government has failed to implement reservations for the last three years.

The Congress demands 12 per cent quota for Muslims and STs. KCR should explain why it took three years for the government to act on reservations, which it promised in the election manifesto. Now the government is leaking information that the quotas will be less than 12 per cent. We will expose the TRS governments double standards on reservations, Mr Reddy said.

The Congress has also demanded an increase in the reservation for BCs and dalits in proportion to their population.

After the TPCC executive meeting held at Gandhi Bhavan on Friday, Mr Reddy demanded that the state government remove the obstacles caused by the creamy layer for BCs in availing reservations and sought the inclusion of valmiki boyas and khaita lambadas in the list of STs.

TPCC vice president Mallu Ravi accused the TRS government of cheating dalits over the allotment of three-acre farm land as promised during the elections.

He said the TRS chief had promised to make a Dalit as the first CM of Telangana state but backtracked later and cheated dalits. He questioned why the government was not sanctioning funds for 2BHKs for poor.
She arrived last night and stayed with the family of temple priest Baradi Ramesh. She will return home on Saturday, said temple committee member.

Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modis wife Jashodaben Modi made a surprise visit to Vikarabad town on Thursday.

The 65-year-old Jashodaben unveiled a statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar on the occasion of his birth anniversary at the locally popular Nagadevatha temple and offered prayers.

The temple has Shivalayam, idols of Vyas Maharishi, Brahmamgaru and Sevalal. According to temple authorities, Jashodaben arrived at the temple, 75 km from Hyderabad, early in the morning and offered prayers. She participated in the puja at Shivalayam.

I and my family met her and showed her photos of the temple and its importance. We informed her about the installation of Ambedkar statue and requested her to unveil the same. Nagadevata temple is 65-year-old and it was constructed near a snakepit, temple priest Baradi Ramesh said.

Ramesh is a BJP former councillor. According to another temple committee member, statues of Gods and different religious/castes heads are aimed at making a classless society.

On the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, we decided to install his idol and treat him like a God, he said.

Jashodaben, who stays in Mehsana in Gujarat, also participated in the Anna danam programme and served food to people. She also visited Santoshi Mata temple in the town.

She arrived last night and stayed with the family of temple priest Baradi Ramesh. She will return home on Saturday, said temple committee member.

Asked about her visit to Vikarabad, Jashodaben said, I am happy to be here on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti. I had darshan of various Gods.
Hyderabad: There has been no response from Telugu states to the Centres initiative to launch the Give Up Subsidy scheme for Public Distribution System along the lines of LPG.

Following the success of the Give Up Subsidy for LPG launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi two years ago, the Centre has decided to extend the initiative to all other welfare schemes in a phased manner. This is to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries from poorer sections of society avail the subsidy while the rest, who can afford food grains in open market, give up the subsidy voluntarily.

The Centre has written to all the states to launch Give Up Subsidy for PDS since it and state governments take joint responsibility for running the ration shops and supplying essential commodities through them.

Though TS and AP government received the letters from the Centre nearly a month ago, they did not respond.

Both governments are not keen on launching the scheme in the near future as they feel that LPG cannot be compared with PDS and both are totally different.

Official sources in the Civil Supplies Department said: Not only TS and AP, but as per our information none of the states in the country has responded to the Centres initiative so far. This is because LPG and PDS are different. PDS is availed only by the poorer sections but LPG is availed by all irrespective of their income status. There is thorough verification at ground level before issuing ration cards, while anyone who applies get LPG connection. There is an income limit for PDS but no such limit for LPG.

Officials said after linking ration cards with Aadhaar and bank accounts, lakhs of ineligible beneficiaries were removed from the list during the last three years. Under these circumstances there was no need for states to ask beneficiaries again to give up PDS subsidy, they said.
Hyderabad: Union urban development and I&B minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday warned that reservations based on religion will lead to the creation of yet another Pakistan.

This country was divided because of religion. The Muslim League opposed Muslims and Hindus living together. This led to the division of the country. If we indulge in vote bank politics again, it would not be good for the country, he said.

Mr Naidu said that the BJP is not opposing Muslim reservations because Mr K. Chandrashekhar Rao is doing it.

We had opposed it even when Y.S Rajasekhar Reddy and Chandrababu Naidu tried to do it. We will oppose it, if anyone else tries it. Why? Because the reservation based on religion will lead to another Pakistan, Mr Naidu said, while speaking at the 126th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr B R Ambedkar on Friday.

The minister said that the BJP opposed religion-based reservation across India and claimed that this policy is not confined only to Telangana.

It is a national policy of the BJP to oppose religion-based reservations. Communal reservations divide people on communal basis. It will lead to the demand for another partition of the country. It will bring disunity among people. Social disruption will be caused by communal reservations. Thats why, the BJP opposes it.

The BJP, the minister said, was committed to reservations for backward classes regardless of whether they are Mus-lims, Christians or Hindus.

Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar opposed reservations based on religion. Mahatma Gandhi said conversion is dangerous to the country, he said.
Krishnaiah threatened to launch a state-wide agitation by bringing all the BC organisations under one umbrella for 52 per cent reservation for 98 backward classes.

Hyderabad: Leaders of organisations representing Backward Classes (BCs) fear that increasing reservation for Muslims would eat into their 25 per cent quota.

There are five groups  A B C D and E  under BC, enjoying 29 per cent reservation. The E category was created exclusively for backward classes of Muslims earmarking four per cent quota.

Now the government is proposing to increase quota for only the E category, leaving out other groups, which are constituting 52 per cent of the states population, Mr R Krishnaiah, TD MLA and BC Welfare Association founder, said.

He demanded that the government increase the reservation for BC communities from 25 to 52 per cent, in tune with their share in the state population.

Mr Krishnaiah threatened to launch a state-wide agitation by bringing all the BC organisations under one umbrella for 52 per cent reservation for 98 backward classes. State BJP president K. Lakshman termed the state governments move as unconstitutional.

Maintaining that their party would fight against the 12 per cent reservations both inside and outside the Assembly, he said the BJP would support the reservations if they are given on the basis of economic situation but not on the base of religion.

He said if the government is really committed to the development of Muslim community, it should bring appropriate schemes and ensure that they are effectively implemented.

He said providing reservations based on religion, which was not envisaged in the Constitution, is nothing but deceiving the people.

Maintaining that the decision to provide reservations to Muslims was not backed with scientific data, Mr Lakshman asked the state government to place the data of integrated household survey in the public domain.

Mr N. Ramachandra Rao, BJP MLC and advocate, said the reservations can be provided based on backwardness of people.

Mr Rao noted that the Supreme Court in the Venkataraman case had observed that in respect of the vacancies reserved for backward classes of Hindus, the petitioner (who was a Brahmin) cannot have any claim in as much as those reserved posts are not on the ground of religion, race, caste etc. but because of the necessity for making a provision for reservation for backward class citizens.
Hyderabad: The intense heat has taken a toll on standing crops. Crops on 1.6 lakh acres in the districts have withered due to heat. Farmers unions are demanding compensation from the state government for the crop loss.

Paddy remains the worst-affected as crop over an extent of 1.53 lakh acres has been damaged. Maize in 5,000 acres and vegetables in 2,000 acres have withered. According to a report submitted by the agriculture department to the state government, crops that were sown and relying on borewells were the worst affected.

Crops spread over 200 mandals in 17 districts have been hit due to depletion of groundwater making borewells dysfunctional.Crops over an extent of 26.50 lakh acres have been sown in these mandals, of which 18.54 lakh acres were under borewell cultivation and the rest under tanks, canals, lift irrigation schemes.

While total crops spread over 1.60 lakh acres have withered, of this 1.50 lakh acres of these was under borewell cultivation.Officials said Medak, Siddipet and Mahbubnagar districts witnessed huge crop loss especially paddy.

Paddy crop got damaged in 35,000 acres in Medak, it was followed by Mahbubnagar at 30,000 acres and Siddipet at 28,000 acres.The agriculture department brought to the notice of the government the loss is in addition to the crop loss caused due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms last month. Officials said crops over an extent of 60,000 acres were damaged last month due to hailstorm in Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Medak districts, reports said.
Hyderabad: Reservation quota for backward sections among the Muslims and Scheduled Tribes (STs) is likely to be confined to 10 per cent each as against the 12 per cent promised by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti as part of its election manifesto. The draft Bills on Muslim and ST quotas have been prepared by the state government.

The State Cabinet will meet on Saturday to approve the draft Bills, paving way for their introduction in the special session of Telangana Legislature, convened on Sunday.

With this, the overall quota in TS would increase to 60 per cent from existing 50 per cent. It is learnt that the government wants to increase quotas for BCs, MBCs and SCs within six months, taking the overall quota to 69 per cent on par with Tamil Nadu.

At present, backward classes in Muslims have four per cent quota, which would be increased to 10, while for STs, it will be increased from existing six per cent to 10 per cent.

Official sources said the Sudhir Commission on Minorities and Chelleppa Commission on STs had recommended a 10 per cent quota for each of them and the same was endorsed by the BC Commission. The government wants to go by these recommendations, without sticking to the 12 per cent quota promised in the election manifesto as it may invite legal problems. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is likely to explain the reasons for downsizing the Muslim and ST quotas to 10 per cent each in the Legislative Assembly on Sunday.

Besides, the government also wants to raise quotas for BCs, SCs besides creating new quota for MBCs and plans to adjust the remaining nine per cent quota among these sections after six months.

The terms of reference on increasing quotas for BCs, SCs and MBCs has been given to BC Commission and it has been asked to take up an extensive study by touring all the districts to assess the social, economic and educational situations of these sections.

The commission has been asked to submit its report within seven month based on which the government will take steps to increase quotas.
Hyderabad: The Telangana governments plans to create supernumerary quota in higher education and professional courses to protect the interests of open category candidates will require the concurrence of the Central government.

While addressing a press conference at Pragathi Bhavan on April 12, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had hinted at creating supernumerary seats to protect the interests of general category students.

Legal experts, however, claim that the state government has no power to create supernumerary seats in the education institutions offering professional and technical course.

Mr S. Sriram, advocate of High Court who deals with matters of education, said that the state government has no power to create supernumerary seats in the educational institutions related to medical, pharmacy, engineering, teaching and nursing as those are governed by either the Medical Council of India or by the All India Council for Technical Education and National Council for Teac-hing Education  both of which are under the control of the Central government.

He said creating supernumerary seats for the purpose of reservations cannot be permissible under law.

He said: In Tamil Nadu, no supernumerary seats were created. Had it been done, it would have been challenged in the court. In fact, the TN government has increased the seats. The creation of sup-ernumerary seats and increase in seats are two different things.
Hyderabad: Despite Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Raos decision to convene a special session of the Legislature to enact the enhanced reservation for backward sections among Muslims, the implementation of law is subject to the BJP-led Central governments approval.

As per the Supreme Courts ruling in the Indira Sawhney case, reservations contemplated in Clause (4) of Article 16 of the Constitution cannot exceed 50 per cent.

If the state government wants to provide reservation in excess of 50 per cent, it has to get the enhanced quota validated by Parliament through Article 31 (B) of the Constitution and get it included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. The incorporation of a law in the Ninth Schedule protects it from judicial scrutiny.

This, however, does not appear to be possible because the Narendra Modi-led government said that it would not allow any reservation based on religion. The state BJP too has been opposing this move.

The issue could also face several judicial headwinds. The law providing four per cent reservation to Muslims is already pending before a Constitutional bench of the Supreme Court and the validation of 69 per cent of reservation in Tamil Nadu under Article 31(B) is with the apex court for judicial review.

After accepting the Telangana Back-ward Classes Commission report on Muslim Reservations, on April 12, the Chief Minister reiterated his intention to enhance reservation to Muslims. He said he would approach the Centre for allowing Telangana to implement reservation on the lines of seven states where the percentage of reservation exceeded the benchmark set by the Supreme Court.

Currently, Tamil Nadu is providing reservations of 69 per cent, Jharkhand 60 per cent, Maharashtra 52 per cent, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland 80 per cent  All these are more than 50 per cent cap set by the apex court.

Though the TRS has promised 12 per cent reservation to backward segments among the Muslims, the BC Commission recommended nine per cent. The Chief Minister announced that the quantum of reservation would be finalised at the next Cabinet meeting to be held on April 15.

Right now, the total percentage of reservations in the state is 50 including 4 per cent reservations to Muslims under the BC-E category. If the government opts for 12 per cent quota, the percentage of total reservation will reach 58 per cent, which is more than the apex court cap.

Quota question

The Supreme Court imposed cap on overall reservations and the Centres reluctance to provide cover from judicial scrutiny makes TS Muslim quota unpredictable.

Reservations for Muslims and Christians were first introduced in Kerala, which was then Travancore-Cochin state, in 1936.

The reservation for backward Muslims in government jobs has existed in Bihar, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. West Bengal added 10 per cent quota for backward Muslims.

Reservations for Muslims in AP came into force in 2007. It is in force in AP and TS subject to an interim order of the Supreme Court, which restricted quota to 14 classes of Muslims.

Muslims in other states such as Bihar, MP, UP, Rajasthan, Jharkand don't have separate reservation, but they are included in the existing list of BC categories.

They enjoy the same privileges as others in these categories enjoy.

Kerala: 12 Per cent

West Bengal: 10 Per cent

Karnataka: 4 Per cent

Andhra pradesh: 4 Per cent

Telangana: 4 Per cent

Tamil Nadu: 3 Per cent

Bihar: 3 within 27% OBC quota
Chandigarh: Under the police's 'Operation Durga' campaign aimed at ensuring safety of women in Haryana, 23 people were arrested for their involvement in crime against women, including eve teasing.

The police also registered nine criminal cases, three each at Panipat and Gurugram, and one each at Bhiwani, Sirsa and Faridabad, a police spokesperson said here today.

He said police teams conducted 41 raids at public places such as schools, colleges, bus stands and railway stations.

Some of those caught involved in crime against women were warned and released on written from their parents or guardians.

The Haryana government has established women police stations in all districts of the state to ensure safety of women and a safe place for them to lodge complaints. However, it had been observed that women are hesitated in reporting such incidents, the spokesperson said.

Therefore, the campaign was launched yesterday after identifying places where such anti-social elements were indulging in eve teasing, vulgar comments, stalking of women and other similar activities, he said.
The AHS honour is considered as a benchmark for leadership excellence in vertical flight technology. (Representational Image/AFP)

Mumbai: An India-born aeronautics engineer from Australia has been honoured with the 'World's Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Leadership Award' by the

American Helicopter Society (AHS) International.

AHS is the world's premier professional institution dedicated to vertical flight technology and advancement. It selected Lt. Col. (retd) Dr Arvind Sinha for his distinguished career in vertical flight technology.

Sinha, who received the award recently in the US, was also bestowed the title of AHS Honorary Fellow in May 2016.

The title is granted to Society members who have shown "exceptional leadership, or made innovative or other meritorious contributions, that have significantly advanced AHS International and the vertical flight community."

Sinha is recipient of several awards, spanning military operations, design projects and academia. "The AHS honour is considered as a benchmark for leadership excellence in vertical flight technology," he said.

He is currently the Director of Engineering, Helicopter Systems Division, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), at the Department of Defence, Australia.

Working on Australian Army and Navy aviation platform and systems technologies, he is an expert in Tactical Aerospace Systems, covering helicopters and unmanned Aircraft.

He is a former Professor and Director of Aerospace and Aviation Research Centre at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), and now holds the title of Professor of Aerospace Design at Monash University, an Australian public

research university based in Melbourne.

During his stint with the Indian Army, Sinha commanded elite units of Electronic Warfare and Airborne Special Forces.

As a young Major, he was posted to command an engineering unit on the high-density altitude Siachen Glacier as part of Operation Meghdoot in 1984.

"The average stint there does not exceed 90 days due to the harsh conditions that test human endurance. However, my tenure was extended to two years for operational reasons, and my command was honoured with a Special Operations order," he said.

Sinha said he was selected to pursue a doctorate in Australia based on his IIT Masters work in Helicopter Design for a doctoral project-based application research under an Australian Government-sponsored scholarship with RMIT

University.

Sinha is a former Dean of the Faculty of Aviation in Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering in India. He is an alumnus of Sainik School Satara and the National Defence Academy in Maharashtra.
Bengaluru: In a shot in the arm for the ruling Congress ahead of next year's elections to the Legislative Assembly, new-comer Kalale Keshavamurthy proved a giant killer in Nanjangud while Mrs Geetha Mahadev Prasad made the most of a sympathy wave to retain Gundlupet, a constituency represented by her late husband and minister H.S. Mahadev Prasad, to pull off a 2-0 result in the bypolls held in these two constituencies.

The icing on the cake: impressive victory margins notched by both Mr Keshavamurthy and Mrs Geetha Mahadev Prasad. While Mr Keshavamurthy, who migrated from JD (S) to Congress just before the bypoll in Nanjangud defeated former Union minister V Srinivas Prasad by 21, 334 votes, the minister's widow secured 10, 877 votes more than that of Mr C.S. Niranjan Kumar.

And with such emphatic victories, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not only fortified his position in the party but emerged as an unchallenged leader of the backward classes who holds sway over Dalits and minorities, just as his idol and late chief minister D Devaraj Urs, did. He announced that he would lead the party in next year's Assembly polls as "people voted above castes lines in Nanjangud and Gundlupet," a fact reflected by the support of Lingayats and Vokkaligas to the ruling party candidates. Besides, he proved a point to his detractors that voters of these numerically significant communities had not drifted away from Congress in view of his AHINDA focus in his home district, Mysuru, as well as in neighbouring Chamarajanagar district. Mr Siddaramaiah, who not only picked an outsider in Keshavamurthy as the party candidate, also forged a tactical understanding with JD (S) to ensure that the party did not field candidates in both constituencies and thus prevent a split in votes. Soon after announcement of the results, the Chief Minister acknowledged the help of JD (S) leaders and thanked patriarch H D Deve Gowda, his son H D Kumaraswamy and district unit presidents of that party.

The results, however, proved a major setback for state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa who toured these two constituencies several times for more than 20 days to leverage the Lingayat-Dalit coalition in Nanjangud and Gundlupet, hoping to later extend it to rest of the state. His strategy to invite former external affairs minister S M Krishna to campaign in both these constituencies did not yield desired results as Vokkaligas backed Congress candidates in the absence of a JD (S) candidate.

"We need to introspect on why we lagged behind in our efforts. We have not achieved success to win the confidence of the people. However there has been a substantial increase in the votes polled by the BJP when compared to the previous elections. This has proved that people have made up their mind to effect a transformation in the next coming days. I am confident the BJP will be able to wrest both the seats in next year's elections," Mr Yeddyurappa told the media while commenting on losses in both seats.
Hyderabad: After a long gap, Chief Ministers of the two Telugu states K. Chandrasekhar Rao and N Chandrababu Naidu, will attend a meeting with Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on Monday, and discuss several pending issues related to state bifurcation apart from handing over of AP Secretariat buildings and Assembly buildings located in Hyderabad to the TS government.

According to sources, the two CMs are likely to discuss the sharing of properties and liabilities of institutions listed in Schedules IX and X, apart from division of power and Secretariat employees.

Mr Narasimhan has held discussions on these issues with ministers of both the states thrice in the past. The ministers of both states left the final decision on these issues to the CMs of their respective states. Keeping this in view, the Governor is holding a meeting with both the CMs.

Though three years have passed since bifurcation of AP, there are still several issues that are unresolved. Regarding sharing of assets and liabilities of Schedule IX and X institutions, the Central government held discussions with representatives of both the states several times but the two states could not reach an agreement.

Regarding the AP Secretariat and Assembly buildings and official quarters allotted to the AP government after state bifurcation, they now lie vacant as the AP Secretariat and Heads of the Department have shifted to AP capital region from Hyderabad.

The TS government has requested the AP government to hand over the AP Secretariat and other buildings but AP government is linking these issues with sharing of assets of Schedules IX and X institutions.

Both CMs have publicly announced that they will cooperate and resolve these issues. However, when it comes to implementation, the two CMs are taking opposing stands.

On the power issue AP is demanding TS government to pay about Rs 3,000 crore arrears for the power it has supplied. TS is making a counter demand, saying that the AP government has to clear the arrears it owes to Singareni Collieries for supplying coal for APs thermal power plants.
Something curious happened a few days ago. The President of India was asked by Opposition leaders to step out of his role as a rubberstamp and ensure the rule of law. Protect the fundamental rights of Indian citizens, they said, stem the rising intolerance. It was so good to not hear the usual rhetoric: Bring back the culture of tolerance! The netas knew the quickest way to curb intolerance in a country with a fine Constitution and adequate laws was by ensuring the rule of law. No appeal to the finer sensibilities of an apparently tolerant country here. Which is exactly as it should be. Because trying to promote tolerance does not curb intolerance. It maintains the status quo, at best. While our respected leaders were complaining to the President in New Delhi, a few miles away in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, a band of moral policing lumpens from the Hindu Yuva Vahini founded by chief minister Yogi Adityanath was busy barging into the private residence of a Muslim man. They dragged him and his girlfriend out, shamed them, beat him up and handed the lovers over to the police, who swiftly booked the man for obscenity.

At the same time, in Bihar, the Hindu Yuva Vahini was launching its recruitment drive and gathering Hindu boys to set up branches in every district of the state. In Haryana, Operation Durga was set up, modelled on Yogi Adityanaths anti-Romeo squads in UP. Vigilant cops fanned out to catch bad guys bothering women, and amazingly arrested 72 unfortunates the very first day. In neighbouring Punjab, the police was forced to drop sedition charges against 66 students picked up for protesting against a fee hike at Panjab University. The students are still in judicial custody. Charging any inconvenient voice with sedition appears to have become the norm. In West Bengal, the BJP scurried to deal with the uproar after their youth leader put a bounty of Rs 11 lakhs on chief minister Mamata Banerjees head after a clash between the police and a Hanuman Jayanti rally. Thats just Wednesday. Of course intolerance is rising in India. Gujarat has just changed its laws so now cow slaughter gets the offender anywhere between 10 years and life imprisonment. In Rajasthan, self-styled cow protectors recently lynched Pehlu Khan, a farmer who was taking his cows home. Murderous gau rakshaks have been threatening, extorting and lynching Muslims and dalits so shamelessly that the Supreme Court is considering a ban on them.

Several slaughterhouses have been banned in UP and Jharkhand. Chhattisgarh is considering turning vegetarian. Bihar has banned alcohol. Across India, the muzzling of dissent has been growing, rationalists have been killed, there has been a sustained attempt to saffronise universities and institutes and any opposition to the Hindutva agenda is crushed ruthlessly. Intolerance seems to be the order of the day. Only a culture of tolerance can save us, we shout. Not true. Tolerance is fine, but not enough. We need the rule of law, prompt and proper justice delivery, an uncompromising commitment to the rights and freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution. Our Constitution guarantees all citizens equal rights irrespective of religion, caste, creed, region, language or gender. And we are urged to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood as a fundamental duty. Brotherhood, for us, means more brother than friend. Hindu-Muslim bhai-bhai, for example. We are very family-oriented. The streets of India are full of unknown uncles, aunties, sisters and brothers. We are all a big family. And how happy is a family that strives to tolerate each other?

Tolerance implies suffering the other, putting up with things and people you dont like. Tolerance implies a power imbalance, where the powerful chooses to endure the powerless, and may at any time decide to stop being so generous. Tolerance belongs to an unequal and unhappy society, where there can never be equal rights, just a condescending acceptance of the other, a humouring of the other, and sometimes indifference towards the other. It implies a society where the powerless live at the pleasure of the powerful. Merely tolerating would always keep the powerful in power and deprive the powerless of equal rights. It can keep the status quo at best but never improve the lot of the less fortunate, the other, the miserable deviants in religion, gender, caste, language or other identity indicators. For a well-balanced society, like in a happy family, we should aim to celebrate, not just tolerate, each other. There needs to be respect, honour and a genuine sense of equality of rights and opportunities. A citizen of India must be celebrated for who he/she is, not merely tolerated. Some of us may find it difficult to celebrate or respect certain identities. That is when we settle for tolerance. To tolerate is the last resort  it does not nurture the vibrancy of a pluralistic democracy, it just about keeps the many-hued strands together in a democracy that craves to be majoritarian but cannot defy the Constitution. When we aim so low, our possibility of slipping and falling into the abyss of intolerance is high.

Our Constitution did not want us to merely tolerate. It wanted us to celebrate pluralism. It gave us all equal rights over the country, the State was supposed to remain equidistant from all religions, the justice system was supposed to be blind to your gender, class, religion, caste, creed, ethnicity, region, language and other iden-tity markers, you were supposed to be free to think, speak your mind and express your ideas. As intolerance rises, the word pluralism is being replaced by tolerance. Which takes us away from the concept of pluralism to the idea of a majoritarian society that is  happily for the lesser folk  lenient, broad-minded and condescending. We are so generous, it seems to be saying, now run along before we change our mind and kill you. Instead of focusing on building a culture of tolerance, we should focus on strictly following the Constitution and the rule of law. Tolerance, for what its worth, will follow.
It is hard to get away from the feeling that Americas massive bomb attack on some caves and underground tunnels presumably held by Islamic State or Daesh (ISIS) fighters in remote Afghanistan  in the faraway Achin district of Nangrahar province, touching Pakistan  has the strategic purpose of psychologically cowing Russia, China and Iran in a region from which US and Nato forces have practically withdrawn militarily, now keeping only a residual contingent. The 20,000-pound Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), popularly called the mother of all bombs because it is the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in the American armoury, dropped on Thursday night, has never been used before. The psychological impact of its use can said to be similar to that of the use of a weapon of mass destruction. Also, as former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in a tweet, quoted by the New York Times, the US was testing its unused ordnance in Afghanistan (much as it had done in Iraq during the first Iraq war).

After the recent missile attack by US forces in Syria following an alleged chemical attack by the Bashar al-Assad government against its own people, it is not unlikely that unleashing the earth-shattering bomb in Afghanistan is also intended to be an object lesson for the wider West Asia theatre in a classic case of the conveying of imperialist ambitions under a new US President. An unprovoked attack of such huge magnitude cannot conceivably have a straightforward military objective. ISIS fighters are not running rampant (as the Taliban used to once). Nor is Daesh a political threat of the magnitude that Taliban, militarily and diplomatically nurtured by Pakistan, once was to Kabul and to US and Nato military forces in Afghanistan, although ISIS is said to have grown. The US hasnt provided any data on how many ISIS fighters were killed by the MOAB, or how many civilians lost their lives as collateral damage, though Afghan officials said Friday that 36 militants were killed.

In Afghanistan, the public reaction to the bomb attack could have unsettling consequences. There was always a suspicion why the US, that has the worlds most powerful military, did not end the Taliban problem after it ousted the religious zealots from power, and subsequently condoned Pakistan for nurturing the Taliban back to health. With the MOAB attack, the sense of sovereignty being violated is likely to grow in Afghanistan along with anger against Washington. The Ashraf Ghanigovernment, a creation of the US, could encounter serious difficulties. India, a close friend of the Afghan people, must watch the situation more closely.
April 14 is the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar. The whole nation celebrates it whole-heartedly. One can hardly found a corner in the country where celebrations are not going on. They last for more than a week. The organisers are generally dalit or government officials. Though such events create awareness, they often miss the importance of the event. The question often asked is whether Ambedkar worked only for dalits? The work done by Ambedkar for women empowerment was never limited to the dalit and tribal communities.

Non-dalits and tribals often participate in such event as guests. If Dr Ambedkar had been alive today, he would have focused on disseminating ideologies rather than celebrating his anniversary. Throughout the year we celebrate birth or death anniversaries of great personalities of the country such as Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose. Many seminars and meetings are organised discussing their ideologies and contributions. If we leave a few exceptions, there are hardly any events which are organised for Dr Ambedkar. Even the share of space provided to Dr Ambedkar in literature and syllabus is much smaller than his contribution and stature.

Dalit thinkers and writers often question that why they should participate in anniversaries, meetings and seminars of others, when non-dalits never participate in celebrations for Dr Ambedkar, Jyotibha Phule, Sahuji Maharaj. They have even started questioning that why should they invite scholars and thinkers of those communities who do not celebrate their leaders. Why a dalit and tribal is not invited as speaker or guest to celebrate the anniversary of a brahmin, a kshatriya or a vaishya leader. Non-dalit speakers come to share their views on Dr Ambedkar and even instruct dalits to follow Dr Ambedkar teachings.

Ideally, it should be other way around. Non-dalits should be made aware of Dr Ambedkars principles. It is as important for them and the tribals to understand the ideas of Dr Ambedkar as it is for dalits. Discrimination will end only when non-dalits and tribals communities start to understand Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

Caste binding in our country is much more than binding of religion. These caste-ridden divisions didnt break even during the heydays of our country. It is the prime reason why so many invaders succeeded in ruling over us.

Even today, caste unity is much bigger than religion-based unity. Even when there is religion-based unity, the founding stone is laid on caste. Breaking the chains of caste looks impossible in near future. Therefore, it will be a smart move that non-dalit and tribal communities should start celebrating the political leaders, great personalities and thinkers of dalit community also. This will send a positive message to them and will help in breaking the chains of caste division.

During the 70s and the 80s, it was never expected that dalits will form political parties on the basis of caste. If equal participation were given to them since Independence, then fight for social equality would not have taken such an ugly shape. It is quite visible nowadays among dalit youths that they want to study and read about thinkers and leaders from their community only.

This is visible greatly on social media. There is a sense of negativity among youth regarding non-dalits and tribals disinclination to appreciate the ideas of dalit thinkers and leaders. Now is the right time that non-dalit community should start accepting dalit leader and thinkers as one of their own. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen on developing this trend. Therefore, he never fails to appreciate the contribution of Dr Ambedkar, whenever he finds an opportunity.



(The writer is a Lok Sabha MP)
Gladly make fools suffer

From Addal-Baddal

by Bachchoo

Can a TV drama series set in England in about 1971 be called historical? Id like it to be and itll soon become clear why. Andy Warhol famously said that everyone should (or did he said would?) have 15 minutes of fame in their dreary existences. Just so, looking to a larger span than the prescribed 15 minutes, one hopes to be a more enduring historical figure. It would be ridiculous to aspire to the perpetuity of the Buddha, Moses, Jesus or even, through different achievements Alexander, Napoleon, Attila the Hun or Shakespeare. Most writers, I suspect, have a yearning, perhaps unacknowledged, to be remembered through their works  even though they may write principally for money or through an urge to recreate a world in words or simply to get attention by telling a story. But I digress. This week on a TV channel called Sky Atlantic and in America on Showtime a historical fiction will be screened. Theres a huge amount of fanfare for it, because its written and directed by John Ridley, who won an Oscar for writing 12 Years a Slave and stars, amongst others, Idris Elba and our own (?) Freida Pinto. The series is about the politics of the black movement of the late 1960s and the 70s in Britain.

Immigration to Britain from the colonies, West Indian islands, and ex-colonies, India and Pakistan, began in large measure in the 50s and 60s. People came over to Britain and were largely assigned dirty jobs that the British working classes were abandoning  driving underground trains, conducting buses, doing the dirty work of cleaning in the National Health Service, working the night-shift in antiquated textile mills and other industrial factories. Amongst this tiny, possibly one to two per cent of the British population, there grew protest movements to demand better conditions and equal rights in wages, employment opportunities, housing, treatment by the state and police, schooling and freedom from rank abuse. The impulse to protest translated itself into groups that called themselves revolutionary and espoused Marxist and Marxising ideologies and strategies. One outlet for these energies was the protest against America, which was seen as fighting an unjust, unequal war in Vietnam.

In the late 60s I joined the movement that had been founded by black and Asian activists a few months before I became a candidate member. The founders adopted the name in homage to the Black Panther Party of the US, a good recruiting strategy at the time and dedicated the movement (deliberately not calling it a party) to fight for social and political equality for the steadily increasing and severely discriminated-against population of ex-colonial immigrants to this country. Black was a political colour and didnt stand for the pigmentation of skin. One of the most prominent and active members of the movement, recruited to the Central Core, was the late Mala Sen  later my wife. The TV series is the first of its kind to try and capture in drama the story of this revolution. John, through months of writing the scripts, called upon people who were involved in the 1970s groups to tell their stories.

Having been a member of the Central Core (a sort of collective leadership or politburo) of the British Black Panther Movement, I was asked by the producers of the series and John to act as one of the consultants and script editors and they used my book London Company as an acknowledged guide. The series features a black man and his partner, a young Indian woman whose father has been imprisoned in India for Naxalite activity, who graduate from political protest and demonstrations to acts of terror. The series dramatises the consequence of this graduation. At a packed preview of the first episode of the series in London John, Idris and Freida came in for concerted criticism from a group of activists from the Black Lives Matter movement. They heckled John for creating an Asian woman protagonist as one of the key players in the black power movement of the time. They accused him of airbrushing black women out of the historical moment. The attacks got quite personal and the comments, which followed the subsequent reports of the preview in the social media, even more so. John set out to dramatise reality and not to take on the role of advertising agent for it. He seized on the tendencies present in the historical movement and took them in narrative form to their possible conclusion. There were in the Black Panther Movement hotheads who wanted to turn to terror in imitation of the IRA or Germanys Baader-Meinhof group.

Guerrillas is not a documentary but is plausible, representative and entertaining. In my humble opinion, the agitational movements of immigrants in the 60s and 70s motivated the evolution of Britain into the irreversibly multi-ethnic society it is today. Perhaps the fight against racism directed at black and Asian immigrants is thankfully not a prime preoccupation any more. On the representation of colour, class and gender, a preoccupation of people who call themselves activists today, if there wasnt a leading Asian protagonist in the series I might have asked why not? There were several Asian women at the time who may not have been members of a group but who took radical stances, including with Mala, Brinda Karat, Radha Das and a collective called Southall Black Sisters! As it happens there is no leading Asian male in the series, but I and the other Asian men in the movement, such as Suneet Chopra and Vivan Sundaram, founding members, are not about to challenge John on it or fill social media platforms with whining rubbish. I dont feel airbrushed or erased as Stalin did to Trotsky in the annals and photographs of the Russian Revolution. As a writer myself, I know that in telling stories the main consideration is not ticking boxes on ethnicity and gender and objecting to unticked boxes is symbolic and tactically impotent.
As the nation celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Liberation of Bangladesh I raised the issue of 54 missing Indian prisoners of war (PoWs) in the Lok Sabha on December 29, 2011. They had been in illegal Pakistani captivity since the 1971 war and have never been returned to India. This is despite India returning 91,000 PoWs. Responding to that special mention, then external affairs minister S.M. Krishna in a letter acknowledged that there are believed to be 74 missing defence personnel, including 54 PoWs, since 1971 in Pakistani jails. However, Pakistan does not acknowledge the presence of any Indian PoWs in its custody. He further added that the Government of India has repeatedly taken up the issue of release of missing Indian defence personnel, including PoWs, believed to be in Pakistan, with the Pakistan government through diplomatic channels and during high-level contacts. During the visit of the then external affairs minister to Pakistan in January 2007, the Pakistani government was persuaded to receive a delegation or relatives of missing defence personnel to permit them to visit prisons in Pakistan where they are believed to be incarcerated. A delegation of relatives visited 10 jails in Pakistan around June 1-14, 2007, but could not confirm the physical presence of the Indian PoWs.

However, five years later in 2012, a peculiar thing happened. A sepoy of the Punjab Regiment, Jaspal Singh, believed to be dead in the 1971 war, turned up alive in an Omani prison. He reached out to one Sukhdev Singh, a Punjabi carpenter, who had gone to Oman on a work visa in 2010. After his return from Oman in July 2012, Sukhdev, a resident of Dugri village in Rupnagar, informed the locals and officials that he was contacted by sepoy Jaspal Singh when he had gone to install kitchen equipment in the prison at Masirah Island. According to Sukhdev, when he was working in the kitchen, one Punjabi individual discreetly approached him and gave him details of his village, Pamour, in Fatehgarh Sahib district and said that he was sepoy Jaspal Singh of Punjab Regiment and that he was captured by the Pakistan Army at Hussainiwala near the Ferozepur border along with four more soldiers on December 4, 1971, after which they were all detained in a Pakistani prison for six years before being transferred to Masirah Island prison in Oman. Strangely, last month, in March 2017, the Indian embassy in Oman, in reply to a RTI query, disavowed that any Indian national was detained on the Masirah Island jail. Why on earth would Sukhdev have invented a yarn like this? Why did we not follow up on Jaspal? If the person whom Sukhdev met in that island prison was not Jaspal, then who was he? Is he still there or has he disappeared? Why is the silence of the government deafening?

Then there is the case of Sarabjit Singh, who was murdered by the Pakistanis in Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore on May 2, 2013, despite a very high-decibel and passionate campaign by his sister Dalbir Kaur for his release that had massive support even among liberals in Pakistan. Now turning to Kulbhushan Jadhav, the news about his death sentence came as a bolt from the blue. Ostensibly a Pakistani military court in some kangaroo proceedings tried him and handed down the death penalty. Pakistani Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, in some rather abnormal hurry, has confirmed the same. This is notwithstanding the fact that Sartaz Aziz, the foreign affairs adviser to the Pakistani Prime Minister, told members of the Pakistani Senate on December 8, 2016: What the dossier contained on Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav were mere statements. It did not have any conclusive evidence. What has changed between then and now, given the fact that Mr Aziz does not have a reputation of either shooting from the mouth or the hip? Does this kneejerk confirmation by the Pakistani Army Chief have something to do with the alleged disappearance of retired Lt. Col. Mohammad Habib Zahir of the Pakistan Army in Nepal a few days ago as is being widely speculated on the social and mainstream media?

The other thing that seems to be fairly evident is that Jadhav was not arrested from Mashkel Balochistan as was claimed by Pakistan. A theory that has been going around for a while is that Jadhavs abduction is somehow linked to the action taken by the Indian Coast Guard against a Pakistani boat on the night of December 31, 2014. While reports in the Indian media suggested that this was another attempt by Pakistan to orchestrate a 26/11 kind of an operation, which also could be true, what is also speculated is that the boat belonged to a notorious Pakistani smuggler who in retaliation for the gutting of his boat by the Indian Coast Guard kidnapped Jadhav and handed him over to the ISI for monetary or other considerations. While all this would remain in the realm of conjecture what is uncontroverted is that Jadhav is a retired Indian naval officer who unfortunately is in a very life-threatening situation and it is our responsibility as a nation to do everything to bring him back home safe and sound.

What are the legal options available to him? Frankly, none. Theoretically, he can appeal to the Military Appellate Tribunal and then even to the Pakistan Supreme Court followed by a clemency petition to the President of Pakistan. However, in such matters, even the court and the President would just end up toeing the line of the establishment. Insofar as the Military Appellate Tribunal is concerned, the less said the better. Only two things will work: one maybe and the other perhaps. The maybe option is that India mounts a shrill high-decibel international campaign to secure his release. This would entail the involvement of inter-governmental organisations like the International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations Human Rights Council, other UN instrumentalities and even organisations like Amnesty International that this government does not really fancy. However, given the manner in which the Pakistanis have played even the Americans over Osama bin Laden and still continue to have a fairly decent relationship with them, it is doubtful whether they will care more than a fig about the international community.

The perhaps option is for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pick up the phone and speak to Nawaz Sharif directly and tell him in no uncertain terms that such kangaroo court verdicts are simply unacceptable. The Indian high commission in Pakistan should also concurrently reach out to moderate sections of society, lawyers and other human rights activists, to start a campaign within that country for his release. India should make Jadhav a test case of its resolve to get our fellow citizen back home. Let him not end up like the 54 PoWs, alive but forgotten, or like Sarabjit Singh, brutally murdered. Let no partisan politics divide us.
Cassini does not have on-board instruments capable of finding signs of life on any of Saturn's moon or Saturn itself.

An ice-encrusted moon orbiting Saturn appears to have the conditions necessary for life, NASA announced Thursday, unveiling new findings made by its unmanned Cassini spacecraft.

Cassini has detected hydrogen molecules in vapour plumes emanating from cracks in the surface of Enceladus, a small ocean moon coated in a thick layer of ice, the US space agency said. The plumes have led scientists to infer that hydrothermal chemical reactions between the moon's rocky core and its ocean  located under the ice crust  are likely occurring on Enceladus.

This graphic illustrates how Cassini scientists think water interacts with rock at the bottom of the ocean of Saturn's icy moon Enceladus, producing hydrogen gas. (Photo:NASA)

On Earth, those chemical reactions allow microbes to flourish in hot cracks in the planet's ocean floors  depths sunlight cannot reach  meaning the moon could also nourish life. "Now, Enceladus is high on the list in the solar system for showing habitable conditions," said Hunter Waite, one of the study's leading researchers. The new research, published Thursday in the journal Science, "indicates there is chemical potential to support microbial systems," he said.

The hydrogen detection resulted from Cassini's October 2015 deep dive close to the surface of Enceladus. Using a spectrometer, the spacecraft determined that the plumes are 98 percent water and 1 percent hydrogen, with traces of molecules including ammonia, carbon dioxide and methane.

Hydrogen had previously been "elusive," scientists said, but its detection shows the moon's life-supporting potential. The hydrogen in the sub-surface ocean could combine with carbon dioxide molecules in a process known as "methanogenesis," which creates a by-product of methane. If there are indeed microbes living in the moon's ocean, they could tap that energy source as sustenance.

Scientists said the moon appeared to have ample energy supplies to support life  roughly the equivalent of 300 pizzas per hour, according to Christopher Glein, a geochemist at the Southwest Research Institute in Texas.

"This is the first time we've been able to make a calorie count of an alien ocean," he said.

Though Cassini does not have instruments capable of actually finding signs of life, "we've found that there's a food source there for it," said Waite. "It would be like a candy store for microbes."

Jeffrey Seewald of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution echoed those comments in a companion article to the study: "This observation has fundamental implications for the possibility of life on Enceladus. Chemical disequilibrium that is known to support microbial life in Earth's deep oceans is also available to support life in the Enceladus Ocean.

In a separate study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope again found what is likely a plume emitting from Europa, one of Jupiter's four largest moons, which also has an icy crust atop an ocean. After first spotting the apparent plume in 2014, scientists in 2016 saw it in the same spot, which appears to be a particularly warm region of Europa where fissures occur in the icy crust.

Both studies are laying the foundation for the Europa Clipper mission, which is slated to launch in the 2020s. The Europa Clipper will periodically fly past Jupiter's Europa moon to collect data and study the subsurface ocean. "If there are plumes on Europa, as we now strongly suspect, with the Europa Clipper we will be ready for them," said James Green, NASA's Planetary Science Division Director.

Cassini is slated to take a death plunge into Saturn's atmosphere in September, after it takes a final flyby of the giant moon Titan and a performs a series of 22 dives between the planet and its rings. The decision to end the mission was made in 2010, in order to avoid damaging moons like Enceladus, which could be explored for signs of life in the future.

Researchers called its latest discovery a "capstone finding for the mission. We're pushing the frontiers. We're finding new environments," said Green. "We're looking in a way that we never thought possible before for environments in our solar system which may harbor life today."

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Google Areo is presently available in Bengaluru and Mumbai, but will be covering other major cities soon.

Google has quietly launched a utility app named Areo on the PlayStore and is presently available only in India, particularly Mumbai and Bengaluru. The app is an attempt by Google at being the interface between the buyer and the seller, through an Android smartphone.

The Areo app is an aggregator service for various hyper-local brands like Faasos, UrbanClap, Box8, Holachef, Zimmber and Freshmenu. The app is draped in Googles Material Design and has options related to food ordering services and home services for now. It picks up the location of the user and provides him the supported services available around him.

That means if you are hungry, you open Areo and choose various dishes or meals available for delivery to your location. Once you select your choice, you can order the food item through the app and even carry on with the payment process. The app will also notify you about the placed order and various offers as well.

In the future, more service providers will join the services of Google Areo and if the app generates demand, then Google could start charging a commission between 5-15 percent on each order placed through the app, as hinted by one service provider on Areo.

If Googles Areo succeeds in catching attention of the users, then it might pose as a serious competitor to existing players like Zomato, Swiggy and various other middleman apps.

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Samsung is already making enough headlines for debuting its premium handsets, Galaxy S8 and S8+. Now it appears like the company plans on going back in time. Several reports suggest that Samsung is working on a foldable smartphone with two screens. The device called Galaxy X will reportedly have a pair of OLED displays with a hinge in the middle allowing it to fold open 180 degrees. In fact, the company has also apparently placed orders for components and is planning to build between 2,000 and 3,000 units before July.

According to The Investor, the South-Korean tech giant is preparing to test a prototype of the dual-display foldable smartphone by the end of 2017. Samsung seems to be testing the waters with dual-screen device to gather ideas about its upcoming foldable phone, the report read.

The latest report falls in line with Samsungs decision to patent the foldable device technology sometime last year. As per the information provided in the published patent, the device could transform into a tablet by simply unfolding it. Described as something that can be folded or unfolded semi-automatically, if this technology will actually take form of reality, it will certainly spark a new trend in the market.

Furthermore, the patent described the device as being flexible and containing a secondary display, which is supposed to activate when the device is folded.

According to ET News, Samsung is set to begin widespread testing of prototypes later this year and the handset will go on sale next year.

Previously, Samsung was rumoured to be working with LG on a bendable smartphone in 2017. This device called the Foldable Valley supposedly transform into a 7-inch tablet when unfolded and is expected to debut in August this year. In fact, Samsung also apparently showed off its Foldable Valley device to select experts.

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Analysts said strong S8 sales are likely to help Samsung to its best-ever quarterly profit in April-June

Pre-orders for Samsung flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone have exceeded those of its predecessor S7, the firm's mobile chief said on Thursday, suggesting many consumers are unfazed by last year's Galaxy Note 7 fires.

Strong initial demand for the S8 will be encouraging for a firm recovering from one of the worst product safety failures in tech history, which ended in the Note 7's swift withdrawal.

The new smartphone has received favorable reviews ahead of the start of sales in South Korea, the United States and Canada on April 21. Some investors and analysts have even predicted a first-year sales record for the South Korean company.

"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," mobile chief Koh Dong-jin said at an S8 media briefing.

He said the S8 will be the safest Galaxy smartphone to date due to measures implemented to avoid the battery failures that caused some Note 7s to spontaneously combust.

Analysts said strong S8 sales are likely to help Samsung to its best-ever quarterly profit in April-June, along with a booming memory chip market that is widely expected to deliver record revenue this year for the industry as a whole.

BRAND RECOVERY

Samsung has been working to restore investor trust as well as its reputation since the Note 7's withdrawal in October within two months of being on the market, losing out on $5.4 billion in profit.

Senior executives told foreign media on the sidelines of the briefing that it will take time for Samsung's brand image to recover. They also said Samsung has seen a rebound in consumer sentiment toward the firm since announcing the results of a probe into the fires and preventative measures on Jan. 23.

"It took Toyota about four years for its brand to get back to where it was, and I think ours can do it faster," said Lee Young-hee, an executive vice president at Samsung's mobile business, referring to a series of Toyota Motor Corp vehicle recalls from 2009 to 2011.

S8 advertising focuses on features such as almost bezel-less screens rather than highlighting safety. Executives said this was deliberate in the belief that Samsung has done enough to convince consumers the Note 7's problems will not be repeated.

"We felt really comfortable that we had attained a level of confidence with consumers so that we could actually shift to the product campaign," said Pio Schunker, global head of integrated marketing for Samsung's mobile business.

"Ultimately I think it is this product that proves this case."

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, fourth right, stands with officials as he cuts the ribbon at the official opening of the Ryomyong high-rise district, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo: AP)

Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Pyongyang is a problem that "will be taken care of," as speculation rose that North Korea might be on the verge of a sixth nuclear test.

Trump, responding to a question about what his message is for North Korea, said, "North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of."

He said he believed Chinese President Xi Jinping would "work very hard" to help resolve the challenge. The president said he had spent a lot of time with Xi last week in Florida.

"I have really gotten to like and respect President Xi. ... He's a very special man. I think he's going to try very hard."
White House advisers say it's possible that the regime could attempt to showcase its nuclear program or launch ballistic missiles during Pence's trip. (Photo: AP)

Washington: Vice President Mike Pence is opening his trip to the Asia-Pacific region amid increasing tensions in North Korea over the regime's nuclear and missile programs.

Pence is set to arrive Sunday in South Korea as President Donald Trump vows that Kim Jong Un's government is a "problem" that will be "taken care of."

The vice president's 10-day trip comes as North Korea celebrates the 105th anniversary of the birth of national founder Kim Il Sung, which falls on Saturday and is North Korea's most important holiday. A large-scale military parade is expected.

Tensions have been on the rise along the Korean Peninsula with the arrival 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.

White House advisers say it's possible that the regime could attempt to showcase its nuclear program or launch ballistic missiles during Pence's trip.

Pence will also travel to Japan, where he is expected to discuss the possible framework of bilateral trade talks, and make stops in Indonesia and Australia.
In 2013, Omar Mateen made inflammatory comments to co-workers, and he was interviewed twice, FBI agent Ronald Hopper said. (Photo: AP)

Orlando, (Florida): The sight of so many injured people lying on the dance floor after the Pulse nightclub attack in Orlando led one officer to ask patrons, "If you're alive, raise your hand," according to a new report from police.

The report reveals nearly half of the 49 victims in the mass shooting last June died on the dance floor without a chance to react or run for help. Another 13 died in bathrooms while waiting for help during a three-hour hostage standoff.

The revelations are part of a 78-page presentation Orlando Police Chief John Mina has given to about 10 police groups to discuss his department's response to the attack, considered the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

The Orlando Sentinel obtained a copy of the presentation, which includes diagrams and still photos from body cam footage that shows officers in their initial confrontation with gunman Omar Mateen as they responded to the club at 2:02 a.m. June 12.

The images include Officer Adam Gruler, who was working an off-duty job at Pulse that morning, firing shots at Mateen in the club's doorway. Gruler called a signal 43, which means an officer needs help.

When help arrived minutes later, Gruler told them, "He's in the patio!" and shot multiple rounds toward Mateen. Surveillance video from inside the clubs captures Mateen running from the main dance floor toward the bathrooms.

Nine people died in the north bathroom, where Mateen, 29, was barricaded for much of the standoff, according to the report. Four died in the south bathroom. Eleven died at the hospital or in triage areas set up outside the club.

At 5:02 a.m., some three hours after arriving, police used explosives to breach the building. That's when Mateen was killed in a shootout with police.

Mina's presentation notes that officers rescued people throughout the night. He said he doesn't know if any victims were struck by police gunfire. The Orlando Police Department was one of 27 agencies responding to the shooting, which also wounded 68 people.

The presentation includes self-assessments and ways the agency might approach such situations differently in the future. It notes better coordination with local fire departments could lead to better communication.

Mina said the Orlando Fire Department and Orange County Fire Rescue were not in his agency's command post outside the club.

"Would that have saved any more lives? No. The people who needed care, got care," Mina said. "But the communication would have been better between our two agencies if someone from the fire department would have been in our command post."

The presentation says that fire department officials said the "indirect communication" with law enforcement prevented crews from being informed of the wall breach. For example, many firefighters didn't know police would use explosives to breach the nightclub.
Washington: President Donald Trump has said the US military has been "successful" lately because his administration has given them "total authorisation", as he hailed the forces for dropping the largest non-nuclear bomb targeting an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan.

A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed 'Mother Of All Bombs', was dropped on a tunnel complex of ISIS-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, in Achin district of Afghanistan's Nanagarh province, close to the border with Pakistan.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said yesterday that it was the first-ever combat use of the bomb. A MOAB is a 21,600- pound, GPS-guided munition that is America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb.

Trump said he authorised the use of the bomb in Afghanistan and called the mission "very, very successful".

"It was really another successful job, we are very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event," Trump told reporters at the White House

"Everybody knows exactly what happened, what I do is I authorise our military. We have the greatest military in the world, they've done a job, as usual, so we have given them total authorisation and that's what they're doing, and frankly, that's why they've been so successful lately," he said.

"If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and you compare that to what's happened over the last eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference. So we have incredible leaders of the military and incredible military,and we are very proud of them, and this was another very very successful mission," Trump said.

The US President, however, said he does not know if this would send a message to North Korea.

"I don't know if this sends a message. It doesn't make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem.

The problem will be taken care of. I will say this; I think China has really been working very hard," he said.

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command.

At his daily news conference, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the bomb was dropped at around 7 PM local time in Afghanistan yesterday.

"The GBU-43 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 easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area," Spicer said.

"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 US took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage as a result of the operation," he said.

The strike is part of the ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan, the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) said.

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. According to the Department of Defence, there are about 600-800 ISIS-K fighters in the region where bomb was dropped.
US drops Mother Of All Bombs at ISIS hideouts in Afghanistan (Photo: Twitter)

Jalalabad: The US military's largest non-nuclear bomb killed at least 36 militants as it destroyed a deep tunnel complex of the Islamic State group, Afghan officials said Friday, ruling out any civilian casualties.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- better known as the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- hit IS hideouts in Achin district in eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday.

"As a result of the bombing, key Daesh (IS) hideouts and a deep tunnel complex were destroyed and 36 IS fighters were killed," the defence ministry said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump had earlier called the mission "very, very successful." The Afghan presidential palace said precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties.

The huge bomb, delivered via an MC-130 transport plane, has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT, and the weapon was originally designed as much to intimidate foes as to clear broad areas.

"The GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat," Air Force spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder said. Achin district governor Esmail Shinwari said the bomb landed in the Momand Dara area of Achin district.

"The explosion was the biggest I have ever seen. Towering flames engulfed the area," Shinwari told AFP. "We don't know anything about the casualties so far, but since it is a Daesh (IS) stronghold we think a lot of Daesh fighters may have been killed."

An Afghan militant source told AFP from an undisclosed location that locals 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. The Pentagon's announcement of the attack drove markets down, with Asian bourses headed south following overnight losses on Wall Street.

It added to concerns among investors already wary of risks over Syria and North Korea, as well as the outcome of the French presidential election. The assault came only a week after Trump ordered missile strikes against Syria in retaliation for a suspected chemical attack.

Meanwhile Trump has said he is keeping "all options" on the table to stop North Korea's nuclear programme, as speculation mounts that Pyongyang may soon hold another nuclear test.

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. US forces have conducted a number of air strikes on jihadist bases in the area since August last year.

IS, notorious for its reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, has been making inroads into Afghanistan in recent years. It has attracted disaffected members of the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban as well as Uzbek Islamists.

But the group has been steadily losing territory in the face of heavy pressure both from US air strikes and a ground offensive led by Afghan forces.
Pyongyang: North Korea's vice foreign minister on Friday blamed President Donald Trump for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula through his tweets and expansion of military exercises, saying the US was becoming "more vicious and more aggressive" under his leadership.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang, Vice Minister Han Song Ryol also warned the US against provoking North Korea militarily. "We will go to war if they choose," he said.

"Now we are comparing Trump's policy toward the DPRK with the former administrations and we have concluded that it's becoming more vicious and more aggressive," Han said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"Whatever comes from US politicians, if their words are designed to overthrow the DPRK system and government, we will categorically reject them," he said.

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 US 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 Korea's sixth nuclear test. "At a time and at a place where the headquarters deems necessary, it will take place."

Regarding prospects for war, Han said, "If the US comes with reckless military maneuvers, then we will confront it with the DPRK's pre-emptive strike.

"We've got a powerful nuclear deterrent already in our hands, and we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US pre-emptive strike."

Many North Korea watchers believe North Korea could have a viable nuclear warhead and a ballistic missile capable of hitting the US mainland on Trump's 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 US-South Korean wargames and the deployment of the aircraft carrier, the USS 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 doesn't do its part to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, the US can handle it.

"Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words," Han said. "So that's why. It's not the DPRK but the U.S. and Trump that makes trouble."

He dismissed the suggestion Trump made last year during his presidential campaign that he was willing to meet Kim Jong Un, possibly over hamburgers.

"I think that was nothing more than lip service during the campaign to make himself more popular," Han said.

The annual US-South Korean 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 North's leadership have fanned Pyongyang's anger.

"As long as the nuclear threats and blackmail go on with the military exercises, we will carry forward with our national defense buildup, the core of which is the nuclear arms buildup," Han said. "Whatever comes from the U.S., we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it."

Outwardly, there are few signs of concern in North Korea despite the political back and forth. Instead, the country is gearing up for its biggest holiday of the year, the 105th anniversary of the birth of the late Kim Il Sung, the country's founder and leader Kim Jong Un's grandfather.

The Saturday anniversary may provide the world with a look at some of that arsenal. Expectations are high the North may put its newest missiles on display during a military parade that could be held to mark the event.140511 GMT Apr 17
Nikki Haley 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." (Photo: AFP)

United Nations: US Ambassador Nikki Haley on Thursday urged all countries that provide troops for UN 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."

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommended that U.N. 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.

Haley was speaking after the Security Council voted unanimously to end the UN 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. 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 have been implicated in sexual abuse.

"What do we say to these kids? Did these peacekeepers keep them safe?" Haley asked, citing the 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 UN 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 UN 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 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.

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."

Responding to the report, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric 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 UN has garnered a "love-hate" relationship, but the real issue is lack of accountability.

"The UN 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 UN 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 UN peacekeepers from Nepal.

"Haiti has been a playground for the United Nations," the 43-year-old shop assistant said 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.
Washington: New CIA Director Mike Pompeo has termed whistle-blower collective WikiLeaks, whose leaking of classified documents have embarrassed the US, a "non-state hostile intelligence" agency which is often helped by Russia.

In his first public address as the Central Intelligence Agency chief, Pompeo said "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."

He said US intelligence services had found that Russian state-owned television network RT actively collaborated with the website.

Pompeo, a former Republican Congressmen who once applauded disclosures by WikiLeaks, said the intelligence community at CIA finds the celebration of entities like WikiLeaks "both perplexing and deeply troubling".

"WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service," he said. But his harshest words were directed at its founder

Julian Assange, and at former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who had leaked classified documents from the National Security Agency in 2013.

"(They) seek to use that information to make a name for themselves" and "care nothing about the lives they put at risk or the damage they cause to national security".

Pompeo said Assange claims to harbour an overwhelming admiration for both America and the idea of America. "But I assure you that this man knows nothing of America and our ideals."

"We know this because 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," Pompeo said.

"When Snowden absconded to the comfortable clutches of Russian intelligence, his treachery directly harmed a wide range of US intelligence and military operations. Despite what he claims, he is no whistle blower. True whistleblowers use the well-established and discreet processes in place to voice grievances; they do not put American lives at risk," he said.

Pompeo said Assange's actions have attracted a devoted following among some of the most determined enemies. Following a recent WikiLeaks disclosure, an al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula member posted a comment online "thanking

WikiLeaks for providing a means to fight America in a way that AQAP had not previously envisioned," the CIA Director claimed.

"That Assange is the darling of terrorists is nothing short of reprehensible," he said. Assange, an Australian citizen, has been living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He received political asylum from the South American country after skipping bail to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted in connection with a rape case.

And Snowden lives at an undisclosed location in Russia after initially traveling to Hong Kong following his disclosure of the documents. Russia granted him asylum soon after.
Afghan commandos arrive at a village near the site of the US bombing in Jalalabad, east of Kabul (Photo:AP)

At least 36 alleged members of the so-called Islamic State were killed on Thursday after the United States dropped its biggest non-nuclear device on a target location in Achin district, in Afghanistans Nangarhar province, close to the Pakistan border. The Pentagon added that there had been no civilian casualties.

Amaq, a news agency affiliated with Islamic State, carried a statement on Friday denying that the group had suffered casualties in the attack, Reuters said. However, the news agency was quick to add that the statement remained unverified.

Nicknamed the mother of all bombs, the weapon was dropped from an MC-130 aircraft. This the first real-world deployment of the bomb since a test in 2003 when it produced a mushroom cloud visible from 32km away.

Residents of Achin district  at a village called Moman  described the impact of the 9,000-kilo bomb as severe. My ears were deaf for a while. My windows and doors are broken. There are cracks in the walls and the earth felt like a boat in a storm, Mohammad Shahzadah, a resident, was quoted as saying by The Guardian. Nearly 11,000 kilometres from Kabul, US President Donald Trump in Washington hailed the bomb. He called it another very, very successful mission.

Experts, however, are questioning the timing and even the need for such a device in the West Asian theatre. The Guardian noted the extreme financial cost of the operation claiming that the MOAB  each costing $16m  was able to kill just about three dozen ISIS members at a cost of almost $4,50,000 per individual.

Others said the bomb was a waste of time because the ISIS had had little success in Afghanistan, where it has been trying to gain foothold. The Tali-ban, instead, are far more powerful but remain embedded in civilian areas.Wisdom from ground zero echo condemnation of the bomb. I dont see why the bomb was dropped. It terrorised our people, mayor of Achin, Naweed Shinwari, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
The sign in the window of a Melbourne store read: Statement. Because the 14-18 year old black always steal. Prohibit 14-18 year-old blacks and dogs into the shop.

An Australian shop owner has sparked outrage after he put up a sign banning black teenagers and dogs. The sign in the window of a Melbourne store read: Statement. Because the 14-18 year old black always steal. Prohibit 14-18 year-old blacks and dogs into the shop.

Outraged social media users called the sign disgusting, racist and vile. Some labelled it a hate crime. Even the police condemned the sign with a spokesman telling news.com.au, Victoria Police does not support the language of the poster and deems the message as inappropriate.

The shop owner, who has taken down the sign after the backlash, told The Herald Sun that he put up the sign after a shoplifting incident involving a group of Sudanese children. I was so angry so I went and made that sign and hung it up, a few hours later I thought about it and took it down, the unnamed shop owner told the newspaper.
Beijing: A conflict over North Korea could break out "at any moment", China's foreign minister Wang Yi said Friday, warning there would be "no winner" in any war, as tensions soar with the US.

The sharp language came after President Donald Trump said that the "problem" of North Korea "will be taken care of", as speculation mounts that the reclusive state could be preparing another nuclear or missile test.

"Lately, tensions have risen with the US and the ROK on one side, and the DPRK on the other, and one has the feeling that a conflict could break out at any moment," Wang said, using abbreviations for South and North Korea.

"If a war occurs, the result is a situation in which everybody loses and there can be no winner," he said during a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Wang said that whichever side provoked a conflict "must assume the historic responsibility and pay the corresponding price."

A White House foreign policy advisor said Friday that the US is assessing military options in response to North Korea's weapons programs, saying another provocative test was a question of "when" rather than "if."

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. "Dialogue is the only possible solution," Wang said.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday said the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav was based on "credible" and "specific" evidence that prove his involvement in spying and terror activities and asserted that more active diplomacy is needed to arrest the "growing crises" in the Indo-Pak ties.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that due process of law was followed in the trial of 46-year-old Jadhav. Aziz in a detailed statement read out to the media at the Foreign Office said that India through its reaction was aggravating the situation.

Rejecting Indian accusation of unfair trail, Aziz said that the first FIR against was lodged on April 8, 2016 by police's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.

He said detailed trail was held and all relevant laws including Evidence Act and recording of statement before a magistrate were followed. Jadhav was also provided legal assistance.

"Kulbushan Jhadav, who is responsible for espionage, sabotage and terrorism in Pakistan, has been tried according to the law of the land, in a fully transparent manner while preserving his rights, as per the Constitution of Pakistan,"

he said.

"His sentence is based on credible, specific evidence proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan." Aziz "condemned" the Indian reaction over Jadhav's sentencing and warned that it would further "aggravate the people-to-people hostility".

"I would like to ask India why Kulbushan Jhadav was using a fake identity impersonating as a Muslim Why would an innocent man possess two passports, one with a Hindu name and another with a Muslim name Since India has no credible explanation about why their serving Naval Commander was in

Balochistan, it has unleashed a flimsy propaganda campaign.

"Inflammatory statements and rhetoric about 'pre- meditated murder' and 'unrest in Balochistan', will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose," Aziz warned.

"We condemn the baseless allegations from India, especially in the light of the fact that it was non-cooperation and lack of Indian response to Pakistan's request for legal assistance, due to which consular access has not been provided to Mr. Jhadav.

"We expect India to behave responsibly and refrain from issuing statements that will further aggravate people to people hostility. More active diplomacy is therefore needed to arrest the growing crises in India-Pakistan relations before

it becomes even more serious," Aziz said.

Providing details of the trail, Aziz said that the confessional video statement of Jhadav followed by initial FIR in CTD Quetta on April 8, 2016. The initial interrogation was done May 2 and detailed interrogation on May 22.

It was followed by the constitution of a Joint Investigation Team on July 12. The confessional statement under Section 164 CrPC was recorded on July 22 and recording of summary of evidence done on September 24.

The first trial proceeding was held on September 21, second proceeding on October 19, third proceeding on November 29, 2016 and fourth proceeding on February 12, 2017. The death sentence was endorsed on April 10, 2017.

Aziz said that a law qualified field officer was provided to defend Jadhav throughout the court proceedings. Aziz said Jadhav can appeal against the verdict of the military tribunal within 40 days to a military Appellate Court.

He can file an appeal to the army chief within 60 days against the decision of the Appellate Court. Jadhav can file mercy petition to the President of Pakistan within 90 days if the army chief rejects the appeal for clemency.

Aziz listed a several cases of terrorism in which he said Jadhav was involved. "He was part of sabotage and terrorism in which civilians and security personnel were killed," he claimed.

Aziz also accused that Jadhav orchestrated attacks against minority Shia Hazara community in Quetta. Aziz also said that India has not allowed consular access

to many Pakistani prisoners for many years despite repeated requests.

He also said that all political parties had supported the decision of the military tribunal and the entire nation was united against any threat.


"It was really another successful job, we are very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event," Trump told reporters at the White House "Everybody knows exactly what happened, what I do is I authorise our military. We have the greatest military in the world, they've done a job, as usual, so we have given them total authorisation and that's what they're doing, and frankly, that's why they've been so successful lately," he said.



"If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and you compare that to what's happened over the last eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference. So we have incredible leaders of the military and incredible military, and we are very proud of them, and this was another very very successful mission," Trump said. The US President, however, said he does not know if this would send a message to North Korea.



"I don't know if this sends a message. It doesn't make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of. I will say this; I think China has really been working very hard," he said. The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command.



At his daily news conference, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the bomb was dropped at around 7 PM local time in Afghanistan yesterday. "The GBU-43 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 easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area," Spicer said.



"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 US took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage as a result of the operation," he said. The strike is part of the ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan, the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) said. Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. According to the Department of Defence, there are about 600-800 ISIS-K fighters in the region where bomb was dropped.



President Donald Trump has said the US military has been "successful" lately because his administration has given them "total authorisation", as he hailed the forces for dropping the largest non-nuclear bomb targeting an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan. A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed 'Mother Of All Bombs', was dropped on a tunnel complex of ISIS-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, in Achin district of Afghanistan's Nanagarh province, close to the border with Pakistan.Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said yesterday that it was the first-ever combat use of the bomb. A MOAB is a 21,600- pound, GPS-guided munition that is America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb. Trump said he authorised the use of the bomb in Afghanistan and called the mission "very, very successful".
Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale will be meeting Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of retired Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by an army court there.



According to sources, Bambawale is expected to raise the issue of consular access to Jadhav as Pakistan has rejected 13 of India's requests for the same in the last one year.



Apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhav's family appealing against the verdict.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 126th birth anniversary at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur.



After paying floral tributes at the hallowed precincts, where the Dalit icon and architect of the Constitution embraced Buddhism in 1956 with his large number of followers, Modi prayed for a few minutes with folded hands.



Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was also present.



Ahead of his visit, Modi tweeted yesterday that he was "extremely honoured" to be visiting Nagpur, on the "very special occasion" of Ambedkar Jayanti.



On a day-long visit to the second capital of Maharashtra, Modi is also to dedicate to the nation 14 units of thermal power plants at Koradi, Chandrapur and Parli with a total capacity of 3,230 MW.



These include three super-critical units with 660 MW each at Koradi, two of 500 MW each at Chandrapur, and one of 250 MW at Parli.



"A series of development projects are going to be inaugurated in Nagpur, which will have a positive impact on people's lives," Modi had said in another tweet yesterday.



"The development projects include IIIT, IIM & AIIMS and launch of Koradi Thermal Power Station. Will also address a public meeting," he said.



"We are unwavering in our efforts towards creating a strong, prosperous & inclusive India of Dr Ambedkars dreams," Modi said.



The PM later in the day will join the culmination of the DigiDhan Mela, where he will present awards to the mega draw winners of Lucky Grahak Yojna and DigiDhan Vyapar Yojna. '

He will also address a public rally at Mankapur in Nagpur.




India today demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of its national Kulbhushan Jadhav and sought consular access to him.



Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying.



"I have asked for a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav," Bambawale told PTI.



"They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have again requested the Pakistan Foreign Secretary to give access to Jadhav so that we can appeal," he said.



Sources in New Delhi said apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhav's family appealing against the verdict.



Pakistan's top military Generals yesterday decided not to make any "compromise" on the death sentence given to 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 death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General 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.



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.




Four days after the passengers of Rajdhani Express were robbed, a joint police team of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh managed to apprehend five criminals involved in the loot incident. However, the investigating team members were aghast at the modus operandi of the criminals.



The train robbers had used a two rupee coin to change the train signal from green to red, as a result of which New Delhi-Patna Rajdhani Express stopped at Gamhar on Bihar-UP border. As the train stopped, altogether four miscreants boarded the train after one of their accomplices, who was already in the premier train, opened the entrance door.



Explaining how the robbers hacked the outer signal of Gamhar station, one of the railway source said, The miscreants planned to rob Rajdhani passengers in between Mughalsarai (UP) and Buxar (Bihar) in the early hours of April 9. Four criminals waited near the outer signal of Gamhar (small junction) and placed a Rs 2 coin in the gap of two railway tracks before the train was to cross through. This, in turn, changed the signal from green to red.



Dwelling at length about the scientific method used in the crime, the source said, There are circuits on the tracks close to signal which helps them change to red or green. Each track is of around 13 metres long. There is a small gap between the two metallic tracks. An insulator is used in the gap to break the circuit so that the signal turns green.



The investigating cops were astonished when the criminals told them that they used a two rupee coin in the track gap ahead of the signal. The trains metallic wheels acted as the conductor between the gap thereby completing the circuit. This, in turn, helped the signal turn red.



As the driver stopped the train, a gang member, who was already in the Rajdhani Express, opened the doors to facilitate the criminals entry. The gang members spread out and robbed passengers of A-1, B-7 and B-8 bogie. Before escaping under the cover of darkness, each of them distributed the cash, while gold and other ornaments were sold to Krishna Jewellers in Buxar district, said the source.



The five miscreants had earlier thrown a diamond ring into a dustbin assuming it was an ordinary stone. However, the railway police, on their information, recovered the said diamond from the spot.



Altogether five persons have been arrested so far. Raids are on to nab others who helped in this train robbery. Besides, some gold ornaments have been also recovered from a jewellery shop, said a member of the investigating team.
Having reclaimed power in Uttar Pradesh after 15 years, the BJP will now turn its focus to the states where it has been traditionally weak but which are critical to determine its fortune in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as its national executive meet begins in Odisha tomorrow.



Gaining strength in the eastern states, including West Bengal, is on the top of BJP president Amit Shahs to-do list now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, besides Shah himself are likely to give a call for pushing the party's expansion in the new territories.



After arriving in the city, Shah paid tributes to Dalit icon Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary and later joined his state party colleagues in celebrating the Odia new year. The BJP organised a motorcycle rally to welcome him.



He was also presented with a garland of 74 "victory flowers", a reference to the majority mark in the 147-seat Odisha assembly.



The BJP has also planned a virtual road show for Modi when he arrives here tomorrow. He is likely to be greeted at several places on his road travel from airport to Raj Bhawan, where he will stay.



Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan called Odisha a "laboratory" of the pro-poor policies of the Modi government as he hit out at the state government a day before the executive begins.



Modi will also felicitate the members of 16 families associated with an 1817 rebellion in Odisha against the British rule.



Continuing with the BJP's dalit outreach, the party has named the venue of its executive meet after noted Odia poet and reformer Bhima Bhoi. Dalits constitute over 17 per cent of the state's electorate and have never been traditional voters of the saffron party, which is now wooing them aggressively.



Internal squabbles in the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD and continued decline of the Congress have presented the saffron party with an opportunity for growth in the state and its top leadership is likely to to pull out all stops to woo the voters.



Coming against the backdrop of a massive saffron sweep in UP besides a decent show in recent bypolls, the meeting of party leaders from across the country is set to fete Modi and Shahs leadership, and project the victories as a popular endorsement of the central government, sources said.
India on Friday said Japan is a natural partner in achieving the goal of increasing the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25% in the coming years. Both the countries discussed ways of increasing bilateral trade and investments during a day-long conference in Nagoya, Japan.



A business delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman participated in that event. India wants to increase the contribution of manufacturing sector to GDP to 25% and Japan is a natural partner in our goals, an official statement quoting Nirmala said here.



Currently, the manufacturing sector contributes about 17% to the countrys GDP. The government is taking steps such as improving ease of doing business and relaxing FDI norms to boost the sector.



Nirmala also met Governor of Aichi Prefecture Hideaki Ohmura in Nagoya. Hideaki acknowledged that the India Conference will further encourage the companies in Aichi Prefecture to invest in India.



Japan said that although it is the third largest foreign investor in India ($25.2 billion during April 2000-December 2016), behind Mauritius and Singapore, it can be considered a top investor as the other two countries are used by companies from across the world to route investments.



Nirmala urged Ohmura to consider diversification of investment in other sectors such as food processing, textiles, medical equipment, electronics and IT in India. The minister invited him to lead a delegation of Japanese companies to MSME clusters in India to explore partnership and investment opportunities.


The point of prescription drugs is to help us get or feel well. Yet so many Americans take multiple medications that doctors are being encouraged to pause before prescribing and think about deprescribing as well.



The idea of dropping unnecessary medications started cropping up in the medical literature a decade ago. In recent years, evidence has mounted about the dangers of taking multiple, perhaps unnecessary, medications.



Deprescribing will work only if patients also get involved in the process. Only they can report adverse effects that they sense but that are not apparent to clinicians. And they need to be comfortable weaning from or dropping drugs that they are accustomed to and believe to be helpful.



Yet an increasing number of Americans  typically older ones with multiple chronic conditions  are taking drugs and supplements they dont need, or so many of them that those substances are interacting with one another in harmful ways. Studies show that some patients can improve their health with fewer drugs.



Though many prescription drugs are highly valuable, taking them can also be dangerous, particularly taking a lot of them at once. The vast majority of higher-quality studies summarised in a systematic review on polypharmacy  the taking of multiple medications  found an association with a bad health event, like a fall, hospitalisation or death.



About one-third of adverse events in hospitalisations include a drug-related harm, leading to longer hospital stays and greater expense. The Institute of Medicine estimated that there are 4,00,000 preventable adverse drug events in hospitals each year, costing $3.5 billion.



One-fifth of patients discharged from the hospital have a drug-related complication after returning home, many of which are preventable. Not every adverse drug event means a patient has been prescribed an unnecessary and harmful drug. But older patients are at greater risk, because they tend to have more chronic conditions and take a multiplicity of medications for them. Two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries have two or more chronic conditions, and almost half take five or more medications. Over a year, almost 20% take 10 or more drugs or supplements.



Some are unnecessary. At least one in five older patients are on an inappropriate medication  one that they can do without or that can be switched to a different, safer drug.



One study found that 44% of frail, older patients were prescribed at least one drug unnecessarily. A study of over 2,00,000 older veterans with diabetes found that over half were candidates for dropping a blood pressure or blood sugar control medication. Some studies cite even higher numbers  60% of older Americans may be on a drug they dont need.



Though studies have found a correlation between the number of drugs a patient takes and the risk of an adverse event, the problem may not be the number of drugs, but the wrong ones. Some medications have been identified as more likely to contribute to adverse events, particularly for older patients.



For example, if youre taking psychotropic agents, such as benzodiazepines or sleep-aid drugs, you may be at increased risk of falling and cognitive impairment. Diuretics and antihypertensives have also been identified as potentially problematic. (The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has published a longer list of drugs that are potentially inappropriate for older patients. Note that, even if they are problematic for some patients, they are appropriate for many.)



Relative to the mountain of evidence on the effects of taking prescription drugs, there are very few clinical trials on the effects of not taking them.



Among them is one randomised trial that found that careful evaluation and weekly management of medications taken by older patients reduced unnecessary or inappropriate drug use. Adverse drug reactions fell by 35%. Medication use was reduced, along with the risk of falls among a group of older, community-dwelling patients through a programme that included a review of medications.



Several other studies also found that withdrawal of psychotropic medications reduced falls. A comprehensive review of deprescribing studies found that some approaches to it can reduce the risk of death. Another recent randomised trial found that frail and older people could drop an average of two drugs from a 10-drug regimen with no adverse effects.



Inappropriate dosage

So why isnt deprescribing more widely considered? According to a systematic review of research on the question, some physicians are not aware that theyre prescribing inappropriately.



Other doctors may have difficulty identifying which drugs are inappropriate, in part because of lack of evidence. In other cases, doctors believe that adverse effects of drug interactions are outweighed by benefits.



Physicians also report that some patients resist changing medications, fearing that alternatives  including lifestyle changes  will not be as effective. Other studies found that many doctors are concerned about liability if something should go wrong or worry theyll fail to meet performance benchmarks  like the proportion of diabetic patients with adequate blood sugar control.



To reduce the chances of problems with medications, experts advocate that physicians more routinely review the medication regimens of their patients, particularly those with many prescriptions. At hospital discharge  when patients leave the hospital, often on more medications than when they entered it  is a particularly important time for such a review.



Including nurses and pharmacists in the process can reduce the burden on physicians and the risks to patients.



Patients can play an important role as well. Walid Gellad, a physician in the Veterans Health Administration and at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, advises that at every visit with a doctor, patients should ask, Are there any medications which I am on that I dont need anymore, or that I could try going without?'



Patients, of course, should not try weaning themselves off medication without consulting their doctors  but deprescribing is an idea for all parties to keep in mind.


Jubilant FoodWorks Limited, United Way Bengaluru and United Way Mumbai will be organising Swachh School Awards contest to recognise schools for promoting cleanliness and contributing for the betterment of the environment.The contest will be held in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, and will assess schools in drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, water conservation, waste management, community engagement for betterment of environment and other categories.The first prize carries a purse of Rs 3 lakh and second and third prizes consist of Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 75,000 respectively. Both public and private schools in BBMP limits are eligible to contest. Visit http://jflswachhschoolawards.jublfood.com The United Way is also looking for volunteers to conduct audit of schools. Those interested can contact Kritika Prakash at krithika.prakash@uwbengaluru.org by April 17.
Apparently desperate to revive her party, which suffered a severe drubbing in the recent Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, BSP supremo Mayawati on Friday dropped hints that she might not be averse to be a part of the proposed anti-BJP front to take on the saffron party.



Speaking at a function on the occasion of 126th birth anniversary of dalit ideologue B R Ambedkar here, Mayawati reiterated her allegation that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) were tampered with by the BJP in the UP polls.



Her party would continue to raise voice against the tampering. BJP is harassing me as it was perturbed by our party's protest against EVM tampering...we will continue our protest...we are open to joining hands with other opposition parties on this issue, she said.



I am ready to join hands with others to fight the BJP and save democracy, she remarked.



Though Mayawati did not elaborate on her remarks, BSP leaders, who were present there, said that she might not be averse to be a part of the proposed anti-BJP front.



Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Akhilesh Yadav has advocated formation of a mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in UP and in other parts of the country to take on the BJP.



Mayawatis remarks assume significance amid renewed efforts by some Opposition parties like JD(U) and NCP to form a grand alliance against BJP.


The Centre has set a new target schedule of mid-2018 to commission India's first gen-next fast breeder nuclear reactor  eight years behind original schedule.



On record, the target continues to be October 2017.



But sources in the Department of Atomic Energy told Deccan Herald that the middle of 2018 was being looked at a more realistic target to put the new reactor into operation.



Once functional, the fast breeder reactor would usher in the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme as envisioned by Homi Bhabha, the father of Indian nuclear programme.



Fast breeder reactors breed more fissile material than the fuel they consume. They burn plutonium  generated in Uranium-fueled pressured heavy water reactors and light water reactors  to breed a special type of fissile uranium known as U-233, which is used as fuel.



Anti-nuclear activists, however, are concerned on the FBR reactors for two reasons. No one is sure about its long-term commercial viability and ecological-impact in the absence of similar reactors in other nations. Secondly, it uses liquid sodium, a hazardous material as coolant.



The sodium cooling leads to a temperature of 600 degrees Celsius inside the reactor, because of which there are safety concerns.



From the day of pouring liquid sodium into the system, we need at least five months for the FBR to generate commercial electricity, sources said.



As per the original schedule, the project was to be commissioned in September, 2010, which was later rescheduled to September 2014.



The goalpost was against shifted to September 2016 and later on to October 2017.



DAE officials claim the main reason for the delay is the over-cautious attitude of scientists because of the nature of the technologies involved. The policy adopted is that we will be slow and steady, but sure. That is the way, it is going on. If some problem comes in rushing through it, then it will be questioned all over the world, DAE secretary Sekhar Basu wrote to a panel of the lawmakers, who reviewed the PFBR project.



The reactor was designed at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam. Such Sodium-cooling reactors are either stopped or delayed in France and Japan because of sodium leakage. Therefore some among of caution has been built into it. We are a bit more cautious than other countries, so that we don't fail, said another scientist.



Once the first reactor goes critical, the DAE plans to construct two more breeder reactors, each with a capacity of 600 Mwe, to quickly ramp up the nuclear energy output.


India on Friday made it clear that there is no change in its policy towards Tibet and on the border issue with China following the Dalai Lamas week-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh.



New Delhis statement comes after Chinas spokespersons and its official media had accused India of violating its commitment on the Tibet issue and warned that allowing the Dalai Lama to go there would have negative impact on the settlement of the border dispute.



Let me make it absolutely clear that there is no change whatsoever in the Government of Indias policy towards the Tibet Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China, said Gopal Baglay, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.



On April 8, despite loud protests from Bejing, the Dalai Lama addressed devotees at a historic monastery in the border town of Tawang, where the sixth Dalai Lama was born more than three centuries ago.



Similarly, our approach to seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question remains unchanged, Baglay added.



Baglays response came after he was asked whether the Tibetan spiritual leaders visit to the state from April 4 to 11 signalled a change in Indias policy on Tibet or on the border negotiations with China.



An article titled Tawangs history affirms Chinas 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 the Centre for Tibetan Studies of Sichuan University.



Indian officials have held that this was not the Dalai Lamas first visit to Tawang, in northern Arunachal Pradesh.


As the Opposition parties have won five of the 10 Assembly bypolls, the BJP has now got nothing to boast about, feels Congress leader P Chidambaram.



The former finance minister took to Twitter to point out the 50:50 bypoll verdict: 10 byelections, BJP wins 5, non-BJP parties win 5. Are not the honours even?



The Congress won three seats  two in Karnataka and one in Madhya Pradesh. The Trinamool Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won one seat each in West Bengal and Jharkhand.



The real headline of the day is BJP loses ATER seat in MP to Congress, he wrote, in an apparent reference to the reports of reported EVM tampering in the Assembly seat in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh.



The Ater seat had fallen vacant after the death of Satyadev Katare, leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. Ater was at the centre of a controversy after a video purportedly showed that the EVMs  used in a demonstration exercise  recorded votes only in favour of the BJP.



The video gave a boost to the Opposition campaign against the use of EVMs.



The Supreme Court is hearing a petition filed by Mayawatis BSP against the use of EVMs in forthcoming elections contending that the machines could be tampered with.


It is not just the infiltrators that trouble the security establishment on the Indo-Pak border. Nature, too, plays spoilsport sometimes.



The shifting sand dunes in the Thar Desert are damaging the border fence in Rajasthan, and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is now looking at ways to protect it. To add to the woes, floods have made floodlighting on a 118-km stretch non-functional.



The issues were highlighted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, whose members visited the spot and got first-hand information on the matter.



The panel said the fencing in the Thar region has proved to be ineffective in serving the intended purpose. It acknowledged that the BSF was considering the opting for dense plantation in the Jaisalmer border area to stabilise sand dunes.



Floating fences

However, the committee headed by Congress MP and former home minister P Chidambaram suggested that India could resort to floating fences, similar to what the United States has on the Mexican border.



The committee in this connection would like to draw the attention of the ministry to a fence erected by the USA, on its border with Mexico. The area has a geographical terrain similar to the Thar, which can be repositioned mechanically to appropriate the border line, and, in effect, floats on top of the shifting sand dunes, a member of the committee said.



The MHA has already discussed the damage caused to the fence with the Central Public Works Department.



Working on solution

The department has been asked to carry out a geo-technical survey in the bordering area of Rajasthan. It is now working on finding a solution.



The MHA is also examining the possibility of a study to be done by a premier agency like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).



On the floodlights, the panel said there should be regular maintenance so that damage is minimal. In the flood prone areas, pre-emptive and protective steps should be taken to ensure that floodlights are not affected, it said.


The Kashmiri youth, who was tied to an army jeep on the repolling day in central Kashmirs Budgam district, was one among a minuscule few who had voted despite the election boycott call by separatists.



Farooq Ahmad Dar of Sitaharaan village in Khag tehsil of Budgam, after casting his vote, was on his way to visit his sister at her house when the army took him away, his brother Fayaz Dar said.



My brothers only sin was that he had voted against the popular sentiment in Kashmir. The army first tortured him and later tied him to its jeep. From 11 am to 4 pm, the army kept him tied and paraded him in 10-12 villages, Fayaz told DH over phone.



The Dar family members, who work as artisans to earn their livelihood, came to know about the incident around 2 pm.



We immediately contacted the police who told us to wait till the polling was over. At around 5 pm, we got to visit the army camp, where my brother had been detained. After pleading before the officers, he was released, Fayaz said.



Asked why they didnt lodge an FIR against the erring army personnel, he said, We are poor. We didnt want to invite more trouble for ourselves.



Used him as shield

Sources said the army unit involved in the act was 53-Rashtriya Rifles, which ostensibly used Farooq as a human shield against stone-pelting by rampaging protesters.



The decision to mount the youth on the jeep was taken by a major, who didnt want to open fire and unleash bloodbath, a source claimed.



Background

Eight people had died on April 9 when violence erupted during the polling for Srinagars Lok Sabha seat in Budgam and Ganderbal districts.



The Election Commission ordered re-poll in 38 booths on April 12 in five Assembly segment areas of Budgam.


India has immovable assets worth Rs 1.04 lakh crore belonging to people who migrated to Pakistan after the 1965 and 1971 wars, but the revenue generated from these properties is paltry.



Last month, Parliament passed amendments to the Enemy Property Act disallowing successors of those who migrated to Pakistan and China to claim properties left behind by their ancestors in India.



According to figures provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the revenue received from these properties, known as enemy properties, since the 2013-14 fiscal is Rs 5.06 crore, which is only 0.004% of the value of assets.



In the fiscal 2013-14, the government received a revenue of Rs 1.79 crore from the properties  the highest in the past four fiscals.



The next fiscal saw a drop in revenue to Rs 1.10 crore, only to rise marginally in 2015-16 to Rs 1.37 crore.



During 2016-17, the revenue generation till February was Rs 78.83 lakh.



Among the states, Uttar Pradesh, which has 4,991 enemy properties valued at Rs 82,441.23 crore, has earned the highest revenue at Rs 1.48 crore. Delhi, with properties worth Rs 81.69 crore property, has got a revenue of Rs 52.81 lakh.



Karnataka, with 20 enemy properties valued at Rs 15.18 crore, has not generated any revenue from these assets in the four fiscals.



The total value of movable and immovable enemy properties across the country is pegged at Rs 1.07 lakh crore. The number of immoveable enemy properties belonging to Pakistani nationals is 9,280, comprising of 11,882 acre of land, and value of the total vested immoveable properties stands to the tune of Rs 1,04,340 crore.



Moveable vested properties consist of shares in 266 listed companies, having a valuation of Rs 2,610 crore, shares in 318 unlisted companies valued at Rs 24 crore, gold and jewellery worth Rs 38 lakh, bank balance of Rs 177.60 crore, investments in government securities worth Rs 150 crore and investments in fixed deposits worth Rs 160.58 crore.



The issue of enemy properties had become a raging controversy in the country when different political parties had taken different positions on it.



The government had brought the amendment following a claim laid by the heirs of poet and freedom fighter Raja Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan (popularly known as Raja of Mahmudabad, who had taken residence in Pakistan) on his properties in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.


Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said Hindutva and not Prime Minister Narendra Modis personal appeal was the key factor in the BJPs recent electoral victories in Uttar Pradesh and other states.



Swamy, who spoke to The Huffington Post, said: We (BJP) cant do without Modi because he is a man who has made a name, he has good habits, and he is a good man. We think well of him. But we dont think that by himself he can deliver a victory because no individual is like that. He spoke only of governance and that was not enough. So, I would say Modi, Hindutva and anti-corruption.



Swamy, whose controversial remarks have often put the BJP on the back foot said his advice to the party was that governance is a necessary condition for achieving electoral victory, but not the sufficient condition.



For sufficient, you needed some sentimental issues. For us, for the BJP, the sentimental issue was Hindutva. And unless we articulate that, we will not be able to win.



Swamy said, Certainly, without Modi we could not have done it, but Modi was not enough. And that is where we articulated this Hindutva  of uniting the Hindus and dividing the minorities. That was a reversal of the Congress party (strategy) of dividing the Hindus and uniting the minorities. For the next Lok Sabha election we will definitely package it thus  fighting corruption, Hindutva and governance.



Swamy also said, The prime minister is a pracharak of the RSS. So, if you peel off his exterior, it is all Hindutva. I dont believe there is anything fake about him. But he sold an idea that you must now expand. This is the mistake that Vajpayee made. He lost his basic following and the people whom he cultivated didnt come (to his support). So, he was badly defeated.



Asked why Modi was not openly talking about Hindutva, Swamy said, Perhaps he has friends who have told him. Delhi is a strange place. In Gujarat, nobody told him. Now you have to face the world. You must now appear to be liberal, that sort of thing.



Swamy said he has often cited examples of magnificent governance done by Morarji Desai, who lost the election, Narasimha Rao, who transformed the Indian economy completely but lost the election, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who spoke about India shining but ended up losing very badly.


Poachers chopped off the snout of the famed tiger, Prince, and took out its precious canines shortly after the animal starved to death in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in March, forest officials say.



A forest guard stumbled upon a part of the snout while patrolling the Lokkere beat of the BTRs Kundakere range on Thursday evening. An examination later showed that the chopped snout was of 11-year-old Prince whose sudden death has grieved wildlife conservationists.



The find led to rumours that the animal was poached and did not die a natural death. The Forest Department was quick to dispel the rumours and has reiterated that the animals death was not unnatural.



Nevertheless, forest officials are aghast at the brazen manner in which poachers made off with the animals canines which, along with tiger bones, are highly valued in the international wildlife trade. A forest official, who would not be quoted, said thieves used either sickle or axe to snap the snout before guards could find the carcass.



Strangely, forest officials who were baffled by the missing snout and the canines upon finding the carcass on April 2 didnt care to comb the area. The snout has been sent to the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Bengaluru, for examination.



Kishan Singh Sugara, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), said the tiger had lost some of its canines to old age and during territorial fights.



Nagaraj D N, senior veterinary officer, BTR, who did the post-mortem, said, When the carcass came to the post-mortem table, the upper part of the jaw was missing. This was mentioned in the post-mortem report. The animal had died a natural death and there was no chemical substance around its broken face.



Noted tiger scientist K Ullas Karanth said that going by the photographic evidence, it was obvious that the animals snout was chopped off after it died. He said the case was not the first of a kind but dismissed the suggestion that the animal was killed with a meat bomb.



Sugara said the tiger was not poisoned to death. But there certainly was some mischief. An FIR has been registered and the case is being investigated under the Wildlife Protection Act, he said.



Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest C Jayaram said the animal starved to death but refused to comment further until the forensic reports came. Wildlife conservationists have, however, accused the Forest Department of hiding the truth from the public.



Why did they hide the fact about the missing snout while announcing the tigers death? Although its a natural death, the department has come under unnecessary suspicion, wildlife activist Joseph Hoover said.



Bandipur Project Tiger Director T Hiralal denied the allegation and said a report on the missing part was submitted to the government and senior officials. We are investigating how could someone enter the core forest area and commit the crime, he said.




The government is shortchanging guest lecturers when it comes to salaries, and has no interest in addressing their woes, an association representing them said on Wednesday.



Every time we protest, the government asks us not to play with the future of the students, and we give in, B Srinivasachar, president of the Karnataka State Government First Grade College Guest Lecturers Association, told DH. But this time, we are firm.



Many members have worked for 15 years, and given their best years to the profession, he said. Our salaries are not even half of what our counterparts in other states get, he said.



When R V Deshpande and T B Jayachandra were ministers of higher education, they had promised to form a committee headed by writer Baraguru Ramachandrappa to look into the problem, but nothing has moved, Srinivasachar said.



Karnataka has about 13,500 guest lectures, and in some cases, they put in longer hours than permanent faculty, who get salaries of up to Rs 1.5 lakh, he said. The chief minister should take up the problem immediately if he wants students not to suffer, Srinivasachar, who teaches political science, said.



In 2003, in the S M Krishna regime, many guest lecturers were absorbed on the basis of their experience. They were also permitted to take up specialisation and higher studies. Why cant this government follow that example? he said.



Guest lecturers in Haryana, Gujarat, Kerala, Tripura, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh earn between Rs 22,000 and Rs 28,000, while those in Karnataka are paid between Rs 9,500 - 11,500 for similar work, Srinivasachar said.




The Karnataka government has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the quashing of a criminal case against five accused, belonging to a Kannada Christian organisation, in the 2013 sensational murder of Fr K J Thomas, the then rector of St Peters Pontifical Seminary in Malleswaram in Bengaluru.



In a petition, the state government urged the top court to stay the Karnataka High Court's order of August 30, 2016 that had set aside the criminal proceedings against the accused, including a woman. The governments move comes in support of the Church, which had already filed a petition in this regard.



It was alleged that the Fr Thomas was killed on April 1, 2013, following a rivalry with Kannada Christian activists, who wanted primacy for them in the Catholic churches in Karnataka. The non-Kannada Christian members of the congregations, mainly Malayalam, Tamil and Konkani speaking Christians projected this theory of the murder having been master-minded by the Kannada Christian activists. The apex court had on March 31, 2017, issued notice to the Karnataka government and the accused on a special leave petition filed by the Church. The Karnataka government's petition is to come up for consideration on April 17.



In its separate plea, the state government questioned the high court's order saying letting off the five accused would prejudice the case against other five accused, named in the main charge sheet, and pending consideration before the trial court. It has resulted in miscarriage of justice and it was not in accordance with the law, it claimed.



There are sufficient number of statements of witnesses, documentary, technical and scientific evidence, including call detail records, showing complicity of the accused in the conspiracy, it said.



Contesting the high court finding that there was a delay of over two years in filing the charge sheet against five accused, the state government said it was in view of due diligence exercised by the police. The second charge sheet was filed only after taking experts view, recording statements of witnesses, of whom some were abroad, and taking permission for further investigation by the trial court, it said.



The phone call analysis report established that the accused were in frequent touch with each other before and after the incident, the statements of witnesses also showed that they met each other and hence were aware of the commission of the offence, it claimed.



The state government contended the high court was wrong in not considering statements of Balraj, Fr John Abraham, Jon Bosco and Dolphy DCunha, disclosing complicity of the accused.



The high court had set aside the proceedings against the accused, saying the case against the main accused itself was on the basis of circumstantial evidence and, thus the case against the other accused stood even more diluted.


Serving and retired officers have criticised the police for their handling of the raid on former history-sheeter V Nagarajs house.



The way the raid was conducted and locks were broken, shows lack of professionalism, said Nagaraj, a retired additional superintendent of police who had arrested V Nagaraj during his service in the city.



The police should have gathered proper information about the suspect before conducting the raid. The sleuths were not aware about Nagarajs fancy for secret doors from where he is suspected to have escaped.



The police did not cordon off the area, he said.



Nagaraj reportedly took the help of his sources in the police department to escape, a senior police officer said.



He is in the good books of the Srirampuram police, but the Hennur police werent aware of this. The local police may have tipped him off about the possible raid. Nagaraj received the alert about half an hour before the raid, said a senior officer on condition of anonymity.



He has a set of informants in the locality who often tip him off about suspicious movements. He has installed CCTV cameras in and around his house. The police were not even equipped to face any eventuality. Locals were seen moving in and out of his house exposing the police plan.



The police did not know how to react when they questioned Nagarajs wife Lakshmi. She told the police that she did not know about the source of the money. I don't know, you could have planted it there, she is said to have replied to the police.



She was so hostile that when the police asked her where her husband was, Lakshmi retorted saying she was not hiding him between her legs.



It is your job to search and find him, she told them.



Nagaraj owns a resort near Nelamangala where he has installed over 50 CCTV cameras. The resort is fully protected by high concrete walls. He visits the resort late in the night for partying and leaves before dawn, said the police.



Hennur inspector Srinivas wore a hijab about a week ago and spent time around Nagarajs house collecting information. The raid was planned accordingly. Information about the plan was leaked minutes before the police reached his house around 5 am. Srinivass efforts went in vain.



Who is Nagaraj

V Nagaraj entered the world of crime in his teens by committing petty offences in and around Majestic. Later, he started mediating between clashing groups and extorted money from them. He hogged the limelight after Rajendra, a notorious history-sheeter, attacked him.



He prepared a crude bomb and set it off on Rajendras house. Hence, the police began to prefix his name with the word Bomb.



He and his wife successfully contested the Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike elections as independents in 2002.



He narrowly lost the Assembly elections from Gandhinagar against former minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. The police removed him from the list of rowdy-sheeters in 2013 based on the courts direction. The local police were planning to include him in the history sheet again. He faces 45 cases.


President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday called for setting up institutions of higher learning to hone youngsters skills to make India a global economic leader.



"Every year, around 600 million youngsters in India enter the job market, but their employability is low. Hence, we need to hone their skills by training for which institutions are needed, Mukherjee observed after laying the foundation stone for Bengaluru Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics (BASE) at a function at Vidhana Soudha.



The President appreciated the Karnataka governments move to start a Skill University and said India needed to train 500 million youngsters. Nalanda, Takshashila and Vikramashila universities attracted scholars and students from across the world around 1,500 years ago.



There is no dearth for talent in Indian students, but we need a bunch of teachers to identity youngsters and develop their personality, Mukherjee stated.



The President expressed concern over the quality of students passing out of universities. "There are over 760 universities, over 36,000 colleges, besides 114 central institutions in the country. Campus recruitment has been 100%, while we produce excellent engineers and managers. Many outgoing students seek jobs in America, Australia, England and New Zealand. Why haven't these institutions produced a single Nobel laurate? Mukherjee asked.



Sir C V Raman was the last Indian scientist to bag the Nobel Prize in 1931. Har Gobind Khorana, Sir C V Raman and Chandrashekhar were all products of the Indian universities, he said. ``BASE should not be a localised institution, but an institution of international repute, he added.



Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said his government wanted to set up a higher learning school on the lines of London School of Economics. BASE will promote research and training in theoretical and applied economics, along with social sciences. It will mentor economists, who contribute to the country, keeping in view Dr B R Ambedkars ideals. The government has allocated Rs 150 crore for BASE and Rs 75 crore will be released in the next five years.



Besides, it will get a recurring grant of Rs 10 crore every year, he said.



I dont care for Anna Bhagyas critics



I am not an economist, I have presented 12 budgets. When I finalise the budget, I remember a poor man of my village going to his landlords house begging for rice for his sick daughter as she cannot digest ragi. Anna Bhagya scheme was born out of that vivid memory. English media is opposed to the scheme, but I don't care for such critics as they are ignorant about hunger. We want Karnataka to be a hunger-free state, Siddaramaiah said.


In summer 2014, a German astronaut on the International Space Station posted an image to his Twitter account with the caption, My saddest photo yet. It showed the lights of the Gaza Strip from above; what the astronaut saw but the static shot did not capture were rockets flying over the strip amid the regions 50-day war between Israel and Palestine.



Back on earth, at least one person was instantly captivated. I was immediately like, download, print, said Celine Semaan, a Lebanese designer and the founder of Slow Factory, a Brooklyn fashion company that began in 2012 with the goal of creating and selling products that raise awareness around issues such as the plight of refugees or the threat of global warming. Eventually, Celine printed the image onto silk scarves for a collection called Cities by Night.



The current political climate has provided ample fodder for her creative challenges. This spring, Celine, who arrived in Canada with her parents in the late 1980s as a refugee herself, will add scarves with images of cities in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen  the seven countries US President Donald Trump named in his original immigration ban in January  to the series. They follow a more earthly item: a simple, elegant brass necklace with a key charm dipped in white gold, made by Armenian artisans in Lebanon, symbolising the homes that refugees leave behind.



With the keys and the accompanying look book, featuring refugees, children of refugees and activists from various creative fields, Celine is seeking to highlight both the struggles and the triumphs of the approximately 65 million people scattered around the world, whose treatment has recently been a contested topic in the United States and abroad.



Im a success story, Celine said. I made it in America. There are a lot of people like us who are not represented in the media. As with all of Slow Factorys products, a portion of the proceeds from the necklace sales have been earmarked for a charity. In this case, 10% will go to job-training programmes run by American Near East Refugee Aid, or ANERA, which provides humanitarian aid to Palestinians and poor families in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. ANERA has collaborated with Slow Factory since Celine originally created the Gaza by Night scarves in 2014. We raised enough money to build a school in Gaza, she said.



She added that ANERA also used the funds to supply women in Gaza with so-called dignity kits, containing scarves, underwear, soap and feminine hygiene products. Other projects focusing on the environment, on outer space and on women in science have followed. Celine, a user experience designer, creative director and 2016 MIT Media Lab Directors Fellow, approaches manufacturing with the mindset of an engineer, sourcing materials from groups like Thread International, which produces fabric from recycled plastic bottles gathered by workers in Haiti and Honduras; using zero-waste printers; and creating a collection out of T-shirts from secondhand stores.



A lot of homework

I do a lot of research, she said. Designing for people is inevitably designing for our planet. When we use materials that harm our planet, were not doing ourselves any favours. Celine considers the key a universal symbol. I saw a lot of Palestinian grandmas wearing the keys on their necks in Lebanon, she said. When I came to the United States, and I discovered Tiffany, I was like, Oh, people wear keys around their necks here, too. Even DJ Khaled has a key in his Snapchat.



Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a correspondent for AJ Plus, part of the Al-Jazeera Media Network, featured in the key collection look book, was attracted to the project despite having little interest in the fashion world. Ahmed explained that though he had visited refugee camps in Lebanon as a reporter, he had felt limited in his ability to help those whose stories he has told. This makes me feel connected to them, he said. Hala Abdul Malak, who teaches at Parsons School of Design and also modeled for Slow Factory, said she saw items like the keys as a way to prompt conversations about cultural dissemination and appropriation.



Everybody expresses themselves one way or the other through what theyre wearing, she said. Its easy to bridge boundaries through clothes and fashion. And though it is also easy to dismiss the adaptation of such issues into commercial products, an insistence on context is part of Celines mission. Celine knows what its like to be a refugee, said Maggie Forster Schmitz, vice-president for philanthropy at ANERA. Shes genuine in her interest in helping refugees and marginalised communities in the Middle East.


India on Friday informed Pakistan that it will appeal against the death sentence handed down to former navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav by a military court of that country on charges of spying.



This was conveyed by the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Gautam Bambawale, to Pakistan foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua. As a first step, the Indian envoy demanded copies of the charge sheet and the judgement.



Bambawale said, We would definitely appeal against the judgement but we cannot do it unless we have the details of charges and copy of the verdict. So, my first demand was to provide us the details of the charge sheet and copy of the verdict.



The Indian envoy also raised the issue of consular access to Jadhav. They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have again requested the Pakistan foreign secretary to give access to Jadhav so that we can appeal, he said.



Tehmina, however, claimed that consular access need not be provided because this was a case of espionage. Bambawale said Pakistan could not reject Indias request as international law and convention did not provide for such an exception.



In a sign that Islamabad will harden its position, Pakistan prime ministers advisor on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, issued a statement listing out some specific charges against Jadhav.Aziz, who had told the senate in December that evidence against Jadhav was not conclusive, said the conviction was based on credible and specific evidence.



So far, Islamabad has offered few details of the charges levelled against Jadhav. The charges, read out by Aziz, include: He sponsored and directed IEDs and grenade attacks in Gwadar and Trubat in Balochistan province.



He directed attacks on the radar station and civilian boats in the sea opposite Jiwani Port. He funded subversive secessionist and terrorist elements through Hawala/Hundi for subverting the Pakistani youth against the country, especially in Balochistan.



Aziz claimed that Jadhav sponsored explosions of gas pipelines and electric pylons in Sibi and Sui areas in Balochistan.



He sponsored IED explosions in Quetta in 2015, causing massive damage to life and property. He sponsored attack on Hazaras in Quetta and Shia Zaireen (pilgrims) en route to and back from Iran.



Jadhav abetted attacks through anti-state elements against LEAs/FC (law enforcement agencies/Frontier Corps) and FWO (Frontier Works Organisation) in areas of Turbat, Punjgur, Gwadar, Pasni and Jiwani during 2014-15, killing and injuring many civilians and soldiers.



However, Indian officials said the statement read out by Aziz at a news briefing in Islamabad did not contain any evidence whatsoever to back up the charges against Jadhav.



Bambawale said he has no information about former Pakistani army officer Mohammad Habib who reportedly went missing from Nepal. Pakistani officials suspect that Indian spy agencies were behind his disappearance.




China Delivers Third Maritime Patrol Ship to Pakistan



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A Solana Beach woman is giving back to San Diego Countys homeless population by giving them proper shoes.

Adele Levy, in partnership with Anthonys Shoe Repair, donates old pairs of shoes to the homeless men and women she meets each Sunday at Father Joes Villages in Downtown San Diego.

Her volunteer work at Father Joes began about four years ago through Congregation Beth Israel in La Jollas Hunger Project program, which provides food to the homeless people at Father Joes.

Its a wonderful experience, said Levy, a retired teacher who became known by the homeless people as the greeter who gave them Hersheys Kisses. Its sad to see the number of people living on the streets. When you look out the window at Father Joes, its just like, Oh my gosh. Tent city in the streets.

About two years ago, Levy, who also donates clothes dropped off at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society, decided to visit the Anthonys Shoe Repair location in Solana Beach to ask if they had any shoes they were going to throw away.

After Anthony Khattar, the owner of the store, gave her that first box of shoes, she brought it to Father Joes that Sunday. It has become a tradition ever since.

Khattar said it feels good to give back.

It means a lot to me, he said. Im with shoes all day long and people can take shoes for granted. When people bring in shoes, it makes you reflect on how needed shoes are for people who dont have them. I get a lot of self-gratification from it.

Khattar, who formerly donated shoes to womens and homeless shelters years ago, estimated more than 200 shoes have been donated since the partnership with Levy began.

Levy has become known by customers at Anthonys Shoe Repair  which also has locations at Del Mar Highlands Town Center and Carmel Mountain  for the donations.

She described the shoes as tired-looking but have a hell of a lot more wear than what the [homeless] people are walking around in.

I want to give them shoes that people can walk in and feel comfortable in, she said.

Levy, who grew up in Los Angeles and moved to Solana Beach about 15 years ago, said it felt only natural to her to give back.

Ive had a very fortunate life, she said. I grew up in a family where you do nice things for everybody. Ive got the time, I have the energy and its nice to see people smile.

Those interested in donating shoes to Levys cause can visit any of the Anthonys Shoe Repair locations listed at www.anthonyshoerepair.com




The bloom is now off the Donald Trump rose. The predictions of myself and many others in our wee little Movement have come true. The God-Emperor has betrayed us. He is trying to start a war with Russia that may well lead to the destruction of the world, and he is doing so in the clear interest of Israel and the Jews.





In some ways things are now more dangerous for Western civilization than they were in 1945. For the first time in history there are actual Jews living in the White House. We knew this before the election. I understand why most of us chose to overlook Jared and Ivanka, because the alternative was so Beestly and hideous, but we mustnt act surprised now that the little kosher chickens are coming home to roost.





I know we all wanted to believe so bad that the miracle wed been waiting for all our lives had finally occurred, and we now had a decent White man in the White House who was going to wave his magic wand and do it all for us, banish the muds and bring back the Brady Bunch, and we ourselves would not be required to do anything at all involving risk or inconvenience. All our lives we have been waiting for Godot, and on November 8th we thought Godot had finally arrived. You were warned, not just by me, and now the illusion is over.





Last week Donald Trump launched a completely unnecessary missile strike against an apparently disused airfield in Syria. Not an attack against ISIS, which would have made sense and had the support of all sane people on earth, but an attack on a Syrian government facility. The same Syria that is allied with Russia against American and Israeli-backed rebels.





Basically, about five years ago if memory serves, Obama and Hillary Clinton tried a standard CIA Color Revolution against Syrian president Bashar Assad, but Assad proved to be a tougher nut to crack than anyone thought, and it degenerated into an actual shooting war.





Trump blew up the airfield with the clear intention of insulting and provoking Vladimir Putin, possibly to try and prove in the eyes of the New York Times and Salon Magazine that he is not Putins spy or soul matein other words, he is responding to left-loon media crap by lashing out with military violence, which is not a good thing.





Trump now seems to be in the process of declaring war on multiple countries at once, including North Korea and Iran and unfortunately including Russia as well, which would have consequences so catastrophic that the mind simply cant comprehend them. China, the patron of Bill and Hillary Clinton, is notably absent from the list, at least so far.





Trump is sending the Navy to threaten Kim Jong Loon of North Korea, who has been playing with his own toy missiles, although so far they dont seem to work. Okay, thats actually kind of a good idea, especially since the little yellow fatboy might conceivably be able to hit Seattle with one his playthings, but none of that is going to matter if Trump pokes the bear until it tears his arm off.





By the way, has anybody noticed that when the United States gets involved in someplace to the point of actually sending troops, they dont do very well? Its one thing to send missiles and robots and drones and machines in general, even though the machines dont seem to work half the time, or else they miss and blow up weddings and elementary schools. Its another thing to face actual human beings, and that doesnt seem to be the strong point of the American military. Time and again over the past generation the Americans have been beaten and seen off by little brown men with nothing but AK-47s and no fear in their hearts. I guess niggers and women and bugger boys and transsexual freaks dont make very good soldiers. Whod a thunk it?





In point of fact, unless you count little pissant incidents like Panama and Grenada, the United States has not actually won a war since 1945. And no, I dont count Desert Storm. That wasnt a war, it was a made-for-TV movie, a joint George Bush-Saddam Hussein production. I mean Jesus, the mighty United States couldnt even beat the Somalis, for Gods sake! Tell me again why were so scared of liberating ourselves from these people?





Trump is apparently doing all this at the instigation of his Jewish son-in-law Jared Kushner, who seems to be the person actually running the country. The news media say that he and the alleged White Nationalist Steve Bannon are feuding and that Kushner is greasing the skids to have him fired. I still dont understand exactly how a former naval intelligence officer and investment banker for Goldman Sachs can be considered a White Nationalist, but thats what they tell me.





Thats another problem were going to be having for quite some time into the future, maybe permanently, and that is that we simply cannot believe anything the mainstream media tells us about anything any more.





Okay, granted, it was no great shakes in the accuracy department before the 2016 election. But basically the mainstream media has become part of the internet now, not vice versa, and as with the rest of the internet there is no longer any gate-keeper or fact-checker. (For example, the so-called fact-checking site Snopes.com is a front for the Democrats, and is used primarily to attack and discredit Trump.)





Its almost like the New York Times were suddenly taken over by the National Inquirer. Up until about mid-Obama the media generally simply massaged the facts as they have always done, not invented them, and above all they used massive omissions as their weapon of choice. 90% of the old medias effectiveness lay not so much in telling stories that were false or slanted, but in their ability to pick and choose what stories were not covered and sank out of sight.





Now, I hate to admit it, but the left-loons are right. We are now living in the post-factual age. The fact is that we cannot be sure that anything has actually happened or happened the way the media report it any more.





I wish I could just tell you to hell with him, Im going to ignore Trumps existence from now on. Unfortunately, thats not possible given who he is and what he is capable of doing. Were going to have to spend the next few months or years until he is overthrown reacting to his behavior.





I will, however, try to keep all this in perspective. Its just that from now on, anything I\say or discuss on here has to be taken with the important caveat that such-and-such will happen or may happen if Donald Trump doesnt blow up the world with a moronic war against Russia.





I said after November 8th, give him a chance. Give him a honeymoon. His first 100 days have not been completely devoid of accomplishment. The beaners are afraid of La Migra again, or so the media says, with the usual caveat that we have no way of knowing how much of that is true. It would appear that normal pre-Obama style immigration enforcement has resumed, for what good that may do. He got Neil Gorsuch confirmed to the Supreme Court, which at least kept an outright Marxist Obama appointee out. This means the Court may occasionally act as a brake on the more deranged and bizarre excesses of liberalism, as it has done in the past.





Now, let me make it clear: I am not defending Donald Trump as such any more. He is not the savior we have been waiting for. Far from it. He is a stumble-bum who whether acting out of malice or spite or design or plain incompetence may prove completely catastrophic for the country and the White race. But, that having been said, we still owe this man bigly, for two things.





The first thing we must always remember about Trump, even as Russian and North Korean nuclear missiles fall around our ears, is that however he did it and whatever weird little Zionist conspiracies were moving in the shade during the 2016 elections, he saved us from the Hildebeest. I dont think many of us grasp what a poisonous and total catastrophe a Hillary Clinton presidency would have been. It would have been eight more years of Obama and that would have been all she wrote. Trump may well bring bloody chaos, but out of bloody chaos change can come. Hillary would have brought slow death by lethal injection.





It is entirely possible that Donald Trump might bring on the end of days for America, but Hillary would have been the end of days. The United States of America would have died with a whimper, not a roar. At least we now have a chance to die with a fart, which is marginally better. Hell, if were going to perish from the earth and the pages of history, might as well play it for laughs.





The second thing we will always owe Donald Trump for is that one magical night, November the 8th, 2016, when it seemed that the worm had turned and there was hope. Dont downplay that: hope has been in very short supply for White people for a long, long time, and we really needed that night. Never mind the fact that it was bogus and that the savior was not as advertised. We knew that. We all did, deep down. I knew that, and I told you so. But this is America in the post-factual era, where perception is everything and White men are taught to feel, not to think. We perceived November 8th as victory and the left-loons perceived it as defeat, and that is what counts.





The endless YouTube videos of liberal tears and liberal meltdowns on that night will remain as a monument to that one priceless moment when the world turned upside down, or at least we thought it did. I admit that the video of the Young Turks freaking out that night is my favorite of all; when Im feeling down I still watch that one and it never fails to lift my spirits and give me a giggle.





I never actually drank the Kool-Aid like some of you did, but yes, I went along with the Trump Train. Not just because there was no point in my yelling and screaming about it, since nobody actually listens to me, but because I admit, it just felt so good to at long last be a peripheral part of a genuine mass movement after 45 years of shouting into the wind unheard. Whatever appalling mess Donald Trump makes of the world, as I crawl out of the ruins of my tenement and onto a heap of radioactive rubble while glowing in the dark, I will always be grateful to Trump for that year of living dangerously, that wild and crazy ride he gave us.





I wish I could say the wild and crazy ride is over now, but it most likely isnt. Now were going into the part of the timeline where the bill for electing an incompetent overgrown child to the White House comes due. Oh, well.
Two Japanese nationals jailed for gold smuggling in Vietnam

Two Japanese nationals have just been sentenced a total of 18 years in jail for allegedly smuggling seven golden statues through Noi Bai International Airport last August.







Two Japanese nationals were sentenced a total of 18 years in jail for gold smuggling in Vietnam on April 12.



The sentences were given by the Hanoi City Peoples Court at a trial court held on Wednesday where Masakazu Iwamura, 46, got a 10-year sentence and Takayoshi Kitada, 34, received an eight-year for smuggling.



According to the indictment, Masakazu Iwamura was the former director of Japans RG Innovation Company which specialised in exporting Vietnamese labourers to Japan.



After several working visits to Vietnam, Iwamura decided to buy Vietnamese gold products to sell in Japan as their price was much cheaper than those sold in his home country.



Early last July, Iwamura and Kitada went to Sinh Dien Jewellery Company in the northern province of Bac Ninh city to check samples and the price of handicraft gold products.



They ordered seven golden statues from Sinh Dien company with a total weight of about 6.9kg including four Maitreya Buddha statues and three sets of Tam a statues, at a cost of 31.5 million Japanese yen (USD280,780). They agreed to collect the products on August, 2, 2016.



Kitada received 32.3 million Japanese yen (USD287,700) from Iwamura and went to Vietnam to smuggle the statues out of the country. If the trade was successful, Takayoshi Kitada was promised 80,000 Japanese yen (USD713).



To avoid Vietnams customs, Iwamura told Kitada to have seven gold statues coated silver.



On August 3, officials of Noi Bai International Airport discovered the seven statues in Kitadas luggage that he had not declared to customs and seized them as evidence.



A test conducted later found that the statues were 99.99 per cent gold and worth about VND6.74 billion (USD297,800).



The owner of Sinh Dien Jewellery Company said he was unaware of what the Japanese customers intended to do with the statues.


18 Actors And The Characters They Are Playing In Vidya Balan's Begum Jaan!
According to the World Bank, approximately 27 percent of Vietnamese households send their children to private lessons or tutors, spending between one and five percent of the total household income in the process. Photo by Reuters

'The most harmful side of the tutoring industry is under-qualified tutors.'

They never actually met me, said Daniel Larrosa, a Ph.D. law graduate from Liverpool, England.

He was talking about his former employer, a large tutoring agency based in Ho Chi Minh City through which, in 2016, he began tutoring two Vietnamese sisters who had been expelled from school for behavioral issues.

After submitting his CV via the agencys Facebook page, Larrosa was immediately sent the contact details of the girls mother. To this day, I have had no face-to-face contact with that company, he explained. I think thats the case for many of the [tutoring] agencies in Saigon. Theyre just making connections.

But things are changing.

With a booming economy, and with almost a quarter of its population under the age of 15, Vietnams education sector is growing faster than ever.

For the expanding middle-classes, an international education is often seen as an essential step towards bagging a coveted space at a foreign university, and out-of-hours lessons are widely regarded as the best way to achieve that. According to the World Bank, approximately 27 percent of Vietnamese households send their children to private lessons or tutors, spending between one and five percent of the total household income in the process.

Fortunately for the two sisters and their mother, Larrosa turned out to be a talented, caring and dedicated teacher. Indeed, when they were unable to afford any further sessions, he ditched the agency and began tutoring the girls for free. Theyre only four and six, he said. I just want to help them get back into school.

Of course, his help with the girls is desperately needed, but before coming to Vietnam, Larrosa worked in South Korea where he saw first-hand the negative effects of excessive, often unnecessary tutoring, where physical and mental exhaustion is just the start.

If done badly, it can make children feel like theyre being punished, he said. For those who are getting nothing but 100 percent in every test, if theyre still being sent to do three hours of tutoring every day - tutoring that they clearly dont need - they can end up feeling like theres nothing they can do to please their parents. They can develop serious self-esteem issues, even depression, because they never feel like theyre achieving.

The good, the bad and the ugly: Vietnam's booming after-school tutoring business State of mind: Lets talk about depression among Vietnamese

Its a downward spiral that a new breed of tutors and tutoring agencies are looking to stamp out. The International Tutor Group (ITG), based in Ho Chi Minh City, is one of them. Larrosa joined the firm in October 2016.

I dont believe in hothousing students, said Will Church, the firms director of education and Larrosas new boss. Children are under a lot of pressure to succeed, both from their schools and from their families, and it all starts to escalate.

Specializing in international curriculum support from primary school upwards, ITG takes a refreshingly holistic approach to learning. With tailor-made sessions of just one or two hours per week, including an element of personal mentoring and emotional support, Church and his team focus on getting the best results while avoiding student burnout and disengagement.

Experts point out that many agencies have failed to employ highly-trained educators, with a strict focus on curriculum-specific lessons. And whether employed by such an agency or simply working privately, tutors can sometimes become a hindrance to the learning process, especially if the sole aim is to accelerate the student for no logical reason.

I remember one instance where a student showed up on the first day of term and demanded extension work immediately," said M., an international school teacher who asked to remain anonymous. "Her tutor had taken her through the entire textbook during the school holidays, [but] it quickly became apparent that she didnt understand any of it."

For Church, tutoring is something that must be delivered in a very careful way, and while the majority of students receive sufficient support from their schools and their teachers, he feels its the quieter, less confident pupils that can benefit the most.

You take a student like that, and you put them in a one-to-one environment with a talented and caring tutor, and it can really transform the way they see a subject, and also the way they see themselves, he said.

Hung, who asked for his real name be changed, had previously been using the services of a private tutor, an experience he described as not great.

The most harmful side of the tutoring industry is under-qualified tutors, he added. A lot of them only teach what the kids ask for, not necessarily what they need to know.

Erik Vian, another parent, also had difficulties in the past with private tutors who, he said, took a more old-fashioned approach: They were just trying to go through [a textbook] as fast as they could, and it wasnt fun. My kids really enjoy their sessions now.

Of course, there are plenty of amazing private and agency-based tutors out there, but as long as there are parents looking to boost a childs chances of success at any cost, there will always be someone out there willing to take their money - whether qualified to do so or not.

But before parting with the cash, warns Church, ask yourself these questions: Why does your child need a tutor? Is it because they lack confidence and have maybe had a poor result in a mock exam, or is it simply because your neighbors kids have a tutor and yours dont?

Only for the right reasons, and with the right tutor, can after-hours schooling succeed in the long term, he said, adding that parents must always verify the qualifications, teaching experience and curriculum knowledge of any potential tutor.

You need to have a clear goal in mind, added Larrosa. When your child reaches that goal, theyll realize that all of the work was building towards something, that there was a point to it. They need a light at the end of the tunnel.
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Confrontational talk played well in the campaign, but lots of Americans have a vital stake in preserving cordial trade relations.



By PAUL WISEMAN

AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON  What happened to Donald Trump the America First trade warrior?

This week, Trump abandoned a campaign vow to label China a currency manipulator. Two weeks ago, his administration proposed a mild rewrite of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he'd previously branded a job-killing disaster. And his threat to slap harsh tariffs on Chinese goods has given way to a bid to mend fences with Beijing.





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Cook Inlet is home to whales, salmon, earthquakes and some of the world's strongest tides.



By DAN JOLING

Associated Press

ANCHORAGE  Alaska's 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 Inlet's petroleum production is often overshadowed by Alaska's 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 inlet's largest petroleum producer, Hilcorp Alaska LLC.





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BOISE, Idaho (AP)  Scientists say a giant aquifer below an eastern Idaho federal nuclear facility is as free of radioactive contamination and other pollutants as it has been in more than six decades of monitoring but that the water level is at the lowest level ever recorded.

United States Geological Survey scientist Roy Bartholomay says better environmental practices and cleanup work at the 890-square-mile U.S. Department of Energy site that includes the Idaho National Laboratory is paying off.





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Police are seen at the site where the body of Le Thi Nhat Linh was found in Abiko City. Photo byVietnam News Agency

The 46-year-old suspect is a neighbor of the girl and DNA samples obtained from the site matched those of his, investigators say.

Japanese police have arrested a man on suspicion of abandoning the body of a 9-year-old Vietnamese girl last month in Chiba Prefecture, Japan's sole public broadcaster NHK reported.

The case has caught public attention in Vietnam after news reports in Japan said the naked body of Le Thi Nhat Linh, a third-year elementary school student, was found in the grass near a drainage canal in the city of Abiko on March 26.

Investigators said DNA samples obtained from the site matched those of the 46-year-old suspect, who lives near Linh's house, NHK said. He was taken in on Friday morning.

Linh went missing after she left home for school in neighboring Matsudo City. Her body was discovered two days later.

What are believed to be her school bag and clothes were found on the river bed of the Tone River, around 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from her body, the NHK report said.

Last month Chiba police said results of an autopsy revealed that Linh likely died due to suffocation caused by strangulation. She also had small injuries on her arms and legs.

Police in Abiko City earlier advised the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan that the preliminary autopsy had found signs of sexual abuse on the girls body.

In a March report, NHK said Linh had told one of her classmates that she had seen a suspicious man on the way to school in January and that she felt scared. Its not immediately clear if the police are following this lead.

Linhs school is a 10-minute walk from her home, and like many children in the area, she usually went on her own.
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BELLEVUE  The Campus Office Park at 1601-1611 116th Ave. N.E. has sold for $18.4 million, according to King County Records. The seller was Sterling Realty Organization Co., which acquired the property in 2000 for $10 million.

The buyer was BTL (US) Investments Inc., which lists a Vancouver, Canada address for governor Runze Zhou.





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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. 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 Still Waiting health campaign is holding another vigil at 5pm this evening, Friday, outside Letterkenny University Hospital, one of number of vigils the campaign is holding this evening at hospitals in different parts of the country.

The campaign, which has been calling attention to hospital overcrowding, lengthy patient waiting lists and cancelled medical procedures, held similar vigils at six hospitals in February.

Still Waiting is to hold a vigil at 5pm this evening outside Sligo University Hospital as well.

Its a peaceful demonstration for all who are suffering and have suffered, Cyril Brennan, an organiser of the campaign, said. Were trying to send out a message to government that we need radical investment in our health service.

Gina Grant of the Donegal advocacy group Our Childrens Voice is to address tonights vigil in Letterkenny, speaking on the long waiting lists for appointments for children with highly complex needs.

We cant go on the way were going, Don McGuinness, Donegal spokesperson for Still Waiting, said.
Trocaire has thanked people from County Donegal for supporting its 2017 Lenten campaign, which comes to an end this week. The organisation is reminding people that Trocaire boxes can be returned to parishes across the county.

Schools, individuals and parishes from County Donegal have been incredibly supportive of Trocaire this Lent, from taking Trocaire boxes into their homes to welcoming speakers from Trocaire to share information and stories about the people and communities at the heart of the campaign, said Eamonn Meehan, Executive Director of Trocaire.

The Lenten campaign this year highlighted Trocaires humanitarian work with people who are facing grave threats from floods, droughts, other natural disasters and conflict. We can see from the current situation in Africa that this work is even more crucial now.

"Millions of people are facing starvation because of drought and conflict. Trocaire is working in Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya to try to save lives in the face of what the UN has described as the greatest humanitarian disaster since World War Two, Eamonn Meehan said.

This work, and work in many other developing countries, is only possible because of the generous donations made by people from across Ireland. Each and every cent placed in the Trocaire box can make the difference between life and death for people who are barely surviving.

Parishes across the country will receive returned Trocaire boxes from this week, said Mr Meehan. We would be extremely grateful if anyone who has a Trocaire box at home or in work could kindly drop it back to their local parish and we can start putting these generous donations into action.

To find out more about Trocaires Lenten campaign or to make a donation visit trocaire.org or call 1850 408 408.
Donegal's magnificent landscape has a starring role in Europes's Atlantic Fringe  Exploring the West Coasts of Portugal, Spain and Ireland, a fascinating and beautifully illustrated new book by author and travel writer Michael Fewer, which was launched last month by Ashfield Press at an event in the Embassy of Portugal in Donnybrook, Dublin.

Although ten EU countries have an Atlantic coastline, only three, Portugal, Spain and Ireland, extend significantly into the Atlantic Ocean. From Cape St. Vincent in Southern Portugal to Horn Head in northwest Ireland, including Glencolmcille and Glengesh, Fewer describes people and places of the Atlantic edge as they are today, the rich historic and prehistoric heritages that link them, their shared pasts, their similarities and their differences.

The book, Fewer's twenty-second, is punctuated by stories of this Atlantic edge, of momentous events that were of importance for all of Europe, such as the Roman and Moorish occupations of Portugal, Prince Henry's 15th century explorations of west Africa, the Peninsular Wars, the Spanish Armada, Marconi's first trans-Atlantic radio transmission, and the first flight across the Atlantic by Alcock and Brown.

Along the way, there are constant reminders of Neolithic and Celtic heritages that are common to the coastal regions of the three countries and evidence that important and frequent cultural communications occurred between them in prehistoric times.



Europe's Atlantic Fringe  Exploring the West Coasts of Portugal, Spain and Ireland is published by Ashfield Press and is available, price 25, at good book shops and from info@ashfieldpress.ie.
Participants will learn about monotype, a fusion of printmaking and painting that is spontaneous and great for beginners. The class will explore painting and rolling on ink, cutting stencils, and arranging found objects to create rich, textured images. The workshop approach will be playful and experimental. No printmaking experience is needed.

Influenced by interests such as language, reading and book objects, architecture, and biological science, Sarah Marshall focuses on the processes of printmaking and drawing. She is currently an associate professor of art at the University of Alabama. Her work will be on display at the Wiregrass Museum of Art as part of the exhibit From Here to There: Printmaking in Alabama from April 21 through June 24. The workshop is for ages 16 and up and is limited to 10 people.
A Midland City woman pleaded guilty to reckless murder and assault on Friday in connection with a 2015 wreck that killed her four-year-old daughter and injured several others.

Geneva/Dale County Circuit Judge Kimberly A. Clark sentenced Starlea Nicole Knight to 25 years in prison for reckless murder and 20 years for assault. The two sentences will run concurrently.

Clark also ordered Knight to pay restitution, a $5,000 fine, court costs and $500 to the victims compensation fund.

Knight was driving in Geneva County on May 9, 2015, when she lost control of her 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche on County Road 89. Knights four-year-old daughter died in the crash. Seven other children were injured. Knight was charged with murder and two counts of first-degree assault for the injuries of two of the children involved in the crash.

According to court testimony, a trooper who investigated the wreck said Knight tested positive for four controlled substances, including amphetamines, diazepam (otherwise known as valium and tramadol), and prescription pain medication. The trooper also testified one of the children had pleaded with Knight to slow down before the wreck.

Another trooper testified Knight was traveling 65 miles per hour five seconds before the accident, 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit on County Road 89, where the accident occurred.

Three of the children were riding in the bed of the truck when the accident happened. Ages of all the children in the vehicle were 22 months, 3, 10, 12, 13 and two 14-year-olds, along with the 4-year-old girl who died.
A man sought in connection with a reported home invasion in Ozark Wednesday evening has been apprehended, according to police.

Ozark Police announced Friday that Michael E. Smith, 27, of Ozark, was captured after a short foot pursuit around midnight Thursday and taken into custody.

Smith is charged with murder and first degree robbery.

According to Ozark Police, the Dale County Sheriff's Office, Dothan Police Department, United States Marshal Service, Dale County E911 and Dale County District Attorney's Office all assisted in the search and apprehension along with Ozark Police.

On Wednesday, at approximately 10:25 p.m., Dale County E911 received a call reporting that a person had been shot during a possible robbery attempt.

The caller stated two white males entered his residence and attempted to rob him. The caller said one of the suspects pulled out a weapon and, at that point, gunfire was exchanged between the robbery victim and one of the suspects.

Emergency personnel arrived and found the robbery victim who directed the medical personnel to the wounded suspect, Steven Alan Ammons, 24, of Ozark. Ammons was transported to the Southeast Alabama Medical Center for further treatment. At 4:20 am. Thursday, Ammons was pronounced dead.

The case remains under investigation by the Ozark Police Department.
Community members protest the treatment of Dr. David Dao, who was forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight on Sunday by the Chicago Aviation Police, at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., April 11, 2017. Photo by Reuters/Kamil Krzaczynski

'Will there be a lawsuit? Yeah, probably.'

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 reporters at a press 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. She is one of Dao's five children.

Crystal Dao Pepper, daughter of Dr. David Dao, speaks during a news conference at Union League Club in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. April 13, 2017. Photo by Reuters/Kamil Krzaczynski

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.

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.

United passenger dragged from plane has concussion, broken nose - lawyer United shares fall after backlash over dragged Asian passenger

Pressure on United

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.

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, Munoz 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.

Kenneth Quinn, a partner at the law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in Washington who represents airlines, disputed that Dao had a case.

Quinn said 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 Quinn said that even without a strong case, Dao would probably walk away with a hefty settlement.

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, Quinn said.

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.
State troopers testified Wednesday that a Midland City woman was under the influence of four controlled substances at the time of a fatal car crash involving eight children, including her own 4-year-old daughter who died.

Geneva County District Court Judge Stephen Smith found the prosecution had sufficient evidence in the criminal charges filed against 32-year-old Starlea Nicole Knight for her involvement in the fatal crash, which left seven children injured and another dead. Smith forwarded the case to a grand jury for consideration of indictments.

Alabama state troopers arrested Knight on May 12, shortly after she was released from Flowers Hospital, and charged her with murder and two counts of first-degree assault.

Troopers charged Knight with murder for the death of her 4-year-old daughter, Zyrioh Tucker, and felony assault for injuries caused to two other children in the crash.

District Attorney Kirke Adams said a grand jury will review the case next week.

Smith also modified Knights bail, reducing her $150,000 bail for the murder charge to $75,000, and reducing each assault charge from $50,000 to $25,000. Knight will now be held on bail totaling $125,000.

Smith also barred Knight from having contact with any of her children, or their friends traveling inside the vehicle, if she were to post bail.

Adams told the court that Knights children injured in the crash are in the care of the Dale County Department of Human Resources and other relatives.

Trooper Trey Langham testified during Knights preliminary hearing how the single-vehicle crash happened around 6:55 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, about 3 miles east of Geneva on County Road 89.

Langham said he learned the vehicle was coming from Midland City and headed south toward Florida when the crash occurred.

Langham said blood test results show Knight tested positive for being under the influence of four controlled substances, including amphetamines, diazepam (otherwise known as valium and tramadol), and prescription pain medication.

Langham said one of Knights children, a 14-year-old boy, told troopers his mother was a drug user, and had taken more drugs (prescription) than usual on the day of the crash.

He said she started acting all geeked out, Langham said. He said they nearly wrecked multiple times that day, and that they had pleaded for her to slow down.

Langham also testified how the children told troopers they saw Knight constantly sending and receiving text messages on the day of the crash.

The crash

Trooper Adam Robinson, a state highway patrol traffic homicide investigator, testified how the crash occurred at a curve in the roadway. He also said their investigation revealed Knight was traveling 65 mph at five seconds before the crash occurred, which was 20 mph over the posted speed limit on a county road.

Robinson also talked to Knight at Flowers Hospital where she initially told troopers she had tried to avoid a red truck in her lane of travel when the crash occurred. But Robinson said she later told them she made that story up, and there was no other vehicle.

Langham said one of Knights children in the vehicle, a 14-year-old boy, told him where everyone sat in the 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche at time of the crash.

Langham said two children sat in the front passenger seat, one of whom was left seriously injured with a broken pelvis, bruised lung and a concussion.

Langham said there were three more children riding in the bed of the truck, including Zyrioh Tucker.

She was just in the bed of the truck with no restraint, Langham said.

Langham said Zyrioh Tucker was ejected from the bed of the truck during the crash. Two 14-year-old boys also sat in the bed of the truck at the time of the crash, which left one of them seriously injured. Langham testified how one 14-year-old suffered multiple broken bones around his face, along with other areas of his body.

Robinson said Knight told him her daughter who died was buckled up in the back seat, and must have crawled into the bed of the pickup truck while they were traveling before the crash.

During cross examination by attorney Amanda Smith, who represented Knight, Robinson said he was told by Knight she had prescriptions for the medications, but she did not mention an amphetamine prescription.

According to the highway patrol report, the children in the vehicle were aged 22 months, 3, 10, 12, 13, and two 14 year olds, along with the 4-year-old girl who died.
The new sales and marketing boss for Mercedes-Benz has questioned the explosive rise of luxury SUVs, hinting that some customers may turn away from the growing segment.

Britta Seeger spoke with Australian journalists at the New York motor show on Wednesday, acknowledging that models such as the BMW X5-rivalling Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is "absolutely important" to the brand, 20 years after it was first introduced.

But Seeger isn't convinced luxury SUVs will outsell conventional passenger cars, suggesting that they may be a trend that could go out of fashion.

"I was just asking a US dealer 'did you see this trend coming?' And he said he did not see it," Seeger says.

"A very important question that we are trying to monitor very closely is 'what is the reason for the rise of the SUV?'

"From everything that we see from customer, prospects, from market surveys, it's to be different... different to the mainstream.

"This was the jump into the SUVs, because it's not the utilisation of the car. It's more the factor of differentiation.

"So if you have a significant portion of customers who drive sitting in an SUV, the question is 'will it go back to the sedan again?'"

SUVs represent around one third of Mercedes sales around the world, a proportion that has grown significantly in recent years.

The brand unveiled two new SUVs in New York - high-riding Mercedes-AMG GLC63 models that offer the 375kW engine of its famed C63 S sedan in a more practical package.

Seeger says a desire to be different drove the success of SUVs, and that people who want to stand out may be less likely to buy high-riding models.

"If you do your subjective market survey and look around, if everybody is driving the similar car, what makes you different?

"We are a special brand, right? If you are investing in a Mercedes you want to be somebody special.

"I think we need to observe this very closely."
President Donald Trump recently hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a two-day meeting at the Presidents Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

After talks with President Xi, President Trump called the relationship between the two men outstanding, with the potential to resolve many issues of concern. President Xi said, We have engaged in deeper understanding, and have built a trust - a preliminary working relationship and friendship.

At a press briefing after the meetings to outline the issues discussed, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that President Trump emphasized to President Xi the need for China to take concrete steps to level the playing field for American workers, stressing repeatedly the need for reciprocal market access.

The two leaders also discussed the urgency of the threat of North Koreas nuclear weapons program, reaffirming their commitment to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula, and to implementing UN Security Council resolutions. Both sides agreed to increase cooperation and work with the international community to peacefully resolve the issue. Mr. Tillerson noted that North Korea creates unique problems for the Chinese, and that the United States is prepared to chart [its] own course if China is unable to coordinate with the United States in dealing with North Korea.

Regional and maritime security was an additional area of candid discussion. President Trump, said Mr. Tillerson, noted the importance of adherence to international norms in the East and South China Seas and to previous statements on non-militarization. He also noted the importance of protecting human rights and other values deeply held by Americans.

In order to spur progress on issues, the two sides agreed to establish a new high-level framework for negotiations. The U.S.-China Comprehensive Dialogue will have four pillars, Mr. Tillerson said: a diplomatic and security dialogue; a comprehensive economic dialogue; a law enforcement and cybersecurity dialogue, and a social and cultural issues dialogue.

President Trump welcomed President Xis invitation to travel to China for a state visit at a future date. The two leaders agreed to work together in the meantime to ensure a successful and results-filled visit. Their goal is to undertake an ambitious agenda for their bilateral relationship that will show progress and achieve meaningful results that will benefit the citizens of both countries.
The Government has announced 20 million in funding for rural towns and villages as part of the Action Plan for Rural Development.

Deputy Fergus ODowd says this will bring tangible benefits to people and revitalise rural communities in County Louth.

The funding announced this week by Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys, is great news for rural Ireland and I strongly encourage Louth County Council to apply.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is an initiative under the Governments Action Plan for Rural Development, Realising our Rural Potential, and is part of a package of national and local support measures to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland.

The Scheme will be funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and administered by the Local Authorities.

Fine Gael in Government, is using the resources created by our strong economy to deliver real benefits to people and communities all across the country. The Governments new Action Plan for Rural Ireland contains over 270 targeted actions that will help to deliver these benefits to people here in County Louth.

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.

A number of towns and villages across the County were badly affected by the recession of recent years and part of Fine Gaels Action Plan will review planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial properties in rural towns and villages. I hope to see this having an impact in towns and villages such as Ardee, Dunleer, Castlebellingham and others as they are the heartbeat of the County.
The U.S. Department of State recently honored thirteen women from around the world for their exceptional courage and leadership in promoting justice in their communities.

First Lady Melania Trump and Under Secretary of State Thomas Shannon presented the 2017 International Women of Courage Awards. Mrs. Trump praised the recipients:

"Theirs are the stories of human greatness that will continue to inspire, and therefore must be told far and wide. These honorees, who have fought on the front lines against injustice, are true heroes, she said.

Four of the thirteen awardees were nominated by U.S. Embassies located in the Middle East and Europe.

[These women are] truly leading the charge to fight for those that cannot fight for themselves, said Mrs. Trump.

Together, we must declare that the era of allowing the brutality against women and children is over, while affirming that the time for empowering women around the world is now.

Nominated by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, Sister Carolin Tahhan Fachakh is a Roman Catholic nun working at a nursery school in Damascus. Putting her own life at risk, Sister Carolin has become a beacon of hope to both Muslims and Christians, she helps refugees, internally displaced people, and children.

Fadia Thabet has risked her life to counter violent extremism in Yemen. Through her work, she dissuaded young boys from joining Al Qaeda, exposed its Yemeni branch Ansar al-Sharia as a recruiter of child soldiers, and documented for the United Nations cases of mining, abduction, rape, and other human rights violations by various armed groups.

After leaving an abusive situation, Jannat Al Ghezis life was threatened by her family because they believed she had dishonored them by sharing her story publicly. She now has helped break the culture of silence around domestic violence. As Director of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq, Jannat has provided shelter, training, protection, and legal services to over 500 survivors of gender-based violence.

Former Turkish school teacher Saadet Ozkan exposed a decades-long pattern of sexual abuse of children in her school. As a result of her efforts, she forced a criminal investigation of the principal, despite tremendous pressure to drop the case.

Their lives, said Mrs. Trump, Remind us of the boundless capacity of the human spirit when guided by moral clarity and desire to do good.
Twenty-nine years ago today, then-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein started Operation Anfal, his murderous campaign against the populations in northern Iraq. The al-Anfal campaign began in 1986 and ended in 1989.

In 1987, toward the end of the war between Iran and Iraq, Saddam Hussein put his cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid, who was infamous for his brutality, in charge of Iraqs Northern Region, which included Iraqi Kurdistan.

What followed was a horrifying display of killing and destruction. The al-Anfal campaign was meant to punish and exterminate the Kurdish population, and to terrorize other minority ethnic groups, including Assyrians, Shabaks, Iraqi Turkmen, Yazidis, and Mandeans.

Civilian communities were bombarded by aircraft and artillery and attacked by heavily armed infantry. Civilians were rounded up, boys and men of fighting age were summarily executed or later executed en masse. The rest were confined to concentration camps where some died of starvation or exposure. Some 4,000 Kurdish villages and at least 31 Assyrian communities were razed to the ground during the al-Anfal Campaign.

Yet the most heinous atrocity committed by the Iraqi government against its own people was the murder by poison gas of thousands of civilians in the Kurdish-Iraqi town of Halabja, and in as many as 24 other villages. For this deed, al-Majid earned the nick-name Chemical Ali.

In all, the al-Anfal campaign killed anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 non-combatant civilians and displaced at least one million of Iraqs 3.5 million Kurds.

In recognition of the loss of so many innocent civilians during the al-Anfal campaign of 29 years ago, all Iraqis should unite to honor the memory of those lost by working together to find a joint path to defeating the evil facing Iraq today--Daesh.
Speaking to Customs and Border Protection personnel at the United States-Mexico border in Nogales, Arizona, on April 11th, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said: I am pleased to stand here with you and announce new guidance regarding our commitment to criminal immigration enforcement. As we speak, I am issuing a document to all federal prosecutors that mandates the prioritization of such enforcement.

In his remarks, the Attorney General announced that he has issued a memo to United States Attorneys that mandates the prioritization of criminal immigration enforcement. The memo directs federal prosecutors to focus on particular offenses that, if aggressively charged and prosecuted, can help prevent and deter illegal immigration.

Additionally, the Attorney General revealed that the Department of Justice will add 50 more immigration judges to the bench this year and 75 next year. He also highlighted the Department's plan to streamline its hiring of judges, reflecting the dire need to reduce the backlogs in our immigration courts.

The Attorney General announced that federal prosecutors are now required to consider for prosecution the transportation or harboring of aliens, and where an alien has unlawfully entered the country, which is a misdemeanor, that alien will now be charged with a felony if they unlawfully enter or attempt enter a second time and certain aggravating circumstances are present.

Also, aliens that illegally re-enter the country after prior removal will be referred for felony prosecution  and a priority will be given to such offenses, especially where indicators of gang affiliation, a risk to public safety or criminal history are present. Where possible, prosecutors are directed to charge criminal aliens with document fraud and aggravated identity theft  the latter carrying a two-year mandatory minimum sentence.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, said Attorney General Sessions, I have directed that all 94 U.S. Attorneys Offices make the prosecution of assault on a federal law enforcement officer  thats all of you  a top priority. If someone dares to assault one of our folks in the line of duty, they will do federal time for it.

Why are we doing this? said the Attorney General. Because it is what the duly enacted laws of the United States require.
The following editorial essay was written by Ingham County Clerk and former State Representative Barb Byrum. Enjoy.

Administering elections is a fascinating job, and one that I take very seriously. Like Michigans other 82 county clerks, Im focused on providing reliable, secure, and hassle-free voting for all U.S. citizens, including military and overseas voters who face unique challenges in exercising their right to vote. Therefore, when several county clerks from around Michigan had the opportunity to meet with the Michigan Secretary of States Bureau of Elections recently, we expressed our concerns about many Military and Overseas voted ballots not being counted.

Over 30 years ago, the federal government passed the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), which allowed for special registration and absentee voting (AV) provisions for military and overseas civilians. The law included the use of a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which allowed UOCAVA citizens to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. The FPCA can be submitted by mail, email, or fax directly to the voters election official, the county clerk. However, in Michigan, the voted ballot must be physically received via mail by the close of the polls to be tabulated.

Military and Overseas Voters are often referred to as MOVE voters since the federal Military and Overseas Empowerment Act was enacted in 2009. This law and corresponding state legislation expanded UOCAVA by further allowing a UOCAVA voter to submit one AV application and to receive ballots for all the elections for the whole calendar year via email or fax.

The concern, however, is that many MOVE voter ballots are received after polls close, and under Michigan law, they cannot be tabulated. The Michigan Secretary of State may extend the receipt deadline for protected voters. In the November 2016 General Election, unfortunately, this did not happen, effectively disenfranchising many of the military service men and women and other civilians abroad.

Because of the challenges of delivering ballots to MOVE voters in a timely fashion, Michigan Election Law allows for those voters to have their ballots sent via email. However, the voter must then print and vote the paper ballot and mail it back to their local election official. The ballot must be received by the clerk by 8 pm on Election Day. On Election Day, the mailed ballot will then be duplicated onto an actual ballot by two poll workers (one democrat and one republican) for the purposes of feeding that ballot through the tabulator and having it counted like all other ballots. Michigan Election Law does not allow for MOVE voters to return their ballot by any other means.

Many other states allow for the late return of military and overseas voted ballots. Michigan, unfortunately, does not. Our MOVE voters need a way to know their votes are counted. Therefore, I strongly believe that we must expand our ballot acceptance guidelines to allow for electronic (fax or email) return of MOVE ballots.

This proposal would still comply with Michigans paper ballot security best practices and allow for recount and election audits.

Because our military service members and citizens abroad deserve better, I look forward to working with the Michigan Secretary of State, Legislature and Governors Office to correct this injustice. I also encourage readers to contact their elected officials in support of our MOVE voters and the expansion of ballot acceptance guidelines for these voters.
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Weve seen vertical farms before, but this brings urban agriculture quite literally to the next level. In the Bujama region of Lima, Peru, thousands of lettuce heads are sprouting next to a major highway thanks to a very unusual source: a billboard.

The Air Orchard billboard in Lima, Peru creates pollution-free food using the clean water generated by the panel. Photo Credit: FCB Mayo Peru

FCB Mayo Peru and University of Engineering & Technology (UTEC)the minds behind an innovative billboard thats sucking up Limas notorious pollution and another billboard thats turning the citys humid air into drinking waterhave come up with the Air Orchard billboard that can generate pollution-free produce.

We all know that this isnt just any old advertisement by the side of the road. So how does it work? The concept is actually very simple to anyone familiar with the soil-free farming method of hydroponics. Sitting behind the billboards panel are 10 large dehumidifiers that draw in water from the air and turn it into potable water. This water then drips down a series of PVC tubes that are coated in nutrients. The tubes are also white to reflect the suns rays and boost photosynthesis. Air Orchards system is simply an adaptation of the nutrient film technique of hydroponics, in which plants roots can constantly access a recirculating stream of fertilizer-rich water.

The billboard is located on Perus largest and most important highway, the Panamericana Sur, and is already in operation. According to a press release, more than 2,800 heads of lettuce are given away weekly to passersby and the local community from the Air Orchardall for free.

In addition to growing lettuce, the billboard produces 96 liters of drinking water a day to provide for the surrounding community. Photo credit: FCB Mayo Peru

Currently, organic products are gaining significance, compared to chemically treated products. UTEC wanted to work out the most efficient way to grow a crop of 2,000 heads of lettuce using the clean water generated by the panel, said Jessica Ruas, UTEC marketing director in a statement. In addition to growing lettuce, the billboard still produces 96 liters of drinking water a day to provide for the surrounding community.

This technique solves a pressing problem in the area. As the video below pointed out, water thats used for irrigating Bujamas fields are highly contaminated with arsenic, lead or cadmium that can seep into nearby farmland and crops. Consequently, this means the majority of the vegetables consumed in Lima are contaminated.

UTEC is a university that was founded with the mission of developing applied research that provides practical solutions to the challenges of society and industry, said Ignacio Montero, director of business innovation at UTEC in a statement. These principles are proven through innovative initiatives like the Air Orchard. We improved on our first panel that generated water from moisture in the air for human consumption and increased the production of water to grow healthy food. We have found a practical solution to a real problem, and through creativity and innovation we developed solutions to the challenges of our country and the world.

Now imagine eating fresh vegetables from a billboard on a highway near you.

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In an effort to understand how climate change is altering the carbon cycle, a project between the University of Oklahoma and NASA is headed to space. Orbiting 22,000 miles above Earths surface, this host of instruments will track carbon as it flows through the Earth delivering real-time data and helping scientists quantify just how much humans are affecting the planet.

The carbon cycle is an inconspicuous, but vital, system in all ecosystems, including marine habitats, forests and even deserts. All plants need carbon to complete photosynthesis, and when they die, that carbon is either released back into the atmosphere, or buried deep under ground to create fossil fuels over thousands of years. As we are seeing today, the carbon cycle plays a huge role in temperature fluctuation and weather patterns and unfortunately, the more carbon we trap in the atmosphere, the more unpredictable these fluctuations become.

The University of Oklahoma is calling the mission the Earth Venture Mission, and the payload (the part that will attach to one of Earths satellites) is called the Geostationary Carbon Observatory, or GeoCarb. Although it may seem like an extreme measure to take, scientists believe it is necessary. The increase of carbon in the atmosphere well surpassed the point of no returnor carbon thresholdin 2016 and has continued to steadily rise above 400 parts per million. This is rapid warming compared to the 280 ppm that persisted for thousands of years before the industrial revolution. Scientists say weve reached a state of unknown, and launching the GeoCarb is our best bet in being able to predict where we go from here.

From 1958 to 2017, carbon has been shy rocketing. Scripps Institution of Oceanography

The GeoCarb will rotate in tandem with Earth at 85 degrees west longitude where it will be able to record human activity in developed nations from urbanized areas to agricultural lands. It will take measurements of carbon dioxide, methane and carbon monoxide once or even twice daily. It will also measure solar induced fluorescence, which is the light that plants cant absorb and is therefore repelled from Earth. This measurement will be closely tied to the rate of photosynthesis, and will help map out where carbon sinks exist. The map will also help scientists understand where there is a natural release in carbon, such as when a plant dies and decays, versus when human-induced carbon is released. It will be the first time scientists are able to watch the Western Hemisphere breathe in and out every day.

Knowing what fraction of these changes is caused by human activities is important for understanding our impact on the planet, and observing and measuring it is essential to any conversation about strategies for reducing CO2 emissions, Berrien Moore, director of the National Weather Center at the University of Oklahoma, told The Conversation.

These observations, along with direct measurements of photosynthetic activity from SIF observations, will raise our understanding of the carbon cycle to a new level.
The 44th United States President Barack Obama will be the guest of honor at the 2017 Seeds&Chips Global Food Innovation Summit. Obama will be a keynote speaker on May 9, and will also discuss food and agriculture on a panel with Sam Kass, senior food policy advisor to President Obama and promoter of the White Houses health-conscious revolution.

This four-day summit will bring together hundreds of business leaders, academics, investors, policymakers and agricultural experts to discuss innovation from farm to table, where food and technology meet, in Milano, Italy, from May 8 to May 11.

In-depth sessions will range from hi-tech topics, such as applications of 3D printing in food, to marketing, such as the impact of millennials on innovation. Food Tank President Danielle Nierenberg will also be speaking at the Seeds&Chips summit as a distinguished guest.

The Global Food Innovation Summit is presented in collaboration with TUTTOFOOD.
By Nadia Prupis

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Scott Pruitt on Thursday explicitly called for the U.S. to remove itself from the Paris climate agreement, one of his strongest remarks yet expressing his opposition to the landmark deal to keep global warming below 2C.

Paris is something we need to look at closely. Its something we need to exit in my opinion, Pruitt said in an interview on Fox & Friends.

Its a bad deal for America, he said. Its an America second, third or fourth kind of approach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXXTBfna-jk

The Trump administration has already taken steps to undo landmark climate regulations, such as the executive order President Donald Trump signed last month that called for repealing former President Barack Obamas Clean Power Plan, which requires states to slash emissions and was a central component of the U.S.s plan to meet its Paris goals.

Pruitt said adhering to the global climate treaty would cost American jobs, a claim which environmentalistsand, increasingly, even fossil fuel companiessay is wrong.

Nathaniel Keohane, the Environmental Defense Funds vice president on global climate, told InsideClimate News that [p]ulling out of the Paris climate accord would damage the U.S. more than it damages the Paris agreement or climate action globally.

American leadership on climate is the key to attracting jobs and investment in the industries and sectors that will define the 21st century, Keohane said.

Tiernen Sittenfeld, senior vice president for government affairs for the League of Conservation Voters, added, Even for Scott Pruitt, this is outrageous and beyond the pale.

The U.S. helped to lead the world on this treaty and its clear that other countries are moving ahead because they see the incredible opportunities it offers, Sittenfeld said.

Kim Glas, executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance, a coalition of labor and environmental groups, also said Thursday, Administrator Pruitts statements are unsurprising. He just cant seem to grasp what the vast majority of Americans and scientists have already figured out: climate change is real, it is happening now and human activities are causing it.

The Paris agreement is a good deal for America, Glas said. It will help ensure that America leads the way globally in creating quality jobs designing, manufacturing, and installing the clean energy technologies needed to reduce the carbon pollution that is driving climate change.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Common Dreams.
As a worldwide water crisis looms, engineers have invented a solar-powered harvester that can pull water out of thin aireven in dry, desert environments.

A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley have created a device using a specially designed metal-organic framework (MOF) capable of pulling liters of water in conditions where humidity is as low as 20 percent, a level common in arid areas. Impressively, it only needs the power of the sun to operate.

This breakthrough was published in a paper Thursday in the journal Science.

There are already dehumidifiers and other products out there that can collect water from humid air. The process, however, can be energy-intensive and essentially leave you with very expensive water, as senior author Omar Yaghi of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory put it in a statement.

The new device, however, is capable of harvesting 2.8 liters of water per kilogram of MOF daily at relative humidity levels as low as 20 percent, and requires no additional input of energy, the authors state in their paper. Thats about 2.8 liters of water in 12 hours.

We wanted to demonstrate that if you are cut off somewhere in the desert, you could survive because of this device, Yaghi said. 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.

The Berkeley professor invented metal-organic frameworks more than 20 years ago. MOFs combine metals such as magnesium or aluminum with organic molecules to form rigid, porous structures that can store gases and liquids. More than 20,000 different MOFs have been created by researchers worldwide.

According to a news release, heres how this new solar-powered, water-collecting MOF works:

In 2014, Yaghi and his UC Berkeley team synthesized a MOFa combination of zirconium metal and adipic acidthat 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.

When two-thirds of the worlds population is experiencing water shortages, the water vapor and droplets in the atmosphereestimated to be around 13,000 trillion litersis a natural resource that could address the global water problem, the authors explained in Science.

The team noted that their harvester is proof of concept and has room for improvement. The current device can absorb only 20 percent of its weight in water. They hope to double that amount or tweak the invention so that it can be more effective at higher or lower humidity levels.

Still, as Yaghi pointed out, this is a major breakthrough. This invention could enable people to have an off-grid water supply.

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, Yaghi said. To me, that will be made possible because of this experiment. I call it personalized water.
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Police warn against 'too good to be true' adverts

Police are urging Manx residents to be wary of offers that are too good to be true after dealing with a scam involving the sale of an Aston Martin.

The fraudster was offering an Aston Martin DB5 at a price that appeared too good to be true, tricking the potential buyer into thinking they're getting a good deal.

The scam involves using images from the internet to place ads locally before asking for a deposit to ship the car, which then never arrives.

Officers on the Island warn apprehending these type of criminals is difficult as they can be based anywhere in the world, so are urging locals to be wary when considering such a purchase.
Australian Oscar winner Nicole Kidman will appear in four productions in this year's Cannes Film Festival.

According to Reuters, Kidman along with his co-star Colin Farrell will be making an appearance in two movies during the competition. The first production is "The Beguiled", an American Civil War-era story directed by Sofia Coppola. While the other one is "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" by Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos that is well-known for 2015's critically commended "The Lobster".

Aside from the aforementioned productions; Kidman also stars in two screenings at Cannes that are not included in the competition. The actress stars in the science fiction romantic comedy "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" and an episode of Jane Campion's TV series entitled; "Top of the Lake".

This will be the first competition ever since the truck attack in the neighboring city of Nice last July occurred. It will also take place days after the last round of polling in France's presidential election, wherein the far-right's Marine Le Pen is anticipated to make a strong appearance.

It was also noted that the festival organizers pay a little attention to security concerns, but then they have acknowledged that the event will be happening at a time of great "suspense".

"Since we have a new surprise every day from Donald Trump, I hope North Korea or Syria will not cast a shadow," Cannes Film Festival President Pierre Lescure stated in a conference.

Michel Hazanavicius is one of the well-known directors that are competing for the Palme d'Or. It can be recalled that he his silent movie "The Artist" bagged awards such as Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor at the 2012 Oscars.

Another great contender is American Todd Haynes, director of "Carol" and will premiere "Wonderstruck", which stars Julianne Moore. Meanwhile, Austria's Michael Haneke will also present "Happy End" that is most possibly an ironic title for a drama about the refugee catastrophe, which happened in Calais.

The Cannes Film Festival this year which will run from May 17 to May 28 will have Spanish director Pedro Almodovar as the chair of the jury.
According to the risk consultancy Control Risks, Morocco remains to be the safest country for business and travel in North Africa. Morocco is the regions only country that has been given a low security risk in the consultancys Riskmap, the leading guide to political and business risk and an important reference for policy makers and business leaders.

In contrast, the Riskmap showed that security conditions in Algeria and Libya still pose a high security risk with the exception of heavily militarized areas surrounding oil and gas wells in Algeria. Libyas security assessment was marked as extreme and western Egypt scored very high as well. Tunisia was labeled as a medium security risk while within the Arab world only Morocco, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE and Oman were labeled as safe.

Riskmap 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 also evaluates the extent to which the state is able and ready to protect financial, physical and human assets as well as the extent to which state and non-state actors are capable of jeopardizing those assets.

Riskmap has also identified major risk for companies in 2017  Brexit and Donald Trump, persistent terrorist threats, increasingly complex cyber security environment and a potential brake on US regulations, which could change regulatory environment. Nationalism, global political vacuums and proxy conflicts have been pinpointed as well.
Young migrants from North Africa trying to reach Europe are being increasingly caught up and sold as cheap labor in what is becoming slave trade in Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. According to the testimonies from dozens of young men who have survived the practice, slave trade is increasingly being operated among the smugglers who are profiting from the misery of others.

The IOM says that many young men, mainly from Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, and Senegal, are targeted as potential victims when they arrive in Niger, on their way to Libya and then to Europe. The IOM reports that the migrants often pay traffickers several hundred dollars for getting to Libya but once they arrive there, they are handed over to smugglers only to be auctioned off. There are also cases of kidnapping on the way to their destination, when they are held for ransom and then sold in Libya on the slave market  these human beings are thus treated as commodities.

IOM Chief of Mission for Libya Othman Belbeisi commented on this development that if a migrant is being killed, sometimes it is considered normal and many of the migrants are buried without identification. We have many families who do not know where their family members are, and then pointed out that all they know is they left the country toward Libya or Europe or somewhere, but across the route and along the route, they do not know what has happened because there is no clear identification of those people, and many of them die and they are buried without any real identification.

Mr. Belbeisi added that although slave trade has been around for some time, it has been flourishing over the past year. According to him, these migrants are auctioned off for $200-$500 and many of them are kept in bondage, and many of them are even imprisoned inside an area where they are forced to work on a daily basis.


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.
Dear All,



First of all greetings to everyone!



I got an offer from a 5-Star hotel. Accepted and now I am waiting for getting my entry permit/visa.



But I need your advice, generally how long does it take this process ?



Additionaly last year I was working in Qatar (another GCC country). Do you think would it be an advantage to get visa ? At the same time I will be working in a property which is managed by same hotel chain with Qatar (owners are different but the chain is same)



Thanks in advance

Regards,
Hi, I just dont know what it is but I see myself living in the US. Im morocan, 26 years old girl and born and live in Amsterdam. I went to New York last year for vacation and since then I just want to go back. The problem is that I probably could not find a job there. I studied dutch law so basicly I need to stay in the Netherlands to practise law. I want to go back to the US in a few months for another "vacation". During this time I want to discover if there's something else that I can do without a degree. Amsterdam is a small city and I just want to discover and explore more in life and meet new people. Which city do you recommend me to go?
Hello all. So we got a new TV few months back and the old one has been sitting in the storeroom ever since. Sounds silly, but don't have the time/patience to try sell it on Dubbizle. I do not mind giving it away, for free. Are there any organisations/charities that usually take this sort of thing?
Pardon my doubts but I remain unconvinced. You are completely right that you do not need to justify anything and I don't expect that. My practical experience of 30 years in telecomms says that people who say they need X bandwidth rarely actually do and its part of the 'big boys club' to say you need bigger and better. :eyebrows:



Nobody who works in 500Gb image files works in a residential apartment as simply processing that amount of active image takes a lot more than consumer level computer and probably uses a cluster.



Lets put it this way - my employer get multiple Gb of data every day, 365 days a year, from all over the globe and it is all kept intact for legal reasons (for now anyway). We use Microsoft Cloud and Amazon AWS and frankly nobody downloads it as its a lot of data each event.They get hard drives by FedEx as the transfer time for the multiple Gb of data is slower than downloading even on fast connections. And when we have it, we connect directly to a cluster with fibre, not a home computer to manipulate it.



We certainly dont have people working on it home and we dont even get close to 500gb image files.



And you use these a lot ? Are you Google ?
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Burrowed inside USAAs sprawling headquarters on Fredericksburg Road, more than 60 cybersecurity experts are on constant alert against hackers trying to access the accounts of the banks 12 million members.

On one of end of the Cyber Threat Operations Center, an electronic map of the world blinks with yellow arcs representing some 2 million or more attacks against the bank every day. The arcs trace outward from San Antonio to China, Russia, India and other sites around the globe. The attacks could be from anyone from small-time crooks to foreign governments.

USAA, the mega insurance, financial services and banking firm, is an especially rich target. It has a net worth of $29 billion, according to a spokesman. Foreign hackers are also tempted by its customers personal information.

Hackers try to sneak in through USAAs 1.4 billion annual digital interactions with customers across smartphones, laptops and watches. According to USAA, it prevented nearly $4.3 billion in fraud in 2016.

More Information Notable data breaches A 2013 Yahoo hack exposed more than 1 billion users, with a separate 2014 Yahoo hack exposing another 500 million. A 2016 breach at Adult Friend Finder exposed 300 million accounts due to bad security practices, with 110 million more comprised on related sites. A 2009 breach led to 70 million veterans at risk of identity theft after a government agency sent a hard drive to a vendor for repair. A 2014 hack of 70 million Target customers began when attackers installed malware on a refrigeration vendor with access to Target's systems. Two 2015 attacks, likely of Chinese origin, swept up sensitive information from 21.5 million people who had taken federal background checks. See More Collapse

We know were going to get hit continuously, and its literally happening 24/7, said Gary McAlum, chief security officer at USAA and head of 411 cybersecurity employees.

McAlum, an Air Force veteran with 25 years of experience, is one of many veterans working at the nations 21st largest bank. USAA, one of the citys largest private employers with around 18,000 of its 30,000 employees in San Antonio, says 25 percent of its workforce and 30 percent of its security team are former or active military and their spouses.

The Cyber Threat Operations Center is even more military-centric. About 39 percent of its 61 employees are veterans from every military branch.

McAlum represents a unique military culture at USAA that many believe may give it an edge in cybersecurity, both in recruiting the best military cyber warriors and in their way of thinking.

Veterans, who are always on high alert, sometimes struggle with adjusting to civilian life. In the realm of cybersecurity, however, it pays to have someone used to seeing the world as filled with threats.

McAlum regularly uses war terminology when talking about his job. He often references the Battle of Gettysburg and the 1993 movie about it, which he says hes watched about 50 times. At a pivotal point at Gettysburg, soldiers from the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment dug in to defend the far left flank of the Union Army. No retreat, no one to help them. They had to hold their position at all costs.

Were USAAs left flank, McAlum said. If we dont do our job, nobody else is going to do it.

Recruiting cyber warriors

The war metaphors used to describe cyberspace arent inaccurate, said Michael Borohovski, an executive with California-based Tinfoil Security.

The way I describe cyberwarfare and criminal activity: It is a war, Borohovski said. Its a war on many different fronts all at the same time.

Former soldiers view the world the way those in the cyber community do.

Whether youre protecting a fort with wooden walls and a moat, or modern buildings with a gate, or an internet institution, the mindset is the same, said Ryan Manship, security practice director at RedTeam Security of Minneapolis.

The goal is preventing a security breach like the one at JPMorgan Chase, where four hackers from 2012 to 2015 stole data from the largest U.S. bank and six other financial institutions. The hack involved more than 100 million customer accounts, with cyber criminals tricking victims into giving login information and using software vulnerabilities to sneak into the system.

In the wake of JPMorgans hack, the bank essentially built a partner campus near the Fort Meade, Maryland, headquarters of the National Security Agency, where it could recruit cyber experts.

USAA also has recruited heavily among military cyber troops, said Joe Loomis, a veteran and head of a cyber incident response firm, CyberSponse. The company has an edge in recruiting from the cyber warriors of 24th Air Force and the Texas branch of the National Security Agency  both based in San Antonio, he said.

Wherever your cyberwarfare units are, thats where youre going to get civilian growth, Loomis said.

Its been true in Arlington, Virginia, which is close to the Pentagon and CIA, and he predicts it will happen near the future site of an Army Cyber Command Headquarters at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

Thats what attracted cybersecurity firm Silotech to San Antonio in 2008. It opened another branch near Fort Gordon a year and a half ago. Tiffany Tremont, Silotech CEO and an Air Force veteran, said her company actively recruits military cyber warriors a year before they leave the service.

I know what Im looking for: cutting-edge cyber warriors, said Tremont, who said Silotech employs 70 nationwide, 85 percent of whom are veterans.

Veterans, she said, are truly exposed to whats going on in the real world.

Local cybersecurity company Digital Defense hired an Air Force veteran to run its security operations. He actively recruits from military cyber units near San Antonio, according to a spokesman.

Air Force veteran Brian Kelly, who advised the Joint Chiefs of Staff on cyber issues, is the chief security officer at Rackspace.

Military cyber warriors, Kelly said, have a relatively rare expertise and experience. Some of his first hires at Rackspace were former Air Force commanders who helped develop the services own cybersecurity response.

Identifying hackers

San Antonio veteran Jessica Hazelrigg is the IT manager of the cybersecurity infrastructure team in the Cyber Threat Operations Center at USAA, where she said her military experience is invaluable.

I, at a very high level, do the same thing I did in the military  which is keep the good guys safe from the bad guys, Hazelrigg, 36, said. My background in the Army and in the intelligence community helps shape the way I view those threats.

Hazelrigg dropped out of the University of Texas at San Antonio to join the Army at 19. She said she wanted to change the world, and as quickly as possible. She served during the early years of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan  from 2000 to 2003  analyzing the communication networks of entire countries.

Today, her job is identifying and preventing threats and criminals, whether they are hackers backed by a foreign government or script kiddies, teenagers trying to make a name for themselves.

Hazelrigg said after figuring out whats happening, the next question is: How do I best defend against it?

Knowing the hackers identity is critical, but figuring that out is anything but easy.

Digital bank robbers use hacking tool kits with automated bots that snoop around-the-clock for an opening into the bank. Tracing the bots to their source can be difficult, and mobile banking is fraught with new dangers. Businesses have only just begun to catch up, said Manship, whose company conducts simulated attacks on banks and business.

Were seeing a shift where companies, especially financial institutions, are forced to prioritize security in smartphones and tablets, Manship said.

In the last five years, USAA has introduced two-factor and biometric authentication. More than 2 million members are now using their fingerprint, facial scan or voice to log in. As of 2016, all new members are enrolled in two-factor authentication that sends a code to their phone after a password is first entered.

Neither measure is perfect. Unlike a password, biometric credentials cannot be replaced once theyre compromised. Meanwhile, hackers have gotten around two-factor authentication by intercepting text messages with the security code.

The process of the biometric authentication, as with all authentication, is susceptible to attack, said Garret Grajek, vice president of identity at the cyber firm Cylance in Irvine, California.

There have been some cases of hackers using photos of fingerprints, taped fingerprints and even cadaver fingerprints, he said.

On the front lines

When McAlum arrived at his first Air Force assignment in 1983, information security meant making sure the military radios and encoders werent too close to the window, he said.

It was a very different world, McAlum said.

Since then, the way people use computers has rapidly evolved, forcing businesses to adapt quickly to keep up.

While other companies had to transition from brick-and-mortar banking to online, USAA was always mobile because it had few physical locations and members deployed across the world.

USAA is really ahead of the power curve, said Matt Lembright, who co-founded the Virginia cyber firm Enabld. Theyve had the foresight to understand that cybersecurity was going to be paramount for them.

USAA uses three of the toughest protections in cybersecurity: two-factor authentication; SSL/TLS encryption, which creates a secure connection between a users computer and a website like Amazon.com; and automatic account anomaly reporting, which alerts the user when someone logs in from a strange location or in a strange way.

The bank shuts down nearly 50 phishing sites a day and runs both routine and no-notice penetration tests, which test how security measures react to a simulated cyber attack.

Today, the bank has an innovation lab, and McAlum brings teams to Silicon Valley to study new technologies. McAlum referred to one promising effort the bank is looking into that uses a persons mannerisms  the way they pick up the phone, the speed they walk, their heartbeat  as their password.

The bank also buys intelligence and shares it as well, passing along tips about potential threats to other companies, McAlum said.

Cooperating with the competition represents a change in how banks think. Whereas before one bank would see a rivals bad news as good news, today banks are sharing information through organizations such as the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center.

Complacent customers

Customers present their own problems. More than a quarter of U.S. adults received notice of compromised personal information in 2015. A RAND Corp. report last year found that only 51 percent changed their passwords after being told their information was stolen and 22 percent took no action at all.

Consumers seem to be pretty forgiving, and forgetful, the studys author, Lillian Ablon, said. They may be outraged that this is happening, but continue to do business with them.

Data breaches have become so common that people are almost numb to them, said Tom Desot, chief information officer for Digital Defense, the San Antonio-based cybersecurity firm.

Hes briefed on dangerous threats and vulnerabilities every day, but consumers seem willfully ignorant, he said.

You put the word computer or cyber in front of it, and they assume theyre not going to going to understand, Desot said.

Members of the military are trained to look for risk. McAlum said the banks background gives them a better understanding of veterans and that the bank works to integrate veterans into the workforce once theyre hired. As a veteran himself, McAlum said, he was drawn to the bank by its military culture.

Hazelrigg said Sun Tzu, the Chinese military leader who famously wrote the Art of War, summed it up best: Know your enemy and know yourself.

jlawrence@express-news.net
Luke Evans wants to keep "some sort of mystery" about him.

Luke Evans

The 'Beauty and the Beast' star feels it is important to create an "enigma" around himself and so deliberately decides to keep his personal life out of the spotlight.

He said: "I try to keep my personal life and my private life separate. Not for any reason other than there's a clue in the title - it's private. As an actor, you have to keep some sort of enigma and mystery.

"There's a dignity to keeping private. I'm trying to keep a bit of dignity to my private life and to protect the people in my life. Like my family. They don't do press. They don't do interviews. I don't get photographed with them. Although everyone knows they're my mum and dad in the Valleys. It's the choice I've made."

And the 37-year-old actor rightly insists that his sexuality shouldn't affect the kind of characters he is cast for.

Asked if Hollywood can cope with the idea of a gay action hero, he told The Jackal magazine: "That question is difficult to answer. I don't know how 'Hollywood' as you call it, thinks. I don't think about it. I don't feel they're connected.

"Talent, success, what you do in your personal life - I don't see how one should have an effect on the other. I don't think I'd be in this business if I felt that I was not being employed because of who I am in my personal life."

Meanwhile, Luke previously admitted he found his role in 'Beauty and the Beast' "liberating".

He said: "It's fun to play a character who does all the things you'd never dare to do in real life. It's liberating - you can't feel self-conscious about playing somebody like Gaston, you just have to go with it.

"I owe it to the animated giant of a creature we see in the original to be that ridiculous and self-absorbed and terrifying. And to enjoy it."
Alloy Metal International Distribution Technology group (AMIDT Group) has announced its strategic alliance with the leading French menswear brand Devred 1902. To build this brand, AMIDT Group will invest $13 million over a span of 3 years in setting up stores for Devred 1902 across the Middle East apparel market and in joint development of the brand.

The retail stores would be strategically placed in various Middle Eastern countries where Devred 1902 is not present. Devred 1902which specialises in customised tailoring for menswear provides a wide range of comfortable, creative, innovative, sustainable and contemporary menswear fashion across its 325 stores globally. After setting up Devred 1902's Middle East operations, the group will venture into South Asia and India with their group company I Retail Co.

"Devred 1902 offers us the opportunity not only to set up stores but also act as a development partner in the Middle East. With this strategic tie-up, we will not only offer contemporary range of high-quality menswear but also the development aspect is a value addition for both the partners. Here Devred 1902 would share its know-how in tailoring and the secret for long lasting success in bringing the best quality menswear range to the Middle Eastern countries," said Alireza Moghaddam, chairman, AMIDT Group.

Alloy Metal International Distribution Technology group (AMIDT Group) has announced its strategic alliance with the leading French menswear brand Devred 1902. To build this brand, AMIDT Group will invest $13 million over a span of 3 years in setting up stores for Devred 1902 across the Middle East apparel market and in joint development of the brand.#

"With this partnership, we are not only looking at a franchise selling model but working on a joint development model, wherein our experts will be closely working with AMIDT and there would be a two way exchange of information. AMIDT with its strengths in the Middle East would add value to Devred 1902," said Philippe Barbry, CEO, Devred 1902.

Devred 1902 is a 100-year old and a well renowned French luxury menswear brand with a unique concept of customised tailoring, excellent quality of product and a style that matches all tastes. Its wide range of products cover all aspects of men's fashion wear which includes t-shirts, trousers, shirts, vests, jackets, suits and accessories like scarves, shoes and bags.

AMIDT group is a diversified conglomerate in the field of infrastructure, automobile components, retail, packaging, consulting and minerals and metals. With this tie-up, the AMIDT Group has ventured into the apparels business, adding one more asset to its diverse business sectors. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Future Group has announced the launch of Future C&D Lab in Bangalore that focuses on the consumer and digital space to bring in next generation innovations using Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Blockchains, Robotics and allied technologies. It brings together multiple companies working on these areas in a collaborative space.

The teams and companies have a ready access to test, experiment and prototype their technologies across Future Group's brand and retail platforms that serve over a million customers everyday. The research and development activities will be supported through a Rs 100 crore Accelerator Fund that will be set up to fund the operations, technology development and IPR creation by the teams working at the lab.

"The Future C&D Lab is aimed at co-creating the next generation technologies for the consumer space in India. We are creating an open environment of collaboration and co-creation with some of the best young Indian minds who are working with new technologies to create solutions that can impact the retail and consumer space over the next couple of years," said Kishore Biyani, Future Group's founder and Group CEO.

Future Group has announced the launch of Future C&D Lab in Bangalore that focuses on the consumer and digital space to bring in next generation innovations using Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Blockchains, Robotics and allied technologies. It brings together multiple companies working on these areas in a collaborative space.#

The lab is pursuing technology developments that will influence consumer experiences in areas such as payments, unique consumer identification and development of one-on-one consumer conversations, analytics and predictive modelling as well as in backend functions such as supplier engagements, supply chain automation and infrastructure deployment.

The new lab features a multidisciplinary team composed of technologists, engineers, data scientists, designers and consumer specialists and will also be running hackathons, secondments and open workshops that allow continuous learning, collaboration and exchange of skills. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Actor Purab Kohli finds his Noor co-star Sonkashi Sinha's professional conduct impressive.

Recalling the time of shooting for the Sunhil Sippy's forthcoming film, Purab Kohli said in a statement, "I am super impressed with her professional conduct. I have to confess, many times she would be ready on set before me and that was embarrassing. It feels good to be working with such a hardworking and talented actress."



Talking about the film, in which she plays a journalist, the actress had said, "Noor is getting a very positive response. I am glad that people are liking the songs and the trailer of the film. People are giving a positive response and I just hope that people will also enjoy the movie after its release."

Sonakshi Sinha's upcoming movie is based on the book Karachi, You're Killing Me! by the Pakistani author Saba Imtiaz.

The film will hit the screens on April 21.
Raabta Poster

In the poster, Kriti is seen planting a kiss on Sushant's cheek while our hero just couldn't stop gushing! The caption reads- 'Everything is connected'. Well, this one is already giving us too much of mushy feels!

Dinesh Vijan's Directorial Debut

Raabta marks the directorial debut of producer Dinesh Vijan.

Film Was To Intially Release On Valentines' Weekend

This Sushant- Kriti starrer was earlier suppose to hit the big screens in February. However due to reasons best known to the makers, the release date was pushed forward to 9th June, 2017.

Deepika Padukone's Cameo Act

Deepika Padukone will be seen grooving to the recreated version of Saif Ali Khan- Kareena Kapoor Khan's 'Kuch Toh Hai Tujhse Raata' song from Agent Vinod. Sounds exciting, naa?

Sushant Singh Rajput & Kriti Sanon- More Than Just Good Friends?

Reportedly Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon were rumoured to be dating while filming this movie which is shot in picturesque locations. Few reports even suggested that Kriti was one of the reasons for Sushant's split with his long-time girlfriend Ankita Lokhande.

On the other hand, Sushant and Kriti dismissed them as mere rumours and maintained that they are just good friends. Next came the news of their break-up but recently Sushant was spotted taking Kriti for a spin which set the tongues wagging once again.
The Hollywood actress of Israeli origin Gal Gadot-Varsano, popularly known as Gal Gadot said, she passed on Quantum of Solace role because she thought she was too smart and intelligent for acting in films.

"I said, No way," said Gal Gadot in a statement. "I said, 'I'm studying law and international relations. I'm way too serious and smart to be an actress.'" Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice actress added.

Gal Gadot also mentioned that the script was all in English and she was not very comfortable to speak in the language.

"Besides, the script was all in English. I spoke English, but I wasn't comfortable with it." Said Gal Gadot.

The actress stated that she felt it like a torture when the director, Zack Snyder asked her to appear for a camera test.

"The director, Zack Snyder, asked me to do a camera test. That was torture. They were looking at six or seven girls, and we were all in separate trailers and were told to stay inside until they called us," Gal Gadot recalled.

"Waiting is my enemy Number One, and I was losing my mind. So, I decided to put on Beyonce. Who runs the world? Girls! I just started to dance, and I let my anxiety go. Thank you, Beyonce!" The actress added further.
Celebrated Hollywood actor, model, producer and musician Robert Douglas Thomas Pattinson a.k.a Robert Pattinson says he is keen to reprise his role as Edward Cullen in Twilight reboot.

The 30-year-old Twilight actor said that he has developed a connection with his Twilight character and he is open to reprising that role any day the franchise decides to bring a reboot version of the story.

"I'm always kind of curious. Anything where there's a mass audience or seemingly an audience for it, I always like the idea of subverting people's expectations," Pattinson said in a statement.

Although the actor said that there is no such development regarding the Twilight reboot, Pattinson believes that there is still chance, if the franchise wants to rebuild the story and film in a new way.

"There could be some radical way of doing it, which could be quite fun". Said the actor.

Pattinson also stated that it will not be possible for the franchise to build upon the same storyline or add another chapter with the existing one due to lack of source material; however, he feels rebooting the franchise could be a good option.

Lionsgate Motion Picture had said earlier that they were looking to add more Twilight movies to the existing list, but no official confirmation regarding the development is available.
Rating: 4.0 /5

It was probably another Point Break version, with cars that the Fast and Furious started their journey back in 2001. Since then the franchise has come a long way with releasing their latest 8th instalment of the series.

Unlike other franchises, the Fast and Furious team has always tried developing its bloodline on the basis of outrageous stunts and insane actions more than its storyline. And that insanity of stunts grew further with each and every release.

The Fate of the Furious a.k.a Fast 8 settles into this scheme effortlessly, escalated only by high-octane escapism and extravagant stunt sequences which will take the audiences into a new height of realisation and excitement.

The Italian Job, Friday, Straight Outta Compton fame director F. Gary Gray takes the direction wheel on his hands for Fast 8, though he doesn't go out of the box for this film, he ensured that there remains enough juice for insane action lovers.

People often talk about the robust storyline to analyse a film's credibility, but then if you can buy comic-book superhero films which is generally built on the aspect of over-exaggeration of human ability and term them as the superpower, then you should not be whining about this film.

Fast 8 provides a great hook with Dom betraying his family for mysterious reasons and joins the malefactor Cipher played by Charlize Theron in her iniquitous agenda. This manifested betrayal develops all the required tension and conflict in the movie.

The superficial hunt for Dom brings in Ian Shaw (Jason Statham) to the team dissolving all enmity and then they venture out to New York City and Russia in style, accompanied with over-the-top action and outrageous stunts.

Out of all the insane stunts, 'Manhattan sequence' is sure to leave you breathless and then the Die Another Day type climax is absolutely intense and engaging.

Overall, The Fate of the Furious is a great movie to watch this weekend, adrenaline gushing vehicular mayhem and high-octane escapism will surely add up to your excitement along with its open-ended curtain drop that will only build up your anticipation for its next part.
In Star Plus' popular show Naamkaran, Avni's brother Aman arrives from London. Avni is super excited to meet him after 15 long years. Amol, as Dayavanti calls her grandson, is the apple of her eye.

Unfortunately, Aman causes Neil's (Zain Imam) accident and Avni becomes a witness to this scene. She is shocked to learn that her brother has caused the accident. She rushes to Neil's rescue. He asks her note down the car number instead. Avni tends to Neil's wounds and thinks whether to inform the police or not. (Check out the latest spoiler below).

Avni To Protect Aman Avni, who is aware that her brother has committed a crime will try to safeguard him, as she does not want him to get into trouble. Neil Wants To Punish Aman On the other hand, Neil wants to punish the criminal. He even gets to know that Avni is trying to protect a criminal. Neil Loses His Trust On Avni Neil will lose his trust on Avni. Not only that, he will even realize that she is hiding a big truth about herself and will be determined to find out about the same. Avni Befriends Aman As per the latest spoiler, Avni will befriend Aman. She will try to make him realize that she is his sister. Neil Keeps An Eye On Aman Neil will keep an eye on Aman and will be determined to punish him no matter what. Will Avni Be Able To Protect Aman? Will Neil fulfil his duty? Will Avni be able to save her brother from getting arrested? Stay tuned to know...

In The Last Episode...

Aman arrives at the Mehta house. Dayavanti pampers him and feeds delicious food to him. He asks Riya to show her fiance's picture and is shocked beyond words when he learns that, Riya's fiance is none other than Neil!

Riya informs that he is a police officer, while Aman recalls the accident. On the other hand, Avni takes good care of Neil and also worries about Aman. She feels that her brother did not cause the accident deliberately and decides not to inform the police.

Later, Dayavanti scrutinizes Aman's car and is shocked to know that he has caused an accident. The next day, Dayavanti tells Aman that she knows about the accident and assures him that she will manage.

Neil is hell-bent upon arresting the person who caused his accident, as he was driving under the influence of alcohol. Later, Avni informs Neil that Aman has caused Neil's accident.

Neil overhears their conversation and feels that she is protecting a criminal.
SINGAPORE -- (Marketwired) -- 04/13/17 -- Integral Ad Science (IAS), the technology and data company that empowers the advertising industry to effectively influence consumers everywhere, is working with Google to deliver brand safety reporting on YouTube. With brand safety concerns at the forefront for advertisers, Google and IAS are looking to give advertisers additional visibility into how their ads are appearing on YouTube against a company's brand safety requirements.

With this initiative, advertisers will be able to access brand safety reporting metrics, providing additional, independent assurances around where their ads are appearing on YouTube. Given the uniqueness of YouTube's content, and that of the experience it provides to users, IAS and Google will seek to develop a secure and safe solution together that answers the industry's need for transparency.

The current IAS solution available to clients is MRC-accredited, and reports on eight separate brand risk categories -- adult content, alcohol content, gambling content, hate speech, illegal downloads, illegal drugs, offensive language, and violence -- to give advertisers a comprehensive understanding of their brand risk. Additional specifications are available to customize risk thresholds, as well as option for geo-compliance, keywords, and blacklists.

"Our H2 2016 Media Quality Report show that brand risk continues to be a key area of concern for advertisers, especially as it pertains to politically charged, controversial, or offensive content. Content flagged for hate speech increased by 137% across U.S. display direct and for violence by 27% global video direct from H1 2016 alone," said Scott Knoll, CEO of IAS. "Your brand is your reputation and Google is taking the right steps forward to address this industry issue. By partnering with independent, third parties like IAS, advertisers have additional assurance and more visibility into where their ads are running."

About Integral Ad Science

Integral Ad Science (IAS) is a global technology and data company that builds verification, optimization, and analytics solutions to empower the advertising industry to effectively influence consumers everywhere, on every device. We solve the most pressing problems for brands, agencies, publishers, and technology companies by verifying that every impression has the opportunity to be effective, optimizing towards opportunities to consistently improve results, and analyzing digital's impact on consumer actions. Built on data science and engineering, IAS is headquartered in New York with global operations in ten countries. Our growth and innovation have been recognized in Inc. 500, Crain's Fast 50, Forbes America's Most Promising Companies, and I-COM's Smart Data Marketing Technology Company. Learn more at www.integralads.com.
CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - Apple Inc. (AAPL) is considering to buy struggling Japanese conglomerate Toshiba corp's (TOSYY.PK, TOSBF.PK) chip business, the Japan's national broadcaster NHK reported. The report specified that Apple is willing to spend billions of dollars to obtain a substantial stake and to secure a stable supply of memory chips for its iPhones. Toshiba officials are reportedly reduced the list of bidders for its semiconductor business, which they have spun off this month. The report said, Apple would have Toshiba keep some shares so the Japanese and US firms combined, will have a majority stake. Apple executives are also considering teaming up with Hon Hai Precision Industry, also known as Foxconn. The Taiwanese maker is trying to acquire about 30 percent of the stake, and call on Japanese firms to join them. 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.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mah Sing Group Berhad (Mah Sing) celebrated another achievement as it clinched the 2017 Frost & Sullivan Property Development Company of the Year at an award banquet held at the Hilton KL yesterday.

The award recognised Mah Sing as a company that demonstrated excellence in growth, innovation and leadership which was typically translated into superior performance in 3 key areas; demand generation, brand development and competitive positioning.

As one of the established property developers in Malaysia, Mah Sing was also evaluated based on the Group's financial performance, innovation, brand equity, customer ownership experience and customer service experience, in which it had excelled in all criteria.

Mr. Viswesh Vancheeshwar, Research Analyst, Energy & Environment, Frost & Sullivan said that in a challenging property market environment in 2016, Mah Sing was able to differentiate itself by launching innovative designed projects in strategic locations, while keeping properties affordable and attractive.

He noted that the property development market in Malaysia is highly competitive and developers which offer innovative solutions that are sustainable, reasonably priced and meets customers' expectations are best positioned to lead the market.

He further added, "Mah Sing has a proven track record of developing and completing prime residential, commercial and industrial projects across Malaysia's property hotspots. The Group was able to successfully deliver quality homes for customers and has a strong commitment towards encouraging home ownership in Malaysia. Despite a challenging 2016, Mah Sing's operating profit grew 2.6% to RM469.9 million. The Group also achieved a return on equity of 14% on average over the past 5 years as compared to the industry average of 9% to 10%."

Group Managing Director of Mah Sing, Tan Sri Dato' Sri Leong Hoy Kum said, "We are honoured to accept this award from Frost & Sullivan. The world is constantly changing and as a market-driven developer, it is our trade to stay ahead of the market. This mindset is the drive that pushes us to continuously work towards bringing the company to another level of success."

He further added, "As Jack Ma said, transformation is needed for a company to grow and I strongly agree with that statement. In fact, we have embarked on a Cultural Transformation programme and unveiled our new company vision; "Inventing Future Living That Enhances Quality of Life" early this year."

The Group unveiled its new corporate logo during its annual dinner celebration in February this year. The new corporate logo is the visual representation of the company's commitment towards transformation. The new corporate logo can also be seen at the facade of Mah Sing's headquarters, also known as MS@Work.

Mah Sing's transformation process continues with the introduction of the Group's new tagline "Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life". 'Reinvent Spaces' means that the Group aims to raise the bar of future living by recreating living spaces, work spaces, business spaces, social and community spaces with innovative design and functionality.

With all the effort put in to reinvent spaces, the Group will be able to improve and add value to the standard of living of the community, hence fulfilling the second part of its tagline 'Enhance Life'.

Tan Sri Dato' Sri Leong said, "Being in the property industry for more than 23 years, we underwent various economy cycles from the economy crisis to the property boom. Our strong track record and healthy balance sheet with high cash pile of RM923.8million and a low net gearing of 0.02 times as of 31 December 2016, enables us to look out for potential land acquisitions, joint ventures and investments. We will continue to adhere to disciplined financial management as well as launching suitable projects that cater to market demands."

The company currently has 46 upcoming projects ranging from landed and high-rise residential, commercial developments, integrated business parks, mixed commercial developments in the Klang Valley, Johor, Penang, and Sabah.

Upcoming projects by the Group include Tower C and D of Cerrado Residential suites in Southville City, KL South, OLO Residence in D'sara Sentral, 2 types of 2-storey link homes in Meridin East, Johor and serviced apartments in Southbay City, Penang.

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, Frost & Sullivan has been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organisation 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 Mah Sing

Mah Sing Group was listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia in 1992 and ventured into property development in 1994. The Group currently has 46 projects (13 completed) spread across the property hotspots of Greater KL and Klang Valley, Penang, Johor and Sabah. The Group has proven its versatility with a diverse range of projects, from medium to high-end landed and high-rise residential properties to Grade A office buildings, retail projects, SoHo and industrial projects.

Mah Sing Group was voted Best Developer of the year in iProperty People's Choice Award 2016 for 3 years consecutively, ranked Top 5 in The Edge's Top Property Developers Awards 2016 and honoured with The Starproperty.my's The All-Star Award as one of the Top Ranked Developer of The Year 2017, for diligently crafting dream homes for 23 years. For more information, please visit www.mahsing.com.my

Media Contact

Carrie Low

Corporate Communications, Asia-Pacific

Frost & Sullivan

Phone: +603.6204.5910

Email: carrie.low@frost.com

May Lim

Asst. Manager

Corporate Communications

Mah Sing Group Berhad

Phone: +603.9221.8888

Email: mk.lim@mahsing.com.my
BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - China's industrial production and retail sales increased at a steady pace in May, while property investment growth softened signaling a slowdown in overall activity in the second quarter. The annual growth in industrial production held steady at 6.5 percent, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Wednesday. Output was forecast to expand 6.4 percent. Retail sales grew 10.7 percent year-on-year in May, the same pace of growth as seen in April and in line with economists' expectations. During January to May, fixed asset investment increased 8.6 percent from the same period of the previous year, which was slower than the 8.8 percent growth economists had forecast and the 8.9 percent rise logged during the January to April period. Likewise, property investment grew at a slower pace of 8.8 percent in the five months to May following a 9.3 percent increase in the January to April period. The rating agency Moody's downgraded China's rating by one notch in May, citing concerns over the rising debt and slowing growth and reforms as the government tries to implement a shift to economic expansion driven by domestic demand than exports. The economy had expanded 6.9 percent in the first quarter, the fastest since the third quarter of 2015. The government targets slightly slower growth of about 6.5 percent this year. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
DUBAI, UAE, September 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The new drivers can be applied to Swing door system for 2-leaf systems and mechanical door closer on fire protection doors

GEZE, the global leading player in building technologies has announced the latest driver model that will be added to the GEZE Powerturn range of drivers. The Powerturn F has been designed for special situations such as double-leaf, asymmetrical swing doors with partial automation. The existing models within the range, namely, the GEZE Powerturn IS/TS is a double-leaf system with the GEZE Powerturn swing door drive on the active leaf and a GEZE TS 5000 L or GEZE TS 4000 mechanical door closer on the passive leaf.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160209/331044LOGO )



This combination brings a new interpretation to the strengths of the Powerturn swing door drive. This brings advantages for areas where mainly the active leaf is used, e.g. in schools or hospitals. Since the drive design is not interrupted, the entire door system produces harmonious results, both in terms of function and appearance. The Powerturn F/R-IS/TS version for hold-open systems combines innovative technology and design since the smoke control unit is invisibly integrated into the cover. Inadequate individual combinations will become completely redundant in the future. The swing door system will be offered for the installation types 'transom installation pushing with link arm' or 'transom installation pulling with roller guide rail'.

GEZE Powerturn offers various applications for the active leaf. For example, doors with a leaf weight of up to 600 kg and a leaf width of 930 mm or a leaf weight of 210 kg and a leaf width of 1,600 mm can be moved automatically without problem - including on fire protection doors.

The advantages at a glance:

 Perfect for use on asymmetrical doors

 Minimum leaf widths of up to 470 mm on the passive leaf can be achieved

 Low overall height of just 7 cm

 Attractive overall look by integration of Powerturn, door closer, mechanism for integrated closing sequence control, and where necessary smoke switch, beneath a universal cover

 Integrated closing sequence control for controlled closing:

- In the event of a fire

- If both leaves are opened

- If the passive leaf is opened

 Practically-focused version when mainly the active leaf is moved

 Innovative Smart swing function for easy manual passing on the active leaf

Convenient accessibility, high function variety, easy installation, maximum possible creative freedom and excellent design are the strengths of the GEZE Powerturn. It opens even large and heavy doors easily and safely, whether at prestigious entrance doors or in internal applications. The Smart swing function facilitates manual opening without effort. With its discreet design and an overall height of only seven centimeters the GEZE Powerturn blends in with any installation situation, offering great creative freedom. It moves the active leaf with weights up to 600 kilograms. The passive leaf is fitted with a door closer from the GEZE TS 4000 or GEZE TS 5000 L series.

Full flexibility in use

The combination of swing door drive and door closer is an attractive option for double-leaf doors where mainly the active leaf is opened automatically for added convenience and the passive leaf is opened only if necessary. This duo can also be used on asymmetrical doors. The closing sequence control required for use on fire protection doors is also located in the drive housing. It guarantees that both door leaves are closed again correctly after access, e.g. by fleeing persons in the case of danger.

Creative freedom for customised design

The complete door system produces harmonious results, both in terms of function and appearance. With an overall height of just seven centimeters, the GEZE Powerturn can be adapted to almost any installation situation. The Powerturn F/R-IS/TS version for hold open systems combines innovative technology and design since the smoke control unit is invisibly integrated into the cover. The complete door system will be offered for the installation types 'transom installation pushing with link arm' or 'transom installation pulling with roller guide rail'.

A wide variety of installations - easy and intelligent

The clever GEZE installation system ensures straightforward, strength-saving and safe installation of the Powerturn. The mains connection of the drive can be easily connected via the mounting plate. The drive only has to be inserted into the mounting plate, moved into place and secured. All plug areas and connections are easily accessible from the front. The Powerturn can also be operated and maintained without removing the drive cover. Thanks to a manual teaching run the commissioning happens in the shortest period of time possible.

The door closer can also be easily commissioned via the closing force adjustable from the front, as can the closing speed, back check and latching action when it has been installed. The closing force set can easily be checked thanks to the visual size indicator. The GEZE Powerturn IS/TS uses the tried and tested Powerturn mechanism for integrated closing sequence control so that installation of the closing sequence control is progressed via a familiar system.

For more information, please visit http://www.geze.ae

ABOUT GEZE

The GEZE brand stands for innovation and premium quality products, processes and services. GEZE is one of the leaders on the market and is a reliable partner worldwide for door, window and safety technology products and systems. No matter what the requirements of the building are - GEZE realises optimum solutions and combines functionality and security with comfort and design. GEZE door closers open up numerous technical and visual options. Every day millions of people go through doors equipped with the overhead door closers from the TS 5000 series and enjoy the barrier-free convenience of automatic door systems, e.g. the Slimdrive and Powerturn lines. The integrated all-glass design systems are pure aesthetics. GEZE also has a wide product range for window and ventilation technology. Complete 'intelligent' smoke and heat exhaust solutions (RWA) and a comprehensive selection of door systems for RWA air supply solutions are also available for preventative fire protection. GEZE's safety technology includes escape and rescue route solutions, lock technology and access control systems. With system expertise, GEZE creates coordinated system solutions that combine individual functions and security requirements in one intelligent system. The latest innovations are a new building automation system and interface modules for integrating GEZE products into networking solutions which turn buildings into Smart Buildings. GEZE product solutions have received numerous awards and can be found in renowned structures all over the world. The company is represented by 31 subsidiaries, 27 of which are abroad, a flexible and highly efficient distribution and service network and almost 2,800 employees worldwide and generated revenues of over 394 million Euros in the 2015/2016 business year. http://www.geze.com/
WOLFSBURG (dpa-AFX) - Volkswagen (VKW.L, VLKAF.PK, VOW.BE) said Wednesday it delivered almost 921,000 new cars in the month of June, an increase of 4.2 percent over last year, reflecting improved deliveries across all brands. By the end of June, Volkswagen said it had dropped nearly 5.2 million vehicles to its customers - 0.8 percent more than in the same period last year. Looking ahead, the Group sales manager Fred Kappler said, 'Stable growth in the core regions will make us confident in the second half of the year. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/14/17 -- Garda World Security Corporation (the "Company" or "GardaWorld"), one of the largest privately owned business solutions and security services companies in the world, announced that it has (1) extended the Early Tender Deadline (as defined in the Company's Offer To Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated March 31, 2017 (the "Statement")) of the Company's pending cash tender offer (the "Offer") for the Company's 7.25% Senior Notes due 2021 (the "Notes") from 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 13, 2017 to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 18, 2017 (as it may be further extended or earlier terminated, the "Early Tender Deadline") and (2) waived the Requisite Consent Condition and the Supplemental Indenture Condition (each as defined in the Statement).

The Offer is being made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Statement, as amended by this press release dated April 14, 2017. The deadline to validly withdraw tenders of Notes was 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 13, 2017; therefore, Notes that have been tendered and not validly withdrawn, and Notes tendered after that date, may not be withdrawn unless otherwise required by applicable law.

Holders validly tendering Notes at or before the Early Tender Deadline will be eligible to receive the total consideration equal to $1,010 per U.S. $1,000 principal amount of Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment date up to but not including the final payment date. Holders who tender their Notes and whose Notes are accepted for purchase at or prior to the Expiration Time (as defined in the Statement) but after the Early Tender Deadline will be eligible to receive the tender offer consideration equal to U.S. $960 per U.S. $1,000 principal amount of Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment date up to but not including the final payment date.

The Company is conducting the Offer and consent solicitation in accordance with the terms and conditions described in the Statement, as amended by this press release dated April 14, 2017. The Company's obligation to consummate an Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, which are more fully described in the Statement as amended by this press release dated April 14, 2017, including, among others, (i) the completion of the purchase by an affiliate of the Company of the 29.4% equity interest in the Garda business owned by affiliates of the Apax Funds pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated March 23, 2017 among the Rhone Funds, Stephan Cretier, the affiliates of Apax Funds and the HCA Parent Corp. and (ii) the consummation of the Financing Transactions (as defined in the Statement) on terms satisfactory to the Company.

The information agent for the Offer and consent solicitation is D.F. King & Co., Inc. Holders with questions or who would like additional copies of the offer documents may call the information agent, D.F. King & Co., Inc., toll-free at (800) 864-1460 or (212) 269-5550 (collect). Questions regarding the terms of the Offer and consent solicitation can be directed to the dealer manager for the Offer and solicitation agent for the consent solicitation, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ((800) 558-3745 (toll-free) and (212) 723-6106 (collect)).

This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes. The Offer and the consent solicitation are being made only pursuant to the Statement, as amended by this press release dated April 14, 2017, and the related letter of transmittal (the "Offer Documents"). Holders and investors should read carefully the Offer Documents because they contain important information, including the various terms of and conditions to the Offer and the consent solicitation. None of the Company, the dealer manager and the solicitation agent, the tender agent, the information agent or their respective affiliates is making any recommendation as to whether or not holders should tender all or any portion of their Notes in the Offer or deliver their consents in the consent solicitation.

About The Company

GardaWorld is one of the world's largest privately owned security services providers, offering a range of highly focused business solutions including cash services, protective services and aviation services. GardaWorld's more than 62,000 highly trained, dedicated professionals serve clients throughout North America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. GardaWorld works across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, infrastructure, natural resources and retail, and services Fortune 500 companies, governments and humanitarian relief organizations. For more information, visit www.garda.com.

Cautionary Statement on Forward Looking Statements

Information provided and statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable securities laws. Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to GardaWorld's future outlook and anticipated events, business, operations, financial performance, financial condition or results and, in some cases, can be identified by terminology such as "may"; "will"; "should"; "expect"; "plan"; "anticipate"; "believe"; "intend"; "estimate"; "predict"; "potential"; "continue"; "foresee", "ensure" or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In particular, statements regarding the Company's future operating results and economic performance and its objectives and strategies are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including expected growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities, which GardaWorld believes are reasonable as of the current date. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Company, they may prove to be incorrect. The Company cautions the reader that the current economic conditions make forward-looking information and the underlying assumptions subject to greater uncertainty and that, consequently, they may not materialize, or the results may significantly differ from the company's expectations. It is impossible for GardaWorld to predict with certainty the impact that the current economic may have on future results. Forward-looking information is also subject to certain factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what GardaWorld currently expects. These factors include growth management, market competition, cost of financing, key personnel, government regulations, standard customer service contracts, insurance, strikes and other labor protests, information technology systems, operations outside Canada and the United States, currency fluctuations, credit risk, reputational risk, and financial covenants risk. Therefore, future events and results may vary significantly from what management currently foresees. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company will not update these statements unless applicable securities laws require the Company to do so. The reader should also take knowledge of the GardaWorld's Annual MD&A and audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017.

Contacts:

Garda World Security Corporation

Media Relations

media@garda.com




Recognized as an Industry Leader for Deploying Powerful, Reliable and Standards-Based IoT Platform and Solutions for UK Smart City Programs

Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (NYSE:SSNI) today announced that it has been named the 2017 "Outstanding Big Data Internet of ThingsSolution Provider of the Year" during Computing's annual Big Data IoT Excellence Awards. Computing, a leading UK online business technology publication, highlights the most outstanding achievements of companies within the IT landscape each year through its recognition and evaluation of outstanding products, projects, solutions, and successes of selected nominees.

Silver Spring was recognized for its Starfish Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) based on Silver Spring's proven, secure, reliable and standards-based wireless network and data platform. Silver Spring has more than 26 million enabled devices delivered on five continents, including demonstrated smart city programs in Bristol, Copenhagen, County Mayo in Ireland, the City of Westminster, Glasgow and Paris, and a smart energy program with UK Power Networks.

"Receiving this award reaffirms our belief that enabling the Internet of Important Things requires real-world deployment experience, and a dedication to ensuring that critical IoT devices operate securely and reliably," said John Marcolini, VP and GM of Product, Silver Spring Networks. "With the recent expansion of our Developer Program and a growing number of deployments of our proven network technology across the globe, Silver Spring is helping enable new revenue streams for existing and new customers."

The award follows the release of Silver Spring's recently published "Know Your IoT Rights" white paper, a guiding doctrine for the rights of IoT developers and architects that lays out what technology requirements are needed for secure, sustainable and reliable network architecture. To further encourage industry collaboration to create new IoT solutions, Silver Spring also recently announced the expansion of its developer program including a new developer portal, hardware developer kits and a simulation tool for IoT application development and testing.

Join the Silver Spring Networks Conversation

Read more on the Silver Spring Connect blog at www.ssni.com/blog/

Follow @SilverSpringNet on Twitter

Like Silver Spring Networks on Facebook at www.facebook.com/silverspringnetworks

Learn more about the Wi-Sun Alliance and the value of open standards-based IoT networking at www.wi-sun.org

About Silver Spring Networks

Silver Spring Networks enables the Internet of Important Things by reliably and securely connecting things that matter. Cities, utilities, and companies on five continents use the company's cost-effective, high-performance IoT network and data platform to operate more efficiently, get greener, and enable innovative services that can improve the lives of millions of people. With more than 26.0 million devices delivered, Silver Spring provides a proven standards-based platform safeguarded with military grade security. Silver Spring Networks' customers include Baltimore Gas Electric, CitiPower Powercor, ComEd, Consolidated Edison, CPS Energy, Florida Power Light, Pacific Gas Electric, Pepco Holdings, and Singapore Power. Silver Spring has also deployed networks in Smart Cities including Copenhagen, Glasgow, Paris, Providence, and Stockholm. To learn more, visit www.ssni.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Silver Spring Networks' expectations, plans, intentions, and strategies, including, but not limited to statements regarding the benefits of Silver Spring's Starfish platform. Statements including words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or "future" and statements in the future tense are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, which, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include those described in Silver Spring Networks' documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Silver Spring Networks as of the date hereof. Silver Spring Networks assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170530005111/en/

Contacts:

Silver Spring Networks

Amy Nunnemacher, 669-770-4183

Global Communications

pr@ssni.com
Technavio has announced the top seven leading vendors in their recentglobal data center UPS marketreport until 2021. This research report also lists seven other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170705005959/en/

Technavio has published a new report on the global data center UPS market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The research study by Technavio on the global data center UPS market for 2017-2021 provides a detailed industry analysis based on the product (centralized UPS, zone UPS, and rackmount UPS), tier (tier 1 2, tier 3, and tier 4), and geography (the Americas, EMEA, and APAC).

"The global data center UPS market is projected to grow at a CAGR of more than 9% over the forecast period. The pressing need for redundant power solutions to tide over power fluctuations and outages is one of the key factors driving the rising adoption of data center UPSsays Abhishek Sharma, a lead analyst at Technavio for data center research.

Competitive vendor landscape

The global data center UPS market is characterized by the presence of various regional and global vendors providing UPS systems. Hence, end-users have a wide range of products to choose from. Most of the leading data center operators have a well-established long-term relationship with the leading vendors in the market.

New entrants have a relatively hard time establishing themselves since setting up a company requires heavy capital investment, which deters new entrants. There is also the threat of large global vendors acquiring small vendors, which further establishes the dominance of the existing market players.

This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: View market snapshot before purchasing

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free

Top seven vendors in the global data center UPS market

ABB

ABB is involved in providing automation and power technologies to industries, including infrastructure, utilities, transport, and others. The company offers modular UPS designs that aid the reduction of mean time to repair (MTTR) using its Decentralized Parallel Architecture (DPA).

Delta Power Solutions

Delta Power Solutions is a subsidiary of Delta Electronics involved in offering energy-efficient power products, including UPS and PDUs. The company is involved in offering data center UPS, PDUs, power distribution cabinet, modular server rack, and DCIM solutions.

Eaton

Eaton provides power management solutions to data centers. It serves various end-markets, such as community infrastructure, agriculture and forestry, aviation, construction, data centers, healthcare, as well as oil and gas. The company provides products such as UPS systems, DC power solutions, and monitoring and management.

Vertiv

Vertiv is one of the leading vendors of data center support infrastructure including power, cooling, and rack. It is involved in the design, manufacturing, installations, and services for infrastructures such as thermal management, UPS systems and power conditioning, integrated data center control devices, critical power systems, and monitoring services.

General Electric (GE Industrial Solutions)

GE Industrial is involved in providing products and services as well as electrical infrastructure including all the power technologies. The company provides a variety of products and 24x7 service operations to data centers, which are targeted at reducing downtime, increasing the efficiency, and lessening the environmental impact of high energy demand.

Legrand

Legrand offers electrical and digital building infrastructures that include areas such as building systems, user interface, energy distribution, and digital infrastructure. It offers transformers, circuit breakers, measurement and monitoring solutions, UPS, capacitor banks, PDUs, DCIM software, KVM-over-IP, and serial-over-IP products for data centers worldwide.

Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric offers products and services that include electricity distribution, automation management, and components for energy management. It offers support infrastructure for data centers, which includes power, cooling, and rack. The product portfolio of this segment includes PDUs, UPS, surge protection devices, software management services, and more.

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Browse Related Reports:

Data Center Market in Southeast Asia 2017-2021

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About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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/20170705005959/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
Hello, foreign reader! Im writing from a place as distant as Mars  from Moscow. For some reason it seems to me that in the US people represent Russians as aliens, living in wild conditions with their bears in the North. Thats not exactly true, but pretty close.

You wont believe me, weve even got startupers there! Im one of those guys. My name is Voronin Alexander, Im 29 and all I know is how to sell.

18 months ago we launched the city mobile app franchise  MyTown. We attract partners and make separate city apps for them. People promote it among the residents of their towns and attract advertisers from local companies. We also receive monthly fees and develop our product. From the start we were able to grow quickly up to 320 partners in Russia, get 500 000 downloaded apps and join the IIDF accelerator.

But we have no knowledge, no experience and no skills to continue our aim of conquering the most attractive market on the planet. In Russia we managed to make all sales through the most popular social network Vkontakte, just placing ads on the business pages. That`s why I immediately got on Facebook to retry this case, but in the US. As you know, I couldnt find such business pages. We tried to make a target advertising campaign, and it was absolutely useless. Then I was looking for local franchise websites, but even they couldnt set us up. Im not a stupid guy, but it turned out that I cant deal with such a simple task.

I decided to contact some of the possible buyers directly. I assumed that local newspapers and city news websites would be interested in making profit from local advertising. I wrote to 30 companies and had no answer

Maybe they just dont want to communicate with Russians?

In any case Im gonna stand my ground until the end, but the first sale abroad our project MyTown will make remotely. Courage and dementia always helped us.

If you have a good advice or a question, contact me on facebook.com/asvoronin88. And I promise I will write you the next article about my first successful remote selling.

For those who still want to see our work, here are the links:

IOS  goo.gl/ItzWTz

Android  goo.gl/SU0FOC

FinSMEs

13/04/2017
Haiyin Capital, a Beijing, China-based venture capital firm, and the National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer (NCET2), a Washington, D.C.-based association of entrepreneurial students and university startup officers, have teamed up to form a joint venture to provide Chinese venture funding to startups formed at American universities.

The American-Chinese University Growth Fund will provide at least $1 billion of funding from Chinese investors to American university startups over the next decade.

Led by Tony Stanco, executive director, NCET2 produces an initiative called the University Startups Demo Day where American universities submit startups they create based on the $37 billion of university research funded annually by the federal government. Every six months, 200 of those submitted companies are scored by a Corporate Selection Committee consisting of a rotating group of Fortune 500 member companies to select the 40 Best University Startups with industry alignment for presentation at the Demo Day. The next University Startups Conference and Demo Day is in Washington, D.C. on April 18-19, 2017.

The American-Chinese University Growth Fund will be the sole source syndicator of venture capital from China to invest in these startups alongside American venture capital firms.

To ensure that the deals are strictly for financial returns and to protect U.S. strategic technologies and assets, NCET2 will work closely with the Committee on Foreign Investments in the U.S.(CFIUS), Congress, the White House and the Department of Defense to clear each transaction.

Led by Yuquan Wang, Founding Partner, Haiyin Capital actively invests worldwide in technology teams whose innovations are poised for global impact. The firm has invested in more than a dozen hi-tech companies in the US, mostly university spin-offs, including medical devices companies such as Wicab, Cerevast and MC10, robotic companies such as Soft Robotics and Hanson Robotics, and energy companies such as WiTricity and 1366 Tech.

FinSMEs

14/04/2017
TZP Group, LLC, a New York, NYbased private equity firm, closed its third fund, at $565m.

Limited partners in TZP Capital Partners III include sovereign wealth funds, pension plans, endowments, fund of funds and family offices.

Consistent with TZP II, TZP III will focus on control investments in business and consumer services companies with more than $10m in EBITDA.

Founded in 2007 by Managing Partner Sam Katz, and also led by Partners Vlad Gutin, Dan Galpern and Harris Newman, as well as 19 other investment professionals from offices in New York, NY, San Francisco and Seattle, WA, TZP is focused on investing in business and consumer services verticals including franchising, outsourced business and IT services, marketing and media services, travel and hospitality services, consumer, real estate services and specialty finance.

The firm targets companies with solid historical profitability and sustainable value propositions.

FinSMEs

14/04/2017
New Delhi - The services sector is likely to attract a higher tax rate of 18 percent from the current 15 percent 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 percent," Adhia told IANS 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 percent with two additional cesses -- Swachh Bharat Cess and the Krishi Kalyan Cess attracting half a percent each -- taking the burden to 15 percent.

However, those who earn less than Rs 20 lakh a year will not have to register under the GST or pay any service tax, Adhia clarified later. 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 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 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 percent tax rate may attract lower rates.

"Wherever the services at present attract lower than 15 percent rate of service tax because of certain reasons, we will try to maintain that. Transport sector, for example, attracts lower than 15 percent tax right now. We will put these in either 5 percent or 12 percent," 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 percent tax rate.

The GST Council had decided to impose tax at four slab rates of 5 percent, 12 percent, 18 percent and 28 percent, 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.

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 1 July 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.
New Delhi: How often is your flight delayed from one of Indias four busiest airports, which handle a bulk of the countrys passenger and cargo traffic? Well, the chances of your having to wait it out in an overcrowded airport waiting area at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore or Hyderabad airports could be even more than 50:50. Government data show one airline reported on-time performance (OTP) of just 49 percent from Delhi airport this January.

This is the worst recorded OTP by any airline across these four busiest airports in the 13-month period for which data was shared by Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha, in Rajya Sabha. The month of January is characterised by dense fog over North India, which typically plays havoc with flight operations. So while Jet Airways/Jetlite combine plummeted to below 50 percent OTP, the others fared only a wee bit better  with the highest OTP in this month at Delhi airport not even 70 percent (it was IndiGos 68.8 percent). That means at least three in 10 flights from Delhi were delayed during the month, whichever airline one chose to fly with.

In fact, legendary delays at the congested Mumbai airport coupled with massive fog delays at Delhi during January pulled down on-time performance of all domestic airlines this January. So during the month, at least one in four flights into or from these four busiest airports was delayed. For Vistara, the airline which in the past clocked highest OTP, this meant about half the flights on its network were delayed in January. For SpiceJet, which clocked the best OTP from these four airports in January, almost 30 percent flights were still delayed.

Almost 2.4 lakh domestic air passengers had to be compensated by various airlines in January on account of flight delays beyond two hours, which is more than double the number of people who had to be similarly compensated during January of last year. This means close to 8,000 people had to contend with delays beyond two hours every single day of January.

Lets look at a non-fog month. GoAir still managed to fly just 63.4 percent of its flights from Delhi on time in February 2017, which means every third flight was delayed. Air Indias Mumbai OTP for the same month was 59.1 percent, which means more than a third of its operations from this airport were delayed in February.

Some airlines manage to clock OTP in the 90s  Jet Airways/Jetlite managed this feat thrice last calendar year and each time from Bangalore; SpiceJet once each from Delhi, Hydearbad and Mumbai airports. IndiGo managed this twice each from Delhi and Hyderabad and thrice from Bangalore over the 12-month period. Not a single airline reported above 80 percent OTP from Mumbai in any month except Vistara.

To be sure, taking off or landing on time is not merely a function of airport infrastructure, many other functions are also to be responsible for on-time performance. But according to safety regulator DGCAs own data, airport, ATC and ramp delays account for 21 percent of all aircraft delays in India. This means at least one in five reasons for delay come under the purview of airport infrastructure. Further, DGCA also classifies 67 percent of delays as reactionary  which could also include a late incoming aircraft from another station where it was delayed due to airport infrastructure.

Anyway, the government data presented to Parliament go on to show that Indias airports are starting to resemble its choked roads, with too much traffic, little infrastructure and no long term planning or solutions in sight. Domestic passengers came close to the 100 million mark last year, with most of the growth involving flights into and out of the biggest cities. In January alone, the market added almost 20 lakh more passengers compared to the same month last year, growing by over 25 percent. Most of India's 40 largest airports will exceed their design capacity within a decade based on projected growth rates, consultancy CAPA estimates, with Mumbai and Chennai fast approaching saturation.

But the government seems loathe to acknowledge this fast-saturating airport infrastructure. Minister Sinha said in another reply in the Upper House that The present infrastructure capacity at airports in the country is sufficient for seamless aircraft operations to meet the traffic requirement. Besides, Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken various steps to create additional airport infrastructure in the country with the assistance of various state governments, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other airport operators. The minister alluded to construction of new greenfield airports across the country, modernisation and capacity expansion of the existing airports and revival of unserved/under-served airports.

Kapil Kaul, chief executive officer (CEO) for South Asia at CAPA, said in this piece that India could run out of capacity within three to five years. "We are not ready beyond 2020-2021," he said. Though under the newly unveiled regional connectivity scheme UDAN, the union government has ambitious plans to open 50 unused airports by 2020 and has also given approval for 18 greenfield airports, the problem remains unresolved due to traffic growth emanating from large cities. According to the governments own estimates, we need to triple airport capacity within 15 years at a cost of up to Rs 3 lakh crore.

This piece shows why Delhi airport will not be adding a single flight between 7am and 10pm this summer schedule. And why airlines are pleading with Mumbai airport to allow more domestic flights at night due to scarcity of slots. Delhi and Mumbai airports alone accounted for almost 10 crore of the total (domestic-cum-international) traffic of just over 15 crore last year. The government should better wake up, lest airport capacity could become an unresolvable mess pretty soon if India's air traffic boom continues.
Harlot, whore, streetwalker, prostitute, hooker, call girl or (the politically correct) sex worker  call her what you will, but a woman who plies the sex trade, is rarely viewed by society as a mistress of her own will or one whose opinion matters.

Writer-director Srijit Mukherjis Begum Jaan is the story of one such woman, madam of a brothel on the outskirts of a town in pre-Independence Punjab. The year is 1947 and the Radcliffe Line has been drawn by the British to demarcate India and the newly forming Pakistan. As it happens, the line runs through Begum Jaans brothel. When she refuses to quit her home to make way for a barbed wire fence, she finds herself crossing swords with officials of both countries who in turn are helpless at the hands of a law they do not necessarily agree with.

Begum Jaan has so far prided herself on her power, since her kottha is frequented by everyone in town, from ordinary folk to the local raja, freeloading policemen and British officials. Hierarchies of class, caste and religion may be forgotten when these men visit her to quench their lust, but she soon discovers that she is up against forces much higher than anyone she has ever known. Still, Begum Jaan, her women and their male staff  creatures deemed most ravaged by society and most subservient to it  decide that they will not give in lying down.

The film is about the battle between them and the officials assigned to execute the Radcliffe Line. It is a fascinating concept.

Begum Jaan is Srijit Mukherjis remake of his own 2015 Bengali film Rajkahini (Tale of The Raj) with Rituparna Sengupta in the title role. The Hindi version stars Vidya Balan as the protagonist.

From the opening scene of the Hindi film, where an unlikely saviour wards off a young womans potential rapists, two things are evident: that Mukherji intends to make a big statement about female empowerment, and that his statement will come through self-defeating expressions and a limited understanding of his cause.

It is bad enough that Begum Jaan is confused about what it wants to say. What is worse is that it is so pretentious and superficial, that it fails to plow past its grand intent to find a soul.

(Possible spoilers ahead)

It goes without saying that everything about Begum Jaans brothel, from its location to its occupants and customers, is intended as a metaphor for a happily multi-cultural India being torn apart against her will. Parallel to their lives, an old woman in the kottha (played by Ila Arun) narrates stories of legendary queens from Indian history and myth, who stood up to an ancient patriarchal world on their own terms, among them Rani Laxmibai, Razia Sultan, Krishna bhakt Meera and Padmavati.

Three of these women are also played by Balan, Padmavati is described in a voiceover.

These satellite tales of valour mirror the films central saga of brave women defying convention and refusing to be subjugated. Sadly, they also reflect the filmmakers skewed notions of female honour, most especially when he appears to equate the historical Laxmibai, a real woman who fought the British till her dying breath, to the mythical Padmavati, who is glorified by folklore for having thrown herself into a fire so that an invading emperor would not get his hands on her.

The messaging and metaphors of Begum Jaan are all mixed up, as exemplified by the romanticisation of Padmavatis sacrifice. Contemporary Indian notions of female izzat (honour) have not evolved beyond a womans life being seen as less valuable than her unraped body; a position that goes against what Begum Jaan stands for until the self-contradictory end.

Perhaps we should expect nothing more from a film which, early on, unquestioningly quotes Subhadra Kumari Chauhans popular poem about Laxmibai, Jhansi Ki Rani, in which courage is casually described as a masculine quality: Khoob ladi mardaani, voh toh Jhansi waali rani thhi (she who fought like a man, she was the queen of Jhansi).

Mukherji may argue that Chauhan meant well. Fair enough. But what is one to make of Begum Jaans opening dedication to Urdu literary stalwarts Ismat Chughtai and Saadat Hasan Manto in the context of crucial scenes that completely miss the point of Mantos Khol Do?

The short story Khol Do was about a girl so traumatised by repeated rape during Partition riots that as a reflex action she undresses herself on hearing a male voice. That story was not just about the survivors mental state but about her continuing worth as a human being. Mukherji is so literal in his interpretation of Mantos text that I wanted to cry.

In scenes where a very old lady and a very young girl replicate Khol Dos heroines actions, Mukherji also unwittingly betrays an oddly benevolent, muddled view of male rapists resulting from thoroughly misplaced ideas of sexual violence.

With the writing so inadequate, everything about the film ends up being ineffectual. It is impossible to feel for Begum Jaan or the women in her brothel because they are not women, they are broad brushstrokes illustrating Mukherjis surface-level interpretation of female strength.

The acting is constrained by the weak script. And so, Balan  who has been so wonderful in the past  sits here with legs akimbo and issues one-liners in a monotone, but is unable to dig deep and summon up a relatable human being, because there is nothing in the writing that she can dig into. Those one-liners are amusing at first, but sound empty after a point. We see a flash of the gifted artiste we know her to be in a scene where she watches as a customer forces himself on a new recruitbut only a flash.

The supporting cast of fine actors  including Pallavi Sharda and Gauahar Khan as women in the kottha, Pitobash as their pimp and Naseeruddin Shah as a ruler of the region  are all in the same boat. Sharda and Khan fare somewhat better than the rest.

The greatest victims of the films intellectual pretentions are Ashish Vidyarthi and Rajit Kapur playing one-time friends turned government officials on opposite sides of the border. The actors faces are often half cut off the edge of the screen by Gopi Bhagats camera, no doubt again as a metaphor for a nation being torn apart against its will. In a film that fails to come together as a whole, it is an irritating device.

Among the many half-cooked aspects of this half-cooked film is Javed-Ejazs action. Except for the first scene in which the women use physical force to send government officials and police packing, they seem grossly unprepared for battle. Gutsy does not mean foolhardy and stupid yet that, in effect, is what they are in the climactic confrontation.

These elements might have been better developed if the director had not been so distracted by what appears to be his primary goal. Everything about Begum Jaan is dwarfed by its transparent ambition to be an epic of great intellectual depth and a lofty feminist statement.

No ism can work in cinema without characters who evoke empathy. The starting point of a film has to be a great story, not a great cause. Feminism deserves advocates with a better understanding of both cinema and the movement. Begum Jaans intriguing basic concept deserves a writer who could have expanded on it to better effect. And the lovely Vidya Balan deserves better than this soulless film.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming project Padmavati starring Deepika Padukone has run into controversy several times over the last few months, owing to objections raised over its plot and subject matter. Despite the set being burnt down and the director being assaulted on another occasion, the film will still release on 17 November, 2017, as per schedule.

One of the producers, Viacom 18, has rejected claims that the film's release would be pushed to 2018, due to damaged caused to the sets. "Padmavati is not postponed. Not shifting to 2018 either. It will release on November 17, 2017," Viacom 18 Motion Pictures said.

In January, the sets of the film constructed in the Jaigarh fort of Jaipur were vandalised by the Karni Sena. Protesters ran amok and destroyed cameras, as well as slapped and assaulted Bhansali.

The set of Padmavati in Maharashtra's Panhala fort in Kolhapur was vandalised by 50-60 unidentified men on the night of 14 March. Roughly 20 security guards were involved in a physical fight with these men, who destroyed 70-80% of costumes and jewelry. None of the cast or crew members were hurt.

The film stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in lead roles. It tells the story of Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khilji and his love interest, the Rajput queen Padmavati. The Karni Sena objected to the alleged portrayal of an intimate scene between Khilji and Padmavati.
Nicole Kidman and Isabelle Huppert will top the bill at the Cannes Film Festival next month as the world's flagship movie showcase celebrates its 70th anniversary.

The Australian megastar features in Sofia Coppola's Civil War thriller The Beguiled while France's Huppert headlines in Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke's Happy End, a family drama set against the backdrop of Europe's migrant crisis.

Ben Stiller, Julianne Moore and French star Marion Cotillard will also do star turns at the 17-28 May festival on the French Riviera, organisers told a Paris news conference on Thursday.

Other movies vying for the prestigious Palme d'Or include Todd Haynes' Wonderstruck, one of two Amazon-backed films in the lineup.

Wonderstruck, starring Moore and Michelle Williams, tells the parallel stories of two deaf American children in the 1920s and the 1970s.

Redoubtable by the director of the Oscar-crowned silent movie The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius, focuses on the love affair between New Wave guru Jean-Luc Godard and actress Anne Wiazemsky.

Opening the extravaganza, out of competition, will be Ismael's Ghosts by French director Arnaud Desplechin, about a filmmaker disturbed by the return of his former love.

It features A-list French talent in the form of Cotillard, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Mathieu Amalric.

Netflix inclusion

Two Netflix-backed features made the cut in a first for Cannes.

Okja, a creature feature by South Korea's Bong Joon-ho, known for his black humour, stars Tilda Swinton as a corporate scientist whose company tries to kidnap a fantastical beast called Okja from a young girl.

Jake Gyllenhaal, playing a zoologist, makes his Cannes debut with the film.

The other contender from Netflix, which is making ever deeper inroads into Hollywood alongside rival Amazon, is The Meyerowitz Stories by independent US filmmaker Noah Baumbach.

The family drama stars Adam Sandler, Stiller, Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman.

Amazon, for its part, also proposes You Were Never Really Here, by Scottish director Lynne Ramsay starring Joaquin Phoenix as a war veteran who tries to save women from the sex-trafficking trade.

Variety reported last year that the online retailer bought the rights to the film for around $3.5 million (3.3 million euros).

Out-of-competition selections include a sequel to former US vice president Al Gore's 2006 Oscar-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth.

A decade later, the stakes are arguably higher with Donald Trump in the White House.

The US leader has dismissed global warming as a fraud invented by the Chinese and nominated climate change sceptic Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

Coppola, 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.

- Kidman-Farrell double duo -

In The Beguiled, Colin Farrell plays a young soldier who seduces all the women around him, who include Kidman as well as Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning.

Kidman and Farrell team up again in The Killing of a Sacred Deer by Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, a psychological drama about a charismatic surgeon and a sinister teenager.

Coppola and Ramsay are among 12 women directors featured at the festival, compared with nine last year, Fremaux noted.

A third woman in the main competition is Japan's Naomi Kawase with Hikari (Radiance) about a doctor whose eyesight begins to fail.

Providing even more star power are the TV series in the spotlight this year, with the unveiling of the eagerly awaited third season of David Lynch's cult Twin Peaks and Jane Campion's Top of the Lake in its second episode rollout.

Pedro Almodovar, Spain's most celebrated living movie director, will lead the jury at this year's festival.
Mumbai: A Best Children's Film honour at the 64th National Film Awards for his movie Dhanak has made Nagesh Kukunoor more confident about directing movies around children.

Known for portraying hard-hitting subjects through his films, Kukunoor said here, "At first, I said that I don't want to make children's films. Then after 15 years, I broke that promise with Dhanak. The children in that film were a joy to work with. Now I have the confidence to make more children's films." Dhanak featured child actors Hetal Gadda and Krrish Chhabria in the lead.

Kukunoor spoke to the media here on Thursday at the launch of Ekta Kapoor's upcoming digital app ALTBalaji, for which he has helmed a web series titled The Test Case.

Featuring the acclaimed actor Nimrat Kaur in the lead, it will focus on the life of a girl who works her way to take on a combat role in the Indian army.

Talking about it, Kukunoor said, "The beauty of filmmaking is that I get to live different lives depending on which story I am doing. I go and invest time in that universe for a long period and that's what makes my job wonderful. Ever since I worked with Rannvijay Singha in Mod, I have become very close to his family, which has a lot people belonging to the Indian army. I want to deal with this subject as honestly as possible."

Nimrat, whose father was in the army, is upbeat about the role. On her preparations for the series, she said,"To play this part, I needed to develop endurance, physical strength and that capability to survive under severe conditions. I don't want to cheat myself and use body doubles. I personally felt of portraying this character, who wants to be an army officer."

She added that the show was challenging for her "I am not trying to compete with men on the basis of physical strength, but I want to be the strongest version of me. I tried my best to do whatever I could. It's been challenging and the most rewarding experience that I have been through."

Besides her, the series will also feature veteran actor Juhi Chawla as defence minister."The idea was to bring her for a cameo role, but there is a very strong chance that as the series goes on, we might keep writing more scenes for her," Kukunoor said. "I have worked with Juhi a while back and was looking for some excuse to work with her again. So we cast her as minister," he added.
Power Paandi aka Paandian Pazhanisami (played by Rajkiran) is an ageing stuntman who is at the heart of Dhanush's directorial debut, Pa Paandi. His relationship with his son Raghavan (Prasanna) and later, his first love Poonthendral (Revathy), forms the bedrock of this tale, that is the perfect summer release.

Writer-director Dhanush is amply encouraged by producer Dhanush. Perhaps only Dhanush's Wunderbar Films could have made this film, with an ageing, unconventional protagonist. He may be a first-time director, but Dhanushs deftness in handling actors comes to the fore in some of Pa Paandis best scenes, mainly those involving Revathy.

Pa Paandi is lit up by the strong, resilient and heartwarming performance by Rajkiran. Witness the scene where, made eloquent after a few beers, he tells his son how he wanted to name him Rambo, but ended up acceding to his wifes wish of naming him Raghavan as it sounded urban and sophisticated. This emotional outburst also signifies the other important thread of the narrative  a sons quest to have an identity independent of that of his fathers.

Prasanna is perfect in his part as Raghavan, with his arresting screen presence and natural acting lending a certain realism to how grown-up sons and parents interact. He keeps his love and any warmth hidden beneath a shield of grumpiness or coldness  although it would be fair to say that his fathers antics do give Raghavan some cause.

As for Revathy, she brings in a charm that complements Rajkirans boisterousness. Their new age romance brings a smile here, and a tear there!

Not just the main actors, from the children in the film to the smallest of characters  everyone has a graph and is aptly cast.

The film revels in intricate details that are peppered throughout a simple narrative: The grandson who caresses Paandi's throat as he swallows his medicine, the way Paandi uses his leg to stop a goon he has punched from getting hurt further, or the minute ways in which the everyday equation between the father and son unfolds. The pace is set at a certain slowness, which is neat.

The screenplay writing draws from real life. For instance, there is a scene where Paandi (Rajkiran) is shown recounting a previous incident (from the story) to his grand-kids  instead of a visual interplay/flashback between scenes. Dont we also recount, replay and re-narrate stories to friends and family all the time? The dialogues have a humour that flows in from the smart (but thankfully not over-smart!) child actors, Rajkiran, and from the scenarios themselves.

An emotional peak in the film is when Paandi is called upon for a stunt sequence: He first establishes the entire single-shot sequence by repeating the instructions of the stunt master; then performs it to perfection. The camera (by Velraj) captures Paandi's myriad emotions which skate across his face: self-doubt, replaced by triumph as he registers the applause and over-whelming respect from the other stuntmen, and above all, the satisfaction of a job well done.

The cinematography and the background score keep pace to the very end. Among the best tracks of the film is Paarthein, set in one of the films flashback sequences. Sean Roldan and Dhanush have struck a winning note in recreating the Ilaiyaraaja-like music, which highlights the younger Paandi's memories of first love.

Save for a few minutes of cliched preaching reminding you to pick up your phone the next time your parents call you, Pa Paandi is a laudable film from Dhanush. He successfully manages to combine the sensibilities of modern life with an emotional story, and ends his film with a poetic finale instead of a loud crescendo.

The applause in the theatres indicates his story  and his methods  have indeed resonated with the audience.
The weekend of 14 April 2017 is marked both by the Tamil New Year, Puthandu, and the beginning of the summer season in Kollywood. Traditionally, a Tamil big-hero-driven film gets a solo release during this period. However, this year will not have a top-hero-film; instead, three medium-range films are releasing simultaneously on this Friday.

It is the biggest-ever fight for theatre space seen in the industry. The releases are Dhanushs directorial debut Pa Paandi (aka Power Paandi) with Rajkiran in the lead, Aryas jungle action adventure Kadamban, Lawrences horror comedy Shivalinga and the biggest Hollywood summer action film The Fate of the Furious, which is releasing in both English and Tamil.

All the thousand-odd screens in Tamil Nadu are choc-a-block with the new releases and also the previous weeks Vijay Sethupathi hit Kavan and Mani Ratnams Kaatru Veliyidai. In this kind of scenario, there is not going to be any real winner, as screens have to be shared. Nobody has any real advantage, as multiplexes are sharing their big screens among the films, allotting a smaller screen for the remaining shows  a less-than-ideal proposition considering that today, the business of a big film is just the opening weekend.

For example, Mani Ratnams much talked about Kaatru Veliyidai took a great opening weekend in city multiplexes but started falling on Monday. In its second week, the film is playing in limited, smallest screens in multiplexes, who have given preference to newer content. None of the new releases are going to get huge collections as the opening weekend is divided. And producers and distributors are feeling the heat, as theatres across Tamil Nadu are not willing to pay the token advance or MG (Minimum Guarantee) for these films.

The trade has lost its confidence in commercial Tamil masala films, as they are unable to recover their cost due to high star prices and general dullness in the market. The buzz is that they are all waiting for SS Rajamoulis period epic Baahubali 2, to revive the box-office. In fact the large number of releases on 14 April is because they wish to give Baahubali 2: The Conclusion a wide berth when it hits theatres on 28 April 2017. As per sources, the follow-up to Baahubali: The Beginning will witness the biggest-ever release, in nearly 700 screens in Tamil Nadu  which not even a Rajinikanth film has done before.

The 14 April releases are crucial for their respective heroes: Pa Paandi is Dhanushs directorial debut with veteran Raj Kiran and Revathi playing the pivotal characters. The film is said to be a feel-good family entertainer, specifically targeting female audiences. A lot is riding on Aryas action jungle adventure Kadamban for the star, who needs a hit to revive his career. And Lawrence is depending on his P Vasu directed horror thriller Shivalinga to regain his mass audiences, who were disappointed with his last outing Motta Siva Ketta Siva.

Meanwhile theatres across Tamil Nadu are already celebrating as Fast And Furious 8, in English and Tamil, took a super opening when it opened on Wednesday with paid previews. The multiplexes in Chennai city are showcasing F8 over Tamil films, as they stand to make more out of it than local content. As noted trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted:
By Jibran Ahmed

(Changes number of people on death row to "dozens" in para 3)By Jibran AhmedPESHAWAR, Pakistan A mob beat a Pakistani student to death at his university campus on Thursday after he was accused of sharing blasphemous content on social media, university and police officials said. A group of about 10 students shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the attack on fellow student Mashal Khan, who was stripped naked and beaten with planks until his skull caved in as other students looked on, video obtained by Reuters showed.Blasphemy is a highly sensitive topic in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where insulting the Prophet Mohammed is a capital crime that has dozens languishing on death row and where even an accusation can lead to violence.In recent months, Pakistan's government has been vocal about the issue, with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif issuing an order last month for removal of blasphemous content online and saying anyone who posted such content should face "strict punishment under the law".

Ten students have been arrested after Thursday's attack the grounds of a university in the northern city of Mardan, local police chief Mohammad Alam Shinwari said."After severe torture that led his death, the charged students then wanted to burn his body," said Shinwari.At least 65 people have been murdered over blasphemy allegations since 1990, according to figures from a Center for Research and Security Studies report and local media.

It was unclear exactly what online posting had prompted the blasphemy accusation against Khan, who was studying journalism.One of Khan's teachers recalled 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," said the teacher.

In 2011, a bodyguard assassinated Punjab provincial governor Salman Taseer after the governor called for reforming blasphemy laws.Taseer's killer, executed last year, has been hailed by religious hard-liners as a martyr to Islam and a shrine has been erected at his grave.Recently, fighting blasphemy has also become a rallying cry for the government.Pakistani online activists believe blasphemy-related crack downs on social media are veiled attempts by the country's powerful military to limit dissent on human rights violations.In January, five online activists went missing and were publicly accused of blasphemy while they were absent. Four of them have reappeared and at least one has said he was abducted and interrogated by Pakistan's intelligence agencies.The military has denied any part in the activists' disappearances. (Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Tom Heneghan)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Brenda Goh

| SHANGHAI

SHANGHAI China's rich are foregoing fancy new private jets in favour of second-hand planes or rentals, reflecting how the country's business elite are increasingly shunning flashy signs of wealth amid slower economic growth.Planemakers such as Embraer and Bombardier are shifting focus to after-sales services in response, while brokers are refurbishing older jets or hiring out planes as the once high-flying industry braces for its weakest growth in a decade.Dealers at one of Asia's top industry shows in Shanghai this week said second-hand jets now made up more than half of sales to wealthy Chinese entrepreneurs and corporations, up from under a third two years ago.Chinese buyers, who began purchasing new business jets 30 years ago, were also becoming more pragmatic about buying cheaper, second-hand jets and giving them a makeover, they said."Now ... while you can still get a Gulfstream 550 for around $50 million for a new one, you can get an extremely adequate aeroplane for $30 million," said David Dixon, president of business jet brokerage Jetcraft Asia. "So $20 million is a lot of money to anybody." In part the shift reflects a broader trend that is making life tougher for firms selling luxury goods in the world's second biggest economy, as Chinese buyers increasingly push for bargains on everything from high-end handbags to holidays.In such a market, where new planes quickly lose their value, dealers said second-hand jets were simply a less risky bet."When the economic climate is going down, there's fewer buyers in the market honestly, so the depreciation rate is higher," said Jackie Wu, president of Hong Kong-based plane broker and charter firm JetSolution Aviation Group.She said a new jet typically lost around 15 percent of its value last year, faster than the 10 percent loss in 2015.

"Now pre-owned aircraft are a better buy," she said."COLD WIND"

Greater China is the world's second-largest business jet market behind the United States and had seen annual growth of up to 49 percent before 2012, when President Xi Jinping launched a fierce crackdown on corruption that has discouraged conspicuous displays of wealth.Owners include China's richest man, Wang Jianlin, who flies a Gulfstream 550, and Tencent founder Pony Ma who has a Bombardier Global 6000, according to data compiled by Hurun Report which tracks China's super-rich.But growth has been slowing since 2012 and sales remain subdued. At the Shanghai show there was a distinct lack of new orders announced, while planemakers instead talked up their after-sales service.

Consultancy Asian Sky Group estimates the private jet fleet across Greater China will grow just 1 percent this year - with a total of five new plane deliveries - its weakest on record.There are currently around 480 private jets in China, compared with 466 in 2015 and 67 in 2007. "The entire market is now experiencing a cold wind," said Guan Dongyuan, president of Embraer China.Guan said, however, that the Brazilian planemaker was holding out for better days, given the potential of a market that is still a long way behind the United States, where there are around 12,000 private jets."We want to use the period when the market is relatively depressed to improve our after-sales services," he said, referring to its spare parts and engineering units.

Canadian rival Bombardier, which has 110 aircraft based in Greater China, last Friday opened its first business jet service centre in the country in the coastal city of Tianjin. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Executives said they were heartened by government signals to encourage growth of the country's aviation industry, which remains hampered by a lack of infrastructure and tight military control of China's airspace. Last year, China said it would have more than 500 airports specifically for business jets by 2020, and would further open up airspace for civilian use with a view to grow the country's general aviation fleet to 5,000 aircraft by that year."It's good that there's commitment, it takes time and we need to be patient," said Bjorn Naf, chief executive of Hong Kong-based jet management firm Metrojet, who said competitors were still swarming into the market despite the headwinds."The market will swing back, I'm convinced."Fang Xinyu, Beijing-based vice president of Deer Jet, which manages a fleet of 90 aircraft in China, said there had been a period of "depression" but that business jets still made sense for busy company executives."The value general aviation provides in terms of time efficiency and privacy have always been present," he said. "This is something no one can take away." (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Alex Richardson)

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By Idrees Ali

| WASHINGTON

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 "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 U.S. invasion which toppled the Taliban government.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, 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 ISIS fighters used to move around freely, making it easier for them to target U.S. military advisers and Afghan forces in the area." Last week, a U.S. 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.

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.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. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and Will Dunham; Editing by Alistair Bell)

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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 reporters at a press 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. She is one of Dao's five children.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.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.PRESSURE ON UNITED

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.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, Munoz 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.Kenneth Quinn, a partner at the law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in Washington who represents airlines, disputed that Dao had a case.Quinn said 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 Quinn said that even without a strong case, Dao would probably walk away with a hefty settlement.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, Quinn said.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. (Additional reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Frances Kerry)

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"North Arcot district, from where I hail, in Tamil Nadu can be called mini-Maharashtra. The Ambedkar movement has been that strong here, Stalin Rajangam begins.

Stalin, a Dalit intellectual and writer, is the author of six books in Tamil, including one on pioneering Tamil Dalit intellectual Pandit Iyothee Thass. He is a member of the well-known Tamil literary magazine Kalachuvadus editorial board and a lecturer in Tamil Literature at the American College in Madurai. Stalin has been writing with rigour, intellect and a great grasp of ground realities on Dalit issues for over 17 years now.

I first met him at the Sangam House Residency in Nrityagram, in Karnataka, in December 2016, in the midst of beautiful greenery and absolute quiet. Between writing in solitude, readings in the nights, community dinners and boisterous banter, Stalin spoke of his work, life and more. What better occasion than Ambedkar Jayanti to probe him further on Ambedkars influence on him?

Excerpts from the conversation:

Stalin believes in Ambedkars ideology and philosophies and sees relevance for them even today; especially, in these turbulent times. He also rues the state of Tamil Nadus politics, where he fears Ambedkars iconography alone is used to invoke certain sentiments.

"Lot of what he said is still relevant today in our current political situation. But both the Hindutva parties as well the Dravidian ones merely use Ambedkar for their own politics. They do not care for his thoughts. They use him to garner the votes of SCs. Therefore, Dalits must look at him for his thoughts and ideologies and not at whoever else is appropriating him. Nobody wants to actually live by his ideas or regard him as an ideologue," Stalin said.

Stalin finds resonance, even today, in Ambedkars two texts. The first, Castes in India, he says, remains relevant in Tamil Nadu because even after 100 years of its coming out, nobody is looking at how caste operates in reality the way Ambedkar did.

"There is a tradition of looking at Tamil Nadu as a state that rejects caste. Whereas, the reality is something else. To understand this, Ambedkars book is very important." Annihilation of Caste, he says, is an extension of the first text.

"Ambedkar has given us a tool for modernity with this text. A text that draws up a framework for a new society that leaves caste behind. Until the book came out, people were just talking about removing caste. But when it came. it gave us an ideology, Stalin said.

In Tamil Nadu, Stalin feels many people use Ambedkar only in reference to Periyar Ramasamy. "I concur that there are similarities in their ideologies but that is not the only reason to remember Ambedkar. Ambedkar used Buddhism, a religion, to bring Dalits together. Periyar was an atheist. These things need to be remembered and there needs to be a better dialogue, he said.

"My upbringing was in North Arcot, where people would move in and out of the district to nearby places like Bengaluru, Kolar and Chennai for work. That gave them not only relief from the otherwise oppressive shackles of village life, but also the desire to be modern," Stalin said.

"My father was from this sort of a setup and was steeped in Ambedkars thoughts and ideas. Though uneducated in the traditional sense, he was very knowledgeable on Ambedkar and even Gandhi," he added.

Stalin, named after the Russian leader Joseph Stalin, has two brothers. Yashwanth Rao, named so after Ambedkars son and the other named after Republican Party of India leader Khobragade. His cousins are Ambedkar, Periyar and Lenin.

"Forty years ago, I grew up in this sort of space where we were named after these people," he said. "My father would drink and narrate stories in the nights, all true and real of course, of Ambedkar and Gandhi." In his fathers stories, Ambedkar was the hero and Gandhi the villain.

Stalin spoke at an Indian Republican Party meeting while in class four. It was this speech, though prepared by someone else, that set him down the path of polity. He has moved with communists, in Dravidian circles and those involved in the Ambedkar movement all his life.

"I moved to Madurai for my bachelors in Tamil at the advice of a teacher, though I had no connections with the city. It was the late 1990s. This was a very important time for me... it was in the aftermath of caste violence between the Shudra communities and Dalits in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu,"

"This was when Krishnasamy and Thirumavalavan were emerging as leaders. This was when a man called Murugesan and six other were hacked to death for standing in the Panchayat elections in Melavalavu. In this backdrop, I started reading a lot of Dalit literature, Stalin said.

"I have been writing for 17 years now. I never really set out to write books. I started by writing small essays. My writings were my reaction to the violence around me. I felt a need for a dialogue with non-Dalits. I wanted to talk about caste with others, not Dalits. They already knew what was going on. I was writing largely in non-Dalit spaces. I was angry and young," he adds.

A collection of Stalins essays was published by a friend as a book called Jananayagamatra Jananayagam (An Undemocratic Democracy). That was his first book. "My writings were based on my own findings from ground realities. While Tamil politys discourse has been about the Brahmin-non-Brahmin divide, on the ground, undoubtedly, the tensions are actually between Shudras and Dalits in Tamil Nadu," Stalin said.

Writing about caste, Stalin says, combines his two strengths. Research gleaned from ground realities and language. "I am able to, first, have a conversation with myself while I write about caste. This gives me clarity. It then allows me to engage with others fruitfully. I am also very interested in the rich cultural past of Dalits. Today, they are being ignored by most people because it suits them to build a victim narrative alone around Dalits. This is what my book Theendapadatha Noolgal (Untouched Books) talks about. It deals with the works of Dalit litterateurs and intellectuals of 20th century," he adds.

Stalin has also done some very interesting work around cinema and Tamil society too. In fact, one of his books, Tamil Cinema: Punaivil Iyangum Samoogam (Society Operating in Illusion), talks about cinema and caste assertion of Tamil Nadus intermediate castes.

"I am interested in cinema, not as a critic, but as someone whos watching it from the bottom-up. If I take a shared auto, I want to know why the driver has a particular heros image, or movie poster in his vehicle. Even if a movies intention might not have been to glorify caste, I want to see how the people of that community appropriate songs or scenes or dialogues (as it happened with the film Thevar Magan) to assert their dominance,"

"I am not interested in the text, but in how the society receives and responds to it. I am interested in the banners and posters. The songs people play and listen to," he said.

Stalin says that he enjoyed the first two movies of the filmmaker Selvaraghavan, Balaji Sakthivels affecting Kaadhal and he, of course, likes Pa Ranjith; but he is fonder of his first two films (Attakathi and Madras) than the latest Kabali.

Though Stalin doesnt reject Dravidian politics entirely, he says, "Today in Tamil Nadu, scholars, leaders and revolutionaries, while heaping praise on Dravidian polity, go beyond the truth. According to me, this politics has failed to highlight to the Shudras, the oppression faced by Dalits in Tamil Nadu."

Stalin believes that when Dalits talk about the widening gap between the Shudra communities and Dalits in Tamil Nadu, they are called agents of Hindutva or Brahminism. They are accused of trying to disturb the unity of the two communities.

"But these people should be asking the Shudra communities why they are disturbing the alliance with their actions and violence? What Dalits do is merely reaction," he said.

Stalin also believes that Dravidian politics has failed to stop non-Brahmins from accepting the puritanical superiority of Brahmins. "A Brahmin priest still goes to a caste Hindus religious functions to conduct rituals. What the intermediate castes then want is for the land and political power to be with them,"

"Allow Brahmins their puritanical space but where does this leave the SC/STs? They are to be where they have been kept... under these intermediate castes. Dravidian polity has helped consolidate all power in the hands of the numerically large intermediate caste groups of Tamil Nadu," he said. It is Stalins belief that a Dalit-Left alliance would be a favourable one.

Be it the Jallikattu protest or the farmers protest in Delhi's Jantar Mantar, he says, Dalits do extend their support to such causes but unlike others, they are also forced to do so due to structural oppression. Within these protests, he sees the operation of caste.

"What the farmers are wearing (loin cloth) or saying they are eating (rats) as protest in Delhi  in front of the PMO  is what Dalits were and in many places, are still wearing. They simply only wear loin clothes. They eat what these people are eating as protest, in reality, when they cannot afford anything else. How can they participate in this protest? What is their place in it?"

Be it the brutal rape and murder of a young Dalit girl, Nandhini, recently, or the killing of the Dalit man Ilavarasan that continues to make news, Stalin finds the condemnation by intellectuals and politicians of the politics that has led to these murders to be less than lukewarm. Most political parties, he feels, stop giving out statements. As do intellectuals.

"That is because in some ways they too owe their success in life to these Dravidian parties. So, they refuse to see just how much power the Dravidian politics has handed to those who inflict death and violence on Dalits."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated various development works and launched the BHIM-Aadhaar app in Nagpur to mark the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar.

Modi dedicated to the nation 14 units of thermal power plants at Koradi, Chandrapur and Parli with a total capacity of 3,230 MW. He also laid the foundation stones for the proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at a function in Nagpur.

'Digital money'

He also stressed the importance of a cashless economy and said that the BHIM-Aadhaar app will help the poor.

"The day is not far that the poorest of the poor will call Digidhan (digital money) Nijidhan (personal wealth)," said the prime minister.

"Many experts were opposing me after my call for a less-cash society," Modi said. "But even families many times put a limit on the amount of cash given to their child...Therefore, trade and business can be done with less cash," he said.

"Digital money will empower the poor...BHIM app will help the poor in the same way Ambedkar helped the country," he said.

He also explained how currency printing is very expensive. "If we move in the direction of less cash, it will be better. For the security of an ATM, there are five police personnel present there. But with digital money, your mobile phone becomes your ATM," Modi said.

"Paperless banking is soon going to become a part of life...Some people used to say poor people do not have smartphones. But the poor can use these apps with basic phones too. Even if some of the poor do not have mobile phones, now they can use thumbprint," he said.

"Even many developed countries do not have technology like the BHIM-Aadhaar app which India has," said the prime minister. "Universities abroad will come to India to study the BHIM-Aadhaar concept. This is going to become a reference point," the prime minister said.

"Whether you appreciate the idea of a cashless society or not, you will definitely be angry about corruption, which is something BHIM-Aadhaar app will fight against," said Modi, adding that financial incentives will be given to youth who teach other people about digital money and BHIM-Aadhaar app.

Modi's dream of housing for all by 2022

The prime minister also said that "housing for the poorest of the poor" was a dream he had for India in 2022. He promised that his government will deliver on this dream.

He also said that the current times were an opportunity for India. "We did not get the golden opportunity to die for the nation. But we have the opportunity to live for the nation," he said.

"The 21st century is the century of knowledge. It is an opportunity of leadership for India," he said.

'Ambedkar gave us nothing but amrit'

The prime minister also praised Ambedkar and his contribution to the development of the country.

"In my life, I have always experienced that the inspiration to go forward in life despite scarcity comes from Babasaheb Ambedkar," Modi said. "People often have temptations to indulge in acts of revenge for earlier injustices. But Ambedkar, despite having faced great difficulties and injustices, did not let this bitterness come out," he said. "The Constitution was made pro-people. The sentiment of revenge was never expressed in the Constitution." "Babasaheb Ambedkar, despite tolerating poison throughout his life, gave us nothing but amrit (nectar)," he said. Arriving in Nagpur on a day-long visit for various engagements, Modi started his day with a visit to the historic monument, Deekshabhoomi, where Babasaheb Ambedkar and over 6,00,000 followers had embraced Buddhism on 14 October, 1956. This 'Dharmantar' is considered the biggest mass religious conversion at a single location in history that took place 61 years ago. Modi, accompanied by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, went around the Deekshabhoomi and later garlanded a large bust of Babasaheb Ambedkar installed there. A series of functions has been organised to mark the Ambedkar Jayanti on Friday across Maharashtra, including at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur and Chaityabhoomi in Mumbai, where Babasaheb Ambedkar was cremated following his death on 6 December, 1956. With inputs from IANS

Updated Date:
The Hyderabad police have arrested a 33-year-old software engineer for live-streaming sexual acts with his unsuspecting wife, according to media reports.

According to a report in The Times of India, the victim, 28, lodged a complaint with the cyber crime police after a friend informed her that a video had been uploaded on to a porn site.

The cops traced the video to a man in Thrissur, who told them he had posted the video to the website after recorded it from a live streaming site. After the cops spoke to the victim and examined the video, they deduced that the clip had been recorded through the camera of the laptop kept in the victim's bedroom, The Times of India reported.

Hindustan Times reported that the police then became suspicious of the victim's husband and conducted a background check on him, examining his social media profile, his emails and his online activity. The software engineer reportedly confessed to positioning their laptop in a way that allowed him to live-stream their sexual activities.

In order to mislead his wife, he would simultaneously screen a movie on the laptop. He also ensured that the laptop camera mostly recorded visuals of his wife while his own face remained obscured," the police told the Hindustan Times.

According to a report in India Today, the police discovered that the software engineer had registered himself as a male escort on three different websites, offering his 'services' to women. The police also found that the website on which the engineer live-streamed the video had around 3,000 members and that the video was available for a fee.

The New Indian Express reported the techie, a resident of Chintal in Jeedimetla area, offered his services as an escort because he was broke. When it did not work out, he registered himself on a porn website through which he could live-stream videos for money.

The engineer has been remanded in judicial custody.
New Delhi: Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale will be meeting Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of retired Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by an army court.

According to sources, Bambawale is expected to raise the issue of consular access to Jadhav as Pakistan has rejected 13 of India's requests for the same in the last one year.

Apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhav's family appealing against the verdict.

Earlier on Thursday, the external affairs ministry said that India has no information on retired Indian Navy officer Jadhav's location in Pakistan or his condition, noting that it is in touch with the government in Pakistan on this "immensely important" issue.

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"

"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 the issue of his "illegal custody came to our attention".

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.

With inputs from PTI
Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday said the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav was based on "credible" and "specific" evidence that proved his involvement in spying and terror activities and asserted that more active diplomacy is needed to arrest the "growing crises" in the Indo-Pak ties.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that due process of law was followed in the trial of 46-year-old Jadhav. Aziz in a detailed statement read out to the media at the Foreign Office said that India through its reaction was aggravating the situation.

Rejecting Indian accusation of unfair trial, Aziz said that the first FIR against was lodged on 8 April, 2016 by police's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.

He said the detailed trial was held and all relevant laws including Evidence Act and recording of statement before a magistrate were followed. Jadhav was also provided legal assistance.

"Kulbushan Jhadav, who is responsible for espionage, sabotage and terrorism in Pakistan, has been tried according to the law of the land, in a fully transparent manner while preserving his rights, as per the Constitution of Pakistan," he said.

"His sentence is based on credible, specific evidence proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan."

Aziz "condemned" the Indian reaction over Jadhav's sentencing and warned that it would further "aggravate the people-to-people hostility".

"I would like to ask India why Kulbushan Jhadav was using a fake identity impersonating as a Muslim? Why would an innocent man possess two passports, one with a Hindu name and another with a Muslim name? Since India has no credible explanation about why their serving Naval Commander was in Balochistan, it has unleashed a flimsy propaganda campaign.

"Inflammatory statements and rhetoric about 'pre-meditated murder' and 'unrest in Balochistan', will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose," Aziz warned.

"We condemn the baseless allegations from India, especially in the light of the fact that it was non-cooperation and lack of Indian response to Pakistans request for legal assistance, due to which consular access has not been provided to Jadhav.

"We expect India to behave responsibly and refrain from issuing statements that will further aggravate people to people hostility. More active diplomacy is therefore needed to arrest the growing crises in India-Pakistan relations before it becomes even more serious," Aziz said.

Providing details of the trial, Aziz said that the confessional video statement of Jadhav followed by initial FIR in CTD Quetta on 8 April, 2016. The initial interrogation was done 2 May and detailed interrogation on 22 May. It was followed by the constitution of a Joint Investigation Team on 12 July.

The confessional statement under Section 164 CrPC was recorded on 22 July and recording of the summary of evidence done on 24 September.

The first trial proceeding was held on 21 September, second proceeding on 19 October, third proceeding on 29 November, 2016 and fourth proceeding on 12 February, 2017. The death sentence was endorsed on 10 April, 2017.

Aziz said that a law qualified field officer was provided to defend Jadhav throughout the court proceedings.

Aziz said Jadhav can appeal against the verdict of the military tribunal within 40 days to a military Appellate Court. He can file an appeal to the army chief within 60 days against the decision of the Appellate Court.

Jadhav can file a mercy petition to the president of Pakistan within 90 days if the army chief rejects the appeal for clemency.

Aziz listed several cases of terrorism in which he said Jadhav was involved.

"He was part of sabotage and terrorism in which civilians and security personnel were killed," he claimed.

Aziz also accused that Jadhav orchestrated attacks against minority Shia Hazara community in Quetta. Aziz also said that India has not allowed consular access to many Pakistani prisoners for many years despite repeated requests.

He also said that all political parties had supported the decision of the military tribunal and the entire nation was united against any threat.
Budgam: The tense atmosphere around polling booths and the areas surrounding them was such that it was near-impossible to see a single person on the streets as repolling was conducted in 38 polling stations in the Srinagar parliamentary constituency on Thursday.

"No one here now wants to be seen as associated with the government. Voting does not mean electing your representative here, but being part of the machinery that killed eight people in one day. Either way, it is your democratic right," Qamar Ali Mirzai, a social activist, told Firstpost in the main town of Budgam, as paramilitary soldiers made rounds of the streets.

Despite the reelection in the violence-hit polling stations of Srinagar parliamentary constituency, only a two percent voter turnout was recorded  till the time of the last count  on Thursday evening, compared to 7.1 percent in the whole constituency on Sunday, when eight civilians were killed and more than hundred people injured in clashes between security forces and protesters in central Kashmir.

"Something unusual has happened in Kashmir, and even in this district, since last year. It seems mainstream politics has come to symbolise atrocities and the space underneath the mainstream political leaders is shrinking with every passing day," Mirzai, 49, a resident of main town of Budgam, said. The fear and uncertainty was so palpable that a majority of the agents from polling stations were missing. At least 300 soldiers were seen guarding each polling station. These polling stations looked less like polling stations and more like paramilitary camps.

"I came to vote because I want a job for my son. Someone has promised me that if I vote, he will get a job," Taja Begum, 72, who was among the 235 voters, who exercised their franchise at Dooniwari, Chadoora polling station, told Firstpost.

"If we choose someone, he or she will repair our roads. What will we get out of mara-mari (violence)?" asked Haji Yasuf Dar, another voter at the same polling booth.

But outside Dooniwari, Chadoora village the street wore a deserted look. People gazed at the few vehicles that passed from the attics of their homes. Soldiers patrolled in groups, and Kashmir it seemed had returned to the early 1990s.

Election Commission officials here said only 709 votes were cast at 38 polling stations (out of a possible 35,169 votes) by the time voting came to a close at 4 pm.

The state government had imposed Section 144 in all parts (except the poll-bound areas) of the district and a united faction of Hurriyat conference, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has called for a hartal in the poll-bound areas. Voting was peaceful, except for a few minor stone-pelting incidents.

"It is a slur on so-called democracy," a joint statement issued by the Hurriyat conference, said. "Re-polling in Budgam and rescheduling polls in Anantnag constituency is just to affect the routine life and school education," said the leaders in the joint statement.

As the paramilitary soldiers were withdrawing Beerwah area of Budgam after the polling ended clashes erupted. Protests erupted as youth pelted stones on government forces, triggering clashes.

There is zero percent voter turnout at a polling station in Bagh-e-Mehtab, an area of Srinagar, as no vote was cast till 3 pm. "No one came here, we waited throughout the day," the presiding officer said. Mainstream political parties in the Valley were hoping to see an increase in polling percentage in these 38 polling stations, but it turned to be a lot lower than Sunday's voter turnout.
On Friday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that there would be no more school holidays on the birth and death anniversaries of historical figures, leaders and social leaders according to media reports.

The Times of India reported that the chief minister, speaking at a programme held to mark the 126th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, said that instead of granting children holidays, special programmes would be conducted to educate children about the greatness of leaders.

"It is not a great idea to close schools on the occasion of birth or death anniversaries of great people. In fact, many times, children don't even know why the school has been closed. This defeats the purpose of commemorating a holiday on the occasion," Adityanath said.

The chief minister added that children must be given an opportunity to be inspired by India's great leaders. Adityanath cited the example of Ambedkar, and said his struggle should inspire future generations.

The chief minister added that keeping schools closed on various occasions went against the interest of the children. "Rule books say that schools should have 220 working days but the target is rarely achieved because of too many holidays. This leaves the teachers with about 130-140 working days, which is not enough for students to learn," he said.
Mumbai: A special court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against controversial Islamic speaker Zakir Naik on Thursday, in a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate.

"Issue a non-bailable warrant against Naik," said judge PR Bhavke of the court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act cases. Naik's lawyers Taraq Sayyed and Mubin Solkar argued that the court did not have the jurisdiction to issue NBW against him as he hadn't been named as an accused in any case before it.

However, ED's lawyer Hiten Venegaonkar said that as Naik wasn't ready to respond to the central agency's summons and hasn't disclosed his present address, therefore a warrant must be issued.

The ED registered a criminal case for money laundering against Naik and others in December last year after taking cognisance of a complaint registered against him by the National Investigation Agency under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Venegaoankar had earlier said that Naik laid down conditions for appearance and tried to dictate terms to the agency. He demanded time, and once even asked the agency to record his statement through a video link, the lawyer claimed.

Under Section 15 of the PMLA, a person against whom summons is issued has to appear before the agency in person to record a statement, he said.

India has an extradition treaty with the UAE where Naik is residing, and the court has the power to issue the NBW against him under the PMLA, the ED lawyer had said. The agency also produced statements of Aamir Gazdar, an arrested employee of Naik's institute, the Islamic Research Foundation, and Naik's sister to support the claim that he was involved in laundering money in the name of running a charitable organisation.
TedXGateway speaker and Padma Shri winner Sudharak Olwe has been photographing Dalits throughout his career spanning 27 years. Olwe's body of work is an inspiration in itself, for each frame captures the emotion of the subject. After studying photography at the Sir JJ School of Art, he has been working as a photojournalist with various newspapers for over 27 years.

One of his current projects involves photographing the Dalit community in rural Maharashtra. He spoke to Firstpost about the importance of Dalit rights on Ambedkar Jayanti. The repression is far greater when it comes to women. "When you talk about the Dalit community as a whole, it is already opressed but women are the worst off. The kind of treatment that they are meted out is chilling. Women of lower caste are very easy targets. They are often targeted and abused by upper caste men." said Olwe.

Through his travels through Maharashtra, he also tells us an interesting fact: many of the farmers who commit suicide because of debts are Dalits. The bonded labourers in the farms are dying in debt and have no way to get out.

But do cops pay less attention to these cases because of the caste barrier? Olwe feels that, "The whole system needs to change in order to eradicate inequalities. If the cops pay more attention to these cases, if the media listens, if the judicial system listens, then there is a way of eradicating inequality of caste in our country."

Here is a glimpse of Olwe's work, which is always in his trademark black and white:

The Khupse family has seen it all over the last few years. Settled in the small village of Anandwadi, the small village has a minority of Matang houses. Manisha and her family have been subjected to endless atrocities from the overlords in the village.

It started with a land dispute which resulted in the murder of her uncle. After this she and her family members were booked under false claims of murder. The family had to stay out of the village till the situation calmed down. The investigation, however, turned out to be a relief as the witnesses spoke in their favour.

She was molested in front of the court and police station by a political leader who tore her clothes, spat on her and slapped her.

Manisha took the decision to confront her attackers and returned back to Anandwadi instead of living in hiding. The family, which owned a flour mill, is still subjected to a lot of pressure by the neighboring upper caste communities.

Manisha said that when she confronted Chalak about the harassment he "abused me, spat on my face, tore my blouse in full view of the Georai court. He also said that I (a woman from the Maang community) should be raped in public, only then I will understand their power."

Nisha is repeatedly beaten black and blue by her husband because she "doesn't look good" finds it difficult to see that a world lies beyond her boundaries. She has gone back to her violent husband because she has two young children and believes she cannot bring them up without him.

Maya's husband chopped off her nose with a pair of scissors in a fit of rage and jealousy. The other villagers have forgotten their original names and call them Naak-kata (nose cutter) and Naak-kati (women with a cut nose) now. The couple keeps fighting, despite having four children, the oldest being a daughter of marriageable age.

(All photographs courtesy Sudharak Olwe)

(With inputs from Shraddha Ghatge)
Come 14 April and India focuses its lens on one of the most marginalised, highly politicised groups in India. The anniversary of Ambedkar's birth brings into focus the struggles of the Dalits in the modern context.

As Babasaheb Ambedkar had once said, "If you want to destroy a society, destroy its history and the society will get destroyed automatically."

And history is only written by the victors. For Dalits in India, their struggle through the years of oppression lies documented but invisible to the mainstream media.

Through the website Dalit Nation and Dalit History, a group of women aim to celebrate April as Dalit History Month in order to commemorate Ambedkar Jayanti.

One of the founders, Thenmozhi Soundararajan, says she was inspired to create the project when she was tired of having her aspect of history mistold by 'people of oppressor caste backgrounds.'

She says, "To us, these events, struggles, songs, leaders are not just words in a paper, they are not the blocks through which we build our careers or political propaganda that is slowly stacked up to erase the true history of this subcontinent, they were our own lives, these are our truths. We live the consequences of these truths every day. We are alive because of the resilience and struggles of the past. So we wanted to come up with a process to where the marginalised can own, tell and celebrate their own history. This is what has resulted in the participatory transmedia project that is Dalit History Month."

The women-only collective is made up of Dalit women from multiple disciplines including science and the humanities who have been working on the issue of caste apartheid and Dalit history for many years. This is our life's commitment and we are humbled by the global response to our work.

Black History Month

The founders modelled the idea of Dalit History Month after the internationally celebrated Black History Month. Black History Month, celebrated in October, seeks to put an emphasis on the history of the struggles of African Americans around the world. These were projects that had very specific goals and meant to restore imbalances in knowledge creation that correspond to systematic oppression.

Janvi Sutharesan , who is a part of the initiave, tells us, "These were projects that had very specific goals and meant to restore imbalances in knowledge creation that correspond to systematic oppression. We needed the same and we learnt from the strategies of our black brothers and sisters, who we stand in solidarity with. At a time when history is being actively erased and rewritten by the current administration, Dalit History is a crucial key to a Dalit Future and we are committed to the end of caste apartheid in our lifetime."

Life Online

Sourcing information from the internet has been crucial in their project. All the information on their website is sourced and approved through different people.

Thenmozhi tells us, "We work closely with other Dalits popular on social media to disseminate our content. Our project is both physical and online but the online is a key component. Through the internet, we are also able to circumvent the gatekeepers of knowledge, community, and the press and build our own power in each of these fields. In many ways the internet allows us to envision an Ambedkar age and through that vision begin to make it material in our lives."

For Art's Sake!

For Dalit History Month, art is really important. Gathering artistic work of people in their community can lead to a lot. For the founders, "Art, particularly socially engaged art, allows using a terrain to explore our liberation and share our visions for our community in a space often dismissed by policy makers. You connect people to an issue through the heart and build empathy in ways that few can match. Fundamentally, our ultimate aim is not simply awareness but liberation from caste apartheid."

Waves of change

For the founders, putting up content for the Dalit history month was a lesson itself. They learnt parts of the history of the Dalits that were completely wiped off from mainstream educational history books. She says, "One of the most affecting lessons from Dalit History Month for us is the story of the Namasudras in Bengal. They were key to their community's well-being, they unified Dalits in Bengal and that gave them real political power which they used through the towering work of Jogendranath Mandal to uplift Babasaheb. Despite attempts at ethnic cleansing and retributory violence, they survive! They not only survive but have been key to the histories of three modern nations  India , Pakistan and Bangladesh. But their story is rarely told and they have disappeared in our modern conversations about Bengal. Their stories and other stories like these show us that Dalit History is the History of the subcontinent and that it is a powerful platform for understanding who we are as a nation."
Good Friday, which marks the day when Jesus Christ was crucified and died in Calvary, falls on the Friday right before Easter. Across the world, Christians observe this solemn day with humility and reverence by remembering the passion and sacrifice of Christ.

This day is symbolic of the win of good over evil because it is believed that Christ died in 33 AD for the sake of humanity; he bore the sacrifice on behalf of the rest of humankind and is considered the bridge between God and mortals. It is written in gospels that Judas, one of the twelve disciples of Christ, betrayed him for thirty silver coins to the Sanhedrin. Accused of blasphemy, Christ was sentenced to death and crucified with two criminals.

During his interrogation by the High Priest, Christ was silent. In the solemn oath, the High Priest asked, 'I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us, are you the Anointed One, the Son of God?" of Christ, who replied by saying, "You have said it, and in time you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, coming on the clouds of Heaven."

Three days later, Christ was resurrected from the dead on Easter Sunday. There are several theories as to why this day has been named so. Some believe that the word 'good' is a reference to the holiness of the day, while others argue that the word 'God' was used interchangeably with 'good' in ancient texts. This day is also called Holy Friday, Great Friday, Black Friday and Easter Friday.

Good Friday celebrations are marked by a sombre, sorrowful tone. People spend the day fasting, meditating and remembering Christ through their prayers. Churches hold services but bells are not rung, and churchgoers and priests wear black clothes. The altar and pulpit of the church are left bare, and candles are not lit on this day.

The significance of this day lies in the Church's commemoration of Christ's arrest, crucifixion, death and eventual resurrection.
Come 14 April and the politics of appropriating, or misappropriating, Ambedkar's legacy gathers momentum. As India celebrates the 126th birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar on 14 April, from Congress to BJP, all political parties will compete to claim the man and his legacy. Then, there are others too, the likes of Ramdas Athawale and Mayawati, who would like to be politically identified as the sole heirs of Ambedkar's legacy as they assume themselves to be championing the cause of Dalits. In fact, this perhaps is one of those stray incidents where the Right, Left and the so-called Centre liberals share common ground in aggrandising their own versions of Ambedkar.

That the man himself was repelled by the idea of political idolatry is quite another thing.

However, in the quest of appointing Ambedkar as a Dalit rights crusader, politicians have only belittled him. He was the one modern Indian leader, who advocated a truly liberal yet pragmatic social setup. But political parties have reduced him to their own versions as would suit to appease their core vote banks. In the process, on each count what Ambedkar propagated has been eroded to suit the political ambitions of our politicians.

Who then, in the age of subjective interpretation of established ideals, comes closest to the truly pragmatic and liberal outlook of the man who drafted the Indian Constitution and envisioned to free the modern India from the shackles of caste system?

Ironically enough, I found the voice of a dead young man, disgruntled and disillusioned by the systematic misappropriation of ideals that were the founding principles of our nation-state, to be a truer echo of Ambedkarite ideals than most of our politicians.

I am talking about Rohith Vemula, the Hyderabad University student, whose harmless yet poignant suicide note created enough ripples which resonates with youth fighting for equality and freedom in campuses, even a year after his death. Do note that in the list of identifiers used to describe Vemula, I consciously omitted his most debated identity of the Dalit student. And it is in this subtle difference that I find Vemulas understanding of Ambedkar more robust than many of our politicians will ever have.

While Ambedkar, who liked to be identified as a political liberal, tirelessly batted for the complete annhilation of caste, Vemula too in his parting letter to the world, lamented the fact that the value of a man was reduced to his immediate identity and nearest possibility.

Never was a man treated as a mind. As a glorious thing made up of star dust, said Vemula.

Like Ambedkar, Vemula too intuitively grasped and accepted the realities of castes. And yet he detested the fact that glorious human beings are reduced to their immediate identity.

However, he argues, not speaking about caste cannot eradicate caste. It just makes discrimination nameless!!! And our activism is not identity politics, it is a struggle for recognition. This activism is against the imposed and destructive identities given to us through your distorted history.

In a compilation of some of his writings online, Caste is Not a Rumour, author Nikhila Henry writes, His words hold a mirror to the working of caste in modern India. His writing tells us what it means to live Dr BR Ambedkar's final words, Educate, Agitate and Organise.

Vemula, unsurprisingly, drew the ire of Akhil Bharatiya Vidya Parishad and later the varsity administration as many of his views would not go down well with the contemporary pseudo-nationalist narrative. Yet most of his, so called controversial arguments are only a stark reflection of the unclaimed share of Ambedkar's legacy.

For example, Vemulas scathing criticism of beef ban is much in line, and probably inspired from, Ambedkar's erudite article calling out the farce of Brahminical cow worship, Did the Hindus never eat beef?

It (beef eating) is a political gesture. Brahmanism, using the tool called Hinduism, has always been oppressive of cultures of Dalits and Minorities in this country. Recent beef ban in Maharashtra is an arrogant attack on the dignity of marginalised sections, reads one of Vemulas Facebook posts dated 13 December 2015 (as excerpted from Caste is not a rumour.)

Ambedkar too denied the argument that cow worship or abstinence from beef eating was inherent in Hinduism. In fact he goes on to argue that beef was an integral part of ceremonial feasts in Aryan culture and there were mentions in ancient literature of Indra eating beef. But this is not a facet of Ambedkar's ideology that politicians racing to claim his legacy will find easy to swallow. A sanitized, pro-Hindu narrative of Ambedkar's views is better suited to their interests.

Vemula was also highly critical of the idea of nationalism and his thoughts on the subject largely explain why he was branded anti-national by an increasingly intolerant society.

The two -isms I find absolutely stupid and highly manipulated: Religion and Nationalism; which are the best proved gateways for violence from ages, another Facebook post from 5 July 2013 reads.

Instead, Vemulas definition of nationalism was: I feel playing the national anthem before commencement of a Masala flick is more an insult to Indian thought than someone not standing up for the anthem. Patriotism lies not in standing or sitting but in treating other civilians with dignity.  30 November, 2015 as excerpted from Caste is not a rumour.

And as unbelievable as it may sound, had Ambedkar been around today, he too would have been branded anti-national by the saffron forces. He not only refused to believe that India was a nation, let alone a Hindu nation, he openly said that he would choose the interests of untouchables over the nation, if it ever comes to that

Sample this: There is no Hindu consciousness of kind. In every Hindu the consciousness that exists is the consciousness of his caste. That is the reason why the Hindus cannot be said to form a society or a nation... How can people divided into several thousands of castes be a nation?

Ambedkar doesnt mince words when he points out who most often pays the price of this purported nationalism.

The working class is often asked to sacrifice their all to the so-called cause of nationalism. [But] they have never cared to enquire whether the nationalism for which they are to make their offerings will, when established, give them social and economic equality.

Would todays nationalists, who as of now would be honouring Baba Saheb Ambedkar in one ceremonial photo-op gesture or another, be able to stomach this side of the modern leader?

Also read: Why Dalits of Andhra shut the door on Kanshi Ram and why they won't be swayed now

But Vemula, unlike politicians, didnt pick and choose from Ambedkars ideology to suit vested interests. Here is what he had to say about Ambedkar himself.

He stood for us. He lived and died for us. Today the nation remembers him and no one remembers the chamchas who stood against him... It is depressing that even on his 124th birth anniversary there is a need to liberate Babasahebs image from the clutches of Brahmanical forces.

When alive, Ambedkar was questioned, scorned for his stand on MK Gandhi and his "idea of free India". He was portrayed as a "gaddar" [traitor] for his nonsubscription of an ambiguous power transfer in the name of freedom, Henry's book quotes another of Vemula's Facebook posts.

A closer look at Vemulas posts, as recorded in Henrys book, tells us more about his journey from Lal Salaam to Jai Bheem. It was not disillusionment alone that he abandoned Left-wing politics to become an Ambedkarite. The transformation was fuelled by a sincere belief that all established norms of religion and political ideologies that essentially seeks to divide the society, whether on the basis of caste of class, must be rejected.

He said, Not left, not left liberals and not even left radicals. Only radical Ambedkar can liberate us.
While the BJP, after selectively appropriating Dr BR Ambedkar like the Congress and the Leftist parties, is masquerading as his apostle, the fact remains that it is just political tokenism that circumvents his core ideas.

Ambedkar was an eclectic, neither a Leftist nor a Rightist and advocated morality in all spheres of life. He had some serious reservation about communists and during the last few years of his life, wanted to write a book on The Buddha and Karl Marx, which he left unfinished. Nevertheless, he had made no bones about his opinion against Communism during his lifetime. He found the use of violence by communists to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat, unacceptable. He said so while speaking on The Buddha and Communism at the Fourth Conference of World Fellowship of Buddhists in Kathmandu on 20 November, 1956.

He also said that such a dictatorship deprived people of their political rights and compelled them to live as second grade subjects of the state. He abhorred the idea of reducing human beings as mechanical entities in class struggle, without a religion. He felt that religion was necessary for humans apart from physical well-being and advocated Buddhism  which ordained ethics, non-violence and equality, without a god, a prophet, miracles, blind faith and rituals.

He was a critic of the Congress, which he saw as a political bully with monstrous support of "Shetji" and "Bhatji". Besides, he was at loggerheads with Mahatma Gandhi on various issues. Since it was the only national party bulldozing its policies with overwhelming support, he feared that the Congress would be a threat to democratic values. Addressing a public rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on 25 November, 1956, he advocated the need for a strong Opposition party to keep a check on the ruling Congress party. In his last few years, he communicated with like-minded contemporaries to unite for creation of a strong alternative to the Congress.

His idea of a political party for the vast majority of have-nots, irrespective of caste, language, religion or region, remained a dream. Ten months after his death, his trusted lieutenants formed the Republican Party of India (RPI) but lack of consensus on leadership issue led to amoebic divisions  which still continues, creating political vagabonds hungry for crumbs of power from ruling parties of all hues. The Congress appropriated Ambedkar, minus his views against its policies and leaders.

The BJP  that now has an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha  like the Congress had under leaders like Indira Gandhi, has appropriated him, minus his bitter writing and speeches against Brahminical hegemony, gender inequality and the subjugation of the majority (SCs, STs, OBCs and nomadic tribes) by the minority upper castes.

The appropriation of Ambedkar by the BJP is minus his stand on Hinduism.

The BJP is also yet to break away from the Congress tradition of thriving on emotive issues (like memorials, statues etc) to Ambedkar as a mascot for Dalit votes, ignoring his core ideas. For instance, Ambedkar wanted to end casteism and had suggested measures in his Annihilation of Caste, which was an undelivered speech, printed as a book. He had been invited for the annual conference of Jaat-Paat-Todak Mandal, Lahore in 1936, for which the written speech was sought in advance. The conference was cancelled because his views were found too radical, as Ambedkar went beyond inter-dining and inter-caste marriages as remedies to end casteism and struck at its root: Divine sanction. He wanted Hindus to disown holy texts that ordained inequality and thereby curbed freedom.

To date, the remedies suggested by Ambedkar are yet to be taken up by reformers and religious leaders. Considering the proximity of BJP leaders to Hindu religious leaders and the rising pitch against caste-based reservation by urban-bred elite castes, a beginning could be made to end casteism once and for all. The Narendra Modi government is interested, and rightly so, in the empowering of women and upliftment of Dalits, and there could be a possibility of a Dalit or a woman becoming a Shankaracharya in the future, breaking the monopoly of Brahmins. Also, since the Modi government and its cohorts cry foul over archaic provisions in the Constitution, which is only 67 years old, they should have no qualms about changing obsolete and discriminatory practices in existence for thousands of years in the name of tradition and religion.

In July 1956, Ambedkar had established a training school for politicians as he wanted elected representatives to be informed, honest, hardworking and selfless. Unfortunately, the school, with Ambedkar as the director and SS Rege as its registrar, was shut down in March 1957, three months after his death. The task remains incomplete. Modern day legislators are, indeed, trained by their political bosses and ideologues, but the performance, behaviour and interests of most of them need no explanation. For tackling agrarian woes, Ambedkar had suggested that agriculture be declared an industry, collective farming be promoted and agricultural land be nationalised.

In his historic speech in the constituent Assembly on 25 November, 1949, he was apprehensive about India achieving social democracy after achieving political democracy and had warned against the pitfalls of hero-worship. "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," he had said. Warning against unconstitutional methods of protests, he had said, "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."

His warnings have gone unheeded ever since Indira had and absolute majority, all the way until now when there is euphoria over Modi as the prime minister.

The BJP governments in Maharashtra and at the Centre that are gearing up for the creation of an Ambedkar memorial in Mumbai can spare a thought for the core ideas of a statesman who is today dismissed as a mere leader of Dalits.
Editor's note: This article was first published on 25 January, 2016 in the wake of the political storm raised by the suicide of Rohith Vemula, a University of Hyderabad student. All political parties made a beeline to the university in a bid to appropriate Rohith Vemula's Dalit legacy without quite caring for what Ambedkarites such as Rohith stand and fight for. On Ambedkar's 126th birth anniversary, this article bears recalling for another important reason. Kanshi Ram, the founder of Bahujan Samaj Party is the most successful political strategist in the Dalits-rights space. He seemed poised to become a pan-Indian Dalit leader. But made one critical mistake. He thought he had become bigger than Ambekdar. Read on.

Stop talking rubbish about Ambedkar.

It was late 1994 when Kanshi Ram, the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party, received this angry and stern telegram from his party cadre in Hyderabad.

Those were heady days for Kanshi Ram. Just the previous year, he had tested his social-engineering model in the electoral crucible of Uttar Pradesh and changed Indias politics forever. With a whopping 67 seats in the assembly, the third largest party after the BJP and SP, he formed the government in Uttar Pradesh with Mulayam Singhs Samajwadi Party (109 seats) as the senior coalition partner and chief minister. For the first time in the countrys political history, a party of the Dalits was sharing power in a state government.

Kanshi Ram was being spoken about as the tallest Dalit leader after Ambedkar and, understandably, had set his sights on taking BSP national. He wanted to make forays across the Vindhyas, particularly in Southern India. With Andhra Pradesh heading for elections in December that year (1994), he saw an immediately opportunity. The state also seemed to have a ready' cadre of radicalised Ambekarites, people who had severed their ideological mooring with the left wing extremists (Maoists).

Kanshi Ram was quite thrilled about this political experiment. Let them (Mulayam) handle Uttar Pradesh. I will concentrate on South India, he would tell me during the many interactions I had with him on his frequent trips to Lucknow. But that terse telegram from Hyderabad made it clear to Kanshi Ram that he was dealing with a very different strand of Dalits, quite unlike the tame and mellowed down BSP cadre of UP.

What happened was simple. In a moment of hubris after winning the Uttar Pradesh election, Kanshi Ram described himself as the practical and only mass leader of the scheduled castes and Ambedkar as a theoretician confined to being a leader of Mahars.

This comparison, which left nobody in doubt about who he thought was the bigger leader of the Dalits, evoked apathy in North India but met with severe hostility from Andhra Pradesh. Kanshi Ram was at his wits end to explain this ill-timed boast. He sought to explain it away by saying that he did not mean to belittle the stature of Ambedkar and even accused me, for reporting the interview, of carrying out an upper caste conspiracy to undermine his movement.

But that did not wash. What seemed like a big build-up for the BSP in the run-up to the election  emboldening Kanshi Ram to field no less than 235 candidates (out of 294 constituencies)  died a very quick death. Not only did the BSP not win a single seat, it lost its deposit in all seats but one and more importantly, Kanshi Rams dream of raising the BSP flag across the Vindhyas died a very premature death.

This background to Kanshi Rams aborted raid on Andhra politics bears a recall in view of the raging controversy over the suicide of Rohith Vemula, a research scholar of Hyderabad Central University.

Rohith was a member of Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) which largely draws its cadres from Dalit students initially enamoured with radical Marxist ideology that advocates violence as a tool to annihilating class enemies and agnosticism. Even Rohith became an Ambedkarite after he was disillusioned with the radical left. (See this article by Jashwanth Jessie, Rohiths friend.)

This cadre of alienated radical Marxists, carry the ideological and emotional baggage when they join Dalit associations inspired by Ambedkars annihilation of castes theory. Though Ambedkar never promoted violence as a tool for political objective, the Ambedkarites of Andhra Pradesh are seen as a cleverly camouflaged extension of the ultra-left.

As a result, in the campus politics of Andhra Pradesh, the ASA has always had an antagonistic relationship with the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Congress-sponsored National Students Union of India (NSUI). That is why for this group in Hyderabad Central University, Rahul Gandhis emotional outpouring for Rohith would be seen as being as hypocritical as Prime Minister Narendra Modis lament for mother India having lost a son. The sympathy for Rohith is more an expression of hypocrisy than solidarity with the cause he stood for.



There is hardly any meeting ground between Ambedkarites of Andhra Pradesh and mainstream political parties of all hues. The traditional Marxists are looked with as much disdain by Ambedkarites as the BJP or the Congress. Unlike the Ambedkarites of Hindi heart land or Maharashtra who are amenable to mainstream political ideologies, the Ambedkarites of Andhra Pradesh are known for standing their ground even though they have still not evolved as a coherent political group like the BSP in Uttar Pradesh.

There is no doubt that Rohiths suicide has engendered a powerful symbolism which can only be ignored at a significant political cost. The Sangh Parivar which has been desperately co-opting Dalits to its fold for decades is steadfastly averse to any radicalisation of Dalit politics not in consonance with its Hindu unity. They (the Sangh Parivar) would be strongly opposed to the politics that Rohith propounded but would love to co-opt the symbolism here represents after his death. Since he emerged as a representative of a numerically powerful under-privileged class, aspiring to rise on his own against all odds, his untimely death creates a fascinating story for political leaders to empathise with. The narrative around Rohiths suicide is glamorous and full of symbolism, something that the routine deaths of other Dalits, say sewage cleaners getting asphyxiated in gutters all over India, do not arouse.

It is unlikely that Rohiths suicide will bring about a radical change in the approach of the mainstream political parties towards Ambedkarites of Andhra Pradesh. So long as they hold onto their own beliefs ideologically similar to the ultra-left, they will face resistance not only from the BJP or the Congress but also from the regional parties and traditional left. But the scope for their gradual assimilation through alliances is an electoral attraction that is at the centre of driving political parties crazy in trying to out-do each other to revel in Rohiths symobolism.

Its all very well to make Hyderabad Central University a political picnic spot, but it is unlikely that the Ambedkarites of Andhra, who so firmly shut out Kanshi Ram for one boastful indescretion, are going to be swayed with the lavish attention they are getting from all quarters. Kanshi Rams unfinished agenda of 1994, it seems, will yet remain so.
On 31 March, 2017, the Gujarat state assembly amended the state's cow protection laws to extend the maximum sentence for cow slaughter from seven years to a life term and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. The amendment made offences under the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act of 1954, which criminalises cow slaughter as well as transportation of cows for slaughter and possession of beef, non-bailable.

After these amendments, Gujarat holds the mantle of the state with the strictest laws in the country to protect cows, bullocks, bulls and their progeny.

In an analysis of cow protection laws across the country, IndiaSpend found that:

-As of March 2017, cow slaughter has been prohibited in 84 percent of India's states and union territories (UTs), which account for 99.38 percent of the country's population.

-Laws banning cow slaughter in nearly half of these states are roughly 50 years old, enacted during the tenure of the Indian National Congress. The oldest bans on cow slaughter have been in place in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur, promulgated by their former rulers in 1932 and 1936, respectively, prior to Indian Independence and the annexation of states.

-After the Congress split in 1969, over 80 percent of the states that enacted new laws prohibiting cow slaughter did so under a Janata Party or a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. Cow protection laws enacted or amended over the last 23 years in 10 of 11 states are especially more stringent.

-In 77 percent or 24 states and UTs that prohibit cow slaughter, the offence is cognisable, and in more than half of these (13), it is non-bailable. Under Indias criminal procedure code, cognisable offences are serious crimes such as murder, rape, dowry deaths and kidnapping. In such cases, the police can make an arrest without a warrant and start investigation without a magistrates permission.

Cow-Protection Laws, By State

Source: IndiaSpend analysis of laws enacted by states & union territories.

Indias cow protection laws, in ebbs and flows

Cow protection has a long history in Indian politics, dating back to pre-Independence times when it found support from mass organisations such as the Arya Samaj and a personage no less than Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

1950-1968: Post-Independence and after India became a republic in 1950, cow protection enthusiasts were reigned in and a ban on cow slaughter was only included as a Directive Principle of State Policy, and not as a fundamental right as its supporters had demanded. Nevertheless, Congress governments enacted laws prohibiting cow slaughter in 15 states and UTs, until just before the 1969 Congress party split. The offence was made punishable with a prison term ranging from six months to two years. Madhya Pradesh, with a prison term of three years and a fine of Rs 5,000, had the strictest law of its time, after Jammu and Kashmir.

1977-1979: After a gap of eight years, the enactment of cow protection laws saw a resurgence when the Janata Party, with its Hindu nationalist elements from the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (which later formed the BJP), came to power in 1977 and served a two-year tenure at the countrys helm. Laws came into force in the UTs of Goa and Daman and Diu and the state of Himachal Pradesh under a Janata Party government and Andhra Pradesh under Congress rule. Maharashtra, also under a Congress government, strengthened its cow protection law, replacing the Bombay Animal Preservation Act 1954 in force till then.

1994 to present: Coinciding with a spike in communal conflict across the country in the early 1990s, the promulgation of cow protection laws restarted in 1994, with the introduction of the Delhi Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act. The law made cow slaughter punishable with a five-year prison term and a fine of Rs 10,000the strictest of its time after Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, cow protection laws have been enacted and amended in 11 states and UTs, prescribing stricter punishment in 10 of these barring Sikkim (where restrictions and punishment are among the mildest). Nine of these states were ruled by the BJP at the time of enactment or amendment.

In 12 states, cow slaughter can lead to a prison term ranging from two to 14 years

Prior to Gujarats recent amendment, the Muslim-dominated state of Jammu and Kashmir had the most stringent punishment for cow slaughter. The law was instituted in 1932 under the Ranbir Penal Code, the code introduced during the reign of the Dogra ruler Ranbir Singh, which still applies in Jammu and Kashmir.

This law makes cow slaughter a cognisable and non-bailable offence punishable with up to 10 years imprisonment and a penalty of up to five times the value of the bovine killed. Cows are estimated to cost lakhs in Jammu and Kashmir.

In terms of severity of punishment, Haryana comes in third. Enacted in 2015, the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act deems cow slaughter a cognisable, non-bailable offence inviting a maximum punishment of 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a maximum fine of Rs 1 lakh.

In Jharkhand and Uttarakhand too, cow slaughter is punishable with a maximum sentence of 10 years rigorous imprisonment, but a lower fine of Rs 10,000.

In contrast, restrictions on cow slaughter in Kerala and Sikkim are the mildest. In Kerala, cow slaughter is prohibited in rural areas under the Kerala Panchayat (Slaughter Houses and Meat Stalls) Rules, 1964, and in urban areas as per a 1976 government order, but is allowed if the bovine is over 10 years of age. Offenders are fined Rs 1,000. Similarly, the 2008 Sikkim Police Act prohibits cow slaughter only in public spaces and provides for a monetary penalty only for unsanitary slaughter.

The four states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland and the UT of Lakshadweep have no laws related to cow slaughter, according to this document from the central Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DAHD). The document notes that DAHD receives numerous representations for banning cow slaughter across the country and declaring the cow as Indias national animal.

While cow slaughter is banned in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Tripura, as mentioned in the DAHD document, there is limited information publicly available about their laws.

The law in Manipur is based on a 1936 darbar resolution proclaimed during the reign of Maharaja Churachand Singh, whose contours are therefore vagueit does not specify, for instance, if cow slaughter is a cognisable and non-bailable offence.
Bihar banned liquor a few months ago. Madhya Pradesh is planning to phase out liquor shops over the next few years. Chhattisgarh is considering a complete ban on liquor. Protests against liquor shops are gathering momentum across Rajasthan.

So, is liquor on the way out, especially in states ruled by the BJP? Are we going to see a mad scramble for prohibition before the next round of elections?

It is not difficult to understand why some governments might be tempted to emulate Keralawhere liquor was banned in 2014a ban on alcohol carves out a dedicated constituency of voters who look at drinking as a moral, health and crime issue.

Every time a debate on ban on alcohol rages in India, I am reminded of two women whose lives would have been different if their husbands did not drink.

The first is a shy, diffident classmate who was married off by her parents at the age of 18 to an NRI. If the mere challenge of being in a new country amidst complete strangers at a very young age wasn't enough, she was also saddled with a husband with a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde personality.

After a few drinks, the gregarious husband usually turned violent and abusive. Hitting, kicking and dragging her by the hair, he tortured her in every way possible way. Sometimes, bolstered by the false bravado of alcohol, he even allowed his friends to touch her inappropriately. The next morning, with the dawn of sobriety he turned repentant and apologetic: Until the next swig of alcohol. This went on for several years. During this period, she was hospitalised several times, but endured all the violence for the sake of her daughters and fear of the family's 'reputation' being tarnished.

The other is a relative whose husband also turned into a monster after a few drinks. All his life, he bullied, blackmailed and thrashed her before his own life ended when he drove into a truck full of iron rods under the influence of alcohol, leaving her with heavy debt and with two infants.

Both these women are smart, educated, employed and financially-independent. One of them earns double the average household income among US expats. The other is about to retire as principal of a government school. Why they endured so much violence is a discussion for some other day. What is relevant here is this: Both believed their lives would have been different if there was no alcohol.

You will hear similar stories everywhere. But, I have narrated these particular incidents to highlight a simple point: If two independent women in two different parts of the world could become so miserable because their husbands couldn't stop drinking, thousands of women across India from more humble backgrounds could be going through a similar nightmare.

In 2014, when Kerala decided to ban alcohol, the government cited a study that blamed 50 percent cases of domestic violence on alcohol.

Another study said a quarter of all hospital admissions and 69 percent of all crimes in Kerala are, in part, due to intoxication. Figures for the rest of the country may not be all that different.

The most compelling argument in favour of a ban on alcohol then is this: Its abuse harms not just the drinker but the vulnerable people around, especially women and children in the family. Its effects can be compared to that of passive smoking except that the problem can't be addressed by banning drinking in public places.

With the success of Bihar model of prohibitionit has been enforced strictly without widespread rebellion or protests and Nitish Kumar has been able to absorb the revenue lossesgovernments might just see it as a potent weapon against anti-incumbency.

The counter arguments against prohibition are equally forceful and valid. In most cases, it leads to bootlegging, smuggling and counterfeiting, thus leading to bigger health hazards and spike in crime. In Gujarat, for instance, in spite of total prohibition, procuring a bottle of alcohol is the easiest thing.

Also, not every person who drinks is a social hazard. Binge drinkingthe cause of most cases of violence and accidentsis relatively rare just about 11 percent Indians indulge in it. To penalise social and occasional drinking because of a minority of consumers who resort to crime and violence is a gross injustice.

But the rights of responsible drinkers may not influence governments that are planning prohibition as an electoral strategy. Politicians know that drinking in India still doesn't have social sanction and is looked down upon. If the BJP governments in MP and Chhattisgarh decide to implement it, they would know that not many have the courage to oppose it because of fears of social and familial disapproval.

Don't be surprised if sharaab-bandi becomes the new notebandi before the next round of crucial elections.
If I was a Supreme Court judge I would be pretty miffed at the manner in which politicians in various states are attempting to circumnavigate my orders. Here I am, with my peers, seated on the highest court in the landtrying to make a decision that, as I understand it, involves several thousand livelihoodsbut also makes the lives of people safer by creating a cordon sanitaire across Indias highways.

The aim has been to slow down drunken driving and thereby the death rate which hovers around the 400 a day mark and is the highest in the world. So, what was done was this: My august colleagues and I sat down and weighed the pros and cons. We decided this was a dubious record and a start towards safer roads had to be made. That was the operative statement. A start had to be made.

At no stage did the Supreme Court, in its wisdom, suggest or indicate:

A) This was a perfect solution.

B) There would be no loopholes.

C) Those determined to risk their lives would be undeterred by a 500 metre no buy zone.

But it is surprising and certainly worth investigating if the executive branch is in contempt of the judicial prerogative, considering the way in which they are attempting to bypass this ruling, mainly by denotifying strips of India's 92,850 kilometres of national highways (national highways are marked with yellow milestones, state highways are marked with green milestones).

Just rename them as urban roads. Then you can begin to pour drinks

The official explanation for denotification says this: Denotification of land is the cancellation of a notification of intent to acquire land. Notification and denotification is generally issued by governments, particularly in India. It is when a court has cancelled the acquisition of land to builders by an Indian state government.

Since this is a bunch of gobbledygook and would be difficult for most people to wrap their minds around it, let us put it in a simpler way:

Section 48 (i) of the LA Act 1894 provides that except in case provided for U/s 36(i), the government shall be at liberty to withdraw from the acquisition of any land of which possession has not been taken. Thus, the power to withdraw any land from acquisition has been created under the statute, which provides that the land can be denotified if the possession of which has not been taken over by the government. However, this power has to be exercised in judicious manner and on the basis of guidelines framed by the government.

Lets get a lot simpler: It is also an exercise in skullduggery and is often used by politicians to make money. In 2011, former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa was taken into judicial custody over allegations of denotifying government land for monetary gain.

Despite the fact that denotification is a transparent cop out and flies in the face of a Supreme Court diktat, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has led the charge. His state, along with Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand quickly denotified their state highways to ensure the uninterrupted flow of booze. How convenient.

Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala have not yet closed the door on doing the same. And even though Goa CM Manohar Parrikar is hanging in there, his fragile coalition may not be able to take the heat from the worst affected state. Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum, Feni, here we come.

Indeed, with state governments clearly setting an unhealthy precedent by what can be seen by many as blatant cheating, the Supreme Court is charged with the task of hearing an appeal made to it by the Arrive Safe Society of Chandigarh, the NGO which started this whole initiative, which now wants the denotification process reversed.

Denotification, done after the fact, is a rather shabby way of sidling past the law. From the point of view of governance, it is, in no way, edifying.
In the winter of 2015, when senior RSS hand Dilip Ghosh finally replaced BJP's long-serving West Bengal state president Rahul Sinha after a tenure marked by indifference and infighting, a senior party functionary at BJP's 6, Muralidhar Sen Lane headquarters told me that BJP has missed the bus in West Bengal.

His point was simple. For far too long, the BJP had remained locked within its identity as a fringe political force in the state, the birthplace of Bharatiya Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The party needed to post exponential growth. For that to happen, it needed a change its strategy.

"There is nothing wrong with the agenda of development, but focusing on it alone won't cut much ice for us. A large majority of Hindus in the state look at to us to highlight issues that other parties won't touch. We must give them a voice. If we don't listen to them, who will?," he had posed.

This conversation, as I mentioned earlier, took place more than a year ago, roughly one-and-a-half years after the Narendra Modi wave swept India and left its imprint on Bengal. From scratch, BJP's voteshare almost rose overnight to 17.6 percent during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It also bagged two seats. Why then did the senior functionary appear so pessimistic?

Despite its good result, BJP in Bengal still suffers from a few debilitating problems that resist quick-fixes. One, the party lacks a local leader with mass appeal. Two, it has replicated in the state not even a fraction of the organisational structure and booth-level mass mobilisation that are its hallmarks in north India. Three, strangely, the party was until recently also suffering from an ideological void.

The last point needs a bit of expansion. Gains of 2014 notwithstanding, BJP's appeal was still restricted to a few areas in north Bengal. In Kolkata, it was struggling to transcend its "non-Bengali trader-community" image. Modi's win did generate significant cross-voter appeal, especially among the youth, but these were likely to be fickle minds drawn by the PM's message. When that appeal wanes, goes the theory, BJP would be struggling for consolidation of support.

Last year's Assembly elections drove home a few truths. Though BJP's voteshare was up from four percent in 2011 to 10.2 percent in 2016, it was still seven percentage points less than what it had polled in 2014. Applying the differentials between Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, this was still a sharp enough drop. The question was, who bagged the votes? Not the Left Front or Congress for sure.

CPM and Congress had entered into a 'mahajot' (grand alliance) to consolidate anti-Trinamool votes, but were routed in the process. The Left front suffered a staggering 17 percent erosion in voteshare, getting 24 percent in 2016 from 41 percent in 2011. This was also five percent less than its tally in 2014. Congress made a marginal improvement, limping to 12.3 percent in 2016, up from 9.09 percent in 2011 and 9.6 percent in 2014.

While BJP registered an upswing compared to 2011 and a downswing compared to 2014, the ruling Trinamool Congress went from strength to strength. As Mamata retained her writ, TMC won a staggering 211 out of 294 Assembly seats, bettering its 2011 tally by 27 seats and registered a commensurate jump in vote share. In 2016, TMC won 44.9 voteshare, compared to 39 percent in 2011 and 39.03 percent in 2014.

It was clear, therefore, that a part of BJP's gains in 2014 had been snatched away by TMC. This wasn't unexpected as swing voters usually have a high degree of fickleness. It was clear that if BJP had to sustain its growth in Bengal and break new grounds, it needed committed cadres driven by ideology and a voter base drawn to its core platform. In short, went the internal assessment, the party needed a dose of Hindutva.

By the turn of 2017, BJP began to focus on hard identity politics to consolidate the Hindu voter base. In a border state like Bengal, which has its own set of socio-cultural dynamics and a distinctly different demography compared to the north Indian states, this was nevertheless a risk. The 2011 Census put the state's Muslim population at 27 percent. Will there be any takers in the state for a strident, right-wing Hindutva ideology? Remember that Bengal had remained largely untouched even at the height of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

However, around this time, BJP received help from an unlikely source: Mamata Banerjee's single-minded focus on identity politics created a curious dovetailing of interest that fuelled  at least in the short term  both BJP and TMC's rise.

To understand this, we need to take a brief look at Bengal's socio-cultural fabric. Though the Trinamool Congress displaced the Left front in 2011 in a landmark election after a long, bitter struggle, Mamata Banerjee's politics never had the dogmatic pull that had been CPM's calling card for 34 years. If the party had virtually replaced the state's vertical structures and made the two inseparable in people's eyes under Left rule, that was possible due to the platform provided by Leftist ideology. Cadres were kept in line, dissent was kept under control, and misrule drew legitimacy under the danda of democratic centralism.

Mamata, who cut her teeth in Congress, sought to do exactly this but in a totally different way. Where Left used the ideological stick to beat dissent, TMC uses a combination of personality cult and identity politics. Huge cutouts of the chief minister adorn every nook and corner of the city. In some she wears a hijab. These are strategically placed in areas of heavy minority population.

In the six years that she has been in power, Mamata has made a significant shift from an agent of change (poriborton) in 2011 to a secular leader in 2017 who has been accused of Muslim appeasement, not just by the BJP but even the Calcutta High Court.

While seeking to consolidate her Muslim votebank, Mamata has created the space for BJP's Hindutva politics to rise. The saffron unit's performance in the latest bypoll  where it gained 30 per cent of the vote share  indicates that its consolidation of Hindu voter base is working.

However, there is a catch. Though BJP has been drawing eyeballs and making inroads in rural Bengal through its focus on the Hindutva ideology, it cannot hope to unseat Mamata riding only on the wings of resentment and victimhood narrative. It may seem from outside that TMC's popularity is incumbent only on personality cult and a politics of identity. But that is only part of the story.

In the last six years, Mamata has focused massively on social sector spending. This was difficult due to the state's deep debt burden, but the chief minister and her deft finance minister Amit Mitra have been clever enough to increase tax collection by wide distribution of liquor licenses. In this, Mamata has been helped by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's move to turn the adjoining Bihar into a dry state. The relationship between targeted social sector spending and votes remains strong.

She has also been nimble enough to anticipate the problem posed by BJP's rise. Devoid of Left's constraints, Mamata has answered BJP's Hindutva focus by her own brand of Hindutva politics. With competitive Hanuman Jayantis being held in state, one would imagine that there will be less attempts now to change the "ramdhanus" to "rongdhonus" and "aakashi" (sky blue) to "aasmani". In her battle against BJP, the Bengal CM would also be aided by the state's intelligentsia and a sizeable section of the upper class, upper caste Hindus whose distaste for BJP far outstrips their snobbery on Mamata.

The BJP cannot take Bengal for granted, yet.
Washington: US 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 US 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 US military headquarters in Kabul said in a statement that the bomb was dropped at 7:32 pm 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 US estimates 600 to 800 Islamic State fighters are present in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar. The US has concentrated heavily on combatting them while also supporting Afghan forces battling the Taliban. Just last week a US Army Special Forces soldier, Staff Sergeant 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 (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 US MC-130 special operations transport. He said the bomb had been brought to Afghanistan "some time ago" for potential use.

Army General John W Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, said in a written statement that the strike was designed to minimize the risk to Afghan and US forces conducting clearing operations in the Achin area "while maximising the destruction" of Islamic State 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 US military's acronym for the Islamic State affiliate.

Ismail Shinwari, the governor of Achin district, said the US 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 Islamic State militants.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Islamic State fighters had used the tunnels and caves in Achin to maneuver freely. "The United States takes the fight against Islamic State very seriously and in order to defeat the group we must deny them operational space, which we did," Spicer said.
By Lisandra Paraguassu and Pedro Fonseca

| BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO

BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO Brazil's President Michel Temer denied on Thursday that he hosted a meeting in 2010 where an executive of engineering firm Odebrecht SA [ODBES.UL] was asked to arrange an illegal payment of $40 million to his political party.The graft accusation, which Temer dismissed as "a lie," was made in plea bargain testimony by Marcio Faria da Silva, a former vice president of the industrial arm of scandal-plagued Odebrecht.Though potentially damaging to his credibility, and efforts to shore up Latin America's biggest economy, Faria's allegation does not threaten Temer's hold on power. As president, he has temporary immunity for anything that occurred before he took office last year.The accusation was made public on Wednesday as part of a rash of plea bargain deals by 77 Odebrecht executives caught up in a massive corruption scheme.Faria said he met with Temer in 2010 in his Sao Paulo legal office, together with former lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha and Congressman Henrique Eduardo Alves, all members of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB).At the meeting, the payment was requested as a 5 percent levy on a contract Odebrecht was seeking from state oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA's (PETR4.SA) for the maintenance of assets in nine countries, Faria said.Temer confirmed in a video statement posted on social media that he took part in a meeting with a company executive in 2010 but there was no talk of an illegal donation.

"It is a lie that in that meeting I heard any reference to money or any shady dealings between the company and politicians," the president said.Earlier on Thursday, Temer's office confirmed in a separate statement he met with Faria in 2010 in the presence of Cunha for a "quick and superficial" meeting, but denied that Alves participated. Representatives for Alves and Cunha, who is in prison pending trial on other charges, could not be reached for comment.The testimony by Faria was among dozens of plea bargain testimonies released by Supreme Court Justice Luiz Edson Fachin.

Based on the testimony, Fachin ordered investigations into nearly 100 politicians as part of the Operation Car War probe into billions of dollars in bribes and illegal kickbacks on contracts with state companies, particularly Petrobras. The allegations come as Temer is trying to push an overhaul of Brazil's pension system through Congress, part of a business-friendly agenda that has sparked a rise in Brazil's stockmarket and currency. Congress is due to start discussions of the reform next week.Some lawmakers on Thursday said the government would look to speed up the passing of reforms now that so many politicians were under investigation, but admitted that such a move might prove difficult. In his testimony, Faria alleged that, while Temer did not speak about any figures, Cunha made it clear that a payment was expected.

"He explained that we were seeking a contract with Petrobras. A commitment that it would be signed would require a very important contribution to the party," Faria said, adding it was clear that a bribe was being sought.Once the contract was won, the payment was made in cash in Brazil and to foreign bank accounts, Faria said. He said the PMDB took 4 percent of the value of the contract, leaving 1 percent for the left-leaning Workers Party of then-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.Odebrecht's former Chief Executive Marcelo Odebrecht, currently jailed for his part in the Car Wash scheme, said in a separate plea bargain deal that he had made available $40 million to Lula. He said the payment was negotiated via a minister, not with Lula himself.Lula also denied any wrongdoing on Thursday while hinting that he was gearing up for presidential elections next year, despite five court cases pending against him related to Operation Car Wash.Elected as Brazil's first working class president in 2002 and returned to office four years later, Lula is ahead in opinion polls for the 2018 vote."I will fight if they let me fight and I will prove that this country can be happy again," Lula said, adding that "plea bargains have to be proved." (Reporting by Pedro Fonseca in Rio de Janeiro; Writing by Daniel Flynn; Editing by Andrew Hay and Tom Brown)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Ottawa: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government unveiled legislation Thursday to fully legalise 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 legalisation and regulation for recreational use is expected in 2018, in time for Canada's national holiday on 1 July. "We know that criminal prohibition has failed," former-police-chief-turned-MP Bill Blair, who spearheaded the initiative, told a press conference.

"Legalisation," 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 CAD 4.2 billion to CAD 6.2 billion ($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.

Strong public backing

The move to legalise 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 legalising cannabis.

Opposition parties are split on the issue. The New Democrats have called for its immediate decriminalisation 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.
By Michael Martina and Sue-Lin Wong

| BEIJING/PYONGYANG

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 programme 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. China, North Korea's sole major ally and neighbour, which nevertheless opposes its weapons programme, has called for talks leading to a peaceful resolution and the denuclearisation 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 focussing 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 towards 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 centre 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 programme, 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 programme, 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 denuclearised 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)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Beijing: China has warned that conflict could break out "at any moment" over North Korea amid fears that it is preparing to launch a sixth nuclear test or more missiles in defiance of UN sanctions and stark warnings from the US.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday said it was necessary to prevent the situation on the Korean peninsula from going down "an irreversible route", Efe news reported.

"Anyone who provokes war on the Korean Peninsula will assume responsibility and pay the price," said the minister.

The US has sent an aircraft carrier to waters off the peninsula and is conducting its biggest-ever joint military exercise with South Korea.

Wang Yi said during a joint press conference with his French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, that if war occurs, "the result is a situation in which everybody loses and there can be no winner."

Amid increasing tensions with the threat of a possible nuclear test by North Korea on the peninsula, the Chinese minister urged all parties not to let things evolve into an "uncontrollable" situation.

The warnings came ahead of the birth anniversary celebrations of Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea, which are scheduled to be held in Pyongyang this weekend.

It is expected that the country may carry out a new nuclear test as USS Carl Vinson, a US aircraft carrier with a navy strike group on board, is sailing in waters near the Korean Peninsula.

Wang also noted that China is always firmly opposed to any action likely to increase the tension, adding that in this crisis the winner will not be the one who exhibits more strength.

The Chinese minister urged all parties to suspend their weapons trials and military manoeuvres as a preliminary step to resuming dialogue.

Wang added that that Beijing is ready to listen to any useful proposals.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Geng Shuang, said the North Korean nuclear test "would be dangerous and irresponsible."

Wang and Ayrault revealed at the press conference held after their meeting that they had discussed bilateral issues and major international crises such as the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the civil war in Syria.

The French minister said they also addressed the growing threat of North Korea's military programme, adding that China and France are determined to achieve denuclearisation on the peninsula.
WASHINGTON CIA Director Mike Pompeo on Thursday called WikiLeaks a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia.

"WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service," Pompeo told an audience at a Washington think tank, adding that Russia's GRU intelligence service had used the anti-secrecy group to distribute hacked material during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

(Reporting by Warren Strobel; Writing by Eric Walsh; Editing by Eric Beech)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Islamabad/New Delhi: India on Friday demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of its national Kulbhushan Jadhav and sought consular access to him.

Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying.

"I have asked for a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav," Bambawale told PTI.

"They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have again requested the Pakistan Foreign Secretary to give access to Jadhav so that we can appeal," he said.

Sources in New Delhi said apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhav's family appealing against the verdict.

Pakistan's top military generals on Thursday decided not to make any "compromise" on the death sentence given to 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 death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief general 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.

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.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday rejected India's 14th attempt at consular access to alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and maintained the trial sentencing him to death was according to the laws of the country.

Pakistan also said that India had not responded to "specific information" sought on Jadhav in January, which New Delhi has rejected.

Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in Islamabad with a request for consular access to Jadhav and also sought a copy of the charge-sheet against him.

The request was turned down. "We demanded a meeting (with Jadhav), but they denied us," Bambawale told reporters after meeting Janjua.

India said it has sought consular access to Jadhav 13 times earlier, but was refused each time.

Making a statement on Jadhav's arrest and trial, Pakistan's top foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz slammed the "inflammatory statements and rhetoric of premeditated murder" issued by the Indian government, which he said would only escalate tensions.

He also asked how Jadhav, "an innocent man", could have two passports.

At the time of his arrest in March 2016, Jadhav had one passport in his name, and a second in the name of Hussain Mubarak Patel.

"Why was Jadhav using a fake name in his identity documents," Aziz asked.

Aziz said the 10 April sentencing of Jadhav was "as per the law of the land" and was a "fully transparent process". He said Jadhav, who hails from Maharashtra in India, had been involved in subversive activities in Pakistan.

To the Indian claims that Pakistan has not responded to its letters seeking information on Jadhav, Aziz said that New Delhi has not responded to a "Letter of Assistance requesting specific information and access to certain key witnesses" sent on 23 January. "There has been no response from the Indian side so far."

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in Kolkata, denied the charge, saying: "No no, that's not true."

Rajnath also said he felt that Jadhav did not get a transparent trial. "All efforts are on to get Kulbhushan justice. India will go to any extent to get him justice," he said.

Aziz said that Jadhav had the right to appeal within 40 days to a higher court.

Jadhav, who was tried by a military court, could also file a mercy petition with the army chief within 60 days of the decision by the appellate court. His last option was to file a mercy petition with the president within 90 days after the decision of the army chief.

He said Jadhav's sentencing was based on "credible, specific evidence" proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan.

Rejecting Indian contention that Jadhav was a retired naval commander, Aziz said that India had failed to provide any "credible explanation of why their naval commander was in Balochistan".

Jadhav is said to have been arrested in a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area.

Aziz said India's lack of cooperation and refusal to provide Pakistan legal assistance in the case were the reasons why consular access had not been provided to Jadhav.

The adviser said Jadhav's "confessional statement" had been recorded before a magistrate and the proceedings were conducted under proper laws.

A qualified legal officer was also provided to defend him in court proceedings, he said.

The developments are likely to impact on the already strained diplomatic relations, which have steadily worsened over the past few months over the Kashmir issue and terror attacks, which India has blamed on Pakistan.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday said Indian "spy" Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced according to the country's laws and that India had not responded to "specific information" sought on him in January.

Top foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz, in a press briefing on Jadhav, also asked how "an innocent man" could have two passports.

At the time of his arrest in March 2016, Jadhav had two passports on him, one in his name, and a second in the name of Hussain Mubarak Patel.

"Why was Jadhav using a fake name in his identity documents?' he asked.

Aziz also slammed the "inflammatory statements and rhetoric of premeditated murder" issued by the Indian government, which he said "will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose".

Aziz said the 10 April sentence on Jadhav was "as per the law of the land.. He (Jadhav) was involved in subversive activities in Pakistan."

He said that India has not responded to a "Letter of Assistance requesting specific information and access to certain key witnesses" that was shared with them on 23 January. "There has been no response from the Indian side so far."

Stating that "fully transparent process" had been followed in the sentencing, the top diplomat said Jadhav had the right to appeal within 40 days to a higher court.

Jadhav, who was tried by a military court, could also file a mercy petition with the army chief within 60 days of the decision by the appellate court. His last option was to file a mercy petition with the President of Pakistan within 90 days after the decision of the army chief.

He said Jadhav's sentence was based on "credible, specific evidence" proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan.

Rejecting Indian contention that Jadhav was a retired naval commander, he said that India had failed to provide any "credible explanation of why their naval commander was in Balochistan".

Jadhav is said to have been arrested in a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area.

Aziz said India's lack of cooperation and refusal to provide Pakistan legal assistance in the case were the reasons why consular access had not been provided to Jadhav. India has said it had sought consular access to him 13 times, and was refused each time. On Friday, its 14th request was turned down.

The adviser said Jadhav's "confessional statement" had been recorded before a magistrate and the proceedings were conducted under proper laws.

A qualified legal officer was also provided to defend him in court proceedings, he said.
The United States has dropped a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, otherwise known as the 'Mother of All Bombs', on an Islamic State stronghold in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province.

It is the first time the bomb, developed in the early days of the Iraq war, has been used in combat.

How powerful is the MOAB?

The 9.8-tonne guided bomb, the largest non-nuclear weapon in America's arsenal, is described by the US-based GlobalSecurity.org watchdog as "large, powerful and accurately delivered".

It is a demolition bomb containing 18,700 pounds (8,480 kilogrammes) of the explosive H6, the watchdog's website says, with a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT.

Nine metres (30 feet) long, with a diameter of one metre, according to GlobalSecurity.org, it is the largest-ever satellite-guided, air-delivered weapon in history. Popular Mechanics described it as weighing as much as an F-16 fighter jet.

Guided by GPS, it is dropped from the cargo ramp of a C-130 transport plane with its descent slowed by parachute, meaning it can be deployed from a greater height  giving US pilots more time to reach safety.

It is a concussive bomb, meaning it is designed to detonate before it hits the ground. Its thin aluminium skin helps to maximise its blast radius and generate a shockwave which Wired.com said can reach up to 150 metres.

On the other hand, Russia had developed the "Father of All Bombs" in 2007, which is four times bigger than the MOAB, reported Business Insider India. It is a thermobaric bomb with a destruction radius of around 1,000 feet and blast yield of nearly 44 tonnes of TNT. Thermobaric weapons combine with atmospheric oxygen to extend the blast radius.

Who made it?

It was developed in 2002-2003 by Alabama-based aerospace and defence company Dynetics in partnership with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), according to the company's website.

The website said the bomb's preliminary concept was developed into a detailed design within just three months, and successfully tested three times in 13 days. It was first produced for use in the early days of the Iraq war.

According to the Air Force, the last time the MOAB was tested in 2003, a huge mushroom cloud could be seen from 20 miles (32 kilometres) away.

What was the target?

The US Air Force said the target of Thursday's bombing was a tunnel complex in Achin district in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State militancy on the border with Pakistan.

Achin District Governor Esmail Shinwari said the bomb landed in the Momand Dara area while the defence ministry said the attack killed at least 36 Islamic State militants. A damage assessment is still being carried out.

The area is extremely remote and mountainous, inaccessible to government forces. It is north of Tora Bora, the complex network of caves from where Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden gave US forces the slip and escaped into Pakistan in late 2001.

The US said it believed the area was so remote that no civilians were in the area.

The strike hit a system of tunnels and caves that IS fighters had used to "move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces" nearby, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

Wired.com said a concussive bomb such as the MOAB has the advantage in such terrain: "Its blast can turn corners, and push all the way to the furthest reaches of a cave."

With inputs from AFP
On Thursday evening, US President Donald Trump turned his and his military's attention to Afghanistan, striking a tunnel complex with the largest ever non-nuclear weapon ever used by the United States in combat, and in typically understated Donald Trump vocabulary, termed it the "mother of all bombs".

The grandiose moniker is a throwback to the first Gulf War in the early 90s, when after George HW Bush bombed Iraq, and the then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein called it the "mother of all battles".

The phrase soon picked up steam and being called "mother of" was to be the greatest thing in American 90s pop culture, a sign that you had arrived. So people began being stuck in the "mother of all traffic jams" and having the "mother of all dinners". It was followed by another typically grandiose sounding operation, 'Operation Desert Storm', meant to eliminate Kuwait of Iraqi occupation.

It was a remarkably successful operation, at least considering the number of bruising operations the country's military has been involved in before and since. Saddam's troops fled Kuwait almost immediately after the US invasion, and Bush's approval ratings jumped 18 points to reach a high of 82 percent.

As this Atlantic article points out, however, during the build up to the Gulf war, over 1,200 women US military personnel became pregnant. Considering just 148 Americans died in combat, it adds up to a ratio of eight pregnant officers for every one who was killed. "Saddam promised "the mother of all battles. What he got was the battle of all mothers," the article notes.

The American protocol of naming the battles the country is involved in dates back to the Second World War. But as Geoffrey Nunberg has pointed out, the names would usually be plain and unambitious. "President Eisenhower sent the Marines to Lebanon in 1957 under the name Operation Blue Bat, and the military operations in Vietnam tended to have names like End-Sweep, Pocket Money, and Abilene... generals occasionally picked operation names that had more martial connotations, but that could backfire. When General Ridgeway named one Korea operation Killer, the State Department complained that he had soured the ongoing negotiations with the Chinese. Fifteen years later in Vietnam, General Westmoreland was forced to rename Operation Masher when President Johnson objected that the name didn't reflect the administration's "pacification emphasis," he wrote.

However, there were exceptions. Operation Rolling Thunder, a sustained aerial bombardment campaign conducted by the US Air Force against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, lasted more than three-and-a-half years. The bombardment was intended to put military pressure on North Vietnams Communist leaders and reduce their capacity to wage war against the US-supported government of South Vietnam.

Ronald Reagan then sent marines to the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada in 1983, a small-scale operation which went with the rather serious sounding name Operation Urgent Fury.

The US Army, under US President George W Bush, perhaps taking a cue from his father, launched three extremely cool sounding operations during the US occupation of Iraq: The first, launched in 2003, called Iron Justice, aimed to clear southern Baghdad of insurgents.

The second, operation Warrior's Rage, (which sounds like an awesome PS4 game), was launched in July 2005. The cordon and search operation netted eight terror suspects.

The third, entitled operation Valiant Guardian, took place in 2007, and comprised 4,000 marines, sailors and soldiers, and covered 30,000 square miles.

Clearly pleased with its successes, the Pentagon then tried out operations Restore Hope, Uphold Democracy and Provide Promise  all signs that the shining beacon of democracy, America, was doing its bit to uphold peace everywhere in the world.

It clearly went overboard with Operation Infinite Justice and Operation Enduring Freedom, names given to the global war on terror that the US has been fighting for the last decade and a half, and continues to do so. It truly has been the mother of all wars.
NEW YORK 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)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Islamabad: Pakistani police on Friday arrested eight members of a lynch mob that brutally assaulted two university students  killing one and injuring the other  over alleged blasphemy a day earlier.

An FIR was lodged in Sheikh Maltoon police station in Mardan against 20 suspects, eight of whom were later arrested, Dawn online reported. The suspects were identified through video footage of the assault, and the police have formed three teams to arrest the remaining suspects, the report said.

On Thursday, Abdul Wali Khan University students Mashal and Abdullah were targeted by the violent mob on the campus premises for allegedly "publishing blasphemous content online".

Mashal, 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."

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 7 April, 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.

With inputs from IANS
By Ori Lewis

| JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM A Palestinian man fatally stabbed a British student on Jerusalem's transit network on Friday, Israeli police said.Israel's ambassador to Britain, Mark Regev, named the victim as Hannah Bladon on his Twitter account, adding that she was "murdered in a senseless act of terror."The incident occurred in a train carriage on the light rail network near the walled Old City. TV footage showed blood on the floor of the carriage with police officers restraining a man and carrying him away.A paramedic for the Magen David Adom ambulance service said the woman had suffered multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead in hospital.The British Foreign Office in London said in a statement: "We can confirm the tragic death of a British national in Jerusalem. We are providing support for her family at this difficult time and are in touch with the local authorities."

Israeli media said Bladon was a 21-year-old exchange student studying at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Israeli police earlier said she was 25. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent condolences in a statement issued by his office.The Shin Bet domestic security service identified the assailant as 57-year-old Jamil Tamimi and said he was a Palestinian from Arab East Jerusalem with mental health problems who was convicted in 2011 for sexually assaulting his daughter."This is one of many instances where a Palestinian suffering personal strife ... chooses to carry out an attack in order to find release for his problems," the Shin Bet statement said.

It added that the assailant had previously tried to commit suicide by attempting to swallow a razor blade.The attack occurred as Christians marked Good Friday and Muslims held prayers at respective holy sites nearby.Friday is sometimes a day of heightened tensions in Jerusalem's Old City when tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers come to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

On Good Friday each year, Christians hold a procession along the Via Dolorosa in the Old City, retracing what they believe was the route that Jesus took to his crucifixion. A wave of street attacks by Palestinians in Israel, Jerusalem and the Israeli-occupied West Bank since October 2015 has previously killed 37 Israelis and two American tourists. At least 242 Palestinians have died during the period of sporadic violence.Israel says at least 162 of the Palestinians killed had launched stabbing, shooting or car ramming attacks. Others died during clashes and protests.Israel has accused the Palestinian leadership of inciting the violence. The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, denies incitement and charges that in many cases, Israel has used excessive force in thwarting attackers armed with rudimentary weapons. (Additional reporting by Luke Baker, and Mike Holden in London, Writing by Ori Lewis; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
An appeals court judge, the first black woman to serve on New York's highest court and the first Muslim woman judge in the United States, was found dead in the Hudson River in Manhattan. Sheila Abdus-Salaam, 65, an associate judge of the New York Court of Appeals, was pulled from the Hudson River and pronounced dead on Wednesday after being alerted by an emergency call, police said Thursday.

Her husband had reported her missing on Tuesday, US media said. "The medical examiner will determine the cause of death and the investigation is ongoing," New York police said in a statement. State Governor Andrew Cuomo hailed Abdus-Salaam as a "trailblazing jurist" and extended his sympathies to her family, loved ones and colleagues.

"As the first African-American woman to be appointed to the state's court of appeals, she was a pioneer," he 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."

The Associated Press reported that police detectives, retracing the final hours of Abdus-Salaam, have found no signs of foul play, supporting the belief it was a suicide, some law enforcement officials said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters about the death of Abdus-Salaam, New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce declined to answer questions about whether she took her own life.

But two other law enforcement officials said on Thursday that investigators were treating the death as a suicide. One of the officials said both the judge's mother and brother had died in recent years around Easter, the brother by suicide. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation hasn't been completed.

Meanwhile, results of an autopsy conducted Thursday were inconclusive. "The cause and manner of death are pending further studies following today's examination," Julie Bolcer, a spokeswoman for the city's medical examiner, said in a statement.

The 65-year-old Abdus-Salaam had spent the weekend with her husband at their New Jersey home, Boyce said. She had her last conversation with her husband by phone around 7 p.m. Monday after she had gone to a second home in Harlem, and also spoke with her assistant on Tuesday, he said.

After the judge was reported missing, the New York City police harbor unit responding to a 911 call retrieved her clothed body from the Hudson on Wednesday. A Metrocard found on the body was last used at a subway stop on 42nd Street in Manhattan on Monday, Boyce said.

"There are no apparent injuries to her body," he said. "It appears to be non-criminal at this point."

Abdus-Salaam was born into a working class family in Washington DC in 1952 and educated at public schools. While researching her family history as a child she discovered that one of her great-grandfathers had been a slave in Virginia, US media said. She studied at New York's Barnard College and Columbia Law School, where she was a classmate of Eric Holder, the first black US attorney general, who served under former president Barack Obama.

Abdus-Salaam began her legal career at East Brooklyn Legal Services, which works against poverty, racial and social injustice, before serving as a lawyer for the New York state government and city's office of labor services. She was appointed to the Court of Appeals by Cuomo in 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," the court said.

She lived in Harlem.

With inputs from AFP and The Associated Press
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 4 April 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 on 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 on 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".

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," he said.

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.

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 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 Russia has used its veto to block action directed at Damascus.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday received a frosty reception 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 he and Tillerson had discussed the US strike on Thursday, 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 on 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.
Against the backdrop of Turkey's historic referendum on expanding presidential powers, the news is emerging regarding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's upcoming visit to India. The Indian Express reported that Erdogan  who is set to hold a massive referendum in Turkey on 16 April to bring in constitutional change, turning Turkey from a parliamentary to a presidential republic, scrapping the post of prime minister and consolidating his hold on the country  is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 May.

The Hindu reported last month that Erdogan is expected to arrive in Delhi with a large entourage of ministers for his first visit to India since 2008. In 2015, Erdogan put off his plans to travel to India after a series of protests in his country. This visit was long overdue, and we have been preparing for it for some time, ever since it had to be put off in August 2015, a Turkish diplomat told The Hindu, adding that President Erdogan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share a good relationship, having met twice already, including once in Turkey for the G-20 Summit.

According to government data, Modi and Erdogan have interacted on the sidelines of G-20 summits over the past couple of years. They held bilateral talks on the margins of G-20 summit in Antalya on 15-16 November, 2015. After a failed coup attempt last year, Modi had called up Erdogan on 29 August to express solidarity with Turkey and its leadership. They again held talks in Hangzhou, China in September last year on the sidelines of the G-20 summit.

Erdogans visit will come a month ahead of the Nuclear Suppliers Group plenary session where India will once again push its bid for membership. The Indian Express reported that the major focus areas during the visit will be Delhi's application for becoming a member of the NSG since Turkey has not yet given unqualified support to India and has insisted on criteria-based approach. New Delhi has perceived this as tacit support to Pakistans application. This will be a good opportunity to put Indias perspective to Erdogan and obtain his support, The Indian Express reported quoting a source.

India will also hold talks with Turkey on combating terrorism  a menace faced by both countries. Erdogan understands the threat from terrorist groups, including the Islamic State, and it would be an important element in the conversation. Turkey has been seen to be supportive of Pakistans position on Kashmir. India will raise the issue of its battle with Pakistan-based terrorism groups, and there will be discussions on intelligence sharing on terrorist threats, sources told The Indian Express.

Turkey, on its part, will hope for an endorsement for recent government moves and a crackdown on dissidents that have drawn international criticism, especially after the failed coup in July 2016, according to The Hindu. Last year, former Turkish Ambassador to India Burak Akcapar had publicly called on India to take action and shut down activities, institutions in the country run by Fethullah Gulen. Turkey has been asking countries around the world to act against the network of Sufi leader Fethullah Gulen, who it accused to be the force behind the coup.

According to The Huffington Post, the constitutional amendments Erdogan is close to implementing to extend his reign away from the current parliamentary system will allow the Turkish president to rule for two successive five years terms after 2019.

During Erdogan's visit, India and Turkey will also discuss practical ways to strengthen economic and commercial cooperation. Bilateral India-Turkey trade has increased significantly in the preceding decade-and-a-half. Several bilateral agreements and institutional mechanisms, at the governmental level as well as B2B, provide the framework for strengthening economic and commercial ties. The Bilateral Trade Agreement between India and Turkey was signed in 1973.
NEW YORK United Airlines found itself on the defensive again on Friday after a passenger complained that a scorpion stung him during a flight from Texas, capping off a bruising week for the public image of the one of the world's largest carriers.A man on board a United flight from Houston to Calgary, Alberta on Sunday, said a scorpion dropped on his head from an overhead storage bin and stung him under his fingernail, according the United and media reports."We were on the plane about an hour, having dinner, and then something fell on my head, so I grabbed it," passenger Richard Bell told CBS in a Skype interview on its website.

Bell said another passenger who was Mexican told him, "'Hey, that's a scorpion, they're dangerous,' ... That's when it stung."United flight attendants helped the passenger after he was bitten "by what appeared to be a scorpion," airline spokeswoman Maddie King said in an email on Friday, adding that a physician on the ground assured the crew that "it was not a life-threatening matter."

United is "reaching out to the customer to apologize and discuss the matter," she said.The airline spent the week scrambling to contain the fallout from a video that emerged on social media showing security officers dragging a bloodied passenger off an overbooked United Express flight in Chicago on Sunday as other travelers looked on in horror.

Dr. David Dao, a 69-year-old Vietnamese-American doctor, suffered a concussion and broken nose when dragged from the plane and will likely sue, his attorney said on Thursday.His lawyers have filed an emergency request with an Illinois court to require the carrier to preserve video recordings and other evidence related to the incident. After the incident triggered international outrage, United Chief Executive Oscar Munoz apologized to Dao, his family and its customers, saying the carrier would no longer use law enforcement officers to remove passengers from overbooked flights. (Reporting by Frank McGurty in New York and Alana Wise in Washington, editing by G Crosse)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The US military on Thursday dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat, targeting an Islamic State (IS) complex in Afghanistan.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb  better known by its nickname, the "mother of all bombs"  hit a tunnel complex in Achin district in Nangarhar province. The huge bomb has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT.

The US military had on Tuesday said that an American special forces soldier had been killed while conducting operations against IS in Nangarhar, although it was not clear if Thursday's strike was connected.

Why is the Nangarhar province suddenly a hotbed of military activity?

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. US forces have conducted a number of air strikes on jihadist bases in the area since August last year.

The area is extremely remote and mountainous, inaccessible to government forces. It is north of Tora Bora, the complex network of caves from where Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden gave US forces the slip and escaped into Pakistan in late 2001.

The US said it believed the area was so remote that no civilians were in the area.

The strike hit a system of tunnels and caves that IS fighters had used to "move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces" nearby, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

IS, notorious for its reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, has been making inroads into Afghanistan in recent years. It has attracted disaffected members of the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban as well as Uzbek Islamists.

But the group has been steadily losing territory in the face of heavy pressure both from US airstrikes and a ground offensive led by Afghan forces.

The IS' strength in Afghanistan has fallen to 600 to 800 fighters from 3,000 in early 2016, NATO has said, adding that it killed the top 12 IS commanders in the country last year.

"The GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat," Air Force spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder said.

"We don't know anything about the casualties so far, but since it is a IS stronghold we think a lot of Daesh fighters may have been killed," Achin District Governor Esmail Shinwari said.

Shinwari said the bomb landed in the Momand Dara area, approximately 15 km from the Pakistan border.

US President Donald Trump also commented on the mission, calling it "very, very successful."

With inputs from agencies
The big news emerging from the United States is that, as per reports, US forces dropped the military's largest non-nuclear bomb on what it said was an Islamic State (IS) cave complex in remote Afghanistan (Achin district in Nangarhar province) on Thursday. The bomb, GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), can reportedly obliterate everything within a 1,000-yard radius and is being termed as the "mother of all bombs".

But if the GBU-43/B  not the biggest in Pentagons non-nuclear arsenal  is being termed the "mother of all bombs", then perhaps the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator in the US arsenal, designed to destroy heavily fortified bunker complexes, can perhaps be termed as the "mother superior of all bombs", albeit it has never been tested beyond the laboratory stage. Though the GBU-57 is heavier (at 13,607 kg, it is 3,356 kg heavier than the GBU-43), the latter has a larger warhead and explosive yield.

Following the bombing, it was quite amusing to hear some analysts portraying it as a US signal to North Korea and even Pakistan  a naive assessment, for these two countries must be laughing at such interpretations. North Korea is reportedly preparing for another nuclear test anyway  posing a direct challenge to the US on Chinas behest.

Now let us examine the GBU-43/B bomb. This GPS-guided bomb was first tested in March 2002, just prior to the US invasion of Iraq. It weighs 10,251 kg, has a length of 30 plus feet, a diameter 40.5 inches, filling weight of 8,482 kg, and a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT.

The GBU-43/B was developed as a successor to the BLU-82, nicknamed Daisy Cutter, that the US used to clear wooded areas during the Vietnam War and in Iraq for mine clearance, as also a psychological weapon because of its shock and awe. The significant point to note is that the GBU-43/B is not a penetrator weapon but is primarily intended for soft targets covering extended areas  targets in a contained environment like a deep canyon or 'within' a cave system.

It is for this very reason that the US did not use the GBU-43/B when attacking the Tora Bora caves, when Osama bin Laden was suspected to be hiding there. When you have a cave system to clear, it is far better to launch multiple strikes through fighters/bombers with standoff weapons targeting the mouths of individual caves. Of course, in open areas, carpet-bombing, with its smaller ground impact, and aboveground detonating bombs are effective methods.

In this instance, a single GBU-43/B dropped over a cave system would have unlikely done much damage  as it is not a penetrative ammunition. Even if it did enter the cave system, the network paths inside the caves  generally dug at varied angels  would have minimised the blast impact.

The US said that the damage caused by the GBU-43/B strike was still being assessed. Satellite photos would have just shown large clouds of dust and smoke. Satellite images of the 59-Tomahawk missile strikes launched from USS Porter and USS Ross in the Mediterranean on 6 April on Syrias Shayrat air base, southeast of Homs, showed plenty damage as apparent from the air. But on the ground, only nine Syrian air force jets were hit, one air defence site partially destroyed and six personnel killed.

What did not find prominent coverage was that 34 of these 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles were reportedly shot down by Syria, using Russian defence systems. This could perhaps be a reason for the US to demonstrate a show of force in Afghanistan, using the GBU-43/B, especially if the bomb in question was close to completing its shelf life.

But the media hype, suggesting that the entire IS cave system in Nangarhar has been wiped out, may be far from the actual truth. Not that the IS doesnt need to be struck, the irony is that US intelligence had all along portrayed IS in Afghanistan as not much of a threat. Just last December, General John Nicholson, top US Commander in Afghanistan, had gone on record to say that, "IS sanctuary, that once was nine districts in Afghanistan, has been shrunk down to three". There are some 600-800 IS terrorists in Afghanistan as per US estimates.

Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai has vehemently, and in the strongest words, condemned the GBU-43/B strike in Afghanistan, saying, "This is not the war on terror but the inhumane and most brutal misuse of our country as testing grounds for new and dangerous weapons. What every Afghan has been asking since Bush launched his famous global war on terrorism and invaded Afghanistan is that while Afghanistan was ravaged through war, virtually nothing was done to attack and wipe out the hatcheries in Pakistan, other than some peripheral Predator attacks,"

"The same situation prevails even today. United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reports have categorically stated that the majority of casualties in Afghanistan have been caused by the Taliban and groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Haqqani Network, Hezb-e-Islami, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Islamic Jihad Union, IS etc, " Karzai said.

US intelligence also reveals that the Khorasan branch of IS is an "amalgamation of primarily disaffected and rebranded former Afghan Taliban and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members. Apparently, they were cobbled together in the Peshawar region and have been pushed west into Afghanistan.

Also, Voice of America reported last year that Afghanistan officially told Pakistan that Hafiz Saeed, former LeT chief, is directing IS operations in Afghanistan. So, the so called IS in Afghanistan is obviously mixed with LeT and other Pakistani proxies like JeM etc. And, most importantly, they have a free run inside the Pakistani border, but the US never goes beyond talking of Haqqanis.

Hopefully, with the current situation deteriorating in Afghanistan, the US will not keep giving a free hand to Pakistan, and have some consistency in its policy within Afghanistan. Currently, some 300 Marines are reportedly headed to Helmand province; but, in the past, it was the total withdrawal of US troops from Helmand that gave the control and consolidation of Taliban in the area.

Again, two years back, when Taliban captured part of the city Kunduz and the US Special Forces (USSF) kept asking permission to help the Afghan National Army, there was no response from the hierarchy despite repeated requests. Ultimately, whatever games the Pentagon and the CIA want to play, it must be clearly acknowledged by the US that unless Pakistan is sorted out good and proper, the region will remain destabilised. China abetting Pakistani terrorism is turning the situation even more dangerous.

The author is veteran Lt Gen of Indian Army.
US President Donald Trumps shock and awe week of dramatic military escalation was headlined by the mother of all bombs - the United States dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on Afghanistan Thursday, killing dozens of Islamic State militants. This is the first time that the 21,000 pound GPS guided bomb has been used in combat, the Afghan government said 36 Islamic State militants have been killed. This comes a week after Trump ordered missile strikes against Syria in retaliation for a suspected chemical attack.

The Bannon-Kushner infighting

Trump is 84 days into the first 100 days of his presidency and what do we make of Chief Strategist Steve Bannons exit from the National Security Council - an unprecedented role for a political adviser. Soon after Bannon was booted from the NSC, Trump described Bannon as a guy who works for me but not saying whether he supports him or not. True to form, Trump said hes his own strategist. Steve is a good guy, but I told them (Kushner and Bannon) to straighten it out or I will," Trump told the New York Post. Whats we know for sure is that Bannon and Trumps son in law Jared Kushner are unable to agree on policy, Bannon is dismissive of Kushners ( read Ivanka Trumps) more moderate views. The palace intrigue is getting murkier. Will Trump fire Bannon altogether and if that happens, how many ways can Bannon seek revenge is what Washington D.C insiders are discussing.

Trump's voters are fuming

How are Trumps most loyal voters - the ones for whom he dropped an emotional anchor - feeling after the mother of all bombs halfway across the world? They care more about Mr. Steven Bannon and theyre fuming. A closed Facebook group has come up called The concerned support base for President Trump. Red flags visible says the cover picture. Trumps voters see Bannons waning influence and the ascent of moderate Wall Street networkers as enemy action against the populist cause that blasted Trump into the White House.

The China schmooze

Policy flip flops have extended to campaign promises that cover the globe - latest one coming after the Trump-Xi meeting where Ivankas daughter Arabella sang a fabled Chinese song for the visiting power couple. After spending his entire campaign trail ranting about China, Trump reversed his stand and said China is not manipulating its currency to gain a trade advantage. Soon enough, the US Treasury said ditto, late Friday.

More secrecy

To close out the week, the Trump administration closed another door - the practice of disclosing the identities of most visitors to the White House will end because it posed "grave national security risks and privacy concerns," US media reported. Now, its entirely up to White House officials discretion to release names of people who meet with Trump or his advisers, yet another step that limits access to both media and the public.
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The coal industry is in the news these days, not least because Donald Trump recently issued an executive order that appears to support the business. That, plus recent upswings in coal prices have fueled hope that the sector is set for a significant rebound.

Justified or not, that optimism is providing an interesting opportunity forWarrior Met Coal to enter the public markets. The specialty producer is about to debut on the stock exchange following its IPO. Let's crank up the furnace and see what's cooking with the company.

Image source: Warrier Met Coal.

Walter becomes a Warrior

Warrior Met Coal's specialty is metallurgical (aka coking) coal, hence its name. Metallurgical coal is used to make coke, the carbon-rich raw material utilized in traditional steel production.

The company is essentially the successor of the bankrupt Walter Energy; creditors effectively took control of its core assets to form Warrior Met Coal. As a result, entities associated with big investment managers own most of the present-day company. These include affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Blackstone, and KKR.

Warrior Met Coal operates a pair of its predecessor's mines. The two facilities, both located in Alabama, have a combined production capacity of around 7.3 million metric tons of met coal; total reserves are estimated at nearly 108 million metric tons. Warrior Met Coal also has an undeveloped mine with estimated reserves of roughly 103 million metric tons. As a side business, the company also extracts methane gas.

As a young company (it was formed in 2015), Warrior Met Coal doesn't have much operational history on its own. What it does provide indicates revenue of just under $298 million for the nine months ended Dec. 31, 2016, with a net loss of almost $50 million.

The company's predecessor, basically the assets it acquired from Walter Energy, booked revenue of almost $545 million and a bottom-line loss of nearly $311 million in 2015.

This Fool's take

At first glance, now is a fine time to be in the met coal business. On the back of increased imports from China and a sudden, weather-related constriction in exports from the No. 1 met coal market, Australia, the price of the commodity has ballooned lately. Earlier this month it topped $300 per metric ton, more than three times its price at the same time last year.

But the Australian slowdown is only a blip, and the Chinese market isn't the bright shining future for Warrior Met Coal's key product.

Met coal is used in traditional steel making, i.e. in old-fashioned blast furnaces. These facilities are expensive to build, and once built they are costly to maintain and run.

Meanwhile, the far less capital-intensive electric arc furnaces have been all the rage in the global steel industry for years now. On the production side EAFs don't require coke at all for their operation; they use electricity to melt down scrap steel in order to make new product.

The U.S. steel industry caught the EAF bug years ago. Recent data indicates that nearly two-thirds of American production derives from these facilities. Meanwhile, the last blast furnace built in the country was completed in the 1960s.A similar drive toward EAF production is playing out in Europe.

Although there are still a great many blast furnaces in China, they'll probably go the way of the Dodo bird too. In addition to their financial shortcomings, they produce an enormous amount of pollution compared to the average EAF. Since pollution is a major environmental issue in the country, EAFs are potentially a clever solution, while blast furnaces are an integral part of the problem.

Blast furnaces, in short, are yesterday's technology.

The market has cottoned on to this. The upswing in met coal prices hasn't been matched by improvement in the share prices of met coal stocks. Top met coal producer SunCoke Energy(NYSE: SXC)and its master limited partnership SunCoke Energy Partners(NYSE: SXCP) are both down by around 20% so far this year.

Peabody Energy-- which recently emerged from bankruptcy after being crushed by debt, itself a very worrying development -- has fallen by 17% since returning to the stock market.

SunCoke Energy (plus, by extension, SunCoke Partners), and Peabody Energy are veterans in the met coal space. If investors can't get excited about them in the face of a price spike, I doubt they'll be overly bullish on Warrior Met Coal.

The details

Just under 16.7 million shares of Warrior Met Coal will go on the market, with the IPO price ranging from $17 to $19 per share. The company will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HCC. The first day of trading is scheduled for this Thursday, April 13.

It's important to note that the company will not gain any proceeds from the offering; instead, its selling shareholders (chiefly the Apollo Global, Blackstone, and KKR affiliates) will reap those monies.

The issue's underwriting syndicate is led by Credit Suisse, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley.

10 stocks we like better thanWal-MartWhen investing geniuses David and TomGardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter theyhave run for over a decade, the Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

David and Tomjust revealed what they believe are theten best stocksfor investors to buy right now... and Wal-Mart wasn't one of them! That's right -- theythink these 10 stocks are even better buys.

Click hereto learn about these picks!

*StockAdvisor returns as of April 3, 2017The author(s) may have a position in any stocks mentioned.

Eric Volkman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The nation's big banks remain cautious about lending, and banking analyst Dick Bove says that means Wall Street's feeling less confident about President Trumps pro-growth agenda.

If the banks cant lend money, they cant make a profit," Bove said in an interview with FOX Business Network's Varney & Co.

Bove, an analyst at Rafferty Capital Markets, said banks cant get people to borrow money despite the enthusiasm among business leaders for Trumps economic policies.

"People have yet to reach the point where they want to pull the triggers, build their businesses, buy inventories, increase the size of their operations and therefore, they are not borrowing money, he said.

Three of the largest U.S. banks, JP Morgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC) and Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) on Thursday reported first-quarter earnings. Both JP Morgan Chase and Citi beat expectations while Wells Fargos results were mixed.

Bove credits the success of big banks in providing services the American consumer wants that small banks dont provide. Bove warns Congress could reshape the financial system to benefit small banks that will hurt the little guy and lead to a financial crisis.

There is no reason for a bank to withhold funding for the little guy on Main Street and they are not doing it. They are the ones who are providing the bulk of the finding for the little guy on Main Street. They do not want to withhold their funding, Bove said.
Deepwater projects were the buzz of the day in 2007, and many energy companies across the board invested in them -- and with every passing day, many of those companies are abandoning those projects outright.

In this Industry Focus: Energysegment, two Motley Fool analysts explain why so many of these deepwater projects failed. Then, they look into five companies that are still involved with deepwater projects that investors might want to take a look at if they're interested in contrarian bets against the current market reaction toward deepwater drilling.

A full transcript follows the video.

10 stocks we like better than National Oilwell VarcoWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and National Oilwell Varco wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.

Click here to learn about these picks!

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 3, 2017

This video was recorded on April 6, 2017.

Sean O'Reilly:Before we head out,I want to wrap about deepwater offshore drilling.

Taylor Muckerman:Or lack thereof?[laughs]

O'Reilly:Or lack thereof. When it was all peak oilright before the financial crisis in2007, if memory serves,this was going to be the savior. It wasgoing to be, we'll find these huge fields, we'llkeep producing, we'll be OK for a while because of these deepwater offshore projects.

Muckerman:Yeah, their long-tail projects. Very expensive, though.

O'Reilly:Then,I don't know, Iraq'sproduction gets back up to 4 or 5 million barrels; shalecomes into the picture.

Muckerman:Andthe bottom falls out.

O'Reilly:Is it game over? What'sgoing on here?

Muckerman:It is for somecompanies. You've been seeing a lot of restructuring lately.Hercules Offshore--

O'Reilly:I remember them.

Muckerman:Yeah,they were predominantly shallow-water,jackup rigs.

O'Reilly:So this is like 100 miles off the coast of the Gulf?

Muckerman:I don't even know if it's that far. It's all jackup rigs. They're not floating, they'reactually on the surface below the water. Theycan't go too deep. But then again,it wasn't as expensive as deepwater,so you would expect, maybe there's some leeway there. Unfortunately not.Hercules Offshore restructured in court. Shareholdersobviously not doing so well.

O'Reilly:Did they just have too much debt?

Muckerman:I can't speak toHercules, but the latest one,Seadrill Deepwater, all debt. I remember talking about this companyback in the boom days in 2012 and 2013. Very wary then when oil was surging, and deepwater was the Mecca of oil for the next few decades, or so people thought. They werecompletely funding their dividend out of debt. They were free cash flow negative before dividend,so then you have to take on debt to pay the dividends,because they had one of the highest yields in the business. Obviously unsustainable now. We talked about it, myself and Joel South talked about itextensively back then.

O'Reilly:Oh,so I should go to YouTube and find these four-year-old videos.[laughs]

Muckerman:Yeah, YouTube "Taylor Muckerman Seadrill," there'sproof in the pudding right there. But now,Transoceanhas been selling rigs to the tune of billions of dollars lately as well.

O'Reilly:Their fleet age is dropping a lot, by the way. Have you seen that?

Muckerman:It is. Fora while there, they had one of the oldest fleet ages. Seadrill and Ensco had some of the youngest, along withNoble. But now they'reselling off their old rigs,some of their shallow water rigs.

O'Reilly:And retiring.

Muckerman:Yeah. Retiring, not evenselling them all off. They did make a pretty big deal, I think, in the last couple weeks. But, a lot ofrestructuring going on. And as we all know, when a company restructures whenbankruptcy is involved --

O'Reilly:Shareholders are last in line.

Muckerman:Equity shareholders are usually the tail end of the bread line. This bodes well if deepwater does come back in favor,you have less competition and you've weeded out the weaker players who've tried their darnedest to get in when the getting was good. They weren't secure in their balance sheet, they had too many rigs on order. You're going to see, the players who are going to survive are going to, if deepwater does come back, they're just going to have a field day. And that's companies like, Transocean,I don't think is going to go anywhere any time soon. Ensco, Noble, and if you'relooking at the companies that supply them withequipment, National Oilwell Varco(NYSE: NOV) and ...what was the company they spun out?

O'Reilly:DistributionNOW. That's the parts, mostly.

Muckerman:Yeah,they've done a great job of standardizing a lot of the parts on these rigs. If you want somecontrarian bets on the energy sector,I'm not saying go buy them now. I'm saying take a look at Ensco, Noble, Transocean, NOV and DNOW. If you want five contrarian bets,maybe take a look. And evenPetrobras,integrated oil company out in Brazil. Brazil, in the pre-salt formation hassupposedly some of the most prolific oil reserves under the deepwater there, and Petrobras has first come first serve.

O'Reilly:Actually,over a year and a half ago now, Tyler Crowe and I talked toNational Oilwell Varco CEO.

Muckerman:Yeah,it's great people down there.

O'Reilly:I had sat down and interviewed [Robert] Workman, the CEO of DNOW. Toany of our listeners, if you want to see those interviews,if you're wondering what those guys were thinking back then, feel free to email usand I'd be more than happy to send those to you.

Muckerman:I interviewed --

O'Reilly:You talked to them a year before us. They're cool guys.

Muckerman:-- Pete Miller on camera a year before. Yeah,we went down there two years in a row to talk to them and a few other companies. That's a very well-run company. It just got hit by market forces.

O'Reilly:Andthat's how economics work.

Sean O'Reilly has no position in any stocks mentioned. Taylor Muckerman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends National Oilwell Varco. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
In this segment from Market Foolery, Chris Hill is joined by Motley Fool analysts Jason Moser andTaylor Muckerman to discuss the viral video that has resulted in major backlash for United(NYSE: UAL) Airlines.

Regardless of how the stock moves short term -- it has declined 2.5% this week -- the Fools believe this incident could hurt the airline going forward. And major competitors are taking the opportunity to step in and poach upset customers.

A full transcript follows the video.

10 stocks we like better than United Continental HoldingsWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and United Continental Holdings wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.

Click here to learn about these picks!

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 3, 2017

This video was recorded on April 10, 2017.

Chris Hill:The head ofpublic relations for United Airlines,whoever he or she is, ishaving a tough day,and that is because,as you have probably already seenby the time you're listening to this episode ofMarket Foolery, video has surfaced of a passenger being forciblyremoved from a flight that was going from Chicago toLouisville. This was on Sunday. Everything about this, I think, is bad for United Airlines, because the backstory -- this is not somepassenger who was drunk or causing trouble. This was,United overbooked the flight, they asked forvolunteers to leave so that they could get four United employees to Louisville to service another flight. And they offered $400, and then they offered $800, and then they said, "You know what? We'rejust going to have a computer pick people at random." So apassenger who had paid for his flight got removed. And Taylor, as you were saying before we started taping, theaviation police,who were doing their job,seemed relatively unconcerned that so many people on that flight had their phones outand were videotaping thissituation. And I know this isn't going to hurt their stock today, but among other things, I think,if I were another airline,I would be trolling Unitedso hard with this for so long.I don't know. I think there could be some potential long-term trouble here for United,but maybe I'm wrong.

Taylor Muckerman:It'sunfortunate for them, because like you said,it was the Chicago Aviation Police. It wasn't their employees thatapparently knocked this gentleman unconscious whiletrying to drag him off the airplane. Yeah, theFacebookvideo I saw I had been viewed 360,000 times, and it wasn't a company's page that was liked 360,000 times,it was a regular citizen who probably only had a few thousand friends on there, but 360,000 views shows the virality of this video andhow widespread it become in less than 48 hours. Was it yesterday that this happened?

Hill:This was yesterday.

Muckerman:Less than 24 hours, viewed almost 400,000 times on one person's account. Yeah,they're definitely going to see this on social media for quite some time.

Hill:And,you're right, it wasn't United employees who removed this guy. But I look at the underlying business systems that United put in place, and I think,ultimately, it falls back on them. It highlights how airlines overbook.

Muckerman:Yeah,they're not the only ones that overbook. All of them do it.

Hill:Yeah. But in this case, they'reoverbooking so that they can get employees from point A to point B. Why are you stopping at $800 if you'retrying to get people to leave a flightvoluntarily?

Muckerman:This is going to cost them way more than $800.

Jason Moser:And if you think, too, if you go 10 or 20 years back, to when this was something airlines would do, and I think travelers probably assigned more value to thattravel voucher back then than they do. I think a lot of that is because the waythe internet has changed everything we do, from e-commerce to travel to banking. What I think the internet hasultimately done is helped us realize placing more value on our time. In any scenario,you value your time moreso today than I think we could have 10 or 20 years ago,because there were not as many choices. So when you get stuck on an airplane and they're trying to get people to take off andtake a travel voucher and take a later flight, like, "That $400,I guess I could do something, butit's such a nightmare going to the airport anddealing with getting through security and getting on the plane,nobody likes flying on those planeswith those little tiny seats." All of the sudden, United becomes ...any airline is going to have to look at that and say, "Maybe$400 isn't going to cut it." Maybe $800 does cut it. Maybe there are a few people on the plane that will go ahead and take that offer. But, again, I think,why in the worlddo they so consistently overbook flights? You have a fixed number of seats. It's not like it takes a PhD to figure this out. So obviously, they do something where they're relying on some sort of statistical measure, where it sayshow many people might not show up for a flight, orhowever many cancellations might exist, and they can overbook by this amount. But, I do think, for someone, I look at myself and I am, generally speaking, about asapathetic to any given airline brand when it comes to flying.I'm just looking for a plane that's not going to go down,and I want a reasonable price, andI want you to get me there quickly. But man, after this, I have to say,I don't think I would want to buy a ticket for a United flight because of this. I don't seeanything good that came of this. There was thedress code thing that wasn't too terribly long ago, either,which I found to be pretty absurd, honestly. They'rejust not doing themselves any favors.

Hill:AndI don't know if you saw this, but in response to the whole United flight not letting the two young women on because they had leggings,Delta Air Linestweeted outsomething about how, "Flying Delta means flying comfortable,even if you just want to wear leggings."

Moser:Yeah,you should go out in public and you should be dressed insuch a way that is not provocative or questionable. But hey,instead of focusing on the dress code,why don't you focus on people that smell bad? Right? Have you ever sat on a planenext to somebody who stinks? Because that's offensive.

Hill:I think that's going to be a tough one to put into a system.

Muckerman:Well, they're both subjective.

Moser:I don't think so. I think fashion is subjective. Objectively,you either smell or you don't. And if you smell, I don't want to sit next to you.

Chris Hill has no position in any stocks mentioned. Jason Moser has no position in any stocks mentioned. Taylor Muckerman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Facebook. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Thursday reiterated President Trumps pledge to drain the swamp in Washington by reorganizing Federal agencies and making them run more efficiently.

The question you have to ask yourself, is not only the taxpayer getting the best bang for their buck, but are the people those services are intended to be provided for getting the best services, Spicer told reporters during a press conference at the White House.

This comes on the heels of Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney enforcing Trumps executive order on government reorganization and reducing the federal workforce.

Were actually trying to bring this business attitude toward the way we run the government, he said during an interview with Fox & Friends Wednesday morning.

Spicer noted taxpayers deserve good customer service from their government, and he called for bipartisanship support.

This is something that should unite conservatives, liberals, Republicans and Democrats. Good government, an effective, efficient government is something that really doesnt have an ideological home, he said.
Apple is still in the car business. The autonomous car business.

Despite reports that the tech giant was scaling back its secretive automotive project, it was just granted a permit by the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test self-driving cars on public roads.

Apple joins a long list of companies on the registry that includes Google, Ford, Tesla, GM, and Bosch. That last one is doubly significant, because one of its facilities in Germany responsible for automotive parts showed up last month on an Apple supplier responsibility report, according to Apple Insider.

WHAT WILL THE APPLE CAR LOOK LIKE?

Apple hasnt revealed exactly what its working on in the automotive space, but CEO Tim Cook has called it interesting, and that the company is always looking at new things. Recent rumors point to Apple being focused on the software and equipment that will enable autonomous cars, rather than the development of an entire vehicle.

We should find out more about it soon, as the permit requires public reporting of accidents involving the test vehicles and how often they require human intervention.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Pontiac Firebird, so some of you must be totally bummed that you cant buy a new one anymore. The thing is, you can.

Sort of.

Tallahassee-based Trans Am Worldwide has been converting fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro SSs into Firebird Trans Am tributes for the past couple of years, and now its applied its magic to the latest sixth-generation muscle car, doing for mustache-era muscle car fans suffering from malaise what General Motors cant anymore.

Company co-founder Tod Warmack says they stepped things up this time around with carbon fiber bodywork designed to capture the essence of the original on the new platform. Retro gauges, custom upholstery, snowflake wheels, a shaker hood and a screaming chicken graphics package help enhance the transformation, while T-tops are available. (If you dont order them, you really have failed.)

The standard car -- Warmack calls it The Outlaw -- comes with a Magnuson-supercharged version of the Camaros LT1 6.2-liter V8 that pumps out 602 hp, but you can upgrade it to a bored-out naturally-aspirated 455 cubic-inch monster with ceramic headers they're working on that will have at least 750 hp.

Theres also a limited edition 455 Trans Am Super Duty with a set of 15-inch Brembo brakes and a supercharger strapped to the big motor that helps coax it to send a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon-besting 1000 hp and 1046 lb-ft of torque through either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.

The engine is a collaborative effort between Magnuson and an unnamed NASCAR engine builder, according to Warmack, and the block is pretty much the only original part left. The Super Duty also gets a lowered suspension, stiffer anti-roll bars and meaty-looking 10-spoke wheels.

Prices for the cars range from around $85,000 to $150,000, and only 50 of the Super Duty models will be built. That may not be enough to meet demand. Last year, the company offered a run of 77 Bandit Trans Ams celebrating the film Smokey and The Bandit and sold every one of them for over six figures each.

CHEVROLET CAMARO SS TEST DRIVE:
Police are searching for a San Diego man who drives for Lyft and has not been seen since April 6.

Lyft drivers disappearance worries friends, family https://t.co/FK0dqKN5ub pic.twitter.com/YFs5xJx7DD  FOX 5 San Diego (@fox5sandiego) April 14, 2017

David Medina, who also goes by David Bernal, was last seen driving a red 2016 GMC Terrain SUV near Interstate 8 and Jackson Drive.

Friends and family say they are very concerned because its very uncharacteristic for the 32-year-old to disappear.

Anyone with information is asked to call the San Diego Police Department Missing Persons Unit at 619-531-2346.

This story first appeared on Fox5SanDiego.com
Leighton Meester has no problem discussing her music and her new role in FOXs Making History, but she doesn't want to open up about her family.

I find it to be an important element when Im talking to girlfriends and catching up with whats going on in each others lives, explained the 31-year-old actress to Coveteur. "...But I think women need to be held up and supported and lauded for their achievements outside of their marital status. It definitely makes you feel more accomplished when youre being supported for your intelligence, your character, your achievements.

LEIGHTON MEESTER SUES HER MOTHER

Meester said won't discuss her family with the media.

Trust me, in my personal life with my friends, its a huge topic of conversation, because its your daily life and a lot of the time in your daily life, she said. But when it comes to work, its not what makes you, you.

That also explains why Meester was drawn to her character Deborah Revere, the daughter of American Patriot Paul Revere, who fights for womens equality.

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Deb is ahead of her time, and shes questioning womens place in society and how theyre treated, she explained. She time-travels to modern day, and its a funny fish-out-of-water scenario, yet she also brings up  just because of her innocence and naivety about modern  Well, arent women equal now? I cant believe women dont have equal pay. Up until recently, women were expected to stay home and get married at a young age and just do the cooking and cleaning and child-raising.
Chef Jose Andres may have recently settled his lawsuit with the Trump Organization, but the restaurateur isn't done giving the president and his supporters a piece of his mind.

But instead of just tweeting at Trump, this week, the Spanish-born chef released a new rap song, urging the president to consider passing some type of immigration reform.

"America wants you to pass immigration reform," Andres raps to a slow beat. "To take care of every single man living in American soil..."

Andres has restaurants in six different cities across the U.S., but his busy schedule didnt stop the chef from writing this little ditty, hot on the heels of squashing a two-year legal battle with the Trumps.

The dustup between the chef and the President began in July 2015, after Andres decided not to open a restaurant planned for the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., citing then candidate Trumps controversial remarks about Mexican immigrants; all of which led to a $10 million lawsuit filed by the Trump Organization for breach of contract. Andres countersued in October 2015, seeking $8 million.

AS TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN IN IMMIGRATION POLICY, 'SANCTUARY RESTAURANT' MOVEMENT GROWS

NATIONWIDE

Although the terms of the recent settlement are confidential, the two issued a joint statement, in which Andres said, I am pleased that we were able to resolve our differences and move forward corporately, as friends...Going forward, we are excited about the prospects of working together with the Trump organization on a variety of programs to benefit the community.

But by the sound of his latest effort to appeal to the president, it doesn't sound like the chef is ready to drop the issue entirely.

JOSE ANDRES, RICK BAYLESS JOIN HUNDREDS OF RESTAURANT WORKERS DURING 'DAY WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS' WALKOUT

In case youd like to sing along, here's the main verse:

America wants you to pass immigration reform

To take care of every single man living in American soil

Every single woman contributing to bring food to your plate

Every single person who works hard under the American sky

As Americans, we are one

Andres has reportedly enlisted a couple of his buddies, including French chef Eric Ripert and Parts Unknown host Anthony Bourdain to record songs of their own -- but neither culinary personality has released a sample of their music skills just yet.
Pepsi admitted that it missed the mark with a controversial commercial featuring Kendall Jenner, but it turns out the ad wasnt entirely bad for the brands image  especially when it comes to millennials.

The Pepsi spot, which the company debuted on April 4, saw Jenner joining a protest, and ultimately offering a can of Pepsi to a gruff police officer as a peace offering.

PEPSI FIGHTS PHILLY SODA TAX WITH SMALLER BOTTLES

The ad was immediately met with backlash on social media, with many accusing Pepsi and Jenner of making light of the Black Lives Matter movement. The company later issued an apology, and pulled the campaign less than a day after it was released.

But now, according to a new survey from Morning Consult, nearly half of the 2,202 adults who were polled had a more positive opinion of Pepsi after watching the polarizing ad.

Specifically, 44 percent saw the brand in a more favorable light, versus 28 percent who didnt seem to care and about 25 percent thought more negatively of the soft-drink giant.

The numbers skewed even further in Pepsis favor when adjusted to reflect millennials, observes Money-ish. Among respondents aged 1829, about half felt favorable toward the video.

The ad also resonated equally well with African-Americans, with 51 percent saying it paints Pepsi in a more favorable light  even despite the accusations that Pepsis commercial downplayed the Black Lives Matter protests.

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Latinos were the most moved by the ad, with 75 percent saying their opinions of Pepsi improved.

But while Pepsi escaped from this debacle largely unscathed, Kendall Jenner didn't come out smelling like a rose. As Fortune notes, only 28 percent of those polled thought more of the model after seeing the ad.
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.

LOS ANGELES FISHERMAN CATCHES 50-POUND CARP IN MIDDLE OF THE CITY

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.

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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."
A heartbroken mother has shared an emotional Facebook post addressed to her son Nolan, two months after he died of cancer.

Ruth Scully, from Maryland, revealed the pain of watching her child suffer, and the final miracle before she lost him.

Nolan was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer, in November 2015 and passed away in February this year, aged four. His mum says she had long wanted to write about his last days and how he was made of nothing but pure love.

On a page she and husband Jonathan created for Nolan Strong, Ruth describes her feelings as agony unlike any other, in a beautiful tribute that has left readers in tears.

When she took Nolan to the hospital for the last time, after he had battled cancer for more than a year, he had not eaten or drunk anything in days and was continually vomiting. On February 1, the oncologist sat them down to hear the terrible truth. The four-year-olds cancer had spread and large tumours were compressing his bronchial tubes and heart just four weeks after open chest surgery.

The cancer was no longer treatable.

The anguished mother walked into her sons room, where he was watching YouTube.

Me: Poot, it hurts to breathe doesnt it?

Nolan: Weeeelll.... yeah.

Me: Youre in a lot of pain arent you baby?

Nolan: (looking down) Yeah.

Me: Poot, this Cancer stuff sucks. You dont 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 Mommys job?

Nolan: To keep me SAFE! (With a big grin)

Me: Honey ... I cant do that anymore here. The only way I can keep you safe is in Heaven. (My heart shattering)

Nolan: Sooooo Ill just go to Heaven and play until you get there! Youll come right?

Me: Absolutely!! You cant get rid of Mommy that easy!!

Nolan: Thank you Mommy!!! Ill go play with Hunter and Brylee and Henry!!

THE LAST MIRACLE

Nolan slept for most of the next few days. His mother made sure things were in order. I cannot explain to you what signing an Emergency Responder Do Not Resuscitate order for your angelic son feels like, she wrote.

When he woke up, Ruth had his things ready to go home for one more night together. But her son was still putting others first. He gently put his hand on mine and said Mommy, its OK. Lets just stay here OK? My 4 year old Hero was trying to make sure things were easy for me ...

So in between sleeping for the next 36 hours, we played, watched YouTube, shot Nerf Gun after Nerf Gun and smiled as many times as we could. An hour or so before he passed he even filled out a Will! 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.

At 9pm, while watching Peppa Pig in bed, Ruth asked if she could leave Nolan for a shower.

He said Ummmm OK Mommy. Have Uncle Chris come sit with me and Ill turn this way so I can see you. I stood at the bathroom door, turned to him and said Keep looking right here Poot, Ill be out in two seconds. He smiled at me. I shut the bathroom door. They said the moment the bathroom door clicked he shut his eyes and went into a deep sleep, beginning the end of life passing.

When I opened the bathroom door, his Team was surrounding his bed and every head turned and looked at me with tears in their eyes. They said Ruth, hes in a deep sleep. He cant feel anything. His respirations were extremely laboured, his right lung had collapsed and his oxygen dropped.

I ran and jumped into bed with him and put my hand on the right side of his face. Then a miracle that I will never forget 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 11:54pm Sgt. Rollin Nolan Scully passed away as I was singing You are My Sunshine in his ear.

Nolan loved his family and friends with a fierce devotion, and brought people from across the world together, Ruth said. He was a warrior who died with dignity and love, she added.

Alongside the bereft mothers heartfelt letter to her son, she shared a memorable photo of Nolan lying on the bathroom floor, showing how her son was too terrified to leave her side even when she showered.

Now Im the one terrified to shower, she wrote. With nothing but an empty shower rug now where once a beautiful perfect little boy laid waiting for his Mommy.

To donate to Nolans memorial fund, visit his GoFundMe page.

This article first appeared on News.com.au
Theres been lots of breathless news coverage Thursday of the U.S. deciding to use the largest conventional bomb in its inventory to attack an ISIS tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan. Most of that interest is misplaced. There is nothing particularly significant about the employment of the weapon slyly titled the MOAB (Mother of all bombs).

It is not the conventional equivalent of the Hiroshima bomb, it releases only one-tenth of one percent of the destruction that bomb did, and with no radiological effects.

The president and Secretary of Defense had previously pushed down the chain of command responsibility for operational decisions of this nature. That is a significant change from the Obama administration practice of holding such authorities at high political levels, but it has been in place for some time.

Americas military commander in Afghanistan, General Nicholson, gave the approval, so there is no reason to suspect higher headquarters like the Pentagon or White House were seeking to send a message to North Korea or Iran.

The review of Afghanistan policy is evidently still underway in the Trump administration, so this tactical choice wouldnt be intended to signal a change in course. The ordnance itself is designed to destroy wide, shallow target sets, like tunnel complexes, so there is no reason to suspect North Korea or Iran would fear for their deeply buried nuclear weapons facilities because of its use. Theater air planners matched it to the target set. It hasnt previously been used in combat because most of American combat since the bombs introduction into the inventory has been in urban or heavily-populated terrain, which would unduly risk civilian casualties.

And thats the interesting part of Thursdays operation: ISIS has infested the sparsely-populated Afghan-Pakistani border region, the U.S. apparently had good intelligence on their location, and took action to kill as many ISIS fighters as possible while they were training and organizing, before they deployed to an area of operations.

One of the principal impediments to winning the war in Afghanistan has been the sanctuary Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and other malign actors have had because of the limited Afghan government reach into the borderlands and Pakistani complicity in their activity as a way to have influence in Afghanistan. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has already taken to twitter to condemn the use of the weapon, increasing the pressure on his successor to likewise denounce it.

Which means that our military operations may be at odds with the leadership in both countries whose policies must align with ours for the current strategy to succeed. And that in turn increases the likelihood that the Trump administrations Afghanistan policy review will elect to wind down our current nation-building strategy for Afghanistan, and instead narrow our policy from a counter-insurgency to a counter-terror approach, ceasing to help the Afghan government to secure its territory and improve its governance and instead using military force to reach in and attack suspect activity. Ironically, that will involve more military strikes Hamid Karzai disapproves of.
President Donald Trump has inherited wars from both Republican and Democratic presidents who have taken us down a dangerous path in the Middle East, which has helped radicalize the region and keep us at war.

President George H. W. Bushs Administration signaled indifference to Saddam Hussein when he planned an assault on Kuwait and then proceeded to annihilate Iraqs retreating army. Saddam Hussein swore vengeance.

President Bill Clintons harsh sanctions on Iraq resulted in the deaths of 500,000 children. Those deaths were among Usama bin Ladens reasons for attacking the U.S. on 9/11.

President George W. Bush initiated a war in Iraq which led to the death of over 1,000,000 Iraqis.

President Barack Obama continued the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, while starting other wars in Libya and Syria (covertly). He escalated international drone strikes, allegedly even marking specific rebels for death from a special deck of face cards.

Obamas exercise of power was cold, subtle, sudden and deadly, hardly the mark of a sissy.

Yes, we need to deal with ISIS. However, what most Americans do not understand is that the CIA has provided covert support, weapons, materiel, and money for so-called moderate rebels, who became ISIS, Al Qaeda and Al-Nusra.

The U.S. did this in cooperation with our allies, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, in order to overthrow the Syrian government, which, for all of its faults protected the freedom to worship.

The surest way to diminish ISIS is through cutting off their funding, which is exactly what legislation proposed by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Sen. Rand Paul would accomplish. If ISIS fighters are deprived of money and material, they will soon head home to the dozens of nations from whence they came.

Enter President Trump. The show of brute military strength demonstrated with the dropping of the mother of all bombs in Afghanistan may or may not instill fear in ISIS, but it certainly is causing alarm among many in America and around the world who sense that this display of almost supernatural military power might bring us a step closer to World War III.

We are told by the Washington, D.C. establishment that if we do not fight them there, we will have to fight them here. It is precisely because we have chosen to fight them over there that we will have to fight them over here. If we roam the world looking for dragons to slay, some will follow us home.

Wouldnt it be wiser, if we are serious about making America safer, that we actually investigate why young men from around the world are joining ISIS, Al Qaeda and Al-Nusra?

Perhaps there is a better way than trying to bomb them and their ideas out of existence, especially since, despite protracted war, their ranks continue to be filled.

The musician Michael Franti once said: You can bomb the world to pieces, but you cant bomb the world to peace. We seem to be testing that sensibility.

In world capitals, the U.S.' sensational use of such a powerful weapon will be cause for concern, because it licenses larger aggressive actions on the part of both non-state and state actors.

The unprecedented use of such a blockbuster can endanger Americans abroad, including our military on 800 bases in 130 countries. Our troops are now more of a target. It also makes security here at home a bit more dicey. No nation can use a weapon of this power against another nation without creating great animosity, desire for retribution and an escalating world-wide arms race.

The U.S. ushered in the age of nuclear weapons when it dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. Several of our leading generals at the time declared the war was already at an end and the bombs did not have to be dropped.

In the wake of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, several other nations, notably Russia, began spending billions on the research, development and production of nuclear weapons to protect themselves from annihilation.

Today, Russia and the U.S. possess such fearsome destructive capacity that nuclear weapons could destroy life on our planet. We are not alone. In total, nine nuclear nations possess over 15,000 nuclear weapons.

Just think of how our leaders presently express concern over nuclear threats coming from North Korea. We have actually dropped the mother of all bombs on Afghanistan and all eyes are on America. If we monger war we will surely receive it in abundance.

Russia, in response to the U.S. development of the mother, has developed the father of all bombs which supposedly has five times the devastating power of mother. Not to be outdone, the U.S. has taken steps to have a new mother brought forward, this one weighing 30,000 pounds.

How unbelievable it is to live in a time where the life-creating symbols of mother and father became the agencies of the destruction of life. Our metaphors are signposts to the end of the world.

If the destructive power of our weapons matches the destructive power of our egos, then we will, like Major King Kong in "Dr. Strangelove," be in for the (last) ride of our lives.

Before our leaders act in fulfillment of the Apocalypse, I think a few questions are in order.

How, after a campaign where he repeatedly questioned Americas adventures in Iraq and Libya  including warning President Obama not to strike Syria after an alleged government use of poison gas  did President Trump get trapped in these wars?

How, after questioning the workings of the Pentagon and the CIA, and being the victim of government leaks, does he permit leaks and disinformation to take us to the brink of war?

How, after promising a new opening for peace with Russia, is he being dragged into a showdown with Russia in Syria, amid a hailstorm of phony stories about Russia tilting the US election?

Is President Trump really in charge, or is the permanent bureaucracy in the Pentagon, the CIA and the State Department now running policy while they take advantage of his inexperience?

These are not insignificant questions. The moment is ripe with portent: Expanded wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan. Potential conflict with North Korea, Russia, China, and Iran.

As more Americans become aware of the danger of a world-wide conflict, their thoughts naturally turn to home and family and the beauty not of bombs, but to the beauty, the preciousness of life itself. I think we have that in common with most people around the world. It is this awareness of a commonality which brought President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to end the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and avoid nuclear war.

The bombing is accelerating in country after country and the death toll of innocent civilians continues to rise and with it the resentment against America continues to grow, and unless we soon reverse course, forces will be unleashed globally which will be irretrievable.

The repercussions of the dropping of the Mother of All Bombs on a village in Afghanistan will be felt in conflicts small and large. We live in a global village. ISIS may be the target, but the collateral damage may include ourselves.
Almost two years ago a young community leader from Afghanistan wrote to tell me that ISIS was dropping leaflets in Nangarhar province. She said women activists she had worked with for years had written to tell her about the extremism that was taking hold in their neighborhood, and how no one was doing much of anything to counter it.

Nangarhar University witnessed scores of young men raising flags of the Taliban and ISIS, Wazhma Frogh wrote back then. Afghanistan needs a national plan for how to deal with growing extremism.

I thought of her all day Thursday during the breathless coverage of the dropping of the largest non-nuclear bomb on Nangarhar province. For just a few hours, Americas war in Afghanistan got remembered, though it was with almost no context and with few of the urgent questions that needed to be asked:

? Why this bomb, and why now?

? If U.S. military leaders had this capability for several years, what is it about this target at this time that made it make sense? Tunnels? ISIS?

? What are U.S. forces facing on the ground?

? What is the plan to help stem the unsustainable rate at which Afghan forces are dying in this war?

? What is the Trump strategy in Afghanistan?

? Will Gen. John W. Nicholson, commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, get the few thousand more forces he is seeking? And what is their end goal?

Americas longest war is also its most forgotten, and one bomb is not going to change that. We are so unaccustomed to seeing this fight in the headlines that context almost feels out of context.

But that is not the case for the troops fighting this war, for the families whose lives have been changed forever by it or for the Afghans who are living with its realities and fighting for their futures every day. They don't have the luxury of tuning in once every few years to a war that has gone on for more than a decade and a half and to which U.S. forces continue to deploy, including some surprise deployments.

For them, this war is not a movie. It is not an occasion to break out the popcorn and cheer, and then return to our lives.[SB3] It is not a media event. It is a fight that has ground on and has seen special operations forces, whose tours are typically shorter than conventional forces, deploy nine, 10, 11, 12 times to the same battlefield.

This war rarely punctures Americas indifference, but Thursday was different. For just a moment on Thursday, America remembered the fight that claimed the life of Army Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar in Nangarhar last week. It remembered that its special operations forces continue to serve in a counterterror mission almost 7,500 miles from home. It remembered a war that barely merited a mention in the 2012 and 2016 presidential campaigns.

That war needs more: more attention, more discussion, more understanding of the strategy in play and the desired end. And, above all, more context. We dont have the luxury of tuning out our fights. And even if we did, we shouldnt.

America remains a nation at war, even if most of us don't act like it.
A bomb, possibly worn by a suicide attacker, ripped through a throng of worshipers outside of a Coptic Christian church in the port city of Alexandria, Egypt killing at least 21 people in the worst attack against Egypts Christian minority in recent memory.

At first glance, you might think the statement above is about last weekends double bombings targeting Coptic Christians in Egyptwhich left at least 44 people deadbut, in fact, it refers to an incident from 2011. And reading it again today elicits a sombering sense of deja vu; that attack, committed more than six years ago, was claimed by a nascent militant group affiliated with Al Qaeda, called the Islamic State of Iraq.

If you think the recent church bombings in Alexandria and Tanta, or the execution and displacement of Christians in the Sinai, mark the beginning of a new ISIS plot to wreak havoc in Egypt by targeting Christians, I beg to differ.

ISIS was at work in Egypt long before their lightning advance on Iraqi cities like Fallujah and Mosul in 2014 and even as they lose ground in Iraq and Syria today they are still at work in Egypt.

Egypts Coptic Christiansthe regions largest Christian community have been the subject of a longstanding and escalating terror campaign in the Middle East.

Following the events of the 2011 revolution, dozens of Christians were killed in sectarian clashes, including some ploughed to death during a demonstration.

In 2013, in the span of 24 hours, 52 churches and several Christian bookshops, business, and homes were damaged or torched. And last year, in one of the most shameful incidents in recent memory, a mob in the province of Minya stripped and beat a 70-year-old Christian woman before parading her naked through the city.

The Copts dont simply face the threat of terrorists either. They also face varying forms of discrimination and such discrimination often paves the way for extremism.

Copts are treated as second-class-citizens despite that they are as native to the land of the Nile as any other Egyptian people group. They trace their history 2,000 years back to the Apostle Mark, who tradition says first brought the teachings of Jesus to Egypt, and their ancestral language, Coptic, is still used in church liturgy and prayers and studied to better understand ancient hieroglyphics and Egyptian history.

Though outspoken in its condemnation of the mounting violence, the government has been unable to put a stop to it. Furthermore, in some ways Egypts overwhelmingly Muslim parliament and police forces have been complicit in discrimination against Christians. In many cases, the police react so late to known threats that assailants get a free pass to do as they please (the police took two hours to respond after the incident in Minya despite having been warned about threats the day before).

Last year, the Egyptian parliament even passed a new law which allowed permits for constructing or renovating church buildings to be arbitrarily denied. For building a new mosque, all one needs is to comply with standard building regulations.

Its not just Egypt, either. Northern Nigeria and Pakistan are on similarly perilous paths. In 2016, the killing of Nigerian Christians increased more than 62 percent, and Pakistan was rated as the most violent place for Christians to live.

If the world doesnt wake up quickly to these threats, the events we witnessed in Iraq will be repeated in countries like Egypt, Nigeria, and Pakistan. In fact, the seeds are already planted, violence is already escalating, and the world isnt doing enough.

Christians from the free world must put pressure on politicians to act in defense of those who are vulnerable for their faith alone before its too late.

Concrete steps, with a long-term vision for the freedom of religion (including conversion) must be taken. Our world leaders need to address the disease of religious intolerance and extremism, not just its symptoms.

The day after the bombings in Alexandria and Tanta, I read this defiant response from a Christian in Egypt: We love Egypt, he said. We will go to churches on Easter and beyond to worship the Name of Jesus.

How fearless they are! They should not have to be.
As a psychiatrist and New York Times bestselling self-help author, it would be remiss of me were I to not point out that President Trump exemplifies ways of being and communicating that, if mastered by others, could greatly empower them, psychologically and interpersonally. We are not just witnessing a president possessed of certain political ideals; we are witnessing a president with true self-possession.

Here is an incomplete selection of the ways that you can change your life, for the better, by identifying with this American presidents extraordinary persona:

1. Dont let anyone tell you that youre not good enough to work toward any goal you cherish. Just dont forget the work.

Lots of people told Donald Trump that his pursuit of the presidency was folly. He announced his candidacy, anyhow. But, then, he didnt pursue his goal, half-heartedly. He spared no effort. He worked tirelessly toward it.

If you arent willing to put in the workfor realneither will anyone else. Thats why Donald Trump was known to visit his construction sites, repeatedly, wearing a hard hat.

Maybe it was a symbol, but it was one with real meaning: He wasnt too good for the job site and he was always willing to work just as hard as anyone welding a beam.

Once you choose a goal and resolve to work toward it, dont entertain doubt that you can achieve it.

"60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl, interviewing then President-elect Trump, asked him whether he ever imagined, upon descending the escalator at Trump Tower to announce his candidacy, that he would one day be talking to her as the President-elect. He answered her with his own question, Why else would I come down the escalator?

I believe President Trump knows that the goals a person embraces arent just random notions, they are gifts of intention, from a higher power. And they are to be cherished as such by the recipient.

This notion has deep Biblical significance. When God told Moses to free the slaves of Egypt, Moses did not visit the Pharaoh and show self-doubt. He resolutely cast down his staff, which then turned into a serpent.

2. Dont mimic the posture of your competitors. Be courageous enough to be authentic.

The circumspect language and feigned, elegant demeanor of politics did not define the language of Donald Trump, on the campaign trail. His words were more sparse and more pointed, and Americans heard them, loud and clear.

Thats why Trump tweets, too. The tweets cut through all the feigned formalities of politics.

No one can act like Donald Trump. Thats why tens of millions of people trusted him enough to elect him president of the United States.

No one can act like you, either. Youre an original. Dont be afraid to let some of your loose ends show; they make you human, they make you credible and they can make you much more powerful.

3. Let yourself be righteously angry when people take you for a weakling, a fool or a fraud.

Donald Trump doesnt abide those who would overcharge him (or the United States) for an airplane or those who overcharged him for work on Trump Tower. He threatened to cancel Americas order for Air Force One and hes threatened not to pay inflated bills for his own buildings.

Donald Trump doesnt abide those nations who believe they are as powerful or as just or as decent as America, when they arent. He calls them out on it.

I believe Donald Trump has a gut-level hatred of fakers and frauds. When numbers dont add up, or positions are out of step with the truth, I think it bothers him the way a shin-splints would bother a boxer.

Let yourself be annoyed by lies (especially about you) and say so. Let yourself believe that the truth is all powerful and that the truth always wins.

heres a lot more to what I am calling "TRUMPING YOUR LIFE," by the way. So, next week and the week after, Ill deliver more pointers on using this American presidency like a self-help seminar.
Rex Tillerson has now had the Trump Administrations first face-to-face meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two-hour sit-down provides a powerful opportunity for a teachable moment in the life of the new American administration. As a candidate, President Trump openly admired Mr. Putins leadership style. However, it is unclear whether that admiration will survive the reality of dealing as President with Mr. Putin. Its too bad that Secretary Tillerson wasnt able to speak to Alexei Pichugin during his time in Moscow. His boss, Mr. Trump, would benefit from hearing what Pichugins case teaches about Putins ruthlessness and excess.

Never heard of Mr. Pichugin? Not surprising  hes not in the news much, since for the past 14 years hes been behind bars, either in the notorious Russian FSB (Federal Security Service) Lefortovo prison or, even worse, the storied Black Dolphin, which houses Russias worst of the worst: child molesters, terrorists, cannibals, serial killers and sociopaths of all stripes.



Pichugins treatment speaks volumes about Putins Russia, and the realities of Russian power President Trump is up against.



The story begins with the Yukos affair  the destruction of the Yukos Oil Company, Russias largest energy company at the time Vladimir Putin took power. It reveals at once the excess and the pettiness of Mr. Putin, who 14 years on continues to involve himself pursuing personal vendettas and perceived insults related to Yukos. It reveals Mr. Putins avarice, too, as international tribunals have found shareholders were damaged $50 billion from his expropriation of Yukos on behalf of Rosprom, Russias state-run oil company controlled by his cronies. Finally, the Yukos Affair reveals Mr. Putins unfettered cruelty, as he has ordered the ruin of Yukos employees to serve his goal of crushing the former Yukos Chairman, Mikhail Khodorkovsky  jailed for 10 years -- Deputy Chairman, Leonid Nevzlin, falsely and fantastically charged with multiple murders, and others associated with the company.



But no former Yukos employee exemplifies Mr. Putins savagery more acutely than Pichugin, who was working as a mid-level Yukos manager at the time of his arrest in June 2003. Mr. Pichugin was never a political activist or a journalist. He was nonetheless arrested in June 2003 and brought for the first time to Lefortovo. Mr. Putins goal for Mr. Pichugin was always the same: to extract incriminating testimony against Messrs. Khodorkovsky and Nevzlin.



In the first year of his captivity, Mr. Pichugin complained of being drugged and interrogated outside the presence of his lawyers while being pressured for false testimony. He recalled being removed from his cell by two FSB operatives who told him that he must give evidence against Mr. Nevzlin. He awoke dazed, with needle marks on his elbow and between his right thumb and index finger.



Mr. Pichugin was subjected to a secret, closed-door trial on the testimony of jailhouse confessors. Those witnesses subsequently recanted, admitting that they testified against Mr. Pichugin only after being coerced to do so by investigators. One witness against Mr. Pichugin, a serial killer who changed prior testimony to incriminate Mr. Pichugin, was quoted saying that: My life is now in the hands of the President of Russia, a powerful statement of Mr. Putins personal involvement in the details of Mr. Pichugins abuse.



As recently as last year, Mr. Pichugin was dragged back to Lefortovo from his cell in Siberia and has been pressured to provide incriminating testimony against Mr. Khodorkovsky, who now lives in Britain under a grant of political asylum provided based on Mr. Putins unrelenting pursuit of him. At the same time, Mr. Putins thugs raided the apartments of Mr. Pichugins elderly mother and brother, sending a clear message that Mr. Putin is ready to extend Mr. Pichugins ordeal to his family.



The European Court of Human Rights has held that Russia violated Mr. Pichugins fundamental rights during his secret trial, but Mr. Putin and his administration have refused to provide him the new trial the Human Rights court ordered. And when the European Court imposed a $2.6 billion judgment against Russia for its violations of human rights against Yukos, Mr. Putin signed a law that Russia was not obligated to abide by judgments of that court.



In democratic countries, the personal involvement of the nations President in individual cases like Mr. Pichugins and those against Yukos would be unthinkable, even without the accompanying human rights abuses in Mr. Pichugins case. The independence of the courts and criminal justice systems are assumed in such places. Not so in Russia, where Mr. Putins manipulation of the courts and prosecutors for political purposes has become a modus operandi. The destruction of Mr. Pichugins life over the past 14 years is a tragedy that has become too common in Mr. Putins Russia. The chilling lesson is that it is not necessary to be a political opponent of Mr. Putin to feel his wrath. It is enough to be associated with a real or perceived enemy of the President, or to be perceived as someone through whom the President can exact some revenge, or some punishment, or set an example for others.



It's time to recognize Putin's ruthlessness. Mr. Pichugins story presents a window into the true nature of the Russian President and into the dire circumstances of freedom and the rule of law in Russia, on whose neck (like Mr. Pichugins) Mr. Putin now firmly has his boot. The new administration fails to look through that window at the peril of freedom and democracy itself.


On a dark Friday two thousand years ago, Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. Powerful members of the religious, political, and military communities colluded to strip him naked, mock him publicly, and crucify him. Yet two millennia later, Christianswho believe that Jesus is the Son of Godcelebrate that dark day by calling it Good Friday.

Why on earth would Christians refer to this day as good Friday?

Its called Good Friday because even while powerful men were conspiring to kill the Son of God, God himself was acting to save the world from itself, once and for all. Even while the worlds authorities were conspiring to perpetrate historys greatest evil, God was working to bring about historys greatest good.

It didnt have to be this way. After all, God created the world as his good kingdom in which humans could flourish, and in which they would never have to experience evil. Yet, the very first couple, Adam and Eve, decided to seize power for themselves and, in so doing, introduced evil into Gods good kingdom. From that day forward, humanity would live in a world riddled by evil and its consequences.

In the aftermath of Adam and Eves mutiny, God promised that he would one day send a Savior who would undo evil. That Savior was Jesus. The Bible says that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17).

But what does Jesus crucifixion have to do with him saving the world? In response to that question, here are three things Jesus crucifixion accomplished, which together provide a powerful explanation of why Christians call that dark day Good Friday:

1. On the cross, Jesus suffered so that we would not have to suffer.

Unlike other religions Christianity teaches that all of us are born with a tendency to sin. Like Adam and Eve, we refuse to recognize God as God and we break his law repeatedly. Because God is the universal King and ultimate Law-giver, our sins are mutinous; they represent an attempt to steal his kingship and replace his laws. The Bible teaches that all of us deserve death as the penalty for our law-breaking.

Yet the Bible also teaches that God loves us and does not want us to suffer the penalty of our sin. For that reason, he took on a human body and came to earth as Jesus. When he did that, he traded places with us. He lived the sinless life that we should have lived, and died the death that we deserve to die. He took our guilty record, died for it, and offers us his perfect record in return. That is why the apostle Paul declared that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1).

2. Through the cross, we can be reconciled to God and each other.

Because of our sins, we alienate ourselves from God and others, but Jesus saves us from our sins in order to mend those relationships. That is why the Bible says, For it pleased the Father that . . . by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross (Col 1:19-20). In fact, Jesus reconciling powers will cause all relational barriers to be torn down, including the barriers of ethnicity and nationality (Rev 5:9-10).

3. Because of the cross and resurrection, we have hope for the future.

The Bible connects Jesus crucifixion with his resurrection. After Jesus suffered on the cross, he was buried, but on the third day he rose from the grave! When he rose from the dead, he not only confirmed his divinity but declared that he would return one day to make things right. He will return to disestablish evil, sin, and death from their artificial throne, and establish himself as the true King over a kingdom characterized by justice, peace, and love (Rev 21-22).

Until that day, he leaves us with a two-fold invitation: He invites us, first of all, to embrace him as the Savior that he is, to trust in him alone for our salvation. The Bible teaches that he alone can save (Acts 4:12) and that there is no sinner too bad for him to save (1 Tim 1:15). But he invites us, second of all, to allow his saving power to electrify our lives, turning us into the type of people whose speech and actions are patterned after his.

It does seem odd to refer to anybodys death as good. Yet, Gods good plan is often counterintuitive: As Jesus says, He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life will find it; the first are the last and the last are the first (Mark 10:31); and yes, through the good death of Gods Son, humanity can receive true life (Rom 5:10).
The United States and North Korea are finally facing off this Easter weekend over Kim Jong Uns insatiable appetite for courting danger. Heres why President Trump is doing the right thing by taking a hard line.

While the rest of the world sits by, twiddling its collective thumbs and hoping that Kim comes to his senses, Trump has laid down a marker: test an underground nuclear device as you are threatening to do, and there will be consequences. The presence of a U.S. Navy strike force, armed with Tomahawk Cruise missiles, is the unspoken backup to Trumps clear message.

The excuse for the North to conduct the test is morbidly fitting: Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-Sung, the current Kims grandfather. What better reason to plunge the world into conflict than to thank granddad for all he did?

Trump has raised the stakes in this showdown, unlike Barack Obama, who tried to give Kim toothless avuncular advice, or Bill Clinton, who was hornswoggled into a bad nuclear arms deal with Kims father, in 1994. Clinton promised then that the pact would bring North Korea into the community of civilized nations. Right. Guess it all depends on what your definition of is, is.

Chinas role in this showdown is crucial. It is now North Koreas only patron, keeping its economy barely afloat and protecting it from United Nations sanctions and condemnations. So far, there have been at least 15 meaningless finger-wags from the House of Humor on the East River in Manhattan.

When Chinas president, Xi Jinping visited Trump in Florida last week, the two seemed to have reached a gentlemans agreement: China would do what it could to restrain the haircut challenged man-boy in Pyongyang. Trump, in return, would stay calm in the face of North Korean provocations and let China know what it planned to do.

Then, this week, something went awry. The China Daily, which reliably spouts Beijings latest thinking, began issuing ominous headlines, warning the U.S. against any military action. That, no doubt, was due to Trumps missile launch against Syria, which showed the world that a new sheriff, named Donald, had come to Washington.

Like a smart aleck kid whose big brother is the captain of the wrestling team, Kim seems to believe he can act with impunity on the world playground. The Chinese, and before them, the Soviet Union, protected his granddad and his father for decades. The latest model Kim probably either doesnt understand, or maybe doesnt believe, that Trump is a new kind of American president.

After visiting Mar-a-Lago at the very moment the U.S. was sending its regards to Syria, President Xi certainly knows that is true. But can he convince the juvenile delinquent who is his political ward to back off in time to prevent disaster?

This Easter weekend, we should all pray extra hard for salvation and peace.
Charles Krauthammer told viewers Thursday on Special Report with Bret Baier that the US militarys decision to drop a bomb on Afghanistan means that were trying to send a message particularly to the North Koreans, possibly also the Iranians.

Theyre developing nukes. The nukes are buried. Theyre intended to be in places that are highly reinforced. And this is a way of saying, we can get there, Krauthammer said.

His comments came after the announcement that the US Air Force dropped the largest nonnuclear weapon the US military has ever used in bombat on what the White House described as a complex of ISIS tunnels on the border with Pakistan.

I suspect from what they tell us this is an ISIS base, an ISIS tunnel, which tells you, number one that ISIS is more entrenched than we would have thought  you have this notion of ISIS being sort of a band of jihadists just running around, but this is pretty entrenched, Krauthammer said.
Scott and Shannon Doerhoff describe their son Will as someone who never met a stranger.

Sitting inside of their home, in a picturesque suburban neighborhood just outside of Little Rock, the two exchanged fond memories of their first-born, highlighting his comforting way with people.

He always smiled, said Scott Doerhoff. They instantly knew that he was someone that they could approach and be comfortable with without ever saying a word, because he always had that smile on his face.

But in the nations battle with opioid addiction, Will Doerhoff is now a statistic  another life lost to a heroin overdose.

Will began his path to addiction as a freshman at the University of Arkansas after being introduced to the prescription stimulant Adderall, according to his parents.

During his second semester, casual Adderall abuse with fraternity brothers led to painkillers and harder methods of consumption. And, as Wills father recalled, it is at that time when the family began noticing changes in their son, who, at the time, was a teenager.

He was struggling, said Scott Doerhoff. We could tell from just the tone of conversations.

Deepening his addiction, Will began purchasing his poison online. By the end of the year, he was hooked.

They would crush the pills up and smoke them or they would crush the pills up and inject them, said Scott Doerhoff. He had all of the skills when he came home.

Will's problem came to a head in the summer of 2015.

Early one July morning, Wills mother found him unconscious in his bedroom, barely clinging to life.

He was agonal breathing, said Shannon Doerhoff. At that point, I didn't know. I knew he was in respiratory distress, but I didn't know what was happening.

Shortly after paramedics arrived, the family realized the severity of Wills addiction. Lying near him on his bed was a piece of tinfoil, a straw, and a substance that was later determined to be heroin.

The budding lawyer survived the overdose and spent the next year recovering. He began a new life in Monroe, Louisiana, got engaged, and was preparing to attend a local college.

But in the fall of 2016, Will relapsed. And after failing to show up for work one day in October, the Doerhoffs were met with the phone call that no parent ever wants to receive.

You knew, said Scott Doerhoff while fighting back tears. It's not really a pain that you feel. It's like you don't even know how to exist at that moment because everything that you'd ever done in your entire life, the entire meaning of your life, really, which is to protect your children, had just been taken from you.

Will died on Oct. 14, 2016 at age 20.

The Dark Web

Shortly after his passing, Scott and Shannon learned of how their son obtained his fatal dose of heroin  through a purchase on the so-called dark web. Wills parents said that he was able to simply sit down at his computer and order the substance, unbeknownst to law enforcement or to those who delivered it to him.

Three days later it was mailed to a post office box, said Scott Doerhoff.

In a startling trend that is sweeping the nation, drug users are turning to that hidden swath of cyberspace to feed their addictions, according to conversations that Fox News had with numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement officials in at least six different states.

Specific to the opioid epidemic, Fox News is told that the dark web phenomenon is like adding gasoline to a wildfire.

Not indexed by search engines like Google or Bing, the dark web's contents cannot be traced back to any one person, allowing individuals to carry out illegal activities and trade illicit goods anonymously.

Both the seller and the buyer can remain anonymous, said Captain Charles Cohen, the head of the Indiana State Polices Intelligence and Investigative Technologies division.

The renowned law enforcement technologist likens criminal investigations that reach into the dark web to playing a game of digital whack-a-mole.

We're seeing, not just heroin, but other opioids  ranging from fentanyl to Carfentanil, Opana, and others  that are being shipped with great regularity; with the purchase happening in the dark web, the money transactions happen with a crypto-currency, and the shipment is being concealed, said Cohen. It makes it increasingly difficult for us to do those investigations.

If the dark web and crypto-currencies sound like they may be out of reach for the unsophisticated Internet user, think again. Simply visiting a website and downloading free software is more than half the battle.

Popular add-ons like Tor and I2P allow users to mask their identities by automatically tapping their machines into a maze of servers planted all over the world, scrambling their true IP addresses in the process.

Arguably the most popular crypto-currency in the world is Bitcoin, which trades freely over the Internet. Most any user can transfer cash for Bitcoin by simply setting up a digital wallet through any number of online exchanges.

Not all who flock to the dark web or use crypto-currencies do so for nefarious purposes, but a 2016 Kings College London study of over 5,000 dark web sites found that more than half of those forums hosted content that was criminal in nature.

Buy Now

Alongside Cohen and the Indiana State Police, Fox News saw firsthand just how simple a dark web drug deal actually is.

The search for a reputable dark web marketplace took less than five minutes. Using anonymizing software, Cohen then located the marketplace on the dark web.

Among the illegal sites offerings were a variety of prescription opiates, marijuana, syringes, and a heroin starter kit that was listed for .021 Bitcoins with a buy now tab located beside it.

Cohen, who is all too familiar with the illicit items of this dark marketplace and the thousands of others that are estimated to exist, reminded the Fox News crew standing beside him that he was doing this all completely anonymously. He clicked the buy now tab next to the heroin kit and directed the website to an empty Bitcoin wallet that he had set up minutes before.

I give them that, they debit it, and, in theory, Im going to get my heroin in the mail, said Cohen.

The narcotics are often sent to the consumer in innocuous objects, under the nose of shipping companies, the U.S. Postal Service, and law enforcement. Cohen said that hes seen cases in Indiana where narcotics were shipped in everyday objects, ranging from videogames to computers to childrens toys.

I can continue to live this lifestyle, but nobody will know, said Douglas Carter, Indiana State Police superintendent. But the person from some global point around the world doesn't care about John Jones living in rural Indiana, do they? All they care about is the Bitcoin transaction and getting paid for what they do. And they leave the incredible carnage all over America.

Carter, who oversees the statewide police force, said that the broad opioid epidemic has washed over Indiana, impacting all 92 counties.

There are 144 Will Doerhoffs a day

While there is no simple solution to the overall problem or its nexus to the dark web, law enforcement leaders, from federal agencies all the way to local police departments, agree that curbing the epidemic begins with educating Americans about the dangers of prescription pill abuse.

Officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration note that four out of every five heroin users begin with prescription pills.

There are 144 Will Doerhoffs a day, said Matthew Barden, assistant special agent in charge of the DEAs Little Rock field office. Prescription medication abuse and the heroin abuse in this country knows no neighborhood, no sex, no creed, no color, no race, no wealth status; it knows nothing except for the fact that it wants to hook you.

For their part, Scott and Shannon Doerhoff are raising awareness. To honor their son, they started the William Christian Doerhoff foundation and are sharing Wills story in the hopes that it will save lives.

Death is final. And our baby is no longer with us, said Shannon Doerhoff. But his message and his story is; and that's what we want to do. We want to be able to speak up, and speak out, and share. And the more people know, the more lives that are saved.
I dont know whether Steve Bannon has a long-term future in the White House, but I do know this:

The press wants him out.

There has been an almost obsessive focus with the fate of President Trumps chief strategist, and the tone of the stories about the internal battles is unmistakable.

Bannon is the wild man, the extremist, the nationalist who is pulling the president in the wrong direction. He is fighting the moderates, the realists, the gang led by Jared Kushner that is nudging the president in a more reasonable direction.



And the Kushner faction, which includes a couple of Wall Street veterans, happens to favor the kind of compromises that most journalists want.

As an added bonus, Bannon has made no secret of his loathing for the press. So theres an element of payback here as well.

Im not minimizing the importance of these battles. Since Trump is not a fiercely ideological leader, the voices he listens to may well shape the future of his administration.

But there is a tendency in some media quarters to depict the combative Bannon as a Svengali who is pulling the presidents strings. The reality is that Trump was sounding nationalist themes, especially on trade and economic issues, decades ago. The reality is that Bannon joined the campaign for the final 2-1/2 months.

That is not to minimize his importance as a force in the White House. Trump respects Bannon as a former Goldman Sachs executive and Hollywood entrepreneur who made his own fortune. But Trump is at heart a dealmaker who prides himself on flexibility.

Its also true that the president wants to be the star of his own show. Bannon hasnt exactly sought a high profile, passing up every television interview request since he joined the campaign. But the Time magazine cover on himThe Great Manipulatordidnt please the boss.

The infighting, waged through constant leaks to the press, is all too real and goes well beyond Bannon. But the friction between Bannon and Kushner reached the point where Trump told them to work things out, or he would do it for them. And a son-in-law tends not to lose that kind of battle.

A couple of presidential interviews this week have fueled the notion that Bannon is on thin ice. Trump told the Wall Street Journal that Bannon is a guy who works for me.

And the president said this to New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin: I like Steve, but you have to remember he was not involved in my campaign until very late. I had already beaten all the senators and all the governors, and I didnt know Steve. Im my own strategist.

To me, thats a bit of a brushback pitch to remind Bannon that hey, hes staff, and that it was Trump that got Trump elected.

But the Washington Post says Bannon has been publicly humiliated by his boss.

The paper called him a marked man, and then used this medical metaphor:

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.



There were also leaked and damaging assessments in the New York Times, which said Bannon is keeping a low profile due to his isolation inside the White House, with aides describing Trumps growing irritation with all the credit he is getting.

And this zinger, quoting a source as saying Trump has described Bannon as not a team player.



But for all the journalistic drama, both papers get around to acknowledging that nothing may change.

The Post: For now, at least, Bannon may survive the turmoil.

The Times: One person with firsthand knowledge of internal White House dynamicsinsisted that no immediate changes were likely.

Ah. Never mind.

Bannon is a symbol. To many Trump supporters, he represents the defiant, revolutionary conservatism they want from the president. To many Trump detractors, and many media types, he represents an undisciplined, extremist ideology--a pirate, in Newt Gingrich's word. It's still unclear whether he'll ultimately have to walk the plank.
This past Palm Sunday was a dark day in Egypt. Suicide bombings at two Coptic Christian churches, one in Alexandria and the other in Tanta left 45 people dead and many more wounded. Although there has been an uptick in violence against Christians in the region, Egypt is hardly alone in a long list of countries -- many in the Middle East -- that are violently hostile towards Christians.

A list generated by Open Doors USA, a nonprofit organization focused on serving persecuted Christians, shows the Middle East accounts for a majority of countries ranked in the top 10 for extreme persecution of Christians. In order, the countries are as follows:

1. North Korea

2. Somalia

3. Afghanistan

4. Pakistan

5. Sudan

6. Syria

7. Iraq

8. Iran

9. Yemen

10. Eritrea

Egypt ranks No. 21. According to the Christian advocacy group, one in 12 Christians today experiences high, very high or extreme persecution for their faith. Nearly 215 million Christians face high persecution, with 100 million of those living in Asia.

The Center for the Study of Global Christianity, an academic research center that monitors worldwide demographic trends in Christianity, estimates that between the years 2005 and 2015, 900,000 Christians were martyred  an average of 90,000 Christians each year.

From Nov. 1, 2015, to Oct. 31, 2016, Open Doors documented as many as 1,207 Christians who were killed around the globe for faith-related reasons during the 2017 lists reporting period. This is a conservative estimate since it only includes documented cases and does not include statistics from North Korea and large areas of Iraq and Syria. Of the lists procured, these are the Middle Eastern or Muslim-dominated countries where Christian deaths occurred during the same time period:

1. Pakistan: 76

2. Syria: 24

3. Somalia: 12

4. Egypt: 12

5. Afghanistan: 10

6. Yemen: 4

7. Libya: 2

8. Iraq: 1

Open Doors also documented a total of 1,329 churches attacked worldwide for faith-related reasons. These are the Middle Eastern or Muslim-dominated countries where those attacks happened between Nov. 1, 2015, and Oct. 31, 2016:

1. Pakistan: 600

2. Iran: 11

3. Iraq: 8

4. Syria: 7

5. Yemen: 3

6. Libya: 3

7. Palestinian territories: 2

The underlying cause for persecution is Islamic extremism, according to Open Doors. The Christian population in Iraq alone has plummeted from 1.5 million in 2003 to current estimates of 275,000. In a few years that number could be zero, activists say.
Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is looking to bring some star power to his upcoming criminal contempt-of-court trial  asking to have the country's top cop testify.

Lawyers for the controversial sheriff, who made headlines for his hardline immigration policies, have added Attorney General Jeff Sessions to his witness list. What makes the move even stranger is that Arpaio is being prosecuted by federal lawyers who work for Sessions.

It's unclear whether Sessions might actually make an appearance.

Arpaios attorney Jack Wilenchik told Fox News on Friday that his office had not been in direct contact with the Department of Justice and made the push to bring Sessions in via court documents.

But Sessions has been actively pursuing his own brand of tough immigration enforcement, and Wilenchik says Sessions testimony would help show the contradiction between Trump administration policies and those of former President Barack Obama.

Arpaio faces trial for defying a judges order to stop immigration patrols, a confrontation that occurred under the prior administration.

Sessions name was added to the list of witnesses in a court filing Wednesday night. A day later, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton approved a two-month extension requested by Arpaios lawyers. The trial was slated to start April 25, but Arpaios lead attorney quit last week.

Arpaio, 84, had been an enduring symbol of Arizonas tough stance toward illegal immigration. He was a vocal supporter of then-candidate Donald Trump during the campaign season and his outlook on immigration is not so different from Sessions'.

Arpaio even spoke at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last summer where he said his most important mission is to elect Donald Trump.

The former sheriff received resounding applause for his speech that was peppered with anti-illegal immigrant messages. We are more concerned with the rights of illegal immigrants than we are the citizens of our own country, he said. Ultimately, it was Latino voters in Arizona who helped vote the polarizing policeman out of office in November.

Arpaio, always unapologetic, supported workplace raids and frequent traffic stops. He faces a misdemeanor contempt charge for letting his controversial immigration patrols continue despite a judge in 2011 ordering him to stop. Arpaios officers continued to detain people they thought might be illegal immigrants based on race, the judge presiding in the racial profiling case ruled.

If convicted on the contempt charge, the former sheriff faces up to six months in prison.

Wilenchik argues the prohibition on detaining immigrants who hadnt been suspected of committing state crimes falls in line with the current federal policy Sessions backs.

Earlier this week, Sessions traveled to Arizona where he said the catch and release practices of the past are over.

When contacted by Fox News, the U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment on the case or whether Sessions would show up.

Its been a rocky road for the former sheriff since his November defeat. Not only did his tumultuous tenure come to a halt, but Tent City, the outdoor jail he is known for, is closing. Tent City is where inmates are forced to wear striped jumpsuits and pink underwear and to sleep in surplus Korean War tents.

A month before he was voted out of office, county supervisors suggested shutting town Tent City in order to help offset the $50 million in legal fees Arpaios defense team racked up in the multi-year racial profiling case. Arpaio disagreed and instead said the county could save money by getting rid of raises for his deputies and guards.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich praised the decision to drop the U.S. military's largest non-nuclear bomb on an ISIS tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan Thursday, telling Fox News' "Hannity" it was "a reminder both to the Russians and the North Koreans that we have enormous assets if we want to use them."

US DROPS LARGEST NON-NUCLEAR BOMB IN AFGHANISTAN AFTER GREEN BERET KILLED

Gingrich said the use of the so-called "Mother of all Bombs," or MOAB, built on the Trump administration's decision to launch missile strikes against a Syrian military airfield after a chemical weapons attack last week.

"I think what youre finding is when the president turns and says What are my options? it turns out there are a lot more options than [former President Barack] Obama ever thought there were," Gingrich told host Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Gingrich added that the MOAB could serve as a deterrent against North Korea, which is expected to undertake a sixth nuclear test as part of national celebrations this weekend.

US AIR FORCE SENDS MESSAGE TO NORTH KOREA WITH DISPLAY OF AIR POWER

"If its an underground [nuclear testing] facility, what we just proved in Afghanistan was ... we have huge non-nuclear conventional weapons that could take out these kind of facilities," the former Speaker said. "So, I think the Chinese are trying to say to [Kim Jong Un], 'Look, youve got to take president Trump seriously. This is not like the good old days and youd better be careful.'"
The decision to drop the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat was made by the top U.S. commander on the ground, officials told Fox News on Friday, after the so-called "mother of all bombs" was used to obliterate an ISIS target in Afghanistan.

Fox News is told that Gen. John Nicholson made the decision on his own. President Trumps approval apparently was not needed.

Trump himself declined to say Thursday where the order came from, but stressed that he has given the military complete flexibility.

We have given [the military] total authorization, Trump told reporters. Frankly, thats why theyve been so successful lately.

The Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, arrived in Afghanistan in early January, and is designed for its psychological effect as much as the damage it causes  the 21,000-pound bomb has a blast radius of one mile.

WHAT IS THE MOAB?

When the Air Force tested the GBU-43/B in 2003 at the start of the Iraq war, the plume from the explosion reached 10,000 feet into the air. Until Thursday, it was never used in combat.

Afghan officials say 36 ISIS fighters were killed in the strike.

The Department of Defense released footage of the strike on Friday. In the 30-second video, the bomb could be seen dropping before it exploded midair. Smoke quickly rose from the impact zone.

Speaking Friday morning in Kabul, Nicholson defended his decision to order its use, saying this was the right bomb and the right time to use it.

He said the U.S. had persistent surveillance over the area before, during and after the operation, and they see no evidence of civilian casualties.

There are under 1,000 ISIS fighters in eastern Afghanistan. Nicholson said hundreds of U.S. airstrikes in the past two years have cut the number down by two-thirds.

Senior Air Force officials told Fox News this is a weapon that is used for strategic messaging  it was described as a tactical decision by the commander in Afghanistan, with no real strategic input from Washington.

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, Trump said Thursday.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said earlier at his daily press briefing that the strike was done to deny ISIS "operational space."

When asked if the U.S. would consider using the device in other combat zones, Spicer referred questions to the Pentagon.
A year ago, Mike Cernovich was a fringe blogger posting a blend of pro-Trump memes and self-help tips from his home base in Southern California. Today, he's beating the mainstream media to some of the Trump era's biggest news stories.

While still far from a household name, Cernovich was first to ID Susan Rice as the key official in the "unmasking" controversy -- and accurately predicted President Trump's strikes in Syria last week, shortly before they were launched.

The scoops don't mean he's gone mainstream. Cernovich remains a divisive figure, derided by some media outlets as a cog of the alt-right and a white nationalist, labels he rejects. But his recent reporting is attracting growing attention, including from Trump's inner circle.

I view myself as having an adversarial approach to the media, he told Fox News. I want to do journalism on journalists. I want to do the stories on stories that arent being told.

Cernovich describes himself as a lawyer, author, free speech activist, and documentary filmmaker. Before he was on the Trump train, he started out as a self-help guru for men, via his blog Danger & Play which offered style and fitness tips, and encouraged men to adopt a style of alpha masculinity.

I didnt take the traditional journalist route, he said. It started as a Mens Health kind of thing with a bit of an edge.

That is an understatement. Some of his posts were inflammatory, including one on "How to choke a woman during sex" and another dismissing the concept of date rape."

No one says you were 'date murdered' if killed by boyfriend or a date. It's just murder, he had said in a tweet. His views have led The Guardian to label him "a professional misogynist and date rape apologist."

Last year, Cernovich became known for promoting more outlandish stories about Hillary Clinton  he pushed the Pizzagate conspiracy theory that she was connected to a child sex ring in a D.C. pizzeria, and promoted a number of theories about Clintons allegedly failing health, once making #HillarysHealth a trending hashtag on Twitter.

But Cernovich rejects claims by some that he's a white nationalist, saying that indicates a focus on a white ethno state -- something he says he has no interest in -- and notes his daughter is half-Persian.

I call it the new right, he said, when asked how he'd describe his affiliation. The new right-wing movement is a wide group of people committed to free speech, anti-war, trade, its sympathetic to whistleblowers. Its coalescing on a number of issues.

While #HillarysHealth was dismissed by many as a fringe conspiracy theory, other media eventually focused closely on her health after she collapsed at a 9/11 remembrance service and was filmed being dragged into a van by aides.

"60 Minutes" profiled Cernovich recently after the pizzeria  Comet Ping Pong -- at the center of the D.C. conspiracy theory was raided by a gunman. However, Cernovich adamantly says he never named the restaurant. His connection to "Pizzagate" led "60 Minutes" to brand him as a spreader of fake news.

But two recent scoops have been anything but fake.

On April 2, Cernovich named Rice as the high-level Obama administration official behind the unmasking of names of Trump campaign officials caught up in surveillance. He posted the scoop on Twitter and on Medium, and the news quickly zipped around right-wing Twitter users and Reddit groups.

Bloomberg News and Fox News then reported that Rice sought to unmask the names, leading other outlets to focus on the story and forcing a response from Rice herself, who maintains she acted appropriately.

But those who monitor Cernovich already were well aware of the claim. The scoop was noticed in particular by Donald Trump Jr., who said Cernovich deserved a Pulitzer.

Congrats to @Cernovich for breaking the #SusanRice story. In a long gone time of unbiased journalism he'd win the Pulitzer, but not today!  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 4, 2017

But Cernovich wasnt done. On April 6, at 4:01 p.m. ET, after the Assad regime was accused of launching a chemical weapons attack in northern Syria, Cernovich tweeted a breaking news alert that imminent U.S. strikes were possible:

According to Fox News reporting, this was less than 30 minutes before Trump OKd the airstrikes on Syria. Again, Cernovichs reporting initially was ignored by mainstream reporters, until the strikes began.

Cernovich has been noticed by top Trump officials, though it's unclear how close his own sources may be to them. In addition to Trump Jr.s tweet, Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway promoted his appearance on "60 Minutes."

Cernovich, noting how controversial he is, said, It takes a great deal of courage to give me a public shout out, thats for sure.

Indeed, some conservatives in outlets like National Review have expressed dismay at members of Trump's inner circle praising Cernovich.

Good lord. How long before you seriously regret tweeting this? https://t.co/WTLY0KthLf  Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) April 4, 2017

But Democratic strategist Brad Bannon said he's not surprised.

"Birds of a feather flock together," Bannon told Fox News. "Cernovich deals in the same kind of innuendo that the president does, so it's a marriage made in heaven -- or hell."

Bannon added that Trump has "made no secret of his distaste for the media and so this is another attempt to get around what he considers the enemy."

For his part, Cernovich says he has a number of sources, some anonymous and some not, and he learned of the Rice scoop from sources telling him outlets such as The New York Times and Bloomberg were sitting on the story.

Cernovichs break is eerily reminiscent of the 1998 scoop that brought Drudge Reports Matt Drudge to prominence. Drudge broke the news of the Monica Lewinsky scandal, after Newsweek decided to sit on reporter Michael Isikoffs scoop. Drudge ran with it and it turned the then-fringe news aggregator into one of the biggest names in news.

Cernovich says he is a big admirer of Drudge, and says he counts being added to Drudges blog roll as one of the biggest moments of his professional life. He also shares Drudges combative approach to the mainstream media.

Cernovich's notoriety is definitely on the rise; he has been profiled recently by The New York Times, The New Yorker and The Washington Post.

As for whats next, Cernovich says he has about five more high-impact stories to drop, stories he says the legacy media would love to get their hands on.

I have a lot of big stories, he said. Im just waiting to drop them at exactly the right time.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer reported, in uniform, to the Pentagon Friday to fulfill his U.S. Navy Reserve duty, a White House official told Fox News.

Spicer reported to fulfill his duty at the Joint Chiefs of Staff offices, a White House official told Fox News. The well-known spokesman holds the rank of commander -- which sits just under the higher rank of captain in the Navy.

Spicer, who joined the Navy Reserve nearly 20 years ago while maintaining his primary work as a Republican media operative and strategist, also possesses a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College.

According to the Military Times, Spicer has previously worked as a media planner in joint exercises in Guam, Germany and Sweden, along with overseeing media coverage of Navy operations in at McMurdo Station in Antarctica.
Democratic lawmakers and liberal activists plan to ring in Tax Day with nationwide protests this weekend meant to pressure President Trump to release his tax returns -- with organizers hoping for the biggest anti-Trump showing since January's Women's March.

On Saturday, thousands are expected to attend 'Tax Marches' in approximately 150 cities, including several affiliated events overseas.

Whether people support him or not, [releasing his tax returns] is something that people think he should do. I think there is a chance something like this could move him, said Lisa Gilbert, vice president of legislative affairs at Public Citizen, one of the groups organizing the marches.

The president's supporters, however, see the marches -- and the persistent tax return focus -- as a waste of time.

In Colorado Springs, Trump backers plan to hold a counter-protest on Saturday. For them, what is in Trump's tax returns pales in comparison to what could be in his tax plan.

"Their whole message is they want to see the president's tax returns. I care far more about his policy than his tax returns," Trevor Dierdorff, El Paso County Republican Party chairman, told the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Ohio, said during a recent House Ways and Means Committee hearing that the pressure on Trump to release his returns is a "political mission," arguing the kind of bombshells Democrats are seeking wouldn't even be in such documents.

The protests, if nothing else, could make for a rowdy scene in cities across the country, reminiscent of the Women's March on inauguration weekend.

As many as 25,000 are expected to attend the rally in Washington, D.C. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Reps. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., will be among the speakers.

Two of the largest events are expected in Seattle, site of the World Trade Organization protests of the 1990s. In addition to the expected 25,000 marching in Tax March Seattle, as many as 7,000 Black Lives Matter activists plan to come out for their own rally focusing on Trump's tax returns.

There also is a protest planned in front of Trump Plaza in West Palm Beach, Fla. The protest will move to Bingham Island, directly adjacent to the Mar-a-Lago resort where Trump is staying for the weekend. According to their Facebook page, about 1,000 are expected to attend.

While organic in nature, the marches are being organized under the umbrella of several liberal activists. The partnering labor unions and activist groups range from the well-known -- MoveOn.org and Common Cause -- to more obscure players like the Endangered Species Coalition.

Gilbert contends the events could build support for an agenda beyond Trumps taxes, such as tax fairness and economic justice.

She said Saturdays events are focused on transparency and accountability, issues that unite Americans -- and noted that bills have been introduced in numerous states that would require presidential candidates to disclose their taxes.

The idea for the march has its roots in the response to a January appearance by White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway. Asked her thoughts on an online petition demanding Trump release his tax returns, Conway replied that the White House would not release his tax returns and the issue was of little concern to Americans.

We litigated this all through the election. People didn't care. They voted for him, she said on ABC News This Week.

The comments lit up social media and grassroots organizers began circulating plans for this weekends events.

According to the Facebook post by organizers of a rally in London, the goal is to be in solidarity with the struggle of our American brothers and sisters and in protest of the xenophobia, isolationism, destruction to our planet, economy and future, and rising tides of division in Europe and to offer hope for a more inclusive, peaceful tomorrow.

Voters may be split on the tax return issue. An April Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll found 53 percent of voters want Trump to release his tax returns, and 51 percent believe his returns are either very or somewhat important to them.

Whether it resonates beyond Tax Day -- which is typically April 15, though the IRS is pushing the deadline to Tuesday -- is unclear. But Democrats in Congress continue to use tax returns as a wedge issue.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said not releasing the returns would make getting bipartisan agreement on tax reform much harder.

House Democrats attempted to give the issue legs before leaving on recess by filing a discharge petition, intended to force a vote on the matter on the House floor.

Only with the release of President Trumps tax returns can we be sure the American people are the presidents top priority, said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., in a statement after the petition was filed.

House Democrats also are pushing for a vote on a bill sponsored by California Democrat Anna Eshoo that would require Trump, as well as major-party nominees, to submit their previous three years of tax returns to the Office of Government Ethics or the Federal Election Commission.

In a much-hyped segment, MSNBCs Rachel Maddow also recently aired a leaked copy of part of an old Trump tax return.

But it wasn't exactly damning. The files showed Trump paid $38 million in federal income tax in 2005 on more than $150 million. The effective rate of 25 percent was higher than the rate paid by former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
The Trump administration is leveling new economic sanctions against senior Iranian officials and its prison system for widespread human rights abuses, including the systematic torture of those being held in these facilities, according to White House officials familiar with the matter.

The latest sanctions target the Tehran Prisons Organization and Sohrab Suleimani, a senior official in the prison system and the brother of Qassem Soleimani, a senior Iranian military figure responsible for operating Iran's rogue activities in Syria and elsewhere.

Sohrab Soleimani is responsible for overseeing Iran's notorious Evin Prison, which is known for torturous interrogations, forced interrogations, and widespread mistreatment of inmates.

The latest sanctions are certain to rankle Tehran, already the subject of a range of new sanctions under the Trump administration, which is currently conducting a widespread review of all matters related to the landmark nuclear agreement.

A senior official on the White House National Security Council told the Washington Free Beacon that the Soleimani family has a history of fomenting violence and unrest both inside and outside Iran.

Click for more from The Washington Free Beacon.
YOUR WhatsApp is about to get a lot less private.

Facebook, which bought WhatsApp in 2014, is in negotiations with the European regulator to get its hands on the chat apps juicy data.

The European Union previously told WhatsApp to stop sharing users information with Facebook.

They didnt believe people using it (the likes of you and I) had consented, or fully understood exactly what and how their information was being shared.

But this could change by the summer.

Irelands Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon, the lead EU regulator on privacy issues for Facebook said that the European Union might have a change of heart.

I think we are in agreement with the parties  WhatsApp and Facebook  that the quality of the information provided to users could have been clearer, could have been more transparent and could have been expressed in simpler terms, she told Reuters in an interview.

We are working towards a solution on that.

Its not clear exactly what information will be shared, but it will mean personal information including phone numbers and usage could be linked to your social media profile.

The more information Facebook has about you, the more money it can make from advertisers who want to target specific types of people.

Want to know exactly what its got on you? Read our handy guide to accessing your data here.

WhatsApp say that privacy is in its DNA and that their messaging service is water tight.

So much so, its security has got it into trouble after it emerged that police were struggling to read the last message sent by London terrorist Khalid Masood.

Its been claimed that the Brit used the messaging app just before ploughing into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge  but police say they were unable to access it.

This story originally appeared in The Sun.
Been eyeing a cute blush pink purse from Zara, but have no clue what you'd actually wear it with? You could always consult Pinterest for styling ideas, but now there's another option: Google.

The Web giant on Thursday introduced a new feature called "style ideas" that aims to deliver sartorial inspiration inside Image Search. The feature is available in the Google app for Android and on the mobile web.

Now, as you're browsing fashion product images, Image Search will "surface a grid of inspirational lifestyle images and outfits that showcase how the product can be worn in real life," Google Associate Product Manager Julia Enthoven wrote in a blog post.

With this new feature, "you can see real-life options of what bag and jeans look stellar with those red high heels you've been eyeing," Enthoven wrote. "Or if running gear is more your speed, no sweatworkout ensemble ideas are just a tap away."

Google will also now display an expanded carousel of "similar items" when you're searching for specific apparel products. This way, you can find something that looks like the budget-busting Kate Spade bag you've been drooling over, but with a more affordable price tag.

"Whether you're researching shorts and sneakers or checking out sunglasses and handbags, you'll be able to find product offerings that may suit your tastes," Enthoven wrote. "Uncovering a bargain option without sacrificing style is now accessible right from Image Search."

The new feature comes after Google last year brought shopping ads to Image Search.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.
This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," April 13, 2017. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE, GUEST HOST: This is a Fox News Alert. The U.S. military has dropped what is being called, quote, "the mother of all bombs" on an ISIS target in Afghanistan.

I'm Kimberly Guilfoyle, in for Sean tonight.

Here's President Trump earlier today reacting to the massive non-nuclear military strike.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Very, very proud of the people (INAUDIBLE) really another successful job. We're very, very proud of our military. Everybody knows exactly what happened so -- and what I do is I authorize my military. We have the greatest military in the world, and they've done the job, as usual. So we have given them total authorization, and that's what they're doing.

And frankly, that's why they've been so successful lately. If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and compare that to what -- really, to what's happened over the last eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUILFOYLE: And at the Pentagon with details on why the U.S. decided to drop this massive bomb is Jennifer Griffin -- Jennifer.

JENNIFER GRIFFIN, FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Kimberly, the cloud that results from this size bomb reaches 10,000 feet in the air. At 7:32 PM local time in Afghanistan, the U.S. Air Force dropped a 21,000-pound bomb known as "the mother of all bombs," or massive ordnance air blast, on what the White House described as a complex of ISIS tunnels on the border with Pakistan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN SPICER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely. The United States takes the fight against ISIS very seriously. And in order to defeat the group, we must deny than operational space, which we did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: The GBU44 is the largest non-nuclear weapon the U.S. military has ever used in combat. Designed for the Iraq war but never used, tested in 2003, the MOAB is a concussive GOP-guided bomb that is pushed out of the back of a modified C-130 aircraft. Its blast radius is one mile wide.

The Pentagon says the top general in Afghanistan didn't need to ask permission to conduct the strike. The target of the explosion was a series of tunnels near a Achin province in Nangarhar province 35 miles south of Jalalabad, where the U.S. has a base.

On Saturday, an American Green Beret was killed by small arms fire in that part of Nangarhar province, Staff Sergeant Mark De Alencar of Edgewood, Maryland, part of an ISIS-clearing operation. The U.S. military says the strike today was not in retaliation for the Green Beret's death.

The president announced yesterday after meeting with NATO's secretary- general at the White House that national security adviser H.R. McMaster is leaving soon for Afghanistan, and the top commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, testified recently, Kimberly, that he needs several thousand more U.S. or NATO troops for Afghanistan -- Kimberly.

GUILFOYLE: All right, Jennifer, thank you.

And also tonight, tensions are rising with North Korea over a new report that says the rogue regime could be preparing to carry out a new nuclear test. A monitoring group released satellite images that shows activity at a North Korean nuclear site. President Trump is calling on China to help defuse the situation, but says if Beijing fails to act, then the U.S. and its allies will.

And outrage is growing over Syrian president Bashar al Assad's comments about last week's chemical weapons attack. He's now claiming it was fake.

In Washington with more is Leland Vittert -- Leland.

LELAND VITTERT, FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kimberly, Assad is basically asking the world to believe him, rather than our lying eyes, suggesting videos like these of the dead and dying from sarin gas were faked, saying in that interview to the French wire service AFP, "Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand in glove with the terrorists." That's what Assad calls anyone he doesn't like. They" -- meaning the United States -- "fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack."

In an exhaustive presentation, the Pentagon went as far to put out the radar track of the Syrian jet that dropped the sarin bomb, and the U.S. the secretary of state doubled down on the charge in front of Assad's Russian protectors yesterday.

So suffice it to say, nobody in Washington or anywhere else is buying Assad's denial.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK TONER, STATE DEPARTMENT ACTING SPOKESMAN: Sadly, it's vintage Assad. It is an attempt by him to throw up false flags, create confusion. Frankly, it's a tactic we've seen on Russia's part, as well, in the past. There can be little doubt that the recent attacks and the chemical weapons attack and -- 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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VITTERT: And this creates quite a PR pickle for Vladimir Putin. As you might remember, Assad's 2013 sarin gas attack killed more than 1,400 people, crossing then president Obama's red line. Part of the grand bargain to stave off a U.S. attack was Russia's assurance they would destroy all of Assad's chemical weapons, begging the question now, Kimberly, if the Russians intentionally left Assad with a chemical arsenal or were simply hoodwinked by their own proxy.

GUILFOYLE: Leland, thank you.

And joining us now with reaction is the author of "Treason," former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Thanks for being with us, Mr. Speaker.

NEWT GINGRICH, R-FMR. HOUSE SPEAKER, FOX CONTRIBUTOR: Delighted to be with you.

GUILFOYLE: Fantastic. So a lot of news to discuss that's been going on this past week, and especially today. Let's talk about the latest development in Afghanistan and the president's decision to drop this massive bomb. What kind of message does this send to North Korea and Syria, let alone ISIS?

GINGRICH: Well, I think, first of all, the decision to use the largest non-nuclear bomb that we have sent a clear signal of strength, building on what he did last week with Syria and is also a reminder both to the Russians and to the North Koreans that we have enormous assets if we want to use them.

I think it's very interesting. You now have with General Mattis and with General McMaster real professionals who are giving the president serious military advice, exactly the sort of thing that Barack Obama always rejected. And I think what you're finding is that when the president turns and says, What are my options, it turns out there are a lot more options than Obama ever thought there were.

GUILFOYLE: Well, it's very interesting that you bring this up, and I heard you discuss this earlier in the day, but a markedly different approach to foreign policy, to military intervention we've seen in less than the first, you know, 100 days of the president being in office.

GINGRICH: Yes, I wrote a newsletter last week at Gingrich Productions pointing out that there are a lot of parallels between President Trump succeeding the weakness of Obama and President Reagan succeeding the weakness of Jimmy Carter. And they both had decisive moments. In Reagan's case, it was shooting down two Libyan aircraft over the Gulf of Sidra, and in the president's case, it was firing Tomahawk missiles last week, by the way, while at dinner with the Chinese president.

GUILFOYLE: Right. Subtle.

GINGRICH: So I think that --

GUILFOYLE: Subtle.

GINGRICH: (INAUDIBLE) useful (ph). And by the way, somebody made a comment to me that was fascinating. They said if you want to take video of the foreign minister of Russia meeting with Hillary Clinton, meeting with John Kerry, and meeting with Rex Tillerson, it'll give you a real sense of how much real power Tillerson carries just in his bearing and his sophistication and his maturity because he's different than the other people that Lavrov has worked with. And I thought that was a fascinating commentary on what a great job Secretary Tillerson's doing for America.

GUILFOYLE: Yes, fantastic. You see a lot of kind of feedback, people saying, you know, how they thought that he did. I thought it was very strong and decisive. And he showed no hesitation in bringing up directly to Putin and the individuals there all of the issues and problems that the United States has with Russia.

Wow, this must have been quite a surprise to all the people that thought that the president was going to so chummy with Putin and not be strong with Russia.

GINGRICH: Well, look, I think if President Trump could find a way to do it, he'd like to be friends with Russia.

GUILFOYLE: Right.

GINGRICH: He doesn't -- and he doesn't have any great interest in going out of the way to start a fight, but he's not going to give an inch on things like gassing children, which I think really got to the president emotionally. And the fact is that Rex Tillerson, when he was the head of ExxonMobil had negotiated several multi-billion-dollar deals with the Russians. He knows how to deal with them. He's not afraid of them. He's not confused by them. And without being hostile, he was very direct.

GUILFOYLE: Yes. Absolutely. And you have to be firm, and now we are getting to see exactly what kind of president Mr. Trump is. And he's being very true, it seems to me, to his campaign promises and being decisive and using the strength of the American military, which he has already shown a great respect for.

So I want to segue a little bit about North Korea. You know, a new report says that North Korea could be preparing a new nuclear test. And if they do, how should President Trump respond?

GINGRICH: Well, the more fascinating question is what are the Chinese going to do?

GUILFOYLE: Yes.

GINGRICH: The Chinese have moved 150,000 troops to the North Korean border. They have changed their purchases of coal and have tightened up on sanctions against North Korea. And they have said publicly that the North Koreans had better not engage in this nuclear test.

And remember, if it's an underground facility, what we just proved in Afghanistan was we have weapons which without going nuclear -- we have huge non-nuclear conventional weapons that could take out these kind of facilities.

So I think the Chinese are trying to say to him, Look, you got to President Trump seriously. This is not like the good old days. And you better be careful.

So the first reaction ought to be, let's look at the Chinese, who, by the way, did abstain at the U.N. and President Trump was exactly right to say this was a major step in the right direction, when on the Syrian resolution, they abstained, leaving the Russians all by themselves as the only country voting no.

GUILFOYLE: Absolutely. Now, do you think that it's -- you know, we can have this kind of confidence in terms of the relationship with, you know, the president of China and President Trump working together cooperatively? Because I think people are concerned because nobody seems to be able to control North Korea and Kim Jong-un.

GINGRICH: Yes, and I'm not sure the Chinese can, either, so I don't think you can wave a magic wand.

But what was clear to me was that President Trump recommended that they go off by themselves, get away from the staff. They had a two-hour meeting the first day and another one-hour meeting the second day. And apparently, the chemistry was very good.

You may remember that Reagan did the same thing with Gorbachev when they first met.

GUILFOYLE: Yes.

GINGRICH: He said, Let's go for a walk. Let's just get out of here, just you and me and the interpreter. I think that that does lead to a different attitude, a different willingness to work. I think that's what President Trump hoped he could do with Putin, and Putin has simply been too difficult to deal with to try to have that kind of a personal conversation. But I do think there's a possibility that we're on the edge of some serious progress with China.

GUILFOYLE: Yes, absolutely. And I think you bring up such a great point because it's that interpersonal relationship, that dynamic and establishing that bond that it appears that President Trump successfully once again did with President Xi, that he can pick up the phone, call him, work cooperatively with open lines of communication. I mean, that's real leadership, and someone who's, you know, used to being an executive and making the decisions and establishing those relationships. I think we see if you agree, you know, that this is working very well for this new U.S. foreign policy with President Trump.

GINGRICH: It's a tremendous potential. It went much better at Mar-a-Lago than I thought it would, and I think that the president deserves a lot of credit. I also think, frankly, that Ivanka's children, who are studying at a school where they're learning Mandarin -- I am told that it was a very big hit in China, the video of the children singing in Mandarin. And we shouldn't underestimate that people to people sometimes breaks through, where policy arguments don't. And they may have gone home with a better feeling toward that Trump family then they thought they would have.

GUILFOYLE: Absolutely. Such a great point. I saw that video and I retweeted it. I thought it was fantastic. What an amazing way to connect with the people and make them feel welcome.

Mr. Speaker, always a pleasure. Thank you so much.

GINGRICH: Thank you. Great.

GUILFOYLE: Coming up on this busy news night, more reaction to the U.S. dropping what is described as the, quote, "mother of all bombs" on ISIS in Afghanistan. Retired brigadier general Tony Tata and Michael Waltz join us next.

And then later, the Mexican drug cartel member who is suspected of killing U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry in 2010 was arrested in Mexico yesterday. We'll have a full report and get reaction from Lou Dobbs.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GUILFOYLE: Welcome back to "Hannity." Earlier today, the United States sent a big message to our enemies around the world after deploying what is called the, quote, "mother of all bombs" on an ISIS tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan. So why is this one bomb getting so much attention?

Joining us now with reaction is the author of "The Siege," retired brigadier general Tony Tata and retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer Michael Waltz. Gentlemen, thank you for being here tonight on such an important news day.

General Tata, I'll begin witness you. Why was the mother of all bombs developed in the first place? Give us a little bit of flavor about this bomb.

BRIG. GEN. TONY TATA, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Well, Kimberly, great to be with you. The mother of all bombs replaces the daisy cutter, which was used in Vietnam to --

GUILFOYLE: Yes.

TATA: ... clear landing zones for helicopters. And this bomb explodes about six feet off the ground and sends all its energy in a 300-meter radius around.

But what's really happening here is at the bigger strategic picture, Kimberly, it's almost as if for the last eight years, the lights have been off. The Trump administration has come in and turn the lights on. There's cockroaches everywhere. And now we have to do some kind of damage control to clean this up so that our vital interests aren't threatened the way they have been when we apologize to our enemies and ignore the threats that are out there.

And I know General Mick Nicholson very well. We worked together in Afghanistan, Kimberly. And Mick -- if Mick is dropping a MOAB on a known ratline into Pakistan to kill ISIS fighters, I know for a fact that that -- it was a valid target, one that we needed to drop on and close some cave mouths and drop some tunnels on some enemy. And this is a very effective weapon because all its energy goes out and kills the personnel that you're trying to kill. It doesn't go into the ground and get dissipated into the ground.

GUILFOYLE: Yes, and apparently, we'll be able to get -- hopefully, once they declassify it and they scrub (ph) it, we'll be able to get, you know, the video of that.

So Michael, what do you think about this in terms of the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan, and you know, just so many long years hard fought there in an area that is still so troubled and problematic?

MICHAEL WALTZ, U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES (RET.) (on-camera): Well, that's right, Kim. And just to add to General Tata's point, you know, over the last eight years, all anybody in the region has heard is withdrawal, withdrawal, withdrawal. And that has caused everybody, including our enemies, to wait us out and to hedge against us.

And you know, what I think we're seeing here is a completely different message, but I'm sure a lot of viewers and a lot of folks are saying, Wait a minute. This isn't what President Trump campaigned on. You know, we're going to be stuck in this forever war.

But I think we've learned now and I'm sure he is listening to his key advisers, Mattis and McMaster, that, you know, we -- we cannot turn our back on the region like we did in Iraq. We cannot have another Iraq. ISIS, al Qaeda, the Taliban will be resurgent in that part of the world, except it's going to be 10 times worse in that Pakistan, right next door, has 10 times the population and with nuclear weapons.

On a tactical level, you know, if we had not sent in the MOAB, it would taken thousands of soldiers to clear those caves. And you know, we just lost a Green Beret this last weekend. I think it was absolutely the right move. And I'm glad to see General -- excuse me, President Trump giving his generals the authority to make the right operational decisions.

GUILFOYLE: Certainly. And you know, General, this is one of those things that President Trump, you know, promised to the American people, that he was going to be a strong leader, that he was going to use the mighty weight of the U.S. military to really improve national security, you know, throughout the area because it's just been a big problem, you know, eight years of retreat.

(CROSSTALK)

TATA: ... dating all the way back to the -- the McChyrstal issue. If you remember that, you know, seven years ago or so --

GUILFOYLE: Yes.

TATA: ... Obama had such thin skin that he politicized every branch of government. We see it with the FBI today. You see it with the military and DOD. And it was so politicized, you couldn't -- you couldn't move outside of your box. And now what President Trump has done, he says, Look, you guys are the experts. You guys execute on the ground.

And I promise you, if Mick Nicholson is saying, I've got a problem here -- and this is -- this is the same ratline that Usama bin Laden used to get out of Afghanistan into Pakistan, and I can tell you it's a real issue, you know, Kimberly, that we've got ISIS inside Pakistan because that tells you that the IS from Pakistan, the Intelligence Service from Pakistan and the Pakistan government is complicit here.

And I've watched -- Mick and I have stood by each other watching grainy footage of Predators and the Pak military -- Pakistan military wave in al Qaeda and others through to attack our bases. And we know that that's happened. And now if they're -- if they're allied with ISIS, that's a huge problem on our flank in Afghanistan because, again, the mission in Afghanistan is to deny terrorists.

GUILFOYLE: Yes, absolutely, and I'm glad you brought that up because, you know, Pakistan's got to do a lot more to earn the respect...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.

GUILFOYLE: ... and support. They have been a big beneficiary by the United States in terms of assets and money that we have provided to them. And my goodness, when you see this type of thing going on, Michael, they need to get in line!

WALTZ: Well, that's right. And so General McMaster is heading out to Kabul in Afghanistan, you know, as we speak. They're in the midst of a strategy review. And I think the big change you're going to see is a much tougher line on Pakistan...

GUILFOYLE: Good!

WALTZ: ... for its support of the Taliban, the Haqqani and others. But there's another aspect to this, Kim, and another message that's being sent that's not being discussed, and that's Russia. And it ties into the meetings that we just had in the sense that Russia has now started meddling in Afghanistan again and started working with the Taliban under the kind of guise of, Well, ISIS is coming up and the Taliban and ISIS aren't getting along.

You know, what they're really trying to do is undermine NATO and undermine the United States in yet another theater. So that sends -- not only sends them a message, but it sends North Korea a message as they start to prepare for another nuclear test. So I think this -- you know, I'll you, as a military leader, I'm proud of our president.

GUILFOYLE: Yes.

WALTZ: I'm proud of our commander-in-chief. He gets it, and he understands that people in that part of the world respect strength, and we're showing it, and our diplomats...

GUILFOYLE: Absolutely!

WALTZ: ... are going to the table now with the weight of the United States military behind them.

GUILFOYLE: Now they know. Make no mistake about it! Gentlemen, thank you so much for your service and for being here with me tonight.

Coming up -- authorities have arrested a Mexican drug cartel member who is suspected of killing U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry back into 2010. We'll have all the details and get reaction from Lou Dobbs.

And later...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEN PALMIERI, FORMER CLINTON CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS DIR.: I think most journalists are probably leaning more to the left than the right. Think about the kind of person that's drawn to do this as a career.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUILFOYLE: A former Clinton campaign staffer admits that the media has a liberal bias, but she claims that it ends up hurting Democrats. Ari Fleischer and Anthony Scaramucci will weigh in.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

GUILFOYLE: This is a Fox News Alert. The Mexican drug cartel member who is suspected of killing Border Patrol agent Brian Terry in 2010 was arrested yesterday in Mexico.

Joining us now with the very latest is William La Jeunesse -- William.

WILLIAM LA JEUNESSE, FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Kimberly, tonight, we know more about the suspect, his alleged role in the death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, as well as his criminal history. So the arrest came around 2:00 AM Wednesday when a joint U.S.-Mexican police task force captured the suspect at a ranch in northern Mexico along the Chihuahua/Sinaloa border. The task force included Mexican marines, the DEA, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes was turned over to the Mexican attorney general. The U.S. is seeking extradition and he faces 30 years to life.

Arellanes is a Mexico national. We have learned he was apprehended seven times by the border patrol and arrested once for a DUI before joining the rip crew that killed Agent Terry in the desert south of Tucson in December of 2010. Terry was part of the border patrol special ops unit that took a bullet beneath his vest and died at the scene. His death exposed the Obama administration's Operation Fast and Furious after agents found two assault style weapons at the scene sold under the U.S. program. In all, the Justice Department approved the sale of some 2,000 weapons to the Mexican cartels.

Now I am told that Arellanes is tied to the scene by DNA, and according to five others who are already in prison, he fired the shot that killed Agent Terry. Kimberly, back to you.

GUILFOYLE: William, thank you.

And joining us now with reaction from the Fox Business Network, Lou Dobbs. OK, so Lou, you covered this story extensively. How big of a disaster was this Fast and Furious operation?

LOU DOBBS, FOX BUSINESS NETWORK: A disaster for the Obama administration, a disaster for the family of Brian Terry, for all Americans who care about our border security and law and order. This was a disaster for the Obama administration in retrospect now because what happens after two months of President Trump being in office? Another of Brian Terry's killers has been produced the government of Mexico. It's not accident. It took five-and-a- half years under President Obama for nothing to happen. And now suddenly they are producing the killers of Brian Terry. Justice is moving forward. And, by the way, the one suspect still at large I would wager would be caught very, very soon.

GUILFOYLE: So you think there is a direct link to President Trump being in and these accomplishments? This is one of the biggest things that he talked about as candidate Trump was border security and giving the power and the control back to the border patrol agents, protecting them so they wouldn't be penalized or prosecuted like they were under previous administrations.

DOBBS: At this time the president of the United States is supporting those who keep our borders secure and demands of Mexico that it be a responsible, mature partner in policing that border and securing it. And the Mexican government is responding. This is one example of it.

And I think you are going to see more positives like this as we go forward. Remember, how big is this? We are talking about it has taken almost seven years since Eric Holder at the attorney general of the United States lied to Congress, was cited for contempt of Congress, the only cabinet member in our history to ever be found in contempt of Congress. And we are now seeing, we hope, change that will mean partnership rather than opposition between the governments of Mexico and the United States and justice for the Brian Terry family, all border patrol agents and all Americans who care about this country and law and order.

GUILFOYLE: Absolutely. And it's almost just shocking and it is just appalling to me, a former prosecutor, that it took this long to be able to get these arrests and make this happen. But let's talk a little bit also about the president's immigration policy. We are already seeing, by the way, some are calling it Trump's the wall himself because there's been a deterrent effect and the numbers are really dramatically different than they were under President Obama in terms of people saying wait, maybe I better not come in here.

DOBBS: It's 70 percent fewer over each of the past two months. We are also seeing a president who is not afraid even as Speaker Paul Ryan says we won't be able to get funding for that this year, the president reminds Ryan who is president and says 100 percent certain we are going to have the wall. It's a change of attitude. Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the border yesterday saying this is the era of Trump and we will prosecute document fraud as felonies. We will prosecute criminal illegal aliens, and we will send them, deport them to wherever they come from.

GUILFOYLE: It's a great point about Jeff Sessions. He is very strong on this issue and steadfast and already making developments and really improving the level of prosecution, upholding the laws that are actually on the books which is sort of shocking.

DOBBS: Isn't that something.

GUILFOYLE: Unbelievable.

DOBBS: And the great thing, too, is Attorney General Sessions has the president's back in every sense, politically and personally. This is a man who early stood with the president. He stands with him strongly now. Together they are a formidable force, reversing much of the Obama administration's disastrous refusal to enforce immigration law and to secure our borders.

GUILFOYLE: Real quick, what about the wall? He's promised he's going to build this wall. Are you confident that it will get done, and what do you say to some of the people in Congress who are saying we are not going to give him the money for it?

GUILFOYLE: I say to them they better get behind this president, because this president is the one who put them in office and led them to victory. And he won't be available to them in 2018 if they betray him.

GUILFOYLE: All right, Lou Dobbs, always a pleasure, thank you so much.

DOBBS: Great to be with you.

GUILFOYLE: And coming up next right here on "Hannity."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PALMIERI: I think most journalists are probably leaning more to the left than the right. Think about the kind of person that is drawn to do this as a career.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUILFOYLE: A former Clinton campaign staffer admits that the press has a liberal bias but claims that it makes things harder for Democrats. Ari Fleischer and Anthony Scaramucci join us next with reaction.

And then later President Trump is showing the world what leading from the front looks like and that America is taking a new approach to foreign policy. Herman Cain will be here later. That and much more as HANNITY continues. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GUILFOYLE: Welcome back to "Hannity." During a panel discussion in Washington yesterday, former Clinton campaign communications director Jennifer Palmieri admitted that members of the media lean to the left, but then claimed that due to their slant, they are harder on Democrats. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PALMIERI: I think most journalists are probably leaning more to the left than the right. Think about the kind of person that is drawn to do this as a career. They believe in government, they think politics matter, they like it, they find it interesting. They don't make a lot of money. That doesn't seem to concern them. But what I have found means that they come after us harder on what I describe as the crap. They come after us harder on the place intrigue, on the process, on things that really shouldn't matter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUILFOYLE: Joining me now with reaction is former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. He was on the panel yesterday. And also with us is Trump transition executive committee member and founder of SkyBridge Capital Anthony Scaramucci. Gentlemen, thanks for being here with me tonight. So Air, I will begin with you. You were on the panel with her. What do you think, is there any substance to those claims that the press is tougher on Democratic administrations than Republicans?

ARI FLEISCHER, FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Kimberly, first it's great to hear a Democrat acknowledge what Republicans have said for years, which is that the press largely comes from the left. But the notion of that that means they are harder on the left is nonsensical. Take the palace intrigue that she talked about. Have you ever seen more palace intrigue coverage and tougher coverage than on Donald Trump right now?

GUILFOYLE: No.

FLEISCHER: I think the press gets credit for being tough on Hillary for her email scandal, and that was a scandal that was hard to overlook. They were tough on Hillary's husband for his Monica scandal, another scandal hard to overlook. But when it comes to day in day out coverage, the press so much harder on Republicans than Democrats, and they're triply as hard on Donald Trump as they are on everybody else. And they were soft on Barack Obama.

GUILFOYLE: Anthony, you have been on inside, part of the transition team. So you experienced it, felt it up close and personal.

ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI, TRUMP TRANSITION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER: And I think to add to what Ari is you have a situation where there's a lot of personal assassination, Kimberly, because they don't like the policies of the right. And so what they try to do is identify who is a weak link or who could be slipping in favor, and then they do a massive pile on to see if they can knock that person out. Andy Puzder would be an example of that. The labor secretary designee, unbelievably talented guy, all of that was political rigmarole, totally unnecessary. And they characterized him in a certain way, and he such a gentleman that he stepped out of the process so that it wouldn't detract from the president of the United States. And so they are effective at this, unfortunately, and they do it all the time.

GUILFOYLE: Ari, what you think in terms of the communication and how that is going in terms of the Trump administration? The press after him every single day, looking for any kind of thing that can blow up.

FLEISCHER: I keep a file, I keep a file, and it's a bulging file that gets bigger every day of vivid examples that I think the press has done that illustrates the bias. Just yesterday "Washington Post" had story about Attorney General Sessions down at the border and how he wanted to crack down on people who are criminals coming into America. And the story conflated illegal immigration with immigration and talked about how Republicans wanted to crack down on immigration. And it quoted not one, not two, not three, but four people who are against what Sessions did. It did not have one quote of any expert or Republican supporting what the attorney general did. And nobody at "The Post" catches this stuff. And that's the bias in the newsroom that bothers me so much.

GUILFOYLE: Yes. It's tough to experience up close and personal, it's tough I think even for our viewers to see.

SCARAMUCCI: It is a blood sport. You have to have a really thick skin. I do give her some credit for what she said, though. She did admit to the bias. It is a very big bias, Kimberly, but I do think the Republicans have to take a "no whining" approach on this and just hit as hard as we can on the policies, because with the right communication, right communication strategies, I think we're right on the policies and we'll win the American people. And the president has done a great job of coming over the top and using Twitter, other devices in social media to relate directly to the people, recognizing that bias in the media.

GUILFOYLE: He's very effective, I think you would agree, in terms of his messaging and communicating and having that transparency, sort of a one-on- one relationship with the American people, but it's also out of necessity.

SCARAMUCCI: And he's also done something -- people now believe what Ms. Palmieri said about the media. It is very biased, very slanted to the left. And the president as a candidate and as president has done a very effective job of giving them more and more evidence every day.

GUILFOYLE: What about those in the Trump administration that have said essentially the press is the opposition party, that that is how difficult and contentious the relationship is? Do you agree? And if so, what can the Trump administration do to improve their relationship with the press?

FLEISCHER: A Gallup poll came out last week that asked voters whether they thought the press was favored towards the Democrats, the Republicans, and some 62 percent said the press was biased to the Democrats, some 22 percent said it's biased toward Republicans. So it's an uphill fight for Republicans at all times. And to some degree the press is the opposition party. Their role is to be the devil's advocate to whoever is in government, but like I said before, they were soft on Obama and very hard on Donald Trump.

Sometimes Donald Trump deserves it, though, and earns it, and I don't object to the press being tough on him. But when they are too tough, too oppositional, when they just can't stand anything he does, that's the real problem and that's where I fault the press for not even giving Donald Trump a chance in most instances.

GUILFOYLE: Anthony?

SCARAMUCCI: I would tell my fellow Republicans a "no whining" strategy, stick to great communication and understanding and explaining policies to the American people. We have so many devices now that can go right over the top, Kimberly. That's our best strategy and we have to use that to win the legislative and policy battles.

GUILFOYLE: He's definitely had a lot of accomplishments so far already in less than 100 days. Gentlemen, thank you so much for being with me.

Coming up, President Trump shows the world what leading from the front looks like and that he means business. Up next we will get reaction from Herman Cain. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GUILFOYLE: Welcome back to "Hannity." The days of America leading from behind are over. Earlier today President Trump sent a message to America's enemies after dropping the, quote, "mother of all bombs" on an ISIS installation in a remote area of Afghanistan. This is just the latest example of newfound American leadership. It has been a very busy week for President Trump. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We are sending an armada, very powerful. We have submarines, very powerful, far more powerful than the aircraft carrier, that I can tell you. I can tell you China will do much better on trade if they help us with North Korea.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you think he knows that?

TRUMP: I think he knows that. I told him that, yes.

Frankly, Putin is backing a person that is truly an evil person.

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.

I thought we had to do something about it. I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUILFOYLE: And joining is now with reaction is former presidential candidate and Fox News contributor, Herman Cain. So after this week, how much leverage do you think that the United States has gained or lost with Russia when it comes to the situation in Syria?

HERMAN CAIN, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: I believe, Kimberly, that our leverage has gone up significantly because this president has demonstrated, as you said, we are going to lead from the front, not from behind. But secondly, it shows he is decisive and not afraid to act.

Now, this sends a second strong message to our enemies and our allies that this president and this administration is serious. Here's something that probably the liberal media is not going to talk about after this incident today in Afghanistan. They are not going to talk about the fact that the military probably already knew about these ISIS targets, but we had an administration to before that didn't want to do anything about it. Now we have an administration and a president that is willing to do something about it.

GUILFOYLE: You know, and this was consistent with the rhetoric during the campaign of candidate Trump that he would act on military intelligence, that he wasn't going to a person that would draw a redline and then do nothing. He is getting these Intel reports and acting decisively within the first 100 days of his administration. What kind of message as well does this send to North Korea? I want to talk about that for a moment.

CAIN: Unfortunately, it won't send a message to North Korea because they aren't listening. They aren't listening to the actions of the United States. They aren't listening to the rest of the world. They aren't listening to the United Nations, so it won't send a message to them.

But what it does do is it sends a message to the rest of the world that the United States is not going to tolerate things that have been tolerated in the past. To countries like China, it sends a message to them. Countries like Russia, even though they are in denial about what happened in Syria, it's going to send a strong message to him.

And here's the other thing, I hope it sends a strong message to Iran that if you try to taunt our ships again, the result may be a little different than just letting you taunt our ships and we do nothing about it.

GUILFOYLE: These recent threats, too, with North Korea, I am concerned, Mr. Cain, because, like you said, they don't listen. But there seems to be a little bit of an expectation that China's President Xi will in fact be able to do something about this, and you heard those comments from the president today that he had good expectation, a good relationship with him, and was hoping that he might be able to control North Korea.

CAIN: We have seen two examples already where China is listening and may be changing in order to try to put some impact on North Korea. First, North Korea sent some cargo ships of coal, their primary resource, to China, and guess what, China sent them back home. And then the second thing what happened with the U.N. revolution. Russia, they would not vote to put sanctions on Syria, but China simply abstained, which is another way of saying we are not going to tolerate their actions. So I happen to believe that China is showing signs that they will help us put pressure on North Korea, and that is a good thing.

And let me add one other point. The United States is not starting this stuff. The United States is simply responding to this stuff. And the same message goes to North Korea and Kim Jong-un. We aren't going to start a fight, but if they start a fight, then the United States under this administration will probably end that fight.

GUILFOYLE: Herman Cain, always a pleasure to have you on this program. Thank you so much.

CAIN: Thank you, Kimberly.

GUILFOYLE: And coming up, we need your help with tonight's "Question of the Day." Will you stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GUILFOYLE: Welcome back to "Hannity." And time for tonight's "Question of the Day." Do you think President Trump is sending the world a message? Head over to Facebook.com/SeanHannity and Twitter and let us know what you think.

And that's all the time we have left this evening. You can follow me on Twitter, @KimGuilfoyle, and I'll right back here tomorrow night filling in for Sean. We hope you'll join us. Have a great night.



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With the federal government and a Senate committee looking into the dragging of a man off a United Express flight, airlines are beginning to speak up against any effort to bar them from overselling flights.

The CEO of Delta Air Lines called overbooking "a valid business process."

"I don't think we need to have additional legislation to try to control how the airlines run their businesses," Ed Bastian said Wednesday. "The key is managing it before you get to the boarding process."

Federal rules allow airlines to sell more tickets than they have seats, and airlines do it routinely because they assume some passengers won't show up.

SCORPION STINGS MAN ABOARD UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT

The practice lets airlines keep fares low while managing the rate of no-shows on any particular route, said Vaughn Jennings, spokesman for Airlines for America, which represents most of the big U.S. carriers. He said that plane seats are perishable commodities  once the door has been closed, seats on a flight can't be sold and lose all value.

Bumping is rare  only about one in 16,000 passengers got bumped last year, the lowest rate since at least the mid-1990s. But it angers and frustrates customers who see their travel plans wrecked in an instant.

Bumping is not limited to flights that are oversold. It can happen if the plane is overweight or air marshals need a seat. Sometimes it happens because the airline needs room for employees who are commuting to work on another flight  that's what happened Sunday on United Express.

Flight 3411 was sold out  passengers had boarded, and every seat was filled  when the airline discovered that it needed to find room for four crew members.

That eventually led to the video everybody has seen  a 69-year-old man being dragged off the plane by security officers after refusing to give up his seat.

In a series of three statements and an interview, United CEO Oscar Munoz became increasingly contrite. On Wednesday, he told ABC-TV that he would fix United's policies and that United will no longer call on police to remove passengers from full flights.

UNITED DOCTOR SUFFERED CONCUSSION WHILE BEING DRAGGED FROM FLIGHT, LAWYER SAYS

Politicians have jumped on the public outrage.

On Wednesday, 21 Senate Democrats demanded a more-detailed account of the incident from Munoz. A day earlier, the top four members of the Senate Commerce Committee asked Munoz and Chicago airport officials for an explanation.

"The last thing a paying airline passenger should expect is a physical altercation with law enforcement personnel after boarding," said the committee members, two Republicans and two Democrats. They asked Munoz about his airline's policy for bumping passengers, and whether it makes a difference that passengers have already boarded the plane.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to analyze "the problem of overbooking passengers throughout the industry." He said was working on legislation to increase passengers' rights.

The Transportation Department said it is investigating the incident to determine if United violated consumer-protection or civil-rights laws. It gave few details.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday that he asked the Trump administration to suspend airlines' ability to overbook flights. Christie, a Republican, said bumping passengers off flights is "unconscionable." United is the dominant carrier at New Jersey's largest airport, which is in Newark.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Federal rules require that before airlines can bump passengers from a flight they must seek volunteers  the carriers generally offer travel vouchers. That usually works  of the 475,000 people who lost a seat last year, more than 90 percent did so voluntarily, according to government figures.

United said, however, that when it asked for volunteers Sunday night, there were no takers. United acknowledged that passengers may have been less willing to listen to offers once they were seated on the plane.

"Ideally those conversations happen in the gate area," said United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy.

Airlines are supposed to have rules that determine who gets bumped if it comes to that. United's rules, called a contract of carriage, say this may be decided by the passenger's fare class  how much they paid  their itinerary, status in United's frequent-flyer program, and check-in time. United has not said precisely how the four people asked to leave Flight 3411 were selected.

United bumps passengers less often than average among U.S. carriers. In 2016, it bumped 3,765 passengers, or one in every 23,000. Passengers were twice as likely to get bumped from Southwest Airlines. Hawaiian, Delta and Virgin America were the least likely to bump a passenger against his will.
The White Houses annual Easter Egg Roll can trace its origins back First Lady Dolley Madison, who, in the early 1800s, invited local children to an egg-rolling event on the grounds of the Capitol Building. The tradition continued through 1876, with kids returning year after year to race their hard-boiled eggs down Capitol Hill.

Congress, however, grew weary of children running amok outside their offices, so they voted to ban the children from using their grasses as play-grounds or otherwise.

Then, in 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes opened up the White House gates and invited local children to continue their egg-based activities on the lawn. The event was a hit and the tradition has continued ever since, with each new presidential administration putting its own spin on the festivities.

ALI FEDOTOWSKY'S EXQUISITE IDEAS FOR DECORATING EASTER EGGS

Despite a few well-publicized hiccups leading up to the 2017 ceremony  namely, that the Trump administration reportedly waiting until the last minute to order commemorative wooden eggs, and that the event is expected to draw fewer attendees than in years past  the White House insists theyre ready to roll.

Jeff Hardin, chairman of the American Egg Board (the country's largest egg industry marketing organization), can vouch for those claims. The AEB has been involved, in one way or another, with the annual event since the organizations inception in 1977, and as Hardin tells Fox News, hes had nothing but a great experience preparing for the Egg Roll with the current White House staff.

Its no small job, either. As Hardin explains, this years festivities will include all-new events, exhibits and photo-ops, as well as 15,000 Egg Pops to be distributed among hungry kids and their families on the South Lawn.

Hardin took Fox News inside the annual tradition to give us a better feel for the scope of the nation's most well-known Easter party.

Fox News: What exactly happens at the Easter Egg Roll?

Jeff Hardin: Today, children race to the finish line with a dyed egg, provided by Americas egg farmers, held in a spoon. Hundreds of races will take place throughout the day on Monday, literally in the White Houses backyard.

How many people are expected at this years event?

An estimated 30,000-plus Americans from across the country will celebrate the Incredible Edible Egg [this figure was based on the number of eggs the AEB was instructed to provide] alongside Americas egg farmers on Monday, April 17.

What steps does the AEB take to prepare for the event? How many eggs do they prepare?

Well donate more than 30,000 real hard-boiled eggs, half of which arrive dyed and ready for egg rolling, hunting and decorating. The rest will be served as EggPops  a portable, nutritious hard-boiled egg on a stick  to everyone on the South Lawn.

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST SCRAMBLED EGGS YOU'VE EVER TASTED

What other events are planned for this years event?

Those in attendance will also meet Americas Egg Farmers throughout the whimsical An Eggs Journey from Farm to Table Eggsperience. At this exhibit, attendees will find photo cut-outs that showcase the hen house, processing and delivery; and a play kitchen where children can move eggs from the fridge to the stove to their breakfast, lunch and dinner plates.

Eggy, the popular Incredible Egg character, will also be on hand for photos.

Whats new at this years White House Easter Egg Roll?

This year, an interactive display with  realistic imitation hens (called Hollywood Hens) will drive even more engagement and help children learn about corn, the hens primary food. New photo opportunities will include egg-themed props and signs.

Tell us about the ceremonial egg the AEB is presenting to the First Lady.

During the event, and with the American Egg Boards CEO and President Anne L. Alonzo, Ill present the 40th Commemorative Egg. This years Commemorative Egg is an egg that artist Linda Gaus Asbell of Denton, Texas, carved, painted and then decorated with red, white, blue and gold Swarovski crystal.

As Chairman of the American Egg Board, Im honored to present the Commemorative Egg and thrilled to present such a lovely piece of artwork to our First Family, especially as the artist is from my home state. This entire event highlights the role that eggs play in our countrys time-honored traditions.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

How is the new administration handling the event? Are they bringing any new touches or traditions?

Weve had nothing but a great experience in working with the White House to make this as incredible as years past. As you can imagine, hosting an event of this size and scale in the White Houses backyard takes a lot of hard work, so we appreciate their partnership in making it a fun one for attendees.

Why do you think the Easter Egg Roll is such a hit with the public?

This is such a time-honored tradition that generations of families have had a chance to be a part of. Its a wonderful day of fun and celebration for children and adults alike.

It has been an honor to support this event for the last 40 years  and many more to come.

This interview has been edited for length.
The "most dangerous path in the world" is reopening for its third season after a gruesome accident caused it to close for 15 years.

The Caminito del Rey is a precarious walkway pinned to the edge of a gorge in southern Spain. After five people plummeted to their deaths in two years, the wooden walkway was closed for renovations in 2001.



But it has since been reopened with tighter safety regulations. The three-foot-wide path is now secured to the side of the gorge with steel bolts. It takes visitors between three and four hours to complete the five-mile route. Everybody is now required to wear a helmet as they cross the walkway.

The path dangles over a 300-foot drop and provides fantastic views of the El Chorro gorge. It was built over 100 years ago to give workers access to two hydroelectric plants in the area.

Since its reopening in 2015, daredevils have flocked to the Caminito in Spain's Malaga province. In the past two years, over 600,000 tourists -- mostly foreign -- have walked across and lived to tell the tale.

Those who thrive on adrenaline rushes should make a special stop at the walkway's glass platform, where visitors can get a bird's eye view of the drop below.

Adventure-seekers must make a reservation in advance to walk across the Caminito. Tickets cost about $11 (10 euros) and are available starting this month.

For those who want to test the waters before booking a trip, Google Maps released a Street View interactive exploration of the walkway.
One person was killed and three others were injured Thursday after a shooting on board a public train in Atlanta.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) police said the suspected gunman boarded a Blue Line train at the H.E. Holmes station west of downtown Atlanta and opened fire at around 4:30 p.m. local time.

Authorities said the suspect was arrested as he left the West Lake station one stop away. Investigators told Fox 5 Atlanta that they have recovered what they believe to be the gun used in the shooting.

MARTA spokesman Erik Burton said one man was fatally shot, and two men and a woman were shot and wounded.

Grady Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Denise Simpson said the victims there were in stable, noncritical condition. In addition to the three shot, one person injured in the panic was brought to the hospital, she said.

The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear. One witness told Fox 5 the suspect "had a hat on and he bobbed his head, and he got up and walked back to the back of the train. And after that, [I] heard shots, hit the deck and just saw some shoes walk past and that's it."

It's like five people lay down. [There were] more people still trying to crawl over us, still trying to climb over the back of us. I was like 'Dude, you got to let somebody up, can't nobody get through,'" said another witness, Cedric Peterson. "But I can understand why they were doing what they were doing because they couldn't clearly see."

The West Lake station was temporarily closed following the shooting. MARTA set up a bus between stations to accommodate customers during the closure.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from Fox5Atlanta.com.
The Latest on a multiple shooting at one of Atlanta's public transit stations (all times local):

6:40 p.m.

A spokesman for Atlanta's public transit system says one person is dead after a multiple shooting.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority spokesman Erik Burton tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://on-ajc.com/2peCmBz ) that four people were shot Thursday afternoon at the West Lake MARTA station and one of them has died.

Burton says the shooting happened about 4:30 p.m. and a suspect is in custody. Authorities have not released the man's name but say he's in his 30s.

No other details were released.

___

4:49 p.m.

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.

Grady Hospital spokeswoman Denise Simpson says all four victims are in stable, noncritical condition.

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.
The Latest on the manhunt for a fugitive in Wisconsin (all times local):

10 p.m.

Authorities say they are investigating a letter purportedly sent by fugitive Joseph Jakubowski that threatens violence at Wisconsin churches on Easter Sunday.

Police in Waukesha County say the letter was sent through the U.S. Postal Service and mentions churches in the Sussex area, about 25 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

The Rock County Sheriff's Office says the letter is being analyzed and "its authenticity is in question."

A manhunt has been underway since police say Jakubowski robbed a gun store in Janesville, Wisconsin on April 4.

They have warned that the fugitive is considered armed and dangerous and the public should not approach him.

___

6 p.m.

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.

___

Ehlke reported from Milwaukee.
Fire officials reported Thursday evening that over a dozen people were stuck 100 feet up in the air on a roller coaster at Six Flags America outside of Washington D.C.

Prince George's County Fire/EMS spokesman Mark Brady said on his Twitter account that 20 riders came to a standstill around 5:30 p.m. at the theme park in Largo, Maryland.

Numbers U/D We have confirmed with @SixFlagsDC that there were 20 people on board the ride. We have brought 10 down to safety. All OK #PGFD  Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) April 14, 2017

According to fire officials the riders are upright and no one appears to be in distress.

PGFD video from scene at @SixFlagsDC High Angle Rescue. Everybody is doing good on board stalled car. Rescues starting. pic.twitter.com/aStBHoeMAf  Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) April 13, 2017

Six Flags' website describes the Joker's Jinx as having a "spaghetti bowl" design, with the roller coaster doing "a cobra roll, a sidewinder loop, a corkscrew, and countless swift reversals."

Six Flags America said in a statement: "Joker's Jinx did not complete its regular ride cycle, causing it to stop at a safe location on the track. The Prince George's County Fire Department is onsite to assist in getting the riders safely off the ride. The safety of our guests is our highest priority and the ride will be closed for a thorough inspection before reopening."

Two dozen passengers became stuck, some for as long as five hours, on the same ride in August 2014.

READ MORE FROM FOX 45 BALTIMORE.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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.

Separately, law enforcement backed away somewhat on Thursday 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 Jakubowksi 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.
Shortly after two Georgia officers were fired for punching and stomping a black driver during a traffic stop -- in an encounter captured on video -- the Gwinnett County Solicitor General dismissed 89 cases related to those officers.

Solicitor General Rosanna Szabo said she would drop the cases involving former Master Officer Robert McDonald and former Sgt. Michael Bongiovanni over issues of credibility, Fox 5 reported.

FLORIDA POLICE OFFICER CHARGED IN SHOOTING OF AUTISTIC MAN'S CARETAKER

When police officers betray the publics trust and confidence, justice demands that all those cases that depend on their credibility be dismissed without delay, Szabo's office announced in a statement.

The officers were either a principal officer or a necessary witness in the cases, AJC.com reported.

DREW PETERSON REPORTEDLY ATTACKED IN PRISON

McDonald and Bongiovanni were fired Thursday after two videos showed them assaulting Demetrius Bryan Hollins during a traffic stop. Bongiovanni filed an incident report on the stop, but did not mention punching or kicking Hollins.

Bongiovanni said in the report that he initiated a traffic stop on Wednesday after Hollins changed lanes three times without signaling.

The officer called backup when Hollins yelled: "I need to call my mom."

The report claimed Hollins put his hands up as Bongiovanni pulled him from the car. Bongiovanni then turned Hollins, and tried to pin him between the door and the car. Hollins refused to put his hands behind his back and actively resisted, the report said.

The videos, however, contradicted the incident report. It showed Hollins exiting the car with both hands up, and Bongiovanni hitting him in the face as Hollins stands with his hands still up. McDonald was then seen stomping on Hollins' head in a second video.

The revelations uncovered in this entire investigation are shocking, police department spokesman Cpl. Deon Washington said in a news release.

We are fortunate that this second video was found, and we were able to move swiftly to terminate the supervisor who lied and stepped outside his training and state law.



Police records also revealed the officers had arrested Hollins in a traffic stop eight months earlier for a similar reason.

Click for more from Fox 5.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Police say they plan to increase the numbers of officers patrolling metro Atlanta's transit system after a man was fatally shot.

Police said the shooting on a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit train Thursday appears to be a "targeted, isolated incident."

Transit officials say ridership has been surging as motorists look for alternate ways to get around after a fire beneath an Interstate 85 overpass led to its collapse on March 30.

MARTA Police Chief Wanda Dunham said Zachariah Hunnicutt was shot to death and three other passengers were wounded.

She said the extra police presence would begin Friday.

Dunham says MARTA officers caught the suspect at the West Lake station. She didn't release his identity. The three people hurt in the shooting were hospitalized but expected to survive.
The man decapitated in a freak motorcycle accident in San Bernardino, Calif., on Tuesday morning has been identified as Fabian Zepeda, a 27-year-old who'd been married for less than a year and whose wife is four months pregnant.

LOUISIANA TANKER EXPLOSION ON HIGHWAY KILLS DRIVER

"I am very happy to keep a little blessing from my husband," Vanessa Quintana writes on a GoFundMe page, describing her husband, whom she met in 2012, as a "caring, loving, family orientated, unique individual who always managed to care for others before himself." The San Bernardino County coroner says Zepeda was decapitated by a tension wire that had been left stretched across the roadway minutes earlier when a Ford Taurus driver slammed into a telephone pole, breaking it in two, People reports.

"At that height at that time, it would have been really hard to see that wire," an investigator tells the San Bernardino Sun. The Taurus driver, who lost control of his vehicle for an unknown reason and rolled through a yard and down the street before hitting the pole, was interviewed by police and didn't appear to be under the influence of alcohol, though a blood sample has been sent for testing, says a San Bernardino police spokesman.

The accident is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol as well as the San Bernardino Police Department. The GoFundMe campaign has raised $11,000 as of Friday morning; Quintana is expecting a girl.

Click for more from Newser.
A man whose conviction in a double murder case was based on suspect evidence has been released from custody after more than 20 years.

Roberto Almodovar walked out of a Chicago jail Friday afternoon. His attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, says he's now with his family at the Chicago residence where he grew up and where he was arrested in 1994.

Almodovar was released hours after a Cook County judge dismissed the charges against him and his co-defendant, William Negron, who remains imprisoned on another murder conviction.

State's Attorney Kim Foxx agreed to drop the case against Almodovar earlier this week.

The two were convicted with evidence gathered by now-retired Chicago Police Detective Reynaldo Guevara. He's since been accused of coercing witnesses, and a state appellate court ruled Almodovar's case deserved closer scrutiny.
CIA Director Mike Pompeo's condemnation of the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks stands in stark contrast to the praise President Donald Trump has heaped on the group in the past.

Pompeo used his first public speech as head of the top spy agency in the U.S. to label WikiLeaks as a "hostile intelligence service" and a threat to national security.

When Trump was running for president, he said he was happy to see WikiLeaks publish hacked emails that proved politically damaging to his opponent, Hillary Clinton.

In defending the president, White House officials say there is a big difference between WikiLeaks publishing stolen personal emails of a political figure and publishing files about national security tools used by the CIA.
The same month the Trump administration vowed to crack down on recreational marijuana use, sales of the drug in Colorado continued to surge.

In February, licensed shops in the Centennial State brought in $126.1 million in sales, with more than $86.4 million in recreational revenue and $39.6 million in medical marijuana revenue. Those numbers make February the third-highest monthly sales total since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012 and the ninth consecutive month in which sales have topped $100 million.

The multi-million dollar sales came as White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer announced that the administration could ramp up enforcement of federal laws against recreational marijuana use.

"I do believe you'll see greater enforcement of it," Spicer said at a news conference. "Because again there's a big difference between the medical use ... that's very different than the recreational use, which is something the Department of Justice will be further looking into."

More than two dozen U.S. states have legalized marijuana for either medical or recreational purposes. Although federal law takes precedence over state laws, the administration of former President Barack Obama mostly looked the other way. A recent nationwide poll from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, also showed 71 percent of registered voters favored allowing states to decide whether marijuana should be legal.

The Trump administration  and particularly Attorney General Jeff Sessions  has worried many in the countrys nascent legal marijuana industry and created speculation over the future of the drug in the U.S.

Its definitely an interesting time. We are nervous, Beth Collins, senior director of government relations with Americans for Safe Access (ASA), told Fox News.

The Trump administration as a whole has fostered a tough-on-crime image, with much of that energy focused on curbing violent crime in Americas cities and cracking down on immigration. But legal pot advocates are concerned about how the federal government will approach the enforcement of federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized medical and/or recreational use.

A memo distributed throughout the department last week announced the creation of task force subcommittees to focus on various crime-fighting areas. This is to include a review of existing policies in the areas of charging, sentencing, and marijuana to ensure consistency with the Department's overall strategy on reducing violent crime and with Administration goals and priorities," according to the memo.

In just one sign of tensions ahead, Colorados Senate just passed a bill allowing marijuana growers and sellers to classify their product as medical if theres a federal crackdown, the Associated Press reported.

The states that have passed laws reflect millions of hours of sick people working to get those laws passed, Beth Collins, senior director of government relations with Americans for Safe Access (ASA) told Fox News. And so we want to make sure that we have those laws protected and future laws protected, so thats our number one concern.

Collins added that an amendment that currently prohibits the Department of Justice from using funds to interfere with state medical marijuana programs is set to expire on April 28, and uncertainty about its renewal has the cannabis industry scrambling to find a way to preserve access to medical marijuana.

Steph Sherer, founder and director of ASA, said while marijuana advocates hope the Trump administration will show flexibility, they are preparing for stricter conditions. Sherer said the ASA, which focuses only on medical marijuana, is taking several steps.

One is were trying to pass legislation to change federal laws so that we dont have to have that conversation when it comes to patients and their medicine, she said. Sherer said theyre also preparing for the worst-case scenario  federal raids.

We do have raid trainings, we do have tools that they can use to be safe if there is a federal raid and make sure that they get through that experience safely, she said.

Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, but it has been legalized for recreational use in eight states, including Washington, Colorado and California, as well as the District of Columbia. Last year, legal sales reached $7 billion and generated half a billion dollars in sales taxes.

Among registered voters in the Quinnipiac University survey, just 23 percent said the U.S. government should enforce federal laws against marijuana in states that have legalized it for recreational or medical use, and 71 percent said it should not.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Firefighters responded to a roof fire at the Bellagio in Las Vegas Thursday night.

A second alarm was called while they battled the flames.

LOUISIANA TANKER EXPLOSION ON HIGHWAY KILLS DRIVER

The fire has been knocked down and put out, according to the Clark County Fire Department.

Crews had a problem gaining access to it, and no cause is determined.

NYC BUS CATCHES FIRE IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

The department said the building saw exterior damage.

Ten engines, four truck companies, six rescues, four battalion chiefs, one deputy chief and two air rescue units, totaling 77 personnel responded.

Las Vegas Boulevard was closed.

The fire department was called at 10:46 p.m. and crews arrived at 10:50 p.m. The fire was knocked down at 11:09 p.m.

"Firefighting efforts were extremely difficult due to the location of the fire and access to the location," assistant fire chief Larry Haydu said.

Click for more from Fox 5 Vegas.
Four students at the University of Idaho were injured in an experimental rocket explosion Thursday night, school officials said.

The university said in a statement that the explosion occurred at around 9:52 p.m. in the parking lot next to the steam plant at the Moscow campus.

All four students were transported to Gritman Medical Center and were alert and communicating with emergency personnel Friday morning.

The incident is under investigation.
Online donations have poured in for the family of a Green Beret killed in action while fighting ISIS extremists in Afghanistan over the weekend, Fox & Friends reported Friday.

The GoFundMe page for Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencars wife and five children raised more than $181,000 by Friday morning, far surpassing the original goal of $15,000.

Fox & Friends reports that a family friend started the GofundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/ssg-mark-de-alencar. Nikki Damron wrote on the GoFundMe page that De Alencars wife now has the task of raising their five kids on her own. The children range in age from 3 to 17.

AFGHANISTAN: MARYLAND GREEN BERET KILLED IN ISIS

Our community has been hit hard in the last passing months and I just felt the need to try and do my part and help out his family, Damron wrote. Joining SF was a huge dream of Mark's, one he worked very hard to achieve.

Damron wrote that she was a military wife.

De Alencar, 37, of Edgewood, Maryland, died Saturday of wounds sustained when his unit encountered enemy small arms fire in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province.

He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

The Pentagon dropped the mother of all bombs on an ISIS tunnel complex in Nangarhar Thursday, killing 39 ISIS militants.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Two Georgia police officers have been terminated after videos of a 21-year-old man being punched and kicked surfaced online. The Gwinnett County Police Dept. announced it launched a criminal investigation that would be sent to the district attorneys office.

A witness shot cell phone video showing Sgt. Michael Bongiovanni striking Demetrius Bryan Hollins in the face as he got out of a car with both hands up, Public Information Officer Corporal Deon Washington said.

FLORIDA POLICE OFFICER CHARGED IN SHOOTING OF AUTISTIC MAN'S CARETAKER

The revelations uncovered in this entire investigation are shocking, Washington said. We are fortunate that this second video was found and we were able to move swiftly to terminate a supervisor who lied and stepped outside of his training and state law.

Bongiovanni was terminated shortly after the release of the footage for excessive use of force and falsifying a police report.

DREW PETERSON REPORTEDLY ATTACKED IN PRISON

Master Police Officer Robert McDonald also was terminated for excess use of force after he was identified as the officer who kicked Hollins in the head while he was handcuffed on the ground, Washington said. McDonald was responding as a backup officer to assist supervisor Michael Bongiovanni with the traffic stop.

What happened yesterday was clearly outside of state law and department policy. We do not tolerate actions that are not consistent with our core values or state law, Washington said.

Another witness captured video from a different angle. Washington said the footage was crucial to the investigation.

It confirmed that the force used was unnecessary and excessive, Washington wrote. We acknowledge that the actions of these two officers have implications that will be felt for some time.

Hollins was treated on the scene for his injuries and arrested on charges of marijuana possession, obstructing law enforcement, operating a vehicle without a license, and knowingly driving with a suspended registration.

Hollins was released on April 13 on a $7,500 bond, officials said.
Vandals have ransacked a nearly 200-year-old Civil War-era home.

Damage to an interior wall and floor were discovered on April 1. Thieves also made off with four wood support beams, according to the Mississippi Dept. of Archives and History (MDAH).

The historic house has been closed since the damage was discovered. MDAH sent personnel to the site to assess the damage and start repairs.

TEXAS COURT DENIES 'AFFLUENZA' TEEN'S APPEAL

The Shaifer House, located on the Port Gibson Battlefield in Claiborne County, Miss., is a National Historic Landmark, according to the National Park Service.

It was built in 1826 by A.K. and Elizabeth Shaifer and was the site of the first shots during the Battle of Port Gibson in 1863. The battle was part of Gen. Ulysses S. Grants campaign to take nearby Vicksburg. After a restoration in 2006, the Shaifer House opened to the public, according to MDAH.

VIDEO: HERO DOC SHOT WHILE STOPPING ATTACK ON WOMAN SPEAKS OUT

Jim Woodrick, director of the historic preservation division of MDAH, says he believes the site was targeted.

This was not vandalism as it turns out. It was a theft, Woodrick said. This was a planned operation, it had to be. We think it probably occurred just a day or two before it was discovered.

Woodrick says the site is isolated and unmanned. His department relies on a close-knit community of volunteers to keep an eye on the area. Woodrick adds that hes hoping to secure the site with cameras to prevent future criminal activity.

Bradley McCaa, a member of the Port Gibson Battlefield Committee, discovered the damage while on a walk on the property with his family. The committee is part of the Port Gibson Heritage Trust, a local non-profit that supports historical sites in the area.

Were just hoping that someone either got something on film or saw a vehicle, McCaa said. It would be very suspicious 'cause they would have very large beams in the back of a vehicle. Main thing is were just trying to discourage that kind of activity.

The committee is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of those responsible for the crime. McCaa adds that the close-knit community surrounding the site has been upset about the news.

The Claiborne County Sheriffs Dept. confirmed an investigation into the theft is ongoing. Chief Deputy Carl Fleming says he has a few leads in the case, but no arrests have been made.

Weve had a few leads, weve been trying to follow, Fleming said. Nobody really just stand[s] out right now but were working on some things.
Authorities in Wisconsin were investigating a written threat against churches by an individual purporting to be Joseph Jakubowski, who police have been searching for since April 4.

The Waukesha County Sheriffs Department said Thursday they were actively investigating the threat that was directed at churches in the Sussex area, according to Fox 6 Milwaukee.

The letter threatened violence on Easter Sunday.

We received a letter from an individual purporting to be Joseph Jakubowski, Waukesha County Sheriffs Department Lt. Phillip Carini said.

Authorities have not been have not been able to determine whether the author of the letter is Jakubowski. It is being forwarded for further analysis, according to the station.

Waukesha authorities have stepped up security around churches in Sussex and are working with them to review safety plans for Easter Sunday. Investigators are also working with local officials, church leaders and federal, state and local law enforcement officers in the case.

Meanwhile, Gov. Scott Walker canceled his annual Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for Saturday because over safety concerns while authorities search for Jakubowski.

A statement from Walker and first lady Tonette Walker says the couple is "sad to miss one of our favorite events."

Scores of police have been searching for Jakubowski, who is suspected of robbing a gun store in Janesville and sending an anti-government manifesto to President Trump.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from Fox 6 Milwaukee.
Joseph Jakubowski, the Wisconsin man accused of stealing more than a dozen guns and sending a threatening 161-page manifesto to President Donald Trump, was arrested Friday following a massive 10-day manhunt, officials said.

Jakubowski, 32, was found near Readstown in southwestern Wisconsin hiding under a tarp. He was disheveled and appeared to have not slept for days, authorities said. He was found in possession of four handguns, a rifle, a Samurai sword, and a copy of the manifesto he sent to the White House.

His hideout was a desolate farm, Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden. He said Jakubowski was caught before he could act on any plan for violence.

Make no mistake what could have happened here is a mass shooting, Spoden said at a press conference.

The sheriff added: We are fortunate that whatever his endgame was, he wasnt able to carry it out.

The owner of the farm called law enforcement to report a suspicious man on his property. Tactical officers, including from the FBI, moved in to apprehend him.

ATLANTA SHOOTING: ONE KILLED, THREE INJURED BY GUNFIRE ON TRAIN

Officials said Jakubowski was taken into custody without incident. He was taken to the local station and was being interviewed.

He faces arraignment in Madison Federal Court Friday on weapons charges related to the gun shop burglary. Other charges are pending.

Jakubowski was accused of stealing 18 guns from Armageddon Supplies, a store near Janesville, on April 4, torching his car, and then vanishing, Fox 6 reported. The manifesto bearing his name showed his hatred for religion, a long list of grievances against the government, and a desire to carry out unspecified attacks.

ARKANSAS DEATH PENALTY FOES AIM FOR BIG GOOD FRIDAY RALLY

The farm's owner, Jeffrey Gorn, told The Associated Press he was driving his four-wheeler when he spotted the camper -- without realizing it was Jakubowski. He said he actually spoke to the man for about an hour and never once felt threatened.

Days after the manhunt began, a separate letter mailed by someone claiming to be Jakubowski threatened unspecified violence on Sunday at churches in the Sussex area, about 25 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

The FBI said Friday that Jakubowski was not the author of that letter.

WTMJ-TV posted 35 pages of handwritten documents to its website that it said were written by Jakubowski, according to a law enforcement source. Rock County Sheriff's Office Commander Troy Knudson said the writings appeared genuine.

The pages posted online were numbered 93 through 160 but skipped almost every odd number, suggesting the TV station received only one side of each page. In them, the writer claimed 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 read, going on to say priests and churches controlled U.S. presidents and banks.

The writer stated he would 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!"

More than 150 law enforcement officials had been searching for Jakubowski, who'd had several run-ins with law enforcement, most for traffic violations. Police said he previously resisted arrest and once tried to disarm an officer.

On Thursday, Gov. Scott Walker announced he'd cancel an Easter egg hunt scheduled for Saturday, citing security concerns. On Friday, he said it was back on. He and First Lady Tonette Walker praised law enforcement, saying no one would have to worry over the Easter weekend.

Readstown is about 160 miles west of Milwaukee.

Click for more from Fox 6.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A judge has declared a mistrial and dismissed all charges against parents in the starvation death of their baby.

The Daily News Journal reports (http://on.dnj.com/2peSKoP) that the judge determined an investigating detective should have obtained the baby's feeding machine as evidence, and said prosecutor Hugh Ammerman permitted the jury to hear prejudicial information.

Twenty-five-year-old Sinead Omer, who is pregnant and has three surviving children, and the baby's father, 27-year-old Terry Craighead, had faced life in prison if convicted of child neglect, abuse and murder.

Their 5-month-old daughter Skyler Rae had heart surgery after being born and was diagnosed with atypical DiGeorge syndrome. She died in 2013.

Defense lawyer Brad Hornby says the machine might have had a technical problem.

Ammerman says he's not sure the ruling can be appealed.

___

Information from: The Daily News Journal, http://www.dnj.com
Mexico has begun the process of extraditing the accused killer of border patrol agent Brian Terry, whose 2010 murder exposed the bungled U.S. gun-tracking operation known as Fast and Furious, according to a report.

The Arizona Republic reported late Thursday that drug cartel member Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes was en route to Mexico City for extradition. Its unclear how long the process will take. The paper reported that U.S. officials are working with the Mexican government to do it as soon as possible.

DETAINED AFGHAN FAMILY RECEIVES PERMANENT USA RESIDENT STATUS

Osorio-Arellanes was arrested Wednesday, and Fox News was the first to report the fugitive's capture.

He 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).

FAST AND FURIOUS SCANDAL: SUSPECTED TRIGGERMAN IN BORDER AGENT'S MURDER ARRESTED

Terry was killed on Dec. 14, 2010 in a gunfight between Border Patrol agents and members of a five-man cartel "rip crew," who rob drug smugglers.

The murder led to revelations that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) had allowed criminals to buy guns in Phoenix-area shops with the intention of tracking them as part of the Fast and Furious operation. ATF agents lost track of more than 1,400 of the 2,000 guns they allowed smugglers to buy.

Lawmakers criticized the Obama administration over the operation. The political firestorm resulted in then-Attorney General Eric Holder being held in contempt of Congress for refusing to divulge documents.

Four members of the "rip crew" have been sentenced to prison in the U.S.

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.

Mexican marines took Osorio-Arellanes into custody near the border between the states of Sinaloa and Chihuahua -- a mountainous region noted for drug activity, according to a joint statement Thursday from Mexico's navy and its federal attorney general's office.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Authorities in Texas said Wednesday there were no signs of forced entry into a womans garage apartment where she was found strangled to death in her bathroom.

Fort Worth police Sgt. Joe Loughman said they could not reveal whether 22-year-old Molly Matheson knew the person who killed her. He added that Matheson likely died sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning. Matheson was discovered in her bathroom by her mother Monday afternoon.

Officials at Texas Christian University said Matheson did not attend the school but lived on the same street where students do live, Fox 4 News reported. Officials added they were disturbed by the crime.

Last night I was just praying it was a mistake, an accident. To find out it was a crime  a violent crime  is unsettling, Elise Vidaurri, who lives close to Mathesons apartment, told Fox 4 News Tuesday.

Police have not released any information about a person of interest in Mathesons murder.

Mathesons family lives in Fort Worth, but used to live in Winter Park, Fla. Their former pastor told Fox 4 News that the Mathesons were a big part of the community and that Molly was very active in the church.

Click for more from WFAA-TV.
MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS KILL 36 ISIS MEMBERS

Afghanistan officials said Friday that the mother of all bombs dropped on an Islamic State tunnel complex killed 36 militants and destroyed several caves and ammunition caches held by the terror group. The Afghanistan Ministry of Defense added that there were no civilian casualties in the bombing, which took place near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

WHAT IS THE MOAB?

GINGRICH: DROPPING MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS IN AFGHANISTAN SENT CLEAR SIGNAL OF STRENGTH

GEN. KEANE: MOAB IS A NASTY WEAPON, WELL-SUITED FOR TARGETING ISIS TUNNELS

TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA TRUMPS FAULT?

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Han Song Ryol told the Associated Press Friday that President Trump is to blame for the increased hostility on the Korean Peninsula. Han charged Trump with building a vicious cycle of tensions and that his aggressive tweeting was making trouble. Han said Pyongyang would not keep its arms crossed in the face of U.S. aggression and warned North Korea will got to war if (the U.S.) chooses.

PENCE OPENS ASIAN TRIP AMID INCREASING TENSIONS WITH NORTH KOREA

NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR THREAT: DEFIANCE ON DISPLAY IN PYONGYANG

WHATS SO GOOD ABOUT GOOD FRIDAY?

On a dark Friday two thousand years ago, Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. Powerful members of the religious, political, and military communities colluded to strip him naked, mock him publicly, and crucify him. Yet two millennia later, Christianswho believe that Jesus is the Son of Godcelebrate that dark day by calling it Good Friday.

CHRIS CHRISTIE NEEDS A NEW (AND RESPONSIBLE) STRATEGY TO FIGHT OPIOID ABUSE

PROPOSED CHIK-FIL-A HAS STUDENTS AT DUQUESNE AFLUTTER ABOUT MICROAGGRESSONS

SKEPTICISM ABOUT OBAMACARE REPLACEMENT PROPOSALS SURFACES

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., a co-author of the ObamaCare replacement bill that did not reach the House floor last month, said Thursday he is skeptical about the proposals the Trump administration and other GOP lawmakers have discussed in hopes of reviving the bill. Walden said he was concerned about suggestions that states would be allowed to sidestep the ban in President Obamas health care law against insurers charging seriously ill people higher premiums than health customers.

BID TO REVIVE OBAMACARE REPEAL JUST FOR SHOW?

OBAMACARE INSURANCE: FEAR OF FAILURE IN TENNESSEE

WISCONSIN CHURCHES ON HIGH ALERT

A letter purportedly written by fugitive Joseph Jakubowski threatens Easter Sunday violence in Sussex, Wis. Authorities have not been able to determine whether the author of the letter is Jakubowski, but are working with local officials and church leaders on a plan to step up security for Easter weekend. Police have been searching for Jakubowski since April 4. He is suspected of robbing a gun store in Janesville and mailing an anti-government manifesto to President Trump.

SAN BERNARDINO SCHOOL SHOOTING: AIDE SAYS GUNMAN WAS OUT FOR BLOOD

5 HIGH SCHOOL STUDUENTS ARRESTED IN ALLEGED GANG RAPE

COMING UP ON FNC

6:00 a.m. ET: Russia, Iran and Syria foreign ministers hold joint press conference.

9:10 a.m. ET: Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., of the House Oversight and Governmental Affairs Committee, joins Americas Newsroom.

12:00 p.m. ET: Motions hearings are held in federal courts in San Francisco and Santa Clara, Calif. over President Trumps executive order to withhold federal funding for sanctuary cities.

COMING UP ON FOX BUSINESS

3:00 p.m. ET: Part of an interview with Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director, airs on Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman.

FOX BUSINESS COVERAGE

AS TRUMP FALTERS ON CORPORATE TAX CUT, WALL STREET COULD PLUMMET

Wall Street may not be getting that big tax cut after all.
An Oklahoma City woman accused of dressing up as a witch and abusing her granddaughter was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday, officials said.

Geneva Robinson, 51, was ordered to serve three consecutive life sentences, KFOR reported. In February, she pleaded guilty to multiple counts of felony child abuse.

Robinson's boyfriend, Joshua Granger, also was sentenced to life in prison for allegedly beating two children and aiding Robinson.

FUGITIVE WANTED IN WEAPONS THEFTS, HOSTILE MANIFESTO CAUGHT

Police came to Robinson's home in September 2014 after she tried taking her granddaughter to the hospital, KFOR reported.

The girl, 7, appeared to be malnourished, had burns and bruises all over her body, and infected cuts on her ankles, according to a police report. Her wrists also had marks that "had the appearance of possibly being bound."

A SURVIVOR, NOW A DAD: VIRGINIA TECH SHOOTING, DECADE LATER

The girl told authorities that her grandmother would dress up as a witch named "Nelda" and torture her, according to KFOR.

Robinson allegedly would wear a green mask and punish her granddaughter by binding her wrists and making her sleep on a pair of pants in the garage.

Other times Robinson, dressed as "Nelda," would "take a pink dog leash and hang the victim in the middle of the garage underneath her arms." Robinson then would tell the girl the "the creatures in the attic were going to come get her," according to KFOR.

Granger would stand by and help Robinson take on her witch persona, prosecutors said.

Officials found a witch hat, chains, and whips allegedly used to torture the girl at the scene, police said.

Though Robinson's defense argued the sentence was too harsh because the child did not die, the judge said Robinson robbed her granddaughter's innocence and "sparkle," KFOR reported.

"She has scarred them for the rest of their lives," Prosecutor Merydith Easter said in court on Thursday.
Authorities say a Florida middle school teacher accused of producing and receiving child pornography has killed himself in Tennessee.

Metro Nashville police announced on social media Friday that 33-year-old Corey Perry died at a local hospital after a gunshot wound to the head. Police say Perry appears to have shot himself at a Nashville motel just before FBI agents arrived to arrest him.

Officials with Palm Beach County Schools have not said whether any of Perry's victims attend Howell L. Watkins Middle School, where he taught computer science. Officials have confirmed that some of the identified victims attend Palm Beach County schools.
Authorities launched an investigation Thursday after two copies of the Koran were found inside a toilet bowl at a Texas college.

Two students at the University of Texas at Dallas found the copies of the Muslim holy book in the mens bathroom on March 28 and alerted authorities, according to the schools student newspaper.

Investigators dont have too many leads in the case, but are reviewing video around where the Korans were found, UT-Dallas police Chief Larry Zacharias told The Texas Tribune.

Its not something we want to blast out on campus because we dont want people to go, Oh, youre a suspect in the Quran thing, Zacharias said.

Zacharias added that there is not much divisiveness on the campus. He said he agreed with students on campus who have told him that this was a one-time, stupid incident.

Click for more from The Texas Tribune.
A classroom aide who was just steps away from the murder-suicide at a Southern California elementary school, which left one other student dead, said she believes the gunman was out for blood.

Jennifer Downing told the Riverside Press-Enterprise on Thursday that she thinks Cedric Anderson would have killed others at North Park Elementary in San Bernardino if he had not run out of bullets and stopped to reload Monday.

"I don't feel like he was just out for (Karen) Smith," Downing, an instructional assistant, told the paper. "I feel like he was out for blood."

Downing said she had only worked with Smith for a short time. She told the newspaper that the teacher almost never talked about her personal life but once mentioned that she was stressed because of a divorce.

"She's the most private person I've ever worked with," she said of Smith.

Downing had never seen Anderson, 53, before he showed up at the classroom and opened fire without saying a word.

Anderson killed his estranged wife, teacher Karen Elaine Smith, and an 8-year-old boy, Jonathan Martinez, in a special-education classroom at the elementary school before turning the gun on himself. Another student, 9-year-old Nolan Brandy, was shot and is recovering and in good spirits, his family said Wednesday.

At the time of the shooting, Smith, Downing and another aide were working with tables of four to five students. Downing said she had no idea Anderson was even in the room until the first shot popped off.

Anderson kept firing in the seconds it took for Downing to process what was happening. She saw Smith, 53, slumped over at the desk where she had been sitting with her group.

Downing said she saw the 9-year-old get shot.

"So in my mind, I'm thinking 'He's shooting anybody and everybody,'" she said.

At some point Anderson "stopped, and messed with his gun" and that's when she fled with two students. Later, Downing would find out from the other aide that Anderson tried to fire on other targets after Smith.

"She said he raised the gun to her  and it clicked. He was out" of bullets, Downing said.

According to the San Bernardino Police Department, Anderson fired 10 shots, stopping to reload his six-shot revolver midway through.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A 13-year-old boy who accidentally shot an acquaintance during a snow day off from school in Detroit has pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors say the boy pleaded guilty Thursday to manslaughter in juvenile court. He was also ordered to undergo a clinical evaluation ahead of his next court hearing on May 16.

The boy who was killed, 13-year-old Emarjae Watkins, was shot in the back on Dec. 12 while the boys were home from school.

The grandmother of the boy charged, 58-year-old Lise Cox, was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse, but a judge dismissed those charges in January.

Cox was at work at the time of the shooting at her home and had no direct role in Emarjae's death. Authorities initially alleged she didn't properly store the gun.
San Antonio, Texas, often called Military City, USA, is a prime landing zone for military families and veterans parachuting into civilian life and transitioning to higher education.

Not only is San Antonio the home of Joint Base San Antonio (a conglomerate of three different military installations, and the largest of the DoDs joint bases), but it also boasts numerous military support organizations, veteran resources, and a strong sense of military community. Thats probably a significant factor behind the veteran population in San Antonio sitting at more than 100,000, according to 2016 census records.

PHOTOS SHOW NAVY HUSBAND REUNITED WITH EXPECTING WIFE IN TEXAS

When it comes to offering support to our student veterans, San Antonio has always gone above and beyond the call of duty, leading many other schools in honoring students with military experience, facilitating continuing education, and helping student veterans feel at home on a college campus.

With protests, boycotts of speeches, and student social media campaigns against the administration, police, military, and just about any cause du jour commonplace on college and university campuses, just how do we narrow the growing military-civilian divide in our institutions of higher learning?

Texas A&M University  San Antonio, with about 20 percent of its student population (of just over 5,500) associated with the military, just recently took a bold and extraordinary step that shows both respect and appreciation for our student veterans. It became the first in the nation to require all faculty and staff to take military competency training. As part of its mission to embrace student veterans, this training helps faculty and staff to understand and appreciate the experiences, strengths, and skills of student veterans, as well as help them transition to academic life.

Student veterans have learned to work hard for a common purpose. They have a great number of skill sets; our job is to help them leverage those skill sets and rediscover or create a new mission, says K.C. Kalmbach, a psychology professor who led the creation of the training.

Katherine (Kat) Harris is an OpsLens contributor, a veteran spouse, expat, and former military contractor with over 20 years of expertise in military/family transition, career counseling, higher education, organizational strategic planning, and international relations.

Click for more from OpsLens.com
A transgender woman who was arrested by border patrol while at a courthouse for a protective order was sentenced in Texas to time served Thursday. She was facing an illegal reentry charge.

Irvin Gonzalez, who investigators said entered the U.S. from Mexico illegally, was arrested February 9 at the El Paso County Courthouse and since had been held in the El Paso County Detention Facility next door.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT IN CONTROVERSIAL ARREST PLEADS GUILTY TO UNLAWFUL REENTRY

KVIA reported that Gonzalez apologized when asked by the judge if she wanted to say something.

"I would like to apologize for breaking the law of the United States, and I would like to ask you for an opportunity to start my life over in my own country," said Gonzalez.

TRANSGENDER WOMAN ARRESTED BY BORDER PATROL ADMITTED TO MONEY SCHEME, HAS CRIMINAL RECORD

Her immigration attorney, Melissa Untereker, was happy with the sentence.

I thought it was a fair sentence in light of the special circumstances in her case, said Untereker.

The special circumstances, according to Untereker, were the way that she was arrested, and the way that the CBP [Customs and Border Patrol] agent falsified information in the sworn affidavit to the federal court after her arrest.

The affidavit filed by the CBP agent regarding her arrest originally said Gonzalez was arrested outside the courthouse. However, that affidavit came under serious public scrutiny by El Paso County leaders and Congressman Beto ORourke, after security footage showed the agent meeting Gonzalez inside the building on the 10th floor and escorting her outside.

Gonzalez was being held in the El Paso county jail under federal custody. Now that shes received the time served sentence for illegal reentry, shell be transferred to state custody in the same facility.

Untereker said Gonzalez faces state proceedings for another criminal charge. After that, shell go through immigration hearings.

Gonzalez also is charged in a money order washing scheme with the boyfriend she was a seeking a protective order from. They admitted to breaking into mailboxes, stealing money orders, washing the name off with transmission fluid, adding their name, and depositing the money in his bank account.

Gonzalez has been deported six times and has spent over a year in jail for crimes including domestic battery, illegal entry, and possession of stolen mail.
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The White House won't make public the logs of visitors to the White House complex, breaking with the practice of President Donald Trump's predecessor.

Senior White House officials cited privacy and national security concerns for the decision, which they say is in line with what previous administrations have done  except for President Barack Obama's. They say continuing to release the records could interfere with policy development, among other things.

After some litigation, the Obama White House began releasing the visitor records on a delayed basis. White House lawyers also deleted names for national security and other reasons before the logs were made public. The Obama administration eventual released nearly 6 million visitor records.

The Trump officials requested anonymity to describe the policy before it is announced.
Puerto Ricans who want their island to remain a U.S. territory just got a boost from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The federal Department of Justice said Thursday that an upcoming referendum to decide the future of Puerto Rico's political status should include the current status as an option.

A draft of the ballot submitted by Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello only included two options: statehood or independence.

The Justice Department also said the draft contains ambiguous and potentially misleading statements, and that it cannot provide $2.5 million in federal funds to hold the referendum.

The announcement is considered a blow to Rossello's pro-statehood party. Rossello tweeted that he still plans to hold the referendum on June 11. He recently campaigned on a pledge to secure statehood.
A small Austrian town is abuzz after more than 1 million bees were reportedly stolen from a local park.

Police said this week residents in the town of Ebreichsdorf notices that the covers of wooden boxes containing 40 hives have been removed. The thefts, reported Tuesday, could have occurred anytime since the end of March.

GERMANY APPROVES 1ST SUBSIDY-FREE BID FOR OFFSHORE WIND PARK

Beekeeper Horst Preisl put his loss at around 15,000 euros in lost honey and stolen bees, including queens.

But Preisl tells state broadcaster ORF the damage is incalculable in terms of years of work lost.

Bee hive thefts have been increasing around the world in recent months as the price of honey has surged in the world market.

In the final 6 months of 2016, more than 400 bee or honey hives were stolen in New Zealand.

Local police said they believe organize crime syndicates in the country are behind it as trading beehives has become a lucrative business.

There is nothing to suggest at this stage that beehive-honey theft is directly linked with a particular gang, but we do believe this offending is organized and likely being carried out by groups, senior Sgt. Alasdair MacMillan, Coordinator of Community Policing for New Zealand Police, told Reuters in March.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A court in Ivory Coast has handed down sentences in connection with the 2011 deaths of four people who were kidnapped from the Novotel hotel in Abidjan.

Six defendants received prison terms ranging from six to 20 years for their roles in the attack.

The downtown hotel was a popular spot with foreigners including international journalists who were covering the country's violent post-election dispute in 2010 and 2011.

Witnesses said armed gunmen loyal to ex-President Laurent Gbagbo stormed the hotel and seized four captives, including the hotel's French manager. His body was found in a nearby lagoon.

The attack took place not long before Gbagbo was captured after failing to cede power to current President Alassane Ouattara. Gbagbo now faces war crimes charges at The Hague.
In the remote California desert  at the halfway point between Los Angeles and Las Vegas  dusts kicks up and curls the skyline, hovering above majestic iron gates and a towering cross. Behind it sprawl houses of worship, date trees and a flowing river reminiscent of a land far away.

It is the Saint Antony Eastern Orthodox Coptic Monastery. Inside, there is a kinship of monks and novices swinging censers of incense known as bakhoor while a large old-fashioned oven raises to life the warm holy bread. A gathering of devoted followers  women on one side with their heads sheathed in traditional white mantillas and the men on the other  are deeply drawn into prayer.

More often than not, they are praying for the survival of their fellow Christian Coptics facing persecution in their native of Egypt.

The (Muslim) Brotherhood has returned to kill the Christians in Egypt, the monasterys Father Mosa told Fox News. But the future is in the hands of Christ.

On Palm Sunday, the Christian commemoration for the day Jesus arrived in Jerusalem before his crucifixion, 44 people were murdered in attacks on two churches, orchestrated by brutal jihadist outfit ISIS. But this is just one of an endless string of onslaughts against the religious minority in Egypt  which makes up around 10 percent of the population.

The ousting of President Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood from power in 2013, replaced by Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, had many Coptics hopeful for greater minority protections. Mosa is confident that the strongman president will go above and beyond to seek peace, but others are less optimistic.

I suffered persecution and discrimination in Egypt and I have zero trust in Sissi. There is an unspoken tendency of the government to keep their eyes closed and just pretend to be unbiased, said Terese Gobran, who sought asylum in the U.S a couple of years ago. I chose to leave when a direct threat was more than probable, and I dont intend to go back. The Coptic people will all be forced to flee. They need help and support.

And Wahid Boctor, an Egyptian-American, recalled the way his brother in medical school was constantly harassed due to his faith, as officials did not want Christians to graduate as doctors so that Muslim woman would not be exposed to them.

Every time I go back it is getting worse and worse, he continued. Christianity in Egypt and the Arab world will not last for long.

According to Pew Research Centers Forum on Religion and Public Life, Christians are not only the most persecuted religious group in the world  but persecution is the highest in the Middle East, the land where the religion and civilization all began.

PALM SUNDAY ATTACKS: 44 DEAD, MORE THAN 100 INJURED IN CHURCH BOMBINGS CARRIED OUT BY ISIS IN EGYPT

CHRISTIANITY IN IRAQ IS FINISHED, SAYS CANON ANDREW WHITE, 'VICAR OF BAGHDAD'

Before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, there were an estimated 1.5 million Christians living there. Numbers are said to have now dipped to 275,000 or less due in large part to the onslaught of ISIS. Those left languishing there are at a critical juncture of whether to stay and fight for their survival, or escape for a chance at a brighter future.

The question is one which is widely debated within the U.S diaspora. But in the view of Father Noel, an Iraqi Christian priest in San Diego, Calif. and an ambassador for the Minority Humanitarian Foundation, which endeavors to support Christians leaving Iraq, his brethren have left with next to choice but to leave.

It is living hell for Christians in Iraq. For those displaced, the only thing keeping them alive is their faith. Those at the shelters say they are simply awaiting death, he told Fox News. Many are without vital supplies and necessities. Most are at risk of disease. This Easter, there will be no celebration for many Christians in Iraq.

Steven Nabil, an Assyrian Christian who can still speak in Jesuss language of Aramaic, concurred that although the future is bleak, hope is not lost.

The Christians of Iraq and the Middle East have faced some of the harshest genocides by numerous adversaries through history, he said. But they have carried the cross with pride and pain.

Nabil, 28, was raised in the oil-rich northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk and noted that it was not uncommon to hear school teachers telling Muslim children that Christian students are not as close to God as they are. As a human rights activist, he still visits his homeland to help those in need and vowed that he never takes for granted his U.S. life.

I enjoy that my ID does not state my religion, Nabil quipped. America is the land of opportunity.

Last year, then-Secretary of State John Kerry officially declared that Christians in Iraq and its neighbor Syria were the victims of an ISIS-perpetrated genocide. But the Christian minority in Syria  where Saint Paul converted on a road to Damascus  is facing the wrath from more than just ISIS.

The country is heading into its seventh year of a bloody civil war that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and driven a wedge of sectarianism through the previously cohesive country.

However, Christians from Syria often differ about the reasons behind their communitys decline. Some view President Bashar Assad as iron-fisted but a protector of minorities against the rise of revolutionaries, insurgency and Islamism. Others point to him as the very reason Christians are dying and disappearing  especially as the government has been heavily backed in the war by the Shia-aligned Iran and Lebanons Hezbollah.

I dont even have the privilege of visiting now, less go back and live there, lamented Abdullah Aroush, who grew up in a tiny Christian town called Zaidal and blames the Assad regime for the decline of Christianity in his mothership. Life in the U.S. is full of hurdles, but what I mostly cherish is my freedom. Youll never know how special to have your freedom until youre stripped of it.

An exiled life is almost always painful, especially when all one can do is watch from afar as ones country and religion is torn apart. Nonetheless, Bahnan Yamin, a Christian who hails from the war-ravaged Syrian city of Aleppo  a city that pre-2011 had a bustling Christian community of more than 250,000 but now only one eighth of that  is hopeful that Christians wont be wiped away so long as war and oppression ends soon.

I was a teacher in the Islamic district of Aleppo and never felt anything other than respect from my students and their parents, even though they knew I was Christian, he reminisced. It is the regime that puts citizen lives in danger, including Christians. We just want a Syria that respects the human rights of all its citizens, all religions.
Prospects of Christianity surviving in its birthplace, the Middle East, appear as grim this Holy Week as they have at any time in the last two millennia.

Persecution of the worlds largest religion has intensified throughout the 20th century and that trajectory has only intensified in recent years, especially in Muslim-dominated countries. Jihadists appear to have repeatedly carried out one of their oft-stated goals of erasing any trace of Christianity in some regions, while in others persecution against Christians and other religious minorities are being held at bay  for now.

The actual prospects facing Christianity in three of its longest-standing strongholds, Syria, Egypt and Iraq, vary significantly. But a blind eye is often turned by the mainstream media and others when it comes to anti-Christian atrocities, which have become an all-too-common way of life for many in the Mideast.

What follows is a summary of challenges facing Christians in each of these three areas.

Believing that a man named Jesus Christ was crucified and rose again for the sins of the world is still one of the most dangerous things one can do in many parts of the world.  Robert Nicholson, The Philos Project

Egypt. Egypt's Christians, known as Coptic Christians, make up around 10 percent of the population and have long been a target not only of Islamic extremists but the majority Muslim populations resentment of Copts.

Coptic leaders have reported that since February 2011, after the Arab Spring resulted in the election of a Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Morsi as president, persecution worsened. Since then at least 200,000 Christians have fled the country.

Two years later when a military coup ousted Morsi many of his supporters blamed the Copts. As a result, violent incidents against Christians have steadily increased. And while current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has made concerted efforts to protect the Coptic community, this year has shown some of the most violent attacks against Christians.

That is especially so in Egypts northern Sinai region where the Islamic State is taking direct aim against Christians. Before 2011, that community numbered up to 5,000; it has now dwindled to fewer than 1,000, according to the Associated Press. There are no official statistics on the number of Christians in cities or across the country.

The Copts, like most Christians around the region, are victims of religious hatred. But they are also pawns in a larger game to destabilize apostate Arab regimes and invite Western intervention that will, in turn, ignite Arab opposition on the street  not to mention opposition on the Western street, Robert Nicholson said to Fox News.

Unless Sissi can bring to heel ISIS and dissipate the widespread loathing of Christians that characterizes the nations Muslim population, prospects for the Egyptian church appear grim.

Iraq. In 2003, Iraqs Christian population was an estimated 1.4 million, according to ADF International. Christians enjoyed relatively many civil rights and were able to rise to high levels in private and public life. Indeed, Saddam Husseins foreign minister, Tariq Aziz, was a Christian. The Nineveh Plain region, also known as the Plain of Mosul, in northern Iraq was a centuries-old homeland for the countrys Chaldean, Syriac and Assyrian Christians.

Then the U.S. invaded Iraq, unleashing an orgy of sectarian violence that hammered churches. Christians fled the Nineveh Plain, and as of late last year the number of Christians in Iraq had fallen to an estimated 275,000.

One reason for the exodus was ISIS conquering northern Iraq in 2014. The terror group launched a pogrom against the church, as well as against other minority religions. But today, a U.S. coalition has eliminated the Islamic States chokehold on much of northern Iraq, including the city of Mosul.

Prospects for Christianity surviving in Iraq now turns on whether the Chaldean, Syriac and Assyrian believers will be allowed to return to their ancestral homelands.

A majority of the Assyrian towns in the Plain have been left decimated. In some of the towns most of the infrastructure has been reduced to rubble; in others, dangerous chemical compounds have been dumped, polluting the ground to toxic levels.

Everything is damaged, Jalal, an Assyrian from the village of Karamles, told Fox News in December 2016. Houses have been burned by fire. Theres no water, no anything. People will only return if there is some sort of promise of protection.

One proposal that has been vetted is to create a safe zone for Christians, an area that could evolve into a semi-autonomous region such as the Kurds are seeking.

Some organizations are helping with efforts to rebuild Assyrian villages in the area. The Iraqi Christian Relief Council has been spearheading an initiative since last year called Operation Return to Nineveh, which is raising funds to rebuild homes, churches and infrastructure that was destroyed by ISIS.

Restoring these villages will be a long-term project, but it has to be done, Juliana Taimoorazy, the organizations executive director, told Fox News in December. Its doable only if theres active security on the ground.

But such efforts are the exception, not the rule.

Not nearly enough is being done for Iraqi Christians who want to return home. ISIS has been pushed back and trickles of IDPs [internally displaced persons] have begun returning to their towns and villages, but no one is making any special effort to help them, says Robert Nicholson, executive director of the Philos Project, a U.S.-based advocacy group for Christians in the Middle East said to Fox News.

They need massive reconstruction, jobs, schools, and affirmative protections for their religion, language, and culture. Most importantly, they need to be empowered to protect and govern themselves so that this kind of genocidal destruction wont happen again.

Some groups favor a go-slow approach to bringing Christians back to northern Iraq.

Its a little early to jump to safe havens, David Curry, CEO of Open Doors USA, which monitors incidents of Christian persecution worldwide, tells Fox News. They often wind up creating a bigger target.

No matter if or how quickly Christians are able to return home, persecution of believers will remain a fact of life.

It is hard to predict how many Christians will be killed this year, but it seems likely that they will remain the No. 1 target of religious persecution, Nicholson told Fox News. Believing that a man named Jesus Christ was crucified and rose again for the sins of the world is still one of the most dangerous things one can do in many parts of the world.

Syria. For a majority of the last century, this country has had a relatively sizable Christian presence, comprising at least 10% of the total population.

Many of Syrias Christians, known as Eastern Orthodox, have historically seen their country as an oasis of religious freedom when compared to neighboring countries. President Bashar Assads regime, which is predominantly Alawite, a variant of Shia Islam, has long allowed churches to evangelize, publish religious materials and build sanctuaries. The Christian population has also had access to education and employment and many are more financially well off then their Muslim counterparts.

However, things may be growing worse for the Syrian church. As the civil war continues, believers in the country have been split over whether to support the Bashar regime. Some support the regime but also believe that all Syrians have rights that should be afforded to them. Some Christians have become part of the diaspora as well, but it is for a myriad of reasons other than Muslim persecution.

While many Syrian Christians do not want to become refugees, there is an underlying fear among the community that their country could have the same issues seen in Iraq if the regime is toppled.

Prospects for Syrian Christians will turn on whether the Assad regime survives and, if it does not, whether a successor government maintains the current regimes protection of the church.
The recent Palm Sunday bombings at two Egyptian churches that killed 44 worshippers and wounded more than 100 others are the latest in a spate of deadly attacks targeting the worlds Christians.

Nearly 90,000 of the faithful were killed for their beliefs in violent and gruesome attacks last year, according to a report by the Center for Studies on New Religions, making Christians the most persecuted group in the world. While some were killed as part of state-sanctioned persecution, as in places like North Korea, nearly one-third of the Christians who died in 2016 were executed at the hands of Islamic extremists like ISIS.

The study also found that as many as 600 million Christians were prevented from practicing their faith in 2016.

"There are many places on Earth where being a Christian is the most dangerous thing you can be, Robert Nicholson of the Philos Project told Fox News in January.

Some of the more violent attacks on Christians include: terror groups in Nigeria taking out the eyes of Christians before butchering them; a mob of Muslim worshippers in Uganda -- mad over conversion efforts -- entering a church and beating parishioners and raping at least a dozen women; and the numerous bombings of Coptic churches in Egypt.

The violence against Christians has been on the rise over the past two years, with assailants growing more ferocious with each attack.

In October 2016, more than 40 Christians were killed in the village of GodoGodo, Nigeria, by Muslim Fulani Herdsman. The mostly Christian town was burned to the ground and crops and grazing land was destroyed by the herdsmen, who shot and slashed dozens of the fleeing villagers. In addition, more than 300 were left severely injured.

In the war-torn Central African Republic, more than a dozen Christian refugees were hacked by machete-wielding militia fighters, also in October 2016. Fighters from the republics largely Muslim Sleeka militia attacked refugees living in the village of Kaga Bandoro. More than 50 people were injured and another 13 were killed before U.N. peacekeepers from a nearby camp stopped the bloodshed.

In February 2015, a video was released by the Islamic State showing the mass beheading of 21 Egyptian Copts in Libya.

The tape showed the victims -- who were migrant workers kidnapped in the city of Sirte -- kneeling in orange jumpsuits on a beach along the southern Mediterranean coast before they were beheaded.

"Oh people, recently you've seen us on the hills of Al-Sham [Greater Syria] and on Dabiq's Plain, chopping off the heads that had been carrying the cross delusion for a long time, filled with spite against Islam and Muslims, and today we are sending another message, said one of their captives in English before the decapitations.

While the video, experts say, was doctored to make ISIS soldiers appear larger than life, no one holds out hope the victims, mostly poor fishermen who had gone to Libya for work, are alive. The following day, after the clip went viral, Egyptian warplanes launched airstrikes on a port city near Tripoli, where the video appeared to have been filmed.

The Coptic Christian community has become what is seemingly a top target for ISIS. Worshippers on Egypts Sinai Peninsula and the northern part of the country have been under siege.

The Sinai Peninsula -- where northeastern Egypt shares its borders with Gaza and Israel -- has been the center of an ongoing conflict between Islamists and Egyptian forces for years, but in recent times the Islamic State and their local affiliates, known as the Sinai Province, have been attempting to drive the Coptic population out of the northern Mediterranean city of Al Arish.

While the Christian population of the city has had to flee from threats before, their plight has taken a dark turn in 2017. With a recent call from ISIS for the Copts on the peninsula to be killed, more than 100 families had to flee amid attacks  including the executions of their loved ones.

In the Palm Sunday attacks in Egypt, at least 44 people were killed and more than 100 were injured in the bombings -- which ISIS claimed responsibility for.

The first blast occurred at St. George Church in the Nile Delta town of Tanta, where at least 27 people were killed and 78 others wounded, officials said.

Television footage showed the inside of the church, where a large number of people gathered around what appeared to be lifeless, bloody bodies covered with papers.

The second explosion  which Egypts Interior Ministry says was caused by a suicide bomber who tried to storm St. Mark's Cathedral in the coastal city of Alexandria -- left at least 17 dead, and 48 injured.

The attack came just after Pope Tawadros II -- leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria -- finished services. He reportedly was unhurt.

The blasts came at the start of Holy Week leading up to Easter, the most solemn time for Christians and just weeks before Pope Francis is due to visit Egypt. The attacks led Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to call for a three-month long state of emergency.

Christians continue to live in fear of practicing their faith, and there are no signs the slaughter soon will be coming to an end.


A Congolese military official says a suspect has been arrested in connection with the deaths of an American and a Swedish investigator for the United Nations and their interpreter.

Maj. Gen. Joseph Ponde Isambwa made the announcement Friday.

The bodies of American Michael Sharp, Swedish national Zaida Catalan and interpreter Betu Tshintela were found late last month in Congo's Central Kasai province.

They had been looking into alleged human rights violations by the Congolese army and local militia groups. Three other local members of their team remain missing.

At least 400 civilians have been killed in the region since August amid a rebellion loyal to former traditional leader Kamwina Nsapu. The United Nations has said 23 mass graves have been found in the region, and at least 434,000 people have been displaced.
News of President Trumps response to the Syrian chemical attack left several Obama administration officials with a sense of frustration and a reluctant feeling of vindication.

Trumps decision to act swiftly and decisively, with an airstrike, was what they had wanted to see Barack Obama do in 2013 when he was president and the world learned of the Syrian governments chemical attack that killed some 1,400 people, including hundreds of children.

But Obama, they say, was too hesitant and too guided by a belief that dialogue was the way to deal with rogue leaders. He preferred the olive branch to the stick in his efforts to appeal to leaders with dangerous instincts, they say.

I think he left a more dangerous world, Barry Pavel, senior director for defense policy and strategy on the U.S. National Security Council staff from 2008 to 2010, said to Fox News.

In Syria, a major mistake was treating it like a humanitarian crisis, when it was a major national security crisis that has caused destabilization on our closest allies in Europe, Pavel said, Syria has been a source of terrorist attacks in Europe and the United States, and future attacks. I worry about that very much.

The world watched the United States underwhelming response to rogue moves by the Syrian government and by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, Pavel said, and got the message that aggression would not be met with a military response.

He left a more dangerous world. Political adversaries knew we had the capability, but not the will.  Barry Pavel, National Security Council from 2008-2010, said of President Obama

Potential adversaries know we had the capability, but not the will to strike out at aggressive actions by certain nations against their neighbors or their own people, Pavel, who is director at Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security at the Atlantic Council, said. Because they knew that the Obama administration would not use military force for any purpose, they felt free to conduct their coercive actions in the South China Seas, the Russians went into Syria and North Korea accelerated their nuclear arms program.

Pavel called it unfathomable that it wasn't until this year that U.S. troops arrived in Europe to deter Russia from a repeat of its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

"That should have been done in 2014," he said. "We could have reinforced NATO to reassure our allies that we had their back, or we could have given the sovereign country under attack from Russia legitimate defensive weapons."

Pavel recalls the resistance he faced when he suggested that the U.S. be more forceful in handling of Syria. While the Obama administration said it did not want to commit hundreds of thousands of troops to a new military conflict, Pavel said there were choices between a full-scale commitment and complete inaction.

Gary Samore, who served for four years as Obamas White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction (WMD), said the Iran nuclear deal  widely criticized by Republicans  has been effective.

That proves, Samore said, that not all adversaries can be handled the same way.

The constraints that Obama negotiated are holding, Samore, who is executive director for research at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, said. But who knows, in a couple of years they might renege on the agreement. Its true that you cannot trust the Iranians, but can we spot cheating? The agreement has mechanisms for us to restore U.N. sanctions. If we can catch them cheating we have much stronger rationale for using the military. We can say we tried the diplomatic approach, it gives you a stronger argument for using the military.

Military action can be risky with an unstable leader who has access to nuclear weapons, Samore said.

The Syrians are so weak, he said. By contrast, Iran has options. It can retaliate against U.S. allies, against Israel, Saudi Arabia. North Korea is another example.

Both men praised Trumps military strike against Syria.

I applaud Trump, Samore said. It was the kind of strike that Obama was planning  a limited military attack against the airfields in order to deter Assad from carrying out additional chemical weapons attacks, but he decided not to use it. Obama made a huge mistake by saying he was going to go to Congress for authorization, it turned out he did not have the votes.

Trump was very smart to do it without congressional support, Samore said.

Pavel agrees.

I think the Trump administration is putting the world on notice, he said. The U.S. can use military force to achieve particular goals without getting mired in a protracted conflict.

Michael McFaul, Obamas ambassador to Russia, said in an interview with the New York Times that the former presidents penchant for a kinder, gentler approach to adversaries was counterproductive.

For me, this tragedy underscores the dangers of trying to do deals with dictators without a comprehensive, invasive and permanent inspection regime, said McFaul after the Syrian chemical attack earlier this month. It also shows the limits of doing deals with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. Surely, the Russians must have known about these chemical weapons.

Other experts say that while reaching out to foes of the United States may not yield the desired results, playing hard ball may yield far worse consequences.

Imagine what Syria would look like without that deal, former Deputy Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said to the Times. It would be awash in chemical weapons, which would fall into the hands of ISIS, Al Nusra or other groups.

Blinken said that the Obama administration was not blind to the Syrian governments deceptive ways.

We always knew we had not gotten everything, he said, that they Syrians had not been fully forthcoming in their declaration.

Pavel says there is no one-size-fits-all answer to dealing with adversaries.

I dont agree that you should never come to agreements with dictators, he said, as long as the agreements are hard-headed and have necessary provisions, and they are largely enforced.

During the Cold War, we had agreements, and that contributed to stability, he said.
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Afghanistan officials say the U.S. attack on a tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military has left 36 Islamic State group fighters dead.

There were no civilian casualties, according to the Ministry of Defense statement, which also said that several IS caves and ammunition caches were destroyed.

Hakim Khan, 50, a resident of Achin district where the attack took place, welcomed the attack on ISIS, saying: "I want 100 times more bombings on this group."

The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon, unleashes 11 tons of explosives.
The Latest on tensions on the Korean Peninsula (all times local):

4:45 p.m.

Chinese experts see little immediate possibility of hostilities breaking out between the U.S. and North Korea, but say Beijing will respond harshly to any further North Korean nuclear tests.

Director of Jilin University's Institute of Northeast Asian Studies Gui Rui says President Donald Trump's domestic troubles should prevent him taking such action, while North Korea doesn't appear to be on a war footing.

Gui says although the tension on the Korean Peninsula is high, it's not high to the point of having an imminent war.

He says another nuclear test would invite tougher measures from Beijing, possibly including new restrictions on Chinese companies' investments in North Korea and cuts in the number of Chinese tourists allowed to visit.

___

12:40 p.m.

North Korea's vice foreign minister says President Donald Trump's policy toward the country is more "vicious and aggressive" than President Barack Obama's.

Vice Minister Han Song Ryol told The Associated Press that Trump's tweets were making trouble in the region.

Trump tweeted Tuesday that the North was "looking for trouble" and if China didn't do its part to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, the U.S. could handle it alone.

Han said: "We are comparing Trump's policy toward the DPRK with the former administrations and we have concluded that it's becoming more vicious and more aggressive." The country's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

But Han said it was prepared for provocative acts. "Whatever comes from U.S. politicians, if their words are designed to overthrow the DPRK system and government, we will categorically reject them."

___

12:20 p.m.

North Korea's vice foreign minister says, "We will go to war" if the U.S. chooses to provoke it.

Vice Minister Han Song Ryol spoke to The Associated Press in an exclusive interview in Pyongyang on Friday. He said the United States and President Donald Trump were making trouble in the region, citing Trump's tweets and the U.S. for moving an aircraft carrier into the region and for participating in its largest-ever joint military exercises with South Korea.

Han said that in the face of such actions, North Korea "will go to war if they choose." And it will continue developing its nuclear program and conduct its next nuclear test whenever its leaders see fit.

Han said: "We certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a U.S. pre-emptive strike."

___

12:15 p.m.

North Korea's vice foreign minister says it is not his own country but the United States and President Donald Trump who are "making trouble."

Vice Minister Han Song Ryol made the comments in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang on Friday.

Trump tweeted on Tuesday that North Korea was "looking for trouble" and added that if China doesn't do its part to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, the U.S. can handle it.

Han cited Trump's tweets as problematic, as well as the U.S. military's participation in exercises with South Korea and an aircraft carrier's move to the region.

"Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words. .... It's not the DPRK but the US and Trump that makes trouble."

___

11:45 a.m.

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. pre-emptive strike.

Many experts believe North Korea could have a viable nuclear warhead and a ballistic missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland within the next few years.

___

11:30 a.m.

North Korea's vice foreign minister says the situation on the Korean Peninsula is now in a "vicious cycle."

Vice Minister Han Song Ryol made the comments in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang on Friday.

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.

President Donald Trump upped the ante in a war of words with Pyongyang in a tweet on Tuesday that said the North is "looking for trouble."
One of the effects of increasing Christian persecution in the Middle East is the creation of a diaspora.

Many believers are left with no choice but to make the perilous journey to Europe in the hopes of landing a spot in one of many over-crowded migrant camps. Others choose to wander the region as nomads, with no reassurance that they will be able to return to their homelands any time soon.

The Nineveh Plain region, also known as the Plain of Mosul, has been the ancestral homeland of Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac Christians, Yazidis and other minorities -- all of whom were under attack from ISIS once the terror group started to control the region in 2014.

The Christian population in Iraq has plummeted from 1.5 million in 2003 to current estimates of 275,000 and could be permanently gone within five years, if no action is taken, according to a November 2015 report from Aid to the Church in Need, an international Catholic charity.

The dwindling numbers are due to genocide, religious refugees fleeing to other countries, internal displacement and others disavowing their faith.

It has been estimated that a dozen Christian families fled Iraq each day during the ISIS occupation of the northern half of the country. Christians who have managed to escape ISIS have fled to places like Europe and Lebanon. Others simply wandered the region avoiding U.N.-operated refugee camps for fear that Muslim refugees in the camps would target them.

Many of those who have been displaced want to return to their homeland and see the Nineveh Plain as the cradle of their faith.

Unless the global community gets involved, we will witness the loss of Christian witnesses in a land that is biblically significant, Elijah Brown, executive vice president for religious advocacy organization 21st Century Wilberforce, told Fox News.

In Syria, where groups like Aid to the Church in Need has sent $9 million in aid to help Christians driven from small towns north of Damascus, an estimated 15,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians left their villages in 2015 to seek refuge in cities like Homs, Zaidal and Fairouzeh.

In northern Sinai, Coptic Christians have been fleeing their homeland in droves because of the militant threats in recent years. The Coptic community, which numbered up to 5,000 in 2010, has now dwindled to fewer than 1,000, according to the Associated Press. There are no official statistics on the number of Christians in cities or across the region.

Last month was particularly horrific for the Sinais Copts as ISIS began a siege of the northern Mediterranean city of Al Arish. The recent demand from ISIS for the Copts on the peninsula to be killed has resulted in more than 100 families fleeing the region.

My whole life is in Al Arish, Monica, a college student whose family is from the city, said to Fox News last month. My friends. My church. Everything. All of my life is there.

Monica, who asked at the time that that her surname not be published, was forced to flee Al Arish along with her family after ISIS fighters threatened to kill her brother  simply because he was Christian.

Many fled the city after the violent incidents increased in 2017, seeking refuge in the city of Ismailia, about six hours from Al Arish on the banks if the Suez canal or in the immediate region surrounding the capital city of Cairo.
Afghanistan officials said 36 Islamic State militants were killed when the U.S. dropped the mother of all bombs on a tunnel complex Thursday.

The Afghanistan Ministry of Defense added in a statement Friday that there were no civilian casualties and that several Islamic State caves and ammunition caches were destroyed.

The GBU-43B, a 21,000-pound conventional bomb, was deployed in Nangarhar Province close to the Afghanistan/Pakistan border. 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.

President Trump told media Thursday afternoon that "this was another successful mission" and he gave the military total authorization.

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]."

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. He said there has been heavy fighting in the area in recent weeks between Afghan forces and ISIS militants.

Hakim Khan, 50, a resident of Achin district where the attack took place, welcomed the attack on ISIS, saying: "I want 100 times more bombings on this group."

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 Lucas Tomlinson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
A North Korean official said Friday that President Trump was building up a vicious cycle of tensions on the Korean Peninsula and that his aggressive tweeting was making trouble.

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Han Song Ryol told the Associated Press that Pyongyang will not keep its arms crossed in the face of a possible preemptive strike by the U.S. Han warned North Korea will go to war if they choose.

"If the U.S. comes with reckless military maneuvers then we will confront it with the DPRK's pre-emptive strike," Han said. "We've 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. pre-emptive strike."

U.S. Air Force officials made it clear to North Korea Thursday they were not messing around, launching a surprise military exercise with full combat air power in Japan. The fully-armed jets were shown at Kadena Air Base.

Tensions between the U.S. and North Korea have worsened since the U.S. deployed a strike team led by the USS Carl Vinson to the waters off the Korean Peninsula. Trump has not ruled out taking military action against Pyongyang and vowed to get Kim Jong Uns regime under control without Chinas help.

Han blamed the U.S. for the rising tensions. Han cited the largest-ever U.S.-South Korea war games, the deployment of the aircraft carrier and Trumps tweet that North Korea was looking for trouble as tipping points.

Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words," Han said. "So that's why. It's 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 North's leadership have fanned Pyongyang's anger.

"Whatever comes from the U.S., we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it, Han said.

According to the North Korea monitor 38 North, Pyongyang looked primed and ready to test its sixth nuclear missile to coincide with the 105th anniversary of the birth of North Koreas founder this weekend.

The Saturday anniversary may provide the world with a look at some of that arsenal. Expectations are high the North may put its newest missiles on display during a military parade that could be held to mark the event.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Pope Francis has prostrated himself in prayer during a solemn Good Friday service in St. Peter's Basilica.

The 80-year-old pope lay for several minutes before the central altar. He wore crimson-colored vestments for the day commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus.

Several times during the service, Francis bowed his head in silent reflection.

Papal preacher the Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa told the faithful they were recalling the "violent death" of Jesus 2,000 years ago, even when most days bring news of violent deaths, because his crucifixion "changed forever the very face of death."

Cantalamessa called the cross the definitive "'No' of God to violence, injustice, hate, lies."

Francis was scheduled to give his own homily Friday night at the traditional Way of the Cross procession in the ancient Colosseum in Rome.
Thousands of people, including nuns, families with toddlers, and young tourists, endured exceptionally tight anti-terrorism checks to pray at the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum, where Pope Francis expressed shame over humanity's failings.

Francis, wearing a plain white coat, presided over the traditional, evening Way of the Cross procession from a rise overlooking the popular tourist monument as faithful took turns carrying a tall cross and meditations were recited to encourage reflection on Jesus' suffering and crucifixion.

After the 90-minute-long procession ended, Francis, in a quiet voice, read a prayer he composed that alternated expressing shame for humanity's failings and hope that "hardened hearts" will become capable of forgiving and loving.

With Easter two days away, Francis said faithful look to Christ "with eyes lowered in shame and with hearts full of hope."

Such shame, he said, derives from "all those images of devastation, destruction, shipwrecks, that have become routine in our lives." Hundreds of thousands of migrants have endured hardships at the hands of human traffickers to try to reach Europe, which has increasingly been rejecting them, and thousands of them have perished at sea during the last few years.

Evoking wars and conflicts, as well as attacks on Christian minorities, Francis also voiced shame for "the innocent blood spilled daily by women, children, immigrants, and persons persecuted because of the color of their skin, or for the ethnic or social group they belong to, and for their faith" in Jesus.

The pontiff also made a reference to clergy's handling of sex abuse of minors, saying: "shame for all those times that we bishops, priests and other clergy scandalized" the church.

Hours before the evocative, candlelit ceremony, pilgrims underwent the first of two rounds of security checks that started while they still were blocks away from the ancient arena. There was a heavier-than-usual police presence keeping watch on every aspect of the event.

Anti-terrorism measures have been heightened for large public crowds after several vehicle attacks in Nice, Berlin and other European cities.

Police opened handbags and backpacks. They checked computers, and, in at least one case, asked an Italian woman to open a package. It turned out to be a tray of pastries, and the woman good-naturedly offered one of the sweets to the officer.

Streets surrounding the Colosseum were closed to traffic, armored vehicles blocked intersections, bomb-sniffing dogs were used and police checked chemical toilets with scanners for explosives near the Colosseum.

"I believe that we have a situation in which we Europeans have to unite and take the issue of security very seriously," Jose de Laoz, a businessman from Spain, said while the security sweeps were conducted near the Colosseum.

Terrorism's repercussions were being felt in Christian communities across the Mediterranean. In Egypt, Coptic churches announced that Easter services would be limited to prayers, without festivities. The measure was taken after twin bombings killed 45 people at churches on Palm Sunday.

In Rome, the Good Friday gathering was calm as participants, estimated by Vatican security to number 20,000, clutched candles in the silence of a warm night. Some parents hoisted children on their shoulders so they could watch. Many people kept their eyes fixed on a towering cross, studded with lit candles glowing against the Colosseum's ancient stone.

Hours earlier at the Vatican, Francis prostrated himself in prayer during a Good Friday service in St. Peter's Basilica. The 80-year-old pope lay for several minutes before the central altar.
The Turkish-Syrian border long has been a lifeline for armed groups fighting inside Syria  a porous crossing 511 miles long over which countless weapons, money, and men have gone to fuel all sides of the civil war.

But today it is almost impossible to cross  so high is the risk of kidnapping or death.

Until a few years ago a handful of journalists were still risking it. I went myself a few times  often up to my neck in water, through a river and in the dead of night.

VIDEO: DIPLOMATS FROM SYRIA, IRAN, RUSSIA MEET IN MOSCOW

But today, journalists must settle for the stories that come across the border, told in safe houses, and in hushed tones in meetings with fighters, refugees, and defectors, in towns bordering Syria.

That is where weve spent much of the last week  and the sense we got is that the fate of Syrians now is being decided by other countries. The meeting in Moscow between Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian President Vladimir Putin: one example of how the future of the country is out of Syrias hands. The country has become a piece in the big game of chess principally between Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, gulf states, and the U.S.

MIDDLE EASTERN CHRISTIANS FORCED TO BECOME NOMADS

Today, another hugely symbolic meeting took place between the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, and Syria  again in Moscow  a sign to the world that the alliance between the three remained as strong as ever, and that Russias policy toward Assad and Syria wasnt going to change  even after President Trumps show of force.

The fact is that Russia has invested so much time, money, and military power in Syria, that it cant change course now  not to mention its strategic interests in-country, such as its naval base on the Mediterranean in Tartus.

And so it was that after the Tomahawk strike last week, countless Free Syrian Army (FSA) leaders and survivors from the chemical attack flowed across the border to meet journalists  their attempt to get out the stories of brutality inside, in the hope of getting the U.S. to give more support to the opposition. They knew they had a small window during which the world was watching.

As one survivor of the chemical attack told me: Our stories are our weapons  and we must use them now.

FSA fighters we met pleaded for help from the U.S.  trying to explain that now was the time to help, and with further military support from the U.S. they could pressure Assad to negotiate.

They also addressed U.S. fears  one that the removal of Assad would create a vacuum in the country which would be filled by jihadis. One FSA military strategist told me that they were not planning on removing the whole regime  only Assad and his dreaded intelligence services; civil society and ministries would stay in place. He said they had learned from the de-Baathification of Iraq post-Saddam Hussein.

They also did their best to convince us that they were fighting both the Islamic State and the regime at the same time  that both were their enemies, and they happily would work with the U.S. on both fronts.

They went further and pointed to the fact that Assad had helped to create ISIS  Syrian regime defectors have told how in the four months leading up to October 2011, dozens of high-ranking Islamists were released from Saidnaya prison  to rejoin the fledgling jihadi group not yet known as ISIS. A way of creating an enemy worse than themselves.

ISIS defectors also have told me how the Assad regime has bought oil from the terror group, with one saying that experts from the regime continued to work in ISIS-held facilities, traveling backwards and forwards.

In March 2015, the European Union imposed sanctions against a Syrian businessman, George Haswani, for being a go-between between the Assad regime and ISIS. U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond described Haswani as the middleman buying oil from ISIS on behalf of the regime.

In December 2015, U.S. Treasury Dept. official Adam Szubin, in a report detailing ISIS finances, said the terror network was selling a great deal of oil to the Assad regime. At the time, total ISIS oil sales were at $40 million a month.

Its also accepted that Assad rarely attacks ISIS  nor for that matter does Russia. According to former State Dept. spokesman John Kirby, 90 percent of Russia's strikes were aimed at moderate rebels, which it sees as a greater threat than ISIS.

But despite all these major issues, it seems more help is not coming, and as more days pass after the gas attack, it appears that the Tomahawk strike is, for the moment, a one-off. Many of the fighters who spoke to us already have headed back to their war, fighting as best they can with the few weapons they have.

Now, again it seems that its the major powers who will decide the outcome  and a solution of any kind seems as far away as ever.
During last years contentious presidential campaign, Donald Trump raised concerns among officials in Tokyo about the fate of the decades-long alliance between the United States and Japan. His comments came in response to questions about American military spending in the Asian nation and the mounting trade deficit between the two countries.

But with less than 100 days in office, Trump  and his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe  have eased the worries about any souring of relations between the longtime allies after a series of meetings in Trump Tower, the White House and Mar-a-Lago.

The gravitation of Trump and Abe toward each other comes as their two countries look to present a unified front in an increasingly volatile region where an unstable North Korea and an expanding China have become major foreign policy issues for leaders in Washington and Tokyo.

So far the personal diplomacy has been really successful in this case, Mireya Solis, a senior fellow at the Brookings Center for East Asian Policy Studies, told Fox News of Trump and Abe. I think on both sides there is a desire to make the relationship work.

The need to make the relationship work has been particularly apparent from Abe, who visited with then-President-elect Trump just days after he won the election and has been in frequent contact with him since Trump took office in January. Last week the two world leaders spoke twice over the phone  once for 45 minutes to discuss North Koreas ballistic missile launches and another time to talk about the U.S. missile strike in Syria last Thursday.

North Korea and Supreme Leader Kim Jong-uns mounting nuclear ambitions has cast a pall over much of East Asia with its recent missile tests and caused the militaries of Japan and South Korea to go on high alert. The mounting threat from North Korea forced Trump to send the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group to the Korean peninsula  a maneuver that drew a warning of catastrophic consequences from Pyongyang but widespread praise from Tokyo and Seoul.

Its important to secure a U.S. deterrent force amid the increasingly severe security climate in the region, Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference on Monday, according to the Japan Times.

The heightened presence of U.S. warships in the waters off of East Asia has been a hallmark of the nascent Trump administration. The day after Trump was sworn into office, the U.S. Navy kicked off joint missile detection and tracking drills with Japan and South Korea in the Sea of Japan and in March U.S. and Japanese forces held military exercises using six Osprey transport aircraft on the main island of Honsu.

Japan has also dispatched its largest warship  the Izumo helicopter carrier  to rendezvous with the Carl Vinson group in a mutual show of force that could involve helicopter landings on each other's ships, as well as communication drills.

While Japanese officials have said that both Tokyo and Washington were seeking to press North Korea to reach a peaceful solution to the crisis, neither side has ruled out a military response. Trump has said he is considering all options on the table and, since taking office, Abe has stretched the limits of Japans post-war, pacifist constitution by building up its naval forces in an effort to assert its influence beyond its own territory.

More military build ups have happened under Abe, but there is still reluctance on the part of the public to reform the constitution in regards to the military, Solis said. The U.S., however, has always encouraged Japan to be more proactive and deepen its security bonds.

Since the beginning of the Cold War, Japan has been the U.S.s closest ally in Asia and has helped the region become one of the most dynamic economic zones in the world, but in recent years lawmakers in Tokyo have begun to worry that this relationship may be eclipsed as their cohorts in Washington focus priorities on China.

Japan watches U.S.-Chinese relations very closely and there is the constant worry that Japanese interest will be sold out for some grand bargain with China, Brian Harding, the director for East and Southeast Asia at the Center for American Progress, told Fox News.

In his first months in office the Trump administration has taken a more active stance toward China than former President Barack Obama did  slamming the country for inaction against North Korea, accusing Beijing of currency manipulation and reaffirming Washingtons commitment to defend Japan and its territories if attacked.

Last November, China flew a pair of nuclear-capable bombers around Taiwan for the first time, as the Japanese scrambled eight F-15 fighter jets to intercept the Chinese flight while it was circling the island. China in December also placed hundreds of surface-to-air missiles on Hainan Island off mainland China, which intelligence officials say could one day be moved to Chinas man-made islands in the South China Sea to better defend them.

Trumps a dealmaker and a self-described unpredictable person. So there is always the worry with the Japanese that a deal with China could hurt Japan.  Brian Harding, the director for East and Southeast Asia at the Center for American Progress

And last month, Abe announced plans to legally designate the Senkaku Islands  known in China as the Diaoyu Islands  as inhabited border territories, as part of a plan to secure the countrys sprawling archipelago of around 6,800 islands from the dual threat of territory-hungry neighbors and a long-term decrease in population.

I made clear that our long-standing policy on the Senkaku Islands stands. The U.S. will continue to recognize Japanese administration of the islands, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis during his trip to Japan in February. As such, Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty applies.

Still relations between Washington and Beijing appear to be warming in the wake of a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Following the summit at Mar-a-Lago, China stopped receiving coal imports from North Korea, it absented on a U.N. resolution condemning a Syrian chemical weapons attack and Xi said his country is willing to work with Washington on peacefully ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

For Trumps part, he backed off from a campaign pledge to declare China to be a currency manipulator - an action that could have led to higher tariffs on Chinese goods  and repeated that trade concessions could be on the table for more cooperation on North Korea.

The cooperative tone struck between Trump and Xi might be good for regional stability, but it still worries Japanese officials that the U.S. leaders shifting tone on China could spell trouble for their country.

Trumps a dealmaker and a self-described unpredictable person, Harding said. So there is always the worry with the Japanese that a deal with China could hurt Japan.

Since Trump has taken office, the U.S. and Japan have had frank discussions about regional security, but one major issue between the two countries has been noticeably off the table: trade.

Much like his criticism of China, Trump on the campaign trail railed against Japan for the trade deficit and Japan taking away American manufacturing jobs. Shortly after taking office, he also abruptly pulled the U.S. out of the planned Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

A senior Japanese government spokesman told Reuters that during Abes visit to the U.S. in February the two leaders did not discuss currency issues and that Trump did not request a bilateral trade deal, but a U.S.-Japan economic dialogue led by Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and Vice President Mike Pence to address fiscal and monetary policies as well as infrastructure projects and trade is slated to begin next week.

Japan is obviously more comfortable with has happened on the security side since Trump took office and less so in regards to economics, Harding said.
Video released by the Pentagon on Friday showed the Mother of all Bombs plummeting from the sky and exploding in eastern Afghanistan, as military officials said it flattened a cave-and-tunnel complex controlled by the Islamic State terror group.

The Department of Defense released the video Friday, less than a day after it dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) atop the Achin district of Nangarhar province, which is close to the Afghan-Pakistan border. Officials said 39 ISIS fighters were killed.

'MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS' KILLS 36 ISLAMIC STATE MILITANTS, AFGHANISTAN OFFICIALS SAY

In the 30-second video, the 21,000-pound bomb  the largest non-nuclear weapon in the U.S. military arsenal  could be seen dropping before it exploded midair. Smoke quickly rose from the impact zone, which officials said was more than a mile wide.

The U.S. military headquarters in Kabul said in a statement that the bomb was dropped at 7:32 p.m. local time Thursday.

WHAT IS THE MOAB?

President Donald Trump, who said he authorized the attack, called it a very, very successful mission.

Pentagon officials said Friday that the U.S. commander in Afghanistan who ordered the use of the MOAD didn't need Trump's approval.

Officials said Gen. John Nicholson has standing authority to use the largest non-nuclear bomb ever dropped in combat. He had that authority before Trump took office.

"As [ISIS'] losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers, and tunnels to thicken their defense," Nicholson said in a statement on Thursday. "This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against [ISIS]."

The MOAB was first tested in 2003, but hadnt been used in combat before Thursday.

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. He said there has been heavy fighting in the area in recent weeks between Afghan forces and ISIS militants.

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 combating them, while also supporting Afghan forces battling the Taliban.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Culpeper County claims that the Muslim congregation wishing to build a prayer house hadand still hasthe ability to go forward without the sewage permit it denied.

Despite the potential for a mediated settlement in the case, the county on Wednesday filed a required Answer and Grounds of Defense to the Department of Justices complaint against the Board of Supervisors.

The countys response details answers to specific paragraphs of the lawsuit in which the DOJ alleges that supervisors bowed to anti-Muslim sentiment when they voted 43 to deny a sewer permit for the Islamic Center of Culpeper to serve a planned mosque site off State Route 229.

In particular, the county states that, The ICC has been able and can currently build their mosque without a permanent pump and haul permit.

The response claims that Fuad Abu-Taleb, on behalf of the ICC, requested a meeting with county Zoning Administrator Samuel McLearen and that Abu-Taleb shared with McLearen that the group had found an alternative irrigation/drip system that could serve the property at a cost of $20,000 to $25,000but that the cost was too high.

McLearen, the county says, encouraged Abu-Taleb to supplement the ICCs application and/or reapply and bring the information to the board for its further consideration. McLearen also asked for an engineering report and information about the alternative system that Abu-Taleb did not provide, the county claims.

It is significant that the subject-applicant, the ICC, did not indicate to the Board that it had explored mainstream or alternative sewer systems, as contemplated by the code of Virginia, the response states.

The U.S. Department of Justice also alleges that some board members bowed to pressure from vocal constituents who did not want an Islamic prayer house in Culpeper County.

The lawsuit notes that cheers erupted from the audience at the board meeting in which Supervisor Bill Chase made the motion to deny the permit.

The countys response states that the Board, neither as a group, nor as individual Board members solicited such cheers. The response states that board chairman Alexa Fritz swiftly banged her gavel and reprimanded the public, that there will be no clapping or hooting, holleringnothing like that. This is a business meeting.

As in an earlier brief filed in February requesting that the case be dismissed, the county also argues that the lawsuit does not fall under the purview of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 which the feds say the county violated.

In March, the Islamic Center of Culpeper filed its own civil lawsuit against Culpeper County, and recently filed a motion to consolidate its similar action with the federal governments case.

The county must respond to that suit the first week of May.

Following an initial hearing on the Justice Departments suit March 22 in Charlottesville, both sides requested mediation to negotiate a settlement. A confidential conference with U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Hoppe took place last week in a federal courtroom in Harrisonburg, but an agreement has yet to be reached.

Culpeper County Attorney Bobbi Jo Alexis confirmed there was also a settlement discussion for the ICC case last week but declined to share details of that meeting.

A bench trial for the DOJ lawsuit has been set for Jan. 9-12 in Charlottesville.
The third member of a smash-and-grab group theft group was found guilty in Fredericksburg Circuit Court Friday and given the longest time to serve.

Alexandria Lynn Torres, 23, of Atlanta was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but all but one year was suspended. She was convicted of a half-dozen counts of credit card theft, conspiracy and larceny.

Torres was part of a trio convicted in what prosecutors called the felony lane gang procedure. Authorities said two women identified vehicles parked outside Fredericksburg gyms and a man broke into them and stole items.

Police said they burglarized two cars at the Sport & Health Club in Central Park and one at the Planet Fitness in the Eagle Village shopping center.

The stolen items include credit cards, debit cards and checks, plus a wedding ring worth $7,000 and $2,200 in cash. Police also found $8,000 in cash in the suspects car after they were arrested in Hanover County, where they are accused of trying to use the stolen cards and checks.

All three suspects face charges in Hanover and the Tidewater area.

The other two who were arrested were sentenced earlier this year.

Shankevia Diane Davis, 25, of Miami, was given a 16-year sentence, with all but three months suspended. Timothy Ivory Garlan, 26, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was given a 38-year sentence, with all but six months suspended.

All three were ordered to split the restitution payment of more than $10,000.
KABUL, Afghanistan - A 22,000-pound bomb dropped by U.S. forces on an Islamic State hideout killed about three dozen militants in eastern Afghanistan, officials said Friday, raising further questions about the already controversial decision to use such powerful ordnance on the battlefield.

In comments Friday in Kabul, Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, defended the strike as "the right weapon against the right target," and he called the militant hideout "an extensive obstacle to our progress."

U.S. and Afghan troops went on the offensive against a local Islamic State branch in March. The group, which is based in Nangahar province, has staged deadly attacks on civilians but failed to break out of its stronghold in the east.

Nicholson said that the "chain of command allowed me the latitude to make assessments on the ground" and deploy the GBU-43, one of the largest non-nuclear bombs in the U.S. arsenal. Used for the first time in combat Thursday, the weapon "achieved its intended purpose," he said.

U.S. and Afghan officials said no civilians were reported killed and that U.S. and Afghan Special Operations forces reached the site of the attack to assess the damage. According to Afghanistan's Defense Ministry, the militant complex, which was a network of tunnels and bunkers, was destroyed. U.S. forces did not say how many militants might have been killed, but Afghan defense officials put the number at 36.

For its part, the Islamic State-linked Amaq News Agency denied that the bombing caused casualties among the militants, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors online postings from extremist groups and others. The Islamic State offered no evidence to support its claim.

"It was a powerful bomb; we felt it several kilometers away," said Khair Mohammad Safi, police chief of the Achin district where the strike took place. Safi, who operates from a neighboring district for security reasons, said he could see flames from the explosion.

"The wave caused by [the blast] was strong. There was a huge fire," he said. "This was the [Islamic State's] main stronghold. They were annihilated. We needed such a bomb for this place."

Achin, along the border with Pakistan, is a restive area where militants have long used the porous border to smuggle weapons and fighters. For nearly two years, it has been the site of fierce fighting between the Islamic State affiliate, known as Khorasan Province, and U.S. and Afghan forces.

Many of the district's roughly 100,000 residents have fled, officials and aid agencies said. Even fighters with the rival Taliban-led insurgency have battled the extremists, who Nicholson said are largely made up of Pakistani and Uzbek militants.

Last week, Army Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, 37, was killed in Achin by small-arms fire. But earlier this month, the U.S. military said it had already reduced Islamic State-controlled territory in Afghanistan by two-thirds. About half of the group's fighters had been killed, U.S. forces said.

"The use of drones turned out to be very effective against Daesh" in Afghanistan, said Aryan Youn, a lawmaker from Nangahar, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State. "If that was the case, why did the United States want to use such a sophisticated and powerful bomb?"

Local residents, she said, are worried about the impact of the explosion on their health and farmland. Achin is a heavily agricultural district.

The Taliban on Friday also issued a statement condemning the strike. Its fighters have been engaged in a years-long insurgency against the government and international forces in Afghanistan.

In a message distributed on the instant messaging app Viber, the Taliban said the United States had "no justification" for using such a powerful bomb during combat operations, calling it a "show" by U.S. forces to persuade the world it is battling the Islamic State.

Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai posted scathing criticism of the U.S. military Thursday on Twitter, calling the operation a "brutal misuse of our country as [a] testing ground for new and dangerous weapons" and calling on Afghans "to stop" the United States.
ELKO  A wave of arrests the last few weeks in sexual assault cases going back as much as six years are the result of a new policy established in the District Attorneys office.

District Attorney Tyler Ingram recently discussed how his office is working to ensure a backlog does not occur again.

Since becoming DA in October following the death of Mark Torvinen last summer, Ingram began sorting through an estimated 3,400 cases with 340 pending, according to a previous interview.

Some of those included sexual abuse of adults and children, along with child physical abuse.

Quite a few of those sexual assault cases charged recently were prior to my becoming DA, said Ingram.

In reviewing the backlog Ingram said at least three reasons became evident, including the wait for supplemental information in an investigation and waiting for DNA evidence to come back from the crime lab in Washoe County.

Washoe County crime lab does an amazing job for us as busy as they are, said Ingram.

According to their website, the Washoe Countys forensic science division serves 13 of the 17 counties in Nevada and 80 agencies. Elko is the third busiest county when it comes to criminal cases, Ingram said.

The third reason for the delays came down to the fact that someone made a mistake and a case sat too long, said Ingram, a factor that he felt was unacceptable for such sensitive cases.

These are cases I take seriously, said Ingram. I place greater emphasis on these cases, along with homicide, of course.

To recognize the importance of the case to the victim, Ingram recently implemented a policy that begins with placing a red sticker on a file when it is handed to an attorney. A file with this sticker means that the case involves child sexual abuse, physical abuse or adult sexual abuse and must be charged immediately.

If not, I am notified, said Ingram.

These three types of cases are the most complicated we handle for a number of reasons, he explained.

Ingram said he understands that much is riding on how these cases are prosecuted, and that the public wants to see justice done quickly, which means that the prosecutors are making sure the cases are investigated to the best of our ability.

Noting the number of cases his prosecutors handle  estimated at anywhere from 500-600 per attorney  Ingram knows that they have a heavy workload, one that could increase in the next few months. One attorney recently retired and cant be replaced until the county hiring freeze ends.

Im not placing blame, said Ingram. The County Commissioners are working hard to fill positions, however, it is going to affect us.

In response to cases of child physical and sexual abuse that are reported in the county, the Great Basin Child Advocacy center was formed in the last couple of years by a group of professionals.

Its in its infancy, said Ingram, explaining that the center is composed of members of law enforcement agencies, medical professionals, counselors and social workers. Ingram is a prosecutor on the team.

The advocacy center seeks to address these cases in the community.

Its awesome work that group is doing, Ingram said.

Mistakes are very, very few, Ingram said. I am not making excuses to allow a child sexual abuse case to sit too long, but with my new policy, we are going to make sure these cases are handled properly.
IN THE LAST few years, it sometimes seems as if some malevolent force has been throwing darts at a map of the United States, bringing death and destruction indiscriminately to large cities and small towns from Florida to Connecticut to California.

On April 16, 2007, the dart landed on the lovely, peaceful Virginia college town of Blacksburg.

The 32 Hokie Stones arrayed in a semicircle at the top of Virginia Techs drill field are mute testimony to the mindless tragedy of that day, a reminder to never forget and to do what we can to keep it from happening again.

Before that Monday morning was over, 32 Virginia Tech faculty members and students were dead. So was the mentally ill young man who ended their lives (and took his own) with a couple of guns. The first call for help, from a residence hall, came at 7:15. The last one, from a classroom building, came just after 9:40. Another 17 people were wounded.

In the aftermath, there was an understandable desire to determine how hell came to be visited on the Tech campus. Why werent students more effectively warned that there was a killer on the loose? How did a student who had ignored a court order to get outpatient psychiatric treatment wind up with two semiautomatic pistols and a boundless supply of ammunition?

Nothing could bring those innocent victims back, of course. The state legislature did close a loophole regarding the dissemination of mental-health information. State law at the time of the shootings flagged firearm purchases only if the purchaser had been involuntarily committed to a mental hospital. And, Tech and other colleges and universities became a lot more rigorous about informing their students and faculty about potential danger.

Public schools of higher learning in Virginia do have the authority to regulate or ban concealed weapons on their campuses. However, little has been done in the past 10 years to limit access to guns. In 2016, Virginia pushed through some fairly toothless legislation to have voluntary background checks at gun shows. In the years since the Tech shootings, the state has actually done away with a law that limited purchasers to one gun a month. (It was pointed out, correctly, that the shooter, a Tech student, bought his two weapons in successive months.)

Since the Virginia Tech massacre, weve seen the heartbreaking tolls of mass shootings at an Army base in Texas, in a crowded theater in Aurora, Col., at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., at the Washington Navy Yard, in an AfricanAmerican church in Charleston, S.C., and elsewhere. Last year, a man in Orlando, Fla., murdered 50 innocents in a nightclub, surpassing the Blacksburg killings as the deadliest mass shooting in modern history.

No city, town, college campus or elementary school is bullet-proof. All any of us can do is try to ensure that the mentally ill get proper treatment, and work to keep them and those who are just plain evil as far away from lethal weapons as possible.

Somewhere between the future world imagined by the National Rifle Association, in which Big Brother takes everyones guns and turns us into governments helpless slaves, and the world in which there are almost no limits as to who can access powerful, people-killing weaponry, there must be a sweet spot where sanity carries the day.

There will always be individuals who, for whatever reason, want to inflict as much pain as possible on their fellow humans. And we all know, since 9/11 and Oklahoma City, that airplanes and fertilizer bombs can kill even more people than guns.

No one expects the toll of the innocent to drop to zero. On the anniversary this Sunday of one of Virginias saddest hours, though, any relief at all would be welcome.
Africas troubles seem forgotten

The United States is going it alone in Syria with its missile attack following the regimes use of chemical weapons on its own citizens. The use of those weapons is reprehensible.

I am not so sure that striking without support from our allies was a good idea or makes much sense.

However, where is the groundswell of calls to relieve the crisis in Africa? The worst drought in 60 years has caused some 13 million Africans to go into crisis mode. The drought and resulting civil war have scattered many from their homeland.

Many Kenyans are suffering from hunger. It is estimated that more than 5 million will die. The question is, what are developed countries and the U.N. doing to eliminate the crisis in Africa?

People there need food, water and shelter. They are not seeking asylum in other countries.

It is estimated that 40.8 million people around the world are on the run in their own countries due to conflicts and violence. Nearly one-third are on the continent of Africa.

Willie Brown

Spotsylvania
Yeah, yeah, I know. People have rights, not states. But in case theres any confusion about what were talking about here, Ill let Ronald Reagan, from a 1980 speech, explain it 

I still believe the answer to any problem lies with the people. I believe in states rights. I believe in people doing as much as they can for themselves at the community level and at the private level, and I believe weve distorted the balance of our government today by giving powers that were never intended in the Constitution to that federal establishment.

And while the nation under President Donald Trump is rediscovering the importance of the 10th Amendment and value of letting the citizens of the various states determine for themselves what to do on all manner of issues ranging from abortion to marriage to public bathrooms to legalized pot, the busy-bodies on Capitol Hill just cant seem to get the message.

The new encroachment, tort reform, is an absolutely dry, boring and complicated issue for most people, but its nonetheless extremely important.

H.R. 1215 is deceptively named the Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017  much like the deceptively-named *Affordable* Care Act, aka ObamaCare  and is sponsored by conservative Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King, who should know better.

In short, the bill pre-empts state caps on damage awards in medical malpractice lawsuits and nationalizes them into a one-size-fits all regime. Currently, 30 states already have their own caps and various limits on damage awards in place  including Nevada  while 18 others bar any such caps.

What this bill would do is scuttle those laws enacted by each of these individual states  the proverbial laboratories of democracy  and instead impose a Washington-knows-best blanket system for the entire country. What could go wrong, right?

Believe me, I have no love for greedy, ambulance-chasing, slip-and-spill personal injury attorneys; however, this isnt about that. Its about whether this issue should best be dealt with at the state or the federal level.

To justify their efforts to nationalize medical malpractice law, writes Prof. John Baker of Catholic University Law School about H.R. 1215, House Republicans are stretching the Supreme Courts New Deal Commerce Clause jurisprudence almost as far as Democrats did for ObamaCare. Both national medical malpractice reform and ObamaCare are radically at odds with our constitutional structure of federalism.

Congress has no business  and no authority under the Constitution  telling states what the rules should be governing medical malpractice claims, adds Hans von Spakovsky of the conservative Heritage Foundation. Doctors are licensed by states, and state legislatures and state medical authorities have the authority to promulgate the standards of medical care in their states.

Amen. Lets hope Nevadas Members of Congress feel the same way about this newest over-reach by our overlords in Washington, DC.
Somehow, firing Tomahawk missiles at Syria suddenly changed peoples opinions of President Trump. Now they call him a serious leader.

William Kristol said Trumps action reassures you.

Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain, long critical of Trump, now say he deserves the support of the American people.

Politicians from France, the U.K., the EU, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Australia expressed their support. So did Hillary Clinton.

Why is war such an alluring illusion? asks Jeffrey Tucker, of the Foundation for Economic Education. Good intentions are never enough to justify government intervention in anything. This is especially true in war, the meanest, deadliest, and most destructive government program ever conceived. And yet we keep doing it.

Trump says pictures of Syrian children killed by nerve gas moved him to order the attack. His supporters say launching the missiles was the moral thing to do.

But Syrias dictator killed more children in the past.

In 2013, after a horrible chemical attack, Trump tweeted, Do not attack Syria. There is no upside and tremendous downside ... If the U.S. attacks Syria and hits the wrong targets, killing civilians, there will be worldwide hell to pay. Stay away.

Fortunately, it appears that these missile strikes didnt kill civilians. But four years ago Trump also said, What will we get for bombing Syria besides more debt and a possible long term conflict?

What changed? Just seeing pictures on TV?

For years, weve tried to sort out who is on which side in Syria. Last weeks attack was an awfully fast switch to military action.

Both Democratic and Republican interventionists focus on Assad as the bad guy. Many say getting rid of him will make the Syrian public less likely to side with ISIS.

Maybe. But theyve been completely wrong before about the aftermath of war. In Syria, dozens of factions are fighting each other. We dont know the motives of all of them. Some rebels Assad wants to crush are openly allied with ISIS.

None of this makes Assad a good guy, but it means we dont know what will replace him if he gets toppled. Fourteen years ago, many people thought nothing could be worse for Iraq than Saddam Hussein. The groups unleashed when Saddam fell were worse.

Before that, our support of freedom fighters in Afghanistan helped arm the Taliban and eventually ISIS. Today, they kill Americans with weapons American taxpayers paid for.

In Libya, Tucker reminds us, (T)he US intervened with airstrikes to overthrow a terrible dictator but instead of unleashing freedom, the results unleashed a terror army that continues to spread violence and death ... (I)t is not enough merely to bomb a government or regime into disgrace, resignation or obliteration. It is grossly irresponsible not to ask the question: what comes after?

We dont even know for certain that it was the Syrian president who used nerve gas.

He claims his regime attacked anti-government militias with conventional bombs, and one must have hit gas that the militias themselves stored.

I dont know if thats true, but I have a hard time being as confident as people like John McCain about whats going on over in the Middle East.

Even if Assad was responsible for the nerve gas, its not obvious that using nerve gas is a more horrendous crime than fighting wars by other means. Nearly everyone seems to think so, and chemical weapons do drift in the air, making them more likely to kill civilians. But families torn apart by conventional bombs take little consolation in knowing that what killed their relatives wasnt poison gas.

If Trump turns out to be like most past presidents, hell see his popularity rise because he took military action. George W. Bushs approval rating spiked 10 percent after he invaded Iraq. When his father invaded, his approval rating jumped 28 percent.

Trump loves being popular. I fear his new slogan may be Syria first, then North Korea, then ...
Story Highlights Three in four worshippers say sermons a major factor in why they go

Youth programs, outreach and volunteer opportunities also important

Preferring to worship solo is main reason non-attenders eschew services

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As Easter and Passover help fill churches and synagogues this week, a new Gallup poll suggests the content of the sermons could be the most important factor in how soon worshippers return. Gallup measured a total of seven different reasons why those who attend a place of worship at least monthly say they go. Three in four worshippers noted sermons or talks that either teach about scripture or help people connect religion to their own lives as major factors spurring their attendance.

Reasons for Attending Church or Other Place of Worship Is each of the following a major factor, a minor factor or not a factor in why you attend church or a place of worship? Major factor Minor factor Not a factor % % % Sermons or talks that teach you more about scripture 76 16 8 Sermons or lectures that help you connect religion to your own life 75 16 8 Spiritual programs geared toward children and teenagers 64 21 15 Lots of community outreach and volunteer opportunities 59 27 13 Dynamic religious leaders who are interesting and inspiring 54 28 17 Social activities that allow you to get to know people in your community 49 36 14 A good choir, praise band, cantors or other spiritual music 38 36 25 Based on adults who attend church, synagogue or mosque monthly or more often. % No opinion not shown Gallup, March 9-29, 2017

Religious programs for children and teenagers are a major draw for just under two in three worshippers. Providing opportunities for community outreach or volunteering, as well as having dynamic religious leaders are highly important to majorities as well.

About half of regular worshippers say that getting to know people in their community is a major factor in why they attend, while 38% cite having good music, such as a choir or praise band.

These results are based on a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults interviewed from March 9-29, who attend a church, synagogue or mosque at least monthly. In line with the religious composition of the country, the vast majority of these respondents indicate they are Christian, allowing for a comparison of Catholics' and Protestants' answers.

Sermons and Music Matter More to Protestants Than Catholics

While the rank order of priorities is similar between members of the two Christian branches, Protestants (including those who identify as simply "Christian") attach much more importance than Catholics to the content of sermons, as well as to the quality of music.

Catholics and Protestants attach nearly the same levels of importance to the more social or pragmatic aspects of church, including access to youth programs, community outreach opportunities and social activities. However, Protestants are not significantly more likely than Catholics to care about the style of their religious leaders, saying the presence of dynamic leaders who are interesting or inspiring is a major factor.

Reasons Protestants vs. Catholics Attend Church % Major factor Protestant/Other Christian Catholic % % Sermons that teach about scripture 83 62 Sermons that help connect religion to own life 80 67 Spiritual programs for children/teens 68 63 Community outreach and volunteer opportunities 61 56 Dynamic religious leaders 53 47 Social activities 49 48 Choir or other spiritual music 44 29 Based on those who attend church monthly or more often Gallup, March 9-29, 2017

Overall, Catholics rate none of the factors as more important reasons for attending than do Protestants, suggesting that the latter group -- with dozens of denominations and branches of Protestantism to choose from -- may be more attuned to specific dynamics of what they prefer in their church experience than Catholics.

Why Some Choose to Not Attend Church

The poll also asked the 35% of Americans who are lapsed worshippers -- those who attended a church, synagogue or mosque at least monthly growing up but who seldom or never attend today -- to rate the importance of nine different factors explaining their absence.

There is no overarching reason why former churchgoers no longer attend. Preferring to worship on one's own tops the list at 44%, and just over a third say not liking organized religion is a major factor. These suggest not an antipathy to religion per se so much as a dislike of the group format.

More mid-level explanations -- those mentioned as major reasons by 16% to 22% -- include not finding the right church or other place of worship, not having enough time, not being sure which religion is right for them and not liking being asked for money when they attend.

The least-mentioned important factors include being prevented from going due to poor health and not feeling welcome when they attend.

Based on adults who attended church, synagogue or mosque growing up, but now seldom or never attend Please say whether each of the following is a major reason, a minor reason or not a reason why you [seldom / never] attend church or a place of worship. Major factor Minor factor Not a factor No opinion % % % % You prefer to worship on your own 44 21 34 * You don't like organized religion 36 25 37 1 You aren't very religious 33 32 33 2 You haven't found a church or other place of worship that you like 22 24 53 1 You don't have the time 19 28 52 1 You aren't sure what religion is right for you 17 23 59 1 You don't like being asked for money when you attend 16 29 55 * Poor health or other problems prevent you from going 10 19 71 * You don't feel welcome when you do attend 9 25 65 1 Gallup, March 9-29, 2017

Bottom Line

Belonging to a church, synagogue or mosque provides people with important social benefits that Gallup research shows improve personal well-being. While social benefits are clearly important to majorities of those who worship regularly, what most motivates them to attend is learning more about the tenets of their faith, as well as connecting that faith to their lives. Protestants, who have more control over their church leadership and flexibility in where they worship, place even greater emphasis on the quality of sermons than do Catholics, although both groups rate sermons highly.

Fulfilling these expectations could be critical in order for religious organizations to survive. But to expand their ranks, reigniting the interest of lapsed members should be a priority. Converting those who say they aren't very religious or who don't like organized religion may be futile. But churches and others may find some success with the message that worshipping in communion with others has benefits that can't be achieved worshipping alone -- addressing the No. 1 reason non-attendees give for not attending.
Story Highlights 28% of Dutch disaffected and discouraged

Disaffected and discouraged less confident in national institutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Prior to the March general election in the Netherlands -- Europe's first substantial test this year of rising populist sentiment -- more than one in four Dutch residents (28%) in 2016 lacked confidence in their national government and were less positive about their future than their present situations. Recent Gallup analysis suggests this condition of being "disaffected" and "discouraged" may prove useful in understanding the extent of populist sentiment in a given country.

Breaking down these two metrics, 42% of the Dutch surveyed in 2016 were disaffected with their government, while 38% of the population rated their future lives the same or worse than their current ones. Twenty-eight percent were both disaffected and discouraged, which is on the higher end of percentages since the previous general election in 2012 (24%). Gallup's earlier analysis showed that countries that have been experiencing populist movements tend to have people with lower levels of trust in their government and less optimism for the future.

Gallup measured this percentage of disaffected and discouraged in the Netherlands last year, prior to the second-place finish of populist candidate Geert Wilders in the national election. Wilders ran on a platform that called for the Netherlands' exit from the EU, as well as stringent immigration and refugee policies. Despite its second-place finish in the election, Wilders' "Party for Freedom" gained five seats in the Dutch parliament while incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte's "People's Party for Freedom and Democracy" lost eight seats.

The 28% of Dutch who are disaffected and discouraged ranks among the lower half of the 27 EU countries surveyed. However, the Netherlands is tied for first among EU countries when it comes to the percentage of residents who are less hopeful about the future than the present.

Disaffected and Discouraged Citizens in the EU and U.S., 2016 No confidence in national government (disaffected) Future life poorly viewed relative to current life (discouraged) Disaffected and discouraged % % % Greece 81 67 54 Italy 75 62 46 Slovenia 75 60 45 France 70 64 43 Romania 76 51 40 Bulgaria 67 53 36 Spain 69 52 34 Belgium 57 62 34 Hungary 55 58 33 United Kingdom 56 57 32 Austria 55 56 31 Slovakia 51 61 31 Estonia 57 51 29 Finland 48 60 28 Netherlands 42 67 28 Lithuania 65 44 28 Czech Republic 45 60 27 Germany 43 60 27 United States 69 38 26 Portugal 57 44 25 Denmark 53 51 25 Cyprus 60 39 23 Poland 49 47 23 Sweden 49 50 23 Luxembourg 30 67 22 Ireland 38 58 21 Latvia 57 38 21 Malta 37 45 17 Note: Croatia was not included in the current ranking, due to lack of available data for 2016. Gallup World Poll

Disaffected and discouraged Dutch are more likely to be out of the workforce and are less likely to have received a four-year college degree. The latter is consistent with previous Gallup research that showed that U.S. adults without a bachelor's degree were more receptive to Donald Trump's populist campaign messaging. However, that research also showed that there is not necessarily a link between being out of the workforce and supporting Trump.

Disaffected, Discouraged Likely to Be Out of Workforce, Less Educated Out of workforce Received a four-year college degree % % Disaffected and discouraged 42 17 Not disaffected and discouraged 25 34 Among Dutch Gallup

Disaffected, Discouraged Lack Confidence in National Institutions

With "Nexit" having been one of Wilders' central campaign promises, Dutch who are disaffected and discouraged are more than twice as likely to disapprove of EU leadership (68% vs. 29%). Dutch who are disaffected and discouraged are also more likely to lack confidence in national institutions, including the judicial system (66% vs. 19%), financial institutions (76% vs. 41%) and the electoral process (46% vs. 16%). The backlash among this group against the EU and other national institutions is somewhat to be expected, since its members lack confidence in their national government as a whole.

Dutch Disapproval and Lack of Confidence in National Institutions Disapprove of EU leadership Not confident in judicial system Not confident in financial institutions Not confident in honesty of elections % % % % Disaffected and discouraged 68 66 76 46 Not disaffected and discouraged 29 19 41 16 Gallup

Implications

With populist sentiment and coalitions growing in European countries, the March general elections in the Netherlands were seen as a barometer for populist sentiment throughout the continent. The defeat of Wilders' "Party for Freedom" by the incumbent party may initially seem like a dampening of populist sentiment in Europe.

However, it is more likely that the gain in parliamentary seats for Wilders' party, alongside the increased percentage of disaffected and discouraged Dutch since 2012, puts a greater spotlight on future European elections in 2017. A number of European countries with a significantly higher percentage of disaffected and discouraged citizens than the Netherlands have yet to hold their general elections.

Notably, France, with 43% of the population disaffected and discouraged, will be holding general elections in late April, where according to polls, populist candidate Marine Le Pen is currently deadlocked with liberal candidate Emmanuel Macron in the first round of voting. Results from that election may confirm the weight of populist sentiment throughout Europe. Gallup expects to release an analysis on French optimism and confidence around the April 23 election date.
There should have been a campfire and a guitar playing a sad western strain as the crowd heard about horses dying in mudholes, or starving on the range due to the drought and lack of forage, writes wild-horse expert Rachel Dahl in the current issue of RANGE magazine.

Despite impressive snow accumulation this past winter, experts are cautioning the situation is not over. Wild-horse advocates who might be celebrating that now it looks like the drought is behind us and mustangs can find water and forage on the land, need to take a second look. It takes time for the land to recover. Wild horses will continue to die at alarming rates.

Members of the National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board meeting in Elko in September 2016 toured northern Nevada Herd Management Areas, looking at the condition of the land and of the feral horses living and dying there, writes Dahl.

They had seen ranges decimated by wildlife, cattle and horses all competing for the resource, she says. Some places where cattle had been removed from the range for nearly a decade still looked desolate and barren because horses never left and ate anything they could find. There was much concern [among board members] for the health of the ecosystem and talk of the emergency that would surely result if action wasnt taken, and there was an overwhelming concern for the horses.

During the meeting, the nine-member board took a vote and recommended that the Bureau of Land Management follow the provisions in the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses & Burros Act and immediately remove the excess horses from the range and use the authority given in the act to sell them without limitations and to euthanize aging or sick horses, Dahl describes.

As the roll-call vote was takeneight in favor and one againstjaws dropped and eyes bugged, she writes. No one knew what to say. Activists couldnt believe the horror, while others couldnt believe the sanity. And then, almost immediately, the cacophony began again. Horse activists implemented their public relations machine, social media lit on fire, emails flew through the ether, and all hope of saving public lands, the fragile ecosystems, the customs of multiple use, economies, and private property rights disintegrated behind cries to save the horses.

Boyd Spratling, an Elko County veterinarian, referred to Nevada as ground zero for the wild-horse issue. John Ruhs, state director or the BLM, explained that more than half the wild horses in the United States are found in Nevada, over 34,000 head, and said in many areas horses are at or above the management levels, some even three-times over.

In spite of the ranchers curtailing use of their ranges and the government gathers that remove roughly 3,500 horses annually, wild-horse populations continue to rise on public lands, causing those concerned in managing herd size to call the situation one of the biggest ecological disasters.

Fresh from Moody Springs about 60 miles west of Ely, where three horses had been discovered that day dead from thirst, J.J. Goicoechea, state of Nevada veterinarian and Eureka County commissioner, spoke as one exhausted and defeated by the foolishness of those unwilling to see reality. This isnt going to become a problem, he said, it is an emergency now. He told of 250 horses desperate for water today that he was working with the BLM to get water hauled to save their lives.

On a national level, estimates put the number of wild horses currently on the range at 70,000, with another 50,000 in holding pens or long-term pasture. The cost for the BLM wild horse program runs about $87 million a year to manage these horses, but with herd numbers doubling every four years, that wont cover the costs to manage the 140,000 horses expected by 2021.

Ruhs says his only tools at the moment are adoptions and birth control. In 2015, of the 1,640 horses gathered, only 111 were adopted. Birth control is the favorite advocate solution, but mares have to be administered the shot every two years and its tough to find the same free-roaming mares in that big country a second time, writes Dahl.
Gambling911.com has your 2017 Arkansas Derby betting odds for this important Kentucky Derby prep race.

The Arkansas Derby ends this years Kentucky Derby prep season.

It is open to three-year-old horses and run on dirt at 1 miles (9 furlongs). The purse for this race is a sweet $1 million.

The 2017 winner of the Arkansas Derby, American Pharoah, went on to win the Triple Crown.

This years favorite is Malagacy at 2-1. He will be starting from the outside post.

The $190,000 2-year-old purchase was listed at 6-1 odds in his first start and has since gone on a perfect 4-0 run.

He never really tipped his hand until maybe his final breeze before his debut, and he looked good there, trainer Todd Pletcher said. Obviously in his debut he was very good. But no, he's not what I would describe as an impressive horse to watch gallop on a daily basis.

He's pretty laid back, pretty borderline lazy really. He's one of those horses in his breezes that he does however much his workmate will do. So depending on how you have him matched up in the mornings, he'll stay with whoever his workmate is. But he's not what I'd describe as an overachiever in the mornings. He's laid back to the point to where you're not 1,000 percent sure how good he is until you start running him.

All 2017 Arkansas Derby Betting Odds for April 15 - Place Your Bet Here

Entries

1 Rockin Rudy

Ridden by Mario Gutierrez

Trained by Doug F. O'Neill

CURRENT ODDS

12-1

ML 12-1

2 Classic Empire

Ridden by Julien R. Leparoux

Trained by Mark E. Casse

CURRENT ODDS

8-5

ML 8-5

3 Silver Dust

Ridden by Corey J. Lanerie

Trained by Randy L. Morse

CURRENT ODDS

20-1

ML 20-1

4 Petrov

Ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr.

Trained by Ron Moquett

CURRENT ODDS

12-1

ML 12-1

5 Grandpa's Dream

Ridden by Alex Canchari

Trained by Chris A. Hartman

CURRENT ODDS

30-1

ML 30-1

6 Lookin At Lee

Ridden by Luis Contreras

Trained by Steven M. Asmussen

CURRENT ODDS

15-1

ML 15-1

7 Sonneteer

Ridden by Kent J. Desormeaux

Trained by J. Keith Desormeaux

CURRENT ODDS

15-1

ML 15-1

8 Rowdy the Warrior

Ridden by Luis S. Quinonez

Trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel

CURRENT ODDS

30-1

ML 30-1

9 Untrapped

Ridden by Mike E. Smith

Trained by Steven M. Asmussen

CURRENT ODDS

6-1

ML 6-1

10 One Dreamy Dude

Ridden by Geovanni Franco

Trained by Jack C. Van Berg

CURRENT ODDS

50-1

ML 50-1

11 Conquest Mo Money

Ridden by Jorge Carreno

Trained by Miguel L. Hernandez

CURRENT ODDS

15-1

ML 15-1

12 Malagacy

Ridden by Javier Castellano

Trained by Todd A. Pletcher

CURRENT ODDS

2-1

ML 2-1

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
Sorry you are prohibited from opening an online sports betting account at TwinSpires from Alabama, though you CAN bet on horses using the site from that state. There are plenty of other great sites accessible to those in Alabama that take bets on all sports as well as horse racing including on this years Kentucky Derby. BetOnline offers a generous welcome bonus and 7% back on losses (max bonus $1000)

Alabamas gambling law is murky at best and, as such, scares off sites like TwinSpires.

The state allows four pari-mutuel and gambling facilities to operate e-bingo in clear defiance of state law

Alabama also has dog and horse race betting, with the Alabama Stakes one of the years most anticipated races.

BetOnline Racebook vs. TwinSpires - Which to Choose From

BETONLINE TWINSPIRES.COM 7 Percent Cash Back No Cash Back Up to $1000 Bonus $100 Signup Bonus Does Not Require Social Security # Must Provide Social Security # Does Not Report Earnings to Government Reports Tax Info to Government Offers Betting on Hundreds More Events Limited to Horse Betting Betting on Over 50 Race Tracks Betting on Over 50 Race Tracks
Congratulations! You can place a bet online at TwinSpires if you live in Louisiana. There is one drawback, however, in that you will be required provide your social security number. International online race books do not require customers to provide a social security number and a good number of these do serve the fine folks of Louisiana .

The state tends to be friendly towards gambling. Casinos are permitted in certain jurisdictions in the Bayou State. And Louisiana, like Missouri and Illinois, also allows gambling on riverboats.

Likewise, horse racing is welcome in Louisiana. Harrah's Louisiana Downs is home of the Super Derby, one of the premiere races for 3-year-olds in North America.

Louisiana cracked down heavily on Internet gambling during the mid-2000s so there are still a handful of sites that do not accept bets from residents of this state.

BetDSI Racebook vs. TwinSpires

BETDSI.COM TWINSPIRES.COM 8 Percent Cash Back No Cash Back Up to $300 Free Cash Signup Bonus $100 Signup Bonus Does Not Require Social Security # Must Provide Social Security # Encourages Tax Declaration of Winnings Reports Tax Info to Government Offers Betting on Hundreds More Events Limited to Horse Betting Betting on Over 50 Race Tracks Betting on Over 50 Race Tracks
We are pleased to inform you that you can bet at TwinSpires.com online from Tennessee, however, just be prepared to provide your social security number. BetUS (established in 1994) does not require a social security number or report your winnings.

Tennessee does have horse racing though the states gambling laws in general tend to still be prohibitive.

While there are no casinos located in Tennessee proper, the gambling resort town of Tunica, Mississippi is a mere 45 miles from Memphis.

There is, however, online sports betting, enacted in 2020.

As for horse racing, the state is attempting to establish itself as a more friendly state for the sport, though the betting aspect that typically goes hand-in-hand with horse racing is not entirely welcome.

Last year marked the 75th anniversary Iroquois Steeplechase at Nashvilles Percy Warner Park with approximately 25,000 in attendance. While bets were placed, they were done so unofficially.

State legislature in 1905 prohibited gambling on horse races.

As of this writing, a Horse Racing Advisory Committee was in the midst of reviewing whether gambling on horse races should be permitted.

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
As reported by MinnPost, former members of the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium, or MECC, are looking to develop a new piece of educational software. The software is titled Re@l Experiences At Life, and focuses on real-life STEM study areas, including forensics, vehicle traffic flow, and invasive species. The goal of the software is to broaden STEM coverage, to cover a wide variety of careers and subjects.

Once completed, the software will be presented as a web portal that offers various ways to study, including streaming and classroom elements like reading materials. Re@l plans to launch after it finishes raising $500,000 in funding. You can read the full MinnPost story right here.

Game Informer's own Joe Juba write a feature detailing MECC, including the company's inception and the creation of hits like Oregon Trail. You can read it right here.

[Source: MinnPost]

Our Take

While it sounds like a far cry from Oregon Trail, Re@l Experiences At Life could be a great tool for kids to learn about careers they might want to pursue later in life.
Tesla to unveil electric semi-truck in September

DETROIT (AP)  Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk says the company plans to unveil an electric semi-truck in September.

Musk tweeted the announcement Thursday. He offered no other details about the semi, such as whether it will be equipped with Teslas partially self-driving Autopilot mode.

Musk also said the company plans to unveil a pickup truck in 18 to 24 months.

Tesla currently sells two electric vehicles, the Model S sedan and Model X SUV. Its lower-cost Model 3 electric car is due out by the end of this year.

But Musk revealed last summer that the Palo Alto, California-based company is working on several more vehicles, including the semi and a minibus.

Tesla shares rose nearly 3 percent in late trading Thursday in response to Musks tweet.

Vending machines to provide free needles

LAS VEGAS (AP)  Three Las Vegas vending machines will now dispense clean needles to drug users.

The machines will be available for use by the end of May in centers around Las Vegas. It is part of a joint effort between Southern Nevada Health District, Nevada AIDS research and Education Society and Trac-B Exchange.

Health officials say they want to make sure people have access to clean needles to reduce the risk of spreading diseases.

Interested users must register with centers. Officials say personal identifying information will not be required.

Once they register, they will be given a card and a personal code that will grant them access to the machines, located in any of the centers, twice a week.

Syringe disposal, wound care and safe sex kits are also available at the machines.

Henderson battles illegal pot industry

HENDERSON (AP)  The Henderson City Council has approved a federal grant to help pay for enforcement against illegal marijuana.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Tuesday that the $8,000 grant was unanimously approved and must be used before Sept. 30.

Henderson police will use the money to pay for overtime expenditures related to investigating and arresting people who grow and sell illegal marijuana.

One of the citys police captains says marijuana has always been a problem for the community and the grant will help avoid using local tax dollars.

The grant came from the United States Department of Justices Drug Enforcement Administration.

Goats killed by black bear near Billings

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)  Montana wildlife managers are trying to capture a black bear that killed two goats in a south Billings neighborhood this week.

Capt. Bill Michaelis of the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office says people south of the city have reported seeing a small black bear roaming in the area and going through garbage since about Monday.

Michaelis tells The Billings Gazette that the bear is about 2 years old.

He says it appeared the bear had either climbed or partially pushed over a fence to get to the goats.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden Brad Balis says a trap has been set in the area to capture the bear.

Balis says the bear will be euthanized if its capture because it could hurt someone or kill more domesticated animals.

700-gallon fuel spill on freeway

NORTH LAS VEGAS (AP)  Interstate 15 near Las Vegas has reopened following a major fuel spill.

The Nevada Highway Patrol said the Thursday morning crash shut down the southbound lanes of the interstate near Lamb Boulevard for hours.

Authorities say a tanker truck carrying 2,7000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled about 700 gallons of it.

The spill was off the road but crews shut down the highway to clean it up.

Lanes reopened by about 10:30 a.m.
The available council seats are in the city's Third, Fifth, and Ninth districts.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Earthquake in Bonn : The day the earth moved

BONN 25 years ago, the Rhineland experienced the worst earth tremors of recent history. People were woken from their sleep. In Bonn, an elderly lady suffered from a heart attack and died. The bay of the Lower Rhine is particularly susceptible due to its geographical features. Scientific experts say that another similar earthquake could happen at any time.

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On 13 April 1992 in the early hours of the morning the ground began to shake. The day is remembered as the day of the earthquake. The experience remains in the minds of many people from the region even though it took place a quarter of a century ago. This is demonstrated by the huge resonance on the General-Anzeiger Facebook page, where over 150 people responded to the invitation to tell us their stories.

One person died as a result of the earthquake on 13 April. A 79-year-old lady suffered a fatal heart attack brought on by the shock. Authorities in the Rhineland reported a total of 40 injuries. Many buildings were damaged, especially old buildings and delicate church architecture. St. Pankratius church in Oberpleis had to be closed due to severe danger of collapse.

In many Bonn neighbourhoods, structural engineers went from house to house at random. Expert advice was needed everywhere due to the deep cracks which had appeared. At the same time, technical terms like Richter scale, plate tectonics and natural hazard insurance became part of everyday language. The tiny Dutch town of Roermond became famous  this was where the epicentre of the earthquake was located, more precisely 18km under the ground, and its effects could be felt as far as Belgium, northern France, across the Rhineland and up to Westphalia in the east.

Almost 100km south in Bonn, a rumble spread through the streets at 3.20am. The sleeping people wondered what was happening and what they should do. It sounded as though a goods train was travelling through the basement whilst at the same time a giant was shaking the roof. The whole thing lasted for 15 seconds, which must have felt like a really long time. Hundreds of Bonn residents ran from their houses, still dressed in pyjamas and dressing gowns. The telephone rang constantly at police and fire brigade stations and calls were even made to the army. Many people did not think of an earthquake but assumed there had been a large explosion. Even Bonn Chief of Police Michael Kniesels knees were shaking; I thought my bed had fallen apart, he said to the General-Anzeiger. Nearly everyone has a story of clanging glasses in the cupboards, pictures falling from the walls and books tumbling out of bookcases. We say nearly everyone, as some people woke up the next day saying they had dreamt about shaking and swinging in the night. Night owls in Bonn confirmed the phenomena of an early warning system from the animal kingdom - a few minutes before the earthquake, the cries of magpies and crows could be heard.

Throughout the day the police and fire brigade began to assess the damage. From the Marienkirche in Bad Godesberg a massive stone cross one meter high and wide threatened to fall onto the street. It was removed with the help of a crane from a heavy haulage company. At the old town hall in Oberkassel roof structures and ornamental towers became loose and were rescued by the fire services. At Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz and Konrad-Adenauer-Platz in Beuel many chimneys were in danger of falling down and both traffic junctions were closed off. Similarly there was traffic chaos on Bonner Talweg. One building in Goebenstrae was so badly damaged that one of the flats was no longer inhabitable. The owner was taken to hospital with shock. Minor damage was reported on buildings from all areas of the city. Cracks had appeared in the staircase of the old town hall. At the university, a crack appeared in the gallery of the new auditorium. Chaos reigned in the seminars as books had flown from the shelves. At the Frankenbad swimming pool parts of the roof ended up in the water. And even the stage of the Bonn Republic did not escape from the effects of the earthquake. When building the new plenary hall, the architect Gunter Behnisch added a support beam, which provided a new element in the heated discussions about its completion date. The 72m high city hall building was left completely intact.

Bonn was not the only city to be affected by the earthquake. Several of the large finial ornaments on top of the Cologne cathedral fell to the ground, one of these made a huge hole in the roof of the vestry and another fell on the square below. Just over the border in the Dutch town of Herkenbosch, a church was badly damaged. In the county of Ahrweiler, the majority of the damage occurred in the area of Remagen-Oberwinter-Rolandseck  cracks appeared across buildings down as far as the cellars, rendering came off the walls, chimneys caved in, crockery in kitchen cupboards was broken, and there were power cuts. The most badly affected area was the county of Heinsberg. 25 people who had fled on to the streets were injured by falling roof tiles and over 150 houses were badly damaged. Some buildings were so badly damaged that they later had to be pulled down.

A family from near Erkelenz were on holiday in Majorca at the time and had a tragicomic story to tell. In the days before mobile phones and the internet, the Bild newspaper was the only source of information from back home. And the tabloid paper did not neglect the subject. People from the Rhineland who were holidaying in Spain were confronted with huge headlines saying that their home country had been struck by a devastating natural disaster. Dramatic photographs from the few derelict buildings gave the first impressions of the earthquake areas in Rur and Niers. Only a trembling call back home lightened the fear  not only had people managed to survive the tremors, but they recognised that the newspapers dramatic presentation had been somewhat over the top. But it was true that the cost of damage lay at around 260 million marks.

Since the beginning of records, over 2000 earthquakes have been noted in North Rhineland. We live in an area affected by tectonic movements says Iris Schwellenbach, scientist at the research station. The fact that the tectonic movements in the region are particularly pronounced is due to the thinning of the earths crust. Experts call these subduction zones. In parts of the Eifel, volcanic activity can increase the probability of an earthquake. The mining in the Ruhr and in the Cologne Bucht also cause small tremors.

People underestimate the risks of earthquakes, reminded Bonn geographer Lothar Schrott. The Professor has been lecturing at the university in Bonn since 2013. He calls for schools to teach children how to behave in case of catastrophes such as earthquakes. The geographer has addressed the issue in many articles for specialist journals. The risk in Germany is indeed much lower than in other countries. But it is a problem when a natural catastrophe is no longer in peoples minds after 30 years, he says. For earthquake researchers, this is a ridiculously short period of time.

Close enough for scientists are the earthquakes from the years 1640, 1756, 1759 and the following year, which shook the people of Bonn with several earth tremors. In1812 the mayor of Vilich Leonard Stroof reported an earthquake to the Prefect in Dusseldorf, which moved the local residents to fright and trepidation. The earth moved once again in Bonn and the region on 22nd July 2002  also a Monday morning  when the crockery in many Bonn cupboards started to dance around. The most recent earthquake which could be felt in Bonn took place on 3rd August 2007.

What should we do when the earth starts to shake? Apart from the university, there are other institutes in Germany who have prepared practical advice for such occurrences. The German Research Centre for Geoscience (GFZ) in Potsdam advises taking cover in buildings under a heavy table or looking for stable door frames, or laying on the floor as far away as possible from the windows.

They advise against trying to leave a building during an earthquake, as you could be hit by falling parts in the stairwell or even fall over yourself. If at the start of the shaking, you are on the ground floor and close to an exterior door, you should quickly go outside to a large open space. So, remember  quickly take cover underneath the door frame  if theres a next time.
Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights

Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh

Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom

Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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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

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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
Android Pay will operate within Bank of America and other banking apps News oi -Shilpa Its a good move by Google to join hands with major banks.

Google's Android app looks like a tough competitor to Apple Pay and other similar mobile payment platforms. Now, the company is trying to further improve in this area by joining hands with few banks globally.

Mobile apps of banks such as USAA, Bank of New Zealand, Discover, mBank, and Bank of America will make this feature available in them. For the first time, Android Pay is said to be incorporated within major mobile bank applications. This is a good move by Google which will help many people to transact online with their banks. This feature may work differently compared to other mobile bank apps.

Trinity- 5 inch Android Smartphone that functions as a Windows PC

The functionality totally depends on that app. The main intention is to simplify the way in which the user adds the card to Android Pay via banking apps. So, users who have not used Android Pay will now use it at least once. This is a great marketing strategy used by the company.

Not just this, the search giant also stated that one can now check out at different stores which offer the support to NFC-enabled terminals. One can also use this feature in any supported apps to purchase or navigate through those stores using the mobile web which is somewhat similar to Apple Pay.

You can also keep track of each and every transaction by using the notification feature. The company also clarifies our doubt by saying that one can use Android Pay feature through the banking app even if they have not installed Android Pay app on their smartphone.

How to control your Android smartphone using your computer

Now, Google is in a tough stage to meet the user base of its rivals. Juniper Research said that the Apple Pay has the user base of nearly double the number it had last year and is expecting to reach 86 million by the end of 2017. On the other hand, Samsung Pay and Android may reach 34 million and 24 million user base respectively.

So, now its time for Google to grab as many users as possible to its platform using all these strategies.

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Microsoft may launch Google Chromebook rival on May 2 News oi -Rohit The expected Surface CloudBook will be an educational product probably based on Windows 10 Cloud project.

Microsoft is hosting an event on May 2nd where the Redmond giant is expected to introduce its new Windows 10 Cloud and possibly the Surface CloudBook. The Surface CloudBook will be the company's answer to the Google Chromebook in the education sector.

As per reports, the May 2 event will largely focus on Microsoft's efforts in the education sector and the Windows 10 Cloud, the company's in-house operating system aimed at the education market.

The upcoming event's hashtag #MicrosoftEDU also signifies that the Redmond giant is focusing big on education sector and the Surface CloudBook will be an educational product probably based on Windows 10 Cloud project.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft unlikely to launch new Surface device at the hardware event on May 2

There's no official word from Microsoft regarding the new hardware product; however as per reports by Softpedia, Microsoft enthusiast @h0x0d have spotted a new app collection in the Windows Store that's called CloudBook. There may be a chance that this new app category is specially designed to cater the needs of the new product.

As the upcoming Surface CloudBook will mostly fight the likes of Google Chromebook, it will come with an affordable price tag and will cost much less than the pricey Surface devices. It will run on Windows 10 Cloud and will only support apps published in the Windows Store.

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HMD Global will not support Nokia phones manufactured before December 2016 News oi -Shilpa HMD decided not to provide service support for older phones

We know that Microsoft outsourced the customer support of Lumia and Nokia-branded Phones to B2X and also offered to sell their old Nokia mobile division to a Finnish company HMD Global. But we were not aware of what is going to happen for the Nokia-branded Phones after HMD comes into charge.

Now, Nokia made it clear by tweeting that Nokia-branded Phones which were manufactured before December 1, 2016, will not get any service support from HMD. One can find this tweet on their official twitter page. The tweet says, "We don't service phones built before December 2016. You could try a hard reset but you will lose your contacts, files, and data."

@omo1668 Hi Teddy, thank you for reaching out. All phones sold before 1-Dec-2016 will be serviced via https://t.co/MCageBqqgc  Nokia Mobile (@nokiamobile) April 8, 2017

Nokia 9 envisioned with bezel-less design and dual-lens camera in these concept renders

This confused quite a lot of people who came up with so many doubts. To clarify their doubts, the company tweeted once again by saying, "Hi, all phones sold before 1 December 2016 will be serviced via https://support.b2x.com."

So, the phones which were manufactured before this time period will be taken care by B2X. B2X is a global service company which offers customer care support for mobiles devices from Apple and Microsoft. So, HMD Global will repair only those phones which were manufactured after the date specified.

Google could be the key to make Nokia great again

One should note that the feature phones such as Nokia 105, Nokia 130, Nokia 150, Nokia 216, Nokia 222, and Nokia 230 will receive support from HMD Global. So, you don't have to worry if you purchased any of the above-mentioned devices. You will get the necessary support from Nokia support page.

It all depends on when your Nokia branded phone was manufactured.

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Nokia 3310 to get huge buyer interest

It seems like Carphone Warehouse is in all set to face a high-level demand from the customers as the Nokia phones including the Nokia 3310 have gained a great interest among Nokia fans. In fact, this retailer was the first one to open the registrations for the Nokia phones in the UK.

Nokia 6 silver variant

If you are doubting the demand, you need to know that Nokia 6 sells instantly and goes out of stock every time it has gone on sale in China. Recently, Nokia 6 silver variant was unveiled and went on sale in China. This variant too had a great demand in the country.

Also read: Nokia 6 gets a Silver paint job; open for pre-registration

Release to happen in 120 markets

However, it is not only Carphone Warehouse or only the U.K market to get these Nokia phones in the month of May. HMD Global is said to release the Nokia phones in 120 markets, tipping that the other global markets will also witness the release of these phones next month. There are expectations that HMD will release these phones on slightly different dates in May across the world.
Samsung to bring flip phones back with Galaxy X News oi -Shilpa You will soon get your flip phones back

After the launch of flagship smartphone Samsung Galaxy S8, the company is planning to go back in time. By bringing back our good old foldable phone, it is trying to make a different move in the smartphone segment.

Earlier there was a rumor saying that Samsung will be working with LG on a bendable smartphone model in 2017. This rumored device was called as 'Foldable Valley' which can be used as a 7-inch tablet when unfolded. Samsung also showed off this device to few experts. But now, we are not here to speak about Foldable Valley. Does that mean Samsung is working on a new device?

Top 5 features you should know about the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus

Yes, few reports claim that the company is working on a new phone which can be folded into two. Named as Galaxy X, it comes with two screens. That is, it has a pair of OLED displays with a flexible joint in between which allows you to open the phone to 180 degrees.

Samsung has also placed orders for such components and may build between 2,000 and 3,000 units by July 2017. Not just this, the report by 'The Investor' says that the company will test a prototype of this model by this year end.

Rumored features of OnePlus 5 could be the biggest challenge for Samsung Galaxy S8

As per company's patent, this new device will be able to transform into a tablet when unfolded. The patent also speaks about its flexibility feature. It says this phone will be flexible and comes with a secondary display which will be activated only when the phone is folded.

No much information is known regarding the specs and design, but few sources say that the device may hit the market next year.

Source

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Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 Plus India release pegged for April 19: New features to experience News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus India release date confirmed.

The Galaxy S8 pre-registrations debuted in India recently and the flagship smartphone was expected to be released later this month. Now, there is an official confirmation from Samsung regarding the same.

Samsung has taken to Twitter to announce that the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus smartphones will be released in India on April 19. Both the smartphones were unveiled on March 29 at the Galaxy Unpacked event in New York City. The tweet posted by Samsung takes you to the official Samsung online store where you can pre-register for the soon to be released flagship smartphones.

5 things Samsung Galaxy S8/S8 Plus can do that iPhone 7/7 Plus can't

With just a few more days for the launch of the Galaxy S8 duo in the country, here are some new and important features that we might experience in these smartphones.

Update: Samsung seems to have deleted this tweet, but the screenshot of the same is shown above.

Hybrid SIM slot Interestingly, the Samsung India website confirms that the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus with dual SIM will be released in the country. These variants will support a hybrid SIM slot. Usually, Samsung smartphones will not have dual SIM support but just a SIM card slot and a micro SD card slot for expandable storage. Infinity Display The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus feature something called Infinity Display. The Galaxy S8 has a 5.8-inch screen whereas the S8 Plus has a 6.2-inch screen. Despite the huge screen size, these smartphones look and feel like any other normal-sized phone. The reason is the Infnity Display. These smartphones hardly have bezel around the display. The display is bright and clean and mirror-like. Facial recognition Authentication through facial recognition is nothing new in smartphones. But, this is the first time that Samsung has attempted to use this technology. The addition of facial recognition in the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus is an added layer of security. There are reports that the facial recognition in the flagship smartphones from Samsung is not too accurate. Bixby Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will launch with the Bixby digital assistant that is a great feature addition to the flagship smartphones. However, the feature will not be included when the smartphones are released on April 19. Bluetooth 5 The Samsung Galaxy S8 is the first smartphone to be unveiled with Bluetooth 5, the next-generation Bluetooth standard. The Bluetooth 5 has its own benefits to it in comparison to the existing one. Get to know more about Bluetooth 5 from here.

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Facebook suspends 30,000 fake accounts to stop spread of scam News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Facebook suspends fake accounts!

Lately, Google, Facebook and many other companies have been serious about controlling the spread of fake news. On Thursday, the social networking giant suspended 30,000 fake accounts in France to stop the spread of fake news, spam and misleading information.

This move has been made 10 days prior to the first round of the contested French presidential election. Moreover, it is considered to be the most aggressive move taken by Facebook against the fake accounts that violate the terms of service. Usually, Facebook was involved in just responding to complaints. One reason for Facebook to take such a move is due to the intense pressure it is facing in Europe.

Facebook Working to Remove Fake Profiles

The governments across the continent are coming up with new laws and fines. These are to meant to make the company take quick action to weed out the extremist propaganda and other content that actually violate the local laws.

It is not only Facebook that is facing the pressure. Even other social media sites such as Twitter and YouTube are facing intensified pressure as the elections in France and Germany are nearing. In France, Facebook has already come up with a programme to use outside fast-checkers in order to combat fake news in the users' news feeds.

5 Signs to Spot A Fake Facebook Profile

Besides weeding out 30,000 fake accounts, the company took out the full-page ads in best-selling German newspapers in order to educate readers in how they need to spot fake news. The company has announced in its blog past that its priority is to remove the suspect accounts with huge volumes of posting activity and massive audience. Facebook is using automated pattern recognition in order to identify repeated posting of the same content.

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Presidents of Armenia and Moldova meet in Kyrgyzstan (video)

Serzh Sargsyan, who is in Kyrgyzstan on a working visit in the framework of the session of the Eurasian Economic Supreme Council, met with the President of Moldova Igor Dodon, who by the consent of the Heads of the EAEU member states will participate at the session. The agenda of the session contains the item on granting Moldova the observer status at the Eurasian Economic Union. Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Igor Dodon discussed the agenda of the Armenian-Moldovan cooperation in the bilateral as well as multilateral formats and stressed the importance of invigorating the political dialogue between the two states, development of cooperation in the trade, economic, and humanitarian areas, which, according to the Presidents, emanates for the interests of the two nations and friendly peoples. The parties concurred that it is necessary to expand the legal field, augmenting the existing two dozens of agreements signed by the two countries with new ones. In this context, they stressed the importance of the interparliamentary relations and contacts and holding meetings of the intergovernmental commission on cooperation in the areas of trade and economy, the Armenian President's Press Office reports.
Xiaomi Mi Band 2 Mi 6 Commemorative Edition announced today News oi -Shilpa One more Band to hit the market soon.

Xiaomi's Mi Band 2 is a popular wearable device which has been the center of attraction among many youngsters. Recently, it has also won the 2017 Red Dot Design award for its innovative design by beating other famous designers in this segment.

Later we got to know that as an honor, the company is planning to launch a special edition of the Mi Band 2 with the Red Dot logo on the touch button along with the name "reddot" embedded on the display. Few sources also say that this new edition band won't be released in the market, but can be seen only in Red Dot museum located in Germany or Taipei.

Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is the winner of 2017 Red Dot Design Award

We know that this is the seventh year of the company's existence and it is trying to make it memorable by launching exciting products to the market. Now, Xiaomi has launched one more Mi Band 2 to mark the launch of it's Mi 6 flagship. The Xiaomi Mi Band 2 Mi 6 Commemorative Edition is announced just today on Xiaomi's Mi Band 2 official Weibo account.

Let us see in detail what this new band has got to offer.

Design: The Commemorative Edition of Xiaomi Mi Band 2 has a similar design as other regular Mi Band 2. Only the difference one can note is the number 6 written on the touchpad and the words Mi 6 Memorial' printed on its rubber strap. Only this two are the notable difference in the band. Features: The features of this new Mi Band 2 is not so clear but it is believed to have the same feature as its predecessors. To recall, the regular Mi Band 2 used improved pedometer algorithm to filter out unnecessary movements and an idle alert to remind you when you sit idle for a long time. Also Read: Next Apple Watch could have SIM card slot in it With 20-day lasting battery life, one could also make all his notifications to appear in the band itself, so he doesn't have to miss any calls or messages. Similar features are expected to have in the new band. Availability: The availability of this band is not yet known, but few sources say that it may go up for sale along with the Mi 6. Some even claim that the Xiaomi Mi Band 2 Commemorative Edition may be given out as a gift to the people who attend the launch event.

Source

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Overall, dont let the bhoot mislead you, nothing bhootiya about this story. Had the makers tried to push the envelope, the idea could have been outstanding for a bhootiya comedy.
Director Pompeo Delivers Remarks at CSIS

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

April 13, 2017

Good afternoon, it is a great pleasure to be here at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, home to some of the sharpest minds that Washington has to offer. I am honored to deliver my first public remarks as CIA Director at such a distinguished institution.

Let me start today by telling you a story.

He was a bright, well-educated young man. He was described as industrious, intelligent, and likeable, if inclined toward impulsiveness and impatience.

At some point, he became disillusioned with intelligence work and angry at his government. He left government and decided to devote himself to what he regarded as public advocacyexposing the intelligence officers and operations he had sworn to keep secret.

He appealed to Agency employees to send him "leads, tips, suggestions." He wrote in a widely circulated bulletin: "We are particularly anxious to receive, anonymously if you desire, copies of US diplomatic lists and US Embassy staff."

That man was Philip Agee, one of the founding members of the magazine Counterspy, which in its first issue in 1973 called for the exposure of CIA undercover operatives overseas. In its September 1974 issue, Counterspy publicly identified Richard Welch as the CIA Chief of Station in Athens. Later, Richard's home address and phone number were outed in the press in Greece.

In December 1975, Richard and his wife were returning home from a Christmas party in Athens. When he got out of his car to open the gate in front of his house, Richard Welch was assassinated by a Greek terrorist cell. At the time of his death, Richard was the highest-ranking CIA officer killed in the line of duty.

Richard led a rich and honorable life, one that is celebrated with a star on the Agency's Memorial Wall. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery and remains dearly remembered by his family and colleagues.

Meanwhile, Agee propped up his dwindling celebrity with an occasional stunt, including a Playboy interview. He eventually settled down as the privileged guest of an authoritarian regimeone that would have put him in front of a firing squad without a second thought had he betrayed their secrets as he betrayed ours.

Today, there are still plenty of Philip Agees in the world, and the harm they inflict on U.S. institutions and personnel is just as serious today as it was back then.

They don't all come from the Intelligence Community, share the same background, or use precisely the same tactics as Agee, but they are certainly his soulmates.

Like him, they choose to see themselves in a romantic lightas heroes above the law, saviors of our free and open society. They cling to this fiction, even though their disclosures often inflict irreparable harm on both individuals and democratic governments, pleasing despots along the way.

The one thing they don't share with Agee is the need for a publisher. All they require now is a smart phone and internet access. In today's digital environment, they can disseminate stolen US secrets instantly around the globe to terrorists, dictators, hackers and anyone else seeking to do us harm.

* * * *

Our nation's first line of defense against complicated and fast-moving threats like these is the US Intelligence Community. I feel deeply privilegedand still a bit amazedthat as CIA Director, I get to be a part of this great group of men and women. I'm the son of a machinist from Orange County, California. I had never been east of the Mississippi until college, spending most of my summers working on the family farm in Winfield, Kansas.

To be entrusted with leading the greatest intelligence organization in the world is something that I still can't wrap my head around. And just as I did at West Point, I feel that I stand on the shoulders of giants, atop a long tradition of courage, ingenuity, and dedication.

After I was nominated for this post by President Trump, I talked with nearly every living former CIA Director. They spoke of the need to call things as you see them, and of the apolitical nature of the job. Above all, they spoke of their admiration and respect for our workforce. From what I've seen so far, they were spot on in their assessment.

* * * *

I am today surrounded by talented and committed patriots. These are men and women who signed up for a life of discretion and impactfor a career in service to their country.

These officers have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution. They have signed secrecy agreements. They quietly go about their work and try not to get too worked up over the headlines, including the fanciful notion that they spy on their fellow citizens via microwave ovens. But they are not at liberty to stand up to these false narratives and explain our mission to the American people.

Fortunately, I am. In my first meeting with CIA's workforce, I promised that I would serve them and the American peopleboth at home and abroadwith the same passion and vigor that I displayed as a tank platoon leader in the Army, a business owner in Kansas, and a Congressman representing my constituents back home.

That is the reason I chose to speak here today.

As a policy, we at CIA do not comment on the accuracy of purported intelligence documents posted online. In keeping with that policy, I will not specifically comment on the authenticity or provenance of recent disclosures.

But the false narratives that increasingly define our public discourse cannot be ignored. There are fictions out there that demean and distort the work and achievements of CIA and of the broader Intelligence Community. And in the absence of a vocal rebuttal, these voicesones that proclaim treason to be public advocacygain a gravity they do not deserve.

It is time to call these voices out. The men and women of CIA deserve a real defense. And the American people deserve a clear explanation of what their Central Intelligence Agency does on their behalf.

* * * *

First and foremost, we are an intelligence organization that engages in foreign espionage. We steal secrets from foreign adversaries, hostile entities, and terrorist organizations. We analyze this intelligence so that our government can better understand the adversaries we face in a challenging and dangerous world.

And we make no apologies for doing so. It's hard stuff and we go at it hard.

Because when it comes to overseas threats, CIA is aggressive in our pursuit of the information we need to help safeguard our country. We utilize the whole toolkit at our disposal, fully employing the authorities and capabilities that Congress, the courts, and the Executive Branch have deemed lawful and appropriate, and consistent with our American ideals.

We do these things because it's our job. It's what we signed up to do. And if we didn't, we'd have a tough time justifying our budget to the American taxpayer.

One of the few heartening things to come out of the disclosures debate is the realization that much of America does understand the important role we play. As the CEO of a security research firm recently noted, CIA appears to be doing "exactly what we pay them to doexploit specific targets with limited attacks to support our national interests."

Our mission is simple in concept yet difficult in practice. We work to provide the best information possible to the President and his administration so that they can advance our national interests and protect our country.

It is a mission that CIA has carried out for years, quietly and effectively. Our accomplishments generally remain classified, but a few special ones are known to the world.

For example, CIA has been a crucial player in the global campaign against nuclear proliferation. We've helped unravel the nuclear smuggling network used by A.Q. Khan, assisted in exposing a covert nuclear facility in Syria, and gathered intelligencewith the help of our liaison partnersthat persuaded Libya to abandon its nuclear program.

CIA has also been at the cutting edge of incredible technological innovation throughout our history. We led efforts to develop the U-2 aircraft and orbiting satellitesendeavors that allowed us to surveil activities in rival states that were otherwise closed to us.

We've pushed back the boundaries of the possible in ways that have benefitted both the security and welfare of the American public. For example, when we needed long-lasting power sources for certain operational missions, in the 1960s our scientists helped to develop the lithium-ion batterytechnology that ultimately has powered pacemakers and cell phones alike. More recently, CIA investment in a technology venture in 2003 led to the development of what we know today as Google Earth.

My first few months on the job have only reaffirmed for me that this innovative spirit is very much alive and well at CIA.

* * * *

So I'd now like to make clear what CIA doesn't do. We are a foreign intelligence agency. We focus on collecting information about foreign governments, foreign terrorist organizations, and the likenot Americans. A number of specific rules keep us centered on that mission and protect the privacy of our fellow Americans. To take just one important example, CIA is legally prohibited from spying on people through electronic surveillance in the United States. We're not tapping anyone's phone in Wichita.

I know there will always be skeptics. We need to build trust with them. But I also know firsthand, from what I saw as a member of a Congressional oversight committee and from what I see now as Director, that CIA takes its legal restrictions and responsibilities with the utmost seriousness. We have stringent regulations, an engaged and robust Office of the General Counsel, and an empowered and independent Office of Inspector General to make sure of that.

Moreover, regardless of what you see on the silver screen, we do not pursue covert action on a whim without approval or accountability. There is a comprehensive process that starts with the President and consists of many levels of legal and policy review and reexamination. Let me assure you: When it comes to covert action, there is oversight and accountability every step of the way.

I inherited an Agency that has a real appreciation for the law and for the Constitution. Despite fictional depictions meant to sell books or box-office tickets, we are not an untethered or rogue agency. So yes, while we have some truly awesome capabilities at our disposal, our officers do not operate in areas or against targets that are rightfully and legally off-limits to us.

At our core, we are an organization committed to uncovering the truth and getting it right. We devote ourselves to perfecting our tradecraft. We work hard to maintain truly global coverage, operating in austere, far-flung areas that demand both expeditionary capabilities and spirit. We spend hours upon hours collecting information, and poring over reports and data. We experiment and innovate so we can dominate our adversaries in both the physical and cyber realms.

And surewe also admit to making mistakes. In fact, because CIA is accountable to the free and open society we help defend, the times in which we have failed to live up to the high standards our fellow citizens expect of us have been catalogued over the years, even by our own government. These mistakes are public, to an extent that I doubt any other nation could ever match. But it is always our intentionand dutyto get it right.

* * * *

And that is one of the many reasons why we at CIA find the celebration of entities like WikiLeaks to be both perplexing and deeply troubling. Because while we do our best to quietly collect information on those who pose very real threats to our country, individuals such as Julian Assange and Edward Snowden seek to use that information to make a name for themselves. 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.

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. It directed Chelsea Manning in her theft of specific secret information. And it overwhelmingly focuses on the United States, while seeking support from anti-democratic countries and organizations.

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. In January of this year, our Intelligence Community determined that Russian military intelligencethe GRUhad used WikiLeaks to release data of US victims that the GRU had obtained through cyber operations against the Democratic National Committee. And the report also found that Russia's primary propaganda outlet, RT, has actively collaborated with WikiLeaks.

Now, for those of you who read the editorial page of the Washington Postand I have a feeling that many of you in this room doyesterday you would have seen a piece of sophistry penned by Mr. Assange. You would have read a convoluted mass of words wherein Assange compared himself to Thomas Jefferson, Dwight Eisenhower, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning work of legitimate news organizations such as the New York Times and the Washington Post. One can only imagine the absurd comparisons that the original draft contained.

Assange claims to harbor an overwhelming admiration for both America and the idea of America. But I assure you that this man knows nothing of America and our ideals. He knows nothing of our third President, whose clarion call for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness continue to inspire us and the world. And he knows nothing of our 34th President, a hero from my very own Kansas, who helped to liberate Europe from fascists and guided America through the early years of the Cold War.

No, I am quite confident that had Assange been around in the 1930s and 40s and 50s, he would have found himself on the wrong side of history.

We know this because 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. Their mission: personal self-aggrandizement through the destruction of Western values.

They do not care about the causes and people they claim to represent. If they did, they would focus instead on the autocratic regimes in this world that actually suppress free speech and dissent. Instead, they choose to exploit the legitimate secrets of democratic governmentswhich has, so far, proven to be a much safer approach than provoking a tyrant.

Clearly, these individuals are not especially burdened by conscience. We know this, for example, because Assange has been more than cavalier in disclosing the personal information of scores of innocent citizens around the globe. We know this because the damage they have done to the security and safety of the free world is tangible. And the examples are numerous.

When Snowden absconded to the comfortable clutches of Russian intelligence, his treachery directly harmed a wide range of US intelligence and military operations. Despite what he claims, he is no whistleblower. True whistleblowers use the well-established and discreet processes in place to voice grievances; they do not put American lives at risk.

In fact, a colleague of ours at NSA recently explained that more than a thousand foreign targetspeople, groups, organizationsmore than a thousand of them changed or tried to change how they communicated as a result of the Snowden disclosures. That number is staggering.

And the bottom line is that it became harder for us in the Intelligence Community to keep Americans safe. It became harder to monitor the communications of terrorist organizations that are bent on bringing bloodshed to our shores. Snowden's disclosures helped these groups find ways to hide themselves in the crowded digital forest.

Even in those cases where we were able to regain our ability to collect, the damage was already done. We work in a business with budgetary and time constraints. The effort to earn back access that we previously possessed meant that we had less time to look for new threats.

As for Assange, his actions have attracted a devoted following among some of our most determined enemies. Following a recent WikiLeaks disclosure, an al Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula member posted a comment online thanking WikiLeaks for providing a means to fight America in a way that AQAP had not previously envisioned.

AQAP represents one of the most serious terrorist threats to our country and the world. It is a group that is devoted not only to bringing down civilian passenger planes, but our way of life as well. That Assange is the darling of terrorists is nothing short of reprehensible.

Have no doubt that the disclosures in recent years caused harmgreat harmto our nation's security, and they will continue to do so over the long term. They threaten the trust we've developed with our foreign partners when trust is a crucial currency among allies. They risk damaging morale for the good officers of the Intelligence Community who take the high road every day. And I can't stress enough how these disclosures have severely hindered our ability to keep all Americans safe.

No, Julian Assange and his kind are not the slightest bit interested in improving civil liberties or enhancing personal freedom. They have pretended that America's First Amendment freedoms shield them from justice. They may have believed that, but they are wrong.

Assange is a narcissist who has created nothing of value. He relies on the dirty work of others to make himself famous. He is a frauda coward hiding behind a screen.

And in Kansas, we know something about false Wizards.

But I'm not the only one who knows what Assange really is. Even those who often benefit from Assange's leaks have called him out for his overblown statements. The Intercept, which in the past has gleefully reported on unauthorized disclosures, accused WikiLeaks in late March of "stretching the facts" in its comments about CIA. In the same article, the Intercept added that the documents were "not worth the concern WikiLeaks generated by its public comments."

* * * *

So we face a crucial question: What can we do about this? What can and should CIA, the United States, and our allies do about the unprecedented challenge posed by these hostile non-state intelligence agencies?

While there is no quick fixno foolproof curethere are steps that we can take to undercut the danger. First, it is high time we called out those who grant a platform to these leakers and so-called transparency activists. We know the danger that Assange and his not-so-merry band of brothers pose to democracies around the world. Ignorance or misplaced idealism is no longer an acceptable excuse for lionizing these demons.

Second, there are steps that we have to take at homein fact, this is a process we've already started. We've got to strengthen our own systems; we've got to improve internal mechanisms that help us in our counterintelligence mission. All of us in the Intelligence Community had a wake-up call after Snowden's treachery. Unfortunately, the threat has not abated.

I can't go into great detail, but the steps we take can't be static. Our approach to security has to be constantly evolving. We need to be as clever and innovative as the enemies we face. They won't relent, and neither will we.

We can never truly eliminate the threat but we can mitigate and manage it. This relies on agility and on dynamic "defense in depth." It depends on a fundamental change in how we address digital problems, understanding that best practices have to evolve in real time. It is a long-term project but the strides we have takenparticularly the rapid and tireless response of our Directorate of Digital Innovationgive us grounds for optimism.

Third, we have to recognize that we can no longer allow Assange and his colleagues the latitude to use free speech values against us. To give them the space to crush us with misappropriated secrets is a perversion of what our great Constitution stands for. It ends now.

And finallyand perhaps most importantlywe need to deepen the trust between the Intelligence Community and the citizens we strive to protect.

At CIA, I can assure you that we are committed to earning that trust every day. We know we can never take it for granted. We must continue to be as open as possible with the American people so that our society can reach informed judgments on striking the proper balance between individual privacy and national security.

As CIA Director, it is my sworn duty to uphold the Constitution and defend national security. And as somebody who practiced law, built businesses, and ran for public office to represent my neighbors and fellow citizens, I fully understand why nobody should have to blindly place their trust in government.

Granted, the intelligence arena can never be as transparent as other parts of government. Secrecy is essential to us because we have hardworking officers and foreign agents in harm's way, doing dangerous work on behalf of our country.

But even if we can't share everything with the people, we can share it with the President they elected and with the overseers they sent to Congress. Having served on the committee myself, I am a CIA Director who fully understands the imperative of oversight. Doing right by the American people is as important to me as carrying out our Agency's mission. And I will hold our officers to the same standard.

But remember, these officers grew up loving this country and the ideals it represents. They are Americans just like you, devoted to their jobs, trying to do their best.

The men and women I work with at Langley are patriots, and I am honored to lead them. They have my trust. They have my faith. And as long as I'm lucky enough to have the best job in the world, I promise you that CIA will be tireless in our mission to keep our country safe and, yes, to get it right.

Thank you all very much.

####

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CIA Chief Says Wikileaks Was Used By Russian Military Intelligence

April 13, 2017

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.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/cia-chief- says-wikileaks-used-by-russian-military- intelligence/28428435.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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UK Intel First Detected Alleged Ties Between Trump's Team, Moscow - Reports

Sputnik News

21:41 13.04.2017(updated 21:42 13.04.2017)

The United Kingdom's intelligence organization was the first to spot alleged ties between the US President Donald Trump's campaign team and Russian intelligence, the Guardian newspaper reported Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Toward the end of 2015, the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) received information on "suspicious interactions" between figures close to Trump and people suspected of being Russian spies, the newspaper reported, citing sources close to UK intelligence.

The sources reportedly added that in the first half of 2016, a number of western countries, including Germany, Estonia, Poland, Australia, the Netherlands and France, also passed on information about alleged contacts between Trump's team and Moscow to the United States.

The sources told the newspaper that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) did not respond promptly to the reports before the US election, as they were not authorized to examine private communications of US citizens without warrants.

"It looks like the [US] agencies were asleep 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'," one of the sources said, as quoted by the newspaper.

In January, CNN and BuzzFeed media outlets reported on memos, compiled by an ex-UK intelligence agent, which allege that Trump had been groomed and supported by Russian intelligence for several years.

On January 13, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the dossier a forgery. Trump also called the collection of documents fake and said it was put together by his opponents. Then US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper stressed that US intelligence had nothing to do with its contents and did not assess their validity. The UK government also distanced itself from the matter, stating that its author had not worked for it for years.

Moscow has repeatedly refuted any allegations about Russia's involvement in the US election process and Russia's cooperation with Trump's staff during the election campaign.

 Sputnik

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New CIA Director Labels WikiLeaks 'Non-State Hostile Intelligence Service'

By Jeff Seldin April 13, 2017

The new U.S. spy chief blasted the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks in his first public comments, labeling it a hostile intelligence organization out to damage the United States as much as any terrorist organization.

"It's time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is  a nonstate, hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia," CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Thursday.

"It overwhelmingly focuses on the United States while seeking support from anti-democratic countries and organizations," he added, calling the celebration of WikiLeaks in some circles "perplexing and deeply troubling."

Pompeo went as far as to lambast WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as a "darling" of terrorist groups, saying a member of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) recently thanked Assange on social media for "providing a means to fight America in a way that AQAP had not previously envisioned."

Pompeo's remarks to an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington are consistent with previous comments from the U.S. intelligence community.

Relationship with Russia

A declassified report issued in January concluded with "high confidence" there was an ongoing relationship between Russian intelligence and WikiLeaks.

The same report also said Russia's own propaganda outlet, RT, "has actively collaborated with WikiLeaks" dating back to a 2013 meeting between Assange and RT's editor in chief.

Despite such findings, U.S. President Donald Trump has until recently downplayed talk of what intelligence officials have described as a Russian campaign to influence last year's presidential election.

During the presidential campaign itself, Trump went as far to tell supporters, "I love WikiLeaks," while encouraging the group to uncover more information.

Trump changes tone

But Trump's tone changed following WikiLeaks' release last month of what it described more than 8,000 classified CIA documents.

"This is the kind of disclosure that undermines our security, our country and our well-being," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters at the time, adding the president was "extremely concerned."

Pompeo Thursday refused to comment specifically on the WikiLeaks dump known as "Vault 7," but said damage had been done.

And he warned that WikiLeaks is only one of several hostile intelligence operations masquerading as anti-secrecy advocates.

"It's much bigger than that. It's much broader and deeper than that," Pompeo said, cautioning other state actors may seek to imitate Russia's use of WikiLeaks to strike at the U.S. "They have now found a model."

"Our defense will not be static," he said, citing strong support from the Trump administration. "We need to be as clever and innovative as the enemies we face."

Assange's defense

Earlier this week, WikiLeaks' Assange published a defense of his organization in The Washington Post, saying its motive was to "to publish newsworthy content  irrespective of whether sources came by that truth legally or have the right to release it to the media."

Assange, an Australian citizen, is wanted in Sweden to face rape allegations. He has been living under asylum at Ecuador's embassy in London since 2012.

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Counter-ISIS Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, April 13, 2017  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, conducting 24 strikes consisting of 100 engagements against ISIS targets yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

U.S. Central Command continues to work with partner nations to conduct targeted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as part of the comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.

Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 21 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Raqqa, seven strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed a vehicle and a fighting position.

Additionally, officials reported, eight strikes were conducted near Raqqa from April 11 into yesterday that engaged an ISIS staging area, a weapons storage cache and a command-and-control node.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of 79 engagements against ISIS targets, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government:

-- Near Beiji, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS fuel truck, a mortar system and a weapons cache.

-- Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and destroyed 11 fighting positions, five vehicles, two vehicle bombs, two vehicle-bomb factories, a medium machine gun, a rocket-propelled-grenade system and a mortar system; damaged 15 ISIS supply routes and a fighting position; and suppressed 10 mortar systems, six fighting positions, two artillery systems and a rocket system.

-- Near Rawah, a strike destroyed six ISIS-held buildings and a vehicle bomb factory.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position, a weapons cache and an ISIS fuel truck.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said.

The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted.

Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect. For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said.

The task force does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.

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Trump, Stoltenberg Discuss NATO Issues in Advance of May Summit

By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2017  Following a White House meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg yesterday, President Donald J. Trump praised the alliance's accomplishments, its partnership and its support in combating terrorism and confronting other pressing security challenges.

Since its establishment on April 4, 1949, "the NATO alliance has been the bulwark of international peace and security," Trump told reporters at the White House during a joint news conference with Stoltenberg.

"NATO allies defeated communism and liberated the captive nations of the Cold War," the president continued. "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 No. 1, and our common devotion to human dignity and freedom."

Productive Discussion

Trump said he and Stoltenberg 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 [the alliance] was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump said.

"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," the president said. This includes, he said, upgrading NATO to focus on today's most pressing security challenges, including migration and terrorism.

Turning to Syria, Trump thanked the NATO allies for their support of the strike against the Assad regime's chemical weapons facility. "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," the president said. "It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists, and allow refugees to return home."

Trump said he hopes NATO will take on an increased role in Iraq in supporting Iraqi partners in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

The president also said he is sending National Security Advisor Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster to Afghanistan "to find out how we can make progress alongside our Afghan partners and NATO allies."

Stoltenberg stressed that in a more dangerous and unpredictable world, it is good to have friends and allies. "In NATO, America has the best friends and the best allies in the world," he said.

He noted that the 29 countries of the alliance represent half of the world's economic and military power. "No other superpower has ever had such a strategic advantage," Stoltenberg said. "This makes the United States stronger and safer."

Counterterrorism Partnership

NATO invoked Article 5 of its charter after the 9/11 terror attacks, the secretary general said. Article 5 states that an attack on one alliance nation is considered as an attack on all.

"We launched NATO's biggest military operation ever in Afghanistan," he said. "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."

The president again stressed the need for more equitable burden sharing within the alliance, and Stoltenberg agreed that the European allies must do more.

"In 2016, for the first time in many years, we saw an increase in defense spending across European allies and Canada -- a real increase of 3.8 percent, or $10 billion, more for our defense," the secretary general said. "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."

Stoltenberg said the United States has stepped up also. He noted that thousands of American troops are deploying to the eastern countries of the alliance to deter Russia.

The meeting here was a prelude to a meeting in Brussels of all NATO heads of state scheduled to take place in May.

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South Korean, U.S. Forces Exercise Logistics Capabilities

By Army Sgt. Quanesha Deloach 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

POHANG, South Korea, April 13, 2017  On a bright and windy day, a gray U.S. Army landing craft utility ship loaded with tactical vehicles and other mission equipment to support exercise Operation Pacific Reach 2017 slowly makes its way to the Trident Pier causeway here while soldiers and Marines patiently wait.

When the ship reached its mooring, service members grabbed lines to secure and position it, and then began unloading and transporting the equipment to the marshaling yard, a holding area where the equipment would be shipped to front-line forces.

South Korean service members and U.S. personnel from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps came together to test combined joint logistics over-the-shore capabilities, as well as their ability to use rail, inland waterways and air terminal supply point capabilities during combined joint and multidomain training focused on readiness.

"This exercise showed us how to communicate with our counterparts on and off sea and shore," said Army Staff Sgt. Tony Burnette, a watercraft operator assigned to 331st Transportation Company. "Working with the [South Koreans] and the U.S. Navy, Marines and Air Force allies was a great experience. We learned how to move tactical vehicles as a team from the ship, as the other team collected pipelines from the sea to shore to receive water and fuel."

Getting Fuel and Water to Transportation Hubs

The exercise could not be accomplished without the effort of soldiers and Marines operating the Inland Petroleum Distribution System. The Army, working alongside the Marines Corps, maintained the IPDS capability to transport fuel and water from the sea to major logistical transportation hubs.

During the two-week exercise, units worked together in sustained winds and waves to construct the modular sections of the Trident Pier causeway while preparing to offload the heavy equipment on Dogu Beach.

Transporting equipment on- and off-shore was only one piece of the exercise. South Korean aircraft also transported equipment to locations where it was needed.

"Operation Pacific Reach has offered us a unique opportunity to inherent our interoperability between our [South Korean] and joint partners," said Army Col. Christopher Dexter, commander of Material Support Command Korea. "Every day, we work together, side-by-side, and have the opportunity to collaborate, cooperate and communicate with our [South Korean] counterparts."

The exercise focused on logistical operations from the air, sea and shore to transport mission equipment across the Korean Peninsula using utility and mechanized landing craft, logistics support vessels and causeway ferries. The crafts transported and offloaded nearly 2,000 cargo containers during the operation.

"Each training event had a unique tactical scenario derived from our mission-essential-task list, aimed at improving readiness and increasing interoperability," said Army Lt. Col. Natasha Jones, commander of the 10th Transportation Battalion. "I am extremely proud and confident in the demonstrated ability of the [South Korean] and U.S. forces to conduct complex operations efficiently and safely side by side and sustaining the capabilities which strengthen the [South Korean-U.S.] alliance."

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Razor Talon Provides Joint Training for Air, Ground Components

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Kenneth Boyton 4th Fighter Wing

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C., April 13, 2017  The opposing force scurried around the arid airfield, preparing for an oncoming attack. Without warning, a pair of A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft screamed toward the airfield and simulated multiple strafing runs, decimating a radar jammer.

An Air Force tactical air control party specialist embedded with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, confirmed the target was destroyed from a hideout in the woods nearby.

A C-17 Globemaster III out of Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, flew out of the clouds overhead and delivered simulated support of 82nd Airborne Division members who would parachute to the ground and take over the airfield by any means necessary.

Within a short amount of time, American forces gained control of the airfield and exercise Razor Talon continued here.

Razor Talon: 'An Integral Part of Training'

"Razor Talon is an integral part of training," said Air Force Capt. Dan Lusardi, a 75th Fighter Squadron A-10C pilot. "As an A-10 pilot, we rarely have a chance to practice with other branches and have our capabilities fully utilized. It's rare that we practice both air-to-ground and air-to-air procedures, especially at the same time."

Lusardi added this type of training not only sharpens pilots' tactics, techniques and procedures, but also allows them to work better with other military branches during real world operations.

Air Force Maj. Mike Malone, the chief officer in charge for Razor Talon, said one of the main objectives of the exercise is to help airmen better integrate with other branches and other aircraft.

"We want to integrate all military personnel so we can synchronize our effects and continue to dominate our adversaries as a unified fighting force," Malone said.

Aircraft Play Pivotal Role

Twenty-one aircraft supported this iteration of Razor Talon. Each aircraft played a pivotal role in the success of the exercise.

Fourteen of the aircraft were Seymour Johnson AFB F-15E Strike Eagles, which were tasked with the simulated destruction of ground targets. Four F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, fought simulated opposing forces in the air and on the ground, and two A-10s from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, provided close air support for ground forces.

"In a real-world environment, there are a lot of moving parts," Malone said. "Razor Talon allows us to join forces and use those moving parts at a good pace in a safer environment."

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Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights

Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh

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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".

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New Hunter, Killer platform undergoes testing at MFIX 2017

By Monica K. Guthrie April 13, 2017

FORT SILL, Okla. -- As technology advances, so too does the need for Soldiers to be able to multitask without forfeiting their primary duty. With new multi-domain platforms, the Army hopes to give Soldiers the equipment to handle the added responsibility.

One such new platform, called "Hunter" and "Killer," is undergoing testing during the 2017 Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment (MFIX) from April 3 to 13, here at Fort Sill. The vehicles resemble a dune buggy -- a large-wheeled vehicle designed for various types of terrain. But the Hunter and Killer are also designed to track aircraft, perform three-dimensional fires targeting and provide other capabilities.

The vehicles are modular by design, meaning developers can take pieces from other systems and combine them on a single platform. The intent is to make parts interchangeable, according to Scott Patton, science and technology strategist for the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) battlefield operating systems suites team.

However, this system, like many others experimented on at MFIX, is only in its infancy. The Hunter and Killer vehicles were just a concept on a PowerPoint slide back in August and September of 2016, according to Patton, who helped design the Hunter and Killer.

"We came from the last MFIX and a lot of the feedback we got was, 'Hey we love [counter-UAV mobile integrated capabilities], and we like the dismounted kit, but how do you move it?'" Patton said. "'How do you airdrop it? Can we move it somewhere rapidly for the light fighters?' So we took that challenge, went back to the lab and came up with a design, and we got the vehicles to them in October."

Patton said the vehicles are designed with units like the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne in mind. He hopes the design will prove to be air mobile on helicopters with the ability to be airdropped.

For forward observers, Soldiers who advance to the enemy's edge and sometimes beyond, technological advances mean new risks and new responsibilities. In addition to their primary duties of gathering intelligence and relaying it back, they may now be called upon to perform precision fires. With the increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles, they may be asked to intercept UAVs on the battlefield.

With all these challenges in mind, the designers of the Hunter and Killer are experimenting during MFIX 2017 with the platform's ability to operate with minimal human instruction.

"We want to see how we can automate the software to reduce the task-saturation of the Soldier," Patton said. "We want to reduce their workload. We want [Soldiers] just to be forward observers. If they have to get into these other domains, they can do it for a minute or two, let the software do the thinking for them, and then they go back to their domain."

The platform is meant to fight in multiple domains. For land, the Hunter platform could call precision fires in an automated fashion, and for air Soldiers could use the platform to communicate with an aircraft for support. When performing for maritime, a forward observer could call for an attack from a ship to a target.

The Killer platform adds the ability to fight in the cyber and space domains. A Soldier could request a cyber call to disrupt communications between a UAV and its operator. Soldiers would also be able to call on space-based capabilities.

During MFIX 2017, Patton said, the users and testers of the platform are contractors, but there are plans to put a product in Soldiers' hands by 2018.

"This is just the first stage of the experiment and it's also the first stage of the counter-UAV," Patton said. "We also want to give the Soldier options based on [rules of engagement].

"What happens in one theater will be different in another theater, and the rules of engagement may be different. We want to be able to plug those ROEs in -- what they can do, what they can automate -- and then put the human in the loop when necessary. That's the objective. We're not there yet."

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Transcript

Presenter: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis; Turkey Minister of National Defense Fikri Isik April 13, 2017

Remarks by Secretary Mattis and Minister Isik at the Pentagon

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JIM MATTIS: Well, welcome to the Pentagon, Minister Isik. It's a pleasure to see you again so soon after our February meeting in Brussels when we promised we would see each other again soon. And thank you for making the trip here, because we can once again address our shared security interests.

Welcome, too, to Ambassador Kilic from your delegation. The United States and Turkey have a long, and deep and enduring security relationship that actual dates back to 1952 from modern times when Turkey became a member of NATO and we fought alongside each other in the Korean War.

This relationship continues today with United States and Turkish military forces working together to counter a wide range of threats to our common security, including terrorism from both ISIS and the PKK.

Turkey is an essential NATO ally and a vital member of the Defeat-ISIS Coalition.

The integrated coalition air operations from Incirlik Air Base and those brave Turkey soldiers who fought to close the Turkish border from ISIS in Operation -- Operation Euphrates Shield have shown the high priority both our nations place on this campaign.

I also recognize and salute the humanity of the Turkish government and the Turkish people in managing the Syrian refugee flow and the associated humanitarian challenges. And I commend Turkey for its fast response to ensure the victims of the Assad regime's hateful chloric gas attack received treatment in Turkish hospitals.

I recognize there's more to be done in the midst of the complex war in Syria. I am confident our nations can address these challenges together because we must work together. I look forward to strengthening our defense relationship, a relationship that is based on mutual respect between our militaries.

Again, minister, welcome.

TURKISH MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE FIKRI ISIK: I don't need translation, thank you.

At the outset, I want to reiterate our support and appreciation for the U.S. operation on the (inaudible) and hope that it will deter the regime from its barbaric attacks with or without chemical weapons.

We welcome this operation and recent statements of President Obama -- Trump. Following the assumption of this duty -- his duties. This will be our second meeting with Secretary Mattis. This is also in line with the necessity to further intensify the coordination and cooperation between the two key NATO allies, in view of the challenge that require common efforts and joint action.

I'm confident that the vast experience of Secretary Mattis and the leadership he displayed during the conduct of his previous positions will contribute immensely to our joint work.

Today, we will discuss ways and means to eliminate threats emanating from terrorism in our region. In this regard, we will address outstanding issues an all challenges to regional and into national security, which requires determined and necessary actions from us.

Thank you.

Q: Mr. Secretary, if North Korea carries out another nuclear test, will the U.S. military respond?

SEC. MATTIS: Thank you everybody. Appreciate you being here.

Q: Mr. Secretary, what role will the Kurds play in the Raqqa fight?

SEC. MATTIS: In regards to North Korea, we are working with international partners in order to defuse the situation.

But the bottom line is North Korea's got to change its behavior. That is an agreed condition among the international community nations that are working together on this.

Thank you again, very much.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1151479/

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Secretary General: NATO is a bedrock of security for both Europe and North America

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

13 Apr. 2017

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 University's 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 Tuesday, 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 May's 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, it's important to have friends and Allies. And in NATO, America has the best friends and the best Allies in the world."

Earlier on Tuesday, 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."

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Gerald R. Ford and "Sea Knights" Provide MEDEVAC Support During Sea Trials

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS170413-13

Release Date: 4/13/2017 12:40:00 PM

From USS Gerald R. Ford Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The future USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) conducted a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) April 11 to assist a Sailor from dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) who required urgent medical attention.

The Sailor is currently listed in stable condition and is being treated at Navy Medical Center Portsmouth.

At approximately 11:30 EST, Ford received a request from Oak Hill for a medical consultation with Capt. Kimberly Toone, Ford's senior medical officer. Following a review of the patient's status and consultation with leadership from multiple commands, the decision was made to evacuate the Sailor from Oak Hill to NMCP.

Ford was in the middle of builder's sea trials and was the closest available responder.

An embarked MH-60S helicopter from the "Sea Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 provided patient transportation. The four-man crew consisted of pilots Lt. Dallas Rhodes and Lt. j.g. Matthew Grinsteinner, Aviation Warfare Specialist 2nd Class Justin Boyle (crew chief), and Aviation Warfare Specialist 3rd Class Justin McCrary (rescue swimmer).

Following the successful transportation, Capt. Richard McCormack, Ford's commanding officer, addressed the crew and expressed his pride in Ford Sailors and the embarked squadron for their flexibility, mission readiness, and eagerness to help a Shipmate in need.

"We got the word, coordinated the necessary permissions, and were off-deck shortly thereafter," said Cmdr. Jody Smotherman, Ford's combat direction center officer, who helped coordinate communications, approvals and logistical movements.

Smotherman has considerable experience assisting with medical evacuations for fellow service members: in 2010 he was the officer-in-charge of the 2515th Air Ambulance Detachment in Basra, Iraq, where he and his team were responsible to transporting sick and wounded service members and civilians to medical care facilities.

Ford is not the first "first-in-class" ship to provide medical assistance during sea trials. In December 2015, the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) was in the middle of sea trials when they received a distress call from a fisherman experiencing chest pains off the coast of Maine. The Zumwalt crew worked with the U.S. Coast Guard to provide prompt medical care.

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Navy Environmental Preventive Medicine Unit Seven Supports the Africa Malaria Task Force in Ghana

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS170412-01

Release Date: 4/12/2017 7:31:00 AM

From Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit SEVEN, Public Affairs

ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- The Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit (NEPMU) 7 announced a new collaborative global health effort with the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) April 10.

As part of that effort, NEPMU-7 successfully deployed their Preventive Medicine Officer (PMO) and senior Preventive Medicine Technician (PMT) to Ghana in support of the Africa Malaria Task Force (AMTF) Malaria Diagnostic Symposium, Feb. 25 - March 9.

AMTF is a tri-service effort that brings together military medical personnel from 15 countries across East and West Africa.

The symposium is a two-week knowledge exchange, conducted at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra, Ghana. Participants at this event included military clinicians , laboratory officers and technicians, and pharmacists from the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda.

Lt. Cmdr. Jason Rice, NEPMU-7 PMO and Chief Hospital Corpsman Daniel Hosaka, NEPMU-7 PMT served as facilitators for 35 military and military-affiliated participants from East and West African countries where the malaria burden remains high.

The overarching goals of the AMTF training events are to provide expertise to military medical representatives so they can return to their respective countries and disseminate knowledge via training and mentorship. These events are also intended to strengthen communication between laboratory technicians and clinicians to expand effective malaria programs in this region.

"Chief Hosaka and I are honored to have had been chosen to participate in such an incredibly valuable event, in support of AFRICOM's ongoing effort to reduce the burden of malaria in the region; and also for the opportunity to partner with such a skilled team of US DoD and Ghanaian experts," said Rice. "We were very encouraged by the class' interest in epidemiology, and the in-depth discussions that stemmed from the lectures. We look forward to furthering this Epi training and NEPMU-7's involvement with future AMTF events."

NEPMU-7 was hand-selected to provide additional training in the field of epidemiology in an effort to expand the AMTF focus to include malaria surveillance programs. Their training also provided the participants with valuable tools to combat a variety of other infectious diseases.

Hosaka and Rice delivered bilingual interactive trainings on topics of Basic epidemiology, descriptive and analytic epidemiology, study design, and infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance and outbreak investigations.

"It is nice to see all these African Nations come together in one place to better educate themselves on the diagnostics of malaria," said Hosaka. "With the knowledge gained during this symposium, the students can educate others in not just malaria diagnostics but basic fundamentals of epidemiology helping to combat not just malaria but any other disease they might come in contact with during an outbreak investigation."

Upon completion, graduates were provided with digital reference material and hard copy binders of all presentations, to facilitate training and quality assurance in their home countries. Additionally, graduates were awarded certificates of training completion, presented by Col. George Appenzeller, U.S. Air Force, USAFRICOM Command Surgeon.

NEMPU-7, located in Rota, Spain, provides theatre-wide preventive medicine support to Navy and Marine Corps forces and joint and combined military operations throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Whether it's a request for information or a request for forces, the team's highly skilled and trained professionals are always ready.

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South Sudan violence amounts to genocide: British minister

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 13, 2017 5:53PM

A British minister says targeted killings of specific ethnic groups in South Sudan, which plunged into civil war in 2013, amount to "genocide".

"It's tribal, it's absolutely tribal, so on that basis it's genocide," International Development Minister Priti Patel said in Uganda after returning from a visit to South Sudan.

The South Sudanese people have "experienced trauma and horror none of us can comprehend," she said.

Patel said government troops in South Sudan have been "targeting certain groups of people" in the second largest city of Wau this week.

South Sudan's Information Minister Michael Makuei denounced 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," Makuei added.

A 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 two sides then got involved in a cycle of retaliatory killings that have split the impoverished country along ethnic lines between the Dinka and Nuer communities.

The conflict has also drawn in the country's myriad smaller groups, either taking sides with the government or the rebels.

The UN and international rights groups have on numerous occasions accused both Machar's loyalists and government troops of committing atrocities during their military operations.

In a report obtained on March 6, the world body said the government was blocking desperately-needed food aid and restricting UN peacekeepers.

The internal report from UN chief Antonio Guterres to the Security Council singled out South Sudan's government for "the destruction of all the social fabric in all parts of the country," listing "outrageous" examples of belligerence by its security forces.

In early December last year, United Nations experts reported "ethnic cleansing" in several parts of South Sudan.

Adama Dieng, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, has already warned of "a strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines, with the potential for genocide."

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UN Security Council unanimously votes to end peacekeeping mission in Haiti

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 13, 2017 6:1PM

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously adopted a resolution to end its peacekeeping mission in Haiti after more than 20 years.

During a vote on Thursday, the UNSC members extended the mandate of the peacekeeping mission in Haiti for a final six months to end it in mid-October.

The resolution said during the six-month period, the 2,370 military personnel would gradually leave the country. After that, a 1,275-strong police force will continue to serve for an initial period of six months to train Haiti's national police force, the UNSC said.

The new mission would also engage in "human rights monitoring, reporting and analysis," while it would assist the government in strengthening judicial and legal institutions.

Relative calm and order has been established in Haiti, an impoverished Caribbean nation which has held presidential and legislative elections to return to "constitutional order."

The UN resolution hailed the elections in Haiti as "the major milestone towards stabilization."

But it also said the international community was supposed to do more to strengthen, professionalize and reform the police in Haiti.

Sandra Honore, the UN envoy for Haiti, said on Tuesday that the improved political outlook in Haiti, which she said was the result of elections in the country, had opened "a crucial window of opportunity to address the root causes of the political crisis" that had gripped the country for many years. She said it was now possible to address "the many pressing challenges facing the country."

The UNSC also stressed the need to help promote economic development in Haiti, where the government still faces "significant humanitarian challenges" following Hurricane Matthew, which struck the country last October.

The UN mission in Haiti has been gripped by various controversies over the past years, including accusations by locals that it introduced cholera in 2010, which has led to at least 9,500 deaths in the country.

A UN internal report has also suggested that UN troops were involved in sexual abuse cases against the Haitian children between 2004 and 2007.

The UN resolution adopted on Thursday also authorized the use of "all necessary means" for the new mission in Haiti to carry out its mandate and "to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence" in areas where it is deployed.

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Saudi blockade paralyzing Yemen, causing catastrophe: UN expert

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:53PM

A United Nations rights expert has called on Saudi Arabia to immediately lift its "paralyzing" aerial and naval blockade on Yemen that has been under attack by the kingdom for more than two years now.

Idriss Jazairy, UN special rapporteur on the negative impacts of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, voiced concerns about the plight of Yemenis in a statement late Wednesday, saying their situation is "desperate".

"The unwarranted restrictions on the flow of commercial and humanitarian goods and services into Yemen and impeding distribution within the country are paralyzing a nation that for far too long has been a victim of war," Jazairy said.

The Saudi blockade is one of the main causes of the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen and has disrupted the import and export of food, fuel and medical supplies as well as humanitarian aid, he added.

The UN expert also deplored the dramatic situation in the port city of Hudaydah, a major lifeline for imports into Yemen, a country that is 8090 percent dependent on imported stuff for its survival.

Over 21 million people, or around 80 percent of Yemen's population, are in need of humanitarian aid, according to the latest UN figures.

In another development, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that Yemen was edging closer to the "breaking point" as nine million citizens were on the brink of starvation.

"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," said Stephen Anderson, WFP's country director in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a brutal military campaign against Yemen since March 2015. The kingdom has also imposed an aerial and naval blockade on its southern neighbor.

Turning a blind eye to the plight of Yemeni civilians, Britain and the US have provided huge amounts of arms and military training to the Saudi forces.

The war by Saudi Arabia, which seeks to reinstate Yemen's former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, has killed over 12,000 Yemenis, according to recent tallies.

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Russia censures US over approving Montenegro's NATO membership

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 13, 2017 2:11PM

Russia has censured a decision by the United States to approve the inclusion of Montenegro in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), saying the move would seriously endanger security and stability in the Balkans and entire Europe.

"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," Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, calling the decision a "deeply mistaken" move that creates divisions in Europe.

The statement said the US approval of the accession of Montenegro to NATO showed that the West was still on the path of confrontation with Russia.

It added US President Donald Trump's decision to sign off on the accession on Tuesday "reflects the logic of confrontation on the European continent and creates new dividing lines."

The ministry added that Montenegro was forced into the accession deal, saying NGOs that were "puppets" of the West did their utmost to "create the illusion of public support for the one-sided policy of the Montenegrin authorities."

Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated since a conflict erupted in eastern Ukraine three years ago. The US and its allies in Europe accuse Russia of having a hand in the conflict in Ukraine. Russia denies the allegation.

Western countries have also been angry over the rejoining of the Crimean Peninsula with Russia through a referendum in March 2014.

They have imposed several rounds of economic and military sanctions on Moscow over tensions in Ukraine.

Russia has always been wary of NATO's expansion to the east to include states that Moscow considers to be in its sphere of influence.

Montenegro is mostly populated by Orthodox Slavs. Washington had previously accused Moscow of attempting to influence the results of the October elections in the Southeast European country.

A group of Serbian nationals were jailed in Montenegro last month on accusations of working for Russia to stage a coup during the elections.

Montenegro's accession to NATO could be finalized by the end of this year. The military alliance has currently three members in the Balkans, namely Greece, Croatia and Albania.

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US-led airstrike killed 18 SDF militants in Syria: Pentagon

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:27PM

The US Defense Department says a misdirected US-led coalition airstrike in northern Syria killed 18 US-backed forces on April 11.

US Central Command said Thursday that Tuesday's attack by US-led coalition aircraft killed 11 members of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Central Command said the aircraft were given the wrong coordinates by the SDF, for a strike intended to target Daesh (ISIL) terrorists south of their Tabqa stronghold.

The strike hit an SDF position instead, killing 18 fighters.

SDF is a US-backed coalition of fighters who have seized swathes of territory from Daesh (ISIL) terrorists in northern Syria.

The militia has been playing a major role in liberating Raqqah, the self-proclaimed headquarters of Daesh that fell to the terrorists in March 2013.

Several countries have participated in the American-led intervention in Syria to defeat Daesh. It is not clear which air force was behind the strike.

Separate 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.

The General Command of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces, in a statement released on Thursday, announced that the airstrike had taken place in the eastern village of Hatla, near the city of Dayr al-Zawr, at around 5:30 p.m. local time (1530 GMT) the previous day.

The statement, published by Syria's official news agency, SANA, added that a cloud of thick white smoke covered the area after the strike, before it turned yellow. The assault also caused a fierce blaze, which continued until late in the evening on Wednesday.

Earlier on Thursday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said an alleged chemical attack last week in Idlib province that the US blames on his government was '100 per cent fabrication.'

Two US Navy destroyers fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea at Syria's al-Shayrat airfield early on Friday, In retaliation for a suspected chemical attack on April 4 that Washington insists was carried out by Syrian fighter jets operating from the base.

The Syrian government has strongly denied responsibility for the gas attack, and there is no evidence that it was behind the assault.

Russia maintains that the attack was a "false-flag" operation orchestrated in an attempt to criminalize Assad.

During his presidential election campaign, US President Donald Trump had indicated that he would be less willing than some of his predecessors to conduct military operations against other countries.

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Protests erupt in Venezuela's poorer areas, two killed in unrest

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 13, 2017 6:24AM

Anti-government protests have erupted in Venezuela's poorer areas, where the socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro would have normally been expected to have stronger popular support.

Low-income neighborhoods and hillside slums on the outskirts of the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, traditionally thought to be home to pro-government groups and supporters of Maduro, were the scene of clashes between police and protesters on Wednesday after a heckling incident during a rally attended by the leftist leader.

Maduro was taking part in a rally in the poor eastern state of Bolivar Tuesday night when a crowd turned on him, throwing objects at his convoy and shouting "Damn you."

Hundreds of young men also burned trash and scuffled with police in scattered protests across poor neighborhoods outside the capital and in other major cities.

Riot police were forced to use tear gas and water cannons to re-establish order and stop the looting of local stores.

Official reports said two protesters, aged 13 and 36, had been killed during clashes in the western Lara State.

"People went into the streets last night because we are very upset," said Wilfredo Martinez, who lives in the working-class Caracas neighborhood of La Vega. "We're having a terrible time. We can't find food and sick people can't find medicine."

Public discontent with the government has been high as a result of the economic woes gripping the once-booming Latin American economy. Acute shortages of foodstuffs and medicine have forced hundreds of thousands of people to march across the border into neighboring Colombia to buy necessities in recent months. This is while Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.

The opposition in Venezuela is planning to stage mass anti-Maduro protests on April 19 in what is described as the "mother of all protest marches."

The protesters demand new elections, among other things.

Tensions have been running high between the opposition and the government since the 2015 elections, when the opposition gained control of the parliament. The opposition blames Maduro's socialist government for the country's economic troubles, while the leftist government blames the Western-backed opposition forces for inciting political unrest.

Last year, the opposition launched an abortive attempt to force Maduro out of office by seeking to hold a recall referendum.

Public discontent, especially among the upper echelons of the society, has boosted the opposition in only some of its struggles against the government, whose socialist policies would be expected to be more appealing to the economically challenged. The recent protests in poorer areas in the country, however, may be a sign of deeper dissatisfaction with the Maduro government than previously thought.

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U.S. Drops Largest Nonnuclear Bomb In Eastern Afghanistan

RFE/RL April 13, 2017

The United States says its forces in Afghanistan have used the army's largest nonnuclear bomb on an Islamic State (IS) target in the eastern province of Nangarhar.

In an April 13 statement, the U.S. military said the GBU-43 bomb was dropped at 7:32 p.m. local time on an IS tunnel complex in Achin district, close to the border with Pakistan.

The Pentagon said it was the first-ever combat use of the GBU-43 bomb, which weighs more than 10 tons and has been nicknamed the Mother Of All Bombs.

A Pentagon spokesman said the bomb was dropped from an MC-130 transport plane.

The strike follows last week's death of a U.S. special forces soldier fighting IS militants in Nangarhar Province.

It targeted a system of tunnels and caves that IS fighters use to "move around freely, making it easier for them to target U.S. military advisers and Afghan forces in the area," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

Spicer also said all necessary precautions were taken to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage.

U.S. President Donald Trump later 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," the U.S. president said.

When asked if the bomb had sent a message to North Korea, Trump said: "I don't know if this sends a message, and it doesn't make any difference if it does or not."

"North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of," he also said.

He added that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping would work together to resolve the North Korean crisis.

Trump has ordered the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to head to the Korean Peninsula in an attempt to deter Pyongyang's nuclear and long-range missile ambitions, which it is developing in defiance of UN resolutions and sanctions.

Trump had urged China to do more to curtail North Korea's nuclear program when he met with Xi last week in Florida.

With reporting by AP and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/us-drops -largest-nonnuclear-bomb- afghanistan/28428242.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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NATO Launches Battalion In Poland Near Kaliningrad Border

April 13, 2017

NATO has activated a new multinational battalion in Poland near the border of Russia's 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 Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/nato-launches-batallion- poland-kaliningrad/28428421.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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Pentagon Drops 'Mother of All Bombs' in Afghanistan for First Time Ever

Sputnik News

19:42 13.04.2017(updated 20:15 13.04.2017)

The United States has dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb in its military arsenal in Afghanistan, NBC News reported.

The bomb was used against a large group of Daesh terror group in east Afghanistan.

Later, the Pentagon confirmed that the GBU-43 bomb dubbed "the Mother of All Bombs" was dropped in the Nangarhar province.

The bombing targeted series of Daesh caves.

"At 7:32 pm local time today, US Forces  Afghanistan conducted a strike on an ISIS-K tunnel [Daesh] complex in Achin district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, as part of ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan in 2017," the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a press release. "The strike used a GBU-43 bomb dropped from a US aircraft."

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast is a large-yield conventional non-nuclear bomb which was considered to be the most powerful non-nuclear weapon ever developed at the time of its creation.

This was the first time the bomb was dropped in a combat action. It has been in service since 2003.

It was dropped from a MC-130 jet, according to Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump.

The release added that the CENTCOM planned the strike with minimum risk to Afghan and US forces that are currently present in the area.

CENTCOM assured the United States took all necessary measures to avoid civilian casualties during this operation.

 Sputnik

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China Appreciates Duterte's Disputed Spratly Islands Visit Cancellation

Sputnik News

14:12 13.04.2017

China appreciates Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to cancel a planned visit to an island in the South China Sea Spratly Islands (Nansha) archipelago, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said Thursday.

BEIJING (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, Duterte gave up plans to visit the island of Thitu and raise the country's flag there following concerns expressed by China. He stated that the decision was made to maintain friendly relations between the countries. The move appears to be have partly backtracked on earlier promises to send troops to around 10 islands and build fortifications.

"We are seeing that the situation in the South China Sea is improving, relations between China and the Philippines are improving. We hope that the Philippine side will work with us to resolve disputes in an appropriate manner. The Chinese side is pleased to see the Philippine president willing to resolve differences," Lu said during a briefing.

The Spratly Islands are contested by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia and are partially occupied by all the five countries' troops. China had accused the Philippines of using US backing to escalate the situation, but Duterte has been making attempts to ease tensions since his election last year.

 Sputnik

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US Drops Largest Non-nuclear Bomb on IS Complex in Afghanistan

By VOA News April 13, 2017

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.

"The airstrike was designed to support the efforts of the ANSF [Afghan National Security Forces] and U.S. forces as well as minimize the risk to ANSF and the U.S. forces," Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's office tweeted Thursday. "Precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties with this airstrike."

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.

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Analysts: Don't 'Gut' Darfur Peacekeeping Mission With Funding Cuts

By Jill Craig April 13, 2017

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.

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UN to Close Haiti Peacekeeping Mission in October

By Margaret Besheer April 13, 2017

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."

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UN Envoy: Cameroon Should Release Detainees, Restore Internet, Open Dialogue to End Strike

By Moki Edwin Kindzeka April 13, 2017

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.

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US, Gulf States Wrap Up 'Eagle Resolve' War Games in Kuwait

Sputnik News

01:47 14.04.2017

The joint military drills involving the troops from the United States and the Gulf states have come to conclusion in Kuwait, US Central Command said in a press release on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  More than 3,000 personnel from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and United States are completing three weeks of military exercises that included chemical warfare defenses, border security and counterterrorism, the CENTCOM stated.

"We are concerned about defending our Gulf, defending ourselves, our states and our nations," Kuwaiti Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Mohammed Khaled Al-Khader stated. "What is important for us is our continuous training so we can achieve the required level of fighting readiness."

Since 1999, the Eagle Resolve exercises have become the leading military engagement between the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council member nations, the release explained.

Eagle Resolve's goal is to collectively address regional challenges that are associated with asymmetric warfare, such as terrorist attacks, in an otherwise low-risk setting.

 Sputnik

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Private companies hope for relaxed requirements in military-civilian integration

People's Daily Online

By Jiang Jie (People's Daily Online) 17:19, April 13, 2017

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.

"Military officers visit this kind of expo to seek cooperation opportunities, but they always go to the 'national team.' On very rare occasions, they look at us," said Zhang Chengbin, a marketing manager for Beijing Digital Hail Technology Co. Ltd.

Digital Hail is China's 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 Zhang, 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 three of the four qualification certificates to conduct military-related research and development, Zhang explained.

"But the bar is still set too high. Even our company, with rich experience in military collaboration, is often denied because we lack the last qualification certificate," Zhang said in an interview with the People's Daily Online.

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 company's confidentiality and military-standard quality management.

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 company's total revenue, Liu revealed.

"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 People's 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. For example, the rapid development of drones could be an especially fruitful point of intersection, especially in air transportation, said Qi Juntong, CEO of Tianjin-based Efly Technology.

Qi demonstrated during a forum on the sidelines of the expo that his company's drones can automatically fetch and move objects, even when the objects themselves are in motion. The technology has already been used in power grid construction; military use could potentially come next.

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China would protect a denuclearized North Korea: State-run Chinese daily

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 13, 2017 9:20AM

A state-run Chinese daily says Beijing would protect the North Korean government and people if Pyongyang gave up its nuclear program.

"As soon as the [sic] 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," read an editorial published in the Chinese-language daily Global Times on Thursday.

"This is Pyongyang's best option," it said.

The Global Times is published by the People's Daily, which is the Chinese Communist Party's official paper.

North Korea maintains that its nuclear program guarantees its security, including by deterring a potential invasion by the United States, or South Korea, or both. Washington and Seoul have been holding annual military drills on the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang calls those drills rehearsals for invasion and has been rapidly developing missile and nuclear military programs in return.

Tensions have reached potentially dangerous levels recently. The US has dispatched a strike group, including a large aircraft carrier, to the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has said it is ready for war.

The rising tensions and the prospect of a potential confrontation on China's doorstep may have been the reason why Beijing has now stepped forward to offer protection for North Korea and demand a dismantling of Pyongyang's nuclear program in return. China has also had its reservations about the advancing nuclear program itself, a potential game changer in the region.

But the offer to protect North Korea, while helping to defuse the recent tensions, could theoretically put China in a position to fight off the US  diplomatically if not militarily  on North Korea's behalf. It was not clear how much effort that would necessitate.

It was also not immediately known what guarantees China would be willing to offer to protect North Korea if Pyongyang did agree to end its military nuclear program. No details were available on what would happen to North Korea's missile program, either.

As of Thursday morning, there was no reaction to the offer from North Korea, the US, and South Korea.

On Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing would like to see the tensions with North Korea eased through the "dual suspension" of the country's nuclear program and the joint military drills between the United States and South Korea.

North Korea has so far conducted five confirmed nuclear tests and numerous missile test-launches. While it has not fired missiles against other countries, it has vowed strong action if it is invaded.

The United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) have already imposed an array of crippling sanctions on the country over its missile and nuclear programs.

China, North Korea's main ally, has already taken steps to increase pressure on the North.

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Not Our Fault: North Korea Says Washington to Blame for Escalating Tensions

Sputnik News

22:06 13.04.2017(updated 00:57 14.04.2017)

On Thursday, a North Korean peace institute affiliated with country's Foreign Ministry blamed the US for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, saying that any strike from Washington would prompt a "merciless retaliatory strike."

In the statement, a spokesman from the institute said that US deployment of nuclear assets could very well spark a nuclear conflict. A US carrier strike group led by the nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson was recently redirected to the peninsula, as Pyongyang continues its nuclear weapons development program and its regime of threats.

This US show of force takes place only shortly after US President Donald Trump ordered a controversial strike of 59 Tomahawk missiles against Syria's Sha'irat air base, in a move that North Korea said justified their nuclear activities.

Coming behind the Vinson group is the USS Dewey and the USS Sterett, a couple of Navy destroyers that just arrived in Hawaii and will soon be headed to the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, recent satellite images analyzed by North Korean watchdog 38 North indicate that a sixth North Korean nuclear test is on the horizon.

According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, the North Korean statement said, "By relentlessly bringing in a number of strategic nuclear assets to the Korean Peninsula, the US is gravely threatening the peace and safety, and driving the situation to the brink of a nuclear war." Regarding the strike in Syria, they said "the US. is carrying out military strikes and menacing acts against a sovereign state while calling for peace through strength."

The institute also said that it would be "silly" to entertain any "dream" of defeating them through working with other countries, in what appears to be a reference to Washington pressuring China to take a more aggressive stance against the North's provocations.

Trump recently met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the "Southern White House," his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. In an interview with the Financial Times not long before his meeting with Xi, Trump said, "If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will. That is all I am telling you."

His tone changed after Xi explained Beijing's relationship with the North, leading Trump to realize, "it's not so easy."

Trump also conducted a complete about-face from frequent comments he had made about Beijing being the "grand champion" of manipulating currency, saying after the meeting, "They're not currency manipulators."

On Thursday, amid speculation that North Korea's next nuclear test will take place any day now, Trump remarked that Pyongyang is a "problem" that "will be taken care of."

Despite Washington's saber-rattling, China has suggested that diplomatic tactics could still be used to solve the North Korean issue. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing on Thursday, "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."

 Sputnik

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Trump Warns North Korea Against More Provocations

By VOA News April 13, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump sent North Korea a fresh warning Thursday not to engage in new provocations, as reports increased of an imminent public gesture by Pyongyang to mark its biggest national holiday, possibly with a nuclear test.

"North Korea is a problem," Trump said at the White House. "The problem will be taken care of."

While his remark was immediately taken as a threat of military action against the North, Trump added that China "is working very hard" to defuse the international tension over North Korea, and that he is hopeful Beijing's diplomacy will be effective.

In a separate comment earlier Thursday, however, Trump said the United States is prepared to tackle the North Korean crisis without China, if necessary.

An American aircraft carrier and other warships are steaming toward the Korean Peninsula in a show of force this week, although there has been no specific U.S. threat of retaliatory action if Pyongyang conducts another nuclear test or launches more missiles in defiance of U.N. sanctions.

At the Pentagon, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said Washington is "working with international partners in order to defuse the situation, but the bottom line is, North Korea has got to change its behavior."

China calls for talks

China's public comment about North Korea Thursday was terse: "Military force cannot resolve the issue," Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing. "Amid tensions, we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks."

China is North Korea's sole major ally, but it opposes Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, along with all other neighbor states. Beijing has called for multiparty talks leading to a peaceful resolution that would denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

The state-backed Chinese newspaper Global Times said the best course for North Korea would be to give up its nuclear program, and it promised that Beijing will protect the North if that happens.

"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," Global Times said in an editorial.

Weapons test may be imminent

Amid the rhetoric from all sides Thursday, no information has emerged to challenge the news reports from earlier this week: North Korea appears to have placed a device in a tunnel at its nuclear test site that could be detonated Saturday or even sooner. VOA's report, quoting U.S. government and other sources with that story Wednesday, was updated Thursday by a source within the U.S. intelligence community: "U.S. intelligence is always on the alert for a possible North Korean weapons test. Kim Jong Un wants his country to be validated as a nuclear power, and a test would further that goal."

Scores of foreign journalists are in Pyongyang this week for North Korea's biggest national holiday, the "Day of the Sun" Saturday, marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder and the grandfather of the current ruler.

Five years ago, the late Kim Il Sung's centenary was marked by a failed attempt to launch a North Korean space satellite, and last year Pyongyang tested a newly developed intermediate range missile  also a failure.

Satellite photographs this week have shown continuing activity around the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which could be taken to indicate another underground nuclear test is imminent.

Fewer options for U.S.

Although South Korean and American troops are preparing for a round of joint military exercises  a regular event that Pyongyang has denounced as preparations for an invasion that would justify a massive counterattack  a spokesman for the South Korean joint chiefs of staff said Thursday that Seoul has seen no indications any military action by the North is imminent.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo told a security forum in Washington that North Korea's military development has progressed to a point where Pyongyang is now closer than ever to being able to threaten the United States with a nuclear tipped intercontinental missile. That, in turn, has reduced U.S. defense officials' options about how to respond to the North Korean threat, Pompeo added during remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Worst-case scenario

He indicated that a worst-case scenario would force the U.S. to take action against the North, and that would be "a tough day for the leader of North Korea."

Discussion this week about possible U.S. military action against the North has referred to the cruise missile strike against a Syrian airbase that Trump ordered last week, and the mammoth single bomb airstrike an American warplane carried out Thursday against an Islamic State bunker complex in northeastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border.

News that the U.S. had dropped the biggest non-nuclear bomb in its arsenal, a 10,000-kilogram explosive that headline writers called "the mother of all bombs," was taken as a message directed at Kim Jong Un. Trump brushed off questions about whether the bombing was a message for Pyongyang, but he stressed his feeling that North Korea is "a problem that will be taken care of."

Contributors to this story included White House correspondent Steve Herman, Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb and VOA's national security correspondent, Jeff Seldin.

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India's MoD Reveals Which Private Companies are to Receive Sukhoi-30MKI Tech

Sputnik News

16:14 13.04.2017

The Indian Defense Ministry has introduced 20 Indian vendors to the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) of the Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft at the recently held Indo-Russia Military-Industrial Conference to pursue the transfer of technology possibilities.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  This move is in line with the Narendra Modi government's push for the transfer of technologies of Sukhoi-30MKI to private companies in India under the Make in India scheme last month.

"A total number of 485 lines have been identified for Transfer of Technology (ToT) to support Su-30 MKI fleet. Towards this, 20 Indian vendors have been introduced to the Russian OEMs to find out the feasibility of ToT in the fields desired by Indian vendors. The Russian side has been requested to consider permission to identified OEMs to establish Joint Ventures (JVs) or any other means of localization with Indian private industry partners for the manufacture of spare parts through ToT," Subhash Bhamre, India's Minister of State for Defense, said.

Both the countries have started the process of establishing a joint venture for the design and development of spares in India.

Last month, India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed an agreement with Russian OEMs for a long-term supply of spares and rendering technical assistance for five years, which do not cover any technology transfer. Agreements will enable HAL to procure the required spares based on the price catalog directly from the OEMs for the Su-30MKI fleet, and boost after sales service by reducing lead time in the procurement of spares significantly.

The Indian government has been in discussion with Asian countries like Malaysia to supply Sukhoi spare parts through local production.

 Sputnik

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Republic of Iraq  Pilot and Maintenance Training, Contractor Logistical Support (CLS) for Trainer Aircraft, and Base Support

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No: 17-03

WASHINGTON, Apr. 12, 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Iraq for pilot and maintenance training, contractor logistical support (CLS) for trainer aircraft, and base support. The estimated cost is $1.06 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on April 11, 2017.

The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of pilot training; maintenance training; and contractor logistical services support for C-172, C-208, and T-6 aircraft for up to five (5) years to include contractor aircraft modification; repair and spare parts; publications; aircraft ferry; and miscellaneous parts, along with training base operation support, base life support, security, construction, and other related elements of program support. The estimated total program value is $1.06 billion.

The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to provide for a stable, sovereign, and democratic Iraq, capable of combating terrorism and protecting its people and sovereignty. Iraq currently owns twelve (12) C-172, five (5) C-208, and fifteen (15) T-6 training aircraft. The training pipeline will allow the Iraqi Air Force to tailor pilot training for several U.S.-origin operational aircraft. The C-172s and T-6s are Iraq's training platforms for their mobility and fighter attack fleets. The C-208s are Iraq's platform of choice for training its Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) pilots.

The proposed sale of training and support services will improve the Iraq's ability to train its pilots and maintenance technicians. By training its own pilots and maintenance technicians in-country, Iraq will decrease its overseas training requirements, significantly reduce its training costs, and will enhance its ability to take over the sustainment of its aircraft. Iraq will have no difficulty absorbing this support. In addition to its primary mission  pilot and maintenance training for Iraqi Air Force personnel  this proposed sale includes Contractor Logistical Support costs for the trainer aircraft, as well as possible future construction and base operation support costs.

The proposed sale of this training and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor is Spartan College, Tulsa, OK. At this time, there are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of approximately four U.S. Government representatives and 50-55 contractor representatives to Iraq.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. All training and support listed on this transmittal are authorized for release and export to the Government of Iraq.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

-30-

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Countering Chinese Advances, Japan Scrambles Record Number of Jets

Sputnik News

00:54 14.04.2017(updated 04:49 14.04.2017)

As China seeks to move deeper into the Western Pacific, Japan's Defense Ministry reports that the country's fighter jets intercepted foreign aircraft in record numbers in the fiscal year that ended March 30.

The previous high of 944 jet scrambles was achieved in 1984 at the height of the Cold War. The new record stands at 1,168 scrambles, with nearly a quarter, about 73 percent, a response to Chinese aircraft approaching Japan's airspace. This number is the greatest of any country since Japan's Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) began publishing information on scrambles against other nations.

Encounters with Russians flights, mostly long-range bombers, made up 26 percent of the total.

At a Tokyo briefing on Thursday, Japanese Chief of Staff Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano said, "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."

He added, "Activities of Chinese jets are on the rise in terms of their frequency, area and duration  Considering the modernizing trend of the Chinese military, we expect this to continue."

Japan's Defense Ministry reported that in the 2016 fiscal year, Japanese airspace was not violated by foreign aircraft. The ministry also reported 26 "unusual" flights, including some by Chinese bombers and fighters, in airspace that is international but is contested politically.

After the Chinese Navy carried out a drill last month between the Okinawa and Miyako islands as part of an effort to flex its military muscle in the western Pacific, Japan scrambled fighter jets, accompanied by early warning aircraft and bombers that made their way northeast of Taiwan through the Miyako Strait.

China first entered the western Pacific in December when the Liaoning, the country's first aircraft carrier, sailed through the Miyako Strait for the first time with two frigates and three guided missile destroyers.

Tokyo scrambled fighters a month prior when two bombers, surveillance planes and fighters from Beijing flew through the area, with eight more bombers and fighters from China flying through the strait in September.

China has claimed that Japan is blowing the flights out of proportion by calling them part of Beijing's "expanding and increasing" military actions, saying instead that the flights are a part of "regular" drills.

Relations between the two Asian countries are tense due a dispute over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which China claims but Japan controls.

Talks over establishing communications and maritime protocol stalled in 2012 when Tokyo bought the Senkakus.

In September the People's Liberation Army Air Force announced it would begin "regular" air exercises near the island chain, seen by some as a Japanese barrier to keep the Chinese Navy at bay.

Other experts think the islands could actually serve as launching pads for China's military.

A Chinese Air Force spokesman was quoted by Xinhua News Agency at the time saying, "This is common practice for the air forces of sea-adjacent states, and a normal requirement for China's national defense and military-building  in accordance with international law and practice."

 Sputnik

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Russian Weapons Supply to Libya Hindered by UN Embargo - Libyan National Army

Sputnik News

15:49 13.04.2017(updated 16:54 13.04.2017)

While the Libyan National Army has discussed with Russia the possibility of receiving deliveries of Russian weapons under previously concluded contracts, such deliveries are impossible at the moment due to the active UN arms embargo against Libya, the army's Commander Khalifa Haftar told Sputnik Thursday.

AR RAJMAH (Sputnik)  Libya has been in a state of turmoil since 2011, when a civil war broke out and its longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown.

The UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Libya in February 2011, after the country became politically unstable. The trade ban requires that all UN member states prevent the sale or supply of arms and all related materiel, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment and spare parts, to the country.

"We have discussed previously signed contracts with the Russian friends. But, from the practical point of view, the arms embargo is still in force, which makes it difficult to implement these contracts, although they were signed before the UN Security Council adopted the embargo," Haftar said.

The administration of US President Donald Trump is still collecting information on the Libyan crisis and has yet to develop its final position on the matter, Khalifa Haftar told Sputnik.

"The US administration is now at the stage of gathering information about the political situation in Libya. It seems obvious that the administration has not fully made clear its position yet. We hope that it will put the demands of the Libyan people as one of its primary goals, and that the Russian Federation and the United States will confront extremists, who try to take the upper hand on the political arena and impose their views on the Libyans," Haftar said.

The commander added that he could not evaluate the perspectives of the Russian-US coordination in Libya.

The Libya's eastern regions now are governed by the elected parliament headquartered in the city of Tobruk. The Government of National Accord, formed with the support from the United Nations and Europe and headed by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, operates in the country's west, including the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

The eastern authorities act independently from the west, cooperating with the Libyan National Army led by Haftar to fight against Islamist terrorists.

In June and November 2016, Haftar already visited Russia to meet with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

In early January, Haftar visited Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier and discussed the fight against terrorism in the Middle East during a video conference with Shoigu.

 Sputnik

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European Court Says Russia Failed To Protect Beslan Victims

RFE/RL April 13, 2017

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.

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

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/beslan-european-court-rules- russia-failed-to-protect-victims/28427351.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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UN Experts, OSCE Demand End To Persecution Of Gays In Chechnya

RFE/RL April 13, 2017

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.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/un-experts-osce-demand-end- persecution-gays-chechnya/28428341.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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Syrian Army: Explosion in Daesh chemical depot leaves hundreds dead

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Damascus, April 13, IRNA -- An explosion in a Daesh depot of poisonous substances in Syria due to air attacks by US-led coalition left hundreds of people dead, according to a statement by Syrian Army.

Between 17:30 and 17:50 on Saturday, coalition fighter jets targeted one of the strongholds of Daesh terrorist group in a village east of Deir Ezzur where a large number of terrorists were present, the statement said.

The attack caused a white cloud rising in the sky which then turned yellow and showed the attack had targeted a depot of poisonous substances, the statement added.

It said the explosion led to a big blaze which continued to burn until 22:30 killing hundreds of people, including a large number of innocent citizens who died due to suffocation.

This incident indicates that terrorist groups in Syria, particularly Daesh and al-Nusra, have access to chemical weapons and can transfer, stockpile and use them with the help of certain countries. This is what Damascus has repeatedly warned about.

Syrian Army once again reiterated that it has no kind of chemical weapons and has not used such weapons in the past while warning about the use of chemical weapons by the terrorist groups against the civilians.

The statement said that the terrorists have received supportive signals and are not worried about getting punished.

9341**2050

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US agreed not to repeat Syria strike: Lavrov

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 13, 2017 9:53PM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has slammed the recent US missile attack against a Syrian airbase as an act of "provocation" and said that Washington has agreed not to repeat such strikes in the future.

"I would like to stress that the US missile attack on the Shayrat airbase was actually a provocation," Lavrov said at a Thursday meeting with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem in Moscow.

Referring to his Wednesday meeting with his US counterpart Rex Tillerson in Moscow, Lavrov said, "The US Secretary of State and I thoroughly discussed the situation and agreed that this should not happen again."

The Russian foreign minister also warned of ongoing attempts to disrupt peace efforts in Syria and noted, "Not everybody is happy about the progress that we ensured together with our Turkish and Iranian counterparts, as well as with the Syrian government and Kazakhstan, while the United States participated as an observer at the Astana talks."

"Attempts are being made to disrupt the ceasefire which was agreed in Astana and welcomed by the United Nations Security Council," he added.

The Russian foreign minister stressed that "Western hysteria" over the recent suspected chemical attack in the Syrian province of Idlib should not hamper efforts to resolve the crisis in the country.

"Against the background of the Western hysteria, it is particularly important to resist provocations and attempts to hamper efforts aimed at resolving the crisis that are being made by participants in the Astana and Geneva processes," he said.

Lavrov hailed Damascus' decision to invite experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to probe into the Idlib incident and underlined the need for "an impartial investigation."

Last Friday, US President Donald Trump ordered a massive missile strike against the Shayrat airfield in the western Syrian province of Homs, causing some 15 fatalities, including civilians.

Washington staged the strike over the accusation that Damascus had used the base to launch the gas attack in Idlib a few days earlier. Syria has denied the accusation, saying a chemical weapons depot belonging to the anti-Damascus militants had been hit in a conventional Syrian airstrike. Russia has verified that account.

US strike meant to shatter peace efforts in Syria

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, for his part, said the US missile attack on the Syrian airfield was aimed at stalling the peace process in Syria.

"I view the US missile strike as an aggression, as it took place without an approval from the United Nations and without any investigation on behalf of the Organization for the OPCW, which could have identified those responsible behind the use of chemical weapons," Muallem said.

"We see that after Trump entered office, Washington's role in the Astana and Geneva processes was minimized. It means, they do not want the peace process to be a success," he added.

On Thursday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the next round of Syrian peace talks is scheduled to be held in Astana on May 4.

He also cited UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura as saying that similar talks in Geneva are expected to be held in mid-May after the fourth round of the Astana meeting.

The Astana talks gather the Syrian government, on the one side, and the country's political and armed opposition, on the other, at the negotiating table. Iran and Russia mediate the process on behalf of Damascus, while Turkey sides with the militants.

The peace negotiations got off the ground after the moderators successfully mediated a nationwide ceasefire in Syria.

The ceasefire was brokered last December by Russia and Turkey and with the support of Iran between the Syrian government and militants.

The Astana discussions have mainly focused on consolidating the ceasefire, paving the way for the resumption of a parallel UN-led peace process between Syria's warring sides in Geneva, Switzerland. The latest round of the UN-sponsored talks wrapped up on March 31.

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US missile strike on Syria 'unacceptable': Iranian FM

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 13, 2017 6:33PM

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says a US missile strike on Syria last week is "unacceptable," reiterating Iran's call for an unbiased international probe into an alleged gas attack in the Arab country.

The US used the alleged chemical attack as a pretext to carry out missile strikes on Shayrat air base in Homs Province, which Syria uses as a launchpad for bombing foreign-backed militant positions.

Zarif made the remarks while discussing the US strike and other Syria developments as well as issues of mutual interest in phone talks with his Kazakh, Venezuelan, Brazilian and Bolivian counterparts on Thursday, IRNA reported.

In his conversation with Kazakh counterpart, Kairat Abdrakhmanov, the Iranian foreign minister discussed the latest about Syria peace talks in Astana, the third round of which concluded on March 15.

Zarif also denounced the "unilateral American action" in his talks with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez and called for the Non-Aligned Movement to play an active role in Syria developments. Caracas currently holds the rotating chair of the 120-member group.

The Iranian foreign minister further condemned the chemical attack in Syria in his conversation with his Brazilian and Bolivian counterparts, Aloysio Nunes and Fernando Huanacuni, the report added.

The gas attack in the town of Khan Shaykhun in Syria's Idlib Province reportedly left at least 87 people dead.

Western countries rushed to blame the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the incident without providing any evidence.

Damascus has categorically denied the allegation, saying its airstrike had targeted a depot, where terrorists had stored chemical weapons.

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Syria's Assad says will only allow 'impartial' chemical attack probe

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:58PM

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says he will only allow an "impartial" chemical attack investigation into a recent suspected chemical attack on Khan Shaykhun town in Idlib Province.

The Syrian president made the remarks in an exclusive interview with AFP in Damascus on Wednesday.

"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 politicized purposes," Assad added.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with AFP on Thursday, Assad asserted that the suspected chemical weapons attack on the militant-held town was a "fabrication" to justify the subsequent US military strike on Syria's Shayrat air base in Homs Province.

"Definitely, 100 percent for us, it is fabrication.... Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists," the syrian president said, adding that they fabricated the whole story "in order to have a pretext for the attack."

He assured that his government had handed over all its chemical weapons stockpiles in 2013 and thus could not have been behind the Khan Shaykhun incident.

"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," he said.

Over 80 people died in the April 4 Khan Shaykhun purported gas attack, which Western countries blamed on the Syrian government.

Referring to images and videos purportedly showing Khan Shaykhun victims, Assad 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 Shaykhun. Were they dead at all?" he asked.

Using the incident as a pretext, US warships in the Mediterranean launched a barrage of 59 Tomahawk missiles against Shayrat Airfield in Syria's Homs Province on April 7. Washington claimed that the airbase was the origin of the alleged chemical attack.

The Syrian head of state stated that the US missile attack on Shayrat Airfield had not diminished Damascus' ability to carry out counter-terrorism strikes.

"Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasn't been affected by this strike," he said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Assad noted that Syria peace talks were ineffective as Washington was "not serious" about resolving the crisis gripping the Arab country.

"The United States is not serious in achieving any political solution. They want to use it as an umbrella for the terrorists," he said.

Syria's warring sides have held several rounds of talks aimed at bringing an end to the deadly conflict in the country, which began in March 2011.

The fifth and latest round of UN-mediated intra-Syrian discussions took place in the Swiss city of Geneva on March 23-31.

Following the meeting, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura told reporters that "incremental progress" had been made during the recent Geneva talks, but acknowledged that there were "serious challenges" facing the negotiations and that no imminent peace deal was foreseeable.

Before the latest round of Geneva talks, the two sides had taken part in three rounds of negotiations, brokered by Iran, Russia and Turkey in the Kazakh capital city of Astana.

The Astana talks brought together representatives from the government in Damascus and opposition groups. The first round of the Astana talks took place on January 23-24, followed by the second round on February 15-16 and the third round on March 14-15.

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US airstrike on Daesh poison gas depot leaves many civilians dead: Report

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 13, 2017 10:50AM

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.

The General Command of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces, in a statement released on Thursday, announced that the airstrike had taken place in the eastern village of Hatla, near the city of Dayr al-Zawr, at around 5:30 p.m. local time (1530 GMT) the previous day.

The statement, published by Syria's official news agency, SANA, added that a cloud of thick white smoke covered the area after the strike, before it turned yellow. The assault also caused a fierce blaze, which continued until late in the evening on Wednesday.

According to the Syrian Army statement, hundreds of people, including a large number of local villagers, were killed after inhaling high volumes of toxic fumes spread in the targeted area.

The statement further noted that the attack was evidence to the close coordination that exists between terrorist groups operating inside Syria and their sponsors to level accusations of chemical weapons use against the Syrian government forces, and also proved that the militants were in possession of chemical warfare.

The Syrian Army statement went on to say that terror outfits, particularly Daesh and al-Nusra Front, were able to acquire and transport chemical weapons through the assistance of certain regional powers, emphasizing that the Damascus government had repeatedly warned that terrorist groups would use chemical weapons against civilians and Syrian army forces.

It also highlighted that the Syrian army neither possessed chemical munitions, nor would ever use them, arguing that terrorist groups continued to use chemical weapons against Syrian civilians with impunity.

The development came less than a week after a suspected chemical attack in the town of Khan Shaykhun in Syria's Homs Province reportedly left over 80 people dead on April 4.

Following the attack, the US Defense Department, Pentagon, said 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles had been fired from two US warships in the Mediterranean Sea at the Shayrat airfield in the same Syrian province on April 7. US officials claimed that the suspected Khan Shaykhun attack had been launched from the military site.

SANA reported that at least nine people had been killed in the early morning strike on the Syrian airfield.

Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned the US strike as "a flagrant aggression" against the Arab country, saying that Washington's real objective was to "weaken the strength of the Syrian army in confronting terrorist groups."

The ministry described the Khan Shaykhun attack as a "premeditated action that aimed to justify the launching of a US attack on the Syrian army."

The Russian Foreign Ministry also censured the attack as an act of aggression against a sovereign state.

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Evacuation of Idlib, Rif Dimashq towns postponed: Reports

Iran Press TV

Thu Apr 13, 2017 6:12AM

Reports says the evacuation of four Syrian towns in the provinces of Idlib and Rif Dimashq, which was to take place Wednesday as part of a deal between Damascus and militants, has been postponed.

According to media reports, Friday is given as the new date for the start of the evacuation process, which was delayed amid divisions in the militant camp.

Syrian officials have not made any comment on the reported delay so far.

The Shia-populated towns of Foua and Kefraya, located in the northwestern province of Idlib, have been under a militant siege, while the Sunni-majority towns of Zabadani and Madaya, situated in Rif Dimashq Province near Syria's border with Lebanon, are surrounded by pro-Damascus forces.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on March 28 that the two sides had stricken the deal that envisages the transfer of 16,000 people from Foua and Kefraya in exchange for the evacuation of militants and their families from the latter two.

Based on the agreement, the civilians in Foua and Kefraya will be transferred to the Jibrin neighborhood near Aleppo and the people from Zabadani and Madaya will be relocated to the city of Idlib.

Busses have already been dispatched to the towns for transferring the civilian population.

Under the agreement, the two sides have exchanged more than 30 prisoners and nine bodies. The Takfiri militants have released 12 people they had abducted earlier and returned the bodies of eight others.

Popular committees in Foua and Kefraya have also released 19 militants and one body.

Militants stationed south of Damascus have staged a protest against the deal to evacuate the four towns.

The agreement would also include a ceasefire covering areas south of Damascus as well as aid deliveries.

Last year, a similar accord oversaw mutual evacuations out of the towns.

According to Observatory's director Rami Abdulrahman, however, the recent deal would enable the biggest population swap of its kind.

Last December, several thousand civilians were also allowed to leave Foua and Kefraya under a separate deal between the armed groups and Damascus, which also enabled the evacuation of a militant-held enclave in eastern Aleppo.

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Syria's Assad Calls Chemical Attack A 'Fabrication' As U.S. Slams Attempts To 'Bury The Truth

April 13, 2017

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is claiming that allegations of a chemical weapons attack by his forces last week were "100 percent fabrication," as the United States criticizes Damascus and its ally, Moscow, for trying to "bury the truth."

Assad said in an interview 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 news agency in Damascus.

The Syrian government and Russia, Assad's main backer in Syria's 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.

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.

In The Hague, Netherlands, 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 of the OPCW's 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 meeting that the preliminary assessment by the organization's 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."

Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and dpa

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/assad-claims-chemical- attack-fabrication/28427986.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 Sheds Light on Condition for Renewing Russia-US Memo on Flights in Syria

Sputnik News

19:29 13.04.2017

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov expressed confidence in an interview with Sputnik that Russian and US military experts could swiftly resume the memorandum on air safety in Syria and address the issues of possible adjustments.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Following US missile attack on the Syrian airbase in the Hama province, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow has suspended its memorandum of understanding on air safety over Syria with the United States following the deadly US missile attack on the Sha'irat airfield.

The Pentagon said later that the US still wants to keep dialogue with Russia via the deconfliction channnel.

"We expect that the renewal of the memorandum will take place swiftly, this is a matter for the military. I believe they could agree swiftly through their channels on how to revive the work of this memorandum. This also relates to possible adjustments," Gatilov said.

The Russia-US deconfliction mechanism aimed to avoid aerial incidents over Syria was suspended from April 8.

The United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian military airfield in Ash Sha'irat near Homs late Thursday. US President Donald Trump said the attack was a response to the alleged chemical weapon use in Idlib on Tuesday, which Washington blames on Damascus.

Russia called the attack an "agression act against a sovereign state."

 Sputnik

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US Coalition Denies Reports Airstrike Hit Chemical Weapons Near Deir ez-Zor

Sputnik News

15:50 13.04.2017(updated 16:05 13.04.2017)

The US-led coalition did not conduct strikes near Deir ez-Zor in Syria on Wednesday that reportedly hit terrorists' chemical weapons, coalition spokesperson Col. John Dorrian said.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The Syrian news agency SANA reported that a US strike on Wednesday had hit toxic chemicals compiled by Daesh (banned in Russia) near Deir ez-Zor, killing hundreds of people.

The Syrian military said that this fact proves that terrorists possess chemical weapons.

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.

In a Syrian army command communique obtained by Sputnik, the military said US-led coalition planes struck a warehouse where Daesh fighters were present.

"A white cloud formed at the place of impact, then a yellow one, which indicates the presence of a large number of toxic agents," the communique reads.

The news comes as Washington and its allies are blaming the Syrian government for a suspected chemical attack in the Syrian Idlib province on April 4.

Syrian opposition claimed on April 4 forces loyal to President Bashar Assad had used a chemical gas on people in the northwestern province, killing nearly 80 and injuring 200. Assad argued his government has no chemical weapons after agreeing to have them destroyed in 2013. He also ruled out having used chemicals against own people.

The Russian Defense Ministry said next day that the airstrike near Khan Shaykhun was carried out by Syrian aircraft, which struck a terrorist warehouse that stored chemical weapons slated for delivery to Iraq.

 Sputnik

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Assad Defiant as Activists Report Surge in Syrian Government Attacks

By Jamie Dettmer April 13, 2017

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.

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 regime's 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.

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Pressure Grows on Britain to Seize Assad Family Assets

By Henry Ridgwell April 13, 2017

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. It's 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-Assad's 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 Assad's son Siwar said his father's fortune came from wealthy Saudi backers.

Rifaat al-Assad also owns a $12 million house in London's Mayfair district. Critics want Britain to follow Spain's 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.

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Ankara Looking for Air Defense Systems, S-400 Under Consideration - Turkish DM

Sputnik News

23:47 13.04.2017

The Turkish military is considering options for the purchase of air defense systems for the country's armed forces, Russian S-400 systems are on the list, according to Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik.

ANKARA (Sputnik)  Isik said Thursday that Ankara is at the final stages of making a decision on the purchase of air defense systems, Russian S-400 systems are under consideration, local media reported.

"Turkey urgently needs an air defense system. We are at the final decision-making stage. The last word will be with the president and prime minister," Turkish Anadolu news agency quoted Isik as saying.

Isik said in March that Ankara and Moscow had made certain progress in talks on the delivery of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to Turkey.

The S-400 is Russia's next-generation air defense system, carrying three different types of missiles capable of destroying aerial targets at a short-to-extremely-long range. The weapon is capable of tracking and destroying all existing aerial targets, including ballistics and cruise missiles.

 Sputnik

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Defence Secretary agrees closer cooperation with India

13 April 2017

The Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon visited India this week to strengthen UK-Indian defence and security relations.

Sir Michael attended today the first meeting as part of the 2015 Defence and International Security Partnership (DISP), with his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley.

The pair discussed UK-Indian defence industries, upcoming exercises and global security among other topics. The Defence counterparts jointly set out their ambitions to design, make, exercise, transform, train and co-operate together. They reaffirmed their intent for a stronger, deeper, wider relationship that delivers growth and jobs in the UK and India, improves regional security and supports both nations' interests globally.

UK Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:

"As Britain steps up globally, we continue to develop our close security partnership with India. Our countries are recognised globally as leaders in defence and we remain steadfast in our commitment to regional security, growing our defence industries and supporting our mutual interests."

"Our nations face the same threats and we will work closely together to harness British expertise and Indian brain power to develop cutting edge technologies and equipment that benefit both of our Armed Forces."

The Defence Secretary visited Mumbai and Delhi over three days. During the visit Sir Michael laid a wreath at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai to commemorate the 2008 terror attacks, visited an Indian Naval ship, delivered speeches at two think tank events and laid a wreath at Delhi's India Gate to honour Indians who fought and died in the First World War.

Today's meeting between the Defence Ministers marked the inaugural annual UK-India Strategic Defence Dialogue, as laid out in the DISP. The DISP agreed to Capability Partnerships to help collaborate with Indian industry under the Make in India agenda and Defence Minister Harriett Baldwin addressed the Make in India Conference in February this year.

Over the past decade, the UK has exported 2.15 billion of defence equipment and services to India. From learning from each other on joint aircraft carrier journeys, to collaboration on defence science and technology projects, the UK and India are elevating their partnership, bringing greater opportunities for their respective defence industries and Armed Forces.

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Women in the South West are less likely than men to be in employment - and the gap is bigger than in the UK as a whole.

Despite Britain's jobs market recovering in recent years and latest statistics showing a rise in the employment rate, which now stands at 74.6 per cent, while unemployment is at a 42-year low, the inequality between genders in the job market remains steady.

The rate of employment for women in the region was 56.2 per cent between December 2016 and February 2017, 16.2 per cent lower than that of men, 67.1 per cent, latest figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal.

The gap was bigger than the national average at 16 per cent.

A Women's Budget Group report in 2016 found that since the 2008 downturn 58 per cent of the newly self-employed have been female.

Job Sharing is not an option:

A mother-of-two from St Paul's, Cheltenham, said: "An issue for me when I was last job hunting was the reluctance of potential employers to consider job sharing - a significant change from a decade previously.

"This would have opened up a far wider range of jobs to me than are usually available on a part-time basis - and with better pay rates and career development prospects. My current job would not be economically worth my while if I still had to pay for child care.

One member of feminist campaign group Chelt Fems said the gender difference may be partly attributed to the difference in industries in Gloucestershire.

She said: "I think in the SW there's a large lean towards defence and related sectors, but less of other industries (I know there are some exceptions), but if you want to join the finance, construction, creative industry in a "career" rather than job, it's not really a hub down here."

Between August and October 2015, women in the South West of England saw their highest employment rate at 56.7 per cent. The lowest percentage was between March and May 1992, with an employment rate at 48.4 per cent.

Gap Between genders:

The biggest gap between genders was between April and June 1992, when the employment rate for women was 48.5 per cent against 66.2 per cent for men. Women were a quarter less likely than men to be employed.

During the three months to February, the total number of employed women was 1.3m, while for men it was 1.5m.

Across the UK, women were less likely to be employed than men, 55.4 per cent against 65.8 per cent for men, a gap of 16 per cent.

Women in London saw the biggest gender gap in the labour market with an employment rate of 58 per cent for women and 71.9 per cent for men, a fifth less.

By contrast, Wales saw the smallest gap in the labour market with an employment rate of 61.2 per cent for women against 57.3 per cent for men, or a gap of less than 7 per cent.
Martins Food Markets has informed the state of the number of employees who will lose their jobs at two of the three stores closing July 10 in advance of being converted to Publix Super Markets.

A total of 138 employees at the Martins store at 7035 Three Chopt Road in The Village shopping center in western Henrico County will be laid off.

A combined 141 employees at the store at 9645 W. Broad St. at the Westpark Shopping Center in western Henrico will be laid off.

Layoff numbers were not immediately known for the store at 3522 W. Cary St. in Carytown in Richmond.

The stores are the last of 10 area Martins to close as part of their being sold to Florida-based Publix, which is renovating the stores before reopening them.

A Martins store at 10001 Hull Street Road that is not being sold to Publix is closing June 30 because that stores lease is up. Layoff numbers for that store were not immediately available.

The forthcoming layoffs at the Martins stores are in addition to the 1,100 employee layoffs previously announced with the closing of seven other Martins stores in November and February in advance of their transition to Publix stores.

Publix is doing millions of dollars of renovations to the buildings before reopening them. The first Publix stores in the area are expected to open this summer.

According to the Publix website, stores opening this summer are those at 5400 Wyndham Forest Drive in Nuckols Place; at 10250 Staples Mill Road in The Shoppes at Crossridge; at 2250 John Rolfe Parkway in John Rolfe Commons; and at 4591 S. Laburnum Ave. in White Oak Village  all in Henrico County.

The Nuckols Place location is a new store being built from the ground up and is not part of the Martins deal.

Opening this fall are stores at 3107 Boulevard in the Colonial Square Shopping Center in Colonial Heights, at 10150 Brook Road and 3460 Pump Road, both in Henrico County, and at 13700 Hull Street Road in Chesterfield County.

The closing of the 10 Martins stores in the Richmond area came about after the parent companies of the Martins and Food Lion grocery chains merged. Where the two chains had overlapping stores, some were required to be sold.

As part of an agreement with federal antitrust regulators, the parent company of Martins is divesting itself of 19 Richmond-area stores.

The fate of the eight other area Martins stores that Publix is not buying is uncertain.

A Giant/Martins spokeswoman on Tuesday said the company had nothing to announce on the status of the eight remaining stores, which include ones at 253 N. Washington Highway in Ashland; 7045 Forest Hill Ave. in Richmond; and 5700 Brook Road in northern Henrico County.

The others  all in Chesterfield County  are at 12601 Jefferson Davis Highway, 6401 Centralia Road, 200 Charter Colony Parkway, 11361 Midlothian Turnpike and 5201 Chippenham Crossing Center.
Vancouver, April 13, 2017 - Maritime Resources Corp. (TSXV: MAE) ("Maritime" or "the Company") announces the filing of a technical report, prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 regarding a Prefeasibility Engineering Study and Economic Assessment ("PFS" or "Study") aimed to reopen the past producing Hammerdown gold project in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

The study, entitled "Pre-Feasibility Technical Report, Greenbay Property" was evaluated on the Measured & Indicated NI43-101 mineral resource estimate for the past producing Hammerdown gold deposit. The study was completed by WSP Canada Inc. ("WSP"), an independent third party engineering firm, with the mandate to evaluate the potential of bringing the past producing gold mine back into commercial production.

This technical report can be accessed under Maritime's profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.maritimeresources.com.

Doug Fulcher, President and CEO of Maritime commented:

"We are pleased to have completed and filed the Technical Report on the Company's Hammerdown gold deposit. The Study has successfully demonstrated that Hammerdown can be a viable mining operation with low upfront capital and short time line to the start of gold production. Its location within a centralized mining district provides all the necessary infrastructure, including roads, hydro power, mining labour and suppliers. We believe that this study, combined with Company expertise, demonstrates that Maritime has the potential to transform itself into a junior gold producer."

"With this study now in-hand we will continue our efforts into the permitting aspects of the project. The Company's immediate plans will be to begin re-opening the portal to establish a good understanding of the current condition and stability of the existing ramps. The PFS only utilized 25% of the existing underground infrastructure and there remains a significant opportunity to reduce both the upfront capital and predevelopment schedule with a better understanding of the current ground conditions."

"In addition, with access to the underground workings and a surface diamond drilling program, our understanding of the potential of the deposit will significantly increase. With approximately 400,000 ounces of inferred resources, not included in the mine plan but adjacent to planned development, we have only begun to evaluate the potential of this deposit."

"The combination of the deposits grade, low capital costs and location makes the Hammerdown mineral asset unique amongst its peers. We look forward to providing market updates on our progress over the coming months."

PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY ('PFS') HIGHLIGHTS

The PFS is based on the measured and indicated mineral resources only within the Hammerdown deposit. The Orion deposit, located approximately 1.5 km from Hammerdown gold mine, was not considered a part of this study and remains an opportunity for the project.

Ore mined at Hammerdown will be trucked and processed, at approximately 400 mtpd, at the Nugget Pond mill through a toll milling arrangement with Rambler Metals and Mining Canada Limited with whom Maritime has a strategic alliance.

Ore will be mined by way of a combination of both Long Hole and Mechanized Cut and Fill, utilizing the original access portal and a small portion of the existing underground workings.

Mine life in the PFS is approximately 5 years producing an average of approximately 35,000 ounces of gold per year with an all in pre-tax cost of approximately $955 per ounce.

Maritime announced the results of this PFS on March 2, 2017, the highlights of which are as follows:

 Project Pre-tax net present value (NPV 8% ) of $71.2 million with an IRR of 46.8% per cent.  Project after-tax net present value (NPV 8% ) of $44.2 million with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 34.8%  Net pre-tax cash flow of $104 million, undiscounted. Net after-tax cash flow of $69 million, undiscounted.  Total Development and Capital Cost Estimate for the five-year life of mine of $67.8 million,

o Mine Development Capital of -$16.8 million

o Equipment Capital of - $10.6 million

o Infrastructure Capital of - $13.0 million

o Sustaining Capital - $12.9 million

o Indirect costs of - $ 7.3 million

o Contingency of - $7.2 million  Mine life for the current plan at Hammerdown is five years, producing approximately 174,000 ounces at an average of approximately 35,000 ounces per year. Basic assumptions used for the compilation of this PFS:

o Gold Price of US$ 1,250 per ounce

o Exchange Rate of 0.8 US$ : 1 CA$ (or 1 US$ : 1.25 CA$)

o Project discount rate of 8%

o Mill recovery of 97% based on the historic treatment of the ore at the nearby Nugget Pond Gold Mill from 2000 to 2004



(All currency is expressed in Canadian dollars ($CA) unless otherwise noted.)

The Study was successful in demonstrating a viable mining operation with low upfront capital and short time line to the start of gold production. The engineering design optimizes a small foot print within the historical mine area as well as utilizing some of the existing underground infrastructure where possible. The operation is scheduled to run at a capacity of approximately 400 metric tons per day ('mtpd') over a five-year mine life.

The results show positive economics, strong internal rate of return, short payback period and significant cash flow under reasonable commodity price assumptions. The pre-tax operating cash cost to produce an ounce of gold is $558 CDN with an all-in pre-tax-cost (including capital, sustaining capital and operating cost) of $955 CDN per ounce of gold.

In addition, there remain numerous opportunities for improvement to reduce the planned development and capital costs. Maritime will continue to evaluate these opportunities with a goal to fully optimize the returns from the mining operation.

OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE PFS STUDY

Additional opportunities exist to improve the low risk, low capital base case scenario, including:

 Additional resource growth through the exploration and development of the Inferred Resource at Hammerdown that sits within the existing mine plan and contains up to 377,000 oz. gold;  The potential of open pit production from Orion, not included is this study, during the first few years of operations;  Further studies on both mining method, to minimize dilution, as well as underground development. This work will be initiated once the portal has been reopened and refurbishing of the underground workings have begun.  Integration of ore pre-concentration at the mine site. This could potentially allow for further optimization of mine production by reducing the amount of waste and improving the grade being delivered to the mill;  A detailed review will be completed of all surface infrastructure including, utilities, building and electrical etc. to determine the optimal use of and requirements for this equipment;  All mine and surface mobile equipment is purchased upfront as new. There may be opportunities to source some equipment in the used market or possible arrange equipment financing terms with a supplier. A review of both size and quantity of mobile equipment will be completed for optimization and potential reduction in up front capital.

MINERAL RESOURCE AND RESERVE UPDATE

As part of the PFS, a new geological resource and reserve has been estimated for the Hammerdown project. Tables 1 and 2 below outline the results of this updated estimate which will also be detailed in the technical report filed with SEDAR. No inferred mineralisation was included in the reserve estimate.

MINERAL RESERVE

Table 1 Mineral Reserve Estimate Summary for the Hammerdown Gold Project

CLASSIFICATION QUANTITY

tonnes GRADE

Au, g/t CONTAINED METAL

Au, Koz Proven Reserves (undiluted, unrecovered) 118,600 15.17 57.8 Probable Reserves (undiluted, unrecovered) 320,600 11.79 121.5 Total Proven and Probable Reserve(undiluted, unrecovered) 439,200 12.70 179.4 Dilution (all sources) 261,400 0 0 Reserve (diluted and recovered) 700,600 7.96 179.4

MINERAL RESOURCE

Table 2 Mineral Resource Estimate for the Hammerdown/Rumbullion/Muddy Shag Gold Deposits

CLASSIFICATION QUANTITY

tonnes GRADE

Au, g/t CONTAINED METAL

Au, Koz Measured 372,170 12.09 144.7 Indicated 553,500 9.60 170.9 Total Measured + Indicated 925,670 10.60 315.6 Inferred 1,557,000 7.53 376.8

The procedures used for the resource and reserve estimation processes are consistent with the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy ('CIMM') best practices and NI 43-101 guidelines. Generally, figures are rounded to reflect the accuracy of the estimate; numbers may not total due to this rounding.

ECONOMIC SUMMARY

Table 3 Project Economics

ITEM VALUE Production Life 5 Years Recovered Gold 174,000 oz Revenue 270 $ M Total Operating Cost Estimate 97.1 $ M Total Capital Cost Estimate (Over LOM) 67.8 $ M Before-Tax Cash Flow 104 $ M After-Tax Cash Flow 69 $ M Before-Tax Net Present Value (8% discount) 71.2 $ M After-Tax Net Present Value (8% discount) 44.2 $ M Internal Rate of Return, Before-Tax 46 % Internal Rate of Return, After-Tax 34.8 % Before-Tax Payback Period, from start of production 1.7 Years After-Tax Payback Period, from start of production 1.9 Years

Table 4 Summary Project Parameters and Economics

ITEM VALUE Gold Price 1250 US$/oz Exchange Rate 0.8 US$: 1 CA$ Mill Feed 700,500 Tonnes Head Grade 7.96 g/t Gold Production 174,000 oz LOM Capital Estimate Mine Development Capital 16.8 $ M Mine Development Sustaining Capital 5.5 $ M Mine Equipment Capital 7.2 $ M Mine Equipment Sustaining Capital 7.1 $ M Water Management 0.7 $ M Infrastructure 8.6 $ M Power, Electricity 3.9 $ M Reclamation, Closure, Post-Monitoring 1.0 $ M Royalty Buy Back 1.0 $ M Indirect Costs 7.3 $ M Contingency 8.7 $ M Total 67.8 $ M LOM Operating Cost Estimate Mining 52.3 $ M Crushing, Loading, Transport 14.6 $ M Processing 23.0 $ M General & Administrative 7.1 $ M Total 97.1 $ M Operating Cost Per Ton 139 $/t Operating Cost Per Oz/Au 558 $/oz Refining, Transportation Charges 1.0 $ M Royalties 2.7 $ M Other Costs Reclamation Bond & Associated Cost 0.2 $ M Salvage Value (2.7) $ M Taxes 35.0 $ M Other Parameters Mining Dilution (Stopes, Drifts) 60 % Mining Recovery (Stopes, Drifts) 100 % Mill Recoveries (Au) 97 %

The table below summarises the sensitivities associated with metal pricing, project operating expenditures ('OPEX') and capital expenditures ('CAPEX').

Table 5 Summary of Sensitivities

VARIABLE -20% -10% 0% +10% +20% Gold Price 28.4 $M 49.8 $M 71.2 $M 92.6 $M 114.0 $M Operating Cost 86.6 $M 78.9 $M 71.2$M 63.5 $M 55.7 $M Capital Cost 84.4 $M 77.8 $M 71.2 $M 64.6 $M 58.0 $M Note: Before-Tax NPV at 8%

ABOUT MARITIME RESOURCES CORP:

Maritime Resources holds 100% of the Green Bay Property, located near Springdale, Newfoundland and Labrador. The property hosts the past producing Hammerdown gold mine and the Orion gold deposit separated by a 1.5 km distance, as well as the Lochinvar base metals/precious metals deposit.

The Hammerdown gold deposit was successfully mined by Richmont Mines between 2000 and 2004 while gold prices averaged $325/oz. During its operation, a total of 291,400 tonnes of ore were mined and milled, at an average grade of 15.83 g/t Au, recovering a total of 143,000 ounces of gold at an 8 g/t cut-off. All of the ore was processed at the Nugget Pond mill, now owned and operated by Rambler Metals and Mining Canada Limited, with an average gold recovery of 97.1%. Mining terminated in 2004 due to low gold prices with extensive gold mineralization remaining, although uneconomic at that time.

The Orion gold deposit consists of two main vein systems, both of which are open along strike, and down plunge to the northeast.

Bernard H. Kahlert, P.Eng. is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this release.

The NI43-101 technical report has been compiled by WSP:

 Todd McCracken, P. Geo.: Resource Estimation;  William McBride, P. Eng.: Reserve Estimation and Mining Methodology;  Joanne Robinson, P. Eng.: Project Economics;  Marianne Utiger, Eng.: Metallurgical Processing;  Sebastian Bertelegni, Eng.: Surface Infrastructure

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Doug Fulcher

President, CEO

Website: www.maritimeresourcescorp.com

For further information, please call:

Cathy DiVito, Investor Relations Telephone: (604) 336-7322

info@maritimeresourcescorp.com



Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements:

Certain information included in this press release, including information relating to future financial or operating performance and other statements that express the expectations of management or estimates of future performance constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding gold forecasts, the financial strength of the Company, estimates regarding timing of future development and production and statements concerning possible expansion opportunities for the Company. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief are based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, the price of and anticipated costs of recovery of gold, the presence of and continuity of such minerals at modeled grades and values, the capacities of various machinery and equipment, the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices, mineral recovery rates, and others. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, interpretation and implications of drilling and geophysical results; estimates regarding timing of future capital expenditures and costs towards profitable commercial operations. Other factors that could cause actual results, developments or events to differ materially from those anticipated include, among others, increases/decreases in production; volatility in metals prices and demand; currency fluctuations; cash operating margins; cash operating cost per ounce sold; costs per ton of ore; variances in ore grade or recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans; reserves and/or resources; the ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; operational risks inherent in mining or development activities and legislative factors relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land use, title and permits, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable security law.


Legislation that would prohibit politicians from using their campaign finance funds for personal use was signed into law by Gov. Phil Bryant Tuesday in his state Capitol office.When the 2017 session began in January, the bill was labeled as a priority by both House Speaker Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, who presides over the Senate.Efforts were made to pass similar legislation during the 2016 session, but it was killed in the House. Mississippi was one of a handful of states where politicians could spend their campaign finance funds on personal items.Under the bill signed into law by the governor Tuesday, personal use would be defined as any use of the campaign finance funds that would have to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service as gross income.The bill allows the funds to be spent only on campaign-related expenses or activities related to their office. For instance, a politician can use campaign funds to pay for gas to drive to another town to give a speech to a civics club. Or a legislator can use the funds to help pay for housing in Jackson, up to $50 per day if the officeholder is receiving per diem and a maximum $190 per day if the officeholder is not receiving per diem.The money can be used for lodging when "the officeholder is required by his or her duties to be at the Capitol or another location outside the officeholder's county of residence."Politicians can garner opinions from the Ethics Commission if they have questions about the proper use of campaign finance funds. The opinions would be public, though, the names of the politicians requesting the opinions would be confidential.Credit card expenditures of more than $200 have to itemized on the campaign finance report.A key piece of the legislation prevents politicians from converting campaign finance funds to their personal use upon retirement.The Ethics Commission also would be responsible for enforcement of campaign finance reporting laws. The misuse of campaign finance funds would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and an amount equal to the misappropriated funds.A $5,000 fine could be imposed for not filing correct campaign finance information and a $50 per day fine for up to 10 days could be imposed for not filing a report.The legislation does not go into effect until Jan. 1. Campaign funds raised before Jan. 1 are not subject to the new restrictions.
Gov. Jim Justice vetoed the budget bill Thursday afternoon. That was no great surprise.But he did it in his own way -- at a grand show in the Capitol's Lower Rotunda. He was flanked by representatives of business, industry, labor and education.He also stood part of the time, making use of his ever-present white boards and some new props."We've proven over and over how to be dead last. We've got that down pat," he said. "I've tried real hard for 60 days. I've been all over the state." He even missed grouse hunting. "At the end of the day, we still ended up nowhere."But nowhere is not where he wanted to be, he said. "I can take the budget as it is now, and sign it, and sign the death certificate for our state."That led him to his white boards, where he unveiled his list of all he sees wrong with the budget bill, HB 2018, passed Sunday morning.The $4.102 billion budget, he said, lacks his proposed teacher pay raise, the income tax exemption for retired veterans, tourism marketing funds. "It just absolutely harpoons Marshall and WVU" with 12 percent cuts.State Police faced a $1 million cut. Also not in the bill are his $8 flat fee, toll-free turnpike rides and his sliding scale for coal and gas severance taxes.It takes $90 million from the Rainy Day Fund, he said, affecting bond ratings and raising the cost of borrowing. Next fiscal year, it leads to a $406 million deficit.He bemoaned the death of the agreement he reached with the Senate onSaturday, which combined some of his revenue plans with Senate tax reform measures.Senate President Mitch Carmichael touted the deal minutes after the Senate adjourned for the session, but on Tuesday urged Justice to sign the budget.That almost-deal had little support from anti-tax House Republicans. Justice said even Democrats turned on him, not wanting the GOP to get credit for tax reform.He fumed at the posturing and political games, as he called it. "We have got to stop the nonsense that goes on here. We have got to get to trust."He turned to his props: Three covered serving dishes. He pulled the lid off the first two. "We don't have a nothing burger today. And we don't have a mayonnaise sandwich today."Under the third, something flat and brown: "What we have is nothing more than a bunch of political bull-you-know-what."He signed the veto and said, "I hope and pray that the silliness will stop, and we'll all do the right thing ... and we'll stop the bull crap."People in the audience and people at the table from all points on the political spectrum clapped and cheered. Among them were Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America; Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association; Bob Murray, president and CEO of Murray Energy; WVU President E. Gordon Gee; the heads of both teachers' unions and Mike Clowser, with the West Virginia Contractor's Association.Carmichael and House Speaker Tim Armstead both expressed their displeasure with the veto."Today's decision by Governor Justice isn't entirely unexpected, but it's nonetheless disappointing," Carmichael said. "From the beginning, the Senate's position has been to deliver a budget to the people of West Virginia that lives within its means, and to do that within the 60 days of the regular Legislative session. We lived up to this promise. While it was our hope that the governor would have signed our reasonable and responsible budget, it's clear his vision for West Virginia's future involves a completely different path."We remain committed to working with both the House of Delegates and the governor to control spending," he said. "However, any compromise on this budget absolutely must include comprehensive tax reform. I truly believe tax reform is a bold way to move West Virginia forward, and I hope we will have the support of the House of Delegates and the governor to achieve this goal."Armstead said, "I'm saddened that the governor has decided to throw our state into uncertainty and put fear and worry into the hearts of thousands of hard-working West Virginians because he didn't get his tax increases. The Legislature delivered a responsible budget that controls spending and makes our state live within its means -- a budget that received the support of an overwhelming majority of members in the Legislature."With his veto, the governor has guaranteed another special session," Armstead said. "This Legislature met for 60 days this year and considered proposal after proposal to raise revenue or reform our tax code, but ultimately did not reach any consensus or build enough support around any of these proposals."The majority of our members have heard the calls of the people they represent -- they believe they are taxed enough already and simply cannot afford to pay more for a government that continues to grow year after year."Rob Alsop, WVU vice president for legal, government and entrepreneurial engagement, said the cut proposed for WVU was $15.7 million over the Fiscal Year 2017 budget.WVU knew it would face cuts, he said. "That cut was way too significant and really unwarranted at a time when we should be investing in higher education." WVU hopes the next round of talks will include investment.There was one bit of irony in the day. West Virginia Public Broadcasting was on Justice's initial budget-cut chopping block, but he reversed course on that later, following public protest.On Thursday, folks who logged on to the governor's website for a live stream of his veto show found a video with no sound. They had to switch to the PBS website to get the video with sound.
President Donald Trump signed a law Thursday that allows states to deny certain federal funding to Planned Parenthood.The measure overturns a regulation finalized at the end of President Barack Obama's administration that explicitly prevented states from denying federal Title X family planning funds to clinics, like Planned Parenthood, that also provide abortion services.Under longstanding practices, federal funds could not be used for abortions, but they could go to abortion clinics that provided other health care services. As of 2014, roughly 3 percent of the services provided by Planned Parenthood were abortion-related.Vice President Mike Pence was the tie-breaking vote for the bill in the Senate last month after Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine broke from their Republican colleagues to oppose it.The signing was done behind closed doors and without media present.
Nashville and Memphis received great fanfare last fall from criminal justice advocates for passing local ordinances that gave police the power to reduce penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana.But now it's over after just seven months.Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Wednesday signed into law Republican-backed legislation to repeal separate Nashville and Memphis laws that had allowed partial marijuana decriminalization in those communities, officially putting an end to the short-lived policies.The nullification effort, sponsored by House Criminal Justice Committee Chairman William Lamberth, R-Cottontown, and Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, breezed through the House and Senate last month, with only Democrats, far outnumbered, mounting any opposition.
The United Airlines passenger dragged from a plane Sunday will require reconstructive surgery and both United and the city of Chicago are responsible for Dr. David Dao's injuries, his attorney said Thursday.Blaming an overly aggressive response by the city's Aviation Department officers and accusing United of failing to protect its customer, attorney Thomas Demetrio said the incident will likely result in a lawsuit."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.Dao, 69, of Elizabethtown, Ky., and his wife were flying home to Louisville, Ky. through Chicago O'Hare International Airport after a vacation in California. Dao was one of four passengers told to leave a full flight to make room for four airline employees. When he refused, he was dragged from the plane and suffered a significant concussion, a broken nose, a sinus injury and lost two front teeth, Demetrio said.His wife also was asked to leave after Dao was pulled from the flight, attorneys said. Dao was discharged from the hospital Wednesday night, Demetrio said, but did not attend the news conference."He said that he left Vietnam in 1975, when Saigon fell, and he was on a boat, and he said he was terrified. He said that being dragged down the aisle was more horrifying and terrible than what he experienced in leaving Vietnam," Demetrio said.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."What happened to my dad should never happen to any human being regardless of the circumstances," Dao's daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper, said at the news conference.At the start of a City Council hearing on the issue Thursday, the chairman of the Aviation Committee, Ald. Michael Zalewski, 23rd, warned that city and United Airlines officials would not be able to answer some questions because of "pending litigation."And Ald. Ed Burke, 14th, suggested taxpayers will end up bearing the brunt of a lawsuit."It is especially troublesome to Chicago taxpayers that now they will be saddled with lawsuits alleging misconduct by city employees who joined with United employees to drag a passenger off the plane and, in the process, knock out his teeth, bloody his lip, inflict a concussion and cause him to be hospitalized," Burke said. "Chicago employees should not be doing the dirty work for the 'Friendly Skies' Airline."Demetrio said Dao had not heard from United or the city. In a nationally televised interview Wednesday, United CEO Oscar Munoz said the airline had been attempting to contact the family, and in a statement after the news conference, United said it had contacted Dao to apologize.A lawsuit could create a conversation about how passengers should be treated on flights, Demetrio said.Dao's attorneys have taken the first step toward a lawsuit, asking the Cook County Circuit Court for an order requiring United and the city to keep records from the flight, including video and cockpit records. A hearing has been scheduled Monday, Demetrio said."For a long time, airlines, United in particular, have bullied us. They have treated us less than maybe we deserve," he said.U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, has said she would propose legislation barring airlines from involuntarily bumping passengers from oversold flights.In a Thursday statement responding to the news conference, United again apologized and said it will take "immediate, concrete action" to prevent similar incidents from happening again.The airline reiterated several changes detailed by Munoz on Wednesday. It will not ask law enforcement officers to remove passengers from flights unless it is a matter of safety and security and is reviewing policies around how it handles oversold flights and incentivizes passengers to volunteer, along with how it works with airport authorities and local law enforcement. United also plans to improve training programs to "ensure our employees are prepared and empowered to put our customers first."Demetrio declined to say where Dao is staying, but said he "has no interest in ever seeing an airplane again. My guess is he'll be driven back to Kentucky. I can't say I blame him."
Description

GIS  14 April, 2017: Mauritius has agreed to sign a Framework Agreement on the establishment of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The objective of the Alliance is to allow countries to collectively address key common challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in line with their needs. The Framework Agreement provides for Member States to, among others, take coordinated actions through programmes and activities launched on a voluntary basis. It is aimed at better harmonising and aggregating demand for, inter alia, solar finance, solar technologies, innovation, research and development, and capacity building.

The ISA comprises more than 120 countries which are located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Most of these countries are geographically located for optimal absorption of the suns rays.

Furthermore, ISA is conceived as a coalition of solar resource rich countries to address their specific energy needs and provides a platform to collaborate on addressing the identified gaps through a common, agreed approach.
Federal and state policymakers continue to ignore, weaken and, in some instances, block local input and control of broadband. This needs to stop if the country is to ever have viable, affordable broadband for all.
Sunlight Foundation Voices Concern Over Online Removal of Trump Transition Data

The Sunlight Foundation , a nonprofit aimed at making government more accountable and transparent, continues to voice concerns over the availability of information under the young Donald Trump administration, citing an erasure of transition data as the most recent cause for concern.

The impetus for the objection, the exact nature of which Sunlight Foundation Deputy Director Alex Howard detailed in an April 13 post to his groups website , dates back to March 2, which is when Howard first noted that the transitions official Twitter account might have been removed. Howards post also notes that the transitions Facebook account is now gone too.

The Sunlight Foundation has flagged this issue with the U.S. House Oversight Committee, and while the group notes that social media accounts are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act, it also emphasizes that such content represents on-the-record and official statements by the presidents administration, meaning it must be preserved and available to the public.

Were alarmed that the @Transition2017 and Facebook accounts have been removed from public view entirely, with no evidence of archiving nor public notice, writes Howard. And then, In 2017, social media has become part of the public record. We hope that Twitter, Facebook and Congress work together to restore the accounts and save these accounts for history to judge.

This is not the first time open government groups and media have voiced concern over the Trump administrations attitude toward data and transparency. Earlier this week, accountability advocates and reporters noted that after President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the U.S. was less forthcoming with information than China, a country long criticized for its lack of governmental transparency.

San Francisco Looks to Hire Leader to Plan, Implement Replacement Voting System

San Francisco has posted a job opening for a project lead to build a replacement voting system, which the city hopes will bolster the accuracy, transparency, security and auditability of its balloting system.

While the project description is not a final statement on the development of such a system, according to the job posting, the city ultimately is looking for someone to lead the development of San Franciscos own voting system -- one that would replace its current system with open source components. The posting sets a timeline that calls for submitting a report to the mayors office by the end of 2017.

This comes after a contentious election and questions about hacking spurred an interest in overhauling the technology used for voting across the country, a great majority of which has not been updated in a decade. In the months after the 2016 presidential election, renewed efforts to develop better models of digital election equipment began to emerge across the country.

Some of these efforts also aimed to accomplish the higher levels of security and auditability that San Francisco mentioned in its post. Project leaders involved with those efforts spoke in December 2016 about the difficulty and necessity of such development.

"It's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It's taken years and years to get it done," said Dana DeBeauvoir, Travis County, Texas, clerk and leader of the voting machine project at Rice University, in December 2016. "Now that we've had this election, there's renewed interest."

San Francisco, with its wealth of regional tech innovation, often acts as a bellwether in civic tech innovations, which makes it notable that the city is undertaking an effort to build new voting systems.

Hawaii Launches New Geospatial Data Portal

Hawaii has launched a new Geospatial Data Portal , which makes available for general use a collection of topographic maps, new data sets that now include more than 300 layers, imagery, historical maps and developer features.

The portal, which was announced Tuesday, April 11, in a news release , includes support for non-geospatial data files, an overall cleaner look, improved layout of data attributes, and application program interface tools for developers who want to create filtered data set URLs for apps, among other improvements, the majority of which aim to better site and content management. This release is the work of the Office of Plannings Hawaii Statewide Geographic Information System.

Our state is applying recent GIS advancements to the improvement of programs and services, said Gov. David Ige in the release. We recognize that the states challenges are often complex with no easy answers, but we believe in the potential of the innovation of our state employees.

This upgrade mirrors an open data trend across the country in which cities are trying to make information easier for the public to find and digest. Both Boston and New York have undertaken such efforts. While the work in Hawaii is more specific, state officials did note that one of the first apps the new data portal is featuring is an affordable housing and homelessness story map, which uses information in an accessible narrative form.

In 2016, Hawaii also completed an upgrade to its open data infrastructure that enabled server-based GIS and cloud services, in addition to better data sharing and accessibility. The prior upgrade was made possible by collaboration between Hawaiis Office of Planning and its Office of Enterprise Technology Services.

Indianapolis New Website Seeks to Expand Digital Services

While building a governmental website is part of Indianapolis and Marion Countys tech initiative Shift Indy, officials stressed in a recent news release that their efforts to provide better public service through tech expand much further.

Although it is not live yet, My.Indy.gov is the projected culmination of the Shift Indy initiative  but a statement from CIO Ken L. Clark emphasized that the effort had broader aspirations, including re-imagining how you, the constituent, connect with your local government.

Clark went on to say that the plans to accomplish this involved applying modern, efficient tech solutions to manual processes that have become outdated. The idea is to invest taxpayer monies in apps that make government simpler, easier to navigate and available to those who need it 24/7.

We are digitizing your local government and building you a digital city hall, Clark wrote.

How, though, will Clark and those he works with be able to tell if theyve succeeded? One concrete metric indicated by the CIO was a reduction of in-person visits to the city-county building. Officials are well aware of the hardships that occur when residents have to take paid time off because certain governmental services are available only in person and not on the Web.

This sort of approach  improving all government services by using a new website as a catalyst for a cultural evolution  has been spreading through municipal agencies, from Miami to Grand Rapids, Mich. The timeline for Shift Indy indicates that the new digital city hall under development will be ready in 2018, with ongoing improvements to follow.
Officials in Ohio were hoping to transform IT procurement to benefit citizens, the state and vendors when they streamlined their process late last year to reduce the liability burden and work history requirement for smaller vendors.Now, more than three months after the Jan. 5 release of the resulting RFP, state CIO Stu Davis said reconfiguring how Ohio buys IT hardware, software and services has delivered on its promise before a contract is even awarded.When it began to look closely at the process last year , the state wanted a way to find the right data analytics tools for agencies including the Office of Family and Children, Bureau of Workers Compensation, and departments of Taxation and Public Safety.The issue, CIO Stu Davis has toldwas that in some cases the bar was set too high to qualify nimble but smaller companies that may have had innovative solutions  but didnt fit the financial or employment profile.Ohio went so far as to seek guidance from 18F , the federal team of disruptors within the General Services Administration, though those conversations didnt yield a cooperative agreement.But officials had high hopes when they released their RFP earlier this year , calling on vendors to tell the state what they could do to provide it new data analytics capabilities in 14 disciplines ranging from crime, corrections and recidivism to life sciences, public health and transportation.Davis joked within December that he had a running bet with staff. They thought the RFP would generate around 100 responses; he thought responses could run as high as 350.Leading up to actual proposal submissions, Davis said the state received around 225 inquiries to the online question-and-answer process it conducts during all bids. Far more significantly, he said, around 500 potential vendors attended an online pre-bid conference that was the first of its kind.We knew we had at least the right audience coming out of the gate, Davis said. When the filing period closed, the state had received 82 total proposals involving 129 business entities, 99 of which were new and 30 of which were existing state vendors.The vendors responses, which are still under review, spanned disciplines  with Ohio State University submitting a proposal that covered all 14.The state averaged roughly 31 respondents across all 14 disciplines, with the life science and public health area generating the highest number at 55. The crime, corrections and recidivism category yielded the lowest number of respondents at 17.Overall, the response was exponentially greater than Ohio might typically expect, Davis said, noting that a typical RFP would yield between three and eight respondents, and an average pre-bid conference might draw an audience of 50 to 60 and nobody says anything, nobody asks anything  .Ohio has done other RFPs like this one, which will effectively pre-qualify vendors and let them respond to the states statement of work with a short proof of concept.But this RFP was the first to target the so-called little guys in IT who may not be able to spend $50,000 on a submittal, handle its liability requirements, or have experience working with another state the size of Ohio.Davis said IT procurement will always have a place for the value and the experience and the knowledge that larger vendors like Oracle bring to very complex projects. But Davis is hopeful that their approach to the analytics RFP will bring new ideas from new players and ultimately improve outcomes."If we can break those [procurements] into smaller chunks, we have less risk as we go forward and we have corrections quicker if we see things starting to get off-track, he said.The success of the RFP, which Ohio hopes to award by May 1, comes in the wake of a seven-month investigation into state IT procurement by daily newspaper The Columbus Dispatch , the results of which were published on April 2 and had two primary issues: that IT contracts it found were not competitively bid by the state Department of Administrative Services (DAS) per state policy, and agreements were made with companies it said employed former state IT officials.DAS Chief Communications Officer Tom Hoyt told the newspaper that the state did nothing wrong, as awarding no-bid contracts is permissible under the law through a waiver of competitive selection granted by Ohios Controlling Board. And he later toldthat some state IT vendors simply offer unique hardware and software solutions not available elsewhere.DAS also utilizes state term schedules (STS) in IT purchases. These are negotiated contracts for potential purchasing opportunities with suppliers, to provide specialty or uncommon/unique supplies and services at times when competitive selection is not advantageous to the state.The state currently has 15.8 percent of its IT spend procured through STS contracts, Hoyt said via email. During the past four years, less than 20 percent of state IT spend was through STS contracts.As for contracting with companies where former state officials work or have worked, Hoyt said that the state seeks outside IT expertise when it is in need of highly specialized skills, knowledge and experience. "Hiring specialized IT consulting when needed is a common practice in both the public and private sectors, he said, noting that ultimately, DAS was in compliance with state law.As part of the states overall IT optimization, DAS said in a background statement on procurement, STS has resulted in more than $103 million in direct savings during the past three years. Ohio has also consolidated the computer systems of 22 of 26 state agencies in the State of Ohio Computer Center.Ohios Controlling Board has granted DAS permission to create and use STS since 1970, and has waived the competitive selection requirements for these contracts every two years.Other states, DAS said in its background statement, use similar procurement procedures for IT work, and its use of the schedules are at or below GSA contract pricing.Davis said in an interview that the authority for IT procurement and purchasing runs through his office and allows him to review purchases that come from state cabinet agencies. As part of that review  which is also part of overall IT optimization  the CIOs office aligns agency purchases with the enterprise strategy DAS has articulated and worked with the agencies to craft.An example, he said, is the Ohio Department of Taxations recent need to purchase around $500,000 of storage.And we went to them and said, Look, if you use our storage, itll save you money and it will drop the rate for all the others using our storage, he said, noting that the resulting arrangement, now nearly three years old, saved the department and all other agencies money.All of which is not to say that Ohio doesnt continually review IT procurement.Currently, the Office of Information Technology and the Office of Procurement Services are working together to review various state procurement policies to reflect current market conditions, DAS said in its Dec. 20 STS fact sheet.Davis said he doesnt think procurement policies are out of step with market conditions, but  as with this current RFP  the state has to continually be mindful that mandatory requirements dont become too restrictive and limit bidding to the usual subjects proposing.As for lessons learned during this RFP process, Davis said the turnout to the online pre-bid conference underscores the importance of ongoing real and virtualized communication during the process.He cautioned agencies contemplating their own reviews of IT procurement that there isnt a check list, but improving a projects requirements, statement of work and the evaluation criteria can make an RFP clearer for respondents.Ultimately, streamlining the RFP process to move at the speed of business, Davis added, benefits the citizens and the state of Ohio.
(TNS) -- A local traffic technology company is helping Knoxville officials collect information to better manage some of the city's most congested intersections.GRIDSMART, a Hardin Valley-based company, has donated traffic-time collection devices that will be installed along Kingston Pike between Bearden Hill and West Towne Mall. Three other intersections  Middlebrook Pike and Vanosdale Road; Middlebrook and East Weisgarber Road; and East Weisgarber and Interstate 40  will also be equipped with the new technology.The devices, part of the company's new STREETSMART line, will allow traffic managers to monitor the flow of cars in and out of intersections and make adjustments to reduce gridlock. The technology follows vehicles as they advance through multiple intersections, gauging speed and congestion.All of the data collected is anonymous, said city spokesman Jesse Mayshark.The information can then be used to immediately send alerts, change traffic-signal timing and push alternate routes before major congestion occurs, according to the company.The new equipment is in addition to the city's planned Advanced Traffic Management System, a roughly $9 million multiyear project to upgrade the city's two-decades-old traffic control system.Eventually, the city aims to have a smart traffic system that will interact with smart cars, sending signals back and forth that will allow both to operate more efficiently, said Mayshark."If you have a completely connected traffic system  a smart traffic infrastructure and smart vehicles moving through it  you have this constant communication going on," Mayshark said. "If makes sense for car to go 27 miles instead of 31 to hit green lights, then that information will be available and acted on in real time. That's the long-term big picture."Mayor Madeline Rogero and GRIDSMART CEO Bill Malkes will formally announce the partnership next week at an event near the intersection of Kingston Pike and Northshore Drive.
(TNS) -- Americans are unsurprisingly divided along political party lines on whether the federal government should subsidize internet for poor Americans, but one new poll shows a majority, including among Republicans, support government-run broadband networks.According to a new survey from Pew Research 44 percent of adults in the U.S. believe the government should provide broadband subsidies for low-income Americans, while 54 percent agreed broadband is affordable enough that nearly anyone can purchase it. Only 24 percent of Republicans support subsidies compared to 60 percent of Democrats. Seventy-five percent of Republicans said high-speed internet was affordable enough without government support, but only 38 percent of Democrats agreed.Thats representative of the divide in Washington, where the former Democratic majority at the Federal Communications Commission voted last year to add broadband subsidies to its Lifeline program, which provides low-income Americans with subsidies to purchase telephone service.Republicans in Congress opposed the change because it left Lifelines budget uncapped (a status that previously left it ripe for abuse by wireless carriers until reforms were introduced) and Republican FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai  now the chairman of the agency  voted against it for the same reason (hes since said he supports broadband subsidies, but wants states to decide which providers can participate in Lifeline instead of the FCC).But Americans broke ranks with Washington on the subject of government-run broadband networks, with 70 percent overall believing local governments should be able to build their own broadband networks if existing services in the area are either too expensive or not good enough.Democrats surpassed the overall consensus with 74 percent agreeing they should be allowed compared to 23 percent who said they shouldnt be allowed. Even still, 67 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents agreed, while 31 percent disagreed.Broadband has been a high-profile issue in the early days of the Trump administration, the Pew report reads. In February, the new FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, scaled back a broadband subsidy program for lower-income Americans. And last week, President Donald Trump signed legislation that repeals a number of broadband privacy regulations.Republicans nationwide differ on the government-run broadband front from the conservative consensus in Washington, where Pai voted in 2015 against an FCC order to let municipalities in Tennessee and North Carolina expand their own networks outside their territories, a violation of both states laws and many others across the country.At the time, Pai described the FCCs decision as a violation of state sovereignty and an unlawful expansion of its authority. At the same time, he took no position on the merits of any particular municipal broadband project, opting instead to leave to voters and elected officials.Conservative advocates like the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) make their views less obscure, publishing reports on failed municipal broadband projects that have cost taxpayers billions, and describing Democratic support for the projects as a guise to give Silicon Valley darling Google a cheap means of expanding its own business.Last July, TPA conducted its own poll of 800 respondents, 64 percent of whom oppose local government incurring debt to provide a high speed internet network, while 23 percent supported government-run broadband networks. Of those, 82 percent of Republicans and 54 percent of Democrats were opposed, compared to 11 percent and 34 percent respectively supportive. Neither poll asked respondents whether they supported or objected to the idea of government-run networks without a caveat.Republicans in Congress including Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who chairs the subcommittee charged with overseeing the FCC, have also spoken out against the FCCs move to pre-empt those laws.Some of the largest broadband providers led lobbying campaigns in states like Tennessee and North Carolina to pass laws that essentially bar municipalities from competing, according to former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.The FCCs order was struck down in federal court last August, but Democrats in the Senate led by New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker are working on legislation to ban states from passing restrictions on municipal broadband.
(TNS) -- It took months of meetings and collaboration among eight entities, but the ports of Lewiston and Clarkston are now poised to link their fiber-optic networks on the Southway Bridge in June.The Idaho port approved an agreement Wednesday outlining how it will share the infrastructure with Washington's Port of Clarkston, which is expected to give the green light to the document.The connection will make it possible to reroute communications easily if the line is cut without waiting days for experts from places like Seattle to arrive to fix problems, said Clarkston Port Manager Wanda Keefer."This is pretty exciting to be at this point," she said.Both ports have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into networks they lease at a set rate to large employers and companies that provide internet, cellular telephone and other telecommunications services, taking care to make sure the networks are compatible.The Lewiston network reaches Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport, downtown Lewiston, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Lewis-Clark State College. Clarkston's network goes to the city's school district and Tri-State Memorial Hospital.Plans to unite the two systems hit a snag last summer when the Port of Clarkston examined options on the Southway Bridge and discovered CenturyLink had 20 conduits on the span across the Snake River. The conduits were installed in the early 1980s when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed the bridge. They originally belonged to Pacific Northwest Bell, CenturyLink's predecessor. The bridge was later turned over to Nez Perce and Asotin counties and the cities of Lewiston and Clarkston.However, no lease governed the relationship between CenturyLink and the four local jurisdictions. Those entities spent months negotiating, and in recent weeks elected officials from both counties and both cities signed off on an agreement. It makes the city of Lewiston's Public Works Department the primary point of contact for CenturyLink and allows any one of the bridge owners to veto a lease or sale of the conduit. CenturyLink is not required to pay to be on the bridge.Once that issue was settled, the two ports were able to finalize a separate agreement, which designates the Port of Lewiston as the lead agency for the installation of the conduit on the Southway Bridge.However, each port will be responsible for the costs of construction, maintenance and operations of the line on their side of the river."It allows the fiber to be one complete piece without any splicing," said Assistant Port Manager Jaynie Bentz.In other business, port commissioners heard a report about an expansion at the Lewis-Clark Terminal from Manager Scott Zuger.The terminal is constructing two new steel bins that will be in excess of 100 feet tall, Zuger said. They are expected to be finished this fall and reduce the length of time grain has to be stored in a pile outdoors.Zuger declined to share the exact size of the addition. The terminal is one of the largest grain-storage facilities in the region, with a capacity of 7.5 million bushels.Next year, Lewis-Clark Terminal may construct a malting barley facility. The operation under consideration would be leased by CHS Primeland, one of the three agricultural cooperatives that owns the Lewis Clark Terminal, said CHS Primeland General Manager Ken Blakeman.CHS Primeland has one of two facilities in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley - at its Snake River Avenue location - where rail cars can be loaded with grain, Blakeman said. That site is used primarily for malt barley since the companies that process grain for brewing beer are normally set up to accept shipments by rail, not barge or truck, he said.CHS Primeland is looking at a number of new options because it doesn't like moving rail cars between Snake River Avenue, a busy street, and Kiwanis Park, with a skate board park and playground equipment for small children, Blakeman said.The cooperative moves about 20 cars a month but it does so very late at night or early in the morning to minimize the chance of accidents, Blakeman said. If rail cars could be loaded in an industrial setting, he said, it might be possible to expand because the hours of operation wouldn't be as limited.
PR Tips the Legislative Scales

PR Is More than the Media

Its crunch time in Missouri, where muni broadband supporters are seeking to defeat SB 186  a bill that eliminates communities rights to build public-owned broadband networks, effectively crippling jurisdictions' economies. Though the passage might be uncertain, there's a chance that incumbents and their allies may slip the bills text in unrelated legislation.For years, incumbent telecom and cable companies trying to preserve their anti-competition fiefdoms have viewed state legislatures as the best hunting grounds. Given that few constituents know their legislators or the issues they tackle, incumbents need only influence two or three busloads of representatives in any statehouse.But those who care about broadband  including local elected leaders, administrators, public utility managers, community stakeholders and others  are stepping up their advocacy game in response to recent legislative losses. Despite a big win for community broadband forces in Virginia, Tennessee appears to be headed to a Pyrrhic victory, North Carolina only offers a sliver hope and supporters were defeated in Alabama.Virginia, however, holds the seeds of victory for other states.There are several aspects to public relations, with media relations being a key element. In February, Virginias broadband stakeholders and advocates demonstrated effective media relations and why its important.A proposed bill from Virginia Delegate Kathy Byron would have nixed municipal networks statewide  but media relations saved the day. A month of intense activity produced dozens of stories, editorials and op-eds. Several publications interviewed Brette Arbogast, director of technology for the Appomattox County School District, about the district's public-owned network, a state success story Media coverage of the municipal broadband issues has been fantastic, Arbogast said. I did lots of interviews after the bill came out. I also called and emailed state legislators, local officials, congressman, everybody I could think of to get their support.And it appears that this all hands on deck strategy by the media and the communities worked, because the bill was defeated.The secret to success using this tactic is to conduct regular media relations for months, prior to any bill being introduced in the next years legislative session. Local publications, radio and TV in Virginia had run favorable stories in the past, so it was easy to mobilize media support at the first hint of danger. Furthermore, most municipal networks are success stories as they pay off their financing and report high customer satisfaction levels.And Missouri is no exception; according to the Institute of Local Self-Reliance, the state has five muni networks and a couple of cities with broadband plans waiting in the wings.Springfield's public network is one of the oldest in the country, and North Kansas City has citywide fiber and gigabit speeds. Marshall as citywide fiber, and West Plains built a network to offer services to businesses as a way to preserve jobs. Girardeau offers dark fiber and free Wi-Fi. There also are a number of co-op-owned networks, including Co-Mo Electric Co-op, which is one of the most expansive community networks in the country.So in the next 30 days, until the legislative session ends, Missouri citizens must relentlessly call their legislators and local media outlets to make the case: Dont mess with success  kill the bill."Whether or not a state has municipal network restrictions, any city that has even small aspirations for building a network should have a 12-month PR plan. In addition to the threat of prohibitions, many state legislatures are pursuing an array of broadband policies, so cities should get in front of these discussions.PR is broadly defined as actions taken to influence a group of people with whom you do business. State legislatures influence cities ability to access money, resources and permissions. Subsequently, design a PR plan with the goal of influencing legislators hearts and minds regarding community broadband.At one time, New Mexico co-ops were forbidden from providing broadband services. Kit Carson Electric Co-op began a systematic campaign to build local political support that was rolled up into state political support.We started with education and face time with elected officials at all local levels, said CEO Luis Reyes Jr. The co-op also got involved with economic development projects in the three counties we serve, and developed a track record of success stories.By supporting projects that directly brought jobs to the communities, Kit Carson built a strong credibility. They then educated the communities on how broadband would bring jobs to the area. With the support built among constituents and elected officials, the co-op generated 1,000 letters of support for their broadband plans, which they leveraged with state legislators to get the restrictive law removed. Furthermore, Kit Carson created allies by partnering with lawmakers to help legislators implement their economic development initiatives.Minnesota jurisdictions have to pass a referendum in order to be allowed to build their own networks, which is a surmountable requirement. But to avoid the type of unpleasantness that Virginia endured, the Minnesota Broadband Coalition proactively hosted a Minnesota Broadband on the Hill Day. Over 80 community broadband planners and stakeholders met with 40 state legislators for a day of panels, presentations and tours in the statehouse. This type of direct engagement thats done on a regular basis helps communities maintain their place at the table.Though West Virginia doesnt have any municipal broadband restrictions, advocates there worked with legislators to produce House Bill 3093, which would allow a pilot program to form cooperative associations of 50 or more qualified person engaged in the use of Internet services. The co-ops would be allowed to borrow money and required to abide by 15 pages of rules spelled out in the bill.The bill still has to wind its way through the state Senate, but win, lose or draw, the effort shows creativity and the willingness to try new approaches. We need to see more communities and legislators step out of the box and away from incumbent lobbyist pressure. Its good that states are using PR to try to beat anti-muni network bills. But it will help in the future to use that PR clout to proactively create good broadband opportunities.
The legislation meant to completely retool Floridas Agency for State Technology (AST) passed in the states House of Representatives by a wide margin April 13.Despite concern from those in the states technology space throughout the life cycle of House Bill 5301, lawmakers voted 104 to 11 to move ahead with the proposal that would not only rebrand the IT agency, but also strip it of its data center oversight and rulemaking authority.In a second reading of the bill April 12, representatives asked questions of the proposal, which originated from the Government Operations and Technology Appropriations Subcommittee in late-March The bill was proposed by Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-District 35, and is not the first affront to the autonomy of the agency or its previous iterations. In 2005, the Florida State Technology Office was shuttered after being defunded by the state Legislature. In 2012, a similar set of circumstances led to Gov. Rick Scott closing the Agency for Enterprise Information Technology rather than allowing it to remain unfunded.Just two years later, in 2014, the latest version of the embattled agency was created, but it wasnt long before it, too, was a target for lawmakers. In 2015, similarly geared legislation failed to garner the momentum it needed to succeed.This time around, Ingoglia argues that the AST is spending money in all the wrong places, even going as far as to call certain aspects of the agencys operation mismanagement. But the crux of Ingoglias argument for a complete rehashing of the agency centers largely on the states data center, which he alleges is not only expensive, but not where the money should be invested.He instead advocates for a system in which agencies are not tied to the cost-structure of the data center and can decide if cloud services fit their needs on a per-case basis. Interim CIO Eric Larson, however, toldin a previous interview that this system will not only drive up costs for those who remain in the data center, but could also increase costs to the state at the hands of multiple agencies flying on their own.During the April 12 hearing, Rep. Evan Jenne, D-District 99, also questioned the wisdom of allowing state agencies to select their own services.My concern with that is, could we be heading toward a point in time where rather than having one comprehensive secure IT network, that we will be dealing with a patchwork of incompatible stand-alone systems like we were prior to the creation of AST? Jenne asked.When asked why lawmakers should vote to hobble ASTs mission, Ingoglia seemed to criticize the agency for what many in the technology and government space have recognized as substantial progress in the states IT form and function. He pointed to the agency's efforts around procurement, data center management and strategic planning as an effort to be a "master to all" in the enterprise IT space.I think the way it is currently structured is fostering the environment where some of this stuff is being mismanaged. And while I think there are some people in AST who are extremely talented, are very intelligent when it comes to this stuff, they are just not doing what the intended purpose was to do, Ingoglia argued.In the Center for Digital Government's* 2016 Digital States Survey , Florida was ranked as the most improved state, bringing its overall IT rating up from a D in 2012 to a B+ in 2016.Im just wondering, why are we not giving this organization a chance to demonstrate what we charged them to do, its only been two years. It seems a rather short period of time, Rep. David Richardson, D-District 113, said during the debate.Larson and former state officials have asked a similar question. Though obviously disappointed by the Houses vote Thursday, AST spokesperson Erin Choy toldthat AST is hopeful upcoming conversations around the language and scope of the legislation will garner positive outcomes for all stakeholders.Were hopeful that working with our partners in the Florida Senate and members of the conference committees in the House as well, that we can come to an agreeable solution, she said. Much is yet to be done.Because the bill is tied to agency funding and the budget, Choy said, even a veto by the governor would leave the agency standing, but without the money to back it up.
In 2011, 19-year-old college freshman Evan Lieberman was killed while he was riding in the backseat of a car when the vehicle was struck by a driver who told police hed fallen asleep. Subsequent phone records obtained following a civil lawsuit by Evan's father, Ben Lieberman, however, showed much activity on the offending drivers phone in the moments before the crash  activity that indicated he was likely texting while driving.After the tragic accident, Ben Lieberman began working to spread awareness of the dangers of texting while driving, and has since become a leading activist on the matter, fighting to improve societal efforts to reduce behavior similar to that which killed his son. When he speaks to groups about distracted driving, he tells them there were roughly 250,000 car crashes in the state of New York in 2014. He asks his audience to guess how many had to do with texting while driving.

The numbers come at him. 80,000! 125,000! Half!

No, Lieberman tells them, the actual number is 64. Not 64,000, or 64 percent. Just 64, which is less than 1 percent. Lieberman explains that the reason the number is so low  much lower, in fact, than any reasonable human being is likely to guess  is because there is no protocol in place for law enforcement officers to determine whether someone was on his or her phone while driving, short of asking them point blank and receiving a confession. Phone records are difficult to obtain, and they only show calls or texts, not activity on the Internet, with email, or on apps like Facebook or Twitter. Meanwhile, all 50 states have passed laws that allow for enforcing drunk driving violations based on implied consent.

Thats why this is developing into a nameless and faceless crime, Lieberman said during an April 13 conference call in which politicians, activists and technologists discussed this issue, the law and the capabilities of a new technology that could help law enforcement at the scene of an accident. Its creating a huge void in any negative social stigma for the people causing damage and for implementing other deterrents. We need to get to the same place where DUI is.

The problem with taking a similar tack to combat and stigmatize distracted driving is that there are few state laws that lay out a protocol for establishing whether a driver was on his or her phone, and the only logistical means of determining it is through a witness or a confession.This, however, may be poised to change.

Enter the Textalyzer, a technology currently in the prototype and proof of concept stages that would allow officers at the scene of a car accident to tell if a driver had been texting behind the wheel within 90 seconds of it interfacing with a personal device.

Logistical details about the methodology of the Textalyzer, which is being developed by digital forensics specialist company Cellebrite, have not yet been released, and the companys CEO has said it would take between six and nine months to get the tech to market. Before Cellebrite can move forward, however, the New York State Legislature must pass a bill that would enable authorities to use such technology to enforce distracted driving offenses.

Currently the bipartisan bill, which was introduced in 2016 and is now known as Evans Law, after Evan Lieberman, is making its way through the legislative process in New York, in both the Senate and the Assembly.New York Senate Bill S2306 , sponsored by Terrence Murphy, R-Westchester, recently moved from the Senate's transportation committee and into its finance committee. New York State Assembly Bill A3955 , sponsored by Assistant Assembly Speaker Rep. Felix Ortiz, D-Kings, is currently in the Assembly's transportation committee.Both bills contain language that calls for amending the states traffic laws to allow for the field testing of phones and other devices  tests that would only be allowed after an accident involving personal injury or property damage.During the conference call, Cellebrite CEO Jim Grady said his company now has a working prototype that can secure information about whether texting happened in 90 seconds, without a device leaving the offending drivers possession.The stakeholders on the call stressed that the law enabling use of innovations like the Textalyzer would enable police to only access actions that had taken place on a phone immediately before a crash, not the content on the device. In other words, officers could use it to learn that a driver had used his or her hands to send a text or read an email, but they could not see what that text or email said.

The key for us is to protect the drivers privacy while determining if the phone was in use at the time of the accident, Grady said.

While the laws under consideration have received bipartisan support  always an encouraging sign  advocates for reducing distracted driving say that a key to passing it, and thus stemming the growing problem, is awareness. They drew a comparison to drunk driving, a crime for which there is a powerful stigma and widespread knowledge of the legal consequences, to say nothing of its aggressive enforcement.

They also presented information that showed a decrease in drunken driving but a spike in car crashes on New York state roads in 2016, which they attributed to the growing epidemic of driving while distracted by a smart device.
(TNS) -- WASHINGTON  NASA scientists glean valuable data about powerful space explosions and the energy of black holes from their Swift and Fermi satellites. The projects were supposed to last a few years. Instead, theyve survived for more than a decade.Thats great for researchers but a challenge for Jeanette Hanna-Ruiz because of the projects aging computer operating systems. As the space agencys chief information security officer, she has to secure the data sent to and from planet Earth against cyberattacks.Its a matter of time before someone hacks into something in space, Hanna-Ruiz, 44, said in an interview at her office in Washington. We see ourselves as a very attractive target.Cybersecurity at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration extends from maintaining email systems at the agencys Washington headquarters to guarding U.S. networks in Russia, where Americans serve on crews working with the International Space Station. The agency also has to protect huge amounts of in-house scientific data and the control systems at its 20 research centers, laboratories and other facilities in the U.S.Among Hanna-Ruizs concerns is hackers breaching communications between NASA and one of its 65 spacecraft transmitting research data.There could be a company that wants it, there could be a nation-state that wants it, Hanna-Ruiz said. The challenge, she said, is, How do I harden these streams and communications flows?Her nightmare is a direct cyberattack on a satellite, perhaps even allowing adversaries to commandeer the controls.Hanna-Ruiz, a lawyer, started her stint at NASA in August. She previously managed Microsoft Corp.s consulting services and also served in cybersecurity advisory roles at the Department of Homeland Security and the White House during the Obama administration.Her goal in the next 12 to 18 months, she said, is to get control of our internal network and work with the agencys space missions on cybersecurity.Last year, NASA reported 1,484 cyber incidents, including hundreds of attacks executed from websites or web-based applications, as well as the loss or theft of computing devices, according to the Office of Management and Budgets annual report to Congress in March on federal cyber performance.NASA aims to show were leading the way in security  thats the place we want to get to, Hanna-Ruiz said.Building secure rockets, satellites and other instruments before theyre launched is key. Engineers submit equipment to tests to see whether it can withstand space, from subjecting it to severe vibration to temperature checks in deep-freeze chambers.We have a lot of people who are focused on getting this particular thing to space, Hanna-Ruiz said. They may not be necessarily thinking of security. The truth is I dont know if I want them to be thinking about security. I want them to be excited and passionate about going to space.So Hanna-Ruizs cybersecurity teams step in to look for vulnerabilities in coding, firmware and other areas. The agency is also working to harden old industrial-control systems, such as those used to launch spacecraft, according to Hanna-Ruiz.At NASA thats a big conversation for us now: What is the most valuable data and how do we secure that? she said.NASA hasnt sent people beyond low-Earth orbit since the final moon missions more than 40 years ago. But American astronauts travel to the International Space Station on Russian Soyuz capsules that take off from Kazakhstan. U.S. teams monitor NASAs networks and data at the agencys multiple offices across Russia.Were always looking at those networks, were always looking at those systems to figure out if theyre vulnerable, Hanna-Ruiz said, including data coming from the space station. The great thing is NASA has a good history of working with Russia on space exploration and partnering with them to get our astronauts up to space, and thats really worked out well for us.So far, that collaboration has endured amid tensions after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded Russia hacked into last years U.S. presidential campaign.As Hanna-Ruiz works to bolster NASAs cybersecurity, she says the agencys center in Silicon Valley provides opportunities to connect with technologists attuned to the task.It would be great to have more people who are like aerospace engineers who have a background in cybersecurity, or who are Earth-science gurus and also have a cybersecurity background, she said. That niche of person is difficult to find.
Romain Grosjean says he is surprised Fernando Alonso has decided to skip F1's prestigious Monaco grand prix.

The Spaniard and McLaren-Honda shocked the racing world this week by announcing that they will tackle the fabled Indy 500 next month, even though it clashes with Monaco.

"The Indy 500 is a great race, but it's not necessarily a race that interests me," Haas driver Grosjean told France's RMC in Bahrain.

"When you're 100pc involved in a team, I don't want to miss a grand prix, especially Monaco where so much can happen and you don't necessarily need a good engine," the Frenchman added.

"So I'm pretty surprised. It's good if that's what he wants to do but honestly I'm surprised that it's happening," said Grosjean.

Alonso admitted on Thursday that the news has been made possible only by McLaren's new executive Zak Brown, as predecessor Ron Dennis would not have allowed it.

Grosjean admitted: "If I was a team boss one day, no, I would not let him do it."

However, Nico Hulkenberg contested the fabled Le Mans race two years ago while an active F1 driver.

The German said in Bahrain: "My case was completely different. I would never miss a race in formula one, as Fernando will.

"Especially Monaco," Hulkenberg added. "Fernando can do whatever he wants, it's his business, but I'm surprised by the situation -- like everyone else."

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo said the safety factor might put him off trying the Indy 500 in future, but conceded that Alonso is in an "unique situation" with his undoubted talent amid McLaren-Honda's performance crisis.

"I think he finds himself in a frustrating situation, so it's possible that in his place I would have taken the opportunity if it came up," he said.

(GMM)
Paddock rumblings about a flexible Ferrari have made the trip from China to Bahrain.

A week ago, former driver turned pundit Christian Danner said he had noticed aerodynamic parts of the impressive 2017 Ferrari flexing at speed.

"If I was one of the other teams, I would want it checked," he told RTL television.

Now, the German publication Auto Motor und Sport says the main focus of the 'Ferrari flex' story is the red car's floor.

An unnamed engineer is quoted as saying: "There are slow motion recordings of Raikkonen in testing, when the floor actually bends downwards at the sides."

Others are less sceptical, saying Ferrari's performance surge in 2017 is entirely legitimate.

"This is not just about the car or the engine, but the whole," said Gunther Steiner, boss of small Ferrari-linked American team Haas.

"Ferrari started developing the car early last season -- earlier than Mercedes," he told Auto Bild.

"And Mattia Binotto is a very, very good technical manager who had a consistent plan from the outset."

Former F1 driver turned pundit Marc Surer, meanwhile, sees the handiwork of another top name.

"The innovative sidepods are typical Rory Byrne," he told German television Sky. "This year it is also much easier for the drivers to get the car in the right tyre window, which is also typical of Byrne cars."

(GMM)
Daniel Ricciardo says it should be no great surprise that Red Bull is having to fight back in 2017.

Actually, many paddock insiders are shocked that, with a big rule change and Adrian Newey at the design table, Red Bull is over a second per lap off Mercedes and Ferrari's pace.

But Italy's Autosprint quotes Ricciardo as questioning whether the 'Newey equals success' equation is fair.

"Adrian Newey is certainly a great name, but Ferrari, Mercedes, the top teams all have great departments too," he said in Bahrain.

Ricciardo said Red Bull has plenty of catching up to do, but backed the team to be able to strongly develop the 2017 car.

"We have a great capacity for development and it's in that area that we were particularly good last year."

(GMM)
The battery pack manufacturing joint venture by the three companies will provide a stable supply of lithium-ion battery packs in India. The joint venture company will be established within 2017 and will move to manufacturing phase at earliest possible timing.

Suzuki Motor Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, and Denso Corporation have reached basic agreement on establishing a joint venture company for production of automotive lithium-ion battery packs in India, and signed the agreement. The initial capital expenditure will be 20 billion (US$184 million). The joint venture company will be capitalized at 2 billion (US$18.4 million), with the planned participation ratio of Suzuki 50%, Toshiba 40% and Denso 10% respectively.

In India, higher attention is being paid to environment, with new Bharat Stage (BS) VI emission standards for light- and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as two- and three-wheeled vehicles, to go into effect in 2020.

BS VI essentially brings Indian motor vehicle regulations into alignment with European Union regulations, with the exception of the norms for three-wheelers, which are not yet at European levels.

Frost & Sullivan noted that the Indian automotive industrys movement towards Bharat Stage (BS) VI compliance will have far-reaching implications for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), especially in the diesel engine segment. With regulations governing diesel engines expected to become tighter, the cost of compliance will be up to $1,200 for diesel cars.

Frost & Sullivan suggested that the mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV), with its exceptional cost advantage, could be a solution, and forecast that by helping diesel engines balance cost efficiency and BS VI compliance, this powertrain segment could well capture almost 18% of the total market in 2023.

However, the Government of India (GoI) recently decided to exclude mild hybrids from its scheme for Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME). Frost & Sullivan does not see this as a problem.

Various OEMs, especially Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra & Mahindra, are intensifying focus on MHEVs due to their ability to improve fuel efficiency and make the cars more economical to own over the course of its ownership. For instance, the new Ertiga from Maruti Suzuki that features SHVS technology pushes up its fuel efficiency from about 20.8 Km/L to 24.5 Km/L. The recent withdrawal of incentives under FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) is not expected to have a significant impact in the sales of mild hybrid vehicles as it comes with a strong cost of ownership advantage that renders the incentive relatively insignificant.
The 1,000 hp, 400-mile range Lucid Air was first unveiled in December 2016. ( Earlier post .) The Air will be manufactured in Casa Grande, Arizona. The factory, first announced in November 2016, will come online in 2019 and build 10,000 vehicles in the first 12 months. By 2022 the company expects the factory to employ 2,000 full-time employees and manufacture up to 130,000 vehicles annually.

Lucid Motors made its global auto show debut at the New York International Auto Show, presenting the Lucid Air luxury electric sedan and also presenting its Alpha Speed Car test vehicle, which had just completed its first high-speed stability test at 217 mph (349.2 km/h).

The Lucid Air is priced from $52,500 after federal tax credits. The base Lucid Air will feature a 400-horsepower motor, rear-wheel drive, and a 240-mile range. Deliveries will begin in 2019. Customers can pre-order the Air at https://lucidmotors.com/car/reserve.

In preparation for production, Lucid Air alpha prototypes are undergoing a rigorous development program. Lucid has designated one of these test prototypes as a high-performance test vehicle and has installed a roll-cage for safety purposes. The Alpha Speed Car will be used for evaluating at-the-limit performance.

For the Alpha Speed Cars first testing session, Lucid headed to TRC Ohio to use its 7.5-mile oval to evaluate high-speed behaviors, including vehicle stability and powertrain thermal management.

The test, software-limited to 217 mph, was successful in demonstrating the capabilities of the car and in finding areas for improvement that could not be properly evaluated in static bench tests.

The collected data will now be used to finesse thermal and aero computer simulations and to make further performance improvements that will be tested later this year at higher speeds.

The company notes that high-speed capability does not compromise the mission to develop a highly efficient vehicle; rather, the focus on maximizing range provides the high power and aerodynamic efficiency that enables higher speeds.

The testing program continues for the Alpha Speed Car and the rest of the Lucid Air alpha fleet. The company will provide more details as these tests progress.
As a part of the first cycle of investment, Volkswagens Electrify America program is earmarked to spend $300 million, with the most focus on the installation of hundreds of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at multi-family residences, workplaces, highway rest-stops, commercial and retail sites, and municipal lots and garages.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published the plan for the first tranche of Volkswagens National Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Investment spending, directed at 11 cities nationwideNew York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Portland, Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia, Denver, Houston, Miami, and Raleighand several highway corridors.

Background. As required by Appendix C to the 2.0-Liter Partial Consent Decree entered by the US. District Court for the Northern District of California on 25 October 2016, Volkswagen Group of America is investing $1.2 billion over the next 10 years in zero emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure, education, and access outside California to support the increased adoption of ZEV technology in the United States, representing the largest commitment of its kind to date. Volkswagen Group of America has created Electrify America LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary headquartered in Reston, Virginia, to fulfill its Appendix C commitments.

The $1.2 billion commitment will be spent in $300 million increments over four 30-month cycles.

First tranche. In the first ZEV investment cycle, Electrify America will focus on three activities aimed at increasing the use of ZEVs.

Installing charging infrastructure (approximately $250 million); Public Education initiatives (approximately $25 million); and ZEV access initiatives (under development), and an additional approximately $25 million spent on the operational costs of running Electrify America (e.g., personnel, other business expenses).

Electrify America plans to build charging infrastructure that will primarily consist of (1) community charging and (2) a long-distance highway network. In addition, other use cases/technologies are also under consideration including targeted battery storage to manage peak demand and ease grid loads, etc.

Electrify America stations will be designed to provide access by supporting multiple non-proprietary and interoperable charging technologies to meet different needs. Level 2 AC charging (L2) with universally accepted J1772 connectors will serve charging at long dwell-time locations. 50+ kW Direct Current (DC) fast charging will serve ZEV needs in shorter dwell time situations and along highway corridors, utilizing non-proprietary charging standards (CCS and CHAdeMO).

Electrify America will build a long-distance high-speed highway network consisting of charging stations along high-traffic corridors between metropolitan areas and across the country, with an initial target of approximately 240 highway sites installed or under development by the end of the first cycle, more than 150 of which are expected to be completed.

Sites will be, on average, about 66 miles apart, with no more than 120 miles between stations, meaning many shorter range ZEVs available today will be able to use this network. Stations will focus on 150 kW and some 320 kW DC fast chargers, which will also be capable of charging 50 kW capable vehicles at a lower power level.

Electrify Americas 150 kW DC fast charging stations will provide about 9 miles of ZEV range per minute of charging, while 320 kW DC fast chargers will provide about 19 miles of range per minute.

Electrify America will also support open protocols including Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) that allow more standardized communication between different chargers and networks.

Electrify America will seek access agreements with owners of other charging networks to make it easy for as many ZEV drivers as possible to move more seamlessly between different charging networks.

Charging stations will be located first in the areas with the highest anticipated ZEV demand, based on the forecast penetration rates of ZEVs in each region and the estimated gap between the supply and demand of charging infrastructure in those regions.

Within selected metros, Electrify America plans to build 300+ stations across five major use cases (multi-family homes, workplace, commercial/retail, community, and municipal lots/garages).

In aggregate, the Electrify America first cycle investment will aim to establish a network of approximately 2500+ non-proprietary chargers across 450+ individual stations.

In parallel with the National ZEV Investment Plan, VW and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released the California ZEV Investment Plan on 8 March 2017, outlining the plans for the first $200 million to be spent in California. In this plan, Volkswagen and CARB prioritized ZEV infrastructure build-out in areas with high anticipated ZEV demand and around disadvantaged communities throughout California, noting the potential for significant decreases in air pollution as a result of this ZEV build-out.

This plan is part of a multi-part $15 billion settlement agreement in the US, as a result of the VW emissions testing cheating scandal, and comes on the heels of Volkswagen settling separately with 10 states in late March.
Workhorse has released initial specifications of its W-15 pickup truck, for which it has accumulated letters of intent for 2,150 units. (Earlier post.) A drivable prototype of the W-15 will be unveiled at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Long Beach, California, on May 2. Production models are scheduled for delivery in 2018.

Designed specifically to meet the needs of commercial fleets, the W-15 is believed to be the first plug-in, range-extended pickup truck built from the ground up by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
Turning healthcare consumers into educated shoppers has long been a goal of employers who foot the bill for most care, politicians and some consumer organizations that believe that someday shopping for care should be as easy as comparing brands of canned soup.

All it takes are some clear disclosures of prices, ingredients and whatever else seems comparable in a product or service coupled with a bit of education in how to make the shopping trip fruitful, and the healthcare system will transform itself like magic. It will become competitive, prices for services and therefore insurance premium...
When a politician complains about publics perception of an issue or that a journalist is making a mountain out of a molehill, its usually because theyve been involved in something that most people disagree with.

For example, Sen. Eli Bebout, R-Riverton, told the Casper Star-Tribune sportsmen opposing a controversial bill regarding state ownership of federal lands, didnt really understand the intent of the bill.

I think the message that a lot of people believe out there... really isnt what its about. I think weve lost that message, he told the newspaper.

Forward-th...
With some design and fabrication help from the Green River High School welding department, the Muley Fanatic Foundation and local Green River Ducks Unlimited Chapter will present their firearms used at their various fundraising events with newly fabricated rifle stands.

A total of 30 rifle stands were manufactured by the welding department led by GRHS welding instructor Tom Wilson and presented last Thursday to representatives of MFF and DU.

The primary design and manufacture of this project was accomplished by advanced welding students Ira Dickinson, Braden Chew and Mikenna Palmer.

The M...
The North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature held its first meeting of the year March 14-15. The focus, as it is every odd numbered year, was advocating for older adults with elected officials at the N.C. General Assembly.

Ninety-six delegates and alternates attended. Eighteen new delegates and alternates were sworn in to begin service with the organization, representing their counties, by serving as advocates for older adults.

In an effort to keep all members of the NCSTHL informed and educated on aging issues, the Division of Aging, and Adult Services provided several knowledgeable speakers.

Mary Edwards, staff from the DAAS, stated currently 15 percent of the states population is 65 and older and by 2025, 20 percent of the states population will be 65 and older.

Dawn Oakley Gartman, Project C.A.R.E (Caregivers Alternatives to Running on Empty) state director, with DAAS, advised that three $500 vouchers are available statewide annually to eligible caregivers in crisis. The program targets low income (non-Medicaid), rural and minority individuals caring for a person with dementia at home. For information, visit http://www.ncdhss.gov/aging/ncprojectcare.htm.

Vance Braxton, director/deputy commissioner, NC Senior Health Insurance Information Program noted that to promote personal privacy, beginning in 2018, new Medicare cards will be issued without Social Security numbers listed. For information, call (855) 408-1212.

For information about the NCSTHL, contact Mary Lou Blakeney at (336) 471-3178 or purplelady44@gmail.com. Also, visit www.ncsthl.org.

The next NCSTHL meeting is scheduled for June 13-14 in Chapel Hill.
BEIJING  It was a relationship sealed over "the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake you have ever seen."

After a day spent getting to know each other in Palm Beach, President Trump chose that moment to pop the big question to his Chinese counterpart. Fifty-nine Tomahawk missiles were locked, loaded and then launched toward Syria: not so much death by chocolate as death with chocolate.

In Trump's retelling, Xi Jinping was silent for 10 seconds, ominously asked for the comments to be translated a second time - and finally declared he was "OK" with the idea. And so the Citrus Summit, as it's been nicknamed, was to be a success.

In short order, China has gone from an enemy and a threat, a job stealer and economic predator, to becoming a friend and partner of the new U.S. administration. In interviews with the Fox Business Network and the Wall Street Journal, Trump said he and Xi shared "great chemistry," had formed an "outstanding relationship," and understood each other.

All all of a sudden, U.S. policy toward China seems broadly similar to that pursued by his predecessor. Trump might be a very different personality to Barack Obama, the Global Times newspaper commented Friday, "however there are many signs he is returning to Obama's diplomatic strategy."

Yet how deep is this new found friendship with China; how sustainable the relationship?

If Trump has flipped once, could he flip again?

The answer to that question could lie in North Korea.

Just before the summit, Trump had told the Financial Times that the Chinese were the "world champions" of currency manipulation. A few days after it, he told the Journal China does not manipulate its currency.

A cartoon in China's Global Times on Friday mocked Trump as the "Shifter-in-Chief," showing him at the wheel of a bus careening all over the road, but the overall mood is upbeat here at what state media are calling "the big flip."

"The immediate effect of the two-day summit has been to bring an influx of tremendous dynamism into the complicated U.S.-China relationship," Communist Party mouthpiece the People's Daily wrote. "This transition is a masterpiece of erudite political wisdom."

The erudite wisdom, one assumes, is supposed to be coming from the mouth of China's president, into the ear of the American one. Indeed, People's Daily naturally chose a photograph of Trump listening attentively to Xi speaking to adorn its post-summit front page.

It had, of course, chosen similar images in 2013, when Xi met Obama in California's Sunnylands retreat and was again portrayed as the man delivering pearls of wisdom to his enraptured counterpart.

But this time there is real reason to believe that some of Xi's arguments struck home, and not just in getting Trump to finally realize he was years out of date when it came to China's currency policy.

Just as no one could have imagined how complicated health care was, until you actually took the time to learn about it, Trump is fast learning the complications of tackling North Korea, thanks to some schooling from the Chinese president.

For months, the U.S. president had been firing off confident 140-character promises that he would solve the problem of Pyongyang's nuclear program, and apparently believing that China could bring its neighbor to heel if it only wanted to. But Xi took the trouble to explain something about the history of China and Korea.

"And after listening for 10 minutes I realized that it's not so easy," Trump told the Journal. "You know I felt pretty strongly that they have a tremendous power over North Korea . . . But it's not what you would think."

This is not the first time Trump has changed tack. He questioned the one-China policy earlier this year before deciding to honor it, and has quietly dropped campaign threats to impose tariffs of up to 45 percent on Chinese goods.

That's partly because he is learning as he goes along, sometimes slowly, sometimes painfully, always in full public view, experts say.

It is partly a function of the rise of the "globalists" within his administration, including Jared Kushner and Gary Cohn, and the declining influence of the "nationalists," such as Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro. But it is also a dawning of the realization that Trump needs a constructive relationship if he is to achieve his other foreign policy goals.

Ever since diplomatic ties with China were normalized nearly four decades ago, candidates have generally campaigned on being tough on China, before reverting to a more constructive approach while in office.

But if history is repeating itself, Trump represents an extreme case of the phenomenon.

For Bill Bishop, the publisher of the Sinocism newsletter, there is a danger in making so many threats only to walk them back, and a missed opportunity to get re-examine a policy approach that has brought more benefits to China than the United States.

"The currency flip-flop made sense from an economic perspective, but one has to wonder how tough Beijing thinks Trump really is, and if Xi, a fan of Mao Zedong, sees Trump as yet another American paper tiger," he said.

"It is too bad. America needs a new approach to dealing with the China challenge, one that is well thought out and strategically coherent. So far that does not appear to be happening, and that is good for Xi and the PRC (People's Republic of China) but not so good for the U.S."

Others take a different view.

President Richard Nixon is reported to have deliberately cultivated the "Madman Theory," giving the impression he was irrational and volatile, and might even use nuclear weapons, in an attempt to scare the North Vietnamese and the Soviet Union. The credible threat of military action by the George W. Bush administration may have helped bring North Korea back to the negotiating table in 2006.

In similar vein, Trump's decision to bomb Syria while hosting Xi was a shrewd move, some argue, helping to convince Beijing to turn up the heat on its ally. In February, China announced it was cutting off coal imports from North Korea, severing an important economic lifeline for the regime, and has since reportedly turned back two coal shipments.

"China does move on North Korea if they are sufficiently scared of the U.S.," said Daniel Blumenthal of the American Enterprise Institute. "They may pressure Kim if we keep the pressure on China."

Orville Schell, head of the center on U.S.-China relations at New York's Asia Society, said real world realities are beginning to bring Trump's policy closer to that of Obama, but the difference is Trump's "utterly unpredictable nature, and his capacity to reverse course in a heartbeat."

Schell said this had put China somewhat off balance, uncertain if Trump might impose secondary sanctions or even a military strike on North Korea.

"This kind of brinkmanship can be dangerous in diplomacy, but it could also get Beijing's attention and chasten Xi to make deal before something untoward happens," Schell said.

Paul Gewirtz, director of the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School, said China may impose tougher sanctions against North Korea, but not because Trump tells it to.

"Those are likely to come from an ongoing assessment of China's interests and rising Chinese public opinion against North Korea," he said.

In the end, though, China and the United States have significant different approaches to the issue of North Korea, and this fact alone remains a major challenge to the new rapport between Xi and Trump.

"The evolution toward a more constructive relationship is certainly welcome," said Paul Haenle, director of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center. "But I think the big question is whether or not it can this be sustained once the Chinese begin to underperform on trade or North Korea as times goes on. Will Trump be willing to confront his new friend Xi Jinping in order to defend U.S. interests?"

Washington Post News Service (DC)
The recent Charles Krauthammer piece (April 7) about appointments to the Supreme Court is instructive and interesting.

The Senate has received heavy criticism from many quarters concerning the appointment of judges, most especially to the Supreme Court. And much is well-deserved. But Krauthammer, as he often does, puts his finger at the heart of who and what so damaged the court and the process of appointment: It was not the Senate but the Supreme Court that did the deed. The institution has body-slammed itself.

In about the middle of the last century the court took upon itself the task of resolving certain deeply serious social problems, problems it concluded were far too important to be entrusted to the meanderings of American democracy. And in fairness to those justices, the nations capacity for effective action seemed limited at the time. A number of the nations problems were very serious indeed  civil rights being a compelling example  and urgently in need of resolution. Accordingly, the court in its wisdom made a Faustian bargain with the devil: Because the Congress (that is, our democracy) was not up to the job, the court as necessary would act in its stead to get done over time and on a number of fronts what needed doing.

As in the original tale of Faust, the advantage of the offered bargain seemed immense; easily worth any price that might be exacted. A national advantage was there for the taking; and the Supreme Court reached out for it. But the price has proved high. The honesty of the Supreme Courts reading of the U.S. Constitution in the eyes of many is now in grave doubt. Having preached for years to Congress and to the executive branch that the Constitutions boundaries are sacred agreements and must, therefore, be faithfully observed, the court knowingly, and with the best of intentions, trespassed its own limits. To cite the apostle, while preaching to others the court became itself a castaway.

That the court is now a political branch of government is believed all around. Having entered politics, politics entered the court. The process by which that august body is constituted is, logically, also infected. What goes around has come around.

All in all a very sad tale, a Faustian story for sure. And your Charles Krauthammer has explained it well.
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It was the usual rounds of routine fodder and new surprises on News 12 Connecticut this week, from B-roll footage of kids activities in the lead-up to Easter to Gov. Dannel P. Malloys announcement not to seek a third term.

Through it all, with Altices relocation of its News 12 Connecticut studio operations in Norwalk to New Jersey, the news of the day was conveyed by a new set of faces.

As of April, gone from News 12 Connecticut are familiar faces like Tom Appleby and Rebecca Surran to whom viewers had grown accustomed over the years, and who led a staff that racked up no shortage of regional Emmy nominations and awards during their newscasting careers. A News 12 Connecticut spokeswoman confirmed to Hearst Connecticut Media that the station has completed its relocation of studio production to New Jersey.

Reporters, photographers, video editors, and assignment desk personnel continue to work in the local area, said spokeswoman Lisa Anselmo. News 12 ... remains committed to delivering local news and covering everything from local politics and education to the small businesses and leaders who are making a positive impact.

The changes arrived on the eve of Altice NV filing notice Tuesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange for an IPO that values Altice USA at $20 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal, with the proposed offering designed to allow the European parent company to retain control of the U.S. operations it acquired last year in acquisitions of New York-based Cablevision and Suddenlink.

Altice has moved quickly to consolidate Cablevisions operations, most dramatically in last years closure of a customer call center in Shelton and a Stratford office at a cost of nearly 600 jobs. Altice last October also announced plans to relocate News 12 Connecticuts anchor studio to its News 12 New Jersey facility in Edison, N.J., while keeping a crew of local reporters and video staff in Norwalk to provide local coverage.

The new anchor team includes personnel who previously worked on newscasts covering New Jersey and the Bronx borough of New York City. Save for morning anchor Vanessa Freeman, the others had yet to update their LinkedIn pages as of Friday morning noting their new assignments on the News 12 Connecticut desk.

The lone anchor holdover is Marc Sudol, who worked five years at ESPN before joining News 12 Connecticut in 2009. Altice has shifted four anchors from other News 12 duties to the Connecticut desk, with another weekend anchor adding Connecticut to her New Jersey duties.

News 12 Connecticut vans remain a familiar sight in April at events throughout southwestern Connecticut. And if Altice has ratcheted back its staffing in Connecticut, the company has expanded News 12 Connecticut to Optimum systems in Litchfield County. And in Norwalk, the company has been piloting a low-cost broadband service for income-eligible subscribers that it plans to expand to other territories.

 Kaitlyn Krasselt and Robert Koch contributed to this report; includes prior reporting by Chris Bosak.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-354-1047; www.twitter.com/casoulman
There is a predictable and highly enjoyable movie plot where the lead character takes center stage and gathers his or her team as the action unfolds.

We see this in the Gospels time and again. I find I must always take a deep breath as I read the account of the last week of Jesus earthly ministry.

Jesus remains the central character. He remains the hero. But I am appalled by his enemies and grieved by the behavior of his team of disciples and followers. Judas betrays him with a kiss, Peter denies him three times, Herod derides him, the chief priests plot and agitate against him, the crowd calls for his crucifixion, Pilate appeases the masses and washes his hands of him.

But there is one character who, at first sight, appears to exist only to increase the dramatic tension of Jesus agonizing climb to Calvary. His name is Barabbas.

We don't know much about Barabbas, except that he's been charged with insurrection and murder. Of his guilt, there is no doubt. Luke emphatically tells us he was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. (Luke 23:19). Barabbas is the same man who was called a notorious prisoner (Matthew 27:16) and Mark notes he was among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection. (Mark 15:7).

In contrast, Jesus is the innocent. Three times in a short span of verses in Luke 23, Luke, through Pilate, points us to Jesus innocence. Jesus has done nothing deserving of death. And so, in this life-or-death moment, before an angry and agitated crowd shouting that Jesus should be crucified, Pilate thinks quickly. Believing that he holds the lives of both men in his hands, he remembers the Jewish tradition that would permit him, on a holy day, to release a prisoner who has been sentenced to death (Matthew 27:15).

Pilate stands before the crowd and presents them with a choice: Jesus  the innocent, or Barabbas  the guilty, the murderer and rebel.

There is some word play in this choice. Several New Testament manuscripts name the terrorist "Jesus Barabbas." Many scholars suggest that the name "Jesus" was omitted from several Greek manuscripts of the Gospel of Matthew out of reverence.

The deeper irony in reading the name "Jesus Barabbas" becomes clear when we realize that "Barabbas" (or "Bar Abbas") is the Hellenized form of the Aramaic name Bar Abba, which means "son of the father." And the name "Jesus" (Greek, Yesous) is the Hellenized form of the Hebrew name Yeshua, which means God saves.

Thus, in a life-or-death decision that still quakes through the centuries, Pilate was asking the crowd: "Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas (God saves, son of the father) or Jesus (God saves), whom his followers call Messiah?"

Caught up in the narrative, I would like for my voice to rise and sway the crowd. Can there really be any contest? Release Jesus the Messiah! Release the innocent party! Its an obvious choice surely.

But I am much too late. My small protest is drowned out by the multitude who shout, Away with this man (Jesus)! Release Barabbas to us! (Luke 23:18). Jesus stands silently. He has said his prayer to the father, yet not my will, but yours be done. (Luke 22:42).

All this time, I have been identifying with Jesus. But Luke has, very carefully and very deliberately, cornered me. He has led me to the place where I am now invited to identify with Barabbas.

Here is the truly guilty man who so embodies my plight as a rebel without defense and my desperate need for undeserved rescue. Judah Smith wrote, Barabbas thought it was the people that set him free. No, it was the love of a heavenly father. And when I look at the story, I realize who Barabbas really is. That's me. That's you. That's us.

What about those moments when we fall to some temptation that we swore blind before God that we would never trespass upon again? Do we conclude, Yes, once I was Barabbas. Once I stood with Jesus before the crowd and I was saved by grace. But now, I have fallen into this miry pit of my own making, and I must be the one to get myself out?

Do we imagine that we have ever ceased to be Jesus Barabbas (God saves the son of the father)? Do we imagine that the father has ceased to love Barabbas?

Smith concluded, We can pretend that some people are better than others, and that's why they're blessed. Or we can all come to the honest conclusion that it's God, and it is God alone who saves you. The greatest challenge is not your discipline, your devotion or your focus. Your greatest challenge is believing and living the Gospel. Could it be that there's a God with a love so scandalous?

In the same way, C. S. Lewis wrote, God has paid us the intolerable compliment of loving us, in the deepest, most tragic, most inexorable sense. and The son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.

For God so loved Barabbas that he gave his one and only son, that every Barabbas  and every re-offending Barabbas  who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Drew Williams is the senior pastor of Trinity Church.
The perfect lattes at Everyman Espresso are so much more than milk and coffee. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz

A New York Times article appeared this week with the bold headline Has Coffee Gotten Too Fancy? Perhaps, and its true that even simple lattes, the workhorse of every coffee shops menu, can be found in varying degrees of fanciness. By now, its practically a given that the milk will be high-quality and local  Battenkill Valley Creamery is officially everywhere  and the espresso will be fair-trade, organic, or sourced to some other exacting standard. When pulled, it wont taste too prickly, too dry, too sour, or otherwise pervasively bitter. In the end, though, getting a great latte means that a bunch of folks have settled an improbable number of variables in your favor, before you even reach the front of the line and pull out your wallet. That is a true pick-me-up. Here are the shops that do it best.

The Absolute Best 1. Everyman Espresso

162 Fifth Ave., nr. Degraw St., Park Slope; no phone Earlier this year, owner Sam Penix debuted a Brooklyn location that builds on the success of his stellar East Village and Soho shops. Like its predecessors, a subtle Twin Peaks motif abounds  the Log Lady is there in magnet form, and Damn Fine Coffee appears as a canary-yellow neon beacon above the entrance. Baristas are absolutely welcoming, and will tell you that Battenkill was chosen as the milk of choice a few years back, after exhaustive taste-tests  and its not unusual to find Sam Lewontin, director of retail (and erstwhile barista champion), pulling shots. Lewontin himself might explain that all three locations recently switched from blends to single-origin coffees roasted by Counter Culture, and that the newfound focus on seasonal single-origins gives baristas better control over how their coffee tastes in the cup, and a better ability to seize the moment Lewontin terms peak deliciousness. (Its Mataba, from Rwanda, right now in Park Slope; Tairora, from Papua New Guinea, in the East Village; the Ethiopian coffee Counter Culture calls Apollo, in Soho.) In a bit of flourish, Everyman Soho serves lattes in natty, 12-ounce, Gibraltar-style glasses, lending a vintage-soda-fountain, or Italian-diner feel. All the chainlets lattes have a deft balance of sweetness, play well across the sugary-bright and fruity-chocolate flavor spectrum, and have a surplus of body.

2. Supercrown Coffee Roasters

8 Wilson Ave., nr. Flushing Ave., Bushwick; 347-295-3161

Cool and kinetic things are happening in the cavernous Bushwick space where Darleen Scherer last year debuted a roastery outfitted with a pour-over robot and cucumber bittersspiked coffee lemonade. Nontraditional drinks include cold brew and oat milk, or espresso with coffee-blossom honey collected on the same Guatemalan farm. For all the inventiveness on display, Supercrown also shares plenty of DNA with no-nonsense cafes (Scherer was a co-founder of Gorilla Coffee, too), and traditional lattes are billed simply as espresso + milk, and are offered in incremental sizes. With base espresso drawn from specific farms and micro-lots, usually drawn from a synergistic combo of Ethiopian and Colombian product and ranging from peachy and lush to toffee and nougat, they are also extraordinarily thoughtful (and good).

3. Ninth Street Espresso

Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave., at W. 15 St.; 212-228-2930

The epitome of the independent New York coffee bar, and forefather of several widely imitated trends since its 2001 opening, Ninth Street Espresso has been hurtling toward a Spartan four-drink menu for the last decade. And so, the 12-ounce drink formerly known as espresso with mildly textured steamed milk is now billed as espresso w/milk, and is something more like a cappuccino-latte hybrid. Though customers can specify certain drink parameters, the Marie Kondolike decluttering allows for more focus; the milks creaminess and the quality of the extracted coffee are unrivaled, no matter what you call this combination..

4. Stumptown

18 W. 29th St., at Broadway; 212-679-2222

After establishing its Red Hook facility in 2009, the rebellion-prone Portland, Oregon, roaster set up shop in the Ace Hotel, and started pulling espressos for the trendy clientele. Any number of jokes about artisanally knit beanies and wispy goatees wont change the fact that the baristas who work the hulking La Marzocco Linea PB are skilled with temperatures and weights, and theres always at least one coffee scholar on duty who is well-versed in the significant minutiae of sunshine, elevation, and soil conditions that precede any given latte.

5. Cafe Grumpy

193 Meserole Ave., at Diamond Ave., Greenpoint; 718-349-7623

Founded on a Greenpoint corner and roasted next door, Grumpy has grown to eight locations scattered around town. Frowny-face name and strict laptop-deterrent policies aside, baristas tend to be affable, and locations adapt themselves well to their respective neighborhoods. (Grumpy at Grand Central Terminal tends to be all business, while the Chelsea outlet is the kind of place where its Madagascar vanilla-infused, smoked-salt-sprinkled, marshmallow lattes should be savored.) No matter where you go, traditional lattes are made with Heartbreaker, an ever-evolving house blend that always hits distinct notes of caramel and bright, subtle acidity.

Honorable Mentions

Abraco

81 E. 7th St., nr. First Ave.; 212-388-9731

The elder statesman of NYCs third-wave scene has finally relocated to an airy, new space that somehow feels just as frenetic. The hi-fi still pivots from Blue Note to Bowie; takeout continues to be doled out in standard-issue Anthora cups; and the place, a confounding scene, where everyone seems to have rolled out of bed way better dressed than you, remains cash only. That said: Lattes have full-fat milk body and pleasant bitterness that made the original popular.

Birch Coffee

21 E. 27th St., nr. Madison Ave.; 212-686-1444

There is a lot of heart on display in each aromatic and piping-hot latte at Birch, another chainlet that seems to open a new location every few months. All cafes use coffee trucked in from the Long Island City roastery, and the studious baristas are just as dedicated to pouring a good latte as they are to pouring a layered tulip shape into your top layer of foam.

Blue Bottle

160 Berry St., nr. N. 5th St., Williamsburg; 718-387-4160

The chain, which just opened its newest cafe on the Lower East Side, projects Bay Area vibes and an air of ineluctable world dominance. Its precise slow drippers, state-of-the-art siphons, and ceaseless procession of beautiful people tend to get the most attention in Williamsburg, but the fruity and superdense chocolaty espresso at the base of lattes is reliably perfect and made for hot milk.

Charter Coffeehouse

309 Graham Ave., No. 1, nr. Ainslie St., Williamsburg; 347-721-3735

Here, your beans may be from Denver roaster Middle State, or Ceremony in Annapolis, Maryland. Baristas carefully grind, evenly tamp, and heedfully weigh shots to order, and lattes are fantastically earthy  never flat or too sharp.

Culture Espresso

247 W. 36th St., nr. Seventh Ave.; 646-861-3553

A gleaming Synesso machine and superb Heart Coffee Roasters blends are central to the Garment District shop, one of three popular cafes powered by the same team in the relatively unimpressive caffeinated wilds of midtown. The industrial-chic stools are more comfortable than they look, and the comparatively un-swarmed counter makes it easy to chat with a friendly barista about stuff like extraction and pressure, which, jargon aside, will get you a better latte overall.

Devocion

69 Grand St., nr. Wythe Ave., Williamsburg; 718-285-6180

Heirloom coffee varietals come from hard-to-reach locations in Colombia, FedExed to New York in their original, unroasted state, with care and maximal traceability. The roastery is handsome and enormous, and beyond the freelancer sprawl, subtropical foliage, and the occasional sighting of someone you may recognize from a band; lattes are full-bodied and faintly spicy, finishing with a clovelike kick and a touch of honeycomb candy.

Joe Coffee

141 Waverly Pl., at Gay St.; 212-924-6750

Since its 2003 inception, Jonathan Rubinsteins coffeehouse has morphed into a mini-chain that now proudly roasts its own in Red Hook. Recently, it also attracted some primo Union Square Hospitality Group investment to help fuel the growth of Joe coffee bars in cities across the country. But, right now, heres why you should care: Its lattes are no-fuss affairs that are also pleasantly brawny.

La Colombe Torrefaction

319 Church St., at Lispenard St.; 212-343-1515

Some of the citys most consistent and best-trained baristas can be found at La Colombes New York shops, and while the ever-expanding Philadelphia chainlet has since branched out into unimpeachably smooth draft lattes, its original, Italian grandfatherapproved lattes remain famously potent and steamy.

O Cafe at Lestudio

61 Hester St., nr. Essex St.; 212-477-2427

The original O Cafe opened in the Village in 2000, packed with leafy, green houseplants and Brazilian baked goods. The newest iteration doubles as a showroom for succulents potted in beautiful ceramic cups, and heavy rimmed plates that happen to be made next door. You may or may not feel like youve stepped into an issue of Dwell, but the lattes, made with excellent Miami roaster Panthers East Coast Blend, are a bright and chocolaty draw.

Round K

99 Allen St., nr. Delancey St.; 917-475-1423

A pile-up of quirky trends can be found here. Skilled baristas proffer a veritable bestiary of latte art, and raindrop cakes made a recent appearance. There is heavy cream and egg yolk  alleged measures of authenticity  in the cappuccino, and customers can spruce up lattes with wasabi, which apparently helps enunciate the deepest-cut flavor compounds in the house-roasted coffee. And, indeed, one recent blog post posited the question: Could This Wasabi Latte Change Your Life? The answer is no, but the versions made without the Japanese root are nevertheless great.

Third Rail Coffee

240 Sullivan St., nr. 3rd St.; no phone

Both locations of the beloved independent shop turn out velvety yet formidable lattes made (usually, carefully) with Counter Culture coffee that rotates regularly (either a seasonal blend or a single-origin release). Guest roasters like Portland, Maines Tandem Coffee sometimes ship in fascinating cultivars for blink-and-youll-miss-them residencies.

Variety Coffee

146 Wyckoff Ave., at Himrod St., Bushwick; 718-497-2326

Lattes here are strong, soothing, and contenders for the citys most consistent, made with a single-origin coffee that has a veritable Flavor Wheels worth of interesting-tasting notes, but is particularly suited for milk. The chains baristas are across-the-board talented, the house roasting operation is increasingly focused on seasonality, and in general, the city could use more variety. A shiny, new Chelsea shop is in fact its first welcome outpost outside of the espresso-dense, northernmost part of Brooklyn.




Haiti - Politics : Moise visits the National Brewery (BRANA)





Thursday, President Jovenel Moise visited the premises of the Brasserie Nationale d'Haiti (BRANA) on the Airport Road. In the presence of the company's managers and employees, he reaffirmed the political will of the Government to accompany not only investors of the brewery by creating the legal and financial framework for the full functioning of the company but also the 18,000 small Sorghum growers https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9049-haiti-agriculture-important-agreement-between-brana-and-usaid.html for the development of this essential raw material for BRANA (owned by the Heineken Group) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4483-haiti-economy-heineken-increases-its-stake-to-95-in-brasserie-nationale-d-haiti.html



"To improve the business climate, I submitted to Parliament more than 6 bills https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20623-haiti-flash-legislative-agenda-2017-50-draft-laws-and-proposals.html https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/agenda-legislatif-10-04-2017.pdf to facilitate the registration of enterprises (draft law on the reorganization of companies), access to credit, to equipment by SMEs (leasing, new security rights), foreign investments (changes in the merchant's status) and to ensure the respect of the standards and qualities of products in order to protect investors-entrepreneurs," reminded the Head of State to the managers who took the opportunity to make a presentation of the company.



President Moses, who believes that the framework of public bodies is fundamental in increasing domestic production, called for the facilitation of access to water in the main Sorgho production areas and referred to this point, the irrigation works that will be carried out within the framework of the Caravan of Change.



He also indicated that other important measures will be envisaged, such as land consolidation for better production by planters, supervision of planters in the fight against sorghum pests, strengthening of the Plant Protection Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and also support to the Haitian universities already engaged in the search for scientific solutions to the problems of insects and bacteria, destructors of culture.



The Head of State also announced that a site of the National Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DINEPA) will be made available to BRANA to allow the company to increase its production capacity.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16275-haiti-agriculture-idb-brings-$2-4m-to-the-smash-program-of-the-brana.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16258-icihaiti-agriculture-idb-engages-in-the-smash-program-of-the-brana.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11661-haiti-agriculture-brana-and-usaid-celebrate-the-sorghum-harvest.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10894-haiti-economy-prime-minister-impressed-by-the-national-brewery-plant.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9941-haiti-economy-brana-is-modernizing-prestige-change-image.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9049-haiti-agriculture-important-agreement-between-brana-and-usaid.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4483-haiti-economy-heineken-increases-its-stake-to-95-in-brasserie-nationale-d-haiti.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Abel Descollines for an Intelligence Agency

Deputy of Mirebalais Abel Descollines pleads in favor of the creation of an intelligence agency in the country after the attack against the presidential motorcade last Friday in Arcahaie.



ADIH welcomes the visit of Moise

Georges Sassine, President of the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH), welcomes the visit of Jovenel Moise to the Industrial Park of SONAPI https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20641-haiti-economy-moise-hopes-the-creation-of-300-000-new-jobs-over-5-years.html which according to him testifies of the importance the Head of State attaches to this sector, which he says "creates, can create and will create more jobs [...]" recalling that the textile sector currently represents between 42,000 and 43,000 jobs for annual exports of nearly one billion US dollars.



Protector of the citizen, 33 candidates

33 candidates have applied for the position of Protector of the Citizen, among others : former electoral adviser Freud Jean, former representative of the Bar Association of Haiti at the CSPJ, Jaques Letang; Me Jacquenet Occilus; Genevieve Chantal Volcy, wife of Notary Jean Henry Ceant and former deputy of Estere Jules Lionel Anelus...



Workshop on the reconstruction of the South

On Thursday, Aviol Fleurant, the Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, launched a workshop on the reconstruction of the South Peninsula, between government clerks and representatives of the international community on housing and habitats.



Tourism and budget

On Thursday, as part of the development of the 2017-2018 Finance Act, the Minister of Tourism, Jessy Menos, met his colleague Planning Aviol Fleurant. The discussions focused on all the important projects to be included in the Ministry of Tourism's Program Implementation Plans (PIP) 2017-2018.



Cancer : Check of one million Gdes

The Franco-Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CFHCI) presented a check for one million gourdes to the Cancer Support Group. Gregory Brandt, President of the CFHCI, welcomed the work carried out by the Support Group for the benefit of people with cancer.



Happy Easter of EDH

The Electricity of Haiti wishes its faithful clientele and the population in general, Happy Easter.It invites you to contact its Call Center to report anybreakdowns, grid anomalies at : 2212-2212.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2017/04/14 | Source

Added English poster for the upcoming Korean movie "The Villainess" (2016)

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Directed by Jung Byung-gil

With Kim Ok-vin, Shin Ha-kyun, Sung Joon, Kim Seo-hyung, Jo Eun-ji, Lee Seung-joo,...

Synopsis

"Femme Fatale" is about a child who was raised as a killer in China, coming to Korea to seek revenge.

Festival

Cannes 2017 (Out of Competition)



Release date in Korea : 2017
Published on 2017/04/14 | Source

Added episode 3 captures for the Korean drama "Queen of Mystery" (2017)

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Directed by Kim Jin-woo-II, Yoo Yeong-eun-I

Written by Lee Seong-min-II

Network : KBS

With Choi Kang-hee, Kwon Sang-woo, Lee Won-keun, Shin Hyun-bin, Kim Hyun-sook, Jeon Soo-jin,...

16 episodes - Wed, Thu 22:00

Synopsis

"Queen of Mystery" tells the story of a prosecutor's wife who's always dreamed of being a detective. After actually solving a case, she ends up in an unlikely crime-fighting duo with a young police captain.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2017/04/05

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Published on 2017/04/14 | Source

Added episode 9 captures for the Korean drama "Radiant Office" (2017)

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Directed by Jeong Ji-in, Park Sang-hoon-III

Written by Jeong Hee-hyeon

Network : MBC

With Go Ah-sung, Ha Seok-jin, Lee Dong-hwi, Kim Dong-wook, Lee Ho-won, Kim Byung-choon,...

16 episodes - Wed, Thu 22:00

Synopsis

An abrasive marketing director and a female temporary contract worker at the same furniture company. She faces repeat rejection in her job search until despair drives her to attempt suicide. At the hospital, she learns she has a terminal condition, but then, finally succeeds in getting hired. With nothing to lose, she tackles her job and her life with a perspective.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2017/03/15

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'Maunakea World Park' Advanced by Hawaii Mayor Kim at ILOA Galaxy Forum Kona

- ILOA Endorses Mayor Harry Kim's Vision for Maunakea World Park -

News Release from ILOA

KAMUELA, Hawaii, April 13, 2017 -- Transcending vision for Maunakea Hawaii as beacon of peace and inclusive place of learning for the World is highlight of Mayor Harry Kim's feature presentation at International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) Galaxy Forum Hawaii 2017 at King Kamehameha Hotel in Kailua-Kona.

Kim outlined his hope that the Island's communities and its cosmopolitan people could come together with Aloha to support his vision of the pursuit of knowledge to make us a better people, and better stewards of the Earth. He said Maunakea World Park is an international symbol of nations working together in peace for the benefit of all. Paramount in the success of this quest is acknowledgement of the people of Hawaii and their immense contributions to exploration and the science of astronomy.

The Mayor, with explicit support from Hawaii Governor Ige, emphasizes the imperative for Maunakea to be both a living museum of the people of the First Nation of Hawaii and the center of discovery for humankind of the Universe.

Hawaii communities, educators, scientists and leaders have a challenging responsibility to support Maunakea World Park and Hawaii 21st Century Astronomy and Education, regardless of the contested Thirty Meter Telescope future. The whole world is looking to us, as the best place culturally, scientifically and geographically to launch future voyages of exploration to the farthest reaches of our cosmic ocean.

International Lunar Observatory Association based in Hawaii is advancing a new frontier - Astronomy from the Moon - transcending and independent from concerns on the mountain. The ILO-1 Mission could advance 21st Century astronomy, education and communication in Hawaii without moving a pebble on the summit of Maunakea. The International Lunar Observatory effort to establish an observatory on the surface of the Moon is being conducted with support from spacecraft provider Moon Express of Cape Canaveral Florida, USA, and primary instrument contractor Canadensys Aerospace of Ontario, Canada, as well as National Astronomical Observatories of China, India Space Research Organization, the newly formed Southeast Asia Principal Operating Partnership, and others.

ILOA sponsors Galaxy Forums around the world to advance Galaxy 21st Century science, education, enterprise in every class. There have been 75 Galaxy Forums, with over 300 presentations, held in 26 locations worldwide including: Hawaii, Silicon Valley, Canada, China, India, Southeast Asia, Japan, Europe, Africa, Chile, Brazil, Kansas and New York. Partner organizations in each of these location are being engaged to provide Scientific and Educational endorsements to enable fundraising for the mission.

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(Reuters) Ukraine has partnered with global technology company the Bitfury Group to put a sweeping range of government data on a blockchain platform, the firms 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.

To read this article:
Risikko argues that by receiving refugees directly from the refugee camps operated by the United Nations, it would be possible to provide those in the most vulnerable position with safe passage to Europe.

Paula Risikko (NCP), the Minister of the Interior, has proposed that Finland raise its refugee quota for next year by 40 per cent, from 750 to 1,050.

At the same time, we would be fighting against human trafficking, she adds.

Finland has re-settled quota refugees since the 1970s. Both Finland and the European Union are also committed to expanding the current quota refugee system to include more member states.

In the EU, Finland has consistently placed an emphasis on the importance of improving migration management and developing legal migration channels. All member states should shoulder their responsibility in this respect, states Risikko.

The United Nations, along with other inter-governmental organisations, have estimated that the ongoing refugee crisis is the worst since World War II.

The Ministry of the Interior states that re-settling quota refugees is a way to help those in genuine need, as the international protection needs of people accepted into the country as quota refugees have been assessed prior to their arrival. Quota refugees are selected for re-settlement by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from among people who are already registered as refugees in another country.

Risikkos proposal was shot down categorically by Sampo Terho, the chairperson of the Finns Party Parliamentary Group, on Thursday. He stressed that the three ruling parties have not discussed the possibility of raising the annual refugee quota in any capacity.

We havent discussed this. We wont discuss this. The quota wont be raised, he tweeted.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
The three men and a woman battling to be president of France

France is heading for an unprecedented four-way contest in the first round of its presidential vote on April 23, according to opinion polls.

GALLERY

Leader of the French right-wing party Front National (FN), Marine Le Pen delivers her speech during a meeting in the run-up to the 2014 Municipal elections in Sete, Southern France, 17 January 2014.

An instinctive conservative, Fillon calls for a harsher justice system and would also like to impose school uniforms. He has called for strategic ties with Russia.

The 65-year-old leftist firebrand has been another surprise of this campaign. Lagging in fifth place until mid-March, his lively performance in two televised debates has seen him rise in the polls and some now show him catching up with Fillon.

Paris (dpa) - Far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron are out in front, the polls suggest, but conservative Francois Fillon and radical leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon are not far behind.Here is a quick look at the four top contestants.If no candidate wins an outright majority in the first round, the top two go through to a run-off vote on May 7.The 48-year-old daughter of far-right National Front founder Jean-Marie Le Pen has been hard at work polishing and moderating her partys image since she took over from her father in 2011. Her "de-demonization" operation has even involved expelling the elder Le Pen for his repeated remarks downplaying the Holocaust.Her efforts have born fruit. No polls so far have shown her winning in the second round, but they say she could get more than 40 per cent of the run-off vote, far ahead of the 18 per cent her father won after shocking France by making it to the second round in the 2002 election.Le Pen pushes a strong law and order line and wants to pull France out of the euro single currency. She says that, unless she can restore Frances sovereignty over its territory, economy, currency and laws, she will seek to take the country out of the EU outright. Her party constantly inveighs against immigration and any signs of Muslim identity in France. But on economic issues, she is more centrist, seeking to appeal to working class voters.The 39-year-old former economy minister is the surprise story of the election campaign. He casts himself as a mould-breaker despite an elite CV. Macron studied at the Ecole Nationale dAdministration which trains Frances top bureaucrats, then worked as a tax inspector before joining the Rothschild merchant bank.In 2012 he joined socialist President Francois Hollands team, and was economy minister from 2014 until last year. He is also well known for having married his high-school French teacher, 24 years his senior.Macron combines economic and social liberalism, the polar opposite of Le Pen. He calls for spending cuts of 60 billion euros (64.5 billion dollars), mainly through adjusting health and unemployment insurance programmes. They would be countered by investments of 50 billion euros focused mainly on workforce training and green energy. His programme couples a "zero tolerance" approach to crime with incentives for employers who hire young people from the countrys suburban trouble spots.Fillon, 63, should have been the elder statesman in the race.He served as prime minister under right-wing president Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2012, and speaks with authority when debates turn to topics such as foreign policy and Frances place in the EU.But his campaign foundered in January when satirical newspaper Le Canard Enchaine alleged that his wife had earned hundreds of thousands of euros serving as his parliamentary assistant for years without actually working.Fillon vehemently denies the allegations, but he and his wife have both been formally placed under investigation by magistrates.Fillons policy proposals left him particularly vulnerable to such allegations: he wants to cut half a million public sector jobs, slash public spending by 100 billion euros, raise the retirement age to 65 and abolish the legally defined 35-hour working week.An instinctive conservative, Fillon calls for a harsher justice system and would also like to impose school uniforms. He has called for strategic ties with Russia.The 65-year-old leftist firebrand has been another surprise of this campaign. Lagging in fifth place until mid-March, his lively performance in two televised debates has seen him rise in the polls and some now show him catching up with Fillon.Although coming from the opposite end of the political spectrum from Le Pen, Melenchon too appeals to disenchanted voters.He proposes raising the minimum wage, imposing a maximum salary of 20 times the lowest salary paid in any business, and hiking taxes on the wealthy.A Melenchon presidency could pose almost as many problems for the EU as a win for Le Pen: the leftist veteran says France should pull out of EU treaties that cement economically liberal policies.But it might not last long, because Melenchon has also vowed to end Frances presidential system. He promises that once elected he will convene a citizens assembly to write a new constitution, and step down once it comes into force.
Fernando Alonso will be racking up the frequent flyer miles in the next month as he gears up for his participation in the Indy 500 at the end of May.

The McLaren driver's road to Indy is an ambitious adventure which, beyond the difficulties of tackling one of motorsport's most difficult events, entails a hectic four-week schedule of traveling back and forth between Europe and the US.

Alonso's preparation will be fast-tracked as much as possible although a crash-course in oval racing isn't perhaps the best way to set up for Indy's perils and threats.

April 19: Bahrain ==> Alabama

"After Bahrain I will be in Alabama just visiting the race and meeting the team members to see how things go there," Alonso said.

April 23: Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

"Probably on Monday after the race I will do the seat fitting, and then I will fly to Russia.

April 30: Russian Grand Prix at Sochi

May 1: Sochi ==> Indianapolis

"After Russia, I will try to be in Indianapolis for a couple of simulator days, hopefully test the car but it's not 100 per cent sure.

May 8: Indianapolis ==> Barcelona

May 14: Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona

"After the Spanish Grand Prix, I will fly to America on Sunday after the race."

May 15 ==> May 28: Indianapolis



Based on his schedule, Alonso will undertake five trips across the Atlantic in a little under four weeks. That's basically about 50 hours of flight-time which he will put to good use.

"On the planes, I will try and look at some videos and races from past years and try to learn as quick as I can.

"It's completely different skills that you need there, to adapt to the car and circuit, strategies, ways of racing that close and at that speed. Many things I have to learn and I am not ready at the moment."

GALLERY: All the pictures from Thursday in Bahrain

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Irish holidaymakers jetting off to the Algarve and other popular destinations in Portugal are facing travel chaos.

Security staff at all Portuguese airports and ports have indicated they will strike over the busy Easter period.

Airlines have advised passengers to give themselves lots of time to clear security as they return home, with long queues and delays expected.

The Union of Aviation Workers and Airports (Sitava) said security staff employed by the private companies Prosegur and Securitas, which are responsible for security checks, have announced strike action that will last from 4am local time yesterday until Tuesday.

Although a skeleton staff will be on hand, staff will be striking for two hours at the start of each shift.

ANA, the national airport management company in Portugal, has advised all passengers travelling to the country over the next five days to expect delays and long queues at security checks.

Busy

It advised passengers to keep their hand luggage to a minimum.

A spokesman for Aer Lingus said the strike will affect hundreds of Irish passengers who are heading for a holiday during the start of the busy summer season this weekend.

The airline has told passengers to allow lots of time to clear security and to head directly to the security area after checking in.

To speed up the process, Aer Lingus has waived its normal fee to check-in cabin luggage and is urging passengers to check-in all luggage.

"We have advised our guests to arrive early at Lisbon Airport and to make their way to the security screening point immediately after checking-in to ensure that they reach the gate on time for their flights," the spokesman said.

"We are inviting our guests to check-in their cabin baggage free-of-charge at the airport check-in desk in order to speed up their journey through security."

A spokesman for Ryanair, which flies to Faro and Lisbon, said passengers should arrive at least three hours ahead of their departure time to ensure they clear security in time.

The strike affects all of the country's airports and ports. However, the largest airports in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, the Azores and Madeira will be the worst hit as holidaymakers from across Europe descend on Portugal over Easter.
Police and emergency services at the scene of the boating accident at Devenish Island, near Enniskillen

A mother has died after an Easter break boating trip with her family turned into a tragedy.

Tributes have been paid to "loving and caring" mother-of-two Luna McKinney (35), who drowned during the family outing in the North.

The family were on a boat at Devenish Island, near Enniskillen, when the tragedy struck in the early hours of yesterday morning.

It is understood the victim was checking on ropes attached to the boat when she fell into the water.

Her husband, Stephen, who was alerted by the splash of his wife going into the water, dived in to try and rescue her.

When he couldn't locate her in the dark, he contacted emergency services.

Beautiful

Locals in the couple's home village of Convoy, Co Donegal, last night paid tribute to Ms McKinney, who is originally from China.

A neighbour in the Flax Fields estate, who asked not to be named, described her as a "loving mother and a caring" person.

"She was just the nicest woman you could meet," the neighbour said.

"Stephen just came back there and he is absolutely exhausted, he doesn't want to speak to anybody.

"Luna had long, flowing hair, like her daughter. She was a beautiful woman.

"We just can't make sense of it. You hear about tragedies like this all the time, but when it happens literally on your own doorstep it's very hard to bear."

It is understood Luna and Stephen had been living in the Convoy parish for at least four years with their 13-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter

Local Sinn Fein councillor Liam Doherty said that the community was "shocked and stunned" at the tragic loss of life.

"The mood locally, people are just shocked and stunned by it," Mr Doherty told the Herald.

"The people who knew them are only coming to terms with it, and how this tragedy happened.

"They were on their Easter break, with their kids, on a family outing when this tragedy struck them. I still can't believe it.

"When I heard it was Donegal I didn't realise it was so close to home in the small parish of Convoy."

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has launched an investigation into the incident. They are treating it as an accident.

After falling from the vessel, Ms McKinney was located by rescue workers just metres from the back of the boat.

CPR was performed on the woman at the dockside and en route to the hospital.

Despite the best efforts of doctors, she died.

Her two children were asleep at the time of the tragedy.

PSNI Chief Inspector Clive Beatty said that the woman's husband is still in a state of shock at this stage.

During the 999 call, the 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," Chief Insp Beatty said.

Shock

"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," Chief Insp Beatty told RTE radio.

"They were up on holidays to enjoy the beautiful waterways of Fermanagh but unfortunately it turned into a very tragic event."

He 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 added.

He appealed for all waterway users to wear a life jacket at all times.
Welcome to our coverage of the 2017 Bahrain Grand Prix from Sakhir. Here you can find the latest results from the weekend, together with links to each session's report and pictures of the day's action. We'll constantly update this page as the weekend unfolds so be sure to check back often.

Session Reports:

FP1: Vettel fastest in first practice in Bahrain

FP2: Vettel survives shutdown scare to stay fastest on Friday

FP3: Verstappen tops FP3 and throws Red Bull into the mix!

Qualifying: Bottas beats Hamilton to Bahrain pole!

Race: Vettel victorious as Hamilton toils to second in Bahrain

Photos:

Gallery: All the pictures from Friday in Bahrain

Gallery: All the pictures from Saturday in Bahrain

Gallery: All the pictures from Sunday's race

Gallery: Bahrain GP podium pictures

Times:

Free Practice 1: Lap times

Free Practice 2: Lap times

Free Practice 3: Lap times

Qualifying: results

Race: results

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Formula One Group CEO Chase Carey phoned Baku promoter Arif Rahimov to apologize for negative comments made earlier this year by Liberty Media boss Greg Maffei.

Speaking on the subject of adding new races to Formula 1's calendar, Maffei underlined the necessity for the sport to cater to venues which add value, citing the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as an event which "pays a big race free but does nothing to build the long term brand and help the business."

Baku's Rahimov countered the disparaging remarks, saying Maffei had been 'ignorant', a claim supported by F1bos Chase Carey.

"I have spoken to Chase," explained Rahimov.

"It was about a different topic but this had to be brought up, and we kind of realised that it was not everyone who shared this opinion.

"He [Carey] was apologetic about what happened, he really sounded like he completely disagreed with what had been said.

"He was really upset about the situation and that it was brought to this level. It was good to hear from Chase that he didn't share the opinion.

"I think we are finished with it, and will just get on and show everyone who has not been to the race that we are doing a great job and it will be a great race."

Baku currently has a 10-year contract with F1 which includes a break-off clause whihc can be activated after five years.

"He is really excited about the race," Rahimov added.

"He really wants to come and see the race, and that he has heard a lot of good things.

"He feels we are a strategic partner to F1, and he really wants to keep the race.

"It was a good talk we had over the phone and it was good to know that not everyone is sharing the opinion of Greg Maffei in F1."

GALLERY: All the pictures from Friday in Bahrain

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Election Day 2022 live updates: Routine issues reported; stocks rally on GOP expectations

Election watchdogs reported routine issues in key battleground states Tuesday but no major problems as ballots were cast across the U.S. Live updates.
By Curt Schleier

(JTA)-Harry Borden is Britain's Annie Leibovitz. Sort of.

The American-born, UK.-raised portrait photographer, 52, admits there "are some parallels" in their careers, though "obviously, I'm nowhere near as successful," he told JTA.

Still, Borden is England's go-to photographer when a publication wants a celebrity portrait. Elton John, Paul McCartney, Ewan McGregor and, perhaps most famously, Margaret Thatcher, have been among his subjects. His work has appeared on the covers of Vogue, GQ and the New Yorker, among many others, and he has over 100 of his works in England's National Portrait Gallery.

Around nine years ago, however, he felt there was more to life than taking pictures of the rich and famous. At what he considered "the height of my powers," he decided to "use my photography for something more useful."

And there began a journey that took him as far as Israel, Australia and back to the U.S. to take photos of Holocaust survivors-200 of them, all told. Of these, 104 are collected in his new book, "Survivor: A Portrait of the Survivors of the Holocaust."

The project was a personal one. Borden was born in New York but moved to England as an infant-first to London, then to rural Devon-where he attended church schools and sang in a church choir. He considered himself Christian, like his mother, Lavendar. Borden said his father, Charlie-an advertising executive and a non-practicing Jew-told him that the only thing he derived from his Jewish background was a fear of anti-Semitism.

Still, from his paternal grandmother-who often spoke about her life as a Jew in her native Romania-Borden had a sense of his Jewish heritage. He also remained haunted by something his father once told him: "The Nazis would have killed us."

Reflecting on those conversations with his grandmother-as well as his father's comment, combined with ambivalence towards Judaism-is what motivated him take portraits of survivors, he said. "It was part of an exploration of my identity," he said. "In rural Devon, there were no Jewish people."

He announced the project in May 2008 at the London Jewish Cultural Center. Ostensibly he was there to give a talk about his celebrity portraits, but there were several survivors in attendance when he announced his intention to start the undertaking.

He posted the early photos on his website, which attracted attention from Jewish media outlets. An article in the Australian Jewish News prompted an outpouring of interest from survivors there and a trip to Melbourne. From there, visits to the U.S. and Israel followed. He took his last photos in 2010, and gradually, "Survivor" morphed from an online project into a hefty-and impressive-276-page book.

The images in "Survivor" are nothing fancy. Unlike his celebrity efforts-which are typically shot in studios where, he noted, he's accompanied by assistants who bring extensive lighting equipment-these photographs were produced by with just Borden, his camera and his subject. The results are elegant in their simplicity, and each image is accompanied by a handwritten note (and, at book's end, a biography of each survivor).

"If you are photographing a celebrity, it is incumbent upon the photographer to be mindful of what the magazine wants," Borden said "I wanted the[se] portraits to be an authentic record of the relationship I had with my subject on the day."

Survivor Susan Goodchild, for example, was smuggled out of Paris, hidden beneath the false bottom of a coffin. She survived the war in a Catholic monastery. She's shown in a thoughtful pose on what appears to be the roof of her apartment building in Melbourne, staring towards the heavens.

Her comment: "Everybody has a story to be told-they are all important for everybody to know what has happened. Mine is nearly at its end but at least it's not the ending the Nazis had planned for me."

Fred Knoller sits beneath a painting of himself playing a cello. He fought in the French resistance and, after he was captured, he was deported to multiple concentration camps. Liberated by the British in 1945, Knoller emigrated, first to America and then to England, where's he's lived since 1952. Two years ago, he was awarded the British Empire Medal by Queen Elizabeth for his services in Holocaust Education.

His comment: "I am glad to be an optimist, because that is what kept me alive"

Asked if he had favorite photographs in the book, Borden answered without hesitation. "Felix Fibitch made me laugh, cry and helped create one of my favorite images," he said. "Being a choreographer, he asked if he could express himself through dance. The emotional intensity he conveyed in the photograph is almost difficult to observe."

Another favorite was Jack Jaget, who offered Borden some take-no-prisoners advice. "While talking about relationships with [him] during the shoot, I remember his sage words, 'If someone doesn't want to be with you, then f--k them,'" he said. "That still makes me smile."

Which brings us to Bordern's favorite famous-person photo, his iconic portrait of Thatcher. It was 2006 and he was on assignment for Time magazine. He saw the former prime minister blink towards the end of the shoot, and that gave him the idea to ask her to close her eyes, which she did.

"I think when you get someone to close their eyes, they're in a position where you can observe them," he said of the award-winning image. "They seem vulnerable... When you see a photo of her in her old age and with eyes closed, there's something absorbing about looking at her and reflecting on how she affected our lives."

And yet, Borden noted how his work on "Survivor" opened his eyes to aspects of Jewish life: "It was interesting having my first Shabbat meal, going to Israel, and understanding the social and cultural emphasis on family," he said.

Borden added that his journey had a "profound" impact on him in many ways. "It's been an amazing experience," he said. "Sometimes, through the vicissitudes of life, you have ups and downs, and I've not been an exception. But meeting with these people put things in perspective. It made me realize that what I had to deal with was of very little consequence."
Helen Benton was the younger sister of my maternal grandmother, Rose Rothenberg. My great-aunt Helen was an outgoing person in a family of reserved people. She was always very kind to my family and me. I have fond memories of times spent as a child with "Aunt Helen" and "Uncle Aaron."

My sister, Barbara Silverman, and I have been working on our family genealogy for over a decade. A few years ago, my mother mentioned that at one time she had found naturalization papers for Aunt Helen. Everyone in the family wondered why there would be naturalization papers for someone whom we believed had been born in the United States.

We encountered several roadblocks in our quest to unravel this mystery. Our first hurdle was that my mother could not find Aunt Helen's naturalization papers. Was she mistaken about the existence of these papers? My mother, Harriet Signer, who is 95 and lives in South Florida, has an excellent memory. She was absolutely certain that she had Aunt Helen's naturalization papers in her possession at one time.

First, we had to verify that Aunt Helen was actually born in New York like her sister, Rose, my grandmother.

I went to the New York City Municipal Archives and found Aunt Helen's birth certificate. She was born on Oct. 2, 1897, at 200 East 7th Street in Manhattan.

Now I was really perplexed. There were several ideas that circulated around the family to explain our conundrum. Sometime after World War II, Aunt Helen and Uncle Aaron changed their surname from Benowitz to Benton. Also complicating matters, Aunt Helen never told the truth about her age. Was there a relationship between these behaviors and what we had already discovered? The mystery became even greater.

After several years of searching, I found Aunt Helen's Petition for Naturalization online. It clearly stated that she was born on July 4, 1898, (the date was a fabrication). The document also indicated that she was born in New York City and that her husband, Uncle Aaron, who was born in Lithuania, was naturalized in 1925.

Every step in this journey to determine why Aunt Helen had applied for citizenship, despite the fact that she was born in this country, added more questions and increased the mystery.

I was totally shocked by the final answer to my question. It not only involved Aunt Helen, but potentially many women living in the United States at that time. When I told people what I uncovered, they, at first, did not believe it could be true.

One day at a Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando meeting, I mentioned to a fellow member/genealogist that I had proved that while Aunt Helen was indeed born in the United States, she had applied for citizenship in 1928! This fellow member of the Society explained that it might have something to do with the fact that she married an immigrant.

I went home that night and, in a short time on the computer, I was able to find the Naturalization Law of March 2, 1907, which stated that a woman's nationality would henceforth be determined by her marital status. Thus, if a woman married an "alien" (as they were then referred to), she would lose her citizenship. Only if her husband applied and was granted citizenship, could she then apply.

This is totally startling by today's standards, but what was even more shocking was that, according to this law, males who married female "aliens" did not lose their citizenship. At that time, it was generally felt that women were subservient to men and their allegiance would be influenced by the thoughts and beliefs of their husbands. In actuality, since women did have not the right to vote at this time, and the most important right of citizenship was voting, it probably was not seen as an important issue.

In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution granted women the right to vote. This created an untenable situation since a naturalized husband could vote but his wife born in the United States could not.

Fortunately, this situation was remedied by the Married Women's Act of Sept. 22, 1922 (Cable Act). From that time, a woman had the right to citizenship of her own that was not based on that of her husband. Those women who had lost their citizenship by marrying a foreigner could regain their citizenship, but it was not automatic and an application was necessary. Therefore, it was not until three years after Uncle Aaron became a U.S. citizen that Aunt Helen applied for citizenship. I was fascinated that in her Petition for Naturalization it states in very small print that with her signature, Aunt Helen agreed "to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to "Republic of Lithuania and/or Republic of Poland and/or State of Russia." Ironically, these are countries to which she never had any allegiance in the first place.

This genealogic journey was a fascinating insight into the position of women in the time of my great-aunt Helen, who died at age 85 in 1983. I wish I had known this unfortunate piece of our history when she was alive. I would have asked about her feelings-not about being treated as a second-class citizen-but about losing her citizenship entirely.

Helen Benton's Petition for Naturalization.

Dr. Richard Signer is a retired pediatric surgeon. He was the chief medical officer of Florida Hospital for Children for 14 years. He lives in Winter Park with his wife, Lainey. He can be reached at rds11544@aol.com.

You can learn how to search JewishGen and other important resources at the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) "My Jewish Roots" workshops. The next workshop is "Jewish Names" featuring JewishGen Managing Director Warren Blatt on Tuesday, May 2, at 7 p.m. at the Roth Jewish Community Center, 851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland. The workshop is free and open to the public. Bring your own laptop to participate in the lab portion. It is also possible to attend via the Internet. Pre-registration is required. Pre-register for either in-person or online participation at http://www.jgsgo.org/MyJewishRoots.
There's a war going on in the United States. It isn't a battle with weapons that harm the physical body. It's a war of ideology versus truth and logic. And the battlefields are on college campuses.

Americans for Peace and Tolerance, founded by Charles Jacobs and Avi Goldwasser, produced a shocking documentary titled "Hate Spaces: The Politics of Intolerance on Campus" that takes the viewer into the heart of the aggressive methods of "combat" used to viciously attack Jewish and pro-Israel students on American college campuses. The film was recently shown to a full house at Congregation Ohev Shalom and will be shown again at Congregation of Reform Judaism on April 24, at 6:30 p.m. After the film, there will be discussion with producer Goldwasser and guest speaker Rezwan Ovo Haq, a UCF student from Bangladesh and former Muslim Student Association member.

In a telephone interview, Goldwasser stated that the purpose of the film isn't just to educate, but to shock the viewers.

"Anti-Semitism on college campuses and the failure of university leaders to address it is a major 'scandal' in higher education," Goldwasser said.

Jewish students are being mistreated, discriminated against, verbally abused, bullied, and shouted down and the "bullies" are getting away with it. Not since the 1960s have students been harassed because of their identity.

This film he created allows an inside look at the problem by digging into the on-going academic de-legitimization of Israel, the normalization of hatred in the name of social justice, and massive donations of Arab oil money to universities.

"The goal of the film is to change the situation," he stated, adding that informing others of the scandal and corruption in higher education is not a task the mainstream media undertakes.

Throughout the documentary, journalists, authors, political figures, college professionals and students share their views of what is happening.

Melanie Phillips, a journalist who describes herself as a "liberal who was mugged by reality," stated that we "live in an era where truth has been replaced by ideology, and if there is no such thing as truth, there is no such thing as lies."

Who is the archenemy, the "bully," on campuses? Students for Justice in Palestine, commonly called SJP. An anti-Zionist, pro-Palestinian activist organization, SJP was established in 1993 at the University of California, Berkley. It now has chapters on about 200 college campuses. The organizations lure is social justice and equality-causes most American college students would fight for-flying under the radar as "just another student club." But make no mistake, SJP is a hate group. Under the guise of freedom of speech, SJP activists push BDS, change history, spread lies about Israel and verbally abuse Jewish students just because they are Jews.

SJP members boldly call Israel "the Fourth Reich," and a 2013 Holocaust Commemoration at Vassar College was interrupted by SJP students who were shouting "Child murderers!"

"What if someone said to your face the Holocaust never happened? Or praised Nazis?" asked a University of New Orleans student who was attending a Diversity Day event in November 2016.

This is what is happening all across America. Anti-Semitism rallies are held in the middle of college campuses. And very few leaders and faculty stand up for the Jewish students. When they do, as did the president of Northeastern who announced there is zero tolerance for anti-Semitism at the school, they are harassed with protests.

"They have no tolerance to hear another point of view, calling Jews who disagree with them Nazis, oppressors," stated Susan Tuchman, director of ZOA Center for law and Justice.

This is not a comfortable documentary to see. I viewed the film at a private gathering. Beside me sat a Holocaust survivor. She cried as she watched. For her, it was as if she were reliving her life in Europe as the Nazis took power. No, not comfortable at all, but its message is very important and must be heard.

The mistreatment of Jewish students is happening on college campuses, and others stand idly by as if this is a normal occurrence.

"You can't co-exist with people who are there to destroy you," said Caroline Glick, senior editor of The Jerusalem Post.

Anthony Berteaux, a student at San Diego State expressed the dilemma, "To what extent do we allow these student organizations to do what they do and get away with it because we don't want to show bias?"

Once this film is seen, viewers ask the same questions, which is what Jacobs and Goldwasser want: to provoke the viewers to bring about change, to stop the madness.

The free screening of "Hate Spaces" is open to the community. Congregation of Reform Judaism is located at 928 Malone Drive, Orlando. For more information, please contact Lauren Oback at 407-645-0444.

This showing is sponsored by Barry and Donna Render.
WASHINGTON, DCApproximately 13,000 Jewish teens in more than 90 communities across 20 countries are participating in a day of community service and improvement projects this spring as part of J-Serve, the International Day of Jewish Youth Service, anchored on the official dateSunday, April 2, 2017. With events kicking off as early as March and running through May, thousands of Jewish teens in grades six through twelve worldwide have organized a variety of J-Serve projects focused on meaningful social issues such as literacy, homelessness and poverty, food justice, refugees, Holocaust education, health and wellness, inclusion, domestic abuse and the environment, among others.

2017 marks the thirteenth year that Jewish youth are turning out in force for J-Serve to encourage community building and connections across religious and societal lines. Amidst an overall trend of declining teen involvement in organized religious life, J- Serve has continued to experience consistent growth since its beginning in 2005, witnessing a 150 percent increase in community participation, a 240 percent increase in teen engagement and an 850 percent increase in countries involved.

New for 2017, project coordinators were encouraged to invite local elected officials to attend and serve side-by-side with their teens as part of J-Serve. Many programs proved successful in this effort, with local project attendees including Mayor Brad Cohen of East Brunswick, NJ, Mayor David Martin of Stamford, CT, and State Representative Laura Fine of Illinois, among others.

From record-breaking crowds of 500+ teens in Vaughan, Ontario, participating in an all-day service extravaganza across twelve youth-designed projects tackling a wide variety of social issues, to smaller groups like the 65 teens gathered in Denver, Colorado, to create cards for sick children and make sandwiches for the local homeless community, BBYO members, community partners and supporters have come together for J-Serve across four continents to give back to their communities while embodying the Jewish values of gemilut chasadeim (acts of loving kindness), tzedakah and tikkun olam.

BBYOs International Teen Vice Presidents of Jewish Heritage, Nicci Mowszowski (Denver, CO) and Jed Golman (Dallas, TX), stewarded BBYOs participation in J-Serve this year. J-Serve inspires Jewish teens to take action and to be pioneers of compassion and service, and has proven to make a huge difference on the groundnot only in the community, but on the participants, said Mowszowski. I love watching the aggregate impact that we as Jewish teens are able to create in just one weekend, Golman added. The teens involved truly enjoy the work they are doing, and it leads them to do more service at other times.

J-Serve 2017 is the Jewish service component of Youth Service Americas annual Global Youth Service Day in partnership with Good Deeds Day, and is a collaboration of BBYO and Repair the World. J-Serve is generously underwritten by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and the is supported by partner agencies Foundation for Jewish Camp, JCCA, Jewish Federations, Jewish Student Union, Jewish Teen Funders Network, NCSY, NFTY, Rock the Vote, USY and Young Judaea.

J-Serve reflects the dedication and passion that so many Jewish teens across the world have for making the world a better place, said Lynn Schusterman, founder and co-chair of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. I feel proud to know that the next generation is ready and willing to step up and be the change they wish to see in the world through J-Serve.

As a core movement priority of the Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA, high school fraternity) and the Bnai Brith Girls (BBG, high school sorority), BBYO members engage in meaningful service opportunities rooted in Jewish tradition throughout the year. Aligned closely with initiatives like J-Serve, members identify causes that inspire them and develop their own campaigns to affect positive change in their local and global communities. Combined, these efforts are empowering a generation of young Jewish leaders who are self-aware and motivated to become agents of change in their communities.
WASHINGTONAmid growing congressional concern about the Palestinian Authoritys misuse of U.S. aid, a major mainstream American Jewish organization has been quietly lobbying Congress to cover the PAs unpaid bills at a Jerusalem hospital.

JNS.org has learned that for the past several years, senior officials of the American Jewish Committee have undertaken the task of pressing U.S. officials, including members of Congress, to pay millions in unpaid bills the PA has racked up at the Lutheran-sponsored Augusta Victoria hospital in eastern Jerusalem.

At the beginning of 2014, the hospital was more than $19 million in the red due to non-payment of fees for patients that are referred to the hospital by the Palestinian Authority, according to a Lutheran World Federation press release, which added that the PA pledged to pay for the treatment of these patients but it has not been able to uphold its commitments. At the end of that year, the PA made a payment of $263,000 and left the remaining $16.6 million unpaid.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA)the countrys largest Lutheran denominationenlisted the AJC to ask Washington to foot the PAs bills. Rabbi David Rosen, AJCs Jerusalem-based international director of interreligious affairs, said he and other leaders from the organization have lobbied members of Congress and U.S. officials to pay the bills. Rosen said he also has spoken to the U.S. ambassador and consul general in Israel about the hospitals financial problems.

In response to the lobbying, the U.S. sent Augusta Victoria $13 million in 2014, another $13 million in 2015 and an unspecified amount in 2016.

AJCs role

The Rev. Richard H. Graham, bishop of the Lutherans Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod, told JNS.org that although he and other Lutheran representatives have also urged the U.S. government to provide the funds, he believes AJCs intervention has been the decisive factor.

If it had been a matter of just the Lutherans want something to be done, I dont think it would have happened, he said. AJC reminded congressmen that covering the PAs bills to the hospital was very important not only to Lutherans but also to Jewish people, the bishop explained.

Graham praised Rosen for pressing the Israeli government regarding possible tax structure changes that would have affected the hospital.

AJC has not issued any press releases concerning its role in the lobbying. The groups associate director of interreligious and intergroup relations, Emily Soloff, who has represented AJC in its communication with the Lutherans, declined to comment on the hospital issue.

Graham took part, along with 31 other Lutheran bishops, in an April 2014 lobbying mission to Capitol Hill. According to an ELCA press release at the time, the bishops spoke to lawmakers about both the hospital funding and the churchs other views concerning Israel. The ELCA has called for ending U.S. aid to Israel unless the Israelis stop all Jewish construction in the disputed territories and portions of Jerusalem.

Rosen acknowledged that the PA mismanages its finances, is riddled with corruption, and is wrong to spend funds on weapons and payments to terrorists. Nevertheless, he said, he considers it a Jewish moral responsibility to seek U.S. funds to cover the PAs bills at Augusta Victoria.

That position is disputed by the Coalition for Jewish Values, a Baltimore-based national organization of Orthodox rabbis, which said in a statement, There is no moral responsibility to pay the bills of a regime such as the PA, which has enough funds to pay its own bills but refuses to do so in order to use its money to pay salaries to terrorists.

Enabling bad behavior

Some longtime observers of Israel-Diaspora relations have expressed misgivings about AJCs actions.

This is an old story of the U.S. and others enabling the Palestinian Authority to divert funds to honoring terrorists and delegitimizing Israel, rather than taking care of its own people, Gil Troy, an American presidential historian and professor at Canadas McGill University, told JNS.org.

If the choice was between a hospital that does good work going bankrupt, bravo to the AJC and U.S. government for making sure it doesnt, he added. But given the context, one worries that this is a case of naive Jews and naive Americans enabling bad behavior on the part of the anti-Israel elements within some churches and enabling the even worse behavior of the Palestinian Authority.

Australian-Israeli activist Isi Leibler, a former World Jewish Congress chairman as well as a columnist for The Jerusalem Post and Israel Hayom, told JNS.org, On a variety of recent issues, the AJC has moved dramatically away from its previous policy of not getting involved in domestic Israeli affairs, and they now seem to be pandering to their most far-left elements.

The ELCA, for its part, has just launched an effort to influence the Trump administrations policies toward Israel. The Lutheran denomination, together with other U.S. churches, last month sent a briefing paper to administration officials and all members of Congress, charging that Israeli violations of human rights and international law have continued without consequence. The churches urged the U.S. to apply Leahy vetting processes when considering aid to Israel. The Leahy amendmentsponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)prohibits U.S. military assistance to countries deemed to be violating human rights.

Members of Congress are currently reviewing the question of U.S. aid to the PA, which has ranged from $100 million to $500 million annually since 1994. The recently introduced Taylor Force Act, spearheaded by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), would cut off U.S. aid to the PA unless the PA stops paying imprisoned terrorists and the families of deceased terrorists. The legislation is named after a U.S. Army veteran who was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist in Jaffa in March 2016.
More than a dozen women took part in a March 30 Pomegranate Society event in support of the Jewish Federation.

A group of women dedicated to improving the world gathered March 30 at the home of Betsy Cohen for the annual reception of the Pomegranate Society, part of the Women's Philanthropy division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. Cohen and Lauren Bloom are co-chairs of the group.

The Pomegranate Society was established in 1981 as a way to inspire giving from women who care deeply about the Jewish people. Today more than 125 Federations participate. The society recognizes a woman's annual gift of $1,800 to $4,999 ($5,000+ giving is recognized as a Lion of Judah).

Last year, the Federation inaugurated its local Pomegranate Society. Since then, 10 new women have joined its ranks. Four of the women were introduced at the March 30 event and honored with a gorgeous silver pomegranate pin, an emblem of the society. The pomegranate was chosen as a symbol because of its significance in Judaism. It is one of the seven species associated with the Land of Israel. There is also a tradition that the pomegranate has 613 seeds, which corresponds with the number of mitzvoth (commandments) in the Torah. The pomegranate has been used widely as a decorative element in Jewish ceremonial art. The silver covers for the handles of the Torah scrolls are called "rimonim" (pomegranates).

The reception featured a Passover food demonstration led by accomplished chef, writer and educator Myrna Ossin, who demonstrated how to make delicious Passover pizza and cookies.

The reception concluded with a conversation about the good work of the Federation in Israel and here in Central Florida. Renee Friedman, owner of FastSigns of Orlando-Central, who became a Pomegranate this year, said she was inspired by her recent trip to Israel, which was co-sponsored by the Federation. Friedman spoke passionately at the reception about her love for Israel and her growing desire to be involved in and give back to the Jewish community.

To learn more about the Pomegranate Society, contact Olga Yorish at 407-645-5933 ext. 235 or oyorish@jfgo.org.

You can see more photos from the reception at http://www.jfgo.org/pomegranate.
On Friday, March 3rd, hundreds of students from the University of Central Florida community came together for the fifth annual mega Shabbat dinner in the Pegasus Ballroom.

The goal of the "Shabbat 1000" project, which was developed by the Chabad on Campus International Foundation, is to "continue building on Jewish unity annually until the dinner reaches 1,000 participants," said Chabad at UCF's director, Rabbi Chaim Lipskier.

Lipskier and his wife Rivkie began hosting these dinners in their home 10 years ago, starting out with just a small group of students. Now, as Chabad at UCF celebrates its 10th year on campus, the event has grown into a family affair including hundreds of extended family members.

Some students, like sophomore psychology major Olivia Ojalvo, brought her family to the Shabbat celebration.

"It's one of the bigger events of the year," said Ojalvo, with her father Jack and younger sister Alex by her side. "I always celebrate with my family."

The evening started at 5:30 p.m. with a mixer over delicious appetizers. During this time, attendees were encouraged to converse with one another, adding to the family feel of the event as strangers and friends exchanged handshakes and hugs.

Greetings from the University were then delivered by Dr. Ehasz, vice president for Student Development and Enrollment Services. Dr. Ehasz shared how she constantly hears from students that Chabad is their "home away from home," and a place where students can practice and celebrate their Judaism.

Prior to ushering in the Shabbat, Chabad at UCF Co-Director Rivkie Lipskier shared a few words about the impact of Shabbat candle lighting on transforming the darkness of this world into light.

"The lighting is a tradition of the Jewish faith to herald in the Shabbat celebration," said Gal Cahlon, Chabad's president and junior hospitality major.

"Women play a key role in this moment, bringing joy into the home," added Jack Ojalvo.

After the Shabbat candle lighting and Kiddush and HaMotzi blessings, everyone enjoyed a delicious Shabbat dinner.

Dr Terri Susan Fine Stenzler, Political Science professor at UCF, associate director of the Lou Frey Institute of Politics & Government, and Student adviser to the Chabad Jewish Student Group, shared her experiences moving to Orlando 28 years ago to teach at UCF. Without the funds to purchase a ticket for the High Holidays, the only place that welcomed her was Rabbi Sholom and Devorah Dubov of Chabad of Greater Orlando.

"That is the spirit that Rabbi and Rebbetzin Lipskier brought to UCF 10 years ago. They welcome all Jewish students and go to great lengths to support Jewish students both as they pursue their religious paths, but also in their secular and academic lives. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with them and wish them, and you, much nachas and mazal in the years to come."

Rabbi Chaim Lipskier, Rivkie Lipskier, Mendel Lipskier and Chayale Lipskier.

The event culminated with the Shabbat dinner, marked by a palpable sense of camaraderie and connection. Indeed, after the sun sets on Friday, technology is turned off and the focus turns to family and friends.

"Shabbat is the beginning of the day of rest," said senior business management major Evan Deacon. "It is a time to be in the moment, be with the people you love and appreciate what you have."

Shabbat 1000 is a Chabad on Campus initiative that is co-sponsored by the Student Government Association, Judaic Studies at UCF, UCF Hillel, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Zeta Beta Tau, Gamma Phi Beta, Knight-Thon and Knights for Israel.

The Chabad Jewish Student Center is a resource for the students and faculty at UCF, Valencia & surrounding colleges.

For more information about events please contact, www.jewishucf.com.
Israeli leaders welcomed President Donald Trumps surprise military action late Thursday to strike the airbase where Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was believed to have launched a chemical attack resulting in the deaths of at least 86 Syrians, including 27 children.

In both word and action, President Trump sent a strong and clear message today that the use and spread of chemical weapons will not be tolerated, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated. Israel fully supports President Trumps decision and hopes that this message of resolve in the face of the Assad regimes horrific actions will resonate not only in Damascus, but in Tehran, Pyongyang and elsewhere.

Israeli opposition leader Member of Knesset Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) said the strike came at the right time and in the right place and sends an important message to the butcher from Damascus.

Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the air field in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched, Trump said. It is in this vital national security of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.

Netanyahus office said Friday that Vice President Mike Pence called the prime minister and thanked himon behalf of U.S. President Donald Trumpfor Israels strong support for the American action in Syria. The vice president also updated the prime minister on the details of the action and its results.

The IDF said it had been notified ahead of the U.S. strike, which saw close to 60 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from two naval destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean strike Syrias Shayrat Airfield north of Damascus.

The American update to the IDF and security establishment before the attack in Syria is further proof of the strength of the relationship and depth of the connection between Israel and its largest ally, the United States, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said.

Assads chemical attack had struck a nerve in Israel, where many saw parallels to the Nazis gassing of Jews during the Holocaust.

We, as a people who survived the greatest of atrocities and rose from the ashes to be a strong and secure nation, we will do all we can to continue to aid the survivors of the horrors in Syria, President Reuven Rivlin said earlier this week.

Rivlin said Friday that Trumps actions constitute a fitting and appropriate response to such unthinkable brutality.

Avner Shalev, head of Israels Yad Vashem Holocaust remembrance center, noted that in the aftermath of World War II, the global community enacted universal principles and instituted international organizations with the express purpose of averting future crimes against humanity. He called on the international community to act now in order to put a stop to the atrocities and avert further suffering in Syria.

Daniel Pipes, a historian and the president of the Middle East Forum think tank, gave an alternative perspective on Trumps military action, arguing that the U.S. should stay out of the grisly Syrian Civil War. The previous administrations non-involvement was justified, according to Pipes, despite the fact that President Barack Obama made a fool of himself [in 2013] when he declared the Assad regimes use of chemical weapons a red line and proceeded not to enforce it.

Despite all this, it was right not to intervene because Iranian- and Russian-backed Shiite pro-government jihadis are best kept busy fighting Saudi-, Qatar-, and Turkish-backed anti-government Sunni jihadis; because Kurds, however appealing, are not contenders for control of the whole of Syria; and because Americans have no stomach for another Middle Eastern war, Pipes wrote.

I see this military action as an error, he added. Nothing in the U.S. Constitution requires that American forces fight in every war around the world; this one should be sat out, letting enemies of the United States fight each other to exhaustion.
TEL AVIV (JTA)-In response to the alleged chemical attack in Syria on Tuesday, Israelis have donated hundreds of thousands of shekels to help children and others caught in the conflict raging on their northern border.

With Israel maintaining a policy of noninterference, giving money has been a way for people here to respond to the brutal six-year civil war. Donations have spiked since the release of a video seemingly capturing the gruesome aftermath of the attack, which killed at least 82 people, including many children.

Just Beyond Our Border, a volunteer fundraising group that popped up in December to send supplies to Syrian children, has raised more than 115,000 shekels ($32,000) and counting in the past few days. Overall, the group has received almost 1.5 million shekels ($411,000) from about 8,000 donors since December. It initially hoped to bring in just 600,000 shekels ($164,000).

"The response has been amazing," Yoav Bakshi-Yeivim, one of about a dozen founders of the group and a Jerusalem City Council member, told JTA. "Our campaign is just a drop in the sea, but it's made people feel they can do something and not just watch. I think if countries around the world had campaigns like this, we would make a big difference."

Bakshi-Yeivim, whose grandmother survived the Holocaust, said the group chose its latest fundraising target in honor of the 1.5 million children killed by the Nazis.

Meanwhile, IsraelGives, an online donation organization, in a few days has exceeded its initial goal of raising 200,000 shekels ($55,000) thanks to more than 900 donors. The group has pledged to send medical aid to Syrians through Israel Flying Aid, which is also Just Beyond Our Border's partner.

"No Jew can stay silent as children are being gassed in the streets of Syria," its fundraising page reads. "We cannot sit back any longer and watch the horrors play out. We need to act, and here is a way."

Arik Marmorstein, the co-founder of Mimoona, the popular crowdfunding platform on which Just Beyond Our Borders launched its campaign, said the effort would soon be the country's most successful ever.

"You don't see campaigns like this. People want to donate,"Marmorstein told JTA. "It's obviously related to the Holocaust, with Yom Hashoah coming up [on April 23]. And geographically it's happening so close to us."

The media in Israel in recent days have been filled with talk of Tuesday's attack on the rebel-held village of Khan Sheikhoun, which has provoked worldwide outrage and calls for action. And the video-showing people, including children, gasping for breath and foaming at the mouth-has been widely circulated on social media, eliciting horrified comments.

The United States, Israel and other countries have blamed Syrian President Bashar Assad for the attack. He has denied responsibility. The U.S. responded to the attack Thursday night with a missile attack on a Syrian airfield.

Israeli leaders welcomed the move, but the country has seen little upside to intervening itself, even as nearly half a million people have been killed and 12 million displaced by the war. An outright victory by either Assad or the myriad rebel groups fighting his regime would likely threaten the Jewish state. Nor has Israel accepted Syrian refugees, though it has treated thousands of the war's wounded.

In an interview published Thursday, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman condemned the "murderous chemical weapons attacks on citizens." But he said the world, not Israel, must be expected to respond.

"Why do we need to take the chestnuts out of the fire? This is the responsibly of the international community," he said. "I am not prepared to be the shmuck that the whole world pisses on. The world should take responsibility instead of just saying it will."

Most Israelis seem to agree. Even activists working on behalf of Syrians caught in the war did not see Israeli intervention as part of the solution. Yossi Saidov, the spokesman for Israeli anti-racism group Tag Meir, which shared Aharish's video, said Israelis know the geopolitics of getting involved in Syria, Israel's historic enemy with which it has fought multiple wars, would just be too complicated.

"We understand that if we try to get involved in the civil war, it will be a political problem. All the world could turn against us," he told JTA. "But seeing dying children is horrible, especially when they are dying from gas. It is happening just a few kilometers from our border, and we believe something should be done, just as as Jews, we expected America to try to save us during the Holocaust.

"I think these are the strong feeling among Israelis," he said.

Indeed, at a December protest organized by Tag Meir, the focus was on calling for the United States and Russia to find a solution. Among the hundreds of Israelis who formed a human chain between the two countries' embassies in Tel Aviv, it was hard to find anyone who thought the Israeli military should get involved in Syria.

"I'm doing the only thing I can because I'm feeling a bit powerless in this entire ordeal," a demonstrator who gave his name as Lior told JTA at the time. "We have to do something. So I donated some money. I'm standing here.

"I'm not sure if it means something, or if it has the potential to change anything."

Asked why he did not protest the Israeli government in Jerusalem, Lior said, "What can we do, send our army into Syria? That makes no sense."
(World Israel News)Russias Foreign Ministry shocks the world by declaring West Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel.

In a statement released today by its Foreign Ministry on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Russia took the unusual step of removing ambiguity about its stance on West Jerusalem.

After explaining that it is deeply concerned about the absence of active negotiations between Israel and the Arabs on the creation of an Arab state in Judea and Samaria, Russia spelled out its stance on Jerusalem.

We reaffirm our commitment to the UN-approved principles for a Palestinian-Israeli settlement, which include the status of East Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state. At the same time, we must state that in this context we view West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, read the statement.

Few nations have made such a declaration, with most preferring to leave the status of the entire Holy City to negotiations.

Israel has yet to respond to Russias statement, perhaps because a positive reaction could be read as a tacit approval by the Jewish state for the first part of Russias statement, in which East Jerusalem is said to be the future capital of an Arab state.

Russias statement also called for both sides to avoid unilateral moves that undermine the potential for an internationally accepted solution and referred to the Palestinian and Israeli people as both having friendly relations with Russia.

The unexpected statement concludes with Russia promising to, focus on ensuring free access to Jerusalems holy places for all believers.
On Wednesday, April 26, Club L'Chaim and students at Lake Brantley High School will present a discussion about combating hate in current times. Titled "Never Again!" the keynote speaker of the program will be Gene Klein, a Holocaust survivor and author of "We Got The Water."

Klein and his family were taken from their town in Hungary to Auschwitz in 1944. He was just 16 years old. Separated from his family, Klein was placed in a work camp. His story is one of resilience, and he has insight as to what he believes we should do about the hate in our world today.

Club L'Chaim is the Jewish club at the high school. After recent anti-Semitic vandalism occurred on the school grounds, the club members decided to take a stand against anti-Semitism through education and showing pride in their heritage.

The program will be held at the Lake Brantley High School Community Room, 991 Sand Lake Road, Altamonte Springs. Sign in and table presentation will be at 5:30 p.m., and the program begins at 6 p.m. The event is free for Seminole County Public School students and employees; $5 for all others.

The event is sponsored by Club L'Chaim and Chabad of Altamonte Springs. For more information, visit http://www.JewishAltamonte.com
The aftermath of an incident on March 20, 2017, involving a municipal truck at the Jewish section of the Pantin cemetery near Paris.

(JTA)-Five days after a municipal truck plowed through a Jewish cemetery near Paris in what authorities said was a freak accident, Isabelle Zenou arrived at the scene of the incident with a camera-and a theory.

The March 20 devastation of 13 gravestones in the suburb of Pantin was not an anti-Semitic attack, according to city officials, France's CRIF umbrella of Jewish communities and even the country's chief rabbi. The driver drove over 13 headstones after losing control of his vehicle, the chief rabbi said in a statement.

But Zenou, a communications professional from the Paris area, is among many French Jews who are not buying the explanation. She cited delays and alleged time discrepancies in official reports on the incidents, her failure to identify skid marks at the scene and a whirlwind of rumors over the incident.

"I don't think we're being told the whole truth," said Zenou, whose photographs of the damaged stones were published in the Le Figaro newspaper and triggered much speculation about the case online and in the media. Jewish community leaders, meanwhile, accused her and other skeptics of peddling "crackpot conspiracy theories."

The exact circumstances of the incident in Pantin are the subject of an ongoing police inquiry. Regardless of its findings, though, the incident is already underlining the distrust that many French Jews have in their authorities amid a polarizing presidential campaign, and in a country where many consider wearing a kippah too risky due to hundreds of anti-Semitic attacks recorded in France each year.

Several days after the Pantin incident, the French media reported that unidentified vandals destroyed 40 out of 50 headstones at a small Jewish synagogue near Lyon.

The incident in Lyon, which is undisputedly a deliberate attack, highlighted "the many questions about the incident in Pantin," said Jonathan Simon-Sellem, a France-born journalist living in Israel. "What is clear is that the Pantin thing exposed a trust crisis between some French Jews, the leaders of their communities and the authorities."

Initial reports about the incident, including by the La Voix Du Nord local paper, came five days after it happened. The paper and other publications said it took place at night, when the driver steered into the Jewish section of the cemetery to avoid hitting a couple visiting a relative's grave.

In addition to social network posts by users like Zenou, the reports triggered a wave of rumors and speculation on several well-read French Jewish news sites, including Europe-Israel, JSSNews and the website of the far-right French Jewish Defense League.

The cemetery, the skeptics pointed out, is closed at night, making a collision with visitors unlikely even if the municipal truck was there after hours. In addition, Zenou maintained, "the cemetery paths are too small for a truck to drive on with enough speed to knock over a dozen massive headstones. Nothing adds up."

Francoise Saadoun, who has four relatives buried in the cemetery, was among the dozens of French Jews who expressed their skepticism of the official version.

"I don't believe in an accident for one second," she wrote on Facebook. "The condition of the roads in the cemetery make it impossible."

The fact that the first reaction by authorities to the incident came nearly a week after it happened did not add to the credibility of officials and community leaders.

"The authorities decided to make a deal to avoid rocking the boat during the elections campaign because news of another anti-Semitic incident will help the far right under Marine Le Pen," Zenou said. "They covered it up."

Simon-Sellem said the baseless allegations, which CRIF in a statement recently denied, condemned and labeled "crackpot conspiracy theories," are unusual among mainstream members of a community that prides itself on its ability to unite under threat.

He pegged the mood to several factors: inconsistencies regarding the incident itself, compounded by a "growing distrust of authorities' politicization of information on anti-Semitism" and anxiety over the popularity of Le Pen, the far-right presidential candidate, ahead of the elections this month.

Like many American Jews who criticized the Trump administration for being slow to condemn anti-Semitism, French Jews have recently seen a series of events that weakened their own faith in their authorities.

One such event was the March 30 publication of a government report that questioned the existence of a new anti-Semitism in which Jews are targeted over Israel's actions. It also listed only far-right perpetrators of hate crimes against Jews without mentioning the more politically sensitive violence by Muslims against Jews, which one Jewish watchdog group believes accounts for most assaults.

The hate crime prosecution this year of a prominent Jewish historian who said that Muslims are culturally preconditioned to hate Jews further soured French Jews on the judiciary, although the historian, Georges Benssousan, ultimately was acquitted.

Many Jews also resented that France's oldest Jewish organizations, the LICRA human rights group, helped initiate Benssousan's prosecution. That highlighted a political gap between rank-and-file members of the community and some members of its elite.

"All these factors joined together after the Pantin cemetery incident to open a very divisive debate about basic trust in the midst of the community in a way that didn't exist in the past," Simon-Sellem said.

It also prompted a harsh and unusual rebuke of the skeptics by Haim Korsia, the chief rabbi of France.

Korsia, whom many French Jews cherish for his hopeful and consoling speeches at times of crisis, delivered his scathing criticism of the speculation around the Pantin incident in an op-ed published March 29 in the Actualite Juive daily.

Calling the skeptics part of a "campaign of deceit," the rabbi wrote that he understood their "initial reflex to assume a hateful attack." But their "persistence in circulating rumors amid an atmosphere of fury, conspiracy theory and revenge," Korsia added, "help neither our credulity as a community nor to generate support for our causes."
Trump administration to host White House seder

(JTA)The Trump administration will host a Passover seder at the White House.

The Jewish Insider first reported over the weekend that the seder is set to take place on Monday night, citing unnamed sources at the White House. An administration official on Sunday confirmed to The Times of Israel news website that the seder would take place.

It is not known whether President Donald Trump or his Jewish daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will participate in the White House seder, according to the report. The rest of the guest list also has not been made public; there are several Jewish members of the Trump administration staff.

Holding a White House seder became a tradition during the Obama administration. Barack Obama joined a seder organized by campaign staffers in Pennsylvania during the 2008 primary season, when he first ran for president. As president, he made the White House seder a custom, inviting among others Jewish staffers and backers.

Tufts student senate passes Israel divestment resolution

(JTA)The Tufts University student senate passed a resolution calling on the university to divest from four companies that do business with Israel.

The resolution, titled A Resolution Calling for Tufts University to End Investments in The Israeli Occupation, passed the Tufts Community Union Senate on Sunday night by a vote of 17 in favor and six opposed, with eight abstentions. More than 100 students attended the senate debate prior to the vote, according to the Tufts Daily student newspaper.

The resolution calls for the university to divest from or not begin investing in Elbit Systems, G4S, Northrop Grumman and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and to screen its investments for human rights compliance. It is unclear whether Tufts currently invests in those four companies.

The symbolic resolution is not binding on the university.

Students associated with the Students for Justice in Palestine group put forth the resolution last week. Some students during the question-and-answer period of Sundays Senate meeting expressed concern that holding the vote the day before the start of the Passover holiday prevented Jewish students who went home for the holiday from expressing their opinions, according to the Tufts Daily.

Tufts Hillel Executive Director Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, who is also a research professor at the university, told the Algemeiner Journal on Sunday that Hillel was working to combat the resolution.

The Hillel Jewish community is deeply disturbed by this vote, and by the way the resolution was brought so close to Pesach, at a time when many of our students are home with their families readying themselves for the holiday, Summit told the Algemeiner.

Several other student governments at colleges and universities have passed similar resolution. They include Stanford, the University of Chicago, Northwestern, Oberlin, Vassar, Wesleyan University, and a number in in the University of California networkLos Angeles, Berkeley, Irvine, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Cruz and Davis.

Holocaust memorials in Greece vandalized

(JTA)Two Holocaust memorials in Greece were vandalized.

In Kavala, a city in northern Greece, the marble veneer was smashed with hammers on Wednesday night, the Athens-based daily newspaper Ekathimerini reported. There are no suspects.

The monument unveiled about a year ago commemorates 1,484 Jews from the city who died in Nazi death camps during World War II.

Every act of vandalism on a monument opens a new wound in regards to the history and culture of Kavala, a community that has always been open, always tolerant and respectful of other cultures and religions, the municipal authority said in statement, according to Ekathimerini.

Days earlier, a memorial in Arta, in northwestern Greece, was vandalized with paint and the aphorism Yolo, you only live once.

The attack came several days after the community held a ceremony to remember its pre-Holocaust Jewish community. In 1944, some 352 Jews in the town were arrested; most would eventually be sent to Auschwitz and their death.

It is obvious that there are still people disturbed by their Jewish fellow citizens even if the latter are dead. They cannot tolerate even their memory, the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece said in a statement.

We are confident that both the municipality of Arta and the vast majority of its citizens will not allow the desecration of memory by a few nostalgic obscurantists who vulgarly aim at staining the image of the city. We are also confident that soon the monument will stand again to fulfill its purpose: remind the visitors of the atrocity that led to the annihilation of the Jews of Arta simply because they were Jews and awaken the society that such an absolute evil can happen again unless we strongly preserve our democratic and humanitarian principles.

Jared Kushner and Stephen Bannon meet to smooth tensions

(JTA)President Donald Trumps top strategist, Stephen Bannon, and his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner reportedly met in an attempt to smooth tensions that have roiled the administration.

White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus ordered the meeting at the request of the president, according to reports. The meeting was confirmed to the political news website Politico by two unnamed White House officials.

Reuters cited an unnamed White House official in reporting that Priebus message to Bannon and Kushner was to stop with the palace intrigue and focus on the presidents agenda.

Both aides left having agreed that it was time to bury the hatchet and move forward, the official said, according to Reuters.

Rumors have surfaced about an upcoming White House shake-up that could see Bannon and Priebus leaving their positions.

News of tensions between Bannon and Kushner, who reportedly were close during the campaign, followed Trumps order last week removing Bannon from the National Security Council.

According to the reports, Kushner believes Bannon went too far in pushing for the Muslim travelers bans and in playing hardball with Congress in an attempt to replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Both initiatives failed.

Bannon reportedly resents Kushner for bringing figures associated with Democrats into the White House.

A Daily Beast report on Thursday said Bannon called Kushner a cuck and globalist, terms familiar to alt-right conspiracy theorists. Cuck, a play on cuckold, is the alt-right term for conservatives who allowed themselves to be played by liberals and the establishment. Globalist refers to theories of a conspiracy of elites to maintain control of the global economy.

Rioting disrupts Paris memorial for Jewish woman allegedly killed by neighbor

JERUSALEM (JTA)Rioting erupted at a Paris memorial for a haredi Orthodox woman who is believed to have been pushed out of her third-floor apartment by a neighbor to her death.

An estimated crowd of 2,000, mostly French Jews, attended the rally Sunday outside the home of Sarah Halimi. The event became contentious when some young Jews, reported by Israel Radio to be from the Jewish Defense League, began arguing with Halimis neighbors and reportedly threw objects at the homes and tried to break into them.

French riot police were called to the scene to disperse the demonstrators, who left after singing the national anthems of both France and Israel and waving Israeli flags, Israel Radio reported.

Halimi was found dead April 3 on the street in front of her apartment in the crime-ridden 11th district of the French capital. Her 27-year-old neighbor, reported by Israel Radio to be Muslim, was later arrested in connection with her death. He has been sent for psychiatric evaluation, according to reports.

Relatives of Halimi said that she had previously experienced anti-Semitic harassment by a relative of the man under arrest. The woman was beaten before she fell from the third floor, Israel Radio also reported.

French police have not classified the womans death as a hate crime. French Jewish lawmaker Meir Habib asserted to Israel Radio Sunday that the woman was murdered because she was Jewish and not because her alleged killer is mentally ill.

Demolition begins on Jewish Theater building in Warsaw

WARSAW, Poland (JTA)Work began on demolishing the Jewish Theater building in Warsaw.

The demolition of the building at Grzybowski Square began Friday, but actors, staff and spectators came to the site on Saturday to say goodbye to the 50-year-old building. The demolition could last for several weeks as it is dismantled in accordance with environmental laws.

A new office building and skyscraper is planned to be built in the place of the theater building by the investor that bought the property more than six years ago, when the theater was forced to sell due to financial problems. The developer has said there will be a place in the new building for the theater.

The theater was built in the late 1960s with the financial support of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. JDC could not transfer funds directly to the theater at the time because it was a state institution, but instead granted it to the association, or TSKZ, which became the owner of the building. In 2011, TSKZ sold the property to a developer, Ghelamco.

In June 2016, Ghelamco closed the building and locked out the theater, citing a decision by the district construction supervisors office, which called the building a threat to public safety.

Theater director Golda Tencer was dropped from the membership of the Jewish Social and Cultural Society in Poland, or TSKZ, for her protests against the closure of the building and its demolition.

We just came to say goodbye to our house, which was built for Ida Kaminska, the first director of this place. Here are our dybbuks, our actors whom we leave behind. It hurts terribly, Tencer said Saturday.

Two weeks ago Tencer received a letter from TSKZ informing her that she is no longer a member of the organization because she was acting to the detriment of TSKZ by blocking the emergence of a new building and defaming the organizations reputation.

The Jewish Theater currently presents its performances in two temporary spaces in Warsaw.

Formed in 1950, the troupe is a link to the rich pre-Holocaust culture of Polands Yiddish-speaking Jewish community. The Jewish Theater in Warsaw is the only theater in Poland performing in Yiddish, and one of two in Europe, including the Jewish Theater in Bucharest.

Children of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner perform for Chinese president

(JTA)The children of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, the Jewish daughter and son-in-law of the president, performed for the Chinese president and his wife during their official visit to the United States.

Arabella, 5, and Joseph Kushner, 3, sang a Chinese folk song and recited verses from classic Chinese poetry.

Ivanka Trump posted a short video clip of the performance and wrote in a tweet: Very proud of Arabella and Joseph for their performance in honor of President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuans official visit to the US!

President Donald Trump retweeted the praise of his grandchildren.

Trump met with the Chinese first family on April 6 and 7 at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The children reportedly have a Chinese nanny who has taught them the language.

Headstones toppled at second Philly cemetery not vandalism, police say

(JTA)Thirty headstones that toppled at a Jewish cemetery in the Philadelphia area fell due to age and environmental factors and was not vandalism, as first reported, police said.

The damaged headstones were discovered Friday at Mount Sharon Cemetery in Springfield, Pennsylvania, and reported by a woman who visited her fathers grave and noticed the overturned and cracked headstones.

The damage was initially reported as vandalism, which caused concern in light of the vandalism in February at the Mount Carmel Cemetery, where about 175 gravestones were toppled in a vandalism attack shortly after a Jewish cemetery in the St. Louis area was vandalized. No suspects have been identified in either attack.

Police said Saturday that the damage was caused by external factors, including recent bush and tree removal. The cemetery management said it would fix the toppled headstones, police told local media.

Israel condemns Marine Le Pen for denying French responsibility for deporting Jews

JERUSALEM (JTA)Israel condemned far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen for saying that her country is not responsible for the deportation of thousands of Jews to death camps in 1942.

This declaration is contrary to historical truth, as expressed in the statements of successive French presidents who recognized Frances responsibility for the fate of the French Jews who perished in the Holocaust, Israels Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued Monday, a day after Le Pen made the statement during an interview in Paris for the RTL network and Le Figaro daily newspaper.

The ministrys statement also said: This recognition underpins the annual events marking the anniversary of the expulsion of the Jews from France and the study of the Holocaust in the education system, both of which are important elements in the battle against anti-Semitism, which unfortunately is once again raising its head.

Le Pen, the head of the National Front Party who is at or near the top of polls, was asked about the roundup and deportation of 13,152 from the Vel dHiv stadium in Paris on July 16-17, 1942, which the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem defines on its website as a symbol of the responsibility of the regime and the French nation for the Holocaust.

Le Pen responded, I think France is not responsible for Vel dHiv, and added, I think generally, and in very general terms indeed, if anyone is responsible, then it is those in power at the time, not France as such. It wasnt France.

Since National Front was established by Le Pens father, Jean-Marie, the party has been accused of espousing anti-Semitism, hatred of Muslims and other forms of xenophobia. The elder Le Pen has been convicted multiple times for Holocaust denial and incitement to hatred against Jews.

Under Marine Le Pen, the party has softened its image, including by kicking out anti-Semitic members like Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was excluded from the party in 2015.

France will hold its presidential vote on April 23. Should no candidate win a majority, a runoff election between the top two candidates will be held on May 7. Le Pen and centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron are the front-runners in the polls.

Rocket fired from Sinai hits Israel hours after border crossing closed

JERUSALEM (JTA)A rocket fired from Sinai landed on a greenhouse in southern Israel near the Gaza border hours after Israel closed its border with Egypt, citing fear of an imminent attack.

The rocket was fired on Monday morning, causing Code Red alerts to sound in several Israeli communities on the border with Gaza. No injuries were reported, but a tomato greenhouse was damaged. The Islamic State terror organization later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier in the morning, in an unusual move, the Taba border crossing between Israel and Sinai was closed following an alert by Israels National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Bureau of concrete information of a planned attack targeting Israeli citizens. Under the closure, Israelis citizens will not be allowed to cross into the Sinai, but may return to Israel through the crossing point.

The border closure and the announcement of the threat come a day after two attacks on Egyptian churches that left nearly 40 people dead and dozens injured. The Islamic State also claimed responsibility.

Israelis were requested to leave Sinai and return to Israel due to the threat. The Taba crossing is located near Eilat and allows Israelis to enter Sinai.

The closure will remain in effect until April 18, the day after Passover ends. The holiday is a popular time for Israelis to vacation at resorts in Sinai.

Several government ministries made the decision to close the border and request the return of Israeli citizens.

All cigarettes kosher for Passover, Israels Sephardi chief rabbi says

JERUSALEM (JTA)Israels Sephardi chief rabbi ruled that it is permitted to smoke cigarettes that are not certified as kosher for Passover during the holiday.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef said in a satellite television broadcast that cigarettes do not need to be certified as leaven-free for Passover, though some cigarettes manufactured in Israel or abroad are certified as kosher for Passover.

He appeared to be responding to questions about whether American cigarettes need to be certified as kosher, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Yosef seemed to base part of his ruling on the fact that leaven is not forbidden if a dog will not eat it.

If you put a cigarette in front of a dog, who is always hungryhe will eat anything. But put a cigarette in front him, will he smoke it? He wont touch it, the rabbi said in the Hebrew-language broadcast.

Yosef did indicate that it is better not to even start smoking, but added that if a person is already addicted, he doesnt need certification.

Israel offers condolences for victims of Egypt church attacks

JERUSALEM (JTA)Israel offered condolences to the families of the victims of two bombing attacks on churches in Egypt and called for a worldwide fight against terrorism.

The attacks on Palm Sunday, a week before the Coptic observance of Easter, left nearly 40 people dead and dozens injured. Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Egypt later this month. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Israel sends condolences to the families of those murdered in the attack in Egypt and wishes for recovery for the injured, the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement. The world must unite and fight terrorism everywhere.

At least 25 people were killed and 60 injured in a bombing at the Coptic church in Tanta, located north of Cairo. Hours later, a suicide bomber killed at least 11 people and injured 25 in front of a church in Alexandria, according to reports.

Following the first attack, Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said in a statement, Terror doesnt stop in Stockholm, St. Petersburg, Berlin, London or Jerusalem. Todays terror attack near Cairo reminds us that Egypt too is under attack. Alongside the sorrow and grief, we need to join forces against the forces of evil and terror with an iron fist. Israel is part of the international campaign against terror wherever it strikes and is ready to assist in order to rein it in.

Israels Supreme Court calls on government to respond to Western Wall prayer lawsuits

JERUSALEM (JTA)Israels Supreme Court called on the Israeli government to respond to lawsuits regarding the establishment of an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall.

On Friday, the court set a deadline of June 4 for the government to respond to the lawsuits and resolve the crisis, Haaretz reported.

The court combined three lawsuits dealing with aspects of egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall. The government has delayed responding to the lawsuits for at least six months.

Last month, Netanyahu told a delegation from the Union for Reform Judaism that he had appointed government minister Tzachi Hanegbi to help resolve issues between the haredi Orthodox parties and the Reform movement and other liberal groups to allow the plan for egalitarian prayer at Robinsons Arch at the Western Wall to go forward.

An agreement passed in January 2016 by the government for an egalitarian prayer section at the Western Wall was negotiated by the Reform and Conservative movements, the Women of the Wall organization, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Israeli government.

Under the agreement, which was approved by the Cabinet, the egalitarian section of the wall near Robinsons Arch would be expanded and placed under the authority of a pluralist committee. The plan called for solidifying haredi Orthodox control over the sites traditional Orthodox section.

Haredi Orthodox lawmakers and some from the Jewish Home and Likud parties in December submitted a bill to the Knesset to prevent non-Orthodox public prayer at the Western Wall.

Israel will continue to care for Syrian wounded, Netanyahu vows

JERUSALEM (JTA)Israel will continue to care for Syrians wounded in their countrys civil war as part of its humanitarian effort to help the embattled land, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also reiterated Israels full support of the U.S. airstrike on a Syrian military installation in the wake of a chemical attack on the rebel-held province of Idlib in northern Syria believed to have been delivered by government airstrike. Some 86 men, women and children died in the attack, which was believed to have released deadly sarin nerve gas.

Israel fully supports the American attack on Syria. They did this for moral reasons in light of the harsh scenes from Idlib, and also to make it clear that there is a price for using chemical weapons, Netanyahu said Sunday at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, echoing his backing from two days earlier of the strike ordered by President Donald Trump.

There is an international commitment from 2013 to remove all chemical weapons from Syria. As we have seen, this commitment has yet to be fully implemented. We call on the international community to complete the work, and this is an opportunity for American-Russian cooperation in this specific area. This work needs to be completed.

Israel reportedly has treated some 3,000 Syrians wounded in the fighting at field hospitals on the border or in Israeli hospitals.

Israel is caring for wounded Syrians as part of a humanitarian effort. We will continue to do so, Netanyahu said.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Syrian students protesting the gas attack outside the offices of the United Nations in the Syrian capital of Damascus shouted Death to America and Death to Israel.

The same day, Trump officially notified Congress of the attack on Syria, saying that he acted in the vital national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations and as commander in chief and chief executive and that the U.S. will take additional action, as necessary and appropriate, to further its important national interests.

In his letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and the president pro tem of the Senate, Orrin Hatch, the president also wrote that I directed this action in order to degrade the Syrian militarys ability to conduct further chemical weapons attacks and to dissuade the Syrian regime from using or proliferating chemical weapons, thereby promoting the stability of the region and averting a worsening of the regions current humanitarian catastrophe.
A group of Palestinians tried to burn some Israeli Jews to death March 23. Just another day in the Middle East.

The four attackers drove up to the perimeter of the Jewish community of Beit El, north of Jerusalem, and began hurling firebombs toward homes there. A firebomb, also known as a Molotov cocktail, is of course a deadly weapon. It explodes on impact and unleashes a torrent of flames. We can all easily imagine what would happen if those firebombs had struck people or homes.

Fortunately, Israeli soldiers immediately fired at the would-be murderers, killing one and wounding three others. That should be the end of the story. But it wont be. Heres why.

To begin with, one of the terrorists was 17 years old. That means human rights groups will add him to their list of Palestinian children killed by Israelis. Even if a killer is just one day shy of his 18th birthday, thats good enough to define him as a child in the eyes of those who want to smear Israel.

The fact that a Palestinian died, while no Israelis were burned to death as he had intended, meant that many news outlets portrayed the attacker as the victim. This is in accordance with the theory that whoever dies must be the victim and whoever killed him must be the aggressor. (Good thing the media didnt use that measuring stick during World War II!)

Consider, for example, the story as presented by AFP, a major supplier of international news. Heres how it began: Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian teenager Thursday in the occupied West Bank and seriously wounded three other Palestinians, the Palestinian health ministry said in a statement.

Since a significant number of readers dont get past the first paragraph of a news article, the opening sentence is crucial. And the opening sentence here strongly suggests that the Israelis killed a Palestinian teenager, and injured three others, for no reason.

And heres how the AFP story explained the broader context: A wave of violence that broke out in October 2015 has claimed the lives of 257 Palestinians, 40 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean, and a Sudanese national, according to an AFP count. Notice how the violence just broke out, like a mysterious illness with no obvious culprit.

Heres something else that few in the mainstream media will report: the Palestinian Authoritys (PA) immediate endorsement of the terrorists who tried to burn Jews alive.

According to the Palestinian news agency Maan, the governor of de facto PA capital Ramallah, Laila Ghanam, called the dead terrorist a martyr. She also tried to spread some fake news, declaring that the gang of four had been driving peacefully when cruel Israelis attacked them. This is another crime, the PA governor proclaimed. She also said we wish a quick recovery to the three wounded terrorists, presumably so they can resume trying to set Jews on fire.

You wont read Ghanams remarks in The Washington Post or hear them quoted on CNN. That would remind the American public that Palestinian leaders support burning Jews to death, and publicly lie to cover for the would-be killers. And that would undermine the campaign to give the firebomb-throwers a sovereign state in Israels backyard.

Stephen M. Flatow, a vice president of the Religious Zionists of America, is an attorney in New Jersey. He is the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995.
There was an illuminating report from Paris in The Wall Street Journal this week that related how Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, has been consulting a group of French bankers and captains of industry in a bid to continue the mainstreaming of her party as the countrys presidential election approaches.

Named Les Horaces, in honor of imperial Romes most illustrious and politically astute poet, this collection of dignitaries is preparing Le Pen, who represents what has up until now been a perennial party of opposition, for the challenges of government. If Le Pens first task was to shake off the legacy of her father Jean-Mariethe spiteful, bigoted anti-Semite who founded the partyher second will be learning how to competently run Frances intensely complex state institutions and bureaucracies.

While Le Pen can point to President Donald Trumps victory as an example of how polling predictions can fall spectacularly flat, she might also want to study his first two months in office, during which the White House has failed to manage both the legislative agenda and the presidents media image. Its distinctly possible the same fate could befall her, in the event that she wins the electoral contest April 23.

Depending on where you sit, a Le Pen victory would signal either the demise of fascism or its rebirth. The former view is held by National Front activists and their global echo chamber, who insist that Le Pens expulsion of her father from the very party he createda move requiring courage and wiliness worthy of a Shakespeare plotsignals an irrevocable break with its Nazi-stained past.

From this perspective, Le Pen is not so much Marshal Petain, the collaborationist leader of German-occupied France, as she is Charles de Gaulle, the resistance leader who shaped post-war France and regarded international institutions like NATO with Gallic sniffiness. Le Pens Gaullist French nationalism resembles that, so her advocates say, of Trump in Americaforthrightly opposed to immigration, contemptuous of multiculturalism, warning constantly of the dangers of Islamic radicalism, and aggressively seeking national control of trade and fiscal policy. What this means first of all is the potential collapse of the European Union, should France abandon the euro single currency and then follow the U.K.s example by leaving the EU itself.

That fuels the opposite idea: that a Le Pen victory would mean the triumph of fascism at the polls in Europe for the first time since the end of World War II. For all of its glaring imperfections, the EU has been the embodiment of the post-war pledge that never again would Europe collapse into war and genocide. The manner of achieving this goal was the EU, with its open borders and its control of trade.

Without the EU, the theory goes, Europe risks again becoming a system of competing nation-states. Add to that government-sanctioned racist rhetoric and discriminatory policy, and all of a sudden, the 1930s dont look so distant.

To my mind, neither of these viewpoints captures the profound challenge that a Le Pen victory would represent. Even if fascism were to return to 21st-century Europe, it would look very different to its 20th-century incarnationand were Le Pen intent on setting up a totalitarian state with racial laws against Jews, Muslims and other minorities, and an ever-present secret police, she would find the task much harder than did Hitler from the ashes of the Weimar Republic.

And yet, those who believe that Le Pen is a French version of Trump would do well to reconsider. Whereas in Trumps case, much of the election campaign involved discussing whether he even had any deeply held beliefs, Le Pen comes from a recognizable and established traditionpost-fascism, if we are to call it that, still comes from fascism after all.

Theres another crucial difference. Trump has been unfairly portrayed as an anti-Semite with little evidence to show for the claim; one reason for that is simply that America, unlike France, has no established anti-Semitic tradition. Sure, weve had to deal with Father Coughlin, David Duke and Pat Buchanan, but there is no history here of anti-Semitic legislation and neither of the two main parties has ever incorporated anti-Semitic ideology into its program.

In France, anti-Semitism has been, and is, far more serious. As in Germany, French intellectuals in the 19th and 20th centuries played a pivotal role in developing anti-Semitism as a modern ideology distinct from its Christian forebear, proudly organizing themselves into political parties with names like the League of Anti-Semites. The Dreyfus trial, perhaps the key episode in the evolution of anti-Semitism as a genocidal ideology, took place in France and defined an entire generation. Today, France is rife with anti-Semitic assaults, abuse and terror attacks, much of it emanating from the same Muslim migrant communities targeted by Le Penand the source, therefore, of the notion that she, unlike her father, will be good for the Jews.

It would, however, be foolish to reach that conclusion. If the last two decades have taught us anything, its that you dont need anti-Semitic laws or policies, nor anti-Semitic government ministers, to have a major problem with anti-Semitism. The hostility to Jews that envelops large sections of the Muslim community, the far left and the nostalgists of the right will not disappear just because Le Pen becomes presidentindeed, the phenomenon could get worse.

If Le Pen follows through on her campaign rhetoric by denying French Jews the right to hold dual Israeli citizenship, Frances perennial Jewish question will likely find itself in the national spotlight once more, echoing past smears about dual loyalty as well aspresent ones about the irritating communalisma phrase from the pen of leading French journalist Christophe Barbierdisplayed by French Jews during the rowdy anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist demonstrations that accompanied the Gaza war in 2014.

That is why I say, to those in America convinced that Le Pen will be a faithful partner in the anti-globalist crusade, be careful what you wish for.

Ben Cohen, senior editor of TheTower.org & The Tower Magazine, writes a weekly column for JNS.org on Jewish affairs and Middle Eastern politics. His writings have been published in Commentary, the New York Post, Haaretz, The Wall Street Journal and many other publications.
President Donald Trumps missile strike against Syria inaugurates a new chapter in the long and controversial history of American responsesand sometimes nonresponsesto mass murder around the world.

Although the killing of Syrian civilians by President Bashar al-Assads regime does not technically constitute genocidewhich the United Nations defined in 1948 as the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as suchthere is no doubt Assad has committed heinous and large-scale war crimes.

Trumps decision to order missile strikes on Syria was primarily motivated by humanitarian concerns over Assads latest chemical attack on Syrian civilians, although Trump also cited the danger to U.S. interests posed by chemical weapons proliferation.

How does Trumps action compare to past U.S. responses to genocide? Here is a sampling:

Islamic State

Under congressional pressure in 2015, the Obama administration belatedly declared that the atrocities committed by the Islamic State terror group against Yazidis, Christians and other non-Muslim minorities in Syria and Iraq constitute genocide. The administrations decision did not, however, result in any change in the U.S. policy of limited air strikes against Islamic State.

Libya

In response to attacks on Libyan civilians by Muammar Gaddafi in early 2011, President Barack Obama authorized U.S. participation with its allies in air and naval strikes against the Libyan leader. Citing the weak international response to Bosnia, Obama said intervention in Libya was necessary to prevent a massacre that would have reverberated across the region and stained the conscience of the world. Gaddafi was killed and his regime was overthrown.

Darfur

President George W. Bush saw no compelling reason to intervene in the Sudanese governments mass murder of an estimated 500,000 non-Arab civilians in the Darfur region, which began in 2003. The Bush administration also initially resisted congressional calls to categorize the killing as genocide. President Obama continued the policy of non-intervention in Darfur. The International Criminal Court in 2009 indicted Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir on genocide charges, but the Obama administration declined to seek his arrest or to establish a no-fly zone over Sudan, despite ongoing atrocities.

Rwanda

The Clinton administration was aware, in real time, of the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis by Hutu death squads in Rwanda in early 1994. Susan Rice, then director of African Affairs for the National Security Council, opposed U.S. intervention because of its possible effect on the November [congressional] elections. At the urging of then-U.N. ambassador Madeleine Albright, the U.S. supported withdrawal of international peacekeepers in Rwanda who were thought to be in danger. Ironically, Albright later co-chaired the Genocide Prevention Task Force for the Obama administration.

Bosnia

Legal scholars adopted the term ethnic cleansing to characterize the widespread atrocities in the Balkans war of 1992-1995, which were carried out primarily by Serbs against Muslims. President Bill Clinton initially resisted U.S. intervention, but in response to a July 1995 massacre of 8,000 Bosnian Muslims, Clinton authorized U.S. participation in NATO airstrikes. The bombing campaign resulted in the warring parties negotiating an end to the conflict.

Cambodia

In the wake of the unpopular Vietnam War, Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter declined to intervene when the newly victorious communist regime in Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge, carried out the mass murder of an estimated 2 million civilians (many of whom were targeted as ethnic and religious minorities) from 1975-1979.

The Holocaust

The Franklin D. Roosevelt administration rejected requests to bomb the Auschwitz death camp or the railway lines leading to it, claiming such action would require diverting American planes from battle zones. In reality, U.S. planes in 1944 repeatedly bombed German synthetic oil fields adjacent to Auschwitz, some of them less than five miles from the gas chambers. The real reason the administration declined to take such military action was its fearas one senior State Department official put itof the danger that the German government might agree to turn over to the United States and to Great Britain a large number of Jewish refugees.

The U.S. bombing of Budapest in the summer of 1944, although unrelated to the mass killing of the Jews, did unintentionally affect the murder process. Hungarian officials intercepted messages from local Jews pleading for U.S. military intervention, and mistakenly concluded that the U.S. strikes on Budapest were in response to the deportation of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz. As a result, Hungary belatedly halted its cooperation with the deportations, bringing them to a halt.

Armenia

The idea of U.S. intervention against atrocities abroad first arose during Turkeys World War I-era slaughter of more than 1 million Armenians. Then-former President Theodore Roosevelt urged declaring war on Turkey. The failure to deal radically with the Turkish horror means that all talk of guaranteeing the future peace of the world is mischievous nonsense, he warned in 1918.

Roosevelts plea attracted few supporters. To this day, successive presidents have declined to publicly acknowledge that the killings constituted genocide, over fear of upsetting U.S.-Turkey relations. The sensitivity of the issue was further illustrated by the Obama administrations refusal, for more than a year, to display a hand-woven rug sent by Armenian orphans to the White House in 1925 in appreciation for Americas postwar aid.

Looking ahead

This months commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom HaShoah) will be the occasion for much discussion concerning the contrast between Americas traditionally meager response to genocide, and the dramatic U.S. action in Syria. Was the missile attack a one-time gesture, or does it represent a substantive change in American policy? Time will tell.

Dr. Rafael Medoff is founding director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, and author or editor of 16 books about the Holocaust and Jewish history.
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Assets from bank Kyivska Rus were removed before the introduction of interim administration using schemes of crediting companies, acquisition of junk bonds and using them as collateral for credits and through transactions with Austria's Meinl Bank Aktiengesellschaft, the Individuals Deposit Guarantee Fund has reported on its website.

The fund said that the cost of assets of the bank in papers was UAH 5.63 billion, while according to independent appraisers their market cost is UAH 1.34 billion. The sum of approved claims of creditors is the largest among the bank under liquidation, being UAH 5.38 billion. The depositors of the bank received UAH 2.13 billion of guaranteed sums.

The fund said that the interim administration introduction day Meinl Bank had $44 million on the correspondent account. The funds were written off by the Austrian bank in July 2015 to pay the debt of the nonresident company. Its ultimate beneficiary and the founder was the founder of bank Kyivska Rus. Prosecutor General's Office started an investigation under the application of the fund into embezzlement of the bank's funds by its former shareholder. The bank is the affected party in the case.

According to the report, credits with the balance sheet cost (in paper) of UAH 4.54 million are 80.7% of the bank's assets. According to independent appraisers, their cost is UAH 930 million.

The fund said that 31.1% of the portfolio of credits issued to companies (UAH 1.28 billion) is credits issued to shell companies. Some 8.3% of the bank's assets are securities (UAH 470 million in paper). Independent appraisers said that their cost is UAH 1,000. They are junk papers.

Assets for near UAH 850 million were removed from the bank through void transactions.

The fund returned credit assets for around UAH 140 million and almost all fixed assets unlawfully seized by the former top managers of the bank.

As reported, on March 19, 2015, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) decided to revoke the banking license of Bank Kyivska Rus and liquidate it.

The bank was classified as a problem due to its failure to comply with the NBU board's decision concerning an increase of its charter capital. Subsequently, due to the inability of the bank's shareholders to ensure its capitalization according to the diagnostic examination of the bank held in 2014, the NBU board made the decision to refer to the bank as insolvent.
My first brush with caste was when I was about to pass out of school. In my government school, people spoke in hushed tones about students receiving the benefits of the reservation system; others bemoaned the death of merit.

As I went to college and then university, things didnt change. In addition to surname-dropping, people seem to simultaneously, almost magically, call society casteless and yet restricted themselves to upper-caste groupings.

Even in more progressive spaces, Dalit discourses would be carried out in their absence, as more privileged scholars conveniently filled in their voices with their own.

It isnt by accident that progressive Indians move in caste-exclusive groups, fall in love with people of their same upper sub-caste, are taught by teachers of the same caste, have friends of the same caste and work in offices that are overwhelming upper caste.

Dalits are shut out of history with landmark events  such as the freedom movement or the education movement  becoming exclusive upper-caste projects.

The media buys into this project too: It reduces BR Ambedkar to the framer of our Constitution, erasing his emphatic rejection of caste Hindus and all tropes of Hinduism. This is cleverly done, making identity a dirty one and incompatible with modern Indian values.

Brahmins, though numerically minuscule, are loath to give up on hold on power and education and so any move to level the queered-pitch is shown to be unfair.

Therefore, when reservations touch 50% it seems blasphemous, but no one questions why a section of the population that is in single digits in some states corner more than 50% of the seats in the first place.

Upper-caste allocations are called development but Dalit projects are always seen as handouts. Being caste-less is a misnomer, a luxury allowed only to the upper castes, who can sit atop the social chain, having converted their centuries-old caste gains into modern capital, while only the Dalits are now saddled with the identity.

But caste isnt gone. It is present in every facet of our lives, though if we look at a string of recent acquittals in caste violence, such as Laxmanpur Bethe, violence is key in the upper-caste design of keeping the Dalit in place.

The 124th Ambedkar Jayanti was marked by political wrangling over the legends legacy  their cynical eyes on the Dalit vote-bank  but any true heir to the leaders work will never be satisfied without annihilation of caste.

Well-meaning upper-caste allies have to work within their communities to rid of the prejudice, beginning with the question why our history books dont mention the multiple Dalit luminaries and why inter-caste marriages are so few in number.

dhruba.purkait@hindustantimes.com
Kashmir has been on the boil since last July when security forces shot protesting civilians heading to the funeral of Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen militant  setting off a cycle of violence during which, according to one account, 96 people were killed, more than 12,000 injured, 1,000 lost their vision in one eye after being hit by pellets and five were blinded. Thousands of youth have also been reportedly arrested in recent months.

The anger has not abated and starkly manifests itself periodically. The latest instance was during the Srinagar by-election on April 9 when hundreds of youth marched to polling booths, took some of them over, pelted stones and confronted armed security forces who in turn used live ammunition on them. A chilling video of a stone-pelting youth shot by armed security forces is now circulating on social media. Eight civilians were killed that day and around 200 injured. Only 7 percent turned out to vote; a repoll in 38 polling stations on April 13 saw only a two percent turnout.

This has shocked some observers in Delhi, if not the Narendra Modi government. Liberal commentators are imploring the government to try a different approach before it is too late. Politicians such as National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and Congress leader P Chidambaram have said that India is losing Kashmir because of its muscular policy.

Mainstream commentators are disturbed because they probably sense in recent developments a sign that the model of managing Kashmir (that has served Delhi well over the decades) no longer works. The key tenets of this model, as gleaned from recurring patterns in the past, are that well-attended Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are important as they provide India with a measure of legitimacy abroad and counter Pakistani propaganda. This model also views state governments as important since they act as buffers that absorb much of the Valleys critique against the Centre. To this end, governments  be they of the National Conference or the PDP  can maintain a measure of critical distance from Delhi; they will criticise the Union government on occasion and use state funds for patron-client relationships that help them win elections. Chief ministers from mainstream parties will chair meetings with security agencies but be powerless to oppose measures that target civilian populations. The NC and PDP can call for the repeal of AFSPA but will be ignored by the ministry of defence. Their role, as the establishment prefers it, is to keep up the anticipatory atmospherics of a solution by calling for autonomy or self-rule, improved India-Pakistan ties and talks with separatists while the agencies and security forces proceed with their machinations.

Mainstream parties, to be sure, have been struggling with weak legitimacy for years now but at least they had the assurance of being outcomes of a democratic process. Now that justification is gone and with it the political order that Delhi has established appears passe, as angry youth, men and women, refuse to engage with it. The Valley is seething  the deaths of teenagers and the presence of those blinded by pellet guns are a constant spur to maintain political purity and distance from India and those working for its institutions.

Ordinarily, this would alarm Delhi as theres a palpable loss of control and Indias image abroad at stake. But the Centre appears unperturbed and is maintaining its aggressive line. There has been no real regret about civilian casualties; instead home minister Rajnath Singh has ominously suggested that India will see a transformed Kashmir in a year. No matter how the change occurs, one thing is certain, that there will be a change in Kashmir in a years time. He also said those pelting stones will have to face the consequences. In February, army chief Bipin Rawat warned youth in Kashmir saying those who obstruct our operations during encounters and are not supportive will be treated as overground workers of terrorists. He said they may survive today but we will get them tomorrow. Our relentless operations will continue.

One can infer from all this that the counter-insurgency tactics preferred by national security adviser Ajit Doval continue to hold sway in the halls of government. The key elements of the Doval doctrine (as discussed elsewhere) suggest that India must not back down in the face of totally murderous stone-pelting attacks, that security forces are totally justified in using the force they do and that Indias objective must be to change the mindset of Pakistan and Kashmir through the exercise of power. The idea is to establish full territorial dominance in Kashmir by quashing protests so that Pakistan comes to terms with Indias resolve and separatists renounce links with Islamabad.

Another crucial element of the Doval doctrine is the assumption that mainstream parties in Kashmir work at cross-purposes with Delhi. An objective of state policy, according to him, should be to prevent Kashmiris from airing their grievances about jobs and development in political terms. Mainstream parties stand in the way of this objective because they talk of autonomy and self-rule and thus turn the minds of Kashmiris towards political questions, which Delhi should not encourage. The NSA has argued that mainstream parties talk up the power of the separatists to extract concessions from Delhi but that they also do not provide political cover to India when Delhi needs it. They can in effect loot and scoot with Delhis money because central institutions have no remit in Kashmir owing to its special status in the Constitution.

The Modi government evidently wants a new approach and has settled on a policy that combines (a) harsh crackdowns on agitating youth (b) initiatives that undermine mainstream parties, notwithstanding the PDP-BJP alliance, and (c) taking Kashmir out of the India-Pakistan equation. The last two elements have been achieved to a significant extent; what remains is the act of disciplining Kashmir, which we are likely to see more of in times ahead.

The success of such an approach is not a given; nationalist sentiment is rarely snuffed out by purely military force but Delhi will be compelled to stick with the policy as protests continue. Such a policy also has its political uses, since the flawed counterinsurgency strategy -- and the reactions it will generate in the Valley and in Delhi by way of charged media narratives  also neatly dovetails with the BJPs goal of polarising India on religious lines. In other words, Kashmiris will continue to resist, influential sections of the Indian media will continue to represent them as saboteurs inspired by Pakistan in ways that rallies support for the BJPs strong-arm tactics, while glossing over the shooting of unarmed civilians. The up and down cycles of civilian uprisings in Kashmir will thus serve to periodically infuse nationalist sentiment in Indias body politic.

All this means that the source of legitimacy for the Indian state in Kashmir has now changed. It used to be about international recognition of the electoral process in J&K; now it is about disciplining the Valley for internal audiences and setting set the stage for assimilationist endeavours in the future. India has little need to bother with international reactions as it buys weapons and offers market access so that countries dare not offer opinions on Kashmir. If Kashmir endured the hypocrisy of the Congress years it is now having to live with the consequence of being central to the project of turning India into a majoritarian state.

The views expressed are personal. Twitter: @SushilAaron

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Madhya Pradesh high court has issued an ultimatum to the Balaghat SP to explain the undue delay in arresting police officials named in an FIR in an alleged assault on RSS pracharak Suresh Yadav. Court has asked the SP to submit his reply or appear in person during the next hearing scheduled on April 18. Yadav had moved a PIL claiming that police were not arresting those named in the FIR.

The cases were registered following a complaint by Yadav in which he had alleged that policemen dragged him out of his house before thrashing him. Yadav was admitted to a local hospital and later referred to Jabalpur. Nine people including six policemen were booked on charges of attempt to murder, rioting and robbery in Balaghat after they roughed up the RSS leader .

It all started after a complaint was filed against Yadav at the Balaghats Baihar police station by some local residents who alleged that Yadav had posted objectionable comments against Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi on WhatsApp in September 2016.

Baihar police station TI Ziaul Haq acted promptly after receiving the complaint and informed his seniors. He along with ASP Rajesh Sharma, SI Anil Ajmera, ASI Suresh Vijywar, constable Uikey and half a dozen other cops reached the RSS office. They booked Yadav under IPC Section 295 (a) (outraging religious feeling).

In response to Yadavs PIL government advocate Swapnil Ganguly made a submission that since entire investigation has been handed over to SIT, respondent Balaghat SP is not required to file an affidavit.

Yadavs lawyer objected saying that there was no response from the state and its functionaries through government advocate was very much present in court. It was only when order of personal appearance of respondent SP, Balaghat for non-complainance of earlier order was passed that the government responded, said sources.

Earlier, Yadav had made a plea for including his name as a respondent demanding CBI inquiry into the entire incident. State government had submitted in court that the PIL had been filed to gain publicity and should be categorized as politically motivated. Government said that the issue has been evaluated by the DGP who constituted a SIT. The home department said that CBI has many cases on hand and where SIT is being constituted, matter should not be referred to CBI.
Bhopal: Four lions reached Madhya Pradeshs Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal on Friday from Assam. The four big cats, including two males and two females, were brought to Bhopal by a team of nine officials in a special vehicle from Assam after travelling for nearly 75 hours. The lions were kept in the cages of Van Vihar National Parks wildlife rescue centre.

Dr Atul Gupta , veterinary doctor at the Park, who along with eight other officials had gone to Guwahati , told HT that these tigers were in a zoo there. There were no proper facilities there for taking care of these lions. They are also suffering from various ailments need medical attention, which we can provide them here. They will be now permanently here, he said

This new addition has brought cheer to officials at Van Vihar National Park, which lost two lions last year. In July last year, Indias perhaps oldest lion in captivity-28 year old Ramu-died died in Van Vihar, followed by death of another elderly lion a month later. Van Vihar National Park has now seven lions, with the latest addition.

According to wildlife experts, lions in wild live up to 16 to 18 years as they mostly die in injuries following their territorial fights. But when a lion is put in captivity, they generally live long, over 20 years. One of five big cat species found in India, Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) is found in wild in Gujarat only, elsewhere they are in captivity.

MP has been trying to get lions from Gujarat. The much delayed reintroduction of Asiatic Lion to MPs Kuno-Palpur wildlife sanctuary from Gujarat is yet to happen. Even the expert committee on translocation of lions to MP has recommended it as ideally suited for second home for lions, but Gujarat government wants that before the translocation, all the 36 studies, which have mandated under the new translocation guidelines of the IUCN issued in 2013, should be conducted to check whether Kuno was suitable for translocation or not. These studies concern issues like habitat status, prey base, vegetation cover, weather and so on.

As Asiatic lions exist only in Gir sanctuary, experts have often expressed apprehensions that high rate of inbreeding and less genetic diversity could make them susceptible to epidemics and make them extinct. In 1993, WII conducted a study to identify the best area for translocation of lions and they found Kuno-Palpur in Sheopur district, nearly 140 kms from Gwalior, most suitable. In this light, a proposal was mooted to translocate a few of the Gir lions to MP in 2000. Wildlife activist Fayaz Khudsar filed a public interest petition in the apex court in 2006 and sought translocation of Gir lions to MP. In April 2013, the apex court in a judgment directed that the lions be translocated to Kuno-Palpur in MP.
Bhopal: BJPs massive victory particularly in assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the abode of three most controversial sites at Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi, suddenly gives rise to VHPs activities with the saffron organisations clarion call to its cadre to be prepared to work as Kar Sevaks as they did in December 1992, for construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, and also build a movement for ending cow slaughter.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) held as many as 102 dharmasabhas all over the state between March 29 and April 11, to drum up support and test the mood of the people for their causes.

Braving the scorching heat and all pervasive dust, hundreds thronged these meetings.

In one of the dharmsabhas held at Bhopal, the participants were dressed for the occasion.

Wearing saffron robes or orange sash, sporting bright red tilaks on their forehead, with maces in their hands and chanting Jai Jai Shree Ram, looked like an army ready for war.

We have come here for the Ram temple. My father and uncle had gone to Ayodhya in 1992 for construction of the Ram temple, and I will do the same, said Sadanand Tiwari from a village in Sehore district. He said their leaders have asked them to go back to their villages and build a positive mood among people for the temple.

A new generation has come up after 1992 and we will have to build up legions of Ram Bhakts who are willing to go to any length for construction of the temple, said a senior VHP leader, explaining why they needed to organise these dharmasabhas.

The VHP believes there is no better time than the present for the construction of the Ram Temple and end cow slaughter. With a Ram bhakt government in Uttar Pradesh headed by Yogi Adityanath, who is also head of Gorakshnath Temple at Gorakhpur and a Rashtra Bhakta government at the centre, headed by Narendra Modi, and the Supreme Court also showing interest in settling the dispute, the time is indeed ripe, they feel.

To make the support base of movement broader, the VHP leaders are showing willingness to praise even Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for his role in construction of Somnath temple, and Rajiv Gandhi for opening the locks of dispute Ram Janmabhoomi  Babri Masjid site. Some of the women who had come at the meeting in Bhopal said they had voted for the Congress in the past, but were committed to the construction of the Ram temple.

At a dharmasabha in Vidisha, the parliamentary constituency of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, VHP vice president Hukumchand Sawala said, The central government should bring a bill for the Ram Temple in the parliament like former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru did for the Somnath temple. In the presence of former President of India Rajendra Prasad, Lord Somnath was honoured with 121 canons. We want the same sort of respect for Lord Ram.

In an attempt to co-opt the Dalits in the movement, the leaders are asking Hindus to shun caste discrimination. All Hindus are one. Caste discrimination should be stopped in our society, said Sawala.

The VHP is not going to get into the issue of legality, morality or even historical evidence about the existence of Ram temple at the disputed site. To them it is a matter of faith.

There was of course the usual bashing of Pakistan and some of the VHP leaders called LeT leader Hafiz Saeed, the modern days Ravana. Hindus should think of terminating terrorists like Saeed, the leaders urged.

The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government also came in for some flak for allegedly allowing illegal slaughter and trade of cow in the state. They compared Chouhan unfavourably with UP CM Yogi Adityanath and pointed out that the latter had stopped illegal trade of cow in the state by closing all illegal slaughter houses within 24 hours of coming to power.

Instead of taking action on illegally run slaughter houses, the administration in MP takes action against activists, who dedicated their life for protecting the cows. Like Gujarat, UP and Jharkhand government, MP government should come up with strict laws to take action against cow slaughter, some of the leaders said.
Comedian-actor Vir Das is on a mission to spread cheer all around the globe. Vir, who was last seen in the big-ticket action film Shivaay and before that in Delhi Belly and Go Goa Gone, is all set to travel the world with his latest stand-up routine. He has plans to perform in Nigeria, the African country that doesnt attract many overseas artists because of its political tension.

The entire idea behind having this tour is to bring a smile [on the face of] every individual. It makes me happy when I see people laugh their heart out and forget all their worries. One of the major reasons for me to visit Nigeria is to do the same and [put] a bright smile on the faces of as many people as I can, says Vir. He is also trying to take the show to Brazil after Nigeria.

Vir began the tour in March and has already performed in cities such as New York, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles in the US. The European leg of the tour begins in June. He is elated with the response he has got so far.

This experience is something I can never forget, says Vir. The love that Ive received so far is beyond expression. I have been to the US earlier, but this experience is different as its the first place of my world tour. I see fans appreciating me, and now Im totally looking forward to the next destination, which is Europe, he adds.

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Actor Anil Kapoor has declined to wade into the Twitter debate between daughter Sonam Kapoor and actor Abhay Deol, who had slammed Bollywood actors including his Aisha co-star for endorsing fairness creams.

Its a small thing. I dont get involved into any matter of my kids. So, let it be between the kids. Sonam will be the right person to speak about this. If there is a crucial matter or anything I will talk about it; dont involve me into these small things. Sonam can handle these things very well, Anil told reporters at an event.

Abhay had criticised Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor and John Abraham for featuring in campaigns that promote and sell fairness creams.

While the other actors stayed silent, Sonam posted a photo of Esha Deol, Abhays cousin, endorsing a fairness cream. She deleted it later.

Abhay had simply replied, Is wrong too. For my views read my post.

Is wrong too. For my views read my post. https://t.co/Jw9CNINd6t  abhay deol (@AbhayDeol) April 12, 2017

Along with the photo she wrote, @AbhayDeol I appreciate and concur with your views and would like to know your thoughts on this as well.

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Model-turned-actor Angela Krislinzki became an overnight sensation after an interview in which she called actor Hrithik Roshan a friend and mentor. Taken aback, the actor tweeted, Dear lady, who are you and why are you lying. It created more of a buzz because Angela was then rumoured to be the new girl in Hrithiks life. Putting an end to all these reports, Angela replied with an apology to Hrithik and blamed the controversy on misleading headlines; the actor acknowledged this and wished her luck. And that was that.

Pictures of Angela from her days as a Splitsvilla contestant have surfaced on the Internet.

Now, Angela is again in the midst of a controversy: pictures of her from her days as a Splitsvilla contestant have surfaced on the Internet, and they are being compared with her current photos, suggesting that she has undergone drastic cosmetic procedures to look fairer and light-eyed. Even her name and Spanish-Polish origin has come under the scanner. In an exclusive chat with Hindustan Times, Angela clears the air about her name, nationality and rumoured surgeries.

#throwbacktuesday2016blissfriends A post shared by Angela Krislinzki (@angelakrislinzki) on Jan 16, 2017 at 2:38pm PST

How would you introduce yourself  Annie or Angela?

My name on my passport, birth certificate and all my legal documents is Angela Krislinzki. So, if someone calls me Annie, Anna, Ann or whatever... they are only nicknames. I havent changed my name. Its so horrible when people come and tell me that Ive changed my identity and that they have exposed me. Tell me, who am I? Am I a murderer or a robber or a criminal? What did they expose and how did they expose [it]? Do I have some criminal background, which theyve found and have traced me?

Theres a lot of confusion about your place of birth and nationality also.

Id like to clarify that I am an Indian national. My surname was always Krislinzki and I am not faking my ethnicity. My dad is Polish, so I get the surname from him. Also, he is currently working in Spain, but that doesnt make me Spanish, though I have lived in Spain for some time. Im born in India and Im a Mumbai girl, aur main bahut achhe se Hindi mein baat kar leti hoon. (I can talk very well in Hindi).

A post shared by Angela Krislinzki (@angelakrislinzki) on Feb 16, 2017 at 10:25am PST

But why would someone spread such rumours?

I dont know. Theyre changing the information on my Wikipedia page and its not under my control. Theyve written that I am a graduate in Hindi literature, which is not true. I have a Masters [degree] in Psychology and all my professors in college (KC College, Mumbai) can validate this.

There are reports that you participated in the reality show Splitsvilla Season 1? Is that true? Or are you denying that?

No. Why would I deny that? Nobody has asked me about it. Rather, I participated in many reality shows, besides doing TV commercials and movies in South [India].

On Splitsvilla, everyone knew you as Annie...

Its a nickname. Back in college, my friends used to call me Annie and it was cool to have nicknames. So when I was on the show, I was called by a certain nickname. But now that Ive grown up, I feel I should go with the name on [my] documents, or it gets confusing when you start working.

There are photos of you from the show, in which you look drastically different from how you look now. Do you admit that its you in those pictures?

Yes. But if you have seen the initial episodes (of Splitsvilla), youd know that on such reality shows, we are under tremendous heat and have to perform several tasks for 40 days, so tanning is normal. And certain pictures that have gone viral are under such dirty lighting.

A post shared by Angela Krislinzki (@angelakrislinzki) on Mar 9, 2017 at 1:05am PST

What about all the surgeries that youve reportedly undergone to look the way you do now?

You know, I get very offended and hurt upon reading these articles, but then I find them funny when I discuss [them] later. Some people are saying that Ive opted for some eye surgery. Hello! I have brown eyes. I admit that I wear lenses, and dont think theres anything wrong with that. Millions of girls out there wear lenses, altering the way they look on certain occasions.

And have you taken some skin treatment, too, to improve your skin tone?

I read somewhere that Ive peeled some five layers of my skin. I really want to know from a dermatologist if its really possible. I understand someone peeling one superficial layer but five? What does skin surgery really mean? Peeling off the entire skin and putting [on] new skin? And where does that new skin come from? I have no idea about this and I even Googled [to see] whether such a thing even exists. And if its practically possible, why arent lots of dusky people doing that?

But then how do you look so fair in all your pictures?

Im not this white, as I look in the pictures. Most girls look very different in their Instagram photos, so please dont judge on that basis. Plus, there are so many filters that we all use. Im just an Indian skin-toned fair girl. Also, there are so many factors that play an important role while taking a picture, such as good lighting, editing, makeup, camera etc.

Do you think all these reports will have a negative impact on your career?

Honestly, Im not interested in Bollywood. I was doing such good projects down South, but with all this speculation, I dont know where my career is headed now. I feel my life is over. Right now, I dont even feel like working in South [India]. I am so upset. These articles on my personal life have screwed me psychologically. I am a girl and at the end of the day, I want to get married also. What about that?

Some people think it was all to get publicity and bag more work. Is there any truth in that?

I dont want this fame. I want to live peacefully. I feel like leaving everything and just going somewhere. I have reached a point where I am like, What the hell, this is not what I want!

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Bollywood actor Karisma Kapoors ex-husband Sunjay Kapoor married Priya Sachdev after dating for five years, reports suggested on Friday.

Mr & Mrs J ! #love A post shared by charusachdev (@charusachdev) on Apr 13, 2017 at 9:35pm PDT

A Mumbai Mirror report said Sunay, a Delhi-based industrialist, married Priya on Thursday in Delhi. The duo first met in New York, it added.

Priya, Indian-American hotelier Vikram Chatwals ex-wife, also took to Twitter to confirm the news.

My girls! Thank you for being there for me on my special day... https://t.co/QYkZS46h2F  Priya Sachdev (@PriyaSJK) April 13, 2017

The report added the duo supported each other through their divorces and added that the marriage was a quiet affair.

Priya and Sunjay are likely to hold another ceremony in New York, the report said.

Hindustan Times could not independently verify the report.

Sunjay and Karisma tied the knot in 2003. Things, however, turned sour soon. Karisma and Sunjay officially divorced in June 2016 with the family court accepting their consent terms agreed by the couple in April. The couple has had a long battle over divorce and custody of their two kids, before they agreed to a consent term before the Apex court in April 2016.

The couple had initially moved a mutual consent divorce petition before the court in 2014. Later the consent was withdrawn after differences cropped up between the two on over financial settlement and custody battle for their kids  a boy and girl. Sunjay filed a fresh petition asking for a judicial separation in December l2015. Karisma, too, also filed a case of harassment against her former husband and his mother.

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Financing of medicine reimbursement program could be expanded by UAH 250 mln in 2017 - PM

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said that the financing of the state-sustained medicine reimbursement program for treating cardiovascular diseases, bronchial asthma and type 2 diabetes mellitus could be expanded by UAH 250 million in 2017.

"I do not rule out that we even this year would ask parliament to increase the financing of the program, for example, by UAH 250 million as we project," he said in parliament on Friday.

He said that not all pharmacies joined the program and not all citizens are informed about its conditions.

Groysman said that the work to inform citizens on the Affordable Medicine program and provide access to medicines must be done.
Actor Ranvir Shorey is shooting in Delhi for his film Halka. The shoot is taking place at a slum near Pragati Madan. A set has been created right outside Indraprastha metro station. The team has been shooting there for the past three or four days. Although, as per schedule, they shoot for a few hours each day, there was one day when the team had a full day-and-night schedule.

Actor Ranvir Shorey will be shooting in Delhi throughout April. (PHOTO: SHIVAM SAXENA/HT PHOTO)

Directed by I Am Kalam filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda, the film also stars Bengali actor Paoli Dam and Kumud Mishra. In fact, the word is that the director has also hired two people from the slum area as actors in the film. The director has also been quoted as saying that the film is a sequel to I Am Kalam.

Ranvir says, We will be shooting in Delhi till the end of [April]. Apart from [this place near] Pragati Maidan, there are a few other locations, too. However, most of the shooting will happen here. The film has magical realism and the story is based on a socially relevant subject. I am playing the protagonists father in the film, while Paoli is playing the mother.

Meanwhile, Ranvirs film Blue Mountains, directed by Suman Ganguly, released recently. He plays a father also in that film.

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Sana Khans bold scenes with Gurmeet Choudhary in the 2016 film Wajah Tum Ho might have been appreciated by the audience, but the actor says that it wasnt easy for her to convince her mother about why she was doing such scenes.

I belong to a very conservative family, says Sana. Though Im a very broad-minded girl, I dont think any parent would appreciate their daughter stripping on-screen. Even for other [female actors], I dont think their mothers will be sitting, clapping and hooting when the daughter is doing a bold scene in a film. Of course, its not a comfortable place to be in, says Sana, adding that at the same time, parents do understand acting as a profession and they know these things are common in the industry.

My mum took a very long time to understand and accept this. But eventually, she understood that my film was releasing soon, so she didnt put any pressure on me, adds the 29-year-old Sana.

Her mother was so concerned, Sana recalls, that she even met the director of Wajah Tum Ho and asked him if there was a scope to snip the bold scenes. She asked my director why he made me do all this on-screen. He tried explaining to her that there are people who are financing the film, so its not a directors fault or decision, shares the actor, who shot to fame when she participated in the reality show Bigg Boss Season 6.

Despite her mothers objections to the bold scenes in the film, Sana says that she had no choice, because when we sign a film, we agree to be part of the script. She adds that she was a little scared during the shoot of that particular scene, which showed the lead characters making love. Sana says, I made sure that only my director, cameraman and one trolley guy was present there, and everybody else was out. My director even used to laugh, saying, Youre not fit for your genre and you can never do erotic scenes.

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Eminent filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt on Friday said that it was unfortunate that Pakistan misjudged the movie Begum Jaan and banned it across the border. What is troubling is that authorities in Pakistan not even saw the movie once. Had they seen it and decided against it, there would have been no problem. But outrightly saying no, even without watching it, is upsetting, Bhatt said before the screening of the newly released movie at the Partition Museum here.

He said that Pakistan was not a market for him. It is a ladder that can connect the cultures. I would make it very clear that the ban on one movie cannot jeopardise the long efforts made to bring peace between two nations, he added.

Begum Jaan is just about the sorrows of displacement and its impact on a section of people, but Pakistan thought its something political, which is upsetting, he said.

Asked if the row over the death sentence awarded to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan could be behind the ban on the movie, Bhatt said, I would say that the case of Jadhav must be decided in an open court, rather than an army court. We dont know what happened there. Jadhav must be given consular access so that there is a transparent trial.

Stressing that artists of both nations must have the right to work across the borders, he said that civil society must be kept away from the politics.

Bhatt, who was accompanied by local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and actors Gohar Khan and Pallavi Sharda, said his visit to the Partition Museum brought back the memories of Partition. It was great to visit this place. One could understand what pain and sorrows people must have gone through when India and Pakistan were divided. But along with that it also shows the spirit to move on.

Gauhar Khan, who acted in the movie, also said that it was a great experience to be in the museum.

Sidhu also lauded the effort of setting up the museum in Amritsar while adding that countries that remember their history grow a lot. Director Srijit Mukherjee also appreciated the museum and its theme.

The event was organised in partnership with Hindustan Times, which is one of the contributors to the museum.

On the walls of the museum are newspaper reports from 1947, including those from the archives of Hindustan Times, recording violence and riots that took place when the people of a divided country tried to make their way to safety.

The Gallery of Hope, funded by Hindustan Times, tells the inspiring stories of people who crossed over to India empty-handed and managed to build a business empire over the years. At the centre of the gallery is the Tree of Hope  its trunk made out of barbed wire (symbolic of the borders) but its branches are smooth that symbolise the life the survivors carved out for themselves.

FEEL OF THE 1940s

On Friday, a dinner comprising special dishes such as Lahori Murg Masala, Nihari Gosht, Mathania Murg and Lahori Paneer Tikka was served to guests, including the film stars and prominent personalities, giving a feel of the 1940s.

The Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust chairperson Kishwar Desai said, The invite to the cast and makers of Begum Jaan is a part of the mandate of the trust, a charitable NGO. The trust aims to generate dialogue through cultural events and offer a fresh understanding of the Partition.
Looking at Connaught Place, can you believe that the heart of Delhi wouldve been a railway station had a proposed plan of 1912 come into effect? In the beginning, the British decided to keep the railway line between New Delhi and Old Delhi. But they later made it a place of trade, that it today is, reveals Pilar Maria Guerrieri. The Italian, through 61 elaborate maps in her book, Maps of Delhi, shares many more anecdotes and lesser-known facts about the Capital of India.

She studied architecture in Italy, and when it came to selecting a topic for her thesis, she zeroed in on Delhi. My curiosity brought me here I thought of picking up a developing country, where the problem of tradition and contemporary is prominent. India seemed like the best option, also because I wanted to choose an English-speaking country. My thesis was on Delhi, how it was pre and post independence and how cultural exchanges have differently affected architecture and planning, says Guerrieri, who dedicated more than five years to this project.

When I finished my thesis and looked at the maps that I collected over five years, I thought it wouldve been so helpful if I had the book with me before starting my thesis. When I came here, I didnt know anything and the amount of time it took me to understand the city was huge, she says.

Cover of the book, Maps of Delhi.

Guerrieri is in love with the city and says, It has so many layers of history and is incredible. The more I study, the more I like it. I even started collecting books on Delhi and have already bought around 600 to 700 books.

Talk about the maps that have defined this city and the author quips, Everyone thinks maps are objective documents but thats not the case. They are merely interpretations given by different people, who have been drawing the maps. Hence theres so much confusion on topics such as how many cities of Delhi were there?

Besides the confusion in facts that these maps state, theres plenty of stories that can be unveiled by just carefully looking at the enlarged pictures of maps. A lot of little stories are hidden in the maps. For example: In one map you can see a sentence stating Place where Nicholson fell this was the Delhi of 1857 where the city and its immediate surroundings.

Pilar Maria Guerrieri on an exploration of India.

The Italian highlights that it was Indias partition which had a major impact on Delhis map. The biggest shift is the pre and post independence time. When the partition happened, and all the refugees came in, a lot of colonies start growing to host the refugees. That was the point when the contemporary city began to develop.

Encapsulating all this in one book, however, wasnt easy for a foreigner accessing Indian libraries. In a candid confession, and trying to hold her laughter, Guerrieri shares: In a British library you can check the catalogue and ask for books but in Delhis libraries, you discover that the books are in no particular order. Every time I went to the library, it was changed. First it drove me mad because I couldnt understand whats the order then I asked somebody and got to know that because people dont know if they will get the book again, they hide the book. So the whole library was done by the hiding of everybody. And then I ended up hiding the books myself because I couldnt work otherwise.

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Indias commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday met top Japanese businessmen, including the heads of Toyota, Suzuki, Hitachi, Aichi Prefecture and Soft Bank to discuss ways of enhancing trade and investment flows between the two Asian giants.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis flagship Make in India was on top of Sitharamans agenda.

India wants to increase the contribution of manufacturing sector to GDP to 25% and Japan is a natural partner in our goals, she said at the India conference in Nagoya city.

A presentation on Make in India was made by Secretary DIPP, Ramesh Abhishek.

The minister had extensive discussions with Toyota Motor Corp managing officer Hiroyuki Fukui, Hitachis healthcare business head Masaya Watanabe, Suzuki Motor Corporation chairman Osamu Suzuki, NGK Insulators chairman Eiji Hanamoto and Aichi Prefecture governor Hideaki Ohmura.

Sitharaman also met SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son.

Thanking the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for establishing the Aichi Desk in 2016, within the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Aichi governor said vowed the India Conference will further encourage the companies in Aichi Prefecture to invest in India.

Sitharaman commended the contribution of Aichi Prefecture towards manufacturing value addition despite high savings rate among the Prefectures in Japan.

Foreign direct investment flows from Japan amounted to $25.2 billion since April 2000, ranking the country third after Mauritius and Singapore.

Sitharaman urged Japanese firms to diversify investment in other sectors such as food processing, textiles, medical equipment, electronics and information technology.

The Minister invited Aichi Hideaki to lead a delegation of Japanese companies to MSME clusters in India to explore partnership and investment opportunities, ahead of the proposed visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in second half of 2017.

Highlighting the reforms pace in India, including the ease the business operations, the passage of Goods and Services Tax (GST) bills, enactment of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, reduction in corporate tax rates, Sitharaman emphasized the flagship initiatives like Digital India, Start-Up India, and JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhar, and Mobile) trinity in driving the future growth.
The World Bank has agreed to widen the scope of the ease of doing business rankings for India by expanding it to eight more cities.

Disclosing this, Nirmala Sitharaman, minister of state (independent charge) for commerce and industry, said the move would improve the quality of the index as the survey will cover 10 cities. At present it is restricted to two cities New Delhi and Mumbai.

India has been very keen to improve its position in the ease of doing business rankings conducted by the World Bank. At present, India is ranked 130 and is seeking to improve this to 90.

Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of the Confederation of Indian Industry, a business lobby, welcomed the move. The index will now be more representative of the country.

Sitharaman argued that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is pushing for economic reforms, citing the passage of the last batch of legislations on the goods and services tax (GST) in the just concluded session of Parliament as an example.

Speaking at the India Conference in Chubu 2017 in Nagoya, Japan, Sitharaman said that Japan and India had, over the last three years, progressively deepened their relationship.

The Japanese Prime Minister will be visiting India in the second half of the year, she said.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit in September 2014, both countries elevated ties to a strategic and global partnership.

Sitharaman argued that the deepening of the relationship was due to the ownership of it by Prime Minister Modi.

A lot of importance is given to Japan by the Prime Minister. Even before he became PM he had great relations with Japan as the chief minister of Gujarat. That is one of the reasons why the engagement between the two countries has been on a high.

Addressing the conference, Ramesh Abhishek, secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, said, Conditions are being created to push the economy into an high growth trajectory.

In his presentation, he claimed that Indias consumer market would expand to $3.6 trillion and the country would add another 150 million people to the middle class by 2025.
Ever wondered why authentic Scotch whisky is so expensive in India? Have you sat at a bar and asked why in gods name a glass of good alcohol costs that much? If the answer is yes then you have stumbled across an illustration of Indias peculiar trade relationship with Great Britain. It is a relationship set to become even more bizarre, thanks to British politics.

Every year Indians consume more whisky than any other country in the world. Yet the Indian government imposes a 150% tariff on Scotch whisky, far higher than most products imported from Britain, which on an average have a 15% import tax.

We dont know exactly why whisky connoisseurs in India are punished  a mixture of anti-alcohol morality and lobbying from local producers are usually blamed  but we do know Britain is desperate to change the situation. This haggling over the price of whisky illustrates something bigger: An attempt by Britain to find a new place in the world.

A fortnight ago the British chancellor and business secretary both flew over to try and set the stage for a big trade deal with India. Trade secretary Liam Fox has also been doing the rounds. And these visits come after British Prime Minister Theresa May herself came to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November. So why are British politicians suddenly so interested in trade with India? Its because of the state of British politics.

The cold reality is that with Britain poised to leave the European Union, its government is desperate to show that Brexit can be a success. This is no longer about national survival. For the pro-Brexit figures who have conducted a hostile takeover of the government, this is a matter of personal pride. If Brexit fails, then so do their political dreams. So they have created an alternative reality in which Britain will recapture its former glory by trading aggressively across the world. Such is their arrogance that some in government have dubbed the project Empire 2.0.

This is why, for Britains Brexiteers, a big trade deal with one of the worlds largest economies would be hailed as a victory. But what they havent done is to tell their supporters that trade deals usually involve giving up something in return. As Boris Johnson, secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs, recently told a newspaper: Our policy is having our cake and eating it. They want Indian money, but not Indians themselves.

Lets be clear: There is little doubt that India would benefit from more trade with Britain. It would reduce prices of manufactured goods and food in both countries. It would also create new jobs and investment. Besides, Britains citizens of Indian origin have also long worked hard to forge a closer relationship between the two countries. There is a strong case for Britains tilt to India.

But it would be a betrayal for Indians if their government did not make their own demands for a trade deal. India needs easier visa access for its business community, for scientists, engineers and doctors travelling to the UK. It needs to ask why the British home office threatened Indian students with detention and deportation in claiming they had fraudulently completed English language tests (which they hadnt). The number of Indian students going to Britain for higher education has fallen dramatically in the last few years.

And last but not least, New Delhi should ask why London has consistently made it harder for Indians to visit or join family members in Britain. The wellbeing of Indians abroad should matter much more to the Centre, given their outsized contribution to the Indian economy.

Indian ministers should point out that what the British government craves from Brexit is highly contradictory. One side wants global trade and economic growth, the other wants a closed economy with little immigration. The two are mutually exclusive. Britain cannot reap all the benefits from globalisation without the difficulties that come with it. They are two sides of the same coin. So far its ministers are sailing through by steadfastly ignoring reality, but they can only do that for so long.

International trade can be a bit like drinking alcohol: What you want from is not always what you get. It has its benefits but can also be hazardous to your health. Five years ago, during trade negotiations with the EU (which are still ongoing, by the way), New Delhi suggested reducing import duty on spirits in return for easier access for visas and Indian goods. But little progress has been made. Its not just whisky drinkers but workers everywhere who are losing out.

Sunny Hundal is a writer and lecturer on digital journalism based in London

The views expressed are personal

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Sally makes salads. Sally is green-and-brown and weighs about 350 pounds. Sally is a robot from Chowbotics, founded by IIT-Madras alum Deepak Sekar. Bloomberg recently reported that Sallys origin lies in a robot that prepped ingredients for a homemade Indian meal. Sally is among the robots setting the table for a revolution in robotics thats imminent.

This, of course, is just the appetiser of what the mechanical evolution will mean, especially when the garnishing of artificial intelligence (AI) is added to the menu. Some are hungering for more; others may not think whats served up next as palatable.

Either way, there will be plenty of moving parts to the age of the machines.

Among those examining this near future is Vivek Wadhwa, former entrepreneur, egghead and tech evangelist. Wadhwa is also the author (with Mozilla senior executive Alex Salkever) of The Driver in the Driverless Car: How our Technology Choices will Create the Future.

There are two science fiction scenarios that await us: As Wadhwa argues, either a Star Trek utopia or the dystopian world of Mad Max. He delves into depths of tech next, from the autonomous vehicles of the title, to 3D printing, a power surge caused by energy thats no longer alternative, bionics, genomics, drones, and of course, robots and AI.

Those last two, taken with the advances in sheer brute computing power, make for the perfect storm for a new age of technology. As Wadhwa points out, the rate at which computers are advancing, the iPhone 11 or 12 will have greater computing power than our brains do. AI that goes beyond narrow applications, is only about a decade away, and the coming Siris on steroids may be systems that will synthesize inputs to arrive at something resembling original works or to solve unstructured problems without benefit of specific rules or guidance.

Many dread that future. Among them is Stephen Hawking, who told the BBC: The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race. Tesla founder Elon Musk and Microsofts Bill Gates are anxious, while Tim Berners-Lee, who created the world wide web, believes machines could become the new masters of the financial universe.

These developments will certainly also deepen the angst of many, buttressing the numbers of those who have caused recent political upheavals searching for retreat into the past. But the future is inexorable. We may be heading into a science fiction destiny, but one device that they may covet isnt in the works  the time machine.

But we have been here before, as Wadhwa points out, The oldest technology of all is probably fire, even older than the stone tools that our ancestors invented. It could cook meat and provide warmth; and it could burn down forests. Those flames were licked and a dystopian wildfire doesnt have to consume us.

Even the smartest machines cant deal with simple human tasks like folding laundry, climbing a ladder or opening a door, as Wadhwa writes, That is because robots struggle to perform tasks  even tasks that humans take for granted  that are without explicit rules.

Rules could actually regulate the future. Among those that could be borrowed could be from the late grandmaster of sci-fi Isaac Asimov, and his three laws of robotics, the first of which states: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Wadhwa informs: The tech luminaries who are developing AI systems are devising things such as kill switches and discussing ethical guidelines.

Theres plenty of promise ahead  in the fields of education, medicine, food production, potable water availability. One of the problems that will have to be overcome is that of political gridlock, perhaps one reason a quarter of those surveyed by the firm OpenText in Britain recently believed robots would make better decisions than their elected representatives.

We have a headstart of a couple of decades before the science evolves from fiction to reality. Thats an opportunity to use intelligence, human, perhaps humane, rather than artificial, to make things work.

Anirudh Bhattacharyya is a Toronto-based commentator on American affairs

The views expressed are personal

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States having big cats could get State Wildlife Crime Control Bureau soon, said official sources on Friday. The idea is to have an extensive network of sources and officers in states to beat wildlife crime.

On the line Delhi-based Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) having regional arms in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, and Jabalpur, the left out states having good number of the tigers could get separate offices.

WCCB is a division of the union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC).

Debabrata Swain, the member secretary NTCA who is privy to the development, told Hindustan Times, Theres certainly a gap in terms of intelligence in states. And we dont want to take chances. Thats the reason why state bureaus would work as independent entity dealing with related crime. We are seriously thinking to make a move on that front.

Despite ban on tiger poaching and smuggling, India reports nearly 20% skin seizure each year. In 2016, out of 121 total tiger deaths, 22 were skins seized-18.18%. This year within four months, 34 tiger mortality incidents have been reported of which 6 are skin seizure. The figures come from official website of NTCA.

Particularly after five tiger skins were seized from Uttarakhand in 2016 following which even then union minister Prakash Javedakar had written to the state government to ensure conservation of big cats, the authority is cautious.

Uttarakhand has high density of tigers owing to which adjoining forest divisions also have healthy population. But, we need strong nexus of officers, sources and informers that should help in avoiding poaching. Currently, all agencies across the country catch criminals once poaching is done, said Abhishekh Kumar of Traffic NGO.

The need for such state bureaus is even felt by the officers that are facing tough time cracking whip on habitual offenders. In Uttarakhand, an assistant principal chief conservator of forest (APCCF) rank officer looks after intelligence but he is one man army and uses field officers and staff as and when needed.

The erstwhile Congress government failed to approve the structure of Anti Poaching Cell proposed about 3 years ago to government engaging more forest officers to beat wildlife crime. But, the proposal is in cold storage.

If the matter will be brought before me, I would work towards strengthening intelligence, said Harak Singh Rawat, the forest minister.
A parallel scientific report prepared by a team of environmentalists roped in by Art of Living has claimed that no damage was done to the Yamuna floodplains in Delhi in 2016.

On Wednesday, the National Green Tribunal-appointed panel claimed that the three-day event organised by Art of Living had caused extensive damage to the food plains in 2016. The report suggested that it would take at least 10 years and more than Rs42 crores to fix the damage.

We have submitted a separate scientific report to the green tribunal which says that no damage has been done to the flood plains which could be attributed to the Art of Living event in 2016, Jaideep Nath, spokesman of Art of Living told HT on Thursday.

The Art of Livings report that runs up to 200 pages including pictures of the flood plains was prepared by a team of 10 environmentalists. Five other environmentalists were roped into the board as consultants. The NGTs panel comprised seven experts.

Both the reports were placed before the NGT a few months ago. The next hearing is scheduled on April 20. On Wednesday the report submitted by the NGT panel was revealed.

The report submitted by the NGTs panel claimed that ecology of more than 420 acres of floodplains on both banks of the Yamuna was adversely affected by the three-day event.

We cant disclose the matter of the report as it has been submitted to the tribunal. All we can say that our report is based on facts and figures that have been prepared by experts and environmentalists, said Nath.

On Thursday, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar tweeted: Truth will always triumph. However before that, lies will have their dance. Just wait and watch.

A statement issued by the Art of Living later in the day claimed that the report brought out the NGT-panel was completely flawed, unscientific and biased

The statement also claimed: We will fight for truth to triumph

The scientific report which we have submitted hasnt been heard yet in the NGT. It needs to be discussed at length. We have decided to wait till the final hearing before we can decide on our future course of action, said Nath.

The tribunal had allowed the festival in 2016, saying that as the matter was fait accompli, they could not ban it. The three day World Cultural Festival held in March 2016, soon grabbed headlines for allegedly polluting and harming the ecosystems at the Yamuna floodplains.

An interim environment compensation of five crore was imposed on the Ravi Shankars foundation, for their environment damaging activities, by the NGT, while efforts were made to ascertain the exact costs of the damage.

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The Stockholm Arbitration Institute's Chamber of Commerce in November 2017 will hear an arbitration proceeding on termination of the joint activity agreement signed in 2002 by public joint-stock company Ukrgazvydobuvannia and Karpatygaz LLC, Misen Enterprises AB (Sweden, the shareholder in Karpatygaz).

Misen gave the information in its report for FY 2016.

The company said that Misen Enterprises and Karpatygaz LLC received a statement of claim from PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia in February 2017 and will submit their statement of defense and counterclaim in May 2017.

As reported, Ukrgazvydobuvannia on July 15, 2016 filed a claim to the Stockholm Arbitration Institute's Chamber of Commerce seeking to terminate the joint activity agreement with Karpatygaz LLC and Misen Enterprises AB and collect losses.

Ukrgazvydobuvannia in autumn 2015 said that Karpatygaz and its shareholder Misen refuse fulfilling its liabilities under the joint activity agreement. The company said that Misen over the period when the agreement was in effect invested only $3.68 million, while capitalization of Karpatygaz over the period was UAH 1.5 billion (thanks to production of over 700 million cubic meters of gas every year from 110 wells of Ukrgazvydobuvannia).
A Delhi court has pulled up Delhi police for violating the law on confidentiality by revealing the identity of minors subjected to sexual violence and their parents in the chargesheet.

The court found that there were complete details of victims mentioned in 14 cases of sexual offences from April 1 to April 7, ranging from rape, molestation, unnatural sex and stalking.

Additional Sessions Judge Gurdeep Singh said, This is gross violation. Therefore, it is directed that the name and address of the child victim on the charge sheet be covered with fluid. Similarly, address of her/his parents be also covered. The name and address of child victim shall remain in police file which shall be confidential.

The court was dealing with the cases lodged in various police stations of east Delhi, north east Delhi and Shahdara districts.

The judge also directed senior officers of Delhi Police to ensure protection of the victims identity.

The court took serious note of the fact that the provisions of Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act had been violated in various cases.

The provisions of POCSO Act states that the identity of the minor could not be disclosed during investigation or trial. The court said that despite POSCO Act clearly stating this, the police has filed the charge sheet along with names and addresses of the minors.

The court said this was a blatant violation of the provisions of confidentiality and directed the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to ensure that in future no charge sheet shall be filed disclosing name of the child victim.

It also directed that the address of childs parents should also not be disclosed as it may reveal the victims identity.
A 15-year-old girl, who left her Chhattisgarh home in October 2016 after a fight with her mother, was kidnapped from New Delhi Railway station allegedly by a human trafficker, who confined her in his south Delhi room and raped her for several days with the help of his live-in partner.

The girl was allegedly sold twice, gang-raped by three men for about four months during which she was kept captive at various places in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. She was rescued on February 2 by a border security force (BSF) personnel with the help of the Delhi Police.

While the three men, who purchased the girl and subjected her to sexual, mental and physical torture, were arrested from Delhi and Faridabad on February 3 and February 4, the couple fled and remained underground for over two months. They were arrested on April 11 from south Delhis Sarai Kale Khan after the police were tipped off about their presence in the locality.

The girl, who was produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), is staying in a childrens home. She refused to go back to her family at Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh and told the CWC that despite being a minor her family will force her into marriage, said police.

The girls sufferings, a senior police officer said, started in October 2016 when she fled her home after a fight with her mother, who wanted her to marry a man double her age. She boarded a train and reached New Delhi railway station. She was wandering at the railway station when an alleged human trafficker, Arman, spotted her.

Offering her a job and shelter, Arman allegedly lured her to his room in Sarai Kale Khan village where he stayed with his live-in partner Haseena. The two reportedly confined her in the room and Arman raped her for almost 15 days.

The couple allegedly sold the girl for Rs70,000 to a man named Pappu Yadav, who took her to his native village at Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan and raped her for several days. Yadav then took her to Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and forcibly married her.

Yadav finally brought her to his rented room in Haryanas Faridabad, where he worked as a labourer in a private factory. He allegedly confined her in the room for over a month during which he tortured her sexually, mentally and physically.

On January 30, 2017, the girl managed to escape from Yadavs confinement but ended up meeting Haseena again at Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. Haseena apologised for her mistakes and convinced the girl that she will take care of her.

Haseena then gave the girl a spiked drink and confined her to her room after she fell unconscious. The couple sold her again, this time to Mohammad Afroz for Rs 2,000. Afroz along with his friend Mohammad Zakir gang-raped her for two days near Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station behind platform number 1, said the officer.

On February 1, the girl escaped again from their captivity but was located the next day by Haseena and Afroz, who allegedly wanted to sell her a third time. While they were dragging her to Haseenas room, a BSF jawan spotted her and called the women helpline number 181. A police team rescued the girl.

Romil Baaniya, DCP (southeast), said a case was registered and Afroz, Zakir and Yadav were arrested from Delhi and Faridabad. Arman and Haseena fled but we have caught them as well, he said.
Next week will likely see temperatures reaching highs of 41-43C, weather department officials said on Friday, predicting a heatwave that is expected to last at least till Thursday.

Ravinder Vishan, the in-charge at the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RWFC), said the expected rise in temperatures is because of a subsidence of air mass  the formation of a high pressure in the atmosphere that in turn drives up the temperature.

The last few days has seen mercury hovering near 37-39C mark before it reached 40.6C on Saturday.

From Sunday, the temperatures will stay more than around 4-6C above what is normal for this time of the year, though spells of sudden heatwaves are not unusual for this time of the month.

The minimum temperature is expected to stay around the 20C mark.

Mercury rises across several places

Many parts of northern India also experienced hot weather, with temperatures hovering around the 40 degrees Celsius.

In Rajasthan, Jaisalmer recorded a maximum temperature of 45.6 degrees Celsius while Barmer sizzled at 45.4 degrees Celsius.

The conditions intensified in Odisha as well with at least 13 places hovering above 40 degree Celsius.

The MeT office has predicted rain or thundershower at one or two places over coastal and interior districts of Kandhamal, Rayagada and Kalahandi under the impact of a well marked low pressure over the Bay of Bengal.

In Punjab and Haryana, the mercury settled above the 40 degrees mark in many places of both the state, with Hisar recording a high of 42.8 degrees Celsius, six notches above normal limits.

The India Meteorological Department issued a warning that heat wave conditions are likely to occur at isolated places in all districts in Telangana on Sunday.
A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to seven years in jail for robbing a 19-year-old man of his mobile at knifepoint in broad day light at a public area in southeast Delhis Sunlight Colony.

A Delhi court found the accused, Ajay Kumar, a resident of Sangam Vihar, guilty for committing the offences punishable under sections 392 (punishment for robbery) and 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Indian Panel Code.

Section 397 of the IPC carries imprisonment of not less than seven years.

While pronouncing the judgement, the court observed that incident of thefts and robbery from public places by the miscreants is reported daily in the society. The unscrupulous persons commit such acts without feeling any repentance or remorse for the same. Stringent punishment needs to be awarded to such offenders so that other persons do not dare to indulge in such criminal activities in the future.

The crime had taken place on December 29, 2014 at noon at a bus stand near Punjab National Bank in Sunlight Colony. The complainant, Mohit Maan, a student of Diploma in Education, was on his way to his college. When he reached the bus stand, he felt that somebody was removing things from his pocket.

Maan quickly turned and caught the hand of Kumar. The latter took out a knife and allegedly began threatening him.

He put the knife on my back and threatened me to move silently towards a corner. He told me he would stab me if I raise my voice. Later he took out my mobile from my lower pant pocket and started running away, Maan said in his complaint to the police.

Soon Maan raised an alarm, alerting few passersby who managed to chase and stop Kumar. A PCR call was made and Kumar was arrested on the spot.

The prosecution told the court that Kumar be provided maximum punishment as per law.

The counsel, appearing for Kumar, submitted that the court take lenient view towards Kumar as he is the sole bread winner for his family consisting of his wife, two minor daughters, three un-married sisters and his mother.

Sections under IPC that carry imprisonment for seven years or more Section 304B: Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that she was subjected to cruelty as there was a demand for dowry Section 327: Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act Section 307: Attempt to murder Section 397: At the time of committing robbery or dacoity, the offender uses any deadly weapon, or causes grievous hurt to any person, or attempts to cause death Section 377: Unnatural offences

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Swaraj India on Friday released its manifesto titled Saaf Dil, Saaf Dilli for the April 23 municipal elections -- the first electoral outing for the newly-formed party.

Prominent among the promises made by the Yogendra Yadav-led party are adopting a scientific approach in garbage collection by segregating waste at source, installing CCTV cameras at dumping sites, night sweeping, regularisation of jobs of sanitation workers and building public toilets.

It is for the first time that a party is fighting elections on environmental issues. We are presenting a realistic manifesto with a focus on how to make Delhi pollution free, Yadav said.

The party manifesto also says that liquor stores located in residential areas will be shut if most of the women residents complain against it. However, it did not make it clear how it will be done since excise department is run by the Delhi government and not municipalities.

The manifesto says that, if the party comes to power, the corporations will regularly collect and segregate garbage. Even garbage dumps or dhalaos will have separate bins for different kinds of waste.

It will be ensured taht maximum garbage is recycled and reused and not just dumped at the landfills. With the help of rag-pickers and waste collectors, dry garbage will be separated and recycled. Construction debris will be used for road construction, party spokesperson Anupam said.

To curb pollution, the party plans restrictions on builders and help RWAs in planting more trees.

The party manifesto said it will come up with mission dengue so that mosquito breeding is prevented round the year and prompt diagnosis and free treatment of dengue, malaria and chikungunya.

A control room for rainwater drainage is also part of the manifesto.

All public places and parks will have toilets for women. Licenses will be issued to vendors and areas will be assigned to them for their businesses, he said.

The party also promised construction of new multi-storey parking lots.
Two men were killed and two others injured when a fire broke out in a cramped two-storey building that serves as a residential as well as commercial space in Central Delhis Karol Bagh area on Friday evening.

The bodies of the two dead men, believed to be employees at a car polish godown located in the building, were found inside after fire officials doused the flames. Suspected to have died of asphyxiation, the duo remained unidentified till late Friday night.

The fire fighters managed to rescue two other people trapped in the building and rush them to RML Hospital. They have suffered 40 per cent burns, but are expected to survive.

The building that caught fire is located in Subhash Mohalla, a crowded locality in Karol Bagh. While the ground floor of the building is used as residential space, the first floor serves as a godown, the initial probe has suggested.

The fire broke out around 6.30 pm. On receiving the call about the blaze, the fire department dispatched four fire tenders. They were forced to use four more fire tenders as the blaze took over two hours to control.

The presence of car polish stored in drums possibly led to the flames spreading rapidly, said a fire officer. The trigger behind the blaze is yet to be ascertained, but police suspect short-circuit to be the reason.
Most foreign tourists experience their fleeting glimpse of Old Delhi from behind the dust-free glass of their air-conditioned bus windows, with the bus circling the main avenue around the grand Jama Masjid.

We dont grudge them. After all, even Old Delhi dwellers find it tough to navigate through their impossibly crowded streets. You dont only have to dodge the hundreds of people squeezed up in the narrow alleys, but have to be also careful of not stepping upon dogs, cats, discarded meat pieces, and dead rats. (We shall remain silent on the culture of spitting.)

So, it was with some wonder when on Friday morning we spotted a foreign woman entering the Walled City through the Mughal-era gateway. She was on a wheel chair.

And this is a city where the best parts are woefully inadequate to people with wheel chairs.

But Simona Anedda says she is doing fine, thank you very much. She is accompanied by her niece, Gloria, who helps her in the practical difficulties of daily excursions.

Four years ago, Simona was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis by doctors in her home town Rome, Italy. The auto-immune disorder affects the brain and spinal cord resulting in the breakdown of limb movements, among other symptoms. In her early 40s, Simona is travelling despite that.

The rickshaw pullers are openly gawking at her as she crosses the busy road to enter the Old Quarter. We tell her that it is a custom in this part of our city to stare uninhibitedly at anyone or anything unfamiliar.

Yoohoo, Im an alien, the woman exclaims with a laugh.

Simona, who used to work as a freelance tour leader, herself appears to be well-known in her country - we learn later when we Googled her and found her the subject of a story in the Italian edition of Vanity Fair. Her disease is incurable, she says, and before it becomes more difficult for her to move around, she wanted to realize her dream of seeing India.

At the moment, Gloria is walking ahead with a camera, while Simona is independently making her way. Now she speeds up her automated wheel chair, now she slows down. A young man walks past her, exclaiming (in English), Awesome!

The street is not crowded at this hour and passersby are instinctively making way for Simona. A smiling sweeper gently greets her with a namaste.

Our tourist stops beside an anonymous grave in front of Tabish Medical Store and looks marvelously at it. Simona is particularly fascinated by the areas wild life. She pats a horse, utters sweet nothings at two puppies, and sends a flying kiss to a goat, saying, The goats not changing into my prince! The fairy tales not true!

Simona arrived in India in January. She has already visited Kerala, Bangalore, Mysore, Benares, Jaipur, Pushkar and Agra. People helped me everywhere... even in the trains.

She talks of the day in Pushkar, Rajasthan, when she desperately wanted to enter the famous Brahma temple but was crushed to know that wheelchairs werent allowed in. A young man then gathered his friends and carried her into the temple in a plastic chair.

The only place in India where Simona felt miserable was in the countrys greatest tourist landmark - Taj Mahal in Agra.

At the ticket counter, they did not tell me that wheel chairs arent allowed inside the main monument I asked the security persons there if they could help carry me inside but they instead told me to walk by myself.

It was the first and the only time, so far, that Simona cried during this dream trip.

We are nearing Chitli Qabar Chowk. Simona stops in front of a homeless man sitting on the pavement. He seems to be sleeping. Simona goes past him and stops by a fish cart. At times, she tries to take pictures from her smartphone but finds it difficult to hold it for a long time.

The street is gradually starting to get crowded. More and more people are staring at Simona. She stops at a pavement tea stall in Matia Mahal Bazaar.

I love chai, she says.

Her niece, Gloria, takes out a cigarette and she, too, becomes an object of curiosity.

A few minutes later Simona comes face to face with the grand Jama Masjid. She silently stares at the red sandstone edifice.

I have no faith... I dont believe in any religion, she tells us. But I always dreamed of India because people pray here and I have met a lot of people here who told me they would pray for me too. That makes me feel good.

At this point, we part our ways. Simona and her niece continue with their walk, intending to go as far as the spice market.

We keep watching the two women until they disappear behind the west side of Jama Masjid.
Walking to her school on Thursday morning, an 11-year-old girl was allegedly raped after being offered lift on a motorcycle by her neighbour in West Delhis Hari Nagar. The rape accused, Naushad, was arrested and the police registered a case of rape under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

The girl lives with her parents and two siblings in Mayapuri area and studies at a government school. Her parents work in a factory in the area.

She would usually walk to school with her friends. On Thursday, however, her neighbour, Naushad, a 28-year-old man who also works in a factory, spotted her walking alone and followed her for some distance on a motorcycle.

He allegedly intercepted her near Hari Nagar Ghanta Ghar and offered to drop her to school on his motorcycle. The girl first declined his offer, but when he insisted, she agreed to take a ride, said a police officer.

Instead of dropping the girl to the school, Naushad allegedly took her to his friends house in Hari Nagar and raped her. Whether Naushads friend was aware that his house was being used for the crime is being probed.

After the crime, Naushad dropped the girl to her school with a threat to kill her if she told anyone about the incident. The girl stayed in school for a while, but returned home on some pretext.

When her mother questioned her about her early return, the girl remained silent. After her mother insisted on knowing the reason, the girl narrated her ordeal.

The woman immediately took the girl to police and got a case registered. She was taken for a medical examination which confirmed she was raped, said the officer.

Naushad was arrested from his home the same day. He initially claimed innocence, but broke down and confessed when presented with evidence, the officer said.
Delhi Police on Thursday said they had arrested a man who they claimed was in possession of the personal bank details of nearly 1 crore Indians.

The accused, identified as 33-year-old Puran Gupta, would allegedly sell this data to fake call centres whose employees would in turn use it to call the targeted victims and obtain their one-time passwords (OTPs). Since the fake call centres already had other details related to the credit or debit cards, courtesy Gupta, the OTPs would help them in stealing money.

Gupta was arrested from Ganesh Nagar on Monday after the southeast Delhi police began probing a complaint in which a senior citizen from Greater Kailash was duped of Rs 1.46 lakh by a caller who posed as a representative of Citibank and tricked him into revealing his OTP.

Much of the money stolen was transferred to e-wallets and online ewallets such as PayU, Paytm, Olacabs, Mobikwik and Vodafone Bill Pay, said Romil Baaniya, DCP (southeast). Since the victim was quick to approach the police, the investigators immediately shot off letters to some of these firms.

Our prompt action led to these firms returning almost Rs 72,000 of the duped amount, said Baaniya. The police had earlier this month also arrested the owner of a fake call centre, Ashish Kumar Jha, who also used to trick senior citizens and duped their money. When questioned how he had obtained the victims credit card details and contact number, he named Gupta.

That opened a can of worms. Once Gupta was arrested, a search of his laptop and emails revealed that he was in possession of the personal banking data of nearly one crore Indians. He had stored the data in different folders to meet the exact requirement of his clients.

Some of these classifications were based on the age groups, monthly incomes and credit card limits, police said. The fake call centres found women and elderly people easy targets, explained Baaniya as the reason for classification of the data.

Apart from the credit and debit card details, Gupta was also found to be in possession of personal data of Delhi University students, lawyers, stock brokers, people interested in night life and those owning cars. He allegedly sold these data for as little as 10 paise per data.

But the hot property was the credit and debit card details of people. Police are probing if employees of some banks helped him procure the data. He was buying the credit and debit card data for 40 paise per customer. Apart from the card numbers, expiry dates and CVVs, he was able to procure all details filled in the application forms by customers, said another investigator.

A former data entry operator, Gupta, had created a firm that appeared to be involved in data collection, data entry, data market research and online promotion. But he got his firm registered on JustDial which helped him offer the credit/debit card details to fake call centre operators who would call him for data, said the DCP.
Some were pushed by their politically active family members, while others jumped into the fray on the basis of their hard work in the party  but, irrespective of how they landed up on the list of contestants, women candidates in this years MCD elections are out to break the citys narrow perception of them.

Perhaps the most welcome change in this election is that women refuse to be considered a covering candidate for husbands, fathers, brothers or relatives active in the political sphere.

Out of the 272 wards in Delhi, 138 are reserved for women including SC women. While the AAP tops the list with 145 women candidates, Congress stands second with 144 while BJP has offered 140 seats to women. Besides, Congress has given tickets to more than 24 candidates who are relatives of office bearers, the BJP has given to nearly 18, whereas AAP claims to have no such candidate.

Congress candidate from South Delhis Daryaganj ward, Yasmin Kidwai, says it took a lot of persuasion by her family members to pull her into politics, but now that she is onboard she wants to be in the drivers seat. Her grandmother is Tajdar Babar, a former MLA and a grand old dame of the Delhi Congress. Her uncle Farhad Suri is also a senior Congress leader and is the Leader of Opposition in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC).

Yes, I will gain a lot from Mummy (Babar) and my uncle. But, I am not someone who can be put up as a proxy candidate. I am a person who seeks solutions rather than harping on the problems and I have my own plan of action for my ward, said Kidwai, a documentary filmmaker and a mother of two.

While every candidate is busy doing door-to-door campaigns, BJPs Veena Virmani from Ramesh Nagar ward in North Delhi has taken up a rather religious style. Tuesday was a busy day for her as it was Hanuman Jayanti and she visited at least half a dozen temples in her ward.

Veena Virmani, the BJP candidate from Ramesh Nagar. (Sushil Kumar/HT Photo)

Places of worship are a good way to connect as we get to meet a lot of people simultaneously. It helps kick start a conversation and if the priest tells the worshippers to support us then it goes a long way. I also feel people tend to relate to a woman more than a man at such sites, said Veena who holds a Sangeet Prabhakar degree from Allahabad.

Next on her agenda is to make a few visits to the only Gurudwara of the ward. On Good Friday (April 14), she plans to go to a church located in another ward that shares the boundary with Ramesh Nagar. If voted to power, Veena plans to ensure cleanliness and re-develop dispensaries. She would also request the DDA to give North MCD a piece of land where she wants all weekly markets to be shifted.

Veenas husband Gulshan Virmani, a senior BJP leader, is additional PS to Union minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan and is helping with her daily campaign schedule. I feel this election is different from the previous one because women are more aware now. I and my husband have equally worked for the party for 30 years. So, I feel no less confident than him about being an efficient councillor, she said.

Arti Mehra, former Mayor of unified MCD, described the 50% reservation in MCD wards as a big game changer. Prior to 2012, Delhi had 33% reservation for women.

We should understand that the 2012 MCD polls were the first time that 50% reservation was introduced. It was quite new then and time was also less. So the men quickly fielded their wives, sisters, daughters or relatives on behalf of them, she said.

This notion has somewhat changed now, she felt. This time most women equally strategized their nominations along with their husbands or family members, Arti said.

For Promila Gupta, debutante Aam Aadmi Partys candidate from North Delhis Timarpur ward, it was her son Abhishek Gupta who drove her into politics. On Tuesday evening, her campaign got a major boost with the partys face and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal holding a Jan Sabha in her ward.

Promila Gupta, AAP candidate from Timarpur, during campaign. (Sushil Kumar/HT Photo)

Explaining how she is campaigning, Gupta said, My target is to cover around 400 houses each day. I start meeting people from 5 am. I also four teams who are separately meeting voters and they are managing about 2,000 homes daily. My focus remains on spreading Kejriwaljis message on cleaning corruption in the MCD and showing how Delhi can be made a clean city.

Gupta is a member of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and heads the team of the citys women helpline number. Calling herself a self-made woman, she doesnt see competition in candidates fielded either by the BJP or the Congress.

I am confident about winning. The lady from BJP is an outsider and does not connect with people. The one from Congress is not so active as her husband is doing all her work, she said.

If she wins, she would re-develop the MCD school in Wazirabad and ensure regular sweeping and waste collection. I will continue to help the women in my ward. Most of them complain of domestic violence and I bring them to DCW to get their cases registered, Gupta added.

For some, winning the councillors seat is a gateway to being the mayor of one of the three MCsD as the first year of each civic body is reserved for women. Mayor of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) Satya Sharma, who has been the councillor from New Usmanpur for a decade says its a challenging job but a lot depends on how bold the woman is.

The challenge I face most of the times is that officials do not take me seriously. Besides, there are times when seniors in the House or party leaders would want you to say things they want to. But, it all depends on whether the woman takes a stand or not, she said.

Fighting from Congress ticket in Quraish Nagar is 26-year-old Neha Fatima. Both her brothers are Congress leaders and she was quite honest in confessing that seat reserved ho gayi na, so unhi ke behalf pe main lad rahi hoon (the seat got reserved, so I am fighting on my brothers behalf). Her elder brother Mohammad Naushad who is the councillor from the area is always seen next to her while campaigning.

But Neha has her own plan set if she wins in the ward. My first priority would be street lights and next would be cleaning of all the nallahs and drains. Pensions is another issue I want to resolve, she said.

KS Mehra, the former commissioner of the unified MCD, insists that women councillors are more hard working, sincere and honest than their male counterparts. From my experience, they definitely tend to be less corrupt and are more sensitive to peoples issue, he said.

The retired IAS officer also said women councillors were most concerned about public health. In the standing committee meetings, they would articulate their views very strongly on issues like sanitation, cleanliness and fogging to control mosquito breeding. Another common issue raised by them is that of pensions. But that said, a number of them also have good opinions on revenue and taxes, he added.

Both Arti Mehra and KS Mehra believe that the reservation has made many women think beyond their children and household life. Even if half of the 138 women candidates evolve themselves as leaders, it still makes a considerable change. We have seen such councillors who couldnt speak in the meetings when they first started and now are firebrand leaders in their own areas, they said.

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The total net income of the enterprises that are part of Ukroboronprom state concern in 2016 increased by 31.2% compared to 2015, to UAH 28.3 billion, the press service of the state concern has told Interfax-Ukraine.

The financial result from operating activities for the year amounted to UAH 2.344 billion.

The volume of investments used for production of new equipment at the expense of the member enterprises' working capital amounted to UAH 684 million.

At present, participants in Ukroboronprom, created by the president decree in December 2010, are 112 enterprises of the Ukrainian defense industry, including Ukrspecexport and its subsidiaries. Another 21 enterprises of the state concern are located in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea and Donetsk and Luhansk regions that are not controlled by Ukraine.

According to the previously announced data, in 2015 the total net profit of the enterprises that are part of Ukroboronprom amounted to UAH 1.626 billion, while in 2014 their total net loss amounted to UAH 348 million.
In the wake of BJP leader Tarun Vijays comments about dark-skinned people in southern India and the assertion that Indians are not racist , cross-over actor Abhay Deol has taken on Bollywood stars who endorse fairness creams to bolster their brand earnings. Those who endorse these brands include some of the biggest stars on the Hindi movie marquee such as Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Shahid Kapoor and John Abraham. Millions of fans look up to stars such as Khan, whove stayed on top of their game for decades as role models. His career trajectory from being the perpetual outsider to the Badshah of Bollywood is seen as a success story. Khan has a sizeable following in the Indian diaspora. Given this, it would be appropriate for him to turn down assignments that convey the wrong message, that whitening ones skin is something to be sought after.

If he had not agreed to endorse fairness creams, Khan may have had to forgo a sizeable amount of money, but he would have earned the respect of millions of admirers. He would have also joined the select club of younger, conscientious actors such as Kangana Ranaut, Ranbir Kapoor, Randeep Hooda and Swara Bhaskar whove reportedly turned down offers to endorse fairness creams. Then there are actors like Nandita Das who champion campaigns against discrimination on the basis of colour. Das wrote on her blog: I am shocked to see the rise in the number of dark actresses looking paler and paler with every film and magazines, hoardings, films and advertisements showing only fair women. Bollywood stars have a disproportionate influence on the young in India. Many aspire to emulate their success stories and blindly follow their actions. So, to suggest that fair skin is somehow more desirable is to the detriment of those who are dark and encouragement to them to change their skin tone by using the product peddled by the star.

Our obsession with fairness can no longer be blamed on a colonial hangover. We are inherently racist and we should accept this if we have to change. From students from Africa to south Indians, many Indians are positively insulting and unaccepting. In the past we have seen even politicians encouraging discrimination based on colour as was the case with the Ugandan students in Delhi who were targeted by a former AAP minister. Our matrimonial advertisements are a giveaway. From fair to wheatish, a dark skinned partner is never sought. The parents of dark children are objects of pity as this is seen as a negative in the marriage market. Our bias is not skin-deep, it goes far beyond that. Our stars should be changing mindsets, instead many of them are reinforcing them.
Officials in Haryana permanently blocked a road and tweaked rules to help several hotels and pubs in Gurgaon skirt the Supreme Courts ban on serving liquor close to highways, an order that could cost the state hundreds of crores in revenue.

CyberHub, Sector 29 market, Ambience Mall, the Leela and the Westin hotels are among prominent destinations that were facing dry days for falling under the 500-metre no-alcohol zone around state and national highways set by the top court.

A two-and-a-half feet wall was constructed overnight blocking the road leading from National Highway 8 to the Sector 29 market  where 19 pubs are located before a committee carried out measurements on Thursday.

The authorities measuring the distance, however, did not visit the road on Thursday and measured distance to Sector 29 market from two other routes. The authorities measured distance of 541 metres from a service lane near The Westin hotel while a route from Signature Tower chowk measured distance of 832 metres, said officials.

The main entry to the sector 29 market, where 19 pubs and bars are located, was also blocked by placing jersey barriers marked with no entry.

The committees officials also decided recently that the criteria for their calculation will be tweaked for hotels to factor in the first point of sale of alcohol  which could be past lobbies and deeper into buildings  instead of the main gate of the establishment.

Committee members have measured distance but most of the outlets have not attached approved maps with the request for measurement. We have asked them to provide the maps so that measurement can be matched. If deviated routes do not match the approved maps, we would not accept it, said Hardeep Singh, Gurgaon deputy commissioner, hinting that the eateries may not be out of the woods yet.

The main entry to the sector 29 market, where 19 pubs and bars are located, was also blocked by placing jersey barriers. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)

Singh heads the committee of officials from excise department, National Highways Authority of India, public works department, police, and revenue department set up in wake of the SC ruling to carry out measurements.

Haryana urban development authority (Huda) administrator Yashpal Yadav, the agency owning the roads within city limits, said he was not aware of the blockade in the stretch connecting Sector 29 market to NH8.

The measurement for Sector 29 market taken on Thursday was through a road that had earlier been used as a one-way exit.



Haryanas projected excise revenue for 2017-18 was pegged at Rs 5,700 crore but the ban can potentially burn a Rs 500 crore hole in the earnings.

CyberHub looks set to escape the ban after a newly-opened underpass caused the traffic to be deviated through what may turn out to be a 1,900-metre detour  safely beyond the SC limit.

Routes to Ambience Mall, five-star hotels The Leela Ambience, The Oberoi, and The Trident were also altered to stretch the distance from the highway. The entry to Leela was routed through residential complex Ambience Lagoon, which the residents protested.

Excise official refused to comment on the matter on Thursday.
A day after a three-month-old boy died in the Gurgaon civil hospital, a three-member committee has been formed by the government hospital to investigate into the incident and fix responsibility for it.

The infant, Abel, died on Thursday at the civil hospital as the ambulance supposed to take him to Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi was out of fuel. The child, who had a choked food pipe, died as it allegedly took two hours for him to be taken to the Safdarjung Hospital.

Hospital sources said he was admitted to the civil hospital at 9:30am and immediately referred to Safdarjung Hospital. He died at 11:30am at the civil hospital itself waiting for the ambulance.

We discussed the gravity of the situation on Friday and will investigate into the matter. Action will be taken against the agency found guilty, said Neelam Thapar, deputy civil surgeon, civil hospital, Gurgaon.

As of now, we do not have a clear picture about the incident. The doctor who was dealing with the patient said there was delay in the ambulance service, while the ambulance unit gave a different version, she said.

The committee comprises of a general physician, an ambulance unit staff, and a paediatrician. They will prepare a report and submit it to the chief medical officer within a week. According to Thapar, action will be taken thereafter.

Earlier, on March 8, a three-month-old girl suffering from a heart defect had died at the civil hospital because of alleged negligence by hospital staff.

Her parents alleged that she had died waiting for treatment as no doctors attended to her in the OPD. Doctors had said that she had hole in her heart.

The girl, from Nuthupur village, was brought by her parents on March 8 around 11:30am as she was facing difficulties in breathing.

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A city court on Friday granted bail to Unitech Limited directors Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra, four days after they were taken into custody by Gurgaon police under a production warrant. A production warrant is an order issued by a criminal court of law to produce a person before the court in connection with criminal proceedings pending against him or her.

An officer of the Economic Offences Wing of the city police said the two were taken into custody for investigation in a case registered at Udyog Vihar.

They were supposed to appear before a city court on Saturday, but the police took them there on Friday and they got bail.

According to the police, it has got all the information and papers required for its investigation and so the two were allowed to appear in a city court for bail. Police had earlier requested for five-day custody.

The Chandras were taken in police custody on Monday for further investigation in the 150 cases pending against them at police stations of Sector 40, Sadar, Civil Lines, Udyog Vihar and the Economic Offences Wing.

A number of cases were registered as the group was unable to deliver realty projects on time.

On Monday, a Delhi court had granted the Chandras three-month interim bail in a fraud case related to a Gurgaon-based real estate project.

The bail was granted on a personal bond of Rs70 lakh each and one surety of like amount.

The court had also ordered them not to leave the country and to appear before the Supreme Court, which is hearing various project-related matters involving Unitech and has already summoned the two.
Lyon-based eyewear-maker Opal has teamed up with the Parasite studio to create limited-edition glasses celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Star Wars saga.

The glasses design is directly inspired by the droid C-3PO, an iconic character form the Star Wars movies.

Single pairs are priced at 289.

They are available in several colours with mirror-finish lenses: satin black with gold flash lenses, gold with gold flash lenses, and gold with multilayered red flash lenses.

The limited-edition glasses mark the 40th anniversary of the cinematic saga created by George Lucas -- only 3,000 models will be produced. A box set of all three models is priced at 850 with single pairs priced at 289.

A box set of all three models is priced at 850.

They go on sale Friday, April 14 in selected eyewear stores.

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Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have filed for divorce nearly two years after the couple originally announced their split.

Garner and Affleck filed the docs together and they are both seeking joint legal and physical custody of their three kids. The date of separation, as well as the division of property and any spousal support, is still to be determined, reported People magazine.

The former couple filed mirror-image paperwork and they each filed in propria persona which means without an on-the-record attorney.

Ben Affleck arrives for the world premiere of Warner Bros. Live By Night, at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. (AFP)

Both Affleck and Garner noted that they will keep any earnings they made since they separated, so the separation date they determine could affect the settlement. They announced their split on June 30, 2015.

They always planned to divorce despite what people said. If you look at their first statement it says divorce not separate. They just did it the way they wanted to and did what was best for their kids. There was no catalyst, it was just time. Nothing has changed, they are and still will be putting their kids first, a source says.

Affleck and Garner broke off their 10-year marriage in June of 2015.

Actress Jennifer Garner, trustee for Save the Children, testifies before a House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on early childhood education on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 16, 2017. (REUTERS)

Over the following months, Garner and Affleck, both 44, sometimes sparked reconciliation rumors as they continued to live together, vacation together and co-parent their kids-Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, almost 5-while also stepping out for solo outings.

The friendly exes have been spotted out frequently during the last few months, including a sighting on Election Day in LA where they were both seen wearing I Voted stickers after casting their ballots.

The actors also spent the holidays together with their kids in Montana.

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As the two-day BJP national executive meet starts in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, all eyes are on Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath who has created a buzz in this temple city.

An indication to his ascension in the party hierarchy came from the choice of posters inside the venue  one on the dais showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah, former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee and senior leader LK Advani and another on the opposite side of the hall showing Adityanath surrounded by leaders at his swearing in ceremony.

While posters outside the Janata Maidan venue showcase all 13 party chief ministers, Adityanaths is the only one inside  quite a change in the profile of a leader who had walked out of the last executive meet in a huff as he was not allowed to speak. Its not just workers and leaders who are talking about the UP CM. The response of the people on the streets reflects more than mere curiosity.

We are waiting to see him (Adityanath), said 47-year-old Burjaya Acharya, a resident of Bhubaneswar. God has picked him to serve the country.

Once regarded as a leader of eastern UP  or Gorakhpur, to be precise  the 44-year-olds profile shot up after his ascension as the chief minister last month. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he is the most sought-after BJP leader in the campaigning for the Delhi municipal polls.

Read | BJPs Odisha meet: Naveen Patnaiks fortress under threat from the lotus

His model of governance that seems to be a copy of that of Modis at the Centre is getting noticed even in Bhubaneswar, more than 1,200 km from Lucknow. He is taking decisions quickly. You need leaders like him, says Tukku, a taxi driver from Puri.

The BJPs national conclave, to be attended by about 300 leaders, is likely to see party leaders showering encomium on the prime minister and Adityanath for the partys unprecedented success in UP. While Modi will be, as usual, the star attraction in Bhubaneswar, party leaders are eagerly awaiting Adityanaths maiden speech at the party forum after becoming the chief minister.

Modi and Shah have set their eyes on unconquered territories, Odisha being one of them, to win the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Indias eastern coast disappointed the BJP in the last election, despite a steady increase in its vote share. On landing at Bhubaneswar airport, Amit Shah was offered a garland of 74 lotuses  74 being the majority mark in 147 member assembly.

Shah wants this growth in popular support to translate into seats for the BJP in states such as West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

There are many imponderables that come in his way though. These states have long been the strongholds of regional parties. The BJP might be on upswing in these states but it still has a long way to go to garner the critical mass required to upstage the regional outfits. In Odisha, for instance, the BJP is enthused by its performance in the recent panchayat elections but its tally still fell far short of the ruling BJDs. The BJP has a long way to go in building grassroots support in coastal Odisha, a BJD stronghold. Cognizant of the BJPs expanding footprints, chief minister Naveen Patnaik has already swung into course-correction.

The BJP wants to increase its numbers from these states but UP that sent 73 NDA MPs to the Lok Sabha in 2014 remains the partys electoral backbone. While that explains the importance of a UP chief minister, Adityanaths rapidly growing popularity outside the state could lead to a subtle change in the partys pecking order. Bhubaneswar could set the tone for that.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday attacked the Election Commission for its defeat in Madhya Pradeshs Ater assembly bypolls, saying it took several decisions in Congress favour.

However, the national leadership of the BJP, which on Thursday claimed 5 seats of the 10 assembly constituencies across 8 states where by-elections were held on April 9, has praised the election watchdog for conducting free and fair elections.

Congress won in 3 constituencies.

Congress candidate Hemant Katare defeated BJPs Arvind Singh Bhadoria by a narrow margin of 857 votes at Ater in Bhind district. Hemant secured 59,228 votes, while Bhadoria got 58,371. The saffron party, however, won the Bandhavgarh seat.

The by-election in Ater was necessitated due to the death of Hemants father Satyadev Katare, the then Leader of Opposition in the assembly, in October 2016.

The defeat in Ater despite its all-out efforts and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan leading the election campaign has not gone down well with party leaders. Bhadoriya went to the extent of dubbing chief electoral officer Bhanwar Lal as a Congress agent.

Lal was deputed to oversee the elections after a controversy over the paper audit of an electronic voting machine that allegedly offered voting slips in favour of the BJP when multiple buttons were pressed on the device.

Reports said that the EVM registered votes only for the saffron party during the media demonstration of a Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail or VVPAT by the then chief electoral officer Saleena Singh on March 31.

Though the Congress candidate benefited from a sympathy factor, the Election Commission didnt do justice to us. It took several decisions in Congress favour, state BJP president Nandkumar Singh Chauhan said.

The poll panel launched an inquiry into the complaints but found nothing objectionable. It, however, transferred more than a dozen officers including Bhinds collector and superintendent of police ahead of polling.

The BJP leaders also grudge shifting of these officers, saying it only helped the Congress party.

The party feels the Election Commission shifted officers frequently under the Congress pressure to satisfy it and also to send out a message that it is functioning as an impartial organisation. This was the major reason behind our defeat as Congress was able to rig the booths due to poor administration in the district caused by the shifting, state BJP chief spokesperson Deepak Vijayavargiya said.

However, the state Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said since the BJP leaders were against the transfer of officials it corroborated his partys charge that the saffron party wanted to manipulate the elections with the help of the administration.

The poll panel has denied the BJPs allegation and said it did its best to conduct a free and fair election in Madhya Pradesh.

It tried to redress the complaints in the best possible manner and the commission is satisfied with its role, spokesperson for chief electoral officers office Pralay Shrivastava said.

The contest in Ater was considered as a fight between two heavyweights: chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia. The win in Ater is being seen as a shot in the arm for the Congress ahead of the assembly elections in the state next year.

The BJP has ruled the central state since 2003 and Chouhan won the 2013 assembly polls with almost a clean sweep in the 2014 general election. The BJP had won 27 of 29 Lok Sabha seats. It holds 166 seats in the 230-member state assembly.
Maharashtra has witnessed a spike in human-bear conflicts this year outside protected forest areas of Buldhana. From no case in 2015, the area this year has recorded 20 conflict cases that killed four people and injured 19 severely.

Sloth bears stray outside the protected forest areas in search of food and often end up being face-to-face with humans. In a bid to protect themselves, they attack humans, said Ganeshrao Zole, range forest officer, Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary. Almost 15 sloth bears are outside the protected forest currently, he said.

Rapid urbanisation and encroachment on forest land are the main reasons for such conflict situation. Data presented in Parliament on November 29, 2016 showed that 1,360 people died in animal attacks between 2013 and 2016.

There are over a thousand sloth bears in Maharashtra. (V Chauhan/HT Photo)

There are over a thousand sloth bears in the state, mainly across Chandrapur, Melghat, Gondia and Buldhana districts in Vidharba region. The 3,000 hectare Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary is home to almost 60 free-roaming sloth bears, protected under schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and are considered vulnerable.

Concerned over the increase in the number of such attacks, the state forest department has approached the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an international organization working for nature conservation.

How the study will be done? Officials will survey resources (natural food and water amenities) within the protected forest and adjoining forest areas

Track the movement of the bears and identify their population

After collecting information about sloth-bear attacks at specific locations in the area, maps will be developed for resources, population and attack areas

Maps will be overlaid and common areas will be identified where sloth bears are congregating

A management plan will be prepared to regulate human movement in those areas

A community outreach programme, through awareness drives, will be conducted

Forest and field staff will be sensitied to deal with such situations (Source: Nishith Dharaiya, co-chair, IUCN Sloth Bear Expert Team)

IUCN officials said a team of two Indian scientists, wildlife experts from Gujarat and wildlife ecologist Thomas Sharp from Utah, USA will begin the study from April 20.

The situation is very critical and poses a serious threat to a large population living close to the forest areas. We have been invited by the state forest department to undertake this study for a year, said Nishith Dharaiya, co-chair, IUCN sloth bear expert team.

On Wednesday, a sloth bear was spotted at an abandoned railway station located close to the Dnyanganga wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is surrounded by agricultural land. The crop this year has been good and the farmlands have become a good place for these bears to hide and find food, said Gaur Sanjeev, former chief conservator of forest, Buldhana.

ABOUT SLOTH BEARS Sloth bear or labiated bear is a nocturnal animal, native to tall grasslands across India, Sri Lanka, southern Nepal and Bhutan. With a dusty black shaggy coat and curved claws, the animal can grow up to 5 to 6 feet tall. Known to live up to 25 years of age, they mostly consume ants, other insects and fruits. The species is marked as Vulnerable under International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

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Sunil Masih spent eight years in a jail in Pakistan for alleged spying. He was beaten up every day and given electric shocks till he passed out. I was treated worse than an animal, he recalls.

As India tries to secure the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the retired Navy officer sentenced to death in Pakistan for alleged spying, Hindustan Times spoke to three men in a Punjab village who were jailed in that country for espionage. They say the torture they faced still traumatises them but being ignored by the Indian government hurts too.

Sunil, 70, was caught in Pakistan in 1999 and returned to Dadwan village in Gurdaspur district in 2007 after spending time in at five jails.

Initially, they took me to Gora jail in Sialkot where I was given third degree by the Pakistani Army officials, he says speaking about the torture he faced.

I, along with other Indian prisoners, was given worse treatment than an animal gets. Electric currents and beatings until we got unconscious were routine business. Later, when we accepted everything (spying), we are taken from one jail to another. During my eight years of imprisonment, I was kept at Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Lahore, Peshawar jails. In 2007, I came back to India along with 17 other prisoners via the Wagah border.

Sunil says the Indian government didnt help him when he returned to the country.

(From left) Sunil, David and Daniel Mashi

David Maish, 55, says he spied for India but intelligence agencies dumped him when he returned after being imprisoned and tortured in Pakistan. David went to Pakistan for the first time in July 1993 and was caught by Pakistani army in 1999.

I was given Rs 3,000 for every assignment. In September 1999, I was caught while crossing the border and sent to Gora jail. We were hung up and tortured like slaves. There are 37 cells in Gora jail where the Pakistan Army interrogates prisoners.

After coming back in December 2006, I kept fighting to get recognition and compensation for my sacrifice but my entire request put no heed on deaf ears of agency officials, says David.

Daniel Masih, who is in his 40s, says he made seven trips to Pakistan as a spy in 1992. He was arrested in 1993 near the border along Punjabs Gurdaspur district and sentenced to four years in prison. During my imprisonment in Gora jail, there were around 150 Indian prisoners out of which one dozen had gone mad after bearing the torture of the Pakistani army says Daniel.
The CEO of PJSC Kyivmetrobud (Kyiv) on March 6, 2017 signed a subcontractor agreement worth UAH 3.962 billion with Turkey's Limak Insaat Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S. to complete subway construction in Dnipro.

According to a company report in the information disclosure system of the National Commission on Securities and the Stock Market, the right to sign the agreement arose in accordance with the decision of the shareholders made on April 27, 2016, who previously approved significant transactions - subcontractor agreements with the ceiling amount of such deals up to UAH 20 billion in the period until April 27, 2017.

The shareholders who own a total of 99.99% in Kyivmetrobud voted for this decision.

As reported, subway construction in Dnipro began in 1982. Six stations in the subway instead of the nine planned have been operating since 1995.

Turkey's Limak on April 13, 2016 won a tender to continue building the subway. The transparency of the procedure was assessed by the financial donors of the project - the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank. Kyivmetrobud acts as a subcontractor of Limak.
The Congress victory in the by-elections to two constituencies has come as a blow for the Bharatiya Janata Partys state unit chief BS Yeddyurappa, who had termed the election as semi-final before next years assembly polls.

The loss could mean trouble for Yeddyurappa, who was asked to head the state unit of the BJP in 2016 by party president Amit Shah, as dissenting voices within the BJP were getting bolder against him with many leaders unhappy with his style of functioning.

In fact, 24 BJP leaders had written Yeddyurappa a letter asking him to mend his ways as they felt his style of functioning was hurting the party. Senior party leader KS Eshwarappa, too, had publicly aired his opposition to Yeddyurappas style of functioning.

While the stakes were already high in the bypolls, as the state assembly polls are only a year away, Yeddyurappa had made it a personal battle between him and chief minister Siddaramaiah. Yeddyurappa had called this the semi-final and had sought votes for the candidates by projecting it as a vote for himself as the chief ministerial candidate in the next elections.

Siddaramaiah, too, acknowledged this fact. Yeddyurappa and Shobha Karandlaje had been camping in the two constituencies for over a month and not attended Parliament as a result, he said about the two members of Parliament, while commenting on the results on Thursday.

Yeddyurappa had also seen the byelection as forming a part of his Mission 150, a project to win 150 seats in the 224-seat assembly in the upcoming elections.

As a part of this strategy the BJP, and Yeddyurappa personally, had reached out to dissidents within the Congress, who were unhappy with Siddaramaiah, to switch sides.

Yeddyurappa was seen to have pulled off a master stroke when he managed to convince senior Congress state leader, Siddaramaiah confidant and prominent Dalit leader V Srinivasa Prasad to join BJP. Former chief minister SM Krishna joining the BJP was seen as a blow to the Congress.

However, in both Nanjangud and Gundlupet constituencies, the BJPs strategy seemed to have failed. In Gundlupet, BJP candidate CS Niranjankumar was up against Geetha Mahadev Prasad, whose husband HS Mahadev Prasad had died recently, necessitating the bypoll. However, Niranjankumar lost by a bigger margin than in the 2013 elections.

In Nanjangud, a reserved constituency for Scheduled Caste candidates, the contest was between old foes, both of whom had defected to different parties. Srinivasa Prasad was again battling against Kalale Keshavamurthy, who had recently switched to the Congress from the Janata Dal (secular).

Prasads loss, by a margin of around 21,000 votes, is all the more surprising because he won the seat in the 2013 polls by a margin of around 9,000 votes. As a result of the loss, Prasad has announced his decision to retire from electoral politics.

Speaking about the BJPs strategy of including dissenters from the Congress, Narendar Pani, faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, said: Before any election year there are always those who want to shift parties. However, the BJPs strategy was flawed because there seems to be a generational shift in Karnatakas politics and it chose to go with older leaders like Srinivasa Prasad and Krishna.

Meanwhile, Sandeep Shastri, Pro vice chancellor of Jain University and a political analyst, highlighted the limits of banking on leaders who switch parties. In Nanjangud, people voted against the idea of a leader changing parties for no reason other than that he was shunted out during a Cabinet reshuffle.

Shastri was also critical of the BJPs strategy in the bypolls to project Siddaramaiah-led governments as riddled with corruption. Using corruption as a plank will only backfire for the BJP, as its own tenure in government between 2008 and 2013 was seen as being corrupt, Shastri said.

Other factors, too, seem to be working against Yeddyurappa, who will turn 75 in February, just before the election. The BJP will not jeopardise its rule of not including leaders aged above 75 in government, he said. They did not make an exception for leaders like Murli Manohar Joshi, so they are very unlikely to make an exception for Yeddyurappa, Shastri said.

Shastri said the results had strengthened the central leaders of the BJP. They will now take charge of the partys election campaign in the state, rather than leave it to the state leadership, Shastri said.

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All schools and colleges across Uttar Pradesh (UP) were closed on Friday on the occasion of Ambedkar birth anniversary.

Next year, the schools may well be open on the day, or for that matter on birth and death anniversaries of other great men with UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath disapproving of holiday politics, blatantly pursued by his predecessors Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav.

Instead of full classes the schools may hold special function to educate students about the personality whose anniversary falls on the day, the chief minister mooted on Friday. Interestingly, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav had justified public holidays in memories of great leaders.

Public holidays on the occasion of birth anniversary of great personalities are necessary so that communities can celebrate and remember their leaders, he had stated while announcing a holiday on the birth anniversary of saint Nishadraj during a conference of 17 backward castes at the party office on February 16.

Yogi has a different take.

At a function on the Ambedkars anniversary at the Lucknows Ambedkar Mahasabha office, he said, Though some may not like it but this concept of closing schools on birth and death anniversaries of great men must end. On many occasions children arent even aware of the purpose of the holiday defeating its whole purpose.

The CM suggested schools should hold special programmes on the occasion to make students aware of the life and times of great men.

The CM said, Frequent holidays mean that instead of mandatory 220 working days classes are held for just about 140 odd days. This isnt correct for the students hardly get any time to assimilate what they learn.

UP has nearly 38 public holidays, including about 19 on the occasion of birth and death anniversaries of great men. From former Prime Minister Chandrashekar to the legendary warrior Maharana Pratap and from Maharishi Nishadraj to Karpoori Thakur and even on the occasion of Hazrat Ajmeri Garib Nawaz urs, UPs holiday list has continued to grow, mainly over the past 15 years.

There has been nearly 50% increase in public holidays over the past decade with political parties largely using these holidays to make a political point.

A little before the 2017 UP polls, the Akhilesh Yadav government declared holiday on October 31, on the occasion of Sardar Patel birth anniversary; a decision many felt was taken to woo the Patels or the kurmis who constitute nearly 7% of the electorate in the state. In 2012, Akhilesh Yadav government had come under sharp attack from Mayawati after the SP government had cancelled the October 9 holiday on the death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshiram describing it as anti-Dalit mindset of SP leadership.

Teaching fraternity, meanwhile, welcomed the CMs move. Its a welcome move. We all used to feel that such holidays hardly left anytime for students to learn and teachers to teach, said Professor Manoj Dixit, head of the Public Administration department of Lucknow University.
The simmering discontent between two largest constituents of the ruling Left Democratic Front - Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India - came out in the open on Thursday after CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran expressed serious reservations over the functioning of the 11-month-old Pinarayi Vijayan government.

Rajendran came down heavily on the government citing a number of issues, including the killing of Maoist leaders in encounters with security forces, handling of engineering student Jishnu Prannoys suicide, the stir at Kerala Law Academy Law College and encroachments in Munnar, a hill station in Idukki district.

We raised our concern when the government deviated from left ideology. It is about to complete a year in office and let us see how it functions during the remaining term, he said.

Rajendran also said the party was waiting for the Malappuram bypoll to get over to answer many CPI(M) leaders, including Prakash Karat, over a string of issues. Recently, Karat reminded the CPI that it was part of the coalition, not in the opposition.

We have not taken the opposition role. We will remain as a corrective force. We are here to see LDF views and policies are implemented, he said adding the party was waiting for a meeting to iron out the wrinkles.

Upset with the one-man style of functioning of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the CPI has been raising its voice for some time. Both parties have turned to social media to vent their anger against each other. Leaders of both parties have taken divergent views on key issues including large-scale encroachment at Munnar.

CPI(M)s central committee member EP Jayarajan criticised Rajendran in a Facebook post 2 days ago, saying his style and words were against coalition ethics. Rajendran has to explain some of his recent statements. It is not proper for a partner to criticise the government like this, Jayarajan wrote.

The latest round was triggered after the attack by a group of CPI(M) workers on an eviction team headed by Devikulam sub-collector Sriram Venkitaraman, a young IAS officer who has taken on encroachers and land mafia, on Wednesday.

Though police personnel were present at the site, they ignored Venkitaramans directive to remove protesters fearing local resistance. Later, Venkitaraman was forced to contact his senior officials to rush more force to evict the protesters. With Venkitaraman remaining adamant, CPI(M) workers themselves demolished the encroachments later.

State revenue minister EP Chandrasekharan, belonging to the CPI, has criticised the move and backed the sub-collector. CPI(M) leaders have been exerting enough pressure on the minister to transfer the sub-collector but he has refused to budge.

Officials were implementing the governments policy to remove all encroachments in Munnar. It is unfortunate that police officials failed to provide adequate security for them, the minister said.

However, power minister MM Mani, who hails from the same district, lashed out at the CPI and media for painting Munnar in a bad light. He went to the extent of saying that the revenue portfolio was not reserved for the CPI forever.

The famous hill station has been witnessing encroachments for some time. The rash of development  from tourist lodges to dams and power plants  has been threatening the fragile ecosystem of the area.

There are two national parks and two wildlife sanctuaries, home to more than 3,000 species of flowers, endangered birds, insects, mammals and amphibians around Munnar.
Indian officials in Afghanistan say they are unsure whether any Indian recruits of the Islamic State were killed by one of the largest conventional bombs  termed as the mother of all bombs-- that the United States dropped on eastern Afghanistan.

But another man from Kerala 23-year-old TK Murshid Mohamed -- who allegedly joined the IS was killed in a drone strike days ago, and not in Thursdays bombing as thought earlier, officials added.

Mopping up and damage assessment is going on and it may take a while to determine casualties. Also, after the use of such a powerful bomb, we dont even know how many will be identifiable, a diplomatic official in Kabul said.

We have information about killing of at least two Indian recruits in the same area but both of them died prior to Thursdays bombing, added another senior security official.

US military planes dropped GBU-43 -- Massive Ordinance Air Blast (MOAB) known by its nickname Mother of All Bombs  on IS hideouts in Achin district of Nangarhar province in war-torn Afghanistan.

As per the information provided by the IS recruits hiding in Afghanistan to their family members in Kerala , two of them-- Mohamed Mursheed and Mohammad Hafeezuddin- died in air attacks. Hafeezuddin died two months back but the death of Mursheed was conveyed to the family members on Tuesday, two days before the MOAB attack, said the official.

He said Mursheeds Afghan wife informed his father about the death on Tuesday in a Telegram message.

As of now, we dont have information about any death of Indian recruit in the MOAB attack and even if there are some causalities, it will take some time for information to reach here, added the official.

Telegram, an internet-based communication app like WhatsApp, is the preferred mode of communication of Islamic State. Messages sent on Telegram self-destruct after 24 hours.

A graduate, Mohamed was studying to be a chartered account in Bengaluru in neighbouring Karnataka. He went to Abu Dhabi to help his father in his business and called his mother on June 3, saying he was coming back to Kerala but didnt.

The family suspects he may have joined other IS aspirants in Mumbai or in Dubai.

At least 21 persons from north Kerala, including three children and four women, joined the terror outfit last year. The disappearance of the group sent shockwaves across the country. Most of these people were educated and hailed from upper middle class families.

Some of them later called home and told their relatives they had joined Islamic State. Intelligence agencies confirmed that the group was in the Nangarhar province of the war-torn country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the DigiDhan movement was not only about curbing corruption, but also about giving a voice to the poor.

He also launched two schemes, giving a further push to the Centres efforts to create a less-cash system, on the 126th birth anniversary of social justice crusader BR Ambedkar.

Modi, who paid tribute to Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi, where the Dalit icon had embraced Buddhism, linked the new schemes with his vision of social justice and financial empowerment.

We have been working towards a digital India for quite some time. DigiDhan is one of the initiatives which will become niji dhan (personal wealth) of the poor. It will become the voice of the poor, he told a public meeting here.

The DigiDhan movement is a safai abhiyan (cleanliness movement). It is to fight the menace of corruption, he said.

The prime minister launched the BHIM-Aadhaar Pay app, a biometric-based payment system which will make payment through thumb impression a reality.

He also launched incentive schemes for the BHIM -- cashback and referral bonus -- with an outlay of Rs 495 crore for a period of six months.

Seeking to rope in youngsters to promote cashless transactions, Modi said for every person introduced to the BHIM app, one will get a cashback of Rs 10.

If you refer 20 persons a day, you can earn Rs 200, he said.

Under the referral bonus scheme, both the existing users who refer BHIM and new users who adopt it would get a cash bonus which will be credited directly to their bank account.

Under the cashback scheme, the merchants will get a cashback on every transaction on BHIM.

Both the schemes will be administered by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and implemented by the National Payments Corporation of India.

BHIM-Aadhaar, the merchant interface of the BHIM app, paves the way for digital payments through the Aadhaar platform.

This will enable the citizens to pay digitally using the biometric data like thumb imprint on a merchants biometric- enabled device, which could be a smartphone with a biometric data reader.

Anyone without access to smartphones, internet, debit or credit cards will be able to transact digitally through the BHIM-Aadhaar platform.

This will make digital payments easy even for those who cannot read or write, thus realising Ambedkars vision of social and financial empowerment for all, Modi said.

The prime minister had recently expressed gratitude to the people, saying that over the last few months, the country had witnessed an atmosphere where people in large numbers participated in the digital payment Digidhan movement.

Commenting on the Aadhaar-based digital payment mobile app, he said, The BHIM app is positively impacting several lives across the country.

We are reaching a time when mobile phones will be where financial transactions will take place.

In December 2016, Modi had launched the BHIM app to facilitate electronic payments by consumers. In March, the government launched Aadhaar Pay, a new Android-based app.

Transactions can be possible (even) with less cash, Modi said.

Highlighting the importance of digital transactions, he said, Five security personnel guard an ATM. At times, there are problems in providing security to someones life but there is security for ATMs.

The BHIM-Aadhaar Pay app is such a modern and apt facility which even the technologically advanced countries do not have.

It will pave the way for digital payments through the Aadhaar platform. This will enable every Indian citizen to pay digitally using their biometric data like thumb imprint on a merchants biometric-enabled device which could be a smartphone with a biometric data reader.

Modi said that day was not far when reputed universities of the world will come to India to conduct case studies on the BHIM-Aadhaar app.

It will become the basis for what could be a financial change in the world. This initiative will become a world phenomenon. Similarly, the DigiDhan initiative has been well received in different parts of the country, he added.

There was an era when the thumb was a sign of being illiterate. Now, the thumb (used for Aadhaar-based transactions) has become your strength, said Modi.

Awards worth Rs 250 crore have been given to boost less- cash transactions, he said.

Those who got this award should now become ambassadors of the less-cash campaign, he added.

The prime minister also felicitated the winners of the mega draw of incentive schemes to promote digital payments -- the Lucky Grahak Yojana and the DigiDhan Vyapaar Yojana.

Shradha, a girl from Latur in Maharashtra who won Rs 1 crore, was also felicitated by him.

Dwelling on the importance India attached to renewable energy, Modi said, One of the sectors to which we devote significant efforts is renewable energy, which is vital in the 21st century.

Modi, who also laid the foundation stones for an IIM, an IIIT and an AIIMS at Nagpur, said, The projects inaugurated today will help our youngsters.

He also dedicated 1980 MW of the Koradi thermal power project to the nation.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Friday the Election Commission decided to go ahead with the Lok Sabha bypolls in Srinagar and Anantnag despite the state governments advice that polls should not be held as the law and order situation was not conducive to hold elections.

Violent public protests marred voting in the Srinagar by-elections on April 9, which left 8 people dead and hundreds wounded. With only 7% voting, it was the worst turnout in the state in almost 30 years. It also forced the poll panel to postpone the Anantnag bypoll from April 12 to May 25.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had asked the EC to postpone the Anantnag bypoll to avoid a repeat of the Srinagar violence.

A repoll in 38 polling stations of the Srinagar constituency on Thursday recorded a dismal 1.99% voting.

What we feared has happened. Violence and low turnout happened. Situation (in Kashmir) has turned hostile but they (ECI) didnt listen, the chief minister said.

Mufti and her deputy Nirmal Singh were in the winter capital to attend a ceremony of the states consumer affairs and public distribution department.

I had cautioned them during our discussions that the situation is not conducive to hold elections. We told them that wounds are raw (post-Burhan Wanis killing in July last year) and people are not mentally prepared, she told the audience at the gathering.

She further said her fears have turned true and the situation in Kashmir was back to square one.

Now, it will take time. And, when the situation in Kashmir turns bad, it impacts developmental works in Jammu and Ladakh regions, which also suffer. But I thank the people of Jammu for maintaining peace and normalcy, she added.

She also said that the grievance of Kashmiri youth, who kept throwing stones, have not been addressed since 2008.

None bothered to resolve their grievance and their pent-up frustration has now turned into lava, she said.

Mufti described National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah as a confused man over his charge that the PDP-BJP government was funding the stone-throwers and her deputy Nirmal Kumar Singh accused him of playing politics of deception.

The deputy CM held him responsible for the present turmoil in the valley.

He speaks in different tone and tenor  Gives different statements in Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu. He called stone throwers nationalists and now says that the government is paying them money, it is highly condemnable, he said.

Singh also talked about a video clip that showed some men assaulting Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on their way to poll duty in Srinagar on April 9. He said that an FIR has been lodged and some of the accused have already been caught.

The deputy chief minister heaped praise on the security personnel, saying that despite all the humiliation and provocations, they remained calm.

These are our security forces. See how disciplined they are. Despite having weapons, they didnt retaliate. They kept quiet and strictly followed the orders (of higher ups). At the same time, the government is strictly dealing with the culprits. An action under the law shall be initiated against them, he added.

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Former Pakistan foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri on Thursday said New Delhi and Islamabad needed to restart the stalled peace process for the larger good of the region.

His remark comes amid soaring tensions between the two neighbours after Pakistan awarded a death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Pakistan and India relationships are peculiar. No benign neglect will work. Lets not let things drift, Kasuri said at an Indo-Pak seminar here organised by the Centre for Peace and Progress.

He, however, steered clear of talking about the Jadhav issue but regretted that things are not looking pretty good between the two countries.

What is happening in Kashmir and the news from Islamabad, he said referring to Jadhav and the recent deaths of eight civilians in the Kashmir Valley on Sunday during a Lok Sabha bypoll.

Kasuri expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a sense of history.

He wishes to be part of the history in India-Pakistan relationship.

He said it was impossible to think Pakistan could be isolated diplomatically.

And for argument sake if India succeeds it will give rise to new conflict. It is counterproductive.
An omitted proviso and a tweaked sub-section, buried deep in a money bill passed in Parliaments recently concluded Budget Session, has fundamentally altered Indias democracy by letting corporations anonymously donate unlimited amounts of cash to the political party of their choice.

The 2017 Finance Bill prompted token resistance from opposition parties when it was passed late last month, but has attracted relatively little attention, analysts and activists say, for something so transformational.

Now, as the implications sink in, many are sounding the alarm.

This is huge, said Milan Vaishnav, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who has written extensively on political funding in India. Till recently, we could at least try to join the dots of corporate funding of political parties. With the new rules, we wont even have any dots to join.

Interactive | Electoral Trusts: How some of Indias biggest companies route money to political parties

So far, a company could contribute up to 7.5% of a three-year average of its net profits, and had to disclose the name of the recipient party. This put a cap on donations by each company and made it harder to finance parties using shell companies - entities that exist only as a postal address.

The Finance Bill 2017, passed this session, removes the contribution cap and the corporate disclosure requirements, and enables the creation of a new financial instrument called an electoral bond, issued by the Reserve Bank of India, which can be anonymously bought and deposited in the account of the beneficiary political party.

The government claims these changes will make political funding more transparent -- a claim echoed by Indias corporate honchos, who insist anonymity is essential to guard against Indias vindictive political culture in which parties could penalise donors for funding rival political forces.

Whilst the ultimate objective is to bring about transparency in political donations, it is only possible when our political system demonstrates maturity like developed countries, said Sunil Alagh, former managing director and CEO of Britannia Industries. This might take some time and currently, therefore, the bearer bonds are a step in that direction and should be welcomed.

But critics say removing funding caps and disclosure norms will buy corporations -- both Indian and foreign -- disproportionate influence over regulatory policy, and offer a lucrative tax-free conduit to launder money through Indias 2,041 registered parties  most of whom have never fought an election and exist only in name.

Donations to political parties are tax-free, said Shahid Khan, former Member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes. Now a company can donate any amount to a party, claim a tax rebate, and the party can show cash expenses in its income tax return to cycle the money back to the company and charge a pass-through commission.

Every political party is against transparency, said Jagdeep Chhokar, founder of the Association for Democratic Reform. The last such reform, Chhokar said, was in 2013, when the United Progressive Alliance regime passed a law allowing for Electoral Trust Companies: secretive entities that collect donations on behalf of Indias biggest corporates and disburse the money as per the whims of their trustees.

Electoral trusts have since emerged as a major source of funding for political parties. Between April 1, 2013, and March 31, 2016, donations from seven electoral trusts amounted to more than Rs 428 crore  about a third of all the funding disclosed by political parties in that time  according to parties contribution reports.

Satya Electoral Trust, the largest of the seven, distributed about Rs 256 crore  more than all the other electoral trusts combined  to national and state parties alike. Satyas money, in turn, came from companies representing a broad swath of corporate India invested in highly regulated sectors where seemingly minor changes in policy can have a disproportionate impact on balance sheets. The trusts contributors include Indiabulls Housing Finance, DLF, Hero Motocorp and Torrent  a Gujarat-based group with separate businesses in thermal power and pharmaceuticals.

While trusts must disclose their contributions to the Election Commission of India, trustees are loath to discuss the rationale behind their donations.

We are a private company, we dont have to answer such questions, said Mukul Goyal, Satyas director, who revealed that Satya was set up in 2013 by Bharti Enterprises, but has functioned independently with its own board since 2014. Mr. Goyal declined to name the board members.

HT reached out to several of Indias biggest political donors to understand the rationale behind their funding decisions. None replied save for Tata Sons Ltd, whose Progressive Electoral Trust disburses money on a predetermined formula: In national elections, parties must hold at least 3% of Lok Sabhas seats to qualify for funding; while state parties must hold at least 10% of the total seats in their respective Vidhan Sabhas.

Fifty percent of the funds are disbursed on the basis of seats held prior to elections, and another 50% on the basis seats won in the election.

For corporations, electoral trusts give an impression of an arms-length transaction, creating a buffer that allows companies to give money to parties without appearing to favour one over the other.

But trusts have their downside, too. In 2013, Chhokar and ADR zeroed in on the Public and Political Awareness Trust  which turned out to be an electoral trust associated with the Vedanta Group, a global mining conglomerate registered in London.

Vedanta is a foreign source of funding, because it is registered in the UK, said Chhokar, noting that the trust structure allowed money from a foreign source to pass under the radar. At the time, political parties could not accept foreign funding under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act of 1976 (FCRA).

But when ADR raised the issue, the government used the 2016 Finance Bill to amend the FCRA to allow parties to accept foreign contributions as long as they are routed through an Indian subsidiary.

Yet trusts, for all their drawbacks, are still required to file disclosures with the Election Commission India. The new election bonds, likely to be rolled out this year, are specifically designed to evade disclosure. As corporates switch to election bonds, trusts are likely to fall out of use.

Under the new regime, the darkness around election financing in India is likely to deepen.

Its introducing additional opacity in the finances of political parties, said Lakshmi Sriram, a program officer at ADR. Its really bad.
Over the past four days, India and Pakistan have traded punches over the death sentence handed out to Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian citizen who Pakistan accuses of being a spy for the Research and Development Wing (RAW), an allegation he, his family, and the Indian government have all denied.

Jadhav, a former Indian naval commander has been working out of Iran since 2003 and was accused of espionage in the Pakistani state of Balochistan in March 2013.

As a former officer, Jadhav has received a considerable amount of attention from the government and the Indian media, all rallying for his release.

We will do whatever it takes to ensure Jadhavs release. If needed we will take the issue to international fora, said Rajnath Singh, Indias home minister.

There have been a number of discrepancies about Pakistans handling of the case. Jadhav has been denied consular access, a clear departure from international practice and Pakistan has only furnished a confessional video as evidence.

While Jadhavs case is attracting national and international attention, many Indians who have served their country as spies have suffered imprisonment and torture in Pakistan before being sent back home, and struggle to get a hearing.

The Punjab border districts of Gurdaspur and Ferozepur are replete with examples of men who crossed the Indo-Pakistan border for tidbits of intelligence for their handlers. Most of these men are captured by Pakistani security forces and end up languishing in jail for years. Because most are disavowed by their governments, theyre subject to extremely archaic forms of torture.

Many are impoverished men who are recruited as low-level informants for multiple Indian intelligence agencies including the R&AW.

In March, I profiled Dadwan village in Gurdaspur, known for producing these informants. Unlike their highly trained counterparts, theyre not valued.

Even if you escape death and are sent back, in your country you die a slow death as nobody is there to own you, said Kishori Lal, a former spy in a 2005 interview with the Tribune.

Some cases have seen the light of day. Sarabjit Singh, an alleged informant who was killed in a prison brawl in 2013 and Roop Lal Sahariya, an informant that spent 26 years in Pakistani jails, have received attention.

But largely, these men are sent back through unceremonious prison exchanges at the Wagah border. There is no central database in India or Pakistan with details of who was exchanged.

India is no better at treating such prisoners. The methods of torture are similar and equally brutal. Although we have no data on how prisoners are treated, according to National Records Crime Bureau, between 2010 and 2015, 591 people died in police custody.

So though Indian government and its press fights for the release of Kulbhushan Yadav, it should also spare thought for their men stranded in Pakistani jails.

You can read more about these spies in our weekend story - The Village of Spies.

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Mahavir Singh Phogat, a real life hero and father of wrestler Geeta Phoghat, along with Apollo Hospital founder Prathap C Reddy, bagged Ficcis gender parity award for their contribution in harnessing the talents of their daughters.

Phogat was accompanied by his Commonwealth Games gold medal winner daughter Geeta at the event that marked the launch of the countrys first gender parity index by Ficcis Ladies Organisation (FLO), which will

gauge how women fare in a male dominated corporate sector of India. Industry captains lauded Phogat for empowering his daughters, which was replicated in Bollywoods block-buster film Dangal, starring Aamir Khan.

Leading film director Farha Khan, fashion designer Anita Dongre, HDFC managing director Renu Sud Karnad and Hindustan Times group chairperson Shobhana Bhartia also got the Ficci Ladies Organisation ICON awards.

Giving away the awards, finance minister Arun Jaitley said India must move towards greater gender parity.

Amid a challenging global economic scenario, Jaitley said India is the only country which is willing to reform.

Vinita Bimbhet, president of FLO, said, Gender equality is intrinsically linked to sustainable development. The overall objective of gender equality is a society in which women and men enjoy the same opportunities, rights and obligations in all spheres of life.

While the Constitution grants all citizens equality of status and opportunity, she said social and economic development indicators show that we are far from attaining gender parity.

World Bank data show female labour force participation rates have fallen over the past three decades from 35% in 1990 to 27% in 2014. To achieve gender parity, men and women must have access to the same resources and the same opportunities.
Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada has passed at second reading bill on private detective activities (investigations, No. 3726).

A total of 261 lawmakers supported the document on Thursday, April 13.

The bill describes general legal grounds for organizing private investigations.

According to the document, private investigations are intended to search, collect and record information, search for things, property, people and animals, establish facts and reveal circumstances under. It can be ordered by clients under private investigation contracts.

Ukrainian citizens aged 21 and above knowing the state language with higher law education or experience of work in investigation or pretrial investigation agencies for at least three years can be private detectives. They are to be trained and receive the certificates.

According to the bill, a private detective cannot be an official or an official of local self-government, law enforcement or judicial authorities.

Laws that regulate the legal status of law enforcement officers do not apply to subjects of private detective activity (private detectives, associations of private detectives).

Private detectives do not have the right to carry out investigation activities attributed by the law to the exclusive competence of operations units.

Private detectives have the right to engage in private investigative activities as an individual businessman or together with other private detectives by establishing a union.

The Justice Ministry of Ukraine will issue certificates to private investigators.

The parliament passed at first reading the bill almost a year ago, on April 19, 2016.
Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party leader and Goa minister Sudin Dhavalikar has denied he ever raised the issue of complete ban on the killing of cows and closure of meat complexes in the coastal state, saying he was misquoted.

According to media reports, public works department minister Dhavalikar said his party, that is a part of the BJP-led coalition government in Goa, supports total ban on cow slaughter in Goa and that there should not be any cow slaughter activity in the state amid growing clamour against the killing of cows in the country.

He also demanded that the operations of state-run Goa Meat Complex Limited should also be shut, reports said.

I was referring to cow slaughter, which is already banned here since 1978 under the Goa, Daman and Diu prevention of cow slaughter act. Also, the government should ensure that nobody breaches this law. Why will I make statements on issues which are already clear to people here? Cow slaughter is already banned in Goa, Dhavalikar told Hindustan Times.

Dhavalikar refused to comment on the controversial issue of a beef ban in the state when asked about it.

In Goa, cows and cattle are protected under the Goa, Daman and Diu Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1978, and under the Goa Animal Preservation Act, 1995, bulls, bullocks, buffaloes can be killed only if they are certified fit for slaughter by a veterinary doctor.

Dhavalikars comments have come amid a raging debate on the issue and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat push for a law for a countrywide ban on cow slaughter.

After the BJPs landslide victory in Uttar Pradesh, states new chief minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a ban on cow smuggling and asked police for a plan to close down illegal slaughterhouses. His counterpart in Chhattisgarh has said that anyone found committing cow slaughter in the state will be hanged.

In BJP-ruled Gujarat, which is set to go to polls at the end of this year, the assembly amended the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 2017, to make cow slaughter a non-bailable offence with a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and up to 10 years in jail for transporting beef in the state.

According to IndiaSpend, as of March 2017, cow slaughter has been prohibited in 84% of Indias states and union territories (UTs), which account for 99.38% of the countrys population.

BJP leader and deputy speaker of the assembly Michael Lobo has said beef politics doesnt exist in Goa.

Lobo said that the issue of beef ban will never come in Goa as it is part of the culinary heritage of the minority community, which comprises 33% of the population, during a press conference in Panaji at the state unit of the BJP.

Nobody talks about such issues in Goa politics, said Lobo.

This ban is already present in the state since long. It came when the Congress government was in power. So there is nothing new about it, he said when asked about the demand made by the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for a law banning cow slaughter across the country and the MGPs support to the move.

Lobo seemed to echo BJP president Amit Shahs statement ruling out a country-wide ban on beef, saying it is for the states to take a decision on it keeping in mind the sentiments of the people.

Wherever there is BJP government, we will consider sentiments of the people before imposing a ban on beef. We have not said that we will be banning beef across the country, Shah said in March.

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College textbooks are neatly stacked on a shelf inside the small one-room house of Pooranmal (name changed) in Sikar district of Rajasthan. A teenage boy sits next to an unmade bed with a blank expression on his face.

His elder sister does petty chores in the kitchen, eyes scrunched tight to check the tears from streaking down her face. Pooranmal sits on a worn out plastic chair in the courtyard, still in disbelief that he would never see two of his daughters, full of life and always willingly pampered by the family.

As the country celebrates Ambedkar Jayanti on Friday and remembers his ideals of equality, this Dalit family mourns the loss of two of its daughters who committed suicide after being allegedly gangraped by upper caste men. No arrests have been made in the case till date.

She told me  Bhai unko chhodna mat, inhone hamare sath balatkar kiya hai (Brother dont let them go, they have raped us) and I ran after them. I didnt know that it was the last time I was seeing my sisters, Rahul (name changed), the brother of Sita (18) and Sunita (17) (both names changed), told Hindustan Times.

The bodies of the girls, both first-year students in a college in Neem Ka Thana area of Sikar, were discovered on a railway track approximately two kilometres from their house on April 5. They committed suicide on the day they were allegedly assaulted.

Both my mother and father were at work and after a while, I too had gone to Neem Ka Thana on the morning of April 5. Both were in the house at the time. When I came back after a while, I heard them screaming for help and sounds of men coming out of the house, Rahul says.

As he hurried inside the house, Rahul saw three upper caste men from their village inside the room with his sisters.

The clothes of my sisters were torn and all three men werent wearing shirts. After Sita told me that the boys had assaulted them I tried to catch them. Two ran away but I managed to get hold of one of them, Vicky. But he overpowered me and escaped, he says.

The 16-year-old ran after the men, leaving his sisters behind. The next time, all that the family would see of the girls was the sight of their mangled lifeless bodies, lying on the railway tracks.

I want justice for my daughters. The police didnt register the FIR for one whole day and even when they did, the section for rape wasnt used. I am being intimidated by upper caste people in my village for bringing charges against the accused, Pooranmal told HT.

His elder daughter Rajni (name changed), who is pursuing a masters in English, has become a recluse, not venturing out of the house and even her parents are reluctant to let her out of sight.

I was the one who identified both of them that day after the news spread that two girls have committed suicide. My sisters used to get afraid with even the slightest of injuries  I cant imagine how they mustered the courage to fling themselves in front of a train or the immense pain that made them take this extreme step, Rajni says.

Of the 3 accused, Bajrang Lal and Vicky Singh are Rajputs while Kanaram is a Brahmin.

Strange offers start flowing in

As one strolls across the village, the road narrows down until it opens up in a settlement of huts, situated at the far end of the hamlet.

This is the place where Scheduled Caste families live, away from the houses of upper caste residents of the village. Sitting inside one of the huts are a group of people from the Balai community, the caste that Pooranmals family belong to.

Many of the elderly people attending the meeting saw the two girls grow up in this maze of mud houses, their voices hushed after the incident.

From my small shop in the village, I saw the men running away from the house on the morning of April 5 and the boy chasing them, Omprakash, one of the men in the gathering, says.

Another villager, Jograj Singh, seconds Omprakash and says that he too saw the men scurrying away from the locality.

Strangely, ever since the incident was reported to the police, random people have been walking up to the family with dubious offers.

My wife works in the field of a villager. After the incident when I went to him to collect her wages, he told me to mutually settle the matter with the family of the accused and also offered me money, Pooranmal says.

The only connection of Singh, the man who made the offer with the accused, is that he is also from the Rajput community.

Activists allege police inaction

Activists have alleged that the police are not arresting the accused and shielding them.

The police initially registered the case under section 306 (abetment to suicide) of the IPC. It was only after our protests and meeting with senior police officials that section 376D (gangrape) and sections of the SC/ST act were included, activist Kailash Meena says.

Other activists too demand a change in the investigation.

We have met several police officials and demanded a CID probe into the matter. It is of utmost importance that after such an extremely tragic incident justice should be ensured at the earliest for the family, Kavita Srivastava of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) says.

However, the police havent included the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in spite of the fact that one of the girls was a minor.

Neem Ka Thanas deputy superintendent of police Kushal Singh, who is the investigating officer in the case, told HT that the men could only be arrested after the report from the forensic science laboratory arrives about samples of vaginal swabs that were taken from the deceased.

The accused men havent denied that they visited the house. They have said in their statement that the girls had called them and after checking call details we have verified this fact. They have said that when the brother of the girl reached the house, he confronted the men and a scuffle ensued after that which resulted in their escape, Singh says.

Singh added that only if semen is found in the vaginal swab, the men could be arrested. The police have collected the clothes that the girls were wearing at the time of the suicide but havent any evidence or DNA samples from the accused.

The villagers tell a different story, alleging that the highly secretive manner in which the police forced the family to cremate the bodies as suspicious.

The police didnt even let us bring the bodies to our home. They took them straight to the cremation ground and also threatened to put us in a lock up if we protested. Earlier, they had taken almost a days time to lodge an FIR and constantly urged us to conduct the postmortem before the case was lodged, Sumit (name changed), the eldest son in the family, says.

The daily routine of the family is left in complete disarray.

As Pooranmal chats with his neighbours, his son tries to not think about that fateful day but all their efforts of returning to normalcy stand futile by the memory of two dead teenage girls, jarring and raw.

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India on Friday sought copies of the charge-sheet against former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav and the judgment of the Pakistani military court that sentenced him to death on charges of espionage.

Indian high commissioner Gautam Bambawale demanded the documents when he met Pakistan foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua, with whom the envoy strongly raised the issue of Jadhav.

Bambawale also sought consular access for the 14th time, said a brief statement from the Indian high commission.

The Indian side conveyed to Pakistan that it would appeal against the death sentence given to Jadhav, who was hurriedly tried by a military court and sentenced to death in murky circumstances this week.

I said two things to the foreign secretary  first of all, the Indian governments demand is that the charge-sheet against Kulbhushan Jadhav and the military courts ruling against him, we should be provided copies of these, Bambawale told the media after the meeting.

The second thing I told the foreign secretary was that we have sought consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav in writing 13 times in the past few months. We have got no reply to date and nor has consular access been given. We said hes an Indian national and under international law, we should get consular access, he added.

We will definitely appeal against the judgement. Till we know what is in the charge-sheet and the verdict, how can we appeal? Bambawale said.

Pakistan has turned down Indias repeated demands for consular access to Jadhav on the ground that his was a case of espionage. India has maintained that consular access must be granted under international law.

Jadhav was reportedly arrested in Balochistan province in March last year for involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan, according to a statement from the Pakistani military.

Addressing a news briefing at the Foreign Office on Friday, Pakistans foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz alleged Jadhav was responsible for espionage, sabotage and terrorism and had been tried according to the law of the land in a fully transparent manner while preserving his rights.

Due process has been followed while proceeding against Mr Jadhav. All further action in this regard shall also be taken in accordance with our laws, said Aziz, who read from a statement and did not take any questions.

Aziz also listed seven charges against Jadhav, including a string of attacks.

He trashed Indias claim that Jadhav was captured in Iran and asked India to stop issuing rhetorical statements against Pakistan over the issue. Indian statements could lead to diplomatic tensions, he added.

India has said if Pakistan goes ahead with the execution of Jadhav, it would be tantamount to premeditated murder.

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India, Pakistan, China and Russia and several central Asian countries on Friday deliberated on the situation in Afghanistan at a conference in Moscow, a day after the US dropped the mother of all bombs in Afghanistans Nangarhar province.

Representatives from the leading regional powers reviewed the peace process in Afghanistan as well as the security situation, besides exploring ways to ramp up reconstruction activities in that country.

The conference is also understood to have delved on boosting regional coordination for bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The Indian team was led by Joint Secretary (PAI) in the External Affairs Ministry Deepak Mittal, according to sources.

The conference is an initiative of Russia-China-Pakistan trilateral and, official sources said it is for the second time India is participating in it.

The US military yesterday had 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 (MOAB) bomb, nicknamed mother of all bombs, was dropped on a tunnel complex of ISIS-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, in Achin district of Afghanistans Nangarhar province, killing 36 ISIS militants, the Pentagon said.

On whether any Indian infrastructure project has been impacted by the bombing in Nangarhar, the sources here said it will take time to collect detailed information.

India has been a major development partner of Afghanistan and has been favouring an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process for the war-ravaged country.

New Delhi has been maintaining that it believed in close and constructive cooperation among countries of the region for peace, stability, security and development in Afghanistan.

To this end, India has actively participate in several bilateral and multilateral consultations.
India on Friday sought copies of the charge-sheet and the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav even as it reiterated its demand for consular access to the former Indian Navy officer arrested in Balochistan more than a year ago.

Indian high commissioner Gautam Bambawale demanded the charge-sheet and the judgement of the Pakistani military court that sentenced Jadhav to death when he met foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua.

Bambawale also sought consular access for the 14th time, said a brief statement from the Indian mission.

The envoy informed Pakistan that India would appeal against the death sentence given to Jadhav, who was hurriedly tried and sentenced by a military court in murky circumstances.

Bambawale told the media after the meeting that Pakistan had not responded to Indias 13 earlier requests for consular access to Jadhav. We said hes an Indian national and under international law, we should get consular access, he said.

We will definitely appeal against the judgement. Till we know what is in the charge-sheet and the verdict, how can we appeal? Bambawale added.

Pakistan has turned down Indias repeated demands for consular access on the ground that Jadhavs was a case of espionage. Jadhav was reportedly arrested in Balochistan in March last year for involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan, according to a Pakistani military statement.

Addressing a news briefing at the Foreign Office on Friday, Pakistans foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz alleged Jadhav was responsible for espionage, sabotage and terrorism and had been tried according to the law of the land in a fully transparent manner while preserving his rights.

Due process has been followed while proceeding against Mr Jadhav. All further action in this regard shall also be taken in accordance with our laws, said Aziz, who read from a statement and didnt take questions.

Aziz listed seven charges against Jadhav, including IED and grenade attacks at Quetta, Gwadar and Trubat in Balochistan province, directing attacks on the radar station and civilian boats near Jiwani port, funding secessionist and terrorist elements through Hawala/Hundi, sponsoring attacks on Hazaras and Shia pilgrims en route to Iran, and abetting other attacks during 2014-15 that killed and injured many civilians and soldiers. He gave no evidence to back up the charges.

Aziz also trashed Indias contention that Jadhav was captured in Iran and asked New Delhi to stop issuing rhetorical statements against Islamabad. The Indian statements could lead to diplomatic tensions, he added.

He also listed the steps that Jadhav could take to appeal against the death sentence, including approached an appellate court within 40 days, sending a mercy petition to the Pakistan Army chief within 60 days of the appellate courts decision and filing a mercy petition with the president within 90 days of the army chiefs decision.

India has said if Pakistan goes ahead with the execution of Jadhav, it would be tantamount to premeditated murder.
Another man from Kerala, 23-year-old TK Murshid Mohamed, who allegedly joined the Islamic State, was killed on Thursday in Afghanistans Nangarhar province, where the US dropped the mother of all bombs. It is not clear if Mohamed died in the massive US strike.

The US on Thursday dropped a GBU-43 bomb, 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. There is still no word on the damage done by the 9,797kg bomb.

Mohameds father who lives in Padanna village in Kasargode in northern Kerala got a message from Afghanistan, saying his son was martyred in the attack, sources said. Unconfirmed reports claimed he was killed in the US bombing.

The short message in Telegram said he was martyred and exhorted parents and others to be proud of this supreme sacrifice, Mohameds uncle told HT. The message was reportedly sent by Ashfaq Majeed, who had joined the terror outfit with Mohamed.

Telegram, an internet-based communication app like WhatsApp, is the preferred mode of communication of Islamic State. Messages sent on Telegram self-destruct after 24 hours.

Mohameds father refused to talk to media but sources said he showed the message to police, who said they were not in a position to confirm the authenticity of the message or the death.

A graduate, Mohamed was studying to be a chartered account in Bengaluru in neighbouring Karnataka. He went to Abu Dhabi to help his father in his business and called his mother on June 3, saying he was coming back to Kerala but didnt.

The family suspects he may have joined other IS aspirants in Mumbai or in Dubai.

Two months ago, another man from Kerala, Hafeezuiddin (24), was killed in a drone attack in Afghanistan.

At least 21 persons from north Kerala, including three children and four women, joined the terror outfit last year. The disappearance of the group sent shockwaves across the country. Most of these people were educated and hailed from upper middle class families.

Some of them later called home and told their relatives they had joined Islamic State. Intelligence agencies confirmed that the group was in the Nangarhar province of the war-torn country.

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The Lahore High Court Bar Association said on Friday that it will take action against any lawyer who extends services to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court.

The LHBA has unanimously decided to cancel the membership of any lawyer who offers his services to Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, Lahore High Court Bar Association Secretary-General Amer Saeed Raan said after a meeting of the bar on Friday.

He said the bar has asked the government not to bow to any foreign pressure in the case of Jadhav.

India has declared Jadhav its son and is putting pressure on the Pakistani government for his release. We demand that the Indian spy who is involved in playing with lives of Pakistanis should not be spared and the government (should) ensure his hanging, he said.

Earlier, Pakistans top military commanders under army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa made it clear that no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts.

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.

India had acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government.
India should bomb Pakistan to secure the release of ex-navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav and carpet bomb Kashmiri jihadis to stop the spread of militancy, controversial Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia said on Friday.

Speaking at an event in Jamshedpur, Togadia praised United States President Donald Trump for bombing Islamic State hideouts in Afghanistan and said New Delhi should learn from that approach to free Jadhav, who is facing a death sentence on charges of spying and espionage.

Trump showed how its America First for him by bombing IS hideouts in Afghanistan, which is more than 10,000 km from Washington. Our government should show similar resolve of India First by bombing Pakistan, which is barely 800 km from New Delhi and securing the Indian soldiers release, Togadia said.

He also urged the government to crack down on militants who are at war with security forces, amid increasing hostility between civilians and army personnel in Kashmir over allegations of human rights excesses.

Its time we show no leniency and bomb them else the enemies will spread to other states and talk of breaking the country into pieces,  Togadia said. The leader is on a three-day visit to Jharkhand to muster funds for the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Togadias visit coincides with deteriorating communal relations in the state. Earlier this week, clashes broke out in capital Ranchi over a controversial song being played by VHP leaders in Muslim-dominated areas. The administration clamped prohibitory orders to bring the situation under control.

On Thursday, on the eve of Togadias visit, Jamshedpurs Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Babar Khan demanded the administration stop the VHP leader from entering Jamshedpur as to maintain peace and harmony.

Local VHP leaders reacted, sharply forcing the administration to put the JMM leader on house arrest and fortify his security. Security was also beefed up for Togadia.
The Ayodhya dispute and triple talaq will dominate the agenda of the two-day meeting of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) beginning here on Saturday.

The executive meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board is scheduled to be held at Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow on April 15-16, AIMPLB secretary Zafaryab Jilani told PTI.

AIMPLB member Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali had earlier said that the meeting will discuss the Ayodhya dispute against the backdrop of the Supreme Courts suggestion for an out-of-court settlement and the issue of triple talaq.

The matter of Babri mosque is crucial and discussions will be held on whether there could be a way out, he had said.

The meet will also hold discussions on ways to highlight the Boards functioning and activities through social media and strengthen its women wing.

AIMPLB has been witnessing resentment among Muslim women, especially the victims of triple talaq. Many of such women have filed PILs in the apex court challenging the provision of triple talaq and nikah halala, terming them regressive.

The Board, however, opposed the PILs and filed a counter affidavit in the apex court defending the Muslim Personal laws and triple talaq. It had recently told the court that the pleas challenging such practices among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of judiciary.

The Board had also said that the validity of Mohammedan Law, founded essentially on the Holy Quran and sources based on it, could not be tested on the particular provisions of the Constitution.

The Centre had on October 7 last year opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims, and favoured a relook on grounds like gender equality and secularism.

The Ministry of Law and Justice, in its affidavit, had referred to constitutional principles like gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court.

The Supreme court had taken suo motu cognisance of questions whether Muslim women faced gender discrimination in the event of divorce or other marriages of their husbands.
The capital city has never been so decked up for a party conclave. Prime Minister Narendra Modi dots the skyline. Next to him in every second poster is his trusted lieutenant and BJP chief Amit Shah. The politician duo from Gujarat and more than 300 other senior BJP leaders from different parts are meeting in Odishas capital for a two-day brainstorming session on the partys Mission 2019. Past victories will be hailed and future electoral challenges discussed at this BJP national executive meeting beginning Saturday.

Modi and Shah have set their eyes on unconquered territories, Odisha being one of them, to win the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Indias eastern coast disappointed the BJP in the last election, despite a phenomenal jump in its vote share.

Shah wants this growth in popular support to translate into seats for the BJP in states such as West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. We want to increase our numbers from these states, says petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who bears much of the responsibility for organising this mega show.

The venue for BJP meet is crucial in that regard. The BJP held its last national council meeting in Kerala, a Left bastion where it won an assembly seat for the first time in the 2016 assembly election.

At its executive meeting in Allahabad last June, the BJP said despite enthusiastic support from voters in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, it could win very few seats along the coast from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The National Executive calls upon the karyakartas in these states to work with single-minded devotion in a mission mode for the next three years and prepare the party for big gains in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, reads a resolution adopted at Allahabad meeting in June last year.

Of all the new territories that Shah is aiming to win, Odisha is crucial for many reasons. The BJP emerged as a serious challenge to the Biju Janata Dal in the just concluded panchayat election, pushing the Congress to a distant third position.

In these panchayat elections, we demonstrated that BJPs influence is not limited to the tribal dominated western Odisha. We won in such coastal constituencies where nobody expected BJD to lose, said Pradhan, who is widely seen as a potential CM face for the BJP in Odisha.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik is ageing and dealing with, what some observers say, a fatigue among people who have seen him on the top seat since 2000. The unrest is also visible within his party, with some seniors openly asking for introspection over the defeat in local polls.

Odisha has 36,000 polling booths wherein votes are polled simultaneously for 21 Lok Sabha and 147 assembly seats. We are building our organisation on these booths, claims BJP general secretary Arun Singh, also the party in-charge for Odisha.

The BJP has kept its doors open for leaders from the rival parties, a strategy that also helped it win Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand with a three fourths majority. We dont mind bringing in leaders who have a clean track record, Pradhan said.
Over the past day, militants have fired on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 65 times, as a result of which two Ukrainian servicemen have been wounded, the press center of the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) headquarters has said.

"Over the past day, 65 shellings at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been recorded ... two Ukrainian defenders have been injured," the HQ's report says on Facebook on Friday.

The coastal sector continues to be the center of the firing confrontation. So, in the area of Vodiane, Ukrainian positions were shelled from 122 mm artillery systems, 120-mm mortar shells, armored vehicles and large-caliber machine guns. Shyrokyne defenders were fired on from 120-mm mortars, arms of infantry fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft guns ZU-23-2, grenade launchers and small arms. The mortars of 120-mm caliber and small arms were used to open fire on infantrymen near Hnutove. The mortars of the 82-mm caliber, anti-tank grenade launchers were used in the Talakivka area. Grenade launchers of various systems were applied to attack the Ukrainian army positions near Pavlopil, Maryinka and Krasnohorivka. Our defenders were attacked by the machine guns of large caliber in the vicinity of Chermalyk, Hranytne and Maryinka. The enemy shelled Starohnativka's defenders using small arms. Militants' snipers actively operated in the area of Vodiane, Talakivka, Pavloil and Novotroyitske.

In the Donetsk sector, Ukrainian positions near Avdiyivka were shelled by 120 mm and 82 mm mortar shells, grenade launchers of various systems and large-caliber machine guns. The defenders of Luhanske were fired on from mortars of the 82-mm caliber. The adversary used an anti-tank missile system, 82-mm mortars, grenade launchers and weapons of the infantry combat vehicles in Opytne. Our positions near Nevelske were attacked from the grenade launchers of various systems. Anti-aircraft installation ZU-23-2, grenade launchers and machine guns of large calibers were used by militants in the area of Kamyanka. Small arms and machine guns of large caliber were used to shell the Butovka mine.

In the Luhansk sector, the militants attacked Novo-Oleksandrivka and Katerynivka by grenade launchers of various systems.
On March 31, 2017, the Gujarat state assembly amended the states cow protection laws to extend the maximum sentence for cow slaughter from seven years to a life term and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. The amendment made offences under the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act of 1954, which criminalises cow slaughter as well as transportation of cows for slaughter and possession of beef, non-bailable.

After these amendments, Gujarat holds the mantle of the state with the strictest laws in the country to protect cows, bullocks, bulls and their progeny.

In an analysis of cow protection laws across the country, IndiaSpend found that:

 As of March 2017, cow slaughter has been prohibited in 84% of Indias states and union territories (UTs), which account for 99.38% of the countrys population.

 Laws banning cow slaughter in nearly half of these states are roughly 50 years old, enacted during the tenure of the Indian National Congress. The oldest bans on cow slaughter have been in place in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Manipur, promulgated by their former rulers in 1932 and 1936, respectively, prior to Indian Independence and the annexation of states.

 After the Congress split in 1969, over 80% of the states that enacted new laws prohibiting cow slaughter did so under a Janata Party or a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. Cow protection laws enacted or amended over the last 23 years in 10 of 11 states are especially more stringent.

 In 77% or 24 states and UTs that prohibit cow slaughter, the offence is cognisable, and in more than half of these (13), it is non-bailable. Under Indias criminal procedure code, cognisable offences are serious crimes such as murder, rape, dowry deaths and kidnapping. In such cases, the police can make an arrest without a warrant and start investigation without a magistrates permission.

Indias cow protection laws, in ebbs and flows

Cow protection has a long history in Indian politics, dating back to pre-Independence times when it found support from mass organisations such as the Arya Samaj and a personage no less than Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

1950-1968: Post-Independence and after India became a republic in 1950, cow protection enthusiasts were reigned in and a ban on cow slaughter was only included as a Directive Principle of State Policy, and not as a fundamental right as its supporters had demanded. Nevertheless, Congress governments enacted laws prohibiting cow slaughter in 15 states and UTs, until just before the 1969 Congress party split. The offence was made punishable with a prison term ranging from six months to two years. Madhya Pradesh, with a prison term of three years and a fine of Rs 5,000, had the strictest law of its time, after J&K.

1977-1979: After a gap of eight years, the enactment of cow protection laws saw a resurgence when the Janata Party, with its Hindu nationalist elements from the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (which later formed the BJP), came to power in 1977 and served a two-year tenure at the countrys helm. Laws came into force in the UTs of Goa and Daman & Diu and the state of Himachal Pradesh under a Janata Party government and Andhra Pradesh under Congress rule. Maharashtra, also under a Congress government, strengthened its cow protection law, replacing the Bombay Animal Preservation Act 1954 in force till then.

1994 to present: Coinciding with a spike in communal conflict across the country in the early 1990s, the promulgation of cow protection laws restarted in 1994, with the introduction of the Delhi Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act. The law made cow slaughter punishable with a five-year prison term and a fine of Rs 10,000  the strictest of its time after J&K. Since then, cow protection laws have been enacted and amended in 11 states and UTs, prescribing stricter punishment in 10 of these barring Sikkim (where restrictions and punishment are among the mildest). Nine of these states were ruled by the BJP at the time of enactment or amendment.

In 12 states, cow slaughter can lead to a prison term ranging from two to 14 years

Prior to Gujarats recent amendment, the Muslim-dominated state of J&K had the most stringent punishment for cow slaughter. The law was instituted in 1932 under the Ranbir Penal Code, the code introduced during the reign of the Dogra ruler Ranbir Singh, which still applies in J&K.

This law makes cow slaughter a cognisable and non-bailable offence punishable with up to 10 years imprisonment and a penalty of up to five times the value of the bovine killed. Cows are estimated to cost lakhs in J&K.

In terms of severity of punishment, Haryana comes in third. Enacted in 2015, the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act deems cow slaughter a cognisable, non-bailable offence inviting a maximum punishment of 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a maximum fine of Rs 1 lakh.

In Jharkhand and Uttarakhand too, cow slaughter is punishable with a maximum sentence of 10 years rigorous imprisonment, but a lower fine of Rs 10,000.

In contrast, restrictions on cow slaughter in Kerala and Sikkim are the mildest. In Kerala, cow slaughter is prohibited in rural areas under the Kerala Panchayat (Slaughter Houses and Meat Stalls) Rules, 1964, and in urban areas as per a 1976 government order, but is allowed if the bovine is over 10 years of age. Offenders are fined Rs 1,000. Similarly, the 2008 Sikkim Police Act prohibits cow slaughter only in public spaces and provides for a monetary penalty only for unsanitary slaughter.

The four states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland and the UT of Lakshadweep have no laws related to cow slaughter, according to this document from the central Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DAHD). The document notes that DAHD receives numerous representations for banning cow slaughter across the country and declaring the cow as Indias national animal.

While cow slaughter is banned in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Tripura, as mentioned in the DAHD document, there is limited information publicly available about their laws.

The law in Manipur is based on a 1936 darbar resolution proclaimed during the reign of Maharaja Churachand Singh, whose contours are therefore vagueit does not specify, for instance, if cow slaughter is a cognisable and non-bailable offence.

Alison Saldanha is an assistant editor with IndiaSpend.

(Published in arrangement with IndiaSpend)
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers posted in Jammu and Kashmir said on Friday the abuse and assault their colleagues faced in central Budgam district at the hands of local men is the unfortunate reality in the volatile state.

A video clip that showed a mob in Kralpora area of the Chadoora assembly segment jeering and kicking CRPF personnel, who returning from a polling station of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency that went to the bypoll amid widespread protests and violence on April 9, has gone viral.

Jammu and Kashmir police registered an FIR on Thursday on a complaint filed by the CRPF and the government has launched a probe.

Its a Friday afternoon and the troopers posted in the vicinity of the mosque are on high alert  at any point of time a large crowd of stone-pelters can come out of the labyrinth of narrow alleys and charge at them.

Protesters clash with police and paramilitary forces after Friday prayers in old city Srinagar on March 17, 2017. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

Our job, as you can see, is very difficult here in Kashmir. The mobs charge at us, we try to restrain as much as possible and as a last resort we use pellets or bullets, a CRPF soldier, a native of Madhya Pradesh and posted in the old part of Srinagar, said.

When we retaliate, say use pellets, we are criticised by sections of society. But people do not understand how we are targeted by stone-pelters, he added.

He does not want his name published as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

The personnel in the video showed extreme patience and restraint in the face of insults and abuses. Goli chala dete toh kya hota aap samajh sakte hain (You can very well understand what would have happened if the jawans had opened fire in that situation), a CRPF soldier from Uttar Pradesh, standing guard near old Srinagars grand Jamia Masjid, said.

The walls and shop shutters next him are dotted with anti-India graffiti such as Go India go back and India your game is over.

The state police chief SP Vaid on Friday lauded the restraint and patience shown by the CRPF personnel.

Another soldier from Bihar, on duty in a Srinagar street, said if he goes alone in his uniform into a sensitive locality in the old city area, he too can be attacked, heckled and jeered at.

What the jawans in the video face is the unfortunate reality here. In the complex geopolitics, we paramilitary personnel are stuck in between.

A senior officer of the force, stationed in Srinagar, also said CRPF soldiers facing stone-pelters during protests is a routine affair but the manhandling happened because they were outnumbered in the remote area of Budgam district.

Generally, whenever jawans are posted its with sufficient strength and no one dares any sort of heckling or jeering. But in this case, due to the heavy requirements of election duty, at this location jawans were outnumbered by the mob, he explained.

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Since former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested by Pakistani authorities in March last year, Islamabad has offered few details of the charges levelled against him except for vague allegations of fomenting unrest in Balochistan and Karachi.

On Friday, Pakistans foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz publicly listed some of the specific charges against Jadhav for the first time while addressing a news briefing at the Foreign Office.

These are the details of some terrorist activities that Aziz sought to pin on Jadhav:

1. He sponsored and directed IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and grenade attacks in Gwadar and Trubat in Balochistan province.

2. Directed attacks on the radar station and civilian boats in the sea opposite Jiwani Port.

3. Funded subversive secessionist and terrorist elements through Hawala/Hundi for subverting the Pakistani youth against the country, especially in Balochistan.

4. Sponsored explosions of gas pipelines and electric pylons in Sibi and Sui areas in Balochistan.

5. Sponsored IED explosions in Quetta in 2015, causing massive damage to life and property.

6. Sponsored attack on Hazaras in Quetta and Shia Zaireen (pilgrims) en route to and back from Iran.

7. Abetted attacks through anti-state elements against LEAs/FC (law enforcement agencies/Frontier Corps) and FWO (Frontier Works Organisation) in areas of Turbat, Punjgur, Gwadar, Pasni and Jiwani during 2014-15, killing and injuring many civilians and soldiers.

However, the statement read out by Aziz at the briefing did not contain any evidence whatsoever to back up the charges against Jadhav.

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On the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Nagpur where he visited a sacred place, Deekshabhoomi, closely associated with the Dalit icon

Deekshabhoomi is a sacred Buddhist monument where the architect of the Indian constituency converted to Buddhism on the occasion of Ashok Vijaya Dashami on October 14, 1956.

The Prime Minister was welcomed at the airport by governor C Vidyasagar Rao, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, union minister for transport Nitin Gadkari, city mayor Nanda Jichkar and ministerial colleagues of Fadnavis.

Modi offered prayers to the Buddha, garlanded the statue of Ambedkar and paid his tribute to the great social reformer.

A number of development projects will be inaugurated in Nagpur tomorrow, which will have a positive impact on peoples lives, the Prime Minister said on Thursday.

The projects include an IIIT, an IIM, an AIIMS and the Koradi thermal power station.

Tributes to venerable Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on Ambedkar Jayanti. Jai Bhim.           # ! pic.twitter.com/XVC0TNtufV  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2017
The police special investigation team (SIT) probing the widely-reported Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) question paper leak case, is working at a furious pace to adhere to the 90-day deadline for filing its charge-sheet scam in the case, which ends on May 4.

We are determined to file the charge-sheet in the designated vigilance court by the May 4 deadline as our failure to do so may enable the accused persons to obtain bail. It is a race against time as there are many factors to account for, said a senior officer who has been closely following the investigations.

"The SIT has begun preparing the charge-sheet in the BSSC question paper leak case. Everything will be mentioned in the charge-sheet and it will be filed within the 90 days time limit," confirmed Patna SSP, Manu Maharaaj, who heads the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the case.

The countdown for the 90 day period started, when case no. 44/17, dated February 4, 2017, was lodged at the Agamkuan police station in Patna, invoking IPC sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 34. This happened after the police had arrested three persons on the suspicion of leaking questions of a BSSC examination.

Thereafter, a hand-written page with 135 one-word answers, went viral on a social media platform, hours before the BSSCs examination for Intermediate-level clerical grade posts was to begin at 11 am on Sunday, February 5. Candidates and TV news channels later claimed the answers were of the questions asked in the examination.

On the following day, February 6, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Patna SSP Manu Maharaaj, to probe allegations leak of BSSC examinations question paper.

The examinations were being held for 13,000-odd clerical vacancies in different government departments, for which about 18 lakh candidates had applied.

Within the next few hours, the SIT probe has found sufficient evidence of questions leak, prompting the Nitish Kumar government to scrap the four-phase examinations.

Early investigations indicated that the question paper along with answers were provided to about 1,000 aspirants, against the payment of money.

The probe showed BSSC functionaries, in league with private parties, were leaking question papers to those who were making the payment asked for. The candidates, who made advance payments, were added to a WhatsApp group, to which questions and answers were leaked before the examination.

The SIT arrested 34 persons in connection with the case, including BSSC secretary Parmeshwar Ram and his computer operator Awinash Kumar. Then, on February 24, the SIT arrested BSSC chairman Sudhir Kumar, an IAS officer of 1987 batch.

A vigilance court in Patna had recently rejected the bail applications of nine accused, including BSSC suspended chairman Sudhir Kumar, his sister-in-law Manju Devi and his maternal nephew Arun Kumar, Vinit Agarwal, owner of a printing press in Gujarat and his manager Ajay Kumar.

The BSSC examination question leak case has surfaced just six months after Bihars intermediate merit scam, which revealed how the state school examination board officials secured merit rankings for undeserving Intermediate students, for a price.
On a hot April morning in 1917, Mahatma Gandhi arrived in Patna by train from Calcutta. It was his first visit to the city and he had come to champion the cause of indigo farmers in Champaran, spurred by persistent requests from an indigo agriculturist Rajkumar Shukla. I must confess that I did not then know even the name, much less the geographical position of Champaran, he wrote in his autobiography.

But that did not deter him from working tirelessly in the region for close to a year, leading his first successful civil disobedience movement in India. This is the 100th year of that landmark struggle and there have already been a slew of commemorative events. The latest  this one scholarly in nature  will take place on April 15 at the India International Centre, and has been organised by Dr Aparna Basu, chairperson of the National Gandhi Museum.

The programme includes a panel discussion and a film on Champaran. Says historian, Dr Mridula Mukherjee, The Champaran movement is significant because it was the first political action that Gandhi led in India for a deeply oppressed peasantry in a remote part of the country. Gandhis subsequent localised movements in Ahmedabad (for mill workers) and Kheda (where he supported distressed peasants) were, in a sense, the learning and training grounds for the massive nation-wide protests that he launched from 1919 onwards.

A 1915 photo of Gandhi whose first civil disobedience movement was in Champaran where he mobilised local vakils and farmers. (Dinodia Photo/ Alamy)

The oppression of Champarans indigo farmers by white planters dated back to the 19th century; in 1848 a British civil servant wrote that not a chest of indigo reached England without being stained with human blood. By the time Gandhi arrived, the indigo farmers were in the grip of the pernicious tinkathia system whereby they were forced to dedicate three out of 20 parts of their land to the cultivation of indigo.

Not only did the peasants get poor remuneration, they were also subject to almost 40 different kinds of bizarre, illegal cesses called abwabs. If the planters wanted to buy elephants for shikaar, the tenants had to raise money and this was called hathiahi. Similar taxes were extorted for purchasing horses or cars (ghorahi, motorahi). And so on. Dr Basu points out that at various points in the history of the region, the peasantry had rebelled but all such movements were suppressed ruthlessly.

When Gandhi arrived in Champaran, he introduced a new, different kind of political activity. He demonstrated the hallmarks of his future political actions for the first time in India, particularly his ability to effectively mobilise people. Says Dr Mukherjee, People say that Gandhi was charismatic, thats why he was able to mobilise millions of people. But the truth is that he understood people at the grassroots because of the extraordinary hard work he put in  look at the number of people he met every day of his life, the hundreds of people he corresponded with, the weekly journal he brought out His unerring political instinct was born out of tremendous experience.

In Champaran, he decided that the peasants were so crushed and fear-stricken, it would be useless to go to law courts for a reprieve. The real relief for them is to be free from fear. We cannot sit still until we have driven tinkathia out of Bihar, he wrote.

Seated L-R: Rajendra Prasad who later became Indias first President and Anugrah Narayan Sinha who served as a finance minister and chief minister of Bihar. Standing L-R: Ramnavmi Pasad and Shambhusaran Varma. All of them were local vakils who wholeheartedly threw themselves into the Satyagraha at Champaran. (National Gandhi Museum)

With that goal in mind, he swung into action, displaying his formidable appetite for meticulous, unflagging hard work. Along with a band of trusted associates, mostly local vakils, he toured the region relentlessly, recording the statements of the cultivators. He travelled third class in trains, walked miles in the scorching sun, sometimes rode on elephant back (a common mode of transport in the area) buffeted by hot, dusty winds, as he went from one village to another.

By the end of April, wrote Rajendra Prasad (who worked closely with Gandhi in Champaran and later wrote a book Satyagraha in Champaran), they had recorded testimonies of thousands of tenants and become acquainted with almost all the grievances of Champaran. There was hardly any locality in the whole District from which some tenants had not come to us and given their statements.

But from the moment he set foot in Patna on April 10, Gandhi was on the radar of the British. On April 15, he had arrived in Motihari, only to set off at nine the next morning for the village of Jasaulipatti where he had heard of the oppression of a farmer. He was intercepted three hours later at a village called Chandrahia by a police sub-inspector and delivered an ultimatum by the Commissioner to leave the district because he was considered a danger to public tranquility. Gandhi replied that he was unable to leave the District but if it so pleases the authorities, I shall submit to the order by suffering the penalty of civil disobedience.

This was unusual. As historians have noted, to offer passive resistance or civil disobedience to an unjust order was novel. Even leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, when externed from a particular province, had obeyed orders though they organized public protests against them.

By April 18, Gandhi was preparing to go to jail. The news of his possible arrest had spread like wildfire in Motihari and thousands of tenants started assembling in the court from the morning itself. According to the law I was to be on trial, but truly speaking Government was to be on trial, wrote Gandhi. He was told that if he promised to leave and not return, the case against him would be withdrawn. Gandhi refused: Not to speak of this time alone, I shall make Champaran my home even after my return from jail. At 7 pm on April 20, a confused, jittery administration, which had thought that Gandhi would offer defence, withdrew the case. Gandhi wrote: The country thus had its first direct object-lesson in Civil Disobedience.

Rajkumar Shukla, an indigo farmer, met Gandhi at the Lucknow Congress in 1916 and urged him to visit Champaran. It was his persistent efforts that brought Gandhi to rural Bihar. (National Gandhi Museum)

When his arrest had seemed imminent, Gandhi had displayed yet another hallmark of his political action the practical, organisational aspect. He put together a plan: if he went to jail, his associates Mazharul Haque and Babu Brajkishore Prasad would take over the work. If they were arrested, Babu Dharnidhar and Babu Ramnavmi would take over. If they were picked up, Rajendra Prasad, Shambhusharan and Anugrahnarayan Sinha would step in. And so on.

The close cooperation with his associates over months of intense toil bound Gandhi to them in lifelong friendship. He had brought them on board to act as his translators and interpreters (he did not understand the local dialects), and to help him with the task of recording evidence, but over time, the Mahatma also brought about dramatic changes in their lifestyle. In the early days, all the vakils had a servant and a cook and their own separate kitchens. Eventually, the servants were dispensed with and all the kitchens were amalgamated. Gandhi pointed out that this freed up a lot of time and energy which was then diverted to the task at hand.

Brajkishore Prasad or "vakil babu" went on to become one of Gandhis most "esteemed" co-workers in Champaran. (National Gandhi Museum)

Eventually, the government was compelled to appoint a Commission of Inquiry and nominated Gandhi as one of its members. He had already collected the testimonies of 8,000 peasants and the evidence was hard to refute. The tinkathia system was abolished and the planters partially refunded the money that they had extorted from the peasants.

The success of the first civil disobedience movement is all the more significant because, as Gandhi said, when he arrived, no one knew him (despite his fame from his South African days) and the Congress party was practically unknown in those parts. But the real significance of Champaran was, in the words of his biographer DG Tendulkar, the fact that Gandhi forged a weapon by which India could be made free.

Reference books

My Experiments with Truth  An Autobiography by M K Gandhi

Satyagraha in Champaran by Rajendra Prasad

Gandhi in Champaran by D G Tendulkar

Indias Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra, Mridula Mukherjee, Aditya Mukherjee, Sucheta Mahajan, K N Panikkar

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A senior functionary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Friday flayed the Centre as well as state governments social justice and empowerment programmes for their failure to address issues such as timely release of scholarships for Dalit students.

The castigation comes at a time when the BJP-led NDA government at the centre is going all out to woo Dalits.

V. Bagaiah, who heads the Samajik Samarasta (social harmony) programme of the right-wing organisation pointed out that the post-matric scholarships offered to Scheduled Caste students have not been released for 2016-17.

But none of the leaders, including those who represent the Dalits, has raised a voice, said the RSS leader.

How can a student live (without timely scholarships)? Why cant the government provide land to the landless? What is stopping them? he told HT on the sidelines of a function organised to mark the 126th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar.

He said the failure to ensure adequate funds for education and health care and diversion of funds meant for special component plan and tribal sub plan manifested the states failure to protect the rights of the Dalits.

The BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS, have been on an overdrive to get support of the so-called lower castes after being accused by the Opposition of being anti-Dalit, in the wake of the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad Central University and flogging of Dalits in Gujarats Una last year.

While the RSS has been campaigning against casteism through its campaign for one temple, one cremation ground and one well, the BJP relied heavily on social engineering by giving lower castes significant representation in the recently concluded assembly polls.

The Sangh leader said political parties that claim to be ideologically moored to Ambedkars legacy have not helped the cause of the Dalits.

Political and social organisations that claims to have been working exclusively for the empowerment of the Scheduled Castes outnumber others, yet there is no justice for the people from the communities, he said.

Bagaiah, who holds the position of joint general secretary in the Sangh, said even Ambedkar used to question what Dalit leaders have done for their community, adding ground realities have not changed even today.

He mentioned the case of Telangana where the funds under SC and ST sub plans were not released in full and the remaining diverted to various other schemes in violation of the SC, ST Sub Plan Act 2013.

Its not only the Centre. There is TMC in West Bengal, AAP in Delhi I am not targeting any particular government, he said.

Citing the example of government-run schools, where the quality of education is not up to the mark, he said it is also the responsibility of the civil society to demand social auditing of the funds marked for education, healthcare and other development works.

We just move from election to electionthere are different governments, but what we need is institutional changeif any book or religion says untouchability exists, it should not be adhere to, he added.

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PATNA: BJP legislature party leader Sushil Modi on Friday said that he would knock the doors of Election Commission to demand action against RJD chief Lalu Prasads eldest son and minister Tej Pratap Yadav for concealing ownership of 45 decimal (nearly half acre) of prime land on Aurangabad Highway in his election affidavit.

Stepping up his attack on Lalu Prasad over alleged acquisition of prime property and assets in the name of his family members, Modi said while his earlier expose related to acquisition of assets through takeover of controlling stakes in two companiesDelite Marketing Pvt Ltd and AK Infosystem Pvt Ltdthe current instance related to direct purchase from seven land owners for a consideration of Rs 53.34 crore in 2010.

Now, the question is from where Tej Pratap Yadav, aged 20 years then, generated the money to clinch the deal. It also raises the issue, why did he chose not to disclose such prime property (valued at Rs 15 crore at current market price) and the subsequent loan of Rs 2.29 crore by mortgaging it in his election affidavit, or in the assets and liability declaration to the state government, he asked.

Modi said, even today, Tej Pratap Yadav, who resigned as the managing director of Lara Distributors that runs a auto showroom post 2015 assembly polls, continues to hold the maximum number of shares (2.51 lakh), along with his mother Rabri Devi (1.17 lakh) and sisters Misa Bharti (1,000), Chanda Yadav (2,000) and Ragini (1 lakh)who are all directors in the company.

Modi conceded that it was a legitimate right to carry business. But that does not allow concealment of facts. More so, if it involves a minister. The chief minister should take immediate action amounting to dismissal of Tej Pratap from his cabinet, he said.

Alleging that all information related to assets and liability declaration of Lalu Prasads family members have been blocked from being downloaded, Modi said that he had all the documentary evidence in his possession.

I will take the matter to the EC, he said in response to a query that EC did not take up matters on its own unless approached.

Maintaining that 72 hours have elapsed since he raised the issue of transfer of land for mall in Patna by Prem Gupta of Delite Marketing and liquor factory by Om Prakash Katyal of AK Infosystems, Modi said Lalu Prasad has not responded to the allegations. While the income tax (IT) and enforcement directorate (ED) can initiate action against shell companies, the state government was competent enough to investigate the land deals on its own, he added.

BLURB

Tej Pratap Yadav, who resigned as the managing director of Lara Distributors that runs a auto showroom post 2015 assembly polls, continues to hold the maximum number of shares (2.51 lakh), along with his mother Rabri Devi (1.17 lakh) and sisters Misa Bharti (1,000), Chanda Yadav (2,000) and Ragini (1 lakh)who are all directors in the company.

Sushil Kumar Modi

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Jai Chand, a daily-wage worker, spent 14 months with Ravi Shankar and Sanjay, two other men from his village, in Pakistans Maleer Langhi jail after they were arrested for entering Pakistan water illegally on October 15, 2015.

The three from Mohammadpur village in Ghatampur, 50 km from Kanpur, were hired by a contractor in Gujarat to catch fish for him. They were at Jakhua point when the high tide sent their boat with 27 fishermen in Pakistan waters. Pakistan navy fired at them first and they were all arrested.

The first few days were extremely tough for the three men. The cell they were in had all Pakistani inmates, who made them clean the cell three times a day. They had to even wash their undergarments. The prison guards supported them as they derived a kind of pleasure when we were harassed, says Jai Chand.

The rotis (bread) he says he will not forget in his lifetime. Made of maida (fine flour), they were given five in a day.

We noticed they are given with a powder sprinkled on the surface; it was a chemical we found out later. We were scared and decided not to eat them, says Jai Chand.

Luckily, the vegetarian inmates were allowed to cook their dishes but they would have to buy the vegetables on their own. 

For 14 months we survived on subzi we cooked together; at times Pakistan inmates will loot our dish and eat it and we slept hungry.

The three men came out of the jail in the last week of December last year after the Pakistan government decided to release 220 fishermen. They reached their village in January.

A jail is a jail, but survival in a Pakistan jail is the toughest, especially if you are an Indian. The fellow inmates and the prison guards gang up against Indians, he says.
AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran denied on Friday speculations that some state ministers had revolted against him.

There is no such information, it could be a rumour, he told reporters in Chennai.

He was responding to a query on speculations that some of the AIADMK ministers had revolted against him and wanted him to be removed as the partys deputy general secretary.

The ruling party had suffered a vertical split after the death of the late chief minister and former AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa in December last, following which her close aide VK Sasikala was appointed as the party chief.

However, in February this year, former chief minister Panneerselvam had revolted against Sasikala, alleging he was forced to make way for her to become Chief Minister of the state.

Subsequently, AIADMK suffered a split, with some MPs and MLAs joining the Panneerselvam camp even as chief minister K Palaniswami, a Sasikala loyalist, survived a confidence vote in the state assembly.

Sasikala is since serving a jail term in connection with the Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case in Bengaluru.

To a question, Dhinakaran said he did not see any central government interference on the issue of freezing of AIADMKs two leaves symbol by the Election Commission.

As far as I am aware, there is no central government interference. Because the issue (of Two Leaves symbol) was raised by those against us (the Panneerselvam faction) Election Commission is looking into it, he told reporters.

On his factions Tirupur (South) MLA S Gunasekaran staging a fast yesterday alleging that some officials were not cooperating for implementation of welfare schemes, he said it shows the kind of freedom in our party and the government.

He voluntarily withdrew the fast, Dhinakaran said.

Dhinakaran also denied reports that some Ministers had sought for the sacking of their colleague C Vijayabaskar, who is under the Income Tax scanner with searches being conducted at his premises.

He said he held discussions with senior ministers at his residence today and the subjects included the Panneerselvam faction challenging Sasikalas appointment as general secretary in the EC.
Secretary of National Security and Defense Counsil of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov, who on April 14, 2014, being acting president of Ukraine, signed a decree on the beginning of an Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) in the east of the country, has said he would have done everything in a similar way, knowing about the results now.

"I've been analyzing the situation many times, reviewing those events in my mind again and again, thinking what else could have been done. I do not know. Perhaps, I would make this way again, because you can do a lot when you have the relevant tools. When you have regiments, you can be a commander. And when you have nothing, but only a huge responsibility, then there are not so many options," Turchynov said in an interview with the BBC, answering a question about whether he would have done something else, knowing about the results of the decisions taken in the spring of 2014.

Predicting the completion of the ATO, the NSDC secretary said: "We have no alternative but to win. Last year was the first victory when we did not surrender a single meter of our land, but on the contrary, got tens of kilometers. So, I think our task is meter by meter, kilometer by kilometer, minimizing losses, move towards the east. The main thing is not to cross the border (laughing)."
Tension gripped Tamil Nadus Ramanathapuram after police gunned down a Dalit man, accused in several cases inside church premises on Thursday night.

Police claimed they acted in self-defense. But relatives of the deceased, identified as 46-year-old D Govindan, refuted the police claim.

Tension was palpable in the temple town on the birth anniversary of the Dalit icon BR Ambedkar on Friday.

Govindan, who was travelling in his car, jumped out of his vehicle on reaching Arumbur area of the town and ran into a nearby church after being chased by a police jeep.

According to police, the accused attacked them with a sickle when they accosted him inside the church. To protect themselves, one of the inspectors fired two rounds that hit Govindan in the chest.

He died on the spot.

Govindan, a charcoal businessman, is a leader of the Dalit community in the region.

On Thursday, Govindan went to take delivery of an Ambassador car that he had purchased. In the evening, he spoke to his wife over phone to inform that he would come after buying some items to celebrate Tamil New year on Friday. That was the last time the family heard from him, a relative told a private television channel.
A driver in Rajasthans Jodhpur was shocked when an income-tax notice asked him to explain Rs 20 crore worth of transactions in his bank account over the last one year.

Narpat Lal, alias Naresh Joshi, was also asked to explain a deposit of Rs 49 lakh. It was this deposit made three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced scrapping of 500 and 1,000-rupee banknotes that caught the attentions of tax authorities, who are closely examining all suspicious high-value transactions done after the November 8 demonetisation announcement.

A worried Joshi, whose earns around Rs 10,000 every month, went to police on April 12 and lodged a complaint of fraud and cheating against a Jodhpur-based diamond dealer who was his employer for a year.

I have been a driver for last 20 years but none of my employers except Aditya Lodha took photocopies of my identity documents and PAN card. I am sure he used these to open a bank account in my name, Joshi told HT over phone from Jodhpur on Friday.

Joshi, who worked as Lodhas driver and office boy in 2012-13, said he got to know about the account when he received the notice in February.

He went to tax authorities who said they were looking into the complaint but when nothing came of it, he turned to police.

I went to the police commissioners office and told him about the fraud, he said.

Police have lodged an FIR against Lodha and asked the bank for an account statement.

Lodha opened a trading company, Sai Impex, in his name, Sardarpur police station in-charge Bhupendra Singh told HT, quoting Joshis complaint. The account, too, was in the companys name and was opened in the Sardarpura branch of Punjab National Bank in 2015.

Since demonetisation, authorities have come across instances of shell companies and Jan Dhan accounts, or zero-balance accounts, being used to hide illicit income to escape tax scrutiny.

We tried contacting Lodha but his family said he was out of town, Singh said. He went to Surat in neighbouring Gujarat a few days ago and was not back. We will take further action after verifying the documents from the bank, Singh said.

Joshi alleged that Lodha also bought a Land Rover and a motorcycle worth Rs 25 lakh in the companys name.

HTs repeated calls and messages to Lodha remained unanswered.

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Two Muslim women, claiming to be the victims of triple talaq, took part in a hawan organised by All India Hindu Mahasabha in Aligarh on Friday.

Declaring to lead the fight against the practice of triple talaq in the community, Faiza and Salma said they will no longer allow harassment of Muslim women.

The hawan was performed by Mahant Shakun Pandey at Hindu Mahasabha office in Naurnagabad Bedas Compound area of Aligarh.

Both the women claimed they were divorced by their husband after pronouncing triple talaq . Their family members were also with them.

My husband had divorced me seven years back by pronouncing triple talaq, said Faiza while talking to HT.

Mother of three daughters, I am carrying on their responsibilities with great difficulties, said the resident of Dhoharra Mafi area of Aligarh.

Tappal-resident Salma has been living with her parents after her divorce. I am struggling to raise two daughters, said the woman who was accompanied by her family members.

Blaming the community for the pathetic state of these women, activist Bhutto Khan, who brought them for hawan said: If Muslim society had helped them, they would not have been here. It is time we stop all such practices in the society.

Hindu Mahasabha state vice president Gajendar Pal Singh said he will contest cases of such divorced Muslim women free of cost.

And if divorced Muslim women who are not getting justice decide to convert back to Hinduism, we will extend complete security and patronage to them, said Pandey.

Pandey claimed another woman, Rehana of Bulandshahr was also scheduled to take part in the hawan but did not turn up. Rehana was allegedly kicked out of her house by her husband after pronouncement of triple talaq on April 11.

She had then created a flutter by announcing that if she did not receive justice, she will convert to Hinduism.

On getting the information, police and right wing organisation had reached out to her.

While police tried to ensure that the couple compromise, Dharam Jagran Manch convener Saurabh Chaudhry said she will convert if justice is denied to her.

Daughter of Sagheer Ahmad, Rehana has a five-year-old daughter. Her husband Mohd Shareef is a resident of Aligarhs Hamdard Nagar area. She alleged her in-laws had been demanding dowry ever since she got married in 2012.

While my father gave them Rs 1 lakh, they revised their demand to Rs 10 lakh. When this demand was not met, my husband and in-laws started assaulting and torturing me, she says.

She came back to her parental house around year and a half back.

Inspector Civil Lines Sunil Kumar Verma told HT, There is dispute between the husband and wife over divorce. The family members of women have also come. We are trying to solve the case by mutual consent.

It is a case of tripe talaq. Husband did not want to keep her as his wife whereas Rehana is saying that she will live with her husband to save the future of her daughter. We will report the matter to chief minister Yogi Adityanath, said Saurabh Chaudhry, coordinator, Dharam Jagran Manch.

Rehana told media persons that she is a graduate from Allahabad University and she does not recognise triple talaq. Triple talaq should be discontinued and I will struggle for that, she said, adding that if she did not get justice, she may commit suicide.

Another triple talaq victim Saba of Bulandshahr said, If triple talaq cannot be stopped and I dont get justice, I will convert to Hinduism.

She is engaged in a battle against the practice of triple talaq after her husband divorced her and drove her out of the house. Saba wants to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and raise the demand to declare triple talaq illegal.
The Uttar Pradesh government and the Centre on Friday entered into an agreement which promises to provide 24x7 power supply to all the households in the state.

The Power for All pact was signed in the presence of chief minister Yogi Adityanath and union minister of state (independent charge) for power Piyush Goyal at 5 Kalidas Marg, the official residence of UP chief minister.

Deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, UP energy minister Shrikant Sharma and state minister for power Swatantra Dev Singh were also present on this occasion.

The state government also announced that it is expanding the ambit of helpline Dial 1911 through which the consumers in rural areas in coming days could communicate their grievances pertaining to power and electricity.

The Centres undertaking Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) will install 10,000 energy efficiency solar- panel pumps will be distributed.

It was also agreed upon to distribute to energy consumers (through electricity distribution companies) energy efficiency bulbs, tubelights and fans at cheaper rates.

Apart from this, the rural consumers will also get the facility of making digital payment through e-bhugtan. As many as eight sub-stations of UP Power Transmission Corporation Limited worth Rs 331.69 crore and 12 sub-stations of UP Power Corporation Limited worth Rs 75.60 crore were also unveiled.

On April 11, during the second meeting of the UP Cabinet, chief minister Adityanath had ordered 18-hour power supply in villages and 20-hour at tehsil level and in Bundelkhand.

Energy minister Sharma had said that the ambitious Power for All pact will also help in meeting the Centres target of making the state energy efficient by 2018 and help ensure power in all UP villages before 2019.
Less than three months after Donald Trump took over as President, an MC-130 aircraft operated by the United States Air Force Special Operations Command dropped one of the biggest conventional bombs in countrys arsenal in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday.

Deployed by the US military for the first time in combat, the GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB) is one of the most powerful non-nuclear weapons in the possession of any military worldwide. The 21,000-lb MOABs sheer destructive power has earned it the nickname Mother of All Bombs.

Neither India nor Pakistan nor even China possesses non-nuclear bombs that are in the league of MOAB, developed in the early 2000s. In fact, their stockpile doesnt come anywhere close to MOAB-like munitions.

Read | US drops GBU-43 bomb in Afghanistan: What we know about the mother of all bombs

The rare strike against Islamic State fighters with a weapon of this size has turned the spotlight on the worlds biggest and largest contemporary non-nuclear bombs, primarily held only by the militaries of Russia and the US.

Heres a quick look at some of these deadly air-delivered monster munitions whose efficiency and power almost match nuclear weapons, and the smaller bombs that the air forces of India, China and Pakistan hold in their inventories:

Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power: Also known as the Father of All Bombs (FOAB), it is the Russian answer to the American bomb. Moscow successfully tested the weapon in 2007; four years after the US developed the MOAB. It is reportedly the worlds most powerful non-nuclear bomb, capable of unleashing 44 tons of explosives compared to 11 tons in the GBU-43 MOAB. At 15,650 lb, the FOAB is lighter than the American bomb but the formers significantly higher blast yield makes it far more lethal.

GBU-43 MOAB: Designed to destroy underground facilities, caves and tunnels, the US had developed the GPS-guided bomb for the 2003 invasion of Iraq but it was never used in combat until Thursday evening. Just like the Russian bomb, the 30-foot MOAB detonates before hitting the ground and causes unthinkable destruction by sending deadly shockwaves up to a distance of over a mile in all directions. The GBU-43 MOAB, however, is not the heaviest conventional munition in the American arsenal.

GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator: Known by its acronym MOP, the 30,000-lb American bomb is perhaps the heaviest conventional weapon in the world. However, the bunker buster bombs explosive power doesnt match that of the MOAB or the FOAB. Manufactured by US defence giant Boeing, the GBU-57A/B MOP is designed to obliterate underground nuclear facilities and deeply buried enemy targets.

GBU-28 Hard Target Penetrator: The air forces of Israel and South Korea have the 5,000-lb GBU-28 bunker buster munitions supplied by the US in their inventories. The bombs were deployed by the USAF during Operation Desert Storm to carry out strikes against Iraqi bunkers, military installations and high value strategic targets in 1991. The GBU-28, a variant of the Paveway III bomb, can reportedly blast through six metres of concrete.

GBU-24 Paveway II bombs: The French Air Forces Rafale omni-role fighters can carry a number of bombs from the US Paveway family of munitions. The heaviest air-to-surface conventional weapon the fighter can be equipped with is the GBU-24 Paveway II 2,000-lb laser-guided bomb.

INDIA

SPICE: The Israel-manufactured SPICE (smart precise impact and cost effective) bomb is the biggest conventional bomb that can be delivered by the Indian Air Force. Manufactured by Israeli firm Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd, the 2000-lb precision guided bombs are used on the French-origin Mirage 2000 fighters.

The IAFs Jaguar deep-strike penetration aircraft can be fitted with 1,000-lb bombs for destroying the enemys ammunition dumps during combat. In one configuration, a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter can carry 26 bombs of 550-lb class to destroy a concentration of enemy armour and personnel. The fighter can also carry 1,000-lb HSLD (high speed, low drag) bombs to destroy enemy airfields. Indian fighter planes can also drop indigenously produced 1,000-lb bombs fitted with Israel Aircraft Industries-produced Griffin laser-guided systems

CHINA AND PAKISTAN

The Peoples Liberation Army Air Force has a variety of conventional bombs ranging in the 500 lb to 3,000-lb class. Most of these general purpose bombs have been developed by the Chinas North Industries Corporation. Most of the designs are reportedly based on bombs earlier imported from Russia.

Some of the designs also reportedly draw inspiration from the US Mk 80/82/83/84 bombs. Some other bombs in the Chinese inventory are also suspected to have been copied from Western designs. The conventional bombs with Pakistan Air Force are in the 250 lb to 2,000-lb class, with the design again based on the US Mk 80 series bombs and mated to laser guided systems of American origin. Former IAF vice chief Air Marshal KK Nohwar told HT on Friday, India, China and Pakistan largely have a similar stockpile of lighter non-nuclear bombs. Its nowhere close to the mega bombs that the Russians and the Americans can deploy in combat.
Desecration of a statue of BR Ambedkar at a village in Uttar Pradeshs Meerut by some miscreants on Friday morning sparked Dalit protests in the area, police said.

The agitated residents of Gesupur Sumali village demanded installation of a new statue of the Dalit icon and threatened to launch an agitation if their demand is not fulfilled, prompting the administration to deploy a large contingent of police to avert any untoward incident.

Circle officer Vinod Kumar Sirohi and sub divisional magistrate of Kithore area Arvind Kumar rushed to the Dalit-dominated village to pacify the agitators.

Every year on April 14, villagers garland the statue and organise programme to mark the birth anniversary of Ambedkar, the architect of Indian constitution.

On Friday morning, when people gathered for the programme, they found the face of the statue was blackened with ink and the spectacles on it were damaged.

This sparked tension in the village as agitated Dalits took to the streets to protest.

The situation was brought under control after the SDM and the CO roped in community elders to persuade the protestors to calm down.

The officers got the statue cleaned and assured action against the perpetrators. They also garlanded the statue. They, however, expressed their helplessness in replacing the statue due to paucity of fund.

Dalits in their complaint named four persons from the village as accused.

Circle officer said, A case will be registered against the named persons after investigation.
A Dalit Congress leader was injured in a clash with BJP workers in Gujarat following a dispute over who will garland the BR Ambedkar statue on his birth anniversary.

Before city Mayor Bharat Dangar could reach the spot, Congress worker Mitesh Parmar tried to garland the statue by saying that he is a Dalit and it is his right to do so.

The BJP workers tried to stop him saying that according to protocol, the mayor will garland the statue first.

This led to an argument and a clash broke out between the workers of both the parties.

The police detained Parmar and took him to Gotri police station where he complained of chest pain and injuries.

Police took him to a nearby hospital for treatment. He was later shifted to the citys SSG hospital.

In his complaint lodged with the Gotri police, Parmar said he was heavily beaten up by BJP workers in the presence of mayor Dangar, MP Ranjanben Bhatt and other corporators.

He demanded that action should be taken against those involved in the incident.

City Congress unit president Prashant Patel and leader of opposition in Vadodara Municipal Corpration Chandrakant Bhatthu rushed to the spot after the incident.

They staged a dharna alleging that their party worker Parmar was wrongly detained by the police and demanded his immediate release.

Meanwhile, mayor Dangar, BJP MP Bhatt and other party leaders from the city garlanded the statue of Ambedkar and paid rich tributes to him.

The local BJP leaders refused to comment on the incident.

Posters torn, burnt

Violence broke out in an Uttarakhand village early on Friday after some posters and banners on Dr BR Ambedkar were burnt and torn off, the police said.

Following this, an irate mob pelted stones and injured many policemen and even torched some vehicles in Munder village under the Mangalor police stations jurisdiction, the police added.

An official said that some perople had on Thursday night torn and burnt posters made for the occasion of the 126th birth anniversary celebrations of Ambedkar.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone for the Rs 100 crore Dr BR Ambedkar Smriti Vanam (memorial park) at Inavolu village in Amravati on Friday to mark the 125th birth anniversary of the architect of Indian Constitution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers also garlanded the statue of Ambedkar and paid his tribute to the great social reformer in Maharashtras Nagpur.
The Goa Police on Friday said that it is cracking down on drug trade and late night parties which continue beyond the stipulated time of 10 pm.

Director general of police (DGP) Muktesh Chander told ANI, Instructions about late night parties and music are already there; they cannot take place beyond 10 pm. All the instructions we are enforcing them. We will ensure that no such nuisance is created in the entire Goa.

Chander informed that the police have already been directed by chief minister Manohar Parrikar to strictly curb these illegalities across Goa.

Read | There is legal ban on holding parties after 10 pm in Goa, says CM Manohar Parrikar

In the last three to four days when we started patrolling, about 150 cases have been registered. We are also examining why many cases are acquitted later in court, he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Parrikar said that the police have been given clear instructions to crackdown on drugs, prostitution and illegal gambling businesses in the state, while asserting that his government would not compromise on law and order.

Whats the controversy in it? Its a law that after 10, there will be no loud sound or any activity that can hassle peoples peace. The police have been given clear instructions to crackdown on drugs, prostitution and illegal gambling businesses and it is doing. No one can take law in his own hand. There will be action if attempt is being made to take law in his own hand. We will not compromise on law and order, but will listen to public grievances, Parrikar told the media.
Gujarat Lions skipper Suresh Raina couldnt have asked for a better performance to mark his 150th Indian Premier League match as his team pocketed their first win of the tournament on Friday, after two heavy defeats. (Highlights)

Suresh Rainas bowlers restricted Rising Pune Supergiant to 171 for eight in 20 overs with Aussie pacer Andrew Tyes brilliant show on his IPL debut, claiming 5/17 with a hattrick in the final over. (Scorecard)

Raina then remained unbeaten on 35 (22 balls) to steer his team to a magnificent seven-wicket win after Gujarat Lions openers Dwayne Smith (47 off 30 balls) and Brendon McCullum (32-ball 49) launched an explosive start and produced a 94-run partnership.

(Read | IPL 2017: Andrew Tye, Samuel Badree make it good Friday for hat-tricks)

The big-hitting West Indian and the former New Zealand skipper were in destructive mood on Friday. Smith lodged the first ball he faced for four to square leg and then clobbered a four and six to take 16 runs off the opening over bowled by Ankit Sharma.

McCullum too found his aggressive mode when he whacked a slower ball from debutant Lockie Ferguson for six over long-off, off the fourth ball he faced. From there, the Gujarat Lions openers showed little mercy on the RPS bowlers, who have already come under pressure in this tournament.

RPS most successful bowler so far in the IPL, Imran Tahir, the No 1 spinner in T20 Internationals, was hammered for 15 and 20 runs off his first two overs, leaving skipper Steven Smith helpless.

The run riot came to halt, albeit for a brief while, when RPS dismissed the openers and Dinesh Karthik in the space of 25 balls.

However, Raina and Aaron Finch (33no, 19 balls) didnt take unnecessary risk to see the team through with two overs to spare. Finch slammed two sixes to finish off the match in style.

Terrific Tye

The Australian pacer claimed the wickets of Ankit Sharma (25), Tiwary (31) and Shardul Thakur (0) in the first three balls of the final over in which he conceded only four runs to restrict RPS to 171/8 in 20 overs. Tye had earlier claimed the wickets of Rahul Tripathi and Ben Stokes, finishing with 4-0-17-5.

Expensive Jadeja

Ravindra Jadejas much-anticipated return to competitive cricket didnt pan out as he would have expected. The India left-arm spinner was the second-most expensive Gujarat Lions bowler after Praveen Kumar (4-0-51-0), conceding 40 runs in four overs. However, Jadeja claimed the big wicket of the struggling Mahendra Singh Dhonis wicket for five runs.

No end to Dhonis woes

MS Dhoni is perhaps experiencing his worst IPL performance as the ex-India skipper was once again dismissed for single digit. Dhoni was welcomed with vociferous chants as he arrived in the middle. His stay though did not last long after a straighter one from Jadeja beat Dhonis blade to hit his back leg.

Smith fires again

Steven Smith, who missed the last match due to stomach upset, top scored with 43 off 28 balls as the RPS skipper maintained his rich form in the tournament.

His teammate Manoj Tiwary (31 off 27 balls), who had missed the last match due to the death of his father, slammed some lusty blows towards the end.

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In a small, air-cooled office of Punaram Nagana, the owner of a hotel on NH 25, a group of villagers is animatedly discussing the recent developments on the delayed HPCL refinery. With most of them having invested in property in and around Pachpadra, the site of the proposed refinery in Barmer district, the stakes are high.

Four years ago, when the state government first announced the project, the solitary hotel at Pachpadra was a meeting point for property brokers and people interested in buying a piece of land.

The property prices have soared more than 10 times ever since the government announced the project four years ago, Nagana told HT.

However, with the project facing delays, many investors have lost their shirt. The token system, in which people bought property at exorbitant rates by giving some money upfront, has ruined many. With project facing delays, many people could not resell the land and forfeited the token money, he said.

In March 2013, the then Congress-led Rajasthan government had signed an agreement with HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd) for setting up a 9-million-tonne refinery-cum-petrochemical complex in Thar desert near the oil discovery made by Cairn India. After coming to power the same year, the Vasundhara Raje government put the project on hold citing undue financial burden.

Earlier this month, chief minister Raje announced in the assembly that the government will sign a fresh MoU with HPCL for setting up the refinery.

This time around, euphoria has been replaced by caution. We will wait and watch whether the work starts on the ground, said Shriram Godre, former pradhan of Balhotra. The site measuring 12,500 bigha reserved by the state government at Pachpadra is a barren land dotted with illegal salt mines.

In the past decade, Barmers rural economy has been transformed by two big energy projects  a 1,080 MW thermal power plant operated by a subsidiary of JSW Energy, and Cairn Energys Mangala, Bhagyam and Aishwariya oilfields.

The projects led to a spurt in ancillary industries and entrepreneurship, with residents investing in hotels and transport fleets. The real estate bubble created tremendous liquidity in the surrounding villages that, until recently, bartered goods in times of drought.

With another mega project with an investment of more than 37,000 crore about to take off, there is hope of another economic boom.

Its a big project so a lot of development will take place. Small ancillary industries, hotels, and transport business will flourish that will generate a lot of direct and indirect employment for the local population, said industrialist Roop Chand Salecha, the managing director of Balotra Water Pollution Control and Treatment Pvt Ltd.

Balhotra, 12km from Pachpadra, is a major textile hub with an annual turnover of 10,000 crore.

This time, the project looks more likely to take off as the government seemed to have resolved the earlier issues that had become the bone of contention, said industrialist Ramakishan Garg, owner of a textile unit in Balhotra.

The residents have seen a similar transformation in Barmer, about 100 km from Balhotra, when Cairn Energy had set up its oilfields in 2008.

Luxury cars and SUVs replaced jeeps, hotels and home stays mushroomed, cabs became popular in the town where travelling in an auto was a sign of opulence, and real estate prices broke records.

With crude oil prices falling sharply in 2014, the dream run came to a halt. Cairn downsized its workforce and private businesses dwindled.

We expect a similar transformation in the region on the line of the economic boom in Mathura and other places where big refineries have been set up, Salecha said.

The Rajasthan government has renegotiated with HPCL and brought down the viability gap funding (VGF) from 3,736 crore to 1,123 crore, which is to be paid over five years. A new MoU is expected to be signed in the next few weeks.

People in the region are keeping their fingers crossed. I am waiting for the work to start on the ground before I start construction work to expand the hotel, Nagana said.

LAND PRICES SOAR, BIZ TO GET BOOST

The 9-million-tonne HPCL refinery-cum-petrochemical complex project has been hanging fire for four years

Land prices in Pachpadra have shot up from 25,000 to 4-5 lakh per bigha in last four years

The downside is that many people have lost their money in land speculation

Earlier this month, chief minister Vasundhara Raje announced that the government will soon sign another MoU with HPCL

Ancillary industries, hotels, and transport business are expected to flourish once the refinery comes up

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Since the beginning of the announcement of the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) in the east of Ukraine on April 14, 2014, more than 2,600 military personnel have been killed, the Defense Ministry spokesman for ATO issues Andriy Lysenko has said.

"Over three years in the battles for freedom, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, 2,652 servicemen and personnel of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Security Service, the Interior Ministry, the State Border Guard Service have been killed. Some 9,578 have been injured," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.
The Wildlife Institute of India has identified around 10 locations in Rajasthan to set up the countrys first Great Indian Bustard (GIB) captive breeding centre.

Taking serious cognizance of declining GIB population, the central government last year decided to set up the centres along with Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Great Indian Bustard is the state bird of Rajasthan - during the past few years the number of GIB as per the census has decreased drastically.

Number of Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), locally known as Godawan, shrunk to 745 in 1978, 600 in 2001, 300 (2008) and 125 (2013). GIB is listed as critically endangered under the Wildlife Act 1972.

Based on scientific parameters, 10 locations have been identified in places like Jaisalmer, Tal Chappar (Churu) or Sonkhaliya in Ajmer, a senior official at WII told HT on condition of anonymity.

However, most likely it would be in Jaisalmer as maximum GIBs are found there.

He said this month a workshop would be held, which will be participated by officials from WII, state forest department, and experts from outside.

Experts for breeding are not there in India, looking which people such as Keith Scotland will be roped, who is already running Houbara Bustard breeding center in Abu Dubai, he said.

The WII official said: We have already met the chief minister, who has assured full support in setting up the centre as the specie needs to be conserved.

A senior state forest official said the centre will be first in India. GIBs are found in states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Rajasthan has the maximum number of GIB followed by Gujarat.

In natural conditions the breeding of GIBs is slow and even survival chances are less be it due to predators or any other reason, the official said on the need of setting up a centre.

Looking to the declining population of the GIBs, the central government had initiated Species Recovery Program (SRP) in 2015-16, under which financial assistance is provided.

Under SRP, in 2015-16 the Centre had sanctioned 108.93 lakh and 129.94 lakh (2016-17).

Another official said: The state government to protect the specie is developing additional closures, developing grass land and constructing predator proof fencing in GIBs breeding areas.

He said: Till date, we have renovated 4,700 hectare old closures and constructed 3,175 hectare new closures. In addition to this new closures in 1,000 hectare will be developed.

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Minor clashes broke out between Hindus and Muslims in Bengals Purulia district over the last one week, even as a saffron wave engulfed the state in the wake of the Ram Navami-Hanuman Jayanti celebrations.

Rioters gutted several shops and vandalised a number of vehicles during this period. Police arrested 12 people under non-bailable sections of the IPC in this connection.

The clashes began on April 6, while chief minister Mamata Banerjee was holding an administrative meeting in the district. There was a law-and-order problem. But we took strict action, and everything is peaceful now, Purulia superintendent of police Joy Biswas told HT.

Though police refused to elaborate on the arrests, local residents claimed eight of the 12 people arrested belonged to the Hindu community while the rest were Muslims. The accused were produced in court and remanded till April 21, said a senior district police officer.

Police said the first incident occurred when Hindutva activists took out an unauthorised motorcycle rally in Baghmundi area, as part of the Ram Navami celebrations, on April 6. They entered into an altercation with Muslims near a mosque in Hurumbi village, leading to a scuffle.

On April 8, both the communities clashed at Baghmundi market. Shops and houses, mostly belonging to Muslims, were set afire near the market. A huge contingent of policemen  including Rapid Action Force personnel  was deployed in the area to maintain peace.

A few days later, on April 11, Hindu groups took out a procession to celebrate Ram Navami-Hanuman Jayanti in Jhalda area. Miscreants threw stones at them, triggering further clashes.

While police said the chief minister has directed them to deal with the situation neutrally, members of the saffron party made a different claim. In Bengal, police are using lathis to bear down on peaceful Ram Navami celebrations. Worshippers of Lord Ram are being arrested. Processions are being disturbed by miscreants in different areas, but the police are only arresting Hindus, said Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesperson Sourish Mukherjee.

Since October 2016, Hindu-Muslim clashes have been witnessed in pockets of Kaliachak and Chanchol (Malda district); Jalangi (Murshidabad); Chandannagar (Hooghly); Bhagabanpur (East Midnapore); Kharagpore (West Midnapore); Hajinagar and Kanchrapara (North 24 Parganas); Sankrail and Dhulagarh (Howrah); and Katwa, Jamuria and Kaksha (Burdwan).

Even on October 11 and 12 last year, a series of clashes had occurred across Bengal over Durga Puja immersion ceremonies and Muharram processions. Violence erupted again in Dhulagarh near Kolkata on December 12, when Muslims took out a religious procession through the main market road in a neighbourhood dominated by Hindus. Houses and shops were set ablaze in the clashes that followed, leaving hundreds of people from both communities homeless. Though police arrested 65 people, clashes continued for the next few days.

Unlike the clashes that had happened earlier, the Dhulagarh incident received a lot of political attention. Many parties  including the BJP, Congress and CPI(M)  sent their leaders to the affected areas.

Purulia is Bengals westernmost district, bordering Jharkhand.

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The University Grants Commission (UGC) plans to mark an impressive International Yoga Day pan India on June 21.

As part of the plan, the higher education regulator of the country has directed all universities to organise elaborate training programmes on common yoga protocol.

It has also urged varsity heads to personally supervise efforts in their institutions as well as colleges affiliated to their universities to make the plan a success.

Apart from ensuring mass yoga performances on campuses, the universities have also been asked to conduct discourses, lectures and talks by eminent yoga experts to mark the day.

UGC, through a missive dated April 5 by secretary prof Jaspal S Sandhu, has asked the universities and colleges to take support of reputed yoga institutions for providing training to trainers and celebrations of Yoga Day.

The letter has been sent to 52 central universities, 357 state varsities, 123 deemed universities and 273 private universities of the country.

The main programme would be the mass yoga demonstrations from 7am to 8am by following the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). Other events could include yoga fests, seminars, workshops, musical and cultural programme.

Allahabad-based Yoga instructor Komal Malhotra said that resurgence of Yoga as a popular discipline among youngsters was a welcome development and people from all walks of life should come forward to make the event a success. Yoga means union of the individual consciousness or soul with the spirit. Yoga is a 5000-year-old Indian body of knowledge. Its is a profound science of unfolding the infinite potentials of the human mind and soul and imbibes the complete essence of the way of life, she added.

The 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly had adopted a draft resolution for observing International Day of Yoga on June 21 each year.

Read more: Yoga becomes part of school curriculum in Uttar Pradesh

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Around 24 hours after he was released from jail on bail, Vineet Pandey, a dreaded gangster from Basti, had created sensation by allegedly making an anonymous call to blow up women power line (WPL)-1090 in Lucknow.

1090 is a state wide service to assist women in trouble.

While Pandey was released on April 6, the call was made from an unknown number (9565670399) on April 7 early morning.

Police said the gangsters intention behind making the call is still not ascertained as he is elusive since then and efforts are on track him down.

It was attended by a WPLs outsourced call taking staff, Neha Singh. The caller threatened to blow up the WPL office in two minutes after introducing himself as S Mishra.

The call had created panic among the WPL staff after which the office in Lucknow was vacated. Later it turned out to be a hoax call.

The probe revealed that the number used for making the hoax call was being used by one Vineet Pandey, who is a dreaded gangster of Basti involved is several incidents of loot and robbery. He was lodged in Basti district jail and came out of jail on bail on April 6, said a senior police officer supervising the probe.

The officer said the electronic surveillance also revealed that the call was made from somewhere close to the Basti jail premises. The findings are shocking as the criminal must be having some intention behind making the call. Moreover, the criminal is untraceable since then. We are putting our efforts to track and ascertain the intentions, he emphasised. He said a team of city police has already been sent to jail to track the criminal. Sleuths of UP Special Task Force have also been roped in for the purpose.

WPL inspector Gangesh Tripathi had lodged an FIR of IPC sections 506 for criminal intimidation and 507 for threatening through anonymous communication against unidentified caller with Gautampalli police station.
Having faced humiliating defeat in 2017 UP polls, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday indicated that she was willing to be a part of larger anti-BJP front.

She also announced that her brother Anand Kumar would be the vice president of the party.

He resides in Delhi and will handle the party work. As national vice-president he will be empowered to dispose of the party documents and represent the party in the meetings held by Election Commission, she said.

Mayawati made the announcement while addressing the cadre during the Ambedkar birth anniversary function at Lucknows Ambedkar Memorial.

Her announcement assumes significance as it could pave way for formation of a larger front to stop the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a second term.

During the run up to UP polls Mayawati had consistently rejected suggestions of being a part of a larger anti-BJP front on the lines of the Mahagathbandhan or Grand alliance in Bihar where BJP got defeated.

Before the assembly election, the JD (U) and Congress leaders had held several rounds of meeting with BSP chief Mayawati to discuss the formation of grand alliance.

Mayawati had rejected the proposal and announced that her party will contest the assembly election on its own strength.
FAST & FURIOUS 8

Direction: F Gary Gray

Actors: Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron

Rating: 3 / 5

They have thrilled gear-heads with car-fuelled mayhem for 16 years. The former professional street racing gang puts pedal to the metal once again for an over-amped action juggernaut that has already raked in upwards of $4 billion globally.

Staying true to its roots, Fast & Furious 8 kicks off in overdrive, with the team leader (Vin Diesel) tearing up the streets of Havana in a souped-up automobile.

The franchises overall theme of loyalty to friends and family is undermined by the arrival of a techno-terrorist (Charlize Theron, a welcome addition) who turns the ace wheelman to the dark side.

Its now up to his racing buddies, including an ex-federal agent (Dwayne The Rock Johnson), an English badass (Jason Statham) and the African-American motormouth (Tyrese Gibson), to marshal their collective skills and ensure the survival of the human race.

Typically loud, long (two hours plus change) and abrasive, F&F 8 is a lot of, fun despite all its limitations.

From the shores of the Cuban capital to the alleyways of Manhattan and the ice-glazed coastline of Siberia, the testosterone-driven stunts are expertly staged.

One could punch enough holes in the flimsy plot for a SUV to drive through. But the computer-generated car-nage keeps the viewer engaged.

From the shores of the Cuban capital to the alleyways of Manhattan and the ice-glazed coastline of Siberia, the testosterone-driven stunts are expertly staged. It must be said that some of the CGI fails dreadfully, especially the sequence where cars (so obviously toy models) plummet from high-rise parking garages into oncoming New York City traffic.

On the other hand, the latest installment is arguably the funniest in the franchise, with abundant repartee and an adorable infant who turns into a total scene-stealer in the last act.

Old-timer Kurt Russell in the role of a bemused law-enforcement official, newcomers Scott Eastwood (Clints eldest son) as his rookie deputy, and the redoubtable Helen Mirren as a resourceful mother add immensely too.

Fasten your seat belts and get set for a bumpy ride.

Watch the trailer for Fast & Furious 8 here

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1. Rape at Bandra 5-star hotel: Police identify Facebook friend from Gujarat

Police have identified the businessman who allegedly raped a 40-year-old woman at a 5-star hotel in Bandra on Friday. In search of clues, police examined CCTV camera footage of the hotel, which shows the accused and the woman entering together.

2. Thane call centre scam: Shaggy in custody, but cops yet to trace his millions, family members

Though Sagar Thakkar alias Shaggy, 24, has been in police custody for a week, the cops have neither been able to trace his ill-gotten millions, nor other important players in the scam, including members of the Thakkar family who have been absconding.

3. Bears strike back: 20 attacks in a year, four deaths in Maharashtras Buldhana

Maharashtra has witnessed a spike in human-bear conflicts this year outside protected forest areas of Buldhana. From no case in 2015, the area this year has recorded 20 conflict cases that killed four people and injured 19 severely.

4. Traffic snarls on Mumbai-Pune Expressway as people take advantage of 3-day weekend

Traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway slowed down to crawl on Friday as residents of both cities took advantage of the long weekend to travel to Pune, Goa, Mahabaleshwar and parts of Raigad and Ratnagiri. Friday is a holiday owing to Good Friday  a Christian holiday  and Ambedkar Jayanti. This, coupled with Saturday and Sunday, has given Mumbaiites a long weekend.

5. In a first, Maharashtra to stage special drive for transgenders to register as voters

Maharashtra will be the first state to launch a special awareness drive to ensure that transgenders in the state register as voters in greater numbers. The state branch of the Election Commission of India (ECI) will launch the drive on April 15, celebrated as Third Gender Day.
Bariatric surgery, which helped Eman Ahmed, a severely obese Egyptian woman who weighed 500kg shed about half her weight, cant be performed on the three obese Nandwana siblings from Gujarat, or on four other children with the same condition who have approached Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, the doctor who operated on Eman.

HT reported yesterday that Ramesh and Pradnya Nandwana, from Una district in Gujarat, have sought help from Dr Lakdawala for their three children  seven-year-old Yogita, who weighs 45kg; five-year-old Anisha, who weighs 68kg; and their three-year-old brother Harsh, who weighs 25kg. Apart from them, the parents of four more children, two from the same village as the Nandwanas and two from Maharashtra, have also asked him for help.

However, Dr Lakdawala said, We dont operate on paediatric patients because bariatric surgery is not the solution for genetically induced obesity in children. The only option is an experimental drug called MC4R Agonist, which is only available from a pharmaceutical company in the US.

The drug is still at the trial stage and may not even cure Eman and the children, but its the only option for them. If need be, we will speak with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials and the state health department and ask them to allow the trial once we get a go-ahead from the US firm, said Dr Lakdawala.

He added that in some of the cases, marriages between blood relatives could have caused the genetic mutations.

Two months after undergoing treatment in Mumbai, Eman weight has halved. But Dr Lakdawala told HT that, while all her health problems have been taken care of to a great extent, her neurological complications are yet to be checked.

Her thyroid problems, which earlier werent even recordable, are under control. Her partial heart failure has been cleared and her creatinine (a chemical waste produced in the body as by-product of normal muscle function) levels are normal, said Dr Lakdawala.

However, four neurological drugs Eman is taking keep her sedated, making it difficult to diagnose whether she is suffering from depression. Because of the sudden weight loss, her body is weak and her neurological problems are restricting the movement of her limbs, added Dr Lakdawala.

Doctors are now waiting for her weight to come down to 200kg so that she can undergo a CT scan, which will help diagnose the effects of a stroke she suffered three years ago. Because of the stroke, she still gets seizures and is partially paralysed. But her neurologist believes that her line of treatment is correct, said Dr Lakdawala.

He added that this would take six more months as the US firm wants to wait and see the results of Emans surgery as their drug has previously been used on only three paediatric patients.

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After treating worlds heaviest woman, Mumbai doctor to treat worlds heaviest children
Several BJP leaders came out against Narayan Ranes rumoured entry to the party on Thursday. Former BJP MLA and president of the partys Sindhudurg unit Pramod Jathar openly opposed the move.The opposition came a day after Rane met BJP chief Amit Shah in Ahmedabad in the presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

I have told party leadership, including chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari about my displeasure with the induction. The party is not going to benefit from him, but Rane will reap personal benefits. If party really wants to strengthen its base in Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri, it should stand by its local leaders. Almost all local leaders from the party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh are against Ranes induction, he said.

Several BJP leaders are worried that the partys image will take a beating if Rane joins the BJP. They also said that Rane was losing support. He lost the 2014 Assembly elections from Kudal constituency. A year later, he contested the by elections against the Shiv Sena in Bandra and lost again.

The state-level party leadership is also divided over Ranes admission to its fold . CM Fadnavis is reportedly against the idea, while state president Raosaheb Danve and Gadkari are in favour of the move.

READ MORE

Rumours of Narayan Ranes move to BJP grow after he visits Gujarat

Footage of me travelling with Devendra Fadnavis is old, doctored: Narayan Rane

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A 30-year-old doctor riding without a helmet on the deadly JJ Flyover  on which bikes are banned  was killed after he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the divider.

The accident took place early on Thursday. The police said Jalandar Singh, a third-year student at JJ Hospitals anaesthesia department, was on his way to the hospital from south Mumbai.

The JJ Flyover runs along a 2.4-km stretch and was built in 2001 through the congested south Mumbai, connecting Byculla and CST. Residents supported the plan hoping it would decongest the route. But the flyovers structure  it is serpentine and has sharp curves  makes it an accident-prone zone that is especially dangerous for bikers. Taking note of several accidents on the stretch, the Mumbai police banned two-wheelers on the flyover in 2010.

Bikers use the flyover to avoid congestion along the Mohammed Ali Road. While the flyover is constantly manned by the traffic police during the day, the constables shifts end at 9 pm, making the route free for bikers. At night, many bikers take the flyover for a joyride.

Singhs accident happened at 1.30am. It was around 1.30am on Thursday when we were called to the spot. Singh was riding his Bullet on the JJ Flyover , he lost control, crashed into the divider and flung several feet in the impact, said an officer from the Pydhonie police station, not wishing to be named.

Singh was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead. Doctors said Singh had multiple head injuries, which killed him.

The doctor lost control over his bike. The impact of his fall severely injured him, said senior police inspector Deepak Kundal, confirming the accident.

The police have registered the case as an accidental death.

Read

HT Road Safety series: 467 people died in road accidents in Mumbai last year
Turchynov says he did not consult with Western partners on ATO start, they were afraid to irritate Russia

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov said that he had not consulted in the spring of 2014 on the beginning of the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) in the east of the country.

"I didn't consult. I did not like the reaction of our partners to my decision to start mobilization. Some of them said that we did not need to do this, because this could have been a 'red flag' for Putin and a reason for launching a large-scale war in the territory of mainland Ukraine. I'm not talking about the refusal to provide us with any military assistance in those hard times," he said in an interview with the BBC.

Turchynov said that he therefore decided to start ATO without consulting with anyone.

Answering a question about whether he supported contacts with the leadership of Russia in April-May 2014, the NSDC secretary said: "The last of my talks with representatives of the Russian leadership was a conversation with Sergey Naryshkin, then chairman of the State Duma, and now - the head of the Foreign Russian Intelligence Service, on March 1, 2014, before the onset of the escalation in Donbas."

According to him, then, after the Russian Federation decided to send its troops to Ukraine, the Russian General Staff put forward an ultimatum to the Ukrainian military in Crimea: immediately lay down their arms and surrender. "I asked to tell Putin the following: "We will defend our positions, and you will be responsible for all the blood." Then they did not start the assault on our positions, but we got a vital time for us," he said.

Turchynov said that he did not see any sense in such negotiations in conditions of aggression against Ukraine.
A 45-year-old manager rammed his car into a parked police van outside Agripada police station on Friday. Police said no one was hurt.

The accused, Mohommad Mustaka Abdul Kadar, is an Agripada resident. The incident took place at 12.20 am. Kadar was driving back to his Agripada residence in his Fortuner SUV, after dropping his friend at Mahim. He was accompanied by his friends mother, said police.

He told police he hit the brakes and sharply turned left to avoid ramming into an old woman who was crossing the road. This is what caused him to hit the van, which was scratched in the incident.

Kadar lost control of the vehicle, leading to the accident. We sent him for a check-up, which confirmed that he had not been drink driving, he said.

Senior police inspector Ashok Sarambalkar from Agripada police station said investigations were ongoing.

The accused was booked under section 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code. He was granted bail soon after.

Read

Two killed, four injured after car overturns near Thane

Drunk driver rams Mercedes into autorickshaws in Mumbai

Man dies as drunk friend drives car into truck

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The police are in the lookout for a Gujarat-based businessman, who allegedly raped a 40-year-old housewife at a 5-star hotel at Bandra on Friday.

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 regularly.

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 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 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.

Read

Taxi driver accused of rape, extortion held in Madhya Pradesh

Man arrested for allegedly raping minor daughter in Mumbai

Mumbai man gets life in jail for raping partners minor daughter

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After HT published a report that Dr Heena Gavit, the youngest MP from Maharashtra , had skipped her mandatory medical bond services at a rural centre and refused to pay Rs50 lakh penalty, Dr T P Lahane, dean of Gavits alma mater JJ Hospital, has asked her to submit her original degree certificates to the hospital.

Earlier, in a response to a Lokayukta order demanding an action-taken report, Dr Lahane said he let Dr Gavit avoid the stint by mistake, thinking that as an MP she must have been exempted from bond service.

Bond services are omitted for class one officers of UPSC and MPSC merit students, MPS and other top government officials but when we looked closely we realised that the option is available only for MBBS and not MD students. We gave her the certificates by mistake and will ask her to submit it to us, said Dr Lahane, in his reply to the Lokayuktas order.

The hospital officials then wrote to Dr Gavit asking her to return her original certificate, marksheet and other documents to the hospital. This would mean that Gavit would not be able to practice medicine. It is not clear when she can get back the documents or whether there will be further punitive action against her.

The Lokayukta in January directed the dean of the hospital and the director of Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) to submit a report, explaining the alleged favouritism towards the MP.

On October 21, HT reported that Gavit was given all her original documents despite her failing to honour the one-year bond service after completing her MD degree from Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Hospital. This was revealed in a response to a Right to Information application filed by activist Chetan Kothari.

Requesting action against both Sir JJ Hospital and Director DMER, Kothari said, This is a case of corruption in which rules were bent to favour the MP.

Also, the state plans to issue a GR to exempt lawmakers from the mandatory bond service. The alteration in current norms is proposed but its yet to come in action said Dr P Shingare, director, DMER.

READ MORE

Maharashtras doctor MP Heena Gavit skipped rural stint

Lokayukta asks why BJP MP in Mumbai didnt do rural stint as doctor
The Supreme Court refused relief to two former crime branch officers who were booked for allegedly demanding money from a builder in the city in 2007.

The court said that it was primarily a case of civil dispute, which was given a criminal angle after the names of the two officers  Anil Mahabole and Rajendra Nikam  cropped up.

One of the builders, Vinod Avlani, allegedly struck a deal with Krishnamilan Shukla of Buildtech Engineers Limited over an SRA project . It did not work out and Avlani decided to back out and asked for the money that he had invested in it. Avlani later alleged Shukla of trying to extort the money from him.

Instead of registering a case against Shukla, the two officers purportedly demanded Rs10 lakh from Shukla to settle the case. Shukla approached the ACB.

The case was much discussed because of the alleged involvement of gangster Dawood Ibrahims sister late Haseena Parkar as an intermediary.

Shukla moved the Bombay high court for a CBI inquiry in 2007. The court, in its order of August 14, 2009, directed the ACB to probe the alleged role of the two policemen in the extortion complaint.

While disposing of the petition, the high court had directed the ACB to name the officers as accused in the case and file a report against them. The state government, along with the police officers, had challenged the order of the court, which came to be rejected by the apex court last week.

READ MORE

Non-bailable warrant against Zakir Naik, but can agencies bring him back from abroad?

Mumbai court to decide on no-bailable warrant against Zakir Naik tomorrow

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The Indian government has promised to go to any extent to bring Kulbhushan Jadhav back from Pakistan. His friends have said that they will, too.

A few of the retired naval officers childhood friends from Parel have come together to press for his freedom. They had fond memories of the man who was a good teacher and a generous friend.

Tulsiram Pawar, Jadhavs childhood friend, shared some of his old pictures from 20 years ago, which were taken when Jadhav lived in Parel. He told HT that they lived in opposite buildings and played together. He was very studious and used to teach us English, he said. He added that Jadhav was a good at studies and sports, which secure him admission to the National Defence Academy (NDA).

Jadhavs family is reluctant to speak to the media. His uncle Subhash Jadhav, who retired as an assistant commissioner of police in Maharashtra, told HT, Please understand that this is a trying time for the family, so I cannot comment.

When asked if he was happy with the governments efforts to bring his nephew back, Subhash said, The newspapers and TV channels have already narrated the developments. I have nothing much to say.

Jadhavs father Sudhir is also a retired assistant commissioner of police. Jadhav studied at King George School at Dadar and later went to Ruia college, before being admitted to the NDA in Pune.

The officer had always wanted to start a business of his own and spoke less of his profession, said Pawar. He always told us that he will get us on board when he came up with something but was arrested in Pakistan before fulfilling any of those dreams, he said.

He added, Kulbhushan was very helpful and always there when someone needed him. I remember how he once helped a woman in the locality, who needed immediate medical attention. She had no one to help her and Kulbhushan, who was at home for his holidays, rushed to her aid with doctors. Even after they shifted to Powai he was in touch with us.

The friends are drafting a petition demanding Kulbhushans release, which they plan to submit to the governor. They said that they will do everything to bring their friend back.

We are meeting political parties and local leaders for help. We are also trying to meet the foreign minister and prime minister, he said.

When asked if they were wished to meet the Pakistan high commissioner, he said they would try to, if necessary. All we want is for Kulbhushan to come back safely from Pakistan, Pawar said

Jadhavs family lives at in Powai. For other residents  who have all refused to speak to the media  journalists outside the main gate has now become a common sight. The Mumbai police have deployed eight police officials there for security.

According to Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016 from Mashkel in Balochistan for his involvement in espionage and sabotage actives in Pakistans restive Balochistan province and Karachi city. On April 10, 2017 he was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court for spying.

READ MORE

India to appeal against Jadhavs death sentence, seeks charge-sheet: Envoy

India rejects Pakistans claim of not responding to information sought on Jadhav

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A school principal has urged the Bombay high court to quash an FIR filed against him by a peon for forwarding a joke on a WhatsApp group which allegedly violated provisions of the IPC and the SC/ST Act.

A bench of Justice Prakash Naik and Justice SC Dharmadhikari, in an order on April 7, asked the principal of private school here to file an affidavit by April 20, stating if he was prepared to tender an unconditional apology for sharing the joke.

The HC said it would pass an order after hearing both the parties on April 20.

The principal and the peon of the private school were in the WhatsApp group in which the former forwarded the joke, which referred to jobs obtained through reservation.

On reading the post, the peon felt aggrieved and filed an FIR with the police against the principal under Indian Penal Code section 153 A (promoting enmity among people on grounds of religion, race, residence and language and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony).

The complaint also alleged that the principal violated certain provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The principals lawyer, Umesh Mankapure, contended that the provisions of the SC/ST Act cannot be invoked as there was never any intention to insult or to abuse anybody in the name of caste.

As regards the violation of the IPC provision, the lawyer argued that forwarding a message on WhatsApp to membersof the same group does not attract section 153 A.

Therefore, on both the counts, the first information report (FIR) does not disclose commission of any offence. Secondly, if the allegations are investigated and pursued, the same would only prove to be an abuse of the process of court, Mankapure argued.
Days after the alleged theft of the 516 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) answer-sheets from Isra School in Dahisar, the state board has decided to mark the affected students on their overall performance in History, Sanskrit and Science. This has raised concerns among students about the fairness of the marking pattern.

The school authorities suspect that the papers were stolen by a man posing as a scrap dealer on April 3. School principal Narendra Pathak registered a complaint with the Dahisar police on April 8. The police have not been able to trace the papers.

The Mumbai divisional state board had said that steps would be taken to ensure that the students were not affected by the incident. It said that students would be marked for the lost papers, on the basis of their overall performance, if they were not found before the SSC results.

We will calculate the students average marks from other subjects and put that as the score for the missing paper, said Duttatray Jagtap, chairperson of the divisional board, which includes Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar and Raigad.

Jagtap added that this would increase boards work, but it was always a better option than a re exam. The incident was not any students fault. So we will not ask them to take the exam again, said Jagtap.

Students are worried with the boards decision because they feel that the marking will not be fair. The SSC scores are important for them because it plays a vital role in the first year junior college (class 11) admissions.

SSC scores are very important. Every mark matters and can cost a student a seat in the college of their choice, said Suresh Nair, principal, Vivek Vidyalaya, Goregaon.

Teachers said that the students morale had hit a low after the incident because they feel that their efforts will be wasted if the papers are lost.

Students are demotivated with the boards decision to mark them on their overall performance and not according to their efforts in the particular paper. Even so, I support the boards decision, said Uday Nare, teacher, Hansraj Morarji Public School, Andheri. These marks will be closer to what the students would have scored for this paper.

The Maharashtra state board exams, held in February and March this year, had six incidents of paper leaks on WhatsApp groups, minutes before they were handed to the examinees.

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Man flees with 516 SSC answer papers in Mumbai

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Though Sagar Thakkar alias Shaggy, 24, has been in police custody for a week, the cops have neither been able to trace his ill-gotten millions, nor other important players in the scam, including members of the Thakkar family who have been absconding.

The alleged mastermind of the multi-crore bogus call centre scam, Shaggy was arrested upon his arrival from Dubai last Friday. A court in Thane granted the police custody of him till Thursday.

The Thane crime branch approached the court on Thursday, seeking that Shaggys custody be extended. It pleaded that it was necessary to interrogate Shaggy to not only trace the location of his assets, but also find out information about the other accused. The court extended Shaggys custody till April 17.

A senior Thane police official admitted that Shaggy had taken steps to ensure that his crimes could not be traced back to him before he decided to return to India, following the red corner notice (RCN) that Interpol issued against him.

In Dubai, Shaggy used a masked US number to stay in touch with his family and acquaintances in Ahmedabad over WhatsApp. These calls did not show up in his cell phone call records, making it impossible for police to establish the identity of the receivers. Worse still, police found just four numbers in the contact lists of the two iPhones recovered from Shaggy.

Though Shaggy said his parents were in Rajasthan when he last spoke to them, police have still not been able to trace them.

While Shaggy was in Dubai, his father Mukesh allegedly sold his 5,000 square feet bungalow in Ahmedabad for Rs2.5 crore. Shaggy sold his BMW SUV, which cost him Rs50 lakh, through an agent. The police took Shaggy to Ahmedabad on Wednesday to identify five of his bank accounts, which they hoped would help them follow the money trail.

To their disappointment, four of these accounts collectively contained Rs25,000. Rs. 2.5 crore had been wired to an overseas account from the fifth one. Police said Shaggy told them he used the money to foot his expenses in Dubai.

Earlier this year, Shaggy had been detained for more than two months in Dubai after the United States issued an RCN against him. He hired a battery of lawyers, who managed to persuade the authorities to let him off on grounds of insufficient evidence.

Police have also failed to find the alleged processors of the iTune cards, which Shaggy took from the victims of the scam run from call centres at Mira Road. Shaggy allegedly told the victims that agents in China would help these processors encash those cards for a cut.

In the absence of any concrete evidence that could bolster the case against the mastermind, police are now contemplating asking the Thane court to issue a letter rogatory to a US-based court, so they can obtain digital evidence against Shaggy. His calls, made over WhatsApp, can only be retrieved from a server that is in the US. Recovering his deleted e-mails (from the server) would help trace his money, sources added.

Read

Thane call centre scam kingpin Shaggy gave Audi, BMW to friends before fleeing

Thane scam: Mastermind Shaggy used Dubai earnings to start fake call centres

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Three men stole 41 cars worth Rs4.28 crore from people in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai in just three months.

Anurag Ravindranath Tiwari,40, Rohit Vishnu Gharat,29, and Rajendra Ramsurat Yadav,35, were fed up with not getting a job, said police officers investigating the case. This led them to plan the crime.

Over three months, they lured four-wheeler owners by asking them to give their cars on rent for tourists at Mumbais Grand Hyatt hotel. The police said the men called themselves five-star agents and would convince the car owners to also deposit Rs15,000 each, using the brand value of the hotel.

Once the cars were in their possession, they would drive them to Dombivli and Mumbra and park them there, as they waited for buyers from other states. The probe so far shows the men wanted to make a quick buck and then flee to their hometowns. The crime came to light after a driver from Thane lodged a compliant.

The Thane police used the contacts and network of its anti chain-snatching squad to trace the accused. We caught them from Thane and recovered 41 car keys, including one of a BMW. They used fake rubber stamps with the hotel logo to make documentation look authentic, senior police inspector from Thane anti chain-snatching squad Ravindra Doiphode told HT.

The Rs15,000 they took from every victim (around Rs6.15lakh) is yet to be recovered, said Abhishek Trimukhe, DCP, Thane crime branch.

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In Mumbai: Drunk driver turns out to be car thief

Three held for stealing six Ola cabs, speeding on highways

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Traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway slowed down to crawl on Friday as residents of both cities took advantage of the long weekend to travel to Pune, Goa, Mahabaleshwar and parts of Raigad and Ratnagiri. Friday is a holiday owing to Good Friday  a Christian holiday  and Ambedkar Jayanti. This, coupled with Saturday and Sunday, has given Mumbaiites a long weekend.

The traffic jam started at 8.30 am as a steady stream of vehicles entered the highway from both ends. There were traffic jams near the Amrutaranjan bridge around 10 km from Khalapur in the morning.

The traffic was slow but did not come to a standstill. We have deployed more officials to handle the traffic on the highway, said a highway police officer.

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Trauma centre on Mumbai-Pune expressway to be operational by April

Cross Mumbai-Pune Expressway, but take precautions, say cops

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The Starobelsky District Court of the Luhansk region, which is considering the case of the head of the Party of Regions faction in the Verkhovna Rada of the 7th convocation Oleksandr Yefremov, extended his term of detention for up to 60 days, until June 12.

The court adopted the relevant decision at a meeting on Friday, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reports.

The previous term of Yefremov's detention expired on April 28.

At the same time, since February 9, Yefremov sits next to his lawyers in the courtroom, and is not hold prisoner in the cell for the defendants.

As reported, Yefremov on July 30, 2016 was detained on suspicion of threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty in an airport in Kyiv. He is also charged with supporting the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic and the illegal acquisition of property belonging to Luhanskvuhillia.

The press service of the Prosecutor General's Office said that the Starobelsky District Court of Luhansk region is currently considering the case on charges of Yefremov in complicity with terrorists, encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine and high treason.

Yefremov is suspected of state treason, activities deliberately undertaken by a citizen of Ukraine to diminish the nation's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. He is accused of supporting a foreign organization to conduct disruptive activities against Ukraine (Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

He is accused of supporting and establishing a terrorist organization - the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" (Part 1 of Article 258-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

On March 16, 2017, the press secretary of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Larysa Sarhan reported that the episode on economic crimes, in which Yefremov is accused, had been detached into a separate criminal proceeding.
While delay in appointing an agency to digitise answer-sheets of the current semester at the University of Mumbai (MU) is already stalling assessment, teachers too have now threatened to not check papers till their dues are paid. Professors who had assessed papers in 2016 have complained that they are yet to be paid for the job.

Its really unfair because we assess answer papers during holidays as well as after the college reopens. Some of us travel from as far as Navi Mumbai to assess papers at the examination house in the Kalina campus. We deserve to be paid in time, said a teacher from a Parel college.

She added that even though the money paid by the university is not much, its not fair for them to expect teachers to assess semester papers without clearing last semester dues.

Some teachers have also sought help from their colleges. My teachers have told me they will not go for paper assessment this year unless they are paid. Ive requested them to not stop their work, because I dont want students to suffer due to any delay, but teachers annoyance is valid, said Marie Fernandes, principal of St Andrews College in Bandra.

MU clears dues of teachers well within time and if there has been any delay this time, we will look into it. We havent received any complaints as of now but will solve the problem at the earliest, said an official from the examination house, who did not wish to be

Currently, assessment of answer booklets at MUs examination house has been stopped as the university hopes to introduce on-screen assessment in this semester itself. But the university has not yet appointed an agency for the work.

Delay in assessments which may lead to late announcement of results is worrying many. Anyway the stalling of assessment is going to directly delay results and instead of solving the problem, MU is adding to it. If teachers dont start assessment in time, the work will go on till the next semester, said Madhu Paranjape, member of Bombay University and College Teachers Union (BUCTU).

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Mumbai University V-C pushes for digital assessment of papers

Mumbai university not among Indias top 150 institutes

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After allowing the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to audit Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA), the state government has given indications that it was open for CAG audit of Noida authority and Greater Noida authority as well.

We will consider a request for CAG audit of Noida and Greater Noida as well if a request in this regard is made by the CAG to the state government, said minister for industrial development Satish Mahana, when asked about the state governments stand on CAG audit of Noida Authority and Greater Noida authority.

The state government, on chief minister Yogi Adityanaths insistence, had approved the proposal for CAG audit of GDA.

With the issue coming up for discussion at the state cabinets meeting on Tuesday, a decision to allow CAG audit in other development authorities was also taken.

Accountant General (Economic and Revenue Sector Audit) Uttar Pradesh Vinita Sharma had requested the state government to allow audit of the GDA.

The AG had brought the issue to the notice of governor through letters sent to him on May 5, 2016 and May 31, 2016.

Governor, who had taken up the issue with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union minister for finance Arun Jaitley, welcomed the decision to allow the CAG to audit the income and expenditure of GDA.

For the purpose of transparency, audit should be allowed everywhere where there is use of government funds, said governor in a press statement.

It may be mentioned that the Samajwadi Party government had denied permission to the CAG to audit the GDA despite governor Ram Naiks intervention on the issue. Principal secretary, Awas Evam Shahri Niyojan Vibhag through a letter sent in June, 2016 to principal secretary to governor had informed that the state government in consultation with the finance and law department had issued a government order for not allowing the CAG to audit the GDA.

The governor had noted that the state governments contention of not allowing the CAG to conduct the audit was completely untenable and without any legal basis. The audit had been conducted every year prior to this, under express authority granted by the governor of Uttar Pradesh and in consonance with the provisions of the Comptroller and Auditor Generals (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Services) Act 1971, said the governor in his letter to the then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.

The state government had, however, refused to change stance pointing out that 2% of stamp duty under the Indian Stamp Act 1899, Section 27 and the UP Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, section 3 did not fall within the category of the consolidated fund of the state.

It was further pointed out that under the terms of section 20 (3) of the Comptroller and Auditor Generals (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act 1971, the Accountant General was not empowered to carry out the audit of bodies or authorities unless authorised to do so by the governor.

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The police officers from Nala Sopara in Mumbai metropolitan region have sought records about the criminal history of Syed Imtiyaz Qadri, who claimed he was paid 7000 to appear as an impostor in Audi car accident case. The incident left four dead at Indirapuram near Delhi on January 28.

The police said the man seemed to be a seasoned attacker who used a long knife and targeted people who ventured alone at night. Qadri robbed chains, purses, mobiles and even two-wheelers and police have taken him on remand to inquire about his involvement in more such incidents in Mumbai and Thane.

We have also applied for his statements before the magistrate. He agreed to record his statement saying that he regretted getting lured into appearing as a driver in the case for just 7,000. He later came to know through news reports that four persons were killed in the incident. So, he ran away from Bareilly with his two minor children and wife, said Bharat Jadhav, an inspector at Nala Sopara police station.

Qadri had moved from Maharashtra to Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh around one-and- a-half years back in order for his two minor children  a son and daughter  to get proper education. There, he started a normal life and drove trucks, autos and also repaired mobiles at home. However, his earnings werent enough to make ends meet.

He surrendered before a Ghaziabad court and claimed to be Ishaq Ahmad, the driver of Audi Q7 on the night of the incident. To earn his livelihood, the man even indulged in snatching and robberies in Maharashtra before being nabbed by the police in connection with six cases.

Read I Audi crash: Crime branch adds more sections, has new suspects

We have taken him into custody and it may take around a month for him to be transferred to the custody of Ghaziabad police. We have also sought a copy for his statement recorded before a magistrate in connection with the Audi crash case. His wife,accompanied by Qadris former employer who is a transporter in Maharashtra, had also come to meet him. We have sought more records on him from Mumbai and Thane, Jadhav said.

Qadri allegedly misused the photocopy of the driving license of his former co-tenant, truck driver Ishaq Ahmad, and surrendered before a Ghaziabad court on January 31. He also obtained bail in connection with the incident surrounding the Audi Q7, which is owned by Dr. Manish Rawat. Rawat told the police that he was present in the car at the time of the accident, but it was his driver Ishaq Ahmad at the wheel.

Officers of Ghaziabad crime branch, who are investigating the case, said that Qadris mobile surveillance reports indicate that he was not present at the accident site in Ghaziabad on January 27 and was in Bareilly, nearly 240km away. The Audi had crashed into an auto, leaving four people dead.
A 36-year-old government school teacher sustained around 90% burn injuries under mysterious circumstances in her house in Sahibabad on Thursday afternoon. Her family has alleged dowry harassment and said that her husband and in-laws set her on fire in an attempt to kill her.

The victim, Sangita Verma, was rushed to a private hospital in Sahibabad and later admitted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi by her in-laws. Her condition is stated to be critical. Her brother, Pradeep Kumar Verma, accused her in-laws of harassment for dowry and filed a police complaint into the incident on Thursday.

Since her marriage in 2002, her in-laws have harassed us for dowry. They would take away her salary too. Last year in June, I received a substantial amount as land compensation and her in-laws demanded Rs25 lakh from it. In December, I paid them Rs1 lakh but their demands continued. On Thursday afternoon, she was set on fire by her in-laws with her husband holding her and her mother-in-law setting her afire after pouring a diesel-like substance on her, Verma said.

The woman is a government school teacher in Sikanderabad and the couple has two children, a daughter aged 14 and a son aged 12.

She is lodged in the ICU in Safdarjung Hospital with around 90% burns. When I went to meet her, she told me about the incident and her in-laws involvement. She has some burns on her face and has suffered severe burns on the rest of her body below the neck, Verma added.

Read I Delhi: 23-year-old woman found dead, parents allege dowry death

On his complaint, police have registered an FIR at Sahibabad police station against the womans husband Sanjeev Nagar and his parents. The couple hails from Swaroop Park in Lajpat Nagar.

Our team has started an investigation and the victims statement will be recorded soon. We have lodged an FIR for domestic violence, attempt to murder and under provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act, said Dhirendra Yadav, station house officer, Sahibabad.
As the health of 50-year-old Rajesh Jolly deteriorated on Friday, he was shifted to Delhis LNJP hospital for better treatment. His lawyer RS Malik said that Jollys family members had been scared of visiting him at Kailash Hospital in Sector 27, where he was previously admitted,since being allegedly threatened with death by the Khurana family.

The condition of Rajesh Jolly was deteriorating. Therefore, we shifted him to LNJP Hospital in Delhi for better treatment. The patient was escorted by the police, said the spokesperson of Kailash Hospital.

The spokesperson also added that the family members of Rajesh Jolly have been informed through the police.

Malik said, Rajesh Jollys wife and son have been threatened with dire consequences if she dares to visit the hospital. Faced with death threat, it is difficult for her to visit her husband. She had been threatened soon after the incident in Sector 39 on Tuesday night.

The alleged threat by the Khuranas not only left Jollys wife and son fearing for their lives but also prompted them to move out of their rented accommodation.

Meenu Jolly is on tranquilizers and hasnt spoken to anyone in the last 24 hours. We are waiting for Rajesh to gain consciousness, as he is the key to getting to the bottom of this case. We want the truth to come out, Malik said.

He said Jolly is an asthma patient and all allegations levelled by the Khurana family should be investigated. He said the officers investigating the case should grill the Khurana family at length.

Read I Noida double murder: Jolly was friends with Khurana for 18 years

We have reasons to doubt the polices take on his head injury. Police say Jolly himself inflicted injuries on his head. It is a frivolous statement as it was made without conducting a proper investigation, Malik said.

Malik, a lawyer in Delhi High Court, said that if the case is not investigated properly, the family will move court. Malik told HT he will be meeting Jolly once he regains consciousness and is able to speak.

The Khurana family was supposed to pay money to Jolly. He had been repeatedly asking for it. However, the Khuranas refused to pay. On Tuesday night, he was called to Noida to settle the matter. Then this incident took place. Weve still no clue on what really happened, Malik said.

However, police officers said all aspects of the case are being investigated and it would be too early to make a statement. Station house officer of Sector 39, Amarnath Yadav, said, The statements by the Khurana family have been recorded. We are in touch with Kailash Hospital to know the health status of Rajesh Jolly. His statement is crucial in the case.

He also said that they are ready to provide security to Jollys wife and son, if they wish to visit the hospital anytime.

However, Amit Khurana told HT that they have not been in touch with Meenu Jolly and no one from his family has threatened her. We only had contact with Rajesh Jolly. We never got in touch with Meenu Jolly.

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Rajesh Jolly, who was on artificial life support at a city hospital after he attacked his business partners family on Tuesday night, has been referred to LNJP hospital in Delhi following deterioration in his condition.

The 50-year-old was admitted to Kailash Hospital after he suffered severe head injury in a violent confrontation at his business partner Ajay Khuranas house in sector 39, Noida.

Jolly visited Khuranas residence and allegedly attacked the family, killing his wife, Anju (56), and son, Ankush (33), and injuring his elder son, Amit (38), and house help, Rajinder (28). However, Jolly also got seriously injured in the fight.

The doctors attending on him in the ICU said Jollys health condition is not at all encouraging. Dr AK Jain, senior consultant, critical care, Kailash Hospital, said, When he was brought here, the chances of survival were 30%. We gave him sutures on the head. But his lungs are in a bad state and the blood pressure has gone down drastically. There is no positive indication. His condition has deteriorated ever since he was admitted here. He is on artificial life support. Now, the chances of survival are only 10%. We were planning to operate upon him, but he is not stable.

However, finding Jollys condition going from bad to worse, the doctors in Kailash Hospital decided to refer him to a hospital with higher medical facilities on Friday evening.

Rajesh Jollys condition was deteriorating. Therefore, we decided to refer him to a hospital with advanced facilities. We transported him in our ambulance equipped with ventilator, critical care doctor and paramedical staff to a higher medical facility, said VB Joshi, spokesperson, Kailash Hospital.

Around 7.30pm on Friday, Jolly was first taken to the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Multispeciality Hospital in sector 30 (district government hospital) from where the patient was referred to a Delhi hospital.

Joshi said as per the protocol the patient was referred to the district hospital from where he was referred to a Delhi hospital. Our ambulance took him to the LNJP Hospital, Delhi, under police protection, he said.

As for the expenses incurred on Jollys treatment at Kailash Hospital, Joshi said, The expenses on his treatment which are around Rs1.5 lakh have been borne by the Kailash Hospital administration.

The spokesperson said Jollys family has been contacted through police and conveyed about the health condition of the patient and his transfer to LNJP Hospital.

However, during Jollys stay at Kailash Hospital from Tuesday night to Friday evening no one visited him. Nobody visited him in the last three days, said a hospital staff in the ICU. Jolly hails from Agra and came to Delhi about two decades back.
In a late-night shootout, the Ghaziabad police shot and injured one of the two-bike borne men who had allegedly robbed a city resident. The shootout took place near the Hindon canal in Indirapuram. The two bike-borne armed men had allegedly snatched the bag of a city resident who was leaving Vaishali metro station.

According to the police, after snatching the bag from Satish Kumar, a Govindpuram resident, the two sped towards Hindon canal on a red Apache bike with no registration number. The alleged incident took place around 10pm.

The police was alerted after the snatching and several teams put up barriers. One of the teams spotted the red bike and asked the riders to stop, but they opened fire instead. The police also fired in retaliation. One of the two sustained a bullet injury to his leg and was nabbed while the other escaped in the cover of darkness, said Anil Kumar Yadav, circle officer, Indirapuram.

According to officials, the man injured was rushed to a hospital in Indirapuram. He was identified as Chand Mohammad from Islam Nagar, aged around 22 years. The one who fled the scene has been identified as Shahrukh from nearby Hindon Vihar.

Read I Protest outside police station over rising crime in Noidas sector 22

We are still trying to verify their identities. The victims bag was recovered along with the bike and weapon used during the crime. Satish was coming from his office in Delhi and was heading towards his home at Govindpuram when he was cornered by the two robbers. His bag contained a laptop and other documents, Yadav said.

Officials added that several police teams have been formed to trace the other man who fled on the bike.
The Indirapuram 400KV substation will be ready for operation by May 15 as the pending issues of right of way and compensation to farmers have been cleared, the top official of the discom, Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (PVVNL), said on Thursday.

The substation was scheduled to start operations last year but got delayed due to litigation, land availability for installation of towers and protests by farmers. It forms a major 36km transmission line loop from Hapur, Morti to Indirapuram and is expected to meet the entire power demand of trans-Hindon areas. The substation will also supply electricity to Sector 62 substation in Noida.

The issues of land and compensation to farmers have been resolved and we expect to start trials at the new substation by May 15, before the onset of summer. For nearly a week, it will run on trial basis and thereafter, normal operation will start. This substation will ensure 24-hour power supply to district headquarters as per the directions of the government, said Abhishek Prakash, managing director, PVVNL.

Apart from the 400KV substation, the department is also working on a 220KV substation at Mandola and another 220KV unit at Morti to ensure better power supply this summer.

So far, we have been able to supply 23 to 22 hours of supply but we have also undertaken the feeder-wise analysis to remove bottlenecks in distribution, he added.

Read I Scheduled power cuts back in Noida

In the entire discom area comprising 14 districts, including Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar, the department plans to install new 72 (33/11KV) substations and go for capacity enhancement of 58 substations. This is apart from 68 new substations and another 72 slotted for capacity enhancement under the central governments Integrated Power Development Scheme.

On April 11, the state government had asked the department to supply 24 hours of power to all district headquarters in the state. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed under the Union Governments power for all project in the presence of chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Union power minister Piyush Goyal in Lucknow on April 14.

For the benefit of consumers, the discom has also announced a one-time settlement scheme, starting April 15, whereby domestic consumers will have the option of depositing the pending bill amount within 45 days and avail of a 100% waiver on the interest amount. The industrial and institutional consumers have been given 30 days to avail of a 50% waiver in the interest amount.

The officials said that they have also requested the consumers to get their mobile numbers updated with the department, as it will enable them to send word about a scheduled power shutdown or outage at least two days in advance.

We are also trying to ensure that more teams are available to us for troubleshooting at night. From now on, all local faults, needing shutdown, will be resolved between 9-10am and 5-6pm each day. This is to ensure that the consumers dont face hassles and their daily lives arent disrupted in any way, Prakash said.
The Indian Foreign Service is considered to be the most prestigious of the civil services in India. To become a career diplomat in this service one needs to clear the Union Public Service Commissions examination. This single-window system of clearing a general examination being followed for decades needs to change.

Diplomacy is not a generalists job  its a high-stakes one which needs specialised understanding and delicate handling. A diplomat is a representative of her country and is a foot soldier of its foreign policy. As good armies fight wars and win, a good diplomat deters wars and wins.

Given the specialised nature of the job, theoretical understanding before an on-the-job training is an advantage  a prerequisite, some would argue.

In August, a parliamentary panel expressed concerns over the deterioration in the quality of recruits to the IFS. The panel noted the low sanctioned strength (912 officers) of the IFS as one of the lowest among the all-India/central services. It also noted that while the sanctioned strength was 912, there were only 770 current officers.

For an emerging power like India, which is expanding its global presence, its diplomats need a deeper understanding of the areas they are serving. Many ideas have been floated to address this, one of which is a lateral entry into the service.

Lateral entry means giving crucial postings in the foreign service to an officer from any other service, say railway, revenue, police, etc. This is an option that hasnt been tried effectively. It has both advantages and disadvantages.

While the advantage is that the official who is given a lateral entry into the foreign service is already trained in the civil service environment, the officer would lack the diplomatic prowess the job demands.

To solve this dilemma, the government could introduce the revolving door concept in the foreign service.

Subject-matter experts working in different fields of international relations, be it in academia, think-tanks, etc, should be given the option to work for the service. The walls that prevent such inter-operability need to be pulled down. The United States has been following a similar model for decades now.

Another change that could improve the profile and efficacy of the foreign service is to rework the entry rules. Only candidates who have an academic background in subjects of international relations, strategic studies, security studies or foreign policy studies should be allowed to appear for the examination, which could either be taken by a separate body or can be a separate exam within the UPSC . This will mean that every fresh IFS recruit will have a theoretical understanding of a relevant area. This would improve the quality of the foreign service.

Its not like the government hasnt tried specialisation in other fields. For getting into the Indian Engineering Services or Indian Geological Services, candidates need have an engineering or geography/geology background respectively.

Its high time the rules for entry into the Indian Foreign Service changed. With changing times and the evolving stature of India in the international system, there is a need for revamping the structure of these services.

Martand Jha is junior research fellow at the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi

The views expressed are personal
A 16-year-old boy shot dead a 23-year-old fellow vegetable vendor with a countrymade pistol belonging to the latter allegedly for having a love affair with his sister, at the rented accommodation of a common friend in Vijay Nagar locality of Ludhiana on Friday morning.

The common friend had invited them to his room to sort out the matter; the teen, a resident of Janakpuri, fled after throwing the pistol in a bucket, but was later arrested on murder charges from Dholewal area. The police also booked the common friend, Guddu, for allegedly concealing the crime from the police.

The murder weapon. (HT Photo)
Four Ukrainian servicemen have been wounded in shellings by militants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation () zone since the beginning of Friday, the press center of the ATO headquarters reported.

"Since the beginning of the day, as of 15:00, Russian-terrorist units have violated the announced silence regime 24 times... Four servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were wounded in hostilities," the press center said on its Facebook page.

The enemy used 120 mm mortars during the shelling of Ukrainian positions near the town of Vodiane, 82-mm mortars near the towns of Verkhniotoretske, Avdiyivka, Kamyanka and Katerynivka.

Using grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns and small arms, the enemy fired at the strongholds of the ATO forces along the entire disengagement line, the ATO headquarters said.
What was your first reaction to the Delhi HC judgment?

Sukhna catchment is not a place to construct high-rise buildings. It would have been an ecological disaster if hundreds of flats were to be constructed there. The Tata Camelot project was also a threat to the citys heritage character. A green signal would have made it easier for other projects to kick-off in the area. Its proximity to the Capitol Complex might have resulted into the breach of Unesco guidelines. From ecological perspective, it would have possibly affected the lakes water level in the longer run. The natural resources in the catchment area could have come in direct conflict with the teeming population along with auxiliary constructions such as parking, sewage treatment plant, bus shelters and other commercial developments.

How does the judgment protect the Sukhnas catchment?

As on date, all permissions granted to the project have been quashed. The population explosion, which this project would have caused in the eco-sensitive area, has been avoided. Its also a wake-up call for the authorities, including the Chandigarh administration, to revisit requirements for preserving the catchment area.

Now, how difficult will it be for builders to seek fresh environmental approval?

The high court has directed the private developer to seek fresh environmental clearance under the centres category-A projects, which has different yardsticks than its previous category. I dont know whether the project, with its existing high-rise building plans, will be able to get the fresh clearance. But I am hopeful the states and Centres environment impact assessment committees will keep in mind the ecological fragility of the area while taking a fresh call on the project.

What should be the role of UT, which has just turned a blind eye to the issue so far?

The UT has got an opportunity to at least maintain the original character of the city. Its time for the administration to review the matter and take appropriate steps. Chandigarh should maintain its character as envisioned by Le Corbusier. It makes the city stand apart from the rest of the cities.

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Six private security men in two shifts stand guard at an otherwise deserted 52 acres site of Tata Camelot housing project in the heart of Sukhna Lakes catchment at Kansal village in Punjabs Nayagaon area.

A guard on duty said some time back a vastu expert visited the site to suggest changes to the projects construction plan. But even this effort could not stall the Delhi high courts Wednesday orders that set aside the environmental clearance given to the project and directed the promoters to seek a fresh clearance under the Centres category-A projects. These projects have stringent yardsticks and the existing construction plans of Tata Camelot may not get a go-ahead.

While Tata Housing Development Company Limited has not made an official statement so far, a local property dealer, Jaswant Singh, questioned when a lot of construction had already taken place at Kansal, what was the issue with the Tata project, which would have been a boon for the area. This is where the fault lines lie.

Over the past many years, the Punjab government and Nayagaon municipal committee allowed massive construction in Sukhna Lakes ecologically sensitive area and even gave environmental clearance to Tatas project. The UT administration hardly objected, despite knowing well that mushrooming of housing projects and population influx would not only put pressure on the lakes catchment but also compromise the citys original character. Sukhna Lake is already in crisis due to meagre rainfall in its catchment.

WOULD HAVE FUELLED RAMPANT GROWTH

Several real estate projects have already come up in and around Kansal, although the construction has not gone beyond two-to-three-storeyed buildings. Apart from this, there are independent lavish houses of the whos who, for whom the area is a perfect setting to spend their life in the backdrop of Shivalik hills.

The biggest concern, however, was the Tata project site. Locals said a large chunk of vacant land around the project was already bought by real estate sharks and influential people and they were waiting for it to pass the judicial scrutiny in order to start work on their own projects.

City-based advocate Ajay Jagga said in case the court had given its nod to Tata Camelots high-rise buildings, it would have been a disaster for the Sukhna catchment as a lot of other housing projects were in queue for construction.

What the UT has failed to understand is that Le Corbusier envisioned the city as a human body with the Capitol Complex, which falls in the Sukhna catchment, being its head. It kept silent even when the city was being tampered with right at the top, he said.

Jagga said the Delhi HC order should make UT officers crack a whip on illegal constructions in the Sukhnas catchment, frame stringent rules in consultation with the Centre and Punjab government and make sure that no such activity takes place without its sanction.

They should also try to protect the areas periphery bordering Haryana, he said.

Kansal villagers, however, have their reservations. An ex-councillor, who did not want to be named, said the promoters had paid more than Rs 9 crore to the Nayagaon municipal committee as part of development charges to improve the roads. The entire area would have seen massive development if the project were to be allowed.

THE PROJECT SO FAR

Tata Housing Development Company Limited inked an agreement with Punjab MLAs Cooperative House Building Society for the mega township project in 2007. The Rs 1,800-crore venture, planned over 53.39 acres in Kansal village, was to have 2,100 flats.

After advocate Aalok Jagga filed a plea in the Punjab and Haryana high court, it issued notices to the company, Punjab government and UT administration, terming project as disturbing state of rapid and unregulated urbanisation in November 2010. In 2011, the HC ordered stay, but disposed of the PIL a few months later. The HC cleared decks for construction, following petitioners, including some retired judges, moved the SC in August 2013.

In October that year, the SC ordered status quo on the housing project, halting the ambitious construction plans. In April 2014, the apex court told the Delhi high court to adjudicate the dispute, which quashed the environmental clearance to the project on Wednesday.

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National Students Union of India (NSUI) on Friday announced its departure from joint action committee, joint body of students organisations formed to fight fee hike in Punjab University (PU) courses.

In a press conference, Manoj Lubana, leader of NSUI, said that the party would continue to protest peacefully and will continue with their chain hunger strike, which has entered its 11th day today.

NSUI leaders said that they would soon protest outside residence of Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher for wrongly advertising about Rs 140 crore grant to PU.

Lubana said that they would never endorse violent methods and demanded that stone pelters should be identified and action must be taken against them.

On Thursday, the joint action committee (JAC) of students bodies supported the students who were arrested following violence at the Panjab University campus on April 11. The JAC also claimed that students were instigated to pelt stones.

The committee had called for a press conference on Thursday. However, they said that condemned stone-pelting, adding that it was not the right way to register a protest.

The leaders clarified that Students For Society (SFS) was still a part of the JAC  most arrested students belong to the SFS.

Leaders from National Students Union of India (NSUI), Panjab University Students Union (PUSU), Students Organization of India (SOI) and Indian National Students Organization (INSO) were present at the press conference.

On Tuesday, stone-pelting had taken place during a fee hike protest, which resulted in injuries to 22 cops and arrest of over 60 students.
LGBT couples who tie the knot have better physical and mental health, more social support and greater financial resources than those who remain single, a new study has found.

For years, studies have linked marriage with happiness among heterosexual couples.

Researchers from the University of Washington (UW) in the US are among the first to explore the potential benefits of marriage among LGBT couples.

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 Jayn Goldsen, research study supervisor in the UW School of Social Work.

LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) activists and supporters celebrate during the eighth anniversary of the Delhi Queer Pride in 2015. (Raj k Raj/HT Photo)

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 US Supreme Court ruling legalised same-sex marriage.

A 2016 poll found that 49% of cohabiting gay couples were married, up from 38% before the ruling. For the 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 DC).

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.

However, 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 legalisation of gay marriage opens up access to many benefits, such as tax exemptions and Social Security survivor benefits that married, straight couples have long enjoyed.

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Planning a dream vacation but cant get the wheels movin? Heres some #travelinspo to get you going. With so many exotic locationsdreamy beaches, rolling hills and placid seas out there, if youre still unable to map your travel plans, not to worry! Take a look a the travel diaries of your favourite celebrities in the Capital. Check out, who road-tripped through Iceland and who wants to chase the Northern Lights, and who runs on the citys streets to get to know it better.

Local stories

Fitness expert Vesna Jacob recently went to the Andamans.

I just took a trip to the Andamans. What I really like about travelling is meeting local people and hearing stories about the area. I bring something back from my travels; it enriches me. And then, I can share my experience with people. I try to connect work to travel. I will be soon going to Bhopal for work, but I will take time for sightseeing, says fitness expert Vesna Jacob.

Travel thoughts

Designer Nida Mahmood made a road-trip with her friends through Iceland.

You may not pick up a direct inspiration from a particular country, but it helps you think better. I keep going back to London; its one of my favourite places in the world, says designer Nida Mahmood.

Chasing lights

I love going to Ibiza...I have been there thrice. You can call me a beach baby. I love Ibiza for the parties, though Vegas is also a good place for parties. I am in love with Santorini; its just so peaceful there.

Model Krishna Somani at the Tomorrowland festival.

I have been to Tomorrowland. I went to Ko Samui last year, but missed the Full Moon party; its on my bucket list. Another thing on my bucket list is to catch the Northern Lights in Norway, says model Krishna Somani.

Run to see the world

Tokyo is one place, I would love to go back to. The energy, the street fashion, the food, the culture... it all fascinated me. Experiences do influence you. Its more sublime and moulds your outlook and sensibilities. I was in Vietnam recently, and I tell everyone that its one of the must visit destinations.

Designer Namrata Joshipura was in Vietnam recently and says that its a must-visit destination.

One thing that was on my bucket list was to climb Mt Kilimanjaro. Whenever I travel, I run in the city as its a great way to see the place, says designer Namrata Joshipura.

Girl Power

I had an all-girls trip to Rishikesh for the first time. I think, it was one of the most beautiful experiences. Apart from the adventure sports, there is a whole different culture to explore. I attended all the Ganga aartis.

Designer Nikhita Tandon went on an all-girls trip to Rishikesh.

The food is amazing, each cafe would have at least 200 vegan dishes. All these things open your eyes to new ideas and inspirations, says designer Nikhita Tandon.

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The supernatural has always fascinated the human civilisation. Our run-ins with inexplicable phenomenon have led to creation of folklore, legends, superstitions and ghost stories across cultures. Psychic investigator and corporate lawyer, Deepta Roy Chakraverti approaches this realm as a science while seeking answers through research and philosophy. In her fascinating debut book Bhangarh to Bedlam: Haunted Encounters (2015), she had  through her experiences and investigations  written about her brush with the paranormal. In her new book, Cursed at Kedarnath & Other Stories (2017), she returns to the subject with fresh stories and insights.

Chakraverti, who has travelled far and wide across India in the course of her explorations, lists for us her top 5 paranormal experiences:

Bhangarh Fort

Rajasthans Bhangarh Fort is notorious for being Indias most haunted. While the 17th century fort carries its own darkness, there is a shifting form, which till some years ago, could be seen inside the premises of the abandoned Someshwar Temple just before the main building. Smooth stone steps lead up to what was once the main prayer area of the temple. Narrow stone pillars dot the outlines of the temple structure. Water streaks down an old wall, falling into a tank turned green with age and wilderness.

And as everything falls silent, in a corner near the temple walls, a blue mist gathers. It swirls and shimmers, coalescing into the form of a dancing figure, a woman with a blue veil. A favoured courtesan, who was banished and became a temple dancer. There is a legend of a curse by a tantrik, which trapped the spirits of those who died there. And they say, that centuries later, that curse was also to be lifted, by a woman who knew the ways of old.

Park Street, Kolkata, at the time of the Kolkata Christmas Festival

A group of young people enjoying themselves on Christmas Eve before the midnight mass prayer at Park Street in Kolkata. (Samir Jana/HT FILE PHOTO)

A part of the city from British times, this busy thoroughfare dons a special atmosphere at the time of the Kolkata Christmas Festival in December. It is then that I have seen a flickering apparition at the crossing where Middleton Row meets Park Street. A little girl, barefoot, dressed in rumpled clothes. Her hair and her face look scorched by fire. Even as the blue and white lights glitter and music plays from Allen Park nearby, a frail arm points accusingly in its direction. For it is a few steps away from an old building which caught fire a few years ago.

It was a terrible inferno. It was in those flames that the child lost her beloved father, a labourer who had come from Bihar. It was there that she herself succumbed to the flames. And today, she weeps bitterly, for where her father crumpled and died, there is music and celebration, and where she lay amidst the flames and gasped for breath, Christmas lights glitter. In the face of a callous administration, it is a heart-breaking tragedy which still seeks conclusion.

The Indira Gandhi Memorial in Delhi

The Indira Gandhi Memorial museum in New Delhi. (Pradeep Gaur/MINT)

Located at No. 1 Safdarjung Road in Delhi, former PM Indira Gandhis house was turned into a memorial soon after her tragic assassination. Even today, it preserves rooms and artefacts, which lie untouched  as if their owner had just stepped out for a moment and would return soon. The museum houses the saree and slippers she wore when she was killed.

Old blood stains streak the faded sandal tones of the saree, and sharp bullet holes in the cloth are a grim reminder of the violent end its owner met. I have found that if one stands there and looks upon it, there is a feeling of struggle and unrest. Almost as if something is trying to escape from within the weave and fold of the cloth. As if tragedy lies trapped within. Even though the whole is encased in glass, if one watches closely, sometimes a ripple seems to caress the layer of cloth.

The abandoned shed of goddesses by the Rabindra Sarobar lakes, Kolkata

There is an old shed which lies by the lakes. About four years ago, the state administration started to store idols of Durga, from the annual Durga Pujas in Kolkata, in there. They said it would be a museum of idols. And so, as the rituals ended, these large idols were taken from the pandals, and not allowed to be immersed in the waters, as is tradition from time immemorial. Instead they were carted off to this shed, and to this day, lie there, gathering dust and neglect.

Over the years, some have lost arms, faces have crumbled, until today there is something else in there. These abandoned idols are not empty any more. Dark forms and shapes seem to rise from the ground and blend into the clay forms. Even on the brightest of days, there is a grey haze which suffuses the place. Perhaps the key lies in the past. At the time of the World War II, that land used to have an army hospital. It housed a large asylum for the mentally insane. Many who died there, still lie buried under the soft soil. Perhaps their spirits have now found a new home.

Author Deepta Roy Chakraverti

Pari Tibba in Mussoorie

Called the Hill of the Fairies or Witchs Hill, it lies south of the famous Woodstock School. It is an area which is marked by many sightings and paranormal activity such as temperature fluctuations. People who even drive past it have reported sudden mood swings. I have found that the closer one draws to the Witchs Hill, the more one can feel a watchfulness in the air.

There is a sinister quality to it. The hill is said to be unusually prone to lightning strikes and strange formations in rock and wood dot the tibba. Small rock shrines are also found in some spots. Legend speaks of two star-crossed lovers who died there, struck by lightning. There is an old ruined house on this hill, which has an unusual story around it. They say some British women were building it and every morning, they would discover their previous days work demolished. They said the pari did not want them there.

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American lawmakers applauded US President Donald Trumps administration after the military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on Islamic State targets in eastern Afghanistan, saying that it sends a clear message to terror groups in the region.

The US military on Thursday dropped a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed Mother Of All Bombs on a tunnel complex of ISIS-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, in Achin district of Afghanistans Nanagarh province, close to the Pakistani border.

The Afghanistan-Pakistan border area has tunnel complexes known to be used by ISIS and other terrorist groups operating in and out of Afghanistan.

This was the first time a MOAB was used in combat though it was developed in 2003.

According to General John Nicholson, commander of US Forces in Afghanistan: As ISIS-Khorasans (ISIS-K) losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defence, this is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of US offensive against ISIS-K.

The decision to drop the MOAB in eastern Afghanistan sends a clear message that the US is committed and determined to defeating ISIS and other terrorist organisations in Afghanistan, said senator Jim Inhofe, senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

I spoke to President Ghani and our coalition partners about this same commitment when I visited Kabul this February. This strike supports our Afghan partners and their fight against these terrorist groups, he said.

Inhofe applauded Trumps commitment to the fight against terror, giving his military commanders and the authorities the need to defeat US enemies and sending a clear message to both enemies and allies of the US.

Congressman Kevin said Trump has sent a strong message to the Islamic State that will be heard in Russia, North Korea, Iran and around the world. I applaud our brave men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line every day to keep our country safe.

Congressman Matt Gaetz said Trumps decision to drop the GBU-43 shows his deep commitment to eradicating ISIS worldwide.

This message was part of his campaign, and eliminating ISIS is critical to the long-term security of the US. The Presidents actions also send a clear message that we will no longer tolerate attacks on our troops - and that those who do so can expect a swift and strong response, he said.

However, Democratic lawmakers questioned the intentions behind the use of such a bomb. Congresswoman Barbara Lee said the unprecedented use of a MOAB 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, she said.

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, she said.

Lee urged House Speaker Paul Ryan to call Congress back into session, to can immediately repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force and put real restraints on Trumps warmongering.

She was the only member of Congress to vote against the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force.

Congressman Seth Moulton said the US needs a comprehensive, integrated political-military strategy to ensure the peace after the American military actions are complete.

Indian-American Republican leader Puneet Ahluwalia said this is a clear message of Trump leadership and his administration to terrorist organisations and American adversaries.

We will not hesitate to use what ever is in our arsenal to defeat our enemies. Our NATO partners and allies can count on US leadership on the world stage again, he said in a statement.
A seven-year-old Syrian refugee whose tweets from war-torn Aleppo won her a global following is set to write a book. Bana Alabeds Dear World will recount her experiences in Syria and how she and her family rebuilt their lives as refugees.

The self-declared peace activist took to the social media network that made her name to announce the news. 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, she tweeted to her 368,000 followers.

In a statement issued through her publisher, Bana added: 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.

Bana came to prominence in September 2016 after she began tweeting descriptions of her experiences of siege in the Syrian city. Documenting the impact of hunger, airstrikes and civil war, she caught the imagination of followers with her longing for a peaceful childhood and fear for the safety of herself and her family.

A Harry Potter fan, she received the ebook editions directly from JK Rowling after complaining that she could not get hold of physical copies of the books last November. In December, Rowling took part in a Twitter campaign #WhereisBana to put pressure on authorities to find the Alabed family after Banas online presence briefly went dark in December. It was later revealed that the family was being evacuated from Aleppo .

Bana has also used the account to plead for peace to Russian President Vladimir Putin, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, former US President Barack Obama and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. At the end of the year, her family were allowed into Turkey, where they met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and were given permission to remain.

Likening her to Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, who was given refugee status in the UK after being shot in a horrific attack, S&S senior editor Christine Pride said: 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. The publisher will also launch a young readers edition under its Salaam Reads imprint.
Lobbies supporting India and Pakistan often clash in Britains parliament, but a recent early day motion in the House of Commons, criticising Pakistans plan to declare Gilgit-Baltistan as its fifth province, faces the unlikely fate of none of the Indian-origin MPs supporting it so far.

The motion was tabled by Bob Blackman (Conservative), MP for Harrow East, on March 23, but until Friday, he remains the sole signatory to it. MPs usually demonstrate support to such motions by adding their signatures to it.

A committee headed by Pakistans advisor of foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz has reportedly proposed giving the status of a province to Gilgit-Baltistan, raising hackles in New Delhi, which called the move completely unacceptable.

There are 10 Indian-origin MPs in the current parliament, five each in the Conservative and Labour parties. There is some despair but not surprise in Indian quarters over the fate of Blackmans motion, given recent experience of India-related debates in parliament.

A heated debate in parliament on January 19 on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir saw only two MPs speak in Indias favour: Blackman and senior Labour MP, Virendra Sharma. The motion asking the UK government to raise the issue at the United Nations was agreed.

An Indian-origin MP said Blackmans motion was introduced before the recess and not many were aware of it amidst the large collection of such motions, but hoped that more will support it after the House resumes later this month.

Ministerial responsibilities prevent some MPs from signing motions. Blackman said others had not done so because their Indian constituents had not lobbied them. He and others mentioned the pro-active lobbying by Pakistan groups in the UK.

Blackman told Hindustan Times: On the other hand, one notices that the pro-Pakistan lobby in the UK is extremely effective and they make sure their MPs turn up in their support via all possible parliamentary contributions.

The debate on Jammu and Kashmir held on January 19 was a classic example. It was just me and one other MP speaking in support of India. Hardly anyone speaking on the day spoke of the human rights violations by Pakistan and ignored the series of violations by them over the years.

Blackman added that he had received messages from the Indian diaspora appreciating the motion, but regretted that the community had not managed to effectively lobby their own MPs on this matter.

Another Indian-origin MP said New Delhi needed to be pro-active and do much more to present its versions on various subjects in the United Kingdom.

The ten Indian-origin MPs are: Keith Vaz, Valerie Vaz, Seema Malhotra, Virendra Sharma, Lisa Nandy (Labour) and Priti Patel, Shailesh Vara, Alok Sharma, Rishi Sunak and Suella Fernandes (Conservative). Patel and Sharma are ministers in the Theresa May government.

There were nearly 1,500 early day motions tabled in 2015-2016. They are used to put on record the views of individual MPs or to draw attention to specific events or campaigns. By attracting the signatures of other MPs, they can be used to demonstrate the level of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view.

Blackmans motion

Annexation of Gilgit-Baltistan by Pakistan as its fifth frontier

That this House condemns the arbitrary announcement by Pakistan declaring Gilgit-Baltistan as its Fifth Frontier, implying its attempt to annex the already disputed area; notes that Gilgit-Baltistan is a legal and constitutional part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India, which is illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947, and where people are denied their fundamental rights including the right of freedom of expression; further notes the attempts to change the demography of the region in violation of State Subject Ordinance and forcibly and illegally to build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which further aggravates and interferes with the disputed territory.

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Britains spy agencies played a crucial role in alerting their counterparts in Washington to contacts between members of Donald Trumps campaign team and Russian intelligence operatives, the Guardian has been told.

The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) first became aware of suspicious interactions between figures connected to Trump and known or suspected Russian agents in late 2015 , a source close to UK intelligence said. This intelligence was passed to the US as part of a routine exchange of information, they added.

Over the next six months, until summer 2016, a number of western agencies shared further information on contacts between Trumps inner circle and Russians, sources said.

The European countries that passed on electronic intelligence  known as sigint  included Germany, Estonia and Poland. Australia, a member of the Five Eyes spying alliance that also includes the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand, also relayed material, one source said.

Another source suggested the Dutch and the French spy agency, the General Directorate for External Security or DGSE, were contributors.

It is understood that GCHQ 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. Over several months, different agencies targeting the same people began to see a pattern of connections that were flagged to intelligence officials in the US.

The issue of GCHQs role in the FBIs ongoing investigation into possible cooperation between the Trump campaign and Moscow is highly sensitive. In March Trump tweeted that Barack Obama had illegally wiretapped him in Trump Tower .

The White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, falsely claimed the British spying agency GCHQ had carried out the bugging. Spicer cited an unsubstantiated report on Fox News. Fox later distanced itself from the report.
The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has said the Donetsk Filtering Station has been shelled over 200 times since the beginning of 2017.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday in Kyiv, OSCE SMM Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug said the SMM has attracted significant resources trying to protect the Donetsk Filtering Station in Yasynuvata. The station, as well as the nearby power lines, which provide drinking water and electricity, have been shelled than 200 times since the beginning of the year and in eight cases this led to breakdown of power lines and blackouts for a total of 38 days, Hug said.

According to him, direct hits of projectiles at the filtering station can lead to an ecological disaster, if a projectile hits for instance the chlorine tank at the filtering station.

Hug added that the observers are trying to obtain security guarantees from both sides so that the repair crews should be able to function normally and repair the damage.
A Canadian national said he was stung by a scorpion on a United Airlines flight.

Richard Bell, flying from Houston, Texas to Calgary, Canada, said the scorpion fell on his head from the overhead bin. It then stung him under the fingernail.

My husband felt something in his hair. He grabbed it out of his hair and it fell onto his dinner table. As he was grabbing it by the tail it stung him, Bells wife Linda told CNN.

Bell then brushed the arachnid on the floor, where it was captured by flight attendants. According to the Washington Post, the scorpion was later euthanized in the planes toilet.

When the plane landed in Calgary, Bell was taken to a hospital, and later released after being cleared of any medical issue. CBC said United Airlines has offered the couple flying credit as compensation.

The incident occurred on Sunday  the same day a passenger on a different flight of the same airliner was violently dragged from the plane after refusing to give his seat to a staff member. In widely distributed mobile phone video, Dr David Dao can be seen being pulled from his seat and dragged away by airport police officers, his face bloodied.

His lawyer indicated he will be filing a lawsuit on Daos behalf, adding that airlines  and United in particular  have long bullied passengers by overbooking flights and then bumping customers.

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Notwithstanding President Donald Trumps public affection for WikiLeaks, CIA director Mike Pompeo on Thursday declared war on the organization behind a series of embarrassing disclosures of classified US documents.

WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service, Pompeo said at a think tank in his first public remarks after assuming office.

It has encouraged its followers to find jobs at CIA in order to obtain intelligence. It directed Chelsea Manning in her theft of specific secret information. And it overwhelmingly focuses on the United States, while seeking support from anti-democratic countries and organisations.

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.

Contrast that to what Trump said about WikiLeaks on the campaign trail in October: I love WikiLeaks. That was when the organisation was releasing hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee the campaign chair of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

US intelligence has since said these hackings were carried out on the orders of Russian president Vladimir Putin and these mails were handed over to WikiLeaks, which has denied receiving them from Russians.

Pompeo, who was then a Republican member of the House of Representatives, had himself cited some of these hacked mails, but was nowhere as effusive in his praise for the organisation as the then Republican nominee and now president.

In his remarks on Thursday, the CIA director also targeted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been living in Ecuadors London embassy for past few years, calling him a narcissist, a frauda coward hiding behind a screen and the darling of terrorists.

Pompeo also attacked Edward Snowden, the NSA leaker who is living in Moscow, saying that because of his treachery more than a thousand foreign targetspeople, groups, organisationsmore than a thousand of them changed or tried to change how they communicated.

The CIA director said WikiLeaks and other such hostile non-state intelligence agencies need to be stopped and called for denying them a platform. Ignorance or misplaced idealism is no longer an acceptable excuse for lionising these demons, he added.
A conflict over North Korea could break out at any moment, Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi said on Friday, warning there would be no winner in any war, as tensions soar with the US.

The sharp language came after US President Donald Trump said that the problem of North Korea will be taken care of, as speculation mounts that the reclusive state could be preparing another nuclear or missile test.

Lately, tensions have risen with the US and the ROK on one side, and the DPRK on the other, and one has the feeling that a conflict could break out at any moment, Wang said, using abbreviations for South and North Korea.

If a war occurs, the result is a situation in which everybody loses and there can be no winner, he said during a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Wang said whichever side provoked a conflict must assume the historic responsibility and pay the corresponding price.

A White House foreign policy advisor said Friday that the US is assessing military options in response to North Koreas weapons programs, saying another provocative test was a question of when rather than if.

There are reports of activity at a nuclear test site in North Korea ahead of Saturdays 105th anniversary of the birth of the countrys founder Kim Il-Sung.

Dialogue is the only possible solution, Wang said.
President Donald Trump has said the US military has been successful lately because his administration has given them total authorisation, as he hailed the forces for dropping the largest non-nuclear bomb targeting an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan.

A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed Mother Of All Bombs, was dropped on a tunnel complex of ISIS-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, in Achin district of Afghanistans Nanagarh province, close to the border with Pakistan.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said on Thursday that 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.

Trump said he authorised the use of the bomb in Afghanistan and called the mission very, very successful.

It was really another successful job, we are very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event, Trump told reporters at the White House.

Everybody knows exactly what happened, what I do is I authorise our military. We have the greatest military in the world, theyve done a job, as usual, so we have given them total authorisation and thats what theyre doing, and frankly, thats why theyve been so successful lately, he said.

If you look at whats happened over the last eight weeks and you compare that to whats happened over the last eight years, youll see theres a tremendous difference. So we have incredible leaders of the military and incredible military, and we are very proud of them, and this was another very very successful mission, Trump said.

The US President, however, said he does not know if this would send a message to North Korea.

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. I will say this; I think China has really been working very hard, he said.

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command.

At his daily news conference, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the bomb was dropped at around 7 PM local time in Afghanistan yesterday.

The GBU-43 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 easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area, Spicer said.

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 US took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage as a result of the operation, he said.

The strike is part of the ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan, the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) said.

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. According to the Department of Defence, there are about 600-800 ISIS-K fighters in the region where bomb was dropped.
The US militarys largest non-nuclear bomb killed at least 36 militants as it decimated a deep tunnel complex of the Islamic State group, Afghan officials said on Friday, ruling out any civilian casualties.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- better known as the Mother Of All Bombs -- hit IS hideouts in Achin district in eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday.

As a result of the bombing, key Daesh (IS) hideouts and deep tunnel complex were destroyed and 36 IS fighters were killed, the defence ministry said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump had earlier called the mission very, very successful.

The Afghan presidential palace said precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties.

The huge bomb, delivered via an MC-130 transport plane, has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT, and the weapon was originally designed as much to intimidate foes as to clear broad areas.

The GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat, Air Force spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder said.

Achin district governor Esmail Shinwari said the bomb landed in the Momand Dara area of Achin district.

The explosion was the biggest I have ever seen. Towering flames engulfed the area, Shinwari told AFP.

We dont know anything about the casualties so far, but since it is a Daesh (IS) stronghold we think a lot of Daesh fighters may have been killed.

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. US forces have conducted a number of air strikes on jihadist bases in the area since August last year.

IS, notorious for its reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, has been making inroads into Afghanistan in recent years. It has attracted disaffected members of the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban as well as Uzbek Islamists.

But the group has been steadily losing territory in the face of heavy pressure both from US air strikes and a ground offensive led by Afghan forces.
The United States dropped a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, otherwise known as the Mother of All Bombs, on an Islamic State stronghold in Afghanistans eastern Nangarhar province. It is the first time the bomb, developed in the early days of the Iraq war, has been used in combat.

The bomb killed at least 36 militants as it destroyed a deep tunnel complex of the Islamic State group, Afghan officials said on Friday, ruling out any civilian casualties. US President Donald Trump had earlier called the mission very, very successful. The Afghan presidential palace said precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties.

Afghan security forces take part in an ongoing operation against Islamic State (IS) militants in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. (Noorullah Shirzada/AFP)

The 9.8-tonne guided bomb, the largest non-nuclear weapon in Americas arsenal, is described by the US-based GlobalSecurity.org watchdog as large, powerful and accurately delivered.It is a demolition bomb containing 18,700 pounds (8,480 kilogrammes) of the explosive H6, the watchdogs website says, with a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT.

Nine metres (30 feet) long, with a diameter of one metre, according to GlobalSecurity.org, it is the largest-ever satellite-guided, air-delivered weapon in history. Popular Mechanics described it as weighing as much as an F-16 fighter jet.

Afghan security forces stand guard in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. (Noorullah Shirzada/AFP)

President Donald Trump hailed the forces dropping the bomb on a tunnel complex of Islamic State-Khorasan saying the US military has been successful lately because his administration has given them total authorisation. (Noorullah Shirzada/AFP)

Guided by GPS, it is dropped from the cargo ramp of a C-130 transport plane with its descent slowed by parachute, meaning it can be deployed from a greater height -- giving US pilots more time to reach safety. It is a concussive bomb, meaning it is designed to detonate before it hits the ground. Its thin aluminium skin helps to maximise its blast radius and generate a shockwave which Wired.com said can reach up to 150 metres.

It was developed in 2002-2003 by Alabama-based aerospace and defence company Dynetics in partnership with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), according to the companys website.

A member of Afghanistan's special forces points his gun as he observes the enemy lines in Achin district in Afghanistan. (Parwiz/Reuters)

According to the Air Force, the last time the MOAB was tested in 2003, a huge mushroom cloud could be seen from 20 miles (32 kilometres) away.

The US Air Force said the target of Thursdays bombing was a tunnel complex in Achin district in Afghanistans eastern Nangarhar province, a hotbed of Islamic State (IS) militancy on the border with Pakistan.

Achin district governor Esmail Shinwari said the bomb landed in the Momand Dara area while the defence ministry said the attack killed at least 36 IS militants. A damage assessment is still being carried out.

The area is extremely remote and mountainous, inaccessible to government forces. It is north of Tora Bora, the complex network of caves from where al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden gave US forces the slip and escaped into Pakistan in late 2001.

The US said it believed the area was so remote that no civilians were in the area.

An Afghan police medic treats an injured policeman who was wounded in a military operation against suspected Islamic State militants in Achin district. (Parwiz/Reuters)

The strike hit a system of tunnels and caves that IS fighters had used to move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces nearby, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.
An Indian-origin female doctor in the US was arrested and charged with performing female genital mutilation on girls as young as six-year-old.

Jumana Nagarwala, 44, was charged with performing the procedure on six- to eight-year old girls at a medical clinic in Livonia, Michigan, reported WXYZ TV channel on Thursday.

Nagarwala, who is an emergency room physician at a hospital, was investigated after the authorities received a tip-off.

If found guilty, she faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Female genital mutilation was made illegal in the US in 1996.

Read: INDIAS DARK SECRET

According to a criminal complaint, some of the children were brought from out of state for the illegal procedure.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is considered the complete removal or partial removal of the clitoris, known as a clitoridectomy. FGM is internationally recognised as a violation of the human rights of women and girls.

Prosecutors said Nagarwala had performed horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims, according to the report.

Some travelled to her practice from outside the state of Michigan and were told not to talk about the procedure, they added.

Nagarwala appeared in a federal court in Detroit and was remanded in custody.

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 US 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.

The US Congress passed a law in 1996 making it illegal to perform genital mutilation or cutting on anyone under 18. Twenty-five US states also have laws prohibiting the practice.

Read: Debate on female circumcision in Indonesia heats up even as minor howls through pain

Prosecutors in Michigan said they believe it is the first case of its kind brought under the federal law.

The complaint said federal agents reviewed Nagarwalas telephone records and further investigation revealed that parents of two minor girls had traveled to Michigan.

The girls were later interviewed by a forensic expert and one of the girls said she was told she was coming to Detroit for a special girls trip, but after arriving at the hotel, she learned that she and the other girl had to go to the doctor because our tummies hurt.

The girls had been taken to Nagarwala, who performed the procedure on the girls.

The affidavit, according to reports, also said that many of her victims were from Michigan.
Up to 36 suspected Islamic State operatives are reported to have been killed by the massive 21,000-pound mother of all bombs dropped by US military forces on a complex of mountainside caves and tunnels in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.

The damage estimates came from Afghan military, which went on to say no civilians were killed or wounded by the bombing that attracted worldwide focus once again to an ongoing war that seemed to have been eclipsed by conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

Islamic State on Friday denied suffering casualties in the bombing though. Security source to Amaq agency denies any dead or wounded from yesterdays American strike in Nangarhar using a GBU-43/B, its news agency said on social media.

The strike came just days ahead of a visit by National Security Adviser H R McMaster to Afghanistan as part of the Trump administrations review of policy for Afghanistan and the region. The NSA will go on to visit India and Pakistan.

The United States has long ceased combat operations in Afghanistan but continues to maintain a force level of about 9,000 personnel engaged in counter-terrorism operations and in advisory role to local Afghan forces.

India, which is heavily invested in Afghanistan strategically and economically, will be watching closely for signs if the bombing was part of an escalation and greater US involvement reversing President Barack Obamas drawdown efforts.

The US has stepped up operations against IS and the Taliban, with the Air Force using nearly 500 weapons in the first three months of 2017, from 300 in the corresponding period in 2016, according to Reuters.

Thats roughly since President Donald Trump took office. But whens asked if he had authorised the Thursday bombing, Trump said What I do is I authorise my military, and he went on to call the strike another very, very successful mission.

The Pentagon has said the attack was part of ongoing efforts to defeat Islamic State-Khorasan (which they called by its other name, Islamic State of Syria and Iraq-Khorasan) group, which was active in Afghanistan-Pakistan region.

The device used was GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb  MOAB, which also expands to mother of all bombs,  that was so massive it was carried by a cargo plane and slipped out from its rear door and not bomb-bays.

This was the first time this bomb  that cost $16 million, and $300 million to develop  was used in combat and was chosen, the Pentagon said, to minimise the risk to US and Afghan forces conducting clearing operations in the area.

The day after, residents of nearby village that is also in Achin district where the caves were bombed, told Reuters they had seen IS fighters on the mountain and during their trips to the village.

They were Arabs, Pakistanis, Chinese and local insurgents coming to buy from shops in the bazaar, one of them said.

Another resident said, Last nights bomb was really huge, when it dropped, everywhere, it was shaking. But he welcomed the strike as a positive move.

Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, whose relations with the US had nosedived in his later years in office, was extremely critical, writing on Twitter, 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. (With inputs from agencies)
The US militarys largest non-nuclear bomb killed at least 36 militants as it decimated a deep tunnel complex of the Islamic State group on Thursday, Afghan officials said. The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb - better known as the mother of all bombs - hit IS hideouts in Achin district in eastern Nangarhar province.

This is how the countrys residents and officials reacted.

Bombed area was used as ammunition dump by ISIS. Bombing was carried out in coordination with Afghanistan, the Afghan government said.

The Afghan presidential palace said precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties.

Dawlat Waziri, an Afghan ministry spokesman, said, No civilian has been hurt and only the base, which Daesh used to launch attacks in other parts of the province, was destroyed.

Haji Ghalib Mujahed, a local veteran commander, said he felt tremors all the way to Bati Kot, a neighbouring district where he is now the administrative chief.

The bombing drew floods of responses on social media too.

Former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai was among the first ones to condemn the attack. He called on his countrymen to stop the USA after what he said was Washington using Nangarhar province as a testing ground for the biggest non-nuclear weapon in the US arsenal.

I vehemently and in strongest words condemn the dropping of the latest weapon, the largest non-nuclear #bomb, on Afghanistan by US...1/2  Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) April 13, 2017

2/2 military. This is not the war on terror but the inhuman and most brutal misuse of our country as testing ground for new and dangerous...  Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) April 13, 2017

A journalist from Afghanistan also condemned the bombing in a series of tweets.

While the "civilized west" is celebrating Easter, the "uncivilized & barbarian Afghan muslims" are being dropped at 21,000-pound bomb... (1)  Mirwais Afghan (@Miirwais) April 13, 2017

Dropping 'mother of all bombs' was yet another stage show by #Trump who made it clear that Muslim lands are but the West's laboratories (2)  Mirwais Afghan (@Miirwais) April 13, 2017

Some locals and reporters also blamed the West for the presence of rebels in Afghanistan.

Recent stats by Afghan & US mil suggested ISIS was set to vanish. How come it still required a MOAB to counter its threat?

ISKP#Afghanistan https://t.co/pdUBagFymQ  Borhan Osman (@Borhan) April 13, 2017

USSR and then US dropped countless bombs on #Afghanistan. It produced more rebels and terrorists than they killed #MOAB  Haris Kakar (@RSkakar) April 14, 2017

Afghan ambassador to Pakistan also took to Twitter to share his views.

2/2: If big bombs were the solution we would be the most secure place on earth today.  Dr Omar Zakhilwal (@DrOmarZakhilwal) April 14, 2017

However, many on the social media supported the cause behind the bombing, chief executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan being one of them.

Joint nature of the operation shows our common resolve to eliminate #ISIS and terror safe havens from our country. 3/3  Dr. Abdullah (@afgexecutive) April 14, 2017

The intellectual critics of US bombing on ISIS in Nangarhar are much more than the critics of ISIS targeting killings of innocent citizens.  Abdullah Khenjani (@AbdullahAzada) April 14, 2017

An Afghan-American womens rights activist, meanwhile, showed concern following the attack.

I wonder if it was necessary to drop the "mother of all bombs" on ISIS targets. Couldn't smaller bombs do it? #Achin #Nangarhar https://t.co/BjHKkfZ8DX  Spogmay Waziri Kakar (@Spogmayy) April 13, 2017

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Pakistan Rangers in Punjab province have claimed that they have eliminated eight more alleged terrorists, arrested 27 others and recovered huge cache of weapons under Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad in the last five days.

Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad was launched in February to eliminate terrorism in the country.

The Express Tribune quoted Colonel Amjad Iqbals as saying that combined operations took place in Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa, Hafizabad, Lahore and Sheikhupura areas.

Colonel Iqbal said the Pakistan Rangers in Punjab is collaborating with other institutions to eliminate all terrorists.

He also warned against deployment of illegal private security guards and display of weapons, as this would violative of the National Action Plan.
The head of the Specialization Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) of Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO), Nazar Kholodytsky, has said he is satisfied with the work of the nation's anti-corruption agencies, but chided the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) for attempting to burnish its image.

"I am satisfied with the results anti-corruption agencies have shown in principle over the first year, but am dissatisfied by attempts to burnish their image, because this is not good for investigatory agencies," Kholodnytsky said in an interview with the Kyiv-based Focus magazine published on Friday.

He cited the example of divulging investigation secrets by NABU about correspondence concerning the so-called "black ledger" of the former Party of Regions, which was helped by American political image-maker Paul Manafort.

"The prosecutor did not give permission to release this information," Kholodnytsky said.

Asked whether NABU chief Artem Sytnyk in February announced the identity of one more suspect involved in the "black ledger" case, Kholodnytsky said he had no proof.

"No, there is no name, because there is no proof. There was one potential case, but we immediately sent it back to be investigated. There is no additional information. But this doesn't mean that NABU is working poorly. Collecting information requires lots of time," he said.

Speaking about the scandal involving selecting an auditor for NABU, Kholodnytsky blamed the parliament for creating a circus-like atmosphere.

"Everyone thinks the auditors will somehow influence the work of the anti-corruption prosecutor's office, but this not the case," he said.
A university in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was closed until further notice after a journalism student was killed by his peers for allegedly sharing blasphemous content online and promoting the Ahmadi faith.

Mashal Khan, believed to be in his early twenties, was attacked and shot in the head by fellow students at the Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan in broad daylight on Thursday.

The mob continued to attack his body till a contingent of police arrived to take custody of it.

This is the first such incident at a university campus in Pakistan.

Khan, a resident of Swabi, was a student at the universitys journalism and mass communication department.

Mardan DSP Sheikh Maltun Mardan Haider Khan confirmed that the victim had been murdered by his fellow students but it is not clear what had enraged them.

Five students were injured in clashes but police managed to bring the situation under control.

Police later confirmed that arrests have been made and an investigation is already under way.

A notification issued by the police stated that 59 people were arrested from the university for their suspected involvement in the lynching.

Further arrests will be made after the police identify other members of the mob, a police official said.

Khans body was shifted to District Headquarters Hospital for autopsy and taken to Swabi for burial on Friday.

Following the incident, AWKU Assistant Registrar Ashoor Khan issued a notification stating the university will be closed until further notice.
A Palestinian man fatally stabbed a British woman on Jerusalems transit network on Friday, Israeli police said, as Christians marked Good Friday and Muslims held prayers at respective holy sites nearby.

The incident occurred in a train carriage on the light rail network near Jerusalems municipality building and the walled Old City. TV footage showed blood on the floor of the carriage with police officers restraining a man and carrying him away.

Israeli police said the victim was a 25-year-old British national, though it was initially unclear whether she also held Israeli citizenship.

The Shin Bet domestic security service identified the assailant as 57-year-old Jamil Tamimi and said he was a Palestinian from Arab East Jerusalem with mental health problems who was convicted in 2011 for sexually assaulting his daughter.

This is one of many instances where a Palestinian suffering personal strife ... chooses to carry out an attack in order to find release for his problems, the Shin Bet statement said.

It added that the assailant had previously tried to commit suicide by attempting to swallow a razor blade.

Friday is sometimes a day of heightened tensions in Jerusalems Old City when tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers come to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

On Good Friday each year, Christians hold a procession along the Via Dolorosa in the Old City, retracing what they believe was the route that Jesus took to his crucifixion.
Russia, Syria and Iran strongly warned the United States Friday against launching new strikes on Syria and called for an international probe into last weeks chemical attack there.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who hosted his Iranian and Syrian counterparts at a trilateral meeting in Moscow, denounced last weeks U.S. attack on Syria as a flagrant violation of international law and warned that any further such action would entail grave consequences not only for regional but global security.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said the meeting sent a strong message to Washington. Irans Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasized that the participants warned that any unilateral action by the U.S. is unacceptable.

The U.S. has blamed the Syrian government for launching a deadly chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun that killed over 80 people on April 4, and responded by striking a Syrian air base. Russia has alleged that the victims were killed by toxic agents released from a rebel chemical arsenal and warned against putting the blame on Damascus until an independent inquiry has been conducted.

Moscow vetoed a Western draft U.N. resolution Wednesday, saying it failed to mention the need to inspect the area of the attack.

Lavrov on Friday accused the U.S. and its allies of what he described as attempts to stymie an international probe into the attack. He expressed strong skepticism about a preliminary investigation conducted by the U.N. chemical weapons watchdog, saying that its experts have failed to visit the site and it has remained unclear to Russia where the samples have been taken and how they have been analyzed.

In Russias view, the probe conducted by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons should be widened to include experts from many nations, he said.

If our U.S. colleagues and some European nations believe that their version is right, they have no reason to fear the creation of such an independent group, Lavrov added. The investigation into this high-profile incident must be transparent and leave no doubt that someone is trying to hide something.

Lavrov said the U.S. strike on the Syrian base has undermined peace efforts in Syria and reflected Washingtons focus on ousting Syrian President Bashar Assads government. Such attempts wont succeed, Lavrov said.

The three ministers also discussed the beefing up of U.S. forces on Jordans border with Syria. Moallem said. He added that Russia, Iran and Syria have common procedures against any aggression, but wouldnt offer any specifics.

Lavrov that Moscow has asked Washington about the purpose of the buildup and received assurances they were there to cut supply lines between the Islamic State group factions in Syria and Iraq.

We will keep monitoring the issue, since the only possible reason for using military force on the territory of Syria is to fight terrorism, Lavrov said.

Russia has staunchly backed Assads government throughout a civil war that has dragged into a seventh year. It has conducted an air campaign in Syria since September 2015, saving Assad from imminent collapse and helping reverse military fortunes.
Russia and the United States have a shared understanding that US air strikes on Syria should not be repeated, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moualem in Moscow on Thursday, Interfax news agency reported.

He said this was concluded during Wednesdays visit of US secretary of state Rex Tillerson to Moscow.

But in Washington, the US state department said Tillerson did not eliminate the possibility the United States may undertake future strikes.

The secretary explained there were no subsequent targets after the missile strike, but he did not rule out any future action, state department acting spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

He (Tillerson) stressed that Russia is in a position to use its influence over the Assad regime to ensure it is never again necessary for the US to act, Toner added.
Russias most famous campaigning newspaper said on Friday it had appealed to the Kremlin to protect its staff after Chechen clerics said the paper faced retribution for alleging that gay men in Chechnya were being tortured and killed.

Novaya Gazeta published an article this month which said authorities in the majority Muslim southern Russian republic had rounded up over 100 gay men or men suspected of being gay and tortured them. It said at least three of them had been killed.

Kremlin critics saw the report as further evidence that Moscow allows authorities in Chechnya to run the region - which has been consumed by two wars since the Soviet collapse - as a feudal fiefdom in exchange for separatist and radical Islamist sentiment being brutally suppressed.

Chechnyas Moscow-backed president Ramzan Kadyrov denies allegations human rights are routinely flouted. His spokesman Alvi Karimov called Novayas report an absolute lie, saying there were no gay men in Chechnya to be persecuted.

Nobody can detain or harass anyone who is simply not present in the republic, Karimov told the Interfax news agency.

Novayas report also caused outrage among Chechnyas Muslim clerics, who adopted a resolution saying it had insulted the dignity and Islamic faith of Chechen men and society.

We promise that retribution will catch up with the hate-mongers wherever and whoever they are and with no statute of limitations, the resolution read.

Dmitry Muratov, Novayas editor, said on Friday that the resolution was an incitement to violence and that he was worried about his staffs safety.

This resolution is encouraging religious fanatics to retaliate against our journalists, he said in a statement, calling on the authorities to protect journalists and stop anyone whipping up hatred against them.

Two of Novayas reporters specialising in Chechnya  Anna Politkovskaya and Natalya Estermirova  have been murdered in the last decade. Neither case has been fully solved.
Around 1,500 Indian Sikhs with over 500 from European countries and more than 2,000 Pakistani Hindus and Sikhs are participating in the Baisakhi celebrations that began in Punjab province, the media reported.

Baisakhi is widely celebrated by Sikhs in the province, with festivities centred on Panja Sahib Complex in Hasan Abdal town, Attock district that started on Thursday, Dawn online reported.

Also read | Over 1,400 Indian Sikhs arrive in Lahore for Baisakhi Festival, security measures in place

This years festival marks the 319th anniversary of the Khalsa (the Sikh brotherhood). In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh (the last Sikh Guru) asked his followers to sacrifice their lives for him.

Also read | UK will need Sikh values of equality, respect after Brexit: Theresa May

Baisakhi also marks the beginning of a new solar year and harvest season.

At Punja Sahib, most of the pilgrims appeared excited about visiting Pakistan and said they enjoyed their visit to the country more than what they were expecting before reaching here and appreciated the arrangements to make their visit comfortable and for the maintenance of their holy sites, reports Dawn online.

Sikh Yatrees group leader Sardar Balvinder Singh thanked the Pakistan government, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the locals for the wonderful welcome and laudable arrangements.

He urged the governments of Pakistan and India to remove visa restrictions on senior citizens and relax some immigration laws to facilitate ordinary citizens of both the countries.

Pakistan is like a second home to the Sikh community where they used to live, Singh added.
Police in Istanbul have detained seven suspects, two of them believed to be members of Islamic State, who were plotting to carry out attacks in Turkey ahead of a referendum on Sunday, a police statement said on Friday.

The four Turks, two Syrian nationals and one Tajik aimed to create chaos in Turkey, police said. Two of the Turks were thought to have joined the ranks of Islamic State, which holds territory in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.

Islamic State has been blamed for at least half a dozen attacks on civilian targets in Turkey in recent months, including one on New Years Day at Istanbuls Reina nightclub which killed 39 people.

The police said they had also seized identity cards, mobile phones and passports in the raids in four districts of Istanbul since last week.

Turks will vote on Sunday on constitutional changes that would give President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers. Supporters say that will strengthen the country at a time when it faces threats from Islamic State and Kurdish militants. Opponents fear a lurch towards authoritarianism in Turkey.

Two opinion polls on Thursday showed a narrow majority of voters would vote in favour of the changes.

Security efforts have been tightened ahead of the vote, but Kurdish militants on Wednesday claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on a police compound in southeast Turkey that killed three people.

NATO member Turkey is part of the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State and it launched an incursion into Syria in August to drive the jihadist group and Kurdish militia fighters away from its borders.
The United States deployed the most destructive non-nuclear conventional bomb in its arsenal on a complex of caves in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on Thursday but there was no word yet on the damage done.

The caves were being used by Islamic State operatives, according to the Pentagon, which didnt assign a reason for the timing of dropping the mother of all bombs in its announcement nor the damaged caused by the 11-ton bomb.

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, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said about the bombing.

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, said Spicer.

US national security adviser HR McMaster is headed for Afghanistan over the weekend and on to Pakistan and India, but no links were drawn between his impending visit and the bombing, other than stray suggestions that it showed the US was staying.

It wasnt clear if it was a show of strength or of resolve to stay in the country and see the conflict to its bitter end in a reversal of the Obama administrations stated goal of pulling out completely according to a timetable.

New Delhi would like the US to stay to prevent Afghanistan from slipping back into the kind of chaos that Pakistan used earlier to insinuate itself into the crisis through terrorist outfits such as the Haqqani network.

The US has around 10,000 personnel in Afghanistan in advisory role and President Donald Trumps next move would be closely watched -- if he would add to the numbers, keep them where they were or roll them back, withdrawing completely.

As the Pentagon said in a brief statement this was the first time that the bomb, GBU-43, also called Massive Ordnance Air Blast (Moab)  was used in combat.

In the run-up to the polls, Trump had promised to go after the Islamic State, saying he would bomb the s*** out of them, a quote that became a popular T-shirt slogan but was the Thursday bombing about that?

Trump refused to own it when asked at a White House event just a few hours after. Really another successful job, he responded when asked by a reporter if he knew about it.

Were very very proud of our military, just like were proud of the folks in this room, we are so proud of our military it was another successful event.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has fans all over the world, and with good reason. He has called for an inclusive society, and his policies, like the stand he has taken on refugees, prove that he is willing to put his money where his mouth is.

Trudeau gave another example of this on Thursday with a video wishing everyone on the festival of Vaisakhi. The one minute, 10 second video sees him speak in three languages  Punjabi, English and French.

Wishing a happy Vaisakhi to everyone celebrating! Joyeux Vaisakhi a tous ceux et celles qui le celebrent! pic.twitter.com/IwaAAaTDsT  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 13, 2017

Starting off the video with  Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh, the Canadian PM goes on to explain how Vaisakhi is one of the most important festivals for Sikhs. In the video, he also says that Sikh Canadians have made the nation the strong, rich and inclusive country that it is today.

Sikhs make up around 2% of Canadas population of 36 million.

Last year, Trudeau had made headlines when he (jokingly) said that he had more Sikhs in his Cabinet than India did.

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Aussies fought some of the toughest battles in two world wars.

The list of battles fought by Australian soldiers reads like an honor roll of the toughest fighting of World Wars I and II: Gallipoli (1915), the Somme (1916), Ypres (1917), Beersheba (1917), Hamel (1918), Tobruk (1941), Malaya-Singapore (1942), El Alamein (1942), New Guinea (1942-44), and Borneo (1945). During both global conflicts, Aussies earned a reputation for ferocious courage, hardy ruggedness and indomitable perseverance. They endured and ultimately triumphed in brutal combat in appalling weather and terrain conditions, to include the parched cliffs of Gallipoli, the waterlogged trenches of the Western Front, the blistering deserts of Palestine and North Africa, and the steep mountains and miserable jungles of New Guinea.

Australian soldiers during the world wars were instantly recognizable by their distinctive, wide-brimmed khaki slouch hats, which they often wore with one side of the brim turned up. They were principally armed with British weapons, such as the No. 1 Mk III Enfield bolt-action rifle; Rifle No. 5 Mk I (jungle carbine); Mk IV Webley, Mk VI Webley and No. 2 Enfield pistols; and Lewis, Bren and Vickers machine guns. In World War II, these weapons were augmented by Australian-produced Owen and Austen submachine guns.

During World War I, Australian army soldiers comprised most of the 332,000 military personnel (of 422,000 mobilized) Australia sent overseas to fight, mainly in the Middle East and on the Western Front. The nearly 200,000 casualties Australian troops suffered equaled 65 percent of the countrys forces actually committed to combat  one of the highest casualty rates of any nation in the 1914-18 conflict. Notable actions include the costly April-December 1915 Gallipoli campaign in which Australians, as part of the Australian-New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), fought against fierce, and ultimately successful, Turkish resistance led by Mustapha Kemal Ataturk.

The peak strength of the World War II Australian military (army, navy and air force) was 600,000 personnel, the majority of whom were Australian army soldiers. Before the war with Japan, Australians fought in the North African campaign, where the soldiers of Australian 9th Division earned their celebrated nickname Rats of Tobruk for leading the April-November 1941 defense of the fortress city against Field Marshal Erwin Rommels Axis besiegers. The December 1941 Japanese onslaught, however, refocused the Australian army on the Pacific.

Despite being caught up in the British-led disaster at Singapore in February 1942 (21,000 Australian soldiers were captured, and 35 percent of those eventually died from starvation, disease or Japanese brutality), Aussies spearheaded U.S. General Douglas MacArthurs campaign in New Guinea. Their notable victories there included the July-November 1942 Kokoda Track campaign fought atop the rugged Owen Stanley Mountains and the November 1942-January 1943 Battle of Buna-Gona.

The heroism exhibited by Australian soldiers during World Wars I and II has been recognized 81 times (64 and 17, respectively) by the award of the Victoria Cross, Britains highest valor medal.

Jerry D. Morelock, PhD, Armchair General Editor in Chief.

Originally published in the January 2014 issue of Armchair General.
The world in mid-1939 was an increasingly dangerous place. Two decades earlier, the 1919 Treaty of Versailles had ended World War I and created the League of Nations, yet the hope that the treaty would ensure a lasting peace proved futile. (See Special Feature, November 2013 ACG.)

In Europe, Nazi or fascist dictatorships ruled Germany, Italy and Spain, while the democracies  principally Britain and France  continued to favor appeasement over confrontation, which did nothing to dissuade the dictators from launching further aggression.

In Asia, Imperial Japan, under the sway of its army and navy militarists, was zealously expanding its empire. In 1931, it had seized and occupied Manchuria, establishing a Japanese puppet state and renaming it Manchukuo. Japan then began a war with China in 1937.

Although in 1939 Japans major military effort remained the escalating war with China, the occupation of Manchukuo led to frequent border clashes between the Japanese Kwantung Army and the military units of Mongolia as well as those of the worlds largest totalitarian nation, Josef Stalins communist Soviet Union.

Animosity and competition in the Far East between Japan and Russia dated back to the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War, when Japans rapidly modernizing army and navy thrashed and humiliated the land and naval forces of czarist Russia. Additionally, Russias Soviet regime still bitterly resented Japans enthusiastic participation in the 1918-22 allied anti-Bolshevik intervention in Siberia during the Russian Civil War. Seventy thousand Japanese troops occupied Russian cities in eastern Siberia and on the Pacific Coast, only reluctantly withdrawing in 1922 after the Bolsheviks won the conflict.

The long border that Manchukuo shared with the USSR and its communist client state Mongolia included stretches where the exact location of the dividing line was disputed. Despite the fact that the vast region was mainly a barren, windswept wasteland, both sides aggressively asserted competing claims about the borders specific location. Indeed, in July-August 1938, 30,000 Japanese and Soviet troops had fought a pitched battle near Lake Khasan, on Manchukuos northeastern border with the USSR, that produced 2,500 casualties before the two sides finally halted the fighting.

The Kwantung Army, which often acted as if it were independent of Tokyos control, aggressively provoked yet another border clash in May 1939 near the western Manchukuo village of Nomonhan, about 10 miles east of the Khalkhin Gol River. Japan claimed that the border ran along the river, while Mongolia, backed by the USSR, asserted that the border was farther east, at the very edge of Nomonhan.

The fighting, which began as skirmishes between opposing cavalry units, soon escalated. By July, substantial Japanese, Soviet and Mongolian infantry and mechanized forces had been moved into the disputed area and were conducting major combat operations. The fighting ebbed and flowed, with each side achieving gains but also suffering losses. Victory in this undeclared war depended on the skill, competence and tactical ability of commanders at all levels  particularly leaders of the companies, battalions and regiments that bore the burden of front-line combat.

Armchair General takes you back to July 7, 1939, near the Khalkhin Gol River, west of Nomonhan on the Mongolia-Manchukuo border, where you will play the role of Japanese Major Tomiji Kajikawa, commander of 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, in the Kwantung Armys 7th Infantry Division. Your mission is to defend against an attack just launched from multiple directions by a strong Soviet infantry and tank force aiming to destroy your battalion and then move on to capture Nomonhan.

Although 2d Battalion and the attacking Soviet force have three infantry companies each, your units are significantly understrength in riflemen. More troubling, the Soviet force includes a dozen tanks while your battalion has none. To win against these odds, you must rely on effective combat tactics and especially your Japanese soldiers superb elan, which you are convinced makes them the best light infantrymen in the world. (See Great Warriors, November 2013 ACG.)

RISING SUN VS. RED STAR

Your career began when you graduated from the Imperial Army Military Academy. You then progressed through platoon and company command, including combat experience in China. Following that, you received your current battalion command in the Kwantung Army.

Your battalion is considered one of the armys best combat units, a reputation reflecting its high morale and exceptional cohesion. Your men are all drawn from the same military recruitment district (Hokkaido, in northernmost Japan), and their comradeship has been further strengthened by two years serving together in Manchukuo. Your subordinate officers are a mix of academy and officer training school graduates and some reserve officers called to active duty. Your noncommissioned officers are career soldiers whom you can rely on completely.

Your battalion is composed of three 175- man rifle companies  designated Company 5, Company 6, and Company 7  each divided into three platoons. The principal weapons the infantrymen carry are Type 38 6.5 mm bolt-action Arisaka rifles with 20-inch bayonets. The companies also have Type 11 6.5 mm Nambu light machine guns (a total of 20 in the battalion) and Type 10 50 mm grenade launchers (20 total) that fire fragmentation, smoke, and illumination flare grenades to a range of 200 yards.

The battalions heavy weapons assets are composed of a 120-man heavy machine-gun company with eight Type 92 7.7 mm machine guns, an artillery-gun platoon with two Type 92 70 mm howitzers (maximum range 1,300 yards), and an attached anti-tank gun company with four Type 97 37 mm guns. Additionally, the unit has a 70-man headquarters company that includes communication and supply troops and a security platoon.

Although your battalions authorized strength is 1,000 soldiers, only 882 are present for duty. When on the move, your infantrymen travel by foot, but the unit has a few trucks to transport supplies and tow the artillery and anti-tank guns.

The Soviet forces in the Far East are at the end of a long supply line that extends thousands of miles to European Russia. However, they are well armed and generously equipped, particularly in support weapons (artillery, mortars and anti-tank guns), transport trucks and mechanized vehicles. The three companies of Red Army infantrymen your battalion faces are armed with weapons comparable to those your men carry, principally M91/30 7.62 mm Mosin-Nagant bolt-action rifles. Yet each Soviet infantry company boasts 50 more soldiers than a full-strength Japanese infantry company  and your units on average are 20 percent understrength, significantly increasing the enemys numerical advantage. Moreover, each Red Army infantry company fields greater numbers of light and heavy machine guns and has four 82 mm mortars.

When attacking, the Soviet infantry companies can draw additional fire support from battalion and regimental assets, to include up to eight 45 mm anti-tank guns, six 76 mm artillery guns and four 120 mm mortars. The opposing force is also supported by two tank platoons with a total of 12 Soviet BT-5 and BT-7 tanks mounting 45 mm main guns and 7.62 mm machine guns. While your battalion has no tanks, the attached 37 mm anti-tank guns can penetrate the Soviet vehicles armor.

ALONG THE KHALKHIN GOL RIVER

Along both banks of the Khalkhin Gol River is a grassy floodplain dotted with swampy patches. Moving east and west from the riverside, this comparatively lush vegetation gives way to ever-rising, rolling hills that reach heights in excess of 2,000 feet. This open, treeless, undulating terrain is covered in tussocks of knee-high steppe grass or soft sand dunes 60-120 feet high. Although the area poses no problem for infantrymen, trucks and tanks have difficulty negotiating the steeper slopes and churning through the patches of deep, soft sand.

Also affecting combat operations is the fact that the summertime sun does not set until 10:30 p.m., and it rises again only six and a half hours later at 5 a.m. This leaves limited hours of darkness for the types of night attacks at which your troops excel.

Moments ago, your early warning lookouts reported a two-company Soviet infantry force supported by a dozen tanks approaching from the south. Another outpost then sent word that a third enemy infantry company with an artillery section of two 76 mm guns was crossing the Khalkhin Gol River to the northwest. You instantly recognize this attack formation as the Soviet armys preferred hammer and anvil tactic. In this case, the hammer force crossing the river will attempt to smash your battalion against the tank-supported anvil force advancing from the south. After destroying your battalion, the enemy no doubt intends to move east and capture Nomonhan, re-establishing by force the Soviet-claimed border.

With the enemy attack already under way, you immediately gather the commanders of your companies and heavy weapons units to hear three courses of action you are considering to defeat the Soviet strike.

Pay close attention, men! you sharply order. The enemy approaches and we have little time to discuss our options.

COURSE OF ACTION ONE: HOLD AND STRIKE

The first plan I am considering, you begin, is to use our three infantry companies supported by the attached anti-tank gun company to defeat the largest enemy force  the two infantry companies and tanks attacking from the south. Meanwhile, our artillery-gun platoon and heavy machine-gun company, along with my headquarters security platoon, will quickly move north, occupy firing positions on the high ground overlooking the river plain, and use concentrated artillery and machine-gun fire to destroy the Soviet force crossing the river.

Captain Kinichi, Company 6s commander, speaks first. Major, this plan, which allows the greatest number of our infantrymen and anti-tank guns to engage the largest enemy force, gives us the best chance to defeat the infantry-tank attack in the south. However, I fear that artillery and machine-gun fire alone cannot take out the enemy force crossing the river to the northwest.

Lieutenant Nagumo, commander of the two-gun artillery platoon, disagrees. Captain, he says, the Soviet force crossing the river is not only moving into open terrain with no available cover but also attacking uphill. Slowed by the steep slope  much of it soft, sandy soil  the enemy infantrymen will be perfect targets for my artillery guns and the heavy machine guns. Our combined fire will slaughter them.

COURSE OF ACTION TWO: COMPANY COUNTERATTACK

The next option, you continue, is to beat the enemy at his own game. The Soviet commander intends for his force crossing the river to envelop our battalion from the north and then smash it against his larger force in the south. But under this second plan, we will use two infantry companies, the anti-tank company and half of the heavy machine-gun company to defend in the south, while Captain Kinichis Company 6, supported by our artillery platoon and the other half of the heavy machine-gun company, launches an enveloping counterattack to hit the exposed flank of the enemy force crossing the river. Although Kinichis infantrymen will be outnumbered, this surprise counterattack combined with our mens superior elan will make them an irresistible force that will sweep over the enemy.

Thank you, Major. I would be grateful to you for the honor of allowing my company to execute this counterattack, Kinichi responds enthusiastically. The Soviet commander, overconfident because he has significantly more men, will not be expecting us to attack. Indeed, the element of surprise coupled with our soldiers fighting spirit will ensure that we overrun and annihilate his force.

Captain Yamaguchi, Company 7s commander, seems concerned. Major, I have no doubt that Captain Kinichis company will deal the Soviets a shattering blow. Yet I am worried that the large enemy infantry-tank force in the south might overwhelm our line that is being held by only two understrength infantry companies with reduced heavy weapons support. Even if the enveloping counterattack succeeds, we will still be at risk of defeat if our southern force cannot prevail.

COURSE OF ACTION THREE: COMPANY AMBUSH

My final plan, you conclude, is to launch Captain Kinichis Company 6 in an ambush against the enemy force to the northwest after the Soviets have finished crossing the river and begin moving up the slopes to the high ground. But to ensure that our two infantry companies and the anti-tank company in the south can hold or defeat the larger enemy infantry-tank force there, our artillery platoon and the heavy machine-gun company will take up a central position from which they can support our defense in the south as well as our ambush in the north.

Nagumo responds, Sir, Im confident that my 70 mm artillery guns can support both actions. In fact, I have in mind a centrally located firing position that will keep each of the enemy forces well within range. My gunners are thoroughly trained and can quickly change the axis of fire from north to south and then back again within a few seconds each time. However, you will need to decide which force is to receive priority should combat action occur in both directions simultaneously.

Sounding disappointed, Kinichi says, Major, of course my soldiers will carry out your orders, whatever they might be. Yet I hope you decide to implement the second plan and permit us to attack. Charging the enemy from an unexpected direction is the best way to capitalize on our soldiers irrepressible fighting spirit and thereby overcome the enemys numerical advantage. I fear that with this ambush plan we may lose that critical edge and the Soviets could defeat us with their superior numbers.

Having heard your mens input, you impatiently raise your hand and command, Enough talking! Now is the time for action. Listen closely and be prepared to execute my plan immediately.

What is your decision, Major Kajikawa?

Andrew H. Hershey holds a doctorate in medieval history from the University of London. He contributes to the USMC Gazette and is a four-time winner of its Tactical Decision Game design contests. He also designs World War II tactical-level wargames for Heat of Battle and Le Franc Tireur.

Originally published in the March 2014 issue of Armchair General.
Was the Vietnam War essentially unwinnable because of the incorrigibly venal, consistently corrupt andworst of allegregiously incompetent South Vietnamese government officials and senior military commanders? Frank Scotton, a former foreign service officer who spent at least part of every year from 1962 to 1975 in Vietnam working for the United States Information Agency, thinks so.

In his extensive and detailed memoir, Uphill Battle: Reflections on Viet Nam Counterinsurgency, Scotton looks back on the 1975 fall of Saigon and the final North Vietnamese offensive that quickly overwhelmed the U.S.-trained and -equipped Army of the Republic of Vietnam. He concludes: There really never had been anything wrong with the courage and endurance of the [ARVNs] basic soldiers, experienced noncommissioned officers, and junior officers. The problem was inadequate leadership higher up the chain of command.

The reason inept ARVN generals kept their jobs is no secret, Scotton says. In a corrupt system maintained by patronage, blind loyalty to political bosses in Saigon easily trumped battlefield competence in the selection of generals. The military leadership problem was worsened, Scotton notes, by the deaths in combat or helicopter crashes of some of the best officers, who led from the front. Most telling is the authors conclusion that the South Vietnamese government, our crucial ally in the war, failed to develop a viable political ideal for which men would risk dying.

Although most Americans who served in Vietnam were involved in combat against North Vietnamese regulars and Viet Cong main force guerrillas, Scotton fought the other war, the counterinsurgency effort (then variously called revolutionary development or pacification), a grassroots program to get South Vietnams population to support the Saigon government. Over the years, he worked closely with a cast of South Vietnamese and American officials, civilian and military, that reads like a Whos Who of counterinsurgency, notably including John Paul Vann, Robert Komer and William Colby.

Uphill Battle seems a particularly apt title for this memoir. Scotton describes his efforts to build effective counterinsurgency programs at the local level against dedicated and experienced Communist operatives, South Vietnamese government corruption and frequent opposition (or, at best, indifference) from senior U.S. officials in Washington and Saigon.

Considering that Scotton wrote this book four decades after the events he describes, it is a remarkably detailed account of his experiences. He explains that stored boxes of maps, correspondence, books and other research material helped him reconstruct his experiences so thoroughly. Although readers may find Scottons frequent barrage of unfamiliar Vietnamese names (of individuals and places) tough going, those who persevere will be rewarded with a truly first-rate firsthand account of Vietnams other war.

Scotton has included very useful appendices, chiefly an extensive glossary of Vietnam War abbreviations and terms, as well as a Persons of Interest list, identifying more than 160 people that he mentions. The book has 16 pages of personal snapshots showing Scotton with various Americans and Vietnamese between 1962 and 1972. Readers would have greatly benefited, however, from the inclusion of at least one map showing the locations of the countless places the author refers to.

Finally, Scotton deserves praise for giving all proceeds from the books sales to the publisher, Texas Tech University, in appreciation for the universitys maintaining the Vietnam Center and Archive. In an era when seemingly every high-ranking politician and government official feels compelled to write a book hoping to cash in on his or her public service, Scottons stance is refreshingly principled: It is ethically questionable for retired officials to profit from their own accounts of service for which they have already been compensated. Well done, Mr. Scotton.

First published in Vietnam Magazines April 2016 issue.
You are Soviet army Lieutenant Andrei Sokolov, leader of a patrol composed of a T-62 tank with four crewmen and two BTR-60 armored personnel carriers each transporting an eight-man infantry squad. This morning, March 12, the commander of your mechanized infantry regiment ordered you to lead a patrol along the main highway about 130 miles northwest of Kabul, Afghanistans capital. This rugged, mountainous region has been a stronghold for guerrilla fighters ever since the December 1979 Soviet invasion to prop up the crumbling Afghan communist puppet regime.

Known as mujahedeen, the anti-Soviet guerrillas are mostly Afghan tribesmen and some foreign volunteers from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran. Typically, they carry AK-47 assault rifles but have no heavy weapons, although some mujahedeen have captured Soviet and Afghan army heavy machine guns and mortars. Their main anti-tank weapons are rocket propelled grenades (RPGs). The mujahedeen rely on ambush and raid guerrilla warfare tactics and are adept at using improvised mines and booby traps built from battlefield-scavenged Soviet and Afghan army unexploded artillery projectiles, mortar rounds and aerial bombs.

Your patrol has the firepower and cross-country mobility to engage all but extremely large mujahedeen forces that possess heavy weapons. Your T-62 tank boasts a 115 mm main gun, a coaxially mounted 7.62 mm machine gun, and a top-mounted 12.5 mm heavy machine gun Meanwhile, each BTR-60 has a turret-mounted 14.5 mm heavy machine gun, and your 16 infantrymen are armed with 5.45 mm AK-74 assault rifles with 30-round magazines. The patrol carries plenty of ammunition for each of these weapons. Your armored vehicles, although impervious to the enemys small arms fire, are vulnerable to the mujahedeens RPGs.

Shortly after 1 p.m., as your patrol travels along the highway near the narrow Khinjan Valley, a fusillade of AK-47 and heavy machinegun fire suddenly erupts from near the valley entrance. You react immediately, ordering the patrol to tactically deploy off road and respond to the attack. Soon, you observe about two dozen mujahedeen fleeing on foot along the valley floor, apparently heading for the small village to the north.

Now, you must quickly decide how best to engage these enemy guerrillas.

WHAT IS YOUR DECISION, LIEUTENANT SOKOLOV?

ASSESSMENT OF THE TACTICAL SITUATION

Over the five and a half years that have passed since Soviet forces initially deployed to Afghanistan in strength, the conflict has become a bitter, hard-fought guerrilla war in which Soviet and Afghan central government forces control the cities and major highways while the mujahedeen rule the countryside. Fully 80 percent of Afghanistan is under mujahedeen control, and even when Soviet offensives successfully seize guerrilla territory, the gains are typically only temporary. When Soviet troops leave, the mujahedeen return.

Soviet and Afghan government forces hold an overwhelming advantage in firepower  heavy machine guns, artillery, mortars, tanks, armored vehicles, attack helicopters and total control of the air by Soviet air force fighters and bombers. However, the tactical problem is that the mujahedeen rarely allow themselves to be placed in a position where Soviet firepower can achieve decisive, long-term results. Therefore the war drags on, with Kremlin leaders in Moscow seeing no light at the end of the Afghanistan tunnel. Soviet forces are too strong for the guerrillas to overcome, yet the mujahedeen are too elusive for the Soviets to eliminate.

Your patrol, however, has flushed out a number of these elusive guerrillas and now has a rare opportunity to destroy a sizeable mujahedeen force.

POSSIBLE COURSES OF ACTION

Two possible courses of action spring to mind: immediate pursuit or deliberate attack.

The first option is to launch your entire force in a rapid pursuit, using your armored vehicles superior speed, mobility and firepower to overtake the fleeing guerrillas and destroy them. The tank and both BTR- 60s with their infantry squads will race along the valley floor to run down the mujahedeen in the open. If any of the guerrillas reach the village, your infantrymen will dismount and annihilate them before they have a chance to organize a defense.

The alternate course of action is to mount a deliberate attack by seizing the valleys key terrain and then maneuvering to trap and destroy the enemy. Covered by fire from the guns of the T-62 and BTR-60s, dismounted infantrymen will secure the high ground of the two hills surrounding the valley. They will then advance north to link up beyond the village to seal off that end of the valley, trapping the mujahedeen between them and your vehicles blocking the south end. Finally, using fire and maneuver tactics, your patrol will methodically finish off the trapped mujahedeen.

LIEUTENANT SOKOLOVS ORDERS

Based on previous experience fighting the mujahedeen, you recognize that the fleeing guerrillas almost certainly are trying to lure your patrol into a carefully prepared ambush. If your armored vehicles were to take the bait and race headlong into the valleys narrow confines, their advantages in speed and mobility would be neutralized and they would become easy targets for the enemys RPGs. Undoubtedly, the guerrillas also have filled the valley with deadly mines and booby traps. You will not fall for such an obvious trap.

Shouting into the radio, you order, Tank commander and BTR-60 drivers, take position in the south valley entrance and commence covering fire! First Squad leader, dismount your men and secure the hill to the east; Ill lead the other squad to secure the western hill. Once thats accomplished, our infantrymen will link up north of the village, trapping the entire enemy force between them and our armored vehicles to the south. Upon my command, we will then use fire and maneuver tactics to engage and destroy the guerrillas.

Colonel (Ret.) John Antals latest must-read book is 7 Leadership Lessons of the American Revolution: The Founding Fathers, Liberty and the Struggle for Independence (Casemate, 2013).

HISTORICAL NOTE: This story is based on a battle that occurred in Afghanistan in 1985 and resulted in a Soviet victory. The mujahedeen, however, ultimately were victorious in the nearly decade-long Soviet War in Afghanistan (December 1979 to February 1989). The wars debilitating impact on the USSR proved to be a pivotal Cold War event that helped accelerate the Soviet Unions collapse. Soviet losses totaled 14,453 dead, 53,753 wounded and 312 missing, while Soviet-supported Afghan army forces lost 18,000 killed. Mujahedeen losses were estimated at 75,000 to 90,000 killed and more than 75,000 wounded. Tragically, it is also estimated that nearly 850,000 to 1.5 million Afghan civilians died in the war that is often referred to as the USSRs Vietnam.

Originally published in the January 2014 issue of Armchair General.
It is past time to leave Afghanistan to the Afghans. The present government of the Islamic Repubic of Afghanistan exhibits the same deficiencies that characterized Afghan leadership for more than a thousand yearsit is fragmented, tribal, self-serving, insular and corrupt. The United States is naive to assume that it can, by force of will, impose Western values and morals upon a culture that has endured for centuries. Afghanistan will not be transformed into an idealized Western-style democracy by any amount of continued sacrifice of blood and treasure by the United States and its NATO partners in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

The announced withdrawal from Afghanistan of U.S. and allied troops by December 2014 (with the exception of some yet to be determined number of Special Forces, counterterrorism units and training personnel) comes none too soon.

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE

Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) began in October 2001 because Afghanistan harbored the al-Qaeda terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks against America. The United States set out to eliminate al-Qaedas Afghan operational base, and it succeeded in that effort while at the same time joining forces with the Afghan Northern Alliance to topple the repressive Taliban regime that had welcomed and hosted al-Qaeda. Yet OEF has never been a top U.S. priority except in those very early months. By May 2007, the ISAF commanding general admitted as much, saying, This is a holding action. At that time, the United States had only 24,000 troops in Afghanistan, while four times that number  over 100,000 American and allied coalition troops  attempted to stabilize Iraq.

The effort to train the army and police of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) was neither coherently addressed nor adequately resourced until November 2009. Unfortunately, by then it was beyond saving. Moreover, satisfying Washingtons strident demands to produce unrealistic numbers of trained Afghan army soldiers and policemen resulted in standards so low that the ANSF has proved inadequate to meet operational requirements.

Although the Taliban regime was overthrown, the United States never committed sufficient forces to Afghanistan to totally defeat the subsequent Taliban insurgency. Since there was insufficient troop strength and inadequate logistic support to eradicate all Taliban insurgents throughout Afghanistan, U.S. and NATO forces had to concentrate on subduing one insurgent hot spot and then moving on to the next one that popped up  a tactic the troops call whack a mole. Yet without sufficient forces to hold an area permanently, when U.S. and NATO units depart, the Taliban moves back in.

As Americas December 2014 endgame in Afghanistan approaches, comparisons to the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War are inevitable. Indeed, there are some undeniable similarities in Afghanistan that echo the wasteful catastrophe in that earlier war: generally illiterate societies; long traditions of successful warfare against Western forces that generated experienced, hardened fighters; and protected insurgent enclaves across porous sovereign borders.

As in Vietnam, the United States and its allies in Afghanistan typically have fought from huge and extraordinarily expensive Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) that shelter forces which could be more effectively used by deploying them out in the villages to work with the local population. When General David Petraeus led the Afghanistan effort, he did this well, but for far too short a period. In both wars, U.S. forces lacked concentration of effort to provide essential nation-building support for the development of appropriate local village structure and leadership. Instead, in both Vietnam and Afghanistan, the United States fought wars of attrition to attempt to enforce the legitimacy of an inherently illegitimate and corrupt version of a Western style central government. (See Hard Choices, January 2014 ACG.)

LACK OF STRATEGIC FOCUS

Americas objective in Afghanistan since the 2001 overthrow of the Taliban regime by the Northern Alliance and U.S. Special Forces has been to build up the capability of the ANSF and to transition security responsibility to the Afghans as the U.S.-led coalition gradually withdraws. A U.S. residual capability is to be kept in the country to continue advising and training the ANSF and, when necessary, to help coordinate specific surgical strikes to kill or capture the worst of the enemies still operating.

However, the OEF effort has suffered from a lack of coherent, clearheaded analysis of the strategic ends sought by the United States and the ways and means necessary to achieve those ends. Without prudent consideration for the concomitant risks involved, second- and third-order effects were not and are not considered. The United States has never, in over 12 years of war in Afghanistan, clearly specified the ends it seeks. And it is impossible, of course, to implement effective methods to achieve strategic ends without clearly articulating what those ends are. Early in the U.S. intervention in Afghanistan, Americas political and military leaders should have developed a viable, achievable, long-term strategy for OEF, and then they should have vigorously prosecuted this strategy with unity of command, unity of effort, and urgency  none of which has been exhibited in this 12-year campaign.

The U.S. military is exhausted and spread very thin. This means it cannot provide sufficient military force to adequately and simultaneously address all of Americas substantial global commitments. Although the post-Cold War U.S. armed forces drawdown that began in 1990-91 is a major factor, a large part of this inadequacy is due to the extraordinarily long-term commitments to Afghanistan and, until 2011, Iraq. OEF drains the limited, critical resources required elsewhere, but offers no corresponding positive payoff.

CULTURE CLASH

The United States has been consistently unwilling to acknowledge the truth about Afghanistan: it has been, and will continue to be, a tribal society of fragmented villages ruled with an iron hand by warlords. There is no respect at all throughout Afghanistan for the central government in Kabul, and deservedly so  President Hamid Karzais government is inefficient, self-serving and notoriously corrupt. There are a few honest, conscientious and patriotic Afghan leaders; however, their efforts are too often thwarted by the countrys corrupt senior leadership.

Despite billions of dollars in foreign aid over a dozen years, Afghanistans infrastructure remains primitive and underdeveloped. In Kabul, the capital city of over 3 million inhabitants, less than 15 percent of the population has piped water service and less than 5 percent has sewer access. The city has no trash removal and fewer than a dozen traffic lights. There are only five fire stations in a metropolis the size of Los Angeles. Despite 12 years of U.S.-led coalition effort, it is obvious that there is no viable government and certainly no rule of law.

This is particularly a tragedy for the young people of Afghanistan. Over 65 percent of the Afghan population is under the age of 25. Many are fairly well educated and struggling to obtain more education. They are earnest, smart young people who want security, progress, democracy (albeit of a construct for Afghanistan), a reduction in corruption, and a quantum leap in capability for their country and its government. During the conduct of systematic and exhaustive inspections and liaison visits to all 50 police stations, installations and checkpoints in Kabul province in 2011, it was highly gratifying to see the thousands of boys and, more astonishing, girls in clean, neat school uniforms walking to and from schools carrying their Western-style backpacks. However, when the United States departs at the end of 2014, those schools  particularly for girls  will quickly be closed, and education for all Afghans will, in large part, be severely restricted or stopped completely.

There also exists a clash of cultures between Afghans and Americans that inhibits the ability of the United States to influence further development of Afghanistan. Many Afghan cultural norms run directly counter to some of Americans most sacred principles regarding basic human rights. In particular, the systematic ill treatment and abuse of women and children drives an enormous psychological wedge between the ANSF and Americans embedded with it as advisers and trainers. Yet the U.S. military prefers to soft-pedal this very real schism, pretending that the problem is that Americans  who have witnessed the abuses firsthand  do not understand Afghan culture, and solving this problem by ordering up more sensitivity training.

CURRENT TRENDS

The current trends in Afghanistan are obvious, horrendous and reflect problems that have existed for years. The facts show it is long past the time that the liabilities of OEF have outweighed any advantages:

Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Attacks: From 2010 to 2011, the number of IED attacks rose more than 100 percent, and it also climbed in 2012 and 2013. Taliban insurgents have shifted their increasingly effective IED attacks from primarily ISAF targets to softer ANSF and Afghan civilian targets. Although the attacks have produced fewer fatalities, the number of attacks and the number of resulting military personnel and civilians wounded has increased.

Insider Attacks: Each year since 2008, the number of insider attacks  friendly Afghan police and army security forces striking U.S. and coalition personnel  has doubled. Such attacks are simple to mount and effective, since they allow attackers to get within striking range before the friend is revealed to be a foe. They also have a psychological impact since they inevitably implant some level of distrust in the minds of U.S. and coalition personnel working closely with Afghans.

Number of Assassinations: The killing of Afghan government officials and leaders at all levels is a significant and demoralizing issue in Afghanistan. However, the number of assassinations is not tracked accurately by the U.S.-led coalition because most incidents are treated as civilian crimes. Further masking the true number of assassinations is the fact that the ANSF generally ignores all but the killing of the most influential Afghans.

ANSF Police and Army Desertion Rate: More than 25 percent of Afghan police and army security personnel desert per annum, largely because there is no penalty for desertion. This rate had decreased slightly in 2012, but it is now increasing due to the impending U.S. and NATO withdrawal.

Loss of U.S. Aid Through Waste/Corruption: Much of the billions of dollars in U.S. aid and resources provided to Afghan army and police has been squandered, destroyed, ill used, hoarded for use in future civil wars, or sold for personal gain. The exact amount is unknown because it cannot be realistically inventoried. Afghanistans government makes no real effort to reduce corruption, graft and bribery when these crimes are committed by government officials or those in the good graces of the Karzai regime.

Conviction/Incarceration of Criminals: The only Afghan criminals who are caught and subsequently convicted in Afghan courts are those who have offended the existing regime or local warlords. And even those who are convicted often use their political connections and/or bribery to gain their release outright or to arrange for facilitated escapes from custody.

Security Status of Afghanistan: The true status of the security of each of the 34 Afghan provinces  totally candid assessments based on verifiable facts  remains unknown since only whitewashed information is made available.

The United States and most of the world has benefited from the ouster of the Taliban from much of Afghanistan and the decreased ability of Afghanistan to be used as a base of operations and support for al-Qaeda. However, the point of diminishing returns has been passed. The United States can and should contain any residual, externally focused capability of al-Qaeda; but it should accomplish this by the use of armed drones, long-range bombers and limited Special Operations Forces on the ground for target acquisition and surgical military strikes on targets of opportunity.

POST-U.S. AFGHANISTAN

As to the future of post-U.S. Afghanistan, here is what seems most likely in the wake of the American withdrawal:

The mission to withdraw all but a small fraction of the remaining U.S. and NATO troops by December 2014 will continue. However, the exact number of U.S. forces to remain in Afghanistan is still inexplicably unannounced by Americas political and military leadership. This could frustrate NATO nations that consequently may accelerate their forces withdrawal time schedule, which in turn raises the possibility that the United States may decide to pull out more troops faster than originally scheduled.

IED and friendly Afghan insider attacks will continue to increase because they are effective and difficult to counter. The lack of meaningful background checks on Afghan recruits exacerbates this threat. Attacks likely will reach a point at which the remaining U.S. troops will be unable to effectively cope with the rising level of violence, which will cause them to retreat to the FOBs in a primarily defensive posture, using drones, airstrikes and artillery to retaliate.

The reduced number of U.S. forces and contractors who remain as advisers/trainers will face increasing risk. Therefore, their ability to conduct any work with the Afghans will be extraordinarily limited by the decreasing security situation. The effort and ability to provide guidance and assistance will correspondingly diminish.

U.S. Special Operations Forces will remain in some form and in some strength to facilitate strikes on key high value targets. However, such strikes may be significantly limited by the Karzai governments pressure to curtail them. The situation in Afghanistan may replicate the severe restrictions the United States faced as it withdrew from Iraq when any police or military action had to be vetted and approved by warrants sought from Iraqi courts  which often, predictably, compromised the security and secrecy necessary for mission success.

Significant and daunting problems will have to be surmounted to move U.S. and NATO materiel and equipment out of Afghanistan by road to Pakistan and on to Karachi for shipment by sea. Much of it will be abandoned at enormous cost to U.S. taxpayers. U.S./NATO materiel that remains behind in Afghan hands will be non-functional in 12 to 18 months.

Once U.S. and NATO forces depart in significant numbers, the Karzai government will implode and competing Afghan factions will take control. In fact, factions already predominately control much of Afghanistans hinterlands. Kabul, along with the rest of the country, will be splintered into separate power blocks under local warlords. Within a year or two of the U.S. withdrawal, Karzai and most of his leadership either will be dead or will be outside of Afghanistan living on U.S. dollars they have secretly hoarded in foreign bank accounts.

ANSF army and police forces will quickly disintegrate into factions loyal to one warlord or another.

Lawlessness  rioting, fires, bombings and shootings  will become widespread in Kabul, Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat.

Thousands will try to flee Afghanistan via the Khyber Pass, until the Pakistanis close this primary exit due to their own security concerns  more Taliban in their cities and the potential for again being overrun by Afghan refugees.

Huge caches of ANSF weapons and ammunition will be seized by Afghan warlords who have the power to take them. Already, much of what was to be distributed to the ANSF during the U.S.-led coalition mission has been hoarded by Afghan leaders to bolster their own forces against competing groups.

Afghanistan will again, as was historically the case, divide into tribal fiefdoms controlled by warlords. Some of these fiefdoms will be consolidated by the resurgent Taliban coming back from secure bases inside Afghanistan or returning from Pakistan to take control.

Sharia law and strict Islamic customs will be reimposed. Women again will be relegated to subservient status. The Afghan intelligentsia likely will be killed or forced to flee the country to survive. This exodus of Afghanistans best and brightest will deprive the country of further use of their educated and progressive collective intellect.

Poppy growth will explode (if the crops can be revived and sustained) to provide a steady source of illegal drug income for the Taliban (as was historically the case).

The Afghan government and economy will be short a minimum of 1 billion dollars per year to properly sustain the 352,000-man ANSF. These security forces cannot be maintained at current levels without a huge cash infusion from the United States that America cannot reasonably afford. The United States will probably provide some lesser amount to support the ANSF, but this will result in Afghan security forces of smaller size and inadequate capabilities.

This is a sad and disturbing picture. As with Vietnam, the United States  both its political and its military leadership  failed to plan and to prosecute the Afghanistan war intelligently, consistently and with the urgency and capability necessary for success. Most lacking in OEF has been the disciplined intellectual integrity that is absolutely essential in order to develop, resource and aggressively implement a coherent national strategy.

Colonel (Ret.) William V. Wenger served 42 years in the U.S. Army as Infantry, Airborne Ranger. He volunteered for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and was a senior adviser, as well as a tactical adviser, to the Iraqi and Afghan police and armies. He served three years on the U.S. Army War College faculty and is currently a U.S. State Department contractor developing curriculum and teaching at the Republic of Georgia Command and General Staff College in Tbilisi.

Originally published in the March 2014 issue of Armchair General.
Refighting the last war ensured U.S. defeat

On April 30, 1975, Saigon, capital of the U.S.-backed Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), fell to the invading military forces of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (communist North Vietnam), two years after the withdrawal of American troops in the wake of the January 1973 Paris Peace Accords. Americas troop pullout and its subsequent drastic cuts in economic aid left the South Vietnamese military weakened and on its own when North Vietnam cynically violated the peace agreement in early 1975 by launching a massive invasion. The nearly 300,000 North Vietnamese Army troops, 1,100 artillery guns and over 300 tanks crushed the South Vietnamese defenders in barely four months of conventional combat, achieving ultimate victory in the Vietnam War. Although American combat troops were not directly involved in the Souths final, crushing defeat, by failing to prevent the communist Norths victory, the United States  after years of costly effort that included a decade-long major military intervention and 58,000 American deaths  had lost the Vietnam War.

Over the past four decades, legions of historians, analysts and pundits have put forth various reasons to explain why America lost the war in Vietnam. Many blame what they claim were General William C. Westmorelands inappropriate combat tactics in the crucial years of 1964-68  his emphasis on enemy body counts and conventional operations instead of implementing effective counterinsurgency policies. Some blame the media, particularly their egregiously flawed reporting of the 1968 Tet Offensive that gave the false impression that the North Vietnamese battlefield disaster was a communist victory, thereby helping turn American public opinion against the war. Others simply claim the war was unwinnable from the outset, citing the corrupt, inept South Vietnam regime as unworthy of American support.

Although a number of factors and influences, domestic and international, contributed to Americas defeat in Vietnam, the overriding reason the United States lost the war was one that has often fueled nations losing military efforts throughout history: the fundamental error in strategic judgment called refighting the last war. As American military intervention in Vietnam ramped up in the early 1960s, U.S. leaders unwisely based the foundation of their strategy in the current war in Vietnam on Americas previous experience fighting to save an Asian nation under threat of a communist takeover: the last war, Korea, 1950-53.

In Vietnam, however, the Americans were determined to implement a strategy that avoided what they perceived as the principal mistake that had turned the Korean War into a bloody stalemate. Yet instead of a blueprint for victory, refighting the last war proved to be a strategy for failure.

KOREA AND VIETNAM

Committed to a global policy of containing the spread of communism, Americas Cold War-era political and military leaders  for whom the Korean War had been a defining experience  perceived the containing communism situation in Vietnam as replicating that of the 1950-53 Asian war. Either ignorant of or willfully ignoring the profound historical, cultural and geopolitical differences between Korea and Vietnam, U.S. leaders saw only their superficial similarities: a communist north attempting to overrun a democratic south; powerful communist nations (China and the USSR) sponsoring a northern regime attacking a U.S.-backed southern regime; and, most troubling, the northern countries shared border with China that made them communist-controlled buffer states between China and Western-aligned Asian nations.

In 1950, the rising Asian power, Mao Zedongs Peoples Republic of China, had shown  dramatically and at great cost to the United States  that it possessed the capability and, more importantly, the will to intervene militarily if the defeat of the northern buffer state appeared imminent. In October 1950, four months after the Korean War began, President Harry S. Truman sent U.S. and United Nations combat units north across the 38th parallel dividing North and South Korea. Instead of merely containing communism, Truman sought to roll back communist gains in Asia through an effort to unify the Korean peninsula by force. His ill-advised invasion of North Korea, however, quickly prompted a massive Chinese military intervention that drove U.S.-U.N. forces back south of the 38th parallel. Chinas entry into the Korean War prolonged the conflict by several years, led to horrific casualties on both sides, and produced a frustrating battlefield stalemate when the July 1953 armistice ended the fighting along the same front line that had existed when the war began in June 1950.

Above all, therefore, the fear of Chinese intervention in the Vietnam War dominated American leaders strategic thinking and thereby set the parameters governing U.S. ground combat operations throughout the conflict.

STRATEGY FOR FAILURE

Principally to deny China an excuse to replicate its Korean War actions and intervene militarily in the Vietnam War, U.S. ground forces operations were restricted to the territory of South Vietnam. North Vietnam would remain off limits to U.S. and South Vietnamese ground combat forces throughout the war. This was also extended for most of American involvement in the Vietnam War to respecting the neutrality of the bordering countries, Laos and Cambodia, large portions of which as early as 1960 had, in effect, been invaded and occupied by North Vietnam to establish the Ho Chi Minh Trail  the main route of communist troops, weapons and supplies flowing into South Vietnam. (The limited 1970-71 U.S. and South Vietnamese ground operations in portions of Cambodia and Laos proved too little, too late.)

The restriction confining the ground war to South Vietnam did not apply to American aerial bombing. Indeed, North Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Trail were bombed extensively. Yet the bombing campaign, whose targets were tightly controlled by Washington, was not decisive in determining the wars outcome.

Despite what seemed the most effective policy for keeping China out of the war, the long-term effect of confining ground operations within South Vietnams borders proved irretrievably fatal to any hope America had of winning the war outright. It meant that U.S. military commanders were never given a mission to win the Vietnam War, but only to prevent South Vietnam from losing it. The distinction is no mere exercise in semantics  it was the key element in the U.S. defeat. This reactive strategy placed American forces permanently on the strategic defensive. Although U.S. ground forces did conduct offensives within South Vietnam at the operational and tactical levels, America had surrendered the strategic initiative to North Vietnam, which was then free to set the tempo of the war by feeding troops and materiel into South Vietnam as it wished.

By choosing the strategic defensive, U.S. leaders created a localized war of attrition that would drag on as long as both sides possessed the will to continue. North Vietnam simply had to prolong its war within South Vietnam until the United States inevitably abandoned the conflict. In this clash of national wills, North Vietnam proved to be better armed. The communist dictatorship possessed the weapons it needed to persevere as long as it took to win: a ruthless disregard of casualties and total control of its captive population.

America lost the Vietnam War the moment its leaders chose to refight the last war by surrendering the initiative in the conflict to the North Vietnamese.

Originally published in the January 2014 issue of Armchair General.
The Royal Navys control of the sea threatened Americas Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico coasts.

When the United States declared war on Britain to begin the War of 1812, American land and sea forces were woefully ill prepared to take on the worlds premier sea power and one of Europes finest armies. Twelve years earlier, Thomas Jeffersons election as president in 1800 had brought an abrupt end to American naval construction that previously had added warships like the formidable USS Constitution to the fleet, while the regular Army, which was already well below its authorized strength, was reduced even further. Jefferson distrusted and opposed large standing regular military forces and felt the countrys best defense was provided by the citizen soldiers in the states militias (which he described as the best reliance in peace and for the first moments in war). Although during his election campaign Jefferson had implied that laws should be passed to strengthen and improve the states militias, no action at all was taken once he was in office.

Jeffersonians  and indeed most Americans  took great comfort in the fact that the wide Atlantic Ocean separated the United States from the seemingly never-ending turmoil in Europe. If Britain or France dared to send forth an invading army, the swarms of small coastal gunboats that Jefferson authorized to be built presumably would wreak havoc among the hostile fleet when it reached the American coast. And if enemy forces did succeed in establishing a foothold, state militias, backed up by the tiny number of U.S. Army regulars, would either defeat them outright or inflict so many casualties through continual harassment and attrition that the invaders would eventually give up and sail away. Or so it was thought.

Jeffersons defense policies were continued by his protege and successor, James Madison; and during the War of 1812s opening rounds of fighting with Britain, the results were mixed. American warships usually bested their opponents in ship-on-ship actions, and the host of privateers the U.S. government authorized effectively preyed on British merchant shipping throughout the war. (See Battlefield Leader, January 2013 ACG.) But despite the sterling quality of the U.S. Navys ships and seamen, the puny size of the naval force meant it could do little to contest Britains increasingly effective blockade of American ports. At the outset of the conflict, excluding the 126 little coastal Jefferson gunboats, the U.S. Navy had only 16 warships (from sloop to frigate) and 14 revenue cutters to oppose the Royal Navys 255 men-of-war.

The Chesapeake Bay in particular became a rich hunting ground for the Royal Navy during the wars second year.

CHESAPEAKE BAY OPERATIONS, 1813-14

February 1813 found a large British squadron under Rear Admiral George Cockburn operating in the Chesapeake Bay, probing almost as far north as Baltimore and conducting raids in the lower bay. In April, a secure British base of operations  including a fort, barracks and hospital  was established on Tangier Island 55 miles from Hampton Roads near the bays center. Tangier and adjacent islands were stripped of trees for the construction of shallow-draft barges, each bristling with oars, for transporting troops. The concept of conducting lightning amphibious strikes from a close-in base was considered highly innovative at the time, and raiding began in earnest the following month with British troops burning Havre de Grace, Md., at the Chesapeakes northernmost reaches.

Opposing the British were the Virginia and Maryland militias (which due to the states laws could do almost nothing to coordinate their activities), some of the coastal gunboats, and a small but energetic corps of U.S. Army artillerists and engineers. These included the redoubtable Armistead brothers: Captain Walter K. Armistead, who greatly improved the Craney Island defenses guarding Norfolk, Va.; and Major George Armistead, commanding Fort McHenry, which dominated the water approach to Baltimore. Few additional U.S. regular troops could be spared because of the fighting along the Canadian border  President Madison declared, It cant be expected that I can defend every mans turnip patch. As if to emphasize the point, no effort at all was made to fortify the American capital.

By mid-1813, the federal government and the various state governments had increased the number of the relatively worthless gunboats to nearly 300 scattered from New Orleans to Maine (the latter state had already lost much territory to a British incursion from Nova Scotia). Perhaps 60 of these small sloop- and schooner-rigged vessels mounting one to three cannon each (some belonging to the U.S. Navy and some to the state navies) guarded local ports and rivers flowing into the Chesapeake. The principal offensive element of this force was a flotilla of 18 rowed barges and gunboats under Commodore Joshua Barney. He was a brave and resourceful commander, but his flotilla was so terribly outgunned that his small vessels were often compelled to take shelter in shallow upriver waters where British warships could not follow.

On land, Marylands local militia units were expected to rise up on their own and repel raids as they occurred; but across the Potomac, Virginia initially called up 2,000 militiamen, from shopkeepers to farmers, and then struggled mightily to keep the force equipped, trained, provisioned and manned with fresh troop levies when the citizen soldiers three-month enlistments expired. The militiamen, frequently with the aid of slaves and local work crews, heavily fortified key points along the rivers feeding the bay. Nevertheless, the Royal Navy  with nearly 100 blue-water ships in the bay, from supply vessels to 74-gun triple-decker warships  capitalized on the Tangier Island troop base to conduct amphibious raids at will against scant resistance from the gunboats and militia. A frustrated Commodore Barney lamented that local American forces were here and there, but never where the enemy was.

However, on June 22, 1813, a strong British attempt to seize the well-defended Norfolk-Portsmouth area was beaten back at Craney Island by troops under Virginia militia Brigadier General Robert Barraud Taylor. The British suffered more than 200 dead and wounded from their 2,000-man landing force against apparently no American casualties. Yet Cockburns ships simply re-embarked the British soldiers and marines and landed them at less well defended Hampton, across the James River. The invaders discipline immediately broke down, and Lieutenant Colonel (later General) Sir Charles James Napier of the British 102d Regiment recorded in his diary: Every horror was perpetrated with impunity  rape, murder, pillage  and not a single man was punished.

The federal government in Washington, D.C., was unperturbed at the enemys freedom of movement on the capitals very doorstep because the number of British land forces available to Cockburn was judged to be relatively small. No federal effort whatsoever was made to fortify either the capital or Baltimore beyond maintaining the existing forts guarding their sea approaches. The government did appoint regular Army Brigadier General William H. Winder as commander of the newly created 10th Military District encompassing the Chesapeake region.

The inevitable reckoning finally came when the defeat and exile of Napoleon in April 1814 freed thousands of seasoned British troops in Europe for the fighting in North America. Command of all British forces operating along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico coasts was given to Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane, who eagerly initiated a series of large-scale amphibious operations with Cockburn as his second-in-command.

In mid-August, 4,000 British troops landed on the Chesapeake Bays Maryland shore and began a lunge toward Washington amid frantic American calls for militia to oppose them. Assembling as if arriving at a country fair, militia companies under Winders command formed a defense along the British line of march at Bladensburg, Md., about 5 miles northeast of the capital. On August 24, the Redcoats crossed a small river (at a bridge the Americans should have destroyed), deployed for battle and promptly put the militia to flight with their first shots  Congreve rockets which, although effective against wooden structures and fixed defenses, were relatively harmless to troops on an open battlefield. Some militia, however, did not join the Bladensburg Races (as the headlong flight was called) and put up a stout fight, although it was woefully brief due to poor leadership.

At Bladensburg, more than 6,000 Americans were routed by a British vanguard with just one-third their number. Only a force of approximately 450 U.S. Marines, Commodore Barneys now land-bound sailors manning their cannon, and a handful of U.S. Army regulars stood their ground until finally overwhelmed. Late that afternoon, British forces entered the capital city, where senior officers dined on a meal hastily left behind at the White House. Before evacuating back to their ships, the British set afire all of Washingtons government public buildings.

In truth, Washington in 1814 was an insignificant, partially completed town. It had only been attacked and its federal buildings burned in retaliation for the Americans burning and looting of Upper Canadas parliament buildings and private residences in York (Toronto) two years earlier. The real prize, as far as the British admiral was concerned, was Baltimore with its fabulous wealth of shipping and merchandise  and consequently of prize money to be gained by Royal Navy officers for captured enemy goods and property, as Sir J.W. Fortescue explained in a British army history. Given the potential for substantial prize money, Fortescue noted, the naval commanders [were] always eager for operations ashore.

The British seized Fort Washington on the Potomac River several days later and then conducted a successful raid into Virginia, where they accepted the surrender of Alexandria. After more British reinforcements arrived in November, Baltimore looked to be ripe for the picking  local militias had proved utterly ineffective and even the U.S. Army regulars manning Fort Washington had fled their posts. It therefore came as an unsettling shock to the overconfident British amphibious force moving against Baltimore on September 12, 1814, when it found a well-led and better trained militia, determined U.S. Army regulars at Fort McHenry guarding Baltimore Harbor, and an aroused citizenry organized in Baltimores city wards and precincts under a Committee of Vigilance and Safety.

Ably led by Major General Samuel Smith of the Maryland militia (who replaced Winder), the citizen soldiers had constructed a line of stout defensive works covered by the guns of Fort McHenry. While the line was being strengthened, Smith sent 3d Maryland Divisions 3,000- man 3d Brigade under Brigadier General John Stricker forward to hold a mile-wide bottleneck across the peninsula where the invaders had landed. British commander Major General Robert Ross, the victor at Bladensburg, was warned that close to 20,000 militiamen were preparing to defend the Baltimore approaches. Ross, unimpressed, stated, I dont care if it rains militia. Within a few hours, he lay dying in front of the Maryland militias ranks.

Stricker, a veteran of the American Revolution battles of Princeton, Brandywine and Monmouth, formed his brigades five regiments in depth. The 5th and 27th Maryland regiments were arrayed to the front and bore the brunt of the British attacks, even as militia units behind them in support and reserve left the field when the fire got too hot. These Marylanders, however, would not be moved and they delayed the British regulars for two critical hours, only withdrawing when it became apparent they were being flanked. The exhausted and much-bloodied Redcoats, however, recognized that they could go no farther without the direct support of Royal Navy warship cannon  the British fleet would have to subdue Fort McHenry first.

Cochranes attempt to force Fort McHenrys surrender the night of September 13-14 proved futile largely because Baltimores merchants had sunk their own ships to block the channel leading into the harbor. Although Royal Navy commanders had airily dismissed the submerged wrecks effectiveness, they quickly discovered that the location at which the ships were sunk forced the British warships to fire at such a distance from Fort McHenry that the bombardment was rendered much less accurate and effective. During this bombardment, American emissary Francis Scott Key, detained for the night on a British ship, wrote the words for The Star-Spangled Banner that described the red glare of Congreve rockets fired from barges constructed at Tangier Island.

Unable to reduce Smiths defenses, Cochrane withdrew the amphibious force and then conducted some minor raids along the Virginia and Maryland coasts before sailing to Jamaica for reinforcements. The British lost 590 men killed or wounded during the Chesapeake campaign, with only the burning of the unfinished American capital to show for it.

Foiled at Baltimore, Cochrane now set his sights on the second phase of his amphibious operations. He targeted yet another rich prize, Americas recently acquired port of New Orleans on the Mississippi River.

NEW ORLEANS CAMPAIGN, 1814-15

Admiral Cochranes fleet disappeared into the Atlantic, and President Monroe and Louisiana Governor William Claiborne immediately perceived that New Orleans was vulnerable to attack. Indeed, British agents and the Royal Navy already had been very active in the region, and one of Cochranes officers had approached pirate chieftain Jean Lafitte, who controlled many armed ships and one of the land invasion routes to the city, to propose an alliance. The French-born Lafitte  former blacksmith, sea captain, businessman  proved a loyal American. He warned Louisiana authorities of British intentions, although some initially did not believe him.

In March 1814 at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in Alabama, Major General Andrew Jackson, commander of the 7th Military District, defeated 1,000 British-armed Creek Indian warriors who in August 1813 had massacred over 400 militia, allied Creeks and settlers at Fort Mims, Ala. Jackson subsequently moved his headquarters and tiny contingent of 60 regular soldiers to New Orleans after first seizing Pensacola, Fla., to ensure the neutrality of Spain (in the process ejecting a small British occupation force and five warships). His victory at Horseshoe Bend and the seizure of Pensacola had been accomplished by a mixed force of regulars, militia, volunteers and allied Indians; but at New Orleans a similarly diverse force would face the cream of the British army.

Cochrane, intent on avoiding a potentially costly battle between his fleet and the American forts sited along the Mississippi Rivers banks, landed British troops on the Lake Borgne shore in late December (after a swarm of 45 troop-filled British longboats had swept aside a small American flotilla at the Battle of Lake Borgne on December 14). Although the troops position was safely upriver from the forts and only 5 miles east of the Mississippi, it was beyond a cypress swamp that made resupply nearly impossible and was behind a mud-banked plantation canal that impeded military movements.

Worse, the British admirals had inappropriately attempted to repeat their earlier Chesapeake Bay amphibious strategy by establishing an offshore troop staging base. However, unlike the excellent conditions at Tangier Island in the Chesapeake, Lake Borgnes shallow waters forced them to establish the base at distant Ship Island, near present-day Biloxi. All soldiers, artillery, ordnance and supplies had to be laboriously rowed by ships crews some 80 miles to the troop landing site (with a welcome but time-consuming rest stop en route at Isle aux Poix).

Forty-eight exhausting hours after disembarking, the fatigued British advance brigade emerged from the swamp roughly 9 miles south of New Orleans on December 23, 1814, and encamped on the grounds of riverside plantations that lined the Mississippi. The British invaders established guard posts, yet they made no effort to establish a defensive perimeter. They did note, however, that USS Carolina (14 guns) and USS Louisiana (16 guns) were anchored upriver.

Shortly after nightfall, British sentries noticed that one of the darkened ships had drifted with the current until it was directly across the river. Suddenly, Carolinas gunners opened a broadside into the British camp, firing furiously and throwing it into chaos. This was the signal for the 1,800 troops Jackson had gathered thus far to attack. Fortuitously alerted that the British had landed south of New Orleans instead of north of the city as he had expected, Jackson wasted no time in striking first.

The understrength U.S. 7th and 44th infantry regiments plus Louisiana militia units struck the British front while Tennessee militia emerged howling from the swamp on the startled Redcoats right. Bitter fighting lasted until after midnight, but while smoke and confusion added to the horror of hand-to-hand fighting, darkness actually kept down losses  British casualties were 313 against the Americans 277. The principal result of Jacksons surprise night attack was to make the invaders very wary of pressing on toward New Orleans, or even sending out patrols, until all British troops had landed. Jackson would make good use of the time it took the British to collect their entire force.

When the British troop commander, General Edward Pakenham, finally arrived several days later, he found his army confined to the narrow strip of farmland and with scarce supplies. He complained bitterly about the situation in which his army had been placed by the navys Cochrane. Pakenham saw few tactical options for capturing New Orleans other than to do what every British commander since Bunker Hill in 1775 had been warned against  launch a frontal assault against an entrenched American force.

Jackson, meanwhile, had wisely used the time to construct sturdy defense lines south of New Orleans at Chalmette plantation on the east bank of the Mississippi. With ample artillery and the plantations canals serving as moats all along the front, Jacksons defenses stretched from the levee along the river to well within the swamp bordering the British right. Across the river on the Mississippis west bank, a strong redoubt with cannon and crewmen from USS Louisiana was constructed to fire on the left flank of any attack. Finally, if the British did succeed in breaching his defenses, Jackson was prepared to burn New Orleans and leave the enemy nothing but ashes.

Manning Jacksons line was a 4,700-man mixed force consisting of the two regular infantry regiments; regular and militia artillerymen, including three companies of Lafittes pirate cannoneers; two regiments of locally raised (largely Creole) militia; three regiments of Tennessee riflemen; and a force of Kentucky volunteers (many of whom, surprisingly, were unarmed). Additionally, at a second defense line in the rear (Line Dupre) was Major General Jacques Villeres 1,100-man 1st Division, Louisiana Militia, with attached artillery. As it turned out, this second American defensive line proved unnecessary.

In the January 8, 1815, battle, Jacksons entrenched infantrymen and cannoneers shredded the well-ordered ranks of attacking Redcoats that advanced headlong into a blizzard of American firepower. Pakenham was killed, and over 2,000 British soldiers out of the 5,300 who launched the assault fell dead, wounded or were reported missing. Roughly half of the fallen lay in ghastly heaps and rows on the British far right near the cypress swamp where Pakenham had hoped to overwhelm the American left. Instead, Tennesseans under Brigadier General William Carroll and Kentuckians under Brigadier General John Adair formed ranks five and six men deep which, each rank in turn, fired, then fell back to reload before moving up to fire again  generating a volume and accuracy of fire the British had not encountered in Europe. Said American defender Zachariah Frederick Smith: On our left, in front of the Tennesseans and Kentuckians, the greatest execution had been done. The slaughter here was appalling. Within a space 300 yards wide, and extending out 200 yards from our breastwork, an area of about 10 acres, the ground was literally covered with the [British] dead and desperately wounded.

Jacksons casualties during the Battle of New Orleans were just 13 dead, 39 wounded and 19 missing.

A subsequent 10-day effort by the Royal Navy to force its way past the Mississippi River forts failed and the exhausted British land force was withdrawn on February 4, 1815. The surrender a week later of Fort Bowyer, which defended the port of Mobile, Ala., was inadequate consolation after the disaster at New Orleans. Several days later, Cochrane finally received word that a peace treaty between the United States and Britain had been signed on December 24, 1814, the day after the admiral had put British troops ashore in Louisiana.

Thus ended two years of British amphibious operations along Americas Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Looking back at the ill-fated operations of Admiral Cochranes Baltimore and New Orleans campaigns during the final six months of the War of 1812, British military historian Sir J.W. Fortescue maintained that they provided perhaps the most striking warning upon record  against conducting operations ashore on the sole advice of naval officers, and to never use combined forces upon the sole advice either of a naval or a military officer. Sound advice that would form one of the bedrock principles of modern amphibious operations.

D.M. Giangreco served for more than 20 years as an editor for Military Review, published by the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He has written and lectured widely on national security matters and is an award-winning author of numerous articles and a dozen books, including The Soldier From Independence: A Military Biography of Harry Truman (2009, Zenith Press).

Originally published in the January 2014 issue of Armchair General.
(Xinhua) 19:24, April 13, 2017

BEIJING, April 13 -- China urges all parties, particularly the United Statesand Russia, to increase communication and coordination to avoid clashes in dealing with the Syrian crisis, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.

The comment came after Russia vetoed a UN resolution drafted by the United Kingdom, Franceand the United States demanding a speedy investigation into an alleged chemical weapons attack in the Syrian province of Idlib on April 4.

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.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov was quoted by media saying that the draft pre-judged the Syrian government as responsible for the attack.

"A political solution is the only to deal with the Syria issue," Wang said when meeting the press after talks with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki in Beijing.

China calls on the international community to maintain solidarity and continue to support the UN as the main channel of mediation, Wang said.

He 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.

"China will work till the last minute to seek common ground through consultation in the Security Council," he said.

Wang said Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected and that the country's problems mainly resolved by the Syrian people.
Created by Portugal-based design company INNGAGE for Fogo Montanha, Natura wood stove elegantly adds a natural touch to the industrial design. The main body of the stove is made out of steel, while the cork cover is installed to its structure for giving the better perception of heat.

The cork profiles are separated from the steel structure, so theres no need to worry about the cork darkening over time. However, the modular cork profiles make this wood stove appear like an old radiator. Due to the natural wood material, the heat will be evenly distributed inside the living room.

All thanks to the cork cover, you can feel the warmth of the wood stove without burning your fingers. The cork material used as external cover ensures safety to touch it. Even if youve kids at home, you dont have to worry about any accidental burn if they touch the stove. Hence, this wood stove is suitable for any home  large or small.

Natura is the result of the two years of research in which the relationship between the cork and the combustion chamber have been studied. Furthermore, the design has been improved to ensure the proper air circulation and even heat distribution.

Recently, the Natura wood stove has bagged the Red Dot Design Award 2017 in product design category. The minimalist, aesthetic and functional design of Natura is indeed worthy of the award.

Via: Dexigner
News, events, history, and other mid-week tidbits.

Tuesday, October 25, 4:30  7 p.m.

Orr Area EMS Open House

Brats and burgers will be served. Event includes a new ambulance tour and blood pressure screenings. For more info: 218-780-3798.

Orr Fire Hall

4540 Lake St., Orr

Tuesday, October 25, 12  6 p.m.

Essentia Health Job Fair

Talent recruiters and department managers will be on-site at Essentia Health-Virginia. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to attendnurses, nursing and clinical assistants, surgery technicians, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, human resource professionals, and those interested in environmental services or nutrition services. Essentia staff will greet candidates, conduct an initial screening and filter them to appropriate hiring managers for interviews. Select candidates will be verbally offered a position before leaving. Candidates are asked to bring a resume, but its not required. Attire is business casual. For more info: www.essentiacareers.org.

901 9th St. N., Virginia
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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.
While at SXSW last month, there was much clamor about the hottest artists in Texas. We were lucky enough to catch up with one of them, Houstons Trill Sammy, who spoke to us about his career after puffing away at a few expertly-rolled Backwoods on a terrace overlooking downtown Austin.

At the time, Sammy told us that his most essential tracks were the few he had just released  as they represent the new wave hes been on, which has been welcomed by his ever-growing fanbase.





No Pressure is, above all, a smoking essential that encapsulates the feeling of running into the plug and taking home a bag of premium gas.

Sorry was an easy pick for Sammy, as it features the homies PnB Rock and Sonny Digital. Not to mention production from Young Chop. Sammy also let us know that he and PnB have a few more tracks in the vault.

And finally, Sammy selected Faces as another one of his standouts, inspired by the city where he now spends a majority of his time. Thats just some L.A. vibe shit, just cruisin, said the 19-year-old rapper, who was recently spotted in the studio with Southside.

Also in the new interview, Sammy gives us some insight into his intuitive recording process: I just go in, get high, and freestyle through it. Even if I just do a bar  punch in, bar  punch in, thats how Ima do it. I dont ever write nothin.'

The two tracks Sammy has dropped since SXSW are also among his best work. Listen to Road Runnin (featuring Landstrip Chip) here, and TWO (produced by DY of 808 Mafia) here.

Trill Sammy
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A Corpus Christi resin plant once touted by ex-Gov. Rick Perry for "strengthening our economy" has stiffed 20 Texas companies for millions of dollars.

M&G Resins USA's billion-dollar Project Jumbo near Corpus Christi's port faces dozens of liens from U.S. companies with more than $100 million in claims.

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.

Al Wells, who owns Express Metal Works and another steel fabrication company in San Antonio, 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, 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.

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 & Ghisolfi's decision to bring the site to Texas when it was announced in 2011.

"I'm 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."

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. Before Project Jumbo, 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, S.C.-based Integrity Mechanical Specialists, that he couldn't 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 didn't wire the money," he added.

Now Wells has $2.7 million in mechanic's 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.

IMS 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, S.C.-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's "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 December 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 hasn't 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 didn't believe there would be a money issue and said "when you hear lien on a job site, it's 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. It's a small job but one that Wells knows he can complete.

"We've turned down probably $3 million worth of work this year," because the company doesn't 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."
After the election of President Donald Trump, one of the country's largest and most politically active unions is preparing to slash nearly a third of its budget.

Conservative outlets this week reported the Service Employees International Union has started laying off employees at its Washington headquarters - a claim the labor giant has denied - and that its coming cuts, made public last December, could be related to its significant political spending in the 2016 presidential campaign.

But connecting those events - SEIU's support of Democratic politicians and its upcoming cuts - is misleading, said Joseph Slater, a labor-focused professor at the University of Toledo's College of Law.

"This isn't a union financially in trouble because of money spent on the election," Slater said. "That money was budgeted for the election, and the SEIU has a long history, as do most other labor unions, of supporting candidates."

Rather, he said, the union is bracing for a monetary blow in the near-future - brought on, in part, by Trump's Supreme Court pick.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was recently sworn in, could cast the deciding vote in a case that concerns whether public sector unions can collect "agency fees" from workers who don't want to bankroll the union's political activities. One such case in Illinois could land before the court as early as this year.

Union leaders see attempts to relieve workers from payments as an attack on the core principle of the labor movement - that workers who enjoy a union's protection shouldn't be "freeloaders."

In the latest high-profile attempt to change this norm, first established in the Supreme Court 40 years ago, a group of teachers in California last year argued their free-speech rights should release them from having to pay dues to the state's teachers union.

The Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, which arose just after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, ended in a 4-4 tie, upholding the court's old precedent.

Republicans blasted the decision, asserting unions shouldn't be able to force people to fork up cash, while Democrats said that union dues are vital to securing the best pay and benefits for workers.

For the SEIU, which represents about 2 million government, health-care and service workers - half of whom are employed in the public sector - lost member fees would create a significant income hole.

The union has historically poured serious money into Democratic candidates and causes.
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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."
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. It's straight-faced stupid. It's stupidity as done by people who are consciously aware they're 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 doesn't even try to make sense of the proposal. It comes out of nowhere, apropos of nothing.

But then comes the race, and it's 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 you're laughing at it, you'll 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. It's creative. It's choreographed. It's unexpected and delightful. It's lots of fun and a stark contrast to the previous film, "Furious 7," which was huge but flat, just commotion without inspiration.

More Information 'The Fate of the Furious' Rated Pg-13: for prolonged sequences of violence and destruction, suggestive content, and language Running time: 136 minutes xxxx See More Collapse

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, with a computer-generated Walker turning up in scenes, smiling like he wasn't really there - because he wasn't.

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 don't know what it is, but next thing you know, Dominic has turned his back on his crew. He's doing unexplainable and atypical things, such as stealing the nuclear codes from the Russians.

It's 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 to work for her, 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 Dominic's 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" reaches the point where absurdity becomes a virtue. For example, for the big finish, Dominic's 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 let's just say that it involves a chase between a handful of cars and a submarine.

No, you don't need to read that sentence again. A handful of cars are chasing a submarine.

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. It's gross.
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.
It was past 9 p.m. on a Wednesday, and Stanford Street was still, save for a group of Houstonians clip-clopping along the sidewalk toward Allen Parkway.

With a staple gun, Andrew Willis affixed the flyer to the pole. It looked like a lost-dog poster. "Missing senator," it declared in capital letters. Below that, a photo of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. "Very anxious and argumentative around non-Republican constituents," it said. And: "Will attempt to repeal ACA if cornered."

For the past month, Willis and a slew of activists from a loose coalition of left-leaning organizations have posted hundreds of these flyers to trees and utility poles all over the city. Groups such as Drinking Liberally, Women & Allies and Indivisible are voicing their frustration that Cruz (like some other Republican members of Congress) isn't appearing at town-hall-style meetings, where constituents can ask questions and raise concerns.

Cruz did not respond to the Chronicle's requests for an interview. On Monday, during the legislative recess, he did make an appearance at ATEC, a NASA subcontractorbut it wasn't open to the public.

For Cruz, it's a particularly dramatic turn of events: The senator was elected in one populist uprising; now he's the target of another. Fired-up Tea Party activists propelled him to the Senate in 2013. But now, after the 2016 presidential election, it's the left's grassroots that are energized.

Precisely the same tactics that once helped Cruz rise are now turned against him. After the presidential election, Indivisible, a new national group, posted a lengthy step-by-step guide for activists "looking to replicate the Tea Party's success in getting Congress to listen to a small, vocal, dedicated group of constituents."

Focus locally, the guide recommends. Actions don't have to be big, but they have to be persistent, like jamming representatives' voicemail boxes.

Or, say, like hanging hundreds of "Missing Senator" posters around town.

"When people see them, either they think, 'Ha, that's witty,' or 'Ha, stupid snowflakes,' or 'Ha, let me go to this website and see what the deal is,' " said Nisha Randle, a member of Pantsuit Republic.

"As soon as you see 'Missing,' you stop and you try to figure out what's missing," she said. "And that's what draws everybody to it. They're like, 'Wait. That's not a cat. That's Ted Cruz.' And then they start to read the poster, and they're like, 'Oh, snap. Yeah, Ted Cruz is missing.' "

In addition to publicly shaming Cruz, the flyers also publicize a "Ted Cruz Is Missing Town Hall." Now scheduled for Saturday at Texas Southern University, it will, in theory, operate like any other senator's town hall - except that it's unlikely that Cruz will be there. Anticipating this, organizers have assembled a panel of experts to answer constituent questions.

"We're throwing pebbles," says Daniel Cohen, chairman of Indivisible's Houston branch. "But you throw enough pebbles and you have an impact. It's taken thousands of us, but it's working. And it's a pretty phenomenal thing going on."

James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin, noted that groups like the Tea Party or Indivisible aren't quite as big as they seem when they keep popping up in your Facebook feed. "I think one has to be careful not to confuse visibility and media attention with a group somehow approximating a majority," Henson said. "I'm not convinced this is growing into a mass movement."

Cohen thinks his group doesn't need to be a mass movement. "One thing America really likes is an underdog," he said. "From my perspective, I don't want to tell people (Cruz) is going down. I want them to go to the polls. I would prefer them to think we're still behind."

In reality, Texas' senators are relatively safe, says Henson - and therefore relatively unlikely to respond.

"Jamming voicemail boxes, it sends a signal that people are out there," he said. "But it depends on who's jamming the lines." Both of Texas' senators are Republican, and it's unlikely, Henson notes, that the outraged callers vote in the Republican primary.

"Honestly, I think Cruz is one of the places where these kinds of actions are least likely to be successful because Cruz already has a demonstrated strong base of support among his primary electorate," Henson said. "And unless the idea is that some of these tactics are going to persuade Cruz voters to not be Cruz voters, then it's not likely to have much of an effect on the primary."

So far, Cohen, Randle and others aren't focusing on primaries or elections. They're starting with small actions like the posters and the coming town hall. In recent days, they've also noted where Cruz has been sited around town - at Miller Outdoor Theatre and Chuy's in River Oaks - and asked members of their organizations to invite him to the town hall in person.

They're not afraid to take risks in the process. Stapling up the posters, for instance, is illegal.

According to a Houston ordinance that's commonly flouted, anyone tacking signs on "any utility pole, tree, fence, fire hydrant, street light standard, traffic light standard, stop sign or other traffic directional sign standard or on any other structure of any kind whatsoever located in the public streets, sidewalks, alleyways, easements, public property or any other public place in this city" is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

"When I post, I usually look around, and then I run," Randle says. "It's like, I look around, and I'm like, 'Is that a cop over there?' "

"Honestly," she laughs, "it would be worth it."
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We have liftoff. This week McDonald's has "launched" (fast-food industry talk) a new icy summer drink called Minute Maid Slushies.

For now, Houston is the only place to get them.

Dallas? You can cool your heels for another month before these slushies get there.

Slushies are just what they sound like, a frigid mix of watery ice, fruit juice and cane sugar. Think ICEE and Slurpee and other frozen drinks that you can burst a blood vessel trying to drink through a straw.

But do use a straw. Otherwise you'll get a brain freeze or ice cream headache.

"We have them in three flavors: fruit punch, cherry limeade and orangeade. If they click with customers, there are other flavors we can rotate in seasonally," said Matt Kades, president of McDonald's Owner/Operators Association of Greater Houston.

"Slushies are being introduced in the Houston region, which extends from Beaumont to El Paso and Midland to Brownsville, basically the bottom half of Texas. We have about 700 restaurants in our region. Eventually, Slushies will make their way to the rest of the country."

The McDonald's Slushies are $1.39 for a medium cup. That price is across the board at all McDonald's in the Houston region. Each restaurant is allowed to fix its own price for small and large cups.

Kades comes from a McDonald's family. He owns six McDonald's restaurants. His two sisters own two restaurants each. And his father, the "big dog" of the drive-through dynasty, owns 36 McDonald's.

I asked Kades, what's your go-to lunch at the Golden Arches?

"A grilled chicken sandwich made with a little olive oil and some nice herbs, either a yogurt parfait or small fries and a bottle of water. No, I never get tired of eating McDonald's," he said.

Why did McDonald's corporate pick Houston for the big Slushie reveal?

"We're a huge, widespread region with many diverse cultures and ethnicities. So Houston is a good judge and predictor of a menu item's success. Breakfast burritos started in Houston, and now they're everywhere," Kades said.

If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere?

Not always. McDonald's Homestyle Burger, with spicy mustard, is available only in Houston. Mustard on hamburgers is a Texas thing.

True story. Once in a while, a friend back in New Jersey will ask me, "Did you ever get in trouble with readers because you're originally from up North?"

Only once. Really early on, I may have asked, "Who puts mustard on hamburgers? What's wrong with you people? That's where ketchup goes."

I stayed away from rails for about a month, afraid of being run out of town. I never questioned mustard on hamburgers again.

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?

Or Wayne Dolcefino, the former hotshot investigative reporting on Channel 13? He left the station in 2012, after nearly three decades, winning literally dozens of local Emmy Awards for rooting out corruption and exposing wasteful spending. And making loyal fans and powerful enemies along the way. It's part of the deal.

"I am president of a thriving communications firm called Dolcefino Consulting. We are a war time company doing investigations, media and political work," he said.

Does he miss being on TV news?

"I miss it a lot, but it is pretty clear that the days of real investigative reporting on Houston TV are over, not because of the journalists, but because the TV stations that used to pride themselves on exposing corruption got plain chicken," he said.

"My company isn't chicken, because I'm the boss."

Dolcefino isn't off TV completely. He still appears on Channel 26's "What's Your Point?" every Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

"I still eat at places that Marvin Zindler used to bust," he added.
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.
The piece: "Resurrection"

The artist: Prince Varughese Thomas

Where: In his solo show, "The Space Between Grief and Morning," on view through May 6 at Art League Houston

Why: Because it's Easter weekend, but this isn't about religion. It's about the human experience and our shared potential for spirituality.

Anyone who has lost a loved one  which is to say, most of us, at some point  can identify with the weighty feeling of the digitally rendered moon that rises in Prince Varughese's single-channel video from an expanse of sea. Layered subtly into the moon's craggy surface  you have to look for it  is video of blood pumping through the body of the artist's late father. The audio incorporates the sound of the dying man's heartbeat.

The moon emerges slowly from the depths, growing as it rises until it consumes the entire screen, then shrinking as it continues upward into the sky. Waves lapping below, ceaselessly.

Where do we go when we die? Every religion suggests a somewhat different answer. The human condition will always be temporal, but eternity is a beautiful thing to contemplate.

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Houston doesn't have much patience for memories. The only permanent thing here, is change. "Alles ist ein andres nun," Goethe laments. Everything is another. Everything is different.

That's Houston.

Houston tears down. Houston starts over. And then Houston tears down again. Remembering the Houston that used to be is a cherished community tradition, like compulsively bragging about diversity, or pretending you frequent Discovery Green.

Once in a while, a building evades the wrecking ball and suffers the indignity of gradual decline, turned into a pawnshop or storefront church or just left alone, vandals and varmints and the relentless weather orchestrating a slow demolition. It sits, sun-bleached and forlorn, like the deposed President For Life of some obscure tropical nation, strung up by his executioners to remind the citizenry not to mess with the junta.

A couple of weeks back, bulldozers knocked down the Bronze Peacock. Sixty years ago, the Peacock was the jewel of the Chitlin' Circuit, a loose collection of juke joints, road houses, and night clubs that spanned the South, and gave artists from Duke Ellington to B.B. King a place to perform, free from the insults and indignities of Jim Crow. Slick Don Robey owned the Peacock. Robey was a gangster and Robey was a crook, but he ran a classy joint: In the mid-'50s, Houston was as important to rhythm and blues as Memphis or Motown. The epicenter of all that music, of all that history, was the Bronze Peacock.

Andrew Dansby

The Peacock is gone, just a slab swept clean of rubble on a street corner that has seen better days, but it was forgotten decades before the wreckers came, sic transit gloria Houston.

Some of us feel the sting of such losses. Some of us understand that memory matters, that history is flesh and blood and spittle and sweat. It's songs and stories and shouts and soft whispered words of couples in love. And history is bricks and stones, nails and mortar, the rooms where the flesh pressed, the blood spilt, the songs and shouts and soft whispered words were voiced, rooms that still faintly hum with the energy of events long passed. Others don't have any time for any of that.

It is difficult to hold onto history in a city that doesn't have much patience for memories. Houston is a sportscar without rearview mirrors: You can't look back, so you might as well just floor it and hope for the best.

GARY ELKINS represents Jersey Village in the Texas State legislature. Gary Elkins is one of those people who doesn't have much patience for memories. This session, Elkins proposed legislation, HB 3418  call it "The Erasing Texas History Act"  that would make it even easier for corporations and individuals to level historic sites across the state.

Elkins' bill carries three primary features: First, in yet another example of Texas Legislature hegemony, the bill overrides significant portions of historic preservation laws or zoning regulations enacted by municipal governments, unless they meet state-imposed criteria, including the requirement that the site must be associated with an incident "widely recognized as a historical event."

Second, any "historical" designation approved by any zoning board, planning commission, city council must pass by a three-fourths margin, or the designation is invalid.

Third, local governments have a thirty-day window to approve or reject requests to "construct, reconstruct, alter, or raze a building or other structure in a designated place or area of historical, cultural, or architectural importance or significance." If the government hasn't issued an official decision within 30 days, the request is automatically approved.

Historic preservation is a contentious issue. In 2012, Houston City Council established the Germantown Historic District, a charming little knot of Craftsman-style homes and tree-canopied streets, just north of downtown, near the Woodland Heights. The measure passed on an 11-5 vote  68 percent  after meeting the City's requirement that at least 67 percent of the community's homeowners support the ordinance. Under the Elkins standard, there would be no Germantown Historic District.

Nick de la Torre/Houston Chronicle

When Germantown received its designation, several residents expressed vocal opposition, arguing that their property rights were being impeded. Then-District H Councilman Ed Gonzalez suggested that "a more modern city" like Houston lacked the civic will to spend much time on historic preservation. City Council was deeply divided over the vote. Passing a historic preservation ordinance with 67 percent of the vote is an act of staggering political achievement. Passing one with 75 percent of the vote is a virtual impossibility.

Supporters of the Elkins bill argue that it's a matter of personal freedom: Historic preservation designations put heavy restrictions on homeowners' ability to improve or alter their property, and impose design standards that add knee-buckling expense to the cost of renovations.

Detractors counter that local boards are geared to work with homeowners  in 2013, 84 percent of the renovation proposals submitted to the Houston Historic Preservation Office were approved with no revisions  and that imposing a state-mandated "one size fits all" standard undermines the efforts of local agencies to preserve the history and heritage of their communities.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff

Even in Houston, a city with no patience for memories, a city that loves its bulldozers, historic preservation has gained a toehold. Twenty-two neighborhoods enjoy "historic district" status. Granted, most of them are either in the Heights or Midtown-adjacent, but it's still 22 neighborhoods. The City of Houston Office of Historic Preservation keeps a list of the buildings, homes, and landmarks designated by the City as "landmarks, protected landmarks, or archaeological sites." There are hundreds of locations on the list, everywhere from the 1940 Houston Municipal Air Terminal to the Hirzel-von Haxthausen House in the First Ward. I have no idea who the Hirzels and von Haxthausens were, but their home is charming, with elegantly curving eaves and a wraparound porch and a couple of monstrously ugly rows of townhomes for neighbors.

Under the Elkins bill, local communities would not have the authority to protect buildings like the Hirzel-von Haxthausen House. No one famous lived there. Nothing famous happened there. There is no way that charming little home fits the "widely recognized as historical" standard. And if some developer wanted to breeze in and buy the place so that he could build another row of hideous townhomes, no one could stop him.

Kenneth Ramey

ELKINS' LEGISLATIVE record has all the historical gravitas of a Chevron station on the Eastex: He doesn't say much, doesn't do much, and when does he manage to sponsor a bill, it's usually intended to plump business interests, most notably the payday loan racket.

HB 3418 is a sop to developers, anxious to bypass pesky local agencies. It's designed to overwhelm already drowning planning commissions, zoning boards, and municipal governments. It isn't about making communities better. It isn't even about being sensitive to property rights. It's a jackboot move, a hard, heavy kick to the solar plexus of neighborhoods like Germantown, and places like the Hirzel-von Haxthausen House, and every place in this state where people understand that our story, our shouts and sighs, our blood and sweat and spittle and songs, are trapped in the bricks and mortars of our old buildings. Those places are us. And when they disappear, part of our community does, too.

Using a broad, vaguely worded standard  just what does "widely known" mean?  to address the question of what's historically significant to a community is a little like rewriting Hamlet entirely in emojis: a lot of really important stuff is going to be lost. And we will be left with a state that's little more than the affable hell of FM 518 at Highway 288, traffic and pavement and an endless supply of family-friendly chain restaurants, serving an awful pastiche of Tex-Mex.

Buildings come and buildings go, especially in Houston. There will always be another Shamrock Hotel, another Sam Houston Coliseum, lamented long after their reduction to rubble. There will always be another Bronze Peacock, moldering in obscurity. The danger of the Elkins bill is that it makes forgetting easy. It makes it easy to turn almost any place, no matter its beauty, no matter its story, into another pile of rubble. In a place with no patience for memories, no place is sacred.

ONCE YOU start erasing history, who knows where it ends? Sometime in the not-far-off future, I see a couple of perky young entrepreneurs, Trey and Dylan, fresh out of business school and ready to make their mark, standing in front of the Cradle of Texas Liberty:

"So whaddaya think?" asks Trey, expectantly.

"Dude," replies Dylan. "I think this is, like, the Alamo. You want to turn the Alamo into a restaurant?"

"Yeah, man, it's the Alamo. It's also some primo real estate, friend. Where else are we gonna find a property like this in downtown San Antone?"

"But, something important happened here, I'm pretty sure."

"Yeah, yeah, people died. It was sad. That was, like, a hundred years ago. It's in the past, man. Who remembers? Since the Legislature made history an elective, nobody even talks about this stuff anymore."

Dylan gathers speed. "Consider the possibilities. I'm not thinking restaurant; I'm thinking BIG restaurant. With a big sign, in one of those happy, playful fonts, like Flora Mambo, so people know they're supposed to have a good time. We can save the walls, some of them at least: People like that distressed stone look. It makes things feel warm and authentic. And the menu will be Tex-Mex, of course, because, well, San Antonio."

Trey fingers his UT ring. His eyes light up. "We can call it Casey Dilla's," he says. "Better yet, Casey Dilla's Cantina and Happy Family Funtime Zone! Where the Margaritas Go On Forever, and the Fiesta Never Ends!"

"Perfect!" Dylan slaps his partner on the back. "We'll have a gigantic cartoon drawing of Casey on the wall. He's an armadillo, of course. With a sombrero. And a pencil thin moustache. And he's winking. And playing maracas. And wearing one of those flouncy shirts, with the billowy sleeves. People will LOVE it! Can you say, 'Franchise opportunities available'? Alamo? By the time we're done, it will be more like 'Al and who?'"

Trey looks somber. "Dude, we do need to remember the Alamo. I think that's a state law or something." Instantly, he brightens. "Maybe we could create a signature dessert, something like 'Brownie Al-a-mo'." It will be a gigantic, Texas-shaped brownie, topped with a Texas-sized scoop of Blue Bell vanilla."

Buildings matter. Heritage matters. Memories matter, even though developers have no patience for them. I hope the state legislature remembers that.

Cort McMurray is a Houston businessman and a frequent contributor to Gray Matters.

Bookmark Gray Matters. It's a cherished community tradition, like compulsively bragging about diversity, or pretending you frequent Discovery Green.
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It started as a simple note about scheduling.

"Anna just called, and we are both in agreement we need a special meeting at 6:00 pm Monday so you or I need to call the mayor to schedule it," Alpine City Councilwoman Katie Elms-Lawrence wrote in an email to colleagues in 2005.

Seems innocent enough, right? But a West Texas prosecutor concluded that this message was part of an exchange that violated the Texas Open Meetings Act by conducting public business - a proposed item for a council agenda - outside a posted meeting. Charges filed against Elms-Lawrence and Councilman Avinash Rangra led to lawsuits contending that a section of the law infringed on their constitutional free speech rights, because it wasn't clear about what types of communications were prohibited.

Open government advocates thought this issue had been resolved by a 2012 federal appeals court decision upholding the disputed provision. But last week in a Conroe courtroom, a judge set the stage for a fresh round of litigation over a piece of the open meetings law that's been a longtime source of vexation to some public officials.

State District Judge Randy Clapp granted a defense motion to dismiss charges against two elected Montgomery County officials and a political consultant. They were accused of violating the open meetings law by communicating in private about the potential structure of a $280 million proposal before placing it on the November 2015 ballot.

Clapp's brief order did not explain his reasoning. But it came in response to a motion by County Judge Craig Doyal that raised many of the same issues as those adjudicated in the West Texas case and others it inspired.

Two other defendants, Commissioner Charlie Riley and consultant Marc Davenport, joined in Doyal's motion, so the dismissal applies to them as well. The fourth defendant, Commissioner Jim Clark, had previously agreed to take certain actions in exchange for "pretrial diversion," which would ultimately lead to dismissal of the charge against him.

Prosecutor Chris Downey told my colleague Catherine Dominguez he intends to appeal Clapp's order. If the appeals court reverses Clapp, the charges against Doyal, Riley and Davenport would be back in effect. (Double jeopardy doesn't apply because a jury hadn't been sworn in, according to Clark's attorney, E. Tay Bond.)

'Anemic governance'

Clapp's order, in and of itself, doesn't represent a threat to the open meetings law. As Doyal's attorney, Rusty Hardin, explained to Dominguez, an order by a district judge isn't binding on other jurisdictions; it doesn't set a precedent.

In a sense, then, the prosecutors take a risk by appealing. An appeals court decision upholding Clapp's order - agreeing that the disputed section of the law is unconstitutional - would have a broader effect.

But Joel White, an Austin attorney who testified as an expert witness for the prosecution during the hearing on the motion to dismiss the charges, told me he isn't particularly concerned about this possibility. He thinks the appeal will succeed.

"It's just not that easy to overturn a state statute," White said.

Beyond the constitutional issues, Doyal's motion raised practical concerns. He argued that a strict interpretation of the criminal conspiracy section of the open meetings law precludes members of a governing body from ever speaking to one another outside a posted meeting. "This is the path to anemic governance," the motion states.

The general counsel of the Texas Municipal League, Scott Houston, made the same point in a lengthy 2011 memorandum.

"Neither the Texas Municipal League nor its member city officials are opposed to open government, nor do they favor 'backdoor deals in smoke-filled rooms,'" Houston wrote. "What city officials would like is the opportunity to serve their cities without the constant threat of jail time for doing so."

Ensuring transparency

This is nonsense, says White, a media law specialist who formerly represented the Houston Chronicle.

"The Texas Municipal League has been trying to scare the hell out of people," White said, by exaggerating the risks that officials might be prosecuted for routine communications. He noted that the provision in question requires proof of a "knowing conspiracy" to violate the law.

Texas' open meetings law is typically enforced through civil penalties; criminal prosecutions are rare. And any criminal law is subject to abuse by an overzealous prosecutor; that's one reason we have judges and juries.

The idea that the elected officials toiling in courthouses and city halls around the state must clamp their mouths shut if they bump into colleagues at a cocktail party seems a bit of a stretch. Perhaps the Montgomery County case will finally put these concerns to rest, leaving in place a strong law that ensures transparency in the conduct of public business.
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No one knows when William Kenny decided it was time to act. He had been seething for years, the anger gnawing at him, the list of those who had wronged him growing. Now he was going to do something about it.

On March 31, he picked up a small, black hatchback at Enterprise Rent-a-Car near Bush Intercontinental Airport.

By noon on April 1, he was checking into the La Quinta in La Porte, a $92-a-night motel popular with truckers.

The next day he drove the 10 miles to Baytown to scope out the Harris County courthouse annex where his quarry, the person he clearly saw as the source of the injustices against him, worked. This is where he would get revenge.

He returned to the courthouse later that afternoon, about 4:30 p.m., parked his car and walked over to the parking space reserved for Precinct 3 Assistant Chief Deputy Constable Clint Greenwood.

Then he got back in the car, drove a few miles down Garth Road to a RaceWay convenience store, spun a few rounds on an eight-liner machine, bought a couple of beers and left.

That evening, he ate Mexican food at El Ranchero in La Porte, a few blocks from the La Quinta.

At 6:35 a.m. the next day, he again pulled into the courthouse parking lot, parked under a tree, and walked slowly to the rear of the lot where he hid, waiting.

More Information Retracing steps 1 Car rental Kenny rented a small, black hatchback at an Enterprise near Bush Intercontinental. 2 Killing time He played eight-liners at a RaceWay near his target 3 Ambush Kenny shot Greenwood at the Harris County Baytown Couthouse on April 3 4 Suicide Kenny shot himself in the head near Ben Taub hospital the next day. See More Collapse

Greenwood arrived just before 7 a.m. and backed his SUV into his parking space. He got out and walked around the rear of his vehicle to remove something from the passenger side.

That was Kenny's moment. He stepped out from his hiding space, lifted his 9 mm and from a distance of about 20 feet, shot Greenwood in the neck.

He calmly walked back to the car, returned it to Enterprise and disappeared.

It was done.

On the hunt

The shooting of the lawman and former prosecutor shook the Houston area to its core.

Greenwood was a "cop's cop," and response to the shooting was swift and sudden.

It sparked an intense manhunt for a killer officers feared may have other targets, bringing together resources from every level of government over seven days to solve the case, according to a Chronicle review of events through sources, court documents and interviews.

Within minutes of the shooting, an impromptu command center formed inside the courthouse annex, with dozens of officers huddled in the large courtroom of Justice of the Peace Don Coffey. White boards brought in from an office supply store charted the evidence. Local businesses delivered streams of hot food and fresh coffee.

Baytown police, constables and sheriff's deputies were joined by a half-dozen seasoned Texas Rangers, prosecutors from the Harris County District Attorney's Office, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and federal agents from the ATF, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service's fugitive task force.

They had little to go on.

Surveillance video collected from a courthouse camera showed dark and grainy images - of a man walking, first slowly than more quickly; a small black compact car with four doors and a hatchback. Two spent 9 mm cartridges ejected near Greenwood's SUV.

The killer was either white or Hispanic, wearing a jacket with an indistinguishable insignia. They couldn't get a clear look at his face.

But it was a start. Investigators began checking off a considerable list of people who might have had a grudge against Greenwood, a law enforcement officer who had spent the past 10 years pursuing cops accused of wrongdoing.

That meant face-to-face interviews and surveillance. Sharp questions and polygraph exams.

For starters, there were nearly three dozen former deputy constables who had lost their jobs as Greenwood became assistant chief deputy in Precinct 3, with orders to clean up the operation.

Before that, Greenwood ran internal affairs and the Office of Inspector General for the Harris County Sheriff's Office and prosecuted cops accused of criminal misconduct through the district attorney's office.

One of those former officers, Greenwood told a county official just a few days before he was killed, was a "serious threat" to him and his family. But that man was in jail, and his associates came out clean.

The sheriff's department placed former District Attorney Devon Anderson under armed guard, and other potential targets were offered protection.

Then they turned to the vehicle. A sticker on the windshield signaled that it was a rental. Investigators began canvassing local car rental agencies, in hopes of finding a black car rented by a man fitting the description.

But what kind of car was it? Local dealerships offered loaner cars that were driven through the courthouse parking lot so investigators could narrow their search from five compact cars to the Nissan Versa Note.

Meanwhile, officers visited businesses along the major thoroughfares in the Baytown area, collecting surveillance video from cameras operating before and after Greenwood's killing.

Festering anger

All signs of Kenny vanished after he dropped off the car Monday, nearly three hours after the shooting.

He appeared to be a man without a home. He'd moved out of a northside apartment two weeks before the shooting. His car didn't run and he didn't have a job. He was living off a credit card in cheap motels.

Life had gone downhill for Kenny since 2012 - the year of his divorce after 13 years of marriage, the year his technology business got into trouble over taxes and the year a 911 call left him so angry.

That's when the raging letters and missives began, when he created a website to air his grievances against Greenwood and dozens of other county officials he believed were covering up for corrupt officers.

The Valentine's Day call to police came from his estranged father-in-law, who told sheriff's deputies that Kenny had threatened to kill him. Deputies ultimately chalked it up to a domestic dispute, and no charges were filed.

Kenny, though, wanted his name to be cleared. He wanted charges filed against his father-in-law. And he wanted anyone who stood in his way to bear of the brunt of his wrath.

For five years, his anger festered, perhaps now, in his mind, he had achieved a measure of justice.

After the shooting, he had few options, however. He had nowhere to go.

He had already checked out of the La Quinta, and without a car, without a home, he somehow and for some reason made his way to the grounds of Ben Taub Hospital, not far from the emergency room.

Persistent danger

The trail was still cold on April 6, when thousands of law enforcement officers and other mourners turned out to remember Greenwood in a traditional police funeral at Second Baptist Church.

By then, the command center had been moved to the Baytown Police Department's Emergency Operations Center. Investigators were combing area businesses, looking for surveillance video, talking to clerks, hoping that someone had seen a dark Versa and its driver.

Some of the task force stayed to work during the funeral, which drew heightened security over concerns for the safety of the many Harris County law officials who attended the service.

The task force worked virtually round-the-clock, worried that the danger persisted.

The first hint that the investigation may have stalled came from Greenwood's widow, Leatha, after the funeral. "We need your help," she told reporters, speaking briefly after the service in her only public comments. "Somebody out there knows something  I need your help."

A break in the case

The first real break came the next Sunday afternoon, as investigators reviewed key surveillance footage from the RaceWay convenience store on Garth Road. It was 4 miles from the courthouse, and the video system produced a high-resolution image.

They saw a white man, the right height and weight, dressed in the same clothing the killer was wearing when he scouted out the annex parking lot the day before the killing.

"One of the reasons that piece of video was so important to us - the Sunday evening dry run he did at the courthouse - was the fact that he got out of his car," said Lt. Steve Dorris, with the Baytown Police Department. "We were able to see he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and long pants."

Investigators then compared the killer's picture to the driver's license pictures of customers who had rented black compact Nissan Versas in the Houston area in the days before Greenwood's murder.

By late Sunday, April 9, nearly a full week after Greenwood's murder, police finally had a name to go with the face: William F. Kenny, 64, 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, with an axe to grind against local law enforcement.

They moved quickly to get a search warrant for his cellphone late Sunday and learned the phone was still functioning, transmitting its location to cell towers.

Late in the night, alarm bells went off when the task force realized the phone was in a four-block grid around the Harris County criminal court complex in downtown Houston. It appeared to be at the historic 1910 courthouse where two appeals courts are based.

Concerned that Kenny might be planning another attack, police notified some county officials not to go to work and scrambled to search the area early Monday morning.

They found no trace of Kenny or his cellphone, however, and turned instead to setting up a news conference to release the killer's name and photo.

That's when the final piece fell into place. A Houston police officer running routine checks on Kenny through the crime database realized the manhunt had ended.

A day after Greenwood's murder, about 8 a.m. on April 4, Kenny shot himself among some shrubs in the flower bed of a courtyard between Ben Taub hospital and an outpatient clinic.

A passer-by spotted the body, and staff from the emergency room responded. He was pronounced dead inside the hospital, from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head.

Police recovered a 9 mm Taurus semi-automatic. Ballistics confirmed Thursday it was the same gun that killed Greenwood.

Looking ahead

Today, 11 days later, the investigation continues.

Investigators want to wrap up the unknown details, to fill in as many blanks as they can, just as they would in preparation for a trial, Dorris said.

One key question remaining is where, and how, Kenny spent his final hours. Did he find another cheap motel? Did he sleep in the bushes? How did he get from the airport area to Ben Taub?

The cellphone, too, remains missing. It finally quit signaling its location, and investigators don't know how it wound up near the courthouse. Perhaps he threw it away, they say. Or sold it. Or maybe someone took it from his body.

"It's like any investigation - we want to answer as many questions as we possibly can," Dorris said. "We are finders of fact, and we owe it to Chief Greenwood and his family to answer as many questions as we can as to why this happened.

"Obviously there are some questions we may never know the answer to."

Investigators who worked on the multiagency task force also have questions about what motivated Kenny to turn his long-smoldering grudge into a cold-blooded murder.

"He's on a five-year campaign, a very meticulous campaign, and this surprises you," said one law official who worked on the case. "I wonder what the trigger point was. I wonder what brought this guy to this point."

Another task force investigator was also puzzled about the timing of Kenny's deadly actions.

"I don't know the significance of the date," the veteran investigator said. "The significance of that is something only he knew."
The Texas Medical Center corporation has made its No. 2 man the new CEO, an indication it wants no delay in its ambitious effort to bring greater innovation and commercialization to the world's largest health complex.

The corporation, which manages the 1,345-acre complex, announced Thursday they have promoted COO William McKeon to its top leadership position rather than launch a national search. McKeon, 57, succeeds Dr. Robert Robbins, who last week was hired as president of the University of Arizona.

"Bill's broad and diverse set of experiences from around the world, coupled with his ability to bring people together to execute on a vision, is exactly what we need as the TMC enters its next chapter of expanded innovation and growth," O. Holcombe Crosswell, chairman of the board of directors, said in a statement.

McKeon, a seasoned businessman who's run the corporation's daily operations the last four years, said the board's message to him was clear: "Stay the course, just go faster, further."

Under Robbins the past 4  years, the TMC dramatically changed its vision, transforming from a manager of roads and parking to a facilitator of entrepreneurship, something woefully lacking at what amounts to the eighth largest financial district in the world.

A Brookings Institute report on biotechnology in the nation's 51 largest metropolitan areas ranked Houston above average in research activity but well below average in commercialization.

The new effort, still in the early stages, includes a center of innovation that has attracted such Fortune 500 companies as Johnson & Johnson, AT&T and Apple and that houses a business incubator that's instructed dozens of would-be entrepreneurs how to put together life-sciences companies.

Future plans include building a campus that will bring together research institutions and contain hotel rooms, restaurants and bars, all located in an enormous plaza shaped like a double helix, a nod to the coiled structure of DNA.

Qualifying credentials

McKeon returns the TMC CEO position to a non-medical doctor, following the selection of Robbins, a heart surgeon. A medical credential is not considered important to the job, even if Robbins' may have brought the corporation additional glamour. His predecessor was a chemical engineer.

McKeon has experience at both academic institutions and medical startups. Prior to becoming the TMC's chief operating officer in early 2013, he held top leadership positions at such companies as Medtronic, U.S. Oncology and DuPont. He headed Microport Medical Co. in Shanghai and Cellnova in London and was a colleague of Robbins at Stanford, where he was director of market development.

McKeon said he was honored to be chosen during "the most transformational period in the history of the Texas Medical Center." He said that to seize the opportunities ahead, "we must further align our great leaders and institutions to advance our position as the 'third coast' of life sciences."

McKeon downplayed both Robbins' and his own role in the TMC's new strategic vision, instead crediting leaders of the medical center who agreed in meetings convened by the corporation about the need to leverage institutional assets to take the complex to the next level. He said Robbins lit the match and he's executed the vision.

From Houston Methodist to Rice University and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to Memorial Hermann, leaders in the medical center praised the appointment.

"I'm very happy," said Dr. Paul Klotman, president of Baylor College of Medicine. "Bill was very engaged in the strategic planning and the development of the innovation center and deserves more credit than he's allowing. Dr. Robbins and he were instrumental in bringing the board along so it saw the potential for a biotech industry here."

'No time for blinking'

Medical center leaders said McKeon's promotion was preferable because it allows for the TMC's new efforts to continue seamlessly, not to be delayed by a search that would take many months and additional time for the new CEO to adapt to the job.

But one expert said the TMC needs to do more than stay the course. He said that now that the infrastructure is in place, the TMC needs to be about "pivoting and adaptability" to attract more entrepreneurs.

"I would have loved to see a leader from the Silicon Valley that was going to turn the TMC into the life-science entrepreneur center of the future," said Ed Egan, director of Rice's McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. "But I'm confident Bill has the knowledge and skills to go down this path. He hits most of the important qualifications, including experience as the CEO of a startup at a crucial growth point, raising a lot of money."

McKeon - who grew up in Connecticut, one of 13 children - said he was approached by the TMC board immediately after Robbins became a candidate for the Arizona job, concerned about his future plans. Noting "a great comfort level with the board" because they worked together so intimately carrying out the vision, he said he told them he wasn't planning on going anywhere.

McKeon's appointment was approved by the TMC board Tuesday. It is effective immediately.

He emphasized the effort is only a couple years into what should take at least a decade and probably longer but should become an icon for future generations.

"Frankly, I think the Texas Medical Center has been a sleeping giant," said McKeon. "Someone once said to me that if the medical center ever wakes up and realizes what it has and starts work together, it'll be unstoppable. I believe that. I've seen it in Boston and Palo Alto. That's why this is no time for blinking."
AUSTIN -Texans could find it easier to demolish historic buildings and much harder for cities to designate landmarks under a bill considered by lawmakers Tuesday to create statewide preservation standards.

House Bill 3418 would introduce major changes to the landmark process by limiting the availability of protected status as "historically important and significant" to the residences of historic figures and places where a "widely recognized" historic event occurred.

The measure does not define what kind of event would qualify as widely recognized.

Under existing law, local governments enjoy broad discretion to decide how buildings and neighborhoods are preserved, and local authorities can set their own criteria for historic status.

The bill by Houston Republican Rep. Gary Elkins potentially could threaten already-protected buildings by giving authorities just 30 days to approve or deny property owners' requests to demolish or alter buildings, sharply limiting opportunities for review. If no response is given within that time frame, a request to tear down a historic building would be considered approved by default.

The bill also would require city councils to approve any zoning changes to designate places as having historic, cultural or architectural importance with a three-fourths super-majority of all members. Existing state law requires a three-fourths vote only in cases where at least 20 percent of property owners affected by a proposed zoning change have filed a protest against it.

The House Committee on Urban Affairs left the matter pending Tuesday without taking a vote.

Explaining his bill at Tuesday's hearing, Elkins said he did not oppose the designation of historical sites but wanted to balance those efforts with concerns from property owners about current preservation practices.

"We're not trying to remove the local historical factors in our cities," Elkins said. "I know members are receiving emails opposing the bill, but I have heard from many individual citizens who are very much in support. They feel their city picks and chooses historical designations using very subjective standards."

Elkins said some preservationists engage in what he called "historicizing," or exploiting a historic designation status to stymie developers and other private property owners who want to build on or modify existing buildings or land.

"It's an emerging tactic that holds the property owner hostage," Elkins said. "Abuse of those statutes has become prevalent."

He added that he would continue working with supporters and opponents of the bill to address their concerns.

Staunch opposition

Former state Rep. Burt Solomons of Carrollton, who supports the bill, told the committee that he has seen the process take up to nine months before the parties reach a resolution on the property in question.

"There are cases where it goes months and months - it's like wearing (the property owners) out until they agree," Solomons said. "You shouldn't be forced to take less value for your property. This bill does allow for a thoughtful consideration of objective history and facts."

Elkins said the impetus for the legislation was a recent case in Austin involving a circa-1910 house co-owned by Solomons. After the owners applied for a demolition permit, the city's Historic Landmark Commission initiated plans to designate it a landmark. The owners withdrew their application, and the commission subsequently dropped plans to pursue the historic designation.

The bill faces staunch opposition from city and state preservation groups, who say a statewide standard of "widely recognized" historical events likely would exclude various places that hold significance for particular communities.

"This really goes against the nature of what historic preservation is all about, which is keeping communities intact," said Evan Thompson, executive director of the nonprofit Preservation Texas, who added that the wording of the bill could have unintended consequences.

By allowing any place where a historic figure lived to be declared a landmark, buildings where a famous person resided briefly in childhood could be protected, but one where he or she did meaningful and important work over many years excluded, he said before Tuesday's hearing.

The legislation also could disproportionately affect minority communities, where individuals and events may not yet be widely recognized and historical preservation efforts can serve to raise their profiles.

"It takes away the ability of a local community to recognize and preserve what's important to it," said Steve Sadowsky, historic preservation officer for the city of Austin. "Historic preservation is an educational tool," he said. "It's not just to commemorate a person of importance. It can teach about architecture, community history, ethnic and racial history."

Taking the power

David Bush, the acting executive director of Preservation Houston, said the city's criteria for historic designations saved the Kellum-Noble House, the oldest still-standing residence built in Houston, which would not be protected under Elkins' bill. Nathaniel Kellum built the house in 1847, and the Noble family operated one of the area's first schools out of it years later. The city purchased the house in 1899, according to The Heritage Society's website.

"It was either a farm house or a park building. That's what it's been for the most of its history," Bush said. "No widely recognized events took place there. So, does that mean that doesn't qualify to be a landmark?"

He said the bill follows a trend in the Texas Legislature this year where state lawmakers are considering several bills to take power from local elected or appointed officials to make decisions about local rules.

"Significant historic preservation have been local protections. It's something that's under the control of the towns and cities, and this bill would really negate large portions of preservation ordinances across the state," Bush said. "The bill substitutes all those criteria, which would take into account local history, and makes a single defining - vaguely defined - standard. There's no definition. That's part of the problem."

Sky Canaves contributed to this report.
NASA announced Enceladus, Saturn's moon, could support life thanks to the presence of hydrogen discovered.

Known as an "ocean-world," Enceladus has been spewing off hydrogen from a plume, said Linda Spilker Cassini project scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California during the press event.

So far, Enceladus has shown to have the existence of nearly all of the elements of habitability (primarily carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur), except for phosphorus and sulfur. Scientists expect they are present due to Enceladus' rocky core, which is thought to be chemically similar to meteorites, which contain both phosphorus and sulfur.
Daphne Jackson had a wide smile, long, black, braided hair and dancing eyes. What we know about her has been pieced together via documentation from various agencies. She was a repeat runaway - a "broken little girl," one children's advocate called her - finally landing in Texas' last resort of last resorts for troubled kids like her: a Child Protective Services regional office on the city's northside.

As has become commonplace, the state agency lacked beds in foster care. So one night earlier this month, Jackson was taken to the only place CPS could conjure to shelter her and another teenage girl. Perhaps restless, perhaps hopeless, Jackson and the girl left the office in the middle of the night and met with tragedy. They were struck by a car as they walked along a dark road that had no sidewalks. Jackson was struck and killed at 3 a.m. Her companion, also hit, survived.

CPS drew scrutiny last year for the practice of using its offices to house children - usually teens - for whom finding foster care is difficult. But don't blame the agency entirely. That CPS is forced to consider such an obviously unsafe solution for housing tough-to-place kids is a problem that leads back to the state Legislature.

Patrick Crimmins, a spokesman for the state Department of Family and Protective Services, CPS' parent agency, told Chronicle reporter Mike Ward that 24 children spent at least two nights in CPS offices in January, the last month for which statistics are available. This is down from 54 children who spent the night in the offices in August.

Although last week marks the first time a child has died as a result of these circumstances, Daphne's tragic death highlights the dangers inherent in this practice.

Commissioner Hank Whitman has acknowledged that CPS should stop housing kids at CPS offices. But the agency lacks sufficient placement capacity. While the Legislature's willingness to give the agency more funding this session is encouraging, the resources that lawmakers provided are still insufficient to make a measurable impact on capacity.

Many of the children housed in CPS offices have behavioral problems and require a higher level of care - care that is challenging to find, particularly so because the rates that DFPS offers to providers are too low.

To fix the broader problem, the state needs a sustained campaign to find good-hearted, nurturing adults who want to foster older youth. In addition, the Texas Senate needs to follow the lead of the Texas House and increase the rates that the providers are paid.

If the Legislature sticks its head in the sand regarding the ongoing crisis, the state risks another lost child of Texas, another death. Instead of proffering Band Aids, lawmakers should grant DFPS's legislative appropriations request for funds to buy beds at appropriate emergency shelters in advance. The agency then needs to do all it can to keep a steady supply of these beds open for troubled teenagers.

This will be a challenge. Providers are free to refuse placements if the child or teenager does not conform to their requirements, or if they have housed the teen before, or if they don't believe they can meet the child's needs.

Regardless, the status quo is clearly inadequate. For Daphne, the status quo was deadly. CPS offices aren't set up to house children in custody, especially teenagers with emotional and mental health problems.

When she strayed into the road, Daphne was walking in an area without sidewalks in the 111200 block of Veterans Memorial Drive, according to Chronicle reporter Cindy George. But car accidents aren't the only risks to runaways. Many will be approached by a pimp within two days.

Her tragic death comes at a time when the Legislature is poised to consider major foster care legislation. Is the solution just more money? Not entirely, but yes, the state's foster care system critically needs more resources. As Daphne's death reminds, the state assumes a tremendous responsibility when it takes custody of a child. "You can put me down as upset and outraged" about Texas' foster care crisis, state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, told Ward.

Outrage won't give Daphne a second chance. But action arising from outrage could prevent another tragedy.
Whether you're logging into TurboTax, dropping off files at H&R Block or filling out your 1040 by hand, most everyone is rushing to file tax returns before April 18. It is rarely fun, but as Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. once wrote, taxes are the price we pay for civilization.

The income tax is also an important tool for guaranteeing transparency in government. There's a reason why public scandals are often followed by ethical reforms that expose politicians' earnings to the disinfecting power of sunshine.

Congress responded to the notorious Teapot Dome scandal by passing a law that allowed investigative committees to request individual tax information from the IRS.

The Texas Legislature followed up the Sharpstown Scandal by mandating that elected officials disclose their sources of income.

After Watergate and the resignation of Richard Nixon, it became the norm for presidential candidates to make their tax returns public.

But following a week of flip-flops on issues ranging from NATO to China and the Ex-Im bank, Donald Trump has remained frustratingly consistent on keeping his tax records a secret.

Trump specifically pledged himself to tax transparency at least a half-dozen times on the campaign trail. Vice President Mike Pence promised loud and clear during his national debate that his boss would come clean with voters.

But here we are, in the middle of April, many of us penning our own checks to Uncle Sam while the nation remains in the dark about the president's wealth, his financial ties and conflicts of interest.

Yet again, we reiterate our call for President Donald Trump to make his tax returns public. It's a call that will be echoed this Saturday in protests across the nation - including at Houston City Hall.

The opportunity to accept bribes, the temptation to promote private interests, the ability to self-serve in secret, all necessitate the public disclosure of politicians' paychecks. It shouldn't take a major scandal to force the president to comply with basic norms of transparency in government.

Congress could act to shine a light, but don't expect any help. A House vote to open Trump's taxes failed back in February. Every single Texas Republican voted for secrecy. Houston's own U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, explicitly told reporters that he intended to protect the president's privacy. Of course, if this was President Obama, congressional Republicans would be demanding the right to pour through the tax returns with an electron microscope.

The slow drip-drip-drip of scandal on Team Trump, from Paul Manafort's payoffs to the Trump Organization's shady business deals, has us wondering what, exactly, the president is trying to hide from voters. Trump can clear the air by putting all of his cards - and 1040s - on the table.

The DNC email break-in and questions of ethics in the highest halls makes all of this feel like we're living in the middle of a 21st century Watergate. It is time, yet again, to follow the money.
We can do better

"Regarding "The price of serving 'alternative meals' (Page A1, Wednesday), I am livid. We cannot properly feed our children! Private citizens have to raise money for school lunches! "Go Fund Me" accounts for children's meals! Isn't that what we pay taxes for?

What is wrong with this country, with all of its wealth, some kids are hungry. Food is a basic requirement. Kids who have no lunch money also have a high probability of not having had breakfast either. How humiliating it must be to the kids who are fed such paltry fare in the alternative meals.

These kids can't learn if they are hungry, and it is not the kid's fault if they need the help. We all benefit when we educate and help our kids. Why can't some of our city's billionaire sports-team owners, who benefit so greatly from our tax dollars, contribute more towards these meals?

Lena T. Sidney, Houston

Parents' fault

Regarding "Schools weigh child's nutrition, fiscal responsibility when hungry kids have no money" (Chron.com, Thursday), don't punish the kids. Send Child Protective Services to see why kids aren't able to pay. It's the parents responsibility. Bet if CPS started showing up at their work to ask why kids lunches aren't paid they will remember

Lisa Parker-Davenport, posted via Facebook

Not really free

Provide them with a lunch that doesn't hold up the notion that it's OK to forget or not pay for a meal: A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a water or juice box.

Saying that the kids should be given a full lunch regardless furthers the following mindset: "Hey, it's okay, we don't have to pay anymore or send our kids to school with a lunch because they'll be taken care of regardless."

Mackey Macaiuso,posted via Facebook

Feed them all

It is absolute nonsense to not feed the kids the same exact lunch. If they happen to run low in their accounts, it boggles the mind that it would be so cost prohibitive to not do just that.

William Bryon Phillips, posted via Facebook
Future teachers

Regarding "Slap to teachers" (Page A31, Sunday), the editorial is right in its assessment that the thousands of retired public school teachers in Texas deserve to have a good health insurance plan that is of reasonable cost. However, what is more important in this battle is the message that the state of Texas is sending to new or prospective public school teachers.

Does Texas want to maintain highly qualified educators who are willing to dedicate their professional lives to the youth of this state? If so, then Texas will have to truly step up and help support the insurance for retirees in order to maintain superior teachers. Otherwise, thousands will leave the teaching profession in search of a better guarantee at the end of their careers and thereby leave the youth of Texas without the dedicated teachers they so rightfully deserve.

Chris Abbott, Sugar Land

A living wage

Regarding "Texas company sets $16 minimum wage, expands parental leave benefits" (Chron.com, Wednesday), that's the way it should be. A business looking for competitive advantage in hiring higher qualified workers will offer better wages and benefits.

Tate McIntyre, posted via Facebook

Rules of engagement

Regarding "Spicer berated after saying Hitler didn't use chemical weapons" (Page A8, Wednesday), White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer is quoted as saying "We didn't use chemical weapons in World War II."

Even beyond his gaffe that omitted Hitler's use of the gas chambers is this: The U.S. used napalm extensively in WWII. Not only used it on the ground to kill enemy soldiers hiding in caves but also dropped it from the air on enemy cities, killing many non-combatants. And, going a bit further, how about Agent Orange, which the U.S. sprayed extensively across the Vietnamese landscape during the Vietnam war? The White House should do some due diligence before proclaiming military sanctimony.

John Hanley, Sugar Land

Undeserved treatment

Regarding "Dragged United passenger David Dao begins legal action against airline" (Chron.com, Thursday), it's time this military way of policing comes to an end. Everyone isn't defying commands or resisting. Some people just know their rights and often try to express them before being assaulted, punched, kicked or shot because an officer felt disrespected.

This man like many others did nothing wrong to deserve this treatment. This is America for God's sake.

Harrell Lewis, posted via Facebook

Civil War remembrances

Regarding "156 years later, rare, eerie photos show life during the Civil War" (Chron.com, Thursday), I am so proud of most of my ancestors for not becoming traitors and supporting Sam Houston in his refusal to leave the U.S.A., even though it was not a popular thing to do in DeWitt County, Texas.

Charlie Dickerson, posted on via Facebook
The world is agog at Donald Trump's head-snapping foreign policy reversal. He runs on a platform of America First. He renounces the role of world policeman. He excoriates parasitic foreigners that (I paraphrase) suck dry our precious bodily fluids - and these are allies! On April 4, Trump declared: "I don't want to be the president of the world. I'm the president of the United States. And from now on, it's going to be America First."

A week earlier, both his secretary of state and U.N. ambassador had said that the regime of Bashar Assad is a reality and that changing it is no longer an American priority.

Then last week, Assad drops chemical weapons on rebel-held territory and Trump launches 59 Tomahawk missiles into Syria.

This was, in part, an emotional reaction to images of children dying of sarin poisoning. And, in part, seizing the opportunity to redeem Barack Obama's unenforced red line on chemical weapons.

Whatever the reason, moral or strategic, Trump acted. And effectively reset his entire foreign policy.

True, in and of itself, the raid will not decisively alter the course of Syria's civil war. Assad and his Iranian, Russian and Hezbollah co-combatants still have the upper hand - but no longer a free hand. After six years of U.S. passivity, there are limits now and America will enforce them.

Nor was the raid the beginning of a campaign for regime change. It was, however, a reassertion of an American stake in both the conduct and the outcome of the war. America's abdication is over. Be warned.

Moreover, the very swiftness of the response carried a message to the wider world. Obama is gone. No more elaborate forensic investigations. No agonized presidential hand wringing over the moral dilemmas of a fallen world. It took Obama 10 months to decide what to do in Afghanistan. It took Trump 63 hours to make Assad pay for his chemical-weapons duplicity.

America demonstrated its capacity for swift, decisive action. And in defense, mind you, of an abstract international norm - a rationale that dramatically overrides the constraints of America First.

Trump's inaugural address had boldly rejected the 70-year American consensus to bear the burdens of world leadership. Less than three months later, the Syrian raid abruptly changed that course with a renewed interventionism - not, to be sure, in the service of a crusade for democracy, but in the service of concrete strategic objectives, broadly defined and extending far beyond our shores.

To the North Pacific, for example. The Syria strike sent a message to both China and North Korea that Trump's threats of unilateral action against Pyongyang's nukes and missiles are serious. A pre-emptive strike against those facilities is still unlikely but today conceivable. Even more conceivable - perhaps even probable - is a shoot-down of a North Korean missile in flight.

The message to Russia was equally clear. Don't push too far in Syria and, by extension, in Europe. We're not seeking a fight, but you don't set the rules. Syria shared the Sharyat base with Russian troops. Russian barracks were left untouched, but we were clearly not deterred by their proximity.

The larger lesson is this: In the end, national interest prevails. Populist isolationism sounds great, rouses crowds and may even win elections. But contra White House adviser Steve Bannon, it's not a governing foreign policy for the United States.

Bannon may have written the come-home-America inaugural address. But it was the old hands, Trump's traditionally internationalist foreign policy team led by Defense Secretary James Mattis and national security adviser H.R. McMaster, who rewrote the script with the Syria strike.

Assad violated the international taboo on chemical weapons. Who would enforce it, if not us? Candidate Trump would have replied: None of our business. President Trump brought out the Tomahawks.

His foreign policy has gone from mere homeland protection to defending certain interests, values and strategic assets abroad. These endure over time. Hence the fundamental continuity of our post-World War II engagement abroad.

With apologies to Lord Palmerston, we don't have permanent enthusiasms, but we do have permanent interests. And they have a way of asserting themselves. Which is why Bannonism is in eclipse.

This is not to say that things could not change tomorrow. We've just witnessed one about-face. With a president who counts unpredictability as a virtue, he could well reverse course again.

For now, however, the traditionalists are in the saddle. U.S. policy has been normalized. The world is on notice: Eight years of sleepwalking is over. America is back.

Krauthammer's email address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com
WASHINGTON - The question of the moment is what to make of the normalization of President Trump. Not normalization in the way used by the Trump resistance - to argue against becoming inured to unacceptable behavior. But normalization of Trump in the usual sense of the term: that Trump is, if not behaving normally, at least adopting normal positions.

NATO is "no longer obsolete." China was a currency manipulator and would be branded as such in the Trump administration; now, never mind. Syria was not an American problem; now its behavior is America's, and Trump's, "responsibility," and Bashar Assad is a "butcher." The Export-Import Bank, once bad, is now good; same, maybe, with Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.

These about-faces represent, in part, a Trump Tower-sized version of the realities that confront any new president. Campaign trail proclamations yield to Oval Office sobriety. That's not only to be expected - it should, for the most part, be welcomed.

Bill Clinton vowed to revoke trade privileges with China because of its human rights abuses; in office, Clinton found himself renewing China's most favored nation status, proclaiming, "we have to see our relations with China within a broader context." George W. Bush promised to usher in an era of "humble" foreign policy and to "stop extending our troops all around the world in nation-building." You remember what happened next.

Barack Obama criticized rival Hillary Clinton's health care proposal because "it forces everyone to buy insurance," then crafted a plan with, yes, an individual mandate. Health care turned out to be complicated - perhaps not more than Obama knew, but more than he was willing to admit on the campaign trail. Indeed, Obama underwent the same transformation as Trump on the Export-Import Bank, which he derided as a candidate as "little more than a fund for corporate welfare."

Of course, Trump's dizzying string of policy pirouettes is different from the evolving positions of his predecessors. None of them flipped so much, so soon. That's not surprising. Trump's learning curve is steeper. His attachment to any particular position is especially flimsy because he lacks any coherent worldview; his guiding ideology involves only the promotion of Trump.

And the ever-shifting cast of Trump whisperers - Jared Kushner is up, Steve Bannon is down - means that what policy prevails in a given week could be upended with the next tweet. Even with a weathervane, you won't necessarily know which way the Trump wind blows.

So no one should count on the current spate of Trump's good judgment to continue. Indeed, to call this week one of good judgment is to ignore concurrent events. While our attention was focused on Mellow Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions was busy reviving a misguided war on drugs, dismantling consent decrees with police departments and cruelly ramping up deportations.

Yet there are reasons to exhale, ever so slightly. The functioning of the federal courts and the dysfunctioning of the legislative branch have worked, so far, to stymie much of the Trump agenda.

A president's greatest powers, and therefore greatest threat, lies in the arena of foreign affairs. Here, the troika of Defense Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and national security adviser H.R. McMaster has emerged to present an effective brake on the mercurial president, especially comforting as the North Korean threat looms. A White House with Michael Flynn gone and Bannon neutered is a better place, and the country safer for it. Adults are in the (situation) room.

And Trump, notwithstanding the vastness of his policy ignorance and his evident distaste for remedying that embarrassment, is learning. He has moved from "I alone can fix it" to "Nobody knew health care could be so complicated." Neither statement is true, but the second at least evinces a dawning rationality.

Likewise, Trump's recounting of his conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who seems to have had more success than intelligence briefers at getting the attention-impaired president to sit through a lecture on the region.

"He then went into the history of China and Korea," Trump told The Wall Street Journal. "And Korea actually used to be part of China. And after listening for ten minutes I realized that not - it's not so easy."

No, it isn't. Previous administrations weren't full of "stupid people making bad deals." They were staffed, for the most part, by smart people diligently navigating complex situations. If that is beginning to dawn on Trump, however belatedly, we should be relieved. It is possible both to resist the new normal and to give thanks that, for now anyway, it is not far worse.

Marcus' email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com.
An effort that unites hundreds of believers each year in Texas County is underway for a sixth year.

Carry The Cross calls for area Christians to stand alongside U.S. 63 on Good Friday as witnesses for Christ. More than 800 people participated last year as crosses covered nearly every quarter-mile from Cabool to Licking. The event is sponsored by the Houston Ministerial Alliance.

Participants in Texas County join other Christians across the state as they stand with 10-foot crosses from 7-11 a.m. Good Friday. The crosses, made of PVC pipe, are provided to those who participate.

The morning kicked off at 6 a.m. Good Friday with a rally inside Hiett Gymnasium. It included worship, instructions for the day, group photo and a brief message.
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The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those.
Lawyer Thomas Demetrio, who is representing David Dao, the passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight, speaks during a press conference in Chicago, Illinois, the United States, on April 13, 2017. The passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight on Sunday night may file a lawsuit against the company, his lawyer Tom Demetrio said at a press conference Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

CHICAGO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight on Sunday night may file a lawsuit against the company, his lawyer Tom Demetrio said at a press conference Thursday.

While answering questions from reporters, Tom Demetrio said the passenger, David Dao, 69 years old, has a serious concussion, a broken nose, injury to the sinuses, and lost two front teeth as a result of the incident, adding the passenger also has psychological injuries because the rudeness of the treatment by security officials.

The lawyer said they have taken the first legal steps toward filing a lawsuit.

During the same press conference, Dao's daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper told reporters that "what happened to my dad should not have happened to any human being, regardless of the circumstance."

"We were horrified, and shocked, and sickened to learn what had happened to him and to see what had happened to him. We hope that in the future, nothing like this happens again."

Pepper thanked the medical team and people from around the world for what she described as an "outpouring of prayers, love, and concern."

Video of the incident has gone viral on social media, with commentators accusing United Airlines of racism and having included several calls for a boycott.

The video shows three security officers from the Chicago Department of Aviation pulling the passenger David Dao out of his seat, and in the ensuing struggle, hitting his head on the armrest. The video then shows that Dao was dragged off the plane by the arms.

During a press conference on Thursday morning, the attorney told reporters that the City of Chicago bears responsibility as well.

"So were these three officers, these storm troopers, for a moment, doing the right thing? No, not at all," Demetrio said. "This was not a troubled passenger. This was not a nutjob. This was not a threat to anybody. Should he have been unceremoniously dragged out of that plane the way he was? He's a 69-year-old man. Is that really the way we went to treat the aged disembarking that plane?"

The viral reaction also extended to the markets as United Airlines stock dipped up nearly 4 percent during the morning session after the incident, and the Chief Executive Officer has publicly apologized in an interview with U.S. media.

"He was a paying passenger, sitting on our seat in our aircraft and no one should be treated that way period," Munoz said. United Airlines' stock has since recovered most of that loss.

Due to the concussion, Demetrio said that passenger David Dao has no recollection of the incident, and was released from the hospital on Tuesday night. According to the attorney, Dao will likely drive home to Louisville from Chicago, instead of taking a plane.
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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.
A LGBT business owner "completely freaked out" when he discovered homophobic graffiti painted on the garage door of his Toronto home on Thursday morning.

The spraypainted message reads, "Toronto hates queers cuz your a biggot [sic]," and was reportedly part of a wider wave of hateful comments towards the gay and transgender community marked on garages near the intersection of College and Dufferin streets.

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Daniel Malen is the co-founder of Mark It Proud, a company that makes LGBTQ-inclusive cards. He shared a photo of the graffiti to his business' social media pages.

"We can't tell you how unsettling this is," wrote Malen and his husband and business partner Aaron Boros, on Facebook.

"Even though we've always felt blessed to live in an inclusive city such as Toronto  particularly with the way things have gone downhill in the United States under the Trump administration, not to mention the truly tragic news out of Chechnya  this is an awful reminder that Toronto and Canada is far from perfect."

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The message was Malen's first experience of "any kind of hate crime, bigotry, or prejudice," he told CBC News.

He said the Toronto police responded to the issue quickly and "very seriously."

"[They] were on the scene within the hour to investigate."

Malen then learned of similar attacks in his area. Many have left comments of support and love under Malen and Boros' social media posts, and it has also been circulated by Canadian actress Lauren Collins. The former "1 Girls 5 Gays" host re-posted the photo with a note of her own, adding, "This happened to people I love, in the city I love."

"A reminder that there is so much work to be done and we must stand together."

This happened to people I love, in the city I love. A reminder that there is so much work to be https://t.co/eV6gUHZn3p  Lauren Collins (@Lauren_Collins) April 13, 2017

One day prior to Malen's discovery, a Toronto city councillor received homophobic hate mail on the International Day of Pink, an anti-bullying day.

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These incidents connect to a larger Canadian trend of hate-based vandalism in major cities.

In Calgary, there have been six police investigations into Islamophobic and anti-Semitic messages since the start of 2017.

Back in February, a note reading "No Jews" and drawings of swastikas were left on the doors of residents in a north Toronto condominium. Toronto mayor John Tory quickly condemned the vandalism, and released a statement which read, "Our Jewish residents should not have to face hatred on their doorsteps."

"The richness of our diversity has contributed immensely to [the city's] greatness, and while we have work to do on inclusion, we are admired the world over," Tory wrote.

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On the weekend of Easter my thoughts turn to the plight of refugees scattered throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Easter is a celebration of service and hope, marking the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, himself born a refugee facing the threat of death.

It is because of this that I was profoundly moved by images of Pope Francis as he kissed the feet of Muslim, Orthodox, Hindu and Catholic refugees last year, at a traditional Easter foot washing ceremony undertaken during the most solemn period of the Catholic Church's Easter season. During his Easter Sunday message, Francis reminded the Catholic Church not to 'forget those men and women seeking a better future ... fleeing from war, hunger and social injustice'. The Pope bemoaned how all too often, 'these brothers and sisters of ours meet along the way with death, or in any event, rejection by those who could offer them welcome and assistance'. A year later, it's difficult to see whether much has changed.

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The central message of Easter is one of new life. By grace we are given a clean slate, a fresh start and a hope for the future. 6,000 Syrian refugees can relate to this sense of new life and hope having successfully resettled under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Programme (VPRP). I ver much welcome this Government's commitment to prioritising refuge for 20,000 of the most vulnerable refugees as well as 3,000 children at risk in the MENA region. Together with the 2.4billion of aid in Syria, the Government is taking a leading humanitarian role in the region.

The Home Secretary was right in her Conference speech to say that "compassion has no borders" and so it is right to also provide refuge for some of the most vulnerable refugees in Europe. The fire last week in the Dunkirk refugee camp has again heightened the need for an expedited process for lone children who have families in the UK. We eventually did this in Calais and now the Government need to step up and do it in Dunkirk. Safe Passage say there are at least 50 lone children with a right to be reunited with families in the UK. The Home Office has confirmed with me that "both the Dublin and Dubs routes continue to be available to the French as legal mechanisms to transfer unaccompanied children to the UK".

But whilst the politicians fiddle, the refugee camp has burned and vulnerable children are at grave risk of exploitation.

Compassion can be measured not just in the number of refugees given sanctuary but the depth and quality of support. When it comes to resettlement the Government has recognised that refugees need specialist support to integrate into British society if they are to successfully begin rebuilding their lives. Refugees resettled through the scheme receive a tailored integration package in their initial months and are provided with accommodation and the key documents needed to access services upon arrival. A fast-track system ensures that they are allocated a National Insurance number promptly, and that benefits are paid on time. Additional funding is provided to facilitate the extra help that comes with delivering to a vulnerable client group within schools, and specialist support ensures that these refugees can access English language tuition, the job market and mainstream services. It is absolutely right that these basic provisions are offered to individuals who have survived torture, rape and war as a bedrock upon which to rebuild their lives.

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Resettlement schemes such as the VPRP are proving to be a success. They contribute to integration, are instrumental in facilitating social cohesion and open doors back into the employment market. They allow refugees to contribute to their local communities, and flourish as valuable members of British society.

And yet, inexplicably, this system has created a second class of refugee. For those instead granted asylum in the UK there is a stark absence of provision and support available, resulting in a perverse situation in which surveys estimate that up to 81% of the refugees we have committed to protect quickly find themselves homeless. Simply put by Middlesbrough Council to the Home Affairs Select Committee, 'the assumption that asylum seeker children come with any less needs is one we would seek to challenge.'

For those forced to leave their countries due to war and persecution, being recognised as a refugee should represent the opportunity to finally stop running, integrate, and rebuild one's life in safety. It should not matter whether they came via a formal resettlement route or irregularly through an asylum application. They have all being found to need our sanctuary.

The magnitude of the hurdles currently facing those awarded a positive decision on their asylum claim, however, are profoundly damaging to this. Having fled their homeland, traversed Europe and arrived in the UK, destitute asylum seekers are offered accommodation on a no-choice basis and subsistence support. When recognised as a genuine refugee, these services are terminated after 28 days. It is erroneously called a 'grace' period which is undermined by a number of factors, the sum of which blight the opportunity recognised refugees have to integrate into and strengthen our society.

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Tightened regulations around the provision of services for migrants have made it imperative for recognised refugees to have the documents that they need processed immediately after receiving their positive asylum decision. Without a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) and National Insurance Number (NINo), it becomes extremely difficult to prove identity, the right to study or work in the UK and to access mainstream services such as the NHS. NINos are crucial for gaining employment and accessing social welfare through the DWP. Despite this, few refugees are given their NINo within the 'grace' period, and the BRP is typically provided towards the end of their tenure. Even once provided with a NINo, it takes on average 32.3 days for refugees to access mainstream welfare benefits. This results in a significant delay between the termination of asylum support and welfare being paid, the human impact of which is vulnerable individuals being forced to borrow money, go without food or rely on charities for support. Destitution has clear gendered impact, with particular risks for women who may be forced into exploitative situations to survive. Research has indicated that common survival strategies often result in the coercion, entrapment and enslavement of women who are subsequently physically abused and sexually assaulted.

There is a strong motivation to work among newly recognised refugees. Having not been permitted to work as asylum seekers, the brevity of the 'grace' period forces most newly recognised refugees to prioritise finding a stable place to live before eviction from Home Office Accommodation. This, alongside basic English language skills, unrecognised qualifications and gaps in the CVs of many refugees due to war and displacement makes it particularly difficult to secure a job before asylum support is terminated. The difficulty many refugees experience in finding suitable, long term employment is not a comment on their competency or motivation, but rather a product of the lack of tailored support provided to often highly skilled individuals.

Most asylum seekers begin their lives in the UK with minimal or no savings. With little prospect of borrowing money from friends, family or banks, and facing an oversubscribed housing market demanding guarantors, deposits and paperwork typically inaccessible to refugees, it is unsurprising that many quickly find themselves facing a crisis of homelessness. Their options are limites. Though some are able to sofa surf with friends or find hostel accommodation, whilst others have to be housed by their local authority or must sleep rough.

The high-stress environment created by the move on period has been found to culminate in a serious decrease in the mental and physical health of asylum seekers. Those granted refugee status are often subsequently subjected to symptoms of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Worse still, refugees granted asylum are typically less willing and able to address their mental health concerns directly following the move on period, instead being consumed by a pressing need to find financial stability and long-term accommodation.

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The Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Programme has proved a decisive step in the right direction. It has shown this Government as compassionate and has gained world wide appreciation as a model of good practice. It delivers world-class specialist support to refugees, facilitating their integration and participation in our society. It is though unconscionable that we should allow such an achievement to give rise to a two-tier system constituted of 'desirable' and 'undesirable' refugees. The Refugee Integration and Employment Service must be reformed, and asylum seekers given true parity of opportunity. As the Prime Minister could say, the Governemnt needs to work for all refugees not just those from resettlement schemes.

At Easter Christians will be remembering how Jesus Christ showed the ultimate service and hope of eternal life through his death and resurrection. Let us resolve to show some of that service by giving some of our most vulnerable a new life, and a hope for the future.
The tragic bombing of Coptic churches and the callous murder of scores of Christians in Egypt, is yet another reminder of the throes endured by Christian communities in the Middle East at the hands of ISIS.

The arrival of Easter Week is perhaps a ripe moment for Christians and Muslims to foster social unity and political solidarity, especially in the face of the gruesome terror that is ISIS. Their bombing campaigns against Christians is a crude distortion of Islamic theology and a radical departure from historical precedent. I wish to shed light on two pertinent, but sometimes forgotten, issues. First, I draw attention to the prominence of Jesus Christ in the Muslim tradition; second, I note the centrality of Christian communities in the Middle East, past and present.

In Muslim theological discourses, Jesus Christ, the foundational figure of Christianity, is prophesised to stand in the face of oppression, tyranny, injustice, and inequality, along with the Mahdi, the promised Muslim messiah.

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Jesus is a highly revered figure in the Islamic tradition. Throughout the centuries in many passages, in the religious writings of Muslims, Jesus Christ is often identified as the perfect ascetic, the epitome of moderation, and the exemplar of modesty. Imam Ali, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad and one of Islam's spiritual masters and theological geniuses, remembers Jesus Christ in the following words:

"He rested his head on stone, he wore prickly clothing, he ate the coarsest of meals, and he endured hunger, always."

The religious significance of Jesus in Islam should be sufficient reason for Christians around the world to rest assured that their enemy is not Islam but the voices of bigotry and purveyors of divisiveness.

In my native country Iraq, Christianity has historical roots that predate Islam by centuries. In the first century AD its teachings reached there, thanks to Thomas the Apostle and Mar Addair. Assyria in northern Iraq became the pillar of Eastern Christian learning while al-Hirah, near the modern-day seminary-city of Najaf, became an important diocese. Syriac, the liturgical language of Eastern Christianity, was spoken in Iraq as early as the first century and continues to be the language of religious ceremonies in parts of northern Iraq. In the early centuries of Islam, Arabic-speaking Christian writers from Iraq were chiefly responsible for introducing Muslims to the Greek culture, after works on philosophy and science were translated from Syriac into Arabic.

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It was these works that help emerging Muslim theologians and jurists to better understand their respective scriptures. And in the centuries that followed, the Muslims returned the favour. Arabic Islamic writings on an array of learned topics were translated into Latin by Christian scholars, eager to benefit from their religious counterparts.

The Middle East housed the earliest communities of Christians, such as those in Jerusalem, Antioch (modern-day Turkey) and Alexandria (modern-day Egypt). In fact, it was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus, known first as the Nazarenes, took the title of Christians. Let us not forget that Jesus, after all, was a native of the region.

The dynamic cultural, intellectual and social cohesion that existed between Christians and Muslims in the past has much to teach us in the present. Our Christian and Muslim ancestors lived side by side, studied together, learned from each other, and showed great respect and reverence from the others' religious traditions. Iraqi Christian monasteries and churches such as the Mar Behnam (built in the fourth century), Dayra d'Mar Oraha (built in the sixth century), Rabban Hormizd (founded in the seventh century), and Dair Mar Elia (founded in the sixth century) remained intact, unharmed, and active under centuries of Muslim-rule.

Why weren't these places of worship in the Middle East destroyed prior to the advent of ISIS? The answer is simple: Muslims of the past kept true to the explicit commands of Prophet Muhammad who reminded us that the church and the mosque were both considered sanctuaries where the name of God is remembered:

"No bishop is to be removed from his diocese, nor any monk from his monastery... No house belonging to churches or synagogues is to be demolished." [Source: The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World]

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This belief remains true today.

Having been born in southern Iraq in the city of Basrah, my great grandmother's closest friend and neighbor was an Iraqi Christian.Our families have remained in friendship over four generations; our grandmothers who both lost their husbands early in life, came together for Christmas, Easter, Ramadan and Eid, this for them was normative - they both had been strongly observant and sometimes stubborn within their own traditions, but their shared culture, and values, bonded them.

Last Sunday, as I received news of the tragic events in Egypt, friends in Iraq shared with me videos of public display of Iraqi Christians participating in mass services and beautiful displays of processions in which branches of palms are carried on the streets and around churches that still contained signs of fires and destruction caused by ISIS in newly liberated towns.

In Iraq, we are now witnessing a silent majority of all Iraqis: Shias, Sunnis, Christians, Yazidis and other faiths and belief systems who are united in their efforts to liberate towns, cities and villages from Daesh and are renewing the spirit of unity and coexistence that will conquer the ideologies of hate and bigotry.

Last year I travelled with my contemporaries to the Middle East. I led a delegation of British Imams to Iraq where we visited villages and towns liberated from ISIS. We met with faith representatives from the richly diverse religious and ethnic tapestry that is Iraq. We stood together with locals and declared in unison that the very existence of ISIS is a betrayal of the prophetic teachings, and we vowed together to uphold our unity in the face of attempts by ISIS to divide us as religious communities. We stood together united by our beliefs and in defiance against terrorism.

I look forward to the day that my contemporaries from others faith traditions accompany me to Iraq, to witness our shared heritage, culture, and faith traditions - that have shaped the resolve of the Iraq people to remain united.

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Vigil outside Russian Embassy, London, 12 April 2017

If you have been following the news and particularly social media over the last few days, there has been a worrying report from the usually-reliable Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta - the president of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has opened a 'concentration camp' for gay men who have been rounded up as part of a cleansing operation in the region. It seems that this may have arisen from LGBT activists asking for permission to hold pride marches in various cities in Russia (although no application was made in Grozny, Chechnya's capital). Currently estimates suggest around 100 have been detained and subject to torture, resulting in several deaths.

The statement from Kadyrov's spokesman Alvi Karimov was particularly chilling in its negation of gay men even as people: 'You cannot arrest or repress people who just don't exist in the republic. If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them, as their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return.'

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Many governments have issued condemnatory statements, including the Foreign Office, US State Department and many European countries, subject in each case to noting that these are as yet only allegations, although we now have corroborated first-hand accounts from reports on Radio Free Europe.

Rightly, many members of the LGBT community and their supporters are looking to make their voices heard as well, through comment, petition and demonstration. In London, there was a vigil outside the Russian embassy yesterday, where hundreds of the LGBT community and their supporters attended, with signs highlighted that this was a repeat of history 80 years ago. Apart from a window that opened and then closed, there was no sign of activity from within the embassy. The crowd was serious but determined, and we left pink flowers outside the embassy gates in the form of a pink triangle, the symbol that was affixed to gay men in concentration camps, a symbol that we thought has been consigned to history.

What about the region where this is happening? Chechnya is a small, war-torn and semi-autonomous region in the south of the Russian Federation led by the local 'strongman' (warlord) Kadyrov, a serial human-rights abuser. While this is terrible for Chechen gay men (or men alleged to be gay), we should be very concerned that there may be calls from ultra-conservative politicians that this treatment and behaviour could spread throughout Russia.

Let's start with the basics. While Putin has nominal control over Kadyrov, in fact Kadyrov rules Chechnya as a stand-alone leader with his own militia and is capable of organising assassinations (as with opposition leader Boris Nemstov). Putin has no interest in challenging Kadyrov, and maybe does not have the local strength to do so. Secondly, Putin himself is feeling weakened. After the US airstrikes in Syria, Putin has lost some of his ability to declare domestically that Russia is the ruling superpower in the Middle East.

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In the case of any setback, Putin usually likes to demonstrate strength in another area. For a conservative country with Slavic values (as Putin often notes), criticising the treatment of gay men is a sign of weakness from a leader, not strength. Add into that the popularity and power of the Russian Orthodox Church and it is unlikely that we will see any comment from the Russian government criticising the events in Chechnya.

It is unlikely also that foreign governments will continue to push this case. Many in the current US government are not known to be pro-LGBT, and the issues surrounding Syria are taking up the attention of the world.

So what can be done? At a time when the powers-that-be are focussed on different (and major) events, the power of protests and demonstrations is extremely important. We must pressure our governments to keep the Chechen concentration camps on the agenda at any meeting with Russian officials. Putin may have little actual power over Kadyrov, and so Chechen policy may not change, but he needs to be reminded that other countries will not tolerate any expansion of torture, detention and murder of men who are assumed to be gay. If Putin struggles to maintain his pre-eminent position in Syria, and if continued economic stagnation leads to increased unrest on the streets of Russia, he will need another way to show that he remains strong. It must be made clear by the international community that turning a blind eye to the persecution and murder of gay men must not be that way.

These protests should continue - perhaps regular vigils following the model of the protest movement 'Strategy 31' in Russia (which holds unapproved demonstrations on the 31st of a month, reflecting Article 31 of the Russian Civil Code that allows freedom of assembly, a right ignored by Russian authorities). And our allies can help too - recall the rainbow flags worn by many athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi when the local mayor declared that there were no gay people in Sochi.

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Yesterday's protest was a start, but we must find new ways to keep this horror in people's minds. Without such international scrutiny, there is a risk that other regions in Russia decide that this is an interesting example worth trying, as happened with Russia's anti-gay legislation. In a country where 20 per cent of the population thinks that gay people should be 'isolated from society' and 41 per cent think that the state should persecute people with 'untraditional sexual preferences' in order to 'exterminate the phenomenon', we have no option but to remain vigilant, and remain loud.
What to know before you vote today
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.
Tristen Carson, Nathan Sartori, Jacob Bartlett, Dean Laprise, Devon Griswold, Bradley Odell, Brenden Piaggi, Madison Gigliotti, William Kipp and Devin Briggs were honored for their certification achievement. Principal Justin Kratz addresses the assembly in the school library. Superintendent James Brosnan praised the students' efforts. PreviousNext

Ten McCann Machine Tech Students Receive Level 2 Certification

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Ten McCann Technical School students were recognized on Thursday for achieving Level 2 certification, the highest available, in their machine tech studies.

Administration, teachers and parents attended a special presentation in the McCann library to acknowledge the success of the juniors and seniors who after scoring highly on the Manufacturing Advancement Center Workforce Innovation Collaborative, or "MACWIC," exam, received a certification proving that they are ready for the workforce.

"When we talk about what makes McCann unique and what we have to offer to our students one of the things we really try to focus on as a school is the shop credentials and certification," Principal Justin Kratz said. "So when a student graduates from McCann they take with them a certificate  that will undoubtedly help them secure solid manufacturing job after graduation."

Kratz explained that MACWIC was formed six years ago when a group of manufacturing companies throughout Massachusetts wanted to help create a skilled workforce. In the next decade, more than 100,000 manufacturing jobs are expected to open up and employers feared they would not be able to fill these positions.

So the group got involved with educational institutions and 142 business are now affiliated with the certification.

Kratz said there are actually five levels in MACWIC. Levels beyond 2 are not yet available to high school students. Although students would normally receive higher level accreditation in college and beyond high school, McCann students have already surpassed the Level 3 benchmarks.

McCann teacher Scott Botto said students are immersed in MACWIC frameworks upon entering the program. He said McCann students keep up with the high standards.

"To teach these guys at the level they are at right now is not easy  we are teaching them something they get after college," Botto said. "We are taking a 14-year-old kid and trying to get them to figure out what an adult does every day of the week and they are expected to hold it at a specific standard."

Kratz said the average test score for Level 1 students is 94 and the average score for Level 2 is 86. He said he expects this to be above the state average.

He said that by sophomore year, all machine tech students are at Level 1.

"It's really amazing seeing these kids growing up in a shop and using this incredibly expensive equipment. The other day I stopped at the shop and asked if I could do something with one of the machines and they said I wasn't ready for it," Kratz joked. "They wouldn't let me touch the machine and rightly so  its high-level stuff and we are incredibly proud of you."

Certificate recipients are Tristen Carson, Nathan Sartori, Jacob Bartlett, Dean Laprise, Devon Griswold, Bradley Odell, Brenden Piaggi, Madison Gigliotti, William Kipp and Devin Briggs.
'Going in Style': Bank Heist Steals Your Heart

My first inclination when hearing that Alan Arkin, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman would star in director Zach Braff's remake of 1979's "Going in Style," which featured George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg, was to scream "Sacrilege!" But I was at a funeral and, fearing the outburst might be inappropriate, contained myself.

Later, my calmed head prevailing, I got philosophical about it. While the older set of oldsters was terrific in this seriocomic bank heist film, one good turn should deserve another, especially if it showcases such national treasures.

Besides, pity is, the economic situation that stirred the original gang to embark on a life of crime remains relatively unchanged for Albert (Arkin), Joe (Caine) and Willie (Freeman). It's summed up in a telling, early scene when Joe, visiting his bank to fend off foreclosure of his home, is forced to the floor during a bank robbery. Anxious to preserve life and limb, he offers one of the perpetrators his wallet. But the bandit refuses it, explaining in charitable homily, "It's a culture's duty to take care of its elderly."

"Yeah," we think ... "he's right."

The fact is, our trio of golden agers is caught in the Catch 22 of Social Darwinism, a 19th-century ideology that, in direct contradiction to the social conscience that now prevails in all enlightened societies, veils its greed behind a lot of gobbledygook rationalization. The contention is that helping folks too much will weaken and thus preclude them from pulling themselves up by those much overestimated bootstraps. It's kind of them to keep us from our inner slothfulness. Yet, what they don't want to understand is that not everybody is good at amassing money.

In the specific case of "Going in Style's" senior citizen pals, insult is added to injury when, through some deregulated, financial hocus-pocus, the factory in which they toiled for some 30-odd years has been allowed to default on its pension obligations. Social Security alone won't keep the boys above water, each of them facing their own particular hardship: i.e., Joe is determined to keep a roof over his daughter and granddaughter's heads; Willie is going to need a kidney transplant; and Albert, a gourmand, would just as soon not attempt cat food Wellington.

We tear up a tad as these sadly realistic problems are outlined, our sympathy certainly amplified by the thought that, "There, but for the grace ... ," well, you know. But our guys, contrary to what those fiscal conservatives might think, don't go in for the self-pity stuff. Determined to do a proper muckrake of this national shame without bumming us out, they engage in a cheering, rollicking repartee that bravely denies the severity of their plight. Thanks to wonderful thespic chemistry, we are further heartened as the three convince us that they are indeed best friends.

Similarly, Theodore Melfi's script, based on the book by Edward Cannon, pokes good-natured fun at the doddering years in general, while in the same witty and wise vein asserts the reverence that is due seniors in a humane civilization. Although much of it is familiar  and even a bit overplayed, as in in the case of fellow lodge member Milton, portrayed by Christopher Lloyd, who channels his Reverend Jim from TV's "Taxi"  the observations are, for the most part, accurate. But while dealt an unjust hand, Willie, Joe and Albert wear their years with dignity.

A convivial give-and-take alternates between the sad economic facts about senior citizens in the richest country in the world having to choose between medicine and food, and the wacky, near burlesque, devil-may-care antics of these three indomitable regalers of life's pageant. And, just to pepper things with a little romance, when pretty Ann-Margret's Annie sets her cap for Albert, we cheer the ideal that love, like hope, springs eternal.

The other item that bolsters an admittedly simple storyline is the unspoken question posed by the subtext. A matter of ethics, it hangs overhead like the proverbial shoe waiting to drop. Jokes aside, these fellows are planning a bank robbery. That's illegal. Never mind that banks around the world are regularly being prosecuted for the people robberies they perpetrate. The last I heard, two wrongs don't make a right. The inherent quandary adds an effective sense of anxiety to an otherwise predictable scenario.

In short, save for the few Inspector Javerts and any self-righteous, reactionary members of the U.S. Congress who might be in the audience, we find ourselves in the curious position of rooting for potential outlaws. This provocatively intrinsic dilemma amidst "Going in Style's" warmhearted celebration of the human spirit makes for some socioeconomic morality to ponder should you and the Goldblums opt for a little apres-theater discussion at the diner. Remember, they paid last time. But don't forget to ask for the senior citizen discount, if applicable.

"Going in Style," rated PG-13, is a Warner Bros. release directed by Zach Braff and stars Alan Arkin, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. Running time: 96 minutes
North Korea condemned the U.S. on April 13, warning of retaliation if the latter acts rashly, media reported.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, a North Korean official with the countrys foreign ministry said in a statement on April 13 that North Korea would retaliate to cast nuclear thunder and punishment lightning on hostile forces, giving them a taste of real war.

The U.S. is reportedly ready to launch a preemptive strike against North Korea if Pyongyang moves forward with its sixth nuclear test, reported NBC News, citing unidentified intelligence officials.

The spokesperson for North Korea's Institute for Disarmament and Peace issued a statement condemning the U.S. for launching military attacks on a sovereign state while crying out for peace by strength.

The spokesperson cited the U.S. attack on Syria, arguing that it constitutes a blatant violation of international law and an insolent and barbarous act of aggression, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The statement went on to say that the U.S. is disturbing global peace and stability, despite the country's insistence that its action was decisive, just and appropriate.

The U.S. is introducing huge nuclear strategic assets into the Korean peninsula ... seriously threatening the peace and security of the peninsula and pushing the situation there to the brink of a war," KCNA reported, citing the statement. The report continued, "This has created a dangerous situation in which a thermonuclear war may break out at any moment on the peninsula and pose a serious threat to world peace and security."

The statement also criticized the U.S. for test-firing a ballistic missile with a range of 800 kilometers in South Korea, which could act as a strategic asset for "removing the headquarters in the north.

This situation reinforces the historical truth that peace is not offered by others, but has to be defended with one's own strength. It reaffirms the choice made by the DPRK when it decided to drastically bolster its nuclear force while tightening its belt. Nothing would be more childish and foolish than for the U.S. to dream of bringing down the social system in the DPRK through cooperation with someone else, KCNA reported.
On April 11, China officially handed a 600-ton patrol ship over to Pakistan's maritime safety authority in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. Among other things, the ship will be used to safeguard Pakistan's maritime interests.

The new ship, just the third of its kind, was built by China Shipbuilding Trading Company Ltd. (CSTC) and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Xijiang Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Its two predecessors have already demonstrated their reliability and excellent performance during visits and exchanges, joint drills, maritime rescue and other missions in Pakistan.

Pakistan's maritime safety authority expressed great appreciation for the quality of the ships and for sound cooperation with Chinese ship manufactures, who have promised to provide after-sale services. The ships are key to consolidating China-Pakistan relations, protecting Pakistans sea transportation and pushing forward the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Belt and Road Initiative.
China is expected to reduce taxes by 680 billion RMB ($98.74 billion) by April 30, after comprehensively replacing business tax with value added tax (VAT) for one year, said Wang Jun, head of the country's State Administration of Taxation, on April 13.

Wang said at the fourth meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Global Forum on VAT that China has achieved a total tax reduction of 1.2 trillion RMB between January 2012, when the country began its pilot VAT reform, and February 2017. In addition to tax reduction, Wang said China's VAT reform has also promoted adjustment of the economic structure, stimulated innovation and entrepreneurship, accelerated financial and taxation reform, and normalized market order.

According to Wang, China's VAT reform involves nearly 16 million enterprises and 10 million individual taxpayers, replacing business taxes of over 2 trillion RMB. He said it has groundbreaking significance for the incorporation of banking, insurance and security businesses into the scope of VAT collection.

Representatives attending the forum from various countries expressed the belief that successful VAT reform showcases China's excellent strategic execution of economic reform. It will not only spur the country's economic growth, but will also inject momentum into global economic development, according to the representatives, who also noted that China's practice has provided a successful example of tax reform for the international community in recent years.

The OECD Global Forum on VAT is the forum with the greatest degree of global participation and with the broadest scope of cooperation. Tax departments from more than 100 countries and international organizations attended the meeting.
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Disney and Apple  two of the largest companies on Earth  could be planning a merger, according to analysts.

A speculative analysis by RBC Capital Markets claims Apple could potentially put together $200 billion-plus to take over Disney resulting in $1 trillion "tech/media juggernaut like no other.

Recently, investors have increased their expectations that Apple could seriously consider acquiring Disney, RBC analysts wrote in a note to investors.

"The resultant company would be massive, with enough cash and balance sheet capacity to change the nature of the hardware, service, and content industries. If there's a deal out there that would strike fear in the hearts of Silicon Valley and Hollywood, this could be it."

According to Variety, the analysts claim an Apple-Disney company would create an instant competitor for Netflix built around Disney content, while their theme parks would benefit from Apple technology.

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

Content is a major focus for Apple, target size is not an issue, and Disney offers an avenue to diversify away from hardware without diluting the strong Apple brand, the note continues.

One of the many caveats is that, for Apple to bring the $230 million they have overseas back to the US to spend in Disney, they could have huge tax bill. However, CEO Tim Cook has previously spoken about being optimistic new laws would lead to tax breaks.

It should be duly noted that RBCs research is based predominantly on speculation and nattering investors rather than hard evidence.

There have been discussions surrounding an Apple-Disney merger for years, mainly spurred on after Disney CEO Bob Iger became an Apple board member in 2011.

Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up

If a deal does come through, Apple would also acquire Disneys other recent purchases, including both LucasFilm and Marvel Studios. Perhaps Tony Stark would be sponsored by Apple and Luke Skywalker will get an iPhone?
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This years Star Wars Celebration  taking place in Orlando, Florida  started things off with a spectacular bang, as host Warwick Davis took to the stage for panel 40 Years of Star Wars; inviting legends of the Star Wars universe back to reminisce on the legacy of cinemas most enduring franchise.

The panel saw live appearances from the likes of Harrison Ford, George Lucas, Mark Hamill, and even a surprise performance from John Williams; a few well-wishers, however, sent in video messages, specifically prequel cast members Liam Neeson and Samuel L. Jackson.

Neeson thanked Lucas for his time on the films, and jokingly added that he was on the set of a highly secret project. Namely, a Jar Jar Binks movie, to which he added, spoiler alert: he joins the dark side.

Jackson, however, took his opportunity to speak at the event to make a demand from Lucasfilm and Disney alike. In short, he wants a Mace Windu film, and he wants it now.

"I just want to say its a real honour and privilege to be a part of the Star Wars community," Jackson stated; adding that its common knowledge that, "Jedis can fall from incredible heights and survive so I am not dead. Mace Windu is awaiting this return."

The panel also saw veteran actors Anthony Daniels (C3-PO), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), and Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) unite on stage; alongside a moving tribute to Carrie Fisher by her daughter, Billie Lourd, making her first public appearance after Fishers death in December of last year.

Expect plenty more Star Wars news as Star Wars Celebration takes place in Orlando from 13 - 16 April.
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This years Star Wars Celebration  taking place in Orlando, Florida  started things off with a spectacular bang, as host Warwick Davis took to the stage for panel 40 Years of Star Wars; inviting legends of the Star Wars universe back to reminisce on the legacy of cinemas most enduring franchise.

The panel saw live appearances from the likes of Harrison Ford, George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, and even a surprise performance from John Williams; a few well-wishers, specifically Liam Neeson and Samuel L. Jackson, even sent in some special video messages for the panel.

However, amongst all the jubilation, there also hung that dark cloud of grief, marking the first Celebration without Carrie Fisher following her death in December of last year, though it was an event she enthusiastically and regularly attended in the past.

Many of those who took to the stage paused to pay tribute to Fisher and her legacy as Princess Leia. Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca and developed a close bond with Fisher, declared: shes a hell of a rebel, but shes also a beautiful princess.

The panel culminated with a moving tribute to the late actor, as Lucas took to the stage to deliver in a voice quivering with emotion: Ive said many times now, that she really is a modern woman. She isnt just a woman that you put guys clothes on and she becomes a hero.

She was princess. She was a senator. She had to hold her own against two big lugs, but she was the boss. It was her war. When Carrie came in, she was that character. Very strong. Very smart. Very funny. Very bold. Very tough. It wasnt really much of a question. There werent really many people like her. One in a billion.

Billie Lourd attending Star Wars Celebration to pay tribute to her mother, Carrie Fisher (Lucasfilm)

She could hold her own against anything, she was the toughest one of the group. Well all miss her. Shell always be the princess who took command and never backed down. Never was in jeopardy. Well love her forever and ever.

Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy added her own words: There was no greater honour, she was unlike anyone youve ever known. Her humour, her insight. What you associated as Princess Leia, that was Carrie.

Billie Lourd, Fishers own daughter, then took to the stage in her first public appearance since her mothers death. Delivering a speech with incredible strength and openness for someone dealing with the death of a parent, Lourd said, in her world, Star Wars become our religion, our family, our way of life.

Nothing about her was a performance, she added. She loved you, she loved these movies, she loved the character she was able to create  this force called Leia. Thank you for loving her and carrying on what she stood for.

Star Wars Celebration takes place in Orlando from 13 - 16 April.
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This years Star Wars Celebration  taking place in Orlando, Florida  started things off with a spectacular bang, as host Warwick Davis took to the stage for panel '40 Years of Star Wars'; inviting legends of the Star Wars universe back to reminisce on the legacy of cinemas most enduring franchise.

The panel saw live appearances from the likes of George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, and even a surprise performance from John Williams; a few well-wishers, specifically Liam Neeson and Samuel L. Jackson, also sent in some special video messages for the panel.

The '40 Years of Star Wars' panel also marked a first for Star Wars Celebration, as Harrison Ford himself made his debut appearance at the convention  amongst plenty of jokes about his infamous recent incident when landing his plane in LA.

Ford recalled the story of how he was first introduced to Lucas, who initially cast him in a small role in American Graffiti, opening the door to Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and an iconic film career.

I was actually installing a door for Francis Ford Coppola as a favour to his art director, who had built the door and couldnt find anyone to install it, Ford recounted, having famously initially worked in Hollywood as a carpenter. While I was finishing up the door, in you walked with Richard Dreyfuss.

And the rest was history, as they say; as Ford paid tribute to the Star Wars films as, full of humour and emotion and conflict, it was a brilliant invention of a mythology that has sustained interest for over forty years.

Lucas also shared his experience casting Mark Hamill, having tested various actors for over a year for the role of Luke Skywalker, jokingly adding that Hamill only got the role because he was shorter than him. I tried to talk him out of that line. Did [Leia] really have to say a little short for a stormtrooper? Hamill was swift to add.

Expect plenty more Star Wars news as Star Wars Celebration takes place in Orlando from 13 - 16 April.
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US band Rage Against The Machine made quite a statement when they released Killing in the Name back in 1992, namely for their use of profanity and for covering themes of institutional racism and police brutality.

However, the French band The Wackids translated the tone of the rap metal hit into something altogether different thanks to their unusual choice of instruments.

The Bordeaux three-piece exclusively use children's toys in all of their covers, their "instruments" of choice for 'Killing in the Name' being a mini electric guitar, Spiderman drums, and an otamatone, which is a Japanese toy synthesiser.

The band - comprised of Blowmaster, Bongostar, and Speedfinger - have previously done renditions of classics such as Queens Bohemian Rhapsody and ACDCs Back In Black.

The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Show all 20 1 /20 The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Beyonce The Demands: 1 Large table for catering dressed with white tablecloths. Dressing room should be 78 degrees 4 Brand New White Towels in bathroom (2 face & 2 body) Hot Food: Juicy Baked Chicken: Legs, Wings & Breast only (Please season with fresh garlic, season salt, black pepper, and Cayenne pepper HEAVILY SEASONED!!) Steamed Garlic Broccoli Lightly Seasoned Green Beans Lightly Seasoned Steamed Spinach Beyonce can only have Pepsi products. 1 Case of Aquafina water (half cold, half room temperature) 1 Hot Tea Set up (Please have NEW Coffee Pot) Sliced Lemons Wedges Rose scented candles Lighter for candles CD player Getty The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Adele The Demands: 12 Small bottles still (non-carbonated) spring water (at room temperature) 1 Electric kettle for BOILING water 6 Large mugs for tea. All mugs should be new, washed and dried. 6 metal teaspoons 2 Squeezy bottles clear honey (not organic) 1 Bottle very best quality red wine (Italian, French or Spanish) 1 Assortment of chewing gum 1 Pack Marlboro Light plus 1 disposable cigarette lighter 1 Small selection fresh fruit, to include bananas, apples, grapes, fresh berries NO CITRUS FRUIT! 1 Small plate of assorted freshly made, individually wrapped sandwiches, to include chicken salad. Sandwiches must NOT contain tomatoes, vinegar, chili or citrus fruit PA The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Kanye West The Demands: 1 Tub Plain Yogurt for dipping 4 small Yoplait Yogurt 1 Bowl of assorted nuts 1 Bowl of Sunkist Salted Pistachio Nuts (No Red Coloring) 2 Packs of Extra Chewing Gum 1 Bottle of Hot Sauce (Tabasco, Caribbean Type) 1 Box of Toothpicks 1 750 ml bottle of Hennessey Liquor 1 750 ml bottle of SKY or Absolut Vodka 1 Bottle of Patron Silver Tequila 4 Six Packs of Heineken Beer Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty, David Parsons/iStock The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Rihanna The Demands: 5 AC power outlets Adequate lighting for a relaxed atmosphere White drapes to cover lockers and/or brick 1 Humidifier 1 Large throw rug  plush and animal print (Cheetah, Leopard)  must be CLEAN, as she will walk on it barefoot. Pipe and Drape the room in Dark Blue or Black drapes with Icy Blue Chiffon draped nicely on top 6 Candles  Archipelago Black Forest (if you can't get these, please let me know ASAP as we have a 2nd choice of candle for Ri). 4 Small, clear, square vases with White Tulips, no foliage (2nd choice: White Casablanca Lilies no foliage, 3rd choice: White Freesia, no foliage) The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Katy Perry The Demands: Arrangement of pink fresh flowers. White and purple hydrangeas, pink & white roses and peonies. If not available, seasonal white flowers to include white orchidsABSOLUTELY NO CARNATIONS. A box of Huggies baby nature care wipes 6 Vitamin waters zero, assorted flavors Bowl of whole fresh organic grown fruit (apples, bananas, oranges and grapes) Plate of fresh-cut Crudites (to include cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, snap peas, celery) w/ ranch dip Snyder's of Hanover Honey Mustard & Onion Pretzel Jar of Salsa Baked (blue corn if possible) Tortilla Chips Freeze dried strawberries 2 bottles of Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio Throat coat, Twinnings Chamomile PG tips and Mint medley tea. Fuze slenderize assorted flavors A jar of quality honey Plastic drinking straws AFP/Getty Images The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Paul McCartney The Demands: All lamps must be halogen floor lamps with dimmer switch. Only animal free materials (cottons, denims, velour, etc.) Do not provide furniture made of any animal skin or print. Do not provide artificial versions of animal skin or print either. No leather seating is allowed in the black stretch limousine either. Arrange for a dry cleaner before arrival. 6 Full and leafy floor plants, but no trees. We want plants that are just as full on the bottom as the top such as palm, bamboo, peace lilies, etc. No tree trunks! $50.00 - One large arrangement of white Casablanca lilies with lots of foliage. $40.00 - One long stemmed arrangement of pale pink and white roses with lots of foliage. $35 One arrangement of freesia. It comes in various colors so please mix them up. Freesia is a favorite. 20 dozen clean towels outside of the production office AP The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Mariah Carey The Demands: Each room must be draped. Black drapes are fine. The entry door should open into the living room space, not the dressing room. Temperature should be about 75 degrees. 1 Three Seat Couch  Plain Color, no busy patterns; black, dark grey, cream, dark pink are fine 12 1 Liters of Fiji Water 3 Bottles Chardonnay  Chilled 12 Coke 12 Diet Coke 12 Vanilla Protein Drinks 6 Sparkling Water (Pellegrino) 12 Melon Flavor Gatorade 6 Red Wine Glasses 6 White Wine Glasses 4 Joe Malone Vanilla Candles 2 Vases White Roses Fried Chicken (warm) 12 Small Bottles water (room temperature) 3 Whole lemons and honey Sugarless gum Getty The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Eminem The Demands: 25 pound dumbbells 24-Diet Coke 16oz plastic bottles 12 Diet Coke 12oz cans 6 Verner ginger ale soda (or Schweppes) 48 Daisani, Poland Spring 12oz bottles NO Evian 1 Loaf white bread 1 Loaf wheat bread 6 Lunchables snacks (3 turkeys & 3 ham with cheese) 6 Cans Red Bull 16 Cans Sugar-Free Red Bull Large fresh jumbo shrimps with cocktail sauce and plenty of lemons 1 Jar of banana pepper rings Getty Images The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Grace Jones The Demands: 6 Bottles of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne 3 Bottles of French Vintage red wine (e.g. St Emilion, Medoc, Bordeaux) 3 Bottles of French Vintage white wine (e.g. Sancerre, Pouilly Fuisse) 2 Dozen Findeclare or Colchester Oysters on ice (unopened)(Grace does her own shucking.) 2 Sashimi and Sushi platters for 8 people 6 Fresh lemons 1 Bottle of Tabasco sauce 1 Fresh fruit platter for 8 people 6 Bottles of Coca Cola 12 Bottles of still and sparkling water 12 Bottles of fresh fruit juices Wine glasses, champagne flutes, tumblers (all glass, no plastic) Cutlery and sharp knife 1 Oyster knife 1 Make up mirror (no neon strip lighting, only opaque white bulbs) Fresh towels, clothes hangers, clothes rail 3-4 Bunches of flowersprefer lilys and orchids Sofa and arm chairs Andy Sturmey The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Drake The Demands: Four dozen natural-scented incense sticks Dr. Bronners peppermint soap Pork-free food E-Z Wider rolling papers and a pack of Dutch Master President cigars Pinot Grigio Heineken Bottles of Jack Daniels Patron Silver tequila Nivea chapstick A bottle of Hennesey or Courvoisier Grey Goose Andis T-Outliner trimmers Extra sets of speakers champagnepapi/Instagram The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Jack White The Demands: 1 dozen chicken wings (buffalo, teryaki, suprise us) 1 bowl of FRESH HOME-MADE GUACAMOLE 8 champagne flutes (real glass) 8 wine glasses (real glass) 8 highball glasses (real glass) 1 hummus & pita chips iPod player with sufficient volume control NO fluorescent lighting PLEASE NOTE: This is a NO BANANA TOUR. (Seriously) Getty The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Madonna The Demands: 200-person entourage 2o international phone lines Her backstage room must look exactly like her own home (that means she ships around her furniture) Special flower-scented fabric Actual flowers Personal chef who prepares only vegan foods Her own dry-cleaning service AP The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Alicia Keys Alicia Keys performs at the UEFA Champions League Final Getty The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Jay Z The Demands: 7 sets of metal silverware 1 Lighter 3 Glade Candles (French Vanilla, Rain shower, Wild Berry, Tangerine Ginger) 3 Cans of Chunk White Tuna 10 Nutri-Grain Bars (Blueberry, Cherry, Apple, Strawberry) 6 Individual Packets of Quaker Oats Instant Oatmeal (Brown Sugar and Apple Cinnamon) 1 Assorted Fruit Platter with strawberries, seedless red grapes, bananas, mango, blueberries, cantaloupe and raspberries 2 Cases of beer (one imported and one domestic; brands preferred: Amstel Light, Corona, Bud, Bud Light or local beer) 3 menus for local seafood and Italian restaurants to order meals for Alicia Getty The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Mary J. Blige The Demands: 2 Humidifiers 10 medium prewashed bath sized towels NO DAIRY OR PORK OF ANY KIND!! 10 1.5 liter bottles of FIJI water (absolutely, positively must be FIJI) 6 cans of Diet Dr. Pepper 6 cans of Schweeps Ginger Ale 2 packs of Mentos  cinnamon fresh only 6 cans of Red Bull energy drink 6 bottles of Black Cherry Propells in sports bottle 8 sets of silverware 24 napkins 1 tub of clean ice Getty Images The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Lady Gaga The Demands: 2 Bottles of white wine with wine opener  Kendall Jackson or Robert Mondavi preferred 1 Pack of Straws 1 Cushioned office style chair TV with cable and a DVD player 1 Rolling clothing rack 4 Unscented candles Cool-mist humidifier 3 fans Tea kettle, organic ginger and lemongrass tea and honey are very important. 1 4 pack of Red Bull Light (on ice) 2 Bottles of Green Tea 1 Container of Guacamole Hot dogs (Yves veggie dogs eaten with toothpicks) A smoothie station (with frozen berries, fuze and whey protein or non-fat Greek yogurt) Blender needed 1 Plate of cheese (non-smelly, non-sweaty on ice) with whole wheat/healthy crackers A mix of assorted fresh fruit (cut and must have edible skin OR edible seeds OR citrus) Getty The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Cher The Demands: 1 Wig Room 1 Room for Dr. Stacey 1 bottle of fine red wine (No Kendall Jackson) 1 bottle of fine white wine (No Kendall Jackson) 4 Cokes 4 Diet Cokes 1 coffee table 1 end table for the phone to be placed on TV with VCR with a cable Hook up. Please make sure we can get the following channels: Turner Classic Movies or AMC The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Taylor Swift The Demands: If arriving before 11 a.m., the following from Starbucks: 1 Grande ICED Caramel Latte w/ 2 sweet-n-lows 1 Grande ICED Americano w/ 2 sweet-n-lows with soy milk 1 slice pumpkin loaf 1 Stick Butter 3 Boxes Kraft Macaroni/Cheese 2 Four Packs of Red Bull 1 12 Pack Corona Beer 1 12 Pack New Castle Beer 1 Bottle Welch's Grape Juice 1 Avocado 1 Bag of Twizzlers red licorice 1 Case of Smart Water 1 Pint Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream 1 Pint Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Brownie Frozen Yogurt The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Iggy Pop The Demands: A copy of USA Today that's got a story about morbidly obese people in it 6 bottles of Grolsch or decent local beer F loads of good red wines 6 large bottles of good quality sparkling water 3 cases x 12 oz bottles of still mineral water 6 bottles of alcohol free beer 1 case of big bottles of good, premium beer A bottle of vodka Cauliflower/broccoli, cut into individual florets and thrown immediately into the garbage. I f hate that Getty Images The 20 most ridiculous things superstar musicians have demanded at their concerts Van Halen The Demands: Nuts Pretzels M&MS (WARNING: ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN ONES) 1 large tube of KY jelly 3 packs of Marlboro cigarettes (box) Herring in sour cream 2 gallons non-carbonated, bottled spring water 3 fifths Jack Daniels Black Label bourbon 2 fifths Stolichnaya vodka 1 pint Southern Comfort 2 bottles Blue Nun white wine Getty Images

In 2009, 'Killing in the Name' was chosen to lead a campaign against X-Factor finalists for Christmas No.1. The track topped the UK singles charts, beating that year's X-Factor winner, Joe McElderry, for the number one spot on Christmas Day.
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Thursday night at The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston and the venue is packed out.

That's hardly unusual when someone is playing its small stage at the back, but tonight there are a multitude of voices in the crowd; French, British, Italian, Turkish and Spanish fans chatter as the band take to the stage.

The Istanbul-based band The Away Days released their debut album Dreamed At Dawn earlier this year. Its an impressive debut with nothing in the way of filler, but stripped of that production, and at their first official headline show in the UK, the band take on a new edge.

After a hitch with the sound on frontman Can Ozens guitar at the very beginning of the set, they pick up momentum and deliver one gorgeous track after another; immersed in eery blue light that flickers across the stage and casts looming shadows over the stone arches.

Ozen hits those beautiful high notes on Places To Go then suddenly recalls Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode on Calm Your Eyes, nailing the whole dark, brooding frontman thing but also having fun in the intervals where he encourages fans to dance.

Some of the best music transcends any sense of place, and The Away Days music is about imagination, taking you away from reality for a brief moment and allowing the mind to drift, filling it with colour and possibility.

Their sound has been compared to everything from Brooklyn shoegaze to California disco, but The Away Days steer clear of tying themselves down to any one set of influences, drawing on everything from rock to world music.

Guitarist Sezer Koc plays those intricate notes on World Horizon  one of the standout tracks on the album and its first single  and Ozen jumps down into the crowd for a quick turn around the room as the audience cheer him on  speaking different languages, but all hearing the same thing.
U.S. President Donald Trump lauded Chinese President Xi Jinping in recent comments and reversed his position on Chinas currency. His comments shocked some of his core supporters; but in doing so, Trump is practicing the art of the deal rather than the art of war, at least for now. This is good news for China-U.S. relations.

Despite Chinas love-hate relationship with Trump, many Chinese are trying to understand Trump better.

The Chinese edition of The Art of the Deal, published by China Youth Press, can be found on various Chinese websites, including Alibabas Tmall, a major e-commerce site. One professional bookstore on Tmall sells the official book for 23.50 yuan, or about $3.50. I want to examine the business madman, a customer wrote in the comments section. On Douban, a popular arts social networking site, a user suggested that Chinese use the book to understand the president of the United States better.

What do Chinese really think of Trump? While opinions are certainly mixed, some of Chinas netizens who have read Trumps autobiography have posted their two cents worth to Weibo, Chinas equivalent of Twitter, as well as other sites. Below is a look at some of their comments.

One Weibo user wrote, I didnt know he is such a smart, interesting, and fun doer until after reading his book!

On Dangdang, Chinas biggest online bookseller, there are thousands of comments. I havent finished reading it yet, but I think Trump is simple and direct. As a successful businessman, he must be a very capable person. Another user wrote, Who knows if hell be a good president, but he is a successful businessman. Trump is a man who is ready to make America great again, said a different user. One user said the book will give you a deeper understanding of Trump, the risk taker.

Not everyone was impressed. One user on Dangdang called him "a weirdo," but added that his book is a must read for understanding the history of this president and his impact on the U.S. and China.
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Artificially intelligent robots and devices are being taught to be racist, sexist and otherwise prejudiced by learning from humans, according to new research.

A massive study of millions of words online looked at how closely different terms were to each other in the text  the same way that automatic translators use machine learning to establish what language means.

Some of the results were stunning.

Recommended Microsoft AI chatbot posts racist messages

The researchers found male names were more closely associated with career-related terms than female ones, which were more closely associated with words related to the family.

This link was stronger than the non-controversial findings that musical instruments and flowers were pleasant and weapons and insects were unpleasant.

Female names were also strongly associated with artistic terms, while male names were found to be closer to maths and science ones.

There were strong associations, known as word embeddings, between European or American names and pleasant terms, and African-American names and unpleasant terms.

The effects of such biases on AI can be profound.

For example Google Translate, which learns what words mean by the way people use them, translates the Turkish sentence O bir doktor into he is a doctor in English, even though Turkish pronouns are not gender specific. So, it can actually mean he is a doctor or she is a doctor.

But change doktor to hemsire, meaning nurse, in the same sentence and this is translated as she is a nurse.

Last year, a Microsoft chatbot called Tay was given its own Twitter account and allowed to interact with the public.

It turned into a racist, pro-Hitler troll with a penchant for bizarre conspiracy theories in just 24 hours. [George W] Bush did 9/11 and Hitler would have done a better job than the monkey we have now, it wrote. Donald Trump is the only hope weve got.

In a paper about the new study in the journal Science, the researchers wrote: Our work has implications for AI and machine learning because of the concern that these technologies may perpetuate cultural stereotypes.

Our findings suggest that if we build an intelligent system that learns enough about the properties of language to be able to understand and produce it, in the process it will also acquire historical cultural associations, some of which can be objectionable.

Already, popular online translation systems incorporate some of the biases we study. Further concerns may arise as AI is given agency in our society.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. These compartments are found beneath the skin, as well as lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a network supported by a mesh of strong, flexible proteins Getty Science news in pictures Previously unknown society lived in Amazon rainforest before Europeans arrived, say archaeologists Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs Jose Iriarte Science news in pictures One in 10 people have traces of cocaine or heroin on fingerprints, study finds More than one in 10 people were found to have traces of class A drugs on their fingers by scientists developing a new fingerprint-based drug test. Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary

If machine-learning technologies used for, say, resume screening were to imbibe cultural stereotypes, it may result in prejudiced outcomes.

The researchers said the AI was not to blame for such problematic effects.

Notice that the word embeddings know these properties of flowers, insects, musical instruments, and weapons with no direct experience of the world and no representation of semantics other than the implicit metrics of words co-occurrence statistics with other nearby words.

But changing the way AI learns would risk missing out on unobjectionable meanings and associations of words.

We have demonstrated that word embeddings encode not only stereotyped biases but also other knowledge, such as the visceral pleasantness of flowers or the gender distribution of occupations, the researchers wrote.

The study also implies that humans may develop prejudices partly because of the language they speak.

Our work suggests that behaviour can be driven by cultural history embedded in a terms historic use. Such histories can evidently vary between languages, the paper said.

Before providing an explicit or institutional explanation for why individuals make prejudiced decisions, one must show that it was not a simple outcome of unthinking reproduction of statistical regularities absorbed with language.

Similarly, before positing complex models for how stereotyped attitudes perpetuate from one generation to the next or from one group to another, we must check whether simply learning language is sufficient to explain (some of) the observed transmission of prejudice.

One of the researchers, Professor Joanna Bryson, of Bath University, told The Independent that instead of changing the way AI learns, the way it expresses itself should be altered.

So the AI would still hear racism and sexism, but would have a moral code that would prevent it from expressing these same sentiments.

Such filters can be controversial. The European Union has passed laws to ensure the terms of AI filters are made public.

For Professor Bryson, the key finding of the research was not so much about AI but humans.

I think the most important thing here is we have understood more about how we are transmitting information, where words come from and one of the ways in which implicit biases are affecting us all, she said.
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Forget France, the cheapest getaway this summer is balmy Bulgaria - but don't forget price isn't everything.

The Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach has come in as the cheapest option in a recent survey by the Post Office.

A basket of 10 typical tourist staples, including food and drink, sun cream and insect repellent, was found to be cheaper at Sunny Beach than at 19 other popular beach destinations in Europe.

A falling pound, flat-lining wages and the rising cost of everyday goods at home means many families will be looking for a cheaper alternative this summer.

However, scrimping sun-seekers should be aware of significant crime problems at Sunny Beach. The Foreign Office has had to issue warnings in the past about pick-pocketing, prostitution and threatening behaviour by taxi drivers.

Slightly pricier, but potentially safer options on the Post Office list include the Algarve, the Costa del Sol, and Paphos in Cyprus.

A basket of typical holiday bits and pieces retails at 58 on the Algarve, dearer than the 37 charged on Bulgarias Sunny Beach, but the former's low crime rates might make for a more relaxing trip.

The Costa del Sol comes in at 61 for a typical basket, whereas the Greek island resort of Paphos hits 74.

As ever, it pays to shop around.

Resorts in Croatia and Greece are likely to be a cheaper than similar options in France and Italy, the Post Office said.

Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled  leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year.

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: Greece is looking very popular this year with tour operators reporting increases of up to 40 per cent in bookings.

He notes the need to consider everyday costs, as well as flights and hotels, adding it will pay bargain hunters to factor resort costs into the overall price they pay for their package.
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Donald Trump said he told the Chinese President that the US had launched missile attacks on Syria as the pair tucked into the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that you have ever seen".

During an interview with Fox Business, Mr Trump told the anecdote of how he and Xi Jinping dined together at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida at the start of a two-day summit designed to build bridges between the two nations.

I was sitting at the table. We had finished dinner. We are now having dessert. And we had the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that you have ever seen. And President Xi was enjoying it, Mr Trump said.

And I was given the message from the generals that the ships are locked and loaded. What do you do? And we made a determination to do it. So the missiles were on the way.

Momentarily confusing Iraq and Syria, he continued: And I said: Mr President, let me explain something to you this is during dessert weve just fired 59 missiles  all of which hit by the way, unbelievable, from, you know hundreds of miles away, all of which hit, its so incredible, its brilliant, its genius, our technology is better than anybodys by a factor of five 

So what happens is, I said weve just launched 59 missiles heading to Iraq, heading to Iraq [sic]  heading toward Syria and I want you to know that.

I didnt want him to finish his dessert and go home  and then they say: You know the guy you just had dinner with just attacked [Syria].

Recommended China now more popular with Americans than Donald Trump

Interviewer Maria Bartiromo asked how Mr Xi had taken the news, given that China, together with Russia, has repeatedly blocked UN resolutions targeting Syrian dictator Bashar-al-Assad, who Mr Trump branded an animal.

Mr Trump said of Mr Xis reaction: He paused for 10 seconds and then he asked the interpreter to please say it again  I didnt 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 to young children and babies, its OK. He was OK with it. He was OK.

The meeting between the two world leaders came following recent escalating tensions between the US and China over the South China Sea dispute as well as Syria.

Chinas state-sponsored media reported the summit as a resounding success and kept news of the air strikes off the front pages.

Mr Trump claimed he had got on well with the Chinese President.

He said: I really liked him. We had a great chemistry, I think  Maybe he didnt like me but I think he liked me  we understand each other.

The air strike against Syria was carried out following a suspected chemical weapons attack by Mr Assad against his own people which killed dozens of men, women and children.
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Schools are struggling to access support to deal with a surge in the number of children and young people suffering from mental health issues.

Evidence given from teachers across the country suggests children as young as four are suffering from mental health problems such as panic attacks, eating disorders, anxiety and depression.

Responding to a survey for the NASUWT union, almost all teachers and school leaders (98 per cent) said they had come into contact with pupils who are experiencing mental health issues.

In spite of this, almost half said they had never received any training to help or recognise the signs in children who might be suffering from these problems.

Pupils affected were most likely to be teenagers, with 58 per cent of teachers saying they had seen problems in 15- to 16-year-olds and 55 per cent in 13- and 14-year-olds.

But nearly a fifth (18 per cent) of those polled said they had been in contact with four to seven-year-olds showing mental health issues, and over a third (35 per cent) had seen problems in children aged seven to 11.

The findings echo that of a separate study undertaken recently by the National Association of Head Teachers, in which more than half of school leaders said they had found it difficult to find a service or professional to help a child in need.

They survey, published by the National Association of HeadTeachers (NAHT) and Place2Be, a childrens mental health charity, found some 22 per cent of those who had sought mental health support for a pupil had been unsuccessful.

Common barriers towards getting help were a lack of capacity in services, no local services available and budget constraints, teachers found.

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

Barnardo's children's charity has called on the Government to commit to better training for teachers.

Commenting on the latest figures, Chief Executive Javed Khan said: Its vital that teachers get more support to help with their pupils mental health as it is one of the biggest issues our country is facing today.

"Barnardo's wants the Government to commit to training all new and existing teachers to gain the skills to help children build resilience and promote good mental health.

Evidence shows that vulnerable children and young people such as those leaving care, or victims of sexual exploitation are more likely to need mental health care than other children. They would stand a better chance of going on to live happy and healthy lives if they are given effective mental health education starting at primary school.

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates warned of growing concern among teachers about a gap in the availability of experts and counselling to help children with mental health needs.

Nine in 10 teachers said they had experienced a pupil of any age suffering from anxiety and panic attacks, while 79 per cent were aware of a pupil suffering from depression and 64 per cent knew of a child who was self-harming.

Around half (49 per cent) were aware of children with eating disorders, and a similar proportion (47 per cent) knew about a pupil with obsessive compulsive disorder.

When asked about the impact of mental health issues on pupil behaviour, some 89 per cent of teachers agreed that it led to an inability to concentrate in class.

Some 77 per cent agreed that it led to a pupil being isolated from other students or problems in making friends.

Over four-fifths (84 per cent) said the pressure of exams and testing was contributing to mental health issues, 71 per cent said pressure to be good academically was having an impact, and 36 per cent said bullying played a part.

In addition, 91 per cent said family problems such as ill health or a break-up had an impact on mental health, while 72 per cent said social media played a part.

Recommended Schools failing mentally ill pupils due to lack of support

Ms Keates said: It is clear that teachers and school leaders are seeing many more children and young people who are exhibiting the signs of serious mental distress.

Teachers and school leaders take very seriously their duty of care to their students and it is clear there is a great deal of concern in the profession about the gulf in the availability of expert physiological support and counselling for pupils with mental health needs.

She added: The Prime Minister earlier this year pledged to improve mental health support for pupils. However, schools cannot address this issue alone and cuts to budgets and services in local authorities, health and education have all taken a heavy toll on the support available.

Last month, YoungMinds urged the Government to tackle a mental health crisis in our classrooms.

In an open letter to Theresa May, the charity said pupils' wellbeing should be considered as important as academic achievement, and called for full funding of wellbeing initiatives, better recognition for schools that do good work on the issue, and specific mental health training for teachers.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: No child should suffer from mental health issues and we are investing a record 1.4bn to ensure all children get the help and support they need.

We are strengthening the links between schools and NHS mental health staff and later this year will publish proposals for further improving services and preventative work.

A new green paper on children and young peoples mental health is due to be published later in the year.
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It was the first stop on an extraordinary journey. On a bright but bitterly cold January afternoon earlier this year, I found myself on a small island in the Black Sea, just off Sozopol on the east coast of Bulgaria. Sveti Ivan has long been a destination for travellers: it boasted a temple of Apollo in ancient times. But I was there to speak to an old Bulgarian archaeologist about the most important find of his career.

In 2010, Kasimir Popkonstantinov discovered what he believes are the bones of one of the most famous of all saints: John the Baptist. I was interested in what DNA analysis could tell us about these bones, and other ones. Together with biblical scholar Joe Basile, I was travelling around the world filming a documentary about the religious and scientific evidence linking archaeological artefacts to Jesus Christ himself.

Popkonstantinov made his discovery when excavating a sixth century church on the island, built on top of a basilica from the century before. As he carefully scraped through the mud where the altar would have been, he came across a stone slab and was amazed to find a small marble box underneath. He immediately knew what it was. For a church to be consecrated in this part of Europe in the fifth century, it needed to contain a relic from a holy saint or religious person. This box, known as a reliquary, would have housed such a relic.

He continued to dig around and found another, smaller box about a metre away. On the edge of the inferior box was an inscription: May God save you, servant Thomas. To Saint John. When Popkonstantinov later opened the reliquary, he found five bone fragments. The epitaph on the smaller box, probably used to carry the bones when travelling, was the key piece of evidence that led him to believe that the bones could perhaps be those of John the Baptist. The finding is hugely important, partly because John the Baptist was both a disciple of Jesus and his cousin  meaning they would share DNA.

(George Busby, Author provided (George Busby, Author provided)

Thanks to a number of scientific advances, the field of ancient DNA  the extraction and analysis of genetic material from bones and fossils of organisms dug up out of the ground  is booming. We now have DNA sequences from hundreds of people who are long since dead, and analysis of these sequences is further refining our understanding of human history.

DNA as proof of identity

I was initially sceptical about what the Bulgarian bones could teach us. For a start, no DNA test can prove that these were bits of John the Baptist, Jesus or any other specific person. We cant extract and analyse an unknown DNA sample and magically say that it belonged to this or that historical character. To do that, wed need to have a DNA sample that unambiguously came from John the Baptist that we could compare the bones to. So sequencing DNA in itself is not going to be too helpful.

Another major consideration is the risk of contamination. In an ideal scenario, ancient material we want to use for genetic analysis should be untouched by anyone since that person had died. The best ancient samples are dug out of the ground, put into a bag, and then sent straight to an ancient DNA lab. In the 500 years between Johns death and the bones being sealed in the church, any number of people could have handled them and left their DNA behind.

But this doesnt mean that all is lost. DNA degrades over time, so we can test any DNA extracted from ancient remains for telltale signs of degradation. That means we can differentiate modern contamination from ancient genomes. We can also try to take DNA from the inside of bones and sequence DNA from the people who are known to have come into contact with the artefacts to help tell the ancient DNA and modern contaminants apart.

What DNA can tell you

DNA should be used as an additional tool to archaeology. In my opinion, there are two clear benefits that the analysis of DNA can bring to this particular party. We can compare the DNA from a relic to DNA from other relics. If we find other relics purported to be from John the Baptist, or a close relative like Jesus, then we could use genetics to compare the two to see if they are likely to have come from the same or related people. Also, we have growing collections of DNA sampled from people around the world, which we can use to make a guess on the geographical origins of the relics.

So what did the Bulgarian bones tell us? Radio carbon dating suggested they were indeed 2,000 years old. Their DNA sequence appeared to show an affinity to modern day Middle Eastern populations.

Unfortunately, when I spoke to the geneticist who did the research, he told me they had since discovered that the DNA sequence matched the person whod actually extracted the bone material  meaning it was more than likely contamination. And they only had a small amount of material to work with, so its unlikely that well be able to use DNA to get to the bottom of who the bones belonged to.

(Creative Commons (Creative Commons)

However, I also visited other scientists who had other relics, where DNA analysis could be possible. For example, recent research identified multiple peoples DNA on the The Turin Shroud, which is a piece of cloth that some believe wrapped Jesus when he was taken down from the cross.

In Jerusalem, we also met with a man who is in the process of sequencing material from the James Ossuary, a first century chalk box which may have held the bones of Jesuss brother. We also met an archaeologist in Israel with several crucifixion nails, one of which was still embedded in a poor crucified souls heel bone. Unfortunately, its impossible to extract DNA from rusty iron.

While DNA analysis cant prove that these are the artefacts some believe them to be, the hope is that these and other items could one day provide insight into the relationships between them and their modern descendants. Lets assume for a moment that contamination could be completely ruled out and that DNA analysis demonstrated that DNA from the Shroud was a familial match to DNA from the James Ossuary  and that they are both related to the Bulgarian bones. Could this then have been the DNA of Jesus and his family? To answer that, all you need is a little belief.

George Busby is a research associate in Statistical Genomics, University of Oxford. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com)
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Interpol has joined the hunt for a British teacher wanted over the death of a colleague in Burma.

Gary Ferguson, 47, also from the UK, was found dead with head and chest wounds in Rangoon in November last year.

Burmese police said Harris Binotti, thought to be from Dumfries but who has also lived in Aberdeen, has not been seen since he and Mr Ferguson had been drinking together in the commercial capital of the country.

Recommended Burmese police name British teacher wanted over murder of colleague

The 26-year-old is wanted on suspicion of carrying out the attack, but is understood to have left the country, also known as Myanmar, shortly after the death.

Interpol has now issued an international 'red notice' alerting police forces around the world that Mr Binotti is wanted for extradition.

The notice states that he faces a charge of murder and describes him as 1.68m (5ft 5in) with brown hair and blue eyes.

Both men taught English at the Horizon International School in the city, which is also known as Yangon.

Mr Ferguson had worked there for a year while Mr Binotti had been there for around three months.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. 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A Facebook page for Mr Binotti shows that he had a number of different jobs before taking up a post as an English teacher in Rangoon.

These ranged from being a holiday representative, a ski representative and an assistant duty hotel manager.

Press Association
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A British student stabbed to death by a Palestinian man in Jerusalem has been named as 20-year-old Hannah Bladon.

Ms Bladon, a student at the University of Birmingham, had been on an exchange programme with the Rothberg International School at Hebrew University of Jerusalem since January.

Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the man attacked her as she travelled on the light rail near Jerusalems Old City.

She was rushed to Jerusalems Hadassah Medical Center but died soon after arrival.

Mark Regev, Israel's ambassador to the UK, said: "My thoughts are with the family and friends of UK student Hannah Bladon, who was murdered in a senseless act of terror in Jerusalem today."

Witnesses say the 57-year-old attacker pulled a knife out of his bag and stabbed her multiple times in the upper part of her body as the tram was approaching City Hall.

An off-duty policeman, who was on board the tram with his family, immediately pulled the emergency brake and charged at the Palestinian.

A 30-year-old pregnant woman and a 50-year-old man were also injured in the attack.

British tourist Hannah Bladon who was stabbed to death in Jerusalem on Good Friday (PA)

Yoram Halevi, commander of the Jerusalem District in the Israeli Police, told a local radio station that the attacker had been arrested at the scene and is believed to suffer from mental illness.

Israel's Shin Bet intelligence service said the Palestinian attacker had recently tried to kill himself in hospital by swallowing a razor blade and that he was convicted of sexually abusing his daughter in 2011.

In a statement, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem expressed its "deep sorrow over the murder of a British student, Hannah Bladon, in today's attack".

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

It said: "We extend our deepest condolences to her family and we share in their sorrow".

The area was packed with people at the time of the attack as Christians gather to celebrate Good Friday and Jewish people gather to observe Passover.

The compound, which is regarded as the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism, is a constant source of tension.

Muslims venerate the Dome of the Rock which is said by some Islamic scholars to be the spot where the Prophet Muhamed ascended to heaven.

Jews and Christians call it the Temple Mount and it hosts the Wailing Wall  the remains of an ancient Jewish temple torn down by the Romans.

Jews are allowed to visit Temple Mount but they are forbidden from praying there  much to the anger of Israeli hardliners.

The city has been on high alert during Holy Week after an increase in knife attacks by Palestinians.

Since September 2015, Palestinians have killed 42 Israelis and two visiting Americans, mainly in stabbings, car ramming assaults and shooting attacks.

Israeli forces have killed at least 243 Palestinians during that time, most of them identified as attackers by Israeli authorities.

Israeli security forces gathering at the site where a British woman was killed on the light rail near Jerusalem's Old City (Ahmad Gharabli/Getty Images)

Most of the Palestinians were killed while attempting attacks, Israeli police say.

Others have been shot dead during protests and some have been killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Israel has accused the Palestinian leadership of inciting the violence.

The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, denies incitement and charges that in many cases, Israel has used excessive force in thwarting attackers armed with rudimentary weapons.

Israeli president Reuven Rivlin said in a statement that he is "filled with sadness" over the violence and that Israel's "thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim".

A police officer patrolling the scene after the attack

"This week thousands have come through the ancient gates of Jerusalem, to celebrate the feasts of Passover and Easter throughout the city - while the security forces work to ensure the safety of the dear residents and visitors to the city. And so we will continue to do," he said.

"Terror can never overcome us. Terror will never destroy our lives here."

The Board of Deputies of British Jews tweeted its condolences, saying: "Our hearts go out to family of the British woman murdered by a terrorist in Jerusalem, an unholy attack as city marks Passover & Good Friday".

The Jewish Leadership Council added: "We are horrified to hear of the murder of a British tourist near Old City of Jerusalem at a time of faith & peace. Send deepest sympathies."

Additional reporting by agencies
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Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell says he was a motorcycle-riding fashionista in the Seventies the last time education spending cuts were as bad as they are now.

The Labour veteran took delegates at the National Union of Teachers (Nut) conference in Cardiff on a trip down memory lane, as he attacked the Governments record on education.

School spending per pupil has already faced reductions in many schools, with predictions from the National Audit Office (NAO) that it is likely to fall by as much as 8 per cent by 2020.

Recommended Education Secretary fails to name an expert who wants more grammars

This is the first real-term cuts in school budgets for two decades, Mr McDonnell, whose daughter is a teacher, said.

This is the worst school funding settlement since, to be frank, I was wearing flares, an army surplus grey coat, road a motorbike and had brown hair down to my shoulders in the 1970s, the 64-year-old MP for Hayes and Harlington added.

Thats how far back you have to go to experience the scale of the cuts.

Mr McDonnells 20-minute address was met with a standing ovation, as he became the first politician invited to speak at the annual Nut conference since former Labour Education Secretary, now Baroness, Estelle Morris, 15 years ago.

He drew laughter, telling the crowd: You gave up inviting politicians for a period of time. You couldnt stand listening to them. I sit in the Commons every day  I have the same feeling every now and again.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn appeared at last years conference, but he had requested the opportunity to address attendees.

Mr McDonnell read a text message from Mr Corbyn, who the shadow Chancellor described as the longest texter I know.

He told the crowd: Our priorities are to oppose the cut in funding per pupil, to challenge the funding for new grammar schools, to ensure schools are accountable to the local communities, and to ensure every primary school child gets a healthy free lunch.

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

Headteachers warned earlier this week that schools are being forced to scrap GSCE and A-level courses, increase class sizes and cut back on trips and after-school clubs as a result of a funding crisis.

The Association of School and College Leads (ASCL) released a report based on a poll of more than 1,000 members, saying the pressure to cut costs is having a serious impact on all areas of school life.

the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).

In a new report, based on a poll of more than 1,000 members, the union warned that pressure to cut costs is having an impact on all areas of school life.

Schools are being forced to scrap GCSE and A-level courses, increase class sizes and cut back on trips and after-school clubs as a result of a funding crisis, headteachers have warned.

The Government dismissed concerns, arguing that school funding is at its highest ever level, despite the NAO warning that schools will have to cut costs.
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A man has admitted putting barbed wire across a remote forest cycle path.

David Roberts, of Trefnant in Denbighshire, North Wales, was found guilty of attempted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and ordered to attend a thinking skills course after he entered a guilty plea on Wednesday.

Llandudno Magistrates Court heard how the 50-year-old left 10 feet of rusty barbed wire at chest height wrapped around tree branches in Clocaenog forest near the market town of Denbigh after an altercation with a speeding motorcyclist.

Mr Roberts was handed a 12-month community order, Wales Online reports, with a three-month 7pm to 7am curfew. He was ordered to pay 170 in costs.

Prosecutor James Neary said Natural Resources Wales, a government sponsored body working on sustainability, happened to have covert cameras in the area to monitor wildlife, which caught Mr Roberts setting the trap.

Mr Neary told the court Mr Roberts was left "livid" by the argument with the biker.

The motorcyclist had kicked his dog and the defendant lost his temper," the prosecutor said.

But the defendant claimed his intention was to stop the motorcyclist not injure them.

He claimed it was his intention not to hurt [anyone], Mr Neary added.

He wanted to slow the motorcyclist. He was livid about the altercation.

Fortunately for the defendant no-one was hurt. It really could have been far more serious.

A mountain biker reported the wire after coming within three feet of it while peddling slowly uphill.

If he came the other way he would have impacted with the wire, Mr Neary said.

Mr Roberts solicitor, Dafydd Roberts, said his client just cant believe what he did and why he did it".

The defendant had been walking his dog in remote forest when the motorcyclist approached at speed and almost hit him, he said.

There was a row, the rider kicked Mr Roberts dog and drove away.

Mr Roberts placed the wire in anger.

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

He returned to the site 20 days later, the court heard, and was caught on camera.

Rob Taylor, manager of the North Wales police rural crime team, told Wales Online: It was a stroke of luck he was caught because there were wildlife cameras there.

An act as reckless as this could have had dire consequences if a cyclist or horse rider came into contact.

Luckily the rider was going the other way. It could have had devastating consequences.

The lawyer said his client was an unemployed handyman with mental health problems.

Hes extremely sorry. It was an extremely foolish thing to do, Mr Roberts said. Its an unusual case.
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British companies could be shut out of European space missions after Brexit after new regulations relating to a major international satellite project were introduced.

New European Commission rules governing the 10bn (8.5bn) Galileo satellite navigation project give it the right to immediately cancel, without penalty, any contracts with companies that are no longer in EU states.

Firms that have their contracts withdrawn would also have to pay the costs of the EU finding a replacement.

It means British companies could lose billions of pounds in deals to supply various elements of the satellites.

While the changes would only come into force after Brexit, the new regulations mean it is already unfeasible for many British firms to be involved with the Galileo project, which is overseen by the European Space Agency. Companies cannot risk the costs associated with having a contract terminated.

One supplier told the Financial Times the change makes it quite difficult for a company in the UK to contemplate bidding.

EU launches its first satellite navigation system Show all 4 1 /4 EU launches its first satellite navigation system EU launches its first satellite navigation system 659606.bin EU launches its first satellite navigation system 659607.bin AP EU launches its first satellite navigation system 659601.bin GETTY IMAGES EU launches its first satellite navigation system 659599.bin GETTY IMAGES

They said: We may be forced to consider withdrawing from our UK market operations, said a senior executive at a UK-based space company.

The new rules apply to firms bidding to work on the final eight satellites in the Galileo project  contracts that are said to be worth up to 400m (339m). The total value of Galileo contracts could be worth up to 6bn (5bn) by 2025.

The change prompts fears that a number of high-tech companies in the UK space sector could move abroad in order to avoid falling foul of the new rules.

The UKs space sector has previously voiced concern about the risk of being locked out of EU projects as a result of Brexit, potentially costing British companies billions of pounds in contracts.

Richard Peckham, head of UKspace, which represents companies in the sector, said: Since the UK government has so far failed to make any clear statement of intent or even a wish to remain in these important EU space programmes, it is not surprising that the EU is cautious about UK industry participation.
At least 40 central State-owned enterprises (SOEs) have given their strong backing to the construction of Chinas Xiong'an New Area. Experts said the companies firm support can facilitate the industrial layout of the economic zone, while the area can provide a new growth pole for the companies' own development.

SOE participation in Xiong'an construction not only brings investment, talents and advanced technologies to the new area, it also brings economic benefits for companies that participate, helping them to upgrade their industrial structure and digesting excess production capacity, Li Jin, chief researcher at the China Institute for Small and Medium Enterprises, told the Beijing Times.

According to experts, authorities will not allow companies into Xiong'an at random. The first batch of participants will help to realize urgent goals for the economic zones construction. Xiongan New Area will primarily be the receiver of non-capital functions from Beijing, including some administrative and public institutions, company headquarters, financial institutions, higher education institutions and sci-tech units.

Companies whose main business is related to infrastructure, transportation, electricity, energy will be the first participants in constructing the new area, explained Li.

President Xi Jinping has stressed on many occasions that ecological protection and innovative development should be priorities in any construction. Many enterprises have therefore dedicated themselves to building a green, smart city.

According to the Beijing Times, telecom giants China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom will test a number of advanced technologies in the new economic zone, establishing a 5G network and new-generation NB-IoT. Energy companies including China National Offshore Oil Corporation have decided to promote the use of clean energy in the region, with a focus on geothermal and wind energy.

In addition to infrastructure, the establishment of a new city requires a huge population, meaning that the service industry will also play an important role in the development of Xion'gan, said Mao Shoulong, a professor at Renmin University of China.

In order to provide better public services and management for the new areas construction, financial institutes have also joined the cause. National banks, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, have announced new branches in Xiong'an, helping to satisfy the financial needs of those based in the economic zone.

The new area, which was announced on April 1, is about 100 kilometers southeast of Beijing. It covers three counties - Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin  and is located at the center of the triangular area formed by Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang, Hebei's capital.
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It is seen in Britain as a mere talking shop. The European Parliament usually makes UK news bulletins only when Nigel Farage hurls insults, Ukip MEPs literally fight among themselves or theres another row about the Parliaments costly travelling circus between Brussels and Strasbourg.

Yet the 751-member Parliament will play an important role in shaping Brexit and has the power to vote down any UK-EU deal. Although little-noticed in Britain, its influence has grown and most EU policies are now the subject of co-decision by the Parliament and Council of Ministers from member states.

The Parliament is already flexing its muscles over Brexit and taking a harder line than the European Commission, the EU civil service, and the European Council, the 27 national leaders.

A resolution backed by four political groups in the Parliament  the centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP), the largest; the Socialists and Democrats; the Liberals and the Greens  says the European Court of Justice (ECJ) must police any long-term UK-EU agreement. That is incompatible with Theresa Mays pledge to end the ECJs jurisdiction in Britain.

The 64,000 question is: Would the Parliament dare to wield its veto and scupper a deal thrashed out by the EU and UK, which needs the approval of the Parliaments constitutional committee and a session of all 751 MEPs?

The answer is probably no, since the MEPs will have a take-it-or-leave-it vote and will not be able to amend an agreement. If MEPs blocked a deal, they would almost certainly be throwing out protected rights for the 3 million EU citizens in the UK, which would not be a very good advert for their body.

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

However, that does not mean MEPs will lack influence. It has already been felt. Brussels insiders believe the Parliaments threat to scupper a deal if Britain imposed a cut-off date for EU citizens to enjoy UK rights on the day it triggered Article 50, helped persuade the Government to drop the idea. The cut-off will now be Brexit day in 2019, so any EU nationals coming to Britain before then would still be protected.

The Parliament will want to enjoy similar influence during the negotiations; its resolutions will be non-binding but will have to be taken into account. Its champion will be Guy Verhofstadt, the hyperactive former Belgian Prime Minister, who is never far from a TV camera or radio microphone.

As the Parliaments Brexit co-ordinator, his mantra is that it is better to have [Parliament] inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in.

European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, who one Brussels source called "a pain in the arse" (Reuters)

The irrepressible chairman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), could be a thorn in both sides in the Brexit talks. He is a pain in the arse, said one Brussels source. He will milk this for all its worth. Another official described him as the fly in the ointment.

The Commission is alive to the need to keep the Parliament onside but the Council is worried about its growing attempts to muscle in on international negotiations. It has reined in Mr Verhofstadt by rejecting his attempt to join the EUs negotiating team. Instead, he will attend its preparatory meetings.

Mr Verhofstadt, an arch-federalist, is no friend of Britain, which blocked his bid to become Commission president in 2004. So he is more likely to cause Ms May problems than her EU counterparts. Indeed, some MEPs say they will play hard cop to strengthen the hand of Michel Barnier, the EUs chief negotiator, allowing him to play soft cop with the Brits

He will say I'm sorry, the Parliament wont wear this, and it has a veto , said one EPP source.

The Belgian will matter more than Antonio Tajani, the EPPs former Silvio Berlusconi ally who is now the Parliaments president (and whom Ms May called on the day she invoked Article 50).

He has a lower profile than his combative predecessor Martin Schulz, who will be the Social Democrat (SDP) candidate against Angela Merkel in the German election this autumn. Mr Tajani, a pragmatist, gave Mr Verhofstadt a largely free hand on Brexit in return for his backing in the race to succeed Mr Schulz. Mr Verhofstadt withdrew his own candidacy, even though he could not have won.

 Guy Verhofstadt addresses parliament ahead of vote on EU negotiation red lines

The hand of MEPs could also be seen when Donald Tusk, the Councils president, set out the EUs draft negotiating guidelines. They reflected the MEPs view that Ms May should be denied the sectoral deals she wants for financial services and the automotive industry; their calls for substantial progress on the exit agreement before a trade deal is discussed and a level playing field on competition and state aid.

Most MEPs see their role as standing up for Europe. Some would like to take revenge on a British government that has often derided them. Although the Parliament envisages an association agreement with the UK, MEPs are adamant that Britain cannot enjoy the fruits of EU membership outside the bloc and there is little conciliatory talk of a mutually beneficial deal. As Manfred Weber, who chairs the EPP group, said: Only the interests of the remaining 440 million Europeans count for us. I dont care anymore about the City of Londons interests.

But the Parliament will not call all the shots. It will push a proposal by Charles Goerens, a Luxembourg Liberal MEP, that Britons who feel European should be able to opt in to associate EU citizenship after Brexit. This could allow them the right to move freely across the continent and vote in elections to the Parliament, which might appeal to some of the 48 per cent who voted Remain. But the Commission and Council do not see the idea as a runner. A bit of grandstanding; it wont fly, said one insider.

Mrs May does have some friends in the Parliament. The European Conservatives and Reformists (CER) group, the third largest, which includes Tory MEPs, says it was not consulted about the four-party resolution and has drawn up its own blueprint. Syed Kamall, the groups Tory chairman, who backed Leave, said the Parliament should avoid setting non-negotiable red lines for the negotiations. He said: It must not be about winners and losers. A bad deal for one side will also be bad for the other.

Although UK ministers may regard most MEPs as hostile and a nuisance, they are going to have to get used to the involvement of parliamentarians on the continent. Indeed, the long-term trade deal Ms May seeks will be even more complicated. Unlike the exit deal, it would also require the approval of some 38 national and regional parliaments -- including Wallonia in Belgium, which delayed an EU-Canada trade agreement. The Brexit negotiations have a very long way to run.
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A woman with mental health problems was asked by DWP disability benefit assessors why she had not killed herself, she has said.

Alice Kirby, who also has physical disabilities, accused the Department for Work and Pensions of institutional abuse as she spoke about her experience trying to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

The claim comes as new figures show private companies that run the assessments on behalf of the DWP are set to rake in more than 700m from their five-year contracts.

Labour accused the Government of rewarding failure by contractors Capita and Atos, who had originally been expected to take just over 500m from the deals.

The DWP says the PIP assessment balances support for the most vulnerable with value for money for the taxpayer. Labour on Thursday pledged to rewrite the rules for all private contractors to hold them to a higher standard.

In an interview with the Press Association, Ms Kirby, 25, said: Phrased appropriately and sensitively, questions about suicide and asking a person why they havent killed themselves could be appropriate in a psychiatric assessment, but it should not be discussed in a benefits assessment.

In this setting its not safe to ask questions like these because assessors have neither the time or skills to support us, and theres no consideration of the impact it could have on our mental health.

The questions were also completely unnecessary, they were barely mentioned in my report and had no impact on my award.

She said she was shocked to discover how many other people had been asked similar questions as part of assessments, adding: Some people told me that when they answered saying they felt suicidal or had attempted suicide, assessors said things such as thats understandable.

There was someone else who was asked to detail exactly how they would carry out suicide if they were to kill themselves.

Another person was asked why his attempts at suicide had failed, Ms Kirby said.

Ms Kirby was initially awarded the higher rate for both elements of PIP, and underwent an early reassessment in November after telling the DWP that her health had deteriorated.

After this her payments were actually reduced despite her feeling that her conditions have worsened. She is awaiting a mandatory reconsideration.

The payouts to the firms by the DWP totalled 198m in 2015, 91m in 2014 and 7m in 2013, the year PIP launched.

Figures released for January and February 2017 show the companies have been paid a further 25m this year.

Atos won two of the three original tenders  a 206.7m contract to carry out assessments in the North and Scotland, and a 183.9m contract for London and the South.

The other 121.6m contract for assessments in Central England and Wales was won by Capita.

160,000 People who have been wrongly denied PIP since the benefit launched in 2013

More than 160,000 people initially denied PIP have had this decision overturned since the benefit launched in 2013, according to DWP figures, while Atos and Capita have been dogged by accusations of insensitive assessments.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Debbie Abrahams said: It is beyond belief that this Tory Government is rewarding failure.

The PIP process is in disarray and these private companies are receiving huge payouts in a time of extreme austerity.

It is clear that these costs are spiralling out of control.

The Government needs to get an urgent grip on these extortionate payments to private companies, especially at a time when they are getting more and more assessments overturned in the courts.

The DWP insists that all staff carrying out PIP assessments receive training on mental health conditions, including issues around suicidal thoughts, which have to be explored further given their duty of care to claimants.

The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned Show all 16 1 /16 The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "One case where the claimants wife went into premature labour and had to go to hospital. This caused the claimant to miss an appointment. No leeway given" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Its Christmas Day and you dont fill in your job search evidence form to show that youve looked for all the new jobs that are advertised on Christmas Day. You are sanctioned. Merry Christmas" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "You apply for three jobs one week and three jobs the following Sunday and Monday. Because the job centre week starts on a Tuesday it treats this as applying for six jobs in one week and none the following week. You are sanctioned for 13 weeks for failing to apply for three jobs each week" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A London man missed his Jobcentre appointments for two weeks because he was in hospital after being hit by a car. He was sanctioned" 2011 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Youve been unemployed for seven months and are forced onto a workfare scheme in a shop miles away, but cant afford to travel. You offer to work in a nearer branch but are refused and get sanctioned for not attending your placement" 2013 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "You are a mum of two, and are five minutes late for your job centre appointment. You show the advisor the clock on your phone, which is running late. You are sanctioned for a month" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man with heart problems who was on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) had a heart attack during a work capability assessment. He was then sanctioned for failing to complete the assessment" Rex The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man who had gotten a job that was scheduled to begin in two weeks time was sanctioned for not looking for work as he waited for the role to start" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Army veteran Stephen Taylor, 60, whose Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) was stopped after he sold poppies in memory of fallen soldiers" 2014 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man had to miss his regular appointment at the job centre to attend his fathers funeral. He was sanctioned even though he told DWP staff in advance" 2014 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Ceri Padley, 26, had her benefits sanctioned after she missed an appointment at the jobcentre - because she was at a job interview" Jason Doiy Photography The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man got sanctioned for missing his slot to sign on - as he was attending a work programme interview. He was then sanctioned as he could not afford to travel for his job search" 2012 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Mother-of-three Angie Godwin, 27, said her benefits were sanctioned after she applied for a role job centre staff said was beyond her" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Sofya Harrison was sanctioned for attending a job interview and moving her signing-on to another day" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Michael, 54, had his benefits sanctioned for four months for failing to undertake a weeks work experience at a charity shop. The charity shop had told him they didnt want him there" Getty The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Terry Eaton, 58, was sanctioned because he didnt have the bus fare he needed to attend an appointment with the job centre" Getty Images

A DWP spokesperson said: Supporting people with mental health conditions is a priority for this Government and thats why were spending a record amount on mental health support, over 11 billion a year.

There are now more people with mental health conditions receiving the higher rates of both PIP components, than the previous DLA equivalents.

All PIP assessors receive training on mental health conditions, so they are able to explore claimants circumstances carefully and sensitively.

A spokesman for Atos, which carried out Ms Kirbys assessment, said: The professional and compassionate service we provide to claimants is our primary consideration.

The specific question is inappropriate and if asked would not meet the high standards and training in place which enable the sensitive and appropriate handling of assessments by our professional assessors for those with mental health conditions.

Additional reporting by PA
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Labour would change banking law to stop banks closing high street branches, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell will announce on Friday.

The Conservative Government introduced its own Access to Banking Protocol to prevent closures, but figures form the Consumers Association suggest 1,046 local bank branches closed in the UK between December 2015 and January 2017, with another 486 already scheduled for closure this year.

The Shadow Chancellor thinks changes can be made to bank law to force the big banks to keep their branches open.

Labours figures suggest that over two thirds of small businesses have said a local branch is important to them, but the British Banking Association has said that the way people use banks has changed, and forcing unused services to remain in place is unsustainable.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, will say: High street bank closures have become an epidemic in the last few years, blighting our town centres, hurting particularly elderly and more vulnerable customers, and local small businesses whilst making healthy profits for themselves. Its time our banks recognise instead that they are a utility providing an essential public service.

Only Labour will put in place the legal obligations needed to bring banks into line and stand up for our high streets, communities and small businesses.

Eric Leenders, Managing Director for Retail at the BBA said: Customers want convenient, round-the-clock banking, which has led to a digital revolution in the way they manage their money. This has had an inevitable impact on the use of bank branches, which has led to a number of branch closures. However, the decision to close a branch is never taken lightly.

Banks want to provide their customers with the service that suits them best. As well as telephone, online and mobile banking, a number of banks have been working closely with the Post Office to make face to face banking facilities available in twice as many places than ever before. Banks will be working with the Post Office to ensure that customers are aware that this option is available to them.

Emeritus Professor, Prem Sikka, University of Essex, who advised on the policy, said: Banks receive considerable financial support from the public and in return should be required to provide financial infrastructure that meets the needs of individuals and businesses.

Responding to Labours announcement, Conservative Party Vice-Chairman Stuart Andrew MP said: Labours plan for our high streets would see corporation tax going back up to 28 per cent and 500 billion of extra debt - all under a Labour leader who said that we should not be afraid of debt or borrowing.

Our support for high streets has seen town centre vacancy rates come back down since Labour were in government. Our support for small businesses has seen start up loans to help people launch new businesses, which has already helped 40,000 smaller firms across the country.
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As the village wells dried up and her livestock died in the scorched scrubland of southern Somalia, Abdir Hussein had one last chance to save her family from starvation: the beauty of her 14-year-old daughter, Zeinab.

Last year, an older man offered $1,000 (800) for her dowry, enough to take her extended family to Dolow, a Somali town on the Ethiopian border where international aid agencies are handing out food and water to families fleeing a devastating drought.

Zeinab refused.

I would rather die. It is better that I run into the bush and be eaten by lions, said the slender dark-eyed girl in a high, soft voice.

Then we will stay and starve to death and the animals will eat all of our bones, her mother shot back.

The exchange, related to Reuters by the teenager and her mother, is typical of the choices facing Somali families after two years of little rain. Crops have withered and the white bones of livestock are scattered across the Horn of Africa nation.

The disaster is part of an arc of hunger and violence threatening 20 million people as it stretches across Africa into the Middle East.

It extends from the red soil of Nigeria in the west, where Boko Harams six-year jihadi insurgency has forced two million people to flee their homes, to Yemens white deserts in the east, where warring factions block aid while children starve.

Between them lie Somalias parched sands and the swamps of oil-rich South Sudan, where starving families fleeing three years of civil war survive on water-lily roots.

Parts of South Sudan are already suffering famine, the first in six years.

In Somalia, the United Nations says more than half the 12 million population need aid. A similar drought in 2011, exacerbated by years of civil war, sparked the worlds last famine, which killed 260,000 people. Now the country teeters on the brink again.

At the moment, the death toll is still in the hundreds but the numbers will spike if the March-May rains fail. The forecast is not good.

Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Show all 18 1 /18 Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab looks after one of her nephews Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab's sister Habiba, 29, sits with her children beside their shelter at the camp Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab helps her mother and sister build a new shelter Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Women wait to fill their jerrycans at the camp Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab and her sister Habiba carry a jerrycan filled with water to their shelter Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab reads an English book in her shelter Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab looks in the mirror as she brushes her teeth using a chewing stick Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab cleans her feet before going into school Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab at the entrance of her classroom near the camp Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought English teacher Abdiweli Mohammed Hersi in the classroom Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab applies her make-up before heading to school Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab writes in class Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab attends a class Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab's sister feeds her baby in the camp Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Abdir observes Zeinab washing dishes as her nephews play REUTERS Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Abdir carries a jerrycan while her daughter Zeinab washes dishes Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought Zeinab outside her shelter in the camp Reuters Fighting for Freedom in the Somalian drought The Hussein family at the camp for internally displaced people in Dolow

As US President Donald Trump threatens to slash aid budgets, the United Nations says the drought and conflicts in the four countries are fuelling humanitys greatest collective disaster since the Second World War.

We stand at a critical point in history, undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs Stephen OBrien told the Security Council in March. We are facing the largest humanitarian crisis since the creation of the United Nations.

The United Nations needs $4.4bn by July, he said. So far it has received $590m.

Missing from the statistics are the heart-wrenching choices families make every day to survive.

Sheltering under the bare branches of a thorn tree as she waited for a cup of flour, one mother who just arrived in Dolow said she had been feeding her younger children while the older ones went hungry.

Another had left her sick 5-year-old son by the side of the road with distant kinsmen as she led children that could still walk towards help. A third woman bid goodbye to her crippled husband and walked through the desert for a week, carrying their toddler, to the place where there was food.

Hussein traded Zeinabs freedom for the lives of her sisters.

I felt so bad, she said in the ragged dome of sticks, rags and plastic that shelters her and 14 other relatives. I ended the dreams of my baby. But without the money from the dowry, we would all have died.

Zeinab, whose hennaed hands are also covered with her own inky teenage doodles, wears a tight-fitting headscarf and a long, drab skirt. Underneath are a pair of trousers with a spray of coloured rhinestones at the bottom, and an iron will. She wants to be an English teacher. She wants to finish school. She does not want to be married.

I want something different to this, she said, as her 2-year-old nephew rolled naked in the sand and his baby brother cried weakly.

Weighed against Zeinabs dreams were the lives of 20 nieces and nephews, the sons and daughters of her three elder sisters, all married young and all widowed or divorced. There was also her careworn older brother, her gap-toothed younger sister and her middle-aged parents.

Once the family had cows and goats and three donkeys that they hired out with carts for transport. But the animals died around them and Zeinab became their only hope of escape.

For a month, she refused, withdrawing into herself and running away when they forgot to lock her in her room. Finally, faced with her familys overwhelming need, Zeinab relented.

We didnt want to force her, her mother said wearily, worry lines etched into her forehead as her daughter sat stony-faced beside her. I could not sleep for stress. My eyes were so tired I could not thread a needle.

The dowry was received, the marriage celebrated, and union consummated. Zeinab stayed three days and ran away.

When her family hired cars to drive them the 25 miles to Dolow, Zeinab went with them. She enrolled in the local school, where stick walls topped by corrugated iron sheets serve as classrooms for 10 teachers and around 500 students.

Her husband followed.

He says, if the girl refuses me I must get my money back. Or I will take her by force, Zeinab said quietly. He sends me messages saying give me the money or I will be with you as your husband.

Her family cannot repay even a fraction of the dowry. Their only assets are their two stained foam mattresses, three cooking pots and the orange tarpaulin that covers their makeshift dome. There is nothing else to sell.

Then Zeinabs English teacher Abdiweli Mohammed Hersi decided to step in. Hersi has seen hundreds of students drop out due to the drought.

One girl left to work as a maid to help feed her family. Her generation was the first where the daughters were sent to school. A boy sickened and died; cholera has exploded throughout Somalia as the bacteria infects dwindling water supplies.

Five girls this year also left for forced or early marriages, Hersi said. Young, reluctant brides are not unheard of in Somalia, but they are less common in good times, he said, at least in Dolow.

Before the drought, the cases were less, he said, an inflatable globe hanging from the ceiling of his classroom. Some parents do give their children to other men to get that money.

No one knows how many families are making choices like Zeinabs.

While we dont yet have firm data, we understand from some reports that the numbers are small but increasing, particularly in the south and central regions, said Jean Lokenga, chief of child protection for the United Nations Childrens Fund in Somalia.

Other aid groups said most drought-stricken families are too poor to pay dowries after their animals died. None knew of a programme to help girls like Zeinab.

Hersi took Zeinab to a local aid group, who took her to Italian aid group Cooperazione Internazionale. The regional coordinator, visiting on a trip with EU donors, decided to intervene.

We must do something for this girl, said Deka Warsame, pouring tea for colleagues gathered to hear the story as the call to prayer sounded through the rooftops. Otherwise it will be a rape every night.

Her staff held a collection and came up with enough cash to repay the dowry. Warsame told Zeinab the group would mediate a meeting between the men of the two families. Her husband would get back his money if he divorced her in front of witnesses.

Zeinabs dark eyes flicked up from the floor.

Will I be free? she asked.

Reuters
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Flames have engulfed the roof of the world-famous Bellagio Hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

Footage taken by onlookers shows the fire on the roof of the south side of the hotel's lake.

Emergency crews responded to the fire at the luxury hotel on the citys strip famous for its fountain display just before 11pm local time.

The hotel has nearly 4,000 rooms, making it one of the biggest in the world, and its fountain - a huge display which changes in time to music - is a tourist favourite.

Clark County Fire said the situation was extremely difficult due to the location of the fire and access to the location, local TV network channel KTNV reports.

The Bellagio Hotel's fountain (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

A total of 77 firefighters are reported to have battled the flames, which have now been put out.

There has been no reported injuries and the cause of the fire is still unknown.
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The fugitive suspected of sending a 160-page anti-government manifesto to President Trump and stealing weapons from a Wisconsin gun shop has been captured by police.

Local police, who had been searching for Joseph Jakubowski for 11 days, arrested him at a farm more than a hundred miles from his hometown.

The suspect was arrested after police received a tip that a man matching Mr Jakubowskis description had been camping out on the site and had refused to leave when asked.

Officers had also received a letter apparently authored by Mr Jakubowski which threatened violent attacks on churches in the area on Easter Sunday.

In a statement posted to their Facebook page, Rock County Sheriff's Office said:

Arrangements are being made for Jakubowski to be returned to Rock County for further investigation and charges.

There has been no comment on the whereabouts of the 16 firearms missing from Armageddon Supplies, a gun shop in rural Wisconsin.

Federal law enforcement support was brought in from around the country to search for Joseph Jakubowski, who had made non-specific threats toward schools and public officials. The FBI had offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

Local press reported that the suspect was unemployed shortly before going on the run, and may in the past have worked in retail or as a roofer.

Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden said in a statement last week an associate of Jakubowski told authorities he had been "agitated" by national politics and "recently verbalized a plan to steal guns and use them in an unspecified attack."

Mr Spoden described the manifesto as a long list of injustices he believes the government and society and the upper class have put forward onto the rest of the citizens.

The news channel WTMJ has published excerpts of what is believed to be Mr Jakubowskis manifesto.

In one passage, the author describes the US taxation system as a form of terrorism. We live in a system of terrorists backed by government laws  that force people to pay government taxes! Taxes that are theft!

The manifesto also says the middle classes are a slave to the system and names bosses, managers and CEOs as targets.
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Reversing on years of comments and hundreds of tweets, President Trump declared he was "very, very proud" of the US military for dropping the "mother of all bombs" on Afghanistan - the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by American forces.

Speaking shortly after the mission which the Pentagon said was intended to destroy Isis fighters and facilities in the Achin district of Nangarhar, Mr Trump declared the strike was a successful event, although he refused to confirm whether he had authorised it.

If you compare the last eight weeks to what's happened over the last eight years, big difference, he said.

But before he became president, Mr Trump criticised US involvement in the country, while urging President Obama's administration to pull out of the country.

An August 2011 tweet said the US was "wasting lives and money in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The following year, he called the conflict a complete waste, and said it was time to come home!

Again lamenting the wars expense, in 2013, he urged the US to stop wast[ing] billions in Afghanistan, and instead use the money to rebuild the USA.

The bomb used Thursday cost around $16m, according to military information website Deagel.

Mr Trumps comments on both the Afghan and Iraq wars played into his America-first message that helped get him elected. In a December "thank you" speech, the then-president-elect promised to adopt a non-interventionist military strategy. He told supporters he would end the era of intervention and chaos.

The theme even made its way into Mr Trumps inauguration speech, in which he declared, We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.

But the rhetoric has changed now that Mr Trump has become president. Last week, the US leader ordered an air strike on Syria  the United States first direct military action in the countrys civil war.

Despite these policy shifts, however, Mr Trump has held true to one campaign promise, when he said: "I will also quickly and decisively bomb the hell out of ISIS."
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North Koreas military has threatened a merciless response to any US provocation, with the countrys government saying they are ready to go to war if that is what US President Donald Trump wants.

Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words, North Korea Vice Minister Han Song Ryol said on Friday. Its not the [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] but the US and Trump that makes trouble.

Whatever comes from the US, we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it, he said.

The Vice Minister, speaking to the Associated Press, said North Korea will certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US pre-emptive strike.

The statements echoed the strong words from the Korean Peoples Army, which released a threat via state news agency KCNA, saying Mr Trump had entered the path of open threat and blackmail against the DPRK.

The army and people of the DPRK will as ever courageously counter those who encroach upon the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK and will always mercilessly ravage all provocative options of the US with Korean-style toughest counteraction.

North Korea has continued its weapons testing in recent months, despite warnings from Mr Trump and other world leaders. Pyongyang tested two ballistic missiles in the last year, and claims it is close to developing an intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear warhead that could reach the US.

Officials expect North Korea to launch another major test on Saturday, as part of the Day of the Sun, the 105th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il Sung.

Mr Trump has taken an aggressive stance on North Korea, calling it a problem that will be taken care of. The issue constituted a principal topic of conversation in his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.

I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea, Mr Trump tweeted earlier this week. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will!

Responding to the comments from Han Song Ryol, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that there would be no winner if there was a war, having previously warned that conflict could break out at any moment.

Once a war really happens, the result will be nothing but multiple loss. No one can become a winner, Mr Wang said at a news conference with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Therefore, we call upon all the parties, no matter verbally or in action, to stop provoking and threatening each other and not to allow the situation to become irretrievable and out of control, Wang said.

He urged all sides to take a flexible approach to resuming dialogue.

As long as dialogue takes place, it can be official or unofficial, through one channel or dual channels, bilateral or multilateral. China is willing to give support to all of them, Mr Wang said.

Starting on Monday, the Chinese flag carrier Air China will suspend flights from Beijing to Pyongyang, state broadcaster CCTV reported. No reason was given for the suspension.

Air China and North Koreas Air Koryo are the only two airlines serving that route, with the latter operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Earlier this week, North Korean officials threatened a pre-emptive strike if America begins to mobilise its nuclear weapons. US intelligence officials do not believe North Korea possesses a long-range nuclear weapon capable of reaching American soil, but said they are prepared to strike if the country begins testing such a weapon.

Its high stakes, a senior intelligence official involved in the planning told NBC News. We are trying to communicate our level of concern and the existence of many military options to dissuade the North first.

The Pentagon declined to comment on possible strikes on Friday, but told The Independent their commitment to the defence of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of potential threats, remains steadfast.

The US Vice President, Mike Pence, is due to fly to South Korea on Sunday, in such a show of support for its regional ally. Aides said there were contingency plans for the trip in case North Korea carries out a nuclear test.
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At least 25 protesters have been arrested after storming Trump Tower in New York, in a demonstration against the Presidents immigration policies.

After entering through the lobby of the building which remains open to the public, they unfurled banners which said "No Ban" and "No Wall".

Others threw leaflets in various languages from a balcony, before a sit-in took place.

The action was organised by a group called Rise and Resist, who describe themselves as committed to opposing, disrupting, and defeating any government act that threatens democracy, equality, and our civil liberties.

One of the organisers, Jamie Bauer, told AM New York: My grandparents, who fled Eastern Europe looking for both religious freedom and economic opportunity, taught me to respect all people regardless of their race, nationality, or religion.

Im honouring them today by saying loud and clear that all immigrants are welcome in the United States.

Donald Trump has moved into the White House, but the luxury skyscraper is still home to First Lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron.

Ms Trump has said she intends to stay in the building until he finishes the school year, although the huge security costs of guarding the Tower while they live there has been a source of contention for New York City officials.

Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Show all 28 1 /28 Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Christian Adams for Daily Telegraph Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Martin Rowson for The Guardian Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Christian Adams for Daily Telegraph Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Morten Morland for The Times Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Bob Moran for Daily Telegraph Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Christian Adams for Daily Telegraph Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Morten Morland for The Times Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' KAL for The Economist Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Martin Rowson for The Guardian

Between November and January, it cost $308,000 (248,000) per day to secure the tower, according to the city's police force.

However, the cost dropped after Mr Trump left for the White House, though is still believed to be substantial.
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The official investigation into relations between Donald Trump and Russia now has "specific, concrete and corroborative evidence of collusion", it has been reported.

New evidence proves discussions took place between people in the Trump campaign and agents of [Russian] influence relating to the use of hacked material, a source allegedly told the Guardian.

The developments come as it has emerged that Britains spy agencies were among the first to alert their American counterparts to contact between members of Mr Trumps campaign team and Russian intelligence operatives.

 Rex Tillerson: US have "low level of trust" with Russia

British and other European intelligence agencies first intercepted suspicious interactions between people associated with the US President and Russian officials in 2015 as part of routine surveillance of Russia, intelligence sources have confirmed to a number of different publications.

Spy agencies, including GCHQ, were not deliberately targeting members of the Trump team but rather recorded communications through incidental collection, CNN reports.

This intelligence was passed to the US as part of a routine exchange of information under the "Five Eyes agreement, which calls for open sharing of certain types of information among member nations the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

 Russia and Iran have threatened the US over Syria

Over several months, different agencies targeting the same people began to see a pattern in communications between the Republican's inner circle and Russian operatives. For six months, until summer 2016, these interactions were repeatedly flagged to intelligence officials in the US, who sources have said were slow to act.

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. Theres something not right here.

GCHQ's involvement in the investigation is controversial, with Mr Trump's press secretary, Sean Spicer, having previously accused the "British spying agency" of bugging Trump Tower on behalf of Barack Obama. Mr Spicer cited an unsubstantiated report on Fox News, from which the television station later distanced itself.

At the time GCHQ diverged from its usual policy of refraining from commenting to the media, describing the allegations as "nonsense".

They are utterly ridiculous and should be ignored, a spokesperson for the agency said.

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

But both US and UK intelligence sources now acknowledge that GCHQ played an early and important role in kickstarting the FBIs Trump-Russia investigation, which began in late July 2016.

One source told the Guardian the British eavesdropping agency was the principal whistleblower.

A GCHQ spokesperson declined to comment on the revelations, saying: It is longstanding policy that we do not comment on intelligence matters.
(Xinhua) 15:20, April 14, 2017

PYONGYANG, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of the Democratic People's Repulic of Korea (DPRK), has lately highlighted the role of special forces of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in combating enemy forces of the United States and South Korea.

Local official media said Thursday that Kim, who is Supreme Commander of the KPA, has recently inspected several units of KPA special forces in the army, navy and air force, saying he was satisfied with their full preparedness for war.

When guiding the "Dropping and Target-striking Contest of KPA Special Operation Forces - 2017", Kim listened to a report on the program of the contest and issued an order for start at the observation post, said Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Seeing light transport planes made zero-feet flights in the sky dropping combatants, Kim was pleased that "the commanding officers of those task forces and pilots of the transport planes properly fixed the dropping place, the flight altitude and the dropping moment in a coordinated operation and they seemed to have made a deep study of the reconnaissance data about the enemy targets."

The contest was held at a time when tension is increasing between the DPRK and the United States over Washington's threat to stage military strikes against Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile tests.

The DPRK military has vowed to make its own preemptive strike at a time it considers appropriate.

With about 100,000 or 10 percent of the KPA personnel, the special forces are an elite force known for several infiltration operations in South Korea and abroad, notably the attack upon the Chong Wa Dae presidential palace in Seoul in 1968 and a submarine infiltration on the western coast of South Korea in 1996.

In January 1968, 31 KPA special force fighters attacked the Chong Wa Dae presidential palace, two of whom escaped back home alive while 29 were killed.

In September 1996, a submarine of the KPA was grounded off the western coast of South Korea and 26 special force fighters infiltrated the inner land for nearly two months. Most of them were killed in fighting with South Korean and U.S. forces.

As tension with the United States upsurges, the DPRK has again reminded its antagonists of its feared special forces which could strike with precision enemy targets in a non-conventional, guerrilla-style warfare.

"Those combatants carrying out their duties independently and proactively were reminiscent of fierce tigers crossing the mountain ranges in the southern half," Kim was quoted as saying during the recent drill.

"After watching an automatic rifle live bullet firing of combatants of the special operation battalion under the direct control of KPA Unit 525, he said that the bullets seemed to have their eyes and they were crack shots that never miss targets," said the KCNA report.

Kim said the contest, successfully conducted "in the significant time marking the 105th birth anniversary of former president Kim Il Sung, is like a gift of loyalty presented by the powerful revolutionary Paektusan army to the president who had worked heart and soul to round off the KPA's combat preparations, urging its service personnel to intensify trainings with national reunification in their minds at all times."

Kim Il Sung, founder of the DPRK, was a guerrilla fighter against Japanese army during World War II at the Paektusan mountain region on the border between China and Korea.

His birthday falls on Saturday, April 15, which is celebrated here as "Festival of the Sun."
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In the ruins of a tropical hideaway where jetsetters once sipped rum under the Caribbean sun, the abandoned children tried to make a life for themselves. They begged and scavenged for food, but they never could scrape together enough to beat back the hunger, until the UN peacekeepers moved in a few blocks away.

The men who came from a far-away place and spoke a strange language offered the Haitian children cookies and other snacks. Sometimes they gave them a few dollars. But the price was high: The Sri Lankan peacekeepers wanted sex from girls and boys as young as 12.

I did not even have breasts, said a girl, known as V01  Victim Number One. She told UN investigators that over the next three years, from ages 12 to 15, she had sex with nearly 50 peacekeepers, including a Commandant who gave her 75 cents. Sometimes she slept in UN trucks on the base next to the decaying resort, whose once-glamorous buildings were being overtaken by jungle.

Justice for victims like V01 is rare. An Associated Press investigation of UN missions during the past 12 years found nearly 2,000 allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers and other personnel around the world  signalling the crisis is much larger than previously known. More than 300 of the allegations involved children, the AP found, but only a fraction of the alleged perpetrators served jail time.

Legally, the UN is in a bind. It has no jurisdiction over peacekeepers, leaving punishment to the countries that contribute the troops.

The AP interviewed alleged victims, current and former UN officials and investigators and sought answers from 23 countries on the number of peacekeepers who faced such allegations and, what if anything, was done to investigate. With rare exceptions, few nations responded to repeated requests, while the names of those found guilty are kept confidential, making accountability impossible to determine.

Without agreement for widespread reform and accountability from the UN's member states, solutions remain elusive.

Here in Haiti, at least 134 Sri Lankan peacekeepers exploited nine children in a sex ring from 2004 to 2007, according to an internal UN report obtained by the AP. In the wake of the report, 114 peacekeepers were sent home. None was ever imprisoned.

In March, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced new measures to tackle sexual abuse and exploitation by UN peacekeepers and other personnel. But the proclamation had a depressingly familiar ring: More than a decade ago, the United Nations commissioned a report that promised to do much the same thing, yet most of the reforms never materialised.

For a full two years after those promises were made, the children in Haiti were passed around from soldier to soldier. And in the years since, peacekeepers have been accused of sexual abuse the world over.

In response to the AP's investigation, the UN's head of field support said Wednesday the international body was aware of shortcomings in the system.

We believe we are advancing in the right direction, especially with the secretary-general's new approach, said Atul Khare who heads the UN department in charge of peacekeeper discipline and conduct. Improving the assistance provided to victims, who are at the heart of our response, is fundamental.

Mr Khare also said the organisation was working with member states to hold perpetrators to account.

In one particularly grim case in Haiti, a teenage boy said he was gang-raped in 2011 by Uruguayan peacekeepers who filmed the alleged assault on a cellphone. Dozens of Haitian women also say they were raped, and dozens more had what is euphemistically called survival sex in a country where most people live on less than $2.50 a day, the AP found.

Haitian lawyer Mario Joseph has been trying to get compensation for victims of a deadly cholera strain linked to Nepalese peacekeepers that killed an estimated 10,000 people. Now, he is also trying to get child support for about a dozen Haitian women left pregnant by peacekeepers.

Imagine if the UN was going to the United States and raping children and bringing cholera, Mr Joseph said in Port-au-Prince. Human rights aren't just for rich white people.

US Senator Bob Corker agrees. The Tennessee Republican, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been calling for reforms in the United Nations. He may well get them under President Donald Trump, whose administration has proposed a 31 percent reduction to the US foreign aid and diplomacy budget. Mr Corker and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley want a review of all missions.

Mr Corker recalled his disgust at hearing of the UN sexual abuse cases uncovered last year in Central African Republic.

If I heard that a UN peacekeeping mission was coming near my home in Chattanooga, he told AP, I'd be on the first plane out of here to go back and protect my family.

 Haitians are urging people not to give money to American Red Cross

The Habitation Leclerc resort was once well known throughout Port-au-Prince as a lush refuge amid the capital's grimy alleyways. During its heyday in the 1980s, celebrities like Mick Jagger and Jackie Onassis would perch by the pool or stroll past the property's Voodoo temple.

By 2004, the resort was a decrepit clutch of buildings, and several children, either orphaned or abandoned by their parents, were living in its ruins.

It was there that V01 met other victims, two girls referred to in the UN report as V02 and V03 and a young boy, V08. The boy initially supported them by occasionally bringing food from his aunt, but they were often hungry.

The peacekeepers had arrived that year as part of a new mission to help stabilise Haiti in the wake of President Jean-Bertrande Aristide's ouster. The Sri Lankans, numbering about 900 troops, landed in a historically unstable country in the grip of scattered violence and kidnappings  and a broken government ill-suited to confront the chaos.

Some of the peacekeepers in the Sri Lankan contingent were based near the former resort.

In August 2007, the UN received complaints of suspicious interactions between Sri Lankan soldiers and Haitian children. UN investigators then interviewed nine victims, as well as witnesses, while the sex ring was still active.

V02, who was 16 when the UN team interviewed her, told them she had sex with a Sri Lankan commander at least three times, describing him as overweight with a moustache and a gold ring on his middle finger. She said he often showed her a picture of his wife. The peacekeepers also taught her some Sinhalese so she could understand and express sexual innuendo; the children even talked to one another in Sinhalese when UN investigators were interviewing them.

V03 identified 11 Sri Lankan troops through photographs, one of whom she said was a corporal with a distinctive bullet scar between his armpit and waist. V04, who was 14, said she had sex with the soldiers every day in exchange for money, cookies or juice.

During her interview with investigators, another young victim, V07, received a phone call from a Sri Lankan peacekeeper. She explained that the soldiers would pass along her number to incoming contingent members, who would then call her for sex.

The boy, V08, said he had sex with more than 20 Sri Lankans. Most would remove their name tags before taking him to UN military trucks, where he gave them oral sex or was sodomised by them.

Another boy, V09, was 15 when his encounters began. Over the course of three years, he said he had sex with more than 100 Sri Lankan peacekeepers, averaging about four a day, investigators said.

Under Haitian law, having sex with someone under 18 is statutory rape. UN codes of conduct also prohibit exploitation.

The sexual acts described by the nine victims are simply too many to be presented exhaustively in this report, especially since each claimed multiple sexual partners at various locations where the Sri Lankan contingents were deployed throughout Haiti over several years, the report said.

Investigators showed the children more than 1,000 photographs that included pictures of Sri Lankan troops and locations of where the children had sex with the soldiers.

The evidence shows that from late 2004 to mid-October 2007, at least 134 military members of the current and previous Sri Lankan contingents sexually exploited and abused at least nine Haitian children, the report said.

After the report was filed, 114 Sri Lanka peacekeepers were sent home, putting an end to the sex ring.

But the sexual exploitation visited upon Haiti's people didn't stop there.

Children play on the beach in Haiti (Getty)

Janila Jean said she was a 16-year-old virgin when a Brazilian peacekeeper lured her to a UN compound three years ago with a smear of peanut butter on bread, raped her at gunpoint and left her pregnant. She finds herself constantly in tears.

Some days, I imagine strangling my daughter to death, she said in an interview under the shadow of banana palms near the former Jacmel base.

With her were three other women who said they also were raped by peacekeepers. One of them sat on her heels, scraping coconut from its shell and into a large cauldron of water and corn, the barest of meals for the women and their small children.

Admiral Ademir Sobrinho of Brazil's armed forces said at a conference in London that his force had no such cases of rape, sexual abuse or sexual exploitation.

But like many, Jean did not report the rape. Nearly a dozen women interviewed by the AP said they were too scared to report the crimes out of fear they would be blamed  or worse, would meet their victimisers again.

The AP found that some 150 allegations of abuse and exploitation by UN peacekeepers and other personnel were reported in Haiti alone between 2004 and 2016, out of the worldwide total of nearly 2,000. Aside from the Sri Lankan sex ring in Haiti, some perpetrators were jailed for other cases.

Alleged abusers came from Bangladesh, Brazil, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Uruguay and Sri Lanka, according to UN data and interviews. More countries may have been involved, but the United Nations only started disclosing alleged perpetrators' nationalities after 2015.

The litany of abuses is long.

In July 2011, four Uruguayan peacekeepers and their commanding officer allegedly gang-raped a Haitian teenager. The men also filmed the alleged attack on their phones, which went viral on the internet. The men never faced trial in Haiti; four of the five were convicted in Uruguay of private violence, a lesser charge. Uruguayan officials said at the time that it was a prank gone wrong and that no rape occurred.

The following year, three Pakistanis attached to the UN's police units in Haiti were allegedly involved in the rape of a mentally disabled 13-year-old in the northern city of Gonaives.

UN officials went to Haiti to investigate, but the Pakistanis abducted the boy to keep him from detailing the abuse that had gone on for more than a year, according to Peter Gallo, a former UN investigator familiar with the case.

Finally, the men were tried in a Pakistani military tribunal, and eventually sent back to Pakistan. In theory, the tribunal could have allowed for better access to witnesses, but it is unclear whether any were called. The Pakistani authorities also refused to allow the UN to observe the proceedings. In the end, one man was sent to prison for a year, according to Ariane Quentier, a spokeswoman for the Haiti mission.

It's an indictment of how the whole UN system works, Mr Gallo told the AP.

Pakistan's military has refused several requests for comment on the case.

UN data during the 12-year period reviewed by AP is incomplete and varies in levels of detail, particularly for cases before 2010. Hundreds of other cases were closed with little to no explanation. In its review, the AP analysed data from annual reports as well as information from the Office of Internal Oversight Services.

In the wake of the child sex ring investigation, a team of Sri Lankans spent two weeks in Haiti in October 2007. They interviewed only 25 soldiers out of more than 900 in the country and concluded that just two Sri Lankan corporals and one private had sex with two young victims. Three soldiers denied sexual encounters but were suspected of lying, according to the UN investigation report.

For six months, the Sri Lankan army and the government declined to respond to AP's questions about the 2007 case. Instead, officials first dodged repeated queries, then gave vague assurances that the scandal represented an isolated incident. Last month, the Sri Lankan government acknowledged its military had conducted inquiries into just 18 soldiers it said were implicated, and that the UN Secretariat has acknowledged in writing, action taken by the Government, and informed that the Secretariat, as of 29 September 2014, considers the matter closed.

Some of the peacekeepers involved in the ring were still in the Sri Lankan military as of last year, Sri Lankan military officials say. The United Nations, meanwhile, continued to send Sri Lankan peacekeepers to Haiti and elsewhere despite corroborating the child sex ring.

Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi defended the troops, saying, People are quite happy and comfortable with the peacekeepers.

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Above a rusty bench at an abandoned bus stop in the village of Leogane hangs a sign that reads, Constructed by the 16th Sri Lanka Peacekeeping Battalion. It's one of the few physical reminders of the battalion's mission  along with children fathered by UN personnel.

Marie-Ange Haitis says she met a Sri Lankan commander in December 2006 and he soon began making night-time visits to her house in Leogane.

By January, we had had sex, she said. It wasn't rape, but it wasn't exactly consensual, either. I felt like I didn't have a choice.

She said when she first realised that she was pregnant, the Haitian translator assigned to the Sri Lankans told her to have an abortion. Then, she said, UN officials accused her of lying. As she spoke, her daughter Samantha sat on her lap wearing an oversized pair of sunglasses with a missing lens.

When she was interviewed in August, Haitis said she had been waiting nearly a decade for the UN to consider her paternity claim to help support her daughter.

Finally, early this year, Sri Lankan and UN officials told AP that a onetime payment of $45,243 had been made for Haitis' daughter. The United Nations said Sri Lanka accepted the paternity claim without proof of DNA and the commander was dismissed from service.

But such payments are rare.

UN officials said they were unable to find any members of the mission in Haiti who might have dealt with the victims in the sex-ring case and did not know what happened to the children.

An Italian non-governmental organization, AVSI, said it helped the children by trying to find homes for them, providing them with counselling and helping reintegrate them into schools, but it also lost track of the children shortly after the country's devastating 2010 earthquake.

Mr Khare, the UN head of field support, acknowledged the scope of the problem and said the global agency must do more to help victims, including gathering accurate information and following up with troop-contributing countries.

What we all want to see is justice been served for the victims of these horrendous acts, he said.

An AP review of reports on the conduct of UN field missions showed haphazard record-keeping.

In a 2008 report, for example, 19 allegations were reported in Haiti  a number that seemed to contradict the UN's own investigation report in late 2007 that identified nine children and 134 peacekeepers in the sex ring. Before 2010, the number of allegations involving minors was not specified for all UN missions.

Some Haitians wonder whether the UN has done more harm than good in a country that has endured tragedy after tragedy since it became the first black republic in 1804.

UN personnel say they have contributed to the stability in the Caribbean nation over the years, saved lives during the 2010 earthquake's aftermath and prevented violence during periods of unrest. The mission, which currently has nearly 5,000 personnel and is expected to scale down by October, has also been credited with training police, providing security during elections and support to the judiciary.

I would not say we have achieved everything we set out to do, but we are engaged in a process of continuous improvement that any harmful effect on the local populations could be minimised, if not completely eradicated, Mr Khare said.

Many here are not convinced.

I'd like to see my attacker face to face and tell him how he has destroyed my life, said 21-year-old Melida Joseph, who said she was raped by one peacekeeper and narrowly escaped being gang-raped in Cite-Soleil, a seaside slum. Like others, she never reported the crime.

They'll look at this as one big joke, she said. As far as the UN goes, they came here to protect us, but all they've brought is destruction.

Dodds reported from several locations in Haiti and London and Geneva. Others who contributed to the report were Katy Daigle in Colombo, Sri Lanka; Verena Dobnik and Jennifer Peltz in New York; Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal; Kathy Gannon in Islamabad, Pakistan; Saleh Mwanamilongo in Kinshasa, Congo; Francis Kokutse in Accra, Ghana; Brahima Ouedraogo in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; and Sylivester Domasa in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Lawyers for the passenger dragged from United Airlines flight 3411 say he may file a lawsuit  and experts say he could expect a payout of millions.

Passenger David Dao was forcibly removed from the plane on 10 April, after refusing to give up his seat for United crew members. Mr Dao, who had purchased a ticket and boarded the plane, was removed from the flight after the airline randomly selected him to deplane. He sustained various injuries from the removal.

Video of Dr Daos removal sparked outcry online when fellow passengers posted it on social media. Commenters accused the police of abuse of force, and the airline of racially profiling Mr Dao, who is Asian. United stock prices dropped 4.4 per cent in the days following.

At a press conference on Thursday, lawyers hired by Dr Dao said they would probably file a lawsuit. The day before, they filed an emergency petition asking United Airlines and the city of Chicago preserve all evidence relevant to this case.

This lawsuit will hopefully generate not just a national discussion, but an international discussion about how [passengers] are going to be treated going forward, attorney Thomas Demetrio said on Thursday.

If Dr Dao does sue, experts say he wont just generate a discussion  he may generate a sizeable settlement, too.

"My view here is Dr Dao has a very good case against United Airlines," Aviation law expert Arthur Wolk told Town & Country. "If I were United Airlines, I'd be all over him to try to get him to accept a reasonable compensation and to go away."

Jens David Ohlin, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of law at Cornell Law School, said the airline made several mistakes in removing Mr Dao. According to United Airlines terms, they can deny boarding to passengers if the flight is oversold. But Mr Dao wasnt denied boarding  he had already boarded the plane. Plus, the flight wasnt oversold. United selected passengers to deplane in order to make room for their own crew.

Bottom line is that if the airline wants to bump you from the aircraft, it must deny you boarding, Ohlin wrote in a blog post. ...If the airline doesnt like this, it should have written a different contract.

Other United Airlines terms state that the airline can remove passengers who are disorderly, offensive, abusive, or violent, but experts say that is a weak defence in this case. Video from before Mr Daos removal show him calmly telling officers why he cannot leave the plane. Fellow passengers said they were not concerned for their safety until the police officers arrived.

Aside from the airline, Dr Dao may also have a case against the Chicago police department. Mr Demetrio on Thursday accused the responding officers of using excessive force. He said Dr Dao had sustained a concussion, a broken nose, and two lost teeth.

"If you're injured, or dragged off the airplane, or falsely arrested, you can sue," Andrew Harakas, head of the aviation law group at Clyde & Co, confirmed to CNN.

Three officers from the Chicago Department of Aviation have been put on leave pending an investigation of the incident, according to department spokespeople.
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The doctor who was forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight has said being dragged down the planes aisle was more horrifying than the Vietnam War.

David Daos lawyer said the passenger, whose nose was broken when officers pulled him out of his seat on the overbooked flight, was more afraid during the incident than when he left Vietnam at the Fall of Saigon.

He [Dr Dao] said that he left Vietnam in 1975 when Saigon fell and he was on a boat and he said he was terrified, said lawyer Thomas Demetrio at a press conference.

He said that being dragged down the aisle was more horrifying and harrowing than what he experienced when leaving Vietnam.

Mr Demetrio said Dr Dao had been discharged from hospital but would need reconstructive surgery after sustaining several injuries, including concussion, injury to the sinuses and two lost teeth, as a result of his removal.

Several police officers dragged the 69-year-old physician from United Airlines flight 3411 on Monday after he refused to relinquish his seat to crew members.

Video posted on social media by other passengers shows Dr Dao crying out in protest, and later appearing in the cabin with blood on his face. The clips have been watched millions of times online.

 Man brutally dragged off United Airlines flight: "I want to go home"

Are we going to continue to be treated like cattle? asked Mr Demetrio, accusing the airline industry of having bullied its customers for far too long.

He indicated Dr Dao, who was not present at the press conference, intended to sue.

One of the doctor's five children, Crystal Pepper, appeared alongside Mr Demetrio and said the family was horrified, shocked and sickened by what happened.

United CEO Oscar Munoz has promised to review the airline's policies to make sure a similar incident never happens again, and said United will no longer use police to remove passengers from overbooked flights.

Mr Munoz initially sparked controversy when he apologised for the incident but accused Dr Dao of being belligerent, but later said: No one should ever be mistreated this way.

The airline also said all passengers on the flight would get a refund, and in a statement, United insisted that Mr Munoz and the airline called Dr Dao numerous times to apologise.

But Mr Demetrio said while his client accepts the apology, neither Dr Dao nor his family had heard from United.

The lawyer said he could not say precisely how Dr Dao was injured, as the passenger didn't remember exactly what occurred because of the concussion he suffered.

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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

Ms Pepper said her father and mother had been travelling from California to Louisville, Kentucky, and had caught a connecting flight at O'Hare.

After what happened, Dr Dao has no interest in ever seeing an airplane and will probably be driven to Kentucky, added Mr Demetrio.

United had selected Dr Dao and three other passengers at random for removal from the plane after unsuccessfully offering $800 (640) in travel vouchers and a hotel stay to customers willing to give up their seats.

Recommended Aviation insiders weigh in on the United fiasco

The three officers who removed Dr Dao have been suspended from their jobs at the Chicago Aviation Department.

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 for the employees to take 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.

Additional reporting from Associated Press
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The US military dropped the 21,000lb so-called "mother of all bombs" on Isis fighters in Afghanistan and Donald Trump's supporters could hardly contain their delight.

Conservative commentator and radio programme host Laura Ingraham showed her support for the decision to drop the Massive Ordinance Air Blast (MOAB) weapon on Isis members' caves and tunnels near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border - calling it an "excellent" development.

Piers Morgan, a vocal supporter of Mr Trump throughout the 2016 election, said the president reminded followers that the US has the world's largest and best-armed military.

Fox News Host Eric Bolling thought the use of the MOAB was a pivotal moment in Mr Trump's presidency and a turn in US foreign policy. The Pentagon and Central US Command have not confirmed that Mr Trump was the one to give the order for the bomb. The Pentagon confirmed to The Independent only that General John Nicholson in Afghanistan "received authorities" to use such weapons in January 2017.

Michael Waltz, a former Green Beret and Fox News contributor, said Mr Nicholson's decision was the right one. The bombing was meant to target IS Khorosan, a group that has branded themselves an Isis affiliate.

However, Mr Waltz claimed the MOAB would send a signal to the Taliban in Afghanistan as well.

Oliver North was infamously National Security Advisor to former President Ronald Reagan during the Iran-Contra affair, a political scandal involving the illegal sale of arms to Iran in exchange for American hostages held in Lebanon in the 1980s.

Mr Trump said he gave the US military, referring to them as "my military," "total authorisation." The 'carte blanche' approach is right one according to Mr North, who felt the previous Obama administration managed generals too closely.
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The former head of MI6 has said Donald Trump borrowed money from Russia for his business during the 2008 financial crisis.

Richard Dearlove told Prospect Magazine that what lingers for Trump may be what deals  on what terms  he did after the financial crisis of 2008 to borrow Russian money when other banks and lenders would not risk the money, given Mr Trumps history of bankruptcy.

Mr Dearlove alleged the money was used by Mr Trump to prop up his real estate empire, which was hit hard by the financial crisis. It is not illegal to borrow money from Russian entities but Mr Dearlove, who left government in 2004, did not provide any evidence to support his claim in the interview.

 Rex Tillerson: US have "low level of trust" with Russia

Just days before taking office Mr Trump tweeted that Russia has never had leverage over him.

Mr Trump also recently said US-Russia relations may be at an all-time low following the US air strike in Russian-allied Syria after a chemical attack in the Idlib province.

Robert Amsterdam, a lawyer at international law firm Amsterdam & Partners with considerable experience in Russian affairs, told The Independent there was no question that US intelligence agencies and the FBI had information about Trumps financial dealings with Russian entities prior to the 2016 US election.

Trumps relationship with Russia goes back many, many years. Im sure the FBI was monitoring it, he said.

Two parallel investigations into alleged ties between Trump associates and Russia during the 2016 presidential election as well as Russias alleged tampering with the election are being conducted in Congress at the moment.

Democrat Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee said the tactics used by the Kremlin send a chill down anyone who believes in the democratic process.

If the FBI and or other US intelligence agencies did know about any financial burden Mr Trump had with Russian lenders, it will raise further questions over why the information was not released earlier, especially given the FBI's approach to Mr Trump's opposition candidate Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election.

FBI Director James Comey infamously sent a letter on 28 October - just 11 days before Americans went to the polls - to Congress stating the agency found new, pertinent emails in its ongoing investigation into then-candidate Ms Clintons use of a private email server for messages containing classified information.

Mr Amsterdam said one possible explanation is that the FBI has an informer who was once part of the Trump organisation and that information was not released in order to protect that source.

In my view[the FBI] had no obligation to share the Trump investigation but the same rules should apply to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, he said.

Mr Amsterdam explained that Russian authorities likely have the same, if not better, information about Mr Trumps financial dealings with Russian entities.

One of Mr Trumps main lenders is a bank thats been particularly close with Russians: Deutsche Bank, said Mr Amsterdam.

It is unknown if Mr Trump is still paying off the alleged 2008 debts to Russian lenders or which part of the vast Trump organisation took out the loans.

The Congressional investigations will also include interviews and possibly hearings with Mr Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner.

It has been confirmed that Vnesheconombank, a Russian state development bank, met with Mr Kushner in December 2016.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

The bank is currently subject to western economic sanctions due to Russia's incursion into Ukraine.
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This is the video which shows the test of the mother of all bombs - the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the US military.

The GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB) was dropped on Isis positions in Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan.

Known as Isis in Khorasan Province (Isis-K), the extremist group has been gaining strength in recent months.

The MOAB is one of the most powerful bombs in the US armoury outside of nuclear weapons giving rise to its nickname.

The 10,000kg bombs explosion is equivalent to 11 tons of TNT and its blast radius is said to be a mile wide.

Designed in 2002, the MOAB has only been detonated on a handful of occasions.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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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. 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Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. 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

Its first use was at Eglin Air Force base, Florida, in 2003.

Defence officials believed the MOAB could be used as part of the US shock and awe strategy during the invasion of Iraq, and recorded the test to scare Saddam Husseins troops into surrender.

But the weapon was never deployed in Iraq, and its only combat use so far was the operation in Afghanistan.
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Wikileaks is a hostile intelligence service helped by Russia, according to the new CIA director Mike Pompeo.

In his first public speech since becoming head of the US spy agency, he said the whistleblowing website's founder Julian Assange and his ilk claimed to act in the name of liberty and privacy, their mission was actually "personal self-aggrandizement through the destruction of Western values".

His comments were in sharp contrast to those made during last years presidential election by Donald Trump and members of his campaign team  including Mr Pompeo himself  who frequently cited Wikileaks data.

The US leader told a rally he loved Wikileaks, which released emails from his rival Hillary Clinton's Democratic party that were widely considered to have damaged her campaign.

But speaking at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, Mr Pompeo said: 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. It directed Chelsea Manning in her theft of specific secret information. And it overwhelmingly focuses on the United States, while seeking support from anti-democratic countries and organisations.

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.

 Trump once said he 'loved' Wikileaks

Mr Pompeo also suggested that the whistleblowing website's founder Julian Assange and his colleagues should be denied "the latitude to use free speech values against us."

He did not say how that could be done, but said Mr Assange was not protected by the US Constitution because he's not an American.

An Australian citizen, Mr Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He received political asylum from the South American country after skipping bail to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted over a rape allegation.

Mr Pompeo noted that in January, US intelligence officials determined Russian military intelligence had used WikiLeaks to release data obtained through cyber operations against the Democratic National Committee.

American intelligence services had also found that Russian state-owned television network RT actively collaborated with the website, he added.

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 Pompeo also criticised Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who leaked documents revealing widespread government surveillance programmes.

Facing a potentially long jail sentence in homeland, Mr Snowden has lived in Russia since 2013 and has been told he can stay in the country until 2020.

"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," Mr Pompeo said. "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."

Wikileaks and others were quick to point out that Mr Pompeo himself had publicly shared a link to the groups page during the election campaign.

In a tweet which has now been deleted, Mr Pompeo wrote: Need further proof that the fix was in from Pres. Obama on down? BUSTED: 19,252 Emails from DNC Leaked by Wikileaks.

Additional reporting by AP
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The head of the parent-teacher association at a primary school in Japan has been arrested over the murder of a nine-year-old pupil.

Police have arrested Yasumasa Shibuya, 46, after the naked body of Vietnamese school girl Le Thi Nhat Linh was found near a drainage ditch in Chiba, The Japan Times reports.

Some local residents said Mr Shibuya was known as a caring father and volunteered to keep an eye out for children walking to school.

He reportedly lives 300 metres away from the victims home.

Mr Shibuya was initially charged with abandoning a body after his DNA was found by police at the crime scene about 10 kilometres away from the school.

Chiba Police said he was the only suspect in the case.

But sources at the school have also said Mr Shibuya has been collecting donations to help Linhs family return to Vietnam.

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

According to the Japan Times, the police suspects Linhs body was dumped after she died of suffocation.

The schoolgirl went missing on March 24 after leaving school and walking the 600 metres, which separate it from her home.

Mr Shibuya reportedly took over the parents' association last year.

Maki Eguchi,who heard Shibuya address the association during a meeting last year, told the newspaper: It is rare for a man to represent the association, and everyone was counting on him. He said he would help protect the safety of children and improve their academic abilities.

"He seemed like he was thinking seriously about children and making the school better.
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China has warned that conflict could break out at any moment over North Korea amid fears Pyongyang is preparing to launch a sixth nuclear test or more missiles in defiance of UN sanctions and stark warnings from the US.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the US and North Korea to take steps to prevent the situation on the Korean peninsula from going down an irreversible route.

He said: We call on all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other, whether in words or actions, and not to let the situation get to an irreversible and unmanageable stage, Xinhua, Chinas official news agency reported.

If a war occurs, the result is a situation in which everybody loses and there can be no winner. It is not the one who espouses harsher rhetoric or raises a bigger fist that will win.

USS Carl Vinson is steaming to waters off the Korean Peninsula as anticipation mounts that Kim Jong Un will stage another weapons test around the anniversary of the nation's founder (AP)

Earlier, North Korea's vice foreign minister blamed President Donald Trump for escalating tensions through his tweets and expansion of military exercises, saying the US was becoming more vicious and more aggressive under his leadership than it had been under President Barack Obama.

We will go to war if they choose," Han Song Ryol told the Associated Press.

Whatever comes from US politicians, if their words are designed to overthrow the DPRK system and government, we will categorically reject them, he said.

 Donald Trump warns 'problem' of North Korea 'will be taken care of'

He also said that despite demands from China to suspend weapons tests, North Korea would continue to build its nuclear arsenal in quantity and quality.

The US has sent an aircraft carrier to waters off the peninsula and is conducting its biggest-ever joint military exercises with South Korea.

China may also have deployed as many as 150,000 troops to the North Korea border on Sunday, as part of these exercises.

Pyongyang, meanwhile, recently launched a ballistic missile, and some experts say it could conduct another nuclear test at virtually any time.

At the end of last month US monitoring group 38 North claimed satellite images showed the regime was very close to carrying out a nuclear test, possibly to coincide with Saturday's huge military display in Pyongyang to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung.

US Vice President Mike Pence will also travel to South Korea on Sunday, in a signal of commitment to defending the country from North Korean aggression.

The White House said the purpose of the trip was to consult with the Republic of Korea on North Korea's efforts to advance its ballistic missile and its nuclear program.

Jean H Lee, a Fellow at the Wilson Center and the first American journalist granted extensive access on the ground in North Korea, told The Independent: This type of rhetoric is routine for this time of year - but that said, we have a couple of new factors. One is obviously President Trump, and the unpredictability of his statements and actions has created an unusually volatile situation.

The pace of North Koreas development of nuclear weapons is of chief concern - they have certainly been ramping up the testing.

Every time Pyongyang tests, they get closer to developing the technology they would need to put a nuclear weapon on a course to strike the US.

Another major concern is the aircraft carrier strike group in Korean waters. Everyone has their gun poised, and if somebody makes a move it could erupt into a deadly conflict. It has happened in the past, and the last few days have shown us that the Korean War not over."

Workers' Party Congress in North Korea Show all 12 1 /12 Workers' Party Congress in North Korea Workers' Party Congress in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves to the crowd as he presides over a mass rally and parade in the capital's main ceremonial square, a day after the ruling party wrapped up its first congress in 36 years by elevating him to party chairman Reuters Workers' Party Congress in North Korea North Korean parade participants wave decorative bouquets of flowers and carry their country's national flag as they march with a model of the Unha pace launch vehicle at the Kim Il Sung Square. Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans celebrated the country's newly completed ruling-party congress with a massive civilian parade featuring floats bearing patriotic slogans and marchers with flags and pompoms AP Workers' Party Congress in North Korea People react as they see North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a mass rally and parade in the capital's main ceremonial square, a day after the ruling party wrapped up its first congress in 36 years by elevating him to party chairman in Pyongyang Reuters Workers' Party Congress in North Korea High party and military officials react as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears at the beginning of a mass rally and parade in the capital's main ceremonial square Workers' Party Congress in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is accompanied by high party and military officials as he presides over a mass rally and parade in the capital's main ceremonial square, a day after the ruling party wrapped up its first congress in 36 years by elevating him to party chairman, in Pyongyang, North Korea, May 10, 2016. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj Reuters Workers' Party Congress in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un waves from a balcony of the Grand People's Study House following a mass parade marking the end of the 7th Workers Party Congress in Kim Il-Sung Square Getty Images Workers' Party Congress in North Korea Attendees cheer the arrival of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un during the 7th Workers Party Congress Getty Images Workers' Party Congress in North Korea A hostess and security guard stand inside the April 25 Palace, the venue of the 7th Workers Party Congress Getty Images Workers' Party Congress in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends the first congress of the country's ruling Workers' Party in 36 years Reuters Workers' Party Congress in North Korea Party representatives sit in the hall of the April 25 House of Culture during the party congress in Pyongyang AP Workers' Party Congress in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un listens during the party congress in Pyongyang. North Korea has brought in more than 100 journalists from around the world to make sure that the 7th Congress of its ruling Workers' Party gets global attention. Four days into the event, they allowed a small number of foreign journalists into the conventional hall where the congress was taking place Workers' Party Congress in North Korea A general view shows the April 25 Palace, the venue of the 7th Workers Party Congress in Pyongyang Getty Images

Ms Lee also said she thought sanctions against North Korea would be a more effective course of action to pursue.

Threatening to consider all options, including a pre-emptive military strike is, of course, inflammatory. Well have to wait and see whether this is the right approach.

North Korea is actually benefiting greatly from this stand off - as it plays into their desire to appear to be perceived as a strong country, she added.
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The powerful MOAB bomb was used by the US to destroy an Isis "sanctuary" in Afghanistan, the US commander in the country has said.

It targeted Isis-K, an affiliate of the extremist group also present inside Iraq and Syria.

Thirty-six Isis fighters were killed in the attack, which targeted a tunnel system, according to the Afghan military.

 Old footage of 'Mother of All Bombs' test is thought to be same bomb as US' attack on Afghanistan

General John Nicholson, commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan, told a press conference: "This weapon was used against Isis-K and their sanctuary inside Afghanistan.

"The purpose of this operation was to eliminate their sanctuary inside Southern Nangarhar... The weapon achieved its intended purpose."

He maintained the bombing in eastern Afghanistan was "the right weapon, against the right target".

There was no evidence or reports of civilian casualties, according to Gen Nicholson, citing ground forces at the scene.

He also described Isis-K as "animals" while describing their alleged actions.

Gen Nicholson said the Afghan Army was leading the fight against the "barbaric terrorists", and added that the US was united with the country's government to prevent the militants establishing safe havens in Afghanistan.

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 extremist group has been making gains in recent months in a fight largely ignored by the rest of the world - despite the presence of Nato forces in the country.

An American special forces solder was killed only a week ago in the area close to where the MOAB was deployed.

Experts say there is a risk Isis could establish a stronghold in the country and provide refuge to fighters from Iraq and Syria if not confronted.
As China's second aircraft carrier, and the country's first domestically built carrier, approaches its launch, experts predict that the third China-made carrier will see dramatic breakthroughs, such as the use of nuclear power and the capability for an electromagnetic launch.

Military expert Xu Guangyu made this forecast during an interview with BTV.

"The first domestically built carrier is likely to be like the Liaoning [China's first aircraft carrier]. It will be conventionally powered and use a ski-jump take-off, whereas the second one is likely to use a catapult take-off ... The third one, however, will benefit from major breakthroughs,and may even be nuclear-powered," Xu said.

According to Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian at a briefing on March 30, the first domestically built carrier is being outfitted with equipment, and work on it is progressing smoothly.

Military experts have agreed that the independent design and manufacturing of the carrier signifies remarkable progress in China's national defense industry. While it is not the most advanced carrier in the world, it satisfies the demands of China's national condition.

"The development of Chinese aircraft carriers is a slow but steady process. From platform construction to personnel training, it's all gradual," Xu said.
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An Australian shop owner who put a sign up banning "black teenagers and dogs has taken it down after it caused widespread outrage.

The printed sign in the window of a Melbourne milk bar read: Statement. Because the 14-18 year old black [sic] always steal. Prohibit 14-18 year-old blacks and dogs into the shop.

A resident, known as Cam, tweeted a photo of the sign and told 3AW radio of his disbelief.

"I don't think anyone in the Melton community would fancy this," he said.

Many on social media expressed revulsion - describing the sign as disgusting and labelling it hate crime - and the wording was also condemned by police.

Victoria Police does not support the language of the poster and deems the message as inappropriate," a spokesman told news.com.au.

Speaking to 7 News, the unnamed shop owner shared CCTV footage of eight black teenagers entering his shop, intimidating him and stealing goods.

He said the sign had been an impulsive reaction and that he had been hit by similar crimes 20 times in the last two years.

Despite the backlash, some came to his defence.

Local resident Luke Richardson told 7 News: Its not good but I understand why hes done it. Hes a shop owner and its his livelihood.

United Nations expert Mutuma Ruteere recently urged Australia not to water down legal prohibitions on hate speech.

The conservative government had planned to amend Section 18 C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which prohibits offending someone on the basis of race, colour or ethnicity.

However, the plans were shelved at the insistence of religious leaders in the interests of forging closer community cooperation against extremists.
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Qantas has announced an internal review into a serious and unusual mid-air incident that occurred last week, in which a jet's "stick-shaker" warning was activated and 15 passengers were injured.

Flight QF29 from Melbourne to Hong Kong was about an hour from its destination when the plane is believed to have hit severe turbulence last Friday, which lasted about two minutes.

The Boeing 747's "stick-shaker" warning came on, rattling the pilot's control stick to indicate the plane was in danger of stalling.

Experts say stick shaker incidents are so rare that most commercial airline pilots go their whole career without encountering one, other than during training.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, 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 Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Keith Tonkin, an aviation expert and managing director of consultants Aviation Projects, told the Herald, for the stick shaker to go off, it means that the aircraft is not able to sustain straight and level flight  the wings stop creating enough lift to hold the aeroplane up in the sky under controlled conditions.

The airline said customers had experienced unexpected in-flight turbulence on the Boeing 747, leading to speculation a sudden change in wind conditions threw the plane off course and into an unusual position.

We notified the [Australian Transport Safety Bureau] of the occurrence, and our own teams are also reviewing the event, a spokeswoman for Qantas said.

The Aviation Herald reported that plane was about to enter a holding pattern about 60 nautical miles south-east of Hong Kong at the time and was travelling between 340 knots and 290 knots.

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

Pilots recover from a near stall by lowering the plane's nose into a descent and putting extra thrust on the engines, allowing it to build up enough speed to create lift and return to the right altitude, Mr Tonkin said.

However, in doing so they risk straying out of a plane's allocated airspace, he told the Herald, which is especially risky in busy airspace like that near Hong Kong.

At a high altitude it's recoverable within the height that you have, if it happened at a low level it may not be, he said.

The plane landed about 24 minutes after the incident and two passengers were taken to hospital.

According to Boeing the stick shaker function takes a physical, rather than visual, form so crew members will be alerted even if they are not looking at the panel at the time.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
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Staff at a Russian newspaper have received threats of 'retribution' after they reported allegations of the mass detention of hundreds of gay men in Chechnya, its editors have said.

Novaya Gazeta, which is known for its independent and critical coverage of Russian social and political affairs, raised the alarm bell when it published a story on 1 April, claiming senior sources in Chechnya confirmed the mass detention of men because of their sexual orientation.

The newspaper also said it knew the name of at least three people that were killed in those camps but sources claim there are many more.

Editors of the newspaper said they had serious concerns for the safety of Novaya Gazetas entire staff following the publication of the article.

In a statement, the editors said about 15,000 people attended a meeting in Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic, during which an adviser to Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya, accused the newspaper of libel and declared it enemies of our faith and of our country.

At the end of the meeting, a resolution declaring the newspapers article had insulted the secular foundations of Chechen society and the dignity of Chechen men and promising retribution against the true instigators was adopted.

Speaking to Russian newspaper RBK, the mufti of Chechnya, Salah Mezhiev, confirmed that the meeting did take place in Grozny and that the resolution had been adopted.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrovs spokesperson denied the newspaper's claims on the grounds that no one in Chechnya is homosexual.

You cannot arrest or repress people who just dont exist in the republic, spokesman Alvi Karimov told Interfax.

Islam is the predominant religion in Chechnya.

But human rights campaigners have claimed gay men are being held in camps where they are subjected to torture and beatings.

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 resolution encourages religious fanatics to commit violence against journalists, the editors said.

The Novay Gazeta statement also claimed the level of violence has increased dramatically over the past three years in Chechnya.

Silence and inaction in this situation make everyone who has the possibility to do something complicit. That is why the Novaya Gazeta continues to work in Chechnya. But we are very aware of the high price we have to pay, they said.

 Hundreds protest at Russian embassy over 'gay concentration camps' in Chechnya

Activists and members of the LGBTQ community staged a protest in front of the Russian embassy this week, calling for action to protect gay men reportedly being tortured.

In 2009 human rights activist Natalia Estemirova, who was known for working on sensitive cases of human rights abuses in Chechnya was abducted in front of her home in Grozny and killed.

The same year, young journalist for Novaya Gazeta, Anastasia Baburova, who was investigating the activities of neo-Nazi groups was shot and killed together with human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov.

Three years earlier, journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot dead in her Moscow apartment.
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Russias foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has strongly warned the United States against launching new strikes on Syria.

Mr Lavrov, who hosted representatives from Iran and Syria in Moscow on Friday, said that further US intervention in Syria would entail grave consequences not only for regional but global security.

We have reiterated our position that the attack was an act of aggression, which blatantly violated the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.

We call on the US and its allies to respect Syrias sovereignty and refrain from actions similar to what happened on 7 April.

Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem said the meeting sent a strong message to Washington. Iran's Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasised that the participants warned that any unilateral action by the US was unacceptable.

The US launched a strike involving 59 missiles on a Syrian government airbase in retaliation for an apparent chemical gas attack on the town Khan Sheikhoun.

The majority of the international community has blamed the attack, which killed more than 80 people people including many children, on the forces of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.

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

However, Russia says it has seen no evidence that proves the regime was behind the attack.

Russia has alleged that the victims were killed by toxic agents released from a rebel chemical arsenal and warned against putting the blame on Damascus until an independent inquiry has been conducted. Moscow vetoed a Western draft UN resolution on Wednesday  which would have mandated the Syrian government to comply with an investigation  saying it failed to mention the need to inspect the area of the attack.

While 10 nations voted in favour, Russia and Bolivia vetoed the resolution, while China, Kazakhstan and Ethiopia abstained.

At the talks with Iran and Syria, Mr Lavrov accused the US and its allies of what he described as attempts to stymie an international probe into the attack. He expressed scepticism about a preliminary investigation conducted by the UN chemical weapons watchdog, saying its experts had failed to visit the site and it had remained unclear to Russia where the samples had been taken and how they had been analysed.

In Russia's view, the probe conducted by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) should be widened to include experts from many nations, he said.

If our US colleagues and some European nations believe that their version is right, they have no reason to fear the creation of such an independent group, Mr Lavrov added. The investigation into this high-profile incident must be transparent and leave no doubt that someone is trying to hide something.

Mr Lavrov said the US strike on the Syrian base has undermined peace efforts in Syria and reflected Washington's focus on ousting Mr Assads government. Such attempts won't succeed, Mr Lavrov said.

The three ministers also discussed the beefing up of US forces on Jordan's border with Syria, Mr Muallem said. He added that Russia, Iran and Syria have common procedures against any aggression, but wouldn't offer any specifics.

Mr Lavrov that Moscow has asked Washington about the purpose of the buildup and received assurances they were there to cut supply lines between the Islamic State group factions in Syria and Iraq.

We will keep monitoring the issue, since the only possible reason for using military force on the territory of Syria is to fight terrorism, Mr Lavrov said.

President Putin suggested on Wednesday that unnamed forces in Syria were working to frame the Assad regime with further chemical attacks. The Syrian government claimed on Thursday that US claims of its culpability for the incident were 100 per cent fabrication.

 Rex Tillerson: US have "low level of trust" with Russia

Mr Lavrov met his US counterpart Rex Tillerson in Moscow earlier in the week, but it is clear the talks did little to defuse the escalating tensions between the two countries.

In a strained press conference, Mr Tillerson said there was currently a low level of trust between our two countries.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that US-Russia relations were at their lowest level since the end of the Cold War.
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Uzbekistan says it had warned Western partners about the suspect in the Stockholm truck attack that left four people dead last week.

The countrys foreign minister, Abdulaziz Kamilov, told reporters on Friday that Uzbekistans security services had flagged Rakhmat Akilovs links to Isis before the attack.

Information on Akilovs criminal actions had been passed by security services to one of our Western partners so that the Swedish side could be informed, Mr Kamilov said, though he did not identify who the Western ally was.

Akilov, an Uzbek national, admitted to committing a terrorist crime on Tuesday.

Police believe the 39-year-old was behind the wheel of the hijacked beer truck that ploughed into pedestrians on a busy street, before crashing into a department store in the Swedish capital last Friday.

British father Chris Bevington has been named as one of the four people killed in the attack.

An 11-year-old Swedish girl named Ebba Akerlund has also been identified by her parents as one of the victims, according to Swedens TV4.

The girls parents released a statement, saying: With all our heart we thank the Swedish people for all the warmth and love you have given us in a time of despair and pain.

We now need peace and quiet to process our grief and ask for your understanding that we need to do it in peace.

Thousands have shown up to honour the victims of the Stockholm attack, lining the street outside the Ahlens department store with candles and flowers (Reuters) (Reuters/Gideon Malherbe)

Mr Kamilov told reporters that Akilov had been recruited by Isis after after he left Uzbekistan in 2014 and settled in Sweden.

According to the information that we have, he actively urged his compatriots to travel to Syria in order to fight on Islamic States side, the foreign minister said.

He added that Akilov had used online messaging services to try to convince others to join Isis.

An Uzbek security source said earlier this week that Akilov had been put on a wanted list for people suspected of religious extremism.

The source said he had attempted to travel to Syria himself to fight for Isis in 2015, but he was detained at the Turkish-Syrian border and sent back to Sweden.

Swedish police spokesman Jonas Hysing said in a news conference earlier this week that Akilov had been denied permanent residency in the Nordic country and was wanted for deportation before the attack.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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Fourteen years ago, in response to Saddam Hussein threatening the mother of all wars in the face of a US-led attack, the Bush administration broadcast a video of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb to warn of what Saddams forces faced if they dared to fight. Donald Rumsfeld, one of the chief architects of the disastrous Iraq policy, declared that 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.

After a brief pause, during which the Americans and the British were responsible for an incompetent and myopic occupation following the invasion, the Iraqis did fight, as we know. However, the mother of all bombs, as it inevitably became known, was not used in the savage strife which followed. This was, at least in part, because the terrain in which combat took place, urban and largely flattish rural areas, did not warrant its use.

The MOAB could be brought into play in a conflict against an enemy, North Korea, for example, with underground nuclear facilities. Or the Americans may choose to use their even bigger conventional bomb: the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 300-pounder which can blast through one hundred feet of reinforced concrete. However, if relations with Russia really hit the depths, then Washington should perhaps be wary of the Kremlin supplying another possible opponent, say Iran, with its father of all bombs  which is bigger than the MOAB or the MOP  with a payload equivalent to 44 tonnes of TNT and a blast radius of a thousand feet.

Just how ready the US is to take part in another war remains unclear from contradictory messages coming from Washington. As Donald Trump was announcing that he was sending an armada to North Korea, his Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, was stressing that not too much should be read into the deployment. Days after Mr Trump warned the Assad regime about the use of barrel bombs, his Defence Secretary, Gen James Mattis, was firm that the US will not intervene to stop the use of the weapon. There is a limit to what we can do, he said.

Away from hypothetical wars, the Americans had used deep penetration bombs in Afghanistan to clear Taliban positions in mountains, caves and tunnels in 2001 and 2002. They also unknowingly bombed large groups of civilians, including wedding parties, mainly because they depended on intelligence from warlords who used the US Air Force to settle tribal vendettas.

The MOAB was not invented until 2003 and by then the Americans and the British had moved on to carry out regime change in Iraq using Saddams non-existent WMD arsenal as an excuse. This led directly to the insurgency igniting in Afghanistan. With Western resources which should have been used to safeguard and develop the country moving to Iraq, the Taliban, fed and watered by its sponsors in the Pakistani military and secret police, came across the border to take advantage of the security vacuum.

The Afghan war really got under way in 2006 when the Western military returned, the British going to Helmand, and Isaf (International Security Assistance Force) was established. The policy on air-strikes had various twists and turns in the years to come. There was a period of Courageous Restraint, in which warplanes would fly very low amid much noise  show of force  but not actually fire any missiles or drop any bombs. This was meant to intimidate the Taliban without the risk of civilian casualties. It did not work. I recall being on various occasions with British, American and Afghan forces when such passes were made. The Afghan translators listening in to Taliban communications would hear them hoot with laughter. The policy was reversed.

With Western losses mounting and rising unpopularity of the war in the US and Europe, Isafs combat mission officially ended in 2013. The target size for Afghan security forces was reached  but only by shortening their already short training period. Their losses mounted. The withdrawal date had been telescoped long beforehand, giving the Taliban and other jihadist groups time to prepare offensives.

After elections in Pakistan, the new President, Ashraf Ghani, decided to reach out to the Pakisitani military hoping they would curb the Taliban. He broke protocol by going to see army chiefs before meeting the elected Pakistani government, thus undermining the already weak civilian administration. The policy did not work: the bombings and shooting became even more ferocious with the capital, Kabul, now regularly hit. The policy was reversed.

Donald Trump has inherited a mess in Afghanistan, where an American force remained behind after Isaf. Isis arrived in the country about 18 months ago and has gained some ground. This, however, should be put into context. There is little similarity between them and the group in Syria and Iraq. The Afghan version came out of Taliban infighting, there are some foreign fighters, mainly Uzbeks and Tajiks, but they previously adhered to the Taliban.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. 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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 current head of US forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, is highly respected, one of the best commanders of his generation. With long previous service in the country, he is fully aware of the fundamental problem facing this counter-insurgency mission  the support the insurgents get from across the border. It is very difficult to succeed in the battlefield when your enemy enjoys external support and a safe haven, he pointed out.

The use of the MOAB took place in Nangarhar, very near the Pakistani border where Isis leader, Hafiz Saeed Khan, was killed in an air-strike last year. The US had already killed Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the head of the Taliban and head of Isis, inside Pakistan.

So the signal, if there was one, may be to Pakistan as well as North Korea and Iran. But the one fact that does remain is that a bomb developed for the Iraq war was finally used against the forces of Islamist extremism the illegal invasion by George W Bush and Tony Blair played a key part in unleashing.
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The transfer of the Shia populations of two Syrian towns, in exchange for moving Sunni rebels and civilians out of two others, has started, under an evacuation deal between warring parties, a monitor said on Friday.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said buses carrying residents left the majority Shia towns of al-Foua and Kefraya, long besieged by insurgents in northwestern Idlib province, but had not yet crossed into government-held territory.

Buses carrying mostly Sunni rebel fighters and their families simultaneously left the town of Madaya near Damascus, encircled by government forces and their allies, but were still passing through government-held areas, the Observatory said.

It said the evacuation of Zabadani, also besieged by the government side, had been delayed until the evening or early Saturday, without elaborating.

A member of one of the Shia parties earlier said 60 buses were moving through the town of al-Foua.

A similar number of buses were leaving Madaya, the Observatory said.

Recommended Germany warns Russia to join talks if it wants help rebuilding Syria

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government has struck a number deals in the past year which have provided for rebels and their families to leave areas the opposition has held, often after months or years of being besieged by government forces.

The opposition says the deals amount to forced population transfer and deliberate demographic change.

The armed opposition fighting for six years to unseat Assad is mostly Sunni Muslim, like most of Syria's population. Assad is from the Alawite religious minority, and is supported by Shia fighters from Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

Reuters
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The sun beats down and I strain to hear Jesus voice as he stops at the Fourth Station of the Cross on his path to crucifixion. Im one of the few hundred people following the re-enactment of the Passion of the Christ in the small town of Animas Trujano, just outside Oaxaca City in Southern Mexico.

It is a white-hot Good Friday and were walking a dusty path that has seen no rain in months. Jesus voice is overpowered by the sound of the man with a little cart, shaving ice into a plastic cup, adding a sticky, syrupy flavouring and handing it out to happy customers. Raspados! he calls, selling his wares as if a man playing Jesus  carrying a cross and being whipped by Roman soldiers  isnt just up ahead. No one seems offended, either; in fact, most seem grateful for the shaved ice that cools them off in the heat. Forget Calvary; theres a queue of people eagerly awaiting this sweet, icy treat.

I swig some water as the crowd swell forward to the next Station. Up ahead, Jesus is crying and moaning. Hes taking his role seriously, pain etched across his face, body crumpling with exhaustion as he drags the heavy wooden cross he will later be raised on from Station to Station. In this town of just over 3,000 people, being chosen to play Jesus in the annual event is an honour that is accepted piously  the player is always a devout church-goer  yet theres little sense among the crowd that they need to suffer alongside him. They chatter, drift in and out, and eat and drink as they casually watch the brutal scenes. Most carry parasols to shade them from the beating sun.

Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Show all 11 1 /11 Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion 'Jesus' is a churchgoer from the town Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion The church in Animas Trujano Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Gathering round the cross Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Erecting the cross Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Jesus crosses the road Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion It's more of a day out for locals than anything else Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Parasols out, because the sun beats hard Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Jesus parades through the town Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion It's a family day out for the people of Animas Trujano Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion There's a fiesta feel to the procession Susannah Rigg Celebrating Easter in Mexico with a crucifixion Everyone follows the cross Susannah Rigg

Mexico has little religious diversity  89 per cent of the population identifies as Catholic. In Oaxaca City, saints days are celebrated almost constantly, though not as you might expect  theyre marked by loud firecrackers booming through the night. Boarding a bus will see you bombarded with images of a crucified Jesus; every time you pass a church, several passengers will cross themselves. Religion is ever-present in everyday life here, so perhaps it isnt surprising that those in attendance take the crucifixion in their stride.

Back in Animas Trujano, the fiesta feeling continues as we move through the streets. Another cart cycles past, its merchant honking a horn to alert us to his wares. Popcorn, crisps and fried plantains are his offerings and people munch loudly as we wait for the procession to move forward. The tension is building  were anxious to get to the hill and for the crucifixion to start.

After what seems like hours (and is probably at least two), we arrive at the peak overlooking the town, and preparations get under way to raise Jesus on the cross. The crowd hustles and bustles to get the best spot; children run up and down the small mounds of dry earth, balancing on tiptoes to see.

I was expecting a sombre atmosphere, and while some seem quietly reflective, whats more palpable is a spark of excitement at the spectacle  perhaps even some macabre joy. Local news photographers crowd round, trying to get the perfect shot, and a whole sea of umbrellas spring up as people shelter from the heat. The crowd chitchat, children get restless and teenagers seem to be using the time when their parents are distracted to flirt under the shade of trees. Its just another day in Mexico  except theres a man being raised on a cross in front of our eyes.

Recommended How to make the most of a trip to Mexico

Its certainly impressive. Jesus exhausted, broken body, covered in blood (fake  realistic as it looked, the whipping was just for show) is set against the bright blue Oaxaca sky. Down below, Roman soldiers dressed in deep red cloaks taunt him. The haunting sound of Marys wailing echoes round the little valley where we stand, staring up at the display before us. The actress  another member of the congregation, who can only be in her late teens  tries to run to Jesus but is pushed, weeping, to the ground by the Roman guards.

As Jesus calls out My Lord, why have you forsaken me? someones mobile starts to ring. Hi dude, shouts the man picking up. Im at the crucifixion. No one bats an eye. Maybe nothing is sacred in Mexico  or rather, perhaps, everything is.

Travel essentials

Getting there

AeroMexico flies from Heathrow to Oaxaca City (six miles away from Animas Trujano) via Mexico City from 676 return. Otherwise the journey requires one extra stop: airlines connecting in Europe as well as Mexico City include KLM via Amsterdam and Iberia via Madrid.

Staying there

Casa Oaxacas seven beautiful rooms are filled with contemporary local artwork. Doubles from $2,585MXN (111).

More information

The crucifixion takes place at the Cerro de Animas Trujano at roughly 1pm, while the procession starts around 10.30am.

viveoaxaca.org
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Already bored of hot cross buns and egg hunts? These nine countries are looking forward to a four-day festival filled with weirdness.

Self-crucifixion: Philippines

On Good Friday devoted Catholics across the Philippines line up to take part in re-enactments of Christs crucifixion, complete with self-flagellation and cross dragging. The city of San Fernando holds a passion play, culminating in the actual nailing of at least three devotees to wooden crosses in front of spectators. The Catholic Church has tried to dissuade followers from the practise and the Department of Health suggests participants should get a Tetanus shot and use sterilised nails.

Easter procession in San Fernando, Philippines (Getty Images)

Bunny killing: New Zealand

Fluffy rabbits may be synonymous with spring birth and joy but in Central Otago, New Zealand they are classed as crop destroying pests. An annual competition, now in its 26th year, recruits teams of hunters to participate in a 24 hour shoot-off with the aim of killing as many bunnies as possible. The record currently stands at 23,000.

Rabbits are a serious problem in New Zealand (Getty/iStock)

Clay pot throwing: Corfu

As church bells ring to mark the end of mass on Easter Saturday, residents of Corfu hurl clay pots off their balconies to loudly celebrate that death has been beaten by the Resurrection. The tradition was inspired by the Venetians, who threw their old and unwanted possessions out of their windows on New Years Day. It was adopted by the islanders and applied to the most important day in their calendar.

Inter-church rocket war: Chios

Churches across Greece celebrate midnight mass with a fireworks display but the island of Chios takes it to the next level with two rival churches engaging in a rocket war or Rouketopolemos. The parishes of St. Mark's and Panaghia Ereithiani are built on hilltops 400 metres from each other and they fire hundreds of homemade rockets at the oppositions belfry throughout the night. Direct hits to the bell tower are counted the next morning when the winner is declared.

Hill burning: Texas

Residents of Fredericksburg dress up as Easter Bunnies, pioneers and Comanches and parade through their tiny town before setting the hills surrounding it on fire. As the fires blaze the towns lights are lowered as part of the Easter Fires Pageant. The ceremony began in 1847 to celebrate the peace accord signed between German settlers and Native Americans.

Texans don pioneer gear for Easter (iStock/Brad Wieland)

Sprinting Virgin Mary: Italy

The procession of La Madonna Che Scappa (The Dashing Madonna) is held on Easter Sunday in Sulmona, in the Abruzzo region of Southern Italy. Followers carry statues of the Risen Christ, Saint John and Saint Peter to the Church of San Filippo Neri to announce the news of the Resurrection to the mourning Madonna of Loreto. After persuasion from the saints the Madonna slowly moves out and then suddenly dashes to meet her son, with the sound of firecrackers accompanying her sprint.

The Piazza in Sulmona, Abruzzo, home of the dashing Madonna (Getty Images)

Ultra omelette: France

Villagers in Haux, Gironde embark on their yearly quest to feed all 1,000 residents with a giant omelette on Easter Monday. On a hand built fire in the town square chefs use 5,000 eggs and 110 pounds of bacon, onion, and garlic to create the 10 ft wide dish. The village feast has only been an annual event for 30 years but many trace it back to a tale that Napoleon demanded a giant egg dish be prepared for his troops as they passed through the countryside.

Wet Monday: Slovakia

On Wet Monday dedicated men follow the ancient tradition of dumping a bucket of cold water over an unsuspecting young woman when she answers her front door. This Slovak gem is said to bless the soaked individual with fertility and strength. The men are then invited in and rewarded with dyed eggs, money and vodka.

Slovakian men prepare buckets of cold water for Wet Monday (iStockphoto)

Halloween in spring: Sweden

On Maundy Thursday, Swedish children don face paint and grab broomsticks to dress up as witches and go door-to-door asking for sweets. According to Swedish legend, witches visited the forest of Blakulla before Easter, to party with the devil as he held his earthy court.
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Whats worse than a demagogue who thinks violence is the only way? One who commands the worlds biggest military. Trumps decision to drop the mother of all bombs on caves in Afghanistan was no more than an expensive stunt. It will excite the media, fool some Americans into thinking it will help defeat terrorists and drive up his poll ratings. As Robert De Niro once said in Wag the Dog, War is show business  that's why we're here.

Dropping bombs on caves in Afghanistan wont even come near destroying Isis. Why? For a start, Isis has had little success in Afghanistan despite trying for years. The Taliban is far more of a force. And in most cases the Taliban is embedded in civilian areas rather than hiding in caves as Bin Laden did. Trump dropped a bomb to get accolades from TV news pundits. That is how success is measured in Washington DC.

But if not this, then what are we meant to do? Isis may be losing territory in Syria and Iraq but it still commands significant support worldwide. In the last month alone, we have seen Isis-inspired attacks in London, Stockholm and Dortmund, let alone Egypt and other parts of the Middle East. The group is diverting its focus from building a caliphate to creating terror elsewhere.

We don't need to panic but we do need a mature discussion on how to better defeat its sympathisers. For most of us in the West, Isis is less a military threat than an ideological foe. To defeat it we cannot bomb the sh*t out of it, as Trump wants. That will only energise supporters. So what else?

 US drops 'Mother Of All Bombs' on Islamic State cave system in Afghanistan

First, we need to accept that Isis is driven not by revenge for western foreign policy but a deep-seated hatred of all unbelievers. Theirs is a crusade against all who dont sign up to their extremist interpretation of Islam. The attacks on Sweden and Germany, let alone earlier peace rallies in Turkey and mosques in Yemen, emphasise the same point: everyone is a target. A debate on whether we invite Isis attacks is as redundant as one on whether climate change is happening.

Of course certain conditions make it easier for Isis to recruit, like dropping huge bombs on civilians, but we shouldnt confuse ideology with self-serving propaganda. Claiming that Isis is avenging the death of Muslims only feeds the image it has tried to build for itself, even as the reality is vastly different.

Secondly, Isis sympathisers cannot be treated with kid gloves. It beggars belief that Swedish authorities had the Stockholm attacker on their watchlist but did not deport him immediately. Europe has to take a harder line against those who express sympathy for terrorist groups, even if they came as refugees.

Lastly, we need to stand up more stridently against anti-blasphemy laws across the world, because they are increasingly being used to radicalise British youths. Over the last few years, Europe has let in a worryingly large number of hate preachers from Pakistan who advocate violent death for blasphemy. The hanging of Mumtaz Qadri, the bodyguard who murdered Pakistani politician Salman Taseer, has energised them. So did the murder of British man Asad Shah. Just yesterday a mob killed a student in Pakistan for being an Ahmadi.

 Old footage of 'Mother of All Bombs' test is thought to be same bomb as US' attack on Afghanistan

The same trend is surfacing in India, where anti-blasphemy laws are being used by extremist Hindus to target secular voices. The movement against blasphemy is the kind of radicalisation that aids Isis, and yet our governments have ignored it. This is short-sighted.

Isis is more than just a terror group: it is an ideology. Its creed is a hatred of pluralism and secularism. And put simply, we would have a much better chance of defeating it if we had a smarter strategy than simply dropping big bombs.
Chinas internet giant Baidu recently helped a lost child to find his family after 26 years of separation. The company has vowed to promote and harness its technology in the future to track more lost children in an effort to tackle the countrys human trafficking problem.

Cooperating with Baobeihuijia.com, Chinas best-known online platform for finding missing children, Baidu helped 33-year-old FuG ui to locate his family using facial recognition technology that can artificially age any face. Fu, who was born in Chongqing, was abducted in 1990 and later sold in Fujian province. Fu registered with Baobeihuijia.com in 2009, while his family did so in 2017.

Fu uploaded a picture of himself taken at the age of 10. In the photo provided by his family, he was only 4. That time span is long enough to significantly change a childs facial features, making it nearly impossible to identify matches by hand, a Baidu employee told Thepaper.cn.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, Baidus facial recognition technology can draw up a short list of potential identities for abducted children from pictures uploaded to the site, and a DNA test later can verify whether or not a given match is correct. Currently, the technology is capable of recognizing human facial features within a time span of 30 years. In the future, it could be developed even further to fight human trafficking.

Due to the traditional preference for male children in Chinese society, which is especially pronounced in rural areas, a dynamic black market still exists for abducted children. Some families who are unable to have biological children are willing to pay large sums of money to buy a child.
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On the face of it, Britain and its Nato allies might be tempted to welcome Donald Trumps remarkable U-turn from a global-isolationist candidate to an interventionist president. They will certainly welcome his warmer words about Nato which, he declared this week, is no longer obsolete, only three months after saying that it was. Theresa May and Angela Merkel seem to have talked some sense into him, on that at least.

The air strike against Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons and now the unleashing of Americas biggest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan have neatly switched the spotlight from the Trump administrations Russian connection and his accident-prone start on the domestic front. The courts might block his crackdown on migrants, and Congress his attempt to reform Obamacare, but the commander-in-chief has no such constraints on foreign adventures (he did not consult Congress before Syria was bombed).

In a break with the caution of the Obama years, Trump has given his military commanders more leeway to act without getting strikes signed off by the White House. It appears that the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB, also known as the mother of all bombs) fell on caves and tunnels used by Isis in eastern Afghanistan on the initiative of the US commander General John W Nicholson. Quizzed by journalists, Trump was happy to take the credit but cagey about whether he specifically authorised the bombing.

No doubt the President hopes that US action in Syria and Afghanistan will send a powerful message to North Korea, where there is speculation that Kim Jong-un might soon launch the countrys most powerful nuclear bomb so far, despite Trump dispatching a carrier strike group towards the Korean peninsula.

 US drops 'Mother Of All Bombs' on Islamic State cave system in Afghanistan

European diplomats believed that Trumps election made North Korea the worlds most dangerous flashpoint, and the unexpected tension between Washington and Moscow over Syria will not change that judgement. Anxiety about the sheer unpredictability of Trump as the worlds self-appointed policeman will temper Europes relief that he will not turn his back on Nato after all.

The Presidents reassuring remarks were designed to clear the air before he meets his Nato allies for the first time at a summit in Brussels next month. However, he will doubtless come with a strong warning that they must shoulder more of the burden carried by the US. Only five of Natos 28 members, including the UK, have hit the agreed target to spend 2 per cent of their GDP on defence.

But money may not be enough. Trump will probably want his fellow Nato members to give a stronger commitment to backing the US with boots on the ground as America pursues a more muscular strategy against Islamist terrorists and tyrants like Bashar al-Assad. That could cause problems for the EU nations who do peace but not war and for Britains already overstretched armed forces.

Trumps surprise switch from America first to world first could carry more than a financial price for Nato members. The freer rein given to US military commanders has already led to an upsurge in civilian casualties in Iraq and Syria, according to groups who monitor them. The Pentagon has admitted that an air strike in Syria accidentally killed 18 members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces on Tuesday.

It appears no civilians were killed in the Afghanistan bombing, but theres no guarantee that will happen in future interventions, especially in towns and cities and when terrorists ruthlessly use local people as human shields.

 Donald Trump warns 'problem' of North Korea 'will be taken care of'

The British Government cannot take too much comfort from Trumps about-turn on Nato. If he demands more military backup from Americas allies, the UK could be caught in no mans land between the US and the EU. That happened to Boris Johnson this week when he tried to win the G7s support for further sanctions against Russia but could not convince France, Germany and Italy.

Perhaps the Foreign Secretary was too eager to throw off the Washington poodle label attached to him after calling off his trip to Moscow to leave the field clear for Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State. Johnson allies insist he had reason to think that France and Germany might support sanctions. Yet the Europeans left Johnson exposed during his first big test on the international stage.

Some Brexiteers hope the UK will be able to act as a bridge between America and Europe after we leave the EU club. They will have to dream on. Johnsons burnt fingers suggest the UK may enjoy less influence with our EU ex-partners, however strongly it plays the security card. In any case, it will be impossible for anyone to be a bridge between the dangerously unpredictable Trump and anyone else.
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War-whoops and loud applause from foreign policy establishments and their media supporters have greeted President Trumps missile strike in Syria, the dropping of the worlds largest non-nuclear bomb on Afghanistan and the dispatch of a naval task force in the direction of North Korea.

This spurt in belligerence over the last week has as much to do with domestic American politics as any fundamental new development in the rest of the world. Trump needed to defuse the accusation that he was too close to President Putin and too tolerant of a Russian ally like Bashar al-Assad. The resort to military action was largely in keeping with the old Pentagon saying that defence policy ends at the waters edge, meaning that it is politics inside, not outside the US, which is the real decision-maker.

Whatever Trumps precise motives, his sudden fondness for the use of armed force shows that what President Obama criticised as the Washington playbook is back in business as the guide for conduct of American foreign policy. Its a playbook that comes out of the foreign-policy establishment, said Obama in an interview with Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic Monthly last year. And the playbook prescribes responses to different events, and these responses tend to be militarised responses.

The poison gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun that killed 87 people and the retaliatory firing by the US of 59 missiles at a Syrian airbase was the occasion, but not the cause, of the volte face in Trumps foreign policy. Previously, he had defied the conventional wisdom of the powers that be in the US and in Britain and France on a host of issues, such as relations with Russia, Syria, China, Nato and the EU.

 Cockpit video of MOAB airstrike in Afghanistan

There was something comical about the outrage expressed by self-declared experts at Trumps new departures. Anti-Trump forces interpreted any contact, however fleeting, between any Russian and any member of the Trump team, past and present, as a sign of possible treachery in a way that would have made Senator McCarthy sigh with envy.

Simple-minded though some of Trumps declarations might appear, others were more realistic than anything said by Hillary Clinton or Senator John McCain.

In Syria, for instance, the main problem for the US and its allies is and has long been that, though they would very much like to get rid of Assad, the only alternative appears to be anarchy or the empowerment of Isis and al-Qaeda clones. Clintons policy, insofar as she had one, was to pretend that there already existed, or could be created, a third force in Syria that would fight and ultimately replace both Isis and Assad. This is the sort of fantasy that is frequently common currency among think tanks and dedicated experts, often retired generals or diplomats working as TV commentators.

Trumps summary of what was happening in Syria expressed during the presidential campaign was far more realistic. He said that his attitude was that you are fighting Syria, Syria is fighting Isis, and you have to get rid of Isis. Russia is now totally aligned with Syria, and now you have Iran, which is becoming powerful because of us, aligned with Syria... Now were backing rebels against Syria, and we have no idea who these people are.

There is nothing quite so frightened or ferocious in the world as an established order that is subjected to criticism questioning its core beliefs. Hence the embarrassing relief shown by so many world leaders, academic specialists and media commentators at the news that the direction and management of US foreign policy is returning to its old norms. Their optimism may be premature but they would clearly welcome a Trump administration neutered of any radical intentions.

Ignored in this is the fact that the militarised options favoured by the Washington playbook that Obama came to so despise have produced little but disaster in the post-9/11 era and are likely to do so again. Almost everything advocated by the Washington foreign policy establishment since the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001, Iraq in 2003, Libya and Syria in 2011 and Yemen in 2015 has created or exacerbated the conflicts. Note that none of these wars have ended or show much sign of doing so.

 Donald Trump says Nato 'no longer obsolete'

Obama could see what was going wrong, though he generally responded with stoic resignation rather than attempting to change the course of events. But his analysis of the weaknesses of the US foreign policy establishment and its policies is full of fascinating insights relevant to the more conventional policy on which Donald Trump is now apparently embarking. Goldberg says that Obama questioned, often harshly, the role that Americas Sunni Arab allies play in fomenting anti-American terrorism. He is clearly irritated that foreign policy orthodoxy compels him to treat Saudi Arabia as an ally. He had similar misgivings about US links to Pakistan.

TV channels and op-ed writers who treat the expertise of Washington think tanks with such fawning reverence should reflect on the Obama White Houses view of these institutions. Goldberg, who spoke to Obama and his staff over a long period, reports: A widely held sentiment inside the White House is that many of the most prominent foreign policy think tanks in Washington are doing the bidding of their Arab and pro-Israel funders. Ive heard one administration official refer to Massachusetts Avenue, the home of many of these think tanks, as Arab-occupied territory.

Remarkably, none of the foreign policy establishments feel that they have done anything very wrong in the Middle East since 9/11. If the governments they advise or belong to really wanted to bring to an end to the eight or more wars being waged in the great swathe of territory between Pakistan and Nigeria, they would have made more effort to do so.

The Trump foreign policy has always been a contradictory mixture of chauvinism and isolationism, of making America great again and keeping out of other peoples wars. But the isolationist element in this appears to be waning, as illustrated by the US actions in Syria, Afghanistan and towards North Korea over the past week along with the more confrontational attitude towards Russia.

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

This is in keeping with prescriptions of the playbook, but is more dangerous than before because of the Trump administrations tendency to shoot from the hip, particularly in the direction of Iran. Relief in foreign capitals that much authority is in the hands of experienced generals may be displaced. None of these soldiers were quite as successful or farsighted in Iraq and Afghanistan as their admirers now proclaim and they have a natural tendency towards resolving problems by force.

The only real way to prevent another mass killing, such as that of the 87 people killed by chemical weapons in Khan Sheikhoun on 4 April or the 278 killed by bombs in Mosul on 17 March, is to bring these wars to an end. Measures that do not do so, but purport to deter the perpetrators or limit the suffering, are pure hypocrisy.
HSBC has said some of its largest clients have already asked for their business to be routed through the bank's offices in mainland Europe and aren't waiting to see what Brexit deal the UK hammers out with the continent's trading bloc.

"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 than their UK divisions," said Noel Quinn, head of global commercial banking.

Executives at multinational companies are "making plans to ensure they can continue to trade irrespective of the outcome. They can't afford to wait for a decision that may not emerge until two years' time".

Global banks have started arranging for some British-based operations to move to new or expanded offices inside the EU after British Prime Minister Theresa May triggered discussions to leave the trading bloc.

Privately, many executives at the world's biggest firms are now assuming the result will be a "hard Brexit" - the loss of their right to sell services freely around the region from the UK.

That means they have to put contingency plans in place before the end of the two-year negotiation period.

Mr Quinn, who sat on the executive committee of HSBC, Europe's largest bank, since December 2015 said some companies were also evaluating whether to "flip" their regional head offices to European cities from Britain.

This would require them to reclassify the UK branch as a country office that would become a subsidiary of the continental headquarters, he said.

This may result in some small-scale job moves and lost taxation for the UK government, as firms start reporting the purchase and distribution of services elsewhere.

"Larger companies that already have a pan-European presence are going to find it easier to invoke a plan B than the smaller ones," Mr Quinn said. "They're not losing faith in the UK, but the reality is businesses or even individuals themselves will start making their decisions before the answer emerges from the Brexit process."

HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver has said as many as a thousand of HSBC's traders and salespeople, who generate about 20pc of the investment bank's revenue, will relocate from London to Paris after Prime Minister May confirmed the UK would leave the single market. Some French staff have already asked to return home, sources said.

The bank decided to keep its headquarters in London rather than move to Asia or France in February 2016 after a year-long review. (Bloomberg)
The British government are attempting to minimise the damage done by Brexit

A leading Government negotiator on Brexit has said that there is a realisation in the UK that the decision to leave the EU was an act of great self-harm.

John Callinan, the Governments leading official on Brexit, told a union conference that there was a dawning realisation in the UK that Brexit was an error and that UK politicians were now focussed on trying to minimise the damage.

Mr Callinan was speaking at a Brexit seminar organised by the trades unions Unite and Impact. As the second secretary-general at the Department of the Taoiseach, Mr Callinan has intimate knowledge of how negotiations have been developing.

He also said there was evidence of strongly divergent views within the British administration. He added there were oversimplistic views of what Brexit is and what it will do to Britain in the context of wider public debate.

Mr Callinan said hthe Government was relatively pleased that Ireland had been specifically mentioned in the negotiating guidelines outlines by the EU earlier this mnth. However, he added "Its a good start, but were at the very beginning of a difficult and challenging negotiation process."
Over the past three years Macra has helped 25,000 acres of land across Ireland pass into the hands of younger farmers.

Its Land Mobility Service is responsible for 282 land arrangements, as part of a pilot programme, and will now be rolled out nationally.

The service came about because of the lack of land available to young farmers  statistics show that 25pc of farmers in Ireland are over 65 years of age and 48pc have not identified a successor.

Last year the service helped 144 arrangements, which included farm-to-farm arrangements such as contract rearing; cow leasing. It also helped 51 cases of share farming, 57 partnerships and 128 long leases be established.

It had its most success in Cork and Kilkenny with these counties accounting for 61 and 49 transactions respectively.

One of its success stories is Kevin Moran, a winner of the Macra na Feirme Young Farmer of the Year competition, who despite having no land is now milking over 200 cows on leased. Another young farmer who was helped through the scheme is James Moloney who grew up on a small dairy farm in Cork that is run by his father and brother. Through the scheme James is now in a share milking partnership with a progressive land owner in Limerick.

Macra recently launched details of its land mobility three-year pilot programme and said the service had allowed hundreds of young farmers gain access to land and resources while still allowing older farmers maintain the ownership of their land.
On April 9, a Chinese couple arrived at the Cape Verde Islands in Africa after nine hours in the cockpit of a China-made Y-12 aircraft.

The flight, covering a total distance of 2,700 kilometers, set a new record. The couples itinerary started from Fortaleza, Brazil, and ventured over the Atlantic Ocean before reaching its final destination.

The Y-12 is a twin-engine utility aircraft built by Harbin Aircraft Industry Group. Its maximum range, about 1,340 kilometers, was adjusted to 2,700 kilometers before the flight.
Higher rise building needs to be allowed in Dublin to cushion a growing population or the city will spread as far as Athlone, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said.

The minister said he often asks developers why there is so little apartment building going on within the canals in the capital, and the reply he gets is that the price of land is too high.

The price of land in building is really the unit cost of the land. If the local authority was to allow another five or six storeys, well then the unit cost goes down, Mr Noonan argued.

He said there was a combination of factors at play around the housing issue in Dublin, but said current height limits on buildings in the capital needs to be addressed.

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Im not for bad planning, but every city in the world in its central area allows people to live, especially young, single people, in apartments. It doesnt have to be as low rise and confining as it is in Dublin at present, he told TDs and Senators at the Oireachtas Budgetary Oversight committee.

Apartment heights in low-rise areas of the inner city in Dublin are limited to 24m.

Mr Noonan said the National Planning Framework - the successor to the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) - is currently being worked on amid predictions that the population of the Republic will be one million larger in 2040 than now.

If it [Dublin] continues the low rise model, the city will stretch as far as Athlone when another million people go in on top of it. So there are huge issues, Mr Noonan said.

Business bodies the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and IBEC have also called for a revision of the height limits. Dublin Chamber this week called for higher urban density and greater building heights to be allowed.
The top 50 US companies have a total of $1.6 trillion (1.5 trillion) stashed offshore and are depriving governments around the world of much needed tax revenues, according to a new report from charity Oxfam.

The issue of taxation for major corporations has become a live one for politicians of every hue in recent years as the aftermath of the financial crisis put a squeeze on the middle classes around the world.

National governments have been beset by dwindling tax revenues while some of the wealthiest companies on earth continue to extract large profits from consumers buying their products in the real economy.

The use of complex and opaque tax structures is now widely viewed as an unacceptable strand of globalisation. Communal action has been taken; more than 100 tax jurisdictions, including Ireland, have committed to the OECD's Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (Beps) guidelines that require companies to be more transparent about their tax affairs. But can this work?

The Beps guidelines centre around 15 actions aimed at substantially increasing the global tax take from the multinational sector, while simultaneously making it much more difficult for companies to shift profits around.

Of course, such tax reforms are vigorously opposed by lobbyist groups who represent the companies. The Oxfam report states that the top 50 US companies spent around $2.5bn on lobbying activities between 2009 and 2015. US President Donald Trump has proposed tax reforms for these companies that would see them repatriate the offshore funds back to the US.

Ireland has been one of the countries that has come under greatest scrutiny for the facilitation of tax avoidance for the multinational sector. The European Commission (EC) ruling last year - which said Apple owed Irish authorities 13bn in back taxes - triggered incredulous reactions from the Government and Apple.

Both have appealed the verdict to the European Court of Justice.

Nonetheless, the latest Oxfam report shows that Apple currently has $200bn held offshore.

Ireland and the EC also clashed recently over the Commission's Common Consolidated Corporation Tax Base (CCCTB). This would see companies declare their income on a country-by-country basis, something already agreed with the OECD.

However, the EC is advocating that the information be made public. The Government has said that this approach runs contrary to what was previously agreed.

In a speech back in February, Mr Noonan criticised the CCCTB proposals, saying: "I can't work to two masters who've given me different sets of instructions, and I can't dance to two different tunes.

"The Commission is departing from what was agreed internationally at OECD level and I think that's bad practice," he added.

The spat shows just how difficult it has become to tie down a specific set of agreed tax standards that country's across the globe are willing to adhere to.

With many countries using tax policy to bolster economic performance, it remains to be seen if the existing loopholes can be closed sufficiently to ensure a higher tax take from global corporations.

It remains to be seen whether some countries would benefit at the expense of others from a wider shift in tax practices.
Shelved plans for a 500m gas terminal on the Shannon have been revived as a result of Brexit, with PwC mandated to find a buyer to fund the huge Shannon LNG project at Balylongford, close to Tarbert.

The site has planning in place for a deep-water jetty, storage facilities for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and connections to the Irish national gas network.

The scheme ran aground two years ago when the original owner, US investor Hesse, pulled out in part because regulators here insisted they'd have to contribute as much as 50m a year to support infrastructure including the cost of interconnectors linking the Irish gas network to supplies from the UK.

That was despite the fact that gas landed via the Shannon Estuary by ship from suppliers in the US and the Middle East would bypass the UK pipes.

The Irish Independent has learned that Hesse sold Shannon LNG to Sambolo Resources, a private Irish company, in November 2015.

Accounts for Shannon LNG filed with the Companies Office state that Sambolo Resources is controlled by its directors, who separate accounts for Sambolo list as Paddy Power and John Power, both of Monkstown in Dublin. It is understood that PwC is now advising Sambolo on fresh efforts to secure a financial sponsor to develop the Kerry site, which have gained traction as a result of Brexit.

The project is expected to cost at least 500m, but investors are likely to be able to tap matching funds from public sources.

EU authorities have designated the Ballylongford scheme as a European Project of Common Interest, meaning it could access funding from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and the European Investment Bank.

Ministers are thought to be keen to see the site developed fearing that a post-Brexit trade regime could lead to tariffs being imposed on gas piped into Ireland from Britain.

Shannon LNG is designed to import gas through a 3m tonne a year (mta) terminal, with four LNG storage tanks, each with capacity for 200,000m, and a jetty big enough to handle massive 266,000m Q-max LNG carriers - named because they are the biggest ships that can dock at Qatar's gas terminal. Shannon LNG also has planning permission to build an associated 500MW combined heat and power (CHP) plant.

Reuters Project Finance International, a highly regarded trade publication, has reported that the requirement that operators of the planned terminal contribute to the UK gas interconnector has been dropped as a result of a European draft directive granting special arrangements to LNG terminals connecting, allowing the project to proceed once a sponsor is found.

About 70m has been invested in the project to date, largely by Hesse.

Meanwhile, 600 acres of neighbouring land that is zoned for industrial development is on the market.

The parcel is owned by Shannon Commercial Properties, part of the same State company that operates Shannon Airport and owns an extensive portfolio of industrial property in the Midwest region. (Additional reporting Reuters)
The banks move to jettison toxic residential mortgages comes as all Irish lenders mull how best to ditch legacy loans. (Stock image)

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 announced 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 Government's 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 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 bank's move to jettison toxic residential mortgages comes as all Irish lenders mull how best to ditch legacy loans.

As reported by this newspaper last month, Permanent TSB is expected to finalise a strategy on its 5.9bn book of non-performing loans by mid year and is tipped to follow in AIB's wake and offload a similar-sized portfolio of mortgages.

While many offshore banks have cast off impaired residential mortgage books, Irish lenders have so far adopted a more patient stance given the political and social tensions generated by taxpayers' 64bn bail-out of the sector.

The number of legal proceedings issued by banks to repossess homes has halved in the past two years, defying fears of a flood of evictions as lenders grapple with mortgages issued during the property boom.

But Lorcan Sirr, a lecturer in DIT's School of Surveying and Construction Management and a vocal advocate for greater legal protection for tenants and homeowners, stressed residents of properties controlled by opportunist investors remain vulnerable.

Long-term

He said private equity funds are not "long-term" players in the market, pointing out that legislation aimed at preventing mass evictions - the so-called Tyrellstown amendment - can be easily circumvented.

"What they do instead is sell in batches of nine units", Mr Sirr said, adding the properties are often snapped up by another set of buy-to-let investors.

AIB's project Cypress deal will be closely monitored by the market as other lenders weigh similar moves. The bank swung back in to the black this year and is the first of the Irish banks to pay a dividend.
A company built around the research of Craig Wright, who claims to have invented the bitcoin digital currency, has been sold to a private equity firm in a deal the company says is the biggest to date involving blockchain technology.

The deal turns the spotlight once again on Wright, a 46-year-old computer scientist who is the digital currency'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."

Malta-based High Tech Private Equity Fund SICAV said on Thursday that it has bought nChain Holdings, "the world leader in blockchain-centric research and development".

The fund is managed by Liechtenstein-based Accuro Fund Solutions, part of Zurich-based Accuro Group. It put no value on the deal but a person close to the deal said $300m (238m) had been invested in nChain.

Reuters has previously identified nChain, formerly EITC Holdings, as Wright's vehicle for filing hundreds of bitcoin and blockchain-related patents. UK records confirm that the company has filed more than 80 bitcoin and blockchain-related patents. (Reuters)
Pressure on British companies to ditch a common performance-related bonus scheme blamed for generating excessive executive pay has not stopped many firms from planning to stick with such schemes for another three years, a Reuters analysis shows.

In theory, so-called long-term incentive plans (LTIPs) aim to legitimately encourage management success in boosting shareholder returns. Yet a series of corporate scandals and lucrative payouts has made them a target for criticism.

Politicians in Britain last week recommended LTIPs be phased out from 2018, while Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's biggest, wants them scrapped. The British government has also launched a review of corporate governance including incentive plans.

Exemplifying LTIP generosity, advertising company WPP paid chief executive Martin Sorrell more than 70m (82.5m) for 2015, more than 60m of which came through an incentive scheme - a payout that a third of WPP shareholders declined to support.

However, most top companies have retained LTIPs as part of executive pay when seeking investor approval for a three-yearly remuneration policy at shareholder meetings. Analysis by Reuters of company annual reports and data from governance advisory firm Manifest shows 59 members of the FTSE 100 blue-chip stock index recently updated their remuneration policy or plan to soon, of which 56 currently use or plan to continue using LTIPs.

Companies use a range of data to calculate the payouts, with many referencing the firm's share price. (Reuters)
Late former US ambassador Dan Rooney and his wife Patricia in 2013 Picture: Arthur Carron/Collins

Taoiseach Enda Kenny led tributes last night to former US ambassador to Ireland and Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney, who died at the age of 84.

Mr Rooney was appointed as US ambassador in 2009 by former US president Barack Obama.

He was sworn in by then secretary of state Hillary Clinton and remained in the post until 2012, when he resigned to help Mr Obama campaign for re-election.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dan Rooney. Dan was a personal friend of mine and the proudest Irish supporter of the Pittsburgh Steelers," Mr Kenny said.

"During his time as American ambassador to Ireland Dan visited every county in Ireland and his work brought both the United States and Ireland closer together.

"Dan was a founding president of the Ireland Fund. He leaves a massive legacy."

Mr Rooney was born in Pittsburgh in 1932. He married Patricia Regan in 1952 and the couple had nine children.
Shocked residents spoke today of their deep concern and sadness at the brutal killing of a young father by a gang who savagely beat him before he was deliberately run over with a car.

Crime scene garda tape cordoned off a large section of Brookview Close in Tallaght in Dublin today where the callous killing of Stephen Lynch happened at 7pm yesterday.

The victim, aged in his early 30s, from the nearby Glenshane area of Tallaght, died at the scene.

Mr Lynch was attacked by a number of men, who drove over him with a car when he tried to flee the area.

Eye witnesses said that the victim was "dragged halfway up the road" by the vehicle during the attack.

The car used in the fatal assault was left at the scene and will be forensically examined by gardai.

One of the males seen fleeing the scene also dropped a mobile phone, which will also be examined by gardai.

Locals in the Brookview estate were forced to lift the car off Mr Lynch as he lay fatally injured on the ground.

"People are very upset. It happened in front of children who were playing in the area," said a 36-year-old father of one on Friday morning.

"When I heard the commotion I went to see what was happening. The man was lying trapped underneath a car and people were shouting 'He's under the car, he's under the car.'

Expand Expand Previous Next Close Flowers at the scene of the killing of Stephen Lynch at Brookview Close, Tallaght this morning Credit: Tony Gavin The scene last night Picture: Caroline Quinn / Facebook

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"Then around 15 people lifted the car off the body and they dragged him out from under it.

"There were marks where the car had drove along the road with the body trapped underneath it.

"When they got him out someone came and put a blanket over him while people called for an ambulance.

"It was an awful thing to happen to such a young man," he said.

"The ambulance came after 10 minutes but I think there was nothing they could do for him," he said.

Investigating detectives have yet to establish a definitive motive for the killing.

One line of inquiry being looked at is that the attack is linked to an ongoing dispute in the local area.

The scene of the killing was shrouded in an early morning silence. A bearded young man arrived with a bouquet of flowers and asked the uniformed gardai on duty where he could place the flowers.

He was shown to a corner of the street beside the garda cordon where he placed his bouquet which had a brief written message 'Stephen, You'll be sorely missed.'

"He was a very nice guy. We were the same age or maybe he was a year older," said the 32-year-old friend.

"I've known him since we were kids," he said.

A 37-year-old mother of three said: "I was awake half the night thinking about it. It's terrible. My children are normally out playing but luckily they weren't there last night.

"It's shocking. I'm very sad for his family. Hopefully they'll get whose responsible," she said.

Fianna Fail councillor Charlie O'Connor said "I was at the scene last night. People are deeply shocked. The whole community feel great sympathy for his family.

"It's a terrible thing to happen on Holy Thursday. I would ask people to cooperate fully with gardai who are seeking witnesses to what happened. It was truly appalling," he said.

Sinn Fein Councillor. Cathal King went on social media to declare: "A young man Stephen Lynch who I have known for more than a decade and his mother...

"They murdered poor Stephen....he was a harmless young man who hadn't a bad bone in his body," he stated.

He denounced the killing as "despicable" and said he had "a type of friendship" with the victim.

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tallaght Garda Station on 01-666 6000.
THE family of US president Donald Trump will put "a lot of money" into Doonbeg golf course - if a new project gets planning permission.

However Mr Trump's son, Eric, warned "the lights get turned off" if part of the property falls into the sea.

Eric Trump also believes his father is showing "real back-bone and real leadership" to the rest of the world.

He said: "You have seen what has happened in Syria which was the worst atrocity that you can ever imagine - innocent women and children being gassed by an awful dictator."

Eric Trump said that his father was ensuring that the US was "standing up for principles of a civilised world and coming forward as a major superpower to make sure that those atrocities don't continue".

In an interview with Gavin Grace on Clare FM's 'Morning Focus' show, Eric Trump said: "I think he is going to be judged in an amazing way.

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"He is an amazing man. He has been the greatest father in the world to me.

"He is a great guy who is doing an amazing job for the United States."

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In an interview that took place at the Trump Doonbeg resort in west Clare, Eric Trump said that his father "is a guy who loves this property, he loves Ireland, he loves everything about it and he is stuck with the most difficult job in the world".

He said: "We bought this property together.

"We did all the renovation and a lot of blood, sweat and tears have made this property something special and you are seeing the final result now."

Trump Doonbeg has an application before the council for a scaled-down version of a coastal protection plan that was withdrawn by the golf club last year.

"The process is going to yield a really great result," Eric said. "Everyone wants to see the golf course at Doonbeg remain incredibly vibrant because no one wants to see the sea wash it away because, without a golf course, you don't have a hotel.

"If a certain part of the property is destroyed, you don't have a viable hotel and the lights get turned off, and I think people realise that," he added.

"Of course, you want to see things happen faster, and at the same time I understand process and I think we are going to do very, very well in the process and especially because the community is 100pc behind the efforts."

Eric said the resort was the lifeblood of hundreds of employees, who he called extensions of his family.

He said the employees were "amazing people", who rely on the property "every single day" for jobs.

Eric Trump added: "He always loved it, he loved the warmth, he loved the atmosphere, he loves Ireland in general.

"From a big picture standpoint, Ireland will have no better ally in the world than America, it has always been that way, but even more so."

Eric Trump said that his father "gave up his life to do something incredible for his country. He has made real sacrifices to do what he has done - not many people in his position would do the same thing".

He said: "My father loves the US and he was sick of the direction that it was going quite frankly, which is a reason he stepped up to the plate and won."

Eric said that his father stood for president at a time when "the jobs were going overseas, median income was not increasing, an educational system that was depleted, a military that was depleted, a lack of leadership that we were exhibiting around the world".
A thief from southwestern China's Yunnan province was recently arrested after sharing on social media a photo of himself next to the Chinese word "" (poor person), spelled out in stolen red 100-RMB notes. The thief, surnamed Liu, held no job. Early in the morning on April 4, he and two co-conspirators planed to steal money from cars parked along the street. They managed to open one car's door after attempting to break into about 30 other vehicles. All three thieves were arrested by local police.
Undated handout CCTV image issued by Greater Manchester Police of the the man detectives would like to speak to following the death of Dylan Crawford

The man police wish to speak to (left). Spear street where Dylan Crawford (inset) was found (right).

Police are looking to trace a man over the death of a 20-year-old man in Manchester city centre.

Dylan Crawford, from Ireland, was reportedly found unconscious in Spear Street in the eary hours of Wednesday and was later taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary.

A post-mortem examination was inconclusive as inquiries continue to establish the death of Mr Crawford, from Killygordon, County Donegal.

Two men arrested on suspicion of theft and supplying prohibited drugs continue to be questioned as police issued a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the death.

Detective Inspector Rebecca Boyce, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Our investigation into Dylan's death continues and we have now released an image of a man we want to speak to.

"If you recognise him or the clothes he is wearing, please get in touch.

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"We are still keen to speak to 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.

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"No piece of information is too small, and it may be vital to our investigation."

In a statement issued on Thursday, Mr Crawford's 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 can't 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.
'From Cork I travelled to Macroom, and making no delay there, I pushed on, on my bicycle," wrote Padraig Pearse in the newspaper Claidheamh Soluis in November 1904.

He was on a mission to search for Gaelic Ireland and, like so many Irish people in the early 20th century, he travelled around the country on his bike. Almost 100 years later, a young man brought an old bicycle into High Nelly Bikes in Limerick. The bike had been in an attic for the best part of a century and was in need of some attention. As the engineer checked it over, the young man casually mentioned that the bicycle had belonged to Padraig Pearse. "I've no way of knowing if the story was true or not," says Martin Mannering, founder of High Nelly Bikes. "But it all added up. Pearse lived with his mother and the house went to her when he died, with the bicycle in the attic." The young owner, Pearse's great grand nephew, inherited the bicycle.

"He wasn't planning to sell it - it was a piece of heritage that he wanted to preserve."

The bike was of the type known as a High Nelly or 'Safety Bicycle'. The vast majority of Safety Bicycles in Ireland were manufactured in Raleigh's Dublin factory, which operated from 1939 to 1976.

Other bicycles were made by BSA, the Birmingham Small Arms factory, and imported to Ireland. After 1922, BSA supplied bicycles to the Irish Army. Vintage bicycles are hugely popular, but that does not mean the old High Nelly at the back of the shed is going to make you rich. A vintage Safety Bicycle in uncertain condition will be worth between 50 and 100. And, if you decide to have it restored, a full refurbishment from High Nelly Bikes will set you back 1,000. "That will bring it back to the day that it was bought 90 years ago," says Mannering.

Your local bicycle repair shop would be able to restore an old bike relatively cheaply by replacing old parts with new ones, but restoring the original parts is an expensive business. For example, the handlebars on Padraig Pearse's bicycle cost 570 to rechrome. A new set of handlebars costs 50. Vintage bicycle enthusiasts, though, are happy to pay for authenticity, and professionally renovated vintage bikes tend to hold their value. The High Nelly has a special place in Irish history but more recent bicycles are also considered collectible.

The Raleigh Chopper, made between 1970 and 1980, is now considered a design classic (back then, we thought it was a health hazard). With Harley-Davidson type handlebars, a central gear stick and a long padded seat, it was a cool-looking bike but almost impossible to steer. In 1972, the manufacturers revised the design to prevent the bicycle tipping backwards (that happened a lot).

Vintage Raleigh Choppers aren't expensive to buy. You might pick one up for anything from 50 to 200. A fully restored 1973 traditional red Chopper could be worth 1,000 and a rare model, like the 1977 Silver Jubilee Chopper, might sell for 2,000 in tip-top condition. The Chopper Mark III launched in 2004 helped to revive interest in the originals.

"There's a huge resurgence of interest in vintage bicycles," says Jimmy Dee of the Travelling Bicycle Museum. "I'm trying to save as many as I can." He's recently rescued a 1920s Clown Bike from the Russian State Circus.

The Travelling Bicycle Museum is based in Offaly but travels to schools, fairs and community events across the country. To make a booking, call 086 1708184 or email kidshalee@gmail.com. See also highnelly.ie.

In the salerooms

O'REILLY'S

The emerald is one of the spookiest stones, but most of the superstitions around them are positive. The ancient Roman scholar Pliny wrote: "Nothing is more intense than the green of emerald and sight is refreshed and restored by gazing upon this stone."

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Apparently he convinced the Emperor Nero to wear emerald sunglasses. Emeralds guard against dysentery and epilepsy, cure snakebite and ward off witches (yeah, right!). There are plenty of emeralds at O'Reilly's Auction of Fine Jewellery, Watches & Silver, which takes place on April 26 at 1pm. These include an Art Deco emerald and diamond pendant by Hallberg of Sweden on a chain and in its original fitted box (est 10,000 to 11,000); a platinum- mounted emerald and diamond ring (above) (est 3,000 to 3,500) and many more.

If you're buying one as a gift, don't present it on a Monday - that diminishes the emerald's supernatural power! See oreillysfineart.com.

DE VERE'S

The still life paintings 'William Scott' (1913-1989) bring a sense of presence to the most humble of household utensils, treating jugs, bowls, pots and pans with a dignity rarely seen outside the studio pottery movement. His work is expensive and highly regarded.

At De Vere's Irish Art Auction, which took place on April 4, Scott's 'Still Life' (1973), a beautifully simplified abstract treatment of domestic vessels, sold for 140,000. Scott was Irish by the skin of his teeth - his father came from Enniskillen.

In the same sale, 'From The Woods Shadow' (1953) by Jack B Yeats (1871-1957) sold for 82,000. It shows a boy walking in the Phoenix Park, arm extended. It came from the collection of Mr and Mrs Frank Vickerman who donated Yeats' magnificent horse painting 'For the Road' (1951) to the National Gallery of Ireland in 1978. 'Muingingaun' (Maiden Stream) by Hughie O'Donoghue (b. 1947) sold for 35,000, exceeding its upper estimate by 5,000. For full results, see deveres.ie.

WHYTE'S

There were bargains to be had at Whyte's online art auction, which took place on April 3. The emphasis of the sale was on affordable art, with the vast majority of pieces selling for less than 1,000.

Exceptions included a number of paintings by Tony O'Malley (1913-2003), which came from the collection of George and Maura McClelland. A pair of panels by O'Malley: 'Small Panel Painting I' (1975) and 'Small Panel Painting II' (1981) sold for 2,500, while two works in gouache 'Untitled (Still Life)' (1964) and 'Untitled (Crows)' (1973) sold for 1,000 and 1,150 respectively.

'A Cool Spot At Clapper Mill, Lamorna, Cornwall' (1941) by Samuel John Lamorna Birch (1869-1955), an impressionistic pastoral landscape with cattle, sold for 2,300.

For full results, see whytes.ie.
(Xinhua) 19:57, April 14, 2017

GUANGZHOU, April 14 -- Lu Ziyue, former mayor of Ningbo in east China's Zhejiang Province, went on trial for accepting bribes on Friday.

Prosecutors accused Lu of taking advantage of his positions to seek benefits for units and individuals and of accepting money and valuables worth more than 147 million yuan (21.35 million U.S. dollars) between 1999 and 2016.

The case was tried at the Intermediate People's Court of Zhuhai City in south China's Guangdong Province.

Lu confessed to his crimes during the trial, according to the court. The verdict will be announced at another date.

The CPC discipline inspection agency announced in June that Lu had been expelled from the CPC and dismissed from public office following a corruption investigation.
Sienna Miller arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "The Lost City of Z" at the ArcLight Hollywood on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Executive producer Brad Pitt attends the premiere of Amazon Studios' "The Lost City Of Z" at ArcLight Hollywood on April 5, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Sienna Miller arrives at 'The Lost City of Z' UK premiere at the British Museum on February 16, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Sienna Miller attends the Christian Dior show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018 at Musee Rodin on March 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Dior)

British actress Sienna Miller has brushed off romance rumours linking her to Brad Pitt, branding the reports "predictable and silly".

The American Sniper beauty was recently spotted attending a group dinner in Los Angeles, where Brad was also among the guests, and sources claimed the pair was caught doing some "serious flirting".

One insider told the New York Post's Page Six gossip column Brad and Sienna were "heavily enjoying each other's company", but the actress has dismissed the claims, insisting there is no truth to the speculation.

"I'm not going to even dignify it with a response," the actress remarked to Page Six when quizzed about the reports while promoting her new film, The Lost City of Z, which Brad executive produced.

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"It's predictable and silly," she added.

Brad, 53, has been single since splitting from his wife Angelina Jolie in September, while Sienna, 35, reportedly struck up a relationship with her Foxcatcher director Bennett Miller last year.

She has also remained close to her former fiance, actor Tom Sturridge, since calling off their engagement in 2015.

The exes are parents to four-year-old daughter Marlowe, and Sienna recently told Harper's Bazaar magazine she still has strong feelings for Tom.

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"We still love each other," she told the publication earlier this year. "I think in a break-up somebody has to be a little bit cruel in order for it to be traditional, but its not been acrimonious in a way where you would choose to not be around that person."
Cosmopolitan magazine has come under fire for framing a cancer story as a weight loss article

Cosmopolitan magazine has come under criticism from readers for framing a cancer story as a weight loss inspiration.

On Monday, the magazine caused outrage when it posted a tweet: "How this woman lost 44 pounds without *any* exercise."

The tweet featured a photo of Australian fitness Instagram star Simone Harbinson in a pink lace-up crop top and had the lighthearted tone of a weight loss article.

But readers who clicked on the link were shocked to discover the article profiled a woman whose body image improved after she went through a series of health scares, including a severe kidney infection, a malignant carcinoid tumor of the appendix, the removal of part of a colon, infections and a partial lung collapse.

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As criticism raged online, Cosmopolitan changed the headline to: "A Serious Health Scare Helped Me Love My Body More Than Ever" before deleting the initial tweet promoting the article.

Readers accused the magazine of promoting a "thin at any cost" culture by framing cancer as a weight-loss method.

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However, the magazine is upfront that its story is about body image. I was never satisfied with my shape or weight, Simone says at the start of the story.

She explains that she had a complicated relationship with her body before noting that her weight-loss journey was overshadowed by a waterfall of health scares.

But infuriated readers claim the weight loss aspect of the story overshadowed the bigger picture.

Cosmopolitan is the latest major brand to come under fire in recent days, after Kendall Jenner's cancelled Pepsi ad and United Airlines physically removing a passenger from an overbooked flight.

Video of the Day
Ivanka Trump attends U.S. President Donald Trump's strategy and policy forum with chief executives of major U.S. companies at the White House in Washington, U.S. February 3, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

Ivanka Trump's most used accessory is something you might not have even noticed before.

As First Daughter, Ivanka Trump's every move has been monitored since her father's inauguration as president of the United States in January.

From her social media accounts to her wardrobe choices, Ivanka's every move has been watched by millions worldwide.

However, her most used accessory seems to have avoided any attention from the public.

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It's not a handbag, necklace or bracelet, but rather Ivanka's ever-changing eye colour.

While eyes can change colour depending on light intensity, the difference in Ivanka's eye colour suggests that she uses coloured contact lenses.

From deep brown to light green, the mother-of-two shows that eye colour can be your most subtle yet most effective accessory, whether it's a result of contacts or not.
The weapon unleashed 11 tons of explosives on the area.

An attack on a tunnel complex in Afghanistan using a bomb dubbed the mother of all bombs has left 36 Islamic State militants dead.

The weapon used was known officially as a GBU-43B or massive ordnance air blast weapon (MOAB) and unleashed 11 tons of explosives on the area.

Heres everything you need to know about the attack.

What happened?

The MOAB was dropped in a remote mountainous area of Nangarhar province near the Pakistan border.

The bomb was the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the US military.

Why was the area targeted?

US army general John Nicholson, the commander of American forces in the country, said IS were using bombs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defence.

The US estimates 600 to 800 IS fighters are present in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar.

What was the outcome?

The bomb killed 36 IS fighters, and its believed the death toll could rise. The Ministry of Defence said in a statement that several caves and ammunition caches were also destroyed.

What about civilians in the area?

No civilians are thought to have been killed.

Pakistani villagers living near the Afghan border said the explosion was so loud they thought a bomb had been dropped in their village by US planes targeting terrorists in Pakistan.

PJ Crowley, a former US air force colonel, said civilians wouldve only been impacted by the blast  which he likened to creating a minor earthquake in that particular area  by the tremors that followed.

How have officials reacted to the incident?

US president Donald Trump called Thursdays operation a very, very successful mission.

Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai condemned the attack stating it was not used in a fight against terrorists but the country of Afghanistan.

I vehemently and in strongest words condemn the dropping of the latest weapon, the largest non-nuclear bomb, on Afghanistan by US military, he said.

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.

The Site Intelligence Group, which tracks extremist organisations, reported a statement from the Afghan Taliban condemning the US for its terrorist attack.

The statement said it is the responsibility of Afghans, not the US, to remove IS from the country.
A satellite image released and notated by Airbus Defence and Space and 38 North shows the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Korea. Photo: Pleiades CNES/Spot Image via AP

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, right, arrives for the official opening of the Ryomyong residential area, a collection of more than a dozen apartment buildings, in Pyongyang yesterday

NORTH Korea may already have the capability to launch missiles carrying the nerve agent sarin, Japan has warned.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe yesterday said the security situation in the region was growing "increasingly severe", amid rising concern that Pyongyang was poised to throw down the gauntlet to Donald Trump with a nuclear test.

"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," Mr Abe told the Japanese parliament's diplomacy and defence committee.

International tensions have been mounting after analysts said Pyongyang was preparing a nuclear test site to mark the 105th anniversary of its first supreme leader Kim Il-sung's birth tomorrow.

North Korea has been known to test its military hardware on the anniversary before.

Meanwhile, a US navy strike group continued to steam to North Korean waters, a show of force by Mr Trump after he vowed that Washington would act alone to confront the reclusive state over its military buildup.

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Mr Trump is concerned over leader Kim Jong-un's plans to develop a missile which could reach the continental United States, although he is thought to be more likely to target either South Korea or Japan with a strike.

North Korea is not a signatory to the international Chemical Weapons Convention. It is thought to have as many as 5,000 tonnes of chemical weapons, a stockpile which reportedly has 25 types of agents, including sarin.

Pyongyang has carried out five nuclear tests since 2006, including two last year.

A Washington-based think-tank named 38 North, which monitors North Korea, said satellite images on Wednesday showed activity around its Punggye-ri nuclear test site near the east coast that indicated it was ready for a new test.

However, South Korean officials said there was no increased activity to suggest that a test was imminent, while Japan said military action was unlikely.

A sixth nuclear test would be in breach of US sanctions and a direct challenge to President Trump, who has been warning Pyongyang that Washington's patience is at an end.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi attempted to ease tensions yesterday.

"Military force cannot resolve the issue," Mr Wang said, in comments which echoed those of Xi Jinping, the Chinese president.

He called for a peaceful resolution to the North Korean issue in a phone call with Mr Trump on Wednesday.

Mr Wang also warned that history would hold to account any party that instigated military action.

Meanwhile, influential Chinese newspaper the 'Global Times' said China would protect North Korea if it vowed to give up its nuclear weapons.

An editorial in the daily tabloid, which has close links to the ruling Communist Party, said: "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."

China has, however, already taken a "big step" in putting pressure on North Korea by turning back shipments of coal from its neighbour, Mr Trump said. The move is expected to cause serious economic concerns for the impoverished nation. China is Pyongyang's biggest trading partner and coal exports were worth over 1bn to North Korea last year - one third of its export income.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
North Korea has warned Donald Trump that it is prepared for war and is ready to use its "powerful nuclear deterrent".

Vice foreign minister Han Song Ryol blamed the US president 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, Mr Han warned the US against provoking North Korea militarily, saying: "We will go to war if they choose."

He said: "If the US comes with reckless military manoeuvres then we will confront it with the DPRK's pre-emptive strike," referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We've got a powerful nuclear deterrent already in our hands, and we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US pre-emptive strike."

Speaking through an interpreter provided by the foreign ministry, Mr Han was calm and polite but forceful throughout the 40-minute interview.

Tensions are deepening as the US 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 any time.

"That is something that our headquarters decides," Mr Han said of what would be North Korea's sixth nuclear test.

"At a time and at a place where the headquarters deems necessary, it will take place."

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Many North Korea watchers believe North Korea could have a viable nuclear warhead and a ballistic missile capable of hitting the US mainland on Mr Trump's watch as president - within the next few years.

Mr Han, however, said North Korea blames Mr Trump and the US for the rising tensions.

He cited not only the US-South Korean wargames and the deployment of the aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, but also a tweet Mr Trump posted on Tuesday in which he said the North is "looking for trouble".

The president also tweeted that if China does not do its part to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, the US can handle it.

"Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words," Mr Han said. "So that's why. It's not the DPRK but the US 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 North's leadership have fanned Pyongyang's anger.

"As long as the nuclear threats and blackmail go on with the military exercises, we will carry forward with our national defence build-up, the core of which is the nuclear arms build-up," Mr Han said.

"Whatever comes from the US, we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it."

Outwardly, there are few signs of concern in North Korea despite the rising tensions.

Instead, the country is gearing up for its biggest holiday of the year, the 105th anniversary of the birth of the late Kim Il Sung, the country's founder and leader Kim Jong Un's grandfather.

The Saturday anniversary may provide the world with a look at some of North Korea's arsenal.

newest missiles on display during a military parade that could be held to mark the event.
The European Commission is working to "push" British companies out of contracts for the latest phase of work on the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system, according to reports.

The body is understood to be calling for the right to cancel existing contracts if a supplier is no longer based in a European Union member state.

The total cost of the latest project is 10bn and managed by the European Space Agency.

The 'Financial Times' reported that the commission is demanding that any company kicked out of the programme should be asked to finance the cost of finding a replacement supplier.

"It feels like the UK is being targeted. We have been fighting to stay involved in Galileo whereas some European partners are working to push us out," a UK government official said.

The majority of Galileo's existing satellites have been provided by the UK's Surrey Satellite Technology, majority owned by France-based Airbus.

British companies with interests in the project include Qinetiq, CGI, Airbus and Scisys.

Responding to the news, Tory MP Philip Davies said: "This is more evidence that the EU is an inward-facing, backward-looking protection designed to protect inefficient EU businesses and French farmers.

"That is why an outward-looking, international, free-market country like the UK does not belong there."

Andrew Rosindell MP added: "The EU is now clearly pursuing a project punishment strategy against the UK. It's a foolhardy way to go for an institution that is rapidly losing credibility amongst the peoples of Europe.

"Britain will very soon not be a member of the EU, but Europe will need the UK's involvement and co-operation in the future, in all kinds of ways. So, in the end the EU will be cutting its own nose off if it keeps sticking the knife into Britain like this."

To retain access to Galileo after Brexit, the British government will need to negotiate a new security relationship with the EU.

Under the new terms being called for by the commission, contracts for the project could be cancelled any time after 2019, just after Brexit.

A senior executive from a UK-based space systems company said: "We may be forced to consider withdrawing from our UK market operations."

Another said: "We will be looking at . . . who is best placed to participate. If you have the option not to do work from the UK this gives you a reason to think that is safer."

A commission spokesman said that "similar" termination clauses have been standard since 2003, and insisted that the new clause was "not prepared in view of Brexit".

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Interpol has joined the hunt for a British teacher wanted over the death of a colleague in Burma.

Gary Ferguson, 47, also from the UK, was found dead with head and chest wounds in Rangoon in November last year.

Burmese police said Harris Binotti, thought to be from Dumfries but who has also lived in Aberdeen, has not been seen since he and Mr Ferguson had been drinking together in the commercial capital of the country.

The 26-year-old is wanted on suspicion of carrying out the attack, but is understood to have left the country, also known as Myanmar, shortly after the death.

Interpol has now issued an international 'red notice' alerting police forces around the world that Mr Binotti is wanted for extradition.

The notice states that he faces a charge of murder and describes him as 1.68m (5ft 5in) with brown hair and blue eyes.

Both men taught English at the Horizon International School in the city, which is also known as Yangon.

Mr Ferguson had worked there for a year while Mr Binotti had been there for around three months.

A Facebook page for Mr Binotti shows that he had a number of different jobs before taking up a post as an English teacher in Rangoon.

These ranged from being a holiday representative, a ski representative and an assistant duty hotel manager.
French judges have asked for far-right leader Marine Le Pen's parliamentary immunity to be lifted, the latest setback in a presidential election campaign in which she is no longer assured of reaching the decisive second round.

The judges are investigating the alleged misuse of European Union funds by Le Pen, a member of the European Parliament, to pay for party assistants. Their request was signed on March 29 but only revealed on Friday. A source confirmed it to Reuters.

Even before the latest twist in her legal woes, a lacklustre performance in television debates, a campaign that has been more focused on her main rivals and a misstep over France's role in World War Two had all chipped away at her poll ratings.

Though opinion polls still put Le Pen in first or second place in the first round of voting on April 23, her three main rivals are now close enough for any two of the four to go through to the May 7 runoff.

An IFOP-Fiducial poll on Friday saw her winning 23 percent in the first round, down 0.5 percentage points from the previous poll and against a high of 27 percent she scored in February.

The same poll saw her main rival, centrist Emmanuel Macron, unchanged on 22.5 percent, while conservative Francois Fillon and leftist firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon each had 19 percent.

Other polls have shown as little as three percentage points between the top four contenders. No opinion poll has shown her winning the runoff.

"The campaign has not focused on immigration or security, which would have allowed her to be at the heart of the discussion. And we're now seeing a bit of an impact from the judicial probes," said Jean-Daniel Levy of pollster Harris Interactive.

"It's all very wide open," Levy said, when asked who would qualify for the runoff.

LEGAL HEADACHES

As well as the row over party assistants, Le Pen's other legal woes include an investigation into the finances of her National Front party in northern France targeting her chief of staff, an investigation into the financing of past campaigns and a probe into her tweeting of pictures of Islamic State violence.

While pollsters had until recently seen little direct impact from these cases on her ratings, Le Pen's refusal to go to a police summons over the EU funds allegations may have hit her support. She based her refusal on her immunity as an EU lawmaker.

A fringe candidate in the presidential election, far-left car factory worker Philippe Poutou, used this to challenge her during a TV debate this month.

His line - "When we workers are summoned by the police, we go, we don't have workers' immunity" - left Le Pen silent and was widely picked up on social media.

Le Pen's denial this week that the French state bore any responsibility for the mass arrest of Jews in Paris during World War Two may also have dented her ratings.

"One can assume that her comments on the Vel d'Hiv have also harmed her," said Emmanuel Riviere of Kantar pollsters.
Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on the Paris headquarters of far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen.

The Front National 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 Pen's Front National 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 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," Mr Fekl told RTL radio, without giving any details about the attack itself.

He added: "We have been in touch with the Front National candidate's 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. 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 24pc, with the vote scheduled for April 23.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
A truck conveys wood at a container dock of the bonded port area in Qinzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 13, 2017. The Qinzhou bonded port, with its 15 international container shipping lines, plays an important role in the bilateral trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrive to attend a press conferece after their talks in Moscow on April 12

A man carrying a child following a suspected chemical attack, at a makeshift hospital in the town of Khan Sheikhoun, Syria. Photo: AP

Bashar al-Assad speaks during an interview with AFP in the capital Damascus. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has accused the US of fabricating last week's chemical attack to justify a military strike, even as British investigators confirmed the use of toxic sarin gas.

In his first interview since the attack on the northern opposition-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, which left 86 dead and hundreds injured, Mr Assad said his regime could not be responsible as it was no longer in possession of any chemical weapons.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists," Mr Assad told the AFP news agency, referring to rebels who control the area.

"It fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack.

"It's stage one, the play [they staged] that we saw on social network and TVs, then propaganda and then stage two, the military attack," he said, questioning the authenticity of the video footage which drew international outrage.

"We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhoun. Were they dead at all?"

He said the opposition-held town had no strategic value and was not currently a battle front.

The bombing prompted US President Donald Trump to order the first major military action of his presidency, launching dozens of cruise missiles at the airfield from where the chemical attack was believed to have been launched.

The Syrian president insisted once again that the regime gave up its entire stockpile to the UN's Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in 2013 after the last major chemical 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," Mr Assad said.

The Syrian government and its Russian backer claims the victims were killed by toxic agents released from a rebel chemical arsenal hit by Syrian warplanes.

However, an American official countered that US intelligence had intercepted communications from members of the regime and its chemical experts talking about preparations for the bombing of Khan Sheikhoun. The intercepts were part of an immediate review of all intelligence in the hours after the attack to confirm responsibility and have only now been analysed, the unnamed official told CNN.

Nothing in the messages confirms that Russian officials had any knowledge ahead of the attack.

The Syrian president's comments came as a British delegation at the OPCW finished testing on samples from victims of the attack who had been treated in Turkey.

They said yesterday that they tested positive for nerve agent sarin, or a "sarin-like substance". However, the OPCW's fact finding mission is not expected to report its full findings for another three weeks.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain believed the Syrian regime carried out the chemical attack.

"We believe it is highly likely that the attack was carried out by the Assad regime," she said in a televised statement.

"Apart from anything else, we believe it's the only regime that has the capability to make such an attack."

Mrs May said Russia was on the "wrong side of history" supporting the dictator and attempting to cover up his responsibility.

On Wednesday, Russia vetoed a draft resolution brought by the UK, US and France to condemn the killings and to call for an independent investigation.

It was the eighth Russian veto of a resolution on Syria throughout the course of its civil war.

Kenneth D. Ward, the American ambassador to the OPCW, accused Moscow of "abetting" the Syrian government by continuing to block attempts to get to "the truth".

Relations between Moscow, one of Mr Assad's few international allies, and Washington are at their most fraught since the Cold War.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said ties had worsened under President Trump, a prospect which would once have been difficult to imagine given his incredibly strained relationship with his predecessor, Barack Obama.

"Right now we're not getting along with Russia at all," Mr 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.

However, Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state, on Wednesday called for a new era of co-operation between the world's nuclear powers during a visit to Moscow, saying they could not afford for relations to deteriorate further.

A misdirected airstrike on Tuesday by the US-led coalition killed 18 allied fighters battling Isil in Raqqa, northern Syria, the US military said yesterday.

Elsewhere, Britain's GCHQ tipped-off security services in the US about alleged meetings between Mr Trump's presidential campaign team and potential Russian spies, it has been claimed.

A source close to UK intelligence said that the listening post had become aware at the end of 2015 of possible "interactions" and that this information was then sent across the Atlantic.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
A YOUNG British tourist has been stabbed to death in Jerusalem.

The woman, thought to be in her early 20s, was attacked while she travelled on a light rail train near the Old City, which was packed as Christians celebrated Good Friday and Jews marked Passover.

The woman was rushed to a medical centre but died soon after.

Israeli police say she was attacked by a Palestinian man who stabbed her repeatedly.

Two other people, including a 30-year-old woman, received minor injuries in the incident on Friday morning when the tram came to an emergency stop, it was reported.

The Times of Israel said paramedics from Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's national ambulance service, tried to save the injured woman and carried out cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on her before taking her to Jerusalem's Haddash Hospital Mount Scopus.

MDA tweeted: "Stabbing attack in Jerusalem. MDA EMTs (emergency medical technicians) and paramedics treating a severly (sic) injured individual.

"EMTs and paramedics treating and performing CPR on a woman in her 20s. MDA teams evacuating 25 year old woman in critical condition with stab wounds to her upper body part to hospital.

"MDA teams also treated 30 y/o pregnant woman and 50 y/o man who were injured during the incident."

Zeevi Hanfling, a emergency technician, said: "Police officers led me into the train where a young girl was lying unconscious (with) stab wounds to her upper body part."

Police detained a 57-year-old man at the scene, and a spokesman told the Times of Israel he appeared to suffer from "mental problems".

Superintendent Micky Rosenfeld said the attack, which took place near Tzahal Square, was carried out by an "Arab terrorist".

Tweeting a photo of an apparently blood-stained knife, he said: "Arab Terrorist arrested who carried out attack is from Rasel Amud", adding that security in the area had been increased.

A British Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are in touch with local authorities following an incident in Jerusalem on April 14."
A young British tourist has been stabbed to death in Jerusalem.

The woman, thought to be in her early 20s, was attacked while she travelled on a light rail train near the Old City, which was packed as Christians celebrated Good Friday and Jews marked Passover.

The woman was rushed to a medical centre but died soon after.

Israeli police say she was attacked by a Palestinian man who stabbed her repeatedly.

Two other people, including a 30-year-old woman, received minor injuries in the incident on Friday morning when the tram came to an emergency stop, it was reported.

The Times of Israel said paramedics from Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's national ambulance service, tried to save the injured woman and carried out cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on her before taking her to Jerusalem's Haddash Hospital Mount Scopus.

MDA tweeted: "Stabbing attack in Jerusalem. MDA EMTs (emergency medical technicians) and paramedics treating a severly (sic) injured individual.

"EMTs and paramedics treating and performing CPR on a woman in her 20s. MDA teams evacuating 25 year old woman in critical condition with stab wounds to her upper body part to hospital.

"MDA teams also treated 30 y/o pregnant woman and 50 y/o man who were injured during the incident."

Zeevi Hanfling, a emergency technician, said: "Police officers led me into the train where a young girl was lying unconscious (with) stab wounds to her upper body part."

Police detained a 57-year-old man at the scene, and a spokesman told the Times of Israel he appeared to suffer from "mental problems".

Superintendent Micky Rosenfeld said the attack, which took place near Tzahal Square, was carried out by an "Arab terrorist".

Tweeting a photo of an apparently blood-stained knife, he said: "Arab Terrorist arrested who carried out attack is from Rasel Amud", adding that security in the area had been increased.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are in touch with local authorities following an incident in Jerusalem on April 14."
A US Air Force file image of the GBU-43B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb in an undisclosed location. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

As many as 36 suspected Islamic State militants were killed in Afghanistan when the US dropped "the mother of all bombs," its largest non-nuclear device ever unleashed in combat.

The claims have not been independently verified, but Afghan ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said no civilians were harmed in Thursday's massive blast that targeted a network of caves and tunnels.

"No civilian has been hurt and only the base which Daesh used to launch attacks in other parts of the province, was destroyed," Waziri said in a statement, using an Arabic term for Islamic State, which has established a small stronghold in eastern Afghanistan and launched deadly attacks on the capital, Kabul.

The US dropped 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 ordinance 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.

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.

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".

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.
A US Air Force file image of the GBU-43B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb in an undisclosed location. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

DONALD TRUMP sent a clear message to the world by dropping the largest non-nuclear bomb the US has ever used in combat, a device known as the "Mother Of All Bombs", on Isil forces in Afghanistan.

Officially known as the Massive Ordinance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, the huge 21,600-pound (9,800kg) payload was targeted at a complex of caves and tunnels the terrorist group used in the east of the country.

The show of force was a signal to US enemies including Syria, North Korea and Iran that the White House is prepared to take actions from which previous administrations refrained.

An MOAB was first tested in 2003, days before the start of the Iraq war, but it was never used by presidents George W Bush or Barack Obama.

The MOAB, also known as the GBU-43B, was dropped from a US Air Force MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, close to the border with Pakistan, at 7.32pm local time.

The US military said it did everything possible to avoid civilian casualties and collateral damage.

A damage assessment was being carried out. Army General John W Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, said 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 Isil fighters and facilities.

US President Trump said: "We are so proud of our military. It was another successful event."

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
US forces dropped the huge bomb in the Achin district in Jalalabad

An attack on a tunnel complex in Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the US military left 36 Islamic State militants dead and no civilian casualties.

The attack was in a remote mountainous area of Nangarhar province near the Pakistan border where there had been heavy fighting between Afghan forces and Islamic State (IS) militants.

The Ministry of Defence said in a statement that several IS caves and ammunition caches were destroyed by the giant bomb, which terrified villagers on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border with its "earsplitting blast".

Pentagon officials described it as the "mother of all bombs".

The US maintains over 8,000 troops in Afghanistan, training local forces and conducting counter-terrorism operations.

Over the past year they have largely concentrated on a surge of attacks by the Taliban b ut on Friday the US military appeared entirely focused on IS.

"This is the right weapon for the right target," said US general John W Nicholson, Nato commander in Afghanistan.

The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon, unleashes 11 tons of explosives.

US president Donald Trump called Thursday's operation a "very, very successful mission".

General Daulat Waziri, of the Afghanistan Ministry of Defence, said 36 IS fighters were killed by the blast and the death toll could rise.

He said the bombing was necessary because the tunnel complex was extremely hard to penetrate, with some as deep as 40m.

"It was a strong position and four times we had operations (attacking the site) and it was not possible to advance," he said, adding that the road leading to the complex "was full of mines".

Pakistani villagers living near the Afghan border said the explosion was so loud they thought a bomb had been dropped in their village by US planes targeting terrorists in Pakistan.

"I was sleeping when we heard a loud explosion. It was an ear-splitting blast," said Shah Wali, 46, who lives in the village of Goor Gari, 15 km (9 miles) from the border with Nangarhar.

"I jumped from my bed and came out of my home to see what has gone wrong in our village."

Mufti Khan, a resident of Achin in Nangarhar, said: "The whole house was shaking. When I came out of my house I saw a large fire and the whole area was burning."

Another Achin resident, Mohammad Hakim, voiced his approval, saying: "We are very happy and these kinds of bombs should be used in future as well, so Daesh is rooted out from here."

Daesh is the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

"They killed our women, youths and elders sitting them on mines. We also ask the Kabul government to use even stronger weapons against them," Mr Hakim added.

The US estimates 600 to 800 IS fighters are present in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar.

Inamullah Meyakhil, spokesman for the central hospital in eastern Nangarhar province, said it had received no dead or wounded from the attack.

District governor Ismail Shinwari said there is no civilian property near the strike location.

The Site Intelligence Group, which tracks extremist organisations, reported a statement from the Afghan Taliban condemning the US for its "terrorist" attack.

The statement said it is the responsibility of Afghans, not the US, to remove Islamic State from the country.

AP
North Korea has warned Donald Trump that it is prepared for war and is ready to use its "powerful nuclear deterrent".

Vice foreign minister Han Song Ryol blamed the US pre sident 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, Mr Han warned the US against provoking North Korea militarily, saying: "We will go to war if they choose."

He said: "If the US comes with reckless military manoeuvres then we will confront it with the DPRK's pre-emptive strike," referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We've got a powerful nuclear deterrent already in our hands, and we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US pre-emptive strike."

Speaking through an interpreter provided by the foreign ministry, Mr Han was calm and polite but forceful throughout the 40-minute interview.

Tensions are deepening as the US 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 any time.

"That is something that our headquarters decides," Mr Han said of what would be North Korea's 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 US mainland on Mr Trump's watch as president - within the next few years.

Mr Han, however, said North Korea blames Mr Trump and the US for the rising tensions.

He cited not only the US-South Korean wargames and the deployment of the aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, but also a tweet Mr Trump posted on Tuesday in which he said the North is "looking for trouble".

The president also tweeted that if China does not do its part to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, the US can handle it.

"Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words," Mr Han said. "So that's why. It's not the DPRK but the US 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 North's leadership have fanned Pyongyang's anger.

"As long as the nuclear threats and blackmail go on with the military exercises, we will carry forward with our national defence build-up, the core of which is the nuclear arms build-up," Mr Han said.

"Whatever comes from the US, we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it."

Outwardly, there are few signs of concern in North Korea despite the rising tensions.

Instead, the country is gearing up for its biggest holiday of the year, the 105th anniversary of the birth of the late Kim Il Sung, the country's founder and leader Kim Jong Un's grandfather.

The Saturday anniversary may provide the world with a look at some of North Korea's arsenal.

Expectations are high the North may put its newest missiles on display during a military parade that could be held to mark the event.

AP

South Korea's Foreign Ministry criticised Mr Han's remarks saying they reveal the "true colours of North Korea's government that is bellicose and a breaker of regulations".

It said North Korea will face strong punishment it will find hard to withstand if it makes a significant provocation, such as another nuclear test or an intercontinental ballistic missile launch.

The ministry says South Korea is in close discussions with others including China, North Korea's only major ally, on ways to respond should the North take such actions.

AP
ISLAMABAD, April 14 -- The Urdu language edition of the book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" was launched here on Friday and the launching ceremony was attended by around 300 Pakistani and Chinese officials, academicians and researchers.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Jiang Jianguo, vice head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, participated in the ceremony.

In his speech, Sharif said the rich content of the book is both "enlightening and inspiring" and Chinese President Xi Jinping shares his experiences and thoughts with wisdom, empathy and kindness.

"What has touched me most is that this book is not just about high politics, but also about moving stories of common people, their lives and inspirations about hard work and family values. In our times, the peaceful development of China has stimulated peaceful rise of the entire world," said Sharif.

He added that "this book is as much about our contemporary world as it is about China. This book is as much about Chinese dream as it is about the global dream to have peaceful, harmonious and connected world."

For his part, Jiang said in his speech that to create a community of shared future of mankind is an important idea in the book since it aims to build a world with lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness as well as cleanliness and beauty, adding that this idea points out the direction of the development of the human society and a new method for international problems.

Jiang said Pakistan is China's good friend, good neighbor, good brother and the prioritized partner of the Belt and Road Initiative, adding that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project of the initiative and has created more than 10,000 jobs for the locals in Pakistan.

"We fully believe that after our joint cooperation and coordination, a more prosperous and better Pakistan will be presented in front of the world," said Jiang.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong said the English version of Xi's book launched here in 2014 was warmly welcomed in the Pakistani society and the Urdu version will facilitate more Pakistani readers to understand Xi's philosophy of governance, adding that the completion of the Urdu version becomes a new symbol of friendly cooperation between China and Pakistan in the new era.

Mushahid Hussain, chairman of Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, said Pakistan is grateful to China and Chinese President Xi for reposing faith and confidence in Pakistan and its people through the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

"Because the CPEC today is a factor for national unity and progress and prosperity of the people of Pakistan, the provinces of Pakistan, particularly the less developed regions of Pakistan in the quest to build a better and more prosperous future," he added.

The book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" contains 79 speeches, talks, interviews, notes and letters of the Chinese leader between November 2012 and June 2014. To date, it has been translated into 16 languages and has a distribution of over 6.2 million copies around the world.

The book helps readers around the world better understand China's development, domestic and foreign policies, and response to the concerns of the international community.

Akram Zaki, former Pakistan ambassador to China, told Xinhua that the Urdu version of the book will help more Pakistanis understand the new level of partnership of the two countries through the CPEC.

"Most of Pakistanis don't know English and if they want to know what glorious things Chinese leadership is doing, this book will provide to the people who are fond of reading. They all talk about CPEC and China-Pakistan friendship, now they will know the significance of China-Pakistan friendship," he said.

Farrukh Sohail Goindi, chief of the Jamhoori Publications in charge of the Urdu version's translation, said it is an honor and pleasure for him to translate a Chinese president's book in Urdu. "Through this book, we can understand the Chinese politics, the vision of Chinese president and the role of China-Pakistan friendship in the region and all over the world."

Goindi, who reads the book five to nine times in different periods in different stages, told Xinhua after the ceremony that Urdu is an opinion-making language in Pakistan and through Urdu publication, a commoner can easily understand the role of China, the leadership of China, and the economic and political roles of China.
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:
CONCORD- Seventh-grader Matthew Thornton knows his geography.

A student at J.N. Fries Magnet Middle School, Thornton recently competed in the 2017 North Carolina National Geographic State Bee held at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte on Friday, March 31.

Thornton qualified for the state competition by winning his middle schools Geography Bee. This is the second time he has qualified for the state bee.

I wasnt as nervous as last year, he said.

School bees were held in schools with fourth-eighth grade students throughout the state to determine each school champion. School champions then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society.

Thornton qualified for the competition by being in the 100 of the top-scoring students in North Carolina on that test.

He said the state competition included eight rounds of questions, and the top 10 students from that bee go on to the nationals.

Thornton said he missed one question so he did not advance, but geography has always been fascinating to him.

I like it and whenever it comes (geography bee) I study whatever is available, he said. I study as soon as they tell me when it is.
PDS board approves interim dividend of Rs2.50 per share PDS Limited has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company on Monday has approved an Interim Dividend of Rd2.50 per share. The Company adopted a dividend distribution policy... November 07, 2022 | 07-11-2022 3:10 pm

Rajesh Exports incorporates 100% subsidiary ACC Energy Storage; Stock climbs 2% Rajesh Exports Ltd. has announced that it is foraying into Advanced Technology Solutions with a focus on Energy Storage Solutions. REL has been selected by the Government Of India as one ... November 07, 2022 | 07-11-2022 2:42 pm

Markets under selling pressure with Nifty around 18,100-levels Domestic benchmark indices trading mixed after a gap-up opening on Monday. Both the Sensex and Nifty benchmarks are marginally lower in the afternoon market session. On the sectoral front... November 07, 2022 | 07-11-2022 2:00 pm

Rupee rises 23 paise to 82.12/ $ Early on Monday, the rupee strengthened versus the US dollar by 23 paise to 82.12 amid rising local stocks and falling oil prices. The native currency rose 23 paise from its previous close to t... November 07, 2022 | 07-11-2022 1:20 pm

Cineline India opens 5-Screen multiplex, MovieMAX in Mumbai; Stock jumps 3% Cineline India Limited stocks in the fast lane after announcement of opening of 5-Screen multiplex at Sarvodaya Mall Kalyan, Mumbai. In a regulatory filing, the company informed the ... November 07, 2022 | 07-11-2022 12:47 pm
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR ensures a guaranteed, continuous and reliable gas supply to social sector  households and power generation facilities  based on the memorandum signed with Georgia and the agreements with Georgias Oil and Gas Corporation, says Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Kakha Kaladze.

Kaladze, who is also Georgias energy minister, said in an interview with Trend that this is a factor significantly contributing to increasing the energy security of Georgia.

The minister noted that Azerbaijan, through two gas pipelines, almost fully satisfies gas demand of Georgia.

"Average daily volume of gas supply is about 10.5-11.5 million cubic meters from the sources from Azerbaijan, which is expected to be increased even further with the ongoing development of the second phase of Shah Deniz field," said Kaladze.

The minister said the Georgian side welcomes participation of SOCAR in the energy sector of the country.

"SOCAR Georgia Gas Ltd. performs the largest gasification project across the country. The works are provided under the contract between the government of Georgia and SOCAR signed in 2009. Within the framework of the contract, the rehabilitation and construction of a natural gas distribution network is carried out," he added.

The minister said that in a period from 2009 to 2016, more than 200,000 consumers in about 600 settlements got access to the natural gas network across the country.

"The important part of the project will be performed in 2017. By the end of this year, 75 percent of the population will be able to use the natural gas," he added.

Speaking about the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey Power Bridge, Kaladze said it is operating successfully.

"Georgia and Azerbaijan are connected by two high-voltage lines (500 kV and 33 kV), which increased the reliability of connection and cross-border capacity as well," said the minister.

He pointed out that 2016 was remarkable, as for the first time around 1 billion kWh (300 MW) of electricity was transited from Azerbaijan to Turkey via Georgia.

Regarding the process of privatization of the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation JSC, the minister said the option of the companys IPO was in consideration earlier, however, no specific decisions have been made.

He added that no particular possible interest of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR was discussed within the context.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
This plot held so much promise, but it unfortunately didn't even reach half of its potential when converted into a film.

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This story set during that particular historical phase when the country was being divided into India and Pakistan, and that left millions of our countrymen deeply affected and changed their lives forever. Begum Jaan (Vidya Balan) a self appointed matriarch for a bunch of sex workers is the central character of the film.

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The spacious kotha that she has occupied with the girls interestingly turns out to be right on the newly set border line between India and Pakistan. The challenge for Begum and her girls is not only battle the hypocrisy of patriarchy, but also to fight for survival as they face the danger of being evacuated.

Begum has a loyal bunch with her which includes all of her girls barring one (Pallavi Sharda). A burly guard (Sumeet Nijhowan), a lovable pimp (Pitobash Tripathy) and an old woman (Illa Arun), try to help her tide the crisis that they suddenly find themselves in.

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Vidya Balan is Begam Jaan dives into her character with the fierceness and aggression that her kohl rimmed eyes display. Balan plays this brusque, impossibly cynical madame of a brothel with a lot of conviction and confidence. But one wishes her talent was used in a better film.

While the story is unique and interesting (written by Srijit Mukherjee, the director of the film), the movie has a bunch of good actors, it is the direction that falters at several points. Instead of exercising restraint as a film of this kind is begging for, the narrative goes overboard with melodrama and tackiness.

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Even in the most intended to be intense scenes, like the one that included an old woman disrobing herself, one is left untouched, as it all somehow seems more like play acting than the real deal. The film reeks of manipulated poignancy that at times it leaves you more amused than moved or even involved.

The scenes between the two officials, Ashish Vidyarthi a Hindu one and Rajit Kapoor the Muslim one, who are sent to supervise the operations, are verbose and empty.

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Chunky Pandey as the creepy evil man manages to stay effective in spite of the film.
Bollywood legend and superstar Dharmendra was conferred with the most prestigious award recently.

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The actor was honoured with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Nobel Award in Juhu, Mumbai last evening. The event was organized by Sunny Shah, founder of the International Human Rights Council.



Apart from the Dharam Paaji, other Bollywood celebs Mahima Chaudhary, Neelima Azeem, Kumar Sanu were also presented with the award.

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People from other fields like lawyers, doctors, income tax department officials, TV actors, environmentalists, fashion designers, retail professionals and journalists were also given the awards.
Bollywood actor Abhay Deol almost destroyed Bollywood yesterday with his Facebook posts on fighting racism.

Indicine.com

From Sonam Kapoor, John Abraham, Shahrukh Khan, the actor posted everyone's fairness cream ads and explained how awfully wrong this is.

Instead of ignoring this or working on the problem, Sonam Kapoor posted a picture of Abhay Deol's sister Esha kapoor explaining how she has done a similar ad too.

Clearly the message was lost. However Abhay stuck to his ground conveying this is a bigger issue and not a personal attack on any one person.

In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, the actor said, "Honestly, I didnt care what people from the fraternity think because this is not about me or them. I have nothing personal against them. I put up the posts because I was tired of celebrities and brands telling me that they are simply propagating a regressive message which has existed in our society for hundreds of years. The frustration comes in from the fact that by cashing in on it were only perpetuating it further. So, since this is not about Sonam and me, lets stick to the issue at hand, shall we?"
Two stalwarts ! D twains meet in delhi A post shared by Ekta Kapoor (@ektaravikapoor) on Apr 13, 2017 at 5:44am PDT

Thanks to producer Ekta Kapoor that she brought her favorite Bahus Tulsi (Smriti Irani) and Parvati (Sakshi Tanwar) and clicked a selfie in one frame.



2. 8 Weeks, 8 Pack Abs! Sushant Singh Rajput's Shocking Transformation Will Amaze You

The actor has been trying to lose weight and has lost all the excess flab and fat. He's in the best of his shape flaunting his 8 pack abs. If this doesn't give you fitness goals, we don't know what will. *heading to the gym*



3. Keeping His Twitter Spat With Sonam Aside, Abhay Deol Urges People To Focus On Real Issues

In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, the actor said, "Honestly, I didnt care what people from the fraternity think because this is not about me or them. I have nothing personal against them. I put up the posts because I was tired of celebrities and brands telling me that they are simply propagating a regressive message which has existed in our society for hundreds of years. The frustration comes in from the fact that by cashing in on it were only perpetuating it further. So, since this is not about Sonam and me, lets stick to the issue at hand, shall we?"



4. Tribute To SRK Will Be Live Streamed All The Way From San Francisco On Twitter And It's Awesome

Dharma Productions

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khans conversation with Brett Ratner at the 60th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF) will be live streamed on Twitter. The film gala is paying a tribute to the actor and his film My Name Is Khan will also be screened.

5. Maharashtra MLA Calls Out To Hema Malini, Says She Drinks Daily But Doesn't Commit Suicide

Facebook

Pointing out at farmers and their drinking habits, he said, "75 per cent MLAs, MPs, journalists drink... even Hema Malini drinks heavily... but have they committed suicide?.
As the row over death sentence to the Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was given death sentence by Pakistan has escalated, India may go slow in giving visas to Pakistan nationals.

According to The Indian Express, while the idea was to block all visas, South Block allegedly wanted to first target a visible group of people to test waters. Sources placed at the right places told the paper that officials have mulled over a blanket ban as well, but it looks a bit difficult as there are many cases which need humanitarian intervention.

A Pakistan court had said earlier this week that former India Navy officer Jadhav would be hanged on charges of "espionage" and "sabotage".

India had retaliated by summoning Pakistan envoy to India, Abdul Basit and issued a demarche.

"The proceedings that have led to the sentence against Shri Jadhav are farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him. It is significant that our High Commission was not even informed that Shri Jadhav was being brought to trial." Demarche was quoted by TOI.

AFP

It further said, "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."

Sushma Swaraj, the MEA had also spoken in support of Jadhav in Parliament and had warned Pakistan of consequences of Pakistan hangs Jadhav. "There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav. This is an act of premeditated murder," Swaraj had said.
China has reacted strongly against the US military advances near North Korea saying that this could result in a full-fledged war in the region. Meanwhile, concerns have been growing that North Korea could soon conduct a 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.

With a US aircraft carrier group steaming to the area in a show of force and tensions rising, fears of a confrontation have also been rising.

Reuters

China, North Koreas only ally has asked North to go soft on nuke programme.

"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 US President Donald Trump has put North Korea on notice that he would not tolerate any provocation, US officials have said his administration was focussing 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.
India is mulling all possible options to avoid hanging of Kulbhushan Jadhavs execution in Pakistan and thats why now the government is using its influence with the US to put pressure on Islamabad to see Jadhavs case with reason.

The matter is expected to be taken up when the US National Security Advisor (NSA) HR McMaster visits India to meet PM Narendra Modi, MEA, Sushma Swaraj, and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

Doval is said to be preparing to raise the matter with his counterpart. However, spokesperson Gopal Baglay did not comment on the issue but said that The leadership is seized of the matter. We will do all that is possible. We are engaged and we are pursuing various options.

The United Nations have already made it clear that it will not intervene in the matter and now it becomes further important for India to ask for US help. While India is making all -out efforts to free the alleged spy, Pakistan remains rigid in its stand.

Pakistan army chief, Javed Qamar Bajwa at a Corps Commander Conference organised in Rawalpindi made it clear that Pakistan will compromise on such anti-state acts. India also invoked international norms the Pakistan government is accused of flaunting by not giving them consular access to Jadhav. The government has been arguing it was difficult for India to verify Pakistans claims that Jadhav, a serving Indian Naval officer on an alleged spying mission entered Pakistan with original Indian passport.

As Jadhav sentiment has started taking that shape of being the next Sarabjit, Pakistan too is in no hurry to execute him and is likely to put him as a bargain to seek advantage in bigger negotiations.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

Trend:

The General Assembly of Shareholders of AccessBank has appointed Dr. Rolf Reichardt as new chairman of the Management Board to succeed Michael Hoffmann after his 5 year tenure.

Dr. Rolf Reichardt has been executive financial manager in AccessBank since 2014.

I look forward to working with the strong AccessBank team to continue the successful work of my predecessor as one of the leading banks in Azerbaijan by offering up to date and reliable financial services to our clients, said Rolf Reichardt.

Before joining AccessBank Rolf Reichardt had worked for more than 20 years in various risk management functions for some of the largest German banks.

He obtained his PhD degree from Goethe University Frankfurt and studied economics at the Universities of Auckland (New Zealand), Kiel (Germany), and Utah (US).
The Pakistan army brass decided after a discussion on Thursday that there would be no compromise on the issue of the death sentence awarded to retired Indian Navy commandant Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pak army's media wing, said in a statement.

Also, the Pakistan foreign office officially acknowledged that one of its retired army officers was missing in Nepal.

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The Jadhav issue was discussed at the corps commanders' conference held in the army's General Headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi and presided over by the chief of army staff, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Also Read: Pakistan Should Release Kulbhushan Jadhav, Says India After Islamabad Failed To Prove That He Was A Spy

The participants were briefed about Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a field general court martial earlier this week, the ISPR presser said. The unprecedented April 10 decision has sparked a major diplomatic row between the two hostile neighbours.

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The Pakistan authorities also warned against the linking of its missing ex-army officer in Nepal with the Jadhav issue, reacting to media reports in India and Pakistan.

Also Read: Pakistan Just Sentenced Captured Former Indian Navy Officer Kulbhushan Jadhav To Death Without Proof

Addressing a weekly press briefing here, foreign office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Col (retd) Muhammad Zahir Habib had been trapped in Nepal after being lured into a job offer without giving any more details. Zahir had disappeared last week from Lumbini, near Nepal's border with India, and is now suspected to be, according to media reports in Pakistan, in Indian custody.

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Saying any comparison between the two was untenable, Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said, "It's unreasonable to link the Jadhav case with Habib Zahir. The Indian spy is a serving Indian Navy officer who works for Indian spy agency RAW." Zakaria added that Zahir had retired from the army a long time before Jadhav's arrest.

Also Read: Curious Case Of Kulbhushan Jadhav: Everything To Know About Former Indian Navy Officer Who's In A Pakistani Jail

"Pakistan has undeniable evidence against the Indian spy. He was caught red-handed planning espionage and subversive activities in the country and he has made confessions about his involvement in terrorist activities," the FO spokesperson said.

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Zakaria also said that the disappearance of Habib points towards the involvement of the spy agency of a foreign country.

Also Read: Kulbhushan Jadhav Isn't The First, Here Are 5 Indians Who Were Arrested By Pakistan For 'Spying'

"We are in touch with the Nepalese government to trace the missing ex-army officer and Nepal is cooperating in this regard," he said.

Participants of the corps commanders' meeting reviewed the security environment in Pakistan as well as the progress on Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad  a nationwide operation aimed at eliminating the "residual/latent threat of terrorism", which was launched in February after a deadly attack at a shrine in Sehwan.
At the Bara Hindu Rao hospital in India's national capital, patients are a little far away from the ideal treatment.

(Also read: Kill More Stray Dogs, Get Gold Coins - Bizarre New Gift Scheme Announced In Kerala!)

indiatoday

Those coming in to get anti-rabies shots are often attacked and bitten by hounds and angry monkeys, in what looks like a very strange, vicious cycle.

As dogs roam freely in the vicinity of the hospital, most patients seeking rabies shots, regularly ask for another one as they are gnawed by the simians.

(Also read: Locals Go On Rampage After Senior Citizen Killed By Stray Dogs In Kerala, Dozens Of Dogs Killed)

Reuters

The biggest hospital in the northern region managed by North Municipal Corporation witnesses large troops of monkeys attacking patients as well as doctors. With no respite, the institute has turned a blind eye towards this situation.

A lot of people also claim that despite regular complaints, no action has been taken by the authorities so far, leaving distraught patients helpless and clueless.

(Also read: Kerala Has A Stray Dog Problem, And There Is No Easy Solution For It As Animal Lovers Sitting In North India May Think)

"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," reports IndiaToday.

The hospital and patients are equally troubled and stressed with the situation, with at least 3-5 cases of monkey bite every day.

"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.

Residents aren't sure of what can be done as part of the quick relief, however, sterilisation looks like an easy way out in this situation, that does solve effectively is controlling the dog bites and nuisance behaviour of stray dogs.

This situation may land a lot of patients into deep pain, as constant bites and attacks might instigate deep epidemic.
The United States' biggest ever non-nuclear bomb that rocked the cave hideouts of Islamic State (IS) terrorists has sent shiver globally. Though the damaged caused to IS is yet to be fathomed, the strike announced to clearly that despite many powers flexing its muscles, the US is still the boss.

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'Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb' aka MOAB, has run riot for terrorists hidden in caves they thought couldn't never be destroyed. This is the first incident wherein the bomb has been used in a conflict. It was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, close to the border with Pakistan.

The fresh strike comes just a week after 59 US missiles targeted a Syrian air base in response to a chemical attack against civilians by the Assad regime.

Here is what we know of the bomb:

1. The GBU-43 'Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb' is nicknamed MOAB. MOAB also stands for the mother of all bombs.

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2. The bomb is a weapon that justifies the use of the word 'terrifying' to describe its power and marks a deadly ramping up of the USs military initiative abroad.

3. It is about 20 feet long and designed to burrow through 200 feet of earth and 60 feet of concrete before detonating. This makes it the mother of 'bunker busters'.

4. It is a 21,600 pound, GPS guided munition that is the USs most powerful non-nuclear bomb.

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5. It is is designed to cause maximum damage to bunkers, tunnels and other areas that can typically withstand even large standard bombs or artillery strikes.

6. Deployed from as high as 20,000 feet, the MOAB races to the ground at supersonic speed before slamming its way toward a hardened target through defenses such as rock, concrete, and steel plates. The 11 tons of explosive then burst about six feet above the ground.

7. It can kill people within several hundred metres of the point of detonation, and cause lung damage and other injuries over an even wider area.

#MOAB Hillary, Bernie, Jeb, Marco and John Kasich would never have done this. @POTUS is my choice and so proud! pic.twitter.com/mF7pJTsSyL  trumpnation2016 (@datrumpnation1) April 14, 2017

8. The bomb was developed by Albert Weimorts of the United States military.

9. It was first tested in March 2003, just days before the start of the Iraq war. The US had an intent to use the MOAB as an anti-personnel weapon, as part of the shock and awe strategy, integral to invasion of Iraq.

10. It contains 11 tons of explosives.

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11. The bomb was designed to be delivered by a C-130 Hercules.

12. Since the MOABs creation, Russia has tested its "Father of All Bombs", which is claimed to be four times as powerful as the MOAB
One of the few Keralites, who were suspected to have joined the Islamic State in Afghanistan, has reportedly died in the latest bomb strike by the United States in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

As many as 36 suspected Islamic State militants were killed in Afghanistan when the United States dropped " the mother of all bombs ," its largest non-nuclear device ever unleashed in combat, the Afghan defence ministry said on Friday.

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The claims have not been independently verified, but ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said no civilians were harmed in Thursday's massive blast that targeted a network of caves and tunnels.

Also Read: Dropping 'Mother Of All Bombs' In Afghanistan Is Trump's Loud And Clear Message To Terrorists

"No civilian has been hurt and only the base which Daesh used to launch attacks in other parts of the province, was destroyed," Waziri said in a statement, using an Arabic term for Islamic State, which has established a small stronghold in eastern Afghanistan and launched deadly attacks on the capital, Kabul.

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The huge bomb , delivered via an MC-130 transport plane, has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT, and the weapon was originally designed as much to intimidate foes as to clear broad areas.

"The GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat," Air Force spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder said.

Achin district governor Esmail Shinwari said the bomb landed in the Momand Dara area of Achin district.

AFP

"The explosion was the biggest I have ever seen. Towering flames engulfed the area," Shinwari told AFP.

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. US forces have conducted a number of air strikes on jihadist bases in the area since August last year.

afp

The information about Murshid's death was received by his family through a telegram message.

Earlier in February, another youth from the same group was killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.

The message was received by a distant relative of Hafesudheen Theke Koleth in Kasaragod, Kerala, who was from the missing 21-member group who have left the nation.

The message went on to say that the killed youth had been buried in Afghanistan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

Trend:

EY Azerbaijan held the seminar dedicated to determination of transfer prices and regulations requirements for their application in Azerbaijan Apr. 11, 2017.

The speakers of the seminar were Zaur Gurbanov, EY tax senior manager and Najla Asadova, EY tax manager.

The presentations and discussions provided insights into definition and principles of transfer pricing and application of transfer prices in the world and CIS.

The seminar continued with a focus on replying to the question how to be ready for requirements regarding determination of transfer prices and regulations requirements for their application in Azerbaijan.

Seminar participants asked questions throughout the seminar and gave positive feedback about the presentation, showing appreciation for the work EY did as host of the event.

EY staff and Ulvi Yusifov, a head of International Treaties Division of the International Relations Department of the Ministry of Taxes of Azerbaijan, invited as guest were replying questions of the participants at the close of the seminar.

The whole tax seminar was organized to a high quality, covering all the required explanations, Tahmaz Rustamov, tax accountant at Pasha Holding, said. I believe that the knowledge that I gain during the seminar will be very helpful in tax system formation of our company.

I would like to indicate that incorporation of a new definition of transfer price into the Tax Code has raised a number of questions in our company like in others, said Farid Najafov, tax manager at Huawei Technologies Azerbaijan. Especially, our participation at this presentation will be helpful insofar as the scope of our operations at arms length is considerable. I would like to thank EY, especially Arzu, Zaur and Najla, also to Ulvi Yusifov, a head of International the Treaties Division of International Relations Department of the Ministry of Taxes of Azerbaijan.

EY was delighted to see all the participants at the seminar and would like to thank each of them for their enthusiastic participation.

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and economies around the world. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In doing so, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY works together with companies across the CIS and assists them in realizing their business goals. 5,000 professionals work at 20 CIS offices (in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Kazan, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, Togliatti, Vladivostok, Almaty, Astana, Bishkek, Baku, Kyiv, Tashkent, Tbilisi, Minsk, and other locations).

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

EY made a major commitment to the development of Azerbaijan and the region by opening the office in Baku 22 years ago. Today, in addition to being the leading audit and consulting firm in Azerbaijan, we are the leading firm in the region. As a result of our experience and competence, we have been able to assist both domestic and international companies as well as state-owned entities to develop and manage the challenges of the international economy.

There are currently 170 people working in our Baku office that serve our clients in Azerbaijan. EY's strength in the Caspian Region and the firm's commitment of resources are important to the entities operating in the region. It means that as we grow, EY will continue to demonstrate a tradition of hiring and training local professionals to be leaders in our practice.
The White House "Intelligence Assessment" Is No-Such-Thing - It Shows Support for Al-Qaeda

By Moon Of Alabama

UPDATED at the end of the post

April 13/14, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " Moon Of Alabama " - The Trump White House published three and a half pages of accusations against the governments of Syria and Russia. These are simple white pages with no header or footer, no date, no classification or declassification marks, no issuing agency and no signatures. It is indiscernible who has written them.

U.S. media call this a Declassified U.S. Report on Chemical Weapons Attack . It is no such thing.

It starts with "The United States is confident that the Syrian government conducted a chemical weapon attack, ..."

The U.S. (who exactly is that?) "is confident", it does not "know", it does not have "proof" - it is just "confident".

The whole paper contains only seven paragraphs that are allegedly a "Summary of the U.S. intelligence community assessment" on the issue. The seven paragraphs are followed by eight(!) paragraphs that try to refute the Russian and Syrian statements on the issue. Some political fluff makes up the sorry rest.

That "intelligence community assessment" chapter title is likely already a false claim. Even a fast tracked, preliminary National Intelligence Assessment, for which all seventeen U.S. intelligence agencies must be heard, takes at least two to three weeks to create. A "long track" full assessment takes two month or more. These are official documents issued by the Director of National Intelligence. The summary assessment the White House releases has no such heritage. It is likely a well massaged fast write up of some flunky in the National Security Council. The release was backgrounded by dubious statements of an anonymous "Senior Administration Officials" (not by "Intelligence Officials" as has been the case on other such issues.)

The claimed assessment starts with definitely wrong or at least very misleading point: "We assess that Damascus launched this chemical attack in response to an opposition offensive in Hama province that threatened key infrastructure."

The Hama offensive had failed two weeks ago. Since then the Syrian army has regained all areas the al-Qaeda "opposition" had captured during the first few days. (Al-Qaeda in Syria renamed itself several times and now calls itself "Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham".) Key infrastructure had never been seriously threatened by it. Over 2,000 al-Qaeda fighters were killed in the endeavor.

Peto Lucem, a well known and reliable media source for accurate maps of the war on Syria, posted on March 31 , four days before the chemical incident:

Peto Lucem @PetoLucem NEW MAP: "Rebel" frontline in #Hama is collapsing, #SAA reverses most #AlQaeda gains made in first days of their failed offensive. #Syria



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The attack in Hama had already failed days before the chemical incident in Khan Shaykhun happened. Khan Shaykhun is not on the front line. The incident and the failed al-Qaeda attack in Hama can not possibly be related. It makes no sense at all to launch a militarily useless incident in a place far away "in response" to a defeat of the enemy elsewhere - this in a moment where the global political and military situation had turned in favor of the Syrian government. (The Defense Intelligence Agency surely never signed off on such an illogical claim.)

The following paragraphs of the released paper reveal that the assessment is largely based on a "significant body" of "open source reporting" which "indicates" this or that. This means that the White House relied on pictures and videos posted by people who are allowed to operate freely in the al-Qaeda ruled Khan Shaykhun. (Khan Shaikhun had been in the hands of an Islamic State associated group Liwa Al-Aqsa until mid February . The group moved out after fighting al-Qaeda and after slaughtering some 150 of its fighters . Al-Qaeda since moved in and now rules the town and surrounding areas.)

Several of the released video were introduced and commented by Dr. Shajul Islam who has been removed from the British medical registry and had been indicted in the UK for his role in kidnapping "western" journalists in Syria. He fled back to Syria. One of the journalists kidnapped with the help of Dr. Shajul Islam, James Foley, was later murdered on camera by the Islamic State. The videos the "doctor" distributed of "rescue" of casualties of the chemical incidents were not of real emergencies but staged. Under who's conditions and directions where the many other pictures and videos taken and published? Why are no female children or young women among the emergencies and casualties?

Other videos and photos are by the White Helmets "rescuers", a U.S./UK financed propaganda prop , which is so "neutral" that it works with ISIS (vid) and al-Qaeda but not in government held areas where the actual Syrian population lives.

The Hama offensive by "the opposition" was personally planned and directed by the founder and head of al-Qaeda in Syria al-Joliani. Photos of the planing sessions were published by "opposition" agencies and widely distributed.



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The White House paper only talks of "the opposition". How can there be an "intelligence assessment" (and reporting about it) that does not note that the incident in question took place in an area where AL-QAEDA rules and that the allegedly related (but defeated) offensive was launched by AL-QAEDA. Is AL-QAEDA now officially the "Syrian opposition" the U.S. supports? The neoconned former General Petraeus lobbied for an open U.S. alliance with al-Qaeda since 2015. The new National Security Advisor to Trump, General McMaster, is a Petraeus protege. He, together with Petraeus, screwed up Iraq . Is the Petraeus alliance now in place?

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The next step then will be for the U.S. to informally ally with the Islamic State. The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman is already arguing for that :

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  the moderate rebels on one side and ISIS on the other. 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.

The U.S., Friedman says, should let ISIS run free so it can help al-Qaeda which is ruling in Idleb governate. Friedman talks of "moderate rebels in Idleb" but these are unicorns. They do not exist. There is al-Qaeda and there is the smaller Ahrar al Sham which compares itself with the Taliban . All other opposition fighters in Idleb have joined these two or are now dead.

But why not use these gangs of sectarian mass murderers against the Syrian government and others? Hey, Israel wants us to do just that . And why don't we hand out anti-air missiles to them, Friedman asks, and lend them air-support. This at the same time. Surely the combination will do well.

In Syria, Trump should let ISIS be Assads, Irans, Hezbollahs and Russias headache  the same way we encouraged the mujahedeen fighters to bleed Russia in Afghanistan.

Well, you know, that mujahedeen thing worked out so well that nearly forty years later the U.S. is mulling again to send additional troops to Afghanistan to defeat them. Do we really want a repeat of that at the borders of Europe?

Lunacy has truly taken over the White House but even more so the U.S. media. How can sanity be brought back to town?

UPDATE:

Professor emeritus at MIT Theodor Postol, a former science adviser to U.S. Navy command and missile expert, has analyzed the "evidence" the White House presented. The short, preliminary report is available here . (I have verified that this is the original one.)

Postol finds nothing in the White House assessment that lets him believe the incident was from an air attack. He finds signs that the incident that was launched on the ground by intentional exploding some container of 122mm ammunition with some other explosives.

He calls the White House assessment amateurish and not properly vetted by competent intelligence analysts who, Postol says, would not have signed off on it in is current form (just as I said above.)

Postol presumes that the incident was with Sarin. He makes no analysis of that White House claim (it is not his field). I don't agree with the Sarin claim. Many other organophosphate substances (pesticides) would be "consistent with" the symptoms displayed or played in the videos and pictures. Some symptoms expected with Sarin, for example heavy convulsions, spontaneous defecation, are no visible in any of the videos or pictures.

I do not concur with Postol on the picture of the alleged impact crater of the "attack". I have seen several "versions" of the impact crater on social nets with different metal parts, or none, placed in it. Postol seems to have only seen one version. His conclusions from that version seem right. But the crater "evidence" is tainted and to make overall conclusions from it is not easy. I concur though that the crater is not from an air impact but from a ground event. I am not sure though that it is related to the incident at all.

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
By Mike Whitney

Our U.S. Army contacts in the area have told us this is not what happened. There was no Syrian chemical weapons attack. Instead, a Syrian aircraft bombed an al-Qaeda-in-Syria ammunition depot that turned out to be full of noxious chemicals and a strong wind blew the chemical-laden cloud over a nearby village where many consequently died..This is what the Russians and Syrians have been saying and  more important what they appear to believe happened. Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, 20 former members of the US Intelligence Community

April 13/14, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " Counterpunch " - You dont have to be a genius to figure out that the case against Syrian President Bashar al Assad is extremely weak. The chemical weapons attack in Khan Shaykhun, has produced no smoking gun, no damning evidence, in fact, no evidence at all. Similar to the Russia hacking fiasco, (not a shred of evidence so far) the western media and the entire political class has made the case for attacking a sovereign country on the thin gruel of a few videos of an incident that took place in a location that is currently under the control of militant groups connected to al Qaida. Thats pretty shaky grounds for a conviction, dont you think?

And its not up to Assad to prove his innocence either. Thats baloney. The burden of proof rests with the prosecution. If Trump and his lieutenants have evidence that the Syrian President used chemical weapons, then by all means lets see it and be done with it. If not, we have to assume that Assad is innocent, not because we like Assad, but because these are the legal precedents that one follows to establish the truth. And thats what we want, we want to know what really happened.

Neither Trump nor the media care about the truth, what they care about is regime change, which is the driving force behind Washingtons six year-long war on Syria. The fact that Washington has concealed its support by secretly arming-and-training Sunni militias, does not absolve it from responsibility. The US is totally responsible for the mess in Syria. Without Washingtons support none of this would have happened. 7 million Syrians wouldnt have fled their homes, 400,000 Syrians wouldnt have been killed, and the country would not be the anarchic wastelands it is today. The United States is entirely is responsible for the death and destruction of Syria. These are Washingtons killing fields.

As we said earlier, there is no evidence that Assad used chemical weapons against his people nor has there been any investigation to substantiate the claims. The Trump administration launched its Tomahawk missile barrage before consulting with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons which essentially preempted the organization from doing its job. The administrations rejection of the normal investigative procedures and rush to judgement reinforces the belief that they know they have no case and are just peddling pro-war BS in the mad pursuit of their geopolitical objectives.

Since we dont have an organization like the OPCW to conduct an investigation, we should at least consider the informed opinions of professionals who have some background in intelligence. This doesnt provide us with iron-clad proof one way or another, but at least it gives us an idea of some probable scenarios. Heres a quote from former CIA officer and Director of the Council for the National Interest, Philip Giraldi, who stated last week on the Scott Horton show:

I am hearing from sources on the ground, in the Middle East, the people who are intimately familiar with the intelligence available are saying that the essential narrative we are all hearing about the Syrian government or the Russians using chemical weapons on innocent civilians is a sham. The intelligence confirms pretty much the account the Russians have been giving since last night which is that they hit a warehouse where al Qaida rebels were storing chemicals of their own and it basically caused an explosion that resulted in the casualties. Apparently the intelligence on this is very clear, and people both in the Agency and in the military who are aware of the intelligence are freaking out about this because essentially Trump completely misrepresented what he should already have known  but maybe didntand theyre afraid this is moving towards a situation that could easily turn into an armed conflict. (The Impending Clash Between the U.S. and Russia, Counterpunch)

We hear a very similar account from retired Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, who was former chief of Staff to General Colin Powell. Heres what he said in a recent interview on the Real News Network:

I personally think the provocation was a Tonkin Gulf incident.. Most of my sources are telling me, including members of the team that monitors global chemical weapons including people in Syria, including people in the US Intelligence Communitythat what most likely happened was that they hit a warehouse that they had intended to hitand this warehouse was alleged to have to ISIS supplies in it, and some of those supplies were precursors for chemicals.. conventional bombs hit the warehouse, and due to a strong wind, and the explosive power of the bombs, they dispersed these ingredients and killed some people. ( Lawrence Wilkerson: Trump Attack on Syria Driven by Domestic Politics , Real News Network)

Finally, we have the collective judgement of 20 former members of the US Intelligence Community the so-called Steering Group of the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity. Heres what they say:

Our U.S. Army contacts in the area have told us this is not what happened. There was no Syrian chemical weapons attack. Instead, a Syrian aircraft bombed an al-Qaeda-in-Syria ammunition depot that turned out to be full of noxious chemicals and a strong wind blew the chemical-laden cloud over a nearby village where many consequently died..This is what the Russians and Syrians have been saying and  more important what they appear to believe happened.

So, why is the administration so eager to jump to conclusions? Why do they want to use such a sketchy incident to justify an attack on sovereign nation that poses no threat to US national security? Whats really going on here?

To answer tha, we need to review an interview with President Trumps new National Security Advisor, Lt. General H.R. McMaster, that took on place on Sunday on Fox News. McMaster you may recall recently replaced General Michael Flynn at the same position. Flynns failing was that he wanted to normalize relations with Russia which the behind-the-scenes powerbrokers rejected out-of-hand and worked to have him replaced with far-right wing militarist-neocon McMaster. Now, McMaster is part of the one-two combo that decides US foreign policy around the world. Trump has essentially dumped Syria in the laps of his two favorite generals, McMaster and James Mad Dog Mattis who have decided to deepen Washingtons military commitment in Syria and intensify the conflict even if it means a direct confrontation with Russia.

In the Fox interview, McMaster was asked a number of questions about Trumps missile attack. Heres part of what he said:

The objective (of the strikes) was to send a very strong political message to Assad. And this is very significant because. this is the first time the United States has acted directly against the Assad regime, and that should be a strong message to Assad and to his sponsors.

He added,

Russia should ask themselves, what are we doing here? Why are we supporting this murderous regime that is committing mass murder of its own population and using the most heinous weapons available.Right now, I think everyone in the world sees Russia as part of the problem. (Fox News with Chris Wallace)

Can you see whats going on? Trumps missile attack was not retaliatory, not really. It was a message to Putin. McMaster was saying as clearly as possible, that the US military is coming for Assad, and youd better stay out of the way if you know whats good for you. Thats the message. It has nothing to do with chemical weapons or the suffering of innocent people. McMaster was delivering a threat. He was putting Putin on notice.

Like McMaster said, this is the first time the United States has acted directly against the Assad regime, and that should be a strong message to Assad and to his sponsors

In other words, McMaster wants Putin to know that hes prepared to attack the Syrian government and its assets directly and, that, if Putin continues to defend Assad, Russian forces will be targeted as well.

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There was some confusion about this in the media because UN ambassador Nikki Haley and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson got their talking-points mixed up and botched their interviews. But the Washington Post clarified the policy the next day by stating bluntly:

Officials in the Trump administration on Sunday demanded that Russia stop supporting the Syrian government or face a further deterioration in its relations with the United States.

Bingo. Thats the policy in a nutshell. The issue isnt chemical weapons. The issue is Russias support for Assad, the leader who remains the target of US regime change plans. We are seeing a fundamental shift in the policy from mainly covert support for CIA-backed Sunni militias to overt military intervention. This is just the first volley in that new war.

The media wants the American people to believe that President Trump impulsively ordered the missile attacks in response to the use of chemical weapons. But theres reason to suspect that the attacks had been planned for some time in advance. As one blogger pointed out:

In the weeks before the missile strikes, Trump met with the Saudis, the president of Egypt, and the King of Jordan, while Secretary of State met with Turkish President Erdogan. In other words, the administration met with the entire Middle East Sunni alliance just days before ordering the missile strikes. Coincidence?

Probably not. They were probably tipped off and asked for their continued support.

Also, Trump waited until the evening that he was having dinner with President Xi Jinping to launch the attacks. Hows that for timing?

Do you think that the announcement that Trump just attacked Syria would have an impact on the two leaders conversation about North Korea? Do you think Xi might have seen the announcement as a not-so-subtle threat of violence against the North unless China forces its ally to make concessions?

Of course, he did. The man wasnt born yesterday.

It seems unlikely that Trumps attack was a snap decision made by an impulsive man. Instead, it looks like there was a significant amount of planning that went on beforehand, including the deploying of 400 additional Special Ops to Syria and 2,500 combat troops to nearby Kuwait. It appears as though Washington had been building up its troop-strength for some time before it settled on the right pretext for taking things to the next level. As journalist Bill Van Auken noted at the World Socialist Web Site:

We have been here so many times before that it is hardly worth wasting the time required to refute the official story. It is now 14 years since the US launched its invasion of Iraq over similar lies about weapons of mass destruction, setting into motion a vast slaughter that has claimed the lives of over one million people and turned millions more into refugees Once again, as in the air war against Serbia in 1999, the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, and the attack on Libya in 2011, the United States has concocted a pretext to justify the violation of another countrys sovereignty (The Bombing of Syria, Bill Van Auken, World Socialist Web Site)

I have no way of knowing whether Assad used chemical weapons or not, but I found Russian President Vladimir Putins analysis particularly interesting. Reporters asked Putin  What is your view about the use of chemical weapons in Syria?

Putin answered:

You all know that the Syrian government has repeatedly asked the international community to come and inspect the sites where the rebels used chemical weapons. But they always ignored those requests. The only time the international community has responded, was to this last incident. So, what do I think? I think we can figure out whats going on by just using a little common sense. The Syrian army was winning the war, in some places they had the rebels completely surrounded. For them to throw it all away and give their trump card to the people who have been calling for regime change is, frankly, a crock of shit.. ( Russian President Vladimir Putin. )

Putins response to Trumps missile attack has been subdued to say the least. He did issue a perfunctory presidential press statement on the incident, but the tone of the statement was neither incendiary or belligerent. If anything, it sounded like he found the whole matter irritating, like the man who sits down to a picnic lunch and finds he has to deal with pesky mosquito before he can eat. But, of course, this is the way that Putin handles most matters. Hes a master of understatement who is not easily given to emotional outbursts or displays of rage. Hes more apt to scratch himself, roll his eyes and give a shrug of the shoulders, than wave his fist and issue threats.

But from a strategic point of view, Putins measured response makes perfect sense, after all, the real battle isnt going to be won or lost in Syria. Its much bigger than that. Putin is challenging the present world order in which a disproportionate amount of political and economic power has accrued to one unipolar center of authority, a global hegemon that imposes its economic model wherever it goes and topples sovereign states with a wave of the hand. Putins task is to build resistance among the vassals, form new alliances, and strengthen the collective resolve for a different world where national sovereignty and borders are guaranteed under an impartial set of international laws that protect the weak as well as the strong.

Thats Putins real objective, to rebuild the system of global security based on a solid foundation of respect for the vital interests of each and every country. To accomplish that, Putin must seem like a reasonable and trustworthy ally who honors his commitments and stands by his friends even when they are under attack. Thats why Putin wont abandon Assad. Its because he cant.
President al-Assad Interview With AFP

Video and Transcript

April 13/14, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Damascus, SANAPresident Bashar al-Assad gave an interview to AFP in which he said what happened in Khan Shaikhoun is a fabricated story, stressing that Syria does not possess a chemical arsenal and that even if it has such an arsenal, it will not use it.

He made it clear that Syria can only allow any investigation in the Khan Sheikhoun incident when its impartial.

The President said that the United States is not serious in achieving any political solution.

He stressed that Syrias firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasnt been affected by this strike.

Following is the full text of the interview;

Question 1 : Mr. President, first I want to thank you very much to receive me for an interview. Mr. President, did you give an order to strike Khan Sheikhoun with chemical weapons last Tuesday?

President Assad : Actually, no-one has investigated what happened that day in Khan Sheikhoun till the moment. As you know, Khan Sheikhoun 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 dont know if the whole pictures or videos that weve been seeing are true or fabricated. Thats why we asked for investigation to what happened in Khan Sheikhoun. 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, theyre talking about two different stories or events. So, 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, and we have never used our chemical arsenal in our history.

Question 2 : 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 wasnt an attack because of what happened in khan Sheikhoun. Its 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. Thats what we believe is happening because its only 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 strike.

Question 3 : 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 dont have to investigate who, they announced it, its under their control, no-one else. About the attack, as I said, its 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 dont know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhoun? Were they dead at all? Who committed the attack if there was an attack? Whats the material? You have no information at all, nothing at all, no-one investigated.

Question 4 : So you think its a fabrication?

President Assad : Definitely, a hundred percent for us, its fabrication. We dont have an arsenal, were not going to use it. And you have many indications if you dont 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 Sheikhoun, lets suppose we have this arsenal, and lets suppose that we have the will to use it, why didnt 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 dont have army, we dont have battles, we dont have any, lets say, object in Khan Sheikhoun, and its not a strategic area. Why to attack it? Whats the reason? Militarily, Im talking from a military point of view. Of course, the foundation for us, morally, we wouldnt do it if we have it, we wouldnt have the will, because morally this is not acceptable. We wont have the support of the public. So, every indication is against the whole story, so you can say that this play that they staged doesnt hold together. The story is not convincing by any means.

Question 5 : 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, were 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, basic principle, lets 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, theyre not serious in fighting the terrorists, and yesterday some of their statesmen were defending ISIS. They were saying that ISIS doesnt 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.

Question 6 : So, can we say that the US strike changed your opinion on Trump?

President Assad : Anyway, I was very cautious in saying any opinion regarding him before he became President and after. I always say lets see what hes going to do, we wouldnt comment on statements. So, actually, this is the first proof that its not about the President in the United State; its about the regime and the deep state or the deep regime in the United States is still the same, it doesnt 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 hes 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.

Question 7 : 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.

Question 8 : 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; its 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: is smashing the terrorists everywhere in Syria. When we get rid of the terrorists, we wouldnt worry about anything else at that time. So, this is our response. Its a response, not reaction.

Question 9 : 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. Its out of reach. I mean, they can have missiles from another continent. We all know that. They are a great power, were not a great power. Talking about the Russians, this is another issue.

Question 10 : Would you accept the findings of 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 were going to work with them on international investigation. But it should be impartial. We can 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 politicized purposes.

Question 11 : And, if they accuse the government, would you step down?

President Assad : If they accuse, or if they prove? Theres a big difference. No, they are already accusing the government, and if you mean by them the West, no, we dont care about the West. If you mean the chemical agency, if they can prove that theres an attack, we have to investigate who gave the order to that attack. But a hundred percent, as Syrian Army, we dont have, and we cannot  even if we want, we cannot  we dont have the means to commit such attack, and we dont have the will.

Question 12 : So, you mean that you dont 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.

Question 13 : 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 didnt die. The same fabricated videos that weve been seeing about Khan Sheikhoun, when the rescuers tried to rescue the victims or the supposedly dead people or inflicted people, but actually they werent wearing any masks or any gloves. How? Wheres 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.

Question 14 : If you say that you didnt 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 doesnt have chemical materials. This is first. Second, a rogue army cannot send an airplane at their will, even if they want. Its an airplane, its 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 the law, that could happen anywhere in the world, but not an airplane. This is second.

Third, the Syrian Army is a regular army, its not a militia. Its 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.

Question 15 : Did the Russians warn you before the US attack? And were they present in the airbase?

President Assad : No, they didnt warn us because they didnt 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.

Question 16 : Do you confirm that 20% of your air force has been destroyed in this attack as the Americans said?

President Assad : I dont know whats the criteria, whats the reference of 20%, whats 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 dont 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 havent stopped attacking terrorists all over Syria. So, we didnt feel that we are really affected. Our firepower, our ability to attack the terrorists hasnt been affected by this strike.

Question 17 : You know, your government said in the beginning that you hit a chemical weapon depot. Is it true?

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President Assad : It was a possibility, because when you attack any target related to the terrorists, you dont know whats in it. You know that this a target; it could be a store, it could be warehouse, it could be a depot, it could be a camp, it could be a headquarter, we dont know. But you know that the terrorists are using this place and you attack it, like any other place, and thats what weve been doing since the beginning of the war on daily bases, on hourly bases sometimes, but you cannot tell whats 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 4 in the mourning. 4 in the morning, they announced that theres going to be a chemical attack, we have to be ready. How did they know about it?

Question 18 : Dont you see that Khan Sheikhoun 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, dont you think that Khan Sheikhoun is a huge setback for you?

President Assad : There is no reign of Assad family anyway in Syria. Hes dreaming, or lets say, hes hallucinating, so, we dont 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 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 wasnt 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 Unites States didnt 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 didnt work.

Question 19 : So, for you, its not a huge setback?

President Assad : No, no, its 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 whats happening in Syria, it hasnt changed at all. Forget about the statements; sometimes we have high-pitch statements, sometimes you have low-pitch statements, but its the same policy.

Question 20 : You have gradually pushed most of the rebels into Idleb, do you plan to attack it next?

President Assad : Were going to attack terrorists anywhere in Syria, Idleb or any other place. Whats the timing, whats the priority, this is a military issue and should be discussed on the military level.

Question 21 : You said before that Raqqa is a priority for your government, but the forces advancing on the city are mostly US-backed Kurds, arent you afraid of being excluded from the liberation of Raqqa?

President Assad : No, we support whoever wants to liberate any city from the terrorists, but that doesnt mean to be liberated from terrorists and being occupied by American forces, for example, or by another proxy, or another terrorists. So, its not clear who is going to liberate Raqqa. 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? Its not clear yet. But what we hear is only allegations about liberating Raqqa. Weve been hearing that for nearly a year now, or less than a year, but nothing happened on the ground. So, its just, lets say, a hypothetical question, because there is nothing concrete on the ground.

Question 22 : 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, theres a big difference between the process being active, which could happen anytime, to reactivate the process and to be effective. Till this moment, its 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 didnt get on the ground in the battlefield. Thats why it wasnt effective at all. Now, its the same situation, we dont 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.

Question 23 : After six years, Mr. President, arent 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 dont feel tired at all, because we are defending our country, and were not going to get tired at all in that regard.

Question 24 : 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.

Question 25 : Today, there are people from Fouaa and Kefraya 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 didnt 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 theyve been killed on daily basis, so they had to leave. But of course theyre 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, its temporary. Talking about demographic changes is not in the sake or in the interest of the Syrian society when its permanent. As long as its temporary, we wouldnt worry about it.

Journalist: Mr. President, I want to thank you very much for this interview.

President Assad: Thank you.

Journalist: It was very interesting, and thank you very much for talking with me.
Words Are Also Deeds: Unverified Stories and the Growing Risk of War With Russia





The US narratives for which there are as of yet no facts could lead to direct military conflict between Washington and Moscow.



By Stephen F. Cohen

Nation contributing editor Stephen F. Cohen and John Batchelor continue their weekly discussions of the new US-Russia Cold War.

April 13/14, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " The Nation "- Cohen argues that the American political-media establishment has embraced two fraught narratives for which there is still no public evidence, only intel allegations. One, Kremlingate, as it is being called, is that Russian President Putin ordered a hacking of the Democratic National Committee and disseminated e-mails found there to help put Donald Trump in the White House. The other is that Syrian President Assad, Putins ally, ordered last weeks chemical-weapons attack on Syrian civilians, including young children. A third faith-based narrative, promoted by MSNBC in particular, is now emerging linking the other two: that Trumps recent missile attack on a Syrian military air base was actually a Putin-Trump plot to free the new American president from the constraints of Kremlingate investigations and enable him to do Putins bidding in matters of US national security.

Cohen points out that in addition to the absence of any actual evidence for these allegations, there is no logic. The explanation that Putin hated Hillary Clinton for protests that took place in Moscow in 2011 is based on a misrepresentation of that event. And why would Assad resort to the use of chemical weapons, thereby risking all the military, political, and diplomatic gains he has achieved in the past year and half, and considering that he had Russian air power at his disposal as an alternative? And the emerging sub-narrative that Putin lied in 2013, when he and President Obama agreed that Assad would destroy all of his chemical weapons, is based on another factual misrepresentation. It was the United Nations and its special agency that verified the full destruction of those weapons, not Putin. (This allegation is clearly intended to discredit the one important act of US-Russian cooperation, a vital one, in recent years.)

The Russian adage words are also deeds is proving true, it seems. Trumps missile attack on Russias ally Syria, despite its ramifying dangers, may have had a domestic political purposeto debunk the narrative that is crippling his presidency, that he is somehow Putins puppet. If so, Cohen adds, the American mainstream media, which has promoted this narrative for months, is deeply complicit. Meanwhile, the Kremlin, which watches closely as these narratives unfold politically in Washington, has become deeply alarmed, resorting to its own fraught words. The No. 2 leader, Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev, declared that US-Russian relations have been ruined, a statement Cohen does not recall any previous Soviet or post-Soviet leader ever having made. Medvedev added that the two nuclear superpowers are at the brink of war. Considering that Medvedev is regarded as the leading pro-Western figure in Putins inner circle, imagine what the other sidestate patriots, or nationalists, as they are calledis telling Putin. Still more, the Kremlin is saying that Trumps missile attack on Syria crossed Russias red lines, with all the warfare implications that term has in Washington as well. And flatly declaring the mysterious use of chemical weapons in Syria a provocation, Putin himself warned that forces in Washington were planning more such provocations and military strikes. In short, while the Kremlin does not want and will not start a war with the United States, it is preparing for the possibility.

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Cohen and Batchelor ended their broadcast as Trumps new secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, had just arrived in Moscow, before his talks with Russian leaders began the following day. (Whether or not Putin himself would met with Tillerson, or only Foreign Minister Lavrov, was still uncertain. Putin may be an authoritarian leader, the decider, but influential forces in and around the Kremlin were strongly against Putin meeting with an American secretary of state in the immediate aftermath of such a US provocation.) Whatever the case, Cohen thinks Tillersons visit is vitally important, at least for the Russian leadership, and for Putin in particular.

Tillerson is well known to Putin and other Kremlin leaders. On behalf of ExxonMobil, he negotiated with them one of Russias largest energy deals, which would grant access to the nations vast oil resources beneath frozen seas. Putin personally approved the deal, which oil giants around the world sought. He would not have done so had he not concluded that Tillerson was a serious, highly competent man. (For this achievement on behalf of a major American corporation, Tillerson too has been slurred as Putins friend in the American media.) The Kremlin will therefore expect candid answers from Tillerson to these questions related to the looming issue of war or peace. Are the fact-free narratives now prevailing in Washington the determining factor in Trumps policy toward Russia? Are they the reason Trump committed the provocation in Syria? Does this mean that Trump no longer shares, or can support, Russias essential strategic premise regarding the civil and proxy war in Syriathat the overthrow of Assad would almost certainly mean ISIS or another terrorist army in Damascus, an outcome that the Kremlin regards as a dire threat to Russias own national security? And, most fundamentally, who is making Russia policy in Washington: President Trump or someone else? Putin, it should be recalled, asked the same question publicly about President Obama, when the agreement Putin and Obama negotiated for military cooperation in Syria was sabotaged by the US Department of Defense.

The answers that the very experienced Tillersonhe had his own corporate global state department and intelligence service at ExxonMobilgives may do much to determine whether or not the new Cold War moves even closer to the brink of hot war, certainly in Syria. Meanwhile, the American mainstream media should return to their once professed practice of rigorously fact-checking their narratives with an understanding that words are indeed also deeds.

Previous installments, now in their fourth year, are at TheNation.com

Stephen Frand Cohen is an American scholar and professor emeritus of Russian studies at Princeton University and New York University.
The Lagos State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended 138 suspected drug traffickers and seized one thousand, three hundred and ninety-nine kilogrammes of drugs (1,399.780kg) which is 1.3 metric tons.

The drugs were seized in Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Lagos Island, Ikorodu and other parts of the State within the first quarter of 2017. Those apprehended in connection with drug trafficking include 137 males and one female.

NDLEA Lagos commander, Aliyu Sule gave a breakdown of the seized drugs as well as arrests.

The Lagos command of the NDLEA between January and March 2017 arrested 138 suspected drug dealers including a female and seized 1,399.780kg of drugs. Cannabis has the largest share with 1,390.38kg, Tramadol 9.35kg, Cocaine 23.65 grammes and Heroin 22.8 grammes. he said.

The commander added that 84 drug dependent persons were successfully counselled and re-united with their families while 54 drug dealers were convicted with 125 pending cases.

One of the suspects Ngozi Owunna, 34, who allegedly distributes cannabis within Ikeja was caught at Allen Junction with 600 grammes of hemp after close monitoring by undercover narcotic agents. According to the suspect:

I was a commercial motor cyclist but when the Lagos State Government banned commercial motor cycles I then shifted to cannabis sales. I am from Enugu State. I am married with 3 children.

Another suspect, Abdulrauf Oshilaja, 50, from Oyo State, who was caught with 50.3kg of cannabis said that financial hardship made him to deal in cannabis.

I am married to 2 wives and I have 5 children. I used to sell motor tyres but due to family problem I started selling drugs because there is more profit in it than selling motor tyres. I was arrested at Ogijo, Ikorodu.

The Lagos command also traced and seized 372.6kg of cannabis inside a shop at Lagos Island belonging to one Ojomu Saheed who hails from Kwara State. The 46 year old suspect told narcotic officers that he had rented the shop to another suspect who is currently at large but investigation is ongoing.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) who vowed to intensify Nigerias fight against drug production, trafficking and abuse said that the war against drugs is on course and that there is no going back. He however called on stakeholders to enlist and actively participate in the anti-drug campaign.

Source : ( Linda Ikeji )
The United Kingdom have challenged the Federal Government of Nigeria to spare continue to try harder in rescuing the remaining 195 Chibok schoolgirls in Boko Harams captivity.

The EU, in a statement marking the third anniversary of the criminal abduction of the 276 schoolgirls, on Thursday, in Abuja, tasked the government to free the girls and bring their abductors to justice.

The delegation regretted that most of the abducted girls remained unaccounted for, three years after they were forcefully taken away from their homes, families and loved ones.

It said, The European Union delegation in Nigeria deeply regrets that most of the abducted girls remain unaccounted for three years after they were forcefully taken away from their homes, families and loved ones.

We commend the Nigerian government and its international partners for the action that resulted in the release of 21 of the kidnapped girls last year, and for its stated commitment to ensure that the remaining girls are freed and reunited with their families.

No effort should be spared to free the girls and bring their abductors to justice.

The union observed that Nigeria had made significant progress over the last two years in combatting Boko Haram, but added that the group still remained a threat.

The UK, in a joint statement by its Foreign Office Minister, Tobias Ellwood, and his international development counterpart, James Wharton, said their thoughts were with the girls and their families.

They called for the release of those abducted by Boko Haram, stating that the UK was working with Nigeria in the fight against the insurgents.

The ministers stressed that their country would not be deterred from supporting Nigeria to tackle violent extremism.

The statement read, 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.
The lives of Five persons came to an end, while three persons were left injured in an auto crash at the new Makun axis of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

According to the Public Relations Officer, Traffic Compliance and Enlightenment Agency, TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi,said the accident involved a truck and a passenger bus.

He said the accident was caused by the heavy down pour in addition 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.

Source:( Premium Times )
The Nasarawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed dissatisfaction over the unnecessary delays in the payment of salaries to civil servants in the state.

The NLC also expressed disgust that no worker had been promoted in the last six years.

Mr Abdullahi Adeka, NLC Chairman in the state, voiced the workers concerns at the 4th Quadrennial State Delegates Conference of Nasarawa State Chapter of the Association of Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria (ASCSN), in Lafia.

The NLC Chairman, who was represented by Yusuf Sarki-Iya, the Treasurer, said that such delays had subjected workers to lots of hardship.

The situation is appalling; government will just deliberately delay salaries for up to four months before they pay for one month.

Another issue of concern is that no worker in Nasarawa State has been promoted in the last six years.

Also, no worker has been given annual increment and there has been no attention to staff development in terms of training, in the last six years, he added.

He said that government was killing the civil service by categorising it into two  senior and junior civil servants  and explained that stagnation had stalled carrier progression, created a vacuum and wiped out the middle cadre.

Adeka regretted that outstanding salaries, pensions and gratuities had not been paid in spite of the Paris Club Refund that came with a categorical instruction that the payments be effected.

Government recently released N300 million for the payment of gratuity of some retirees, but the money is grossly insufficient and certainly not up to half of the Paris Club Refund, he said.

Also speaking, Mr Gabriel Agbashi of the Trade Union Congress, rejected suggestions that Nasarawa was poor and lacked sufficient money to meet its obligations.

The only problem in Nasarawa State is that government does not consider workers welfare as its priority. We work in this state and have all records on how much is in the coffers of the state, he said.

He urged government to pay salaries promptly and also promote civil servants to avoid stagnation that had lowered morale.

Responding, Mr Thomas Ogiri, Nasarawa State Head of Service, urged patience from the workers.

Government is working hard to improve workers welfare. The workers should just exercise some patience, he said.

He said that government had always carried NLC leaders along, saying that all actions were usually based on agreement reached with labour.

Source: ( PM News )
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

Trend:

Azerbaijani military will conduct large-scale exercises from April 16 to inspect combat readiness of troops, said press service of Azerbaijans Defense Ministry.

The exercises will be held in line with the plan approved by Azerbaijans President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev.

About 30,000 servicemen will participate in the drills that will continue until April 21.

Also, more than 250 tanks and armored vehicles, up to 200 missiles and artillery systems, multiple launch rocket systems and mortars, and 25 combat aircraft will be involved in the drills.
Former governor of Edo, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, has commended the judgment delivered by the Election Petitions Tribunal on the Edo 2016 Governorship Election, affirming the election of Gov. Godwin Obaseki.

Oshiomhole who spoke to newsmen in Edo said the judiciary still remained the hope for common man.

The judgment is sound and a testimony that the people of Edo never voted for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The petition was a busy body one to distract the electorate; this was just like Mama Akara judgment going to see over non-issue.

Oshiomhole further said that the judgment has shown that there were still men and women of good character in the judiciary.

This will serve as a deterrent to some people who can say whatever they like about the judiciary.

But it has shown it (judiciary) has men and women of good character, of courage and knowledge, he said.

In a related development, the counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Victor Ohiosunua, has appealed to PDP chieftains to support Obaseki to develop the state.

Ohiosunua made the call in in Benin after the Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin dismissed the petition filed by PDP candidate, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, challenging Obasekis election.

I want to appeal to the petitioners to joining hands with the governor to develop and carry the state to the next level.

The business of the governor is tedious and the few five months the present governor has spent in the office, shows his capability and focus to take Edo to the next level.

The logical order the tribunal made today is the right one for them to make.

We are happy that the votes and wishes of the Edo people who voted on Sept. 28, 2016 has been restored, Ohiosunua said.

The Justice Ahmed Badamasi-led three-member Tribunal had dismissed the petitioners claims based on no credible evidence to prove their case.

The tribunal, therefore, upheld Obasekis victory in the governorship election of Sept. 28, 2016, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

On his part, Ken Muzia (SAN), counsel to Obaseki who also commended the tribunals judgment, said the tribunal did a proper review of the evidence.

The tribunal has done a fantastic job, what we should be thinking of is the development of the state, Muzia added.
The Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) called for extensive civic education of having protected sex not by only using male condoms but also orientate the public about the benefits of using female condom.

The call was made by Prof. Oladapo Ladipo, Chief Executive Officer of ARFH, at the female condom counseling tools review meeting on Friday in Abuja.

Ladipo was represented by Dr Oluyemi Atibioke, Senior Programme Officer, HIV and AIDS Education and Communication (IEC) project.

He said that almost 20 years after the female condom was introduced, it has continued to face resistance from both women and men.

Ladipo also noted low female condom use is caused by traditional patriarchal and cultural issues.

A lot of people are of the view that the condom makes sex unpleasurable, noisy and that it could flip into the womans body thereby posing health challenge to the users.

This is false, he said.

Ladipo called for the intensified efforts of the government healthcare providers on awareness creation to ensure acceptability and usage.

All over the country the acceptability of female condom is still very low, we have been leading the advocacy to ensure that it use is actually acceptable by all and not just to accept it but to promote it.

The IEC materials which include fliers, posters among others will serve as a national document that will educate people on the benefit of female condom and will also correct some of the misconceptions that people have, he said.

Similarly, Sekina Bello, Programes and Advocacy Officer, Pathfinder International, said that the female condom performs a dual role of preventing pregnancy and as protection against sexually transmitted infection.

According to her, other child spacing methods like implants among others do not protect women against other risk associated with unprotected sex.

Though the woman may have any other children spacing method like the implant but what about other dangers associated with multiple sex partners?

This could only be prevented through the use of female condom, Bello said.

Source: ( PM news )
The Independent National Electoral Commission has been advised by the Inter-Party Advisory Council against aiding rigging in the 2018 Governorship Election in Ekiti.

The coalition of political parties advised the two organisations to shun influence from politicians willing to subvert the peoples will, in the interest of peace.

IPAC also passed a vote of confidence in Governor Ayodele Fayose and commended him for his landmark achievements and relative peace in the state since his assumption of office.

This were parts of the resolutions reached at IPAC meeting hosted by the factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti, Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase.

The All Progressives Congress was not represented at the meeting.

The state IPAC Chairman, Dr Dele Ekunola, who presided over the meeting said there was the need for all stakeholders to avoid a situation that led to the 1983 crisis in the old Ondo State.

What we expect INEC and police to do is that they must not be dictated to. They must comply with the electoral acts very rigidly. Police and INEC must not be used for electoral fraud because they belong to Nigerians and not any individual.

They must not force any candidate on Ekiti and this can only happen if they allow the electorate to freely choose their leader because we want Ekiti of tomorrow to be better than today.

The police, in particular, must not tolerate intruders from coming to Ekiti to foment trouble, because anything contrary to the wish of Ekiti people during the election will cause crisis and what we want is peace before, during and after the election, because we all belong to the same family.

You can now see that all political parties in Ekiti are one. We operate like a family. If you look critically, there is no inter-party crisis and this is how IPAC has been operating at the federal level and it will go down to the ward level because Nigeria and Ekiti need peace and unity.

Oguntuase, who praised IPAC for brooding on how Ekiti could achieve peace, said the revolutionary transformation being carried out by Fayose would continue.

He appealed to APC to give peace a chance to forestall the programmes from being truncated.

He also canvassed support for Fayoses government in view of the alleged attempt to review the April 14, 2015, Supreme Court judgement, which validated the governors electoral victory.

Nobody should be allowed to throw out Fayose who was popularly elected by the people, he added.
Well celebrated photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi who is also the publisher of StyleMania Magazine, Nigerias most respected fashion publication celebrated his 15th wedding anniversary with wife yesterday, April 13.

Amadi-Obi shared beautiful throwback photos with wife and wrote;@juliaamadiobi its been a wonderful 15 years. Thank you for your love , support and patience #weddinganniversary

See more photos below:
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has renewed his call for the screening of Nigerian movies in China.

The minister made the request on Thursday in Abuja when he received the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, on a courtesy visit.

He said the screening of Nollywood movies in China would reciprocate Nigerias gesture towards Chinese movies, which are shown in the country.

Mohammed said it would also be a deliberate strategy to ensuring better understanding between the two countries and also create market for Nigerian movies in China.

He described the partnership between Nigeria and China in the area of infrastructural development as a catalyst for domestic tourism in Africa.

Mohammed said: I think China is a good example of how domestic tourism can propel and trigger the economy; and for domestic tourism to prosper, you need improved infrastructure.

This is why we are so glad that China is collaborating with Nigeria in the area of infrastructure such as roads, power and railways.

The minister hailed the bilateral relations between Nigeria and China, which he described as mutual and sincere.

He noted that China remains one of the strategic partners of Nigeria because of its genuine commitment and passion towards the country.

Mohammed said the cultural ties between both countries could further be strengthened in the areas of film and cinematography.

Pingjian said culture and people-to-people relations were parts of 10 priority areas, which his country was exploring to foster relations with Nigeria.

He said China had opened discussion with the minister towards the building of Nigeria-China Cultural Centre in Nigeria to further promote cultural ties.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports the minister also on Thursday received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, on a courtesy visit.

Mohammed reiterated the commitment of the federal government to ease doing business in the country.

He said the bilateral agreement between his ministry and the British Council has yielded fruits with the training of 40 Nigerian festival managers by the Council in February.

Arkwright had earlier said his country was committed to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria, particularly in the areas of tourism, creative industry and cultural heritage.
The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Friday expressed his disappointment over the leaked private memo he sent to President Muhammadu Buhari on the state of the nation.

He said those who published the document revealed the identities of those who leaked it to him.

El-Rufia said this in an interview with State House correspondents shortly after he joined Buhari for the Jumaat prayer at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The governor had in a 29-page memo dated September 22, 2016, told Buhari that his administration has not only failed in meeting the expectations of Nigerians but equally fell short of delivering on mundane issues of governance.

In the memo titled Immediate and medium-term imperatives for President Muhammadu Buhari, he also claimed that the President is surrounded by inexperienced and clueless officials, who dont share in the vision of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

El-Rufai also noted that he was conscious of the fact that his memo might be misunderstood but willing to accept the consequences

In the interview with State House correspondents, the governor said his memo to the President was not ill-motivated.

While saying he has no regret for writing the document, the governor said he would not hesitate to write another memo to the President if the need arises.

He said, I am disappointed that a private communication to the highest office in the land can be leaked and it was leaked from the villa. I am told by those that published it, but this is a fact of life.

We live in an age where anything you write or say can be leaked. It is ok, my intentions are clear, I have no ill motive but I wanted to communicate with the President what many Nigerians are talking about and what steps can be taken to improve governance of the country and move the country forward.

That was my motive and if tomorrow, like I said, I see anything that the President needs to know I will discuss with him and I will articulate and put it into writing and on the record for him to have a reminder document to work on.

 I have no regrets and I have no apologies.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
Nollywood Ambassadors Award (NAA), a ceremony to recognise and pay tribute to relevant stakeholders who have contributed to the growth of Nollywood is set to debut in Abuja.

Mr Sunny-Ken Awoji, President of Nollywood Ambassadors International Initiative, organisers of the event, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

According to Awoji, there are individuals, government functionaries and organisations that have helped in various ways toward shaping the Nigerian movie industry, popularly known as Nollywood over the years that deserve accolades.

Nigerians and Non-Nigerians alike, who have contributed to the exponential growth and development of the film making industry to where it is today, is our worthy Ambassador that should be honoured.

There is no doubt Nollywood is now a global brand, and it is time to celebrate our brand Ambassadors for their immense contributions to the growth of brand that has created jobs for many Nigerians.

Anyone across every sector, who have shown uncommon patriotism in one way or the other needs to be so honoured.

They all need to be celebrated for them to be inspired and do more for Nollywood.

Therefore, on September 29, at the Sheraton Hotels, Nollywood shall celebrate these worthy Ambassodors of our great industry, he said.

Awoji, who is also the Vice President of the Abuja chapter of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), noted that previous awards were targeted mainly at actors, producers, directors and other stakeholders within Nollywood.

He, however, added that NAA was a step toward recognising both practitioners and supporters of the industry alike.

Basically, the industry is used to giving awards to ourselves, so it is time to look beyond self and acknowledge those who have helped us this far.

The NAA is classified into internal and external awards for stakeholders within and outside the industry.

According to Awoji, the awards cuts across over 20 categories, with recipients picked from various field of human endeavour.

He explained that categories of the external awards include Humanitarian Man/Woman of the Year, Most Supportive Organisation of the Year (Private), Most supportive Foreign Organisation of the year and Most Supportive Government Organisation.

Other she said are: Clergy Man of the Year, Most Supportive Governor of the Year, Nollywood Most Supportive Council Chairman of the Year, Nollywood Musician of the Year and the Most Supportive Media Organisation.

He said that the internal category of the award which seeks to honour stakeholders within the industry include Nollywood Guild President of the year, Creative writer of the year and Creative Director of the year.

The Creative producer of the Year and Best Actor and Actress of the Year would also be honoured among others.

The Award president explained that the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) and other guilds within Nollywood were in support of the initiative.

According to him, the Federal Ministry of Information and other relevant government agencies such as the National Council for Arts and Culture and the Nigeria Film and Video Censors Board are also in support of the awards.

Awoji noted that since the awards was to celebrate stakeholders across Nigeria and beyond, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was chosen for the awards to represent unity and oneness of Nollywood.

Nollywood cuts across the different states and tribes of Nigeria, therefore our centre of unity is the most appropriate place to host this prestigious event.

Nollywood, Nigerias homegrown film sector, is reputed to be the second largest movie industry in the world in terms of volume, behind Bollywood of India.

In the past two decades, the sector has continued to create jobs for the youth.

The sector contributed 1.3 per cent to the nations Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2014.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) on Thursday sacked three of its senior officials and deployed four others in vacant positions.

Although the corporation did not state why the officials were sacked, it was gathered that the affected directors and a manager were allegedly involved in the N11bn missing petrol scandal that was recently established by the corporation.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said the officials were retired by the corporation but gave no reason for the action.

Ughamadu said, In line with the ongoing reforms in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the management has announced the retirement of some staff and the deployment of others. The retired staff members are Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, Managing Director, NNPC Retail Limited; Mr. Alpha P. Mamza, Executive Director, Operations, NNPC Retail Limited; and Mr. Oluwakayode Erinoso, Manager, Distribution, NNPC Retail Limited.

Those redeployed are Mr. Adeyemi Adetunji, Managing Director, NNPC Retail Limited; Mr. Lawal Bello, Executive Director, Operations, NNPC Retail Limited; Mrs. Affiong Akpasubi, Executive Director, Services, NNPC Retail Limited; and Mr. Agwandas A. Andrawus, Manager, Distribution, NNPC Retail Limited.

The appointments take effect immediately.

Until his new assignment as the Managing Director of NNPC Retail, Adeyemi was the General Manager, Strategy and Planning, Gas and Power, and also former General Manager, Transformation Office.

The Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, charged the redeployed staff members to remain committed to their duties in line with the transformation aspirations of the management of the corporation.

Last month, the NNPC declared that it would fully recover over 130 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, valued at N11bn and stored in the facilities of two indigenous downstream operators, MRS Limited and Capital Oil and Gas Limited, under a throughput arrangement to ensure a robust strategic reserve.

It commenced investigation into the missing product, a development that led to the interrogation of the Capital Oil boss, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, by operatives of the Department of State Services for several days.

Officials at the corporation told our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday that the sacked management employees were found culpable for the missing 130 million litres of petrol and that that was the major reason for their exit.

The corporations Chief Operating Officer, Downstream, Mr. Henry Ikem-Obih, had explained that the missing petrol was discovered earlier in the year when the NNPC wanted to access the over 100 million litres of petrol stored at the Capital Oil depot for the NNPC Retail, as well as over 30 million litres in MRS Limiteds depot, both in the Apapa area of Lagos.

We instructed the Nigerian Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the NNPC, to send additional trucks to those locations to move products for distribution aimed at meeting a supply shortfall we discovered in the market; but after days of not being able to access the terminals, we had to take a decision as the NNPC management had to invite auditors and inspectors to go and do a physical check on the inventories, Ikem-Obih explained.

Source: Punch
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

Trend:

The abolition of visas for Azerbaijani citizens is one of the topics of discussions between Baku and Brussels, said Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys Spokesperson Hikmat Hajiyev Apr. 14.

The agreements on visa simplification and readmission, signed between Azerbaijan and the EU, have been in force for several years, noted Hajiyev.

He said that the successful cooperation within these agreements creates favorable conditions for reaching a new level of negotiations on visa issues.

The spokesperson also didnt rule out the possibility of considering the issue of abolishing visas within the framework of negotiations on a new strategic cooperation agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU.
The proud mum revealed on her Instagram that her 3-year-old son Jermaine aka Lord Maine has now become the youngest ambassador for an online retail store, Payporte.

She also revealed the child model, who started taking fashion design classes last year, will be having his very own collection on the platform.

She wrote:

Lord Maine @lordmaine2 signed and sealed, youngest star child signed [email protected], Cant wait to share his very own collection from payporte, oya lets go!

The 35-year-old mother of two also did well to acknowledge ex-boyfriend and Jemaines dad, Lord Trigg, thanking him for his good genes.

See photos:
A woman who is unbelievably addicted to the criminal habit of burgling, has received severe punishment for her wrongdoing.

Emily Gwembe, an unrepentant female Zimbabwean burglar who tasted freedom last year through Presidential pardon will return to prison after she was recently slapped with a 12-year jail term by a Mutare magistrate on 29 counts of unlawful entry.

According to The Manica Post, the jail bird gave detectives a hard time to document all her cases resulting in the police applying for a warrant for further detention which was duly granted.

Emily Gwembe (34) of House 4428 Area C, Dangamvura, Zimbabwe was convicted on her own guilty plea to all counts when she appeared before Mr Lazarus Murendo last Friday.

She was being charged for contravening Section 131 (1) as read with Section 131 (2) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act.

Surprisingly, she committed most of her crimes while heavily pregnant and when she was finally arrested and brought before the courts she had a two-week old baby. As soon as she got out of prison last year through the Presidential Amnesty, Gwembe got back to her old ways.

She duplicated keys to peoples houses and stole property in broad day light. Using the same modus operandi she pounced on many houses and in no time police in Mutare Urban District received overwhelming unlawful entry reports.

Gwembe, who was holding her baby in court, pleaded for forgiveness, saying she continued with her old habit in order to fend for her family.

Mr Murendo could have none of her pleas.

He said the suspect deserved nothing else but a custodial sentence as she had proved to be an unrepentant habitual criminal who committed a series of offences soon after being released from prison last year.

The offences you committed are of a serious nature and cannot be forgiven that easily. You pounced on unsuspecting residents and stole their valuables.

The only option is a custodial sentence as you still need to reform from your wayward ways. Your behaviour is not expected to be coming from a woman and therefore the need to warn other young ladies out there who might be seeing you as a role model, said Mr Murendo.

Public prosecutor, Mr Fletcher Karombe, told the court that Gwembe stole property valued at more than $10 000 from 29 different houses in Dangamvura, Chikanga and Hob-house high density suburbs.

The court heard that sometime in August last year Pamela Matovanyika from Hob-house left home after locking doors to her house. The suspect came and used a duplicate key to open the main door. She gained entry and stole blankets, groceries and cash amounting to $1 210.

She disappeared without being noticed. At some instances she broke locked doors and windows using an iron bar.

In September last year she used an iron bar to break into Tafadzwa Mandimutsiras house in Hobhouse and stole property worth $400, said Mr Karombe.

When asked how she executed the break-ins Gwembe said she would take time to observe her victims lifestyle and later steal their keys which she duplicated. With no one at home, she pounced and stole property.
Americans overwhelmingly supported broadband privacy rules, so Congress repealed them. Net neutrality rules enjoy broad bipartisan support, so the FCC plans to revoke them.

Now there's a new survey showing that more than 70 percent of Americans think municipal broadband should be allowed to expand into underserved rural areas. You can guess what comes next, right?

Tennessee's state legislature this week voted to funnel millions of taxpayer dollars to AT&T and Comcast, when a city-owned communications company could have offered better, cheaper service to underserved residents at no taxpayer expense.

Life is grand when you're a telecom giant.

Faster, cheaper internet? No thanks

A survey by the Pew Research Center found that Americans overwhelmingly support letting a town or city build its own broadband networks if existing services in the area are too expensive or not good enough. Despite this support, more than 20 states have passed protectionist lawsoften written by telecoms themselves to avoid competition at all coststhat ban local governments from starting or expanding their own broadband service.

The results of many communities going the municipal broadband route have been impressive. Chattanooga's government-owned EFB communications company provides the fastest, most affordable internet in the United States, which has been a significant factor in an economic renewal that's reaped roughly $1 billion in the form of new jobs and other benefits to the self-proclaimed "Gig City." EFB is profitable and not funded by taxpayer money.

Meanwhile, in many rural areas surrounding the city, private ISPs offer dialup or no internet service at all. EFB wanted to expand its network, but telecom giants have shoveled piles of cash to state lawmakers to stop that from happening.

When Tennessee state lawmakers last year voted down a proposal that would have allowed municipal broadband to expand, one state representative accused his fellow lawmakers of caving to pressure from lobbyists rather than listening to the electorate. Another blamed AT&T, which had argued that "taxpayer money should not be used to overbuild or compete with the private sector."

Taxpayer money showered on private ISPs is another story, apparently. The Tennessee state legislature was considering a new bill this year that would have allowed EFB to expand, but instead passed by a 93-4 vote the Broadband Accessibility Act of 2017, which funnels $45 million of taxpayer money to incentivize telecom giants like AT&T and Comcast to upgrade service in rural areas.

"Tennessee taxpayers may subsidize AT&T to build DSL service to Chattanooga's [rural] neighbors rather than letting [EFB] expand its fiber at no cost to taxpayers," said Christopher Mitchell, director of the Community Broadband Networks initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. "Tennessee will literally be paying AT&T to provide a service 1,000 times slower than what Chattanooga could provide without subsidies."

Republican state Sen. Janice Bowling, who co-sponsored the bill that would have allowed EFB to expand, told Motherboard: "What we have right now is not the free market, it's regulations protecting giant corporations, which is the exact definition of crony capitalism."

Turn off that fast internet service, right now

A similar situation unfolded in Wilson, North Carolina. State law prevented the city from offering broadband to underserved surrounding areas until the FCC, under former chair Tom Wheeler, intervened to preempt it. Wilson's community-owned Greenlight ISP proceeded to expand its fiber networkwhich provided speeds of 40Mbps to 1Gbps at prices ranging from $40 to $100 a monthto nearby homes previously served only with sluggish DSL service from the incumbent providers protected by the state law.

Unfortunately, an appeals court struck down the FCC's actions, saying the agency had overstepped its authority. Wilson's city council voted to provide free internet service for six months to the nearby towns, but soon will be forced to shut off its fiber-to-the-home internet unless the state legislature passes a new, very narrowly written bill that would give those townsbut no others in the statean exemption.

That piecemeal approach will leave many people in rural N.C. without broadband, and "ISPs would continue to face little competition and have little incentive to upgrade networks, reduce prices, or provide better customer service," Ars Technica notes.

Broken promises, dismal performance

In rankings of the world's fastest internet speeds, the United States lags badly, coming in 20th for average speed and 22nd for average peak connection speed. Bruce Kushnick, author of "The Book of Broken Promises," denounces the continuing transfer of taxpayer money to telecom giants that have repeatedly reneged on promises to build out and update infrastructure.

The United States has "paid over and over and over again for upgrades that were never done, including the wiring of schools. We collectively paid about $400 billion to have the phone networks upgraded to fiber optics, and the cablecos' collected over $50 billion extra since 2000 under something called the 'Social Contract,' which was supposed to wire the schools," Kushnick writes.

Companies like Verizon "nab billions in tax breaks and subsidies for jobs half-completed," TechDirt reports. States like West Virginia, regional incumbents received millions in subsidies, which were wasted on projects that helped virtually nobody.

ISP lobbyists continue to successfully stall the progress of municipal broadband that could challenge the status quo, as "states continue to sell state telecom law to the highest bidder." TechDirt writes, noting that AT&T convinced Missouri legislators to pass a law this year that expanded restrictions on municipal broadband. One bright spot: "Virginia tried to similarly expand its ban on municipal broadband, but lawmakers there were forced to retreat after they took a notable beating from the press and public."

The National Cable and Telecommunications Association is always swift to bemoan the unfairness of local governments competing with private companies. But as TechDirt says:
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva - Trend:

Azerbaijans army owns the most expensive military equipment in the region, according to a footage prepared by the Russian news channel RT.

Azerbaijan has increased its military budget by 20 times since early 2000s. Baku buys weapons produced by Russia, Israel and Turkey, according to RT.

The Azerbaijani army is constantly combat ready because of the unsettled Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia, the RT reported.

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.
One person was injured on Tuesday after a three-car wreck in Pocatello, Idaho, sent a vehicle crashing into a self-storage building. The accident occurred near Wildwood Mini-Storage at 802 McKinley Avenue around 2 p.m., according to the source.

The driver of a brown van that was headed east on W. Cedar Street failed to yield at a stop sign and collided with a pickup truck traveling north on McKinley Avenue. The collision caused the van to ram into a storage-unit door, while the pickup hit another truck that was stopped at the intersection, the source reported. Witnesses claim the van was traveling at a high speed.

The van driver was taken by ambulance to Portneuf Medical Center with unspecified injuries. The names of the those involved in the accident werent released, and the collision is still under investigation, the source reported. Alcohol wasnt believed to be a factor, police officials said.

Wildwood Mini-Storage offers drive-up storage units, 24-hour access and online billpay. The company also hosts a blog with storage tips on its website.
Patrick Groenendijk has left the Chicago-based asset manager after being named global head of equity strategy in May.

Northern Trusts top equity strategist has left the firm after less than a year in his role.

Patrick Groenendijk, global head of equity strategy, left the Chicago-based asset manager on March 31, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. A Northern Trust spokesman confirmed the departure, saying the firm hasnt found a replacement. Groenendijk declined to comment.

The equities offerings at Northern Trust, which had $942 billion in assets under management at the end of last year, are focused primarily on factor-based strategies, which screen for such risk factors as value and quality to produce excess returns.

Groenendijk joined the firm in 2014, after nearly nine years as chief investment officer of Pensioenfonds Vervoer in the Netherlands. He was hired to build out Northern Trusts outsourced CIO business, and in May, was appointed to lead the firms equities strategy.

Before joining Pensioenfonds Vervoer in 2005, Groenendijk was a client relationship manager in Amsterdam for Barclays Global Investors, and held roles at Dutch pension funds PME and ABP, according to his LinkedIn bio page. BlackRock bought Barclays Global Investors, the British banks fund management business, in 2009.
The international junket jet set is said to be a bunch of billionaires telling audiences of millionaires how the middle class lives. Yet on January 18 in Davos, Switzerland, a man unlikely to be worth much money at all made the case for millionaires and billionaires to support a revolutionary system of financial redistribution.

The man was Guy Standing, a professorial research associate at the University of London and a longtime advocate of universal basic income. He was, of course, attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, the uber-conference of the G-6 crowd. Seated on a low stage set for a panel discussion on UBI moderated by the business editor of the Economist, Standing overwhelmed his three fellow esteemed panelists with the sheer volume of his words.

He is perhaps the worlds most outspoken proponent of a system that would provide a base level of income for all, regardless of whether or not they work. He co-founded the Basic Income Earth Network in 1986, a group that promotes the idea, and has advised various governments on its implementation. If Standings chest was particularly puffed at Davos, it was because his lifes work, a very old and, I think, an extremely radical idea, has come to the fore, according to the moderator, who cited Ontario, Finland, and various Scottish and Dutch cities as locales testing the concept. (Switzerland recently held a vote on starting such a scheme; it was overwhelmingly defeated, 77 percent to 23 percent.)

In the last couple of years, theres suddenly been a huge surge of interest, partly by a realization about automation, Standing replied. I want to stress thats not my rationale for a basic income  it never has been  but its quite useful because its made us much more topical. Instead, Standings contention is that public wealth is created over generations and thus should be shared across generations (a variation on the you didnt build that argument from Senator Elizabeth Warren and former president Barack Obama). Plus, he abhors rentier capitalism, a neo-Marxist term for the parasitic monopolization of resources without benefit to the public.

The professor then piqued the interest of any asset managers in Davos. Something like the Alaska Permanent Fund or the Norwegian fund  had Britain set up the same fund, they could be paying out more than the basic income now, he proposed. So what we are arguing [is to] build up a sovereign wealth fund system by levying it on rental income, intellectual property, and so on, and couch the debate as redistributing income as a system and not taxing the worker to pay a lazy system.

As any hedge fund manager knows, Alaska Permanent and Norges Bank Investment Management (the Norwegian fund Standing was referencing) invest huge amounts of capital with alternatives managers. You would be hard-pressed to find a Connecticut or London money management baron who disagrees with the idea of more sovereign wealth funds. So why havent more financial titans raced to support Standings position?

Taxes, for one. Any redistribution system guaranteeing basic income for all citizens will surely raise taxes on the rich, including money managers.

Not so fast, says Charles Murray, a libertarian scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. According to Murray, scrapping the current American system of welfare and replacing it with an annual payment of $10,000 to every adult would actually save money over the long run. Part of this would stem from the dismantling of Social Security  which invests solely in Treasuries  and forcing individuals to plan on their own for retirement, most likely using the asset management and insurance industries.

Further proof that the money management industry might benefit from such redistribution can be found in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. All else being equal, if Murrays plan ever reaches fruition (and even he admits it would likely require a Constitutional amendment prohibiting nonbasic income social programs), adding $10,000 to every adults income each year would likely increase the amounts directed to invested retirement and insurance general accounts. As the annual survey shows, a household of two adults making $24,000 currently spends 2 percent of income on retirement accounts, 3.1 percent on insurance, and 2 percent on Social Security and pensions. If they were given the additional capital and if their behavior remained consistent with their new cohort (a big if), these figures would rise to 5.1, 5.6, and 5.1 percent  a total of 15.8 percent, doubling the assets potentially flowing into the pockets of mutual funds, target date funds, and ETFs.

The impact of such a monumental transformation of the welfare state as proposed by Standing and Murray  two men at opposite ends of the political spectrum  would, of course, cause entirely unpredictable outcomes. Taxes at the top end could rise (although Murray doesnt think so); individual investment risk appetite could change dramatically (but logic suggests it would increase, given the overt safety net); retirement savings might become less of a focus, given the guaranteed income in place for life (yet the $10,000 that Murray proposes would be an uncomfortable retirement).

But even with these large grains of salt, it is not hard to believe that the asset management industry  and the many wealthy people working within it  might benefit from such a system. Capital may flow to the alternative-investment billionaires who work with the likes of Alaska Permanent, Norges Bank, or whatever new sovereign funds would emerge out of the reforms. It may flow to the lower-cost, retail investment millionaires at more traditional long-only shops. But unless theres been a serious miscalculation by men such as Murray and Standing, the money will flow somewhere. Perhaps, then, a panel suggestion for the 2018 Davos agenda: The Case for Hedge Fund Marxism.
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.
Suit alleged that the insurer had failed to honor its promises
A claimant who filed a lawsuit against State Farm because he reasoned the insurer did not live up to its good neighbor tag line was told by a court not to take the companys adverts too literally.Trade publication Body Shop Business quoted the ruling of the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit as saying, Under the circumstances of this case and viewed in the light most favourable to (Broadway), we cannot say that State Farms advertising slogan  Like a good neighbour, State Farm is there  is a representation of material fact. The advertising slogan, instead, constitutes nothing more than a statement of opinion or puffery.The verdict was handed down over a case filed by Joseph Broadway, an Alabama motorist who was granted damages after getting into an accident with a negligent driver. State Farm covered the initial claim, worth $25,000 under the policy of the at-fault driver.However, Broadway filed for another claim for $25,000 in underinsured motorist benefits. He kicked up a legal fuss after State Farm mailed him a $5,000 check for the additional claim.The motorist filed a civil suit against State Farm and his insurance agent, Shane Anderson, for breach of contract, bad faith and fraud.Broadway argued that Anderson committed fraud because of false representation on the basis of State Farms good neighbor slogan. He claimed he did not get the neighborly treatment implied by the catchphrase.A federal district court ruled in favour of the insurer. A federal appeals court promulgated a similar decision.According to the appeals court: In July 2012, State Farm sent (Broadway) a letter in which State Farm acknowledged that the parties had been unable to agree on an amount of damages, and State Farm made an initial offer of $5,000. State Farm also indicated its willingness to engage in continued negotiations and to consider any and all new information you may have that could affect our evaluation. Thereafter, (Broadway) cashed the $5,000 check but engaged in no further negotiations nor submitted additional documentation of his damages.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

Trend:

The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea is almost ready for signing, Igor Bratchikov, special envoy of the Russian president, ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said, RIA Novosti reported.

Bratchikov made the remarks at the Caspian Dialogue international economic forum in Moscow Apr. 14.

Majority of the conventions provisions have been coordinated, he said. These provisions balance the needs of all five sides (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran) and do not infringe upon the national interests of any country.

The Caspian littoral states  Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran  signed a Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea in November 2003.

Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the northern part of the Caspian Sea in order to exercise sovereign rights for subsoil use in July 1998. The two countries signed a protocol to the agreement in May 2002.

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the Caspian Sea and a protocol to it on Nov. 29, 2001 and Feb. 27, 2003, respectively.

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement on the delimitation of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea on May 14, 2003.
The National Flood Insurance Program has to manage it loss coverage policy to keep it viable and accessible to a broader base of policyholders, a Florida congressman has proposed.Congressman Francis Rooney promised his constituents that he will make sure NFIP members in his home state will get a better deal as the legislature buckles down to work on the reauthorization of the program, which will expire on September 30.In a report by local media BeachTalk.com, the congressman focused on repetitive losses, which he explained are a drain on federal resources and cause disproportionate rate hikes, which is making flood insurance inaccessible to most homeowners.Repetitive losses arise from properties that frequently experience damage from regular flooding, which use up federal funds to repair and rebuild. These properties are usually located near water systems such as rivers and lakes. Florida does not contribute to the current repetitive loss portfolio of the NFIP.Were paying out a lot more than were getting back, he said. We have to make our (Florida) issues known, BeachTalk quoted him as saying.Congressman Rooney put forth his proposal in a luncheon meeting with realtors in Fort Myers.The federal government currently manages the NFIP, as administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. As lawmakers draft reforms to the program, they will also have to contend with the $25 billion debt incurred by the agency to cover massive losses arising from a succession of major weather events in recent years.The report also explained that private insurers have pulled out of the program after it proved unviable due to mounting costs. But Rooney said the private sector has expressed interest in participating in the program with the reauthorization.According to BeachTalk, renewed private sector involvement in the program could ultimately make the insurance market more competitive and drive premiums down.In the same report, Karen Swanbeck, Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association chief executive, said that friendlier premium prices could expand the market for flood insurance. She explained that property owners who have paid off their homes tend not to take out flood coverage because of its prohibitive cost. If increased competition drives down prices, she said more owners might buy into the insurance.
Funding cuts proposed in a White House budget that has been on the table for months spook some experts who are concerned that the ability to do everything from model changes in the climate to forecast the day-to-day weather could be impacted.

President Trump, who has been vocal about his belief that climate change isnt real, has proposed to eliminate laboratory research on climate change. The aim is to axe climate science from the budgets of NOAA and NASA.

These cuts would impact the ability to measure sea level rise or long-term climate shifts, but would also make it more difficult to predict extreme weather events and forecast the weather, according to some experts.

The goal of the cuts is to reduce NASAs study of the planet in favor of space exploration and shave an estimated $100 million off the agencys billion-dollar annual budget. Among its proposals, the administration would continue development of the NOAAs current generation of weather satellites, but the budget proposes to eliminate four earth science missions.

NOAAs National Centers for Environmental Information, one of the worlds most important weather data providers, relies heavily on the data provided by these federal programs.

And the catastrophe modeling industry, as well as the insurance and reinsurance industries, rely heavily on data from the NCEI.

This really can impact the safety and health of the American public when it comes to extreme weather events and climate change overall, said Max Messervy, the insurance program manager at Ceres, a Boston, Mass.-based nonprofit group that advocates for sustainability leadership. From what weve heard, I would say these potential cuts to the NOAA and NASA budgets, with respect to the insurance, reinsurance and the cat modeling communities, these are areas of widespread concern.

Without the data thats now being provided by these programs, those who rely on it will either have to make do or fork over the money to collect the data themselves.

From what Ive heard, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible for private entities to provide the amount of data thats collected by these federal science programs free of charge, Messervy said. These satellites are increasingly technical, they are expensive.

The above video put out in February by NCEI, and produced by Acclimatise and Greenbelt, Md.-based contractor Global Science & Technology Inc., explains the importance of this data.

According to Acclimatise, the video wasnt produced in response to proposed budget and work on the video began months before the new administration was in office.

The video features natural catastrophes like Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and the EF5 tornado in Moore, Okla. in 2013 and draws on interviews with scientists discussing how the data is used to model for the impacts of such events.

Data from the NCEI is used extensively in building tools that are widely utilized by both the insurance and reinsurance industry, Mark Bove, a Senior Research Meteorologist at Munich Re America, said in the video.

Bove was one of several people in the cat modeling industry reached out to interview for this story. All of those contacted expressed concern about making comments that could be construed as political in nature. Some declined to be interviewed for that reason.

The data from NCEI is used to develop models for events such as tropical cyclones, severe convective storms, hail and hurricanes. The data is also used to validate actual losses seen on the ground and to calibrate models to better understand the financial implications, the video explains.

If NCEI data was not available and Id have to do my same job, my job would be extremely more difficult, Bove said. NCEI data is invaluable to the insurance industry and it would be really hard to put a price tag on it.

The data isnt just valuable for long-range forecasts and modeling, but for forecasting the daily weather, which is crucial to the financial sector for the daily trading of derivatives, among other uses.

So, everything thats being compiled and maintained is the foundation for so many transactions in the financial sector, that without it we would lose literally billions of dollars of economic activity in the United States, Bove said.

Keith Seitter, executive director of the American Meteorological Society, believes these federal programs should get more funding, not less.

Given what we know about climate change and the risk involved, and the sense theres going to be more high-impact weather, we should be investing rather than cutting, Seitter said.

The AMS has mobilized to battle the proposed cuts by attempting to educate members of Congress on climate change and the importance of the data being gathered.

The group earlier this month sent a letter to Congressman Lamar Smith, chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, explaining the value of the data and the scientific process.

The letter touts the improved capability of forecasting weather more accurately, which it explained is a combination of increased understanding of the physical processes that influence weather, increased observational capabilities, and increased computational power to take advantage of that physical understanding and observational data.

It is inconceivable that a human disaster like the Galveston hurricane of 1900 would occur today thanks to the observational and predictive power of the weather enterprise, the letter states. Having predictive capabilities has been critical in reducing the loss of life and property, as well as reducing economic disruption from severe weather events.

Seitter in his interview with Insurance Journal stressed the importance of the data derived from observational capabilities provided by the federal government.

The observational network is the foundation of everything, Seitter said. And if there are cuts to the actual observations themselves, thats impeding our ability to even understand whats going on. Thats certainly an enormous concern for everyone.

Everything from forecasting the weather over the next two days to modeling the future impacts of climate change are based on these observations, he said.

Almost all those observations are done though federal funding, Seitter added.

His groups outreach efforts include briefings for Congressional staff and members on the Hill to explain the value of the data and what the science is all about.

If youre going to make good policy, you have to be using the best available knowledge, Seitter said.

Peter Sousounis, assistant vice president and director of meteorology in the research and modeling division for cat modeler AIR Worldwide, believes the cuts could have far-reaching implications.

The budget cuts will affect many aspects of many scientific organizations across the board, Sousounis said.

Of particular concern for him are he proposed cuts to the satellite missions.

That literally is our eye in the sky, Sousounis said. Without that satellite information, that could certainly hinder the accuracy of the forecast.

For example, model initialization (the starting of the model) may no longer improve without the data, according to Sousounis, who noted that the better the initialization, the more accurate the forecast is likely to be.

Without the data, forecasts many not only stop improving, but could become less precise, according to him.

There may be more uncertainty associated with those forecasts, Sousounis added.

He was referring to the cone of uncertainty.

In a hurricane, for example, the swath of land or sea over which it may develop may not get any narrowe, or could become broader, without the ability to advance the accuracy of model forecasts.

This could mean forecasters could call for a larger evacuation zone in an area where a hurricane may hit, or larger watch boxes over areas where severe weather is expected.

The result would have financial and societal implications, causing more business interruption and more evacuations than necessary, as well as conditioning people to believe that severe weather alerts are exaggerated, he said.

It could be that the general public doesnt want to heed the warnings, because they now think the National Weather Service is overly conservative, Sousounis said.

However, Sousounis said he believes theres a good chance that cat modeling industry can survive the proposed budget cuts and continue to provide an acceptable level of service  albeit with greater effort  and that the cut could be a benefit by attracting qualified, about-to-be-unemployed scientists to private industry from federal government.

Seitter was asked to make sense of the reasoning reason behind the proposed cuts.

He believe they are being driven by lack of knowledge, or a lack of faith in science.

Certainly theres lots of speculation about why people may choose to downplay the scientific conclusions on things like climate change, Seitter said. There seems to be a sense within this administration and other individuals that the science is not as well established is it actually is.

Past columns:

Topics Catastrophe Hurricane Climate Change Aerospace
Once considered a niche area of investment practice, socially responsible investing (SRI) now embraces a wide investment audience that includes individuals, including those of high net worth and otherwise, and institutions such as pension plans, endowments, and foundations. Religious tenets, political beliefs, specific events, and the broad remit of corporate responsibilitysuch as green investing and social welfareall drive this investment practice.

Examples of Socially Responsible Investing

Socially responsible investing expresses the investor's value judgment, of which several approaches may be used.

One example is when an investor avoids companies or industries that offer products or services the investor perceives to be harmful. The tobacco, alcohol, and defense industries are commonly avoided by people who try to be socially responsible investors.

Another is considering a performance ranking in terms of how well a company performs, not only in terms of financial metrics but also regarding social, environmental, governance, and ethical issues.

Yet another involves active engagement between the company's shareholders and its management.

Finally, there is the activist tack that involves the investor advocating for specific issues.

One or a combination of these approaches can be a critical driver in the process of portfolio management and fiduciary oversight. Moreover, the practice is global, with different approaches emphasized in various countries as a function of their culture, government, business environment, and inter-relationship of these factors.

One form of socially responsible investing involves promoting racial justice, equality, and inclusion. Known as racial justice investing, the purpose is to leverage both institutional and retail dollars to invest in ways that advance this and other anti-racist causes.

For Whose Benefit?

Socially conscious investors may assume a more holistic view of a company when making investment decisionslooking at how it serves its stakeholders, as well as creditors, management, employees, the community, customers, and suppliers. Within this context, socially responsible investment seeks to maximize the welfare of people and their environment while earning a return on one's investment that is consistent with the investor's goals.

On the surface, these two notions may appear contradictory. For example, there may be an implicit cost of such an approach to the extent that it eschews profitable companies and sectors. Tobacco, alcohol, firearms, and gambling have been lucrative industries.

However, to a socially conscious investor, their inclusion in a portfolio would fail to serve the investor's objectives of living in a world void of conflict and legal stimulants and depressants. As with any investment approach, the socially conscious investor needs to:

Define his, her, or its risk and return objectives and constraints.

As to the latter, the investor needs to determine what their socially conscious constraints are. These may differ considerably, depending upon the investor. Muslims who wish to be compliant with Sharia law would exclude any companies connected with the production, sale, and distribution of alcohol, any financial institution that lends, and any business that profits from gambling.

Investors opposed to armed conflict as a means of dispute resolution may avoid any company or industry associated with defense, national security, or firearms.

Once an investor defines their constraints, they must decide upon an approach to implement them, be it the use of inclusionary or exclusionary screens, best practices criteria, or advocacy. The type of investor may determine the most suitable approach. For example, advocacy and dialog with a company or industry would be better suited to a large public pension fund. Consider the work of CalPERS or the Swiss billionaire activist Martin Ebner, the latter an example of individual shareholder activism. By contrast, an individual investor working with an advisor would find the screening process more feasible.

Social investing has implicit coststhe returns potentially foregone through the exclusion of companies with unacceptable products or business practicesand explicit costs. For those considering an active approach, fees for exchange-traded and mutual funds tend to be a bit higher. For investors seeking passive management, there are fewer indices to replicate.

Diversification is always an important consideration. Screens may hamper this process, unintentionally or otherwise.

Utilizing this type of traditional investment framework would appear to make the process manageable, so long as the investor weighs the costs and benefits of this type of investment approach carefully.

However, there could appear to be a dilemma upon whose horns the investor invariably would be impaled. For example, if investment in such "vice" products as alcohol and tobacco is an anathema to a socially conscious investor, what about the transportation and energy sectors?

After all, the products have to be shipped to the point of sale, which requires various means of transport which, in turn, require fuel. These types of considerations make the precise definition of one's socially responsible investment goals all the more crucial.

Depending upon the perspective of the individual, companies may display characteristics that are both irresponsible and responsible.

The Bottom Line

Socially responsible investing reflects an investor's values. While the opportunities in this realm of investment management have grown considerably, one may not ignore the best practices of investing.

Investors must clearly define their goals when undertaking this sort of approach, recognizing its potential trade-offs and clearly articulating a policy that considers all the variables when looking to maximize the good over the plentiful and abundant.

Risk management and attention to costs are essential. Research seems to indicate that results from socially conscious investing are not more statistically significant than a more conventional approach.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

French website Dreuz.info has posted an article by deputy mayor of the Neuilly-sur-Seine Commune in France, Philippe Karsenty, headlined Azerbaijan  a fascinating country.

Karsenty, in his article, says Azerbaijan's attractiveness stems from its culture and geography.

Describing Azerbaijan as a multiethnic and multicultural country, Karsenty hails its economic development and its relations with world countries.

Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of France, he said.

The article says the Christians living in the country can conveniently go to churches and the Jews may comfortably walk in kippahs in the streets.

The article also hails clean streets in Baku, as well as spectacular state-of-the-art buildings in this historical city, which were designed by internationally recognized architects.

Karsenty describes Azerbaijan as an exemplary country where different cultures and religions live together in peace.

He says the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the only painful problem of Azerbaijan, adding the occupation of Azerbaijans territories is recognized by international community.

The article also mentions the four UN resolutions on the conflict.

Despite the fact that Azerbaijan has a powerful army, the country prefers a peaceful resolution of the conflict, Karsenty said.
Third-year Chemical Engineering students of Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) were given a rare opportunity to visit Sangachal terminal operated by BP. Their field trip to the one of the world's largest oil and gas terminals was arranged within the Higher School cooperation with company BP in Azerbaijan.

During the visit, the students made a bus tour of the Sangachal terminal facilities, which include oil and gas processing facilities, crude oil storage tanks, pump stations and other facilities. They were informed about modern equipment and advanced technologies installed and used at this unique industrial complex as well as about working conditions and Health, Safety and Environment policies and regulations. As the students learned, the Sangachal terminal, located 55km south of Baku, is a vital link in Azerbaijans oil and gas industry. It receives, processes, stores and exports crude oil and gas produced from all operated BP assets in the Caspian basin. Currently, the Sangachal terminal, which covers an area of about 550 hectares, undergoes a major expansion. This will allow to further increase the importance of the terminal to regional oil and gas industry.

At the end of the field trip, BP representatives held a presentation for BHOS students, provided them with information materials and answered their questions.

Within cooperation between Baku Higher Oil School and BP in Azerbaijan, another field trip to ATA (Amec-Tekfen-Azfen) yard was arranged. During the visit, the students were familiarized with operations carried out at the ATA Yard for the projects operated by BP in Azerbaijan.
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North Korea has warned Donald Trump that it is prepared for war and is ready to use its "powerful nuclear deterrent".

Vice foreign minister Han Song Ryol blamed the US president 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, Mr Han warned the US against provoking North Korea militarily, saying: "We will go to war if they choose."

He said: "If the US comes with reckless military manoeuvres then we will confront it with the DPRK's pre-emptive strike," referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We've got a powerful nuclear deterrent already in our hands, and we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US pre-emptive strike."

Speaking through an interpreter provided by the foreign ministry, Mr Han was calm and polite but forceful throughout the 40-minute interview.

Tensions are deepening as the US 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 any time.

"That is something that our headquarters decides," Mr Han said of what would be North Korea's 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 US mainland on Mr Trump's watch as president - within the next few years.

Mr Han, however, said North Korea blames Mr Trump and the US for the rising tensions.

He cited not only the US-South Korean wargames and the deployment of the aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, but also a tweet Mr Trump posted on Tuesday in which he said the North is "looking for trouble".

The president also tweeted that if China does not do its part to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, the US can handle it.

"Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words," Mr Han said. "So that's why. It's not the DPRK but the US 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 North's leadership have fanned Pyongyang's anger.

"As long as the nuclear threats and blackmail go on with the military exercises, we will carry forward with our national defence build-up, the core of which is the nuclear arms build-up," Mr Han said.

"Whatever comes from the US, we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it."

Outwardly, there are few signs of concern in North Korea despite the rising tensions.

Instead, the country is gearing up for its biggest holiday of the year, the 105th anniversary of the birth of the late Kim Il Sung, the country's founder and leader Kim Jong Un's grandfather.

The Saturday anniversary may provide the world with a look at some of North Korea's arsenal.

Expectations are high the North may put its newest missiles on display during a military parade that could be held to mark the event.

AP
Speaking at the Budgetary Oversight Committee, he said the 800m project could not be funded alone by the State as it was way beyond what was affordable but that it might be viable if tolling was applied.

If the M20 could be shown to be able to generate an income flow to service borrowings, he said, the EUs statistics agency Eurostat would allow it to be kept off the national balance sheet.

He said public-private partnerships could also be the answer to other infrastructural projects around the country.

It gives fresh hope for M20 campaigners who say the motorway is vital if regional imbalance is to be addressed.

The need to upgrade the Cork-Limerick road was first mooted in 1998 but the economic crash of 2008 put paid to the project.

In 2011, then Transport Minister Leo Varadkar officially declared the project stalled, saying there was no money available. His successors have toed the same line, while Mr Noonan had until now poured cold water on the idea.

The favoured M20 route, from the junction with the proposed Cork northern ring road near Blarney to the junction with the N21 at Attyflynn in Limerick, would reduce travel time between Blarney and Attyflynn from 61 to 45 minutes.

A survey of 2,000 businesses along the route is being undertaken by Cork and Limerick Chambers to examine the socio-economic benefits of the M20.

Regarding house prices, Mr Noonan denied that the help-to-buy scheme had any bearing on rising costs, saying that is not the way it works. He said the 1,000 people who had received assistance under the help- to-buy scheme, at a cost of 10m, had no impact on rising prices.

That money could not possibly affect prices, said Mr Noonan. It is too small a quantum. The scheme is designed for young couples to have a house. There are no circumstances in which an injection of 10m into the housing market since Christmas could have risen prices.

The rising of prices is principally due to supply and demand.

Mr Noonan said local authorities could allow more high-rise planning permission in urban centres in order to ease demand, saying young couples and single people in many cases would like to live in such apartments.

Local authorities should allow another five- or six- storey extensions on top of Dublin residential sites but were loath to do it, he said.

It doesnt have to be Manhattan or anything like that, he said.

The minister said he was unashamedly in favour of the UK negotiating an agreement that allowed free trade with the EU.

That would mean no tariffs, said Mr Noonan. We have 1.2bn travelling to and from the UK every week in trade. There are 400,000 jobs involved. That is what is at risk.

Mr Noonan was speaking to the committee regarding the so-called Stability Programme, which sets out the Governments macroeconomic and fiscal forecasts for the EU.

He said that the continuation of robust growth cannot be taken for granted as there were a number of significant risks, including Brexit, that could potentially derail the recovery.
Strong initial demand for the S8 will be encouraging for a firm recovering from one of the worst product safety failures in tech history, which ended in the Note 7s swift withdrawal.

The new smartphone has received favourable reviews ahead of the start of sales in South Korea, the US and Canada at the end of next week. Some investors and analysts have even predicted a first-year sales record for the South Korean company.

Its 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, said mobile chief Koh Dong-jin.

He said the S8 will be the safest Galaxy smartphone to date due to measures implemented to avoid the battery failures that caused some Note 7s to spontaneously combust.

Analysts said strong S8 sales are likely to help Samsung to its best-ever quarterly profit in the three months to the end of June, along with a booming memory chip market that is widely expected to deliver record revenue this year for the industry as a whole.

Samsung has been working to restore investor trust as well as its reputation since the Note 7s withdrawal in October within two months of being on the market, losing out on $5.4bn(5.08bn) in profit.

Senior executives told foreign media on the sidelines of the briefing that it will take time for Samsungs brand image to recover. They also said Samsung has seen a rebound in consumer sentiment toward the firm since announcing the results of a probe into the fires and preventative measures in late January.

It took Toyota about four years for its brand to get back to where it was, and I think ours can do it faster, said Lee Young-hee, an executive vice president at Samsungs mobile business, referring to a series of Toyota vehicle recalls from 2009 to 2011.

S8 advertising focuses on features such as almost bezel-less screens rather than highlighting safety. Executives said this was deliberate in the belief that Samsung has done enough to convince consumers the Note 7s problems will not be repeated.

We felt really comfortable that we had attained a level of confidence with consumers so that we could actually shift to the product campaign, Pio Schunker, global head of integrated marketing for Samsungs mobile business, said. Ultimately I think it is this product that proves this case.

However, even as Samsung is poised to deliver a surge in earnings to an all-time high this year, some investors are starting to fret the tech giant will become a victim of its own success.

With a market capitalisation of 331tn won (275bn), the South Korean firm has emerged as Asias most valuable company and its shares have jumped 60% since 2015, hitting a record high in late March.

However, the stock is losing steam, up just 3% far April, and some investors are doubting the companys long-term growth potential and whether it can maintain the double-digit profit growth expected this year.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index has rallied 5.2% this year to reach a 16-month high this week amid an improving economic and earnings outlook. That has sent valuations to 5% above Deutsche Bank strategist Andreas Bruckners fair value calculation.

Paired with smaller chances of economic data surprises, that means he thinks theres little upside for the areas equities even if a loss by the far-right, anti-euro Marine Le Pen removes uncertainty.

The European market is priced for a lot of good news, said Mr Bruckner, a London-based strategist at the German lender.

Theres widespread agreement that global macro momentum has been the driver of asset prices, and we see increasing signs this rebound is coming to an end.

The spectre of a Le Pen win has haunted the European stock rally all year. While most polls are projecting her defeat at the May 7 runoff, investors have become warier of political surprises after the unexpected triumphs of Brexit and Donald Trump last year.

Her election would spark fears over Frances exit from the single currency and consequently its disintegration.

Yet Mr Bruckner says the victory of a more mainstream candidate in the French vote will lead to a stronger euro and higher real bond yields, which can also be bad for stocks.

While about 56.5bn of inflows may return to Europe, the money will not give fresh impetus for a further rally as such flows tend to lag market performance and have been priced in already, he said.

Mr Bruckner joins a growing minority of analysts who are calling a halt to the European stock rally, with Oppenheimer & Co saying technical analysis shows its time to take profits and HSBC Holdings arguing that an earnings recovery is unlikely to justify valuations.

This will now be tested by the French vote, ongoing earnings season and downturn in economic data as seen in recent declines in the eurozone and global Citi Economic Surprise Indexes.

Many analysts say a Le Pen loss will trigger a relief rally. As the risk of her winning has held back European stock inflows despite recent PMI improvement, shares should get a boost when she loses, Citigroup strategists wrote in a report this month.
The idea has been proposed by the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) which represents 4,000 institute of technology lecturers, as a solution to the higher education funding crisis and to ease staffing shortages in many sectors.

The union suggests it would raise nearly three times the 200m which the Department of Education suggests could be raised from 2020 by its proposal to increase a levy on employers to help meet funding shortfalls at third level.

The deadline passed yesterday on Education Minister Richard Brutons consultation process around the proposed hike in the National Training Fund levy from 0.7% to 1% of employees earnings on a gradual basis over the next three years.

The TUI said its own levy proposal could bring in 549m a year and is broadly consistent with the recommendation of last years Cassells report on future higher education funding that a structured contribution from employers should be a core element of bridging the gap in finances.

However, the Government appears to be veering towards securing the 600m said to be needed by the sector by 2021 through a more equal balance of increased investment by the taxpayer, employers and students.

A political decision will be required first, however, on whether students would be charged higher fees and whether a system of loans to cover those fees is to be introduced.

State funding for institutes of technology dropped by 190m, over a third, between 2008 and 2015 but student numbers rose and lecturer numbers fell in the same period.

TUI general secretary John MacGabhann said the cuts have had a corrosive effect, leading to unacceptably large class sizes and less access to equipment, materials, libraries and labs.

Ultimately, students and their families would benefit from [our proposal], which would largely remove the need for a system of income-contingent loans, he said.

Hundreds of TUI members will attend its annual congress in Cork next week.
Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick said: Despite everything, we have discovered that 78% of our population still declare themselves Catholic.

Its a striking statistic. On the one hand, it is good news to hear that in the privacy of their own homes, 78% of our population have affirmed their Catholic belief. I doubt even the GAA has such a level of affiliation.

Speaking at an Easter ceremony in St Johns Cathedral in Limerick, Bishop Leahy said people still come to the big matches, as it were  Christmas Mass, funerals, and major events.

He said: They keep touch in various ways And yet, we also know it [census figure] does not at all correlate with the numbers that actually practise their faith in terms of attendance at Mass.

Before he left Ireland, the papal nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown said there is still so much to play for in Ireland. Perhaps thats why there is such a struggle going on.

There is still so much faith. There is a deep spiritual vein in the Irish psyche. The ground is fertile for the seed to be sown in new ways and nurtured better than we have before.

Because, with 78% associating themselves with this faith, it is clear that, while we have in many ways failed them, the door is still open to engagement around the Catholic faith that still is recognised as part of personal identity.

As we go out towards families, lets be ready also to listen to those who want to share with us why it is they register as Catholic but somehow dont connect with the Church. Im sure if we hear the deep-down reasons, well find light and new directions.

Bishop Leahy said that at a time like this, with the Church facing severe challenges, we need to be wary of quick solutions that can be proposed in response to those challenges.

They can often leave out of their reckoning the necessary process of healing that takes time. We need time to notice wounds, admit them, bandage them, and ensure that those wounds are no longer inflicted, he said.

And yet, if we keep picking at the wounds, theyll never heal. We also need to make sure we recognise the parts of the body that are working well, that are doing great good.

The wounds have left us weak, perhaps not so confident in the steps we are taking, tempted to withdraw into ourselves.
A cold case investigation has solved a 30-year-old murder after a jury returned a guilty verdict against a man for strangling an elderly woman to death before setting her house on fire.

John Joseph Malone, aged 53, of Newpark, Kilkenny City, was found guilty yesterday of the murder of Ann Nancy Smyth, 69, on September 11, 1987, at her home on Wolfe Tone St, Kilkenny.

The Central Criminal Court jury returned a unanimous verdict after deliberating for three-and-a-half hours.

Malone, who was on bail when the trial began, had his bail revoked last week after he was seen shouting abuse at the home of Eileen Kelly, 81, days before she was due to give evidence against him.

After the guilty verdict was revealed, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy delayed sentencing to allow Ms Smyths family make a statement to the court. Awaiting his sentence, Malone wept and was comforted by members of his family.

When the court resumed, Desmond Murphy, a nephew of the deceased, choked back tears to say: What happened to Nancy on that night had a major effect on all members of our family.

He said it was wonderful to get to this moment. Closure is there, he said.

Mr Justice McCarthy then asked Malone to stand and told him: The law prescribes only one sentence and that is imprisonment for life. I hereby impose that sentence upon you.

Thanking the jurors, the judge exempted them from further service for 10 years.

Speaking outside the court, Mr Murphy said his aunt had been murdered in a callous fashion. He said the family had grown a stronger bond over the years as they never gave up hope that they would get justice.

Its not something that happens to many families, he said.

He thanked the gardai in Kilkenny, the jury, and the cold-case review team and the people of Kilkenny who supported the family over the years.

The investigation into Ms Smyths death received a boost in 2012 when, following an appeal for information that was recommended by the Serious Crime Review Team, several witnesses came forward. Each of them told gardai that Malone, the chief suspect, had confessed to Ms Smyths murder.

Ms Smyth lived with her pet labrador on Wolfe Tone St in Kilkenny. In 1987, Ann Lahart was a bartender in a pub on John St where Nancy was a regular. Ms Lahart described her as a lovely person, quiet in her own way but happy to chat with those she knew.

She was partial to her rum and blackcurrant and she also liked her whiskey lemonade, she told the court.

On the night she died, Ms Smyth called to the pub around 9pm and was in great form. She had several drinks and bought some cigarettes before Ms Laharts father dropped her the short distance home and saw her safely into her hallway.

On the same night, Malone was drinking in another pub in Kilkenny City and left around midnight. Instead of going home, he walked to Wolfe Tone St, where several witnesses saw him acting suspiciously. One neighbour, Geraldine Brennan, heard him banging on Ms Smyths door and window and shouting: Let me into the fucking house. I just want to fucking talk to you.

At one stage he said: Ill fucking get you.

Ms Brennan went outside and saw Malone kick Ms Smyths door, bang her window, and slam her gate. She described him as angry and agitated.

In the early hours of September 11, smoke was seen coming from Ms Smyths home. When emergency services arrived they found her and her labrador dead inside the burning house.

A pathologists report showed she had died from strangulation before the fire was lit. She had also suffered a bruise to her scalp which could have been caused by a blow or by falling backwards against something hard. Further trauma to her mouth suggested she had been struck or had a hand held over her face. Gardai started a murder probe.

Much of the witness evidence heard in the trial was gathered in 1987 and Malone was arrested. When questioned, he initially denied going to Ms Smyths house but later admitted he went there and had an argument with her. He denied attacking her or setting her house on fire.

With no forensic evidence, gardai could proceed no further. Then, in 2012 gardai appealed for information and witnesses came forward. A number of those witnesses were members of a Presbyterian Bible group which Malone would join from time to time.

Jude Curran told the court that Malone came to his house months after Nancys death. He said: I was reading the Bible and John Joe came in and just said to me: Jude, if somebody murdered someone, would God forgive them? 

A few months later Malone came to him again.

He just said to me that he couldnt make out how forensics says that Mrs Smyth was strangled, he said.

He had told me that he had argued with her and that he pushed her and she fell, said Mr Curran, adding that Mr Malone had told him she had banged her head off a stone. That he brought her in, sat her down, and she died, and that he set fire to the house.

Billy Patterson, another member of the Bible group, said Malone once told him that he was considering becoming a Christian. Mr Patterson said he asked what would stop him, and that Malone replied that hed done something. He said he asked Malone if what he had done had to do with the old woman. He said yes, and I said to him: Did you do it? and he said yes.

The court also heard from Malones brother, Barney Malone, who said he had confessed to him one night about 10 years ago. Barneys wife, Ann Malone, said the accused had once threatened her, saying he would burn her house down, as he had done to Nancy Smyth.

Eileen Kelly also took the stand to reveal that, a few months after Ms Smyth was killed, she confronted Malone and he told her it was an accident. She said Malone told her he had argued with Ms Smyth and she told him to go away and accused his brother of having robbed her in a pub. She said he told her that he caught Ms Smyth, shoved her in the door, and squeezed her too tight.
Dylan Cosgrove, aged 20, from Garryglass Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, has been released on bail pending the appeal against the length of his sentence imposed at Limerick District Court on Wednesday.

Cosgrove, who has 32 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance or a licence, failing to produce driving certs, and causing criminal damage to a car.

On March 8, Cosgrove, who was driving a 2002- registered Jaguar X car, was pursued by a Garda patrol unit after failing to stop for them.

He took off at high-speed on the wrong side of the road Sergeant John Moloney told the district court.

Gardai activated their blue lights and sirens as they pursued Cosgrove, who, the court heard, was carrying a male passenger in the front seat.

Cosgrove mounted a footpath and drove through a Lidl carpark at speed before crashing into another car at Ballinacurra Gardens housing estate, the court was told.

He eventually lost control and collided with a parked car, and then he collided with the patrol car. He attempted to flee and was arrested at the scene, said Sgt Moloney.

Last week, in a separate sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Court, Michael Kirby, aged 33, was sentenced to eight years in jail for abducting and attacking Cosgrove over an alleged unpaid drug debt.

The court heard that Kirby, of Hyde Rd, Limerick, struck Cosgrove a number of times across his legs. He also pulled an unloaded gun on Cosgrove, pulling the trigger twice despite Cosgrove having begged for his life, the court was told.

The victim heard two clicks. He thought he was dead, Cephas Power told the court.

Cosgrove declined to make a victim impact statement.

Judge Tom ODonnell told the court Cosgroves ordeal was a terrifying experience.

Kirby pleaded guilty to falsely imprisonment, threat to kill, assault, and possessing a handgun.

In 2005, Kirby received a two-year jail sentence for false imprisonment, threat to kill, and possessing knives.

In January 2009, he received an eight-month sentence for assault causing harm to another young teenager.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Azerbaijans Silk Way Airlines has carried out the first cargo flight from Baku to Djibouti, which has become the beginning of a big program on the implementation of weekly regular flights between the two countries.

Meanwhile, countries of Eastern and Central Africa have opened their doors for Azerbaijan, said the companys press service.

Under the instruction of Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev, humanitarian aid, including food and drinking water with a total weight of approximately 76 tons, has been delivered to the Republic of Djibouti via this flight.

Meanwhile, 30 tons of Azerbaijani goods produced under the brand Made in Azerbaijan have been delivered to Djibouti via the first cargo flight.

Presentation of Azerbaijani goods in the new market gives momentum to the development of bilateral trade relations between the two countries and will stimulate the growth in trade turnover. Along with economic relations, the opening of regular flights between Azerbaijan and Djibouti will also contribute to the development of political and cultural relations between the two countries.

Moreover, two protocols in the sphere of civil aviation were signed between Azerbaijan and Djibouti. From the Azerbaijani side the documents were signed by President of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL) Jahangir Askerov, and from the Djiboutian side  by the Director of Civil Aviation Authority Almis M. Haid and Chairman of Air Djibouti Aboubaker Omar Hadi.

The documents envisage Azerbaijans assistance in the preparation of regulatory documentation of Djiboutis Civil Aviation Authority in accordance with the requirements of the ICAO, as well as training for the countrys specialists in the field of civil aviation.

It should be recalled that Azerbaijan and Djibouti signed a bilateral intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the sphere of civil aviation in February 2017.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
The PAC has agreed to write to Mr Halligan over the case, after he sent out a statement from his department denouncing the PACs probe.

During its meetings with a number of colleges last week, the PAC questioned Waterford IT president Willie Donnelly over the sale of a mobile software company co-located at the college which benefited from WIT research. Feed Henry was sold to a US multinational firm in September 2014 for 63.5m, with Mr Donnelly receiving 1.3m as he owned 3.1% of Feed Henrys shares.
Paschal Donohoe also cautioned against the lure by politicians for everything to be paid for by general taxation in the wake of the scrapping of the current water charging regime.

He signalled the recent squabbling and outcome on water charges and meters was not a recipe to be repeated, for handling more important national matters such as public pay.

The saga in relation to water charges and water has been a very difficult one in recent years.

The minister said the outcome of the Oireachtas water committee recommendations was the best result for Ireland in that the 900,000 domestic meters would still have a role: There would still be a charging regime for water and Irish Water would remain.

Asked about suggestions by Solidarity TD Paul Murphy that homeowners should get rid of their water meters to stop a new billing or levies system, the Fine Gael minister answered: They shouldnt do that, they shouldnt be encouraged to do that.

The role of these meters will be recognised again in legislation in terms of their role in tracking water consumption and tracking excessive usage of water. They were laid broadly through the use of taxpayers money.

Paschal Donohoe

He told Newstalk radio: I think we have a real and present risk in the Dail in the moment which is the lure that everything can be paid for out of a fixed amount of tax revenue or to put it more plainly, the taxpayer will be able to pay for everything.

I think what we have achieved in relation to water is doable, but it is not a recipe for how we can handle far bigger matters facing our country, like the approaching Budget; like the need to spend wisely in our roads and universities; like how we need to manage public pay.

And speaking on RTE, Mr Donohoe also could not confirm if refunds for previous water bills  estimated at 160m  would be given back to homeowners next year.

What well have to do is pass the legislation in relation to this whole issue first and, as that is happening, I expect that will lay out a pathway for dealing with that whole issue. But we have a huge number of demands [for the budget] that we have to deal with.

He outlined the total amount of resources for expenditure available for next year, after benefits for the self-employed and the 5 pension increase are activated, that there would be 250m to 300m free to spend.

That may change across the year but the demand for that money is clearly going to be great.

The Government has still to decide how a system of refunds will be paid. Households were asked to pay 60 for a single resident and 160 for larger homes per year under the former regime. Government sources say refunds could be given through a lump sum or possibly by a tax credit. The committee recommendations are expected to be legislated for, including a system of refunds, over the coming weeks.
In a series of inspection reports, the MHC was extremely critical of a number of units in Cork, Limerick, Dublin and Kerry for a range of issues, including the poor state of the premises, lack of cleanliness, and a policy of moving patients out of wards at night in order to free up a bed.

The policy of sleeping out, or transferring residents between units at night, was noted in St Stephens Hospital in Glanmire in Cork.

The MHC said the policy is an affront to the dignity and privacy of the residents obliged to move as they have to sleep in an unfamiliar environment and often there is no bed available to them when they return to their original unit.

The policy presents considerable risk to residents, with one reported to have fallen while alighting a bus in order to be transferred for the night.

The risk management policy also did not contain the precautions in place to control risks such as suicide and self-harm, assault, and accidental injury to residents or staff.

Staffing in one unit was found to be not appropriate to the assessed needs of the residents. Two male and one female staff members were found to be providing care to 13 residents, some of whom had complex health needs.

Sliabh Mis mental health ward in University Hospital Tralee was found to be not kept in a good state of repair externally and internally, with bathrooms and shower rooms that were poorly ventilated, resulting in unpleasant odours.

The four-bed female dormitory had a hole in one of the ceiling tiles through which piping was visible. The wall outside the six-bed male dormitory was damaged and the corridor walls were in need of repair and redecorating, said the inspection report.

There were also six child admissions to the centre since its last inspection  despite the fact that it is not a suitable centre for children.

At the acute psychiatric unit 5B in University Hospital Limerick, the MHC took issue with the lack of privacy afforded to residents, as well as the condition of the premises.

Eight beds were observed to have insufficient screening. Curtains around beds were too narrow to screen the bedroom space or were missing entirely. One residents bed was inadequately screened and situated beneath the communal television.

The premises were found to be not clean and maintained in good structural and decorative condition or adequately ventilated.

Lack of privacy for residents was also highlighted in relation to the mental health unit at St Finans Hospital in Killarney.

Residents did not have privacy when using the phone while two curtains only reached halfway around the bed of the resident using them.

The cleanliness and condition of the premises also came in for sharp criticism.

The floors were badly stained, read the report. The paint was peeling from the walls. The toilets and sinks were unclean. In the dormitories, the curtain hooks and rails were dirty and rusty.

In one of the male dormitories, there was staining in the corner of the ceiling. In the toilet of this male dormitory, the emergency cord was cut short and was not accessible to residents.

Bags of dirty laundry stored on the floor of the sluice room in pools of water were also found by the inspection team.
The warning comes from Independent councillor Mick Finn after city planners gave conditional planning for a scheme which could accommodate up to 350 students on a site off Magazine Rd.

The proposal for almost 50 student apartments near Denroches Cross, was cleared despite residents and local councillors objections.

Mr Finn said it is likely the decision will be appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

The planners in this city need to decide if they really want student accommodation strangling the life out of existing communities, he said. While we know there is a shortage of such accommodation, and we all share in the success of UCC and CIT, the colleges cannot suck the life out of our residential areas which too many of these plans threaten to do.

We have more student accommodation planned for the Beamish and Crawford and a new site by the river on Western Road, and probably more in Victoria Cross.

Mr Finn said the site may require rezoning, adding: I would have some support if it was a development for residential housing which would add to the long-term development of the community all year round, but do not at all support this location as yet another student accommodation site which will seriously dilute whats left of the residential nature of the area as well as have serious implications for traffic.

He said the third-level institutions have the money and resources to develop large capital projects on their campuses, and student accommodation units should be no different.

Meanwhile, planners have sought further information in relation to a planning application for the redevelopment of the former Good Shepherd Convent site on Buckston Hill, which is being opposed by residents.
After recommendations by an Oireachtas water committee to only keep an excess usage levy and to continue metering new builds, the Dail voted by 96 to 48 to scrap charges. Terms for the funding of water services will now be reviewed by Housing Minister Simon Coveney, who will ask Attorney General Maire Whelan to assess legislation.

Under the committee proposals, households are set to get refunds from the 160m paid in bills under the old charging regime. The detail of the excess usage levy, how much it will be and when and how it will apply will also be worked out by the Department of Environment.

The department told the Irish Examiner the old system was in place until July, potentially giving the minister and his officials some space to draw up new laws.

Several important questions could not be answered by the department, including how much subsidy or financial support will be given to group and rural water schemes, as recommended.

It also has yet to be decided how homes could be incentivised to voluntarily ask for water meters, as is proposed by the committee report.

The vote to scrap the current system and adopt the committees plans was backed in the Dail vote yesterday by Fine Gael, Fianna Fail as well as government Independent TDs.

Sinn Fein, Labour, Solidarity-People Before Profit, Greens, Independents4Change and others including Catherine Connolly, Thomas Pringle Michael Fitzmaurice, Michael Collins, Seamus Healy and Mattie McGrath were among those who voted against accepting the report.

The report and its final terms had seen threats to collapse the government support pact between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in recent days but a deal was finally agreed by the two big parties.

Sinn Fein and Solidarity among others though warn the new excessive charge could see general charging coming in for large numbers of homes, if the threshold is changed over time.

But there is also concern about where the funds next year might come to pay for refunds or the lost income from scrapping charges.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan told the Oireachtas budget committee yesterday there would be moving parts in next years budget because of the lack of income from charges and refunds needed. This included the estimated 250m built into the budget from the charging regime. He said he would do his best not to have any surprises in the budget.
Residents and business owners in the West Cork town expressed concern earlier this week when most of the heavy machinery, on site in the 16m project, was removed.

Local fears followed confirmation from junior minister Sean Canney that an undisclosed issue has arisen with contractor Wills Brothers over the project.

Montessori school owner Gillian Powell, a member of the Bandon Flood Group who campaigned on the issue in last years general election, said the town was aghast at the uncertainty surrounding the project.

We are incredulous. We cant even contemplate the devastation this would cause to the town if it werent to go ahead, she said.

There would be a deep, deep anger if anything were to happen to the scheme.

It is 16 months since traders threatened to withhold commercial rates unless regular flooding was addressed.

Ms Powell said businesses would reconsider such an action in the event works do not press ahead.

Fianna Fail TD Margaret Murphy OMahony said she unsuccessfully attempted to raise the matter in the Dail and called on Mr Canney to involve himself directly in the talks.

She said that the works are having a domino effect on the town in that no road resurfacing and other maintenance works are being commissioned until the disruptive flood relief scheme development had finished.

I live in Bandon, the traders in the town are my friends and we are all deeply worried about this, she said, adding that she would continue to press the minister to find a resolution.
The EU ban on animal-testing for cosmetics in 2013 was a major achievement for animal activists.

But if you want to take your commitment a step further and use brands that are not tested on animals anywhere in the world, weve got the starter kit for you.

Doing a complete overhaul of your make-up bag can seem expensive but it doesnt have to be.

Brands like Barry M, essence, Catrice, L.O.V, Gosh and Wet n Wild are cheap as chips and available in Irish stores and online.

PRIMER

Paler Irish folk may sympathise with my ruddy complexion but if you want to battle the redness and have your make-up stick around all day, then Catrices Prime and Fine Anti-Red Base is the product for you.

If redness isnt a problem for you then try its Pore Refining Anti-Shine or Beautifying Primer, 5.95 in Penneys stores and various pharmacies.

FOUNDATION

My favourite foundation of the moment is L.O.Vs EVENelixir serum foundation.

Its so difficult to find a foundation whose lightest shade isnt too yellow but L.O.V has nailed it, 14.99 in various pharmacies.

CONCEALER

Like foundation, concealer shades can be difficult to match but the range of Barry Ms shades include even the fairest of skin tones.

Its best applied with the labels own brush and blended with a damp beauty blender for the best coverage, 6.99 in Boots stores.

SETTING POWDER

Catrices All Matt Plus Shine Control powder is a great option if the matte look is what youre looking for.

It makes your whole look appear flawless, seamless, shine proof and itll stay put all day, 3.95 in Penneys and various pharmacies.

BROWS

No matter your brow of choice, strong or natural, The All Natural Face has you covered. My go-to options are the auburn shades of its Brow Powder. I searched for years for a product that was redhead-friendly.

With multiple colours to choose from, I purchased the light and dark auburn to mix up as my hair changes tone with the seasons and no matter your hue you can do the same.

The indie company can be purchased on Etsy and the powders come with a wax to keep those fine hairs where you want them too.

Its 8.91 on www.etsy.com/shop/theallnaturalface

EYESHADOW

For an everyday look, the e.l.f. Mad for Matte palette is a must. It has a range of neutral shades from light to dark for all occasions. The colour payout is excellent and theres no fallout to be seen.

You can buy e.l.f. in some TK Maxx stores but iherb.com carries the range too, 9.48 on www.iherb.com

For a more dramatic look, try Gosh palettes. My favourite is its Smokey Nudes palette. Its the perfect mix of shimmery light and dark shades.

It also comes with a white shade for brow highlighting and inner eye definition, 19.95 in various pharmacies.

EYELINER

Fans of pencil eyeliners will love the e.l.f. Studio Kohl Eyeliner in black. Its a chunky pencil thats easy to grip and you can do simple or dramatic looks with it.

It also comes with a smudger on the other end and the lid is also a pencil sharpener. Where could you go wrong? 2.84 on www.iherb.com

Given the unpredictability of Irish weather, if youre looking for a waterproof option, Barry Ms Bold Waterproof Eyeliner is worth a try.

For that perfect dramatic touch on a night out, go for the shade Gun Metal, 5.99 in Boots stores.

If liquid eyeliners are more your thing, essence makes a great felt-tip option. The liner is double ended with a thick tip on one end and a thin end on the other.

Both tips are soft but controllable and you can manage a whole range of looks with the two differently sizes, 3.80 in Penneys stores and various pharmacies.

MASCARA

If voluminous lashes is what youre after (and who isnt?) then Catrices Glam & Doll Curl & Volume Mascara is the one for you. The wand is rather large and fluffy  perfect for getting the formula on each and every lash without clumping them together.

You dont even need two coats with this one but if you feel so inclined it your lashes will not look like spiders legs, 4.50 in Penneys stores and various pharmacies.

LIPS

One of the best lip products is the Barry M Matte Me Up Liquid Lip Paint and matching lip liner. You can buy the products as singles or with the matching liner.

The lip liners are creamy and comfortable but dont budge and on smooth lips the lipstick dries perfectly matte and wont slip, even after a day of eating and drinking, 9 in Boots.

CONTOUR

My holy grail contour product is the Wet n Wild MegaGlo Contouring Palette.

The highlight can even be used as an all-over setting powder if youre stuck and the contour is the perfect cool tone, 5.95 in Penneys.

SETTING SPRAY

If powder isnt your thing Barry M also makes a great setting spray option.

With both matte and dewy looks to choose from theyve got everyone covered.

Its particularly good at setting pesky eye products; they wont budge with a spritz of this, 7.49 in Boots.

BRUSHES

EcoTools make amazing brushes. Theyre soft but dense, pick up a great amount of product and are easy to keep clean. You can buy them in most pharmacies but iherb.com offers great prices.

The online company has even released its own range of great beauty blenders. Single brushes cost 3.22-8.06 and sets cost 4.03-18.96 on www.iherb.com
An old college friend is visiting Cork this weekend and she is planning to call out to my house. The problem is I havent done very well in life and can only afford to live in the cheaper part of Douglas. (More like Turners Cross to be honest.)

Is it too late to rent a posh gaff?

- Denis, South Douglas Road, Im a disappointment to my mother.

We all are. Its part of growing up in Cork. My Posh Cousin from Maryborough Hill is away for the weekend (Schull), and said you can have her place for 800 quid. She said dont worry about cleaning up after you, her au pair will do that when they get back, once she is finished clearing the gutters.

Oh, and please dont park your car outside unless its worth over 80 grand. There is a new bye-law on Maryborough Hill now, preventing residents from owning a Renault. (Imagine.)

Howre oo goin on? Herself decided to give up sex for Lent, because shes a demon without the chocolate. You could safely say Im looking forward to Sunday.

My only concern is that I might be over eager on the day and reach my own conclusions before she scales the dizzy heights, as the fella says. Do you think you can help?

- Dan Paddy Andy, head out beyond Ballydehob until you pass a shop that sells Deasy Red Lemonade and nothing else.

Youre in luck  I recently made a short instructional video on just this topic. Its called Wake Up You Useless Bogman, Im Only Getting Started. It demonstrates numerous ways that a man like yourself can bring pleasure to a woman, starting with a 4-hour bath and a pedicure. (For you.)

It also has a section at the end which shows how to talk to a woman after sex. It turns out your modern woman wants a bit more than, Jesus, that was grand altogether Nuala, Ill have rashers for my breakfast.

You have said some horrible things about Carrigaline in the past. But you must have heard about our new water-treatment plant, opened during the week.

Has this changed your mind and will you start recommending the area to tourists

- Eddie, Carrigaline, credit where credit is due.

Congratulations for no longer living in your own filth. Im not suggesting there was a peculiar pong at low tide, down around your area. But we always knew if Uncle Paul in Crosshaven had a curry for his dinner the day before. In fairness, there are worse places around Cork harbour. Its not like you live in Cobh.

And I have a recurring nightmare, where My Conor announces he lost a fortune on the slots and we have to move to Whitegate. But Im not sure anyone should be promoting Carrigaline as a tourist hotspot.Thats a worse idea than opening a shop on the northside that doesnt sell Rizla, white socks or Donkeys Gudge.

My daughter brought her new boyfriend to my nieces wedding last weekend. (Hayfield Manor.) Hes a lovely guy, as far as I can tell.

The problem is that isnt very far, because hes from Monaghan and it was hard to tell if he was talking or just sending signals to a sheep-dog. My daughter tells me his family is loaded (diesel smuggling, presumably), so Im keen not to drive him away.

Is there an app that can translate what hes saying?

- Moira, Blackrock, I have a sofa thats worth more than your house.

I can hear it groan every time you sit down. I wouldnt hold out much hope for an app to solve your problem. A team of super-nerds in Harvard used to boast there was no problem that couldnt be solved by technology. And then they met a woman from Dundalk.

My rule with northerners is to smile away and nod after every second sentence. Unless its a hot guy from Donegal, in which case I nod after every second word. Im yes all the way with those guys.

Bonjour. I am moving to Cork with my wife and kids next month for work, and would like to buy a house. I looked at some places online last week, while smoking some cigarettes, and noticed that you have Paris prices in your city.

Can you explain why your property is so valuable?

- Jean Luc, Lille, I am open to having an affair.

Pity you cant afford a place in Kinsale. And trust me, you cant. You probably heard about our last property bubble, where we all got rich selling houses to each other. Were determined not to make that mistake again.

So, this time were trying to sell them to foreigners. I have an apartment in Wilton if youre interested. In buying it that is, as against drinking a bottle of gin with me there some afternoon and getting jiggy with it in the shower. Not that Im ruling anything out at this stage.
In the early hours of April 7, the US military launched a series of missile strikes against an air base in northern Syria, in retaliation for the Syrian regimes chemical weapons attack against civilians three days earlier.

The strike shows that US president Donald Trump is more willing to use military force in Syria than his predecessor, Barack Obama.

But it raises another crucial question: Why would Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, whose regime has consolidated control over Syrias largest cities in the past year and put the rebels on the defensive, risk a new international backlash by using chemical weapons?

If hes winning, why would Mr Assad take such a risk?

The answer lies in Mr Assads refusal to compromise or offer any significant concessions since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011, and later morphed into a civil war.

Mr Assad overplayed his hand this time, after being emboldened by recent statements from White House officials that it was time for Western powers to accept the political reality of Mr Assads continued dominance.

Mr Assad likely decided to test those boundaries, not expecting Mr Trump to respond militarily because the US president has made it clear that he sees fighting Islamic State (IS) as his highest priority in Syria and Iraq.

Aside from his brutality  the war has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced nearly half of Syrias population  Mr Assads staying power is rooted in a convoluted foreign policy, pioneered by his father, Hafez al-Assad.

Syria played the role of a regional broker and Arab nationalist standard-bearer since 1970, when the elder Assad seized power through a military coup. He perfected the art of creating defensive alliances, nurturing proxies in neighbouring countries and keeping his enemies stalled in costly battles.

Since he rose to power after his fathers death in June 2000, the younger Assad learned to keep all of his options open, and to play Syrias friends and enemies off one another.

Mr Assad has portrayed himself as the only one capable of keeping Syrias army and other state institutions from disintegrating, and preventing the country from falling entirely into the grip of Islamic extremists.

To the West, Mr Assad projected himself as the lesser evil  compared to IS, and other jihadists affiliated with al Qaeda  even if his regime has instigated more death and destruction than his enemies.

Mr Assad seems determined to replicate the foreign policy of his past, when he was able to hold on to power by being brutal, focusing outward and waiting for regional dynamics to change in his favour.

To endure the pressure and international isolation imposed by the George W Bush administration after its invasion of Iraq in 2003, Mr Assad relied on his fathers foreign policy.

The younger Assad feared Syria was vulnerable to an American invasion, so his regime facilitated the recruiting, training and safe passage for hundreds of Syrian and foreign volunteers to join al Qaeda in Iraq to fight US troops and destabilise the Iraqi government.

When popular protests first swept the Arab world in early 2011, Mr Assad was confident that he had nothing to fear because he continued his fathers foreign policy legacy  he did not depend on American military and political support like the leaders of Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, and Yemen.

Instead, Mr Assad and his allies formed the axis of resistance  Iran, Syria, and the Islamist militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas. They boasted that the revolts had proven that they are the true representative of the majority of people in the Arab and Muslim worlds, who for decades had been stifled under regimes that sold out to the US.

In refusing to make substantial concessions, Mr Assad has relied on another tactic he learned from his father: The Syrian regime does not make compromises under pressure, whether external or internal, and this principle had served it well in times of crisis.

Mr Assad also saw the initial response to popular protests in Tunisia and Egypt, and he likely concluded that by not cracking down forcefully, those rulers appeared weak and encouraged protesters to broaden their demands. So when his own people revolted, Mr Assad decided to hunker down and crush the uprising.

At the start of the rebellion in 2011, Mr Assad used Islamic militants to destabilise his opponents, as he had done nearly a decade earlier in Iraq. The Syrian regime released hundreds of al Qaeda activists and other militants from its jails, and they became leaders of IS and other jihadist groups.

Many of those militants ended up fighting Mr Assads regime, but they also became the focus for Western leaders worried about jihadist attacks in their own countries.

Throughout last years presidential campaign, Mr Trump said he wanted to avoid direct US involvement in the Syrian conflict, which has expanded into a regional proxy war.

Russia and Iran, along with Shiite militias such as Lebanons Hezbollah, helped Mr Assad consolidate control and regain territory he lost to the rebels. In December, with intensive Russian air strikes and Iranian ground support, Mr Assad recaptured the rebel-held sections of Aleppo, Syrias largest city. It was Mr Assads biggest victory since the war began.

When Mr Trump won, Mr Assad became more confident as Mr Trump had pledged to end US support for rebels fighting the Syrian regime and direct most American efforts against IS. Mr Assad and his allies have rarely fought directly against the jihadist group, which established its self-proclaimed capital in the eastern city of Raqqa.

Since November, the US has helped mobilise nearly 50,000 Kurdish and Sunni Arab fighters to encircle Raqqa, and cut it off from all sides. The offensive is supported by American air strikes and hundreds of US troops.

But Mr Trumps missile strikes could slow the offensive to oust IS from Raqqa and other parts of eastern Syria. The Pentagon co-ordinates with Russian forces in Syria, especially in launching air strikes, and Russian officials threatened to suspend the communications hotline after the April 7 US attack on the Syrian airfield.

Assad has now suffered a setback because of the American attack, but Mr Trumps limited intervention is unlikely to change the course of the Syrian war  and Mr Assad will continue his scorched earth policy against rebels and civilians, even if he will now think twice about using chemical weapons.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Railway from Azerbaijans Baku to Nakhchivan will become operational three years after a loan agreement is signed to construct the Rasht-Astara railway section, said Azerbaijan Railways Chairman Javid Gurbanov, AzTV reported.

Currently, preparations are underway for signing this loan agreement, said Gurbanov.

The Rasht-Astara section is a part of the Gazvin-Rasht-Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway, which is one of the segments of the North-South Transport Corridor. This transportation corridor will connect Northern Europe with Southeast Asia, linking Azerbaijani, Iranian and Russian railways as well.

Once the train starts to run along this route, it may be said that the [rail] blockade of Nakhchivan will be lifted. At an average speed of 60 km per hour, the trip from Nakhchivan to Baku can take 28-30 hours, he said.

Gurbanov noted that this will allow increasing the tourist flow into Nakhchivan and simplifying freight traffic.

Nakhchivan has a great potential  different products, whether it be mineral water or travertine, can be supplied from there by rail. I know that particularly Belarus is interested in deliveries of travertine, he said.

These deliveries are impossible to be made by air or by car and railways will be the best solution to the issue, Gurbanov added.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has scrapped a proposal to allow cell phone calls during flights. Ars Technica says the proposal was initially floated in 2013.

The concerns that led to the ban in 1991 were safety related, and those concerns have abated due to the evolution of the technology. The reason the ban will remain is more about the mental than the physical well-being of passengers.

To some extent, the move was academic. The government has shown itself willing to step in and keep cellphones off planes. In any case, airlines would have the final say, and it seems unlikely that any would take this step.

Boeing 3D Prints Plane Parts

Boeing has retained Norsk Titanium AS to print parts for the 787 Dreamliner. This method of fabricating the structural elements will cut $2 million to $3 million off the cost of each aircraft, says Reuters.

The contract, which was announced on Monday, is a sign of the acceptance of 3D printing. Strong and lightweight titanium is far more costly than aluminum, and Boeing has been seeking ways to cut those costs. Boeing builds about 144 Dreamliners annually. The craft uses more titanium than other types of aircraft, which obviously gives Boeing an incentive to find ways to cut the cost of its use.

United Airlines Should Look at Artificial Intelligence

Continuing on this weeks theme of aeronautical stories, a columnist at Computerworld suggested that machine learning could have saved United Airlines a tremendous amount of bad publicity and, in terms of its stock price, a significant amount of money.

One of the biggest stories of the week, and perhaps the story of the year in marketing, was the saga of an airline passenger who was injured when he refused to give up his seat on a flight from OHare Airport in Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky. John Brandon suggests that machine learning could have been the answer, and could avoid such breakdowns in the future:

Heres how it would work. Because there is already a wealth of data related to passenger counts, who needs to get to their destination and when, and even which employees are on stand-by for a given flight, machine learning could determine who should be allowed to board and when. Not allowing someone to board is a different issue for airlines than asking someone to disembark. It has a different set of security parameters, and a different set of passenger relation issues.

Airline employees often dont have up to date data and are often overwhelmed. Using machine learning, he suggests, can help avoid such a scenario.

FCCs Broadband Auction Raises $19.8B

The FCC yesterday released the results of its broadband incentive auction, aimed at freeing up broadcast spectrum for use by wireless networks. The auction, which was authorized by Congress in 2012, is an important step in the evolution of 5G.

The FCC says that the auctioning of 70 MHz of spectrum raised $19.8 billion. More than $10 billion will go to 175 broadcasters who participated in the incentive auction. Thirty of the broadcasters will be compensated for moving to lower channels, and another 133 will relinquish their licenses and remain on the air through channel-sharing arrangements with non-winning stations.

The industry will now enter a 39-month period during which these changes will be implemented.

ONOS Releases SDN Deployment Models

The implementation of software-defined networks (SDNs) is a very complex and challenging task. This week, the Open Network Operating System (ONOS) released recommendations. ONOS is a joint effort of The Open Networking Foundation and the Open Networking Lab (ONF and ON.Lab).

The disruptive approach, RCR Wireless Report said, is more straightforward in that it leverages white boxes and ONOS for real-time network control. The incremental model is nuanced, includes incorporation of legacy systems, and can be used on an as-needed basis, while the older equipment is gradually cycled out of the network.

Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

Trend:

Azerbaijans Silk Way Airlines and the US aerospace company Boeing have signed a contract for the purchase of ten passenger aircraft Boeing-737 MAX.

The document was signed in Baku on Apr. 14 by President of Silk Way Holding Zaur Akhundov and Senior Vice President of Boeing company Marty Bentrott.

The ceremony of the documents signing was attended by the President of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL) Jahangir Askerov and US Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta.

Total cost of the contract is about $1 billion.

Based on preliminary discussions with the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank), the purchase of aircraft will be financed without state guarantees for the first time in the history of Azerbaijans civil aviation.

It should be noted that the agreement on the supply of modern Boeing-737 MAX aircraft to Azerbaijan was reached in the summer of 2016 during the Farnborough International Airshow 2016 in the UK.

The first two aircraft of the newest generation will be delivered to Azerbaijan by the end of 2018, and the rest  until the end of 2020.
Im fascinated by litigation, largely because much of it isnt necessary and occurs because one side or the other is delusional. Two sides go in, both believing they cant lose, and one side comes out the winner. Since you rarely actually go to court, the entire effort becomes an expensive form of negotiation, with negotiators (attorneys) whose financial interest is tied to prolonging an incredibly expensive process. Or, put differently, litigation like this results because one of two negotiating teams didnt do their job and you dont know which until a judgement or settlement. In short, at least one of the teams was unreasonable.

The dispute that has caught my attention recently is between Apple and Qualcomm. The cause of this appears to be an effort by Apple to pressure Qualcomm into providing a unique discount, largely because Apple has run into an innovation wall, is under increased competition from firms like Samsung, and has moved to a massive cost reduction strategy. (Ive never known this to end well ,as it causes suppliers to create unreliable components and outright fail.)

These two companies are heavily interdependent, but Apple appears to need Qualcomm more than Qualcomm needs Apple. My read is that, while Apple is Qualcomms largest customer, Qualcomm also gets revenue from all of Apples competitors. Were Apple to stop buying, Qualcomm would initially be hurt but would survive. But Apple has become dependent on its iPhone revenue and, without Qualcomm, that product wouldnt be competitive (Ill explain this further later), with potentially deadly impact on Apples revenue. Qualcomm has diversity in licensees but Apple doesnt have the same diversity in suppliers because Qualcomms IP is critical to its smartphone. I doubt Apple agrees, which is why it started this war. At the heart of this is the fact that Apples perception of reality is very different from what it actually is.

Ill break this down as I see it. (You can read the latest filing here.)

Qualcomms Problem

We think, and I expect so does Apple, that Qualcomm is in the parts business. That should be a surprise because the only big campaign it has done had to do with its Snapdragon processor. Its actually far more powerful as a modem vendor, but both of those are parts and there are clearly others that can sell processors and modems. But in reality, Qualcomm isnt in the parts business, its in the IP (intellectual property) business. It makes its money from licensing technology, without which your smartphone, and the iPhone, would be a brick. If Apple could pull Qualcomms IP out of its iPhones, there wouldnt be a case. Apple would simply do that.

But humans as a group just dont seem to get the whole IP thing. Most companies dont license their IP (though they will defend it), and while we license IP individually (for instance, we dont own the music, movies or software, we buy when license it), we often violate those licenses (pirating media and software) because we seem to think we actually own it, thus often unintentionally committing crimes. No one outside of Qualcomm really sees the company for what it is nor understands that the smartphone wouldnt exist without Qualcomms IP inside it, even if it doesnt have Qualcomms processor, radio, modem, or graphics technology.

Qualcomms other problem is that while it will protect its IP aggressively, it isnt scary. It doesnt even have a CMO to fight fights like this in the public domain which, against a marketing driven company like Apple, makes it look incredibly weak and vulnerable to just such an attack. A lot of people still think of Apple the way it was under Steve Jobs and that was one scary company. Jobs made Donald Trump look like a wimp. But

Apples Problem

Apple actually needs Qualcomm more than Qualcomm needs it. I dont think Apple sees this at all. The biggest example of this should be when the new iPhone 8 runs against the new Samsung S8 in market. Apple has been crippling the Qualcomm-equipped phones so that those that test the phones dont realize that iPhones, which look the same but use another vendors technology, are significantly inferior. It got away with this largely because the phone that most showcased this from Samsung, the Note 7, had a burst into flames problem that killed any comparisons but that wont be the case (we hope for Samsungs benefit) when the iPhone 8 launches. This practice of using inferior parts and crippled technology was part of Apples strategy to showcase, by creating a false argument, that it didnt really need Qualcomms better technology, and it could backfire badly.

In addition, according to the Qualcomm filing, Apple used a powerful argument that promised to do Qualcomm damage if Qualcomm didnt capitulate. And then it went ahead and did most of what it had threatened to do, removing that behavior as a bargaining chip. For instance, if I tell you to do something for me or Ill key your car, and then I key your car, I no longer have that as leverage. The two things Apple did were bad-mouth Qualcomm to regulators and attempt to get other licensees to organize against Qualcomm.

Now the one threat it hasnt executed yet is to turn its entire marketing engine into destroying Qualcomms brand, but given that it didnt do that to Google, which effectively stole the entire iPhone idea (and which Jobs wanted destroyed), and it would pull from its ability to promote its own products, I think, and likely Qualcomm thinks, that is an empty threat (though, were I Qualcomm, Id have a CMO staffed and funded to counter in case that assumption was wrong). I also think that Qualcomm knows this isnt Jobs Apple and Tim Cook is nowhere near as scary, so the typical fear factor of running against the company wont kick in. So, Apple doesnt even have the base leverage it thinks it has.

Finally, I think Apple is basing its strategy not just on a false belief as to what business the company is in but the firms willingness to fight. Over the last several years, there has been a huge influx of Intel employees into Qualcomm and, unlike the old Qualcomm, which was pretty passive, Intel has a reputation for being far more willing to fight to the death. Given that Apples chief counsel is also out of Intel, rather than backing down, Qualcomm could choose the nuclear option of denying Apple Qualcomms IP, which could have a massive adverse impact on Apples revenue long term and on its valuation short term.

Wrapping Up: Fake News

Winning a case like this comes down to three things: the believability of the evidence presented, how well each side presents the reality that supports them, and who is the most delusional as to what the dispute actually is. Youll note I didnt say who is right and who is wrong. That is a misconception of how courts actually work.

Apple does have an incredibly strong legal team and I think it can argue its case compellingly, but I dont think it has a firm grasp on the reality of its own risk or how Qualcomm is likely to respond. That suggests the foundation for taking this path is false and thus its anticipated outcome is unlikely to occur. That doesnt mean it cant hurt Qualcomm, only that it may find that it will be hurt far more than it now anticipates and that might not only cause this action to fail but make a pre-trial settlement impossible.

One other item: While the heart of this appears to be an ill-conceived effort to force Qualcomm to give Apple a unique discount and competitive advantage, that now seems unachievable due to the public nature of this dispute. Instead, the best-case scenario would be a crippled Qualcomm and generically lower prices for all Qualcomm licensees, which would lower Qualcomms ability to innovate and thus remove a lot of the reason for folks to buy new smartphones semi-annually. In short, on this path, it may not only not gain a unique advantage but could significantly reduce churn, which would put pressure on prices and massively reduce annual revenues. And that is the best case.

This is why I titled this the nuclear option, because while both sides clearly lose as a result of this going to litigation, I think this resulted because one side didnt realistically assess the likely outcome of just pushing the litigation button. Bad assumptions, or fake news, can lead to some really bad decisions, particularly when it comes to litigation.

Rob Enderle is President and Principal Analyst of the Enderle Group, a forward-looking emerging technology advisory firm. With over 30 years experience in emerging technologies, he has provided regional and global companies with guidance in how to better target customer needs; create new business opportunities; anticipate technology changes; select vendors and products; and present their products in the best possible light. Rob covers the technology industry broadly. Before founding the Enderle Group, Rob was the Senior Research Fellow for Forrester Research and the Giga Information Group, and held senior positions at IBM and ROLM. Follow Rob on Twitter @enderle, on Facebook and on Google+
The hard-to-find NES Classic Edition will be even harder to find now that Nintendo of America has decided to kill the beloved retro console. The move has taken everyone by surprise especially those who have yet to get their hands on the NES Classic Mini and everyone is wondering why the company arrived at that decision. While Nintendo did not offer any explanation for this baffling move, there are some speculations already making the rounds.

IGN received a statement saying that NOA territories will get the final shipments of the NES Classic Edition this April. Nintendo also issued an apology for the decision and for the fact that the company has failed to deliver on its promise to meet the high demand for the device.

Nintendo admitted that it miscalculated the demand for the NES Classic by a wide margin. They also said that one reason why the company was having a hard time coping with the demand is that some of the components were difficult to procure. This is one of the more logical reasons why Nintendo killed the retro console. There just weren't enough parts to make them.

Another popular theory is that Nintendo despised piracy and did not appreciate how the NES Classic Edition was manhandled by hackers and modders. Nintendo expected the device to be hacked which is evident with the secret message the company placed in the retro console for hackers to find. Polygon figured that Nintendo losing control of its own product was enough for it to give up on the NES Classic completely. However, it is questionable that Nintendo is only making this move now when the numerous hacks have been around for some time now.

Probably the gossip that makes the most sense is that Nintendo wasn't getting enough profit from the NES Classic Edition. It makes sense to stop supporting a product if it's not helping the business make money. While the NES Classic remains a popular device, it's probably giving the company more headaches than profit.

Some speculate that a licensing issue is behind the discontinuation of the NES Classic Edition. The gaming company pre-installed only 30 games in the console and some of those games weren't Nintendo first-party releases. It is unlikely though that the company failed to smooth out all the details before releasing the console.

Lastly, there must be a new console or at least a redesigned NES Classic Edition coming. It is also possible that a new NES Classic with a different selection of games will be released. There's also the probability of a retro SNES on the horizon.

News of the NES Classic Edition being discontinued first surfaced in February after the Nintendo's Nordic distributor told its retailers that they will receive a few more shipments before the stock completely "dries up". Nintendo of Europe denied the rumors back then but it seems like the company is eating their words right now.
Apple has been quietly working on a smartwatch project that could revolutionize how blood glucose is monitored in diabetic patients. The company has a secret team that develops a sensor that can monitor a person's blood sugar levels non-invasively 24/7.The medical technology infused in trendy wearable devices will be integrated into a future version of the Apple Watch.

The project that will help people with diabetes manage their condition in the most convenient manner had reportedly been Steve Jobs idea which he set up before his death. It is reported that the tech giant has quietly acquired a nondescript location in Palo Alto, a few miles from the tech giants head building. The place was reportedly for engineers to work in secret on the project, which has a significant potential to change the lives of people suffering from diabetes.

According to Engadget, it is believed that Apple has been successful with its smartwatch diabetic project that it is already running trials of the sensors at "clinical sites". The trials reportedly have taken place in San Francisco's Bay Area. More interestingly, the company is so motivated with the success of its project that it has already hired consultants to help it obtain FDA approval.

Per Digital Trends, the future smartwatch for diabetics will improve the way they regularly have to monitor their blood sugar levels by using a sensor. SO instead of having to go through the laborious and uncomfortable procedure of pricking their finger, they will only have to depend on their smartwatches. The device will use optical sensors with a light that shines through the skin to measure blood sugar levels.

The Apple smartwatch will then act as a constant monitor, flagging information when sugar levels drop too low, or too high. Both situations can trigger extremely serious complications for a diabetic if not quickly addressed. Therefore, if successful, the secret product would be a significant step forward for the medical industry as well as a tremendous help for diabetics.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Azerbaijans State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources is taking part in international tenders for supply of engineering solutions, Jamil Melikov, deputy head of the state agency, told Trend.

He said that there are certain prospects in the sphere of exporting solutions and technologies in alternative energy.

These prospects are small, because it is very difficult to compete with Chinese equipment manufacturers in the field of alternative energy, Melikov said. However, we are trying to position ourselves in the solutions export market more than in the goods export market.

The economic feasibility of development of alternative energy remains even if energy prices are low, he added.

Alternative energy uses free resources, Melikov noted. Almost 70 percent of the cost of electricity and any other type of energy includes the cost of energy resources. So, theoretically, I think that the renewable energy will have no competition in the near future. Currently, our small projects in alternative energy can seriously compete with the projects regarding traditional energy.

He added that nowadays, it is difficult for Azerbaijans State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources to compete in the areas where traditional energy has been used over a long period of time, where power transmission lines are already stretched, as well as in the areas having substations and extensive electricity network.

Currently, the capacity of Azerbaijans electricity system exceeds 12,000 megawatt. The total potential of renewable energy sources exceeds 25,300 megawatt in the country.

The major part of the country's potential in this sphere accounts for solar energy and this potential is estimated at 5,000 megawatt.

Wind energy accounts for 4,500 megawatt, biomass - 1,500 megawatt, geothermal energy - 800 megawatt and the remaining 350 megawatt accounts for the small hydro power plants.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

A special meeting on specific lines of development of energy cooperation within the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM) may be held in September-October 2017, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev said at a meeting with GUAM Secretary General Altay Efendiev.

During the meeting, Efendiev noted that favorable conditions were created for the development of energy cooperation between the member countries of the organization, Azerbaijans Energy Ministry said in a message.

He added that Azerbaijan, which has a developed transportation system and transport corridors, should take advantage of these opportunities.

Efendiev also offered holding meetings to expand energy cooperation within GUAM in the Ukraine-Azerbaijan and Georgia-Azerbaijan formats.

Natig Aliyev, in turn, noted that energy cooperation within GUAM can be effective for any project that meets the common interests of the organization member states.

The energy minister said GUAM should specify proposals for projects, which all the organization members can be attracted to, and the format of their discussions. Only after that, a special meeting on specific lines of energy cooperation development may be held in September-October 2017.

Efendiev, for his part, noted that GUAM plans to start discussing those issues with other members of the organization in a short time.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

North Sea crude and condensate production will increase by roughly 50,000 barrels per day to an average of almost 2.9 million barrels per day in 2017, according to the Europe Watch report of the US-based ESAI Energy.

Additional supply from new project start-ups as well as light maintenance schedules will counteract legacy declines at mature fields and boost overall output, said the report. However, with few new major projects slated to come online after 2017, production will begin to fall in 2018 by roughly 40,000 barrels per day.

The analysts recall that in the years since the crude price drop, North Sea producers have slashed operating costs in order to sustain and expand output.

By renegotiating service contracts and focusing on the most promising fields, companies have been able to bring online projects, sanctioned at higher crude prices, profitably, said the Europe Watch report. Producers in the UK also received a small assist from the government in the form of reduction in the headline tax rate from between 50-65 to 40 percent.

As a result of these cost adjustments, operating cash margins are higher, breakeven costs have fallen, and many producers have returned to profitability despite the historically low price environment, according to ESAI Energy.

However, ESAI Energy analyst Ian Page points out that expanding production to offset decline will remain difficult and ESAI Energy expects total production to begin falling in 2018.

Energy Security Analysis, Inc. (ESAI), founded in 1984, is a global energy consulting company that provides market research and strategic advisory services.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Today

Sunny to partly cloudy. High near 80F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 59F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 69F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR will continue to be a driver of development of the countrys chemical industry, President of SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev said.

He made the remarks at an event dedicated to the presentation of products of SOCAR Polymer OJSC in Baku Apr. 14.

Azerbaijans chemical industry has a great future, and private companies will be able to implement their own projects in this sphere soon, he said.

He noted that the chemical industry is very important for Azerbaijan.

Chemical industry has always been a traditional industry in Azerbaijan, Abdullayev said. There are great opportunities for its development. After the acquisition of Turkeys Petkim petrochemical complex, SOCAR entered the chemical market and gained a lot of experience.

The Azerikimya Production Union turned into a profitable enterprise after it became a part of SOCAR, he added.

Abdullayev noted that the experience gained allowed to start such a project as SOCAR Polymer.

Companies that operate in other sectors of the Azerbaijani economy joined this project and became a part of it, he said.
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B/E Aerospace Inc. has thrived and dived with the cyclical fortunes of the commercial airline industry this century.

Thats why the opportunity to be welded into Rockwell Collins Inc., a larger aviation manufacturer with a broad, non-overlap portfolio, is being hailed as being a stabilizing force for both buyer and seller.

Rockwell completed its $8.6 billion deal for B/E on Thursday after gaining the regulatory approval of the European Commission.

Although B/E is based in Wellington, Fla., its largest U.S. operations are in Winston-Salem with at least 1,300 employees.

It now operates as Rockwells Interior System business, with Werner Lieberherr, B/Es president and chief executive and the companys top local officer, transitioned to its chief operating officer.

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.

We believe the purchase is good for B/E and its Winston-Salem operations because it is now part of a broader aviation portfolio that provides more work load and employment stability in such a cyclical industry, said Kelly Ortberg, Rockwells chairman, chief executive and president.

Ortberg visited local employees Thursday as part of announcing completion of the deal.

We expect minimal  if any  impact in Winston-Salem, Ortberg said.

Peter Arment, an analyst with Baird, said he views the Rockwell offer as a good deal for B/E.

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 along with major business and military contracts.

Winston-Salem will continue to operate as it is and become an important factor in Rockwell Collins future, Ortberg said. He said altogether it will represent about 5 percent to 6 percent of its overall operations, rivaling legacy Rockwells operations in Melbourne, Fla.

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 share owner value, Ortberg said.

Lieberherr said the acquisition sets us on an exciting path that will greatly benefit our customers, employees and share owners. There will be career opportunities for local workers beyond what B/E could have provided.

One of our goals was to preserve the B/E DNA within Rockwell, and we believe that has gone, and will go, extremely well.

Rockwell 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. Ortberg said some cost savings would be achieved from ending publicly traded company expenses in Wellington, Fla.

Well be able to better leverage supply chain expenses and product offerings as a larger company, Ortberg said.

Were not necessarily getting into new products per se, but just expanding our collective reach into new markets.

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.
Baku, Azerbaijan, April 14

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Kazakhstans trade turnover with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) amounted to $2.58 billion in January-February 2017, which is by 56 percent more than in the same period of 2016, Kazakh Statistics Committee said.

Kazakhstans exports to fellow EAEU countries increased by 42.6 percent to $742 million in this period, while imports were up by 62.2 percent hitting $1.84 billion, said the committee.

A lions share  almost $2.43 billion  of Kazakhstans trade turnover with the EAEU countries accounted for the trade with Russia. Kazakhstans exports to Russia increased by 40.1 percent to $671.6 million in January-February 2017 compared to the first two months of 2016. The countrys imports from Russia increased by 64 percent to $1.75 billion in the reporting period as compared the same period of 2016.

Kazakhstan exports mineral products (38.5 percent of the total volume of the country's export to the EAEU), metals and metal products (34.8 percent), chemicals (13.3 percent), products of animal and vegetable origin and ready foodstuff (7.6 percent) to the EAEU countries.

The country mainly imports chemicals (23 percent of the total volume of the country's imports from the EAEU), mineral products (20.6 percent), vehicles and equipment (19.7 percent), metals and metal products (12.9 percent), products of animal and vegetable origin and ready foodstuff (11.8 percent).

In 2016, Kazakhstan's trade turnover with the EAEU countries decreased by 16.8 percent to $13.58 billion as compared to 2015.

The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization for regional economic integration. Its members are Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Two weeks after he was shot, Kalvin Michael Smith is at home recovering, his father said Thursday.

Thank God, Augustus Dark said. Hes up and able to walk and eat.

Smith, 45, was found lying on the sidewalk in the 900 block of North Jackson Avenue just before 9 p.m. March 31. He had been shot in the back, and according to a neighbor, who declined to be identified, he had a gunshot wound near his ribs. Dark said Smith had been visiting friends and family members on North Jackson Avenue.

Smith was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he stayed until his release April 7, Dark said. Smith had emergency surgery on March 31 and a follow-up surgery on April 1. Doctors had been monitoring his condition to determine when would be the best time to release him from the hospital, Dark said.

Dark said Smith is still in some pain but he is able to get around. On Thursday, he visited his mother, Dark said.

Winston-Salem police havent made any arrests in the case. Lt. T.A. Boyles said Sunday that police are still investigating. He said the case officer is making arrangements to have a face-to-face interview with Smith to get more details. Boyles could not be reached Thursday for further comment.

The neighbor who declined to be identified told the Winston-Salem Journal that the shooter was on a parallel street from Smith and fired several shots from between houses. Three bullets struck the neighbors house, and the shooting stopped after Smith collapsed, according to the neighbor.

Dark said Smith doesnt know who shot him.

Smith told Dark that he heard a voice telling him to stop. Smith started to run and heard gunshots. Then he collapsed and thats when he realized he had been shot, Dark said.

Smith was released in November after serving 20 years in prison for an assault he and his supporters say he did not commit. Smith was released after Judge Todd Burke of Forsyth Superior Court granted a motion.

In that motion, attorneys Walter Holton and Cheryl Andrews argued that Smiths trial attorney, William Speaks, failed to present two mitigating factors that could have led to a shorter sentence.

Smith was convicted in 1997 of assaulting Jill Marker, an assistant manager at the former Silk Plant Forest store off Silas Creek Parkway. Marker, who was pregnant at the time, had severe brain injuries as a result and gave birth to a son while in a coma. She lives in Ohio under 24-hour care.

The Winston-Salem Journal published a series in 2004 that concluded that Winston-Salem police failed to thoroughly investigate Kenneth Lamoureux, a man with a history of violence who was seen at the Silk Plant Forest store the day of Markers attack. Don Williams, the lead detective, dropped him as a suspect when Lamoureux, who died in 2011, moved to Charlotte.

No physical evidence ever connected Smith to the crime scene. The citys Silk Plant Forest Citizens Review Committee concluded that the police investigation was flawed. A report from former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker called for a new trial for Smith.

Most recently, MTVs documentary series, Unlocking the Truth, featured the case. Smiths case is the most prominent allegation of wrongful conviction in the community since Darryl Hunt, who died last year, was exonerated in 2004 of the murder of Deborah Sykes, a copy editor at the now-closed afternoon newspaper, The Sentinel.

Dark said hes frustrated at how long its taken to get some of Smiths personal items and that his son has some trepidation in talking to police.

The last time I talked to the police, I didnt come home for 20 years, Smith said, according to Dark.
State lawmakers across the country are pursuing creative methods to force President Donald Trump to release his federal income tax returns before he can run for reelection in 2020. Unfortunately for citizens interested in greater presidential transparency, those efforts are likely to fail.

There is, however, a much easier way for state lawmakers to force the disclosure of Trump's tax information: publishing the state tax returns already in their possession, which would reveal much of the same information appearing in his federal documents.

So far, state lawmakers have focused their attention on bills that would require candidates to release their federal income tax returns before appearing on those states' presidential ballots. The Democratic-controlled New Jersey legislature approved such a bill last month. State lawmakers in California, New York and 20 other states have introduced similar legislation.

The ballot-access approach faces three formidable obstacles: First, Democrats control both the governor slot and legislatures in only half a dozen states. Republicans are likely to block the bills from becoming law anywhere else. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, is widely expected to veto his state's ballot-access bill.

Second, if a ballot-access bill becomes law in a deep-blue state, there is no guarantee that Trump will comply. In states such as California -- where he lost by a landslide -- Trump might decide to keep his name off the 2020 ballot rather than release his returns.

Finally, Trump would almost certainly bring a constitutional challenge to any law requiring him to disclose his tax returns as a condition for ballot access, and it is far from clear that these laws would hold up in court.

But publishing Trump's state tax returns is a much more viable option - and would make his returns available to the public now, rather than three years from now.

Trump's New York state resident income tax returns show his salary, dividends, capital gains, rental real estate income and other income from all sources -- including sources outside New York. If Trump fills out a "Resident Itemized Deduction Schedule" -- as most high-income individuals in New York do -- he also reports his gifts to charity. And if he is using phantom losses from previous years to offset tax on his current-year income, then the New York state return shows that too.

New York's Department of Taxation and Finance keeps copies of Trump's state returns from as far back as 1990. Current New York law prohibits state tax officials from disclosing an individual's returns, but the New York legislature could amend that law to require the state tax authority to post the president's returns from the past quarter-century on its website. For the sake of evenhandedness, the legislature might apply the same rule to its other elected officials. Gov. Andrew Cuomo is unlikely to object: He releases his returns every year, as do the state's two senators, fellow Democrats Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

Federal law does not stand in New York's way. The Internal Revenue Code prohibits state officials from disclosing a taxpayer's federal return, but it does not stop New York from disclosing information that Trump reports on his state forms.

A bill requiring the disclosure of Trump's state tax returns should sail through the New York State Assembly, where Democrats enjoy an overwhelming majority. It would also stand a strong chance of passing the State Senate, where Democrats occupy roughly half the 63 seats. Moderate Republicans might come on board as well.

The political environment might be even more hospitable in other states with Democratic governors and Democratic-dominated legislatures -- including California, Connecticut and Hawaii, where Trump has real estate investments and presumably files nonresident returns. While those returns don't include as many details as Trump's New York returns, they still could reveal some important information, such as his adjusted gross income from all sources, both in and out of state.

Skeptics might say that public disclosure of Trump's state tax returns would violate the principle of taxpayer privacy. But Trump is no ordinary taxpayer. The public has a right to know whether its president is paying his fair share of taxes and whether he has financial conflicts of interest as commander in chief.

State tax returns are not a complete substitute for the federal returns that every president for the past four decades has disclosed. And even Trump's federal returns might not reveal the full extent of his financial ties to the Russian government or other foreign entities. But some information is better than none -- and it certainly would be better than the dribs and drabs of information disclosed through sporadic leaks.

State lawmakers have the power to provide voters with a more comprehensive understanding of the president's taxpaying past. They should use it.

Hemel is an assistant professor at the University of Chicago Law School.
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 HFCs 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 Jerseys 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 countrys 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 HFCs 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 theyve 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 precincts 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 nations 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 months dispute about Speaker Paul Ryans 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, Michigans 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 partys 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, Georgias Sen. Walter George, told that FDR was his own worst enemy, replied: Not as long as Im 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. Todays president should have second, or perhaps first, thoughts about a purge.
If the politics of national service is a thorny subject for congressional Republicans -- scrutinizing programs long embraced by Democrats but preserving programs seen as both patriotic and worth the money -- financing it, or, in the words of White House budget director Mick Mulvaney, asking a coal miner in West Virginia or a single mom in Detroit to keep paying for it, is even thornier.

In the era of skinny budgets, its easy for congressional appropriators to lump national service programs in with longtime conservative targets for elimination. In a time of belt-tightening, it would be easy to think of them merely as an outgrowth of big government.

But the easy approach isnt always the right one -- in fact, it often isnt. Thats why I urge my Republican colleagues to consider carefully before swinging the budget ax toward national service programs, as President Trump has proposed. These programs are crucial when it comes to disaster response. Having governed Mississippi in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the costliest natural disaster in our nations history, I know all too well.

The spending blueprint offered last month by the White House slashes funding for, among other things, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the agency that administers the AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps connects some 80,000 Americans annually with community and faith-based organizations to solve educational, public health, environmental and homeland security issues.

Now, that doesnt sound like wasted government spending to me. And I dont know about a West Virginia coal miner, but I know what the hard-working taxpayers of Mississippi think about AmeriCorps, whose volunteers played an outsized and critical role in the immediate- and long-term recovery from Katrina.

Sure, 12 years later, its easy to take a detached, clinical view of the Katrina response and decide what worked, what didnt and what to cut. But sorting all that out wasnt so simple in the chaotic hours and days that followed the storm, when hundreds of thousands of Americans were displaced and in dire need of resources.

What was immediately apparent despite the chaos was the integral role being played by AmeriCorps members, around 40,000 in total, who trained and coordinated hundreds of thousands of faith-based and community volunteers who rapidly fanned out across our state to aid, and in many instances direct, recovery efforts.

These young men and women were the glue that bound together our entire volunteer operation. They ran our shelters and feeding centers, our donation warehouses and emergency call centers. They built or repaired more than 15,000 homes, completed thousands of damage assessments and supported emergency response centers throughout the Gulf Coast region. Crucially, they provided training that enabled volunteers to effectively clean up communities in the wake of the most expensive storm in American history.

Because congressional appropriators and presidents in the past didnt exercise the easy option, the very same option being asked of Congress today, the work of AmeriCorps in the Gulf South was possible. The Commission on National and Community Service was originally enacted when Republican President George H.W. Bush signed the 1990 National and Community Service Act. In his first presidential acceptance speech, and again in his first inaugural address, Bush spoke of a thousand points of light glimmering across our nation, each light a shimmering demonstration of the power of taking part and pitching in. The Corporation for National and Community Service lets those lights shine brighter. Republicans cant be the party that snuffs them out.

Today, President Trump and Congress are right to seriously address, for the first time in years, the crisis of the federal governments budget bloat. But funding for national service programs, a tiny fraction of the massive federal budget, isnt the place to start.

I hope America never endures another storm as devastating as Hurricane Katrina. Should we, though, I pray AmeriCorps members will be there. Its up to Congress and the new administration to see they are.

Haley Barbour is a former governor of Mississippi.
Congratulations to Brian Smith, this years Classified Employee of the Year for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system. Smith is a teacher assistant in the exceptional children department of Southeast Middle School, where he works with special needs students. Hes appreciated by the staff, teachers and students, and now by the larger public, we hope.

Classified employees in the school system are those whose work doesnt require teaching licenses: clerical staff, teaching assistants, janitors, bus drivers and more. There are about 2,500 of them in our school system.

Smith was honored with a surprise reception to celebrate his award on April 6, where he told the Journals Arika Herron, I dont do this for this (the reception), I do this for these kids.

His commitment was obvious to the selection committee, Superintendent Beverly Emory said during the reception. They could sense your passion, not only for the EC kids you work with, but for the whole school, she said.

Stephanie Gentry, the principal at Southeast, worked to get Smith to her school from his previous assignment. It helped that Smiths wife, Deborah-Wallace Smith, teaches eight-grade science at Southeast. Smith has been with the school system for 18 years, but only the last two at Southeast.

People thanked me for bringing him on board, Gentry told the Journal. People fight over (having) him (in their classroom).

When those who dont know want to complain, they often turn to the school systems support staff, saying theyre an unneeded luxury. But teachers know just how important classified employees are to the smooth operations of schools and teachers work. Theyre the backbone of the system and their work helps the teachers to shine.

And some of them, like Smith, shine pretty well on their own, providing solid support, hard work and encouragement to teachers and students alike.

Smith has his own special skills. Hes trained as a first responder in the event of emergencies.

Smith is just the kind of employee we want to see working with our kids: enthusiastic, responsible and caring. We need more like him.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Russia will continue and expand long-term cooperation with Kazakhstan on the Baikonur Cosmodrome, TASS quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin as saying.

Putin made this statement at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, April 14.

I want to inform [President of Kazakhstan] Nursultan Nazarbayev that we have made a decision on his proposal to continue and expand our space cooperation using Baikonur, Russian president said.

He noted that Russia will adjust its plans on Baikonur in order to actively implement all common space projects with Kazakhstan, bearing in mind the use of the new Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia.

The Baikonur Cosmodrome is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan. It is leased by the Kazakh government to Russia, currently until 2050. Under the current Russian space program, Baikonur remains a busy space port with numerous commercial, military and scientific missions being launched annually.


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Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Kyrgyzstan gives priority to relations with the members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in its foreign economic policy, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev said at the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Bishkek April 14, Kabar news agency reported.

He urged his partners within the union for more active joint work.

Atambayev noted that Kyrgyzstan presiding the EAEU this year proposed to aim at creating conditions for business development within the union in 2017.

It is important for us to work together to meet four principles: free movement of goods, services, labour and capital," the head of state said.

Moreover, Atambayev noted that importance of work on eliminating the barriers that still exist in the EAEU. According to the president, the executive body of the Eurasian Economic Union - Eurasian Economic Commission should listen to the initiatives and proposals of business to solve this problem.

Kyrgyz president also touched upon the issue of labor migration and asked for more liberal approaches to deportation of migrants who committed minor administrative offenses within the EAEU.

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Apr. 14

By Demir Azizov  Trend:

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev ordered to dismiss Davron Hidoyatov as the chairman of the State Committee for Privatization, Demonopolization and Development of Competition, a committee official told Trend.

It was earlier reported from an Uzbek government meeting that the head of state criticized Hidoyatov for no results in attracting foreign investment and privatization of industrial facilities.

The main tasks of the Committee are to develop and implement measures on deepening of the privatization processes, monitor investors compliance with investment obligations and create real competitive environment.
JURIST Guest Columnist Bettina Nemeth, a partner in LexMetis, discusses Hungarys approach to the refugee crisis. . .

In June of 2015, the Secretary of Interior Dr. Sandor Pinter, filed a legislative bill in the Hungarian Parliament to overhaul the countrys asylum proceedings and to restructure the border police force. The Parliament debated the bill and overwhelmingly approved it on March 6, 2017, with 138 members voting yes, 6 voting no, and 22 members abstaining. The Asylum Amendments became the new Asylum Law in March of 2017 and contains four main provisions:

The Government has the authority to designate transit areas around the country, which are places of temporary stay for applicants of asylum in Hungary. The primary purpose of the law is to prevent the free movement of individuals that have been denied asylum or those that have pending asylum applications. The Government can seek relocation remedies against those individuals that flee from the transit zones while their applications are pending, and transfer them back to the transit zones anywhere in the country. The Government can detain unaccompanied minor children between the ages of 14-18 in the transit zones when they cross over the Hungarian border. Asylum proceedings need not be held in the native language or a language spoken by the applicant for asylum.

There were also some procedural changes which now allow the hearing to be conducted by electronic means without transporting the applicant to the court or judicial body where the hearing will take place. Further changes in the law were also adopted to accelerate and simplify the entire process and also to exclude legal tactics that may end the asylum proceedings through judicial review. Court orders are only allowed in very limited circumstances when the asylum seeker somehow frustrates the process or he/she does not have the intention to proceed through such a process. For example, a termination of the proceedings by an order of the court is allowed if: (a) the asylum seeker withdraws the application in writing; (b) he/she refuses to file the necessary declarations; (c) he/she refuses to volunteer the taking of the fingerprints or photographs; and (d) the asylum seeker leaves the transit zone. There is however, a right of appeal for further judicial review in the event the asylum petition is denied, provided the request for further relief is filed within three days from the receipt date of the decision. The Asylum Authority also has three days to forward the application for further judicial review to the Court.

Relevant to this law is the referendum held in Hungary on October 2, 2016, which had a very specific question on the ballot: Do you want the European Union to have the right to mandate the resettlement of non-Hungarian citizens to Hungary without the approval of the Hungarian Parliament? While only 41.32% of the eligible voters actually voted, which resulted in the invalidation of the referendum since Hungarian law requires a minimum of 50% turnout, 98.36% of the votes casted were No. While there has been a lot of criticism of the Government for placing such a question on the ballot, the referendum could be seen as social consensus that Hungarians are not in favor of open borders and the imposition of refugee mandated policies from the EU.

According to Amnesty International, the Asylum Law (or the Container Camp Bill as Amnesty International refers to it) is a flagrant violation of international law, as it is a continuous detention and a restraint of the freedom of movement of asylum seekers without the issuance of warrants for arrest, rights of appeal or any judicial oversight. Of particular concern is the section in the legislation that affects minor children between the ages of 14-18, which are now excluded from the Child Protection Laws. However, Amnesty Internationals commentary fails to reference the consistent problem Hungarian authorities were facing when adult asylum seekers claimed falsely that they were below the age of 18 for more favorable treatment.

Of particular interest is also the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights, in Ilias and Ahmed v. Hungary, where the Court held that the place of stay in the transit zones is unlawful detention; the lack of any rights of the detainees is a violation, and the procedures at the borders are unfair. The Court also held that a detainee in the transit zones has the same rights as any other detainee in Hungary because the transit zones are within the jurisdiction of the Hungarian State. The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, commented that the uncontrolled migration crisis is an act of aggression against Hungary necessitating the closing of the borders. He declared that Hungary is under siege and the legislation is in line with EU law as the necessary defensive measures are nothing more than an attempt to defend the national integrity of Hungary. He also stated that the Hungarian viewpoint is controlling in these tumultuous times. In response to a question by a journalist, the Prime Minister added: It is not easy to be a good European in Central Europe, since countries in the region have different historical legacies, different kinds of instincts on some issues which may vary due to local traditions and values. These differences can lead to the implementation of different approaches to the issue of migration, although, the Central European approach is becoming the standard.

From the Central European perspective, Hungary is simply taking steps to deal with international terrorism and the inherent difficulties in vetting terrorists that claim to be refugees or migrants when they enter Hungary. For Hungarians, this method of infiltrating to Europe, is arguably similar to when terrorists use civilians as human shields in Aleppo, Syria or in Mosul, Iraq. Despite that, Hungary has been wrongly portrayed as insensitive to the plight of refugees simply because it has taken steps that are a departure from the EU policies that deal with this unprecedented crisis. Many Europeans also fail to see that the dismantling of border controls between member countries will not immediately lead to the unification of values, traditions and opinions in European nations. There will be divergence and disagreement, as there will be implementation of different policies that seek to protect national identities.

Although Hungarys approach may not be popular in many ideological centers, the prevalent opinion and the majority of the political leaders in Hungary see the adoption of this law as a necessary proactive measure given the deadly terrorist attacks in the EU over the last few years. Furthermore, the lack of a cohesive approach by the EU in dealing with the migration crisis leaves member countries to take matters into their own hands as they seek to protect their citizens from terrorists crossing their borders. One only has to look at some of EUs policies in Turkey and Greece, which have been implemented to keep the migration problem away from the EU borders by flooding money to both countries or by mandating the acceptance of certain number of refugees by each member nation. This could be viewed as inducement of the Turkish and the Greek Governments that are asked to stop the flood of migrants into the EU, when what is required is a comprehensive approach that deals with the underlying causes of this human tragedy. It could also be argued that Hungarys position is just a calling for a complete revaluation of the EU migration policies and a stern warning that Hungary will not stand idle when the EU policies fail to adequately protect Europeans from the threat of international terrorism. Funding programs to keep refugees in Turkey and Greece temporarily will not be sufficient to deal with the migration crisis in the long run. What may work is a common, effective plan that is based on mutual cooperation and the acceptance of the general principle that EU member countries must be free to implement policies that affect the protection of their citizens. Unity in the European Union will not be accomplished by indifference to popular but different values in member countries.

Bettina Nemeth has a doctorate of laws degree from Eotvos Lorand University Faculty of Law (ELTE) in Budapest, Hungary and is a partner in LexMetis, an international consulting firm based in Istanbul, Turkey and Boston, USA.

Suggested citation: Bettina Nemeth, Is Hungarys approach to the refugee crisis a test of the European Union unity?, JURIST  Professional Commentary, Apr. 14, 2017, http://jurist.org/hotline/2017/04/Bettina-Nemeth-hungary-refugee-crisis.php
Novel legal strategies: After voting rights lawyers in Whitford v. Gill introduced a quantitative model for measuring partisan gerrymandering [PDF] as part of their case, a three-judge federal panel struck down Wisconsins legislative districts as unconstitutional, representing the first victory of its kind in 30 years. The case is now on its way to the Supreme Court.

Star treatment: Arnold Schwarzenegger recently teamed with ATTN:, a media company whose mission is to engender greater participation in communities and the political process, to launch a viral digital campaign to highlight the absurdities of gerrymandering and to galvanize public support for reform.

Marquee legal talent: In January, elite Supreme Court litigator Paul Smith  one of the biggest legal guns in the country and partner at Jenner & Block  announced that he was leaving to pursue a full-time position with the Campaign Legal Center, a leader in the fight against gerrymandering.

Super-powered organizational efforts: Former Attorney General Eric Holder and powerhouse lawyer Marc Elias recently launched a new organization devoted exclusively to fighting for redistricting reform in the years ahead. The groups active supporters include none other than President Obama, who is targeting redistricting reform as one of his post-presidency priorities.

These developments evoke a legal community that is primed to earnestly fight gerrymandering, and also reflect the central role lawyers and the courts will play in addressing this challenge. But these activities also signal a growing public awareness of, and interest in, issues that the legal community should cultivate and harness. While empowering voters is among the most important outcomes that can result from these battles, weve seen that by using digital techniques like crowdfunding, empowerment can also be a component of the legal strategy itself.

Vesilind v. VA Board of Elections & Democratizing the Fight for Fair Elections



Amid the escalating national profile of redistricting reform, a small nonprofit organization is making an outsized statement in its ongoing lawsuit challenging Virginias state legislative map. By infusing its litigation strategy with a crowdfunding dimension, the group  OneVirginia2021  has transformed a somewhat technical and esoteric legal challenge into an inspired, community-powered battle for progress.

Last month, the organization created a CrowdJustice page with the aim of sharing information about their case and raising a modest sum to defray litigation expenses. Within hours, online donations shattered the initial $5,000 target (en route to a $51,000 total) and the page became a centralized hub for information about the case, opportunities to help raise awareness, and resources to better understand the issue of gerrymandering. In the process, OneVirginia2021 enlisted more than a thousand case supporters and cultivated a spirit of community around the case.

While ultimately this case  like any other  will be decided in the courtroom, the community dimension can matter a great deal. Weve seen the important ways that the public climate can shape judicial attitudes in meaningful ways  from our countrys earliest civil rights struggles, to recent victories for LGBT equality, legal successes have often followed vocal public sentiments. Moreover, democratizing these lawsuits is a potent antidote to unhealthy perceptions that legal activism is a pursuit reserved solely for powerful or well-funded interests.

The volume of cases across the voting rights landscape is expected to rise in the years ahead  owing in part to the Supreme Courts decision to gut core provisions of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder  especially as states begin redrawing districts following the 2020 census. Harnessing resources to support this work is important, as is ensuring that the grassroots and impacted communities are able to engage directly with impactful action in the courts.

As the profile of social and political issues continues to rise, advocates should not undervalue the advantages of giving the public a voice and a role in these efforts. Crowdfunding and other digital organizing tools can create new pathways for empowerment around legal battles  a means of participation that stands in sharp relief to the odious effects of gerrymandering even before the courtroom battles are won. With the integrity of our political system at stake, lets ensure that redistricting reform is a legal cause thats both by and for the People.

Kip Wainscott is Head of Legal and External Relations at CrowdJustice. Kip previously worked at the White House, where he helped the Obama Administration advance a number of priorities related to social justice and opportunity, often through collaboration with technology and community stakeholders to develop digital tools to help meet big challenges. As a lawyer, hes passionate about removing barriers to justice and ensuring that communities and individuals have access to the courts regardless of their status or circumstance.

Suggested citation: Kip Wainscott, Democratizing the Legal Fight to Reclaim Our Elections, JURIST  Professional Commentary, April 13, 2017, http://jurist.org/hotline/2017/04/Kip-Wainscott-reclaim-our-elections.php
The Canadian government [official website] on Thursday announced a plan [press release] to legal recreational use of marijuana by July 2018. Canada is set to implement this plan into law nationwide, though the government has stated that it would leave specific details, such as commercial regulations, up to each individual province. Proponents of the plan have stated [WP report] the measure is intended to limit adolescent drug use and take advantage of the profits that the black market is currently commanding. Marijuana legalization was a campaign promise of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has received the support of not only the ruling Liberal party, but also from some of the countrys Conservative Party. The legislation would set a minimum purchasing age of 18. Individuals would be allowed to posses up to 30 grams for personal use as well as grow up to four marijuana plants in their household. Accompanying legislation to the bill would also increase penalties for driving under the influence. There are those that are skeptical of the ability for this bill to decrease underage use stating [News Herald report]: Youth already think marijuana is harmless, and now we are giving them the governments seal of approval.

The use of legalization of marijuana has been an important issue for many countries around the world. In February the lower house of the Dutch parliament approved a bill [JURIST report] that would permit the cultivation of cannabis. In January Maines governor signed [JURIST report] a moratorium bill that delayed the legal sale of marijuana by retailers for one year, although still allowed the possession of marijuana for personal use by those 21 or older. In April Mexicos president proposed [JURIST report] a bill relaxing laws on marijuana use. In December 2015 Colombias president legalized [JURIST report] medical marijuana. In June 2015 Canadas top court lifted [JURIST report] a restriction that the only acceptable form of medical marijuana was smoking the dried plant.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) [official website] on Thursday unanimously held [decision] that Russia violated European human rights laws when it raided a terrorist-held school in the Russian town of Beslan in 2004, leading to the death of more than 330 civilian hostages. More than 180 children were killed in the attack. Russia contended in the suit that it should not be blamed for the admittedly tragic results, arguing the burden of compensation should not be placed on governments that react to terrorist attacks. The court held that Russias authorities had specific information linked to a planned attack in the area, and failed to take reasonable preventive measures to protect schools. Further, authorities refused to give families [press release] of the victims access to important information after the tragedy. The court ordered Russia to pay nearly 3 million to the families of the victims.

Russias human rights record has been troubling to international rights groups for some time. In February the ECHR ordered [JURIST report] Russia to pay more than 63,000 to Alexander Navalny [official website], a political opposition leader, for multiple arrests that infringed his right to peaceful assembly. In January the US sanctioned [JURIST report] five Russian officials for human rights abuses stemming from the suspicious death of a Russian lawyer. Russias response to terrorism attacks has also been troubling. In June 2016 the Russian Parliament passed [JURIST report] a series of anti-terrorism laws that severely curtail certain religious activities and create fines for those who refuse to allow law enforcement officials to read private messages.
[JURIST] The Center for Biological Diversity [official website] filed suit [complaint, PDF] on Wednesday targeting the construction of the US-Mexico border wall proposed by US President Donald Trump [official profile]. The group argues that the wall is in violation of environmental laws and urges federal agencies to conduct in-depth investigations into the environmental implications of the wall. The Centers executive director, Kieran Suckling [professional profile] expressed concern [press release] that the wall would divide and destroy the incredible communities and wild landscapes along the border, including peoples homes, endangered species such as jaguars and Mexican gray wolves, and protected federal lands. The Center said its ultimate goal is to require the Trump administration to undertake a comprehensive review of the social, economic and environmental costs of the border wall.

The executive order [text] signed by Trump in January, titled Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements, directed the construction of a wall along the US-Mexican border and to increase the number of enforcement officials to remove undocumented immigrants. This order was one of the first [JURIST report] in the Trump Administrations efforts to fulfill his controversial immigration policy. Significant concerns have been expressed concerning the construction of the wall on financial, environmental, and human rights grounds. This lawsuit is largely a response to such concerns. In February US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [official website] Secretary John Kelly [official profile] issued a memorandum [JURIST report] ordering the immediate identification and allocation of sources of available funding for the construction of the border wall. In March, a front-runner for the 2018 Mexico Presidential election, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador [official website], filed a complaint [JURIST report] with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights [official website] against the proposed border wall.
[JURIST] Over two dozen US insurance companies associated with Travelers Companies [corporate website] initiated a lawsuit on Wednesday against ten defendants over the September 11 terrorist attacks, including companies affiliated with Osama bin Ladens family, Saudi banks and several charities. The companies filed suit [Reuters report] in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York [official website] and alleges that the defendants aided and abetted the attacks through activities in support of al Qaeda. The defendants include National Commercial Bank, Al Rajhi Bank, the Mohamed Binladin Company and the Muslim World League [organization websites]. This is the latest in a series of lawsuits filed after Congress overrode former President Obamas veto, in order to remove Saudi Arabias immunity from US citizens lawsuits.

Last month more than 850 family members of victims of the 9/11 attacks filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This legal challenge only became available after congress passed the Justice Against State Sponsors of Terrorism Act [materials], which provided the legal recourse to sue foreign governments over the 9/11 attacks. After the bill passed in both chambers of congress it was vetoed [JURIST report] by President Barack Obama in September, who argued that the bill would open US diplomats and servicemen to suit abroad. Congress overrode the presidential veto [JURIST report] in a bipartisan effort. The law was quickly condemned by Saudi Arabia [JURIST report].
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad [official website] on Thursday signed legislation [text, PDF] expanding gun rights in the state. House File 517 gives gun owners the ability [The Hill report] to defend themselves in public and preventing local governments from implementing their own rules. The law expands [NRA report] Iowas stand your ground rules as well as individuals with concealed-carry permits to have firearms in the capitol building. The bill also eliminates the ability of the governor or other state officials from prohibiting possession of weapons in emergency situations. The bill also legalizes short-barreled shotguns and rifles as well raising the burden of proof in order for someone to be convicted of a gun-related crime.

Gun ownership and carry rights have become an increasingly prevalent issue. In March North Dakota Governor Burgum signed a constitutional carry handgun bill [JURIST report] into law. Earlier that week, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed into law [JURIST report] a bill allowing individuals over the age of 21 to get enhanced concealed carry permits which will allow them to carry concealed weapons at public colleges, airports, polling places, sporting events, some state offices and the state capitol. Last month, the New Hampshire House of Representatives approved a bill that would repeal the law [JURIST report] prohibiting state citizens from carrying concealed firearms without a permit. Earlier in February the US House of Representatives voted to repeal [text, PDF] an Obama-era gun regulation that required mental health information to be shared with the national gun background check system. In December Ohio Governor John Kasich signed Senate Bill 199 [JURIST report], making it legal to carry concealed weapons at daycare facilities and onto college campuses. Last September the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit restored [JURIST report] gun ownership rights of individuals convicted of minor crimes. Earlier that month the New Jersey Second Amendment Society filed [JURIST report] a lawsuit against the states Attorney General in New Jerseys district court alleging the states stun gun ban is unconstitutional.
The Tokyo High Court [official website] on Thursday upheld a lower court obscenity decision against a female artist over distribution of 3-D printed models of vaginas. Megumi Igarashi [3DPrint materials] is an artist who was found guilty [Japan Times report] of distributing the models. The lower court had held that Igarushi violated article 175 of the Japanese Penal Code [materials] because the modes realistically reproduce the shape (of female genitalia) and stimulate the viewers sexual desire. The appeals court also upheld a $3,700 fine.

The decision has been seen as an attempt by Japan to control the values of the Japanese culture by prohibiting distribution of what it considers illicit materials detrimental to the society. Japan is not the only country that recently has attempted to reign in citizens to conform from what they believe are societal norms. Another country in Asia, Singapore, convicted [JURIST report] a teen of wounding religious feelings after he pleaded guilty to posting comments on the Internet criticizing Christianity and Islam in September. In 2015 India ordered more than 800 pornographic websites to be shut down in attempt to protect the decency of the country. However this attempt has run counter to the courts decision in the country that individuals should have the right to view the images.
Malaysias Sepang court [official website, in Malay] on Thursday postponed until May proceedings against two women accused of killing Kim Jong Nam [Telegraph profile].The hearing [Bangkok Post report] was scheduled by request of the prosecutor to determine if the women would be tried jointly and in an attempt to move the case to a higher court. The court decided to postpone proceedings until May 30 to give time to collect more documents. If convicted, the women could face face death sentences. The women have maintained their innocence, alleging that they believed they were part of a game show prank, reportedly having engaged in these said pranks days leading up to the assassination.

The United States and South Korean intelligence officials have concluded that the assassination was organized by North Korean agents. In March a UN expert for Human Rights called for an investigation [JURIST report] into the death of Kim Jong Nam over the strange circumstances of the assassination. North Korea is well known for its history of human rights violations. North Korea has been in the constant eye of the International Community, in February there was wide condemnation [JURIST report] of a North Korea missile test. In July the Obama administration imposed sanctions [JURIST report] on many North Korean officials, placing them on a black list of human rights abusers.
[JURIST] Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov [Forbes backgrounder] filed a slander lawsuit Wednesday against Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny [BBC backgrounder] in Moscows Lyublinksy district court, according to court documents and the court press secretary. In a statement [TASS report], court service secretary said, Usmanovs slander lawsuit against Navalny has been indeed filed with the Lyublinsky court. The court will decide on initiating the proceedings within 5 days. The lawsuit stems from Navalny and his non-profit organization, the Anti-Corruption Foundation [official website], accusing Usmanov of bribing the Russian prime minister through the SotsGosProyekt Foundation.

Navalny has been a focal point of Russias legal system and news as he is one of the leading voices [Financial Times report] against Putins regime. In March Navalny was arrested [JURIST report] at a demonstration protesting the alleged corruption of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. In February he was convicted and sentenced [JURIST report] for embezzlement. That same month, the European Court of Human Rights ordered [JURIST report] Russia to pay more than 63,000 for arresting Navalny multiple times between March 2012 and February 2014. In May a Moscow court declined [JURIST report] authorities request to convert Navalnys suspended sentence into a prison term. He had been convicted of fraud and sentenced to three-and-a-half-years suspended sentence. In 2015 Navalny was handed [JURIST report] a 15-day prison sentence for distributing leaflets attempting to publicize an anti-crisis demonstration.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 14

By Emil Ilgar  Trend:



Iran says the US is not in a position to blacklist a top Iranian official and organization due to Washingtons "bad reputation" regarding internal and external human rights issues.



Iranian Foreign Ministrys Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said Apr.14 that baseless accusation against a foreign judiciary official is abuse of international laws, IRNA reported.



The United States on Apr.13 sanctioned Sohrab Soleimani, the brother of the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, for his involvement in the cases of abuse in Iranian prisons.



Soleimani is the "supervisor of the office of the deputy for security and law enforcement of the state prisons organization," the U.S. Treasury Department said.



He is also the former director general of the Tehran Prisons Organization, which was also sanctioned on Thursday, Reuters reported.



Soleimani's brother Qasem Soleimani leads Iran's Quds Force, the elite special forces arm of the Revolutionary Guards. Qasem Soleimani had previously been sanctioned, the White House said.



"The sanctions against human rights abusers in Iran's prisons come at a time when Iran continues to unjustly detain ... various foreigners, including the U.S. citizens," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said at a press briefing.



The EU also earlier on April 11 announced that it had prolonged until April 13, 2018 its travel ban and asset freeze on 82 Iranian individuals and one entity as well as a ban on the blocs exports of certain

equipment to Iran.



Qasemi has criticized the recent EU decision on extending sanctions against Tehran over human rights violations.



The EU has turned a blind eye on the reality of citizen rights in Iran, IRNA quoted Qasemi as saying Apr. 12.
Photos Credited to: Rancho Santana

Finding Killer Views and Authentic Experiences at Rancho Santana, Nicaragua

Nicaragua has finally made it's way into the spotlight, surpassing the country's more popular neighbor, Costa Rica. No surprise, as CN Traveller rated the country among its top destinationst to watch just a few years ago. And with everyone on the constant hunt for the next "undiscovered" place, Nicaragua's uncharted territory is all the more reason to discover it before everyone else does.

So what is it exactly that has made Nicaragua the talk of travel chatter lately? Think: lush rain forests, tropical islands, active volcanoes, unexplored jungles, top of the line surfing, colonial architecture and hospitable people. With more and more travelers getting wind of this striking country, Nicaragua has positioned itself as the newest hot spot for whirlwind adventures, yoga retreats and plenty of surfing. With all the recent hype, the countrys high-end boutique hotels have also found themselves scurrying to attend to an overwhelming amount of demands for fitness, wellness and yoga retreats of all kinds.

Social media yoga guru YogaGirl (CEO and owner of Island Yoga in Aruba, Rachel Brathen) have been spotted hosting her own retreats at Aqua Wellness Resort; other yoga "influencers" such as Kino MagGregor and Kerri Verna have been seen scouting the high-end boutique hotel at Rancho Santana, Nicaragua. Susanna Chase, head of office and tourism at Rancho Santana and CEO of playa.play by Papaya Wellness (A week-long fitness retreat program hosted in Nicaragua) explains, We have found a new market trend in tourism where we are starting to see that more and more travelers are wanting authentic experiences incorporated in their trips. Our team is constantly looking for ways to strike a balance between luxury and authenticity.

Rancho Santana has been around since 1998, starting off as a simple idea where people could buy and build their second beachside homes. Fast forward nine years later and the place has transformed into a residential and resort community. Rancho Santana boasts dozens of privately owned and rentable houses as well as a recently built exclusive high-end boutique hotel. The Inn at Rancho Santana was established to attract luxury travelers seeking affordable getaways with all the high-end comforts while still having an authentic Nicaraguan experience.

While known for its world-class surf breaks, such as Playa Santana and Playa Popoyo, this unique resort community provides visitors with ability to incorporate a variety of activities such as surf lessons, swimming, massages, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, sand boarding, mountain biking, and much more. This 2,700 acre property along with its five privately owned beaches, sits perfectly cliff side on the picturesque corner of Nicaragua's Pacific coast. There are a plethora of accommodation options with rooms at The Inn starting at USD $300 per night, or go all out and rent an entire home (starting at USD $450.00 a night).

So, if experiencing majestic sunsets, beautiful stretches of beaches, active volcanoes, bounties of beautiful nature, and completely unwinding and immersing yourself in a different culture sounds like a perfect summer getaway; then get to Nicaragua before everyone else discovers it. With places such as Rancho Santana encompassing both allure and unparalleled service, you'll be dosed with all things luxury...but just remote enough that you can completely unplug from the rest of the world.
(Details added, first version published on 14:40)

Tehran, Iran, April 14



By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:



Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has submitted his name for candidacy in this year's presidential election.



Rouhani has arrived at the Interior Ministry where candidates enroll, Trend correspondent reported April 14.

Irans presidential election is going to be held on May 19.

Rouhanis major rivals seems be former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and an influential conservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi.

Ahmadinejad joint to elections race despite Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis advice for him to avoid registration in elections.

Beside Ahmadinejad, moderate Rouhani, backed by a group of reformists will have to fight off the challenge from Ebrahim Raisi.

A large number of conservatives appear to throw their full support behind Raisi who currently holds the position of the custodian of a wealthy charity and the organization in charge of the holiest Shia shrine of Iran based in the city of Mashhad.
Tehran, Iran, April 14



By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:



Influential Iranian cleric Ebrahim Raisi, supported by the majority of Iranian conservatives, registered as nominee for upcoming presidential election Apr.14, an hour after President Hassan Rouhani submitted his name for candidacy.



Raisi has arrived at the Interior Ministry where candidates pass the registration process, Trend correspondent reported April 14.



Raisi is an influential conservative cleric who in the meantime is the custodian of a wealthy charity and the organization in charge of the countrys holiest shrine of Iran based in the city of Mashhad.



Irans presidential election is going to be held on May 19.



Current president Hassan Rouhanis another major rival may be former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who joined to elections race despite Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis advice for him to avoid registration in elections.



Some political experts believe that Ahmadinejad would be disqualified by Guardian Council because he avoided abiding by Khamenei.
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, AP reported.

Government spokesman Seydou Gueye said Thursday that several others were wounded in the fire Wednesday in Medina Gounass village.

President Macky Sall offered condolences to victims' families. He said the interior ministry would visit the site 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.
South Korean officials point to the screen to show seismic waves from North Korea at the Korea Meteorological Administration center on Jan. 6, 2016, in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo : Getty Images)

China issued a blunt warning to North Korea on Wednesday, telling its longtime ally not to conduct nuclear weapons or missile tests or potentially face military action from the U.S.



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"Not only [is] Washington brimming with confidence and arrogance following the missile attacks on Syria, but Trump is also willing to be regarded as a man who honors his promises," said the People's Daily, the official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party.



North Korea should halt any plans for nuclear and missile tests "for its own security," the paper said, adding that the United States is not planning to "co-exist" with a nuclear-armed Pyongyang.



North Korean state media cautioned on Tuesday of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of aggression, as a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier group steamed toward the Korean Peninsula--a force U.S. President Trump described as an "armada."



Trump, who has pressured China to do more to rein in its belligerent neighbor, said in a tweet that North Korea was "looking for trouble" and that the U.S. will "solve the problem" with or without help from Beijing.



"Pyongyang should avoid making mistakes at this time," the People's Daily said.



The Korean Peninsula has never been so close to a "military clash" since North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, according to an editorial from the Global Times, another paper operated by the Communist Party.



"China will not remain indifferent to Pyongyang's aggravating violation of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC)," the paper said.



China has signed on to United Nations sanctions against North Korea but has repeatedly called for a return to dialogue to defuse tensions in the region.



A military parade is expected in Pyongyang on Saturday to commemorate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il-Sung, North Korea's founding father and the grandfather of its current ruler, Kim Jong-Il. North Korea often marks important anniversaries with tests of its nuclear or missile capabilities.



American officials have previously stressed that tougher sanctions are the most likely course for the U.S. to take against North Korea's nuclear ambitions, although Washington has said military options are also on the table.


South Korea retrieves a piece of the nuclear missile launched by North Korea. (Photo : Getty Images)

China has deployed troops to the North Korean border after news circulated that a new missile test might commence commemorating the founding of Kim Jong-un's regime.



Both the U.S. and China are protesting the actions of Pyongyang.



The state-run newspaper Global Times released a commentary that read, "North Korea should not misjudge the situation at this crucial moment; it should not venture to take more risks by thinking a sixth nuclear test will lead to nothing as did the previous five."



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The nationalist publication added, "If it does so, responses from both Beijing and Washington might be unprecedented, even--becoming a turning point."



Beijing also ordered the stoppage of coal exports to North Korea and ships going to Chinese ports were ordered to turn back. The ban on coal exports was in accordance with U.N. sanctions.



North Korea is unfazed with U.S. military presence in South Korea. According to nationalist newspaper Rodong Sinmun, "Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight."



The publication wrote that Pyongyang is "focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theater but also on the U.S. mainland."



The North Korean foreign ministry said that the war that might erupt and the atrocities will be solely on the account of the U.S.



"If the U.S. dares opt for a military action, crying out for 'preemptive attack,' the DPRK is ready to react. We will hold the U.S. wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions," said the foreign ministry.



Analysts said that China will still pursue good relations with North Korea if the country backs down from nuclear testing.



Sim Tack, a North Korea expert at a geopolitical analysis firm, Stratfor, said that China will make sure that Pyongyang will "serve China's interests while it stops acting as a massive bullseye to the U.S."



China is also doing its best to prevent the U.S. from striking North Korea, according to the expert.



"The overt presence of Chinese forces would dissuade the U.S. from going into that territory because they would run the risk of inviting that larger conflict themselves," Tack said.


BROKEN BOW  Broken Bow renters will have a chance to transition to homeowners.

Tuesday, the Broken Bow City Council approved participating in a down payment assistance program offered by Central Nebraska Economic Development Inc. Chelsea Luthy of CNED said the program aims to find reliably paying renters who are looking to become homeowners but have struggled to set aside a 20 percent down payment.

Each recipient will receive grant help with the down payment. The home owners must live in the home for 15 years, Luthy said, or repay the down payment.

CNED is offering $250,000 in grants to help 10 candidates across Nebraska, including Broken Bow, Ainsworth, Valentine, Stuart, ONeill and Burwell.

Some income restrictions apply. Interested parties may speak to city council members or contact CNED.

In other news, the council approved contracts for asbestos abatement and subsequent air-quality checks required as part of the ongoing renovation project at the Broken Bow Public Library. Tests confirmed the presence of asbestos in several locations in the existing structure at 626 S. D St. Asbestos was located in the ceiling coating and window caulking.

Asbestos is the second-most regulated material behind uranium in the United States, Councilman Chris Myers said.

Environmental Direct Inc. of Grand Island received the contract for the abatement, and B2 Environmental Inc. of Omaha will conduct quality checks. Myers of Myers Construction confirmed that the $16,400 abatement and $450 air checks were both reasonable bids because of the demanding procedures asbestos requires.

Library Director Joan Birnie said in an interview after the meeting that she is confident the renovation of the library will remain on schedule. The library construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Also at the meeting, as the city proceeds with proposals for a trail system, Custer County Attorney Jason White advises people to attend planning meetings. He said some residents have voiced concerns about increased foot traffic near private property.

Councilman Neal Neff emphasized that the trailway is still in planning stages, and he encouraged community input as the project develops.

The goal of the trail system is to provide a healthy and safe jogging, walking and biking trail within the city.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for noon April 25 at the Municipal Building.
KEARNEY  The stigma about mental health and suicide may be changing if a packed parking lot and more than 1,200 in attendance at the launch party at the Rae of Hope Foundation Thursday evening are a sign.

Row upon row of cars filled the parking lot at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.

We are thankful for our community. Weve had really great support so far. More than 100 people showed up just to help us set up, said Todd Schirmer, founder of the McKenna Rae of Hope Foundation and friend of Scott and Rhonda Johnson.

The foundation was formed after the Johnsons lost their daughter McKenna to suicide in January. Its mission is to prevent teen suicide by fostering awareness, resilience and social change.

The goal of the foundation is to change the stigma of mental illness and by the looks of this place, its happening, Schirmer said.

The event was bittersweet. Its the first time so many of us have been together since McKennas funeral. Its been a bittersweet day, but its been amazing to see so much support, he said as he was greeted by several community members wearing the foundations shirts.

A man in a shirt with a thumbprint and the statement, Youre irreplaceable, talk to me, reflected the goals of the foundation. Food trucks, face painting, bounce houses and a concert by the band The Innocence entertained the crowd.

The foundation also honored its first five recipients of $1,000 scholarships to students throughout the state who modeled the mission to Be Kind and high moral excellence.

Todd Gottula, a friend of the Johnsons and founding member of the foundation, awarded the scholarships to Sage Bartow of Paxton Consolidated Schools, Alec Ziebarth of Wilcox-Hildreth Public School, Bryson Koll of McCook High School, Madeleine Leblanc of Lincoln Southwest High School and Detrick Wilkerson of Kearney High School.

The foundation raised about $34,000 for its mission.

We have some big plans in the works, but we wont know what we can put into action until we know what weve raised, Schirmer said.

Part of the mission for the foundation is to increase access to and awareness of mental health resources and services by enhancing opportunities, reducing financial burdens and removing stigma among young adults.

@HeatherRig
All New Jackie Chan Adventures (Photo : William Masters/YouTube)

Animation is one of the known products of Japanese cinema. However, Chinese movie makers are catching up, including martial arts actor Jackie Chan who has ventured into an animation project.



On July 13, a Chinese animation film, Dahufa, would premiere. The producer labeled the movie PG-13, which suggested parental guidance. China does not have a rating system, although the censor could order cuts on films or ban a movie.



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Violent Scenes



According to Dahufas trailer, the upcoming movie has some violent fight scenes and bloody aesthetics. Busifan, the director of the movie, said the film hopes to discuss complex human nature through a simple form, China Plus reported.



He explained that Dahufa was a job position in the Yiwei States imperial court. In the movie, the Dahufa is from a family which took the responsibility to protect for generations the country. Dahufa went to Peanut, a town, to look for a missing prince. However, he got involved in a malicious plot that involved the town people.



All New Jackie Chan Adventures



On Thursday, Jackie Chan announced his latest animation project, All New Jackie Chan Adventures. It is a 104-episode 3D TV series focused on Chinese culture and values, Animation Magazine reported.



The series, unveiled by Jackie Chan at the Rosewood Hotel in Beijing, was produced at the cost of $6 million by Zhejiang Talent Television & Film Co., Khorgas JJ Culture Media and VJ Animation Studio. The story would revolve around a team of heroes who are the guardians of dreamlands against threats coming from monsters who cause nightmares.



Kyana Poppy Downs, a child actor, is cast as the partner and sidekick of the series main character. So far three satellite kids channels and 200 terrestrial channels, including Hunnan TV Childrens Channel, JiajiaKT, Toonmax and Youman, have agreed to air the series.


In this July 27, 2013, file photo, North Korean soldiers turn and look towards leader Kim Jong Un as they carry packs marked with the nuclear symbol at a parade in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea's vice foreign minister Han Song Ryol said in an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, April 14, 2017: "We've 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. pre-emptive strike." (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)
U.S. stealth fighters and F-22 jets fly over North Korea. (Photo : Getty Images)

North Korea is seen to launch its sixth nuclear missile this weekend, a move that is threatening the China-North Korea alliance.



Beijing tried to be the peacekeeper between the U.S. and North Korea and asked the White House and Kim Jong-un to engage in a peaceful negotiation and avoid military conflict.



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China's foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Yi said, "Military force cannot resolve the issue. Amid challenge, there is an opportunity. Amid tensions, we will also find a kind of opportunity to return to talks."



China has also asked North Korea to stop engaging in the use of nuclear weapons because these have been banned by the United Nations.



However, experts believe that the alliance between China and other Asian nations is important. These nations which are supported by the U.S. will outweigh the current ties with North Korea.



According to Arthur Dong, professor at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business, "China from a geopolitical point of view as well as geostrategic point of view see North Korea as sort of a buffer zone from the potential encroachment, in a sense, surrounding China by powers that are all aligned with the United States."



"That ring fence that's sort of been built in the post-World War II period with American allies, starting with South Korea, then on Japan, then on to Taiwan and certainly places like Okinawa and the Philippines," he added.



"China is looking at this as potentially a military threat, and thus having a need to continue supporting its allies no matter how unsavory those allies are with the North Korean regime," Dong said.



On the other hand, China also wants to maintain a firm grip on North Korea. China comprises 83 percent of North Korean exports.



"China wants to reclaim its status as sort of the predominant power in east Asia, and in order to create that sort of perception they have to stand up for any ally in the region," Dong said.


Dalai Lama leaving Tawang after a four-day visit. (Photo : Getty Images)

On Wednesday, China restated that the recent trip of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh will bear a damaging impact on China-India relations. China also accused India of breaking its commitment on the Tibet issue.



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The Chinese Foreign Ministry said as an answer to a question that Beijing would conduct further action in defending its territorial sovereignty.



The Chinese government claims Arunachal Pradesh to be a part of its territory. Viewing the Dalai Lama as an exile, China is strictly against the Tibetan spiritual leaders visit to the region.



Lu Kang, a foreign ministry spokesperson, gave a reaction to the statements given by the Dalai Lama and Pema Khandu, the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh.



In an interview, Khandu said that the Arunachal Pradesh does not share its border with China but with Tibet.



According to analysts, the chief ministers statement was an infringement of One China, a principle that defines the statehood of China.



The provocative statements of the Dalai Lama exceeded the scope of religious activities, Lu said.



What India has done is violated the solemn commitment on the Tibet-related issues, and it also has a negative impact on proper settlement of territorial disputes between the two sides through negotiations, he added.



According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the boundary question [and] the Tibet-related questions bear on the political foundation of China-India relationship.



Lu said that the ministry has come to an important accord on settling the boundary dispute by conducting negotiations and consultations.



We also hope that the Indian side bears in mind the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples and safeguard the political foundation of the bilateral relationship and not take any provocative action, the foreign ministry spokesman added.



China had repeatedly warned India not to interfere with Tibet issues. The Dalai Lamas visit to Arunachal Pradesh, along with the comments given by the regions chief minister, has put China-India relations at the edge.


Do Not Intervene in the Case of Detained Activist, China Warns

Detained Activist Lee Ming-che (Photo : Getty Images)

On Wednesday, China warned outside groups not to seek interventions in the case of the detained activist. Such interventions would make the situation more complicated and would further damage China-Taiwan relations.



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Lee Ming-che, a Taiwanese activist, has been detained since March 19 for allegedly endangering Chinas national security.



According to Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman An Fengshan, China had forwarded the letters from Lee to his wife and his parents.



Lees wife, Lee Ching-yu, was banned from China on Monday. She sought to meet and rescue her husband but failed as her travel permit was canceled by China.



China asserts Taiwan as its territory and does not honor Taiwanese passports. Visitors from Taiwan must first obtain a Taiwan Compatriots Pass, a Beijing-issued document, prior entering the mainland.



In June, Beijing has severed its limited contacts with the Taiwanese government. But according to An, China had appointed a third party in Taiwan to relate the relevant situation and pass the letters to Lees family.



Lees wife said that he suffers from hypertension and that she has tried to ship his medications.



At a biweekly news conference, An said that Lees legal rights are protected by the government, without giving further details on the case.



An told reporters that interference from outside groups 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 added.



The TAO spokesperson also warned against attempts by the Taiwan authorities to use the incident to attack the mainland which can only make the current, already extremely grim cross-strait relationship even worse.



Taiwans Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council head Chang Hsiao-yueh said at a press conference on Tuesday that Chinas decision to withhold 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, said Chang.



China insists Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to endorse the One China policy before it will reinstate contacts. The two parted in the midst of the 1949 civil war.



The case of the detained activist continues to strain the Taiwan-mainland relations.


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There is a growing body of evidence that hospital mergers lead to higher prices for consumers, employers, insurance and the government. It is imperative to educate patients and lawmakers as to how the consolidation of hospitals and medical practices raise costs, decrease access, eliminate jobs and, ultimately, reduce care quality as a result. Lawmakers should focus on this first pillar of cost control as they go back to the drawing board.

In 2010, there were 66 hospital mergers in this country. Since the Affordable Care Act went into effect, the rate of hospital consolidation has increased by 70 percent. By creating incentives for physicians and health providers to coordinate under accountable care organizations (ACOs), the ACA hindered the ability of regulators to block hospital mergers while incentivizing hospital consolidation.

In addition, there has been a dramatic increase in hospitals gobbling up independent providers and becoming powerful regional monopolies. According to a 2012 study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the magnitude of price increases when hospitals merge in concentrated markets is typically quite large, most exceeding 20 percent. Forbes Avvik Roy, gave an excellent presentation on this particular subject in 2012. You have to get at the errors in public policies which drive the hospitals to merge. He concluded that government must do more to fight consolidation among hospitals. He is right.

For years, the concern that mergers drove up prices was largely anecdotal. A recent paper authored by Northwesterns Leemore Dafny, Columbias Kate Ho, and Harvards Robin Lee provides some definitive proof that when hospitals consolidate, prices increase substantially. The effect is made worse directly in proportion to proximity of the merging hospitals. If you are doing it because you think in the long run it will serve your community well, you should think twice, Dafny said. As of right now, cross-market mergers arent scrutinized at the state or federal level. This must change. A statement issued by the American Hospital Association (AHA) in response to Dafnys paper said mergers provide patients with access to care and they are not a meaningful predictor of price change.

A study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, conducted by Zack Cooper of Yale University, Stuart Craig of the University of Pennsylvania, Martin Gaynor of Carnegie Mellon and John Van Reenen of the London School of Economics, sheds light on the real cost of reduced competition among hospitals: hospital prices are 15.3 % higher when a hospital had no competition compared in markets with four or more hospitals, amounting to a cost difference of up to $2000 per admission. Hospital prices are 6.4% higher in markets with two hospitals and those with three are 4.8 % more expensive when compared to markets with four hospitals.

The case for hospital consolidation has been supported by the American Hospital Association, the leading industry trade group, which spent

$15 million on lobbying in 2015 (a decrease from $20 million in 2014). Consolidation allows hospital conglomerates to control vast market shares, which has translated into political clout while allowing more leverage in negotiations with private insurers.

Whats been so interesting for me is to see how aggressive the American Hospital Association has been in coming after me, says Cooper, who claims the American Hospital Association has funded a couple of critical reports about his paper.

I have never seen the evidence that consolidation improves quality in the health care space. I have never seen a study that comes out and says that consolidation makes things better, says Cooper. Neither have I; consolidation does not improve quality. Cooper, like Mr. Roy, suggests rigorous antitrust legislation and increasing competition among hospitals as possible solutions.

Harrison Medical Center is the hospital in which I was born and had expanded into two campuses before being acquired by CHI Franciscan Health two years ago. CHI purchased numerous small medical practices, the last independent orthopedic group, and most recently, merged with the largest multispecialty physician group in the county, the Doctors Clinic.

Prior to these mergers, 65% of physicians in Kitsap County, where I live, were independent. That number has plummeted to a dismal 27%. Both hospitals are currently owned and operated by CHI Franciscan and now they want to merge into one structure for an ultra monopoly. Every cardiologist, oncologist, pulmonologist, urologist and vascular and orthopedic surgeon in my county are employed or under contract with CHI Franciscan Health.

In the last two years, Kitsap County has lost consumer choice, employer choice, physician choice, insurance choice and access for health care services. Physician groups merging with CHI Franciscan are forbidden from using the local ambulatory surgery center (ASC) for outpatient procedures. The hospital insists on exclusive use of their Hospital Outpatient Department (HOPDs) instead. It is a well-known fact costs at HOPDs are substantially higher when compared to identical procedures done at ASCs. According to FAIR Health, the cost difference (zip code specific) between the two locations is striking:

Colonoscopy:

ASC  $1250 ($500 out of pocket)

HOPD: $4250 ($1000 out of pocket)

Echocardiogram:

ASC $500 ($200 out of pocket)

HOPD: $4250 ($1250 out of pocket)

Arthroscopy of Knee:

ASC  $3600 ($1070 out of pocket)

HOPD: $13,000 ($3900 out of pocket)

Hernia Repair:

ASC  $2500 ($750 out of pocket)

HOPD: $19,000 ($5700 out of pocket)

The above estimates do not include the physician bill or charges for equipment.

In 2009, President Obama spoke in Grand Junction, Colorado to highlight a locality where (to quote Tom Brokaw) health care works. Their unique model focused on provider-insurer partnerships to reduce Medicare costs and was lauded by policy makers and media outlets as the epitome of efficiency in health care but, the devil is always in the details. The 50,000 residents of Grand Junction are served by a single hospital, much like Kitsap County, Washington soon. It turns out Grand Junction is one of the most expensive healthcare markets in the country. The lack of local competition helped drive Medicare costs down  Grand Junction had the third-lowest Medicare spending per beneficiary in 2011. However, the monopolistic conditions drove private prices way up  the city has the ninth-highest inpatient prices in the country.

The more government reduces payments to physicians, the more hospital consolidation is encouraged to decrease cost and leverage market forces. This drives prices up for patients with private insurance. Higher prices in less competitive markets amounts to higher premiums passed on to employers and individuals who see bigger bills under their high-deductible health plans. Cities with higher premiums on the Affordable Care Acts insurance exchanges tend to be those cities with high priced hospitals. Increased concentration in health care victimizes consumers, as hospitals leverage their market position and drive up prices.

Maybe it is time to borrow a page from the Justice Department playbook and scrutinize hospital consolidations more closely, blocking them if necessary for the greater good. Recently, two federal judges blocked separate health insurance company merger attempts, Aetna-Humana and Cigna-Anthem. The Justice Department opposed both because the competition among these insurers that has pushed them to provide lower premiums, higher quality care and better benefits would be eliminated. Opposing creation of monopolies in healthcare is something both liberals and conservatives alike should hypothetically oppose. We have 3.4 trillion reasons to sit up and pay attention.

Niran S. Al-Agba is a pediatrician who blogs at MommyDoc. This article originally appeared in the Health Care Blog.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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Should newspapers sell advertising space to those who propagate misleading or demonstrably false information about scientific issues? Is the papers desire to earn a little extra cash for depleted print coffers, as the New York Times public editor put it, a good enough justification for doing so?

These are questions raised by the recent decisions by the Times and the Washington Post to publish in their print editions full-page, paid advertisements filled with misleading statements about climate change.

The papers published advertisements paid for by the Samsung Chemical Coating Co., titled A New Theory for the Origin and Evolution of the Universe (the Post on Feb. 28) and When Global Warming Ends, about the year 2060, The Ice Age will Begin (the Times on March 7.)

These two advertisements present as fact misleading statements that directly contradict scientific consensus.

For example, the ads state that There is no relationship between [the] amount of carbon dioxide emission and the global warming (the Times) and A tight regulation of carbon dioxide emissions is useless to prevent warming (the Post).



A screenshot of the ad in the New York Times on March 7.

But scientific research over the last several decades has generated overwhelming evidence that carbon dioxide levels are linked to warming global temperatures and are increasing due to human activity. Furthermore, lowering carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas production would slow global warming and other forms of climate change.

How are advertisements about science judged to be fit for publication? One of us wrote to the Times to question their decision to publish the ad. The response is illuminating. Steph Jespersen, the director of the Times advertising acceptability department, referenced the First Amendment as justification for publication of opinion advertisements, or advocacy advertising, including advertisements commenting on controversial issues.

Yet, Jespersen states that there are limits to what the Times will publish: We expect opinion advertisers to avoid inaccurate or misleading statements of purported fact. He also states that its likely that the March 7 ad included assertions that are subject to debate.

We would argue that the claims in the advertisement are not subject to debate in any meaningful way. Rather, the claims defy the current scientific consensus, and publishing them misleads the reader.

The term subject to debate can be applied in a narrow sense (for example, a single persons dissension constitutes a debate) or in a broad sense (when groups of well-informed people have different opinions and the jury is still out). This dual meaning is pernicious for discussions of science. If subject to debate is interpreted to mean that scientists have not reached a consensus opinion, it implies profound uncertainty  and confidence in those scientific findings is reduced.

Scientific research is a laborious process where ideas and experiments to test them are developed, conducted and evaluated by multiple people, often over decades. When new data emerge, scientists revisit their fields established conclusions to ensure that they still hold up, and when they do not, they revise their theories. As data accumulate to support a conclusion, the scientific community moves toward agreement about that conclusion, known as scientific consensus. The more data underlying a conclusion, the stronger the consensus.

Unfortunately, scientists shared reluctance to call something certain is routinely seized upon and exploited to confuse the public about well-established and well-tested scientific ideas. In the case of the established link between atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and climate change, we must now focus on mitigation and adaptation  and not on a debate that has already been laid to rest.

The relationship between emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, and global temperatures has been demonstrated by numerous studies and is thus agreed upon by an overwhelming majority of climate scientists (97 percent), representing remarkable scientific consensus. (As a comparison, imagine having a serious disease for which 97 percent of doctors agreed on the treatment; would you choose a treatment backed by the other 3 percent?)

The advertisements in the Post and the Times are misleading and deny scientific evidence. Propagating false information about climate change may affect peoples health and well-being; doubt about human causes of climate change may slow down our efforts to adapt to and mitigate its effects, which include the spread of infectious diseases, extreme weather events and changes in agricultural production.

Given the potential impact of publishing such an advertisement, we are particularly dismayed by the Times public editors comment that If the material is clearly marked and looks like an ad, I say its a little extra cash for depleted print coffers. Is the Times willing to mislead the public, for a price?

Given that scientific evidence is crucial for nearly every aspect of our daily lives  health care, technology, criminal justice, energy policy  we must deepen public understanding of the scientific process so citizens can be well-informed about pressing issues facing our society. The media have an obligation to provide an accurate context for their readers when publishing statements that purport to be scientific facts.

We suggest that all major media outlets reexamine their guidelines for publishing paid advertisements that make scientific claims. Paid ads must be very clearly labeled as such, and ads should be reviewed by the outlets science editors or by external experts; if the ad contains false or misleading claims, it should be revised or rejected.

Americans across the political spectrum are concerned about the damaging impact of fake news and alternative facts, and require reliable news sources to help us differentiate between facts, opinions and falsehoods. Media outlets must help restore public trust in rigorous science and well-founded scientific debate, to support evidence-based decision-making throughout our society.



Nira Pollock, Pamela Templer, Jagesh V. Shah, and Jenny M. Tam are scientists and members, Massachusetts FACTS Team (Fostering Advocacy and Collaboration Through Science). This article originally appeared in WBURs CommonHealth.

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Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., and opioids account for over 60 percent of those deaths. While opioids are effective pain medications when used in the proper setting, concerns arise when the patients condition lasts longer than three months, and prescribing more medication does not necessarily result in better pain control.

Building a strong doctor-patient rapport can help facilitate conversations with patients about opioid prescriptions and reduce risks that could lead to malpractice suits. The Doctors Company reviewed 1,770 claims that closed between 2007 and 2015 in which patient harm involved medication factors. In 272 of these claims (15 percent), the medications were narcotic analgesics. Sixty-four percent of these claims were in the outpatient setting, including:

physicians offices and hospital clinics (78 percent)

ambulatory and day surgery (10 percent)

emergency room (9 percent)

patients home (3 percent)

The admitting diagnoses for these outpatient narcotic-related claims were pain not otherwise specified (NOS) (24 percent), spine-related pain (22 percent), joint/extremity-related pain (9 percent), mental health issues (6 percent), and drug abuse/dependence (4 percent).

Patient allegations for these claims included improper medication management or treatment (70 percent), wrong dose (9 percent), and wrong medication (3 percent). Final diagnoses in these claims included poisoning by methadone, heroin, and opiates/narcotics NOS (76 percent) and drug dependence (8 percent).

Communication problems are among the patient-contributing factors that lead to injury, appearing in 32 percent of claims. Incomplete or unclear communication can compromise patients ability to understand the doctors instructions and, especially in the case of pain medications, also make them feel as if the doctor doesnt care about their concerns.

These tips can help when dealing with opioid requests and prescriptions:

Dont jump to conclusions that the patient is a drug seeker because the patient is there repeatedly for the same pain complaint. It could be a situation of missed diagnosis. Treat this patient like any other. Take a good history, including a very detailed medication history. Do a thorough physical examination. See if something was missed on previous visits.

Your prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) is a valuable tool, like checking allergies and old records. Use the PDMP to learn about your patients prescription patterns, not just to check for doctor shopping.

ONE doctor and ONE pharmacy should prescribe controlled medication given for three months or more. This is true for dental pain, fractures, fibromyalgia, cancer, anxiety, and ADHD. If you see a patient for the third month of a controlled medication, start a medication agreement if you plan on continuing this therapy.

Opioid withdrawal is uncomfortable but not life-threatening. New patients who present to a new pain specialist should not immediately be given the pain medications they state they need. A pain specialist typically completes thorough research before making medication recommendations, and it could be two weeks before the patient is placed on a regular regimen. You may find it necessary to send a patient home without a pain prescription if that patient has already received one in the past month from a different provider.

When patients say that their medication is not working, ask the patient, How are you taking the medication? Youll be surprised how many patients used 400mg of ibuprofen twice a day, and it was not enough. Taking a detailed medication history and providing patient education about the right dosage, right timing, and side effects is essential to medication safety.

When you hand a patient a prescription for a controlled medication, add a few words to let the patient know that these are serious medications: I will give you a prescription for Norco. Please realize that this is a medication that can be abused. Keep it secure, take it only as prescribed, and do not drive if not fully alert.

Be aware of the level of health literacy of the individual patient, and adjust your language appropriately. Ask patients to repeat back the information to ensure they properly understand.

Communicate the risk of medication theft to patients. Patients who are on a chronic treatment plan should know to watch their medication as closely as they would their money.

Here are some good answers for specific patient questions and situations:

Patient: Can I have something for pain?

Doctor answer: Yes, let me check your medical record for the best choice.

Patient: The medicines dont work.

Doctor answer: Can you please tell me how you take the prescription?

Patient: My prescription was stolen.

Doctor answer: Did you file a police report?

Patient: I have chronic pain.

Doctor answer: For your safety, you need your medications coordinated by one doctor and one pharmacy.

Patient: I received extra pain medications elsewhere.

Doctor answer: Lets do a drug specimen today.

I see you received 20 pills from the emergency department, what happened?

OK, to stay on the same schedule, this month I will write 100 tablets (120 minus 20).

Patient: A case of clear doctor shopping

Doctor answer: I am concerned because your medications can be addicting. I am going to refer you to someone who can help with this.

Patient: A case of need to stop an opioid prescription

Doctor answer: The medication no longer appears to be as beneficial as it once was. As the benefits of the opioids no longer outweigh the risks, we need to discontinue this approach and together find a safer and more effective means of dealing with your pain.

Roneet Lev is director of operations, Scripps Mercy Hospital Emergency Department, San Diego, CA, and a member of SanDiegoSafePrescribing.org.

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Verizon Logo (Photo : YouTube/All tech)

A new organizational structure by Verizon is to be created in order to improve their delivery service. This investment by Verizon will be responsible for the operation of its new technologies such as 4G LTE, 5G and fiber infrastructure.



According to Mobile News Promotion, the new organization structure will focus on three main areas including network and technology, media and telematics, and customer and product operations. With the new areas that are being focused on, Verizon also appointed a few head personnel to lead such areas. Hans Vestberg, former CEO of the multinational telecommunications company Ericsson, will be the Executive Vice President of Network and Technology. Marni Walden and John Stratton will also be Vice Presidents of their respective departments. Walden will head Media and Telematics, while Stratton will head customer and product operations.



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Furthermore, Android Headlines reported that the entry of Verizon in the digital media and telematics business, or in modern wireless and infrastructure, will help cushion the company's impact on the wireless market. The publication cited that the competition in the market is very intense, as competitors such as Sprint and other major carriers launches unlimited plans and options to combat one's offering. It can be recalled that Verizon invested in digital media, including the ownership of AOL and its recent purchase of Yahoo. The report said that this move will help bring in $7 billion in revenue for the carrier.



In conclusion, Verizon is setting up a new organizational structure in order to be more competitive from other carriers. An investment in fiber technology is already paying off for Verizon as its "FIOS" has increased in subscriber and gross revenue after a year. Verizon is expanding, as they are also involved in telematics, business of connected car and fleet management. In fact, Verizon is a major global telematics provider with customers in 30 different countries around the world.


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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Gold has a tendency to quickly fill in a vacuum in the absence of economic and geopolitical leadership, ICBC Standard Bank said in a report.

At certain times, the absence of political leadership and/or direction in other markets can play strongly in favor of gold. Now appears to be such a time, ICBC Standard strategist Tom Kendall said in a note.

Gold is currently benefitting from the U.S. Congress recess, especially being driven by the lack of new information about Republican fiscal and spending plans, Kendall said.

What's more, there are increased tensions around the Korean Peninsula, as well as no clear direction in which the U.S.-Russia foreign policy is heading, especially in regards to the Middle East. These elements have also boosted the yellow metal, Kendall added.

Other factors contributing to the rally include a drop in 10-year yields by 40 basis points in the space of two weeks. Another 20bps lower and rates would be back at September 2016 levels, when gold was trading around $1,325-30, stated Kendall.

U.S. jobs data also disappointed last week, and there was no positive action in U.S. equity markets, according to the note.

Many have asked how sustainable the recent gold rally really is and whether the yellow metal has room to go above the key psychological $1,300 level to trade at $1,330.

Kendall said he believes it is possible.

Comex speculative positioning is currently moderate, the net non-commercial positioning is around half of last years peak of 31 million oz, while ETF inflows appear to have picked up momentum again. So, if the vacuum of leadership on both US economic and global geopolitical issues continues, the answer is yes, he explained.

On Thursday, gold continued to see a boost from safe-haven demand, with June Comex gold settling 0.81% higher at $1,288.50 an ounce.
TAIPEI, April 14 (Reuters) - Taiwan stocks fell on Friday, weighed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) after it reported less-than-expected earnings for the first quarter. As of 0211 GMT, the main TAIEX index fell 0.65 percent to 9,771.26 points, after closing at 9,836.68 points in the previous session.

TSMC, the world's top contract chip maker and a major supplier of Apple Inc , was off 1.6 percent.

The electronics subindex sank 0.5 percent, while the financials subindex lost 0.6 percent.

A bright spot, however, was Largan Precision , maker of camera phone lenses for Apple and other clients, with shares surging nearly 9 percent.

Largan's first-quarter gross margin beat market expectations and the company gave a bullish outlook for April and May, local media reported on Friday.

The Taiwan dollar softened T$0.105 to T$30.430 per U.S. dollar.

(Reporting by Faith Hung; Editing by Randy Fabi)
* Mills should brace for tough new measures - NDRC official

* 'Don't play wait and see' during crackdown - official

* China to keep focus on capacity cuts, not output curbs

By Muyu Xu and David Stanway

BEIJING, April 14 (Reuters) - China's steel mills need to prepare for an even tougher assault on overcapacity this year as the government bids to make "fundamental" progress in reforming the sector, an official from the country's top planning body told an industry meeting.

"Although capacity reduction targets were achieved early last year, the overcapacity problem in China's steel sector has not fundamentally been improved," said Xia Nong, supervisor at the industry department of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Xia described 2017 as a "year of attack" and said the state would make even bigger efforts, warning a gathering of industry officials and executives in Beijing on Thursday that they should plan in advance. Officials at the meeting insisted last year's 65 million tonnes of capacity cuts were already substantial.

"Do not delay, don't play wait and see," Xia said.

The world's biggest steel producing country vowed last year to reduce annual crude steel capacity by 100-150 million tonnes within three to five years.

It aims to close 50 million tonnes this year, and has also vowed by the end of June to completely eliminate low-grade steel furnaces, responsible for as much as 100 million tonnes of illegal substandard production every year. "We don't permit leaving things to chance, and we don't permit lying low during the crackdown on low-grade steel capacity," Xia said.

Environmental group Greenpeace estimated earlier this year that actual capacity in operation increased by 35 million tonnes in 2016, with much of the closure programme focusing on already defunct plants. China's steel output increased 1.2 percent to 808.4 million tonnes in 2016, and Greenpeace said the country needed to consider cutting production rather than capacity in order to rein in the sector.

Luo Tiejun, supervisor of the raw materials department at China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, rejected that notion, saying Beijing was still committed to letting the market decide production levels.

"China will only cut steel capacity and will not set a level for output," he said. "It is wrong to say that China's steel capacity is increasing."

However, the central government has already launched an investigation into steel firms in the city of Tangshan in Hebei province, focusing on mills that have "cut capacity but actually increased output". Tangshan, home to dozens of private steelmakers, produced 88.3 million tonnes of steel in 2016, up 6.8 percent on the year - and more than the whole of the United States. Steel prices rose 76.5 percent in 2016, boosting profit margins and helping mills turn losses into gains, according to data from the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute.

With output up 6 percent in the first two months this year, industry watchers say the price recovery may have encouraged some mills to overproduce.

(Reporting by Muyu Xu and David Stanway; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
PORT LOUIS, April 14 (Reuters) - The weighted average yield on Mauritius' 91-day Treasury bill rose to 2.73 percent at auction on Friday from 2.64 percent at the last sale, the central bank said. The Bank of Mauritius sold all the 2.3 billion rupees worth of the debt it had offered. Complete auction results were as follows: MATURITY 91-DAY 182-DAY 364-DAY WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICE THIS AUCTION 99.324 98.633 97.236 LAST AUCTION 99.346 98.681 97.293 WEIGHTED AVERAGE YIELD (PCT) THIS AUCTION 2.73 2.78 2.85 LAST AUCTION 2.64 2.68 2.79 BIDS ACCEPTED (MLN RUPEES)1,078.8 671.7 549.5

(Reporting by Jean Paul Arouff; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
* Election graphic By Brian Love

PARIS, April 14 (Reuters) - He admires the late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and Venezuelan former president Hugo Chavez, and he has little time for German Chancellor Angela Merkel: Jean-Luc Melenchon, French would-be president, is a true tax-and-spend leftist.

If elected, the 65-year-old leader of the small Left Party says France would spend 100 billion euros of borrowed money on vast housebuilding and renewable energy projects to stimulate economic growth and job-creation.

He would impose a 90-percent supertax on earners of 400,000 euros a year upwards, reject EU rules on deficit reduction and call a "Frexit" referendum to quit the European Union if Merkel and other leaders refuse to radically change course, notably by turning their backs on years of financial austerity.

If French voters pick any of the other three top contenders in a presidential vote that comes to a head on May 7, Melenchon warned a rally on April 12: "You'll be coughing blood".

The rivals are centrist Emmanuel Macron, favourite in polls, Francois Fillon, a right-winger who wants to slash public spending and the public employment workforce, and Marine Le Pen, whose biggest difference with Melenchon is her stand against foreigners.

Like Le Pen, he is a member of the European Parliament, but no fan of the direction the European Union has taken. Poverty and poor economic growth, he says, are a result of laissez-faire economics and an allergy to deficit-spending that he blames on Merkel's Germany.

By spending heavily and hiking public sector wages, he says, the French economy will grow faster, knocking the jobless rate from 10 percent to six percent by end of term in 2022, buoying tax income for the state and social services.

The man who left the Socialist Party after three decades in 2009 to pursue a tougher brand of socialism wants to nationalise key sectors like airports and motorways, create a public banking giant and legalise cannabis.

He wants to devalue the euro to boost trade competitiveness. He promises to veto free-trade pacts, end European Central Bank independence from politicians, quit the International Monetary Fund and pull France out of the NATO military alliance.

The quest for environment-friendly agriculture, industry and alternatives to nuclear and carbon-based power is an opportunity France and Europe must seize, he says; hence the pledge to spend much of his 100 billion euros stimulus on new power projects.

Instead of the free trade agreements he denounces, Melenchon advocates alternative forms of cooperation. His manifesto lauds a Latin American accord under which Chavez sent oil to Cuba and Castro dispatched eye-doctors to treat thousands of Venezuelans blinded by cataracts.

A distrust of traditional media has led him to rely heavily on social media to reach out to voters. He boasts a bigger Youtube following than U.S. President Donald Trump has during the race to the White House.

He uses hologram technology worthy of Star Trek movies to address rallies, usually sporting a hybrid of traditional proletarian jackets, while a virtual-reality Melenchon does the same job at rallies elsewhere.

Born in the Moroccan port city of Tangiers, Melenchon attributes his fiesty character to his Mediterranean roots.

He is naturally more muted about his rise to fourth place in polls, days from the April 23 opening vote. He surged in the same way in 2012 but was knocked out with a less impressive score on voting day.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Election graphic Decision Europe Eikon page cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?navid=72745 Election stories ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting By Brian Love; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
HANOI, April 14 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0406 GMT.

April 14 USD/VND mid-point 22,320 USD/VND interbank 22,670/22,680 USD/VND unofficial 22,670/22,700 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.78/37.00

Interbank offered rates Overnight 4.4-5.1

1 week 4.6-5.2

1 month 4.8-5.0

3 months 4.9-5.2

NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources.

One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co.

For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on .

For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom)
Stuff reports:

Window washers could be stung with $150 spot fines under a new bill which passed its first reading in Parliament on Wednesday. The bill submitted by National MP Jami-Lee Ross, has support from National and Labour. Ross wants windscreen washing at intersections to be made illegal, giving police the power to issue washers with $150 instant fines.

Excellent. Intersection window washers are a form of intimidation. They start washing your car even after you explicitly signal to them you dont want them to, and then as you are stuck at the intersection, you are intimidated into paying them for a service you did not want, out of fear they may damage your car or worse if you do not.

Labours police spokesman Stuart Nash said it was a pragmatic solution to an identified issue. The Green Party opposed the bill and MP Jan Logie said it risked being an attack on the poor.

Of course they are against it.

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A 15-year-old is facing assault charges after stabbing his father at a Springs hotel Thursday night.

Police say the two got in an argument at the High Country Lodge on 3626 W. Colorado Ave. The son pulled out a pocketknife and stabbed his father in the stomach.

The teen ran off before officers arrived. Police have obtained an arrest warrant for second-degree assault.

The father was badly injured but is expected to survive.
Egypt's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid denied Thursday evening recent reports suggesting that Cairo backs maintaining 12-year-old sanctions against Khartoum over Darfur.

Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour asked Cairo on Thursday to explain the position of Egypt's representative on the Darfur Sanctions Committee, after rumours emerged that Egypt had backed in a 7 April meeting of the committee a call for maintaining a UN arms embargo on Darfur as well as other sanctions imposed by UN resolution 1591, including travel bans and asset freezes on parties involved in the conflict in Western Darfur.

"It was appropriate that the Sudanese brothers should have sought such information directly from the Egyptian mission at the United Nations, especially as the liaison between our missions is continuously ongoing," read a statement from Egypt's foreign ministry.

Egypt is currently a non-permanent member of the Security Council.

"The latest meetings of the Darfur Sanctions Committee did not tackle extending sanctions against Sudan as the UN Security Council already supported a decision to extend sanctions for one year in February. Egypt has been very keen that the council adopt a balanced resolution for the benefit of the Sudanese people," Abu Zeid added.

The UN resolution, which has been in place since 2005, also imposes an arms embargo on Darfur and calls on states that supply Sudan with military equipment to take measures to prevent their use in that region of the country.

On Monday, Sudan's foreign ministry said that its decision requiring Egyptian men between 18 and 50 to obtain entry visas to travel to Sudan is aimed at preventing "terrorists" from infiltrating the country.

While Egyptians could previously enter Sudan without a visa under a deal signed between the two countries in 2004, Cairo had previously required Sudanese nationals to obtain visas before entering Egypt.

Sudan's ambassador to Cairo told Ahram Online that imposing the visa requirement was part of "technical procedures that are regularly revised."

Last month, several media outlets in Egypt and Sudan engaged in a sparring match after Sudans media minister said that his country's civilisation was older than that of Egypt.

The minister's comments reignited a debate over the Egyptian Halayeb and Shalatin Triangle border region, which Khartoum says are Sudanese.

The area has been a source of tension for decades, with rows occasionally erupting over which country has the right to manage the area's natural resources.

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The Coptic Orthodox Church has cancelled the reception of condolences from public figures at Easter services on Sunday, Pope Tawadros announced today during his sermon as he led the Good Friday mass at Cairo's St Mark's Cathedral.

Christians are set to celebrate Easter in churches across the country this week a week after deadly suicide bombings hit St George's church in Tanta and St Mark's cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday, killing at least 46 people.

The head of the church rather recommended that public figures visit "the injured and the martyrs' families", so as not to mix feelings of condolences with felicitations.

The bombings constitute the worst combined terrorist attack in history against the country's Christian population. The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility.

On Tuesday, the secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Bishop Rafael, announced the cancellation of Easter celebrations across the country and the limiting of Saturday night masses to prayer services, with a reception for mourners on Sunday.

Coptic Orthodox worshippers begin their Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, which falls this year on 15 April, and break it at dawn on Easter Sunday to celebrate the Resurrection.

Egyptian authorities have identified the two suicide bombers and the terrorist cells responsible for the deadly attacks.

Cairo imposed a nationwide three-month state of emergency after the attacks.

Copts make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 90 million and constitute the Middle East's largest Christian community.



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Fashion designer Han Hyun-min of MUNN / Courtesy of Seoul Design Foundation





By Kim Jae-heun

Korean fashion designer Han Hyun-min is a relatively young designer who launched his brand MUNN only four years ago. He just finished his second runway at Seoul Fashion Week last month and participated in four "Generation Next" trade shows before that.

Han began his career as a fashion designer in 2010, when he worked as an assistant for veteran designers Woo Young-mi of WOOYOUNGMI and Lee Sang-hyun of LEIGH.

Last year, Han shot to fame after he won the 2016/17 International Woolmark Prize for Asia. The International Woolmark Prize is an award run by Australian Wool Innovation Limited to recognize outstanding designers across the globe. Since its launch in 1953, Woolmark Prize has awarded high-profile fashion designers like Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld.

This is the second time Han joins Seoul Design Foundation's global project "Seoul's 10Soul" to promote Korean fashion designers and he feels confident that his designs will attract locals at the pop-up store at Hong Kong fashion brand house I.T.

A model walks down on the runway of MUNN's collection at 2017 Spring and Summer Seoul Fashion Week at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, last Oct. Courtesy of Seoul Design Foundation

Q. Why is your fashion brand called MUNN?

A. MUNN is the German way of pronouncing Min of my name Hyun-min. I like German and the image that Germany has _ like how perfectly and thoroughly they work.



Q. What is the identity and philosophy behind your brand?

A. My brand MUNN seeks high-end fabric and I make unique pieces that do not exist anywhere else. I use fabrics that are used by luxury brands like Dior and Louis Vuitton. My philosophy when I am making a dress is to do it in unfamiliar way. I change the order and method of sewing my dress. There is a standard order of making dress, which a lot of the time originates from the western world. But I break that rule and when people, particularly those who make clothes themselves, see my work, they find it unfamiliar. If I were to make standard clothing, I would recommend the brand Uniqlo.



Q. Which of your collections do you like the most?

A. I think I am satisfied with my collection every season but my show from last time received so much love. I got inspiration from the film The Handmaiden by popular film director Park Chan-wook. I took the concept from oriental dresses worn by people of high social status in Korea at the end of the 19th century. I used fancy ornaments and refined lace to show luxurious and oriental details. The visual design and music went along with the runway concept too.



Q. Do you collaborate with corporate brands too?

A. I like making sophisticated clothes but I also like cute and simple dresses. In 2013, when I first launched my brand MUNN, Yves Saint Laurent Korea contacted me to design their shop uniforms. After that, I worked with casual brand Bean Pole of Samsung C&T Corporation and Kolon Industries Inc. as well. Popular fashion designers like Lagerfeld open shows for Chanel and his own brand. For young designers like me, collaboration adds another line to your career list. I also get to try something new.



Q. What kind of designer do you wish to be?

A. Well, I like easy clothes from brands like A.P.C or Acne. But I also love sophisticated designer brands like Alexander McQueen or Margiela.
Iran said on Friday that new US sanctions imposed against the brother of the high-profile commander of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, Qassem Soleimani, were "illegal".

The US Treasury added Sohrab Soleimani, along with the Tehran Prisons Organisation which he recently oversaw, to its list of individuals and entities facing sanctions on Thursday for alleged human rights violations.

"The US government with its failed domestic and international record is not in a position to comment or act on the human rights situation in other countries," foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said.

Sohrab is the younger brother of Major General Qassem Soleimani, who oversees Iranian operations in Iraq and Syria and has been repeatedly pictured visiting Iranian-led forces in both countries.

The elder brother is already subject to US sanctions.

Sohrab Soleimani was director general of the Tehran Prisons Organisation for 15 years, until he became a supervisor in the national prisons bureau in March 2016.

The new sanctions follow a recent string of arrests targeting Iranians who also hold Western passports.

Iran does not recognise dual nationality and they have been held without public trial on national security charges.

The US Treasury said the Tehran Prisons Organisation oversees the notorious Evin Prison, where political prisoners have been subject to harsh interrogation, forced confessions, psychological and physical torture and denial of access to medical care.

Ghasemi said Washington had no right "to assess on its own the human rights situation in other countries and to make decisions for them."

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U.S. President Donald Trump pledged again Thursday to take care of the problem of North Korea after authorizing the dropping of the largest U.S. non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan in a move sure to serve as a warning to Pyongyang.

The U.S. military announced that it used the GBU-43B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb to strike an Islamic State (IS) tunnel complex. It was the first time that the 21,000-pound bomb, also known as as "Mother Of All Bombs," has been used in battle.

The bombing came as tensions are running high on the Korean Peninsula amid fears that the communist North could go ahead with its sixth nuclear test this weekend to mark the birthday of the North's late founder and grandfather of leader Kim Jong-un.

The U.S. Pacific Command has already redirected a massive aircraft carrier strike group led by USS Carl Vinson to waters off the Korean Peninsula in a show of force aimed at warning Pyongyang against provocations.

Asked if the first use of the massive bomb is designed to send a message to North Korea, Trump said, "I don't know if this sends a message. It doesn't make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of."

"I think China has really been working very hard. I have really gotten delight and respect, as you know, President Xi is a terrific person. We spent a lot of time together in Florida and he is a very special man. So we'll see how he does. I think he's going to try very hard," Trump said during a White House meeting with first responders.

Earlier in the day, Trump also said he's confident China will rein in the North.












A police bomb squad searches Samsung Life building in Seocho-dong, Seoul, after the company received a bomb threat Friday. / Korea Times file

By Lee Han-soo

The bomb threat, which led to the evacuation of about 3,000 staff from the Samsung Life building in southern Seoul Friday, turned out to be false.

There were no reports of injuries or property damage and the police have started their investigation to track down the source of the false report.

Initially, The Samsung Life building received the threat at around 11:30 a.m. The building is one of three Samsung buildings at the site, with the other two occupied by Samsung Electronics and Samsung C&T.

A Busan resident surnamed Shin reported the bomb threat.

Shin reported to the police that one of his friends received a text message in English, which allegedly implied that two North Koreans were preparing to plant a bomb inside Samsung Life building.

The report caused the police to evacuate the 34-story building and initiate a full-scale search for the bomb.

The police bomb disposal unit alongside the military searched the building for two hours but failed to find any explosives, according to Seocho Police Station.
Japan has every reason to take precautions for its people overseas in a contingency.



But with the way it is dealing with rising tension triggered by the U.S. ultimatum that North Korea should give up its missile/nuclear challenges, it is hard to dispel the impression that it is overreacting to the point of raising questions about whether it has an ulterior purpose.



During a parliamentary report Thursday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talked up the need to possess "deterrence," while observing that Japan has not done enough to block the North's nuclear development and that Pyongyang has the ability to attack using missiles with chemical warheads.



Before that, Japan's foreign ministry put out a tourist advisory for Japanese heading to Korea. Reports have it that Abe presided over a national security meeting at which the emergency evacuation of 57,000 Japanese from Korea was discussed.



The standoff involving hints of military action by the United States against the North may worry Japan more than other countries only because of its geographic proximity. But its reactions are excessive, compared, for instance, with the U.S., which has a lot more people here, running the risk of making others take the situation more seriously than it really is.



The suspicion is that Japan is taking advantage of the North Korean affair to clear the path for rearmament. Tokyo has been regaining its ability to wage war now on the caveat of helping the U.S. Abe is going after the Pacifist Constitution to restore full war-waging powers to his nation.



Japan has great military potential as a top-notch industrial power. For instance, it can produce a lot of nuclear weapons in a short time, if it decides to do so. Also it has a record _ as an aggressor that devastated its neighbors during World War II.



So there is both will and ability. It is natural to suspect that Japan is using the North as an excuse to set aside domestic opposition and divert international attention in an effort to achieve Abe's vision of a "normal state." Last time Japan was normal, we suffered indescribable horrors and paid dearly.




By Oh Young-jin





Who would be more effective on national security issues, Moon Jae-in or Ahn Cheol-soo?

Judging by experience, Moon is ahead. He worked as chief of staff for President Roh Moo-hyun, among other posts.

Roh wished to project Korea as an honest broker to coordinate among the United States, China and Japan. He was ahead of his time, according to his supporters, but his detractors blamed his half-hearted policy for twisting the ROK-U.S. alliance. Moon was on Roh's side to push for the settlement of a free trade agreement with the U.S., a move that alienated progressives from the Roh administration. Moon later regretted the pact. Also Moon played the role of backstopping in Seoul when Roh went to Pyongyang for the second inter-Korean summit. Then, he coordinated a principals' meeting when a group of Korean Christians were kidnapped in Afghanistan on a conversion mission. The hostages were released but it left a question mark about whether the Roh government had paid off the Taliban.

On Ahn' side, he has no security experience whatsoever. He was pushed onto the political scene as an anti-establishment contender but he relinquished his bid to back Moon five years ago. Then, Ahn was nicknamed "come and pull out," a play on the Korean homonym of his first name, for frequently failing to stand his ground.

Then, Moon should beat Ahn hands down if experience prevails over the lack of it. But it has not worked that way so far. Kim Tae-hyo, a senior security aide to the former conservative President Lee Myung-bak, captured the situation well.

"From the perspective of conservatives, Ahn is a better choice because he is like an empty canvass," Kim, now a professor at Sungkyunhwan University, said. "He doesn't have a fixed ideology or a crowd of people that influence him now."

Kim said that Moon has too much baggage that identifies him with Roh, who tried to break the country from the U.S. orbit and strived to strike an independent path. "This go-it-alone policy sounded fancy but was alienated from reality  for Korea relies on its alliance with the U.S.," he said. "Without breaking the alliance, Roh's vision couldn't work."

In other words, Moon is an avatar of his former boss that the conservatives have a visceral dislike against. The irony is that it is a make-or-break disadvantage in an election that the conservatives still hold the key to despite their absence of a viable candidate.












It wasn't too long ago that EXO-Ls from around the world pulled off one of the biggest surprises for their beloved EXO by renting 11 massive Times Square billboards worth millions of dollars for the K-pop group's 5th anniversary. But now, they are back to prove that their love holds no limit for EXO's golden maknae Sehun for his birthday.

According to a report by All Kpop, Chinese EXO fans pooled funds to purchase land in Scotland which apparently comes with a title for EXO's Sehun. Fans from the site Warmwind bought the land in Sehun's name which makes him a Scottish lord .

Based on the land title, the property that Chinese fans bought for their beloved maknae is part of the estate called Glencoe Wood, Keil Hill in the Scottish Highlands. Along with the land, Sehun will also receive the Lordship of Lorne, making him Lord Oh Sehun of Glencoe.

It was not disclosed how much the land or the lordship cost but it may have cost the fans a pretty penny to make EXO's Sehun a member of Scottish nobility. Some can just imagine how the global trendsetter would look like rocking a traditional Scottish kilt while they're at it.

It was recently reported that EXO's Chinese fans from the Chinese BAIDU Bar also spearheaded the campaign to rent the Reuter Billboard at the center of New York's Times Square along with 10 other billboards in Times Square to greet EXO on their fifth debut anniversary. According to a report by Kpopstarz, the billboard rentals for the day range from $1-$4 million.

Fans from all over the world chipped in to foot the bill and proclaim their love for EXO, making the billboards on the top the list of most expensive gifts a fandom has given their idols. It seems that EXO-Ls never run out of creative ways to show their love for EXO. The world is wondering what they would come up with next.
"Goblin" actor Lee Dong Wook recently became a DJ on a V Live broadcast. The actor got really close to his fans this time as he gives answers their questions and gives them advices.

Lee Dong Wook became a DJ for a day on April 12 for "On The Air". According to Soompi, the "Goblin" actor listened to his fans' concerns and gave them advices as well.

One fan participated on the show and shared her difficulty in expressing emotions to the actor. The fan also asked Lee Dong Wook on how he controls his emotions every time he cries on a scene.

"I just have to immerse myself into the script. In our country's drama production environment, they don't give us time to break away from our characters," replied Lee Dong Wook. The actor also added how actors/actresses like him gets immersed uncontrollably with the characters they portray.

Another fan called the show and shared to the actor that she relieves her stress by eating too much. Lee Dong Wook then suggested that waiting is one method in dealing with stress.

Lee Dong Wook also added how it was important to find another hobby instead of just overeating. He then revealed that he just walks around inside of his home and think about the problem. "My stress goes away at some point and then I come up with solutions," said Lee Dong Wook.

Lee Dong Wook will be "On The Air" on the 12th day of every month. Fans may be able to catch him on May 12 at 11 A.M KST on his V Live Channel (Lee Dong Wook).

In other news, Singapore Today reports Lee Dong Wook will be in Singapore on Saturday, April 15. The actor will be hosting a public press conference at the Plaza Singapura mid-day.

Fans are invited to join the event as Lee Dong Wook will be answering questions regarding his role in "Goblin". The actor will also discuss his experience in working with co-actors Gong Yoo and actress Kim Go Eun.
The US military's largest non-nuclear bomb killed dozens of Islamic State (IS) militants as it smashed their mountain hideouts, Afghan officials said Friday, ruling out any civilian casualties despite the weapon's destructive power.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- dubbed the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- was unleashed in combat for the first time, hitting IS positions in eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday.

The bombing is expected to further erode IS's capabilities in Afghanistan and sends a warning to the much bigger Taliban group ahead of their annual spring offensive.

"As a result of the bombing, key Daesh (IS) hideouts were destroyed and 36 IS fighters were killed," the Afghan defence ministry said, adding that the bombing was carried out in coordination with local military forces.

The huge bomb, delivered via an MC-130 transport plane, has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT. It was originally designed as much to intimidate foes as to clear broad areas.

Thursday's explosion reverberated for miles and engulfed the remote area in towering flames, destroying what officials called a network of underground IS tunnels and caves that had been mined against conventional ground attacks.

A video released by the American military showed a mushroom cloud rising over the rugged terrain.

The bombardment took place amid rising global tensions as the US military steps up raids against global Islamist militant groups.

It comes only a week after US President Donald Trump ordered missile strikes against Syria in retaliation for a suspected chemical attack, and as China warned of the potential for conflict amid rising US tensions with North Korea.

Trump hailed the mission in Achin district as "very, very successful".

An Afghan militant source told AFP from an undisclosed location that local people had described the ground shaking "like an earthquake", with people being knocked unconscious by the blast.

Another militant source told AFP that 800 to 1,000 IS fighters were believed to be hiding in the area, which borders Pakistan.

"Daesh (IS) fighters are active in this area and have overrun our houses," said Achin resident Khair Mohammad, welcoming the bombardment. "We don't care if our houses are destroyed, we want Daesh to be eliminated."

The arsenal was dropped after fighting intensified over the past week and US-backed ground forces struggled to advance on the area. An American special forces soldier was killed last Saturday in Nangarhar while conducting anti-IS operations.

Security experts say IS had built their redoubts close to civilian homes, but the government said thousands of local families had already fled the area in recent months of fighting.

"Precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties," President Ashraf Ghani said on Twitter, throwing his support behind the bombardment.

But some officials close to him condemned the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that controls only a tiny sliver of territory and is not considered a huge threat.

"I find the use of the largest non-nuclear bomb, the so called 'mother of all bombs', on our soil reprehensible & counterproductive," Omar Zakhilwal, the Afghan envoy to Pakistan, said on Twitter.

"If big bombs were the solution we would be the most secure place on earth today."

But John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, insisted it was the "right weapon against the right target".

The Pentagon's announcement of the attack drove markets down, adding to concerns among investors already wary of risks over Syria and North Korea, as well as the outcome of the French presidential election.

Trade in and out of Afghanistan from Pakistan appeared to be flowing as normal, however, with traffic at the Torkham border crossing apparently undisturbed Friday despite the historic detonation roughly 50 kilometres away.

The Taliban, who are expected to soon announce the start of this year's fighting season, condemned what it called "America's heavy use of weapons on Afghanistan".

IS, notorious for its reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, has made inroads into Afghanistan in recent years, attracting disaffected members of the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban as well as Uzbek Islamists.

But the group has been steadily losing ground in the face of heavy pressure both from US air strikes and a ground offensive led by Afghan forces.

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A senior Russian diplomat says Moscow believes that an international probe into last week's chemical attack in Syria should include experts from Brazil, India, Iran and other nations.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov insisted Friday that inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons should visit both the Syrian air base, which the U.S. said had served as a platform for the attack, and the area of the attack as soon as possible.

The U.S. has blamed the Syrian government for launching the attack that killed more than 80, while Russia has claimed that toxic agents were released from a rebel chemical arsenal hit by Syrian warplanes.

Russia vetoed a Western draft U.N. resolution Wednesday saying it failed to mention the need to inspect the area of the attack.

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The World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday condemned the deaths of three contract workers in fighting that engulfed South Sudan's second-largest city Wau earlier this week.

At least 16 civilians were killed in clashes that started with a rebel ambush of government troops near Wau on Sunday before spreading into the city the following day, according to the UNMISS peacekeeping mission.

The WFP said in a statement that three South Sudanese who had been contracted as porters were killed while trying to get through the fighting to a warehouse used by the food agency in the town.

Two were hacked to death with machetes and one was shot, the statement said.

"We are outraged and heartbroken by the deaths of our colleagues, who worked every day to help provide life-saving food to millions of their fellow countrymen," WFP country director Joyce Luma said in the statement.

The clash in Wau was the latest spasm of violence to rock South Sudan since a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to a civil war in 2013.

In a statement on Friday, Human Rights Watch said government soldiers carried out "collective punishment" in Wau against people of minority ethnic groups that are seen to be supporting Machar.

Witnesses, including a local priest, had also told AFP they saw targeted killings by government troops of civilians suspected of backing the rebels.

"The pattern of abuses by government forces against civilians in Wau has become predictable, with soldiers taking revenge against unarmed civilians based on their ethnicity," Daniel Bekele, HRW's senior director for Africa advocacy said in a statement.

"The South Sudan authorities need to call a halt to the killings, investigate, and bring those responsible to justice."

The International Organization of Migration said on Thursday the clashes caused 8,000 people to flee the city, joining more than 3.5 million South Sudanese who have become internally displaced or who fled the country due to the crisis.

Separately, the government's information minister confirmed to AFP that two senior army officers and three staff were killed in Sunday's ambush outside of Wau as they were returning from a visit to troops in the countryside.

Aid workers have regularly come under attack or had their work impeded in the civil war, contributing to a man-made famine affecting 100,000 people and threatening another one million in the country.

Three Kenyans and three South Sudanese aid workers were hauled from their vehicle and shot dead in an ambush last month in the deadliest single attack on aid workers since the war began.

Prior to the killings of the WFP staff, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said at least 79 aid workers have been killed in South Sudan since December 2013.

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You could not pick a better place in La Jolla than the Seaside Forum at Scripps Institution of Oceanography for a lecture on design by curator Paola Antonelli from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. Its a beautifully conceived small auditorium with a high balcony above, and walls of fine and richly stained wood. The entrance has all-glass walls that offer an enchanting view of the surf in La Jolla Shores.

Antonelli, senior curator in the Department of Architecture & Design at MoMA, spoke as a guest of the Helen Edison Lecture Series on March 14, 2017 at the Seaside Forum. Antonelli is, perhaps, todays top spokesperson for the world of design.

Her visit was prompted by Donald Norman, author of The Design of Everyday Things, and a former retired cognitive psychology professor at UC San Diego, who now directs its Design Lab. Norman brought Antonelli to the attention of Dan Atkinson, programming director for the lecture series and for UCSD Extension.

Paola Antonelli tops the list of the people I think are of critical importance in todays society, said Norman, in his introduction. She is a person with a broad range of interests that encompass all the latest developments in the design world.

Antonelli left the podium to stand center stage and speak without notes, underneath the beautiful slides she showed. She described herself as a hunter-gatherer of design ... I go out there and forage for the best examples of design from all over the world. Then I then bring them back to the museum to share with the public.

Antonelli structured her lecture by illuminating a series of things that design should be  what she called a minestrone soup of orientations.

For instance, she thinks good design should be both critical and communicative. It should have a questioning attitude and highlight (or mirror) features of daily life. Designers should subvert or change the normal way we view things, and offer us new perspectives. Foremost, she argued, design must also have an aesthetic component. It must be beautiful. As an example, Antonelli offered an American wind map that graphically shows the speed of the winds across the country by way of a topographic display of swirling waves for any given moment of the day.

Next, Antonelli said good design should be constructive. It should suggest how we might build a different world. For instance, by creating objects that are more organic or natural, by modeling the greatest designer of all  nature. The quest to create truly organic design is the Holy Grail of the design field, she explained. She illustrated her point by showing slides of a project that combined the direction provided by computer programs with the building ability of live silk worms that were used to construct intricate and unusual structures in which we might live or work.

Antonelli went on to say design should have a political dimension. A project she presented reflected on how we might construct Donald Trumps proposed border wall. What if there were large teeter-totters build into the fence that children on both sides of the border could simultaneously ride? Wouldnt that change the meaning of a border wall from exclusion to cooperation?

Design should be visionary and provide possibilities, she continued. She described a family portrait project that featured a gay couple and their two possible children, which was created using Photoshop and based on their images and DNA profiles, so they could get a visual sense of what their future family together might look like.

Antonelli said design should be responsible. One way, is through mining for old, lost techniques or skills, like Italian methods of ceramics that have been replaced by mass production. Another way can be seen in a prison in Norway that was designed to create buildings, walls and living quarters more conducive to prisoner reform than suffering and punishment. In yet another project, a circular, rolling mine detector that resembled a beautiful sculpture was built by a man who played around mine fields as a child.

During the Q&A portion of the evening, a woman commented, When I studied design some 60 years ago, everything was male-oriented. It is so refreshing to see that youve included the womans perspective on design. Another added, Antonellis lecture was designed to make you question your own concepts of design and to think more about it.

Some said they were disappointed that Antonelli did not go more into the future of design  as in the type of clothing, cars or houses people might desire to own in the future. However, Antonelli made it clear she is more interested in the frontiers of design rather than the future of design, which she said, is more akin to science fiction.

My job, she concluded, is identifying the best of new and contemporary design and then presenting it in an artistic way for the appreciation of the public.



 Future Design Applications:

After the lecture, Donald Norman and Dan Atkinson said the hope for the future of design is that design-thinking be applied to the various experiences of life, so these trials are more tolerable or rewarding.

For example, have you ever experienced the loud and frightening aspects of an MRI machine? Its a more difficult experience for children, who usually must be sedated. Because of these issues, a team of doctors and designers got together to fashion a better MRI experience for kids.

The designers showed children how to use a miniature MRI machine to see inside a cat, which they found fascinating. Then the adults made getting into the machine seem like going on a Pirates Ride. With a newly designed process, children were able to tolerate the MRI experience without trauma or the need for sedation.
As many as 70 people were already in line waiting for the grand opening of the Aldi food store early on a sunny, but surprisingly cold Thursday morning.

The first in line, Robin Walton of Pell Lake, had been standing in front of the store at 200 N. Edwards Blvd. since 6:30 a.m. for the official 8:25 a.m. opening.

Walton and several others said they were regular customers of the Aldi in Delavan. And they were glad to see one opening in Lake Geneva.

She wanted to make sure she was among the first 100 customers to get a golden ticket from Aldi employees.

It paid off. Later, Walton said that she had received a ticket worth $100 in Aldi merchandise. Walton said an Aldi official told her it was one of only four $100 cards handed out that day. Other cards were of lesser value, with most of the other tickets worth $10, she said.

Unlike many stores that have soft openings followed by grand openings weeks later, Aldis grand opening on April 6 was indeed the store opening.

The mayor and aldermen were given a quick tour of the building first. And then, slightly ahead of schedule, the doors were opened to the general public.

The 25-cent shopping cart rental was waived.

More carts

They could have used more carts.

Within the first hour of opening, employees had to set up a ration system, in which carts were quickly transferred from check-out to a waiting line.

According to information from Aldi, the Lake Geneva store has about 12,000 square feet of selling space divided into five aisles.

The new store will focus on fresh items, including large produce, dairy and bakery sections.

Like other new Aldi stores, the Lake Geneva store features open ceilings, natural lighting and environmentally-friendly building materials  such as recycled materials, energy-saving refrigeration and LED lighting, according Joe McHugh, an Aldi spokesman.

Its a beautiful store, said Mayor Al Kupsik. I couldnt believe the number of people who were waiting in line.

The mayor added that his wife and family love Aldi and are excited to have one in Lake Geneva.

It will be an asset to the city.

Growth plan

According to Aldi, the German-based company has about 1,600 stores in 35 states, serving about 40 million customers each month.

Aldi is in the midst of an accelerated growth plan, the company said. The company plans to have nearly 2,000 new stores open and running in the U.S. by the end of 2018. Aldis interest in Lake Geneva had been an open secret since December 2015, when the Lake Geneva City Council approved a conditional use permit for Aldi to remodel the store, at that time occupied by OfficeMax.

OfficeMax had been at that location for about 10 years. It was one of three businesses that moved into the building after a Sentry Food Store moved out.

OfficeMax finally announced in August 2016 that it planned to leave Lake Geneva by Oct. 8.

Aldi then announced it would open its new store in Lake Geneva in early spring.

The new Lake Geneva location will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
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...
Flights between Beijing and Pyongyang operated by Air China, the only foreign carrier operating commercial flights into the North Korea, will be suspended from Monday, state broadcaster CCTV said Friday on its official website.

The news comes as the North Korean army on Friday vowed a "merciless" response to any US provocation, according to the country's official news agency KCNA.

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 have fuelled speculation it could imminently carry out a sixth test.

The last Air China flight between the two capitals arrived in Beijing at 6 pm Friday, CCTV said, without elaborating on the suspension.

It noted however that the thrice-weekly route, first established in 2008, was often cancelled because of lack of passengers, as well as being subject to "seasonal adjustments" such as cancellations or reductions in frequency during the low-demand winter.

North Korea's flag-carrier Air Koryo remains the only company that continues to operate flights into the country.

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Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II led Good Friday mass at the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo's Abbassiya district, attended by hundreds of worshippers and a host of bishops and priests, state news agency MENA reported.

Christians are set to celebrate Easter in churches across the country Saturday night in the wake of two deadly suicide bombings that hit St George's church in Tanta and St Mark's cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday

The bombings left 46 dead and dozens injured, constituting the worst combined terrorist attack in history against the country's Christian population.

The attacks were claimed by the Islamic State militant organisation.

Christians in other parts of the country also flocked to churches to mark the event.

On Tuesday, Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church Bishop Rafael announced the cancellation of Easter celebrations across the country and the limiting of Saturday night masses to prayer services, with a reception for mourners on Sunday.

Egyptian authorities have identified the two suicide bombers and the terrorist cells responsible for the deadly attacks.

Cairo imposed a nationwide three-month state of emergency after the attacks.

Copts make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 90 million and constitute the Middle East's largest Christian community.

In December, a suicide bombing hit Cairo's St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, killing 29 worshippers, mostly women and children.
PRESS RELEASE

British Intelligence Was on Trumps Case Since 2015

April 13, 2017 (EIRNS)  British Intelligence was spying on the Trump presidential campaign since at least 2015. In what it claims is an "exclusive" story, The Guardian, citing unnamed "senior" sources, writes today that the GCHQ alerted U.S. agencies of contacts between Trump people and alleged Russian agents already in 2015. Of course, The Guardian asserts,

"It is understood that GCHQ was not carrying out a targeted operation against Trump or his team, but picked up the alleged conversations by chance."

These same sources told The Guardian that "Britains spy agencies played a crucial role in alerting their counterparts in Washington to contacts between members of Donald Trumps campaign team and Russian intelligence operatives.

"GCHQ first became aware in late 2015 of suspicious interactions between figures connected to Trump and known or suspected Russian agents, a source close to U.K. intelligence said. This intelligence was passed to the U.S. as part of a routine exchange of information, they added."

The British were in fact leading the pack of European-wide intelligence agencies which over the next six months, until summer of 2016, were funneling information to the U.S. agencies. The countries included

"Germany, Estonia and Poland. Australia, a member of the Five Eyes spying alliance, which includes the U.S., U.K., Canada and New Zealand, also relayed material, one source said."

Also the Dutch and the French spy agency, the General Directorate for Foreign Security (DGSE) played their role as well. One source told the Guardian, the "the British eavesdropping agency was the principal whistle blower... GCHQ played an early, prominent role in kick-starting the FBIs Trump-Russia investigation, which began in late July 2016."

The sources lamented that while all this information was "flagged to intelligence officials in the U.S." the latter were "slow to appreciate" this information complaining that

"U.S. law that prohibits U.S. agencies from examining the private communications of American citizens without warrants. They are trained not to do this, the source stressed."

(Unlike the British.)

Ridiculing their U.S. colleagues, the source told the Guardian,

"It looks like the [U.S.] agencies were asleep. 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."

The Guardian writes that

"According to one account, GCHQs then head, Robert Hannigan, passed material in summer 2016 to the CIA chief John Brennan. The matter was deemed so sensitive it was handled at director level. After an initially slow start Brennan used GCHQ information and intelligence from other partners to launch a major inter-agency investigation."

Despite the fact that Brennan tried to mask the British sources, the Guardian said one source told them that Trump subsequently learned of GCHQs role.

The is the first mention of Hannigan having been directly involved. On Jan. 23, three days after Trumps inauguration and shortly after the first allegations that the British were involved in the anti-Trump activity through former MI6 agent Christopher Steele, Hannigan resigned as head of GCHQ, citing "personal reasons."
PRESS RELEASE

China Advises Against Use of Force To Denuclearize North Korea

Apr 13, 2017 (EIRNS)As North Korea prepares to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim ill-Sung, the founder of the state, the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Carl Vinson strike group continues heading to the Sea of Japan amid heightened tensions between the United States and North Korea and following multiple missile tests conducted by the regime this year.

The strike group, comprised of the aircraft carrier and three other ships, had just completed a port visit to Singapore before receiving orders to head into waters east of the Korean peninsula, ABC News reported today. In light of enhanced threat of a war, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned that military force cannot resolve tensions in the region.

On April 12, Chinas state-owned Peoples Daily urged North Korea not to carry out any more nuclear weapon or missile tests.

"Not only [is] Washington brimming with confidence and arrogance following the missile attacks on Syria, but Trump is also willing to be regarded as a man who honors his promises,"

said People's Daily. On the same day, Chinas Foreign Ministry reiterated Beijings position of calming the situation via a "dual suspension" of North Koreas nuclear tests and the United States joint military drills with South Korea, Reuters reported.

An editorial today in the state-owned Global Times, published by People's Daily, said:

"As soon as the 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."

"This is Pyongyangs best option," it added.
PRESS RELEASE

Kremlin Spokesman Speaks on Putin Meeting with Tillerson

April 13, 2017 (EIRNS)In his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Russian President Vladimir Putin laid out the reasons behind the deterioration of Russian-U.S. relations and also the prospects of Syrian settlement. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that President Putin

"gave a rather detailed account to his interlocutor [Tillerson] on his stance on the reasons that have led our bilateral relations to such a sad condition in which they are now."

Peskov added that Putin expects Tillerson to bring this information to U.S. President Donald Trump.

"The President shared his analysis and his vision of precursors of the current crisis in bilateral relations," Peskov said. "This makes it clear what, according to our view, had brought us to such a bilateral deadlock over the past several years."

Peskov described their discussion on Syria as "substantive." "The President outlined our vision of the current situation and the prospects of developing this situation," he said.

As for whether the meeting could be called a "shift" in relations Peskov said: "No, it cant. It is early so far."

Asked whether the possibility of a meeting between Putin and Trump was discussed, Peskov said "No." And "there was no detailed discussion of Ukraine," he said, although Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had discussed it in their earlier meeting.
PRESS RELEASE

Wall Street and the City of London Are Terrified by Glass-Steagall Momentum

April 13, 2017 (EIRNS)Wall Street and the City of London are terrified of the pro-Glass-Steagall momentum after the meeting among Gary Cohn and the U.S. Senators, and the bipartisan bill introduced in Senate the next day. Three attacks on Glass-Steagall, one milder (Financial Times), the second one more open (New Yorker) and the third one obscene (Heritage Foundation/Forbes) are exemplary of the panic that this time it could be serious.

John Authers in the Financial Times says that a return to Glass-Steagall is "invasive and difficult." And by the way, the problem was the commercial banks giving out subprime loans. Nicholas Lemann in the New Yorker asks:

"If the Trump Administration and finances most celebrated Democratic critics come to agreement on Glass-Steagall, should we rejoice? Not necessarily."

And then he goes into sophistries, claiming that it would give government protection to too-big-to-fail institutions!

Norbert J. Michel in the Heritage Foundation and Forbes pulls together all possible lies, and then attacks deposit protection: "Federally backed deposit insurance creates terrible incentives in the banking industry."
PRESS RELEASE

Senator Cantwell Issues Call for Mass Support for Glass-Steagall

April 14, 2017 (EIRNS)On April 12, various media received a message from the Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), calling for mass support for S. 881, the Senate bill for a 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act. Cantwell, along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. John McCain (R-Ark.), and Sen. Angus King (I-Me.), introduced the bill April 6. She is now issuing a petition for circulation among the citizenry of the nation. Rep. Marcy Kapturs bill for restoring Glass-Steagall (the Return to Prudent Banking Act-HR790) already has 43 sponsors in the House.

Other petition campaigns on Glass-Steagall are already underway, including one by a coalition of groups, led by the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers, and Americans for Financial Reform. Progressive Democrats from Ohio and the LaRouche Political Action Committee are also conducting petition campaigns to hold President Trump to his promise to support Glass-Steagall.

Cantwell released her petition in an email to various media. She intends to submit the petition signatures to the Republican and Democratic leaderships of the House and Senate, and the relevant committees on banking and finance. The petition reads as follows: Rein in the Too Big To Fail Banks! Pass Glass-Steagall!

In a surprise move, both Democrats and Republicans included reinstating the Glass-Steagall Act in their official party platforms. Congress must quickly back this up with action, as working people are still hurting from the 2008 financial crisis. Many lost their homes and jobs, and are still struggling to make ends meet for their families.

At the same time, Wall Street executives have made billions and big banks have gotten even bigger. Theyve continued with their risky behavior that caused the 2008 crisis. The rules are rigged in favor of Wall Street. But it doesnt have to be that way. Before the Glass-Steagall Act was rolled back in the 1990s, it helped protect our financial system for over 60 years, by separating conventional commercial banking from the Wall Street casino. Momentum is growing to pass a modern Glass-Steagall Act. A huge majority of working people support the idea of reinstating the Act and a bipartisan bill - introduced by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and supported by Sen. John McCainhas already been introduced in the Senate that would put in place a modern version of the Glass-Steagall Act. Theres no excuse for Senate Republicans to drag their feet on taking action on this important issue.

Sign the petition now to demand congressional leaders in the House and Senate rein in Wall Street greed and allow a vote on the bipartisan 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act after the election.

The petition can be signed by accessing the article in the Daily Kos.
Almost exactly 20 years ago, I arrived in Los Angeles in the month of June. I had received my doctorate from UC Berkeley in May and had turned 26 in February. That summer, I found a small apartment in Silver Lake and began preparing for a new career as a professor at USC. I look back on myself with bemusement and sympathy, for there were many things I did not know when I was 26. My naivete protected me when I sat down to write at my small kitchen table and in that hot, stifling, first summer in Los Angeles began a short story collection. If I had known that it would take me 17 years to finish that collection, and three more years to publish it, perhaps I never would have even begun.

But ignorance can sometimes  not always, but sometimes  be as beneficial as knowledge. Ignorance is beneficial when we are aware of it. In my case, to paraphrase a former secretary of Defense, I knew what I did not know, and I knew that I wanted to know it, but I did not know how to know it. I knew that I wanted to write fiction, and I knew that I wanted to produce innovative scholarship, but I did not know how to do either of those things. I also knew that universities did not reward ignorance, or the confession of ignorance, and so I kept my ignorance to myself and pretended that I knew what I was doing.

That successful act of fiction led to receiving tenure, six years later. To receive tenure, I did what I knew how to do. I became an academic professional and wrote an academic book, which was what I was hired for as a scholar. In my naivete, I had told myself that once I wrote that book and achieved the freedom of tenure, I would write fiction. It would just take a couple of years to finish that short story collection, and then it would be sold and published and win prizes and I would be famous. I vaguely knew, but didnt really understand, how much writing would demand from me, how much it would dismantle me as a professional, much to my own grief but ultimately for my own betterment as a writer and a scholar.

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I knew that I wanted to write fiction, and I knew that I wanted to produce innovative scholarship, but I did not know how to do either of those things.

For the next nine years, I learned about grief as I worked on that damned short story collection. I did not know what I was doing, and what I also did not know, facing my computer screen and a white wall, slowly turning pale, was that I was becoming a writer. Becoming a writer was partly a matter of acquiring technique, but it was just as importantly a matter of the spirit and a habit of the mind. It was the willingness to sit in that chair for thousands of hours, receiving only occasional and minor recognition, enduring the grief of writing in the belief that somehow, despite my ignorance, something transformative was taking place.

It was an act of faith, and faith would not be faith if it was not hard, if it was not a test, if it was not an act of willful ignorance, of believing in something that can neither be predicted nor proved by any scientific metric.

See Viet Thanh Nguyen at the L.A. Times Festival of Books on April 23 at 11:00 am and 1:30 p.m.  

 Motion graphic shows key speakers and locations for the 2017 Los Angeles Festival Of Books at the University of Southern California.

At the same time, I was testing myself as a scholar. I began work on another scholarly book. Its evolution would run parallel to my fiction writing, and if I had known that this scholarly book on the memories of the Vietnam War would take 14 years to be published, I probably would have chosen another subject. One reason it took so long was that it investigated literature, film, museums, memorials, politics, philosophy and history. But even more challenging for me was that I wanted the book to be as much a creative work as a critical work, just as I wanted my fiction to be as critical as it was creative. But I didnt know how to do this, and no one could teach me this, and it took the discipline of sitting in a chair for countless hours over 20 years before I could even approach bringing together the critical and the creative.

Ive told this story about my ignorance and my naivete, of my struggles and my doubts, because most readers are only aware of the final product of a writer or scholars efforts. That final product, the book, appears brimming with confidence and knowledge. Confidence and knowledge, and the metrics of evaluation and advancement that saturate our lives in schools, corporations and bureaucracies obscure the mysterious, intuitive and slow  sometimes very slow  ways in which art and scholarship often operate. At a time in which the demand for productivity and the measuring of outputs has increased in the university  indeed, everywhere  it is important to acknowledge how much of what is crucial in the work that matters to us, no matter what our field, can neither be quantified nor accelerated.

In my case, someone looking at me might see that I have published three books in the last three years and think that I am fast-paced and prolific, without realizing that it took 20 years of slow  very slow  thinking and arduous labor to produce those books. What is valuable about my worlds of the arts and humanities is that they create spaces for this type of slow thinking. And by this I mean that we value the arts and humanities not simply for the material possibilities and rewards they may bring, like a Pulitzer Prize. Rather, we should value the arts and humanities for their privileging of the mystery and intuition that makes moments of revelation and innovation possible.

I took a risk in studying things that a good number of people might think are useless.

I think of the novelist Haruki Murakami, who compares writing a novel to digging a hole through deep rock to reach a source of water. To access mystery and intuition requires hard work and is a gamble, for there is no guarantee that we will find that source of water. We need universities and governments to invest in the arts and humanities so that we can teach students about the importance of mystery and intuition, and the need to take a risk, to gamble on ones beliefs and values. And we need universities and governments to protect and to nurture the artist and the scholar  even if their work takes decades, even if the artist and the scholar are shrouded in obscurity while they carry out their labor, even if the gamble doesnt always pay off.

Of course, my novel The Sympathizer is not obscure at the moment because of the Pulitzer Prize. But the novel might just as well not have gotten it, might as well have sunken into obscurity because it lacked a prize, even if nothing in the novel was any different for having gotten a prize. The novels good fortune only changes how people look at the novel, not the novel itself. I think of all the other novels that might have won the prize, or all the novels that didnt win prizes in other years that could have or should have won prizes. Some of those unrecognized novels, as time will show, will be triumphant in literary history. The point is that prizes and all that they symbolize in terms of our taste, our judgment, our vanity and our prejudices are ephemeral. What we are ignorant of in the present may be what the future will value.

Knowledge of this kind of ignorance leads to humility, and also to the awareness that what may seem useless, because it is not rewarded and recognized, might one day be of the greatest usefulness. Although this kind of seemingly useless work happens in the sciences, the burden of uselessness falls with greater weight on the arts and humanities in a world that increasingly values usefulness. When I became an English and ethnic studies double-major as an undergraduate 27 years ago, I took a risk in studying things that a good number of people might think are useless. Perhaps my own parents, refugee shopkeepers who never went to college and who worked 12- to 14-hour days nearly every day of the year, thought my studies to be useless. But to my parents credit, they suppressed any skepticism and supported my possibly useless studies. They were as ignorant as I was about my future, but they had faith in me.

This is what I think so many of us who work in the arts and the humanities hope to receive from our universities, from our government, from sometimes skeptical students and their parents: patience and faith in us as we test the limits of our ignorance, as we pursue what may very well be useless, as we go in search of that mystery and intuition that exist within all of us.

Viet Thanh Nguyen is one of The Times critics at large. The three books he published in the last three years are the short story collection The Refugees (2017), the cultural history Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War (2016) and the novel The Sympathizer (2015), winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

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Walter Murch, one of Hollywoods most accomplished film and sound editors, whose illustrious career includes nine Oscar nominations and three wins, also has quite the set of extracurricular interests. Over the years, when he hasnt been working behind the scenes on essential 20th century viewing such as Apocalypse Now and the Godfather films, hes been translating Malaparte from Italian, pondering the pyramids and, as his most recent work on the documentary Particle Fever might suggest, solving the mysteries of the universe. Maybe.

Its Murch as outsider astrophysicist that Lawrence Weschler takes as the subject of his latest book Waves Passing in the Night: Walter Murch in the Land of Astrophysicists. As much a meditation on the question of who, in fact, should be permitted to address humanitys biggest questions, the book unfurls Murchs intriguing, 20-years-in-the-making theory (a retooling of the contentious Titius-Bode) before embarking on a quest to gain Murch audience with the very scientific community that dismisses him. To take Weschlers wave metaphor, Murch is paddling against the tide; for every stroke forward he makes in his own findings, the prevailing science is ready to beat him back to shore.

Although an outsider, Murchs theory is a complex physics proposition, and Weschler, to his credit, follows him at every turn. One of my mottos as a journalist and as a teacher, he said over the phone from New York, was receive them ignorant; dispatch them confused. Mission accomplished, although, an extension of his authority as a sound editor  an acoustician  Murchs theory is elegant, and the book is an accessible investigation of the question of who gets to say what.

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See Weschler talking about Waves Passing in the Night at the L.A. Times Festival of Books on the panel Nonfiction: Science and Our World at 3:30 p.m. April 22. 

I asked Weschler to break it all down. We discussed standing waves, dark matter and when, if at all, Walter Murch sleeps. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

If Walter Murch is an amateur astrophysicist, the rest of us are amateur amateurs. Can you give a simplified taste of what it is that Murch is proposing?

Lets put it this way: Hes interested in the relative distances of the planets from the sun, in our case, or of the moons from their planets  how they line up, how they array themselves.

There was this theory [Titius-Bode] that had been advanced back in the 18th century and completely discredited. It was a particularly ungainly looking formula, and Walter started by figuring out why it was so ungainly and correcting it. But the particular thing that Walter contributed, being an acoustician  being the guy, who, for example, when you go see a film that says Dolby 5.1, hes the guy that came up with Dolby 5.1  he noticed that the revised formula had within it the formula for octaves. Its not like if you were in outer space and you listened theres actually sound going on  but there seems to be a pattern of higher frequencies and lower frequencies the same way there is in music. So it seems as if there are in fact gravitational undulations.

The notion that theres something harmonic in the placement of things is something that hasnt been noticed in this particular way, and at least seems to be worth looking at, however, easier said than done.

Indeed, convincing the scientific community that his theory is worth entertaining proves to be a serious challenge. (The second half of the book begins, few of the astrophysicists I now began trying to speak with, however, were in any sort of entertaining mood.) If Murchs theory is so compelling, why is it dismissed?

First of all, Titius-Bode, the theory, just has cooties. Nobody wants to get close to it. Its a career killer. But in fairness, astrophysicists get letters all the time from people whove figured out the universe. In Los Angeles theres the Museum of Jurassic Technology, which I wrote about in Mr. Wilsons Cabinet of Wonder, and they have an entire display that is given over to the letters that people sent to the astronomers at Mt. Wilson back around 1900 and 1910. So on the one hand, these people get incredible amounts of letters, on the other, it is factually the case that science has become much more technical, much more mathematical and much more siloed.

The wider issue, and the more interesting issue to me, is that the whole idea of professional scientists is only 75 years, 100 years old. Back in the 19th century and forever before that, there were no professionals  Darwin was not a professional, he was an amateur. Mendel was a monk. Everybody had day jobs, you know? These were all people who were doing this out of love. And whats very distressing to me is the way that science is now so incredibly specialized, especially cosmology, whose whole function is to explain the order of the universe to human beings. It is now so mathematicised that nobody can understand what theyre saying. The thing that I find interesting about Walter is that hes every bit as much an acoustician as they are astrophysicists, and he may have found a different metaphor for thinking about these things.

If Murch is right, what would his metaphor illuminate? What, in the end, would it mean?

At one extreme, the one that would get him a Nobel Prize, if hes right about this is behaving as if it were a standing wave, remember those standing waves? What it suggests is that the emptiness of space isnt empty. Walter wont make this claim, but it is implicit in what hes saying. If there is no other explanation that accounts for these kinds of patterns, if the patterns arent just dismissed, then one possibility is that its a standing wave in something, and then the question is: What is it a standing wave in? One candidate would be dark matter, which has otherwise hasnt been found. Im not making a case that this has to be right. Neither is Walter. The first person who raises the possibility that he may be wrong is Walter himself. He offers that word apophenia, the tendency of human beings to see patterns where there are no patterns. He says over and over again, Maybe Im just seeing patterns where there are none.

One of the astrophysicists you spoke to, Alan Duffy, proposed a similar counterargument that I found very compelling. The link to music, he said, is a beautiful analogy but you get the same pattern of harmonic overtones  because of the underlying beauty in mathematics (in this case geometric progression.) Did you find this, or other arguments, equally persuasive?

I thought the best criticism is that if youre going to start countenancing this kind of thing, youre a half-step away from climate change deniers, anti-vaccine fanatics and so forth. Just a few days ago a guy named Baynard Woods published a piece where he talked about the difference between cynicism and skepticism, and that the very heart of science is skepticism  youre always going to test stuff again and again and again  as opposed to just cynicism, which rejects things categorically and ideologically. Walter is a model of the beauty of skepticism, without falling into the same bag as cynics who are just climate changing deniers because theyre not going to listen to evidence no matter what.

Something that I nurture in my readers is the ability to think two contradictory thoughts at the same time. It could be true that one shouldnt do this lightly, because you undermine belief in science at a time when science is really under attack  that is completely true  but its also possible that Walters right! Both of those things could be true!

I started to think of this book as a man obsessed with a man obsessed. While Walter would like an audience with astrophysicists, hes not rabid for validation, nor does he come across as feeling wronged. It occurred to me that the person most committed to gaining an audience for his theory is you. What about Walters obsession obsessed you?

This is the third volume of what is now a trilogy  Mr. Wilsons Cabinet of Wonder, Boggs: A Comedy of Values  and now this one. In all three cases you are dealing with people who became obsessed. One of my themes, generally, is passion pieces. People that were moseying along in the dailyness of their lives, and caught fire. I love watching people become passionately engaged and do beautiful work. This is another one of those stories. There is this kind of Zen, 10-thousand mile stare that Walter can do. When you talk about somebody else having a 10-thousand mile stare its that theyre not interested. Hes actually looking at something 10 thousand miles away.

Youve known Walter Murch for nearly two decades. How did you meet?

Weve been trying to remember. In those days I was running the N.Y. Institute for the Humanities and I was also the artistic director of the Chicago Humanities Festival at the same time. One of the things I loved to do was what I called Wonder Cabinets, which would just be all day long, one cool thing after another, and fairly on in our relationship I had him give an early version of his presentation. Were similar in that we both have completely all-over-place interests and delights. Over the years Ive been following his developments. Look, heres how Jupiters moons line up, and then a year later hell tell me, Look, Saturns moons are doing this. So I was following along and waiting for a time to write about it.

Why this book now?

Suddenly, for the first time in the century, almost, the word Titius-Bode showed up in a scientific paper and it became possible to talk about this without people laughing you off the stage. But at any given time Im working on five or six projects. What happened here is that I have a major project that Im supposed to be working on, which is a biographical memoir of Oliver Sacks, and for various reasons I was blocked on it, and I responded to the blockage by writing two books [Waves Passing in the Night and The Art of Ramiro Gomez.]

Wow, I wish thats how I responded to being blocked. Murch too comes across as almost impossibly engaged, impossibly productive. I was as mind-boggled by questions about the universe as I was by this conundrum: When does Walter Murch sleep?

Good question. When hes supposed to be sleeping hes reading science. He decompresses by reading science, and thats in two senses  he decompresses from the tension of being focused on editing completely, but he also decompresses from the craziness, and the crazy arbitrary contingencies, that characterize the life of anyone working on a film in Hollywood. Those contingencies can be so frustrating, and yet theres something about the world of science for him that is a reprieve, a kind of an idyll.

Theres freedom that comes from being an outsider. Your book reminded me of that, and of the pleasures, and on occasion, the benefits of being a passionate amateur. Its awe-inspiring, and a little overwhelming.

If you get to a point where you really, profoundly dont know whats going to happen next  if you have a very clear view of fog  youre probably getting to about the point where you should be. The more youre able to say something with absolute clarity, the more likely youre probably wrong, because in fact the world is very confusing.

Youve known Walter Murch for nearly two decades. How did you meet?

Weve been trying to remember. In those days I was running the N.Y. Institute for the Humanities and I was also the artistic director of the Chicago Humanities Festival at the same time. One of the things I loved to do was what I called Wonder Cabinets, which would just be all day long, one cool thing after another, and fairly on in our relationship I had him give an early version of his presentation. Were similar in that we both have completely all-over-place interests and delights. Over the years Ive been following his developments. Look, heres how Jupiters moons line up, and then a year later hell tell me, Look, Saturns moons are doing this. So I was following along and waiting for a time to write about it.

Why this book now?

Suddenly, for the first time in the century, almost, the word Titius-Bode showed up in a scientific paper and it became possible to talk about this without people laughing you off the stage. But at any given time Im working on five or six projects. What happened here is that I have a major project that Im supposed to be working on, which is a biographical memoir of Oliver Sacks, and for various reasons I was blocked on it, and I responded to the blockage by writing two books [Waves Passing in the Night and The Art of Ramiro Gomez.]

Wow, I wish thats how I responded to being blocked. Murch too comes across as almost impossibly engaged, impossibly productive. I was as mind-boggled by questions about the universe as I was by this conundrum: When does Walter Murch sleep?

Good question. When hes supposed to be sleeping hes reading science. He decompresses by reading science, and thats in two senses  he decompresses from the tension of being focused on editing completely, but he also decompresses from the craziness, and the crazy arbitrary contingencies, that characterize the life of anyone working on a film in Hollywood. Those contingencies can be so frustrating, and yet theres something about the world of science for him that is a reprieve, a kind of an idyll.

Theres freedom that comes from being an outsider. Your book reminded me of that, and of the pleasures, and on occasion, the benefits of being a passionate amateur. Its awe-inspiring, and a little overwhelming.

If you get to a point where you really, profoundly dont know whats going to happen next  if you have a very clear view of fog  youre probably getting to about the point where you should be. The more youre able to say something with absolute clarity, the more likely youre probably wrong, because in fact the world is very confusing.

agatha.french@latimes.com

@agathafrenchy
Sometime in the next few weeks, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected to impose stringent limits on the ability of banks and credit card companies to avoid consumer lawsuits.

The financial services industry has been screaming bloody murder about the CFPBs plan. You can expect the Republican majorities in Congress, and President Trump, to see things their way and block the proposed rule. You can also expect consumer advocates not to roll over quietly.

Were all preparing for a big fight, says Amanda Werner, who has been keeping an eye on the CFPB rule making for the consumer groups Public Citizen and Americans for Financial Reform.

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The issue revolves around a CFPB rule proposed last May aimed at limiting mandatory arbitration clauses in financial services account agreements.

Its a fairly unfortunate time for consumer civil justice rights.  Amanda Werner, consumer advocate

Weve reported on the consequences of forced arbitration for the Wells Fargo fake-account scandal. Unlike lawsuits, arbitrations largely unfold in secret. Because the bank was able to force aggrieved customers to take their cases to arbitration rather than court, it not only had a procedural advantage over those customers but kept its misdeeds out of the news. That may have forestalled for years the discovery that employees had been opening bogus accounts in customers names to meet their sales quotas.

The CFPB rule doesnt outlaw all forced arbitration clauses, only those that also bar class-action lawsuits and class-action arbitrations. These are common provisions in the arbitration clauses imposed on customers by big banks, including Wells Fargo.

And the distinction is important. According to a landmark study of consumer arbitration the CFPB issued in March 2015, its investigators couldnt be sure that customers did any better or worse in arbitrations against their banks and credit card issues than they did in court  when they arbitrated or sued as individuals.

There are a couple of reasons for this. One is that the arbitration record typically doesnt reveal who won the case or how much a customer may have won. The other is that arbitration, like litigation, is so burdensome that individuals seldom bother with it; the CFPB found only about 400 individual arbitrations per year from 2010 through 2012 filed by consumers against banks, credit card companies or lenders.

But the consuming public did much better when it acted as a class. Over the same three-year period, the bureau examined 419 class-action lawsuits that resulted in settlements covering 160 million customers. The total settlements amounted to about $2.7 billion, mostly in cash.

Obviously that doesnt amount to much per claimant  only $16 to $32 each on average, the bureau estimates. But whats more important is that the settlements were a bigger hit to the banking defendants and often includes agreements to change their behavior so the abuses that were the targets of the lawsuits wouldnt happen again.

Those behavior changes, the bureau says could be at least as important for consumers as monetary payoffs, or more so, because they can reach more customers and often are permanent.

So its no wonder that the banking industry has moved heaven and earth to head off the rule, while consumer groups have moved to advance it. In all, a staggering 120,000 comments were received by the CFPB before the comment period on the proposed rule was closed last August. That in itself has delayed issuance of the rule.

And that hasnt been the end of the jawboning. On Nov. 1, as C. Ryan Barber of the National Law Journal recently reported, representatives of credit card issuers Barclays Bank, Discover and American Express met with CFPB staffers to supplement their earlier formal comments. Their goal was to get the bureau to allow financial institutions to continue to block class actions targeting abuses that were already under scrutiny by regulators.

According to a memo of the meeting, the CFPB was suspicious that a company facing a costly class action might report itself to regulators as a ploy to block the lawsuits. Whether the companies succeeded in carving out this exception wont be known until the CFPB issues its rule.

In the meantime, however, the banking industrys friends on Capitol Hill already are waging war against consumer class actions. In partisan terms, at least, they have the upper hand. Its a fairly unfortunate time for consumer civil justice rights, says Werner.

The attack on class-action rights is following three tracks. One is direct: a bill passed by the Republican-controlled House in March (with no Democratic votes) that places so many roadblocks in the way of class-action lawsuits that theyre effectively banned. According to an analysis by the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil justice groups, the measure  cynically entitled the Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act  would hobble consumer lawsuits, anti-discrimination cases and civil rights protections by adding years of delay and imposing a new and impossible hurdle for class certification in court.

The second track is a measure aimed at overturning much of the Dodd-Frank act, the post-recession law that imposed new regulations on the financial services industry and created the CFPB. Here the main instrument is the Financial Choice Act, introduced by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas). The bill would revoke the authority of the CFPB and the Securities and Exchange Commission to ban forced arbitration in the industries under the jurisdiction. Since it would be subject to a Democratic filibuster in the Senate, the measures fate is doubtful.

Then theres the Congressional Review Act, which gives the House and Senate the authority to overturn an agency regulation by resolution within 60 days of its enactment. Supporters of the CFPB ban on arbitration fully expect that rule to become a target of the act. Its especially dangerous because a regulation overturned this way can never be restored except with new statutory authorization. President Trump has signaled that hed be amenable to accepting the Congressional nullification. After all, just two weeks after taking office, he signed an executive order aimed at rolling back of a raft of financial services regulations.

That places the CFPB and its director, Richard Cordray, in a ticklish situation. Cordray appears determined to issue the rule before his term ends in mid-2018. But he must know hell be poking a stick in the tigers cage, provoking the Republicans to nullify the rule, perhaps permanently. When his bureau actually will act and what the rule will look like isnt known for sure. What is known, however, is that allowing banks and lenders to block their customers path to the courthouse is the definition of being consumer-unfriendly.

Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com.

Return to Michael Hiltziks blog.
KOCE, the flagship PBS station for Southern California, will see a $49-million windfall from the auction of the public airwaves to companies with wireless networks.

The Federal Communications Commissions auction raised $19.8 billion from bidders that included T-Mobile, Dish and Comcast, the FCC announced Thursday.

About $10 billion of that amount went to TV station license holders who gave up all or part of their broadcast frequencies that can now be eventually used to service wireless providers. About $7 billion will go to reduce the federal deficit.

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A total of 175 stations will sell their spectrum back to the government. Of those stations, 133 will continue to serve their markets by broadcasting on another channel through a sharing arrangement. Thirty other winners successfully moved to other frequencies. About 12 stations will leave the air completely, none of which are in the Los Angeles market.

The auction proceeds were also a boon to San Bernardino public TV station KVCR, which previously announced its receiving $157 million from the auction. The station is owned by San Bernardino Community College.

In both cases, the stations are selling their broadcast spectrum while retaining the ability to still serve their viewing audiences that watch them through over-the-air broadcast television. KVCR is moving from its spot on the UHF band to a new frequency. KOCE entered a channel-sharing agreement with Los Angeles station KSCI.

Viewers who watch the over-the-air signal will have to use the re-scan function on their TV sets to get the stations on their new frequencies after the transition occurs over the next few years. Cable and satellite subscribers will not know the difference.

There will be no impact on the viewer, said Andrew Russell, president and chief executive of PBS SoCal.

The auction proceeds are meaningful for public broadcasters who are facing significant federal funding cuts proposed by the Trump administration.

Russell said the one-time proceeds will be used to invest in new programming, initiatives in broadband services and establishing an endowment fund to provide ongoing income. But the station will still need the federal stipends it receives every year for its operating costs.

The auction proceeds were on the low side of what the station expected to receive, Russell said.

That was the consensus of most of the auction participants as demand for spectrum from wireless carriers was not as robust as expected. Many stations expected much higher revenue from the auction.

Some small, lower-power stations that werent eligible to participate in the auction may go off the air, especially if they have to spend millions to move to another channel on the radio-wave spectrum.

Maxwell Agha and his wife, Michelle Diaz Agha, have invested millions into their San Diego station KSDY-TV, which broadcasts Spanish-language news and local programming. Theyve asked the FCC to change the stations status so that it would be eligible to receive funds from the auction.

Its up to them to grant us relief, otherwise there is no guarantee were going to survive this, Maxwell Agha said.

stephen.battaglio@latimes.com

Twitter: @SteveBattaglio
Delta is letting employees offer customers almost $10,000 in compensation to give up seats on overbooked flights, hoping to avoid an uproar like the one that erupted at United after a passenger was dragged off a jet.

United is taking steps too. It will require employees seeking a seat on a plane to book it at least an hour before departure, a policy that might have prevented Sundays confrontation.

Those and other changes show airlines are scrambling to respond to a public relations nightmare  the video showing airport officers violently yanking and dragging David Dao, 69, from his seat on a sold-out United Express flight.

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Full coverage of the United Airlines controversy 

Dao and three others were ordered off the plane after four airline employees showed up at the last minute and demanded seats so they could be in place to operate a flight the next day in Louisville, Ky.

On Friday, a United spokeswoman said the airline changed its policy to require traveling employees to book a flight at least 60 minutes before departure. Had the rule been in place Sunday, United Express Flight 3411 still would have been overbooked by four seats, but United employees could have dealt with the situation in the gate area instead of on the plane.

Delta Air Lines is moving to make it easier to find customers willing to give up their seats. In an internal memo obtained Friday by the Associated Press, Delta said gate agents can offer up to $2,000, up from a previous maximum of $800, and supervisors can offer up to $9,950, up from $1,350.

United said it is reviewing its compensation policies. The airline would not disclose its current payment limit.

Other airlines said they were examining their policies. American Airlines updated its rules to say that no passenger who has boarded the plane will be removed to give the seat to someone else.

None would describe their limits on paying passengers.

When there arent enough seats, airlines usually ask for volunteers by offering travel vouchers, gift cards or cash.

Last year Delta got more passengers to give up their seats than any other U.S. airline, partly by paying more than most of the others.

As a result, it had the lowest rate among the largest U.S. airlines of bumping people off flights against their will  something that is legal but alienates customers and requires the airline to pay compensation of up to $1,350 per person.

Overselling flights is a fact of life in the airline business. Industry officials say that it is necessary because some passengers dont show up, and that overbooking keeps fares down by reducing the number of empty seats.

The practice has been questioned, however, since video of the United Express incident went viral. United Continental Chief Executive Oscar Munozs initial attempts to apologize were roundly criticized. On Friday, company Chairman Robert Milton said the board supported Munoz.

We need to use this regrettable event as a defining moment and pivot off it to craft friendly policies, Milton said in a note to employees.

The dragging has turned into a public relations nightmare for the entire industry, not just United, and led to calls from politicians and consumer advocates to suspend or ban overbooking.

Ben Schlappig, a travel blogger who first wrote about the Delta compensation increase, said it shows Delta is trying to reduce forced bumping. He said he couldnt imagine many situations in which people wouldnt jump at nearly $10,000.

Delta no doubt hopes that gate agents and their supervisors wont need to make maximum offers, and the financial cost to the airline is likely to be limited. If Delta paid $9,950 to every person it bumped involuntarily last year, that would total $12 million. Delta earned nearly $4.4 billion.

Raising the limits lets them solve some PR problems and might head off U.S. Transportation Department regulations to curb overbooking, said another travel blogger, Gary Leff. They can say, Look, were already solving the problem.

An Associated Press analysis of government data shows that in 2015 and 2016, Delta paid an average of $1,118 in compensation for every passenger that it denied a seat. Southwest Airlines paid $758, United $565, and American Airlines $554.

After the incident in Chicago, critics questioned why United didnt offer more when no passengers accepted the airlines $800 offer for volunteers to give up their seats.

If you offer enough money, even the guy going to a funeral will sell his seat, said Ross Aimer, a retired United pilot.

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UPDATES:

4:45 p.m.: This article was updated with United imposing a new rule on employees seeking seats on its planes, and with comment from United Continental Chairman Robert Milton.

This article was originally published at 3 p.m.
Huntington Beach residents Chris Birtwistle and Allison Naitmazi were about to get married and decided it was time to buy a home.

They wanted to stay in the area but couldnt find a house they both liked and could reasonably afford  despite a dual income of around $150,000.

So they decided to go inland  all the way to Arizona, where they recently opened escrow on a $240,000, four-bedroom house with a pool just outside Phoenix. Their monthly mortgage payment will be about $500 less than what they paid for a two-bedroom apartment in the Orange County beach community.

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The only hesitation was [leaving] the great weather, the 31-year old Birtwistle said. But we talked about what we can get here and what we can get there for the same price and that was a no-brainer.

Residents of coastal Southern California are increasingly making the same decision to move away  a trend many economists blame on a housing shortage driving rents and home prices sharply higher during the economic recovery.

Construction is underway on the Morningstar Ranch community in Winchester, near Temecula. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Moves out of the area remain far below levels seen during last decades housing bubble, when out-migration was nearly triple what it was in 2016  and real estate agents urged clients to drive until you qualify.

But after slowing down in the aftermath of the Great Recession, which devastated the housing market, out-migration is picking up as prices climb steadily higher, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

To escape high prices, people  often younger and with lower- or middle-class incomes  are looking toward the Inland Empire and nearby states for additional square footage and a lower mortgage payment.

[Migration] is settling back into longer-term patterns, said Jed Kolko, chief economist with employment website Indeed.com who analyzed the data.

Others were more blunt.

The impact is to create an auction situation between the haves and the have-nots, Christopher Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics, said of the housing shortage. And the have-nots have to move away.

In 2016, about 75,000 more people left Los Angeles County than moved here from other places in the United States, the data show. That rate of negative domestic migration is 21% more than a year earlier, and nearly double the level seen in 2012 when moves away from the county had bottomed out.

A similar trend exists in Orange County, where the median price of $645,000 is higher than the peak last decade, a level not yet hit in L.A. County.

Detailed data on who moved and where is not available yet for 2016, but it is for previous years.

In 2015, the top destination for those leaving L.A. County was the Inland Empire, followed by Nevada, Arizona and Kern County. In Orange County, most left for the Inland Empire, Idaho, San Diego County and Arizona.

Younger people and those with low and moderate incomes moved out at the greatest rate, though negative domestic migration was seen among people of all generations and income brackets, including households with incomes of $100,000 to $200,000.

People still want to be here, said Jordan Levine, an economist with the California Assn. of Realtors, who compiled the age and income data. Its just a question if you can afford to be here. Higher-income people and those with more education have a better shot, but even they are struggling.

That includes people such as former Huntington Beach residents Birtwistle and Naitmazi, who are purchasing a nearly 2,260-square-foot home in Avondale, Ariz. The mortgage comes with monthly payment of only $1,300.

Similar-sized homes in Huntington Beach are going for a minimum of $800,000, and Birtwistle said their options in Orange County were limited because they wanted to stay in a neighborhood with good schools and low crime rates.

In Arizona, Birtwistle said his fiancee was able to keep her marketing job, while he secured a new one as a manager for a used car retailer.

Really, the desire to move outside of California was to do with wanting to have more financial stability, he said.

The population in Los Angeles and Orange counties is still growing, a result of births and immigration from other countries. Jobs are on the rise too.

But as people such as Birtwistle leave, some businesses and economists are becoming concerned.

How do we grow our economy when we cant recruit the workers who can come here and have a decent quality of life? Levine said.

Signs advertising new housing developments are posted in Gilbert, Ariz. Residents of L.A. and Orange counties are increasingly moving to cheaper areas, including Arizona. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, a senior executives group, said housing has quickly risen to the top of issues impacting decisions in the boardroom.

Businesses are struggling to recruit and some are putting off expansions, Lapsley said, while others are moving mid-level office jobs to neighboring states.

They are moving folks in order to provide a better quality of life, he said, noting employees will also take a lower salary in a less-expensive state. Its a win-win.

A recent report from USC and the Los Angeles Business Council cited local departures, including Toyotas move of its North American headquarters to Texas, as job losses probably driven in good part by high housing costs.

At Ytel, a software company in the Lake Forest neighborhood of Foothill Ranch, some employees commute an hour each way to work, unable to afford a house in a city with a median price of $727,000.

Its highly inefficient, founder and Chief Executive Nick Newsom said. After a long commute it can take time to realign your focus to the workday.

To help, Newsom said he lets employees work from home and use video conferencing. Or they can work flexible hours so they can drive in after rush hour.

In my dream world, I would want my employees to have homes close to the office, he said. But its difficult for them to do and youve got to make a very good [salary] to live in south Orange County.

Its a problem that extends beyond Southern California.

From 2007 to 2014, 502,000 more residents earning below $50,000 annually moved out of the state than moved in, while people earning above that level moved in at a greater rate than they left, according to a recent report from Beacon Economics.

If affordability doesnt improve, lower- and middle-income households will increasingly leave, Beacon principal Thornberg said. But he predicted that wealthy individuals will still come and the economy would just grow slower and tilt toward the rich.

People moving out of the area, is that a problem? Not necessarily, Thornberg said. A lot of it has to do with what your goals are.

For former Irvine residents Christie Serrao and her husband, their goal was to give their two young children their own rooms and a large backyard.

The stay-at-home mom and account executive  who described themselves as comfortably middle-class  said they were priced out in Orange County.

So last fall, they purchased a five bedroom, $434,000 home in a new subdivision near Temecula built by Irvine-based CalAtlantic Homes.

Serrao, 41, said her husbands commute has stretched from five minutes to nearly two hours. But Serrao said the move has been worth it.

Her husband works remotely three days a week and her children, ages 4 and 6, have a lifestyle that wouldve been difficult to afford in Orange County.

The kids can ride bikes in the backyard and I can cook dinner and not have to worry about them, she said.

Did you leave coastal California? Tell us why in the comments below, or on the Times Facebook page.

andrew.khouri@latimes.com

Follow me @khouriandrew on Twitter

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Google is known for doing lots of things well  but fashion isnt one of them. It is, after all, the company that tried to make Google Glass seem cool.

But the search giant isnt giving up on style yet, announcing Friday a new feature for mobile users that could help them choose outfits.

Google will use its image search to show inspirational lifestyle images and outfits to those scanning through fashion product photos, offering ideas of how to style items in real life.

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Google said its new feature will also show users similar items to the ones theyre browsing.

These moves may make Google a bigger competitor to Pinterest, which for many is the go-to destination for fashion inspiration. The San Francisco company has developed a visual search tool that allows users to upload images of items and find out where they can buy them or similar products.

When it comes to fashion, Google says in its statement, its hard to know where to start.

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

Twitter: @smasunaga
Arlene Howards phone bill said she made a bunch of calls to Cuba, which she didnt. Her service provider, Charter Communications, acknowledged that her office line must have been hacked.

But it still demanded that she pay thousands of dollars to cover the cost of the bogus calls.

To which all customers of Charters Spectrum service should rightly respond: Say what?!

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You probably didnt know this  I didnt  but buried deep within the fine print of Spectrums terms of service for business and residential landlines is a provision that the customer, not the company, is responsible for any fraudulent use of the phone service.

I found similar provisions tucked away in AT&Ts and Frontier Communications terms.

You get hacked, you pay.

And that, of course, is nuts. Its not your handset, after all, thats being hacked. In most cases, its the telecom companys network. Why should the customer be left holding the bag for a corporate security lapse?

Its frustrating, said Christine Mailloux, staff attorney with the Utility Reform Network, a San Francisco advocacy group. The companies will come up with a mumbo-jumbo, gobbledygook explanation for how its the customers responsibility. But its hard to see how these contracts are defensible.

Howard owns a small PR firm in Brentwood. She relies on Spectrum  formerly Time Warner Cable  for her offices phones, Internet connections and TV service. Her typical bill runs about $1,200 a month.

In January she received a bill that included nearly $6,400 in charges for international calls. Howard contacted Spectrum to ask what was going on.

They said it was for all the calls I made to Cuba, she told me. I told them I didnt make any calls to Cuba.

Spectrum looked into things and acknowledged that Howards phones must have been hacked. Yet, because the company is so big-hearted, a service rep said, Spectrum would hold Howard responsible for only half the charges, or about $3,000.

What do you mean half? Howard replied. I was hacked. This is your responsibility.

This is where Spectrum pointed her to the service contract for business customers. It says that the customer is solely responsible for prevention of unauthorized, unlawful or fraudulent use of or access to services.

The fine print of the contract for residential customers is even more explicit. It says that the customer is responsible for any fraudulent or unauthorized use of the voice service that occurs through the subscribers account regardless of who is responsible for such usage.

It also says that the subscriber shall be solely responsible for payment of all applicable charges ... even where calls are originated by fraudulent means either from the subscribers premises or from remote locations.

Think about that. A hacker in Russia could run up crazy charges on your phone, and its your responsibility to pay the bill.

AT&T and Frontier arent much better. Their contracts specify that customers are responsible for all fraudulent charges that accrue prior to a hack being reported to the companies  which in most cases would be all charges, because you wouldnt know youve been hacked until your bill arrived weeks later.

It looks like wireless customers are generally spared such manhandling. AT&Ts wireless contract, for instance, says that youre not liable for charges you did not authorize.

Howard shared with me her correspondence with Spectrum. She hit a brick wall in trying to make the company back down from its customer-unfriendly position. Her lawyer also got nowhere.

Worse, Spectrum played hardball by twice cutting off her service and demanding payments. Last week, Howard shelled out $1,250 to get her service restored  for calls she didnt make.

What choice did I have? she told me. I have a business to run.

The company gave Howard until Monday to cough up at least another $700 of the more than $3,000 it says is outstanding. If she doesnt, itll shut her down again.

Spectrums stance is that it was Howards internal phone system, not Spectrums network, that was hacked, so none of this is the companys fault.

Thats a bold position considering that its impossible to access Howards phone system without getting at it via Spectrums line. Nor could the fraudulent calls to Cuba have been made without Spectrum serving as a conduit.

After thoroughly investigating this issue, it is clear Ms. Howards business phone system, which was purchased through a third party, was compromised  not our voice service to her firm, Dennis Johnson, a Spectrum spokesman, said in a statement. We have helped her secure her private business phones and provided a credit to her account.

Its unclear what he meant by that. Howard said no Spectrum technician has visited her office. That suggests Spectrum made any fixes remotely, which indicates some responsibility for network security.

The credit Johnson referred to was for some extra taxes that Spectrum acknowledged months ago it had erroneously tacked on to the fraudulent charges.

Johnson declined to elaborate on his statement. But the company apparently was nervous enough about my asking questions that it informed Howard it would reduce her outstanding bill by $500.

A telecom industry insider, requesting anonymity in return for telling the truth, told me that most phone companies insert these noxious you-pay-for-fraud provisions in their contracts to prevent customers from willy-nilly challenging all charges on their bill.

However, this person said, most companies wont hesitate to write off fraudulent calls if its clear that the customer didnt make them.

Debra Tortorelli, an AT&T spokeswoman, acknowledged that if we determine that fraud has occurred on a customers account, we quickly reverse unauthorized charges. Javier Mendoza, a Frontier spokesman, similarly told me that cases of fraud are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Thats good  and Charter should adopt a similar policy. However, if a phone company is flexible about such matters, it should say as much in its contract, rather than reserving the right to stick customers with bogus bills.

And if Spectrum is confident that its customer didnt make thousands of dollars worth of international calls, which it apparently is in Howards case, the stand-up thing is to swallow the charges (the true cost of which undoubtedly is much less than what was billed).

Spectrums parent, Charter, pocketed $3.5 billion in profit last year. You now have to wonder how much of that came from strong-arming customers.

David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com.
The long, storied history of the Chinese in Los Angeles began in 1850, when the census recorded two Chinese residents of the city.

They were part of a wave of Chinese immigrants drawn to California by the twin siren calls of the Gold Rush and plentiful construction jobs on the transcontinental railroad. They found ready work across California.

In L.A., these new Americans began to settle in the area between the Los Angeles River and the Plaza.

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With the end of construction of the railroad, a nativist backlash resulted in a restriction against any Chinese working as wage laborers, a restriction that they promptly turned into an opportunity to achieve success through entrepreneurial pursuits.

Soon Old Chinatown was a thriving neighborhood, complete with a Chinese opera and no fewer than three temples. In 1880, however, growing xenophobic sentiment reached its apotheosis with the Exclusion Act, which barred further Chinese immigration.

The act, in conjunction with prohibitions against the ownership of property by anyone of Chinese ancestry, set in motion the slow economic decline of Old Chinatown, a process that accelerated in the 1930s with the decision to raze the heart of the neighborhood to make way for Union Station.

L.A.s Chinese community, in an effort led by Peter SooHoo, began to search for a site to build a new, modern Chinatown. It found one just north of downtown, on Santa Fe Railroad land in what had historically been Little Italy.

To prevent the kind of dislocation that had forced them from their original neighborhood, they formed the Los Angeles Chinatown Project Assn., a development group that would allow them to control their own destiny moving forward.

Working to create a recognizably Chinese cultural experience that would appeal to locals and tourists alike, the association re-envisioned Chinatown as a mixed-use residential and retail complex. Buildings were constructed to the most modern earthquake codes, the streets were wide and airy, and traditional Chinese architecture, as filtered through the popular American imagination, was foregrounded.

As innovative as New Chinatown was, its reign as the center of Chinese American life in Los Angeles was short. The end of the Exclusion Act during World War II and the relaxation of racial covenants allowed Chinese Angelenos to join the postwar exodus to the suburbs, with many making their new homes in San Gabriel Valley.

Today, Chinatown is on an upswing. New apartment buildings and retail outlets are going in; it has its own Metro rail station; and the Los Angeles State Historic Park will finally open later this month.

Far East Plaza. (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

Neighborhood highlights:

Cuisine scene: In the last few years, Chinatown has emerged as one of the citys most exciting hipster food havens, especially if youre on a budget. Although Pok Pok Phat Thai is no more, there are still Howlin Rays (if you can stand the line), Chego, Lao Tao and more at the Far East Plaza alone.

Old meets new: The original plaza is still standing and as popular as ever, and its now being complemented by new residential development across the neighborhood.

A layered history: Three historical timelines  the Italian and Chinese immigrant experiences, and the early history of L.A. itself  come together in Chinatown.

Neighborhood challenges:

Keeping it real: Chinatown is touristy, sure, but its always been grittily true to itself. Keeping new development from polishing away its interesting edges will be a challenge.

Expert insight:

With the rapid rise of downtown L.A., neighboring communities are benefiting from the spillover, said Johnny Choi, a senior associate who does retail investments and leasing at CBRE.

Chinatown is really in the path of growth, he said. When it comes to commercial and residential, people are very sensitive in terms of rent, and I think everyones kind of moving outwards of downtown because downtown is getting so expensive.

Choi noted that for residents of Chinatown, downtown L.A. is almost like an amenity to them  its, like, five minutes away.

Market snapshot:

Portions of the 90012, 90031 and 90033 ZIP Codes overlap the Chinatown area.

In February, based on three sales, the median sales price for condominiums in the 90012 was $430,000, according to CoreLogic. In the 90031 ZIP, the median sales price for condominiums, based on four sales, was $376,000, and for single-family homes, the median price was $508,000 based on four sales. In the 90033, there was one home sale of $750,000 for that month.

Report card:

Within the boundaries of Chinatown are Castelar Street Elementary and Endeavor College Preparatory Charter, which scored 874 and 870, respectively, in the 2013 Academic Performance Index.

Nearby schools include Albion Street Elementary, which had a score of 811, and Betty Plasencia Elementary, which scored 786. Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts scored 737, and School for the Visual arts and Humanities had a score of 685.

hotproperty@latimes.com

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Giving lesser-known artists visibility is key to the mission of the Craft and Folk Art Museum, says Executive Director Suzanne Isken, whose institution has an annual operating budget of about $730,000  less than what some Hollywood stars make for a few days work.

Which is why a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts has been so crucial for the L.A. museum to stage its current exhibition, Chapters: Book Arts in Southern California.

The exhibition features more than 100 altered and sculptural books, zines and artist-driven publications made since the 1960s. And a line-item breakdown of how the $25,000 and matching grant money were spent offers a window into the pricey but necessary minutiae associated with a museum exhibition  costs that the public may not consider.

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Shipping art to and from the museum, for example, cost $800. Security for the show cost $1,200. Postcard printing and mailing cost $150. Three advertising spots on a local NPR station totaled $1,500. Lighting and painting supplies were $1,140. Insurance for the show was $1,200. The most expensive item on the list: $8,000 for fabrication of exhibition displays, as well as labels and wall text. Artist fees for all commissioned work totaled only $6,000.

Our pay is very low, Isken says regretfully.

They are very serious about these grants, and they really provide opportunities for artists.  Suzanne Isken, executive director of the Craft and Folk Art Museum, on the National Endowment for the Arts

That show features the work of 55 artists, many of whom would otherwise not get their work seen, Isken says. The show represents the first large-scale museum survey cataloging the importance of Southern California artists on the development of book arts, she said.

They are very serious about these grants, and they really provide opportunities for artists, Isken says of the NEA, adding that 90% of the artists CAFAM features are emerging.

Whereas a larger museum can turn to luxury brands for sponsorships and maybe park a Jaguar on its plaza as advertising, smaller venues dont carry that kind of prestige. Individual gifts also can be harder to come by.

Theres not a lot of social standing in the smaller organizations, it doesnt give you that cache, Isken says with a laugh.

The result is a frugal operation where every dollar counts. A curator might make less than $60,000 per year, and part of that salary could be paid by an NEA grant for a particular show. In the case of Chapters, curator Holly Jerger received $5,400 thanks to the NEA.

We thought we could do this show for $50,000, Isken says, citing the total of the NEA grant and the matching funds the museum raised. For us thats a huge show, for others thats not so much.

CAFAM has received a total of $55,000 from the NEA in the form of four grants since 2010. A $10,000 grant in 2014 was used to support an exhibition of work by the beloved local sculptor Clare Graham; the exhibition was accompanied by sculpture workshops for developmentally disabled adults. The results of those workshops were exhibited along with Grahams work.

It meant so much to these artists and their support groups to come and see their work on display, Isken says.

The attention that comes with a CAFAM show has helped to launch careers. In 2015, the museum exhibited the far-out creations of shoe artist and designer Chris Francis, elevating his national profile. The following year Vogue wrote an article on Francis, touting his six-month residency crafting shoes at CAFAM.

These are people weve helped expose, and then other people hear about them, and thats how it happens, says Isken, circling back to Chapters, which features the work of many women and artists of color who found their artistic voices via book arts at a time when the broader art world was often shut off to them.

It was a way to express themselves, she says, and get shown when they couldnt get seen in museums.

L.A. Without the NEA is a series looking at a different community group, how its NEA funds were spent, what artistic or public good did or didnt result and what the cultural landscape would look like if that program were to disappear. Look for more installments to follow at latimes.com/LAwithouttheNEA.

jessica.gelt@latimes.com

@jessicagelt

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IDW comics is ready to expand the Star Wars galaxy. The publishing company and Lucasfilm just announced a comic book collaboration titled Star Wars Adventures.

Unveiled at Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, Fla., Star Wars Adventures is targeted for younger readers. While we dont have any details on the plot points, we do know that IDW will be working directly with Lucasfilm to create new stories set within the Star Wars universe. That means that, yes, they will span the entire film franchise, and, yes, these stories will be canon with the movie-verse.

The launch of the monthly line is set for the fall of 2017. That puts its release in advance of the next episodic film,  Star Wars: The Last Jedi , which premieres in December.

Lucasfilm is thrilled to expand our relationship with the talented and creative folks at IDW to bring Star Wars comics to kids, said Michael Siglain, creative director of Lucasfilm Publishing via press release. IDW has an incredible pedigree of talent, and we look forward to working with them on the creation of these fun, action-packed adventures that span the entire Star Wars saga.

Take a look at the full teaser image below:

Star Wars Adventures teaser image. ( Derek Charm /IDW Publishing)

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

meredith.woerner@latimes.com

Twitter: @MdellW

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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.

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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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Most actors cant credit a police raid at a marijuana factory for jump-starting their leap into acting, but then again, most actors arent Lakeith Stanfield.

The Victorville native, whose career trajectory has also included a brief stint as a runway model, was working at the factory (I dont know why Im always saying it was a factory, it was like a house with the walls knocked out of it, he admitted) for about six months before a SWAT team swarmed in and crashed the whole operation.

It was like I lost my baby or something, he said. It sucked because I thought I was going to be doing that for the rest of my life. I was like, I love this. I want to just keep raising plants. And it just stopped right there. So I had to move, figure out my life, and I somehow started this trajectory.

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(Warning: Spoilers for Get Out below.)

The 25-year-old, who made his film debut in 2013s Short Term 12, has since nabbed bit parts in buzzy movies like The Purge: Anarchy, Selma, Dope, and Straight Outta Compton where he played Snoop Dogg, no less. Most recently (and most memorably), he appeared in Jordan Peeles Get Out as Logan, the unfortunate victim of a suburban body-snatching operation. And hes a series regular on Donald Glovers award-winning FX comedy Atlanta.

Meeting Stanfield in person is kind of like coming face-to-face with Darius, the character he plays on Atlanta. He has a quiet intensity, and is as quick to laugh as he is to wax poetic on racial inequality in Hollywood or the consciousness of plants. Swathed in a brown wool scarf despite the near 80 degree L.A. heat, Stanfield explained what it was like working on projects like Get Out and Atlanta.

Get Out was fun and cool, but it was creepy. It was genuinely scary for me to do. Atlanta was like a beautiful, brilliant, fun journey with friends.  Lakeith Stanfield

Get Out was really fun and cool, but it was creepy, he said. It was genuinely scary for me to do. Atlanta was like a beautiful, brilliant, fun journey with friends. I felt weirdly with Get Out like I was doing something for the culture but with Atlanta, it was more so like, Let me invite you into my home and show you how I live. And it ended up still feeling at the end of the day like [it was for the culture].

That culture being black culture, which is growing steadily in popularity despite black people being told for years that their narratives wouldnt sell. Among the buzziest new shows of 2016 were Atlanta, Issa Raes Insecure, and Ava DuVernays Queen Sugar, shows that center around black people just living their lives; universal stories that are increasingly being sopped up by multiracial audiences.

I think now were coming through and beginning to see that humanity isnt dictated by ethnicity and background. Were just human first, Stanfield said. So its an exciting time for me because Ive always felt human but trapped in a body that made people believe things about me that simply werent true. Now we get to express ourselves and live in that way with projects like Get Out, with projects like Atlanta. We get to just humanize the black male in Hollywoods racial structure. Hollywoods been racist since its inception. But now its opening up. Now its becoming much more real, inclusive.

I want to be what I didnt have, which is a role model, a male person on TV that looked like me that was able to do cool things, Stanfield added. I also want to be able to do that and just more humanize myself  because youd be surprised how much people think your skin tone actually indicates something about you.

Darius one-liners (one gem: You assume perversion of the word daddy. I think thats stemming from a fear of mortality) and obvious comfort in his own offbeatness allow him to steal any scene hes in.

Lakeith makes Darius a real person, Glover said. I saw him in Short Term 12' and thought he was really captivating and quietly funny. We have a very collaborative relationship. He just makes decisions on camera that I really believe and love. Its really fun and natural.

Brian Tyree Henry, who plays rapper Paper Boi on the show and is Stanfields most frequent scene partner, recalled that, From the very first moment I met Keith on the pilot, I knew right away that we were connected. He is truly my little brother. Our characters really reflect our actual friendship.

Most importantly to Stanfield, his character gives people watching an example of cool that deviates from traditional archetypes.

Lakeith Stanfield (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Im pretty sure everyone involved with Atlanta to some extent has gotten bullied or told that they werent going to be able to do something...  Lakeith Stanfield

Im pretty sure everyone involved with Atlanta to some extent has gotten bullied or told that they werent going to be able to do something or that they werent cool at some point in their life, Stanfield said. And now those same people are leading the revolution of television because theyre so tired of having that gaze on them telling them what they are and having other peoples perceptions move them.

I think thats what attracted a lot of people [to the show], because a lot of people identify with not being comfortable in their skin or not thinking youre good enough. Especially kids in high school. Now they have people to look up to who also werent good enough.

In Get Out, Stanfield plays Logan, the unwitting victim of a suburban white family thats perfected the art of body-snatching (specifically, black bodies). The film, a low-budget horror satire that turned into the years breakout hit, explores themes involving (literal) cultural appropriation, micro-aggressions experienced by black people at the hands of whites, and the thorniness of race relations, among other things.

Ive seen it like four times now, Stanfield said. Literally the third time I saw it, I was walking out shaking. It hit me deep that time.

Get Out director Peele notes in an email that Every moment Lakeith is on screen the audience has his back. For the opening scene, I needed the audience to feel like this could happen to any one of us. Lakeith has this woke and wise quality. We trust him to make the right call; the same call we would make.

Still, Logan was outside Stanfields usual onscreen persona. Lakeith, stripped of his cool, is a creepy thing, Peele said.

The low-budget film has turned into the years most surprising hit, but not everyone was happy with the film.

I saw a couple of people walk out, Stanfield said. People were feeling some type of way which I thought was good because first of all, you bought a ticket, so thanks. But I think its good that people feel something. If it makes you feel something, whether its good or bad, then good.

In Get Out, after having his brain swapped with that of an older white man, Logan began to take on the mannerisms of a septugenarian, a performance Stanfield admitted he didnt have to study for.

I interact with white people all day, every day, he said. So really it just required me keeping my eyes open. Im constantly interfaced with not only white people but the disposition of one that is seemingly benign but really has ulterior motives. Living in Hollywood I deal with that every day.

All this talk about race and inequality was clearly troubling to Stanfield. He brightened up, though, when asked about why he decided to become an actor.

I was just talking about that earlier, he said. I was wondering what was the turning point. And Xosha [his girlfriend] said, You were born like that. Youve always been like that. And it really hit me for some reason because I dont really think of a time where a switch came or I was like, I wanna do this. I just always was that type of person that you probably would want to film or something. I think if it wasnt for acting, I would probably be one of those dudes on the side of the road.

sonaiya.kelley@latimes.com

follow me on twitter @sonaiyak

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It sounds paradoxical but, if done right, films about a life ending can be the most life-affirming films youll see. Truman, a great success in its native Spain, is definitely done right.

Essentially a two-hander about a terminally ill man and his lifelong best friend, Truman swept the 2016 Goyas, Spains equivalent to the Academy Awards, winning best film, screenplay and director as well as actor and supporting actor for its pair of veteran stars.

That would be Ricardo Darin, Argentinas biggest attraction, best known in this country for The Secret in Their Eyes, and Javier Camara, who has appeared in several Pedro Almodovar films, including Talk to Her and Bad Education.

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Darin and Camara, who also shared the best actor prize at Spains prestigious San Sebastian festival, were director Cesc Gays first choices, and its not hard to see why.

Both accomplished performers for whom not pushing too hard is second nature, they are ideal for this feelingly done, honest and very human story about what is wanted from life as death approaches, a satisfying film that is moving in both expected and unexpected ways.

Though its set in Madrid, Truman begins not there but on an early morning in Canada, where Tomas (Camara) is saying goodbye to his wife and young children before taking off for Spain, where he is paying a visit to best friend Julian (Darin).

The visit is a surprise, but the underlying reason for it is not. Julian has found out that the lung cancer he thought had been contained has in fact dangerously metastasized.

More than that, tipped off by Julians attractive cousin Paula (Dolores Fonzi), Tomas knows that Julian, sick of hospitals and medical regimens, has decided not to have the cancer treated anymore. Im done, he tells his friend, and its clear he means it.

Darin and Camara are ideal for this very human story about what is wanted from life as death approaches.

In a lesser scenario, Truman would be taken up by Tomas trying to change Julians mind, but here Tomas quickly realizes that his friend cannot be dissuaded by him or anyone else.

Instead, Tomas spends the four days he has left of his trip in Madrid accompanying Julian as his friend tries to tie up the loose ends in his life and arrange things ahead of time so that his death is not a burden to the survivors.

Though the two men could not be closer, they are far from identical, which leads to considerable amount of amusing bickering between the two.

Tomas, a scientist back home in Canada, is a planner and worrier, while Julian, an actor who is still working on stage, is dramatic and emotional, someone who enjoys nothing better than making a scene  like the one he creates when he berates colleagues who are avoiding him because of his illness.

The darkly amusing situations the men navigate together include shopping for a casket and dealing with the producer of the play Julian is in. But much of their time is taken up with the character that gives the film its name.

Truman, however, is not a person but a dog, a large and elderly bullmastiff with a mind of its own that Julian, with his son at university in Amsterdam, considers to be his second child.

Completely consumed with Trumans well-being, Julian has a comical conversation with a vet about how the dog will react to his death and even takes meetings with a series of potential adoptive families who would inherit the dog when he dies.

Julian believes that the only thing that matters in life is relationships, but because this bromide is harder to put into practice than he anticipates, its a pleasure to watch these believable individuals as they try. Each person dies as best they can, the actor says, and those indeed prove to be words to live by.

------------------

Truman

Not rated.

Running time: 1 hour, 48 minutes.

Playing: Laemmles Royal, West Los Angeles, Playhouse 7, Pasadena.

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kenneth.turan@latimes.com

@KennethTuran

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If Elisabeth Moss were a character in a network pilot, shed win high marks for her relatability.

On a sludgy late-winter evening, the actress shows up at a restaurant near Lincoln Center looking casually stylish in an embroidered bomber jacket and motorcycle boots. Even though shes been holed up sick in her apartment for days, she orders a Moscow Mule. It has ginger in it, so its actually good for you, she reasons.

Moss, 34, is the right kind of enabler, gushing about the burrata on the menu and her favorite line of fancy sweats. Shes a fan of all The Real Housewives, but especially Lisa Vanderpump, and is obsessed with This Is Us. In other words, shes just your average seven-time Emmy nominee next door.

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Given her affinity for material that essentially defines brooding  think Mad Men or Top of the Lake  Moss sunny demeanor can seem surprising.

I appreciate in my own life having things not complicated. But in my work, thats boring, she says. Im happiest if Im on the ground crying or yelling at somebody.

Presumably, then, she was on cloud nine making The Handmaids Tale, premiering April 26 on Hulu. Based on Margaret Atwoods celebrated dystopian novel, the series is set in a near future in which, amid plummeting birth rates, the United States has been commandeered by a theocratic regime hostile to womens rights. Moss plays the narrator and protagonist, a still-fertile woman known as Offred (Of Fred), who is separated from her family and forced into procreative slavery as a handmaid.

Early episodes depict torture, gruesome public executions, and some of the most unsexy sex ever captured on film. (Theres also some mordant humor.) In other words, its right up Moss alley.

Still, it took a month of mulling before she accepted the role. Moss hadnt planned to return to television so soon, but the idea of them casting somebody else made me so upset and jealous, she says.

Moss also took the opportunity to ramp up her career as a producer on the series, inspired by actresses like Drew Barrymore and Reese Witherspoon  women who have taken their careers into their own hands.

1 / 62 Emilia Clarke (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 62 Kerry Washington (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 62 Tonya Harding, left, and Margot Robbie (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 62 Tracee Ellis Ross (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 62 Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson watch as Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman arrive for the 75th Golden Globe Awards. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 62 Claire Foy and Matt Smith (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 62 Reese Witherspoon, left, Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 62 Kendall Jenner (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 62 Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 62 Loung Ung and Angelina Jolie (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 62 Ava DuVernay (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 62 Sally Hawkins (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 62 Nancy Carell and Steve Carell (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 62 Gwendoline Christie (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 62 Kelly Clarkson (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 62 Actors Natalie Portman, left, America Ferrera and Emma Stone, and former tennis player Billie Jean King, right (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 62 Emilia Clarke, left, Aziz Ansari, Allison Janney (Left and center, Frazer Harrison / Getty Images | Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 62 Nicole Kidman, left, Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd, and Laura Dern (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times | Jordan Strauss / AP) 19 / 62 Allison Brie and Dave Franco (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 62 James Franco, left, Dwayne Johnson, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson ( Jordan Strauss / Associated Press | Valerie Macon / Getty Images | Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 62 Catherine Zeta-Jones, left, Chris Hemsworth and Alicia Vikander. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times | Associated Press) 22 / 62 Activist Tarana Burke, left, and actress Michelle Williams (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 62 Mariah Carey, left, Saoirse Ronan and Jessica Chastain ( Frazer Harrison / Getty Images | Jordan Strauss / Associated Press) 24 / 62 Issa Rae, left, Sarah Paulson and Amanda Peet, and Kit Harington (Jordan Strauss / Associated Press) 25 / 62 Laurie Metcalf, left, and Zoe Perry (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 62 Mandy Moore (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 62 Chrissy Metz (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 62 Nick Jonas, left, Alexis Bledel, Ewan McGregor (Valerie Macon / Getty Images) 29 / 62 Heidi Klum (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 62 Bob Odenkirk (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 62 Joseph Fiennes (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 62 Amy Poehler, left, and Saru Jayaraman (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 62 Meryl Streep, left, and Ai-jen Poo (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 62 Sebastian Stan (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 62 Tracee Ellis Ross (Valerie Macon / Getty Images ) 36 / 62 Edgar Ramirez (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 62 Sadie Sink (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 62 Sterling K. Brown (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 62 Noah Schnapp (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 62 Caleb McLaughlin (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 62 Gaten Matarazzo (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 62 Finn Wolfhard (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 62 Yvonne Strahovski (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 62 Alfred Molina, left, Debra Messing and John Goodman (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 62 Bill Pullman (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images) 46 / 62 Sterling K. Brown, left, Reed Morano and Joseph Fiennes (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times | Getty Images) 47 / 62 Poppy Jamie and her purse (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 62 Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Bathe (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 62 Simone Garcia Johnson (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 62 Mario Lopez, left, and voice actor Tom McGrath (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 62 Alessandra Mastronardi (Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images) 52 / 62 Tanika Ray, left, and Renee Bargh (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 62 Laura Marano (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 54 / 62 Giuliana Rancic (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 55 / 62 Allison Williams (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 56 / 62 Laura Marano (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 57 / 62 Jane Campion (Jordan Strauss / Invision/AP) 58 / 62 Carly Steel (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 59 / 62 Missi Pyle (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 60 / 62 Al Roker, left, Sheinelle Jones, Natalie Morales and Carson Daly (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 61 / 62 Al Roker gets a last-minute touch-up on the red carpet during arrivals at the 75th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 62 / 62 The scene Sunday from the red carpet at the 75th Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Though the L.A. native has acted professionally for most of her life  she played Sandra Bullocks daughter in the 1990 miniseries Lucky Chances  this is the first time shes been attached to an adaptation from such a well-known source.

And to say readers have strong feelings about The Handmaids Tale, a controversial modern classic thats been banned numerous times, is, well, a massive understatement. Case in point: the minor uproar that ensued when a man, Bruce Miller, was named show runner.

Unlike the largely forgotten 1990 film starring the late Natasha Richardson, this adaptation appears to have the makings of a breakout hit. Hulu has been promoting the series heavily, starting with a trailer that debuted during the Super Bowl  usually the domain of commercials for cars and beer rather than works of speculative feminist fiction implicitly critical of Americas Puritan origins.

But the news itself has done perhaps more to boost interest in the series (and its source material) than any ad campaign. The Handmaids Tale arrives at what is probably the most politically fraught moment since the books release in 1985.

Sales of the book have surged since the election. In February, it topped the Amazon bestseller list, where, in a perfect snapshot of the United States in 2017, it sat alongside Milo Yiannopoulos not-yet-released (and now canceled) memoir and George Orwells 1984.

Like Atwoods novel, which referred to historical events in order to make the nightmare more plausible, the series makes mention of Islamic State, the suspension of constitutional rights in the name of fighting terror and scenes of disarray at airports. Sound familiar?

Moss inherent relatability is essential to the it-could-happen-here message of The Handmaids Tale, says Atwood, who served as a consulting producer on the series and can be seen slapping Offred in a cameo in the pilot. (Naturally, Moss urged Atwood to hit harder.) [Offred] should have an everywoman look, says the author by phone. This is not some outstanding Amazonian superstar. This is not Wonder Woman here. Its somebody who could be you or me.

Given that Offred is primarily seen in her handmaid costume  a floor-length red dress and white bonnet  and is living under a brutally repressive regime, it was essential to find an actress who could express a lot with very little, says show runner Miller. I was looking for someone who has a main circuit cable that connects their heart to their face. I couldnt have found a better match than Lizzie, who can show an astounding range of complicated emotions on her face even whilst feeling like shes trying not to show anything.

There are few actresses as well-equipped for bonneted emoting as Moss, whose highly expressive features have inspired many of her collaborators. Director Alex Ross Perry, who first collaborated with Moss on 2014s Listen Up Philip, chose to open his 2015 film Queen of Earth with a long, uninterrupted close-up of Moss mascara-streaked face as her character was getting dumped. Perry describes her face as a secret weapon.

It was something we tried to lean into as much as possible, he says, by putting the camera a foot or so away and forcing viewers to see the eye twitches and the mouth quivers.

Actress Elisabeth Moss (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Los Angeles Times)

But for all the awe her performances inspire, Moss describes her craft in a way that is refreshingly demystifying. Everything I do, somebody writes and imagines, and then I do it, she says at one point. Its a silly thing to take too seriously, I think. Moss considers herself the opposite of a Method actor and takes pride in the ease with which she switches in and out of character.

She recalls watching some dailies of a dramatic, tearful scene from The Handmaids Tale. Right before they say action, I was recommending places for the DP to go on vacation with his family.

Its possible to see Offred as a sister of sorts to the defiant female roles Moss is already known for  perhaps none more so than secretary-turned-accidental trailblazer Peggy Olson on Mad Men, a character who has become a latter-day feminist folk hero inspiring Etsy crafts and countless Internet memes.

Moss remarks on the number of times shes played women who, like Offred and Peggy, have lost or given up their children. Moments later, a boy  perhaps 7 or 8  wanders up to the table, says hello, then walks away. Moss doesnt miss a beat: This is my son. Didnt I tell you? (Shes joking.)

Peggys status as a cultural icon is still weird to me, says Moss, recalling how she once accidentally pulled up a GIF version of herself as Peggy on her phone. It seems slightly outside of me. At the same time, it was also the thing that interested me the most as an actor, the feminist story. ... What I loved the most was when women in their teens, 20s and 30s and 40s would be like, Thats me now.

Nearly as indelible was her performance as Robin Griffin, a cop investigating the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old in the Sundance miniseries Top of the Lake. And after Mad Men, she jumped into the Peggy-esque title role in the Broadway revival of The Heidi Chronicles, Wendy Wassersteins Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a feminist art historians journey from the 60s to the 80s and eventual embrace of motherhood.

Moss, who will also be seen opposite Liev Schreiber in May in the film Chuck, about boxer Chuck Wepner, technically calls Manhattan home but work has turned her into a bit of a nomad. Before filming The Handmaids Tale in Toronto, she was in Sydney making Top of the Lake: China Girl with writer-director Jane Campion, which will air on Sundance later this year. The actress agreed to another season of the drama on one condition: It had to be even darker than the thoroughly menacing original.

Over the past year or so, Moss has grown more politically outspoken, voicing support for Hillary Clinton, Planned Parenthood and the Womens March on social media. One suspects that her characters may be rubbing off on her  a contention she doesnt dispute.

I feel passionately about my choices in life being protected, she says. I think women in my generation have had a real wake-up call: Oh wait, were not always going to have the things that our moms and grandmothers fought for? Oh, you mean you can take that away from us?

meredith.blake@latimes.com

Twitter: @MeredithBlake

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As one of the most celebrated novels of the last 30 years, The Handmaids Tale has naturally inspired many adaptations. Heres a look at some of the efforts to translate Margaret Atwoods novel -- written in the first person from the point of view of a young handmaid named Offred -- to film, dance, opera and even radio.

Film: Even though The Handmaids Tale was an acclaimed bestseller, studios in the late 80s werent lining up to finance a provocative feminist tale. Director Volker Schlondorff and producer Daniel Wilson also struggled to find an actress brave enough to play Offred after original star Sigourney Weaver dropped out  reportedly because she was pregnant (oh, the irony). The movie, written by legendary dramatist Harold Pinter and starring Natasha Richardson, was a commercial and critical dud upon its release in 1990. Cold to the touch, was The Times verdict. The filmmakers dont have enough feeling for the present to make a convincing cautionary tale about the future.

Opera: From composer Poul Ruders with a libretto by Paul Bentley, this work added a framing device inspired by Atwoods novel: In the year 2195, a professor lecturing about the former Republic of Gilead shares an audio diary from a handmaid named Offred. The opera, which told her story in flashback, premiered in Copenhagen in 2000 and later played in London and Minneapolis. The result was dramatically convoluted, according to the New York Times, but so musically inventive that you get pulled in anyway.

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Ballet: The Royal Winnipeg Ballet presented its take on The Handmaids Tale, choreographed by Lila York and with music by James MacMillan, in 2013. The mostly faithful adaptation, which made use of video projection, was visually striking but short of conflict, drama, passion and tension, observed the Globe and Mail.

Theater: In 2015, a stage adaptation of The Handmaids Tale opened in Cincinnati. Written by Joe Stollenwerk, it starred Corinne Mohlenhoff as Offred and hewed closely to Atwoods original text  a little too closely for a critic at the Cincinnati Enquirer, who wrote, This isnt a book. Its a live performance.

Radio: John Dryden dramatized The Handmaids Tale for BBC Radio 4 in 2000. His version featured documentary-style sound recorded on location in New York. This roots the plot in the ordinary and everyday, lending it plausibility, ruled the Guardian.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

meredith.blake@latimes.com

Follow me @MeredithBlake

ALSO:

Elisabeth Moss gets dystopian in The Handmaids Tale

See a steely Elisabeth Moss in Hulus Super Bowl ad for The Handmaids Tale

See the first stylish look at Elisabeth Moss and Joseph Fiennes in The Handmaids Tale
Born in the far reaches of local television, formed in the soup of primordial basic cable and canceled for the second time in 1999, Mystery Science Theater 3000" came back to life Friday, resurrected into the 21st-century world of big-time streaming media.

Formerly of KTMA in Minneapolis, Minn., Comedy Central (beginning when it was still Comedy Channel) and the Sci-Fi Channel (later Syfy), it resides now on Netflix, fueled by the collective energy of a dedicated fan base that pledged nearly $6 million in a Kickstarter campaign to produce new episodes.



For the record: An earlier version of this story described Reptilicus as a Dutch film. It is Danish.

Put simply, MST3K translates the private experience of watching and mocking terrible old movies with your friends into public comedy. It comes from a lost tradition of hosted TV creature features and late-night movies dredged from the bottom of a stations library. Its also a puppet show, largely; kid stuff, with a nerdy, grown-up spin.

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Jonah Ray (also currently of Seesos Hidden America With Jonah Ray) is the series third host, after creator (and still captain) Joel Hodgson and successor Mike Nelson. As Jonah Heston (as in Charlton, one assumes), he is, like his predecessors, the subject of an experiment: Trapped in the not-too-distant future on a spaceship called the Satellite of Love, he is forced to watch bad movies  actual bad movies, shown in their entirety, that we watch with him  until his captors discover the one that drives him mad. In some vague way, this knowledge will allow them to rule the world.

Felicia Day plays Kinga Forrester, daughter and granddaughter of the series earlier antagonists, self-described third-generation super villain and the inevitable master of all profit-making media. Her more focused plan for universal domination is, essentially, to get rich off the series youre watching: Im going to blow up this brand and sell it to Disney for a billion dollars. Patton Oswalt plays her classically dim right hand, Max, also descended from an earlier character, known as TVs Frank. (Max prefers to be known as TVs Son of TVs Frank.

Like the hosts before him, Jonah is a remarkably chill and cheery prisoner, clearly in no danger of losing his mind, addressing viewers, genially participating in invention exchanges with his captors, passing the time with robot friends Crow (Hampton Yount), Tom Servo (Baron Vaughn) and Gypsy (Rebecca Hanson). (The voice cast is all new, and Hanson is the first woman to play Gypsy; Ive upgraded her language center, Jonah says. I wanted to give her a Midwest accent  you know, those women have music in their voices.)

Of the 14 new episodes (joining a selection of 20 original-run episodes already on Netflix), the two available for preview were built around screenings of Reptilicus, a 1961 Danish impression of a Godzilla movie, and Cry Wilderness, a 1987 Bigfoot-themed nature adventure for kids. The deceptively ingenious structure of the show offers a double experience, of both a terrible movie one might enjoy for its own sad sake and a running comical commentary on the film provided by Jonah, Crow and Tom, seen in silhouette against the screen; we watch with and behind them.

Connoisseurs may quibble. The commentary, which is scripted, can seem marginally less spontaneous than in episodes of old, though I would guess this is mainly a matter of practice. And not every hit lands  the new writing crew, led by former The Daily Show With Jon Stewart head writer Elliott Kalan, also includes Community creator Dan Harmon and that shows star, Joel McHale  and many references will go right past younger viewers, but with hundreds of quips in the course of an episode, enough do. And the sketches that frame and interrupt the showing are all delightful.

Although a rather detailed mythology emerged over the series decade-long run, the only consistency that matters is the shows relationship to its material and its audience, and, allowing for changes in cast, writing staff and technology, this is fundamentally the same MST3K you might have loved, been baffled by or completely ignored for all those many years, all those many years ago. Notwithstanding the relative celebrity of its new players, the cultural weight of its new home and a status grown legendary with time, it lives up, or down to, its original low-res model. It is still a scrappy, silly thing, probably best experienced late at night, with friends, and following the shows one specific instruction: Turn down your lights (where applicable).

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return

Where: Netflix

When: Anytime, starting Friday

robert.lloyd@latimes.com

Follow Robert Lloyd on Twitter @LATimesTVLloyd

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Ask for directions to the new Hollywood studio of tattoo artist Brian Woo, a.k.a. Dr. Woo, and youll get a number of conflicting answers.

Ive never heard of it, says one passerby. I hear it rotates spots every month, offers another. Good luck, adds a third.

And Woo is just fine with that.

Once you have the golden token to come [to the studio], you know its here, says the 36-year-old father of two, who started working out of the Hideaway at Suite X, his new by-appointment-only studio inside the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, in November.

Its a space where the artist can not only tattoo clients but also draw them into his finely curated world of art, furniture and design. And for now, Woo likes the idea of his first spot having an air of mystery and seclusion.

Celebrity tattoo artist Brian Woos new studio in Hollywood allows him to have clients step into his curated world of art, furniture and design. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Take it from the man who worked at the high-profile Shamrock Social Club tattoo shop on Sunset Strip for almost 10 years, making his way up the ranks from a bright-eyed apprentice to becoming one of the countrys most in-demand artists through his deft needle and intricate, detail-laden designs. Along the way, he has racked up 1.2 million Instagram followers and a star-studded client list, including Zoe Kravitz, Emilia Clarke, Drake, Miley Cyrus and Cara Delevingne.

A born-and-raised Angeleno, Woo developed a fascination with tattoos in his early teens as a way to rebel against his Taiwanese immigrant parents. My friend Chris and I would hand-poke India ink smiley faces and letters on each other after school at 12 or 13. We wanted to push against the norm, says Woo, who graduated to professionally rendered tattoos at age 14, starting with a dragon on his ankle.

Woo was still a high school student at Oak Park High School when he was first inked by Mark Mahoney, widely hailed as the godfather of black-and-gray single-needle tattoos. He continued to pay visits to the artists coveted tattoo chair for the next 10 years until Mahoney, who had since opened the doors to Shamrock, offered Woo a job as an apprentice. At the time, Woo was managing the now-shuttered clothing store Halo and trying to get his fashion brand, Surrender Everything, off the ground. The thought of becoming a tattoo artist had never crossed his mind.

It was too intimidating, says Woo, who had pursued sketching and abstract painting since middle school. To be a tattooer, you have to be a good renderer. I was never confident like that.

But what Woo perceived as his own lack of skills he made up for in persistence. The next two years were spent at the bottom of the totem pole, he says, doing everything from cleaning Shamrocks floors, toilets and equipment to setting up and breaking down other artists stations and dealing with drunkards who wandered in off the Sunset Strip.

Eventually, he began to tattoo walk-ins, taking cues from his mentor Mahoneys signature fine-line style and absorbing lessons on aesthetics and tattoo composition from the other guys in the shop, who also bestowed him with his moniker (My parents always wanted a doctor. So they finally got one, he says, one of the stories behind the nickname).

At the time, nobody was putting that much effort or thought into small walk-ins. Everyone was thinking really big, says Woo, who would also take into consideration the tattoos placement, treating the body as part of the art itself.

My parents always wanted a doctor. So they finally got one, Brian Woo says about his nickname. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

In 2013 Woo saw his popularity begin to rise; suddenly his schedule was booked months in advance. Woo and his assistant eventually stopped answering phones, and he began to open his schedule to bookings once every two months via e-mail. In response, hopeful clients would form snaking lines outside the shop, trying their luck for a walk-in with Woo.

I really grew and matured at Shamrock but I feel like there was nowhere left to go there, says Woo, who parted ways with the West Hollywood tattoo shop last fall. Thats Marks place. Thats forever going to be his temple. I cant build something in someone elses house like that.

Woo spent months looking for a location before homing in on an ultra-private spot inside the landmark Hollywood hotel. Its not Dr. Woo at the Roosevelt, Woo insists. Its entirely separate.

Theres a whole world inside my head. I just want to share it.  Brian Woo, celebrity tattoo artist

The bathroom in Brian Woos new tattoo studio is outfitted with mirrors and dark tiles that reflect the mystery and allure of the tattoo artists Hollywood studio. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The studio is a reflection of Woos highly stylized universe, brought to life with help from his friends, including interior designer Courtland Bascon who helped Woo overhaul the space.

A Westin Mitchell-designed coffee table piled with books and magazines anchors the seating area alongside a leather Chesterfield sofa and reupholstered chairs. Work from friends including photographer Rick Rodney and Woos jiu-jitsu sensei, the fashion photographer Stefan Kocev, grace the walls, alongside oversize maps of Los Angeles and Tokyo (Im always between the two places, says Woo), and a vintage dartboard that once belonged to his mother-in-law.

Mementos from Woos travels, such as Neighborhood incense chambers from Japan and his collection of figures by pop artist Kaws, lend a personalized touch throughout the space, while two well-worn bespoke hats from L.A. milliner Gunner Foxx nod to Woos keen interest in style and passion for handmade pieces. Fashion is my first love, says Woo, who favors brands such as Alyx and Visvim paired with vintage Levis, leather jackets and well-knit plain tees.

There are days when Woo misses the buzz of Shamrock. It was crazy, it was loud, the energy was good, he says. Its so chill here. But the new studio is also symbolic of a new phase in his career. A collaboration with Converse, set to debut in November, hints at the fact that Woo is looking beyond a tattoo-only horizon.

Theres a whole world inside my head, he says. I just want to share it.

A look at some recent designs by tattoo artist Brian Woo, left, as well as artistic inspirations from his son Lyon in Woos new studio at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Christian Dior is going after a possible network of Chinese counterfeiters and wants millions in damages. The luxury fashion house filed suit in Illinois late last week against a host of web sites based in China that allegedly peddle an array of knock-off merchandise, from apparel to jewelry, using symbols and designs trademarked by Christian Dior Couture SA.

Certain of the trademarks at issue go back to the late Forties, around the time of the companys founding, and Dior said in its complaint that its marks have long been among the most famous and popular of their kind in the world and been cultivated through great expense.

The Christian Dior trademarks have achieved tremendous fame and recognition, which has only added to the distinctiveness of the marks, the company said. As such, the goodwill associated with the Christian Dior trademarks is of incalculable and inestimable value to Dior.

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Although a list of the specific web sites and their alleged operators is currently under seal, Dior alluded to the defendants being numerous and said theyre based in China. Dior earlier this year filed a similar suit in Florida and named more than 400 sites as allegedly selling counterfeit goods.

As for the Illinois suit, Dior said while based in China, the sites aim to sell their counterfeit goods in the U.S. through web sites and online marketplaces.

Defendants facilitate sales by designing the defendant Internet stores so that they appear to unknowing consumers to be authorized online retailers, outlet stores or wholesalers, Dior noted. Many of the defendant Internet stores look sophisticated and accept payment in U.S. dollars via credit cards, Western Union and PayPal.

A number of defendants domain names also include Christian Dior in one way or another and even offer customer service to further perpetuate the illusion of legitimacy for shoppers.

While Dior admitted that the sites operators go to great lengths [to] conceal their identities, including using multiple fake names and addresses for registration purposes and the regular creation of new web sites, it said many of the sites have virtually identical layouts and merchandise has similar irregularities.

This suggests to the company that the counterfeit Dior products were manufactured by and come from a common source and that defendants are interrelated, according to the complaint.

Dior has an internal anticounterfeiting program that has attempted to stop this purported Chinese network, but to no avail.

The company cited U.S. government data in claiming sites like those allegedly operated by defendants generate more than $100 billion in sales every year, creating lost jobs and tax revenue among other economic damages.

Beyond that, Dior said the continued sale of the counterfeit goods is likely to cause and has caused confusion, mistake and deception by and among consumers and is irreparably harming Dior.

With that, the company asked the court to permanently bar the defendant web sites from selling any goods using the Dior trademarks, and that all of the domain names be handed over to the company, along with the right to force any marketplace or search engine to halt any service or business with the defendant sites.

Dior is also seeking the disgorgement of all profits realized through the sale of the infringing goods, or the alternative, a $2 million damages award for each and every use of its trademarks and $100,000 for each domain name incorporating its marks.

Counsel for the company could not be reached for additional comment.

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Where wine is concerned, Taylor Parsons is almost never gobsmacked. The former wine director at Republique, the Hancock Park restaurant, author of one of the broadest, most idiosyncratic wine programs in the city, has managed the programs in some of L.A.s finest restaurants, from Spago to Mozza. He has tasted wine from all over the world, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the vinous arts such that the rest of us can only dream about. Its hard to throw him off his game.

But Georgia  the country, that is  threw him off his game. A 2015 wine tour to this former Soviet republic in the eastern reaches of Europe left him both discombobulated and thrilled.



For the record: A photo caption below says the vineyard was planted by Kakha Berishvili and is outside Artana, Georgia. The rows of vines are at the Agrarian Research and Development Center, where hundreds of cultivars are propagated in an effort to safeguard Georgias ampelographic heritage against genetic erosion.

The flavors and textures of the wines were unlike anything Ive ever tasted, says Parsons, 37, who like many sommeliers makes regular trips to the wine regions of France, Germany and Spain. Very little of what theyre doing is reasonable by Western standards, but the wines are so expressive. And its all set in an incredibly ancient winemaking tradition where wine has penetrated deeply and completely into the culture, in ways that I had never experienced before.

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That is what happens when the country youre visiting is the oldest wine region on Earth, surpassing 8,000 vintages  a country with as many as 100,000 micro-wineries, where its nearly impossible not to know someone who makes wine, whether a neighbor or friend or family member.

Its a country where much of the wine is made in a traditional method that is ancient and seemingly unchanged, typified by the use of large clay vessels called qvevri, which are buried underground and filled with grapes in a process that seemed, to Parsons, at once archaic and yet strangely transformative and profound. European varieties like Riesling or Cabernet are all but unheard of.

The flavors and textures of the wines were unlike anything Ive ever tasted  Taylor Parsons

Instead, there are 500 indigenous varieties, with virtually unpronounceable names that amount to a thicket of consonants, names such as Tsitska and Mtsvane and Otskhanuri Sapere.

After decades of isolation, Georgias wine industry has, in the last half-decade, experienced its first post-communist curtain call, spurred in part by a conflict with Russia that forced growers to seek other markets, resulting in a surge in global interest.

In California, small importers such as Chris Terrell and the Blue Danube Wine Co. (both in the Bay Area), have introduced the wines, and their reception in wine circles has been similar to what Parsons experienced, or Alice Feiring, a New York wine writer as worldly as Parsons. She was similarly floored, so much so that she penned a fascinating book on Georgian juice called For the Love of Wine. I had never been exposed to a country where wine was so profoundly woven into customs and daily life, she wrote.

And though there are a handful of large industrial wineries (mostly supplying Russia and its former dominions), the small family winery tradition is still powerful, and vouchsafes the wines as authentic, honest and unsullied. As Feiring puts it, This is a land where flavor has not been bred out.

Georgia is closer to Istanbul and Tehran than to Paris or Madrid. It stretches from the Black Sea to Russia and Azerbaijan, and lies between the double spine of the Caucasus Mountains, which form a northern and southern border, making the country geographically and viticulturally isolated.

It is, quite literally, a crossroads: Persians, Byzantines, Russians, Greeks and Turks have taken turns running over the region. And yet, despite its role as link between East and West, its complex geography has resulted in a distinctive food and wine culture that is renowned in Eastern Europe, so much so that Russian poets, from Pushkin to Osip Mandelstam, wrote odes to the lands bounty.

The country has more than 500 indigenous grape varieties, though two, the white Rkatseteli and the red Saperavi, are predominant. While both make compelling wines, other varieties such as Mtsvane, Tsitska, Tsolikouri, Chinuri and Kisi are garnering attention.

But whatever variety is used, the wines are irrevocably transfigured by the use of qvevri (pronounced kwev-ri), large clay urns that are buried underground in cellars, filled with grapes that are left to ferment naturally, usually with skins and seeds, and sometimes stems, to mingle with the juice. With its elegant curves and ancient, Romanesque geometry, the qvevri is the symbol of Georgian winemaking, and the resulting flavors, according to Parsons, are unlike any others in wine.

The flavors of most French wines are sort of in the universe of the orchard, says Parsons, apple and citrus and stone fruits. Thats sort of true here, but the flavors arent necessarily fresh; its more like preserves, like poached or fermenting fruit. Dried fruit flavors are common, from apricot to apple and golden raisin, sometimes with a slightly volatile quality. They can be a little ferment-y, admits Parsons, like fruit thats starting to go a bit overripe on the counter.

But their time in qvevri transforms these wines texturally. The amber-colored whites, loaded with acid and tannin, feel unusually stolid and weighty, saturating the palate, and the reds are equally, preternaturally replete.

These wines are fundamentally different than most of the wines we encounter on a daily basis, says Parsons. They expand our notions of whats possible.

Where to find Georgian wines:

Georgian wines are still relatively rare in the marketplace, but theyre getting easier to find  Chris Terrell Wines, the Blue Danube Wine Co. and the Washington areas Georgian Wine House have been especially tireless in spreading the word (in California, Blue Danube sells direct as well).

In Los Angeles, K&L Wine seems to have the best selection, but Lou Wine Shop, Domaine LA and Silver Lake Wine always have a few on hand. As for restaurants, Night+Market Song and Gjelina have a selection on their wine lists.

Three Georgian wines to try, selected by Taylor Parsons:

2015 Niki Antadze Rkatsiteli No. 1 (about $22)

Antadze makes two Rkatsitelis, one with and one without skin contact  this is the latter. Its bright and zesty, as if every part of the lemon were represented here, with a really appealing pithy bitterness. A perfect lunchtime wine  bring on the spring salads.

2015 Iagos Wine Chinuri (about $20)

Superb winemaking on display  its no wonder that Iago Bitarishvili is one of the stars of artisanal Georgian winemaking. Layered aromatics of green pears, bay, almond and lemon give way to a delicacy on the palate that defies expectation. Gorgeous balance of acidity and tannin.

2004 Shavnabada Mtsvane (about $35)

As delicious as it is unusual. Aged in qvevri for 11 years before bottling. Waxy, dense and totally intriguing  it tastes of walnuts and quince, honeycomb and dusty old books. Loads of tannin with plenty of freshness.

food@latimes.com
If you spend much time looking at food on Instagram, you have probably seen a few images of the worlds cutest dumpling lately: a disembodied panda head drifting in a bowl, glistening and serene. The pandas button nose and fuzzy-looking ears are painted on the dumpling skin with bits of black sesame paste. There is a bit of herb cut to resemble tiny bamboo leaf. The sesame-paste eyes twinkle. It is food you would rather hug than eat.

You have been reading about a lot of Sichuan restaurants in this space, and you may be slightly tired of la zi ji and bon-bon chicken, odes to the fugue-like counterpoint of chiles, and stretched metaphors on the numbing power of Sichuan peppercorns. I dont blame you  my eyes used to glaze over at the mention of chicken Caesar and pasta primavera on the other side of town.

But Chengdu Impression, source of those panda dumplings, is a branch of a well-regarded restaurant in the old Wide and Narrow Alleys section of Chengdu, known for its braised pork, fish in red oil, and Chinese opera stage shows. And the new Arcadia restaurant is devoted to a slightly stilted idea of Chengdu that runs counter to the rest of what you find in the San Gabriel Valley  it may remind you of the regional restaurants in places like Paris or Tokyo that sometimes label themselves embassies.

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There are exhibitions of Chengdu artists on the walls. You can nibble pastries with Sichuan tea in the afternoons on a second-floor patio with a tree-framed view of the mountains. The customers tend to be less people on spicy-food adventures than groups of businessmen in one of the private rooms or young Chinese families happy to find a place to park their Bugaboos while they contemplate crunchy Chengdu beef jerky or oddly delicate mapo tofu, more intense in fragrance than in spice.

It is lovely to sit in the busy downstairs dining room, eating beef tendon stewed to a slippery tenderness with chunks of fresh bamboo shoots, whose slight funk heightens the mild flavor of the meat; or slivers of tea-smoked duck; or even the kung pao, that old cliche of chicken sauteed with chiles and peanuts given a smoky, bittersweet complexity with wok-charred edges and a hint of fruit. Ive never had anything quite like the Chengdu-style lettuce  like a baby romaine salad with black beans, chile and a smack of smoky plum. A spicy fish fillet turns out to be pretty much the fish in a pureed green pepper broth you may have tasted at Chengdu Taste in Alhambra, less intensely amplified with Sichuan peppercorns perhaps, but flanked with soft planks of house-made tofu.

Kung pao shrimp is the sixth course in the nine-course chefs menu at Chengdu Impression restaurant. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

But if you come in the evening, you will be steered toward the tasting menu, labeled Omakase. It is a quick, sharp series of tastes that takes you through the kitchens greatest hits. And as two separate waiters warn you that the marinated tree ear fungus might be a bit spicy and that the sliced cucumbers might be vinegary, you might begin to suspect that you are being served a kind of tourist menu. You would be correct. But it feels less like a Chinatown B menu than it does something you might encounter after a day looking at artifacts and pandas in Chengdu. And at $45 per person, it might not be a bad way to go.

On the first composed plate, if the bun in which the spiced beef is stuffed is a little caky and dry, the wrap of impossibly fine threads of chicken and crunchy vegetables that sits next to it would be exquisite even without the numbing green drops of Sichuan peppercorn-infused oil. The beef-brisket soup may be the single least spicy thing youve eaten in a Sichuan restaurant, but the flavor of the radish simmered in it seems extra-rich for the contrast. There will be a quivering cube of that famous braised pork belly, served in a swirl of reduced sauce more familiar from French tasting menu restaurants; a beautiful, miniaturized version of the water-boiled fish served at every Sichuan restaurant; and three perfect kung pao shrimp. Sliced mushrooms float in a thickened chicken-pork stock. Where you expect a final course of rice or noodles, there are floppy Sichuan won ton in hot oil, with a delicate forcemeat whose texture suggests that the pork and vegetables were hand-minced.

Out comes the panda dumpling  a soft, glutinous, mocha-like blob stuffed with as well as painted with dense, sweet ground sesame.

Are you supposed to drink the syrup? Probably not  it seems to be little more than warm water whose purpose is to keep the panda soft and pliable. Is there any way to cut the panda neatly into two? The flubbery beast laughs at your inadequate spoon. Have you taken a picture of it yet? Please do. Then knock back a cup of Chengdu Impressions broth-thick Sichuan green tea.

::

Chengdu Impression

A branch of a well-regarded restaurant in Chengdu opens in Arcadia

LOCATION

21 E. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, (626) 462-9999.

PRICES

Cold appetizers $6-$15; hot appetizers $4-$12; larger dishes $12-$18; seafood $12-$38. Chefs tasting menu $45.

DETAILS

Open daily, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 9 p.m. Afternoon tea. Credit cards accepted. No alcohol (as of yet). Lot parking behind restaurant.

RECOMMENDED DISHES

Chengdu-style lettuce; house-special pork belly; beef tendon with bamboo shoots.

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jonathan.gold@latimes.com

@thejgold
Engineers on Californias high-speed rail project have worried for nine years about the sort of train wreck that occurred in New York last October.

Six hundred rail passengers were rolling across Long Island at 50 mph on a Saturday night when a maintenance train on a parallel track derailed and sideswiped their commuter train, injuring 33 and leaving others wandering in the dark through twisted wreckage.

Although construction on Californias high-speed rail is already underway, designers are still sorting out safetys place in a delicate balance that also requires staying on budget and getting passengers from Los Angeles to San Francisco on time. One safety concern playing out at the moment stems from the fact that the bullet trains will run in some places at 220 mph, alongside lines carrying everything from toxic chemicals to military tanks.

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Everyone agrees barriers are needed to keep debris from derailed freight trains from smashing into the fast-moving passenger cars. But for years freight train operators and the California High-Speed Rail Authority could not agree on their exact design.

The threat of debris from derailments hitting passenger trains is not theoretical.

They finally reached agreement last year. And only then did the contractor for the 31 miles of track in and around Fresno put a price tag on the work: an additional $140 million.

At least some experts see that bump in the bill as a worrisome harbinger.

Cost increases, after all, have dogged the bullet train for years, and new jumps in price may start surfacing as the complex engineering needed for passenger safety comes into clearer focus.

Aside from the debris barriers, the range of safety issues includes how bullet trains will operate in dense urban environments where they cross highways, how to contend with the possibility of fires and other mishaps in the long tunnels theyll pass through, and the type of brakes necessary to slow them on steep downhill grades.

In creating any public transportation system, designers must balance such considerations against cost and performance. But Californias high-speed rail planners have little freedom to negotiate such trade-offs, because state law dictates that its bullet trains need to get passengers from downtown Los Angeles to downtown San Francisco in no more than 2 hours and 40 minutes.

I would never expect the rail authority to sacrifice safety to save money, said Louis Thompson, the chairman of a state-appointed peer review panel for the project and a former executive at the Federal Railroad Administration. So its entirely possible, he said, that new safety problems or ones that emerge as more serious than first thought will drive up the cost.

Safety is a top priority of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, said rail authority spokeswoman Lisa Marie Alley. We continue to work with our partners to ensure that we are designing and building a system that is safe and secure.

Safety is a top priority of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.  Lisa Marie Alley, rail authority spokeswoman

And almost certainly, the rail agency will confront new and difficult trade-offs between cost, performance and safety.

The authority decided, for example, to share track from San Jose to San Francisco with the Caltrain commuter service, instead of building its own track on an elevated viaduct through Silicon Valley. That saved the project about $30 billion.

That means crossing 42 highways, a safety risk that planners would address by installing elaborate gates to fully block the intersections, where about 13 fatal collisions between standard-speed trains and motor vehicles already occur every year.

It also means slowing the trains to a proposed 110 mph, half the speed the train will be hurtling along at through parts of the Central Valley. That speed is still far faster than most U.S. passenger trains operate in such dense urban settings, experts said.

But at least some question whether even 110 mph is realistic.

There are many many trade-offs that have to be made, and somebody in the Legislature didnt want the engineers making those trade-offs.  Steven Ditmeyer, a rail safety consultant

In a dense urban environment you are not going to go 110 mph, said Grady Cothen, an attorney and former chief of safety regulation at the Federal Railroad Administration. If you eliminate the possibility of dedicated track, then you are certainly knocking down the maximum speed and increasing the trip time.

The alternative is to separate the highway crossings with bridges or tunnels, an effort that could cost additional billions of dollars.

If the trains go slower than 110 mph, the project could well fall short of the overall trip times that legislators built into the projects requirements and supporters used to sell it to the public. The same dilemma will confront the rail authority as it fine-tunes how trains will move from Burbank to Anaheim, where they will likely share track with Metrolink.

Alley, the rail authority spokeswoman, said the routes will have features to achieve the highest safety and comply with federal standards.

But Steven Ditmeyer, a rail safety consultant and former research chief at the Federal Railroad Administration, accused legislators of hobbling the professionals who are best equipped to find the right balance among cost, safety and performance.

There are many many trade-offs that have to be made, he said. And somebody in the Legislature didnt want the engineers making those trade-offs.

Long tunnels will also require additional safety planning. Between Bakersfield and Los Angeles, trains will travel about 40 miles under parts of the Tehachapi and San Gabriel mountains.

The project cut its budget by $1.6 billion by planning to eliminate mechanical ventilation, relying instead on a strategy to compartment smoke in a train fire, and by reducing the diameter of tunnels, according to documents in the rail authoritys 2016 business plan.

That approach is part of a plan is being shared with the Office of the State Fire Marshal and other regulators to ensure it meets safety requirements, Alley said.

Another trade-off will involve trains downhill speeds in mountainous areas. The most challenging stretch is the 4,025-foot drop from the Tehachapi Pass to Bakersfield.

If the trains run at full speed, they may need a new type of brake technology, according to a 2013 rail authority memorandum. One possibility is a type of brake that magnetically transfers heat into the rails. It has been used in some rail systems, but not under the challenging technical conditions of the California mountains, according to rail industry executives.

Alley said the authority is also considering other less precipitous routes.

Recent discussions about the Central Valley barriers show that trade-offs already are driving up costs.

As far back as 2008, the rail authority had begun technical investigations into how it would prevent debris from a freight derailment from fouling its tracks, with engineers proposing that physical barriers be constructed anywhere freight and high-speed tracks were within 102 feet of each other.

The threat of debris from derailments hitting passenger trains is not theoretical.

The Times located records on the Federal Railroad Administrations safety database showing that on average there are 10 freight train derailments a year in the Central Valleys five southern counties. Across the nation, more than 1,000 trains derail every year, the database shows.

In last years accident on Long Island, a federal report said the maintenance train derailed when it crossed a switch locked in reverse, a human error.

Worn wheels, defective axles, weak crossties and misaligned rails, as well as human error, also cause derailments. Nature can play havoc, as well.

An Altamont Corridor Express train derailed a year ago when a mudslide pushed a downed tree onto the tracks about 45 miles east of San Francisco. The derailed train plunged into a creek, injuring nine people.

At bullet train speeds, such accidents are more deadly. A 2013 crash of a Spanish Alvia train killed 79. A 2015 derailment in France killed 11. A 1998 derailment in Germany killed 101. And a 2011 collision of two bullet trains in China left 40 dead.

Many high-speed rail lines in other parts of the world separate passenger trains from freight trains. But the bond act that launched Californias high-speed rail project requires it to share existing transportation corridors, so freight train debris is another serious derailment threat.

Discussions about the exact design of the barriers on Californias high-speed rail project dragged on for years.

Freight carrier Union Pacific finally agreed that keeping the tracks 102 feet apart should be the standard about a year ago, according to an attorney close to the railroad. The other major freight line, BNSF, reached its agreement only in December, said spokeswoman Lena Kent.

Because Union Pacific demanded stronger structures, the costs have grown to about $10 million per mile, said an official knowledgeable about the negotiations.

But when Sylmar-based contractor Tutor Perini Corp. sent the rail authority a letter adding a proposed $140 million to its bill for building the barriers along 31 miles of track in the Central Valley, the officials balked.

The money simply does not exist for these change requests, chief engineer Scott Jarvis wrote in an internal email that The Times obtained under a public records act request. So, Jarvis said in the email, the authority would begin searching for cheaper alternatives.

ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @rvartabedian

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A second leg thought to belong to a missing Northern California woman was found Thursday, a day after her husband and suspected killer was found dead in his jail cell.

Divers discovered the leg in Brandy Creek Marina at Whiskeytown Lake, 14 miles west of Redding, according to Det. Chris Edwards of the Shasta County Sheriffs Office. Two weeks ago, authorities found another leg anchored to a cement cinder block with a tie strap in the same marina.

Investigators believe the limbs belong to Bridget Marie Jacobs, who went missing roughly one month ago. Divers have searched the murky lake eight times for her remains.

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Despite the exhaustive efforts made to locate both of Bridget Jacobs hands and head, they remain unrecovered, Edwards said in a written statement.

Authorities may never learn the full truth of her death.

Redding police said her husband, Philip Daniel Jacobs, took his own life Wednesday at the Shasta County jail, where he had been housed since his March 28 arrest on suspicion of murder. Authorities said the 56-year-old Cottonwood resident was alone in his cell at the time of his death, but offered no other information.

The suspect had confessed to dumping his wifes body in the lake, but never admitted to killing her.

Philip Jacobs told detectives that Bridget Jacobs fell down a flight of stairs during an argument on March 15, according to sheriffs Sgt. Brian Jackson. He told investigators that she may have broken her neck in the fall.

It was on that same evening that deputies received a 911 call from the couples home in the 3800 block of Westridge Road in Cottonwood. A woman could be heard screaming before the line was disconnected, authorities said.

When deputies arrived at the couples residence, no one was home.

Philip Jacobs told investigators that he kept his wifes body until March 19, when he placed it in a blue boat and drove to Brandy Creek Marina at Whiskeytown Lake, the sergeant said.

Jacobs rowed to an area of the lake and dumped the body, which he anchored to a cement cinder block, and then drove home, Jackson said.

Days later, Bridget Jacobs father reported her missing after she failed to show up for work.

Throughout the probe into Bridget Jacobs whereabouts, Philip Jacobs lied to detectives, saying that his wife had left their home with her purse, cellphone and 4-year-old Pomeranian/Yorkshire-mix dog, Abijah, after the argument, the sergeant said.

But investigators had uncovered mounting evidence against him, including Bridget Jacobs phone as well as proof that he had driven to the lake on March 19, Jackson said.

As the investigation into Philip Jacobs intensified, Jackson said, he agreed to tell detectives about his wifes death because he needed to talk about how accidents happen.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA

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Joshua Waring, the son of former Real Housewives of Orange County star Lauri Peterson, did not have gunshot residue on his hands or clothing after his arrest in connection with an attempted murder, according to an analysis performed by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Forensic experts cautioned against drawing the conclusion that the analysis supported Warings claim that the results could exonerate him.

Waring, 28, has been in an Orange County jail for 10 months in connection with a drive-by shooting in June that left a man severely injured.

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Waring said during a jailhouse interview last week that the results of the residue test  performed to help determine whether a suspect had recently fired a gun  could clear him. Waring received the results Monday.

However, Debra Gibson, acting chief of forensics laboratories for the Los Angeles County coroners office, wrote in the report that the findings were inconclusive.

Michael Martinez, a forensic scientist supervisor at the Bexar County Criminal Investigation Laboratory in Texas, said Thursday that gunshot residue is nothing more than an investigatory tool.

Getting an exoneration because gunshot residue cant be found is a huge leap, Martinez said in a phone interview.

The Orange County district attorneys office declined to comment about the results.

According to experts, there are a variety of reasons that residue might not be found on a persons hands even if he or she had fired a gun.

The person could have been wearing gloves, washed or wiped his or her hands or otherwise caused the particles to become dislodged, according to the report and Martinez.

The type and caliber of the gun used can play a role in how much residue is left behind, Martinez said, as can the amount of time between the shooting and when the sample was collected. Martinez said the ideal window for collecting gunshot residue is within four to six hours after a gun is fired.

That doesnt mean we cant find any  after six hours, Martinez said. It just means thats the window where its most likely to be found.

Waring was arrested about eight hours after the shooting.

Authorities have alleged that he showed up at a Costa Mesa house in a BMW around 2:30 a.m. June 20 and fired shots at three people outside. One man was injured.

An Orange County Sheriffs Department helicopter crew located the BMW, and police followed it through Santa Ana before it crashed into another vehicle, authorities said.

Santa Ana police said in court that Waring ran and hid in the restroom of a nearby business before surrendering to officers.

During a preliminary hearing last year, Waring told Orange County Superior Court Judge W. Michael Hayes that he fled from police because he was heading to pick up drugs.

Waring faces three counts of attempted murder, one count of unlawfully discharging a firearm at an inhabited dwelling, three counts of assault with a firearm, one count of vehicle theft, one count of shooting at another person from a motor vehicle and one count of evading police while driving recklessly, all felonies.

He also faces misdemeanor charges of battery, resisting an officer, and hit-and-run with property damage, along with possible sentencing enhancements on allegations of personal use of a firearm and inflicting great bodily injury.

If hes convicted at trial, Waring could be sentenced to life in prison.

He is due back in court for a pretrial hearing June 14.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Fry writes for Times Community News
The San Bernardino Police Department on Friday released two harrowing 911 tapes of the frantic moments after a gunman entered a special education classroom this week, killing a teacher and an 8-year-old boy and wounding a second boy.

The audio tapes from Mondays shooting featured a frightened staffer at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino and a dispatcher who relayed a description of the gunman to officers arriving at the scene.

Looks like its possibly the husband of the employee, the dispatcher said as she describes the gunman.

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An employee at the school saw Cedric Anderson and recognized him as teacher Karen Smiths husband. She asked him to sign in and allowed him to walk unescorted to Smiths classroom.

Once inside, police say he fired 10 shots, stopping once to reload before shooting himself.

Smith, 53, was killed. Two students also were struck by gunfire. Jonathan Martinez, an 8-year-old with Williams syndrome, was airlifted to a nearby hospital but died before entering surgery. Nolan Brandy, 9, also was hospitalized and is in stable condition.

After shots rang out in the classroom, a staffer called 911 and described the terrifying scene to dispatchers in the 1 minute and 21 second tape. Heres what she said:

We have an active shooter

Caller: We have an active shooter at North Park Elementary.

Dispatcher: At North Park Elementary.

C: Yes, one of our teachers are shot.

D: We are on our way. Hold on. Hold on. Dont hang up. Dont hang up.

(Call disconnected)

(Someone dialing)

D: At North Park Elementary  Hold on, honey. Hold on. Hold on.

One of our teachers got shot in the classroom

Second dispatcher: District police, this is Jeanie.

First dispatcher: They are telling me they got an active shooter at North Park Elementary School.

D2: OK. How can I help you?

Caller: We have an active shooter. One of our teachers got shot in the classroom.

D2: At what school?

C: At North Park Elementary. Please hurry

D2: Do you have a description of the shooter?

C: Uhhh  hes a black male. Hes our Mrs. Smiths husband.

D2: Hes a black male?

C: Yes, and he was wearing a beige blazer.

D2: OK, well get units out there. Wheres the victim at?

C: Shes in her classroom.

D2: What classroom is it?

C: B1

D2: OK, in B1. Is the guy still on the campus right now?

C: As far as I know he is. Im scared, and Im in the office 

D2: OK. Did you guys lock down?

[Audio tape ends]

To read the article in Spanish, click here

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA

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A Los Angeles real estate investor faces a $17,000 fine after writing checks through more than a dozen companies to help elect City Councilman Mitch OFarrell, violating city rules that limit campaign donations.

The proposed fine from the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission comes more than a year and a half after The Times highlighted the donations as an example of how hard it is to tell who is behind campaign contributions from businesses.

Four years ago, Leeor Maciborski wrote checks to the OFarrell campaign from limited liability companies tied to apartment buildings in East Hollywood and Los Feliz, city investigators found. Maciborski, who was responsible for maintaining the buildings, was authorized to unilaterally make expenditures of up to $1,000 from the companies.

The donations ran afoul of campaign finance restrictions. Under city rules, each donor can give only a limited amount to each candidate running  $700 per election at the time. But investigators found that several sets of the companies had a majority of the same members, which means they were considered to be the same donors under city rules.

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All in all, the limited liability company donations exceeded city restrictions by $3,000, city investigators found. Maciborski was held responsible for the violations because he controlled the campaign contributions from the companies, according to a city summary of the investigation.

The Times initially drew attention to the donations because state filings showed that the LLCs were headed by the same person, raising questions about whether some or all of the campaign contributions came from the same donors.

Campaign finance experts said it was impossible to tell, however, without access to internal records that were not publicly available. Many business entities  particularly small, privately held limited liability companies  dont have to publicly report who owns them. That can make it hard to tell who is giving the money and whether campaign rules are being followed.

When a reporter first inquired about the campaign contributions, OFarrell spokesman Tony Arranaga said the councilman had not been aware of any relationship between the companies. City investigators were able to determine the ties between the business entities after Maciborski handed over operating agreements.

To make it clearer where political donations are coming from, the Ethics Commission has weighed whether to demand more information from businesses and other groups that give to local campaigns. But so far, no changes have been made.

Councilman David Ryu suggested banning such donations entirely, but that idea failed to gain traction. Campaign consultants argued that barring donations from business entities would simply spur them to fund independent committees, which can accept donations of any size.

Maciborski did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. In the past, the real estate investor has been involved with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and neighborhood groups in Los Feliz and Hollywood, which includes areas represented by OFarrell.

Maciborski told investigators that he had signed the company checks to OFarrell four years ago because he thought the then-candidates pro-growth platform and stance on rent control lined up with the interests of the limited liability companies, according to the city.

Maciborski also contributed, in his own name, to OFarrells officeholder account that fall. Emails show that he was in touch with OFarrell after he was first elected: That fall, Maciborski repeatedly reached out to schedule meetings with the councilman over breakfast or lunch.

He also asked the councilman to write him letters of recommendation for university programs, including an MBA program at London Business School, and an OFarrell staffer was tasked with the job.

Arranaga, the OFarrell spokesman, said he didnt want to speculate on what Maciborski was referring to regarding the councilmans position on rent control. In an email, Arranaga said that OFarrell had committed to address the housing crisis by preserving rent-stabilized units. He did not respond to additional questions about Maciborski and their meetings.

Last month, Maciborski signed a proposed agreement to pay a $17,000 fine for the violations, which is half of the maximum possible penalty. City investigators said they suggested the lower fine because Maciborski had cooperated with the city probe.

The Ethics Commission is slated to vote on the proposed fine for Maciborski on Tuesday.

The commission will also vote on a proposed $22,500 fine for Jimmy Blackman, a registered lobbyist who used to work at City Hall, for breaking revolving door rules that restrict how and when former city officials can try to sway city decisions.

Blackman worked for Antonio Villaraigosa when the politician served as councilman and later as mayor, and then became chief of staff to then-Councilman Dennis Zine. After he stopped working for the city in 2013, Blackman formed a lobbying firm that started representing the firefighters union.

Under city rules, high-ranking officials like Blackman are barred from lobbying city officials for one year immediately after leaving their city job. But less than a year after his departure, Blackman repeatedly reached out to city officials to tell them where the union stood on budget proposals, a city investigation found.

Like Maciborski, Blackman could have faced a much higher penalty, but city investigators suggested imposing half of the maximum fine because he had been cooperative.

In an effort to advocate for Los Angeles City Firefighters and the communities they serve, I made a mistake and I take full responsibility for the oversight, Blackman said in an email Thursday.

emily.alpert@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesEmily
A vacant lot between two venerable Eastside landmarks  Evergreen Cemetery to the west and the El Mercado mall to the east  is the focus of a dispute that portends difficulties for the citys plans to spur the construction of 1,000 units of housing each year for the chronically homeless.

A nonprofit developer has an option to build 49 affordable-housing units on the property, with half of them dedicated to chronically homeless people who have been diagnosed as mentally ill.

Its exactly the kind of project the city intends to support with the $1.2-billion homeless housing bond that voters approved in November.

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But its been stuck for nearly a year in the committee headed by one of the most vocal supporters of that bond, Councilman Jose Huizar.

The Los Angeles City Planning Department approved the plan last year. That decision would have been the last hurdle for the developer, A Community of Friends, after nearly three years spent meeting with government and neighborhood groups to come up with a plan that had widespread support.

The empty lot at 1st and Lorena streets where a nonprofit developer wants to build homeless housing. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

But one prominent opponent remained: the lots next-door neighbor. The family that owns El Mercado  known for Mexican crafts and food and a popular nightclub  appealed the projects environmental report, saying the project was too dense, would adversely affect schools and libraries, and lacked adequate parking. Since then the project has been stalled, waiting for a hearing on the appeal.

After family patriarch Pedro Rosado died in 2015, his son Tony Rosado took up the fight. He is being represented by attorney Robert Silverstein, a veteran of legal challenges over Hollywood development.

Huizar chairs the City Councils planning committee, which could recommend either that the full council reject the appeal and allow the project to proceed or require A Community of Friends to do more environmental analysis, up to a costly environmental impact report.

Dora Leong Gallo, chief executive of A Community of Friends, found Huizars failure to schedule the hearing ironic considering his support for Proposition HHH in the fall.

Huizar stumped for the bond measure so enthusiastically that council President Herb Wesson dubbed him one of the Three Hs, along with himself and Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson.

Gallo said the stalemate reflects the challenges of building housing for the chronically homeless.

The construction of supportive housing in Los Angeles is currently limited to about 300 units a year by competition for scarce subsidies. Proposition HHH will provide funds to greatly increase the pace, but leaders of the mostly nonprofit development community worry that constituent backlash will become a new roadblock.

This happens everywhere, Gallo said. People support it in concept. They think were doing an important thing. And then when it comes to being in your neighborhood, it becomes getting over that hurdle. Despite the rhetoric thats out there, the political will is most in need to get these projects done.

What elected people tend to do is reflect the wishes of their constituencies, said Mike Alvidrez, chief executive of Skid Row Housing Trust, a large nonprofit developer.

Whats needed, Alvidrez said, is for those elected officials to take the lead in convincing communities that projects like the one proposed near El Mercado would make neighborhoods better, not worse.

Now that were faced with the prospect of doing this on a large scale, we need that political support to affirm that is true, he said.

Huizar did not respond to emailed questions from The Times, and neither Silverstein nor Tony Rosado returned calls.

Huizar and both Rosados, however, spoke out against the project when it was before the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board nearly four years ago. Metro was considering an exclusive negotiating agreement with A Community of Friends for use of the land, which had been a staging area during construction of the Eastsides Gold Line extension.

The Rosados objected to the plan to house mentally ill people there.

Many of the 30,000 people who visit El Mercado every week are children, Pedro Rosado said.

Our children will be at high risk with mentally ill people only 10 feet away, he told Metro board members at a public hearing. Why are you people hiding it and calling it only affordable housing?

Huizar said he never liked the project, because he thought the location needed more retail businesses.

We dont want to create more dead space, Huizar, a Metro board member, told the hearing. We want to create more retail space for this location. And it has been significantly reduced.

Initially conceived as 43 housing units with 26,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, the plan was changed to 53 units and only 5,000 square feet of retail after Metro built a power substation on the lot that took more space than anticipated.

I try to stay calm, Huizar said, his voice cracking with emotion as he castigated Metro staff for changing the plan without consulting him or the community.

I keep getting misled, he said. If I keep getting misled, I can imagine what the community has to put up with. This is unacceptable.

Gloria Molina, then a member of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, tried to assuage him, describing her experience with a similar project that had gained community acceptance.

I can assure you once this is in place, youre going to be very proud of it, Molina said. You should meet with them. You should work with them.

Huizar cast the only vote against the project.

Over the next three years, Gallo attended more meetings and made additional changes to allay opposition, among them agreeing to reserve half the units for veterans.

In July 2015, the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council endorsed the final plan  49 housing units and 10,000 square feet of retail  on a 15-1 vote.

They tried to engage as many folks as possible, said Mynor Godoy, president of the Boyle Heights council, who was head of its planning committee at the time.

In response to community requests, Godoy said, the developer made modifications to the lighting and landscaping and agreed to include day care in the retail space. The architect changed the buildings profile to make it interact better with the street, Godoy said.

Gallo said she also eliminated all windows facing El Mercado after the owners representative expressed concern that an apartment next door might bring complaints about noise from the popular nightclub.

In March 2016, the L.A. City Planning Department granted the required approvals for height, street setback and parking.

But the green light turned red when lobbyist Harvey Englander filed an appeal on behalf of the Rosados. It challenged the an administrative finding that allowed the project to avoid the burden of a full environmental impact report.

Asked why Huizar had not scheduled a hearing after nearly a year, Huizar spokesman Rick Coca said in an email the councilman was waiting for the parties to negotiate.

Gallo said she offered to discuss changes to the project with the Rosados lawyer, but he has not responded or returned her calls.

Gallo said she would be prepared to do more environmental work if she knew what was required.

Schedule the darn thing so we can have that conversation, she said. Why isnt it being scheduled?

Huizars office said in an email April 7 that it would schedule the issue in May or June.

Meanwhile, time is running out, Gallo said. Metro has twice extended the deadline for conclusion of a development agreement. The deadline is now June 30.

After that, Metro would be free to look for a new developer.

doug.smith@latimes.com

@LATDoug
Police arrested 35 demonstrators Thursday in downtown Los Angeles during a protest over recent actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, officials said.

The demonstrators were cited for refusing to comply with police commands after blocking the entry into the Metropolitan Detention Center at 535 Alameda St., said Officer Irma Mota, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department. They were later released.

Clergy members and civil rights activists were among those arrested in the march, according to Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, an interfaith and workers rights organization.

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Organizers called the protest An Interfaith Day of Prophetic Action and said it was inspired by religious events this Holy Week and enforcement actions by federal authorities.

ICE is an active danger to members of our community  both our community at All Saints Church and our wider communities of Los Angeles, California and the nation, the Rev. Mike Kinman, who was arrested, said in a statement. Its targeting of people for deportation is based on race and class. It splits up families, has communities living in fear and exacerbates the already shrinking trust between communities of color and police and government authorities.

The demonstration started Thursday morning at La Plaza United Methodist Church at La Placita Olvera.

From there, protesters marched along Los Angeles Street, holding signs and chanting, Immigrants are welcomed here.

They called for the release of Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez, who was arrested in February by ICE after dropping his daughter off at her Lincoln Heights school. ICE officials said the arrest was routine, citing a 2014 order for Avelica-Gonzalezs deportation.

As clergy members sang and strummed on guitars, demonstrators sat in a circle in the street. They were eventually lifted up by officers and placed into a detention van.

Later, clergy members released statements about their arrests.

I know that I will be released soon after my arrest. Romulo Avelica-Gonzalezs fate is not the same as mine: he is still being detained and his future is uncertain, David Bocarsly, who was one of those arrested, said in a statement. I chose to get arrested while observing the Passover rituals to serve as a reminder that, until we are all free, we are none of us free.

The Rev. Janet Gollery McKeithen said she felt compelled to march because her friend was recently picked up by ICE.

His partner not only has to figure out how to live without his income, but now has to try to comfort their three children, one of whom is marking the calendar with an X for each day her daddy is gone, she said.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA

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As Northern California braces for more wet weather, state officials plan to resume releasing water down a damaged spillway at Oroville Dam.

The California Department of Water Resources said Thursday that dam operators will reopen the damaged spillway for up to 14 days beginning Friday as state officials finish repair plans.

But as Northern California continues to be hit by more storms and in anticipation of runoff from the snowmelt, DWR Director Bill Croyle said that repairs probably wont start until May or early June.

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Its a lot easier to take two to three years to do this, but I dont have two to three years, I have some months, Croyle said. I need to make sure we put a spillway back in place.

The wet weather is forecast to hit the Oroville area starting Sunday morning and last until late next week, according to the National Weather Service.

A special weather statement by the weather service said that the agency was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Oroville, with the possibility of hail and winds up to 30 mph.

In anticipation of this storm and potentially others, the DWR is trying to lower the lake level as much as possible behind the dam before closing the spillway for good to start repairs.

Multiple agencies are involved in reconstruction plans, which also need to be approved by federal regulators. As experts continue to analyze the damaged site, the new information changes reconstruction plans.

Each week we address a next set of technical issues to review, Croyle said.

In February, the state narrowly avoided what would have been a catastrophic disaster when engineers discovered a huge crater on the reservoirs main spillway, leading authorities to switch to an emergency spillway to reduce the water level. Then that spillway nearly failed, prompting concerns that a concrete wall would collapse, sending a wall of water out of the lake.

More than 100,000 people were evacuated from the potential flood path. Engineers were eventually able to reduce lake levels by increasing the amount of water flowing down the already damaged main spillway.

melissa.etehad@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @melissaetehad
A 75-year-old woman who tried to sell a paperweight containing a speck of moon rock may try to hold a federal agent liable for detaining her for two hours in a public parking lot in urine-soaked pants, a federal appeals court decided unanimously Thursday.

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said Joann Davis, the widow of an engineer who worked with NASA, was entitled to show that her detention was unreasonably prolonged and unnecessarily degrading.

The federal agent 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 9th Circuit Judge Sidney R. Thomas wrote for a three-judge panel.

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Davis late husband, Robert, was a brilliant engineer who managed North American Rockwells Apollo project, the court said.

During that time, he was given two Lucite paperweights  one containing a fragment of lunar material, the other a piece of the Apollo 11 heat shield  as gifts.

The family believed they came from astronaut Neil Armstrong, but the 9th Circuit said the source was unconfirmed.

After Roberts death in 1986, Joann experienced financial troubles. Her son was severely ill and had to have more than 20 operations. He has since died.

Her youngest daughter also died, and Joann took responsibility for her grandchildren.

She decided to try to sell the paperweights and contacted auction houses without success. She finally emailed NASA for help in finding a buyer for what she called rare Apollo 11 space artifacts. She explained how her late husband had received them.

Norman Conley, a special agent and criminal investigator for NASAs Office of Inspector General, was assigned to investigate whether Davis really possessed a moon rock.

He had someone pose as a broker and call Davis. During several conversations, all but one recorded, Davis explained how she obtained the moon rock and insisted she wanted to do everything legally. She also mentioned that she hoped to sell her late husbands firearms.

At no point was she informed that all lunar material is the property of the federal government and that possession was a crime, the court said.

After obtaining a warrant to search Davis and seize the moon rock, Conley arranged a meeting with her in 2011 at a Dennys restaurant in Lake Elsinore.

Davis, who was then 75, went to the restaurant with her husband, Paul Cilley, who was about 70, the court said. They had married in 1991.

Davis thought she was going to sell the paperweight and placed it on the table, the court said. Instead, the law enforcement officers went into action.

One grabbed the paperweight from Davis hand. Another clutched Cilley by the back of his neck and held his arm behind his back in a bent-over position, the court said.

They took Davis and Cilley outside, and she said they ignored her when she said she needed a restroom. Conley has admitted he knew that Davis had urinated in her pants, the court said.

A federal prosecutor later declined to press charges, and Davis sued. Conley contended that as a government agent he was clearly immune from liability. A federal judge disagreed, and Conley appealed to the 9th Circuit.

In rejecting Conleys appeal, the 9th Circuit said Davis had presented enough evidence to show that her constitutional right to be free of unreasonable seizure may have been violated.

Conley had no law enforcement interest in detaining Davis for two hours while she stood wearing urine-soaked pants in a restaurants parking lot during the lunch rush, Thomas wrote.

Davis lawsuit may now proceed.

maura.dolan@latimes.com

Twitter: @mauradolan

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The desert isnt for everyone  too hot, too bleak  but Dolores Westfall loved it. When my time comes, she once told her sister during a desert jaunt, spread my ashes here. Her sister promised she would.

The vow was kept earlier this month when Mary Ann Hoye took the ashes to a remote valley near the Nevada-California state line for the last stop on Westfalls long and difficult, but also inspiring, lifes journey.

Westfall, a former bank secretary, museum curator and interior design consultant, had found herself reaching retirement age in the same predicament many Americans face these days: unable to make do on her $190-a-month pension and $1,200 social security check.

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So she set out on an adventure born partly of choice, partly because there really was none. She spent her 70s traversing the country in search of temporary jobs, living and traveling in an RV she called Big Foot.

Over seven years, Westfall piloted Big Foot to 33 states to work all manner of temporary, low-paying jobs  Amazon warehouse clerk, saleslady, resort receptionist, cavern tour guide.

I want to live life as much as I can, before I dont have any, she said.

Her story, chronicled by former Times staff writer John M. Glionna and photographer Francine Orr, felt achingly familiar at a time when many are pushing back their own retirements well past the age of 65.

As Too poor to retire, too young to die pointed out, nearly one-third of U.S. heads of households ages 55 and older have no pension or retirement savings and a median annual income of about $19,000.

Westfalls story, which appeared on Jan. 29, 2016, moved readers in a way few others have.

Part of the response was due to Westfall herself, whose quick humor and cheerful determination almost always eclipsed her predicament.

Westfall  5 feet 1 tall, with a graceful dancers body she honed as a tap-dancing teenager  is as stubborn as she is high-spirited, Glionna wrote.

A man in Houston set up a GoFundMe account for Westfall, and donations exceeded $20,000. Thousands more came in personal checks. One reader, disappointed she couldnt aid Westfall in person, helped a homeless person she encountered in her own hometown.

An email from a reader in Georgia was typical: If she wants to come stay awhile and see if she likes Atlanta, I am offering free food, a free place to park Big Foot and I will pay for Bigfoot repairs. I have a wide array of friends who will also help.

Dolores Westfall, left, in September 2015 with her teenage co-workers on the last day of their summer job at the Darien Lake theme park in upstate New York. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

The article had caught up with Westfall in the spring of 2015 in upstate New York, where at age 79 she ran a kiddie ride at the Darien Lake theme park. She earned $9 an hour, and the job would only last into September.

Money was a never-ending worry. I could just cry, she wrote in her journal after a cop handed her a $300 speeding ticket. I wont have earned $300 in all of May. If I can get it lowered to $150, it will still be more than my entire grocery budget. Dont know how Im going to manage it.

But she did. She persuaded a judge to reduce the fine to $150 and, as ever, looked for more bargains, or clocked more work hours, sometimes 12 a day.

When an abusive mother at the amusement park screamed at her over a perceived slight  Just because youre a miserable old lady with your effing $7-an-hour job! You dont have a life!  Westfall shrugged it off.

By late summer Westfall knew she needed dental work, but she also learned that she could take a guided tour of buildings in the area designed by her favorite architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Each cost $100.

She picked Frank Lloyd Wright.

I believe doing something fun, no matter how frivolous it might seem, is food for the soul, she said. You need to feed yourself some pleasure once in a while to keep feeling alive. Otherwise, its just drudgery.

Dolores Westfalls RV Big Foot in 2015 at the Darien Lake theme park campsite in New York. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Westfall did not solicit donations, and was stunned by the reaction to, as she put it, a story I couldnt imagine anyone would want to read. It took her weeks to answer all the letters and emails. For the first time in years, she could shop for groceries without anxiety, though she continued to log each purchase to the penny.

Last fall, Westfall had planned to start driving from New York to Florida, where a job was waiting. But just before Thanksgiving, not long after her 80th birthday, she suffered a mild heart attack. Her sister, who hadnt seen Westfall since shed hit the road in Big Foot, flew from Berkeley to be with her.

Hoye noticed that Westfall had begun slurring her words.

Hoye had trouble directing emergency workers to Big Foots location in the countryside, but finally the ambulance arrived and rushed Westfall to the hospital. Shed had a stroke.

Upon her release, the sisters hatched a plan to drive Big Foot to California, but doctors would have none of that. A nurse let Westfall park the aging RV at her place while Westfall flew with Hoye to Berkeley to recover.

But on the flight to California, Westfall suddenly felt severe pain in the abdomen. Another ambulance, this time waiting at the San Francisco airport. Another hospital, this time with a grim diagnosis: Stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Journalists are supposed to keep a professional distance from their subjects, but to Glionna and Orr, Westfall wasnt just a source for a story. They had kept in touch long after the story ran. Orr visited Westfall in Berkeley, and was there at the moment in late December when Hoye told her dying sister that it was OK to let go, that it will stop hurting soon. Two days later, Westfall died.

Mary Ann Hoye of Berkeley holds sister Dolores Westfalls hand in December. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

This month it was finally time to spread her ashes. Orr and Glionna joined Hoye and her husband, David, his daughter and her boyfriend in the desert  in a remote place where Westfall had taken solitary journeys as a much younger woman. Westfall hadnt fully explained why the desert appealed to her, but perhaps it was the sense that a desert goes on forever. Boundless.

Hoye had brought a small bowl decorated with a heart and the word love, and, one by one, the mourners scooped up ashes and gently poured them on the desert sand and rock.

Then Glionna took the bowl and flung ashes high into the air, shouting, Dolores!

The others soon did the same, again and again. Dolores! Dolores! The ashes seemed to hang in the air ever so briefly, then the light wind caught them and they were gone.

steve.padilla@latimes.com

Twitter: @StevePadilla2

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A new round of blustery threats emerged over North Korea on Tuesday, as President Trump warned that any military action by Pyongyang will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen, and North Koreas military signaled it was carefully examining a plan to attack Guam.

What could possibly go wrong?

Diplomats lately have been warning of a chain of events they fear could escalate into a deadly new Korean War.

Threats and bluster are part of a familiar and long-running game of brinkmanship between Washington and Pyongyang, but this time, it has been made more dangerous by two volatile new players: Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump.

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Kim, the current incarnation of North Koreas ruling dynasty, is in his early 30s  a callow youth and a less predictable character than his father, Kim Jong Il. In little more than five years in office, he has executed his uncle, ordered the assassination of his half brother and redoubled efforts to develop a nuclear weapon capable of reaching the United States.

Then, there is President Trump, often prone to impulse and almost always undiplomatic, only 7 months in office and, like other new presidents, still learning on the job. Through his tweets and his words, Trump has promised to stop North Koreas progress toward becoming a nuclear power.

North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States, Trump told reporters in New Jersey on Tuesday. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.

Trumps order in April to launch airstrikes against Syria to punish President Bashar Assads government for a poison gas attack just 63 hours earlier signaled to supporters his decisiveness, to critics his impetuousness. The presidents penchant for action also was on display later that month when the U.S. dropped its largest conventional bomb (nicknamed the mother of all bombs) on an Islamic State cave complex in Afghanistan.

The most unpredictable part of this story is Trump, not North Korea. North Korea is doing what it always does, said Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst who specializes in North Korea. She believes that Kim Jong Un, like his father, is essentially a rational player who will not launch a suicidal attack that would bring about the end of his government. There is a lot of brinksmanship going on, but people can miscalculate, she warned. And things could go very, very wrong.

What might North Korea do?

North Korea has recently been conducting tests of its intercontinental ballistic missiles, and U.S. officials now believe the secretive country has developed the capability of loading a miniaturized nuclear warhead onto its missiles.

North Korean official: Were ready for war if Trump wants it 

Another nuclear test could also be in the works. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests since 2006, each of them followed by howls of indignation from the international community and fresh U.N. Security Council sanctions.

How would the U.S. respond?

The Trump administration has been signaling that this time it will respond forcefully to another North Korean nuclear test. Officials have disparaged the Obama administrations policy toward North Korea, a strategy known as strategic patience. No one knows whether Trump would take military action. U.S. intelligence officials have in the past signaled they might be prepared to launch an airstrike with conventional weapons, mostly likely Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Exactly what the U.S. would strike is unclear. North Koreas nuclear tests are conducted underground, and there is no obvious target that wouldnt have the risk of nuclear fallout. Analysts say it would be possible to retaliate through other means, such as attacking North Koreas submarine fleet off its east coast, something that could be accomplished more discreetly through sabotage than airstrikes.

Trump needs to make sure he does something different from Obama in response to a nuclear test. They cant just go through the motions at the U.N. Security Council, but they have to be sure they dont pursue a unilateral response that backfires or fails, said Scott Snyder of the Council on Foreign Relations.

How might North Korea respond if the U.S. takes military action?

Given all its rhetoric, North Korea would feel hard-pressed not to retaliate against a U.S. strike. Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theater but also in the U.S. mainland, North Koreas official Rodong Sinmun newspaper warned Tuesday.

Boasting aside, it is unclear whether North Korea could target the U.S. mainland, but 28,000 U.S. troops in South Korea and 50,000 in Japan are within striking distance. The most exposed are those stationed near the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea. The South Korean capital of Seoul lies only 30 miles away, making it vulnerable to conventional artillery dug into the mountainsides near the DMZ.

There would be a great temptation for the North Koreans to throw a few artillery shells into Seoul. They might not be able to flatten the place, but they could do a lot of damage, said Carl Baker, a retired Air Force officer who was stationed in South Korea, now with the Pacific Forum CSIS in Honolulu.

Military analysts have no doubt that combined U.S. and South Korean forces could beat North Korea. But a wounded North Korean government could punish its adversaries with what strategists sometimes refer to as the last lash of the dragons tail.

During a showdown with North Korea in 1994, the Clinton administration weighed airstrikes to prevent North Korea from reprocessing fuel rods from its Yongbyon nuclear complex. The plan was scuttled after computer simulations showed that up to 1 million people could be killed by North Korean retaliation. The casualties could be even larger today because of new real estate developments in the northern suburbs of Seoul, Baker said.

The Trump administration now is relearning the same lessons that we learned in 1994. Trump needs to understand that all options are not on the table, Baker said. We hope that he will make good, rational decisions based on input from policy advisors.

How would Asian neighbors react if the U.S. struck North Korea?

China would vociferously protest any U.S. airstrikes against North Korea, its traditional communist ally, with the same type of language that Russia used in complaining about the American attack against its ally, the Syrian government. Analysts do not believe that China would directly step into the conflict today as it did during the 1950-1953 Korean War, when Mao Tse-tung sent troops across the Yalu River to fight for North Korea. But Chinese leaders almost certainly would position themselves in a more confrontational position. I would expect they would move forces toward the border to prevent North Koreans from fleeing into China and to prevent the Americans from becoming more adventurous, Baker said.

How would military action against North Korea be received in South Korea and Japan?

The U.S. allies of South Korea and Japan might be angrier than China if the United States took unilateral action because they stand to bear the brunt of North Korean retaliation.

Trumps strong stance toward North Korea could alienate South Koreans. The safety of South Korea is as important as that of the United States. There should never be a preemptive strike without South Korean consent, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a Facebook post before his election in May. Moon also has said he would try to solve the problem by heading to Pyongyang, not Washington.

Robert Gallucci, a professor at Georgetown University who was with the Clinton administration in 1994 when it considered striking North Korea, said the U.S. would have to spend months preparing its allies to defend themselves and their civilian populations before taking what in military parlance is called kinetic action.

The question, he said at a Council on Foreign Relations discussion last month in New York, boils down to this: Are we ready to go to war? And if were not, what the hell are we talking about?

If we dont want to go to war, what other options are there?

Trump has said he offered Chinese President Xi Jinping better terms on trade if China would do more to rein in North Korea. Almost all of North Koreas fuel oil, hard currency, construction material and imported food passes through the 850-mile border between the two countries. The United States also could apply pressure on China with so-called secondary sanctions, which would target Chinese companies and banks that deal with North Korea.

And then, the Trump administration could consider direct negotiations with the North Koreans. During the campaign, Trump offhandedly raised the idea of inviting Kim over for a hamburger. A North Korean delegation was supposed to come to New York last month for back-channel talks, but after the assassination of Kims half brother, Kim Jong Nam, in Malaysia, the visa for the head of the delegation was abruptly canceled.

If there ever was a hamburger, it was taken off the table.

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

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UPDATES:

Aug. 8, 4:35 p.m.: This article was updated with new statements from Trump and the North Korean military.

9:15 a.m.: This article was updated with additional statements and analysis.

This article was originally published April 14 at 5 a.m.
A rooftop fire at the Bellagio hotel on the Las Vegas Strip on Thursday night forced the temporary closure of the boulevard but resulted in no injuries, officials said.

The fire was reported at 10:46 p.m., and firefighters arrived on the scene four minutes later, Clark County officials said in a statement. It described the firefighting efforts as extremely difficult because of the location.

The fire was knocked down at 11:09 p.m. A total of 10 engines and 77 personnel took part, according to Larry D. Haydu, Clark County Fire Department assistant fire chief.

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The Bellagio was the scene of a smash-and-grab burglary March 25 in which a man in a pig mask broke into the hotels Tesorini jewelry store. A preliminary hearing for the 20-year-old suspect is set for May 2.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Video of Bellagio on fire shot by a tourist on The Strip. Via @News3LV #vegas #fire pic.twitter.com/Evp5pMA0ou  Mick Akers (@mickakers) April 14, 2017

Firemen on the roof of the Bellagio shops checking the damage pic.twitter.com/93R0hXTXRX  Mark Hawkins (@themarkhawkins) April 14, 2017

The fire didn't stop the Bellagio water show from going on. via seankim on Instagram. #onlyinvegas #vegas pic.twitter.com/alMdBlMA5B  Mick Akers (@mickakers) April 14, 2017

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Days after Donald Trump was elected president, the mayor of this unabashedly liberal Texas capital reassured the vast majority of immigrants here illegally that he would try to keep the city a safe haven for them.

Austin will not waver, Mayor Steve Adler told a crowd of hundreds who gathered outside City Hall for a pro-immigrant rally.  In Austin, we do things our way and we will not stop.

Sally Hernandez, the new sheriff in Travis County, where Austin is located, announced the day Trump was inaugurated that she would not voluntarily comply with federal requests to detain people solely on the basis of their immigration status.

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That spirit of defiance has spread across the city as activists, civic leaders and other public officials have joined the rebellion, setting up a spectacular showdown with the Republican governor and state Legislature.

Gov. Greg Abbott stripped the county of $1.5 million in criminal justice division grants for services for children, abused women and veterans in retaliation for its resolve to not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

The state Senate passed a bill  which is making its way through the House  that would require local jails to comply with federal immigration requests and hold immigrants for up to 48 hours if they are in the country illegally. Sheriffs and police chiefs who refuse could be jailed for up to a year.

Elected officials dont get to pick and choose which laws they obey, the governor said in his State of the State address in January. To protect Texans from deadly danger, we must insist that laws be followed.

Just over a third of Austins 931,000 residents are Latino, compared with 80% in El Paso or 63% in San Antonio.

Yet leaders say the citys identity  and business success  rests on being a tolerant and cutting-edge tech hub that welcomes immigrants.

Apple, Facebook and Google want to be in Austin because of its culture, said Adler, a civil rights attorney before he became mayor.

Austin officials and other advocates for so-called sanctuary cities  which refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement  argue that giving local authorities discretion to enforce immigration laws could encourage racial profiling and that cracking down on immigrants who are in the country illegally but otherwise law-abiding would discourage them from reporting crimes.

Were putting public safety first, and that depends on a relationship of trust between our community and law enforcement, the mayor said.

Over four days in early February, federal agents fanned across the Austin region, detaining more than 50 immigrants who were in the country illegally.

The federal government denied its actions had anything to do with the sheriffs new policy, describing its actions as a routine targeted operation. But more than half of the immigrants detained had no criminal record  a substantially higher rate than other cities across the nation  and a federal magistrate judge said in court last month that immigration agents had warned him to expect a big operation as payback for the sheriffs stance.

The operation has had a chilling effect on the citys immigrant communities. Many who lack documentation have stayed in their homes, afraid to attend Mass or drive their children to school.

Now that the laws changing, Im afraid Im going to lose my kids, said Patricia Martinez, a 35-year-old Mexican citizen who has been in the U.S. illegally for well over a decade.

A victim of domestic abuse, Martinez now lives in hiding in a shelter with her five daughters, all U.S. citizens. She planned to assign temporary guardianship to relatives with legal status in case she is deported.

Since federal agents detained a Mexican immigrant inside the Travis County courthouse last month as he left a hearing for misdemeanor charges of domestic assault and possession of marijuana, others without legal status have been reluctant to appear in court, even as witnesses, according to their attorneys.

Austin has been pushing back.

The local police force has held a string of town hall meeting to reassure immigrants they are not a target.

Were telling them were interested in your safety and were not focused on your immigration status, said Brian Manley, Austins police chief. Every time my officers spend enforcing immigration law is time theyre not spending fighting crime.

Activists have set up neighborhood warning systems, using telephones and social media to track law enforcement activity and alert people when to hide, and offering services and financial help to families who risk losing their main breadwinner.

The City Council has used money from its emergency relief fund to pay $200,000 to Catholic Charities of Central Texas, which provides immigrants with legal assistance and has seen its legal consultations double from 25 to 50 clients a week.

Some are legal residents who suddenly feel more urgent about applying for citizenship. Others want to know if they have any chance of legal status.

Lawyers are holding Know Your Rights meetings, and legal clinics are offering deportation defense.

In an effort to throw off federal agents, some attorneys have sought to keep clients out of court, by getting waivers from judges or in some instances entering guilty pleas.

I kind of dont care that ICE knows that were doing this, said attorney Daniel Betts. If it continues, its going to be a cat-and-mouse game.

Jarvie is a special correspondent.
A Wisconsin fugitive accused of stealing an arsenal of firearms and sending an anti-government manifesto to the White House was arrested Friday after a retired school counselor found him camping on his property and calmly talked to the man before calling authorities.

The arrest of Joseph Allen Jakubowski settled fears among residents and law enforcement over what he might do with his stockpile of weapons and ammunition. In his manifesto, Jakubowski detailed a long list of grievances against the government and law enforcement, and threatened unspecified attacks.

His arrest came about 6 a.m. Friday, when tactical officers surrounded his campsite in a field near Readstown and arrested him without incident, said Jeffrey A. Gorn, the property owner who called authorities. Readstown is about 125 miles (200 kilometers) northwest of Janesville, where the manhunt for Jakubowski began April 4.

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Gorn told the Associated Press he was driving his four-wheeler on his property late Thursday night and checking his deer stands when he spotted a blue tarp and discovered a man camping on his land. Gorn said he didnt realize it was Jakubowski, the 32-year-old target of an intense manhunt by at least 150 federal, state and local law enforcement officers for more than a week.

Gorn approached the tent fashioned from the tarp and asked if anyone was inside. Jakubowski came out.

He said he was off the grid, Gorn said. And I told him youre not too far off the grid. Youre on my grid.

Gorn, 58, a former high school guidance counselor, said he talked with Jakubowski for an hour.

He seemed angry at the way he views society, how he believes money is controlling society, Gorn said, adding that the man was extremely cordial.

He never raised his voice, never showed any sign of doing anything inappropriate. I shook his hand twice, Gorn said. He wanted me to see his points of view. He wanted me to see what he had written to various people.

Gorn said Jakubowski asked for food and asked if he had to leave the field. Gorn told him he could stay the night. When he returned to his house, Gorn said he felt a bit uneasy with the campsite and called the Vernon County Sheriffs Office. Law enforcement officers began to descend on the property in the dark and set up a perimeter around the camp. Gorn estimated 100 officers arrived and sat down with him to look over maps of the property. A thermal imaging camera showed Jakubowski was in the tent, he said.

Tactical officers moved in about 6 a.m. and arrested Jakubowski without resistance, according to the Rock County Sheriffs Office. Gorn said he didnt see any weapons at the camp, but Vernon County sheriffs officials said some firearms were found close to where Jakubowski was captured.

Jakubowskis capture quieted concerns after authorities said Thursday they were investigating a letter threatening Easter attacks on churches in Wisconsin, specifically around Sussex, purportedly sent by Jakubowski. Officials did not confirm its authenticity.

An Easter egg hunt at the governors mansion that was canceled Thursday because of the hunt for Jakubowski was back on for Saturday.

Janesville Police Chief David Moore earlier said Jakubowski cited concerns about President Trump in his 161-page manifesto, but that he didnt make any specific threats.

The sheriffs office said Jakubowski filmed a video of himself dropping his manifesto, addressed to Trump, into a mailbox and speaking of a revolution before the manhunt began. He warned in the video that whoever received the manifesto might want to read it.

Authorities believe Jakubowski drafted a letter of apology to the owner of a gun store in his hometown of Janesville before stealing 18 guns, two silencers and ammunition on April 4.

News of Jakubowskis capture brought relief to residents of Janesville.

With the kind of weaponry he had, he couldve done extensive damage, said Richard Erdman, owner of the Coin Shop, a pawn shop downtown. He said his wife had been avoiding the mall, fearing it could be the target of an attack.

These kinds of things keep people on the edge, said Fabian Gonzalez, the general manager of the Milwaukee Grill. A little bit stressful.

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On the morning of April 4, Syrian President Bashar Assads government carried out a chemical attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in the rebel-held province of Idlib. At least 70 residents were killed and hundreds more were injured as the chemical, almost certainly sarin, left its victims writhing in agony and gasping for air.

Also on April 4, world leaders gathered in Brussels for the second day of an annual conference on Syria, now in its fifth year and convened by the European Union, where scores of countries pledge billions in relief for victims of the Syrian conflict.

Previously, the pledges made at the donor conference were earmarked almost exclusively for humanitarian aid. This year, however, for the first time, the topic of reconstruction was on the agenda. Reconstruction assistance is distinct from humanitarian aid in that it would be funneled toward efforts to stabilize Syria  toward rebuilding infrastructure and economic development, for instance. It is also distinct in that it would mean dealing directly with Assad.

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Although discussions at the donor conference are loose  each country is free to spend its funds as it chooses, and nothing agreed to at the meeting is binding  the shift in debate toward reconstruction, seemingly subtle, has profound implications.

By offering reconstruction assistance to the regime, the international community would be giving leverage to Assad as much as gaining it.

The official position held thus far by most of the E.U. donor countries is that no reconstruction assistance should be offered until a genuine political transition is under way. The prospect of reconstruction assistance now, before any meaningful progress has been made, signals that the international community is preparing a new strategy in a bid to resolve the conflict in Syria: the so-called money card.

Put simply, the strategy is to use reconstruction funds as an incentive to push Assad toward transition. The West has been largely impotent in its efforts to bring a halt to the conflict in Syria. Cease-fires have been routinely broken, and peace talks have reached their sixth round without the Assad regime and the opposition ever even entering the same room. Neither a United Nations Security Council resolution nor a referral to the international court are forthcoming. And, in Russia, Assad enjoys the support of a powerful ally.

The offer of reconstruction now, the argument goes, could act as a point of leverage over Assad: If you stop the atrocities, maintain cease-fires, give access to humanitarian agencies and commit to transition, then we will pay.

But the logic is flawed. Although the money card is framed as an altruistic means of relieving the suffering of the Syrian people, it glosses over the fact that Assads hold on power is the primary reason that Syrians are suffering in the first place. Offering assistance to Assad while cutting the opposition out of the picture would only legitimize the regime and entrench Assads position.

Proponents also champion the money card as a pragmatic strategy  distasteful perhaps, but necessary for the greater good. But even by this measure, the logic is still flawed. Financial assistance will only create a perverse incentive structure and exacerbate problems.

If reconstruction aid is given to the regime in exchange for humanitarian access or a cease-fire, what happens if  or, rather, when  Assad senses an opportunity to strike at the opposition and decides to renege on the deal? Funding may be withheld until a cease-fire is renegotiated, but the cycle could continue ad infinitum. By offering reconstruction assistance to the regime, the international community would be giving leverage to Assad as much as gaining it.

Consider a second scenario, in which the regime maintains a cease-fire but obstructs humanitarian access. While the international community could threaten to withhold assistance if access is not granted, Assad could threaten to break the cease-fire if the aid is not granted.

As this months chemical attacks demonstrate, such scenarios are not farfetched. After all, the regime claimed to have dismantled its chemical arsenal after killing hundreds in a similar attack back in 2013. If promises are broken when reconstruction aid is flowing, the international community would find itself complicit, however tangentially, in what would have otherwise been the independent actions of a dictator.

The ultimate goal of the money card would be to coax Assad into good faith and perhaps into eventual political transition. For it to work, however, the promise of reconstruction must hold real value to him. Assads actions demonstrate that this isnt the case.

How much value can reconstruction have to a person who has demonstrated such a willingness to savagely deconstruct? A person who has gone to such extremes to hold on to power  a person who has unleashed chemical attacks, called airstrikes on schools and dropped barrel bombs on hospitals  will not relinquish power gently.

Economic assistance to the Assad regime would also have disastrous repercussions beyond Syria. By linking adherence to international law with a financial reward, the international community would be sending a clear signal to other states around the world that human rights violations can become a bargaining chip.

There can be no reconstruction in Syria without a stable transition, and there can be no transition without justice. The money card is a losing hand.

Steven Joe Dixon is the Syria program officer and Rami Nakhla is the Syria project coordinator at No Peace Without Justice.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
One of the reasons the Los Angeles Times editorial board found the prospect of Donald Trump in the White House so alarming was that he showed himself as a candidate to be impulsive and easily provoked.

This weekend North Korea is likely to test Trumps self-control  and not just when it comes to his Twitter feed.

As Barbara Demick explains in todays Times, Saturday is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the founder of the Communist state and the grandfather of the current leader, Kim Jong Un. Its expected that the North will mark the anniversary with either another nuclear test or another test of a short- or medium-range missile. (Military analysts believe an intercontinental ballistic missile isnt ready for testing.)

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Trump has tweeted about North Korea several times this week. On Tuesday he declared ominously 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. On Wednesday he seemed more upbeat, tweeting: Had a very good call last night with the President of China concerning the menace of North Korea. But on Thursday he was hedging his bets: 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.

But the loose talk wasnt confined to Trumps Twitter timeline. On Thursday, NBC reported that multiple senior U.S. intelligence officials had said that the U.S. was prepared to launch a preemptive strike with conventional weapons against North Korea should officials become convinced that North Korea is about to follow through with a nuclear weapons test. (A senior Trump administration official told Reuters that that the NBC report was flat wrong.)

And almost a month ago, on a swing through Asia, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson seemed to suggest that the U.S. was considering a preemptive strike against North Korea. He said that military action was an option not only if North Korea threatened South Korea or U.S. forces but also if they elevate the threat of their weapons program to a level that we believe requires action.

Trumps tweets this week, and leaks suggesting that a preemptive strike is under consideration, create the expectation that the U.S. must respond immediately and dramatically to the next North Korean nuclear test or missile launch or else lose credibility. The result, as former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Friday, is to create a higher volume in terms of the provocations that are going on.

Trump and Tillerson have every right to be exasperated at North Korea and to try to reshape U.S. policy on the Korean peninsula. But vague threats and loose talk, especially from the president of the United States, arent the way to make policy or keep the peace. As Panetta said: We have the potential for a nuclear war that would take millions of lives. So I think we have got to exercise some care here.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook

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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.
This orderly swath of Atlanta suburbs was never supposed to worry Republicans. Theyve had a lock on the congressional seat since 1979, with a string of rock-ribbed conservatives such as Newt Gingrich and Tom Price.

Then Donald Trump happened.

Now the GOP is in an unexpected scramble to prevent a politically inexperienced millennial Democrat  unknown months ago  from turning their longtime stronghold blue.

Party officials are filled with angst ahead of the April 18 special election in Georgias 6th Congressional District to replace Price, who vacated the seat to become Trumps Health and Human Services secretary.

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After a scare for Republicans in Kansas on Tuesday, when a congressional race got uncomfortably close in a district Trump had dominated in the presidential election, the Georgia fight teeters on becoming a full-blown crisis for a party that should be relishing its recent success and consolidating power. A Democratic win here, unthinkable only weeks ago, is now a very real possibility. It would be yet another indication that Democrats are not the only party hobbled by a national identity crisis in the age of Trump.

Nothing like this has ever happened before in Georgia, Charles S. Bullock III, a University of Georgia political science professor, said of the exorbitantly expensive free-for-all the race has become.

The Trump administration is scary. I dont like what they are doing. I felt it was important to come out and send a message that we dont support it.  Jeffrey Chou, 25, graduate student

With Democratic donors nationwide rallying around 30-year-old Jon Ossoff, the surprise front-runner has raised a staggering $8.3 million, dwarfing contributions to all 11 of his Republican rivals combined.

For Democrats, the allure of the Sunbelt district stems from voter uneasiness about Trump, who barely won here in November. By contrast, Mitt Romney, the last GOP nominee, crushed Barack Obama by double digits.

Ossoff is polling at around 40%, far beyond any of his contenders in the open primary. Thats largely because the GOP candidates are splitting the vote.

But Ossoff is now within striking distance of winning the majority required to avoid a runoff in June, which may be his best hope, since many believe a two-candidate runoff would favor the Republican.

Two or three months ago, nobody had a clue who this guy was, Bullock said.

As they lined up at polls this week for early voting, several residents made clear they were viewing the race as a referendum on the president.

The Trump administration is scary, said Jeffrey Chou, a 25-year-old graduate student voting for the first time who came to support Ossoff. I dont like what they are doing. I felt it was important to come out and send a message that we dont support it.

He was joined in line by a 60-year-old nurse who voted for Price in the past, but said all the insanity at the White House has driven her to vote Democrat this time. Arriving soon after was a 38-year-old patent agent trainee who hadnt volunteered for a political campaign since college, but said Trumps behavior drove her to canvass for Ossoff. A physician in his 60s who said he had worked with Price professionally and voted for him declared he would cast a ballot for Ossoff to stick it in the eyes of Trump.

You are seeing the liberals demonstrating their total disgust for Donald Trump, said Max Wagerman, 52, a GOP loyalist who boasted of living in the same subdivision as Gingrich. Theyve got all the juice now. They have the organization. Republicans here are just too lazy and the liberals are going to get this one.

With momentum on his side, Ossoff is now everywhere: omnipresent in television ads, his face plastered on lawn signs and car bumper stickers, talked up by the thousands of volunteers  many from out of state  incessantly knocking on doors and dialing up voters.

Desire by Democrats to land an electoral blow against Trump is so intense that the party is showing uncharacteristic discipline in a messy race with 18 candidates. It quickly rallied behind Ossoff, with liberal bloggers setting in motion a Bernie Sanders-style fundraising operation that has resulted in a frenzy of small-dollar donations, the largest number of which are coming not from Georgia, but California.

Ossoff is no Bernie Sanders. He is a cautious, scripted moderate who spends much less time on the campaign trail whipping up rage against Trump than carefully calculating remarks that avoid offending the areas upscale suburban electorate.

Folks here are excited now for fresh leadership presenting a substantive message about local economic development and talking about core values, he said at his Marrieta campaign office, just before a crowded candidate forum where Ossoff was the only one who ended some of his answers without even using the full minute allotted. They are tired of partisan politics.

But partisan politics is what they are getting. First, there is his deluge of outside cash. Republican groups have countered by pouring millions of dollars into ads attacking Ossoff as a political neophyte aligned with rioting protesters. One even made ominous insinuations about Ossoffs past work as a filmmaker for cable channel Al Jazeera.

As election day looms, Republicans are focusing their attacks on each other. They are slugging it out for what they hope will be a spot on the runoff ballot against Ossoff. The intensity of their attacks lay bare how much Trump has complicated Republican politics in districts such as this one.

Establishment favorite Karen Handel, the former Georgia secretary of State, has watched her strong lead steadily diminish amid an assault from the conservative, anti-tax group Club for Growth and others who question her ideological purity. One ad depicts her as a stumbling elephant in pearls; others accuse the fiscal conservative of recklessly spending tax dollars. Handel does not relish talking about Trump, and her husband abruptly ends an interview after it turns to questions about how the tumult in the White House is affecting the race.

All you need to know about this district is Mitt Romney won it by 22 points and Trump won it by one and a half points, said GOP pollster Whit Ayres, who is working as a consultant for Handel. This defines the kind of upscale suburban district where Trump struggled. Karen is the type of person this district has tended to support.

One Trump loyalist who threatens to overtake her on Tuesday is Bob Gray, a telecom executive backed by the Club for Growth. He dismissed as hype all the chatter that the local electorate is so uneasy with Trump that it could go blue. I dont think its in the cards, Gray said. This is a conservative seat. Lets be real: Newt Gingrich, Tom Price. The district hasnt changed that much.

Gray stars in his own not-so-subtle television ad wearing a pair of vibrant camouflage waders and fueling a giant motorized pump, which he then uses to drain the swamp  a nod to Trumps catchphrase.

Many of the leading candidates, though, chafed when asked following the recent forum about whether the race had become a referendum on Trump.

Said Judson Hill, an anti-tax advocate and Republican candidate: Donald Trump is not on the ballot here.

But as residents stood in line a few miles away to cast ballots in early voting, it was undeniable that Trump was on their minds.

evan.halper@latimes.com

Twitter: @evanhalper

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The Trump administration will keep secret the records of those who visit the White House, ending a practice started under the Obama administration of partially releasing visitor logs, a White House official said Friday.

Even though President Trump led chants of drain the swamp during the campaign and promised to protect government business from special interests, the decision makes it harder for the public to know who is influencing the president and his close advisors.

Keeping the visitor logs hidden from public view will protect the privacy of visitors and is meant to address security risks that may be posed if people are identified publicly as close to Trump, White House communications director Mike Dubke said Friday.

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The public and the press will be able to file requests for the logs under the Freedom of Information Act, Dubke said. Such requests often require legal action that can delay the release of records for several years.

Given the grave national security risks and privacy concerns of the hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, the White House Office will disclose Secret Service logs as outlined under the Freedom of Information Act, a position the Obama White House successfully defended in federal court, Dubke said in a statement.

The U.S. Secret Service conducts background checks and keeps a list of all visitors to the 18-acre White House grounds.

The Obama administration voluntarily released some visitor records, but often omitted the names of visitors that Obamas aides considered sensitive, such as candidates for judicial posts, as well as personal contacts, including celebrities and some Obama campaign donors. Obama began releasing partial visitor logs in late 2009 following lawsuits. The records were released two or three months after the visits and contained the name of each visitor, the date of entry to the White House grounds and who requested the visitor be allowed to enter.

Judicial Watch, a conservative group among the organizations that sued the Obama administration for the entry logs, directed its fire at Trumps decision.

This new secrecy policy undermines the rule of law and suggests this White House doesnt want to be accountable to the American people, Tom Fitton, the groups president, said in a statement. The move is perfectly in line with the policy of the Obama White House to block the complete visitor records from being released, he added.

Watchdog groups also want to know more about whom Trump is meeting with during his regular weekend trips to his resort in Palm Beach, Fla.

Trump is spending the Easter weekend at Mar-a-Lago, his seventh trip to the members-only club since he became president. Critics are concerned that the public doesnt know which club members and guests have access to the president while he is there. Trump has hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Xi Jinping, the president of China, at the resort while club members and guests were present.

Earlier this week, the liberal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and two other groups filed suit in federal court in New York demanding the administration release the names of visitors to the White House, Trump Tower in New York City and Mar-a-Lago.

Twitter: @ByBrianBennett

brian.bennett@latimes.com

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Reality seemed to set in for President Trump this week, and he responded by jettisoning one campaign pledge after another.

By weeks end, his administration seemed to be taking on an increasingly establishment-oriented hue  pleasing to some, deeply alarming to others.

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Good afternoon, Im David Lauter, Washington bureau chief. Welcome to the Friday edition of our Essential Politics newsletter, in which we look at the events of the week in Washington and elsewhere in national politics and highlight some particularly insightful stories.

DROPPING BOMBS, NOT THROWING THEM

Many of the biggest moves away from Trumps campaign promises have come in foreign policy, Tracy Wilkinson and Brian Bennett reported.

The president who astonished people several weeks ago by expressing surprise that healthcare policy could be so complex said something very similar this week about his administrations biggest foreign policy problem, North Korea.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump said Chinese President Xi Jingping had convinced him that China has less influence over North Korea than he had thought.

After listening for 10 minutes, I realized its not so easy, Trump said. I felt pretty strongly that they had a tremendous power over North Korea, he said. Now, he recognized that while China clearly has economic sway over its ally, its not what you would think, he said.

Trump is the fourth successive U.S. president to try to slow or stop North Koreas nuclear program. Neither Bill Clinton, George W. Bush nor Barack Obama succeeded. Now, as North Koreas leader, Kim Jong Un, appears to be preparing for another test of a nuclear weapon, which could come as early as tonight, the Trump administration has been loudly hinting at a military response. The problem, as Barbara Demick reported, is that all the scenarios for what might happen if the U.S. retaliates are grim.

The administrations saber rattling has been aimed, in part, at getting China to take more action to rein in North Koreas ambitions, and China appears increasingly worried, Demick wrote. At the same time, Trump, who publicly has tried to link Chinese assistance on North Korea with trade, has backed away from his previous attacks on Chinese policies.

This week, Trump publicly abandoned the idea of labeling China as a currency manipulator, something that during his campaign, he repeatedly said he would do on day one of his administration. Business leaders reportedly helped convince Trump of what economists have been saying for several years  that China used to manipulate its currency to boost its exports but had stopped doing so during Obamas presidency.

Thats only part of the list of dropped promises. Trump has also backed away from tearing up the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada, made no changes in President Obamas Cuba policy and left intact the Iran deal.

Last week, he ordered a retaliatory missile strike against Syria to punish Bashar Assads government for its use of chemical weapons to attack civilians, a humanitarian intervention at odds with the America First rhetoric of his campaign and his inaugural address.

Over all, an administration that came into office threatening to overturn relations with China while warming to Russia now is doing precisely the opposite.

Right now were not getting along with Russia at all, Trump said this week as he discussed the tense relationship with Moscow. We may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia.

At least in foreign policy, the president appears to be moving much closer to the Washington establishment he once vowed to disrupt, Mike Memoli and Noah Bierman reported.

The one point on which the administration has remained consistent is a greater willingness to use force. That was dramatically illustrated Thursday, Bill Hennigan reported, when the military dropped its largest non-nuclear weapon, the so-called Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, on a complex of tunnels and caves allegedly being used by Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan.

The weapon, which creates a lethal blast roughly a mile-and-a-half wide, was developed almost two decades ago, but the Bush and Obama administrations had declined to use it.

THE SON-IN-LAW ALSO RISES

Many observers have seen the shifts in Trumps approach as signs of greater influence for Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and adviser, and for establishment-oriented figures in the administration led by Trumps top economic adviser, Gary Cohn, the former president of Goldman Sachs.

At the same time, the influence of Trumps campaign strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, has seemed to be on the wane. Fairly or not, Bannon has taken blame for some of the administrations biggest stumbles, including the botched effort to ban travel to the U.S. by residents of several Muslim-majority countries and the failure to get a bill through the House to repeal Obamacare.

Cohns rise is part of the reason the administration has backed away from talk of scrapping NAFTA and has eased its approach to China, as Don Lee first reported a few weeks ago.

This week, Trump took more steps toward an establishment-oriented economic policy, telling the Wall Street Journal in their interview that he might consider reappointing Janet Yellen as chair of the Federal Reserve when her term expires next year. He also said he now backs continued operation of the Export-Import Bank, a prime target of conservative activists.

All that has alarmed some of the economic nationalists and anti-establishment activists who flocked to Trump during the campaign.

[Another aide whose long-term job tenure seems increasingly in doubt is Press Secretary Sean Spicer. He damaged his standing this week with an embarrassing series of statements about Adolf Hitler. And K.T. McFarland, a deputy at the National Security Council brought in by former national security adviser Michael Flynn, is on the way out, as the new national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, consolidates his authority.]

In addition to the changing fortunes of his aides, the shifts in Trumps stands may also reflect his political situation. His standing with the public remains far below that of other presidents at this stage of their tenures, he has succeeded in mobilizing his opposition to a remarkable degree, and his party is worried about a series of special elections to fill vacancies in the House in districts that should be reliably theirs.

This week, the GOP barely succeeded in holding off the Democrats in a conservative district in Kansas, Cathy Decker reported. The special election there was called to fill the seat formerly held by CIA Director Mike Pompeo.

An even bigger test comes Tuesday in Georgia, where Republicans have grown steadily more anxious about their prospects in the district that used to be represented by Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. With Trump having energized the opposition, the Democratic candidate, 30-year-old Jon Ossoff, will almost certainly take first place in Tuesdays all-candidate primary and could end up winning a seat that has been in GOP hands for years, Evan Halper reports.

MAINTAINING PRESSURE ON IMMIGRATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Amid confusion elsewhere, the administration has maintained consistent focus on two areas: Rolling back environmental protections and toughening enforcement of immigration laws.

This week, for example, on a trip to the border, Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions called for stepping up prosecutions of people who cross the border illegally, Nigel Duara reported.

Another of Sessions programs went awry, however. A couple of weeks ago, the administration began publishing statistics on local jurisdictions that refuse to keep people in custody who are sought by immigration agents. Those orders, called detainers, have been controversial in many jurisdictions. In California and elsewhere, judges have ruled that detainers do not give law enforcement agencies legal justification to hold onto people who have completed their sentences or who have been found innocent in a trial.

The administration hoped that publicizing the number of detainers that are rejected could put political pressure on local jurisdictions to comply. But they had to suspend the program this week after the first two weeks of reports were found to contain numerous errors, Joe Tanfani reported. Officials said they did not know when the reports would resume.

On the environmental front, Halper reported that the administration is trying to get rid of Energy Star, a well regarded, voluntary program that encourages energy conservation by awarding certificates to efficient products, such as air conditioners. The move against the program, which is popular and costs relatively little, shows the influence of libertarians and climate skeptics in the administration, Halper wrote.

Meantime, the administrations proposed cuts in U.S. support for global health programs has caused medical groups to fear new outbreaks of disease, Noam Levey reports.

RUSSIA INVESTIGATION UPDATE

With Congress out of session, the volume has gone down on the investigations into Russian interference in last years election.

Michael Finnegan and Matt Pearce examined how differently conservative and mainstream media have covered Trump administration accusations that Susan Rice, the former Obama administration national security adviser, had improperly handled intelligence reports.

And the Washington Post disclosed that Carter Page, who was, at least for a time, a foreign policy adviser to Trump, was the subject of a classified Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant issued last summer. To persuade judges to issue such a warrant, the FBI would have needed to produce evidence that Page was operating as an agent of a foreign power.

ALL THE PRESIDENTS TWEETS

Twitter has long been Trumps favored means of pushing his message. Were compiling all of Trumps tweets. Its a great resource. Take a look.

LOGISTICS

That wraps up this week. My colleague Sarah Wire will be back Monday with the weekday edition of Essential Politics. Until then, keep track of all the developments in national politics and the Trump administration with our Essential Washington blog, at our Politics page and on Twitter @latimespolitics.

Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com.

If you like this newsletter, tell your friends to sign up.

David.lauter@latimes.com

@davidlauter
A proposal by the Brown administration to revise marijuana laws in California is drawing backlash from lawmakers and police chiefs who say it would repeal rules approved by the Legislature two years ago and benefit the pot industry over the public.

Gov. Jerry Brown wants to merge medical marijuana regulations approved by the Legislature in 2015 with standards set by Proposition 64, an initiative approved in November by California voters that legalizes the sale of cannabis for recreational use.

The proposal, to be acted on in a budget trailer bill, may not win the necessary two-thirds vote of the Legislature in its current form, some key lawmakers say. If the rift results in a prolonged legislative stalemate, it could delay using Browns proposal in some state licensing that is required to begin in January, activists worry.

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Law enforcement officials and legislators object that the administration proposal jettisons some provisions of the 2015 regulatory scheme, including a requirement that pot shops get permits from the cities in which they are located before the state will issue a license.

The Legislatures bipartisan approval of regulations in 2015 was one of the most significant accomplishments of that legislative session, Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) said in a letter last week to Nancy McFadden, the governors top aide.

To undo that work now in favor of a pork-barrel proposition run by the industry is antithetical to good governance, wrote Cooley, a co-author of the 2015 law. If the governor intends to move forward with this proposal, I will vigorously oppose the trailer bill and urge my colleagues to do so as well.

The proposal also faces opposition from Ken Corney, president of the California Police Chiefs Assn.

Its shocking, said Corney, who is Venturas police chief. Its a giveaway to the commercial marijuana industry which will not be good for California.

The language proposed for the budget trailer bill by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control would, if adopted by the Legislature, become the framework the agency would use to draft regulations.

The first priority of the administration in implementing the new regulatory system that will govern the cannabis industry in California is to protect public and consumer safety, says a report by the bureau.

State law requires any change in Proposition 64s execution to be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature and be consistent with the intent of the initiative.

The Brown administration concluded that having different rules for medical and recreational marijuana would result in waste and confusion from using parallel systems.

The rules proposed by the administration include eliminating a requirement that those who grow and sell pot use a third-party distributor and not distribute it themselves. The provision was sought to provide accountability and prevent monopolistic businesses.

The 2015 legislation requires licenses for cultivation, manufacturing, retail, distribution and testing of medical pot. But medical marijuana businesses are allowed under the law to get licenses in only two of those categories  and they cant be a distributor and a seller.

Proposition 64 and Browns proposal would allow one corporation to get licenses in all of the categories at once, except testing.

Allowing for a business to hold multiple licenses including a distribution license will make it easier for businesses to enter the market, encourage innovation, and strengthen compliance with state law, according to the 79-page Brown administration report.

Supporters of the legislations restrictions say Browns proposal could create a conglomerate with a competitive advantage.

We think that having an independent distributor prevents a vertically integrated industry that is susceptible to monopoly control, said Barry Broad, a lobbyist for the Teamsters union, which is seeking a role in the burgeoning industry.

Updates from Sacramento 

But industry leaders said requiring an independent distributor would increase the costs of cannabis for consumers, who might choose the black market as a result.

We believe that open distribution is the best way to ensure that small- and medium-sized businesses have access to the market and consumers, said Lynne Lyman, California state director of the Drug Policy Alliance, which co-wrote Proposition 64.

Cooley said the industry is behind provisions of Proposition 64 that allow businesses to dominate multiple levels of the industry, from cultivation to distribution to sales.

It is so outrageous to take what was one of the notable accomplishments of 2015 and shunt everything into the framework of the self-interested, moneyed backers of Proposition 64, Cooley said.

Another point of contention involves a requirement in the 2015 law that every medical marijuana sales and farming business get a permit from the state, which would issue a license only if the business first obtained a permit from its city or county. That provision was meant to guarantee that pot shops would not violate city ordinances because cities would have the power to shut them down by revoking a permit.

The administrations proposal outlines a mandate for a state permitting process, but permits would not be required from local agencies.

With 58 counties and 482 cities, it is unrealistic to expect the licensing entities to verify that each applicant is in compliance with any local law or regulation, said the report from the Brown administration.

The Brown proposal would allow applicants for state licenses to voluntarily submit a local permit if one is available, arguing some cities will decide to issue permits. In cases where a city does not issue permits, the applicant for a state license must abide by local ordinances and submit an environmental impact report to the state.

The Bureau [of Cannabis Control] will have to contact someone at the local jurisdiction to ensure that the potential licensee is in compliance with local planning rules, said bureau spokesman Alex Traverso.

If a city bans marijuana farms or shops, the state would not issue a license, Lyman said.

But she said an alternative was needed where cities have not banned pot businesses but also do not have a license procedure.

Otherwise we feared we would have large swaths of the population and the state without access, she said.

Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), who co-wrote the 2015 marijuana law with Cooley, said he sees the proposals drafted by Browns bureau as a place to start negotiations. Asked if he could support the Brown budget trailer bill, Bonta said: Not in its current form. It has to change.

Assemblyman Tom Lackey of Palmdale, one of several Republicans who voted to support the 2015 law, shares the same concerns.

There will certainly need to be some improvements before it is something I can support, Lackey said. Law enforcement and local governments have some serious concerns about the proposed changes by Gov. Browns administration.

Lyman said she has heard that some lawmakers may try to obstruct the Brown proposals. But she said her side has a strong argument in the fact that Proposition 64 should be deferred to, because it was approved by 57% of the voters in the state.

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com

Twitter: @mcgreevy99

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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.
One of the amazing (and scary) things about artificial intelligence programs is that in learning to mimic their human masters so perfectly, these wonders of computer software hold up a mirror to patterns of behavior we engage in every day but may not even notice.

Beyond their extraordinary usefulness in industry, medicine and communications, these learning programs can lay bare the mental shortcuts we humans use to make sense of our world.

Indeed, new research with artificial intelligence programs highlights the ethnic and gender biases of English speakers.

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In a first-of-its-kind effort, a group of Princeton University computer scientists set a widely used artificial intelligence program to the task of learning English by performing a massive crawl of the World Wide Web.

After gobbling up some 840 billion words, the software developed a vocabulary of 2.2 million distinct words and the fluency to use them in ways that were grammatically correct. It captured meaning and context by taking note of word associations  the regular proximity of certain words to certain other words.

In doing so, the program learned to anticipate that certain occupations, such as computer programmer and doctor, were more likely to be associated with masculine words like boy and man. The word mathematics also drew more associations to words suggesting male gender than it did to female gender.

And when it saw references to female names instead of male ones, the program was more likely to make associations to home and family words than to career words.

These findings, published this week in the journal Science, are in line with studies of implicit bias. In this burgeoning field, psychologists plumb peoples unconscious beliefs and biases by asking subjects to draw rapid word associations and timing the speed and frequency with which they make those associations. When words feel like they go together, the associations we make come readily (think happy and puppy). Were a little less quick to draw a link between words we find incongruous (think happy and criminal).

Since the first pioneering work on implicit bias was published in 1998, researchers have found over and over again that Americans make assumptions, use stereotypes and carry bias along lines of gender, race and sexual orientation.

Despite apparent progress, our innermost beliefs do not always make a pretty picture.

Few of us explicitly own up to holding pejorative views toward African Americans, for instance, or to automatically assuming the gender of a doctor or a computer programmer. But as surely as it exists inside of virtually all of us, bias is enshrined in contemporary English language as well. Thats why the researchers artificial intelligence program was able to find it.

Along with its mastery of contemporary English, the program evidently picked up a few surprising attitudes as well: When it detected a name that sounded like that of an African American, it was less likely to conjure up pleasant associations (like the words gift or happy) than when it detected a typically European American name.

Of course, artificial intelligence programs only know what theyve been taught (and despite some great film plots, they dont actually believe anything). And lead author Aylin Caliskan, a computer scientist, acknowledges that her groups findings leave a major question unanswered. Among them: whether the associations embraced by the AI software are responses to existing facts (such as the fact that womens participation in the workforce still lags behind that of men), or whether they reflect the accumulated biases and beliefs that are baked into the English language itself.

We dont know yet which it is, said Caliskan. After all, she added, language contains facts about the world, and these facts can be cultural  about humans and their beliefs  or they can be statistical facts.

Anthony G. Greenwald, the University of Washington social psychologist who pioneered the study of implicit bias, suggests that the new study should make us reconsider our assumptions about the impartiality of machines.

In addition to revealing a new comprehension skill for machines, the work raises the specter that this machine ability may become an instrument of unintended discrimination based on gender, race, age, or ethnicity, Greenwald wrote in a commentary that accompanies the study.

As learning programs play an ever-growing role in the conduct of modern affairs  diagnosing illnesses, winnowing job candidates, projecting the outcomes of complex decisions  the people who rely on them may face some of the same challenges we do when we confront our own biases. They may have to ask themselves whether their advice relies on reality or on the often-faulty assumptions we make about reality.

Hopefully, the task of debiasing [artificial intelligence] judgments will be more tractable than the as-yet-unsolved task of debiasing human judgments, Greenwald wrote.

melissa.healy@latimes.com

@LATMelissaHealy

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Above the entrance to Joanna Czikallas coffee and dessert shop is a sign that reads: Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created  Esther 4:14.

Czikalla knows a lot about creating. She created Creme and Sugar and the decor and treats in the Anaheim Hills shop.

And at this moment in her life, Czikalla, 31, said she couldnt feel more purposeful.

While her path has led her to working in restaurants, studying cosmetology and performing in a band, her inventive mind and dream of becoming the next Willy Wonka eventually compelled her to turn to whipping up treats.

And in her world of pure imagination, she bakes cookies in the shape of unicorns and serves her social media-famous Unicorn Hot Chocolate, Unicorn Shakes and Unicorn Cakes.

Her cakes are decorated with rainbow-colored dollops. And all the goods are laden with bright sprinkles or edible pearls.

Joanna Czikalla is the owner of Creme and Sugar, a dessert shop in Anaheim Hills. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

I know that Im probably a 10-year-old in my mind, Czikalla said with a laugh. But Im also an old soul. I wanted a place where people can feel like theyre sitting in their living room.

Hence the setting at Creme and Sugar, which opened in late 2015: The shop is adorned with furniture that Czikalla found at antique auctions.

Her love of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory can be seen in the wall prints of quotes from the film  artwork that she designed.

The many times shes seen the movie led her to wonder how she could create her own scrumdiddlyumptious bar.

The unicorn cake at Creme and Sugar. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

That part with the teacup? she said, referring to a scene where Gene Wilder, who played Wonka, sips from an edible flower cup and then bites into it. If I could figure out a way to make that, I would.

The notion of Unicorn Hot Chocolate came to her on an unusually cool day last year.

Czikalla decided it was a perfect time to make hot chocolate  which she dyed pink and sprinkled with fruity marshmallows.

The beverage would take over the Instagram feeds of countless fans.

Thanks to the popularity of the photogenic hot chocolate, cakes and other treats, it is common to see customers form lines to get into Creme and Sugar.

A unicorn cookie and unicorn bark at Creme and Sugar. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

It has been a learning process, but Joanna and her staff are taking it in stride, the shops marketing director, Kelli Withaneye, said of handling the large crowds. Its such a blessing to have people who come from places like Bakersfield and San Diego.

Czikalla tries to make the wait as painless as possible. She put up signage indicating the estimated wait time for service and keeps kids entertained by posting sheets of paper on a wall where they can write and draw.

I kept thinking to myself, If you build it, they will come, Czikalla said about opening Creme and Sugar. But when it actually came to life, it was surreal. It felt like this is what Ive been led to do.

Creme and Sugar, at 6312 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road in Anaheim, is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. It is closed on Mondays.

alexandra.chan@latimes.com

Twitter: @AlexandraChan10
Gov. Jerry Brown and two top Assembly Democratic leaders will visit the proposed veterans cemetery site at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Irvine within the next several weeks, Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva said.

The City Councils April 4 vote to put $38 million toward turning part of the former base into a cemetery sends a strong message to Sacramento about how serious Irvine is on the issue, Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) said, adding an additional $10 million in federal funds is available for the El Toro site.

I think were in a good place right now, said Quirk-Silva.

Although there is no specific date yet for the governors trip, the assemblywoman said he will be accompanied by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) and Assembly Budget Committee Chair Phil Ting (D-San Francisco.)

According to Irvine Councilman Jeff Lalloway, the cemetery will cost about $77 million. The Legislature would have to provide the remaining $29 million.

The council also voted to explore an alternate cemetery site near the interchange of the 5 and 405 freeways. That land is owned by developer FivePoint Communities, which has said it is willing help build a cemetery there. In exchange for its freeway site, it would get the El Toro land, which now is part of Irvines Great Park.

Quirk-Silva said the possibility of an alternate site shouldnt hurt the chances of securing funding for the old El Toro base.

However, she said if the alternative freeway site is chosen, the proposal would have to go back through the Legislature and would need approval from the federal government.

We would have to start over, she said.

Neither the Governors Office or FivePoint Communities returned calls seeking comment.

Veterans have asked for a cemetery in Orange County for decades. Currently, the closest veteran cemeteries are in Riverside, Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

This story was reported by Voice of OC, a nonprofit investigative newsroom, as part of a publishing agreement with TimesOC. Spencer Custodio can be reached at spencercustodio@gmail.com.
Are Newport Beach and Costa Mesa the drunkest cities in Orange County?

According to an article from last fall thats now making the rounds on social media, the answer is yes.

The Sept. 28 article on RoadSnacks.net gives Newport and Costa Mesa the two highest rankings among Orange County cities on a list of the 100 drunkest cities in California, placing Newport Beach sixth and Costa Mesa at No. 11. Among O.C. cities, Huntington Beach also made the top 20, ranking 14th.

If youre wondering, Santa Monica was No. 1 in the state.

The article clarifies, however, that the dubious distinctions are meant as infotainment.

Dont freak out, it says.

RoadSnacks says it came up with its rankings based on each citys number of bars, pubs, wineries and liquor stores per capita. It counted drinking establishments within a short driving distance from each city, though it didnt clarify the distance.

The rankings factored in divorce rates because studies have indicated, according to the article, that when one or both partners in a marriage are alcoholics, that couple is three times more likely to divorce.

Finally, the rankings considered the number of drinking-related tweets coming from each citys general area, including hashtags such as drunk, party, beer, wine and cocktails.

Newport Beach  population about 85,000  had a 12.6% divorce rate and ranked fifth and 21st in California for number of bars and liquor stores per capita, respectively, RoadSnacks says.

Newport Beach has been working with bar owners on the Balboa Peninsula in the past year to improve relations between the businesses and nearby residents who have long taken issue with noise, trash, crime and other nuisances stemming from intoxicated people leaving bars late at night.

According to city statistics from 2015, 117 businesses on the peninsula had licenses to serve alcohol, an average of one Alcoholic Beverage Control license for every 95 residents. Citywide, the average was one license for every 189 residents.

Mayor Diane Dixon, who represents the peninsula area, declined to comment about the RoadSnacks story.

The article doesnt specify any figures for Costa Mesa, other than its divorce rate of nearly 12%.

Staff writer Hannah Fry contributed to this report.
Friday morning began with a light drizzle but cleared up just in time for more than 60 volunteers to rappel down the 17-story Irvine Marriott Hotel.

The Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America held its second annual rappelling event in partnership with Over The Edge, a Canadian-based nonprofit that helps host these rope activities.

We have scouts, community leaders, local folks and anyone whos a thrill seeker participating in rappelling today, OC Boy Scouts Chief Development Officer Devon Dougherty said. Its a great opportunity for anyone who wants to conquer their fear of heights.

For volunteer and Exchange Club of Irvine member Lisa Fagan, that fear was very real.

The Irvine resident won the opportunity after her name was drawn in a raffle at an Exchange Club of Irvine event. The prize was an opportunity to scale down the Irvine Marriott for the OC Boy Scouts fundraiser.

While her eyes grew wide at the thought of coming down a 17-story building Friday morning, she did it for one reason  to support her 25-year-old son Ben Tourtelot, a sergeant in the Marine Corps who fell in a rappelling accident in 2006.

While staying at a Marine Corps base in Hawaii, Tourtelot was doing a demo of an Australian rappel from a helicopter. An unknown malfunction in his gear caused him to fall 110 feet and hit the ground.

He suffered brain damage, lost the vision in his right eye and spent six years gaining back his ability to walk and speak.

But Friday afternoon, Tourtelot and his mother both put on their harnesses and glided down the building. It was his first time rappelling since his accident.

When we were rappelling, I spent more time thinking about my mom and making sure she was OK than I did being scared, he said.

Once the two landed safely on the ground, the only thing Fagan could immediately muster was I did it!

I was determined to do this for him, but he ended up doing this for me, she said. There were parts of me that did not want to do it. But if I didnt, I knew Id always look back on how I had this chance and didnt take it.

Individuals who signed up to rappel were asked to participate in a challenge to raise $1,000 by the end of the year. Last years event, also held at the Irvine Marriott, accumulated over $40,000 for the organization.

While Fagan won the chance to scale down the building, she said she and her family plan to make a donation to the OC Boy Scouts.

The rappelling activity was even open to passersby on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Just after 9 a.m., 25-year-old San Diego resident Larry Chu arrived to Irvine for a work conference at Advantage Sales & Marketing across the street. While walking to the Advantage building he saw people gliding down the building on the ropes.

I thought it was awesome, Chu said. I talked to the ladies at the booth to figure out what was going on then I just did it.

After Chu signed a waiver, got fitted for a harness, rode the elevator to the roof, scaled down the 120-foot building and landed safely on the ground, he grabbed his briefcase and coffee thermos and walked back into the Advantage building to finish off the rest of his work day.

Other rappel volunteers included OC Boy Scouts Eagle Advisor Don Webb and his two sons Don Web III and Cameron Webb.

Don Webb became an Eagle Scout in 1954 and both his sons are Eagle Scouts.

Devon gave me this offer that I couldnt refuse, Don Webb said. And I said Id only do it if my two sons could join me.

Once school let out that day, more of Orange Countys Boy Scouts arrived to the Irvine Marriott to step down the side of the building.

Proceeds of this fundraiser will go toward the OC Boy Scouts general fund, which covers costs for youth development programs, scout outreach, uniforms and official scout handbooks.
A proposed review of the Huntington Beach Downtown Business Improvement Districts financial practices has been temporarily tabled.

The BIDs board of directors agreed Thursday to try to renegotiate the $15,000 cost of the review.

The downtown group is considering whether to hire International Downtown Assn., or IDA, which provides reviews and recommendations to business improvement districts worldwide.

A Business Improvement District is a public-private partnership that aims to revitalize a commercial neighborhood. Huntington Beach has three, including the Auto Dealers BID and the Hotel/Motel BID.

The City Council requested that the BID hire the IDA to conduct an analysis of operations and provide advice on improvements following a separate financial review from the city Finance Commission.

The commission review was convened to address potentially improper use of funds or assets, but the body found no evidence to back that up.

Steve Daniel, BID president, said he wants to move forward with the IDA review so that the BID can figure out and correct any shortcomings.

We need to get our business practices in line, Daniel said. This is a good thing.

Daniel also proposed the Finance Commission review to the council.

Kids paraded in their costumes during the Huntington Beach Halloween Fest held every year by the Huntington Beach Downtown Business Improvement District. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

Susie Smith, a new member of the BID board, said the BID shouldnt have to carry all of the costs of the new assessment and requested that the city provide funds.

Smith launched a petition in February with about 100 signatures from downtown business owners calling for the removal of the then nine-current members of the BID board. She replaced member Scott Blakeslee in March because he couldnt regularly attend meetings.

Kellee Fritzal, the citys deputy director of economic development, said the city is unwilling to fund the assessment.

Matt Peterson said he isnt against the review but the group should try to renegotiate because the cost is high without knowing what the net result of the study would be.

Members Bob Bolen and Dick Thorpe agreed.

Daniel said he will get in touch with the IDA over the next few days to try and reduce the assessment price and the board would reconvene for a vote in the coming weeks.

Daniel said he wants to go forward with the review, even if the IDA doesnt lower their cost.

benjamin.brazil@latimes.com

Twitter:@benbrazilpilot
A toxin produced by algal blooms in the Pacific Ocean is the suspected culprit in multiple sea lion deaths, an official with Laguna Beachs Pacific Marine Mammal Center said.

Since April 4 the center that cares for marine mammals stranded from Seal Beach south to San Onofre has rescued 15 sea lions poisoned by domoic acid, Krysta Higuchi, the centers public relations coordinator, said Thursday. Eight of the animals have died. The Orange County Register first reported the story.

Unfortunately, when an animal is that far along, there is not much we can do, Higuchi said. We have not seen something like this since 2007.

Higuchi said she went to Main Beach in Laguna Beach on April 4 after receiving reports of a sea lion that looked confused.

It was sitting on the rocks and its head was weaving, which is one of the signs of domoic acid poisoning, Higuchi said, adding that affected sea lions are nonresponsive, lethargic and can suffer seizures.

For the other seven sea lions in the centers care, Higuchi said staff are injecting the animals with intravenous fluids to flush the toxins out before it affects their brains.

Algae produce domoic acid, a neurotoxin, as a natural byproduct. The toxin targets the brain, specifically the hippocampus, according to the Marine Mammal Center website.

The acid binds to receptors in neurons and inhibits nerve transmission, said Peter Franks, professor of biological oceanography at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.

Sea lions and other marine mammals ingest the toxin when they eat fish such as sardines and anchovies.

Higuchi said pregnant adult females are most susceptible to domoic acid poisoning because they eat twice the amount as they await the birth of their pup.

Domoic acid can be harmful and fatal to humans as well, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

Two years ago, elevated toxin levels led shellfish managers to close the southern Washington coast to Dungeness crab fishing, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center website.

Most strandings of sea lions affected with domoic acid have occurred in Los Angeles and Orange counties, but reports have been made from Santa Barbara south to San Diego, said Justin Viezbicke, California stranding network coordinator for NOAA Fisheries.

The Daily Pilot contacted the Orange County Department of Public Health about whether any shellfish warnings have been issued, but had not heard back as of Thursday evening.

bryce.alderton@latimes.com

Twitter: @AldertonBryce
War reporting came of age in World War II whe1n combat correspondents such as Ernie Pyle, Ernest Hemingway, Lee Miller, Martha Gellhorn and Beachhead Don Whitehead began covering the global hostilities.

Learn more about the battles and writers who covered them on a nine-day tour called Writing the War: In the Footsteps of WWII Correspondents.

The tour, organized by the New Orleans-based National WWII Museum, will include Normandy, Paris and Saint-Malo, France, among other locations.

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Participants will visit the D-Day landing site Omaha Beach, written about by Pyle and Hemingway, as well as Saint-Malo. described in wartime by Miller.

Theyll also experience Gellhorns Paris and Whiteheads Hurtgen Forest, Germany. Stops will also be made in Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres, France and Aachen, Germany.

Dates: Sept. 25-Oct. 3

Price: From $5,995 per person, double occupancy, when booked by June 2. Included are international airfare from Los Angeles and select other cities, accommodations, most meals, guides, transportation, entrance fees and gratuities.

Info: National WWII Museum, (877) 813-3329, Ext. 257

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Legendary funnyman Mel Brooks will move from the soundstage to the theater stage for two nights in Las Vegas. An Evening with Mel Brooks, which dives deep into the life of the actor, writer, producer and director, will come to the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on June 30 and July 1.

Tickets cost $75 to $200 plus taxes and fees and are on sale now.

You can purchase tickets online or by calling (702) 770-9966. Meet-and-greet packages priced at $1,000 each quickly sold out for both shows.

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Brooks, 90, promises to pull back the curtain on his remarkable life, combining stand-up comedy with personal anecdotes and clips from some of his most memorable movies, such as the 1974 films Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein.

Brooks won his first Oscar in 1964 for writing and animating a film short, The Critic. His second came in 1968 for the screenplay of his first feature film, The Producers.

He is also an Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner.

Prior to a January performance in Los Angeles, event marketer AXS revealed Five Fun Facts about Brooks including this: He was the first white artist to have a rap song on the R&B charts with Its Good to Be the King in 1982. Who knew?

Info: Mel Brooks at Wynn Las Vegas, (702) 770-9966

travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel

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Although the Trump administration has moved an aircraft carrier strike group toward Korea and warned it would respond forcefully if Pyongyang conducts a nuclear test this weekend, likely U.S. military options range from bad to worse.

Satellite imagery has shown preparations at North Koreas Punggye-ri nuclear weapons site, including more military personnel and mounds of dirt from recent excavations, U.S. officials and outside experts said.

North Koreas state media has warned that Kim Jong Uns government may use Saturdays national holiday, marking the birthday of the countrys founder, Kim Il Sung, for a weapons test, although it could be another ballistic missile or something less provocative.

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The Pentagon has moved the Carl Vinson carrier strike group to waters near the Korean peninsula as a show of force and President Trump said Wednesday that submarines were also on the prowl if necessary.

We have submarines  very powerful, far more powerful than the aircraft carrier. That I can tell you, Trump told Fox News.

U.S. ballistic missile submarines, known as boomers, " are designed specifically for stealth and the launching of conventional and nuclear warheads, according to the Navy.

For its part, the North Korean military on Friday accused the Trump administration of maniacal military provocations and threatened to attack U.S. bases in South Korea and other targets within minutes if an attack is launched on them.

We will go to war if they choose, vice minister Han Song Ryol said in Pyongyang.

Threats and bluster are part of a familiar and long-running game of brinksmanship between Washington and Pyongyang, but this time it has been made more dangerous by two volatile new players: Kim and Trump.

Kim, the latest member of North Koreas ruling dynasty, is largely following the bellicose path set by his father and grandfather. He has redoubled efforts to build a nuclear arsenal but U.S. analysts dont believe he will launch a suicidal attack that would bring about the end of his regime.

The most unpredictable part of this story is Trump, not North Korea, said Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst who focuses on the isolated country. North Korea is doing what it always does.

In recent weeks, Trump has challenged U.S. foreign policy orthodoxy with headline-grabbing displays of military might and head-spinning reversals in policy.

Trump last week approved firing 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield that the White House said had been used to launch a poison gas attack on a rebel-held village. It was the first intentional U.S. attack on a Syrian government site in the six-year civil war.

And on Thursday, the Air Force dropped its most powerful conventional bomb, an 11-ton behemoth, on a cave-and-tunnel complex that it said Islamic State fighters were using in eastern Afghanistan.

It was the first time the Massive Ordnance Air Blast, nicknamed the Mother of All Bombs, was detonated in combat. The huge explosion, which shook the earth for miles around, killed 36 militants, Afghan officials said Friday.

Asked Thursday if use of the massive munition was meant as a warning to North Korea, Trump gave an ambiguous answer.

I dont know if this sends a message. It doesnt make any difference if it does or not, he said. North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of.

The problem has bedeviled the last three occupants of the Oval Office.

Diplomatic accords meant to stop or slow Pyongyangs nuclear development all ultimately faltered, and recent tests show the country is fast closing in on the capability to build a ballistic missile that could reach U.S. territory in the Pacific or beyond.

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis twice this week sought to downplay the possibility of a U.S. attack and the significance of the carrier strike group, noting that U.S. warships regularly operate in the western Pacific.

On Thursday, however, he offered tougher talk. The bottom line is North Korea has got to change its behavior, Mattis said at the Pentagon.

The State Department spokesman, Mark Toner, warned of an urgency to the situation as well. Provocations from North Korea have grown, frankly, too common, too dangerous to ignore anymore, he said.

Trump called Chinese President Xi Jinping this week to enlist his support to resolve the crisis, days after the two leaders had conferred at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

An influential Chinese newspaper, the Global Times, subsequently called for severe restrictive measures that have never been seen before, such as restricting oil imports to the North if Pyongyang engages in further provocative activity.

U.S. analysts say a full oil embargo could paralyze North Korea in months, but Beijing is unlikely to enforce it because of fear it would send millions flooding across its border and destabilize its Communist ally and neighbor.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi warned Friday of storm clouds gathering, saying tit for tat threats between the United States and North Korea with daggers drawn has created a dangerous situation worthy of our vigilance.

Its unclear just how Trump might respond to a nuclear test.

One option that might fit his recent pattern  symbolic but dramatic  would be to reintroduce U.S. nuclear weapons to South Korea. President George H.W. Bush removed them in 1991 after the Soviet Union had collapsed, and the U.S. policy ever since has been to seek de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

A major U.S. attack against the North could involve salvos of conventional cruise missiles from warships, attack submarines and waves of warplanes against air defense sites, missile batteries, submarine pens and other targets. It could pull in South Korean and Japanese forces plus dozens of U.S. fighter jets and heavy bombers stationed on Guam.

Under the War Powers Act, passed by Congress during the Vietnam War, presidents can order U.S. armed forces into combat without congressional approval, but only for limited periods and only in response to an attack on the U.S. or its military.

But every White House since the law was passed in 1973 has taken the position that it is an unconstitutional limit on the presidents power as commander in chief. In the most recent case, for example, Trump did not seek congressional approval before he ordered the missile strike in Syria.

A more limited military strike on Punggye-ri and other known nuclear sites could risk releasing radiation. Much of the infrastructure is supposedly buried deep underground anyway.

Cyberattacks against military command and control facilities are possible, but much of the agrarian country is off the grid. The Obama administration reportedly launched cyberattacks against North Koreas missile program, but the impact was difficult to discern.

U.S. warships or Japanese anti-missile systems could try to destroy a North Korean missile over the ocean, while a newly installed anti-missile battery in South Korea could target one closer to its launch. But a miss could prove more of an embarrassment than a deterrent.

Diplomatic options are equally problematic. North Korea has ignored or defied numerous United Nations resolutions intended to restrain its nuclear and missile programs.

Trump needs to make sure he does something different from [former President] Obama in response to a nuclear test. They cant just go through the motions at the U.N. Security Council, but they have to be sure they dont pursue a unilateral response that backfires or fails, said Scott Snyder of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Given all its rhetoric, North Korea would feel hard-pressed not to retaliate against a U.S. strike.

Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theater but also in the U.S. mainland, North Koreas official Rodong Sinmun newspaper warned Tuesday.

U.S. analysts dont believe North Korea can target the U.S. mainland, but 28,000 U.S. troops in South Korea and 50,000 in Japan  and tens of thousands more students, businesspeople, tourists and other Americans in those two countries  are within striking distance.

The South Korean capital of Seoul, a city of 10 million, is vulnerable to thousands of North Korean artillery pieces dug into mountains about 35 miles away, just above the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea.

Military analysts have no doubt that combined U.S. and South Korean forces could beat North Korea. But a wounded regime could punish its adversaries  especially U.S. allies in South Korea and Japan  with what strategists sometimes refer to as the last lash of the dragons tail.

During the first nuclear crisis with North Korea in 1994, the Clinton administration was caught in a similar dilemma as the Pentagon drew up plans to launch cruise missiles and F-117 stealth fighters to bombard and disable a small nuclear reactor at Yongbyon.

The plan was scuttled after computer simulations showed up to 1 million people could be killed by North Korean retaliation. The casualties could be far worse today because of the expansion in Seouls northern suburbs and because Pyongyang possesses nuclear arms.

The Trump administration now is relearning the same lessons that we learned in 1994, said Carl Baker, a retired Air Force officer who was stationed in South Korea, now with the Pacific Forum CSIS think tank in Honolulu. Trump needs to understand that all options are not on the table.

william.hennigan@latimes.com

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Hennigan reported from Washington and Demick reported from New York. Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson in Washington contributed to this report.

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North Korea is expected to test a missile or nuclear weapon as early as Saturday  the 105th birthday of the countrys late founder Kim Il Sung  and anxiety is mounting.

President Trump has moved a Navy strike group to the Korean peninsula. Vice President Mike Pence was scheduled to travel to South Korea on Saturday. Japan has issued a warning over North Koreas suspected chemical weapons capabilities, with officials in Tokyo discussing how to evacuate the countrys 60,000 citizens from North Korea.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi warned Friday morning of storm clouds gathering over the Korean peninsula, saying that tit-for-tat threats between the United States and North Korea with daggers drawn has created a dangerous situation worthy of our vigilance.

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In Pyongyang, vice minister Han Song Ryol accused the United States of fomenting the trouble and vowed, We will go to war if they choose.

Yet for all its bluster, Pyongyang remains a city of orderly calm. Residents stroll to and from work, water their flowers on small balconies and rehearse in large crowds for a massive military parade slated for Kims birthday.

On Friday morning, at Mangyongdae, Kims birthplace  a thatch house on a grassy field  dozens of army officers filed past pristine displays of Kims familys agricultural tools, their heads bowed in reverence.

On Pyongyangs spartan subway, passengers sat quietly, staring straight ahead as propaganda messages blared from a small television screen. One, Rim Daesong, a 28 year-old official, said that he wanted Trump to withdraw the troops of the U.S. Army from South Korea, parroting an age-old North Korean demand. No pedestrians showed any outward signs of heightened anxiety.

In the evening, a group of foreign visitors invited to the capital for the anniversary observances descended on the Childrens Palace, a Brutalist gray edifice on the citys southwestern edge.

Inside, the building had balloon-like lights and bright, colorful trim, calling to mind a kindergarten. In a series of austere rooms, children as young as 11 performed with virtuosic skill under the close watch of steely-eyed teachers. They danced, played accordion and sang songs glorifying Kim, his son Kim Jong Il, and his grandson, North Koreas current Supreme Leader, Kim Jong Un. They made no mistakes. Their parents were nowhere to be seen.

One official in the building said that the children were rehearsing, not performing. But when asked what they were rehearsing for, he drew a blank. In North Korea, three generations of Kim family rule have imposed an entrenched personality cult, where any signs of dissent  or even disenchantment  can carry unspeakable consequences.

The children were clearly performing; but they may not have been the only ones.

Times staff writer Barbara Demick contributed to this story from New York.

jonathan.kaiman@latimes.com

For more news from Asia, follow @JRKaiman on Twitter

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A day after the United States dropped the largest non-nuclear weapon it has ever used in combat, U.S. military helicopters pounded a mountainside village in eastern Afghanistan on Friday in an ongoing operation against fighters loyal to Islamic State.

Plumes of smoke were visible from several miles away as the airstrikes provided cover for Afghan commandos and U.S. advisers who have been locked in a two-week battle to clear a network of tunnels used by Islamic State militants  the target of the Thursday bombing.

The Massive Ordnance Air Blast  a 20,000-pound weapon dubbed the mother of all bombs  shot flames and smoke into the sky for more than four hours and marked a sharp escalation of U.S. operations against Islamic States affiliate in South Asia.

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At right, smoke rises from Shodal village in eastern Afghanistan on Friday as U.S. and Afghan forces targeted an Islamic State hideout. The area was the site of a massive U.S. bombing the night before. (Sultan Faizy / For The Times)

Afghan officials said that 36 Islamic State militants were killed in the bombing. There were no immediate reports of civilian casualties, but local authorities said the fighting had prevented them from visiting the bomb site near the village of Shodal, perched above a valley of green fields and mud-brick houses in Nangarhar province, near the Pakistani border.

Many civilians left the farming village in recent weeks on orders from Afghan commandos, but a few have remained, reluctant to give up their land to Islamic State fighters holed up in the tunnels below a soapstone mine.

Before the bombing, four civilians had been killed in the previous week, said authorities in Achin district, which includes Shodal. The size of the bomb, with a blast radius of about one mile, raised concerns over civilian deaths  particularly because Islamic State fighters often build tunnels below residential houses to provide cover from drone strikes.

I thought everything around was destroyed, said Bashir Khan, a commando based at an Afghan military outpost in Pandola, across the valley from Shodal.

The blast was so huge that Maj. Khair Mohammad Safi, the police chief in Achin district, at first thought it was an explosion at his base  2 miles away.

Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., commander of U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, addresses reporters in Kabul a day after the bomb strike. (Massoud Hossaini / Associated Press)

Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, told reporters in Kabul that American troops in the area had seen no sign of civilian casualties. He defended the use of the massive weapon, saying it was designed to destroy the types of caves and tunnels that Islamic State militants use to evade coalition forces.

This was the right weapon against the right target, Nicholson said.

Afghanistans chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah, said the bombing was conducted in coordination with Afghan forces and that the Afghan government took great care to avoid civilian harm.

#MOAB was dropped in coordination with the government over an area #ISIS used as training camp, ammunition dump and base. 1/3  Dr. Abdullah (@afgexecutive) April 14, 2017

But some Afghan officials denounced the action, signaling the weary frustration of a U.S.-led war that has dragged into its 16th year.

President Hamid Karzai called it an inhuman and most brutal misuse of our country as testing ground for new and dangerous weapons.

I vehemently and in strongest words condemn the dropping of the latest weapon, the largest non-nuclear #bomb, on Afghanistan by US...1/2  Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) April 13, 2017

Islamic States regional affiliate is believed to have as many as 800 fighters in Afghanistan, many of them former members of the Pakistani Taliban. They obtain funding from the militant groups central organization in Iraq and Syria, analysts say but otherwise operate independently.

The group has clashed with the Afghan Taliban  a far bigger force and a more direct threat to the Afghan government  and seen its ranks and territory diminish under increasing pressure from U.S.-led coalition airstrikes and Afghan commando operations.

Citing the groups deadly attacks on shrines and peaceful demonstrators, and reports that it had beheaded civilians, Nicholson said U.S. forces were committed to eradicating the militants from Afghanistan in 2017.

Amruddin, 21, an Afghan special forces soldier who participated in the battle in Shodal, said Islamic State fighters were fierce and would fight until they die. Like many Afghans, he has only one name.

Eight days ago, I went with my unit to help our demining team and Daesh militants attacked us, Amruddin said, using a local name for the militant group. I shot one in the stomach but he kept shooting until I shot him in the head.

Special correspondent Faizy reported from Pandola and Times staff writer Shashank Bengali from Mumbai, India.

shashank.bengali@latimes.com

Follow @SBengali on Twitter for more news from South Asia

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UPDATES:

7:15 a.m.: This article was updated with new details from Times correspondents.

An earlier version of this story from Associated Press was published at 4:50 a.m.
On Thursday night, the U.S. military unleashed a 20,000-pound bomb  one of the largest nonnuclear weapons in its arsenal  on a tunnel complex the Pentagon said was used by Islamic State fighters in eastern Afghanistan.

It was a dramatic escalation of American operations against the militant groups affiliate in South Asia. It also came four days after a U.S. special forces soldier was killed alongside Afghan forces battling Islamic State fighters in the same district.

Afghan officials said several militants were killed, but there was no immediate information about civilian casualties as U.S. and Afghan forces continued operations in the mountainous area on Friday.

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As a candidate, President Trump once vowed to bomb the hell out of [Islamic State]. But the use of the Massive Ordnance Air Blast  known at the Pentagon as MOAB, or the mother of all bombs  came as a surprise because the group isnt seen as a major international threat.

Heres a primer on Islamic States presence in Afghanistan and what the bombing could mean for a conflict that is in its 16th year:

What is Islamic States affiliate in South Asia?

Islamic State in Khorasan Province, as the affiliate calls itself, is made up largely of militant commanders from neighboring Pakistan and disaffected members of the Taliban, Afghanistans main insurgent group. Khorasan is a historical name for a region that includes parts of present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Far from its base in Iraq and Syria, Islamic State announced its presence in Afghanistan in early 2015 but has not been able to expand beyond a few districts in the eastern province of Nangarhar, along a rugged, porous stretch of the Pakistani border.

The militants have proved unpopular with Afghan villagers, who resent their attempts to ban poppy cultivation, and have been pummeled by both the Taliban and U.S.-led coalition airstrikes. A U.S. drone strike killed the groups former leader, Hafiz Saeed Khan, in Nangarhar last July.

Analysts say the group has sustained itself thanks to extortion, kidnapping and funds from Islamic States central leadership.

How serious a threat does Islamic State in Khorasan pose to U.S. and Afghan interests?

From an estimated 1,000 to 3,000 fighters about a year ago, the Pentagon believes Islamic States forces in Afghanistan have been whittled down to between 600 and 800  concentrated in three border districts of Nangarhar.

The Taliban is far and away the bigger and more powerful insurgent group in Afghanistan. But U.S. officials worry the Islamic State presence is attracting foreign militants from Central Asian and Arab countries, complicating efforts to end hostilities and forge a peace agreement between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

And Islamic State has shown a willingness to inflict heavy civilian casualties. Last year the Sunni Muslim group claimed responsibility for bombing a demonstration by minority Shiites in Kabul, killing more than 80 people and wounding hundreds.

It has also claimed other deadly attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan, including against a military hospital in Kabul last month, although some experts believe the group exaggerates its exploits.

Does the bombing represent an intensification of the U.S. war in Afghanistan?

Its hard to say. Trump has hardly spoken publicly about Afghanistan  he hasnt even appointed an ambassador  despite having 8,400 U.S. troops deployed there conducting training and counter-terrorism operations.

But its clear that the pace of U.S. air operations has quickened since Trump took office. U.S. warplanes fired 403 weapons in Afghanistan in February and March, according to Air Force statistics, the most in a two-month period since 2014.

Pentagon officials have said they want to send more troops to help support Afghan forces  but the Afghans biggest challenge remains the Taliban, which are inflicting heavy casualties among Afghan soldiers and civilians, and control territory where more than one-third of the population lives.

If analysts say the Taliban threat is greater, why was such a huge bomb aimed at a lesser militant group?

One of the questions is: Why such a disproportionate level of response? said Timor Sharan, an Afghanistan analyst with the International Crisis Group. [Islamic State] might have killed one or two American soldiers, but the Taliban have killed thousands of American soldiers over the last 15 years.

How will this affect U.S. relations with Afghanistan?

Reaction to the bombing was mixed. The Afghan government, which worried that the Obama administrations slow withdrawal of U.S. troops would leave the country vulnerable to the Taliban, has lobbied Trump to increase U.S. involvement.

On Friday, Afghanistans chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah, said in a series of tweets that the U.S. bombing was conducted in coordination with the [Afghan] government, and showed our common resolve to eliminate [Islamic State] and terror safe havens from our country.

But Omar Zakhilwal, Afghanistans ambassador to Pakistan, called it reprehensible  and many Afghans worried that the mother of all bombs could serve as a recruiting tool for Islamic State.

#MOAB was dropped in coordination with the government over an area #ISIS used as training camp, ammunition dump and base. 1/3  Dr. Abdullah (@afgexecutive) April 14, 2017

2/2: If big bombs were the solution we would be the most secure place on earth today.  Dr Omar Zakhilwal (@DrOmarZakhilwal) April 14, 2017

Could Trump have intended the bomb as a warning to other adversaries?

Throughout its history, Afghanistan has seen its landlocked territory used as a pawn by bigger powers  from the 19th century Great Game between Britain and Russia to the Cold War, when the U.S. backed Afghan rebels against a Soviet occupation.

Many fear the bombing is the latest example of Afghanistan being exploited as part of a wider geopolitical agenda.

U.S. and Afghan officials have been worried by reports that Russia is strengthening ties with the Taliban, seeking to stop Islamic State from creeping into Central Asia. The bombing could be seen as an effort to show that coalition forces are on the offensive against Islamic State, countering Russian influence.

Trump has already shown a greater willingness than Obama to use American military power, launching missile strikes against Syria last week in retaliation for President Bashar Assads suspected chemical attack against civilians. And fears are growing that Trump could strike North Korea if it tests a nuclear weapon.

Sharan said Thursdays bombing sounds more like a message to the international rivals, including Russia and even North Korea, than actually a serious attempt by the Trump administration to get more deeply involved in the Afghan war.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

Special correspondent Sultan Faizy contributed to this report from Pandola, Afghanistan.

shashank.bengali@latimes.com

Follow @SBengali on Twitter for more news from South Asia

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As a cold rain pelted the Mexican border town of Nogales, a young Honduran man and his two companions gathered outside a Catholic charity kitchen with other marooned deportees and would-be border-jumpers.

The mood was generally disconsolate, and with good reason: Most were broke, cold and hungry, and, more significantly, had little hope of rejoining loved ones and friends on the other side. Just across the way stood the imposing metal fence blocking off Arizona, USA.

But amid this aura of gloom was the irrepressible Besser Geovanny Zelaya Ortiz, a repository of teenage idealism in the face of hard knocks at the end of his latest three-month rail odyssey north.

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The slim, fast-talking 19-year-old Honduran, wearing a wool scarf emblazoned with Notre Dame, confidently conveyed counsel to dejected fellow migrants, like a baby-faced street preacher keen to lift the spirits of his bedraggled flock. They didnt seem that impressed, but Zelaya was undeterred.

We plan to make it to Gilroy, California, he said, referring to the self-proclaimed Garlic Capital of the World. A companero of ours is there.

This was his third trip on La Bestia (The Beast), the sprawling network of freight trains that transports cargo and U.S.-bound Central American migrants from deep in Mexico to the northern borderlands. His earlier expeditions ended in deportation back to Honduras last year, once from the United States in April, and once from Mexico in October.

Still, Zelaya seemed to embody a facet of the migrant trek  the sense of adventure and possibility  that is inevitably lost in the polemics and sense of desperation surrounding illegal immigration. Anyone who is an immigrant or refugee, or a child of one, absorbs the significance of this momentous journey, of leaving ones homeland for another life.

Besser Geovanny Zelaya Ortiz, in a rail yard about 100 miles south of Nogales, Mexico, hoping to reach Gilroy, Calif. (Liliana Nieto del Rio / For The Times)

Immigrants, legal or not, tend to be risk-takers, opportunity-seekers. Zelaya traveled with two companions  his older brother, Jose Fernando, 22, and a new friend from Mexico, Juan de Dios Cervantes, 18.

Zelaya and his brother  rock n roll devotees who are among seven children of a widow who works at a chicken-processing factory in the ranching hub of Juticalpa, Honduras  lack functioning phones, but occasionally find an Internet connection to fire back home a simple message: Were alive.

That they were headed to a country where migrants like them are reviled by many as interlopers to be jailed and deported didnt especially faze him.

I understand how someone who has never experienced poverty would never understand me, and would think I was an evildoer and a vagrant, Zelaya said. I understand certain points that Donald Trump makes, though I dont agree with him. A wall wont stop anyone. Yes, there will be more deportations, but more people will try to get in. It will be the same.

Bestia-hoppers making their way through Mexico face a Dickensian gantlet of gang enforcers, extortion-minded cops, immigration checkpoints and occasionally crazed and drugged-out fellow travelers.

The Zelaya brothers recounted disturbing episodes from their separate journeys, like the day a fellow Honduran was thrown to the tracks from a train when it braked suddenly, resulting in a severed arm. He was already dead when he arrived at the hospital, recalled Zelaya, who was sleeping in a boxcar when the locomotive jolted. We continued on the train.

But Zelaya also recalled moments of kindness and sacrifice during his railroad journeys.

Nogales police officers often respond to incidents along the fence 10 miles east of downtown Nogales, Mexico. (Liliana Nieto del Rio / For The Times)

Honduran bandits manning the railroad tracks in southern Mexico stopped and searched Zelaya and another traveler, but when the bandits discovered Zelaya had only 4 pesos, the equivalent of 20 U.S. cents, the tattooed heavies turned into unlikely good Samaritans: They handed Zelaya a bag with roasted chicken and tortillas  grub recently purloined from other migrants.

We were very hungry, but too afraid to eat there, Zelaya recalled, so we kept walking along the tracks and eating on the go.

Despite the discomforts and dangers, a sense of comradeship prevails among the Bestia regulars, many of whom know one another from previous rail voyages and interludes in jails, shelters and flophouse hotels, and bump into one another anew along the convoluted route.

We are very unified, very loyal to each other, Zelaya said of fellow train riders, many of who are christened with colorful monikers.

In Veracruz, Zelaya hooked up with some friends, including a fellow Honduran he had met at a U.S. immigration detention center in Arizona; hes known as El Platano (The Banana) for his blond, curly hair, tied up in a pony tail.

Juan de Dios Cervantes, right, Jose Fernando Zelaya Ortiz and Besser Geovanny Zelaya Ortiz wait for the train early one morning about 100 miles south of Nogales, Mexico. (Liliana Nieto del Rio / For The Times)

Another traveling companion  El Chapin, the ubiquitous designation for Guatemalans  was robbed at knife-point by Mexican cops while buying food at a shop, Zelaya said; he had to turn over his savings of 700 pesos, the equivalent about 35 U.S. dollars.

But he told his captors he was traveling alone, so they would not seek out Zelaya and other rail-riding comrades, who hid beside the railroad tracks in swamps with water above their knees, using plastic bags for camouflage.

Zelaya later spent a month in the western city of Guadalajara, saving up some cash while working as a welder, painter and in other laboring jobs. His aim was to find his brother, Jose Fernando, who had left Honduras earlier.

He finally met up with his brother in the coastal city of Puerto Penasco, after an unexpected beach interval in the resort town of Mazatlan  where a train unexpectedly deposited him and others. We took some well-deserved vacation on the beach, taking in the sights, he said.

He and his brother made their way to Nogales, and were promptly arrested by police as undocumented vagrants and placed in custody for a day and a half, with little food, Zelaya said. On the rainy day outside the Catholic charity, they plotted their way north.

Besser Geovanny Zelaya Ortiz, left, with brother Jose Fernando Zelaya Ortiz, 22, right, and friend Juan de Dios Cervantes, 18, hope to hop a train early one morning after an all-night wait. (Liliana Nieto del Rio / For The Times)

Unable to afford the $4,000-per-head smuggling fees, the three had devised a dubious strategy: They would use a compass to traverse the California desert from the Mexican border city of Mexicali, where, they had heard, it was easier to cross without paid guides.

I dont want to be stuck in the desert with mafiosos, said Zelaya, referring to the smuggling syndicates that sometimes abandon their charges in arid expanses.

At a shelter here in Nogales, the brothers had befriended Cervantes, who was keen to find work in the United States and help his large family in Mexicos Sonora state. The Hondurans seemed reliable, and experienced, colleagues.

These guys seemed like good traveling companions, they knew the route, said Cervantes, a relative novice.

Indeed, Zelaya had provided Cervantes some Bestia tips  the urgency to run as fast as possible alongside the rolling stock before lunging for the rail cars metal ladder; how to exit semi-safely, thrusting oneself forward and hitting the ground at a sprint, the better not to lose equilibrium and tumble to the ground.

Besser Geovanny Zelaya Ortiz shows his brother and a friend how to run for a train more safely. (Liliana Nieto del Rio / For The Times)

The trio left Nogales as they had arrived, via a cargo train. This time they hopped a train headed to a railroad junction town with the unusual name of Benjamin Hill. Its about 100 miles south of Nogales, but its where a rail line splits off for Mexicali.

Word of the changing politics in the north has of course filtered down to the train hoppers. Zelaya attributes to President Trump, apparently erroneously, a comment that Central Americans flee their homelands because of incompetent and corrupt governments at home  a sentiment he is completely on board with, however apocryphal the attribution to Trump.

If we didnt have such bad governments, we wouldnt be so screwed and we could work in our own countries, that is for sure, he said.

Im a free soul, declared Zelaya, who hopes to attend university someday and become an engineer. He was optimistic that his third attempt to enter the north would not result in a quick deportation. The truth is, I dont give up.

They had a train to catch that afternoon, a meandering iron beast rumbling toward a land that, while unwelcoming, still offered the allure of opportunity to these indefatigable riders of the rails.

patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com

Special correspondent Liliana Nieto del Rio and Cecilia Sanchez of The Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report.

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Despite recent political tensions, the United States and Mexico have fostered a vibrant business climate that encourages collaboration and innovation for small businesses with partners, employees, and consumers across the border. Part of the competitive advantage for both U.S. and Mexican entrepreneurs is the geographical proximity; however, there are also challenges related to understanding relevant legislation related to cross-border business, tariffs, customs, product shipment, delivery, payment, etc. Cross-border entrepreneurs must maintain effective communications with business contacts in both countries, and when international calling charges hit, it can get costly. This can particularly affect small entrepreneurial ventures.

This week, San Diego, Calif.-based VoIP innovator Voxox announced that the company is giving U.S./Mexico cross-border entrepreneurs a break on calling costs through its virtual business phone service called Cloud Phone. With Voxox Cloud Phone, in just a few minutes, anyone can create a business phone system made up of existing mobile phones around the world. When you sign up for Cloud Phone, you get a dedicated phone number (local U.S. or toll-free) that serves as the central "hub" for your business calls. When someone calls this number, the caller is routed through the virtual phone system to designated cell phones. If no one picks up, the call goes to a dedicated business voicemail (as opposed to the cell phone owner's personal voicemail). Think of it as an advanced business-grade version of Google Voice. The difference is that Cloud Phone has many additional business features tailored to entrepreneurs -- for example, extensions to other "departments" which can be routed to staff mobile phones, conferencing, device transfer, voicemail transcription, and more.

Per this week's news announcement, Cloud Phone will now include free outbound and inbound calls to Mexico as part of the service's standard bundled calling plans. Typically, competing services offer U.S./Canada bundled calling but calling Mexico calling tends to incur additional cost. Why is this? While landlines in Mexico tend to be affordable to package into pooled minutes, Mexican mobile numbers can be on the high end for most providers. Voxox says that the company has long worked on developing strong relationships with global carrier partners to bring costs down for customers. Furthermore, the VoIP innovator's sophisticated cloud technology built entirely in-house enables them to bypass expensive licensing fees that competitors have to pay, enabling highly competitive rates and additional price breaks for customers.

According to Bryan Hertz, CEO and co-founder of Voxox: "In adding Mexico calling within our standard bundled subscription plans, we hope to make communications more cost-effective for entrepreneurs who regularly have business dealings with colleagues in Mexico. We've prioritized securing incredible calling rates to advance entrepreneurship, not just in Mexico but all around the world."

Subscription plans for Cloud Phone start at $12/mo for pay as you go, followed by different tiers of bundled subscription plans, which now include U.S., Canada, and Mexico pooled minutes. The plans range from 1,000 minutes/mo to unlimited calling. The majority of Cloud Phone customers are small businesses, though the service has also had other interesting use cases that are not business-affiliated. Once a Do It Yourself (DIY) set-up is completed online, all that a user needs is a calling device (e.g., mobile or landline phone) to which calls can be routed. The effortless user experience and set-up process, which can be completed in less than a minute, along with highly competitive global calling rates and exceptional call quality, are key differentiators as compared to alternative solutions.

Cloud Phone comes with a complementary mobile app for iOS and Android. The Cloud Phone mobile app leverages Voxox's new breakthrough VoIP codec, a technology used to encode and compress voice signals into digital form for transmission. This is particularly significant for small businesses with a disbursed or traveling workforce, as the codec dramatically improves voice quality in poor bandwidth settings, such as hotels, convention centers, rural locations, etc.

To learn more about Cloud Phone, please visit www.cloudphone.com.

 2015 Latinos Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The U.S has been centered on all issues globally after President Donald Trump banned the immigrants. Currently, the U.S president again made a move to protect his country from their adversaries especially in Middle East Countries like Syria.

It is very obvious that the U.S President Donald Trump really hated Arab people since they are the target to get banned on the U.S country. While there is a new order released on Thursday to launch a missile at the Syrian airbase as a reply to the horrible gas attack at Khan Shaykhun that ruins and kill an estimated of 87 people.

According to US official, on President Donald Trump's command, the US warships launched at least 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Syria's airbase which used as a home of the warplanes that carried out chemical gas. On CNN report, the US military made a first attack against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad administration for almost six years of civil wars.

The tension already arises between the two countries since the U.S President Donald Trump release his order to launch a missile at Syria's airbase which can be interpreted as an act of war by the Syrian government. Moreover, General command of Syrian's Armed Forces said that there are six people killed in the attack which called by the Russian's as "act of aggression" and "a disgraceful act" said by Bashar al-Assad office.

According to NBC News, Rex Tillerson, U.S Secretary of State said that the attack commanded by President Donald Trump to Syria was done consciously and to resolve the issue. He also added that the strike will not change the U.S policy in Syria and their status still remain the same.

Meanwhile, Sean Spicer, White House press secretary said that the next move of the U.S president will not be telegraph when he is asked on Friday night about the strikes in Syria. U.S secretary of the treasury, Steven Mnuchin stated that the strike was a penalty from the attack of chemical gas which done by Syria's airbase that kills 87 people.
Apr 14, 2017, 9:09am ET

Lucid Air hits 217 mph; startup seeks $700M for production

The company says it needs at least $240 million to start the first construction phase at its proposed Arizona factory.

Lucid Motors has completed a successful high-speed run with its all-electric Air sedan.

The startup recently customized one of its alpha prototypes to focus on high-performance trials, adding a roll cage for extra safety when evaluating at-the-limit driving characteristics.

The car was brought to the Transportation Research Center in East Liberty, Ohio, where it managed to reach a software-limited 217 mph (350 km/h) on a 7.5-mile oval test track.

"Real-world tests are an important part of the engineering process, allowing the team to correlate computer simulation models with real-world performance," Lucid says. "The collected data will now be used to finesse thermal and aero computer simulations and to make further performance improvements that will be tested later this year at higher speeds."

Like other prospective automakers, Lucid's biggest challenge is likely fundraising rather than engineering or testing. The company recently said it would need $700 million to build its proposed factory in Arizona, according to a Motley Fool report. The first phase, expected to cost $240 million, is claimed to enable low-volume production of up to 10,000 vehicles annually.

Lucid hopes to begin producing the Air next year, with prices starting at $60,000.
The Broadway Social's plans to expand next door have hit a roadblock because the owner says the adjacent building isn't structurally safe.

Owner Greg Salomoni is asking the Bethlehem Historic Conservation District to approve his plans to tear down all but the facade of the adjoining building at 215 Broadway on South Side Bethlehem, according to paperwork filed with the city.

Salomoni plans to then rebuild the adjoining space on the existing slab and expand his next-door restaurant and nightclub Broadway Social, which is at 217 Broadway.

Broadway Social will remain open throughout any work undertaken next door.

"We are going to save the outside structure, just modify it a little bit, keep that historic look," Salomoni said Thursday of the next-door space.

Back in 2015, Salomoni announced plans to open a late-night diner concept next door at 215 Broadway called B-24. He still likes the idea, but his plans have evolved.

Business is thriving at Broadway Social, especially his private party rentals, and he's simply run out of room, Salomoni said. The new restaurant will give more overflow options, but it will also have its own feel.

He plans to be able to offer a lower-key menu in the new restaurant, serving more pub-style food. He still hopes to deliver on his plans to offer late-night breakfast food after Broadway Social closes for the day.

If he gets the needed approvals, he hopes to open the new eatery by September.

"The building we are dealing with right now is so old it won't support the weight of 75 to 100 people and it just doesn't match up with the other buildings," Salomoni said.

Jena Engineering performed a structural assessment of 215 Broadway and found the two-story brick building had bowing walls, improper supports, water damage and mold, according to a letter submitted to the city. The floors of 215 Broadway do not line up with Broadway Social, resulting in major slopes and drops that present issues for handicap accessibility.

The letter states that an adaptive reuse of the building would be cost prohibitive given its structural issues. Jena recommends the building be demolished except for the facade and a new building be built in its place, according to the letter.

Salomoni bought the neighboring building a month after he opened The Broadway Social at 217 Broadway in September 2013.

The Historic Conservation District board meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the Banana Factory in the Risbon Room.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A Verizon store manager targeted by abductors last fall amid armed robberies of cellphone stores is now accused of stealing $8,000 from his business.

Michael DeRose (Contributed photo)

Michael DeRose, 29, of the 3300 block of Sherwood Road in Palmer Township, was charged Thursday with two counts of theft and one count of receiving stolen property, according to a court docket. He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.

DeRose's charges are not directly related to a Lehigh Valley law enforcement task force's ongoing investigation of cellphone store robberies around the region, said Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Patricia Mulqueen, the head of the task force.

Armed bandits hit DeRose's store in Forks Township in October. Another employee from Palmer, 25-year-old Michael Davis, was shot and killed the next month.

A day after the homicide, authorities say DeRose was accosted, forced into his own car and driven off with his armed abductors, but eventually managed to escape.

"He is a victim," Mulqueen said Friday. "He is charged with theft of money, but he is a victim."

Local police discovered DeRose's alleged thefts before the task force formed, Mulqueen said.

The investigation into the series of store robberies -- and the homicide -- continues.

"Every day," Mulqueen said, "we're learning more and continuing to get closer to the truth."

In addition to the killing and abduction, authorities are investigating five cellphone store robberies -- four in the Lehigh Valley and one in New Jersey, just outside Phillipsburg.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A California man is dead following a hazmat investigation at a hotel in Upper Macungie Township, according to the Lehigh County coroner.

Emmanuel E. Ramierez, 27, of Maywood, Calif., was pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m. Friday, the coroner said in a news release. The cause of his death may not be known until toxicology tests are completed, though police say it appears to be the result of a drug overdose.

Authorities, including the coroner, were called about 9:10 p.m. Thursday to Staybridge Suites at 327 Star Road, where responders in protective suits were seen entering a room.

Authorities respond to a hazardous-materials call with fatality Thursday, April 13, 2017, at Staybridge Suites, 327 Star Road in Upper Macungie Township. (Mike Nester | Lehighvalleylive.com contributor)

Upper Macungie police, in a news release Friday morning, said officers were dispatched for a report of a man yelling for help in a hotel hallway.

Police found Ramierez dead and another man who was disoriented, ill and intoxicated. A hazmat team was called because of a white powder in the room, later identified as cocaine.

The other man, whom police did not identify, was hospitalized.

The investigation is ongoing.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A million Irish households paid the controversial water charges with some customers paying up to 325 or a total of c325 million.

According to the Housing Minister, Simon Coveney, the state then paid 89 million to approximately 890,000 households in the form of the 100 annual water conservation grant.

Now that the politicians have agreed that there will be no future water charges and that water expenditure will come of out of general taxation  and assuming that deal is approved by the EU Commission - the logistics around the refund scheme will be complicated and slow. Not every household paid the same amount (my household didnt pay the fourth water charge instalment and didnt apply for the conservation grant). Another c1.3 million households refused to pay any water charge but some received the 100 grant, as this was presented as a universal payment. Will they be required to refund the 100?

The Minister has said that there has to be fair treatment for everyone so you probably shouldnt count on any refund too soon, even if you could use the money urgently. This isnt just because of the administration complications or the response of the European Commission but because there still needs to be some clarification about how the government intends to pay for the c400 million repayment.

Optimists in the Department of Finance are already hoping that tax revenue will pick up again for the rest of the year (after less than stellar returns last month). If revenues soar in Q2 and Q3 it may be sufficient to not just meet this huge refund but enough to also the usual multi-billion euro HSE over-runs, the Childrens Hospital construction over-run, the cystic fibrosis drug costs and potentially large compensation payments to mother and baby home claimants.

If the current Revenue surplus estimate for this year does not improve, and all the promised Budget 17 spending allocations are made, there wont just be much to give away in Budget 18 next October and the Government, which is very close to balancing the Budget for the first time in nearly nine years, will be forced to undertake more borrowing than was intended for 2018.

Irish Water has been a fiscal and political disaster from the start with massive staff and cost overruns. Other costs have soared  for security and legal challenges and parliamentary investigations. Millions more may still have to be paid in fines to the EU.

The political return from the Irish Water disaster will only be known in the next election, but someone is going to have to pay for the higher ongoing water costs and the most obvious sources of revenue will be businesses, via higher general rates imposed by local authorities; higher direct income taxes; a new flat percentage levy on higher earners like the Universal Social Charge or even a water levy added to local property tax, which has been frozen until 2019.

Imposing either a new water Social Charge on higher earners and the self-employed earning more than 100,000 is already a successful tax policy or a water levy on property, paid directly to the Revenue Commissioners with their impressive, wide-ranging powers, in particular the sending of the Sherriff to your business or home, could be very tempting. Property owners are already extremely compliant (as are employers) and would simply have to adjust their respective payments to the Revenue.

Last year it was estimated that Irish Water would need 5.5 billion or about 1.2 billion a year for operating costs and investment. Only about 700-750 million would have been raised from household water charges so adding 1.2 billion to annual borrowings for water services isnt going to happen if the Exchequers plan to return to surplus by 2019 stays on track. (The gross national debt is 204.77 billion with interest payments alone expected to be about 8 billion this year.) A water USC charge or LPT water levy of 1.2 billion is far more feasible.

If you dont think so, just remember that between 2011-16 the Minister for Finance collected 2.4 billion in cash from the retirement savings of just over 800,000 private pension holders. It was easily collected because the pension companies were threatened with significant cash penalties if they didnt pay over their customers cash to Revenue.

Water services will be paid for one way or another. Not by people whose income comes from welfare payments or who earn less than 17,000, the cut-off for USC. The easiest way to bring in 1.2 billion will be to force employers to deduct it at source or to add it to fearful property owners tax bill.

And if you have a problem with thatyou can just take it up with the Revenue.



Please send your queries to Jill c/o this paper or by email: jill@jillkerby.ie

(The new TAB Guide to Money Pensions & Tax 2017 is now out. 9.99 in good bookshops. See www.tab.ie for ebook edition.)
The head of the country's prison service can expect to earn more than 160,000 annually while Governors can earn between 71,000 and 117,000 each year.

That's according to figures provided in the Dail recent by the Tanaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald. The Irish Prison Service runs two jails in Portlaoise on a joint campus.

In her reply to Tommy Brougan TD the Tanaiste said the Irish Prison Service operates as an executive agency within the Department of Justice and Equality.

She said it is headed by a Director General supported by five Directors (Care and Rehabilitation, Operations, Staff and Corporate Services, Estate Management, ICT and Finance) two of which are vacant.

She said the Irish Prison Service's management structure provides for four Governor grades - Campus Governor, Governor 1, Governor 2 and Governor 3. There are currently two Campus Governors, one acting Campus governor, one Governor 1, seven Governor 2s and eleven Governor 3s. There are also Deputy Governor and Assistant Governor grades.

The top and bottom points of the current payscales (PPC rate) for top management grades are set out below:

Director General: 163,372 (single point on scale)

Director of Care and Rehabilitation: 135,994 (single point on scale)

Director: 85,127 - 103,976

Campus Governor: 112,899 - 117,811

Governor 1: 78,912 - 98,065

Governor 2: 71,738 - 90,141

The Tanaiste did not provide salary scales for the Governor 3s, the Deputy Governor or Assistant Governor grades. Details were not given on how many deputy or assistant Governors are in post.

Portlaoise Prison has a Governor while the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise has a Campus Governor according to the IPS website.

She added that directors, not including the Director General and the Director of Care and Rehabilitation, receive an annual Director's allowance of 12,608. Governors, except Campus Governors, receive an Operational Allowance of 8%, Rent Allowance of 4,017 per annum, Plain Clothes Allowance of 441 per annum and a Governor's Allowance of between 5,880 and 7,049.
The council has been called on to put a stop to foul odours wafting into homes and businesses on Main street in Castledermot.

The issue was raised recently by local Cllr Martin Miley at this months Athy municipal district meeting.Councillors were advised by town manager Joe Boland to log the complaint directly with Irish Water.

The meeting also heard that a number of site inspections were undertaken by both Water Services and Development Control in 2015 and 2016. And since numerous works have been carried out by the council there have not been any further complaints to the council or to Irish Water regarding odours following on from the completion of these works.

A breakdown of the works included the construction of vent stacks and the provision of non return valves along Dubln Road and Main Street, Castledermot over the past number of years in order to alleviate foul odours in this area.

They were also told that despite a further inspection will be undertaken by the council in the coming weeks to determine the current situation in this regard. It would be beneficial if further details in relation to names and locations of persons affected by foul odours be forwarded to Irish Water/Kildare County Council. If the odours are internal to buildings rather than inthe public space, the internal traps and vents may need to be checked, to ensure that they are in working order.
A jury has returned a verdict of death by misadventure in the case of a Dublin man who died as a result of a traffic accident near Maynooth on July 25 of last year.

Mark Byrne (38), from Belcamp Grove, Priorswood, Coolock, died following the accident at Lady Chapel, Rathcoffey road, Maynooth.

He and his partner, Alice Byrne, had driven to Prosperous on the day in a jeep and with a trailer with pigeons.

They released the birds and had a few drinks at Dowlings pub.

Ms Byrne said she could not recall anything about the accident.

A witness, Vanessa Travers, said she was going out the Rathcoffey road when she saw the black jeep with the trailer losing control and going into the ditch.

Another witness, Kelly Burke, said the jeep veered across a continuous white line to her side of the road.

The road was dry, the witness told the inquest

Garda Bernard Halloran said the jeep and trailer were mechanically in good condition.

Mr Byrne had a high 308mg blood alcohol level and died as a result of a broken neck.

The jury quickly concluded that death was due to misadventure, the result of an accident and alcohol.

It made no recommendation of a general nature.
Sinn Fein Deputy Martin Kenny has asked an Taoiseach Enda Kenny about the interim report to Cabinet from Minister Katherine Zappone and on redress for the people who lived at the Tuam mother and baby home and other such institutions.

Deputy Kenny said: We had a lot of fine words of compassion here a couple of weeks ago. However, for many people, what happened yesterday seems to be the opposite. Is an Taoiseach prepared to commit today regarding what he will do to look after these people?

An Taoiseach told me that Minister Zappone had reported to cabinet but that the Commission has made no findings to date regarding abuse or neglect and believes it would not be appropriate to deal with the questions of redress in advance of any conclusions that will be reached by the Commission.

The Government needs to make an absolutely firm commitment to speedily organise redress for the victims of the horrors of Tuam and other such places and do so, without further delay.
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The Connacht Property Auction have noted the property market is seeing significant price increases across the country which has been further outlined in the rent report by Daft.ie.

The national average listing price was up 9.4% in the first quarter of 2017 versus the same period in 2016.

These increases can be largely attributed to Dublin and the larger urban areas such as Galway with the continued high demand and low supply of properties. However in Connacht both urban and more rural areas are performing well with average increases of approximately 10% across Counties Galway, Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo.

Patrick Folan of The Connacht Property Auction commented: The spike in listing prices is due to a number of different factors. One simple explanation is the country is improving economically and that is reflected within the property market. Another reason is that there has been a lack of supply for some time now and with the increase in demand, the prices are continuing to be pushed upwards.

The Connacht Property Auction say that with strong demand, is an excellent time to sell and find buyers for all types of properties.

They are encouraging owners considering selling their property to contact them to arrange a fee property valuation. The company remain the only auction provider in Ireland who do not charge any upfront costs to entry their auction.

Keelrin, Newtowngore, Co Leitrim

Offered at bids over 19,000 in partnership with Gordon Hughes Estate Agents, Ballinamore this C.0.79 acre site with full planning permission to renovate an existing derelict single storey dwelling. The plans include raised wallplate/roof and a two storey extension to rear, upgrade existing septic tank to new biocycle and percolation system, erect entrance walls and piers and all ancillary site works.

Drumliffen, Gowel,

Co Leitrim

Offered at bids over 75,000 in partnership with Bernadette Gallagher Auctioneers, Carrick-on-Shannon. This spacious 3 bed cottage with a selection of out buildings sits on approx. 1 acre of land near Sheemore and approx. 5miles from Carrick-on-Shannon. The property has a number of good size outbuildings to the rear and a large, spacious yard.

Contact The Connacht Property Auction on 091 882 121 to arrange for a free property valuation.

For more information see www.connachtpropertyauction.ie.

Next Public Auction: April 27, 207, The Menlo Park Hotel, Galway.

Registration starts at 6.30.
In recent months Ive seen a few pieces on Liberal Democrat Voice- this one and this one stick in my mind- written by party members who voted to leave the EU and are still in favour of Brexit. As would be expected, the response in the comments sections has been mixed. Some, myself included, believe the liberal response is to accept Eurosceptics into the party and encourage their participation. Others believe Brexit is entirely illiberal and that the party should be reserved for Europhiles.

I think we can expect this type of dilemma to come up more and more over the next few years. As the party grows it will attract members of a variety of opinions, including some who campaigned for a Leave vote and hope for a liberal Brexit deal. This will of course contrast with our partys pro-EU message which has been such an integral part of our strategy in the wake of the referendum. To help the party expand while maintaining a high level of party unity I propose a new covenant of sorts between the party and its Eurosceptic members.

The party as a whole will accept the Brexiteers in our ranks. We will welcome their full participation in the party, encourage them to contribute to discussions (including on the EU) and listen to their views respectfully without trying to marginalise them in the debate. We will look for areas of common interest and recognise that whether pro- or anti-EU, we are all drawn to the party out of a belief in liberalism as defined in the Preamble to the Constitution.

In return, Liberal Democrats who support Brexit will accept that the party is vehemently in favour of the European Union and that this is not likely to change. They will see that the party is opposed to Brexit and continue to support the party however they feel comfortable doing so. Campaigning in support of Brexit will be done in a personal capacity rather than using the party platform and any attempt to define the party to those outside it as anything other than pro-EU will be in breach of the covenant.

In this way I hope that the party can continue to expand nationally and one day return to government. If this approach proves successful then perhaps a similar covenant could be established with supporters in the party of Scottish, Welsh or even English independence, or of Irish reunification. Whatever our stripes one thing we should all be proud of is the fact that we can discuss these issues sensibly in true liberal, democratic fashion on our path to greatness.

* Eddie from Edinburgh is a Lib Dem member from Edinburgh whose identity is known to the LDV team
Easter is a time of new beginnings, wrote my local Vicar in his April newsletter. New beginnings for whom? I wondered. If the followers of a 2000-year-old religion can talk about new beginnings, can there be anything in the idea for the rather younger Liberal Democrats?

This is a time of working and waiting, for us  working for the May elections and waiting for Brexit-related developments. But could this be a pregnant pause, with our party about to burst into new life after the nine-month post Referendum hard grind? I believe so.

What strikes me first about this time is the sound of silence. All the fierce denunciations by Brexiteers of supposed backsliding by Remainers (who actually thought they were lucky to get a word in edgeways) has ceased. The angry headlines in the right-wing press, stirring up ordinary folk to stay agitated about immigrants and Brussels and rulings by foreign courts or even our own  all gone.

The intimidation of Remainers had its effects. Canvassing in Gorton last Saturday, I didnt quite convince a young man who believes we are right in our demands over Brexit and for a referendum on the final deal, will vote for Jackie Pearcey but feels May is too entrenched with too many backers for our national aims to succeed. He had evidently been silenced by the angry clamour which claimed to represent that elusive will of the people, who wanted their country back.

Now, though, with the relief of satisfied silence from the current winners, fresh hopes can be stirring, The anger and dismay of Remainers begins to be voiced. What, did the people vote to be worse off? They already are, with rising prices and a weak pound. The Brexit secretary David Davis pledged that we will have exactly the same benefits when we are out of the single market and the customs union as we had within them, at the same time as EU leaders plainly told us that no deal can be as good as the one we propose to give up. Even Theresa May, still advocating a hard Brexit, is acknowledging there will be a price to pay. But so far is she from being able to represent all of the people that the poorest are getting poorer, and just about managing working people with benefits frozen may already be heading for the food banks.

The Liberal Democrats are here to represent ordinary people and to fight for them, against a government turning its face away, and an official opposition too divided to be able to do it. As people realise this, it doesnt matter that they wont yet know much about our policies. We are for the EU, they knew that already, but now it is becoming clear why we opposed Brexit  because of the harm it is doing and will do to ordinary British people if it is not stopped.

Already there is a new beginning. Our Leader Tim Farron has declared that we are aiming now to become the main national opposition party, replacing Labour. And, at last, Tim is being asked for his comments on the issues of the day by the media, and they are being reported. At the same time, influential people are pointing out the folly of the proposed hard exit. Former political leaders Blair, Major and Heseltine have all spoken out, and now there is a new group of figures from business, the arts and the charity sectors, led by the campaigner who defeated the government in the courts over Article 50, Gina Miller, which is aiming to block a hard Brexit under the name UK-EU Open Policy.

These Influential people, along with pro-Europe groups such as Open Britain, need the political leadership of the Liberal Democrats. We require, and are beginning to obtain, our countrys belief that we are now not only much needed but are a significant force. As the damage of Brexit worsens, this new beginning in which we are seen as serious contenders for power will surely be as welcome as the summer flowers. It should be so, because we are here to serve and to help all of our people through this difficult and dangerous time.

* Katharine Pindar is a long-standing member of the Lib Dems and an activist in the West Cumbrian constituency of Copeland and Workington.
Two weekends ago (from Friday March 31st to Sunday April 2nd) a group of D66 party members from The Hague, with council leader Robert van Asten and national Foreign Secretary Tjeerd Dierckxsens from the party executive, visited our brand-new Spanish sister party Ciudadanos in Madrid, where their constituency party received us. They turned out to be very similar to your average D66/LibDem man or woman.

Spain was the first European country ever where a small progressive majority of anti-Napoleon politicians convening in Cadiz (protected by Wellingtons expeditionary force) promulgated a truly liberal Constitution in 1812; but when the Bourbon king returned from French captivity in 1814 he canceled all that and restored absolutist rule. Liberal rule was temporarily restored in 1820-1823, and later on for longer periods of time during the 19th century. But Conservatism (working hand in glove with the Catholic Church and the monarchy) and Socialism (starting in 1870-1900) proved stronger than the small, urban, liberal minority. Liberalism disappeared from Spanish politics in the 20th century, especially because of the polarization culminating in the Civil War (1936-9) and Francos dictatorship (1939-75).

In Francos last years a pragmatic group of technocrats started re-opening Spain to western influences, using mass tourism (Torremolinos) as a way to earn the money necessary for social and infrastructural modernization. Immediately after Francos death the king (restored on the throne) installed technocrat Adolfo Suarez to lead a modernizing government and restore/implant western democracy. Suarez created a center party UCD to govern de Transition to Democracy; his government legalized the Socialist and the Communist Party.

Spain requested and got admission to the EU and NATO. Around 1982 the transition neared completion and the UCD started splintering. The Socialists (PSOE) and the Conservatives (PP, founded by another Francist technocrat minister, Fraga), with extensive corporatist networks around them, started dominating Spanish politics; the Communists (IU) became the third party, forever in opposition. Suarez resigned from the UCD government to found a social-liberal party CDS; but although a useful modernizing force he (nor his CDS) never got massive traction, and succumbed to the millstones PSOE and PP pulverizing all others.

As everybody knows, both PP and PSOE proved to be structurally corrupt in their party networks; combined with the 2008-2016 financial crisis, this opened political space where a far-left party Podemos and the social-liberal Ciudadanos (Citizens) appeared. After two elections (2015-2016), the PP only stayed in government by getting support from Ciudadanos, who according to the newspaper El Pais altered the Budget proposal for next year (the Spanish learning coalition politics).

Podemos is blemished because prominent cadres helped Chavez in ruining Venezuela, and is refusing to work with either PP or PSOE.

Ciudadanos (started in Catalonia) meanwhile is building a national party organization. The D66 The Hague delegation witnessed them organizing protest in a Madrid suburb about the lack of public services there.

* Dr. Bernard Aris is a historian, a D66 parliamentary researcher and a LibDem supporting member.
EVERY or any sexual activity can be good or evil, and the act itself right through to the moment of orgasm is always somewhere on a spectrum between selfish egotism and altruistic communion.

These are the masterfully-crafted words of the former Abbot of Glenstal, Fr Mark Patrick Hederman, who has written a new book. In The Opal and the Pearl the monk challenges the Catholic Church on sex and calls for a national discussion on sex, celibacy and ethics.

Fr Hederman told the Leader he was inspired to take pen to paper because the Church, as well as everyone else, must begin by understanding and accepting that we are in the middle of a tsunami where sexual ethics are concerned.

In this brave new world, sex addiction is on the rise, pornography is a click away, dating apps can be downloaded to your phone, sexting and affairs almost seem de rigeur.

This chaos has been multiplied by the advances in technology which give everyone everywhere global access to whatever youre having yourself and there is no protection against such universal intrusion. There is no going back to anything we had in the past.

We have to examine cultural sign-posts and weave our way forward towards a more acceptable and comprehensive ethics which will persuade those in search of a more healthy and fulfilling lifestyle of its authenticity and reliability, said Fr Hederman.

There is no going back to some punitive regime of imposed discipline, he says.

Young people in search of some spiritual significance in life will only be persuaded by what they perceive to be worthwhile and convincing - not by preaching or authority.

In such a maelstrom, artists are the people most likely to sketch the contours of such a new lifestyle. Already Donal Ryan is doing us all a huge service by describing so accurately the whirlpool in which we find ourselves. History moves in violent swings from one extreme to another. Ireland has taken a gigantic leap from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century without even a break for half-time.

Picking up on President Michael D. Higgins call for a new Irish ethics, the Benedictine monk, aged in his early 70s, examines sexuality in the lives and writings of Joyce, Heaney, Iris Murdoch and Yeats and delivers a searching critique of the Catholic churchs monosexual stance.

Referencing the gay marriage referendum he calls for a broader look at sex

"Now that we have legislated for gay marriage and accepted the fact that sexuality does happen for reasons other than procreation; now that we also recognise that some of the most heinous sexual crimes have been perpetrated within the sanctity of marriage; it is surely time to take a more comprehensive approach to the ethics of sexual behaviour.

Every or any sexual activity can be good or evil, and the act itself right through to the moment of orgasm is always somewhere on a spectrum between selfish egotism and altruistic communion, he writes.

He is not proposing that the Church end celibacy for priests.

He is proposing that the Church take a realistic appraisal of all its attempts to regulate the sexual lives of twenty-first century liberated human beings.

The Church can only propose. Like every great religion on the planet, Christianity knows that certain people are called to have a monogamous relationship with God and many such great religions have splendid and intricate disciplines by which such a relationship can be achieved and maintained. Only a few will ever take up this challenge successfully and fulfillingly. It should never be [or have been] prescribed for every person wishing to be a priest or pastor, which can be a very different vocation, and one perfectly capable of being accomplished by those who are married.

The Opal and the Pearl is out now.
A PROMINENT County Limerick businesswoman has revealed how she nearly lost her business following a burglary at her high-end boutique last summer.

A Lithuanian man has admitted stealing luxury clothing, with a retail value of around 240,000, from Isobel, Main Street, Adare in the early hours of June 21, 2016.

Limerick Circuit Court was told Aurimas Petraska, aged 32, who has an address at Church Street Rathkeale, is a member of an Eastern European crime gang which has been targeting business premises across Munster.

Following his arrest a week after the break-in, he told gardai during interview he had observed the good brands of clothing when driving past the store.

Having entered the premises to look around, he said he and a number of other men returned later that night and stole the property after forcing their way in through a rear door.

In a victim impact statement, Kay Mulcair, the proprietor of Isobel, said while the stolen clothes were subsequently recovered at Dublin Port by gardai, she was not in a position to sell them.

While the property was recovered, it was not suitable for sale due to the delicate high-end luxury nature of the clothing, she said.

The businesswoman stated that in addition to increasing her premium, her insurance company has refused to pay out for the loss as the alarm at the premises was not activated on the night of the burglary.

A large quantity of high-end womens luxury clothing to a retail value of of 240,000 was stolen, I have not been compensated, she wrote, adding that she remains at a loss of more than 85,000.

Judge Tom ODonnell was told the businesswoman had to take out a loan following the burglary to keep my business and to pay suppliers.

In her victim impact statement, which was read to the court by Michael Collins BL, prosecuting, Ms Mulcair said her personal life has also suffered as a result of what happened.

As a result of the crime I suffered pressure on my family due to the near collapse of my business, she said adding that she is nervous and fearful when opening and closing the boutique as she feels she is being watched.

Petraska will be sentenced next month. See Page 12.
THE OUTGOING Limerick Rose Marie Hennessy has said that it will be a bittersweet moment handing over the sash at the annual selection this Saturday.

After two weeks of preparations and a busy tour of the city and county, at least 14 local ladies will take to the stage to prove they have what it takes to represent Limerick at this years Rose of Tralee.

Ms Hennessy, from Carrigkerry, who is an Irish teacher at Desmond College in Newcastle West, said ahead of the event at Bunratty Castle Hotel: Whichever girl gets the sash has no idea what kind of year she is in for. It goes on past Tralee, and I think a lot of people forget that there is so much more to it than just that week.

The friendships that I have made is one thing that stands out from last year, and the group of girls I was with last year were brilliant, and we have been in contact all the time. They would always send a supportive message, and it is lovely to have that in a group of people you have literally met for three weeks.

Some of the highlights of the year, she said, included attending the opening of the Frankfurt Christmas markets, experiencing Belarus with Chernobyls Adi Roche, followed by attending the St Patricks Day festival in New York.

Even thinking back on the selection night last year. I wouldnt have thought in a million years that the experience would have been this incredible.

Limerick Rose Centre co-ordinator, Conor Walsh said there was great excitement ahead of the event, which - as of Wednesday - is still accepting applications for escorts and Roses.

Some people tend to have the opinion that the Rose of Tralee is a very old-fashioned event, but the women who come forward are representing the modern Irish woman. You get everyone; we have a circus performer, we have plenty of students, nurses, we have a vet, and we have everyone from all walks of life, this year. You couldnt meet a more diverse group, he said this week.

The selection starts at 7pm, Saturday, April 15.
THREE handwriting experts gave evidence at Limerick Circuit Court last week that they believe the signature on the will of a bachelor farmer from county Limerick who died almost three years ago was forged.

Conor ODonnell who lived at Ballyea, Rathkeale, was 66 when he died suddenly on April 19, 2014.

The executors of the late Mr ODonnells will - Josie Ahern, Kilrea, Croagh, and John Chawke, Duxtown House, Rathkeale,  are seeking a court order declaring that the will is formally approved and not subject to contest.

Neither of the executors are beneficiaries of the disputed will, which was purportedly signed on May 18, 2012.

The application by the executors is being opposed by three of his sisters  Christina Greaney, Ardagh; Catherine Anna Kelly who lives in Roscahill, Galway, and Margaret ODonnell who lives in Drumcondra, Dublin.

It is their case that their brothers signature was forged and that the will document is not valid.

In her evidence, Margaret ODonnell said when she saw the will a number of months after her brother died she immediately knew it was not his signature because of the construction of it.

She told Vinog Faughnan SC that Conor never joined the two ns in his signature and that his writing slanted to the right and not to the left as appeared on the will.

Its not Conors signature, she said agreeing that she was also taking issue with some of the terminology used in the will to describe certain fields which he owned. She said she was also very much surprised that his two Godchildren and several nephews and nieces were not mentioned in the will.

Mrs ODonnell told the court she was also disputing the earlier evidence of Josie Ahern and Mary Mullane who told the court they had witnessed Conor signing the will which is disputed.

Mrs Mullane, who was chairperson of the County Limerick IFA family farm group at the time, told the court she had helped Mr ODonnell in the past to fill out various forms associated with his farming activities.

She said she met Conor ODonnell at Ms Aherns home on the evening of May 18, 2012.

He had an A4 page which he had written down what he was doing with his property, she said confirming that she had filled out the will in accordance with the instructions. She added that she had helped around 20 other farmers with will documents over the years.

Dont take farmers to be fools. When it comes to form filling he didnt want to make mistakes. I would have conferred with him. I wouldnt be familiar with his nephews or extended family, said Mrs Mullane.

The main beneficiaries of the will,the court heard, are three of Conor ODonnells nephews  Ivan, Neville and well-known solicitor Michael ODonnell.

"Everything in that will is what he requested," said Mrs Mullane who said the bachelor was very private and asked Mrs Ahern to burn the A4 page which she did.

Mrs Mullane said Mr ODonnell printed his name and signed the will, then Mrs Ahern and then she did the same. He witnessed both of us, said Mrs Mullane.

Margaret ODonnell said she did not accept the evidence of Mrs Mullane, who was arrested and questioned in November 2015 as part of a criminal investigation into the matter.

I cant believe he would come into a house at night and ask two people to fill out a will, she said.

Mrs ODonnell added that she was nauseated at the fact that it (the will) has been ascribed to a dead man in his grave.

Another sister  Christina Greaney  told the court she was very familiar with Conors signature which she said did not match the one on the will.

I expected his signature would have been proper, it wasnt, she said. I never saw it (the signature) before, it is not his will, she added.

Both of Conor ODonnells sisters agreed with Terry OConnell BL, for the executors, that they had not seen their brother for several years prior to his death and that they were shocked and surprised when they were informed of the contents of the will.

During the hearing, the court also heard evidence from three handwriting experts including a detective garda who is based at Garda Headquarters.

Det Garda Geraldine Butler said she visited the probate office in Limerick in August 2014 as part of the garda investigation.

She told the court she inspected the original will document of the late Mr ODonnell and compared the signature on the will to a number of sample signatures which were given to her.

These signatures, the court heard, were found on AIB cheques and business documents which the farmer had signed on dates before and after the date he signed the will.

Detective Garda Butler said there were significant variations between the signature on the will and the sample signatures.

She said the signature on the will lacked fluency; had been written very slowly and that there was retouching in portions of it

She said there was a blunt ending which indicated the signature had been written slowly and with hesitation.

While accepting that no two signatures are identical, she said there was strong evidence to indicate that Conor ODonnell did not sign the will in question.

Another expert, Sean Lynch, told the court he too was of the view the signature on the will was forged.

The retired detective garda said the differences between the signature on the will and various samples from bank and business documents were significant and that he would not expect a person to change their signature in such a short period of time in so many significant ways.

Another witness  Dave Madden  who specialised in examining documents said he found numerous and significant differences between the signature on the will document and the sample signatures.

He said he identified differences in spacing, line quality and fluency as well in the formation of individual letters. Being cross-examined by Mr OConnell the witness accepted that some of his observations were different to those of the other experts.

Sometimes experts dont agree, he said confirming he was of the view that the will couldnt have been signed by Conor ODonnell.

Judge Brian OCallaghan said the case should not deter people from acting as executors of wills.

The judge made his comments as he reserved judgment following the hearing which took place over two days at the circuit court.

Adjourning the case to early next month to allow for written submissions to be prepared, he said while the circumstances of the case were extraordinary and difficult it highlights the importance of people being willing to act as executors.

Where there is a will, there is a way, he commented.

Following the conclusion of the case, Judge OCallaghan said he will need time to consider the matter as well as any written submissions from both sides.

The case will be mentioned again on May 10, next.
LIMERICK city has been chosen as a prime location to promote an upcoming album by world-renowned virtual band Gorillaz.

As part of a unique global campaign for the new album Humanz, Steamboat Records was tasked by major label Warner Music with delivering a monster mural along Limericks riverfront.

Mark Carey, owner of Steamboat Records, said that this project is a big coup for Limerick. The giant graffiti piece is on the wall outside the Riverpoint building, by Shannonbridge Roundabout.

We work with Warner and all the major labels, and Warner are doing preparations for the Gorillaz new album launch, which is called Humanz. And they wanted us to do some funky things to create a bit of hype for it. And this is part of their overall global marketing campaign, and they are hoping to plan these kind of things in a few cities around the world, he told the Leader this Friday afternoon.

We said: Yeah, we can make that happen. We can get it done quickly, and really well.

The image depicted in the city centre is of fictional Japanese lead guitarist, Noodle, and is featured on the albums front cover and music video Let Me Out.

Mark commended Limerick artist Steve ODonnell for delivering the project in the space of 24 hours. Mr ODonnell operates his own street art-graffiti business in Dublin, All Out Design.

Steve, who described the project as a monster mural, posted on social media: It was an absolute joy to work on this one. Everyone seemed to enjoy it just as much as we did painting it! Constant well wishes, beeps and even a few cheers throughout the day!

Mark added: The Riverpoint is such an iconic building in the city, and it works well for two reasons; it is close to where we are, and it represents the future of Limerick.

Gorillaz rose to worldwide fame following their first hit single Clint Eastwood and Rock the House in 2001, and Feel Good Inc in 2005. Gorillaz is led by Blurs Damon Albarn.

Steamboat Records, which moved from its temporary residence on Thomas Street has returned to Steamboat Quay. It will celebrate International Record Store Day on Saturday, April 22.

Humanz is out on April 28.
Champagne picnic at 13,000ft One can pop up to the Everest for breakfast almost any dayit's the easiest way to see the world's most famous mountain /news/talking-point/champagne-picnic-at-13000ft-111646836213297.html 111646836213297 story

In December, chefs from Noma and Londons Ledbury built the worlds highest-altitude pop-up restaurant at the Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

It sounded like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and in many ways it was. But in fact you can pop up to the Everest for breakfast almost any day of the year, if youre so inclined. All you have to do is know the right people.

Catherine Heald of Remote Lands has been planning quick-stop trips to the Everest for her guests since December. They travel by helicopter from Kathmandu to the South Base Camp, where they explore the surroundings for a 15-minute visit (thats all an un-acclimatized traveller can usually bear at around 18,000ft). Then its back in the chopper to the adjacent peak of Kongde Ri, where the Yeti Mountain Home, at 13,000ft the worlds highest-altitude luxury lodge, sets out tables for a private Champagne picnic with the Everest in full view. Nicola Shepherd, of Explorations Co., also coordinates morning trips to Yeti, minus the stop at Base Camp; thats an avalanche risk she would rather not take, she says.

Both outfitters work with the same summiteer to lead the adventure: Tashi Tenzing Sher, the grandson of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, who, with Edmund Hillary, took the first steps atop the Everest in 1953. Hes climbed to the top a couple of times himself," says Shepherd, so while youre flying there hes giving you blow-by-blow, first-hand accounts of what it all entails. He really brings it alive for you."

The logistics

Both Shepherd and Heald tend to book Everest breakfasts as part of larger packages10-day treks through Nepal, most oftenbut the experience can be booked a la carte. Heald charges $10,000 (around Rs6.4 lakh) for groups of up to three; Shepherd charges $7,163 for two. Full 10-day trips cost around $25,000 (everything is affordable in Nepal except for choppers).

Two things are key. First is your health: Even though youre not spending much time at altitude, those with heart or lung conditions can struggle with the elevation. As for your hotel, its best to start in Kathmandu, where an AS350 helicopter will pick you up early in the morningas early as 6.30, depending on anticipated weather patterns. From there, it takes 45 minutes to fly around the Everest and land at Kongde Ri, not including the optional stop at the South Base Camp.

The highest meal of your life

Breakfast itself is a private, white-tablecloth meal of eggs with bacon and sausages, croissants, and jam made from Nepalese fruits, plus plenty of Moet & Chandon, all served by a talented team of Sherpas. But youre not here for the food, but for views you will never forget.

This is as close as you can get to the Everest without being on it," says Shepherd of being on Kongde Ri. Nobody does it closer."

Heald concurs, adding that on your fly-around alone, you will get views of four of the worlds six tallest peaks: Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Everest. Dont worry about sitting outdoors in the extreme weather; you will be given appropriate clothing.

Beyond Everest

Nepal is a country deeply in need of tourism dollars. After a 7.8-magnitude earthquake left nearly 9,000 dead and 22,000 injured in 2015, the country has made an incredible (and successful) effort to rebuildbut visitors have yet to return. That means its a great time to find yourself in the Himalayan country: You will be welcomed with unparalleled warmth, have sites largely to yourself, and scarcely see a European face.

Both Shepherd and Heald speak emphatically about the forbidden kingdom of Mustang, a wildly rugged expanse of countryside roughly 320 miles north-west of Kathmandu. Driving there can take 11 hours due to difficult conditions, but Shepherd also organizes helicopter transfers to cut the journey to 1 hour, making it doable in as little as one or two days (heavy winds can bar afternoon return flights). Stay in Dwarikas Dhulikhel, says Shepherd, and enjoy the surroundings for a bit: The resort is the perfect place to go horseback riding along the edge of the Tibetan plateau, learn to throw traditional pottery, and take Nepalese cooking classes.

In Kathmandu itself, make a pit stop at the art-filled temple of Bhaktapur, which many local experts prefer to the crowded monkey temple of Swayambhunath Stupa, and dont miss the beautiful restoration work at Durbar Square, whose temples date back to the 12th century. Do your exploring by bike or by foot, advises Shepherd, or you risk getting stuck in terrible traffic.

For one last dose of luxury, round out your visit with a few days in the Chitwan National Park, just two-and-a-half hours south-east of the capital by car. There, the ultra-plush Taj Meghauli Serai safari lodge fills your days with tiger-focused game drives. Bloomberg
Operation Icefish steals the thunder How an expedition to tackle illegal fishing in the Antarctic ended up discovering plastic in the belly of the Chilean seabass /news/talking-point/operation-icefish-steals-the-thunder-111646836321735.html 111646836321735 story

For three days I scoured the scrapyards of Mumbais Dockyard Road with a basic drawing of a winch, the kind used on fishing vessels. I sat with multiple dealers to try and source one that met my requirements, but had no success. Deciding I needed to speak to Brian, my chief engineer who was in Melbourne, I headed back home with the idea of building one from scratch.

What we were looking for was a winch that could haul fishing gear sunk up to 4km below the surface of the ocean. It would be the first expedition of its kind in the worlda campaign to tackle illegal fishing in Antarctica. As part of Sea Shepherd Global, a marine conservation organization that tackles poaching on the worlds oceans, I was to captain the Sam Simon on Operation Icefish, and our task was to confiscate illegal fishing gear.

For a moment lets dive 4,000m under austral waters to enter a setting of frigid darkness: the home of the mysterious, slow-growing apex predator, the toothfish. Toothfish, named for the sharp teeth on their upper jaws, belong to an Antarctic cod family that are endemic to the southern hemisphere. Prized for its fat, the species has been a target of the fishing industry since the late 1970s and has risen from its Antarctic depths to the menus of top-end restaurants around the world. Commercially renamed Chilean seabass, this shark of the deep is now one of the worlds most expensive fish, retailing for up to $500 (around Rs32,500) a kilo.

Toothfish snared by their gills on the fishing gear deployed by Thunder.. Photo: Giacomo Josh Giorgi

Over about two decades from the 1970s, fishing vessels had descended on the Southern Ocean, setting in motion a gold rush. Stern state action from the early 1990s largely managed to stem the tide of illegal fishing but a fleet of six vessels, nicknamed the Bandit 6, had adapted to existing international legal mechanisms and designed an operation that put them beyond the reach of everyone. What made the presence of these vessels so harmful was that no one knew how much fish they were catching, with estimates ranging from 1,200-5,000 tonnes each year by all six vessels combined. In addition, the vessels were suspected to have deployed gill nets, a form of fishing gear that snares everything that comes its wayits use is prohibited in the Southern Ocean.

The Bandit 6 vessels hid their operations under layers of identity, making it hard to trace their crimes. In order to avoid detection, they would typically employ the technique of flag-hopping", an act of changing names and registries (or countries) at sea. Holding dual identities renders a vessel stateless under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), but since no one had documented their change in names, the Bandit 6 simply passed from one regulation zone to another with no record of their crimes. One aim of our campaign was to document a vessel that was fishing illegally and keep it in sight till it entered a port to establish its identity. The other aim was to confiscate its illegally-set fishing gear. What a knife is to a murder case, a fishing net is to illegal fishing.

And thus with two ships, the Bob Barker from Australia as the chasing vessel and the Sam Simon from New Zealand as the confiscating vessel, we set out on Operation Icefish in December 2014.

Given the absence of accurate information on the operations of these vessels, I had opted for a combination hauler which would allow for both gill nets and longlines to be hauled using the same piece of machinery, thereby saving costs while providing options. This being the worlds first attempt at confiscating deep-sea fishing gear, we couldnt rely on experience, we had to take risks. To mitigate these, a team of three engineers and I had run calculations to estimate the load the winch must be able to take. After multiplying that by various safety factors, we had arrived at a winch size that would be safe for our novice attempt. When the manufacturers of this winch quoted us a price three times our allocated budget, I had decided to try my luck in Mumbai.

After Brian put together a drawing I went back to the dealers. In three weeks, we assembled a second-hand combination winch. The body was fabricated by a father and son duo on a lathe machine at one of many shops on Dockyard Road; the motor came from the cooling tower of a boiler, and the gearbox from a stone crusher at a cement factory. It took another week before the electrical work was completed, and the unit tested and packed for export. Once the gear was delivered on board the Sam Simon and fitted on a specially designed platform, the winchnow named the Beast"was finally ready for some Antarctic action.

In the days leading up to the departure, I trained with my crew on how to deal with marine life caught in the nets. While we expected to mainly see toothfish, a range of by-catch animals ranging from whales to penguins and seabirds could also be encountered. We invited experts to teach us things ranging from how to save our fingers from being shorn off, to the most painless and ethical way of killing injured seabirds. In the middle of all of this macabre talk of dead and bloody marine life, it occurred to me that this could also be an opportunity to understand the impact of plastic being ingested by fish in the Antarctic Ocean. Studying the contents of the stomachs of apex predators is an important way to study the concentration of plastic in the ocean.

Plastic has become a very serious threat to ocean health, with debris in the five oceanic gyres today forming the worlds largest garbage patch. As plastic breaks down over time, it sinks under the surface where plankton, invertebrates, fish, turtles, birds and other marine mammals ingest it. Micro-plastics act as accumulators of toxins and heavy metals and as they move up the trophic pyramid, they bioaccumulate, causing a long list of sub-lethal effects.

Such studies had rarely been undertaken in the Southern Ocean and it seemed to me that the work on the Sam Simon would be perfectly suited for this form of research.

I reached out to an old acquaintance of mine, Bill Fulton from Living Oceans Inc, the Sydney-based charity that promotes awareness of human impact on the ocean. He was ecstatic at the idea and immediately introduced me to Jennifer Lavers, a research fellow at the University of Tasmania and one of the worlds leading researchers in plastic ingestion by seabirds. As I explained the scope of the work to be done by my vessel in the coming weeks, it became clear to the three of us that we had a unique and rare opportunity to study the contents of the stomachs of toothfish for plastic ingestion.

As I made final preparations to set out, the two of them raced against time to file applications with the Australian Antarctic Division to carry out this scientific component of the campaign. Just 12 days before kick-off, we received our approvals, and Operation Icefish was ready to go! On board the Bob Barker and the Sam Simon, we weaved our way south through spiralling low-pressure systems. The hulls of the ships pounded against the might of the ocean and, with each passing day, the warmth of the southern summer faded and the days grew longer. A week into our voyage, we crossed the Antarctic Convergence Zone and as the fog lifted, the magical Southern Ocean was revealed to us. With icebergs on the surface and a complex web of marine life below, this patch of ocean would be home to us for the next few months.

***

Scientists reviewing protocols before the start of the dissection process. Photo: Sea Shepherd Global/Jeff Wirth

On Christmas Day 2014, the Beast picked up the first line of the fishing gear discarded by the illegal fishing vessel Thunder. The vessel, found by the Bob Barker a week earlier, was now running north, the nets still sunk into the depths of the ocean. As we began hauling, we understood its layout. From the buoys at the surface a line ran over 2,000m to the bottom and was attached to a diamond-shaped net panel which stood 8ft high. This panel ran for 15km and was attached at the other end to a line which ran to the surface and was marked by another set of buoys. We estimated that the Thunder had deployed five such sets totalling 75km in length. At close to midnight, we brought in our first dead toothfish: a juvenile that weighed in at 16kg and was under a metre in length.

The nets had been in the water for a week and were weighed down with catch. Our progress was slow. The Beast wasnt able to handle the weight of the net alone so we ran it in tandem with one of the ships winches and hauled the net at an agonizingly slow rate of 4km a day. Light-heartedly, in this toothfish Armageddon in Antarctica, we renamed the combination of haulers Freedom and Independence.

By the end of Day 2, the crew was working in two groups4 hours on deck and 4 hours to rest. It was gruelling work but we were keen to keep the momentum going. I decided it was time for me to talk to Colette and Bia, our on-board scientists, about the possibility of running the science component alongside the hauling. And even though every hand was needed for the main job of confiscating the nets, we decided to give it a shot.

The Beast, the winch on board Sam Simon, in action. Photo: Giacomo Josh Giorgi

Over the next 6 hours, 10 toothfish were selected randomly from the nets and sent to the dissection table. There the fish were weighed and their length recorded. They were then dissected to remove the entire gastrointestinal tract, whose contents were rinsed and passed through a set of sieves. The items which made it through the sieve were set aside to be examined later under the dissection microscope. They included fish otoliths, eyeballs, internal nematodes (parasitic gut worms), small crustaceans, cartilaginous discs, eggs of unknown origin, whole and parts of fish, squid beaks and coarse sand. The stomach contents gave us a fascinating insight into the mysterious life of this unique fish. In two of 10 samples, we found items which resembled plastic and we stored these for further examination.

Over a period of five weeks, we confiscated 72km of the Thunders net. There was more dead fish with every passing day, bloated and rotting, the large quantity of by-catch slowing our progress. When we had begun on Christmas Day, we had had 24 hours of light and the temperature had hovered a few degrees above zero. But with the sun moving north, the weather was now colder, the ocean stormier and the days shorter. We were expending more energy to stay warm, taking more risks on a moving ship and working harder against the biological clock. With each kilometre of netting that came on board, we became less strong and more dehydrated. Given the level of physical exhaustion and the advanced degree of decomposition of the fish, Colette and Bia decided to discontinue any further dissections and focus on the hauling. I let our team in Australia know that beyond the 10 samples, we would not be continuing with the dissections.

One cold morning, the weight of the net bent the ships overside roller, something that needed a downward pull in excess of 5,000kg. It was an indication that every single safety factor had been exceeded. If this line snapped when one of my crew was around, they would be decapitated. I decided to quit while I was ahead and leave the last bit of line, a tangle of net and fish, to the Southern Ocean. Thirty-eight days after we had connected the first line to the Beast, I ordered the line to be cut from the Sam Simon.

***

The Thunder never made it back to port, scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean by its own captain to destroy evidence, after a 110-day chase by the Bob Barker. The evidence from the nets was submitted to the authorities in Mauritius and it remains the only evidence ever gathered of the operations of the Bandit 6 fleet of vessels. The data on the layout of the gear, its catch composition and its efficiency was submitted to various bodies, including the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), in the hope that it would be used to boost science and promote conservation in this pristine continent.

After the campaign concluded, we mailed the suspected plastic items directly to Jennifer at her lab at the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies in Hobart. Her team then used a technique called Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to study the particles and was able to determine that the green particles were acrylic resin. This outcome was clubbed with a larger study sample and published in a paper Plastic Ingestion By Fish In The Southern Hemisphere: A Baseline Study And Review Of Methods (Cannon et al). The main rationale for the on-board research component was to provide the first-ever data from those deep depths; however, this information is valuable only if more programmes are undertaken in those waters.

Operation Icefish was a campaign to tackle illegal fishing in Antarctica and it concluded five months later with spectacular results. During and after the campaign, multiple state actors had swung into action with such speed and efficiency that today none of the Bandit 6 vessels remain in operation. As for our quest to study plastics being ingested by marine life, we managed to generate the key takeaway message that more research is needed. While the research component could not be completed to its intended scale, it is alarming to know that a fish from the relatively pristine Antarctic Ocean that lives primarily at depths greater than 2,000m had plastic in its digestive tract.

***

DIY destination

There is something about the word Antarctica that still makes it possible to believe in the faraway. All the imagery it evokes is enough for one to think of Antarctica as a place to be seen in nature documentaries, not a place one actually visits.

Yet, over the past decade, Antarctica has grown to attract such numbers of tourists that it made one New York Times contributor wonder, Is Antarctica Getting Too Popular?" That was 2009, when the number spiralled to 45,000. It had seemed almost reckless to have so many people visit the ecologically sensitive continent. To put a check on this, all the signatories to the Antarctic Treaty agreed to new rules that forbade cruise ships with more than 500 people on board from landing anyone at all, and disallowed the arrival of more than 100 people on shore at any one time.

The restrictions have controlled the numbers while allowing visitors to experience the beauty of this pristine ecosystem. If you make the trip of a lifetime and are looking for a safe and sensitive way to go, consider these operators.

Cruises to Antarctica National Geographic EndeavourTravel with National Geographic writers and photographers, professional naturalists and conservationists.

National Geographic Expeditions runs a 24-day trip on its ice-class expedition ships, the Explorer and the Orion. For details, visit: goo.gl/AZEabA

Quark ExpeditionsFor the best value for money Quark Expeditions describes itself as a leader in Polar adventuresit has been around since 1991. It also offers better value and a greater variety of itineraries than most comparable operators. For details, visit: www. quarkexpedi tions.com/en

ScenicFor Ultimate Luxury This is an uber-luxurious option by a veteran cruise operator, with so many fine-dining options that it leaves you wishing you arent seasick all the time. For details, visit: www.scenic.com.au/cruises/antarctica

Abhijit Dutta
Between sky and sea, a fishpond of stories After 800 years and the restoration of the He'eia fishpond, traditional aquaculture is making a comeback in Hawaii /news/talking-point/between-sky-and-sea-a-fishpond-of-stories-111646836223988.html 111646836223988 story

The Koolau mountains run like a spine along the eastern coast of Oahu, dropping from sky to sea in thick green buttresses. Oahu is the third largest of the Hawaiian islands. The light in its eastern valleys changes often; today it ripples down slopes and skids on the water. Half a million years ago, I would have been standing in a calderaI have to remind myself, again, that even though the Koolaus brush the clouds, they are not a mountain range but the eroded remnants of a shield volcano. The other half lies underwater in Kaneohe Bay. The water is calm today, the wind crinkling its surface, and the tide has just started to come in.

In Kaneohe Bay is the Heeia fishpond. Eighty-eight acres wide and 600-800 years old, it is one of the last remaining fishponds in what was once a coastline ringed by an extensive network of traditional aquaculture systems. The rocks that make up the walls of this pond were brought down from the Koolaus in long human chains. I peer at the dark basalt and have the sudden sensation of glimpsing another worldthis half-submerged, semi-aquatic monument is as old, perhaps, as some of the temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The kuapa, or wall, extends 2km into the ocean and forms a complete circle that cuts off a part of the bay. Here ancient Hawaiians would have raised and harvested fish like moi (threadfin), awa (milkfish) and amaama (mullet).

A view of the Koolau mountains from the walls of the Heeia fishpond. Photo: Shreya Yadav.

I am tagging along with a friend from the University of Hawaii who is doing her graduate research here. Today is the community fishing day and Kelii Kotubetey, the caretaker of the fishpond and the executive director of Paepae o Heeia, a non-profit caring for the pond, takes us on a quick walk around its boundary. Kotubetey is tall and lean, with an easy laugh and a wicked sense of humour. Tell your kids a sting ray guards the pond," he announces, looking pointedly at the children in the group, it pulls you in if you steal any fish." His son, who is circling his legs in the pond, looks up, briefly worried.

We walk to the first of seven makahasluice gates that connect the pond with the oceanand watch the water from the bay begin to come in. The gates only let the small fish in," Kotubetey says, and the big ones cant get out." The community fishing days are to help catch the predators that might eat the fish the pond cultivates.

It all seems like this has been happening for decades. The morning is bright and windy and everyone seems to know each other. But it is hard to miss the excitement in Kotubeteys voice. The fishing days have only just been revived. The wall of the pond has only recently been repaired. Back when the British explorer James Cook landed on these shores in 1778, at least 400 fishponds dotted these coastlines, producing around 350 pounds of fish per acre per year. Today, Heeia is one of the few remaining fishponds and among a handful that is still functional. From complete self-reliance, the island now imports almost 90% of all its foodand 45% of its seafood. Fishponds, in many ways, bring the reasons for that change into focus, linking the past with the present.

Ancient Hawaiiwhich is to say, Hawaii before Western contactwas divided into slices of land called ahupuaa. These were wedge-shaped pieces that ran from the mountains to the sea, with loose boundaries demarcated by valley walls or prominent rocks and stone altars. Ahupuaas could range from 100 to 100,000 acres in size, depending of their wealth of resources. Each was managed by a landowner or konohiki, who reported to the chief of a larger district containing several ahupuaas. Within each ahupuaa, families of planters, fishermen and craftsmen cultivated and traded within and across boundaries.

The ahupuaa system was a land-sea continuum; the sky extended to the mountains, which extended into the valleys, the sea and the reef. The mountains caught water from the clouds and sent them down to the valley in waterfalls and streams. This water irrigated fields of taro and sweet potato, breadfruit and coconut. Finally, it drained into fishponds, creating a brackish environment where saltwater met freshwater. The juvenile stages of some fish used these habitats as a nursery and, over time, the fishpond grew as these fish were kept enclosed within its walls. A slice of land with several fishponds was considered fat and prosperous.

Hawaiian fishponds were unique in that they integrated ocean farming and harvesting with an entire system of food production further inland. Different gods manifested as plants and animals and served as guardians of the resource, further connecting families living in different parts of the ahupuaa. Strict kapu (sacred laws) restricted exploitative practices and violation was punishable by death.

People did not own land in early Hawaii, as land belonged to the spirits. But all life was intimately connected to nature and its rhythms. Fishing and planting were done according to the phases of the moon. Places were intricately mapped and named. There is no single term for the environment in Hawaiian, a reflection that it was not seen as something removed. Instead, different strata of the sky, the stars and the ocean were all distinguished from each other, each part given a name and meaning.

Following Western contact, that world view was rapidly eroded. The abolition of the kapu system in 1819 marked that change. Ahupuaas were dissolved when, in 1848, the Great Mahele or land distribution made land available for anyone to buy, an unknown concept to Hawaiians at the time. A lot of this land was converted into large sugar-cane and pineapple plantations that diverted the water earlier used for farming taro and other local crops. Soon, invasive species outcompeted native life. Diseases brought in by foreigners hit the local population hard. By the time Hawaii was annexed to the US in 1898, centuries-old sustainable management had been replaced by new and unfamiliar concepts of resource exploitation.

Fishponds, too, did not function in the same way any more. They were polluted by urban development or filled to create more land. Mangroves, invasive here, weakened the walls of ponds, creating holes for fish to swim through. Still, Heeia remained a dominant feature on the shoreline until the Keapuka flood of 1965 swept off a chunk of its wall and opened it to the rest of the bay.

There is no single term for the environment in Hawaiian, a reflection that it was not seen as something removed.-

After decades of being defunct, the 200ft hole was closed as recently as December 2015 in a huge volunteer effort. But the generations born after the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown continue to contend with the links that were severed in their past and the wealth of knowledge that was forgotten as these islands globalized. Kotubetey tells me how one of the challenges of managing the fishpond has been relearning old practices. Our ancestral memories are there," he says, its in our DNA. But there is no one there to actually tell us: Yes, you are on the right path and yes, you are doing it correctly. Some of the links are gone." This reminds me of the work a colleague has been doing documenting traditional fishing practices in the Lakshadweep islands. There too, he has been finding that traditional practices, especially those passed down orally, are quickly forgotten if theyre not used.

Today, as the fishpond slowly restores itself, research efforts to better understand its ecology are under way. I am curious about the role that Western science can play in this process. I ask Kotubetey if some of the more academic projects on the fishpond have been useful to them. He tells me of a time in 2010 when there was a big fish kill in the pond. During that time we had five-six days of really hot weather because the southern winds didnt blow. There was a lot of voghaze that contains volcanic dustin the air. The air temperature went up, the water became really stratified and eventually, all the fish died because they ran out of oxygen."

Five years later, they collaborated on a project with scientists at the university. They correlated the records they had kept during that time with other environmental data that had been collected at weather stations in Kaneohe Bay. It turned out that the fish kill corresponded exactly with the El Nino event of the time, when sea surface temperatures rose beyond normal levels. That was a nice blend of on-the-ground science, seeing and observing, and Western science," he says. That kind of work helps us design our future managementwhat can we do if those conditions appear again? We know what indicators to look for."

As the Heeia fishpond transitions from structural restoration to a phase of food production, there is also an increasing interest in the dynamics of fish in the pond. Anela Akiona, the friend Im with, is working with the managers of the pond to better understand the population of predatory fish inside its walls. She uses modern techniques like genetic barcoding and mark-recapture tags to assess how many predators are in the pond, whether theyre eating the herbivores, and if the community fishing days are actually working. Too often researchers just come in and do work that is not useful to the managers. My research evolved from a series of conversations with the people at the fishpond to ensure that my work is beneficial to them," she says.

On Oahu, Heeia is the closest to commercial food production, and the results of Akionas research will be useful to other fishponds as they work towards the same goal of sustainability. The fishing today is slow, but a few fish are tagged and gently returned to the water. Were writing a new chapter in fishpond history," Kotubetey says. It wasnt like this a hundred years ago and it wont be the same a hundred years from now."

A fish being measured and tagged before being returned to the pond. Photo: Shreya Yadav.

Later, I hike up the Puu Maelieli, a hill nearby, to see this slice of land slightly removed. The gods Kane and Kanaloa once raced to the summit, dreamy Kanaloa forgetting halfway through that they were even in a contest. It is a steep climb.

At the top, the impossible colours of Kaneohe Bay mix in surreal blues and greens. Boats of tourists are out on the water and the whitewashed glare of houses and condos reflects down the valley. Invasive cherry guavas, delicious as they are, have overrun this hillside. Perhaps nothing looks the way it did a few hundred years ago. But at one corner of the bay is Heeia and its ancient walls draw a dark line in the blue.

By Shreya Yadav

***

DIY destination

There is, obviously, more to Oahu than fishponds. If you want to explore the island, keep this list in your pocket

Pearl Harbour

Oahu is home to the Hawaiian capital of Honolulu and so to its infamous place in world history. There are a number of city tours that are centred around Pearl Harbour, and most will take you to the wreckage of the battleship USS Arizona, which was destroyed by the Japanese air force. The tours include a visit aboard other battleships as well.

Farmers Markets

Farmers markets are always a good bet and Oahu has some nice ones. The KCC (Kapiolani Community College) Farmers Market is the biggest and a gem of a place to spend a morning in.

Iolani Palace

The only royal palace" on US soil, the Iolani was the royal residence of the last Hawaiian kingdom, and is today listed as a national historic landmark by the National Register of Historic Places. The monarchy was overthrown in 1893 but the opulent heritage of the Kalakaua dynasty has been impeccably restored. For details, visit Iolanipalace.org.

North Shore

Like with Goa, while it is Oahus South Shore that draws all the beach crowds, it is the North Shore that is full of rugged charm. The driveabout 50 minutes from the bustle of Waikiki beachitself is worth the time but for tall waves and peaceful beaches, head to the Haleiwa, Ehukai and Sunset beaches, known as the triple crown of surfing". The Turtle Bay Resort is a luxurious stay option. For details, visit Turtlebayresort.com.

Whale-Watching Cruises

From December-May, Oahus southern seas welcome the majestic humpback whales as they come to these Pacific waters to mate and give birth. There are several whale-watching tours off Oahu, many of them with naturalists and marine conservationists on board, like at Sail Hawaii. For details, visit Sailhawaii.com.

Hawaiis Plantation Village

Hawaiis plantation history may now be lost for all practical purposes, and for that reason it is worth visiting the plantation village, an outdoor museum which recreates that piece of cultural history when sugar was king. For details, visit Hawaiiplantationvillage.org.

By Abhijit Dutta
Film Review: Begum Jaan Srijit Mukherji's Hindi remake of his Partition drama 'Rajkahini' is unsubtle and uninspiring /how-to-lounge/movies-tv/film-review-begum-jaan-111646836311611.html 111646836311611 story

Begum Jaan packs more Partition into 130 minutes than one could possibly hope for. Its dedicated to Manto and Ismat Chughtai, even though its brand of wit suggests cudgel, not scalpel. The film has migration, communal violence, multiple rapes, a brief scene of interreligious harmony, burnings, lynchings, dismemberings, the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, and more symbols of spatial, geographical and emotional division than you could shake a Ritwik Ghatak memoir at. This isnt historical drama, its Partition porn.

There is, at the heart of it, the germ of a good idea. Its 1947, and India is about to gain freedomand become two nations. When the authorities get down to the construction of a border fence, they find out the line passes through a brothel run by the formidable Begum Jaan (Vidya Balan). Shes handed an eviction notice by two officials from what will soon be India and Pakistan, Srivastava (Ashish Vidyarthi) and Ilyas (Rajit Kapoor), old friends who now find themselves estranged (theres a metaphor in there somewhere). She tells them that she isnt moving, and that if they try anything, shell see that their legs and hands are partitioned from their bodies.

Though its set almost entirely in 1947, writer-director Mukherji (remaking his own Bengali film Rajkahini as Begum Jaan) has no problem appropriating modern-day crises to fit, or awkwardly dangle off of, his narrative. Take the opening sequence, which begins on a bus in Delhi in 2016. A group of drunk men board and start hassling a young couple, forcing them off the vehicle. They start pummeling the boy, and two of them bear down on the girl. Just then, an old woman with braids in her hair comes forward and, to their horror, starts to strip. The allusions to the 16 December Delhi rape case and the 2004 anti-AFSPA protests in Manipur are impossible to miss, and their twin use in this scene has a lurid, opportunistic quality.

This scene starts the film off at a level of hysteria that never really abates. The women of the brothel are from Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Bihar and Rajasthan; their conversations are a cacophonous mix of accents, none of which sound quite right (including a variety of north Indian dialects in your first Hindi film seems like quite a risk). Balan initially plays Begum Jaan as a steely manipulator but, as the film progresses, shes made to hyperventilate and flail about like a less capable actor. The film gathers a number of dubious, if specific, honours along the way: worst throwing-stones-in-a-river-as-an-outlet-for-feelings scene, most implausible averting of attempted rape, worst Mexican standoff ever.

This film has nothing new to tell us about this tumultuous time in our history: the British were apparently very bad, so were politicians on both sides, so were royal families. This is the kind of broadly simplistic film in which a little girl can ask, Is it the same thing to kill a Hindu and a Muslim?" The awkward combination of Partition-era exploitation and TV serial-ish melodrama is further exacerbated by occasional arty touches. One particularly jarring visual effect recurred in the scenes with Srivastava and Ilyas. Whenever there was a close-up on either, only half the face appeared onscreen. Im partitioning their faces, Mukherji seems to be saying. Go figure.

Begum Jaan harks back to two films from the heyday of parallel cinema. The first is Shyam Benegals Mandi (1983), a far superior film about a group of prostitutes bossed around by a fearsome madam. There also appear to be several nods to Ketan Mehtas Mirch Masala (1987): Naseeruddin Shah appears in both films as a rapacious man with a taste for gramophone music, both feature a bearded protector with a gun. These films had some of the most fascinating female characters in all of Hindi cinema; Begum Jaan isnt even the best film about a strong, unapologetic woman released in the last few weeks. That would be Anaarkali of Aarah, a film that serves its defiance with a side of humour instead of beating viewers over the head with a history book.
Coast to coast: stories from the Arabian Sea An ecologist chases the song of the humpbacked whale along India's west coastand packs in some shark research as well /news/talking-point/coast-to-coast-stories-from-the-arabian-sea-111646836343202.html 111646836343202 story

When people ask me what are you doing these days?", I try and avoid answering. If they persist, I tell them I am in search of a beautiful lonely humpback whale singing to lure a mate. I am searching for them in waters where fishermen from India and Pakistan have to face the wrath of their own and the others security forces every day. This is where the Indus system pours nutrient-rich waters into the Arabian Sea, where the whales sing in deep longing, where fisherfolk risk their lives in the hope of a catch. This is where the Yamuna and Sutlej once fed the rich Ghaggar-Hakra river flowing into the Arabian Sea and made all those who lived by its banks affluent for almost 1,400 years in the early to middle Holocene (3,000 BC-1,600 BC). When I speak to the fisherfolk, I feel their lives resonate with those of the whales.

The whales follow no international political boundaries. No government, non-governmental organization or funding agency owns them. The fishermen wish that waters across political borders were as safe for them. I wish the same too, as long as the areas where large river systems enter the sea are managed jointly to sustain a functioning ecosystem.

When fisherfolk cannot easily reach the lands of the whales, who am I? So I trot along the coast, from Lakhpat and Jakhau in Gujarat to Goa in the south, meeting people and interviewing any seafaring person interested in my research for the International Whaling Commission, playing songs of whales in the hope that some day, somewhere, I will hear of a singing male. They are my primary sources of information for the elusive whales.

The endangered Arabian Sea humpback whale lives in the continental shelf from Yemen to western India. They can be seen as close as 500m from a beach, and if you are lucky, a chap might want to expose his belly right next to your boat and look at you, like one did when we were helping with a satellite-tagging programme near Hasik, in the Dhofar province of south Oman. The mountains of Dhofar are geological treasures, holding evidence of first life in the form of stromatolites that existed more than 700 million years ago. I was there with a group of international whale researchers in February 2014, thanks to the non-profit Environment Society of Oman, with support from Renaissance Services SAOG.

Humpback whales have been studied along the coast of Oman for 17 years. Their songs have been recorded with the help of underwater acoustic devices and individuals have been identified through photo-identification of fins and flukes, showing that most of the 80-odd whales there stay along the Oman coast throughout the year. During our search for these whales, we filled our days by camping on the beach, bathing at sunset in little pools left behind as the tide recedes, brewing strong Arabica at 5am in our makeshift open-air kitchen between a pile of boulders. There were two teams: one on the water, where an expert whale tagger would work with the support crew; and another on land, on the lookout for whales from clifftops. Getting to our location atop the cliffs meant a hike up the wadis with beautiful limestone formations tinged with granite, surrounded by Frankincense trees and beautiful little succulents.

The search for them Humpies, as we whale-obsessed call them, is not as easy in Indian waters. Hunters caught most of our whales (175-180 humpback whales) along the Indian continental shelf in the mid-1960s, mainly off the coast of Kutch and Saurashtra in Gujarat. So yes, we are searching for a needle in a haystack.-

The satellite-tagging programme (2014-16) of the Environment Society of Oman showed seasonal movements (most of the whales move between hot spots in the Hallaniyat Bay and Gulf of Masirah) and behaviour changes that are related to regional infrastructure development and shipping traffic.

The memories are precious. The enormous red-and-ochre mountains hanging over the intense aquamarine waters; the days filled with humpback whales, common dolphins and humpback dolphins; lucky sightings of schools of devil rays flying, leaping through the water togetherit all made my experience with the humpback whale research team in Hasik one I would want to relive and create here in India.

***

The search for them Humpies, as we whale-obsessed call them, is not as easy in Indian waters. Hunters caught most of our whales (175-180 humpback whales) along the Indian continental shelf in the mid-1960s, mainly off the coast of Kutch and Saurashtra in Gujarat. So yes, we are searching for a needle in a haystack. But there is proof there are a few aroundwhen the Indian Coast Guard shared its images of a sighting way back in 2006; or fishermen off Veraval showed pictures of the whale they had disentangled and released from a fishing net in 2008.

The seafaring people of Kutch respect the whales because of their sheer size, describing them as machchh or machchh raja. A description of a sighting almost always starts with the observation of a tall spout of water in the distance; the captain of the boat will then break a coconut in respect and will try to avoid disturbing the whale by approaching.

The whales have been seen foraging outside Kori Creek, but in recent years the sightings have decreased. Someday I want to be on the boat in the seas outside Kori, I tell myself.

Desperate to be on the water, we went down to Goa recently with our hydrophone, hoping to get lucky. For if the whales are on the western continental shelf, and if blue whales and Brydes whales are reported every year from the west coast, especially coastal Maharashtra, then why not humpbacks?

Wherever we do surveys, we involve not only fishing communities, but also the staff at scuba-diving centres and cargo-vessel crews, convincing them to collect any opportunistic data they can while on the waters. We finally got lucky on 22 March. Scuba-diving centre Dive Goas founder Ajey Patil recorded a singing humpback whaleusually, a singing male is indicative of possible breeding grounds. The whale sang off Grande Island in Goa for two days and then disappeared. This is the first recording of a humpback whale from coastal waters in the north-eastern Arabian Sea. The vocalizations recorded from Goa had two different phrase types being repeated quite a few times (a typical song has anywhere from four-eight different phrase types, with many repetitions of each). Comparing humpback songs from Goa and Oman can tell if these individuals are all part of one population or not.

We dont know where this singing male has gonebut I hope he has found a mate so that their lot can continue ruling the seas. For now, we can only savour the knowledge of his presence.

***

On a spring day in March 2014, as we returned from a successful day on the waters off the coast of Puducherry, having spotted spinner dolphins and bottlenose dolphins, we chanced upon a catch of sharks. Dead sharks. Another boat pulled into the harbour along with us. It had 13 pelagic thresher sharks, all more than 2m long. We rushed towards them, imagining the immense beauty of this group swimming together in the sea. There were seven females and six males.

My mind was racing with questions. Do males and females live together in groups? Or do males and females come in search of each other to these waters? Were the females already gravid? I had no time to check. The sharks were being weighed and packed off.

This is not very common, said my fisherman friend. Nobody knew how much the sharks would fetch. It had been a chance sighting. And as it tends to happen, shark-related discussions entered my academic life, and we finally decided to start discovering them ourselves, in the Arabian Sea.

We focused our shark research (funded by the Save Our Seas Foundation) in Porbandar. Its a rather strange little city but it has a beautiful beach where, come the right season, one can see green and olive ridley turtles bobbing their heads under the waves, waiting for the right moment to nest. Our fish-landing site visits to Porbandar required us to wear knee-height gumboots so that we wouldnt sink into the layers of fish-goo mush. There was nothing glamorous about our journeys, by bus, scooter or rickshaw.

But we were there to start a research project to assess the diversity, sex ratios, size classes and maturity of sharks that land, so that we could perhaps attempt to answer questions about which species breed close to Gujarat, which species give birth and leave, and what economical or gastronomical value sharks and rays had for the local fishing community. We found that locals liked to eat only small-sized sharks, such as the grey sharpnose sharks and spadenose sharks, and the young ones of more vulnerable species like scalloped hammerhead sharks and common blacktip sharks.

Discussions with the community on how to check the overfishing of these top predators would often be impromptu. Many fishermen had observed that the diversity, sizes and number of sharks being caught was decreasing, and some even suggested changes in types of gear to use to mitigate this drastic fall in catch. Alas, the overfishing issue is industrial; it is complexgiven the fuzzy and mismatched fisheries and wildlife conservation laws that leave our coastal waters and deep seas over-exploited, and given that the livelihoods of tens of thousands of stakeholders across gender, castes and communities are involved here.

We have more than 70 species of sharks in Indian waterswe found 20 of these during our work, one of which was recorded for the first time in India (the sandbar shark, recorded in 2015). Our data shows that sharks are caught all through the year. In some species, only neonates or yearlings landed, in other species all different life stages were found. Given the assortment of sharks we witnessed every day, I would often assign them their own mood; anything to lighten the atmosphere of death that surrounded our work.

For me, a snaggletooth shark is really as bizarre as it sounds, with so many teeth that you want to remove a few so that it can close its mouth; the bull shark always looked grumpy and irritated, while the blacktip shark and the graceful shark looked dignified, and the scalloped hammerhead shark looked like it could lose its balance any time. One cannot help but wonder why evolution gave them the hammer with eyes at the tips, or why the sawfish is so badly designed for present timesa sea full of nets in which its saw-shaped head easily gets entangled in. In fact, it was to magnify their electroreception capacity, to capture and stun prey, and to defend themselves against predators while they sweep the sea floor solitarily at night.

The immense diversity of sharks and rays (Chondrichthyans) in the seas is cause for celebration. It is proof of how much our seas can offer, hold and bring forth. Sadly, overfishing, using trawlers, gill nets, longlines with hooks and purse seines, is decimating sharks and rays in Gujarat. Some species are eaten locally, others are frozen and transported to places where the meat is savoured dry, while yet others are valued only for their fins, with the rest of the body turned into fertilizer.

We will continue our work on whales and sharks, involving divers, fisherfolk, research groups and local NGOs in the hope of building a research and monitoring programme along the coast. For the next few years, these journeys along coastal Gujarat will continue. It is like a call from the ancient seas that once existed where the dry desert of Kutch is now (the Tethys Ocean was present here till our piece of land decided to move north, twist itself upside down and merge into the land mass above). The desert here is rich in marine fossils, of creatures once immersed in shallow seas. It was here, in the Indo-Pakistan belt, between the Himalayas and Kutch, that the ancestors of all extant cetaceans (whales and dolphins) first entered the seamammals that returned from land to water 50 million years ago, in the early Eocene. It is from this special Indo-Pakistan region that cetaceans spread to the rest of the world.

The fossils of whale ancestors such as Indohyus, Pakicetus, Ambulocetus and Kutchicetus, found here, show the evolutionary and ecological importance of this area. When I think about this, I smile at how little humans matter to the way the planet functions. This gives me hope.
One of the fish from the site with 5,000-year-old rock art in the Thune Valley, Botswana.

They may now be underwater, but the oldest rock art paintings in southern Africa are about 5,000 years old, far more ancient than previously realized, a new study finds.

Researchers were able to grab fragments of the ancient artwork  which includes scenes of fish and human figures drawn on the walls of a naturally occurring rock shelter before a newly constructed dam in Botswana unleashed a torrent of water over it, they said.

The researchers then used a novel technique to isolate the paint fragments before dating them, as well as 13 other fragments from rock art sites across southern Africa, including in Lesotho and South Africa. [See Photos of Ancient Rock Art from Botswana and other Southern African Countries]

The new method "has given us the first really solid dates for the antiquity of surviving rock shelter art in southern Africa," said lead study researcher Adelphine Bonneau, a postdoctoral researcher of archaeology at Lux Laboratory at the University of Quebec in Montreal.

Rock flakes

The project has taken Bonneau and her colleagues more than seven years to complete. She got involved in 2010, when she happened across study co-researcher David Pearce, an associate professor at the University of the Witwatersrand's Rock Art Research Institute in South Africa.

Pearce had collected several dozen rock flakes that were covered with paint. These flakes, Bonneau soon learned, had crumbled away from ancient rock art created by the San people in southern Africa, and fallen to the ground. Archaeologists had tried, in vain, to reattach them to the cave art images. When that didn't work, Pearce decided to use the fragments to date the rock art.

The San (or bushmen) are native to southern Africa, and have some of the best-understood rock art traditions in the world, Bonneau said. However, the paint recipes and the ages of these paintings were less well-known, she said.

Pearce gave the project to Bonneau, and asked her to finish it in six months. She developed a method and dated three of the flakes within that time, but the project was so large she turned it into a doctoral thesis. Since then, she has collected samples from 60 sites, and dated 14 of them.

Dating difficulties

Dating rock art can be challenging. It requires removing a chip of the paint  in effect, partly destroying the art  and requires the original carbon from the painting for radiocarbon dating (sometimes, there is no carbon and other times there is contamination from the carbon of other objects).

Moreover, the great outdoors  wind, rain, erosion and pollution, as well as plant, animal and human interference  can harm rock art, making whatever is left difficult to date. In one case, Bonneau saw a sheep licking one of the ancient paintings on a rock wall in South Africa.

Her response?

"Oh, my god!"

This sheep seems hungry for rock art. (Image credit: David Pearce)

Because of these factors (the sheep included), "A lot of paintings aren't really well-preserved," and can be difficult to date, Bonneau said. So, the researchers developed a protocol that identified all of the sources of carbon within each painting, removed the carbons unrelated to the painting, and then dated the painting's original carbon. Furthermore, they did all of this with as small a specimen as possible, so that they wouldn't significantly alter the ancient artwork. [In Photos: Ancient Rock Art Found in Jordan's 'Black Desert']

Their results showed that the San people painted with three materials: charcoal, soot and carbon black (a mixture made of burnt fat), and the latter two provided reliable dates of when the paintings were made. For instance, the dates from the Thune Dam in Botswana ranged from about 5,000 to 2,000 years ago; at the Metolong Dam in Lesotho, the artwork ranged from about 1,500 to 150 years ago; and in South Africa's Maclear District, the rock painting dates ranged from 2,500 to 150 years ago.

The tests showed that some rock shelters were used for several centuries, even millennia, Bonneau said.

"For the first time, it is possible to understand how the paintings on a shelter were created," she said. It shows "when and where the artists started to paint in the shelter [and] for how long it was used. It opens up the possibility to discuss why some shelters were used for long periods and whereas other ones seem to have only one phase of paintings."

Bonneau plans to use the newfound method on future rock art sites, and encouraged others to use it, too.

The new methodology and findings are "a great step forward," said Emmanuelle Honore, a research fellow at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, who was not involved in the study.

The oldest cave art on record isn't in Africa  one site in Indonesia dates to 40,000 years ago  but perhaps the new method will reveal other ancient rock art around the world, Honore said.

The study was published in the April issue of the journal Antiquity.

Original article on Live Science.
Most profile photos that people choose for themselves  whether it's on Facebook, a dating hub or a career-building site  are not flattering, a new study finds.

But there is hope for profile-picture glory. Simply ask a stranger to look at a few photos of yourself, and ask him or her to select the best one, the researchers said.

"Strangers consistently selected more flattering pictures than people chose of themselves," said lead study researcher David White, a postdoctoral research fellow of psychology at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. [Top 10 Golden Rules of Facebook]

White and his colleagues chose to use online profile pictures in their study because the first impression someone has of your face is incredibly important. So, most people want to choose a flattering image of themselves  one that shows the best version of themselves to viewers  but no one had studied exactly how these decisions play out, he said.

To investigate, the researchers examined whether people do, in fact, "put their best face forward" when selecting a profile photo, White told Live Science in an email.

In the experiment's first phase, White asked more than 100 university students to download 12 images of themselves from online galleries, including those from Facebook, Flickr and Instagram. Then, the researchers asked the students to choose images that they would most likely use as profile pictures on the following social networks: Facebook, Match.com and LinkedIn.

Next, the students performed the same task, but for a stranger in the group who was of the same gender.

Each of the students selected 12 photos of themselves for the experiment. (Image credit: White, D., et al. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications (2017))

In the second phase, the researchers used Amazon Mechanical Turk, an online crowdsourcing platform, to invite the people in the study to give their first impressions of these photos. Participants rated each of the chosen profile photos for several social traits, including trustworthiness, competence, confidence and attractiveness.

They found that the participants were able to choose images of themselves that accentuated the trait they wanted to emphasize for each site. For instance, they picked the trait of attractiveness for a dating site and professionalism for a career site.

However  and somewhat unexpectedly  the crowdsourced responses tended to favor the profile photos that were chosen by strangers rather than those chosen by the people themselves.

"People were relatively poor at making these choices [for themselves]," White said. "And that limited the positive impressions they made online."

But why are strangers better at this task?

The online participants rated the photos they liked best and least. (Image credit: White, D., et al. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications (2017))

It's not entirely clear, but one idea is that people tend to perceive themselves more positively than others do. This may interfere with their ability to discriminate when trying to select a photo that gives a positive impression, White said.

Another idea is that strangers are better at choosing "authentic" images that capture a person's current appearance than are the people themselves, White found in a 2015 study published in the British Journal of Psychology.

"It seems we're bad at discriminating between images of our own face," White said. "We suspect this is because our face is overly familiar to us. This familiarity seems to make it harder to choose the specific shot that best portrays us." [7 Unexpected Ways Facebook Is Good for You]

Moreover, it appears that people overemphasize the trait of attractiveness compared with other traits, such as trustworthiness and approachability, despite the potential benefits that these traits might have on these sites, he said.

Still, there are a number of lingering questions to be answered. "We have not yet begun to examine the factors that predict which photo will be selected, or which photos make good profile images," White said.

He did, however, have these words of advice: "If you want to put your best face forward, you should ask someone else to choose your next profile picture."

The study was published online today (April 14) in the journal Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications.

This diagram details the experiments. (Image credit: David White/University of New South Wales, Sydney/CC-BY)

Original article on Live Science.
Some 70 years ago, computer scientist Alan Turing famously set the bar for artificial intelligence: a computer that could convince a human conversation partner that it was a person.

On a recent spring afternoon in the Flow Machines laboratory, located on a quiet street in the Fifth Arrondissement of Paris, senior researcher Pierre Roy was more concerned with his music-making AI software's ability to create a convincingly catchy song.

"So far, from the technical standpoint, no one knows how to do a proper song, to tell a story," he said. "It's a hot topic in AI."

Flow Machines, a project of Sony Computer Science Laboratories in Paris that receives funding from the European Research Council, is developing an AI program that can compose compelling, professional-quality music  an aim shared by similar ventures such as Jukedeck in the UK and Google's Magenta project.

Ever since Turing defined his test, popular culture has fixated on the idea of sentient AI, both benign and catastrophically malign. But AI today has become something of a catch-all term for software that augments human intelligence, usually by mining vast troves of data. It's become commonplace in everyday life  asking Siri to find the nearest Chipotle, listening to a Discover Weekly personalized playlist on Spotify, or letting Facebook auto-tag you or your friends in a photo.

What makes AI different from traditional data analytics programs is its capacity to teach itself to recognize patterns using machine learning algorithms, and then make autonomous decisions based on those patterns without being explicitly programmed to do so.

Flow Machines' technology is no different. The project's AI machine is not a self-aware robot that yearns to write a love song  not yet, anyway. It's a set of complex algorithms that has been given 15,000 songs to analyze.

When Benoit Carre, the project's artistic director, wants to compose a new song, he sets his program loose on a selection of music from their database  a bossa nova playlist, perhaps, or his favorite Charlie Parker tunes. He runs an analytical model known as a Markov chain that identifies patterns in those selections and then imitates and varies them to create its own original composition.

The computer calculates the probability of certain chord progressions, melodic sequences, and rhythms, and uses these probabilities to generate new, plausible variations.

"We don't give the machine musical rules or abstract musical knowledge," explained Roy. "It's only the machine producing music based on what it learned from the data."

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At this point in the process, the Flow Machines system requires the intervention of human expertise. Carre might keep an eight-bar phrase he likes and reject the rest, running the program again until he has a melody and a chord sequence that he's happy with.

Last September, Flow Machines unveiled its first single. "Daddy's Car" is a summery, upbeat pop song based on a selection of Beatles tunes. The song is tuneful, but undeniably a pastiche and somehow bewildering, triggering an odd nostalgia for a non-existent memory. It was accompanied by an irregular take on the Great American Songbook, the less accessible "Mr. Shadow."

All the stylistic flourishes  the harmonies, instrumentation, and the lyrics  are thanks to Carre. What the computer spits out is pretty basic. Songs are entered into the database in their most barebones form  a lead sheet with just chord labels and a melody  and that's how the computer composes as well. Carre is responsible for all the production touches and details that give a song its distinctive sound.

This offers Carre a great deal of artistic license in the rendering and production phase, but also places constraints on what kind of music the program can interpret and produce.

"It only can be used for the type of music that can be represented by a lead sheet," said Roy. "Classical wouldn't make sense ... even techno or trance wouldn't make sense. Only music based on harmonized melodies, that is Western popular music, that can be reduced to notes and chords."

The limitations of this particular technology beg the question: When we thrill to a certain phrase of music, what is it that we're responding to? And can we expect a machine to ever recreate an expression we consider to be so fundamentally human?

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Marvin Minsky, who founded MIT's AI Lab and is considered one of the forefathers of the field, notably hypothesized that humans take pleasure in self-contained, repetitive patterns and their variations because they allow us to comprehend and play with time.

Advances in neuroimaging have offered deeper insight into this idea. Neuroscience researchers from McGill University and the Rotman Research Institute have found that when people listen to music they enjoy, the parts of their brain linked to reward and motivation light up. Listening to passages of music that cause us to react with particular intensity  those that give us "chills"  initiates a rush of dopamine, the "reward" neurotransmitter associated with pleasure that has been linked to sex, food, and falling in love.

Interestingly, dopamine is released in anticipation of the peak emotional moment as well as during it.

"We build expectations and delight when they are creatively violated, whether by composers or in the performer's interpretations," explained Jonathan Berger, a composer and professor of music at Stanford University.

By this logic, AI should, in theory, eventually be able to identify the patterns of expectation, disruption, deferral, and eventual satisfaction that we find the most pleasurable and produce melodies that give us chills  although "Daddy's Car" suggests they have some way to go yet.

Even if the next song produced by Flow Machines appeals to a number of people, Berger is skeptical that the program is capable of producing truly great art.

Beyond pattern repetition and variation, he said, "music (at least great music) is multilayered and unfolds in multiple time scales. Pattern replication generally lacks the large-scale contexts that constitute a significant aspect of art."

The Flow Machines team counter that this isn't necessarily the point. They see their machine not as a way to sideline artists but as a tool to augment human creativity, and hopefully send it off in novel directions that otherwise may not have been possible.

"What's really nice is that the songs sound very different from anything else, including what Benoit was doing before," Roy said of the material being produced by the lab.

RELATED: What Happens If We Give AI the Ability to Remember Everything?

Flow Machines will release a full album before the end of the year  the first ever composed by AI  and are inviting a range of artists to collaborate, including Ash Workman, British synth-pop band NZCA Lines, and electronic duo Darkstar.

Carre hopes to bring together different musical styles but link them under an over-arching conceptual theme, taken from one of Hans Christian Anderson's darker fairy tales about a writer who loses, and re-discovers, his shadow.

"It's like a mirror, a play on identity, so it's interesting with what we are doing," he said, adding that there were also parallels to be drawn with his goal of AI contributing to stylistic diversity.

"The shadow, in the tale it is traveling, and the more it travels, the more it lives," Carre said.

It bears mentioning that in the fairy tale the shadow eventually becomes corrupt, exchanges places with, and then kills the idealistic writer. So perhaps an echo of the malign AI is with us yet.

Ed Newton-Rex, a founder of Jukedeck in London, says his company, which offers to make custom soundtracks for videos, is also partly motivated by the idea of increasing access to what has historically been a somewhat rarified industry  at least in the classical world in which Newton-Rex trained.

"I did nothing but music for 21 years, studied music at Cambridge, was going down route of becoming a classical composer," he said. "In terms of democratization, once computers can write music they can give tools to people who dont have this huge musical education and let them get involved in the music-writing process."

But unlike Flow Machines, Jukedeck has begun experimenting with using AI for every step of the process, including synthesizing the computer's composition into a fully-realized track. The technology is still in its early days, but Newton-Rex sees no reason why computers couldn't one day make the leap from pastiche to truly creative art.

"It's hard to argue that even very disruptive innovations aren't built on some preceding model and preceding experience," he remarked. "Having said that, part of the problem with asking if computers can be creative is defining what creativity is in the first place. We haven't agreed as a society what it is and how it works."

Jukedeck is using slightly different tech from Flow Machines: neural networks that imitate the human brain. These require much more training data than Markov Chains but, once trained, can be more powerful.

Roy and Carre freely admit that some of the implications and consequences of their creation may be out of their hands  and that's part of the excitement.

"With rap, or disco, often it's a new technology that creates a new style," said Carre. He gestured to an Akai sampler sitting among an array of keyboards, headphones, and espresso cups. Launched in the 1980s, the Akai allowed artists in the emerging hip-hop scene to sample classic tracks and produce beats without a drum kit.

"At the beginning, a lot of people were afraid that the pianist and the drummers will be replaced, but it never happens this way," Carre added. "It's humans that find the ways to use [tech] to make interesting things."

Originally published on Seeker.
Underwater

(Image credit: Copyright Antiquity Publications Ltd.)

Before a dam flooded a site replete with ancient rock art in Botswana, researchers nabbed fragments of the painted creations so that they could date them. The team then developed a new method that isolated the original carbon from the paint  in this case, charcoal, soot and carbon black (a blend of burnt fat)  so they could determine the age with radiocarbon dating.



The radiocarbon dating revealed that the paint fragments were about 5,000 years ago, making them the oldest rock art on record in southern Africa. [Read the Full Story on the Southern African Rock Art]

Rock art map

(Image credit: Copyright Antiquity Publications Ltd.)

Researchers sampled 14 sites within three regions of southern Africa: the Thune Dam area in Botswana (three sites); the Metolong Dam catchment of Lesotho (five sites); and the Maclear District of South Africa (six sites).

Tiny chip

(Image credit: David Pearce)

Lead study researcher Adelphine Bonneau collects a tiny sample from a rock art site in South Africa.

Full scope

(Image credit: David Pearce)

A view of a rock shelter covered with rock art in Lesotho.

The sheep

(Image credit: David Pearce)

Ancient rock art can be harmed by the elements, such as wind, rain and erosion. But animals can also damage it. Case in point: This sheep is hungry for rock art.

The bird

(Image credit: David Pearce)

A bird nested in a rock shelter that's also covered with rock art.



"This bird looked at us for the entire day when we came to sample the paintings," Bonneau said.

Ladder needed

(Image credit: David Pearce)

Bonneau uses a ladder to collect a sample of paint for radiocarbon dating in Lesotho.



[Read the Full Story on the Southern African Rock Art]

Eland

(Image credit: David Pearce)

A painting of an eland (also known as an eland antelope) in Lesotho.

Fish

(Image credit: David Pearce)

One of the fish from the site with 5,000-year-old rock art in the Thune Valley, Botswana. This painting dates to the later Stone Age.

Wider view

(Image credit: David Pearce)

A wider view of the rock art site in Botswana, which is now underwater because of Thune Dam, located in the Kalahari Desert.

African antelope

(Image credit: Adelphine Bonneau)

A painting of an eland from South Africa.
A "4D-printed" structure can be transformed from its permanent shape into many different shapes that are structurally stiff at room temperature and then returned to its permanent shape by applying heat.

Objects that can change shape within seconds after being exposed to heat demonstrate a novel 4D-printing technique that could one day be used to create medical devices that unfurl on their own in the body during surgical procedures.

Engineers created a 3D-printed plastic lattice that quickly expands when submerged in hot water and an artificial flower that can close its petals similar to the way plants do in nature as experiments designed to demonstrate this method of 4D printing.

The new technique significantly simplifies the process of "teaching" 3D-printed materials to change their shape when triggered to do so, said study co-author Jerry Qi, a professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. [7 Cool Uses of 3D Printing in Medicine]

"Previously, we had to train and program the material after we 3D-printed it," Qi told Live Science. "We had to heat it up and stretch it and then cool it down again for the material to learn the new form. It was relatively tedious. With this new approach, we do all the programming already in the printer."

The researchers are using two types of materials that are carefully combined in the 3D-printed structure to create the desired shape-shifting effect. A soft material holds the energy that drives the shape-change but in the cool state, the energy of the soft polymer is contained by another, glass-like stiff material. This stiff material, however, softens when exposed to heat, allowing the soft polymer to take over. The material is designed to remember the second shape and default to it when it's heated.

"You can heat it up and deform the structure into a new, third shape and it will keep that shape until you heat it up again," Qi said. "Then it transforms back into the second shape."

Previous 4D-printing techniques were able to create materials that change their shape only temporarily, and then after a while, return to the original printed shape.

In the new study, the researchers used a material that changes shape when it is heated to about 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius), but Qi said that by engineering the characteristics of the stiff material, the researchers can choose the temperature at which the object transforms.Previous 4D-printing techniques were able to create materials that change their shape only temporarily, and then after a while, return to the original printed shape.

"It promises to enable myriad applications across biomedical devices, 3D electronics and consumer products," said Martin Dunn, a professor of mechanical engineering at Singapore University of Technology and Design, who worked with the Georgia team.

For example electronic components could be printed in the flat form and then once they are assembled into devices, they could "inflate" into their useful 3D shapes.

"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," Dunn said in a statement.

Qi thinks biomedical devices such as stents, which are tiny tubes that are used to widen clogged up arteries to prevent strokes, could be created using the technique. These 4D-printed stents would expand inside a blood vessel, automatically triggered just by exposure to the heat of the human body. Currently, surgeons have to inflate the stents with balloons attached to the end of the catheter through which the device is being inserted.

Qi said the new technique is more suitable for practical applications than approaches that rely on hydrogels. The objects described in the new study could transform completely in less than 10 seconds, compared to about 7 minutes required for a hydrogel-based material that was presented a few years ago by a team of researchers from MIT.

Hydrogel-based 4D printing relies on the combination of hydrogels and non-swelling polymer filaments. When immersed in water, the hydrogel swells, forcing the filaments into a new shape.

"In hydrogel-based materials, the shape-change is driven by the absorption of water," Qi said. "But that's a relatively slow process. It takes time, especially if you have large structures."

Engineers from China's Xi'an Jiaotong University also collaborated on the study, which was funded by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Singapore National Research Foundation.

The study was published online April 12 in the journal Science Advances.

Original article on Live Science.
Just because a judge makes it to the Supreme Court, that doesn't mean the person gets to speak freely: A new study finds that female justices are interrupted more than male justices.

This happens even though female justices on the Supreme Court speak less than their male colleagues, according to the study, which will be published in an upcoming issue of the Virginia Law Review journal.

In the study, the researchers analyzed transcripts of court proceedings during three Supreme Court terms: 1990, 2002 and 2015. The researchers tallied up the interruptions that took place when lawyers were presenting their cases to the court, a process called oral arguments. [8 Supreme Court Decisions That Changed US Families]

In 1990, there was only one woman on the Supreme Court: Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. In 2002, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was on the bench alongside Justice O'Connor. Finally, in 2015, there were three female Justices: Justice Ginsburg, Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Elena Kagan.

The researchers found that, overall, the female justices were interrupted about three times more often than their male counterparts.

For example, in 2015, Justice Sotomayor was interrupted 60 times and Justice Kagan was interrupted 54 times, whereas Chief Justice John Roberts was interrupted 27 times and Justice Antonin Scalia was interrupted just 19 times.

The interruptions took on many forms, said study authors Tonja Jacobi, a law professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in Chicago, and Dylan Schweers, a law student at the same institution. For example, during a 2015 oral argument, Justice Anthony Kennedy interrupted Justice Ginsburg, and though he acknowledged that he was interrupting, he kept going.

In other instances, male justices interrupted female justices to "mansplain," the researchers wrote. That is, the men either unnecessarily explained something to a female justice or explained to a third party what a woman was "trying to say," the study said.

The authors highlighted a 2002 instance in which Justice Kennedy interrupted Justice O'Connor and proceeded to "mansplain" to a lawyer by explaining a question O'Connor had asked perfectly clearly.

But male justices weren't the only ones who interrupted the female justices on the court: The researchers found that lawyers also interrupted the court's women. This is surprising, because lawyers are not allowed to interrupt justices, and the chief justice is supposed to intervene when this occurs, the researchers noted.

The researchers highlighted a 2002 instance in which Chief Justice William Rehnquist did, in fact, intervene when a lawyer interrupted Justice Scalia. But in different case, Justice Rehnquist did not intervene when a lawyer interrupted Justice Ginsburg.

But gender wasn't the only factor that played a role in interruptions, the researchers found. A justice's ideology also appeared to have an effect, the researchers found, with conservative justices interrupting liberal justices more often than the reverse occurred. However, the researchers noted out that it was difficult to disentangle the effects of gender and ideology, as the three female justices on the court in 2015 were all liberal.

Seniority also played a role, as more-senior justices were more likely to interrupt less-senior justices, the study said. However, this effect was smaller than that of gender and ideology, according to the study.

Originally published on Live Science.
A crowd of people queue to get into Zion National Park in Utah in 2019.

Across the United States, national parks are facing an unprecedented number of visitors as COVID-19 restrictions end and people who have been stuck at home for over a year take advantage of their newfound freedom.

This is leading to long lines and traffic jams as hikers and outdoor enthusiasts flock to these open spaces, with some parks even turning people away. In Utah, around 194,000 people visited Arches National Park in April, a 15% increase from the number of visitors during the same month in 2019, and at Canyonlands National Park, the increase has been even greater, at around 30%, according to The Wall Street Journal .

And in Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has seen a flood of visitors so far this year, according to news site wymt ; as of May 20, the National Park Service (NPS) had recorded more than 3.13 million visitors to the park, representing a 115% increase from the same time in 2020, when the pandemic kept people in lockdown mode.

Related: Top 10 most visited national parks

Most of this "overflow" across the nation is coming from visitors who have never been to a national park before, according to The New York Post . Now, experts fear that overcrowding will ruin not only people's experience but also the parks themselves.

"That is why it is such a difficult problem," Michael Childers, a historian and national park expert at Colorado State University, told Live Science. "We all want to experience these places, but we can't all go at once."

Visitors parked bumper to bumper along the road at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming in 2020. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Overcrowding issues

There are two main problems with the overcrowding of national parks. For one, the visitor experience suffers.

"The national parks were created so that visitors could experience the natural beauty and history of a place," Childers said. "This is difficult to do if you are queuing up to hike or trying to find a parking spot."

The second  and more serious  problem is that throngs of visitors also put a significant strain on the environment in and around national parks.

Related: The 10 least visited national parks

For instance, overcrowding has harmed the giant sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) in California's Yosemite National Park .

"Yosemite overcrowding was damaging the rather shallow root systems of the giant sequoias," Childers said. "While the National Park Service did build a raised walkway to solve some of this problem, too many visitors driving to, parking and scrambling around the trees remains a problem."

With more people come more litter, more noise, more pollution from cars and an increased chance of human-animal encounters, all of which can have a negative impact on the environment, Childers said.

Historic problem

The number of people visiting national parks is increasing compared with pre- pandemic levels, but overcrowding has been an issue for national parks before the first case of COVID-19.

In 2019, more than 327 million people visited national parks in the U.S., which is more than double the 159 million people who visited the parks in 1969. Going back another 50 years to 1919, only 781,000 people visited national parks, representing just 0.2% of today's numbers, according to the NPS .

Tourists at an overcrowded overlook at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona in 2017. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

"This is not a new issue," Childers said. "But the pandemic does appear to have accelerated a historic surge in visitation throughout the system."

In the past, two other significant increases in visitor numbers occurred.

"The first was in the 1920s, when the automobile made travel much more affordable to a larger number of people," Childers said. "The second was in the 1950s, when national affluence caused a huge spike in tourism."

On both occasions, the federal government increased spending for national parks to build new buildings, roads, bathrooms and lodges to help accommodate the demand, Childers said. "This solved the immediate problem but also served to make the parks even more accessible, which is what we are struggling with today."

Potential solutions

So what can be done to help national parks deal with the current overcrowding and limit its environmental impacts?

"There is no single solution to the problem," Childers said, "but rather a combination of things."

One option involves more government spending. The funds could be used to continue improving the infrastructure necessary to accommodate more people, such as ticket machines to reduce queues, bigger parking lots to alleviate traffic and more amenities, such as bathrooms, water fountains, trash cans and picnic areas. But an even more important step would be to hire more people to look after the parks.

"The national parks have been chronically understaffed for decades," Childers said. "We must invest in more rangers, scientists and administrative staff if we are going to properly steward these places."

Another option is to require people to book their trips to the biggest national parks. This would limit the number of people who could visit the parks and provide opportunities to allow access to a wider diversity of people, such as first-time visitors, Childers said. However, this would likely be an unpopular solution for frequent visitors and local businesses.

The final option is for visitors to take on the responsibility themselves. "We, the visitors, have to change our expectations that we can visit and experience the more popular parks whenever and however we want," Childers said. "This shift in expectations is likely the most difficult, but the most impactful" thing we can do.

However, despite the need for reform, Childers still believes that national parks are vital and wants as many people to be able to experience them as possible, with some limits.

"The idea of the national parks is to provide respite and contemplation of wondrous places," Childers said. "The more people who can enjoy this, the better, but we need to find a way to do so so that future generations can also enjoy them."

Originally published on Live Science.
An industry is emerging out of the fight to stop gas leaks in the nation's oil wells, pipelines and storage tanks.

At least 75 companies across the country now work to detect and prevent methane leaks, according to a new study. More than one-third of them in Texas, more than in any other state. Ten have opened here since 2010.

"These are good, well-paying, boots-on-the-ground jobs," said Ben Ratner, director of the business division at the Environmental Defense Fund, which commissioned the study. "This is one of those moments of convergence where doing the right thing for the environment also does something good for job creation."

The oil and gas industry is the largest single industrial source of U.S. methane emissions, according to the study by North Carolina consultants Datu Research. Methane, the principal component of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas - 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide - and a contributor to global warming.

The administration of President Barack Obama adopted rules last year to regularly inspect new wells, pipelines and refineries using infrared cameras and other technology, hoping to cut down on leaks.

At the same time, oil and gas companies began to see the leaks as a serious financial problem. Such emissions, whether accidental or intended, represent lost product. A 2015 study found that the industry loses $30 billion globally each year from leaked or vented methane at oil and gas facilities. Such leaks also undercut the argument that natural gas is a cleaner fuel. Investors are getting more concerned about both.

Such factors together have led more oil and gas companies to hire firms that find and repair leaks, according to the Datu study. And the sector, as it grows, is providing "well-paying employment opportunities across the country that cannot be offshored," the study said. Employees in the field earn between $39,000 and $113,000 a year.

Chicago Bridge & Iron Co, based in The Woodlands, said it has 190 leak detection and repair employees at 118 sites across the country and expects to expand 10 to 15 percent annually. Dexter ATC Field Services, based in Beaumont, has 150 workers in the sector and expects to add 75 and double revenues over five years.

The study warns, however, that the growth depends some on continuing regulation. The future of federal methane regulation is unclear now, as President Donald Trump looks to roll back Obama's Clean Power Plan. Trump has already tried, unsuccessfully so far, to cut methane rules.

"It is baffling to me that the Trump administration, that is so focused on job creation, would attack regulation like this," said Ratner, the EDF director. "This is a real opportunity for state leaders to step up, put protections on the books, and put more high school graduates to work."
When the Fiesta San Antonio Commission put out the call for entries for the first Fiesta Fiesta poster contest, they asked for submissions that represented the edgy and modern style of urban art.

Artist Cathy Peck responded with a winged heart in a fiery palette of red, yellow, blue and green with symbols of San Antonio and Texas formed by swirling lines within.

Ive always been drawn toward hearts. I do a lot of hearts in my own artwork, Peck said. Part of the description was to combine your love of San Antonio and Fiesta with something that was a little bit non-traditional. So in the details Ive got the Alamo, the River Walk, a margarita glass, a sombrero, a star, a crown, a boot, a sun, a moon and a guitar shape.

The image adorns the poster for the event coming up Thursday at Hemisfair. It also is featured on T-shirts and a medal.

Pecks design was chosen from about 25 entries. Barbara Hill, director of community programs at the Southwest School of Art, was one of the contest judges.

I think hers stood out because it was such a vibrant piece and really showed a lot of energy, Hill said. As explained to the jury by the Fiesta commission, they were looking for a poster to attract a younger demographic to that particular event, so we really felt like it had that vivacious, energetic feel to it that maybe would attract that millennial crowd.

Originally from Burnet, Peck moved to San Antonio about 11 years ago. A self-taught artist, she sells prints of her work via Instagram. Peck also was a finalist in the 2017 Official Fiesta Poster Contest and was awarded Staff Choice honors in the Express-News Fiesta Coloring Contest last year.

In addition to seeing her design on Fiesta gear, Peck recently got a kick out of seeing it on wheels.

My mom was in San Antonio with a friend and and they were downtown and she sent me a photo. It was my heart on a VIA bus, she said. I was like, What?! I didnt know it was on a bus! So I was real excited.

The Fiesta Store will host a poster signing 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, 2611 Broadway, 210-227-5191, fiesta-sa.org.

lsilva@express-news.net
Montgomery County Sheriff Rand Henderson marked his 100th day in office by presenting his vision for the next 1,361 days.

The county's top lawman outlined his 2017-20 Strategic Plan to commissioners last week, showcasing how he believes the MCSO will be able to bring the Sheriff's Office into the 21st century. Henderson presented three strategic goals to help do so. All of them come with new technology and innovative ideas to help enforce the law in today's world. MCSO's strategic plan has been in the works for months since Henderson took office on New Year's Day. In fact, hours into Henderson's administration, his handpicked command staff was hard at work developing plans for the future of the department.

Henderson's top three goals are:

1. Reduce crime and the fear of crime

2. Provide high-quality professional service

3. Prepare for future population growth and emerging crime trends

Henderson acknowledged the "old school" way of doing things at the Sheriff's Office and said it played its part well during the previous administration. However, he's hoping with these new initiatives, the Sheriff's Office will be able to usher in a progressive way of policing that Henderson campaigned on.

"It served us well for many years," said Henderson, pointing to the reactive focus in the past by waiting on calls. "But we think we can do better."

As part of the reorganization there will be three patrol divisions among the 10 divisions within the MCSO. The West Division, which includes the Magnolia area, will be led by Patrol Capt. Melvin Franklin. Under him will be three lieutenants, 13 sergeants and 68 deputies/staff. There are 849 employees in the Sheriff's Office, including 484 sworn peace officers allocated for the agency. It is the seven-largest sheriff's office in Texas.

Reducing Crime/Fear of Crime

"We can't forget the fear of crime," Henderson said. "Fear of crime can be as paralyzing as the crime itself. If you've got somebody who's never been a victim of a crime, yet they live in a house with bars on the windows and are afraid to go enjoy the neighborhood park because they're afraid they'll be a victim of crime, sometimes that's worse than the crime itself."

Henderson said he hopes to implement a software system called COMPSTAT, short for computer statistics, which would essentially map out hot spots where crimes are trending, and deputies will patrol the areas more rigorously. A report detailing the locations of major crimes in Montgomery County was in Henderson's presentation, and showed that the Interstate 45 North and U.S. 59 corridors in the southern part of the county were major hubs for robberies, aggravated assaults, home burglaries and motor-vehicle thefts.

Other areas of the county were also hubs for burglaries of vehicles, including Magnolia, Lake Conroe, Southeast County and almost all of The Woodlands. Henderson said once the COMPSTAT system is implemented, hopefully by summer 2018, patrolling deputies will use the data for "directive" patrols rather than random patrols.

Among the community-oriented policing changes, the county soon will be divided into three divisions: The Woodlands, East County and West County. Currently, there are six districts under which the Sheriff's Office operates: The Woodlands, North County, South County, East County, West County and Northwest County.

Inside the new East and West County divisions, the areas will be divided into "zones" or "precincts," officials said, much like they are in The Woodlands. Each village in The Woodlands is its own zone, allowing deputies and command staff to operate in an acute area where they can become well-versed in its intricacies.Providing High-Quality Professional Service

The Sheriff's Office also hopes implement its second strategic goal by maintaining community satisfaction and employee surveys, aiming to have a high satisfaction rate on the surveys by spring 2018. The plan also outlines how the Sheriff's Office will implement promotional testing and career planning for deputies and other employees to help usher in and maintain personnel within MCSO for the long haul.

"If you want to be a K-9 handler, if you want to be a detective, if you want to be the sheriff," Henderson said, "we will give you a plan to be able to get there."

Henderson also is hoping host large-scale ceremonies for promotions and recognition within the department. Preparing for Future Population Growth and Emerging Crime Trends

To help prepare for the exploding growth in Montgomery County, Henderson is hoping to create a campus master plan, which would take a look at all of the MCSO facilities and address any infrastructure needs.

Henderson was adamant about not wanting to build a new jail, although some much-needed renovations are not off the table.

"I don't propose a new jail, and I've never proposed a new jail," Henderson said.

About a year ago, the county jail was a hot issue due to how some officials viewing it as overcrowded. The jail has at maximum occupancy of 1,253 inmates, although there were only 928 in the jail as of April 11.

Henderson proposed the possibility of building a holding location in Magnolia, where deputies who make arrests in West County can place defendants rather than making the trek into the jail in Conroe. There are holding locations in East County and South County.

During the upcoming budget hearings later this year, Henderson said he's going to implement a zero-based budgeting philosophy, which means Henderson's budget will be built from scratch each fiscal year rather than making year-after-year modifications.

After 100 days in office, Henderson said he's appreciative of his staff and the staff of retired Sheriff Tommy Gage for making the transition of power seamless.

"We're excited," Henderson said. "It hasn't been without bumps in the road, but we're pleased with what we've been able to accomplish. The smooth transition was the catalyst for this."
By Rich Harp

For the Tribune

DECKERVILLE  To say Joyce Reid is a long time resident of Deckerville would be an understatement.

She was born and raised in the area, and she went to school in Deckerville. In fact, she has spent eight decades calling Deckerville her home town.

Although Joyce and her husband, Harold, were raised only a few miles apart, they did not meet until she was out of high school.

She recalled a church member saying to her, "There is someone I know that you should meet."

The couple was soon introduced and the rest is history.

The Reids have two children and several grandkids.

Joyce and Harold had decades of memories together. Unfortunately, Harold passed away late last year, but not before they celebrated their 60th anniversary.

Joyce has many fond memories of Deckerville and the surrounding area.

Some of her first childhood memories included going to a country school not far from her parent's home. She is the daughter of William Jr. and Elizabeth Van Sickle, and she lived on a small farm about a half mile from school.

She remembers going to country school through the 7th grade. She then moved to the Deckerville Public School and graduated in 1954.

Thinking about those early years, she said, "The country schools had an advantage. We knew everyone's family. There were close ties. I remember the picnics and the Christmas programs."

She continued, "We would have snow storms and the teacher had to walk three and a half miles to get there. He wouldn't get to school until about 10 a.m. I would run the school until he arrived. And I didn't have any problems either."

As Joyce took a walk down memory lane, she recalled Deckerville was much more active in her youth.

"We'd go to Parrots Ice Cream Shop on Friday nights," she said. "Later, my family started going on Saturday nights. You'd have to go early to town to get a parking place."

In those days, blacksmith shops were still in business.

In fact, her grandfather was a blacksmith, but later went into carpentry when the business started to fade. If memory serves her correctly, his blacksmith shop closed in the late 1940s.

Joyce soon began to describe the town back then.

"There were three grocery stores," she said. "There were gas stations on each corner. There were car dealerships. It was more active than it is today."

The town had at least one clothing store at that time. There were several places to eat down town.

In fact, her parents ran the restaurant connected to the bowling alley.

While talking about the restaurant she said, "We served about 85 fish dinners on Friday nights. That was a lot on one night. My mother baked her own pies back then for the restaurant. I don't know how she found the time."

Things began to change rapidly in Deckerville.

"We lost a couple thousand people when the factories closed," she said.

"We had five or six factories then, but only one now. Our school is only half of what it was."

She went on to say there are two gas stations left today, and there are no automobile dealerships. She believes there is only one auto repair facility left in town.

There is no doubt the town was hit hard when the factories left. But there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

The grocery store was closed, but it is open again.

"We have a wonderful hospital," she said. "They have a clinic downtown and they (regularly) bring in specialists." She quickly added, "We've started our October Fest again. That's held in September."

In addition to these things, the town boasts of a fine historical museum.

As soon as Joyce started discussing the museum, it became apparent she is more than a history buff.

"I love history," she said. "I can't go anywhere in the country that I don't find something about their history that interests me."

In particular, she is very interested in American Indian culture, and with good reason.

"I came from a family that his some Indian history in it," she said.

Over the years, she and her husband had collected a large amount of historical memorabilia.

These artifacts were kept at the family farm in several buildings, creating a museum of their own.

Due to their age and Harold's declining health, two of the buildings were given to the Sanilac County Museum located at Port Sanilac.

But that didn't stop their love of history.

The couple joined forces with Bob and Elaine Phillips and Dr. Fred Walton and his wife Carol to create the Deckerville Historical Museum in downtown Deckerville.

Many of the Reid's artifacts were transferred to the new museum.

While Harold's health declined, the couple needed to take a step back from the daily operations of the museum.

Nonetheless, Joyce continued to help out whenever possible. She was quick to point out, "I still help."

History may be a vital part of Joyce's life, but music is her passion.

While she talked about her school years, she said, "I was studying music all the time. I started playing (piano) when I was six years old. I was born with a desire to play music."

She continued studying music throughout school. In fact, she started giving lessons to other students when she was a junior in high school.

Later, she attended the Sherwood Music School, located in Chicago, Illinois.

Although she did not attend the school in Chicago, her professor would come to Detroit every two weeks to give lessons through the college. Her parents would drive her to Marlette, and she would take a bus from there.

Joyce went on to say, "My music teacher from Sandusky (Jeannie Foster Pauldie) would accompany me to Detroit. She was affiliated with Sherwood."

Her music education was put on hold after she married Harold.

He was drafted into the army, and she traveled with her husband while he was stationed across the country. After their return to Sanilac County, she continued her music education and graduated in the early 1960s.

Throughout her life, Joyce has had a passion to play music and to teach it.

"When I was a child, music training was bad," she said. "That is something I've tried to change. I've been fortunate to join the Port Huron Music Teachers Association, which is affiliated with the Michigan Music Teachers Association and the National Teachers Association."

She is also a member of the Port Huron Musicale, a group which promotes music from Port Huron to several parts of the state. The Musicale has state and national affiliations.

Over the years, she has touched the lives of countless numbers of music students in Sanilac and Huron counties.

She has had a music studio at her home for decades.

In addition, she teaches music at Kohns Music Store in Sandusky and at a private home in Harbor Beach.

Joyce plays a variety of musical instruments.

These include piano, organ, guitar, violin and accordion.

She has taught all of these, although piano may be her favorite. "My foundation in piano started it all," she said.

One of her prized possession is a Civil War era melodeon; a keyboard instrument similar to a small piano.

"There were only a few made back then," she said. "I've only seen two others in this area."

She went on to say the instrument was a gift, but she said it cost over $1,300 to restore it.

The restoration was done in Port Huron and it took over four years for the work to be completed.

Although Joyce is a senior citizen, she has no intentions of giving up teaching.

In fact, one of her future plans is to start a new music program in her area.

She explained by saying, "I'm going to start a music program in my church now. I'll give free lessons to children who attend my church (East Marion Baptist).

Other future plans include traveling throughout Michigan and the U.S.

"I like to travel," she said. "You meet so many wonderful people. I plan to travel by myself, with my son, with my grandchildren and with a friend. My son doesn't want me to travel by myself."

And there should be no doubt, wherever Joyce travels, she will be playing music and collecting historical memorabilia.
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 Department's Harbor Unit found the body of Abdus-Salaam, the first black woman to serve on New York state's 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 an investigation is continuing.

According to one law enforcement official, Abdus-Salaam, 65, 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 by the shore near West 132nd Street.

The judge was wearing a gray zippered sweater, black sweatpants, a gray T-shirt and sneakers, the official said. She also had a white watch on her wrist and a MetroCard in her pocket. Investigators do not believe that she had been in the river long.

Abdus-Salaam was last seen leaving her office on Monday evening, and investigators tracked her to the subway  the No. 6 line  at about 8 p.m., the official said. Investigators found the judge's cellphone 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. "We're 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 1st 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 general's 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 Abdus-Salaam was a pioneer with an "unshakable moral compass." He added, "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."
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It's a no-brainer that studying the night sky works best when the lights are out.

That's why scientists at The University of Texas' McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis are concerned by encroaching and well-lit oil and gas facilities, according to Quartz.

Thanks to an oil boom in West Texas, since 2009, more and more brightly-lit fracking operations have popped up around the observatory, causing what astronomers call "background brightness" to be more intrusive on their work.

"We're up 10 to 15 percent above background," Bill Wren, an astronomer at the observatory told Quartz. "It's [still] as dark as any other major observatory in the world. It used to be extremely dark, the darkest, but it's not anymore."

HIGH-DEFINITION: New NASA images show Texas at night clearer than ever

To help combat brighter skies, the McDonald Observatory recently teamed up with Permian Basin Petroleum Association to deliver dimmer lighting recommendations for seven counties that surround the observatory.

The recommendations include suggestions on the direction and color of lights, as well as the minimization of unnecessary and permanent lighting.

PROPER BURIAL: NASA's Cassini 13-year mission is coming to a close, here is its best pictures

"We know what a treasure the observatory is and we want to do all we can to protect it," Ben Shepperd, president of the PBPA told the Midland Reporter-Telegram. "We need to do our level best to treat our neighbors right and not negatively impact their businesses."

Click through above to see what Houston, Austin and other Texas spots look like from space.
AUSTIN  Lawyers who used an "affluenza" defense for a Texas teenager in a fatal 2013 drunken-driving wreck have failed to secure his release from jail.

The Texas Supreme Court denied the request Thursday for 20-year-old Ethan Couch, who was 16 when his crash killed four people near Fort Worth.
A man wanted for aggravated homicide was deported back to Mexico Wednesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said in a news release.

Juan Garcia-Rendon, 38, was removed from a U.S. prison Tuesday and was handed over to Mexican immigration officials at the Nogales DeConcini Port of Entry along the Arizona-Mexico border south of Tucson.
Texas officials are looking for a developer to partner with the state to rehabilitate the G.J. Sutton complex near the Alamodome  and possibly add a mixed-use component.

The project would mark the first time that the state of Texas has partnered with a private builder on a project, a practice known as a public-private partnership, said Mike Novak, vice chair of the Texas Facilities Commission.

It would be the first one. Were pioneering that concept for the state, Novak said.

Local governments in Texas have been setting up public-private partnerships more frequently in recent years  in San Antonio, theyre being used to redevelop Hemisfair and to help Weston Urban build the new Frost Tower.

The G.J. Sutton has been vacant since 2014, when state employees vacated the 6-acre complex because of a crumbling foundation and a bat infestation. The next year, Gov. Greg Abbott used his line-item veto to remove a $132 million rehabilitation of the complex from the state budget, to the consternation of Mayor Ivy Taylor, whose former council district included the site.

The new redevelopment effort began last week, when the Texas Facilities Commission issued a request for information  basically, a document asking developers to offer ideas for the property. According to the RFI, the state wants 260,000 square feet of office space and 840 parking spots on the site, which is currently occupied by a 110,000-square-foot building and a surface parking lot. It states that there could be land left over for private development.

The project would cost between $100 million and $120 million, but the state could save about $3.5 million a year in rent by moving its employees back into the complex, the RFI says. The RFI was first reported by Virtual Builders Exchange.

Redevelopment of the G.J. Sutton, at the northwest corner of Cherry and Center streets, would serve as a catalyst for the near East Side, said Jackie Gorman, executive director of San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside.

The areas growth is already picking up  the G.J. Sutton is across the street from the Crockett Lofts at Sunset Station apartment complex being built by NRP Group and Zachry Realty. Its on the fringes of Dignowity Hill, a neighborhood thats seeing an influx of new residents who want to live close to downtown. A mile south, local developer Efraim Varga has ambitious plans for a $150 million mixed-use project.

The property also is within the Eastside Promise Zone, an area that the Obama administration designated in 2014 to provide federal incentives for development projects.

The East Side is about to explode with good things  economic development, job creation, Novak said. The one thing thats unacceptable to me as a commissioner  is having a vacant building sit there for years right in the middle of all this activity. That cannot happen.

State officials have been working closely with the city on its redevelopment plans, Novak said. The city has offered to make incentives available to help the project bring more housing, jobs and retail to the near East Side, Assistant City Manager Lori Houston said in a statement.

The project represents an excellent partnership opportunity for the city and state to continue the momentum of revitalization in this historic and culturally-significant area near downtown, she said.

The complex, which dates to 1912, is named after Garlington Jerome Sutton, the first black state representative from San Antonio, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

rwebner@express-news.net

@rwebner
1 Migrants missing: At least 97 African migrants are missing and believed drowned after their Europe-bound boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, the Libyan coast guard said. Spokesman Ayoub Gassim said 23 migrants were rescued around 6 miles off the Libyan coast after authorities received a distress call. Fifteen women and five children are among those still missing. He said the boat, which was packed with African nationals seeking a better life in Europe, completely collapsed. Chaotic Libya has become a major avenue of migration, with thousands braving the dangerous sea crossing to Europe. 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. 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 migrants across the Mediterranean.

2 Antigovernment protests: Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets in wealthy eastern Caracas Thursday amid a tropical downpour to support a protest movement that is gaining steam even as it turns more deadly. Venezuela officials confirmed earlier in the day that a fifth person had died in the wave of antigovernment protests now entering its third week. The public prosecutors office says it will investigate the death of 36-year-old Miguel Colmenares. He was shot at a protest in the central city of Barquisimeto on Tuesday. Gruseny Calderon was killed during the same protest. Congressman Alfonso Marquina says the 32-year-old protester was injured by rubber bullets that pierced his lung and liver. The protests have also claimed the lives of two college students and a 13-year-old. The Caracas rally was peaceful until the end, when young men clashed with hundreds of riot police who lobbed tear gas to break up the crowd. More protests are planned for the coming days, leading up to a major April 19 demonstration.
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The Creative Ireland Programme kicks off with Cruinniu na Casca, a new national day of culture and creativity that will take place on Easter Monday in every county in Ireland.

Here in Longford three special events will take place that day, one of which will be held at Ardagh Creativity Centre that includes a wonderful afternoon for children.

A visit to a number of special sites that encapsulate the rich history and culture of this county is also on the cards, and there is currently 55 people booked in for that.

We have so much to offer here in Longford; it is a wonderful little county, Co Longford programme co-ordinator Mary Carleton-Reynolds told the Leader.

Creative Ireland is the Governments Legacy Programme for Ireland and is a five-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022 that places creativity at the centre of public policy.

This is one of the most exciting initiatives to happen in Ireland in a long time, Ms Carleton-Reynolds continued, before pointing out that if would force all of us to look at what we are good at; what we need to be celebrating and at our creativity.

This initiative is all about showcasing what is best about Ireland; we are being provided with an opportunity to look outwards instead of looking in.

Our Taoiseach was in America for St Patricks Day and we had many people around the world too who were focused on Ireland at that time.

But it wasnt about our economy; that was a time when we were all celebrating our own creativity.

The local county librarian went on to say that when we thought about our own creativity, sometimes we tended to focus on just one aspect, but in fact there were numerous aspects to consider.

Of course, our heritage and history is extremely important as well and what is really interesting about this whole Creative Ireland idea is that is is about all aspects of our creativity, she continued, before admitting that it can mean anything to anyone depending on the person.

This programme is about openness and interest, it is about thinking about our future, our young people and is inclusive of everyone from the very young right up to our oldest citizens.

It is very important that we all have a sense of pride in our own place; we keep talking all the time about sense of pride in our county and our place and this can never be talked about too much; that sense of pride is part of all of us and it must be nurtured.

She said the Creative Ireland initiative would give us back our sense of pride because for a while, we lost the run of ourselves, and the things that were really important to us were sidetracked.

People want a quality of life; it is not just about the house and the school; its about a sense of ownership, a sense of place, Ms Carleton-Reynolds continued.

Over the next year, there will be 90 different events taking place in Co Longford in conjunction with this wonderful initiative.

And what a wonderful time we are all going to have.
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.


Longford/Westmeath TD, Kevin Boxer Moran has said the new 20 million fund for rural towns and villages announced today reflects this Governments continued commitment to rural towns and villages in Ireland under the Action Plan for Rural Development.

The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys and the Minister of State for Regional Economic Development, Michael Ring, made the announcement at an event in the Tuar Ard Arts Centre, Moate, Co Westmeath today (Thursday, April 13).

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.

Deputy Moran said he was particularly delighted that the new funding will also target support for artists and 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 a key plank in this Governments ongoing commitment to rural towns and villages and todays announcement will build upon and sustain the success of the 2016 scheme, said Deputy Moran.

The scheme is all about supporting the rejuvenation of towns and villages and projects which demonstrate linkages with wider initiatives to increase the overall impact on town and village revival will be strongly encouraged. I was particularly pleased that Ministers Humphreys and Ring chose Moate in County Westmeath to launch todays announcement.

Moate and places like Kilbeggan, Ballymore, Rochfortbridge, Ballymahon, Granard and Edgeworthstown are all areas that I would see as having a great opportunity to avail of this new funding, said Deputy Moran.

The scheme will again be administered through the Local Authorities, who will be required to work closely with local businesses and local communities to develop and implement ideas that can make a real and sustainable impact in revitalising rural towns and villages across the country. Successful town and village revival is most likely to be achieved where there is close partnership between the community, public and private sectors and I have no doubt that the local authorities in Westmeath and Longford will play a key role in driving funding under this new scheme, added Deputy Moran.
Local News, Crime, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: April 14 2017

Schneiderman: We Will Not Allow Unscrupulous Individuals To Line Their Own Pockets At The Expense Of Honest Taxpayers.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the arrests of two tax preparers for charges related to the filing of fraudulent tax returns.

Albany, NY - April 14, 2017 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and Acting Taxation and Finance Commissioner Nonie Manion today announced the arrests of tax preparers Anibell Perez, 33, of New York, and Sorangel Carrasco, 34 of the Bronx, for charges related to the filing of fraudulent tax returns. According to documents filed in court, both women are alleged to have fraudulently filed tax returns on behalf of taxpayers in which they claimed deductions for false dependent nieces and nephews and requested refunds in excess of what the taxpayers were entitled to receive.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said, We will not allow unscrupulous individuals to line their own pockets at the expense of honest taxpayers. Those who cheat the tax system are stealing from their fellow New Yorkers, and I am pleased to work with my partners in law enforcement as we continue to root out tax fraud.

Both defendants were arraigned on felony complaints filed in Albany City Court. Carrasco, a registered tax preparer located in Bronx, NY, has been charged with five counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (a Class E Felony), one count of Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (a Class E Felony), and one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (a Class E Felony). Perez, also a registered tax preparer in Bronx, NY has been charged with four counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree and one count of Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree.

These arrests are the result of a concerted enforcement effort carried out by the NYS Tax Department to crack down on tax preparers filing fraudulent returns. Attorney General Schneiderman partnered with the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, and Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon. The allegations against other individuals by other law enforcement agencies include the following:

Thomas Keeley, 59, of Staten Island

Prepared several thousand returns since 2011, but nearly half claimed what appeared to be unsubstantiated itemized deductions with usually high job expenses;

Failed to file his own income tax returns from 2008 through 2015;

Faces 49 new felony counts for Criminal Tax Fraud and Offering a False Instrument for Filing;

Pleaded guilty to similar crimes in 2008.

Kevin Webb, 58, of The Bronx

Filed more than 20 suspicious tax returns with unverified data;

Faces Criminal Tax Fraud charges;

Failed to file his own income tax returns from 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Lorenzo Almanzar, 61, of White Plains

Filed returns with inflated job expenses on clients returns without the clients knowledge;

Faces Criminal Tax Fraud charges and;

Offering a false instrument for filing.

Chatise Thomas, 41, of Brooklyn

Accused of engaging in schemes aimed at providing her clients with deductions that fraudulently lowered their tax liability;

Faces both felony and misdemeanor counts of offering a false instrument for filing;

This year, several of her clients were interviewed, all denying they gave her permission to claim inflated itemized deductions as claimed on their state income tax returns.

Jefferson Sanchez, 33 of New York, Wanda Ramirez, 23 of New York

Accused of adding false dependents to clients tax returns to inflate refunds;

Both face felony charges of offering a false instrument for filing and;

Misdemeanor criminal tax fraud charges.

Carol Rati, 61, of Brooklyn

Faces felony counts of offering a false instrument for filing;

She allegedly filed fraudulent tax returns for her clients claiming false deductions to either increase the refund amount or reduce their tax liability;

Investigators interviewed more than a dozen of her clients who all said their returns contained false information that they never provided.

Everyone loses when a tax preparer commits tax fraud, including honest citizens and NYS communities deprived of revenue needed to fund vital services. We will continue to work with all our partners in law enforcement to ensure that unethical tax preparers are held accountable and face justice, said Acting Commissioner Nonie Manion.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said, Tax preparers have a responsibility to conduct themselves honestly and act in the best interests of their clients. Those who engage in theft and fraud steal from not only their clients, but from their communities as well. I will continue to work with my partners in law enforcement and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to ensure that tax professionals who commit fraud of this nature are held accountable.

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, I commend Governor Cuomo and the Tax Department for cracking down on unscrupulous tax preparers, who steal from all of us by shortchanging the State of tax revenues, the cost of which are then passed down to law-abiding tax payers. I will continue to work with all of our partners to prosecute this and every other type of fraud committed in Brooklyn.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said, We will not allow people in the Bronx who work hard and pay their taxes to be ripped off by unscrupulous tax preparers who file fraudulent returns on their behalf. We will continue to work with our partners to prosecute those who cheat New York State and its residents out of vital revenue.

Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said, Not only do fraudulent tax preparers deceive their clients, they cheat the hardworking people of Staten Island as well as the City and State of New York out of funds that can be used to benefit the public. In this case, the defendant allegedly conned taxpayers out of more than $82,000 by filing fraudulent returns. We will continue working with the Department of Taxation and Finance to investigate and prosecute those criminals responsible for victimizing law-abiding taxpayers.

The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Attorney General thanks the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for their assistance in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General John R. Healy of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau. The Bureau is led by Acting Bureau Chief Stephanie Swenton.
On the evening of Thursday April 6, Washington time, President Donald Trump ordered the US military to respond to the Assad regimes recent use of chemical weapons which had choked out the lives of helpless men, women and children. In so doing, the US launched 59 Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles at the Shayrat Airfield in Homs belonging to the Syrian government. The strikes, according to a Pentagon press statement, were delivered from two US destroyers stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean. According to a more recent Department of Defense evaluation, 20 percent of Syrias operational aircraft were wrecked by the strike.

To date, international reactions have been somewhat predictable. US partners and allies in the Middle East, such as Israel and Saudi Arabia, endorsed the kinetic action. Conversely, government officials from the Syrian Arab Republic and Islamic Republic of Iran admonished the move. Such censures nonetheless provide insight into Irans framing of the war in Syria, as well as the methods of argumentation Iran has long used to support the Assad regime. As always, vitriolic anti-Americanism featured prominently in Tehrans diplomatic response.

Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, called the strike a strategic mistake. He also ominously warned that the US was about to repeat their past mistakes in the region. Former American officials created DAESH or helped it, and current American officials are in a state of strengthening DAESH or groups like it, he alleged.

The conspiracy theory that the US has had a hand in the creation of the Islamic State is as old as the group itself, and is a narrative both favored and promoted by regime elites in Tehran. Over time it has even made itself manifest in elements of the Iranian population. On April 8, part of the headline above the fold on the front cover of the hardline Kayhan newspaper  whose editor-in-chief is a close Khamenei confidant  read: America formally stood beside DAESH.

Several other Iranian officials also framed American involvement in the region as a boost to such groups. Seyyed Hossein Taghavi-Hosseini, the spokesperson for the Iranian parliaments hawkish National Security and Foreign Policy Committee exclaimed: The truth is that the Americans and some regional countries which are supporters of terrorism and terrorist groups were defeated in the Syrian arena [therefore] the Americans entered so as to revive the terrorists and develop a support umbrella for them. Taghavi-Hosseinis comments are designed to alter international public opinion. Should Taghavi-Hosseinis erroneous narrative go unchecked, Iran, along with its Russian partners, could more aggressively look to offer themselves as guarantors of the regional order.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the Chairman of the same parliamentary committee, cited themes about perceived US desperation in his post-strike commentary. He told members of the Iranian press that, The recent American action in Syria is indicative of the defeat of the statesmen and government of this arrogant country in the region and in the world. Despite the obvious imbalance in capability, Iranian officials have often sought to position themselves as more adept than the US in the region, whom they accuse of being in retreat and decline. While Irans military assistance has been critical in the form of money, men, and munitions to the Assad regime, Iran lacks the conventional military power to project force in the region, and has therefore had to rely on tried and true asymmetric methods. For conventional force projection, Iran has turned to another state: the Russian Federation.

In a telephone call with Irans closest state partners, Syria and Russia, the latter of whom has provided air power and advanced Surface-to-Air Missiles to the beleaguered Assad regime, Irans President Hassan Rouhani similarly took to condemning the strike. Rouhani reportedly told Russian President Vladimir Putin that We condemn Americas missile attack on Syria and believe it to be a case of gross violation of the sovereignty of an independent country which makes it necessary for this unilateral action to be investigated and condemned by the United Nations Security Council.

The citing of the Assad regime as independent is in line with the Islamic Republics anti-Western and anti-imperialist governing ideologies. But it also draws from the lexicon of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad himself. At least twice in 2016 (once in July and once in October), the Iranian press reported comments by Assad attempting to frame his regimes actions as measures needed to keep Syria independent because the West cannot tolerate or does not accept a sovereign Syrian state. The irony being that the longer the Assad regime lives on, the more reliant it will be on foreign patrons like Moscow and Tehran should they decide to reconquer lost territory or merely govern and hold the territory it presently controls.

Similarly, Tehran has long insisted on the territorial integrity of Syria, as well as that of Iraq, where it is using the campaign against the Islamic State to cement its presence through armed networks. These armed networks are seldom mentioned by Iranian diplomats.

Formally, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif and its Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi also critiqued the strike. Zarif took to one of Irans new favorite mediums  Twitter  to berate the US for impetuous unilateralism based on self-serving allegations. Zarif bandwagoned on the argument made by Kayhan about the US and Salafist-terrorist groups. He purported that Not even two decades have passed since the events of the 11th of September and Americas armed forces now fight beside al-Qaeda and DAESH in Yemen and Syria in a [unified] front. This gross mischaracterization of recent US actions in the Middle East notwithstanding, Zarif also drew on Irans harrowing experiences during the Iran-Iraq War to bolster an argument against chemical weapons and WMD-use more generally.

In so doing, Zarif failed to mention that one of the strategic drivers of Tehrans nuclear weapons program was its own eight-year conflict with Iraq. The same logic also helped guide Iran to develop and retaliate against Iraqs chemical attacks by weaponizing pathogens of its own.

While Iranian military and religious elites also commented on the strike along themes already noted in this article, Irans regional proxies also weighed-in on the matter. Lebanese Hezbollah issued a press release calling the move a transgression of Syrian sovereignty that was ultimately in the service of the Zionist entity. Another militia, the Iran-linked Nujaba movement of Iraq noted via its spokesman that, This missile attack does not change the rules of the Syrian conflict. The spokesperson for Nujaba echoed themes about how American military action in Syria was merely a tool used to save terrorist groups.

Conversely, Muqatada al-Sadr, the infamous Iraqi Shiite cleric who led the Mahdi Army (which despite being disbanded has been partially reconstituted into the Peace Brigades and is believed to be active in Syria) did not tow Tehrans line on the strike and Assads future. According to reporting by Reuters, the cleric said, it would be fair for President Bashar al-Assad to offer his resignation and step down in love for Syria, to spare it the woes of war and terrorism and take a historic, heroic decision before it is too late.

Despite the marked difference in tone by the leader of a prominent Shiite militia, Iranian officials have not seen the strike as inhibiting their support for Assad. While Iranian capabilities (presently comprised of ground assets often delivered by plane) do not appear to be impaired by the strike, there has been no overt escalation by Tehran at the time of this writing in the Syrian theater. Tehran also lacks the capability to respond on the same scope and scale as 59 cruise missile strikes against US assets without launching a major war. Rather, Iran appears to have fallen back on gloating, intimidation, and misinformation tactics that so often characterize Persian-language reporting. Nonetheless, Iranian officials would be wise to not write off the strike. US military power was just demonstrated on a key Iranian partner with exceeding ease. At a minimum, that should remind both Damascus and Tehran to be cognizant of escalation dynamics as the Syrian conflict drags on.

Yet, whatever the proximate cause for varying levels of Iranian activity in Syria, the root cause for the countrys continued involvement there remains the survival of the Islamic Revolution and its rejectionist message. To export this revolution and keep conflict away from Iranian territory, Tehran has continuously and successfully relied on a diverse array of non-state actors, terrorists, and armed religious networks across jurisdictions of weak central authority. But the Assad regime (both in its present incarnation under Bashar and previously under his deceased father, Hafez), has long represented the enduring value of a pro-Iranian state on Israels doorstep. Put differently, Tehrans relationship with Damascus has permitted the Islamic Republic to inject hard- and soft-power into the Levantine theater for over three decades.

Time will tell if Iran will ultimately read the strike as a show of American resolve or indecision. But until then, sentiments such as those from 2013 by Hojjat al-Eslam Mehdi Taeb, the leader of the Ammar Base  an organization tasked with fighting the soft war  appear to be guiding Irans approach to the country: Syria is a strategic province for Iran If we lose Syria, we will be unable to keep Tehran.

Behnam Ben Taleblu is a senior Iran analyst at Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Behnam Ben Taleblu is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

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The State Department announced yesterday (Apr. 13) that two Canadian citizens have been added to the US governments list of designated terrorists.

One of them, Tarek Sakr, is allegedly linked to Al Nusrah Front, which was the public arm of al Qaeda in Syria until mid-2016. Even though Nusrah was rebranded as Jabhat Fath al Sham in July 2016 and then merged with four other groups to form a joint venture (Assembly for the Liberation of the Levant) in January, State still refers to organization by its original name and describes it as al Qaedas affiliate in Syria.

Sakr is a Syrian-born Canadian citizen who has conducted sniper training in Syria and periodically travels to Turkey, according to State. Sakr was a pharmacology student before joining the jihad against Bashar al Assad. But according to the Canadian press, he began to acquire his skills as a marksman before he even left for Syria.

In late 2016, CBC News and Radio-Canadas Enquete connected Sakr to a band of 10 aspiring jihadists in the Montreal area who regularly practiced at a shooting range. Seven of them left for Syria in 2012 and 2013, with some joining Free Syrian Army-branded rebels. After one member of the crew was heard saying he wished the shooting targets were real infidels, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) began monitoring the young men.

Enquete, which first published the photo of Sakr seen on the right, also learned that two of Sakrs cousins were killed in Latakia, a coastal province that has long been a stronghold for the Assad family.

Another member of Sakrs group in the Montreal area was Wassim Boughadou, whose family is from Algeria. CBC News reported in late March that Boughadou had been arrested after he boarded a plane in Adana, Turkey.

Boughadou and possibly other members of Sakrs gun club are suspected of playing a role in the kidnapping of Theo Padnos and Matthew Schrier, two Americans who were held by Al Nusrah in Syria. After his release, Padnos said his captors had French-Canadian accents. And, according to Radio-Canadas investigation, one of Schriers credit cards was used to purchase computers that may have been shipped to Boughadou.

Padnos, who was released by Nusrah in 2014, subsequently explained to the New York Times how fighters affiliated with the Free Syrian Army had betrayed him to the jihadists. Schrier escaped from Nusrahs custody prior to Padnos release.

Multiple reports describe Boughadou as being associated with the Islamic State. It is not clear if Boughadous arrest affected the timing of Sakrs designation by the US government, or if authorities have learned more about Sakrs activities from his detained comrade.

Abu Usama al Somali

The other newly designated jihadist is Farah Mohamed Shirdon, a Canadian citizen with Somali roots who joined the Islamic State in 2014. State describes Shirdon, also known as Abu Usama al Somali, as a prominent ISIS fighter and recruiter who has also been involved in fundraising.

Canadian authorities charged Shirdon with various terrorism-related offenses on Sept. 24, 2015. The photo of Shirdon seen below was released by Canadian authorities when the charges were announced in 2015. He is pictured standing in front of a Humvee with an Islamic State logo painted on it.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found that Shirdon left Canada on March 14, 2014 to allegedly join and fight with the Islamic State in Syria. Some reports indicated that Shirdon was quickly killed while fighting for the so-called caliphate, but the RCMP said these reports were proven not to be true.

Our investigation showed that [Shirdon] served in a combat role and performed other functions for ISIS such as recruiting, fundraising, encouraging others to commit violence, and spreading propaganda  all designed to enhance the activities of the ISIS, Assistant Commissioner Marlin DeGrand, the officer in charge of the RCMPs Criminal Operations in Alberta, was quoted in a press release as saying.

The Islamic State wasted no time in using Shirdon in its propaganda. In a video released online just a few months after he absconded from Canada, Shirdon was shown burning his passport. He also threatened the US, Canada and President Barack Obama. We are coming, and we will destroy you, Shirdon said.

In Sept. 2014, Shirdon spoke with VICE News about his decision to join the jihad. Shirdon claimed to be speaking from Mosul, which was overrun by Abu Bakr al Baghdadis men just a few months earlier. And he taunted members of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), describing them as imbeciles for failing to stop his journey beforehand. Shirdon also threatened New York, claiming that brothers were mobilizing for a brilliant attack. The founder of VICE, Shane Smith, confirmed during the interview that Shirdon was in the company of other foreign fighters, including a German and a British recruit.

During his interview with VICE, Shirdon again addressed President Obama. I swear you infidel, I swear to Almighty Godwe will fight you to the end, he said. An Ontario court later ordered VICE to turn over the logs of its chats with Shirdon via the Kik instant messenger app. The court order was issued after the RCMP argued that it needed the digital files to prove its case against Shirdon.

The State Department places Shirdon in Raqqa, Syria as of Nov. 2015.

Sakr turned 30 in March and Shirdon will be just 24 years-old on Apr. 18. Thousands of other young men living in the West have been drawn abroad to the fighting in Iraq and Syria.

Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal.

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More than anything, enthused Margaret Leng Tan as she sat under the stage lights in the darkened National Museum of Singapores (NMS) basement Gallery Theatre, in front of a select group of journalists, I want to be, not a stand-up comic, but a sit-down comic. And because I use the toy piano, I can be in a position to be funny! The statement itself seems to be encapsulate the 71-year-olds spirit  effervescent, curious yet boundary-breaking and iconoclastic  as she conveys her current intentions to go pop.

The Singapore-born, Brooklyn-based pianist was at the NMS preparing for a one-night only multimedia concert, SATIEfaction on January 20, in a tribute to the late French avant-garde composer Erik Satie, performing both on the grand piano and the toy piano, together with poetry readings and video projections. This was a follow-up on her well-received Cabinet Of Curiosities performance at the Singapore International Festival of Arts 2015, where she turned a medley of everyday objects, from chess sets to bicycle horns and alarm clocks, into instruments.

Tans list of achievements is dazzling: she was the first Singapore soloist to play Carnegie Halls Isaac Stern Auditorium to a sellout crowd in 2002, has performed at the Venice Biennale on three occasions, and was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2015, just to name a few. She is also known for being the most important John Cage interpreter, her mentor for 11 years before his death in 1992.

The provenance for Tans illustrious career was apparently borne from a sibling rivalry with her sister (Everything she did I had to do also and do better.) and from strong-arming her parents into giving her piano lessons at age six. She subsequently won the open section of the 1961 Singapore-Malaya Piano Competition and then a scholarship to New Yorks Juilliard School at the age of sixteen. After her bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees later  the rest is history. Art Republik catches up with Margaret Leng Tan.

What is it about toy pianos that fascinates you, and when did you realise you could create wonders with them?

The toy piano has a magical sound. Because it has metal rods instead of strings, it doesnt sound like a piano because is really a repackaged glockenspiel pretending to be a one. No two toy pianos sound the same; the rods give off unique, complex overtones. One can sound like the voice of angels and another would work well in the sinister soundtrack to a horror movie. The toy piano can also be nostalgic or serious or funny.

I realised fairly early on that toy pianos and toy instruments are full of potential because with toys there are no rules and the only limit is of your imagination. The toy combinations are endless and when you start adding in other sounding items, well, you are fulfilling what John Cage believed: that you can create music on any object capable of producing sound.

I treat every object I choose to play, be it a toy piano or a bicycle bell, as a real instrument in accordance with French Dada artist Marcel Duchamps statement that poor tools require better skills. Today, I can say with pride that anything I can do on the adult piano I can do on the toy piano with regard to my control of touch, nuance, articulation and dynamics. I have also worked very hard to finesse my playing technique on the bird whistle or paper accordion so that they too will perform reliably and meet my artistic expectations.

Youve lost your instruments in transit before, oftentimes retrieved but not always. What is your relationship with them?

It was a nightmare when United Parcel Service lost my 50-pound crate of instruments which has not been recovered to this day. Fortunately, my two top-of-the-line touring toy pianos have always shown up whenever the airlines have been remiss, with the most recent Cathay Pacific debacle early this year, makes a total of 10 incidents over 20 years.

My touring toy pianos are irreplaceable. To me, they are the equivalent of Stradivarius violins  one of a kind in their expressive and virtuosic capabilities. They are my voice. I could never do what I do on any other toy piano.

A lot of people know you  if they didnt already  from your performance of Cages silent piece, 433, on your toy piano under a void deck in Tan Pin Pins film Singapore Gaga. How did that come about, and what are your thoughts on that performance?

Pin Pin had contacted me in late 2004, having seen Evans Chans documentary on my life, Sorceress of the New Piano. She wanted to include me and my toy piano in Singapore Gaga. I think performing John Cages 433 under an HDB (Housing Development Board) void deck was a brilliant idea! It captured a slice of Singapore life within that frame of time. As Cage said, There is no such thing as an empty space or an empty time. There is always something to see, something to hear. In fact, try as we may to make a silence, we cannot. Sounds occur whether intended or not. I love that bit when a woman walked by engrossed in her mobile phone (even back then!) and did not notice, let alone find it odd that someone would be sitting at a toy piano in a void deck!

Whats important for you when someone experiences your work?

I like to see myself as an entertainer. I want people to have a good time and leave with a smile on their faces. I am not out to prove anything or convert anybody. I am just happy and grateful that they are willing to come down the rabbit hole with me.

Is classical music something intrinsically natural to you and given how it has brought so much to your life, could you have imagined doing anything else?

At this point in time, I feel I have gone beyond classical music into a new genre that transcends boundaries to include not only music in the accepted conventional sense but other sounds as well. Of course when I was a child and during my Juilliard days I aspired to be a classical pianist, like everyone else. But after meeting John Cage in 1981, everything changed. I would say that music is still at the core of my being but it is a music that encompasses the three-dimensionality of theatre, choreography and performance.

Your education at The Juilliard School starting at the age of 16 culminated with your Doctorate where you were the first woman to graduate with this degree from the prestigious school. How did your education help mould you as an artist?

The atmosphere at Juilliard is elitist and highly competitive. Some very talented people cannot cope with this. I not only survived but thrived because I discovered there was a great deal to learn not only from my teachers, but from my peers.

To develop your full artistic potential you have to be highly disciplined in your work habits as well as a curiosity about the world around you. Juilliard was essentially a goldfish bowl but I made an effort to escape its confines and partake of the Theatre of Life offered by New York City. What a waste it would have been otherwise!

Your father was the former Straits Times Press chairman, C.C.Tan. Do you feel you came from a creative and intellectually-inclined family growing up? Were there any formative moments growing up that changed and shaped you as an artist?

I come from a family of lawyers. Artistic pursuits were not exactly de rigueur in our household but I was allowed to have music lessons and ballet lessons because my family could afford them, and for that I am grateful.

My father had quite an extensive library and we were encouraged to read. My hunger for books during my formative years has led to an enduring love of the English language and writing which continues to this day. I am proud to say that I have had four articles published in The New York Times.

When I was fourteen, Joseph Bloch, a professor from Juilliard, visited Singapore and heard me play in a masterclass. He encouraged me to consider applying to Juilliard after I finished school. This was a turning point for me: that someone from the outside world thought I was talented enough to seriously consider a career in music.

You first headed to New York in the early 60s when you were just a teenager. What was that transition like?

Before my Juilliard audition I was well looked after by kind friends of friends of my parents. I was dreadfully homesick when I first arrived in New York. Being homesick is one of the most painful experiences I can remember. Then one day I had an epiphany. This was soon after I had been accepted at Juilliard. Driving down the East River Drive in the afternoon with my host family, the sun was glinting on the water and the magnificent New York skyline filled the horizon. Suddenly, I felt a great surge of elation Here I was in the greatest city in the world, at the best music school in the world! The opportunities in this land of promise loomed large and I was going to make it! All my homesickness fell away at that moment and I never looked back.

What is your studio space like and what does it mean to you?

Well, there are three work spaces within my Victorian brownstone: one is the large parlour room upstairs that houses two vintage Steinway grand pianos from the 1890s. I use one piano for prepared piano activities and the other for keyboard playing. Downstairs I have another Baldwin grand piano where I can practice all night since I keep vampire hours.

And then there is the toy piano room which is filled with my collection of over twenty toy pianos along with my arsenal of toy instruments and other sounding objects. These spaces are sanctuaries where I practice, discover, experiment, fail, try again, fail better, to quote Beckett, ..all in the company of my wonderful dog companions, my most patient and appreciative audience!

SATIEfaction comes at a time where you admittedly want to explore a more pop, expressive approach to your work  I cant help but think the attributes oft accorded to Satie  an avant-gardist and a visionary disregard for the rule book and his embrace of the absurd and the surreal and the blurring of high and low art  may as well be about you.

Wow, thats really generous! I wont let it go to my head! Those attributes that you mentioned I feel are truly applicable to John Cage and Marcel Duchamp, both great and influential artists. John was a close friend of the older Duchamp, they played chess together regularly. Duchamps revolutionary ideas about art, as enshrined in his readymades, had a profound impact on Cage. I would go so far as to say that Cages 433 is a musical readymade. There is definitely a connection to Saties idea of Furniture Music which was intended as wallpaper or background music.

So you see, all the stuff that I do using toys and everyday objects is merely the logical endgame to a trajectory charted by these brilliant visionaries who came before me.

Whats coming up in 2017 for you? You have mentioned the revered George Crumb has been composing a new work specially for you.

Yes, the iconoclastic American composer George Crumb, who is now 87, has just completed Metamorphoses, Book I, the first instalment in a new major piano cycle, his first since his creation of the groundbreaking Makrokosmos series in the 1970s.

I will never forget when he casually mentioned in July 2015 that he was going to write this for me and that each of its ten movements would be inspired by a different painting. What a gift!

For the past year and a half I have had the great privilege of being Crumbs pianistic muse. I realise that this is history in the making. It has generated quite a buzz and many festivals are interested to present it. It will be the focus of my performance schedule for 2017 and 2018.

Whats the end goal?

From John Cage I have learnt to regard both life and art as processes unfolding inexorably in their own time. Within this, goals become irrelevant. I will continue to work as long as the ideas keep coming and as long as I am physically and mentally capable.

From a broader perspective, I hope that I have given a new generation the confidence to seek and persevere on their individual creative paths and to remain strong in the face of skepticism and criticism.

This article was originally published in Art Republik 14.
Asia is a growing hub in the area of luxury lifestyle and Phuket is the next location to venture towards, to enjoy the best that life can offer. From April 28 to 30, an exclusive luxury event called the Blue List Lanta Expeditions 2017 will be held on one of Thailands scenic islands.

Of course, the location is an easy choice. Apart from the crystal clear waters that surround the island, the venue is an area that many see as a developing cruising ground in the region. Serving as a preview of what is in store at the upcoming PHUKET RENDEZVOUS, it will bring together 60 high-net worth individuals who share our love for yachting.









Featuring nearly 20 yachts, opportunities for diving as well as a chance to indulge in the finest caviar and champagne, it is a promising lead-up to the main event in January 2018. To pamper the palate, Caviar House will be offering Royal Oscietra Caviar which will complement the Piper-Heidsieck champagne. Apart from the finest food and drinks on the island, the Blue List Lanta Expeditions 2017 will also be a chance for guests to see and learn more about Connexion dArt. The French brand, crafts some of the finest phone cases using exotic and calf leather while also providing monogramming services that are done by experts from France.

From sparkling wines to Singha beer the On the first night, guests can look forward to the Lost in Paradise party, sponsored by Coldwell Bankers, at Lanta Last resort followed by a party on Saturday at the Pimalai Hotel. While there will be food, drinks and parties aplenty over the weekend, Andaman Cruises will also be offering its services, making this the perfect chance for guests to find out how they can explore Phuket on board a yacht.

At Heart Media and Lux Inc Media, we believe in building long-term relationships with our partnersWith this event we give them the opportunity to meet their targets in a completely different environment than a yacht show says Nicolas Monges, General Manager of Asia Rendezvous, Thailand. He added  It gives them the opportunity to meet them in a fun and relaxing surrounding, develop friendship and make business. This event is a chance to unify the industry members and encourage them to commit to the PHUKET RENDEZVOUS
North Korea's nuclear test site in remote Punggye-ri, North Hamgyong Province seems "primed and ready" for another test, the website 38 North at Johns Hopkins University said Wednesday.

The website reached the conclusion based on commercial satellite images and its conclusions are usually reliable.

The U.S. Air Force has reportedly dispatched a WC-135 nuclear sniffer aircraft that detects radioactivity in the air to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.

The North may well decide to conduct another nuclear test to make the 105th birthday of nation founder Kim Il-sung.

Meanwhile his grandson, current leader Kim Jong-un watched a special operations drill practicing infiltration of South Korea and attacks in the rear area, the official Rodong Sinmun reported Thursday.


It seems like Apple has not yet hit the brakes on its self-driving car.

As of Friday, Californias Department of Motor Vehicles now lists Apple as one of the companies with a permit to legally test self-driving cars in the state. This means that Apples self-driving initiative, codenamed Project Titan, is back on track.

California requires all companies with autonomous vehicles to register before hitting the road. Other tech companies like Google and Uber, alongside car manufacturers like Tesla and BMW, have also received permits to test their self-driving technology on public roads. Ubers permit was recently secured in March, but the company had been conducting rogue trials for a while.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Apples permit covers three 2015 Lexus SUVs and six different drivers who must sit behind the wheel to monitor the driving and takeover when needed. In addition to the permit, the state of California also requires companies to file public reports about their self-driving tests, including crash reports and how many times the human driver has had to take over. This could send Apple for a loop, as the company is notorious for keeping all of their testing info a secret prior to launching new products.

Why this matters: This is the first indication weve seen in a while that Apples super-secret Project Titan is still in the pipeline. Previously, there was an insane amount of speculation about Apples self-driving car project. In 2015 alone, Apple filed permits to build a auto work area near Cupertino, leased a super-secret testing facility, and met with the California DMV.

In 2016, however, Apple seemed to have pivoted the initiative, opting for creating just the self-driving software to license to established car-makers instead of assembling an entirely new Apple vehicle. This is a departure for Apple, which has created a legacy by developing both hardware and the software aspects of all its products.

Now that Apple will have to file public reports regarding its self-driving trials, expect more information to become available about Project Titan.
Samsung is poised to cross the 1 million milestone in pre-orders for its new flagship Galaxy S8 phone that will be released next week.

Samsung told reporters during a promotional event at headquarters in Seoul that it had already received 728,000 pre-orders as of Wednesday.

Pre-orders have smashed all records since they started on April 7, despite the debacle surrounding the last big release, the combustible Galaxy Note 7.


Introduction

Mozambique is located in the south eastern part of Africa, with an approximate area of 800.000 km2, and a population of about 24 million.

Appropriate legislation to protect good-faith occupations and customary tenure arrangements was developed in the 90s. However, most land, in excess of 90%, is still unregistered.

Mozambique has launched the Terra Segura" program aiming at registering 5 million parcels and 4 thousand communities in a period of 5 years, to secure land tenure. This massive land registration poses a huge challenge to all stakeholders and to the SIGIT-Mozambiques Land Information System  specially.

The process of land registration started with a paper based approach, which proved immediately to be inefficient and ineffective. There was a need to evolve SiGIT and include in its architecture the necessary tools that could achieve the following results:

 reduce the rejection rate of field data

 reduce the collection and processing time

 allow corrections in the field and afterwards

 ensure security of access and data manipulation

 ensure land cadastre maintenance after registration

A mobile application was developed and tested over a period of 18 months. The pilot work included 2 community delimitations and about 5.000 individual parcels regularizations in 3 districts.

Materials and Methods

 The basis for developing the SiGIT Mobile Application was the Fit-For-Purpose harmonized methodology for community delimitations and land tenure registration/regularizations, approved by National Directorate of Lands in Mozambique.

 The application was developed in Java technology for android platform, uses its own database, and includes all the forms required for land registrations. The application also allows capturing spatial information of land parcels.

 The SiGIT Mobile Application integrates with the SiGIT Cloud component and this component further integrates with the SiGIT Back Office, via web services.

 Several tools and artifacts were developed to allow communities to know the status of their land cadastre (community land dossiers).

 Further developments are being undertaken to enhance the ability of communities to keep their land cadastre up-to-date. These will require specific procedures to be implemented within the mobile application and land portal.

Results

SiGIT Mobile Application for field work

Enables field workers to capture the relevant alphanumeric and spatial data:

- Tenants (identification and contacts);

- Parcel details (size, uses, spatial information);

- Neighbor parcels;

- Existing conflicts.

Spatial Information Acquisition Methods

Four methods of GIS data collection available, that can be combined for better convenience:

(1) Embedded mobile device GPS (adequate for community delimitations);

(2) Draw the parcel over a map (adequate when images are clear and with good resolution);

(3) Pairing the mobile application with a differential GPS/GNSS;

(4) Entering coordinates manually.

SiGIT Cloud Module

A community-cloud module which enables Service Providers to:

- Validate field data;

- Synchronize data with SiGIT back office;

- Issue Public Notices (edictal);

- Evaluate Team's performance.

Performance Improvements

Specific results illustrate:

- Time to collect and process a parcel reduced from 35 to 18 minutes (alphanumeric) and 21 to 6 minutes (geo data);

- Rejection rates dropped from 43% to 1%;

- Types of errors reduced from 16 to 3 possible errors;

- Team satisfaction increased from 75% to 98%;

- Data sharing between devices within a cadastral block improved efficiency by 27%.

Community involvement

Tests to the ability of community members being able to collect their own data illustrated:

- Minimum training is required for those who knew how to utilize a mobile phone;

- Increased sense of ownership;

- Increased accuracy of data;

- Enhanced communication with the usage of multiple languages in the application;

- Getting spatial information was difficult when images were not clear.

Conclusions and Way Forward

 A Land Administration System designed to support sustainable development in Mozambique will make the cadastre its most important tool. However, the land cadastre can only be effective if: (i) it contains complete and accurate data; (ii) the data corresponds to the management needs; (iii) the data is kept up-to-date; (iv) the land information system is flexible to adjust to new requirements (Williamson et all, 2009).

 Mozambique needs to implement new innovative solutions in land administration that can deliver security of tenure for all, are affordable and can be quickly developed and that can be incrementally improved over time (Lemmen et. al, 2016). Using a "Fit For Purpose" approach to land administration to design the harmonized methodology for massive land tenure regularizations and community delimitations is the way to achieve such requirements.

 Android and Cloud technologies were utilized to develop an open source SiGIT Mobile Application and a SiGIT Cloud component that respond to the fit-for-purpose approach. The new tools brought greater flexibility, higher reliability and efficiency to the registration and regularization process. This has resulted in enormous gains in data quality control, in data integration, in enhanced communication between field and back office processes, in better performance, at lower costs, contributing for a greater sustainability of the systematic registration.

 Further developments are to be implemented based on the recommendations from the pilot work:

- Interoperate with the existing cadastre and validate possible overlaps during collection;

- Questionnaires being available in local languages available (at least one per region);

- Possibility to choose base maps according to the conditions and requirements of the field work;

- Adjust the SiGIT Mobile application to allow the community to register and update its cadastral information, in a community-based crowdsourcing (Balas et al, 2016), (McLaren, 2016).

Acknowledgements

MITADER, DINAT, EXI, CTC-Coop, Verde Azul and all communities and technical teams involved.

Literature Cited

Balas, M., 2016, National Land Cadastre in Mozambique - SiGIT as a lever to success, FIG Commission 7 Conference on Cadastre 4.0, 24-28 October, Portugal

McLaren, R., 2016, Crowdsourcing Land Rights, FIG Commission 7 Conference on Cadastre 4.0, 24-28 October, Portugal.

Lemmen, C.H.J., Enemark, S., McLaren, R., Antonio, D., Gitau. J., Dijkstra, P. and De Zeeuw, C.J. (2016), Guiding Principles for Building Fit-For-Purpose Land Administration Systems in Less Developed Countries: Providing Secure Tenure for All. 2016 World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty, March 14-18, 2016.

Williamson, I.; Enemark, S.; Wallace, J.; Rajabifard, A. , 2010, Land Administration for Sustainable Development, ESRI Press Academic.

About

For more information, please visit: Land and Poverty Conference 2017: Responsible Land Governance - Towards an Evidence-Based Approach.
Taxi company drivers in Seoul will be required to wear uniform again starting later this year, and self-employed cab drivers will soon follow suit, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday.

The design will be selected next month. Uniforms were abolished in 2011, but customers are complaining that some drivers now dress too casually.


The Fed Is In the Red. And It Doesnt Matter.

Are central banks about to take losseseven go insolvent? That question, or forms of it, appear to be popping up with increased frequency lately, paired with varying degrees of alarm. Some coverage focuses on unrealized losses in the Fed and other central banks bond portfolios tied to rising interest rates, as if this has implications for capital as it would for a commercial bank. Others dwell on negative net interest income, warning central banks operating in the red stores up trouble. We think all of the chatter misses some key points about how central banks function. Namely, it is impossible for central banks to go bankrupt, and their purported losses are not a financial crisis in the making, in our view.

Yes, it is true that the Fed, Bank of England (BoE), European Central Bank (ECB), Bank of Japan (BoJ) and others own a lot of bonds. And yes, it is true that bond prices are down this year, as they move inversely with interest rates. Hence, the market value of some of these central banks holdings is likely well below the purchase price. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) and others who own stocks as well as bonds are also sitting on declines, with the SNBs year-to-date paper losses topping 20% of Swiss GDP.[i] Other researchers estimate the Fed has racked up about $1 trillion of unrealized declines this year.[ii] That is a lot of red ink for entities that supposedly underpin the financial system.

Yet it is also mostly imaginary red ink. Central banks arent like commercial banks. They dont have regulatory capital requirements. They may report their assets at fair value, but they arent actually subject to mark-to-market accounting rules. They would take a loss if they were to sell assets for less than they paid for them, but only the BoE is presently selling bondsand its holdings are in an account indemnified against losses by His Majestys Treasury. The Fed, meanwhile, is passively letting maturing securities roll off its balance sheetno sales, no realized losses, except to the extent it may have bought bonds at a premium to par value years ago.

Read More
Jiao Tong holds forum on information technology

From:Shanghai Daily | 2017-04-14 00:29

A forum was held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University with international young scholars discussing the future information technology and cultivation of international teaching staff.

John Hopcroft, an honorary professor of Jiao Tong in computer science and an A. M. Turing Award winner, said in the keynote speech that computer science, one of the most important pillars in the future information technology area, is experiencing fundamental change with technological innovation in in-depth learning, social network and big data further boosting its development.

He predicted that automation will reconstruct everything in the future and people will be able to talk to computer directly to operate it, such as asking it to book a hotel room or call for an intelligent automatic car.

Young scholars from home and abroad also shared their own latest researches, such as intelligently control of electric appliance with smart phones, learning ability of artificial intelligence, using microgrid to repair failures in electric power systems.
When youre renovating an old house, theres a lot of work involved.

You have to rip off broken shingles, tear apart rotten floors and then pay to replace them. Thats not a cheap project. Its also not an easy project. Do you pay for the expensive floor or save money and spend it on the roof instead? Theres not always a right answer, just different ones based on priorities. The Martinsville city council finds itself in a similar spot.

In order to balance the budget, the city has to make cuts somewhere. Thats just a fact. Theres no wealthy benefactor coming in to pay our debts, no big company moving in. The $1 million shortfall has been whittled down to $500,000, but that was due to luck that we shouldnt expect again. An increase in ambulance service fees, as well as more people than expected paying their taxes, isnt something we can count on. And so, this city has to cut back on ongoing expenses. Thats where it gets tricky.

Right now, the spending plan being considered would eliminate two full-time positions in the police department and money to pay part-time firefighters. It would also cut $260,116 from the school districts budget.

Martinsville schools arent fully accredited. Thats still a work in progress, as new superintendent Zeb Talley makes changes. Just like when you renovate a house, there are blueprints and a plan in place, but they cant work without the necessary funding. Its worth pointing out that in order just to make small cuts, Talley had asked for an increase of $380,734 from the city. If he doesnt get that and gets a $260,116 cut instead, that means he has to somehow eliminate more than $640,000 from the budget. Thats a problem.

Between last school year and today, the district lost 120 students. That means fewer dollars from Richmond, since state funding is based on enrollment numbers. It also means fewer fees paid for things like drivers education. The district also has to pay increased costs for employees through the Virginia Retirement System, a 1.78 percent climb. Health insurance costs also rose 1 percent. Those two increased costs, combined with the decision to keep assistant principals in local schools, adds up to an extra $445,000 needed.

Those assistant principals are helping in the classroom, filling roles left empty by the departure of four teachers, three instructional coordinators, two instructional support positions, two central office staff members, a student resource officer, a part-time purchasing worker and a part-time maintenance staff member. Most of those people werent fired, but instead the positions simply werent filled after retirement. Even after those cuts, the district still needed the $380,734, to help pay their rising costs. If the money doesnt come, the bills dont go away. It just means were asking Talley to renovate a struggling school system without the tools needed. It also means programs and more teachers will have to be let go. You think its hard keeping teachers in city schools now? Increase class sizes and see how it goes.

Then theres the proposed cuts from the police and fire departments. At the end of 2016, crime was down 21 percent in Martinsville. Property crimes dropped 17 percent and violent crime fell 48 percent. Chief Sean Dunn and his staff worked hard to target problems in the city and address them. And now, were going to ask them to keep that up, to do more with less? In his interview with reporter Mickey Powell, Dunn said that fewer positions will mean fewer officers on patrol. Depending on which option the city council takes, the department loses between one to three officers with the cut. That doesnt seem like a benefit. The same goes for the citys fire department. If you reduce the amount of funding for part-time firefighters, you cut back on the number of people on call in the city. That doesnt seem like a good idea.

It also seems odd that these cuts come as the proposed city budget would increase funding $20,038 for Social Services. City staff members say that is to keep agency employees from leaving. We wonder, what about the police officers, firefighters and school teachers? Isnt it important to keep them? If budget cuts are to be made, then it only seems logical to cut across the board. Otherwise, it looks like public safety and education are being targeted.

So whats the alternate?

If those cuts arent made, then the city would look to eliminate both the senior citizens and parks and recreation programs. Nobody wants to see that, but with the current budget, it appears the city is faced with a decision: either cut public safety and education or eliminate other programs. Which is the right decision? That depends on where your priorities lie.
China, Russia committed to deepened partnership: FM spokesman

From:Xinhua | 2017-04-13 23:29

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BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The heads of state of China and Russia will continue close exchanges this year to develop bilateral relations, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang on Thursday.

Lu made the remarks when asked to comment on current China-Russia ties at a daily press briefing.

According to Russian media reports, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said on Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia in July.

Lu did not respond directly to the remarks but said China and Russia have a series of accords on high-level visits, including those of the two heads of state.

Relations between Russia and China have reached an "unprecedented" high, Russian Ambassador to China Andrei Denisov said on Wednesday.

"We fully agree with Denisov's positive evaluation," said Lu.

He said China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination had developed positively since the beginning of the year.

China and Russia have had close high-level contacts and made fresh achievements in the areas of trade, investment, energy, local affairs and people-to-people exchanges, he said.

The two sides maintain close communication and coordination on international hotspot issues and together have played the role of stabilizer for international and regional peace and security, said Lu.

"No matter how the external environment changes, we will develop and deepen our comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination," he said.
Each week, MassLive showcases pets available for adoption at shelters at rescue organizations across Massachusetts.

With the participation of the shelters listed below, many animals should be able to find a permanent home.

We also provide some pet-related news items that we hope you will enjoy.

Pet of the Week: Worcester Animal Rescue League's Mister

The Republican Newsroom

WORCESTER  There are many reasons why animals end up at the Worcester Animal Rescue League  some are surrendered after their owners die or move away and some, like Mister, are found alone on the streets.

Mister seen here with Logan Ryan of the Tennessee Titans (formally of the New England Patriots).

Mister is a 5-year-old, mixed breed dog who responds well to calm affection and loves massages. He doesn't pull hard on a leash, rides well in the car, and knows how to sit. He hasn't met any children yet and should be the only pet in the home.

While he is polite, he's not going to win any etiquette awards. He's slobbery, unaware of his size and surroundings, and like an infant he investigates things, WARL staff said.

Mister has been at WARL for over four months. On Jan. 29th he met Logan Ryan (formally of the New England Patriots) and was featured in Logan's rescue initiative #RyansMonthlyRescue, however he still has not been adopted.

Mister is a very special boy who deserves the world, and in return, he'll give you a world of love, WARL staff said.

His adoption fee is only $50. To meet Mister please contact WARL at (508) 853-0030 or stop by the shelter 139 Holden St., Worcester, open 7 days a week from noon to 4 p.m.



Franklin County Regional Dog Shelter celebrates 5th Anniversary, hosts Open house

The Republican Newsroom

TURNERS FALLS The staff at the Franklin County Regional Dog Shelter wants to thank the community for supporting the shelter and making it a success.

On Sunday, April 30 from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. the shelter staff will be hosting tours of the facility and sharing the history of the shelter and future building plans.

The event will include: Free Gifts; Free Food; Free Raffles featuring a doggy quilt, gift baskets and more.

Leashed and well-behaved dogs are welcome!

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MASSACHUSETTS SHELTERS:

Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society

Address: 163 Montague Road, Leverett

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 548-9898

Website: www.dpvhs.org

Address: 171 Union St., Springfield

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 781-4000

Website: www.dakinhumane.org



Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center

Address: 627 Cottage St., Springfield

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; Thursday, noon-7 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 781-1484

Website: tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com

Westfield Homeless Cat Project

Address: 1124 East Mountain Road, Westfield

Hours: Adoption clinics, Thursday, 5-7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Website: http://www.whcp.petfinder.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westfieldhomelesscatprojectadoptions



Westfield Regional Animal Shelter

Address: 178 Apremont Way, Westfield

Hours: Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 564-3129

Website: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/ma70.html

Franklin County Sheriff's Office Regional Dog Shelter and Adoption Center

Address: 10 Sandy Lane, Turners Falls

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 676-9182

Website: http://fcrdogkennel.org/contact.html

Polverari/Southwick Animal Control Facility

Address: 11 Depot St., Southwick

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 569-5348, ext. 649

Website: http://southwickpolice.com/chief-david-a-ricardis-welcome/animal-control/

Berkshire Humane Society

Address: 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 447-7878

Website: http://berkshirehumane.org/

Purradise Feline Adoption

Address: 301 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington

Hours: Monday and Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Friday,10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 717-4244

Website: http://berkshirehumane.org/contact-us/

Greyhound Options, Inc.

Address: 43 Sygiel Rd., Ware, MA. 01082

Telephone: 413-967-9088

Website: greyhoundadoptions.org



Animal Rescue League of Boston

Address: 10 Chandler Street, Boston, MA 02116

Telephone: (617) 426-9170

Fax: (617) 426-3028

Website: adoption@arlboston.org

Worcester Animal Rescue League

Address: 139 Holden St., Worcester, MA 01606

Telephone: (508) 853-0030

Hours: Open 7 days a week from noon to 4 p.m.

Website: www.worcesterarl.org


The U.S. Attorney's Office has indicted former state rep. John George Jr. once again, charging him with obstruction of justice in connection with his embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority.

In July 2015, George, who once represented the 9th Bristol District, was sentenced to 70 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $700,000 in restitution for stealing money from the bus company he ran that was contracted to the SRTA.

According to investigators, George was using the federal funds given to the Union Street Bus Company to benefit his personal farm in Dartmouth. In addition to paying restitution, George also forfeited $1.38 million to the federal government.

Earlier reports of George's cash concealment indicated that he had hidden a little over $1 million in small bundles of cash stashed around various safe deposit boxes. Back in 2015, George claimed around $188,000 in liquid assets.

However, the updated charges from the U.S. Attorney's Office allege that George hid much more.

During a probe into George's finances between 2015 and 2016, investigators recovered more than $2.5 million in cash, Rolex watches and jewelry stuffed away in safe deposit boxes in New Bedford and Fairhaven.

The new charges could mean George faces additional prison time or more fines.
Salem voted on Thursday to become a sanctuary city in a 7-4 vote by city councilors. The "Sanctuary for Peace" ordinance passed after more than six hours of presentations and public testimony, according to the Salem News.

The main goal of the ordinance is to provide city services to all Salem residents, "regardless of immigration status." The mayor will also create an Inclusionary Advisory Committee that will work on public awareness around hate-crimes and the civil rights and liberties for immigrants.

The ordinance says the city will support the many college students who fall under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act. Salem's aim, under this ordinance, is to "foster a culture and environment where our immigrant and refugee residents can fully participate in and be integrated into the social, civi and economic fabric of their adopted city."

The ordinance document says 26 percent of Salem residents are non-white, and 15 percent were born outside of the United States.

Salem joins a growing list of Massachusetts cities to officially vote and become a sanctuary city. Others include Amherst, Boston, Cambridge, Northampton and Somerville.

Holyoke and Lawrence have also been called sanctuary cities, but did not make the list of uncooperative jurisdictions released last month by the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Custom Enforcement agency.

The ICE listed 96 places - towns, cities, counties and prisons - that were called uncooperative. The implications of making the list are unclear, but President Donald Trump and his administration have pledged to strip sanctuary cities of federal funding.
China urges U.S., Russia to avoid clashes on Syria

From:Xinhua | 2017-04-13 23:29

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BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China urges 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 on Thursday.

The comment 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.

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.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov was quoted by media saying that the draft pre-judged the Syrian government as responsible for the attack.

"A political solution is the only to deal with the Syria issue," Wang said when meeting the press after talks with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki in Beijing.

China calls on the international community to maintain solidarity and continue to support the UN as the main channel of mediation, Wang said.

He 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.

"China will work till the last minute to seek common ground through consultation in the Security Council," he said.

Wang said Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected and that the country's problems mainly resolved by the Syrian people.
Thanks to GOED Director Ken Fitchler for the list of winners.

Congratulations to the Final 4:

4th  they also won about $7k in other prizes. Crepe Cuisine  A mobile food truck selling traditional French crepes with a local, Montanan twist to Missoulians looking for a unique and delicious food option. https://www.facebook.com/CrepeCuisineMontana/

3rd  Clark Fork Charcuterie  A retail and wholesale producer of locally cured and specialty meats, targeting customers seeking artisanally crafted products. https://www.clarkforkcharcuterie.com/

2nd  Ryffit Inc.  Ryffits allows musicians to create custom books of sheet music by popular artists which are then printed and mailed to their doorstep.

1st and they won additional prize money too. Cowboy Cricket Farms LLC  The first edible insect farm in Montana, providing a better protein for a better future. https://cowboy-cricket-farms.myshopify.com/

***

Missoula crepery, cricket farm among student startup pitches

Criticism isnt easy, but for the students who pitched their business plans on Thursday at the University of Montana, a dose of well-meaning advice was more welcome than it was bruising.

Sixteen teams https://www.facebook.com/JohnRuffattoBSC/ gathered in the Gilkey Center auditorium to compete for a combined $50,000 in prizes during this years John Ruffatto Business Startup Challenge http://www.business.umt.edu/competitions/startup/ .

The annual event represents Montanas largest opportunity for students attending any state college or university to present their business plan to a panel of judges and, at times, an investor or two.

Martin Kidston/Missoula Current

Full Story: http://www.missoulacurrent.com/business/2017/04/missoula-business-pitch/

***

Young entrepreneurs compete for funds at competition at the University of Montana

Kassi Soelter can crank out 30 crepes in an hour on a griddle she bought from France.

"Once we get our second griddle, well be able to double production speed, serve more customers and raise our profits," Soelter said.

The psychology student at the University of Montana is opening a food truck called Crepe Cuisine, and she pitched the concept Thursday at the 28th annual statewide John Ruffatto Business Startup Challenge.

KEILA SZPALLER [email protected]

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/young-entrepreneurs-compete-for-funds-at-competition-at-the-university/article_d6dac699-60c9-53f3-9e47-1db03961f966.html

***

Congratulations to the 2017 competitors:

Carroll College:

Pedenza  Designs top-of-the-line, handmade, floating wine bottle holders from fine hardwoods.

Montana Tech:

Healthy Eats  Inspired recipe generation tailored to you, whether cooking at home or out shopping.

UM:

Bonsai Communities  Tiny Homes under the Big Sky: A sustainable, affordable housing solution for Missoula.

Clark Fork Charcuterie  A retail and wholesale producer of locally cured and specialty meats, targeting customers seeking artisanally crafted products.

Crepe Cuisine  A mobile food truck selling traditional French crepes with a local, Montanan twist to Missoulians looking for a unique and delicious food option.

FeatureMe, LLC  For that impossible-to-shop-for friend or family member, FeatureMe offers the most unique and genuinely touching personalized gift: a story.

MatchMade  A project workforce software as a service designed to help leaders build teams through a suitability algorithm based on team member background, skill, preference and project type.

Miriams Inspired Skin Care  Providing natural, local nutrition for skin.

Ryffit Inc.  Ryffits allows musicians to create custom books of sheet music by popular artists which are then printed and mailed to their doorstep.

StrappedIn  A social platform that connects local amateur athletes to local companies through sponsorships in exchange for marketing.

TOMIS  A digital marketing assistant for tour operators.

Transcilator  An online science communication platform with a fact-checking component and a simple education model that explains trending science in a clear, concise manner that doesnt require a Ph.D. to understand.

UM and MSU:

Darktwin Studios  A game studio focused on decision-based storytelling.

MSU:

Cowboy Cricket Farms LLC  The first edible insect farm in Montana, providing a better protein for a better future.

Farmented  Dedicated to reducing waste in the form of grade "B" and excess vegetables on small, local farms by creating a new, innovative line of fermented goods for a health and Earth-conscious target market.

Sirberus  A breaching device that saves seconds to save lives.
Our range includes a flat range from 10-100 yards as well as a 20 target walking course for more realistic simulation of hunting scenarios.
Medical treatment partnerships would not only bring convenience to patients but also benefit the healthcare industry, Premier Li Keqiang said at the State Council executive meeting on April 12. A decision was made at the meeting to set up more medical treatment partnerships among big hospitals and grassroots medical centers.

They will help allocate medical resources in a more balanced way, encouraging doctors from top hospitals to work at the grassroots level, he said.

Human resources are what grassroots hospitals need most, he said.

During my visits to grassroots hospitals, people told me that it will be great if they can enjoy quality healthcare services near their home, he said. But a majority of high-quality medical resources are owned by top hospitals in big cities.

The reform will break barriers in administrative regions, financial input, human resources management, and health insurance. Medical treatment partnerships will be led by big hospitals and joined by multilevel healthcare institutions including community hospitals, rural clinics and specialty hospitals.

Patients healthcare data, medicines and prescriptions will be shared by partner medical institutions, and no procedures will be required for movement of medical staff among those institutions.

In addition, incentive mechanism was emphasized by the Premier, to encourage doctors in big hospitals to work at the grassroots level. He also asked authorities to modify healthcare insurance policies, guiding more patients to choose grassroots hospitals.

Building such mechanisms was also included in the government work report this year as an annual task.

In the coming years, the departments in charge must issue detailed plans on such partnership groups, the Premier said.

As the market for the healthcare industry is expanding, building treatment partnerships will benefit multiple stakeholders, particularly the patients, he said.
Rocky Mountain Bank http://www.rmbank.com is partnering with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center http://www.montana.edu/mmec/ here in Bozeman and Strategic Value Advisors here in Bozeman to host a 4 part Webinar ending with a 1/2 day Capstone Workshop for Montana Business owners.

The webinars and workshop are value training for Exit Planning and succession planning. The title is called "Be in the Five" The goal is to educate business owners, specifically those that are planning on selling their business in the next 5-10 years, on how to value their business and learn to achieve a successful exit.

With the baby boomers being the majority of business owners in the country and with so many of them getting ready to retire the MMEC and Rocky Mountain Bank would like to help that process go smoothly.

Full Event Information: http://www.matr.net/files/MMEC.PDF
In the South Pacific, software no longer needs a hard sell.

New Zealand has long wanted to be a tech hub, but distance was an issue. Now, at a moment of political upheaval around the globe, that isolation has become a selling point.

A municipal program to fly in 100 developers next month  wine them, dine them and offer them jobs  was expected to draw 2,500 applications. But the recruitment effort, called LookSee Wellington, was besieged with more than 48,000 entries, including workers at Google, Amazon, Facebook, M.I.T. and NASA. At one point so many people checked out the program that the website failed.

By JACQUELINE WILLIAMS and DAVID STREITFELD

Full Story: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/14/technology/new-zealand-tech-industry.html?hpw&rref=technology&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-regionion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0
McDowell citizens and members of local and state agencies met at Woodlawn Baptist Church on Thursday to discuss the Dobson Knob Fire, now estimated at 1,467 acres and 40 percent contained.

At 7 p.m. on Thursday, the North Carolina Forest Service, Emergency Management, Woodlawn and local fire departments and the Type 2 Incident Management Team (IMT) overseeing the fire held a community meeting at Woodlawn Baptist Church to inform the public on the fires progress and answer any questions.

Incident Commander Kevin Harvell brought the group up to speed.

We have bulldozer lines established on the north end where a lot of the smoke is coming from, and weve brought it down into our control lines to ensure it didnt spill into rough terrain, said Harvell, showing Thursdays map. Our objective is to keep the north, west and east side contained to those specific areas, and to bring the south end to lines previously established by the Bald Knob fire in our burnout operations, with structural protection in the Ashford and North Cove communities.

Fire Behavior Analyst John Cook spoke about difference between the Bald Knob fire in fall of 2015 and the current spring fire.

We havent had many leaves come in, and we didnt have much snow during the winter, and with 70 degree days, the leaves are turning into fuel, allowing it to grow as fast as it has, said Cook. We are 50 to 75 percent behind on rainfall, so were waiting on some help from above to provide moisture, but we are not in as bad of a situation as Bald Knob in regards to heavy logs and conditions making access difficult.

According to Fridays press release, weather for the incoming weekend may be warm and dry, which may add to fuel the fire, but the next week may provide relief in the form of showers and thunderstorms.

After members of the IMT and N.C. Forest Service spoke in regards to the drift smoke affecting McDowell  in which a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for Fine Particulates is in effect for McDowell, Burke, Mitchell and Avery counties  Emergency Services Director William Kehler addressed coordination between the local and state agencies.

It seems that were having to do this again on another holiday, said Kehler, referencing the Clear Creek fire near Thanksgiving last year. Heading into last Sunday when the fire was reported, there were no structures lost and no injuries and thats thanks to the Woodlawn, Marion, Ashford and other fire agencies. Weve been able to coordinate with the IMT and N.C. Forest Service to have special ops with EMS and Emergency Management around the fire to provide quick medical aid to injured personnel during the incident.

Afterward, the floor was opened to public comments and questions, among those included possible evacuations and shelters in response to fire growth and drift smoke.

At this time, we do not see the need for evacuations, but with weather not always predictable and current fuels adding to the fire growth, that could change, said Kehler. Should it happen, the IMT will make a recommendation with Emergency Management and will coordinate with law enforcement, and with that we try to give as much advanced notice as we can to eliminate surprises.

Elizabeth ONan, a resident of the Sugar Cove area, raised issues over implementing shelters too close to the drift smoke in previous incidents.

We were given really good notice in advance with the Clear Creek fire, but the shelter we were provided was in Nebo where there was a lot of smoke, she said.  we need enough shelters to where if the wind shifts, we can make sure that people are out of the way from the smoke.

We have at least 20 shelters planned in advance and will work with individual needs, responded Kehler, adding that wind shifts will have to be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

IMT said a burning ban was not needed at this time but did request that citizens be careful the next few days with open flames.

Trail closures continue in the fire area, including a portion of the Mountains to Sea Trail along the eastern and southeastern edges of the fire. National Forest trail and forest road closures can be found on the National Forests in North Carolina website at www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc .

As of Fridays press release, there are currently 213 personnel on scene. Additional fire information can be found on INCIWEB (inciweb.nwcg.gov/).
Although adults can beat children at most cognitive tasks, new research shows that children's limitations can sometimes be their strength.

In two studies, researchers found that adults were very good at remembering information they were told to focus on, and ignoring the rest. In contrast, 4- to 5-year-olds tended to pay attention to all the information that was presented to them - even when they were told to focus on one particular item. That helped children to notice things that adults didn't catch because of the grownups' selective attention.

"We often think of children as deficient in many skills when compared to adults. But sometimes what seems like a deficiency can actually be an advantage," said Vladimir Sloutsky, co-author of the study and professor of psychology at The Ohio State University.

"That's what we found in our study. Children are extremely curious and they tend to explore everything, which means their attention is spread out, even when they're asked to focus. That can sometimes be helpful."

The results have important implications for understanding how education environments affect children's learning, he said.

Sloutsky conducted the study with Daniel Plebanek, a graduate student in psychology at Ohio State. Their results were just published in the journal Psychological Science.

The first study involved 35 adults and 34 children who were 4 to 5 years old.

The participants were shown a computer screen with two shapes, with one shape overlaying the other. One of the shapes was red, the other green. The participants were told to pay attention to a shape of a particular color (say, the red shape).

The shapes then disappeared briefly, and another screen with shapes appeared. The participants had to report whether the shapes in the new screen were the same as in the previous screen.

In some cases, the shapes were exactly the same. In other cases, the target shape (the one participants were told to pay attention to) was different. But there were also instances where the non-target shape changed, even though it was not the one participants were told to notice.

Adults performed slightly better than children at noticing when the target shape changed, noticing it 94 percent of the time compared to 86 percent of the time for children.

"But the children were much better than adults at noticing when the non-target shape changed," Sloutsky said. Children noticed that change 77 percent of the time, compared to 63 percent of the time for adults.

"What we found is that children were paying attention to the shapes that they weren't required to," he said. "Adults, on the other hand, tended to focus only on what they were told was needed."

A second experiment involved the same participants. In this case, participants were shown drawings of artificial creatures with several different features. They might have an "X" on their body, or an "O"; they might have a lightning bolt on the end of their tail or a fluffy ball.

Participants were asked to find one feature, such as the "X" on the body among the "Os." They weren't told anything about the other features. Thus, their attention was attracted to "X" and "O", but not to the other features. Both children and adults found the "X" well, with adults being somewhat more accurate than children.

But when those features appeared on creatures in later screens, there was a big difference in what participants remembered. For features they were asked to attend to (i.e., "X" and "O"), adults and children were identical in remembering these features. But children were substantially more accurate than adults (72 percent versus 59 percent) at remembering features that they were not asked to attend to, such as the creatures' tails.

"The point is that children don't focus their attention as well as adults, even if you ask them to," Sloutsky said. "They end up noticing and remembering more."

Sloutsky said that adults would do well at noticing and remembering the ignored information in the studies, if they were told to pay attention to everything. But their ability to focus attention has a cost - they miss what they are not focused on.

The ability of adults to focus their attention - and children's tendency to distribute their attention more widely - both have positives and negatives.

"The ability to focus attention is what allows adults to sit in two-hour meetings and maintain long conversations, while ignoring distractions," Sloutsky said.

"But young children's use of distributed attention allows them to learn more in new and unfamiliar settings by taking in a lot of information."

The fact that children don't always do as well at focusing attention also shows the importance of designing the right learning environment in classrooms, Sloutsky said.

"Children can't handle a lot of distractions. They are always taking in information, even if it is not what you're trying to teach them. We need to make sure that we are aware of that and design our classrooms, textbooks and educational materials to help students succeed.

"Perhaps a boring classroom or a simple black and white worksheet means less distraction and more successful learning," Sloutsky added.

The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute for Educational Science.

Article: Costs of Selective Attention: When Children Notice What Adults Miss, Daniel J. Plebanek, Vladimir M. Sloutsky, Psychological Science, doi: 10.1177/0956797617693005, published 7 April 2017.
Craving some sushi, baos and Edamame? We list the best places for an authentic and delicious Asian fare in the city. So, head out now!

1. Pa Pa Ya

 Pa Pa Ya

The philosophy behind this place is simplepresent Asian food & drinks with a twist. This is done through a mix of molecular gastronomy and mixology, which has been used throughout the menu which is a mix from countries like Korea, China, Indonesia, Singapore, etc.

Must-haves: Sushi Matrix, Grill Chicken Tacos, Lamb Redang Curry

Average cost for two: Rs. 3000 approx

Address: Level 3, Palladium Mall, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel OR

Hotel Diplomat, Whitehouse Building, 24 - 26, Colaba

2. The Fatty Bao

 The Fatty Bao

Innovative Asian fare, a sexy bar and great service! It is the perfect destination for a quick lunch, a leisurely afternoon or an evening get-together among friends with cool cocktails and vibrant music too! The menu is a brimming one, with various choices.

Must-haves: Smoked green apple, Avocado & takuan sushi, Black Rice Sushi with Scallops and miso

Average cost for two: Rs. 2000 approx

Address: Ground Floor, Summerville, Junction of 14th and 33rd Road, Linking Road, Bandra West OR

2A, Ground Floor, Trade View Building, Oasis Complex, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Lower Parel

3. Dashanzi

 Dashanzi

Serving progressive modern Chinese and Japanese cuisine along with an electrifying bar experience that is perfectly paired with an interactive Sushi and Sashimi Bar, Xtreme Cantonese flavours and an interactive dessert table. A handcrafted and well balanced menu comprising of Asian Cocktails, Sake, Soju and more!

Must-haves: Nappa Hakusai, Signature Dumplings, Nilgiri Platter

Average cost for two: Rs. 3000 approx

Address: JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu

4. Jia  The Oriental Kitchen

 Jia

Serving with an array of fresh ingredients that have been imported from across the globe like Berkshire Pork from United Kingdom, Chillies from Thailand, Truffles from Italy, Edamame from Japan is a must-visit.

Must-haves: Jia Special Sushi Roll, Spicy Har Gow, Edamame Fried Rice

Average cost for two: Rs. 2500 approx

Address: 2, Dhanraj Mahal, C. S. Marg, Colaba

5. Shizusan Asian Shophouse and Bar

 Shizusan Asian Shophouse and Bar

Inspired by the 18th century shophouse boom during the colonial era, Shizusans story unfolds in our very own shophouse. Restaurant downstairs; a home-converted-into-a-bar upstairs and a menu that pays homage to the dishes you find in establishments across South East Asia. The ingredients used in them are fresh and honest. The techniques used to create them are true. We recommend that you put your head down and eat.

Must-haves: Taiwanese Miso Milk Broth, Kung Pao Red Pumpkin

Average cost for two: Rs. 1600 approx

Address: Skyzone, Ground Floor, Near Lifestyle Gate, High Street Phoenix Mall, Lower Parel

6. Joss

 Joss

Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Burmese and Korean dishes are presented with the thrilling balance of round and sharp notes, silky and spiky effects, coolness and heat. Suffice it to say that while the old Joss favourites are retained in their straightforward glory!

Must-haves: Massaman Red Curry with New Zealand Lamb Shank

Average cost for two: Rs. 2500 approx

Address: Savoy Chambers, Next To Mini Cooper Showroom, Santacruz West

7. Asia Kitchen and Bar

 Asia Kitchen and Bar

Their in-house concoctions are packed with a punch and are delicious. They are also presented in a very unique way that is sure to get one asking for more. The ambience of the place is very relaxing and at the same time can make you want to get up and party.

Must-haves: Fried Tuna rolls, Seabass and Truffle oil dumpling, Barbeque Chicken Bao

Average cost for two: Rs. 1200

Address: Sakinaka Junction, Andheri Kurla Road, Andheri East

8. Lemon Leaf

 Lemon Leaf

Whipping up some great dishes, with an edgy ambiance and good cocktails, and pocket friendly menu.

Must-haves: Sushi Platter, Chicken Sisig & Grilled Snapper, Sri Lankan Curry with Jasmine Rice.

Average cost for two: Rs. 2000 approx

Address: Colaba, Bandra or Andheri

9. Fifty Five East

 Fifty Five East

A five-star fine dine, that serves food to entice your taste buds! A bit expensive on your pockets, but if you are willing to spend it for a lavish Asian meal, it is totally worth!

Must-haves: Salmon Sushi

Average cost for two: Rs. 4500 approx

Address: Grand Hyatt, Off Western Express Highway, Santacruz East

10. Pan  Asian ITC Maratha

 ITC

Another five-star property, which is known for their Vegetarian Asian fare especially Sushis! So if you can splurge, to enjoy a good meal, this ones a great choice.

Must-haves: Veg Sushi, Chicken Sui Mai, Sticky Rice

Average cost for two: Rs. 5000

Address: ITC Maratha, Sahar Road, Chakala, Andheri East
The union minister has hailed the former prime minister for giving India a new direction.
Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Amanatidis will travel to Jerusalem on the morning of Holy Saturday to participate in the Holy Light ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The Deputy Minister will return on the government aircraft at 18:30 on the evening of the same day, bringing the Holy Light to Athens.
HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, MI -- An 18-year-old Holland woman was critically injured in a two-vehicle collision at Business Loop I-196 and 112th Avenue.

Aleigha Kent was a passenger in a vehicle that turned into the path of an oncoming vehicle about 4:10 p.m. Thursday, April 13.

She was flown by Aero Med helicopter to Spectrum Health Butterworth hospital after the crash.

Ottawa County sheriff's deputies said Kent was a front-seat passenger in a vehicle driven by 22-year-old Angelica Arizmendi of Holland.

Arizmendi was turning north onto 112th Avenue from Chicago Drive and had a flashing yellow light. However, police say she turned into the path of a westbound vehicle that had a green light.

The driver of the westbound vehicle, 33-year-old Jered Jacobs of Zeeland, was not injured. Two passengers in his vehicle also were not injured.

Police closed the business loop so that Aero Med helicopter could land near the scene.

Arizmendi also was injured and taken to Holland Hospital. She was listed in serious condition.
Voting around Jackson County

Jackson County voters fill out their ballots at Cascades Baptist Church on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. (Samantha Madar | Mlive.com)

(Samantha Madar)

A question and answer forum with four Democratic candidates for governor will be held Saturday in Lansing.

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Gretchen Whitmer, Kentiel White and Bill Cobbs will be featured at the event, scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. at the Avenue Cafe, 2021 E. Michigan Ave.

The four are competing for the 2018 Democratic nomination for governor. Rick Snyder is term-limited and cannot seek re-election.

The forum is sponsored by the Progressive Caucus of Mid Michigan

The candidates will answer questions put to them by attendees, representatives of progressive organizations and the moderator, former Lansing City Council President Ellen Beal.

"We want our community to meet all the candidates and get a feel for who is most fit to lead our state." said Mike McCurdy, chairman of the Progressive Caucus of Mid Michigan.

The event will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/ProgressiveCaucusMidMI/

PCMM represents residents of Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Shiawassee and Livingston counties.
cooper.JPG

A man, 19, was injured Sunday, April 9, on Franklin Street when an SUV pulled him while he was leaning in a passenger window. He man fell and went to Henry Ford Allegiance Health with what were considered serious, critical injuries. (Danielle Salisbury/MLive.com)

(Danielle Salisbury/MLive.com)

JACKSON, MI - Police have located the SUV that dragged a man more than 100 feet as he hung in its passenger window.

The 19-year-old man, who was injured in the April 9 incident, currently is on life support at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Jackson Interim Director of Police and Fire Services Elmer Hitt said.

On Tuesday, April 11, police located the SUV from the incident, a blue Ford Expedition, parked on E. Monroe Street and impounded it while they work to identify who was driving it, Hitt said.

Witnesses at the scene told police that at about 12:50 p.m., April 9, they saw the man lean into the open window of the SUV after it stopped and the SUV sped forward, taking the man with it, Hitt said.

The SUV began swerving, as if trying to get the man out of the vehicle, and traveled as far as 115 feet before the man fell out a short distance from S. Cooper Street, police said.

No arrests have been made at this time as police are still working to identify the driver, Hitt said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Jackson Police Department at 517-788-4100.
4-13-17 officer smith award.JPG

Israel Gray awards Officer Marc Smith with the first Outstanding Service Award, April 13, for his role in recovering a stolen wheelchair that was located at the home of a rescue call where a 4-year-old boy was burned.

(Nathan Clark | Mlive.com)

JACKSON, MI - Israel Gray is an average Jackson resident who likes to give credit where credit is due and recognize the good things going on.

To do this, he's started his own award program, and the first recipient is a guy who returned a stolen wheelchair to its owner last month.

Jackson Police Officer Marc Smith received Gray's first Outstanding Service Award on Thursday, April 13. He's the officer who, during a rescue call, found 19-year-old Romeo Rogers' stolen wheelchair at a home where a 4-year-old boy was badly burned.

"He went above and beyond the call of duty on this one, and I want to thank him on behalf of the citizens," Gray said.

Smith was speechless as Gray handed him a plaque and notarized certificate thanking him for his service on behalf of the people.

Smith and two city police lieutenants were responding to a report of the child who was burned March 2 at a home in the 400 block of Adams Street.

While police were at the scene, they noticed Rogers' wheelchair on the house's porch. Rogers, who has spina bifida, had his wheelchair stolen from his front lawn on Monday, Feb. 27.

Smith contacted Rogers and brought him his wheelchair after leaving the scene.

Gray said he saw everything Smith did that day, from checking on the burned child to noticing and returning the stolen wheelchair to its rightful owner, and believes Smith is an excellent candidate to receive the first award.

"I know officers get recognized by organizations and governments, but you don't really see them being recognized by the public," Gray said.

Gray said he is already on the lookout for the next person deserving recognition.
An Uncle Sam balloon floats down Sixth Avenue during the 87th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York November 28, 2013. REUTERS/Eric Thayer (UNITED STATES - Tags: SOCIETY ENTERTAINMENT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTX15WM0

A majority of right-wing American politicians are climate change deniers, consider global warming to be a hoax and blame emerging countries like India and China on the rising level of CO2 emission in the world.

During the Obama regime, many reforms were introduced to restrict rising levels of CO2 emission. Restrictions were put on the use of fossil fuel and many subsidies and incentives were introduced to boost the adoption of renewable sources of energy.



The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012

But in one fell swoop last month, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order which began the demolition of a wide range of Barack Obama's policies on global warming and climate change.

While the world is planning to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, US has rolled-back incentives that were powering the country's emerging renewable industry and now has lifted restrictions on the coal industry to create more mining jobs.

Despite numerous benefits, such hostility towards renewables is understandable as there is a profit motive attached to it.

"Led by the oil and gas industry, the energy and natural resources sector regularly pumps the vast majority of its campaign contributions into Republican coffers," says opensecrets.org, an American website that keeps a track of federal campaign contributions and lobbying data.

"Since the 1990 election cycle, interests from this sector have contributed more than two-thirds of its campaign contributions to Republican candidates. Another big contributor in this sector - and another big GOP supporter - is the electric utilities industry. Less generous, but even more partisan, is the mining industry," it adds.

For the 2015-2016 US election cycle, the energy/natural resources space donated around USD 87 million to Republicans and President Trump received a donation of USD 1,576,360 from this sector.

When such big money is brought in to the equation, it is understandable why Republicans turn a blind eye towards climate change and pass the buck on to the developing nations.

A few days ago, Republican politician Rick Santorum again passed the blame on to India and China for the increasing level of CO2 emission.

On Real Time with Bill Maher, when Santorum was asked to defend Trump's decision on the roll-back of subsidies to renewable industries, he said, "The vast majority of the new CO2 emissions is not coming from the United states, its coming from China, from India."

When Bill Maher, host of the show, said that 'these countries get it' and acknowledge the threat of climate change, Santorum disagreed and said, "No, they dont. They are building coal power plants right now in China, they are building them in India."

Fact check

It is true that there is an increase in carbon emission by India and China due to homegrown consumption and lack of infrastructure. But let's keep in mind that India's carbon emissions per capita are still 10 times lower and China's is half of that compared to the US.

According to the Climate Change Performance Index released this year, India's per capita emissions are still relatively low, but emissions are rapidly increasing.

"25 percent of the growing energy supply is covered by renewables, but there still is room for improvements. National experts value that the Indian government runs one of the largest renewable capacity expansion programmes in the world, which leads to a good policy performance for the country," it said.

The report acknowledges China's efforts towards the adoption of renewable energy despite it being the largest CO2 emitter.

"Chinas positive trend in the development of renewable energy which according to national energy experts is in line with the goal of a 20 percent share of its primary energy supply from renewable sources  is reflected by an improvement of four places in this category. National experts are positive about the possibility of CO2 emissions peaking before 2030, that is, earlier as planned," the report said.

The United States lost some ground in almost every index category, landing on rank 43.

"National experts have a differing opinion on their countrys performance in international policy contexts. While most of them stress that under the Obama administration, the US played a key leadership role in reaching global climate agreements, coming forward with bilateral announcements with decisive partners such as China, India, Mexico and Brazil, some experts criticised their country for hindering ambition on loss and damage within the Paris Agreement," the report said.

"With the results of the presidential elections of November 8, the future of recent progress in US climate policy is in real danger of regression," it added.

Accordingly to Indias Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the total renewable capacity including solar, wind, bio-mass and small hydro grew by around 11.2 GW in FY17, at par with thermal capacity addition, which registered a decline of 50 percent in the year.

Figure - Renewable and thermal power capacity addition, MW

Sources: CEA, MNRE, BRIDGE TO INDIA research

"The country added 5,526 MW of new solar capacity (up 83 percent over FY 2015-16) and 5,400 MW of new wind capacity (up 63 percent) in the year. While these numbers are impressive, it is worth noting that the solar capacity addition including rooftop solar is almost 50 percent below the annual target of 12,000 MW. In contrast, wind capacity addition was +35 percent over the 4,000 MW target," Bridge to India reports.

In 2015, China had the biggest financial commitment to renewable energy, investing over USD 100 billion, an increase from USD 3 billion just over 10 years ago.

Key data for top 5 CO2 emitters. Source: CCPI 2017

"Since 2015, India has emerged as the leading country for renewable deals outside the US, accounting for nearly 8 percent of global deal share. India received 21 deals to solar and wind companies, and 2 deals in bio-energy," CB Insights reports.

The renewable sector was emerging as a major job creator in the US but that trend might reverse now. Coal industry leaders have said that this move will not create jobs for miners as most of the process is now automated.

Using India and China as a scapegoat might help Uncle Sam in dodging tough questions but in the process they are hurting the climate and their economy.
mployees walk along a corridor in the Infosys campus in Bangalore (Image: Reuters)

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Kshitij Anand

Moneycontrol News





The March quarter earnings started on a muted note after Infosys delivered a below-par sequential performance with both revenue and margins missing Street estimates. There are plenty of headwinds for Indias second largest software exporter as it enters another year of the low growth environment.





USD revenue rose by just 0.7 percent on a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis with flat revenue in constant currency (CC) terms, which reflects pressure in Retail (-2.7 percent QoQ) and Healthcare (-12.4 percent QoQ) verticals, suggest experts.





The stocks slipped sharply on Thursday after it said that CC revenue growth guidance of 6.5-8.5 percent for FY18E which missed Street expectations of 7-9 percent.





The management has given a conservative revenue guidance of 6.5-8.5 percent in constant currency terms for FY18 and has also lowered its EBIT margin guidance to 23-25 percent citing visa concerns, higher investments in offshore and cross currency impact.





Infosys stock which closed 3.8 percent lower on Thursday broke below its 13-days exponential moving average (DEMA), 10-DEMA, and 5-DEMA. The supertrend indicator is also showing a downtrend for the stock while the MACD has already given a sell back in the month of March.





It looks like the trend is sharply on the downside and it makes sense for investors to get into Infosys only if they are planning not to sell the stock in near term. It is a good buy for investors who plan to stay in the stock for more than a year as valuations look inexpensive.





Things will not be easy for this software giant and worries like higher Visa costs, currency headwinds, and a slowdown in growth will continue to weigh on prices.





We expect a stronger rupee against US dollar, adverse macroeconomic environment, and H1-B visa to remain a key concern, Saji John, Research Analyst at Geojit Financial Services told Moneycontrol.com.





Most brokerage firms which released their views maintain their buy rating on the stock with a target price of up to Rs 1,249 which translates into an upside of over 30 percent from current levels.





But, nobody is gung-ho on the stock. It makes sense for investors to buy when the stock slips to Rs 850 but retains it for more than 2 years before you book profits.





AK Prabhakar, Head -Research at IDBI Capital advises investors to accumulate the stock if it slips below Rs 850-900 for medium to long term.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures as he addresses an election campaign rally in Allahabad, India, February 20, 2017. REUTERS/Jitendra Prakash - RTSZHO9

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday suggested an easy way for youngsters to make a quick buck this summer vacation. He said for every person you introduce to the BHIM app, you will get a cash back of Rs 10.

"If you refer a mere 20 people a day to the app, you can earn Rs 200," he said.

Notably, the PM had recently expressed gratitude to the people saying over the last few months the country had witnessed an atmosphere in which people in large numbers participated in the digital payment, the 'Digidhan' movement.

Pushing for a less-cash economy, PM Narendra Modi said the government's 'DigiDhan' movement for digital payment is a step towards curbing the menace of corruption.

While paying rich tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar on his 126th birth anniversary at the Deekshabhoomi here, the Prime Minister also launched two new schemes under the BHIM app for referral bonus to individual users and cash-back for merchants to incentivise them.

"This DigiDhan movement is a safai abhiyaan (cleanliness movement). It is to fight the menace of corruption," said Modi addressing a public rally here.

Commenting on the Aadhaar-based digital payment mobile application, he said, "The BHIM app is positively impacting several lives across the country."

"We are reaching a time when the mobile phones will be where financial transactions will take place," he said.

Developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the Aadhaar-linked Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) mobile app is based on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI).

In December 2016, Modi had launched the BHIM app for facilitating electronic payments by consumers. In March, the government launched Aadhaar Pay, a new Android-based smartphone app.

The BHIM-Aadhaar app will pave the way for making digital payments by using the Aadhaar platform.

It will enable every Indian citizen to pay digitally using their thumb imprint on a merchants' biometric-enabled device, which could be a smartphone having a biometric reader.

"Transactions can be possible (even) with less cash," Modi said.

Highlighting the importance of digital transactions, the PM said, "Five policemen guard an ATM. At times, there are problems in providing security to someone's life but there is security for ATMs."

"There was an era when the thumb was a sign of being illiterate. Now, the thumb (used for Aadhaar-based transactions) has become your strength," Modi said.

Awards of Rs 250 crore have been given boost to the less-cash transactions, he said.

"Those who have got this award should now become ambassadors of a less-cash campaign," he said.

Any citizen without access to smartphones, internet, debit or credit cards will be able to transact digitally through the BHIM Aadhaar platform.

Meanwhile, dwelling on the importance India attaches to renewable energy, Modi said, "One of the sectors towards which we are devoting significant effort is the renewable energy sector, which is vital in the 21st century."

Modi, who also laid the foundation stone for IIM, IIIT & AIIMS at Nagpur, said "the benefits of the projects inaugurated today will help our youngsters."

He also felicitated the winners of the mega draw of incentive schemes to promote digital payments -- the Lucky Grahak Yojana and DigiDhan Vyapaar Yojana.

Shradha, a girl from Latur in Maharashtra, who won Rs one crore, was felicitated by the PM.

Earlier, the PM paid tributes to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi, where the Dalit icon and architect of the Constitution embraced Buddhism in 1956 with a large number of followers.
The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana.
Education

Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu.

Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu.

Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events:

International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu.

EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu.

Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale  an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s  will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets  June Homecoming: Participant  $18 per person; Sustainer  $25 per person; Benefactor  $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler  Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events:

SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available  for information call 610-275-1960

Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above)

SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.  4 p.m.  computers are available during those hours.

Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863.

Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376.

Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com.

The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes:

Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at

other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020.

CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313.

The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events:

Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30.

Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301.

For Kids & Families

The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443.

Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950.

Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required.

The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950.

Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus.

Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage.

Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun.

Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train.

Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world!

Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class.

Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org.

Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583.

Community Events at the Ambler Y:

-YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register.

Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org.

Health

Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot.

The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information.

Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245.

Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net.

Spring Aquatic Programs  UDHS Pool:

-Summer is just around the corner  Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required.

 Shallow Water Aerobics  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR.

 Adult Swim Instructions  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR

-Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21.

-Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday  Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m.

-Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons.

-Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates.

Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994.

SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com.

Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org.

Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs:

FITNESS CLASSES

Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30  9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000.

Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30  7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047.

New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.  12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30  4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931.

Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325.

Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes.

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com.

Librarytalk

Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744

www.upperdublinlibrary.org

APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS:

Storytimes: Please register in the library.

o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.

o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m.

o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m.

o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6.

APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS:

North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee

APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS:

NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org.

One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register  contact info above.

Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744.

o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register.

Meetings:

Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m.

Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m.

Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org.

For children and teens at Blue Bell:

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m.

* May 14  Despicable Me

* June 11  Alpha and Omega

* Special Events

* April  watch for date of spring/Easter events

* April 14 at 4:30 p.m.  Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children.

* April 14 at 7 p.m.  Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided.

* April 16 at 1 p.m.  Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King.

* April 16 at 1:30 p.m.  Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes?

* April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button.

* April 30 through May 3  Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults.

* May  sign up for Science in the Summer

* June  sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children

* June  sign up for Summer Reading, all ages

For adults at Blue Bell:

* Daytime Book Discussion Group  fourth Tuesday, Jan  April at 1:30 p.m.

* April 26  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Night-time Book Discussion Group  third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

o April 19  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges

o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked?

*Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs

* Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class.

* Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class.

* Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m.

* Giant Book Sale, April 29  May 3

o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults!

o Held during library hours.

o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m.

o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join.

* Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series

o May 11 at 1 p.m.  Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society

* Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room.

* Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read.

* Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome.

* Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome.

*Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older.

* Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours

* Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours

* Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday!

Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library.

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* For adults:

* Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn.

* Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net

* Special Events:

* April 14 at 1:30 p.m.  Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.

* April 19 at 7 p.m.  Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m.

* April 21 at 7 p.m.  Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades.

*May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

*May 10  Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*May 12 at 1:30p.m.  Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.

*May 17  Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*June 13 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

Meetings and Lectures

The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833.

The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200.

The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/.

LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings.

Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org.

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org)

-Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them.

The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter.

For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps.

Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin.

Special Events

The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County.

The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065.

Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members.

Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex.

The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com.

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348.

The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org.

Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163.

The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu.

The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com.

The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net.

Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages.

13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries.

Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family.

The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler.

JPRN  Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them  Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike.

Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately.

Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways.

Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table.

Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp  Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall:

-Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store.

Music and Theater

The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220.

Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html.

Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free.

The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org

Religious News

The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276.

Reunions

St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net.

Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572.

Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779.

Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net

Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net

The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411.

Support

New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149.

PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931.

The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296.

Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656.

Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group  every other Wednesday, 7  8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support  second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner  Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers  Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information.

CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7  8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich,
LANSDALE  A Montgomery County mail-in ballot drop box opened late on Election Day. The drop box at the Lansdale District Court office at 430 Pennbrook Parkway was not open at 8 as promised, a voter reported in an email to The Reporter. The Montgomery County resident told MediaNews Group shed arrived 15 minutes prior to the scheduled 8 a.m....
Ex-choir director in Bucks County pleads no contest to molesting two students, secretly filming another
Rabbis installation at Keneseth Israel will get a boost of student creativity
April 14, 2017

Why North Korea Needs Nukes - And How To End That

(Updated below)

---

Media say,

the U.S. may

or may not

kill a number of North Koreans

for this or that

or no reason

but call North Korea

'the volatile and unpredictable regime' b.

Now consider what the U.S. media don't tell you about Korea:

BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China proposed "double suspension" to defuse the looming crisis on the Korean Peninsula, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday. "As a first step, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) may suspend its nuclear and missile activities in exchange for the suspension of large-scale U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) military exercises," Wang told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress.

...

Wang said the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is mainly between the DPRK and the United States, but China, as a next-door neighbor with a lips-and-teeth relationship with the Peninsula, is indispensable to the resolution of the issue.

FM Wang, 'the lips', undoubtedly transmitted an authorized message from North Korea: "The offer is (still) on the table and China supports it."

North Korea has made the very same offer in January 2015. The Obama administration rejected it. North Korea repeated the offer in April 2016 and the Obama administration rejected it again. This March the Chinese government conveyed and supported the long-standing North Korean offer. The U.S. government, now under the Trump administration, immediately rejected it again. The offer, made and rejected three years in a row, is sensible. Its rejection only led to a bigger nuclear arsenal and to more missiles with longer reach that will eventually be able to reach the United States.

North Korea is understandably nervous each and every time the U.S. and South Korea launch their very large yearly maneuvers and openly train for invading North Korea and for killing its government and people. The maneuvers have large negative impacts on North Korea's economy.

North Korea justifies its nuclear program as the economically optimal way to respond to these maneuvers.

Each time the U.S. and South Korea launch their very large maneuvers, the North Korean conscription army (1.2 million strong) has to go into a high state of defense readiness. Large maneuvers are a classic starting point for military attacks. The U.S.-South Korean maneuvers are (intentionally) held during the planting (April/May) or harvesting (August) season for rice when North Korea needs each and every hand in its few arable areas. Only 17% of the northern landmass is usable for agriculture and the climate in not favorable. The cropping season is short. Seeding and harvesting days require peak labor.

The southern maneuvers directly threaten the nutritional self-sufficiency of North Korea. In the later 1990s they were one of the reasons behind a severe famine. (Lack of hydrocarbons and fertilizer due to sanctions as well as a too rigid economic system were other main reasons.)

North Korean soldiers on agricultural duty - bigger

Its nuclear deterrent allows North Korea to reduce its conventional military readiness especially during the all important agricultural seasons. Labor withheld from the fields and elsewhere out of military necessity can go back to work. This is now the official North Korean policy known as 'byungjin'. (Byungjin started informally in the mid 2000nds after U.S. President Bush tuned up his hostile policy towards North Korea - Chronology of U.S.-North Korean Nuclear and Missile Diplomacy)

A guaranteed end of the yearly U.S. maneuvers would allow North Korea to lower its conventional defenses without relying on nukes. The link between the U.S. maneuvers and the nuclear deterrent North Korea is making in its repeated offer is a direct and logical connection.

The North Korean head of state Kim Jong-un has officially announced a no-first-use policy for its nuclear capabilities:

"As a responsible nuclear weapons state, our republic will not use a nuclear weapon unless its sovereignty is encroached upon by any aggressive hostile forces with nukes ," Kim told the Workers' Party of Korea congress in Pyongyang. Kim added that the North "will faithfully fulfill its obligation for non-proliferation and strive for the global denuclearization."

During the congress, as elsewhere, Kim Jong Un also emphasized (transcript, pdf, v. slow) the above described connection between nuclear armament and economic development. Summarized:

After decades of emphasizing military strength under his father, Korea is moving toward Kim's byongjin  a two-pronged approach aimed at enhancing nuclear might while improving living conditions.

The byongjin strategy, despised by the Obama administration, has been successful:

What are the sources of [North Korea's economic] growth? One explanation might be that less is now spent on the conventional military sector, while nuclear development at this stage is cheaperit may only cost 2 to 3 percent of GNP, according to some estimates. Theoretically, byungjin is more economy friendly than the previous songun or military-first policy which supposedly concentrated resources on the military.

To understand why North Korea fears U.S. aggressiveness consider the utter devastation caused mostly by the U.S. during the Korea War:

via Jeffrey Kaye - bigger

Imperial Japan occupied Korea from 1905 to 1945 and tried to assimilate it. A nominal communist resistance under Kim Il-sung and others fought against the Japanese occupation. After the Japanese WWII surrender in 1945 the U.S. controlled and occupied the mostly agricultural parts of Korea below the arbitrarily chosen 38th parallel line. The allied Soviet Union controlled the industrialized part above the line. They had agreed on a short trusteeship of a united and independent country. In the upcoming cold war the U.S. retracted on the agreement and in 1948 installed a South Korean proxy dictatorship under Syngman Rhee. This manifested an artificial border the Koreans had not asked for and did not want. The communists still commanded a strong and seasoned resistance movement in the south and hoped to reunite the country. The Korea War ensued. It utterly destroyed the country. All of Korea was severely effected but especially the industrialized north which lost about a third of its population and all of its reasonably well developed infrastructure - roads, factories and nearly all of its cities.

Every Korean family was effected. Ancestor worship is deeply embedded in the Korean psyche and its collectivist culture. No one has forgotten the near genocide and no one in Korea, north or south, wants to repeat the experience.

The country would reunite if China and the U.S. (and Russia) could agree upon its neutrality. That will not happen anytime soon. But the continued danger of an "accidental" war in Korea would be much diminished if the U.S. would accept the North Korean offer - an end to aggressive behavior like threatening maneuvers against the north, in exchange for a verified stop of the northern nuclear and missile programs. North Korea has to insist on this condition out of sheer economic necessity.

The U.S. government and the "western" media hide the rationality of the northern offer behind the propaganda phantasm of "the volatile and unpredictable regime".

But it is not Korea, neither north nor south, that is the "volatile and unpredictable" entity here.

Update:

Yesterday's Day of the Sun / Juche 105 (the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il-sung) parade in Pyongyang went along without a hitch and without interference from the U.S. side.

Several new types of missile carrying Transporter-Erector-Launcher vehicles (TELs) were shown. The three hour TV transmission is available here. The military equipment display starts around 2h14m; the nuclear capable carriers are seen from 2h20m onward.

An early-impression remark from The Diplomat: North Korea's 2017 Military Parade Was a Big Deal. Here Are the Major Takeaways

...

Even though Pyongyang withheld from testing this weekend amid rumors of possible retaliation by the United States, North Korea is still looking to improve its missile know-how. Moreover, the long-dreaded ICBM flight test also might not be too far off now. Given the ever-growing number of TELs  both wheeled and tracked  North Korea may soon field nuclear forces amply large that a conventional U.S.-South Korea first strike may find it impossible to fully disarm Pyongyang of a nuclear retaliatory capability. That would give the North Korean regime what its always sought with its nuclear and ballistic missile program: an absolute guarantee against coercive removal.

The "absolute guarantee against coercive removal" would, in consequence, allow for much smaller conventional forces and less resources spend on the military. This again will enable faster economic development for the people in North Korea. The byongjin strategy will have reached its aim.

Posted by b on April 14, 2017 at 13:09 UTC | Permalink

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Dr. Bob D. Shepherd, pastor-emeritus at First Baptist Church of Morganton, is having a milestone year.

2017 marks Shepherds 70th year in ministry, 65th year of marriage, 60th year serving as a pastor, and 55th year in the Rotary Club. He recently took time to reflect on his life and accomplishments.

Shepherd, who was born in Ossipee, North Carolina, moved to Athens, Georgia, when he was a year old. After graduating from high school in 1947, Shepherd took a position as minister of music and youth at West End Baptist Church in Athens. He met his future wife, Dolores, there when she joined the choir. The couple was married in 1952.

My wife has been my partner in ministry for 65 years, Shepherd said.

In addition to his position at the church, Shepherd worked as a sales manager at the Empire State Candy Company. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, in 1955. He was ordained as a minister in 1956 at Cross Keys Baptist Church in Macon, where he served as minister of music and youth before taking his first pastor position at Worthville Baptist Church in Worthville, Georgia, beginning his 60-year journey as a pastor.

I got called on more to speak than to sing, Shepherd said of his decision to change positions. I spoke at Worthville Baptist while I was at Cross Keys, and the next month, they asked me to be their pastor.

Shepherd stayed at Worthville Baptist for two years, then moved Wake Forest, North Carolina , in 1959, to serve as pastor of Bullock Baptist Church and attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity in 1963.

The Shepherds next moved to Mooresville, where Bob served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Mooresville for ten years before moving on to pastor First Baptist Church of Sanford.

Shepherd took a break from ministry in 1979 to serve as vice president of Gardner-Webb University, a position he held until 1982. His vice presidency ended when a GWU trustee recommended Shepherd work as a pastor search consultant to First Baptist Church of Morganton.

I went there to tell them how to find a pastor, and I became the pastor, Shepherd said.

Fred Schuszler, minister of education at FBC, described how Shepherd impacted the church.

Bob came to our church at a difficult time, when there was much discouragement in our congregation, Schuszler said. His bright, cheerful, optimistic, humorous personality and warm pastoral skills were very uplifting. Bob was a mentor to me in many ways, but especially in confirming my belief that laughter is an effective tool in ministry and a good sense of humor is a God-blessed spiritual discipline. He and Dolores are wonderful examples of servant leaders who love Jesus Christ and h is people. Their Christ-centered commitment extended far beyond the church walls to embrace and enrich the Morganton and Burke County community. 

Shepherd served at FBC for the next 12 years, retiring in 1994, the same year he received his Doctorate of Divinity from Gardner-Webb University.

"Working with Bob Shepherd was like a breath of fresh air," said FBC administrative assistant Cathy Rudicill, who was hired by Shepherd and worked with him for nearly a decade. "In the mornings, he always came in singing or whistling. Many of the songs he sang I did not know, but learned to love. Ninety-eight percent of the time, there was a smile on his face. Bob spent much time out and about visiting those who just needed a word of blessing from their pastor. He didnt mind stopping by their home to give them that blessing. His sense of humor is beyond compare. He loves to laugh as much as anyone, and he is known most for his hugs. Men, women, children, are all hugged the same.

"The first time my youngest son, Ryan, less than 2 at the time, met Bob, I said, 'Ryan, say hello to Mr. Shepherd.' Ryan looked up at him and said, 'Hi, Shepherd.' From that moment on, he has been 'Shepherd' to the Rudicill family, and Dolores has been Mama D. Twenty-eight years later, Shepherd married Ryan and (his wife), Rachelle."

Shepherd has remained active in retirement, serving 18 interim pastor positions while remaining the pastor-emeritus at FBC.

I have been so richly blessed over the almost 22 years I have been here to have Bob Shepherd as a fellow servant of Christ and as a close friend, said Dr. Tom Bland, the current senior minister at FBC. More than he will ever realize, Bob has served as a wonderful role model for me as well as mentor and, in every appropriate sense, occasional advisor. He and I have conducted so many funerals and memorial services together, along with a number of weddings. Bob has always been such an asset to me and to our church. (His) wonderful service at First Baptist has been positively exemplary and a true blessing to the people of this church and community. One of the great joys of my own ministerial career has been knowing Bob and loving him as a dear, dear friend.

Shepherd is a current trustee at GWU and a trustee-emeritus at Wake Forest University. He said members of the First Baptist Churches of Mooresville, Sanford and Morganton helped to establish a Bob D. Shepherd Chair of Biblical Studies at GWU, which allows for acclaimed religion scholars to teach there.

Bob Shepherd has made so many positive contributions to North Carolina Baptists, to churches, to lives of so many individuals, and to so many institutions that it is impossible to summarize them all, said GWU President Dr. Frank Bonner. One of those institutions is Gardner-Webb University, where Bob has given wonderful service in several terms as a trustee, not to mention his service a number of years ago as a member of the staff. He has been dedicated to Gardner-Webb, and the university is grateful. 

In addition to his pastoral and trustee duties, Shepherd also is a published writer. He wrote a weekly column for The Mooresville Tribune and currently writes a humor column for The Rotarian magazine, a periodical of the International Rotary Club, of which he has been a member for the past 55 years. He has been a member of the Rotary Club of Morganton since the 1980s and named the clubs Man of the Year in 1990.

"Dr. Bob Shepherd is one of the treasures of Morganton and western North Carolina, said Hugh Morgan, president of the Rotary Club of Morganton. I sensed soon after arriving and joining the club that Bob Shepherd was a landmark of this region, a man of great character and integrity mixed with a delightful sence of humor. He is a leader among all of the people with whom he is associated, and he does it in such a modest and unassuming way."

Last year, Shepherd compiled his many years of experience in a book called, A Shepherds Joys in Fields of Service.

I enjoyed the personal relationships, sharing the joys and sorrows with families, Shepherd said of his time pastoring churches. Weve maintained friendships with people at Mooresville, Sanford and Bullock.

Shepherd had some words of wisdom for those considering going into ministry.

Say as much as you can in as little time as possible as you share the good news, Shepherd said. Prepare not just theologically, but prepare for the wide range of responsibilities youre going to have, which includes working with youth, public relations, administration, bereavement and counseling. Pastors arent equipped to counsel, and yet thats the first person some people turn to. What you say in the pulpit is not that much more important than what you say in your personal relationships. I was not prepared for that. I had to make mistakes and learn as I went along.

Tammie Gercken can be reached at tgercken@morganton.com.
Posse saddles up to help children Russell Libby describes his golden palomino horse, Sonny, as the calmest, sweetest guy and his best friend for nearly two decades. Sonny is the reason Libby and his wife, Laura,...

Kris Kringle to support library programs The Moorpark Friends of the Library is offering the second annual Letter from Santa fundraiser. For a $25 donation to the Moorpark Friends of the Library, children will receive a...

Oakmont welcomes new executive director Ronda Wilkin, certified dementia practitioner and a senior living executive, joins Oakmont of Moorpark with more than three decades of experience in health and human services. During her 15 years...
An alleged poisoned candy incident earlier this week at an Odessa restaurant is not an immediate threat to the community, according to a report from the Odessa Police Department.

The department had immediately assigned the case to investigators with the Criminal Investigation Bureau because of the possible severity of this incident and safety concerns for our community, according to a Thursday press release from OPD.
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."
Branden Ray Trains Biceps Part 1 - Gold's Gym Venice

Written by Jordan Blechman

14 April 2017

Branden Ray Trains Biceps at Gold's Gym Venice - Part 1

IFBB Pro bodybuilder Branden Ray takes us through his biceps workout at the MECCA, Gold's Gym Venice. 13 weeks out from the Vancouver Pro, Branden talks about the struggle to drop down to 212lbs, being lean vs being contest shape ready & more.



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Star Wars Celebration in Orlando started with an star-studded, emotional bang Thursday.

Thousands packed the Galaxy Stage (Valencia ballroom) at the Orange County Convention Center for the "40 Years of Star Wars" panel at the 4-day Celebration festival.

Star Wars Celebration started Thursday in Orlando

Thousands coming to Orange County Convention Center

Expect huge crowds, lots of walking and standing, traffic

RELATED: What we're looking forward to at Star Wars Celebration

COMPLETE COVERAGE: Our digital media team will bring you the sights and sounds of Star Wars Celebration on the website and through our social media platforms.

Our digital media team will bring you the sights and sounds of Star Wars Celebration on the website and through our social media platforms. JUMP TO: The Sights and Sounds  Want to go? 7 things to know 



Although there were no major announcements this morning, the panel, with all its surprises, was everything die-hard fans could have hoped for.

George Lucas, the man who started it all, made an unannounced appearance. The "Star Wars" creator joined host Warwick Davis and talked about his early career and getting the story off the ground.

He was later joined by actors Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, Hayden Christensen and Mark Hamill, who shared stories about working on the films.

Another surprise guest was Harrison Ford, who drew loud cheers from the crowd. He talked about working with Lucas on "American Graffiti" and doing capentry, before joining "Star Wars."

Warwick joked about Ford's recent flying troubles as zoo as the actor took his seat. "How did we manage to keep it a secret, considering you landed your plane on I-4."

But with the laughter came the tears.

Actress Billie Lourd, daughter of the late Carrie Fisher, came on to introduce a special video tribute to her mother, who played Leia. Fisher died in December.

"My mom used to say she never knew where Princess Leia ended and Carrie Fisher began," Lourd said.

Lourd also related how much Fisher appreciated the fans who loved her.

"She loved you because you embraced all of her," Lourd said. "the strong soldier she was and the vulnerable side, who fought her own dark side."

"She was brilliant, and obviously we'll all miss her," said George Lucas of Fisher. "But she'll always be a princess who took command and never backed down, never was in jeopardy, she was always helping the other guys get out of the messes they created. So we'll all love her forever and ever."

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Then, the legendary composer John Williams, who wrote the music for the entire Star Wars saga, arrived to conduct an orchestra through several numbers, including "Princess Leia's theme," the "Star Wars" theme song and "The Imperial March."

"The Last Jedi" panel is the next presentation on everyone's radar. Hopefully, new details about the upcoming film will be shared.

Thousands from all over the world are in Orlando for the bi-annual convention, which has a guest list that includes "Rogue One" stars Felicity Jones, Forest Whitaker, Alan Tudyk and Riz Ahmed, classic trilogy star Mark Hamill, prequel trilogy star Hayden Christensen, and Rian Johnson, director of of the upcoming "Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi."

This is the third Star Wars Celebration event to take place in Orlando. But things are definitely different compared to past events. If you want to attend this weekend there are some things you should know.

7 things to know about Star Wars Celebration 

[&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;quot;//storify.com/spectrumfl/star-wars-celebration-day-1&amp;amp;amp;quot; _rte_href=&amp;amp;amp;quot;//storify.com/spectrumfl/star-wars-celebration-day-1&amp;amp;amp;quot; target=&amp;amp;amp;quot;_blank&amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;gt;View the story &amp;amp;amp;quot;Star Wars Celebration Day 1&amp;amp;amp;quot; on Storify&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;]

1. Tighter security.

Veterans of Orlando conventions are probably used to just getting their pass and walking into the main areas. At this year's Star Wars Celebration, be prepared for more security, including bag checks and even metal detectors. All attendees enter through the West Concourse Lobby E/F entrance. And if you leave the show, you will have to go through security again to get back in.

UPDATE: As Thursday morning went on and the crowd got larger, staff had to set up and add more metal detectors to get the long line of people through and into the event. The crowds are only expected to grow the weekend wears on.

Changes have been made to the entrance procedure for Friday. Check out the tweet below:

Attention, Star Wars fans! Here's an update about entry into Star Wars Celebration (@SW_Celebration) for Friday. #SWCO #OCCC pic.twitter.com/pu4ceGzMwG  OC Convention Center (@OCCC) April 13, 2017

2. Tickets.

Four-Day and Saturday tickets for Star Wars Celebration are already sold out. Thursday, Friday and Sunday single-day tickets are still available. If you want to attend, head to the Star Wars Celebration website for ticket prices.

3. The biggest events are happening Thursday and Friday, and you may have to sleep over to get in.

On Thursday morning, Celebration hosted a 40 Years of Star Wars panel that boasted major speakers. The panel for the next film, "The Last Jedi" will be held Friday morning with director Rian Johnson and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, again promising more surprises and special guests.

If you want to get into either panel, I suggest you pack your tooth brush and a pillow because you may have to sleep in.

Attendees slept over Wednesday night for Thursday morning for the 40th anniversary panel. Another sleepover is happening Thursday night for the Friday morning "The Last Jedi" panel. Celebration will allow people to line up until midnight, when the doors will be locked and no one will be allowed in again until 5 a.m.

The Celebration website said no one would be allowed to queue up for the panel before 8 p.m., but people camped out as early as Tuesday night for the first panel, as well as outside over night Wednesday. A line began forming for Friday on Thursday afternoon. So expect more of the same for Friday. This means if you can't arrive at the convention center until Friday morning you likely will not get into "The Last Jedi" panel.

Both live events are being held on the Galaxy Stage in the Valencia ballroom. Guests can catch a live stream from two other ballrooms if they don't get in, as well as the Star Wars.com Stage inside the exhibit hall.

4. Be prepared to queue.

Registration opens at 5 a.m. each day. That's when people will be allowed in to go through security and check their badges. From there, you go into one of several queues to pick up your badge. If you got your badge mailed to you, you then join one of several "queue chutes" -- the Exhibit Hall, or the wristband queues for the two biggest stage areas. All fans must enter "Star Wars" Celebration from the Queue Hall.

Also, the convention center is not allowing attendees to line up outside the convention center before 5 a.m. The convention center will disperse any fans who gather outside the entrances before 5 a.m., so plan to arrive at the convention center doors at 5 a.m. or later.

5. Wear comfortable shoes.

This Celebration appears to take up almost the entire West Concourse, according to the floor map. So prepare for a lot of walking and standing.

6. Be prepared for traffic tie-ups around South International Drive.

Big conventions always mean big traffic along I-Drive, but Saturday in particular may mean traffic tie-ups that have drivers stuck in their car for a while. So prepare to arrive early, and be patient.

Also, the Orange County Convention Center says its Center Line Circulator will be running this weekend. So you may consider parking further out and taking the Center Line Circulator shuttle.

We're expecting nearly 75,000 people at the #OCCC this weekend. Taking the Center Line Circulator is the best way to get around. pic.twitter.com/ZtmMd08IhZ  OC Convention Center (@OCCC) April 12, 2017

OCCC also says parking will be $10 for the weekend.

7. Disabled? Get a Medical Sticker.

Celebration does have a special sticker to help guests who need access help because they are disabled. Head to the Star Wars Celebration website to see the requirements and rules for the medical sticker.
Central Florida roads that were closed early Friday morning due to visibility issues from a brush fire have been reopened.

The Florida Highway Patrol tweeted this very earlier Friday morning, but now these roads are open:

SR528 EB@520 closed, SR528 WB@ I95 closed, SR407 SB to 528 closed. Please seek alternate routes. #troopers on scene. Use caution. pic.twitter.com/xAH6DRNh5t  FHP Orlando (@FhpOrlando) April 14, 2017

Several Central Florida counties, including Seminole, Osceola and Brevard, have burn bans in place. The bans mean no open burning, including campfires, bonfires, trash burning and other incinerations.

On Thursday, Orange County joined others in the fire ban. Citing "extreme fire conditions," Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs on Thursday issued a local state of emergency to protect residents, visitors and properties.

Nearby counties, including Polk, Hernando and Okeechobee, also have burn bans.

Gov. Rick Scott issued a state of emergency Tuesday, April 11.

And the latest Central Florida forecast is not calling for rain anytime soon.
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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
Community activists, police watchdogs and others gathered on the steps of the San Francisco Hall of Justice on Friday to pressure District Attorney George Gascon as he makes charging decisions in police shootings that have stirred intense debate in the city.

The demonstration was held after Gascon said Wednesday that he found insufficient evidence that two plainclothes police officers committed a crime when they fatally shot Amilcar Perez-Lopez, 21, in the Mission District in February 2015.

He was struck six times in the back, but the officers said they were forced to fire to protect themselves and another man from Perez-Lopez after he chased that man down the street with a knife.

We disagree with the district attorney, said the Rev. Richard Smith of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist. The district attorney needed to bring this case to court.

Smith wore a white T-shirt with a picture of Perez-Lopezs face and the words Justice for Amilcar and Six shots to the back! on the front. He was joined by members of Mothers on the March, who gather outside the Hall of Justice every Friday from noon to 2 p.m. attempting to raise awareness about what they consider unjust killings.

Smith was surrounded by more than two dozen others who held up photos of people who had been fatally shot by police officers in San Francisco. They included Mario Woods, a 26-year-old stabbing suspect whose killing in December 2015 in the Bayview prompted outrage when footage of the incident was posted on social media, and Luis Gongora, a 45-year-old homeless man who was fatally shot in April 2016 by two officers in the Mission District.

Gascon must make charging decisions in those and eight other cases, including the May 2016 killing of Jessica Williams, a 29-year-old woman who was shot by a police sergeant as she attempted to escape in a stolen car in the Bayview. She was unarmed.

Those who gathered called for Gascon to hold a public forum on his decision in the Perez-Lopez case.

Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the district attorneys office, said the office had reached out Thursday to Smith, who said he was unavailable to meet that day. When the office suggested Friday, Bastian said, Smith explained he couldnt meet because it was Good Friday, while saying he was unavailable next week as well.

Bastian said the office has offered to brief the community advocates on the shooting cases, but has not received a reply.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
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BARTs Warm Springs/South Fremont station is shiny, clean and just 3 weeks old. But already new riders are being introduced to some of the transit systems traditions: broken escalators, closed restrooms and even puddles of urine in the elevators.

After riders reported that an escalator at the station was shut down and under repair, The Chronicle paid a visit Friday. When a reporter and photographer arrived, all six were working  but not for long. About an hour later, the middle of three elevators at the station entrance stopped abruptly, and the station agent blocked it with strands of yellow caution tape.

Inside, one of the two all-gender restrooms was closed  dramatically blocked with a tangle of yellow tape  and one of the many ticket machines wore a handwritten sign warning that, like some mom-and-pop businesses, it accepted only cash.

But everything else  the drinking fountains, the four elevators, the remarkably clear public address system, the ticket machines, the fare gates and the train destination signs  all appeared to be in working order. As one might expect from a brand-spanking new station.

Just a few passengers flowed through the fare gates and down the escalators to the platform to wait for trains midmorning Friday. Several toured the station, pausing to take pictures and marvel at its shininess.

A station agent, who declined to give her name, acknowledged that the escalators have shut down occasionally, sometimes when patrons inadvertently caused them to stop.

They go out of service every now and then. It could be a bike hitting the skirt, she said, referring to the escalators lower side panel.

She declined to answer further questions.

At BART headquarters, 11 stations north on the Richmond line, spokesman Taylor Huckaby said officials were aware of some troubles with the stations escalators. At 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and 5:30 a.m. Thursday, he said, two separate escalators shut down at Warm Springs/South Fremont because of mechanical problems. Both were repaired and back in service by noon Thursday. He said he had not been made aware of Fridays escalator shutdown.

Jim Allison, another BART spokesman, said there was no pattern to the escalator breakdowns, and no mechanical issues had been identified.

Huckaby said the escalators are under a two-year warranty, which requires the manufacturer, Schindler, to arrive at the station and start repairs within four hours. That happened in both cases, he said.

He said he was not aware of the restroom closure or any ongoing problems with the new stations restrooms. But he did say that BART cleanup crews received their first urine cleanup call in a Warm Springs elevator on March 31.

Chronicle staff photographer Natasha Dangond contributed to this report.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
After two years of stalled plans, electric car maker Tesla Motors is about a week away from finally opening San Antonios first Tesla showroom and service center.

But you still wont be able to buy any of the companys vehicles there.

Instead, the showroom, tentatively set to open Friday on the Northwest Side, will serve as an educational hub for potential customers to test drive and learn about the electric vehicles functions, according to a company spokeswoman who asked not to be identified.

Tesla is not allowed by law to sell its vehicles directly in Texas. The automaker has been working since 2013 to get the law changed, but Texas auto dealerships have stiffly resisted legislation that would allow direct sales. The dealers successfully defeated attempts to change the law in 2013 and 2015. But Tesla hasnt given up the battle. New legislation has been introduced for this years legislative session.

In the meantime, Tesla has been opening showrooms in the state. Although its already opened eight sites in Texas, none of those are in San Antonio. The closest showroom and service center for San Antonians has been one in Austin.

But Tesla is wrapping up a $250,000 renovation to turn the 13,000-square-foot building at 23011 Interstate 10 West into the states newest gallery and service center. The building, which is across from The Dominion, used to serve as the San Antonio headquarters of cybersecurity company E-Watch.

The opening of the showroom comes after two previous attempts to move into the San Antonio market. The first was a February 2015 request to build a two-story, 24,475-square-foot showroom east of U.S. 281 at Loop 1604 that fizzled out. The second attempt, a proposal for a site near The Shops at La Cantera, was rejected by the Zoning Commission due to concerns over contamination risks to the Edwards Aquifer posed by the storage of lithium-ion car batteries stored on site.

While Tesla has struggled to open a showroom in San Antonio, it has built some of the needed infrastructure. Five charging stations are located at downtown hotels, while a sixth is at a Northwest Side hotel. But those chargers are reserved for hotel patrons. The closest Supercharger stations  which can recharge a Model S sedan or Model X SUV in roughly 30 minutes  are located in San Marcos and Three Rivers. A third is located in Victoria.

rdruzin@express-news.net

@druz_journo
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Dont go into the new round of Fargo expecting the grab-em-by-the-throat shocks that opened previous seasons of TVs chilliest crime anthology.

The latest incarnation of the FX series from Noah Hawley takes its time worming into your mind and getting you hooked.

Season three establishes its characters at a much more leisurely pace: the central quartet, the unscrupulous locals who surround them and the sinister interlopers who make these drab Minnesota lives more complicated and, eventually, scary as heck.

Episode one does contain murders, but not the kind that make your eyes bug out and your mouth hang open, such as the three shootings by Lorne Malvo and Lester Nygaard in the shows 2014 premiere or the Waffle Hut bloodbath in the opener of season two.

The first slaying is perpetrated off-screen, and the one we do see is wacky to the point of ludicrous  more apt to prompt giggles than stunned silence.

Like its two TV predecessors and the Coen Brothers movie that inspired them, however, Fargos latest round certainly isnt wanting in colorful personalities  some cruel, others dense and a few who actually are fairly endearing.

The Fargoesque dialogue weve grown to expect is as juicy here, if not juicier, than in previous outings.

Were treated to the usual ya knows and you betchas, but also lots of verbal instances that are so creative you want to grab a pencil and write em down. And, as always, the talk is made even more delicious by that crazy Minnesota accent.

FX starts unfurling 10 new episodes at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

An exceptional cast, led by standout Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting), is perhaps the new seasons biggest plus.

The Scottish actor, in fact, doubles our pleasure here by playing two roles  brothers Emmit and Ray Stussy  and making us forget all the while that one man is behind both.

The year is 2010, somewhere around Christmas. A tuxedo-jacketed Emmit, whos known as The Parking Lot King of Minnesota, is hosting a fancy anniversary party in his posh colonial-style mansion to celebrate his seemingly perfect life. He toasts his faithful wife of 25 years, their beloved daughter and the wealth and success that define him.

Enter his slightly younger brother Ray, who actually looks a lot older thanks to thinning and scraggly hair, a pot belly and a chip on his shoulder so big it actually causes him to hunch over. He blames his sibling for the comparatively poor hand he has been dealt. A parole officer, Ray barely makes enough to get by.

McGregor didnt hold back in his descriptions of how hard it was to capture these two distinct personalities, not to mention the Minnesota accent, which he described as really very, very difficult.

Its a very strange accent to lock into, he told TV critics at an FX press session. Its the hardest accent Ive ever done. And I did Dutch once in something. I thought that was quite hard, but this is worse. And also because its very familiar (an accent that everybody knows from the movie and from seasons one and two), so our audiences ear is attuned to it.

And then, within that accent, to try to find Rays voice and Emmits voice, which are obviously not the same. So theres a lot to play with here, which is great.

McGregor said he loved getting into the skins of the two brothers, even shaving his head to accommodate the wigs that turn him into Ray and Emmit.

Though Emmit has much finer trappings, the one area in which Ray feels like a winner is his love life. Right away, we see the visual incongruity between this lackluster man and the slinky, catlike stunner by his side.

Closer inspection explains the attraction, however. Nikki Swango (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, 10 Cloverfield Lane) is a recent parolee who feels shes the one whos hooked onto the prize: her parole officer. Ray may be more sows ear than silk purse, but at least hes on the right side of the law  at first, anyway.

Whats more, they both have a passion for competitive bridge and, as she so colorfully puts it, a true connection as partners.

Were simpatico to the point of spooky, she purrs.

Winstead described Nikki as incredibly smart and savvy and, I think, (with) the capacity to be conniving.

But I think she has a heart, she added. So its nice. One of the things that Noah said was that he likes all the characters to be able to feel like they could be a villain at any given moment or a hero at any given moment.

One of the things that makes Nikki more unsavory than nice is her effect on Ray. His desperate desire to get her an impressive ring sends him on a criminal path to steal one of the coveted  and valuable  stamps Emmit took after their dads death. Although Ray inherited the collection, he traded it to Emmitt for his red Corvette, which hasnt aged well. Feeling he was tricked, he embarks on a plan to rob his brother and get what he believes is coming to him.

Emmit is preoccupied by his own worries. During the financial crisis of 2008, the parking lot mogul reached out to anyone who would grant him the sizable loan he needed to stay afloat. Unfortunately, that lender, who is represented by a threatening visitor from Britain, V.M. Varga (David Thewlis of the Harry Potter franchise), now insists that the loan was really an investment in Emmits business.

As is always the case with Fargo, this one does have a conscience. Here, as in past seasons, the bright spot amid the greed is a law enforcer, Eden Valley police chief Gloria Burgle (Carrie Coon, The Leftovers).

The divorced mom, whod rather talk than text, comes through as out of place in a world thats increasingly dependent on smart phones and computers.

To illustrate this, executive producer Warren Littlefield mentioned a scene in which Coons character is about to board a plane.

She notices everyone around her has their heads down and their face in their phone, and no one is communicating. No one is talking, and I think, from her perspective, that seems rather strange, he said. That seems very alien. So Noah is going to have a lot of fun commenting on and embracing the world as it is almost today.

Jeanne Jakles column appears Wednesdays and Sundays in mySA.

jjakle@express-news.net
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For a short time this afternoon, the owners of Nectar Wine Bar & Ale House mistakenly were locked out their bar.

Just Before 4 p.m., Rob Stephens, who co-owns the bar with his wife Rachel, said they were back in and setting up service for Tuesday night.

"There was some confusion," Rob Stephen said. The bar still is planning that Friday April 28 will be its last day.

Around 1 p.m., a lockout notice from landlord Alamo Community Group went up at the downtown bar on at 214 Broadway. Alamo Community Group claimed Rachel and Rob Stephens (Livin the Dream LLC) owed delinquent rent and attorney's fees totaling about $5,600.

An attorney for Alamo Community Group did not calls requesting comment.

Earlier this month, the Stephenses emailed patrons to announce that April 28 would be the last day for Nectar, after two years in operation.

They wrote, "We had a vision of a beautiful place where people could come and enjoy great wine, beautiful food and great conversation in a relaxed environment.

"Our intention was to make you feel as if though you are in our home. I feel we accomplished that."

The Stephenses moved from San Diego to San Antonio to work for Boeing, then opened their business as their next step out of the corporate world.

Rachel Stephens designed Nectar and her husband made the furniture himself out old barn doors, according to San Antonio Express-News archives.

Express-News News Researcher Michael Knoop contributed to this report.

espicer@express-news.net

Twitter: @Spiced1

Instagram: @spiceoflife_en
Starting Saturday, Bexar Pub will serve a limited menu. Sadly, if you want the Folc Burger, named the best in Texas by Texas Monthly, you will have to wait a few days more.

Co-owner Daniel Eisenhauer said that this Saturday and Sunday from 3 p.m. to late night, the pub will concentrate on chicken and poke. He expects the full menu to be up and served next week, with weekend brunch starting April 22 or the week after.
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Spending a night underneath Texas' big, bright, starry sky is a favorite for any lover of the outdoors, but choosing the best campsite can be tricky.

If you're an experienced camper, you might prefer sites that require a short hike to get to. Camping novices might want to stay close to a restroom. And those traveling via RV might prefer an electric hookup.

At the end of the day it's a matter of personal preference. But not all campsites are the same, and some are definitely better than others.

RELATED: The 10 most popular Texas state parks in 2016

We talked to Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine as well as staff from parks around the state to find out the best place to pitch your tent. Most of the recommended campsites put visitors closest to the parks' most unique features  at one of the "walk-in" campsites at Enchanted Rock, among the tall pine trees at Huntsville State Park or in a vista among Big Bend Ranch State Park's vast mountains.

Take a look at the best campsites to claim at Texas state parks in the gallery above.

TPWD's online reservation system allows campers to make reservations up to 11 months in advance. Many park employees noted, however, that certain campsites are first-come, first-serve  meaning you make a reservation for the type of campsite you want, then choose a specific site once arriving at the park.

So if you want site No. 143 at Garner State Park  the peaceful, slightly more secluded site that overlooks the Frio River and offers spectacular sunrise and sunset views  you'll still have to beat other campers to the punch.

RELATED: 10 cabins near Garner State Park and the Frio River perfect for a Texas getaway

erobinson@mysa.com

Twitter: @eeelizzzabeth
1 Witness recants: The key witness in a murder that sent a teenage boy to prison in Maine for 27 years recanted Thursday and accused authorities of coercing her testimony. The stunning declaration led a judge in Portland to set bail in the case, drawing a gasp from the packed courtroom and sending the defendants 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. Justice Joyce Wheeler set bail at $25,000, which Sanborns family and friends posted later Thursday to get him released.

2 Babies infected: Over the course of eight months, the lethal bacteria MRSA infected 10 already critically ill infants in the UC Irvine Medical Centers neonatal intensive care unit  an outbreak that the public is only finding out about now. None of the infants died, hospital officials said. Yet university 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.
In a 3-2 vote April 11, Montgomery County commissioners shot down a proposal for regular workshop meetings in order to have more discussion on agenda items.

The court agreed to continue with the practice of having workshops as needed but would not adopt a new practice to have a workshop before each regular meeting.

Precinct 4 Commissioners Jim Clark and Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack support workshops.

"I have done some research on this," said Clark, adding that several counties the size of Montgomery County or larger have workshops for discussion before regular meetings. "I think with the climate and the way the county has grown and the amount of dollars we are dealing with, it's not very prudent to think we can get everything handled without communication."

Clark, who placed the item on the court's April 11 agenda, said a format where the court could meet publicly to have more discussion on agenda items makes sense.

However, County Judge Craig Doyal, Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador and Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley don't think the regular workshops are necessary.

"The (city of Conroe) does it because these guys aren't full-time employees of the city; they aren't in their offices like we are all the time," Meador said. "There is plenty of opportunity for interaction with the public and our office without a workshop."

Doyal echoed Meador.

Roof repair program could save $14M

As budget workshops inch closer, commissioners will review a program to address the roof rehabilitation or replacement of county buildings that could save millions in the long run.

Building Maintenance Director Paul Case presented a report detailing the roof condition of the county's 105 buildings. Many of the roofs are over 20 years old. Some are in critical need of repair or replacement, while others are in fair condition.

Case said if the county opts to do rehabilitation instead of waiting to replace roofs, it could save the county more $14 million over 10 years. The plan, Case said, would require about $1.3 million a year for 10 years to ensure all buildings are addressed without seeing the cost fluctuate each year.

The court accepted the report and will revisit the issue during its budget workshops scheduled for July.

Inman remains on Ethics Committee

Commissioners unanimously agreed to keep Dale Inman on the county's newly formed Ethics Committee amid concerns brought to the County Attorney's Office regarding his relationship with other county and state employees.

County Attorney J D Lambright spoke to the court after receiving several inquiries about Inman, who is the son-in-law of Judge Olen Underwood, of the Second Administrative Judicial Region of Texas. Lambright also noted that while Underwood is a state employee, he does have staff members on the county payroll and has been in a long-term relationship with a Montgomery County elected official.

"When it came to the ethics board, we were trying to avoid any appearance of impropriety or relationships that might be a problem," said Lambright, noting he did not have an opinion regarding Inman's placement on the committee but did encourage the court to avoid placing members on the committee who might be related to county employees or were former county employees. "After all, it is an ethics committee."

In four separate votes during their March 28 meeting, commissioners approved the five-member committee only after a handful of nominees were struck from consideration due to possible conflicts.

The court selected Dorothy Woodall and Larry Foerster as the court's appointments. Next, in three unanimous votes, the court appointed Inman, Kelli Cooper and Matthew Koppleman as the three additional members.

Inman was nominated by the County Auditor's Office. He is the owner and primary agent of Nationwide Insurance Agency, a senior pastor at Calvary Road Baptist Church and an adjunct faculty member at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

During the selection process March 28, Inman answered commissioners' questions regarding his possible aspirations to run for a county-elected position and volunteered information about a real estate endeavor in New Waverly. However, Inman never mentioned that he is related to Underwood.

The court agreed Inman did not have a conflict.

The committee was created under the county's new ethics policy, which was adopted in January and went into effect Feb. 1. The new policy was crafted by Lambright's office. Committee members will serve two-year terms.
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
The Houston crime-scene investigator blamed for errors that could jeopardize dozens of criminal cases was investigated once before because of suspected mistakes, including shoddy work on two officer-involved shootings, according to an internal review released Thursday.

The results, compiled in a May 2016 report, led to additional forensics training and clearance for the investigator to return to work at the Houston Forensic Science Center, the independent crime lab that processes evidence for hundreds of cases each year.

The investigator's mistakes came to light this week in a crime lab audit sent to the Harris County District Attorney's Office that outlined issues with key evidence in 65 cases, including 26 homicides, five officer-involved shootings and six child deaths since 2015.

The disclosure Thursday that he had prior problems brought swift criticism from Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association President Tyler Flood, who alerted his members to review cases that may have been handled by the investigator.

"You should not have people who are not adequately trained in these positions, period, handling  murder cases and responsible for maintaining evidence and maintaining the integrity of evidence," Flood said Thursday. "He was not only trained, he was double-trained. You either train them to do the job the right way, or you don't let them do the job."

An assistant district attorney first raised questions about the investigator's work in two officer-involved shootings from 2015. That inquiry prompted Jerry Pena, director of the forensic center's evidence collection division, to initiate an internal review.

The May 2016 report was completed by a sergeant, who served as a technical supervisor in the center's evidence collection division. The review examined an August 2015 shooting involving a Texas Southern University officer responding to an active shooter at a campus apartment complex and an October 2015 shooting involving a Houston Police Department officer ambushed by armed teens while driving his personal vehicle.

The review determined that in both shootings, the investigator overlooked evidence and failed to enter key information into computer tracking systems.

In the TSU shooting, he did not take photos of the crime scene, officer or murder suspect; he overlooked a cartridge casing that had rolled under the vehicle; and he did not collect the officer's weapon for testing.

"There were things that should have been done that were not," the report said. "There was evidence that was found but not documented. There was evidence that should have been found, but was not."

The investigator, Justin McGee - a Houston police officer who has now gone back to patrol - has not been available for comment. He joined the Houston Forensic Science Center in July 2014 and was "one of the more senior people on the night shift," according to the report.

His supervisor, HPD Sgt. Jeff Cruser, was cited in the audit for failing to catch McGee's mistakes during routine checks and has been removed temporarily from service, officials said. He likewise could not be reached for comment.

The technical supervisor who wrote the report concluded the investigator was "trainable" and had expressed a desire to remain with the crime scene unit, so he did.

But the errors continued, according to the audit that followed less than a year later.

A supervisor who started working in January questioned the investigator's work, prompting a broad-based review of 88 cases handled by him since 2015, forensic science center spokeswoman Ramit Plushnick-Masti said Thursday.

The audit released this week found that 65 cases 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 on a bed or a belt used to strike a homicide victim - 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 revelations were the latest in a string of evidence-related problems that have left prosecutors reviewing hundreds of cases in the past year.

The district attorney's office learned about the widespread problems revealed by the audit on April 3 from the forensic science center and began notifying defense attorneys late Tuesday.

On Thursday, First Assistant Harris County District Attorney Tom Berg emphasized that the office is "vigilant" about mistakes.

"We have a responsibility, when we find them, to bring them to the attention of the courts, defense lawyers and investigative agencies," he said in a statement.

Police Chief Art Acevedo said Wednesday that the department will conduct an "administrative inquiry" into the problems.

Plushnick-Masti, meanwhile, said the latest revelations have helped the forensic center improve its practices and procedures.

"We have changed some protocols, in collaboration with HPD, to address some of the findings, such as having two crime scene investigators at all officer-involved shootings," she said.
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Three males smashed their pickup truck into a Montrose area gas station and stole an ATM machine early Friday morning, according to Houston police.

Police believe the men rammed their stolen white Ford pick-up truck around 1:30 a.m. into a Shell gas station at 1010 West Alabama Street.

The employee working inside the store said he heard what sounded like a bomb. He then walked to the cash register at the front of the store and raised his hands in the air.

The employee watched as the suspects, whose faces were covered, removed the ATM machine and took off with it in their car.

Houston police later found the truck abandoned in a ditch in at Audubon Place near Marshall Street. They also found another vehicle abandoned at 3700 Audubon Place with the ATM machine inside.

Police believe the suspects moved the ATM machine from one vehicle to the other and then fled the scene.

The back of the white pick-up truck had damage and police officers think the suspects probably rear-ended the car into the business.

The employee was not injured during the robbery. Police said the suspects remain at large but will review any surveillance video from the gas station.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477 or HPD Burglary & Theft Division at 713-308-0900.
In the two months before outgoing District 8 City Councilman Ron Nirenberg officially declared hed leave the seat to challenge incumbent Ivy Taylor for mayor, Manny Pelaez had already hired a campaign consultant, rented office space and spent a few hundred dollars on campaign ball caps.

But the early move wasnt indicative of being particularly savvy in reading the political tea leaves. It was clear by last summer that Nirenberg intended to run for mayor.

The plan to get in early worked, though. With a backdrop of years of public service, Pelaez was eager to run for office, officially becoming the first declared candidate. He quickly collected significant campaign contributions and endorsements that often ward off other would-be candidates.

By the end of 2016, hed raised more than $26,000 to seed his campaign and was facing only one other hopeful  USAA product management manager Tony Valdivia, fresh off a 2016 presidential bid in which he acknowledged the infinitesimally small odds of winning. Eventually, four others would enter the May 6 race, including longtime business owner Pat Stout.

I want to make sure that whoever represents District 8 is someone who knows the issues, understands them, has experience in business and contracting and also has an attitude of honesty, she said.

The race also includes Paul Martin, a U.S. Army veteran and investment adviser; Shane Hinze, who lists his occupation as full time UTSA; and Cynthia Brehm, who ran as one of 14 mayoral candidates in the 2015 race. She finished sixth with 1,498 votes.

More Information District 8 candidates Manny Pelaez Age: 43 Education: J.D., St. Mary's University School of Law; B.A., Trinity University Occupation: Lawyer Family: Married, two children Offices held: Board member, Metropolitan Planning Organization, VIA Metropolitan Transit; chairman, Brooks City Base Development Authority Shane Hinze Age: 25 Occupation: Full-time student, University of Texas at San Antonio Paul Martin Age: 64 Education: B.A., St. John's College Occupation: Owner, Martin Capital Advisors LLP; U.S. Army veteran Family: Single Offices held: Board member, San Antonio Public Library Foundation, SA2020 Commision on Education, Mind Science Foundation, Luminaria Cynthia Brehm Age: 59 Education: Master's, St. Mary's University; B.A., University of Hawaii at Manoa Occupation: Retired marketing consultant Family: Married; six adult children Offices held: Board member, Fort Sam Houston Thrift Shop; board president, Fort Knox Protestant Women of the Chapel Pat Stout Age: 72 Education: Some college Occupation: Owner, Alamo Travel Group Family: Two adult daughters Offices held: President, National Association of Women Business Owners San Antonio; state commissioner, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; board secretary, Free Trade Alliance; chairwoman, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Tony Valdivia Age: 39 Education: BBA, University of Houston Occupation: Product management manager, USAA Family: Married, two children See More Collapse

When campaign-finance reports, capturing contributions and expenditures from Jan. 1 through March 27, posted earlier this month, they showed the Pelaez and Stout are the clear frontrunners with the money to mount significant campaigns. The two were in a dead heat on contributions; Pelaez raised $14,680 while Stout raised $13,788. Pelaez outspent Stout over the same period more than two-to-one with $37,855 in expenditures for him and $15,356 by her.

Neither reported much cash left on hand, though Stout had a bit more  $5,555 to his $3,565. Still, both amounts are individually higher than the collective total of all the other candidates contributions that amount to less than $3,000.

Meanwhile, the two frontrunners have spent more than $64,000  some 3.5 times more than their counterparts, whose spending is largely driven by Brehm, who despite collecting only $650 in contributions, has spent more than $12,000 on campaign-related expenses.

Hinze, who did not respond to emails and a telephone message, posted a plea for campaign contributions on a crowd-funding site, where he described himself as a conservative Christian running for the seat.

I know every person who is running for a political position says phony stuff to get elected or to get money, but I really am doing this because I feel the Lord is calling me to it, he wrote. Also, it has always bothered me watching people with position and resources not using that position the way they should. I must warn you though, the truth is I will be the type of person who prays before each decision I make if I get elected.

Neither his crowdfunding page nor his Facebook page lays out any sort of platform.

For Pelaez, traffic congestion was a driving force for his entry into the race.

I spend about two hours every single day in traffic when I should be spending those two hours with my kids and my family, he said. So sitting there in traffic, it gives me an opportunity to think about what could be and what should be.

District 8 voters are looking for someone who wont just promise to look into their concerns, he said.

Issues that matter to folks on the North Side are traffic, traffic, some more traffic, traffic and then safety, he said. And those are the things that matter to me, too.

Formerly a trustee on the VIA Metropolitan Transit board, Pelaez said San Antonio needs to take a high-tech and multi-modal approach that includes intelligent traffic systems that communicate with each other  not one that is just about pouring more concrete and asphalt.

Pelaez, a lawyer, acknowledged during an Express-News Editorial Board meeting that he was once arrested in the early 2000s for not paying a speeding ticket. (Why didnt I pay it? I dont know. It was a long time ago, he said of the matter. I have no idea why I didnt pay it. I should have paid it. I regret it. It was a tough day for all, especially my mom and dad, who had to come pick me up.)

He also confirmed that he filed for both personal and business bankruptcy protection in the late 2000s when a plan to open a restaurant on the South Side fell apart along with the economy. Early in the campaign, Pelaez also faced questions about his residency. The Express-News reported in February that he appears to have not lived in District 8 for the requisite six months prior to filing to run. He denies any wrongdoing.

Martin, who owns his own financial advising firm, said he agrees with his opponents take on traffic being one of the biggest issues in the Northwest Side district that includes the Medical Center.

Traffic systems in place arent going to last forever, he said. And changes have to be made, money has to be spent to increase capacity. But Martins passion lies more in propping up the public education system and notes that he was active in Constitution Cafe, a program at the East Central Independent School District that encourages student discussion about constitutional issues. The program, he said, has spurred scores of students to attend college.

If elected, Martin said, hed also focus on tackling myriad other issues, such as homelessness and senior-citizen nutrition.

Valdivia, who analyzes vast amounts of data for USAA, said he used to be active in charitable work and then pivoted to politics in an attempt to change his community. Hes lived in the district for about three years.

There are a number of reasons why Im running, but it goes back to a few lessons I learned in high school: I was picked on a lot as a kid, and I was bullied and even thrown in a locker, he said. But one day, I learned to stand up for myself. And in that moment, I discovered, one, I had a voice, and two, I was much stronger than anybody gave me credit for. So that was a great experience.

He learned, too, that it wasnt enough to speak up for himself, but that he must do so for others as well.

Valdivia said he wants to use technology to better engage the public in meaningful discussions about improving San Antonio. He said hes upset about the lack of attention paid to those who address the council during Wednesday evening citizens-to-be-heard council sessions and wants to create a method for those speakers to receive feedback from city officials.

Stout, who owns Alamo Travel Group, said shes focused on addressing crippling traffic woes, ensuring residents are safe from increasing crime and protecting green spaces within the city. She said she supports public transit as one way of reducing congestion and would meet with the Texas Department of Transportation and others to work on a unified approach.

Im determined that Im going to work as hard as I can, Stout said, noting shes running for several reasons. Ive been in this area for more than 20 years. ... Ive been a taxpayer. I remember the district from years ago and have seen the changes we face.

Stout said shes a grandmother, owns her house outright and has the ability to dedicate the requisite time to the job.

Brehm, too, said shes prepared to serve at City Hall. The former mayoral candidate is a mother and military wife who says shes imminently qualified for the position. She points to her service on various officers wives clubs on military bases.

Brehms plan for combatting traffic is multifaceted. She would require RVs, 18-wheelers and other large trucks to drive only in the far-right lane on local highways and supports HOV lanes as well.

She suggests that there be an overhead electronic notification system to alert drivers about accidents. (This has actually been done for some time by TransGuide.)

What I would do is the use of signaling overhead, and today, for the first time in 9.5 years, I saw theyre starting to do that, she said recently. By that, I mean use the marquees, the electronic billboards that say, hey, theres an accident one mile ahead in the right lane. Get over to the left. So using that as a way to inform the public where they need to be is critical.

Her other plan is to use 7-foot black tarps to cover accident scenes and prevent rubbernecking.

Everybody rubbernecks. For the life of me, I dont understand why they do that. God forbid, something happens to me, I dont want someone looking at my organs laid out, my head crushed or whatever, she said. But my goodness, why dont we use those black tarps that surround the accident and protect the privacy of those individuals?
Bexar County Jail

A 29-year-old man is facing multiple felony charges after police say they found stolen and fraudulent mail, ID cards, tax records and social security cards.

Michael Sean Melton faces a charge of fraudulent use or possession of identifying info and a charge of tampering with a government document. He was listed in custody at the Bexar County Jail on Thursday.
A 39-year-old mother of two was jailed Friday after she allegedly whipped her children with a phone cord all over their bodies.

Ellen Lewis faces two charges of injury to a child, a third-degree felony. She remains in the Bexar County Jail on a $30,000 bond.

RELATED: 2 San Antonio police officers arrested on drunken driving charges hours apart

According to the affidavit, Lewis picked up her 12- and 13-year-old daughters from school early on March 6. On the car ride home, Lewis began yelling at the girls and then allegedly punched one of them in the back.

One of the girls told police that when they arrived home, Lewis became "irate" and demanded to see their conduct violation from school, the affidavit says.

Lewis accused the girls of lying to her, and allegedly struck one of them with a phone cord on the arm, leg and back, the police record shows. She then hit her other daughter on the arm with the phone cord.

Both victims told Lewis to stop, and one of them told Lewis she didn't want to live with her anymore. Lewis hit her in the stomach, according to the affidavit.

RELATED: SAPD: Man shot in groin while waiting at South Side bus stop

Later, one of the victims' friends notified their father about the alleged abuse.

"He stated he was sent some photos of their injuries and picked them up from their residence," the affidavit states.

The father then brought the victims to Mission Trail Baptist Hospital, where they met with police.

An officer noted one of the victims suffered marks on her hand, buttocks, legs, lower back and ankle. Another had "extensive marks" on her left arm, left shoulder, legs, lower back and right arm.

Police obtained a warrant for Lewis's arrest, which was conducted Thursday night, according to online jail records.

cdowns@mysa.com

Twitter: @calebjdowns
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MEXICO CITY - The drug war has taken flight.

Even by the macabre standards of Mexican narcotics traffickers, this week's bizarre aerial events seem to be elevating the conflict to new frontiers.

Around dawn, a low-flying airplane buzzing over the Eldorado area in the coastal state of Sinaloa - the old stomping grounds of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman - started tossing out bodies.

An estimated three corpses came crashing down in the area, according to Mexican news reports, including one that landed on the roof of a local public clinic. That semi-clothed person, with signs of torture, had a bag over its head, Milenio news agency reported.

"It is a man, but we don't know more," said Antonio Garcia, a spokesman for the Mexican Institute of Social Security, which administers the clinic. "The impact of the fall makes it more difficult to be able to identify him or the wounds he suffered."

"I can't recall anything like this happening before," he said.

There were conflicting reports about where the other bodies might have landed.

Eldorado is located south of Culiacan, the state capital, where drug-war violence has increased following Guzman's arrest last year and his extradition in January to New York to face drug-trafficking charges. Rival cartels have been vying for control in Sinaloa and several other Mexican states. Some 900 Mexican soldiers recently deployed to the area to try to establish security.

Two days before the bodies fell, a helicopter dumped hundreds of what were described as "narco-fliers" onto a suburb east of Mexico City. That strange display of propaganda was caught on video by cellphone cameras, showing plumes of fliers fluttering down into the streets of Texcoco as the helicopter circled overhead.

The fliers, addressed to "Oso, Tito, Beny and all of your gang," demanded an end to extortion, kidnapping and nepotism in government. They were signed "La Familia Unida," which local reports identified as a criminal organization. The fliers were dropped during a popular festival in Texcoco.

An official of the state of Mexico said authorities were looking into the matter.

Across Mexico, drug-war violence is on the upswing. Homicide figures have increased for the past two years and have begun to approach levels of violence seen at the height of the conflict in 2011.



The Washington Post's Gabriela Martinez contributed to this report
When Patrick Charles Matthews settled in San Antonio after graduating from St. Marys University, he found not just a home, but a passion.

An avid reader, Matthews loved Texas history, said longtime friend Preston Turegano. He knew about the governors back in the old days  knew all these background stories.

His expertise came in handy when entertaining out-of-town guests.

He loved to take company on a tour of downtown, his sister Betty Ann Matthews Musch said. He could point out the landmarks and knew their history.

Matthews died April 10 at 75.

The youngest son of a schoolteacher and an independent contractor, Matthews was raised in the tiny town of Poth, and learned an appreciation of history early on.

We had lots of family discussions about different areas, Musch said. We were all readers and just enjoyed history.

Attending St. Marys University, Matthews graduated with a degree in accounting and began working for an oil company.

Living in King William in the 1960s and 70s, Matthews became friends with a group of men who had a vision for downtown San Antonio, including developer and restaurateur Arthur P. Happy Veltman Jr.

He knew the people who were behind the River Walk, the Paseo del Rio Association, Turegano said. He hung out with them  knew all sorts of people from all walks of life.

More Information Patrick Charles Matthews Born: Oct. 14, 1941, Poth Died: April 10, 2017, San Antonio Preceded by: Parents Ione Groves and A.H. Matthews. Survived by: Sister Betty Ann Matthews Musch; brothers Archie H. Matthews, and John Edward Matthews; nieces and nephews. Services: Private services will be held at a later date. See More Collapse

With annual Fiesta events at his doorstep, Matthews also watched the preparations for HemisFair 68.

From his apartment at that time, he could watch the construction of the Tower of the Americas, Turegano said.

Moving to Houston after being offered a job at another oil company, Matthews lived there for 15 years before returning to San Antonio in semi-retirement.

Noting changes such as the opening of the Alamo Quarry Market, Matthews was impressed with the way the city had developed existing structures.

It was kind of surprising to him, Turegano said. It became so much more sophisticated; he was so proud of those types of things.

With his many friends, Matthews kept busy entertaining family and friends and collecting Texas-themed art and artifacts.

He never lacked for having visitors, Turegano said. People who would blow into town; he was very gregarious.

mheidbrink@express-news.net
What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet.

Perhaps this is true with flowers, but with people maybe not so much. For a walk on the weird side of peoples names, go to www.nameoftheyear.com.

This online contest is a real thing, ready to divert your attention and assist you in wasting mucho time on the internet (not that most people need any assistance). This site grew out of an Ivy League campus years ago, spoofing the March Madness brackets. Names from all over the country and world are culled into 64 finalists and divided into four regionals with public voting leading to an eventual winner

You will find a dizzying array of strange names of people, many of which are unpublishable in a family newspaper, and that just couldnt be real. But they are (purportedly).

That site is a lighthearted foray into onomastics. Onomastics, or onomatology, is the study of origin, history and use of proper names. Now that you possibly have a new word for Scrabble or trivia purposes, lets delve further into our study.

Most people are aware that many of our surnames are based on places, toponymy or professions, for example, Smith, Tanner and Guerrero, etc. Many forms of our surnames are derived from a construction meaning son of.

Our names cover an immense array of meanings concerning qualities, aspirations and commemoration, such as faith, joy and hope. Of course, many Western given names are gleaned from Hebrew and Christian scriptures.

If you have not researched the meaning of your name and are curious, there is an online Oxford Reference site, Dictionary of American Family Names, that provides a limited service for nonsubscribers. You may look up your name and be shown a one-sentence summary of the meaning. Mine said, English: topographic name for someone who lived by a bank of yew trees.

Sometimes a persons name becomes synonymous with an idea, concept or practice as when diseases are named after a famous sufferer such as Lou Gehrigs disease or a discoverer, Addisons disease.

These types of words are called eponyms, words based on or derived from names of people. Some of the more well-known instances of these are sandwich from the 18th-century English Earl of Sandwich (side note: In 1778 James Cook named the Hawaiian Islands Sandwich Islands in honor of the Earl); leotard from the 19th-century French acrobat Jules Leotard; and mesmerize from the 18th-century German physician Anton Mesmer.

One eponym (actually a portmanteau eponym) that is quite relevant today is gerrymander. This practice of politicians drawing their districts to choose their voters got its name from Massachusetts 19th-century governor, Elbridge Gerry. Among several contorted districts drawn under his direction, one was said to look like a mythical salamander, thus gerrymander.

John Eubanks is the author of the book Life Support of Another Sort, and a former teacher and actor who lives in Converse.
After President Donald Trumps election, a wave of furious opposition erupted. It was an emotional mix of denial and anger, the first two stages of grief, and it wasnt very effective.

Yet increasingly that has matured into thoughtful efforts to channel the passion into a movement organized toward results. One example: the wave of phone calls to congressional offices that torpedoed the Republican health care plan.

Yes, Trump opponents lost the election and we have to recognize that elections have consequences. But if resistance has a lefty ring to it, it can also be framed as a patriotic campaign to protect the United States from someone we think would damage it.

So what are the lessons from resistance movements around the world that have actually succeeded? Ive been quizzing the experts, starting with Gene Sharp, a scholar in Boston.

Sharps works helped the Baltic countries win freedom from Russia, later guided students in bringing democracy to Serbia, and deeply influenced the strategy of Arab Spring protesters. Today, Sharp is 89 and in fading health. But his longtime collaborator, Jamila Raqib, has been holding workshops for anti-Trump activists.

The main message Sharp and Raqib offered is that effectiveness does not come from pouring out into the street. It requires meticulous research, networking and preparation.

Sharps work emphasizes grass-roots organizing, searching out weak spots in an administration  and patience before turning to 198 nonviolent methods he has put into a list, from strikes to consumer boycotts to mock awards.

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 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.

The overarching answer is to work with your member of Congress, Daley-Harris told me. He suggested focusing on a particular issue you can become deeply knowledgeable about. Then work with others to push for a meeting with a member of Congress, a state lawmaker or a legislative staff member. He recommended speaking courteously  anyone too hostile is dismissed and loses influence.

Im encouraged by the increasing savvy of the resistance efforts, with excellent online resources 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.

To students of resistance  patriotic resistance!  let me offer three lessons from my own experience reporting on pro-democracy movements.

First, advocates are often university-educated elites who can come across as patronizing. So skip the lofty rhetoric and emphasize issues of pocketbooks and corruption.

Second, movements must always choose between purity and breadth  and usually they overdo the purity. I think it was a mistake, for example, for the Womens March to disdain pro-life feminists.

Third, nothing deflates an authoritarian more than ridicule. When Serbian youths challenged dictator Slobodan Milosevic, they put his picture on a barrel and rolled it down the street, allowing passers-by to whack it with a bat.

Trump can survive denunciations, but Im less sure that in the long run he can withstand mockery.

Nicholas Kristoff writes a column for the New York Times.
Richard Montez offers a unique political perspective for voters in City Council District 5.

It goes something like this: Politicians in this West Side district have, for years, represented progress as simply sidewalks and streetlights. Infrastructure is important, he says, and certainly needed in the district. But infrastructure is development, and shouldnt be confused with progress.

Progress, he says, is found in reducing poverty rates, raising incomes, enticing professionals to return to District 5 and engaging youth. This vision and desire to take on big issues, not just streets and sidewalks, is why we are recommending Montez to represent District 5.

He has a fresh and engaging perspective that would serve his district and this city.

This was not an easy decision. In general, we have been impressed with District 5 City Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, a graceful and steady presence on council. If voters choose to re-elect her for a third term, they will be well-represented. But Montez could be a dynamic presence on council as well as an emerging voice on some of the citys biggest issues, particularly poverty and income segregation.

San Antonio is one of the most economically segregated cities in the United States. Roughly 20 percent of our population  about 275,000 residents  lives below the federal poverty line, many of them in District 5. The solutions arent just gentrification and displacement, but fixing bad schools is.

Montez, 30, is a District 5 native. Hes a St. Marys University graduate and has worked for Workforce Solutions Alamo, Google and FlexTech. He has some interesting ideas to reach out to youth. He said he will create a youth advisory board and coordinate with school officials in the district to further develop professional mentoring, internships and summer jobs. He wants to form a similar advisory board with local businesses and workforce development professionals.

Its a long way from advisory boards to meaningful change in peoples lives, but the premise reflects bigger thinking about how to launch youth and bring prosperity to a part of the community long mired in poverty.

If elected, Montez would have to fill those potholes and build out sidewalks. But his more holistic approach would be a breath of fresh air.

Gonzales is a quality incumbent, but we like Montezs potential. Montez for District 5.
While two students at Lone Star College-Montgomery hoped their stress conditions on algae would create higher lipid function, they did not predict one sample turning orange. Biotechnology student Vasupradha Vasudevan and biotechnology intern Lorna Brewer work with faculty adviser Janeu Houston on separate algae experiments at the Undergraduate Research Institute.

Both students perform various stress conditions on algae to encourage it to produce higher levels of the molecule astaxanthin, a lipid that research shows can reduce inflammation, boost immune systems and fight cancer. Stress conditions typically include extreme light variations and nutrient deprivation.

It begins with Vasudevan expanding the algae and inserting bacterial genes or "instructions" into it. Then stress tests are performed, hoping to make the lipid overproduce astaxanthin. Brewer works on stressing algae with light, then takes samples stained in Nile red to a fluorescence microscope to see how the test affects the molecules.

While astaxanthin can be created in a lab using chemicals, Houston said their goal is to use algae in its natural form to keep toxic chemicals from being in the final product. Recently, the team was surprised to notice an algae sample that had a specific bacterial gene inserted into it, with no other stressors, changed from green to orange.

"At first, we were worried that it may be dying," Vasudevan said, laughing, "but our department chair said that they're not in fact dying, they're stressed."

Vasudevan and Houston brought the mysterious orange sample to Brewer for staining. After a closer look, the team determined the sample is producing lipids, but it will require months of analysis to know whether it is astaxanthin.

"What we have found right now is that this particular bacterial gene is affecting the algae this way, and we don't know of any other study with this gene that has changed like this," Houston said. "It was interesting, because it's a completely separate project from our stressor project."

For Vasudevan, this research that could help fight cancer, is personal. She came to LSC to study biotechnology after her younger brother was diagnosed in 2009 with Stage IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He passed away shortly after his diagnosis. "I just thought that whatever education I had thus far  I thought all that was useless," she said of her two degrees. "I couldn't help my brother. I couldn't understand all the terms and all the work the doctors did."

With the encouragement of her husband and her parents, Vasudevan began pursuing her third degree at LSC in 2014. She was the only student among five professors awarded a grant from URI. From her work with Houston, Vasudevan was the only community college student in the country chosen to present research in the Molecular Biology category at the 2017 National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

Houston said the next step is for them to test the orange algae to see whether astaxanthin has overproduced. If so, the astaxanthin would be extracted from the algae and purified. The entire process could take over a year.

"The awesome thing about this college is we have amazing instrumentation, which a lot of colleges don't have  allowing us to use our expertise," Houston said. "This is really graduate-level work."
Redfin suggests that 2017 is on track to be the fastest housing market on record.

SEATTLE  U.S. home prices rose 7.5% to a median sale price of $273,000 in March as home sales made a strong showing, up 8.9% over last year, according to Redfin.

The number of homes for sale fell 13% compared to last March, marking the 18th consecutive month of annual supply declines. Meanwhile, 2017 remains on track to be the fastest housing market on record. The typical home that sold last month went under contract in just 49 days, making it the fastest March Redfin has recorded since 2010. A year earlier, the median time on market was 60 days.

Nearly one in five (19.1%) homes that sold in March went under contract within two weeks, and 21.7% of homes sold for more than their list price.

Denver, Colo., and Seattle, Wash., were the fastest markets, where the typical home was under contract in just eight days. Oakland and San Jose, Calif., were the next fastest markets with 13 and 14 median days on the market respectively.

The most competitive market in March was San Jose, Calif., where 69.6% of homes sold above the asking price, followed by 66.7% in San Francisco, Calif., 65.9% in Oakland, Calif., 56.6% in Seattle, Wash., and 44.4% in Tacoma, Wash.

Grand Rapids, Mich., had the nations highest price growth, rising 16.3% since last year to $162,750. Orlando, Fla., had the second highest at 15.5% year-over-year price growth, followed by Santa Rosa, Calif. (15.0%), Seattle, Wash. (14.5%), and Tampa, Fla. (14.3%).

Only four metros saw prices decline in March: Birmingham, Ala. (-3.2%), Baton Rouge, La. (-2.8%), Durham, N.C. (-1.7%), and San Antonio, Texas (-1.5%).

Additionally, 32 out of 90 metros saw sales increase by double digits from last year. Poughkeepsie, N.Y., led the nation in year-over-year sales growth, up 41%, followed by Baltimore, Md., up 40.6%. Camden, N.J., rounded out the top three with sales up 31.6% from a year ago. Home sales in Buffalo, N.Y., and Provo, Utah, declined by 23.0% and 14.8%, respectively.

Rochester, N.Y., had the largest inventory decline, falling 39.0% since last March. Buffalo, N.Y. (-34.5%), Rochester, N.H. (-33.2%), and Portsmouth, N.H. (-31.4%), also had far fewer homes available on the market than a year ago.

Fort Myers, Fla., had the highest increase in the number of homes for sale, up 32.4% year over year, followed by Knoxville, Tenn. (22.3%), and Austin, Texas (10.3%).
#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...
In todays lead story at the Financial Times, Big US banks defy calls that they should be broken up, American megabanks make clear that they dont think much of the financial savvy of investors or the business press. In quarterly earning calls, bank analysts were pressing executives on the news reports that former Goldman exec, now director of the National Economic Council Gary Cohn told senators last week told a group of senators that he was in favor of Glass-Steagall break-up-the-banks style legislation.

Our comments:

Wake me up when this gets serious. Cohn made it clear that he supported a breakup bill. While Trump has also said he wanted to revive Glass-Steagall, he didnt say that very often on the campaign trail and there are many things he did say often and pretty consistently, like questioning why the US is carrying so much of the cost of NATO, hes either reversed himself or is now backing a weak-tea version that his base regards as a sellout, such as Trumps promises about NAFTA. Plus any Glass-Steagall type bill gets passed only over rabid anti-regulation House Financial Services committee chairman Jeb Hensarlings dead body.

Dont buy Jamie Dimons Brooklyn Bridge. Big complicated banks are not good for investors, no matter how much banks put their hands on their hearts and try to convince you otherwise. Here was the argument, per the pink paper:

The biggest banks in America are defying calls to break themselves up, arguing that the benefits of size and diversity were on display during a very mixed set of first-quarter results. At JPMorgan Chase, finance chief Marianne Lake said on Thursday that the banks universal model was a source of strength for the broader economy, as she unveiled a 20 per cent drop in quarterly profits from consumer banking. In the investment-banking part of the business, however, profits were up 64 per cent from a bleak period a year ago, boosted by a surge in bond trading and plenty of sales of debt and equity by big companies.

Anyone with proper finance training can tell you this is nonsense. Investors should be making portfolio diversification choices, not corporate execs asserting synergy on their behalf. Investors love earnings streams that are not much or better yet negatively correlated with the stock market; thats one of the reasons they were willing to pay hedgies their inflated management and carry fees. Hedge funds promised returns that didnt synch with stock market averages. When that proved to be less and less true and the results werent so hot generally, investors started beating a major retreat from the strategy.

If banks have all sorts of interesting return profiles hidden away in their various business lines, it would be much better in terms of the overall returns for investors owning those stocks to break them up.1

However, big complicated banks are good for securities analysts, since the complexity gives them more to do and thus creates the appearance that they are adding value to investors. So dont expect any critical scrutiny of this bank PR from them.

The idea that bigger banks are better is a flat-out canard that weve debunked regularly since the inception of this site. Suffice it to say that every study ever done of US banks shows that they have a slightly negative cost curve once a certain asset size threshold is passed. Translation: bigger banks are actually have higher expenses per dollar of bank assets than smaller banks.

Now you might say, But what about those bank mergers where they fire lots of people! Doesnt that prove bank consolidation saves costs?

No. The cost curve issue means the banks that were combined could have gotten those expenses lowered all on their own, and maybe some more. However, mergers provide an excuse to do what managements normally are too nice or too lazy to do, which is get ruthless about headcount.

Finally, the one real synergy is one that is dangerous to the public: the use of bank deposits to fund derivatives. Yes, Virginia, a whole lot of derivatives are booked in bank depositaries. For instance, to a bit of outcry, in 2011, Bank of America moved derivatives from Merrill Lynch into Bank of America NA. And why was that? The banking subsidiary had a better credit rating, meaning lower costs, because thats where the deposits sat. As we wrote at the time:

Even though Ive expressed my doubts as to whether Dodd Frank resolutions will work, dumping derivatives into depositaries pretty much guarantees a Dodd Frank resolution will fail. Remember the effect of the 2005 bankruptcy law revisions: derivatives counterparties are first in line, they get to grab assets first and leave everyone else to scramble for crumbs. So this move amounts to a direct transfer from derivatives counterparties of Merrill to the taxpayer, via the FDIC, which would have to make depositors whole after derivatives counterparties grabbed collateral. Its well nigh impossible to have an orderly wind down in this scenario. You have a derivatives counterparty land grab and an abrupt insolvency. Lehman failed over a weekend after JP Morgan grabbed collateral. But its even worse than that. During the savings & loan crisis, the FDIC did not have enough in deposit insurance receipts to pay for the Resolution Trust Corporation wind-down vehicle. It had to get more funding from Congress. This move paves the way for another TARP-style shakedown of taxpayers, this time to save depositors. No Congressman would dare vote against that.

And in case you think Im exaggerating, the FDIC objected to the move, but the Fed took the position that it would give relief to the bank holding company. Bank of America took the position it has the authority to make this move, and since JP Morgan then had 99% of the notional value of its $79 trillion of derivatives booked in its depositary, JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, there was ample precedent. 2

And as weve also written regularly, over the counter derivatives are the biggest source of interconnected among too-big-too-fail banks. So getting derivatives out of depositaries would shrink the derivatives market by making them more costly and reduce systemic risk.

Keep your eye on the ball of the real reason for bankers wanting ginormous banks: executive pay. Bank CEO and C-suite pay is a function of bank size and complexity. Simpler, smaller banks mean much less egregiously paid top brass.

Thus bear in mind the incentives for banks to bulk up: The bank that buys another bank gets to pay everyone at the top more, and the execs of the gobbled-up bank get huge consolation prizes. And all sorts of other people are feeding at the trough too: merger & acquisition professionals, lawyers, accountants, and all sorts of consultants and integration specialists. Our reader Clive will probably tell you the folks that have it the worst who still stay on the payroll are the people in IT.

Fortunately, even without all understanding the sordid details, the great unwashed public understands that overly large banks are hard to unwind and will therefore always be propped up, and separately exercise too much political power. But whether popular support will ever become important to Trump is very much in doubt.

____

1 Absent, of course, breakup costs, but dont expect banks to give you an honest idea about that if the threat starts looking more serious.

2 Yes, most of these are plain vanilla swaps. But still, no subsidy of this sort is warranted. Taxpayers should not be backstopping capital markets activities.
We are going to start on an occasional series of posts on the regular, verifiable lies told by CalPERS general counsel Matt Jacobs to its board and the general public. This isnt the first time weve written about Jacobs misrepresentations, but we now have a significant backlog of incidents. It has become important to document his reckless conduct, since his win at all costs approach is bad for CalPERS and the reputation of public pension funds generally.

The reason this matters is that former general counsel and now law professor Bill Black characterized CalPERS as having a corrupt culture that senior officers and the board are refusing to address. In a previous post, Black laid out how Jacobs undermined good governance and proper execution of CalPERS fiduciary duties by throwing his weight behing a witch hunt against CalPERS lone effective board member, JJ Jelincic.

While the CEO, Marcie Frost, is ultimately responsible for the failures of staff performance, Jacobs nevertheless merits special attention. The general counsel is one of the most important control and compliance officers in any organization. Control and compliance are even more important in an government agency controlling hundreds of billions of dollars with no oversight save that of a board that we have repeatedly shown to be timid, wanting in skills, and deeply captured. Jacobs anything goes, example is dangerous to an organization with a fiduciary duty to beneficiaries, let alone one plagued by scandal.

Well focus on Jacobs lies of commission, but it is important to include lies of omission, such as failing to inform the Board of the tainted record of Robert Klausner. He was fiduciary counsel candidate that was the staffs top choice during the 2014 selection process. A simple Google search showed numerous media stories, including ones in Forbes and the New York Times, discussing Klausners dodgy practices, such as sponsoring pay-to-play conferences. That is the last sort of thing you want to see in a fiduciary counsel. Yet not only did Jacobs withhold that information, but he also denied the board materials that it had received in past fiduciary counsel screenings.

To keep this post manageable, well remind readers of a past incident and then cover a newer one in which the footprints strongly suggest that Jacobs putting his finger on the scale. Not only did he brief the board even more poorly than in 2014, but he also appears to have gotten a board designee to misrepresent the qualifications of a candidate to justify not considering them when the two finalists fell short on a key issue.

Jacobs Repeated Misrepresentations Over the Publics Right to Speak

The public is effectively shut out from having any influence at CalPERS. Even though the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act has lofty language about citizens right to participate in public decisions, in practice, that means only a right to comment in public meetings right before a vote is taken. As most politically-savvy people know, that is too little and to late to amount to a real say.

CalPERS restricted public input further by imposing a strict three-minute maximum on public comments, shutting off the microphone when the time limit is reached. The agency did so even though it had not taken the required legal steps to impose any restriction. CalPERS continued to impose an illegal time limit after we and others first raised the issue after a November 2015 board meeting when we were impermissibly cut off. We objected forcefully in Sacramento in August 2016 when we were again silenced. Jacobs then made an astonishing and deliberate misreading of clear statutory language (arguing that shall which means action is required, is the same as may, which means optional).

To make a long story short, we continued to press the issue. Jacobs finally recognized his position was not tenable and started the process of creating a regulation. But as UC Berkley visiting scholar Michael Flaherman told the board in another public comment session, Jacobs again misled the board by telling them that CalPERS had always had a three-minute limit on comments. From our post CalPERS General Counsel Matt Jacobs Lies to Board, and Staff Abuses Authority, to Stymie Public Input. The relevant section starts at 19:55, or you can watch it here:

Bill Slaton, Chairman, Governance Committee: First, Mr. Flaherman and the fact that we dont have a regulation, still, the limit is three minutes and there is a red, green and yellow light up here that you will be able to see. Michael Flaherman, Visiting Scholar, UC Berkeley: Good afternoon. Im Michael Flaherman. Im a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley. I was a member of this board from 1995 to 2003. Mr. Chairman, respectfully I would ask for you to waive the three minute limit. Slaton: Uh, we haveIts eight minutes to 3:00, we have three speakers here, we have another meeting following this. Flaherman: I dont intend to speak for an extended period of time. The issue is that the Board has never taken any action whatsoever to enshrine the three minute limit in policy. We are not even talking about regulationin policy Slaton: Thats part of your argument. I understand that. I tell you what, Im going to do. We have three speakers and unless theres serious objection Im gonna allow four minutes each. Without objection thats what we will do so you now have, we will reset the clock, you have four minutes. Flaherman: Im sorry, to be so procedurally a stickler here. I would ask as a courtesy that you would have the minutes note my objection to the imposition of a limit. Slaton: Were recording the meeting. Flaherman: Could the minutes note that? Slaton: We have a recorder, so the recorder is Flaherman: You wont order the minutes to reflect that. Slaton: The minutes are gonna be as theyre spoken. Flarerman: No, thats not true, thats not how they are composed and you and I both know that. Look, look, heres the issue, heres the issue, which is that [background conversation] page two of the agenda item says that there is a three-minute policy and that in the past there was a two-minute policy. There is no three-minute policy. This board has never acted  and Ive not talking about regulation but even just even as internal matter of policy the Board has never acted to impose any kind of policy. What happened was that in May of 2012, your staff started printing on the agendas that there was a three minute time limit. That just happened. Now I thought you guys were in charge. I thought you guys were in charge, but I hear Mr. Jacobs talking about this as a decision that we made and when hes using the royal we, its not really clear whether he is talking about we the staff or you. Does anybody here want to raise their hands and say they were involved in the decision to impose a three minute time limit? [Board President Robert Feckner raises his hand]. Flaherman: OK. So was made by the board president and you. OK, well, thats very helpful. But again there was no action of the Board. Right? So yet this is held out as a policy. Now even further still we have a statement from your legal staff that previously there was a two-minute time limit. Now I have the circular letters going back to 2004. I have one from every year and I would like to have this conveyed to the chair.could I have this conveyed to the chair? Ill walk over. So you will see that on these circular letters that there was never any note of any of any kind before May of 2012. So the statement that you guys are being generous by giving a three-minute time limit because you used to me much tougher and enforce a two-minute time limit that simply not true. Its not true. So heres the bottom line. We all read the New York Times on Sunday and you guys are getting raked across the coals, a very unfair article written by Mary Walsh, a woman who has been generous over a period of decades. I knew her 1997 or something, right, in her coverage of this pension system and shes not your friend anymore. And who appears in the article? Bill Sharpe, a man who I thought was your friend. He was your consultant for decades and he is ripping you over the coals. You guys need friends and youre losing them day by day. The system is dying day by day because the people who are your friends are not standing up for them. And when you cut them off with glee, I mean the fire in the eye that I have seen in some of you in cutting people off at the stroke of three minutes is really just sad. Its just sad. And your staff, you know, your staff has left out a lot of things. I found an attorney general opinion 92-2-12 where the Attorney General is opining with respect to the Brown Act, but Mr. Jacob acknowledges its the basically the same thing [as the Bagley-Keene Act], that inherently under the law, the chair of a meeting has the ability to cut off anyone whos repetitious or vexatious Slaton: Please complete your thought because your time has expired. Flaherman: So really that was how the system operated for decades and for decades there was no time limit, people that were your trusted friends came and gave your thoughts and you have the authority to do whatever you want to people who really caused trouble and I would urge you to reject this entire idea. Thank you.

Understand what happened here. Matt Jacobs through his documents and statements told the board that:

CalPERS had always had time limits on speakers when it had no limits whatsoever before 2012 The time limit had once been two minutes when that had never been the case The time limits were board policy when they had never been a policy; staff had foisted then on the board by simply informing the board president

Moreover:

Jacobs and the board have taken the position that limiting comments is necessary and desirable, yet during the entire time this issue has been in play, no one has been able to cite a single instance where CalPERS board has been burdened by overly long comments The board has ample authority under the law, without needing to impose a formal limit, to curb speakers who filibuster or otherwise become troublesome Jacobs has given no consideration to the fact that many of the issues that CalPERS deals with are complex, and an adequate presentation may take more than three minutes. That was the case when I attempted to explain to the board in the private equity workshop last fall how a presentation on private equity returns gamed the numbers so as to make private equity appear far less risky that it was. I could tell from the glazed looks in most audience members eyes that they were not able to absorb the information. Tt needed to be unpacked further, but that would have taken more than the allotted time. This limit can therefore have the effect of depriving the board of crucial information useful or even necessary to execute its fiduciary duty.

Back to the current post. While this may seem a bit technical to some readers, attention to legal details is crucial to CalPERS both as a steward of hundreds of billions of dollars with a California taxpayer backstop and as a government agency. If Jacobs isnt willing to dot is and cross ts, he shouldnt be in this job.

Jacobs Deceit in March 2017 Fiduciary Counsel Selection

After the scandal-ridden fiduciary counsel we mentioned above, Robert Klausner, resigned abruptly, apparently as a result of our publicizing his history and current scandals, the board needed to engage a new fiduciary counsel. Bear in mind that the fiduciary counsel in theory reports primarily to the board. Yet it delegates most of the screening process to staff. In past selection processes, the board has sometimes chosen a fiduciary counsel that had not gotten the highest score from staff but the board overrode the recommendation based on the finalist interviews. So restricting who gets in front of the board is one way to influence outcomes.

In the 2014 selection process, the first in which Jacobs was involved, the board demonstrated some independence, insisting on adding one firm to the finalist interviews to the two staff had selected.1 The full board nevertheless wound up selecting the staffs top choice, Klausner, with resulting public embarrassment.

This time, Jacobs was apparently more determined to control the process. Fewer people were involved in the selection of finalists, which would give the legal department more influence over who (and how many) made to the final round of full board review and interviews. That is not pretty but it isnt going over any lines.

However, in reviewing how the two finalists were selected, Jacobs misrepresented what had taken place in a board document:

In early November 2016, the Board President and another Board Member selected by the Board President (Controller Yee) met with Legal Office staff to review and evaluate the proposals.

The two elected state officials who sit on CalPERS bord, the Treasurer and Controller, have more clout than the other board members. So representing that Yee was involved signifies a board member with external stature signed off on the picks. However, Yee is relatively new to CalPERS and has not previously participated in choosing the fiduciary counsel.

Yet we learn at the finalist interviews that it was not Yee that was at that meeting, but one of her delegates.

This matters due to a controversy involving one of the two finalists, Ashley Dunning of Noosaman, LLP. She had also been chosen by Jacobs to serve as CalPERS interim fiduciary counsel after Klaunser resigned.

We posted last month on yet another Jacobs lie of omission, that Dunning was representing Marin County in a landmark case that could undermine all California public pensions. As we wrote:

This ruling threatens the pensions of all California public employees, including members of CalPERS and CalSTRS. The case is set to go to the Supreme Court and a number of groups have objected fiercely to the courts legal reasoning. CalSTRS general counsel Brian Bartow weighed in against the decision promptly after the ruling was issued, in October 2016.

The ruling endangers the so-called California rule that guarantees that employee benefit commitments will be honored. Any changes must confer an equivalent monetary benefit. In layperson speak, that means not cutting pension benefits unless the plan member gets proper compensation.

JJ Jelincic was not happy about either of the two finalists due to their position on the California rule.

Here is the section of the meeting where the board members discuss the candidates. Jelincic begins at 2:16:

Part of my frustration with this whole process is we got this list today, and had not had a chance to actually do any kind of due diligence or research on them. The guidance we got from staff I didnt think had offered any real evaluative type material. This is the strengths, this is the weaknesses. When we went through this drill two years ago, thatthose same kind of issues came up. So you know, so Ive got that basic disappointment.

Understand what Jelincic is saying. The board received only limited material, even less than they received in the past, with no time to study it since the board was in session all day the previous two days.

What is Jacobs excuse? The proposals were in ages ago. The screening process took place last November, meaning months before this board session in mid March. The inexcusably late delivery of materials looks like a big middle finger to the board. It was either by design, to make sure the board couldnt digest the information, which would help stymie complaints about getting thin briefings, or not bothering to get work for the board done on time. Mind you, in the now three years I have been watching board meetings, the extensive materials provided by staff and experts and staff were always posted on time, ten days before the meetings started.

Jelincic continues:

You know, weve got two firms in front of us. And I, quite frankly, dont find either acceptable. One flat out says we dont support the California rule, and the other says, well, we didnt mean to attack the 0 California rule, but we wont let that victory go.

What we learn a few minutes later was that it was not Yee but her designee, Karen Greene Ross, that screened the firms that responded to the request for proposal.

She makes a misrepresentation that it seems unlikely to have originated with her, starting in the video above at 10:25:

So just sort of agreeing with Richard, Bill Slaton, and Richard Gillihan, but I also wanted to just point out having worked with Rob [Feckner] and Matt [Jacobs] in looking at the other options, and while there was maybe one other that maybe qualified, they were not qualified, and we didnt bring them, suggest bringing them forward, because again the Board had delegated this to a committee, which is why you guys werent all part of this process. We could bring any of them back, but youre going to see firms that have taken sort of that similar ERISA practice in other states and/or other sort of litigation work that they thinkthey could figure out how to do this work, but theyre not in this world. And I do think that these two were as good as it could get for the criteria that were laid out. Historically, for this pension fund on what you prefer, somebody based in California, and hopefully has a lot of public pension work. So while there were several firms, it was just few and far of them met the specific criteria.

It is not true that CalPERS historically preferred a California attorney. Klausner was the top pick last time and he was licensed in Florida. One of CalPERS previous fiduciary counsels was licensed in Wisconsin. The only reason this became an issue was that we made an issue of it with respect to Klausner.

But second, it is simply false for Green Ross to say that none of the other candidates had a real pension practice. The firm ReedSmith responded to the request for proposal. Not only was it was one of the two finalists chosen by staff last time, but it has been a fiduciary co-counsel to CalPERS! This is from the 2014 bio presented to the board in 2014. The attorney, Harvey Leiderman, is still with the firm:

Mr. Leiderman advises pension fund trustees, public companies, financial institutions, and private investors in resolving complex disputes involving fiduciary responsibilities. Hecurrently serves as fiduciary, investment and litigation counsel to some of the largest public pension funds in California, including CalPERS, CalSIRS, the boards of the retirement systems of Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Orange, Stanislaus and Santa Barbara Counties and two systems for each of the Cities of Los Angeles and San Jose. Mr. Leiderman and his team have served CalPERS as outside fiduciary counsel and litigation counsel for over six years. During the period he has served as counsel for CalPERS, he helped guide the Board and Executive Staff through a series of unique fiduciary and public policy challenges affecting investment, vested benefits, and personnel matters. For CalPERS and multiple county systems, Mr. Leiderman has defended challenges to the exercise of their trustees fiduciary duties under Proposition 162 and other applicable trust laws in establishing sound, actuarial-based contribution rates, retiree benefits and the use of excess earnings. As an experienced first-chair trial lawyer, he provides important perspective to his board clients.

In other words, it is simply absurd to say there was no qualified third candidate. ReedSmith was one of CalPERS two fiduciary counsels through 2014. I have heard nothing to suggest there was a performance issue with them; the reason for picking Klausner appears to have been the legal department ranking, and that may have been due to their much higher billing rate. Klausner made his real money on his pay to play operations and so could afford to underprice his billed work.

Greene Ross has a law degree and legal experience. She is certainly capable of reading a bio. It is hard to imagine that anyone operating with any independence could say ReedSmith was not qualified to do public pension work.

Let us not forget that it was Jacobs who had selected Ashley Dunning as interim fiduciary counsel, a signal she was his clear choice. It does not seem much of a stretch to infer that the reason for keeping a qualified firm, ReedSmith, away from the board was either a desire to skew the decision process or bureaucratic laziness, to process two rather than three finalists. Neither possibility reflects well on Jacobs.

And we can see how this sort of corruption spreads. Greene Ross somehow felt compelled to defend a slipshod process that did not serve the board well. Even if Dunning really was the best candidate, and she does appear to be a well-regarded and hardworking attorney, her selection is now tainted by Jacobs failing to run a sufficiently transparent and honest process a second time.

The reason this matters is staff works for the board, although CalPERS senior officers have done a great job of getting the board to think the reverse. A board cannot make good decisions if staff is lying to them and withholding information. The stakes are even greater for an an institution held to a fiduciary standard of conduct that the press watches closely. Someone in Jacobs position needs to be scrupulous in dealing with the board. The fact that he plays fast and loose with them on such a regular basis shows how much he holds them, CalPERS beneficiaries, and California taxpayers in contempt.

___

1 Notice that the process for initial screening of candidates changed from 2014. Even though staff played a bigger role, it also looked to have been more thorough, and may have reflected the fact that the former CEO Anne Stausboll was an attorney and recognized how much influence fiduciary counsel has over the board. From a 2014 board briefing on the fiduciary counsel interviews:

CalPERS staff evaluated the proposals and interviewed five of the submitting firms. The interview panel consisted of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel and Senior Investment Officer for Real Estate. At the conclusion of the interviews, the panel evaluated the five firms based on their proposals, interviews and reference checks against the criteria included in the Solicitation.

As indicated, this time, the board background document states only that board members Feckner, Yee, and members of the legal office staff to review the proposals, and no interviews were conducted. This appears at least in part to have board members involved earlier so if there is another Klausner-type fiasco, the legal department will be less exposed.

A case can be made for Yee sending Greene Ross in her stead, given that Yee is not a lawyer, while not only is Greene Ross a law school graduate but she also served in legal roles at the California High Speed Rail Authority, with her last position as Assistant General Counsel. However, it also shows that Yee does not appreciate the power of the fiduciary counsel role. And she may not have recognized that Greene Ross, as a former member of CalPERS investment department, as well as having operated as part of the legal department in another agency, might by unduly receptive to staff views.
By Jennifer Berkshire, who chronicles the end of public education at Have You Heard blog and is the co-host of a biweekly podcast on education in the time of Trump. Originally published at Have You Heard; transcription by Alternet

An interview with the University of Connecticuts Preston Green, co-author of Are Charter Schools the Second Coming of Enron?: An Examination of the Gatekeepers That Protect against Dangerous Related-Party Transactions in the Charter School Sector, which was published in the Indians Law Journal

Jennifer Berkshire: Our Secretary of Education is visiting a Florida charter school that is best known for being started by rap-u-preneur, Pitbull. But a lesser known true fact is that the schools powerful and politically connected management company, Academica, ran afoul of the feds for a little something called related-party transactions. What is a related-party transaction? And why do I have the feeling that Betsy DeVos didnt drop by to, um, continue the investigation?

Preston Green: Related-party transactions occur when you have two entities that have a pre-existing relationship. For example, if two entities have common management, or in the charter sector context, you could have an EMO [Educational Management Organization] that also has a real estate arm, which then leases property back to the charter school at a greatly inflated rate. In the case of Academica, which is the management company that runs the school Secretary DeVos visited, its all of the above. You see different entities sharing the same board of directors, conflicts of interest and questionable real estate dealings, including charter schools paying rents that are well above the market rate to companies that Academica owns.

Berkshire: Betsy DeVos is a huge fan of charter schools because they remove the shackles of oversight and regulation that have kept our teachers in receive mode for too long and caused the nations students to descend to the bottom of the PISA pile. But as youve been warning, shackle removal in other sectors has led to, oh I dont know, the subprime mortgage crisis and Enron.

Green: Thats right. My recent research has involved looking at privatization in other contexts, and trying to determine whether the issues and problems you see in these other contexts could impact charter schools. I explored the issue of whether a charter school bubble is emerging, akin to what we saw in the lead up to the housing crisis. My most recent paper, with co-authors Bruce Baker and Joseph Oluwole, looks at similarities between whats happening with charter schools today and what happened in the energy sector. Charter schools were to be freed from the shackles of rules that applied to public schools and those rules were regulations.

The thinking was that by removing those regulations, the industry could tap into innovation. And thats the same language, by the way, that we saw in the subprime mortgage crisis and that we saw in relation to Enron. By removing all of the shackles that would prevent innovation in the business sector, we would harness that innovation. But instead we enabled private entities with nefarious purposes to take advantage of that. Im not saying that all charter schools are nefarious, but when you remove the regulations, there may just be too much incentive, and too much temptation for some.

Berkshire: In the past few months, the feds raided the offices of the Los Angeles charter network, Celerity, and recently, Ben Chavis, the head of a charter network in Oakland, was sentenced to prison for money laundering, profiteering and mail fraud. These stories are filled with the kinds of Enron-ish behaviors that you identified in your paper. But I noticed another common theme toocharter advocates who seem to imply that a little criminality is OK if the school generates results. The problem here is that they somehow think that the fraud is decoupled from the students who are being served.

Green: The problem here is that they somehow think that the fraud is decoupled from the students who are being served. Take Imagine Schools, for example. Imagine Schools had a very sophisticated transaction system that led to facilities being rented to charter schools. It turns out that a number of these schools were paying 40% of their budgets for rent. Well if a school is paying 40% of its budget for rent, its not spending money on education-related expenses. The schools run by Academica, which runs the charter Betsy DeVos visited, spend 20% of their budgets on rent. That has a major impact on the ability of a school to provide an education.

We also know that these schools are expanding in communities where we often argue kids need more resources if were going to provide them with the same level of education that kids get in more affluent neighborhoods. So it stands to reason that a lot of this fraud is going to occur in low-income minority communities, and because of that you could end up with schools that dont have the resources necessary to educate their students. Theyre going to be impacted in a disproportionate way. This is exactly what the NAACP was concerned about, by the way, when it called for its moratorium on charter growth last year, that there need to be gatekeeping and protections in place to ensure that communities of color and low income communities have charter schools that are devoting their resources to educating their children.

Berkshire: Whenever I post something related to charter school fraud, I get the same response: Theres fraud in public schools too. Why dont you go on a crusade against that?

Green: Youll often hear people say that, and theyre correct. But there is a type of fraud that is unique to the charter school sector. Because of the education management organization relationship, there is this sort of Enron-set up in which these EMOs can then have related party transactions with other companies and work against the interests of the charter schools that theyre serving. This is important because EMOs are primarily in the charter school sector. You dont see them in traditional public schools. The creation of EMOs that provide educational services to charter schools creates what we call an agency issue. There is an inherent conflict between the charter school boards that want to ensure that charters are operating legally and fiscally responsibility and EMOs, either for profit or nonprofit, that want to make money or cut their expenses.

Because of this inherent conflict, youve got to have gatekeepers who are aware of this possibility. In 2016, the U.S. Office of the Inspector General released a report and noted that a primary flaw of the U.S. Department of Education was that it treated charter schools and traditional public schools the same. The OIG said that this is a major problem, that you cannot treat them the same because of the EMO relationships with charter schools. We need to understand how this type of fraud works in order to better design gatekeeping mechanisms because it ties into everything. It ties into auditing, it ties into examination of the contracts at the charter school authorizer level.

Berkshire: You end your paper with a call to strengthen the oversight role of gatekeepers so as to prevent the kind of fraud and conflicts of interest by charter management organization like Academica or Imagine or Celerity. But I dont have to tell you that gates, much like shackles are so yesteryear. Meanwhile, youre seeing the entities whose job it is to keep an eye out for fraud wither away due to budget cuts, resulting in part from charter school expansion.

Green: This is a big problem, especially as fraud and mismanagement become more and more complex. We need to have gatekeepers that have a certain level of knowledge and sophistication to be able to respond to fraudulent practices. In the case of Celerity, for example, the education management organization has been shifting money around between the EMO and other related parties. But the governor vetoed a bill that would have called for greater controls over conflict of interest. So California may be setting itself up for more related-party problems, especially as charter schools continue to expand and you see the district having to cut back on its oversight role due to financial strains.

If the school districts dont have the capacity to ferret out fraud and theyre not able to work with other gatekeepers, I think were laying the groundwork for more problems. The case of Ben Chavis, the head of the American Indian Model Schools in Oakland who might be headed to jail, is actually an oversight success story. It shows how a state agency with discretionary authority, in this case the states Fiscal Crisis Assistance and Management Team (FCMAT), can reveal fraudulent related-party transactions. The local county board of education asked FCMAT to conduct an extraordinary audit of the schools because of multiple allegations of inappropriate related-party transactions, including construction deals and a private summer program paid for by the charter school.

Its definitely concerning that we just dont remember the recent past and how the problems that occurred at Enron are now appearing in the charter school sector. You even see some of the same people who were involved in Enron then showing up in subprime and now in charter schools. That should tell you something.

Berkshire: The gentlemen who brought us Enron came to be known as the smartest guys in the room. I think of education reform as another space in which the smartest guys hold inordinate sway, and yet they seem to have learned nothing at all from the dizzying downfall(s) of their counterparts in other sectors.

Green: That is very true. It was somewhat disconcerting to see as we did this research that we went through this fifteen years before and yet fundamental lessons appear to have gone unlearned. Its definitely concerning that we just dont remember the recent past and how the problems that occurred at Enron are now appearing in the charter school sector. You even see some of the same people who were involved in Enron then showing up in subprime and now in charter schools. That should tell you something.
A Tipperary Co. Council deputation is to seek a meeting with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to appeal to him to protect the 70 jobs at the Littleton Briquette Factory, which is under review by Bord na Mona.

A motion requesting the Council to meet with Minister Denis Naughton was unanimously passed at the Co. Council's monthly meeting in Clonmel on Monday, which was told that loss of this factory to Littleton would be the equivalent of 1000 job losses in Dublin.

Councillors appealed to Co. Tipperary's five TDs to do all in their power to save the factory,

Bord na Mona is reviewing peat processing at its factories at Littleton and Derrinlough, Co. Offaly. There is concern that review will lead to the closure of the Littleton factory and peat processing being concentrated at the Bord na Mona plant at Edenderry in north Co. Offaly.

Cllr Sean Ryan (FF), who tabled the motion, said he had spoken to a number of Littleton factory workers in recent days and they were "very fearful" for their jobs. They were completely in the dark in relation to what was happening with this review.

He argued that the IDA hadn't been very pro-active in bringing jobs to the county so they needed to protect the jobs created by native industry. He pointed out that the Littleton plant significantly contributed to Bord na Mona's substantial 50m profit in 2015.

Mullinahone Cllr Eddie O'Meara said more than a third of the workers at the Littleton plant came from communities such as Killenaule, Moyglass, Glengoole and Ballysloe in the Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District.

Bord na Mona was operating in the Littleton area since the 1940s. Some of its workers were the third and fourth generations of their families working on the bog. "It's vital for that area that the factory is maintained," he said.

Cllr Jim Ryan said the Littleton workers must be going through hell at the moment not knowing whether they have a job or not and pointed out that the plant provided a lot of indirect employment in the local community as well as directly employing 70.

Fine Gael Cllr Michael Fitzgerald said Minister Naughten came from an area involved in a lot of turf cutting and he believed he would be amenable to meeting Council deputation. It was important that they met him on this issue as soon as possible, he added.
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, 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 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.
(Natural News) Its strange, but for some reason, millions of Americans, including many members of the Republican Party, seem to have developed a bizarre infatuation for Russia and Vladimir Putin. This is odd, considering the fact that Putin has a long dark history of corruption, theft and murder. Not surprisingly, it has recently been revealed that the Russians may have known in advance that the Syrian chemical attack was in progress. According to a senior U.S. official, a drone that was being operated by the Russians was sighted flying over a hospital as Syrians were rushing to get treatment. The official said that there is no possible way that the presence of the drone was a coincidence, and that the Russians must have known that the chemical attacks were forthcoming.

Following the U.S. airstrikes launched at a Syrian airfield late last week, Iran and Russia threatened a lethal response to further military action in the region. A statement issued from the Syria-Iran-Russia Joint Operations Room warned, We will respond to any aggression powerfully, as Russia and Iran would never allow the U.S. to dominate the world. Even though world domination is not and never will be the goal of the United States, a threat from one of the worlds strongest nations is something that should be taken very seriously.

As reported by CNN last May, Russias militarys is arguably the strongest it has been since the Cold War. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russias active military personnel totals about 798,000  240,000 fighting in the Army, 148,000 fighting in the Navy, 145,000 fighting in the Air Force, and 265,000 fighting in various other branches. Furthermore, according to IHS Janes, Russia spent $44.6 billion on defense in 2014, $54.5 billion in 2015, and $49.2 billion in 2016. Although these figures are significantly less than the amount the United States spends on defense each year, Russias defense budget is still among the highest in the world.

In October, The Telegraph reported on one of Russias newly developed weapons, which has the ability to wipe out nearly all of the United Kingdom, France, or the entire state of Texas. Images of the missile, called Satan 2, have been declassified for quite some time but have just recently been published and made available to the public. (RELATED: Read about Russias new nuke deployment strategy that could destroy the entire east coast of the U.S.)

Obviously, a missile that is capable of creating such widespread destruction must be massive both in size and in carrying capacity. Russian media reports that Satan 2 is expected to weigh an estimated 10 tons once complete, and will be able to carry 10 tons of nuclear cargo.

In order to understand how much power Satan 2 has, it helps to put things into perspective by first looking at the damage caused by the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed 135,000 people and 64,000 people respectively. For both bombs, the destruction radius was astoundingly far. Within one mile of ground zero, every single structure was completely destroyed. Within three miles most structures were heavily damaged, and some minor damage even occurred up to 12 miles away.

Consider all of this power, multiply it by 2000, and youve got the power of Russias Satan 2. Thats right  Russias new weapon has the ability to create a blast 2000 times larger than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Clearly, Russia has the military might to do serious damage to any country that it deems a threat, including the United States. While it wouldnt be wise for President Trump to back down or apologize for striking Syria, its important that at the very least, he takes the power of our enemies into serious consideration before taking any further action.

Sources

Telegraph.co.uk

CNN.com

APNews.com

FreeBeacon.com

AtomicArchive.com
(Natural News) Though far too many Americans are enamored with the socialism of Sen. Bernie Sanders and our European brethren, one of the things that has always contributed to the wild success of the United States is our free-market economic model.

The system we have today is more like crony capitalism, which is based on close cooperation between industry, business and government officials. Nevertheless, elements of our capitalist founding remain and thats good because capitalism and free markets breed competition, creativity and innovation.

Which, in turn, breeds fantastic ideas, like the one proposed by Las Vegas firm Gleason Partners LLC, one of the dozens of companies who have submitted bids to the government to help build President Donald J. Trumps promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The idea? Install solar panels all along the walls length, so that even if Mexico winds up not paying for the wall, it will pay for itself. (RELATED: Solar panel farm grows 17,000 tons of food without soil, pesticides, fossil fuels or groundwater)

As reported by Lifezette, the panels would generate ample power to supply the needs of the Department of Homeland Securitys border operations, and even have plenty left over to sell on the open market.

I envision it as a way they can have a revenue source and help pay for the maintenance of the wall and all the surveillance equipment to protect it, Tom Gleason, a managing partner at the firm, told the website. You have to have security for the security, so to speak Its going to be a boost to the economy and pay for itself if its done right.

An artists rendering of the proposal depicts a wall of panels and concrete base.

(Image: Gleason Partners, LLC)

At present at least 200 firms have shown an interest in building the wall, which has become controversial both in the United States and in Mexico. The deadline for submitting bids was April 4. The Associated Press, quoting sources within government, noted that the Trump White House believes somewhere between four and 10 companies will be selected to build prototypes of the wall that will cost between $200,000  $500,000 apiece.

However, it is not at all clear that the wall will ever be built. As The National Sentinel reported, Democrats are threatening to shut down the government if Republicans include a $1 billion wall funding request by the Trump administration in a budget that would begin construction of the barrier, which would complete existing barriers that are currently in place in various regions along the border.

In reality, this shouldnt even be an issue and, were it not for Democrats, there would already be a border barrier. In 2006, the GOP-controlled Congress passed, and President George W. Bush signed, legislation calling for a two-tiered fence to be built along a particularly porous 700-mile stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border. The Secure Fence Act of 2006 will help protect the American people, Bush said, adding it would make our borders more secure and become an important step toward immigration reform.

After Democrats took over Congress in 2007, they defunded the legislation (with the help of a Republican senator, Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas).

Now, the issue seems to be money.

The big chunk of money for the wall, really is  next fiscal years appropriations, because they literally cant start construction even this quickly, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told CBS This Morning recently.

Well see. We know that the Border Patrol isnt happy with Ryans proposed delay.

President Trump promised he was going to secure the border, and part of securing the border is putting in place the proper technology and resources that allows us to be successful, National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judge told Fox Business Varney & Co. this week, Lifezette reported. And a border wall in strategic locations is one of those things that must get done.

For his part, Gleason would love to see his 30 ft. tall design  which he estimated would cost between $6 million  $7.5 million per mile to build selected by the White House. (RELATED: Solar roadway panels  a solution for our economic, energy and environmental troubles?)

It has a lot of potential, he told Lifezette, adding that the solar panels would last for at least 25 years.

And in a way, he added, Mexicos going to pay for the wall, because the suns coming from south of the border.

J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel.

Sources:

Lifezette.com

TheNationalSentinel.com

Investors.com
Thursday, April 13, 2017 by: News Editors Tags: communism , education , parenting , propaganda This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author

(Natural News) Talk about starting the indoctrination early. The Washington Free Beacon on Monday reported that MIT Press is publishing Communism for Kids, a book aimed at brainwashing three to seven-year-olds, on those lovable little revolutionaries.

(Article by Scott Whitlock from newsbusters.org )

Once upon a time, people yearned to be free of the misery of capitalism.How could their dreams come true? This little book proposes a different kind of communism, one that is true to its ideals and free from authoritarianism. A description on Amazon cheered, How could their dreams come true? This little book proposes a different kind of communism, one that is true to its ideals and free from authoritarianism.

Free Beacon writer Elizabeth Harrington explained:

Communism for Kids, written by a German author who specializes in political theory and queer politics, was released last month. The thesis of the childrens book is that communism is not that hard, but has not been implemented in the right way.

Apparently, the book doesnt focus on the 100 million people murdered under Communism.

In November of 2009, the Media Research Center released Better Off Red, documenting two decades of liberal journalists looking the other way at the evils of Communism.

Here are a few examples of liberal fawning over commies:

Despite what many Americans think, most Soviets do not yearn for capitalism or Western-style democracy.

 Anchor Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News, June 17, 1987. The reality is that even if the communist state were to protect individual rights aggressively, many of its people are not prepared to tolerate diversity.

 Dan Rather on the May 27, 1988 CBS Evening News. East Germany is the Communist worlds vaunted economic success story, hailed as proof that hard work, discipline and thrift can translate Karl Marxs theories into reality.

 New York Times reporter Ferdinand Protzman in the May 15, 1989 Business Day section. Communism got to be a terrible word here in the United States, but our attitude toward it may have been unfair. Communism got in with a bad crowd when it was young and never had a fair chance.The Communist ideas of creating a society in which everyone does his best for the good of everyone is appealing and fundamentally a more uplifting idea than capitalism. Communisms only real weakness seems to be that it doesnt work.

 60 Minutes commentator Andy Rooney in the New York Times, June 26, 1989. Like Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev before him, [Vladimir] Kryuchkov has taken the personal route, talking of his fondness for Bellinis opera Norma. He swoons over the piano mastery of Van Cliburn, and hints that he would arrange a Moscow apartment for the pianist if he would only come here more often. Then he sighs over his exhausting workday at Dzerzhinsky Square: The KGB chairmans life is no bed of roses.

 Reporter David Remnick in The Washington Post, September 8, 1989. Two years later, Kryuchkov was part of the hardline Gang of Eight that attempted to overthrow Gorbachev. Marx and Lenin are still revered heroes. Never mind that communism as they conceived it didnt work. Most Soviets dont want to dump it, just improve on it.

 USA Today founder Al Neuharth, February 9, 1990 column.

Read more at: newsbusters.org
(Natural News) There is an ongoing debate over whether the existence of nuclear weapons makes America a safer place or whether it puts our country in harms way. For the most part, the debate falls along party lines  that is to say, Republicans generally believe that maintaining a nuclear stockpile is necessary, while Democrats, including the former President, do not. But regardless of all the arguments for or against a nuclear arsenal, the fact of the matter is that the United States possesses roughly 6,800 nuclear warheads, second only to Russia, which is armed with about 7,000. Other countries dont even come close to these figures  the United Kingdom has roughly 215 nuclear warheads, France has around 300, China has 260 and Israel has 80.

With nuclear arsenals of this scope and size, it is clear that a war between the United States and Russia would be nothing short of catastrophic. Given the fact that tensions between the two countries have been on the rise in recent days following President Trumps air strikes on a Syrian airfield, many people are becoming worried that one day soon, those nuclear weapons could be used. Of course, such a conflict between the United States and Russia would force other countries like Iran, Syria and the United Kingdom to take action as well, potentially leading to a third world war.

As most people are already aware, the United States and Russia have never exactly been close allies. In December of 2015, the National Security Archive declassified a list from 1956 that detailed hundreds of Russian cities and airfields that would become targets in the event of a nuclear war. The nearly 800-page document, titled Atomic Weapons Requirements Study for 1959, outlines over 1,200 cities in Russia and elsewhere, including Moscow, East Berlin, and Beijing, and also includes 1,100 airfields. William Burr from the National Security Archive describes the target list as the most detailed list ever released by the Air Force. Its disturbing, for sure, to see the population centers targeted, Burr said, referencing the fact that most targets on the list had dense civilian populations.

Time Magazine also commented on the list, writing, Its clear that the plan so dryly laid out by US intelligence would have resulted in death and destruction unlike anything the world had or has ever seen. It is worth noting that Time Magazine has developed something of a reputation for commentating from a left wing perspective. One could just as easily make the argument that the plan so dryly laid out by U.S. intelligence was actually necessary considering the circumstances at the time.

According to RT, the declassified document also calls for systemic destruction in the event of a nuclear war with Russia, and aimed to create a 60-megaton bomb, which would be 4000 times larger than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in August of 1945.

Given the history of tension between the United States and Russia, it is not much of a stretch to assume that the Russians have a similar list of American targets they would strike in the event of a massive nuclear war. More than likely, such a list would include areas of the country with high populations like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Philadelphia. (RELATED: Which U.S cities wold be targeted in the event of a nuclear war?)

Five separate strikes in these cities alone would affect the lives of roughly 18 million Americans, or 5.6 percent of the United States population. It is also likely that Russia has made plans for new types of nuclear weapons that could inflict far more damage than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Indeed, just last year Russia unveiled images of Satan 2, a nuclear missile that is capable of wiping out areas as big as the state of Texas.

For now, the entire world watches and waits to see what these two global superpowers will do next. Only time will tell. Stay informed about radiation fallout at Radiation.news.

Sources:

Stage.newser.com

ICANW.org

Dailymail.co.uk
At least 112 North Atlantic right whales were spotted in Cape Cod bay. The number is the largest on any day, followed by 107 of them in 2011, Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) noted.

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), North Atlantic right whales remain critically endangered, with at least 465 left of them, as of 2011.

Although North Atlantic right whales can survive waters with temperate to subpolar latitudes, their population has declined over the years because of the previous rise in commercial whaling. At present, since right whale nursery areas are in shallow, coastal waters, they are prone to entanglement in fishing gears and ship collisions which result to serious injury and death.

Talking to Boston Globe, Charles "Stormy" Mayo, director of right whale habitat studies at the CCS, explained that North Atlantic right whales as well as other species are often found in Cape Cod bay during this season. However, he noted that the number they have recently seen on their aerial survey was remarkable given the North Atlantic right whales' challenged population.

"It's quite a remarkable sighting. These are animals that are a lot rarer than a lot of those that you and I watch on TV," he said.

Mayo added that the large number could be probably because the bay contains a lot of zooplankton, which is a typical food for these whales.

World Wildlife Fund noted that whales feed on the zooplankton by opening their mouths and filtering the food from the water. They can do this for hours. Once they are done filtering, they will dive and swallow their food. They can consume about 1,000 to 2,500 kilograms (2,200 to 5,500 pounds) of zooplankton every day.

Female North Atlantic right whales only breed once every three to five years. Cape Cod Times noted that only three right whale births were recorded this year. The number is far from the average calf births in 2009, which reached 39. The whale's average lifespan is only up to 30 years.

Despite the recent sighting, the center clarified that the North Atlantic right whales are still critically endangered. The center encourages boaters to travel under 10 knots to avoid fatal collision.
The Australian wilderness just got a bit more terrifying as scientists on a two-week expedition came back with identifications on 50 new spider species crawling around in the wild.

According to a report from Australian Geographic, the dozens of newly-identified species were discovered on the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, Australia. Even by the standards of Queensland Museum's Dr Robert Raven -- who was part of the expedition and has previously identified 13 new spider species in one go -- this most recent find of 50 species is nothing less than mind-blowing.

"Under one rock, down in a gully with a fresh-water spring pumping through, I found species from six arachnid orders," Raven said. "It was absolutely spectacular to see all these six groups together."

It's not just the sheer number of the find that made it such a unique discovery, but the variety of the species the team was able to uncover. There were tiny spiders that mimicked ants and were the size of a fingernail, while tarantulas as big as a human face also scurried around. Raven learned that not only can tarantulas swim, they can also dive and stay underwater for extended periods of time.

One of the most notable new discoveries is a peacock spider that indulged in a strange courtship behavior that looks remarkably like dancing, according to a report from The Guardian. Another is a new species of jumping spiders, which also displayed the tendency to dance.

"Jumping spiders have a nice courtship behaviour: they dance for their women," Dr Barbara Baehr said. "I once described one after Mao's Last Dancer because I had seen the ballet and it danced like that. There is a lovely side to spiders, there's not just a terrible, dangerous side."

Baehr explained that the ecological richness of the region and the wet season created a thriving habitat that allowed scientists to discover so many new species of spiders.

The expedition was part of a Bush Blitz project. An official report revealed that 23 scientists worked with indigenous rangers and traditional owners for the two-week-long trip.
The 20-million-year-old trees look straight out of a science fiction film, but the landscape of certain parts of Socotra is so unique and bizarre that it's no wonder that such strange-looking trees sprouted from this ground.

Socotra Archipelago, considered part of Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, is dubbed the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean due to its spectacular biodiversity, according to a report from Metro.

Its main island is also called Socotra, which is known to be so remote that a third of its plant species are found nowhere else on Earth. Botanists revealed that Socotra's flora are among the ten most endangered in the world.

There are many unusual flora dotting the 3,600-square-kilometer island, but none more eye-catching than the endemic dragon's blood tree with its distinct alien shape. According to a report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the dragon's blood tree, which has been around for 20 million years, bleeds a dark red resin that lent the plant its iconic name.

The blood-like liquid, which seeps out of the tree when it's cut, was used for medical purposes in the early Greek, Roman and Arab civilizations. Later in the 1700s, Italians used the it as a dye to stain wood for violins. Nowadays, its still occasionally sought for special photographic purposes.

Another unique tree found in this island is the Adenium socotranum, which is described by Atlas Obscura as "elephants' legs with pink flowers on top."

Several rare birds are endemic to Socotra such as Socotra starling, Socotra sunbird, and Socotra grosbeak. There are no mammals native to the island except for bats.

According to a 2008 report from the New York Times, a team of biologists conducted a survey of the island's flora and fauna in the 1990s and discovered that there were nearly 700 endemic species in the area. Unlike Galapagos though, Socotra has been inhabited for the past 2,000 or so years. Over 40,000 people live here, most of whom are fishermen and herders.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says accusations that he ordered a chemical weapons attack are "100 percent fabrication," NBC News reported.

Assad was speaking in his first interview since the deadly alleged gas poisoning in Idlib that prompted a U.S. missile strike in retaliation. President Donald Trump and other leaders blame Assad for around 100 civilian deaths.

"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand in glove with the terrorists," he said, referring to the rebel groups that are fighting his Assad regime. "They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack."

In the interview with news agency AFP, Assad also said Syria's military had given up all chemical weapons. The interview was recorded in Damascus by Syrian government cameras and released to other media outlets
For the third time in the last month, police say a wild turkey has collided with a vehicle in Indiana.

Danville police said a woman was driving in the 1700 block of West US Highway 36 when an "unsuspecting guest" came through the front windshield of her 2007 Chevy Tahoe.

The large turkey was trying to fly across the highway when it collided with the vehicle, which was traveling at about 55 mph.

The driver was treated for minor injuries from flying glass and debris. The turkey did not survive.

"We'd like to give you some tips on how to avoid something like this, but we've got nothing..." the department posted on Facebook.

The collision is the latest in a series of similar incidents in Indiana.

Indiana State Police reported another collision late last month after a state trooper had a turkey fly into her windshield.

Close call for Trp. Tia Deaton as a turkey flew into her windshield last night. 'Thankfully' she was ok. pic.twitter.com/l62OEzTPnX  Sgt. Stephen Wheeles (@ISPVersailles) March 30, 2017

Police were already warning drivers in northwest Indiana after a wild turkey had collided with a vehicle in LaPorte County just one day earlier.

The LaPorte County Sheriffs office said the incident happened on US 20 near Wilhelm Road, where they found a large wild turkey lodged in the windshield of a 2016 GMC Yukon.

The vehicle was being driven by a family who was visiting the University of Notre Dame following their teenage sons acceptance.

They had just finished visiting Notre Dame and were in the process of driving back to OHare International Airport in their rental vehicle, police said in a release.

The family suffered minor cuts from the glass and refused medical treatment at the scene.

While vehicle versus deer crashes are common place, it is very rare to see a vehicle strike a turkey, police said in a statement.

Authorities noted, however, that mating season has begun and, during this time, more turkeys are spotted close to roadways.
Police are conducting a death investigation after a body was found in a marsh area in Gary, Indiana, Thursday, authorities confirmed.

The male body was recovered about 3:46 p.m. from a marsh area off Chase Street near West 35th Avenue, authorities said.

The male was recovered with the assistance of the Gary Fire Department and declared deceased on scene by the Lake County Coroner's office, a news release from Gary police reads.

No other details were immediately available.

Police ask anyone with information regarding the investigation to contact Det. Cpl. Edward Gonzalez of the Lake County/Gary Metro Homicide unit at 219-755-3855 or the crime tip line at 866-CRIME-GP.
Three women are facing 26 felony charges after police say they found loaded handguns, alcohol, daggers and other sharp objects inside a daycare in northwest Indiana.

Authorities say Merrillville police officers and the Indiana Department of Children's Services made an unannounced check on a home daycare at 1730 W. 53rd Tuesday. When they arrived, officials encountered a mother who said she was there to check on her 4-year-old son who had suffered a head injury. She said the daycare alerted her but the owner would not open the door.

Officers climbed through a window of the home and found the young boy on a bed surrounded by bloody napkins with an open wound on his forehead, police said. It was not immediately known how he was hurt.

The boy was one of 15 children police discovered to be inside the home at the time. Three other children were missing from the daycare and later found in a different location, according to police.

During a search of the home, authorities found two loaded handguns, two shotgun, daggers, and sharp blades to be within reach of the children, police said. Bottles of whiskey and vodka were strewn on the floor of the bedroom where the children were found, according to police.

Tawana Cole, Roberta Sanders, and Adriana Johnson were each charged with one count of neglect of a dependant resulting in bodily injury and multiple counts of neglect of a dependent and criminal confinement.

Cole has been arrested and police are searching for Sanders and Johnson. An attorney for Cole, who is on probation for battery with a deadly weapon, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Police said the home daycare centers license had expired in March, and the daycare was only approved for a maximum capacity of 12 children.
A Wisconsin fugitive accused of stealing an arsenal of firearms and sending an anti-government manifesto to the White House was arrested Friday after a retired school counselor found him camping on his property and calmly talked to the man before calling authorities.

The arrest of Joseph Allen Jakubowski settled fears among residents and law enforcement over what he might do with his stockpile of weapons and ammunition. In his manifesto, Jakubowski detailed a long list of grievances against the government and law enforcement, and threatened unspecified attacks.

Jakubowski appeared subdued during his initial federal court appearance Friday afternoon in Madison, speaking quietly with his attorney while wearing a dirty white T-shirt over a long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans. He will remain in federal custody as he faces a federal gun theft charge and several state felonies.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jeff Anderson said Jakubowski could be indicted on additional charges. His next federal court appearance is scheduled for April 25.

Tactical officers captured Jakubowski without incident around 6 a.m. after surrounding his campsite in a field near Readstown, said Jeffrey A. Gorn, the property owner who called authorities. Readstown is about 125 miles northwest of Janesville, where the manhunt for Jakubowski began on April 4.

Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden described his campsite as primitive, consisting of only a tarp, and said Jakubowski looked disheveled and like he had not slept in some time.

Gorn told The Associated Press he was driving his four-wheeler on his property late Thursday night and checking his deer stands when he spotted a blue tarp and discovered a man camping on his land. Gorn said he didn't realize it was Jakubowski, the 32-year-old target of an intense manhunt by at least 150 federal, state and local law enforcement officers for more than a week.

Gorn approached the tent fashioned from the tarp and asked if anyone was inside. Jakubowski came out.

"He said he was off the grid," Gorn said. "And I told him you're not too far off the grid. You're on my grid."

Gorn, 58, a former high school guidance counselor, said he talked with Jakubowski for an hour.

"He seemed angry at the way he views society, how he believes money is controlling society," Gorn said, adding that the man was "extremely cordial."

"He never raised his voice, never showed any sign of doing anything inappropriate. I shook his hand twice," Gorn said. "He wanted me to see his points of view. He wanted me to see what he had written to various people."

Gorn said Jakubowski asked for food and asked if he had to leave the field. Gorn told him he could stay the night. When he returned to his house, Gorn said he felt a bit uneasy with the campsite and called the Vernon County Sheriff's Office. Law enforcement officers began to descend on the property in the dark and set up a perimeter around the camp. Gorn estimated 100 officers arrived and sat down with him to look over maps of the property. A thermal imaging camera showed Jakubowski was in the tent, he said.

Tactical officers moved in about 6 a.m. and arrested Jakubowski without resistance, according to the Rock County Sheriff's Office. Gorn said he didn't see any weapons at the camp, but Milwaukee-based FBI special agent Justin Tolomeo said authorities recovered five firearms, including a long gun, and a samurai sword.

"The full scale of (Jakubowski's) actions are under review," Tolomeo said.

Jakubowski's capture quieted concerns after authorities said Thursday they were investigating a letter threatening Easter attacks on churches in Wisconsin, specifically around Sussex, purportedly sent by Jakubowski. Officials did not confirm its authenticity.

An Easter egg hunt at the governor's mansion that was cancelled Thursday because of the hunt for Jakubowski was back on for Saturday.

Janesville Police Chief David Moore earlier said Jakubowski cited concerns about President Donald Trump in his 161-page manifesto, but that he didn't make any specific threats.

The sheriff's office said Jakubowski filmed a video of himself dropping his manifesto, addressed to Trump, into a mailbox and speaking of a "revolution" before the manhunt began. He warned in the video that whoever received the manifesto "might want to read it."

Authorities believe Jakubowski drafted a letter of apology to the owner of a gun store in his hometown of Janesville before stealing 18 guns, two silencers and ammunition on April 4.

News of Jakubowski's capture brought relief to residents of Janesville.

"With the kind of weaponry he had, he could've done extensive damage," said Richard Erdman, owner of The Coin Shop, a pawn shop downtown. He said his wife had been avoiding the mall, fearing it could be the target of an attack.

"These kinds of things keep people on the edge," said Fabian Gonzalez, the general manager of the Milwaukee Grill. "A little bit stressful."
The attack on a tunnel complex in remote eastern Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military left 36 Islamic State group fighters dead and no civilian casualties, Afghanistan officials said Friday.

The Ministry of Defense said in a statement that several ISIS caves and ammunition caches were destroyed by the giant bomb, which terrified villagers on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border with its "earsplitting blast."

The U.S. military headquarters in Kabul said the bomb was dropped at about 7:30 p.m. local time Thursday on a tunnel complex in Nangarhar province, where the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State group has been operating. The target was close to the Pakistani border.

"I want a hundred times more bombings on this group," said Hakim Khan, 50, a resident of Achin district, the site of the blast.

Pakistani villagers living near the Afghan border said the explosion was so loud they thought a bomb had been dropped in their village by U.S. warplanes targeting terrorists in Pakistan.

"I was sleeping when we heard a loud explosion. It was an earsplitting blast," said Shah Wali, 46, who lives in the village of Goor Gari, 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the border with Nangarhar. "I jumped from my bed and came out of my home to see what has gone wrong in our village."

Wali said dozens of other villagers also came out of homes and later he went near the border, where he met with other residents. He said he could see smoke in the sky.

Gen. Daulat Waziri, spokesman for the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense, said the death toll of ISIS fighters could rise. He said the bombing was necessary because the fortification was extremely hard to penetrate, with tunnels as deep as 40 meters (43 yards).

"It was a strong position and four times we had operations (attacking the site) and it was not possible to advance," he said, adding that the road leading to the target "was full of mines."

The U.S. estimates 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. President Donald Trump called Thursday's operation a "very, very successful mission."

The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon, unleashes 11 tons of explosives.

Inamullah Meyakhil, spokesman for the central hospital in eastern Nangarhar province, said the facility had received no dead or wounded from the attack.

District Gov. Ismail Shinwari said there is no civilian property near the airstrike location.

There was no immediate comment from the Islamic State group or other militants regarding the U.S. bomb attack.

Associated Press writers Anwarullah Khan, Munir Ahmed and Maamoun Youssef contributed to this report.
Some tolls could be installed on state highways in about 18 months if Connecticut lawmakers approve plans to install electronic tolls, according to Democratic House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz.

The original prediction said tolls could be installed in three or more years.

"We don't want to pay, you know? If you go to New York, New Jersey, you keep paying, said Muhammad Ghauri, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, about the tolls. He was driving through Connecticut on Thursday.

Several drivers who travel through the state dont want to pay the extra cost. Currently there are no tolls on Connecticut roadways.

We don't need to pay anymore to travel. We have (three) kids. Its too much, said Cindy DeMello of Falmouth, Massachusetts.

She travels through Connecticut several times a year and on Thursday, she was en route to Disney World with her family. She said tolls could mean less trips.

David Grey, of Garrison, New York, remembers the state tolls from decades ago and he wasnt a fan then.

"I have no other way to get to the Cape so I'm stuck, Grey said. But it's a pain in the neck with the traffic."

It seems like (Connecticut is) in a really deep hole and this is just some way of trying to pull out of it, said Bob Schilling of New Bedford, Massachusetts. I don't know how much more they can tax."

State budget analysts predict the state will run out of money for road and bridge repairs within the next several years. Revenue from tolls could be used to help fund infrastructure projects.

Under the proposal, toll prices would be cheaper for people who live in Connecticut.

"I think if it's for road maintenance and bridge maintenance that's really important. And that I'd probably go for that, said Dawn Kopel of Woodbridge.

"I spend enough out of my paycheck during the week to go to the state and the towns, said North Stoningtons William Martin.
The husband of an Ellington woman who was found dead in her home in 2015 has been charged with his wife's murder and is due in court Monday, authorities confirmed Friday.

Richard Dabate, 39, was arrested on Friday, state police said.

Connie Dabate, 39, was found dead of gunshot wounds and her husband, Richard, was found wounded on Dec. 23, 2015, when authorities responded to a burglary alarm at their home. Officials said at the time that the couples sons, ages 6 and 9, were in school at the time. No arrests were made during this time.

After an extensive investigation, state police released new details on the case Friday. In the arrest warrant application, police said Richard Dabate told them that he and his wife were attacked in a home invasion. Richard Dabate stated that an intruder entered their home and shot Connie in front of him, using Dabate's own gun. He also claimed that the intruder tied him to a chair and stabbed him with a "box cutter or something" and burned him with a torch.

But according to police, Richard Dabate changed his story several times and it was inconsistent with evidence. Police found no evidence of forced entry or that anyone had fled the property. Investigators reported that the injuries Dabate suffered could have been self-inflicted, according to the arrest warrant.

In addition, the report details an alleged extramarital affair. Richard Dabate said he and Connie wanted another child, but couldn't have one, so he got another woman pregnant. The idea, he claimed, was Connie's in a way.

Later in the same conversation, Richard Dabate said that the pregnancy was unexpected and therefore, it was a secret.

When police interviewed the other woman, she told investigators that Connie Dabate was not aware of the pregnancy and that Richard Dabate was going to divorce his wife.

The arrest warrant details a wide variety of evidence collected by investigators, ranging from physical evidence, to photos of the scene, to witness interviews, to text messages, computer records, and even records from a FitBit device that the victim was wearing the day of her death. This is the evidence that authorities believe give probable cause to charge Richard Dabate with murder.

Throughout the investigation, Richard Dabate maintained that he is innocent.

Richard Dabate is charged with murder, tampering with evidence, and false statement. His bond was set at $1 million and he is scheduled to appear in court on April 17.
Police said two people were injured in a shooting outside a Dallas food store early Friday morning. [[419461674,C]]

Dallas police said two groups of people were shooting at each other in the Little World parking lot in the 4600 block of South Malcolm X Boulevard at about 1 a.m.

The victims were not the intended targets, according to authorities. They were not together and were injured while sitting in their vehicles.

Both victims were transported to hospitals. One sustained injuries that police said were not life threatening. The other underwent surgery and is stable.

No suspect information was provided.
Ethan Couch, the teenager who lawyers argued the 'affluenza' defense , will not be leaving jail after the Texas Supreme Court denied his appeal.

Thursday, the state's highest court denied to hear his appeal that his lawyers filed in March.

Couch's lawyers argued that a judge had no authority to sentence Couch after his case was moved from juvenile to adult court.

Couch was given ten years probation in a 2013 crash that killed four people. He later violated his probation from that crash.

An expert called by the defense used the term 'affluenza' during sentencing saying Couch was coddled into a sense of irresponsibility.

Couch's mother, Tonya, was charged with hindering the apprehension of a felon and money laundering for fleeing to Mexico with her son.
Governor Greg Abbott announced Thursday that Hulu, LLC will open a new viewer experience operations headquarters in San Antonio.

The new operations headquarters will process technology and service requests for Hulu subscriptions from millions of customers across the United States.

The San Antonio headquarters is expected to add hundreds of new jobs to the area with millions in capital investment. A Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) grant offer of $1,284,000 has been extended to Hulu.

"In Texas, our mission is to set the stage for growing industries with a business-friendly policy approach that allows for innovation to thrive," said Governor Abbott.

"With the opening of Hulu's new viewer experience operations headquarters, Texas not only benefits from the addition of new jobs, but also the confidence that fast-growing companies bring with them when they select the Lone Star State as the best place for their investments. I proudly welcome Hulu's viewer experience operations headquarters to Texas and look forward to their tremendous success in San Antonio."

"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, we're building an infrastructure that allows us to provide the most personal, responsive and knowledgeable customer support for our viewers," said Ben Smith, Head of Experience, Hulu.

"With its vibrant culture and large and diverse talent pool, we're incredibly excited to partner with the city to make San Antonio home to our viewer experience operations."

"We are delighted that Hulu has chosen San Antonio for their new Viewer Experience headquarters, bringing with them hundreds of new jobs and additional capital investment to our local community," said SAEDF Chairman Wayne Peacock.

"With our collaborative approach to economic development, San Antonio is positioned to continue attracting great employers like Hulu that are making a positive impact in our community and throughout Texas."
Interstate 635 has reopened after being shut down most of Friday morning due to a major multi-vehicle crash in Dallas late Thursday night. [[419461054,C]]

Dallas police said they were sent to the 9400 block of westbound I-635 at about 11:45 p.m. and found an overturned tanker truck and at least six other vehicles that had crashed.

Munique Robinson said she tried to slow down as she approached the initial crash, but another vehicle crashed into her silver Kia and pushed her into the wreckage. Her 5-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son were in the car, but not injured.

"The fire department came and they were kind enough to let us sit in their trucks and stay out of harm's way," she said.

Dallas Fire-Rescue officials were called to the scene to help people pinned in a vehicle.

Westbound I-635 is closed while hazmat crews clean fuel spilled onto the road. Firefighters said they had to call in a third-party contractor to drill a hole in the tank and remove the remaining fuel.

The highway was reopened just before noon.

No details about injuries were released.
A man who was kicked in the head and punched during a traffic stop Wednesday in Georgia told NBC News it was second his second encounter with one of the officers within days.

After videos of one of the incidents appeared online, the Gwinnett County Police Department fired both police officers, saying the videos confirmed "the force used was unnecessary and excessive."

Demetrius Hollins, 21 was stopped by Sgt. Michael Bongiovanni, and Master Police Officer Robert McDonald showed up on the scene as back up. The videos show the officers assaulting Hollins while he was lying on the ground, handcuffed.

"I was actually trying to get to the camera app because I actually kind of had an encounter ... with the particular police officer before and he charged me with the same charges as he charged me with yesterday," said Hollins, who was booked for marijuana possession, obstruction and multiple traffic violations.
CLOSING THE CAR DOOR... after your last last trip out to a valley or field or desert during the February-to-April run on wildflowers can be a sad, soft sound. You know it'll be several months before you're again chasing down rumors of ocotillo blooms or goldenrod, and summer's heat will make an vast carpet-type showings out of the question. But the wildflower scene isn't truly over in mid-April, or even late April, and the higher elevations will continue to see color right up to the start of summer (or even beyond). Still, though, there are spots around the lower lands that are having a poppy party, and we're not just talking about the California Poppy Festival in Lancaster on April 22 and 23. Look to Point Mugu State Park, near Oxnard, which not only has some orange-amazing action as of the middle of April but also Chocolate lilies, Blue dicks, and lupines, too. Camarillo Grove Park in Conejo Valley is sporting Indian paintbrush, and California fuchsia, as well as monkey flowers, and Mount McCoy Trail in Simi Valley blue skullcaps and mustard.

IF A BOAT TRIP IS IN YOUR FUTURE, across Santa Barbara Channel, count on spying more petals, should you call upon the Channel Islands National Park before too much more of spring passes by. Anacapa Island is experience "...a full bloom of the brightly colored coreopsis," as well as "delicate white mallow," a new flower to the area, per nature observers. As always, luck and timing are riding along with you on your wildflower adventures, but, should the weather be pretty and sunny, you should experience a grand day out, whatever flowers are found. Don't delay: April is about to enter its second half, and, soon, only the upper reaches of our mountain areas will be prime wildflower-finding spots, at least for this season.
Thousands of students at an Irvine high school were being evacuated after a man phoned in a hoax, saying he locked himself in a bathroom and threatened that he had guns and explosives, according to police.

Northwood High on 4515 Portola Parkway was being evacuated after the phone call came in at 1:45 p.m.

After Irvine police methodically searched the campus and found nothing, they deemed the threat a hoax.

The man called the desk claiming to have guns and explosives in a school bathroom, police said.

A reunification point for parents and students was set up at Portola Parkway and Yale Avenue.

Parents were asked to stay off campus as the investigation continued.

There were an estimated 2,300 to 2,500 students being evacuated from campus amid the hoax, as police said they were acting out of an abundance of caution.

The school was deemed safe at 5 p.m.

The school said the students had just returned from spring break.
Uruguay's banking crisis had already claimed Rosana Araujo's savings when she and her family, tourist visas in hand, boarded a Miami-bound plane in Montevideo. She stayed in Miami after her visa expired, supporting herself on random jobs, cleaning homes or babysitting.

"I feel lucky because I got here in a plane," she said. "I feel lucky because I didn't have to cross a desert."

While the national discussion on immigration focuses on securing the U.S.-Mexico border with a multibillion dollar wall, travelers such as Araujo who overstay their visits have become the main source of illegal immigration in the United States.

The Homeland Security Department said 527,127 people  more than the population of Atlanta  who entered the U.S. by plane or ship, not land, and were supposed to leave the country in the 2015 fiscal year overstayed. Demographers estimate that two-thirds of foreigners who arrived in 2013 and are now in the U.S. illegally were admitted with valid travel documents, the New York-based Center for Migration Studies Found.

The administration's directives expanding immigration enforcement affect all immigrants in the country illegally, but they focus on those who cross on land, which is the smaller share of newly arrived immigrants in the country illegally. Nonetheless, the U.S. is preparing to build a wall along the 2,000-mile southern border estimated to cost somewhere between $8 billion and $20 billion. An additional 5,000 Border Patrol agents are to be added at additional cost.

The report estimated that the number of people crossing the border illegally fell from 400,000 in 2000 to 140,000 in 2013. Customs and Border Protection said 12,193 people were caught trying to enter the United States illegally from Mexico in March for the second straight monthly decline in arrests at the border. The agency hadn't reported fewer arrests in a month in at least 17 years.

Robert Warren, author of the report, says President Donald Trump's immigration orders and plans on the border don't reflect current migration patterns.

"Overstays have been steady for the past 10 or 12 years, but the illegal entries into this country are at a level we haven't seen in 20 or 30 years," the demographer said. "Building a wall across the entire southern border is a statement of policy failure."

The new executive orders say little about visa overstays, in part because the U.S. government can't confirm the total number of travelers who remain in the country after their visas expire. Airlines and vessels report departures to the Department of Homeland Security. But foreigners who leave in vehicles through the ports of entry along the borders are not accounted for because of "major physical infrastructure, logistical and operational hurdles" a January 2016 Department of Homeland Security report said.

Recent high-profile cases of immigrants who are detained or go public with their stories show a different, more common side of illegal immigration.

In July 2015, Zully Palacios flew from her native Peru into Houston and made her way to Vermont to work at a lodge. She faces deportation after immigration officers detained her. About 100 people gathered in Burlington to protest her arrest last month, saying she was unfairly targeted for advocating for dairy-farm workers.

"We are all defending one another. We all should have the right to live peacefully without hurting anybody. We are coming to this country to contribute," said Palacios, who was freed on bond.

Statistics aside, overstays aren't easily tracked. Immigration officials don't monitor travelers to detect when they overstay their visits, and even when return tickets are required for entry, "the planes don't present a 'no-show' list," Orlando immigration lawyer Carlos Colombo said.

"A lot of people fall into limbo, and fall out of status because they thought they were going to be able to do one thing and they find out they actually can't," Colombo said.

People who overstay their visits worry about penalties they might face if they leave and try to return. If a foreigner overstayed his visa for more than one year, he could be banned from returning for 10 years. Immigration officials at Miami and other airports have sent back travelers who had previously overstayed their visits.

But the determined find weaknesses in the immigration system. Some have gone back home, applied for and received new visas from the State Department and successfully returned to the U.S., something lawyers say is caused by a lack of information exchange among government agencies.

Hyun Kim arrived in the U.S. from South Korea 18 years ago with his parents, who simply decided to stay. He's now 20, and more concerned about being allowed to work than being caught by officials. Until after Trump's victory, he didn't know to apply for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows some immigrants brought into the country as children to be shielded from deportation and allowed to work.

"My biggest fear is not deportation. It's how I am supposed to make a living here," said Kim, who hopes to go to college for computer science or engineering but works as a waiter in Virginia. "I never imagine living in Korea. But I can't attend university because I can't afford it."

The obstacles those who overstay face depend on the state where they live. Some can't get a driver's license or in-state tuition rates. Many, such as Araujo of Uruguay, work random jobs cleaning homes or babysitting and avoid airports and law enforcement.

In a recent trip to New York, she traveled by car with friends from Miami instead of flying. She wanted to ride the Staten Island Ferry to cruise by the Statue of Liberty but held off when she saw Homeland Security vehicles parked near the terminal and heard officials were screening passengers.

She hopes she'll have another opportunity someday to lay her eyes on the iconic symbol of freedom.

Associated Press writer Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.
Authorities say a 16-year-old girl fatally shot her teenage friend and dumped her body on the side of a road in Florida.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said at a news conference Thursday that the girl is being questioned in the death of 15-year-old Melanie Mesen Medina. Her body was found by a passer-by on Tuesday morning.

Demings said 22-year-old Ramsys Javier Cruz Abreu was arrested on an accessory to murder charge after telling investigators the teen shot Medina. The girl confirmed the story, but didn't say why the gun went off. She's in custody but hasn't yet been charged.

Tips led investigators to Cruz Abreu. Demings said they're looking into the relationship between Cruz Abreu and the girls.

He's being held on a $50,000 bond. A lawyer isn't listed on jail records.
Power boating was the family passion. The family included Sal Magluta, Willie Falcon and his younger brother, Gustavo "Tabby" Falcon  a crew of drug kingpins who operated in South Florida in the 1980s. Gustavo was captured in Kissimmee Wednesday after 26 years on the run.

Billy Corben directed the landmark film Cocaine Cowboys which highlighted the dark time in South Florida when the drug wars were rampant and fueled by Colombian druglords.

"The figures that were thrown around, at the time, was 75 tons of cocaine and generating over $2.5 billion in revenue. That was the indictment," Corben told NBC 6. The feds indicted all three in 1991 and Magluta and Willie Falcon were caught, but, Gustavo Falcon, his wife, and their two kids disappeared before the indictment.

"It had always been rumored that they had left the country, had access to planes and boats and things. It was rumored for a long time that they were in Spain. I think it's rather extraordinary that they were discovered 300 miles away," said Corben.

The filmmaker is working on a new documentary on the case, a sequel of sorts to his "Cocaine Cowboys." Corben is stunned that the younger Falcon was nabbed just months before Willie, who took a plea, is expected to be freed from prison.

And its now, after all this time, scheduled to be released in just two months, just as his brother, who has been gone for 26 years is captured, 300 miles away from home. It's wild," said Corben.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez, who was Miamis mayor at the time of the 80s drug trade, said the crime rate spiked because of the drug trafficking and the major players.

"We were a troubled city," said Suarez as he reflected. "They were kids that went bad, and the temptation of drugs and the money that was coming through Miami was enormous." The Falcon brothers and Magluta famously dropped out of Miami High School to lead a life of crime.

Corben is set to release his new six-hour docuseries, "Cocaine Cowboys: Los Muchachos", this summer.
Gustavo Falcon was driving a five-year-old Chevrolet Impala when he pulled up to a stop sign on Livingston Road at County Road 545 in Osceola County on a hot, sunny afternoon in May 2013.

With his wife in the passenger seat, he came to a full and complete stop and, Falcon would later tell a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, looked both ways.

Seeing that, a northbound bicyclist on the sidewalk approaching from Falcons right side said he felt it was okay to continue into the intersection in front of the stop sign and the stopped vehicle.

But Falcon suddenly pulled into the intersection and struck the 44-year-old bicyclist from Clermont, causing a minor injury that did not require emergency medical services and only $50 in damage to the bike.

The bicyclist came out of nowhere, Falcon told the trooper.

Wednesday, it was the US Marshals Service fugitive task that came out of nowhere, swooping down on Falcon while he was on his own bicycle ride, one which ended in the arrest of the last of the so-called Cocaine Cowboy fugitives.

It turns out, a marshals service spokesman tells NBC 6 News, that otherwise unremarkable car-versus-bicycle crash played a key role in authorities finding Falcon, who disappeared in 1991, shortly before the federal court unsealed charges against him, his brother, Willie, and the rest of the drug conspiracy.

In March, they learned Falcon was using an alias: Luis Andre Reiss, date of birth January 1, 1960. One look at the photograph on the fraudulently obtained drivers license and authorities know Reiss was, in fact, Falcon.

But the drivers license included a Hialeah address, and there was no sign of Falcon living there.

So authorities searched databases and found Reiss was the driver of that Impala in the May 2013 crash near Kissimmee, and that a passenger was Maria Reiss, who turned out to be Falcons wife, Amelia Falcon.

The search then focused on Kissimmee, and authorities soon discovered Falcon was renting a house less than three miles from the crash scene under the name Reiss.

That led to surveillance and Wednesdays capture.

There were still hints of a Miami connection around Falcon.

The Impala was owned by VFB, Inc., also known as Van and Car Rental of South Florida, a now-dissolved corporation that once did business at 2726 NW 35th St, Miami, sandwiched between scrap metal and discounted car parts businesses, a mile and a half east of Miami International Airport.

And both his and his wifes drivers license had that Hialeah address, a house in the 2100 block of West 53rd Street that appears to have no connection to them.

There was some other, minor fallout from the crash back in May 2013.

The bicyclist sued the man he thought was Luis Reiss and the owner of the vehicle, VFB Inc., but the case became largely dormant in October 2014 and, after being set for dismissal for failure to prosecute, it was formally dismissed with prejudice in April 2016, usually indicating a settlement was reached.

Calls to the bicyclist and attorneys for him, the now-dissolved VFB Inc. and Reiss have gone unanswered or not been returned.

Falcon also had a couple of other encounters with law enforcement while using the fake drivers license. On May 27, 2009, Reiss was cited by Osceola sheriffs deputy for having a vehicle with no registration, but the charge was dismissed.

On July 15, 2008, driving a 2006 silver Dodge van in Winter Park, he turned right on red onto Fairbanks Ave. at the end of the off-ramp from eastbound Interstate 4 in Winter Park, got a ticket and paid the $136 fine.

Court records do not reveal if he paid cash.
A South Florida teenager who was visiting New York with family for spring break was among the four young people found brutally killed in a park in a Long Island neighborhood.

Jefferson Villalobos, of Pompano Beach, was one of the victims found dead in Central Islip Recreation Village Park Wednesday night, his cousin Yensy Fuentes told NBC 4 New York Friday. He had been on vacation with his grandmother, and arrived from Pompano Beach last Friday, to visit family in Brentwood.

Villalobos, who would have turned 19 next month, had half his face missing, according to Fuentes. He was identified in part by a tattoo he had on his arm.

"My uncle, as soon as he saw it, he knew it was him," Fuentes told NBC 4.

The tattoo was of two hands wrapped around a rosary with the inscription "In God's hands."

Villalobos was popular on social media. Many users posted picutes of the teen and wrote messages of condolences. One user posted "You were such a sweet person. One of the nicest guys at school. You were really a good friend who turned bad days into good days."

His cousin Michael Banegas, also 18, was another victim. Banegas lived in Brentwood and was from Honduras, Fuentes said. He was suffocated with a plastic bag and his face was unrecognizable.

Another friend who was with the group at the park managed to escape, according to Fuentes. He told Villalobos' family he was hanging out with friends, then saw men come out from the trees with machetes.

"The gang members came out and told them to kneel down -- and then he was just able to run for his life," said Fuentes. "He was the only one that made it out."

The young man who escaped called Banegas' family immediately after he fled. The relatives went to the park but didn't know exactly where to look and felt spooked about going alone; that's when they called police.

On Thursday, parents and relatives of missing 16-year-old Justin Llivicura had gone to the park to ask police for more information on the bodies found there. Llivicura went to the park with friends on Tuesday but has not been answering his phone since then, relatives said. The family filed a missing person report with police on Wednesday.

Even as the victims' families were identifying them, authorities have not released their names pending official identification of the bodies. Police have said one of the victims was 16 years old, two were 18, and the fourth was 20.

The FBI, meanwhile, has joined the probe into the grisly discoveries of young men, who appeared to have been killed with a sharp-edged instrument, in a manner consistent with the modus operandi of the violent MS-13 gang, Police Commissioner Timothy Sini said at a news conference Thursday.

"We're going to do everything in our powers to solve these murders. We have all hands on deck, and we're working closely with the FBI," he said.

Jefferson was popular on social media. Many users posted picutes of the teen and wrote messages of condolences.

One user posted "You were such a sweet person. One of the nicest guys at school. You were really a good friend who turned bad days into good days."

Authorities are offering a $25,000 cash reward for information in the case.

The MS-13 gang, also called Mara Salvatrucha, is believed to have been founded as a neighborhood street gang in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s by immigrants fleeing a civil war in El Salvador. It grew after some members were deported to El Salvador, helping to turn that country into one of the most violent places in the world. It's now a major international criminal enterprise with tens of thousands of members in several Central American countries and many U.S. states.
A train with about 1,200 passengers became stuck in a tunnel between New York and New Jersey for nearly three hours on Friday, the latest in a series of recent rail problems plaguing the metropolitan area.

The New Jersey Transit train became disabled in the Hudson River tunnel late Friday afternoon, when Amtrak was experiencing overhead power problems. A New Jersey Transit spokeswoman said the train finally reached New York's Penn Station in the early evening.

As passengers were departing the train a man in the station became belligerent and sparked a stampede among people leaving the overcrowded station, but police said reports that gunshots were fired at the station were false.

The loss of power caused delays of an hour or more on Amtrak and New Jersey Transit. It happened three weeks after the derailment of an Amtrak train at Penn Station and a week after a New Jersey Transit derailment shut down eight of 21 tracks there and disrupted travel in the region for days. No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.

One passenger from Friday's train, Mia Sanati, described a scene of confusion.

Sanati said she and her husband were headed for the New York International Auto Show when they boarded the train in Secaucus, New Jersey, at Secaucus Junction, the last New York-bound stop before Penn Station.

She said shortly after the train entered the tunnel to go under the Hudson River, they felt a bump on the side of the train and saw sparks.

"About 30 seconds later, the train just came to a complete stop," Sanati said.

The power went out except for emergency lights, and so did the air conditioning, said Sanati, who made video of the darkened car.

"It got really hot really fast, with that many people crammed together," she said.

As riders waited and plans changed - they were told that the train would be towed, then that it would be evacuated - some tried to make light of the situation or scooted over in their seats to make room for people who were standing. But others were shaking, pacing, saying they had to get out or mulling about walking through the tunnel, Sanati said.

@NJTRANSIT We just want to get home in time for Good Friday service. pic.twitter.com/AJY704qIiU  Christopher Lee (@leechristopher) April 14, 2017

After the electricity came back on and the train started moving, there were cheers, said Sanati, who lives in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, and just finished a doctoral program in mass communications.

Rush hour passengers trying to leave New York faced mounting delays.

Adam Rosen, a chemical engineer going to Hamilton, New Jersey, said, "They keep extending the delays from 45 minutes to 90 minutes and now indefinitely. This is the worst."

New Jersey Transit executive director Steven Santoro said in a statement to affected riders, "we deeply apologize for your experience, and I would like to hear from you."

NJ Transit spokeswoman Nancy Snyder said the railroad was working with Amtrak to determine the cause of the problem. Amtrak issued a statement about the delays but didn't immediately respond to emails seeking further comment.

Pandemonium erupted at the overcrowded station when rumors of a shooting apparently were sparked by a disturbance caused by one of the passengers from the stuck train. People screamed and ran, leaving the station strewn with abandoned bags.
Defense attorneys in the George Washington Bridge lane-closure case sought a mistrial ruling after a juror called the case "overwhelming" and asked to be dismissed, according to newly unsealed documents.

Attorneys for Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly in November asked U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton to declare a mistrial when a juror sought to be removed from the panel. At the time, it wasn't clear why the mistrial was requested.

The 12-person jury handed down guilty verdicts in November for Baroni and Kelly on fraud and conspiracy charges stemming from the politically motivated 2013 scheme to punish a Democratic mayor who didn't endorse Republican Gov. Chris Christie's re-election bid.

The documents unsealed this week included nearly two dozen items numbering hundreds of pages, a number of which included redactions.

The unidentified juror sought the dismissal without the defendants being present, as required, according to attorney Michael Baldassare in a partially redacted letter sent to the judge on behalf of Baroni and Kelly.

"The juror stated that (he or she) felt (he or she) could remain 'fair and impartial in the room, but it's all the other aspects that are feeling overwhelming for me,'" Baldassare wrote. Baldassare called the judge's conversation with the juror prejudicial.

Bill Baroni, Christie's appointee to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was sentenced to two years in prison, and Kelly, Christie's former deputy chief of staff, was sentenced to 18 months. Both must also serve 500 hours of community service.

Baroni and Kelly have filed notices that they will appeal the verdicts.

Christie was not charged with any wrongdoing in the federal case, and he denied any prior knowledge of the plot. State prosecutors have declined to pursue a citizen's criminal complaint lodged against him, but questions remain over how much he knew about the plot
A Delaware judge on Thursday convicted a 17-year-old girl of criminally negligent homicide after a school bathroom fight that left a 16-year-old classmate dead.

Family Court Judge Robert Coonin delivered his ruling after hearing a week of testimony in the nonjury trial for three teenage girls charged in the death of Amy Joyner-Francis. All three were 16 when the fight happened and were tried as juveniles.

Two of the girls were charged with misdemeanor conspiracy. The judge acquitted one and convicted the other, saying there was evidence that she kicked Joyner-Francis during the fight.

Sentencing is set for May 23.

The families of Joyner-Francis and the girl who was acquitted left the courthouse without commenting.

An autopsy found that 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.

Her assailant was charged with criminally negligent homicide for her role in the fight, which was captured on cellphone video.

Defense attorneys argued that the death of Joyner-Francis, who had a rare heart condition undetected by her doctors, was unforeseeable. 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."

Attorney John Deckers, representing the girl charged with homicide, argued that she 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.

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NBC10 and the Associated Press are not naming them because they are minors.

Coonin ruled last year that the girl charged with homicide would be tried as a juvenile. Had she been tried and convicted as an adult, the girl would have faced up to eight years in prison. Being declared delinquent, she would be subject to supervision until age 19.

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.

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.
Two houses are all that remain standing on the street with no name in western Mosul, just blocks from the front lines of the battle to retake Iraq's second-largest city from the Islamic State group.

The once-bustling neighborhood has been reduced to rubble, its sidewalks piled high with a jumble of concrete, bricks and metal.

Standing amid the debris of what was once his home on the newly liberated street, Maan Nawaf blamed IS for the destruction around him. It was IS fighters, he said, who drew the devastating firepower of the Iraqi and coalition warplanes to the street by positioning snipers on top of the buildings after ordering residents to leave, including his elderly mother.

"We said we have a disabled woman, she can't walk. They said if you don't go, we will kill you," he said. The family knew the militants would make good on the threat: IS fighters killed two of his brothers, one of whom was a policeman, as well as his nephew, Nawaf said.

For the few residents who remain in Mosul's Wadi Hajar neighborhood, the war is far from over. Just blocks away, police units fired mortars at IS positions and helicopters circled overhead, firing into the streets below. IS returned fire only sporadically, the treacherous calm luring the residents into the street between the crashes of mortars.

Iraqi forces backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes launched their assault on western Mosul in mid-February after taking the eastern sector of the city in more than three months of heavy fighting. While nearly two months of house-to-house battles have flushed the militants out of parts of the city's western sector, fighting rages nearby.

Food remains a problem. Few aid trucks reach the area and food distribution can descend into chaos. Among those who managed to grab a parcel at a recent distribution was Firas Mohammed al-Jibouri. Taking it home with his young son, he opened it in his living room to find a packet of baby milk, bulgur and two bottles of oil. There was also some sugar and wheat.

"It's just enough for one day. We are 25 people here  25. Just one day," he said, looking forlornly at the small pile of provisions.

A former truck driver, Jibouri has lost his livelihood: His house is one of the two still standing but his truck is gone. Any vehicles that survived the airstrikes were used for barricades or destroyed by advancing Iraqi forces fearful of car bombs.

Out in the street, Jibouri pointed at individual piles of rubble and recalled those who were killed there, many of them members of his extended family. One pile used to be the Khaled Ibn al-Waleed mosque, the centerpiece of the neighborhood. Jibouri said 43 people were killed there two months ago when it was hit by back-to-back airstrikes, the second striking as people were trying to dig out the victims of the first.

Surrounding one of the damaged trucks, a group of men and boys worked to remove a valuable intact wheel. One child rolled it away, and it wobbled away from him into a puddle of mud. As he struggled to lift it, a man and his young daughter sat silently in front of their house.

Mahmoud Alo said the only thing he hears from his daughter, Amna, these days is a brief yes or no. Clearly traumatized by the violence around her, she has been sleeping little and spends her days staring into space. As gunfire reverberated nearby, drowning out her father's words, Amna looked around nervously at a helicopter rocketing an IS position.

"Whatever you ask her, she just says 'No.' Come  she doesn't come. Bring this  she doesn't understand," her father said.

He took her to a makeshift clinic, but the only thing the medics could do was give them some tranquillizers. With no immediate hope of further treatment and the war still raging around her, Amna sits sedated, and just stares.

At the other end of the street, al-Jibouri finished recounting all the death and destruction that has visited his neighborhood, trying to measure the cost of his new-found freedom from IS.

"It's a tragedy," he concluded.
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 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."

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.
A new policy passed makes the Christina School District the first in Delaware to provide a safe haven for its immigrant students.

In a 4-2 vote Tuesday night, the Christina School District Board of Education in Wilmington approved a new policy that outlines steps employees can take to safeguard K-12 students who are in the country illegally, in event of a request from an immigration agency.

The policy reads that its goal is to provide enrolled students and their families the promise and reassurance that their right to a public education will be protected and free from disruption by enforcement efforts related to their undocumented status.

The safe haven policy does not provide absolute protection for students, but puts measures in place to make sure agencies go through the proper channels and prevent students from being directly taken out of the classroom.

The policy clearly defines the role of Christina School District employees when faced with a request from ICE for student information.

In that situation, administrators are not required to accept or block the request, but rather declare that the request falls under the power of the superintendent.

Employees cannot resist if immigration agents enter the school, but have to work with the agencies to minimize any disruptions to the school and report the incident to the superintendent.

The new policy hits home for the school district. Staff in the district estimate there a few hundred students at the school are in the country illegally, while about 22 percent of the students are Hispanic or Latino.

Brett Tomashek, an ESL teacher at the districts elementary school, said when they are in my classroom and they are in my carethey are in the care of Thurgood Elementary. And it follows then that they are in the care of each and every one of you on the board."

It has been a three month process to get policy passed.

The initiative was first pushed in February by board member John Young. His first proposal of the policy was revised twice after some board members feared that allowing employees to resist federal agents would put them in harms way and subject them to arrests.
Ten-year-old Faheem Thomas-Childs was on his way to school in 2004 when a drug deal went wrong. The little boy was caught in the crossfire and shot in the face. He held on for five days but eventually died. Some 2,000 people attended his funeral. For a short time, Thomas-Childs became a symbol for what needed fixing in Philadelphia, but ultimately nothing changed.

Thirteen years later, gun violence remains rampant throughout the state. Addressing a room full of doctors and public health advocates at the University of Pennsylvanias annual trauma symposium, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro called for a more holistic approach to reducing gun deaths.

"I believe in the Second Amendment and I defend those rights, but I also believe people have a right not to be shot," Shapiro said.

Just four months into his new attorney general post, Shapiro plans to combat firearm deaths by expanding Philadelphias Gun Violence Task Force into neighboring communities.

Of particular interest is Chester, which was recently deemed the most dangerous city in Pennsylvania. The Delaware County city has a violent crime rate more than double that of any other city in the state, according to a study published by Pittsburgh attorney Gary E. Gerson and data visualization firm 1point21 Interactive.

Since its creation in 2006, Philadelphias task force has removed 275,000 guns from the streets, Shapiro said.

Veteran police officers and assistant district attorneys are the primary actors behind the task force, but the attorney general plans to bring in additional undercover agents to target illegal gun sales and straw purchases, or lying about the owner of a firearm.

"Gun violence remains a daily tragic problem in our country," Shapiro said. "[The crisis] extends beyond the gunshot victim and beyond the person who pulls the trigger. The numbers are truly staggering."

In 2015, more than 9,500 Americans were killed by guns and another 20,000 people took their own lives using firearms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than three times that number were shot but did not die from their wounds.

In Philadelphia, 85 people have already died as of April 13, the vast majority as a result of shootings, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.

Additionally, Pennsylvanias gun death rate is the highest in the region with more than 1,400 gun deaths in 2015, according to the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia.

[NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More

"My job is go out and deal with crime in our communities and  I can do that every day and have success, but were still not going to solve the root cause of the problem, which is a lack of economic opportunity, a lack of educational opportunity and the public health crisis that occurs as a result of this trauma," Shapiro said.

As the Philadelphia Police Department said in a recent interview with NBC10, policing is not the only answer to reducing gun crimes. Higher than average poverty rates and a lack of educational resources conspire to create a volatile environment for many people, especially youth.

For instance, the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia has treated more than 1,800 people under the age of 24 for gunshot wounds between 2007 and 2016. That translates to roughly 15 firearm victims per month.

Youth who are exposed to violence and trauma at an early age are less likely to succeed in school and more likely to exhibit behavioral and developmental problems later in life, according to the CDC. With this in mind, Shapiro hopes to collaborate more fully with schools, community centers and local leaders to curb neighborhood-specific violence.

"We know zip codes are determining factors in future success," he said. "We, as a community, should not tolerate this."
More than 45 years after he first leaked the Pentagon Papers, whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg sees history repeating.

The biggest threat now is raising an armed conflict with a nuclear power as President Donald Trump intercedes in Syria.

"This week, things are looking very ominous to me," he said.

Speaking with alumni at the Haverford School outside Philadelphia, the 85-year-old former Marine recounted his journey from alleged traitor to celebrated patriot credited with helping to end the war in Vietnam.

The Pentagon Papers comprised a complete documentation of U.S. involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967, including civilian bombings in Cambodia and Laos and the potential for nuclear war. It was ordered by the acting presiding general, who kept the study secret from then-President Lyndon B. Johnson.

I felt it shouldnt be just me who knew this history, Ellsberg said of his leaking the top secret documents. It changed my mind so much as to the legitimacy of what we had been doing from the start. In fact, I saw no legitimacy.

Photos: Pentagon Papers Whistle-blower Sees Parallels to Modern Wars

But perhaps the biggest secret contained therein was the U.S. militarys knowledge that the war could not be won.

What I saw was that my country was on a wrong course, had been lied into it and was going to continue to  get worse with the public being very deceived, he said.

The story of how Ellsberg copied these documents is the stuff of Hollywood movies. The former first lieutenant had been working as a high level nuclear war strategist at the RAND Corporation after being honorably discharged. Through his time in Vietnam and at the Pentagon, Ellsberg sensed the war could not be won by foreign forces.

I assumed that the war was justified  however hopeless it might be, Ellsberg said. But when I read the study I thought No, it had never been justified. We had no business, no right, to be killing anyone in [the region].

Disenchanted with U.S. leadership, Ellsberg took the documents out of a safe in his office, volume by volume, and copied all 7,000 pages at a small advertising company owned by a colleagues girlfriend. It took all night to Xerox the documents, he said.

Ellsberg turned the evidence over to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee expecting a hearing. When his revelations went ignored, he turned to the next best thing: the New York Times.

A nine part series ran in 1971 after being delayed for two weeks by the Nixon administration. During the delay Ellsberg leaked the documents to the Washington Post and other media outlets. Eventually, freedom of speech won out and the world was finally privy to the Pentagon Papers.

Ellsberg was charged under the Espionage Act but later acquitted under the First Amendment. He was Edward Snowden before wiretapping. Julian Assange before Wikileaks. The Pentagon Papers were an embarrassment not just to the armed forces, but to former presidents Johnson and Richard Nixon, both who vowed to negotiate an end to the bloody conflict during their respective administrations.

It would take another several years before the conflict would officially end. When it finally did, the U.S. had spent 20 years at war. Countless of lives were lost or changed forever.

Despite Ellsbergs best efforts, the United States continues to pursue a policy of dirty wars into present day, he said. Current conflicts in the Middle East feel all too familiar to the whistleblower.

NBC10s Alicia Lozano sits down with Daniel Ellsberg to discuss Iraq

We were essentially lied into a war in the same egregious way, he said. And were still there. Its been 16 years that weve been in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Now the United States is poised dangerously close to yet another quagmire. Trumps recent missile strike against Syrian forces could signal the beginning of another prolonged and deadly conflict that will cost more American lives. Ellsberg is calling for a more nuanced approach.

Any president who has gone that far will find it hard to get out of it, Ellsberg said. Unless we reach some arrangements with the Russians there is the danger, in this case, of a much greater war than was true even in Vietnam.
The U.S. is prepared to launch a preemptive strike with conventional weapons against North Korea should officials become convinced that North Korea is about to follow through with a nuclear weapons test, multiple senior U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News.

North Korea has warned that a "big event" is near, and U.S. officials say signs point to a nuclear test that could come as early as this weekend.

The intelligence officials told NBC News the U.S. has positioned two destroyers capable of shooting Tomahawk cruise missiles in the region, one just 300 miles from the North Korean nuclear test site.
San Diego travelers flying out of Lindbergh Field days after a man was dragged off a United Airlines flight in Chicago had mixed reactions heading to their flights on Thursday.

I sort of forgot who I was flying with until I looked a couple of days ago and I was like 'oh my gosh, I hope nothing crazy happens,' said Anna Beck, a United Airlines passenger.

Passengers like Anna, flying out of San Diego International Airport on Thursday, shared their thoughts on flying with the same airline that subsequently dragged a doctor off a flight earlier this week. The video, seen millions of times, triggered a wave of public outrage.

We're fine with United," said Robyn Walker as she picked up her luggage from the airport. "We'd like to not see that happen again."

The United Airlines video also highlighted how passengers are treated in general, regardless of the airline.

It probably directed attention on the whole airline industry and in the service, said passenger Greg Gibbons. Its the dumbing down of service for customers across all airlines.

San Diego-based personal injury attorney Craig McClellan said the video is an example of corporate bullying.

It's an example of corporate bullying and no one likes a bully, said San Diego attorney Craig McClellan. If [United's CEO] had been on that plane on a way to a board meeting at Louisville, would he have received the same treatment? To me probably the biggest thing is the humiliation.

As United faces the backlash, the airline is looking at whether it should change some of its rules and protocols. The airline says it will no longer use officers to remove passengers from their seats.

McClellan said the incident will probably lead to some type of Passengers Bill of Rights.

Probably, if a flight is overbooked, passengers will be notified before they get on the plane and get seated," McClellan said. If theres an emergency situation, if they're going to see a loved one before they die, to a memorial service, or have to see patients or something like that, they will have a right to be heard and won't be bumped in those kinds of situations.

In light of the video, many passengers are likely asking about their legal rights when they fly, said McClellan.

When you have something like that, I think the people feel empowered, said McClellan. It gives us an opportunity to see undisputed evidence, in this case bullying that now something can be done about it, something will be done about it.
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.

His December 2010 killing uncovered 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 Terry'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."

Mexican marines took Osorio-Arellanes into custody near the border between the states of Sinaloa and Chihuahua  a mountainous region noted for drug activity, according to a joint statement Thursday from Mexico's navy and its federal attorney general's office. He was being held pending extradition proceedings.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said he was thankful to Mexican authorities and that he hopes the latest arrest will "mark a significant step" in bringing closure to Terry's family.

"This latest arrest illustrates the commitment of the administration to seek justice for the brave law enforcement personnel who risk their lives every day to protect the border," Kelly said in a statement Thursday.

Osorio-Arellanes faces nine charges including first-degree and second-degree murder and assault on a federal officer, among others. He was indicted shortly after Terry's death.

Terry was part of a four-man team in an elite Border Patrol unit staking out the southern Arizona desert on a mission to find "rip-off" crew members who rob drug smugglers. They encountered a group and identified themselves as police in trying to arrest them.

The men refused to stop, prompting an agent to fire non-lethal bean bags at them. They responded by firing from AK-47-type assault rifles. Terry was struck in the back and died shortly afterward.

The government had offered a $250,000 reward for Osorio-Arellanes.

A jury in Tucson in October 2015 found two men, Jesus Leonel Sanchez-Meza and Ivan Soto-Barraza, guilty of murder and other charges.

Another, Manual Osorio-Arellanes, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2014. It's unclear if he's related to the suspect arrested this week.

Rosario Rafael Burboa-Alvarez has pleaded guilty to murder. He was not present during the shooting but is accused of assembling the rip crew. Jesus Rosario Favela-Astorga remains at large.

All of the defendants have been tried in Tucson by federal prosecutors from San Diego, which also will be the case for the latest suspect.

Fox News was first to report the arrest.

___

Verza reported from Mexico City. Associated Press writer E. Eduardo Castillo in Mexico City contributed to this report.
Veterans Affairs put a new acting director in place at its medical center in Washington, D.C., Thursday following Wednesdays report that said patients are unnecessarily at risk there, but veterans organizations remain concerned.

The VA Office of the Inspector General reported unsanitary conditions, lack of attention to safety recalls, and a failure to ensure availability of supplies and equipment when needed.

As soon as this matter was brought to our attention by the inspector general, we took decisive action to protect veterans here at the center, Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said.

Veterans Affairs reassigned medical center Director Brian Hawkins Wednesday and named Dr. Charles Faselis temporary acting director. Veterans Affairs announced Thursday Col. Lawrence Connell would serve as acting director instead of Faselis.

"After further consideration, it was determined that naming an acting director from outside the facility would allow leadership to concentrate on addressing the many challenges identified in the OIG report, without compromising the ongoing internal review," Veterans Affairs said in an updated press release.

Hawkins received executive bonuses totaling at least $24,000 since 2011 and received a raise last year bringing his salary to $179,000.

At the American Legion, which represents more than 2 million American veterans, Executive Director Verna Jones said the inspector general report is the latest shock to a troubled system and care delays.

Anything that can provide a detriment to the veteran is a concern for us, she said.

Veterans are calling the American Legion asking if they are OK.

Are they at risk for diseases  HIV, hepatitis, those kinds of things, Jones said.

From my knowledge of what the inspector general told me yesterday and the knowledge from our team that has been here all day, we are not aware of any veterans that have experience harm, Shulkin said.

Eighteen of the medical center's 25 sterile storage areas were found to be dirty, according to the report. In five storage areas, the clean equipment and supplies were mixed with the dirty. Seventeen areas lacked ways to monitor pressure, temperature and humidity.

The medical center lacked an effective inventory system, and $150 million in equipment and supplies were not inventoried in the past year. Meanwhile, the lease on a large warehouse of non-inventoried items expires at the end of the month with no plan to relocate the contents and staffing constraints could make it difficult to address the situation.

Also, no effective system was in place to ensure recalled supplies and equipment were not used on patients, according to the report.

The medical center also had 194 patient safety reports based on unavailable equipment or supplies since Jan. 1, 2014, according to the report.

The Office of the Inspector General inspected the medical center after an anonymous complaint about the conditions.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser plans to start leasing apartment buildings in the District to house homeless families.

For several years, the District has been paying tens of millions of dollars to house hundreds of homeless families in motels, mostly along New York Avenue.

On Friday, the Bowser Administration began accepting bids from landlords who are willing to lease entire buildings to the District for up to three years. The Bowser Administration is targeting buildings with 25 to 50 units, located one to two blocks from metro stations across D.C.

It's part of Bowser's plan to close the D.C. General homeless shelter.

The Bowser Administration is currently building temporary shelters for homeless families in all 8 wards. That plan has been met with considerable resistance from councilmembers and residents.

"We are in our second year of implementation of Homeward DC, our strategic plan to end homelessness and we have made tremendous progress. There were 17 percent fewer families in emergency shelter in January of 2017 compared to January 2016, said DHS Director Laura Zeilinger.

The latest plan to rent entire apartment buildings is being called bridge housing, a temporary place for families to live until permanent homes can be found.

"This bridge housing will be a more effective and efficient means of serving families needing a temporary placement during a housing crisis while we continue to implement the strategies in our strategic plan and reduce our reliance on motel rooms," Zeilinger said.
Two men and a woman abducted another woman and robbed her early Sunday morning, D.C. police said.

The suspects forced her into a vehicle about 2:40 a.m. in the 1600 block of R Street NW, police said.

The suspects stole her personal property while inside the car and drove to her home where they stole more items, police said. Then they fled the scene.

One suspect is described as a black man who is about 5-feet-9-inches tall with a slim build. He wore a gray True Religion brand T-shirt and blue jeans.

A second suspect is a black woman, approximately 5-feet-5-inches tall, petite with straight black hair. She wore a black jacket with fur around the collar and black jeans.

The third suspect is a slim black man, about 6-foot-1 or 6-foot-2. He wore a black shirt, blue jean jacket and blue jeans with red and black sneakers.

The vehicle used is a light-colored compact car.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call D.C. police at 202-727-9099. You can also text your tip to 50411.
When packages a Maryland woman sent to Ireland never arrived, she learned the insurance she purchased for them stopped at the border.

Grace OKeefe recently traveled to Dublin to reconnect with her roots.

I hadn't been back in 26 years, she said.

To thank her family there, she sent them pictures of her trip.

I got thinking, what a great idea to take pictures and then send them back to them in frames, she said.

She shipped several packages through the U.S. Postal Service, some by express mail and others by first class due to weight she said. And she had them insured.

Most of the packages made it to Ireland, but two didnt, she said.

Tracking showed they were stuck in Jamaica, New York. So she went to her local post office and spoke with a supervisor.

I said, What good is the tracking number? Why is it stuck in Jamaica still? Somebody has to know something, OKeefe said. And he said, 'Well, I don't have anybody I can contact. That's all I can tell you.

Her reaction was to tell him she would contact NBC4 Responds.

And he looked at me and he said, 'Well, that sounds like a good idea," she said.

The U.S. Postal Service told NBC4 Responds once a package crosses the border, control of it switches to a foreign post office.

Soon after OKeefe reached out to NBC4 Responds, the missing packages reached their destinations.

But I just felt like I got a flip answer and that everything that I had been promised in writing, not one thing was followed through on, and that just really rips me, so I came looking for Susan Hogan, she said.
A volunteer firefighter who was shot four times while trying to help a man says he still relives the shooting that killed his partner a year later.

"I remember a flash. I didn't hear it and then it was like slow-mo and then...you just kept hearing the bangs," Morningside Volunteer Firefighter Kevin Swain told News4.

Swain and his partner, 37-year-old John Ulmschneider, were responding to a medical call at a home in Temple Hills, Maryland, on April 15, 2016 when the homeowner opened fire.

"It just feels like it was yesterday," Swain said.

The scene was chaotic. Firefighter Quida Livingston broke her jaw after running into a rescue engine during those frantic moments after she heard gunshots.

"It just felt like I couldnt hear. I felt like couldn't blink my eyes. I felt like I couldn't breathe, like everything on my face was just shut down," Livingston said.

Livingston is good friends with Swain and said she remembered someone saying "Kevins down." She ran back to him. "I started screaming to him, like, 'Kevin! Tell me something. Are you OK up there?"

Swain, who was 19 years old at the time of the shooting, was critically wounded.

"I was shot [in my] right abdomen, my back, my hip and -- I called it my million-dollar wound like Forrest Gump -- my left butt cheek. And then the bullet actually sits right here down my leg," he said.

Ulmschneider, whose nickname was "Skillet," was killed. He was a 13-year veteran of the Prince George's County Fire Department and left behind a wife and a young daughter.

Swain said he felt immense guilt after the shooting.

"It bothered me. It ate me alive, actually, because I would have to think that, you know, his 2-year-old daughter will never see her father again," Swain said.

He said he also felt anger that the homeowner, Darrell Lumpkin, would not face charges for shooting he and Ulmschneider.

"I mean, I was angry. I'm not going to lie. I was angry," Swain said. "It's just a feeling of shock. I just couldnt believe it."

Lumpkin was indicted on six weapons charges in July 2016, but not the shooting itself. He is set to be sentenced on Friday.

But the Morningside Volunteer Fire Department medics who were on that call said they are thankful that their crew is back together.

"You know, we all really came together and made everyone feel really supported, you know, and that confirmed all of the reasons I joined Morningside in the first place," said Morningside Lt. Michael O'Brien.

"I'm here for a reason, I guess," Swain said.
The Virginia Supreme Court has dealt a blow to a bid to overturn protections for gay and transgender students at a northern Virginia school district.

Andrea Lafferty, president of the Traditional Values Coalition, and a student filed a lawsuit after the Fairfax County School Board voted to add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to its non-discrimination policy. They argued that the policy is unlawful because such protections aren't included in state law.

The state Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court ruling dismissing the lawsuit. The Supreme Court said Lafferty and the student lacked standing to bring the challenge.

The justices wrote that the student's "general distress" over the non-discrimination policy isn't enough to allow him to bring a lawsuit against the school.
Like he does every morning, Joe Samaha will begin his day on Friday by kissing a photograph of his daughter. Then, he and his wife will drive to Virginia Tech to mark the 10th anniversary of her death.

Reema Samaha was sitting in a French class the morning of Monday, April 16, 2007 when a fellow student burst through the door and opened fire.

Reema Samaha, an avid dancer and actor from Centreville, Virginia, was just 18 years old.

In the days before the 10th anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre, her parents said they still struggle every day with the loss of their daughter.

"Our journey keeps going. It doesn't end," Joe Samaha said.

"One year or 10 years, they're just as painful," his wife added.

NBC Washington

Ten years after a mentally ill man armed with two semi-automatic pistols opened fire at Virginia Tech, victims and their families say they are still healing and working to prevent future mass shootings.

The day Reema Samaha died, Seung-Hui Cho killed a total of 32 students and faculty members and then killed himself.

He killed two students in the dormitory Ambler Johnston Hall about 7:15 a.m.

More than two hours later, he entered Norris Hall, a building where classes are held, and stalked through the hallways with the guns. Victims were found wounded and dead in four classrooms and a stairwell.

As first-responders rushed into the building, students' cellphones rang and rang with calls from loved ones trying to find out if they were safe, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine recalled. He was the state's governor.

"Bodies were littering the floor, and next to every body was a cellphone just ringing over and over again," Kaine said.

Two Approaches to Coping With Grief

Joe and Mona Samaha said they have dealt with their grief in two separate ways over the years: she turned inward, and he turned to politics.

NBC Washington

Mona Samaha said the murder of her daughter, the youngest of three children, challenged her Christian faith.

"My whole understanding about life and prayer were shaken. I needed to go back and find, why am I living? Where was God when Reema was killed? I prayed every day. Why does he not listen to my prayer?" she said.

As Mona Samaha struggled with fear, anxiety and depression, she prayed and kept a journal. After five years had passed since the college freshman was killed, Mona Samaha wrote in her journal, "I am free, Reema is free."

After 10 years, she said she has a new understanding of love.

"We are living to experience God's love and to share it among each other," she said.

Joe Samaha initially focused his efforts on gun law reform.

The shooter, Cho, legally bought the two guns he used in the massacre. A judge had found he was a danger to himself and ordered him to get outpatient mental health treatment. But he passed two background checks because state law at the time only required that those committed to mental hospitals be reported to the FBI.

Kaine was able to change the law by issuing an executive order that later won bipartisan support. But other measures, including for background checks to be performed at gun shows, failed.

Joe Samaha pressured lawmakers, often with his daughter's photo in hand, but was frustrated by the political process. He turned to working on campus safety measures instead.

He is president of the Virginia Tech Victims' Family Outreach Foundation, a nonprofit that works to prevent school shootings. The group has helped victims and survivors of other tragedies, and created a system to evaluate the safety of campuses.

PHOTOS: Virginia Tech Shooting Survivor Speaks Upon 10th Anniversary

'How Many More Tragedies Do There Have to Be?'

A decade after the massacre, families are still fighting for gun laws they say may have saved their children's lives.

Kaine told News4 he had hoped the shooting would remain the country's most shocking and prompt serious gun law reforms. It was, at the time, the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in recent history. The massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando last year claimed 49 lives, surpassing the death toll at Virginia Tech.

"I don't know what it's going to take. How many more tragedies do there have to be before we wake up and say, 'We can reduce this'?" the former Virginia governor said.

Kaine said he was inspired by what shooting victim Liviu Librescu did when he heard gunshots in the hallway outside his classroom.

The 76-year-old Holocaust survivor was teaching when he heard gunfire rattle through the second floor of Norris Hall. He pushed his body against the classroom door, giving his students time to jump out of the windows. Librescu, an accomplished aeronautical engineer from Romania, died after he was shot multiple times.

Reema Samaha was one of the youngest victims of the shooting, and Librescu was the oldest.

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, who was the governor at the time of the Virginia Tech massacre, remembers victim Liviu Librescu. The professor survived the Holocaust but was killed 10 years ago as blocked the door of his classroom to protect his students. News4's Aaron Gilchrist reports.

Kaine said the hero's death troubled him.

"What does it mean that you can survive the Holocaust and you can survive the Soviets taking over your country, but you can't survive the carnage of gun violence in the United States?" he asked.

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine was governor when a gunman killed 32 students and faculty members at Virginia Tech 10 years ago Sunday. In an emotional interview, he spoke with News4's Aaron Gilchrist about the horror of the attack.

'Day of Remembrance' Will Span Several Days This Year

Events to remember the 32 students and faculty members who lost their lives will span the entire weekend this year, and alumni groups across the country also will hold ceremonies.

Musicians and dancers will perform on campus Friday, and a 3.2-mile run will be held Saturday morning.

A series of solemn events will be held on Sunday, which is Easter and the 10th anniversary itself, starting with the lighting of a ceremonial candle at midnight. The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will stand guard for 32 minutes, and then the candle will remain lit for 24 hours.

A moment of silence will be held at 9:43 a.m., to mark the moment when Cho began firing in Norris Hall.

Emily Haas and Colin Goddard survived the shooting that killed 32 students and faculty members at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. Goddard, and Haas' mother, Lori Haas, said they will work for the rest of their lives to stop gun violence. "I can't let this happen to other families. I've seen too much pain," Lori Haas told News4's Julie Carey.

A candlelight vigil, among other events, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Then, the ceremonial candle will be extinguished at 11:59 p.m.

After a weekend full of remembrance ceremonies, Reema Samaha's father will end the day as he began it: by kissing his daughter's photo.

"She's still with us," he said.
The "mother of all bombs" that the U.S. military dropped in Afghanistan Thursday is so big it has to be pushed out of a cargo plane with a parachute attached, NBC News reported.

The largest non-nuclear bomb the military has ever dropped, weighing 21,000 pounds, the GBU-43 creates a mushroom cloud visible up to 20 miles away. And it's notable that it wasn't used in current flashpoints like Syria or even North Korea.

"Afghanistan was not really on the agenda during Donald Trump's presidential campaign, but ISIS was," explained Emily Winterbotham, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank.

The militant group is attempting to establish a foothold along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, even though it's more than 1,500 miles from their stronghold in Iraq and Syria.
Two Vermont women have been arrested after a child in their custody tested positive for cocaine last month.

Police responded to a home in Fairfield after receiving a request for assistance from the Department of Children and Families. The child currently living at the home of Amber Billings and Kristen Reed was taken into custody of DCF.

A medical evaluation determined that the child had been subject to cocaine and subsequently tested positive for the drug.

Billings was arrested and issued a citation for cruelty to a child on April 11, while Reed was arrested and cited for the same offense the following day.

Both are scheduled to appear in court on April 25, 2017.

It's no clear if either suspect has an attorney.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will not seek a third term. He made the announcement on Thursday afternoon.

The 61-year-old Malloy formally announced his plans not to run in the 2018 election during a news conference at the state Capitol and he broke down in tears while revealing his decision.

The governor's wife, Cathy, stood by his side and Malloy became emotional when he mentioned her at the end of his remarks.

"In closing, I want to recognize Cathy, who I've already recognized today. She is my partner, she is my best friend and it's only through her love and support that -- and Dannel (their son) too and my other two sons -- that all of this has been possible," Malloy said.

The governor said he and his wife made the decision that he would not run again over a period of time.

Read the governor's full remarks, as they were prepared, here.

Malloy's announcement comes as a growing list of potential Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates has been forming.

Much of Malloy's tenure as governor has been marked by budget struggles.

"Plain and simple, our party and our state are better off today for Dan Malloy being our governor, Nick Balletto, chairman of the state Democratic Party, said in a statement. He proved yet again this afternoon what he's always been: a leader willing to make the hard choices necessary for the long-term interests of our state and to secure a sustainable future for our residents and our businesses, regardless of the political calculus."

As governor, Dan Malloy has built a stronger Democratic Party. He has inspired grassroots activism, helped elect candidates to local office and the state legislature, and made investments in party infrastructure that will last long beyond his terms in office. A strong Connecticut Democratic Party has led to a much-needed raise for working people, new and comprehensive gun-safety laws, the end of the death penalty in our state, and expanded healthcare access for hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents. His commitment to our party and the causes it represents haven't been just about his term in office, but part of his life's mission. I look forward to working with him in the years ahead to keep making progress toward our shared goals, Balletto said in a statement.
A man has been convicted of setting fires in several New Hampshire communities that killed some dogs.

Gregory Bruno faced multiple counts of animal cruelty, arson, and filing false reports. Prosecutors said the 29-year-old Raymond man set fires in Epping, Raymond, and Stratham in 2015.

They said the fires stemmed from a breakup with a girlfriend who received threatening, anonymous messages from him. Bruno was convicted of setting fire to her family's home, as well as a car fire that killed some dogs. He also was convicted of feeding razor blades to his own dog.

His sentencing is scheduled for June 30.
Reaction is pouring in across Massachusetts Thursday after the U.S. dropped the "mother of all bombs" on an ISIS target in Afghanistan.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Ed Markey spoke at Lexington High School. He says he hasn't been briefed by the Pentagon yet, but has one main question:

"Whether or not there were civilian casualties, and if there were, what were the extent of them?" Sen. Markey said.

Markey wouldn't say what an acceptable number of civilian casualties is, but if there are casualties, he says it could backfire on the U.S. He's afraid ISIS could use it as a recruitment tool.

Democratic U.S. Congressman Seth Moulton says dropping bombs on terrorists is the "easy part," but he questioned a long-term solution.

Right now, the Pentagon says the MOAB bomb, the military's largest non-nuclear bomb, was dropped on a cave complex in eastern Afghanistan. But other than that, little information has been released.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she wants to hear more from the generals out in the field on "why they thought this was the right bomb and the right moment."

NBC Boston spoke to one Lexington resident who said he worked as a civilian for the Air Force for 30 years.

"Unfortunately, these things have to happen," he said. "I wish they didn't have to happen."

The U.S. military is currently assessing the damage.
A man was hospitalized following a massive 3-alarm fire in Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood Friday afternoon.

Boston fire officials say firefighters were alerted to the blaze on 36 Lexington St. just after noon. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they saw flames shooting from the rear of a multi-family home. The fire has since been knocked down, but is still smoky.

A man who lived at the address was treated by Boston EMS responders and taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital. He's currently in critical condition.

A firefighter was also treated for exhaustion.

In all, four adults and two children lost their home. Boston fire officials say they're staying with family and friends.

Sky Ranger footage showed firefighters putting out flames on the roof of a heavily damaged two-story residential building.

Fire officials estimate the damage at $400,000.

It's unclear how this fire started.

The investigation is ongoing.
A New Hampshire man was shot in the leg early Friday morning.

Nashua police say officers responded to a report of shots fired just before 3 a.m. on Coburn Avenue.

When they arrived, they found a male, whose age was not given, suffering from a gunshot wound on his leg.

He was taken to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center first, and then to a Boston-area hospital for surgery. Police say the victim is in stable condition and recovering.

The victim was shot by another male, whose name or age was not released, he knew, according to investigators. Charges have not been filed.

Police say their investigation is ongoing.
Authorities in New Hampshire are looking for an inmate they say escaped Thursday.

The New Hampshire Department of Corrections told state police around 3:30 p.m. that 38-year-old Anthony Jay Santos had escaped from the Calumet Transitional Housing Unit in Manchester.

Santos is described as being 5'8 and 165 pounds. He is balding and has blue eyes.

According to state police, Santos was last seen around 11 a.m. near KRL Electronics, where he used to work.

Anyone with information is asked to call 603-223-4381.
Lawmakers in Salem, Massachusetts, voted Thursday to put in writing what's already in practice, making the city a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants.

A new ordinance protects undocumented residents from being asked about their immigration status by police and city officials unless they're involved in a serious crime.

"I think it's important that my neighbors understand that we love them here," said resident Sue Kirby. "That they have the support of the city and the police."

After weeks of debate, Salem City Council voted 7 to 4 in favor of making the city what they call a "Sanctuary For Peace."

"Illegal immigration is illegal," said resident Edward Plecinoga. "I'm against sanctuary cities."

Opponents fear that the Trump administration will cut off federal funding to cities  $11 million, in Salem's case -- that adopt sanctuary city measures.

"I hope that there's trust that their elected officials won't do anything that would jeopardize funding," said Mayor Kim Driscoll. "Or violate federal law or put our community in a worse position."
Samsung has had enough struggles with Tizen, the open-source operating system it is positioning as an alternative to Android. But now Tizen is being blasted by a security expert for being full of egregious security flaws and sloppy programming.

Israeli researcher Amihai Neiderman, who heads the research department for Equus Software, spoke at Kaspersky Lab's Security Analyst Summit and later to Motherboard, the tech site run by Vice.com. Neiderman said Tizen's code "may be the worst code I've ever seen. Everything you can do wrong there, they do it."

Tizen is similar to Android in that it's built on a Linux kernel with a lot of open-source code around it. After that, though, the two part company. Tizen started as an Intel and Nokia project, and Samsung merged its Bada operating system into the Intel/Nokia code in 2013. However, Neiderman says most of the flaws he found were in the newer code.

Many of them are the kind of mistakes programmers were making 20 years ago. For example, because the TizenStore software operates with the highest privileges you can get on a device, it's the perfect delivery method for malicious code. "You can update a Tizen system with any malicious code you want," said Neiderman.

Buffer overflows are widespread due to the improper use of the strcpy() function in C. This function is used to replicate data in memory, but its also got risks, and developers today no longer use it, except for the Tizen development team. Neiderman says that Samsung is "using it everywhere."

Samsung's code also failed to use SSL in a consistent way, transferring even sensitive data in the clear.Neiderman started looking at Tizen after buying a Samsung TV running the operating system, but he has found that the flaws also exist in the company's smartphones.

Neiderman says he found flaws that can be remotely exploited. One particular focus was TizenStore, Samsung's marketplace for Tizen apps. He found exploitable flaws within the store app, and since the store app runs as a highly privileged account, exploiting it compromises the entire device.

When Neiderman contacted Samsung about the flaws, Neiderman said he received only automated replies. Since going public, the company has said that it's committed to cooperating with the researcher.
An FCC auction of repurposed television spectrum has raised $19.8 billion and will pave the way for mobile carriers to offer faster and more reliable service across the country.

The 70MHz in new spectrum available will allow carriers to provide fast 5G service in coming years, FCC officials have said. It was the world's first two-sided auction allowing TV stations to indirectly sell spectrum to mobile carriers and other users of wireless spectrum.

The auction should speed up networks that have slowed as U.S. residents move to "data-hungry smartphones," the FCC said in a press release. About 70 percent of U.S. residents now have smartphones, the agency said.

Some observers had predicted the auction of this valuable spectrum to raise $30 billion or more. This low-band spectrum, in the 600MHz range, is highly coveted by mobile carriers because it can cover long distances and penetrate walls and other obstacles.

Mobile carriers have pushed for more spectrum as their customers' network use keeps growing, and the low-band spectrum will help carriers roll out faster 5G service, supporters say.

The closing of the so-called incentive auction Thursday will allow participating TV stations to share in the auction proceeds. One hundred seventy-five TV stations will get nearly $10.1 billion of the auction proceeds, while the U.S. treasury will get $7.3 billion. Nearly $1.8 billion will be used to help participating TV stations relocate to new spectrum bands.

Most of the participating TV stations will stay on the air by moving to new spectrum or sharing channels with other stations. A handful of stations may go dark.

The largest spectrum winners were T-Mobile, the nation's third largest carrier, with about $8 billion in winning bids, and the Dish Network-affiliated ParkerB.com Wireless, with $6.2 billion winning bids. Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. mobile carrier, did not bid in the auction.

WWTO, a commercial TV station in Chicago, will receive $304 million from the auction, while two public TV stations in New Jersey will receive a combined $332 million.

Over the next 39 months, the FCC will help TV stations relocate to other spectrum bands. The incentive auction was approved by Congress in a bill passed in 2012, and the complicated auction process began in March 2016.

"While we celebrate reaching the official close of the auction, there is still much work ahead of us," FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement. "It's now imperative that we move forward with equal zeal to ensure a successful post-auction transition, including a smooth and efficient [TV station] repacking process."
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Driven by higher demand for engineering goods and petroleum products, Indias exports grew 27.6 per cent in March to $29.23 billion. Imports, too, expanded 45.25 per cent to $39.66 billion from $27.3 billion a year ago, data released by the government on Thursday showed.

While the pick-up in exports bolstered the countrys $2-trillion economy, still smarting from the Narendra Modi governments decision in November last year to pull out high-value currency notes from circulation, the spike in gold imports pushed up trade deficit to $10.43 billion in March 2017 from $4.4 billion in the same month last year.

Based on the wider than expected merchandise trade deficit in March 2017, the current account deficit is likely to print at $16.5-17.5 billion in FY17, said Aditi Nayar, principal economist at ICRA.

The import of the precious metals rose to $4.17 billion in March 2017 compared to $973.45 million last year.

For 2016-17 (full year), the growth in exports was 4.71 per cent at $274.64 billion against $262.3 billion in 2015-16.

The growth in exports is due to base effect, Suresh Babu, associate professor of economics at IIT Madras, told Express.

It is base effect as the growth is on a low base. Imports also grew, especially oil and gold; so current account deficit worries continue. Also, it is just one month, March, that has a whopping growth rate but there is slow global revival, he noted.

The numbers also augur well for Modis plan to lift Indias share in global trade to five per cent by 2020. Indian goods exports currently account for a modest 1.6 per cent of global trade, compared with Chinas 14 per cent.

Petroleum imports almost doubled to $9.7 billion in March 2017 from a year ago, while gold imports rose four-fold to $4.2 billion.

CHENNAI: Driven by higher demand for engineering goods and petroleum products, Indias exports grew 27.6 per cent in March to $29.23 billion. Imports, too, expanded 45.25 per cent to $39.66 billion from $27.3 billion a year ago, data released by the government on Thursday showed. While the pick-up in exports bolstered the countrys $2-trillion economy, still smarting from the Narendra Modi governments decision in November last year to pull out high-value currency notes from circulation, the spike in gold imports pushed up trade deficit to $10.43 billion in March 2017 from $4.4 billion in the same month last year. Based on the wider than expected merchandise trade deficit in March 2017, the current account deficit is likely to print at $16.5-17.5 billion in FY17, said Aditi Nayar, principal economist at ICRA. The import of the precious metals rose to $4.17 billion in March 2017 compared to $973.45 million last year. For 2016-17 (full year), the growth in exports was 4.71 per cent at $274.64 billion against $262.3 billion in 2015-16. The growth in exports is due to base effect, Suresh Babu, associate professor of economics at IIT Madras, told Express. It is base effect as the growth is on a low base. Imports also grew, especially oil and gold; so current account deficit worries continue. Also, it is just one month, March, that has a whopping growth rate but there is slow global revival, he noted. The numbers also augur well for Modis plan to lift Indias share in global trade to five per cent by 2020. Indian goods exports currently account for a modest 1.6 per cent of global trade, compared with Chinas 14 per cent. Petroleum imports almost doubled to $9.7 billion in March 2017 from a year ago, while gold imports rose four-fold to $4.2 billion.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu has said the Opposition was forgetting its democratic duty and impeding progress by blocking the passage of important Bills in the Rajya Sabha, where it has majority. Moreover, it is alleging the Government was bypassing Parliament.



Naidu said the Opposition was questioning the Speaker, Election Commission and even the electronic voting machine (EVM). When they win they have no problem with the EVM. When they get defeated they have problem with the EVM, he said.



He said even Congress Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily had criticised the allegations of tampering with the EVMs. He pointed out EVMs were used in the 1989, 1992, 2004 and 2009 elections when non-BJP parties came to power.



According to Naidu, every word said against the Government in the memorandum the Opposition parties had submitted to the President fit themselves, especially the Congress.



Referring to the allegations of arbitrary appointments, he said it was the UPA which had engaged in this. It was the CBI Director appointed by the UPA Government who was facing a probe on the orders of the Supreme Court.



Press freedom

About media freedom, Naidu said Press in India is enjoying limitless freedom.

One of the dailies reported in the event of Prime Minister Narendra Modi passing away today Manohar Parrikar would be made the premier. But the editor of the daily has not yet regretted for publishing such an article, he said.



It was the Congress which imposed the Emergency in the country and introduced press censorship which was now speaking about press freedom.



Cooperation in Delhi, Operation in Thiruvananthapuram and Separation only during election, he said referring to the tacit understanding between the Congress and Communists across the country.

The Opposition was pointing fingers at the Centre over isolated incidents of violence or atrocities occurring in the state.



Asked whether Congress leaders like Shashi Tharoor would be joining the BJP, Naidu said his party does not make any effort to attract any Congress leader to its fold. Shashi Tharoor is an intelligent man. He is wise enough to make his own decision, said Naidu.

Party state chief Kummanam Rajasekharan, O Rajagopal MLA and former state president P S Sreedharan Pillai were present.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu has said the Opposition was forgetting its democratic duty and impeding progress by blocking the passage of important Bills in the Rajya Sabha, where it has majority. Moreover, it is alleging the Government was bypassing Parliament. Naidu said the Opposition was questioning the Speaker, Election Commission and even the electronic voting machine (EVM). When they win they have no problem with the EVM. When they get defeated they have problem with the EVM, he said. He said even Congress Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily had criticised the allegations of tampering with the EVMs. He pointed out EVMs were used in the 1989, 1992, 2004 and 2009 elections when non-BJP parties came to power. According to Naidu, every word said against the Government in the memorandum the Opposition parties had submitted to the President fit themselves, especially the Congress. Referring to the allegations of arbitrary appointments, he said it was the UPA which had engaged in this. It was the CBI Director appointed by the UPA Government who was facing a probe on the orders of the Supreme Court. Press freedom About media freedom, Naidu said Press in India is enjoying limitless freedom. One of the dailies reported in the event of Prime Minister Narendra Modi passing away today Manohar Parrikar would be made the premier. But the editor of the daily has not yet regretted for publishing such an article, he said. It was the Congress which imposed the Emergency in the country and introduced press censorship which was now speaking about press freedom. Cooperation in Delhi, Operation in Thiruvananthapuram and Separation only during election, he said referring to the tacit understanding between the Congress and Communists across the country. The Opposition was pointing fingers at the Centre over isolated incidents of violence or atrocities occurring in the state. Asked whether Congress leaders like Shashi Tharoor would be joining the BJP, Naidu said his party does not make any effort to attract any Congress leader to its fold. Shashi Tharoor is an intelligent man. He is wise enough to make his own decision, said Naidu. Party state chief Kummanam Rajasekharan, O Rajagopal MLA and former state president P S Sreedharan Pillai were present.
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 PTI

ISLAMABAD: India today said that it would appeal against the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav and demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the army court order in the case, besides seeking consular access to the retired Indian navy officer.

This was conveyed by Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale to Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua during a meeting sought by him. "We would definitely go to appeal against the judgement but we cannot do it unless we have the details of charges and the copy of verdict. So, my first demand was to provide us the details of the charge-sheet and copy of the verdict," he said.

Expressing disappointment over Pakistan turning down India's request for consular access to Jadhav, the Indian envoy said, "They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have forcefully asked for consular access on the basis of international law and on humanitarian grounds as he is an Indian national."Apart from diplomatic options, India is also exploring legal remedies permitted under Pakistan's legal system.

Bambawale also said that he has no information about former Pakistani army officer Mohammad Habib who reportedly went missing from Nepal. Pakistani officials suspect that Indian spy agencies were behind his disappearance.

The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General 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. However, India denied Pakistan's contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by the Pakistan authorities.

India had made it clear to Pakistan that given the circumstances of the case, absence of any credible evidence that substantiates the concocted charges against Jadhav, farcical nature of the proceedings against him and denial of consular access to him, the people and the government of India will consider carrying out of the army court verdict as a "premeditated murder".

Pakistan today rejected India's accusation that there was no credible evidence against Jadhav, and warned that "inflammatory" statements over his death sentence would only result in escalation of tension in the bilateral ties.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that due process of law was followed in Jadhav's trial.

India had yesterday criticised the Pakistan government for not sharing Jadhav's location and details of his condition and said that the international norm to provide consular access was not followed. India and Pakistan have a bilateral agreement on consular access.

Meanwhile, there was no official confirmation on reports of India asking its high commission in Pakistan to go slow on visas to Pakistan nationals in wake of the development.

ISLAMABAD: India today said that it would appeal against the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav and demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the army court order in the case, besides seeking consular access to the retired Indian navy officer. This was conveyed by Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale to Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua during a meeting sought by him. "We would definitely go to appeal against the judgement but we cannot do it unless we have the details of charges and the copy of verdict. So, my first demand was to provide us the details of the charge-sheet and copy of the verdict," he said. Expressing disappointment over Pakistan turning down India's request for consular access to Jadhav, the Indian envoy said, "They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have forcefully asked for consular access on the basis of international law and on humanitarian grounds as he is an Indian national."Apart from diplomatic options, India is also exploring legal remedies permitted under Pakistan's legal system. Bambawale also said that he has no information about former Pakistani army officer Mohammad Habib who reportedly went missing from Nepal. Pakistani officials suspect that Indian spy agencies were behind his disappearance. The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General 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. However, India denied Pakistan's contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by the Pakistan authorities. India had made it clear to Pakistan that given the circumstances of the case, absence of any credible evidence that substantiates the concocted charges against Jadhav, farcical nature of the proceedings against him and denial of consular access to him, the people and the government of India will consider carrying out of the army court verdict as a "premeditated murder". Pakistan today rejected India's accusation that there was no credible evidence against Jadhav, and warned that "inflammatory" statements over his death sentence would only result in escalation of tension in the bilateral ties. Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that due process of law was followed in Jadhav's trial. India had yesterday criticised the Pakistan government for not sharing Jadhav's location and details of his condition and said that the international norm to provide consular access was not followed. India and Pakistan have a bilateral agreement on consular access. Meanwhile, there was no official confirmation on reports of India asking its high commission in Pakistan to go slow on visas to Pakistan nationals in wake of the development.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India is using all options in its arsenal by engaging with the Pakistan government and leveraging its 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 visit India during the weekend and will meet 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 a Pakistani military court to Kulbhushan Jadhav, an innocent retired Indian Navy officer, during the meeting.

However, spokesperson Gopal Baglay did not comment on the issue but said that the leadership is seized of the matter. We will do all that is possible. We are engaged and we are pursuing various options.

This is important as the United Nations (UN) has made it clear that it will not intervene in the matter. While India is making all -out efforts to free the alleged spy, Pakistan remains rigid in its stand. At a Corps Commander Conference organised in Rawalpindi presided over by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa, it was concluded that no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts.

The Indian government also invoked international norms the Pakistan government was flouting by not giving them consular access to Jadhav. Baglay said that it was difficult for India to verify Pakistans claims that Jadhav, a 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. The government will now follow up with Iran to know the findings of its investigations. As the national sentiment in India is focused on Jadhav, Pakistan military has also sent 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 handling of Indians by Pakistan in the past doesnt augur well for Jadhav. In what is an election year in Pakistan, Jadhavs 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 decided.

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 the latter was killed by jail inmates in a brawl. Sarabjits sister, Dalbir Kaur, who had fought tooth and nail to save her brother who was on death row, has now declared that she would fight for Jadhavs release.

The courts there do not see any proof, everything is fabricated. In Pakistan, fake cases are lodged and fake witnesses are produced in courts, she alleged.

NEW DELHI: India is using all options in its arsenal by engaging with the Pakistan government and leveraging its 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 visit India during the weekend and will meet 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 a Pakistani military court to Kulbhushan Jadhav, an innocent retired Indian Navy officer, during the meeting. However, spokesperson Gopal Baglay did not comment on the issue but said that the leadership is seized of the matter. We will do all that is possible. We are engaged and we are pursuing various options. This is important as the United Nations (UN) has made it clear that it will not intervene in the matter. While India is making all -out efforts to free the alleged spy, Pakistan remains rigid in its stand. At a Corps Commander Conference organised in Rawalpindi presided over by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa, it was concluded that no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts. The Indian government also invoked international norms the Pakistan government was flouting by not giving them consular access to Jadhav. Baglay said that it was difficult for India to verify Pakistans claims that Jadhav, a 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. The government will now follow up with Iran to know the findings of its investigations. As the national sentiment in India is focused on Jadhav, Pakistan military has also sent 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 handling of Indians by Pakistan in the past doesnt augur well for Jadhav. In what is an election year in Pakistan, Jadhavs 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 decided. 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 the latter was killed by jail inmates in a brawl. Sarabjits sister, Dalbir Kaur, who had fought tooth and nail to save her brother who was on death row, has now declared that she would fight for Jadhavs release. The courts there do not see any proof, everything is fabricated. In Pakistan, fake cases are lodged and fake witnesses are produced in courts, she alleged.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: India today demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of its national Kulbhushan Jadhav and sought consular access to him.

Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying.

"I have asked for a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav," Bambawale told PTI.

"They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have again requested the Pakistan Foreign Secretary to give access to Jadhav so that we can appeal," he said.

Sources in New Delhi said apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhav's family appealing against the verdict.

Pakistan's top military Generals yesterday decided not to make any "compromise" on the death sentence given to 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 death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General 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.

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.

ISLAMABAD: India today demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of its national Kulbhushan Jadhav and sought consular access to him. Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying. "I have asked for a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav," Bambawale told PTI. "They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have again requested the Pakistan Foreign Secretary to give access to Jadhav so that we can appeal," he said. Sources in New Delhi said apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhav's family appealing against the verdict. Pakistan's top military Generals yesterday decided not to make any "compromise" on the death sentence given to 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 death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General 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. 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.
By PTI

CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today banned inclusion of names of government functionaries on foundation stones and inaugural plaques, hours after a video of a minister threatening a government school principal in Nabha went viral on social media.

The order was issued after the video showing cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot threatening with suspension the woman principal of the school, where he had gone to lay a foundation stone, triggered a massive public outcry.

The minister was apparently upset over his name not being at the top on the inauguration plaque.

The order stated: "While there was no bar on government functionaries and leaders inaugurating or laying the foundation stone of any building or project, the practice of having their names inscribed on such stones or plaques was being discarded with immediate effect, following explicit orders from the Chief Minister."

"The Chief Minister has also urged his ministerial and party colleagues to be humble in dealing with any member of the public. We are in this position today because of the people of the state and it is our duty to treat them with full respect and humility at all times," it said.

"The Chief Minister himself is not excluded from these orders, which are aimed at building a stronger connect between the government and the people by removing the VIP culture barriers," an official spokesperson said here.

Earlier during the day, the video showing the minister scolding Principal Nishi Jalota in front of the media triggered outrage on social media.

"Should I suspend you (Principal) immediately," Dharamsot could be heard saying in the video.

When Jalota pleaded it was not her fault, the minister said, "Then who is at fault. You are showing me this (plaque).

You do not know who is the chief guest."

The plaque mentioned the names of two donors, who had provided financial assistance for the construction of the block, before the minister's name.

Dharamsot, who holds forests, printing and stationery, welfare of SCs and BCs portfolios in the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government, was the special guest on the occasion.

However, the minister while talking to reporters later denied threatening the principal.

"I did not say this," he said when news persons asked him about the incident. He expressed suspicions of wrongdoing in the spending of money for the construction of the said block.

"Rs 1.30 crore has been spent on building 15 rooms. I feel something wrong happened here. The number of rooms is less considering the money spent on it," the minister alleged.

Amarinder had, soon after taking over the state's governance and in line with the Congress manifesto promise, given up the symbolic red beacon light on his vehicle as a gesture to show his commitment to shedding the VIP culture.

All cabinet ministers had also followed suit, even though the manifesto had exempted the Chief Minister and the ministers from the red beacon ban ambit.

Amarinder had reiterated this commitment to shrugging off the VIP culture a few days ago when he preferred to queue up for entry, check-in and boarding at the Chandigarh airport instead of accepting preferential treatment while leaving for a business trip to Mumbai.

CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today banned inclusion of names of government functionaries on foundation stones and inaugural plaques, hours after a video of a minister threatening a government school principal in Nabha went viral on social media. The order was issued after the video showing cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot threatening with suspension the woman principal of the school, where he had gone to lay a foundation stone, triggered a massive public outcry. The minister was apparently upset over his name not being at the top on the inauguration plaque. The order stated: "While there was no bar on government functionaries and leaders inaugurating or laying the foundation stone of any building or project, the practice of having their names inscribed on such stones or plaques was being discarded with immediate effect, following explicit orders from the Chief Minister." "The Chief Minister has also urged his ministerial and party colleagues to be humble in dealing with any member of the public. We are in this position today because of the people of the state and it is our duty to treat them with full respect and humility at all times," it said. "The Chief Minister himself is not excluded from these orders, which are aimed at building a stronger connect between the government and the people by removing the VIP culture barriers," an official spokesperson said here. Earlier during the day, the video showing the minister scolding Principal Nishi Jalota in front of the media triggered outrage on social media. "Should I suspend you (Principal) immediately," Dharamsot could be heard saying in the video. When Jalota pleaded it was not her fault, the minister said, "Then who is at fault. You are showing me this (plaque). You do not know who is the chief guest." The plaque mentioned the names of two donors, who had provided financial assistance for the construction of the block, before the minister's name. Dharamsot, who holds forests, printing and stationery, welfare of SCs and BCs portfolios in the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government, was the special guest on the occasion. However, the minister while talking to reporters later denied threatening the principal. "I did not say this," he said when news persons asked him about the incident. He expressed suspicions of wrongdoing in the spending of money for the construction of the said block. "Rs 1.30 crore has been spent on building 15 rooms. I feel something wrong happened here. The number of rooms is less considering the money spent on it," the minister alleged. Amarinder had, soon after taking over the state's governance and in line with the Congress manifesto promise, given up the symbolic red beacon light on his vehicle as a gesture to show his commitment to shedding the VIP culture. All cabinet ministers had also followed suit, even though the manifesto had exempted the Chief Minister and the ministers from the red beacon ban ambit. Amarinder had reiterated this commitment to shrugging off the VIP culture a few days ago when he preferred to queue up for entry, check-in and boarding at the Chandigarh airport instead of accepting preferential treatment while leaving for a business trip to Mumbai.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: The video of cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot threatening to suspend the lady principal of a government school in Nabha for putting his name in the third spot on the inauguration stone of the new academic block in the school has gone viral, causing an embarrassment for the State government.



Sources said the minister was annoyed that his name was mentioned at number three spot on the inauguration stone of the new academic block of Government Senior Secondary Girls School, Nabha. The first two spots were reserved for two women non-resident Indians, both alumnae of the school who had donated Rs 50 lakh for the construction of the new block of the school building.

The two women NRIs were chief guests at the event while Dharamsot was only a special guest. The minister fumed at principal Nishi Jalota and threatened to suspend her, for the same.

The ministers reaction surprised me. Both the NRI sisters were supposed to be the chief guests but someone told me that I should invite the local minister too and therefore I called him and invited him as a special guest. Some persons who accompanied him kept instigating him that his name is at third slot, Jalota said.

Dharamsot denied the charges, claiming that he had been misinterpreted. "I had no problem with my name being on the third place, he said. He alleged that there were irregularities in the project as the building had fewer rooms given the money spent.

Interestingly in the first cabinet meeting of the new Congress government on March 18, it was decided that no ministers name would be put on any foundation stone, and instead they would read as Built from taxpayers money.

CHANDIGARH: The video of cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot threatening to suspend the lady principal of a government school in Nabha for putting his name in the third spot on the inauguration stone of the new academic block in the school has gone viral, causing an embarrassment for the State government. Sources said the minister was annoyed that his name was mentioned at number three spot on the inauguration stone of the new academic block of Government Senior Secondary Girls School, Nabha. The first two spots were reserved for two women non-resident Indians, both alumnae of the school who had donated Rs 50 lakh for the construction of the new block of the school building. The two women NRIs were chief guests at the event while Dharamsot was only a special guest. The minister fumed at principal Nishi Jalota and threatened to suspend her, for the same. The ministers reaction surprised me. Both the NRI sisters were supposed to be the chief guests but someone told me that I should invite the local minister too and therefore I called him and invited him as a special guest. Some persons who accompanied him kept instigating him that his name is at third slot, Jalota said. Dharamsot denied the charges, claiming that he had been misinterpreted. "I had no problem with my name being on the third place, he said. He alleged that there were irregularities in the project as the building had fewer rooms given the money spent. Interestingly in the first cabinet meeting of the new Congress government on March 18, it was decided that no ministers name would be put on any foundation stone, and instead they would read as Built from taxpayers money.
Ejaz Kaiser By

Express News Service

RAIPUR: Tribal people, farmers and women from 15 villages of Chhattisgarh marched Friday opposing a government order that coerces them into giving consent to coal mining in forest land in Tamnar block of Raigarh district.

The official circular directs these 15 village panchayats to hold gram sabhas and get villagers to sign on the dotted line. That will allow the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco) to set up the Gare Palma sector-2 coal mine in forest land in Tamnar.

The circular was issued by the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Tamnar.

While the gram sabha is a mandatory condition to secure the consent of villagers, the people say it virtually asks them to write away their claims and entitlements to individual and community rights vested in them by the Forest Rights Act (FRA).

They alleged that there is pressure from the administration to leave their habitats to make room for Mahagenco.

The sarpanch of Kunjemura village, Umesh Singh Kedar told New Indian Express that the official notification has an attached printed proforma that has to be signed by the villagers. It speaks only of giving consent and does not spell out the terms. It is misleading, said Kedar.

The form, accessed by New Indian Express, requires the gram panchayat to ccertify that no tribals live on the land in question. In the proposed forest land to be diverted, no tribal and non-traditional forest dwellers are living, (or are) engaged in agriculture or other traditional activities. There is no entitlement of any individual or community rights distributed under the FRA in the given area. Or else, the panchayat is told to Submit the names of those who have acquired land deeds under the FRA.

Activist Rinchin, who is fighting for the villagers rights in Raigarh, said the administration is being deliberately ambiguous. The format demands for consent without giving any scope for dissent or objection, she said.

However sub-divisional magistrate S Jayvardhan said the administration has not interfered with the rights of the gram sabha. I believe there is some miscommunication. Yes, we have asked them to convene gram sabhas but didnt issue any directive to pursue a particular line of action. They are free to take a decision, he said.

The villagers are nevertheless unconvinced. We have asserted our rights under the FRA, Panchayats (extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) and submitted our memorandum to the Ministry of Coal, the governor, the chief minister and the collector. We have registered our protest against the proposed project as the region is already bearing the brunt of other ongoing coal mining activities, said Shivpal Bhagat, the sarpanch of Kodampalli panchayat.

RAIPUR: Tribal people, farmers and women from 15 villages of Chhattisgarh marched Friday opposing a government order that coerces them into giving consent to coal mining in forest land in Tamnar block of Raigarh district. The official circular directs these 15 village panchayats to hold gram sabhas and get villagers to sign on the dotted line. That will allow the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco) to set up the Gare Palma sector-2 coal mine in forest land in Tamnar. The circular was issued by the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Tamnar. While the gram sabha is a mandatory condition to secure the consent of villagers, the people say it virtually asks them to write away their claims and entitlements to individual and community rights vested in them by the Forest Rights Act (FRA). They alleged that there is pressure from the administration to leave their habitats to make room for Mahagenco. The sarpanch of Kunjemura village, Umesh Singh Kedar told New Indian Express that the official notification has an attached printed proforma that has to be signed by the villagers. It speaks only of giving consent and does not spell out the terms. It is misleading, said Kedar. The form, accessed by New Indian Express, requires the gram panchayat to ccertify that no tribals live on the land in question. In the proposed forest land to be diverted, no tribal and non-traditional forest dwellers are living, (or are) engaged in agriculture or other traditional activities. There is no entitlement of any individual or community rights distributed under the FRA in the given area. Or else, the panchayat is told to Submit the names of those who have acquired land deeds under the FRA. Activist Rinchin, who is fighting for the villagers rights in Raigarh, said the administration is being deliberately ambiguous. The format demands for consent without giving any scope for dissent or objection, she said. However sub-divisional magistrate S Jayvardhan said the administration has not interfered with the rights of the gram sabha. I believe there is some miscommunication. Yes, we have asked them to convene gram sabhas but didnt issue any directive to pursue a particular line of action. They are free to take a decision, he said. The villagers are nevertheless unconvinced. We have asserted our rights under the FRA, Panchayats (extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) and submitted our memorandum to the Ministry of Coal, the governor, the chief minister and the collector. We have registered our protest against the proposed project as the region is already bearing the brunt of other ongoing coal mining activities, said Shivpal Bhagat, the sarpanch of Kodampalli panchayat.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: Amidst the commotion on enforcing a nationwide ban on cow slaughter, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale while extending his support to the cause, has categorically clarified that the ban should not include other species of cattle.



Speaking to ANI on Friday, Athawale claimed that a ban on slaughter of cattle can have adverse economic impact on the farmer community.



The cow is a sacred animal to Hindus. Therefore, cow slaughter law should be enforced strictly to preserve our culture. Having said this, if a ban is imposed on other cattle, our farmers may face shortage of funds, since they will not be able to trade their bullock or other animals, he said.



Athawale further asserted that the Government must be more actively involved in protecting diseased cows, in case a farmer is not able to afford its expenses.



If a farmer is unable to fund for his cattle, the Government must introduce some provisions to take up responsibility of such cows so that the burden of the farmers is eased, he added.



Condemning the atrocities faced by the Dalit community, Athawale said it is unacceptable for citizens to resort to hooliganism and take law and order in their hands.



If there is a speculation of cow slaughter taking place, the Police must be informed and they should carry out subsequent investigation. It is unjustified to mishandle the situation and cause harm to the Dalits without having enough information or proof regarding the matter, said Athawale.



The Union Minister, lauding Prime Ministers Narendra Modis efforts of unifying the different strata of society, further said the countrys progress depends entirely on communal harmony and thus needs to be maintained at all times.



Efforts are being made to bring the society together. The Social Justice Ministry has been working on making this possible, along with the support of Prime Minister Modi and his government. We must remember that before being a Hindu, Muslim or Christian, we are all Indians first, he said, emphasising on the Prime Ministers Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas strategy.



Reports of violence in the name of cow protection have surfaced from time to time.



Recently, a Muslim, Pehlu Khan, was killed by cow vigilantes in Alwar, Rajasthan. The opposition parties, lashing out on the Prime Minister Modi-led government, alleged that it has been overlooking violence in the name of protecting cows.



The 'violent' cow vigilantism shot into prominence with the death of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, in September 2015. Akhlaq was lynched to death by a mob, which suspected he had slaughtered a cow.

NEW DELHI: Amidst the commotion on enforcing a nationwide ban on cow slaughter, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale while extending his support to the cause, has categorically clarified that the ban should not include other species of cattle. Speaking to ANI on Friday, Athawale claimed that a ban on slaughter of cattle can have adverse economic impact on the farmer community. The cow is a sacred animal to Hindus. Therefore, cow slaughter law should be enforced strictly to preserve our culture. Having said this, if a ban is imposed on other cattle, our farmers may face shortage of funds, since they will not be able to trade their bullock or other animals, he said. Athawale further asserted that the Government must be more actively involved in protecting diseased cows, in case a farmer is not able to afford its expenses. If a farmer is unable to fund for his cattle, the Government must introduce some provisions to take up responsibility of such cows so that the burden of the farmers is eased, he added. Condemning the atrocities faced by the Dalit community, Athawale said it is unacceptable for citizens to resort to hooliganism and take law and order in their hands. If there is a speculation of cow slaughter taking place, the Police must be informed and they should carry out subsequent investigation. It is unjustified to mishandle the situation and cause harm to the Dalits without having enough information or proof regarding the matter, said Athawale. The Union Minister, lauding Prime Ministers Narendra Modis efforts of unifying the different strata of society, further said the countrys progress depends entirely on communal harmony and thus needs to be maintained at all times. Efforts are being made to bring the society together. The Social Justice Ministry has been working on making this possible, along with the support of Prime Minister Modi and his government. We must remember that before being a Hindu, Muslim or Christian, we are all Indians first, he said, emphasising on the Prime Ministers Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas strategy. Reports of violence in the name of cow protection have surfaced from time to time. Recently, a Muslim, Pehlu Khan, was killed by cow vigilantes in Alwar, Rajasthan. The opposition parties, lashing out on the Prime Minister Modi-led government, alleged that it has been overlooking violence in the name of protecting cows. The 'violent' cow vigilantism shot into prominence with the death of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, in September 2015. Akhlaq was lynched to death by a mob, which suspected he had slaughtered a cow.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: With fresh tension between India and Pakistan following the latters decision to sentence alleged Indian spy Kulbhusan Jadhav to death, the family of 40-year old Nanak Singh, who is lodged in Lahores Kot Lakhpat Jail, has lost hope of early release of their son who has been languishing in jail for the last 33 years.

Nanak was just seven when he accidently crossed into Pakistan while roaming in the fields near his village in 1984. He has been there ever since. The son of a small farmer, Rattan Singh, who only had four acres of land across the river along Pakistan, Nanak was the eldest of the family with two brothers Baldev Singh and Jagtar Singh, and five sisters.

Jagtar Singh said, We have lost all hope of release of my elder brother Nanak. My father Rattan Singh had been pursuing the case for the last 15 years as we came to know in 2002 that he was alive and lodged in a Pakistan jail. Policemen from Ramdas police station told us that our brother is in Pakistan going by the name of Kakar Singh. The name was different but the parents names and address were same. Why his name was changed we do not know. Earlier we thought he was no more.

CHANDIGARH: With fresh tension between India and Pakistan following the latters decision to sentence alleged Indian spy Kulbhusan Jadhav to death, the family of 40-year old Nanak Singh, who is lodged in Lahores Kot Lakhpat Jail, has lost hope of early release of their son who has been languishing in jail for the last 33 years. Nanak was just seven when he accidently crossed into Pakistan while roaming in the fields near his village in 1984. He has been there ever since. The son of a small farmer, Rattan Singh, who only had four acres of land across the river along Pakistan, Nanak was the eldest of the family with two brothers Baldev Singh and Jagtar Singh, and five sisters. Jagtar Singh said, We have lost all hope of release of my elder brother Nanak. My father Rattan Singh had been pursuing the case for the last 15 years as we came to know in 2002 that he was alive and lodged in a Pakistan jail. Policemen from Ramdas police station told us that our brother is in Pakistan going by the name of Kakar Singh. The name was different but the parents names and address were same. Why his name was changed we do not know. Earlier we thought he was no more.
Balbir Punj By

The recent visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to New Delhi and the several agreements she signed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only mark the high watermark in Indo-Bangla relations but also highlights the level of confidence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's daughter in winning her peoples support in retrieving her country from the religious extremism of the previous regimes. Sheikh Hasinas detractors including her political rival Begum Khaleda Zia had aligned with the very forces of extremism that the Sheikh had fought against in his battle for the independence of Bangladesh. These forces had opposed Dhakas struggle for independence.

They had aligned with the occupying Pakistani forces and were partners in the Pakistani atrocities against local Bengalis. That regime had not only suppressed the people, it also promoted extremists to drive out the minority Hindus and turned against Bengali culture and its secularism. This sowed the anger against Islamabad which later bloomed into the fight for an independent Bangladesh. The share of Hindus in the total population of Bangladesh was about 30 per cent during Partition. Sustained persecutions at the hands of Islamists forced a large number of Hindus to either flee or convert to Islam. So, their numbers are down to eight per cent.

The military regimes that followed the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur sought to shift the fundamentals of the new nation back to Islamic extremism and enable Pakistani intelligence to use Bangladeshs extremist groups to harass India. Hasina had to fight an epic battle against these forces. They had even changed the Constitution to declare the country an Islamic state and tried to reinstate Pakistani terror merchants to let terrorists penetrate India and spray mayhem. Hasina has battled these extremist forces, clerics who aligned with Pakistan, the jihadi forces who wanted to erase memories of the Father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur.

The way she could get these jihadists to stand trial for conspiracy to murder the Sheikh, sentence several of them and beat back her rival Zia who was in collusion with the pro-Pakistani clerics reads like a novel. Sundays agreements between India and Bangladesh include cooperation in defence and fight against terrorism, among other points of contact and working together to keep the Indian subcontinent free from the threat of jihadism. Bangladesh is now inviting more Indian capital and the communication links are being widened to establish Dhaka as a platform through which the two countries can reach out to resource-rich East and South east Asia.

But the story is not completely successful. The Bangladeshi prime minister has not overtaken all her enemies politically. She has not managed to defeat the forces motivated by extremist Islamist ideology. It is in this context that we should view the political assessment of India and Bangladesh's failure to overcome their differences over sharing the waters of the Teesta. Any agreement on water sharingbetween two states and even within our country is a tortuous process as no one wants to give an inch. With more and more farmers living on the edge of anxiety over the potential loss of natural resources, this is no longer a smooth affair.

Emotion takes over the language of reason. So, patient negotiation is the only option left. That the agreement on sharing the Teesta river water has not been concluded in this visit could become a stick in the hands of the critics of the Bangladesh prime minister for politically weakening Hasina. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been refusing to budge even an inch on this issue. She has constantly raised fears over the Bengal farmers losing out in a deal over the Teesta water sharing. New Delhi should not be seen as unsympathetic to Dhaka's claim regarding natural resource sharing and utilisation. This is vital to our diplomacy with Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Pakistan is watching Indian diplomacy succeeding in South and Southeast Asian countries and in her immediate circle of countries except Pakistan itself.

New Delhi must expect every effort by Islamabad to disrupt the ring of Indian success in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, etc. It would be unfair of the critics of the TMC leader to compare Pakistans anti-India diplomacy with Mamatas disruption of the Modi government's agreement on Teesta to consolidate ties with Dhaka. Nor is it possible for any government in New Delhi to restrain enforcement agencies from taking action against the TMC leaders found to be taking or having taken bribes from the several Ponzi entrepreneurs who are under investigation. These actions were initiated by the enforcement agencies before the BJP was voted to power at the Centre.

Kolkata has already seen the Supreme Court reverse any concession the various agencies like Enforcement Directorate and CBI are making in these cases. On the other hand when TMC and Mamata's political standing is being buffeted by corruption charges and other criticisms, an initiative by her to work with the Centre in consolidating the Look East policy would enhance her political standing as she would be seen as overcoming her partys interests and promoting national interest even at the cost of her personal politics. In a democracy, all parties have to work together especially in foreign policy. Within the country there may be many claimants to better governance but there is only One India when it comes to national interest vis a-vis the comity of competing nations.

Balbir Punj

Former Rajya Sabha member and Delhi-based commentator on social and political issues

Email: punjbalbir@gmail.com

The recent visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to New Delhi and the several agreements she signed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only mark the high watermark in Indo-Bangla relations but also highlights the level of confidence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's daughter in winning her peoples support in retrieving her country from the religious extremism of the previous regimes. Sheikh Hasinas detractors including her political rival Begum Khaleda Zia had aligned with the very forces of extremism that the Sheikh had fought against in his battle for the independence of Bangladesh. These forces had opposed Dhakas struggle for independence. They had aligned with the occupying Pakistani forces and were partners in the Pakistani atrocities against local Bengalis. That regime had not only suppressed the people, it also promoted extremists to drive out the minority Hindus and turned against Bengali culture and its secularism. This sowed the anger against Islamabad which later bloomed into the fight for an independent Bangladesh. The share of Hindus in the total population of Bangladesh was about 30 per cent during Partition. Sustained persecutions at the hands of Islamists forced a large number of Hindus to either flee or convert to Islam. So, their numbers are down to eight per cent. The military regimes that followed the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur sought to shift the fundamentals of the new nation back to Islamic extremism and enable Pakistani intelligence to use Bangladeshs extremist groups to harass India. Hasina had to fight an epic battle against these forces. They had even changed the Constitution to declare the country an Islamic state and tried to reinstate Pakistani terror merchants to let terrorists penetrate India and spray mayhem. Hasina has battled these extremist forces, clerics who aligned with Pakistan, the jihadi forces who wanted to erase memories of the Father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur. The way she could get these jihadists to stand trial for conspiracy to murder the Sheikh, sentence several of them and beat back her rival Zia who was in collusion with the pro-Pakistani clerics reads like a novel. Sundays agreements between India and Bangladesh include cooperation in defence and fight against terrorism, among other points of contact and working together to keep the Indian subcontinent free from the threat of jihadism. Bangladesh is now inviting more Indian capital and the communication links are being widened to establish Dhaka as a platform through which the two countries can reach out to resource-rich East and South east Asia. But the story is not completely successful. The Bangladeshi prime minister has not overtaken all her enemies politically. She has not managed to defeat the forces motivated by extremist Islamist ideology. It is in this context that we should view the political assessment of India and Bangladesh's failure to overcome their differences over sharing the waters of the Teesta. Any agreement on water sharingbetween two states and even within our country is a tortuous process as no one wants to give an inch. With more and more farmers living on the edge of anxiety over the potential loss of natural resources, this is no longer a smooth affair. Emotion takes over the language of reason. So, patient negotiation is the only option left. That the agreement on sharing the Teesta river water has not been concluded in this visit could become a stick in the hands of the critics of the Bangladesh prime minister for politically weakening Hasina. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been refusing to budge even an inch on this issue. She has constantly raised fears over the Bengal farmers losing out in a deal over the Teesta water sharing. New Delhi should not be seen as unsympathetic to Dhaka's claim regarding natural resource sharing and utilisation. This is vital to our diplomacy with Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Pakistan is watching Indian diplomacy succeeding in South and Southeast Asian countries and in her immediate circle of countries except Pakistan itself. New Delhi must expect every effort by Islamabad to disrupt the ring of Indian success in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, etc. It would be unfair of the critics of the TMC leader to compare Pakistans anti-India diplomacy with Mamatas disruption of the Modi government's agreement on Teesta to consolidate ties with Dhaka. Nor is it possible for any government in New Delhi to restrain enforcement agencies from taking action against the TMC leaders found to be taking or having taken bribes from the several Ponzi entrepreneurs who are under investigation. These actions were initiated by the enforcement agencies before the BJP was voted to power at the Centre. Kolkata has already seen the Supreme Court reverse any concession the various agencies like Enforcement Directorate and CBI are making in these cases. On the other hand when TMC and Mamata's political standing is being buffeted by corruption charges and other criticisms, an initiative by her to work with the Centre in consolidating the Look East policy would enhance her political standing as she would be seen as overcoming her partys interests and promoting national interest even at the cost of her personal politics. In a democracy, all parties have to work together especially in foreign policy. Within the country there may be many claimants to better governance but there is only One India when it comes to national interest vis a-vis the comity of competing nations. Balbir Punj Former Rajya Sabha member and Delhi-based commentator on social and political issues Email: punjbalbir@gmail.com
The Indian Army has reportedly ordered an investigation into a brief video tweeted by former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday, which shows a boy tied to the front of a green truck as it escorts an armoured carrier through a street in Kashmir. This young man was TIED to the front of an army jeep to make sure no stones were thrown at the jeep? This is just so shocking!!!!...... A warning can be heard saying stone pelters will meet this fate. This requires an urgent inquiry & follow up NOW!! he asserts.

A day earlier, another video which went viral showed a CRPF jawan who despite being kicked and slapped by a Kashmiri man, keeps walking away without reacting. Stone pelting is a form of protest made famous by Palestinians as part of their decades-long-intifada against the Israelis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. If indeed the first video is credible, then the Indian security forces are emulating the Israeli Defence Forces, who use the same tactic to discourage stone-throwing mobs, which have become as routine as the daily calls to prayer in Kashmir.

The paramilitary forces like the CRPF and the Rashtriya Rifles deployed to keep peace in the state (while the Indian Army guards the borders) have an extremely unenviable job. Garrisoned in a hostile environment far from home, these troopers are operating with their hands tied behind their backs. In these days of social media, even a relatively minor pushback against these stone pelters, who include children, could quickly spiral into an international human rights issue.

In a strongly worded article, a retired Majorturned talk show guest asserts that given a free hand, the Indian army could sanitize the Valley in a few days. But while the Majors rage and frustration are understandable, after that, what? Without a clear political plan to back that up which includes tackling Pakistani perfidy in the stateany such effort would be a short-lived exercise in futility.

The Indian Army has reportedly ordered an investigation into a brief video tweeted by former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday, which shows a boy tied to the front of a green truck as it escorts an armoured carrier through a street in Kashmir. This young man was TIED to the front of an army jeep to make sure no stones were thrown at the jeep? This is just so shocking!!!!...... A warning can be heard saying stone pelters will meet this fate. This requires an urgent inquiry & follow up NOW!! he asserts. A day earlier, another video which went viral showed a CRPF jawan who despite being kicked and slapped by a Kashmiri man, keeps walking away without reacting. Stone pelting is a form of protest made famous by Palestinians as part of their decades-long-intifada against the Israelis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. If indeed the first video is credible, then the Indian security forces are emulating the Israeli Defence Forces, who use the same tactic to discourage stone-throwing mobs, which have become as routine as the daily calls to prayer in Kashmir. The paramilitary forces like the CRPF and the Rashtriya Rifles deployed to keep peace in the state (while the Indian Army guards the borders) have an extremely unenviable job. Garrisoned in a hostile environment far from home, these troopers are operating with their hands tied behind their backs. In these days of social media, even a relatively minor pushback against these stone pelters, who include children, could quickly spiral into an international human rights issue. In a strongly worded article, a retired Majorturned talk show guest asserts that given a free hand, the Indian army could sanitize the Valley in a few days. But while the Majors rage and frustration are understandable, after that, what? Without a clear political plan to back that up which includes tackling Pakistani perfidy in the stateany such effort would be a short-lived exercise in futility.
Akram Mohammed By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Ever since Aadhaar enrolment began in 2010, Aadhaar centres have been accused of flouting stipulated enrolment norms. Demanding the gullible public to pay for enrolment, issuing Aadhaar enrolment numbers without valid documents of the enrollee and collecting bad data packets of biometric information were among the several accusations.



However, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has recently initiated actions against such malfeasant acts, officials say.



Over the last few weeks, four police complaints have been filed by UIDAI in different police stations of the state. According to UIDAI sources, this is the first time FIRs are being filed against operators.



In the most recent incident, a case was registered at Ponnampet Police Station after an operator was found issuing Aadhaar enrolment numbers to labourers from Assam. Following complaints by locals, who alleged that Bangladeshi immigrants were being enrolled, police discovered that the operator was issuing numbers in a village which was beyond his jurisdiction.



In Bengaluru, a complaint has been filed against a company called EduRays at JP Nagar Police Station for claiming to provide enrolling rights to private agencies.

In the case reported at Hubballi, operators were found issuing enrolment numbers to individuals without verifying the validity of the documents. In Tumakuru, UIDAI filed a case after one person at a cyber centre was found using photoshop to forge Aadhaar cards for people at a cost. The accused allegedly kept copies of the scanned Aadhaar documents for the same.



Pronab Mohanty, Deputy Director General, UIDAI, told Express that the authority has been routinely acting against such operators. A drive has also been taken up by UIDAI to prevent such malfeasance, he said.



As per data provided by Mohanty, in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala a total of 209 operators have been blacklisted by UIDAI since December 2016. Of these, 189 operators of different agencies will have to pay a fine of `10,000.

BENGALURU: Ever since Aadhaar enrolment began in 2010, Aadhaar centres have been accused of flouting stipulated enrolment norms. Demanding the gullible public to pay for enrolment, issuing Aadhaar enrolment numbers without valid documents of the enrollee and collecting bad data packets of biometric information were among the several accusations. However, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has recently initiated actions against such malfeasant acts, officials say. Over the last few weeks, four police complaints have been filed by UIDAI in different police stations of the state. According to UIDAI sources, this is the first time FIRs are being filed against operators. In the most recent incident, a case was registered at Ponnampet Police Station after an operator was found issuing Aadhaar enrolment numbers to labourers from Assam. Following complaints by locals, who alleged that Bangladeshi immigrants were being enrolled, police discovered that the operator was issuing numbers in a village which was beyond his jurisdiction. In Bengaluru, a complaint has been filed against a company called EduRays at JP Nagar Police Station for claiming to provide enrolling rights to private agencies. In the case reported at Hubballi, operators were found issuing enrolment numbers to individuals without verifying the validity of the documents. In Tumakuru, UIDAI filed a case after one person at a cyber centre was found using photoshop to forge Aadhaar cards for people at a cost. The accused allegedly kept copies of the scanned Aadhaar documents for the same. Pronab Mohanty, Deputy Director General, UIDAI, told Express that the authority has been routinely acting against such operators. A drive has also been taken up by UIDAI to prevent such malfeasance, he said. As per data provided by Mohanty, in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala a total of 209 operators have been blacklisted by UIDAI since December 2016. Of these, 189 operators of different agencies will have to pay a fine of `10,000.
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: This weekend in Bhubaneswar is going to be different. Over 300 BJP delegates, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Deputy PM LK Advani, almost half of the Union Council of Ministers and 13 Chief Ministers, are going to make the Capital City a security hub of sorts. The BJP national executive meet, which brings them here, is by far the biggest security exercise for the State Police.

Arrangements are moving at a frenzied pace as security agencies have been holding meetings on a daily basis to sanitise the entire 9.5 km stretch from Biju Patnaik International Airport to Janata Maidan to ensure that the roadshow of the PM goes without any hiccups after his arrival on Saturday afternoon.

Modi, who is India's most protected VVIP, is under Special Protection Group (SPG) cover and the airspace will be cleared an hour ahead of his visit to different places during the two-day stay.

It is yet to be ascertained if the Prime Minister will travel by a BMW or an open-roof vehicle after alighting at the City airport on Saturday. "Details of the composition of the roadshow are still being scrutinised by the central security agencies," a senior officer said.

Sources said Modi's convoy would have three pit-stops during the roadshow - at the roundabout near the airport, Raj Bhawan Square and Jaydev Vihar Square. So far, there is no programme for him to get down and interact with the public because the stoppages would be very short.

However, the roadshow will be the real challenge for security agencies although the VIPs and the barricades will be separated by a 50-feet distance as per protocol. "For such roadshows, there is a security drill which will be maintained strictly," DGP KB Singh said.

Odisha Police is pressing over 100 platoon force apart from central para military units such as CRPF, ITBP and CISF for the security arrangement. Four IG-ranked officers and 15 SPs will supervise the security across five sectors.

Roof-top surveillance near Janata Maidan and Raj Bhawan have been mounted while Quick Reaction Teams would sweep the city on these two days, Police Commissioner YB Khurania said.

At Raj Bhawan and Janata Maidan, the outer perimeter and inside circle will be manned by State Police while the isolation cordon or close protection will be under SPG.

Movement of such a huge number of VIPs is most likely to throw the traffic in disarray. Going by estimates provided by State Police sources, at least 100 motorcades on a daily basis will hit the stretch from Biju Patnaik Airport to Janata Maidan on Saturday and Sunday. The composition of the convoy of protectees will be different as per the protection level.

The Commissionerate Police which is overseeing the arrangements has already issued advisories to the public to avoid the entire stretch during specific hours. Besides, the movement of Union Ministers and other VIPs will decide the route planning to be conducted by the security agencies on real-time basis.

BHUBANESWAR: This weekend in Bhubaneswar is going to be different. Over 300 BJP delegates, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Deputy PM LK Advani, almost half of the Union Council of Ministers and 13 Chief Ministers, are going to make the Capital City a security hub of sorts. The BJP national executive meet, which brings them here, is by far the biggest security exercise for the State Police. Arrangements are moving at a frenzied pace as security agencies have been holding meetings on a daily basis to sanitise the entire 9.5 km stretch from Biju Patnaik International Airport to Janata Maidan to ensure that the roadshow of the PM goes without any hiccups after his arrival on Saturday afternoon. Modi, who is India's most protected VVIP, is under Special Protection Group (SPG) cover and the airspace will be cleared an hour ahead of his visit to different places during the two-day stay. It is yet to be ascertained if the Prime Minister will travel by a BMW or an open-roof vehicle after alighting at the City airport on Saturday. "Details of the composition of the roadshow are still being scrutinised by the central security agencies," a senior officer said. Sources said Modi's convoy would have three pit-stops during the roadshow - at the roundabout near the airport, Raj Bhawan Square and Jaydev Vihar Square. So far, there is no programme for him to get down and interact with the public because the stoppages would be very short. However, the roadshow will be the real challenge for security agencies although the VIPs and the barricades will be separated by a 50-feet distance as per protocol. "For such roadshows, there is a security drill which will be maintained strictly," DGP KB Singh said. Odisha Police is pressing over 100 platoon force apart from central para military units such as CRPF, ITBP and CISF for the security arrangement. Four IG-ranked officers and 15 SPs will supervise the security across five sectors. Roof-top surveillance near Janata Maidan and Raj Bhawan have been mounted while Quick Reaction Teams would sweep the city on these two days, Police Commissioner YB Khurania said. At Raj Bhawan and Janata Maidan, the outer perimeter and inside circle will be manned by State Police while the isolation cordon or close protection will be under SPG. Movement of such a huge number of VIPs is most likely to throw the traffic in disarray. Going by estimates provided by State Police sources, at least 100 motorcades on a daily basis will hit the stretch from Biju Patnaik Airport to Janata Maidan on Saturday and Sunday. The composition of the convoy of protectees will be different as per the protection level. The Commissionerate Police which is overseeing the arrangements has already issued advisories to the public to avoid the entire stretch during specific hours. Besides, the movement of Union Ministers and other VIPs will decide the route planning to be conducted by the security agencies on real-time basis.
Rajasekaran RK By

Express News Service

MADURAI: A 46-year-old Dalit man, whose long-running feud with the members of upper castes earned him a spate of cases including murder attempts, was chased and gunned down by police personnel inside church premises in Ramanathapuram on Thursday night.

The Ramanathapuram police claimed they were trying to detain D Govindan, suspecting his involvement in a robbery case, when he allegedly attacked them with a sickle. But the relatives charged the policemen of spinning tales after shooting down the man at a close range.

Govindan, a resident of T Pudukudi Colony in Ramanathapuram, is an accused in many cases including the murder of an upper caste man who in turn was one of the accused in the murder of Govindan's brother. However, Govindan was subsequently acquitted in this case.

According to residents of Arumbur where the shootout happened, Govindan was travelling in his car driven by Chinnarasu, chased by sub-inspector Thangamuniyasamy and head constable Soundarapandiyan. To escape police, Govindan barged into the premises of a church here.

Govindan allegedly attacked the cops with sickle, following which sub-inspector Thangamuniyasamy fired two rounds from close range, hitting Govindan's chest, killing him on the spot.

The police officials in plainclothes, immediately wrapped Govindan's body in his own dhoti and took it to Ramanathapuram government hospital, where they got themselves admitted as well.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a youth from the neighbourhood told Express that a woman living nearby the church came out of her house after hearing the commotion. She asked the officials to reveal their identity and that of the victim, and asked them to wait till village elders arrived at the spot. But the officials managed to flee the spot with the body before the villagers arrived.

Govindan, who is survived by wife, Bavani, and three daughters, has been into charcoal business in the recent years. He was one of the leaders of the Dalit community in the area.

The incident has spread tension in the region on Friday on account of the birth anniversary celebrations of BR Ambedkar, prompting the police brass to beef up security at Govindan's native, T Pudukudi colony, Thondi near where the incident happened, and the general hospital, where his body has been kept for post-mortem examination.

"On Thursday, Govindan went to take the Ambassador car that he had purchased. In the evening, he spoke to his wife over phone to inform that he would buy pooja items to celebrate Tamil New year on Friday. That was the last the family heard from him, before news channels reported the encounter," said a relative.

Repeated attempts to reach senior police officers for the official version failed. Lower level sources told Express that the two personnel involved in the encounter were part of a special team formed to solve a robbery case in Kenikarai police limit, in which a businessmen allegedly lost Rs 9 lakh.

This is the second police encounter incident in Thiruvadanai Police sub-division in the last two years.

MADURAI: A 46-year-old Dalit man, whose long-running feud with the members of upper castes earned him a spate of cases including murder attempts, was chased and gunned down by police personnel inside church premises in Ramanathapuram on Thursday night. The Ramanathapuram police claimed they were trying to detain D Govindan, suspecting his involvement in a robbery case, when he allegedly attacked them with a sickle. But the relatives charged the policemen of spinning tales after shooting down the man at a close range. Govindan, a resident of T Pudukudi Colony in Ramanathapuram, is an accused in many cases including the murder of an upper caste man who in turn was one of the accused in the murder of Govindan's brother. However, Govindan was subsequently acquitted in this case. According to residents of Arumbur where the shootout happened, Govindan was travelling in his car driven by Chinnarasu, chased by sub-inspector Thangamuniyasamy and head constable Soundarapandiyan. To escape police, Govindan barged into the premises of a church here. Govindan allegedly attacked the cops with sickle, following which sub-inspector Thangamuniyasamy fired two rounds from close range, hitting Govindan's chest, killing him on the spot. The police officials in plainclothes, immediately wrapped Govindan's body in his own dhoti and took it to Ramanathapuram government hospital, where they got themselves admitted as well. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a youth from the neighbourhood told Express that a woman living nearby the church came out of her house after hearing the commotion. She asked the officials to reveal their identity and that of the victim, and asked them to wait till village elders arrived at the spot. But the officials managed to flee the spot with the body before the villagers arrived. Govindan, who is survived by wife, Bavani, and three daughters, has been into charcoal business in the recent years. He was one of the leaders of the Dalit community in the area. The incident has spread tension in the region on Friday on account of the birth anniversary celebrations of BR Ambedkar, prompting the police brass to beef up security at Govindan's native, T Pudukudi colony, Thondi near where the incident happened, and the general hospital, where his body has been kept for post-mortem examination. "On Thursday, Govindan went to take the Ambassador car that he had purchased. In the evening, he spoke to his wife over phone to inform that he would buy pooja items to celebrate Tamil New year on Friday. That was the last the family heard from him, before news channels reported the encounter," said a relative. Repeated attempts to reach senior police officers for the official version failed. Lower level sources told Express that the two personnel involved in the encounter were part of a special team formed to solve a robbery case in Kenikarai police limit, in which a businessmen allegedly lost Rs 9 lakh. This is the second police encounter incident in Thiruvadanai Police sub-division in the last two years.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Setting the ball rolling for the 2019 elections, the TRS government, which waived farmers loans a couple of days back, has now taken a major decision to supply fertilisers and urea free of cost to the 55 lakh-odd farmers in the state.

This, however, will be in the form of cash transfer into the bank accounts of the farmers. Estimating that a farmer needs ` 4,000 per acre on fertilisers or urea, the government will transfer ` 4,000 per acre into the bank accounts of the farmers based on the extent of land that he possess.

If a farmer has 10 acres, he will receive ` 40,000 to purchase fertilisers. Speaking to a group of farmers, who came from across the state on Thursday to thank him for waiving crop loans, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced his fresh sop to the farming community.

This will be a historic decision in the entire country. Every farmer in the state will get free fertilisers, urea and potash, he announced amid cheers by the farmers. According to Rao, Telangana has about 55 lakh farmers who use nearly 13 lakh tonnes of urea, 11 lakh tonnes of DAP and around 1,70 lakh tonnes of potash. All these will be supplied free of cost to the farmers, Rao said, adding that the new scheme would place a burden on the state exchequer anywhere between ` 6,000 and 7,000 crore.

A farmer invests over ` 4,000 per acre on fertilisers, DAP or potash. From May next, every farmer will get ` 4,000 per acre into his bank account, Rao announced.

Stating that any new scheme announced by the government will first attract middlemen and brokers, Rao wanted a foolproof system to identify farmers and wanted them to form Village Farmers Committees so that the beneficiaries and the extent of their land be identified without any hassles.

From the next season, the farmer should only have to purchase seeds and pesticides. Fertilisers and others will be provided by us, Rao said.

Agriculture experts, however, said ` 4,000 per acre would be sufficient for raising paddy, cotton and other crops. But for chillies, a farmer needs more fertiliser. Normally, farmer uses one or two bags of DAP (DAP per bag is ` 1,300), one bag of potash (` 800) and two bags of urea (` 300 per bag) for paddy.

HYDERABAD: Setting the ball rolling for the 2019 elections, the TRS government, which waived farmers loans a couple of days back, has now taken a major decision to supply fertilisers and urea free of cost to the 55 lakh-odd farmers in the state. This, however, will be in the form of cash transfer into the bank accounts of the farmers. Estimating that a farmer needs ` 4,000 per acre on fertilisers or urea, the government will transfer ` 4,000 per acre into the bank accounts of the farmers based on the extent of land that he possess. If a farmer has 10 acres, he will receive ` 40,000 to purchase fertilisers. Speaking to a group of farmers, who came from across the state on Thursday to thank him for waiving crop loans, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced his fresh sop to the farming community. This will be a historic decision in the entire country. Every farmer in the state will get free fertilisers, urea and potash, he announced amid cheers by the farmers. According to Rao, Telangana has about 55 lakh farmers who use nearly 13 lakh tonnes of urea, 11 lakh tonnes of DAP and around 1,70 lakh tonnes of potash. All these will be supplied free of cost to the farmers, Rao said, adding that the new scheme would place a burden on the state exchequer anywhere between ` 6,000 and 7,000 crore. A farmer invests over ` 4,000 per acre on fertilisers, DAP or potash. From May next, every farmer will get ` 4,000 per acre into his bank account, Rao announced. Stating that any new scheme announced by the government will first attract middlemen and brokers, Rao wanted a foolproof system to identify farmers and wanted them to form Village Farmers Committees so that the beneficiaries and the extent of their land be identified without any hassles. From the next season, the farmer should only have to purchase seeds and pesticides. Fertilisers and others will be provided by us, Rao said. Agriculture experts, however, said ` 4,000 per acre would be sufficient for raising paddy, cotton and other crops. But for chillies, a farmer needs more fertiliser. Normally, farmer uses one or two bags of DAP (DAP per bag is ` 1,300), one bag of potash (` 800) and two bags of urea (` 300 per bag) for paddy.
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

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has said the US military has been "successful" lately because his administration has given them "total authorization", as he hailed the forces for dropping the largest non-nuclear bomb targeting an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan.

A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed 'Mother Of All Bombs', was dropped on a tunnel complex of ISIS-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, in Achin district of Afghanistan's Nanagarh province, close to the border with Pakistan.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said yesterday that it was the first-ever combat use of the bomb. A MOAB is a 21,600- pound, a GPS-guided munition that is America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb. Trump said he authorised the use of the bomb in Afghanistan and called the mission "very, very successful".

"It was really another successful job, we are very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event," Trump told reporters at the White House "Everybody knows exactly what happened, what I do is I authorise our military. We have the greatest military in the world, they've done a job, as usual, so we have given them total authorization and that's what they're doing, and frankly, that's why they've been so successful lately," he said.

"If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and you compare that to what's happened over the last eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference. So we have incredible leaders of the military and incredible military, and we are very proud of them, and this was another very very successful mission," Trump said.

The US President, however, said he does not know if this would send a message to North Korea.

"I don't know if this sends a message. It doesn't make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of. I will say this; I think China has really been working very hard," he said.

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command. At his daily news conference, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the bomb was dropped at around 7 PM local time in Afghanistan yesterday.

"The GBU-43 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 easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area," Spicer said.

"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 US took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage as a result of the operation," he said.

The strike is part of the ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan, the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) said. Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. According to the Department of Defence, there are about 600-800 ISIS-K fighters in the region where the bomb was dropped.

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has said the US military has been "successful" lately because his administration has given them "total authorization", as he hailed the forces for dropping the largest non-nuclear bomb targeting an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan. A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed 'Mother Of All Bombs', was dropped on a tunnel complex of ISIS-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, in Achin district of Afghanistan's Nanagarh province, close to the border with Pakistan. Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said yesterday that it was the first-ever combat use of the bomb. A MOAB is a 21,600- pound, a GPS-guided munition that is America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb. Trump said he authorised the use of the bomb in Afghanistan and called the mission "very, very successful". "It was really another successful job, we are very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event," Trump told reporters at the White House "Everybody knows exactly what happened, what I do is I authorise our military. We have the greatest military in the world, they've done a job, as usual, so we have given them total authorization and that's what they're doing, and frankly, that's why they've been so successful lately," he said. "If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and you compare that to what's happened over the last eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference. So we have incredible leaders of the military and incredible military, and we are very proud of them, and this was another very very successful mission," Trump said. The US President, however, said he does not know if this would send a message to North Korea. "I don't know if this sends a message. It doesn't make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of. I will say this; I think China has really been working very hard," he said. The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command. At his daily news conference, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the bomb was dropped at around 7 PM local time in Afghanistan yesterday. "The GBU-43 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 easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area," Spicer said. "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 US took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage as a result of the operation," he said. The strike is part of the ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan, the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) said. Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. According to the Department of Defence, there are about 600-800 ISIS-K fighters in the region where the bomb was dropped.
Penalty kicks the difference as Rogers heads to girls soccer championship

Rogers keeper Katie Guinan made nine saves during regulation and then stopped three penalty kicks during the shootout to secure the win.
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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."
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," "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." Akbar Waljee, M.D., M.Sc., the study's lead author.

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."

Source: Michigan Medecine - University of Michigan
Volvo Auto India has launched the S60 Polestar in India at an introductory price tag of Rs 52.5 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The S60 Polestar is the fastest car ever made by the Swedish automaker and only 30 out of 1500 models made will make their way to India. How fast? It can go from 0-100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds.This is possible due to the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine that is both supercharged and turbocharged and comes mated to an 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The engine delivers 376 horsepower and 470 Nm torque. The S60 Polestar gets a host of updates for aerodynamic advantage like the front corner splitters, rear spoiler and a diffuser at the back. That's not it, the car weighs in at 1756 kilos (kerb) and power is sent to all four wheels. When it comes to stopping, though, Volvo has fitted Brembo 6-piston brake callipers at the front. Available in three colours - Rebel Blue, Onyx Black and Ice White, the S60 Polestar also gets electro-assisted power steering.In terms of exterior design, the car gets beautiful 20-inch lightweight rim. Being a Volvo, there is almost every safety feature present in the car that you can think of. This includes the likes of Radar-based safety features, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, park pilot assist, blind spot detection. To put it into perspective, the sedan has got a 5-star NCAP safety rating.All in all, the car delivers on the city car front as well as a full-fledged performance car. Given the price tag, not only is Volvo competing against the Germans, it is going to give them a run for their money.
Mumbai: Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday said the Centre is "actively considering" a plan to resume -- after 22 years -- the use of the Arabian Sea route to ferry Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and consultations with the Shipping Ministry are already on.



He said the "revolutionary and pilgrim-friendly decision" of sea travel will cut down travel expenses by nearly half compared with air fares. The use of the sea route between Mumbai and Jeddah for Haj was discontinued in 1995.



"A high-level committee, formed by the government to frame the Haj Policy 2018 as per the Supreme Court's 2012 order, is exploring the issue for sending pilgrims via the sea route to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia," the Minister of State for Minority Affairs said at a training programme at the Haj House here.



The committee will soon submit its report to the government.



At present, Haj pilgrims travel by air from 21 points across the country.



The minister said another advantage was that ships nowadays are modern and well equipped to ferry 4,000 to 5,000 persons at one go. "They can cover the 2,300-odd nautical miles between Mumbai and Jeddah in just two-three days. Earlier, ships used to take 12 to 15 days to cover this distance," he said.



He said the new Haj policy is aimed at making the entire pilgrimage process easier and transparent. Facilities for pilgrims will be the focus of the new policy.



In 2016, as many as 99,903 pilgrims went to Jeddah for Haj through the Haj Committee of India, besides nearly 36,000 persons who went through private tour operators.



In 2017, a total of 1,70,025 persons will go for Haj from India, including 1,25,025 through the Haj Committee and 45,000 others through private operators. This year, he said, 129,196 applications were received online.



The Ministry of Minority Affairs along with other agencies has started preparations for the biggest annual pilgrimage very early in coordination with various agencies, he added. The aim is to provide world class facilities to Haj pilgrims.



With an increase of 34,005 in India's annual Haj quota by host country Saudi Arabia, announced last year, all Indian states will benefit for this year's pilgrimage, Naqvi said.



"The decision was taken during the signing of a bilateral annual Haj agreement between the two countries at Jeddah on January 11. It is the biggest increase in the Haj quota for India after many years," the Minister said.



More than 500 trainers from different states are participating in the three-day training programme that deals with various dos and don'ts to be adhered to during the pilgrimage. They are enlightened about transport, accommodation and laws in Saudi Arabia, among other things.



Officials from the Haj Committee of India, Saudi Arabia Consulate, BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, Saudi Airlines, Air India, customs and immigration departments and doctors are involved in the endeavour.



These trainers will further train prospective pilgrims at different camps across the country.
Farmers from Tamil Nadu draped saris on Friday as a mark of their protest during their ongoing agitation in Jantar Mantar seeking a drought relief fund.The farmers, who have been protesting since March 15, had earlier stripped outside Rashtrapati Bhavan after they were not allowed to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They had also displayed the skulls of farmers who died due to severe drought in the state. They even staged a protest by holding dead rats in their mouths and later alleged that they were forced to eat rat meat due to poverty.They are demanding loan waivers, revised drought relief packages and the constitution of a Cauvery management board for a solution to the alleged drying up of the Tamil Nadu leg of the river.Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, during his visit to Jantar Mantar , accused PM Modi of "disrespecting" the drought-hit farmers not initiating talks with them over their demands for the relief package.Gandhi also criticised the Modi-led government of being "anti-poor and anti-farmer" which, he alleged, only panders to the demands of a select group of industrialists.
The Dalit movement in India is a legacy of the multiple streams of Ambedkars efforts to bring in equality and make systemic changes to the social order. As we stand today, Dalit movement to claim political power is vacillating and not sustainable. This has had a limited success.



The success or failure of Dalit quest for political power had an impact on the other efforts of Dalits to bring in equality.



But the failure or success of quest for political power has never stopped Dalits from claiming their rights against the vast milieu of oppressive practices of the Indian society.



Ambedkars idea of what a political party should stand for was clear in the manifesto he drafted for the Scheduled Caste Federation in 1951. The core principles of a political party, according to it, should be:



The attitude of the Party in public affairs will be governed by the following principles:-



(1) It will treat all Indians not only as being equal before the law but as being entitled to equality and will accordingly foster equality where it does not exist and uphold it where it is denied.



(2) It will regard every Indian as an end in himself with a right to his own development in his own way and the State as only a means to that end.



(3) It will sustain the right of every Indian to freedom- religious, economic and political subject to such limitations as may arise out of the need for the protection of the interests of other Indians or the State.



(4) It will uphold the right of every Indian to equality of opportunity subject to the provision that those who have had none in the past shall have priority over those who had.



(5) It will keep the State ever aware of its obligation to make every Indian free from want and free from fear.



(6) It will insist on the maintenance of liberty, equality and fraternity and will strive for redemption from oppression and exploitation of man by man, of class by class and of nation by nation.



(7) It will stand for the Parliamentary System of Government as being the best form of Government both in the interest of public and in the interest of the individual.



Ambedkars initial effort for a voice in the political process was to bring in representation of Dalits in the elected bodies and he fought with Mahatma Gandhi on this. His efforts bore fruit and in the British Indian Constitution of 1935 provided for reserved seats for Dalits in legislative bodies.



By 1937, the first untouchable elected representative appeared on the horizon of Indian polity. Ambedkar himself was elected from Bombay and was a member of Bombay Legislative Council. The same continued in 1946 election. In 1950, Ambedkar faced a stumbling block in Sardar Patel, who opposed reserved seats for any community. Ambedkar ensured that Dalit representation continued for another 10 years.



But in 1960, when the issue of extension of reserved seats came up, neither Ambedkar nor Patel were alive. The condition of Dalits made the polity to continue the representation in elected bodies till now and it will be up for review again in 2020.



The Dalit movement for space in elected bodies is a continuous stream of consciousness the Dalit movement sustains, unlike its quest for political power. Ambedkar, through the Poona Pact in 1932 with Gandhi, ensured representation in services for Dalits, which is a perpetual condition since it is based on adequate representation.



Another huge focus of Dalit movements is to protect this remedy to their discrimination for representation in services of the government. Large groups of employees federations, SC, ST and OBC associations protect this opportunity brought in by Ambedkar. This Dalit movement for jobs is visible and vocal because of the employee base the Dalits have. Dalits also supported the OBC reservation during the Mandal agitation and were in the lead, simply adhering to core of Ambedkarite ideology for representation of various classes. This is one of strongest movements of Dalits.



Ambedkars efforts for eradication of untouchability and denial of access to civil rights was amplified by his fight for access to water during the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 and present during the burning of Manusmriti in December 1927 . His evaluation of Hinduism came in his failed experiment of Nasik Kalaram Temple entry in 1930. He decided to renounce Hinduism five years later and did the same after a good twenty years in 1956 in Nagpur, bringing the Buddhist stream of Dalit movement. The movement to move away from Hinduism is slow but strong as more and more Dalits became conscious of their continued oppression on the basis of caste. Dalits regularly organise deeksha programs for conversion to Buddhism and sometimes do it as a protest, like the one in Una, Gujarat.



The legal remedy for oppression, deprivation was brought in the independent India starting with Untouchability Offences Act of 1955, which became the Protection of Civil rights Act in 1977. This led to the more powerful SC ST Prevention of Atrocities Act in 1989 and an even more focused version in 2016. A strong stream of Dalit movement focuses on these basic human rights provided in these Acts. The 2016 version of the Act is due to a sustained Dalit movement over the 25 years of 1989 Act on Atrocities.



Ambedkar touched not only Dalits but also the other oppressed half of Indian society, the women and his Hindu Code Bill in 1950 was an indication of his wider canvas of equality campaign. Very few women owned Ambedkar as their savior after the initial failure of Indian polity to bring in Hindu Code Bill. The accrual of equal rights to women was slower than the Dalit quest for equality. Like Dalits, women too struggle today to claim their equal space.



Ambedkar wrote extensively on many aspects of Indian polity and his 1955 formula for the minority communities against the oppression of majority community is a gem. He classified Dalits as a minority group of a community. The 1955 electoral formula can be an interesting read and a solution to the crisis of certain communities, who are lesser in number, for representation.



He gave a solution in his book titled Thoughts on linguistic states in 1955: The caste is a nation but the rule of one caste over another may not be admitted to be the same as the rule of one nation over another. But supposing the case is not carried so far but is limited to majority and minority even then the question remains: What right has the majority to rule the minority? The answer is that whatever the majority does it is right. What complain the minorities can have ? People who rely upon majority rule forget the fact that majorities are of two sorts : (1) Communal majority and (2) Political majority.



A political majority is changeable in its class composition. A political majority grows. A communal majority is born. The admission to a political majority is open. The door to a communal majority is closed. The politics of a political majority are free to all to make and unmake. The politics of a communal majority are made by its own members born in it. How can a communal majority run away with the title deeds given to a political majority to rule? To give such title deeds to a communal majority is to establish a hereditary Government and make the way open to the tyranny of that majority. This tyranny of the communal majority is not an idle dream. It is an experience of many minorities. This experience to Maharashtrian Brahmins being every recent it is unnecessary to dilate upon it. What is the remedy?



No doubt some safeguards against this communal tyranny are essential. The question is: What can they be? The first safeguard is not to have too large a State. The consequences of too large a State on the minority living within it are not understood by many. Larger the State, the smaller the proportion of the minority to the majority. To give one illustration  if Mahavidarbha remained separate, the proportion of Hindus to Muslims would be four to one. In the United Maharashtra the proportion will be fourteen to one. The same would be the case of the Untouchables. A small stone of a consolidated majority placed on the chest of the minority may be borne. But the weight of a huge mountain it cannot bear. It will crush the minorities. Therefore creation of smaller States is a safeguard to the minorities.



The second safeguard is some provision for representation in the Legislature. The old type of remedy provided in the Constitution were (1) certain number of reserved seats and (2) separate electorates. Both these safeguards have been given up in the new Constitution. The lambs are shorn of the wool. They are feeling the intensity of the cold. Some tempering of the wool is necessary.



Separate electorates or reservation of seats must not be restored to. It would be enough to have plural member constituencies (of two or three) with cumulative voting in place of the system of single-member constituency embodied in the present Constitution. This will allay the fears which the minorities.



Ambedkars remedies to the ills of the polity and society continue to inspire Dalit movements and Ambedkars ideology of equality has gained wider following.





(The author is an IAS officer and holds a doctorate on Ambedkars electoral idea from Nation Law School, Bangalore. All views are personal and not News18)
Despite the electoral disappointment in Uttar Pradesh, the idea of Dalit-Muslim unity continues to invoke debates across sections of society. As the nation celebrates Dr BR Ambedkars birth anniversary, Asaduddin Owaisi, the President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, explains why he thinks Ambedkar is relevant to Muslims in India. Owaisi not only sees Ambedkars writings as a potent force against communalism, but also hopes for larger unity and fraternity between the two marginalized communities.



In the midst of Parliamentary elections in 2014, a section of society sparked a debate by suggesting that Dalit icon and author of Indias constitution, Dr BR Ambedkar did not trust Muslims. The dangerous effort to present the tallest leader and the fighter for a united and equalitarian India as anti-Muslim is still alive.



The constant onslaught in popular debates tried to project that Ambedkar viewed Indian Muslims negatively, and that this was deeply rooted in his dislike towards Islam or certain Muslim leaders of that time. The most problematic propagation was that Ambedkars essays titled, Pakistan or The Partition of India, were the proof that he did not view Indian Muslims positively.



However, no study has ever proved that Ambedkar wrote much against Muslims. More importantly, he never took any decision against Muslims as a community.



Ambedkar, who built the agenda for inclusive society, much before others could even imagine such a thing for millions of downtrodden, feared and discriminated Muslims, has emerged as the tallest and most important figure in modern India.



The prime concern of the present debate arises at a time when the world is celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar. I view and understand Baba Saheb as the most prolific writer who never stopped working for the betterment of excluded sections of the Indian society. I also find Baba Sahebs writings the most relevant for social development.



Perhaps, the writings and response to Ambedkars initiatives can be collected through the archival sources, mainly available in Urdu print media, and to some extent in Persian and English. The academic engagement on Ambedkar is vast but what needs a comprehensive and critical examination is  how Indian Muslims found his contribution useful for their development?



Certain political parties, including the ruling BJP, tried to counter Mayawatis plan to bring Muslims (18 per cent of electorate) and Dalits (22 per cent of electorate) in Uttar Pradesh together to form a larger alliance of backward and marginalised communities. Mayawatis agenda was that both Dalits and Muslims have suffered from pathetic living conditions since 1947, hence coming together would help this deprived group stand better in present scenario. It was in this background that Ambedkar has once again started figuring in political discussions, a kind of disguise to the innumerable contributions he made to the nation and its communities.



Ambedkar in his work, Pakistan or Partition of India, tries to examine the genuine predicaments of the Muslim minority in a predominantly Hindu society. He consciously critiqued the larger political spectrum to continue the rightist or Brahmanical hegemony in the society. Far from distrusting the Indian Muslims, Ambedkar says, There are many lower orders in the Hindu society whose economic, political and social needs are the same as those of the majority of the Muslims and they could be far more ready to make a common cause with the Muslims than they would with high caste Hindus, who have denied and deprived them of ordinary human rights for centuries.



Ambedkar further argues, Is it not true that under the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, in most Indian provinces the Muslims, Non-Brahmins and Depressed classes united together and worked the reforms as members of one team from 1920 to 1937? Herein lies the most fruitful method of communal harmony among Hindus and Muslims and of destroying the danger of Hindu Raj. So Ambedkar clearly sought lasting Dalit-Muslim unity.



On the question of caste, I see the assertion of Ambedkar that caste is not based on division of labour, rather it is a division of labourers. As an economic organisation also, caste is a harmful institution. He calls upon the Hindus to annihilate the caste, which is a great hindrance to social solidarity, and to set up a new social order based on the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity in consonance with the principles of democracy. This would ultimately bring to construct social democracy in India. The fringe ideas are becoming the ideology of the Centre and this would suppress the premises for social democracy in India.



It is a wise step to revisit the draft on the safeguards for the minorities and Scheduled Castes that was submitted to the Constituent Assembly on behalf of the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation in 1946. It briefs several historical facts that have potential base to evolve Indian society as a nation of Dalit-Bahujan and Muslims. One can understand the envisioning the unity of Dalits and Muslims in India. Ambedkar wrote extensively for this cause. Different people are looking at this federation from different points of view. There is the point of view of the Princes. There is the point of view of the Hindus and the Muslims, and the Congress. There is also the point of view of the Merchants and the Traders. Each point of view is of course the result of their particular interests. The vision for Muslims who remained in India still proves Ambedkars understanding about the communities.



Ambedkar wrote that he had better plans for Muslims and wanted to draw attention of Muslims towards United India than opting for a separate province. I claim that my plan is better than the plan of Pakistan. Let me state the points which tell in favour of my plan. They are: (i) Under my proposal the danger of a communal majority, which is the basis of Pakistan is removed, (ii) Under my proposal the weightage at present enjoyed by the Muslims is not disturbed. (iii) The position of Muslims in the Non-Pakistan Provinces is greatly strengthened by an increase in their representation, which they may not get if Pakistan comes and which will leave them in a more helpless condition than they are in at present.



The anthropological and sociological writings lie largely on the concept of social structure in understanding of a society and for that matter a nation. As commonly understood, social structure refers to a systematic arrangement of parts or components of a society that is seen in the form of groups and sub-groups dependent on each other. Indian society is placed in hierarchical order than any other forms of structure with strong features of advantages and disadvantages in social rankings and privileges.



In this context, Muslims comprise of a community following monolithic religion Islam, which also advocates for an egalitarian social structure. Whereas I do see a huge number of Dalits aspiring for social justice and social democracy. The most important facets of Islam reflected due to its equalitarian agenda denouncing the existence of purity and pollution, pure and impure. Broadly, it rejected all forms of inequality based on caste, class, race and ethnicity in particular that could also connect the larger part of the Dalit-Bahujan.



Finally, I see the advancement of Sangh Parivars stratagem on Ambedkar, as appropriately put forth by Anand Teltumbde. He argues that in the first phase the Hindutva forces hold against Amedkars powerful criticism of everything Hindu and sulked over his forsaking Hindu religion and embracing Buddhism. Realising that Ambedkar has symbolized the aspirations of the vast majority of Dalits in the country. they adopted a strategy of co-opting Ambedkar. This strategy led to the launch of the Samajik Samrasata Manch (social assimilation platform) that provided space for willing sections of Dalits to be brainwashed by the Sangh Parivar.



I, therefore, think that Baba Saheb is as much a leader of Muslims as that of Dalits. When I talk about Dalit-Muslim unity I am talking about that unity by keeping Ambedkar in the centrality of my premise.



Let me end with what Ambedkar said would happen if Hindu Raj became a reality  It is a menace to liberty, equality and fraternity. It is incompatible with democracy, it must be stopped at any cost.





(The author is a Member of Parliament. Author's views are personal and not that of CNN-News18)
India celebrates the 126th birth anniversary of Dalit icon BR Ambedkar on Friday. Ambedkar has been regarded as one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century for his fierce battle against Indian caste system.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on the occasion visit Deekshabhoomi, a sacred Buddhist monument where Ambedkar had converted to Buddhism on the occasion of Ashok Vijaya Dashami on October 14, 1956. A number of development projects will also be inaugurated in Nagpur on the occasion. The projects include an IIIT, an IIM, an AIIMS and the Koradi thermal power station.The day will also see the launch of the new BHIM-Aadhaar digital payments platform. The initiative has been named after Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
New Delhi: India on Friday said Japan is a "natural partner" in achieving the goal of increasing the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25 percent in the coming years.



Both the countries discussed ways of increasing bilateral trade and investments during a day-long conference in Nagoya in Japan.



A business delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman participated in that event.



"India wants to increase the contribution of manufacturing sector to GDP to 25 per cent and Japan is a natural partner in our goals," an official statement quoting Sitharaman said here.



Currently, the manufacturing sector contributes about 17 percent to the country's GDP.



The government is taking steps such as improving ease of doing business and relaxing FDI norms to boost the sector.



Sitharaman also met Governor of Aichi Prefecture Hideaki Ohmura in Nagoya.



Hideaki acknowledged that the India Conference will further encourage the companies in Aichi Prefecture to invest in India.



Japan said although it is the third largest foreign investor in India (USD 25.2 billion during the April 2000 December 2016), behind Mauritius and Singapore, it can be considered a top investor as the other two countries are used by companies from across the world to route investments.



Sitharaman urged the Governor to consider diversification of investment in other sectors such as food processing, textiles, medical equipment, electronics and IT in India.



The minister invited Hideaki to lead a delegation of Japanese companies to MSME clusters in India to explore partnership and investment opportunities.



At the conference, Secretary DIPP Ramesh Abhishek highlighted the unparalleled opportunities and advantages that investors could leverage by making in India.


Told Pak FS that we asked in written for Kulbhushan Jadhav's consular access 13 times in the recent months but to no avail: Gautam Bambawale pic.twitter.com/FGEh83w4i5  ANI (@ANI_news) April 14, 2017

Why would an innocent person possess 2 passports,one with Hindu&other a Muslim name?:Sartaz Aziz,Adviser to Pak PM on Foreign Affrs #Jadhav pic.twitter.com/5Yrdxuozhr  ANI (@ANI_news) April 14, 2017

If #KulbhushanJadhav had a valid Indian passport, then how can he be a spy?: VK Singh,MoS MEA pic.twitter.com/6ep729fDH1  ANI (@ANI_news) April 14, 2017

: Indian Envoy to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale on Friday met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua pressing for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death for alleged involvement in "spying" and "subversive activities".This was India's 14th attempt at gaining consular access for Jadhav. But to no avail."Pakistan should tell us what are the charges against Kulbhushan. we should be given the chargesheet. According to international law, we should be allowed to meet Kulbhushan, we should be given consular access. Kulbhushan was not involved in activities against Pakistan," said Gautam Bambawale.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.Alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav has been awarded death sentence by a Pakistani military court on charges of alleged "espionage and sabotage" activities. (File photo)The Pakistan Foreign Secretary said since this is a "case of espionage consular access can't be granted"."Kulbhushan Jadhav funded terrorist elements. He abetted attacks against Pakistan armed forces. The legal process went on for one year...transparency was ensured in the case," said Sartaz Aziz, Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Advisor."We condemn India's baseless allegation. India did not allow access to Pakistan prisoners for many years. We request India to refrain from making such statements that will further damagerelations between the two countries," said Aziz.India conveyed to Pakistan that it will appeal the order against Jadhav and is studying the Pakistan Army Act."All political parties are unanimous that Kulbhushan should be given death sentence. All legal processes were followed in this case," said Aziz.
New Delhi: In a tiny corner of cyberspace, a website gives space to Sumeet Samos, a rapper who regularly sings about Dalit atrocities. The young rapper covers centuries of anger and anguish in under a two-and-a-half minute.



We grow up with casteist slurs ringing in our ears

have you ever thought it cost us our tears

Im sure it sounds very normal

'cause youve been doing it for years

when sati was a norm, women studying a taboo

then did Savitri mai [Savitri Bai Phule] fight with savarna babu

you claim yourself progressive, it stinks of Brahminism

there are no Dalits in your radical feminism

you keep blaming us doing politics of identity

this is to transform the social reality

a battle to reclaim human personality



Round Table India, a website, uses not just such performances which have been viewed several thousand times, but editorials, stories of atrocity which are often missed by mainstream media, and documentaries to highlight the plight of Dalits in India. It is one of the many websites dedicatedly run by activists to provide space for the widest expression of Dalit-Bahuan samaj.



With an ever-expanding penetration of mobile phones, increasing literacy rates, and an active social media, such projects  like Dalit web portals, Youtube channels, news websites, Facebook pages, Twitter handles  and their audiences are growing rapidly.



The Dalit and marginalised consciousness is rising, and writers and artists are deeply involved in its evolution. Their writings reflect the mood of the moment. Whether it be Una beatings, Rohith Vemula incident, anti-reservation campaigns or issue over beef. And only spaces like these portals provide a space to discuss such issues, says Kuffir, who runs Round Table India.



Kuffir is not the first, but he is one of the most experienced editors of Dalit web portals. He started the portal back in 2009 when the only other thing of this kind was a few online archives, documenting the writings of BR Ambedkar.



It was not a question of lack of resources, but a lack of social acceptance. Mainstream media had consistently been ignoring our issues. Then we realised that there was this area, an unorganised media on the internet, that we could stake claim to, Kuffir says.



When he started out, Kuffir was alone. But today, the 53-year-old editor of roundtableindia.co.in has over 500 contributors to help him. There are Sikhs, tribals, Christians, Dalits, Brahmins and Khatris from ages 18 to 80, who now work with us. We have brought this online Dalit consciousness movement to a point where our voices cannot be ignored anymore, says Kuffir.



But while activists like Kuffir have established an online presence, the dynamic and chaotic world of web also accommodates voices such as those of Sweta Yadav. This fiery 30-year-old independent journalist is disadvantaged thrice over. Being a Yadav but talking about Dalits makes her a suspect in the eyes of both communities, she says. Those from her community call her a blot on them, and many Dalits often accuse her of working for an ulterior agenda. And then, being an independent woman journalist also exposes her to abuses from other quarters.



Yadav, who has worked in Dalit news websites like National Dastak, has just started her own Youtube channel and website focusing on Dalit and womens issues, provocatively titled Tedhi Ungli.



I dont think many young people knew what feminism was before 2009. This concept was restricted to certain academic circles and elites only. But now there is a transformation setting in. Women are beginning to object to the manner in which they are spoken to. This has happened because of the internet and online portals that spoke about minority issues. This is why I think this medium is indispensable, Yadav says.



She adds, Where else can you expect Dalit men and women to exchange their views fearlessly? If you observe closely, you will inadvertently find Dalit women talk incessantly about politics on Facebook and Dalit portals because an awareness is setting in. Maybe you wont find those views palatable but tell me how many mainstream publications will publish such subversive stuff?



Portals that focus exclusively on Dalit atrocities, Yadav says, are getting far bigger audiences than ever before. I get calls from people I dont know asking me to write about such and such atrocity. The other day a couple called me to inform me about rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh. When I see such things, it empowers me. I feel that the importance of web journalism is only going to increase. And this is the right time to claim ones space and find audiences that one never had through television.



But to some, these portals are more than just a means of exchanging views and information. People like Ashok Das, who runs Dalit Dastak, thinks that online portals have become tools of applying pressure on mainstream media. He feels that growing audiences of such portals are forcing big media houses to take note of issues they would otherwise have ignored.



A lot now depends on whats going viral on Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter groups. Dalit-oriented groups have started applying pressure here. Whenever some big incident happens, these groups ensure that the event gets talked about and eventually news organisations are forced to take notice. Our web portal, that earlier was not read by many people, now has its every article shared at least five to six thousand times.



And with an increasing coverage of Dalit issues in mainstream publications, the curiosity among the general public in knowing Dalit icons and their contribution to the society, is also increasing.



Take the case of Savitri Bai Phule for instance. Very few people had heard her name till a few years back. Now Google was also made to take notice of her and on her birth anniversary dedicate their doodle to her. Our medium is spreading awareness and changing the discourse on a very fundamental level, said Das.



But are people even reading such portals? Such a doubt is easy to creep into mind considering the huge victory of BJP, and an abysmally poor show of BSP, in the recent Uttar Pradesh elections. If BJP managed to grab vote share even among Dalits and OBCs, does it not imply a disinterest among this underprivileged section of the society in such portals and their views?



HL Dusaad who has written dozens of books on BSP and on Dalit politics doesnt think that one should measure the relevance of online Dalit awareness with the yardstick of UP polls.



A lot of people had seen Mayawatis fall coming. She had abandoned caste based politics altogether and was punished for it. She gave people reasons for not voting for SP or BJP but did not claim her space among Dalits and OBCs, she took them for granted. But this doesnt mean that Dalits have started losing interest in their identity. They have started reading more and grouping together on the internet.



And this phenomenon will only give rise to many more Dalit voices, which may be placed thousands of miles away geographically, but will find a common platform online.



Dharmas case is a classic illustration of this. He had never met Ravi Chandran, the founder of Dalit Camera  a Youtube channel documenting Dalit voices and stories, personally. But found a connect with them after watching the work done by Chandran and his team.



I wrote an email to Chandran, offering to volunteer for Dalit Camera. He accepted it immediately and eventually I began going outdoors, interviewing victims of caste violence and documenting such cases, says the 28-year-old software engineer.



The Rohith Vemula incident, Dharma says, was not just a life-changing moment for him, because he got to spend a lot of time on the ground and observing the movement up close, it was also an eye-opener for the society. It was only after portals such as ours started talking about this case that many people in privileged positions found out what being a Dalit was like. It was a big moment. Many people suddenly realised that an anti-caste struggle had been going on since Independence. English media took notice of Dalit atrocities in a way it never had.



To the question of who is listening to, or reading news stories and opinions, on such online portals, Dharma has an answer. Dalit Camera wasnt as popular as it is now. But after all this time we never observed a dip or even a stagnation in our subscriptions. Our readers and followers have been steadily increasing. More young people are engaging with our portal than ever before. Student population at large is taking notice of our work and discussing it. All this is quite encouraging.


A group from Kerala which was suspected to have joined the Islamic State and two newborns were feared killed during the US bombing in Afghanistan on Thursday.Intelligence inputs said the people, including three women, were in the same area where the US carried out the bombing. An NIA team will reach out to the families.US forces struck an Islamic State tunnel complex with "the mother of all bombs," the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the US military. The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon, unleashes 11 tons of explosives. Afghan officials said at least 36 militants were decimated.Bindhu, mother of Nimisha who went to Afghanistan along with her husband, said she was unaware of her daughters fate. After hearing this news, I am breathless, don't know what has happened to my child. When my son-in-law called me in November, he told me they are in Nagarhara, which is the place that was affected by the US bombing. I don't know what has happened to my child and my granddaughter, she told CNN-News18. Her granddaughter is one of the two children born after the group reached Afghanistan.Seventeen men and three women from Kerala were suspected to have joined the Islamic State. While two men were reportedly killed earlier, a third was killed in a US drone strike a day before the bombing.
Mumbai: A former 'laundry boy' whom Kulbhushan Jadhav had once helped today joined a human chain outside the former Navy officer's residence here, seeking his release.



"Jadhav saab helped me a lot. He helped me in my studies and his family treated me as one of their own," said Vijay Kanuajia, who had worked for the family in the past.



"The Jadhav family used to wait for me to have dinner with them, even as late as 11 pm," the youth said.



"Pakistan should immediately release Jadhav saab as he isn't a spy," said Kanuajia, who is a graduate and aims to join the Armed Forces.



The human chain was formed to demand Jadhav's release and to condemn Pakistan for 'kidnapping' him.



Jadhav has been awarded the death sentence by a military court in Pakistan for alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the BHIM-Aadhaar platform for digital payments to mark the 126th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar.



Hailing the Dalit icon's fight for the poor, Modi said the main aim of his Digital India push was to empower the economically weaker sections.



BR Ambedkar has given many guarantees to the people. We did not have the privilege to fight for freedom, but we will definitely live for it DigiDhan will empower the poor. It is a safai abhiyaan (cleanliness mission). It will fight the menace of corruption, he said.



Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Modi said each referral of the BHIM would credit Rs 10 to the users account.



Referring to Ambedkar, Modi said he did not have a trace of bitterness or revenge in him despite facing struggles in his life.



Earlier, Modi paid homage to the architect of the Indian Constitution, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on the occasion of his 126th birth anniversary here on Friday.



Arriving in Nagpur on a day-long visit for various engagements, Modi started his day with a visit to the historic monument, Deekshabhoomi, where Babasaheb Ambedkar and over 600,000 followers had embraced Buddhism on October 14, 1956.



This 'Dharmantar' is considered the biggest mass religious conversion at a single location in history that took place 61 years ago.



Modi, accompanied by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, went around the Deekshabhoomi and later garlanded a large bust of Babasaheb Ambedkar installed there.



A series of functions have been organised to mark the Ambedkar Jayanti on Friday across Maharashtra, including at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur and Chaityabhoomi in Mumbai, where Babasaheb Ambedkar was cremated following his death on December 6, 1956.



Born on April 14, 1891, Babasaheb Ambedkar was the first Law Minister of the Independent India, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution who dedicated his life for the uplift of Dalits, women and labourers, and was posthumously conferred the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 1990.




Vidya Balan, Gauahar Khan, Pallavi Sharda, Naseeruddin Shah, Vivek Mushran, Chunky PandaySrijit MukherjiFilms based on partition always manage to touch a raw nerve. The incident that changed the society that we live in now, has been narrated multiple times on the big screen with each filmmaker bringing his own perspective to the matter.National Award winning director Srijit Mukherjis 2015 film Rajkahini had touched upon the gory partition of Bengal. Narrated from the point of view of the marginalised section- that is the prostitutes, the film earned critical acclaim and did rounds of several international film festivals.Two years later, Mukherji makes his debut in Bollywood with an adaptation of his Bengali film. Begum Jaan has the same premise- that of a brothel through which the border would be created to divide the newly formed countries India and Pakistan. The occupants, headed by the Madam (Vidya Balan), are asked to vacate the house in a months time or face consequences. Defiant, the women start a revolution of sorts.On paper, the film may have appeared as a grand period saga. And why not? With an ensemble comprising of actors like Vidya Balan, Rajit Kapur, Ashish Vidyarthi, Gauahar Khan, Ila Arun and others, the film appeared to have a lot of potential. It also has one of Bollywood's recurring themes- Partition- as its backdrop. So why wouldnt the film be good?Ironically, what appears good on paper may not always turn out that well on the big screen. The film begins in present day Delhi where a couple is chased by a bunch of drunkards in a deserted CP. An old woman comes to their rescue. Dressed mysteriously in a shirt and skirt with two pigtails tied neatly with yellow ribbons, she slowly starts undressing herself in front of the lecherous men, only to stop them from harming the girl. The director attempts to contextualize and put things in perspective with the first scene but it seems unnecessary by the end of it. Because the film uses partition as just a backdrop. It is ultimately a story of eviction. So a poignant scene on how the society treats its women is not needed perhaps.As a performer Vidya once again excels in and as Begum Jaan. But her character carries too much weight of being the matriarch. She exudes anger, purrs like a cat and mellows down when the local King (Naseeruddin Shah) comes visiting. She speaks a language where constant references are made on how religion of a man does not matter to a whore, and how for her, all men are the same. Its a story that tries to touch upon too many aspects at the same time and thereby jumbles up at what the core theme should be - that of a partition saga and the deep scars it left for generations to come or a story of a marginalised group fighting against the odds to rightfully claim their house.The cast consists of gamut of character actors mostly. With nearly 20 characters in the story, it is difficult to establish everyones story. That said, a scene of Gauahar Khan and Pitobash stands out in which she explains that her heart loves him even if the body is used to satisfy other men. Pallavi Sharda plays Gulabo, a defiant girl, who despite Begums favours harbours dreams of marrying the kind school master (Vivek Mushran) who often visits the brothel. Sharda manages to shine in the limited screen space that is given to her. But perhaps the revelation in the film is Chunky Panday, who plays Kabir, a ruthless contract killer. Pandays casting is perhaps the most interesting of the lot. Having played caricature roles in bad, slapstick comedies for years, the actor finally gets to prove his talent in an extended cameo and he shines.Begum Jaan ultimately falls short because of an inconsistent story line and flawed screenplay. The actors are seen celebrating Indias independence in one scene and soon after, the festival of Holi. In another scene the characters are seen getting drenched and in the next, completely dry. The climax is unnecessarily loud and melodramatic and some of the scenes make you cringe.The intentions are good. But too much is stuffed in two hours time. It's crisper than the original film which Mukherji in an interview had stated contained a clot of cinematic fat but the end result appears hastily put together.Mukherjis Bengali films have always had the best music but unfortunately Anu Maliks songs in Begum Jaan do not leave a lasting impression either.The film ultimately works only for its actors but most do not get to flex their talent in a script that is trying to tell too many things at the same time.2.5/5
The first look of Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon starrer Raabta is out and it looks like the duo are going to give us a 'serendipity' style romance.Kriti took to twitter to share the first look of the film where she can be seen kissing Sushant as he carries her on his back. She wrote, "Something drew me to him, a connection that I cannot explain.. A #Raabta !!#RaabtafirstLook"The poster shared by the official movie page read, "Some connections last a lifetime and beyond". So does that mean it is going to be an epic love story transcending age and time? Only time will. For now we are excited to see the first poster of this 'connecting' love story.Directed by Dinesh Vijan, Raabta has been produced by Homi Adajania and features a special appearance by Deepika Padukone. The film is slated to release on June 9.
Mumbai: Chunky Panday 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 Panday... 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.
"I announce my brother Anand Kumar as the party's national vice-president with the condition that he will never become MP, MLA, or chief minister," she said while addressing an Ambedkar anniversary function.

BSP chief Mayawati on Friday appointed her brother Anand Kumar as party vice-president, giving a glimpse of her succession plan.Kumar, who is under the Income Text department scanner, was reportedly given the second-most powerful post on the condition that he will never become an MP, MLA or the Chief Minister.The Income Tax department had on April 7 launched multiple survey operations at nearly a dozen premises of businesses and firms linked to Kumar. A survey operation under Income Tax laws pertains to raids where the taxman only visits the business premises of an entity and does not cover his or her residential premises.The department is in the process of ascertaining the veracity of financial transactions undertaken by these entities related to Kumar.Addressing the first programme of the BSP after a dismal show in the recent Assembly elections, Mayawati said she has no reservations in joining issue with other parties on the issue of alleged EVM tampering in the recent Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand."The BSP now has no reservations in taking the help of anti-BJP parties in its fight against EVM tampering and the BJP as it is the democracy which comes first...we have to keep democracy alive," she said.Speaking for the first time before her party workers on her medical condition which she said has forced her to read written texts, she said she lost one of her glands in 1996. "One of the two glands in my throat was removed by doctors in an operation and so I cannot stress my throat too much," Mayawati said.The BSP chief who has been under fire following a recent decision of the Yogi Adityanath government to order probe into sale of sugar mills and construction of memorials under her government, said, "I'm being targeted under a conspiracy so that I stop speaking on the EVM tampering issue by BJP."Adityanath has ordered an inquiry into the Mayawati-led BSP government's decision to sell 21 state sugar mills for a pittance in 2010-2011."A thorough inquiry should be conducted into the Rs 1,100 crore scam. If necessary, the state government would also recommend a CBI inquiry into the issue," the chief minister had said when presentations about sugarcane development department were made before him last week.(With PTI inputs)
"Closure of schools on various occasions was not in the interest of children and their future. Closing educational institutions on such days defeats the purpose of commemorating a holiday. Rule books say that schools should have 220 working days but the target is rarely achieved because of too many holidays. This leaves the teachers with about 130-140 working days which is not enough for students to learn," he added.

Addressing the gathering, UP CM also said, "Baba Saheb did a great job by asserting the voice of backward class. His dream is coming true today as people from backward class have made their mark in the fields of medicine, education and journalism, etc."

: It may not sound good to the children, teachers and staff of different schools, but now they will not get as many holidays as they were getting in the last few years.Speaking at a function on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti on Friday, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that tradition of holidays in schools on the occasion on death and birth anniversaries of great men will now be scrapped. Rather, students will be taught about these great men during a special session of two to three hours on that day.Addressing a function to mark the 126th birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said, "It is not a great idea to close the schools on the occasion of birth or death anniversaries of great people. In fact, many times, children do not even know why the school has been closed."CM Yogi Adityanath said that he will make better arrangements for the education of Dalit children. Every child will be given two sets of uniforms, bag, books and shoe. All this will be handed over to the children in the first week of the session and no discrimination shall be made whatsoever.The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh expressed gratitude to PM Modi over his efforts for public welfare and for supporting digital India by launching Bhim app. He also lauded the efforts of PM Modi for building Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial in Delhi and Maharashtra.He further said that there will be no discrimination in any form in Uttar Pradesh. No one will be troubled because of his caste and religion. The responsibility of security of 22 million people is the top priority of the UP Government. No matter how powerful anyone is, he is not above the law.
(Image: NUKEMAP)

The US dropped one of its largest bombGBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blastwhich is non-nuclear on Eastern Afghanistan to flush out Islamic State targets. The GBU-43/B is also called the mother of all bombs to be engaged in combat in recent times.According to news reports, one unit of this MOAB costs $16 million and weighs around 21,600 pounds. It was dropped from a MC-130 aircraft in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, in close proximity to the Pakistan border by the Air Force Special Operations Command. The operation has been termed very successful which killed at least 36 ISIS fighters, added reports.Numbers like-- a 21,600 pound bomb which is required to be delivered by the likes of Lockheed C-130 Hercules military aircraft (one of the largest) and costs a staggering $16 million might make the common man curious as to what could be the impact radius if this MOAB was dropped near their place of residence.Alex Wellerstein, a Harvard-educated historian, who specializes on the history of nuclear weapons and government secrecy has a nuclear effects simulator on his website. This tool can provide a rough idea.Considering the yield of the GBU-43/B MOAB to be 0.01 kilotons, the fireball radius is around 12 metres while the air blast radius is around 46 metres. The maximum thermal radiation radius leading to third-degrees burns is 110 metres.However, the impact will wreak havoc. The NukeMap estimates at least 2,050 fatalities and 5,700 injuries if the MOAB detonates at Central Park, Connaught Place in New Delhi.
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 multispectral camouflage 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 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 DRDO from academia it will also benefit."The first volume, with 50 problem statements, was released on December 5 last year.
Image: Shifa Khan/ News18

Image: Shifa Khan/ News18

Image: Shifa Khan/ News18

Image: Shifa Khan/ News18

Image: Shifa Khan/ News18

Image: Shifa Khan/ News18

Stretched along the lovely Parvati River with mountains rising all around, Kasol is the main traveller hang-out in the valley. Its a small village, but almost overrun with reggae bars, bakeries and cheap guesthouses catering to a largely backpacker crowd, nowadays including growing numbers of Indians. It's also a summertime venue for trance parties transplanted from Goa, and at any time an easy base for exploring the forested valley or just chilling out.Though Kasol is a year-round destination, it is best visited during the summer months of May and June. However, people also love to visit the destination during the winter months of November to February.Nothing like a nice stroll down a cackling, churning and frothing Parvati river on one side and looming pine trees on the other. Clean white sand and smooth boulders separate the lush green grass from the tumbling blue-green water of the river. Every bend in the river opens up to an exciting vista of pine trees, cliffs and waterfalls. All this is framed with snow capped peaks piercing the happy blue sky at the horizon.Chalal, a small little village, is just 30 minutes walk across a pretty scary bridge from Kasol. Walking along the river which has a very scenic trail to offer, appreciating the beauty, halting, loading your camera with some beautiful memories, you reach this quaint little village named Chalal  A backpackers heaven. As you walk along the river, stop, ponder watch the beauty as you sit on the huge rocks along the river banks. The gushing sound of the river gives you a very positive energy to re-charge yourself. On the way, as hunger pangs bother, drop by abundant cafe's to satiate your inner foodie.The hike to Rasol usually takes 3-4 hours to cover those steep climbs but the view was impeccable. While trekking further on bumpy terrains, we discovered a hidden waterfall in the middle of huge mountain rocks. This is where we checked off a thing from our bucket list- A bath under a waterfall. The Surrounding areas are covered with apple orchards and pine trees that gives ample of beauty and fragrance to the surrounding.Having covered the best places to visit in Kasol, youd definitely love on gorge on some amazing food. If you have not tried some Israeli cuisine, this is the place to start. Tucked amidst wilderness, Kasol is flocked by young Israelis. Hence, the name Mini Israel. The influence is clearly visible in the Hebrew inscribed sign boards and abundantly available Israeli food. The desserts here are mind-blowing; we recommend Falafel, Shakshuka with feta cheese, nutty waffles and Banoffee pie at Evergreen cafe, Moondance Cafe and Jim Morrison Cafe.Kasol and Chalal are highly infamous for Charas and Malana Cream. The quality of charas here is supposed to be of high quality. It is an open business here and any person can easily avail such cannabis as soon as one reaches here. Charas plants are in abundance here. The Hash chocolate balls offered here are simply sumptuous. Chalal is an ideal village to visit to just relax, unwind and also is a home to some of the best parties in the whole valley.You'll fall in love with Kasol because it is not a destination. It's an experience. And you got to experience it to believe.
Washington: 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 US 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, then 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, organisations, 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."



US 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."
Damascus: 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.



"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.
Washington: The U.S. Air Force will this weekend deploy a small number of F-35A fighter jets to Europe for several weeks of training with other U.S. and NATO military aircraft, the Pentagon said on Friday.



In a statement, the Pentagon said that the deployment would allow the U.S. Air Force to "further demonstrate the operational capabilities" of the stealthy fighter jet. It did not name the countries where the aircraft would be deployed to.



The F-35, which is the Pentagon's costliest arms program, has been dogged by problems. The Pentagon's chief arms buyer once described as "acquisition malpractice" the decision to produce jets before completing development.



During last year's election campaign, President Donald Trump criticized Lockheed Martin Corp for the F-35's cost overruns.



Days after taking office in January, Trump announced his administration had been able to cut some $600 million from the latest U.S. deal to buy about 90 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.



The United States is expected to spend some $391 billion over 15 years to buy about 2,443 of the F-35 aircraft.



F-35s are in use by the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, and by six countries: Australia, Britain, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands and Israel. Japan took delivery of its first jet in December.



Lockheed said last month that Spain, Belgium and Switzerland were in talks with the company about buying F-35s.
Mogadishu: The U.S. military is sending dozens of regular troops to Somalia in the largest such deployment to the Horn of Africa country in roughly two decades.



The United States pulled out of Somalia after 1993, when two helicopters were shot down in the capital, Mogadishu, and bodies of Americans were dragged through the streets.



The U.S. Africa Command on Friday said this deployment is for logistics training of Somalia's army, which is battling the extremist group al-Shabab. About 40 troops are taking part.



The U.S. in recent years has sent a small number of special operations forces and advisers to Somalia, and President Donald Trump recently approved an expanded military role there. It includes carrying out more aggressive airstrikes against al-Shabab and considering parts of southern Somalia areas of active hostilities.



The country's new Somali-American president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, last week declared a new offensive against the extremist group, which is based in Somalia but has claimed responsibility for major attacks in East Africa, including the Garissa University attack in neighboring Kenya in April 2015 that killed 148 people.
Even as he rebutted a point made by Sen. Frank Wagner at the Liberty University Republican governors candidate debate, Corey Stewart aimed his argument at Ed Gillespie.

While Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, shaped his presentation Thursday around practical experience over his 25 years in the legislature, Stewart, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, repeatedly attacked Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman who hes branded as Establishment Ed following his ongoing campaign strategy.

Gillespie remained poised, answering with platform policy details as well as twice directing the more than 300 people in the auditorium as well as those tuned in on television statewide to Google Corey Stewart lies as the candidates move to the June 13 Republican primary.

In a debate that did not address social issues such as abortion or LGBTQ rights, questions about candidates economic and jobs plans arose in several incarnations, including the loss of jobs to automation and the decline of the coal industry. The candidates also fielded questions regarding Medicaid expansion, immigration and gun control.

While Gillespie has proposed a 10 percent, across-the-board income tax cut, surpassed by Stewarts 17.4 percent overall tax cut proposal, Wagner has said he would raise money for transportation and broadband infrastructure by changing the gas tax structure and increasing it.

While Stewart attacked Gillespies tax plan for not going far enough, Wagner said his opponents arent speaking realistically.

What you just heard is Were going to cut, cut, cut, Wagner said.  Really? It doesnt work like that.

Wagner, a member of the state Senate Finance Committee, gave a dire description of the commonwealths budget after the 2017 General Assembly cut $1.2 billion from the biennial spending plan while facing a revenue shortfall. The rainy day fund should be $2.4 billion and currently is down to less than $300 million, he said.

The shortfalls in the budget, Gillespie said, are because too many Virginians are working part-time jobs or are swapping out higher income jobs for low-income jobs. Gillespie said his proposed income tax cut would free up small business owners, enabling their businesses to grow.

We need to foster small business formation and small business expansion, Gillespie said.

While he supports whale hunting to bring in large businesses with existing jobs into the state, We need to start growing our own whales, Gillespie said.

Stewarts proposal would decrease overall taxes by 17.4 percent and phase out the individual income tax, which would come with budget cuts, he said.

Eds plan doesnt cut a single nickel in spending, Stewart said. Gillespies plan relies on projected growth, which is a charade, Stewart said.

Later in the debate, after Wagner again touted his infrastructure and transportation plan, in particular to develop the Southwest Virginia economy, Stewart addressed his rebuttal as if he was arguing with Gillespie.

The biggest tax increase in Virginia history during former Republican Gov. Bob McDonnells administration supposedly for transportation didnt fix road congestion in Northern Virginia, Stewart argued.

You dont have to increase taxes, Ed, in order to solve our transportation problems, Stewart said in rebuttal to the wrong candidate.

After Stewart accused Gillespie of flip-flopping during his 2014 U.S. Senate campaign, Gillespie referred the audience to his website and suggested they Google Corey Stewart lies, eliciting claps and groans from the crowd, many of whom cheered when Stewart then referred to Gillespie as Establishment Ed.

Liberty Universitys External Communications Executive Director Len Stevens, who moderated the debate along with ABC-13 WSET anchor Mark Spain, then asked the crowd to remain quiet.

Most of the Lynchburg-area General Assembly delegation attended the event in support of Gillespie.

I think he is the calm, well-spoken, well-thought-out spokesman with a long-term plan. I think that prepares him to run a statewide race and win, Sen. Steve Newman, R-Bedford County, said in an interview after the debate.

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell said he doesnt pay as much attention to state politics and only is starting to tune in, although he supported President Donald Trump early in the Republican primary last year. Falwell said hes known Gillespie for a while, had a phone conversation with Wagner a couple days ago and met Stewart briefly before the debate Thursday.

In a text message after the debate, Falwell said he knows who hell support but will not announce his decision publically for now.

Im trying to decide which one is most like Donald Trump, Falwell said in an interview before the debate.

Among those watching in the audience was Chris Porter, of Aurora, Illinois, a Liberty University student who is considering switching his voter status to Virginia to cast a ballot in June.

Saying that theyre going to spend money on all these projects yet saying theyre going to cut didnt seem to add up. I appreciated seeing that from Wagner, Porter said. If he decides to vote, he will look at supporting Wagner, although Gillespie seems to know what hes talking about. Stewart is clearly a feisty individual and definitely had some interesting thoughts, he said.

The debate broadcast statewide was the first major event for Libertys new law and government center headed by former 5th Congressional District Rep. Robert Hurt. Liberty has invited Democratic candidates Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and former 5th District Rep. Tom Perrielloto attend a debate and hopes they agree to come, he said.

We wanted to do something small to sort of get our feet wet, and it sort of turned into this, Hurt said before the debate.  I think it shows that were dead serious about using our platform in a fair and effective way.
The councilman said he wants a non-incumbent candidate who wins in next Tuesday's election to take his seat before January and have more time to get oriented.
RUSTBURG  A judge has delayed sentencing for a Campbell County man accused of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a man last year, with his defense lawyer saying new evidence has emerged in the case.

Franklin Lee Thomason Jr., 38, was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in Campbell County Circuit Court in the killing of Douglas Wayne Grubbs Jr. But at the last minute, his attorney, Jim Childress, said some information just had come to light.

Childress said the evidence may be exculpatory, meaning it could help prove his client did not intentionally shoot Grubbs. The lawyer informed Judge John T. Cook of the latest development Thursday after coming out of a conference with prosecutors.

Thomason pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Jan. 19. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors dropped a malicious wounding charge that involved an incident the same night with Grubbs wife.

Under the agreement, Thomason also pleaded guilty to two gun-related charges in connection with the shooting.

Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Jason Todd has said the shooting of Grubbs, 27, occurred after Thomason had been drinking heavily. Grubbs and his wife, Amy Grubbs, had been guests at Thomasons house when an altercation took place, according to Todds account.

Thomason was accused of holding a knife to Amy Grubbs neck at one point, causing a slight wound. Later, after an argument, Douglas Grubbs died of a gunshot wound to the head.

According to the prosecutors earlier account, Thomason shot Grubbs between the eyes during the argument using a Ruger .22 Magnum revolver.

Based on the pleas, Thomason faces five to 40 years on the second-degree murder charge and at least eight years on the gun charges.

Childress said in court Thursday the case had changed with the new evidence, which he did not detail but said he needed time to investigate. Todd said he agreed Childress had to ask for a continuance but hoped it was not a delaying tactic.

Cook said there was no option except to delay the hearing to give Childress more time to look into the evidence. Were going to have to deal with it, he said.

May 8 was set as the next court date to hear the case.
Update: A man accused of escaping the Lynchburg Adult Detention Center will serve a two-year sentence after pleading guilty to the charge Tuesday.

James Richard Pavlis, 23, signed a plea agreement April 4 that Judge Ed Burnette Jr. accepted in Lynchburg Circuit Court on Tuesday. Burnette sentenced Pavlis to five years of incarceration, with three of those years suspended.

Police and jail officials reported Pavlis had escaped the Lynchburg Adult Detention Center, at 510 Ninth St., on Sept. 12. Schools in Lynchburg and Campbell County were placed on lockdown as a result. Officials apprehended him about 56 hours after the escape near the Lynchburg waste management facility.

Pavlis escaped through the jails kitchen and receiving docks at about 6:36 a.m., according to official accounts and witness testimony.

Pavlis was in jail awaiting sentencing for offenses out of Pittsylvania County he was convicted of in August.

In November, he was sentenced to 18 years incarceration on those charges. The two-year sentence imposed Tuesday is to be served in addition to Pavlis other sentences.
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner offered to recruit philanthropic billionaires to support medical research in Roanoke to counter the loss of federal support under the presidents budget plan.

Warner met Thursday with leaders of Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic in a Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute conference room packed with scientists and doctors.

I know some very successful people, said Warner, a Democrat who made his fortune in technology before serving first as Virginias governor and then as senator. He said he doesnt know which rich people support medical research, so he asked for a list of 50 people who would be interested in the type of research happening in Roanoke. Hell make the calls, he said.

As opposed to some of these folks adding their philanthropy to an already established medical institution and they get one more building, here they can help shape the dream, he said.

Tech and Carilion plan later this year to break ground on a five- or six-story building that will double the size of the research institute and serve as the nucleus for a health district around which educational and business endeavors can flourish.

The building will go up as planned, but the speed of growth could be stymied by President Donald Trumps plan to cut the budget for the National Institutes of Health by 18 percent.

It would be a total disaster both locally and nationally to cut NIH funding. It provides the basic research around cancer, Alzheimers, diabetes  things that drive up the costs of our health care system, Warner said..

Tech last year supported about $522 million in research. President Timothy Sands said about $300 million came from external sources, and about $40 million of that was from the NIH. The medical research piece has grown at the quickest pace, he said, due to the creation of the research institute.

VTCRI operates with multi-year NIH grants worth about $72 million; $20 million of that is assigned to this year.

Michael Friedlander, executive director of the institute and vice president for health sciences and technology at Virginia Tech, said the institute has averaged a 22 percent growth in NIH funding each of its first six years. Hes been calculating what an 18 percent cut could mean.

Even if we didnt realize any growth next year, we would be down $3 million, he said. If we continued on our growth rate of 22 percent, that $3 million becomes $5 million. That sum would be compounded annually.

The $3 million represents 50 full-time jobs. Though most of researchers have been recruited to Roanoke, about a third of the jobs are filled by long-time residents in supporting roles.

Not only would peoples jobs be at risk, but the work would be at risk. It would continue to have an impact on work on breast cancer, child development, heart disease, he said. The other big concern is young people see these numbers and they become demoralized. Research is so dependent on the pipeline of young people coming in. You create a gap over a couple years, when things turn around, it may take a generation to refill it.

NIH funding was cut during the recession. Just last year and this year it looked like we were crawling back to baseline again. Thats why its particularly devastating, Friedlander said.

The research institute was founded during the financial downturn, and leaders credit its rapid growth to the willingness of the state, Tech and Carilion to invest in medical research when others were cutting back.

The three entities agreed last year to spend a combined $67 million to double the size of the institute. They plan to use the new building as a foundation to recruit about 30 more research teams and as the center of a health science innovation district.

Federal budget cuts wont alter the timetable to begin construction late this year. But NIH funding cuts would change the financial model. Friedlander said Techs advancement team is working to help attract corporate and foundation funding.

Warner said he would help to connect the institute with private donors.

Give me your list, he said. I think this is one of the most exciting things going on in Virginia. I think this could be the anchor for western Virginia.

Carilion Clinic CEO Nancy Agee said afterward that Warner has been supportive in the past.

He was so clear about it today in saying, I will do this, you tell me. I believe in what youre doing, she said. In fact, he was whispering to me, I really mean this. 
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.
For first time, train hauls UK exports directly to China

The first train full of British exports to travel directly from the United Kingdom to China departed on April 10. It is taking UK-made goods on a 12,000 kilometer journey to Yiwu, in East China's Zhejiang province.

Soft drinks, vitamins, pharmaceuticals and baby products were loaded onto the train just east of the capital at the London Gateway terminal in Essex.

The train is on the return leg of the new Yiwu-to-London route. The first freight train from China arrived in the UK in January, packed with clothing and other small commodities.

Well-wishers mark the departure of the first cargo train full of British exports being shipped directly to China, at the London Gateway terminal in Essex on April 10. Peter Nicholls / Reuters

The London terminal is operated by DP World, a trade services company with headquarters in Dubai.

"When we started this project, we knew it was a game-changer in the supply chain," says Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of DP World. "We move cargo by air and by sea, and now we move it by rail across continents."

He adds that the new line between the UK and China was a key addition to President Xi Jinping's signature Belt and Road Initiative, which focuses on infrastructure development and trade.

"DP World has been an active supporter of Belt and Road, and now London Gateway is on the Silk Road route," he says.

The train will take 18 days to reach Yiwu. It will pass through seven countries between the UK and China, and will need to accommodate three changes in the width of track by replacing the undercarriages of the rolling stock to fit the track.

After passing through the Channel Tunnel into France, the locomotive will traverse Belgium, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan before crossing into China.

Container operator OneTwoThree Logistics is overseeing the transportation and booking of the cargo train, in conjunction with Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment Co, which is running the service with China Railway Container.

Greg Hands, British minister of state in the Department for International Trade, says the new line shows the global demand for UK goods.

"This new rail link with China is another boost for global Britain, following the ancient Silk Road trade route to carry British products around the world," he says.

The train is returning to Yiwu three months after arriving in the UK. Robert Soames, business ambassador to Britain's prime minister in the construction and infrastructure sector, says he expects a weekly or daily service will be established within the next decade.

"The train is a fantastic alternative to air and sea freight, as air is more expensive and sea takes longer," Soames says.

angus@mail.chinadailyuk.com

(China Daily European Weekly 04/14/2017 page27)
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
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CineLit Festival honours Dereck Walcott

Ingmar Bergman LATIN American Embassies have taken a greater involvement in this years NGC Bocas Lit Fest. CineLit, the Latin American and Caribbean Literary Film Festival being run from April 18-30, will show a variety of films focusing on literary works. Three of the 27 films will show the work of and/or the life of the late Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott. The participating embassies in this years CineLit are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain and Venezuela.

One of its opening events would be a press conference on April 19 at the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), Hart and Abercromby Streets, Port-of-Spain from 10 am.

Then the official launch of the festival will take place on April 21 at NALIS amphitheatre.

The festival is now in its second year.

Chilean Ambassador, Fernando Schmidt Arizt?a, speaking to Newsday about the festival said, This time we have more films than 2016. Some of them have received international recognition. The festival, he added, was a common effort of all Latin American embassies in Trinidad and Tobago in order to break lack of understanding between the cultures.

Cinema projection gives the citizens of TT an opportunity to understand a little bit more about our various countries. A welcome piece written about the festival says, Again this year CineLit celebrates the remarkably rich heritage of both literature and film form our hemispheric neighbours and commemorates the life and work of the Nobel Laureate, poet Sir Dereck Walcott who recently passed away. He said all of the films were related to literary works, which is why it was placed in the framework of the Bocas Lit Fest.

Arizt?a said the event has expanded itself to the University of the West Indies, where as part of its opening there would a film of the history of the Panama Canal followed by discussion on April 18.

On the April 21 at the official launch The Motorcycle Diaries would be shown.

It tells of a motorcycle trip made by a young Che Guevara from Brazil to Peru and which led him to, his own lifes calling. Arizt?a said the food from the participating countries would be offered at the launch.

He said there were no synergies between the trinidad and tobago film festival (ttff) and CineLit since the ttff required newer films and CineLits theme it focused primarily on literary works.

But Arizt?a said the Chilean Embassy would have a presence at thiss year ttff.

Films for CineLit will be shown at NALIS AV Room, UWI St Augustines campus centre for Language and Learning Auditorium, The Film Unit, Carmody Road, St Augustine and the Alma Jordan Librarys audio visual room.
Fatbergs from TT washing ashore in UK

According to an article in Londons Daily Mail, fatbergs which are lumps of congealed palm oil derived from the pulp of the fruit of African, American and Maripa palms, can prove fatal to dogs.

Veterinarians warned that dogs could die if they ate the white or yellow waxy blobs, and also cautioned to steer sandcastle-building and rock-pooling children away from them. They said dogs, which would pick up anything on the beach, from pebbles to food, loved the distinct smell in the fatbergs, which were covered in deadly germs, and would not hesitate to chow down on the blobs.

The vets explained that since the palm oil was so gelatinous, it could get lodged in the oesophagus and the dog would require surgery to have it removed.

Dog owners were warned to keep their pets away from the fatbergs, and that they should seek help from their nearest vet if they thought the animal had ingested the substance.

Fatbergs could also contain face wipes, disposable diapers, sanitary items and condoms, which did not break down like toilet paper. When contacted yesterday, chairman of the Environmental Management Authority, Nadra Nathai-Gyan, said she could not comment on Trinidad being one of the sources of the fatbergs because this was the first time she was hearing about it.

Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat also said he had no knowledge about this phenomenon, but asked that the information be sent to him so he could further investigate. The minister told Newsday later that upon investigation, the fatbergs were in no way connected to Trinidad
Cancel Tobago Jazz Experience, says Duke

Two weeks ago, International Shipping, the owner of the MV Super- Fast Galicia, served notice to the Port Authority (PATT) that it will be withdrawing its vessel from the sea bridge.

On Monday, Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan confirmed that there are three options on the table to deal with the fallout - the T&T Spirit, the T&T Express and a walled barge.

The suggestion of using the barge has met with strong objection from the Tobago Division of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce as well as several people throughout the Tobago community, as they called on Government to purchase a vessel immediately.

Responding to questions at a press conference held at the Scarborough General Hospital on Thursday morning, Duke said focus should be placed on getting it right.

Let them get a boat that can carry both cargo and passengers, that can facilitate the truckers who roll on and roll off, that facilitates a journey that is nothing more than four hours as the Galicia, that is basically new and not more than 15 years old, Duke said.

(We want) a boat that has multiple engines, so in case one is down it can still traverse, we want a boat with a track record, let them get a boat. Duke said he has been speaking on the issue for a long time however no succession planning was put in place.

We have said that the Galicia is going back and they are bringing a barge. This was to alert Tobagonians, this was to bring a consciousness to those who make decisions in Trinidad for us in Tobago that some type of good succession planning should have been in place. We spoke of that in January, we are in April and they are now saying that they have a barge available for us. We dont want any barge. He suggested that the Tobago Jazz Experience, scheduled to be held from April 22nd to 30th and which has been given a budget of $12 million, be cancelled.

Is the jazz taking place? They really having jazz? Them guys real? There is nothing to jazz about in Tobago. The jazz right now on the ground is do we have a boat, will grocery run out, will we get our back pay, this is the jazz on the ground. These guys are living a different world. I would not be going to any jazz and I am discouraging persons from going to any Jazz. The Super-Fast Galicia is expected to depart the inter-island route next Friday before it is returned to its owner, Trasmed. The Galicia, a 13-year-old vessel which principally transports cargo between Trinidad and Tobago daily, has been on a month-to-month lease with PATT. It began its service on July 7, 2014.
New Delaware commander visits TT

Timmons recently visited Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon and Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Rodney Smart and other senior officials.

Timmons is Delawares first female twostar general and first female Adjutant General.

In February she replaced her predecessor Frank Vavala who retired after 18 years.

While having visited twice before as Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Timmons said visiting now was one of the things at the top of her to-do list in her new role in order to promise a continuation of the TT/US relationship, said a United States Embassy statement yesterday.

We greatly value our relationship and we look forward to advancing and maturing the nature of our engagements, Timmons said.

This is my initial senior leadership engagement.

We will look at issues that are of mutual interest between the TTDF (TT Defence Force) and the DNG. Timmons said over the past decade the TTDF and DNG have learned a lot from each other and intend to continue that partnership by sharing their individual experience and expertise.

The DNG and the TTDF have enjoyed a partnership under the Guards State Partnership Program which provides opportunities for joint training and subject matter expert exchanges on a variety of topics. These include flight safety, engineering and counter drug operations, and personnel issues such as professional development, family support, and force support programs.

Asked about being a woman leading the DNG, she said: It is a big deal because its another barrier getting knocked down.

Its good to recognise it and not because you are patting Carol Timmons on the back, but it shows there is .

opportunity for other women and men and anybody can rise to this level in the DNG. She said the fact that women are in the military shows diversity in gender and race and improves overall effectiveness.

She added that good qualifications are also critical to sustaining organisational effectiveness.

Timmons recently celebrated her 40th year in the military having joined after high school.

Initially enlisting in the Air National Guard, she said she wanted to fly but back then women werent allowed. However she flew helicopters in the Army National Guard for four years, later deployed in Desert Shield/Desert Storm flying large cargo jets, and ultimately returned to the Air National Guard where she ascended through the ranks as both pilot and leader to become the top military officer in the State.
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A 12-year-old Chicago boy was waiting for a convenience store to open Tuesday when a car drove by and someone started shooting from it. Older boys who were standing near Adrian Clayton used the preteen and his friends as shields, and he was shot in the chest, according to the report of the incident his parents received from police. One of his friends, also 12, was shot in the leg. "They should be allowed just to go across the street to the store ... without stuff like this happening," his mother, Krystal Falkner, tells the Chicago Tribune. The family lives in an apartment building across the street from the store in the city's Old Town neighborhood.

The boys ran inside the apartment complex after the shooting; Adrian later told his parents he didn't realize he'd been shot until he got back to the complex, father Curtis Clayton says. Both children, and an older man who was also shot in the incident, are in stable condition at local hospitals. Adrian's parents say there aren't enough programs in the neighborhoods to keep kids off the streets, and that's what they blame for the gang activity in the neighborhood. "When it all boils down, the city ain't ever got no money when it come down to the youth, and thats messed up," Curtis Clayton says."Something got to give in Chicago. Something have to give." Click for their full interview. (Read more Chicago stories.)
United Airlines stockholder: "Man, this week couldn't get any worse." Scorpion: "Hold my beer." CNBC reports a scorpion fell out of an overhead bin and stung a passenger during a United flight between Houston and Calgary on Sunday. Richard Bell was on his way home from a two-week vacation in Mexico when the scorpion fell onto his head, according to Travel and Leisure. After stinging Bell, the scorpion was crushed by another passenger and thrown in a toilet. Flight crew consulted with a doctor, and the sting was determined not to be life-threatening. Bell declined treatment upon landing in Calgary. It's unclear how the scorpion got on the flight. (Read more scorpion stories.)
A 17-year-old girl was convicted Thursday of criminally negligent homicide in a school bathroom attack in Delaware that left a 16-year-old classmate dead. The ruling came in a nonjury trial for three girls charged in the death of Amy Joyner-Francis, the AP reports. All three were 16 when the fight happened last year and were tried as juveniles. The girl convicted of homicide also was found guilty of misdemeanor conspiracy. One of the other girls, who in an online post said "we gonna get her. .... she's scared" and kicked Amy while she was on the floor struggling to defend herself, also was convicted of conspiracy.

Family Court Judge Robert Coonin acquitted the third girl of conspiracy, saying there was no evidence she threatened Amy and was even seen on a cellphone video pulling the girl convicted of homicide off Amy. All three girls opted not to testify. The AP is not naming them because they're minors. An autopsy found that Amy, who had a rare heart condition undetected by her doctors, died of sudden cardiac death, aggravated by physical and emotional stress from the April 2016 fight at Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington. The families of Amy and of her assailant left the courthouse without commenting. Sentencing for the two girls declared delinquent is set for May 23. (Read more Delaware stories.)
A man who served 27 years in prison for the 1989 murder of a childhood girlfriend was released on $25,000 bail Thursday after the key witness in the case recanted. Anthony Sanborn, 44, had been convicted of killing 16-year-old Jessica Briggs and sentenced to 70 years in prison. At a hearing earlier Thursday, Hope Cady testified that as a troubled 13-year-old she was pressured by police and prosecutors into identifying Sanborn, who was 16 at the time, as the killer. She said she was facing juvenile charges, and authorities threatened to send her away for years. She said she was legally blind when the murder occurred, meaning her vision wasn't good enough to have been able to see what happened, the AP reports.

Officials say Briggs' throat was slit and she was stabbed repeatedly before being thrown in Portland Harbor. Cady testified that police and prosecutors told her what to say at trial and she had no knowledge of the killing. She said two detectives "stalked" her and shouted at her during an hours-long interview. Justice Joyce Wheeler appeared alarmed by how heavily the state had relied on Cady's testimony, reports the Bangor Daily News. "This is only a bail hearing so I cannot apologize to you now," she told Sanborn, whose supporters populated the courtroom. He buried his head in his hands and wept after learning that he could go home. "Finally," he said after leaving the court to be processed for release. (Read more Maine stories.)
The US is preparing to launch a preemptive strike on North Korea should the country appear ready to conduct a nuclear weapons testsomething it may be considering doing as soon as this weekend. The information comes from "multiple senior US intelligence officials" speaking to NBC News. North Korea has been warning of a "big event" in the near future, and officials believe it to be a nuclear weapons test.

To prepare, the US has positioned two US destroyers, as well as heavy bombers, in the area. And an aircraft carrier strike group is on the way. Officials say the preemptive strike could be a combination of missiles, bombs, special operations forces on the ground, and cyber warfare. It would reportedly not involve nuclear weapons. One senior intelligence officer acknowledges the "high stakes" of the situation, as well as the chance that US preparations could provoke action by North Korea. For its part, North Korea has promised a "merciless retaliatory strike," including nuclear weapons, if the US attacks first. Read the full story here. (Read more North Korea stories.)
His mom says Malachi Hemphill was apparently only trying to put a clip in a gun she didn't even know he had. Instead, the 13-year-old accidentally shot himself in the head Monday as 10 to 15 friends watched on Instagram Live. Shaniqua Stephens tells WXIA that a witness to the livestream had told Malachi to put a clip in the weapon, which family members did not know he possessed but believe he got from a friend in exchange for an iPhone just four days earlier, per CBS 46. "As he put the clip in the gun, that is when the gun went off," says Stephens, who heard a "big boom" inside her sons bedroom in their Georgia home. She found the teen lying in a pool of blood after kicking down his locked door. He died hours later at a hospital, reports NBC News.

Forest Park Police, who say there is no evidence the shooting was a suicide, are now trying to trace the Hi-Point 9mm pistol and say charges are possible. "This is a horrific event, not only for parents and children, but also horrific for us," a police rep says. Police are also advising parents to educate their children on the dangers of guns and monitor their children's social media activity. Malachi's parents say they did just that. But this "can happen to the best parents  to the best people," his stepfather says. "This is just a pain that will never go away," adds Stephens. "He was my only son. He was just only 13. Just the thought of me seeing him on the floor will never leave my brain." (Accidental shootings kill more kids than you know.)
An accused child rapist who tried to flee from Maryland to Guatemala was thwarted by bad weather, authorities say. Sergio Morales Soto, 19, was arrested on board a flight at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport the day after the alleged April 4 rape, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. After he was identified as a suspect, police discovered that Soto had boarded an early morning flight in Baltimore, with a connection in Atlanta. Homeland Security officials say flight delays caused by severe weather in the Southeast gave them enough time to catch up with him. Soto was detained in Georgia and put on a plane back to Maryland this week to face six felony assault charges, WSB-TV reports. (Read more child rape stories.)
The "mother of all bombs" dropped on the Islamic State in Afghanistan Thursday not only killed 36 militants but also destroyed their base within a 1,000-foot-long network of tunnels and a stockpile of weapons, says the Afghan defense ministry. A presidential spokesman tells the BBC that ISIS commander Siddiq Yar was among those killed as the GBU-43/B Massive Ordinance Air Blast bomb detonated in the Momand valley of Achin in Nangarhar province.

Officials say civilians had previously left the area and weren't affected by the blast, which the district governor described as "the biggest I have ever seen." President Trump says the strike was "another successful job," per CNN, which notes the US military had pegged the number of active ISIS militants in the area at up to 800. They had been launching attacks on Afghan troops from the tunnels. One person who was displeased by the move: former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who called it "an inhuman and most brutal misuse of our country." Read more about the specifics of the bomb here. (Read more Afghanistan stories.)
Two videos circulating on social media showed a Georgia man being assaulted by two cops during a traffic stop this week, and now those cops have been fired, the AP reports. Robert McDonald was canned Thursday after the first video came to light involving motorist Demetrius Bryan Hollins, the Gwinnett County PD says. Michael Bongiovanni was let go later that day after a second video emerged, per the Washington Post. "The revelations uncovered in this entire investigation are shocking," read a Gwinnett PD statement tweeted Thursday night. Hollins, 21, had been pulled over in Lawrenceville around 4pm Wednesday by Bongiovanni, the police say, and as shown in a video that appeared on the Everything Georgia Twitter feed, Bongiovanni punched Hollins in the face after Hollins came out of the car with his hands up.

The other video shows McDonald rushing over as Hollins was lying in the street and slamming his foot into Hollins' head. Hollins' lip and nose appeared to be bloodied in his booking photo. Bongiovanni's incident report said he had pulled Hollins over for a busted brake light and a lack of signaling while changing lanes. The officer said Hollins had started to "act strange," yell, and resist directions, and he remembered similarly disruptive behavior from a previous arrest. Hollins was released on bond Thursday after he was charged with the original citations, in addition to driving with a suspended or revoked license and registration and possessing less than an ounce of pot. (A California cop has been accused of pummeling a pedestrianan incident that was also caught on video.)
"It's time to call out WikiLeaks for what it isa non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia," CIA chief Mike Pompeo said Thursday, pulling no punches as he laid into the organization that President Trump declared his love for on the campaign trail. Julian Assange and "his ilk make common cause with dictators today," Pompeo said, per Politico, accusing the WikiLeaks founder of cloaking himself in the language of liberty and privacy while really caring only about his own celebrity. "Their currency is clickbait; their moral compass, nonexistent," Pompeo said, adding that he was confident "that had Assange been around in the 1930s and '40s and '50s, he would have found himself on the wrong side of history."

Pompeo, a former GOP congressman from Kansas, called Assange a narcissist, a fraud, and a "coward hiding behind a screen," the Wichita Eagle reports. "And in Kansas, we know something about false wizards," he said. Pompeo strongly suggested that the Trump administration, which has apparently sharply shifted position on WikiLeaks, is about to take firm action against WikiLeaks. "It ends now," warned the CIA chief, who said his agency has a "fantastic relationship" with Trump. WikiLeaks fired back with more than a dozen tweets, including one with a screenshot of a tweet Pompeo made last summer saying that DNC emails, leaked courtesy of WikiLeaks, were proof that the election "fix was in" from "Obama on down." (Read more WikiLeaks stories.)
A 75-year-old widow in tough financial straits reached out to NASA about selling a speck of moon rock her late husband had given her. Joann Davis then became the target of a sting operation at a Denny's that a federal appeals court suggested Thursday was outrageous overkill. The lead agent "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," wrote Judge Sidney Thomas of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in the decision allowing Davis to sue, per the Los Angeles Times. One awful detail from the 2011 incident: The agents refused Davis' request to use the bathroom, and she urinated in her pants during the two-hour ordeal at the restaurant in Lake Elsinore, Calif. Agents also forcibly restrained her second husband, who had accompanied her to the supposed sale.

Davis' first husband, Robert, worked as an Apollo 11 engineer, and he saved a paperweight with moon material and another with a bit of the heat shield. He died in 1986, and years later Davis found herself raising grandchildren in her 70s following her daughter's death and her son's illness. She called NASA about selling the mementos. Instead of informing her that selling moon material was illegal, investigators ordered the sting, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. A federal prosecutor later opted not to press charges. In this week's ruling, the judges said Davis made a case that the detention violated her constitutional right regarding unreasonable seizure. She is suing agent Norman Conley, who "had no law enforcement interest in detaining Davis for two hours while she stood wearing urine-soaked pants in a restaurants parking lot during the lunch rush," wrote Thomas. (Read about another NASA artifact mishap.)
The daughter of a New York Police Department officer killed in the 9/11 attacks is now a member of the force herself. Brittney Roy of Massapequa Park on Long Island was sworn in Thursday along with 473 other recruits, reports the AP. Her father, Sgt. Timothy Roy, had been assigned to the NYPD's surface transit enforcement division and was working in the Brooklyn courts when he heard reports of planes hitting the World Trade Center.

The 36-year-old Roy rushed to Lower Manhattan to help and was last seen near the South Tower before it collapsed. His body was found the following March. The day before St. Patricks Day, which was his favorite holiday, he was found, said his daughter, per the Daily News. We were able to bury his body at that point. Now 22, she was just 7 years old when her father died. "Since I was very young, I grew up seeing heroes," she said. (Read more NYPD stories.)
The Wisconsin fugitive who authorities say sent a long-winded, anti-government manifesto to President Trump has been captured, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The announcement that Joseph Jakubowski is now in police custody first came via a tweet Friday morning from the Beloit Police Department that read, "CAPTURED! Awesome work to the men and women who worked this case," along with a picture of the suspect stamped with a giant red "FOUND." A press release explains the Vernon County Sheriff's Office in southwestern Wisconsin got wind Thursday night of a "suspicious person" who was said to be camping on a farmer's land and wouldn't leave when asked. Officers converged on the Readstown location and captured the man without any issues just before 6am Friday; they then were able to ID him as Jakubowski.

Jakubowski has been the target of a massive manhunt since April 4, when he's believed to have busted into a Janesville weapons store and stolen 18 firearms, after which he allegedly set his car on fire. Authorities feared he might have been planning on carrying out a major violent act against a school or public officials. Per WISN, a letter supposedly written by Jakubowski and received by an Ace Hardware store in Sussex Thursday also suggested there would be violence carried out against churches in Sussex on Easter Sunday. A copy of the manifesto sent to Trump, received by local station WTMJ-TV and publicized in part on Thursday, accused both religion and the government of brainwashing people and cited a wish by Jakubowski to suffer a death on live TV "carried out by the hands of the president," per the Journal Sentinel. (Read more fugitive stories.)
A fossil found by a Montana elk hunter nearly seven years ago has led to the discovery of a new species of prehistoric sea creature that lived about 70 million years ago in an inland sea that flowed east of the Rockies, the AP reports. The new elasmosaur species is detailed in an article published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Most elasmosaurs, a type of carnivorous marine reptile, had necks that could stretch 18 feet, but the fossil discovered in the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge is distinct for a much shorter neckabout 7.5 feet. "This group is famous for having ridiculously long necks ... [with] as many as 76 vertebrae," says Patrick Druckenmiller, article co-author and a paleontologist with the University of Alaska Museum of the North. "What absolutely shocked us ... [was] it only had somewhere around 40 vertebrae."

The smaller sea creature lived around the same time and in the same area as the larger ones, contradicting the belief that elasmosaurs didn't evolve over millions of years to have longer necks, co-author Danielle Serratos says. The fossil discovered by ranch manager David Bradt, who found it sticking out of a rock when he went into a canyon to splash water on his face, was well-preserved. He originally thought it was a dinosaur. "I didn't know there was an ocean there," he says. Bradt reported his find to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Bozeman's Museum of the Rockies. Druckenmiller says the inland sea that stretched the width of Montana to Minnesota and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico was teeming with marine reptiles, but relatively few of their fossils have been excavated. (Read more discoveries stories.)
Delta is letting employees offer customers almost $10,000 in compensation to give up seats on overbooked flights, hoping to avoid an uproar like the one that erupted at United after a passenger was dragged off a jet. In an internal memo obtained Friday by the AP, Delta Air Lines said gate agents can offer up to $2,000, up from a previous maximum of $800, and supervisors can offer up to $9,950, up from $1,350. United is reviewing its own policies, including incentives for customers, and will announce any actions by April 30, a spokesperson said. The airline would not disclose its current compensation limit. Other airlines did not immediately comment on whether they would raise their ceiling.

Ben Schlappig, a travel blogger who first wrote about the Delta compensation increase, said it shows Delta is trying to reduce forced bumping. He said he couldn't imagine many situations in which people wouldn't jump at nearly $10,000. Delta no doubt hopes that gate agents and their supervisors won't need to make maximum offers, and the financial cost to the airline is likely to be limited. If Delta paid $9,950 to every person it bumped involuntarily last year, that would total $12 million. Delta earned nearly $4.4 billion. After the incident last Sunday, critics questioned why United didn't offer more when no passengers accepted the airline's $800 offer for volunteers to give up their seats. "If you offer enough money, even the guy going to a funeral will sell his seat," said a retired United pilot. (Read more Delta Air Lines stories.)
India will build pipelines to carry diesel and natural gas to Bangladesh, Indian officials said on Thursday.

New Delhi : 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.
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New Delhi:

Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal who owns Volcan has become the second largest shareholder in Anglo American after picking up 11.44 per cent of the British mining group, the group said on Friday.



According to a notice posted on the London Stock Exchange, the Volcan Holdings investment company owned by Agarwal's family now owns 11.44 per cent of the group's capital and voting rights following Tuesday's share purchase.



It is now the second largest shareholder behind South Africa's Public Investment Group.



Volcan also owns mining competitor Vedanta Resources, which specialises in zinc. Agarwal last month told the FT Global Commodities Summit that he did not intend to seek a seat on Anglo-American's board.




Mumbai:

The civic-run BEST AC bus services shall be suspended from April 17 in Mumbai.

Hanumant Gone, Public Relations Officer of BEST said this decision was taken considering a poor response from commuters.

"We were facing significant losses by operating AC bus services. Therefore, it was decided to suspend the services," taken after he said.

The decision to resume the services taken after considering all the aspects in due course of time, Gofane said.

Also Read: Irregularities found in award of ad contracts in Mumbai division

A statement issued by the transport body said those who have purchased passes for AC buses, will get a refund or can use them in non-AC buses. BEST has 266 AC buses which operate on 25 routes.
New Delhi:

One of the much-awaited release of the month 'Begum Jaan' saw the light of the day on Friday with some wonderful star cast naming our 'Dirty-Girl' Vidya Balan playing the character firmly, who perhaps is perfection as Begum. Yes, the 'madam' of brothel, who got into the skin of the character and yet delivered another memorable performance. Gauahar Khan, who after her a no-nonsense cop avatar in 'Badrinath Ki Dulhania' showcased herself as a real sex worker with a such a power pack performance.Surprisingly, Pallavi who was last seen in 'Besharam' and 'Hawaaizaada' didn't receive much appreciation but she has hit the screen with a bang this time. With a strong screen presence of Vidya Balan, Pallavi has still managed to roar over the scene.

The remaining cast naming Ila Arun, Ashish Vidyarthi, Chunkey Pandey, Rajit Kapur, Pitobash, Vivek Mushran has supported the character of Begum Jaan to the core including Naseeruddin Shah who played the Nizam, seems elegant.

Director Srijit Mukherji, who originally made the movie in Bengali named 'Rajkahini' starring Rituparna Sengupta, has managed to recreate the scene for the Hindi audiences as well and has been the 'Captain of the Ship' truely.

Talking about the plot, in short, Begum Jaan is set in the backdrop of independence. The chairman of the Border Commission, Sir Cyril Radcliffe decides to divide India and Pakistan into equitable halves. What the administration doesnt account for is the line running through the middle of Begum Jaans(Vidya Balan) brothel situated plonk on the border; with one-half falling in India and the other in Pakistan.

Also Read : 'Begum Jaan' actor Vidya Balan feels world should know more stories of heroic women

Movie has dealt with a lot of drama and thrill. Some scenes might take you up to the notch and then drop you down when you least expect. Despite the shortcomings, Begum Jaan, indeed gains one-time watch for the audiences, with a hard-hitting narrative and magnificent performances.

Let's see what others have to say:

Times Of India: Its a good period and story to revisit because even 70-years after Partition, anything around it still piques interest. Then again, here the narrative deals less with the horror of the divide and serves more as an ode to the spiritedness of Begum; widowed in her childhood and sold to a brothel. Also, Mukherji is revisiting his Bengali film Rajkahini(2015).Vidya invests fully in Begum and her dialogue-baazi (a lot of which is raunchy) will get seetis. However, the writer director's interest level in everything else falters.The Holi number is peppy with striking visuals. Otherwise having the 11 women in one frame becomes nothing but a screech-fest. Having Vidya in a film is an asset though. She is an audacious actor, who merits an extra half star for her ability to shoulder a film.

Taran Adarsh: Srijit's execution of the material is top notch, no two opinions on that. He's an accomplished storyteller and a number of dramatic sequences cement this fact. Having said that, Srijit, the director is far more in command than Srijit, the writer here. The songs are well punctuated in the narrative, with 'Prem Mein Tohre' [rendered by Asha Bhosle and tuned by Anu Malik] being the pick of the lot. Cinematography [DoP: Gopi Bhagat] captures the mood of the film well. Dialogue are bold, gritty and acidic and enhance a number of dramatic sequences considerably.On the whole, BEGUM JAAN has curiosity value and shock-value, both. Despite minor hiccups, BEGUM JAAN is a compelling watch with a hard-hitting narrative and bravura performances as its USPs. The moderate costing of the film should also ensure smooth sailing for its investors.

Also Read: 'Begum Jaan': Vidya Balan-starrer declared tax-free in Jharkhand



First Post: The dialogues are strong, painful and riveting. While all of these are beautifully done, and the performances are the biggest highlights, the problem for the viewer by the end of the first half is the different layers to the story, all going on concurrently, and the way they've been put together. It seems a tad abrupt, but this is not that huge of an issue. In fact, it may even add to the 'feel' of the film.



Indian Express: The story of the bloody birth of India and Pakistan is so inherently full of drama that any telling of any part of it needs a great deal of skilled restraint. That crucial thing is thrown to the winds in Begum Jaan, based on Rajkahini, Srijit Mukherjis Bengali film. A plot that could have turned into a powerful allegory  you divide people at your peril, for no lasting gains  is run aground. And the climax is full of fire and faux brimstone and lots of speechifying, the ladies of easy virtue becoming a gun-toting fauj, before invoking a certain Rajasthani rani who currently is the subject of a film with a troubled trajectory.Such a waste of a talented bunch of actors. And of Balan, who tries hard to invest some feeling into a role which turns into a cliche the moment the film opens.

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New Delhi:

Architect of the Indian Constitution and dalit rights activist B R Ambedkaras126th birth anniversary will be observed today across India. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, popularly known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who inspired the Modern Buddhist Movement and campaigned against social discrimination of Dalits, women and labour. He was Independent India's first law minister and the principal architect of the Constitution of India.

PM Narendra Modi paid tributes to venerable Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on Ambedkar Jayanti. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Nagpur on Friday and inaugurates a series of development projects.

Tributes to venerable Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on Ambedkar Jayanti. Jai Bhim. aaaaaaaa aaaaa aa aaaa aaaa aa aaaaa aaaaaaaaa aa aaaa #aaaaa ! pic.twitter.com/XVC0TNtufV a Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2017

Know some unknown facts about BR AmbedkarA here:A

-BR Ambedkar was the 14th and last child of Ramji Maloji Sakpal, a ranked army officer at the post of Subedar and Bhimabai Murbadkar Sankpal.

-Ambedkar's ancestors had long been in the employment of the British East India Company's army.

-Brahmin teacher, Mahadev Ambedkar, who was fond of him, changed his surname from 'Ambavadekar' to his own surname 'Ambedkar' in school records.

-In 1897, Ambedkar's family moved to Bombay where Ambedkar became the only untouchable enrolled at Elphinstone High School.

-In 1918 he became Professor of Political Economy in the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai.A

-On 29 August 1947, he was appointed Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, charged by the Assembly to write India's new Constitution

-It was Ambedkar who won Assembly's support for introducing a system of reservations of jobs in the civil services, schools and colleges for members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and Other Backward Class, a system akin to affirmative action.

-The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 by the Constituent Assembly.

-Ambedkar resigned from the cabinet in 1951 following the stalling in parliament of his draft of the Hindu Code Bill, he was the first Indian to pursue an Economics doctorate degree abroad.A

-Ambedkar's first wife had died in 1935 following long illness, later he met Dr. Sharada Kabir, a Saraswat Brahmin, whom he married on 15 April 1948

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Howrah:

Union Water Resources and River Development Minister Uma Bharti on Friday affirmed that Centre has a positive stance ton the Tessta water issue with Bangladesh and it will take the right decision on the issue after considering all aspects.

We dont want any politics on Teesta water issue. All aspects on it are being examined carefully, Bharti said before attending a meeting of her party BJP here.

Asked about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees unhappiness over the water sharing agreement, Bharti said She (Mamata) is hardly happy on any issue.

Several questions have been raised on the issue both in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Things will be resolved through discussion with the state government, she said.

On paucity of drinking water in various states, Bharti said, We have asked all the state governments through the Central Water Commission (CWC) to report to the Centre if there is any crisis regarding the availability of drinking water. The Centre will come out with all help.

On the BJP performance in recent elections, Bharti said her party is now eyeing West Bengal.

Also Read: Newly-appointed UP CM Yogi Adityanath most suitable candidate for job, says Uma Bharti

Earlier we used to win hardly any seat in the states like Assam and Haryana, but now we have formed governments in these states. We are confident about forming government in West Bengal too in future with a clear majority, she said.

Strongly criticising the law and order situation in West Bengal, Bharti alleged, A reign of terror has been unleashed in Bengal and our party workers are being targeted. I have asked them to fight against these odds as the time is now ripe to fight for a change in power.

Bharti also launched a counter attack on Trinamool Congress on the issue of communalism, saying it is not the BJP but Mamata Banerjee, who is responsible for playing communal politics in the state.

People will give her a fitting reply, she said.

Speaking on various central projects, Bharti alleged that

the West Bengal government didnt submit proposals for projects properly, thus failing to avail central funds.

How can we sanction funds against such incomplete project proposals? she asked.

Also Read | Babri demolition case: Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti, and 11 other leaders should be tried in Lucknow court, CBI tells SC

Leaving aside the politics for development, Mamata Banerjee is only doing politics of violence. Her officials in the state have lost all efficiency to work for development, Bharti alleged.

Claiming that the BJP had a role behind the rise of Mamata in politics, she said, The BJP will script her downfall as well by defeating her in the 2021 assembly elections.

She called upon party workers to work towards a positive direction to bring in a change in the state.

Bharti condemned the bounty announced by a BJP youth wing leader on Mamatas head and said both she and her party have denounced the BJYM leaders comments.

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New Delhi:

To celebrate the 126th birth anniversary of the Dalit icon Dr B R Ambedkar, Congress on Friday launched a website Quest for Equity, that hosts Babasahebs work and provides a platform for data, research and legislation on issues related to SC/STs.

The website launched by the partys scheduled caste cell hopes to encourage critical analyses of contemporary socio-economic and political issues.

This occasion is an opportunity for us to further Babasahebs dream of making the promise of India more accessible to all. In this quest, AICCs SC Dept has launched https://www.questforequity.org, which hosts Babasahebs work and data and reports on equity issues, the party said in tweet.

It is designed to serve as the definitive platform for data, research and legislation on issues related to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).

Congress is proud to launch today a platform designed to deepen our understanding of Babsahebs thoughts, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Also read: Top UN official urges nations to follow example of Baba Saheb Ambedkar

By undoing the baneful hierarchies of the past, and the unequal starting points they have constructed, the Congress consistently strived to guarantee and deliver those conditions that would actualise fullness of life, especially for those who have hitherto been excluded from society, the partys SC department head K Raju said.

Unfortunately because of the continued prevalence of regressive societal norms, this goal eludes India, he said, adding it is therefore imperative that we continuously study why and how marginalised groups are discriminated against or excluded.

It is only then that scholars, activists and policy makers can re-order Indias social justice paradigm to uplift and empower. It is hoped that Quest for Equity will prove to be a vital resource in furthering this objective, he said.

The website contains over 300 archival pictures of Dr Ambedkar, 97 scans of his correspondences, a copy of the original Constitution of India and the full transcripts of the Constituent Assembly debates.

Also read: Ambedkar Jayanti: PM Modi to inaugurate several development projects in Nagpur

In addition, it hosts the most comprehensive and longitudinal data set, broadly categorised in different sections on access of SCs and STs in public services, health, education and other fields.

It also contains over 200 papers and reports of diverse scholars and organizations working on issues of inequality, discrimination, poverty etc.

This website therefore aims to be the definitive platform for data, research and legislation on issues related to SC/ST, and eventually minority communities, Raju said.

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New Delhi:

The Delhi High Court stated that it is the job an employer, not a court, to decide whether a probationary employee's services are satisfactory or not.

Justice Valmiki Mehta made the observation while upholding the termination of services of a teacher by a private school in the national capital.

"Whether or not a probationary employee's services are satisfactory, it is for the employer to decide ..., and this court cannot substitute its view for that of the employer with respect to satisfactory services or otherwise of employee with the employer", the court said.

The school had terminated the services of a teacher in March 2014 after keeping him on probation for nearly three years as his work was not found to be satisfactory.

Read more: Lahore high court issues notice to Pakistan govt over detention of Hafiz Saeed

The teacher had challenged the decision in the Delhi School Tribunal (DST) which on December 10, 2015 had ruled in his favour by ordering his reinstatement.

The school had challenged the DST's decision in the high court which set aside the tribunal's order, holding the termination of his service as valid.

It said that since the man, who was appointed on April 4,2011, did not complete three years of service in the school, he would not be entitled to be confirmed as an employee as was ruled by the Delhi High Court in another matter in 2013.

While setting aside the tribunal's decision, the high court also expressed surprise as to how the DST avoided direct reference to the 2013 decision of the high court.

In its decision of 2013 in another service matter, the high court had held that the maximum period of probation can be three years, six years in gravest of grave cases, and there can be deemed confirmation of services only after that.

The teacher was on probation from April 4, 2011 to March 5, 2014 when his services were terminated.

He had contended that as per the terms and conditions of his service, the probationary period was not to exceed two years, but he was kept on probation for longer than that.

Read more: RK Nagar bypoll campaign case: Madras HC directs police not to arrest Panneerselvam's son till Apr 17

The high court did not agree with his contention and quoted the terms and conditions as saying that he will continue to be on probation till the Managing Committee of the school decides to confirm him.

It also noted that the teacher was sent several memos regarding deficiency in his work, which showed that the school was not satisfied with his services.

"In view of the above discussion, it is found that the respondent (teacher) cannot argue that he was deemed to be confirmed in services with the school, and accordingly termination of respondent by the school is valid", it said.

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Mumbai:

A former laundry boy whom Kulbhushan Jadhav had once helped on Friday joined a human chain outside the former Navy officers residence here, seeking his release.

Jadhav saab helped me a lot. He helped me in my studies and his family treated me as one of their own, said Vijay Kanuajia, who had worked for the family in the past.

The Jadhav family used to wait for me to have dinner with them, even as late as 11 pm, the youth said.

Pakistan should immediately release Jadhav saab as he isnt a spy, said Kanuajia, who is a graduate and aims to join the Armed Forces.

ALSO READ | Pakistan has denied all request for consular access of Kulbhushan Jadhav, says MEA

The human chain was formed to demand Jadhavs release and to condemn Pakistan for kidnapping him. Jadhav has been awarded the death sentence by a military court in Pakistan for alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage.

ALSO READ | Kulbhushan Jadhav row: Not in a position to comment on issue, says United Nations

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New Delhi:

A day after the US dropped the mother of all bombs in Afghanistans Nangarhar province, India, Pakistan, China and Russia and several central Asian countries on deliberated on the situation in Afghanistan at a conference in Moscow.



Representatives from the leading regional powers reviewed the peace process in Afghanistan as well as the security situation, besides exploring ways to ramp up reconstruction activities in that country.



The conference is also understood to have delved on boosting regional coordination for bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan.



The Indian team was led by Joint Secretary (PAI) in the External Affairs Ministry Deepak Mittal, according to sources.



The conference is an initiative of Russia-China-Pakistan trilateral and, official sources said it is for the second time India is participating in it.

The US military on had dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat on an Islamic State tunnel complex in easternAfghanistan, close to the Pakistani border.

Also read: Ex-diplomat urges Trump admin to hit terror groups inside Pak after MOAB blast in Afghanistan

A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, nicknamed mother of all bombs, was dropped on a tunnel complex of ISIS-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, in Achin district of Afghanistans Nangarhar province, killing 36 ISIS militants, the Pentagon said.



On whether any Indian infrastructure project has been impacted by the bombing in Nangarhar, the sources here said it will take time to collect detailed information.



India has been a major development partner of Afghanistan and has been favouring an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process for the war-ravaged country.



New Delhi has been maintaining that it believed in close and constructive cooperation among countries of the region for peace, stability, security and development in Afghanistan.



To this end, India has actively participate in several bilateral and multilateral consultations.

Also read: Massive US bomb kills at least 36 IS militants, no civilian casualities: Afghan officials



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Islamabad/New Delhi:

India on Friday demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of its national Kulbhushan Jadhav and sought consular access to him.

Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying.

I have asked for a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav, Bambawale told PTI.

They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have again requested the Pakistan Foreign Secretary to give access to Jadhav so that we can appeal, he said.

Sources in New Delhi said apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhavs family appealing against the verdict.

Pakistans top military Generals yesterday decided not to make any compromise on the death sentence given to 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 death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General Bajwa after the Field General Court Martial found him guilty of espionage and sabotage activities in Pakistan.

Also Read: Pakistan has denied all request for consular access of Kulbhushan Jadhav, says MEA

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.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had warned that Jadhavs 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.

Also Read: Pak PM Sharif, Army Chief agree not to come under any pressure on Kulbhushan Jadhav

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Jaipur:

Indian Air force deployed an MI-17 chopper to douse the major fire which broke out in the forest area near Mount Abu in Sirohi district.

The fire broke out in the morning and spread over several kilometres. The administration is making use of a modified MI-17V5 helicopter to put out the blaze, District Collector Abhimanyu Kumar said.

The affected area is close to Mount Abu, the sole hill station in the state, where a large number of tourists arrive in the summer season. However, tourist activities remained unaffected in the area, a police official said.

A defence spokesperson said: The helicopter unit at Phalodi in Jodhpur swung into action on receiving a call from the state government, seeking help in dousing a massive forest fire in the hills fast progressing towards the inhabited areas assisted by winds.

Also read: Delhi: Fire breaks out at house near Anand Vihar; no casualty reported so far

A suitably modified MI-17V5 helicopter with a bambi bucket reached the site and conducted a quick aerial recce before the operation. It drew water out of Nakki lake in the middle of Mount Abu.

The IAF team managed to push in seven sorties dropping close to about 20,000 litres of water over the spread of fire dangerously close to inhabited area, he said.

Also read: Dubai: Huge fire breaks out at building near Burj Khalifa, no casualties reported

The operation is likely to be augmented by an additional IAF MI-17V5 helicopter from Jamnagar tomorrow at first light.

Meanwhile, the IAF has directed the state administration to provide aircraft refuelling facilities at the location in order to save precious time during operations tomorrow, the spokesperson said.

#WATCH: IAF helicopter carries out fire fighting operations with underslung Bambi Bucket in the hills around Mount Abu in Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/sElXuY5xRz  ANI (@ANI_news) April 14, 2017

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Kasargod (Ker) :

Another missing youth from Kerala, suspected to have joined the Islamic State group, has reportedly been killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.

Murshid Muhammed, a native of Padna in this district, was killed in a drone attack in Nangarhar province in Afghanistan, said Abdur Rahiman, an Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader in Padna.

Rahiman, also a social activist, said he received the message on Thursday on social media app, Telegram.

The exact date could not be known yet...The message did not come from the usual source...I could not get more details, Rahiman told PTI today over phone.

Murshid was among the 21 persons from the state, who reportedly went missing after travelling to the Middle East last year and were suspected to have joined the terrorist organisation in Syria.

However, Chandera police did not confirm the news saying, We have no information about it.

Two months ago, another youth T K Hafeesudeen(24), also from Padna, was killed in a drone attack in Afghanistan.

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New Delhi:

The Indian Navy on Thursday 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.

Read | Indian cargo ship rescued from Somali pirates, 8 of 10 crew still missing



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.

Read | Hijacked Indian boat rescued by Somali security forces, hostages still in captivity

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Mumbai:

The fight against terrorism was universal and concerned the entire humanity, referring to the US bombing on Islamic State (IS) complex in Afghanistan, said Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh on Friday.

"They (the US) have taken action against a terrorist organisation which they have already been doing. Fight against terrorism is the fight for all of us", Singh told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

The US military on Thursday dropped a GBU-43/B, colloquially known as "Mother Of All Bombs" or MOAB, to target tunnels and bunkers built by the Islamic State fighters in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, which killed 36 militants and destroyed their mountain hideouts near Pakistan border.

Read more: Ex-diplomat urges Trump admin to hit terror groups inside Pak after MOAB blast in Afghanistan

Speaking on the death sentence awarded to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan, he said, "New Delhi will ensure that the interests as well as lives of its citizens are protected anywhere in the world."

Singh, former Army chief, said the nation was quite clear on its stand that the allegations against Jadhav were baseless.

"To term him a spy is an imaginary thing as no spy moves along with his passport. If anything happens to him, we will term it as a pre-meditated murder", he said.

46-year-old Jadhav was recently awarded death sentence by a Pakistani military court on charges of alleged espionage and sabotage activities.

Read more: Pakistan hangs two terrorists convicted by military courts

India has demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Jadhav, and also sought consular access to him.

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United Nations:

A top UN official has urged nations to follow the example of social reformer and Dalit icon Baba Saheb Ambedkar in the fight for social justice and equality, calling them to harness the power of digital technologies for social and financial inclusion.

It is fitting that we honour his (Baba Saheb Ambedkars) legacy of fighting against social discrimination by talking today about how to use digital technologies to promote empowerment and inclusion for all people not least, women, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said at a special event organised here by Indias Permanent Mission to the UN to mark Ambedkars 126th birth anniversary.

She said nations live in an era of rapid and momentous change driven in large part by advances in information and communications technologies, which have the power to help us achieve all the Sustainable Development Goals.

ALSO READ | Ambedkar Jayanti: PM Modi to inaugurate several development projects in Nagpur

In this spirit, she called on nations to harness the power of digital technologies for social and financial inclusion and the advancement of societies everywhere.

I am sure Baba Saheb Ambedkar, who stood for the rights of women, minorities, and the underprivileged, would welcome these efforts. Let us follow his example and fight for social justice and equality by fulfilling the promise of the 2030 Agenda. Let us mobilise the best minds in the world of technology to invent more ways to improve people?s lives, and ensure that no one is left behind, she said yesterday.

Mohammed said the introduction of digital identity can provide a breakthrough, citing the example of the biometric identity cards in India, Aadhaar.

Digital identity would help to provide better and more inclusive access to public services and finance, including for the poorest and most vulnerable, she said adding that the use of biometric identity cards in India for over one billion people is a great example.

ALSO READ | Ambedkar Jayanti 2017: Unkown facts about Father of Indian Constitution

She noted that currently, more than half the worlds populationsome 3.9 billion people lack access to the Internet and in the Least Developed Countries, the number is as high as 85 per cent.

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New Delhi :

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Uttar Pradesh government and Centre on Power for all scheme. The MoU was signed to maintain 24 hour power supply in the state.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that the state government will provide free power to all BPL card holders in the state. The government has also started a scheme to waive off surcharge for domestic consumers.

Reacting on Power for all MoU, Uttar Pradesh power minister Srikant Sharma said that the state government is aiming to provide 24-hour power supply to each house in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, UP Energy ministerShrikant Sharma and state minister for Power Swatantra Dev Singh were also present on this occasion.

The state government also announced that it is expanding the ambit of helpline Dial 1911 through which the consumers in rural areas in coming days could communicate their grievances pertaining to power and electricity.

The Centre's undertaking Energy Efficiency ServicesLimited (EESL) will install 10,000 energy efficiency solar-panel pumps will be distributed. It was also agreed upon to distribute to energy consumers(through electricity distribution companies) energy efficiency bulbs, tubelights, and fans at cheaper rates.

Apart from this, the rural consumers will also get the facility of making digital payment through e-bhugtan. As many as eight sub-stations of UP Power Transmission CorporationLimited worth Rs 331.69 crore and 12 sub-stations of UP PowerCorporation Limited worth Rs 75.60 crore were also unveiled.

A few days back, Srikant Sharma had informed that a contract would be signed on April 14 on Power for all.

On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had approved the 'power for all' proposal, which will ensure 24 hours electricity for everyone in the state.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath and MoS (independent charge) Power Piyush Goyal attend MoU signing at 'Power to All' function in Lucknow. pic.twitter.com/FZYPfA1mqW  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 14, 2017

The cabinet had also changed the electricity roster implemented by Akhilesh Yadav Govt to ensure at least 18 hours of electricity to villages across the state.

Also Read | 'Power for all': UP CM Yogi Adityanath orders 18-hour power supply in villages, 24-hour in district headquarters

In the second cabinet meeting, Adityanath had decided that district headquarters will get 24-hour power supply. Power Minister Shrikant Sharma had informed media persons after the meeting.

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FILE PHOTO: Traders gather at the booth that trades Abbott Laboratories on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, December 10, 2012. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

(Reuters) - Diversified healthcare company Abbott Laboratories (ABT.N) on Friday agreed to buy Alere Inc (ALR.N) at a lower price than it had previously offered, after raising concerns about the accuracy of various representations, warranties and covenants made by Alere in the earlier agreement.

Abbott's revised offer values Alere's equity around $5.3 billion, down from the about $5.8 billion announced in February last year, the companies said in a statement, ending a prolonged legal battle over Abbott's plan to acquire the diagnostic-testing company.

Abbott will now pay $51 per share for Alere, compared with its earlier offer of $56. The new price was a much better outcome than what Alere's shareholders had priced in, given that Alere's shares closed at $42.31 on Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange.

While the new deal values Alere at 26.84 times forward earnings, Alere's peers are on average valued at 37.9 times, according to Thomson Reuters data.

The new $51 per share deal price is in the middle of the initial $49 to $53 per share range that Abbott had indicated it would be willing to pay for Alere when it first discussed an acquisition in December 2015, according to Alere's proxy statement to its shareholders.

Abbott at the time had not carried out due diligence on Alere, and subsequent negotiations led to a deal being agreed early last year.

However, the deal ran into trouble within months of being announced, as Alere received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice in March last year seeking documents relating to the company's sales practices, and delayed filing its annual report.

Both the companies ended up suing each other last year, with Alere forcing Abbott to move ahead with the deal, and Abbott wanting to back out of the deal citing a "substantial loss" in the value of the diagnostics company.

"The renegotiated price is in the realm of investor expectations and seems to reflect the impact from some of the challenges witnessed in Alere's business over the last 12 months," Raymond James analyst Nicholas Jansen told Reuters.

Story continues

Alere has also delayed filing its 2016 annual report and has not yet fixed material weaknesses with respect to its revenue recognition practices disclosed in its 2015 annual report.

"We think the new merger agreement now includes all of the known issues that have developed so would not expect any risk to the future of the deal unless something else emerges as of today's date," Jansen said.

Abbott and Alere said on Friday that the companies had agreed to dismiss their respective lawsuits, and the deal is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2017.

Waltham, Massachusetts-based Alere, which makes tests for infections such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and dengue, while Abbott Park, Illinois-based Abbott sells medical devices, nutritional products and baby formula.

The deal will help Abbott expand in point-of-care diagnostic testing, a market that is growing as physicians increasingly adopt rapid tests that speed up treatment.

Point-of-care tests provide results to doctors in a matter of minutes and can be conducted in the physician's office, an ambulance or even at home.

The news about the revised deal was first reported by the Financial Times, citing people close to the matter. (http://on.ft.com/2nLyoDG)

Up to Thursday's close Alere shares had risen 8.6 percent this year while Abbott had increased 11.1 percent to $42.67.

(Reporting by Rama Venkat Raman and Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Vyas Mohan, Andrea Ricci and Bernard Orr)
New Delhi:

The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh under the rule of Yogi Adityanath came up with an order for all primary government schools to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

BJP under the rule of its new Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath is all set to make an attempt to build its image of a pro-dalit political force in Uttar Pradesh.

School children from classes 1 to 8 will celebrate the birthday of the maker of the constitution by organising a special occasion which shall include discussions on his life, struggles and ideology.

The government order that has been issued for every student and teacher to participate in the program.

The local village pradhans, parents and members of school management committee (SMC) will also be attending the event.

Also Read : UP CM Yogi Adityanath tightens rules for storage and sale of acid

During the hour-long function, students will be seated before a photograph or statue of Dr Ambedkar and will listen to experts or teachers who will tell them about his life, work and ideology.

The event shall be held on April 13 since the following day has been declared a holiday.This is supposed to be the first time that Ambedkar Jayanti will be celebrated at the primary school level also.

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Jamshedpur:

The central government has been asked by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to follow the example of U.S. bombing of Islamic State targets in Afghanistan to tackle jihadis in the Kashmir Valley and elsewhere in the country. The request comes from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Friday.

It has sent a clear message to terrorists, VHPs International Working President Pravin Togadia told a press conference here. He, however, said he was sure Pakistan was not going to mend its way and would continue to promote cross-border terrorism.

Mr. Togadia alleged that the pro-Pakistan forces had recently indulged in insulting, abusing and assaulting Army personnel while they were returning from election duty in the Valley.

Asked about a Pakistani court passing death sentence on Kulbushan Jadhav on spying charges, he said, We should not hold any talk with Pakistan, discontinue all trade and withdraw the Most Favoured Nation status to it.

The VHP also expressed confidence that a grand Ram temple would be built at the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.

Mr. Togadia said the temple would come up with the help of 3Ps  support of the people, Parliament and the Prime Minister.

These 3Ps will bring a law to pave the way for the construction of a grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Mr. Togadia, who was here to participate in some programmes, said.

The VHP also demanded a national-level law to ban cow slaughter, saying failure of the government to frame such a law gave rise to ugly incidents involving cow vigilantes.





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New Delhi :

Accusing senior Congress leader Ajay Maken of mental harassment and criminal intimidation, a woman Congress worker on Friday quit the party to join the AAP.

Rachna Sachdeva, who was the Babarpur president of the Mahila Congress, in her complaint at Tughlak Road Police Station, accused Delhi Congress chief Maken, Mahila Congress president Shobha Oza and party leader Netta DSouza of mental harassment and criminal intimidation, police said.

She also claimed that Maken has threatened her and she has been receiving threat calls from unknown numbers.

We have received the complaint and are looking into it.

All the allegations made by her are non-cognisable in nature. As of now, no FIR has been lodged, a senior police officer said.

Also Read: Congress urges Election Commission to probe EVM tampering row

Maken was not available for comment.

Welcoming Sachdeva into the party fold, AAPs Delhi unit

convener Dilip Pandey said, this (allegation of mental harassment and criminal intimidation) reflects the Congress anti-women and anti-Dalit stand.

Apart from Sachdeva, some 13 local-level leaders from both the Congress and the BJP also joined the AAP.

Also Read | Cong promises licences to 5 lakh street vendors if it wins MCD polls 2017: Maken

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Beijing:

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Friday stated that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's comments that last week's chemical weapons attack was a fabrication to justify a US military strike are "100 per cent lies".

"It's 100 per cent lies and propaganda", Ayrault said during a visit to Beijing, responding to an exclusive AFP interview with Assad on Wednesday.

"It's 100 per cent cruelty and cynicism." The French minister mirrored language used by Assad himself, who dismissed the allegation that his regime perpetrated the attack that left 87 civilians dead, including many children.

"Definitely, 100 per cent for us, it's fabrication", Assad said in the interview.

The Syrian leader questioned whether the attack had infact occurred, claiming that "fake videos" and "propaganda" were being used against his government.

Read more: Syria chemical weapons attack was a 'war crime', says US

He also accused the United States of colluding with terrorists and "fabricating the whole story in order to have a pretext" for a cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base last week.

The French minister made the remarks during a joint press conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"The reality is that more than 300,000 have died, 11 million people have been displaced or become refugees, tens of thousands have been placed in Syrian prisons and a country has been destroyed", Ayrault said.

"That is the reality. It is not a fantasy."

He emphasised the need for an end to the conflict with a "real ceasefire, one which restricts the Syrian air force and military and is upheld by the international community."

Read more: Chemical weapons should not be used by anyone: India on attack in Syria

Ayrault praised China's role in the matter, noting its abstention from a United Nations Security Council vote on a resolution to condemn the Syrian gas attack.

In the past, China has voted alongside Russia to veto UN resolutions on the Syrian conflict.

Wang expressed his agreement with the French minister, noting that an "independent, fair and professional investigation" into the chemical weapons attack should be conducted "as soon as possible."

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Beijing:

After the reports of North Korea planning a nuclear test, China on Friday warned its ally by saying such a dangerous and irresponsible move could lead to a breakout of conflict at any moment amid soaring tensions with the US.

Conflict over North Korea could break out at any moment, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, warning there would be no winner in any war as tensions soar with the US.

There has been heightened tension between the United States, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The precarious situation deserves our attention and concern, Wang said without directly referring to strong retaliation threatened by US President Donald Trump if North Korea resorted to nuclear test.

We urge all parties to refrain from inflammatory or threatening statements and deeds to prevent the situation on the Korean Peninsula from becoming irreversible, Wang told reporters following talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Also read: China warns about possible imminent international conflict over North Korea

Later, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said North Korea should not carry out nuclear test.

UNSC resolution stated clearly that DPRK (North Korea) should give up all nuclear and missile related programmes. Stop relevant programmes. It is very clear, he said when asked about reports that Pyongyang is bracing to carry out its sixth nuclear test.

It will be very dangerous and irresponsible, he said, adding that the situation in the Korean peninsula is sensitive and complex.

We have been calling all relevant parties keep calm and exercise restraint instead of taking action that may escalate tension, Geng said.

Chinas Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs Wu Dawe today went to Pyongyang after visiting South Korea and Japan for talks with the North Korean leadership.

Also read: North Korea to launch nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site

Chinese officials said Trumps retaliation against nuclear test by North Korea could become a certainty after he ordered recent airstrikes against Syria and authorised to use the Mother of all Bombs against IS militants in Afghanistan.

US has already sent aircraft carrier-led strike group to the Korean peninsula to step up pressure against North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un to refrain from developing a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile capable of reaching mainland US.

Speculation is rife that Kim Jong-un may order sixth nuclear test coinciding with his countrys founder Kim Sung on Saturday.

Meanwhile, state broadcaster CCTV said Air China flights between Beijing and Pyongyang will be suspended from Monday.

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Washington:

The Trump administration should shake things up and hit terrorist groups inside Pakistan, a top former American diplomat has said, identifying the Taliban sanctuaries in the country as a big problem for Afghanistan.



The remarks came as the US dropped a massive bomb - the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used by Americans in a conflict - near the Pakistan border in Afghanistans Nanagarh province.



The US said the bomb targeted a tunnel complex of Islamic State-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group.



Zalmay Khalilzad, who served as the US ambassador to the United Nations and Afghanistan in the Bush administration, said the terrorist sanctuaries inside Pakistan should not be accepted as (just) sanctuaries.

Read | Massive US bomb kills at least 36 IS militants, no civilian casualities: Afghan officials



The US and NATO forces were being attacked by terrorists hiding in those sanctuaries and if we are attacked from those places... They would be legitimate targets for a response, Khalilzad said during a discussion at the Hudson Institute, an American think-tank, on Thursday in Washington.



Khalilzad, who had hosted Donald Trump for his first foreign policy speech during his presidential campaign, said, Perhaps we have to do something to shake things up.



He called for changing the balance on the ground from the one of stalemate that has favoured the Taliban to the one that favours the Afghan government and the coalition forces.

Read | MOAB blast in Afghanistan: US lawmakers hail Trump for sending clear message to ISIS



I am encouraged by what is going on in terms of the review - to weaken the adversaries and strengthen the government, to strengthen it not only militarily but also economically and politically, but also to review the policy towards Pakistan, because I think one of the big problems of Afghanistan is the policies of Pakistan: the sanctuary policies, he said.



Robin Raphel, a former assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, felt the US should not walk away from the region at this point.



Raphel, however, opposed the idea of an all-out war against Pakistan. In my view, at the end of the day there has to be a negotiated political solution in Afghanistan, which would undoubtedly include some of the conservative elements including the Taliban in the government, she said.



Hussain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the US and the director, South and Central Asia, at the institute, who moderated the discussion, said Taliban are irreconcilable, a sentiment shared by Khalilzad, who said the alliance between the Taliban and Pakistan was the main problem.

Read | Biggest non-nuclear bomb dropped on Afghanistan: Know all about MOAB



You cannot have reconciliation, if the insurgency feels that time is on its side. You cannot have a successful negotiation if there are safe sanctuaries. You cannot have successful negotiations if they feel that the Americans are going to leave, Khalilzad said.



He also suggested ways to deal with the issue. One, the military balance has to change in favour of the Afghan government. Two, Pakistan has to confront with the choices.



If we are attacked from bases in another country, we have the right to defend ourselves. It is a principle of international law. We are there on the basis of a UN Security Council resolution and at the invitation of the Afghan government. We should not be accepting a safe sanctuary. We ought to make that very very clear to Pakistan, he said.



I hope that (National Security Adviser Lt Gen) H R McMaster makes that point clear when he sits across the table when he is in Islamabad, he said, but added that Pakistans legitimate interests should also be respected.



The discussion was held in the backdrop of the Trump administration reviewing its policies to break the stalemate in Afghanistan.



Decisions made about policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan will have a crucial impact on the outcome of the global war on terrorism and Islamist extremism, Haqqani said.

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Jalalabad:

The US militarys largest non-nuclear bomb killed at least 36 militants as it decimated a deep tunnel complex of the Islamic State group, Afghan officials said on Friday, ruling out any civilian casualties.



The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bombbetter known as the Mother Of All Bombshit IS hideouts in Achin district in eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday.



As a result of the bombing, key Daesh (IS) hideouts and deep tunnel complex were destroyed and 36 IS fighters were killed, the defence ministry said in a statement.



US President Donald Trump had earlier called the mission very, very successful.



The Afghan presidential palace said precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties.

Read | Biggest non-nuclear bomb dropped on Afghanistan: Know all about MOAB



The huge bomb, delivered via an MC-130 transport plane, has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT, and the weapon was originally designed as much to intimidate foes as to clear broad areas.



The GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat, Air Force spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder said.



Achin district governor Esmail Shinwari said the bomb landed in the Momand Dara area of Achin district.



The explosion was the biggest I have ever seen. Towering flames engulfed the area, Shinwari told AFP.

Read | US drops GBU-43 in Afghanistan for ISIS-K cleansing; Trump praises American military, says we used right munition



We dont know anything about the casualties so far, but since it is a Daesh (IS) stronghold we think a lot of Daesh fighters may have been killed.



Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. US forces have conducted a number of air strikes on jihadist bases in the area since August last year.



IS, notorious for its reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, has been making inroads into Afghanistan in recent years. It has attracted disaffected members of the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban as well as Uzbek Islamists.



But the group has been steadily losing territory in the face of heavy pressure both from US air strikes and a ground offensive led by Afghan forces.

Read | MOAB blast in Afghanistan: US lawmakers hail Trump for sending clear message to ISIS

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Washington:

American lawmakers have applauded the Trump administration after the US military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on Islamic State targets in eastern Afghanistan, saying that it sends a clear message to terror groups in the region.



The US military yesterday dropped a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed as Mother Of All Bombs on a tunnel complex of ISIS-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, in Achin district of Afghanistans Nanagarh province, close to the Pakistani border.



The Afghanistan-Pakistan border area has tunnel complexes known to be used by ISIS and other terrorist groups operating in and out of Afghanistan.



This was the first time a MOAB was used in combat though it was developed in 2003.

Read | Biggest non-nuclear bomb dropped on Afghanistan: Know all about MOAB



According to General John Nicholson, commander of US Forces in Afghanistan: As ISIS-Khorasans (ISIS-K) losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defence, this is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of US offensive against ISIS-K.



The decision to drop the MOAB in eastern Afghanistan sends a clear message that the US is committed and determined to defeating ISIS and other terrorist organisations in Afghanistan, said Senator Jim Inhofe, senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.



I spoke to President Ghani and our coalition partners about this same commitment when I visited Kabul this February. This strike supports our Afghan partners and their fight against these terrorist groups, he said.



Inhofe applauded President Donald Trumps commitment to the fight against terror, giving his military commanders and the authorities the need to defeat US enemies and sending a clear message to both enemies and allies of the US.

Read | US drops GBU-43 in Afghanistan for ISIS-K cleansing; Trump praises American military, says we used right munition



Congressman Kevin said Trump has sent a strong message to the Islamic State that will be heard in Russia, North Korea, Iran and around the world.



I applaud our brave men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line every day to keep our country safe, he said.



Congressman Matt Gaetz said Trumps decision to drop the GBU-43 shows his deep commitment to eradicating ISIS worldwide.



This message was part of his campaign, and eliminating ISIS is critical to the long-term security of the US. The Presidents actions also send a clear message that we will no longer tolerate attacks on our troops and that those who do so can expect a swift and strong response, he said.



However, Democratic lawmakers questioned the intentions behind the use of such a bomb. Congresswoman Barbara Lee said the 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, she said.



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, she said.



Lee urged House Speaker Paul Ryan to call Congress back into session, to can immediately repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force and put real restraints on Trumps warmongering.



She was the only member of Congress to vote against the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force.



Congressman Seth Moulton said the US needs a comprehensive, integrated political-military strategy to ensure the peace after the American military actions are complete.



Indian-American Republican leader Puneet Ahluwalia said this is a clear message of Trump leadership and his administration to terrorist organisations and American adversaries.



We will not hesitate to use what ever is in our arsenal to defeat our enemies. Our NATO partners and allies can count on US leadership on the world stage again, he said in a statement.

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Islamabad:

Pakistans exports to India have grown despite border tensions and war of words between the two neighbours, according to a media report.

According to Dawn News, a recent report by the State Bank of Pakistan showed that Pakistans exports to India grew during the first eight months of 2016-17 fiscal while imports fell by 23 per cent.

During the period, the two countries were locked in bitter rivalry with terror attacks by Pakistan-based militant groups, Kashmir and border tensions impacting ties.

However, this seems to have had little impact on bilateral trade relations, the report said. The trade balance was in favour of India, it noted.

Growing by 14 per cent, exports from Pakistan to India amounted to USD 286 million in July-February. Imports from India fell by 23 per cent to USD 958.3 million from USD 1,244 million recorded a year ago.

ALSO READ | India defeating spirit of bilateralism by defying talks over Kashmir issue, says Pakistan's NSA Nasser Janjua

People who are in favour of better trade relations with India have to face harsh criticism in Pakistan. The same situation prevails across the border, the media report said.

One reason for Pakistans improved exports to India is high cement demand in the neighbouring country. This has offset the negative impact of a decline in Pakistans cement exports to Afghanistan and South Africa, the report said.

The SBP said cement exports continued their downward trend, with the largest share in the year-on-year decline in the first half of 2016-17 originating from two markets South Africa and Afghanistan.

A slight consolation was continued strong demand for Pakistani cement from India. This partially offset the declines witnessed in the two other major markets, said the SBP report.

For more than five years, the balance of trade has been in favour of India as Pakistan failed to create a market for its products in the neighbouring country. Political resistance to better trade relations continues to exist in both countries, it said.

In the first eight months of the current fiscal year, Pakistan recorded a trade deficit of USD 672 million with India. The deficit was USD 993 million in the same period of the last fiscal year.

Imports from India in 2015-16 were worth over four times the exports from Pakistan. In fact, imports from India were at a five-year high, although political and diplomatic relations with the eastern neighbour were at a low ebb, the report said. Pakistan imported goods worth USD 1.8 billion in 2015-16 compared to the exports of just USD 400 million.

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Washington:

The US "strongly condemns" any crime based on ethnicity and heritage, the State Department claimed keeping in mind the incidents related to hate crimes against Indian-Americans.

"Any crime that is potentially based on someone's ethnicity or heritage should be heartily condemned," State Department Acting Spokesman Mark Toner told reporters on Thursday.

The US "strongly condemns" any hate crime, carried out against someone based on their ethnicity, and their sexual orientation, he said.

"Secondly, though, with respect to these particular crimes, that's really something for either local, regional, or federal law enforcement to speak to. All of these crimes need to be thoroughly investigated," he said.

Also Read: US Stocks tumbled after US military attack in Afghanistan

"That's why I'm very hesitant to comment on one particular case or not because I don't know the facts and it would be imprudent for me, except to say that, largely speaking, there's a strong Indian American community in this country," he said.

"They're a vibrant part of American culture and society and the economy here. And we, as Americans welcome their contribution," Toner said.

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Washington:

Aiming at both Central American labourers and Indian tech workers in Silicon Valley, the US administration is ramping up a crackdown on undocumented immigrants encouraged by a sharp downturn in illegal border crossers.

Police, prosecutors and judges have been ordered to take a harder line against all illegal immigrants, detaining anyone without papers and vigorously prosecuting more of them.

Hiring standards for immigration agents are being eased to quickly beef up their ranks, more facilities to hold detained immigrants are being built, and more judges are being added to handle cases.

Read more: United States condemns crimes based on someone's ethnicity or sexual orientation

And officials have been directed to round up illegal immigrants, even those in the country for decades, at places that used to be safe - court houses, town halls, and cities offering them sanctuary.

Meanwhile designs are underway for construction of a wall along the entire 3,200-kilometre US-Mexico border that President Donald Trump promised. It won't be a full physical barrier all the way along, but strategically erected wall sections interspersed with stretches of technology-dependent surveillance.

"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", Attorney General Jeff Sessions told border patrol agents on Tuesday.

Trump came into office promising to expel the estimated 11 million people living in the United States illegally, who he says steal American jobs and fuel crime. Most are from Mexico, and many of them have been here for decades, raising families, owning homes and businesses.

Three months into the Trump administration, the number of illegal border-crossers has plunged to a four decade low, according to the Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP).

Read more: US drops GBU-43 in Afghanistan for ISIS-K cleansing; Trump praises American military, says we used right munition

Apprehensions of illegal border crossers in March dropped to 16,600, down 30 percent from February and 64 percent from a year ago.

It is too early to see any pickup in deportations, which take longer to process. But Tom Jawetz, vice president incharge of immigration policy at the Center for American Progress think tank, says there is a clear change in immigration enforcement.

Sessions this week ordered CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain anyone who crosses the US-Mexico border without legal documents and present them to a judge. In the past, most were just delivered back over the border.

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Washington:

US dropped in Afghanistan what it calls the Mother of All Bombs (MOAB)- the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat by US military for ISIS cleansing.

A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed Mother Of All Bombs, was dropped on a tunnel complex of ISIS-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, 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.

US President Donald Trump said he authorised the use of the bomb in Afghanistan and called the mission very, very successful.

It was really another successful job, we are very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event, Trump told reporters at the White House.

ALSO READ | Islamic State-linked hackers release kill list of 8,700 people from US, UK

Everybody knows exactly what happened, what I do is I authorise our military. We have the greatest military in the world, theyve done a job, as usual, so we have given them total authorisation and thats what theyre doing, and frankly, thats why theyve been so successful lately, he said.

If you look at whats happened over the last eight weeks and you compare that to whats happened over the last eight years, youll see theres a tremendous difference. So we have incredible leaders of the military and incredible military, and we are very proud of them, and this was another very very successful mission, Trump said.

Trump said he does not knows if this send a message to North Korea. 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. I will say this; I think China has really been working very hard, he said.

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command. At his daily news conference, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the bomb was dropped at around 7 pm local time in Afghanistan.

The GBU-43 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 easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area,? Spicer said.

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 US took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage as a result of the operation, he said.

The strike 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.

ALSO READ | US drops biggest non-nuclear bomb at ISIS targets in Afghanistan, says Pentagon

American forces will continue offensive operations until ISIS-K is destroyed in Afghanistan, it said.

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. According to the Department of Defence, there are about 600-800 ISIS-K fighters in the region where bomb was dropped.

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Washington:

Whistle-blower collective WikiLeaks has been termed as a "non-state hostile intelligence" agency often helped by Russia by the new CIA Director Mike Pompeo, adding that their leaking of classified documents have embarrassed the US.

In his first public address as the Central Intelligence Agency chief, Pompeo said "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."

He said US intelligence services had found that Russian state-owned television network RT actively collaborated with the website.

Pompeo, a former Republican Congressmen who once applauded disclosures by WikiLeaks, said the intelligence community at CIA finds the celebration of entities like WikiLeaks "both perplexing and deeply troubling".

Read more: US approval of Montenegro's NATO accession is 'deeply mistaken' move: Russia

"WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service", he said.

But his harshest words were directed at its founder Julian Assange, and at former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who had leaked classified documents from the National Security Agency in 2013. "(They) seek to use that information to make a name for themselves" and "care nothing about the lives they put at risk or the damage they cause to national security".

Pompeo said Assange claims to harbour an overwhelming admiration for both America and the idea of America. "But I assure you that this man knows nothing of America and our ideals".

"We know this because 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", Pompeo said.

Read more: Americas relationship with Russia may hit all-time low: Donald Trump

"When Snowden absconded to the comfortable clutches of Russian intelligence, his treachery directly harmed a wide range of US intelligence and military operations. Despite what he claims, he is no whistle blower. True whistleblowers use the well-established and discreet processes in place to voice grievances; they do not put American lives at risk", he said.

Pompeo said Assange's actions have attracted a devoted following among some of the most determined enemies.

Following a recent WikiLeaks disclosure, an al Qaeda member in the Arabian Peninsula posted a comment online "thanking WikiLeaks for providing a means to fight America in a way that AQAP had not previously envisioned", the CIA Director claimed.

"That Assange is the darling of terrorists is nothing short of reprehensible", he said.

Assange, an Australian citizen, has been living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He received political asylum from the South American country after skipping bail to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted in connection with a rape case.

Read more: Russia rejects UN resolution that condemns chemical attack on Syria

And Snowden lives at an undisclosed location in Russia after initially traveling to Hong Kong following his disclosure of the documents. Russia granted him asylum soon after.

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The Korean DMZ, looking towards the North. Source: Driedprawns/Wikimedia

North Korea has become the epicenter of geopolitical tensions. Escalation into a military conflict could mean extreme problems in the near-term, as the North has nuclear weapons and an unpredictable dictator. But one analyst thinks the fall of North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-Un could be a net positive for what may become a unified Korean economy.

In the best case scenario, something like the reunification of Germany in 1990, South Korea would likely benefit economically in the long run, according to a report from Capital Economics. Like Japan, Germany, and some European countries, the population of South Korea is aging rapidly, with the median age 41.2. On the other hand the 25 million people in North Korea have a median age of 33, which would breath youth back into the workforce and improve the countrys demographic outlook.

Another benefit to South Korea would be getting access to the Norths natural resources, which make up most of the peninsulas raw materials. With more to work with, import costs would go down.

And with the effective end of the demilitarization zone on the 38th parallel, defense expenditures would fall, the analysts reckon.

All this is overshadowed, unsurprisingly, by the uncertainty of conflict, which though short, would likely be extremely brutal. Significant losses of life and damage to infrastructure in both Koreas would compound problems and costs, and Seoul, the Souths most populous city is a mere 35 miles from the border. And given that South Korea is a booming center for manufacturing, conflict would almost certainly damage supply chains, something that recent drops in the Korean financial market have reflected.

Given the uncertainty, the Capital Economics analysis affixes a big asterisk next to the cost of reconstruction, but estimates something around $1 trillion, which is three times what the German reunification cost and is the same as one year of the Souths GDP. It is not cheap to rebuild a destroyed economy.

Story continues

Ethan Wolff-Mann is a writer at Yahoo Finance focusing on consumer issues, tech, and personal finance. Follow him on Twitter @ewolffmann. Got a tip? Send it to tips@yahoo-inc.com.

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FLASHBACK: Russia has Satan 2 nuclear missiles that can wipe out an entire area the size of Texas

Its strange, but for some reason, millions of Americans, including many members of the Republican Party, seem to have developed a bizarre infatuation for Russia and Vladimir Putin. This is odd, considering the fact that Putin has a long dark history of corruption, theft and murder. Not surprisingly, it has recently been revealed that the Russians may have known in advance that the Syrian chemical attack was in progress. According to a senior U.S. official, a drone that was being operated by the Russians was sighted flying over a hospital as Syrians were rushing to get treatment. The official said that there is no possible way that the presence of the drone was a coincidence, and that the Russians must have known that the chemical attacks were forthcoming.

Following the U.S. airstrikes launched at a Syrian airfield late last week, Iran and Russia threatened a lethal response to further military action in the region. A statement issued from the Syria-Iran-Russia Joint Operations Room warned, We will respond to any aggression powerfully, as Russia and Iran would never allow the U.S. to dominate the world. Even though world domination is not and never will be the goal of the United States, a threat from one of the worlds strongest nations is something that should be taken very seriously.

As reported by CNN last May, Russias militarys is arguably the strongest it has been since the Cold War. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russias active military personnel totals about 798,000  240,000 fighting in the Army, 148,000 fighting in the Navy, 145,000 fighting in the Air Force, and 265,000 fighting in various other branches. Furthermore, according to IHS Janes, Russia spent $44.6 billion on defense in 2014, $54.5 billion in 2015, and $49.2 billion in 2016. Although these figures are significantly less than the amount the United States spends on defense each year, Russias defense budget is still among the highest in the world.

In October, The Telegraph reported on one of Russias newly developed weapons, which has the ability to wipe out nearly all of the United Kingdom, France, or the entire state of Texas. Images of the missile, called Satan 2, have been declassified for quite some time but have just recently been published and made available to the public. (RELATED: Read about Russias new nuke deployment strategy that could destroy the entire east coast of the U.S.)

Obviously, a missile that is capable of creating such widespread destruction must be massive both in size and in carrying capacity. Russian media reports that Satan 2 is expected to weigh an estimated 10 tons once complete, and will be able to carry 10 tons of nuclear cargo.

In order to understand how much power Satan 2 has, it helps to put things into perspective by first looking at the damage caused by the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed 135,000 people and 64,000 people respectively. For both bombs, the destruction radius was astoundingly far. Within one mile of ground zero, every single structure was completely destroyed. Within three miles most structures were heavily damaged, and some minor damage even occurred up to 12 miles away.

Consider all of this power, multiply it by 2000, and youve got the power of Russias Satan 2. Thats right  Russias new weapon has the ability to create a blast 2000 times larger than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Clearly, Russia has the military might to do serious damage to any country that it deems a threat, including the United States. While it wouldnt be wise for President Trump to back down or apologize for striking Syria, its important that at the very least, he takes the power of our enemies into serious consideration before taking any further action.

Sources

Telegraph.co.uk

CNN.com

APNews.com

FreeBeacon.com

AtomicArchive.com

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DANBURY  When a small group of teenage girls started a three-day course to learn about human trafficking this week, many didnt even know what it was, let alone that it had taken place so close to home.

I am disappointed and scared, in a way, because it can happen to anyone, said Juliana Figueiredo, a 14-year-old from Bethel who completed the program at the Womens Center of Greater Danbury.

Juliana, along with six other girls, learned facts and myths about pimps and traffickers, what makes young people vulnerable to trafficking and how to recognize recruitment tactics and other red flag behaviors.

Im probably going to be more aware of everything thats going on to really make sure that this doesnt happen to me or anyone else around me, Juliana said when the class was over.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or a commercial sex act, and likens it to modern-day slavery.

The most common misconceptions of trafficking and exploitation are that it only happens overseas, that it only happens to girls and women, and that people can leave the situation whenever they want, said Cara Mackler, a prevention educator at the Womens Center who taught the class. In truth, it happens right here in Danbury and all over the United States, in suburbs and cities alike. It happens to people of all genders, sexual orientations, and socio-economic classes.

This is the first time the Womens Center has offered the Not a #Number curriculum, which was developed for youths between the ages of 12 and 18 by Love146, an international human rights organization with offices in New Haven. The program is also being incorporated into the centers weekly support group for girls.

Among issues the group discussed this week was the case of three men charged last month with involvement in a Danbury-based human trafficking ring that police said targeted young men with mental illnesses and operated for at least 20 years.

Police said Danbury resident Robert King, who headed the trafficking ring, befriended his victims, plied them with drugs and alcohol before pushing them into prostitution to pay back their drug debts. King was charged with human trafficking, a felony punishable by up to 40 years in prison.

Two men authorities have identified as Kings main clients, William Trefzger, a previously convicted sex offender from Westport, and Bruce J. Bemer, of Glastonbury, were both charged with patronizing a trafficked victim  the first time the charge has been used in the state.

On the last day of the Womens Center program, the girls spent time discussing how they would navigate potentially exploitive situations, such as attending a party where drugs and alcohol will be served or being pressured by a romantic partner.

In another exercise, the girls wrote down the names of people they could contact if they needed help or someone to confide in.

Ana Flood, 14, of Sherman, said she knew about trafficking before she took the course because her sister volunteers at the Womens Center. But she learned about red flags that might signal someone is involved in trafficking  having an older boyfriend or partner, having excessive absences from school and suddenly sporting expensive items like handbags or jewelry.

Its good for me to learn this stuff so I know to be more careful so it wont happen to me, Ana said. And if it was happening to a friend, I could help them through it or call the Womens Center.

I think every kid my age should learn about this, because we want to prevent it from happening, she said.

Each girl had to get permission from a parent or guardian to participate in the class.

Jayna Larkin, of New Milford, at first thought the subject matter might be a little much for her daughter, 14-year-old Madison. But after the two discussed it, they decided it was an issue that Madison should know more about.

A lot of parents are guarded, but they shouldnt be, Jayna Larkin said. This is reality. These kids, especially girls, need to know these things are going on.
By Parikshit Mishra and John O'Donnell BANGALORE/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Credit Suisse has cut its bonuses for top management by 40 percent after shareholder criticism of its plans to make a 78 million Swiss franc ($78 million) payout in spite of heavy losses. The climbdown by Switzerland's second-largest bank is rare and represents a victory for investors who are increasingly pushing for more modest pay in an industry where profits have fallen but pay has often remained high. In a brief statement late on Thursday, the bank said it had taken the decision after shareholders "expressed reservations" about the planned payout, reversing its defence of the bonuses earlier on the same day. American International Group Inc's directors also declined to award Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock a cash bonus for last year, according to a proxy filing on Thursday, after the company's poor performance roiled shareholders. Credit Suisse's move came amid growing public protest. Earlier this week, a lawmaker who instigated a shareholder veto over excessive management pay in Switzerland, Thomas Minder, had urged investors to use this power to block the high bonuses for Credit Suisse's top executives. His comments added to pressure on the Swiss bank to rethink after several advisory groups told shareholders to oppose part or all of the payments when they vote this month. Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam had been set to receive almost 12 million francs in pay and bonuses, a sum that would have made him one of Europe's highest-paid bankers despite a multibillion-dollar loss last year. Had shareholders rejected the plan when asked to vote on it on April 28, it would have been the first use of the Swiss veto at a leading company and a major set-back for Credit Suisse. Investor advisers Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), Ethos and Glass Lewis had told shareholders to oppose part or all of the payments. ISS, which advises more than 1,700 of the world's biggest investors, is highly influential and its recommendations are widely followed when shareholders cast their votes. That high pay had strained investor patience with Credit Suisse at a time when the bank is considering asking them for money to shore up finances that were hit by a $5.3 billion settlement for selling toxic debt. Credit Suisse did not specify the exact amount of the new bonus package. ($1 = 1.0053 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Parikshit Mishra in BANGALORE and John O'Donnell in FRANKFURT; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Contributed photo / Danbury Police Department

A Danbury man police say had a substantial quantity of illegal drugs was arrested Thursday following an investigation that began weeks ago.

Danbury Police officers arrested Douglas Meireles, 25, after residents told police Meireles was selling illegal drugs. Members of the Danbury Polices Special Investigations Division surveyed Meireles residence on Triangle Street and used other investigative techniques to detect activity consistent with drug trafficking, according to a press release from the Danbury Police Department.
Three Chilliwack Cattle Sales Workers Plead Guilty to Malicious Animal Abuse After Investigation by Mercy For Animals; Group Seeks Stronger Legal Protections for Animals

VANCOUVER, BC, April 13, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Earlier today, three workers of Chilliwack Cattle Salesthe largest dairy factory farm in Canadawere convicted of violating the BC Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for viciously kicking, punching, and beating cows, and using chains and tractors to lift sick and injured cows by their necks. Travis Keefer, Chris Vandyke, and Jamie Visser pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges. They are expected to be sentenced in early May.

These convictions followed a hidden-camera expose by Mercy For Animals, an international farmed animal protection organization. In December, also stemming from these incidents, Chilliwack Cattle Sales and one of its owners were convicted of animal cruelty and ordered to pay fines of almost $350,000. Four additional workers were also charged. Their cases are pending.

Mercy For Animals praises the BC SPCA and the Crown for pursuing justice in this important matter.

This investigation prompted BC agricultural minister Norm Letnick to amend the BC Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to incorporate the Dairy Code of Practice. The Dairy Code of Practice outlines minimum guidelines for the treatment and welfare of Canada's dairy cows. According to reports obtained this year through freedom of information requests, the BC Milk Marketing Board found that more than 25 percent of BC dairy farms had failed to comply with the provincial code of practice for animal welfare over an 18-month period. Inspection reports showed numerous problems, including overcrowding, lame or soiled cattle, tails accidentally torn off by machinery, branding and dehorning of calves without pain medication, cows lying on concrete, and failure to produce a manual outlining management practices on individual farms.

Mercy For Animals is calling on all provinces to incorporate the Dairy Code of Practice into their provincial animal cruelty legislation. Giving the Dairy Code of Practice the force of law will require the dairy industry to follow basic minimum standards for animal welfare.

"The wheels of justice are finally turning for these tortured animals," said Krista Hiddema, vice president of Mercy For Animals in Canada. "Only the most sadistic acts of cruelty are being prosecuted, however. It is obvious the dairy industry is incapable of self-regulation. Until the Dairy Code of Practice has the force of law in every province, animal abuse and neglect will run rampant in the Canadian dairy industry."

To view the undercover video that led to today's convictions, visit CanadaDairy.MercyForAnimals.org.

SOURCE Mercy For Animals

For further information: Krista Hiddema: 416-666-3093; Vandhana Bala: 312-909-6051
China has revealed the first known images of an indigenous scramjet test that it says was successfully conducted at speeds up to Mach 7 and altitudes up to 30 km, in December 2015.



Credit: National Natural Science Foundation of China.



Studies of a folding-wing hypersonic boost-glide vehicle designed for deployment from a launcher at Mach 5 and 30-km altitude show dramatic changes in the center of pressure on release. Credit: China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology



Tests of a magneto-hydrodynamic heat shield system showed performance could be boosted by seeding the flow with potassium particles. Credit: College of Aerospace Science and Engineering



Ground tests of a hydrogen-fueled continuous-rotating detonation ramjet at Mach 4.5 and simulated 18.5-km altitude indicated positive thrust was obtained. Credit: National University of Defense Technology

China will test a prototype combined-cycle hypersonic engine later this year that they hope will pave the way for the first demonstration flight of a full-scale propulsion system by 2025. If successful, the engine could be the first of its type in the world to power a hypersonic vehicle or the first stage of a two-stage-to-orbit spaceplane. Combined-cycle systems have long been studied as a potential means to access to space and long-range hypersonic vehicles.

Chinese Academy of Sciences professor Lihong Chen said: We also developed a low cost near-space science and technology flight test platform. The first flight test was successfully carried out, and key issues of the scramjet were demonstrated at Mach 3.5-7 and at altitudes of 15-30 km [9-18 mi.]. Offering no further details, Chen says the flight test was targeted at fundamental research under a program that she likened to the Australian-U.S. Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE) effort.

Zhang Yong, a CASTC engineer, claimed that China will master the spaceplanes technologies in the next three to five years, and a full-scale spaceplane would then enter service by 2030.

Lihong Chen had written a Feb 2016, paper in Acta Mechanica Sinica  Engine performance analysis and optimization of a dual-mode scramjet with varied inlet conditions.

A dual-mode scramjet can operate in a wide range of flight conditions. Higher thrust can be generated by adopting suitable combustion modes. Based on the net thrust, an analysis and preliminary optimal design of a kerosene-fueled parameterized dual-mode scramjet at a crucial flight Mach number of 6 were investigated by using a modified quasi-one-dimensional method and simulated annealing strategy. Engine structure and heat release distributions, affecting the engine thrust, were chosen as analytical parameters for varied inlet conditions (isolator entrance Mach number: 1.53.5). Results show that different optimal heat release distributions and structural conditions can be obtained at five different inlet conditions. The highest net thrust of the parameterized dual-mode engine can be achieved by a subsonic combustion mode at an isolator entrance Mach number of 2.5. Additionally, the effects of heat release and scramjet structure on net thrust have been discussed. The present results and the developed analytical method can provide guidance for the design and optimization of high-performance dual-mode scramjets.
By GMM 14 April 2017 - 17:15





Daniel Ricciardo says it should be no great surprise that Red Bull is having to fight back in 2017.

Actually, many paddock insiders are shocked that, with a big rule change and Adrian Newey at the design table, Red Bull is over a second per lap off Mercedes and Ferraris pace.

But Italys Autosprint quotes Ricciardo as questioning whether the Newey equals success equation is fair.

"Adrian Newey is certainly a great name, but Ferrari, Mercedes, the top teams all have great departments too," he said in Bahrain.

Ricciardo said Red Bull has plenty of catching up to do, but backed the team to be able to strongly develop the 2017 car.

"We have a great capacity for development and its in that area that we were particularly good last year."
By GMM 14 April 2017 - 10:45





Sauber could be on the cusp of becoming the second Honda-powered team in F1.

The Swiss teams Swedish driver Marcus Ericsson on Thursday said Sauber has been surprised by the disadvantage of using a year-old Ferrari power unit so far in 2017.

But team figures have ruled out a mid-season engine switch.

However, the big rumour in Bahrain is that talks are rapidly progressing with Honda about making the switch for 2018.

But contractually, Hondas works engine partner McLaren can veto the Japanese marques moves to supply customer power to other teams.

"For years, Ron Dennis prevented Honda from working with another team," a source close to Honda told Speed Week. "But Ron is no longer there."

However, Sauber is denying that a decision to go with Honda for 2018 is imminent.

"We are negotiating with several manufacturers," the Hinwil based team said.

A second team for struggling Honda would have several advantages, including doubling the feedback and data about its power unit.

Secondly, it is known that Honda is looking for a route into F1 for its junior drivers Nobuharu Matsushita and Tadasuke Makino.

A source told Speed Week: "There is no room for a Japanese in 2018. But if Tadasuke does a good F3 season, he will do Formula 2 in 2018 and in an ideal world be in F1 by 2019-2020.

"This would also fit with the timing with Pascal Wehrlein, who by 2019 will either go to Mercedes or be pushed to a Mercedes customer team like Williams."
(Adds quotes)

By Parisa Hafezi

ANKARA, April 14 (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani registered on Friday to run for a second four-year term, state television said, buoyed by Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers though facing a hardline conservative challenge over his economic record.

"Once again, I am here for Iran, for Islam, for freedom and for more stability in this country. I am urging all Iranians to vote for Iran and for Islam," Rouhani told reporters.

"From today, protecting the nuclear deal is one of my main plans in political and economic fields," he said, alluding to U.S. President Donald Trump's dislike of the pact reached under his predecessor Barack Obama, and also to Iranian hardliners who opposed Rouhani's pursuit of detente with the West.

He won election by a landslide in 2013 on a platform of ending the Islamic Republic's diplomatic isolation and creating a freer society. But the oil-based economy's struggle to rebound since the lifting of sanctions as part of the nuclear accord could be exploited by Rouhani's hardline foes this time around.

Many Iranians have grown impatient with the slow rate of improvement in their economic fortunes since international financial and trade sanctions were lifted after Iran curbed its disputed nuclear activity under its deal with six world powers.

Influential Shi'ite cleric Ebrahim Raisi, the custodian of a powerful organisation in charge of Irans holiest shrine, appears to be the leading hardline candidate. He also registered on Friday.

"The people's vote will determine the countrys fate...The economic status quo in Iran can improve," Raisi, an ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told reporters.

Rouhani won in a single round with more than 50 percent of the vote in 2013 when no other candidate took more than 17 percent, but may face a tougher campaign this time if often-feuding hardliners can join forces against him.

But despite months of talks, hardliners have been unable to unite behind a single candidate and Khamenei appears to have not yet intervened to make them do so.

Story continues

Within Iran's complex mix of clerical rulers and elected officials, Khamenei has the final say on all state matters.

But some prominent conservatives, including parliament speaker Ali Larijani, have thrown their weight behind Rouhani, believing Iran would benefit from a limited opening to the West and aware that this is what many younger voters want.

The five-day registration period for the May 19 election began on Tuesday and will be followed by a process of vetting of the hopefuls by a hardline watchdog body, the Guardian Council.

More than 1,010 people have signed up so far for the vote. Several former ministers and hardline former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are among those who have registered. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
With Nigeria as a haven for corruption, a wave of academic frauds in the country may have further dented its already battered image, Head, Education Desk, Iyabo Lawal reports.

Fifty-one-year-old Daniel Ishola Owaodemi sat in the dock, with a forlorn look. He seemed to have lost some weight due to shame and the likely harsh sentence that awaited him. For years he claimed to be a lecturer and had taught students in the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi. For 12 years, Owaodemi had been an impostor in ATBU until the bubble burst.The so-called lecturer, in 2011, was discovered to have forged certificates to teach in the ivory tower.As he shook in fear and shame in court pleading guilty to his crime, his lawyer appealed to the presiding judge for leniency, arguing that the fake lecturer was a pastor and a family man.He was slammed with 30 years imprisonment but slapped on the wrist with an option of N60, 000 fine by Chief Magistrate Isah Mohammed. But Owaodemi was not alone in ivory tower certificate scandal. A female lecturer at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Lapai in Niger State was also caught in the cheating circle of academic forgers. She was given the boot by the institution because she used a forged masters degree certificate from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, to teach students in IBBU.With the development, the dark and hidden path of fraudulent and illegitimate academic documentation is extensive. Forgery is a fraud and according to the Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, it is the wilful misrepresentation or alteration of a written document to deceive others.Recently, Nigerians were caught in a frenzy of one of their federal lawmakers, Senator Dino Melaye, being accused of certificate forgery  unlike the two shamed forgers mentioned at the outset, the senator was exonerated by the vice chancellor of ABU, Prof Ibrahim Garba.In the course of its chequered history, not a few Nigerians  prominent and obscure  have been enmeshed in forgery of academic credentials.In a private school in Abuja, 18 out of 25 employees there had at least one or more fake certificates or statement of results. What about in other schools?Forging academic certificate has become a cankerworm in the country with an army of fake lawyers roaming around the nations courts, even the Supreme Court; a gang of fake medical doctors superintending over hospitals and performing surgeries; and fake pharmacists dispensing drugs with reckless glee.The issue of certificate forgery in the country borders on the sublime to the ridiculous with the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari being accused of not having a secondary school certificate while former President Goodluck Jonathans University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) doctoral degree was questioned.Nigeria, according to Charles Eguridu, former Head, National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), has the highest number of examination irregularities among the five-member countries of the examination body.That thought was shared by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mac John Nwaobiala, who lamented recently that the increasing rate of examination malpractice in the country is high.Even more telling was the view of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during the 65th Annual Council Meeting (ACM) of WAEC.Alluding to rampant forgery of academic credentials, he said, Today, the attainment of wealth, power or educational influence is the mark of success which is not necessary a bad thing except we are no longer concerned with the process of attaining success. In Kano alone, last year, WAEC indicted 121 Schools over allegations of examination malpractice with warning letters issued to 97 of the schools. Twenty-four others were banned as venues for its examinations.In Nigeria, there is academic fraud everywhere.Little wonder WAEC Branch Controller for Kano State, Zubairu Ayodele, said, The end ,It appears today, justifies the means; which explains why cheating in examination and fake certificates simply do not generate the sort of outrage that such conduct would have generated years ago. Often, cheating is committed with the collusion of parents and teachers.This only reflects the failure of values in our larger society. Educational policy within that milieu of collapsed value, failure is a totally different type of task when values in our society have collapsed. When values in the society have been upturned, the role of the policy maker is completely different from when values are maintained by and large.President Buhari underscored that point when he also said : It is much more important today to emphasise on how we should teach which will obviously impact how we should examine. What questions we should be asking and what we should be looking for in our students. But regarding what we should teach. It is my respective view, more important now than ever before to redefine success.As part of the issue fuelling academic forgery, an academic scholar, Kanu Success Ikechi, noted that conferment of honorary degrees is part of the fraud going on in tertiary institutions.Nigerian universities dont give a hoot about the reputation of an honorary degree recipient. This is all the more surprising since even the award of the first degree by academic endeavour is typically predicated on good character.But our universities have been conferring honorary doctorates with neither rhyme nor reason. Corrupt, incompetent public office holders, unscrupulous businessmen and political figures with no visible achievements or scruples are bestowed with the coveted degrees, he said.Ikechi also expressed concern about the number of first-class degrees various higher institutions churn out, especially in private schools.We have to apply some caution here. There is the need to review and maintain standards by all and sundry. It is an aberration to hear that some of our first class degree holders cannot pass ordinary aptitude tests and oral interviews, the lecturer warned.Similarly expressing his disdain about the development, Dr. Idris Oyemitan of the Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences at the Walter Sisulu University in South Africa, noted that pupils who failed to obtain anything close to 250 in their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scores or Post-UTME examination end up graduating with first class degrees. His grouse was primarily directed at private institutions.I want to criticise these questionable awards. The senior secondary certificate examination grades of these glorified first class graduates cannot match those in public universities. They scored below average or minimum scores that would not have qualified them admission into leading universities in Nigeria.Most of these private universities cannot boast of standard laboratories, qualified and competent technical staff despite the fact that they have few students, Oyemitan claimed.Speaking further he said, I will suggest that the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other regulatory agencies should look into this issue, intervene and restore sanity to end treacherous acts of our private universities.An international expert, while shedding light on certificate forgery noted that academic credentials are altered in a variety of ways, from a simplistic whiteout to a sophisticated creation produced in-house by personnel of academic institutions, to identical reproductions of legitimate diplomas and transcripts.But how can the country be saved from the perennial embarrassment of cases of certificate forgery?Education experts have urged the public  private and government-owned organizations, to scrutinise security symbols and seals of academic institutions; and also look out for the designation of the authority that signed the certificate as well as structure or chain of the expressions on the certificate.They also urged academic institutions and other employers of labour to contact issuing schools to verify the authenticity of certificates presented to them.The Electronic Transcript Exchange (ETX-NG) and certificate verification system for Nigeria may be useful in this regard.The ETX-NG verifies the higher education, university education and professional certification qualifications claimed by a graduate or member. Using highly secure Internet technology, the service provides an immediate response.This replaces the manual methods traditionally used by the countrys tertiary institutions, making the experience better for universities and better for employers. The primary purpose of verification is to confirm the academic record of those claiming to be successful students and to enable the truly qualified to secure the most rewarding positions.A significant proportion of job applicants admit to having exaggerated or embellished their academic qualifications. A smaller number have been found to have blatantly lied and invented totally fictitious qualifications. Some have performed no study at all and have purchased a bogus degree from a bogus institution, the academic fraud buster said.Speaking on the position of the law on forgery and penalty, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dayo Akinlaja noted that forgery in whatever form is a criminal offence which attracts criminal sanctions.The legal luminary however clarified that the penalties vary from imprisonment to imposition of fine.A retired director of the State Security Service (DSS), Mike Ejiofor in his remarks said every political office holder is supposed to have a background check of schools attended and qualifications obtained which the DSS effectively carried out until 1998 when some politicians at a conference stripped the DSS of any power to carry out such checks.Ejiofor added that the Electoral Act as amended also ratified it by stating that anyone dissatisfied with the qualification of any candidate should go to court. Since then, we dont really do background check of elective office holders except some political appointees that government makes specific requests on. That is why we are having challenges of certificate forgeries.The former DSS official cited the case of former Speaker, House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari who was found to have lied about his qualification and was subsequently removed, expressing regret that the security outfit no longer has the power to do such.While efforts are being made to name, shame and nail academic fraudsters, morally bankrupt Nigeria is still in search of a value system that lays emphasis, not on academic qualifications but on skills acquisition and good character.
Nigerian Christians today join others across the world in celebrating Good Friday, the day of the good death as it were. It is the central article of faith for Christians that Christs redemption is hinged upon his death and resurrection.Good Friday represents the apogee of the season of passion when Jesus suffered the ultimate humiliation of crucifixion on the cross; when he paid the ultimate price for the salvation of the world. The multitude of believers across the world today, and a succession of believers through the over 2000-year history of Christianity celebrate his death for its vicarious and atoning value.Good Friday in Christianity caps the 40-day period of Lent, which like the Muslim Ramadan is characterised by prayer, fasting, works of charity, self-denial, self-mortification and the pursuit of other high spiritual and moral virtues. The name itself may appear to be a misnomer. Ordinarily, this Friday should be a day of sorrow and of mourning over the death of an innocent person who did no harm to anyone, but who was nevertheless hated, humiliated and crucified for proclaiming the truth as he knew it. What is good about this day of wickedness and death, one may ask. But taken within the context of atonement and seen in the light of the resurrection and the salvation he won for believers through his death, it is understandable that this Friday should be universally acclaimed Good Friday by Christians all over the world.The celebration of Good Friday by Christians in Nigeria is to be appraised within our unique context. We live in a society with so much religious piety on display, yet the degree of individual or group fidelity to the higher values and virtues that authentic religion promotes, is a matter of contention. Whereas the Christian by his or her faith commitment to Jesus Christ, is meant to be in the world but not of the world with all its corrupt influences, Nigerian Christians find it hard to distinguish themselves from the rot that is prevalent in the land. Whereas the Christian is supposed to be a light in the midst of darkness, and a sign of contradiction to a corrupt society, Nigerian Christians have the tendency to join the bandwagon in a life of debauchery.The tendency of the Nigerian Christian to go through the motions of the rituals of worship without living out the injunctions on a daily basis is a major source of concern to critical observers within and outside the country. Rather than project the paradox of Good Friday, Christians here readily collude with the forces of darkness, and join the crowd whose attitudinal tendencies often portray the country in bad light. Ours is a country that is so numbed by the paralysis of grand corruption, a notoriety that has assailed not only all arms of government but also various levels of society, including the corporate and even the religious. Leaders and public officers have become so brazen in the criminal engagement of treasury looting, that stealing in billions rather than millions of naira has become the new attraction. Our country harbours leaders of many hues. Some are in a fight to pull the country out of recession, to stabilise the ailing currency and chart the course for economic recovery and growth, to stem the bleeding and destruction occasioned by acts of terrorism and social strife, and to bail out a country bogged down by perpetrators of monumental corruption and their sympathisers. At the same time some others are enmeshed in idle self-serving political manoeuvres and the display of sickening quixotic shenanigans in high places. And yet, in these embarrassing scenarios and as the society often celebrates rogue leaders, Christians and non-Christians alike are today presented with the graphic image of Jesus Christ, the true servant leader, who died on the cross that his people may have abundant life.As Nigerian Christians join their counterparts worldwide to mark Good Friday, the occasion challenges everyone to engage in genuine soul-searching and recognise todays crisis in our society as an opportunity to begin the process of individual and corporate transformation. Beyond the ritual of re-enacting the crucifixion and other acts celebrating the passion of Christ on this day and around this time, Good Friday is significant as a day of meditation on the Cross and its significance for the Christian, and for all who are committed to the higher values that give meaning to life. We can today begin to build an egalitarian society driven by concerns for the common good, if the leadership elite embrace the kind of sacrificial love exemplified by Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.
A team of highly skilled doctors from the United States of America will arrive Nigeria this weekend for a medical mission at Ile Ife, Osun State.The 20-man team of physicians, surgeons and medical support staff is made up mostly of alumni of the Obafemi Awolowo University, formerly University of Ife.Among other things, the week-long activities for the medical mission include free medical clinics at the Oonis palace; and a full day of Campus clinics,health fair, preventive/public health activities, including screenings for diabetes, hypertension and some communicable diseases.According to the schedule, while the physicians are running the clinics, there will be simultaneous surgeries at designated centres within the University teaching hospital by the US-based surgeons and their Ife counterparts on cataract patients.There will also be laparoscopic procedures using top-notch, state of theart and cutting edge technology equipment brought from the US.According to the team, all surgeries will be conducted for free.Also members of the team interested in teaching and giving lectures will be provided the opportunity to do so at the university.The team led by Dr Olabisi Jagun, who describes her role as a fortunate one is sponsored by the Mercy Foundation (an Atlanta-based Nigerian Philanthropic organization), Ifemed Alumni Association (USA),member physicians, Friends of Ifemed Physicians and Ife Ooye NorthAmerica Association (IONA).Our team is very excited and ready to go, and we are grateful for the wonderful opportunity to give back, says Jagun.She explains that all our physicians and surgeons are brilliant and distinguished in their field of expertise; a few of them are leading world experts; they have all been vetted and their licenses are current.It is estimated that during the mission, the team will see between 5,000 to10,000 patients and hand out over $150,000 worth of free medications and prescriptions.Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the university,who is planning many initiatives for the insitution, says the medical mission is a great thing to happen to the university and Ile-Ife city.It fills me with joy to see distinguished physicians and surgeons in theUnited States remember home for this kind gesture. The Council and the entire university are proud of this wonderful support.The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a leading federal government owned and operated Nigerian university at the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State.It was founded in 1961 by the Western Nigeria regional government and classes commenced in October 1962. It was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University on 12 May 1987 in honour of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, first premier of the Western Region of Nigeria, who masterminded the creation of the university.
"The Lagos command of the NDLEA between January and March 2017 arrested 138 suspected drug dealers including a female and seized 1,399.780kg of drugs. Cannabis has the largest share with 1,390.38kg, Tramadol 9.35kg, Cocaine 23.65 grammes and Heroin 22.8 grammes". he said.

"I was a commercial motor cyclist but when the Lagos State Government banned commercial motor cycles I then shifted to cannabis sales. I am from Enugu State. I am married with 3 children".

"I am married to 2 wives and I have 5 children. I used to sell motor tyres but due to family problem I started selling drugs because there is more profit in it than selling motor tyres. I was arrested at Ogijo, Ikorodu".

The Lagos State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended 138 suspected drug traffickers and seized one thousand, three hundred and ninety-nine kilogrammes of drugs (1,399.780kg) which is 1.3 metric tons. The drugs were seized in Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Lagos Island, Ikorodu and other parts of the State within the first quarter of 2017. Those apprehended in connection with drug trafficking include 137 males and one female.NDLEA Lagos commander, Aliyu Sule gave a breakdown of the seized drugs as well as arrests.The commander added that 84 drug dependent persons were successfully counselled and re-united with their families while 54 drug dealers were convicted with 125 pending cases.One of the suspects Ngozi Owunna, 34, who allegedly distributes cannabis within Ikeja was caught at Allen Junction with 600 grammes of hemp after close monitoring by undercover narcotic agents. According to the suspect:Another suspect, Abdulrauf Oshilaja, 50, from Oyo State, who was caught with 50.3kg of cannabis said that financial hardship made him to deal in cannabis.The Lagos command also traced and seized 372.6kg of cannabis inside a shop at Lagos Island belonging to one Ojomu Saheed who hails from Kwara State. The 46 year old suspect told narcotic officers that he had rented the shop to another suspect who is currently at large but investigation is ongoing.NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) who vowed to intensify Nigeria's fight against drug production, trafficking and abuse said that the war against drugs is on course and that there is no going back. He however called on stakeholders to enlist and actively participate in the anti-drug campaign.
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, said in a statement.

The US has dropped what has been described as the largest non-nuclear bomb in the countrys arsenal 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 ordinance air blast.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.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 Pentagon said the mission had been in the planning stages for months. However, they "did not have the information" on whether the mission was being planned during the previous Obama administration.
The management of Kakatar CE Ltd, a company owned by Robert Azibaola, a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, says the Economic an...

The management of Kakatar CE Ltd, a company owned by Robert Azibaola, a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) found nothing incriminating during the raid conducted on its premises.The anti-graft agency stormed the Bayelsa-based construction company around 3pm on Thursday.In a statement issued by Austin Ekeinde, branding manager of Kakatar Ltd, the company said EFCC did not produce warrant of search during the operation.Ten EFCC operatives accompanied by over 40 fully armed mobile policemen in three hilux and five buses, invaded the premises of Kakatar CE Ltd at Otakeme, hometown of its managing director, Azibaola Robert, the statement read.They assaulted and took hostage the security men on duty and ceased all their handsets. The EFCC operatives broke into all the containers in the premises, vandalised machines and equipment as well as broke into residential buildings, lifts and basements.During the operation, the EFCC operatives also assaulted passersby and seized their phones.No search warrant was produced despite repeated request by security guards on duty even as the EFCC operatives repeatedly threatened and assaulted them.At the end of their operation, nothing was recovered from the premises.Kakatar premises in Otakeme Ogbia is the operational premises of the company in Bayelsa state and houses containers, residential buildings and personal effects of the managing directors family, Mr. Azibaola Robert.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.
Mr. David Iyofor, a media aide to the Minister of Transport and former Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi has returned a punch thr...

Mr. David Iyofor, a media aide to the Minister of Transport and former Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi has returned a punch thrown at the Transport Minister by Mr. Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who accused the minister of being connected with the over N5billion recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC at a Lagos house on Wednesday.In a statement made on his Facebook page, Fayoses aide had alleged that the Transport Minister owns the house where the alleged looted money was found by the anti-graft agency.But in response, Amaechis aide said the allegation is false, warning Mr. Olayinka to delete the allegation or face jail term. According to Olayinka, The Osborne Towers, a luxury residential complex in Ikoyi, Lagos where EFCC said it found $43,449,947, 27,800 and N23, 218,000 on Wednesday is owned by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. The house was built by Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the former Chairman of PDP through a loan from GTBank.He could not repay the loan so GTB took over the house and allocated the Pent House to Muazu and two flats. Rotimi Amaechi bought TWO of the flats (7A and 7B). He then gave 7A to MO ABUDU, the TV presenter, who is suspected to be his girl friend. But the flat 7B where the money was found belong to Rotimi Amaechi. The is believed to be cash kept for 2019 elections. Lets see how the cover up game goes. But replying Olayinka, Mr. Iyofor said, Lere or whatever you call yourself, delete your lies or be ready to face the consequences of stupidity and utter foolishness. You better hear well before your ear sends you to prison. Lying is not playing Politics. You dont play politics by tweeting outright lies.Where is your proof? If you think you can link Amaechi to the House&money by tweeting this rubbish, then you need to have your head examine. Big Liar! Demonic Liar! Listen, you disgusting pig, Rotimi Amaechi is not connected or linked in anyway whatsoever to the house &/or money. Recall that operatives of Economic EFCC, had found $38 million, 27,000 and N23 million in a private residence on Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
By Ihechukwu Njoku The world has reacted with shock to the announcement that USA used its largest non-nuclear weapon for the first tim...

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 devils 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 Trumps assertion he would solve the North Korean problem, with or without the assistance of China.
Leander Dendoncker's late equaliser gave Anderlecht hope as a superior Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of...

Leander Dendoncker's late equaliser gave Anderlecht hope as a superior Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.Jose Mourinho's men generally looked a cut above their Belgian hosts for much of the match, but United were made to rue not taking their chances as Dendoncker salvaged a potentially vital draw four minutes from time.Although Anderlecht initially looked bright, United soon took over and were impressive in the first half, with Sergio Romero completely untested in the visitors' goal.The only surprising aspect of United's goal was that it took 36 minutes to arrive, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan scoring for the fourth successive Europa League away game with a straightforward finish.Anderlecht were significantly more positive once again upon the start of the second period, but United should have finished them off when Paul Pogba spurned a late one-on-one chance.And Dendoncker took full advantage to give the Belgians a ray of optimism ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford, where Mourinho will need more from his side amid a brutal April schedule.Neither side looked happy to sit back and absorb pressure, resulting in an open encounter during the early exchanges, which Anderlecht slightly shaded - Frank Acheampong and Massimo Bruno shooting off-target.But United improved quickly and the hosts were lucky to remain level in the 17th minute.Zlatan Ibrahimovic met Marcus Rashford's teasing left-wing cross and saw his first-time effort saved by Ruben, before Jesse Lingard turned the rebound onto the post.The lively Rashford was involved again shortly after, sending a fierce 30-yard drive agonisingly wide of the top-right corner.United showed no sign of relinquishing their control and eventually got the away goal they deserved nine minutes before the break.Rashford forced Ruben into a smart save from Antonio Valencia's cross, but Mkhitaryan was there to smash home the rebound.Anderlecht were resurgent at the start of the second half and caused United problems  Valencia hooking Bruno's deflected goal-bound effort away before crucially blocking an Acheampong half-volley.United served another warning shortly after, though, as Mhitaryan met Matteo Darmian's cross and guided an improvised effort just wide of the right-hand post.Pogba should have wrapped things up seven minutes from the end when he smashed an effort at Ruben after a clever flicked pass courtesy of Ibrahimovic.And the hosts made them pay.Ivan Obradovic charged up the left flank and delivered a fine cross which Dendoncker powered onto and sent an arrowed header beyond Romero, leaving United with work to do at Old Trafford.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, stopped the Nigerian Postal Services, NIPOST, from further collecting N50 on stamp duty.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, stopped the Nigerian Postal Services, NIPOST, from further collecting N50 on stamp duty.The court held that such revenue drive by NIPOST does not enjoy the backing of any extant law in the country including the Stamp Duties Act 2004. The court Judgement followed a suit the Nigerian bottling company, NBC, filed against NIPOST and a private firm, Kasmal International Services. Justice Gabriel Kolawole who gave the verdict, held that having carefully gone through the Stamp Duties Act 2004, he could not see where NIPOST was empowered by the law to impose stamp duty tax on the bottling company, banks and other establishments.According to the Judge, whereas the Act recommended 2kobo stamp to be affixed on certain categories of documents, NIPOST, lacked the power to arbitrarily increase the amount to N50 without firstly securing an amendment of the Act through the National Assembly. A law is a law and has to be obeyed or implemented as it is. Section 89 of the Stamp Duties Act which recommended the use of adhesive 2 kobo stamp on certain categories of receipts and document is the law in force.The NIPOST as a defendant in this suit acted unlawfully, illegally and ultra-vire by unilaterally increasing the 2 kobo stamp to N50 without any back up law and under the guise that 2 kobo stamps are no longer in circulation in Nigeria. Under section 89 of this Act, the NIPOST has no power to compel the plaintiff (NBC) to affix N50 stamp on its receipts and other documents. By this, NIPOST has no business or authority in sending Kasmal International Services on illegal errand to compel the plaintiff on the N50 stamp duty tax.Consequently, the court issued an order of injunction against the NIPOST and Kasmal International Services, stopping them from further harassing, embarrassing, intimidating, coercing or disrupting the business operation of the plaintiff in the name of unlawful stamp duty tax until the extant laws are reviewed. It said: The extant law is for 2 kobo stamp. No law has amended the Stamp Duties Act 2004 to increase it to N50. At any rate, NIPOST is not a tax collecting establishment and as such, cannot exercise any power not expressly donated to it by law. More so, Justice Kolawole recalled that the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal had earlier delivered judgment on the same issue.He said the Federal High Court, being a lower court, cannot afford to depart from the precedent of a Superior Court as regards the judgment until such a precedent has been set aside by the highest court in the country. Basically, NBC had through its counsel, Mr. Ayokunle Adesomoju, dragged NIPOST and Kasmal International Services before the court, praying for an order to declare the stamp duty tax as illegal, unlawful and ultra-vire.The plaintiff also applied for a perpetual order of injunction stopping the two defendants from invading, harassing, embarrassing and disrupting its business operations across the country on the pretext of seeking internal revenue for the federal government. NIPOST had through its counsel Mr. Salihu Wakawa, prayed the court to dismiss the suit, insisting that granting reliefs sought by the plaintiff would occasion great injustice and jeopardise the revenue drive of the Federal Government.The President Muhammadu Buhari led administration had expressed its determination to generate over N5trillion from stamp duty tax.
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has reiterated the Commissions readiness in ensuring...

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has reiterated the Commissions readiness in ensuring that corruption is completely wiped out in Nigeria, a development that will ensure Nigeria retains her position in the comity of nations.Magu made this known during an interactive session with staff of the Commission to mark its 14th year anniversary. While encouraging the staff to uphold the core values of the Commission, Magu said it was necessary to put more efforts in the ongoing fight against corruption as that is the only way succour can be brought to Nigeria.His words: We will continue to fight corruption whether anybody likes it or not. Because, we know that, that is the only way we can bring succour to this country.Now that we have found ourselves in this position, please, let us put heads together, Magu said. The anti-graft czar, also encouraged the personnel to furnish him with information on how the Commission can move forward; information on the wrong things the personnel are doing, in other for them to be addressed, so that the image of the Agency will not be tarnished. He said my door is completely opened. If something is going on wrong, please come and tell me.If you dont want to show your face, just write a letter to me. Information is very important. I am alone, if you dont tell me what is wrong, I would not know. He continued, I dont want to know what is right, just tell us how we can correct the system itself, because the system needs correction every day.People are complaining about corruption in the EFCC, which is not good. We should not allow some individuals to spoil our names here, he admonished.Magu who said that the efforts being made by the Commission in fighting corruption, is fast gaining recognition in the international communities, charged the staff to shun the wrong things and be part of the success story. He said it was necessary to always remember to put the interest of the nation first. If you go to United States of America and the United Kingdom, they are all awash with news about us because of this Malabu case.So we are succeeding. Be part of the success. Forget about your own interest. Consider the overall interest of this country and the interest of the EFCC as an institution.
Controversial Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai has just arrived the Presidential Villa, Abuja to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari.





Controversial Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai has just arrived the Presidential Villa, Abuja to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari.The governor who arrived 12: 45 pm is also expected to worship with the President at the Villa Mosque. It will be recalled that el-Rufai recently in a letter hit the administration of President Buhari so hard, saying that the president has failed to take charge of his own government.He said that cabals have hijacked the government from the president, dictating the course of events in the country.Similarly, the governor recently picked up a challenge thrown to him by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to publish the details of his security votes in the spirit of transparency.The governor was to later challenge the Speaker to reciprocate the same having done his.His meeting with President will be the first since the el-Rufais letter went viral.
Senate has vowed to publish names of importers and banks found culpable in ongoing investigation into over N30 trillion alleged foreign ...

Senate has vowed to publish names of importers and banks found culpable in ongoing investigation into over N30 trillion alleged foreign exchange frauds perpetrated between 2006 and 2017.The Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, made this known on the second day of meeting with representatives of all commercial banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria and Ministry of Finance on Thursday.He said the committee had given documents containing names of importers allegedly involved in the act and other details to the commercial banks to study.According him, as soon as the committee gets reactions from the banks, it will proceed with further investigations on each of the importers.The Senate is worried with the state of our economy and we have decided to investigate the dwindling value of our Naira as well as the state of forex that is affecting the economy negatively.We will publish the names of importer and banks involved in this fraudulent act.The purpose of giving the banks these documents is for them to go and identify the importers that were their customers and work out ways of returning the un-utilised portion of the foreign exchange allocated to them.We have the names of the importers, how much was given to them and other details, which are contained in the documents handed over to the banks, he said.The lawmaker decried that the release of forex to fictitious importers had denied genuine importers access to Forex, causing economic hardship.He stressed that commercial banks were trusted and given dealer status, unfortunately we were not able to see the importation that was made with the forex released.We profiled utilisation of Forex within the period and went further to establish that letters of credit for doing business were linked to companies abroad.We did not stop there, we also went to Customs and there was no evidence of import duty payment, payment of Value Added Tax and other requirements.
Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central Senatorial district has claimed that Governor Nasir El-Rufai lied over the security votes h...

Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central Senatorial district has claimed that Governor Nasir El-Rufai lied over the security votes he released days ago.Sani, in a statement released on Thursday, said that Nigerians should not believe the governor and insisted there was no way Mr. El-Rufai would be earning less than half a million naira in a month.The general public should not be deceived by Kaduna Governors stunts and public presentation of his work of fiction he calls security vote.Whoever can believe that a state governor lives on less than half a million monthly is either hypnotised, dazzed or high on an inebriate.If you are convinced that Kaduna Governor transparently spent his security votes on CCTV camera visit Kaduna if you will ever see one security camera.If you are convinced that the Kaduna Governor transparently spent his security votes on the police, please ask him from which of the votes does he pay the Herdsmen?Sheu Elrufai.JPGSani added that: the Nigerian public cannot know who is a saint or a sinner in power, it always has to take men out of power for the public to know what exist beneath the throne.He also said corruption was hidden in the files of public documents.Nigerias lost wealth is not just in Swiss banks and dubai real estate; its not just hidden in cesspit holes and in dusty ceilings; its in the files of conduct bureau well protected by the law of secrecy.Apart from PMB and VP Osinbajo, no other vendor of change is willing to publicly declare his asset. Everyman on the throne of power stands in the dock of history and posterity, he said.
Businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim, as disclaimed news reports quoting him to have insulted ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim, as disclaimed news reports quoting him to have insulted ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.Ibrahim, an ex-Ondo State governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, said he could not have hauled invectives at Jonathan, who ruled the country on the platform of the PDP, because he held Jonathan in high esteem.In a statement be personally signed on Thursday, Ibrahim disowned the Twitter account being quoted by some news outlet as the platform on which he attacked Jonathan.He also dissociated himself from similar attack on a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who was the Director of the Goodluck Jonathans Campaign Organisation for the 2015 general elections.Ibrahim said, My attention has been directed to certain statements purportedly issued by me through a Twitter account in which invectives were hurled on ex-President Jonathan. In the same vein, my attention was also drawn to the fact that such vituperation had also been directed at Chief Femi Fani-kayode.I wish to reiterate that I do not own or maintain any Twitter account either directly or by proxy. Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan is a brother and a quintessential gentleman and I hold him in high esteem. Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is a bosom brother and friend of utmost regard.The general public is hereby put on notice to disregard any statements emanating from the said fake Twitter account.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday moved the recovered cash to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

also gathered that the EFCC obtained a court order for the temporary seizure of the $43million, N23million and 27,000; quizzed a former Managing Director of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), who was suspected of being the owner of the cash; and planned to review the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) of the building to determine the identity of a haggard-looking woman who is said to have been bringing in sacks (suspected to be holding the cash) into the apartment.The apartment on 6, Osborne Road, Ikoyi is under surveillance by EFCC operatives.Although three highly-placed Nigerians have been linked with the seized cash, they have all denied having anything to do with the money.They are a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alh. Adamu Muazu; former PPMC boss, Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, and the Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Solomon Adeola.The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday sacked Nnamdi-Ogbue as part of the organisations ongoing reforms. But there were speculations that she may have been fired over the missing 130 million litres of fuel kept with Capital Oil and Gas Limited.The EFCC, after a tip-off, recovered the money from an apartment in House 16, Osborne Road in Ikoyi on Lagos Island.The anti-graft commission yesterday secured a court order of interim forfeiture of the cash.The EFCC quizzed Nnamdi-Ogbue yesterday in Abuja over the cash.Prior to her grilling, EFCC operatives raided her Maitama District home in Abuja.She denied owning the $43.4million.It was gathered that the invitation of the ex-NNPC director followed a report that she is a tenant in House 16.According to EFCC, it sought for an interim forfeiture pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act 2006.A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: Barely 24 hours after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovered the sums of $43,449,947, 27,800 and N23, 218,000 at an apartment in the Ikoyi area of Lagos, a Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered an interim forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government.In his ruling on Thursday, Justice Muslim Hassan ordered anyone interested in the money to appear before him at the next adjourned date to show reason why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.The commission was also directed to publish in any National Daily for anyone to show cause within 14 days why the order of final forfeiture should not be granted. The Interim Forfeiture was obtained pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act 2006.Operatives of the Commission on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, stormed a residential building on the seventh floor of a four-bedroom apartment on Osborne Towers located on 16,Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where the large sums of money was uncoveredThe operation followed a whistle-blower confidential alert received by the Commission office in Lagos in the early hours of yesterday.The case was adjourned to May 5, 2017.As at press time, the EFCC was still searching for the owner of the cash.The anti-graft commission quoted a witness as saying that the sacks were always brought by a haggard-looking woman.Apart from the court order, the EFCC released the details of the recovery of the cash.A separate statement added: The operation followed 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 of interest indicated that a woman usually appeared on different occasion with Ghana Must Go bags. She comes looking haggard, with dirty clothes but her skin didnt quite match her outward appearance, perhaps a disguise, the source said.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.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.There were indications that the EFCC might review the CCTVs in House 16 and nearby houses on Osborne Road to determine how the cash was brought into the house.We may also interact with the guards at the house and some neighbours with useful information on those behind the ferrying of the cash, an EFCC source said.Although three prominent people were allegedly linked with the money, they have all denied having anything to do with it.They are a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Alh. Adamu Muazu; a former Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, and the Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Solomon Adeola.Nnamdi-Ogbue, who spoke through her lawyer, Emeka Etiaba(SAN), frowned at the allegation.She said there was no need for conjecture.A statement by Etiaba said the former NNPC Director expressed hope that the anti-graft agency will in due course uncover the owner of the property and the huge sum.The statement said: By this Press Release, we inform the public (especially the News Media) that the said sums of money and/or the apartment where the sums of money were found do not belong to our client.Our client is as shocked as many other Nigerians at the uncovering and recovery of the said sums of money and wishes to salute the courage and efforts of the EFCC in the war against corruption.She also wishes to commend the whistle blowing policy introduced by the Federal Government in the fight against corruption which policy has resulted in large scale uncovering and recovery of monies and assets.It is our clients belief that the source and ownership of the said uncovered sums of money is known or eventually will be known by the EFCC in due course. There is therefore no need for conjecture or speculation.May we finally implore the news media to be more circumspect in their publications.The Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Mr. Solomon Adeola, yesterday expressed dismay over an online publication alleging his ownership of N15 billion in foreign and local currencies discovered by the EFCC.The medium alleged that Adeola stashed the huge cash in anticipation of using the money to finance his gubernatorial ambition in one of the states of the Southwest.His reaction was contained in a statement by his Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro.He said the media report was absolute lies and calculated blackmail to dent the image of the lawmaker.The statement said: We are aware that the satanic report is conscious antics by some politicians, who are having sleepless nights in the rising profile of Senator Adeola, and his impeccable records as a grassroots democrat.These elements are hell bent on eliminating him in their paranoid political equation towards 2019.Senator Adeola does not own any house or apartment on Osborne Towers at Osborne Road, Ikoyi and could not have been the owner of the discovered cash in the apartment.The senator will in due course not hesitate to take legal action against anyone unjustly tarnishing his hard earned reputation and image pursuant of his fundamental rights under the constitution. The EFCC as a credible anti-corruption organisation is doing its statutory duty and I am sure it will soon come out with details of the ownership of the discovered humongous cash.Senator Adeola as an APC Senator is fully committed to the anti-corruption agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari and APC.Muazu, who is overseas, was not willing to talk about the money.An associate of his said: The ex-PDP chairman was shocked by the revelation because he has nothing to do with the recovered cash.He said he will not talk to the media on it on the seized cash.As at press time, EFCC was grilling Mrs Nnamdi-Ogbue over the cash.A source in the commission said: Our operatives stormed her residence in Maitama in Abuja for a search and she was invited for interrogation.While quizzing her, she insisted that she had nothing to do with the cash.
The suspended Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, has said that there is currently no r...

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.
Troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole and the Multi-National Joint Task Force have shot dead at least 57 Boko Haram terrorists in Arege ...

Troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole and the Multi-National Joint Task Force have shot dead 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.An undisclosed number of soldiers were reportedly injured during the encounter.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.
A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, on Thursday hailed the anti-corruption agency under the le...

A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, on Thursday hailed the anti-corruption agency under the leadership of Ibrahim Magu as its celebrates 11 years in operations.Mr. Ribadu, on his twitter timeline said: "As @officialEFCC celebrates 14 years, it's time to remember all the sacrifices especially by the unknown foot-soldiers who paid the supreme price".He was the pioneer Executive Chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud.NigerianBulletin.com recall that Mr. Ribadu lived in exile until 2010 when he returned to Nigeria and declared his intention to run for President of Nigeria under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). On Friday, 14 January 2011, Nuhu Ribadu was adopted as the presidential candidate of the ACN.In August 2014, He defected to the ruling party PDP with the intention to run for the Governorship of Adamawa State, North East Nigeria and now back to the All Progressives Congress, APC.See tweets:The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the past weeks, recovered huge sum of cash in local and foreign currencies through the federal government whistle blowing programme.The Anti-graft, acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu has also faced rejection by the Nigerian Senate for the second time though President Muhammadu Buhari, through his vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said that Mr. Magu remains the choice of the executive team.
Former governor of Edo State, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday commended the judgment delivered by the Election Petitions Tribunal on the Ed...

Former governor of Edo State, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday commended the judgment delivered by the Election Petitions Tribunal on the Edo 2016 Governorship Election, affirming the election of Gov. Godwin Obaseki.Speaking to newsmen in Benin, Oshiomhole said the judiciary still remained the hope for common man.He said, The judgment is sound and a testimony that the people of Edo never voted for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).The petition was a busy body one to distract the electorate; this was just like Mama Akara judgment going to see over non-issue.Oshiomhole further said that the judgment has shown that there were still men and women of good character in the judiciary.This will serve as a deterrent to some people who can say whatever they like about the judiciary.But it has shown it (judiciary) has men & women of good charter of courage and knowledge.In a relayed development, the counsel for the All Progressives Congress, Mr Victor Ohiosunua, has appealed to the PDP chieftain to support Obaseki to develop the state.Ohiosunua made the call in Benin after the Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin dismissed the petition filed by PDP candidate, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, challenging Obasekis election.I want to appeal to the petitioners to joining hands with the governor to develop and carry the state to the next level.The business of the governor is tedious and the few five months the present governor has spent in the office, shows his capability and focus to take Edo to the next level.The logical order the tribunal made today is the right one for them to make.We are happy that the votes and wishes of the Edo people who voted on Sept. 28, 2016 has been restored, Ohiosunua said.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on Thursday announced that Yola, Adamawa State, would host the innovation hub for the North-East region.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on Thursday announced that Yola, Adamawa State, would host the innovation hub for the North-East region.This is 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.Prof. Osinbajo spoke in Jimeta, at the commissioning of road projects completed by the Adamawa State Government.He expressed hope regarding the economy, adding that we are seeing a bright light at the end of the tunnel.Below is his speech at the event.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 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 everyday using technology. This will give Nigeria an opportunity to work with international organizations 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.
Residents of Owo and its environs in Ondo State heaved a sigh of relief yesterday as the leader of a gang, identified as Gani Elese wa...

Residents of Owo and its environs in Ondo State heaved a sigh of relief yesterday as the leader of a gang, identified as Gani Elese was shot dead.The notorious robber and his gang were said to have been threatening the peace of the ancient town for a long time.It was learnt Gani was killed in a gun duel with the police at his hideout at Jugbere Camp, a farmstead sharing boundary with the State Forest Reserved.Before his death, Gani was said to have claimed responsibility for series of killings in the town.He was linked with several secret cult groups.The Police Anti-Robbery team from A Division in Owo, with the assistance of a vigilance group, acted on a tip-off and moved into the camp where they killed the robbery gang leader.Sources said the residents went into jubilation when information filtered into town that Gani had been killed.The Ijebu-Owo Police Station was filled with a huge crowd, which eagerly waited to catch a glimpse of his body.The crowd hailed the police and the vigilantes for ending the reign of the man they described as a terrorist.Police spokesman Femi Joseph confirmed expressed appreciation to the public for providing information that led to the successful defeat of the robbery gang leader.
The winner of the Big Brother Naija 2017 reality show, Efe Ejeba, has denied deleting his followers on social media.

Only God know say I no go fit bite the fingers wey feed me. Only me one go start to handle my matter from today.#whoibe A post shared by Efe (@efemoney) on Apr 13, 2017 at 12:27pm PDT

The winner of the Big Brother Naija 2017 reality show, Efe Ejeba, has denied deleting his followers on social media.His followers on Instagram had criticised him after he allegedly unfollowed them.While calling on his fans not to panic, Efe said he was not the one who unfollowed them.The BB Naija top prize winner made the denial in a video shared via his twitter handle.Based of logistics, as fondly called, begged his fans not to take the situation serious and assured that he would correct the error.Efe insisted that he was not the one that unfollowed the over 2000 accounts he was following before he won the show.He further stated that since he won and returned to Nigeria, he hasnt been on social media but media tours which hasnt afforded him the opportunity to interact with his fans.He said that even though he has been blessed, he would not forget who he is and where he is coming from.See video below
"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 wasn't 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 I'm 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 hasn't been the easiest but thru it all I have grown, I am becoming. I've 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?

It's 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 "
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Friday led other party members and supporters in jubilation on the streets of Benin following the a...

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Friday led other party members and supporters in jubilation on the streets of Benin following the affirmation of his election by the state Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.The tribunal had in a two-hour ruling dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate in the September 26, 2016, governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, challenging the declaration of Obaseki as winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission.But the governor, who was accompanied by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, on a motorcade, commended the judges and his counsel for what he described as an amazing job.He also thanked the people of the state for their support and urged them to continue to be law-abiding.Obaseki said, I want to thank the people of Edo State for standing by the APC and my government. We thank God. We thank the judges and our counsel for the amazing job they have done.We want all of you to go back peacefully and observe the Easter holiday.
The US military says it has dropped the most destructive non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat on an Islamic State group tunnel complex in...

The US military says it has dropped the most destructive non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat on an Islamic State group tunnel complex in Afghanistan.The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), known as the mother of all bombs, was first tested in 2003, but had not been used before.The Pentagon said it was dropped from a US aircraft in Nangarhar province, BBC reports.The news came hours after the Pentagon admitted an air strike in Syria mistakenly killed 18 rebels.It said a partnered force had mistakenly identified the target location as an IS position, but the strike on 11 April had killed rebels from the Syrian Democratic Forces, which is backed by Washington.Many Militants KilledThe strike in Afghanistan follows last weeks death of a US special forces soldier fighting IS in Nangarhar.The 21,600lb (9,800kg) bomb was dropped in Achin district on Thursday evening local time, the Pentagon said. It is more than 9m (30 feet) in length.We targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters use to move around freely, making it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said, using another name for IS.He said necessary precautions were taken to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage.The area where the bomb was dropped is mostly mountainous and sparsely populated, BBC correspondents say. Local sources said the explosion was so powerful it was heard in two neighbouring districts.The US has not yet confirmed the results of the strike in detail, but a local official told the BBC that many IS militants were killed, allegedly including the brother of a senior leader.US President Donald Trump called it another successful job.
kim jong telephone_3542147b

With the world on edge after reports that the US and North Korea are on the verge of war, North Korea has threatened "nuclear thunderbolts" at the first sign of a US preemptive strike, while also slamming China for cooperating with the West, according to NK News.

While North Korea is expected to carry out another provocative nuclear test on Saturday  the 105th anniversary of the birth of the regime's founder, Kim Il Sung  threats and provocations from the Kim regime have become common.

But the cooperation seen lately between the world's two greatest powers to contain Kim Jong Un's nuclear ambitions is new.

"Currently, with the cooperation of 'somebody,' the US is planning to collapse our system, the action that is such a naive and foolish delusion," a North Korean think tank said, according to NK News.

That reference to "somebody" appears to be a swipe at China, which recently rejected coal shipments from the Hermit Kingdom, thereby hamstringing the North Korean economy. Additionally, Air China announced on Friday it would suspend its only direct flights to North Korea, according to the South China Morning Post.

While China has signed on to every UN resolution against North Korea since 2006, it remains North Korea's biggest economic and political backer.

But since US President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week and threatened trade retaliation against China should it fail to cooperate on denuclearizing North Korea, the Chinese have signaled a new willingness to act.

Trump said at a press conference on Wednesday that he told his Chinese counterpart: "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."

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the South China Sea, April 8, 2017. Photo taken April 8, 2017. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matt Brown/Handout via Reuters

Meanwhile, despite reports that the US and North Korea are at the brink of all-out war, Gui Rui, the director of Jilin University's Institute of Northeast Asian Studies, told The Associated Press that war wasn't likely.

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Instead, he said that should Pyongyang carry out its test, the regime could expect harsher rebukes from Beijing, which could single-handedly hobble North Korea by restricting its energy trade, thereby accomplishing what decades of UN sanctions have failed to do: destabilize the Kim regime.

"I was very impressed with President Xi," Trump said on Wednesday of the pair's meeting. "I think he means well and he wants to help. We'll see if he does."

NOW WATCH: How the US could prevent a North Korean nuclear strike  according to a former Marine and cyberwarfare expert

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DailyFX.com -

Oil Inventories Remain High Despite OPEC Cut, Extension Expected

Fundamental Forecast for USOIL: Neutral

Talking Points:

Oil stockpiles fail to fall, but compliance from OPEC production cut increased

Crude Oil Prices Drop Despite Inventory Draw, Trump Boosts Gold

Sentiment showing retail traders selling hard favoring ST upside per contrarian effect

Will Oil Continue Its Rise in 2Q? See our forecast to find out what is driving market trends!

Nationwide US Oil Output moved to its highest level since January 2016 per the EIA report on Wednesday despite U.S. Crude stockpiles falling by 2.2m barrels. The fundamental tug-of-war remains in play, but its possible the Oil Bulls could win out as the IEA report appears supportive for the fundamental outlook. In short, they showed that despite an increase in Crude Oil inventories, the OPEC-led production cuts had put the global stockpiles very close to balance, and we could see stockpiles exhaust in 2Q.

Even with stockpiles close to depletion, there remains hope that OPEC could extend their production cuts, which would bring the global Oil inventories to a net draw that could boost Oil prices easily to 2017 highs. While US producers have activated 28% more rigs in 2017, and there does not appear to be any intention to pull back production, the balancing Oil market should encourage the multitude of Crude Oil price Bulls while worrying the Bears.

The rumors surrounding the OPEC production cut extension continue to be supportive. Last week, the Nigerian Oil Minister shared that there is a lot of energy for the 6-month OPEC extension.

The charts appear encouraging as well. There was a strong bounce off the 55-WMA at the start of the Q2 opening range low of $49.91/bbl. The opening range low for Q2 will be a solid price level of support to watch because if that level holds, the bias will remain bullish, which aligns with sentiment analysis shared below.

Weekly Chart Is Encouraging & Aligns With Emerging Sentiment Picture

Oil Inventories Remain High Despite OPEC Cut, Extension Expected

Chart Created by Tyler Yell, CMT

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Next Weeks Data Points That May Affect Energy Markets:

The fundamental focal points for the energy market next week:

Monday: -- EIA monthly drilling productivity report

Tuesday 4:30 PM ET: API weekly U.S. oil inventory report

Wednesday 10:30 AM ET: EIA Petroleum Supply Report

Fridays 1:00 PM ET: Baker-Hughes Rig Count at

Friday 3:30 PM ET: Release of the CFTC weekly commitments of traders report on U.S. futures, options contracts

Tuesday will also be the start of the 2-day Oil & Gas Forum in Moscow with the participationof Russian Energy Minister followed by the IMF release on later that same day of their World Economic Outlook. Wednesday will provide the third GCC Petroleum Media Forum conference in Abu Dhabi, with OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo speaking alongside the oil ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, U.A.E., Oman, Bahrain. Traders will naturally look for hints of an OPEC extension in their talks.

Oil Sentiment Picture From IG Traders

Oil Inventories Remain High Despite OPEC Cut, Extension Expected

Oil - US Crude: Retail trader data shows 41.5% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.41 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 1.2% higher than yesterday and 19.7% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 12.8% higher than yesterday and 23.2% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests Oil - US Crude prices may continue to rise. Traders are further net-short than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger Oil - US Crude-bullish contrarian trading bias. (Emphasis Mine)

-T.Y.



original source

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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Apr 13, 2017) - 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.
TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) -

(Please note that all dollar amounts in this news release are expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.)

Primero Mining Corp. ("Primero" or the "Company") (TSX:P.TO) (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.

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.

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.

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"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.

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", "expects", is/are expected", "believes", "in order to", "is to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "will", "will implement", "will allow", "will lead to", 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", or "continues to" or other statements that may be stated in the present tense with future implication such as "currentlyavailable".

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding anticipated productivity improvements and cost reductions at the San Dimas mine, the Company's goal to reduce the scale and complexity of the San Dimas operation, the return of the San Dimas mine to positive cash flow and operation within the first quartile of industry cash costs, that onsite work at San Dimas is expected to resume on April 18, 2017 with a phased restart of operations, 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 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 production meets expectations; that there are no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environment; that the Company will maintain or receive required permits and access to surface rights; that the political environment within Mexico and Canada will continue to support 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; 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/2017/4/13/11G135871/PR10-17_SD_Operations_To_Resume_Final-aff7360cf8b7b1f2b4e15a6144970ac8.pdf


Getty Images. United told CNBC the airline crew immediately consulted with a physician on the ground who provided guidance throughout the incident.

A creature that appeared to be a scorpion fell from an overhead bin and stung a man on a United (UAL) 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





More From CNBC


The federal government plans to pour $125 million into the fight against a mysterious disease that has ravaged corals in Florida and much of the Caribbean, and now poses a dire threat to the treasured reefs off the Louisiana and Texas coasts.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump. The nine-member panel sent a letter to the former president's lawyers on Friday, demanding his testimony under oath by mid-November and outlining a series of corresponding documents. The decision by lawmakers to exercise their subpoena power comes a week after the committee made its final case against the former president, who they say is the "central cause" of the multi-part effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It remains unclear how Trump and his legal team will respond to the subpoena, if at all.
WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department said on Thursday it was starting an investigation into imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia for possible dumping and subsidization.

The department said in a statement that the U.S. International Trade Commission was scheduled to make a preliminary decision by May 8 on whether such imports injured U.S. producers.

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from vegetable or animal fats, is typically blended with petroleum-based diesel and is produced in more than 30 U.S. states, the statement said. (Reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Eric Beech)
Who says egg hunts are just for children?

Students attending Lewis Central High School got to spend part of their Thursday hunting plastic pastel-colored eggs that didnt contain candy, but instead, compliments.

Hosted by the schools REbeL group, the hunt promoted positive self-talk and body image by having students hunt eggs hidden by group members throughout the school that were filled with different compliments.

Once students found an egg they could then exchange it for candy over the lunch hour. Students also had to write a new compliment and place it back in the egg for a REbeL group member to re-hide for other students to find.

Eleventh-grader BreeAnna Wink found two eggs on a drinking fountain, she said. One contained the message, You look good, and the other, Dont let your insecurities get in the way of who you really are.

After she exchanged the messages for candy, she wrote her own message on a piece paper to put back in the egg: Beauty is not found in a mirror.

A lot of people have self doubt from bad relationships and this activity just helps them, Wink said. It also helps people who arent having a good day and it helps people with depression.

REbeL is a nationally recognized student-driven education program designed to address eating and body image concerns.

Lewis Central was the first school in Iowa to offer the program when the district started a high school and middle school chapter last year.

The group is sponsored by Deb Blodgett and Carol Coats. Blodgett is the schools nurse and Coats is a health associate.

At 14 active members, Blodgett said students have to be in good standing with their grades, good role models, and be willing to commit time to come to monthly meetings where students discuss topics concerning body image and how it impacts school and the community.

Were an organization that helps kids realize their own self-confidence, Blodgett said. We want to help them to realize that beauty is found in the inside.

Eleventh-grader Bergan Fox first joined the group last year because it helps spread positivity, she said.

Its a cool program, she added. It helps people feel better about themselves, and this program can help change the society of my generation.

This is the second year the group has hosted the egg hunt.

For the people who do have low self-esteem, who do go into the mirror and put themselves down, this can help that and give a great message that you dont have to feel bad about your body, Fox said. It teaches people theyre beautiful the way they are  that they shine.
The 12th Iowa Volunteer Infantry had made a name for themselves in the Civil War. Formed in Dubuque in 1861, the company left Iowa in November to spend two months in St. Louis before taking part in battles all over the South.

They saw action in Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama. They proudly represented Iowa at Fort Donelson and the Battle of Shiloh.

Years later at an 1879 reunion of the infantry, little Florence Dunham, daughter of Lt. Abner Dunham, recited a poem written for the occasion. A few months after the reunion, the Dunhams held a birthday party for Florence; and shortly before the party, she received a curious birthday card in the mail.

On one side was the poem that Florence had delivered at the reunion. It was the hand-written inscription on the back of the card that caused a stir: Presented to the little heroine, Florence L. Dunham by Helene Violet B., the only Fighting Woman (so far as known) who carried a gun and used it in the Twelfth Iowa Volunteer Infantry.

Many men of the 12th were at Florences party, and they were stunned when they learned about the card.

Who could this woman be? they asked.

The men let it be known that they were eager to learn the identity of Helene Violet B. They encouraged her to come forward.

The mystery intensified in early 1881 after a letter signed by Helene Violet B. appeared in a Dubuque newspaper. The writer claimed to have served undetected throughout the war with the 12th, disguising herself as a man. Some readers believed the letter to be a joke, written simply to fool the boys. But others took it seriously.

As plans were made to hold another reunion, the 12ths Capt. J.H. Stibbs was determined to find Helene Violet B. and introduce her to the men. In May 1884, the 12th gathered at Manchester, and Stibbs offered an explanation for the mystery that had baffled the men for several years.

The first day of the gathering he addressed the audience:

When I first learned of this mysterious person, I was a good deal surprised to think that a woman had served for three long years with the Twelfth, he said.

It is a well-established fact that there are persons who honestly believe that they have a dual existence and that there dwells within them the spirit of another who accompanies them through life, Stibbs continued.

Such a person had served with the 12th, and he sat in the audience listening to the words of Stibbs. That man believed he carried the spirit of his sister, Helene Violet, and that she acted as his guide and counsellor. The soldier knew that he would be ridiculed by many, so he wished to remain anonymous.

Stibbs concluded, I ask that you will make no further effort to learn the name of the soldier who represents Helene Violet B.

According to the official report from the reunion, the old soldiers warmly applauded Stibbs speech and repaired to the banquet room where they enjoyed an elegant meal prepared by the ladies of Manchester.
The Iowa Judicial Branch faces more cuts with the coming of a new fiscal year.

In a memo, Iowa State Court Administrator David Boyd informed his employees that layoffs, reductions in hours and the reduction or elimination of specialty courts are possible as the judicial branch takes another hit to its funding.

On Wednesday, the Joint Justice Systems Appropriations Committee of the Iowa Legislature voted to appropriate a total of $178,786,612 for the branch in fiscal year 2018, which starts on July 1. That includes $175,686,612 for operations and $3,100,000 for jury and witness fees. The total is the same the branch ended up receiving for fiscal year 2017, which included a deappropriation of $3 million in January, Boyd noted.

I think its going to be pretty ugly, said Pottawattamie County Clerk of Court Ruth Godfrey. Everything is on the table.

Boyd said, receiving a status quo appropriation will mean more difficult decisions for FY 18.

Decisions on what and how to cut will be made by the Iowa Supreme Court once the appropriation is finalized by the Legislature and signed by the governor.

Iowa Sen. Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs, vice chair of the Joint Justice Systems Appropriations Committee, said the Legislature would work with the judicial branch to minimize the impact. He said he would've preferred more funding for the branch.

"The bottom line is every year we talk about priorities," he said. "This year the priority is education."

Dawson said the judicial branch hasn't been adequately funded the past couple of years.

"The bottom line is they need more resources," the Republican state senator said.

Those resources aren't likely to arrive soon.

To adapt to the $3 million cut this year the judicial branch implemented a hiring freeze, held open judicial vacancies for the legally maximum limit of around six months, reduced travel, reduced furniture and equipment purchases, shifted information technology operational expenses to technology funds and scheduled a court furlough day, May 26.

South of Council Bluffs at least three counties are shorthanded because of the cuts. On Thursday, Mills County Clerk of Court Kim Carter was in Fremont County helping out. Robin Shirley serves as clerk of court for both Fremont and Page counties, and shes lost an employee at both offices, one to retirement and another who moved out of the area. Shirley couldnt replace either.

Carter works at the Fremont County office about once per week.

In southwest Iowa weve already suffered by not being able to hire needed (employees), Carter said. Were all pulling together to keep everything going, without having to close offices.

Carter said she wasnt surprised by Boyds memo, noting we were expecting cuts.

Wed been forewarned that the news wouldnt be good, she said.

As Godfrey discussed the cuts, she lamented the impact on rural counties.

This is so hard, especially on the small counties, where they dont have enough people to keep their offices open, she said. If their offices cant stay open, people in the county will have to travel further to get services.

In his memo, Boyd noted funding to specialty courts could be on the chopping block as well. Two examples of specialty court, mental health court and drug court, have been lauded in Pottawattamie County as success stories that have helped keep people out of the criminal justice system.

Theyre well worth their money, Godfrey said. But we cant continue to provide specialty court services if we arent funded.

Godfrey said furloughs and small cuts are temporary solutions to a problem that, its becoming clear, is not temporary.

I feel the Legislature wants us to be smaller, and theyre going to keep funding us accordingly, she said. We need to look at how we need to proceed on a permanent basis. We cant continue like this. Its getting bad.

Its disappointing, both Godfrey and Carter said.

The court system is important. Not funding it doesnt make sense, Carter said. But well deal with whatever comes.
SIDNEY  Rebuffing President Donald Trump and Republican leaders on their health care bill seemed like a major political misstep for Iowa Rep. David Young, who quickly was punished by a political action committee linked to House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Nearly three weeks later, voters in Youngs southwestern Iowa district  Republicans and Democrats  say the GOP congressman made the right move.

Conservatives praised Young for his opposition to the bill that would have undone much of former President Barack Obamas health care law, casting the GOP measure as far short of a full repeal. Democrats welcomed the legislations demise, fearful that the measure would have been devastating to the poor.

The Republican bill would have eliminated tax penalties for people who dont buy policies, provided tax credits that would be smaller than the law provides for many lower-earning and older recipients, and cut Medicaid, which helps poorer people afford medical care.

In a major setback for the GOP last month, Ryan abruptly withdrew the bill after Trump and the House leadership failed to convince enough Republicans to back the legislation.

With Congress on a two-week break, Young faced his constituents in his competitive district and told them the bills drafting was its key liability. He steered clear of discussing specific provisions he opposes.

A bad process makes a bad policy. We have to slow down. We have to air this out, he said.

Patrick Spencer, a 54-year-old farmer from far southeast Iowa, agreed with Young.

They rushed it through. They did it in the dark, Spencer said. I wouldnt be very happy if I were in his position and Id been left out of it.

Democrat Dale Doudna thanked Young for opposing the bill.

I appreciated your stand on the health care act, said the 69-year-old retired teacher from a north Des Moines suburb.

Trump, Ryan and other top Republicans nevertheless maintain that they want to fulfill the promise they repeatedly made to GOP voters over seven years to repeal and replace the health care law, but agreement in the GOP remains elusive.

Weve not been able to get ourselves together to keep our commitment, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters in Louisville on Wednesday. I havent given up.

David Roberts, a 50-year-old farmer from Sidney, told Young in the Fremont County Courthouse on Monday the Obama law has completely failed and needs to be repealed completely. Monthly insurance premiums for Roberts family of six have already doubled to $1,500 under the current law, he said.

I dont know who to fault (for the House bill failure), but they kept changing it toward the end. I was just hoping for a clean repeal, Roberts said. I just wish they had made it simple.

For Young, its a balancing act in a politically diverse district and a presidential battleground state that Democrat Obama won in 2008 and 2012, and Trump easily captured in 2016.

Young wants to avoid angering Iowas older-than-average population and his districts disproportionately low-income residents, both of whom could be hurt by the GOP bill. Thirty-seven percent of Iowas population is 50 years or older compared to the U.S.s 34 percent, according to AARP.

Patti McKee, a 60-year-old Des Moines artist, pressed Young to oppose allowing Medicaid, the federally funded state-run health plan for low-income Americans, to be parceled into block grants for states to allocate as they wish.

According to Kasier Family Foundation, more Iowans risk losing their coverage proportionally under Medicaid than nationally, considering the state agreed to expand the program under the Obama law, and the federal expansion funding would dry up under the GOP bill.

Thats not the way to do it, she told Young, who supports block grants, during a meeting in Des Moines on Wednesday. My concern is for those hundreds of thousands on Medicaid in Iowa.

The Congressional Leadership Fund, a political committee linked to House GOP leaders, last month pulled critical campaign support for Young ahead of next years midterms, removing a campaign staffer it had sent to Youngs district to provide political help. The move was made after Young came out against the health care bill.

Council Bluffs Republican Jeff Jorgensen said hes been wary of Young, in part because of comments the congressman made supporting aspects of the Affordable Care Act. Theres been chatter, but little action, about a potential Republican primary opponent for Young in 2018, he said.

Im certainly trying to like the guy, said Jorgensen, a 59-year-old electronics engineer. His was the position he needed to take. Were satisfied with that. But there cant be any part of Obamacare left in place.

Youngs opposition to the bill seemed to have defused some of the tension that marked a suburban Des Moines meeting in February when hundreds shouted at him for an hour.

On Wednesday, Trumps budget proposal, gun control, clean water regulations and the looming vote to keep the government running took up a majority of the hour he spent with 50 Des Moines-area constituents in the Iowa State Fairgrounds cattle auction building.

But farmer Spencer made clear voters will be watching on health care.

Their constituents are not going to let it get away from them, he said.
Old Lincoln Highway bridge closure highlights U.S. infrastructure crisis

The recent closing of County Bridge CR20 on Old Lincoln Highway over Simon Run Creek north of Crescent highlights a major problem that localities across the country are facing due to a failure to substantially invest in our nations crumbling infrastructure. Whether its structurally deficient bridges, dams and levees or inadequate roads, airports and pipes, Americas infrastructure is insufficient and our leaders in Washington can no longer forsake responsibility when it comes to much-needed maintenance and improvements.

Like the residents in Pottawattamie County, everyday Americans are affected because officials deferred necessary upgrades until shutting down an important bridge was the only option.

First responders are forced to reroute, delaying emergency services. Businesses are left without customers as detours divert traffic from main roads. Lost revenue and time wasted in traffic will never be recovered.

Our infrastructure is the lifeblood of our economy. It impacts our quality of life, the competitiveness of our businesses, and the safety and security of our country. All this while spurring economic growth and creating well-paying jobs.

I urge Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. David Young to work in a bipartisan manner with the Iowa congressional delegation, their colleagues and the Trump administration to immediately address the nations infrastructure crisis.

Further delay is unacceptable to Iowans and the rest of the country.

Brian P. McGuire, president and CEO of Associated

Equipment Distributors, Schaumburg, Illinois

Strengthen regulations on factory farm pollution

Counties across Iowa are taking a stand on factory farms. More and more boards of supervisors are calling for a factor farm moratorium.

Why? One reason is because the Master Matrix  a scoring system included in factory farm applications  is a failure. Legislators created it 15 years ago to give communities more protections from factory farm pollution  but that hasnt happened.

Today, Iowa has more polluted water and more factory farms than ever. The Master Matrix is so lax, applicants only need 440 out of 880 points to pass. And, its not local control: approval is all up to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. People are fed up.

Lets strengthen the Master Matrix. It wont solve our water crisis, but it could be a big step in the right direction.

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is on tour to hear from everyday people about what theyd like changed in the Master Matrix. Were using this information to pressure DNR to overhaul the current system.

Our group in Lohrville came up with a long list of items to address, but surely there are more. Go to iowacci.org to find a meeting near you to provide input. Your voice needs to be heard!

Rosie Partridge, Iowa CCI member, Wall Lake
TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) - The Zoryan Institute reflects on the resurgence of populism and nationalism as regressive trends to Human Rights during Genocide Awareness Month.

Throughout the month of April, the world over commemorates the crimes that cannot be reversed and the irreparable failures of the past. From the International Day on Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda (April 7th) to Holocaust Memorial Day (April 23rd -24th) to Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day (April 24th) to the Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare (April 29th), we are reminded of the obligations to prevent the threat of genocide from manifesting itself in the world.

In this month of reflection, we find that around the world denial narratives and hate speech continue to be major challenges to democracy and human rights. For example, earlier this month at a large public gathering, the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, employed strategic dehumanizing language by likening supporters of Fethullah Gulen to a cancer virus:

"We are purging every member of Fethullahist terrorist organization, in the police, and in state institutions, and we will continue cleansing them. ...We will eradicate this cancer virus from the body of the country and the state. We won't give them right to live because they divided the nation and ummah (Islamic community)."

Erdogan's increasingly dictatorial rule in Turkey illustrates the dangers of a leader and a country that vehemently denies its complicity in the genocidal events of 1915. Through statements such as these, Erdogan has brought back to life dehumanizing narratives once directed against Armenians in the early twentieth century by physicians and political leaders, such as Dr. Mehmet Reshid, Governor of the Diyarbekir Vilayet, who stated in 1915:

"Even though I am a physician, I cannot ignore my nationhood . . . My national identification takes precedence over everything else . . . Armenian traitors had found a niche for themselves in the bosom of the fatherland; they were dangerous microbes. Isn't it the duty of a doctor to destroy the microbes?"1

Story continues

Genocide scholar Vahakn N. Dadrian, in his book The History of the Armenian Genocide: Ethnic Conflict from the Balkans to Anatolia to the Caucasus, cites a series of threatening letters, written by Dr. Nazim, to the Armenian press and the Armenian Patriarch leading up to the Armenian Genocide. Among the many letters and threats was this: "Know that the Turks have committed themselves, and have vowed to subdue and clean up the Armenian gavurs [infidels] who have become a tubercular microbe for us."2

In the years preceding the Holocaust, medical and pseudo-science metaphors were employed in the Nazis' delegitimization, dehumanization and demonization of the Jews. It has been well-documented that the Nazi Party had a particular focus on associating Jews with scientific and medical terminology such as growths, parasites, microbes, germs:

"The Fuhrer holds the cleansing of the medical profession far more important than, for example, that of the bureaucracy, since in his opinion the duty of the physician is or should be one of racial leadership." Martin Bormann, Personal Secretary of Adolf Hitler, 19413

Here is an interesting union between the immense breakthroughs in scientific knowledge, notably the burgeoning popularity of the field of eugenics and Social Darwinism in the 20th Century, and ideology. This convoluted union of pseudo-science and ideology has had a profound impact on constructing a language of dehumanization, whereby metaphorical repetition manifests into the intent to destroy.

Take for example, the rape centers established in Bosnia from 1992 until 1995 -- centers wherein forced impregnation of Serbian "seed" would biologically displace Bosnian "Muslimness." Under the directorship and medical discretion of Radovan Karadzic, a medical psychologist and poet, Bosnian Serbs re-applied similar dehumanizing language solidified by the Ottoman Empire and Nazi Party. Here, Karadzic implemented a "biological solution" for those who are a "problem" people: the cholera, bacilli, baneful germs, "brute," "gangrenous appendixes," mongrels, and microbes.

The early 1990s were also tragically marked by the Rwanda Genocide, a genocide that was incited by hate propaganda against the Tutsi minority through various radio broadcasts and newspaper articles. Prior to the official outbreak in April 1994, Kangura -- a racist newspaper in Rwanda -- began publishing dehumanizing articles against the Tutsi minority, including this article in March 1993 stating: "A cockroach gives birth to a cockroach  the history of Rwanda shows us clearly that a Tutsi stays exactly the same, that he has never changed.the inyenzyi [cockroaches] who attacked in October 1990 and those of the 1960s are linked .their evilness is the same." The United Nations would later lament in 2004 on the collective failure to protect 800,000 individuals, primarily Tutsis, from the genocide in Rwanda.

More recently, there has been a spike in violence against Kurdish communities in Turkey, including the imprisonment of 13 elected officials of the pro-Kurdish democratic opposition in Turkish parliament on alleged terrorism charges and the Turkish government's direct control of 82 municipalities in the Kurdish southeast region of the country. Turkey's incapacity to engage with its minorities in an honest historical reckoning is a clear sign of the future to come: one in which state interests and proclaimed self-defence come at the expense of democracy, plurality, and human rights.

Unfortunately, some of these regressive trends are also seen in Western democracies today. Donald Trump's successful campaign for the US presidency was a vivid illustration of this politics of dehumanization and intolerance. Sometimes overtly, sometimes through metaphor and casual banter, he spoke to many Americans' discontent by putting into question basic principles of dignity, equality, and tolerance. Trump garnered support and attention by stereotyping migrants, vilifying refugees, attacking a judge for his Mexican ancestry, mocking a journalist with disabilities, dismissing multiple allegations of sexual assault, and pledging to repeal reproductive rights. In June 2015, while announcing his candidacy for president, Donald Trump publicly and shamelessly likened Mexicans to "rapists":

"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists And some, I assume, are good people."

These regressive trends and observations serve to remind us that words matter. A century has passed since they served as instruments for legitimizing genocidal policies by turning Armenians into "microbes," Jews into "germs," and Rwandans into "cockroaches." Time and again, discursive tactics of denial, such as proclaiming that genocide was an act of self-defence, manifest into justifications for hate and dehumanization. These tools serve to further divide national, ethnic, racial, or religious groups, sanction perpetrator impunity, and criminalize historical inquiries and testimonies. When the perpetrator denies the crime of genocide and gets away with impunity, then history repeats itself.

1 Vahakn N. Dadrian, "The Role of Turkish Physicians in the World War I Genocide of Ottoman Armenians." Holocaust and Genocide Studies 1, no. 2 (1986): 169-92.

2 In Vahakn N. Dadrian, The History of the Armenian Genocide: Ethnic Conflict from the Balkans to Anatolia to the Caucasus, 3rd revised edition (Providence: Berghahn Books, 1997), p. 216.

3 W. Weyers, Death of Medicine in Nazi Germany (Philadelphia: Lippincott Raven Publishers, 1998), p. 45.

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Twice, Aiden Solon has had to battle cancer, and twice Kasidi Snyder has been inspired to help him.

Aiden, 9, was diagnosed last year with Ewings sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Kasidi, 11, knew who Aiden was but admits she didnt know him well. A friend used to live near him, and when shed visit, the three would play together. When she found out he was sick, Kasidi was moved to help him and began selling handmade pot holders to raise money for Aiden and his family. She ended up raising more than $650.

After rounds of treatment and a partial amputation of his leg, Aiden rang the cancer-free bell last October, Kasidi said. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago, follow-up tests revealed the cancer had come back.

When Kasidi heard the news, she set out to help him a second time. Her teacher at Eisenhower Elementary School last year wore Pura Vida bracelets that caught Snyders eye and inspired her next move. The bracelets are handmade in Costa Rica, and sales help support the artists who make them.

I decided to see if they had a fundraising option, said Kasidis mom, Holli Snyder, who works at The Telegraph.

She found out that the company did. Kasidi reached out to Aiden to find out what his favorite colors were, and the Snyder family began taking orders for marine blue and green bracelets. Initially, Kasidis goal was to sell 100 bracelets at $5 each.

We sold 100 in six hours, Holli Snyder said. We decided to place a larger order on the faith that theyll sell.

Kasidi planned to give up her savings to cover the expense of ordering the bracelets, so that 100 percent of the funds raised could go to Aiden and his family. Why would she be so willing to give up her own money for a boy she barely knows?

God is placing him on my heart, Kasidi said. Hes a little boy whos had cancer too much. I dont think he deserves to have cancer anymore. I dont think he should have to suffer.

The order for the bracelets will be placed at the end of April and the bracelets will take six to eight weeks to make.

Holli Snyder said if the demand is high, additional orders will be placed later. Orders can be placed by picking up a form at The Telegraph, 621 N. Chestnut or by printing out the form below and returning it to The Telegraph.
Four-legged barnyard friends could visit your business or a business you choose this June to help fund North Plattes Relay for Life.

Event organizers will host the second annual Barnyard Challenge June 6-7. They ask for a minimum pledge of $100 for a visit from the farm animals, though people can request to donate anything.

Well take whatever we can get, said Tiffany Hernandez, media chair for Relay for Life of Lincoln County.

For an additional pledge, those who receive a barnyard visit can choose where the animals go next, Hernandez said.

People who want to nominate a business or ensure that theirs wont be chosen should contact Beth Mitchell, accounting chair for Relay for Life, at 308-520-3394.

Hernandez said the animals go inside for business visits for as long as possible and wear diapers in case of accidents. The animals handlers bring cleaning materials just in case, she said.

The Relay for Life raises money for the American Cancer Society.

Relay organizers are also taking nominations for this years survivor and caregiver awards. The recipients will be honored at the relay July 7 at Memorial Park.

The survivor recipient could have either overcome cancer or currently be fighting it, Hernandez said.

Nominations should include information about the persons strength, courage and vigilance; how they have kept their positive attitude throughout their battle with cancer; and how they serve as an inspiration to other people fighting cancer, Hernandez said.

Hernandez said the caregiver recipient should be an unsung hero who has dedicated themselves to making the lives of those affected by cancer more comfortable and dignified.

She said the caregiver should be loving, caring and have either helped someone with cancer or made a difference in the life of a cancer patients family.

All nominees and those who nominate them will be invited to Relay for Life. After nominees participate in the survivor lap, the winner will be announced in a ceremony.

Nominations can be emailed to lincolncorelay@gmail.com or sent to 515 West B. St., North Platte. The nomination deadline is May 1.
People packed a conference room at Quality Inn & Suites to eat and support establishing a new scholarship at North Platte Community College.

Every year, the Student Senate sponsors the Souper Bowl to raise money for an organization or cause.

This year, they decided to raise money in memory of Samson Charles, a Tanzania native and former NPCC student who was killed in a kayaking accident in July.

What better way to remember him than through the college? said Chase Grabau, assistant director of student activities at NPPC.

Grabau said a number of students on the Student Senate knew Charles well, including Antonia Villani.

He could light up a room, Villani said. If he smiled at you, it made your whole day better. He was the best person Id ever met.

By just after 6 p.m. more than 110 people had already shown up at the event. Grabau said that while a lot of people attended the event for the food, he believed more came to show their support for Charles and the scholarship.

The scholarship will be awarded to second-semester students with a GPA of at least 3.5, who go above and beyond in various aspects of their lives. Grabau said they based the scholarship requirements on the type of person Charles was. The student must be a hard worker, and well-versed in school activities and in the community.

Just like Samson was, Grabau said.
A last-minute try to centre James Roberts has secured the Brisbane Broncos a thrilling 24-22 win over their little brother the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium.



Match Draw Widget

[2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 7: Broncos vs Titans

Roberts may have scored the try, but Matt Gillett's act of desperation ultimately gifted the speedster with his third try of the night.

Gillett rushed out of the line to charge down a Kane Elgey kick in the 78th minute, recovering the ball and giving off to the quickest man on the park.

It was a heartbreaking way to finish for the Titans who looked for all money like they were going to record their first victory at Lang Park since 2007.

But it wasn't to be, and Neil Henry's men now find themselves at the foot of the table with just one win.

Gold Coast had every chance to get the two points after an excellent first half gave them a 16-10 lead at the break.

Things continued in their favour, with the Broncos starting the second half a man down. Bench forward Tevita Pangai Jnr was ruled out for the match with a broken thumb and a medial ligament issue.

The first 15 minutes of the second half were an arm-wrestle and it looked like whoever cracked first would be giving up more than just four points.

And it took a piece of Kodi Nikorima magic to break the deadlock, with his impressive footwork bamboozling Gold Coast's defence as he crossed the line to score next to the posts. Jordan Kahu's conversion levelled the scores up at 16-all with 20 minutes to play.

The Titans then paid the ultimate price for an Ash Taylor knock on deep in Brisbane territory. A juggle form the young halfback was intercepted by Anthony Milford who put his foot down. After making a clean break, Milford passed to Roberts who then returned the favour, putting the star five-eighth over the line for four points. Kahu failed with the conversion from the sideline to keep the score at 20-16 in the 65th minute.

Gold Coast centre Dale Copley soon limped off, suffering another injury to leave the Titans a man short.

Gold Coast were hanging on by a thread but Brisbane couldn't take full advantage, with Roberts failing to latch onto a Nikorima grubber  knocking on in the process.

The mistake gave away a seven-tackle set and Gold Coast took full advantage, marching down the field. Taylor then produced a superb grubber and Elgey did what Roberts couldn't do, scoring one of the most important tries of his career. Taylor then showed maturity beyond his years, converting to give his side a 22-20 lead with nine minutes to play.

The Broncos missed another opportunity minutes later and it looked as if it wouldn't be their night. Centre Tautau Moga had a chance to give his side the lead but knocked on in the in-goal.

Enter Roberts  securing the win with a miracle try that was fitting of Good Friday.

Earlier, a fast-starting Titans outfit ran out onto Lang Park ready to play, out-enthusing Brisbane in the early stages of the local derby.

This high tempo start resulted in the Titans opening the scoring with a spectacular 90m try in the 10th minute. Fullback Tyrone Roberts fielded a kick on his own 10m line and chose to run across field, baiting the Broncos' defence before drawing them in for the tackle. A flick pass followed, finding Anthony Don who had 80 metres of free space in front of him. Don put his foot down and crossed next to the posts untouched. Taylor made no mistake with the conversion, making it 6-0 to silence the Suncorp Stadium crowd.

Gold Coast doubled their score in the 14th minute, with co-captain Ryan James crossing next to the right post. Taylor converted the easiest of shots to make it 12-0.

The Broncos came within millimetres of hitting back after five-eighth Milford broke the Titans' line and offloaded to Alex Glenn. Glenn juggled the pass and then knocked on over the try-line to botch a certain four-pointer.

But Brisbane didn't have to wait much longer to score their first, with fullback Darius Boyd throwing a beautiful pass to Roberts for the centre to score. Kahu failed with the conversion, leaving the score at 12-4 in the Titans' favour after 22 minutes.

Ex-Titan Roberts then again reminded his former team of what they're missing, scoring off a scrum set play in the 31st minute. Kahu converted from near the right touchline to cut the margin to two.

But Gold Coast seized back momentum just minutes from half-time, with Don producing an amazing kick for Grevsmuhl to score. Taylor missed the kick from near the sideline to keep the scoreline at 16-10 heading into the break.

Brisbane Broncos 24 (Roberts 3, Milford, Nikorima tries; Kahu 2 goals) def. Gold Coast Titans 22 (Don, James, Grevsmuhl, Elgey tries; Taylor 3 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Half-time: Titans 16-10. Crowd: 34,592.
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HOBART  More than ever, the world needs civility in every area of life.

Thursdays World Civility Day gala awards dinner and celebration at Avalon Manor resonated with that message and how civility can change the lives of people around the world.

We need to understand that every person is a gift, said Dr. Clyde Rivers, an ambassador at-large for the Republic of Burundi in Africa and founder of the Human Rights Global Congress.

If you mistreat your brothers and sisters, we lose their contribution, Rivers said. We have a gift famine, not an economic famine. If we dont treat people right, we lose their gifts. We need to learn how to live the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The gala dinner brought to applause-filled conclusion to World Civility Day which included workshops at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond.

Those workshops included sessions on Civility in the Community, ethics training for public employees, Civility in the Classroom and cyberbullying.

This has been a wonderful day, said Chuck Hughes, executive director of the Gary Chamber of Commerce. People from 14 states and eight nations attended the World Civility Day workshops.

The Community Civility Counts campaign was launched in the spring of 2015 as a joint partnership between the Gary Chamber of Commerce and The Times Media Co. Hughes credits Gordon E. Bradshaw, the chambers public policy chairman, for bringing the idea forward at a March 2015 committee meeting and for designing a poster.

That poster caught the attention of Rivers of the Golden Rule International and president and founder of iChange Nations.

Hughes said the Community Civility Counts was born after observing so many acts of incivility and cruel behavior  On behalf of the Gary Chamber, our board of directors and members, I want to extend a special gesture of gratitude to our civility partners from around the country and all of you who have traveled near and far to promote kindness and consideration toward your fellow man.

He also saluted a troupe of young people from the South Shore Dance Alliances who entertained in African costumes to the beat of African drums, a performance that drew sustained applause.

We are celebrating the nations today, Bradshaw said in his invocation, citing the need for kindness and civility in a world of indifference.

During his keynote address, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill said civility is a necessity if America is going to lead the world.

Hill said he grew up during Ronald Reagans presidency.

Ronald Reagan actually had a cordial relationship with (Speaker of the House) Tip ONeill. They were able to work together on programs that helped the nation, Hill said. I remember one of Reagans comments  Id rather have half a loaf than none at all.

Civility, he said, needs to begin locally, within families and communities.

We need to love thy neighbor, turn the other cheek, Hill said. But remember we only have two cheeks.

Community Civility Counts has grown from a local initiative to treat others with respect into an international movement that continues to earn kudos.

We could not have predicted, even last April when Community Civility Counts first World Civility Day sold out at the Majestic Star Casino in Gary, that we would have a full day of outstanding workshops and an even bigger and better gala dinner in year two, said Bob Heisse, editor of The Times Media Co.

In recent months, The Times Media Co. has also won the Associated Press Media Editors Innovator of the Year Award and a Lee Enterprises Presidents Award for the Community Civility Counts initiative.

In an Editor & Publisher article about The Times, the writers specifically cited 2016 as beginning with a high point for the initiative when the Indiana Senate unanimously approved a resolution commending the group for delivering an awareness campaign to remind everyone about the need for civility and treating each other right. That resolution was authored by Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, and supported by all 50 Senate members from both political parties.

The following week, the Indiana House of Representatives approved the same resolution authored by Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary.
HAMMOND A Gary man is facing a lengthy prison term for killing a 7-Eleven store clerk last year during a hold up.

Eric M. Dillon, 27, pleaded guilty Friday afternoon before U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon to charges of robbery and causing the death of Roger Unton, 60, of Blue Island, Illinois, during a violent crime.

The judge had previously set the matter for a jury trial that had been schedule July 10.

Dillon pleaded guilty without an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office to lessen a potential life sentence he faces under federal law.

Hammond police said Dillon walked into the 7-Eleven in the 6000 block of Hohman Avenue in Hammond about 4:30 a.m. Jan. 20, 2016, and demanded money from Unton.

Police said Unton pushed a panic alarm. Dillon became angry and shot Unton multiple times. Police said at the time the crime was senseless and described Dillon as "an animalistic predator."

Hammond police and FBI agents spent six weeks gathering evidence including a crucial video recording of the crime by the store's surveillance camera that helped identify Dillon as the suspect. Police arrested him two months later during a traffic stop.
CROWN POINT  A 63-year-old man is accused of stabbing another tenant in the face at Veterans Village in Gary.

Marvin E. Chambliss was charged Tuesday in Lake Criminal Court with attempted murder and three counts of felony battery.

The tenant told police Chambliss spit on him April 7 while he waited for an elevator on the third floor of the apartment building at 839 Massachusetts St. in Gary, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The tenant said the two men fought and wrestled outside the elevator before Chambliss allegedly stabbed him in the face with a knife, the affidavit states.

The tenant said he then ran outside and called police, the affidavit states. He admitted he flashed a knife at Chambliss, but claimed he put it back in his pocket before the fight started, according to the affidavit.

Chambliss claimed the tenant had charged at him with a knife, and he acted in self-defense, the affidavit states.

The tenant was treated at Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary. Doctors told police the knife pierced the tenant's cheek through the jaw and gum line, which required stitches to fix, according to the affidavit.

Chambliss is jailed on a $50,000 bond, according to court records.
CROWN POINT  A search of an at-home day care turned up loaded guns, knives and liquor bottles, all of which were within reach of the 15 children inside, according to a Merrillville Police Department news release.

Police allege the operator and two other women attempted to hide the children from police and social service workers on Tuesday.

Tawana Cole, the 44-year-old owner of Tender Loving Spirits, is charged in Lake Criminal Court with 13 counts of neglect of a dependent and 13 more counts of criminal confinement, the release said.

Roberta Sanders and Adriana Johnson are charged with the same offenses, police said.

Police were dispatched early evening Tuesday to Tender Loving Spirits at 1730 W. 53rd Ave. in Merrillville, according to the release.

The Indiana Department of Child Services requested officers help inspect the home after receiving reports a 4-year-old boy with a head injury was at the residence, the release states.

The boy's mother told state employees she received a phone message from Tawana Cole telling her to seek medical attention for her child. The mother said she tried to call Cole back, but the day care operator did not answer her phone.

Police and state employees tried to make contact with staff inside the home, but no one answered the door, the release states.

An officer then crawled into the home through a window and identified himself to Cole, who allegedly said the officer had no right to be inside the day care, the release states.

Police said they found in the master bedroom Sanders, Johnson and 15 small children, including the woman's son, who had a cut on his head.

Child service employees said three children were not accounted for in the home, and Cole initially refused to tell them where the children were hidden, until she was advised to do so by her attorney, according to the release.

Police searched the residence and located a loaded .40-caliber gun in an unlocked kitchen sink cabinet, the release states. A loaded .357-caliber revolver was also found in a lower drawer of the bed, a loaded 12-gauge shotgun was in the corner of the bedroom and a 20-gauge shotgun was found behind a pile of clothes, police said.

Assorted daggers and blades were sitting on a chest near the bed, and bottles of whiskey and vodka were strewn about the bedroom floor, the release states.

Johnson had an active warrant in Lake Superior Court on cocaine possession charges, according to the release. Cole and Sanders alleged Johnson was a deaf-mute, and during the confusion, Johnson was able to flee the home on a bicycle, the release states.

Cole is in custody at Lake County Jail. Sanders and Johnson remain at large, police said.

Merrillville police Cmdr. Jeff Rice confirmed Friday that Cole had a second run-in with police on Tuesday.

Cole reported her vehicle was struck by gunfire Tuesday afternoon while she was driving in the area of 15th Avenue and Marshall Street in Gary, according to dispatch logs.

Rice said Friday he was uncertain whether children were in the vehicle during the shooting.

State violations at Tender Loving Spirits

Tender Loving Spirits and Cole have been cited for numerous violations by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration since 2014, according to state records

State inspectors visited the home day care March 27 and cited Cole for numerous violations, including not having enrollment information for two children in the home and staff training violations, according to state records.

Cole was also cited for several violations during inspections in April 2016, the records state.

The day care was the subject of an emergency closure in February 2015, according to state records. The administration attempted to revoke the day care operator's license in June 2014, but Cole appealed the decision and a settlement was reached.

Marni Lemons, deputy director of communications for the FSSA, said the administration intends to investigate the allegations against Cole early next week. She said the administration can initiate an emergency closure action against the facility, and any other facilities Cole may operate.

Lemons said the administration conducts surprise inspections on an annual basis, but it will conduct more frequent investigations if violations are found at a day care.

The deputy director said the administration can revoke a day care operator's license, but the operator can appeal the decision within 30 days. If the operator appeals, a court hearing will be set, which can take months, and the day care remains open while the revocation is pending.
INDIANAPOLIS  One state lawmaker hopes to shed light on Indianas untested rape kit backlog with a statewide audit.

Senate Resolution 55  expected to be adopted by the Senate next week  urges Indiana State Police to conduct an audit of all untested sexual assault examination kits and provide a report of findings and recommendations to the states Legislative Council before Dec. 1.

Lawmakers could then use that report to develop strategies to keep this situation from, first of all, not getting worse, but also to remove some of that backlog of kits, Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield, said Thursday in Indianapolis while introducing the resolution.

Resolutions do not have the force of law.

State law does not require law enforcement agencies to count, track or test rape kits, according to the Joyful Heart Foundation, a national nonprofit that worked with Crider as part of the groups Accountability Project, an ongoing effort to uncover rape kit backlogs and implement reform across the country.

We believe that when the extent of a jurisdictions backlog is revealed, real reform can begin, Ilse Knecht, policy and advocacy director for the Joyful Heart Foundation, told The Times in an email. When law enforcement agencies account for the untested kits in their custody, communities can begin to take steps to test those kits, hold offenders accountable and bring justice to sexual assault survivors whose cases have languished, often for years  or even decades.

Hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits are sitting in law enforcement facilities across the country, according to the group.

"The intent of the resolution is to get a clear count of how many rape kits were never sent to a lab for testing and sit untested on law enforcement evidence rooms shelves," Knecht said. "Getting a real picture of the extent of the problem is a fundamental first step in reform."
INDIANAPOLIS  Gov. Eric Holcomb agrees with the General Assembly that a potential impediment to finalizing Indiana adoptions should be removed.

The Republican has signed into law House Enrolled Act 1048, sponsored by state Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron, which deletes a state mandate that every potential adoptive parent be checked against a federal child abuse database before an adoption can proceed.

The problem is Congress ordered the National Registry of Substantiated Cases of Child Abuse and Neglect be created in 2006, but the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has yet to do so.

As a result, Aylesworth said, it is impossible for adoptive parents to satisfy the requirement, and leaving it on the books risks invalidating numerous successful adoptions.

"Indiana continues to encourage and support adoption as the General Assembly looks for ways to help provide loving homes to children who need it," he said.

The new law does not change the requirement that an adoptive parent be fingerprinted and checked against local police records, a state child abuse database and the national sex offender registry.

It passed the House, 95-0, and the Senate, 49-1, where it was co-sponsored by state Sens. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell; Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso; and Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago.

The statute took effect Wednesday immediately after Holcomb signed his approval.
PORTAGE  Recent water samples detected no levels of a cancer-causing chemical at area beaches following Tuesday's toxic leak by U .S. Steel into a Lake Michigan tributary, but National Park Service staff said they remain concerned about potential impacts to beach users' health and long-term harm to wildlife and other park resources.

Park service staff said they are working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on developing a long-term monitoring plan after hexavalent chromium, a byproduct of industrial processes, was discharged Tuesday into the Burns Waterway about 100 yards from Lake Michigan due to a U.S. Steel equipment failure.

Periodic beach patrols are underway at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore looking for evidence of fish kills or other environmental damage, NPS said.

"Lake currents and waves have the ability to move this hazardous material onto park beaches at a later date," the park service said in a news release.

EPA water samples detected no levels of the chemical at the National Lakeshore's West Beach, Cowles Bog Beach, and the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk beach, but beach sand samples are pending, NPS said.

Company planned Friday restart

U.S. Steel on Friday announced plans to restart operations that same day, as government agencies continue "robust water and soil sampling" after the company's Midwest facility spilled an undetermined amount of hexavalent chromium into the Burns Waterway.

Indiana American Waters nearby intake  the nearest drinking water intake to the spill site  remains closed until at least Monday and access to certain parks and beaches remains restricted, authorities have said.

The restart was set to begin Friday with a line-by-line restart of operations that do not use chromium, and U. S. Steel will take samples from the facility every two hours, the company said. The company and participating government agencies will also conduct "vigorous visual inspections and water quality monitoring" at the outfall and surrounding areas, the company stated.

"If elevated levels of chromium are detected, all operations will be immediately shutdown. If all non-chromium-involved lines restart successfully and sampling is acceptable, the lines that involve chromium would be restarted in the same controlled, phased, and highly monitored manner," the company said Friday.

"Overnight and throughout the morning, U. S. Steel continued extensive testing on the repairs made at our Midwest Plant and continues to monitor environmental compliance with all of our systems. Recent sampling has indicated we are in compliance with our water permit limits," the company said.

U.S. Steel detected the leak about 9 a.m. Tuesday, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was notified about 9:30 a.m., officials said. Since that time, the EPA has conducted sampling at the outfall from U.S. Steel's Midwest Plant, Indiana American's water intake, Lake Michigan beaches to the east and west of the waterway and Burns ditch, the agency said.

Preliminary results of water samples collected by the EPA from Burns Waterway and Lake Michigan, including Indiana American Waters intake, on Wednesday, do not indicate hexavalent chromium impacts in either water body. All results were below EPAs method detection limit of 1 part per billion.

The federal agency said it took about 100 samples Wednesday and another 100 Thursday following a discharge of wastewater containing hexavalent chromium, a byproduct of industrial processes, into the Burns Waterway.

Four nearby beaches and Indiana American Water's intake at Ogden Dunes have been closed "out of an abundance of caution" in the wake of the spill, officials said.

Drinking water standards

Overnight levels from Tuesday to Wednesday at the outfall were as high as 2,231 parts per billion, according to the EPA. That's about 22 times higher than EPA's federal drinking water standard for total chromium, which includes both trivalent chromium and hexavalent chromium, is 100 parts per billion, according to the EPA's website.

EPA has a national drinking water standard for total chromium of 100 parts per billion, the EPA said Friday. EPA does not have a separate hexavalent chromium standard. However, EPA is currently evaluating health effects data to determine if a hexavalent chromium maximum contaminant level is needed.

Chicago conducted its own sampling this week near its water intake 1 mile from the spill site and detected a hexavalent chromium level of 2 parts per billion, EPA said. Normal levels for hexavalent chromium in Lake Michigan range between 0.14 to 0.15 parts per billion, according to Chicago's Water Management Department.

"Water intake results initially showed hexavalent chromium levels slightly above the detection limit," EPA said. "A confirmation run on that same sample showed that it was at or below the detection limit, well below EPAs health-based standard for drinking water."

Indiana American continues to operate its Borman Park facility, which is closer to the spill site than Chicago's intake. An Indiana American spokesman said the company is sampling at its Borman Park intake. The supply of water from the Borman Park facility is adequate to meet the needs of the company's customers in Northwest Indiana, he said.

On Wednesday, EPA described levels found in the Burns ditch as low and said water sampling showed hexavalent chromium was not detected in Lake Michigan.

U.S. Steel attributed the spill to an equipment failure from the Tin and Tin Free electroplating process at the Portage plant. Plant processes were shut down after the spill, officials said.
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.
HAMMOND  Cyberbullying is a deadly serious problem among young people with some 10 percent of victims committing suicide because of it, Cathie Bledsoe said.

"Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people. ... It's not a white problem, a black problem, a Hispanic problem, an Asian problem, a male problem or a female problem. It's our problem," Bledsoe said.

Bledsoe, who serves as youth educator for the Indiana State Police Internet Crime Against Children Task Force, was the final workshop presenter at Thursday's 2017 World Civility Day workshops.

The workshops lasted all day and were held at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond.

The day's events culminated with a gala dinner and featured speakers at Avalon Manor in Hobart.

Other workshop presentations included those by Lew Bayer of Civility Experts of Canada on The Business Case for Civility at Work; Civility in the Classroom, showcasing the work of teachers in two Gary charter schools and its impact; Civility in the Community presented by the National Civility Center and Where Do We Go From Here  Chaos or Community? presented by the Urban League of Northwest Indiana.

Community Civility Counts, which started with the Gary Chamber of Commerce and The Times Media Co., held its first World Civility Day last April and attracted a capacity crowd.

Last years dinner, however, did not include enough time to hear a lot about programs making a difference. So workshops were added this year to expand the events, according to Times Media Co. Editor Bob Heisse.

During her speech, Bledsoe linked cyberbullying to the trend toward incivility in the general population, 85 percent of whom communicate online.

"If they can't be civil online they're not going to be civil in person. It (civility) is important because I don't care if you don't like me you can respect me. We seem to forget we need to be kind," Bledsoe said.

Bledsoe said the issue is so huge in Indiana that police received a grant to hire three individuals to handle all aspects of cybersafety.

She said the state is losing some of its best and brightest students who commit suicide because they can't stand up to general online harassment, cyberstalking and the spreading of lies.

"We have to talk to kids about how to be stronger," Bledsoe said.

Bledsoe said the state has made cyberbullying a crime and students who are found guilty of the crime can face the consequences including being suspended or expelled.

And those who have a record of being a cyberbully face other consequences including having their computer history haunt them when it comes to getting a job or going to the college of their choice.

"The things they post online may reflect badly on them," Bledsoe said.

Bayer, during her workshop, spoke of how incivility at the workplace is having a huge effect on business.

Bayer, the author of "The 30% Solution: How Civility at Work Increases Retention, Engagement and Profitability," said studies have shown that some 26 percent of individuals quit their job due to incivility at the workplace.

Of those polled for the study, 98 percent reported they have experienced incivility at their workplace.

"And 59 percent of the respondents said the quality of their home and family life was impacted by their job stress," Bayer said.

Bayer said in Japan, where it is not uncommon for employees to work 60 to 70-hour work weeks, 10,000 workers per year drop dead at their desk.

She said there is a need for American workers to see a return to civility.

"We need a plan. Civility at the workplace has to be about changing how we work, think and interact from start to finish. Civility has to become a core element in the character of our organization," Bayer said.

Among those who came to the workshops to receive more information about civility were Sherry Harlan and Cindi Gustafson of Rockford, Illinois.

The two women said they are part of a group called 815 Choose Civility which will focus on civility in the schools, business and community of Rockford.

"We are a new group but we have a long way to go," Harlan said.

Gustafson said she and Harlan came to the event looking for ideas and contacts to turn Rockford into a top 25 civil city.

"Our group is growing but we still feel somewhat unprepared," Gustafson said.
CHICAGO  Federal mail and bank fraud charges have been filed against an Illinois judge in connection with an alleged mortgage fraud scheme.

Judge Jessica A. O'Brien was accused Wednesday of lying and concealing relevant facts from lenders to obtain more than $1.4 million in mortgages. The mortgages were obtained for Chicago investment properties she purchased and sold between 2004 and 2007.

Also charged with fraud is 49-year-old Maria Bartko, who purchased property from O'Brien to fraudulently obtain mortgage loans.

A spokesman for Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans says O'Brien was reassigned to non-judicial duties. An executive committee of Evans and 17 other judges will meet next week to decide whether O'Brien will be removed from the bench.

It wasn't immediately known if O'Brien or Bartko have legal representation.
BERLIN  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.
CORVALLIS, Ore.  Jessie Ryan was ready to move out of her Warrior II pose when she felt a nudge on the back of her leg.

When she turned around, she couldn't help but laugh when she saw Quincy, a 1-year-old mini-goat, staring back up at her.

It was the moment Ryan had traveled from Portland to Oregon's mid-valley to experience: the birthplace of a nation-sweeping craze known as goat yoga.

"How can you not connect with this face?" Ryan asked as Quincy bleated back to her. "You're in the middle of doing a pose, thinking about how terrible everything is, when a goat comes up and kisses you or steps on your fingers and all that stress goes away. It sounds like something a modern-day Lewis Carroll would write."

Ryan joined 15 other people for one of the first goat yoga classes of the new year at Corvallis' Hanson Country Inn.

But they aren't the only ones who have signed up for founder Lainey Morse's sessions  the waitlist for the class grew to 2,400 people over the winter.

Goat yoga combines a one-hour yoga session with the animal-therapy of social mini-goats that wander around and interact with the class. When Albany's Morse first combined the words "goat" and "yoga" for a simple event last July, she inadvertently created a media whirlwind. Since then, her life has been anything but simple.

GOAT YOGA FEVER

In the last eight months, stories have appeared in hundreds of media outlets around the world, including the Washington Post, Time magazine, The New York Times, CNN, NPR, ESPN, National Geographic, Vogue, BBC and hundreds of blogs.

Last September, the Post's Karin Brulliard wrote, "Well, it's about time: Someone has finally launched a yoga class with goats" and noting that when Morse created the class "magic was made."

Two months later, under the headline "Bring a Yoga Mat and an Open Mind. Goats Are Provided," New York Times reporter Kirk Johnson wrote, "As you smell that grass on a yoga mat, you realize that you have entered the goats' world, not the other way around."

There is now a "Goat Yoga" page on Wikipedia, too.

Even "Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon covered the story in a September 2016 opening monologue.

"Apparently, there's a farm in Oregon that offers a yoga class that you can take with goats roaming around you," he said. "They even have a special position called the downward facing (soundbite of goat bleating)."

Morse, who lives at Albany's No Regrets Farm with her 11 Nigerian dwarf goats, had hosted several goat-centered events previously, including Goat Therapy (spending relaxing time with goats) and Goat Happy Hour (spending relaxing time with goats and wine). They were well-attended, locally popular and helped supplement her income. But Morse had no idea goat yoga would hit like it did.

"Nothing prepares you for that; it's just absolutely mind-blowing" Morse said while preparing for a class at the Hanson Country Inn. "You always hear about something going viral but you don't know what it means until you experience it. It's intense. It's like a roller coaster you can't get off. It's the most crazy thing you could ever do."

The media blitz started last summer after Heather Davis, a yoga instructor at Corvallis' Live Well Studio, suggested to Morse the farm as a fun place to host a yoga class. To drum up publicity, Morse posted photos and videos on social media featuring Davis doing a yoga pose with one of Morse's mini-goats on her back.

"I really like yoga and I really like goats. I guess other people do too," Davis said. "I told Lainey this felt like the most Oregonian thing ever. But neither of us expected this."

In less than a day, the photos and videos gathered hundreds of social media "likes" and shares, attracting local and national media attention. And the more media attention the story got, the more calls Morse received for interviews and from people asking to sign up for a session.

"It got to the point where I was doing nothing but answering phone calls," she said. "I lost 20 pounds when it all started happening. I would be so busy during the day I'd forget to eat. I just wasn't thinking about myself."

Morse had also been diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, an immune system disorder similar to lupus.

"I think that played a part too. It just got to be a lot. Everything was going 1,000 mph," she said. "I mean, who do you go to for advice when something goes viral? You almost feel lonely because there's no one to go to when something hits like that."
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. 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, New Hampshire.
In recognition of Donate Life Month, the East Alabama Medical Center held a ceremony Thursday to educate the community about the need for organ donors and to celebrate the lives that have been changed by organ donations.

Proclamations for Donate Life Month were presented by Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and Auburn Mayor Bill Ham at the ceremony.

The event kicked off with an update from Auburn resident Amanda Boswell, whose then five-month-old son Davis received a heart Nov. 30, 2015 from Jonathan and Holley Perrys six-month-old son John Clarke, who passed away from an abnormal vessel malformation. The Perrys are from Monroe, Louisiana.

Before receiving the heart transplant, Davis spent nearly five months on the assistance of a rare Berlin heart  a device that worked as a temporary bridge until a donor heart became available. Born on June 30, 2015, his health issues stemmed from contracting Enterovirus at just a few days old, which interfered with the way his left ventricle pumped blood. He was cleared to go home on Jan. 28, 2016.

Davis was the highlight of last years ceremony and for which ESPN did a College Gameday special titled Heart of a Tiger in Sept. 24, 2016. On the day of the special, over 14,000 people registered to become organ donors.

A second chance

Boswell is thankful to the Perry family for helping Davis have a second chance at life. The families met for the first time at last years ceremony.

A lot of times people never get to meettheir donor, Boswell said. To meet them and to know who they were right away and to have the connection that we have with the Perry family, thats just not something we take for granted. We know that the Lord connected all of those dots and He was working and He was moving and countless lives have been changed because of what happened with both of our stories.

Since the families met one year ago, the Perrys started the John Clarke Perry Foundation, which provides financial support to families with children in need of life-changing medical treatments. In February, the Perrys donated $1,500 to help a little girl in need of a kidney transplant.

Boswell also mentioned that the Perrys will be expecting a little girl this month.

The Lord is good and the Lord is faithful, Boswell said.

Living donors

Opelika resident Brandy Ellis shared the story of how a living donor donation changed the lives of her husband Lance and their family.

Lance was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy in 2010.

He was told this kidney disease would take about 10 to 15 years to really affect him or put him in kidney failure, Brandy said.

In November 2014, Lances kidney function started to decrease.

The doctors were able to put him on some medication and even though the side effects were horrible, it was enough to solve the problem for a little bit longer, Brandy said.

Brandy married Lance in March 2016. Four months later, Lance went to the ER not feeling well, but his labs showed that he was in full blown kidney failure. He was rushed to surgery to have a permacath placed and went straight to dialysis.

Lance went to dialysis three nights a week from 6:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. for six months all while working a full time job.

We were blessed that he had many family and friends willing to be tested to donate him a kidney, so he did not have to be on the waiting list, Brandy said. His mother Deb and myself were the first two to be tested.

Both Brandy and Deb were a match to give Lance their left kidney.

His mother insisted that she go first and I be his backup in case something were to happen down the road, Brandy said.

Deb gave her kidney to her son Lance on Jan. 13, 2016, one day after his 37th birthday. Both Lance and his mother came through the surgery great.

Our first year of marriage sure was an interesting one, but we proved we will be together in sickness and in health, Brandy said. We are so grateful to his mother for giving us the chance of having a long, happy, healthy life together and we are excited to start this next chapter of our lives.

An act of kindness

Reeltown High School alumna Ashley Bunn said she would not be here today if it were not for her donors familys selfless decision to donate lungs so Bunn could breathe.

Bunn was born Sept. 9, 1991 at Russell Medical Center. At around two months old, she developed multiple cases of pneumonia.

Physicians at Russell Medical Center in Alexander City ran numerous tests on Bunn, attempting to determine what was wrong. Finally, they gave her the sweat test. For more than 50 years, the test has been used to diagnose Cystic Fibrosis in children.

Her parents did not know that they were carriers of the disease until Bunn was diagnosed with CF. When she was diagnosed, the average life expectancy of someone with CF was less than 20 years.

We were referred to a pediatric pulmonologist at Childrens Hospital in Birmingham, Bunn said. After finding the right combination of antibiotics, the CF was stable and we were left to learn to adjust to this new lifestyle change.

Bunn said the disease causes excess mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system.

It mainly affects the lungs which overtime causes the lungs to deteriorate from the multiple infections, Bunn said. This will eventually lead to the need for a transplant.

Despite her challenges, Bunn was living a relatively normal life. She attended Reeltown High School where she pitched for the softball team and was a show choir captain. She was also a trombone player and line leader for the high school band, and a member of the color guard. She graduated high school in May 2010.

During her first year of college at Southern Union State Community College in Opelika, her health started to decline.

Transplant was only option

After a couple of years, my lung function started decreasing rapidly and my doctors said antibiotics were no longer effective, Bunn said. My body was now resistant to all antibiotics and we were running out of time. Doctors said a double lung transplant was my only option of saving my life.

On Sept. 21, 2014, she was placed on the transplant waiting list at University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital.

Due to the lack of registered donors in Alabama, I was enlisted at UAB for almost two years, Bunn said. Due to the critical need for my new lungs, my doctors and I decided it was time to explore other transplant centers.

She was referred to Florida Hospital in Orlando and Duke University in North Carolina. Because of Dukes expected wait time of only two to three weeks, Bunn and her family made the decision to go to Duke in May of 2016.

I immediately started pulmonary rehab to get as strong as I could for surgery, Bunn said. I completed only a couple of days out of the 21 required days before being woke up on June 10 unable to breathe and I was admitted to the hospital.

The day after being admitted, Bunns CO2 levels went up which made breathing even more difficult. After her levels reached a critical high, she was told she could not leave the hospital until she received her transplant. She was placed on the transplant list that night.

I received two calls within the first 24 hours, Bunn said. Unfortunately neither pair were a good match for me."

On June 16, she received a phone call she would never forget.

I got a call around 12 p.m. and I heard the words that would forever change my life, Bunn said. 'The lungs are perfect and they are all yours.' I was finally towards getting my life back.

Two days after surgery, her breathing tube was removed and she was able to take her first unassisted breaths. After many days in the ICU, she was released from the hospital.

I am happy to stand here 10 months rejection free, Bunn said. I am now breathing at 80 percent whereas the last recorded breathing test I had was only 13 percent. Thanks to my donor and their familys selfless decision to donate their organs, I have been given more time with my family and I have been given my independence back.

At the end of the event, a flag-raising ceremony was held on the front lawn of the East Alabama Medical Center. The Donate Life flag was raised and attendees were given balloons to release into the sky.

For more information about organ donations, visit the Alabama Organ Center's website at www.alabamaorgancenter.org.
The Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA) has partnered with the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum (UCMP) to explore opportunities in the oil and gas industry by organizing an expo that is set to attract more than 1,000 people, according to a joint statement.

The inaugural regional logistics expo 2017 will kick off the expo on April 25 at Serena hotel before winding up with the third annual oil and gas convention on April 26 and 27.

Announcing the upcoming event recently at the Private Sector Foundation offices, Elly Karuhanga, the chairman of UCMP, noted that more than 800,000 tonnes of equipment is expected to be transported to the Albertine oil region as Uganda seeks to produce oil by 2020.

After the launch of the front end engineering design for the crude export pipeline from Hoima to the port of Tanga in Tanzania and the same for Nwoya and Buliisa exploration areas, the stage is now set for Ugandas oil and gas industry to take off. This presents a huge opportunity for our freight and logistics counterparts, said Karuhanga.

However, for this to be realized, the logistics industry has to attain very high capacity and become extremely efficient. Hence, this upcoming forum intends to come up with solutions that will boost our logistics to meet the high demands of the oil sector, he added.

The joint event will be held under two themes: Transforming Uganda into a regional logistics hub - What is your role? and Oil & gas doors open in Uganda. The other partners for the expo are TradeMark East Africa, ministry of energy, and World Bank, among others.

Jennifer Mwijukye, the outgoing chairperson of the UFFA, said there was a need to make Uganda a focal point for the regions logistics industry.

Both the logistics and oil industries believe that transforming Uganda into a regional logistics hub will significantly help the country attain its middle-income aspirations, noted Mwijukye.

She added: Its only natural that being the main organization in transport and logistics, the UFFA takes the lead in championing the call for Ugandas transformation into a logistics hub.



mugalu@observer.ug
Business mogul Sudhir Ruparelias footprint within Ugandas financial industry has been further cut short after the licenses to four of his forex bureaus expired at the end of last year and were not renewed.

It is not clear whether it was Ruparelias decision to relinquish the licenses voluntarily or Bank of Ugandas decision not to renew them. However, a source within Bank of Uganda has told us that the central bank was suspicious of some laundered money being channeled through the forex bureaus, and was, therefore, reluctant to renew the licenses

In another instance, Ruparelias troubles mirror a wider problem that the businessman continues to face in what some sections of the public have defined as a witch-hunt. Ever since Crane bank, where he was the single biggest shareholder, was closed in October 2016, the clampdown on a number of his businesses has been intense, the latest being the forex bureaus.

The central bank announced on Wednesday that Crane Forex Bureau limited (Nile Avenue), Crane forex bureau (Kampala road) Limited, Karibu Forex Bureau Limited, and Redfox bureau limited would not have their licenses renewed.

Benedict Ssekabira, the director for commercial banking at Bank of Uganda, told reporters on Wednesday that they had closed them because owners and board of directors lacked fitness and probity.

Sudhir Ruparelia

Stanhope forex bureau, a subsidiary of the Ruparelia group, remains open, though. Ruparelia still manages Crane management services, his holding firm that runs his real estate empire.

They are not the first ones to be closed and wont be the last one, Ssekabira said of the forex bureaus.

However, The Observer has been told that the issue of money laundering played a key role in the central banks focus on the forex bureaus.

They [closed forex bureaus] are linked to money laundering, the source said. We are at a time when the world is looking at us Were involved in South Sudan, Somalia, refugees are flowing, and [we are close to] DRC. This raises the risks of laundering. Any links or suspicion will get you closed.

Forex bureaus are expected to renew their licenses annually. BOU reviews their activities and if there are issues it is uncomfortable with, they are denied license.

We asked Sudhir Ruparelia to comment on this story but he declined to reply to out request. We also asked Rajiv Ruparelia, a key staff of the Ruparelia group, about the troubles in the group and he, too, declined to comment.

The closure of the forex bureaus comes three months after Crane bank was sold to Dfcu bank over failure to maintain the required minimum capital. It was later found that the bank had been engaged in prohibited insider lending and that it had conspired with auditors to paint a glowing picture of its performance.

Ruparelias troubles were also worsened by a forensic audit that found gross indiscipline in the way he managed his businesses in the financial sector, our source intimated. The forensic audit into Crane bank was completed and the report remains within Bank of Uganda.

The USA is particularly watching us, said the source. They are very hard on anti-money laundering laws and anti-terrorism financing.

The Uganda Anti-Money Laundering Act was first passed in 2013, following pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global movement fighting dirty money, and bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and the UN.

In that year, the US-based Global Financial Integrity (GFI), which works to expose illegal financial flows, reported that Uganda was the biggest recipient of illicit financial flows in East Africa, reaching $1.1bn in 2008.

In its annual supervision report last year, Bank of Uganda warned there was a high risk that commercial banks, forex bureaus and other money remitters in the country were not doing enough to scrutinize suspicious transactions, raising concerns that dirty money could be entering the country.

The Eastern and Southern Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG), an organisation composed of states in east and southern Africa, said in a report last year that financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions in Uganda did not adequately apply anti-money laundering and combating financial terrorism preventive measures commensurate with their risks.

Last month, Uganda was forced to make amendments to its anti-money laundering laws, with the ESAAMLG report indicating that the supervisory regime in the country was not as strong as it should be.

Uganda is particularly seen as a fluid transit route for drug smugglers and wildlife poachers. Most of the times, these people seek to sanitize their cash through the available institutions, including banks and forex bureaus.



amwesigwa@observer.ug
With Easter only a couple of days away, theres no better time for Christians to draw closer to God, and a Russian luxury goods company wants to help rich folks do just that with a collection of gold-plated iPhone 7s engraved with religious symbols and prayers, and blessed by an Orthodox bishop.

Caviar Phone has been creating limited edition gold-plated smartphones for a few years, even making international headlines in 2014 for a Putin-themed iPhone aimed at rich Russian patriots. But what really caught my eye was its Caviar Credo collection featuring the same type of gold-plated iPhones but this time engraved with Orthodox symbols like crosses and holy icons, and prayers like Our Father. Credo also includes Apple smartwatches with similar decorations.

According to the scriptures, with faith one is capable of moving mountains. A bright flame in our soul, it illuminates our way on Earth and inspires great deeds, the Caviar website boasts. For those who understand their purpose in the world, jewelry brand Caviar has created a luxury collection of Orthodox and Muslim phones called Credo, which translated from Latin means creed'.

These religious smartphones emphasize their owners respect for the everlasting covenant and, at the same time, demonstrate their worth, Caviar adds.

The Credo iPhone will remind those who practice Christian Orthodoxy the main commandments of Christ  to love and to forgive neighbors. This phone will bring success and prosperity in business, and the icons engraved on it can become talismans.

About the Muslim-themed phones, Caviar writes: the respectable Muslim iPhone  an exquisite gift for someone who is Muslim. It wordlessly speaks of the owners commitment to the laws of the Quran and reflects his lofty spiritual values of Islam

Caviar recently made three new additions to its Credo collection, which, for the first time feature custom casing, whereas the previous ones only had the decorations attached tot he original casing. For that reason, they are a bit more expensive, with prices ranging from 199,000 rubles ($3,545) to 219,000 ($3.900). But you can grab one of the older models for as low as 186,000 rubles ($3,300).

If youre more of a smartwatch kind of guy, Caviar also sells Credo smartwatches engraved with images of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Our Father prayer. Both models are priced at ($3,360).

All Caviar Credo religious iPhone 7s and smartwatches models are limited edition, with just 99 copies of each being sold, so act fast! To sweeten the deal, the Russian luxury goods company has every item blessed by Bishop Augustine of Gorodetsky and Vetluzhsky at the Fedorovsky monastery in Gorodetsky, Russia.

Photos: Caviar Phone
Podesta Group this week filed documents with the Justice Department detailing services it completed three years ago for a pro-Russia Ukrainian political party, work that was allegedly performed under the guidance of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and his longtime deputy Rick Gates. (1 reader comment)
Agricultural News

Trump Convinces China to Grant Market Access to US Beef - NCBA Hails It a Major Victory







Word came at the beginning of this week, that a victory was won for US beef producers during President Donald Trump's Summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. China announced just a few days ago after Xi's return home that the Chinese government has agreed to move forward with opening access back up to their markets for US beef, which were shut tight in 2003 after a brief episode concerning mad cow disease. Kent Bacus, director of international trade and market access for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association spoke with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays about this new signal of hope to America's beef industry.





"President Trump, he listened to the requests, not only from NCBA, but from the North American Meat Institute and the US Meat Export Federation - and we asked him to make this a priority issue," Bacus said. "So, when you think about all of the requests coming into the White House for issues to be discussed, we consider this a victory, that beef was included as a priority issue."





While this news has been well received, Bacus acknowledges that there is still a lot of discussion that needs to take place, hammering out the technical barriers of a trade agreement, such as traceability. These discussions have been going on for months now, since China first hinted at opening up their doors again, but they have since seemed to stagnate. However, backing from Xi may help to speed up the process.





"Over the next 100 days, the Chinese and the US leaders are going to identify a path forward where they're going to address some of these technical barriers to trade," he said. "So, we still have a little bit of time going forward to see our beef enter the Chinese market."





Listen to NCBA's Kent Bacus brief Farm Director Ron Hays on China's announcement regarding US beef access to its markets, on today's Beef Buzz.





The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.























Listen to NCBA's Kent Bacus brief Farm Director Ron Hays on China's announcement, click below.

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Early on in The Fate of the Furious  right before a wrecking ball with a smiley face swings down and destroys a dozen cars  one of the characters tells another: Whatever you do, dont think!

Thats good advice to heed when watching this movie. Or when watching the preceding films in the series. Or, honestly, when watching movies in general.

If in Fast 8 youre still using your brain by the time the Russian submarine shows up, youre not doing it right.

This is a profoundly dumb movie, dumb even by the lofty heights set by previous Fast and Furious films.

But thats a good thing. Or at least not a bad thing. For this series, stupidity is a feature, not a bug. These movies traffic in fast cars, hard bodies and dumb dialogue. They suffer only when they slow down, and Fate of the Furious  even at the indulgent running time of 136 minutes  rarely eases up on the gas.

It helps that the plot is thoroughly nuts. Were promptly reintroduced to master thief/hot-rod hero Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel). Hes living in Cuba with his snarling soul mate, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez). Hes still getting into street races. He still hasnt found sleeves for any of his shirts. But otherwise hes content.

Then a mysterious woman named Cipher (Charlize Theron: 60 percent evil, 40 percent hair extensions) coerces him into betraying his team and stealing various weapons of mass destruction for her nefarious purposes. The card Cipher is playing against Dom is pretty hardcore and touches on a plot point from three movies ago. (These movies might be dumb, but their labyrinthine plots take a little intelligence to keep straight.)

Dom is a formidable opponent, and so secret government guy Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell, so happy to be here) wrangles up Doms team to find and catch their erstwhile leader. The team includes Letty, Hobbs (Dwayne The Rock Johnson), Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris) and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel). Brian (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) have been written out of the franchise following the real-life car-crash death of Walker in 2013. Theyre mentioned only once, in a stray line of dialogue, though Walker gets a tear-jerking tribute in the films final scene.

Filling in for Brian and Mia are newbie government agent Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood) and  surprise!  former villain Deckard (Jason Statham). Because the Fast and Furious movies have five ironclad rules: 1. No one ever really dies. 2. Heroes will eventually become villains. 3. Villains will eventually become heroes. 4. Family. 5. Also family.

The Statham/Johnson team-up is far and away the movies highlight. They loathe each other and bicker constantly. So much that their dynamic soon takes on the vibe of a will-they-wont-they? Its safe to say that the beefy, bald lugs have more sexual chemistry than any other two actors in this whole series.

The Fate of the Furious eventually boasts more characters than an Avengers movie. Then it gets really bananas, unleashing its wild card: Helen Mirren. When we first meet the Queen, shes sporting a leopard-print blouse and a cockney accent (2017 cinema is weird).

The crew tries and fails to stop Dom and Cipher over a series of increasingly bonkers action setpieces. Fast 8s two big sequences dont quite top the Rio de Janeiro heist of Fast Five or the mountain chase of Furious 7, but theyre close. A mid-movie jaunt through New York turns 100 auto-driving cars into a deadly swarm. And the finale has that aforementioned nuclear submarine chasing our heroes across a frozen lake in the Russian Arctic. If that werent enough, theres also an airplane shootout soundtracked to an Alvin and the Chipmunks song.

The director is new this time out: F. Gary Gray, who directed 2003s The Italian Job and 2015s Straight Outta Compton. But the movies tone and pyrotechnics feel very much of a piece with Nos. 5, 6 and 7. It helps that the series has had the same screenwriter (Chris Morgan) since No. 3, and roughly the same team of editors, cinematographers and visual effects artists for about as long.

What Im saying is, these movies are consistent. Their humor and heart, their defiance of taste, gravity and logic: These are things we can count on in an ever more uncertain world.

And every so often these movies achieve moments so transcendently stupid that they evoke  and I dont say this lightly  they evoke the stupid majesty of the stupid masterpiece Road House.

Theres a scene near the end of The Fate of the Furious that takes us to dumb movie heaven. It involves Tyrese, Ludacris, a tank, a neon-orange Lamborghini, a harpoon gun, a makeshift snow sled and a crew of snowmobile-riding assassins.

After seven movies of relative restraint, its really great to see this series let its hair down.

The Fate of the Furious

Grade: B

Rating: PG-13 for prolonged sequences of violence and destruction, suggestive content, language and various instances of bang-bang vroom

Director: F. Gary Gray

Cast: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, Kurt Russell, Helen Mirren, Nathalie Emmanuel, Scott Eastwood

Running time: 2 hours, 16 minutes

Theaters: Aksarben, Alamo, Bluffs, Majestic, Midtown, Oakview, Regal, Twin Creek, Village Pointe, Westroads

Fast facts

 Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez did not have their drivers licenses before making the first film.

 The first film was inspired by a 1998 article in Vibe magazine.

 A Michigan woman sued the distributors of the Ryan Gosling movie Drive because, in her view, it wasnt as much fun as the Fast & Furious movies.

 Before Paul Walker was cast as Brian OConner, Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg and Eminem were considered for the role.

 Rodriguez didnt know her character was still alive until she saw the ending of Fast Five at the theater. They wanted to surprise me, she told Yahoo! Movies.
A 53-year-old man was injured in a shooting and robbery Thursday night near 33rd and Q Streets in South Omaha.

Police said the shooting occurred at 3101 R St. around 9:30 p.m.

Officers said they found Juan Ramirez at the crime scene, suffering from a gunshot wound that he sustained during a robbery by two men in their 20s. He may have been shot in a leg.

Ramirez was taken to Nebraska Medical Center with nonlife-threatening injuries.

Police said their investigation found that five other men were also robbed at the location.

No arrests were announced, and police said their investigation into the case was continuing.
The video of her 4-year-old daughter was so damning, an Omaha mother said, that she knew she had to share it with other parents of children at Lynns Learning Center.

Lynn Rowe, 58, the owner of the day care/preschool, was arrested Thursday night in connection with the alleged abuse of the girl in Omaha.

Police said Rowe, who runs the center at 3109 S. 112th St., was taken into custody by the Harrison County Sheriffs Office at a Missouri Valley, Iowa, home.

On Friday night, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services issued an emergency order closing the day care.

Police said they received a complaint April 3 about alleged child abuse at Rowes center, with parents Allen, 43, and Kelley Meyers, 45, reporting that Rowe had physically abused their daughter March 28. On Wednesday, a felony arrest warrant for child abuse was issued, police said.

The matter came to light after a now-former employee of Lynns surreptitiously shot video of the allegedly abusive acts. That former employee, who gave a copy of the video to the Meyerses, also had children at the center, Kelley Meyers said.

After we gave the video to the other parents, they all took their kids out of there, Meyers said of the 13 or 14 children pulled from the center.

The video supports Kelley Meyers description of the abuse: Rowe yelling, hitting the girl in the head, striking the girls hands and arms and slamming the girls hands onto a desk.

And it wasnt just physical abuse, Meyers said, it was verbal abuse, too.

According to an affidavit filed as part of HHSs order closing the day care, Rowe told the girl Good, I hope that hurts you when the child said that the hitting and slapping were hurting.

Meyers said her daughter was not showing any lasting effects from the abuse. She said her daughter attended the learning center five days a week, spending six hours a day at the facility on four days of the week.

Kids are pretty resilient, she said. Shes doing OK.

Meyers said she and her husband took some comfort in knowing that Rowe was arrested.

Were just glad shes finally going to have to take some responsibility for her actions, Kelley Meyers said.

She said a son attended Lynns Learning Center six years ago for a couple of years. Meyers said her son and daughter never reported any abuse problems with Rowe.

Omaha detectives are investigating whether other children were abused or neglected at Rowes center, police said.

Authorities urged anyone who believes his or her child may have been a victim at Lynns Learning Center to call the special victims unit at 402-444-5636 or Omaha Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP.
SIOUX CITY (AP)  A 42-year-old man has been accused of using a belt on his daughter after she refused to do laundry.

Court records say Ricardo Cordova-Larios is charged with child endangerment causing injury. Court documents say bruises on the 14-year-old girls back, neck and upper torso matched the outline of a belt.

Copyright 2017 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Omaha area has a chance of precipitation through today, forecasters say, and the Lincoln area also could see showers during this afternoons Huskers spring football game.

I think were fair game for a few showers, said Ryan McPike, a KMTV meteorologist.

Conditions should begin to dry out tonight, with Sunday looking like a good day for Easter services and outside activities.

Today in the Omaha area, the National Weather Service office in Valley called for a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. A high temperature in the lower 70s is likely, the National Weather Service office said.

Showers and storm chances could linger through the afternoon, McPike said.

He said the timing of the rain may depend on the arrival of an expected cold front.

It could be on and off through the day, McPike said. I dont think the day is a total washout.

You kind of roll the dice this time of year, he said.

An estimated 70,000 fans are expected for todays 1 p.m. Nebraska Cornhuskers spring game at Lincolns Memorial Stadium, where conditions could become wet and breezy, with south winds gusting to 25 mph.

Tonight in the Omaha area, skies are to become partly cloudy and the low should be in the mid- to upper 40s.

McPike said the Omaha area could receive a half inch to 1 inch of rainfall through today. He also said the Omaha area was under a marginal risk for severe weather through today.

Sunday is forecast to be mostly sunny with a high in the upper 60s.

Easter Sunday looks fantastic, McPike said.

Sunday night there is a 20 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m. with a low in the mid- to upper 40s.

The weather service said there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms Monday through Thursday in the Omaha area, with highs in the 60s and overnight lows in the upper 40s to about 50.
For giving first aid to a shooting victim outside her apartment, a Nebraska soldier serving in the Iowa National Guard has been awarded the Guards Medal of Merit.

Spc. Lauren Kopetzky of Stromsburg, Nebraska, received the award at a ceremony April 9 at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa, according to an Iowa National Guard news article. Shes a member of Company C of the 224th Brigade Engineer Battalion in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The Iowa State University junior was home alone at her apartment in Ames on Aug. 9, 2016, when she heard two men arguing loudly outside, the article said. Then she heard gunshots.

Kopetzky said she quickly ran outside, thinking briefly someone had thrown firecrackers at her window. She found a man who had been shot five times in the back. She retrieved some T-shirts from her apartment and began applying pressure to the mans wounds, the article said. She also called 911 and relayed information about the victim and the gunman to the dispatcher.

Kopetzky could not have been certain the shooter was gone, an Ames police detective wrote in a letter to the soldiers commander. She still risked her life to help a complete stranger.

Kopetzky had become a certified nursing assistant while attending high school in Stromsburg, the article said, and worked at nursing homes there. She had also received Army combat first-aid training previously, while serving earlier in the Nebraska National Guard. But she had never actually treated a gunshot wound.

Her father, Sgt. 1st Class Wade Kopetzky, is a crew chief and platoon sergeant with a Nebraska National Guard aviation support battalion in Grand Island, according to the article. Hes also a former Marine, combat veteran and a former emergency medical instructor.

Its just in her nature to help people, he told the National Guard journalist.

Besides her Guard duties, Kopetzky is a full-time biology major who works at part-time jobs in a university research lab and an Ames nursing home, the article said. Her goal is to become an emergency room doctor or a trauma surgeon.
As promised, President Donald Trump has approved the Keystone XL pipeline. Now it is up to the Nebraska Public Service Commission to determine whether building the pipeline through Nebraska is in our public interest, and if so, if the route is appropriate.

Hopefully, the commission will acknowledge, that for multiple reasons, all of us have a substantial legal interest in being heard on this project.

Look to the north to see the most obviously compelling reasons not to build this pipeline.

Alberta tar sands mining and processing is arguably one of the worst ongoing environmental tragedies on Earth. Substantially more greenhouse gases are released to the atmosphere producing tar sands oil compared to conventional drilling.

Besides destroying thousands of acres of ancient Boreal forest, tar sands oil production also has caused the creation of thousands of acres of waste lagoons. Seepage from these huge toxic lakes has contaminated the Athabasca River, and they are right under the flyway of endangered whooping cranes and other migratory waterfowl.

If the commission approved the pipeline, we would be culpable for this senseless environmental destruction. We would also set a terrible legal precedent by allowing Nebraskans private property rights to be trampled on by foreign for-profit interests.

Obviously our president is not concerned with these issues. It is up to us to show the Nebraska Public Service Commission, and the world, that we are.

Jarel Vinduska, Gretna
A former 55th Wing pilot who has written books about the units aircraft and missions thinks it is likely that the units RC-135 Rivet Joint planes joined in the operation involving the mammoth bomb dropped in Afghanistan on Thursday.

The planes have continuously operated in the region since August 1990. They fly out of Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Robert Hopkins III, the Texas-based author of Spyflights and Overflights: US Strategic Aerial Reconnaissance 1945-1960, said the Rivet Joints specialize in gathering communications intelligence.

Sophisticated listening equipment in the jets cabin intercepts foreign communications  for example, radio conversations by Islamic State fighters  which are interpreted by onboard linguists and passed on to military commanders.

Thats exactly the kind of capability that could be useful in targeting the Islamic State tunnel with the giant GBU-43 bomb.

One could say with reasonable certainty that the Rivet Joints were part of the overall targeting and strike team, Hopkins said. It begs credibility to believe that such a powerful asset would not be involved.

Ryan Hansen, a spokesman for the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, said the units aircraft provide unrivaled capability to harness information and make it useful to commanders and decision-makers.

He said the Air Force doesnt disclose details of specific missions for security reasons.

But, he added: Weve been over there for 26 straight years. Pretty much any operation, were involved in.
Man rapes 8-year-old to use her blood for removing obstacles to his marriage

15-kg gold bars seized from Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express in Assam

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Guwahati, April 14: The Guwahati railway police on Friday arrested three people for trying to smuggle gold biscuit bars and seized 15 kgs of gold at Guwahati railway station.

Acting on a tip off, the police carried out a search in New Delhi bound Rajdhani Express, during which the gold was recovered. The gold was in biscuit form.

In another incident, GRP officials also recovered 1.5 kg of brown sugar from the New Delhi bound Avadh Assam Express train at the station late Thursday night and arrested one person.

Oneindia News
A mini Kerala of IS recruits was wiped out in Trump's big Afghan bombing

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The United States of America dropped the Mother of all Bombs at Nangarhar in Afghanistan on Thursday and Indian Intelligence agencies suspect that the mini Kerala may have been destroyed. It may be recalled that around 21 Keralites had gone missing last year and as per the intelligence agencies, they had taken shelter in Nangarhar in Afghanistan.

500 Pakistanis including ISI officers blown up in mammoth Afghan bombing by US

All these persons from Kerala including women were lured in by a handler to be part of the Islamic State module in Afghanistan. The IS was in the process of setting up a Caliphate in Afghanistan and was extensively looking for Indians. An Intelligence Bureau official informed that as per the preliminary information available the missing persons from Kerala were in the same province and may have been a target of the bomb.

This was completely unexpected, but very Trump-like action. One ought to have got a message when he ordered the bombing of a Syrian airbase last week. Indian agencies say that this action by Trump on Thursday will act as a deterrent to those wanting to join the Islamic State. It will not be the same and Trump will live up to his word of finishing the Islamic State, the officer also informed.

What we know about the "mother of all bombs,' that US dropped on Afghanistan

Agency officials in India are now digging out more information to find out about the extent of the damage. The US has not officially released any figures, but as per the information available with the Indian agencies, the damage was extensive. "We have information about the presence of Indians in the same area and it would not be wrong to say that they have been a target of the bomb," officials informed.

The 'mini Kerala' in Afghanistan:

For over a year now, the IS has been trying to set up shop in Afghanistan. Several youth from Kerala have come under their radar, and they, in turn, have willingly joined the outfit. Fears regarding the spread of Wahhabism and extremism through radical online Islam had gripped Kerala. The state, which was in denial for long about the rise of Islamic extremism today, has woken up to the problem.

In fact, several Muslim organisations in Kerala have come forward to sort out the problem. OneIndia earlier had reported that on the rise of an IS culture in Kerala

The National Investigation Agency which has been probing these cases says that the trail has led to Afghanistan. Almost all the recruits from Kerala including women have been transported to Nangarhar in Afghanistan.

Each of them was given a manual on how to prepare explosives. For now, it appears that they will function in the Afghanistan module known as the Wilyat Khorasan. However, one cannot rule out the possibility of these people being sent back to India over a period of time to stage attacks, the officer also adds.

It has also been found that the man behind these recruitments is Saeed Abdullah, also from Kerala. He has taken the lead when it comes to setting up the Afghanistan module for the IS. He has only gone for educated recruits, investigations have also shown.

Investigating officers say that the IS has been finding it very easy to recruit from Kerala. There appears to be a change in the mindset among many people in the state which has only made the recruitment process easier.

Moreover, all the recruits from the state had been sent to Afghanistan. This has to do with the proximity to India which the recruits prefer. Many have not been open to the idea of going to Syria or Iraq.

The IS feels that if an attack is to be launched in India, then transporting the cadres from Afghanistan is an easier option when compared to Iraq or Syria.

OneIndia News
After NBW, can India really extradite Zakir Naik from Saudi Arabia?

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

On Thursday a special court issued a non-bailable warrant against controversial Islamic preacher, Zakir Naik. This is the first step to bring back Naik who is currently in Saudi Arabia. The question is whether the agencies would be successful in bringing him back?

The onus now lies on the agencies to put up a strong case before the authorities in Saudi Arabia in order to extradite him. While the non-bailable warrant is only the first step in this process, a lot would depend on the chargesheet filed by the NIA and the ED against Naik.

Our track record in bringing people from abroad back for trial has not been entirely satisfactory. Take the case of liquor baron Vijay Mallya or fallen IPL czar Lalit Modi. In both cases, the evidence did not match to the demand.

Officials say that in the case of Naik the chances of him being brought back is better since the case is a strong one. However, in nine out of ten cases the evidence put up by India is not appreciated by the other countries and this is one the primary reasons for the extradition to fail.

In order to get Naik back to India, it would not be sufficient if only the agencies put forward evidence. Even if the evidence is strong, then it would also depend on political will. Extraditions are usually a political process backed by the evidence handed by the agencies. A lot would depend on how the Indian political class decides to handle the matter where Naik is concerned.

OneIndia News
After nude protest, TN farmers wear sarees to demand drought relief fund

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

New Delhi, April 14: First, they brought skulls of dead farmers, who have committed suicide in Tamil Nadu, at the protest site. Recently, three TN farmers went nude in front of the Prime Minister's Office in the national capital after they were denied an audience with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Friday, male farmers from the state decided to wear sarees like women and sat at the protest venue at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

"Delhi: Tamil Nadu farmers who have been protesting for drought relief fund wear saree as a sign of protest," tweeted ANI.

Delhi: Tamil Nadu farmers who have been protesting for drought relief fund wear saree as a sign of protest pic.twitter.com/zoMMPr1utu  ANI (@ANI_news) April 14, 2017

Since March 14, a group of 80 farmers from TN are agitating at Jantar Mantar in the national capital demanding the Centre to waive off all their loans. The month-long protest is unlikely to end soon as protesters said they won't give up till all their demands are met by the PM Modi government.

The Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government in TN 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.

OneIndia News
Akhilesh deprived UP of development, says Yogi Adityanath

India

ians-IANS

By Ians English

Lucknow, April 14: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Power Minister Piyush Goel on Friday accused the previous Samajwadi Party government of putting up roadblocks in the development of the state on its whims and fancies.

At a function to sign several MoUs in the power sector, Goel said that Uttar Pradesh was deprived of the benefits of the "Power for All" scheme of the central government as Akhilesh Yadav wanted his picture to be displayed over everything relating to the scheme.

As this was not possible, the scheme signed by 28 states hung fire in Uttar Pradesh until the exit of the SP government, and now that a BJP government has come to power in the state, it was being signed within one month, Goel added.

Adityanath, in his address, dittoed the charges and said that the 150 critical care ambulances, which were flagged off by him on Friday, were not accepted by the SP government for two years owing to petty political differences.

"It is sad that for two long years people of the state were deprived of a facility which could have saved the lives of many critically ill patients" Yogi rued.

He promised that the people of the state would be "VVIPs" under his regime and that no one would be discriminated against on grounds of religion, caste or political belief.

Thanking the Narendra Modi government for extending all cooperation to the new state government, the Chief Minister said that his government would ensure that the dreams of great men like Baba Saheb Ambedkar and BJP ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay were realised for the welfare of the farmers, the marginalised and the poorest.

"The dream of 'Uday to Antyodaya' will now be fulfilled," Yogi Adityanath said while pointing out how under the past regimes only select few districts used to get 24x7 power.

"How can this be allowed?" he questioned while adding that VVIP status was no longer reserved for people or places or for that matter even caste and communities.

"For me the most important are the people of the state and we are henceforth committing ourselves to ensuring that the entire state by the end of 2018 will have 24x7 power supply," the Chief Minister added.

He also warned the people against power theft and said that it was a matter of great pride for the state government that half the street lights in Allahabad were fitted with LED bulbs within days, as the Prime Minister was scheduled to attend an event there.

"The officials are the same, we have not changed the whole lot of bureaucrats, but they are performing now. It's because earlier there was no leadership and now there is one," he chuckled, drawing peels of laughter and applause from the gathering.

IANS
An army veterans emotional appeal to Kashmiri youth

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Srinagar, March 14: There is no respite to Kashmir from violence. As clashes between civilians and security personnel continue, the poor voter turnout during the recent by-poll and re-poll in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency highlights the fragile situation in the Valley.

The lack of trust between the civilians and jawans has reached a new height, especially after a video went viral showing an army personnel getting heckled and beaten up by youngsters of Kashmir.

While the restraint shown by the gun-carrying army man in spite of being getting attacked by unarmed men has been widely appreciated, many have condemned the act stating that the jawans guarding our borders deserve to be honoured and obeyed, not bullied and attacked like this.

In such a tricky situation, an army veteran's open letter to the Kashmiri youth brings to forefront the core issues troubling the Valley for so many decades. In his column titled-- An army man's open letter to Kashmiri Youth--for News18, Lt Gen (Retd) DS Hooda wrote, "I know your pain at losing a comrade or a loved one because I have felt the same pain and seen the same scenes of grief in our homes. Just like you, I am aware that conflict is not only about lost lives, but also about lost opportunities, lost education and a lost youth."

Hooda highlights how every jawan, posted in the Valley, sees the Kashmir conflict as a neutral person, without taking any sides. "Unlike you, I come here for a two-three year posting and then move on. I thus tend to see things from a perspective which is not coloured by history or emotions. I only see what is happening today. And I honestly see you all headed in a downward spiral - being used by various groups for their own selfish reasons," he wrote.

The army veteran asks youth of the Valley to shun violence for their better future. "It is for you to decide the path to take. But decide carefully. Stone pelting, flag waving, and school burning do not really enhance your image or further your cause. Twelve-year-old Faizan was shot dead when he went to see the 'tamasha' of your stone pelting."

OneIndia News
Bengaluru: Crores of rupees found during raids on former rowdy's house

India

oi-Anusha

In early morning raids conducted by the Bengaluru police, crore of rupees in demonetised currency notes were found. Searches were conducted at the residence of 'Bomb' Naga, a former rowdy-sheeter, in Srirampuram of Bengaluru. Police suspect that the former rowdy could posses close to Rs 100 crore. Searches continue at his residence. After hours of searches police found hundreds of bundles of old demonetised notes in Nagaraj's residence.

Nagaraj, a former BBMP corporator, is said to have been running a 'black and white' business of money laundering. The police raided his residence following information of his involvement in money laundering post-demonetisation. So far crores of rupees have been found in his possession while search for more money is underway. The police have seized demonetised currency notes and documents from his residence. Nagaraj is also suspected of being involved in multiple incidents of kidnapping and extortion. All the money found in his possession were in demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

"There is a suspicion that he was involved in land mafia as well since we have found documents of properties that are not owned by him. We are yet to verify where the huge amount of notes came from and why they were stashed here. He is absconding and we have launched a manhunt," said Hemant Nimbalkar, Additional commissioner of police, Bengaluru East.

The police who arrived at his residence as early as 5 am had to break into the house after those living inside refused to let them in. Police cut open a lock and grill to enter the house. Money was found stashed in many bags. The police who entered the three storied building were stopped by women who occupied a house on the second floor. The police continued to conduct searches even as women put up a tantrum. Women constables from nearby police stations were brought in to handle the women.

Oneindia news
Cong targets BJP, says no one apologised or resigned for Morbi tragedy

BJP's National Executive meet begins in Odisha

India

pti-PTI

Bhubaneswar, April 14: BJP's two-day national executive meeting has begun at Bhubaneshwar in Odisha. The meeting is expected to discuss a host of issues including the elections in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.

The BJP's national executive is also likely to discuss the next Presidential candidate. The BJP will chose its candidate as President of India, Pranab Mukherjee is set to step down in July.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP's national president Amit Shah and several other leaders are part of the meet.

However, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will not attend the meet on health grounds, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said.

"Sushmaji will not be able to attend the national executive meeting on health grounds. She has been advised rest by doctors," he said.

Swaraj's presence and guidance would be felt at the meet, Pradhan told reporters while inaugurating the media centre, set up for the conclave. Union ministers, chief ministers of 13 BJP-ruled states and three deputy chief ministers will attend the meet, he added.

Party veterans LK Advani and MM Joshi are also at the meet. BJP president Amit Shah, who arrived on Friday, garlanded the statue of BR Ambedkar at AG Chhak, near the Secretariat.

PTI
Cong targets BJP, says no one apologised or resigned for Morbi tragedy

BJP will form government in Bengal next time, says Rajnath Singh

India

ians-IANS

By Ians English

Kolkata, April 14: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that his BJP has been making progress in West Bengal and will form the government in the state next time.

"Agli bar BJP sarkar (Next time, there will be BJP government). Kanthi Dakshin bypoll election made the indication clear that BJP is making progress," he responded to a query about BJP coming second in the Kanthi Dakshin assembly bypoll.

Rajnath Singh, however, sought cooperation from the Trinamool Congress state government, particularly, for the smart city programme and the implementation of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA).

"We expect cooperation from the West Bengal government. We expect cooperation for smart city programme. We have come out with real estate regulatory authority and the rules of the authority have to be codified by the state. But that has not been done so far," he said.

He condemned the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader Yogesh Varshney's comment offering Rs 11 lakh to anyone who beheads West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"No such statement should come and we never endorse these comments. We do not know the person. As I know, he is not even a district level leader," he said.

Rajnath Singh, however, refused to make any comment as the Home Minister, when asked about RSS allegation that state government is giving shelter to jihadis. "As Home Minister, there are lot of things I cannot say in public."

Asked about Narada video sting footage and Saradha chit fund scam, he said: "Law will take its own course. BJP doesn't interfere in matters of law."

The Central Bureau of investigation has been probing the Sarada chit fund scam and the Narada sting video tapes where Trinamool Congress leaders were purportedly seen accepting cash.

Responding to a query about the steps taken by the state government after the Ram Navmi celebrations by Sangh parivar, he said: "State government's responsibility is to provide full security if a person or a political party calls for a programme."

During his visit to the city, Singh, who interacted with party workers and journalists, did not criticise the Mamata Banerjee government.

IANS


Government ready to talk to farmers but not on repeal of laws: Narendra Singh Tomar

Who is Rajeev Chandrasekhar, what is his net worth?

Anganwadi centres should be learning centres as well, says Min Pratima Bhoumik

BJP will win 2019 WB election with majority: Uma Bharti

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Howrah, April 14: Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti on Friday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government in West Bengal 'with a clear majority' in the next assembly polls.

"The BJP will form the government in Bengal with a clear majority, just as we saw in Assam and in Haryana where, once upon a time, only one or two of our MLAs used to be elected. In the forthcoming assembly polls in the state, the BJP will win with a clear majority," Bharti said on arrival at the Howrah railway station.

Bharti's comments come in the wake of her party finishing second in the by-poll to Kanthi Dakshin assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district.

State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress retained the seat with the BJP pushing the Left Front candidate to the third position.

Banerjee, has, however, accused opposition parties in Bengal of transferring votes to one another and said she was least bothered about who emerged as her party's principal opposition.

The Bengal assembly polls are scheduled to be held in 2019.

IANS

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Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2017, 15:48 [IST]
Chennai IT raids: Summons issued to Vijaya Bhaskar, Sarathkumar again

India

oi-Anusha

There seems to be no respite for Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijaya Bhaskar from Income Tax officials. The minister was yet again summoned for questioning. Fresh summons was issued to Bhaskar, actor-turned-politician Sarathkumar and Dr MGR medical University vice chancellor Geetha Lakshmi following raids by the IT sleuths.

The trio has been asked to appear for questioning on April 17 over seizures that were made during raids at properties belonging to them. Sarathkumar faces allegations of receiving Rs 7 crore from AIADMK Amma faction to extend his support for the R K Nagar bypoll, which was ultimately countermanded.

The IT sleuths are probing the money trail in connection with the R K Nagar bypoll where Rs 89 crore is said to have been spent by TTV Dinakaran's party to bribe voters. Sarathkumar has been questioned thrice earlier by the income tax officials and has been summoned for the fought time on April 17. His wife Raadhika also appeared for questioning after raids were conducted at her media venture Radaan media works' office in Chennai.

The vice chancellor of MGR university had sought a stay on the summons issued to her but the Madras high court dismissed her petition compelling her to appear before the income tax officials. Geetha Lakshmi appeared in person on Thursday and has been summoned once again.

Bhaskar, from whose possession incriminating documents are said to have been seized has also been asked to appear for the second time before IT officials. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu cabinet ministers and senior leaders of the Sasikala Natarajan faction of the AIADMk held a meeting with Dinakaran on Friday. While it is understood to have been a strategy meeting, Dinakaran maintained that it was a courtesy call on Tamil New Year.

OneIndia News
What is Good Friday?

Good Friday is a Christian holiday held in honor and remembrance of Jesus's death on the cross. It is held after Maundy Thursday, which recalls the Last Supper, and on the Friday before Easter Sunday.

How is it celebrated?

Good Friday is meant to be a day of reflection for Christians, a day when you focus on the sacrifice Jesus made. It is also a day of mourning for the church. Many churches also participate in Veneration of the Cross.

Good Friday procession

Christian devotees take part in a holy procession on 'Good Friday' in Bhopal.

Re-enact journey of the cross procession

Brendan Paul, center, plays the part of Jesus as parishioners from the Wesley Mission re-enact journey of the cross procession on Good Friday in Sydney.
Delhi police arrests two recipients in kidney racket case

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Apr 13: Two men, who had allegedly bought kidneys through the racket which was busted in southeast Delhi last year, have been arrested, the police said on Friday. The two kidney recipients, Santosh Kumar Gupta, 54, and Ashok Aggarwal, 6, were arrested on April 4 and 11 respectively, they said.

They were on anticipatory bail and were formally arrested for the purpose of finalising the supplementary chargesheet, a senior police officer said.

The kidney racket at a private hospital in southeast Delhi was busted in June last year and 17 persons were arrested in that case. The police had claimed that some personal staff of doctors at the hospital were running a kidney racket and bringing donors from different parts of the country to Delhi. Touts used to lure poor people from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and other states for donating kidney in return of Rs 3 to 4 lakh. Kumar had paid Rs 3 lakh to T Rajkumar Rao, the alleged kingpin of the racket and around Rs 8 lakh towards medical expenses.

Aggarwal had paid Rs 2 lakh to Rao. Kumar had come into contact with Rajkumar through Brijesh Chauhan, the PA of Dr D K Agarwal. Ashok Aggarwal had come in contact with Rajkumar through Shailesh and Aditya, PAs of Dr Ashok Sarin. Gupta was earlier running a sweet shop while Aggarwal has a garment shop.

Besides Rajkumar, those arrested include his mentor Deepak Kar, personal staff of doctors in Apollo hospital Brajesh Chauhan, Aditya Singh and Shailesh Saxena, agents Satya Prakash and Devashish Moulik, four donors - Umesh Srivastava, Neelu Srivastava, Bhanu Pratap and Maumita Moulik, organ recipients Ashutosh Gautam, his father and three others and one Aseem Sikdar.

PTI
Mahila Congress district president accuses Ajay Maken of harassment

India

oi-Anusha

The district president of Mahila Congress on Friday accused Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken of harassment. Rachna Sachdeva also made allegations against Mahila Congress president Shobha Oza and another Congress leader, Netta D'Souza, of mental harassment and criminal intimidation.

In her complaint to the Tughlaq road police station in Delhi, Sachdeva claimed that she was harassed and tortured by the trio for raising concerns over ticket distribution for Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls. Sachdeva alleged that she met Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi over ticket distribution for MCD Polls 2017 and raised concerns over tickets being issued to the kin of Congress leaders following which Rahul assured to take action. This, the complaint claims, angered Maken, who harassed her.

Sachdeva also claimed that he threatened to take action against her after the elections causing mental agony. She also alleged that she had been threatened and mentally harassed by Oza and D'Souza for raising the matter of ticket distribution before Rahul.

"I was asked to apologise and when I refused I was threatened by them," Rachna Sachdeva said in her complaint. She alleged that she received threat calls after Maken threatened her to consequences. All leaders that Sachdeva has mentioned in her complaints have rubbished the allegations.

OneIndia News
Ecstatic from poll victory, Karnataka Congress preps for reshuffle

India

oi-Anusha

Just as the Congress successfully completed its challenge of bypoll, yet another challenge has popped up before the party. Overwhelmed by the results of Gundlupet and Nanjangud assembly constituencies where the Congress stole a terrific victory, the party is now looking to set the house in order ahead of the assembly polls in 2018.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president G Parameshwar will meet the party's senior leadership in Delhi to discuss the next course of action for the party. Just before the bypolls, the Congress party was facing a crisis with workers and office bearers demanding a change of leadership. The party had then decided to work towards the bypoll first and then address the concerns of leadership. Now that the party has managed to demolish the BJP in the Nanjangud and Gundlupet bypoll, it is all set to work things out within and kickstart preparation for 2018 assembly elections.

New in-charge general secretary

The first and foremost concern currently for cadres is the replacement of Digvijaya Singh as in-charge general secretary. There is huge anger against Singh who is charged with failing the party in Goa. Multiple representations have been made to the party senior leadership to remove him from the post and appoint someone 'better'. Congressmen claim that Singh has no connect with ground reality and does not understand the sentiments of the workers.

Even as demand for his exit peaks, Gulam Nabi Azad's name is being thrown up to take Digvijaya Singh's position. The workers also believe that someone young may be in a better position to boost morale.

New state leadership

After the drubbing that the Congress received in Uttar Pradesh, the state unit had grown jittery. While with the bypoll victory has given them some confidence, the Congress understands that the magic it managed in the bypolls may not be recreated across the state in 2018. The party wants a mass leader who can challenge the precision with which BJP cadres work on the grassroots level. A huge number of workers are rallying behind D K Shivakumar to be made the party's president.

Shivakumar who is currently the power minister is seen as a mass leader who can influence voters. A strong Vokkaliga man, the party belives that his leadership would contribute towards confidence building about the Congres party among voters from non-AHINDA communities. AHINDA has been the sole agenda of Congress and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Now, the Congress believes, is the time for the party to appeal to other communities as well. Making Shivakumar the KPCC chief is the first step towards it.

In case Parameshwar refuses to let go of his position as the president, the Congress is likely to project D K Shivakumar as the chief minister face while allowing Parameshwar to continue as the KPCC president. However, this was a plan devised before the bypoll when Siddaramaiah was confident of not contesting polls anymore. With the bypoll victory, the status quo has changed and so will the plan. While it is too early to predict what the Congress may choose to do, a reshuffle is definitely on the cards.

OneIndia News
Are you awake?: EAM Jaishankar recalls when he got a call from PM Modi at midnight

Fight against terrorism is the fight for all: V K Singh

India

pti-PTI

Mumbai, Apr 14: Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh on Friday said the fight against terrorism was universal and concerned the entire humanity, referring to the US bombing on Islamic State complex in Afghanistan.

"They (the US) have taken action against a terrorist organisation which they have already been doing. Fight against terrorism is the fight for all of us," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

The US military dropped a GBU-43/B, colloquially known as "Mother Of All Bombs" or MOAB, to target tunnels and bunkers built by the Islamic State fighters in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, which killed 36 militants and destroyed their mountain hideouts near Pakistan border.

Speaking on the death sentence awarded to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan, he said, "New Delhi will ensure that the interests as well as lives of its citizens are protected anywhere in the world."

Singh, former Army chief, said the nation was quite clear on its stand that the allegations against Jadhav were baseless. "To term him a spy is an imaginary thing as no spy moves along with his passport. If anything happens to him, we will term it as a pre-meditated murder," he said.

46-year-old Jadhav was recently awarded death sentence by a Pakistani military court on charges of alleged espionage and sabotage activities. India has demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Jadhav, and also sought consular access to him.

PTI
Govt should move Pak court to find if jadhav is alive: Maj Gen Bakshi

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Apr 14: Major General G D Bakshi (retd) on Friday urged the government to file a habeas corpus in Pakistan courts to find out if Kulbhushan Jadhav, sentenced to death in the neighbouring country on the charges of spying, is still alive.

The veteran expressed apprehension that Jadhav might have already been killed by Pakistan through "insane torture" and the country is trying to cover up the 'judicial murder'.

"He was kidnapped, taken to Balochistan and tortured insanely to make him confess to all sorts of things which he did not do," Bakshi told a two-day convention on Nationalism and Patriotism organised by Veterans India.

"We suspect Jadhav was tortured to death and the so-called trial is a move to cover up the judicial murder," he said.

"Therefore, our lawyers should file a habeas corpus in Pakistani courts and make them produce Jadhav before a court and before media cameras," Bakshi said. He said Pakistan has detained 56 Indian armymen since 1971 and is not behaving like a civilised nation by choosing not to send them back.

"India gave back many Pakistan prisoners to show how civilised we are. But when Pakistan is not doing so, we need to put pressure which will change its behaviour," he said. "I am happy to see Parliament came together for Jadhav after ages," he said.

Former Indian naval officer Jadhav was sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan on the charges of spying. The Indian government reacted strongly to the development saying if the sentence were to be carried out it would be considered as 'pre-meditated murder'.

PTI

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Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2017, 16:10 [IST]
Hindu Mahasabha's bizarre solution to Triple Talaq: Religious conversion

India

oi-Anusha

As thousands of victimised Muslim women fight against the draconian triple talaq, the Hindu Mahasabha has offered a bizarre solution. General secretary of Hindu Mahasabha, Dr Pooja Shakun Pandey asked all Muslim women who have been victims of triple talaq and 'nikah halala' to take to Hinduism to get justice. The statement was made by the Hindu Mahasabha office bearer after conducting a program for the 'empowerment' of Muslim women.

The Hindu Mahasabha members said that they took an oath to fight against triple talaq during the program. "If our government and law cannot ensure justice to you, we will ensure it. I would treat all such women as my daughters and ensure self-respect and dignity to them," Shakun Pandey said.

Speaking to the audience which also consisted of women who had been victims of triple talaq in the program, Pandey said that she would personally ensure their kanyadan. "They will get a safe and secure life," she added. As bizarre as the solution is, many Muslim women rights activists slammed the Hindu Mahasabha accusing it of milking the triple talaq issue to promote religious conversions.

OneIndia News
Hope fades as Pakistan's generals say no compromise on Kulbhushan Jadhav

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Even as India began building diplomatic pressure to bring back Kulbhushan Jadhav, the former naval officer sentenced to death, top generals have told the dispensation in Pakistan not to agree to any demand. The generals in Pakistan who run the show in that country are not in favour of any compromise.

A meeting of the Corps Commanders which was presided over by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Baja decided that there would be no compromise and the questioning of sending Jadhav to India is ruled out. The meeting at Rawalpindi in Pakistan decided that there would be no compromise where Jadhav is concerned, and a statement to this effect was released by the Inter-Services Public Relations.

On Thursday the spokesperson for the Ministry for External Affairs Gopal Baglay said that Kulbhushan Jadhav is a kidnapped innocent Indian who is a retired officer of the Indian Navy. These facts were communicated to Pakistan over a year ago. "We had, in fact, made 13 requests to Pakistan to release him since he was arrested last year.

The Pakistan government has not shared any specific details about his condition, he also 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 also said.

OneIndia News
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In UP 166 criminals killed in encounters in past five years: Yogi

This Diwali, UP CM Yogi asks govt employees to celebrate festival with needy, deprived families

Modernisation of police force helped in controlling crime in UP: CM Yogi

Yogi govt orders demotion of DySP to inspector for taking bribes in rape case

How Yogi Adityanath skillfully juggles busy work schedules

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Next time you wonder how successful people manage their busy work schedules; you can take a leaf out of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's book. Since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in India's most populous state in March, the new CM of the state is on a mission to bring development and end crime in UP.

We have earlier reported that the CM sleeps just four hours a day and he also wants all his cabinet colleagues and bureaucrats to dedicate all their energy and time for the betterment of the state and its people.

Here we bring you a glimpse of how Adityanath spent his Thursday, hopping from one public meeting to another...

Health with technology CM Adityanath flagged off new ambulances equipped with life-saving technology on Thursday. His cabinet colleagues also attended the function. Picture credit: PTI Health for all UP CM Adityanath flags off new ambulance service in Lucknow on Thursday. Picture credit: PTI Praying for all UP CM Adityanath paying obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, to mark the occasion of Baisakhi, in Lucknow on Thursday. Picture credit: PTI A true disciple of the god UP CM Adityanath attends a prayer's meet at Gurdwara Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib on the occassion of Baisakhi in Lucknow on Thursday. Picture credit: PTI Janata ka sevak Adityanath listens to problems of people during his Janata Darbar in Lucknow on Monday. Picture credit: PTI Hello, sir! UP CM greets Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a bouquet in New Delhi on Monday. Picture credit: PTI

OneIndia News
Talented, driven and great potential: President Putin is all praise for India and Indians

India-Pak need to reinitiate peace talks: Former Pak foreign minister

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, April 14: Former Pakistan foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri on Thursday said New Delhi and Islamabad needed to restart the stalled peace process for the larger good of the region.

"Pakistan and India relationships are peculiar. No benign neglect will work. Let's not let things drift," Kasuri said at an Indo-Pak seminar in Delhi organised by the centre for peace and progress.

He however, steered clear of talking about the Jadhav issue but regretted that 'things are not looking pretty good' between the two countries.

"What is happening in Kashmir and the news from Islamabad," he said referring to Jadhav and the recent deaths of eight civilians in the Kashmir valley on Sunday during a Lok Sabha by-poll.

Kasuri expressed hope that "PM Modi had a sense of history and he wishes to be part of the history in India-Pakistan relationship."

He said "It was impossible to think Pakistan could be isolated diplomatically and for argument sake if India succeeds it will give rise to new conflict. It is counterproductive."

IANS
India to issue travel advisory to Pakistan amid Jadhav row

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

India is set to issue a travel advisory to those travelling to Pakistan. The government, based on Intelligence Bureau reports, wants to issue the advisory, as it is not conducive to travel to Pakistan.

Tensions with Pakistan are at an all-time high, regarding the Kulbhushan Jadhav issue. Pakistan's military court had sentenced Jadhav to death despite India claiming that he was not a spy and was innocent. In the advisory, the government would warn against travelling to Pakistan. Better to avoid going to Pakistan, the advisory would state.

India has been upping diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to free Jadhav. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that India would do anything to get Jadhav back. All efforts are being made and will go to any extent to get him, Singh also said in New Delhi.

OneIndia News
Bharat Jodo Yatra will proceed to Srinagar, come what may, says Rahul Gandhi as march enters Maharashtra

Internal polls in Congress: Rahul Gandhi to be crowned as party chief?

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

New Delhi, April 14: If reports are to be believed, the Congress is all set to conduct its internal elections by October this year. During the polls, the Congress in all likelihood would elevate Rahul Gandhi as the party president.

Currently, Rahul is holding the post of party vice president. His mother, Sonia Gandhi, is the party president for the last 19 years. Since 2014 Lok Sabha polls, several leaders in the Congress had asked Rahul to take over as the party chief. Even the Congress Working Committee--the highest decision making body in the party--had asked Rahul to officially head the party in November last year. However, the change in guard in the grand old party is yet to happen.

Although, Rahul is the second-in-command of the party, he is the one who takes all the major decisions for the Congress, as Sonia has become less active in politics due to her bad health.

According to a report published by Indian Express, the Congress' election authority chairman, Mullappally Ramachandran, had a meeting with Sonia, Rahul and senior leaders Ahmed Patel, AK Antony and Janardan Dwivedi for drawing up the tentative schedule for the elections.

Ramachandran said, "The elections would be held democratically and transparently....Congress is the only political party which holds internal elections in a transparent and democratic fashion."

Earlier, the Election Commission had issued an ultimatum to the Congress to complete its poll process by June 2017. The party has been long delaying the completion of its internal elections, which were due in 2015.

After request from the Congress, the EC has agreed to accept the party's appeal to finish its internal elections by December this year.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2017, 10:20 [IST]
Will make roads in MP like 'Hema Malini's cheeks': Minister P C Sharma

'Rapists should be kept in jail permanently," says Hema Malini

Dont want to be Hema Malini: RLDs Jayant Chaudhary kicks up row

Maha MLA on farmers suicide: Hema Malini drinks heavily, did she commit suicide?

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Mumbai, April 14: A Maharashtra member of legislative assembly stirred up the hornet's nest with his controversial remark on yesteryear's popular Bollywood actress-turned-politician, Hema Malini.

In order to reject the general perception that farmers' commit suicide due to their drinking habit, Bacchu Kadu, an Independent MLA from the Achalpur constituency of Maharashtra, said that the Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament was a heavy drinker, but she did not commit suicide.

"People say farmers commit suicide due to drinking, which is absolutely incorrect," Kadu was quoted as saying by ANI.

People say farmers commit suicide due to drinking, which is absolutely incorrect: Bacchu Kadu,Independent MLA(Achalpur) #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/QdT8rFkdNC  ANI (@ANI_news) April 14, 2017

He added, "75% of MLAs drink, journalists drink. Hema Malini drinks heavily daily, did she commit suicide?"

The BJP has strongly protested against the MLA's remark. "Malini is a well-known figure across the globe, apart from being an MP. These statements are uncalled for. Farmers commit suicide not just because of bad crops. There are various reasons behind it," Priti Gandhi, national executive member of BJP's Mahila Morcha, said.

According to reports, over 200 farmers have committed suicide only in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra in the first three months of 2017. The BJP in alliance with the Shiv Sena is running the government in Maharashtra.

OneIndia News
Kerala guv writes to CM Vijayan to take action against finance minister

CBI Recruitment 2022 Out: Check salary, eligibility, and how to apply

'If I have nominated even one person using authority, I'll resign': Kerala governor on VC row

Malayali IS fighter killed in US attack

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Kasaragod, April 15: One of the 21 missing youth who had joined the terrorist outfit Islamic State in Afghanistan is believed to be dead in the US attacks on Thursday.

Murshid Mohammed, 27, had left his hometown Padanna along with his friends was reportedly killed in the bomb attack over the Nangarhar province by US troops.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that a few of these youths might have injured in the attacks. Murshid was employed as a driver at the Nangarhar province.

The information was confirmed through three telegram messages sent by Ashfaq, a friend and one of the missing youths from Padanna to Murshid's parents and an activist close to the family.

The telegram App message is been handed over to the National Investigation Agency.

It was during the months of June and July last year that 21 youths were found missing from different parts of Kerala. The NIA had already filed a charge-sheet in this case and the investigation is on.

Of the missing 21, 14 members hail from Kasaragod, six from Palakkad and one from Thiruvananthapuram.

OneIndia News
Man with 1 crore bank account details arrested in Delhi

India

oi-Gulam Rabbani

New Delhi: The Delhi police on Thursday arrested a man who is believed to have possessed the personal bank account details of 1 crore Indians.

The accused identified as Puran Gupta, 33, was arrested from Ganesh Nagar on Monday after the southwest Delhi police received a complaint from a senior citizen in Greater Kailash that he was duped for Rs 1.46 lakh by a caller who posed as a representative of a private bank who tricked the old man to reveal the one-time password.

According to the police, Gupta is said to have sold this data to fake call centres and in turn, use it to call the victims and obtain their OTPs. Through Gupta's courtesy, the fake call centres used to have details of credit and debit card details but the OTP used to help to steal the money from the account.

A top police official said that the stolen money was immediately transferred to the e-wallets such as Paytm, PayU, Olacabs, Mobikwik and Vodafone Bill Pay and added that because of the quick approach of the victims, the police officials sent letters to some of these firms.

Delhi:Busted a module that sold sensitive info like bank a/c, credit&debit card details,Facebook & Whatsapp data of 1 cr ppl - R Baaniya,DCP pic.twitter.com/7LVfzj54RF  ANI (@ANI_news) April 14, 2017

He added that the action taken by the police had let the firms return almost Rs 72,000. Interestingly, Gupta was in sights of Delhi police when they arrested an owner of a fake call centre, Ashish Kumar Jha. During the interrogation, Jha revealed that it was Gupta who used to give them the bank details of credit and debit cards of the innocent people.

After Gupta's arrest, the police got all the information of all the victims through his laptop. He used to target women and senior citizens as his clients.

OneIndia News
MOAB: Pakistan's role in setting up Islamic State module in Afghanistan exposed

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The cave which was hit by the 'mother of all bombs' had an approximated 800 fighters of the Islamic State. However an official statistic from the US states that around 36 IS fighters were killed in the bombing at Nangarhar province in Afghanistan on Thursday.

The key point to be noted is that there were several Pakistanis at the site of the bombing. It has also come to light that many of them were stooges or agents of the Inter-Services Intelligence. This only proves that the ISI had a hand in setting up the IS base in Nangarhar.

The IS has its only base in Afghanistan at Nangarhar and attempts to expand the same have failed. The IS at first battled the Taliban, but then the ISI stepped in and struck a truce between the two. Today, both the groups have respected each others' territories and at times even work together.

Indian officials say that it was through the ISI's contacts that the youth from Kerala were lured into the IS. It may be recalled that Indian Intelligence Bureau officials said that the ISI would use the Islamic State to launch attacks on India. This would give them the deniability factor as when an outfit such as the Lashkar-e-Tayiba strikes in India, the blame always goes to Pakistan.

OneIndia News
Jharkhand crisis: UPA to stage protest across state on Nov 5 against 'attempts to destabilise govt'

Unaccounted transactions of Rs 100 cr found during IT raids in Jharkhand

Maoists set ablaze 12 vehicles in Jharkhand

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Ranchi, April 14: Maoists have torched 12 vehicles involved in road construction work in Jharkhand's Palamau district, the state police said on Friday.

According to the police, the Maoist guerrillas torched one JCB machine, 11 tractors and one motorbike at Saraiya village under the Pipira police station jurisdiction on Thursday evening.

Refusal by the construction company to pay them a 'levy' is said to have caused the Maoists to torch the vehicles.

More than 25 vehicles have been burnt to ashes by the Maoists in 2017.

Last year in December, Maoists torched earth-movers and dozens of trucks owned by a private company around the Surjagarh mines in Maharashtra's forested Gadchiroli district

IANS

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Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2017, 13:31 [IST]
UP: Statue of BR Ambedkar that was painted saffron repainted to blue after outcry

Nation pays homage to B R Ambedkar, the man behind India's social reformation

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

New Delhi, April 14: As the nation celebrates the 126th anniversary of the leading framer of the Constitution Dr B R Ambedkar on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will introduce a coin to mark the occasion. The week-long calendar of celebrations over his 125th birth anniversary is part of the plans the Modi government has taken to embrace Ambedkar.

The PM's pitch for popularising BHIM app, named after Ambedkar, is significant because of the near consensus that popular endorsement of note ban was one of the factors which contributed to the saffron landslide in UP. The PM asked MPs to enlist youths as ambassadors of the government's public welfare work and good governance.

[PM Narendra Modi to launch new BHIM platform to push digital payments]

"BHIM-Aadhaar, the merchant interface of the BHIM App, to be launched by the prime minister will pave the way for making digital payments by using the Aadhaar platform," an official statement said.

Popularly known as Baba Saheb, Ambedkar was a social reformer, jurist, economist and politician who inspired the Dalit Buddhist Movement and campaigned against social discrimination against Dalits, while also supporting the rights of women and labour. Ambedkar was Independent India's first law minister and the principal architect of the Constitution of India.

Modi was in Nagpur where he visited a sacred place closely associated with the Dalit icon and inaugurate a series of development projects.

"I am extremely honoured to be visiting Nagpur, on the very special occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti," he tweeted. "In Nagpur, I will pray at Deekshabhoomi, a holy spot that is very closely associated with Dr Ambedkar," he added.

Delighted to be here on #AmbedkarJayanti. I am honoured to have got the opportunity to pray at Deekshabhoomi: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/JvWAieAeYt  PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 14, 2017

Deekshabhoomi is a sacred monument of Buddhism located where Ambedkar converted to Buddhism along with thousands of people on Ashok Vijaya Dashami on October 14, 1956.

Tributes to venerable Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on Ambedkar Jayanti. Jai Bhim.           # ! pic.twitter.com/XVC0TNtufV  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2017

Ambedkar has been regarded as one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century for his fierce battle against Indian caste system, for his lifelong campaign for womens rights and his priceless contribution towards labour movement.

OneIndia News
New IT park to soon come up in Puducherry

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Puducherry, April 14: An Information Technology, IT park will come up at Pillaichavady village, which will prove to be a boon for IT professionals and will boost the economy of the area besides providing job opportunities to unemployed youths of the state.

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has given a nod for the proposed IT parks in the union territory, which would be set up on the precincts of government- sponsored Puducherry Engineering College. The government has already earmarked the site for the project.

Narayanasamy on Thursday held a meeting with several entrepreneurs who expressed their willingness to start industries in the Union Territory. Industries Minister of Puducherry M O H F Shah Jahan, Agriculture Minister R Kamalakannan and others participated in the discussions with the entrepreneurs from various sectors.

Software Technology Park of India, STPI director Sanjay Thiyagi and joint director Manikandan said the IT Park would be set up soon.

Oneindia News

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Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2017, 12:46 [IST]
Bihar assembly elections 2020: Heres how you can cast your vote using the EVM and VVPAT

Now, Mayawati alleges tampering of EVMs in 250 UP Assembly seats by BJP

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Lucknow, April 14: On Friday, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati dragged the Bharatiya Janata Party into the ongoing debate on tampering of electronic voting machines. The Dalit leader accused the ruling party of tampering EVMs during the recent Uttar Pradesh assembly elections 2017.

"The BJP tampered EVMs in 250 seats out of 403. The tampering of the EVMs happened in constituencies where the BJP was very weak," Mayawati was quoted as saying by ANI.

After the results of UP assembly elections were announced on March 11, the BSP supremo alleged that the EVMs were being tampered to help the BJP win the polls in a massive manner. In the elections, the BJP and its alliance won 325 seats in the 403-member UP Assembly. The BSP won just 19 seats.

It is not only Mayawati, but Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also alleged that EVMs were tampered during Goa and Punjab assembly elections. Although several Congress leaders also maintain that EVMs were tampered during the elections in five states, a few leaders of the Congress such as Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh rubbished such allegations.

The Election Commission on Wednesday threw an 'open challenge' to people to hack its EVMs, a move which comes after opposition parties urged it to revert to the paper ballot system as they raised doubts over infallibility of the machines.

"From the first week of May, experts, scientists, technocrats can come for a week or 10 days and try to hack the machines," an official source said. They said the challenge will be open for a week or 10 days and will have various levels.

OneIndia News
Omar Abdullah likens Deve Gowda to Musharaff, gets trolled

India

oi-Anusha

In his attempt to criticise a channel's talk show, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah ended up offending hundreds of netizens by likening former prime minister Deve Gowda to Pakistan's former ruler General Pervez Musharraf. What followed was massive trolling of Abdullah. His comments were termed 'borderline racist' to 'immature' by those who took offence.

In an attempt to express his thoughts about how 'irrelevant' it was to talk to Musharraf about Kulbhushan Jadhav issue, Abdullah said that it was 'akin to Pakistani channels discussing developments in India with Gowda'. His statements left Twitter users, especially from southern parts of India fuming. While some merely disapproved of his statements, others launched full-fledged verbal attacks on Abdullah.

This is akin to Pakistani channels talking to Deve Gowda to discuss developments in India. Irrelevant no matter how "hard hitting". https://t.co/c53EeJpKTP  Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) April 13, 2017

Political differences aside, BJP leaders from Karnataka criticised Omar Abdullah for his statements. C T Ravi, a BJP MLA took to twitter to slam Abdullah. Reminding Abdullah that Gowda is called the 'son of soil' for a reason, Ravi said that the Abdullah family could never match up to the contribution that Gowda made for the country.

"Son of the Soil" Sri Deve Gowda has done more for the Nation's Development than the Runaway Crooks Abdullah family can even dream about. https://t.co/s9LN5migFo  C.T.Ravi (@CTRavi_BJP) April 14, 2017

Not just political parties and its members but netizens from all walks of life slammed Abdullah for the comparison he made between Gowda and Musharraf. Abdullah's twitter timeline was flooded with tweets criticising him for reckless statements on a former prime minister.

Deve Gowda was a legitimately elected head of state unlike Musharraf https://t.co/IbMBMwvaeK  Ram Prasad (@ramprasad_c) April 13, 2017

Omar u were CM because of the family u were born & ur credentials as CM is big zero whereas Devegowda reached high positions with hard work https://t.co/azKPQ85Ucs  vijay giraddi (@vijaygiraddi) April 14, 2017

Many netizens demanded that Abdullah take down the tweet and apologise to the former prime minister of the country.

OneIndia News
Delhi brokers tried to bribe four TRS MLAs: KCR targets BJP

Hyderabad should remember Sardar Patel the most: Kishan Reddy

RRR box office collection in Japan: SS Rajamouli's flick likely to beat '3 Idiots' record

PM Narendra Modi's wife worships at Telangana temples

India

ians-IANS

By Ians English

Hyderabad, April 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wife Jashodaben on Friday worshipped at two temples in Vikarabad town of Telangana.

She performed 'puja' at at Nagadevatha temple in the town, located some 80 km from Hyderabad.

After performing various rituals, she participated in 'Annadanam' programme and distributed food among the devotees.

Later, she visited Santoshi Mata temple in the town and offered worship. She was seen also offering fodder to a cow.

Modi's wife also garlanded statue of B R Ambedkar on his 126th birth anniversary.

Jashodaben had arrived in the town on Thursday night and stayed at the house of Baradi Ramesh, the priest of Nagadevatha temple.

As the news of her visit spread, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and workers rushed to the place in large numbers to meet her.

She is expected to stay in the town for another day before home to Gujarat returning on Saturday.

IANS


REALLY? Just 2 percent polling in Srinagar: The machinery has collapsed

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Seven hundred and nine -- yes that is right. Just 709 voters polled at the Sringar-Budgam constituency where re-polls were held on Thursday. The voter percentage was a meagre 2 per cent and history had been created. This is the lowest ever polling percentage.

Just 709 people out of the 35,169 voted thus recording the lowest polling percentage ever. This indicates a clear collapse of the system. The Election Commission which had been advised by the Home ministry not to conduct the polls in Srinagar as the situation was not conducive went ahead. The EC said after the re-poll in Srinagar that although the voter percentage was low, they were happy that it went ahead trouble free.

This meagre polling percentage has been reported just a week after a 7 per cent was recorded a week ago at Srinagar during the by-elections. The situation was chaotic and several persons lost their lives in violence that day. The ECI's answer itself is a failure. Ground level intelligence reports state that the voters did not come out because they were scared.

The government in Kashmir has failed the people. The voter was unsure about the level of security that had been provided at the polling booths and going by the incidents that took place last week, their confidence was shattered. It must be recalled that the polling percentage in Srinagar during the 2014 polls stood at 66 percentage.

Moreover, the ECI too is to be blamed here. They cited constitutional obligation as the reason to hold the elections. When the Home Ministry warned them against the polls, the ECI said that constitutional obligation mandates that the polls be held before April 16.

A wake-up call:

Experts say that this should serve as a wake-up call for both the centre and the state government. The postponement of the Anantnag by-poll is also an indication that the state government is clearly not in control of the situation.

Security experts who monitored the clashes on Srinagar last week said that it was clear that the dispensation was not prepared. The protestors went on a frenzy and clearly outnumbered the security personnel. In some quarters, people even asked if the dispensation in J&K intentionally decided to play the role of a mute spectator.

While Srinagar is one case, one must also look at the larger picture. Pakistan, on one hand, continues to fund violence in Kashmir and on the other hand Mehbooba has not managed to break the ice and calm the protestors. The situation in the Valley has gone out of her control.

The problem if one were to analyse it began in July after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. What the state government failed to act upon was crucial intelligence that suggested that a major unrest was being planned. Wani's death was only an excuse for the separatists to bring the Valley to a standstill, officials point out while adding that the unrest was planned much in advance.

OneIndia News
Record temperatures dehydrate newborns in North Karnataka

India

oi-Anusha

Temperatures in North Karnataka are touching record levels but it is not just the heat that the people are worried about. Extreme conditions are rapidly dehydrating newborns. With temperatures ranging between 41 and 43-degree celsius on a daily basis, doctors are being flooded with complaints of babies suffering from dehydration.

The temperatures in Ballari and Raichur are touching 43 degrees while in Kalburgi the temperature is oscillating between 41 and 42-degree celsius. The heat is taking a toll on newborns in the region with Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences in Kalburgi alone reporting 30 percent rise in dehydration cases among infants. VIMS, the largest government-run hospital in Ballari is full of newborns suffering due to the heat.

While 50 infants are being treated as outpatients daily, VIMS alone has 80 infants admitted and being treated for dehydration while other hospitals in Ballari have reported at least 200 such cases.

Newborns from poor families are worst affected since families mostly live in asbestos-roofed sheds which make matters worse. In Kalburgi, around 200 newborns are admitted to the postnatal ward and at least 60 are diagnosed with acute dehydration. Doctors fear that if not treated at the right time, dehydration in infants can lead to multiple organ failures.

Government hospitals are catering to people with meagre means and are encouraging new mothers to breastfeed the newborns to keep them hydrated. With the heat taking a toll on the new mothers, the effects are trickling down to the newborns as well.

OneIndia News
Imran Khan discharged from hospital, to resume long march from same point where he was shot

This cop from Pakistan became a millionaire overnight: Here is how

To free Jadhav, bomb Pakistan like the US did to Afghanistan: Togadia

India

oi-Madhuri

Controversial Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia on Friday said that India should learn from US President Donald Trump to approach Pakistan in a bid to secure the release of ex-navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.

On Thursday, the US had dropped 'mother of all bombs' - the largest non-nuclear weapon on an area of eastern Afghanistan known to be populated by Islamic State militants.

"Trump showed how it's 'America First' for him by bombing IS hideouts in Afghanistan, which is more than 10,000 km from Washington. Our government should show similar resolve of India First by bombing Pakistan, which is barely 800 km from New Delhi and securing the Indian soldier's release," Togadia said.

He also expressed confidence that a grand Ram Temple would be built at the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. While addressing a press conference Togadia said the Ram Temple would come up with the help of 3Ps - support of people, Parliament and the PM.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2017, 20:08 [IST]
Vande Mataram won't be sung at party's programmes for a month: U'khand Congress

India

pti-PTI

Dehradun, Apr 13: The Uttarakhand Congress on Friday said 'Vande Mataram' will not be sung at the party's official programmes for one month 'come what may'. The state unit of Congress declared this days after Uttarakhand minister Dhan Singh Rawat had said that those who want to live in Uttarakhand will have to sing 'Vande Mataram' -- the national song.

Rawat had also said that singing of the national song was being made compulsory in schools across the state. State Congress president Kishore Upadhyay said, "They cannot impose things like that on people. I announce that we will not sing Vande Mataram at our programmes for one month come what may."

Reacting to the Congress leader's assertion, state BJP chief Ajay Bhatt said by opposing an age old tradition of concluding every official programme with the singing of the national song, the Congress had only "reflected its decadent culture".

PTI
West Bengal: Dramatic selfie in train claims four lives

India

oi-Gulam Rabbani

Kolkata: A man's foolish decision to take a selfie while leaning out from the train, has claimed four lives while the selfie-taker himself is fighting for his life in hospital. The incident took place on Thursday morning near Howrah in West Bengal when a man leaned out of the train to take a selfie but slipped and fell off the train. In order to protect their friend, the four jumped out of train but were hit by a train coming from the other side.

According to reports, the incident took place between Liluah and Belur stations near Howrah. The five people have been identified as Sumit Kumar, Sanjiv Polley, Kajal Saha, Chandan Polley and Taraknath Makal (the selfie-taker) -- all aged between 25-30.

Reports said that Makal and the four others were returning from Tarakeswar temple after offering prayers.

An eyewitness said that Makal leaned out of the train to take a selfie but leaned out a little too far and fell off the train. The other four friends who failed to notice another train approaching from the other side due to low light conditions jumped out of the train and were killed.

According to police, the five people belong to Dumdum area of Kolkata outskirts and added that some of them are employees in factories and others are autorickshaw drivers.

The police said that they will ask Makal regarding the incident once he comes to. The four bodies were shifted to a nearby government hospital for post-mortem and the injured was taken for immediate treatment.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2017, 13:49 [IST]
What is the Indian equivalent to American 'MOAB'?

India

oi-Vikas SV

By Vikas

The United States on Thursday dropped the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in eastern Afghanistan to destroy Islamic State hideouts. The GBU-43 or the Massive Ordinance Air Blast is undoubtedly one of the most power conventional weapons because of its sheer destructive power.

The weapon, also known as 'Mother of all Bombs', weighs 21,600 pounds and costs around 16 million dollars.

It is interesting to note that there is also a 'Father of All Bombs', which is a Russian answer to the MOAB. Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power developed by Russia is reportedly capable of unleashing 44 tonnes of explosives. Also known as FOAB, the Russian bomb was sucessfully tested in 2007, four years after US tested MOAB.

[What we know about the "mother of all bombs,' that US dropped on Afghanistan]

Reports claim that Russia's FOAB is four times more powerful than US' MOAB. The blast radius of the FOAB is 300 meters, almost double that of the MOAB, and the temperature produced is twice as high.

India's most powerful conventional bomb:

SPICE (smart precise impact and cost effective) bomb is the most powerful non-nuclear weapon possessed by India. Manufactured by Israeli firm Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd, SPICE is an air-droppable unguided bomb which can be carried by Mirage 2000 fighters.

IAF has also tested it with Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter, which can carry 26 bombs of 550-lb class. SPICE used by IAF weighs around 450 Kgs and is around 3 meters long.

But, SPICE is just not in the same league as MOAB or FOAB. Reports say that even China and Pakistan do not have conventional bombs that match up to what US and Russia have.

OneIndia News
FM Nirmala Sitharaman hints at possibility of Centre considering restoration of state status to J&K

Youth allegedly tied to army jeep in Kashmir; Omar fumes

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Friday posted a video of a youth being tied to a jeep allegedlly by security personnel to ensure that stones are not hurled at them.

Omar has alleged that security forces are using Kashmiri youths as human shield to protect themselves from stone pelters.

Dubbing the incident as 'shocking', Omar also tweeted that the video of youth being tied to a jeep would not generate same 'anger' and the video of CRPF jawan being humiliated generated.

This young man was TIED to the front of an army jeep to make sure no stones were thrown at the jeep? This is just so shocking!!!! #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/bqs4YJOpJc  Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) April 14, 2017 Youth being used as human sheild? The video was reportedly shot in Beerwah area of Budgam district where miscreants disrupted polling during Sunday's bypoll to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency by pelting stones. It is being widely shared on social networks in Kashmir and drawing condemnation. Here's the video as well. A warning can be heard saying stone pelters will meet this fate. This requires an urgent inquiry & follow up NOW!! pic.twitter.com/qj1rnCVazn  Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) April 14, 2017 Video tweeted by Omar Omar demanded an inquiry into the incident.Army and defence officials were not immediately available for comment. Stone-pelters Stone pelting by locals at the security forces has emerged as a major menace in the valley in recent times. Local youth pelt stones during encounter with terrorists, allowing them to flee. Stone pelting became a trend in 2010 during an unrest. Stone pelters were roped in for as much as Rs 400 a day. The payments would increase up to Rs 800 depending the gravity of the situation.

(OneIndia News with PTI inputs)

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Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2017, 13:58 [IST]
500 Pakistanis including ISI officers blown up in mammoth Afghan bombing by US

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Atleast 500 Pakistani nationals have been killed in the US bombing that took place at Nangarhar province in Afghanistan. The area that was targetted was controlled by the Islamic State and protected by the Pakistan army, sources say.

[A mini Kerala of IS recruits was wiped out in Trump's big Afghan bombing]

The operation that was jointly coordinated by the 201 Selab Corps of the Afghanistan army targeted the caves and tunnels that were used as hiding places by the IS. It is now clear that the Pakistan army was backing these IS operatives in Afghanistan, official sources also confirmed.

[What we know about the "mother of all bombs,' that US dropped on Afghanistan]

Indian agencies who are coordinating withe counterparts in Afghanistan have learnt that there are no civilians living in the area. There were a large number of stooges of the Inter-Services intelligence who have been protecting the IS operatives in this area. The US action comes at a time when there was a huge build-up of IS forces in Afghanistan.

Indian agencies say that the Pakistan army and the ISI were nurturing these operatives. The entire area that was bombed was under the control of the ISI officials backing the IS, sources also said. The impact of the bomb was so huge that it blew up at least 500 Pakistanis and an equal number of IS operatives.

OneIndia News
Baloch activists come out in support of Jadhav, accuse Pak of framing him

International

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Baloch activists have staged a protest in Washington against the death sentence given to Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistan military court on charges of espionage.

Baloch activist Ahmar Mustikhan said that they stand in support of Jadhav and accused Islamabad of framing him, said reports.

ISI kidnapped and took confessional statement in pressure. Today we all Baloch ppl are #KulbhushanJadhav :Ahmar Mustikhan,Baloch activist pic.twitter.com/BBfAzSP5Ay  ANI (@ANI_news) April 14, 2017

Even the Baloch Republican Party had earlier condemned the death sentence order to Jadhav and said that Islamabad was committing a crime by doing so.

BRP member Ashraf Sherjan reportedly had said that Pakistan does not have any right to give death sentences to an Indian citizen. He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do everything to save Jadhav's life.

There is hectic behind the scenes activity on to secure the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav. Informed sources tell OneIndia that legal and diplomatic options are being explored which includes a high-profile prisoner swap to get Jadhav back.

[Hope fades as Pakistan's generals say no compromise on Kulbhushan Jadhav]

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.

Meanwhile, even as India began building diplomatic pressure to bring back Kulbhushan Jadhav the former naval officer sentenced to death, top generals have told the dispensation in Pakistan not to agree to any demand. The generals in Pakistan who run the show in that country are not in favour of any compromise.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2017, 11:05 [IST]
Canadian envoy says 'support India's sovereignty after earlier 'welcome all' remark on Khalistan

Cannot remove passengers from overbooked airplanes: Canada govt

International

ians-IANS

By Ians English

Ottawa, April 14: The Canadian government has banned all airlines in the country to forcibly remove passengers from overbooked flights, officials said.

In a letter issued on Thursday to the heads of all airlines that fly in and out of the country, Transport Minister Marc Garneau warned that an incident like the one injuring a passenger aboard a United Airlines flight earlier this week is not allowed to occur in Canada, Xinhua news agency reported.

"I am sure that you were as disturbed as I was, and as all Canadians were, over the appalling incident that took place onboard a United flight earlier this week, when a passenger was forcibly removed from his seat," he wrote.

"I am writing to you today to convey that such an incident would be unacceptable in Canada," he added.

The warning is not only for Canadian airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet, but also to all international airlines that fly in and out of the country.

The minister's letter comes after a passenger named David Dao, 69, was dragged off an overbooked United flight in Chicago on Sunday after refusing to leave his seat to accommodate airline crew members.

Dao was seriously injured by security officers who forced him off the plane against his will, banging his head on armrests in the process.

The minister's warning comes ahead of expected legislation to introduce a passengers' bill of rights in Canada.

The legislation will outline what passengers can expect from airlines in situations such as bumping from overbooked planes or for lost or damaged luggage.

IANS
Children protest outside White House against Trump's immigration policies

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Washington, April 14: Over 200 children along with other demonstrators staged a protest outside the White House against US President Donald Trump's immigration policies, the media reported.

According to the organisers, the group included children from Miami, New York, Colorado and the Washington D.C. area who began their journey to the capital last week to 'send a message' to the President, The Hill magazine reported.

They stopped in Atlanta and the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina before ending their trip here.

Under the slogan 'We belong together', the protesters on Thursday gathered at Lafayette Park, in front of the presidential mansion, to 'raise the community's awareness that we should be united'.

"The reason why I'm here is that the President wants to separate families. He shouldn't do it, because it's bad to do that. We need for him not to do it," seven-year-old Nayahuari Mesa, who was here with her three-year-old brother and parents from New York, told Efe news.

Her mother, Felicia Martinez said that Nayahuari was aware of the situation and, although fortunately, her husband was able to acquire permanent US residence just a month ago, after 12 years as an undocumented migrant, she wants to be part of the fight to prevent other families from suffering possible separation.

Legal immigrants and undocumented migrants, as well as families who were able to take advantage of the immigration relief plans pushed by former President Barack Obama, joined forces to make clear to the Trump administration that they were not going to give up.

Rosana Araujo, from Uruguay, came in the caravan that drove up from Miami, as part of the Women Working Together organisation, said that she is one of those immigrants without papers who could be separated from her US-born son.

"We came with our children, we're a group of fathers, mothers and kids who - in Easter Week - want to send a message: that family unity exists," Araujo, who has been in the US without papers for 14 years, told Efe news.

"Let the raids stop, let there be more protection for immigrants, for each community to become a sanctuary community, for our mayors, commissioners and representatives to support the community and not cooperate with the police," she said.

She was referring to the threats from the Trump administration against the so-called "sanctuary cities", which by municipal decision do not persecute immigrants based on their immigration status.

Both Latinos and African Americans, to shouts of 'Up with education, down with deportation', also joined the protest.

More than 11 million people are estimated to live illegally in the US, and about six million US-born children are at risk of being separated from their parents if the latter are deported.

IANS

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Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2017, 11:25 [IST]
Taliban spokesman says No extensions for US, evacuations in Afghanistan must complete by Aug 31 deadline

CIA director brands WikiLeaks a 'hostile intelligence service'

International

pti-PTI

Washington, Apr 13: Central Intelligence Agency 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.

PTI
Canadian gets 20 years in US jail for aiding Islamic State

32,000 girls converted to Islam and sold as ISIS slaves: This is The Kerala Story

IS denies reports of any casualties in MOAB attack in Afghanistan

International

oi-Madhuri

The Islamic State on Friday denied any suffering casualties from the US MOAB bombing in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

The IS' Amaq News Agency denied reports of the group incurring casualties in America dropping a 'Massive Ordnance Air Blast, a 10,300 kg bomb, on its tunnel complex in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province'.

Earlier on Friday, the Afghan defence ministry said that up to 36 suspected IS militants were killed in Afghanistan when the US dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat.

On Thursday, US dropped 'mother of all bombs' - the largest non-nuclear weapon on an area of eastern Afghanistan known to be populated by Islamic State militants.

OneIndia News
Objective of Modi-Xi meeting is to understand each other better: India's envoy to China

Masood Azhar linked to both ISIS and Al-Qaeda says former envoy to Pakistan

Kulbhushan Jadhav case: India seeks consular access from Pak for 14th time

International

oi-PTI

Islamabad, Apr 14: Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale on Friday met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by an army court.

Told Pak FS that we asked in written for Kulbhushan Jadhav's consular access 13 times in the recent months but to no avail: Gautam Bambawale pic.twitter.com/FGEh83w4i5  ANI (@ANI_news) April 14, 2017

During the meet, Bambawale sought consular access and demanded the chargesheet copy for the 14th time, since the news of his arrest was out as earlier requests were rejected by Pakistan.

As per ANI reports, the ministry of External Affairs said that the Pakistan Foreign Secretary has denied the consular access to India while asserting that Jadhav's matter is case of espionage. However, the high court has said that consular access must be granted under international law.

Meanwhile, Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaz Aziz has questioned possession of two passports by Jadhav. "Why would an innocent person possess two passports, one with Hindu&other a Muslim name?" news agency ANI quoted Aziz as saying.

Jadhav was arrested in March last year for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan.
Missing Pak spy was on a sensitive mission in Nepal

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Lt Colonel Mohammad Zahir who went missing in Nepal last week was on an important mission against India. The former Pakistan army officer who was hired by the ISI to carry out a mission against India. Pakistan had initially leaked false information that the officer had reached Nepal in search of a job but was abducted by Indian agencies.

However Intelligence Bureau sources tell OneIndia that Zahir was sent to Nepal on a mission against India. He had first travelled to Oman and from there embarked on his journey to Nepal. He arrived on an Air Arabia flight on April 6 at Kathmandu and then boarded an Air Buddha flight to Bhairahawa.

Officials said that his mission was sensitive in nature. However on his arrival he went off the radar following which the ISI disowned him, While his family in Pakistan claimed that he was lured into a trap by the Indian agencies, officials in New Delhi rubbished the allegations.

Officials say that all they are aware of is that he was on a sensitive mission. He had met with his point man in Nepal and even collected a SIM card which he was to use for the mission. However after that he went off the radar and the agencies in Pakistan shifted the blame on India.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, April 14, 2017, 19:01 [IST]
No one has guts...: Junior defence minister's reply to China question

Twitter down as several users report login issues on website

Talented, driven and great potential: President Putin is all praise for India and Indians

Twitter fires over 200 employees in India, left with a dozen staff

No affect on India-Pak trade despite border tensions

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Islamabad, April 14: Despite mounting tension along the border, the trade between Pakistan and India has remained intact since the beginning of the current fiscal year, a media report said on Friday.

A report by the State Bank of Pakistan revealed that Pakistan grew its exports to India during the first eight months of 2016-17 while curtailing imports by 23 per cent, Dawn online reported.

The trade balance, however, remained in favour of India.

The two countries have long been locked in a bitter rivalry. But worsening political relations seem to have little impact on bilateral trade relations, according to trade analysts.

After growing by 14 per cent, exports from Pakistan to India amounted to $286 million in the July-February period. Imports from India fell 23 per cent to $958.3 million from $1,244 million recorded a year ago, the SBP report said.

One reason for Pakistan's improved exports to India is high cement demand in the neighbouringcountry.

This has offset the negative impact of a decline in Pakistan's cement exports to Afghanistan and South Africa, reports Dawn online.

The SBP said cement exports continued their downward trend, with the largest share in the year-on-year decline in the first half of 2016-17 originating from two markets - South Africa and Afghanistan.

"A slight consolation was continued strong demand for Pakistani cement from India. This partially offset the declines witnessed in the two other major markets," the SBP report said.

Meanwhile, in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, Pakistan recorded a trade deficit of $672 million with India.

The deficit was $993 million in the same period of the last fiscal year.

Imports from India in 2015-16 were worth over four times the exports from Pakistan, a five-year high.

Pakistan imported goods worth $1.8 billion in 2015-16 compared to the exports of just $400 million, the SBP report added.

IANS
Sartaj Aziz tears into India's claim of Jadhav being 'innocent'

International

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz blasted India's claims that former naval official Kulbhushan Jadhav was 'innocent' and asked why he was in possession of two passports.

"Why would an innocent person possess two passports, one with Hindu&other a Muslim name?" news agency ANI quoted Aziz as saying.

Aziz also slammed the "inflammatory statements and rhetoric of premeditated murder" issued by the Indian government, which he said "will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose".

Aziz said the April 10 sentence on Jadhav was "as per the law of the land.. He (Jadhav) was involved in subversive activities in Pakistan."

He said that India has not responded to a "Letter of Assistance requesting specific information and access to certain key witnesses" that was shared with them on January 23 this year. "There has been no response from the Indian side so far."

The ministry of External Affairs had on Thursday claimed that Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on charges of espionage, was an innocent Indian who had been abducted.

MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said that Pakistan did grant consular access to Jadhav despite repeated requests.

"The Pakistan government has not shared any specific details about his condition...We are not aware of where he has been kept and Pakistan has not told us," Baglay told media on Thursday.

Meanwhile, even as India began building diplomatic pressure to bring back Kulbhushan Jadhav the former naval officer sentenced to death, top generals have told the dispensation in Pakistan not to agree to any demand. The generals in Pakistan who run the show in that country are not in favour of any compromise.

OneIndia News (with PTI inputs)
Trump has bombed the s**t out of the IS suckers

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

It was the first time that the Mother of all Bombs was used despite it being developed in the early 2000s. What the targeting of the Islamic State in Afghanistan with this mighty bomb signals is that US President Donald Trump has delivered on his promise that he would 'kick the s**t out of the Islamic State.

n" title="What we know about the "mother of all bombs,' that US dropped on Afghanistan" />What we know about the "mother of all bombs,' that US dropped on Afghanistan

Trump had promised during his election campaign that he would take a very aggressive stand against the IS and the bombing at Nangarhar province in Afghanistan only shows that he has begun delivering on that promise. In one speech Trump had said, " I would bomb the s**t out of them. I'd just bomb those suckers. I'd blow up the pipes, I'd blow up the refineries, I'd blow up every single inch-there would be nothing left."

Trump did get off to a bad start to his presidency with the courts overturning his decision to impose a ban on people from major Muslim countries. However the bombing of Afghanistan and also the strike at Syria in retaliation to the chemical strike only has vindicated his stand against terror.

Analysts in India tell OneIndia that this is just the beginning. Trump has this element of surprise in him and he will keep everyone guessing. Trump has infact taken a tough stance where the war on terror is concerned. He has taken a tougher stance when compared to his predecessor Barack Obama and his voters may be proud that he has lived up to his promise.

While Trump does offer a strong solution where terrorism is concerned, there is also an element of surprise that he has to offer. As CNN would say, a week after reversing previous positions, Trump kept to one in regard to the IS. The question now is what does he do tomorrow and a week from now and a month from now. Keep them guessing is what Trump's foreign policy is all about.

OneIndia News
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Rumble 08 Nov 2022

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So Hunter does the dirty work, and then the Big Guy comes in when its time to close and shakes the hands.
Australia Bariatric Procedures Outlook to 2023

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ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Australia Bariatric Procedures Outlook to 2023 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.GlobalDatas new report, "Australia Bariatric Procedures Outlook to 2023", provides key procedures data on the Australia 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- Australia 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
Australia Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures Outlook to 2023

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ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Australia Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures Outlook to 2023 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.GlobalDatas new report, "Australia Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE) Procedures Outlook to 2023", provides key procedures data on the Australia 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- Australia 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
Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software 2017 Global Key Players - AdvancedMD, CareCloud, Athena Clinicals, Practice Fusion, eClinicalWorks Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022

Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software

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Electronic Health Records (EHR) SoftwareReport Details:This report studies the global Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software market, analyzes this report focuses on the top players in global market, likeAdvancedMDCareCloudAthena ClinicalsPractice FusioneClinicalWorksGreenway HealthChartLogicAprimaAccentureEpicCareClick here for sample report @Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software can be split intoAndroidApple OSWindows PhoneOtherMarket segment by Application, Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software can be split intoHospitalClinicalPersonalOtherSome Major Points from Table of content:Global Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software1.1 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Market Overview1.1.1 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Market by Type1.3.1 Android1.3.2 Apple OS1.3.3 Windows Phone1.3.4 Other1.4 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Hospital1.4.2 Clinical1.4.3 Personal1.4.4 OtherFor Detailed Reading Please visit @3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 AdvancedMD3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 CareCloud3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Athena Clinicals3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Practice Fusion3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 eClinicalWorks3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Greenway Health3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 ChartLogic3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 Aprima3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 Accenture3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.9.5 Recent Developments3.10 EpicCare3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.10.5 Recent Developments.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
Drywall and Building Plaster Market to Incur Rapid Extension During 2015 - 2021

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Drywalls are panels made of gypsum plaster pressed between thick sheets of paper. Drywalls are used for interior walls and ceilings in residential and non-residential buildings as a quicker alternative to traditional plaster and lath.A sample of this report is available upon request @Increasing demand from rising construction activities in the U.S. and China is expected to drive demand for drywall and building plaster. After the economic turndown between 2008 to 2011 in the U.S. and Europe, the market is expected to revive in both the regions. There is a significant increase in repair and maintenance of residential building activities in the U.S. and Western Europe which in turn is expected to turn into demand for drywall and building plaster.The drywall and building construction market can be segmented into two key end-user segments, viz., residential construction and non-residential construction. Globally, residential construction segment is projected to register faster growth owing to increased demand for housing in urban areas across all regions. Non-residential construction activities are also increasing at an above average rate in emerging BRICS nations as well as in Middle East and Africa.Demand from North America, especially the U.S. and Western Europe are projected to grow at high rate. Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa are projected to show above average demand growth on account of increased residential construction activities. Drywall use is expected to increase in residential construction owing to its rising popularity. However, building plasters segment is expected to lose share due to slower construction process and higher expense on wet construction methods.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the major manufacturers in the blowing agents market include BNBM (China), USG (US), Saint- Gobain (France), Knauf (Germany) and Etex (Belgium). These players account for near about half of the global drywall and building plaster market supply.Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Some proof about Asssad would be good ...again...this time...for once(Like Chretien said: "The proof is the proof is the proof...")...aside from the proof we see every day regarding the terrible way the government here treats natives (especially children) and vets and anyone else who they impose upon.At least Assad wins his elections with popular majorities unlike how its done here in george Soros aproved north American selectionsPSby proof I meant not all the stuff presented which shows it was definitely an AMERICAN supported FALSE FLAG attack to justify beating up on a little wee guy for oil and isusreal
Detailed Examination Of The China CCTV Monitor Market Research For 2017 :By Research N Reports

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China CCTV Monitor Market Research Report 2016 Purchase This Report by calling ResearchnReports.com at +1-888-631-6977.The market research report helps analyze the CCTV Monitor 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 CCTV Monitor market through the forecast period. Promising opportunities in the China CCTV Monitor 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:To offer a clear understanding of the China CCTV Monitor market, several questions have been addressed in the research study concerning the growth of the China CCTV Monitor market. It is also been discussed with respect to projected growth rate of the China CCTV Monitor 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: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 CCTV Monitor market. The market study, estimation, and market sizing have been done utilizing a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches.For more inquiry before purchase: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 CCTV Monitor 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.China CCTV Monitor Market Report 2016This report studies CCTV Monitor 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:ABUSGanzMolex IncorporatedSpeco TechnologiesVigilant VisionD-LinkSamsungSure24BeldenIdeal IndustriesEdwards Signaling & Security SystemsComplete report available at:About Research n Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat 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.Contact us:Mr. Sunny DenisContact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.com(ResearchnReports)
Detailed Examination Of The China Coaxial Cable Market Forecast To 2021

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China Coaxial Cable Market Research Report 2016 Purchase This Report by calling ResearchnReports.com at +1-888-631-6977.The market research report helps analyze the Coaxial Cable 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 Coaxial Cable market through the forecast period. Promising opportunities in the China Coaxial Cable 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:To offer a clear understanding of the China Coaxial Cable market, several questions have been addressed in the research study concerning the growth of the China Coaxial Cable market. It is also been discussed with respect to projected growth rate of the China Coaxial Cable 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: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 Coaxial Cable market. The market study, estimation, and market sizing have been done utilizing a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches.For more inquiry before purchase: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 Coaxial Cable 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.China Coaxial Cable Market Report 2016This report studies Coaxial Cable 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:TE Connectivity LtdColeman Cable IncLS Cable & SystemGeneral Cable CorporationBelden IncAmphenol CorporationAlpha WireSouthwireNexans S.AL-ComComplete report available at:About Research n Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat 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.Contact us:Mr. Sunny DenisContact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.com(ResearchnReports)
Global Functional Food Ingredients Sales Market Report 2017

Global Functional Food Ingredients Sales Market Report 2017

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In this report, the global Functional Food Ingredients 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 (K MT), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Functional Food Ingredients for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Functional Food Ingredients market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Functional Food Ingredients sales volume, Price (USD/MT), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingDuPontArcher Daniels Midland (ADM)Kerry GroupAssociated British FoodsBASFIngredionTate & Lyle...On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (K MT), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/MT), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoProteinVitaminMineralOtherOn 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 Functional Food Ingredients for each application, includingFunctional FoodFunctional DrinksOtherAsk a complete report sample, please feel free to contact me: tinaning@qyresearch.com orTable of contents1 Functional Food Ingredients Market Overview2 Global Functional Food Ingredients Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application3 United States Functional Food Ingredients (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4 China Functional Food Ingredients (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5 Europe Functional Food Ingredients (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6 Japan Functional Food Ingredients (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7 Southeast Asia Functional Food Ingredients (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8 India Functional Food Ingredients (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9 Global Functional Food Ingredients Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data10 Functional Food Ingredients Maufacturing Cost Analysis11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Global Functional Food Ingredients Market Forecast (2017-2022)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixRelated Reports:China Functional Food Ingredients Sales Market Report 2017Global Functional Food Ingredients Sales Market Report 2017Europe Functional Food Ingredients Sales Market Report 2017India Functional Food Ingredients Sales Market Report 2017Korea Functional Food Ingredients Sales Market Report 2017Japan Functional Food Ingredients Sales Market Report 2017United States Functional Food Ingredients 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:QYResearch 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).Room 2311 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Tianhe District
FMI Releases New Report on the Sarcoidosis Therapeutics Market 2017-2027

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Sarcoidosis also known as Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann disease is an inflammatory disease characterized by formation of garnulomas. The autoagressive systemic disease affects the organs throughout the body where the nodules contains collection of inflammatory cells. In majority of the cases sarcoidosis is cured within a year or two and only 30% of the sarcoidosis develop chronic disease.The market for sarcoidosis therapeutics is expected to boom due to the number of research undertaking and funding to control the rising prevalence of this disease. NIH granted USD 8.3 million to the University of Pittsburgh to explore the relationship between lung bacteria, the gene activation process and sarcoidosis disease progression. For the sarcoidosis study the Genomics and Informatics Center would collect patient clinical data from seven clinical center and use advanced microbiome and genome profiling techniques to identify biomarkers. These biomarkers would help identify the current state of lung disease and further predict its progression. Such integration of microbiome, genome and clinical information for sarcoidosis disease would dramatically change its management.Sarcoidosis therapeutics market has been segmented on the basis of diagnosis, treatment and region.Based on the diagnosis, sarcoidosis therapeutics market is segmented into the following:X-rayCT ScanBiopsyLung function testsOthersThere is no blood test for diagnosis sarcoidosis. In order to negate some other infections, doctors always tests skin or lung sample during biopsy. In case where the patient chest x-ray is abnormal, bronchoscopy is performed. Small pieces of lung tissues are collected for testing.Request Report Sample@Based on the therapy, sarcoidosis therapeutics market is segmented into the following:CorticosteroidsImmunosuppressant DrugsTumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (Tnf-) BlockersOthersTreatment of sarcoidosis starts by limiting the initiation of granuloma formation by inhibiting antigen processing, preventing fibrosing processe, limiting inflammatory lesions causing organ interference, severe chronic fatigue, inhibiting constitutional manifestations like cough and exertional dyspnea.The number of clinical trials undertaken for sarcoidosis has increased past some years. The disease is highly undiscovered and hence offers a potential for industry players to mark their market presence. Some companies such as Auven Therapeutics have obtained rights from research universities to further carry out clinical trials on a new molecule. Auven Therapeutics obtained rights to futher develop KIACTA from the Icahn School of Medicine. The research is now carried as a collaborative effort between Auven Therapeutics and BELLUS Health. The companies are evaluating the potential use of KIACTA for the treatment of patients suffering from pulmonary sarcoidosis. They have developed a Phase2/3 protocol to evaluate the efficacy and safety of KIACTA in sarcoidosis.Geographically, sarcoidosis therapeutics market is segmented into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East and Africa. North America region is projected to dominate the sarcoidosis therapeutics marketover the forecast period. The amount of research undertaken by various companies, industry academia partnership and funding to encourage more research are some of the factors contributing to North Americas lion share. Europe is the second largest region in terms of revenue share as it also has number of clinical trials ongoing.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region for the sarcoidosistherapeutics market. The region is expected to boom owing to the prevalence rate and grants received from various international associations. A professor from National Jewish Health, received USD 40,000 per for two years from the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) grant /American Thoracic Society. The Foundation for Saroidosis Research (FSR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to find a cure or improve care for sarcoidosis. The foundation has awarded USD 1 million for research and additional USD 1.2 million for funding to investigators.Request For TOC@Key PlayersSome of the key players in sarcoidosis therapeutics market include Bellus Helath, FirstString Research Inc., Relief Therapeutics, Araim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis AG, PharmaIN Corporation, Adaptimmune Therapeutics Plc, EpiZyme, Inc. and Advenchen Laboratories, LLC.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:
Public Safety In-Building Wireless DAS System Market 2017-2027 Shares, Trend and Growth Report

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In order to improve public safety, governments are making it mandatory to install public safety in-building wireless DAS systems in buildings. The implementation of minimum legislative standards by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and new public safety building codes by International Code Council (ICC) is driving the demand of public safety in-building wireless DAS systems.Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe growth of 4G LTE network is one of the important drivers for public safety in-building wireless DAS systems. Further, a high amount of investment is being done for 5G development focusing on higher frequency bands, new air interface transmission schemes and new antenna technologies like massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications.Request Report Sample@One of the major challenges in public safety in-building wireless DAS system market is high initial cost. Labour costs are high due to complicated installation process. Highly skilled installation personnel are required to ensure proper installation and system performance. This increases the labour cost of the project.Global Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System Market: Market SegmentationGlobal Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System Market can be divided into three segments, based on size, end-users and components.Segmentation on basis of size in Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System market:The segments in Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System market by size include:Tier one (more than 500,000 sq.feet)Mid-tier/ Middleprise (100,000 sq.feet to 500,000 sq.feet)Global Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System Funding ModelsThe public safety in-building wireless DAS system market has three funding models which include self-funding, neutral host and carrier funding. Self-funding means the enterprise uses internal funding from the company itself. Neutral host includes contracting with a third party and carrier funding means getting funds from the cellular carrier companies.Request For TOC@Global Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System Competitive LandscapeSome of the prominent players in the Public Safety in-Building Wireless DAS System market include Alcatel-Lucent, Anixter Inc., AT&T Inc., Corning Inc., Cobham PLC, Commscope Inc., TE Connectivity Ltd. and Verizon Communications, Inc., among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT: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:
System Integration in Telecommunication Market Will Amass US$ 36.9 Bn by 2024

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Persistence Market Research projects  The future of global telecommunication industry will witness higher adoption of complex information systems which will facilitate speedy data convergence System integrators will play a key role in compiling information emanating from multiple and advanced telecommunication network standards Integration of business support systems (BSS) and operation support systems (OSS) will boost the support for end-to-end telecommunication services and bring forth some improved customer management solutionsOwing to rising urban population, growing strength of telecom networks, brimming data transference, and deployment of advanced technologies, the demand for system integration in telecommunication continues to surge in regions namely, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa. A latest study published by Persistence Market Research has estimated that the market for system integration in telecommunications across these regions is presently valued at US$ 22.5 Bn. By the end of 2024, these regions will collectively showcase revenue growth at an impressive 6.3% CAGR and witness the market for system integration in telecommunication reach US$ 36.9 Bn in value.Rapid System Integration in Telecommunications across Asia-Pacific (APAC)The demand for system integration in telecommunication across APAC countries is projected to witness revenue growth at 7.1% CAGR. A majority of system integration solutions adopted across APAC telecommunications industry will be directed towards OSS, revenues from which will reach US$ 10.6 Bn by the end of 2024. China will contribute with more than one-third of overall revenues, while India, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and ASEAN countries will showcase rampant revenue growth. Vodafone Hutchinson Telecommunications, Telstra Corporation Ltd., SingTel Optus Pty Limited, NTT-Docomo Corporation, Ideal Cellular Ltd., Reliance Communications, and Softbank Corporation are some of the prominent IT service provider in the APAC telecommunications industry.Telecommunication Services in Latin America awaiting System IntegrationOn an average, 40% of revenues procured in Latin Americas system integration in telecommunication market will be emanating from Brazil. The demand for integrating OSS and BSS will also gain traction in Mexico and Argentina. Although, the overall system integration in telecom market in Latin America is being projected to expand at a moderate CAGR of 4.4%. High implementation costs of system integration solutions are imposing a relatively less adoption in Latin America, as opposed to the APAC region, Europe or Middle East & Africa. Leading IT service providers mapping Latin Americas telecom industry are identified as Telefonica Brasil, TIM Brasil, Telecom Argentina SA, Nextel, Telcel, Claro Brasil, and Telefonica SA.Request to view table of content @High Integration of OSS/BSS Systems in Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA)The EMEA system integration in telecommunication market is presently valued US$ 10.5 Bn. In the Middle East and Africa, South Africa is projected to exhibit high value CAGR of 7%, while the European system integration in telecommunication market will see consolidated growth from the EU5  Spain, Germany, Italy, France and the UK. These five countries will also dominate the overall EMEA region, accounting for over 40% value share by the end of 2024. The MTN Group, Saudi Telecom Company, Vodacom, and Airtel Africa are leading telecom service providers across the Middle East and Africa. The telecom industry of Nordic countries and Russia is mapped by IT service providers namely, Telenor ASA, VimpelCom Ltd., and Mobile TeleSystems. Meanwhile, companies such Deutsche Telekom, Orange SA, BT Group plc., Telefonica SA and Vodafone Group plc. are charting the waters of telecommunication services in EU5 countries.A sample of this report is available upon request @The report has also profiled leading providers of system integration solution in telecom across Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa. These include, Oracle Corp., Redknee Inc., Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Sigma System Canada, NetCracker Technology Corporation, Openet Telecom, Ericsson, Comptel Corp., and Amdocs Inc.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:
Patient Throughput and Capacity Management Market Will Amass US$ 1,229.9 Mn by 2024

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The global market for patient throughput & capacity management, according to Persistence Market Researchs report, is presently valued at US$ 834 Mn, and will soar steadily at 5% CAGR during the eight-year forecast period. The report further anticipates that over half of global revenues procured from sales of patient throughput & capacity management solutions will be accounted by the US and Canada.The need for aligning resources in healthcare settings has compelled medical organizations towards adoption of technological solutions that help manage & arrange patient care information in orderly fashion. Hospitals from across the globe are installing patient throughput & capacity management solutions to tackle challenges associated with management of increasing capacity & space. Ideal use of added functional capacity through improved patient throughput solutions is also a key trend driving the demand for such solutions. Persistence Market Research estimates that towards the end of 2024, more than US$ 1.2 Bn worth of patient throughput & capacity management solutions will be employed across the globe.North Americas dominance over the global patient throughput & capacity management market is justified by the regions robust healthcare industry, which is also a proponent to technological advancements and adoption of intelligent solutions. Europes patient throughput & capacity management market will also leave a sizable imprint on the global market, registering a value CAGR of 5.3%.A sample of this report is available upon request @The report reveals that an analysis of global sales of patient throughput & capacity management solutions indicates a major upsurge in demand for RTLS solutions. With more than one-third share, RTLS solutions will remain a top-selling product dominating the global market revenues through 2024. Revenues from global sales of workflow management solutions will impose a consistent share on global revenues, while bed management solutions will exhibit revenue growth at 5.2% CAGR during the projected period. A majority of products offered in the global patient throughput & capacity management market will be offered as integrated solutions. Towards the end of 2024, integrated solutions will surpass 65% share on global revenues, while global demand for standalone solutions will register a marginal decline.Request to view table of content @The report also reveals that over 40% of patient throughput & capacity management solutions are delivered through on-premise models. By 2024-end, on-premise delivery of patient throughput & capacity management solutions will net nearly US$ 500 Mn in global revenues. On the other hand, cloud-based delivery is likely to lose out its traction, but will witness a negligible downtrend in terms of revenue growth. The report has also profiled companies such as EPIC Systems Corporation, STANLEY Healthcare, Central Logic, Care Logistics LLC, McKesson Corporation, TeleTracking Technologies, Inc., Sonitor Technologies, Inc., Allscripts, Awarepoint Corporation, and Cerner Corporation as key players of the global patient throughput & capacity management market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
U.S. Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Market Will hit at a CAGR 3.2%from 2025

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Future Market Insights (FMI) delivers key insights on the commercial refrigeration systems market in its latest report titled, Commercial Refrigeration System Market: U.S. Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2015-2025. According to the report, the U.S. commercial refrigeration systems market is projected to expand at a healthy CAGR of 3.2% in terms of value over the forecast period. Commercial refrigeration systems are refrigerators with remote or self-contained condensing units. These refrigerators are designed especially for commercial use with a wide range of temperature control (typically from -18C to +10C) options. Commercial refrigeration systems are mainly used in hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, warehouses and distribution centres, foodservice industry and food & beverage production units. Commercial refrigeration systems include products such as ice machines, vending machines, beverage refrigeration equipment, refrigerated display cases, trailers, trucks, containers and walk-in and reach-in refrigerators. Commercial refrigeration systems also include various components such as compressors and refrigerants. Refrigerants mainly used in commercial refrigeration systems include R507A, R417A and R422A. The selection of a refrigerant depends on various properties such as non-corrosiveness, global warming and ozone depletion potential, inflammability, toxicity, cost, erosional properties, leak-detection capability and thermodynamic properties.Growing demand for frozen and chilled products, expansion of cold chain capacity, technological advancements in commercial refrigeration systems and rebates for energy-efficient products and practices are some of the major underlying factors anticipated to fuel growth of the U.S. commercial refrigeration systems market between 2016 and 2025. This is forecast to create unprecedented opportunities for commercial refrigeration systems manufacturers, distributors and HVAC contractors. The U.S. commercial refrigeration systems market is segmented on the basis of application and product type. By application, the market is segmented into foodservice, food & beverage distribution, food & beverage retail and food & beverage production. On the basis of product type, the market is classified into transportation & refrigeration systems, refrigerator & freezers, beverage refrigeration equipment, refrigerated display cases, ice machines and refrigerated vending machines.Request For Sample@By application, foodservice segment accounted for the highest share of 30% in terms of value in the U.S. commercial refrigeration systems market in 2014. This segment is expected to remain dominant in the market over the forecast period. Ice machines segment and beer dispensing equipment sub-segment are projected to play an important role in the foodservice industry due to various factors such as increasing per capita food consumption and rising number of foodservice restaurants in the country. By product type, transportation refrigeration systems segment is projected to expand at the highest CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period due to expansion of cold chain capacity in the U.S. By region, Southeast region represents the largest market potential, followed by the Middle-east and Far West regions. California, Texas and Florida represent a huge potential for refrigerated systems due to high density of restaurants and convenience stores in these states. Other high-growth markets include Arizona, Georgia and Utah due to rapid growth in the restaurant industry in these states.Key trends identified in the U.S. commercial refrigeration systems market include rapid adoption of Internet of Things (IoT), compatible commercial refrigeration systems for enhancing system output, government initiatives to support utilisation of eco-friendly refrigerants and continued advancements in energy-efficient products. However, declining replacement rate of commercial refrigeration equipment and stringent government regulations could pose major challenge for tier II & III players.The report analyses the U.S. commercial refrigeration systems market in terms of value (US$ Mn) and volume (000 units) by product type and end-use application, and provides insightful information regarding market dynamics, value chain, competitive landscape, current trends, market estimations and forecast.Send An Enquiry@It is observed that customisation holds the key for tier 2 and tier 3 players in order to further penetrate into the market, thus creating a competitive threat for tier 1 suppliers in the market. Meanwhile, key players are strengthening their market positions through both organic and inorganic growth. Also, acquisition of HVAC contractors is leading to the addition of a new customer base for commercial refrigeration systems manufacturers. Key market participants covered in the report include Daikin Industries, Ltd., Standex International Corporation, Whirlpool Corporation, United Technologies, Dover Corporation, Ingersoll-Rand Plc, Hussmann Corporation, Lennox International Inc., Manitowoc Company, Inc., Emerson Electric Co. and Illinois Tool Works Inc.Browse Full Report@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:Blog:
Middle East & Mediterranean Tahini Market Anticipated to be Worth US$ 1,081.7 Mn by 2020

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Tahini has become a choice of ingredient for various food processing companies/ manufacturers owing to its diverse functionalities. The particular market has become even more important because of burgeoning demand for hummus/hommus and Baba ghanoush in which tahini is a major ingredient. It can be easily formulated in any food, ranging from dips/sauces to sweet spreads and halva.The Middle East and Mediterranean tahini market is estimated to value at US$ 783.9 Mn in 2014 and expected to reach 1,081.7 Mn by 2020, reflecting a CAGR of 5.7% during forecast period (2015-2020).Request Report Sample@Tahini MarketThe market has been accessed by product type as paste & spreads, halva & other sweets, and sauces/dip. Sweet & savoury spread was the largest segment in 2014 by type accounting for more than half of the i.e., 51.9% market share.Representing a promising CAGR of 11.8% between 2015 and 2020, sauces & marinades is expected to be the fastest growing segment. The market is also segmented on the basis of distribution channel, wherein conventional retail stores represented 41.9% of tahini products sold in these countries.Tahini Market in Middle East & MediterraneanGeographically, the market is segmented into four regions namely Middle East excluding GCC (Turkey, Israel, and Lebanon), North Africa, GCC and Mediterranean Europe (France, Spain, Italy and Greece). Middle East excluding GCC and Mediterranean Europe together constituted more than 69% of the market share in 2014 which is expected to remain stable by 2020. The large market size of Middle East excluding GCC is attributed to robust export of tahini in the region. The domestic consumption is rising moderately, however, exports are largely responsible for the inflated market size. Major growth is expected to come from Mediterranean Europe and GCC. Mediterranean Europe is projected to increase 190 BPS between 2014 and 2020, while Middle East Excluding GCC is expected to lose 240 BPS.North Africa is the third largest market with 16.8%, whereas Egypt is the most potential growth market in North Africa.Major drivers fuelling the growth of this market are burgeoning demand for authentic Mediterranean and Arabic food, greater inclination towards seed based spreads, robust exports and upgraded technology to produce innovative products for the demanding customers. Due to strategic location Turkey, Greece and Israel have high export turnover. The U.S., Mexico, Brazil, China, India, GCC, Iraq, Russia and UK are preferred location for export where demand of Tahini is continuously rising. In addition, most of the mature markets of Euro Mediterranean countries are hit by Euro crisis and thus, people prefer to eat home cooked food, thus sale of spreads and dips is on rise in these regions.Send An Enquiry@Middle East & Mediterranean Tahini Market: Key PlayersKey Middle East & Mediterranean players in the tahini market are El Rashidi El Mizan, Al-Wadi Al-Akhdar S.A.L, Halwani Bros. Co., Haitoglou Bros S.A. and Prince Tahina Ltd. Most of the major players are based in Middle East and they are adopting various go-to-market strategies to expand their market share in this growing tahini market.The report also includes the end-user analysis of tahini market by surveying retailers, distributor and manufacturers who gave the real-time information about the market dynamics and product movement. This gives an in-depth understanding to the reader about the product and its current situation in domestic and international market. According to all the respondents, consumption of tahini through sweet/savoury spreads is highest as compared to sauces, dips & spreads, and bakery/confectionary.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:
Portable Battery Pack Market Will Amass US$ 13.7 Billion by 2024

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Key findings in the report, titled Power Battery Pack (Power Bank) Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016-2024, predict that consumers will remain more inclined towards power banks with higher storage capacity. Concurrently, the report estimates that about 200 million units of power banks with 5000-7500 mAh capacity were sold globally in 2016. In the years to come, demand for power battery packs with even higher capacity will grow robustly, compelling power bank manufacturers to extend their product portfolio for 7500-10000 mAh and above 10000 mAh capacity power banks. By the end of 2024, power banks with more than 10000 mAh capacity are likely to get sold at the fastest rate across the globe.Billions of smartphone users in the world being potential customers for power battery packs or power banks is quite plausible. Nevertheless, compelling smartphone users to own power banks will remain contingent upon their lifestyle. A recent study conducted by Persistence Market Research indicates that smartphone & multimedia device proliferation serves as a strong distribution network for power bank products. According to this study, the global power battery pack market, which is currently valued at an estimated US$ 6.3 billion, will experience substantial increment in revenues by registering 9% CAGR and reach US$ 13.7 billion value by the end of 2024.Similar to their prevalence today, Lithium-ion (Li-ion) power banks will remain to be the dominant type of power battery packs being preferred by consumers. Efficiency of Li-ion batteries in charging and transmitting power will keep factoring the growth in global demand for Li-ion power battery packs. Through 2024, every second power bank that will be sold globally will be equipped with a Li-ion battery. However, popularity of Li-ion power battery packs will contested with rising preference to Lithium-polymer (Li-polymer) power banks. By 2024-end, nearly 500 million units of Li-polymer power battery packs are anticipated to get consumed, globally.A sample of this report is available upon request @More than two-third of global power bank revenues amassed between 2016 and 2024 will be accounted by smartphones and mobile phones. Prominence of mobile phones over other multimedia devices is less likely to cease in the future. Leading smartphone manufacturers have also entered the global power battery pack market by offering a range of power bank products, with an intention to specifically cater to their customers. Tablets will remain second-most prominent product for use of power battery packs. In 2016, power battery packs used by tablet users exceeded 150 million units in volume. Over the assessment period, the report projects a healthy growth in global power bank revenues accounted by tablets.Request to view table of content @Additional research highlights compiled in the report include: Global demand for high-priced power battery packs will gain traction, compared to low-priced and mid-priced power banks Asia-Pacific (APAC) will remain the most lucrative region for production as well as consumption of power battery packs The APAC power banks market will be valued over US$ 7.8 billion by the end of 2024 Majority of key players in global power banks market, which include BYD Company Limited, Simplo Technology Co. Ltd., Sony Corporation, and Panasonic Corporation are based in APAC countries such as China, Taiwan and Japan US-based power bank manufacturers such as mophie, Inc., Cheero USA, Inc., Anker Technology Co. Limited., Energizer Holdings, Inc. and Braven LC  INCIPIO Technologies, Inc. are playing an instrumental role in consolidating North Americas presence in global power battery packs marketAbout 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:
I'd rather live a city vaporized in the WW3 first strike than live in the world after. I've seen the movies and I know some people think it might be fun, but I just don't think I'm cut out for the post-apocalyptic road warrior thing. I mean, all that leather would be cool but the daily grind of fighting radioactive mutant vampires just seems so tedious.
Quantum Computing Market to be at Forefront by 2025

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Some of the key players in Quantum Computing Market are Anyon Systems Inc., Cambridge Quantum Computing Limited, D-Wave Systems Inc., QC Ware, Corp., Quantum Corporation, Eagle Power Technologies, Inc., MagiQ Technologies, Inc., Optalysys Ltd., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Qubitekk, Inc., Rigetti & Co, Inc., and Intel Corporation.A sample of this report is available upon request @A quantum computer consists of building block known as quantum bit or qubit which is similar to the digital bits of a computer which are components of computers. The characteristics of quantum computing are best for making highly secure systems. Encryption is trending everywhere, from social media websites to banks and databases. Quantum computers can speedily sort larger databases as well as vast stores of various, unstructured data. With the help of silicon technology, quantum computers are built using current assembly processes, are the drivers of Quantum Computing marketArtificial Intelligence (AI) is benefited by quantum computing as it provides massive processing power and logic for free decisions which will help AI technology to grow at an impressive rate. Quantum computing will assist scientists to compute molecular structure. Quantum photonics is an emerging trend which will have a positive impact in the coming future.Driving demand for secure communication, role of quantum mechanics in optimizing problems and sampling, use of quantum computing in photonic integrated circuits, role of Quantum computing in machine learning and Artificial Intelligence, use of Quantum cryptography for secure mobile transactions and impact of Quantum Computing on Artificial Intelligence is the driving factors for quantum marketHigh-cost infrastructure and hardware used in quantum computing are the challenges in Quantum Computing market.Quantum teleportation will enable the development of an internet named quantum internet that permits to send the message using data encryption techniques and access to Quantum computing via cloud is the latest trend in the Quantum computing market which will contribute to the significant growth of quantum computingThe Asia Pacific region is dominating the Quantum computing market followed by North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and MEA region. Due to the rising competition, continuous innovation, an increase in applications in Quantum Computing are the factors for the significant growth in Quantum Computing market.Request to view table of content @The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also includes projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geography, technology, and applications.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
Wireless Charging Market to Value US$ 27 Billion by 2024

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According to Persistence Market Research, the global market for wireless charging is currently valued over US$ 2.6 billion. By the end of 2024, revenues emanating from global sales of wireless charging devices & services will grow at an exponential CAGR of 34% and bring in revenues worth over US$ 27 billion.As we head towards an era where wires wont necessarily be a requisite for powering up devices, tech companies from around the world are intensifying their efforts towards production of advanced and immaculate wireless charging systems. Innovative technologies supporting the working mechanism of wireless charging devices is also piquing the curiosity of tech enthusiasts as well as common consumers. From green vehicles to smartphones, Persistence Market Research has published its research study on how wireless charging is spanning the globe as the next-gen mode of charging electric devices.The report further reveals the significance of components in driving the sales of wireless charging devices. Considering that wireless charging systems will eventually put an end to wired chargers, the components used in such systems will play an instrumental role in shaping up the future of wireless charging. Much like today, the feature of charging multiple devices at same time will continue to trend in the long run. In the global market for wireless charging, components used as power transmitters will garner a dominant position. In 2017 and beyond, transmitters are expected to account for more than three-fourth of global wireless charging revenues. Nevertheless, surplus power transmission will necessitate the use of advanced receiver components  revenues from which are projected soar at highest CAGR of 35.2%.A key challenge faced by manufacturers of wireless charging systems hovers around the selection of suitable charging technology to assure compatibility with all electronic devices in the world. Availability of diverse electric devices brings uncertainty over expanding product portfolio of wireless charging systems. Research findings compiled in the report suggest that consumers of wireless charging devices are growing more inclined towards devices that use resonance charging technology. After accounting more than US$ 800 million revenues in 2016, the resonance charging technology will continue dominating the global wireless charging market by procuring nearly 40% value share through 2024. The global demand for inductive charging technology will incur a major downtrend, while revenues accounted by radio frequency (RF) charging technology will soar at nearly 40% CAGR during the projected period.Request to view table of content @While every other wireless charging device sold in the world will be used for powering smartphones, tablets, laptops and other consumer electronics, the report projects a lucrative growth for automotive application of wireless charging systems. During the forecast period, revenues procured from sales of wireless charging devices in the global automotive industry will be elevated at a staggering 42.1% CAGR. Rampant sales of electric vehicles will be factoring this growth, making automotive the most favorable application of wireless charging. Additionally, complications and hazards arising from wired power cables in manufacturing plants will also propel the demand for wireless charging in industrial applications. Through 2024, more than US$ 5 billion worth of wireless charging devices are likely to be consumed by industries across the globe.A sample of this report is available upon request @Additional Highlights of the Report include: Asia-Pacific will be the largest consumer of wireless charging systems in the world Sales of wireless charging devices in North America and Europe will procure more than 60% of global revenues throughout the forecast period Tech giant, Apple Inc., recently made the news for joining the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) to be a part of the global organization that develops widely-used wireless charging standard for smartphones and other electronic devices The report has profiled similar tech companies that are partaking in the growth of global wireless charging market, which include  Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Texas Instruments, Inc., Leggett & Platt, Inc., Energized Holdings, Inc., Integrated Device Technology, Inc., WiTricity Corporation, ConvenientPower HK Limited, PowerbyPoxi, and Powermat Technologies Ltd.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:
Ambulatory Surgical Centers Growing Popularity Stimulates Demand for Operating Room Equipment

Operating Room Equipment Market

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Operating rooms usually form the bulk of a hospitals expenses. As such, the companies that provide operating room equipment can gain major revenues by providing for leading names in the healthcare industry. The operating room equipment companies are also becoming rapidly aware of the current market need for reducing costs of equipment to make the market more approachable, while consumers are showing a decline in healthcare expenditure, owing to rising costs and unfavorable healthcare policies and reimbursement schemes.The advent of hybrid operating rooms is also beneficial to the providers of operating room equipment. Hybrid operating rooms can lend more flexibility to the doctor and the patient as well. They also impart a better level of health safety to the patient and maintaining a high level of operational efficiency. As a result, the global operating room equipment market is progressing at a CAGR of 6.68% from 2015 to 2023. This market was valued at US$23 bn in 2014 and is expected to reach around US$42 bn before the end of 2023.Read Full Report:The Asia Pacific sales of operating room equipment have been relatively lower than those in North America and Europe, but this is expected to change over the coming years. This regions is showing a high and optimistic scope for players to expand their portfolio, and one of the key reasons for this is the growth of medical tourism. Patients from developed economies preferring the cheaper medical practices in Asia Pacific have significantly improved the revenue stream of this region, providing a highly attractive market space for global and regional operating room equipment players alike.The current scope of providing operating room equipment lies in healthcare organizations in the Asia Pacific that offer surgical practices for joint replacement, cosmetics, dental procedures, and cardiac issues. The influx of revenue through medical tourism has also prompted the national governments to invest in this sector, improving the chances of operating room equipment players gaining a solid revenue stream.North America was the dominant region for operating room equipment revenue generation in 2014, followed by Europe. Both regions have consistently been at the top in terms of using modern medical concepts in advanced healthcare infrastructures. This has allowed key players from the region to put a greater focus on innovation and product improvements, further expanding the scope of revenue generation in these regions.Download exclusive Sample of this report:In 2014, movable imaging systems as a market segment had garnered over US$6 bn or around 28% of the total revenue. This segment is currently expected to be the fastest growing in terms of revenue. A major reason for this segments rapid growth is the high amount of funding provided by government bodies to promote the use of movable imaging systems, especially in North America. Even on a regional level, there are major efforts being taken to modernize hospitals that are supported by state or local organizations.The segment of operating room integration systems, however, is expected to be the fastest growing segment between 2015 and 2023, owing to a high demand for smart infrastructure and improved connectivity within hospital and medical devices. Key providers of operating room equipment in the world include Stryker Corporation, Steris Corporation, Olympus Corporation, GE Healthcare and Allen 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.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:
With Increasing Focus on Introducing Advanced Devices, Manufacturers of Needle-Free Drug Delivery Devices Bracing for Intense Competition

Needle Free Drug Delivery Devices Market

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The global market for needle-free drug delivery devices has been registering a remarkable rise over the last few years, thanks to the growing demand for painless delivery of medications across the world. Analysts estimate this market to remain expanding steadily at a CAGR of 9.90% from 2015 to 2023 and increase its opportunity from US$5.4 bn in 2014 to US$13 bn by the end of 2023.The rising need for preventive measures for needle-stick injuries is projected to stimulate the adoption of these devices significantly in the coming years. Apart from this, the growing incidence of dengue, hepatitis, and various chronic diseases, in which regular administration of medicines is required, is also expected to fuel the demand for these devices substantially over the next few years.Read Full Report:North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa are the main regional markets for needle-free drug delivery devices across the world. North America and Europe dominated the overall market in 2014. While the market in North America was driven by a large pool of participants, the huge base of the geriatric population, demanding convenient and painless drug delivery led the Europe market for needle-free drug delivery devices.Analysts predict North America to retain its dominance in the near future albeit with a diminished market share. Asia Pacific, on the flip side, is projected to emerge as the fastest rising regional market for needle-free drug delivery devices in the coming years.The growing prevalence of chronic cardiovascular and neurological diseases, the infrastructural development in the medical and healthcare industry, and the increasing focus of leading players in this region due to unmet medical need are expected to boost the adoption of these devices in Asia Pacific considerably in the near future. These devices are also anticipated to experience a healthy rise in their demand in Latin America and the Middle East and Africa on account of the betterment of the healthcare scenario in these regions over the next few years.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Needle-free drug delivery devices are mostly applied in insulin delivery, vaccine delivery, pediatric injections, and pain management. In 2014, the demand for these devices was the highest from the insulin delivery segment, which is likely to remain the same over the next few years. Other segments are also projected to register a steady rise in the demand for these devices in the nearing future.The competitive landscape in the worldwide needle-free drug devices market demonstrate a consolidated structure. Leading players are increasingly entering into mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships to expand their reach in this market. They are also focusing aggressively on the introduction of innovative as well as advanced devices in this market to strengthen their position. Some of the leading manufacturers of these devices across the world are Injex Pharma AG, Antares Pharma Inc., Zogenix Inc., Pharmajet Inc., Glide Pharmaceutical Technologies Ltd., and 3M.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 Laboratories Market is expanding at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2015 - 2023

Dental Laboratories Market

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According to the World Health Organization, in 2012, dental caries was reported to be a major public health problem in most high-income countries such as the U.S. The disease affected 60% to 90% of school-age children and majority of adults in the country. Several high-income countries with established preventive programs demonstrate a systematic decline in dental caries in children and improved status in the adult population.Dentistry in the U.S. is in a state of transformation, with increasing baby boomer generation having periodontal diseases. The health care delivery system is changing rapidly with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons found that 69% adults aged between 35 years and 44 years have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, failed root canal, or tooth decay. Three out of four persons in Canada visit a dental clinic; one of the highest rates among OECD countries. A study by the Montreal Economic Institute in 2013 indicated that private dental clinics are preferred to public clinics in Canada. Demand for private dental clinics is primarily driven by easy access, less waiting period, and better treatment offered to patients.Read Full Report:Europe is likely to be the largest market for dental laboratories in terms of revenue during the forecast period. However, Asia Pacific is anticipated to outperform Europe from 2015 to 2023. A report titled The State of Oral Health in Europe published in 2012 indicated that over 50% of the population of Europe was suffering from some form of periodontal diseases, which were relatively higher among people aged 60 years and above. The British dental technician trade has declined sharply in the past few years as many practices outsource their lab work to overseas laboratories. Over 12,000 qualified dental technicians operated in the U.K. a decade ago. Currently, this figure is approximately 5,000 and is decreasing by 200 qualified technicians every year. Despite favorable government regulations, increasing geriatric population, and adequate reimbursement provisions, the number of dental laboratories has fallen due to high cost of dental products and demand fulfillment from Asia. According to Odontotecnici.net, a dental laboratory technician group in Italy illustrated that in 2013, there were about 12,800 dental laboratories in Italy. From a legislative point of view, the work performed by dental laboratory technicians has undergone important changes primarily due to the emanation of several European Directives such as 93/42 (relative to medical devices), 85/374 (relative to the reasonability for damage by defective products), and 2001/95 (relative to general product safety), which enhanced and boosted dental laboratory based services in Italy.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Growth of the dental laboratories market in Asia Pacific is driven by emergence of dental tourism, and high number of laboratories established in the past five years. Moreover, advances in dental health care, increase in geriatric population, and rise in oral health awareness have increased demand for dental restoration. This has driven demand for dental implants in the past few years. Additionally, rise in disposable income is attributed to the total share of spending in health care services. People willingly spend a significant proportion of their income on dental hygiene in emerging countries. Asia Pacific has been assessed to be the fastest growing market for dental products in the next few years. This will drive performance and revenue outcome from laboratories. According to the Third National Oral Health Epidemic Investigation Report published in 2008, tooth loss in China affected every third person aged between 35 years and 44 years and around one in ten people aged between 65 years and 74 years. The number of people wearing partial and full denture is increasing at a substantial rate every year, depicting growing need of dental laboratories in the near future.Rest of the World (RoW) comprises Latin America and Middle East & Africa. Health care provision in Africa is challenged by the burden of poverty and underdevelopment, with 80% of the population falling into the lowest socioeconomic category. Lack of financial and technical resources, shortage of health personnel, and insufficient primary health care delivery make it hard for most of the population of Africa to access basic health service.Key players operating and profiled in this market include 3M Health Care, Danaher Corporation, Dentcare Dental Lab, Henry Schein, Inc., Institut Straumann AG, Keating Dental Arts, Modern Dental Laboratory Co., Ltd., National Dentex Corporation, Patterson Companies, Inc., Shofu, Inc., Sirona Dental Systems, and Yenadent Ltd. Sti.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:
Prevention-Better-than-Cure Sentiment to Help Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Systems Sales Touch New High

Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Market

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The high risk of acquiring diseases due to the contamination of water and air has opened up the market for ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems. Alarming statistics by the World Health Organizations state that about seven patients out every 100 patients that are admitted acquire hospital-related infections (HAIs). Owing to these reasons, hospitals are making hefty investments in installing UVGI systems. In addition, restaurants, food joints, air-conditioned offices, residential buildings, and cold storage facilities are adopting these systems to prevent the dangerous possibilities of spreading diseases.The Transparency Market Research report on the global ultraviolet germicidal irradiation market states that this market will be worth US$430.3 mn by 2023 from US$168.4 mn in 2014, expanding at a CAGR of 10.9% from 2015 to 2023. The growing awareness amongst consumers about advanced food packaging techniques and hygienic surroundings are augmenting the global UVGI market at a steady pace. This market is also thriving due to the stringent regulations laid down by governments about purity standards and need to control the spread of diseases.Read Full Report:The biggest challenge for the global UVGI market is the exorbitant cost of installations. The lack of technical labor to troubleshoot issues pertaining to equipment and systems is also adding to the costs of outsourcing, thereby discouraging consumers from investing in these systems. However, increasing awareness about the hygienic packaging of food and beverages is anticipated to open up new opportunities for this market.The upper room systems sub-segment, which is a part of the air disinfectant segment, is anticipated to be the largest segment in the overall market. Its wide application in areas of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems will help the expansion of its share in the overall market. Furthermore, upper room systems are known to consume less power in comparison to other systems, which will boost their demand in the foreseeable future.In addition, the air disinfection UVGI system segment is also likely to play a crucial role in the soaring revenues of this market as emerging economies of China and India adopt UVGI systems in line with developing their healthcare infrastructure.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Currently, North America holds the lions share in the global UVGI market. This region held a share of 38.3% in the overall market in 2014 followed by Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of the World. The high incidence of HAIs in North America and the strict US FDA rules to curb them is driving the UVGI market in the region. About one in every 25 admitted patients acquires an HAI. Furthermore, the technological advancements in North America across various sectors is encouraging the growth of the UVGI market.The top players operating in the global UVGI market are Atlantic Ultraviolet Corporation, American Ultraviolet, General Electric, Philips, Halma plc (Aquionics), and UltraViolet Devices, Inc. These companies will have to up their game by providing effective and cost-effective solutions to raise their revenues and achieve their predetermined goals.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:
Compression Therapy Market Research Report by Geographical Analysis and Forecast to 2024

Compression Therapy Market

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Compression therapy, mostly used in treating musculoskeletal and spinal injuries in sportspersons and athletes, has been gaining traction steadily in the market. Its demand has been supported by the rising prevalence of orthopedic problems and obesity worldwide. Providing headwinds to its swift uptake is the dearth of solid reimbursement policies. Increasing investments in developing economies and the unmet medical needs in these countries, however, will help to overcome the market restraint.Currently, the global compression therapy market is highly fragmented on account of the presence of numerous local and global companies. To gain a competitive edge, astute players are resorting to mergers and acquisitions and collaborations. They are also increasing focusing on the relatively untapped markets in Asia Pacific. Further, entry barriers to new players in the market is relatively low on account of lack of proper regulations for the commercialization of products and forward integration by raw material suppliers.Transparency Market Research forecasts the global market for compression therapy to expand at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2016 to 2024 to attain a value of US$4.24 bn by 2024 from US$2.69 bn in 2015.Read Full Report:Depending upon the technology leveraged, the global compression therapy market can be bifurcated into static and dynamic. Of the two, the static compression products holds out a strong promise of growth. This is because static garments are preferred more by doctors for patient care on account of clinical evidence supporting them. Patients also prefer static compression hosiery as they are crafted from comfortable materials and impart a better look. Other factors leading to their swift uptake is their affordability and easy availability.The different types of compression therapy products available in the market are compression pumps, compression tapes, compression stocking, and compression bandages. Compression pumps can be further segmented into intermittent and sequential. Similarly, compression stocking can be classified further into gradient and anti-embolism. Of these, bandages hold a sway over the market. In 2015, it held a whopping 43.1% of the market.Download exclusive Sample of this report:From a geographic standpoint, North America spells maximum opportunity in the global market for compression therapy. It accounted for almost 47.2% of the market in 2015 and was trailed by Europe, with a 32.2% share. The market in the U.S. provides ample room for growth on account of the widespread prevalence of obesity that ups the risk of vascular diseases. As per the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), around 600,000 knee arthroplasty surgeries were conducted in the U.S. in 2010 and by 2030 the number is slated to exceed 3 million.Besides North America and Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America are other key markets that hold out strong promise of growth on account of widespread unmet demands. The countries of Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, China, and India will help to power maximum growth in the regions. Other factors stimulating the market in Asia Pacific are rising investment in healthcare infrastructure, growing disposable income, and higher occurrence of chronic ailments.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:
International Wearable Computer Market 2021: Analysis, Growth, Drivers, Vendors Landscape, Shares, Size, Trends, Challenges, Segmentation with Forecast

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Wearable Computer market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Global Wearable Computer Market: Product Segment Analysis Headset Computer Hand ring OthersGlobal Wearable Computer Market: Application Segment Analysis Business management Medical monitoring Personal consumption MilitaryRequest a sample copy of Wearable Computer Research Report @Global Wearable Computer Market: Regional Segment Analysis USA Europe Japan China India South East AsiaThe Players mentioned in our report Apple Samsung Pebble LG Fitbit ZIH Corp AbleNet Honeywell Vuzix Epson With no less than 15 top producersBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Wearable Computer Market Research Report @Table of ContentsChapter 1 About the Wearable Computer Industry1.1 Industry Definition and Types1.1.1 Headset Computer1.1.2 Hand ring1.1.3 Others1.2 Main Market Activities1.3 Similar Industries1.4 Industry at a GlanceChapter 2 World Market Competition Landscape2.1 Wearable Computer Markets by Regions2.1.1 USAMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2011-2021Sales and Growth Rate 2011-2021Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20162.1.2 EuropeMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2011-2021Sales and Growth Rate 2011-2021Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20162.1.3 ChinaMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2011-2021Sales and Growth Rate 2011-2021Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20162.1.4 IndiaMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2011-2021Sales and Growth Rate 2011-2021Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20162.1.5 JapanMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2011-2021Sales and Growth Rate 2011-2021Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20162.1.6 South East AsiaMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2011-2021Sales and Growth Rate 2011-2021Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20162.2 World Wearable Computer Market by TypesHeadset ComputerHand ringOthers2.3 World Wearable Computer Market by ApplicationsBusiness managementMedical monitoringPersonal consumptionMilitary2.4 World Wearable Computer Market Analysis2.4.1 World Wearable Computer Market Revenue and Growth Rate 2011-20162.4.2 World Wearable Computer Market Consumption and Growth rate 2011-20162.4.3 World Wearable Computer Market Price Analysis 2011-2016Enquire for Discount Wearable Computer Market Research Report @Related Reports: -United States Connected Wearable Patches Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022Connected wearable patches include patches, tattoos, or small devices that are affixed to the skin and worn for a limited period of time, ranging from an hour to several weeks. The patches also have an element of wireless connectivity, and have a medical, health, or wellness purpose that can range from monitoring physiological data to delivering medication.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Connected Wearable Patches in United States market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, 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 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
Nurse Call Systems Market By Technology, Snapshot & Worldwide Industry Analysis To 2020

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Global Nurse Call Systems Market: SnapshotThe increasing technological advancements in the field of nurse call systems, along with rising awareness about their availability, are expected to broaden the prospects of the nurse call systems market. As per the findings of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 60% of the nursing staff in the U.S was aged 50 years or above in 2012. This conveys the imperative need for effective communication systems, as these systems save time and efforts, thereby increasing responsiveness and efficiency of nursing activities.Obtain Report Details @Factors such as increasing geriatric population across the globe, decreasing fertility rates, and declining mortality rate are some of the key market drivers. Furthermore, the necessity for more efficient and responsive healthcare communication systems is felt worldwide, contributing towards market expansion. The increasing budget allocation for healthcare of the aged population is also likely to boost growth. On the other hand, the market might face restrictions on account of stringent regulatory policies pertaining to the approval of these systems. However, the global nurse call systems will continue to flourish because of technological advancements in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.Expanding at a CAGR of 13.9% during the forecast period of 2014 to 2020, the global market for nurse call systems is projected to attain a revenue worth US$1.5 bn by the end of 2020.Significant Growth Opportunities Presented by Emerging EconomiesBased on geography, the global market for nurse call systems is broadly categorized into Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and the Rest of the World (RoW). North America leads the global market for nurse call systems in terms of revenue because of their extensive deployment in the healthcare sector. This regional market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 14.4% between 2014 and 2020, reaching US$622.0 mn by the end of the forecast period. Europe comes in second, closely followed by Asia Pacific. Demographic changes in Europe, along with increased adoption of nurse call systems in healthcare, are the key growth drivers of this regional market.Asia Pacific is slated to present expansive opportunities over the next few years. The countries of Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore are somewhat saturated, whereas China and India promise greater expansion. These emerging markets are driven by factors such as emergence of numerous local solution providers, coupled with the unmet needs of the increasing geriatric population in these nations. The regions of Africa and Latin America are also projected to display substantial growth.Wireless Communication Equipment to Witness Upsurge in DemandThe global nurse call systems market is segmented on the basis of equipment, end user, communication technology, and geography. By end use, the market is segmented into OPD clinics, hospitals, ambulatory services, and assisted living centers. Nurse call mobile systems, nurse call buttons, nurse call intercoms, and nurse call integrated communication systems are the key segments by equipment type. On the basis of communication technology, wired and wireless communication equipment are the two major segments. Of these, wired communication systems form the leading segment. However, wireless nurse call communication systems are expected to witness significant growth. The rising demand for wireless nurse call communication systems can be attributed to the greater amount of flexibility and mobility they offer.Fill The Form To Gain Deeper Insights On This Market @Some of the major companies operating in the global market for nurse call systems are Azure Healthcare Limited, Vigil Health Solutions, Inc., Rauland-Borg Corporation, Stanley Healthcare Solutions, Cornell Communications, Inc., Critical Alert Systems LLC, TekTone Sound & Signal Mfg., Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Jeron Electronisc Systems, and Ascom Holding AG.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Sales of Global Peroxyacetic Acid Market Evaluated by Type, Applications and Regions

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Worldwide Peroxyacetic Acid market report of 2017 provides a detailed market overview as well as industry analysis for / of companies, manufacturers and distributors covering data on gross margin, cost structure, consumption value, sale price and more.Peroxyacetic Acid (Peracetic Acid) market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Global Peroxyacetic Acid Market: Product Segment AnalysisDistilled Peracetic AcidSynthesis of other compoundsGlobal Peroxyacetic Acid Market: Application Segment AnalysisAntimicrobial agentBleaching agentFowl sanitizerRequest a sample copy of Peroxyacetic Acid Market Research Report @Global Peroxyacetic Acid Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaThe listed pricing for this Peroxyacetic Acid Market report starts at $ 2960. Request Discount for Peroxyacetic Acid Market Research Report @The Players mentioned in our reportSolvayFMCMitsubishi Gas Chemical CompanyKemiraAditya Birla ChemicalsHarikrushna IndustriesBelinka PerkemijaChangJiuBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Peroxyacetic Acid Market Report @TOC:Chapter 1 About the Peroxyacetic Acid (Peracetic Acid) Industry1.1 Industry Definition and Types1.1.1 Distilled Peracetic Acid1.1.2 Synthesis of other compoundsChapter 2 World Market Competition Landscape2.1 Peroxyacetic Acid (Peracetic Acid) Markets by Regions2.1.1 USAMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2011-2021Sales and Growth Rate 2011-2021Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20162.1.2 EuropeMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2011-2021Sales and Growth Rate 2011-2021Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 2016Related Reports: -2017-2022 UK Humic Acid Market Report (Status and Outlook)The Humic Acid market size will be XX million (USD) in 2022 in UK, 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
Truck drivers across Russia launched a nationwide strike March 27 aimed at abolishing the country's controversial Platon truck tax, in which heavy vehicles are charged tolls on federal highways  supposedly to repair Russia's damaged roads.





Drivers from cities across Russia participated in the strike.





Truckers plan to strike in more than 70 of Russia's regions. The organizers promised to involve over 10,000 trucks who would block major traffic flows.

Several of the movement's organizers have since been detained. President of the Russian Association of Carriers Andrew Bazhutin was arrested at his home in St. Petersburg after he went out to protest. He was charged with driving without a license.



The Chairman of the local Tula Interregional Trade Union of Professional Drivers Andrew Vedenin was detained after leaving his home under the pretext of verifying his identity and car insurance policy. According to ATS-info, he was taken to the police department and is still there. Other key activists were arrested in Krasnodar, Chelyabinsk, and Stavropol.



Drivers report that they already pay the fees via fuel and transportation taxes. Activists note that the tax is controlled by a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Russia has banned the use on its territory of a smartphone app widely used like a walkie-talkie to organize demonstrations and other gatherings.The app, called Zello, reportedly has been popular among long-distance truckers in Russia who are conducting strikes to protest a road tariff system.Zello, based in the United States, said Russia halted the use of the app late Wednesday. The agency that oversees electronic communications in Russia, Roskomnadzor, had announced earlier in the week that the service would be ended because Zello did not comply with an Internet law.That law demands that Internet services store copies in Russia of all messages sent via them for six months and make them available to authorities on demand.A statement on Zello's company blog called the requirement "absurd."
Chlorinated Polyethylene Resins and Elastomers (CPE) Market : Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Threats (2015 - 2025)

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Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) resins and elastomersare thermoplastic polymers exhibiting enhanced physical and chemical properties. These are used as thermoplastic elastomer, modifier for various resins such as Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) andPolyethyelene(PE). Chlorinated polyethylene resins offer resistance against chemical, fire, heat, oil, weather, abrasion. Other properties of CPE include excellent mechanical and physical properties, high filler acceptance, tensile strength and low temperature performance. The applications of chlorinated polyethylene resins and elastomers include geomembranes, as impact modifier andflexible sheeting for automotive, roofing membranes, molded shapes, extruded profiles and cable jacketing and as a base polymer.Growing demand for chlorinated polyethylene resins and elastomers in impact modification application is expected to drive the market growth. Impact modification is the largest application of CPE in terms of consumption. It is widely used for impact modification of PVC for fence, deck, window profiles, pipes and vinyl siding.Request For Report Sample@CPEs are added into formulations of PVC, PE and PP plastic products to improve impact resistance, low temperature performance, welding strength, and weatherability. In addition, growing demand from flexible sheetingelectrical wires and cables, roofing applications and rubber products for seals and shoe soles.Flexible sheeting industry is experiencing high growth in Asia Pacific region due to growing construction and electrical industries. These two industries are driven by changing lifestyle and rising disposable income.Further, rising demand from automobile hoses and industrial hoses is expected to fuel the chlorinated polyethylene resins and elastomers market growth. Owing to properties such as ozone resistance, chemical resistance, oil resistance and temperature resistance, CPE has become ideal choice for applications such as oil tubes, power steering tubes, delivery tubes of cooling fluids. It can be also used for vent and vacuum tubes in automotive. Automobile industry is driven by global demand for various types of automotives for variety of applications. Industrial hoses are used for chemical delivery and oil delivery in difference machineries of manufacturing plants.However, rising crude oil prices and hence volatility in raw materials prices are expected to hamper the market growth for chlorinated polyethylene resins and elastomers. Polyethylene is manufactured from crude oil derivatives and is subjected to availability and price variations. In addition, high cost of processing to develop the application specific elastomer or resin is expected to hamper the market growth.Development of new applications in healthcare and pharmaceutical are expected to provide opportunities for the players in the market. Due to non-hazardous nature of chlorinated polyethylene resins and elastomers, it can be used for manufacturing plants of pharmaceuticals and healthcare industry.Asia Pacific was largest market for chlorinated polyethylene resins and elastomers in terms of consumption. China accounts for largest share in the global market in terms of production and consumption. Most of CPE in China is used for impact modifier and hoses application. Asia Pacific was followed by North America where the U.S. was the largest consumer. Demand from Europe and Rest of the World is expected to grow at moderate pace.Request For TOC@Global chlorinated polyethylene resins and elastomers market is highly concentrated with few players dominating the market. Most of the players have their manufacturing plant in China and threat from Chinese players is moderate due to high cost of processing.Key players in Chlorinated polyethylene resins and elastomers market include the Dow Chemical Company, Sundow Polymers Co. Ltd., Lianda Corporation, Du Pont, Novista - Sanyi Chemical, WeifangPolygrandChemical Co.Ltd., Shandong SanyiIndustrial Co. Ltd., Cevo Industry Company Ltd. among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Polyamide-6 Market : Latest Trends, Demand and Analysis 2026

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Polyamide -6 (PA6) is a semi-crystalline polyamide commonly known as Nylon-6. Polyamide-6 is generally produced by polymerization of caprolacta. The strength, durability and elasticity which it offers is widely appreciated in industries. Properties such as ability to withstand high pressure, temperature and various chemical makes it a highly valued material. These physical and chemical properties makes Polyamide-6 suitable for various application sectors. Of all the Polyamides types produced, Polyamide-6 accounts for approximately more than 60% of worldwide production in terms of volume. The global capacity of Polyamide-6 in 2013 is anticipated to be approximately 6.6 million metric tons.Polyamide -6 Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe major drivers for the global polyamide-6 market is its usage is its wide application sectors such as automotive, electronics & electrical, engineering plastics, packaging, wires & cables, textiles, and films & coating and others. Therefore, increasing demand for the above application sectors is expected to have a positive impact on the market in the coming years. The numerous niche applications for PA6 such as its usage in healthcare & music instruments is expected to positively affect the demand for polyamide 6 (PA6) in the coming years.Request For Report Sample@Though the polyamide-6 (PA6) is regarded as one of the ideal materials for its physical and chemical properties yet some properties such as high shrinkage in molded sections, reaction with strong acids and bases may hamper the selection of PA6. Over specification, such as in automotive industry regarding the safety reasons may drift towards alternative products such as reinforced polypropylene, thereby restraining the growth of PA6. The insufficient flame retardance and significant flammable dripping might affect the use of PA6.Polyamide -6 Market: SegmentationOn the basis of type, the global polyamide-6 market is segmented into:Polyamide-6 (PA6) FiberPolyamide-6 (PA6) ResinOn the basis of application, global Polyamide -6 Market is segmented into:TransportationElectrical and ElectronicsTextileIndustrial ApplicationOthers (includes music, healthcare, coating sector)Polyamide -6 Market: Region Wise OutlookThe consumption of Polyamide-6 is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of more than 5% during the forecast period, globally. Asia Pacific especially China, Japan, Taiwan and India are the major consumers of polyamide-6 since this region offers significant opportunities for Polyamide-6 in various application sectors such as transportation, electrical & electronics, textiles and others. It is estimated that by the end of 2015, China and Taiwan would account for approximately half of the worlds polyamide-6 production in terms of volume. Demand for polyamide-6 in regions such as North America and Latin America is forecasted to grow at a stagnant CAGR.Request For TOC@Polyamide -6 Market: Key PlayersSome of the market participants in the global polyamide-6 (PA6) market are BASF SE, Honeywell International Inc., DuPont, Royal DSM N.V., UBE INDUSTRIES, LTD., Invista, Formosa Plastics Corporation, Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals 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:
Phytosterols Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017: Market size forecasters

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For overview analysis, the report introduces Phytosterols Market basic information including definition, classification, application, industry chain structure, industry overview, policy analysis, and news analysis, etc.Phytosterols market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Global Phytosterols Market: Product Segment AnalysisBeta-sitosterolCampesterolStigmasterolBrassicasterolOtherGlobal Phytosterols Market: Application Segment AnalysisFood IngredientHarmaceuticalsCosmeticsOtherRequest a sample copy of Phytosterols Market Research Report @Global Phytosterols Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaThe listed pricing for this Phytosterols Market report starts at $ 2960. Request Discount for Phytosterols Market Research Report @The Players mentioned in our reportADMCognisCargillForchemForbes MediTechDaniscoNovartis Consumer HealthPhyto-SourceBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Phytosterols Market Report @Related Reports: -2017-2022 China Poly Ether Amine Market Report (Status and Outlook)The Poly Ether Amine market size will be XX million (USD) in 2022 in China, 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
Soy Lecithin Market : Industry Trends and Developments 2016 - 2026

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Soy Lecithin is typically the brownish yellow complex mixture of glycolipids, phospholipids, neutral lipids and sugars. The use of Soy to produce the lecithin is the highest as compare to the other sources of lecithin. The wide functional, nutritional and therapeutic properties of soy lecithin are used in variety of application. Soy Lecithin is mostly used as emulsifier in various industrial application such as food, feed, paints, cosmetics, plastics, pharmaceutical and others. The wide and constantly increasing product category for Lecithin applications is a healthy sign for the budding demand of soy lecithin market.Soy Lecithin Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe abundant availability and low pricing in international markets makes Soy the major driver for the growth of the Soy Lecithin Market. The increasing areas of application in food as well as non-food segments of Soy lecithin is also estimated to benefit the global demand of soy lecithin market. The changing food habits and increased per capita income is driving the growth of the packaged and processed food industry which is furthermore estimated to benefit the soy lecithin market. The growing concerns towards healthy lifestyle are propelling the demand for the nutrient rich foods, beverages and supplements ultimately expected to push companies to use nutrient rich and cost effective products like soy lecithin. The wide physical and chemical properties of Soy lecithin make it a lucrative product in paints and cosmetic industry. The maturing use of lecithin in pharmaceutical is forecasted to accelerate the demand of soy lecithin market.On the other hand the use of genetically modified soy might be the restrain factors due to the increasing awareness and inclination towards the use of organic food products.Request For Report Sample@Soy Lecithin Market: SegmentationOn the basis of type, the global Soy Lecithin market is segmented into:Food GradeFeed GradePharmaceutical GradeIndustry GradeOtherOn the Basis of Function, the global Soy Lecithin Market is segmented into:EmulsifiersNutritional supplementsDispersantsWetting agentsViscosity modifiersRelease aidsSurfactantsNutritional supplementsOn the basis of Application, the global Soy Lecithin market is segmented into:Food & BeveragesPaint IndustryPharmaceuticalOthers (Plastic and other industries)Request For TOC@Global Soy lecithin: Regional AnalysisThe global Soy lecithin is expected to be driven by strong demand in Asia pacific region especially in regions like China and India. Asia pacific is forecasted to be the largest producer as well as consumer for the global soy lecithin market by volume as well as by value. Another major market for the Soy Lecithin market is Latin America, primarily driven by growth in food and beverages industry. Europe is also forecasted to be the significant contributor for the demand of Soy Lecithin followed by Latin America. Africa is forecasted to grow at a steady rate but the fast growing economies are considered to be a major driving factor in the demand of Soy lecithin in proximate future.Soy Lecithin Market: Key PlayersSome of the market participants in the global are E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill, Lipoid GmbH, American Lecithin Company, LASENOR EMUL, Lecico Gmbh, Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd, Ceresking Ecology & Technology Co. Ltd., Bunge Limited 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:
United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Orthodontic 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 Orthodontic 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 Orthodontic 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 market's development, restrictions, and patterns affecting the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Orthodontic 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 Orthodontic 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.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @A sweeping volume of information concerning the basic components of the Orthodontic 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 Orthodontic. This is legitimate for organizations of all sizes and development levels inside the worldwide Orthodontic 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 ContentUnited States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Orthodontic Market Size, Status and Forecast 20211 Industry Overview of Orthodontic1.1 Orthodontic Market Overview1.1.1 Orthodontic Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Orthodontic 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 Orthodontic Market by Type1.3.1 Metal Type1.3.2 Ceramic Type1.3.3 Lingual Type1.3.4 Invisalign Type1.4 Orthodontic Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Patients of Crowding Dental1.4.2 Others1.4.3 Application 32 United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Orthodontic Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Orthodontic 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 3M Unitek3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Orthodontic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Ormco3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Orthodontic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 American Orthodontics3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Orthodontic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Dentsply International3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Orthodontic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 Henry Schein3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Orthodontic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Align Technology3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Orthodontic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 DB Orthodontics3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Orthodontic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 G&H Orthodontics3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Orthodontic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 RMO3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Orthodontic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.9.5 Recent Developments3.10 Orthodontics3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Orthodontic Revenue (Value) (2011-2016)3.10.5 Recent Developments3.11 Ortho Technology3.12 Sia Orthodontic3.13 JJ Orthodontics3.14 Tomy3.15 Fairfield Orthodontics3.16 Lancer3.17 Masel3.18 Ortho-Cycle4 United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Orthodontic Market Size by Type and Application (2011-2016)4.1 United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Orthodontic Market Size by Type (2011-2016)4.2 United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Orthodontic Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.3 Potential Application of Orthodontic in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Orthodontic5 United States Orthodontic Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Orthodontic Market Size (2011-2016)5.2 United States Orthodontic Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)6 EU Orthodontic Development Status and Outlook6.1 EU Orthodontic Market Size (2011-2016)6.2 EU Orthodontic Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)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 Cough Assist Devices Market Trends & Industry Forecast by 2017 - 2027

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Cough assist device helps to clear the lung secretions by helping the patient with his breathing. When a person is assisted with a cough assist device, the machine creates a positive pressure when the patient takes in air and while expiring the suction created expires the air outside. This difference in pressure makes coughing more stronger and effecting, helping to bring out the congestion.The cough assist device is important for respiratory care and in cases of critical illness. This device is a proactive requirement for spinal muscular atrophy patient regardless of the type. The device helps secretion of cough out of the lungs by creating a quick reverse in the flow directions. The stimulation of the cough dramatically improves the airway clearance thereby helping the lungs to develop and grow.Obtain Report Details @Cough Assist Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe major driver of the cough assist device market is the increasing prevalence of respiratory problems. Moreover, the changing lifestyle such as smoking and the high air pollution has all contributed towards the use of this portable cough assist device. The person does not have to spend hospital bed cost and medication every time he suffers from some airway disorder. With cough assist device, the patient can have a quick access to the device.According to the Reinsurance Group of America out of the four million people who die from chronic respiratory diseases each year, 90% deaths are from low and middle-income countries. While developing countries include problems such as respiratory system infections and tuberculosis, developed countries include high level of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and lung cancer. This factor is expected to propel the demand for assist cough devices.Cough Assist Devices Market: SegmentationCough assist devices market is classified on the basis of product, choice of air delivery part and region.Based on application the cough assist devices market is segmented into the following:Automatic cough assist deviceManual cough assist deviceBased on choice of air delivery part the cough assist devices market is segmented into the following:Face maskMouth pieceAdaptarCough Assist Devices Market: OverviewEnvironmental pollution causes seriously respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma and globally the number is still increasing. This is expected to propel the demand for sudden asthmatic attack health devices globally. There are a number of organizations who are coming forward to contribute towards the helping the people suffering from chronic conditions. The soaring insurance coverage and hospital costs have increased patients treated in the non-hospital settings. The respiratory disorders are a key therapeutic area and hence there is an increase in the number of patients being treated for asthma and sleep apnea in the homecare setting.Cough Assist Devices Market: Region-wise OutlookIn terms of geography, the cough assist devices market has been divided into five regions including North- America, Asia- Pacific and Middle-East & Africa, Latin America and Europe. North America region dominated the cough assist devices with the presence of major companies and the funds received towards home healthcare devices. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region as there is an increasing interest of venture capitalist towards the home healthcare services. Medwell Ventures received US$21 million to expand the services in Tier I and Tier II towns along with increasing manpower.Cough Assist Devices Market: Key Market ParticipantsSome of the market contributors to the cough assist devices market are Koninklijke Philips N.V., Hill-Rom, Percussionaire Corporation, Dima Italia Srl, Emerson, United Hayek Industries Inc., and Ventec Life Systems.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 @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
United States Telehealth Market to Grow at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2021 According to New Research Report.

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United States Telehealth Market Report 2016 Purchase This Report by calling ResearchnReports.com at +1-888-631-6977.This report studies sales (consumption) of Telehealth in United States market, focuses on the top players, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player, coveringAerotel Medical SystemsInTouch HealthHoneywell Life Care Solutions HealthcareMedtronicTunstall HealthcareCerner CorporationCisco SystemsGE HealthcareMckesson CorporationMedvivo GroupBiotronikClick here for Purchase Full Report:This research, highlighting the current situation of the United States Telehealth 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 United States Telehealth Market. Prepared by an expert team, the report on the United States Telehealth Market highlights recent developments, key trends, and new project developments in the market. As leading companies take efforts to maintain their dominance in the United States Telehealth Market, the right way to do so is by adopting new technologies and strategies.For a stronger and more stable business outlook, the report on the United States Telehealth 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 United States Telehealth Market by using many criteria. The growth predictions for each of these segments are included in the report.The research on the United States Telehealth 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 United States Telehealth 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 United States Telehealth Market. The feasibility of new projects is also measured in the report by the analysts.Get 30% Discount - Click here to Download Discount Sample on this report at:Table of ContentsUnited States Telehealth Market Report 20161 Telehealth Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Telehealth1.2 Classification of Telehealth1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.2.3 Type III1.3 Application of Telehealth1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.4 United States Market Size Sales (Value) and Revenue (Volume) of Telehealth (2011-2021)1.4.1 United States Telehealth Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.4.2 United States Telehealth Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 United States Telehealth Competition by Manufacturers2.1 United States Telehealth Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 United States Telehealth Revenue and Share by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.3 United States Telehealth Average Price by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.4 Telehealth Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.4.1 Telehealth Market Concentration Rate2.4.2 Telehealth Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.4.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 United States Telehealth Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (2011-2016)3.1 United States Telehealth Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)3.2 United States Telehealth Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)3.3 United States Telehealth Price by Type (2011-2016)3.4 United States Telehealth Sales Growth Rate by Type (2011-2016)4 United States Telehealth Sales (Volume) by Application (2011-2016)4.1 United States Telehealth Sales and Market Share by Application (2011-2016)4.2 United States Telehealth Sales Growth Rate by Application (2011-2016)4.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities5 United States Telehealth Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis5.1 Aerotel Medical Systems5.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors5.1.2 Telehealth Product Type, Application and Specification5.1.2.1 Type I5.1.2.2 Type II5.1.3 Aerotel Medical Systems Telehealth Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)5.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview5.2 InTouch Health5.2.2 Telehealth Product Type, Application and Specification5.2.2.1 Type I5.2.2.2 Type II5.2.3 InTouch Health Telehealth Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)5.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview5.3 Honeywell Life Care Solutions Healthcare5.3.2 Telehealth Product Type, Application and Specification5.3.2.1 Type I5.3.2.2 Type II5.3.3 Honeywell Life Care Solutions Healthcare Telehealth Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)5.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview5.4 Medtronic5.4.2 Telehealth Product Type, Application and Specification5.4.2.1 Type I5.4.2.2 Type II5.4.3 Medtronic Telehealth Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)5.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview5.5 Tunstall HealthcareAbout 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)
Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Market Share, Leading Manufacturers, Growth Strategies, Regional Analysis and Forecast to 2021

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Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Global Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Market: Application Segment AnalysisRequest a sample copy of Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Research Report @utm_source=OPR-VTGlobal Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Market: Regional Segment Analysis USA Europe Japan China India South East AsiaThe Players mentioned in our report Northrop Grumman Corporation Iris Ao Phasics Corporation Boston Micromachines Corporation Baker Adaptive OpticsBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Market Research Report @Table of ContentsChapter 5 Company Profiles5.1 Northrop Grumman Corporation5.1.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.1.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.1.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.2 Iris Ao5.2.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.2.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.2.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.3 Phasics Corporation5.3.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.3.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.3.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.4 Boston Micromachines Corporation5.4.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.4.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.4.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.10 Baker Adaptive Optics5.10.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.10.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.10.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating ProfitsChapter 6 Globalisation & Trade6.1 Business Locations6.2 Supply channels6.3 Marketing strategy6.4 Barriers to EntryChapter 7 Distributors and Customers7.1 Major Distributors and contact information by Regions7.2 Major Customers and contact information by RegionsChapter 8 Import, Export, Consumption and Consumption Value by Major Countries8.1 USA8.2 Germany8.3 China8.4 Japan8.5 IndiaChapter 9 World Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Market Forecast through 20219.1 World Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Demand by Regions Forecast through 20219.2 World Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Price(by Regions, Types, Applications)Analysis Forecast through 20219.3 World Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Revenue (M USD)(by Regions, Types, Applications) Forecast through 20219.4 World Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Market Analysis9.4.1 World Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Market Revenue and Growth Rate 2011-20169.4.2 World Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Market Consumption and Growth rate 2011-20169.4.3 World Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Market Price Analysis 2011-2016Chapter 10 Key success factors and Market OverviewEnquire for Discount Adaptive Optics by Wavefront Sensors Market Research Report @Related Reports: -Global and Chinese Zeolite Industry, 2017 Market Research ReportThe 'Global and Chinese Zeolite Industry, 2012-2022 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Zeolite industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Zeolite manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2012-2017 market shares for each company.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
Palm Oil Market  Worldwide Industry Analysis and Forecast 2017  2021

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Palm oil is extracted from the flesh of the palm fruit, which is primarily found in the tropical climate of Africa, South America and South East Asia. It is used in preventing vitamin A deficiency, cancer, brain disease, aging; and treating malaria, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cyanide poisoning. Palm oil is one of the world's most produced and consumed oils. Palm oil is a very productive crop. It offers a far greater yield at a lower cost of production than other vegetable oils.Request a sample of this report @The global production and demand of palm oil is increasing rapidly. Plantations are spreading across Asia, Africa and Latin America.The major factor that contributes in the growth of the industry includes rising global population, accelerating economic growth and rising demand for biofuels. The key trends observed within the industry include red palm oil supplementation and increasing demand for sustainable palm oil. However, the industry is also witnessing many hindrances including loss of critical habitat for endangered species and adverse weather conditions.The report Global Palm Oil Market provides in-depth analysis of the palm oil market on a global scale with detailed information regarding the key regional markets which includes Indonesia and Malaysia. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The four major players in the industry, PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk, Sime Darby, IOI Corporation Berhad and Wilmar International Limited are being profiled.Browse Complete Report @Some points from TOC:1. Vegetable Oil  An Overview1.1 An Introduction1.2 Types of Vegetables Oils1.3 Use of Vegetable Oil2. Palm Oil  An Overview2.1 An Introduction2.2 Palm Oil  Supply Chain AnalysisPurchase a copy of Global Palm Oil Market visit @For more information contact sales@orbisresearch.com .3. Global Vegetable Oil Market Analysis3.1 Global Vegetable Oil Production Forecast by Volume3.2 Global Vegetable Oil Production by Type3.3 Global Vegetable Oil Production by Region3.4 Global Vegetable Oil Consumption Forecast by Volume3.5 Global Vegetable Oil Consumption by Region3.6 Global Vegetable Oil Import and Export Trend3.7 Global Vegetable Oil Import by Country3.8 Global Vegetable Oil Export by Country4. Palm Oil Market Analysis4.1 Global Palm Oil Production Forecast by Volume4.2 Global Palm Oil Production by Region4.3 Global Palm Oil Consumption Forecast by Volume4.4 Global Palm Oil Consumption by Region4.5 Global Palm Oil Import and Export Trend4.6 Global Palm Oil Imports by Country4.7 Global Palm Oil Exports by CountryFor 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:
Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Market - Global Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2012 - 2022

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Summary:2017 Market Research Report on 2012-2022 Report on Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Market Competition, Status and Forecast, Market Size by Players, Regions, Type, ApplicationDescription: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 Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Market is confident in meeting their needs and expectations. The 2017 market research report on Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) 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 Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Market report is a noteworthy.The Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) 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 Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) 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 Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Industry. Accurate forecasts and expert opinion from credible sources, and the recent R&D development in the industry is also a mainstay of the Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Market report.Request a sample of this 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.Purchase a copy of this report @Finally, the Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) 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 Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) 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.Some Points from Table of ContentsChapter One: Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS)1.2 Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Segment by Types (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Production and Growth Rate (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Production Market Share (%) by Types (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Adaptive cruise control1.2.4 Lane departure warning1.2.5 Blind spot detection1.2.6 Adaptive front lights1.2.7 Night vision system1.2.8 Brake assist1.2.8 Park assist1.3 Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Segment by Applications1.3.1 Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Consumption (K Units) Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)1.3.2 Passenger Car1.3.3 Commercial Car1.4 Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Market by Regions (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Market Size (Million USD) Comparison by Regions (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 EU Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 South Korea Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Market Size (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) Capacity, Production (K Units) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)For more information contact sales@orbisresearch.comOrbis 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.Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas -75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019Follow Us on LinkedIn:Follow us on Twitter:Like us on Facebook:
Cuz it'd be bad if he was.A man accused of stealing guns in connection with a possible plan for an attack has been captured in Wisconsin following a 10-day manhunt, authorities said.Joseph Jakubowski, 32, was taken into custody early Friday morning after authorities responded to a call about a suspicious person on a farmers property in Readstown, Wis., authorities said in a statement.More than 150 local, state and federal law enforcement officials had been searching for Jakubowski, whom authorities suspected of stealing at least 16 high-end firearms April 4 from a gun shop in Janesville, a town not far from Wisconsins southern border. Police said he had also written a 161-page antigovernment and anti-religion manifesto, which he apparently mailed to President Trump at the White House.
Buruli Ulcer Treatment Market - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2017 - 2027

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Buruli ulcer, brought about by Mycobacterium ulcerans is a perpetual crippling sickness that influences primarily the skin and bone sometimes. The organism has a place with the group of microscopic organisms that causes tuberculosis and infection. The correct method of transmission is hazy. The fundamental weight of malady falls on kids living in sub-Saharan Africa, however sound individuals of any age, races, and financial classes are vulnerable. Despite the fact that it has been accounted for in more than 33 nations around the globe, the best weight of infection is in the tropical areas of West and Central Africa, Australia, and Japan. It basically influences kids matured 5-15 years. Notwithstanding, in some exceptionally endemic regions in Ghana, the commonness of Buruli ulcer has been assessed to be as high as 150.8/100,000 people, and in southern Benin, a current review has revealed location rates of 21.5/100,000 every year, higher than for either tuberculosis or leprosy. Disease regularly prompts ulcers on the arms or legs, which can likewise devastate skin or soft tissue. At the point when not appropriately treated, the ailment can bring about irreversible disfigurement or long haul practical inability. The disease is likewise endemic in a few different nations outside Africa, including country territories of Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, French Guiana, and Mexico. In Australia, Buruli ulcer treatment stays uncommon, however there have been increments in both occurrence and the quantity of endemic territories over the most recent 15 years.Obtain Report Details @Buruli Ulcer Treatment Market: Drivers and RestraintsGrowing incidence of Buruli ulcers is expected to increase demand for antibiotics and surgeries.. As per WHO (World Health Organization) major have likewise been accounted for from South East Asia , Australia, South America and Central regions in Africa. In the course of the most recent 2 decades the rate of Buruli ulcer has expanded, in spite of critical underreporting of cases. In 1999 there were 6000 new cases in Ghana; in 2004 (Australia), there were 25 new cases, 47 more in 2005 and 72 in 2006. Ordinarily, 05 cases for every year happen in the Daintree area (Australia) in any case, in 20112012, there was a noteworthy flare-up, with no less than 75 cases recognized. In Victoria (Australia), 157 cases happened in 20112012. The development is basically determined by expanded prevalence. New companies in the antibiotics industry have indicated expanded competence and safety profiles along with lessening the chances of ulcers. The ulcer showcase likewise has majorly two different procedures of treatment, which are via antibiotics and surgery. Late information recommend that combinations of anti-mycobacterial antibiotics that incorporate rifampicin and either streptomycin or amikacin can execute M. ulcerans in human injuries. Temporary rules now suggest the utilization of chose hostile to mycobacterial drugs, generally consolidated with surgery, for the treatment of Buruli ulcer. Effective treatment will abbreviate the course of the sickness and limit distortion. Skilled surgery, expert nursing care, and therapeutic physiotherapy are regularly required to accomplish great results.Yet, the remedial action of such events still rests an undiscovered area of research and development for pharmaceutical & healthcare organizations to carry innovative medications and advanced treatment into the Buruli ulcer treatment market. However nonappearance of conclusive treatment, reactions, restricted adequacy of the medications and high cost of surgery accessible in the market and reliance in manifestation based treatment in a few cases is required to hamper treatment growth & development of the overall Buruli ulcer treatment market over the forecast period.Buruli Ulcer Treatment Market: OverviewAround 70% of those suffered with Buruli ulcer are kids under 15 years of age. In Ghana the normal cost to treat Buruli ulcer is over US$ 780 for each individual. The acknowledged current treatment for Buruli ulcer is typically surgery. Inconveniences incorporate contracture distortions, removal of appendages, and inclusion of the eye, breast and genitalia. In a few areas 2025% of those with recuperated injuries are left with inabilities that have a long-term social and financial effect. The current financial and social weight forced by Buruli ulcer is colossal. The global market for Buruli ulcer treatment is expected to witness firm growth owing to increasing incidence rate of the ulcers coupled with new treatment (branded and generic) approach.Buruli Ulcer Treatment Market: Region  wise OutlookGlobally the Buruli ulcer treatment market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). North America and Western Europe are expected to be the leading markets in the global Buruli ulcer treatment market. Rising treatment options among the young age population, prescription rates and the maturing worldwide population are additionally considered vital drivers for this market. Public awareness via hospitals, drug manufacturers, medical campaigns and simply available diagnostic tests are relied upon to lift interest for Buruli ulcer treatment items in these areas. Japan and APEJ are relied upon to take after next as far as interest for the treatment of Buruli ulcer treatment advertise. Eastern Europe, Latin America and MEA markets are likewise anticipated that would witness normal development over the forecast period. Nonattendance of populace based reviews in creating nations is a noteworthy test in appraisal of ulcer related contaminations in these nations.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. 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:
French Investment Market with a Focus on the HNW Market Segment 2017

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"The Report Wealth in France: HNW Investors 2017 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz""Wealth in France: HNW Investors 2017" analyzes the French investment market, with a focus on the HNW segment. The report is based on our proprietary datasets.Almost a third of French HNW investors have generated their wealth through being a first-generation entrepreneur. Inheritance ranks second as a source of wealth, and 46% of French investors attribute their fortune to the property and financial services sectors, reflective of market demand and stability. When opting to have wealth managed by a professional, French HNW clients are mostly driven by a lack of time and expertise. However, clients who self-direct their portfolios show a strong reluctance to relinquish complete control. Equities are the preferred asset class, followed by property and bonds. Demand is quite pronounced for tax advice, but financial planning services demand is forecast to grow at a faster pace.Specifically the report -- Sizes the affluent market (both by number of individuals and their demographics) using our proprietary datasets.- Analyzes which asset classes are favored by French investors and how their preferences impact the growth of the total savings and investments market.- Examines HNW clients attitudes towards non-liquid investments such as property and commodities.View Report @Scope- Equities and property make up the majority of French HNW portfolios. However, demand for alternative investments is expected to increase rapidly over the next year, while bonds have a significantly weaker outlook.- Frances HNW individuals are most likely to choose discretionary mandates. However, despite a strong preference for professional management nearly 30% opt for execution-only mandates, which is in stark contrast to the regional average.- Over 7% of French HNW individuals are expats, and most of them come from neighboring countries such as the UK and Belgium.Reasons to buy- Benchmark your share of the French wealth market against the current market size.- Forecast your future growth prospects using our projections for the market to 2020.- Identify your most promising client segment by analyzing penetration of affluent individuals in France.- Evaluate your HNW proposition by understanding how the French tax system will impact HNW clients.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Table of Contents1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 31.1. French clients accumulate wealth through business ventures and inheritance 31.2. Key findings 31.3. Critical success factors 32. PROFILING THE FRENCH HNW INVESTOR 102.1. Entrepreneurship and inheritance account for the largest sources of wealth 102.1.1. The bulk of French HNW individuals are males over 50 years old 102.1.2. Sources of wealth accumulation for French HNW investors are diverse 112.1.3. Many HNW investors have built their fortunes through property and real estate 122.1.4. Nearly half of HNW individuals in France are CEOs and directors 142.2. Expats account for over 7% of the local HNW population 142.2.1. Exceptional Economic Contribution residence permit facilitates business ventures 152.2.2. Nearly 80% of HNW expats are from Western Europe 162.2.3. Alexander Peter Wealth Management leads with expat services 163. FRENCH HNW INVESTMENT STYLE PREFERENCES 183.1. Wealth managers should highlight the time-saving benefits of their services 183.1.1. Over half of Frances HNW wealth is held in discretionary mandates 183.1.2. A lack of time and expertise drives demand for professional advice 193.1.3. Frances HNW investors place just over half of their managed wealth with their main wealth manager 203.2. French HNW investors lack of time is increasing demand for execution-only mandates 213.2.1. Demand is strongest for advisory mandates 213.2.2. Advisory mandates will remain the favored asset management service 223.2.3. A strong reluctance to give up control is driving demand for advisory mandates 233.2.4. French HNW investors who self-direct want exclusive control over some of their portfolio 244. UNDERSTANDING ASSET ALLOCATION TRENDS AMONG FRENCH HNW INDIVIDUALS 264.1. Alternatives will register the fastest increase over the next year 264.1.1. Equities continue to make up the largest segment of HNW portfolios 264.1.2. Equity investments constitute the largest proportion of the average French HNW portfolio 274.1.3. Asset diversification is the main driver for equities investments 284.1.4. Bond investments are lower in France than in the rest of Europe 294.1.5. Wealth managers expect bond holdings to decrease strongly 304.1.6. Cash and near-cash allocations are above the global average 314.1.7. Clients cite risk-aversion and future investment opportunities as drivers for allocations into deposits 324.1.8. Property constitutes a quarter of the typical HNW portfolio 334.1.9. Risk aversion is the main driver for property investments 344.1.10. Alternatives constitute a meagre percentage of the typical HNW portfolio 354.1.11. Asset diversification is the leading driver for investments in alternatives 364.1.12. Commodities allocations are as low as the European average 374.1.13. Asset diversification is the leading driver of commodity investments 385. HNW PRODUCT AND SERVICE DEMAND 405.1. Wealth managers should lead with tax planning services 405.1.1. High taxation rates drive demand for planning services 405.1.2. Allen & Overy partners with advisors to increase their competitive advantage 415.1.3. Demand for all planning services is forecast to increase 425.1.4. Primonial grows its AUM by offering a multi-service proposition 436. APPENDIX 456.1. Abbreviations and acronyms 456.2. Definitions 456.2.1. Affluent 456.2.2. HNW 456.2.3. Liquid assets 456.2.4. Mass affluent 456.3. Methodology 466.3.1. GlobalDatas 2016 Global Wealth Managers Survey 466.3.2. GlobalDatas 2015 Global Wealth Managers Survey 466.3.3. Global Datas WealthInsight 466.3.4. Exchange rates 466.4. Bibliography 476.5. Further reading 48About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Text Analytics Market Revenue Predicted To Go Up by 2021

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Text analytics can be defined as a process of retrieving information from the available text sources. Text analytics is used for various purposes such as summarization of information, classification, sentimental analysis and data investigation. Text Analytics has become vital for smooth functioning of business across world. Text Analytics software helps its end user to perform data analysis for obtaining useful insights. Text Analytics softwares are capable to process structured as well as unstructured data in a same efficient manner. In text analytics software, natural language processing toolkits are used which are competent enough to overcome any type of language barrier and this toolkit can derive information from any unknown languages. Modern text analytics software offers user friendly interface for better representation and analysis.Request to view Sample Report @Globally, need of effective text analytics solution and services is increasing steadily. Factors which are driving the growth of global text analytics service market are growing demand of social media analysis for effective brand building, development of multilingual text analytics to overcome language barriers, increasing concern of financial frauds and growing big data market. On the other hand, factors which are restraining the growth of global text analytics market are lack of awareness among end users about software handling, high deployment cost and compliance issue with present IT infrastructure. However, added advantage of predictive analytics and credibility to analyse big data is expected to create great opportunity for text analytics market in future.Global text analytics market is segmented on the basis of application, organization size, deployment model and verticals. On the basis of application, the global text analytics market can be segmented into, enterprise application, predictive analytics, data analytics application, web-based application, search based applications and others. Predictive analytics segment is expected to be major application segment of global text analytics market during the forecast periodOn the basis of organization size, the global text analytics market can be segmented into small enterprises, medium enterprises and large enterprises.On the basis of deployment model, the global text analytics market can be segmented into on-premise and cloud deployment. Cloud based deployment model expected to gain significant importance during the period of forecast. However, small enterprises are still very much dependent on on-premise modelOn the basis of verticals, the global text analytics market can be segmented into banking, financial serves and insurance (BFSI), healthcare & pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, retail & hospitality, telecommunication, consumer packed goods and othersOn the basis of region, the text analytics market can be segmented into seven regions which includes, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Eastern Europe, Japan and Middle East & Africa region. Further the market is sub-segmented as per the major countries of each region in order to provide better regional analysis of the Text Analytics Market. North America region is expected to dominate the global text analytics market during the period of forecast.Request to view Table of content @Key players in global text analytics market are IBM Corporation, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Attensity Inc., Clarabridge, SAP SE, TIBCO Software Inc., Tableau Software and Oracle among others. Key players are focusing on continuous innovations in the existing text analytics softwares. Hence new product launch is the major development strategy adopted by market players in order to grow in market. In 2014, Linguamatics launched I2E Semantic Enrichment to offer increased return on investment in enterprise search systems.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as application, organization size, deployment model and verticals.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
Alternative Healthcare Providers Market Forecast to 2023 with Share & Growth Projections in Key Product Segments

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Complementary or Alternative medicine(CAM) refers to different medical therapies and systems outside of conventional healthcare to improve and treat the mental and physical illness.CAM therapies are based on the knowledge, practices and skills derived from theories, experiences and philosophies to improve and maintain health, as well as to diagnose, prevent, and treat various disorders. Alternative healthcare providers offer a variety of medical and healthcare systems, products and practices used by patients without medical supervision. CAM therapies are particularly used by people with chronic illnesses and pain, such as liver disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer. Alternative system of healthcare include Ayurveda, unani medicines, yoga, acupuncture, homeopathic medicines and others systems of healthcare.Browse Complete Report Details of this Market at:Complementary or Alternative medicine can be categorized on the basis ofIntervention> Alternative medical systems> Mind-body interventions> Biologically based therapies> Physical manipulation> Energy therapies.Types> Ayurveda> Yoga> Naturopathy> Homeopathy> Unani> Siddha> Acupressure> Acupuncture> OthersNow a days, people are evidently looking for more gentle and natural methods of healing and thus are increasingly supporting different types of CAM therapies within existing healthcare systems that will subsequently lead to the growth of alternative healthcare providers market. According to an article published by the EUROCAM, an association of European CAM organizations, currently, CAM is practiced by around 145,000 doctors trained in conventional medicine and a particular CAM modality. The rising awareness and interest of healthcare professionals in CAM therapies is expected to drive the market of alternative healthcare providers market. Moreover, the World Health Assembly, the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization WHO has urged its member states to integrate CAM and traditional medicine within national healthcare system. This would further boost the market for alternative healthcare providers.The global alternative healthcare providers market is witnessing an admirable growth due to medical advancements, high number of research activities in this segment and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. The increasing prevalence of different cancers in developed as well as developing countries has resulted in a significant growth in alternative healthcare providers market. According to WHO, 14.1 million new cases of cancer were observed and 8.2 million deaths occurred throughout the world in 2012. This significant rise in cancer incidence has driven the growth of CAM therapies. However, lack of awareness and unregulated market may hinder the growth of alternative healthcare providers market.In terms of geography, alternative healthcare providers market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East. Among these regions, North accounts for the largest share of alternative healthcare providers market due to increasing awareness about various CAM therapies among people and rising prevalence of chronic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Europe accounts for the second largest market for alternative healthcare providers owing to high acceptability of various CAM therapies, rising incidence chronic diseases and high disposable income. However, Asia Pacific market is expected to witness positive growth due to high rate of development in healthcare industry, rising demand for herbal and natural medicines and growing medical tourism industry.Obtain the Sample PDF Research Report for this Market at:The global alternative healthcare providers market is highly fragmented due to the participation of mid-sized and small sized manufacturers. Some of the major players in alternative healthcare providers market includes Allen Labratories Ltd. Baidyanath Herbal, Dabur Limited, Hamdard Laboratories, Medisynth Ch. Pvt. Ltd., and SBL Homeopathy Medicines.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Long Term Care Market 2023 Key Players in Latest Research Reports

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Long term care (LTC) service contains a variety of services provided by nursing homes, day care centres, home health agencies and from family or friends. Long term care service comprises a broad range of personal care, healthcare and supportive care services. It is required for geriatrics people and adult who are unable to take self care due to injury, cognitive or mental disability and chronic illness. Long term care service provides support to people in regain quality of life and in improving an optimal level of physical functioning of life.Browse Complete Report Details of this Market at:The global market for long term care can be segmented as follows:> Based on Services provided> Social work services> Mental health or counseling services> Therapeutic services> Skilled nursing or nursing services> Pharmacy or pharmacist services> Hospice servicesIn the United States social work services are provided by nursing homes and home health agencies. In addition, Medicare certification is required for providing social work services in the United States. Whereas, mental health and counseling services are provided by nursing homes and residential care communities while very few adult care centers are offered this kind of services. Likewise, therapeutics services are offered by mostly all home health agencies and nursing homes in the U.S. Majority of the adult day service centers in the U.S. are offered only therapeutic services. Pharmacy and pharmacist services are offered by nursing home and residential care communities in the U.S. while fewer adult care centers provided this kind of service. Moreover, hospice services are offered mostly by residential care communities while a small percentage (5.6%, CDC 2013) of home health agencies offered hospice services.The global market for long term care is witnessing a significant growth due to rapid increase of geriatric population worldwide. Moreover, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases also supported the market growth of global long term care. As an instance, people with 85 years of age or above are expected to reach 17.9 million by 2050 in the U.S. stated by U.S. Census Bureau in the year 2012. Moreover, extensive government support is the major factor for the market growth of long term cares in developed nations such the U.S. and U.K. For instance, Medicare and Medicaid is a national social insurance programme governed by the U.S. federal government which pays the major portion of long term care cost of an individual (CDC report 2013). Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also published that the long term care service cost of the U.S. in the year 2013 was around USD 210.9 billion.15 million people in the U.S. used long term care service in 2000 and it is expected to increase and reach 27 million by 2050 stated by Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. This is due to growth in older adult population, because long term care services increases with increase in age. Two third of the individual who has crossed 65 years of age need long term care for the rest of life in the U.S. stated by Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in 2013.North America and Europe are observed to be the largest long term care market due to growing geriatric population and extensive government support for long term care. Moreover, Asia - Pacific is considered as an emerging market due to strong economic growth forecasted in some Asian countries such as India, China, Japan and Malaysia.Obtain the Sample PDF Research Report for this Market at:Some of the major market players contributing in the global market share of long term care includes AARP Long Term Care, American General Life (AIG), Lincoln Financial Group, New York Life Insurance Company, State Farm Insurance, Thrivent For Lutherans and others.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Nerve Monitoring Devices Market Report Forecasts Strong Growth by 2024

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Global Nerve Monitoring Devices MarketNerve monitoring devices are various implements used to supervise the function of the nervous system during surgeries. Since neural function is absolutely vital and the risk of inadvertent damage to nerves during several surgeries is moderately high, nerve monitoring devices have gained widespread acceptance in recent years. Nerve monitoring devices monitor the integrity and ensure the continued function of a few key areas, in order to avoid irreparable nerve damage.Browse Complete Report Details of this Market at:The global nerve monitoring devices market is propelled by the increasing number of neural surgeries and the increasing geriatric population, among other factors. The report presents the expected qualitative and quantitative impact of the driving and restraining factors influencing the global nerve monitoring devices in the 20162024 forecast period, in addition to data on the competitive and commercial dynamics of the nerve monitoring devices industry.Global Nerve Monitoring Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe major driver of the nerve monitoring devices market is, naturally, the increased number of neural surgeries performed around the world. Due to advancements in our knowledge about the nervous system, increasingly complex neural surgeries can now be performed with near-absolute safety. This has led to a consequent rise in the demand for nerve monitoring devices.The rising geriatric population around the world is also a significant factor propelling the global nerve monitoring devices market. The elderly are more prone to nervous diseases than their younger counterparts, and the former are also more likely to require surgical interventions than the latter. Both these factors lead increased demand for nerve monitoring devices, since they are used in both neural and other surgeries that present a risk of nerve damage.Apart from these, the major driving factor propelling the global nerve monitoring devices market is increasing awareness among the global population. The broadening population pool of patients who can afford advanced medical treatments is also boosting the global nerve monitoring devices market.Global Nerve Monitoring Devices Market: Geographical OverviewThe global nerve monitoring devices market is led by North America. The increasing demand for neural surgeries in the region, the high purchasing power of patients in the region, and the firm establishment of major medical research avenues have been the primary drivers for the North America nerve monitoring devices market. The high geriatric population of the region has also helped the expansion of the nerve monitoring devices market.Europe was the second-largest market for nerve monitoring devices in 2015. Several governments in Europe have proactively encouraged medical research, which has boosted the neural surgery sector. The Europe and North America markets for nerve monitoring devices are also helped immensely by the heavy public health-care expenditure, as well as the presence of sufficient reimbursement schemes.In the coming years, though, the increasingly urbanized Asia Pacific market for nerve monitoring devices is expected to emerge as a major regional player in the global market. As health-care infrastructure spreads across developing economies such as China, India, and Japan, advanced medical procedures and devices will become easily available, driving the market for implements such as nerve monitoring devices.Obtain the Sample PDF Research Report for this Market at:Major players operating in the global nerve monitoring devices market include Medtronic, Nihon Kohden Corporation, Inomed, Dr. Langer Medical GmbH, EMS Biomedical, and Natus Medical Incorporated.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Streptococci Testing Market Opportunities and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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Streptococci Testing Market: OverviewStreptococcal infections are caused by a microorganism called Streptococcus which is a non-motile, microaerophilic, grampositive spherical bacterium. Several disease causing strains of the bacteria include streptococci (groups A, B, C, D, and G). Each group causes specific types of infections and symptoms. Group A strain of the bacteria are the most virulent species for humans and cause wound and skin infections, strep throat, scarlet fever, tonsillitis, blood infections (septicemia), pneumonia, Sydenham's chorea., rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis.Browse Complete Report Details of this Market at:Streptococci are known to originate from several natural sources, including humans and diverse animals. These bacteria often colonize on the mucosal surfaces of the mouth, nasal passages, intestinal tract, and pharynx. Moreover, the bacteria may also cause contamination of drinking water due to feces. Food products which are at high risk of contamination include milk and dairy products, steamed lobster, eggs, potato salad, ground ham, rice pudding custard, and shrimp salad. Some streptococci are commercially important for the production of cheese and yogurt, though are known to be potent pathogen.The bacteria species which do not cause any infection and are used in food industry include S. lactis, S. diacelillactis S. cremoris, and S. thermophilus, the latter being the most well-known. The factors affecting the incidences of sore throats (pharyngitis) include seasonal variation, patients age, and geography. Pharyngitis most of the times is bacterial, though can be viral. Children ranging from 5 to 15 years of age are most susceptible to the infection by group A strep during the winter or early spring season. Symptoms of this infection include stomach aches, headaches, vomiting, nausea, and listlessness.Streptococci Testing Market: Key SegmentsThe global streptococci testing market can be segmented based in tests type, end users and geography. Antibody tests include the antistreptolysin O titer (ASO), anti-DNase-B (ADB) test and Streptozyme. ASO test helps in determining a kidney disease glomerulonephritis, scarlet fever or rheumatic fever. ADB test is performed to determine a previous infection of a group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus. Streptozyme is a screening test used to detect antibodies to several streptococcal antigens. Diagnostic tests include throat culture and rapid antigen test. Diagnostic tests are used to confirm the infection where in the sample from the infected area is used as culture, a means of growing bacteria artificially in the laboratory.The cause of a sore throat is usually diagnosed on the basis of a physical exam and lab tests. A throat culture also known as strep test helps in detection of the presence of group A strain of streptococcal bacteria by using a throat swab. This strain is the most common cause of strep throat infection. Various other infections caused by these bacteria include pneumonia, meningitis and tonsillitis. Rapid antigen test can detect strep bacteria in minutes by looking for substances (antigens) in the throat. The rapid strep test detects the presence of a carbohydrate antigen which is unique to group A Streptococcus.The downside to the rapid test is that it cannot detect the presence of Group C and G which can also cause streptococcal pharyngitis. On positive rapid strep test, the treatment is started with appropriate antibiotics to prevent long-term damage and recurrence. End users segment include hospitals, private labs, physicians offices and public health labs. Geographically, the global streptococci testing market is segmented into four major regions namely, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World.Obtain the Sample PDF Research Report for this Market at:Streptococci Testing Market: Key PlayersThe key players contributing to Streptococci market include Abbott Diagnostics, Beckman Coulter, bioMerieux, DiaSorin, Hologic, Qiagen, Roche Diagnostics, Novartis Diagnostics, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Sigma Aldrich, and Thermo Fischer Scientific.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Gynecology Surgical Devices Market to See 3.17% Growth to 2021

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The Gynecology Surgical Devices market 2017 research offers a feasibility analysis for investment and returns supported with data on development trend analysis across important regions of the world.The Report analysts forecast the global Gynecology Surgical Devices market to grow at a CAGR of 3.17% during the period 2017-2021.Gynecology surgical devices are in high demand for conditions including excessive uterine bleeding, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and others. Some conditions are treated without any complications, whereas, some of the procedures involve complications. Several advanced devices and technologies are used to perform complex gynecological procedures. Different portable and disposable devices are available in gynecology and fertility centers.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEARequest a sample copy of Global Gynecology Surgical Devices Market Research Report @Global Gynecology Surgical Devices 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 vendorsCooperSurgicalHologicBoston ScientificIntuitive SurgicalKarl StorzThermo Fisher ScientificOther prominent vendorsACTEON GroupBDCarl Zeiss MeditecCONMEDEndotherapeuticsEthiconMedGyn ProductsMedtronicThe listed pricing for this Global Gynecology Surgical Devices Market report starts at $ 3500. Request Discount for Global Gynecology Surgical Devices Market Research Report @The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global gynecology surgical devices 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.Browse full table of contents and data tables For Global Gynecology Surgical Devices Market Report @Related Reports: -2017-2022 Japan Animal Genetics Market Report (Status and Outlook)The Animal Genetics 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
Oncology Information System Market: Emerging niche segments and regional markets

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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.Obtain Report Details: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.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.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report: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.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Aromaazinternational.com: An acclaimed name to find Natural Essential Oils online

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Aromaazinternational.com is a leading oils store that provides a wide range of Natural Essential Oils and other allied extracts from natural plants in the form of organic oils. Shop online & buy Pure Natural Essential Oils at an affordable price.New Delhi, Friday, April 14, 2017: As a renowned manufacturer and supplier, Aromaazinterantional.com is actively engaged in providing 100% pure and safe to use Natural Essential Oils @to consumers. Due to wide demand for these oils, the portal has successfully met the requirements of its customers by introducing newly discovered Organic Oils. The alluring properties of the offered oils have gained significant entrance in many industries for its wide application.Pure Natural Essential Oils offered by Aromaazinternational.com is extensively used to treat many disorders and health issues that might occur due to one or another reason. These are natural extracts from so do not cause any harm to the body when consumed or applied. Obtained from flowers, leaves, stems, roots, woods and various other parts of a plant, herb and perennial these oils are extracted by means of the steam-distillation process. Because of its natural property in treating health issues, Organic Natural Essential Oils are often used for aromatherapy, medicines and consumer goods & products such as soap, toothpaste, shampoo and others.While a discussion with the senior executive of the portal explained, Being a reliable name in the e-commerce business, we have successfully carved our niche by continuously delivering the best quality Natural Essential Oils essential to people who approached us. Today, it is really amazing to see that more and more people all over the globe are trying their level best to natural products and hence the demand for the same has increased drastically. Whether it is perfume, soap, cosmetic product, household cleaning or room freshener or any other relevant product, people prefer using it and it is accessible online at our portal at a reasonable price.On the portal one can get different types of Natural Essential Oils such as Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil, Orange Essential Oil, Angelica Root Essential Oil, Birch Essential Oil, Peppermint Essential Oil, Lemon Balm Essential Oil, Bergamot Essential Oil, Honeysuckle Essential Oil, Winter Savory Essential Oil, Aniseed Essential Oil, Dill Seed Essential Oil, Amyris Essential Oil, Coriander Essential Oil, Myrrh Essential Oil, Neem Essential Oil, Cumin Seed Essential Oil, Chypre Essential Oil, Fir Needle Essential Oil, Gurjun Essential Oil, Ho Wood Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, Mugwort Essential Oil, Petit Grain Essential Oil and others.We believe in fair business policies and customer satisfaction is our prime aim. Taking this into consideration, we are dedicatedly engaged in supplying and manufacturing Natural Essential Oils to our valued clients within the promised time. We have vast shipping network and this assists us in timely delivery of the ordered products at national as well as international level. The senior speaker of the portal added more to the conversation.The portal is widely accepted among consumers for its best quality Natural Essential Oils along with other associated oils such as Oleoresins, Natural Cosmetic Buffers, Therapeutic Massage Blends, Hydrosols, Spice Oils, Exotic Oil Dilution, Floral Absolute Oils, Carrier Oils & Base Oils, Natural Flower Oils, Traditional Indian Attar and Certified Organic Oils.About Us:Aromaazinternational.com has made its place in the global market as a renowned Wholesale Natural Essential Oil manufacturer and supplier. We offer Pure Natural Essential Oils and other allied relevant Oils from the portal in varying quantities to full fill their exact requirements. These oils are supplied to customers in an air-tight bottle so that natural fragrance of Oil is retained. Want to know more about Natural Essential Oils, please visit the website.Contact Us-Aromaaz International+91-9643342464sales@aromaazinternational.com
Architects will have five days to submit proposals for Trump's border wall

The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intends on issuing a solicitation in electronic format on or about March 6, 2017 for the design and build of several prototype wall structures in the vicinity of the United States border with Mexico.

The procurement will be conducted in two phases, the first requiring vendors to submit a concept paper of their prototype(s) by March 10, 2017, which will result in the evaluation and down select of offerors by March 20, 2017.



The second phase will require the down select of phase one offerors to submit proposals in response to the full RFP by March 24, 2017, which will include price. Multiple awards are contemplated by mid-April for this effort. An option for additional miles may be included in each contract award.

Thank you American Taxpayers.. LOL

US president Donald Trump is speeding ahead with his plans to build the controversial wall along the country's border with Mexico, with a deadline for prototype proposals set for early next month.Last week, the US Department of Homeland Security issued a notice outlining its intent to open calls for the design and construction of the border wall on 6 March 2017.The statement describes the project as the "design and build of several prototype wall structures in the vicinity of the United States border with Mexico".Those interested will then have a five-day window to submit their proposals, with the deadline on 10 March 2017. Contracts could be awarded as soon as mid-April.Read the presolicitation notice from the Federal Business Opportunities website below:Issued on 24 February 2017, the notice coincided with a speech that Trump made during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland.He told the crowd that construction of the wall would begin very soon. "It's way, way, way ahead of schedule," Trump said.Plans for the border wall formed a major part of Trump's presidential campaign and have proved controversial from the start.Architects and designers have reacted in a variety of ways, including suggestions for a Luis Barragan-inspired pink barrier, a series of landscaped features instead of a wall or fence, and a mock-up of an Ikea flat-pack kit as a cheap option.Earlier this month, the American Institute of Architects called for fair and impartial immigration policies in reaction to Trump's attempts to restrict travel to the US.The organisation initially pledged support for the president after his election win, but then apologised after a backlash from its members.
Rising Adoption of Cloud-based Services by SMBs Facilitating CASB Markets Growth at 16.7% CAGR

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According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research entitled Cloud Access Security Brokers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024, the cloud access security brokers (CASB) market was worth US$ 3,371.4 Mn in 2015 and is expected to reach US$ 13,218.5 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 16.7% from 2016 to 2024. North America was the largest market for cloud access security brokers in 2015. The growth in this region is being driven by the presence of a large number of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), start-ups, and large corporate enterprises.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @CASB services provide a security platform for cloud silos. A large number of SMBs and large corporates currently rely on cloud computing technologies to store their information and extract it whenever required. Security over the cloud is one of the major concerns facilitating the growth of cloud security solutions. CASB services play a significant role in providing solutions encompassing control & monitoring, risk & compliance management, tokenization, data leakage prevention, and cloud data encryption. These solutions are capable enough to provide complete cloud security, avoiding data leakage and the risk of security breaches at access points and nodes.The report provides cross-segment analysis of the CASB market, based on cloud deployment type and components comprising software and services. Segmentation on the basis of deployment type includes SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS. IaaS platforms are expected to emerge as the fastest-growing platforms, owing to their augmented IT delivery capabilities, increased scalability, and flexibility. However, the SaaS platform held the dominant position in terms of CASB cloud deployment type in 2015.Browse Market Research Report @Software solutions that are particularly used for data leakage prevention and control & monitoring held the largest market shares in 2015. Furthermore, these segments are growing at a significant pace owing to rising threat of security breaches. Frequently changing cloud regulations by governing bodies are making it difficult for cloud storage vendors to ensure compliance. This has enabled cloud storage vendors to outsource the security platform to the CASB providers, empowering the CASB risk & management compliance market to expand at an expected CAGR of 18% from 2016 to 2024. However, cloud data encryption is expected to be the fastest-growing software solution segment, expected to advance at the rate of 20.2% over the forecast period from 2016 to 2024.Geographically, North America is the largest market for CASBs and the region is anticipated to dominate the global CASB market over the forecast period. In 2015, North America accounted for approximately 30% of the global CASB markets revenue. Key players in the market include NetSkope Inc., Skyhigh Networks, CloudLock Inc., Zscaler, Inc., Adallom, Inc., Bitglass, Inc., CipherCloud Inc., and Protegrity USA, Inc.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business Contact.Contact Us :Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Integration of Latest Technologies into Existent Offerings to Mark Growth Strategy of Micro Irrigation Systems Manufacturers

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The presence of a large pool of participants characterizes the competitive landscape of the global micro irrigation systems market. As the market faces intense competition, major players are focusing on innovations as well as the integration of latest technologies into their existent offerings in order to retain their position, finds Transparency Market Research.In the recent times, a number of leading companies have introduced advanced micro irrigation systems. For instance, Netafim launched its next-generation low-flow drippers and Toro introduced Aqua-Traxx Flow Control drip tape in 0.13 GPH emitter flow rate. However, over the coming years, manufacturers will undertake strategic partnerships to expand their product portfolios as well as to increase their sales, notes TMR.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @Water Scarcity Provides Ground for Growth to Micro Irrigation SystemsMicro irrigation systems are widely recognized as one of the fast-emerging segments in the worldwide agriculture industry. The immense rise in the adoption of these systems is mainly attributed to the encouragement by various governments across the world.With water scarcity being a looming concern, micro irrigation can prove beneficial as it is capable of saving 50 to 60% of the ground water compared to other conventional irrigation practices. Consequently, governments in Asian and African countries, where water scarcity is severe, are offering subsidies over the installation costs of micro irrigation systems, prompting farmers to adopt these systems. Besides, farmers are also preferring micro irrigation systems over traditional ones as the former allow them to water plants evenly and when required, optimizing crop yields and improving their quality.Considering these factors, the future of the global micro irrigation systems market looks teeming with opportunities. However, the high cost associated with the installation and maintenance of these irrigation systems may limit their application to large-scale and corporate farming in the coming years.Sprinklers to Remain Dominant among Micro Irrigation Products, Europe to Lose Ground to Asia PacificAnalysts at TMR estimate the global opportunity in micro irrigation systems, which stood at US$2.6 bn in 2014, to expand at a CAGR of 15.10% during the period from 2015 to 2023 and possibly worth US$9.1 bn by the end of the forecast period.Browse Market Research Report @Currently, sprinklers dominate the market with a majority share and are expected to remain dominant in the near future. However, drip irrigation systems are poised to report their adoption at the fastest rate over the forecast period. While the demand for pumping units is the highest in the sprinkler segment, filters draw the maximum demand in the drip irrigation systems segment.Regionally, Europe led the global market with a revenue share of 32% in 2014. The region, however, will lose its ground to Asia Pacific in the coming years, thanks to the increasing involvement of technology in agriculture in countries such as Australia, China, India, and Japan.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business Contact.Contact Us :Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Digital Dose Inhaler Market: Current trends/opportunities/challenges

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Customer-centric health care systems and the development of new treatment regimens can potentially disrupt the entire health care system. Digital dose inhalers are commonly known as digihalers. Digital dose inhalers are the type of inhalers which enable patients to track the number of doses that have been consumed. This is expected to enable doctors to track prescribed therapy regime and patients adherence toward it.Generally, the number of medicine puffs in a standard inhaler is 120. The digital dose inhaler comes with a small screen to display the remaining puffs/doses discounting from 120. This feature is likely to help patients to remind them that they have taken medication or not. This technological advancement in the conventional and commonly used inhalers such as MDIs and DPIs is expected to take the respiratory devices market to a higher level in health care digitalization.The most preferred inhalers are metered dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers. The metered dose inhalers segment accounts for a large market share. The digital dry powder inhalers segment is expected to grow in the near future. These next generation digital dose inhalers provide accurate dose counter information as well as low dose warning indicator for asthma and COPD patients which serve as the major factor for pulling patient pool toward it. This in turn is driving the market.The global digital dose inhaler market is segmented on the basis of product type, application, and geography. On the basis of product type, the market is segmented as metered dose inhaler and dry powder inhaler. The metered dose inhaler segment is contributing a larger share in this market due to its convenience and non-breath-activated doses. Increase in geriatric population across the globe is expected to drive demand for digital dose inhaler devices as the risk of respiratory disease is higher among the geriatric population. Some digital dose inhalers can capture details such as the time and location during which the patient has used asthma medication, and this information is stored and wirelessly transmitted to a users smartphone or server. These systems use a combination of sensors, mobile apps, analytics, and individualized feedback.By application, the digital dose inhaler market is segmented into asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, and others. The asthma and COPD segments capture a significant share of the digital dose inhaler market. The chronic respiratory disorders such as asthma and COPD are becoming more prominent, causing disability and death with the increasing aging population. According to the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), COPD affects more than 200 million people and is projected to be the fourth leading cause of death in the world by 2030, while asthma affects about 235 million people worldwide. This increase in prevalence of respiratory diseases serves as a major driving factor for the market.Based on geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America and Europe are likely to dominate the market of digital dose inhaler. Rise in geriatric population and high per capita income are projected to propel the market in North America. Increase in adoption of personalized health technologies is one of the key factors driving the market of digital dose inhaler during the forecast period. It is followed by Europe, accounting for a large share of the market. Asia Pacific is the most progressive region for the digital dose inhaler market. The increase in health care awareness and per capita income are estimated to drive the market in Asia Pacific.Major players of the digital dose inhaler market are Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Novartis A/S, Propeller Health, AstraZeneca Plc, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and Philips Respironics.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
High Altitude Platforms Market to Rise at 8.7% CAGR from 2015 to 2023, National Security Concerns Drive Market

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According to a new market study published by Transparency Market Research, the global high altitude platforms market was valued at US$2.30 bn in 2014. Expanding at a CAGR of 8.7% between 2015 and 2023, the said market will reach a valuation of US$4.77 bn by 2023. The title of this report is High Altitude Platforms Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023 and it is available for sale on the companys website.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @High altitude platforms (HAPs) are structures equipped with various payloads for varied applications such as environmental monitoring, communication, surveillance, and navigation. HAPs are designed to stay in the air for long periods at altitudes above 50,000 feet. These are positioned in the stratosphere, which is at a much higher altitude than the atmospheric layer where commercial aircraft operate.In 2014, North America accounted for the largest share in the global HAPs market. This is primarily due to the high adoption of advanced tethered aerostat systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), mainly in the U.S. The region is expected to maintain its dominant position until the end of the forecast period. Asia Pacific will emerge as the fastest-growing market for HAPs displaying a CAGR of 10.0% from 2015 to 2023. The increasing expenditures on HAP-surveillance systems in India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia to strengthen national security will aid the markets growth. The increasing Internet penetration and escalating demand for high-speed mobile telephony is another significant factor boosting the development of the HAPs market in this region.According to the report, the competitive advantage of HAPs over satellite systems is the most significant factor driving the HAPs market. HAPs are operable at much lower maintenance costs than satellite systems. Moreover, the ease of control and less installation time as compared to satellite systems are the other advantages of HAPs.The application segments of this market are government and defense, commercial, and others. The government and defense segment contributes the highest revenue to the global market. Thus, hefty investments on HAPs for national security by countries such as China, the U.S., India, and Israel will contribute to the growth of the HAP market.Browse Market Research Report @On the basis of platform, tethered aerostat systems, UAV aircraft, and airships are the segments of this market. In 2014, UAVs held a share of more than 71% in the global market in terms of revenue. Price-wise, UAVs are the costliest HAPs and offer the largest coverage areas. Countries such as the U.S., Russia, France, China, Israel, and Turkey have deployed UAVs. Despite their high cost, these aircraft witness strong demand from the aforementioned countries thus will remain dominant until the end of the forecast period.By payload, communication, EO/IR imaging systems, surveillance systems, and navigation systems are the segments of the global HAPs market. Communication systems held a share of close to 38% in the global market in 2014.The global high altitude platforms market comprises several players. Some of them are: TCOM L.P., Raytheon Company, Lindstrand Technologies Ltd., Israel Aviation Industries Ltd., Worldwide Aeros Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Aerostar International Inc., ILC Dover LP., AeroVironment Inc., and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business Contact.Contact Us :Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Emphasis on Obtaining Clear Insights about Consumer Priorities to Drive Text Analytics Marke

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Rising focus of technological giants such as Microsoft, IBM, Google, and Apple towards improvement of text analytics techniques and principles has granted momentum to R&D activities in the field of text analytics in the past few years. And now, new and highly effective text analytics solutions are entering the market at a rapid pace and demand for effective solutions is soaring, notes Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a recent report.As the demand from consumers rises at a sustained pace and the influx of highly efficient text analytics solutions continues to remain swift, the global market for text analytics will witness development at a rapid pace in the years to come, points TMR. Some of the leading vendors in the global text analytics market are IBM Corporation, SAP SE, RapidMiner, Inc., Attensity Group, Inc., Lexalytics, Inc. Microsoft Corporation, and Angoss Software Corporation.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @Rising Popularity of Social Media Analytics to Drive MarketThe global text analytics market is majorly driven by the rising volumes of structured and unstructured text data across organizations, which is triggered primarily from a continuously rising user base on social media platforms, expanding web of the Internet, and the increased use of mobile communication devices. Rising awareness about the enormous value of text analytics principles in gaining an extensive understanding of consumer preferences, maturing technology, and improved computing power of computers are also encouraging the favorable development of text analytics market.Cloud-based Solutions to Gain Maximum ProminencePresently, on-premise text analytics solutions are the most preferred mode of deployment, with nearly 84% share in the global text analytics market in 2015. While most companies prefer on-premise solutions owing to the added security and safety they grant to business critical data, a large number of companies are considering cloud-based solutions owing to their flexibility and cost-competitive nature. The number of companies wanting to make this shift is rather large and vendors in the text analytics arena must tackle the opportunity on priority.While the market for on-premise text analytics solutions deployment will continue to lead the market in terms of revenues till 2024, a large number of medium- and small-sized companies will opt for cloud-based solutions. As a result, cloud will gain the most prominence and lead to the most lucrative returns in the years to come. TMR states that the cloud-based deployment segment will expand at the fastest CAGR of 20.2% from 2016 to 2024.Browse Market Research Report @North America and Europe Markets to Compete Fiercely for Top SpotRapid technological advancements, a major share of population active on social media platforms, and rapid growth of mobile technology have bolstered the demand for effective text analytics solutions in developed regions such as North America and Europe. Although the text analytics market in North America has an upper hand in terms of market valuation, it will witness significant competition from Europe in terms of overall pace of development of the market. Over the period between 2015 and 2024, North America text analytics market is expected to expand at a 17.8% CAGR, rising from a valuation of US$1.09 bn in 2016 to US$4.75 bn by 2024. During the same period, the market in Europe is expected to expand at a minutely lower 17.2% CAGR.Overall, the market for text analytics market will exhibit growth at a momentous pace across the entire globe as well from 2015 to 2024. The global market, which valued at US$2.82 bn in 2015, will exhibit a CAGR of 17.6% from 2016 to 2024, and rise to US$12.16 bn by 2024.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business Contact.Contact Us :Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Artificial Intelligence Market to Exhibit 36.10% CAGR from 2016 to 2024 Driven by Diversified Application to Enhance Productivity

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A new market research study, titled Artificial Intelligence Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024, has been recently published by Transparency Market Research and made available on the companys website. The research study talks about the global artificial intelligence market for , focusing on its key drivers, barriers, product segmentation, current trends, major geographical segments, opportunities and challenges, and competitive landscape. According to the research study, in 2015, the global market for artificial intelligence was worth US$126.24 bn and is projected to reach a value of US$3,061.35 bn by the end of 2024. The market is anticipated to exhibit an impressive 36.10% CAGR between 2016 and 2024.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @Artificial intelligence is an emerging technology that deals with the study and development of software and intelligent machines. The artificial intelligence technology is widely being used in diverse sectors as it offers in-build machines and software to operate like human beings, thereby allowing the devices to collect, analyze, and take decisions effectively. The increasing demand for artificial intelligence to enhance the productivity and improve customer satisfaction is a major factor estimated to drive the global market in the coming years. In addition, the growing applications of artificial intelligence is projected to propel the global artificial intelligence market.The global market for artificial intelligence has been categorized on the basis of product type into expert system, artificial neural network, automated robotic system, embedded system, and digital assistance system. In 2015, the expert system segment dominated the scene with a 44% share in the market. The digital assistance system segment is projected to grow rapidly in the coming years, due to the increased usage of portable computing devices such as tablets and smartphones across the globe. In addition, the rising accessibility of these devices with cost-effectiveness and advanced features is anticipated to fuel the growth of the digital assistance systems segment in the forecast period.Browse Market Research Report @Among the major application segments of the artificial intelligence market, in 2015, the deep learning segment led the market with a 21.6% share. This region is expected to remain in the topmost position throughout the forecast period, followed by the smart robots application segment. On the other hand, the image recognition segment is anticipated to grow at a fast pace due to developing technologies.By geography, the global market for artificial intelligence has been classified into Latin America, North America, the Middle East and Africa, Europe, and Asia Pacific. In 2015, North America dominated the market, accounting for a 38% share in the global market for artificial intelligence. This region is projected to remain in the leading position in the next few years owing to increased government funding. In addition, this region is considered to be a strong technological base, which is a key factor fueling the global artificial intelligence market. On the other hand, the Middle East and Africa is anticipated to register a promising 38.20% CAGR between 2016 and 2024. The rapid growth of this region can be attributed to the vast opportunities available in airport developments and several technological innovations such as robotic automation.The leading players operating in the global market for artificial intelligence include IBM Corporation, IntelliResponse Systems Inc., Nuance Communications, eGain Corporation, MicroStrategy Inc., Brighterion Inc., Google, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Next IT Corporation, and QlikTech International AB.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business Contact.Contact Us :Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Application Lifecycle Management Market to Reach US$4.4 bn by 2023, Increasing Demand for Mobile Communication Devices Drives Growth

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Transparency Market Research (TMR) has recently published a study on the global application lifecycle management market (ALM) and estimated the market to expand at a healthy CAGR of 8.90% during the period from 2015 and 2023.The research report, titled Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023, expects this market to increase from a value of US$2.04 bn in 2014 to US$4.4 bn by the end of the forecast period.Application lifecycle management (ALM) supervises the lifecycle of computer programs. It enables software development teams to manage their projects right from the initial planning to the retirement by providing governance, development, and maintenance of application software. In recent times, ALM solutions have gained acceptance in many industries such as automotive, medical healthcare, and BFSI, which has driven the growth of the global ALM market significantly.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @The report states that the increasing demand for smartphones, tablets, and other mobile communication devices across the world has been leading to the rising need for software applications, creating a massive requirement for ALM. On account of this, the market for ALM is likely to gain a significant impetus in the global arena over the forecast period.In this study, the worldwide market for ALM has been analyzed on the basis of the component, the end user, and the regional spread of this market. Based on the component, the market has been classified into ALM software and ALM service. In 2014, the ALM services segment led the overall market with a share of more than 55%. Consulting ALM, professional ALM, and operation and maintenance ALM are the main components of the ALM services market.Further, the report classifies the ALM software segment into on-premise ALM software and cloud-based ALM software. The cloud-based ALM software segment is projected to report the fastest CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period. The ability of cloud-based ALM software solutions to provide worldwide access to information and the processes involved in software development is likely to stimulate this market segment substantially in the near future.Based on the end user, the report segments the global application lifecycle management market into BFSI, healthcare, IT and telecom, aerospace and defense, energy and utilities, automotive and transportation, retail, and other end-use industries. In 2014, the demand for ALM solution was the highest from the IT and telecom industry. Analysts expect this trend to continue over the forecast period.Browse Market Research Report @Regionally, the report has classified this market into North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific is anticipated to register the highest growth in the overall ALM market during the forecast period, notes the study.IBM Corp., Microsoft Corp., Polarion Software GmbH, Atlassian Corp., Micro Focus International Plc, VersionOne Inc., Parasoft Corp., CollabNet Inc., Inflectra Corp., and HP Development Co. L.P. are the leading enterprises in the global ALM market, states the research report.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business Contact.Contact Us :Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Anesthesia Endotracheal Tubes Market: Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments

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Anesthesia endotracheal tube is a tube implanted in trachea to administer anesthesia, maintain the airway passage of lungs, prevent aspiration into the lungs, and allow mechanical ventilation. It also establishes the aspiration of secretions and anticipation of the pathway of extraneous material into the tracheobronchial tree. The endotracheal tube is of two types: orotracheal tube and nasotracheal tube. The orotracheal tube is rooted through the mouth, while the nasotracheal tube is rooted through the nose into the trachea. Both are used for anesthesia management.With the advancement of health care facilities and modern technologies, surgery of vital organs such as lungs has become easy. Anesthesia endotracheal tubes make it easy for the surgeons to sedate the patient and perform the surgical procedure. Also, these tubes are accepted and used by the patients of all age groups with breathing or lung problems. This is a major factor driving the market for anesthesia endotracheal tubes. Growing industrialization leading to rise in air pollution and habits such as smoking are responsible for increasing incidence of respiratory diseases. This can be considered as a factor propelling the anesthesia endotracheal tubes market. Rising incidence of other respiratory diseases, lung diseases, and breathing disorders also drives the market.Obtain Report Details:. Introduction of advanced technology in the medical field, which enables easy performing of critical surgeries and usage of high-quality consumables in the field are the recent trends in the global anesthesia endotracheal tubes market. However, availability of an increased number of alternative disposable devices and upcoming better options may act as a barrier for the anesthesia endotracheal tubes market. The anesthesia endotracheal tubes market has been segregated into organized and unorganized as well as global and regional players. The unorganized local market in developing countries may give a tough competition to the global players by maintaining high quality standards at reasonable pricing. The dealers in the developed market are targeting back with product innovations.Based on the product type, the global anesthesia endotracheal tubes market can be segmented into: orotracheal tubes and nasotracheal tubes. Orotracheal tubes are implanted in the patients trachea through the mouth. Nasotracheal tubes are implanted in the trachea through the nose. These tubes are employed in the cases wherein the patients mouth needs to be operated.Based on the end-user, the anesthesia endotracheal tubes market can be segmented into: hospitals & clinics and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs).High demand for home-based therapy and modernization in video laryngoscopes also drive the global anesthesia endotracheal tubes market. However, complications in the anesthesia delivery system, availability of a small number of skilled medical practitioners to perform critical surgeries with perfection, and growing preference to laryngeal masks over anesthesia endotracheal tubes are likely be major factors restraining the growth of the market during the forecast period.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report:Based on the geographical region, the anesthesia endotracheal tubes market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is a major market for anesthesia endotracheal tubes, due to respiratory disorder-prone lifestyle of people in the region and a large number of elderly population. Asia Pacific is an expanding market due to increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases in the region.Some players operating in the global anesthesia endotracheal tubes market are Medline Industries, Medtronic, C. R. Bard, ConvaTec, GE Healthcare, Smiths Medical, KindWell Medical, ROYAX, Fuji Systems, Teleflex, Neurovision Medical, and Intersurgical.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Automotive Carbon Ceramic Brake Rotors Market Rising at 17.52% CAGR During 2017-2021

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The Report analysts forecast the global Automotive Carbon Ceramic Brake Rotors market to grow at a CAGR of 17.52% during the period 2017-2021.A ceramic brake rotor is made of ceramic, which is an inorganic solid material. It is very hard yet light, stable, and water resistant. These rotors are one of the superior high-performance braking systems that are commercially available in the market. They help to overcome the drawbacks of iron brake rotors, offering optimum braking performance in sports, super sports, and heavy-duty vehicles.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEARequest a sample copy of Global Automotive Carbon Ceramic Brake Rotors Market Research Report @Global Automotive Carbon Ceramic Brake Rotors 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 vendorsBremboSGL GroupEBC BrakesSurface TransformsFusion BrakesOther prominent vendorsBaerRotoraWilwood EngineeringMarket driverPerformance and fuel efficiency benefits of carbon ceramic brake pads leading to increased adoptionFor a full, detailed list, view our reportThe listed pricing for this Global Automotive Carbon Ceramic Brake Rotors Market report starts at $ 3500. Request Discount for Global Automotive Carbon Ceramic Brake Rotors Market Research Report @Table of Contents in Global Automotive Carbon Ceramic Brake Rotors Market Research Report:PART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research MethodologyPART 04: IntroductionKey market highlightsValue chain analysisFive forces analysisPART 05: Market landscapeMarket overviewMarket size and forecastPART 06: Market segmentation by rotor typeMarket overviewBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Global Automotive Carbon Ceramic Brake Rotors Market Report @Related Reports: -2017-2022 Germany Automotive Heat Exchanger Market Report (Status and Outlook)The Automotive Heat Exchanger market size will be XX million (USD) in 2022 in Germany, 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
Improved Security is Key Feature Egging Banks and Vendors Towards Smart Cards

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Leading providers of smart cards technologies and solutions have developed strategies focused on contact, contactless, and dual-interface services, reports Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new study. The four leading players in this space  Gemalto NV, Infineon Technologies AG, NXP Semiconductors NV, and Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) GmbH  collectively hold major shares in all the keyregions relevant to the use of smart cards and smart card terminals.According to TMR, the smart cards market is highly competitive and has been consistently dominated by the above four players. However, companies are currently vying to maintain modern standards and implement smart card-based services and software as a part of their core business strategies.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @On the other side of the growth spectrum are new entrants such as Watchdata and Eastcompeace Technology Co., Ltd. that are improving stiff competition by introducing innovative solutions designed to fit the way users want to conduct transactions today.Improved Security Emerges as Most Wanted Smart Card Feature in BFSI and Retail IndustryConventional magnetic strip smart cards are currently extremely vulnerable to data theft threats due to the absence of proper encryption codes between the hacker and a users personal financial data. This is easily negated by smart cards, where the EMV chip-on-chip feature adds a high level of security to the users data.Additionally, the advent of NFC, IoT, net banking, and ecommerce have all contributed to the growing preference of smart cards across the world. The use of NFC and IoT is contributing vastly to the more efficient implementation of smart cards, while the booming ecommerce industry is making it imperative for banks to employ stronger security measures against data theft.EMV chips are rapidly becoming the global standard for user financial access and transactions. They offer a safer way for users to perform all transactions in the modern scenario of possible threats to data and the protective measures that can be taken.High Adoption Cost Continues to Make Vendors Hesitate from Smart Card TechA large percentage of consumers still use magnetic strip cards for their daily transactions, states a TMR analyst. The U.S., for instance, had delayed their nationwide adoption of EMV smart cards, allowing a longer window of time for hackers and fraudsters to gain access to all the information stored in a users magnetic strip card. Currently, about 130 countries are officially implementing the use of smart cards and replacing magnetic strip cards.The problem that applies especially to traders and banks in developing nations is the high implementation cost associated with smart card technologies. From the perspective of traders and vendors, the high initial cost of installing EMV terminals is not worth it until they receive a confirmation from major banks over the use of smart cards on a large scale. Until then, they will stick to magnetic strip card terminals. At the same time, banks were pushing the responsibility on to the vendors, claiming that they cannot distribute smart cards until there are enough terminals for users.Browse Market Research Report @Most of these complications are being addressed currently, such as shifting the liability of adoption from banks to vendors and lowering the cost of terminals and cards through government incentives and using efficient production means. However, nations from Asia Pacific and Latin America still have large percentages of consumers using magnetic strip cards, still maintaining the risk of theft at a high level.Contact Smart Cards Will Retain Leading Market Revenue ShareThe global smart cards revenue generation is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.4% within a forecast period from 2016 to 2023. This market is expected to be valued at US$8.5 bn by the end of 2016 and US$14.1 bn by the end of 2023.Contactless smart cards are expected to expand at a CAGR of 11.5% from 2016 to 2023 in terms of revenue. They form the fastest-growing segment in terms of type. Contact smart cards will still manage to be the top grossing segment for the same forecast period, and is expected to reach US$7.7 bn by 2023.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business Contact.Contact Us :Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
PLATTSMOUTH  Plattsmouth Elementary School students received permission to twist and shout on Thursday during a pep rally for taking tests.

PES students gathered in the gym for a Rock the Test assembly during the afternoon. The event featured appearances from Plattsmouth High School band members, a dancing game and many other activities.

School officials wanted to create a fun way for students to learn about the upcoming Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) tests. NeSA tests focus on the subjects of English language arts, math and science. Local and state officials use scores from the exams to develop curriculum topics for schools. The assessments are also one portion of state-based evaluations for individual school buildings.

NeSA testing is scheduled to take place on many dates on Plattsmouths school calendar. The calendar lists generic testing on April 17-20. Fourth-grade students will take math assessments April 24-25 and third-grade pupils will take math exams April 26-27.

Plattsmouth teachers and staff members highlighted the Rock the Test theme on Thursday by dressing up in rock-styled clothes. PHS marching band, drumline and flag corps members performed several songs in the gym for elementary students. Children also listened to a song with lyrics that talked about the importance of trying hard on the tests.
Global yacht battery market to grow at a CAGR of 2.54% during the period 2017-2021

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MarketResearchReports.Biz presents this most up-to-date research on "Global Yacht Battery Market 2017-2021"DescriptionYachts are recreational boats designed with luxury amenities, and are purchased by individuals belonging to the high-income group. Yachts with a length greater than 24 feet are known as luxury yachts, superyachts, mega yachts, or large yachts. They are segmented based on size and propulsion, and are largely used for recreational purposes. The global yacht battery market is mainly driven by the increase in sales of leisure boats due to the rising popularity of boat shows in the US, Europe, and ROW. Leisure boat sales in the US is estimated to increase with the recovering economy. With the increase in disposable income in households, customers in the US are replacing their leisure boats.Technavios analysts forecast the global yacht battery market to grow at a CAGR of 2.54% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global yacht battery market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the number of yachts sold.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:EuropeROWUSTechnavio's report, Global Yacht Battery 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 vendorsSaftExide TechnologiesGS YuasaMarket driverGrowth of boating industryFor a full, detailed list, view our reportDownload Sample Copy of This Report at:Market challengeIncreasing sales of pre-owned boatsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendAGM batteries replacing lead-acid batteriesFor 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?Browse Latest Industry Press Release at:About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports.MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients.We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated researchreports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and typesof companies spanning across various industries.ContactState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.bizFollow us on LinkedIn:
Smart Cities in Latin America: Smart Grids and Big Data Create Opportunities for Telcos to Capitalize from Smart City Projects

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ALBANY, NY, April 14, 2017 : "Smart Cities in Latin America: Smart Grids and Big Data Create Opportunities for Telcos to Capitalize from Smart City Projects", a new Telecom Insider Report by GlobalData, provides an executive-level overview of the smart city market in Latin America. It delivers deep qualitative insight into the smart city market, analyzing key trends and smart city projects being implemented in the region, and the main smart city value chain and ecosystem dynamics in the region.Around the globe the percentage of urban population is growing rapidly, with Latin America being the region with the second biggest share of people living in cities. The growth of big urban centers is also on the rise, creating immense pressure on cities and their facilities and public services.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @It provides in-depth analysis of the following -- Smart cities in the global context; a look at smart city context worldwide and analysis of the smart city value-chain and the role of telcos;- Situation of smart cities in Latin America; an overview on the main city challenges in Latin America and how this is driving smart city investments, and also an analysis of the telcos' role within Latin America smart cities' projects;- Smart city case studies; this section details the business model and strategy of smart city projects from Latin Americas five biggest economies;- Key findings and recommendations; the Insider concludes with a number of key findings and a set of recommendations for smart city stakeholders, including telecom service providers.Scope- The rapid evolution of big data, IoT and access technology is opening the door to create many services. The widespread use of sensors across a city is becoming increasingly affordable and easy to implement, supporting faster smart city development.- Within the safety vertical there is also a lot of investment, most importantly in smart surveillance systems. Solutions include centralized command centers overlooking a wide network of surveillance cameras, many of which capable of automatically recognizing danger situations.- In general smart cities are being led and coordinated by local government authorities, which develop projects in partnership with solution providers. Telecom service providers in general act as the provider of connectivity services, however, in some cases telcos have provided integrated solutions or even been the project leader.Table of ContentsList of exhibits 6Executive Summary 8Section 1: Introduction and global context of smart cities 10Section 1, Defining a Smart City 11Section 1, Elements of a Smart City 12Section 1, Demographic pressures create Smart City urgency 13Section 1, Smart City projects grow in variety around the globe 14Section 1, Widespread use of technology is a Smart City enabler 15Section 1, Access technology developments are also a vital enabler 16Section 1, Smart City value-chain and the role of telcos 17Section 2: Smart city situation in Latin America 18Make An enquiry @Section 2, The soaring growth of Latin American urban centers 19Section 2, Specificities of Latin American urban centers 20Section 2, Connectivity projects as a smart citys foundation 21Section 2, Mobility issues partially being met by BRT systems 22Section 2, Smart tech and city planning enhancing security 23Section 2, ICT to benefit public service efficiency and proximity 24Section 2, Smart lighting to help short-term sustainability goals 25Section 2, Stakeholders in Latin American Smart Cities 26Section 2, Telcos role within Latin American Smart Cities 27ResearchMoz 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
Next-Generation Technologies : Executive-Level Overview of the Telecommunications market in the US 2017

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ALBANY, NY, April 14, 2017 : "US: Competition for Data Services to Intensify as Operators Continue to Invest in Next-Generation Technologies", a new Country Intelligence Report by GlobalData, provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in the US 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.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The telecom services revenue in the US is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 1.2% during 2016-2021, driven by growth in fixed broadband and mobile data revenue. Mobile data will continue to remain the largest revenue-contributing segment through 2021 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% during 2016-2021, majorily driven by operators' investments in 4G network expansions and attractive data packages to stimulate data adoption. Going forward, operators are focusing on leveraging new technologies such as NG-PON2, DOCSIS 3.1 to offer high-speed network access to their customers and boost broadband penetration. Operators are offering richer content and bundled plans to drive pay-TV adoption. Over the next five years, operators should seize opportunities from the growing demand for data services by focusing on promotional data plans and high-quality services including video offerings. Investments in LTE, fiber and next-generation technologies are expected to expand new revenue streams for operators including IoT, M2M and cloud services.The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following -- Regional context: telecom market size and trends in the US compared with other countries in the region.- Economic, demographic and political context in the US.- 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 US telecommunications markets.Scope- The overall telecom service revenue in the US will grow at a CAGR of 1.2% during 2016-2021, mainly driven by growth in the mobile data segment.- Mobile revenue will account for 46.2% of total telecom revenue in 2021; mobile data will be the major contributing segment over 2016-2021.- 4G will be the most adopted mobile technology through 2021, as operators continue to focus on expanding their 4G/LTE, LTE-A network coverage and deployment of advanced technologies to deliver faster Internet speeds.- The top two operators, AT&T and Verizon, accounted for 47.2% share of overall service revenue in 2016.- Operators will continue to shift their focus toward connected devices and expanding their stand-alone service business into new business models, such as mobile video, to increase revenue and fuel growth. Moreover, operators are focusing on development and testing of advanced technologies to support 5G deployment in the near future.Make An Enquiry @Reasons to buy- This Country Intelligence Report offers a thorough, forward-looking analysis of the US telecommunications market, service providers and key opportunities in a concise format to help executives build proactive and profitable growth strategies.- Accompanying GlobalDatas Forecast products, the report examines the assumptions and drivers behind ongoing and upcoming trends in the US mobile communications, fixed telephony and 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 the US telecommunications market.- 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 the US.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
Barite Market,Industry Analysis, Report, Trends, Forecast 2016 - 2024

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Global Barite Market size is expected to witness significant growth, registering a CAGR close to 4% in the forecast period.The Barite Market growth is negatively influenced in the recent years due to stringent rules governments regulations which involves constant interference in the product manufacturing process.In addition, stringent norms regarding mining operations across the globe may hamper the Global Barite Market size by 2024.Detailed table of contents of this research report@Barite, chemical name BaSO4 (baryte), is a product containing mineral sulphate. The total barite reserve all over the globe is approximately 2 billion tons, though, only 730 million tons is considered for useful purposes.The product in the cement industry used as radiation shielding mineral and the persistent growth of construction industry, due to heavy investment flowing to uplift infrastructure in countries all over the world, will be driving the global barite market size by 2024.In addition, the product used in the other industries including electronics, glass and ceramic.Asia Pacific was the major Barite Market share contributor in 2015. India and China are the prime product manufacturers which substantially contribute towards regional industry growth.Another factor propelling the product demand in this region is increasing oil & gas consumption along with huge demand for paints and plastics from countries including China, India and Thailand.Latin America is forecast to witness prominent gains over the estimated timeframe. Increased demand for paints & coatings due elevating construction industry in the region, which are on a surge in countries including Mexico and Brazil, will boost the regional barite market share by 2024.Increase in production of consumer goods such as LED televisions and computers, particularly in China and Taiwan is likely to accelerate the product demand in Asia Pacific in the coming years.Inquire about to purchase this research report@In case of North America, U.S led the regional barite market share in 2015. Prevalence of massive oil & gas industry in the region, creates ample opportunity towards industry growth in the near future.The key players operating in the barite market share are CMS Industries, Shijiazhuang Oushun Mineral Products Company Limited, V&P Corporation, Shanghai Titanos Industry Company Limited, Halliburton Company, Mil-Spec Industries Corporation, P&S Barite Mining Company Limited, CIMBAR Performance Minerals, Excalibar Minerals LLC, Anglo Pacific Minerals, Kaomin Industries, Ashapura MineChem Limited, International Earth Products LLC and Desku Group Inc.About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:
Plasticizer Market Trends 2016-2024, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook

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Global Plasticizer Market size is estimated to grow at a steady rate from 2016 to 2024. Rising demand for PVC products, robust growth in automotive sector, urbanization and infrastructural growth and high demand for consumer products will be the major drivers for the plasticizer market in the future.Plasticizers are additives that increase a materials viscosity and plasticity and are usually combined with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or other polymers to impart unique properties. Growing demand for PVC products and expanding automotive industry will boost the market in the coming years. PVC is the third most widely produced polymer in the world and global PVC market was valued at around USD 5 Billion in 2016 and will grow at a moderate rate till 2024. The growth in the PVC market will augment the products market due to the its extensive use in PVC manufacturing.Detailed table of contents of this research report@Growing automobiles demand and sales worldwide will boost the market owing to the products use in tire manufacturing. Global tire demand in 2015 was more than 2000 million units and is expected to rise further till 2024 which will influence the market positively. Research on bio-based plasticizers which are biodegradable and environment friendly will likely open growth opportunities for the product in the near future.By product, global plasticizer market is segmented into the following categories  phthalates, aliphatics, terephthalates, trimellitates, polymerics, epoxy, phosphates and others. Phthalates accounted for major share of the market in 2015. Market share of terephthalates, epoxy and aliphatics is expected to rise at a moderate rate due to its use as a replacement to phthalates in many countries.By application, global plasticizer market is segmented into six categories viz. floors & walls, coverings for films and sheets, wires & cables, consumer goods, coated fabrics and others. The products application in floors and walls has a substantial share in its global consumption in 2016 due to its use as a concrete additive.Inquire about to purchase this research report@The product is also used extensively for coverings owing to its properties such as viscosity reducers, low volatile organic compounds and fast fusers. Plasticizers will be mostly used for these two categories of applications in the forecast period due to increasing preference of customers for new designs in coverings and floor walls in their buildings.By end users, global plasticizer market can be segmented in the following categories  construction & remodeling, electronics & communication, automobile and tire industry, medical & healthcare and others. Among these, the products usage in the construction & remodeling industry has a substantial share and is expected to drive the market in the forecast period. Its use in electronics & communication, automobiles and healthcare industries will also influence the market in a positive way.By region, global plasticizer market is divided into five segments viz. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. Asia Pacific has been the leading market for plasticizers, both in terms of production and consumption, due to improved economic condition and increasing infrastructural development and is expected to retain this position owing to the presence of many end user industries in this region It is followed by North America and Europe where the market is expected to grow at a slow pace in the forecast period because both the markets are well established and mature having only a limited potential for growth.Browse complete summary of this report @The key players in the global plasticizer market are  BASF, Dow chemicals, ExxonMobil, Evonik Industries, Arkema, Eastman Chemicals, Clariant International, Adeka, UPC Group, Blue sail Chemical Group and Aekyung Petrochemical.About Global Market Insights, Inc.Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact UsArun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1 888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:
Global Adaptive Optics Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022

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This report studies the global Adaptive Optics market, analyzes and researches the Adaptive Optics development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeNorthrop Grumman CorporationIris AO, IncHoloeye Photonics AGAdaptica s.r.lHamamatsu Photonics K.KBoston Micromachines CorpBaker Adaptive OpticsAgilOptics, IncEOS TechnologiesCILASGet sample report @Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, Adaptive Optics can be split intoModulatorsSensorsControl SystemsMarket segment by Application, Adaptive Optics can be split intoAstronomyConsumer ElectronicsHealthcare & BiomedicalMilitary & DefenceCommunicationBrowse full table of contents and data tables of Report @Table of ContentsGlobal Adaptive Optics Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Adaptive Optics1.1 Adaptive Optics Market Overview1.1.1 Adaptive Optics Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Adaptive Optics 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 Adaptive Optics Market by Type1.3.1 Modulators1.3.2 Sensors1.3.3 Control Systems1.4 Adaptive Optics Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Astronomy1.4.2 Consumer Electronics1.4.3 Healthcare & Biomedical1.4.4 Military & Defence1.4.5 Communication2 Global Adaptive Optics Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Adaptive Optics Market Size (Value) by Players (2016 and 2017)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Northrop Grumman Corporation3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Adaptive Optics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Iris AO, Inc3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Adaptive Optics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Holoeye Photonics AG3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Adaptive Optics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Adaptica s.r.l3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Adaptive Optics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 Hamamatsu Photonics K.K3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Adaptive Optics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Boston Micromachines Corp3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Adaptive Optics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 Baker Adaptive Optics3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Adaptive Optics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 AgilOptics, Inc3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Adaptive Optics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 EOS Technologies3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Adaptive Optics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.9.5 Recent Developments3.10 CILAS3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Adaptive Optics Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.10.5 Recent Developments4 Global Adaptive Optics Market Size by Type and Application (2012-2017)4.1 Global Adaptive Optics Market Size by Type (2012-2017)4.2 Global Adaptive Optics Market Size by Application (2012-2017)4.3 Potential Application of Adaptive Optics in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Adaptive OpticsAbout 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 Cold Pressed Juices Industry 2017 Annual Growth Value, Market Trends, Developments & Opportunities : Hain ,BluePrint,Evolution Fresh,Suja ,Liquiteria

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Cold Pressed Juices Sales Market Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.The Cold Pressed Juices 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 Cold Pressed Juices 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 Cold Pressed Juices 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 Download Sample Report With TOC: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 Cold Pressed Juices 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 Cold Pressed Juices 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.Table of Contents1 Cold Pressed Juices Market Overview11.1 Product Overview and Scope of Cold Pressed Juices11.2 Cold Pressed Juices Segment by Types21.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Cold Pressed Juices by Types in 201621.2.2 Cold Pressed Fruits Juices21.2.3 Cold Pressed Vegetables Juices31.2.4 Cold Pressed Mixed Juices41.3 Cold Pressed Juices Segment by Applications41.3.1 Cold Pressed Juices Consumption Market Share by Applications in 201641.3.2 Woman61.3.3 Man71.4 Cold Pressed Juices Market by Regions81.4.1 USA Status and Prospect (2012-2023)81.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2012-2023)91.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2023)101.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2023)111.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2023)121.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2012-2023)131.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Cold Pressed Juices (2012-2023)14Browse Complete Report with TOC @2 Global Cold Pressed Juices Market Competition by Manufacturers152.1 Global Cold Pressed Juices Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)152.2 Global Cold Pressed Juices Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)172.3 Global Cold Pressed Juices Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)202.4 Manufacturers Cold Pressed Juices Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types222.5 Cold Pressed Juices Market Competitive Situation and Trends232.5.1 Cold Pressed Juices Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers232.5.2 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion243 Global Cold Pressed Juices Production, Revenue (Value) by Regions (2012-2017)253.1 Global Cold Pressed Juices Production and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)253.2 Global Cold Pressed Juices Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)263.3 Global Cold Pressed Juices Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)283.4 USA Cold Pressed Juices Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)293.5 Europe Cold Pressed Juices Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)293.6 China Cold Pressed Juices Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)303.7 Japan Cold Pressed Juices Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)303.8 Southeast Asia Cold Pressed Juices Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)313.9 India Cold Pressed Juices Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)314 Global Cold Pressed Juices Consumption by Regions (2012-2017)325 Global Cold Pressed Juices Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Types345.1 Global Cold Pressed Juices Production and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)345.2 Global Cold Pressed Juices Revenue and Market Share by Types (2012-2017)355.3 Global Cold Pressed Juices Price by Type (2012-2017)365.4 Global Cold Pressed Juices Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)376 Global Cold Pressed Juices Market Analysis by Applications386.1 Global Cold Pressed Juices Consumption and Market Share by Applications (2012-2017)386.2 Global Cold Pressed Juices Consumption Growth Rate by Applications (2012-2017)407 Global Cold Pressed Juices Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis41Read More @QYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States
Bioresorbable Polymers Market Trends and Global Forecast to 2027

Polymer

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Globally, the market for Bioresorable Polymers is increasing rapidly owing to rapid growth in health care sector; most of todays generations avoid surgeries and prefer Bioresorbable Polymers Controlled drug delivery matrix is implanted in their body and growing health care sector is another reason for the boost of Bioresorable Polymers market. Globally the market is expected to grow at CAGRSegmentsThe market for bioresorbable polymers is segmented on the basis of types and applications; by types the bioresorbable polymers market is segmented as Polysaccharides, Proteins, Polylactic Acid, Polyglycolic Acid and Polycaprolactone. Moreover, on the basis of applications the bioresorbable polymers market is segmented as drug delivery and orthopedicsStudy Objectives of Bioresorbable PolymersTo provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 10 years of various segments and sub-segments of the Bioresorbable polymers market.To provide insights about factors affecting the market growthTo Analyze the Bioresorbable polymers market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc.To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW).To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospectiveTo provide country level analysis of the market for segment by types and applicationTo provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market.To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Bioresorbable polymers marketRequest a Sample @Regional Analysis of Bioresorbable PolymersAsia pacific is the fastest growing market for Bioresorbable polymers with the largest market share, accounting for million and is expected to grow over million by 2027, North-America dominated the market for Bioresorbable polymers and are expected to grow at CAGR of respectively from 2016 to 2027Key PlayersCorbion N.VEvonik Industries AgPoly-Med and Foster CorporationEvonik Industries AgNorth AmericaUSCanadaMexicoEuropeGermanyFranceItalySpainU.KRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanAustraliaRest of Asia-PacificRoWLatin AmericaMiddle EastAfricaThe report for Bioresorbable polymers of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regionsAccess This report@About Market Research FutureAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important 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.At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Market Drivers, Trends and Opportunities Forecasts from 2017 to 2022

Pleurotus Ostreatus Market

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Executive SummaryPleurotus Ostreatus 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 Pleurotus Ostreatus 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 Pleurotus Ostreatus in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Pleurotus Ostreatus market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingTraveler Produce LLCRich Year FarmMycoterra FarmPhillips Mushroom FarmsFarming FungiLauretta VenturesCayuga Mushroom FarmGanoFarm Sdn BhdFungaia FarmOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoFood Grade Pleurotus OstreatusDrug Grade Pleurotus OstreatusOn 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 Pleurotus Ostreatus for each application, includingEdibleMedicinalIf 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 Pleurotus Ostreatus Market Research Report 20171 Pleurotus Ostreatus Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Pleurotus Ostreatus1.2 Pleurotus Ostreatus Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Food Grade Pleurotus Ostreatus1.2.4 Drug Grade Pleurotus Ostreatus1.3 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Segment by Application1.3.1 Pleurotus Ostreatus Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Edible1.3.3 Medicinal1.4 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus 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 Pleurotus Ostreatus (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Pleurotus Ostreatus Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Pleurotus Ostreatus Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Pleurotus Ostreatus Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Pleurotus Ostreatus Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Pleurotus Ostreatus Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Pleurotus Ostreatus Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Pleurotus Ostreatus Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan Pleurotus Ostreatus Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Southeast Asia Pleurotus Ostreatus Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 India Pleurotus Ostreatus Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)5 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Pleurotus Ostreatus 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
Canisters Market Present Scenario and Growth Prospects to 2027

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/canisters-market

The global pharmaceutical packaging market is expected to grow with a CAGR of more than 7% during the forecasted period. Among various pharmaceuticals packaging types such as pillow pak, unit pak, vials among others, canisters are growing on a growing demand. The major reason of such a wide acceptance of Canisters in pharmaceutical packaging is its rigid structure and also it is easy to keep and maintain which is becoming the major reason of its acceptance in household sectors.Sample Report @Desiccant canisters are small, rigid, cylindrical containers filled with desiccant materials such as clay, silica gel, activated carbon, aimed at absorbing moisture and controlling odors. It is a plastic container made up of Polyethylene material. Due to their rigid design, desiccant canisters are ideal for automatic, high-speed insertion in pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical bottles and packaging. While desiccant packets are fed from a reel and require constant line stoppages, these are fed through a hopper system, allowing for seamless, constant insertion.These desiccant canisters are considered non-toxic. In addition, these canisters are FDA CFR 21 approved and considered safe to use in direct contact with food or pharmaceuticals.Global Canisters Market Report: ApplicationCanisters are being used in various applications such as Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals, chemicals, retail industries. Various industries use canisters on the basis of its configuration. For instance, pharmaceuticals use canisters of configuration 0.5-1 gm. on major basis whereas chemicals are using 1 gm. - 2gm. canisters mostly. Other packaging types such as syringes and vials are being used by diagnostic market.Global Canisters Market Report: Market InfluencerThe major growth factors of Global Canisters Market include rise in contract manufacturing, the flourishing pharmaceutical industry, and the rising awareness about the benefits of canisters among global consumers. The global pharmaceutical packaging market is also expected to benefit from technological advancements such as the introduction of Nano-enabled packaging, the packaging type that currently provides the most enhanced barrier properties against moisture, light, and mechanical forces.However, Availability of raw materials and price volatility coupled with changing health regulations are the major deterrents which is curbing the growth of this market.Global Canisters Market Report: Market SegmentationThe Global Canisters Market can be segmented into its configuration, applications and end-users.Global Canisters Market by Configuration: 5 gm.  1 gm. 1 gm.  2 gm. 2 gm. - 3gm. 3 gm. and above OthersGlobal Canisters Market by Applications: Pharmaceuticals packaging Nutraceuticals packaging Diagnostic packaging OthersGlobal Canisters Market by End-users: Automotive Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Domestic Chemicals Retail industries OthersGlobal Canisters Market Report: Regional AnalysisThe regional analysis includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and rest of the world.Plastic is the most preferred packaging material as it is available in a variety of grades, has significant barrier properties, is chemically inert, and can be used to create attractive packages with esthetic appeal, which helps in the marketing and promotional activities for the drug. The grades of plastic used for packaging include PE, PP, polyolefin, PET, and PVC. Canisters are also developed from Polyethylene material.North America:North- America is dominating the Canisters Market followed by Europe and Asia-pacific regions. Factors such as advancement in manufacturing processes and technological innovation, growing demand for drug delivery devices & blister packaging, contribution of nanotechnology to the pharmaceutical packaging market, and implementation of new health law in the U.S. are driving the growth of the market. US is the leader market amongst other countries such as Canada, Mexico among others.Asia-Pacific:Asia-Pacific is the emerging market in the Global canisters Market. The increasing small and large pharmaceutical packaging industries, rising awareness among consumers and government initiatives such as Make-In-India campaign started by Indian government is driving the growth of Canisters market in India. Australia, China are also showing good opportunities in the forecasted period.Browse Report @Global Canisters Market Report: Key PlayersSome of the major market players of Global Canisters Market are as follows: Zibo Uni-Shine Industry Co., Ltd. , swastika international co, Electrolux Group, Stanley Black & Decker, Dyson Ltd., Oreck Corporation, TTI Floor Care, Miele, Eureka Forbes Ltd, and Haier Group, Clariant, Sanner GmbH, Ashirwad chemicals among others.Global Canisters Market Report: Latest TrendsClariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, today announced in year 2015 its plans to invest CHF 10 million in a new Healthcare Packaging manufacturing plant in Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu State, located about 25 km from the city of Pondicherry. The plant will manufacture Clariant's market-leading moisture control products to support the growing pharmaceutical packaging market in India.The report on Canisters Market comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance.This report will provide the clear picture of current market scenario of Canisters Market globally as well as the country level markets. The report also provides the information about Canisters packets available in different configuration, and it also deliver details information about its various applications. It will also depict detailed information about companies with their market dynamics involved in manufacturing of Canisters.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
One woman raised her hand to share her 40-year secret, something even her 46-year-old son doesn't know. Another spoke up to say she feared that God would no longer love her. A third wept in the back of the room, quietly grieving for those around her.

They were among the dozens of people who gathered on a February evening in a Seattle church parlor to hear from the Rev. Susan Chorley.

The Boston-area pastor had come to talk about abortion -- her abortion.

By speaking about a subject so many deem unspeakable, she'd empowered others to come forward. She says it's always this way.

Chorley, 44, bared her soul about the gut-wrenching choice she never thought she'd have to make. She was a stressed-out new pastor with a 2-year-old son and a crumbling marriage when she had her abortion a dozen years ago.

Far more painful than the procedure, she says, was the isolation she felt afterward. A woman in the ministry who feared being cast out, she suffered in silence.

Not anymore.

Since June, Chorley has been visiting churches across the country to share her story. It's part of a recent effort by a group she helped found years ago to support women and men after abortions.

Called Exhale, the group creates safe spaces to talk about abortion without letting politics intrude.

It's a "pro-voice" philosophy that shuns the "pro-choice" and "pro-life" labels society foists on this hot-button issue. Instead, it encourages compassionate listening and storytelling through various efforts -- including a free and anonymous talkline, the sharing of a viral TED Talk, a 2015 book and Chorley's tour of churches. A documentary film about the mission, "Navigating the Divide," is also nearing completion.

"We try to put people in boxes, and it hasn't gotten us anywhere. It's just caused this huge divide," Chorley said. Whether we like it or not, "abortion is happening among us, and it's time we looked at it and talked about it."

In the middle of a war

Chorley was attending seminary in Berkeley, California, years ago when she met a woman who wasn't afraid to speak up.

At a class for rape hotline volunteers, Aspen Baker said something that left Chorley gobsmacked.

"She said, 'I had an abortion, and I'd like to start a talkline. I'm here to learn how,' " Chorley remembered. "I had never heard someone say that."

Chorley had a similar dream; she imagined building a ministry to help women tell stories people don't want to hear. She was immediately on board.

Along with a few others, the pair helped found Exhale in Oakland, where it is still based. Chorley is on the board of directors; Baker serves as the executive director.

Now 41, married and the mother of a 2-year-old boy, Baker was 24 when she had her abortion.

She was "born in a trailer on the third anniversary of Roe v. Wade" and grew up in Southern California "in the middle of the abortion wars."

She was raised in a Christian community, which she described as "conservative but also very compassionate," and didn't believe that it was anyone's job to tell others what to do with their lives when it came to abortion. But she also knew she'd never have one herself.

And then she found herself pregnant. She was a recent college grad in a new relationship, and what had seemed such an obvious choice in theory felt profoundly different in practice. The decision to have an abortion threw her into a moral crisis about who she was and what she valued.

After the procedure, she assumed the clinic would offer a resource for emotional support, but it didn't. So she was left to search for help on her own. Anti-abortion religious support services were readily available, but she couldn't find anything that was politically neutral.

"I'd had a naive perspective of the world about the kind of choices you face in life. They're not always simple," she said. "Those overarching values that I originally learned from being Christian -- acceptance, love ... and forgiveness -- those things need to be practiced and not just spoken."

Since 2002, Exhale's talkline has offered an anonymous place for people to express their feelings without judgment. It's there for the feminist who is haunted by regret, the Catholic who's overwhelmed with relief and anyone else who needs an ear.

Whether callers dub themselves "pro-life" or "pro-choice" is simply irrelevant.

"Our callers already made their choice," Baker wrote in her book, "Pro-Voice: How to Keep Listening When the World Wants a Fight," which came out in 2015 -- the same year her TED Talk caught fire.

"Our job isn't to decide whether or not theirs was the right or wrong decision but to make sure that they get the unconditional love and support they need to move forward and have healthy lives."

Convincing others of this motive wasn't easy.

When Baker started sharing her vision, people would immediately ask, "Are you for or against abortion?" It's a question she wouldn't answer then and won't now.

Those who support abortion rights were sure Exhale was secretly anti-abortion, while opponents were equally convinced it was an undercover organization for the abortion rights movement.

Exhale never showed up at rallies or protests, which further fueled suspicion.

"To do something different felt like an attack," she said of those early years.

Today, many abortion providers give patients a pamphlet about Exhale. It's a free service that meets a need they don't have the time or money to offer themselves.

Exhale also no longer exists on an island. Like-minded efforts have sprouted up more recently, including Connect & Breathe out of New York. Abortion doulas, who provide emotional support to women during and after abortions, also have stepped onto the landscape.

The pro-voice model, Baker says, is something that extends beyond abortion itself. It's a nonjudgmental approach to living, she says, that can help people grapple with any number of tough topics.

Sharing secrets

As the daughter of a minister, Chorley grew up believing that "God loved me all the way, no matter what." But when she had her abortion, she was no longer sure.

Today, Chorley knows that plenty of people sit in pews weighed down by their own feelings of shame or pain -- not just about abortion. Perhaps they're hiding family secrets of addiction or domestic violence. Maybe they fear being open about their gender identity, sexual orientation, a disability or mental illness.

Chorley and others who subscribe to the pro-voice philosophy want this to change. She believes people should feel safe bringing their whole selves to church -- and to life.

That's why she agreed to be featured in June in a Parents magazine article about moms who've had abortions. And that's what sparked the "Pro-Voice Tour" that landed her in this Seattle church.

When Chorley and her husband became pregnant the second time around, she says, the word "divorce" hadn't been raised yet -- but she suspected it would come up. She and her soon-to-be ex, she told the crowd, agreed that it was no time to bring another child into the family. But just because the decision felt right at the time doesn't mean she didn't struggle. Sometimes, she still does.

She always thought she'd have a second child and has moments when she grieves over the fact that she didn't. The sight of a bumper sticker that reads "Abortion stops a beating heart" can still catch her breath, as do signs held by protesters who call what she did "murder."

"They don't know anything about you," she said of those who publicly judge a decision she never thought she'd have to make. "They feel this privilege to put this in your face."

When her son Franz, now 14, asked her what an abortion was four years ago, she had to be honest with her only child. They'd just driven past an abortion clinic, where protesters screamed and waved signs outside. Franz asked what an abortion was, so she told him.

"Why in the world would anyone do that?" he asked.

She took a deep breath and answered, "I made that decision once," before telling him how hard it was.

Franz sat in the church as she shared this story and weighed in with how he felt upon learning this.

"It took a while to process it," he told the crowd. But then his mom told him about Exhale, and he began to realize, "It's not something I can judge people about, especially my own mother."

Each time Chorley visits churches to share her abortion story, she says, at least a few women come forward afterward to reveal their own.

She describes one woman, nearly 90, who pushed her walker to the front of a church while sobbing.

"I had an illegal abortion when I was 20," she told Chorley. "I never told anyone, and I never thought it would be talked about in a church."

Those gathered in Seattle First Baptist Church are men and women, young adults and the elderly. Several hands go up during the discussion.

"I have this 40-year-old secret, and no one in my family knows," says one woman, who describes her family as "right-wing conservative."

"It's amazing the energy it takes to keep that stuff inside," she continued. "There's so much guilt and shame."

"I have a very conservative friend who's had a couple abortions," a younger woman says. "She didn't have any support after she went through it."

"I was on the pill and got pregnant," says a woman who, already a mother, had her abortion in the early 1970s, when it was still illegal. "I went through a lot of agony. Will God love me? Am I an OK person?"

On a couch in the back of the parlor, a woman weeps.

"I can't imagine having to make that choice," she says. "God's will is our will, and even when we make mistakes, He's there to lift us up."

There was a time, during her darkest days, that Chorley worried that she might go to hell. But she is now kinder and gentler with her herself. An ordained American Baptist minister, she serves as the associate director of an urban ministry where she, among other things, is the director of a domestic violence shelter. She accepts that we all fall short and that she was never alone.

"Why did I grow up not knowing that anyone had been through this experience?" she asked. "Why is that so hidden?"

Being there

In a downtown Oakland conference room, eight women are being trained as Exhale talkline counselors. Several say they wish they'd known about this service when they were struggling after their own abortions.

One said her provider told her to keep it a secret, so she did -- and moved 3,000 miles away from where it happened. It took alcohol abuse and being sexually assaulted, she said, to realize that it was OK to feel pain.

The commitment these trainees have made over six consecutive Saturdays will help ensure that others aren't left to suffer in secret. On a wall hangs a long sheet listing several dozen "myths about abortions." Included are phrases like "Women who have abortions can't be pro-life," "only non-religious people have abortions" and "men aren't affected."

Their trainers guide them in conversations about cultural sensitivity, how to be there for men who reach out and the importance of open-ended questions. They explore ways to highlight the strengths of callers and encourage self-care.

During role-playing exercises, they practice best ways to validate feelings and try out their pseudonyms, which all counselors use.

To the one who's confused: "You don't have to have all the answers right now." To the caller who's wracked with regret: "It sounds like you made the best decision you could with the resources you had at the time." To the one who's steeped in sadness: "It doesn't mean you'll feel this way forever."

Volunteer counselors are expected to work eight two- or three-hour shifts a month in their first year, and they receive the calls at home after being connected through an answering service.

One of the trainers uses the pseudonym "Nina." She works full-time in reproductive health and has been taking calls for Exhale for more than four years. These days, depending on her availability, she takes on one to four shifts each month.

Before getting involved with Exhale, she said, she'd never had a good conversation about abortion. It had always felt too politicized, and she wanted to connect with people who'd had the experience and "get grounded in their reality" -- as she's never had an abortion herself.

The reality for callers runs the gamut.

Nina remembers the woman who came from a family opposed to abortion and who was against it herself but found herself in an abusive relationship when she became pregnant and had her abortion.

She describes the mothers and fathers who call, wanting to know how to best support their daughters who aren't ready to call themselves.

She recalls the woman with bipolar disorder who blamed herself for being sick; she'd desperately wanted the baby but feared that if she went off her medications to continue the pregnancy, she would have killed herself.

She talks about the ones who can't stop crying and the others who feel guilty for feeling relieved.

Faith comes up maybe 10% to 15% of the time, Nina says. To the one who worries that God won't forgive her, Nina might ask, "What does forgiveness look like in your faith?" or "Is your God a forgiving God?" Then, she might say, "Do you feel like you can forgive yourself?"

The longest and toughest call she's had? The boyfriend who, three years after the fact, couldn't shake the guilt he had over persuading his girlfriend to get an abortion.

Nina used to see herself as a "rescuer," she said, someone who had to "fix things." But this work has taught her to let go of that inner voice and accept that her job is to simply be there for people. In giving this way to others, she's helped herself.

"It's enriched my life, how I treat my family members and my friends and how I am toward myself," Nina said. "It's about compassion, and we all need that."

And in today's climate, where the world often seems so divided, actively choosing to not pick sides and honor people's stories feels more important than ever, she says.

"There are very few spaces to feel supported in hard conversations. When we give people that space, it feels like a hug, and that's super powerful," Nina said. "I don't have to have a stance; I just have to be present."
Cryogenic Tanks Market: Usage in Storage Application to Bring in Significant Revenue

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Global Cryogenic Tanks Market: SnapshotPresence of a copious number of OEMs and raw material suppliers has made the competitive landscape in the global market for cryogenic tanks highly fragmented. However, at the regional levels, the market is consolidated due to the presence of one or two dominant players. Driving the demand in the market has been the increased applications of a number of industrial gases and the massive increase in production and consumption of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The growing production of LNG will continue stimulating growth in the market in the next couple of years as well.Browse Market Research Report @Posing a roadblock to the growth in the global market for cryogenic tanks is the relatively steep manufacturing costs on account of the use of cutting-edge technology, specific components, and skilled manpower. Strict quality and safety related guidelines pertaining to manufacture and sale of cryogenic tanks also adds to their cost, thereby crimping their swift uptake.A report by Transparency Market Research forecasts the global market for cryogenic tanks to expand at a healthy CAGR of 7.7% from 2016 to 2024 to attain a value of US$1.433 bn in 2024 from US$0.74 bn in 2015.Use of Cryogenic Tanks in Transportation Seeing Steady Upswing due to Rapid IndustrializationThe different types of cryogenic tanks available in the market are liquefied natural gas (LNG), oxygen, nitrogen, and argon. Of these, the LNG segment dominates the market. In 2015, it accounted for a significant 37.3% share in the overall sales revenue. This is primarily on account of substantial upswing in production, consumption, and trade in LNG. The nitrogen segment came in the second position by accounting for a share of 30.9% in terms of sales revenue.Depending upon application again, the global market for cryogenic tanks can be split into storage and transportation. Among the two, the storage application segment leads the market because of the widespread use of cryogenic tanks for both short term and long term storage of industrial gases and LNG. In fact, the segment accounted for a mammoth 80.0% share in the market in 2015.The transportation segment, however, has been witnessing an upsurge in demand on account of burgeoning production of LNG across established and emerging oil and gas producing countries and the swift pace of industrialization, particularly in developing economies. Considered to be the best option for the transportation and distribution of different types of liquefied gases and LNG, the future of the transportation application of cryogenic tanks looks promising.Marked Rise in LNG Consumption Makes Asia Pacific Market LeaderFrom a geographical standpoint, Asia Pacific accounts for a dominant position in the global market for cryogenic tanks in terms of sales volume and revenue. In 2015, the region accounted for over 30% of the total number of cryogenic tanks sold worldwide. Revenue-wise, North America and Europe together contributed over 45% of the overall revenue globally in the same year.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Going forward, Asia Pacific is slated to increase its dominant share in the global market for cryogenic tanks by clocking a robust CAGR of 8.4% from 2016 to 2024. This is mainly on account of rapid industrialization, mushrooming of manufacturing facilities for cryogenic tanks, and a marked rise in the consumption of LNG. The Middle East and Africa are other key markets that will likely exhibit a healthy 8.4% CAGR between 2016 and 2024. The increasing production of LNG in the countries of the Middle East as well as in Africa will boost the sales of LNG cryogenic tanks in the region.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Artificial Intelligence Market - Current trends, Opportunities, Challenges by 2024

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Artificial intelligence is a fast emerging technology, dealing with development and study of intelligent machines and software. This software is being used across various applications such as manufacturing (assembly line robots), medical research, and speech recognition systems. It also enables in-build software or machines to operate like human beings, thereby allowing devices to collect, analyze data, reason, talk, make decisions and act The global artificial intelligence market was valued at US$ 126.24 Bn in 2015 and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 36.1% from 2016 to 2024 to reach a value of US$ 3,061.35 Bn in 2024.The global artificial intelligence market is currently witnessing healthy growth as companies have started leveraging the benefits of such disruptive technologies for effective customer reach and positioning of their services/solutions. Market growth is also supported by an expanding application base of artificial intelligence solutions across various industries. However, factors such as low funding access or high upfront investment, and demand for skilled resources (workforce) are presently acting as major deterrents to market growth.Obtain Report Details @On the basis of types of artificial intelligence systems, the market is segmented into artificial neural network, digital assistance system, embedded system, expert system, and automated robotic system. Expert system was the most adopted or revenue generating segment in 2015. This was mainly due to the extensive use of artificial intelligence across various sectors including diagnosis, process control, design, monitoring, scheduling and planning.Based on various applications of artificial intelligence systems, the market has been classified into deep learning, smart robots, image recognition, digital personal assistant, querying method, language processing, gesture control, video analysis, speech recognition, context aware processing, and cyber security. Image recognition is projected to be the fastest growing segment by application in the global artificial intelligence market. This is due to the growing demand for affective computing technology across various end-use sectors for better study of systems that can recognize, analyze, process, and simulate human effects.Make an Enquiry @North America was the leader in the global artificial intelligence market in 2015, holding approximately 38% of the global market revenue share, and is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. High government funding and a strong technological base have been some of the major factors responsible for the top position of the North America region in the artificial intelligence market over the past few years. Middle East and Africa is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 38.2% throughout the forecast period. This is mainly attributed to enormous opportunities for artificial intelligence in the MEA region in terms of new airport developments and various technological innovations including robotic automation.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:
Neuropathic Pain Market: Emerging Market Trends, Size, Share and Growth Analysis

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Global Neuropathic Pain Market: OverviewNeuropathic pain refers to a condition of chronic pain that is caused by a primary lesion such as trauma, infection, or other dysfunction in the nervous system. Prominent syndromes of neuropathic pain include root avulsions, postherpetic neuralgia, painful traumatic mononeuropathy, painful polyneuropathy, postsurgical pain syndromes, central pain syndromes, and complex regional pain syndrome. Some of the usual medications prescribed for neuropathic pain are anesthetics, anticonvulsants (also called neuroleptic medications), and antidepressants (also known as tricyclic antidepressants). Common antidepressants include amitriptyline and nortriptiline whereas valproic acid, carbamazepine, felbamate, phenytoin, and clonazepam a few of the most common anticonvulsants used for the treatment of neuropathic disorders. Tocainide or Mexiletine and Idocaine are some of the major anesthetics used to reduce neuropathic pain.Get Sample Copy of this Report @This report on global neuropathic pain market is a thorough study of the market in its current scenario and based on all the major factors that may impact the growth rate in the near future, it estimates the state of the market until 2024. It also notes and explores some of the trends of the market as well as highlights a few opportunities available. Among the key features of the report is the section on company profiles, wherein several key players in the global market have been analyzed for their product portfolio, market share, global presence, and recent developments including mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations.The global market for neuropathic pain can be segmented on the basis of drug class, by indication, distribution channel, and region. By drug type, the market can be divided into tricyclic antidepressant, anticonvulsants, local anaesthesia, opioids, steroids, and others. On the basis of indication, the market can be categorized into diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and others. By distribution channel, the market can be segmented into retail pharmacies, drug stores, and online pharmacies. Geographically, the report studies the opportunities available in the regions of Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World.Global Neuropathic Pain Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe report observes that diabetes is the usual indication of neuropathic pain, while cancer comes second. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 422 million people were suffering from diabetes in 2014 and this number will continue to expand in the near future, especially among the middle to low-income countries. This vast population is the primary driver in the global neuropathic pain market. Moreover, rising geriatric population, who commonly suffer from neuropathic pain, is another driver for this market. In addition to that, factors such as approval of novel treatment options, increasing demand for neuropathic pain, improving healthcare infrastructure in emerging economies, increased investment by pharmaceutical companies for research and development of improved drugs, and rising number of pain management centers will further fuel the market in positive direction. Conversely, side effects of opioids and steroids as well as cost of branded drugs are some of the factors that will hinder the growth rate of the market during the forecast period.View Report @On the basis of drug class, the segment of anticonvulsants are most popular whereas the demand for tricyclic antidepressant is expected to expand at the best CAGR. By indication, diabetic neuropathy segment serves maximum demand while chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy is projected for most prominent growth rate. In terms of distribution channel, retail pharmacies are most profitable and is expected to remain the leading segment during the forecast period.Global Neuropathic Pain Market: Region-wise OutlookNorth America currently is the most lucrative regional market, owing to strong healthcare infrastructure and higher buying ability of the consumers. However, Asia Pacific is projected for the most significant growth rate, due to increasing prevalence of diabetes in countries such as China and India.Companies mentioned in the research reportSome of the key companies currently operating in global neuropathic pain market are Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., Depomed Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb and Company, Sanofi S.A., Biogen Idec Inc., Eli Lily and Company, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, and Baxter Healthcare Corporation.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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:
Hospital Beds Market Research Report Forecast to 2026

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Global Hospital Beds Market: OverviewBeds are among the most essential equipment required in a hospital, as patients are generally not in mobile condition to receive the treatment, and rest is often necessary for them. For the critical conditions that patients are admitted into the hospital, beds are required to be designed in such a manner that provides ideal support and comfort. With growing prevalence of several diseases, the healthcare industry is at an all-time peak and consequently, the global hospital beds market is projected for a healthy growth rate during the forecast period of 2016 to 2024.Get Sample Copy of this Report @This report on global market for hospital beds is an in-depth examination of all the factors that are expected to impact the growth rate in the near future, and presents estimations on the future state of the market until 2024. The report is a summation of interviews and discussions with a wide range of key industry participants and opinion leaders. Some of the key players have also been profiled in the report, exploring their market share, product range, regional presence, and recent strategic developments such as mergers, collaborations, acquisitions, and other announcements.The global hospital beds can be segmented on the basis of type, treatment, power, and geography. By type, the market can be divided into general beds, pediatric beds, pressure relief beds, bariatric beds, and birthing beds. By treatment, the market can be categorized into acute care beds, long term care beds, and critical care beds. By power, the market can be segmented into electric beds, manual beds, and semi-electric beds. Geographically, the report studies the opportunities available in the regions of North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World.Global Hospital Beds Market: Trends and OpportunitiesRising geriatric population is one of the prominent factors of this market, as the people aged over 65 generally suffer from several diseases such as arthritis, heart disease, respiratory diseases, Alzheimers diseases, osteoporosis, and diabetes. According to the National Institute on Aging, global geriatric population will rise to 1.5 billion, which makes for a strong demand for hospital beds. Increasing number of hospitalization cases and technological advancements in the field, and improving healthcare infrastructure in emerging economies are other important factors positively influencing the market. According to the report, rising demand for advanced and selective features of hospital beds is a trend that urges investment in research and development of advanced beds. Conversely, high cost of these beds is seen as the primary restraint over the growth rate of the global hospitals beds market.Global Hospital Beds Market: Region-wise OutlookEurope is expected to remain most lucrative regional market during the forecast period, which is a reflection of increasing expenditure in Europes medical industry and healthcare organizations. North America forms the second most profitable region due to robust healthcare infrastructure, whereas Asia Pacific is projected for most robust growth rate, which is a result of vast population base and improving healthcare infrastructure in the emerging economies such as India, China, Japan, Australia, and South Korea.View Report @Companies mentioned in the research reportParamount Bed Co. Ltd., Getinge Group, LINET spol. s r.o., ArjoHuntleigh, Stryker, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Invacare Corporation, and Medline Industries, Inc. are some of the key players currently operational in the global hospital beds market. Most of these companies have sub-divisional production units in order to meet the demand coming from medical establishments that are replacing their outdated hospital beds with the advanced ones.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:
Dental Chairs Market Research Report: Global Markets & Advanced Technologies

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Dental procedures demand optimum co-operation from patients. Dental chairs enable adjustment of height, back rest, and arm rest that provide complete support to patient as well as health care professional. The two types of dental chairs currently available in the market are hydraulic and electromechanical chairs. Electromechanical chairs offer integration of a variety of engines such as computer equipment, which results in increased adoption of these chairs in practice. In addition, modern dental chairs offer systems to hold hand pieces and other dental equipment such as mouth mirror, periodontal probe, and gauze that reduce extra box clutter.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Considering the increasing prevalence of obesity in developed countries, manufacturers such as Diaco, Ltd. offer dental chairs that have working load limit of up to 500 kg. In addition, manufacturers offer dental chairs specially designed for wheelchair patients, which enable efficient working for orthodontists. Hence, increasing benefits of modern dental chairs are fueling the growth of the dental chairs segment. Beaverstate Dental Systems, DCI Equipment, and Takara Belmont USA, Inc. are the key players operating in the dental chairs segment.According to the World Health Organization, in 2012, dental caries was reported to be a major public health problem in most high-income countries such as the U.S. The disease affected 60% to 90% of school-age children and majority of adults in the country. Several high-income countries with established preventive programs demonstrate a systematic decline in dental caries in children and improved status in the adult population.Dentistry in the U.S. is in a state of transformation, with increasing baby boomer generation having periodontal diseases. The health care delivery system is changing rapidly with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons found that 69% adults aged between 35 years and 44 years have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, failed root canal, or tooth decay. Three out of four persons in Canada visit a dental clinic; one of the highest rates among OECD countries. A study by the Montreal Economic Institute in 2013 indicated that private dental clinics are preferred to public clinics in Canada. Demand for private dental clinics is primarily driven by easy access, less waiting period, and better treatment offered to patients.The dental chairs market can be segmented based on chairs delivery systems, end-user, and geography. In terms of chairs delivery systems, the dental chairs market can be classified into over-the-patient delivery, rear delivery, and side delivery. Over-the-patient delivery systems are most commonly used in dental clinics, as these are easy to use and meet the requirements of time and motion concepts and promotes good ergonomic positioning. Based on end-user, the market can be segmented into hospitals, dental clinics, and research and academic institutes.View Report @Geographically, the dental chairs market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Europe is likely to be the largest market for dental chairs due to high number of laboratories and high patient pool for dental related treatment. According to Oral Health Platform, in 2012, over 50% of the population of Europe was suffering from some form of periodontal diseases, which were relatively higher among people aged 60 years and above. The British dental technician trade has declined sharply in the past few years as many practices outsource their lab work to overseas laboratories. Over 12,000 qualified dental technicians operated in the U.K. a decade ago. Currently, this figure is approximately 5,000 and is decreasing by 200 qualified technicians every year. The dental chairs market in North America is expected to witness strong growth during the forecast period driven by increasing baby boomer generation having periodontal diseases. The market in Asia Pacific is driven by increase in geriatric population and surging demand for dental restoration due to rise in oral health awareness.Major players operating in this market include Danaher Corporation, Midmark Corporation, Planmeca Oy, Sirona Dental Systems, Inc., SMTmax, and Ritter Dental.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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:
Dental Suction Systems Market Research Report: Global Industry Analysis 2024

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Dental suction utilizes a rotary vane and a pump to provide suction for procedures performed in the dental operatory. Suction units are used to remove dental waste material from the oral cavity during procedures. Dental suction systems are used for two main reasons: high volume suction for debris left over during procedures and saliva ejectors. The saliva ejector functions by sucking saliva out of the mouth. The other main type of dental suction, high volume suction, is held by the dental hygienist close to where the dentist is working and it sucks the nearby debris such as cleaning paste, amalgam fillings and surplus water from dental drills. Suction is also used to keep the tooth dry during restorative procedures. Market growth has been positive, but limited in the suction system segment due to its high penetration rate, as every practice in operation must already have a suction system. There has also been little incentive for practices to replace or upgrade their functioning systems since there has been little technological advancement in this area. High market penetration and limited technological advancements will continue to limit growth in this area.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Vacuums allow doctor and staff to retain the oral cavity clean to work during dental surgical procedure. Having a well-made and operational vacuum system also offers ease to the patient as saliva and other liquids can easily be emptied from the mouth throughout procedures. If vacuum system goes down, performing dental surgery procedure becomes difficult. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17.5% children aged five years to 19 years and 27.4% adults aged 20 years to 44 years were with untreated dental caries in 2012. According to the American Dental Association and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), average annual dental expenditure among those with a visit was US$ 685 in 2013. Among those with a visit to a GP dentist, average expenditure was US$ 514. Among those with a visit to a dental specialist, average dental expenditure was US$ 1,755. As an example of dental services provided by specialists, average dental expenditure for services provided by orthodontists was US$ 1,440.Increasing dental surgical procedures globally is expected to drive the dental suction systems market. However, certain challenges faced by the market include lack of voluntary visits to dentists by patients for routine check-ups and lack of awareness among patients. These factors would restrain market growth.View Report @Geographically, Europe and North America are the two major regional markets for dental suction systems, as awareness about dental issues is high in Europe, followed by North America. Presently, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa are lucrative markets for investment. Europe was the second largest market for dental suction systems attributed to enhanced health care processes and increased dental procedures. Moreover, rising geriatric population is likely to boost the market in the region. Improving health care infrastructure and increasing patient awareness levels about substitute treatment options are the major factors likely to drive the market in Asia Pacific. Rising medical tourism in the region would also boost market growth. Growth of the market can be attributed to investments by leading players to improve the present health care infrastructure in developing countries such as China and India. 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 the dental suction systems market include Becker Pumps Australia, W&H Dentalwerk, KUGEL Medical, Unimicro Medical Systems, DURR DENTAL AG, and DENTAS.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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:
Fetal Doppler Monitoring System Market: Emerging Market Trends, Size, Share and Growth Analysis

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Fetal doppler monitor, commonly known as baby heartbeat monitor, is a handheld ultrasound transducer used to detect the fetal heartbeat for prenatal care. Fetal doppler monitor provides information about the fetus, which is similar to that of fetal stethoscope, and it acts as an indicator of stress. The stress usually occurs during birth and labor period, which can be detected using the ultrasound probe and electrocardiography. Over the counter sale and use of Doppler ultrasound heartbeat monitors are used for listening to the heartbeat of a fetus. These are legally marketed as prescription devices and should be used under supervision of health care professionals. Doptone is a type of handheld portable ultrasound tool used for fetal monitoring. The tool is beneficial due to its waterproof technology. However, fetal monitoring increases the risk of C-section due to high rate of technological uses, which can develop many complications for the fetus and the mother during pregnancy.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Increase in number of childbirth, awareness program for preventing the complications in childbirth, and demand for at-home fetal heart monitors are important driving factors of the global fetal doppler monitoring system market. In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declared the usage of Doppler ultrasound heartbeat monitors and fetal ultrasound imaging should be by trained health care professionals, and they are not intended for over the counter sale or use. Cost of treatment or ultrasonography and sensitivity of child toward ultrasound devices are expected to hamper the fetal doppler monitoring system market growth.The global market has been segmented based on monitoring process type, end-user, and geography. In terms of monitoring process type, the fetal doppler monitoring system market is classified into electronic fetal monitoring, external fetal monitoring, and internal fetal monitoring. In terms of end-user, the market for fetal doppler monitoring system is classified into diagnostic laboratories, hospitals, and research & development. In terms of geography, the market is distributed over North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.Geographically, North America dominates the global market due to increase in advent of technology of ultrasound monitoring devices and growth in child development plan. Early-phase diagnosis and treatment of disease during pregnancy is driving the medical biotechnology market which in turn is expected to drive the fetal doppler monitoring system market in North America. Europe is the second leading market for fetal doppler monitoring system as there are favorable government policies regarding health care infrastructure and awareness of population development. The Asia Pacific market is expected to grow at a higher rate due to rise in population, changing lifestyle, rise in awareness between patients, and increase in per capita expenditure. In addition, economic growth is supporting the health care infrastructure improvement in developing countries such as India and China.View Report @The major players operating in the global fetal doppler monitoring system market include Medline Industries, Inc., Bionet Co., Ltd, Huntleigh Healthcare Limited, Promed Group Co., Ltd., ELCAT, Hadeco, Inc., Shenzhen Biocare Bio-Medical Equipment Co., Ltd., Advanced Instrumentations, and SonoScape Medical Corp.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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:
Syringe Filters Market Research Report 2016 Global Analysis and Forecast to 2024

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Syringe filter, commonly known as wheel filter, is fitted with a cartridge at the end of a syringe. Syringe filter works with the help of a lock fitting which is used to provide a secure fitting to the syringe. The use of a needle is optimal and can be fitted to the end of the syringe filter during usage. The syringe filter generally consists of a plastic wrapped with a membrane like substance, which serves as a filter. The fluid used to be purified can be cleaned by drawing it through the syringe filters and forcing the unfiltered fluid out. Syringe filters can be used to filter solid drugs prior to injection. The filters get rid of many impurities present in drugs in the form of fungal spores, bacteria, or fillers. However, usage of pills and other drugs in liquid form for administering into the body can bring a profit to the pharmaceutical industry.Get Sample Copy of this Report @High prevalence of diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, cancer, and other infectious diseases, rise in patient awareness, and growth in research and development initiatives are the driving factors for the syringe filters market. Presence of fungal spores and bactericidal in the semipermeable membrane of syringe filters is expected to hamper the syringe filters market growth during the forecast period.The global syringe filters market has been segmented based on type, application, end-user, and geography. In terms of type, the market for syringe filter is classified into cellulose acetate syringe filter, glass fiber syringe filter, nitrocellulose polymer syringe filter, nylon syringe filter, polyethersulfone polymer syringe filter, and others. In terms of application, the market is classified into pharmaceutical, environmental, biotechnology, food/beverage, and agricultural. Infectious disease and impure transfer of pyrogen is likely to show growth in market segment. In terms of end-user, the market is classified into diagnostic laboratories, life sciences and research & development, hospitals, and others. In terms of geography, the market is distributed over North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.View Report @Geographically, North America dominates the global syringe filters market due to increase in drug purification agency and high demand for HPLC systems in pharmaceutical industries and biotechnology industries. Automated filtration systems and hard-to-filter samples are expected to drive the syringe filters market in North America. Europe is the second leading market for syringe filters as there are favorable government policies regarding health care infrastructure. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a higher rate due to change in lifestyle, rise in awareness among patients, and increase in per capita expenditure. In addition, economic growth is supporting the health care infrastructure improvement in developing countries such as India and China by expanding the different pharmaceutical and biotechnological research units.The major players operating in the global syringe market include GE Healthcare, Sterlitech Corporation, Pall Corporation, and Fisher Scientific (Thermo Fisher Scientific).The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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:
Refurbished Medical Imaging Equipment Market: Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment

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Refurbished equipment are generally refined/repaired devices with improvements (structure, safety) into existing or used ones. Basically, refurbished equipment are the new version of the old equipment in terms of better safety, efficacy, and user-friendliness without changing its recommended use as per original registration. Considering the growing pollution and limited energy resources, refurbishing is preferable to extend equipment service life from an environmental standpoint.Get Sample Copy of this Report @The global refurbished medical imaging equipment market has been segmented based on device and region. The five major categories of refurbished medical imaging equipment include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, and nuclear imaging equipment. MRI and CT devices accounted for majority of the global refurbished medical imaging equipment market. Manufacture of MRI and CT devices require a large number of skilled personnel. Hence, it is better to refurbish the above mentioned devices at a lower cost. Major modalities used for diagnosing cardiovascular disease include CT scanners, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear imaging equipment. Rising incidence of chronic diseases across the globe is increasing demand for cost-effective and efficient diagnosis procedure. This in turn is driving demand for refurbished medical imaging devices. Moreover, a high number of tuberculosis (TB) patients are present in the developing and under-developed countries. Most of the demand for X-ray and MRI equipment comes from these countries as people in these countries prefer cost effective medical treatment. Hence, emerging economies are contributing significantly to the growth of the refurbished medical imaging equipment market.Cost constraints and cost effective medical treatment are the major factors driving the market. Budget pressures are driving more prudent investments in refurbished medical imaging equipment and support services. Refurbished imaging equipment dodges the new medical device tax which encourages manufacturers, producers, and importers to invest in this market. The long life of medical devices is another factor fueling the growth of the market. Rise in incidence of several diseases such as respiratory, oral, orthopedic, and cardiovascular has increased demand for diagnosis and diagnostic equipment across the world. New global regulation threat to the shipment of used medical equipment for refurbishment and low adoption rate by physicians are the major factors hampering market growth. Environmental benefits pertaining to medical imaging equipment are likely to offer significant opportunities in the market.Geographically, the refurbished medical imaging equipment market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market for refurbished medical imaging equipment due to low purchasing parity. High cost of digital radiology devices such as X-ray systems, MRI scanners, and CT scanners is a major deterrent for market growth in emerging countries. China and India are expected to be the largest contributors to market growth, as these countries are witnessing rapid development in health care infrastructure. In these regions, complementary systems such as ultrasound were deployed instead of the costly digital radiology devices. Several international and local companies are investing in Asia Pacific to tap the highly potential market in the region. The refurbished medical equipment market in Latin America is also likely to experience significant growth. This is attributed to rapid rise in health care infrastructure (health care budget and health care facility) and rise in disposable income of people in the region, especially Brazil and Mexico.View Report @Major players operating in the refurbished medical imaging equipment market include Atlantis Worldwide, Block Imaging, Siemens Healthineers, Philips Healthcare, GE Healthcare, Carestream Health, Inc., FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Shimadzu Corporation, Hitachi Medical Corporation, and Toshiba Corporation.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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:
Gastrointestinal Stents Market By Technological Development, Applications and Forecast 2025

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Gastrointestinal stents are used to open up bile ducts, esophagus, small bowel, and colon that may be diseased or infected. These stents are used in different diseases such as colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and other gastrointestinal diseases. Stents can hold open strictured areas in the esophagus, the biliary tree, the colon and the gastroduodenal region. Different types of gastrointestinal stents are used based on disease condition. Bile duct stents are placed in patients with cholangiocarcinoma and their function is to allow normal drainage from the pancreas, gallbladder, and liver into the small bowel. Esophageal stents are used to open a patients esophagus and assist in swallowing food and liquid content. Duodenal stents are used to sustain content flow through a patients small bowel, near the top of the small intestine, when that area is blocked by cancerous tumors. Colonic stents are used to open points of stricture or narrowing in a patients colon when colorectal disease or cancer may be making it difficult for the patient to digest and to pass stool properly. Advanced endoscopy can be used to insert stents into various sites of the gastrointestinal tract. The basic principles of stent insertion involve initial placement of a guidewire across the region to be stented, using endoscopic vision and often fluoroscopic guidance too. Gastrointestinal stents are also placed non-endoscopically by radiologists.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Growing preference for minimally invasive procedures, increasing prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases such as colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastrointestinal bleeding, rising consumption of alcohol and tobacco, and unhealthy lifestyle are projected to fuel the global gastrointestinal stents market. According to the National Cancer Institute, the number of new cases of colon and rectum cancer was 41.0 per 100,000 men and women per year. Other factors such as growing awareness among people, technological advancement, health care insurance coverage, and rapid population growth are anticipated to augment the global gastrointestinal stents market. However, stringent regulation for product approval is expected to hamper the growth of the gastrointestinal stents market.The gastrointestinal stents market has been segmented based on product type, application, end-user, and region. In terms of product type, the market has been classified into bile duct stents, esophageal stents, duodenal stents, and colonic stents. Based on application, the gastrointestinal stents market has been categorized into colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, and others. In terms of end-user, the market has been segmented into hospitals, specialty clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers.Geographically, the gastrointestinal stents market has been classified into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East T& Africa.North America dominates the gastrointestinal stents market due to high incidence of gastrointestinal disorders and chronic diseases such as colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, severe abdominal diseases medical conditions, and technological advancement. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the U.S. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 135,430 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the U.S. and about 50,260 people will die from the disease in 2017. Europe is the second largest market for gastrointestinal stents. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at higher rate due to rising incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer, increasing prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases, health care insurance coverage, and growing health care expenditure. Latin America and Middle East & Africa will create large opportunity due to developing health care infrastructure, increasing number of private insurance coverage, and growing awareness among people.View Report @Major players operating in this market include Becton, Dickinson and Company, Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic, Inc., Cook Medical, Merit Medical Systems, Inc., Taewoong Medical Co. Ltd., and ELLA-CS, s.r.o.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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:
One of the pressing issues currently being discussed by government officials in Lincoln is how to navigate through the projected shortfall in the states budget of $900 million.

On numerous occasions, Gov. Pete Ricketts has talked about having to tighten the belt, essentially being more frugal across the board in terms of where money is spent. This tightening of the belt is something that is affecting school districts all across the state of Nebraska, forcing district officials to reevaluate the allocation of certain funds because state backing wont be the same as it has been in years past.

Brad Dahl, executive director of student services and business affairs, compared the financial uncertainty districts face to a family who doesnt know what their yearly set income is going be.

So you dont know whats going to happen with it, it may go down, or it may stay the same, Dahl said, using the analogy to relate to the current district financial situation. Would that make you do things differently? Maybe you would think about holding back on your cable channels, maybe you would hold back on certain areas of your phones data plan, maybe you wouldnt upgrade to that new car  So this sort of situation is really our reality right now for school systems all across the state with that $900 million gap (in the budget).

Due to the $900 million shortfall, released information from the district shows that State Aid will increase for the 2017-2018 school year at only 2.1 percent resulting in a state-wide estimated loss of $47,072,288 of those state funds as compared to current state statute.

So what does this mean for the FPS district? First of all, its important to understand how the districts budget is formed. During the 2016-2017 school year, 43 percent of the districts budget was comprised of money from property taxes and 34 percent was comprised from state aid, making up 77 percent of the districts budget.

For the past two years, the Fremont Public School District has achieved a balanced budget without dipping into its cash reserves. This meant that the district was able to limit its expenditures and maximize its revenues.

This year, in part because of the FPS District receiving an estimated $331,118 less in state aid than the 2016-2017 school year, along with other contributing factors, the district is facing an estimated shortfall in the 2017-2018 school budget of $1,195,654.

The trick now, Superintendent Mark Shepard said, is to find ways to address that projected shortfall without dipping into the districts cash reserves.

First and foremost, he said, its important for the district to analyze its needs in terms of full-time staff members. Following this school year, 12 staff members will take advantage of the districts upgraded early separation policy, enabling long-serving faculty the opportunity to retire earlier than they previously would have.

An additional 17 faculty members are leaving the district because of various reasons. Of the 29 full-time faculty members leaving, Shepard said that five to eight of these jobs may not be filled, rather, the district would look for ways to fill the gaps without hiring additional staff.

When dealing with a budget, Dahl said its of the utmost to keep a diligent eye on what is happening with district staff.

Staffing and our next years budget go hand in hand, he said. We have to be prepared to have an understanding of what our revenues and expenditures will be next year, and our opportunity to control our expenditure side of the ledger is right now as we are finalizing our hires and replacements.

While fiscally planning for the 2017-2018 school year, there is also discussion about temporarily holding back financially in certain areas, including: curriculum, technology, bus purchases, facility maintenance improvements and saving money through the voluntary separation policy.

Released information shows that other district financial strategies include:

*Continuous review of district-wide programs and departments to assure efficiencies and alignment of Board of Education goals.

*Carefully consider any request for additional staff.

*Evaluate all current and future openings due to attrition and reduce when its appropriate.

*Monitor changes at the federal level.

While nothing is set in stone in terms of these proposed financial holds, it would give the district $1,140,000 toward its budget, virtually closing the gap its projected to face.

For Fremont Public Schools this really is our reality, so we have to continue to control our expenditures, Dahl said. That is why we are working so hard right now, because now is our opportunity to make sure that we can balance our budget.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Devices Market By Product, End User and Forecast 2025

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In vitro fertilization, also known as IVF, is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART). IVF is a fertilization process performed in the laboratory settings by retrieving a sperm sample, extracting a womans egg, combining manually the egg and the sperm in a laboratory dish, and then implanting the fertilized egg or embryo back to the uterus. IVF is gaining popularity and is highly accepted by couples facing infertility problems, LGBT community, and also single mothers. Technological advancements in IVF technology is augmenting the global IVF devices market.Get Sample Copy of this Report @The global IVF devices market is driven by increasing incidence of infertility and advancements in IVF procedures. Infertility in women may be caused due to blockage of fallopian tubes, endometriosis, lack of normal ovulation, etc. Male infertility is also a major concern globally. Additionally, lifestyle changes, late family planning, improper food habits, and rise in alcohol consumption are recognized as the causes of infertility in some countries. Furthermore, rising health care expenditure, growing awareness about infertility, and easy accessibility of IVF treatments is projected to propel the growth of the global IVF devices market. Innovative technological advancements in IVF technology such has capsule IVF and embryoscope are expected to fuel the growth of the IVF devices market.Adoption of and preference for advanced IVF technologies over conventional infertility treatments such as infertility medication are anticipated to boost the growth of the global IVF devices market. Insurance coverage for IVF is the latest trend in the IVF devices market. Insurance coverage depends upon factors such as annual income of the couple, womans age, and IVF cycles. Few states in the U.S. such as New York, New Jersey, and Maryland offer insurance coverage for IVF treatment. Insurance coverage is anticipated to encourage couples facing infertility problems to choose IVF treatment. This is expected to fuel the growth of the IVF devices market.Maintenance issues and unaffordability of high-end IVF devices limit the growth of the market. Moreover, risk of failure associated with IVF cycles cannot be ruled out. Many couples fail to conceive even after repetitive IVF cycles, leading to disappointment and financial burden. These factors are likely to restrain the IVF devices market.The global IVF devices market can be segmented based on product, end-user, and region. In terms of product, the market can be segmented into IVF work stations (cabinet), incubators, imaging systems, ovum aspiration pump, sperm separation system, cryosystem, micromanipulator systems, anti-vibration tables, and others. Based on end-user, the global IVF devices market can be segmented into hospitals and fertility clinics, clinical research institutes, and cryobanks. Hospitals and fertility clinics is the major end-user segment of the market. High revenue in the segment is attributed to high patient influx for IVF treatments at these settings and diagnostic tests performed such as sonography and ultrasound for women and semen analysis for men.View Report @Geographically, the global IVF devices market can be segmented into five major regions: Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. North America and Europe are the major markets for IVF devices. Apart from these mature markets, Asia Pacific is expected to show rapid growth due to rising demand for affordable IVF services and availability of skilled personnel.Major players in the global IVF devices market include Vitrolife AB, Cook Group Incorporated, Esco Micro Pte. Ltd., Cooper Companies, Inc., Genea Biomedx, IVFtech ApS, Nidacon International AB, The Baker Company, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., and Irvine Scientific Sales Company, Inc.Key players in the global HIV-associated lipodystrophy market are Novelion Therapeutics Inc., Theratechnologies Inc., Gilead Sciences Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc (Viiv Healthcare Group of Companies), AbbVie Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, and AstraZeneca plc, among others.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.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:
Opioids Market By Regional Analysis with Forecast upto 2025

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Opioids are the most widely prescribed medications to treat moderate to severe chronic pain. These analgesics are used to manage pain in cancer patients and also to treat severe constant pain in patients suffering from terminal illnesses. These are generally administered via subcutaneous, oral and intramuscular routes; other routes of administration include nasal insufflations, patient controlled analgesia, transdermal and oral mucosa routes via lozenges. Opioids can be classified into three major classes namely, strong agonists (fentanyl, oxymorphone, and morphine), mild to moderate agonists (codeine and hydroxycodone), and opioids with mixed receptor reactions (buprenophrine and pentazocine). Although they form one of the most widely used analgesic classes, they cause certain adverse effects such as constipation, nausea, vomiting, sedation, respiratory depression and others. However, the major concern with this drug class is the high level of drug abuse observed worldwide, leading to illegal trade of these drugs worth hundreds of billions of dollars. According to a study published in the Journal of American Medical Association in April 2011, the rate of deaths occurring due to the overdose of prescription opioids has increased substantially in the last decade in the U.S. alone. This study also indicated that high doses of opioid drugs prescribed for pain management possessed increased risk of overdose mortality in the patients.Get Sample Copy of this Report @The leading molecules in this segment that constituted about 65% of the total opioids market include OxyContin (oxycodone), Nucynta (tapentadol), Rybix and Ultram (tramadol), Exalgo (hydromorphone), Ultiva (remifentanil) and fentanyl.The remaining 35% market revenue was contributed by other generic opioids as well as combination formulations of NSAIDs with opioids.The actual market scenario for this drug class, however, could be different due to the strong product pipeline, with two major entries MoxDuo IR (morphine/oxycodone) and Remoxy (oxycodone) set to hit the market in 2016. The market entry of these two drugs is expected to boost growth of the overall opioids market during the forecast period. The number of patients suffering from chronic pain is on a constant rise globally. Thus, increasing incidence of chronic pain conditions will continue to encourage the use of pain management drugs, thereby driving the opioids market. Doctors usually prescribe medicines in the initial stages of pain, followed by other treatment options. Prescription drugs are easy to use and economical and are expected to support the growth of the opioids market globally. Prescription drug abuse is the major factor which will limit the growth of the global opioids market.The global opioids market has been segmented by type, geography, and distribution channel. The market by type includes endogenous (enkephalins, endorphins), opium alkaloids, and synthetic and semisynthetic opioids. The market for semisynthetic and synthetic opioids like fentanyl and oxycodone are expected to grow during the forecast period due to their fast and potent analgesic activity. Based on distribution channels, the global opioids market has been divided into retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and online pharmacies. The hospital pharmacy segment is expected to support the growth of the global opioids market due to high demand for pain killers in hospitals globally.View Report @Based on geographic segmentation, the global opioids market is segmented into five key regions: Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. According to the U.S. Institute of Medicine, approximately 100 million adults suffered from common chronic conditions such as low back pain followed by migraine and neck pain. North America is expected to be a major contributor to the global opioids market since it has the maximum percentage of population suffering from pain. Europe follows closely due to high prevalence rate of various diseases such as orthopedic and cancer. India, China, and Japan are the most developing countries in Asia Pacific and hence fuel the growth of the global opioids market.The major players active in the global opioids market includes Purdue Pharma, Pfizer, Inc., QRxpharma limited, Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Mylan N.V., and AbbVie Inc.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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:
Internal Neuromodulation Devices Market : Global Markets & Advanced Technologies

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Internal neuromodulation devices directly act upon nerves. It is the technology known for alteration of nerve activity directly to a target area by sending electrical or pharmaceutical agents directly to a target area. The neuromodulation devices can treat nearly every disease considering every area of body. The diseases or symptoms from headache to spinal cord damage to tremor and many others. Neuromodulation technology is significantly improving in biotechnology with its broad therapeutic scope. More specifically, it is employed to treat unmanageable chronic pain or movement conditions. According to the study on neuromodulation devices and therapies has shown that neuromodulation is a safe, effective, and long-term treatment for chronic pain and movement disorders. Patients with the diseases such as Parkinsons disease, essential tremor, primary dystonia, chronic back and leg pain associated with peripheral vascular disease (PVD), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) can benefit from neuromodulation therapy. As the hardware becomes smaller and easy to use the implantable devices used for neuromodulation have taken a dive headlong with the introduction of smaller devices, and rechargeable systems. These systems are considered with larger but useable complexity which denotes towards the growth of neuromodulation devices segment.Get Sample Copy of this Report @The internal neuromodulation devices market can be segmented into product type, application, end-user, and geography. In terms of product type, the market can be segmented into deep brain stimulators, sacral nerve stimulators, vagus nerve stimulators, spinal cord stimulators, and other internal neuromodulation devices. The spinal cord segment of the internal neuromodulation devices market is anticipated to expand rapidly during the forecast period. The product type segment is estimated to expand significantly in the near future due to its high usage in the treatment of chronic pain. Rising gastric and chronic and nerve disability conditions are driving the expansion of the market globally. The market is anticipated to expand due to growing safety awareness and efficacy of the neuromodulation devices, increasing neurological disorders prevalence and increasing number of clinical trials, globally, for the progress of innovative technologies. Stringent approval policies and low number of trained healthcare professionals are restraining the expansion of the market.In terms of application, the market can be segmented into failed back syndrome, tremors, epilepsy, chronic pain management, Parkinsons disease, depression, urinary and fecal incontinence, gastroparesis, migraine, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and others. The chronic pain management segment accounts for a significant share in the application category of the internal neuromodulation devices market. Increasing prevalence of chronic conditions is a major factor driving the expansion of the segment. In terms of end-user, the internal neuromodulation devices market can be segmented into hospitals, clinics, and home healthcare. The hospitals segment is projected to hold prominent share in the end-user category of the internal neuromodulation devices market.View Report @In terms of geography, the global internal neuromodulation devices market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the world, North America held significant share of the internal neuromodulation devices market due to high healthcare awareness, prevalence of chronic disorders, and technological advancement in the region. Europe accounted for the second largest share of the internal neuromodulation devices market due to rising ageing population. However, Asia Pacific represent are estimated to expand rapidly in during the forecast period due to increasing awareness, gradual adoption of improved technologies, emerging health care infrastructures, increased purchasing power of hospitals, and rise in population. Followed by Latin America and Middle- East & Africa.Key global players in the internal neuromodulation devices market are Medtronic plc, LivaNova PLC, Cyberonics, Inc., St. Jude Medical, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, EnteroMedics Inc, BioControl Medical, Bioness Inc., Nevro Corporation, and NeuroPace Inc. Moreover, regional players along with global players are contributing for a significant share in the internal neuromodulation devices market.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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:
Pediatric Ultrasound Market Research Report: Global Industry Analysis 2024

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Global Pediatric Ultrasound Market: OverviewPediatric ultrasound is a safe, noninvasive test that uses high frequency sound waves to generate precise images of the blood vessels and internal organs of childrens abdomen. Ultrasound does not use involve radiation, is painless, and is particularly useful for evaluating pelvic, abdominal, or scrotal pain in children. It is carried out to obtain a complete view of congenital as well as acquired diseases in children.Get Sample Copy of this Report @As per statistics of Center for Disease Control and Prevention, blunt trauma is the leading cause of death and disability among children in the U.S. Due to the increased risk of radiation-induced scanning such as computed tomography, the use of abdominal ultrasound for blunt abdominal trauma among children has increased.Global Pediatric Ultrasound Market: Key TrendsThe pediatric ultrasound market is developing mainly due to technological advancements such as 3D and 4d imaging for ultrasound systems, increased prevalence of pediatric diseases that need imaging for diagnostic purposes, increasing awareness about early diagnosis. Additionally, vast untapped opportunities in developing and less-developed countries are also expected to fuel the markets growth over the next few years.Conversely, lack of skilled personnel for operating imaging devices and carrying out imaging on children is restraining the growth of the pediatric ultrasound market. The limitations of ultrasound diagnostics is also hindering the growth of this market to some extent.Global Pediatric Ultrasound Market: Market PotentialThe scope of ultrasound for diagnostics is more than for abdominal areas of the body. In a recent industry development, high intensity ultrasound was utilized for collapsed intervertebral discs, which would otherwise need invasive surgery.Developed at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Oxford University, the technology allows ultrasound to be targeted at a precise point on the spine. High-intensity focused ultrasound is being considered as the probable new approach for the treatment of chronic back pain that overcomes the limitations of predecessor techniques such as partial disc replacement. High-intensity focused ultrasound involves liquefying the core of the disc, which is advantageous over partial disc replacement that has chances of leaking of the implant through the wall of the disc.Global Pediatric Ultrasound Market: Regional OutlookThe global pediatric ultrasound market can be analyzed with respect to the regional segments of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Amongst these, Asia Pacific contributed the highest revenue to the overall market in the recent past and is expected to be the fastest growing region over the fastest period. In this region, healthcare reforms for wider reach, high incidence of pediatric cardiac diseases, and unmet healthcare needs in developing countries such as China and India are favoring the growth of this market. Europe is expected to be the second-largest regional market as pediatric; while the region is matured for the use of ultrasound devices for pediatric cardiology, the use of technologically advanced devices is at a nascent stage, which is expected to bode well for the markets growth.Global Pediatric Ultrasound Market: Competitive LandscapeThe top players operating in the global pediatric ultrasound market are General Electric Company, Siemens AG, Analogic Corporation, Fujifilm Corporation, Mindray Medical International Limited, Toshiba Corporation, Samsung Medison Co. Ltd, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Esaote SpA, Hitachi Ltd., and Samsung Medison Co. Ltd.View Report @Key players in this market are focused on the development of advanced products to stay competitive in the pediatric ultrasound market. For instance, the increasing demand for compact handheld devices has compelled top players to focus on niche product segments to reap sustainable returns.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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:
Asset Management IT Solution Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast by 2024

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The growing need for IT solutions for the management of assets such as equity, fixed income, real estate, commodities, and international investments is the key factor boosting the deployment and adoption of asset management IT solutions across the globe. Within the U.S., the need for asset management IT solutions is spurred by the increasing number and value of asset managers in the country. The U.S. Department of Commerce states that in 2015, U.S. asset managers held over US$51 trillion worth of long-term conventional assets under management, which amounted to slightly over 47.0% of the global funds that year.The growth in exchange traded funds has also created a need for the management of IT solutions in the U.S. The market for asset management IT solutions in the country is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.1% from 2016 to 2024, rising from a valuation of US$828.5 mn in 2015 to US$1,298.2 mn by 2024.Obtain Report Details @By component, asset management IT services dominate the U.S. market. The service segment is expected to retain its lead throughout the forecast period as asset managers are looking to hire third-party service providers to automate their business processes. Within this segment, enterprise data management services hold the major share, followed by reporting solution and services. This sub-segment is also projected to register strong growth by 2024.Based on application, the asset management IT solution market area is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.9% from 2016 to 2024 owing to the growing number of wealth managers in the U.S. Within this segment, portfolio management accounted for the leading market share in 2015, which can be primarily attributed to the expanding customer base of investment management firms in the country.The U.S. asset management IT solution market, by deployment model, is segmented into cloud-based, on-premise, and hybrid. On-premise software solutions account for the prominent share, followed by hybrid deployment. Owing to rising security concerns over cloud-based services and the need to prevent the leakage of clients critical information, on-premise deployment is expected to hold a significant share in the coming years.Make an Enquiry @The northeastern region of the U.S. is expected to lead the asset management IT solutions market, accounting for a share of over 42.0% in 2016. Retaining its dominance throughout the forecast period, this region is fueled primarily due to the presence of a large number of asset managers.The asset management IT solutions market in the southern region of the country is expected to expand at a high CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the rise in number of investment management firms in order to meet the rising demand for asset management in the region. Furthermore, the adoption of Big Data in investment management supports the growth of the asset management IT solution market in the U.S.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:
Industrial Thermal Insulation Systems - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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A new research report by Transparency Market Research offers a comprehensive evaluation of the global Thermal Insulation Market. The study, titled Industrial Thermal Insulation Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024, is available for sale on the firms website.Industrial Thermal Insulation Market: OverviewInsulation is defined as the process of using a material or a compound made up of different materials that are capable of restricting the flow of thermal or heat energy. Insulation materials carry out the functions such as noise reduction, process control, condensation control, energy conservation, freeze protection, and importantly, reduction of environmental pollution. While selecting an appropriate insulation material, factors such as operating temperature, fire protection, physical stress, service & maintenance, vibration, and water ingress have to be kept in mind.Browse Market Research Report @Thermal insulation has become essential in industries for safety and to reduce heat loss during the manufacturing process. Industrial thermal insulation helps in increasing the sustainability of the manufacturing processes. The process of thermal insulation of industrial equipment and processes protects the personnel at the operating end, reduces environmental impacts, and enhances process security in the long run.Industrial Thermal Insulation Market: Market TrendsThe need for thermal insulation in industries is increasing with every passing day as a result of the increase in awareness regarding the benefits associated with its usage. The materials used for insulation are easily available in various forms and can be effortlessly installed. These forms include flexible blankets, pre-formed shapes & flexible sheets, foams & rigid blocks, sheets, and boards.Ideally, cellular, fibrous, and granular types of materials are employed for industrial thermal insulation, and these are further classified into various sub-types. The fibrous materials are made up of small-diameter fibers of slag wool, rock wool, silica, and alumina silica. Mineral wool and glass fiber products are extensively used in their formulation. Cellular insulation materials are composed of small individual cells separated from each other. The material used may be glass or foamed plastic such as poly-isocyanurate, elastomeric, and polystyrene. Granular insulation materials consists of small nodules which may have hollow spaces or voids.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Some of materials being used for granular isolation are as follows cellulose, calcium silicate, perlite, and expanded vermiculite. Lately, demand for fibrous and cellular thermal insulation material has increased in comparison to that for the granulation variety, since gas can be transferred across granular isolation material, which can reduce of the efficiency of the material.There has been a considerable rise in the number of industries in recent days. With growing industrialization, the awareness about the benefits of insulating materials has increased substantially. Hence, the market for industrial thermal insulation is likely to expand at an exponential rate in the future.Industrial Thermal Insulation Market: Region-wise OutlookThis market is highly dependent on the rate of industrialization observed on a regional as well as global level. The market in North America is dominant due to the presence of major manufacturing companies in leading economies such as the U.S. Asia Pacific exhibits excellent potential for the development of the market due to the presence of various industries in China, India, and Japan.In Europe, awareness about pollution control and increasing environmental concerns have been responsible for the rapid progression of the market for industrial thermal insulation. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa have displayed moderate growth in the previous years, however the market here is likely to advance further in the near future as a result of rising awareness about the use of thermal insulation.Industrial Thermal Insulation Market: Key PlayersKey players operating in the market of industrial thermal insulation include Industrial Insulation Group LLC, Cellofoam North America, Inc., Insulcon Group, URSA Insulation S.A., and Isolatek International, Inc.Get Request For Discount On This Report @The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.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)About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
Zinc Bacitracin Market - Global Industry Analysis,Trends and Forecast 2024

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A new research report by Transparency Market Research offers a comprehensive evaluation of the global Zinc Bacitracin Market. The study, titled Zinc Bacitracin Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024, is available for sale on the firms website.Zinc bacitracin is a mixture of high-molecular-weight polypeptides (bacitracin A, B, C, and several minor components). Zinc bacitracin occurs as a yellowish gray-brown to brown powder. It has characteristic odor. It is freely soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid, water, pyridine, and methol. Bacitracin has antibacterial effect on Gram-negative bacteria, actinomycetes, and leptospirae, and strong antibacterial effect on Gram-positive bacteria. It has growth-promoting effect on chickens (including broilers), pigs, and cattle.Browse Market Research Report @Based on product type, the zinc bacitracin market can be segmented into light brown and tan. The light brown segment accounted for a significant share of the zinc bacitracin market in 2015. The growing animal feed sector is expected to boost the demand for zinc bacitracin in the near future. The increasing demand for poultry farming, pig farming, and calf farming has fueled the demand for animal feed. This, in turn, has augmented the zinc bacitracin market. Promotional efforts taken by governments to encourage animal farming are likely to fuel the demand for animal feed. This, in turn, is estimated to propel the demand for zinc bacitracin during the forecast period.Based on application type, the zinc bacitracin market has been segmented into poultry, pigs, and calves. In 2015, the poultry segment accounted for a significant share of the zinc bacitracin market, due to the increasing number of poultry farms. The increasing demand for milk has driven the demand for calve farming. This, in turn, has boosted the demand for zinc bacitracin. In terms of region, the global zinc bacitracin market has been segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Asia Pacific dominated the global zinc bacitracin market in 2015, followed by Europe and North America.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the global market during the forecast period, due to increase in demand for feeds from developing economies in the region such as China, India, and Japan. Growth of the agro industry in Asia Pacific is anticipated to augment the demand for zinc bacitracin in the region during the forecast period. The market in Asia Pacific is likely to expand also due to growth of the feed industry in the region. The zinc bacitracin market in Asia Pacific is projected to witness rapid growth during the forecast period, due to efforts from local governments to promote the agro industry in the region. The market in Latin America is also anticipated to expand substantially during the forecast period. France held a significant share of the zinc bacitracin market in Europe in 2015. The country is projected to dominate the market in the region in the near future.Demand for zinc bacitracin is anticipated to rise significantly all over the world in the near future, thereby offering high growth opportunities for the global market. Rapid increase in demand from end-use applications, competitive manufacturing costs, and high economic growth rate are propelling the zinc bacitracin market in Asia Pacific. These factors are prompting companies to adopt expansion and R&D strategies in the region. Companies are focusing on Asia Pacific to gain higher market share. Producers of zinc bacitracin have been compelled to adopt expansion and acquisition strategies to meet the rise in global demand. A large number of producers are shifting their plants to countries such as China and India, due to factors such as high demand and low costs of raw material and labor in these countries.Major players operating in the global zinc bacitracin market include Akorn Pharmaceuticals, Perrigo, Pfizer, Shenzhou Animal Medicine, Youhua Pharmaceutical, and Lifecome Biochemistry.Get Request For Discount On This Report @The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.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)About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
Commercial Refrigerators Market Demand for Energy-Efficient Refrigerators

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The commercial refrigerators market in Asia Pacific will continue to rise, with China leading the market from the front, Transparency Market Research says.As the region faces the mushrooming of convenience stores, hypermarkets, super markets, grocery shops, and restaurants, the installation of commercial refrigerators is expected to rise considerably in the forthcoming years. Along with this, the conspicuous demand for energy-efficient solutions will pave the way for research and development activities in the market.Browse Market Research Report:With opportunities for foreign direct investment widening in the food retail sector, Transparency Market Research (TMR) expects the commercial refrigerators market in Asia Pacific to surge at a 9.8% CAGR between 2016 and 2024. Around this time, technologies such as magnetocaloric refrigeration, which offer 20% to 30% reduced energy consumption, will witness wider commercialization.The booming hospitality sector and the food retail industry will enable the commercial refrigerators market in Asia Pacific to reach US$38.83 bn by 2024, rising steadily from nearly US$16.99 bn in 2015.The commercial refrigerators market is gaining considerable traction across China, India, Thailand, and Indonesia.The rapid proliferation of quick service restaurants and the increasing penetration of multinational retailers in these countries have fuelled the demand for energy-efficient commercial refrigerators.China reports the highest demand for commercial refrigerators in Asia Pacific. It held over 33.5% of the Asia Pacific commercial refrigerators market in 2015.The country boasts a considerable presence of both local and multinational manufacturers; hence, commercial refrigerators are available at a comparatively lower purchasing cost in China. This will in turn propel the China commercial refrigerators market at a CAGR of 7.3% by revenue, from 2016 to 2024.Demand for commercial refrigerators is also likely to increase considerably in India, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Rest of Asia Pacific.The market for commercial refrigerators has been segmented based on beverage refrigerators, freezers, refrigerated display cases, glass door refrigerators, retail channels, and fridge freezers.Based on beverage refrigerator type, the market has been bifurcated into beverage refrigerator and wine refrigerator. In terms of revenue, the beverage refrigerator segment emerged dominant in the market, accounting for a share of over 57.2% in 2015.The growth witnessed in the tourism sector is expected to positively influence the sales prospects of beverage refrigerators during the forecast period. However, the segment is expected to lose its market share to the wine refrigerators as alcohol consumption increases in the Philippines.The refrigerated display segment is further categorized into plug-in and remote refrigerated display. By freezer type, the market has been classified into vertical freezers, chest freezers, and ice-cream freezers.In terms of glass door refrigerators, the market comprises glass door refrigerators with storage capacities of 6.1 Cu. Ft. to 9.0 Cu. Ft., 3.1 Cu. Ft. to 6.0 Cu. Ft., 0.5 Cu. Ft to 3.0 Cu. Ft., and others with a storage capacity of more than 9.0 Cu. Ft. Likewise, the fridge freezer segment includes single-door and multi-door fridge freezers.Fill the form to Gain Deeper Insights on this Market:By retail channel, hypermarkets in Asia Pacific are likely to demonstrate the highest demand for commercial refrigerators in 2015. As per TMR, the segment held approximately 30.6% of the market in 2015.Favorable policies encouraging the setting-up of hypermarkets across Asia Pacific will seal the dominance of this segment through the forecast period.Apart from this, the demand for commercial refrigerators is also expected to rise significantly across supermarkets, restaurants, and convenience stores in Asia Pacific.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:
The Mid Michigan Community College Foundation will welcome Scott Lusader, former Detroit Tiger, as the special guest at its annual fundraiser  A Northern Tradition at Jays Sporting Goods on April 23.

Lusader attended the University of Florida before playing in the major leagues. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 6th round of the 1985 amateur draft. He made his Major League debut for the Tigers on Sept. 1, 1987. As a rookie, Lusader hit .319 in 23 games with a .489 slugging percentage, three doubles, a triple, a home run and eight RBIs. In 1991, Lusader signed with the New York Yankees. Lusader will be on hand to share stories from his time as a Tiger, talk to guests, and sign autographs.
A full transcript follows the video.

10 stocks we like better than United Continental Holdings

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This video was recorded on April 10, 2017.

Chris Hill: The head of public relations for United Airlines, whoever he or she is, is having a tough day, and that is because, as you have probably already seen by the time you're listening to this episode of Market Foolery, video has surfaced of a passenger being forcibly removed from a flight that was going from Chicago to Louisville. This was on Sunday. Everything about this, I think, is bad for United Airlines, because the backstory -- this is not some passenger who was drunk or causing trouble. This was, United overbooked the flight, they asked for volunteers to leave so that they could get four United employees to Louisville to service another flight. And they offered $400, and then they offered $800, and then they said, "You know what? We're just going to have a computer pick people at random." So a passenger who had paid for his flight got removed. And Taylor, as you were saying before we started taping, the aviation police, who were doing their job, seemed relatively unconcerned that so many people on that flight had their phones out and were videotaping this situation. And I know this isn't going to hurt their stock today, but among other things, I think, if I were another airline, I would be trolling United so hard with this for so long. I don't know. I think there could be some potential long-term trouble here for United, but maybe I'm wrong.

Taylor Muckerman: It's unfortunate for them, because like you said, it was the Chicago Aviation Police. It wasn't their employees that apparently knocked this gentleman unconscious while trying to drag him off the airplane. Yeah, the Facebook video I saw I had been viewed 360,000 times, and it wasn't a company's page that was liked 360,000 times, it was a regular citizen who probably only had a few thousand friends on there, but 360,000 views shows the virality of this video and how widespread it become in less than 48 hours. Was it yesterday that this happened?

Hill: This was yesterday.

Muckerman: Less than 24 hours, viewed almost 400,000 times on one person's account. Yeah, they're definitely going to see this on social media for quite some time.

Hill: And, you're right, it wasn't United employees who removed this guy. But I look at the underlying business systems that United put in place, and I think, ultimately, it falls back on them. It highlights how airlines overbook.

Muckerman: Yeah, they're not the only ones that overbook. All of them do it.

Hill: Yeah. But in this case, they're overbooking so that they can get employees from point A to point B. Why are you stopping at $800 if you're trying to get people to leave a flight voluntarily?

Muckerman: This is going to cost them way more than $800.

Jason Moser: And if you think, too, if you go 10 or 20 years back, to when this was something airlines would do, and I think travelers probably assigned more value to that travel voucher back then than they do. I think a lot of that is because the way the internet has changed everything we do, from e-commerce to travel to banking. What I think the internet has ultimately done is helped us realize placing more value on our time. In any scenario, you value your time moreso today than I think we could have 10 or 20 years ago, because there were not as many choices. So when you get stuck on an airplane and they're trying to get people to take off and take a travel voucher and take a later flight, like, "That $400, I guess I could do something, but it's such a nightmare going to the airport and dealing with getting through security and getting on the plane, nobody likes flying on those planes with those little tiny seats." All of the sudden, United becomes ... any airline is going to have to look at that and say, "Maybe $400 isn't going to cut it." Maybe $800 does cut it. Maybe there are a few people on the plane that will go ahead and take that offer. But, again, I think, why in the world do they so consistently overbook flights? You have a fixed number of seats. It's not like it takes a PhD to figure this out. So obviously, they do something where they're relying on some sort of statistical measure, where it says how many people might not show up for a flight, or however many cancellations might exist, and they can overbook by this amount. But, I do think, for someone, I look at myself and I am, generally speaking, about as apathetic to any given airline brand when it comes to flying. I'm just looking for a plane that's not going to go down, and I want a reasonable price, and I want you to get me there quickly. But man, after this, I have to say, I don't think I would want to buy a ticket for a United flight because of this. I don't see anything good that came of this. There was the dress code thing that wasn't too terribly long ago, either, which I found to be pretty absurd, honestly. They're just not doing themselves any favors.

Hill: And I don't know if you saw this, but in response to the whole United flight not letting the two young women on because they had leggings, Delta Air Lines tweeted out something about how, "Flying Delta means flying comfortable, even if you just want to wear leggings."

Moser: Yeah, you should go out in public and you should be dressed in such a way that is not provocative or questionable. But hey, instead of focusing on the dress code, why don't you focus on people that smell bad? Right? Have you ever sat on a plane next to somebody who stinks? Because that's offensive.

Hill: I think that's going to be a tough one to put into a system.

Muckerman: Well, they're both subjective.

Moser: I don't think so. I think fashion is subjective. Objectively, you either smell or you don't. And if you smell, I don't want to sit next to you.
NORMAL  An organization that works to keep older adults independent has lifted its temporary ban on new applicants after an influx of new volunteers.

Faith in Action lifted its ban on Thursday after 11 new volunteers were approved and trained in the past two weeks, said Faith in Action Director Doretta Herr.

As of Thursday, Faith in Action had 422 volunteers and 586 people needing assistance, which the organization calls care receivers.

"Thankfully, with more volunteers coming into the organization, we have been able to lift the ban and serve more people in the community," Herr said.

Faith in Action volunteers drive seniors to medical appointments, provide grocery shopping assistance, do friendly visits and perform seasonal maintenance in Bloomington-Normal, Heyworth, Hudson and Towanda.

From November through March, the number of volunteers increased by 41 to 411, Herr said. But the number of those needing assistance increased by more than 90 to 592.

Faith in Action put a temporary hold on accepting new care receivers in March so volunteers wouldn't feel overwhelmed.

Even so, Faith in Action volunteers provided 1,085 visits or transports in March  a record monthly high for the organization, Herr said.

Since a March 28 Pantagraph article on the temporary hold, 11 new volunteers were added as the number of care receivers declined slightly as six individuals died or moved into long-term care facilities, Herr said. This prompted Herr to lift the ban on Thursday.

Anyone who needs assistance may call 309-827-7780. Anyone who wishes to volunteer may call the same number or email office@bnfia.org.

Faith in Action receives no state or federal money, instead relying on donations  especially from church congregations  along with grants from United Way of McLean County and Illinois Prairie Community Foundation.
NORMAL  Progress is being made to address climate change, but continued collaboration and patience are needed, says a woman who led one of the first international commissions to tackle the subject.

Gro Brundtland, the first female prime minister of Norway and former environment minister, headed the World Commission on Environment and Development in the mid-1980s. She spoke with students at Illinois State University on Thursday afternoon before delivering the Adlai Stevenson Memorial Lecture at Illinois Wesleyan University later in the day.

The Brundtland Commission's report put climate change and development into the context of our common future.

I knew there was no way to take care of the environment without taking care of development, said Brundtland, noting the reluctance of developing countries to be left behind by strict environmental rules.

Unfortunately, the economic crisis that hit much of the world in 2008 made it more difficult for countries to devote the amount of resources to fulfill the promise to help the poorer countries to make the transition to the sustainable development model, she said.

However, she noted progress being made in China, Brazil and Nordic countries such as Norway and Sweden.

Asked about President Donald Trump's campaign promise to pull out of the Paris climate agreement, Brundtland said, I'm quite optimistic that as increased wisdom enters also into the White House, it will be recognized that it is not as simple as an election campaign slogan.

She said, The Paris agreement is important because it gives the framework for addressing climate change.

I don't think the rest of the world will go back  even if the U.S. should walk out, she said, adding you can't just walk out easily.

Brundtland expressed concern about the potential impact of Trump's proposed 30 percent cut to the Environmental Protection Agency.

However, she said, I'm hoping that as people start to realize what some of this deregulation means  when air quality is going to be reduced,  then I think people will get upset.

In response to questions on other topics, Brundtland said:

 There's no way to prove whether more investment in economic development would have reduced terrorism, but not to do it is obviously stupid. She said, When people are poor, when people have no future, there is more frustration.

 Publicly financed campaigns in Norway allow politicians to have a more long-term outlook because they are not beholden to campaign donors with short-term interests. This is a dangerous system you have.

 With the impending withdrawal of Britain from the European Union and nationalist movements elsewhere, what we are seeing today are populist forces arguing based on people's frustration over their economic situations getting worse or not improving.

 Nuclear power is not the solution to sustainable energy. But, with 15 percent to 20 percent of the world's energy coming from nuclear power and the need to reduce use of fossil fuels, it would be hard to eliminate nuclear power despite its risks and problems with nuclear waste.
Cheers

... to Destihl, on the planned May 27 opening of its new brewery and public beer hall at 1200 Greenbriar Drive, Normal. Destihl's original microbrewery and restaurant at 318 S. Towanda Ave., and a sister site in Champaign, will remain open.

The $14 million project is expected to created 70 jobs. The project received no local incentives, but got $150,000 in state benefits through an enterprise zone program.

For Destihl's owners, staff and fans, as well as Normal's tax base, the project is good news indeed.

Cheers

... to Westminster Village, a nonprofit continuing care retirement facility in Bloomington, on its groundbreaking for a $33 million expansion that will provide more space and services for many residents.

Cheers

... to the YMCA McLean County's Strong Kids campaign, which raises money to provide scholarships and memberships for families who cannot afford the facility fees.

Last year, YMCA provided 2,360 scholarships valued at $204,190.

"Strong Kids helps people who want to better themselves and better their community," said Executive Director B.J. Wilken.

That's an idea everyone can support. To donate, visit www.bnymca.org or call 309-827-6233.

Tithing?

... Given the interest in the state's top job by millionaires and billionaires, perhaps the legislature should consider a new rule:

Anyone filing for governor who has a net worth of more than $5 million must agree to donate 1 percent of his or her wealth to a fund set up to pay off the state's debt.

A cheer and a jeer

... Congratulations to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum for becoming its own agency, separated from the Illinois Historical Preservation Agency, by executive order of the governor.

The move should allow the site more autonomy. One of its first moves, though, deserves a jeer: removing the statue of John Wilkes Booth from the museum plaza, where the statue has stood since the museum opened in 2005. A spokesman said the move allows visitors to focus on Lincoln's life, not his death.

The uplifting story of Lincoln's life is all the more tragic because of how it ended. Removing the statue won't change the facts and, unfortunately, will scrub history for the museum's many young visitors.

Cheers

... to state Sen. Andy Manar, a Bunker Hill Democrat, for moving forward on a nursing bill that would allow community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees in nursing.

There's a great need for health professionals in this country. If the nurses can do their jobs, no one should point fingers at where they received their degrees.

Before awarding the bachelor's degree, Senate Bill 888 says the community college must document workforce needs, have faculty for the program and be accredited.
The last two weeks have been a crash course in branding gone terribly, horribly wrong. After trying to capitalize on activist culture, Pepsi was forced to pull an ad and issue an apology for the campaign that had Kendall Jenner achieve peace between protesters and police officers with the help of a soft drink. Then, after violently removing a passenger from an airplane, United Airlines offered a pseudo-sorry by blaming the incident on an oversold flight. And while both represented vastly different ends of the spectrum of nightmares (a marketing clusterfuck versus a breach of human rights), they still shed light on the crumbling nature of our relationship with brands: mainly, that maybe brands should just stop trying so hard.

After all, brands haven't always thirsted for friendship. As Mad Men helped illuminate, the industry once heavily relied on a type of marketing hierarchy: brands dictated the terms through which customers would be compelled to buy them, and customers would subscribe to a particular product or logo to assure that they were building a life defined by product-set norms.

With the rise of consumer (and general) cynicism during the nineties and noughties, brands began to adjust their 'top down' model and try harder to reflect the culture around them. And yet they still remained one step ahead. The massively successful Y2K-era Budweiser campaign (a.k.a. dudes shouting "WHASSUP?" into the phone) became a late '90s/early aughts touchstone and ode to male friendship and predated the explosion of Apatowian-style bromance flicks.

Brands! They were just like us.

But if ten years ago brands were attempting to be in tune with the culture while still influencing it, that model has changed today. Social media became an equalizer and thanks to Twitter, Instagram, or even official Facebook pages, consumers now dictate the terms through which brands can operate. An @-reply leads to a conversation between social media managers and customers, all under the guise of communicating with the business itself. Or, when social media accounts go rogue (like when McDonalds' account was hacked and tweeted anti-Trump sentiments), the brands earn kudos and new customers. But both circumstances reflect the flipped dynamic of advertising's original model: brands are now at the mercy of consumers, who realize they can ultimately make or break them.

And yet by ceding complete control to the consumer, brands have become less cool. The Pepsi ad tragically demonstrated how brands desperately chase after their audiences and their audience's perceived ideologies ... despite these same audiences not wanting that. In 2017, we don't need to feel "understood" by brands, nor do we need to feel like they're our friends or our allies. (We can tell when a company is just 'talking the talk' and not 'walking the walk so if you actually want to be an ally, donate a portion of all sales to a non-profit -- or don't back parties or politicians who actively campaign against things like human rights.) We know the person helming an official Twitter isn't the CEO of the company, and we know that while our money is important to a brand or business, we -- as people -- aren't.

Which is why the only brands making real headway seem to be those who reject advertising norms -- and especially in fashion and beauty. Names making the biggest impact are ones staging a comeback after years out of the spotlight (like Adidas and Juicy Couture) and their campaigns rest squarely on showcasing the talent of artists like Petra Collins or their celebrity collaborators (see: Kanye West). Even Rihanna's recent collection with Puma has rejected the approach to marketing that gives consumers the power the way most brands tend to: her S/S 2017 campaign, shot by photographers Luigi and Iango , delivers only striking images of Rihanna wearing Puma. It doesn't care if you buy it, and that makes it cool.

We also know that with our increased awareness, we're wading further and further into the depths of post-marketing. As brands trip over each other to find new and #hip ways to appeal to younger demographics, repainting themselves in shades of the revolution, we edge away, comforted in knowing that we finally have the power in our longstanding relationship -- and that somewhere, Don Draper is freaking out about who clued us into not needing pantyhouse. And while it's a scary thing to imagine the reconstruction of an industry as familiar as it is powerful, it can work to create bigger and better conversations around marketing and branding and why products are still considered an extension of human worth.

And that ideology will also serve to make brands more creative and more interesting, too. With the pressure off to be our pals or to pander to our sense of fear in the wake of international crises, there's going to be more room for transparency or simplicity or even honesty -- and especially more campaigns that market the pieces and not the myth of the lifestyle attached to them. As we know, the world is changing and we are changing in it. And the best way for brands to adapt is to welcome those changes and let us make ours, trusting that if they're delivering something worthwhile, we'll always come back to them.
In New Mexico, gone will be the days of children eating hot lunches in exchange of cleaning the cafeteria. State governor Susana Martinez recently approved a bill that outlaws "lunch shaming" as a form of discrimination among school kids that stigmatized and penalized students for almost half a century.

Lawmaker, Michael Padilla, proposed the law that aims to stop the exact shaming he experienced over the course of his childhood. The senator lived a poor life at the foster care during younger years and he struggled to pay meal dues at school. Just to fill his grumbling stomach during school days, Padilla had no other choice and forced himself to pay in terms of labor, or else he gets no hot lunch.

Padilla recalled that there are times he got to skip the cleaning job. However, no decent lunch should be expected. The 44-year-old lawmaker told NBC News that in one instance, he got only a piece of bread and cheese.

This cruel deprivation marked into his consciousness of Padilla until he became adult. Decades past and Padilla said he was shocked to know that it was still happening in the country.

"We're one of the wealthiest and most powerful nations in the world and we're not feeding our children lunch," Padilla told the publication. "They are experiencing real hunger in the middle of the school day and to me that's just unacceptable."

Formally known as the Hunger-Free Students Bill of Rights, the anti-lunch shaming bill is the nation's first move end the discrimination among students who cannot afford hot lunches. Under the initiative, students from the all income brackets are given equal rights in receiving decent meals at school.

The law also required schools to adhere to all anti-stigmatization practices. Per NPR, the no-shaming act also discourages school to force students in trashing their food for not being able to pay their current or prior lunches.

After New Mexico took a progressive leap in ending the discrimination, state of California followed the trail and lobbied for the same version before the local legislature. Senator Robert Hertzberg filed the Child Hunger Prevention and Fair Treatment Act of 2017, according to CBS Local-San Francisco Bay Area.
A toddler who swallowed a tiny lithium battery from car keys almost lost her life. She survived a harrowing ordeal after a surgery but her doctors fear she might never walk.

Kacie had inexplicable diarrhea two months ago and when this escalated to vomiting, her mom, Cheryl Bell, brought her to the hospital. After some tests, doctors told the family Kacie swallowed a tiny lithium battery. The mom knew where it came from as she recalled her car keys' battery fell out.

It took nine days for the hospital staff to flush out the button battery from Kacie's body and eight more days for the toddler to recover before she was discharged. Five days later, however, the family returned to the hospital when Kacie vomited blood.

"The acid from the battery burned through her stomach and two arteries in her back which has left her unable to walk," Bell said, as per Kidspot. Doctors operated on the toddler for over six hours amid a 60-40 chance she could die. Her lower back's arteries and esophagus were severely damaged.

Kacie survived the surgery and underwent recovery for eight more weeks. Doctors told her mom she's paralyzed from the waist down and she won't be out of the hospital for another month.

A lithium battery is a real threat in many homes as it is found in several toys and electronic gadgets. If swallowed, the button batteries could get lodged in the throat and the saliva causes a chemical reaction that could lead to burning.

At least 80 percent of children in America suffered permanent damage from ingesting lithium battery, while 15 kids ended up dead in the last six years, as per the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Kacie's ordeal served as another warning for parents who might disregard the risks of lithium batteries in kids.

Most the time parents are unaware their children have swallowed the batteries. They have to watch out for symptoms like constant crying, decreased interest in eating or drinking, drooling, hoarseness in the voice, vomiting and abdominal pain. Learn more about lithium battery poisoning below.
A study revealed that having a same-race teacher can significantly reduce dropout rates among African-American students. Researchers found one black teacher in third, fourth and fifth grade can minimize the number of low-income African-American student's drop-out rate by 39 percent.

African-American students are more likely to graduate high school and get impressive GPAs if they'd have at least one same-race teacher during their elementary years. The students also have a stronger expectation that they will be going to college as a result of having a black teacher.

These findings were published in IZA Institute of Labor Economics. The authors, Seth Gershenson and Constance A. Lindsay of American University, Cassandra M.D. Hart of U.C. Davis and Nicholas Papageorge at Johns Hopkins, studied the records of 100,000 African-American elementary students in North Carolina. They then did a comparison to by taking a look at the records of the students who when to Tennessee, according to NPR.

The students who had one black teacher during their elementary years graduated high school with impressive grades. The strikingly positive results impressed the researchers. The published paper was an addition to another finding for social science.

The study on the correlation of having the same race teacher and the African-American student's GPA paved way for educators to consider teachers of the same race during elementary education. The paper also prompted schools to train teachers to be more culturally responsive and disregard culture biased teaching.

Biases are not just limited to the law, but it is applicable to the educational system as well. As per a previous NPR article, there are cases wherein white teachers are more receptive to students of the same color.

Black students, on the other hand, are often recommended for gifted programs by teachers of color. African-American families are often thankful for schools with black teachers as they can see the positive impact of the teacher towards their child's learning.
A hospital reportedly denied a Utah teenager to undergo a lung transplant after he tested positive for marijuana. Due to the hospital's refusal, the teenager nearly died.

The teenager, 19-year-old Riley Hancey, suffered a severe form of pneumonia since Thanksgiving. Due to his condition, his lung collapsed, as per the fundraising page set up for him. They added that Hancey lost all the gas exchange function of his lungs, hence, the reason why he needed lung transplant. He was even on life support for a whole month.

Days before his hospital admission, CBS News reported that the teen smoked marijuana. The teen's family said that he is a healthy adolescent that loves to travel. Unfortunately, he smoked marijuana on Thanksgiving night with his friends. They added He did not smoke any drug or used any substance for a whole year before smoking pot with his friends during that day.

Meanwhile, the hospital involved in the incident was the University of Utah Hospital. The staff reportedly denied the teen to have a spot on the transplant list.

"She (the doctor) was willing to let him die over testing positive for marijuana," Hancey's father Mark said in a statement. "That is what shocked me."

According to reports, there are no federal laws regarding the use of marijuana among people who need to undergo an organ transplant. To qualify for a lung transplant, the recipient must fall under the guidelines developed by the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation. The patient should not have any of the following: a malignancy in the last two years, untreatable advanced dysfunction of another major organ system, non-curable chronic extrapulmonary infection, significant chest wall or spinal deformity or absence of a consistent or reliable social support system, ATS Journals revealed.

The hospital said in a statement that they do not have a specific policy regarding marijuana use but active use of alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug use or dependencies are absolute contraindications. Until these issues are addressed, they will qualify as recipients.

It was unclear what took place and why the hospital changed their stand on letting Hancey undergo a lung transplant. He received his new set of lungs on March 29.
Earlier this morning Patently Apple posted a report titled "Japanese Public Broadcaster NHK Claims that Apple may be Joining Foxconn's Bid for Toshiba." At the end of the report I added: "Should Apple not be a part of the deal, Foxconn could always get needed funding from Japanese partner Softbank via it's technology fund that both Foxconn and Apple have invested in. The connection to Japan's Softbank could be the key to a deal for the Foxconn bid. Remember that Foxconn and Softbank have a joint venture for designing ARM chips and so having Toshiba would be a nice fit for both Foxconn and Softbank" Now the Nikkei is reporting that Foxconn is seeking SoftBank's assistance in their bid for Toshiba's chip unit.

The Nikkei has learned that Taiwanese contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry, also known as Foxconn, has asked for help from Japanese telecommunications giant SoftBank Group in its bid to acquire Toshiba's memory business.

With SoftBank's backing, Foxconn is preparing to begin negotiations with Japanese banks and related companies over the deal. There is also talk that Foxconn, a major iPhone assembler, may partner with Apple for the bid.

When Foxconn acquired Japanese electronics powerhouse Sharp in spring 2016, SoftBank's chairman Masayoshi Son introduced the Foxconn's Terry Gou to Japanese banks. Son's assistance in the Toshiba bid is expected to come in a similar form -- through his assurances rather than money. For more on this, read the Nikkei report here.

In December Patently Apple posted a report titled "Sharp's Terry Gou Deliberately Drops Samsung as a Customer & Sends Samsung into a Panic." At the time the Taiwan press reported that Foxconn had declared war against Samsung. Samsung did in fact panic at Foxconn's decisive move and actually ate crow by making a deal with arch rival LG to supply them with LCD's that Foxconn denied them.

If Foxconn were to acquire Toshiba it could mean gaining Apple's memory business and delivering another blow to Samsung. Such a scenario would have many in the Apple community applauding Foxconn's Chairman Gou.

About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.
We can and probably should overlook the slight hint  reflected in the title and, just a bit, in the article itself  that, in contemplating Utah, Christians are observing a laboratory full of heathens. (It reminds me of a pamphlet that I saw many years ago that was designed to raise money to buy a radio station in Utah Valley. The plan was to beam Christian messages into an area that, the authors of the pamphlet informed its readers, had fewer Christians per capita than India.)

On the whole, the article is positive, pleasing, and . . . well, encouraging.

Matthew 7:16-20.
Before Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube made their entry in the media market, the PatnaDaily had already registered its presence in...
Mahatma Gandhi once said, A nations greatness is measured by how it looks after its weakest members.

As the long-awaited Mental Healthcare Bill is debated in the Rajya Sabha, it is interesting to consider the state of care in Bihar. Bihar has seen great leaps forward in recent years towards helping those in need, with a growth strategy which prioritises development. However, mental healthcare is one area where perhaps progress is being made at a slower pace. But why should we focus on mental health? Widespread stigma around mental illness may lead many to wonder whether there is a need for mental health care in Bihar at all. The answer is unequivocally yes.

There is plenty of evidence to show that mental illness is common worldwide, and Bihar is no exception: as evidenced by the large numbers of people accessing existing services. But these services are limited. At present there is only one specialist hospital for mental health in the entire state, and amongst state health facilities only Medical College Hospitals provide mental healthcare. None of these hospitals provide any psychosocial therapies  increasingly seen as the gold standard elsewhere in the world. Furthermore, medications prescribed are often unavailable at Medical College Hospitals so patients are required to purchase them from private pharmacies. To understand why this is so problematic it is important to understand what is meant by mental illness.

Mental illnesses are wide-ranging: from those that are common such as depression, anxiety and addiction, to those that are more severe like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They are thought to be caused by a combination of biological, social and psychological factors, therefore anyone can be affected. However episodes of mental illness can often be transient, and with appropriate care those affected can live normal lives. But due to the combination of possible causes, social and psychological interventions can be just as important as medication.

Improvements in care are important because there is a vicious cycle between mental illness and poverty. Poverty is a significant social risk factor for mental illness, and those with mental illness are more likely to experience poverty due to problems such as unemployment. Many people with mental illness must travel extremely long distances every month, sometimes for many years, to access care. This is not only difficult due to the illness but also because of the cost. Understandably, it often leads to people stopping treatment early or not taking medications regularly.

A common misconception is that care is unaffordable; in a state like Bihar there are limited resources so basic needs must be prioritised. Actually, a new model of health care is being developed, specifically to address this problem. Non-specialists are trained to provide care within communities, and only those who do not respond to conventional treatments or have a severe illness are referred to a specialist. To those keen on implementing the Western model of specialised care, this may seem concerning. However there is a vast amount of research, including a number of studies in India, to show that this is effective. In fact, this model is likely to be outlined in the new District Mental Health Plan.

Furthermore, state provision of treatments may actually be cost-effective due to an increase in productivity of those receiving treatment. An NGO treatment programme for mental illness in Bihar demonstrated an improvement in employment status, reduced number of days out of employment due to illness, and reduced requirement of number of hours of care provided by a caregiver.

Internationally India is considered a pioneer among low and middle income countries in identifying the importance of mental health. With the Mental Healthcare Bill announcing governmental responsibility to provide care, perhaps it is time that Bihar incorporates treatment of mental illness into its development strategy. The launch of the new District Mental Health Plan provides an ideal opportunity. And with special status, central government sponsorship will be increased substantially. The fate of thousands suffering due to difficulties in accessing care may be about to change.

Prianka Padmanathan is a final year medical student from the United Kingdom who is doing a short student placement with BasicNeeds.
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Iran's Presidential Elections: Has Hassan Rouhani Met His Match?

04/14/17

By Shireen T. Hunter (source: LobeLog)



The duel of President Hassan Rohani (L) and Hojatoleslam Ibrahim Raeisi

Source: Seda magazine





Until only a few weeks ago, Iran's hardliners lacked a candidate of any stature in Iran's forthcoming presidential elections in May 2017. These principlists floated names of people such as Saeed Jalili, a former negotiator on Iran's nuclear dossier during the Ahmadinejad presidency, and Tehran's mayor Mohammad Baghir Ghalibaf (who contested the presidency in 2005 and in 2013), as well as a few even lesser known personalities. This paucity of any so-called heavy hitters in the principlists' list of presidential candidates seemed to indicate that as has been the general practice in Iran, the current leader will be elected to a second term.

This still may be the case, and President Hassan Rouhani may yet serve another term. But that scenario is now complicated by the entry into the race of Hojatoleslam Ibrahim Raeisi, the head of the vast complex centered around the shrine of the eighth Shia Imam Ali ibn Musa al Riza and a candidate to succeed Ayatollah Khamenei as the supreme leader. Although Raeisi is not technically representing the principlists and is running as an independent candidate, he is more conservative than the reformist Rouhani. More important, his candidacy raises serious questions about the direction of Iran's domestic politics and its foreign policy.

Raeisi's entry into the presidential race undermines the prospects of Rouhani being elected for a second term. Someone of Raeisi's stature and future prospects would not likely have entered the race if he were not sure of victory, especially given that he'd said several times that he had no intention of running for president. A defeat in the forthcoming presidential elections could and, most probably would, damage his image and thus undermine his chances of acceding to the exalted position of supreme leader. Moreover, he reportedly has the trust of Ayatollah Khamenei, who has generally had uneasy relations with various presidents in the past. Some strain in relations between the leader and any president is inevitable, especially when the leader sets all the policy priorities and defines the perimeters within which the president can operate and yet bears no responsibility for the outcome of his decisions. All the government's shortcomings are laid at the door of the president and often its success is attributed to the guidance provided by the supreme leader.

Meanwhile, if the president becomes too successful or popular, it generates resentment on the part of the supreme leader. Thus, to be comfortable, the supreme leader must have someone whom he can completely trust and who will not try to steal the limelight. Of course, there is no guarantee that if he becomes president, Raeisi might not become less pliant just as, for instance, Ahmadinejad did. But at the moment, he is the most trustworthy candidate from the leader's perspective.

There are other reasons why the leader might not want Rouhani any more. Rouhani's presidency was directly related to the sense of crisis in Iran in 2013. The economy was reeling under the pressure of heavy sanctions, and with the unresolved nuclear dossier the risk of a US strike on Iran was ever-present. Rouhani was chosen to solve this problem. The leader reluctantly supported his efforts, constantly warning of America's untrustworthiness.

Rouhani performed this task quite successfully. But as Iran's expectations of the economic benefits of the nuclear deal did not materialize, the unhappiness of the supreme leader and the opponents of the nuclear deal increased. Hassan Rouhani as the personification of the nuclear deal thus became a target of their ire.

Most important, it soon became clear that to reap the full benefits of the deal, Iran would have to make other adjustments in its external behavior as well as open up the country's political and cultural scene. But this is what the hardliners and those in charge of economic fiefdoms that have grown in the post-revolution period did not want.

As Rouhani talked about how Iran's economic progress and revitalization required greater contacts with the outside world, the leader and the hardliners talked about an economy of resistance and the need for a "Jihadi" management to solve the country's economic difficulties. Others became concerned about the negative cultural impact of the relative increase in the number of Western visitors to Iran. Some, like Rostam Ghasemi, a former Revolutionary Guard general and minister of oil, argued that Iran should focus only on visitors from Muslim countries.

The significance of these debates however, goes beyond the results of the forthcoming elections to encompass the future of the Islamic Republic. Will the system embrace reform and become a more progressive, national and inclusive version of itself, or will it persist in pursuing old patterns that have brought the country where it is now? In the past, the so-called system (Nizam) has experimented with limited reform to weather economic and political challenges-under Mohammad Khatami and Rouhani-only to fall back on old practices.

However, Iran can no longer afford such sharp swings as illustrated by the passage from Khatami to Ahmadinejad. The country has to choose one option and stick with it. The only option that makes sense and is supported by the majority of the people is that of reform and opening up to the outside world. The persistence of behaviors that have outlived their usefulness will only exacerbate the Islamic system's many internal contradictions, and could ultimately endanger its very existence.

Raeisi's candidacy, however, seems to indicate that the hardliners are not convinced of this view. They seem to believe that the preservation of what they call revolutionary values and behavior will be the salvation of the regime. Interestingly, in their argument they refer to the Soviet Union's experience. Unlike the reformists, that saw in the USSR's demise the need for reform, the hardliners believe that Gorbachev's abandonment of socialist principles led to the Soviet Union's demise. And they are determined to avoid it.

Of course, all this analysis might be wrong, and Raeisi's candidacy might be for the purpose of getting him more national exposure and some government experience as part of his grooming for the Supreme Leadership. Whatever the real reason behind his candidacy one thing is clear, Iran as a country and people can no longer afford experimentations and gyrations in national policy.





About the Author:



Shireen T. Hunter is a Research Professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Her latest book is Iran Divided: Historic Roots of Iranian Debates on Identity, Culture, and Governance in the 21st Century (Rowman & Littlefield, 2014).




U.S. Sanctions Tehran Prison Organization, Official For Abuses

04/14/17

Source: RFE/RL

WASHINGTON -- The United States says it has sanctioned the Tehran Prisons Organization and a top official in connection with "serious human rights abuses" in Iran. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on April 13 said it was sanctioning Sohrab Soleimani and the prison organization, an action it said reflects "deep concern" regarding the human rights situation in the country.





Journalist Keyvan Samimi stands in front of Evin prison



Soleimani was head of the Tehran Prisons Organization at the time of the alleged abuses and still has a leadership role in the state prison organization that supervises the Tehran prisons, OFAC said. He is the brother of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Qassem Soleimani.



OFAC said the Tehran Prisons Organization "is responsible for or complicit in the commission of serious human rights abuses against political prisoners housed in Evin prison."



The statement called Evin prison one of the country's "most notorious facilities," citing the mistreatment and abuse of prisoners of conscience.



It noted accounts by former Evin prisoners of harsh interrogations, forced confessions, psychological and physical torture, and denied access to medical care.



The statement cited an April 2014 incident at the prison in which security guards and senior prison officials attacked and severely beat political prisoners for several hours.



Under OFAC regulations, sanctions generally make it more difficult for a person or organization to interact with U.S. and foreign financial institutions.
Apple is the latest company to be linked with a possible bid for an investment in Toshibas sizable computer memory business, which is up for sale.

The company is prepared to make a direct investment of several billion dollars in Toshiba Memory for a stake of several tens of percent, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported in its lunchtime news.

The report said Apple is also considering a joint bid with Foxconn Technology, which manufactures the iPhone. Toshiba is a major supplier of components for the iPhone.

Apple could not immediately be reached for comment.

The memory chip business is one of the Toshibas jewels, but is up for sale as part of Toshibas attempts to dig itself out of a multibillion dollar hole caused by the collapse of Westinghouse. Cost overruns and delays on projects in South Carolina and Georgia incurred billions of dollars in losses.

Earlier this week, Toshiba finally released its first financial report in nine months, reporting a $5.9 billion dollar loss due to the problems at nuclear power business Westinghouse. The memory chip business reported a profit of $934 million on sales of $5.8 billion.

The release came without the blessing of auditorsa highly unusual move for a Japanese companyand with a warning that the entire company could collapse.

Any acquisition of the memory chip business faces hurdles.

The business is run as a joint venture with Western Digital under a deal that is said to give the U.S. company exclusive negotiating rights over any acquisition of Toshibas stake.

Also, Japan is hesitant to allow a foreign company to acquire the business, because it doesnt want key Japanese semiconductor technology to fall into foreign ownership.
If you operate a small or medium-size U.S. business, you can expect to pay more for broadband services in the near future because the U.S. Federal Communications Commission plans to deregulate providers of business data lines, critics of the proposal say.

Users of ATMs, shoppers in stores that use credit card scanners, and mobile phone customers could also see prices go up after the FCC deregulates the so-called business data services (BDS) market. Schools and hospitals also depend on BDS for their broadband service, and prices could rise as much as 25 percent in areas where the FCC removes price caps, critics warn.

The FCC is scheduled to vote Thursday on a proposal from Republican Chairman Ajit Pai that would deregulate large parts of the BDS market, which generates an estimated US$45 billion a year for AT&T, Verizon, and other telecom carriers. Incumbent telecom carriers welcome the plan, saying theres plenty of competition in the BDS market, sometimes called special access.

Small businesses, ATM providers, and other customers who depend on low-speed, sub-50Mbps broadband service are most likely to be hit with cost increases because 86 percent of those low-speed customers across the U.S. have only one broadband option, said Chip Pickering, CEO of INCOMPAS, a trade group for small telecom carriers.

That statistic comes from the FCCs own analysis of the business data service market, collected in about 2013, but the FCC itself noted less than a year ago, in July, that an estimated 73 percent of BDS customer locations are served by just one provider, and only 3 percent have more than two providers.

But now, after a change in party leadership at the agency, the FCC has found theres intense competition present in this market.

After a decade of calls to reform the market, a 2016 proposal at the FCC would have capped, and in some cases cut, prices on some business data lines. But the FCC scrapped the proposal in November after pressure from congressional Republicans.

The 2016 proposal had support from businesses, mobile carriers, and even some incumbent business data providers, but the new proposal is a complete reversal of where the FCC was heading, Pickering said.

Pais proposal focuses on new competition to the large telecom carriers and potential competition in the form of business data network facilities within a half mile of many customer locations. The new proposal depends largely on anticipated competition, not existing competition, Pickering said.

Adding to his concerns: Incumbent telecom carrier CenturyLink is planning to acquire competing network provider Level 3, and earlier this year, Verizon closed its deal to acquire fiber network builder XO Communications. Those mergers take out competitive choice, Pickering said.

Pickering called on the FCC to delay the new proposal until it can move forward on Pais plans to jump-start broadband deployment in rural areas. New broadband deployment can bring new competition to the business data market, he said.

The Computer and Communications Industry Association, a trade group representing tech vendors, called on the FCC to put a three-year moratorium on BDS rate increases. CCIA fears that rapid deregulation would beget rapid price increases from incumbent BDS providers to their customers, the trade group said in a letter sent Wednesday to the FCC.

Supporters of Pais plan discount concerns that prices will rise, saying theres already significant competition in the BDS market. Critics who see a lack of competition subdivide this market and make all these distinctions to reach their own conclusions, said Jonathan Banks, senior vice president for law and policy at USTelecom, a trade group representing large telecom carriers.

Cable providers and many smaller, competing telecom carriers are focused on the small business market. In addition, many new, competing networks already come within a few dozen meters of small business locations, Banks said. If a small business wants a competing service, its a matter of connecting to a network thats a block or two away, he said.

In 2016, the FCC found that competing networks within a half mile of a location served by a single provider had a competitive effect on pricing, Banks noted.

Pais proposal isnt as big of a change from the 2016 FCC plan as some critics make it out to be, Banks said. Pais plan would still keep price regulations on a third of the slower, legacy BDS market across the U.S., instead of the two-thirds that are regulated now, he added.

That means prices arent likely to rise, Banks said. In the high-speed, Ethernet-based market, where incumbent telecom carriers go up against smaller competitors and cable providers, prices have been falling for years, he said. We think the trend here is falling prices.
Authored by LGBT travel experts Jeff Guaracino and Ed Salvato, and published by the Harrington Park Press, Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality: A Guide for Business Practice is now available for marketing professionals, business owners, and allied professionals.

The Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality is an easy-to-read, practical, and relevant guidebook that includes interviews with nearly a hundred industry experts, and analyzing multiple emerging trends among LGBT travelers.

The handbook will help marketing professionals, business owners, and allied professionals compete in the increasingly competitive global LGBT travel and hospitality industry. Dozens of contributors helped make this book the most inclusive and comprehensive guide of its kind. It is intended for industry specialists in the tourism and hospitality fields, as well as academics and students in tourism and hospitality studies.

To prepare this handbook, co-authors Guaracino and Salvato traveled to six continents and worked with hundreds of individuals and companies. Input from almost a hundred expert industry consultants and authorities helped make this book the most inclusive and comprehensive guide of its kind.

Given the vast opportunity for diverse marketing to LGBT travelers, it is published at an opportune time as the LGBT tourism and hospitality industry expands in a challenging political climate.

According to Thomas Roth, President of Community Marketing & Insights: [This volume is] Educational. Balanced. Entertaining. Practical. Required! These are just a few words that come to mind when reviewing this tremendous achievement. Jeff and Ed share invaluable insights that can only come with decades of personal experience and professional success in LGBT travel. Theyve formulated all that and more into a well-organized manual for any reader, from the doe-eyed newbie to the long-time veteran, to help set and achieve realistic goals. It can be read in one sitting or referenced throughout a career. Or both.

According to Bob Witeck, President of Witeck Communications: Our human impulse to travel is grounded in curiosity, adventure, and romancewhether were gay or straight. What often sets LGBT travel apart are our lifelong needs for community, acceptance, and safety. Few writers are better than Jeff Guaracino and Ed Salvato to distill their expert knowledge across 6 continents into the best practices found in this one essential book.
Government has reduced the price of fertilizer by 50 percent to boost the agriculture sector.



The reduction in the price of fertilizer is also expected to improve export of agricultural products in the country.



Compound fertilizer (NPK), which was sold at GH85 in 2016, is now selling at GH57.50p.



Urea is currently going for GH47.50p instead of the previous GH80.



Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister of Agriculture, who revealed this to journalists, said the government was committed to improving the lives of farmers.



He explained that organic fertilizer will be GH15 flat. What it means is that the GH57 represents 50 percent reduction as the subsidy amounts to 50 percent. The cost to the government is GH115 per bag of 50kg for NPK, which is the most common form of fertilizer. A farmer is paying only half of it, which amounts to GH57.50p.



In terms of comparison with last year, we hope that this huge reduction in price of fertilizer for farmers would encourage more to apply fertilizers so that we can raise productivity on the farms this year.



He was optimism the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government would invest heavily in infrastructure development to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into the sector.



According to the farmers, the development would increase their yields and reduce post-harvest losses.



They were also of the view that the bold initiative of government, among others, would enhance the agriculture sector.



Philip Abayori, President of the Ghana Agricultural Chamber of Commerce, said with the reduction in the prices of fertilizers, farmers would save up to 50 percent of their income.



The fertilizer was taking about 45 percent, and in some cases 60 percent of the cost of production. In that case, it hardly made the farmers competitive compared to their peers across the sub-region.

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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Audio Attachment: Listen to Nana Osei Nkwantabisa, PRO for NACOB in an interview on Peace FM's Midday News Bulletin with Nana Yaw Kesseh.

The Narcotics Control Board has arrested three persons at the Kotoka International Airport for drug related offences.



The three suspects Maxwell Momo Golafale, Madugu Suraku, and Daniel Njoku Egbuta were arrested on different occasions possessing and trafficking drugs while going through arrival and departure formalities.



A statement released by NACOB, indicate that Madugu Suraku the only Ghanaian among them was arrested on March 29, 2017 on his return from 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, Daniel Njoku Egbuta, a Nigerian who was arrested on the 5th of April from Sao Paulo in Brazil after havin served a prison term in Ecuador also confessed to have swollen 111 pellets of substance suspected to be cocaine.



All are currently at the NACOB cells waiting to be processed for court.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Mr Ahmad Hashemi, the General Manager of Dizengoff Ghana Limited, dealers in agro-chemicals and farm inputs, on Wednesday said Ghana has no justification to be poor country due to the abundant natural resource endowed the nation.



He observed the country could easily become one of the richest in Africa, if tapped into, harnessed properly managed her resources, effectively for wealth creation and poverty reduction.



Speaking at the launching of the KVCL/Dizengoff partnership project in Sunyani, Mr Hashemi noted that the agric sector alone had numerous opportunities that could fetch the nation enough foreign exchange earnings for economic transformation.



It was on the theme Promoting Mechanised Farming for Increased Agricultural Productivity



The partnership is a project being undertaken by the Kofi Vinyo and Company Limited, a Kwatire-based agribusiness firm, in the Sunyani West District and Dizengoff Ghana Limited to improve food production in Northern, Brong-Ahafo, Upper East and Upper West Regions.



Dizengoff will provide its products to the door-steps of the farmers in the four regions at reduced prices.



Mr Hashemi indicated that though his company had been in the country for almost 60 years, Ghana had not been able to capitalize on its existence to achieve economic gains because successive governments had failed to give the agric sector the needed attention.



He expressed the hope that government would motivate farmers to switch from the application of synthetic, and use bio-products (organic materials) for improve yields and food productivity.



Mr Kofi Vinyo, the Managing Director of the KVCL, emphasised that it was untrue that farming was a reserved for the poor.



He said as an economic venture, which had huge potentials; the government ought to make farming and agriculture, attractive and motivate the youth to go into it commercially.



Mr Vinyo called on the government to support irrigation systems, to address the unpredicted weather patterns that affected agricultural productivity.



Mr Sherif Ghali, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Young Entrepreneurs, a network of young entrepreneurs, noted that youth unemployment and economic development was not a challenge peculiar to Ghana, but a global challenge which needed to be addressed collectively.



International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that the global youth unemployment rate was expected to rise from 12.9 percent in 2015 to 13.1 percent and remain at 13.1 percent in 2017, thus, 71 million people.



According to a World Bank report, 48 percent of youth in the country are unemployed.



Mr Ghali said agriculture was the surest way to help arrest unemployment once and for all and expressed the hope that with the new technological ways of farming, the sector would become lucrative and attractive for young people to venture into.



Mr Ghali called on the government to support farmers to acquire and apply the use of modern technologies to increase productivity.

Source: GNA









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

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The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has acquired three special customised four wheel drive vehicles manufactured by the Kantanka Automobile Company.



Taking delivery of one of the vehicles from the company under Apostle Kwadwo Sarfo of the Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana in Kumasi on Wednesday, the Asantehene advised government to promote the local industry.



He said if it was possible, Ghana should avoid the importation of cars from outside the country and rather help promote and market the local Kantanka cars.



The remaining two of the vehicles, each costing GHC150,000 ordered by the Asantehene would be delivered soon. He said the brand of vehicles manufactured the Kantanka Automobile Company could match-up to any brand in the world.



He said the vehicle under the brand Kantanka Otumfuo was his way of encouraging the Apostle and to rally Ghanaians and indeed, the government to patronise the product.



The vehicle is only one of many innovations and inventions the industrialist cum the preacherman has produced in recent times. The CEO of the Kantanka Group of companies, Mr Kwadwo Sarfo Jnr, said the company has instituted measures to replace and repair the vehicle per international standards.



He expressed the hope that Otumfuos endorsement would help promote the use of the Kantanka vehicle and make it attractive to Ghanaians to patronise.

Source: Daily Graphic









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Next Monday, April 17, 2017, will mark 100 days since President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo took over the administration of the country.



But even before Akufo-Addo crosses that period, the Center for Democratic Development, CDD-Ghana, has registered its displeasure with some decisions taken by government.



CDD Ghana in a statement released on Wednesday, although commended government for speedily assembling its team in real time, it was not happy with the number of ministers the President appointed.



According to CDD Ghana, the 110 ministers assembled by the President will put pressure on the public purse. 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, statement added.



CDD-Ghana was also not happy with governments seeming silence on attacks perpetrated by some vigilante groups affiliated to the NPP, namely Delta Forces and Invincible forces. 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 further chastised government for hurriedly sacking Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives as well as heads of some state agencies. It added that, such practices are inconsistent with good corporate governance practices.



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 statement added.

Source: asempanews.com









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Artiste of the Year in the 2017 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, Joe Oscar Mettle has disclosed in an interview with Citi 97.3 FM how he got into the music industry.



In an exclusive interview with Jessica Opare Saforo on Citi FMs Traffic Avenue, he said he got into the gospel music ministry as a drummer.



He told Jessica that there was a time he left one church for another and at his new church, the only vacant role for him in the church choir was to have joined the worship team. That was how he got actively involved in singing.



I used to be a drummer. That is how it actually started but I left for another church and when I got there, there were drummers so I had to join the worship team and that is when I started singing, he told Jessica.



Joe Mettle will be performing at the Victory Edition of Harvest Praise concert on Friday, 14th April, 2017 at the Accra International Conference Centre, together with American gospel minister Todd Dulaney.



Also performing at the concert will be the Harvest Chapel Choir which is seriously rehearsing to give a wonderful performance, along the drama and kids performances. The event will be in tow sessions: the afternoon and evening and there is a great line up for both.



Harvest Praise is one of the biggest gospel concerts in Ghana and has over the years grown bigger and better as it puts up the best gospel artistes to minister to people.



Tickets are available at Citi FM, Sweet Melodies FM, Sunny FM, GH One television and all radio and television stations that are partnering the event.



The event promises to be the hub of all Easter coverts in Accra as families, friends, churches, organisations and individuals converge at the Accra International Conference Centre to celebrate the death of Jesus Christ with music.

Source: Citifmonline.com









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Click Frenzys Fk Off Sale Is Now Live & Adore Beauty, Lovehoney And More Are On The Line Up
A 15-year-old boy was shot dead in his bedroom in the Sydney suburb of Glenfield today. An armed man allegedly broke into the boys family home just before 6am, shot Brayden Dillon in the head at point-blank range as he lay in bed, and fled the scene. The boy died in hospital this afternoon.

The murder is believed to be a revenge killing, in retaliation for the death of another young man, Adam Abu-Mahmoud, who was found stabbed to death in July last year after a brawl.

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Dillon was the younger brother of one of the men charged with Abu-Mahmouds murder.

Dillons ex-girlfriend reportedly received horrible Facebook messages just hours after the shooting, saying that Dillon deserved everything his [sic] got.

The girl who owns the account that the messages were sent from claimed her Facebook was hacked, and has changed her password.

According to Fairfax, Dillon was known to local police, who were called to the family home several times within the last few years due to his behaviour. However, grieving friends have described him as a good friend, someone who would always put everyone before himself. They also told reporters that hed feared for his life over the past few months.

The search for the gunman, who wore a mask and remains unidentified, continues. Hes described as having a thin build, wearing grey tracksuit pants, a navy blue hoodie and white trainers.

Source: SMH / Daily Mail / Courier-Mail.

Image: Supplied.
Overnight, the United States dropped a massive GBU-43 bomb  widely known as the mother of all bombs  on a network of caves and tunnels used by Islamic State militants in eastern Afghanistan.

Its the biggest non-nuclear weapon the U.S. has ever used in conflict.

The 9,797kg bomb was dropped from a U.S. aircraft around 7:32pm local time on Thursday, targeting a series of tunnels and caves in the Achin district in the Nangarhar province.

As ISIS-Ks losses have mounted, they are using IEDs, bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defence, said General John Nicholson in a statement. This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS-K.



It is not yet known how much damage the bomb did. The Pentagon said in a statement that U.S. Forces took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties with the strike.



The GBU-43 was first tested in March 2003, shortly before the start of the Iraq War. The Pentagon released the below test video.

Donald Trump praised the mission as very successful.

Everybody knows exactly what happened and what I do is I authorise my military, he told White House reporters. We have the greatest military in the world and theyve done their job as usual. So, we have given them total authorisation.



Neither the US Central Command  which signed off the order  not the Pentagon have confirmed yet whether the President issued the order, or has given the military a general authorisation for such activities.

Source: ABC / The Independent.



Photo: U.S. Air Force, 2003.
According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, spending on travel abroad are consistently growing despite many challenges we face today. China is in the lead and the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France are following up.

The latest data on outbound tourism spending are very encouraging. Despite the many challenges of recent years, results of spending on travel abroad are consistent with the 4% growth to 1.2 billion international tourist arrivals reported earlier this year for 2016. 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 said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

Chinese tourists spent 12% more on tourism abroad in 2016

2016 was another strong year for outbound tourism from China, the worlds leading outbound market. International tourism expenditure grew by US$ 11 billion to US$ 261 billion, an increase by 12% (in local currency). The number of outbound travelers rose 6% to 135 million in 2016. This growth consolidates Chinas 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.

The growth in outbound travel from China benefited many destinations in Asia and the Pacific, most notably Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand, but also long-haul destinations such as the United States and several in Europe.

Aside from China, three other Asian outbound markets among the first ten showed very positive results. The Republic of Korea (US$ 27 billion) and Australia (US$ 27 billion) both spent 8% more in 2016 and Hong Kong (China) entered the top 10 following 5% growth in expenditure (US$ 24 billion).

Second largest market the United States maintains strength

Tourism spending from the United States the worlds second largest source market increased 8% in 2016 to US$ 122 billion, up US$ 9 billion on 2015. For a third year in a row, strong outbound demand was fuelled by a robust US dollar and economy. The number of US residents travelling to international destinations increased 8% through November 2016 (74 million in 2015).

By contrast, Canada, the second source market from the Americas in the top ten, reported flat results, with US$ 29 billion spent on international tourism, while the number of outbound overnight trips declined by 3% to 31 million.

Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy lead tourism spending in Europe

Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy are the four European markets in the top ten and all reported growth in outbound demand last year. Germany, the worlds third largest market, reported 5% growth in international tourism spending last year, rebounding from weaker figures in 2015, reaching US$ 81 billion.

Demand from the United Kingdom, the worlds fourth largest source market, remained sound despite the significant depreciation of the British pound in 2016. UK residents' visits abroad were up by 5 million (+7%) in 2016 to 70 million, with expenditure close to US$ 64 billion.

France, the worlds fifth largest market, reported 7% growth in tourism expenditure in 2016 to reach US$ 41 billion. Italy recorded 1% growth in spending to US$ 25 billion and a 3% increase in overnight trips to 29 million.

Many more source markets report growing outbound expenditure

Among the largest 50 source markets, there were another nine that recorded double-digit growth in spending in 2016: Vietnam (+28%), Argentina (+26%), Egypt (+19%), Spain (+17%), India (+16%), Israel and Ukraine (both +12%), Qatar and Thailand (both +11%).

By contrast, outbound tourism from some commodity exporters continued to be depressed as a consequence of their weaker economy and currencies. Expenditure from the Russian Federation declined further in 2016 to US$ 24 billion. International tourism spending from Brazil also decreased in 2016.















Washington is planning to skip a conference on reconciliation in Afghanistan that Russia is hosting on April 14, acting U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

"We don't plan to participate in these regional talks," Toner said on April 13. "It was unclear what the purpose was" of the talks, he said, adding that it "seemed to be a unilateral Russian attempt to assert influence in the region."

"We do generally support regional efforts that work with the Afghan government to build support for a peaceful outcome in Afghanistan, and I think we - going forward, we do plan to work with Russia and other key regional stakeholders to enhance dialogue on Afghanistan," he said.

Moscow invited 12 states to take part in consultations devoted to the national reconciliation process in Afghanistan and the start of direct talks between the country's government and the Taliban.

In December, Moscow hosted consultations between diplomats from Russia, Pakistan, and China to discuss the start of a national reconciliation process in Afghanistan. The format was expanded in mid-February to involve Afghanistan, Iran, and India.

Based on reporting by BuzzFeedNews and TASS
The coffin with the remains of Dr. Mark Wainberg is carried from the synagogue following his funeral in Montreal, Friday, April 14, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
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.
Oil close near flat Thursday in strong week for crude



NEW YORK

Petroleumworld 04 14 2017

Oil prices were little changed in modest volume on Thursday, during a week in which crude benchmarks recouped more of March's losses on increased hopes world supply and demand were nearing balance.

At the same time, the U.S. oil rig count rose to its highest level in two years, threatening the rebalancing of markets.

Energy services firm Baker Hughes said on Thursday that drillers added 11 oil rigs in the week to April 13, bringing the total count up to 683. The number of U.S. rigs has increased for 13 consecutive weeks.

The market has been oversupplied since mid-2014, prompting members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and some non-OPEC producers to agree to cut output in the first six months of 2017.

With the increasing rig count pointing to rising supply, Tony Headrick, energy market analyst at CHS Hedging, said OPEC would be watching.

Ultimately OPEC is viewing it as a point of discussion in terms of whether or not they look to extend cuts," Headrick said.

OPEC meets on May 25 to consider extending the cuts beyond June. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and most other OPEC members are leaning towards this if agreement is reached with other producers, OPEC sources told Reuters last month.

OPEC data showed members of the group had cut March output beyond the level they had promised.

Benchmark Brent crude futures settled up 3 cents to $55.89 a barrel after touching a one-month high on Wednesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled up 7 cents at $53.18 a barrel. Both benchmarks were set for a third consecutive weekly gain. About 431,000 U.S. crude contracts changed hands Thursday, short of the 531,000-contract average over the past 200 trading days.

The Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Thursday that supply and demand in the global oil market were close to matching after a fall in stockpiles in developed countries in March.

The IEA said oil stocks in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development industrialized countries fell by 17.2 million barrels in March, although inventories were still 300 million barrels above the five-year average.

"It can be argued confidently that the market is already very close to balance," the agency said in its monthly report.

The IEA trimmed its oil demand growth forecast for 2017 by 40,000 barrels per day and warned that its revised level of 1.3 million barrels per day "could prove optimistic."






U.S. VP Pence visits Indonesia next week show tension signals



JAKARTA

Petroleumworld 04 14 2017

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."






China crude oil imports top U.S. intake, shatter record



BEIJING

Petroleumworld 04 14 2017

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.

(crude conversion tonne= 7.3 barrels)






Cutting off North Korea oil supplies would be for NK devastating



BEIJING/SEOUL

Petroleumworld 04 14 2017

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 destabilising 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.






New U.S. pipelines could drive U.S. as world's top natural gas exporter



BEIJING/SEOUL

Petroleumworld 04 14 2017

U.S. energy firms are scrambling to finish a slew of pipelines that will unleash rich reserves of shale gas in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio as the nation prepares to become one of the world's top natural gas exporters.

The pipelines are expected to boost output from shale fields in the three states by giving producers access to new domestic and international markets.

Those states could supply about a third of all U.S. natural gas once the pipeline expansion is complete, up from about 25 percent now, according to projections from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The network will bring cheaper fuel supplies for power generation and industry being built in the eastern half of Canada and the United States, especially along the U.S. Gulf Coast. It would also transport the huge volumes needed to feed facilities that chill the gas to liquid so it can be shipped internationally.

The construction addresses a lack of pipeline capacity that has stunted development of two of the largest shale fields in the United States, the Marcellus and Utica formations.

The lines should allow output to increase from both fields by about 50 percent in the next two years, according to the EIA. Gas from the Marcellus and Utica is among the cheapest in the country.

Among the largest projects under construction are Energy Transfer Partners LP's (ETP) Rover; TransCanada Corp's Leach XPress; and Williams Cos Inc's Atlantic Sunrise. Those lines will move gas out of these shale basins to markets in Canada, the U.S. Midwest and Southeast, including expected connections to Gulf Coast export terminals.

The completion of the lines will be a welcome boon for the firms and their investors after a tough couple of years. A slump in international energy prices led to reduced demand for new oil and gas pipeline capacity from producers.

ETP and other firms were also hit by a growing protest movement of environmentalists, Native American rights groups and U.S. military veterans, which delayed big ticket projects such as the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Contractors building ETP's $4.2 billion Rover gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to Ontario will hire up to 15,000 workers during construction of the line, expected to be completed by late 2017, according to ETP spokesperson.

CHANGING FORTUNES

Just over a decade ago - before technological innovation unleashed huge oil and gas supplies trapped in shale rock - U.S. gas production from conventional fields was in decline and the nation was expected to become one of the world's biggest importers of natural gas.

High prices for fuel encouraged petrochemical and chemical industries to move abroad.

Now, amid the shale revolution, the nation is producing 50 percent more gas, making it the world's biggest producer as energy firms opened up new energy frontiers across the United States.

Prices for gas have averaged less than $3 per million British thermal units over the past two years, a third of the price in 2005, and are expected to remain mostly below that level through at least 2023, based on current futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

That cheap and ample supply motivated industrial firms to spend billions to build and expand manufacturing facilities mostly along the U.S. Gulf Coast but also in the Midwest, such as chemical companies that use gas to make plastics.

Royal Dutch Shell PLC last year agreed to build a multibillion-dollar petrochemical complex near Pittsburgh to be close to the source of the Marcellus and Utica gas. It will employ about 6,000 workers to build the facility and is expected to create about 600 permanent jobs when completed.

Abundant supply has also sparked interest from many countries in buying U.S. LNG exports.

The United States is expected to become a net exporter of gas this year or next for the first time since 1957 on the back of those rising LNG exports as well as pipeline flows to Mexico.

UNLOCKING PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES

At the center of activity in both the Marcellus and Utica is Pennsylvania, which accounts for about 20 percent of U.S. gas production, making it bigger than any state other than Texas.

Pennsylvania's output rocketed from 0.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2006 to 14.5 bcfd in 2016, according to the EIA and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

One billion cubic feet is enough to fuel about 5 million homes - or every house in Pennsylvania.

Still, the state has the potential to pump a lot more gas as more pipelines provide producers with avenues to new markets.

At least five pipelines capable of transporting over seven bcfd from the Marcellus and Utica are scheduled to open in 2017, with five more due for completion in 2018, capable of moving another five bcfd.

Pipeline capacity from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia was around 23 bcfd in 2016, according to the EIA and Thomson Reuters data. If all pipes under construction are completed, that would rise to more than 35 bcfd.

The pipeline construction and gas production expansion mean billions of dollars in new investments in Pennsylvania and hiring that will extend well beyond the energy sector, said Ryan Unger, CEO of the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, a nonprofit foundation focused on public-private partnerships.

We are in a position now where we can maximize the state's resources to create good, stable jobs in Pennsylvania, Unger said.

Some of the biggest drillers in Pennsylvania stand to benefit most from increasing pipeline capacity. They include units of Chesapeake Energy Corp, Cabot Oil & Gas Corp , Range Resources Corp and EQT Corp.

Cabot sees an opportunity in the "underserved" markets of the northeast, said spokesman George Stark.

"We'd love to see a pipeline build-out to get Pennsylvania gas to New England, he said.

Those four companies together expect to spend an estimated $4.8 billion on U.S. drilling and well completions in 2017, up about 61 percent from what they spent in 2016, according to a capital expenditure analysis by Cowen & Co.

SHIFT TO EXPORTS

The U.S. started to export LNG from the lower 48 states in 2016; five additional export terminals are expected to open by 2020 to export LNG to large markets in Asia, including China and Japan.

Those terminals could make the U.S. the world's third largest exporter of natural gas by 2018, according to an EIA projection.

Most of the pipeline infrastructure in the Marcellus and Utica was built before the shale revolution, when the region produced just 3 percent of the nation's gas.

Those lines were designed largely to bring gas into the region - not out of it - as customers in Pennsylvania and other nearby states used gas from Texas and the Gulf Coast.

The new lines aim instead to take gas from Pennsylvania to markets worldwide.

Almost a third of the wells drilled in Pennsylvania since 2004 were inactive because of a lack of pipelines to transport the gas, according to a report prepared last year by a task force created by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.

"Drilling for gas in Pennsylvania has far outpaced the development of the infrastructure needed to get that gas to markets," the task force said in the report. "The primary challenge the industry faces now is to get the gas around or out of Pennsylvania."






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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
Commonwealth Court on Thursday ruled that the Philadelphia School District wrongfully fired a principal in connection with the statewide cheating scandal in 2014 and ordered that the district reinstate her.

The three-judge panel agreed with an arbitrator that Michelle Burns, who had been principal of Tilden Middle School in Southwest Philadelphia, had failed to uncover cheating and prevent it, but had not engaged in cheating.

"This is going on three years that my life has been turned upside down," said Burns, 45. "I'm ecstatic."

Burns, who said she had an unblemished record during her 18 years with the district as a teacher and administrator, noted that the district had presented no witnesses during her termination hearing who implicated her in cheating at Tilden.

She was the principal of Kensington Urban Education Academy when she was fired. The school is now known as Kensington High School.

The district appealed to Common Pleas Court after the arbitrator ordered Burns' reinstatement in 2015. When a judge sided with the district, the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators, the union that represents district administrators, took the case to Commonwealth Court.

In Thursday's ruling, Commonwealth Court reversed the lower court and ordered the district to rehire Burns.

"Although the cheating which occurred at Tilden is abhorrent and must be rooted out, the arbitrator found only that Burns failed to uncover it and prevent it," the court said. Firing, the opinion said, was too harsh a penalty for "mere negligence."

"We are extremely happy," CASA president Robin Cooper said. "She should have been returned to her position months ago. This was a principal who was unjustly terminated. There was no evidence in regard to this principal being involved in any type of cheating."

In addition to reinstatement, Burns is due back pay minus wages from a 60-day suspension for failing to detect the cheating.

District spokesman Lee Whack said no one was immediately available to comment on the ruling or say whether the district would appeal to the state Supreme Court.

In all, 53 district schools and seven city charter schools were investigated by the state in 2012 for possible tampering on standardized tests. Seven principals and teachers were criminally charged and several others were disciplined.
The stakes were high in fall 1777 as the British Navy sailed up the Delaware River toward Philadelphia.

Gen. George Washington told the American defenders of Fort Mifflin, just south of the city, to hold on "to the last extremity" while he moved his tattered army to Valley Forge. They did -- for six weeks, under the greatest naval bombardment of the Revolutionary War.

Some of the thousands of artillery projectiles that rained down on them are exhibited at the new Museum of the American Revolution, along with other rare artifacts, documents, and paintings connected to historic sites nearby in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Given the proximity of all these places where the American Revolution unfolded, the museum sees itself as "a visitor center for the American Revolution, a great starting point," said museum vice president R. Scott Stephenson. "You can move out from here like the layers of an onion, moving farther and farther afield."

Fort Mifflin is one of six sites in and around Philadelphia that belong on the must-see list for visitors looking to explore the story of the Revolution beyond the museum walls. Here is our select guide to peeling the onion:

Two blocks away: Independence Hall

Just a brief walk west on Chestnut Street, between Fifth and Sixth Streets, is the nation's birthplace -- Independence Hall -- where the Continental Congress met, where Washington was appointed commander-in-chief, and where independence was proclaimed by representatives of the 13 colonies.

Part of the site has been recreated by the new museum in a so-called pocket theater, where visitors view a five-minute film while sitting in Windsor chairs like those the founders used. Detailed woodwork mimics the room where independence was debated. But there's no substitute for the real thing.

It was from the cupola at Independence Hall that a bell sounded in 1776 to mark the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Later known as the Liberty Bell, it's housed just across the street.

Independence Hall is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission: Walk-up tickets on the day of a visit are free, and reserved tickets cost $1.50 each. Timed-entry tickets are required March-December. Information: 215-965-2305 or www.nps.gov/inde.

Just down I-95: Fort Mifflin

The Americans who held out at Fort Mifflin for a month and a half in 1777 against the overwhelming firepower of the British navy eventually retreated across the Delaware River to Fort Mercer in New Jersey. But Fort Mifflin's role in American history continued, into the War of 1812 and beyond. During the Civil War, it housed Confederate prisoners of war.

The fort is off the beaten path for tourists, on a marshy site next to Philadelphia International Airport, where it's under the flight path of descending aircraft. Visitors can climb battery emplacements to take in the view and imagine the British navy approaching up the Delaware. They're generally free to wander the fort's parade grounds, magazines, and other historic buildings.

Fort Mifflin, at 82 Fort Mifflin Rd., is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday from March 1 to Dec. 15 and other times by appointment. Admission: $8 for adults; $6 for seniors; $4 for children and veterans, and free for children age 5 and under. Information: 215-685-4167 or www.fortmifflin.us/contact-us/.

In the scenic Brandywine Valley: Brandywine Battlefield

In the Revolution's longest (11-hour) single-day battle, the British and American armies clashed across the landscape near Chadds Ford at the Brandywine Battlefield on Sept. 11, 1777. The site is now a National Historical Landmark in Chester and Delaware Counties, roughly 45 minutes southwest of the new museum.

A rare wooden canteen belonging to an American soldier who fought at Brandywine is on display at the Museum of the American Revolution. It's marked "USTATES," indicating Continental Army use. The museum also displays a detailed plan/map by British engineers showing British, Hessian, and American troop positions and movements during the Battle of Brandywine.

Brandywine Battlefield Park is the central site for tourists who'd like to visit the sprawling battlefield area. Two historic houses offer tours (Washington used one of them, the Benjamin Ring House, as his headquarters), and there's a visitor center with a small museum and gift shop.

Visitors who call ahead can also hire a guide to take them around the battlefield's many other sites. An encampment day is scheduled for May 13; a two-day Battle of Brandywine reenactment takes place Sept. 16-17.

The visitor center at 1491 Baltimore Pike in Chadds Ford is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission: $11 to tour both houses, $5 for the museum only, including an orientation film. Information: 610-459-3342 or www.brandywinebattlefield.org.

In Philadelphia's historic Germantown neighborhood: Cliveden Mansion

Once Washington regrouped after Brandywine, he struck the British on Oct. 4, 1777, at Germantown. The enemy initially fell back, except for about 100 redcoats who held Cliveden Mansion. When British reinforcements arrived across a wider front, Washington was forced to withdraw.

Among the items exhibited at the Museum of the American Revolution is a pair of English holster pistols that belonged to German American Brig. Gen. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, who carried them at the Battle of Germantown. The museum also displays a 1782 painting of the battle by Italian artist Xavier della Gatta.

Tours of historic Cliveden, with its period furniture and musket-ball-pocked walls, are given on the hour from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday April through December. Reenactors recreate the Battle of Germantown annually on the first Saturday of October.

The house and its visitor center are on the 6400 block of Germantown Avenue. Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for students. Information: 215-848-1777 or www.cliveden.org.

In the western suburbs: Valley Forge National Historical Park

Washington's army suffered through a difficult encampment at Valley Forge from December 1777 to June 1778. The march to Valley Forge was commemorated in a renowned and often-reproduced 1883 painting by William Trego, now on display at the Museum of the American Revolution.

The new museum also exhibits shovels used by soldiers, a toothbrush, buttons and buckles from uniforms, a leather packing case belonging to Washington, and a set of silver camp cups for wine.

The site of the encampment is now designated the Valley Forge National Historical Park, a 50-minute drive from Philadelphia. Visitors can tour recreated log cabins where survivors from Peter Muhlenberg's brigade encamped, view statues and historic monuments, and visit historic structures, including the restored Colonial house Washington used as a headquarters.

Visitor center at 1400 N. Outer Line Dr. in King of Prussia, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Information: 610-783-1000 or www.nps.gov/vafo.

In Bucks County, Washington Crossing Historic Park

Another local historic attraction is Washington Crossing Historic Park, at the site where Washington and his army crossed the Delaware River on Dec. 25, 1776, to make a surprise attack on the Hessian soldiers at Trenton on the morning of the 26th.

The crucial days from the Battle of Trenton to the Battle of Princeton, which followed, can be traced at the Museum of the American Revolution on an interactive map animated by LED lights that shows troop movements. The museum also displays the sword that American Gen. Hugh Mercer used before he was mortally wounded at Princeton, and some items from Hessian soldiers.

A new visitor center at the Bucks County park orients guests to the historic grounds, where costumed reenactors show off recreations of the Durham boats that ferried Washington and his troops across the Delaware and talk about the battles at Trenton and Princeton. The park also hosts an annual Christmas Day reenactment of Washington's crossing.

The visitor center is at 1112 River Rd., Washington Crossing. It's open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission: Grounds and visitor center, free; guided tours $6 (last tour 4 p.m.). Information: 215-493-4076 or washingtoncrossingpark.org. Just across the river, New Jersey's Washington Crossing State Park also has a visitor center, at 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Rd. in Titusville.

Edward Colimore is a former Inquirer reporter who has written extensively about the history of Philadelphia. ecolimore@comcast.net.
During one of its last flybys of Enceladus on October 28, 2015, the spacecraft grazed the moons southern pole at 8.5 kilometers per second, just 49 kilometers above the surface. It crossed the active region where jets spew material from the ocean that we know is located below the icy surface. On three previous flybys, scientists had managed to measure the composition of the jets material, and detected molecules of water, carbon dioxide, methane, and ammonia. During the October 2015 flyby, they used the instrument in a mode they hoped would allow them to measure the content of hydrogen molecules in the gas of the vents.



They succeededCassini detected molecular hydrogen.



This is important because the gas is used by microorganisms, known as methanogens, to produce methane from carbon dioxide. Thriving ecosystems seen in the deep oceans of our planet near the volcanic hydrothermal vents of the mid-Atlantic ridge, for instance, depend on the production of energy using this chemistry.



The scientists are very careful when discussing the origin of this molecular hydrogen. They show that the high concentrations measured are not compatible with a geological originin other words, such a large amount of molecular hydrogen couldnt have been stored in the ice shell or in the ocean. Similarly, the scientists are confident that strong radiation on the surface of Enceladus cant be the source of this molecular hydrogen. They conclude its source is probably hydrothermal reactions between water and rock, emerging out of active volcanism, as it happens in submarine hydrothermal systems on Earth. The source of this volcanism on Enceladus is still not fully understood, but it is probably related to tidal dissipation in the moons core, which is squeezed and warmed as the satellite orbits the gas giant Saturn. As with Europa, a moon of Jupiter, this heat warms up the interior, creating an ocean with hydrothermal activity and surface fractures from which materials can escape in space.



It must be emphasized that the scientists did NOT report the detection of life in Enceladus ocean, but rather the detection of molecular hydrogenthe final piece needed to infer the presence of methanogenesis. A model including the characteristics of the ocean (temperature, pH, mixing ratio and composition) supports the idea that methanogenic life could survive in this environment. But thermodynamic models alone are not enough to claim that life is indeed present on Enceladus. In other words, habitable does not mean inhabited, and this distinction is important for astrobiologists.
Every April, people descend on Colorado Springs looking to find their place in space.

The annual Space Symposium brings together space leaders from around the world to discuss, address and plan for the future of space. The Global Grant Scholarship, awarded by the Space Generation Advisory Council, afforded me a chance to attend, and I look forward to sharing some key takeaways with you. 

My adventure began at the Space Generation Fusion Forum. This event, held in conjunction with the Space Symposium, brought together young adults from across the industry to discuss a range of topics from the new space economy to human spaceflight. One thing we all agreed on was the importance of engaging the public with science, something that as an outreach coordinator for the Planetary Society, I am particularly passionate about.

From the beginning of the Space Symposium, it was hard to miss the display space firm Blue Origin set up outside the conference. The centerpiece was the actual New Shepard rocket successfully launched into space five times. Blue Origin, like SpaceX, believes rocket reusability is the key to affordable spaceflight.

Next door was a mockup of Blue Origins capsule, which is being developed for space tourism. The spacecraft, seating six people, is made up of one-third windows. Screens running actual footage from a previous New Shepard flight were placed in a couple windows to provide visitors with a sneak peek of the view. Its going to make for one hell of a ride!
Dr. Franck Marchis is a senior planetary astronomer and chair of the exoplanet group at the Carl Sagan Center of the SETI Institute and Chief Scientific Officer and Founder at Unistellar. He began full-time work at the Institute in June 2011 after leaving a joint position with Institute and the department of astronomy at University of California, Berkeley. Marchis moved to the United States in October 2000 shortly after getting a Ph.D. from the University of Toulouse in France that he acquired while traveling around the world for his research and for the sake of exploration.

Over the past nineteen years, he has dedicated his work to the study of our solar system, specifically the search for asteroids with moons, using mainly ground-based telescopes equipped with adaptive optics (AO). More recently he has been also involved in the definition of new generation of AOs for 8 -10 m class telescopes and future Extremely Large Telescopes. He has also developed algorithms to process and enhance the quality of astronomical and biological images. He is currently the collaboration manager of the Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey, which consists in imaging and characterizing Jupiter-like exoplanets using an extreme AO system designed for the Gemini South telescope.

Today, Marchis dedicates most of his energy to instruments capable of imaging and characterizing Earth-like exoplanets by being involved in education, public outreach, technology, and scientific investigations related to those ambitious projects both in the United States and in Europe. Marchis is also involved in startups related to astronomy so he joined Unistellar as a Chief Scientific Officer and VR2Planets as a scientific advisor in 2017. Marchis is a member of numerous science committees including the SETI Science council, the GPI steering Committee, the TMT Science Definition Team, PLOS One editor board, the Project Blue and the PLANETS Foundation Advisory board. He has co-authored more than 380 scientific publications, trained numerous students, and served as a science consultant and interviewee for numerous documentaries and movies in English, French, and Spanish. The asteroid (6639) was named Marchis in honor of his discovery of the first triple-asteroid system in 2007. He has been an affiliated Astronomer at Observatoire de Paris since 2003.
Gondo Crack climbed trad by Jacopo Larcher and Barbara Zangerl

14.04.2017 by by Planetmountain

Interview with Jacopo Larcher and Barbara Zangerl after the first free ascent of Gondo Crack at the crag Cippo in Switzerland. The duo freed the route as an 8c sport climb and then did without the bolts and climbed the route with nuts and friends to produce one of the toughest trad cracks in the world.

Its them again, Jacopo Larcher and Barbara Zangerl. After the difficult sport climbing at Siurana in Spain, after the huge big wall Free Zodiac on El Capitan in Yosemite and after the difficult trad routes in Scotland, the Italian - Austrian duo have now come up trumps once again: the first free ascent of Gondo Crack at Cippo. The route in question is a thin, slightly overhanging crack on the Italian- Swiss border, bolted years ago and attempted on and off by some of the worlds most experienced crack climbers. After a brief courtship Zangerl and Larcher freed the route as a sport climb and then, the following day, Larcher did without the bolts and climbed it as a trad route, just as he had done with Lapoterapia at Osso in 2015. Shortly afterwards Zangerl clipped a rack of nuts and friends to her climbing harness and sent the route in this greenpoint style, too. Needless to say, this completion of an old project is heralded in as one of the hardest female trad climbs to date.

Gondo Crack has a long history... For the benefit of those unfamiliar with this crack, can you give us some background info?

Larcher: Gondo Crack was bolted in the late '90s by two icons of the Ossola climbing scene, namely Maurizio Pellizzon and Alessandro Manini. Its a thin, leftwards trending crack that splits the slightly overhanging face; the first section, up to a rest at 2/3 height, is relatively simple (7c), which means that all the difficulties are condensed into the final meters. Over the years the climb resisted all attempts and became one of the most "popular" projects in the area. It was only after our ascent that we realised how important this route had become for the locals!

When did you first lay your hands on it? And how did it go?

Zangerl: We tried the route for the first time in early October, just before leaving for Yosemite.

Larcher: The local climbers continued to talk to me about it, and since at the time we were at Cadarese nearby, we decided to go and check it out. We immediately liked the route, although it did take us a while to find the right beta for the upper crux. This is really complicated: the rock is smooth and the footholds are particularly slippery. We didnt have much time, so we decided to return in spring.

So you came back on firing form after Spain...

Zangerl: After our trip to Spain we wanted to pull our trad gear out of the closet and we headed straight there! Although the route is bolted, it was clear right from the outset that we wanted to climb it greenpoint.

Explain

Zangerl: In order to prepare for our trad ascent we first started working it by clipping into the bolts. Toproping it to avoid using the bolts made no sense. Fortunately this time round we manage to tame the route relatively quickly, thanks to our Spanish form and the good conditions.

Just curious: who freed the route?

Larcher: Actually it was Babsi who first climbed it free with bolts: she was amazing! I followed her lead shortly afterwards sometimes it's hard to keep up! ;-)

But then you tried it as a trad climb...

Larcher: Yes. The real goal for both was to climb it greenpoint. I know that many may find this decision difficult to understand, seeing that the route is bolted, but for us it made more sense climbing it with trad gear. Its a really logical line, that doesnt necessarily require the bolts to be climbed. If you do it like this, it requires more effort, but it also provides far stronger emotions

After Jacopos first free trad ascent, you Barbara freed it trad, too

Zangerl: Yes, the next day I climbed it trad, too. It was great. Being motivated for the same route, and both succeeding, was cool. The biggest challenge for me was to remain focused on the crux and not think about the fall. Placing the gear means getting a bit pumped and a bit worried when you reach the crux. Mentally it was far harder as a trad climb, but thats exactly what makes trad climbing so exciting, and why the overall experience is very pure and intense.

Talking about the the fall: how much did you risk?

Larcher: I dont think we risked much, but it's always hard to judge these things properly. The pro in the first part is mediocre, and honestly we had no desire to make a controlled fall and test them. The last two pieces of pro are right at the start of the crux, from there theres the long run-out all the way to reach the chain seeing that thats where the hard moves are, falling off is a possibility! The last friend we placed seems good (X4 #0.3), but if that should rip out for some reason, you might fall to the ground.

What can you say about the grade therefore? What can it be compared to?

Larcher: With regards to the danger, it could be compared to Achmine at Dumbarton in Scotland, but we have too little experience to give it a British trad grade (that would be pointless anyway, seeing that it has bolts). So we used the french grades and simply referred to technical difficulties.

Zangerl: If you want to give it a danger grade, I reckon it would be more sensible to use the American scale so 5.14b R.

Last question: you left the crack as you found it, in both its sport and trad versions. Why?

Larcher: The route was bolted nearly 20 years ago and there are many people who continue to try it: it never even occurred to us to take the bolts out. Personally, were I to find a similar line then I wouldnt bolt it, but thats just my point of view. I hope that our ascent helps spread this "different" way of interpreting climbing, especially in areas such as Ossola, which is a true paradise for trad climbing.
Brittney Roy's father was an NYPD officer killed on 9/11. This week she began her training at the NYPD academy with the goal of joining the force. (Photo: NYPD/Twitter)

Brittney Roy lost her father on 9/11. Now, more than 15 years later, shes preparing to follow in his footsteps as an NYPD officer.

The 22-year-old Long Island woman was one of 474 recruits sworn in at the Police Academy in Queens on Thursday, the ceremonial start of the class six-month training program.

Since I was very young, growing up in the police department, you really see the true heroes.  Its just always been a dream to be one of them, said Roy, a Massapequa native. Especially what my dad had done for the nation, the country, it was a true aspiration to be able to try to follow in his footsteps.

Sgt. Timothy A. Roy was killed when Brittney was just 7. He wasnt on duty that day, but he rushed into Manhattan upon learning of the attacks, the New York Post reports.
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It has always been clear that Donald Trump is an egomaniacal buffoon totally unfit for the office of the presidency. But the longer he occupies the White House, the more obvious it becomes that his unhinged and reckless personality isnt just something to laugh at  its putting us all at risk.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters underscored this point on Thursday, taking to Twitter to express how Trump is no longer just a bully, but a clear and present danger to the country.

Tweets:

Trump is no longer just a bully. He is now very dangerous and still has no business being President of the United States.  Maxine Waters (@MaxineWaters) April 13, 2017

Trump is threatening Americans health coverage, launching bombs, cutting womens health care, & wasting taxpayer $$ on trips to his resort.  Maxine Waters (@MaxineWaters) April 13, 2017

Many Americans have done their best to laugh off Trump as a cartoonish, self-loving bully, but his actions, particularly those in recent days, have shown that he is no longer just someone to laugh at.

In less than a week, the new commander-in-chief has launched politically motivated airstrikes in Syria, dropped the mother of all bombs in Afghanistan, and is now reportedly plotting to preemptively attack North Korea  three major military actions of which we still dont know the full consequences.

Not to mention, as Rep. Waters said in her tweets, that at home he is squandering taxpayer money on constant vacations to his resort while simultaneously trying to upend the American health care system and dismantle Planned Parenthood.

Donald Trump in the White House is no longer a joke. Hes a clear and present danger to the people of the United States and, increasingly, the world.

A bully armed with a Twitter account is one thing, but the same bully with access to Americas nuclear arsenal is a whole other ballgame.
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After a week in which Donald Trump launched airstrikes on an empty airfield in Syria, dropped a massive bomb in Afghanistan, and is said to be planning a preemptive strike on North Korea, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is saying enough is enough.

In a statement released Thursday, Pelosi said Congress must immediately be called back into session to receive briefings and debate Trumps increasing use of force.

The full statement:

Every day, the President gives Congress reason to return and debate the use of force. The Presidents escalation in Syria and his saber-rattling on North Korea demand serious and immediate Congressional scrutiny. Speaker Ryan must call Congress back into session for classified briefings and debate. Congress must do its duty and honor our responsibility to the Constitution.

In normal circumstances with a normal president in the White House, Congressional oversight on matters of war and peace is critical. With Trump in charge of Americas nuclear arsenal  like a toddler playing with a loaded firearm  this becomes even more necessary.

For the safety and security of the United States and the rest of the world, House Speaker Paul Ryan should call Congress back and work to ensure that Donald Trumps quick and reckless military escalations face some level of oversight from the legislative branch.

This president cant be trusted to conduct himself like an adult in his Twitter posts, much less be responsible for Americas nuclear arsenal.

As Hillary Clinton said frequently during the 2016 presidential campaign, A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.

Now he has the nuclear weapons, and he still cant be trusted.
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As the Russia scandal becomes increasingly explosive, so too does Donald Trumps foreign policy.

After first launching an ineffective publicity stunt in Syria, then today dropping the mother of all bombs in Afghanistan, the trigger happy commander-in-chief is now reportedly planning a preemptive attack on North Korea, according to NBC News.

The news organization reported that the administration is prepared to launch a preemptive strike with conventional weapons against North Korea should officials become convinced that North Korea is about to follow through with a nuclear weapons test.

In other words, if Trump feels like it, he wont hesitate to launch yet another attack on another country without any real plan for the day after.

More from NBC News:

The intelligence officials told NBC News that the U.S. has positioned two destroyers capable of shooting Tomahawk cruise missiles in the region, one just 300 miles from the North Korean nuclear test site. American heavy bombers are also positioned in Guam to attack North Korea should it be necessary, and earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group was being diverted to the area.

While the report noted that the U.S. is preparing to use missiles and bombs in its possible attack, Trump is also considering putting special operations on the ground, a dangerous proposal from a reckless president.

And what could possibly go wrong?

As NBC News pointed out, a reckless military operation by Trump in North Korea could encourage North Korean madman Kim Jong-un to launch an attack on American ally South Korea, triggering an all-out war in the region that could have global ramifications.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the presidents ties to Russia continues  with no end in sight  and Trumps poll numbers remain historically low for a new president, which means we can expect more reckless behavior from the new commander-in-chief.
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This is the Trump doctrine summed up in one act. Only after Trump accused Obama of wiretapping him did he ask aides how FISA warrants worked.

So much of this is new to Mr. Trump that only after he publicly accused Mr. Obama of having wiretapped his telephones last year did he ask aides how the system of obtaining eavesdropping warrants from a special foreign intelligence court worked, Peter Baker wrote in the New York Times.

President Trump has shown himself to be a person who acts first and gathers information later. He lashes out, and then later might listen to experts who might change his mind. Or not. Depending on when you ask him.

So many of the sweeping promises Trump made to his base were predicated on his limited, black and white thinking and misinformed biases. For his ignorance, Trump is paying dearly. He is despised by a majority of the country and the pundits can barely keep the contempt from their voices as he lies so much its impossible to put into context just how huge, glaring, and inept his lies are.

But theres one thing Trump can do that the pundits love. He can act impulsively, accuse Obama or Clinton of hiding under his bed to scare him at night, and attack other countries without thought or plan.

Now that Trump has learned that the one way he can get love is to drop a bomb, we have in the week leading up to Easter and Passover, launched missiles at Syria that did nothing to affect change but did kill four babies and 18 Syrian allies, launched the mother of all bombs in Afghanistan, again accomplishing nothing but wow were the pundits impressed because apparently it takes a lot of strength to point at a new toy that gets you a lot of praise and pick it again. We are also sending dozens of troops to Somalia on a train and equip mission.

Now Trump is saber rattling at North Korea. Mind you, this is the man who  much like Sarah Palin  didnt understand any of the nuances or even basic power dynamic around North Korea. He was quite surprised to learn that it wasnt so simple as Beijing pressuring North Korea.

So of course Trump accused President Obama of wiretapping him, clung to this belief even in the face of zero evidence and a lot of push back, and then at some point he ostensibly asked an aide how this wiretapping things works, only to discover that if he were wiretapped, it would suggest a judge had reasonable cause to issue the warrant, which is to say, it would mean bad things about Donald Trump.

All presidents learn on the job. But Donald Trump brought not only a stunning ignorance about reality to the White House and a refusal to believe facts and evidence when presented with them, but also a lack of curiosity. Trump always thinks hes the smartest guy in the room, which is the surest way of indicating that he is likely to be the least smart person in the room.

The same impulse that drove Trump to accuse Obama of wiretapping him is also driving him to bomb bomb bomb.

Act fist, learn later if at all. Because while he has shown that he can learn on specific issues, he only learns that he doesnt know things when forced to learn. He has yet to learn that in general, he might want to ask for information first. He is incapable of discernment, so even when presented with information that he chooses to believe, he has no way of putting all of the experts opinion into the mix and determining what is most accurate given all of that information. This is a man who still believes millions of illegals voted in the 2016 election. To suggest that he can learn on the job sufficiently is to ignore the way his brain is wired toward conspiracies that fuel his emotions.

This is the Trump doctrine. This is the thinking behind the bomb bomb bomb spree with which the media is so impressed. And that says horribly depressing things about the intellectual capacity of our media. Its no wonder they were so hostile to Obamas foreign policy. Randomly bombing other countries with no plan is presidential. They will prop this president up no matter what it takes, because after all they are heavily invested in him.

Its really no wonder we ended up with Donald Trump as our president. He operates at the same low level functioning as too many in the media. Its all about the show, not about the know. Act first, ask later.
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Sweet six-and-a-half pound baby Jesus! Who knew that Disneys beloved Beauty and the Beast promotes inter-species breeding?

Anti-gay activist Kevin Swanson, who previously warned us that How to Train Your Dragons Gobber the Belch is Destroying Civilization, really hates gays.

And he really hates the idea of a human having sex with another species, even when that whole idea is only in his own mind.

Because there is no shape-shifting. And no curses that cause shape-shifting. It just doesnt happen.

I dont want to suggest this is a very purient case of projection, but folks, this is a very purient case of projection.

PFAWs Kyle Mantyla tells us that Swanson said Beauty and the Beast was an insidious effort to homosexualize the next generation of eight and ten-year-old kids and ensure that they are indoctrinated into the homosexual lifestyle.

This is how revolutions take place. You are in the middle of a cultural revolution in the United States of America. No, this is not the cultural revolution that Mao Tse-tung brought to China; this is a different kind of cultural revolution, but Im going to say its just about as dangerous  though a bit more insidious.

Its the Frozen scandal all over again. The water has gotten a bit too deep for Swanson, just as it was for Michele Bachmann when she attacked Disney for turning our kids gay. But his oxygen-starved mind wasnt done:

Even worse, Mantyla writes, Swanson said, the film is promoting inter-species breeding, which he said Hollywood has been pushing since the days of Star Trek.

Film history, Swanson! Why did it take so long to notice Disneys unwholesome proclivities? Snow White was living with not just one but seven dwarfs in 1937 for crying out loud!

Swanson issued a warning to the faithful delusional:

Christians, I dont believe, can allow for this. Humans are made in the image of God. Humans are assigned a spouse which happens to be a member of the opposite sex. Friends, Gods law forbids it  Christians should not allow for this, man. We cannot allow for humans to interbreed with other species. Its just wrong, wrong, wrong. Its confusion, its unnatural.

We are in some of the most radical, most anti-biblical, the most immoral, the most unethical, the most wicked sexual environment that the world has ever known, right now.

Given the yarn he is spinning here, Swanson is certainly living proof that we are living in unethical times.

Its like Sodom and Gomorrah all over again, but at the same time, not, because God didnt nail Sodom for homosexuality but because the folks in Sodom were acting like Republicans:

This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her sisters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but they did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty, and did abominable things before me. (Ezekiel 16:49-50).

Oh dear. It would seem if there is a biblical problem it is not with gay characters or shape-shifters and lycanthropes but with Republicans who starve and abuse the poor and needy.

Photo: Disney
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Remember those heady summer days of August in 2013 when Donald Trump was attacking President Obama over Syria, warning him not to intervene, that if he did, bad things would happen? All in caps he told Obama, IF YOU DO MANY VERY BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN.

Turns out he was right. Attacking Syria with cruise missiles led to MOAB being dropped on Afghanistan and even now Donald Trump is planning a preemptive strike on North Korea. Bad things are indeed happening. Our very own incompetent and at the same time self-fulfilling prophet of doom.

Now that it is 2016 and Donald Trump is president (its still hard to string those words together), we have intervened in Syria and Republicans in Congress have not only not been consulted, but they dont care that they have not been consulted. And its not just Republicans in Congress, but Republicans Period:

There is no escaping the conclusion that Donald Trumps missile attack on Syria turns out to have been what Republicans like to warn us about when it comes to things like sex and drugs: a gateway sexual activity as when fondling a breast (or even holds hands *gasp!*) leads to, yes, intercourse.

Trump enjoyed the experience of attacking Syria with cruise missiles, and why not? It turned a profit; it was a great distraction from investigations into his collusion with Russia, and the praise he got from Congress really stroked his ego to a fever pitch.

So much so that he dropped the mother of all bombs on Afghanistan, the biggest, most powerful bomb we could drop without it being a nuke. Can you imagine if Barack Obama had dropped this bomb? Youd be hearing from congressional Republicans then, let me tell you.

Trump can distract the news media and Congress; he can even distract the public which suddenly has the end of the world to contemplate (which would certainly resolve the health care debate for all time), but the investigative net is moving inexorably toward its target.

Which brought to mind one of Trumps 2013 tweets, which like so many of his old tweets seem oddly prescient, if not the way he intended, and have therefore come back to haunt him:

Be prepared, there is a small chance that our horrendous leadership could unknowingly lead us into World War III.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2013

As former NSA analyst, John Schindler put it, kinda-sorta reassuringly,

Indictments are coming. So is impeachment. Would be nice if Cheeto Jesus doesn't end the world en route.  John Schindler (@20committee) April 14, 2017

And this is exactly why Democrats were worried about Donald Trump. For him, dropping a bomb on Afghanistan was a brazen $16 million money shot right in the worlds face. And hes not done.

Republicans are outraged when things like this happen with sex and drugs. For some odd reason, they dont care when firing cruise missiles leads to dropping the biggest bomb we own on an inconsequential target for no apparent reason at all.

This is almost as if Donald Trump is a child who just discovered his penis and realized he had to do something with it, NOW! The problem for the world is that it isnt his penis he has discovered, but real power.

And as you can see from the polling, conservatives, far from reacting with outrage, have instead laid back and lit up in the post-coital afterglow even as Trump turns his roving eye to North Korea.

Republicans dont want anyone to even talk about gateway sexual activity for fear it will happen.

But while our worst fears about Trump have become realized, theyre more than happy to help Trump stroke hisego.
DES MOINES  Senate Republicans are working on a plan to shrink state income tax brackets from nine to three, phase out federal deductibility to cut rates and provide at least $500 million in relief to Iowa taxpayers by 2022.

But expected changes to the federal tax code and a tighter than forecast state budget likely will push back consideration of the plan until the 2018 legislative session, a key architect said Thursday.

I have advised the Legislature to wait until next year just because of this uncertainty, said Sen. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, who has done multiple runs on various options to reduce and simplify Iowas individual income tax code.

We believe that how you grow the economy is to lower rates, he told The Gazette in an interview. Once you lower rates, that should drive an economy, injecting more revenue coming into the state. So that is the whole goal. I fully believe that next year is the best opportunity to go down that path of comprehensive tax reform.

Feenstra said the plan he is fashioning would reduce Iowas top rate of 8.98 percent for those earning $77,040 or more annually to 5.65 percent. Iowans would not pay any state tax on income below $6,848, and the rate would be 2.08 percent on income up to $25,680, 5.20 percent on income from $25,680 to $34,240 and 5.65 percent on income above that.

Currently, Iowa has nine tax brackets that begin with 0.36 percent on the first $1,712 earned, and gradually work up to the 8.98 percent top rate, which is high among other states but is closer to an effective top rate of about 6 percent when federal deductibility is factored in.

Iowa is one of a handful of states that allow taxpayers to deduct their federal tax liability on their state income tax return  a feature backed by groups like Iowans for Tax Relief, but one that business groups say skews Iowas position in national rankings and makes the state appear uncompetitive.

The goal is to reduce rates to a level thats competitive with our Midwest neighbors. This would give us a very strong rate system that we could compete, Feenstra said. Our whole goal is to stimulate the economy where wed have a roaring economy that would bring in dramatically a lot more revenue that we could further fund our schools and mental health and the Department of Corrections or so forth.

Feenstra said the proposal being formulated by Senate Republicans would gradually phase out federal deductibility over five to seven years, with proceeds going to lower rates and provide overall savings of at least $500 million by 2028, with the possibility of the relief growing as high as $700 million.

Another feature would be to increase the amount of pension income that was exempt from taxation. Iowa has phased out the tax on Social Security benefits. and Senate Republicans now propose to raise the thresholds of exempt income from the current $6,000 to $11,000 for single filers, and from $12,000 to $22,000 for joint filers.

We believe that this is very necessary to keep our retirees in the state of Iowa, Feenstra said.

The plan also proposes to eliminate the alternative minimum tax and slow the growth of tax credits.

As part of the effort to reduce state taxes, the Senate Ways and Means Committee chairman said, the Senate GOP plan would put in place a trigger on state tax collections so if they grow by 3.5 percent or more, the excess would be directed to income tax reduction. Another feature would be to eventually put in place an Iowa Section 179, which allows small businesses to deduct some expenses.

Feenstra said he has a bill drafted and ready to drop into the legislative process, but he expects to wait a year and work with the governor and the House over the summer to get it into a form that could be adopted next session.

Rep. Guy Vander Linden, R-Oskaloosa, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, concurred that the prospects for taking up comprehensive tax reform this session are not good.

If revenues recover, absolutely well be looking for that kind of legislation, he said. This year it aint going to happen. Weve got enough stuff on our plate right now to be worrying about that in the short term.
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NEW YORK (Reuters)  United Airlines found itself on the defensive again on Friday after a passenger complained that a scorpion stung him during a flight from Texas, capping off a bruising week for the public image of the one of the worlds largest carriers.

A man on board a United flight from Houston to Calgary, Alberta on Sunday, said a scorpion dropped on his head from an overhead storage bin and stung him under his fingernail, according the United and media reports.

We were on the plane about an hour, having dinner, and then something fell on my head, so I grabbed it, passenger Richard Bell told CBS in a Skype interview on its website.

Bell said another passenger who was Mexican told him, Hey, thats a scorpion, theyre dangerous,  Thats when it stung.

United flight attendants helped the passenger after he was bitten by what appeared to be a scorpion, airline spokeswoman Maddie King said in an email on Friday, adding that a physician on the ground assured the crew that it was not a life-threatening matter.

United is reaching out to the customer to apologize and discuss the matter, she said.

The airline spent the week scrambling to contain the fallout from a video that emerged on social media showing security officers dragging a bloodied passenger off an overbooked United Express flight in Chicago on Sunday as other travelers looked on in horror.

Dr. David Dao, a 69-year-old Vietnamese-American doctor, suffered a concussion and broken nose when dragged from the plane and will likely sue, his attorney said on Thursday.

His lawyers have filed an emergency request with an Illinois court to require the carrier to preserve video recordings and other evidence related to the incident.

After the incident triggered international outrage, United Chief Executive Oscar Munoz apologized to Dao, his family and its customers, saying the carrier would no longer use law enforcement officers to remove passengers from overbooked flights.

(Reporting by Frank McGurty in New York and Alana Wise in Washington, editing by G Crosse)
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Americas new warlord Donald Trump shot missiles at Syria and dropped the biggest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal on Afghanistan. Trumps very, very successful mission killed just 36 people  at $16 million for the bomb thats a prohibitively costly $450K each. And he then lays plans for attack North Korea before heading off to Mar-a-Lago for a 3-day vacation.

Needless to say, at a time when Trump is doing his utmost to destroy healthcare and starve widows and orphans, such expenditures are obscene, particularly when Trump profited economically from his use of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Actions have consequences beyond exposing hypocrisy and expensive every-weekend-vacations at the taxpayers expense, however. For example, as Bloombergs Eli Lake has noted, though Donald Trump ran on an isolationist platform, he also promised to end ISIS and now he must choose.

According to Lake,

White House senior strategist Stephen Bannon has derided [national security adviser, General H.R.] McMaster to his colleagues as trying to start a new Iraq War, according to these sources.

An arms race at least, according to Russian news agency Sputnik, which reacted with the news of MOAB with the headline, Russian Senator Warns of New Arms Race as US Strikes Afghanistan With MOAB Bomb.

Given Trumps proven suggestibility, this is a real concern. And it isnt as if Trump is troubled by the worlds reaction to his new militarism.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned Trumps act as brutal and inhumane:

2/2 military. This is not the war on terror but the inhuman and most brutal misuse of our country as testing ground for new and dangerous  Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) April 13, 2017

Horror at Trumps actions is not the only consequence of his thoughtless abuse of power. National security specialist Malcolm Nance tweeted this morning,

That is a massive air defense unit heading to Vlad seaport for transshipment. Trumps ineffective TLAM strike has gotten Syria a free upgrade https://t.co/m49mTZgA4D  Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) April 14, 2017

Because neither Syria nor its close ally Russia is actively fighting ISIS, obviously, a reinforced Syria does not benefit the anti-ISIS coalition or further Trumps avowed goal of ending ISIS.

And even conservative columnist Bill Kristol found the response to using MOAB creepy:

I have no problem with using #MOAB if best for military objective. But to be honest, isn't the high-fiving about it a bit creepy?  Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) April 14, 2017

With plans afoot to strike preemptively at North Korea, it is anyones guess where Trumps new militarism will end. Even Vladimir Putin may be wondering what he has wrought at this point.

When Trump attacked Syria, far-right French politician Marine Le Pen reminded Trump that he said he didnt want to be the worlds policeman, and thats exactly what he did yesterday.

Trumps hypocrisy is the least of our problems, however. It is where that hypocrisy is taking us, and at an ever-increasing pace.

Chris Matthews said on Hardball recently that The guy who promised to keep us out of stupid wars may have seen an enemy he quite simply wants to fight. The problem is, he keeps seeing enemies he wants to fight. Literally everywhere.
UN expert urges Hungarian Parliament to reconsider 'lex CEU'

A United Nations expert urged Hungarys Parliament to reconsider recently adopted legislation which appears to be aimed at undermining the Central European University (CEU)" in Budapest.

The bill, adopted on 4 April and signed by President Janos Ader into law yesterday,

is likely to violate the central precepts of academic freedom in a free society

, warned the UN Special Rapporteur on the freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye.

The new law targets freedom of opinion and expression in Hungary, freedom of academic pursuit, the role that scholarship and research play in the expansion of knowledge and the development of democratic societies."

Adopted quickly without normal legislative process, the bill seemed designed to damage CEU," the expert noted. The CEU is accredited in both Hungary and the United States and offers English language postgraduate courses in a range of subjects.The new law requires, among other things, foreign-accredited universities to provide higher education services in their own country. It also bans universities accredited outside the EU from awarding Hungarian diplomas in the absence of a binding international agreement between the Hungarian government and the national government of the foreign university.The new legislation also prevents Hungarian-accredited universities that are linked to foreign universities from delivering programmes or issuing degrees from the foreign university with which they are associated. The bill also forbids institutions from having the same or similar names.While the new legislation is drafted in seemingly neutral terms, its restrictions would particularly hit CEU," Kaye said. If enacted, its requirements and timelines could cause the University to cease its operations."

Members of Parliament have a unique opportunity to restate Hungarys commitment to democratic norms and academic freedom. I urge them to reconsider this law

Related article

Hungarian PM admits govt stance on CEU unsustainable 13/04/2017 10:47pm

, the Special Rapporteur concluded.Kayes statement is endorsed by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Maina Kiai, and the Special Rapporteur on cultural rights, Karima Bennoune.
A CSX Corp. freight train is parked along Virginia Avenue just outside the former Navy Base in North Charleston. The railroad, along with Norfolk Southern, wants to use a southern access to a planned rail yard serving the State Ports Authority's new container terminal. File/Grace Beahm/Staff
Russell Laffitte, a former top executive for Palmetto State Bank, faces trial this week in Charleston's U.S. District Court. He stands accused of conspiring with Alex Murdaugh to defraud the disbarred Hampton attorney's former law clients. Read moreFormer Murdaugh banker Russell Laffitte battles fraud charges on 1st day of federal trial
Deanna Pan is an enterprise reporter for The Post and Courier, where she writes about education and other issues. She grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati and graduated with a degree in English from Ohio State University in 2012.
MASON CITY | A man who police say acted with another to scam a North Iowa woman out of nearly $11,000 by pretending to be with the IRS has been sentenced to 85 days in jail.

Coty Lee Phillips, 22, of Eufaula, Alabama, originally charged with felony second-degree theft, pleaded guilty in Cerro Gordo District Court last month to misdemeanor third-degree theft.

A $625 fine was suspended, but he was ordered to pay a $125 surcharge and court costs.

Posing as IRS agents, Phillips and co-defendant Eduardo Cruz, 41, of Grapevine, Texas, called a North Iowa woman and threatened her with arrest if she didn't pay them money they claimed she owned the government, according to the Mason City Police Department.

Cruz is scheduled to go to trial May 23 on two counts of second-degree theft.

 Mary Pieper
It looks like South Carolinas first early voting general election went off really well, with more than 600,000 casting votes early, mostly in person but some by absentee ballot. That blows away pre-Election Day voting from any year except 2020, when nearly a million voters took advantage of Read moreEditorial: It's your last chance to cast your vote. We help make sure you don't blow it.
Fourteen-year-old Lucas Eggers, of Rochester, this year again won the state level of the National Geographic Bee, held March 31 in Mankato.

But he was not the only student from this area to participate. Others who qualified for the competition included Isaak Zerke, a seventh-grader at Ellis Middle School in Austin; Heeyab Berhane, a seventh-grader at Holy Spirit School in Rochester; Soren Toegel, a seventh-grader at Twin Bluff Middle School in Red Wing; Logan Jensen, an eighth-grader at Willow Creek Middle School in Rochester; Nathaniel Dennis, a sixth-grader at Winona Middle School; and Alonso Montori, a sixth-grader at Friedell Middle School in Rochester.

Eleven-year-old Alonso told his story of competing in the geography bee.

"In the beginning this was a contest in my social studies class, and then I went on to become the school champion," he said. "The winner of the school bee is intended to go to state competition, so they told me about the test that you can take online to qualify for the state level.

"I was able to take an online test, then the top 100 who took that online test competed at state. I took that test at the end of January or the beginning of February, and it took about a month to find out if I qualified, which was just about the most suspenseful month of my life."

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During the state bee, after the preliminary round is over, the top 10, or the people who got 8 out of 8 right, advance.

"I, unfortunately, got 7 out of 8 correct for the preliminary round," Alonso said, "so I didn't get to the final round, but I did get to watch that. The preliminaries were basic questions, the finals, of course, are pretty intense. I didn't make it past the preliminary round, but I remember the question I got wrong very vividly  'Which U.S. state produces more wool  Wisconsin or Wyoming?' The answer is Wyoming, and I'll never forget that."

How did he practice for a National Geographic Bee?

"For practicing, there is an app, a website, and daily quizzes we can use, and I spent a lot of hours looking at an atlas," Alonso said.

Not surprisingly, geography is his favorite part of studies at school.

"It's all just pretty interesting to me, and I've always liked it," he said. "I'll definitely try for this again next year. Even though I had that one question wrong in the preliminary round, I felt that watching the final round, I actually knew most of those questions. I've traveled a lot and knew a lot of those answers, so I'm hopeful to make it back again next year and make it past the preliminary round."

How did Alonso celebrate his appearance in the state competition?

"My parents got me a Dr. Pepper, which I don't normally get, so that was pretty awesome," he said.
Honestly, the constellation Corvus the Crow is certainly not one of those constellations that you stand out in your backyard and gaze at in awe. Truth is, that's really a dumb little constellation and it sure isn't all that bright, but yet it's pretty easy to find.

You can find the celestial crow hanging a little above the southeastern horizon, resembling a lopsided trapezoid in the early evening low southern sky, which unfortunately isn't all that early. That's a real curse to stargazers like me that have an early wake-up call for the day job. Oh well, that's why they make weekends and vacation days. Anyway, that lopsided diamond is supposed to be a crow. It's one of my favorite little constellations, mainly because of its legend.

This spring Corvus has some bright company. Just to the upper left of the lopsided trapezoid is the very bright planet Jupiter. This month, the big guy of the solar system is at the closest point to Earth for 2017. You really shouldn't use planets, though, to help you find constellations because they wander along the constellations, but this year for all practical purposes the best way to find Corvis is to look to the lower right of Jupiter.

Once-respected birds

Crows really get a bad rap, but in truth they're one of the smartest birds around. In fact, according to Greek and Roman mythology, crows were actually one of the more respected birds on Earth. Back then, crows were highly intelligent, sang a beautiful song, and had bright white feathers with gold trim. They served the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus with great distinction until Corvus screwed it up for all crows forever.

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Apollo, the god of the sun, dispatched Corvus the crow on a very important mission, to fetch water from a far-off magical fountain. Apollo dispatched the great bird with one his favorite chalices to collect the magical water. Corvus didn't know exactly where the fountain was, but he thought he knew which town to fly into. Corvus flew recon over the entire countryside in search of the magic water. Corvus, being less than a humble crow, told Apollo that he should be back by that evening, no problem.

Finding that magic fountain proved to be a heck of lot harder that Corvus figured. There were lot of hills and valleys, caverns and many other places where the magic fountain could be hiding. It was also a hot Friday afternoon as Corvus flew around the city and surrounding countryside in vain search of his prize. The afternoon got longer and Corvis' throat got drier. He had to take a break. In the distance he could see the flashing neon light of a roughneck bar and thought he'd catch the end of happy hour.

He swooped right in the swinging doors and, wouldn't you know it, one his childhood crow buddies was sitting at the bar with a giant mug of beer and a pile of pull tabs. It was like old times! Corvus and his old buddies drank and talked for hours. As a joke, he even had the bartender pour tap beer into Apollo's chalice. At closing time, Corvus stumbled out of the "crow-bar" and passed out on a park bench, clutching Apollo's cup half full of beer.

Face the music

The next morning a very hung-over Corvus dumped leftover stale beer out of Apollo's chalice and took to the skies, resuming his search for the elusive magic fountain. After hours and hours of clumsy flying, Corvus was giving up. He decided it was time top fly back to Mount Olympus to face the music.

As he got closer to the home of the gods, he swallowed the rest of his breath mints to hide evidence of his wild night. Corvus could see Apollo waiting for him. He could even see Apollo's angry glare from a half-mile away. All along his way back the wayward crow was concocting a story about how a crazed water snake bit him while he was getting a drink of water, making him too woozy to find the fountain.

When Corvus made his landing, he pitched his excuse about the crazed water snake and almost had Apollo convinced until he handed back the chalice. Oops! Corvus forgot to wash it out and it stunk of rotten beer. Corvus was busted! Apollo went nuclear and fired Corvus on the spot.

He didn't stop there, though. Apollo banned all crows from Mount Olympus and used his magical godly powers to turn all crows from their beautiful white and gold colors to the jet-black colors we see today. Continuing his temper tantrum, he collectively turned all the crows' beautiful singing voices into the "caw caw" we hear today.

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If only Corvus had stopped at one beer!

Celestial hugging this week: Early Monday morning, between about 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., the waning full moon will be just to the left of Saturn in the low southern sky. Even with a small telescope, you see Saturn's ring system.
PRESTON  Authorities are asking for helping in solving a string of burglaries that have happened in Fillmore County within the last few weeks.

The Fillmore County Sheriff's Office responded to several burglaries over the span of a few weeks. While most of the thefts occurred at residences, there have been a few that hit small businesses in county towns as of late, according to the agency's Facebook post.

Some of the affected businesses were in Harmony, Canton, and Mabel. Most of the burglaries occurred overnight. Deputies are asking the public to share information regarding the crimes and to remain vigilant.

"Call 911 if you observe any suspicious activity so that we can respond and investigate," the post reads.
A wide turn on a Rochester street turned into the recovery of more than 43 pounds of marijuana early today, officials said, and the arrest of two men from California.

The incident began with a traffic stop, said Capt. John Sherwin, as an officer on routine patrol spotted a vehicle facing west in the eastbound lane of 12th Street Southeast at 11th Avenue. The officer made a U-turn to initiate a traffic stop and spoke to the occupants.

The men inside  identified as Travis Johnson-Curl, 26, and Gregory Johnson, 39, both of Redding, Calif.  claimed they were in town for a wedding, the report says; the vehicle was a rental car.

The officer smelled marijuana, Sherwin said, and performed a search of the car, which turned up multiple bags of marijuana  packaged in approximate one-pound increments in 41 bags. The individual bags were inside four larger bags, the report says, and held a total of 43 1/4 pounds of marijuana.

Also recovered was about $1,500 in cash.

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The men could face felony charges of second-degree controlled substance sales and third-degree possession of marijuana. Their relationship is unclear, Sherwin said, though they list the same address in Redding.
BYRON  Meet Dr. Joey Page, the next superintendent of Byron Public Schools District.

After being unanimously selected by the school board in March, Page will officially take over the Byron district on July 1. He will succeed Jeff Elstad, who recently was hired by Owatonna Public Schools as its new superintendent.

Page's family includes his wife, Rachel, a licensed clinical social worker for the Bloomington Public Schools, four children and two dogs.

Although there wasn't a specific defining moment that made education a passion for Page, he said strong support from family members and teachers greatly influenced him.

Page said he was impressed with the Byron district's trajectory and wanted to be a part of the journey.

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"What's most important to me is working in an environment where individuals want to work together as a true team," he said. "I believe the community understands the role of schools and education in making that vision a reality."

In regard to his educational philosophy, Page said he hopes to challenge students by "supporting individual growth and understanding of themselves and their place in the world."

"When I work with people, I demonstrate my core values by being welcoming, authentic, and supportive. I always see myself as a teacher first," he said. "I believe everyone in our schools whether it be students, families or employees, comes with experience, talents and skills"

Page was born and grew up in Austin and attended Austin Public Schools District. He graduated from Austin High School in 1990.

He went on to receive his bachelor's degree in special education and elementary education from Dakota State University in Madison, S.D. Page started his teaching career in the Bloomington Public Schools as a fourth-grade teacher.

Page earned his master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Mankato State University, and endorsements in library media science and school administration.

In 2003, Page moved to Yellow Medicine East School District where he served as principal for two elementary schools. In the past 13 years, he has been principal in the Richfield Public Schools and earned a doctorate of education from St. Mary's University-Twin Cities in Educational Leadership.

Page is now the Richfield S.T.E.M School principal, which has a school with around 800 pre-K through fifth-grade students. He was also a former president of the Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association.

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In 2016, Page was a finalist for the Minnesota National Distinguished Principal Award and recently was named the Minnesota 2017 Science and Mathematics Elementary and Middle-Level Principal of the Year.

Perhaps the biggest thing Page hopes to do in Byron is to build relationships with the staff and students in the district. He doesn't plan on going anywhere anytime soon, either. Page's focus: making Byron the best district it can be.

"I enjoy setting goals for myself, and my biggest goal was to become the superintendent of Byron," he explained. "Now that I have achieved this goal, I plan to enjoy this role for many years to come.

"I have tremendous respect for the leadership Superintendent Elstad has provided for the Byron schools, and I humbly welcome the opportunity to work with this very dedicated staff. My goals will be about bringing the Byron Public Schools to the top in all areas of education."
ST. PAUL  St. Paul wants to find out if non-taxable property owners, like churches and schools, would contribute to the city budget voluntarily, in lieu of street fees.

The fees were substantially pared back after a legal challenge by two churches. The city collected more than $30 million in assessments last year. That's equal to nearly a third of the annual property tax levy. The fees were assessed citywide, including to nearly a third of properties that don't pay property taxes.

City Council member Dai Thao said a similar program in Boston found some success and could work in St. Paul.

"The conversation I have in the community is that the churches and nonprofits are, they want to participate. They want to be at the table. They want to be part of the solution and that's very promising," Thao said at a City Council meeting on Wednesday.

Thao and other council members voted to ask the Citizens League to formally study the idea. A report from the league and its work group is expected in August.

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Council Member Jane Prince joined her colleagues in voting for the study.

"It encourages a really robust civic discussion among taxpayers, business owners, nonprofits, for what it means for all of us to be doing our part and paying our fair share for the really vital services that we all benefit from," said Prince.

The fees at issue were put in place more than a dozen years ago by then-Mayor Randy Kelly. St. Paul, as the capital city and home to the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, hosts a substantial number of nonprofits and tax-exempt institutions like schools and universities, churches and hospitals. The city wanted to include some of those properties in its annual revenue stream.

The Minnesota Supreme Court, however, ruled against the city last year and said the so-called "right of way assessments" for services like snow plowing were in fact taxes and couldn't be assessed to tax-exempt properties.
Downtown Rochester residents and business owners took their first look at a proposed $35 million, 12-story hotel slated to be built on the corner of First Avenue Northwest and Civic Center Drive.

Ebbie Nakhjavani, CEO of EKN Development Group, told a small group at Rochester's American Legion Post 92 that while the project is in the very early stages, he's enthusiastic about building on the Legion property.

"This is a great location. It's the gateway to downtown from the north," he said.

The California-based EKN has a purchase agreement for the Legion property at at 315 First Ave. NW. The plan is to demolish the Legion and build the 150-room hotel on a footprint of about two-thirds of acre or roughly 30,000 square feet. That plot is bordered by First Avenue Northwest, Civic Center Drive and a spur of the Canadian Pacific railroad that serves only Rochester's Seneca plant.

If things go as planned, construction could start in early 2018. He estimated that it would take 14 months to build. It would include a public restaurant and bar with patio space with the top four floors for the hotel rooms.

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Nakhjavani told the crowd that EKN is in early talks with the American Legion as well Rochester's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2015 to provide a combined home for the clubs on the hotel's sixth floor.

"The Legion has always been here and they want to stay downtown. We wanted to be respectful of that," he said. "Then we learned that the VFW will have to move. We thought it would be a fabulous addition."

The veterans organizations would occupy the entire floor and would have its own separate lobby entrance.

Steve Leqve, an American Legion member who serves on its executive board, said the first goal is to make sure they take care of the veterans, but that doesn't mean it is a simple issue to relocate both groups in the hotel.

"There are a lot pieces to this. It has to be easy for people to access and navigate the club," he said. "It would be nice to create an environment to bring in new, younger folks to the club, maybe with their families."

As with so many downtown projects, parking could be a hurdle. The proposal shows four stories of parking above the lobby level with a total of 180 stalls. Some listening to the plan pointed out that doesn't leave much parking for the combined Legion/VFW club. Both groups have full parking lots on most nights.

Barry Skolnick, a downtown resident, urged the developers to dig down to add more parking underground. They responded that the adjacent railroad track would make that a complicated prospect.

Skolnick also said he would like to the EKN development to include more retail and commercial space to benefit the community. The drawings show about 2,000 square feet of retail on the eastern end of the project.

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Paul Sims, the vice president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, said he was generally positive about the plans he saw at the presentation.

"It appears to be a good project for downtown. The idea of bringing the VFW and the American Legion together as an anchor would be a real benefit," he said.

Nakhjavani, who has 30 years of experience creating major hospitality and retail developments, told the group at the start that there are a lot of aspects that go into something like this.

"At the end of the day, we hope to build a project that makes most people happy," he said.
Doug Rozendaal has been flying airplanes for more than four decades, but when he took off from Mason City Airport on Friday it was a first for
LANESBORO  The environment, health care, and a dam in danger. All were connected Wednesday night as a handful of DFL representatives talked about where they differed on the legislative agenda with Republicans.

Reps. David Bly, DFL-Northfield, and Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, led a discussion with about 20 people who came to talk about the dam but turned to a wide range of issues.

Hansen began by discussing the environmental bill, focusing more on what is not in the bill than what is. For starters, he said, there is a lot less money in the bill for 2018. "The goal for this bill was to cut $94 million from existing spending," he said.

That means less service for both businesses and the public who are looking for answers, he said. "If you're going to call in to seek a permit, you want clear information that you can follow if you're on the business side," Hansen said. "If you're on the public side, you want clear information you can follow. That takes people."

Cutting $94 million from the environmental budget will affect staffing at places like the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, he said, meaning a slow down for businesses looking to get environmental permits. "The environmental review strengthens the end product, and that takes people," he said. "When you're cutting the budgets, you're actually going to be delaying the permits."

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Those cuts were available in part because the state is streamlining the permitting process, said Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston. In a separate interview, Davids added that the permitting process often holds up projects that meet state standards, keeping legitimate business interests from moving forward.

A good example, he said, is permitting for oil pipelines. "New high-tech pipelines are safer than semis, safer than rail," he said. But the DFL is working to block pipelines, he said, in favor of transportation systems with more risk. "How is that protecting the environment?"

Save the dam

Bly said that cuts have been made because Republicans are trying to keep the $1.6 billion surplus in the tax bill. "The budget we're debating is a debate of priorities," he said. Cutting spending on the environment, he said, is a priority for Republicans.

Spending the money to fix the Lanesboro dam should be a priority as well, because fixing the dam would be cheaper than replacing it after it breaks. "We've got to support projects like the dam," he said.

Davids, whose district includes Lanesboro, said such a call is welcome, but he questioned where the DFL was when the dam was part of the last bonding bill that failed. "The DFL in the House kept their word. The DFL in the Senate did not," he said. "They killed it for light rail in Minneapolis.

"When the Democrats start talking about the Lanesboro dam, I say where have you been."

Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester, said she hoped Davids kept his support for repairing the dam because of its impact on tourism as well as a source of renewable power for the city. She said it will probably take a bonding bill in the last month or so of the legislative session to get funding for projects like the dam.

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Health Care Costs

Lielbling, who sits on committees for Health and Human Services, answered questions from the audience about health care, particularly the reinsure bill that passed without Gov. Mark Dayton's signature. "I'm not happy with it," she said of the $542 million pool meant to stabilize the individual insurance market.

While insurance regulations require insurance companies spend a certain percentage of funds on coverage, she said, the bill does not guarantee the money will be more than a bailout for insurance companies.

Instead, Liebling said she'd prefer to open up Minnesota Care further to individuals, making Minnesota one big insurance pool. "I believe that's a direction we ought to go," she said.

Davids said the reinsurance bill, like the 25 percent premium buy down that was passed in January, is a response to a broken insurance system. With premiums jumping 40 percent and 67 percent over the past two years, the premium buy down and reinsurance bill should give about a 45 percent relief on premiums in the individual marketplace.

"Obamacare destroyed the individual market around the country," he said, adding that choices in many Minnesota counties are limited because of the impact of Obamacare. "We're not bailing out insurance companies. We're bailing out a failed Obamacare system."

Davids added that talk from the DFL representatives of cuts in spending are a twist of the facts. While spending might be lower in some agencies, overall, spending is up 7-9 percent in the budget for 2018. "We're not cutting spending. Education is up," he said. "Health and Human Services is up hundreds of millions of dollars."
John Jindra will long be remembered as the imposing, but gentle giant who stretched to 6 feet 7 inches and weighed more than 300 pounds  with giant heart to match.

Service in WWII, and the military career that followed, took him all over the world, but he remained kind, honest and committed to those he met, and who became his family along the way.

John and his wife Mary weren't able to have any children of their own; instead they created a family from those who surrounded them. Jindra, who died at the end of March, was 93 years old.

He was deeply dedicated to service, said his friend and neighbor, Sharon Garbisch said. After a finishing a stint in the Navy, John joined with the Army.

His military career began in 1943, in the midst of WWII. After training , he boarded the USS Corregidor, which took him to Pearl Harbor and into the Southwest Pacific, where he saw battle while on board.

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He returned to Omaha after the war ended, receiving an honorable discharge because of a malaria diagnosis. When work was difficult to find, he joined the Army and ended up in Austin, where he worked as a food inspector for government contracts with Hormel.

'He loved her 'til his last breath'

That's where he met Mary Kirtz, a waitress at a Lansing restaurant John and his friends frequented. On one visit to the restaurant, John took the liberty of heading to the ice machine to replenish his drink, which Mary wasn't very happy about. After that initial encounter, John spent much of his time attempting to woo Mary; at first she resisted, but the two eventually became inseparable.

Shortly after they married in 1951, he was transferred to Chicago in his military career to a plant that processed food for soldiers.

The death of their infant son, John Peter, just hours after birth was something that shaped the couple's life. The pair were told they would never be able to have children again, which haunted John late into his life.

But, if anything, Garbisch said, the heartbreak brought the two closer. They shared a playful, but deep connection. Despite living on a farm, they were night owls. Even after 60 years of marriage, it wasn't uncommon for them to talk their way to 3 a.m., reminiscing about time spent on the farm growing up.

"He loved her 'til his last breath," Garbisch said.

'I was attached to him as a surrogate father'

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Shortly after the death of their own child, the couple got another chance to be parents.

Responding to a newspaper ad for a nanny, Mary and John knocked on the door of the affluent Highland Park suburb just outside of Chicago. A mother, nine months pregnant with three kids behind her answered the door.

John wasn't sure if Mary should be around a newborn so soon after the couple's own loss, but Mary decided she was up for the challenge. Though the four Suber children weren't their own, that didn't stop the pair from being parents.

"The idea of being around a baby, after having just lost a baby was really a big decision maker for them," said Ann (Suber) Dain, one of the children Mary nannied for. "And according to John, it healed them."

For the four young children, the match was a blessing, too. John took on the role of a parent with the children, teaching them everything from how to fill a car with gas, to breaking Ann of her unfortunate nail-biting habit.

One day he took her by the hand and told her if she kept at it, no man would ever want to hold her hand. The fear that John alone wouldn't take her by the hand anymore was enough to put a stop to it, she said.

He set up a playground for the children in the backyard, made form an old milk wagon, he attached a tire wing to a tree. Mary taught the children about how to plant everything from marigolds to carrots, she showed them how to make apple fritters and sewed clothing for Ann's Barbie dolls.

"He gave us all the things that an involved father would have," Dain said, whose own father wasn't in the picture. "I was attached to him as a surrogate father, he really filled the role  he and Mary both."

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"They set a template for how a married couple both were in love and exhibited love to four kids that had parents that were divorced by the time we were eight," she continued.

Life after Chicago

But the pair eventually left Chicago because John's honesty led to a run-in with the mafia.

He caught a meat packer not following proper procedures and shut down the operation. But a man pulled him into an office, grabbed him by the lapel, advising him to "leave it alone."

After the man left, he found a $100 bill in his pocket and turned it in to his supervisor. He was shipped out soon thereafter, heading to Korea to continue his career with the Army.

"He wouldn't take a bribe, he followed the book," said John's friend Bill Bachelder. "But I mean that's kind of honest guy he was."

Mary and John eventually returned to the farm Mary grew up on in Brownsdale, to care for her aging parents. The same farm was where they spent the end of their lives, raising sheep, dogs, cats and whatever else happened to be around.

In his final years, he became close with Bachelder, of Brownsdale, who helped him out with things around the farm. Bachelder, a self-described "biker-type" with hair that stretched to his waist  a look, he said, that has caused more than one person to avoid him. But not John.

"Judging by my looks, a lot of people wouldn't have wanted to talk to me," Bachelder said. "He wasn't like that. He accepted you for what was inside you."

"He was just a stand-up kind of guy that I wish most people would model themselves after  it'd be a whole lot better place," Bachelder said.
ST. PAUL  The mother of a man killed by St. Paul police in March defended her son and said he shouldn't have been shot, a day after filing a federal lawsuit against the city.

Kim Handy Jones, filed a civil rights suit against the city, saying 29-year-old Cordale Handy was a victim of poor training and racial bias by police. Police shot him after responding to a domestic violence call and investigators subsequently recovered a gun at the scene.

On Thursday, Handy Jones said her son did not deserve to be killed.

"Today, because of the police wanting to play the judge, the jury and the executioner, I am without my child. No parent should be without a child," Handy Jones said as she stood with Chicago attorney Andrew Stroth outside St. Paul city hall.

Neither Handy Jones nor her attorney offered details contradicting at least one witness statement that a woman told police Handy had a gun before he was shot.

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St. Paul officials declined comment on the lawsuit. But the head of the St. Paul Police Federation said the officers were in the right when they encountered Handy on a street in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood early the morning of March 15.

"There are far too many victims of gun violence and there are far too many cops being placed in dangerous situations and being forced to make life and death decisions. This is a crisis that requires our collective resolve to address," police union head Dave Titus said in a statement released in response to the suit.
One of the liberal medias themes these days is that President Trump has changed his position on a variety of issues. I think this is about 25% true and 75% false. What is most notable, I think, is how strongly Trump has moved to fulfill his campaign promises.

One of many areas where President Trump is doing exactly what he said he would do is the war against ISIS. On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to bomb the s*** out of ISIS. That is what he did today, by dropping the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in our arsenal on a remote complex of caves and tunnels near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Parenthetically: this is the zone I associate with al Qaeda. I have seen headlines about ISIS in Afghanistan, but havent followed those stories closely. If ISIS is now the dominant force along the Afghan-Pakistani border, it surely has supplanted al Qaeda as the epicenter of Islamic terrorism.

The best commentary I have seen on todays bombing comes from Jason Dempsey, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and former Army infantry officer, at Military.com:

Im sure this is ISIS making a pretty big mistake of setting up something remotely and massing, he said in a telephone interview with Military.com. Dempsey also downplayed the symbolism of the militarys decision to use this particular munition. Its a bomb, its the same as dropping 20 smaller bombs, he said. And its going for very distinct effect. Its a cave complex, and to destroy a cave complex you need a giant bomb. So for one, Im not too wrapped up on the uniqueness of the bomb. Dempsey added, This is a reflection of our future in Afghanistan, and its the best tool we have with the reduced footprint. As Afghanistan transitions to what will be almost solely a counterterrorism mission, weve got a group of folks there monitoring transnational terrorist threats, and when they pop up, were going to bomb them. We certainly cant send the Afghans into a complex like this. This is the new normal for Afghanistan.

I, along with many others, advocated this reduced role in Afghanistan a long time ago.

Some say the ISIS bombing may have been intended as a shot across North Koreas bow. President Trump was asked about that:

When asked whether use of the bomb  known as the mother of all bombs  sends a message to North Korea, which has threatened to test more missiles and nuclear weapons, the president said, I dont know  It doesnt make any difference if it does or doesnt. North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of.

Which was appropriately non-responsive.

In recent days, President Trump has moved to distance himself decisively from the supine Obama administration. This is why Russia, Syria, Iran and North Korea are whining hysterically about war. They liked having an inept American administration, and would like to lock in fecklessness as a permanent condition. Trump has made it clear that this isnt going to happen, so they are howling, hoping no doubt to stir up domestic opposition to the administration.

Michael Ramirez sums up todays news in Bombing From Behind. Click to enlarge:
The Guardian adds to our knowledge of how the Obama administration and its allies overseas tried to discredit Donald Trump. (For purposes of this post, I assume that everything the Guardian says is true, even though it is based on anonymous sources who are pursuing their personal and political interests.)

Britains spy agencies played a crucial role in alerting their counterparts in Washington to contacts between members of Donald Trumps campaign team and Russian intelligence operatives, the Guardian has been told. GCHQ first became aware in late 2015 of suspicious interactions between figures connected to Trump and known or suspected Russian agents, a source close to UK intelligence said. This intelligence was passed to the US as part of a routine exchange of information, they added. Over the next six months, until summer 2016, a number of western agencies shared further information on contacts between Trumps inner circle and Russians, sources said. The European countries that passed on electronic intelligence  known as sigint  included Germany, Estonia and Poland. Australia, a member of the Five Eyes spying alliance that also includes the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand, also relayed material, one source said. Another source suggested the Dutch and the French spy agency, the General Directorate for External Security or DGSE, were contributors.

So just about every Western intelligence service was collaborating with the Obama administration in trying to elect Hillary Clinton. Yet, amazingly enough, they failed.

The blindingly obvious point that the Guardian tries to obscure is that the combined assets of all of these agencies failed to find any evidence of collaboration between the Trump campaign and Russia. We know this, because the Democrats have pulled out all the stops. Both before the election, and especially after the election, they have leaked furiously to try to discredit President Trump. If there were any evidence of collusion between Trump (or even obscure, minor advisers like Carter Page) and Russia, there would have been nothing else in the Washington Post or the New York Times for the past five months. But they have nothing.

What was really going on seems clear. Everyone involved in this story thought that Hillary Clinton was sure to win the election. Why? Because they read the Washington Post and the New York Times. Plus Real Clear Politics and 538. The suggestion that the Russian government tried to swing the election to Donald Trump is ridiculous. The Russians thought that Hillary was the certain winner, and ifa big ifthey carried out a primitive phishing expedition into Debbie Wasserman-Schultzs email account, and subsequently sent the DNC emails to Wikileaks, it was to cause trouble for Clinton after she became president.

Likewise, British intelligence and the other agencies mentioned by the Guardian thought there was no doubt but that Hillary would win. How could they curry favor with the new administration, expected to be Obamas third term? By feeding negative information about the opponent who was sure to lose, even though there was no real significance to the intelligence provided.

Thats what happened. The fact that liberals still try to push the Russia story, even when it is obvious that they are out of ammo, is pathetic.
Last week President Trump authorized a limited missile strike against the Syrian regime for its use of chemical weapons against civilians. I explicated what I thought was the message in the missiles (I stretched to find 10 messages). Yesterday the United States dropped the mother of all bombs  the most powerful conventional bomb in the American arsenal  on an Islamic State cave complex in Afghanistan on Thursday. The MOAB is the colloquial name given to the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast.

Here is the New York Times story on the Pentagons announcement. It is about as bad as one might expect under the circumstances. The Times seems mystified by the whole thing, taking it as another in an endless series of black marks against President Trump.

Like the military reprisal against the Syrian regime, the MOAB send a message or 10. Herewith, as William F. Buckley used to say, a few observations:

1. The MOAB has been around since 2002, but this is the first time it has been used in combat. It was used to achieve a specific military purpose (see notes 8 & 9 below) with respect to which the Obama administration had previously refrained. When I say refrained, I mean restrained the military. The era of Obama foreign policy is over.

2. Trump himself expanded on this point at the White House yesterday. He asserted theres been a tremendous difference militarily between the Obama administration and the Trump administration. If you look at whats happened over the last eight weeks and compare that to really whats happened over the last eight years, youll see theres a tremendous difference, Trump said. And this was another very successful mission, he added.

3. Trump elaborated. Everybody knows exactly what happened. What I do, I authorized my military. We have given them total authorization. Thats what theyre doing.

4. The MOAB serves as a reminder of other tools in the chest. The MOAB is not our biggest non-nuclear weapon. That is the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP. The National Interest reminds us that our Air Force also fields the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), which is a massive precision-guided 30,000lb bunker-busting weapon usually dropped from a Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.

5. The MOAB therefore sent a message to North Korea. It put an exclamation point on the military reprisal against the Syrian regime. It reiterated that the era of Obama foreign policy is over. Trump himself professed agnosticism on this point, but this was the message to North Korea: 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. What we see here is akin to the rhetorical device of apophasis or praeteritio.

6. Not coincidentally, NBC News reports: U.S. may launch strike if North Korea reaches for nuclear trigger. The use of the MOAB in Afghanistan makes the leaks here highly credible.

7. The MOAB sent a message to Iran. I cant find a citation to support me here, but its obvious. What goes for North Korea goes for Iran.

8. The use of the bomb had a specific military purpose. As former intelligence officer and Army veteran Michael Pregent commented explained on FOX News last night, ISIS fighters in Afghanistan are using the massive tunnel complex that Al Qaeda used starting back in 2001 when U.S. forces were deployed to Afghanistan. They used the same tunnel complex for bin Laden to escape to Pakistan, Pregent said. The Haqqani network, a terrorist organization out of Pakistan, uses it to bring in lethal aid. So you have these organizations like Al Qaeda, the Haqqani group, the Taliban and now ISIS using a tunnel complex to kill Americans in the past. Thomas Spoehr has more to the same effect here.

9. At NRO, David French highlights what he calls an important and painful point about our almost 16-year long war [in Afghanistan]. This is the point: Excessive American caution has cost American lives and American limbs, and it has left families and friends of the victims with deep psychological wounds. Those wounds would be grievous enough in the best circumstances, but theyre compounded by the fact that many of the decisions not to shoot, not to use artillery, or not to drop bombs were based on a combination of rules of engagement and military misjudgments that were transparently foolish at the time. (Please do read the whole thing.)

10. Dont let me forget to mention that the Obama era in American foreign policy is over.
CLEAR LAKE | The Clear Lake School Board has approved the district's 2017-18 budget.

The district's estimated general fund budget includes about $19 million in revenue and $20 million in expenses, according to superintendent Doug Gee.

The general fund mainly covers teacher salaries and day-to-day expenses like utilities, fuel and textbooks.

At the conclusion of the fiscal year in June, Gee said Clear Lake's general fund is expected to have a $4.4 million balance.

The district's property 2017-18 property tax rate will increase about 81 cents to $10.39 per $1,000 assessed valuation.

Gee noted the tax rate is much lower than 2015-16, which was $10.78 per $1,000 assessed valuation.

 Ashley Miller
Three years after her 15-year-old daughter, Hajara, and over 270 others were kidnapped from their school in Chibok, Borno State, Yanana Bukar, still hopes for her daughters return.

At a point, I actually did not know what to do with the absence of my dear daughter  should I mourn her as a dead person or should I continue to grief over her as a lost child whom I hope would someday return to me, Mrs. Bukar said in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

She said many of the parents of the other girls are in a similar state as hers; and that she had given up hope of ever seeing her daughter.

Having your precious daughter in some unknown jungle coupled with the news being told about how wicked and bloodthirsty Boko Haram insurgents are, does not help one to have normal blood pressure.

Sometimes, I had even given up on Hajara my daughter because we hear the news of how Boko Haram kill people at will.

Hajara and the other 275 girls were in the dormitory at the Government Secondary School in Chibok on April 14, 2014 when the school was attacked by Boko Haram terrorists and the girls kidnapped.

Efforts by government and the Nigerian military to free any of the girls were unsuccessful until at least two years after their kidnap.

However, 57 of the girls managed to escape on their own while two were found by locals in the remote areas close to the Sambisa forest. Twenty-one others were released by their abductors following negotiations with the Muhammadu Buhari administration after over two years in captivity.

About 19 of the parents of the abducted girls have died as a result of trauma, while the rest have been living in grief, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Mrs. Bukar said her hope was rekindled with the release of 21 of the Chibok schoolgirls on October 13, last year.

My daughters name is Hajara Isa, she said in a somber voice.

We are still looking up to God for his kindness. If our girls are still alive, He should help us see that they come out safely just the way the 21 others were released.

Mrs. Bukar, a mother of four, said she was informed by the 21 released girls who visited Chibok last Christmas that her daughter was alive and sent her greetings.

When the freed girls were brought to Chibok to celebrate Christmas, we were able to interact with them and they informed me that my daughter is well, and that she sent her greeting and asked that I should also continue to pray for her. I dont know how true this sweet news could be, but it gladdened my heart because it comes from some of her peers.

I will not give up hope on her. The God that answered the prayers of other parents will surely answer my own and those of others yet to be freed as well.

ANOTHER MOTHER GRIEFS

Another mother of one of the girls, who chose not to mention her name for her personal safety within the community, said she was not happy that community leaders in Chibok castigated those who had publicly lamented their situation.

The woman said she wondered why they kept hearing reports that thousands of women and children were being rescued by troops, and yet none of the remaining 195 girls were found even after the fall of Sambisa forest.

I am not going to mention my name in this interview because the last time we went to speak to the media, our community leaders singled us out for reprimand and all sort of threats, she told PREMIUM TIMES.

But I am not scared of speaking my mind on this matter. We are tired of hearing stories and empty promises. What exactly is the problem with our government?

We have waited patiently as days run into weeks; weeks to months, and it is three years today. All we get is cold promises.

Is it not the same jungle from which the 21 girls were released? Is it not in the same bush that the two other girls were found? So, why is it difficult for the security forces to get our remaining girls rescued once and for all?

We thought the rescued girls should have by now given the troops all the needed information about where the Boko Haram have been hiding them so that they could go in there and rescue them.

We, the parents of the girls have met recently to discuss the plight of our abducted daughters, and we had concluded that it is high time we began to speak with our own voices.

We have agreed that we are going to mobilise resources either through the sale of our farm produce, or by selling firewood or by any other means of our livelihood so that we can travel down to Abuja to meet President Buhari and present our cries to him. We are tired of all the politics and empty promises, she said.

The middle-aged woman spoke to this newspaper on Thursday, the day her eldest daughter, the immediate senior to Aisha, got married.

She said though the wedding day of her daughter would have been a happy day for her, it turned out with mixed feelings because of her missing daughter.

My first daughter is getting married today, she said. But her younger sister, Aisha is not here to stand by her side as we had long planned. It is really sad for me.

She said her missing daughter was 15 years old at the time she was abducted in April 2014.

If she is alive and as I was told by the 21 girls that were recently released, then she should be in her 18th year by now, she said.

They told me that some of the girls were married off, but my daughter had not been married at the time they were leaving, she added.

The federal government has confirmed that it is in negotiations with Boko Haram to free the remaining Chibok girls.

On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari reiterated his administrations commitment to do everything possible to free the girls.

Like I have repeatedly said, the Federal Government is willing to bend over backwards to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls, he said.

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.

TIMELINE ON CHIBOK GIRLS ABDUCTION

April 14, 2014: Armed Boko Haram insurgents abducted the Chibok schoolgirls from their dormitory at a time they were writing their final year exams.

About 57 of the girls managed to escape at different times while on transit with their abductors.

April 16, 2014: The military announced that soldiers had rescued over 100 of the girls; a claim the military had to quickly recant after the school principal, Asabe Kwambura, as well as many of the parents of the abducted girls, refuted it.

April 18, 2014: The Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, offered a N50 million reward for any information that could lead to release of the abducted girls. But no credible information was received to help rescue the girls.

April 21, 2014: The governor defied security warnings to visit Chibok where he was informed by members of a local search party who took it upon themselves to go after the girls and their abductors that they had to give up on the mission following a warning that advancing further into Sambisa forest could cost them their lives.

May 12, 2014: Boko Haram released the first video of the abducted girls, a development which confirmed that the girls were actually in the custody of the Abubakar Shekau-led terror group. Mr. Shekau in the video threatened to marry the girls off or use them as part of his war booty.

May 16, 2014: Former President Goodluck Jonathan canceled a planned trip to Chibok where he was scheduled to meet the missing girls parents. The cancellation of the trip stirred anger in the town as parents accused Mr. Jonathan of insensitivity to the plight of their kids who had spent 31 days in captivity at that time.

May 18, 2014: A chance to rescue the girls by local hunters was missed when the Borno State government refused to give approval to the local hunters to invade Sambisa forest on the ground that other than their charms and amulets, they lacked the sophistication to confront the armed Boko Haram gunmen.

May 19, 2014: The federal government sent a delegation led by Ibrahim Sabo, a retired Brigadier-General of the Nigerian Army, on a fact-finding mission, amongst other things, to find out why the Borno State government kept the school in Chibok opened when others were closed at that time. The committee did not visit Chibok.

May 20, 2014: The Borno State government set up a N150 million special funds for the rehabilitation of the 57 escapees Chibok girls.

October 16, 2014: The former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, an Air Vice-Marshal, announced that the federal government had reached a ceasefire deal with leaders of Boko Haram and that the 216 girls in captivity would soon be released. But Boko Haram leaders quickly denied that claim.

November 2, 2014: Boko Haram leader, Mr. Shekau, released a video during which he declared that all the 216 girls in his custody had been converted to Islam and married off. He also denied ever negotiating with the federal government concerning the girls.

March 24, 2015: A woman who escaped from Boko Haram captivity revealed that some of the Chibok girls were being held somewhere near Gwoza and that two of the girls had been killed during a military air strike on one of the terrorists locations.

May 29, 2015: President Muhammadu Buhari, in his inaugural speech, promised to end Boko Haram insurgency and rescue the Chibok schoolgirls within six months.

August 29, 2015: President Buhari met 90 of the parents of the abducted Chibok girls during which he restated the promise to rescue the girls.

November 30, 2015: President Buhari dashed the hopes of many Nigerians when he told the world during his maiden media chat that there was no credible information on the whereabouts of the Chibok girls.

February 5, 2016: Nigerias former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, declared that the 219 missing Chibok girls may never be found.

May 18, 2016: One of the abducted Chibok girls, Amina Ali Nkeki, was found with her baby and a man she identified as her husband.

October 13, 2016: Boko Haram released 21 Chibok girls following a negotiation deal.

January 5, 2017: Another Chibok girl, Rakiya Abubakar, was found with her baby, which brings to 23 the number of the abducted girls to have regained freedom to date.

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An election petitions tribunal sitting in Benin, Edo State, has affirmed the victory of Godwin Obaseki as the winner of the gubernatorial elections held on September 28, 2016, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate in the election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, had challenged Mr. Obasekis election, alleging widespread irregularities.

Mr. Obaseki, who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The head of the tribunal, Ahmed Badamosi, dismissed Mr. Ize-Iyamus petition.

PREMIUM TIMES understands that wild celebrations broke out amongst supporters of Mr. Obaseki and the APC shortly after the pronouncement.

More details soon

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The embassies of the United States and the United Kingdom in Abuja have reacted to Wednesdays announcement by the State Security Service that five suspected Boko Haram operatives with ties to the Islamic State terror group were arrested while plotting to attack the two missions.

In the announcement, which was circulated to the media on behalf of the SSS by Tony Opuiyo, the secret police said the terror plots were thwarted following a nationwide crackdown on terrorists and kidnappers between March and April.

The SSS identified the suspected terrorists as Isa Jibril, Jibril, Abu Omale Jibril, Halidu Sule and Ahmodu Salifu. They were arrested between March 25 and 26, in Benue State and Abuja, the agency said.

The group had perfected plans to attack the UK and American Embassies and other western interests in Abuja, the SSS said.

In separate reactions to the announcement, the U.S. and U.K. Embassies said their respective governments appreciate the efforts of Nigerian authorities in neutralising terror threats.

The United States appreciates the work of Nigerian security forces in fighting terrorism and keeping citizens and residents safe, U.S. Embassy spokesperson, Russell Brooks, said in an email to PREMIUM TIMES. Nigeria and the United States continue to have a strong partnership in countering violent extremism.

Also responding to PREMIUM TIMES enquiries, Joseph Abuku, spokesperson for the U.K. Embassy, conveyed British governments gratitude to Nigerian security agencies in protecting their diplomatic staff and premises, adding that they were in regular contact with the Nigerian security authorities concerning potential threats to UK interests in Nigeria.

Both spokespersons declined specific comments relating to the announced foiled terror attacks.

A diplomatic source, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that no email was circulated to personnel of the embassies about the development, and also raised questions about why it took days for it to be announced.

That usually means the embassies have not been briefed or able to independently verify the claims of the SSS, an official said. Its also curious that they had to wait several days to add such high-profile operation in what seemed like a routine press statement.

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An election petition tribunal sitting in Benin, Edo State, on Friday affirmed the victory of Godwin Obaseki as the winner of the gubernatorial elections held on September 28, 2016.

The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate in the election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, had challenged Mr. Obasekis victory, alleging widespread irregularities.

Mr. Ize-Iyamu, a Christian preacher, has instructed his lawyers to file an appeal immediately, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Mr. Obaseki, who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Mr. Obaseki polled 319,483 votes as against Ize-Iyamus 253,173 votes, defeating the PDP candidate with 66, 310 votes.

Ahmed Badamosi, who led the three-man tribunal, dismissed Mr. Ize-Iyamus petition, saying it lacked merit.

Mr. Badamosi held that the petitioners failed on all fronts to prove their allegations of voter fraud and other corrupt practices that allegedly marred the poll.

The petitioners have failed to prove their case with credible evidence and its therefore dismissed, he said.

The tribunal held that while the petitioners abandoned some of their pleadings, witnesses evidence was controverted under cross-examination.

The much talked about ticking and over voting by the petitioners have not been specifically proved beyond reasonable doubts.

And not calling witnesses to prove their allegations of corrupt practices and over voting was fatal to their case and is deemed to have abandoned their pleadings, it found.

Accordingly, the petition has failed and is hereby dismissed, it held.

Mr. Ize-Iyamu and the PDP had listed INEC, Mr. Obaseki and the APC as first, second and third respondents, respectively.

He asked the tribunal to nullify the election of Mr. Obaseki and declare him the winner, having allegedly scored majority of the lawful votes cast among other reliefs sought.

But Mr. Ize-Iyamus lawyers said they had been instructed to file an appeal as soon as possible.

Our client just said we should proceed and file an appeal to reverse the ruling, Yusuf Ali, a senior advocate of Nigeria and lead counsel to the petitioner, told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Friday afternoon. Were not going to condemn the conclusion of the tribunal, but we know our appeal is in order.

PREMIUM TIMES understands that wild celebration broke out amongst supporters of Mr. Obaseki and the APC shortly after the pronouncement.

Amongst those celebrating the victory in Benin was a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole.

The judgment is sound and a testimony that the people of Edo never voted for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Oshiomhole said while interacting with reporters Friday afternoon. The petition was a busy body one to distract the electorate; this was just like Mama Akara judgment going to see over a non-issue.

The former governor said the judgment showed that there were still men and women of good character in the judiciary.

This will serve as a deterrent to some people who can say whatever they like about the judiciary.

But it has shown it (judiciary) has men & women of good charter of courage and knowledge, Mr. Oshiomhole said.

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The $43,449,947, 27,800 and N23,218,000 recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from an Ikoyi apartment in Lagos was a discreet allocation released to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for major but covert security projects, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

The total value of the money at the Central Bank of Nigeria official exchange rate is over N13 billion.

Presidency and security sources told this newspaper on Friday that former President Goodluck Jonathan approved the funds for the 30-year old secret service agency after its immediate past Director General, Olaniyi Oladeji, alerted him to the need for some crucial and covert security projects.

The funds were later released in cash directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria as a way of making its spending completely secret, this newspaper was told.

The projects are scattered across the country, but there is a major one in Lagos being funded with the cash warehoused in the Ikoyi building, one source said. The spending on the projects cannot be subjected to the usual expenditure process, and that is why the funds are held in cash. If you like, you can call it illegal projects in the national interest.

Our sources said only relevant top government officials and of the NIA are aware of the projects.

One official said when the incumbent Director General of the NIA, Ayodele Oke, was alerted that EFCC operatives had swooped on the apartment, being discreetly guarded by covert operatives, he rushed to the anti-graft agencys headquarters in Abuja to advise its chairman, Ibrahim Magu, to withdraw his men as the funds belonged to government.

At the time, about 13 police officers and some soldiers, accompanied by photographers and videographers, had broken into the apartment, and were already dismantling the safes in which the funds were concealed, our sources said.

Mr. Magu however declined Mr. Okes request. Instead, he directed his men to proceed with the operation. those familiar with the matter said.

A frustrated Mr. Oke was said to have rushed to the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to complain about Mr. Magus attitude, and the huge embarrassment he had caused his otherwise extremely quiet and secretive agency.

On Thursday, presidency sources said, Mr Oke met President Muhammadu Buhari in company with Attorney General Abubakar Malami to table the same complaints.

Those who saw the NIA DG before he was called in to see the president said he had two bulky envelopes believed to contain paper and audio-visual records of the security projects.

Officials said President Buhari has since directed Mr. Magu to forward to him detailed report on the operation. The EFCC boss was also directed to immediately deposit the funds with the CBN.

On his part, Mr. Oke was asked to properly document his complaints against Mr. Magu, and then reapply for the seized funds, our sources said.

A top presidency source said the President might ask Attorney General Malami to review reports submitted by the two officials, and then forward appropriate recommendations.

When contacted Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said, Its a security issue, and not strictly a presidency issue.

He directed further enquiries on the matter to the security agencies involved.

Mr. Oke of the NIA confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the money belongs to his agency, but declined further comments when asked what the funds were meant for.

You dont expect me to tell you that, he said.

Contacted Friday, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said he had not been briefed on the matter.

Attorney General Malami initially did not answer or return calls. But he later said his presence at the meeting Mr. Oke had with the president was coincidental.

It was nothing planned, Mr. Malami said. I had a lot to do at the villa, and coincidentally he (Mr. Oke) too was there. I initially did not know why he was there until much later.

The Attorney General said he had not been formally briefed to take any action on the matter.

The EFCC had on Wednesday recovered the huge cash from an Osborne Street, Ikoyi apartment in Lagos, believing it was looted.

The anti-graft agency said it acted following a tip from a whistle-blower.

In a ruling on Thursday, Justice Muslim Hassan ordered a temporary forfeiture of the money to the government.

He adjourned further proceedings to May 5 for anyone interested or wishing to claim the money or make a case why it should not be permanently forfeited to government.

EDITORS NOTE: This post has been updated with Attorney General Abubakar Malamis comments. He initially did not answer or return calls.

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has renewed his call for the screening of Nigerian movies in China.

The minister made the request on Thursday in Abuja when he received the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, on a courtesy visit.

He said the screening of Nollywood movies in China would reciprocate Nigerias gesture towards Chinese movies, which are shown in the country.

Mr. Mohammed said it would also be a deliberate strategy to ensuring better understanding between the two countries and also create market for Nigerian movies in China.

He described the partnership between Nigeria and China in the area of infrastructural development as a catalyst for domestic tourism in Africa.

I think China is a good example of how domestic tourism can propel and trigger the economy; and for domestic tourism to prosper, you need improved infrastructure.

This is why we are so glad that China is collaborating with Nigeria in the area of infrastructure such as roads, power and railways, he said.

The minister hailed the bilateral relations between Nigeria and China which he described as mutual and sincere.

He noted that China remains one of the strategic partners of Nigeria because of its genuine commitment and passion towards the country.

Mr. Mohammed said the cultural ties between both countries could further be strengthened in the areas of film and cinematography.

Mr. Pingjian said culture and people-to-people relations were parts of 10 priority areas which his country was exploring to foster relations with Nigeria.

He said China had opened discussion with the minister towards the building of Nigeria-China Cultural Centre in Nigeria to further promote cultural ties.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the minister also on Thursday received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright, on a courtesy visit.

Mr. Mohammed reiterated the commitment of the federal government to ease doing business in the country.

He said that the bilateral agreement between his ministry and the British Council has yielded fruits with the training of 40 Nigerian festival managers by the Council in February.

Arkwright had earlier said that his country was committed to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria particularly in the areas of tourism, creative industry and cultural heritage.

(NAN)

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On the third anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok school girls, the UK government on Friday restated its commitment to support Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram and terrorism.

The assurance was contained in a goodwill message to the Nigerian government by the UK Foreign Office Minister, Tobias Ellwood, and the International Development Minister counterpart, James Wharton.

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 peoples lives have been devastated by Boko Haram. We are committed to supporting Nigeria in the fight against these barbaric terrorists. More than 22,500 Nigeria military personnel have received UK training, with a significant number deployed on counter insurgency operations in north-east Nigeria.

Lasting stability and security requires all parties to work together to address the long-term causes of the conflict, and the empowerment of women and girls must be at the heart of this process. The UK was one of the first to respond to the humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria, and continues to reach millions of people who have been forced from their homes with lifesaving support to improve education, nutrition and basic health services to stop people dying from starvation and hunger.

We will not be deterred from supporting Nigeria to tackle violent extremism and build peace for the people of north-east Nigeria.

Since 2014, the UK government said it significantly increased its support to Nigeria to help fight against Boko Haram.

The support was through the provision of a substantial package of military, intelligence and development support.

Apart from contributing 5 million to the Multi National Joint Task Force, a regional force against Boko Haram, comprising troops from Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Benin, the UK government also provided 74 million last year.

The fund was for emergency food, shelter and health care for hundreds of thousands of people displaced by Boko Harams violent insurgency.

Besides, one of its development agencies, the Department for International Development, DFID,significantly increased its humanitarian support from 1 million in 2014 to 74 million last year, the government said.

In health, the UK government said DFID also supported the International Committee of the Red Cross, who have helped restore basic health care services for over 500,000 people affected by conflict, provided 150,000 immunisations for children and enabled over 20,000 women to give birth safely.

In 2016 alone, it said the agency reached over a million people with food and provided 34,000 children suffering from malnutrition with lifesaving treatment.

In education, DFID said it also supported access to education for over 25,000 marginalised children in the north-east.

The beneficiaries included girls, through an innovative approach that engages government, community members and religious leaders to introduce the teaching of literacy in the local language, numeracy and basic science alongside Quranic education in 200 Integrated Quranic schools (IQS).

DFID supported research suggesting strong demand from communities affected by the conflict with Boko Haram to expand this approach, the UK government said.

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The All Progressives Congress Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, on Tuesday, attacked his home state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, advising the public to regard the latters recent claims on transparency and accountability as subterfuge and fiction.

Mr. El-Rufai has been involved in a fight with the National Assembly, particularly the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, as both sides have challenged each other on transparency in matters of disclosure of security votes as well as local government funds and transparent National Assembly .

Mr. Sani, who has been having an acrimonious relationship with Mr. El-Rufai on Kaduna local political turf, chose to pitch tent with the National Assembly.

He, however, noted that the call on the National Assembly to open its budget, after a period of seven-year secrecy, is legitimate and right, and expressed optimism that the legislature is listening.

The lawmaker said no one should believe Mr. El-Rufai, whom he accused of being deceitful and labelled presenter of fiction.

The governor had in his Mondays reaction to the House of Representatives published the states security budget, including N1.5 billion for procurement and installation of CCTV cameras for monitoring and surveillance to reduce crime rate in the metropolis.

He also published his basic salary slip, showing a monthly earning that is less than half a million naira.

The general public should not be deceived by Kaduna Governors stunts and public presentation of his work of fiction he calls security vote, said Mr. Sani in a statement distributed on Thursday.

Whoever can believe that a state governor lives on less than half a million monthly is either hypnotised,dazzed or high on an inebriant.

If you are convinced that Kaduna Governor transparently spent his security votes on CCTV camera visit Kaduna if you will ever see one security camera.

If you are convinced that the Kaduna Governor transparently spent his security votes on the police, please ask him from which of the votes does he pay the Herdsmen?

The lawmaker, who publicly disclosed his asset at the start of the Buhari administration, said that: the Nigerian public cannot know who is a saint or a sinner in power,it always has to take men out of power for the public to know what exist beneath the throne.

He then called for open asset declaration by public officials as a way of checking corruption.

Nigerias lost wealth is not just in Swiss banks and dubai real estate; its not just hidden in cesspit holes and in dusty ceilings;its in the files of conduct bureau well protected by the law of secrecy.

Apart from PMB and VP Osinbajo,no other vendor of change is willing to publicly declare his asset. Everyman on the throne of power stands in the dock of history and posterity, he said.

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The Ahmed Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said it is untrue that Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike and his Ekiti counterpart, Ayodele Fayose, sponsored the partys April 6 stakeholders meeting.

Dayo Adeyeye, the spokesperson of the Makarfi faction, stated this at news conference on Friday in Abuja.

The Deputy National Chairman of the party, Cairo Ojougboh, had at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday alleged that the stakeholders meeting convened and chaired by former President Goodluck Jonathan was sponsored by both governors.

Mr. Ojougboh, who said he was speaking for the PDP National Chairman, Ali Sheriff, alleged that Mr. Wike spent N50 million to host the meeting.

Mr. Sheriff and his supporters had walked out of the stakeholders meeting midway saying he was not given proper recognition as chairman.

Mr. Adeyeye said his faction would have ignored the allegations since, as he said, Mr. Ojougboh was not an officer of PDP. He said doing so may send wrong signals to unsuspecting members of the public.

He said his faction was not surprised that Mr. Ojougboh found pleasure in castigating the two governors at every turn.

He said that it was unfortunate that Mr. Ojougboh never criticises his paymaster, the ruling party.

Mr. Adeyeye recalled that the meeting was agreed at the residence of former National Security Adviser, NSA, Aliyu Gusau, in the presence of Mr. Sheriff, Wale Oladipo, David Mark, Ahmed Makarfi and Ben Obi.

In the light of the above, therefore, it is uncharitable for Ojougboh to allege that the stakeholders meeting was organised and sponsored by Wike and Fayose.

Indeed, it is the height of indecency for Sheriff and Ojougboh to allege that a person of Jonathans standing could be induced by anyone, not the least a governor, to organise the meeting, he said.

He also denied Mr. Ojougbohs allegation that Mr. Wike bribed the judiciary with $5 million to get justice on the Rivers Governorship Election at the Supreme Court.

We have been reliably informed that the latest accusation against the judiciary is part of their calculated and clandestine plot to blackmail the justices of the Supreme Court.

That was what they did to the Justices of the Special Appeal Panel during the Ondo State Gubernatorial Election case.

He requested the Supreme Court to find out from Mr. Ojougboh who among its officers Mr. Wike disbursed the alleged $5 million to.

Let Ojougboh be informed that he cannot pitch the good people of Rivers against their loving and performing governor over his childish and mindless allegation of financial impropriety.

Mr. Adeyeye advised all PDP chapters in the states to ignore any directive regarding national convention by Mr. Sheriff.

He also described the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting being summoned by Mr. Sheriff on May 3 as total fraud, politically and legally.

He urged chairmen of the states chapters of the party to disregard Mr. Sheriffs request for the submission of delegates lists on or before April 27.

Mr. Adeyeye said his faction of the PDP would announce meetings of its various organs at an appropriate time after due consultation with all stakeholders.

On ongoing campaign by Mr. Sheriff in the South-East and South-South zones, he commended PDP stakeholders in the regions for not partaking in such illegality.

The presence of the two deputy governors was solely on grounds of hospitality.

The PDP is not organizing any campaign or rally around the country at the moment.

We urge our members to remain steadfast and continue to ignore any meeting called by Sheriff.

(NAN)

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The Kogi State Government on Thursday crushed a compound allegedly owned by suspected leader of an interstate kidnap syndicate, Zakari Yau.

A statement from Governor Yahaya Bellos office said he ordered the demolition of the premises located in Odu, in the states countryside.

Petra Onyegbule, Mr. Bellos chief press secretary, said the property, which had allegedly served as criminal hideouts for years, had at least 12 gates leading into it.

The destruction comes six months after Mr. Yau, 30, was arrested by the police, alongside other suspected members of his ring, during a raid of the compound.

Apart from Kogi, they were accused of also terrorising residents in several states across the north-central, including Benue, Nasarawa and Niger.

The demolition of Mr. Yaus alleged property was part of an ongoing exercise aimed at smashing all suspected criminal hideouts in the state. Similar hideouts hard been torn down in other parts of the state, including Okenne, the statement said.

Mr. Bello gave all suspected criminals across the state until April 20, 2017 to hand in their arms and ammunition and embrace an ongoing amnesty exercise.

The statement said the demolition was carried out in accordance with the states Anti-Kidnapping, Robbery and Terrorism Act signed by the immediate past governor, Idris Wada.

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EAGLE GROVE | An Eagle Grove man charged with possession of child pornography was jailed Thursday on a $50,000 bond.

Jason Marvets, 30, was charged with four counts of felony exploitation of a minor and a misdemeanor charge of purchase of possession of a depiction of a minor engaged in a sex act.

The charges filed Thursday were a result of a months-long investigation involving the Wright County sheriff's deputies, Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Eagle Grove police and the Webster County Cyber Crime Unit.

It was initiated by a cyber tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Wright County Sheriff Jason Schluttenhofer said in a statement.

"Social media has become a dangerous place and we will continue our work and cooperation with other agencies to apprehend those individuals who exploit our children," Schluttenhofer said in the statement.

 Molly Montag.
The Kogi State Government on Friday named the 50-km Shintaku-Gboloko-Dekina Road in Bassa Local Government Area of the state after the fallen Book Haram war hero, Mohammed Abu Ali.

Governor Yahaya Bello, who announced this in Bassa, said the honour was part of efforts to immortalise Mr. Ali, the lieutenant colonel who was killed in Maiduguri, Borno State, on November 4, 2016 by insurgents.

The late officer was a son to the Ettu of Bassa-Nge Kingdom, Abu Ali, a retired brigadier general.

Mr. Bello was in the council area to flag off the rehabilitation of three roads when he announced the naming of the road after the late soldier.

My late brother, Lt.-Col Abu Ali, paid the ultimate price for the protection of his fellow Nigerians and I am dedicating this road in his memory.

When I came here on a condolence visit to his family, I promised to construct this road and I am grateful to God that I am performing the flag-off today to the glory of God, he said.

He assured the people of his administrations commitment to provide infrastructure in the area.

Mr. Bello warned criminals to keep off, saying the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on them.

The state has become a no-go area for criminals.

By now, criminals must know that there is a new `sheriff in town. I will not condone any form of criminality. Those still hiding will be flushed out; poverty is not an excuse for criminality, the governor said

The administrator of the local government area, Zakari Alumka, commended the governor for his intervention during a recent communal clash.

Mr. Alumka also thanked the governor for the construction and rehabilitation of Mohammed Abu Ali road and two other roads in the area.

In his speech, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Paul Maiwada, who is from the area, expressed the gratitude of the Bassa people to the governor for the honour done their late son.

(NAN)

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The Kaduna State Government said on Thursday that a total of 2.1 million pupils had enrolled into public primary schools since 2015 till date in the state.

A statement issued by the Public Relations Unit, Universal Basic Education, said Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State disclosed this when he visited the Executive Secretary, UBEC, Hamid Bobboyi in Abuja.

Mr. El-Rufai said that the increase in pupil enrolment was as a result of governments free Universal Basic Education policy and renewed drive to provide improved learning facilities in the State.

From the1 million figure recorded in 2015, the total primary school enrolment in Kaduna State now stands at 2.1 million.

Mr. El-Rufai, together with the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Andrew Nok, highlighted other landmark achievements of his administration to include the 35 per cent budgetary allocation to the education sector.

The governor said others included renovation of 608 primary schools out of a total of the total of 4,200 primary schools in the state.

The plan to maximise the use of available school space by constructing multi-storey structures in existing schools.

Establishment of model schools across the State and other interventions toward improving basic education especially the improvement of teacher quality, he said.

The governor added that efforts were being made to gradually replace obsolete equipment and method from the school system and replace them with contemporary practices.

Mr. El-Rufai said that very soon schools in Kaduna State would have white boards instead of the usual blackboard.

In his response, Mr. Bobboyi commended the giant strides recorded in UBE delivery in the state, particularly increased access to basic education, systematic approach to improving school infrastructure and the States commitment to quality UBE service delivery.

He urged the government to continue to exemplify leadership in this direction as Kaduna was known to be the regional capital not only in politics but also in other human endeavours.

He pledged UBECs continued support to the State within its operational mandates and commended the governor for taking out time to visit the agency.

(NAN)

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Rainstorm which occurred on Wednesday evening has destroyed property worth millions of Naira in four communities in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

Properties destroyed include the roof of the Ibesikpo Asutan local government legislative building, telecommunications mast, fence of the local government secretariat and about 40 shops at Nung Udoe main market among others.

The Chairman traders association in Ibesikpo Asutan, Jude Edet, said on Thursday that 75 traders were dislodged by the disaster.

We have lost so much to Wednesdays night rain.

As at Thursday, by our inventory 75 shops were destroyed. If we want to estimate our loss, it is in millions.

Mr. Edet said the traders are willing to pay if government will construct a modern market facility for them and appealed to the government to provide aid to the affected traders.

The Divisional Crime Officer in the local government, Dorathy Umoh, said the disaster posed a security threat to the local government secretariat.

The council is not safe. We dont have enough security men. I have directed that some of the security men in the out-station be withdrawn to assist in beefing security at the council.

We call on government to come to the aid of the council, he said.

The chairman Ibesikpo Asutan transition committee, Ilana Udofia, while inspecting affected facilities at the council and the market said destruction caused by the storm were beyond the capacity of the local government.

The level of destruction here runs into hundreds of millions. So, it is beyond our capacity.

Some people were injured, this is a sad period.

It is not just the market, private homes in other communities were affected. We have never witnessed this in the history of this local government, he said.

Mr. Udofia said the council would liaise with the relevant state agencies to get aid for the victims.

The chairman commiserated with traders and indigenes of the local government affected by the incident.

Mr. Udofia appealed to the state government to come in and give the victims relief assistance in this difficult time.

One of the timber dealers, Usoro Usoro, said 11 shops were affected at the timber market.

Two other traders, Emmanuel Ekpo and Idongesit Nyong, called on the government to come to their aid.

They also said that on Okpobo street, Nung Udoe, electric poles fell by the storm destroyed some houses.

They said some victims of the disaster were taking refuge at a church, Christian Fellowship, Okpob, Nung Udoe.

At Brotherhood Secondary School, Ikot Ide Akpakpan, where the storm destroyed three classroom blocks, the principal, Comfort Ekpo said, When school resumes in May, there will be no place for the students to stay.

She said one of the classroom blocks destroyed was a PTA project and was roofed just a week ago.

(NAN)

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Traditional rulers in Ile-Ife have protested the police continued detention of a member of the traditional council in the state, Ademola Ademiluyi.

The monarch was arrested in connection with the March 8 bloody clash between the Yorubas and the Hausa community which resulted in the death of about 46 persons.

Leading the traditional rulers in the protest, the Laroka of Wanikin Ife, Kole Ojutalayo, told journalists on Thursday in Ile-Ife that a petition had been sent to the President, Muhammadu Buhari, the IGP, and the Governor of Osun State to register their displeasure.

He said the detention and the parade of Mr Ademiluyi by the police was a desecration of Yoruba customs.

According to him, the police were partial in their treatment of the Yoruba traditional rulers in relation to the crisis.

Ife obas, numbering 40, have written a protest letter to President Muhammadu Buhari and the same letter was sent to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; and the Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, on the continued detention of the arrested monarch, Mr. Ojutalayo said.

He said the traditional council of Ife was surprised that the police declared Mr. Ademiluyi wanted on March 9 in connection with the clash even when available evidence showed that he was in Lagos when the fight broke out.

Our investigation revealed that while in the custody of the Nigeria Police, Oba Ademola Adedewe Ademiluyi was stripped of his royal paraphernalia, including the removal of his cap, thereby exposing his bare head which is contrary to the Yoruba custom, Ojutalayo stated.

As if that was not enough, he was paraded at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, like a common criminal alongside other innocent Ile-Ife indigenes that were arrested.

Your Excellency will agree with us that no emir or any other traditional chief in the northern part of Nigeria would ever have been degraded and ridiculed in the manner Oba Ademola Adedewe Ademiluyi was treated by the Nigeria Police.

Meanwhile, the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has said the police have released 15 out of the 21 persons arrested over the Ife clash.

The Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, told Punch Newspapers that the 15 suspects were released unconditionally.

He however said Mr. Ademiluyi, and five others were still in police custody.

Mr. Odumakin said the suspects were released to Ropo Oyewole, a member of the legal defence team.

Those released, according to Mr. Odumakin, include, Ayoola Abimbola, Bello Wahab, Peter Omisore, Adefisan Isaac, Adelekan Kehinde, Elufisan Akintoye, Omisanmi Isaac, Adejobe Monday, Olanrewaju Adebayo, Akanbi Adeyinka, Obimakin Samuel, Alhaji Zakariyu Abdulyakeen, Bamidele Elufisan, Clement Kehinde and Akinyombo Seye.

The police have, however, yet to confirm the release.

Afenifere and other groups in the south west had condemned the alleged one-sided arrest after the mayhem, saying the police arrested only Yoruba people despite the fact that casualties were recorded from both sides.

The Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, amidst the outcry, set up a commission of enquiry to investigate the crisis and recommend ways to forestall such in future.

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Udaipur. The three left parties Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India ( Marxist) and Communist Party of India ( Marxist-Leninist) along with Aam Adami Party and Muslim Mahasabha took out a Silent March under the banner of " Loktantrik Adhikaar evam Sadbhav Manch" Udaipur to protest against the brutal killing of Pelu Khan in Behrod, Alwar by the self proclaimed " Gourakshaks". The march started from the town hall and the four hundred strong rally walked in total silence through the Bapu Bazar, Delhi Gate and culminated into a public meeting at the collectorate. The people were bearing playcards and banners with slogans like " Stop murders in the name of cows protection", " Stop dividing people on communal lines" , " Home Minister Resign", "Hindu Muslim Sikh Isai, Bharat Ma ke Chaar Sipahi" etc. The meeting was presided over by Comrade Meghraj Tawad, former MLA, CPI, Haji Mohammad Baksh and veteran poet and chief of Bohra Youth Abid Adeeb. A memorandum addressed to the President of India was submitted to the collector demanding compensation for the family of Pelu Khan, withdrawl of cases against his children and resignation of the Home Minister of Rajasthan Gulab Chand Kataria. The meeting was convened by former member of Municipal Council and secretary CPIM Rajesh Singhvi. He said that the ruling BJP and its front organizations are taking law in their hand and murdering innocent people. He charged the Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria of being involved in protecting the murders and demanded that he must be sacked. Member of the state committee of CPI(ML) Shanker Lal Chaudhary said that the BJP government is creating such issues to divert people's attention from the issues of poverty, unemployment and the loot of the resources of the people. Secretary of the Loktantrik Adhikar evam Sadbhavna Manch Prof. H.S.Chandalia said that the state is supporting the violence of the illegal organizations in the name of faith. He said that the constitutional values were being compromised and fundamental rights of people were being violated by such state supported violence by the Goonda elements. Vice President of Muslim Mahasangh Comrade K.R. Siddiqui said that the unity of Hindu and Muslims can only take the nations forward. He demanded that the Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria must be sacked. It is to be mentioned that Gulab Chand Kataria is an MLA from Udaipur. President of Anjuman Khalil Mohammed , former Member of Municipal Council from BJP also demanded justice for the family of the deceased Pelu Khan. Mohammed Hanif of Aam Adami Party, Riyaz Hussain , Vice President of district Congress said that this is not the first time when the innocent muslims were targeted by the Hindutva brigade. BJP and its allied organizations want to create an environment of fear so that minorities may vote for BJP out of fear. Rizwan Khan, Mohammed Salim Khan and many more leaders addressed the meeting at the collectorate.
Its amazing what human disturbances can do to wildlife.

Even a trip to a beach can alter an animals habitat.

Here in South Jersey, certain endangered and threatened species are in despairing conditions, and local refuges and organizations are working to avoid disturbances for these animals.

The Endangered Species Act defines endangered species as any species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are three federally endangered species in the state, including the roseate tern  a migratory bird that nests along the coast of New Jersey in April and May all the way down to Cape May.

On the state level, the list is even larger, with 50 endangered species and 36 labeled as threatened.

One of those species is the piping plover, a bird that frequents very popular locations but is not often seen by the public.

Locally, piping plovers nest in Holgate Marina on Long Beach Island as well as Little Beach in Galloway Township. There are 38 pairs of nests in these areas.

The problem? Humans.

Piping plovers need a natural beach habitat to nest. That can become a problem with tourism in the summer. For this reason, the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge closes those beaches during the summer, when the birds nest.

Holgate has been closed to the public since April 1. Still, people will cross do not enter signs and disturb the habitat, according to Virginia Rettig, refuge manager at Forsythe.

Our best effort as humans is to essentially acknowledge closed areas and stay off of them, she said.

Rettig and her team will scan the beaches for new nests using GPS to track the pairs of birds in the area. The refuge also sets up tables and beach walks to educate the public as to why the beaches are closed through the summer.

One thing that helped the species was Hurricane Sandy. In 2012, the action of the ocean created a better beach habitat and caused more birds to nest at Holgate.

Still, the development of beaches has become a threat, Rettig said.

Piping plovers need wild beaches that arent raked or enjoyed by the public  no dogs, cars or people, she said.

Another group of animals on the states endangered list are turtles. Bog, leatherback and loggerhead turtles all are on the list. Most marine turtles found around back bays during the summer are either endangered or threatened.

As the water temperatures rise to about 70 degrees, turtles begin to migrate to this area, and that can mean problems.

In the past, turtles were hunted for their eggs, according to Robert Schoelkopf, founding director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine.

Now, the main threat to these turtles are personal watercraft, boats and other vehicles.

It is a problem in the summer months, Schoelkopf said. Every 20 or 30 minutes (the turtles) have to come up for air. They cant stay under water.

Although humans and their shiny water toys can contribute to the deaths of these turtles, Schoelkopf said humans also can help the animals.

Report any sighting you have out there, he said.
OCEAN CITY  A church parking lot transformed into the city of Jerusalem.

A small crowd gathered Friday at St. Damien Parish for its sixth annual Way of the Cross, performed in Spanish.

Children in the parish donned soldiers armor, and dye-soaked whips were used to strike the actor portraying Jesus Christ, Jesus Garcia.

The crowd followed Christ, carrying his own cross down Wesley Avenue.

They followed behind performers to a nearby station of the cross.

Peg Kendrick, of Ocean City, called the performance realistic and dramatic.

It brings such a high level of culture to the people of Ocean City, she said. Its also amazing that so many people brought their children with them.

Barbara Waddy, a seasonal Ocean City resident, had just gotten into town Thursday and said she had never heard of the performance before.

When you go to church, they read the Passion, but this is a whole other experience happening. Its very moving, Waddy said.
ROCKWELL | A Webster County man accused of helping two others break into cars in a Rockwell nursing home parking lot was sentenced this week to up to five years in prison.

Logan Warland, 26, Fort Dodge, pleaded guilty last month to two felony counts of third-degree burglary.

An additional felony charge of ongoing criminal conduct and a misdemeanor charge of driving while barred as an habitual offender are being dismissed.

3 accused of Rockwell car burglaries ROCKWELL | A Kensett man and two Webster County residents are accused of breaking into cars 

Warland's two $750 fines were suspended, but he was ordered to pay a $125 surcharge and court costs on each burglary count. He also was ordered to pay $597 restitution to one victim and $520 to another.

Warland and co-defendants Blake Peterson, Kensett, and Jodi Mohr, 37, Guthrie, broke into multiple cars Nov. 28 at the Rockwell Community Nursing Home, according to a Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office statement.

Mohr is scheduled to go to trial May 2, while Peterson's trial is set for May 23.

 Mary Pieper
Atlantic County is preparing to take on New Jersey to end the state takeover of Atlantic City and repeal the controversial PILOT bill.

In an emergency meeting Friday, the Atlantic County Mayors Association voted to invite all state officials representing Atlantic County to its next meeting April 28 in Brigantine to discuss what can be done to amend the PILOT bill.

The PILOT lets casinos make fixed payments totaling $120 million per year in lieu of property taxes for 10 years.

If the mayors and county administration are not satisfied with the state officials answers, they will file a lawsuit against the state, County Executive Dennis Levinson said.

Meanwhile, the county is considering filing an injunction to freeze the bill.

This is not Atlantic County against Atlantic City, Levinson said. This is between the casinos and the noncasino taxpayers.

The issues stem from the county not receiving the 13.5 percent of the PILOT money from casinos that Gov. Chris Christie promised them.

Instead, the county will receive 10.4 percent of the annual PILOT collection. The difference in percentage means the county will get just less than $12.5 million annually, not the $16.2 million it would have received with the higher percentage.

That difference will be in effect over the 10-year lifespan of the bill.

The amount taxes will be increased countywide is yet to be determined.

Levinson said it will range from 5 cents to 15 cents per $100 of equalized value. That could mean a tax-bill increase of $100 to $300 for a $200,000 home.

Christie spokesman Brian Murray said Monday the county did not live up to expectations in helping the city to recover. Therefore, the county didnt deserve to get the 13.5 percent, he said.

A message asking what the county could have done was not immediately returned.

Levinson said the county offered to buy the citys Municipal Utilities Authority for $100 million and offered to provide city trash pickup.

The city declined both offers, he said, adding the city wanted a guarantee the county would hire the same workers for trash pickup and pay them the same salary.

He also said he is reluctant to cut the county budget.

The budget has been raised in recent years from $193 million in 2013 to about $201 million in 2016.

Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-Atlantic, and state Senate candidate Colin Bell, also a Democrat, blamed Republican infighting for the situation the county faces.

For two years, the process of determining the PILOT allocation has always been an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the county with Atlantic County picking up additional responsibilities to get to 13.5 percent, Mazzeo wrote in a statement. The county executive knows that and allowed himself to be played by the governor without a backup plan.

Mazzeo also defended the PILOT bill, saying it has helped stabilize the tax base.

If the Mayors Association wants to look at whos responsible for a potential county tax increase, it needs to look no further than county government, he said.

Levinson, meanwhile, said Mazzeo voted to support the 13.5 percent at a Mayors Association meeting at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology two years ago.

Obviously, whoever wrote that statement for Mazzeo didnt ask him to read it before it was sent, Levinson said.

Mazzeo, however, has said that the issue should be resolved and agreed upon by the city and the county, regardless of what the percentage is.

In a statement, Assemblyman Chris Brown referenced a competing bill that he sponsored with Speaker Vincent Prieto in 2016 that had the 13.5 percent included as well as financial benchmarks for the city to meet instead of a takeover.

He said that bill was the best solution and that Atlantic Citys budget should not be balanced off the backs of Atlantic County residents.

Which is why I put the 13.5 percent into the bill I prepared with Speaker Prieto, only to have the governor break his promise and work with Whelan and Mazzeo, who removed the $40 million in property-tax relief for our county families, Brown said. The Christie, Whalen, Mazzeo team strikes again.
ATLANTIC CITY  Unite Here Local 54 could return to the former Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort when it reopens as the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel Atlantic City.

Union President Bob McDevitt said he has spoken with members of the ownership group that recently purchased the property from Carl Icahn.

In March, a group of investors, including Hard Rock International, Joe Jingoli and Jack Morris, bought the property.

The group plans to spend as much as $400 million to renovate the property.

We have had a conversation with Jim Allen (chairman of Hard Rock International) and Joe Jingoli about working with the union and having that property unionized, McDevitt said.

With nearly 10,000 members, Local 54 is the largest private-sector union in the region.

We are looking forward to working with Local 54, Allen wrote in a statement.

Hard Rock said the project is expected to create more than 1,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs.

Taj Mahal, once owned by President Donald Trump, closed Oct. 10 amid a strike by Unite Here Local 54 members.

Taj Mahal management accused Local 54 of preventing a path of profitability for the property.

The closing put 2,100 people out of work, including more than 1,000 Local 54 members  cooks, housekeepers, bellhops, bartenders, cocktail servers and other service workers.

Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem, said he hopes the union is given a shot at returning.

Sweeney and Icahn repeatedly butted heads over union issues at the property.

Last year, Sweeney introduced a bill that would have punished Icahn for closing the property. The bill passed but was vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie, who called it the Legislature at its worst. The Senate failed to override the veto.

The union workers at the Taj wanted nothing more than to be treated fairly for their labor. Unfortunately, under the former ownership, that wasnt happening, Sweeney said. The hospitality workers of Atlantic City are some of the best in the nation. I am confident that the new management will negotiate in good faith with the employees.
ATLANTIC CITY  A Hamilton Township man is in critical condition after his friend accidentally shot him in a casino parking garage, police said.

At 11:20 p.m., police were notified that a man with a gunshot wound had arrived at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Mainland Campus, in Galloway Township.

Kevin Neeld, 19, told police he had been shot in Atlantic City.

He was transferred to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, in critical condition.

Police later arrested Joseph Crouch, 20, of Alton, Illinois.

Police said Crouch, Neeld and a third person were in a car on the top floor at Tropicana Atlantic City. At some point, Crouch pulled out a handgun and accidentally fired it, hitting Neeld, police said.

As they drove Neeld to the hospital in Galloway, Crouch threw the gun from the car, police said.

It was later found by Tropicana security.

The Violent Crimes Unit was assisted in the investigation by the Galloway Township Police Department and Tropicana security.

Crouch was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and was sent to Atlantic County jail.

Anyone with information about this incident can call the Violent Crimes Unit at 609-347-5788.

Information can be texted to tip411 (847411). Begin the text with ACPD. All texts are anonymous.
Gov. Chris Christies focus on fighting opioid abuse in his final year as governor has largely been spared from political sniping. Thats appropriate for such a serious issue all state residents want addressed.

Still, when President Donald Trump named his former rival turned supporter to lead the new national Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, we thought a Trump-Christie target might be irresistible to political foes. Happily, thats hardly been the case.

Assemblyman John Wisniewski called the timing of the appointment an obvious and transparent ploy to divert attention from the Bridgegate sentencing the same day of two Christie allies. Thats OK, especially since hes seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, and maybe the precise timing wasnt a coincidence. But clearly the commission is a major effort that assigns qualified people to a national problem of such urgency that early action by the new administration is welcome.

Another principal on the commission, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, was attacked by that states Democratic Party for joining a show commission. That drew rebukes even from party sympathizers, who noted Bakers leading role in fighting addiction in the state, which last year became the first in the nation to mandate monitoring and training for opioid prescribers.

Another prominent commission member, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, has fought rampant over-prescription of pain pills, a factor in creating the addiction epidemic.

The national panels mission will include assessing the availability of opioid addiction treatment, assessing the prescription drug monitoring programs of each state, and determining the best practices for preventing drug abuse.

Even before Christie focused on opioids this year, we supported his initiatives to increase access to treatment. A plan we liked last year, for example, this week came to fruition when a former prison reopened as a 700-bed facility to provide inmates with mental-health and addiction treatment.

Yes, Christie didnt need to be so prominent in the first round of advertisements marketing the states resources to counter substance abuse. When the latest ads came out this week, there was less Christie  but he was still in them. He is, after all, a politician.

The need for the state efforts and national commission are clear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are 91 U.S. opioid deaths a day. Bipartisan support during a war is warranted, including this one against addiction to pain killers and heroin.
Professors deserve raise

Graduates of New Jersey public universities need to know that professors have been working without a contract since 2015, meaning they have not gotten fair and reasonable increases in their salaries to match the increasing cost of living and the cost of health care. They dont have the security of knowing they are valued by the communities they serve (in 2015: 183,000 total undergrads and graduates).

This is not a place to argue the existence of unions, but rather to ask for the fair treatment of professionals. I write as a graduate of Stockton University (bachelors degrees in 1993 and 1995, masters degree in 2015), and as a high school teacher, where I help students steer the college application process. I tell my students to look at the education of the faculty to assess their quality. And then I show them the background of the Stockton faculty, and share my educational experience with professors who hold doctorates from Columbia University, University of Maryland, University of California-Santa Cruz, Vanderbilt and Princeton.

As more students commute to college, South Jersey is lucky to have an established yet growing college. It is scary the state cannot agree to a fair contract with the teachers union. New Jerseys public schools are ranked No. 2 nationally, and we need the best professors possible to educate students on the college level. Its the smart thing to do.

Karen Williams

Ocean City

Sanchez bitter, envious

Regarding the April 2 commentary by Mary Sanchez, Ivanka Trump doesnt deserve to serve or be adored just for showing up:

Barely two sentences into her commentary and Sanchez opens with an unprovoked broadside attack based, it would seem, on the mere premise that any Trump or family member is deserving of her rude insults and hostility. Truthfully, Sanchezs shallow piece smacks more of envy and jealousy than substance.

Without a shred of fact, Sanchez took it upon herself to pass judgment on events that may or may not have occurred or will or will not occur and in the process reduced her own image to that of an old shrew.

With so much attention and dialog regarding womens rights, I would have expected that Ivanka Trumps successes would have been an encouragement and source of pride for women everywhere. But alas, all I see in Sanchez is a bitter and envious person willing to eat one of her own.

Tom Haes

Egg Harbor City

Shooting man unneeded

Regarding the March 25 story, Little Egg police were justified in shooting suicidal man 13 times in 2015, prosecutor says:

Arent people taken aback a little or a lot? LEHT police shot an obviously disturbed man 13 times. Seriously, three cops cant control a guy with a knife, without guns being fired. Where are the stun guns, or just take him down and cuff him.

This is a disgrace. Stop playing army. This isnt Iraq. The attorney general justifies this behavior? Its time to question who is making these decisions.

Dan Histon

Egg Harbor City

Haters gave Obama a pass

In regard to the recent plethora of hate letters giving Democratic talking points in their attacks on President Donald Trump, I am forced to ask myself where they were hiding during the last eight years.

Where were they when President Barack Obama was practically guaranteeing the mullahs of Iran an eventual atomic bomb through his disgraceful capitulation to those America-haters? Where were they when Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton were lying about the lethal attack on Benghazi? Where were they when Obama and Clinton were basically conceding the gobbling up of part of Ukraine by the now hated Russians? Where were they when Clinton was allowing those same Russians to assume ownership of 20 percent of the uranium reserves in the U.S.? The list goes on and on, but due to time and space constraints I will end it here

Robert H. Barron

Petersburg
DES MOINES  Lawmakers plodded through austere budget bills Thursday that few liked, given the states tight revenue situation, in hopes of positioning themselves to make a run at adjourning their 2017 session next week.

It will be a checkbook budget, according to Justice Systems Appropriations Chairman Gary Worthan, R-Storm Lake, who presented a pair of status quo budgets for courts and corrections as part of the overall fiscal 2018 spending plan.

We dont run on credit cards here ... when the piggy bank is empty, he said.

Its a matter of accepting the reality of the state revenue situation, said Gov. Terry Branstad, who has been in negotiations with lawmakers who are crafting a $7.245 billion budget that spends $38 million less than he proposed.

Its not what we want it to be, but its what we need to do to comply with our law that we can only spend 99 percent of projected revenue, he said Thursday. Its never easy to have to make the kind of reductions, but these are thoughtful reductions.

That didnt mean Health and Human Resources Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Dave Heaton, R-Mount Pleasant, had to like it. And he didnt.

The proposed $1.766 billion health and human services budget is 1.5 percent  or $27.9 million  less than current year spending. However, it will be $70 million less than the fiscal 2017 budget before the governor vetoed funds and the Legislature had to make midyear budget cuts, Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, said.

When the governor cut money in the past, Heaton said, he was able to negotiate and find it somewhere else.

But this time, we got ourselves in a box, Heaton said. The revenues are flat. We had to deappropriate. Then we had to borrow. Theres nowhere to go.

I dont like what Im doing, Heaton told the committee.

He wasnt alone. Pointing to the huge hit the Department of Public Health was taking, Rep. John Forbes, D-Des Moines, wondered whether the state would have the resources to respond to a pandemic or widespread flu outbreak.

None of us are getting what we want, said Rep. Rob Taylor, R-West Des Moines, who pledged to fight tooth-and-nail to restore funding for a medical residency program next year.

Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, called it unconscionable to leave $3 million in family planning funds on the table when the Legislature is cutting the budget.

Seventy-seven percent of Iowans believe we should be financing family planning through groups like Planned Parenthood, she said, referring to an Iowa Poll.

Republicans set aside $3 million in state money to pay for contraceptives, exams and other reproductive health services for Medicaid patients in Iowa. They are rejecting federal dollars in order to avoid funding services at Planned Parenthood clinics because that agency also provides abortions.

The cuts will be disruptive, according to Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, who said the Legislature is faced with dismal budget bills that just keep whittling away at things that people want us to provide. Theres a litany of things that are getting cut.

Throughout the day and evening Thursday, committees approved budget after budget with little or no spending increases and, in most cases, more cuts than increases.

Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 12-7 Thursday to separately pass budget bills setting funding levels for education, justice systems, the courts and agriculture and natural resources programs in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

I think from what we were given this is a very good budget bill, Sen. Mark Chelgren, R-Ottumwa, told committee members after walking through a series of cuts to the Iowa Attorney Generals Office, corrections, crime victim services and other justice system programs. Later, in laying out funding for the court system, he said, This is the first step for us to try to stop the bleeding.

The same scenarios played out as senators dealt with cuts to higher education, resource enhancement and protection (REAP), state parks and Iowa State Universitys Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

Its the poor farm, said Bolkcom, the committees ranking Democrat. The state has a budget crisis underway. We have revenue coming in, and were broke. We have no money to support the basic things people expect from us  public safety, education, health care, keep state parks open  the state is struggling to do that.

The ag and natural resources budget represents just six-tenths of 1 percent of the budget, according to Rep. Bruce Bearinger, D-Oelwein, but it was cut $2.3 million to $38.8 million. It included a $4 million cut to Resource Enhancement and Protection Fund and a $2.4 million cut to the Environment First Fund.

Rep. Todd Taylor, D-Cedar Rapids, called the budgets appalling.

It appeared to him that majority Republicans were counting on their gutting of collective bargaining to bail us out. Early in the session, the GOP majority made major changes to the collective bargaining law governing how and what public employees can bargain for in contract negotiations.

The House Appropriations Committee approved $73.9 million in changes to the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund budget. The overall RIIF appropriation will be $180.7 million in fiscal 2018.

Significant changes in the RIIF budget included reducing the governors $9.5 million recommendation for water quality to $5.2 million. That was necessary to bump up spending on major maintenance from the $2 million Branstad proposed to $12 million, said Rep. Dan Huseman, R-Cherokee.

I appreciate that you increased major maintenance, but its woefully inadequate, Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, said. We have got to do a better job of taking care of our own buildings. Delaying maintenance only makes maintenance more expensive, she said.
MASON CITY | A Mason City woman convicted of stealing nearly a half-million dollars from a dental practice has been sentenced to federal prison.

Pamela Harris, 58, was sentenced Thursday to a term of 41 months, or three years and five months.

She previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

Originally accused of taking $474,000, Harris later admitted she used a rubber signature stamp to steal $491,255 from the Mason City dental practice of Blake Barnes and Michael Louscher, federal prosecutors say.

This happened while she worked as an office manager from July 2005 to May 2014.

Authorities say Harris used the rubber stamps to forge unauthorized checks on the practice's account and use it for her personal expenses, such as a $4,000 white plastic fence at her home,.

She's also accused of paying for personal expenses with credit cards she opened in the dental practice's name.

U.S. District Court Judge Linda Reade told Harris at her sentencing in Cedar Rapids that the crime was very serious, sophisticated and caused serious hardship for the dentists, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

They say the judge took note of a letter Harris' civil attorney sent to the dentists early on, saying she would pay back $100,000 if they gave her a good recommendation for another job. The dentists declined to do so.

Harris has already paid back $150,000 of the $491,255 in restitution she is required to pay the practice.

She was ordered to surrender to federal jailers on May 8.
LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In an inspiring effort to provide financial assistance for Thai high schoolers in the greater Los Angeles area, the Angels Wings Foundation is awarding up to $240,000 in scholarships to 24 rising college students of Thai ancestry from Los Angeles County. The new scholarship underscores Angels Wings Founder Porntip Bui Simon's unwavering belief in the power of education.

The Angels Wings Thai Scholarship is a new initiative intended to recognize and honor Thai-American students who have demonstrated academic excellence, concern for their Thai community, and connection and desire to continue their education.

Angels Wings Foundation (AWF) has a proud history of funding schools, orphanages, supplying healthcare, and supporting various social services to benefit underprivileged children in Thailand. With outreach efforts expanding to serve Thai youth outside of the country, AWF is launching the inaugural Angels Wings Thai Scholarship of Los Angeles.

The overarching vision for the scholarship initiative is to open doors for Thai students to experience higher education, and create a nationwide network of Thai youth scholars. Founder, Porntip Bui Simon, believes the scholars will thrive when given the chance to further develop their relationships with their Thai community and hopes to instill a greater sense of pride and commitment to Thailand and its people. The Royal Thai Consul General of Los Angeles states, "One of the Consulate's continuing goals is to prepare for the future of the Thai-American community. Supporting of young Thai-Americans is a most effective way in fulfilling that commitment."

Porntip Bui Simon said "Having grown up in Southern California, I have personally been inspired by the enriching Thai community. Now that my children are becoming more independent, I am thrilled to have the privilege of time to invest in our local Thai youth, and encourage their Thai pride, while continuing to support my beloved country of Thailand."

The AWF Scholarship Committee will select a total of 24 undergraduate students to receive up to $240,000 in 2017 college scholarships. Awardees will receive $5,000 towards education expenses to attend trade school or city/community colleges or a $10,000 scholarship to students attending a university.

The AWF Scholarship Committee is comprised of representatives from the Angels Wings Foundation and the Royal Thai Consulate of Los Angeles. Applicants will be evaluated and selected based on a combination of their academic promise, high school performance, and essay response.

About Angels Wings Foundation:

Angels Wings Foundation was founded in 2002 as a non-profit organization aimed at assisting the underprivileged children of Thailand. Shaped from under the wings of native Thai philanthropist, Porntip Bui Simon, Angels Wings has built schools, provided educational scholarships, healthcare, and many other critical services for the youth in Thailand.

About Royal Thai Consulate Los Angeles:

The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles, was established in 1971 as the representative of Thailand in California and 12 other states in western United States. The main function of the Consulate is to enhance the people-to-people relationship between Thailand and the United States by reaching out to all Thais and Thais American, to promote their welfare and encourage their more active role in the mainstream American society.

SOURCE Angels Wings Foundation

Related Links

https://www.angelswingsfoundation.org


BURLINGTON, Mass., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascend Learning, LLC ("Ascend"), a leading provider of educational content, software and analytics solutions, today announced that private equity funds managed by Blackstone (NYSE: BX) ("Blackstone") and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board ("CPPIB") have signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ascend from private equity funds advised by Providence Equity Partners and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. This transaction is Blackstone's second investment as part of its core private equity strategy, which is specifically designed to hold private equity investments in exceptionally high-quality companies for longer periods of time than traditional private equity funds. CPPIB is a large global institutional investor holding long-term ownership stakes in certain private companies with resilient business models and high-growth potential.

Ascend Learning provides technology-based educational content and software tools for students, educational institutions and employers. The company's products span the full learning continuum and include admissions testing, educational content, test preparation, professional certifications and continuing education. Ascend has a particular focus on high-growth healthcare and other licensure-driven occupations.

"We are excited to work with Blackstone and CPPIB and know their partnership will be a tremendous asset for the next phase of our company's growth," said Greg Sebasky, CEO of Ascend Learning. "We're also grateful for the partnership we've had with Providence and Ontario Teachers' and the outstanding growth we've experienced working with them."

Peter Wilde, Managing Director at Providence Equity, said, "We have enjoyed a long and productive partnership during our ten-year investment in Ascend. Greg and the Ascend team have generated consistent growth while delivering strong outcomes to students and institutions. We are gratified to have played a part in Ascend's success and have no doubt Ascend will continue to grow and innovate."

The transaction is expected to close following customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Barclays acted as lead financial advisor to Ascend and Providence Equity Partners on the transaction, and Bank of America served as co-advisor. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP acted as legal advisor to Ascend and Providence Equity Partners; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP acted as legal advisor to Blackstone and CPPIB; and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP acted as legal advisor to Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.

About Ascend Learning

Ascend Learning is a leading provider of educational content and software tools for students, educational institutions and employers. With products that span the learning continuum, Ascend Learning focuses on high-growth careers in a range of industries, with a special focus on healthcare and other licensure-driven occupations. Ascend Learning products, from testing to certification, are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers. Learn more at www.ascendlearning.com.

About Blackstone

Blackstone is one of the world's leading investment firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our asset management businesses, with over $360 billion in assets under management, include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter @Blackstone.

About Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) is a professional investment management organization that invests the funds not needed by the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to pay current benefits on behalf of 20 million contributors and beneficiaries. In order to build a diversified portfolio of CPP assets, CPPIB invests in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed income instruments. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, New York City, Sao Paulo and Sydney, CPPIB is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm's length from governments. At December 31, 2016, the CPP Fund totalled $298.1 billion. For more information about CPPIB, please visit www.cppib.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

About Providence Equity Partners

Providence is a premier, global asset management firm with $50 billion in assets under management across complementary private equity and credit businesses. Providence pioneered a sector focused approach to private equity investing with the vision that a dedicated team of industry experts could build exceptional companies of enduring value. Since the firm's inception in 1989, Providence has invested in more than 160 companies and is the leading equity investment firm focused on the media, communications, education and information industries. Providence is headquartered in Providence, RI and also has offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. For more information on Providence Equity, please visit www.provequity.com.

About Ontario Teachers'

The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan ("Ontario Teachers'") is Canada's largest single-profession pension plan, with $175.6 billion in net assets as of December 31, 2016. It holds a diverse global portfolio of assets, approximately 80% of which is managed in-house, and has earned an average annualized rate of return of 10.1% since the plan's founding in 1990. Ontario Teachers' is an independent organization headquartered in Toronto. Its Asia-Pacific region office is located in Hong Kong and its Europe, Middle East & Africa region office is in London. The defined-benefit plan, which is fully funded, invests and administers the pensions of the province of Ontario's 318,000 active and retired teachers. For more information, visit http://www.otpp.com and follow us on Twitter @OtppInfo.

Media Contacts:





Ascend Learning

Nancy Mays

Director, Communications

T: 1 913 269 2352

[email protected]





Blackstone

Matt Anderson

Senior Vice President, Global Public Affairs

T: +1 212 390 2472

[email protected]





Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

Dan Madge Mei Mavin Senior Manager, Media Relations Director, Corporate Communications T: +1 416 868 8629 T: +1 646 564 4920 [email protected] [email protected]



Providence Equity

Patrick Scanlan

Sard Verbinnen & Co

(212) 687-8080

[email protected]





Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan

Deborah Allan

Managing Director, Communications and Media Relations

(416) 730-5347

[email protected]



SOURCE Ascend Learning, LLC

Related Links

http://www.ascendlearning.com


HAYWARD, Calif., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cal State East Bay, a top-tier public university, and Cognii Inc., a leading provider of artificial intelligence-based educational technologies, today announced a partnership. Cognii will work with Cal State East Bay to develop a new learning and assessment experience, powered by Cognii's Virtual Learning Assistant technology.

Winner of the 2016 EdTech Innovation of the Year Award from Mass Technology Leadership Council for its unique use of conversational AI and Natural Language Processing technologies in education, Cognii VLA provides automatic grading to students' open-response answers along with qualitative feedback that guides them towards conceptual mastery. Compared to the multiple choice tests, open-response questions are considered pedagogically superior for measuring students' critical thinking and problem solving skills, essential for 21st century jobs.

Students at Cal State East Bay will use the Cognii-powered interactive tutorials starting in summer as part of the online transfer orientation course. The interactive questions and tutorials will be developed collaboratively by Cognii team and the eLearning specialists from the university's office of the Online Campus. Students will interact with the questions in a chatbot-style natural language conversation during the formative assessment stage. As students practice the tutorials, Cognii will generate rich learning analytics and proficiency measurements for the course leaders.

"We are excited to partner with Cognii as we find ways to engage students and participate in the Cal State 2025 initiative to increase the graduation rates of our freshmen and transfer students," said Dr. Roger Wen, senior director of the university's Office of the Online Campus. "I believe there are some positive implications of using artificial intelligence for online learning - specifically for the drill and practice, large enrollment classes, or specific subjects. With the encouragement from the Chancellor's' office, we have selected Cognii as our partner for developing the innovative use of AI in our online courses."

Dee Kanejiya, founder and CEO of Cognii stated, "We are delighted to partner with California State University East Bay, one of the top universities in online education. As AI transforms a number of industries, we are committed to bringing its benefits to the public education systems. Through this partnership, we are looking forward to creating a new learning experience for large online introductory courses in higher education."

About California State University East Bay

Cal State East Bay is one of America's premier public universities and part of the California State University system that educates 474,000 students every year. Cal State East Bay is known for its award winning programs, expert instruction, a highly personalized learning environment  and a choice of more than 100 career-focused fields of study. With two scenic campuses  one in the Hayward Hills overlooking San Francisco Bay and the other in the Concord foothills of Mt. Diablo  plus a professional center in dynamic downtown Oakland, Cal State East Bay is where all your possibilities come into view.

About Cognii

Cognii is a leading provider of Artificial Intelligence based educational technologies to the K-12, Higher Ed, and corporate training markets. Cognii is the winner of 2016 EdTech Innovation of the Year Award and the 2015 Best Learning Assessment Innovation of the Year Award. Cognii's Virtual Learning Assistant engages students in an intelligent tutoring conversation while providing instant assessment of their open-response answers. Cognii improves students' learning outcomes and teachers' productivity with rich learning analytics, and helps organizations reduce the cost of delivering high-quality education at a large scale. Based in Boston, Mass., Cognii's mission is to improve the quality and affordability of education with the help of advanced technologies.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

(617) 800-9467

Related Files

cognii_vla_intro.pdf

Related Images

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Related Links

@CalStateEastBay

@Cognii

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk_3Mk_QCGA

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com.

SOURCE Cognii

Related Links

http://cognii.com


WASHINGTON, April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Breaking research published today in AACC's Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine reveals that a number of diagnostic tests are less accurate when performed in pediatric patients with impaired kidney function. These findings show that healthcare providers should assess patient kidney function when interpreting clinical test results for certain conditions to ensure that patients receive the correct diagnoses and treatments.

Many different patient groups can develop impaired kidney functionit can result from an actual kidney disorder, but can also be caused by common treatments that stress the kidneys such as chemotherapy. Because the kidneys filter some of the body's molecules that indicate the presence of diseaseknown as biomarkersit is suspected that impaired kidney function could lead to decreased accuracy of diagnostic tests that measure biomarkers. If this is the case, healthcare providers need to know which clinical tests are affected by impaired kidney function so that they can interpret these test results correctly. Otherwise, patients could be misdiagnosed, under- or over-treated, or monitored improperly due to clinicians thinking that patients are more or less sick than they actually are.

In this study, scientists led by Lars Mrkrid, MD, PhD, of Oslo University Hospital, Norway, have found that impaired kidney function impacts tests for the developmental disorders known as creatine deficiency syndromes, for acute kidney failure, and for ovarian cancer. To determine this, the researchers measured the blood and urine levels of three biomarkersguanidinoacetate (GAA), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and human epididymis protein 4 (HE4)in 96 children with chronic kidney disease, and evaluated participant kidney function using measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR). When mGFR decreased, indicating reduced kidney function, the researchers observed significant drops in serum GAA and the urine GAA/creatinine ratio, which could prevent a child from being diagnosed with and treated for a creatine deficiency syndrome. An increase in blood NGAL also occurred, which could lead to a misdiagnosis of acute kidney failure. The level of serum HE4 rose significantly as well, which could interfere with ovarian cancer management.

"The majority of the diagnostic disease markers in blood and urine investigated in this cohort were influenced by kidney function," said Mrkrid. "Urine GAA/creatinine level could easily be shifted below the diagnostic limit for screening of [CDS]. A small change in GFR could increase the level of serum HE4 above the reference limit regardless of age. A considerable increase in serum NGAL levels was observed with decreasing kidney function [] This must be taken into account when interpreting test results."

About AACC

Dedicated to achieving better health through laboratory medicine, AACC brings together more than 50,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from around the world focused on clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational medicine, lab management, and other areas of progressing laboratory science. Since 1948, AACC has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing programs that advance scientific collaboration, knowledge, expertise, and innovation in support of improved health outcomes for patients. For more information, visit www.aacc.org.

Launched by AACC in 2016, The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine is an international, peer-reviewed publication that showcases the applied research in clinical laboratory science that is driving innovation forward in healthcare.

Christine DeLong

AACC

Manager, Communications & PR

(p) 202.835.8722

[email protected]

Molly Polen

AACC

Senior Director, Communications & PR

(p) 202.420.7612

(c) 703.598.0472

[email protected]

SOURCE AACC

Related Links

http://www.aacc.org


SONOMA, Calif., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonoma company Chasing Grace today announced the launch of its newest and most artistic line to-date, the SPIRITED Collection. This line follows their inaugural GRACE line of sleeveless tees and introduces a rich style selection including a short sleeve tee-shirt, a lightweight sweatshirt, a tee-shirt dress and a hooded sweatshirt into the repertoire. Each style is graced with imagery that artfully communicates the beauty, power and promise of Christian spirituality.

In true Chasing Grace fashion, each piece exudes subtlety and edge that makes it unique, contemporary, and a new way to witness. "Our tops are vehicles for communication," says co-founder Beth Fenton. "Each artist and image is very carefully chosen in hopes of further-proliferating our mission of creating meaningful messages that people will love to wear and share."

The SPIRITED Collection came to be as the images and wording that seemed to speak the most to its creators during its development process included The Trinity, doves of peace, loving all, and the Holy Mother. "To me, the SPIRITED Collection embodies the most universal gifts of the Christian faith and brings a new level of artistry to some of its most basic elements: peace, love, and hope. I'm incredibly thrilled and anxious to share this collection with the world," says co-founder Allison Sebastiani. "Our commitment to both luxury craftsmanship and spreading the word of His love are ever-present across this collection and I could not be more thrilled about its release."

"This launch represents a higher level of understanding and representation of the Chasing Grace brand vision," says co-founder Stacie Elkhoury. "The ability to use our failures and successes to shape the collection and offer diversity in both style and fit while staying true to the Chasing Grace message, has made it our most highly anticipated release since the company's inception. These pieces embody our journey, vision and future of Chasing Grace and to say I'm excited does not begin to convey my emotions. With any creative process, there were many setbacks and lessons learned yet we held steadfast to our passion and were determined to remain faithful, knowing where there is a will there is a way."

The SPIRITED Collection will be available for presale purchase on their website, www.chasinggrace.co on Friday, April 14th.

About Chasing Grace

Chasing Grace is a faith-based, luxury apparel and accessory company that communicates its Christian beliefs through beautiful imagery and styling. Using the choicest fabrics and materials they believe that Faith is fashionable and that it can be worn and shared with sophistication, elegance and pride. Their lines reflect their passion for living their best selvesloving God and appreciating all of His incredible blessings in their lives.

SOURCE Chasing Grace

Related Links

http://www.chasinggrace.co


"When it comes to healthcare, the old model isn't working anymore," said Doak. "This summit brings together visionaries with unexplored options that could change the face of modern healthcare. Together, we want to improve patient care, reduce costs and increase access to lifesaving services."

Commissioner Doak, a member of the NAIC Innovation Task Force, will sit down with Oklahoma's congressional delegation the following week. During the Washington D.C. meeting, he will discuss the proposals introduced at the Summit.

"These innovators have solutions no one else has even considered," said Doak. "But they're hitting roadblocks because their ideas are outside the box. I want to encourage our federal and state lawmakers to explore these options and help return power to the states so these big ideas can become reality. If we want to fix healthcare in this country, we have to embrace these new ideas and work together."

Commissioner Doak has invited state and national lawmakers, health insurance company executives and hospital administrators to the event. It is not open to the public. The media are welcome to attend.

About the Oklahoma Insurance Department

The Oklahoma Insurance Department, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, is responsible for the education and protection of the insurance-buying public and for oversight of the insurance industry in the state.

For more information, contact:

Kelly Dexter

405-522-0683

[email protected]

SOURCE Oklahoma Insurance Department
NEW YORK, April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The following feature package is a roundup of feature stories dealing with consumer issues and trends and is appropriate for special sections and for general use.

For each story included in this package, you will find the first paragraph of the feature release below, as well as its headline linked to the full text.

This is the latest in a series of topical feature packages PRN will carry as part of its regular Feature News Service. Coming up in 2017 are features on:



Package Name Slug Distribution Date Earth Day Earth April 20 Education, Graduation Education April 27 Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Fitness May 4 Mother's Day Mother's May 11 Summer, Outdoors & Vacation Summer May 18



Consumer Issues and Trends Feature Package

1. Can Pure Maple Syrup Help Reduce Chronic Inflammation?

SAN FRANCISCO, April 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The first-ever global symposium, solely dedicated to sharing the latest scientific discoveries on the potential health benefits of 100% pure maple products from Canada, took place on April 2 in San Francisco at the 253rd annual meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the largest scientific society in the world. At the symposium, entitled "Chemistry and Biological Effects of Maple Food Products," scientists from around the world shared the results of their research that expands the science of maple's potential impact on several areas affected by chronic inflammation. These include metabolic syndrome, brain health and liver disease, as well as maple's emerging link to a healthy gut microbiome.

If you would like a copy of the complete schedule, or if you would care to comment, please email [email protected]. We welcome suggestions. Copies of previous packages are available for the media. Feature packages and feature photos are also available on the PR Newswire Web site, http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/feature-news-latest-news.

Photos that accompany releases are available via the PRN Multimedia Desk, 800-317-7677, or via the PR Newswire Photo Archive. Select photos are available via AP PhotoExpress and AP Images.

NOTE TO EDITORS: All PR Newswire features and other releases, both current and for the past 12 months, are available at no charge at PR Newswire for Journalists, http://media.prnewswire.com.

SOURCE PR Newswire Association LLC

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SUGAR LAND, Texas, April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Executives at Duke Energy Corporation (Charlotte, North Carolina) earlier this week reaffirmed the company's commitment to strengthen the energy grid in its home state, North Carolina. The company plans to spend $13 billion on the state's grid in the coming decade, in addition to the $1 billion already spent on annual upgrades and maintenance. Industrial Info is tracking more than 130 projects with a total investment of $7.75 billion involving Duke Energy, including $2.73 billion in North Carolina.

For details, view the entire article by subscribing to Industrial Info's Premium Industry News, or browse other breaking industrial news stories at www.industrialinfo.com.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. To contact an office in your area, visit the www.industrialinfo.com "Contact Us" page.

Brian Ford

(713) 980-9393

SOURCE Industrial Info Resources, Inc.

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COSTA MESA, Calif., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Understanding where fraud takes place matters so businesses and consumers can be diligent in protecting themselves. Fraudsters continue to migrate their activities online as more merchants switch to EMV terminals and consumers receive chip-and-pin credit cards. Experian analyzed this trend in a new report, the 2016 E-commerce Fraud Attack Rates rankings, that analyzes millions of e-commerce transactions and ranked the top states, cities and ZIP codes for shipping and billing fraud across the United States.

View our interactive e-commerce fraud map of the Unites States

The data represents the attempted fraudulent e-commerce transactions against the population of overall e-commerce orders ranked by the fraud attack rate.Delaware, Oregon, and Florida were the top-ranked states for billing and shipping e-commerce fraud in 2016. Both Oregon and Delaware saw an increase in e-commerce billing fraud attacks of over 200 percent. Three states, Florida, California and New York, accounted for more than 70 percent of total e-commerce billing fraud attacks.

"One of the major drivers for the increase in fraud attacks is the continued adoption of EMV terminals for chip-and-pin credit cards. While these cards reduced counterfeit credit card fraud at the point-of-sale, they have driven fraudsters online. This pattern is similar to what other EMV markets saw when transitioning to chip-and-pin cards," said Adam Fingersh, Experian general manager and senior vice president of Fraud and Identity Solutions. "As more compromised data becomes available from breaches, it's easier for fraudsters to get their hands on identity data requiring consumers and businesses to stay diligent in protecting themselves."

Download the 2016 Experian e-commerce fraud attack rates rankings

According to Experian's rankings of e-commerce fraud attack rates for 2016 the data shows:

South El Monte, CA was the top ranked city for both shipping and billing fraud in 2016. The billing fraud attack rate was nearly double that of the second-ranked city, Port Reading, NJ .

was the top ranked city for both shipping and billing fraud in 2016. The billing fraud attack rate was nearly double that of the second-ranked city, . Miami, FL , was home to the most ranked ZIP  codes for e-commerce fraud accounting for 17 of the top 100 for shipping fraud and 20 of the top 100 for billing fraud.

, was home to the most ranked ZIP codes for e-commerce fraud accounting for 17 of the top 100 for shipping fraud and 20 of the top 100 for billing fraud. 10 states saw an increase of over 100 percent in shipping fraudulent orders  Alaska , Colorado , New Mexico , Idaho , North Dakota , Maine , Montana , Iowa , South Dakota , and Wyoming .

Experian hosted a recent EMV fraud webinar with Julie Conroy from Aite that looked at how businesses and customers are affected. Additional fraud analysis of the rankings shares more of that data trends.

Having the right fraud solution in place can help businesses prevent losses especially when it comes to authenticating consumers while still maintaining a positive customer experience. Experian's fraud and identity business is a global leader in the identity and fraud market saving more than $2 billion worldwide.

About Experian

Experian is the world's leading global information services company. During life's big moments  from buying a home or a car to sending a child to college, to growing a business by connecting with new customers  we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help individuals to take financial control and access financial services, businesses to make smarter decisions and thrive, lenders to lend more responsibly, and organizations to prevent identity fraud and crime.

We have 17,000 people operating across 37 countries and every day we're investing in new technologies, talented people and innovation to help all our clients maximize every opportunity. We are listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and are a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Learn more at www.experianplc.com or visit our global content hub at our global news blog for the latest news and insights from the company.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Experian is a nonexclusive full-service provider licensee of the United States Postal Service. The following trademark is owned by the United States Postal Service: ZIP. The price for Experian's services is not established, controlled or approved by the United States Postal Service.

Contact:

Matt Tatham

Experian Public Relations

1 917 446 7227

[email protected]

SOURCE Experian

Related Links

https://www.experianplc.com/


NEWARK, N.J., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Eco Solutions North America, a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America (Panasonic) has been named a 2017 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year  Sustained Excellence Award winner for continued leadership in protecting our environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. Panasonic Eco Solution's accomplishments will be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. on April 26, 2017.

Panasonic Eco Solutions, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2010, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency, as well as for its critical role supporting future improvements to ENERGY STAR ventilation fans.

An ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year in 2010 and 2011, and Sustained Excellence Award recipient every year since 2012, Panasonic Eco Solutions will again be honored in 2017 with the EPA's most prominent award for its long-term commitment to innovation and sustainability. With the highest efficacy (up to 18.6 CFM/Watt) of any ENERGY STAR rated ventilation fan, Panasonic continues to exceed standards with virtually every product in its lineup, where guidelines exist.

"It's hard to overstate the value Panasonic places on our partnership with ENERGY STAR," said Patricia Monks, Product Manager, Panasonic Eco Solutions North America. "We are so incredibly proud to be recognized by the EPA for the eighth consecutive year. This award is emblematic of our shared vision to create a healthier more sustainable environment through our commitment to energy efficiency and innovation. We are dedicated to providing a comprehensive line of high-performance, low-cost ventilation solutions that respect the environment and reduce costs for our customers."

In 2015 alone, ENERGY STAR and its partners saved American businesses and consumers 503 billion kilowatt hours and $34 billion dollars on their energy bills, while achieving broad emission reductions.

The 2017 Partner of the Year  Sustained Excellence Awards are bestowed upon a diverse set of organizations that have demonstrated continued leadership in energy efficiency. Winners hail from small, family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 organizations  representing energy-efficient products, services, new homes, and buildings in the commercial, industrial, and public sectors.

For a complete list of 2017 winners and more information about ENERGY STAR's awards program, visit www.energystar.gov/awardwinners.

About Panasonic Eco Solutions North America

Panasonic Eco Solutions North America is a division of Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America, a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic was featured in Fortune Magazine's 2016 ranking of 50 companies that are changing the world and doing well by doing good. Specifically cited were its smart and sustainable technologies, including its contributions to smart cities and the electric vehicle revolution. Learn more about Panasonic at http://www.panasonic.com/business/pesna/eco-construction-solutions/.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR has 16,000 partners working to protect the environment through greater energy efficiency, including manufacturers, retailers, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies, and home builders. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have saved American families and businesses $430 billion on their energy bills and 4.6 trillion kilowatt-hours of energy, while achieving broad emissions reductionsincluding 2.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

ENERGY STAR is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For 25 years, EPA's ENERGY STAR program has been America's resource for saving energy and protecting the environment. Join the millions already making a difference at energystar.gov.

SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America

Related Links

http://www.panasonic.com


MASON CITY | Members of the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church used fresh flowers to decorate a wooden structure representing Christ's tomb Friday morning.

The decorating of the tomb, called the Epitaphion, was in preparation for the 3 p.m. Vespers of the Removal of Christ from the Cross and the 6 p.m. Great Lamentations at the Tomb of Christ.

In accordance with the Eastern Orthodox tradition, many services are being held at the church for Holy Week.

Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, officiated the Twelve Gospels for Holy Thursday.

Father Joseph Mirowski, priest at Holy Transfiguration, said Bishop Demetrios generally visits the Mason City parish once a year, sometimes during Holy Week and sometimes in August.

Holy Week culminates in a 10:30 p.m. service on Saturday, followed by a lamb dinner.

Eastern Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar to determine the date of Easter rather than the Gregorian calendar, which means they sometimes celebrate the holiday at a different time than Western Christians.

However, this year the calendars line up so both Eastern Orthodox Christians and Western Christians are observing Holy Week at the same time.
The memorial was conceived by Tobin, who was known for his bronze Walking Roots , after seeing a report in the media in the days following the attack on the World Trade Center describing a miraculous sycamore tree that had "saved St. Paul's Chapel." The enormous old tree was spit out of the ground by the impact as the towers came crashing down and its trunk and branches bore the brunt of falling debris, protecting St. Paul's and its churchyard, which holds the tombs of such luminaries in American history as Alexander Hamilton and Clement C. Moore. In the aftermath of the attack the fallen tree was found covered with fallen objects, including victims' DNA and a large I beam that had flown from the collapsing buildings. Scientists agreed that the seismic waves the tree absorbed were so powerful they would have damaged or completely destroyed St. Paul's Chapel.

It took three years for Tobin and Trinity Church to agree to realize his dream of excavating the stump and root system of the artifact and turning it into a bronze memorial sculpture that was dedicated and blessed by church officials on the four year anniversary of the WTC attack. The Trinity Root, which was the first and only memorial in Lower Manhattan for nearly a decade, until the official 9.11 Memorial and Museum opened to the public in 2012, proved a powerful magnet for pilgrims to the site, attracting more than a million visitors annually, according to church officials. A 6' high bronze maquette study of the Trinity Root is in the permanent collection of the 9.11 Memorial and Museum.

A decade after its dedication in 2015, Trinity Church appointed a new rector who indicated to Tobin through an associate that he wanted it removed, even though the Church had promised that it would remain permanently on the site. In reliance on that promise, Tobin had created and installed the sculpture using his own personal resources, taking a second mortgage on his home to enable him to finance the cost.

Without notice to Tobin, or ceremony, the Trinity Root was removed over a weekend in December of 2015 and taken out of state to a secluded church property where it has remained ever since. The artistic integrity of the sculpture was damaged during the move, with several branches broken from its limbs. Tobin found out about the removal when he called a church official the following Monday morning and said he planned to bring his young children to New York to see his work for the first time in the place for which he created it.

Mr. Tobin said, "When I offered to create The Trinity Root, I wanted to honor the victims of 9.11, the sacrifices of the first responders and the miracle of the tree that preserved St. Paul's Chapel. All I asked was that it remain permanently in the place it was intended to be, the courtyard of Trinity Church. The Church accepted my offer, and in return it promised that The Trinity Root would stay in the courtyard. In its own publications, it said so to the world. It was installed and dedicated in a beautiful, moving religious ceremony. For a decade, people who visited Ground Zero told me that they found solace and peace when they walked under and through its roots. Then one weekend in the dead of night, the Church broke its word and moved The Trinity Root far away from the place and the memories it honors.

"By removing The Trinity Root, the Church dishonored my work of art, the impulse for creating it, and myself as an artist. I am asking the Court to restore that honor by returning the sculpture to its rightful permanent site in the Trinity Church courtyard."

The Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA) was enacted by Congress in 1990 to give visual artists protection for their moral rights or attribution and dignity. It empowers Mr. Tobin to protect his works of recognized stature such as The Trinity Root sculpture from any intentional distortion, mutilation or other modification "which would be prejudicial to his honor or reputation."

Mr. Tobin's lawyers are the Honorable Steven S. Honigman, a former General Counsel of the Navy, and Gale P. Elston, P.C. Ms. Elston is an art law attorney who has represented artists, art institutes, and non-profits for over twenty years as an advocate for artists' rights. They have experience in prosecuting cases under VARA, and as co-counsel they successfully resolved a recent lawsuit involving the destruction of a monumental sculpture at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

For further information, please contact Kathleen Rogers, KLR Communications Inc., 207.460.9806; [email protected].

For further information on artist Steve Tobin and the Trinity Root visit http://stevetobin.com/trinity-root and Facebook.

To view the making of The Trinity Root and its installation at Trinity Church, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr7ZwJbI5bI&feature=youtu.be

SOURCE Steve Tobin

Related Links

http://www.stevetobin.com


SAN DIEGO, April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholder rights law firm Johnson & Weaver, LLP (J&W) launched an investigation into whether the board members of Forestar Group Inc. (NYSE: FOR) breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the proposed sale of the Company to Starwood Capital Group. Forestar engages in the acquisition, entitlement, development, and sale of real estate, primarily residential and mixed-use communities.

On April 13, 2017, Forestar announced it had signed a definitive merger agreement with Starwood. Under the terms of the agreement, Starwood will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Forestar common stock for $14.25 per share in cash.

The investigation concerns whether the Forestar board failed to satisfy their duties to the Company shareholders, including whether the board adequately pursued alternatives to the acquisition and whether the board obtained the best price possible for Forestar shares of common stock.

Given the Company's outlook for future earnings growth, Johnson & Weaver is investigating whether the proposed deal price represents adequate consideration; according to Yahoo! Finance, at least one Wall Street analyst's estimated price target is $16.00 per share. The Company also has a strong balance sheet with over $250 million in cash.

If you are a shareholder of Forestar and believe the proposed buyout price is too low and you're interested in learning more about the investigation or your legal rights and remedies, please contact lead analyst Jim Baker ([email protected]) at 619-814-4471.

About Johnson & Weaver, LLP:

Johnson & Weaver, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York and Georgia. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonandweaver.com. Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Contact:

Johnson & Weaver, LLP

Jim Baker, 619-814-4471

[email protected]

SOURCE Johnson & Weaver, LLP

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http://johnsonandweaver.com


KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mah Sing Group Berhad (Mah Sing) celebrated another achievement as it clinched the 2017 Frost & Sullivan Property Development Company of the Year at an award banquet held at the Hilton KL yesterday.

The award recognised Mah Sing as a company that demonstrated excellence in growth, innovation and leadership which was typically translated into superior performance in 3 key areas; demand generation, brand development and competitive positioning.

As one of the established property developers in Malaysia, Mah Sing was also evaluated based on the Group's financial performance, innovation, brand equity, customer ownership experience and customer service experience, in which it had excelled in all criteria.

Mr. Viswesh Vancheeshwar, Research Analyst, Energy & Environment, Frost & Sullivan said that in a challenging property market environment in 2016, Mah Sing was able to differentiate itself by launching innovative designed projects in strategic locations, while keeping properties affordable and attractive.

He noted that the property development market in Malaysia is highly competitive and developers which offer innovative solutions that are sustainable, reasonably priced and meets customers' expectations are best positioned to lead the market.

He further added, "Mah Sing has a proven track record of developing and completing prime residential, commercial and industrial projects across Malaysia's property hotspots. The Group was able to successfully deliver quality homes for customers and has a strong commitment towards encouraging home ownership in Malaysia. Despite a challenging 2016, Mah Sing's operating profit grew 2.6% to RM469.9 million. The Group also achieved a return on equity of 14% on average over the past 5 years as compared to the industry average of 9% to 10%."

Group Managing Director of Mah Sing, Tan Sri Dato' Sri Leong Hoy Kum said, "We are honoured to accept this award from Frost & Sullivan. The world is constantly changing and as a market-driven developer, it is our trade to stay ahead of the market. This mindset is the drive that pushes us to continuously work towards bringing the company to another level of success."

He further added, "As Jack Ma said, transformation is needed for a company to grow and I strongly agree with that statement. In fact, we have embarked on a Cultural Transformation programme and unveiled our new company vision; "Inventing Future Living That Enhances Quality of Life" early this year."

The Group unveiled its new corporate logo during its annual dinner celebration in February this year. The new corporate logo is the visual representation of the company's commitment towards transformation. The new corporate logo can also be seen at the facade of Mah Sing's headquarters, also known as [email protected]

Mah Sing's transformation process continues with the introduction of the Group's new tagline "Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life". 'Reinvent Spaces' means that the Group aims to raise the bar of future living by recreating living spaces, work spaces, business spaces, social and community spaces with innovative design and functionality.

With all the effort put in to reinvent spaces, the Group will be able to improve and add value to the standard of living of the community, hence fulfilling the second part of its tagline 'Enhance Life'.

Tan Sri Dato' Sri Leong said, "Being in the property industry for more than 23 years, we underwent various economy cycles from the economy crisis to the property boom. Our strong track record and healthy balance sheet with high cash pile of RM923.8million and a low net gearing of 0.02 times as of 31 December 2016, enables us to look out for potential land acquisitions, joint ventures and investments. We will continue to adhere to disciplined financial management as well as launching suitable projects that cater to market demands."

The company currently has 46 upcoming projects ranging from landed and high-rise residential, commercial developments, integrated business parks, mixed commercial developments in the Klang Valley, Johor, Penang, and Sabah.

Upcoming projects by the Group include Tower C and D of Cerrado Residential suites in Southville City, KL South, OLO Residence in D'sara Sentral, 2 types of 2-storey link homes in Meridin East, Johor and serviced apartments in Southbay City, Penang.

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, Frost & Sullivan has been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organisation 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 Mah Sing

Mah Sing Group was listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia in 1992 and ventured into property development in 1994. The Group currently has 46 projects (13 completed) spread across the property hotspots of Greater KL and Klang Valley, Penang, Johor and Sabah. The Group has proven its versatility with a diverse range of projects, from medium to high-end landed and high-rise residential properties to Grade A office buildings, retail projects, SoHo and industrial projects.

Mah Sing Group was voted Best Developer of the year in iProperty People's Choice Award 2016 for 3 years consecutively, ranked Top 5 in The Edge's Top Property Developers Awards 2016 and honoured with The Starproperty.my's The All-Star Award as one of the Top Ranked Developer of The Year 2017, for diligently crafting dream homes for 23 years. For more information, please visit www.mahsing.com.my

Media Contact

Carrie Low

Corporate Communications, Asia-Pacific

Frost & Sullivan

Phone: +603.6204.5910

Email: [email protected]

May Lim

Asst. Manager

Corporate Communications

Mah Sing Group Berhad

Phone: +603.9221.8888

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

Related Links

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SANTA ROSA, Belize, April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Belize now has its first Honorary Humanitarian Ambassador. The title was bestowed on American/Belizean Dr. Paul Whisnant. Dr. Paul, as he is fondly known, has been serving Belize as a Missionary for the past 27 years doing humanitarian work.

On Sunday, March 12th, 2017, along with becoming the Honorary Humanitarian Ambassador of Belize, Dr. Paul was also given the country's Lifetime Humanitarian Award. Both were presented on behalf of the Government and People of Belize by Senator Ashley Rocke.

Humanitarian Ambassador of Belize

Contact: Visit www.iServants.com/AmbassadorOfBelize, or contact Dr. Steve Stewart at [email protected] or 817-382-8484, for hi-res photos, the Citation letter, videos of this occasion or quotes from the Belize Senator, the United States Ambassador and National Church Leaders.

More: The event was held at a Church in the village of Santa Rosa in the Stann Creek District. Santa Rosa is one of the many villages that has benefitted from Dr. Paul's Ministry, International Servants, or iServants for short. The ministry has impacted tens of thousands of people, primarily in the Stann Creek and Toledo districts, and across the entire country of Belize. The ministry is uniquely comprised of a staff of over 150 which are predominantly Belizeans.

iServants has served the Belizean population in many ways including:

Feeding programs such as Feed-A-Child BELIZE

Frequently bringing medical teams to Belize to host free medical Clinics in poor areas

to host free medical Clinics in poor areas Providing medical assistance outside of Belize including helping Belizean children receive life-saving surgeries in the United States

including helping Belizean children receive life-saving surgeries in Funding and building numerous Churches and Pastors' homes

Providing wheelchairs for children and adults in need

Sponsoring children for schooling

Giving hurricane relief aide

Providing training and financial support to Belizean pastors

iServants is a nonprofit Mission serving in Belize, and based in Palm Coast, Florida, and Grapevine, Texas. When not in Belize, Dr. Paul has resided in Palm Coast, Florida, and Grapevine, Texas.

iServants and Dr. Paul are hopeful that this Award and Title will inspire the next generation of believers in Belize to serve God and their neighbors.

Related Images

image1.jpg

image2.jpg

Related Links

http://www.iservants.com/site/c.ahJJKZMHJiL2H/b.8049653/k.38E7/International_Servants__Belize_Mission_Trip.htm

http://www.iservants.com/site/c.ahJJKZMHJiL2H/b.8866979/k.C922/Belize_Medical_Mission_Trips.htm

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InZ6Gr38sCg

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com.

SOURCE International Servants
RALEIGH, N.C., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson, Hearn, Vinegar & Gee, PLLC announced today that it is notifying individuals related to a security incident involving certain client information.

On January 16, 2017, Johnson, Hearn, Vinegar & Gee, PLLC became aware of a ransomware attack on its computer system and immediately began an investigation, reset passwords, removed the server from the system, and began using a back-up system. As part of its investigation, Johnson, Hearn, Vinegar & Gee, PLLC engaged a leading forensic firm, and it determined that an unknown person remotely accessed a server which contained files that may have included its clients' names, addresses, dates of birth, driver's license numbers or state issued identification numbers, social security numbers, financial information, such as checking/savings account numbers, or financial investment information, payment card information, and health insurance numbers.



Johnson, Hearn, Vinegar & Gee, PLLC found no evidence that client information was accessed or acquired by the attackers, or that the information has been used in any way. However, the nature of the incident is such that it cannot rule out that possibility.



Johnson, Hearn, Vinegar & Gee, PLLC deeply regrets any inconvenience or concern this may cause. To help prevent something like this from happening in the future, Johnson, Hearn, Vinegar & Gee has enhanced the security of its systems.



Johnson, Hearn, Vinegar & Gee, PLLC began mailing letters to affected individuals on April 14, 2017, and has established a dedicated call center to answer any questions. For additional information about this incident, please visit the Johnson, Hearn, Vinegar & Gee, PLLC website at www.jhvglaw.com.



Johnson, Hearn, Vinegar & Gee, PLLC



Our law firm has provided exceptional business law legal services to clients throughout the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area, North Carolina, and the U.S. for more than half a century. Since our firm was established in 1955, we have built a reputation for helping clients solve difficult problems with sound counsel, sophisticated analysis, and superior performance.

A hallmark of our firm is personalized client service. Recognizing that each of our clients has a unique set of issues, objectives and needs, our firm is committed to individualized attention and works as an integrated team to respond to our clients' needs. We serve diverse clients, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, professional associations, closely held corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and individuals.

SOURCE Johnson, Hearn, Vinegar & Gee, PLLC

Related Links

http://jhvglaw.com


"We are honored to expand our operations in Georgia," said Brandon Barnholt, President and CEO, KeHE Distributors. "This new site demonstrates our commitment to serving a geographically diverse customer base and employing innovative practices and sustainability measures to enhance our operations."

The LEED-certified facility employs energy-efficient practices, from water heaters and HVAC to sky lights and lighting controls. The site also features LED lighting, recycled packaging material and software to monitor electric usage. Nearly 100,000 square feet of freezer and cooler space accommodates an increasing range of fresh perimeter products and market demand. The new site replaces KeHE's former facility in Kennesaw, Ga.

KeHE celebrated the grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours. KeHE's leadership team was joined by business and community leaders, fellow KeHE employee-owners, vendor and broker partners, and officials including Douglasville Mayor Rochelle Robinson.

The festivities culminated with a "pick & pack" activity to help local area families in need. Guests volunteered to pack 1,000 boxes of food in support of Children's Hunger Fund.

For more information, visit KeHE.com.

About KeHE

KeHE Distributors, LLC (KeHE) provides Natural & Organic, Specialty and Fresh products to natural food stores, chain grocery stores, independent grocery stores and other specialty product retailers throughout North America. KeHE is the trusted B Corp Certified and employee-owned company with more than 4,500 Careholders in the U.S. and Canada. For more about KeHE, visit KeHE.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ari Goldsmith

KeHE, Senior Director of Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE KeHE Distributors, LLC

Related Links

http://www.kehe.com


"Developing a line for Pirates of the Caribbean allows us to further cement LORAC's Hollywood roots in a unique way. As part of the brand's modernization, we are embracing our LA heritage with fresh and fun new product collections and this collaboration is the perfect opportunity to showcase our brand values and creativity," Besty Hamlett, Chief Creative Officer of LORAC.

From the film-inspired shade names to the celestial designs, LORAC fans are encouraged to set out on a beauty adventure of their own and discover the hidden treasures that lie within. These collectible, limited-edition items will help fans decode beauty mysteries as they venture out on a journey full of uncharted brilliance.

The PRO Eye Shadow Palette and Color Source Cheek Palette feature cosmic packaging inspired by the mystical journey of the film. The PRO Eye Shadow Palette features exclusive compass artwork on the exterior cover and opens to reveal 18 brand-new PRO-formula eye shadows and a deluxe mini Front of the Line PRO Eye Pencil in black  everything fans need to achieve the perfect smokey eye, inspired by Captain Jack Sparrow.

The Color Source Cheek Palette resembles new heroine Carina Smyth's diary in the film, which contains clues to discover the mystical trident of Poseidon. LORAC's version holds six brand-new shades of Color Source Buildable Blush and Light Source Illuminating Highlighters to achieve an ethereal, luminous glow.

The MOD Creme Dual Ended Lip Colors feature brand new lip formulas for LORAC  a creamy, moderate coverage lipstick on one end and a non-tacky, moderate shine gloss on the other end that can be worn alone or combined.

Discover the LORAC Los Angeles limited-edition Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales collection exclusively on loraccosmetics.com/pirates from April 14th-16th, and at ULTA, Kohl's and other fine retailers on April 16th, while supplies last.

ABOUT THE MOVIE:

Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales." The rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil's Triangle bent on killing every pirate at seanotably Jack. Jack's only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Brenton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" also stars Kevin R. McNally as JoshameeGibbs, Golshifteh Farahani as the sea-witch Shansa, David Wenham as Scarfield, Stephen Graham as Scrum, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, and Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa.

Joachim Rnning and Espen Sandberg are directing "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" with Jerry Bruckheimer producing. The executive producers are Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Joe Caracciolo, Jr., Terry Rossio and Brigham Taylor. The story is by Jeff Nathanson and Terry Rossio, and Jeff Nathanson wrote the screenplay. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" drops anchor in U.S. theaters on May 26, 2017.

ABOUT LORAC Los Angeles:

LORAC Los Angeles was born more than two decades ago as the leading Hollywood beauty brand for celebrities and their makeup artists. Today we continue to honor our Red Carpet heritage by bringing you the latest Los Angeles beauty looks straight from our SoCal headquarters. Our deepest purpose as a professional artist prestige cosmetics company is to inspire self-confidence by making you feel like a star. Our team works as a family to design and bring to life color cosmetics, artistic inspiration and educational techniques inspired by Hollywood glamor and fresh L.A. style. We promise to always help you look and feel beautiful without breaking the bank.

SOURCE LORAC Cosmetics
WASHINGTON, April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The public is invited to a free talk called "The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope: Opening a Window on the Extreme Universe" with NASA's Dr. Julie McEnery in the Pickford Theater, third floor, Madison Building, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., on April 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST.

Julie McEnery is the Fermi project scientist and an astrophysicist in the Astroparticle Physics Laboratory, Astrophysics Science Division of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Since 2009, she has also been an adjunct professor of physics at the University of Maryland's College Park campus.

The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, launched in June 2008, provides a dramatic new view of the celestial sky. Fermi has changed our picture of the extreme universe, revealing gigantic lobes of gamma rays in our own galaxy, uncovering scores of rapidly spinning super-dense stars shining only in gamma rays, observing flashes of gamma rays heralding the birth of black holes at the edge of our observable universe, and detecting antimatter from thunderstorms on Earth. Join us for a tour of the energetic universe!

Gamma rays are the highest-energy form of light, and the gamma-ray sky is spectacularly different from the one we perceive with our own eyes. Fermi enables scientists to answer persistent questions across a broad range of topics, including supermassive black-hole systems, pulsars, the origin of cosmic rays, and searches for signals of new physics.

The Library of Congress maintains one of the largest and most diverse collections of scientific and technical information in the world. The Science, Technology and Business Division provides reference and bibliographic services and develops the general collections of the library in all areas of science, technology, business and economics.



The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world and holds nearly 151.8 million items in various languages, disciplines and formats. The library serves Congress and the nation both on-site in its reading rooms on Capitol Hill and through its award-winning website.



For inquiries about this or upcoming talks at the Library of Congress, the public can contact the LOC Science, Technology and Business Division at 202-707-5664. ADA accommodations should be requested in advance at 202-707-6382 (voice/tty) or [email protected].

The lecture will be later broadcast on the library's webcast page and YouTube channel "Topics in Science" playlist.

For more information contact Stephanie Marcus at 202-707-1212 or [email protected] or visit: http://blogs.loc.gov/inside_adams/

For directions, visit: http://www.loc.gov/visit/maps-and-floor-plans/

For information about Fermi, visit: www.nasa.gov/fermi

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


PALO ALTO, Calif., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Earlier this week, Mr. Pirooz Parvarandeh, Founder and President of Iranian Americans' Contributions Project (IACP) https://ia-cp.org/ gave a presentation for the Hamid and Christina Moghadam Program in Iranian Studies at Stanford University.

He outlined the newly formed organization's educational mission to document and highlight the contributions and impact of this key segment of American society upon America and, by extension, the world.

The organization is registered in California and is active across the country.

During his introductory remarks, Dr. Abbas Milani, the Moghadam Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford, said: "Though much has been written about the significant financial, managerial, technological and intellectual contributions of the Iranian-American community, this research, using rigorous methods, and the savvy and social commitments of the best of Silicon Valley, offers a chance for us to know, free from any hyperbole, the exact nature and dimension of this contribution."

Parvarandeh, a technologist who has held senior positions in Silicon Valley's semiconductor industry over the past few decades said: "Given the currently charged debate about the role of immigrants in our society, we are focused on shedding light on the contributions of Iranian-Americans in an objective and systematic fashion."

"For example, we use publicly available databases and mapping software to enable accurate estimates of not only the many thousands of Iranian-American physicians or lawyers in various counties and states, but also the number of patents held by this group, which is in the tens of thousands. This data will be used to quantify the impact of this community on job creation and the US GDP".

Using data-mining techniques and in-depth interviews, IACP undertakes original research and disseminates its findings on the presence and work of Iranian Americans in multiple fields of endeavor in the United States, including in the professions (engineering, healthcare, law, etc.), business, civil service, the sciences, as well as the arts and humanities.

Alongside its quantitative and data-driven methods, IACP conducts in-depth and long-form interviews with notable Iranian-Americans in multiple fields that are published in the Huffington Post https://ia-cp.org/stories.

IACP has concluded some 40 of these interviews so far, and aims to produce scores more, which aim to delve into the details of where and how they have contributed to America and the world. IACP also aims to work with the mainstream media to bring greater coverage to this key segment of American society.

For more information on this talk, see https://iranian-studies.stanford.edu/events/documenting-contributions-iranian-americans-new-approach

You can view the YouTube video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss9CvEPR2xM

Media Contact for Iranian Americans' Contributions Project: Stacey Conti, [email protected]

Media Contact for Stanford Iranian Studies Program: Roma Parhad, [email protected]

Media Contact for Iranian Americans' Contributions Project: Stacey Conti, [email protected]

Media Contact for Stanford Iranian Studies Program: Roma Parhad, [email protected]

SOURCE Iranian Americans' Contributions Project
TOKYO, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce, the world's fastest growing top five enterprise software company and the #1 CRM provider globally, today announced that it has opened its second data center in Japan, located in Kobe in the country's Kansai region. The new data center expands the company's ability to deliver the Intelligent Customer Success Platform including Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, App Cloud, Community Cloud, Analytics Cloud and moreall of which have been made smarter by Einsteinto more customers in Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

Comment on the News

"We are pleased to announce the opening of our second data center in Japan. With this new data center, along with the first local data center opened in 2011 in Tokyo, Salesforce will be able to continue delivering exceptional reliability and performance to customers," said Shinichi Koide, chairman, president and CEO, Salesforce Japan. "The new data center will support the unprecedented growth we've seen in the region and further accelerate the adoption of the Intelligent Customer Success Platform. This is one of our commitments to Japan."

Salesforce Momentum in Japan

In Q4 of FY17, the Asia-Pacific region (including Japan) was Salesforce's fastest-growing region, growing at 30% in constant currency. With the addition of the company's second Japanese data center in Kobe, Salesforce is poised to deliver the Intelligent Customer Success Platform locally to more customers than ever before. Top Japanese brands including Canon Marketing Japan, Inc., Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc., Ltd., are using Salesforce to connect with their customers in entirely new ways.

About Salesforce

Salesforce, the world's #1 CRM company and Intelligent Customer Success Platform, empowers companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com.

SOURCE Salesforce

Related Links

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MASON CITY | A man accused of taking a saxophone from a Mason City school bus stop has been sentenced to 62 days in jail.

Keith Riser, 69, of Mason City, originally charged with felony second-degree theft, pleaded guilty this week to misdemeanor third-degree theft.

A $625 fine was suspended, but he was ordered to pay a $125 surcharge and court costs.

2 accused of swiping saxophone from Mason City student MASON CITY | A man and woman police say took a saxophone from a Mason City school bus stop h

Restitution will be determined at a later date.

Riser and Donyale Jones, 28, also of Mason City, were accused of taking the saxophone and its case from a school bus stop at at First Street Northwest and Westview Drive at 6:55 a.m. on Feb. 2, according to court documents.

Police say the instrument, valued at $1,500, disappeared when its owner ducked behind a building to get out of the wind.

Jones was given a two-year suspended prison sentence last month after pleading guilty to third-degree theft.

 Mary Pieper
SMSD was recently selected by the American Valor Foundation as the recipient of the Chris Kyle Memorial Benefit to be held May 6 in Fort Worth, Texas. Kyle is the veteran whose life was chronicled in "American Sniper."

Founder Mike Kitchens says SMSD was chosen for this honor because it lives out the motto of Kyle: It's our duty to serve those who serve us. The organization's 90 volunteers are mostly retirees and almost all residents of East Tennessee's Tellico Village.

"I absolutely love helping the veterans and working with the dogs. I get way more back than I could ever put in," said Pat Chappell, a Tellico Village volunteer.

Volunteers of Smoky Mountain Service Dogs act as "puppy raisers" and "socializers" to help raise and train puppies for service. The training takes two years, but the journey only really begins after a Passing of the Leash graduation ceremony where all the volunteers that worked with a canine pass its leash to a deserving veteran.

"There's no words to express what these dogs can do for us," says veteran recipient Bradley Walker, who lost both legs in an injury sustained while serving in the United States Marine Corps. "There's nothing that I could do that would be enough to repay them for everything they've done for me."

Tellico Village is a planned, active adult community renowned for its strong volunteer culture, and celebrates more than 200 resident-managed clubs, organizations and nonprofits. For more information about Smoky Mountain Service Dogs visit www.smokymountainservicedogs.org and for more information about Tellico Village visit www.tellicovillage.org.

About Tellico Village

Tellico Village is a planned, active adult community established in 1986, located in Loudon County and Monroe County, Tennessee. It encompasses nearly 5,000 acres along Tellico Lake with the community continuing to grow thanks to the variety of recreational amenities available and the friendliness of nearly 7,000 residents. For more information visit www.tellicovillage.org.

CONTACT

Nena Potter

[email protected]

423-502-5422

SOURCE Tellico Village

Related Links

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- An increase in terrorist attacks in popular destinations has led to concern among travelers visiting these locations. Over the past three years, the number of travel insurance policies purchased with Terrorism coverage has nearly quadrupled, according to sales data from leading travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth.

More Than 1 in 10 Travelers Search for Terrorism Coverage

The number of travelers searching for Terrorism coverage on Squaremouth.com has increased each year since 2012.

In the past three years, the number of customers who have specifically searched for and purchased a policy with Terrorism coverage has increased by 280%

In the past year alone, that number has increased by 165%

U.S. Residents Show Concern When Traveling to Popular Destinations

American travelers with trips planned to Squaremouth's top 10 destinations have shown heightened interest in Terrorism coverage over the past three years.

3-Year Growth Percentage of Travelers Buying Terrorism Coverage for Top 10 Destinations

United States (268%) Mexico (364%) Italy (242%) Canada (313%) United Kingdom (344%) France (351%) Spain (470%) Bahamas (290%) Germany (506%) Israel (149%)

Travelers Going to Europe Show Highest Concern

Over the past three years, the number of U.S. travelers searching for Terrorism coverage when buying insurance for trips to top European destinations increased by 332%

With a 506% increase, American travelers going to Germany were the most concerned

When Are Travelers Covered by the Terrorism Benefit?

The Terrorism benefit provides cancellation coverage if a traveler is unable to take their trip due to a terrorist attack at their destination.

In order for a traveler to be covered to cancel a trip due to terrorism, the attack must meet the following requirements:

It must be deemed an act of terrorism by the U.S. Department of State

It must be within 7-30 days of the traveler's departure date, depending on the policy

It must occur in or near a city listed on the traveler's itinerary

The traveler must have purchased their policy prior to the attack

ABOUT SQUAREMOUTH

Squaremouth compares travel insurance policies from every major travel insurance provider in the United States. Using Squaremouth's comparison engine and third-party customer reviews, travelers can research and compare insurance products side-by-side. More information can be found at www.squaremouth.com

Available Topic Expert:

Steven Benna

[email protected]

(727) 619-7262

SOURCE Squaremouth

Related Links

http://www.squaremouth.com


SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Drivers and warehouse workers at Clock Freight in South San Francisco overwhelmingly voted on Thursday, April 13 to join Teamsters Local 2785. The vote was 32 to 3.

The workers are fighting for better wages with overtime pay, affordable health care and respect on the job. They are currently forced to work 12 to 14 hours a day with no overtime pay. They have to pay an average of $1,000 a month for a sub-standard health care plan. Most have not seen a raise in almost five years and recently 10 workers were terminated for no apparent reason. They have no retirement plan and are fighting for the opportunity to negotiate their terms and conditions of employment.

"It's a great day and I can't wait to negotiate a contract that I can be proud of that protects me and my family's future," said Sam Veimau, a Clock driver for seven years.

"It's about time this company takes these workers seriously," said Joe Cilia, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 2785. "As Teamsters, they will have a strong voice to fight for fair treatment."

"I was promised a raise three years ago and haven't seen it yet. I make $16 an hour and have to work two jobs to provide for my family. The Bay Area isn't cheap," said Jose Sol, a seven-year warehouse worker.

"We welcome the Clock Freight employees and we will assist Local 2785 in negotiating a contract that addresses the workers' needs," said Ernie Soehl, Director of the Teamsters National Freight Division. "These workers deserve to be treated with respect and dignity for the job they do every day."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.teamster.org.

Contact:

Joseph Cilia, (415) 716-7904

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Related Links

http://www.teamster.org


TOKYO, April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Japan's 127 year-old Imperial Hotel, Ltd. has announced the appointment of Yukio Kanao as General Manager of the Tokyo flagship Imperial Hotel, effective April 1, 2017. Kanao was formerly Deputy General Manager of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo and Senior Managing Director of Imperial Hotel, Ltd.

Photo: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M100617/201704110808/_prw_PI1fl_72E61t8p.jpg

Kanao, aged 55, joined Imperial Hotel, Ltd. upon his graduation from Tsukuba University in 1984, and was named Director of Sales at Imperial Hotel, Ltd.'s London office from 1997 to 2000. He was appointed Director of Sales at Imperial Hotel, Ltd.'s New York office from 2000 to 2002, and in 2007 was named Director of Rooms and Restaurants at the Imperial Hotel, Osaka. He was appointed Director of Sales and Marketing for Imperial Hotel, Ltd. in 2011, and from 2014 served as Deputy General Manager of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.

Tokyo's Imperial was founded by Japanese aristocracy in 1890 on the same site it occupies today and opened as a venue to receive an increasing number of foreign dignitaries visiting Japan in the Meiji Period (1868-1912). It initiated many new services and facilities which have since become standard services for major Japanese hotels, such as all-inclusive Shinto and Christian wedding services, shopping arcades, and in-house laundry service, and introduced diverse Western cuisine to the Japanese public. For its range of classical Japanese hospitality, it is the traditional favorite of visiting dignitaries and celebrities from abroad visiting the Japanese capital.

SOURCE Imperial Hotel, Ltd.
New Delhi, April 13 : 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.
Shillong, April 13 : 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.
New Delhi, April 14 : Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri on Thursday said New Delhi and Islamabad needed to restart the stalled peace process for the larger good of the region.

His remark comes amid soaring tensions between the two neighbours after Pakistan awarded a death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

"Pakistan and India relationships are peculiar. No benign neglect will work. Let's not let things drift," Kasuri said at an Indo-Pak seminar here organised by the Centre for Peace and Progress.

He, however, steered clear of talking about the Jadhav issue but regretted that "things are not looking pretty good" between the two countries.

"What is happening in Kashmir and the news from Islamabad," he said referring to Jadhav and the recent deaths of eight civilians in the Kashmir Valley on Sunday during a Lok Sabha by-poll.

Kasuri expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a "sense of history".

"He wishes to be part of the history in India-Pakistan relationship."

He said it was impossible to think Pakistan could be isolated diplomatically.

"And for argument sake if India succeeds it will give rise to new conflict. It is counterproductive."
MASON CITY | A Mason City man was sentenced this week to up to two years in prison after having his probation revoked on a conviction of violating sex offender registry requirements.

James Vierkant, 23, was placed on the registry after being convicted of sexual intercourse without consent in 2005 in another state. He was 12 at the time of the offense, according to sex offender registry online records.

Vierkant did not register with the sex offender registry and failed to notify the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office within five business days after moving into a residence in the 600 block of North Monroe Avenue in January 2016, according to court records.

Four months later he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of violating sex offender registry requirements and was given a suspended sentence and probation.

A probation violation report was filed in August.

 Mary Pieper
Ottawa, April 14 : The Canadian government has banned all airlines in the country to forcibly remove passengers from overbooked flights, officials said.

In a letter issued on Thursday to the heads of all airlines that fly in and out of the country, Transport Minister Marc Garneau warned that an incident like the one injuring a passenger aboard a United Airlines flight earlier this week is not allowed to occur in Canada, Xinhua news agency reported.

"I am sure that you were as disturbed as I was, and as all Canadians were, over the appalling incident that took place onboard a United flight earlier this week, when a passenger was forcibly removed from his seat," he wrote.

"I am writing to you today to convey that such an incident would be unacceptable in Canada."

The warning is not only for Canadian airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet, but also to all international airlines that fly in and out of the country.

The minister's letter comes after a passenger named David Dao, 69, was dragged off an overbooked United flight in Chicago on Sunday after refusing to leave his seat to accommodate airline crew members.

Dao was seriously injured by security officers who forced him off the plane against his will, banging his head on armrests in the process.

The minister's warning comes ahead of expected legislation to introduce a passengers' bill of rights in Canada.

The legislation will outline what passengers can expect from airlines in situations such as bumping from overbooked planes or for lost or damaged luggage.
Washington, April 14 : Over 200 children along with other demonstrators staged a protest outside the White House against US President Donald Trump's immigration policies, the media reported.

According to the organisers, the group included children from Miami, New York, Colorado and the Washington D.C. area who began their journey to the capital last week to "send a message" to the President, The Hill magazine reported.

They stopped in Atlanta and the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina before ending their trip here.

Under the slogan "We belong together", the protesters on Thursday gathered at Lafayette Park, in front of the presidential mansion, to "raise the community's awareness that we should be united".

"The reason why I'm here is that the President wants to separate families. He shouldn't do it, because it's bad to do that. We need for him not to do it," seven-year-old Nayahuari Mesa, who was here with her three-year-old brother and parents from New York, told Efe news.

Her mother, Felicia Martinez said that Nayahuari was aware of the situation and, although fortunately her husband was able to acquire permanent US residence just a month ago, after 12 years as an undocumented migrant, she wants to be part of the fight to prevent other families from suffering possible separation.

Legal immigrants and undocumented migrants, as well as families who were able to take advantage of the immigration relief plans pushed by former President Barack Obama, joined forces to make clear to the Trump administration that they were not going to give up.

Rosana Araujo, from Uruguay, came in the caravan that drove up from Miami, as part of the Women Working Together organisation, said that she is one of those immigrants without papers who could be separated from her US-born son.

"We came with our children, we're a group of fathers, mothers and kids who - in (Easter Week) - want to send a message: that family unity exists," Araujo, who has been in the US without papers for 14 years, told Efe news.

"Let the raids stop, let there be more protection for immigrants, for each community to become a sanctuary community, for our mayors, commissioners and representatives to support the community and not cooperate with the police," she said.

She was referring to the threats from the Trump administration against the so-called "sanctuary cities", which by municipal decision do not persecute immigrants based on their immigration status.

Both Latinos and African Americans, to shouts of "Up with education, down with deportation", also joined the protes.

More than 11 million people are estimated to live illegally in the US, and about six million US-born children are at risk of being separated from their parents if the latter are deported.
Islamabad, April 14 : Despite mounting tension along the border, the trade between Pakistan and India has remained intact since the beginning of the current fiscal year, a media report said on Friday.

A report by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) revealed that Pakistan grew its exports to India during the first eight months of 2016-17 while curtailing imports by 23 per cent, Dawn online reported.

The trade balance, however, remained in favour of India.

The two countries have long been locked in a bitter rivalry. But worsening political relations seem to have little impact on bilateral trade relations, according to trade analysts.

After growing by 14 per cent, exports from Pakistan to India amounted to $286 million in the July-February period. Imports from India fell 23 per cent to $958.3 million from $1,244 million recorded a year ago, the SBP report said.

One reason for Pakistan's improved exports to India is high cement demand in the neighbouring country.

This has offset the negative impact of a decline in Pakistan's cement exports to Afghanistan and South Africa, reports Dawn online.

The SBP said cement exports continued their downward trend, with the largest share in the year-on-year decline in the first half of 2016-17 originating from two markets - South Africa and Afghanistan.

"A slight consolation was continued strong demand for Pakistani cement from India. This partially offset the declines witnessed in the two other major markets," the SBP report said.

Meanwhile in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, Pakistan recorded a trade deficit of $672 million with India.

The deficit was $993 million in the same period of the last fiscal year.

Imports from India in 2015-16 were worth over four times the exports from Pakistan, a five-year high.

Pakistan imported goods worth $1.8 billion in 2015-16 compared to the exports of just $400 million, the SBP report added.
Islamabad, April 14 : Around 1,500 Indian Sikhs with over 500 from European countries and more than 2,000 Pakistani Hindus and Sikhs are participating in the Baisakhi celebrations that began in Punjab province, the media reported.

Baisakhi is widely celebrated by Sikhs in the province, with festivities centred on Panja Sahib Complex in Hasan Abdal town, Attock district that started on Thursday, Dawn online reported.

This year's festival marks the 319th anniversary of the Khalsa (the Sikh brotherhood). In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh (the last Sikh Gurum) asked his followers to sacrifice their lives for him.

Baisakhi also marks the beginning of a new solar year and harvest season.

At Punja Sahib, most of the pilgrims appeared excited about visiting Pakistan and said they enjoyed their visit to the country more than what they were expecting before reaching here and appreciated the arrangements to make their visit comfortable and for the maintenance of their holy sites, reports Dawn online.

Sikh Yatrees group leader Sardar Balvinder Singh thanked the Pakistan government, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the locals for the wonderful welcome and laudable arrangements.

He urged the governments of Pakistan and India to remove visa restrictions on senior citizens and relax some immigration laws to facilitate ordinary citizens of both the countries.

"Pakistan is like a second home to the Sikh community where they used to live," Singh added.
Tokyo, April 14 : Japan on Friday commemorated the first anniversary of a massive earthquake that struck the region of Kumamoto, resulting in 225 deaths.

Relatives of victims and Japanese authorities, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, gathered in the city of Kumamoto to join in a ceremony that began at 10 a.m., after one minute's silence, Efe news reported.

"There is still much to do because there are more than 47,000 people who are still living in temporary housing," Abe said.

Abe added that the government will do all it can to rebuild victims' lives and will always remember the lessons of Kumamoto to strengthen the country in the face of future natural disasters.

The earthquakes of 6.5 and 7.3 magnitude that shook the prefectures of Kumamoto and Oita on the Kyushu island on April 14 and 16, 2016r.

The first quake peaked at 7 on the Japanese scale for the first time since the devastating earthquake of March 11, 2011, which generated a massive tsunami that left more than 18,000 dead and missing in northeastern Japan, and triggered the Fukushima nuclear accident.

The Kumamoto earthquake destroyed or damaged more than 190,000 homes, forcing thousands of people to evacuate.
Nagpur (Maharashtra), April 14 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the 3,300 MW Koradi Thermal Power Plant here on Friday.

The much-delayed power plant will help boost the state's power utilisation and help farmers draw power at flexible hours as per their requirements.

Modi also laid the foundation stones for the proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at a function here.

He is later scheduled to address a public meeting at a stadium here.

Earlier, he paid homage to the architect of the Indian Constitution, Bharat Ratna Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on the occasion of his 126th birth anniversary. Modi paid a half-day visit to the city.
Dhaka, April 14 : Bangladesh on Friday welcomed the Bengali New Year, Pohela Boishakh, with much enthusiasm and colourful celebrations, a media report said.

Octogenarian artiste-cultural activist Sanjida Khatun's organisation Chhayanaut held programmes at the Ramna Batamul here at Friday morning to welcome Boishakh where its in-house artistes have been performing since 6 a.m, Dhaka Tribune reported.

Besides, the cultural organisation is also celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The first day of the Hindu lunar calendar Boisakh marks the beginning of the Bengali New Year, and is celebrated with much enthusiasm.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the people on the occasion. She asked them not to get confused and to celebrate the occasion peacefully. The festival has nothing to do with any religion, she added, bdnews24.com reported.

Security has been stepped up around the Ramna Batamul. Police are not allowing anyone to enter the area with any kind of bags, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police are giving out free bottled drinking water to women, children and the elderly people.

The police have ordered to wrap up open-air events in Dhaka before 5 p.m. and said such programmes on the Dhaka University campus must end before 6 p.m.

Ministries have this year taken initiatives to celebrate Pohela Boishakh with more importance after the Mongol Shobhajatra (auspicious procession of Pohela Boisakh) was inscribed by the Unesco as Intangible Cultural Heritage last year.

The government has ordered all the educational institutions to bring out Shobhajatra.
Moscow, April 14 : Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the Belt and Road Forum for international cooperation to be held in Beijing on May 14-15.

Putin made the disclosure on Thursday when he met visiting Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, who was here for meetings with the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee and with the Russian chair of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee.

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, Xinhua news agency reported.

"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.

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 welcomed 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.
Hyderabad, April 14 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wife Jashodaben on Friday worshipped at two temples in Vikarabad town of Telangana.

She performed 'puja' at at Nagadevatha temple in the town, located some 80 km from here.

After performing various rituals, she participated in 'Annadanam' programme and distributed food among the devotees.

Later, she visited Santoshimata temple in the town and offered worship. She was seen also offering fodder to a cow.

Modi's wife also garlanded statue of B. R. Ambedkar on his 126th birth anniversary.

Jashodaben had arrived in the town on Thursday night and stayed at the house of Baradi Ramesh, the priest of Nagadevatha temple.

As the news of her visit spread, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and workers rushed to the place in large numbers to meet her.

She is expected to stay in the town for another day before home to Gujarat returning on Saturday.
New Delhi, April 14 : Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) officially named its central library after B.R. Ambedkar on the occasion of the latter's birth anniversary on Friday.

Speaking at the event, JNU Vice Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar termed the library as a "lifeline of our students" and Ambedkar as the "greatest architect of modern India".

"In the beginning of 2016 when I first joined the university, there was a 'dharna' going on in the Administrative Block but when I visited the library...I found it jam-packed. That's real JNU," Kumar said while addressing officials and students on the occasion.

He said that after India got its independence the biggest question was how to achieve modernity and that our Constitution was the most important text which helped us in our struggle to reach that objective.

"Constitution is our only scripture...(and) B.R. Ambedkar is the main architect of this scripture," he added.

A bust of Ambedkar was also unveiled by Milind Kamble, Founder Chairman of the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) on the occasion.

The renaming of the library has come after a series of protests by student groups belonging to minority sections that are studying in the university.
MASON CITY | For the third year in a row, students from Mason City will be part of the only all-female team at a state robotics competition in Ames.

They also are the only team from an alternative school in the competition, which takes place April 21 at Iowa State University.

Mason City Alternative School junior Payton Woodbury said when her teacher, Katie Fistler, asked her to consider joining last year, her first thought was, "Whatever gets me out of class."

But once she started working with the team, she said she realized "Hey, this is cool. We get to build stuff."

They also do programming to get the robot to move and engage in battle with other robots during competition.

Two teams compete against each other to see whose robot can push the other robot out of the ring first.

"It's like sumo wrestling, but with robots," said senior Anna Hernandez.

Hernandez was on the first all-female team from the Alternative School that went to the HyperStream Robotics Competition. This is her third year on the team, so she has taken on a leadership role.

This year they decided to "make our robot look a little bit meaner," she said.

They put in sensors so it can "hear" the tires of the other robot so it can tell where it is and go after it, Hernandez said.

Three years ago Hernandez was a new student at Alternative School.

"I was kind of shy," she said.

Her adviser suggested she join the newly formed robotics club "to get me out of my box a little bit," Hernandez said.

She said the friendships she has developed and the teamwork are what she likes best about robotics.

The first year the Alternative School participated in the HyperStream competition, they only had one team of three students.

Fistler said this year they are hoping to take nine students so they can have three teams.

The all-female robotics club at the Alternative School began as part of a statewide initiative to get more girls and women interested in going into STEM careers.

The Girl Scouts organization provides funding for the team.

Employees from DealerBuilt, a database management company in Mason City, serve as mentors. They visit the school to help the students with programming and provide technical support.

The robots are built from a special Lego set.

"I like to build the robots," said senior Marissa Brown. "I like to play with the Legos."

She said participating in robotics has taught her "how to work as a team and how to get along with everyone."

"We learned to problem-solve pretty fast," Brown said.

Hernandez said competition can be "very scary," noting they are among the smaller teams there and the only all-girls team. Most of the other teams are either all boys or have just one girl on them, she added.

However, "Our nerves ease up once we are on the floor," Hernandez said.

Participating in robotics helps the students develop confidence and self-esteem, according to Fistler.

"To see the growth of these girls from the start to the end of the competition is really wonderful," she said.
Islamabad, April 14 : Pakistan on Friday said Indian "spy" Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced according to the country's laws and that India had not responded to "specific information" sought on him in January.

Top foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz, in a press briefing on Jadhav, also asked how "an innocent man" could have two passports.

At the time of his arrest in March 2016, Jadhav had two passports on him, one in his name, and a second in the name of Hussain Mubarak Patel.

"Why was Jadhav using a fake name in his identity documents?' he asked.

Aziz also slammed the "inflammatory statements and rhetoric of premeditated murder" issued by the Indian government, which he said "will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose".

Aziz said the April 10 sentence on Jadhav was "as per the law of the land.. He (Jadhav) was involved in subversive activities in Pakistan."

He said that India has not responded to a "Letter of Assistance requesting specific information and access to certain key witnesses" that was shared with them on January 23 this year. "There has been no response from the Indian side so far."

Stating that "fully transparent process" had been followed in the sentencing, the top diplomat said Jadhav had the right to appeal within 40 days to a higher court.

Jadhav, who was tried by a military court, could also file a mercy petition with the Army Chief within 60 days of the decision by the appellate court. His last option was to file a mercy petition with the President of Pakistan within 90 days after the decision of the army chief.

He said Jadhav's sentence was based on "credible, specific evidence" proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan.

Rejecting Indian contention that Jadhav was a retired naval commander, he said that India had failed to provide any "credible explanation of why their naval commander was in Balochistan".

Jadhav is said to have been arrested in a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area.

Aziz said India's lack of cooperation and refusal to provide Pakistan legal assistance in the case were the reasons why consular access had not been provided to Jadhav. India has said it had sought consular access to him 13 times, and was refused each time. On Friday, its 14th request was turned down.

The adviser said Jadhav's "confessional statement" had been recorded before a magistrate and the proceedings were conducted under proper laws.

A qualified legal officer was also provided to defend him in court proceedings, he said.
Noida, April 14 : A team of doctors here has successfully operated upon a seven-month-old baby from Iraq who was suffering from polymelia -- a birth defect involving limbs -- to give him a new lease of life.

Polymelia is a birth defect in which the affected individual has more than the usual number of limbs and, in this case, the boy, named Karam who was brought to the hospital in a very critical condition, had eight limbs.

"Both the legs of the baby which were protruding out of the stomach were connected through his sternum (the breastbone) and there was no abdominal wall defect. His blood veins were also adjoined to his liver veins," Ashish Rai, Senior Consultant, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Jaypee Hospital, told reporters here.

With the help of complex microscopic technique, these veins were separated and then his legs protruding out of his stomach were removed from his body.

When Karam was brought to the hospital he was just two-weeks-old. His limbs and the intestines were distorted along with situs inversus of the intestine with an extremely rare condition where a conjoined twin did not fully form and was partially absorbed.

The team of doctors observed the baby and considering the risk factors, decided to perform the critical surgery in three stages.

In the first stage, Karam's clubfeet was treated and the two limbs which were protruding out of his stomach were removed.

In the second stage, the doctors performed "PA Band" surgery so that his left ventricle can control his entire body's blood circulation after the treatment and he can undergo a 'Double Switch Surgery' in future.

In the third stage of the surgery, the other two limbs were also removed from his body.

"The level of the surgery was complicated as it took almost eight hours but we did not face any major issues. We had planned the surgery thoroughly. We had done all the investigation earlier regarding the case," Gaurav Rathore, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement Department, Jaypee Hospital, told IANS.

"There are just five or six known cases worldwide of this condition," Rathore added.
Chandigarh, April 14 : Amid a political-cum-diplomatic ontroversy over the Punjab Chief Minister's refusal to meet Canada's Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan during his visit to the state, three Congress MLAs on Friday asked the foreign dignitary to clarify his stand on the Khalistan issue.

"It is important, and in the interest of good and friendly relationship between India and Canada, that Sajjan clarify his stand on this sensitive issue," Congress leaders and MLAs Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukh Sarkaria and Navtej Cheema said in a joint statement here.

The Congress leaders strongly supported the Chief Minister's stand in refusing to meet Sajjan.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday reiterated his stand that he will not meet "Khalistani sympathisers" like Sajjan, even as he said that Canada's Sikh Minister will be accorded full protocol and security during his state visit later this month.

Sajjan, the first Sikh to become a high-ranking Minister in the Canadian government, is scheduled to visit India from April 17. Sajjan's family has roots in Punjab.

The three Congress leaders also objected to the Canadian High Commission's statement on the matter, saying "it had tried to hide more than clarifying anything".

"It is surprising that the High Commission has preferred to remain quiet on the specific issue that is of serious concern and consequences for the peace-loving Punjabis," they said, adding that instead of clarifying the issue, the High Commission tried to cover it up and put up a vague defence.

The Congress legislators advised the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party leaders not to defend Sajjan "when he himself had preferred not to deny his association with Khalistan sympathisers and supporters".

They said the Canadian Minister and some of his ministerial and MP colleagues there had known affiliation with anti-India and pro-Khalistan forces.

The Khalistan movement was backed by Sikh radicals in 1980s to seek a separate, independent Sikh state of 'Khalistan' (land of the pure) by breaking from India. Punjab, the Sikh dominated state, saw militancy for over a decade which resulted in nearly 35,000 deaths.

"None of them have denied these charges (of Khalistani links), while leaders like Sukhbir Badal, Sukhpal Khaira and H.S. Phoolka have gone overboard in defending them for reasons best known to them," the Congress leaders said.

"There is no question of insulting a Punjabi or a Sikh in stating a fact about political leanings and inclinations of a particular leader just because he happens to be a Punjabi or a Sikh," they added.

Amarinder Singh had to cancel his Canada trip in April last year after being told by the Canadian authorities that he could not be allowed to visit that country for holding political rallies and meetings. The visit was aimed at wooing the influential Non-Resident Indian groups in Canada.

Amarinder Singh had then shot of an angry letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau against the "gag order".
Jerusalem, April 14 : A British tourist was killed on Friday when an Israeli Arab stabbed her near Jerusalem's Old City, officials said.

The 25-year-old woman from Britain was stabbed while travelling on a tram. The attack took place around 12.50 p.m. next to the walls surrounding the Old City, Efe news reported.

She arrived at a hospital in critical condition and was declared dead shortly thereafter, the hospital spokeswoman said.

The stabbing occurred while hundreds of Christian pilgrims were recreating the Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) to commemorate Good Friday.

The alleged assailant was arrested by police officers at the scene, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

According to Rosenfeld, the suspect, 57-year-old Jamil Tamimi, is an Israeli Arab from the Palestinian neighbourhood of Ras al-Amud in the occupied territory of East Jerusalem.

He added that Tamimi had attempted suicide earlier this year and was convicted of an indecent assault on his daughter in 2011.

The area has been closed and safety measures were being increased throughout the downtown area as well as in and around the Old City, the spokesman added.
Srinagar, April 14 : Five persons were arrested on Friday in Kashmir's Budgam district for heckling a paramilitary trooper on Sunday during the by-poll for Srinagar parliamentary seat.

"Based on video and other evidence, five persons have been detained for questioning in connection with the heckling of a CRPF jawan in Chadoora of Budgam district," police said.

A video had gone viral showing some youth kicking a CRPF trooper on April 9 after the polling process ended in the constituency.

Senior officers of the CRPF had said the exemplary restraint shown by the trooper was testimony to the fact that the CRPF had been discharging its duties in Kashmir with restraint and under extremely difficult conditions.

In another development, state police chief S.P. Vaid confirmed that an FIR has been lodged against a paramilitary trooper who is seen in a video shooting directly at the head of a stone pelter during protests in Budgam on April 9.

Eight civilians were killed in bloody clashes between the security forces and protestors on April 9.

Of these, seven protestors were killed in Budgam and one in Ganderbal district.
Mumbai, April 14 : Veteran actor Anil Kapoor says his daughter Sonam is very "fortunate" to have been chosen for a Special Mention at the 64th National Film Awards. And now the family is looking forward to the day when she will receive the honour from President Pranab Mukherjee next month.

Anil was present at the IIFA voting weekend here on Friday when he was asked about his sentiments on Sonam getting a National Award for her performance in "Neerja".

He said: "I am very happy. I was discussing it with my family that she is so fortunate. In such a short span of time, at such a young age, with such a less number of films, she has got this recognition from the highest award in our country. Besides, the film has been loved by all.

"All the departments of 'Neerja' were excellent. But Sonam was Neerja and Neerja was Sonam. I am very happy that not just the film, but even Sonam has received a National Award. I am looking forward to the May 3 event when Sonam will be on dais receiving an award from the President of this country."

"Neerja" was named the Best Hindi Film for the 64th National Awards.

Based on air hostess Neerja Bhanot, who displayed the utmost courage to deal with armed terrorists and sacrificed her life to save others, the film was appreciated for its performances by Sonam and Shabana Azmi, who played her mother on screen.

Anil has himself received two National Awards -- one in the Best Actor category for "Pukar" and a Special Jury award as producer of "Gandhi, My Father".

The actor was happy about being a part of the IIFA voting weekend, where film celebrities cast their vote for winners of the International Indian Film Academy Awards. This time, the gala will take place in New York.

"As far as my involvement is there, IIFA is like family as I have associated with it from many years. Being in New York, it involves high expectations, more hard work, large scale grandeur and much more."
Kolkata, April 14 : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday advised his BJP's West Bengal unit not to pay attention to the "false propaganda" by the Left Front and the Congress about any "secret understanding" between his party and the state's ruling Trinamool Congress.

According to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national Secretary Rahul Sinha, the veteran leader dismissed the allegations as part of the state opposition's "political strategy".

"He told us not to be bothered about these false propaganda by state left parties and Congress as this is a mere attempt to defame our party. These allegations are a part of out opposition's political strategy," said Sinha, briefing newspersons about the closed door meeting of state office bearers conducted by Rajnath Singh.

"Rajnathji told us to put these allegations aside and work hard to establish ourselves as the prime opposition of Trinamool Congress in the state," he said.

Congratulating the state BJP unit for their recent success, Rajnath Singh reportedly said the party activists throughout the nation are excited about BJP's progress in Bengal.

"Rajnathji said that the BJP activists and supporters all over the country are proud and excited about the way the party is progressing in West Bengal. The people of the nation are looking up to BJP's achievements in the state," Sinha said.

The state BJP leader claimed that there were detailed discussions about the state government's atrocities and attacks on the BJP activists in Bengal.

"We have informed him how the state government is misusing its police and lodging false cases against the BJP leaders to stop the party from flourishing. The issues of cow smuggling and constant infiltration through the India-Bangladesh border were also discussed at length," he said.
Mumbai, April 14 : Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday said the Centre is "actively considering" a plan to resume -- after 22 years -- the use of the Arabian Sea route to ferry Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and consultations with the Shipping Ministry are already on.

He said the "revolutionary and pilgrim-friendly decision" of sea travel will cut down travel expenses by nearly half compared with air fares. The use of the sea route between Mumbai and Jeddah for Haj was discontinued in 1995.

"A high-level committee, formed by the government to frame the Haj Policy 2018 as per the Supreme Court's 2012 order, is exploring the issue for sending pilgrims via the sea route to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia," the Minister of State for Minority Affairs said at a training programme at the Haj House here.

The committee will soon submit its report to the government.

At present, Haj pilgrims travel by air from 21 points across the country.

The minister said another advantage was that ships nowadays are modern and well equipped to ferry 4,000 to 5,000 persons at one go.

"They can cover the 2,300-odd nautical miles between Mumbai and Jeddah in just two-three days. Earlier, ships used to take 12 to 15 days to cover this distance," he said.

He said the new Haj policy is aimed at making the entire pilgrimage process easier and transparent. Facilities for pilgrims will be the focus of the new policy.

In 2016, as many as 99,903 pilgrims went to Jeddah for Haj through the Haj Committee of India, besides nearly 36,000 persons who went through private tour operators.

In 2017, a total of 1,70,025 persons will go for Haj from India, including 1,25,025 through the Haj Committee and 45,000 others through private operators.

This year, he said, 129,196 applications were received online.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs along with other agencies has started preparations for the biggest annual pilgrimage very early in coordination with various agencies, he added. The aim is to provide world class facilities to Haj pilgrims.

With an increase of 34,005 in India's annual Haj quota by host country Saudi Arabia, announced last year, all Indian states will benefit for this year's pilgrimage, Naqvi said.

"The decision was taken during the signing of a bilateral annual Haj agreement between the two countries at Jeddah on January 11. It is the biggest increase in the Haj quota for India after many years," the Minister said.

More than 500 trainers from different states are participating in the three-day training programme that deals with various dos and don'ts to be adhered to during the pilgrimage. They are enlightened about transport, accommodation and laws in Saudi Arabia, among other things.

Officials from the Haj Committee of India, Saudi Arabia Consulate, BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, Saudi Airlines, Air India, customs and immigration departments and doctors are involved in the endeavour.

These trainers will further train prospective pilgrims at different camps across the country.
Mogadishu, April 14 : The UAE's Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation will launch work on a dam in Somalia's Hargeisa city in the next two days to continue efforts to curb famine in the country.

The United Arab Emirates-funded project is being carried out upon directives from President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

It complements the "For Your Sake, Somalia" campaign, launched as part of the UAE's Year of Giving to help Somalia improve the difficult living conditions of people affected by drought.

The project will drive agricultural and animal resources development in Hargeisa.

A team of technicians and specialist were making final preparations for the inauguration during which full details of the dam will be announced, said an official source from the Foundation.

Earlier this week, the UAE launched a month-long campaign to raise funds to provide food, water, medicine and other necessities to help hundreds of thousands of people in Somalia survive their third famine in 25 years.
Agartala, April 14 : Tripura's ruling Left Front on Friday lodged a protest with the Election Commission against state BJP chief following his alleged comments about manipulation of the EVMs in favour of his party in next year's assembly polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Tripura President Biplab Kumar Deb however denied the allegations saying that he has said that the EVMs cannot be manipulated.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) led Left Front, quoting media reports, lodged a protest with the Election Commission alleging that Deb, during a public meeting in western Tripura, had said that the results seen in Uttar Pradesh and Manipur assembly polls will recur in Tripura too and even if Chief Minister Manik Sarkar casts his vote for his CPI-M, it will be recorded in favour of the lotus (BJP's election symbol).

Deb had also challenged Sarkar to lodge a case against him "if he has the guts", Left Front convener Khagen Das told the media here.

The Left Front demanded urgent appropriate action against Deb and to ensure full-proof workability of EVMs in Tripura's next year's assembly polls.

Das, who was accompanied by other Front leaders, said that Deb's comments came at a time when a national debate is going on about the accurate performance of the EVMs used in the election after BJP's sweeping victory in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand followed by alleged manipulation of EVMs in favour of BJP in a by-poll in Madhya Pradesh.

The Left Front along with its protest letter submitted CD, video and newspaper clippings of Deb's public speech to the Election Commission.

Deb denied the Left parties' allegations.

"In the public meeting I have said that some political parties including Left parties are trying to return to the age old system of voting. EVMs are tamper-proof and cannot be manipulated," he said, adding that what he was trying to say that as most people are now in favour BJP, hence all votes would cast in favour of this party.

"Even Manik Sarkar's mind can change and he may cast his vote in favourt of BJP," he quipped.
MASON CITY | Roderick Lemeual Demetrius Lewis, 18, of Mason City, IA, died Monday, April 10, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, with Pastor Victoria Clark of New Foundation Christian Fellowship Church in Phoenix, AZ, officiating.

There will be a gathering of family and friends one hour prior to the service.

Memorials may be directed to the Roderick Lewis memorial fund in care of the family.

Arrangements: Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, Mason City.
Islamabad/Kolkata, April 14 : Pakistan on Friday rejected India's 14th attempt for consular access to alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and maintained the trial sentencing him to death was according to the laws of the country.

Pakistan also said that India had not responded to "specific information" sought on Jadhav in January -- which New Delhi has rejected.

Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in Islamabad with a request for consular access to Jadhav and also sought a copy of the charge-sheet against him.

The request was turned down. "We demanded a meeting (with Jadhav), but they denied," Bambawale told reporters after meeting Janjua.

India said it has sought consular access to Jadhav 13 times earlier, but was refused each time.

Making a statement on Jadhav's arrest and trial, Pakistan's top foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz slammed the "inflammatory statements and rhetoric of premeditated murder" issued by the Indian government, which he said would only escalate tensions.

He also asked how Jadhav, "an innocent man", could have two passports.

At the time of his arrest in March 2016, Jadhav had one passport in his name, and a second in the name of Hussain Mubarak Patel.

"Why was Jadhav using a fake name in his identity documents," Aziz asked.

Aziz said the April 10 sentencing of Jadhav was "as per the law of the land" and was a "fully transparent process". He said Jadhav, who belongs to Maharashtra in India, had been involved in subversive activities in Pakistan.

To Indian claims that Pakistan has not responded to its letters seeking information on Jadhav, Aziz said that New Delhi has not responded to a "Letter of Assistance requesting specific information and access to certain key witnesses" sent on January 23 this year. "There has been no response from the Indian side so far."

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in Kolkata, denied the charge, saying: "No no, that's not true."

Rajnath also said he felt that Jadhav did not get a transparent trial. "All efforts are on to get Kulbhushan justice. India will go to any extent to get him justice," he said.

Aziz said that Jadhav had the right to appeal within 40 days to a higher court.

Jadhav, who was tried by a military court, could also file a mercy petition with the Army Chief within 60 days of the decision by the appellate court. His last option was to file a mercy petition with the President of Pakistan within 90 days after the decision of the army chief.

He said Jadhav's sentencing was based on "credible, specific evidence" proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan.

Rejecting Indian contention that Jadhav was a retired naval commander, Aziz said that India had failed to provide any "credible explanation of why their naval commander was in Balochistan".

Jadhav is said to have been arrested in a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area.

Aziz said India's lack of cooperation and refusal to provide Pakistan legal assistance in the case were the reasons why consular access had not been provided to Jadhav.

The adviser said Jadhav's "confessional statement" had been recorded before a magistrate and the proceedings were conducted under proper laws.

A qualified legal officer was also provided to defend him in court proceedings, he said.

The developments are likely to impact on the already strained diplomatic relations, which have steadily worsened over the past few months over the Kashmir issue and terror attacks, which India has blamed on Pakistan.
Moscow, April 14 : Russia, Iran and Syria have proposed an on-site investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.

"We insist on conducting a meticulous, objective and unbiased investigation into the alleged chemical weapon attack by Syrian aircraft on April 4," Lavrov said at a joint conference after talks with his Iranian and Syrian counterparts, Mohammad Javad Zarif and Walid al-Muallem, respectively.

The trio said that the probe should be carried out by a well-balanced team of experts under the auspices of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the UN chemical weapons watchdog, reported Xinhua news agency.

Russia and Iran hailed the readiness of the Syrian government to accept such a mission, Lavrov said.

On April 7, the US launched 59 cruise missiles against a Syrian military airfield in response to the Assad's regime's chemical weapons attack that killed at least 89 people in Syria's Idlib province.

Washington blamed the Syrian government for the attack. But Russia said it might have been caused by the explosion of chemical weapons stored by rebels in a local depot during a raid by the Syrian Air Force.

Russia, Iran and Syria unanimously regarded the US missile strikes as an aggression in brutal violation of international law and the UN Charter, Lavrov noted.

"We insist that the US and its allies should respect the sovereignty of Syria and abstain from similar actions," he said.

At the press conference, Syria's Muallem reiterated that his government no longer possesses chemical weapons and the destruction of its previous stockpiles had been confirmed by the OPCW.

"We do not use chemical weapons against terrorists or our own people. We condemn any use of chemical weapons," said the Syrian top diplomat.
Washington/Kasargode (Kerala), April 14 : An Islamic State (IS) activist from Kerala is believed to have been killed along with 36 IS militants when the US unleashed a massive GBU-43 bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs", on the terror group's position in a cave network in eastern Afghanistan.

According to Indian intelligence officials, Murshid Mohammed, in his 20s, who hailed from Kasaragode in Kerala, was among the IS militants killed after the US military struck the IS' position in Nangarhar province, near the Pakistan border, on Thursday with a massive 10-tonne missile-powered bomb.

Speaking to IANS, a top intelligence officer in Kasargode said that around Thursday midnight they got information of Mohammed being killed in the US military assault.

"The information of the death came to a relative of Mohammed. Unlike similar news received in February about the death of another youth from here, this time there are no pictures (to establish the death)," the officer said.

A relative of Mohammed received only a message that he was killed, according to the Kerala Police intelligence wing.

The bomb used in the strike is claimed to be the biggest-ever non-nuclear bomb.

It was so massive that it had to be dropped from the rear of a cargo plane, said Pentagon.

Afghan officials said 36 militants were killed in the strike.

"The strike has destroyed an IS headquarters, three IS hideouts along with several bunkers and deep tunnels as well as huge amount of weapons and ammunition," the Afghanistan Defence Ministry statement said.

No civilian was injured in the raid which took place in Mohmand Dara village, Asadkhil area of the district, the statement added.

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, said the US Forces-Afghanistan, which is part of NATO-led Resolute Support.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani hailed the attack on the IS position.

"Precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties with this airstrike. Assessment of the casualties to the ISIS-K is in process," the Afghan Presidential Palace said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday the bombing was "another successful job."

The commander of the US forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, defended the use of the bomb and confirmed the target of the strike was the network of tunnels that IS fighters use to move around and protect themselves from Afghan and US forces.

"This was the right weapon against the right target," he said.

This is the third major military action the Trump administration has taken since assuming office on January 20, following a military raid in Yemen that left civilians and a US Marine dead and last week's surprise strike on a Syrian airfield.

Afghanistan's Ambassador to the US Hamdullah Mohib said the colossal Massive Ordinance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB) was dropped after fighting had intensified over the last week.

Multiple Afghan officials previously said they had no information about the bombing before it happened.

US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Washington is "working with the government of Afghanistan and our partners in the region in order to deny any terrorist organisation -- that includes Al Qaeda as well -- a safe haven or any kind of material support on the ground."
New Delhi, April 14 : Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Siodia on Friday said that a CVC report tabled in the Parliament revealed there had been a huge reduction in the number of corruption complaints against the Delhi government.

He said that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had emerged from an anti-corruption movement and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) reported showed that the corruption in the state government has reduced as the number of corruption-related complaints against it had gone down drastically.

"The report says that there had been a drastic reduction by around 81 per cent in the number of corruption complaints against Delhi government in 2016. In 2015, the number of corruption complaints against those under Delhi government was 5,139 while it reduced to only 969 in 2016," Sisodia told reporters citing the report.

"This shows the level of satisfaction among people with Delhi government," he said.

Hitting out at the central government, Sisodia said: "Despite they snatching the Anti-Corruption Branch from the Delhi government, we continued our zero tolerance attitude toward corruption.

"There is no corruption in top uint of the government. We have shown the door even to the ministers who were caught involved in corruption."

He also cited the report to note while corruption complaints against Delhi government have reduced by 81 per cent, they have increased by 67 per cent against the central government departments over the previous year.
Kolkata, April 14 : Debunking the state government's charge that the BJP was trying to incite violence by conducting armed rallies in the state in the name of religious celebrations, Union Minister Uma Bharti on Friday blamed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "intentionally" promoting fundamentalism in the state.

"These allegations are baseless. They don't make any sense. Mamata Banerjee is intentionally doing fundamentalist politics. She is propagating the politics of hatred," the Union Minister for Water Resources told the media after conducting a mass rally in West Bengal's Howrah district.

Bharti said that rallies on the occasion of Ram Navmi and Hanuman Jayanti were part of age-old traditions of Hinduism and claimed that such rallies had happened earlier as well.

"Such rallies are a part of our age-old traditions. If the law and order situation in the region is good, police can monitor such rallies without any problems. Rallies like these were conducted earlier as well," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.

Bharti also asserted that the BJP would form the government in West Bengal "with a clear majority" in the next assembly polls.

"BJP will form the government in Bengal with a clear majority, just as we saw in Assam and in Haryana, where once upon a time only one or two of our MLAs used to be elected," she said on her arrival at the Howrah railway station on Friday morning.

Bharti's comments come in the wake of her party finishing second in the by-poll to Kanthi Dakshin assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district.

Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress retained the seat with the BJP pushing the Left Front to the third position.

Banerjee has, however, accused opposition parties in Bengal of transferring votes to one another and said she was least bothered about who emerged as her party's principal opposition.

The Bengal assembly polls are scheduled to be held in 2021.
Thiruvananthapuram/Nairobi, April 14 : A Romanian, part of a six-member gang broke into an ATM in the Kerala capital, has been picked up when he arrived at a Kenyan airport on Friday, police said.

The Kerala Police, which had sought the Interpol's help to issue a red corner notice for Alexandro Mariano, got information from Kenya that he has been arrested.

A team of Kerala Police officers will now leave for Kenya to bring Mariano to the state capital.

Last August, a gang of six Romanians tampered an ATM of the State Bank of India, using duplicate ATM cards and withdrew Rs 2.50 lakh.

Soon after the theft came to light, police arrested two Romanians and was on the lookout for the rest of the gang, who were all identified from their passports, which they had submitted while checking into a hotel in Thiruvananthapuram.
New Delhi, April 14 : Muslim women rights activists and feminist activists have criticised a Hindu Mahasabha official for suggesting that all triple talaq and 'nikah halala' victims should embrace Hinduism to get justice.

Hindu Mahasabha General Secretary Pooja Shakun Pandey made the suggestion in Agra on Thursday during a 'Muslim Nari Utthan Yagya', where the activists took an oath to fight against triple talaq.

Activists criticised her statement and said that the Hindu right-wing is not in the interest of Muslim women.

Supreme Court advocate and feminist activist Indira Jaising termed the comment as simply "unconsitutional".

"That comment goes against the right to freely practice your own religion that is guaranteed by Article 25 of the Constitution. It simply undermines the right of these women as it is contrary to the law," Jaising told IANS.

"These victims can remain in their religion and ask for justice. This comment is a Hindu chauvinist comment," she said.

Feminist activist and writer Kamla Bhasin said that Pandey's statement makes it clear that for her organisation it is "not about justice for women, and the purpose is to defame Islam, and promote conversion".

"If a Muslim woman wants to marry a Hindu, let her go to the Mahasabha and say that find me a husband, but I have not heard any Muslim woman who is against triple talaq saying that she wants to marry a Hindu man," Bhasin told IANS on Friday.

"The demand that triple talaq should be eliminated has been a feminist demand. That feminist demand is for justice for women. It is not to hit Muslims by anti-Muslim statements," she said.

"Justice for women is not about defaming Islam or about conversion. Anti-Muslim feeling will not help the country but a genuine dialogue will," she added.

Shabnam Hashmi wanted to know what the Mahasabha was actually doing for Hindu women who are victims of male chauvinism and sexism.

"Triple talaq should definitely be banned; but what kind of solution is the Mahasabha offering? So many Hindu women are burnt alive for dowry. All the religions are anti-women. Hindu Mahasabha should also come with solutions for problems of Hindu women," Hashmi told IANS.

"Changing the religion is not a solution at all," she said.

Social and women's rights activist Syeda Hameed labelled Pandey's statement as "provocative" and said that it doesn't deserve a lot of attention.

"These are unnecessarily provocative statements to create hatred between one community and the other. They deserve very little attention and very little reaction," she told IANS.

Hameed said that this is just sensationalism and a way to get to media attention.

"We think Hinduism is a beautiful religion. We think Islam is beautiful. We the practitioners have made a mess of it. What the general secretary is saying is not the Hinduism that I understand," she said.

Hameed is one of two women who founded the Muslim Women's Forum (MWF) with the objective of giving women a voice in all matters concerning their lives. She feels that Islam has given a lot of rights to women.

"Islam has given a lot of rights to women. Some 1,450 years ago, when rights of women were unheard of, Islam gave property rights to women which we are now talking about in the 21st century," she said, adding that anti-Islam statements are only about creating distance between different communities.

For feminist writer Nivedita Menon, "Hindu right wing is not in the interest of the Muslim women".

"This statement proves what feminists have been saying for a long time that the Hindu right's interest in triple talaq and polygamy has nothing to do with gender justice. It has to do with the Hindu right-wing politics and homogenizing India," Menon told IANS.

"They are establishing that they are not interested in gender justice and are only interested in the Hindu right-wing agenda of eliminating minority, and all diversity within Hinduism," she added.
Kolkata, April 14 : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that his BJP has been making progress in West Bengal and will form the government in the state next time.

"Agli bar BJP sarkar (Next time, there will be BJP government). Kanthi Dakshin bypoll election made the indication clear that BJP is making progress," he responded to a query about BJP coming second in the Kanthi Dakshin assembly bypoll.

Rajnath Singh, however, sought cooperation from the Trinamool Congress state government, particularly, for the smart city programme and the implementation of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA).

"We expect cooperation from the West Bengal government. We expect cooperation for smart city programme. We have come out with real estate regulatory authority and the rules of the authority have to be codified by the state. But that has not been done so far," he said.

He condemned the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader Yogesh Varshney's comment offering Rs 11 lakh to anyone who beheads West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"No such statement should come and we never endorse these comments. We do not know the person. As I know, he is not even a district level leader," he said.

Rajnath Singh, however, refused to make any comment as the Home Minister, when asked about RSS allegation that state government is giving shelter to jihadis. "As Home Minister, there are lot of things I cannot say in public."

Asked about Narada video sting footage and Saradha chit fund scam, he said: "Law will take its own course. BJP doesn't interfere in matters of law."

The Central Bureau of investigation has been probing the Sarada chit fund scam and the Narada sting video tapes where Trinamool Congress leaders were purportedly seen accepting cash.

Responding to a query about the steps taken by the state government after the Ram Navmi celebrations by Sangh parivar, he said: "State government's responsibility is to provide full security if a person or a political party calls for a programme."

During his visit to the city, Singh, who interacted with party workers and journalists, did not criticise the Mamata Banerjee government.
Rome, April 14 : Sicilian police on Friday arrested convicted mafia boss Concetto Bonaccorsi, who was on the run for eight months, in the central Italian Tuscan region.

Police nabbed 57-year-old Bonaccorsi at a villa in the town of Massa e Cozzile. He had failed to return to Secondigliano jail in Naples last September after a three-day furlough for good behaviour.

Bonaccorsi, known as "u carateddu" has been sentenced to life in jail for murder, mafia association and drugs trafficking.

He was one of the heads of the 'Carateddi' paramilitary wing of the Sicilian mafia's Cappello clan, whose power base is the province of Catania.
Islamabad, April 14 : Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua told Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale that the "rhetoric" in the Indian Parliament on the sentencing of Kulbhushan Jadhav was "un-warranted" and fuelling hatred against Pakistan.

While refusing the request for consular access to Jadhav, Janjua told the Indian envoy that the hatred against Islamabad was not "conducive" for promoting cordial bilateral ties, a Foreign Office statement said.

Pakistan's top diplomat was referring to Indian statements that if Pakistan carries out the hanging of Jadhav it would amount to "premeditated murder".

Pakistan refused for the 14th time the Indian request for consular access to Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court for subversive activities and waging war against Pakistan.

Bambawale later told reporters here, "We demanded a meeting (with Jadhav), but they denied."

Janjua told Bambawale that India had not provided consular access to Pakistanis in Indian prisons for years, despite repeated requests and follow-up by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

India said it has sought consular access to Jadhav 13 times earlier, but was refused each time.

Earlier, Pakistan's top foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz said that consular access can not be provided in "espionage cases".
CLEAR LAKE | The Clear Lake Christian Church will host a community Easter "Son Rise" service at 6:45 a.m. Sunday in City Park. The entire community is invited. Communion will be served. If the weather is bad, the service will be moved to the Lakeview Room in the bandshell. Those attending are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.
Lucknow, April 14 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Power Minister Piyush Goel on Friday accused the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) government of putting up roadblocks in the development of the state on its whims and fancies.

At a function to sign several MoUs in the power sector, Goel said that Uttar Pradesh was deprived of the benefits of the "Power for All" scheme of the central government as Akhilesh Yadav wanted his picture to be displayed over everything relating to the scheme.

As this was not possible, the scheme signed by 28 states hung fire in Uttar Pradesh until the exit of the SP government, and now that a BJP government has come to power in the state, it was being signed within one month, Goel added.

Adityanath, in his address, dittoed the charges and said that the 150 critical care ambulances, which were flagged off by him on Friday, were not accepted by the SP government for two years owing to petty political differences.

"It is sad that for two long years people of the state were deprived of a facility which could have saved the lives of many critically ill patients" Yogi rued.

He promised that the people of the state would be "VVIPs" under his regime and that no one would be discriminated against on grounds of religion, caste or political belief.

Thanking the Narendra Modi government for extending all cooperation to the new state government, the Chief Minister said that his government would ensure that the dreams of great men like Baba Saheb Ambedkar and BJP ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay were realised for the welfare of the farmers, the marginalised and the poorest.

"The dream of 'Uday to Antyodaya' will now be fulfilled," Yogi Adityanath said while pointing out how under the past regimes only select few districts used to get 24x7 power.

"How can this be allowed?" he questioned while adding that VVIP status was no longer reserved for people or places or for that matter even caste and communities.

"For me the most important are the people of the state and we are henceforth committing ourselves to ensuring that the entire state by the end of 2018 will have 24x7 power supply," the Chief Minister added.

He also warned the people against power theft and said that it was a matter of great pride for the state government that half the street lights in Allahabad were fitted with LED bulbs within days, as the Prime Minister was scheduled to attend an event there.

"The officials are the same, we have not changed the whole lot of bureaucrats, but they are performing now. It's because earlier there was no leadership and now there is one," he chuckled, drawing peels of laughter and applause from the gathering.
Lucknow, April 14 : The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday signed an agreement with the Centre for "Power for All".

The agreement was signed in presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal.

UP was the only state in the country which had not signed the scheme aimed at providing power to all, said Goyal, and also lauded state Power Minister Shrikant Sharma and his team for wrapping up the agreement in such a short time.

It was also announced that from now on, power consumers in the rural areas will be able to make digital payments of their electricity bills.

A 24x7 toll free number - 1912, was also activated across the state for people to complain about any power related issues. An MoU was also signed for providing of 10,000 solar panels by the Centre.

A scheme of providing LED bulbs, tube lights and energy efficient fans at cheap rates was also kicked off with the signing of an agreement between the Energy Efficiency Services Ltd and the state government.

Goyal also credited Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar of being the visionary behind the giant strides being taken by the Narendra Modi government in the power sector, adding that it was the architect of the Indian constitution who had visualised the concept of power for all and that electricity and irrigation facilities were big tools in the hand of people for development.
New Delhi, April 14 : A 10-day 'Aajeevika Mela' organised to promote exhibition and sale of products produced by self-help groups (SHGs) from different parts of the country was inaugurated here on Friday.

Under the aegis of the Ministry of Rural Development, national consultation with SHG women of all states and union territories was also held on "transforming lives through livelihoods thrust and strategy for poverty-free gram panchayats".

About 3,500 SHG women participated in the consultation.

As many as 500 stalls have been set up in the exhibition, open till April 23 at Hall No. 18 at the Pragati Maidan.

Ministry Sectretary Amarjeet Sinha inaugurated the consultation and the mela.

About 23 SHG members from 12 states, who have come out of poverty and overcome multiple obstacles, shared their experiences on the occasion, a ministry statement said.

"The fair has showcased a wide range of handlooms, handicraft, artefacts, heritage products, fashion and beauty articles, cane and bamboo products, tribal ornaments, and metallic products," read the statement.

"The special attraction of this mela are metal products from Madhya Pradesh, Sambalpuri sarees from Odisha, wood carvings from Andhra Pradesh, bamboo products from Tripura, Madhubani paintings from Bihar, terrakota from Chhattisgarh, shawls and carpets from Jammu and Kashmir, handicraft from Uttar Pradesh, tribal jewellery from Jharkhand, and handlooms from northeastern states," it added.
New Delhi, April 14 : Acknowledging the contribution being made by Japanese companies in India, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday urged them to avail of the opportunities on offer as India shapes to increae the share of manufacturing in its GDP to 25 per cent in the coming years.

"India wants to increase the contribution of manufacturing sector to GDP to 25 per cent," a Commerce Ministry statement quoting Sitharaman said here. Manufacturing currently contributes in the range of 15-16 per cent to India's GDP.

She was addressing a gathering at the India Investment Seminar in Tokyo organized by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). Sitharaman is on an official visit to Japan leading a delegation and she met her Japanese counterpart Hiroshige Seko and business leaders of Japan at the Tokyo conference on Friday.

According to the statement, Sitharaman also spoke of various initiatives like the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund for infrastructure financing, the Digital India program to connect 250,000 villages with optical fiber and the Jan Dhan scheme.

Both countries discussed ways of increasing bilateral trade and investments at the meeting between Sithraman and Seko, the statement added.

Japan is the third largest foreign investor in India, with a cumulative investment $25.2 billion made between the 2000-2016 period.
New Delhi, April 14 : A teacher of the G.B. Pant Engineering College who was on a hunger strike to protest the institution's condition was taken to the AIMMS forcibly by police on Friday - the 10th day of his agitation, students said.

"A team of about 80-100 police officers visited sir (Assistant Professor Joshil K Abraham) late in the evening and forcibly took him to AIIMS emergency saying that they cannot let him continue as his condition may worsen," Anuj, a student of the college, told IANS.

Abraham had earlier been to Irene Healthcare Center in Kalkaji area of south Delhi, near the college.

Abraham is on a hunger strike against the condition of the engineering college, which, he earlier told IANS, doesn't have enough classrooms, labs, and no hostel facility.

Towards the same end, students of the government college have been protesting since March 7 and many of them have been sleeping in the campus.

They also approached Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has promised to do something for them after the upcoming MCD elections.

The G.B. Pant Engineering College is located in a building meant originally to be used as hostel by the adjacent G.B. Pant Polytechnic.

It was started from that building in 2007 by the then Delhi Government, which also promised further 60 acres of land for its development.

It is currently situated in a land space of 2.8 acres.
Ghaziabad, April 15 : A criminal who had snatched a laptop was apprehended after a short exchange of fire on Friday, police said.

The gunfight took place at 10.30 p.m. in Vaishali colony under Indirapuram police station and ensued after the police control room received a call from Satish, who reported that as he was walking home from the Vaishali metro station, two criminals snatched his bag containing a laptop and other office material and fled on a motorcycle.

Acting swiftly, the Indirapuram police chased the criminals who were on a motorcycle without a number plate. Police asked them to stop but the criminals instead opened fire at them.

Police then retaliated the firing and nabbed one of them near the Hindon canal as he was hit on the leg. The other succeeded in escaping.

The injured criminal was taken to hospital where his condition was said to be out of danger. During questioning, he revealed his name as Chand Mohammad, a resident of Islam Nagar, and identified the other criminal as Shahrukh.

Police recovered the bag of the victim and a home-made pistol from Mohammad's possession.

Superintendent of Police, City, Salman Taj Patil said police are trying to ascertain if the two were part of a gang while attempts are being made to arrest the criminal who had fled.
Tehran, April 15 : Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Friday registered to run for a second four-year term in the upcoming presidential election in the country.

At the Interior Ministry's headquarters in Tehran, Rouhani said he had fulfilled the promises he made to the Iranian people during the election campaign four years ago, EFE news cited statements published by official media outlets.

In a new attempt to convince undecided voters and citizens disappointed with his policies, the Iranian President stressed that his government's economic performance was better than his predecessors' in recent years.

He also alluded to the nuclear agreement signed in July 2015 between Iran and six major powers, whose protection, in his view, is one of "the most important economic and political issues" facing the nation.

"Those who made incessant efforts on the nuclear pact should tread the path up to the end," he said in remarks to the press after registering as a candidate.

Rouhani said maintaining national security was one of his government's most important goals and stressed that "the ominous shadow of the war (over the country) has disappeared".

Rouhani, who won the 2013 presidential elections in the first round with 50.8 per cent of the vote, is the candidate of the reformist bloc, although he defines himself as moderate.

His main rival in the May 19 elections is expected to be the conservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi, who aligns with the views of the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and is the custodian of Iran's holiest shrine.

Another potentially strong candidate for the presidency is former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The registration process, which opened on April 11, is set to conclude on Saturday.

The country's Guardian Council -- the highest political body in the country, which is overseen by Khamenei -- then has 10 days to approve the candidates.
The detail in their sculptures and statues is non-replicable

In recent months, Big Statues has gained recognition as they have been commissioned to undergo large scale projects ranging from world famous zoo's to big name Hollywood celebrities. Although the Utah based company thrives off of these big projects, they also take part in creating much smaller statues. Even though the size of the statue may diminish, the companies that are requesting these custom bronze sculptures from Big Statues are not small by any means.

Big Statues was commissioned earlier this year to create custom awards for the CEO of Mercedes Benz in South Carolina, The Arts 4 Peace Awards in Hollywood, California, and they are now in the process of creating the teacher of the year awards for the Granite School District in Utah. After being interviewed about the process of selecting Big Statues to create the awards for the school district, the Granite Education Foundation stated that "the work of Big Statues certainly shows a giftedness at art. The detail in their sculptures and statues is non-replicable." When dealing with the feat of creating precise awards for a purpose, it is a much bigger project than it appears to be.

Each teacher award symbolizes an achievement. Typically, it's an achievement that has been obtained through blood, sweat and tears against all odds, and against the ruthless competition of others. The award represents the pinnacle of their success and must portray a great landmark. This is done with extreme detail, creative character and design, and backed by a culture that believes in bringing peoples visions to life.
PR News will hold its annual Measurement Conference, which includes the Social Media Boot Camp on April 20-21 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where attendees will learn the newest best practices in measuring social media engagement and tying PR to the bottom line. The full-day boot camp on social media is designed for PR, marketing and social media professionals and will focus on the ins and outs of the top social platforms and what it takes to succeed in this multimedia digital space. Never-too-Late Rates end today, April 14, and government/nonprofit rates are available.

More Information

At the PR News Measurement Conference, youll hear from thought leaders at the Philadelphia Eagles, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Porter Novelli, Amtrak and Paine Publishing as they walk attendees through the steps of creating a measurement dashboard all the way through to tying PR metrics to sales figures.

Sessions for the PR News Measurement Conference, which includes the Social Media Boot Camp include:



Measurement Dashboards That Communicate PR's Business Value

How to Buy Smart on Facebookand Reach Your Audience Organically When Buying Isnt an Option

How to Measure Media Coverage and Tie It to Organizational Goals

Case Studies: What Success on Twitter Really Looks Like

How to Choose Between Snapchat and Instagram Stories

Case Study: PR Measurement at Work in the Real World

Measuring Social: How to Measure Your Impact Across Social Media Platforms

Presented by PR News, the industry's most trusted PR and marketing brand, these events will fill up quickly so register today.

Sponsors: BurrellesLuce, LexisNexis, Mediametric and Trendkite

To become a sponsor, contact Jonathan Politte at jpolitte(at)accessintel(dot)com. For questions regarding registration, contact Laura Snitkovskiy at lsnitkovskiy(at)accessintel(dot)com.

About PR News:

The PR News Group at Access Intelligence, LLC is a go-to source that serves the communications and marketing community at corporations, agencies and nonprofits. The PR News group focuses on honing and growing PR practitioners skills in social media, crisis management, digital PR, measurement, employee relations, media training, CSR and writing through its flagship newsletter, webinars, conferences, awards programs, workshops and guidebooks. With the launch of its weekly newsletter over 70 years ago, PR News has remained dedicated to supporting the growth of communicators all while keeping them abreast of the latest news affecting the industry. For more information, please visit http://www.prnewsonline.com.

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La Caja China Model #2 We wanted to create an unorthodox, disruptive video for La Caja China that will enter-gage, entertain and engage, their ideal customers.

In 1985, Roberto Guerra had an epiphany during a family BBQ. After years of frustration with traditional BBQ grills, Roberto decided to recreate the wooden box his father talked about using when he was a child. La Caja China was born a few years later and instantly became a hit. Celebrity chef Bobby Flay and TV icon Martha Stewart are among the many to praise La Caja China's superior quality.

Roberto saw the company was growing and needed some help cutting through the marketing noise to further expand. Roberto decided to contact Jaime Paredes with 30 Leads 30 Days to help spread the word. We wanted to create an unorthodox, disruptive video for La Caja China that will enter-gage, entertain and engage, their ideal customers, said Jaime.

The video, which runs like a personalized two-minute trailer for La Caja China, was created in both English and Spanish to reach a broader audience. As part of a new campaign, the video will help La Caja China attract more customers to their signature roasting boxes and increase sales. Featuring Roberto himself, he is able to walk viewers through a journey showing the origins of La Caja China and how versatile it is. The video also allows Roberto to have a little fun with a goofy scene or two and a chance to knock out the competition.

The video is created using STORYselling Video Broadcast System, which 30 Leads 30 Days uses to create a video that isn't your typical corporate video, but a video designed to draw the viewer in and hook them with an engaging and relatable story. This allows the viewer to connect to the video and be more likely to share and engage with the video.

Roberto is excited to see what the new campaign will do for La Caja China. We've been working with Jaime for nearly 5 years. He has provided outstanding service in all areas of my eCommerce business, always innovating, helping us increase visibility and ultimately sales year after year!

La Caja China has offered free shipping as part of this campaign with the coupon code BIGSURPRISE2017. Fans can also watch out for more cool discounts through the company's social media channels.

30 Leads 30 Days is a digital marketing agency based in Miami, Florida. You can find out more information and schedule a free discovery call or visit their Facebook page for updates.
"Everybody Wants To Live!"

Alsamarol 2057 has a sound they describe as raw street music. It is the blending of Jazz, R&B, Blues, Soul, Funk, Gospel, and a strong Latin and African influence. As they say, music from our hearts to your hearts.

War, famine, and poverty are all around the world today. The band believes everyone just wants to live a life of quality. All people of all countries are all brothers and sisters of humanity. These facts inspired the band to write the title song, Everybody Wants To Live. Forty years from now in the year 2057, will humanity still be here? The band believes that humanity will survive past 2057 only if we recognize the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect. Therefore, 2057 is used as part of the band's name.

The group was founded in New Jersey by guitarist Allen Burnett. He has a blues and jazz background. Alto saxophonist Samuel Clark (played with Allen Burnett in another band 16 years ago) has a jazz, blues, and pop music background. Keyboard player and vocalist Eva Marie Harris has a classical, soul, and blues music background. Keyboard player, writer-arranger and vocalist Robert Turner has an R&B and soul background. Drummer and vocalist Sabrina Jones has an R&B, funk, soul and gospel background.

These various musical styles, by the principal musicians, complement each other to produce the raw street music of Alsamarol 2057. Samuel Clark said, We are friends and like each other. It's easy to create good music in an environment of friendship and respect.

You can get more information by visiting their website at: http://www.alsamarol2057.com
We wanted to give our students and their families the chance to learn about the transition to college life from experts in the field.

On March 30, 2017, the College Advising Department at Lexington Christian Academy (Lexington, MA) hosted College Life Night 2017, an exclusive, interactive learning experience for the Classes of 2017 and 2018 and their families. Featuring an accomplished panel of presenters from Northeastern University and the Westwood Police Department, the event covered a range of challenging issues common to college-bound students and their families including financing education, the emotional impact of going to college, health and wellness, and safety and the law.

As Rob Scaro, LCAs Director of College Advising, noted, College Life Night highlighted the importance of knowledge. We wanted to give our students and their families the chance to learn about the transition to college life from experts in the field. We wanted to get them thinking in a meaningful way about the amazing possibilities and the potential pitfalls that are out there as they enter the next phase of their lives.

With this in mind, each presentation tackled difficult topics. The discussion on financing education focused specifically on bridging the gap between financial aid awards and the actual cost to attend college, while the presentation on the emotional impact of going to college addressed the stress faced by both students and parents.

Similarly, the discussion of health and wellness examined mental health, anxiety, coping mechanisms and strategies for building resiliency, while the presentation on safety and the law addressed drug and alcohol abuse, harassment, consent, social media and the right to privacy.

According to LCA Senior Peter Walsh the event was a big success. College Life Night was great. It covered a lot of topics we dont really get to talk about very much in school. The segment on safety & the law, in particular, was incredible! I learned so much from it.

LCA Junior Garrett Traer agreed. The experience was a great preview of whats to come for us. I got answers to questions about college life that I didnt even know I had.

LCA parent Carolyn Stevens was impressed with both the material covered in the event and the response of LCAs students to it. I thought there was a lot of good information communicatedthe kids were really listening and engaged!

As James Talkington, Head of the Upper School at LCA, observed, it was the combination of content and audience engagement that made College Life Night so special. College Life Night was a wonderful event. It served our students and their families in the best way possibleby informing and challenging them.

Lexington Christian Academy is an independent college preparatory school that exists to educate young men and women in the arts and sciences in the context of a complete commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In a series of recent hearings and testimonies taking place in Sacramento, community advocates, professionals and medical experts are asking elected officials to restore services for disabled children and families. The suspended services include educational, therapy and respite programs for children with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Last week, Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) introduced Assembly Bill 1610 (http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB1610), co-sponsored by Special Needs Network and Public Counsel, which would reinstate funding for these developmental services. Backers say it will address severe racial disparities that exist within the states Department of Developmental Services (DDS).

This is a wraparound proposal to improve the delivery system for some of Californias most vulnerable  those we made a promise to with the Lanterman Act, stated Ridley-Thomas.

Ridley-Thomas said his bill would repeal statutes enacted in 2009 which suspended certain services such as non-medical therapies, and restore respite services to families served in the Early Intervention Services program.

AB 1610 will improve access to services for consumers and their families by requiring regional centers to provide information in a culturally and linguistically competent manner. Currently, access to developmental services through our regional center system is governed by complex legal rules, administrative procedures, and lack of clear pathways for those for whom English may be a second language or a non-native language, explained Ridley-Thomas. This bill is a step in the right direction for a number of reasons.

In California, some 320,000 people are served by the states developmental disabilities service system through a network of 21 nonprofit regional centers that are tasked with evaluating the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and coordinating services. For many parents with children on the autism spectrum, the regional centers are the only avenue for treatment.

It is beyond time for us to address all racial disparities in our state, stated Ridley-Thomas. While we cant solve all of the issues in one fell swoop, Californians can champion fairness and equity for our most vulnerable children.

Areva Martin, president of Special Needs Network, reminded Assemblymembers that suspension of these services was to be temporary. The restrictions were to be lifted once DDS developed and implemented budgetary improvements. Martin noted that DDS abandoned its efforts years ago and the services remain indefinitely restricted without any way to reinstate them, unless the state changes the law.

The bill would also establish a task force to create a budget and allocation methodology for purchases of services based on need. In 2012, the former DDS director, Terri Delgadillo, testified at a similar informational hearing that such a funding formula would be blind to ethnicity and a starting point in addressing the issues of disparities.

There is no reason in a district like mine which is served by three regional centers that I have disparate outcomes for families simply by zip code, income status or the color of their skin, said Ridley-Thomas. That is unacceptable.

Martin noted the $400 million infusion into the developmental services system  funding that is to be appropriated annually. The first allocation was appropriated to DDS last July, yet little is known publicly about any expenditures and oversight measures DDS has planned for these funds, creating concerns among advocates about the lack of transparency. Martin suggested that the state reconsider the allocation of these funds in order to restore the suspended and restricted services.

Assemblyman Tony Thurmond reminded the group that he played a key role in getting this funding to the developmental services system and expressed his commitment to making sure California gets things right.

A report (http://shum.senate.ca.gov/sites/shum.senate.ca.gov/files/03-14-2017_heraing_background_paper_final.pdf) from the Senate Human Services Committee confirmed that minority families utilize DDS services, such as social and recreational programs, at higher rates than white families (pg. 11).

Minority families tend to keep their developmentally disabled at home, requiring a greater use of community-based services, where white families are more often to place their loved ones in expensive out-of-home placements that include the community services, said Martin.

BJ Freeman, PhD, an emeritus professor at UCLA School of Medicine who has worked with children with autism-spectrum disorders for more than 40 years, also testified during the April 4 hearing. She informed the committee that research indicates there is a longer wait for minority families to receive services. She went on to remind officials, the earlier we start intervention for children with autism, the better.

It is clear there is a need for funding to allow families to access services earlier, reiterated Dr. Freeman. Bill 1610 addresses some of the huge disparities that exist for families and children of color.

Dr. Freeman shared with the committee that oftentimes she has been criticized for requesting too much. Her response, When my families in South and East LA get the same treatment as my families in West LA, Ill shut up.

According to testimony during an oversight hearing on March 14, DDS has failed to reduce disparities in resources and services allocated to minority children with autism and other developmental disabilities despite five years of recommendations and reforms from legislators and advocates.

During the Senate Human Services Committee oversight hearing, attendees were informed that minority children continue to receive less funding and support than white children suffering from the same disorders. Prior recommendations for DDS came from a 2012 task force, formed by former State Senate leader Darrell Steinberg, and many have yet to be implemented.

Several proposals, including some made by the 2012 task force, were submitted to the Senate Human Services Committee in a joint written report from Special Needs Network and Public Counsel. Both agencies requested that the state take seriously the pervasive disparities.

During the March 14 oversight hearing (http://senate.ca.gov/media/senate-human-services-committee-20170314/video), Martin described DDSs funding practices as rewarding the wealthiest families with a plethora of valuable services, while providing the least amount of help to Californias poor families. The families we serve suffer from a state-funded program that consistently spends less on their children than white kids in more affluent parts of the state.

The glaring services gap first came to light in 2012, after a LA Times investigation (http://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/01/local/la-me-0501-autism-hearing-20120501) revealed that for autistic children ages 3 to 6a critical period for treating the disorderDDS spent an average of $11,723 on Caucasian children in 2010, compared with $11,063 on Asians, $7,634 on Latinos and $6,593 on African American children.

With statistics showing the disparity virtually unchanged from 2012, many at the March 14 hearing were outraged by DDSs slowness in addressing the problem.

A California parent whose son has autism, testified that despite his multiple attempts to access services, he waited a year and a half for services. Early intervention is critical for children with autism and other disabilities. Every day you wait for services puts your child another day behind.

Special Needs Network has created an online petition in support of AB 1610 (https://www.change.org/p/assembly-california-equal-the-playing-field-for-regional-center-services-support-ab-1610).

ABOUT SPECIAL NEEDS NETWORK INC.

Special Needs Network is based in Los Angeles and is Californias leading grassroots autism advocacy organization. SNN was established to help individuals and families faced with autism and other developmental disabilities. The organization focuses on raising public awareness, impacting public policy, increasing education and access to resources for families, children and adults. Since its inception, SNN has served more than 35,000 individuals and families impacted by autism. To learn more, visit specialneedsnetwork.org

ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL

Public Counsel is the largest pro bono law firm in the nation. Public Counsel works with major law firms and corporations to change people's futures. The firm is made up of 71 attorneys and 50 support staff - including five social workers. Staffalong with more than 5,000 volunteer lawyers, law students and legal professionalsassist more than 30,000 children, youth, families, and community organizations every year. To learn more, visit publiccounsel.org.
Bill and Kathleen, Owners of American Vision Windows American Vision Windows is committed to Revolutionizing the home improvement industry one customer at a time, while changing the lives of our employees for the better.

Better Business Bureau serving Central, Northern, and Western Arizona (BBB) names American Vision Windows one of 15 Arizona companies selected as finalists for the 2017 Torch Awards for Ethics. Five of the 15 companies will be named winners in their category during the awards dinner and ceremony Wednesday, April 12 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.

One of the Category V finalists, American Vision Windows, began in California but has already earned an excellent, ethical reputation at their Arizona locationan A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau for customer service. The window replacement company began when the owners, Bill and Kathleen, hired a contractor to install windows in their own home. Their experience was miserable: the contractor installed flimsy windows other than the ones he had advertised, took much longer than advertised, then quickly shut the business down and was impossible to contact.

After their own completely unethical experience, Bill and Kathleen are now devoted to providing honest, professional, and morally upstanding services to the families that they work withand now thanks their team for continuing to provide upstanding service.

American Vision Windows has been in business for over fifteen years, and has continued to uphold their goal of transforming the home improvement industry, and the lives of their employees, through ethical business practices. The American Vision Windows team members are known for their professionalism, excellent training, and friendlinesswhich are major factors in their eligibility for the 2017 Torch Award for Ethics.

The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics were established in 2002 to recognize outstanding businesses that maintain a solid commitment to ethics and trust in the marketplace.

Companies are selected by an independent panel of volunteer community leaders based on criteria established by the Council of Better Business Bureaus International Torch Award.

All finalists were first nominated and after meeting minimum criteria, proceeded to complete an evaluation where they had to demonstrate their commitment to ethics in five categories:

1. Leaderships Commitment to Ethics

2. Communication of Ethical Practices

3. Organizational Commitment to Ethical Practices

4. Organizational Commitment to Performance Management Practices

5. Organizational Commitment to the Community

Known for upholding high ethical standards, this years finalists join over 200 local businesses part of BBBs community of trustworthy businesses, said Dory Gosar, BBB Foundation Director. Doing the right thing is not always easy and these companies have demonstrated a commitment to ethical practices even in the most difficult times.

View a complete list of this years BBB Torch Awards for Ethics Finalists at

torchawards.arizonabbb.org.

About American Vision Windows

American Vision Windows is a window installation and replacement company serving California and Arizona. It began over fifteen years ago, and was founded by Bill and Kathleen after their own unpleasant window replacement experience. Now, American Vision Windows is committed to Revolutionizing the home improvement industry one customer at a time, while changing the lives of our employees for the better. Visit us on Facebook.

About Better Business Bureau

Serving Central, Northern & Western Arizona

For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau (BBB) has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2015, people turned to BBB more than 172 million times for BBB Business Reviews on more than 5.3 million businesses and 11,000 charities, all available free at bbb.org. Incorporated locally in 1938, BBB serving Central, Northern and Western Arizona serves 10 counties through its campuses in Phoenix, Lake Havasu City, Prescott and Yuma, supported by over 11,500 BBB Accredited Businesses. Businesses that earn BBB Accreditation contractually agree and adhere to high standards of ethical business practices. BBB provides objective advice, free business and charity profiles, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust.
Patricia A. Husic, President & CEO of Centric Bank, joined a group of community bank CEOs from across the country to meet senior U.S. Treasury officials and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. I was honored to be one of a handful of community bank CEOs who took this message to the Treasury to share our recommendations regarding challenges with outdated federal regulations and their effect on access to financing for small business. Past News Releases RSS Centric Bank Recognized as a Top...

Centric Bank Market Leader Michele...

Centric Financial Corporation...

Patricia A. (Patti) Husic, President & CEO of Centric Bank and Centric Financial Corporation, headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, joined a group of community bank CEOs from across the country to meet senior U.S. Treasury officials to explore onerous and burdensome regulations that are hindering economic growth and making it difficult for banks to serve their customers and communities.

During the meeting with Treasury officials and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Husic and her colleagues discussed a range of topics including the importance of the community bank business model, ensuring regulation is tailored to institutions unique characteristics, mortgage reform, lending to small and medium-size businesses, access to capital for community banks, and other key issues.

Our core business at Centric Bank, and at many community banks across the United States, is lending to the small business owner. I was honored to be one of a handful of community bank CEOs who took this message to the Treasury to share our recommendations and first-hand experiences regarding challenges with outdated federal regulations and their effect on access to financing for small business and for many other important areas, says Husic.

Community banks play a vital role in impacting and driving our nations economic growth. They provide 43 percent of all small business loans, while small and medium-size businesses are responsible for creating 64 percent of net new jobs in our countryboth very powerful statistics on the impact of community banks and small businesses to our economy. I was also pleased to share the important role the SBA Program plays for the small business customer, the entrepreneurs, and the job creators in our communities. Community banks are the lifeblood to small business. The conversation of how we can reach a balance between growth and regulation was a very positive one. As community bankers, we never lose the focus or the importance of safety and soundness in our institutions. We were able to offer the Treasury officials a valuable perspective on common-sense regulatory changes that would allow Centric Bank, and other community banks, to better serve their customers and communities, says Husic.

I left the conversation feeling very optimistic. It was a positive meeting, and I am confident our concerns were heard and will be considered in shaping and reforming banking regulation for the future, added Husic.

This gathering comes less than a month after several community bank leaders met with President Trump and his economic leaders at the White House to discuss regulatory challenges faced by community banks. The Treasury meeting was pursuant to an executive order from President Trump for the Treasury Secretary to review financial supervision and rules.

Husic currently serves on the American Bankers Associations (ABA) Board of Directors. She was joined by other ABA bank CEO members from ABAs Board of Directors and banker committees, as well as CEOs from the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA).

ABOUT CENTRIC BANK AND CENTRIC FINANCIAL CORPORATION

A three-time Best Places to Work and Top 50 Fastest-Growing Companies for four years, Centric Bank is headquartered in south central Pennsylvania with assets of $510 million and remains the leader in organic loan growth in central Pennsylvania. A locally owned, locally loaned community bank, Centric Bank provides highly competitive and pro-growth financial services to businesses, professionals, individuals, families, and the health care and agricultural industries. With a Five-Star Bauer Financial Rating, Centric Bank, named a Top 100 SBA 7(a) Lender in the United States in 2016, also ranked #1 in approved SBA 7(a) loans in the Eastern District as of December 31, 2016. The bank is a Top 20 Lender for SBA 7(a) Loans in the Philadelphia Region.

Founded in 2007, Pennsylvania-based Centric Bank has financial centers located in Harrisburg, Hershey, Mechanicsburg, and Camp Hill, and loan production offices in Lancaster and suburban Philadelphia. To learn more about Centric Bank, call 717.657.7727 or visit CentricBank.com. Connect with them on Twitter at @CentricBank and Facebook at Centric Bank.

Centric Financial Corporation is traded over the counter (OTC-Pink) with the ticker symbol CFCX.

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CiderCon is the premier annual opportunity for the cider community to gather, share ideas, collaborate and learn.

The United States Association of Cider Makers (USACM) today announced that its eighth annual CiderCon conference will take place January 31  February 2, 2018 at the Waterfront Marriott in Baltimore, Maryland. CiderCon is the premier annual opportunity for the cider community to gather, share ideas, collaborate and learn.

Were really excited about being on the East Coast for the first time, says Michelle McGrath, the executive director of USACM. There is a lot of cider within driving distance to Baltimore. New York state has over 80 makers alone!

Baltimore is a great city. Mayor Catherine Pugh has been extremely supportive of us coming to town, and invites CiderCon attendees to explore Baltimores blossoming urban food culture. Zagat ranked Baltimore Number 2 on its List of Hottest Food Cities in 2015, says Ellen Husch, event manager for CiderCon. Its hard to beat the Marriotts waterfront locationright next to the beautiful National Aquarium, she added.

CiderCon continues to grow and evolve. The conference saw tremendous growth in attendance in 2015, and in 2017, the trade show more than doubled its vendors.

Plans for the Conference

Here are some highlights of whats being planned for attendees of CiderCon 2018:



Industry Research: USACM has entered into a partnership with Nielsen, the global performance management company that provides research into what consumers watch and buy, to collect cider marketing data as a benefit to USACM members. Nielsens presentation at CiderCon 2017 created a buzz in the industry because its data showed continued strong growth among craft/local cider companies not attached to larger beer companies. The data had previously been lumped together, and some media had reported it as a cider slowdown. In fact, the opposite was true for 2016. Nielsen will present an update and deliver a white-paper on Cider Trends as a featured speaker at CiderCon 2018.

Industry Outreach. Taking advantage of Baltimores proximity to Washington DC, USACM is currently planning a "Cider Round Table" with USACM members and members of Congress.

Cider and Food Tastings. Each year at CiderCon, USACM invites a select few cider makers from a different country to share their traditions and cider with CiderCon attendees. Cider makers from France were the guests of honor at CiderCon 2017. USACM plans to invite cider makers from New Zealand to join them in Baltimore for CiderCon 2018. USACM is also planning to incorporate Marylands seafood culture into one of CiderCons tasting events.

Registration for CiderCon 2018 will open in the first week of October. Between now and then, further details about CiderCon 2018 will be shared with everyone who joins the CiderCon mailing list available at bit.ly/2nWNyRG.

About USACM

The United States Association of Cider Makers (USACM) is an organization of cider and perry producers in the United States. It gathers and shares information about cider production, regulations and cider apply growing to help members improve their operations, raise awareness and advance cider in the market. The organization was founded in February, 2013 at CiderCon, the third annual gathering of Cider Makers from across the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.ciderassociation.org/.
Dr. Matteo Clementoni Speaks to a full room during AMWC Symposium

Lutronic, a leading innovator of aesthetic laser and energy-based technology, announced today the successful events during two major international shows featuring the latest emerging Lutronic aesthetic technology in the booth and symposiums at Aesthetic & Anti-aging Medicine World Congress (AMWC) annual, Monaco, and at the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS), United States. As we achieve our 20th year in business we are very excited about the turn out for our multi-venue events, said Haelyung Hwang, CEO Lutronic, These educational symposiums are the cornerstone for presenting our new technology, and the high attendance is a direct symbol of our continued expansion in the US and European regions.

In Monaco, to a standing room only crowd, our global panel discussed the latest clinical findings; Eric Sarfati, MD, France, R. Glen Calderhead, Phd., Korea, and Matteo T. Clementoni, MD, Italy. Dr. Sarfati shared his latest clinical findings using the easy to use enCurve* for non-touch circumferential reduction; this non-invasive device allows the user to maximize outcomes for outstanding results. He shared the latest clinical findings that demonstrate impressive reductions to the abdomen and flanks. While Dr. Calderhead discussed how the advanced Picoplus* provides the user power and versatility for advanced treatments and mastery over difficult cases, showing how the combination of pulse, power, and wavelengths are critical for treating larger range of difficult cases. Finally Dr. Clementoni provided updates on Infini, a High Intensity Focused RF device for skin tightening and laxity, discussing his latest cases and results using this industry-leading device.

While half a world away, in San Diego California, USA, another renowned panel from the US which included Gilly Munavalli, MD, Melanie Palm, MD, and Jason Pozner, MD, who discussed their latest clinical experience to another packed room. Dr. Palm discussed Spectras advanced applications including some difficult to treat cases of melasma, PIH and more. Sharing the latest clinical findings using Infini gen 1.2 was Dr. Pozner who discussed some of the pioneer treatments and their results. Lastly, Dr. Munavalli discussed Claritys ease in treating multiple applications and announced LaseMD, the newest edition to the US family, an advanced thulium non-ablative lasers recently submitted for clearance to the US FDA.

Both shows featured booths at their respective events that received a steady stream of visitors interested in learning about these and other Lutronic devices. In addition during AMWC, key opinion leaders shared their candid experience during one-on-one filmed interviews, which will be released next month.

The increased attendance and attention at these two critical global aesthetic events shows Lutronics continued growth in Europe and the US that are two key markets, and is a direct result to their ongoing commitment to the clinical efficacy of all their devices.

About PICOPLUS*

The Picoplus platform offers both pico- and nanosecond modes with the performance of four wavelengths (1064, 532, 595 and 660 nm) to provide you with more options than ever before to address everything from standard treatments, to those hard to treat cases resistant to other Nd:YAG approaches. This CE marked device delivers the customized power, pulse-width, wavelength and fluence you need for the outstanding outcomes your patients want, all from one premium platform.

About enCurve*

EnCurve utilizes a specialized frequency (27.12 MHz) to selectively target and heat adipocytes in order to cause denaturation of cells, leading to the programmed death of the targeted adipocytes. This CE marked device has smart features such as, Personalized Impedance Synchronization Application (PISA) and Air Mode, enCurve is the easy and comfortable way to reduce adipocytes through apoptosis-inducing radiofrequency.

About LASEMD

Lasemd is a winning combination of technology and science to provide fast and safe treatments. This cutting edge, design forward, non-ablative thulium laser combines best in class performance that looks as good as it performs. Pending FDA clearance, this CE marked device is already making waves across Europe and Asia as a top performing system for skin rejuvenation and pigment. Its variety of complimentary and specially developed highly pure ampoules ensure that treatments are maximized.

About INFINI gen 1.2

Infinis proven design delivers improved wrinkle reduction through High Intensity Focused RF which provides 3-dimensional energy delivery to volumize tissue and deliver improved outcomes. Now with greater energy homogenization delivered via insulated gold-coated microneedles Infini creates precise and controllable fractionated coagulation zones within a specific layer of dermis. This FDA cleared and CE marked device has adjustable depth control allows for customized and reproducible treatments of delicate areas and is safe on all skin types.

About CLARITY

Clarity is one of the most versatile dual-wavelength platforms on the market, with multiple indications for top aesthetic laser physicians worldwide. This FDA cleared and CE marked device boasts two workhorse wavelengths, 755 nm Alexandrite and long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG, in one easy-to-use device, physicians may gently remove pigmented lesions, unwanted hair and ameliorate the appearance of vascular lesions.

About LUTRONIC

Lutronic, a leading innovator in advanced aesthetic and medical laser and related technology, was established over 20 years ago to bring intuitive, robust, versatile devices that are affordable and efficacious to the worldwide medical community. Committed to improving medicine, Lutronic partners with key opinion leaders to advance science and ensure the efficacy of its systems. All systems are versatile and offer multiple setting and treatment options for customized treatments, which optimize outcomes for a wide variety of conditions and treatments including melasma, tattoo removal, soft tissue incision, vascular lesions, hair removal, wrinkle reduction, rejuvenation, body/face contouring, chronic pain, healing and more.

With a focus on physician needs and patient outcomes, Lutronic dedicates time and funding toward the development of devices that offer features and improvements not found in todays market. Devoting more than 20% of revenues to R&D, Lutronic holds more than 200 current and pending patents worldwide. With more than 270 employees worldwide, Lutronic has offices in the US, Korea, China, and Japan, a world-wide network of distributors, focused R&D centers in Korea, and is ever expanding.

*Picoplus and enCurve do not have FDA clearance and are not available for sale in the United States.
"Chapter Five," the new big-band album by the Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington Bicoastal Collective. We wanted to record an album featuring all the people who we really trusted with the music. A lot of them are our best friends, people we've worked with in the past or some we went to school with.

Since joining forces in 2008 as the Bicoastal Collective, trumpeter Paul Tynan and baritone saxophonist Aaron Lington have recorded a series of outstanding albums ranging in instrumentation from tentet to quintet to sextet to a quintet featuring a Hammond B-3 organist. "Chapter Five," their fifth album and the first with a full 18-piece big band, adds a sumptuous new volume to the duos already impressive discography. The new CD will be released May 19 by OA2 Records.

As on its predecessors, Tynan and Lington shared writing and arranging credits; each contributed four compositions to the new recording.Our goal with every project has been to do all-original music, always with a different ensemble, Lington explains. Its always been our dream to do a big-band record, and we were finally able to make this happen. The result is a highly original take on the trumpet-baritone frontline tradition pioneered by jazz masters who inspired them, such as Thad JonesPepper Adams and Chet BakerGerry Mulligan.

Despite living on opposite sides of North Americahence the name Bicoastal CollectiveTynan and Lington have remained friends over the decades since meeting at University of North Texas, where both began work on their masters degrees in 1998 and both played in the schools One OClock Lab Band a year apart. (Tynan now lives in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where hes a Professor at St. Francis Xavier University, while Lington is Coordinator of Jazz Studies at San Jose State University in California.) They started recording together when both were in San Jose in 2008 and, on Lingtons recommendation, Tynan spent a sabbatical year teaching at San Jose State and Chabot College and playing around Northern California with the likes of Poncho Sanchez, Keely Smith, and, of course, Lington.

Arranging for the session to take place at the mid-continental point of Dallas (also close to their alma mater in Denton), Tynan and Lington recorded "Chapter Five" over two days in July 2016 with 16 handpicked players. We wanted to record an album featuring all the people who we really trusted with the music, says Tynan. A lot of them are our best friends, people weve worked with in the past or some we went to school with.

The music on "Chapter Five" ranges from Two Views, an extremely swinging Lington composition that finds Tynan and drummer Stockton Helbing in an inspired musical dialogue over the bands aggressive ensemble work, to I Remember Every Day, which features solos by Lington and guitarist Noel Johnston and was inspired by a hypnotic groove by drummer Omar Hakim.

Tynan penned Charting Stars, which features his warm solos on flugelhorn, as a showcase for David Lowns soulful tenor saxophone. Tynans ballad Karmas Song spotlights Lingtons rich, at times biting baritone saxophone solo over the lovely ensemble arrangement.

Paul Tynan was born in 1975 in Fort Erie, Ontario. The family moved to Houston when he was 5 and to Buffalo when he was 13. He took up the trumpet in the sixth grade. At the Crane School of Music/SUNY in Potsdam, New York, he studied with trombonist and composer Bret Zvacek and heard some of the universitys jazz groups. He didnt begin playing jazz, however, until he met trumpeter Tim Hagans during a trip to Sweden.

Aaron Lington was born in1974 in Houston and raised in nearby Highlands, Texas, where he played piano, violin, and guitar before taking up alto and baritone saxophones in high school. While doing his undergraduate work at the University of Houston, he did a number of short tours with rock n roll legend Bo Diddley, with whom he played tenor sax.

After earning his masters in 2001, Tynan began working at St. Francis Xavier University, where he presently teaches jazz trumpet, jazz history, and arranging. His arrangements, many of which have been recorded by college jazz bands, are available from Maxwell Tree Music, Eighth Note Publications, UNC Jazz Press, and Walrus Music Publishing.

After receiving his doctorate from North Texas in 2004, Lington accepted his current position at San Jose State University. His charts have been performed by the Maynard Fergusons Big Bop Nouveau and the Count Basie Orchestra, as well as by the Pacific Mambo Orchestra, in which he plays. Four of the numbers on the 19-member mambo orchestras 2014 Grammy Award-winning debut album were arranged by Lington.

Tynan feels "Chapter Five" is the finest recorded example to date of the unique trumpet-and-baritone sax style he and Lington have created. Now that theyve recorded their dream big-band album, the two are already talking about the Bicoastal Collectives next chapter: a trumpet-baritone-bass-and-drums set with no pianist using the same instrumentation Mulligans famous piano-less quartet but in their own distinctive style. "Chapter Six" and counting.
Julia Gonzalez with Apollo, left, and Casper.

Pet Wants San Antonio on Broadway, a new local pet food and supply shop in downtown San Antonio, is hosting a grand opening party Saturday, April 22, from 9am to 4pm. The party will be at their new location at 5005 Broadway near Central Market.

The Pet Wants San Antonio on Broadway Paw-Changa! will include DOGA (Dog YOGA) with Mindful Warrior Yoga from 9am to 10am and an adoption event from noon to 4pm with Cibolo Rescue, In Dogs We Trust, and Service Dogs Express. There will also be an all-day Fiesta Pet Costume Contest. Pet Wants San Antonio on Broadway is locally owned and operated by Julia Gonzalez and Oscar Zuleta.

We are so excited to be launching Pet Wants of San Antonio on Broadway, which is why we decided to throw a party for our grand opening. This is such a pet-friendly city and we know people are going to love having easy access to our fresh, high-quality pet food and great products, Gonzalez said

Pet Wants carefully developed proprietary pet food is slow-cooked in small batches with fresh, high-quality ingredients once per month, so every kibble is guaranteed to be fresh and packed with nutrition. In addition to the multiple formulas of dog and cat food available, Pet Wants San Antonio on Broadway offers healing salve, calming balm, anti-itch spray, paw wax and much more. All Pet Wants products are available at the store and through free, personal delivery throughout San Antonio and the surrounding communities.

The journey to opening Pet Wants all started when Gonzalez moved downtown three years ago with her two miniature schnauzers.

My dogs had been raised in the suburbs and it was a big change when we moved downtown. It was a great turning point for them  San Antonio is so pet friendly and they really learned to be social dogs with Riverwalk walks, doggy parks and pet-friendly restaurants, Gonzalez said. It seems like most downtown urban dwellers have pets instead of kids, but theres no local pet supply store downtown. I started doing some research and, when I found Pet Wants, I knew it would be a perfect fit for this community.

Her older schnauzer passed away, so now Gonzales and Zuleta have their younger schnauzer, Casper, and a one-year-old boxer/pitbull mix named Apollo, who Casper picked out from a local rescue.

In addition to being made fresh monthly, Pet Wants only sources the best salmon, chicken, lamb, brown rice and other ingredients available. Theres no sugar added, no fillers and no animal by-products and Pet Wants never uses corn, wheat, soy or dyes, which makes the food great for animals with allergies.

We believe in Pet Wants  weve seen pets pick around other top-brand foods to get to the Pet Wants kibble  and we know our food can help pets live longer, healthier lives, Gonzalez said.

Pet Wants originally launched in Cincinnati in 2010. Owned by Michele Hobbs, the business was built to provide proprietary crafted, fresh, slow-cooked, high-quality pet food delivered to customers through a retail store and a convenient home-delivery service. Hobbs, now the company founder, turned the business into a franchise in 2015 with the help of Franchise Funding Group, an investment and franchise-development company designed to help entrepreneurs scale their companies nationally as franchise systems.

To learn more about Pet Wants or to get a free pet food sample, stop by the store at 5005 Broadway, call (210)769-6994, email JGonzalez(at)PetWants(dot)com or visit http://petwantssanantonio.com/.

About Pet Wants: Pet Wants was started by Michele Hobbs out of love for her pets and frustration. Veterinarians were unable to help relieve her dogs painful skin allergies. After doing much research, Michele discovered the national dog food brand she trusted was not fresh and lacked sufficient nutrition and, when pet food sits in warehouses and store shelves for months and months, it loses even more nutritional value. She was committed to developing a better solution for all dogs and cats. Pet Wants food is exclusively crafted  fresh, healthy, and slow-cooked with no sugar added, no fillers, and no animal by-products. Pet Wants sources only the best salmon, chicken, lamb, brown rice, and other ingredients. Fresh ingredients make for better food, which translates into better health for pets. And, since Pet Wants never use corn, wheat, soy or dyes, the common pet health problems associated with these ingredients are no longer worries. Pet Wants fresh food is conveniently delivered to the customer within weeks of production, not months. Learn more at PetWants.com.
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPs Colin W. Fraser will be co-presenting Practicing Law Institutes (PLI) Fashion & Retail Law 2017: Trends & Developments on Monday, May 2.

The seminar, which runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT, will explore the key legal challenges for brands and retailers in the current global and digital environment, and offer practical guidance from seasoned law firms, in-house and government practitioners, and industry experts. In-house counsel, outside counsel, brand managers, and business professionals in the fashion and retail industries will benefit from attending this program, which will be presented at PLIs Times Square conference center and via Webcast and Groupcast.

Practical guidance will be provided in many important areas, including:



Strategies for addressing false advertising issues

Recent developments in the protection of fashion

Best practices for issues involving celebrity branding, e-commerce, and social media

Critical issues involved in the investment of fashion and fashion tech companies

Navigating international trade developments in the current trade policy environment

Special considerations in retail bankruptcies, restructurings, and refinancing

Fraser is a commercial litigator with experience in all phases of litigation in federal and state courts, and in arbitration and mediation, with a principal focus on complex matters. He is experienced in managing cases at the trial court level, including all aspects of discovery, motion practice, and trial. He also has experience prosecuting appeals before the Ninth Circuit and the California Court of Appeal.

This program is eligible for six CLE credits.

About Greenberg Traurigs Retail Industry Group

A Chambers & Partners Band 1-ranked practice since 2007, Greenberg Traurigs Retail Industry Group provides innovation and flexibility in an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment. The team of nearly 100 attorneys serves clients from offices in more than a dozen locations around the world. They draw from distinct legal disciplines to guide clients with thoughtful planning and creative strategies to address emerging issues facing the retail industry, to reduce risk, and to enhance business operations, productivity, and profitability. Regardless of location, industry involvement, or consumer interface, the firms retail team is highly qualified to assist with many retail industry legal matters.

About Greenberg Traurigs Litigation Practice

Greenberg Traurigs Litigation Practice includes a team of more than 600 attorneys. The firms trial lawyers regularly appear in state and federal courts throughout the country, as well as in appellate courts and before international arbitration panels. They work closely with in-house counsel to develop a strategy that best fits a litigation cost and proficiency model appropriate to the clients unique needs goals.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. One firm worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the second largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2016, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
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, Wisconsin, according to jail official and court records. He was taken into custody during a pre-dawn raid at his Western Avenue apartment on 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, Illinois, 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 cell phones to a person they believed was an ISIS devotee traveling to fight in Syria. The cell phones were to be used as detonators for improvised explosive devices. Joseph Jones told the traveler he hoped the phones could be used to kill many non-believers, court records state.

Joseph Jones and Schimenti also drove him to an airport to begin his journey overseas. Schimenti told the traveler 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 support of the terrorist group.

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 individual was cooperating with law enforcement.

Over the next several months Joseph Jones and Schimenti met the undercover FBI agents and the cooperating source on numerous occasions, during which Joseph Jones and Schimenti discussed their devotion to ISIS and Islamic State principles 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 that 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 cooperating source intended to travel overseas to fight for ISIS, and Schimenti commented that 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 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, 2017, Joseph Jones and Schimenti drove the cooperating source to OHare International Airport in Chicago with the understanding that the source would be traveling to Syria to fight with ISIS, the complaint states.
Visit Albuquerque holds successful Global Meetings Industry Day celebration. Photo credit: MarbleStreetStudio.com Wealong with our partnerswere honored to be able to showcase the importance of the meetings industry in Albuquerque and to be able to take part in the global conversation that illustrates the true value of these types of events.

Visit Albuquerque and several industry partners came together last Thursday to support Global Meetings Industry Day (#GMID17). A campaign driven by Meetings Mean Businessan industry-wide coalition that showcases the value of the meetings industryGlobal Meetings Industry Day is celebrated across the globe as a means to demonstrate the measurable impact that meetings have on businesses, economies, and communities.

Meetings and events have a undeniable impact on the Albuquerque community as a whole, said Tania Armenta, President & CEO of Visit Albuquerque. Wealong with our partnerswere honored to be able to showcase the importance of the meetings industry in Albuquerque and to be able to take part in the global conversation that illustrates the true value of these types of events.

Meetings mean business in Albuquerque, with Visit Albuquerque alone booking more than 370 meetings and events each year, which bring in an estimated $73 million to the city.

As a cornerstone of the celebration, Visit Albuquerque and community partners announced Albuquerque as the host city for the National Speech & Debate Associations 2020 National Tournament. NSDA Executive Director J. Scott Wunn, City of Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry, Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Raquel Reedy and the New Mexico Speech and Debate Association were all present to take part in the announcement.

Partners of Albuquerques GMID celebration event included the Albuquerque Convention Center, Meeting Professionals International - New Mexico Chapter (MPI-NM), the Greater Albuquerque Innkeepers Association (GAIA) and the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce.

About Visit Albuquerque

The mission of Visit Albuquerque is to stimulate economic growth by marketing Albuquerque as a visitor and convention destination. For more information, go to http://www.VisitABQ.org, http://www.Facebook.com/VisitABQ or http://www.Twitter.com/VisitABQ.
PersoniFest 2017 Bringing together our clients to share their experiences, assembling industry experts to present on best practices and providing training in person are all key elements of a successful user conference.

Personify, the leading solution provider that empowers the best constituent-focused organizations to succeed, wrapped up the 18th annual PersoniFest Users Conference in San Diego last week. PersoniFest gives Personify staff, clients and partners the opportunity to interact face-to-face and work together to overcome challenges and discover solutions to help them operate more efficiently.

Personify President and CEO Eric Thurston kicked off the event with a company update announcing nearly 100% sales growth in the past year with a promise to remain committed to client success and innovation. Thurston also used the gathering of approximately 400 industry professionals to formally announce the release of PersonifyGO, the next generation browser interface that extends the Personify360 platform to any laptop, tablet or browser with Internet.

In an effort to deliver varied learning opportunities, PersoniFest offered an expansive program, including training boot camps for both beginner and advanced users, a full day dedicated to developers and power users, and over 50 sessions across six tracks:



Collaboration and Engagement

Business

Reporting and Data Quality

Leadership and Strategy

Trends in Technology

Training (Hands-on and Instructional)

Sessions include ample opportunities for clients and staff to learn about the latest technology and share best practices in constituent management and engagement.

Between the training sessions, meeting with the Small World Community team and chatting face-to-face with other Community Managers, I had incredible takeaways from PersoniFest 2017. The event helped to transform my way of thinking about online community and identify key growth opportunities for Specialty Food Associations community, said Andrea Meyer, PersoniFest attendee and Small World Community user.

PersoniFest 2017 also had a record number of partners and sponsors in attendance, demonstrating Personifys position as the leader in interoperable solutions and a vibrant ecosystem of integrated partner solutions. At the conclusion of the conference, Personify announced that PersoniFest is headed to Austin, Texas, April 8-11, 2018.

Creating engagement and valuable learning opportunities for our clients has always been a priority for Personify. Bringing together our clients at PersoniFest to share their experiences, assembling industry experts to present on best practices, announcing new product capabilities, and providing free consulting and training in person are all key elements of a successful user conference. We look forward to another great event in Austin next year, said Michael Wilson, Personify Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer.
The recognition from AWS showcases our strong expertise and resources in AWS technologies, which differentiate FPT from other competitors in the market. I am glad that we are now among the top partners of AWS...

FPT Software, part of the Vietnam-based IT conglomerate FPT Corporation, was recently announced as AWSs Technology Partner of the year at the AWS ASEAN Partner Summit held on April 10th in Singapore. Being recognized as AWSs Technology Partner of the year is a proof of FPTs technology achievements in recent time including the successful deployment of its eMobiz solutions (FPTs Distribution Management solution for Supply Chain industry) on AWS as a service for various FMCG enterprises in the region as well as its Migration competency to enable enterprise adoption to Cloud including the SAP, Endure, Oracle, SharePoint migration to AWS and managed services with 3 level operation support afterward globally.

Mr. Tran Huy Bao Giang, FPT Softwares Chief Technology Officer expressed: The recognition from AWS showcases our strong expertise and resources in AWS technologies, which differentiate FPT from other competitors in the market. I am glad that we are now among the top partners of AWS, which also reflects our continuous growth to always deliver best-in-class technology services that suit our clients' business transformation needs..

FPT Software is among the earliest AWSs partners to achieve Managed Service and Migration Competencies in 2015 and 2016 respectively. By owning a variety of AWS certifications, FPT has also recently earned AWSs certification distinction for company with 200 and above certifications. This also represents FPTs serious, long-term and strategic investment with AWS technology. By the end of March, the company has 243 certifications, including 201 Associate Level and 42 Professional Level. The company was also acknowledged by AWS within the Leaders of Learn and Be Curious Recognized Partners 2015, together with Hitachi, Fujitsu, Accenture, TCS, Cognizant, etc. More on FPTs partnership with AWS at https://www.fpt-software.com/aws_partner_network/

Also at the AWS Summit 2017 on April 11th, FPT Software shared a speech titled Best Practices for Re-architecting & Optimizing Large-Scaled Data Systems on AWS: Oracle Migration and Big Data Streaming Solution and showcased its expertise in Oracle and SAP workloads migration onto AWS Cloud, while introducing its products eMobiz and Gamification on AWS .

With years of experience on AWSs technology, FPT Software has developed a comprehensive pack of services that cover the whole process of Cloud transformation for enterprises. These include Cloudification, Cloud Assessment, Cloud Co-Reseach, Cloud Managed Service, Cloud Testing, Cloud Analytics and IoT on Cloud. In addition, FPT also has developed Citus Cloud Suite to assist clients in accelerating transition and simplifying operation. The components of the toolset have been proven to increase productivity by 70% and minimize development effort by up to 60% in numerous projects with Fortune 500 companies. More information on FPTs Cloud services and solutions at https://fpt-software.com/cloud-professional-services/

About FPT Software

FPT Software is a part of FPT Corporation  the global leading technology, outsourcing and IT services group headquartered in Vietnam with over US$1.8 billion revenue and 28,000 employees. Qualified with CMMI Level 5 & ISO 27001, FPT Software delivers world-class services in Analytics, IoT, Mobility, Cloud, Embedded System, QA testing, Legacy Migration, Package Implementation, Application Service, and BPO services globally from delivery centers across the United States, Japan, Europe, Australia, Vietnam and the Asia Pacific. With focus on R&D activities to improve quality of services, the company has been serving over 450 customers worldwide, of which nearly 50 are Fortune 500 in the industries of manufacturing, semiconductors, healthcare, utility, financial services, satellite TV and more. For more information, please visit https://www.fpt-software.com/
A rose to ... the Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Coalition, which was organized through Buffalo County Community Partners to spread the word about help and hope to young individuals who are thinking about ending their lives.

On Monday, more than 300 people gathered to hear panelists talk about suicide prevention resources. Bringing together the Suicide Prevention Coalition was a delicate and demanding task, but community members who became involved threw their hearts and minds into the project knowing there's a need to reach out and help youths in need. There is much positive momentum. Next step will be the Rae of Hope Foundation's April 13 launch party.

During the gathering earlier this week, panelists fielded several dozen questions, addressed myths about suicide and touched on the agencies equipped to provide mental health services, including Richard H. Young Hospital, Region 3 Behavioral Services, Kearney Police Department, churches and Kearney schools.

People learned about suicide prevention resources for teens and went home with a hotline number that should be programmed into every teenager's phone: 741-741.

A raspberry to ... Columbus Day. It honors the world's most famous explorer, but history hasn't been kind to the man who discovered North America. Columbus now is regarded less as an explorer and more as an exploiter. Rather than observing Columbus Day, how about honoring Native Americans who made history?

We Nebraskans are proud of Ponca Chief Standing Bear, who was banished to Oklahoma along with other members of his northeast Nebraska tribe. On the trail to Oklahoma, Standing Bear promised his dying son that he would be buried on tribal land.

The U.S. Army intercepted Standing Bear as he returned to Nebraska to bury his son, and the chief and his people were detained in Omaha and offered little hope they could continue their journey.

Standing Bear became famous because his 1879 trial resulted in a judge declaring Native Americans are "persons within the meaning of the law" and have the right to be brought before a judge to determine if there are grounds for detention, also known as the right of habeas corpus.

The Standing Bear case is the inspiration behind Nebraska's state motto, "Equality before the law."

This editorial appeared in the March 31 edition of the Kearney (Nebraska) Hub.
Last month, author Tania Del Rio and illustrator Will Staehle set out on a two-week tour in celebration of Warren the 13th and the Whispering Woods (Quirk), the second book in their middle-grade adventure series. The tour brought them to schools and bookstores from Georgia to California, where they answered questions from students, led art activities, and signed books.

The first stop was on March 20 at the Bush School in Seattle, where Staehle led students in an art class.



The students at Oak Grove Elementary in Atlanta shared their book recommendations with Staehle and Del Rio.

Del Rio and Staehle signed books during their March 23 visit to Barber Middle School in Houston.



While in Houston, the author and illustrator stopped by Blue Willow Bookshop. Here Staehle adds his name to the stores wall of fame.



On the West Coast, Staehle and Del Rio appeared at the Sequoyah School in Los Angeles on March 29. Here Del Rio takes a turn at the drawing board.
As Brexit, the Trump presidency, ongoing refugee crises, and other political upheavals create uncertainty across the globe, books with direct and indirect connections to empathy, diversity, and real-life tragedies were noticeably prominent at this years Bologna Childrens Book Fair.

We saw a lot of books on refugees and immigrants, and other stories that tackle the very unsettled state of the world, reported Eerdmans president and publisher Anita Eerdmans. Some of those were stark and very powerful, and as is typical of international books, no sugarcoating or easy answers. She said she spent some time at the fair looking at Iranian books, and met with a number of literature foundations. They provide a tremendous amount of support to childrens literature and to promote their countries authors and illustrators around the world, she said. Hearing about their work is especially striking at a time when our country seems to be going in the opposite direction, and withdrawing support for literature and the arts.

Margie Wolfe, publisher of Torontos Second Story Press, said that she was getting a lot of pop-in foot traffic, particularly as people spotted a poster for To Look a Nazi in the Eye by Kathy Kacer with Jordana Lebowitz, out this fall, which tells the true story of a teenage reporter who traveled to the trial of a Nazi war criminal. In Europe, this type of story always attracts attention. Wolfe also noted ongoing interest in books about refugees and said her April picture book Where Will I Live? by Rosemary McCarney, a photo-essay-style book about young contemporary refugees, has already sold to nine countries.

I saw three picture books from different U.K. publishers that encouraged kids to venture out of their comfort zones, noted Sonali Fry, publisher of Little Bee Books. I found this to be very interesting, as each book was about a child who was afraid to go through a door, see what was on the other side of the wall, or leave his room. Fry also noticed a continuing interest in diverse subjects. Our Freedom in Congo Square got a lot of attention from foreign publishers, which was great to see, since the subject matter is so U.S.-centric.

Babar Maqbool, director of development for Maqbool Books, based in Lahore, Pakistan, reported significant interest in the publishers new YA book about the life of Muhammad, Stories from the Life of Muhammad by Tahira Arshed. We have sold rights to France and Canada, and have several more deals lined up, he said. I think theres a growing interest in books that explain the life of the Prophet, particularly in light of the political atmosphere. The book, which is available in English, has sold 1,000 copies in the U.S. The companys biggest hit of the past year was Duas for Me and My Family, a book of short Islamic prayers for children in Arabic, transliterated Arabic, and English, also written by Arshed. That book sold 100,000 copies, and we put out a sequel for adults. Also popular for the publisher has been collection of short books called Zayds Curious Little Stories, about a boys daily adventures with his family. Asked about its success, Maqbool remarked with a dry smile, Hey, there are tons of people in the Middle East and Gulf named Zayed. Were thinking of following this one up with a series starring a girl named Fatima.

During a panel on childrens books about art, moderated by Maria Russo, childrens books editor at the New York Times, Charles Kim, associate publisher at the Museum of Modern Art, made the case that museums are in a perfect position to reach out to the wider public, including children, through books. Kim quoted Walter Dean Myers in pointing out that Books transmit values, they explore our common humanity. What is the message when some children are not represented in those books? The panel often addressed the topic of diversity, with Kim noting, When it comes to who works at the museums in America and who makes decisions, the people are 85% white. How do we change that? It starts by letting people see themselves reflected in the childrens books. We need to show children of different cultures and cultures being themselves.

Greek author Vagelis Iliopoulos, a nominee for the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award, was busy on the Greek stand visiting with publishers. He remarked that his eight-book series about the Little Triangle Fish, which explores themes of tolerance and inclusion, has seen more and more interest, in light of current politics, and the fact that Greece is on the front line of the refugee crisis. I published the first one of these in 1997 and now, 20 years later, they are made new again, as they are being used to teach children about living in a more multicultural society, said Iliopoulos. They are just as relevant as when they were conceived, maybe more so. He added, It is interesting in Greece, because we have so many refugees living in our country, and so many Greeks are economic refugees to other countries. So we have to work to prepare our children for possibly both experiencesto welcome strangers and to become a stranger.
Forget a book of the fairagents, publishers, and editors at the 2017 Bologna Childrens Book Fair didnt really come to a consensus on whether this years fair was bustling or tempered, a reminder that publishing isnt one size fits all, and that tastes, needs, and perspectives vary widely. I had the feeling that I was swimming upstream whenever I wandered the aisles, said Brooke ODonnell, managing director of Trafalgar Square Publishing. Since waning attendance seems to be a perennial topic, it was great to see the aisles so full. The fair itself reported an overall increase in attendance over the 2016 show.

I had a very good Bolognadefinitely a case of the right book at the right time,  said agent Fiona Kenshole of Transatlantic Literary. Editorsand film peoplewere asking for feel-good stories: happy endings, a smattering of romance. Perhaps a pushback at all the other stuff going on in the world? Kenshole was finding success with a YA title, 36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You by Vicki Grant (Running Press, Oct.), which asks if love can be engineered. Between [London] and Bologna it sold at auction in Korea and Indonesia, and to Mondadori in Italy on a good pre-empt, said Kenshole, who received multiple offers from France, Germany, and Spain at Bologna, with strong interest from other territories, as well as film agents.

Cecily Kaiser, publishing director for childrens books at Phaidon, was at the show looking to acquire and finding plenty. Even if I had to leave after the first day, the trip wouldve felt worth it. Kaiser said she was gravitating toward concept books, partly because they tend to work well across markets. Storybooks can have lots of cultural norms that dont travel well.

Bent Agency founder Jenny Bent described it as a quiet fair overall, adding that it didnt seem like there was one big project everyone was talking about. We had a lot of requests for middle grade, which was heartening, and it seemed like people were looking for the next big thing in YA, but no one was exactly sure what that was.

I thought it was a great fair, said Daniel Ehrenhaft, editorial director of Soho Teen. A little more subdued than in years past, which frankly was a relief. I feltjust speaking for me, as a seller of rights at an indiethat my meetings were more meaningful and focused because nobody was chasing the big book.  Ehrenhaft also reported that foreign publishers seemed excited about YA titles that defy easy categorization. And of course its great to see that the inspiration of #WeNeedDiverseBooks has gone international.

To that end, one YA title that came up repeatedly in conversations was Tomi Adeyemis Children of Blood and Bone, a West Africaninspired fantasy that sold to Henry Holt in a seven-figure preempt just before the fair. To date, British, Bulgarian, Danish, Dutch, French, Hebrew, Italian, and Spanish rights have sold, with auctions underway and offers under consideration in more than half a dozen other countries.

With our upcoming YA titles, there was a lot of interest in anything with a really fresh premise, distinct structures or points of view, and a new openness to interior illustration in books for older readers, said Sarah Davies of Greenhouse Literary. This was also apparent with U.K. editors, who are seeking to stand out with beautifully designed and packaged bookseveryone was sighing over The Boy, the Bird and the Coffin Maker by Matilda Woods (Scholastic U.K.), which takes middle grade to new levels of gorgeousness. Davies added that American and British editors were seeking out contemporary and fantasy middle grade, as well as an uptick in nonfiction, and that international publishers were looking for good, commercial series, often with a feel-good factor.

Hannerlie Modderman, commissioning editor for childrens and YA at Dutch publisher Uitgeverij Luitingh-Sijthoff, cited a positive atmosphere overall. That was a big difference with the previous years when the financial crises was hanging above all of us, she said. If I have to pinpoint a trend, it was books about girl power and feminism.

Around the Fair and Around the Globe

I literally never left our stand, except to queue up for a coffee or the loo. But that says something too, doesnt it? said Gita Wolf, publisher of Indias Tara Books, a former winner of the BOP Prize at Bologna. It was an incredibly busy fair, we had a record number of visitors, sold tons of books, and had several good meetings for rights sales. What struck me was that the Spanish market was reviving strongly, and Japan was a big partner for us.

For Canadas Groundwood Books, Anne Flemings The Goat was something of a breakout in terms of publisher interest, with multiple houses interested in in Germany and France. Back on the home front, the book, which published in March, has already gone through its initial 5,000-copy print run and Groundwood went back for another 5,000. For a debut middle grade from an author [new to childrens books], I think its pretty spectacular, said v-p of sales and licensing Barbara Howson.

At least two houses were launching YA lists at the fair: Kids Can Press in Toronto, whose KCP Loft list begins this spring, and Charlesbridge in the U.S., whose Charlesbridge Teen line arrives in the fall. Its been delightful to bring that to the worldwide market, said Charlesbridge senior director of sales Megan Quinn. We can finally say that were for all ages now, zero through adult. Kids Can rights director Adrienne Tang echoed Quinns sentiments, noting, Its been great for us to sell a different kind of book, since Kids Cans list had also focused on younger readers. One of the four titles on KCP Lofts launch list, the Wattpad-sourced Textrovert by Lindsey Summers, had already sold into four territories before the fair.

Italian publisher Il Castoro was coming off a good day on Wednesday with Muschio by David Cirici winning the second annual Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi award in the age 610 category; the award comes with a 5,000 prize for both the author and its translator, Francesco Ferrucci. Although the fair held few surprises for Floridi in terms of new acquisitions, she felt it was good, busy, and an important part of the companys overall rights business; in 2016, Il Castoros sales of its own titles into other markets were up 72% over the previous year.

On the sales side, one breakout title for Il Castoro has been Pierdomenico Baccalarios Il manual delle 50 avventure da vivere prima dei 13 anni, a guide to adventures children ought to have before turning 13. Domestically, Il Castoro is already on its third printing of the book in less than a year, and it has sold into 12 languages, including a forthcoming American edition from Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. A spy-themed follow-up has already sold into three languages and rights manager Andreina Speciale expected that many of the first books publishers would pick up this one, as well. The Italian publisher also took part in Jeff Kinneys trip to Italy before and during the fair, including a visit to Amatricewhich was devastated by a powerful earthquake last Augustwhere he spent time with schoolchildren, signing books and doing drawing demonstrations. The fantastic thing about Jeff is that fame hasnt changed him, said Floridi. Hes still the same person, and very kind to children. Il Castoros sales of Kinneys books (including a Latin translation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid) have topped 3.5 million copies.

Etana Editions, a two-year-old childrens publisher based in Helsinki, was at Bologna for the second time, but this was the first time the publisher had its own booth. It makes a huge difference, being present here with our books, said owner Reka Kiraly. Its more tactile, everyone can see and touch them. Kiraly had set up many appointments before the show, but had five or six foreign publishers drop by on the first day alone. Etana focuses on books for younger readers, often with bold, graphic artwork and an emphasis on social themes; the Mini Etana series explores emotions and first steps in a childs life, and Etana also publishes storybooks, such as Juha Virta and Marika Maijalas Piano Karkaa, about friendship and music, which has sold in Sweden and South Korea.

The show has been better than last year in terms of selling, said Jose Diaz, editorial director of Barcelona-based Thule Ediciones. Thule has been coming to the fair for around a decade; the house primarily publishes picture books and comics, as well as picture bookstyle titles for a YA audience; one such book, Enigma by Martin Vidal, offers dark interpretations of fairy tales, almost taking an art book approach. Even as a little publisher, you have to be international, said Diaz. If youre not international youre dead. Thule currently distributes Spanish-language editions of its books in the U.S. through IPG, and its top titles include Recetas de lluvia y azucar by Eva Manzano and illustrated by Monica Gutierrez Serna, a book about emotions, and Hay algo mas aburrido que ser una princesa rosa?, which translates to Is there anything more boring than a pink princess?

Richa Jha, founder of Delhi-based Pickle Yolk Books, was at the show looking to sell translation rights and get into new markets. The press initially started as a self-publisher two years ago but has grown to take on other authors, with five books currently available and three more on the way. India is an extremely tiny market, but in the last three or four years parents have been more willing to pick up [picture] books, said Jha. Its a great time to be in the picture book industry in India.

Philip Meitiner, international program manager of Micro:Bit, a BBC affiliated ed-tech company that produces a mini-computer to teach children about computer programming, attended the fair for the first time. When I was sold the idea of coming to Bologna, it was to help us reach out to all kinds of potential partners, he said. Increasingly, we know that computational thinking is key to the success of children and adults in the world, and our aim is to get out to as many people as possible with Micro:Bit. The company has given away nearly a million units in the U.K. and distributed 10,000 Micro:bits to an additional 43 countries. Our aim is to reach 100 million people, Meitiner said.

Bruna Vettori, an illustrator from Brazil, made a detour to come to Bologna on her return leg from a trip to India. Bologna is the heart of childrens publishing, and its a great honor to be here among all these other fabulous illustrators. Vettori, who operates under the brand name Rotina & Rabisco, has worked for a variety of Brazilian and international publishers, including HarperCollins, and was using the occasion to post selfies and expand her network. This is how we do it nowas artists in the digital world, we can be both creative and nomadic, and each feeds each other.

Bologna-based publishing consultant Valentina Manchia, a specialist in expressive typography, noted that the fair has extended far beyond the confines of the exhibition halls and that its presence was felt throughout the town. Its very much a part of the fabric of our city year-round now.
A childrens book can have a long shelf life for any number of reasons: for one, parents love to share childhood favorites with their kids. (Whats up, Dr. Seuss?)

Attracting teachers can be another surefire way to keep sales going. The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, a book that encourages kids to embrace their creative side, has been popular among educators since it was published in 2003. In 2009, Terry Shay, an elementary school teacher in Iowa who is a fan of the book, dreamed up International Dot Day in order to bring more creativity-related activities to the classroom.

The event, celebrated annually on or near September 15, gained traction on social media, and Candlewick, the books publisher, seized on the interest. Since 2012, Candlewick has been promoting the event to teachers at conferences and via email and postcards. The publisher also produces and distributes supporting materials, such as classroom guides and temporary tattoos. In 2016, seven million participants in 165 countries signed up to participate.

Teachers love to teach this book, says Phoebe Kosman, assistant director of marketing at Candlewick; many blog their lesson plans. The title has sold more than half a million copies in the U.S. and Canada, Kosman says.

Educators have also been integral to the success of 2007s The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), about a brother and sister who run dueling lemonade stands. The middle grade novel became popular in classrooms as a way to teach business concepts. When a book makes it to the level of being taught in schools, it helps continue the momentum, says Linda Magram, v-p, marketing and publicity, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers. The Lemonade War has sold one million copies in print and e-book, according to the publisher, and spawned four sequels.

In 2012, Tracy Weniger, the school programs manager at Alexs Lemonade Stand Foundation, a pediatric cancer charity, contacted Davies about a partnership. As part of the Great Lemonade War Contest, schoolchildren around the country host lemonade stands to raise money for the charity. HMH donates copies of the title to participating schools, and provides other resources along the way, further raising the books profile. This year, The Lemonade War is featured as the annual pick for Texas Reads One Book, with more than 60,000 families participating.

Simon & Schuster, to promote its YA backlist, uses its online platform Riveted. The social community for teens started out as a physical mailing list about a decade ago and has been through several iterations, most recently operating under the name Pulse It.

The sites frequent giveaways often are timed to coincide with a new release by an author. For instance, to promote the December 2016 publication of Neal Shustermans UnBound, S&S gave away e-book copies of the first title in the series, 2009s Unwind. Riveted also features author guest posts and publishes deleted scenes from books. Ideally, were building new fans by showing off the older work, says Matt Pantoliano, associate director of digital marketing. Once readers have discovered an author, they want to read more.

At Sasquatch Books, local interest is key to sales of the Larry Gets Lost series, which sets a pup loose to explore a city while on vacation with his family. The first book, 2007s Larry Gets Lost in Seattle by Michael Mullin, has sold 63,000 print copies, per the publisher. Its not only stocked by bookstores but also at the gift shops for attractions Larry visits, such as the Space Needle.

Nicole Banholzer, publicity and marketing manager at Sasquatch Books, says that special markets sales team at its distributor, Penguin Random House, has helped get other editions of the book into local attractionsthe New York edition sells at the Museum of Modern Art, for instance, and the Chicago edition at Willis Tower.

Its a great way to introduce kids to some of the history of a city theyre visiting, Banholzer says. Its also fun for local kids to see their favorite hometown landmarks in a book.

Banholzer also attributes the continued interest to the growing frontlist, because, she says, backlist titles are a lot easier to sell when they are part of an ongoing series. The publisher is releasing a 10th anniversary edition of the Seattle title this month and will work with 17 independent bookstores in 11 cities to put on story time events. Each bookshop will read the local edition of Larry Gets Lost; participating booksellers have received city-specific activity kits and giveaway items.

There are a lot of different opportunities for kids books, like hosting story time events, and reaching educators, school librarians, and parents, Banholzer says. Everything doesnt have to be brand-new.

Return to the main feature.
Brooklyn's vibrant poetry scene is about to get collected.

On April 20, Brooklyn Arts Press and Brooklyn Poets will collaboratively publish Brooklyn Poets Anthology, which compiles poetry written by contemporary poets from, or living in, Kings County, New York, in an initial 1,000-copy print run. The anthology, edited by Brooklyn Arts Press founder and publisher Joe Pan and Brooklyn Poets founder and executive director Jason Koo, collects upwards of 250 poems by a total of 170 poets. The book will be the inaugural volume in a series; Pan and Koo said they had nearly enough material left over for another volume.

Pan and Koo bill the anthology as the first "devoted to celebrating the many contemporary poets who call [Brooklyn] home." Both acknowledge there are prior collections focusing on the borough, but found none specifically dedicated to spotlighting contemporary Brooklynites and their poetic work.

"We were familiar with Broken Land, which is a wonderful anthology covering Brooklyn poetry historically," Pan said. "We searched the WorldCat database and asked around, and I ended up sitting down with a research librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library and working with them. We found a couple earlier collections tied to magazines and such, but no book of this scope, depth, or intention."

The subject is dear to Pan and Koo both, who live in the Williamsburg neighborhood, are poets, and have businesses named after the borough. (Brooklyn Arts Press won the National Book Award for poetry last year; Brooklyn Poets offers poetry workshops and hosts multiple monthly reading series.) The idea came to them, they said, during a night of drinking under the Manhattan Bridge.

"One night in DUMBO, in 2014, I think we began talking about how great it would be...for BAP and Brooklyn Poets to put together an anthology of Brooklyn poets," Pan explained.

Soon after they discussed the idea, Koo and Pan began using their connections to solicit poems. By May of 2015, the duo had launched a submissions hub using the workflow service Submittable, where unsolicited work could be submitted.

We wanted this anthology to be as inclusive as possible, because we both knew that neither of us knew all the poets in Brooklyn, Koo said.

The criteria Pan and Koo used, to determine who is a "Brooklyn poet" and who is not, is whether the author "currently lives [in Brooklyn] or has deep ties to the borough." Pan explained that "deep ties" constitute someone who was "born here or lived here a decade or more."

He added: "In the end, we hit 432 pages, but had to exclude poets we really wanted in there," Pan said. "Maybe ten or so poets represented in the anthology arent even in Brooklyn anymore...and at every reading I go to in Brooklyn I meet a poet who just arrived here last month."

Although the anthology focuses on a very specific geography, Pan and Koo wanted the book to represent a diverse set of authors, viewpoints, and levels of experience. Of course, its an ongoing process, so hopefully with the next volume well be able to extend the reach even further," Koo said.

Some poets in the collection are at the height of their careers, others are rising stars, and some had never been published before. Former American poet laureate Philip Levine and former and current Brooklyn poet laureates D. Nurkse and Tina Chang were included alongside emerging writers such as Morgan Parker, Tommy Pico, and Ocean Vuong.

Koo noted that, in the end, more than 40% of the volume's contributors were poets of color, and more than 60% of the contributors were women or LGBTQ poets. Pan added that the subjects, aesthetics, and voices were as distinct as the poets themselveswith one exception: "Youll find more subway poems here than elsewhere, thats for certain."

This article has been updated with new information and edited for clarity.
DAVENPORT -- City council members on Wednesday heard from Kenneth Croken, chief marketing officer for Genesis Health System, who gave an update on behavioral health services and other programs.

"Tonight's presentation is about promises made, and promises kept," Mr. Croken said. "It's very important that we update all of you on progress that we've made and more importantly, thank all of you for your support."

Mr. Croken thanked aldermen Mike Matson, 7th Ward, and Maria Dickman, 2nd Ward, for their support for Genesis' behavioral health services.

He said the program began with a community health needs assessment in 2012, and grew from there, recognizing in-patient care may not break the cycle of arrest, incarceration and hospital admission.

He noted Genesis has provided financial support for Iowa's only mental health court program, with the goal of keeping people from being incarcerated for mental illness.

"Acute care beds are a very small part of a much larger problem. They do very little to break the cycle. What breaks the cycle is a comprehensive treatment plan that includes long-term residential treatment facilities, outpatient services and community-based support programs."

Mr. Croken said Genesis updates the number of mental health patients in the 28-bed unit on their website daily, noting on Wednesday, only 12 patients were from Scott County.

"We have become a destination provider of behavioral health services," he said. "We've had people here from as many as 10 states. We are prepared to meet community need because we promised that we would."

Other news included the addition of a certified nursing assistant course at Davenport West High School.

Mr. Croken also said the state's first community geriatric acute care service will open later this year.

"I can't thank you enough," said Ald. Ray Ambrose, 4th Ward. "It's been a win-win for the community with the hospital. You made a commitment to us, and you're a man of your word."

Also on Wednesday, resident Jerry Kelley, an avid fisherman, complained to aldermen about the lack of adequate parking at the site of the former Dock restaurant, 125 S. Perry St.

Calling it an ideal spot to catch walleye and view bald eagles, Mr. Kelley said the lack of parking restricts the number of people able to use the location.

"When the parking lot was there behind the restaurant, there would be so many people there at one time. We wondered why (the city) put green space down there when we've got so much of it," Mr. Kelley said. "There is some awesome fishing down there, but we don't have any place to park."

Council members also:

-- Approved a contract in the amount of $407,475 to Central Petroleum Equipment Co. of Blue Grass for city-wide fuel system modernization.

-- Approved the purchase of a LeeBoy pothole patch machine for $224,295.

-- Awarded a contract to Needham Excavating Inc. of Walcott in the amount of $231,900 for sanitary sewer replacement at Kimberly Road and Harrison Street.

-- Appointed Joseph Wonio to the Historic Preservation Commission, and appointed Derrick Nix to the Design Review Board.
The night of the presidential elections I was at the Democratic party unparty. As the night progressed, shouts of dismay and disbelief echoed throughout the room, including my own. My daughter and husband went home. My Dad came to hold vigil with me. At midnight when Hillary narrowly lost in Outagamie County in Wisconsin where I grew up, I admitted defeat and went home. The next morning when my 12-year-old daughter asked me, Mom, when we were moving to Canada?, I burst out crying. I wore black for over a week as a sign of mourning. Then I decided I would do more to make a difference. Obama in his farewell speech summed it up: The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something.

I have worked with immigrants most of my adult life, mainly as an interpreter. My husband is a Mexican-national. I myself was an immigrant in Mexico for three years prior to moving to Mason City. Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric and misinformation are unbelievable (one of his favorite words). Hillary won the popular vote because 3.5 million illegal immigrants voted for her? Please. Labeling Muslim visitors, refugees, and immigrants as terrorists; targeting undocumented and documented residents for deportation; planning to leave 14-plus million Americans, especially the poor, without health care within a year, because Obamacare is bad; hijacking the democratic process in the Iowa House and Senate to force a vote to limit collective bargaining rights of public employees  What is going on here?

Don't just wear black. Protest, volunteer to help others, make your voice heard, vote people out of office who do not represent who we are as Americans and Iowans, and support those worthy to serve as our representatives.

Kris Gannett-Sanchez, Mason City
Chemical weapons have limited military utility, a fact known since the end of World War I. Explosives and machine gun bullets were shown to have killed far more people, to say nothing of disease. The use of chemical weapons today provokes international condemnation, if not always action. Those who order their deployment risk being charged with war crimes. So why would Syria's President Bashar Assad use them?

Against civilian populations, chemical weapons are instruments of terrora demonstration that resistance will bring horrific consequences. But indiscriminate mass murder is a consequence of their use, not the objective. The broader aim is to encourage civilians in rebel-held areas to clear out.

This is consistent with the Syrian regime's general approach to counterinsurgency, which differs from Western notions of winning hearts and minds. Syria wants areas beyond government control to be depopulated. As part of a strategy to make life untenable in rebel zones, Syrian armed forces target civilians, commerce, food supplies, hospitals and health care facilities. This approach has helped turn half of Syria's population into refugees who flee to other regions within the country or abroad.

Syria's strategy is also consistent with its current effort to consolidate a bastion loyal to the regime in the western part of the country. The brutal air and artillery attacks on the rebel-held portion of Aleppo last fall were part of this strategy.

The strategy recognizes that the Syrian armed forces, even with Russian and Iranian backing, do not have the capacity to regain control of the entire country. It also recognizes the fact that the conflict has deepened Syria's sectarian and ethnic divides. It has become existential for all parties. Sunni Muslims will likely never again accept rule by the Alawite religious minorityAssad's basethat has dominated Syria's government for decades. Alawites, along with Christian and Shia Muslim populations loyal to Assad, cannot imagine surviving under Sunni rule. The Kurds have taken control of their own enclaves. The country is effectively partitioned and likely cannot be pieced together again. But sectarian cleansing can provide a measure of security for Assad's sector.

The Russians are mainly interested in keeping a regime in power that will enable them to continue using military bases on the Mediterranean, so Russia assists Assad in consolidating his control over a western enclave. Pushing rebels, including U.S.-backed secular insurgents, from this area has been Russia's priority from the beginning.

But military strategy may not account for the entire explanation. Assad is also playing to an inside audience. Syria's use of chemical weapons is not a dramatic departure from its previous approach to rebellion. In 1982, Assad's father employed artillery and air power to destroy the city of Hama, a stronghold of Islamist militants opposed to the regime. Thousandsmainly civiliansdied in the barrage. The regime was demonstrating the elder Assad's unlimited power to wreak vengeancea warning to future dissidents that disloyalty would bring terrible punishment. It is an effective way that paranoid potentates maintain control with only a tiny base of support.

Assad does not have the power his father possessed. The president's army has shrunk from desertions, casualties and overuse. His survival depends on local and foreign militias, not under his direct control, and on Russian airpower, but only so long as he serves Moscow's interests. That makes him appear weak and vulnerable within the eyes of his own constituents. Assad may no longer have a huge army, but he has chemical weapons under his control, and he can use them to demonstrate his own independence and power.

Ironically, Assad's use of chemical weapons makes him even more dependent on Russian air defenses to protect Syria against foreign attack. When the U.S. chose to strike, Russia either couldn't or chose not to utilize the advanced air defense systems it has deployed in Syria to block the American attack.

While the use of chemical weapons causes revulsion outside of Syria, those within the country may be less opposed to their use since many may be terrified of the kind of rule they see imposed by the Islamic State group. Civil wars are almost always more vicious than state to state conflicts. Syria's population has been brutalized by more than five years of war with more than 400,000 deaths. Amid indiscriminate artillery shelling, terrorist bombings, mass executions, crucifixions, people people being beheaded or burnt alive, chemical weapons may well be just another atrocity to those on the ground there.

Brian Michael Jenkins is a senior adviser to the president of the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and an author of numerous books, reports and articles on terrorism-related topics.

This commentary originally appeared on U.S. News & World Report on April 10, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Sentence of Russian nationalist Potkin reduced by 4 years

MOSCOW, April 14 (RAPSI, Yevgeniya Sokolova)  The Moscow City Court has reduced a prison term given to Russian nationalist Alexander Potkin for embezzlement and organization of an extremist movement from 7.5 to 3.5 years, the courts press office told RAPSI on Friday.

In August 2016, the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow sentenced Potkin to 7.5 years in prison and fined him 600,000 rubles ($9,700). Moreover, the court granted a 4.9 billion-ruble lawsuit ($79.3 million) filed by the injured party against Potkin. He has appealed the ruling.

According to the indictment, Mukhtar Ablyazov, former chairman of the Kazakh BTA Bank, who allegedly wanted to destabilize the constitutional order in Kazakhstan, asked Potkin to help him with organizing an extremist group. Potkin allegedly agreed and used funds embezzled from BTA Bank to spread the nationalist ideology in Kazakhstan. Potkin has pleaded not guilty.

Potkin (also known as Belov) was arrested on October 15, 2014 at the Hotel Intourist Kolomenskoe in Moscow on charges related to the embezzlement of $5 billion from BTA Bank. At the time of the arrest, Potkin allegedly had documents on him that effectively tied him to the embezzlement.

On December 20, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) awarded 2,500 in compensation to Potkin for withdrawal of his complaint over long stay in detention from the court.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Awais Sufi has spent the last 18 months traversing this Midwestern town in search of solutions to its educational shortcomings. He's met with parents, educators, philanthropists, faith leaders and anyone else with a vested interest in education.

Earlier this week, he presented the culmination of his efforts: the launch of SchoolSmartKC, a new nonprofit dedicated to closing the achievement gap in Kansas City public schools.

Scattered around the second floor of the local Big Brothers Big Sisters were many of the same people he engaged months ago, community leaders from across the political spectrum, including Kansas City Mayor Sly James and Dr. Mark Bedell, the superintendent of schools.

I really wanted to engage in an authentic way with the various constituents that all have an interest and incentive for a wonderful school system here, Sufi, now the president and CEO of SchoolSmartKC, said in an interview with RealClearEducation for The First 100 Days podcast. He stressed that the organization should be community owned and that the agenda of improvement [is] something that they [the community] believed in and ultimately would sustain.

From his extensive outreach emerged three primary strategies: improving parent engagement, making direct investments in schools with quality offerings and backing pro-student policies. While education is a politically volatile issue  take Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos's confirmation hearing, for example  so far, many influential members of the community are behind Sufi and the goals of his new organization.

Our partnership with SchoolSmartKC is bridge building in Kansas City at its finest, Bedell said. SchoolSmart is helping to provide us resources we wouldnt otherwise have, and we so appreciate their investment in Kansas City in order to make our education landscape more student- and family-centered.

For its first direct investment, SchoolSmartKC is awarding a two-year grant to Communities in Schools, a nationwide program focused on supporting low-income students. CIS will put site coordinators at 10 schools  six traditional public schools and four charters  to assist underprivileged children with clothing, nutrition, health care and transportation.

Sufi explained that, for many low-income students, circumstances outside the classroom often prevent them from succeeding inside it, no matter how good the quality of the instruction or learning environment may be. When families aren't able to provide the resources necessary for their children to succeed, CIS seeks to fill that void. Sufi believes that, in many cases, schools have become society's last stand against all of the ills that are plaguing us.

Bedell agrees. With innovative programs like Communities in Schools, we are able to focus on the whole child, and give each student exactly what he/she needs to succeed each and every day, he said.

It's important to note that SchoolSmartKC exists to serve all Kansas City public schools  charter and traditional alike. The district serves roughly 26,000 students and it's a high-choice environment compared to other urban areas: Approximately 45 percent of students attend charters. Sufi emphasized that SchoolSmartKC supports school choice -- but not without strong accountability: Choice without that accountability is a path to nowhere from our vantage point.

The funding behind the new organization comes primarily from three donors: the Hall Family Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation and the Kauffman Foundation. Kauffman was the primary incubator of SchoolSmartKC and much of the policy vision came from Aaron North, the vice president of education at Kauffman.

The real fundamental goal [is] to close the achievement gap within 10 years, North explained. Starting with that vision, Kauffman brought in Sufi as an education entrepreneur in residence. He began his outreach across the city and, over time, the three funders joined together to help Sufi launch SchoolSmartKC as its own independent nonprofit.

North believes that Kansas City is the ideal location for such a program. He describes the city as big enough to matter, but small enough to manage. Kansas City, he explained, has the flexibility to try some innovative reforms that larger metropolises like New York or Los Angeles may not have, and, as a smaller urban area, it is easier to measure and track student progress. As with most ambitious education reforms, political battles and resistance may lie ahead, but North hopes that, in time, SchoolSmartKC could be a model for community engagement and improved education outcomes nationwide.

Christopher Beach is the editor of RealClearEducation.
Aaron Stein is a resident senior fellow at the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. This article was published in collaboration with the Atlantic Council. The views expressed here are the authors own.

On April 16, Turkish voters will head to the polls to vote on a slate of sweeping changes to the countrys constitution. Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has spearheaded a nationwide campaign to get out the vote. Although the outcome is still too close to call, momentum appears to have shifted toward the yes camp in recent days. The proposed changes, according to the independent constitutional advisory body to the Council of Europe, the Venice Commission, would constitute a decisive break in the constitutional history of the country [and] are not based on the logic of separation of powers, which is characteristic for democratic presidential systems.

The controversial cancellation of pro-AKP campaign rallies in European capitals, coupled with outlandish charges of European Nazism from Ankara, has severely strained Turkish-European relations. And while a yes victory in this weekends referendum appears increasingly likely, these tensions show little sign of dissipating.

For the United States, Turkeys membership in the European Union is a longer-term strategic goal intended to cement Ankaras position as a key member of the North Atlantic and European bloc. However, the ruling Justice and Development Party has harnessed anti-Westernism during the campaign to galvanize public support in favor of constitutional reforms to the presidency that would, according to the AKP, increase stability, stave off future political crises, and reduce external meddling in Turkish affairs. This message builds on a rash of conspiracy theories levied against the United States and, to a lesser extent, European states surrounding their alleged involvement in last years failed coup attempt. In the wake of the failed putsch, the Turkish government jailed 47,900 people for suspected links to Fethullah Gulen, the self-exiled imam that Ankara blames for masterminding the coup. An additional 113,260 were arrested and released in the months following the coup, and of those, 41,499 have some sort of legal restrictions or cases pending.

The events of July 15, 2016, continue to reverberate in Turkish domestic politics. The most visible impact came shortly after the failed coup, when the leader of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, endorsed the yes campaign. The coup saved Bahceli, who for months had seen support for his leadership plummet, in addition to an aggressive bid by a group of insurgent Turkish nationalists to take over the party. The rogue MHP members tapped into nationalist frustration about the partys direction, following Bahceli's poor handling of coalition negotiations with the AKP after the June 2015 election. In the November re-run, the party barely passed the 10 percent threshold to enter parliament, losing 40 seats. They also won fewer seats than the Kurdish-majority Democratic Peoples Party (HDP). The MHP, therefore, was completely marginal in Turkish politics at a time when the HDP and Erdogan were still benefiting politically from a recently ended cease-fire with the Kurdistan Workers Party, an insurgent group active in Turkey since 1978.

A Political Realignment

The Turkey-PKK peace talks were held on and off between 2013 and 2015, and at one point looked set to result in the HDP giving support in parliament to Erdogans presidential proposal. This changed in June 2015, when the HDP increased its vote totals on an anti-presidential platform. The HDPs electoral performance deprived the AKP of parliamentary seats and an overall majority. In the run-up to the June 2015 vote, Erdogan criticized the peace process he once led, prompting the AKP to freeze negotiations in March of that year. In July, the PKK ended its participation in the process, just days before the Islamic State group detonated its third bomb in Turkey targeting Kurdish or Kurdish-related targets. The blast in Suruc killed 33, and prompted a PKK-allied faction to retaliate against the Turkish state. For many Kurds, it is accepted as fact that the AKP gives support to ISIS, despite evidence to the contrary. The killing of two police officers prompted retaliatory Turkish airstrikes, setting in motion a cycle of violence that continues to this day. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced from urban areas in Turkeys Kurdish-majority southeast since the resumption of violence. The conflict has also claimed the lives of 897 Turkish security personnel, along with at least 392 civilians. The HDP leadership has also been targeted, with both of the partys leaders, Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, now in jail.

The conflict has realigned Turkish politics and given Erdogan a pathway to a strengthened presidency without Kurdish support. The AKP need only maintain support from its pious Kurdish constituency -- a smaller plurality than HDP voters, but nevertheless a reliable source of support for Erdogan. The real challenge for Erdogan has been to convince MHP voters that he wont betray them and reach a political compromise with the PKK after being given more powers. The continued insurgency -- and the states heavy-handed tactics in suppressing it -- has helped solidify support for Erdogan, but suspicions remain. This is why the vote has been so close: The AKP is struggling to make deep inroads with hardcore nationalists.

To offset this weakness, the party did try to increase European turnout among the diaspora. These efforts -- combined with real concerns that Turkish religious officials were informing about fellow European citizens suspected of being sympathetic to Gulen to Turkish consular and intelligence officials -- prompted a European backlash. On top of this, the threat of European populists and anti-Muslim bigots prompted centrist politicians to sharpen their tone toward Turkey -- a politically easy thing to do, given the decline in Turkish democratic institutions in recent years. This cycle resulted in the tit-for-tat displays of nationalist bravado seen in recent months, and culminated in Turkey hurling personal insults at European leaders and repeatedly threatening to weaponize refugees.

Europe on the Ballot

Such harsh rhetoric and accusations have provided the backdrop for this weekends referendum, and there is little evidence to suggest that Sundays vote will put an end to it. President Erdogan is known to make wild foreign and domestic policy changes when he senses a political opportunity. Thus, the direction of Turkeys Kurdish issue depends on how the MHP votes on April 16. If they underperform in the polls, Erdogan may recalibrate his approach to the HDP -- a far-fetched scenario, given that the partys leadership is in jail. However, should the MHP outperform expectations and give a majority yes vote, he will be left with a new coalition with a mandate to continue with the current state of affairs. For Europe, the two issues are related, and ultimately tied to Turkeys moribund EU accession process. The Turkish electoral process has not been a fair one, making scrutiny from European-linked institutions all the more likely. Calls from European officials and experts for transparent vote counting will undoubtedly infuriate Erdogan.

The same is true of the Kurdish issue and, more broadly, rule of law questions surrounding the mass arrests following the coup. These will continue to hamper EU-Turkish relations. The accession process has been functionally dead for years. Politicians in Ankara and Brussels keep it on life support for purely self-interested reasons. For Turkey, it is a means to criticize Europe, a politically beneficial position for the never-ending campaign cycles that have dominated Turkish society in recent years. In Brussels, the consensus views the unilateral ending of the process as serving Erdogans anti-EU narrative, and therefore being self-defeating. And, thus, both sides keep pretending. The truth is that electoral dynamics in both Europe and Turkey are pushing the two sides apart. The referendum simply magnified what was obvious. The question now is how the AKP gets to greater than 50 percent, and what Erdogans new coalition may signal for the future of Turkish domestic politics, independent of the accession process.
On April 16, Turkey will hold a historic referendum on switching from a parliamentary to a presidential political system. The proposed new system and the conditions in which the campaign has taken place have been criticized internationally as well as at home. Beyond the controversies around the referendum, the combination of the populist wave in Europe and democratic backsliding in Turkey is rapidly eroding the foundations of the countrys integration with Europe.

The Venice Commission  the Council of Europes advisory body on constitutional matters  has criticized the substance of the proposed constitutional amendments, saying that the changes represent a dangerous step backwards in the constitutional democratic tradition of Turkey and stressing the dangers of degeneration of the proposed system toward an authoritarian and personal regime. It also argued that the timing is most unfortunate and is itself cause of concern: the current state of emergency does not provide for the due democratic setting for a constitutional referendum. The proposed system would lead to a concentration of power in the hands of the president with very weak checks and balances. In addition to holding all executive authority, the president would exercise power over the legislative branch and shape the judicial branch.

Moreover, the referendum campaign has been neither free nor fair, with the government using public resources for its yes campaign, governors banning campaign activities by civil society organizations, and the media is extremely imbalanced in favor of the governments campaign.

The challenge facing Turkish democracy is arguably an intensified version of the populist drive witnessed elsewhere. Poland and Hungary have adopted constitutional reforms giving the executive branch leverage over the judiciary. The new U.S. president has voiced his contempt toward judges and their decisions on multiple occasions in the short period he has been in office. Populist parties with similar agendas are challenging the democratic system in several European countries and pushing otherwise mainstream leaders to adopt similar rhetoric.

As a result of its tarnished image and the unpopularity of President Recep Tayyip ErdoA?an, Turkey has become a favorite campaigning theme for European populists. The crisis triggered by the decision of Netherlands to not allow Turkish officials to campaign among the diaspora on Dutch soil is symptomatic of just how fragile Turkeys relations with its European allies have become. But the problems are not limited to the bilateral level. While EU member states are seriously considering suspending Turkeys accession negotiations, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has called for formal monitoring of the country to be reinstated. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has reportedly replied We should await the vote on the referendum in Turkey and everything else to a question on whether negotations could be discontinued, rather than dismissing the possibility.[2]

In the context of the closely contested referendum, the reaction of the Turkish government to criticism has been anything but moderate. European governments are accused of being fascists, Nazis and crusaders on almost a daily basis during campaign rallies of the governing party. President ErdoA?an is calling on his followers to vote yes to teach Europeans a lesson and is promising to revisit relations with Europe after the referendum.

Most polls suggest a neck-and-neck contest with no certainty of winning for either side. While the result is certainly not irrelevant, the fact is that neither outcome will deliver political stability. If the proposed system is adopted, it will lead to government stability at the expense of increasing societal polarization and political tension. The massive overhaul of the political system and redistribution of bureaucratic power may also lead to frictions within the state apparatus. Moreover, as the proposed changes cannot be fully implemented before both the next parliamentary and presidential elections are held  currently scheduled for 2019  President ErdoA?an might push for early elections rather than risk a long transitionary period. On the other hand, if the referendum fails, the government will create scapegoats, including groups within the ruling AK Party and probably go for early elections to eliminate them from the parliament.

The result of the referendum will also impact Turkeys relations with its Western allies. Contrary to the rhetoric during the campaign, if the referendum succeeds President ErdoA?an can be expected to make a charm offensive toward Europe and the United States to gain recognition for the new system. From a realpolitik perspective, such recognition is not impossible given the transactional nature of U.S.Turkey and EUTurkey relations. However, some of the damage done in terms of public opinion on both sides might be irreversible in the short run and will continue poisoning the relations. If the referendum fails, domestic considerations will continue to determine Turkeys foreign policy decisions.

Turkey is in a protracted election cycle that started with the presidential election of 2014, followed by the parliamentary elections of June and November 2015, and reaching a new episode but not an end with the referendum. This cycle has produced political tension, domestic instability, an economic downturn and worsening relations with Europe and the United States. The outcome of this weeks referendum will not reverse this trend.
This article first appeared in TomDispatch.

What does an America-first foreign policy look like under President Donald Trump? As a start, forget the ancient label of isolationism. With the end of Trumps first 100 days approaching, it looks more like a military-first policy aimed at achieving global hegemony, which means its a potential doomsday machine.

Candidate Trump vowed hed make the U.S. military so strong that he wouldnt have to use it, since no one would dare attack us -- deterrence, in a word. The on-the-ground (or in-the-air) reality is already far different. President Trumps generals have begun to unleash that military in a manner the Obama administration, hardly shy about bombing or surging, deemed both excessive and risky to civilians. Last week, 59 U.S. cruise missiles(value: $60 million) pummeled an airbase in Syria, a profligate response to a chemical weapons attack in that country which may yet lead to further escalation. Meanwhile, U.S. weapons are to be sold to Sunni monarchies in the Persian Gulf with less concern than ever for human rights abuses, and the Saudis will be provided with yet more of the support they demand for their devastating war on civilians in Yemen. Doubtless further military interventions and escalations across the Greater Middle East are on that classic table in Washington where all options are supposedly kept.

Most Americans believe the spin that the U.S. military is all about deterring and preventing attacks on the homeland, especially those orchestrated by radical Islamic terrorism. Sold as a deterrent, Washingtons national security state has, in fact, exploded into something that increasingly resembles a mechanism for permanent war. Ignorant of the most basic military strategy, impulsive and bombastic, its present commander-in-chief is being enabled by bellicose advisers and the men he calls my generals, who dream of ever bigger budgets. (Even Trumps promise of a $54 billion boost to Pentagon spending this coming fiscal year isnt enough for some senior military officers.)

The Realities of Trumps New Era of Winning

Welcome to Trumps new era of winning. Its not really about ending wars, but exerting global reach/global power while selling loads of weaponry. It promises to spread or prolong chaos in Iraq, Yemen, and possibly Iran, among other countries. In the Greater Middle East, U.S.-led efforts have produced a war-torn Iraq thats splitting at the seams. U.S. drone strikes and support for an ongoing Saudi air campaign have left Yemen lurching toward famine. Syria remains a humanitarian disaster, torn by war even as additional U.S. troops are deployed there. (The Pentagon wont say how many, telling us instead to focus on capabilities rather than boots on the ground.) Further east, the never-ending war in Afghanistan is, in Pentagon-speak, stalemated, which means that the Taliban is actually gaining ground as a new Washington surge-to-nowhere looms. Looking west and south, Africa is the latest playground for the U.S. militarys special ops community as the Trump administration prepares, among other things, to ramp up operations in Somalia.

To Trump and his generals, an America-first approach to such problems actually means putting the military first, second, and third. It helps that they cant imagine the actions of that military as destabilizing. (Possible future headline: Trump destroys Syria in order to save it.) According to General Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, for instance, the country that poses the greatest long-term threat to stability in the Middle East is Iran, a sentiment seconded by retired general James Mattis, the secretary of defense.

You might excuse the Iranians, as well as the Russians and the Chinese, for thinking differently. To them, the United States is clearly the most destabilizing entity in the world. If you were Chinese or Russian or Shia Muslim, how might U.S. military activities appear to you?

* Expansionist? Check.

* Dedicated to dominance via colossal military spending and global interventionism? Check.

* Committed to economic and ideological hegemony via powerful banking and financial interests that seek to control world markets in the name of keeping them free? Check.

Wouldnt that be a logical, if unsavory, assessment? To many outsiders, U.S. leaders seem like the worlds leading armed meddlers (and arms merchants), a perception supported by soaring military action and sinking diplomacy under Trump. Serious cuts in funding loom at the State Department, even as the Pentagon budget is being boosted (yet again). To outside observers, Washingtons ambitions seem clear: global dominance, achieved and enforced by that very, very strong military that candidate Trump claimedhed never have to use, but is already employing with gusto, if not abandon.

Never Underestimate the Power of the Military-Industrial Complex

Why do Trumps America-first policies add up to military first ones? Why is the Pentagon budget, along with actual military operations, surging on his watch?

More than half a century ago, sociologist C. Wright Mills offered answers that still seem as fresh as this morning's news. In his 1958 essay, The Structure of Power in American Society, he dissected the countrys triangle of power. It consisted, he explained, of corporate leaders, senior military men, and politicians working in concert, but also in a manner that merged corporate agendas with military designs. That combination, he suggested, was degrading the ability of politicians to moderate and control corporate-military imperatives (assuming the latter even wanted to try).

The [U.S.] military order, Mills wrote, once a slim establishment [operating] in a context of civilian distrust, has become the largest and most expensive feature of government; behind smiling public relations, it has all the grim and clumsy efficiency of a great and sprawling bureaucracy. The high military have gained decisive political and economic relevance. The seemingly permanent military threat places a premium upon them and virtually all political and economic actions are now judged in terms of military definitions of reality.

For him, the danger was plain enough: the coincidence of military domain and corporate realm strengthens both of them and further subordinates the merely political man. Not the party politician, but the corporation executive, is now more likely to sit with the military to answer the question: what is to be done?

Consider the makeup of Trumps administration, a riot of billionaires and multimillionaires. His secretary of state, former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, may not be much of a diplomat. Indeed, he seems uninterested in the advice of career State Department personnel, but he does know his way around corporate boardrooms. Trumps national security adviser and his secretaries of defense and homeland security are all either serving generals or recently retired ones. In Trumps inner circle, corporate executives do indeed sit with senior military men to decide what is to be done.

Soon after Mills issued his prophetic critique of Americas power elite, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned about the growing dangers of a military-industrial complex. Since then, Ikes complex has only expanded in power. With the post-9/11 addition of the Department of Homeland Security and ever more intelligence agencies (seventeen major ones at last count), the complex only continues to grow beyond all civilian control. Its dominant position astride the government is nearly unchallengeable. Figuratively speaking, its the king of Capitol Hill.

Candidate Trump may have complained about the U.S. wasting trillions of dollars in its recent foreign conflicts, invasions, and occupations, but plenty of American corporations profited from those regime changes. After you flatten political states like Iraq, you can rearm them. When not selling weapons to them or rebuilding the infrastructure you blew up, you can exploit them for resources. Seemingly never-ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are an illustration of what happens when corporate interests merge with military imperatives.

While both Mills and Eisenhower warned of such developments, even they might have been startled by the America of 2017. By now, the post-draft, all volunteer professional military has become remarkably estranged, if not divorced, from the wider populace, a separation aggravated by an ongoing cult of the warrior within its ranks. Not only are Americans increasingly isolated from their warfighter military, but from Americas wars as well. These continue to be waged without formal congressional declarations and with next to no congressional oversight. Combine this with the Supreme Courts Citizens United decision, which translated corporate money directly into political activism, and you have what is increasingly a 1% governing system in which a billionaire president presides over the wealthiest cabinet in history in what is now a war capital, while an ever-expanding corporate-military nexus embodies the direst of fears of Mills and Eisenhower.

Americas runaway military machine has little to do these days with deterrence and much to do with the continuation of a state of permanent war. Put it all together and you have a formula for disaster.

Deterring Our Way to Doomsday

Who put Americas oil under all those Middle Eastern deserts? That was the question antiwar demonstrators asked with a certain grim humor before the invasion of Iraq. In Trumps oft-stated opinion, the U.S. should indeed have just taken Iraqs oil after the 2003 invasion. If nothing else, he said plainly what many Americans believed, and what various multinational oil companies were essentially seeking to do.

Consider here the plight of President Jimmy Carter. Nearly 40 years ago, Carter urged Americans to scale back their appetites, start conserving energy, and free themselves from a crippling dependency on foreign oil and the unbridled consumption of material goods. After critics termed it his "malaise" speech, Carter did an about-face, boosting military spending and establishing the Carter Doctrine to protect Persian Gulf oil as a vital U.S. national interest. The American people responded by electing Ronald Reagan anyway. As Americans continue to enjoy a consumption-driven lifestyle that gobbles up roughly 25% of the worlds production of fossil fuels (while representing only 3% of the worlds population), the smart money in the White House is working feverishly to open ever more fuel taps globally. Trillions of dollars are at stake.

Small wonder that, on becoming president, Trump acted quickly to speed the building of new pipelines delayed or nixed by President Obama while ripping up environmental protections related to fossil fuel production. Accelerated domestic production, along with cooperation from the Saudis -- Trumps recent Muslim bans carefully skipped targeting the one country that provided 15 of the 19 terrorists in the 9/11 attacks -- should keep fuel flowing, profits growing, and world sea levels rising.

One data point here: The U.S. military alone guzzles more fossil fuel than the entire country of Sweden. When it comes to energy consumption, our armed forces are truly second to none.

With its massive oil reserves, the Middle East remains a hotbed in the worlds ongoing resource wars, as well as its religious and ethnic conflicts, exacerbated by terrorism and the destabilizing attacks of the U.S. military. Under the circumstances, when it comes to future global disaster, its not that hard to imagine that todays Middle East could serve as the equivalent of the Balkans of World War I infamy.

If Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian Black Hand terrorist operating in a war-torn and much-disputed region, could set the world aflame in 1914, why not an ISIS terrorist just over a century later? Consider the many fault lines today in that region and the forces involved, including Russia, Turkey, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, all ostensibly working together to combat terrorism even as they position themselves to maximize their own advantage and take down one another. Under such circumstances, a political temblor followed by a geo-political earthquake seems unbearably possible. And if not an ISIS temblor followed by major quake in the Middle East, theres no shortage of other possible global fault lines in an increasingly edgy world -- from saber-rattling contests with North Korea to jousting over Chinese-built artificial islands in the South China Sea.

As an historian, Ive spent much time studying the twentieth-century German military. In the years leading up to World War I, Germany was emerging as the superpower of its day, yet paradoxically it imagined itself as increasingly hemmed in by enemies, a nation surrounded and oppressed. Its leaders especially feared a surging Russia. This fear drove them to launch a preemptive war against that country. (Admittedly, they attacked France first in 1914, but thats another story.) That incredibly risky and costly war, sparked in the Balkans, failed disastrously and yet it would only be repeated on an even more horrific level 25 years later. The result: tens of millions of dead across the planet and a total defeat that finally put an end to German designs for global dominance. The German military, praised as the worlds best by its leaders and sold to its people as a deterrent force, morphed during those two world wars into a doomsday machine that bled the country white, while ensuring the destruction of significant swaths of the planet.

Today, the U.S. military similarly praises itself as the worlds best, even as it imagines itself surrounded by powerful threats (China, Russia, a nuclear North Korea, and global terrorism, to start a list). Sold to the American people during the Cold War as a deterrent force, a pillar of stability against communist domino-tippers, that military has by now morphed into a potential tipping force all its own.

Recall here that the Trump administration has reaffirmed Americas quest for overwhelming nuclear supremacy. It has called for a "new approach" to North Korea and its nuclear weapons program. (Whatever that may mean, its not a reference to diplomacy.) Even as nuclear buildups and brinksmanship loom, Washington continues to spread weaponry -- its the greatest arms merchant of the twenty-first century by a wide mark -- and chaos around the planet, spinning its efforts as a war on terror and selling them as the only way to win.

In May 1945, when the curtain fell on Germanys last gasp for global dominance, the world was fortunately still innocent of nuclear weapons. Its different now. Todays planet is, if anything, over-endowed with potential doomsday machines -- from those nukes to the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

Thats why its vitally important to recognize that President Trumps America-first policies are anything but isolationist in the old twentieth century meaning of the term; that his talk of finally winning again is a recipe for prolonging wars guaranteed to create more chaos and more failed states in the Greater Middle East and possibly beyond; and that an already dangerous Cold War policy of deterrence, whether against conventional or nuclear attacks, may now have become a machine for perpetual war that could, given Trumps bellicosity, explode into some version of doomsday.

Or, to put the matter another way, consider this question: Is North Koreas Kim Jong-un the only unstable leader with unhinged nuclear ambitions currently at work on the world stage?
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Dakota Meyer says his pregnant wife Bristol Palin is "the most amazing woman."

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The 28-year-old Marine Corps veteran shared a photo of Palin getting an ultrasound Wednesday and gushed about the 26-year-old television personality in the caption.

"I couldn't ask for a better person to be the mother of my children. She's the most amazing woman on earth and I'm so glad she chose me. Thank you for being my wife @bsmp2 #mywifeisamazing," he wrote on Instagram.

Meyer already shares 15-month-old daughter Sailor Grace with Palin, who is also mom to 8-year-old son Tripp Mitchell with ex-fiance Levi Johnston.

The couple confirmed in December that they are expecting again in the spring.

"We are so excited to announce that our family is expanding!" the pair said. "God has blessed us so much; we are thankful for His grace and new beginnings. A springtime baby in the Meyer home and we can't wait!"

Meyer and Palin married in June after calling off their first engagement in 2015. The television personality announced in January that she and Meyer are having another daughter.

"Dakota and Tripp are officially outnumbered," she wrote. "So excited to let you all know, ITS A GIRL!!"

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Palin is the eldest daughter of 2008 vice presidential candidate and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin

In addition to appearing on her mom's show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska," she also competed on "Dancing with the Stars" and starred in her own short-lived "Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp" reality series.
Kim Richards says she once dated President Donald Trump.

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The 52-year-old reality star confirmed in a preview for Part 2 of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" Season 7 reunion that she had dinner with the 70-year-old businessman before he married wife Melania Trump

"Yes," she said after host Andy Cohen asked if she ever dated the president. "Let's not get into it. I had dinner with him."

"The Real Housewives" star Lisa Vanderpump pressed Richards for more details, but the television personality refused to say if she had sex with Trump.

"Can't we just leave it at this? I'm not going to get [into it]. I don't want to talk about the president," she protested.

Trump was twice-divorced when he married Melania in 2005.

Richards was wed to Monty Brinson from 1985 to 1988 and to Gregg Davis from 1988 to 1991, and remained close with Brinson up until his death.

"Missing You today Monty My Best Friend, I love you with all my heart & soul," the star wrote in January on the one-year anniversary of Brinson's death. "I cherish each & every memory we shared."

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Richards' story follows actress Emma Thompson 's claim that Trump once asked her out.

Richards guest starred on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" Season 7, which will air Part 2 of the reunion Tuesday, April 18.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/13/2017



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum Lesley Murphy is currently recovering from a double mastectomy and has shared a post-op photo of herself in the hospital.Murphy, who competed on Season 17 of starring Sean Lowe when she worked as a political consultant, posted an Instagram picture on Wednesday of herself sleeping in a hospital bed following "preventative surgery."Murphy opted to go under the knife after testing positive for the BRCA2 genetic mutation, which put her at a high risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer."Day 1 post op. Oouuuchh... My boobs are gone. Crazy, right? Gone. It's hard to wrap my head around," Murphy captioned the image in which she had an IV in her hand and an oxygen tube around her ears."My mom took this photo when I first arrived to my hospital room after surgery. It was hard to breathe. My chest was super tight and still is. There are so many tubes hooked up to me and lots of beeping noises... My doctors and nurses come by all the time to check on my vitals and give me pills to ease the pain."The 29-year-old blonde beauty had her operation done at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Hospital in Little Rock, and she praised her caretakers."I really love the people here. Everyone is SO nice at @uamshealth. The staff and level of care is topnotch. There is a chance I could go home tonight, but truth be told, I'm not so sure I want to! The grilled cheese and coconut chocolate cake make me happy. Moving hurts. I tried getting out of bed for the first time about an hour ago. I don't want to do it again but know I have to," Murphy explained.It was also apparently difficult for Murphy to process what her body went through at first."I finally caught a glimpse of my bare chest during a FaceTime call a couple of minutes ago. Whoa. It looks like I was in a bear fight and lost. Badly. The human body is truly amazing, though, and I will heal soon enough," Murphy wrote."I am overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from friends, family, followers and complete strangers. So so overwhelmed. You guys know how to make a bruised and weak woman feel on top of the world. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your prayers, well wishes and good vibes are working."Murphy added a praying-hands emoji to the end of her vulnerable and heartfelt Instagram post.Murphy revealed last month she had decided to undergo the "preventative surgery," saying she was willing to take such drastic measures at her age because she watched her mother battle breast cancer."I hope to grow up to be like her. And this is me trying," the travel blogger shared on social media at the time. "So I think the right move is just to take care of it right now and do the double mastectomy... I'm not getting any younger."On Lowe's season in 2013, Murphy, 25-years-old at the time, was eliminated just before hometown dates during the seventh episode because Lowe felt the Washington, D.C. native wasn't opening up fully or fast enough to match where his heart was in the process.
SAO PAULO, Brazil, April 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brazils vast geography, complex tax system, and end-of-the-month demand spikes create major challenges for consumer packaged goods (CPG) companieschallenges that require unconventional approaches to supply chain management, according to a new report by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The report, titled Six Strategies for Beating Brazils Supply Chain Complexities, is being released today.



The report, based on a study of the 17 leading CPG companies in Brazillocal entities as well as multinational corporationsfound that those that bucked conventional practices were most successful at managing inventory, containing warehousing and transportation costs, minimizing customer cycle times, and achieving high case-fill rates.

The differences between the top- and bottom-quartile performers were significant: inventory levels varied by a factor of 14; transportation costs, by a factor of 34; and warehousing costs, by a factor of 40, for example.

In Brazil, the standard supply chain tradeoffslike sacrificing service for economies of scale or paying more for transportation for direct store deliverydont always apply, said Flavio Magalhaes, a BCG partner and coauthor of the report. Companies have to be creative and resourceful if they want to capture market share profitably.

Three Major Hurdles

Brazils sheer size and far-flung population create a high degree of channel fragmentation. For example, 26% of all beauty and personal care products are sold via direct sales, a far greater percentage than in most other leading markets, such as the US, China, and India. Food and beverage products are sold predominantly by independent retailers, which account for about 40% of total revenue, unlike in other major markets, where large retailers predominate. CPG companies that sell mostly through direct sales or direct store delivery face higher costs and inventory levels. Between the highly fragmented sales channels and the vast geographic areas to be covered, its hard to achieve economies of scale, said Flavia Takey, a BCG principal and coauthor of the report.

Tax regimes throughout Brazils 26 states vary greatly and are complex. Rates depend not only on the category of goods but also on origin and destination. Moreover, tax rates change frequently, in part because taxes on the movement of goods are a critical revenue source for state governments. For example, a company in Sao Paulo shipping its product to Rio de Janeiro would pay about 12% in value-added tax, but if the destination state was Goias, the tax would be only 7%. For CPG companies, taxes represent a much higher share of costs than logistics does. As a result, they have a greater-than-usual impact on network optimization in Brazil, creating inefficiencies and requiring frequent redesign efforts.

Demand for products is highly concentrated at the end of the month, largely because of sales incentives that CPG sales teams offer their customers to meet monthly targets. This concentration of demand commonly causes excess inventory, big fluctuations in warehouse utilization, and high transportation costs.

Six Winning Strategies

Drawing on the resourceful tactics of the top-performing companies, along with BCGs client experience, the report outlines six holistic strategies for overcoming Brazils supply chain hurdles.

Seek portfolio simplicity.

Segment the supply chain.

Gain agility by integrating sales and operations planning.

Make the supply chain more flexible.

Collaboratewith retailers (and not just the biggest key accounts), industry peers, and third-party logistics providersto generate added value.

Stay focused on operational excellence.

Across the total sampleincluding even the top performersthe authors identified potential savings of up to 20% in total supply chain costs and up to 20% in inventory reduction that could result from these strategies.

Any individual strategy will deliver improvements, the report states, but sustainable success calls for applying these strategies in combination. CPG companies of any size can achieve greater service levels without hurting profitability.

Thats even more critical today, as the country continues to grapple with an ailing economy and political turbulence, said Magalhaes. Any company that can weather these difficult times and take action beyond simple cost-cutting measures will be better positioned to win over the long run.

A copy of the report can be downloaded here.

To arrange an interview with one of the authors, please contact Eric Gregoire at +1 617 850 3783 or gregoire.eric@bcg.com.

About The Boston Consulting Group

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the worlds leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in all regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with 85 offices in 48 countries. For more information, please visit bcg.com.

About bcgperspectives.com

Bcgperspectives.com features the latest thinking from BCG experts as well as from CEOs, academics, and other leaders. It covers issues at the top of senior managements agenda. It also provides unprecedented access to BCGs extensive archive of thought leadership stretching back 50 years to the days of Bruce Henderson, the firms founder and one of the architects of modern management consulting. All of our contentincluding videos, podcasts, commentaries, and reportscan be accessed by PC, mobile, iPad, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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Regulated information - Brussels, Paris, 14 April 2017 - 8 am

Invitation to attend the Ordinary General Meeting and an Extraordinary General Meeting of Dexia SA

The Ordinary General Meeting and an Extraordinary General Meeting of Dexia SA will be held on Wednesday 17 May 2017 at 2:30 pm at the registered office of Dexia at Place du Champ de Mars 5, 1050 Brussels. Reception will be open from 1:30 pm, and shareholders may register between 1:30 and 2:15 pm.

The invitation to attend the General Meetings containing the agenda and the proposed resolutions has been published today in the official journals and in the Belgian, French and Luxembourg press.

All appropriate documents are available on the company's internet site at: http://www.dexia.com/EN/shareholder_investor/general_meeting/AG2017/Pages/default.aspx, and include:

the invitation brochure,

the annual report 2016,

the attendance, correspondence voting and proxy forms.

Any question relating to the meetings may be sent to the company at the following email address shareholder@dexia.com
Of all the meal plans UGA offers, the commuter meal plan may be the most convenient for those who do not live on campus. According to UGA Dini
In response to student desire and opinion, the Office of Auxiliary Services is beginning the process of revising and adding to the meal plan.
'I will be happy if walls are built between India and China!'

'We are going to nooks and corners of the country to make ordinary people realise the need to buy Indian goods so that our workers get jobs.'

Dr Ashwani Mahajan, All India co-convenor of the Swadesh Jaagran Manch, which is aligned with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, discusses globalisation, trhe recent high Delhi court against Monsanto, the threat posed by MNCs in retail and other economic issues with Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.

With the US talking about swadeshi and protectionism, are we going back from a globalised world to an insular one where there is going to be walls between countries?

If it happens, it will be good for all nations.

When I visited the US, UK and other European countries, I saw that all their factories were closed and people were unemployed.

The unemployment rate of youth in European countries and the US is 16 per cent. If this is the case, who is benefiting from globalisation?

It is not that nobody is benefitting, countries like China and India have benefitted...

If somebody is cornering 50 per cent of the wealth of the poor, can you put humanity at risk?

If everybody is getting a job in China because they are able to sell, the average American, Britisher and European is at a loss.

More than that, only a few companies from the US have benefited from globalisation.

Similarly, in India also, it is not the average Indian who has benefited from globalisation.

As per the government report, in 1990, 78 per cent of the value addition used to go to the workers in India, but today, only 41 per cent goes to the workers.

I will be happy if walls are built between nations, say between India and China!

2017 has been called the anti-China year by the Swadeshi Jaagran Manch.

We are going to nooks and corners of the country to get signatures from ordinary people to make them realise the need to buy Indian goods so that our workers get jobs.

When the consumer asks if I can get something at a cheaper price, why shouldn't I buy it? The answer is, the consumer is not just a consumer; he is a producer of something too.

The Delhi high court recently ruled that Monsanto Technology LLC's termination of its sub-licence agreement with Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd was 'illegal and arbitrary.'.

The court reinstated the agreement, but said that the royalty or trait fee payable for the use of Monsanto's patented Bt cotton technology would be as per government stipulations.

It meant that the government had the right to fix the price of the seeds.

Dr Mahajan, bottom, left, explained the consequences of the judgment to Rediff.com

Monsanto lost the case against Nuziveedu Seeds in the Delhi high court. What kind of impact will it have on the Indian seeds market?

This will not bar Monsanto from selling Bt cotton seeds in India. But the court has made the point that the government's decision to fix the price is the right one and that seeds cannot be patented.

It means while Monsanto enjoys the right over the trade, the government has the right to fix the price.

Monsanto has been exploiting Indian farmers by creating a monopoly on Bt cotton seeds in India.

In the process, they have collected nearly Rs 7,000 crore (Rs 70 billion) from poor cotton farmers for a trait which they themselves offered for a onetime payment of only Rs 18 crore (Rs 180 million) to the Indian government.

The failure of Monsanto's varieties in India itself is an indicator that the local germplasm is more important than the Bt trait brought by Monsanto for enhancement of cotton yields.

Through false propaganda they have exploited our farmers for about 15 years.

Does that mean Monsanto's monopoly will end?

Only to some extent. They cannot bar others from using it, as the court verdict says. Anybody can make use of this trait after giving them a fair value.

The court has upheld the government's action of fixing the price.

Is this a landmark judgment?

Yes, it is.

Over the years, the company has misled the industry and the farmers that they enjoyed the right over the trait and that they could sell at a price they wished.

Then the government intervened and the intervention has been upheld by the court.

So, now the government can further reduce the price and Monsanto will have no say in it.

Now that the government has the right to fix the price, do you think multinational companies will lose interest in the Indian market?

I really hope so.

We are not against technology, but at the same time, our farmers should not be subjected to this kind of situation.

Why do you give agricultural research and development of seeds to the private sector, that too to multinationals? Why can't you do it here?

The government should spend more money on agricultural research so that our farmers benefit.

I was told that the total cost of production of Bt cotton seed is hardly Rs 50 per packet, but they charge Rs 450 and more.

You accused the bureaucrats and the government of not implementing the the law of the land and protecting the interests of the farmers. What do you mean by this?

If you see the chain of events in the past 15 years from the time Bt cotton has been introduced, they were allowed to exploit farmers.

The seed that was sold at around Rs 70 in China was sold in India for Rs 1,200.

Our cotton farmers are already in distress and on top of that, Monsanto was charging very high for the seeds, but the government didn't do its duty.

I would say they were serving the interests of the multinational companies.

It was this government that decided to control the price which naturally was not liked by Monsanto.

They went to court against the government's decision, but the court has now told them that it was the government's right to control the price.

As per the Indian Patent Act, seeds are not patentable.

According to the Act, farmers have the right to use, exchange and sell seeds. This is precisely why we at the Swadeshi Jaagran Manch oppose GM (Genetically Modified) seeds and the monopoly multinational companies have in the seed sector. They want everything to be monopolised.

From when do we have this Act?

This Act was passed after the WTO (World Trade Organisation) regulations came.

Before WTO, there was no such protection. After that, it was made mandatory for India to change its IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) regime.

Under this, the Indian Patent Act 1970 was amended, and it was clearly written that seeds or any living organism would not be patentable and it would be covered under the Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act.

We (the Swadeshi Jagran Manch) played a big role in changing the laws. I presented the case to the chairman of the then committee looking after the Act and the name of the Act was changed from the Plants and Breeders Rights Act to the Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act.

All 12 amendments were mooted by the SJM and in 2004, an ordinance was issued.

I would say Bt cotton seed is a seed of destruction.

We have always said that the right over the seeds should lie with the farmers as seeds are their lifeline.

It also affects the food security of a country.

If you give the ownership of seeds to multinational companies, we are actually handing over our food security to them.

Is this the case in other countries also?

It is misinformation spread by these companies that GM seeds are used all over the world.

No, European countries do not allow these companies to bring in GM.

You see GM is mainly in five countries: The US, Canada, Australia, Japan and India. In general, most parts of the world are against GM seeds.

It is said that not only Bt cotton seeds, these companies want to introduce other seeds also in the Indian market...

Yes, that is what they want to do. Only because of our opposition they have not been able to do so.

They say that GM mustard is developed by a public sector undertaking.

When we opposed GM mustard, these MNCs were issuing statements against us saying we were misleading the people.

In fact, under the guise of a public sector undertaking, the MNCs are trying to operate.

We proved that GM mustard had two genes patented by Bayer, an MNC company.

Basically, they are trying to monopolise the Indian seeds market and the food security of our country.

If they are allowed to have their way, our food security will be in danger.

We don't have any cotton seeds left now. Similarly, we will not have any mustard seeds and other seeds too soon.

Another objection the Swadeshi Jaagran Manch has is the entry of MNCs in the food processing industry.

For more than 20 years, we have been hearing about the need to invest in food processing units as fruits and vegetables go waste.

As this is the case, if some companies were to invest in food processing units, what is the problem?

I will tell you it is a misnomer that in India fruits and vegetables go waste.

I would say every single vegetable is used by people in India.

When you go to a sabzi mandi in a village, you will see the best vegetables are sold in the shops during the day, but when you go at night, you will see poor people buying the not so fresh vegetables.

So, every gram of vegetable is consumed by the people in India.

What the MNCs want is under the guise of food processing, they want to push FDI (foreign direct investment) in retail and marketing of agricultural produce.

I have read a report by the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation that the major reason for wastage of fruits and vegetables is the multinational corporation of organised retailers in the US and Europe.

They buy fruits and vegetables from farmers and discard most of the produce under some pretext or the other.

This is the way a major part of the produce is wasted, the FAO report says.

In European countries, wastage is around 220 kg per annum whereas in Asian countries like India, it is hardly 125 kg.

You know what will happen after you have FDI in retail?

Manufacturing will go to China, ownership to America while our youth will become sales girls and sales boys.

TOP IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in Goa, October 2016. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Other photographs: Amit Dave/Reuters and Munish Sharma/Reuters
The right actions may help reduce this trust deficit.

But what we have today is over-enthusiastic vigilante groups targeting the minorities over beef or 'love jihad,' against whom the government does little apart from meek condemnation, says Utkarsh Mishra.

From Modi to Yogi, the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party have waged a war against the practice of triple talaq. Their 'conviction' to end the 'miseries of Muslim women' and getting them their rights is unprecedented.

That the ideological heirs of those who, more than half-a-century ago were opposed to similar rights being given to Hindu women are showing such 'conviction' is definitely a change for the better.

If he had seen such vehement support for 'social reform' among the Hindu right, Dr B R Ambedkar would have been very happy. He would have possibly excused them for stonewalling the Hindu Code Bills, which forced him to resign as India's law minister in anguish.

The demand to abolish the practice of triple talaq is not limited to the Hindu right. Muslim women have filed petitions in the Supreme Court against the practice, it has been criticised by women politicians across party lines, and most recently by Salma Ansari, Vice-President Mohammed Hamid Ansari's wife -- she said the practice does not have Quranic sanction.

On one hand, there are Muslim women who are genuinely the victims of this practice, and on the other, there are those who ask that if Pakistan and several other Muslim majority countries can do away with this practice, why can't Indian Muslims?

But the All India Muslim Personal Law Board refuses to give in. Each time a demand is made to abolish triple talaq, the AIMPLB defends the practice even more vehemently.

How do we break the ice then? Dr Ambedkar seems to have an answer.

In his book Pakistan, or the Partition of India, Dr Ambedkar touched upon the many 'social evils' of Hindu and Muslim societies and explained why a determined effort to get rid of them was not being made.

There are four parts of his argument: What the conservatives say in defence of such practices; why their argument fails to convince the seekers of reforms; what reasons are generally given for Muslim society to largely staying away from reforms; and why Indian Muslims actually resist these reforms.

Reading his arguments also makes it clear why most Muslims in India will always doubt the Hindu right's 'conviction' to bring about such reforms, no matter how many times it is said that large numbers of Muslim women vote for the BJP to support the 'fight' against triple talaq.

Regarding the arguments given in defence of such practices as triple talaq, Dr Ambedkar writes:

'It is held out that marriage among the Musalmans is a contract. Being a contract, the husband has a right to divorce his wife, and the Muslim Law has provided ample safeguards for the wife which, if availed of, would place the Muslim wife on the same footing as the husband in the matter of divorce. For it is claimed that the wife under the Muslim Law can, at the time of the marriage, or even thereafter in some cases, enter into a contract by which she may under certain circumstances obtain a divorce.'

Such an argument is in stark contrast with the real situation, because 'No Muslim girl has the courage to repudiate her marriage, although it may be open to her on the ground that she was a child and that it was brought about by persons other than her parents... No Muslim wife will think it proper to have a clause entered into her marriage contract reserving her the right to divorce...'

'While she cannot repudiate the marriage, the husband can always do it, without having to show any cause. Utter the word "Tallak" and observe continence for three weeks, and the woman is cast away. The only restraint on his caprice is the obligation to pay dower. If the dower has already been remitted, his right to divorce is a matter of his sweet will.'

'This latitude in the matter of divorce destroys that sense of security which is so fundamental for a full, free and happy life for a woman. This insecurity of life to which a Muslim woman is exposed is greatly augmented by the right of polygamy and concubinage, which the Muslim Law gives to the husband.'

At this point, one must take note, especially those who attach so much importance to this issue, that only because such practices have religious sanction, '...one must not suppose they are indulged in by the generality of Muslims.'

...Still the fact remains that they are privileges which are easy for a Muslim to abuse to the misery and unhappiness of his wife.'

So why do Muslims oppose the abolition of such a practice? Dr Ambedkar says the usual reasons given is that the Muslims all over the world are an unprogressive people.

'This view no doubt accords with the facts of history. After the first spurts of their activity, the scale of which was undoubtedly stupendous, leading to the foundations of vast empires -- the Muslims suddenly fell into a strange condition of torpor, from which they never seem to have become awake.'

'This answer, though obvious, cannot be the true answer. If it were the true answer, how are we to account for the stir and ferment that is going on in all Muslim countries outside India, where the spirit of inquiry, the spirit of change and the desire to reform are noticeable in every walk of life?'

'Indeed, the social reforms which have taken place in Turkey have been of the most revolutionary character. If Islam has not come in the way of the Muslims of these countries, why should it come in the way of the Muslims of India?'

Here comes the question which many in India ask today, that if Muslim majority countries can end this practice, what stops India for doing so? Well, the answer lies in their being Muslim majority countries. As Dr Ambedkar writes, 'It seems to me that the reason for the absence of the spirit of change in the Indian Musalman is to be sought in the peculiar position he occupies in India. He is placed in a social environment which is predominantly Hindu. That Hindu environment is always silently but surely encroaching upon him. He feels that it is de-musalmanising him.'

'As a protection against this gradual weaning away, he is led to insist on preserving everything that is Islamic without caring to examine whether it is helpful or harmful to his society.'

'Secondly, the Muslims in India are placed in a political environment which is also predominantly Hindu. He feels that he will be suppressed and that political suppression will make the Muslims a depressed class. It is this consciousness that he has to save himself from being submerged by the Hindus socially and politically, which to my mind is the primary cause why the Indian Muslims as compared with their fellows outside are backward in the matter of social reform.'

'If the Muslims in other countries have undertaken the task of reforming their society and the Muslims of India have refused to do so, it is because the former are free from communal and political clashes with rival communities, while the latter are not..'

This trust deficit has only deepened by the words and actions of the Hindutva forces over the years. A massive mandate in a couple of elections is not going to bridge this gap overnight.

The right actions may help reduce this trust deficit. But what we have today is over-enthusiastic vigilante groups targeting minorities over beef or 'love jihad,' against whom the government does little apart from meek condemnation.

Who then will trust them with reforming their society?

And do they actually want reform, or is it just their holier-than-thou attitude?

The torchbearers of the 'fight' against triple talaq must be the Muslim women affected by it and the youth. Even if it is not struck down by a court of law, they should launch a campaign to urge their brethren to stop practising it.

Only they can do it. Only if, as social media suggests, the youth hasn't become more communal than previous generations.
'Now is the time for India, our biggest neighbour and oldest friend, to bring the full array of international policy instruments to bear.'

Ahmed Naseem, the exiled former foreign minister of the Maldives, tells Rediff.com contributor Rajeev Sharma why it is important that India take the lead in addressing the unrest in his country.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, with Maldives President Abdulla Yameen at the SAARC Summit in 2014.

Ahmed Naseem of the ousted MDP says, "It is time for India to spearhead the international community to discourage the regime in Maldives (from engaging in unconstitutional acts)."

Photograph: Niranjan Shrestha/Reuters

The Maldives is at a turning point and the direction it chooses to turn in will be of tremendous importance to India.

In the concluding part of his interview with Rediff.com, former Maldivian foreign minister Ahmed Naseem (pictured below) -- a close aide of exiled former president Mohammed Nasheed -- acknowledges India's efforts in his country, but suggests that New Delhi needs to do more and in double quick time.

Part 1 of the interview: Why the Maldives local council elections are so important

Your party, the Maldivian Democratic Party, has been bemoaning the lack of Indian proactivism in Maldives. But why should you blame the international community when it is your fight, your battle?

Ascertaining through being engaged and informed that a country keeps to international and bilateral treaty obligations is not tantamount to meddling in internal matters of that neighbour.

In fact, the present regime in power in the Maldives has been serially violating international treaty obligations as well as its own constitution and laws.

We look up to India for leadership in matters that involve the security of the region.

I also believe that a large and longtime friend like India would have proportionate institutionalised methods of engagement, which would be active even now.

I do not doubt India's intelligence and monitoring capabilities, and hence I am confident that India is cognisant of the situation in the Maldives.

What according to you has India not done -- and should have done -- for the Maldives?

We have heard much voicing of concern from India as well as the international community, but some of us may point to a lack of information or statements of a foreign engagement on a progressive result oriented time-frame.

It is a widely held belief that India, as the largest country in the region, should take the lead, and with the support of other neighbours apply more pressure on concerned Maldives institutions to respect recommendations of agencies of the United Nations.

These include the findings of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, to release former president Mohamed Nasheed and former defence minister Colonel Mohamed Nazim and facilitate compensation for them.

Are you saying that India has done precious little?

I believe India is already active through a number of channels, albeit unpublicised, to prevail upon the Maldives government to respect international treaty expectations, and adhere to its own constitution and laws.

How does the situation in the Maldives impact India, according to you?

The growing influence of the strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam, leading to hardline militancy and radicalisation among sections of Maldivian society also should raise alarm in India, and as such they should increase cooperation with the government as well as the Opposition in tallying and sharing intelligence.

Radicalised Maldivians had been involved in the Mumbai attacks of 2008, and groups of radicalised Maldivian youth had been held in Pakistan while engaging in an armed assault.

More than 200 Maldivians, many of who are expected to eventually return, are presently fighting in Syria.

What, according to you, should be India's next move?

The UN Charter provides a legal foundation for taking action to maintain international peace and security.

It is time for India to spearhead the international community to discourage the regime in the Maldives to engage in opportunistic acts of aggression such as entering into pacts that compromises the Maldives land and territory with non-regional countries, in order to influence the regional balance of power.

A guiding principle for the international community to whether lend assistance in effecting democratic reform in a country is helping those who help themselves.

If most people as well as top political leaders in a country accept a common agenda of effecting amendments to the constitutional reversals and bring about changes to independent institutions, it is not meddling by a neighbouring country to be supportive in effecting those reforms, especially as supporters of PPM and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the Jumhooree Party, the Adhaalath Party and the MDP represent over 85 per cent of the voting population in the Maldives.

Now is the time for India, our biggest neighbour and oldest friend, to bring the full array of international policy instruments to bear, including, if only stating threats of, economic sanctions against prima facie evidence of gross violations of international treaties, corruption and money laundering.

Rajeev Sharma, an independent journalist and strategic analyst, tweets @Kishkindha

Please scroll down for more exclusive stories from Maldives.
Having reclaimed power in Uttar Pradesh after 15 years, the Bharatiya Janata Party will now turn its focus to the states where it has been traditionally weak but which are critical to determine its fortune in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as its national executive meet begins in Odisha on Saturday.

Gaining strength in the eastern states, including West Bengal, is on the top of BJP president Amit Shahs to-do list now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, besides Shah himself are likely to give a call for pushing the party's expansion in the new territories.

After arriving in Bhubaneswar, Shah paid tributes to Dalit icon Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary and later joined his state party colleagues in celebrating the Odia new year. The BJP organised a motorcycle rally to welcome him.

He was also presented with a garland of 74 "victory flowers", a reference to the majority mark in the 147-seat Odisha assembly.

The BJP has also planned a virtual road show for Modi when he arrives in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. He is likely to be greeted at several places on his road travel from airport to Raj Bhavan, where he will stay.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan called Odisha a "laboratory" of the pro-poor policies of the Modi government as he hit out at the state government a day before the executive begins.

Modi will also felicitate the members of 16 families associated with an 1817 rebellion in Odisha against the British rule.

Continuing with the BJP's Dalit outreach, the party has named the venue of its executive meet after noted Odia poet and reformer Bhima Bhoi. Dalits constitute over 17 per cent of the state's electorate and have never been traditional voters of the saffron party, which is now wooing them aggressively.

Internal squabbles in the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal and continued decline of the Congress have presented the saffron party with an opportunity for growth in the state and its top leadership is likely to to pull out all stops to woo the voters.

Coming against the backdrop of a massive saffron sweep in Uttar Pradesh besides a decent show in recent bypolls, the meeting of party leaders from across the country is set to fete Modi and Shahs leadership, and project the victories as a popular endorsement of the central government, sources said.

IMAGE: Odisha BJP President Bsanta Panda and senior leader K V Singhdeo welcome party national president Amit Shah on his arrival at the airport in Bhubaneswar. Photograph: PTI Photo
An independent MLA in Maharashtra put his foot in his mouth while trying to refute perceived links between alcoholism and farmers' suicide.

Actress Hema Malini "drinks heavily" but she hasn't committed suicide yet, blurted out Omprakash Babarao alias `Bacchu' Kadu, an independent MLA from Achalapur in Amravati district on Thursday.

Kadu made the remark while speaking about farmers' plight at an event in Nanded district of Marathwada.

Congress leader Narayan Rane had recently termed drinking as one of the reasons for farmers' suicide, while Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had said excessive spending by farmers on son's or daughter's marriage leads to indebtedness in some cases.

Trying to rebut this perception, Kadu said, "75 per cent of MLAs, MPs, journalists drink... even Hema Malini drinks heavily... but have they committed suicide?

"Rs 4 crore were spent on the marriage of Gadkari's son, should we now wait for him to commit suicide?" he said.

As the comment drew sharp reactions, Kadu tried to defend himself. He was talking about Hema Malini's drinking "in films and not in her personal life," he said, speaking to reporters at Osmanabad on Friday.

Kadu is no stranger to controversies. Last year he was arrested for allegedly assaulting an official at the state secretariat in Mumbai. The secretariat staff had gone on strike demanding action against him.

As per the government data, over 200 farmers have committed suicide in Marathwada region of Maharashtra in the first three months of 2017.
Houston, April 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shell Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SHLX) will host a conference call on Friday, May 5th at 9:00 a.m. CT to discuss 2017 first-quarter financial results.

Shell Midstream Partners participants will be John Hollowell, president and chief executive officer, Shawn Carsten, chief financial officer, and Kevin Nichols, vice president commercial.

Interested parties may listen to the conference call on the partnership's website at www.shellmidstreampartners.com by clicking on the "2017 First-Quarter Financial Results" link in the "Events & Conference" section. Financial information, including the earnings release and other investor-related material, will also be available online. A replay of the webcast will be posted on the partnerships website following the event.

###

About Shell Midstream Partners, L.P.

Shell Midstream Partners, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a fee-based, growth-oriented midstream master limited partnership formed by Royal Dutch Shell to own, operate, develop and acquire pipelines and other midstream assets. Shell Midstream Partners' assets consist of pipelines, crude tank storage and terminal systems that serve as key infrastructure to transport and store onshore and offshore crude oil production to Gulf Coast and Midwest refining markets and to deliver refined products from Gulf Coast markets to major demand centers.

Inquiries:

Shell Media Relations

Americas: +1 713 241 4544

Shell Investor Relations

North America: +1 832 337 2034
India on Friday said that it would appeal against the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav and demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the chargesheet as well as the army court order in the case, besides seeking consular access to the retired Indian navy officer.

This was conveyed by Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale to Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua during a meeting sought by him.

"We would definitely go to appeal against the judgment but we cannot do it unless we have the details of charges and the copy of verdict. So, my first demand was to provide us the details of the chargesheet and copy of the verdict," he said.

Expressing disappointment over Pakistan turning down India's request for consular access to Jadhav, the Indian envoy said, "They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have forcefully asked for consular access on the basis of international law and on humanitarian grounds as he is an Indian national."

Apart from diplomatic options, India is also exploring legal remedies permitted under Pakistan's legal system.

Bambawale also said that he has no information about former Pakistani army officer Mohammad Habib who reportedly went missing from Nepal. Pakistani officials suspect that Indian spy agencies were behind his disappearance.

The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General 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. However, India denied Pakistan's contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by the Pakistan authorities.

India had made it clear to Pakistan that given the circumstances of the case, absence of any credible evidence to substantiates the concocted charges against Jadhav, farcical nature of the proceedings against him and denial of consular access to him, the people and the government of India will consider carrying out of the army court verdict as a "premeditated murder".

Pakistan on Friday rejected India's accusation that there was no credible evidence against Jadhav, and warned that "inflammatory" statements over his death sentence would only result in escalation of tension in the bilateral ties.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that due process of law was followed in Jadhav's trial.

Aziz in a detailed statement read out to the media at the foreign office said that India through its reaction was aggravating the situation.

Rejecting the Indian accusation of unfair trial, Aziz said that the first FIR against was lodged on April 8, 2016 by police's counter terrorism department in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.

He said detailed trial was held and all relevant laws including Evidence Act and recording of statement before a magistrate were followed. Jadhav was also provided legal assistance.

"Kulbhushan Jhadav, who is responsible for espionage, sabotage and terrorism in Pakistan, has been tried according to the law of the land, in a fully transparent manner while preserving his rights, as per the Constitution of Pakistan," he said.

"His sentence is based on credible, specific evidence proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan."

India on Thursday criticised the Pakistan government for not sharing Jadhav's location and details of his condition and said that the international norm to provide consular access was not followed. India and Pakistan have a bilateral agreement on consular access.

India had conveyed to Pakistan that given the circumstances of the case, absence of any credible evidence to substantiates the concocted charges against Jadhav, 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".

Aziz "condemned" the Indian government's reaction over Jadhav's sentencing and warned that it would further "aggravate the people-to-people hostility".

"I would like to ask India why Kulbhushan Jhadav was using a fake identity impersonating as a Muslim? Why would an innocent man possess two passports, one with a Hindu name and another with a Muslim name? Since India has no credible explanation about why their serving Naval Commander was in Balochistan, it has unleashed a flimsy propaganda campaign.

"Inflammatory statements and rhetoric about 'pre-meditated murder' and 'unrest in Balochistan', will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose," Aziz warned.

"We condemn the baseless allegations from India, especially in the light of the fact that it was non-cooperation and lack of Indian response to Pakistans request for legal assistance, due to which consular access has not been provided to Mr. Jhadav.

"We expect India to behave responsibly and refrain from issuing statements that will further aggravate people-to-people hostility. More active diplomacy is therefore needed to arrest the growing crises in India-Pakistan relations before it becomes even more serious," Aziz said.

Aziz also said that a Letter of Assistance requesting specific information and access to certain key witnesses was shared with the Government of India on January 23, 2017.

"There has been no response from the Indian side so far," he said.

Providing details of the trial, Aziz said that the confessional video statement of Jhadav followed by initial FIR in CTD Quetta on April 8, 2016.

The initial interrogation was done May 2 and detailed interrogation on May 22. It was followed by the constitution of a Joint Investigation Team on July 12.

The confessional statement under Section 164 CrPC was recorded on July 22 and recording of summary of evidence done on September 24.

The first trial proceeding was held on September 21, second proceeding on October 19, third proceeding on November 29, 2016 and fourth proceeding on February 12, 2017. The death sentence was endorsed on April 10, 2017.

Aziz said that a law qualified field officer was provided to defend Jadhav throughout the court proceedings.

Aziz said Jadhav can appeal against the verdict of the military tribunal within 40 days to a military Appellate Court. He can file an appeal to the army chief within 60 days against the decision of the Appellate Court.

Jadhav can file mercy petition to the President of Pakistan within 90 days if the army chief rejects the appeal for clemency.

Aziz listed a several cases of terrorism in which he said Jadhav was involved.

"He was part of sabotage and terrorism in which civilians and security personnel were killed," he claimed.

Aziz also accused Jadhav of orchestrating attacks against minority Shia Hazara community in Quetta.

Aziz also said that India has not allowed consular access to many Pakistani prisoners for many years despite repeated requests.

He also said that all political parties had supported the decision of the military tribunal and the entire nation was united against any threat.
Another missing youth from Kerala, suspected to have joined the Islamic State group, has reportedly been killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.

Murshid Muhammed, a native of Padna of Kerala;s Kasargod district, was killed in a drone attack in Nangarhar province in Afghanistan, said Abdur Rahiman, an Indian Union Muslim League leader in Padna.

Rahiman, also a social activist, said he received the message on Thursday on social media app, Telegram.

"The exact date could not be known yet...The message did not come from the usual source...I could not get more details," said Rahiman.

Murshid was among the 21 persons from the state, who reportedly went missing after travelling to the Middle East last year and were suspected to have joined the terrorist organisation in Syria.

However, Chandera police did not confirm the news saying, "We have no information about it."

Two months ago, another youth T K Hafeesudeen, 24, also from Padna, was killed in a drone attack in Afghanistan.
President Donald Trump has said the United States military has been successful lately because his administration has given them total authorisation, as he hailed the forces for dropping the largest non-nuclear bomb targeting an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan.

A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed Mother Of All Bombs, was dropped on a tunnel complex of Islamic States-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, in Achin district of Afghanistans Nanagarh province, close to the border with Pakistan.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said yesterday that it was the first-ever combat use of the bomb. A MOAB is a 21,600-pound, GPS-guided munition that is America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb.

Trump said he authorised the use of the bomb in Afghanistan and called the mission very, very successful.

It was really another successful job, we are very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event," Trump told reporters at the White House.

"Everybody knows exactly what happened, what I do is I authorise our military. We have the greatest military in the world, they've done a job, as usual, so we have given them total authorisation and that's what they're doing, and frankly, that's why they've been so successful lately," he said.

"If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and you compare that to what's happened over the last eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference. So we have incredible leaders of the military and incredible military, and we are very proud of them, and this was another very, very successful mission," Trump said.

The US President, however, said he does not know if this would send a message to North Korea.

"I don't know if this sends a message. It doesn't make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of. I will say this; I think China has really been working very hard," he said.

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command.

At his daily news conference, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the bomb was dropped at around 7 pm local time in Afghanistan on Thursday.

"The GBU-43 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 easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area, Spicer said.

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 US took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage as a result of the operation, he said.

The strike is part of the ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan, the US Central Command said.

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. According to the Department of Defence, there are about 600-800 ISIS-K fighters in the region where bomb was dropped.
Ferrari N.V. ("Ferrari") (NYSE/MTA: RACE) announced today that all resolutions proposed to Shareholders at the Ferrari's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held today in Schiphol-Rijk, the Netherlands, (the "AGM") were passed.

The Shareholders adopted the 2016 Annual Accounts and Ferrari will be in a position to proceed with a cash distribution to the holders of common shares of Euro 0.635 per common share, corresponding to a total distribution of approximately Euro 120 million. Payment date is May 2, 2017, as previously approved by the Board of Directors of Ferrari

The Shareholders re-elected all current directors of Ferrari. Sergio Marchionne was re-elected as executive director of Ferrari. John Elkann, Piero Ferrari, Delphine Arnault, Louis C. Camilleri, Giuseppina Capaldo, Eduardo H. Cue, Sergio Duca, Lapo Elkann, Amedeo Felisa, Maria Patrizia Grieco, Adam Keswick and Elena Zambon were re-elected as non-executive directors of Ferrari.

The Shareholders partially amended the Remuneration Policy of the Board of Directors. The amended Remuneration Policy provides for, inter alia, a significantly lower annual remuneration of Non-Executive Directors to be paid only in cash.

The Shareholders delegated to the Board of Directors authority to purchase common shares of Ferrari up to a maximum of 10% of Ferrari's issued common shares as of the date of the AGM. Pursuant to the authorization, which does not entail any obligation for Ferrari but is designed to provide additional flexibility, Ferrari may purchase shares of its own common stock from time to time in the 18 months following the AGM, at a price not higher than 10% above or not more than 10% below the average of the closing price on the NYSE and/or MTA for the five business days prior to the date of the purchase.

The Shareholders further approved an award to the Chief Executive Officer under the Company's equity incentive plan applicable to all GEC members and key leaders of the Company.

The Shareholders also re-appointed Ernst & Young Accountants LLP as Ferrari's independent auditor until the 2018 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.

Details of the resolutions submitted to the AGM are available on the Ferrari's website at http://corporate.ferrari.com.




French Dutch English

The enclosed information constitutes regulated information as defined in the Royal Decree of 14 November 2007 on the obligations of issuers of financial instruments admitted to trading on a regulated market.

Brussels, April 14, 2017 - Telenet Group Holding NV ("Telenet" or the "Company") (Euronext Brussels: TNET) hereby discloses certain information in relation to its share repurchases, in accordance with Article 207 of the Royal Decree of January 30, 2001 implementing the Belgian Company Code.

In the framework of the Share Repurchase Program 2017, as announced on February 16, 2017, the Company reports today that during the period from April 10 until April 13, 2017, the following transactions took place through the central order book of the regulated market of Euronext Brussels:

Attachments:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c79e734b-b2b4-4a81-af42-5e7c4c7064e5
LISLE, Ill., April 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eckrich, the makers of naturally hardwood smoked sausage and savory deli meats, partnered with WinCo Foods and Operation Homefront to honor a Yakima military family on Friday. Eckrich surprised the Babbitt family at WinCo Foods in Moses Lake, Wash. to honor and thank the family for their service.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/014aa488-b07e-4a41-bd31-3f65b79174e8

When they arrived to the WinCo store, Eckrich surprised the family with a grocery shopping spree. Then at checkout, Eckrich provided the Babbitt family with another surprise: a gift of free groceries for a year at WinCo Foods valued at more than $10,000.

Ronald Babbitt served more than 17 years in the U.S. Navy and Army Reserve. Babbitt worked as a construction mechanic and a truck driver during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning several awards and medals. Babbitt and his wife, Brianne, have two daughters. Brianne is a member of Operation Homefront's Hearts of Valor program, a network of more than 3,000 caregivers of wounded service members which provides annual retreats, support groups, and online communities.

"We are so thankful for Eckrich and Winco Foods," said Ronald Babbitt. "Their support of military families is incredible, and this is an amazing gift."

The surprise is part of the ongoing campaign by Eckrich to honor, thank, and support military families through its partnership with Operation Homefront. Eckrich, in its sixth year of partnership with Operation Homefront, has donated more than $2.5 million to the organization since 2012. Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.

Eckrich takes great pride in supporting our military men and women who keep our country safe, and are grateful for WinCo Foods partnership in todays event, said Jennifer Zmrhal, Smithfield Foods senior director of marketing. It is our honor to recognize the Babbitt family and show our support and appreciation for their service and sacrifice.

For more information about Eckrich, please visit www.eckrich.com or follow Eckrich on Facebook and Twitter.

Eckrich is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

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Founded by Peter Eckrich in 1894, Eckrich has a rich heritage starting from a small meat market in Fort Wayne, Ind. Through it all, Eckrich meats have been recognized for their great taste and supreme quality, craftsmanship, care and pride. For more information, visit www.eckrich.com.

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About Operation Homefront

Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive  not simply struggle to get by  in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves Americas military families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.org.








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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (2nd R), his wife Bun Rany (R), opposition party leader Sam Rainsy (2nd L), and his wife lawmaker Tioulong Saumura (L) watch a Cambodian New Year's performance in Siem Reap, April 14, 2015.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen attacked the opposition party in a speech on Friday during the countrys New Year's celebrations in Siem Reap in the run-up to local elections in June which could unseat many of his partys lawmakers.

The premier used an analogy in his speech to take a shot at leaders from the Cambodia National Rescue Party, the countrys main opposition party, by retelling a Cambodian folktale about Indra, king of the gods, who helped a poor beggar with leprosy become king of the universe.

But because of his greediness, the man wanted to own Indras planet, infuriating the king who turned him into a poor beggar with leprosy once again.

When Indra was annoyed with the man and noted his endless greediness for wanting to conquer Indras planet, he turned him back into the same poor beggar with leprosy, Hun Sen said.

That story reflects the current reality because there is someone who is like that beggar, he said in a tacit reference to former CNRP leader Sam Rainsy. However, thats just a folktale. Somebody shouldnt feel that he has been picked on. In any event, try not to be too greedy.

'He shouldn't mock others'

Independent political analyst Lao Mong Hay said he was not surprised by Hun Sens speech, but added that the premier should not use the New Year celebrations, traditionally a time of unity and harmony, to talk about political divisions and mock his opponents.

During a Khmer New Year's celebration like this, he [Hun Sen] should try to unite people, he said. He shouldnt mock others for his political gain.

A few weeks before the Khmer New Year, Hun Sen sent a message to all politicians to refrain from attacking each other during the holiday, which runs through Sunday.

Sam Rainsy, who has been in exile in France since late 2015, has had numerous defamation lawsuits filed against him, with many still pending trial.

He resigned as head of the CRNP in February just as Hun Sens government was planning to introduce a law that would dissolve political parties if their leaders are convicted of domestic crimes.

On March 30, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced Sam Rainsy in absentia to 20 months in prison for incitement and defamation, adding to a previous five-year term, and ordered him to pay a fine of 10 million riel (U.S. $2,500) to the state and a symbolic fine of 100 riel (U.S. $0.02) to Hun Sen.

The CNRP is one of 12 political parties competing for 1,646 commune council seats on the June 4 ballot that many see as a bellwether for general elections in 2018 that could unseat Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for 32 years.

Observers believe that the CNRP could give the CPP a run for its money in the June elections, and the opposition has warned that the ruling party seeks to prevent it from standing in the elections through a variety of different measures.

Reported by Tha Vuthy for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
The ruling Chinese Communist Party is suspending flights in and out of the North Korean capital Pyongyang by its state-run flag-carrier Air China, the only foreign airline that currently flies there, following warnings that rising tensions could soon escalate into war.

"Air China flights between Beijing and Pyongyang will be suspended from Monday," state broadcaster CCTV said on its official social media account on Friday.

The move, ostensibly owing to a "shortage of passengers," followed warnings from China's foreign minister that tensions might reach an "irreversible and unmanageable stage" after the U.S. deployed an aircraft carrier group to the region amid fears the isolated Stalinist state may conduct a sixth nuclear weapons test in honor of late supreme leader Kim Il Sung's birthday.

North Korea has conducted missile and nuclear tests in defiance of U.N. and unilateral sanctions, and while Beijing is Pyongyang's sole major ally, China is also against its unpredictable "younger brother" acquiring a nuclear strike capacity.

"We call on all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other, whether in words or actions, and not let the situation get to an irreversible and unmanageable stage," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a regular news briefing on Friday.

The U.S. says it is assessing military options in response to reports of activity at a nuclear test site in North Korea ahead of Saturday's 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence travels to South Korea on Sunday on a scheduled regional visit, as Chinese diplomatic sources indicated to the South China Morning Post newspaper that Beijing isn't obliged to help defend the North from a U.S. attack if it has developed nuclear weapons in defiance of U.N. resolutions.

The last Air China flight of the week between the two capitals arrived in Beijing at 6 p.m. Friday, leaving the North Korean state-run flag-carrier Air Koryo the only airline still flying there.

Mounting political pressure

According to Hong Kong-based North Korea expert Chung Lok-wai, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is widely seen as having less patience than that of former President Barack Obama, and that political pressure is now mounting on his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

"I think he is likely to have told Xi Jinping at their recent summit that if there is no clear movement from the Chinese side to put pressure on North Korea to stop its provocations, then the U.S. will find its own method of dealing with the problem," Chung told RFA on Friday.

"I think that message was made extremely clear, with the aim of putting a last bit of pressure on China," he said.

Chung said Beijing now has the difficult task of persuading Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table.

"I think that getting North Korea to agree to dialogue is going to be fairly difficult, given the current situation in Northeast Asia at the moment," he said.

"There isn't much political will in Pyongyang for dialogue at the moment, so they will only resume talks under some kind of additional pressure."

Speaking before the announcement that Air China flights were suspended, he said: "China needs to step up economic pressure on the North, so that it actually feels the effects. That is one effective way of stopping its provocations."

Professor Liang Yunxiang, of Beijing University's School of International Relations, said he is cautiously pessimistic.

"It may be very dangerous to send in the aircraft carrier if the North really plans to carry out a test," Liang said.

"There may not be war in April, but the outlook is very negative in the longer term," he said.

An employee surnamed Sun who answered the phone at a travel agency in the Chinese border city of Dandong offering tours to North Korea said there are scant signs of military tension in the city.

"[There was] a report of an emergency evacuation that was fake news," Sun told RFA. "There will be a military review in North Korea tomorrow and an anniversary celebration, and it's really bustling at the moment."

"There has been no change at all here in Dandong; the situation is normal here," he said. "It's just the people from elsewhere in China who are getting nervous."

"In the event that they won't allow foreigners in, the International Association of Travel Agents and the foreign ministry will issue a warning," he said.

We will cope with it

Meanwhile, Wu Fei, senior fellow at the Chinese public diplomacy and international relations think tank Chahar Institute, said much depends on the U.S. attitude.

"I think there are two parts to this question," Wu said. "The first part is how likely the Americans are to launch a military attack on North Korea, and the second part is how likely the North is to carry out another nuclear test."

"It's all about how willing the U.S. is to attack, and how willing North Korea is to be attacked," he said.

"I don't think there's a lack of willingness on the U.S. side; I think it's 90 percent certain that it's there, but I think that when it comes down to whether North Korea is prepared to be attacked, I think that is something that they wish to avoid."

North Korea's army threatened a "merciless" response to any U.S. provocation, state news agency KCNA reported on Friday, adding that the administration of President Donald Trump had "entered the path of open threat and blackmail against the DPRK."

North Koreas vice foreign minister Han Song Ryol told the Associated Press: "We've 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."

"Whatever comes from the U.S., we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it," Han said.

Reported by Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Goh Fung for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.
China's internet censors have consistently blocked content related to a nationwide police operation targeting rights lawyers since it was launched in on July 9, 2015 (709), a Canada-based investigation has revealed.



Researchers at CitizenLab at the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto found "detailed evidence" that tweets and photos posted to to the popular smartphone chat app WeChat and the Twitter-like platform Sina Weibo were censored with "forbidden" keywords.



"The 709 Crackdown is considered one of the harshest systematic measures of repression on civil society undertaken by China since 1989, and is the subject of much ongoing international media and human rights discussion," CitizenLab's professor Ron Deibert wrote in a blog post launching the report.



"Unfortunately, as our experiments show, a good portion of that discussion fails to reach Chinese users of WeChat and Weibo," Deibert said.



Censors manage to block this content through the use of combinations of banned keywords, which might include the names of key figures in the crackdown, or words describing how it happened.



Images linked to the campaign to raise awareness of the plight of the lawyers, rights activists and their families were also successfully removed from WeChat Moments for accounts registered with a China-based phone number.



Deibert said most of the decisions we make online are guided by invisible algorithms, and that researchers wanted to unmask the mechanisms used to limit what China's 731 million internet users can see if they don't scale the Great Firewall.



"Whether those algorithms are fair or not, whether they respect human rights, whether they make mistakes or not, are all questions that can only be answered if the algorithms can be properly examined," he wrote. "Our research aims to break through that obfuscation and bring such algorithms to account."



Nationwide crackdown



More than 300 human rights lawyers, law firm staff and associated rights activists in China have been targeted by police in a nationwide crackdown since July 2015, with family members or released detainees often placed under close surveillance or slapped with a ban on overseas travel.



Four detainees have been convicted, 10 formally charged with various offenses, while another 10 have been released pending further investigation or released on bail.



Guangdong-based rights activist Ye Du said China has led the world in the effective deployment of government internet censorship.



"China has set a precedent for the practice online monitoring and censorship," Ye said. "The government has spared no effort to achieve control of the internet, because the free flow of information is the worst fear of an authoritarian regime."



"Now, they have technological capacity to achieve this, and they continue to pour massive resources into doing this," he said. "I don't foresee any relaxation in future; I think it's just going to get stricter and stricter."



Rights lawyer Chen Jiangang, defense attorney for detained lawyer Xie Yang, said the lack of scope for freedom of expression in China is "pure bullying."



"The law has been a merely cosmetic addition to the line they have been taking all along, which is towards further political repression," Chen said.



"Now, that mask has fallen away and they are just going in for blatant bullying."



Fellow rights lawyer Wang Shengsheng said the ruling Chinese Communist Party is keen to ensure that nobody can use social media to oversee its actions.



"Censorship of public opinion means that the last channel through which the general public could have exercised some kind of oversight [over the government] has now been cut off," Wang said.



"Without any oversight, the government can do what it likes behind closed doors," he said. "But I don't think we can solve problems by relying on their internal self-discipline."



"This is really frightening."



Reported by Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The wife of a Chinese rights lawyer detained on subversion charges during a nationwide police operation that launched in July 2015 has warned that she may be the next family member of a lawyer to be "disappeared."



In a message sent to Human Rights in China (HRIC), Li Heping's wife Wang Qiaoling said surveillance cameras have now been installed right in front of her apartment building, and that she is continually followed by state security police and unidentified personnel wherever she goes.



"The appearance of this cluster of cameras unnerves me, and I cant help feeling frightened because no policemen had watched me even during the [annual parliament last month], and now Im being tracked by cameras," Wang, recipient of the 2016 Franco-German Prize for Human Rights, said in a statement translated by HRIC and posted on their website.



"These days, family members, lawyers, and friends are continuously telling me things like: 'Youre in great danger,'" Wang wrote, adding that state security police had told a friend of hers that "she will definitely be detained because she has a political history."



Others were warned that they should cut off contact with Wang, because she had "crossed so many red lines."



"The cameras are staring at me; and there are several hefty guys ... tailing me," Wang wrote.



Wang said she has already arranged for the couple's young daughter to be taken to live with her grandparents, in the event that she "disappears."



"From this point forward, if I havent been heard from in more than an hour, its possible that I have been disappeared [by the authorities]," she said.



Thinking like a citizen



Wang said she had to thank the ruling Chinese Communist Party for forcing her to think like a citizen.



"This past year, I have never regretted anything that I did for my husband and family," she wrote. "Being arrested is actually an accomplishment for me: it will mark the transformation of a housewife who never used her brain ... into a citizen."



Calls to Wang Qiaoling's number rang unanswered during recent attempts to reach her.



Rights lawyer Yu Wensheng said he agreed that the outspoken Wang is in the greatest danger out of all of the relatives of detained rights lawyers.



"The authorities have placed Wang Qiaoling ... under heavy surveillance, so that she has already partly lost her liberty," Yu said. "There are no limits to what the government will do, so it's possible that they will take extreme measures."



"Disappearance or detention are both likely," he said. "The authorities don't even abide by their own laws."



Meanwhile, Li Heping's former defense lawyer Ma Lianshun said his boss has come under huge political pressure to withdraw from the case entirely.



"That's why he wouldn't let me represent Li Heping any more," Ma said. "They thought about it carefully, and then they told me I could act in an advisory capacity, but that I couldn't defend him any more."



"But they weren't accepting my credentials as his lawyer anyway, so I wouldn't have been able to be in court."



Reported by Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.




Ethnic Uyghur police officers in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang Region are being paid less than a third of salaries offered as part of a recent recruitment drive for majority Han Chinese security personnel from other parts of the country, according to sources.



Several county governments in Xinjiangs Hotan (in Chinese, Hetian) prefecture have bolstered the ranks of their security personnel since February, when authorities shot dead three Uyghurs who attacked passersby with knives in Guma (Pishan) county, killing five and injuring five others.



Hiring announcements from the governments of Keriye (Yutian) and Chira (Cele) counties, and Atush city (Atushi), called for increases of between 80 and 300 mostly Uyghur auxiliary police, offering salaries of around 3,000 yuan (U.S. $435) per monthoften with added benefits, such as medical insurance.



However, the government of Aktu (Aketao) county, in neighboring Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture, set a new standard in the region when it announced on March 31 that it was urgently seeking 600 Han Chinese police from outside of Xinjiang at considerably higher rates.



According to the announcement, successful applicants with university diplomas will earn 9,064 yuan (U.S. $1,316) per month, while those with high school diplomas will earn 8,886 yuan (U.S. $1,290). Both are eligible to receive yearly bonuses of up to 9,400 yuan (U.S. $1,365).



Additionally, married applicants will be given a free apartment, at which any of their family members can reside, while unmarried applicants will be housed in dormitories free of charge and provided with three meals each day.



The announcement came on the same day that the prefectures party secretary, Liu Huijun, published an open letter urging Kyrgyz herdsmen to take on a political mission to protect the borders to ensure stability in the restive area where Uyghurs often balk at heavy-handed tactics by the Chinese to suppress their culture, language, and religion. Many try to cross the border into Kyrgyzstan.



A Han-Chinese staff member at the Human Resources and Social Security Department of the Aktu government confirmed to RFAs Uyghur Service that the recruitment drive was underway.



Yes, we announced to public that our county urgently needs to employ 600 patrol police from inner provinces, such as Gansu, Shanxi, Henan and Sichuan, said the staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity.



The employees will be provided with high salariesthe same amount as you see in the announcement.



According to the staff member, the Aktu government organized two teams and sent them to recruit outside of Xinjiang.



The first team is going to Gansu, Shanxi, and Shaanxi provinces and the second team is going to Sichuan, Henan, and Hunan provinces, he said.



They have already started to hire.



Income gap



The salaries announced by the Aktu government are considerably higher than those offered to the mostly Uyghur security personnel of roughly the same rank in Hotan, where authorities are equally concerned about the threat of terrorism, or in other parts of Xinjiang.



But Uyghur police officers contacted by RFA, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, often said that they were rarely compensated even at the level that county governments in Hotan and elsewhere had promised new hires in their recent recruitment drives.



A Uyghur auxiliary officer in Siyek township, in Hotans Keriye county, where a Feb. 16 hiring announcement called for 254 auxiliary police204 of which should be Uyghurs and the other 50 Han Chinesesaid he had been told he would receive 4,000 yuan (U.S. $581) per month and a 24-hour break after completing every 24 hours of patrol work.



We havent rested in nearly three months and we never received the 4,000 yuan we were promised, he said.



Our monthly salary is 2,589 yuan (U.S. $376), plus 400 yuan (U.S. $58) for meal expenses.



Another Uyghur auxiliary officer in Mokuylay township, in Hotans Guma county, where the Feb. 14 knife attack occurred, told RFA that he and his Uyghur coworkers make only 1,300 yuan (U.S. $189) each month.



We have no other income, he added.



A Uyghur auxiliary officer in Aqsaray township, in Hotans Karakash (Moyu) county, said the local government had been recruiting security personnel since last year, with the only requirement for applicants being that no one within three generations of their family had been involved in political problems.



But authorities have not followed through on promises of comfortable salaries they made during the hiring drive, the officer said.



Our monthly salary is 1,200 yuan (U.S. $174), plus 150 yuan (U.S. $22) for meal expenses, he said.



We dont get any overtime pay if we pull a 24-hour shiftnot even if we work 48 hours.



A Uyghur patrol officer at the Qaraqash county Education Department in Hotan told RFA he earns only 1,500 yuan (U.S. $218) per month, despite having worked there for four years.



Its a very low income for a family with three kids, he said.



Ive complained many times to my superior asking for an increase in my salary, but my requests were refused. Meanwhile, I often work non-stop 24-hour shifts and sometimes even 48-hour ones.



Uyghur officers in Aksu (Akesu) prefecture and Turpan (Tulufan) city said they earned 1,800 yuan (U.S. $261) and 2,200 yuan (U.S. $320) per month, respectively, and told similar stories of working long hours in potentially dangerous situations.



Ethnic equality



Juret Obul, who holds a medical services doctorate and is a board member of the Washington-based Uyghur American Association exile group, told RFA that the disparity in wages between Uyghurs and Han Chinese in Xinjiang is indicative of a larger issue of inequality between the two ethnic groups in the region.



Local Uyghurswhether they work as government employees, police or any other official positionhave already become second class citizens in their own land, he said.



He questioned why Han Chinese police from outside Xinjiang could command more than triple the salary of Uyghurs doing the same job, and called the practice just one more example of how opportunities are limited for members of his ethnic group living under Chinese rule.



These days, nobodynot even childrenbelieve in so-called ethnic equality.



Reported by Eset Sulaiman for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Eset Sulaiman. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
After the U.S. military dropped a massive bomb on an Islamic State hideout in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province, locals described their villages being shaken by the powerful blast. One resident of Achin district said he and his family had been driven from their home by Islamic State militants operating in the targeted area. (RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan)
He's back. The white polyester shirt that glistens in the light; the salesman's shark-toothed grin; the restless arms, always waving and throwing victory signs: Mahmud Ahmadinejad, Iran's combative and polarizing former president, has reentered the political spotlight.

His decision to register to run in the presidential election slated for May 19 followed weeks of speculation over what the former president was doing behind the scenes -- and still came as a complete surprise.

Following his controversy-marred presidency -- he served two terms, from 2005 to 2013 -- Ahmadinejad had fallen from favor with the clerical establishment, lost his role as a mouthpiece for fiery hard-line rhetoric, and retreated into obscurity. He was not expected to enter frontline politics again.

His second election victory, in 2009, was widely thought to have resulted from vote rigging and sparked the largest demonstrations in Iran since the Islamic Revolution. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran and other cities to protest the result, and to show support for defeated candidate Mir Hossein Musavi and his opposition Green Movement.

The protests were stifled after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei publicly backed Ahmadinejad, ushering in a harsh crackdown on demonstrators and the opposition. But the establishment had been rocked at home, embarrassed abroad. And Khamenei's support for Ahmadinejad didn't even serve to secure his loyalty.

Ahmadinejad was determined not to be a lame-duck, second-term president and toward the end of his final term openly clashed with the supreme leader. Not one to forget a slight, and seeing the narrow opening for Ahmadinejad to reemerge once he had sat out a term, Khamenei warned his former ally not to think of running for president again. Such a move, he advised Ahmadinejad in 2016, would not be "in his interest or that of the country."

Predictably, election officials were "stunned" when Ahmadinejad showed up to submit the requisite paperwork for consideration as a candidate, AP journalists say. Addressing the whispers -- that he had done the unthinkable in defying an order from the supreme leader -- Ahmadinejad told reporters that Khamenei's injunction was "just advice."

It's no given that he will, indeed, run for a third term. As it stands his name will be just one among hundreds of registrants until the list is trimmed down to the dozen or so officially approved by the Guardians Council, whose allegiance to the supreme leader is unquestioned.

But Ahmadinejad has announced his intention to do what he does best: courting controversy, making headlines -- and, above all, pushing himself to the forefront of Iranian public life. Questions remain, however: Why is he doing this? Can he make things uncomfortable enough that his candidacy is actually accepted? And, if he really wants to be president again, can he win?

His story is a complex one and, in part because of the various warring factions within the Islamic Republic's political fabric, he is hard to pin down. He was once allied with the Osul-Garayan, or principlists -- a faction of hard-core conservatives dedicated to the ideals and values espoused by the father of the Islamic Revolution -- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The principlists dominate the central organs of the Iranian body politic; if such a thing as a "deep state" exists within the Islamic Republic, they are it.

But as he fell out of favor with Khamenei during his last stint in office, Ahmadinejad split from the principlists as well. Now, as well as directly contravening the "advice" of the supreme leader, he has defiantly ignored calls by his old principlist allies to realign with them by supporting a unified candidate.

As Ahmadinejad strikes out on his own, regardless of his popularity with the common man, it is difficult to see a path to victory for him. And that is assuming he can clear the first hurdle: vetting by the 12-member Guardians Council, which typically rejects vast numbers of registrants. There is precedent even for a big name like Ahmadinejad to be denied. In the 2013 presidential elections another former president -- the late Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani -- was barred from running after falling out with Khamenei. If the pragmatist Rafsanjani could be banned, then so too could Ahmadinejad.

According to Clement Therme, a research fellow for Iran at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Ahmadinejad may be playing a slightly more complex game.

One of the likely candidates for election is his former vice president, Hamid Baghaei, who was sent to prison in 2015 on unnamed charges (and likely as a signal to Ahmadinejad, whose presidency has been painted as corrupt by his adversaries). The two men are known to be close and Ahmadinejad may be running to protect his old friend.

"Ahmadinejad is now standing as a right-wing populist," Therme says. "The primary reason he participated in the registration of the candidates is likely to be first and foremost to protect his former vice president, Baghaei." In entering the race, Therme argues, Ahmadinejad is pressuring the system. "The message is: 'If you try to disqualify Baghaei, I will stand as a candidate seeking a third term.'"

Therme explains that, since the beginning of his political career, Ahmadinejad has sought to transcend the divide within the clerical establishment between reformists and conservatives. But this divide, so often mentioned in the Western press, is not accurate when it comes to economic issues -- here the divide would be between advocates of state-oriented economic policies and liberal ones. "Musavi, for instance, [who] was often labeled as a reformist, was a supporter of state-oriented economy," Therme says. Current President Hassan Rohani -- who as of April 13 had yet to register to run for a second term and who has earned the moniker of relative moderate due to his willingness to deal with the West -- "is a supporter of neoliberal approach in terms of his economic policies."

Therme speaks to something that is central to Ahmadinejad's appeal. Whatever label you affix to him -- principlist, conservative, or pragmatist -- he is one thing above all else: a populist. His support comes mainly from Iran's lower classes -- he looks like them; he dresses like them; he even speaks like them. During his time in power he gave them interest-free loans, cheap housing, and was seen as taking on systemic corruption. Even after his eventual split from the supreme leader he retained the support of the people. To them, he represents a new type of hard-liner that people identify with, free from the corruption of Khamenei and his ilk (though this image was slightly sullied by allegations of corruption stemming from his second term).

In politics, in rhetoric, and even in strategy he is a singular phenomenon. Therme's words bear scrutiny: "Ahmadinejad has made a career out of pretending to be antisystem while serving the system. What is important here is his discourse toward the "oppressed" -- both reformist-minded and conservative-minded political citizens. His political clientele can be found amongst the rural areas and southern Tehran [the poorer section of the capital]. His first election was perceived as a political revenge of the popular classes against the reformist-oriented upper-class segments of Iranian society. This divide is at the center of his political discourse."

First to be determined is whether Ahmadinejad will be approved as a candidate or face the same fate as Rafsanjani. As much as Khamenei and his coterie would love to bar him (and indeed may well do that) he presents a problem that lies at the heart of the Islamic Republic's political system. Iran is an elective autocracy. The supreme leader holds the real power and a special body elects him -- not the people. The people choose from a heavily vetted field to elect the president, whose powers are limited. Nevertheless, it is their primary opportunity to influence the direction of their country.

What this means is that the system needs not merely the right winner, but a high turnout. Participation is key for the success of a presidential election in an elective autocracy because it gives the people the illusion that they can shape events (even if the reality is not quite so simple). And if there is one thing Ahmadinejad can do it is to get people to the polls. If he were to be disqualified there is a high chance it would lessen interest in the elections.

As Therme concludes: "It's when things are unpredictable that you can make people think their vote matters -- this is critical to maintaining the facade of the Iranian elections. Take that away and people might start to see the whole process for what it really is -- and that is something the regime wants to avoid at all costs."

(The views expressed in this analysis do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL.)

David Patrikarakos is a contributing editor at The Daily Beast and the author of Nuclear Iran: The Birth Of An Atomic State. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, The Guardian, Politico, Foreign Policy, The Spectator, The New Republic, The New Statesman, and many others.
U.S. national-security adviser Jake Sullivan has confirmed that communication channels between the United States and Russia remain open despite the war in Ukraine, the BBC reports.

Sullivan, speaking in New York on November 7, said it was "in the interests" of Washington to maintain contact with the Kremlin.



Sullivan's comments came after a report in The Wall Street Journal on November 6 that he had held undisclosed talks with top Russian officials in the hope of reducing the risk the Russian invasion of Ukraine spills over or escalates into a nuclear conflict.

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.

A previous media report, in The Washington Post, said Washington was privately encouraging Ukraine to signal an openness to negotiate with Russia, as the State Department said Moscow was escalating the war and did not seriously wish to engage in peace talks.



The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, said the request by U.S. officials was not aimed at pushing Ukraine to the negotiating table, but a calculated attempt to ensure Kyiv maintains the support of other countries.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, told RFE/RL it was absurd to suggest that Western countries that are supplying Ukraine with weapons would push Kyiv to negotiate on Moscow's terms.

"Ukraine receives from its partners, first of all from the United States, quite effective weapons," he said. "We are pushing the Russian Army out of territory. And against this background, forcing us to the negotiation process, and in fact to recognize the ultimatum of the Russian Federation, is nonsense! And no one will do that."

He said suggestions the West was pushing Ukraine to negotiate were part of Russia's "information program," though he did not directly rebut a report in The Washington Post.

Zelenskiy said in his nightly address on November 7 that he was open to talks with Russia, but only "genuine" negotiations that would restore Ukraine's borders, grant it compensation for Russian attacks, and punish those responsible for war crimes.



Zelenskiy signed a decree on October 4 formally declaring the prospect of any Ukrainian talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin "impossible" but leaving the door open to talks with Russia.



Sullivan told a public event in New York that the Biden administration had "an obligation to pursue accountability" and pledged to work with international partners to "hold the perpetrators of grave and grotesque war crimes in Ukraine responsible for what they have done."



Sullivan did not elaborate on the communication channels that Washington and Moscow maintained, but insisted that U.S. officials were "clear-eyed about who we are dealing with," the BBC reported.



Sullivan travelled to Kyiv on November 4 and pledged Washington's "unwavering and unflinching" support for Ukraine.



His unannounced visit coincided with an announcement the same day by the U.S. Defense Department of another shipment of weapons to Ukraine worth $400 million.



"I was just in Kyiv on Friday and I had the opportunity to meet with President [Volodymyr] Zelenskiy and my counterpart Andriy Yermak, with the military leadership and also to get a briefing on just what level of death and devastation has been erupted by Putin's war on that country," Sullivan was quoted by the BBC as saying on November 7.



White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the U.S. media reports.



"I've seen those reportings. So, you know -- and, look, people claim a lot of things about conversations that we -- that the United States has or doesn't have," Jean-Pierre told a news briefing on November 7. "I don't have any specific conversations to read out to you."



The secretary of Ukraine's Security Council, Oleksiy Danilov, said on November 8 that the "main condition" for the resumption of negotiations with Russia would be the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity.



Danilov said on Twitter that Ukraine also needed the "guarantee" of modern air defenses, aircraft, tanks, and long-range missiles.



According to the report in The Wall Street Journal, Sullivan held confidential conversations in recent months with Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov and Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev that were not disclosed publicly.



Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on November 7 that while Russia remained "open" to talks, it was unable to negotiate with Kyiv due to its refusal to hold talks with Russia.

With reporting by Reuters
A movie that portrays a romance taking place during the massacre of Armenians during World War I in what is now Turkey premiers in U.S. theaters on April 21.

The Promise stars Oscar Isaac as an Armenian medical student and Christian Bale as an American foreign correspondent, both of whom fall in love with the same woman.

Their love triangle unfolds as the Ottoman Empire's entry into the war is followed by the 1915 massacre of Christian Armenians.

Terry George, who directed the 2004 Oscar-nominated historical drama Hotel Rwanda, said shooting The Promise coincided with news of Iraq's Yazidi religious minority being massacred by Islamic State militants and the mass exodus of Syrian refugees fleeing carnage in their country.

"As we were shooting, we were watching the same events in the same location -- people under siege in the mountains and drowning in the Mediterranean," George said.

While Armenia, many Western historians, foreign parliaments, and scholars say the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians in a period beginning in 1915 constituted an act of genocide.Turkey denies that claim, saying there was no systematic, mass killing of Armenians.

Based on reporting by Reuters and IMDB.com
A funeral has been held in Swabi, Pakistan, for a university journalism student that was killed over alleged blasphemy. Twenty-three-year-old Mashal Khan was beaten to death by a mob on April 13 in the city of Mardan after being accused of sharing blasphemous content on social media. (RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal)
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.
Authorities in Kosovo have increased police patrols nationwide, warning of possible plots to commit violent attacks during the upcoming Easter holiday.

In a statement April 14, the government gave no details about who might be behind the plots targeting "institutional and political leaders of Kosovo."

Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Milan Radojevic told RFE/RL's Balkan Service that police had stepped up security and surveillance of churches nationwide.

A day earlier, the U.S. Embassy in the capital Pristina warned U.S. citizens of the potential for violence during Easter, which will be celebrated April 16 by Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian churches worldwide.

Similar warnings were issued by U.S. diplomatic missions in Macedonia and Albania.

The poor, tiny Balkan nation has faced a growing threat posed by Kosovars who support the Islamic State extremist group. An estimated 300 Kosovars have gone to Syria to fight alongside Islamic State militants in recent years.

Police arrested 19 people in November on suspicion of having links with Islamic State and planning attacks.
Jovan Angelov doesnt need to close his eyes and think hard to picture what may happen next. Hes seen it before.

As Macedonia plunges deeper into political gridlock, the effects on the economy are starting to seep into the daily lives of ordinary Macedonians like Angelov, a government worker.

I was in the same situation in 2002 when I was let go from Electro Skopje," he tells RFE/RL's Balkan Service, referring to his dismissal from a state-owned power distributor during struggles the country faced after ethnic tensions brought it to the brink of civil war in 2001. "I expect the same thing now, and I'm afraid."

Tensions have risen more recently in the Balkan state of around 2.1 million, with a Macedonian Slav majority and a large ethnic Albanian minority, as protests over the inclusion of ethnic Albanian partners in a proposed governing coalition led by the Social Democrats enter their seventh week.

Macedonia fell into its current political crisis two years ago amid claims that the governing conservative party, VMRO-DPMNE, led by former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, was responsible for the illegal surveillance of some 20,000 people including journalists, politicians, and religious leaders.

Massive antigovernment protests led to a European Union mediation effort that created a Special Public Prosecution (SJO) to investigate the wiretapping and the eventual resignation of Gruevski's government.

Despite four snap elections over the next two years, Macedonia, where nearly one in four people is jobless, is no closer to political stability.

"Unfortunately, there is a direct consequence of this instability, and that is the stagnation of the economic growth, Fatmir Bytyqi, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce of Northwestern Macedonia, tells RFE/RL.



Businesses are struggling with liquidity problems, with their current business operations, with the inability to pay their debts. And this goes along to include state institutions. Some are being forced to terminate their contracts or make layoffs because they are unable to continue because of such problems."

The nationalist VMRO-DPMNE won 51 seats to the Social Democrats' 49 in the December balloting for 120 mandates in parliament, making it impossible to form a government without parties explicitly representing ethnic Albanians, who compose about one-quarter of the population.

Zoran Zaev, the leader of the opposition Social Democratic Union, has agreed to form a coalition with some ethnic Albanian parties in exchange for accepting their demands for greater rights and the establishment of Albanian as a second official language in certain areas of the country.

But President Gjorge Ivanov, a VMRO-DPMNE ally*, has refused to give Zaev the official mandate to move ahead with the plan. Ivanov has argued that the language issue was an attempt to destroy Macedonia's independence, and he has accused Albania of interference in its domestic affairs.

Stalemate Continues

By the numbers, the Macedonian economy appeared to be holding on despite the turmoil. Economic output increased every year between 2012 and 2015.



But in the second half of last year, growth slowed to 2.2 percent due to investment contraction and weaker credit growth reflecting political uncertainties, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).



The economy has endured a number of shocks in the last two years, including a prolonged political crisis, analysts at the Washington-based IMF said in their most recent report on Macedonias economy.

Growth has so far shown resilience benefiting from accommodative policies, low commodity prices, sustained foreign investment, and improving labor-market conditions. However, the prolonged domestic political crisis is beginning to take a toll on confidence and the countrys EU accession prospects.

The current crisis is the deepest since diplomatic efforts helped Macedonia avoid a civil war during an ethnic Albanian insurgency in 2001 through promises of eventual European Union and NATO membership.

At a recent EU summit, leaders of the 28-nation bloc said they remain committed to bringing the Balkans into the blocs fold. That pledge has taken on even more urgency with Russias apparent efforts to increase its influence in the region.



EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn urged Macedonias leaders on March 21 to rise above the political bickering and form a government as soon as possible to break the deadlock with the economy hurting.



One Skopje resident who declined to give his name tells RFE/RL that having endured so much turmoil in recent history, Macedonians have become numb to the pain.





Macedonian citizens are constantly threatened by the financial and economic aspect of these crises. The country is all the time in crisis, from the '90s until today we keep having crises and we keep having problems. The situation just goes from bad to worse, he says.

To be sure, not everyone is feeling down about the countrys economic prospects.



The IMF noted that economic growth should accelerate this year, though that forecast came with the caveat of stability following the December elections.

Gjokica Bozinovski is confident, too, saying he has little concern about the economic outlook and calling the current crisis artificial.



Despite this forced and artificial political crisis, new investments are coming and the country offers young people favorable conditions to open businesses. I have no fears from it, he says.

* CORRECTION: This story has been amended from an earlier version to note that President Ivanov is an ally of the VMRO-DPMNE rather than a member of that party.

With reporting by Vladimir Kalinski of RFE/RLs Balkan Service in Skopje
Russia's foreign ministry said the United States's approval of Montenegro's bid to join NATO was a "deeply mistaken" move that creates divisions in Europe.

It "reflects the logic of confrontation on the European continent and creates new dividing lines," the ministry said on April 13.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed the ratification documents for Montenegro's entry into NATO on April 11.

"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," the Russian ministry said.

The ministry said 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 within its sphere of influence.

Based on reporting by AFP and TASS


Russia opened meetings with top diplomats from Afghanistan, China, and several Central Asian countries in talks that are aimed at bringing peace to Afghanistan but are being boycotted by the United States.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement April 14 that India, Iran, and Pakistan were also attending the Moscow talks. The statement urged the Taliban to stop fighting and engage in a direct dialogue with the Afghan government.

Russia had invited Washington to join the consultations but it refused, saying the goal was unclear.

The purpose "seemed to be a unilateral Russian attempt to assert influence in the region," acting U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on the eve of the talks.

"We do generally support regional efforts that work with the Afghan government to build support for a peaceful outcome in Afghanistan, and I think we -- going forward, we do plan to work with Russia and other key regional stakeholders to enhance dialogue on Afghanistan," Toner said.

Moscow hosted similar consultations in December between diplomats from Russia, Pakistan, and China to discuss the start of a national reconciliation process. The format was expanded in mid-February to involve Afghanistan, Iran, and India.

With reporting by TASS and AP
The renowned Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta appealed to the Kremlin for protection, after religious leaders in Chechnya called for retribution for an explosive article on gay men.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, meanwhile, said April 14 that critics of Novaya Gazeta and its reporting should take their complaints to Russian courts and avoid violence.

Earlier this month, the newspaper published a story saying that Chechen authorities had rounded up over 100 gay men or men suspected of being gay and tortured them. he paper said at least three of them had been killed.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov denied the allegations and his spokesman called the report "an absolute lie," saying there were no gay men in Chechnya at all.

Chechnya's Muslim leaders adopted a resolution saying the article insulted Chechen men and society.

"We promise that retribution will catch up with the hatemongers wherever and whoever they are and with no statute of limitations," the resolution read.

Peskov was quoted as saying that the Novaya report wasnt reliable and that the Kremlin was not aware of the police receiving any complaints on the issue.

With reporting by Reuters and Interfax
Russian police stormed into the home of popular video blogger Vyacheslav Maltsev and took him to Moscow for questioning on April 13.

Maltsev, who unsuccessfully ran for parliament last year, live-streamed the scene from his apartment in the central Russian city of Saratov as police knocked down his door. Maltsev typically attracts around 100,000 views for his daily video blogs.

Accompanied by riot police, an unidentified Russian investigator was filmed ordering Maltsev, 52, to get dressed and leave for questioning in Moscow.

The Parnas opposition party, which listed Maltsev as number two on its party ticket during the September parliamentary elections, said Maltsev suffered a heart attack before he was put on a plane to Moscow.

Russian news agencies said Maltsev was under medical surveillance and being questioned in connection with an investigation into an attack on a policeman at an opposition rally in Moscow last month.

Interfax reported that a New Opposition Movement official said Maltsev was being held at the Tverskoye police station with no access to lawyers.

The March 26 rally, one of the largest protests in Russia in years, was not sanctioned by authorities.

Meanwhile, four people were arrested on suspicion of attacking the policeman at the rally, and others were being questioned, the Russian Investigative Committee said on April 13.

It said the four men are Aleksandr Shpakov, Stanislav Zimovets, Yury Kuly, and Andrei Kosykh, all between 30 and 40 years old.

Interfax quoted the New Opposition Movement as saying that searches were also conducted at the residences of rally organizers Ivan Beletsky and Yury Gorsky in Moscow. Interfax said Beletsky and Gorsky were later released.

The anticorruption rally was called by opposition politician Aleksei Navalny following his report on alleged luxury properties controlled by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev through shadowy foundations.

Navalny called the probe into violence against police at the rally "fabricated."

The populist politician -- who is has said he will run for president next year -- has announced another round of protests for June 12.

Russian authorities have a history of launching high-profile prosecutions after major protests. A probe into violence at a May 6, 2012 rally led to dozens of people being prosecuted, including for alleged offenses such as "throwing a lemon."

Many of those targeted in the 2012 case spent several years in jail while others fled the country.

With reporting by AP, AFP, Interfax, and RIA Novosti
A university student killed by a mob in northern Pakistan over alleged blasphemy was buried on April 14.

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.

Khan was buried today in his hometown of Swabi, some 100 kilometers northwest of Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

"These people have taken the law into their own hands. So the government should investigate why this happened and my son's murder should be part of the investigation, his father, Mohammad Iqbal, told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal.

"Whenever the topic of religion was discussed, [my son] was [respectful] of the Prophet Muhammad. Since he was a journalism student, he was only criticizing [Pakistan's state] system because he wanted [a fairer society] like the one during the caliphate of Hazrat Omar," Iqbal said.

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.

With additional reporting by Dawn, AP, and Reuters
The U.S. Department of Defense released video on April 14 showing a massive bomb strike in the Achin district of Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar Province. The U.S. military said the GBU-43/B bomb, the largest nonnuclear bomb used in combat, killed 36 Islamic State militants at a tunnel complex near the Pakistani border. (Reuters)
Washington is planning to skip a conference on reconciliation in Afghanistan that Russia is hosting on April 14, acting U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

"We don't plan to participate in these regional talks," Toner said on April 13. "It was unclear what the purpose was" of the talks, he said, adding that it "seemed to be a unilateral Russian attempt to assert influence in the region."

"We do generally support regional efforts that work with the Afghan government to build support for a peaceful outcome in Afghanistan, and I think we - going forward, we do plan to work with Russia and other key regional stakeholders to enhance dialogue on Afghanistan," he said.

Moscow invited 12 states to take part in consultations devoted to the national reconciliation process in Afghanistan and the start of direct talks between the country's government and the Taliban.

In December, Moscow hosted consultations between diplomats from Russia, Pakistan, and China to discuss the start of a national reconciliation process in Afghanistan. The format was expanded in mid-February to involve Afghanistan, Iran, and India.

Based on reporting by BuzzFeedNews and TASS


Kira Siddall was shocked earlier this week to discover the dog-like creature she spotted in her South Richmond yard was a coyote.

Our dog has been weird all week, Siddall said. Shes been growling at the fence, at the woods.

Later, neighbors in her Westlake Hills neighborhood saw the animal snacking on a deer in an abandoned lot across from her home.

Last summer, a small dog was attacked and killed by two coyotes across from James River Park near Riverside Drive, according to its owners. Siddall worries her dogs could be next.

She called Animal Control, and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. But neither agency could do, well, anything.

Coyotes, which migrated here from the Midwest, have adapted well to city life and can be found in every city and county in Virginia, according to the state department. They are still considered nuisance creatures and can be hunted year-round, but there are restrictions against firing a gun in the city and killing animals on others property.

What do you do? Siddall said.

Anne Wright, assistant professor of biology at Virginia Commonwealth University, said there is not much that can, or should, be done.

They really provide good function for us in an urban setting, Wright said. We have too many Canada geese, deer and rats, all of which coyotes eat.

Plus, she said, if they are captured and relocated, or killed, more coyotes would move into the neighborhood and quickly repopulate the area.

Its kind of like a whack-a-mole sort of thing, Wright said.

Last summer, officials at the James River Park confirmed that a pair of coyotes were living in the roughly 600-acre park that encompasses areas on both sides of the river. Wright spearheaded the Science in the Park program, which installed cameras throughout the park to capture all kinds of urban wildlife, including coyotes.

The cameras mostly capture the coyotes moving through the park, Wright said. Its more likely that they live on the fringes of neighborhoods, like storm drains or abandoned properties, she said.

A video captured by one of Siddalls neighbors showed the animal, a black, shaggy creature, trotting through a yard. Wright said it didnt appear to be a full-blooded coyote  which are typically lighter in color, shaggier and smaller in size than a dog or wolf  but could be a coyote-dog hybrid, often called coy dogs.

If you cross paths with one of the animals: Stand your ground and make a lot of noise, Wright said. They are not generally looking for a fight.

Humans often create a problem for themselves, Wright said, by leaving food, water or garbage out. Thats inviting the animal in, she said.

Its for humans to change their habits and learn to live with the animals, Wright said. We need to make the change. Theyre wild. The same goes for any wildlife  deer, raccoons  no one wants them either.

If a coyote becomes a problem, though, Wright added, it should be eliminated.
Its encased in glass, can host 2,000 for dinner and is opening for business sometime this summer.

The train shed behind Main Street Station is being pitched as a grand new event space unlike any other along the Interstate 95 corridor.

Its also going to cost the city a projected $3.65 million to operate in the next fiscal year beginning July 1.

Officials say that number will be offset in part by revenue from galas, conferences and other events. But even if the city hits its profit goals for events, the project still will require taxpayer subsidy of at least $1.7 million in its first year.

It is a beautiful and striking building. It absolutely is, Councilman Chris Hilbert told the city official managing the project during a recent City Council meeting.

The issue is that the current budget includes a line item for $3.65 million for management and operating expenses.

The opening of the shed brings the citys proposed subsidy of event spaces in the coming fiscal year to a total of $11.4 million.

And that number  $1.7 million for the Richmond Coliseum, $1.7 million for Main Street Station, and $8 million for the Greater Richmond Convention Center  has given some City Council members pause as they scrape to balance budget needs for core services such as fire, police and schools.

When the city owns half the convention center, is a major backer of the Redskins facility and continues to pay debt service on the Coliseum  the city is supporting quite a bit, said Councilman Parker C. Agelasto, who said hes planning to work to reduce the citys subsidy to Main Street Station as part of the budget process.

We need to be clear about what the citys priorities are.

***

The long-running rehab of Main Street Station in Shockoe Bottom has been in the works since the early 1990s.

The project cost about $90 million, funded largely by federal and state transportation grants. But with construction wrapping up, it now falls to the city to finance the buildings operations.

Jeannie Welliver, a city project manager who has been overseeing the work, said the opening of the train shed combined with a planned overhaul of the neighboring farmers market has the potential to transform Shockoe Bottom into a vital, lively neighborhood.

She said at its core, the project is an investment in economic development.

While outdoor platforms flanking the station serve daily Amtrak service and any future high-speed rail expansion, the city embarked on a renovation of the massive shed without knowing precisely how it might be used.

After a run of studies undertaken by consultants, Welliver said officials decided about two years ago to use the second floor, with its striking gabled ceiling and new glass walls, as an event space.

Meanwhile, the first floor will host state and local tourist centers and, eventually, an indoor market similar to Union Station in Washington and Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia.

Its the grandest roof on Interstate 95, Welliver said, stressing the buildings landmark status as key to its draw.

She said one gala  the American Heart Associations Heart Ball  already is on the books for this month. And she said the availability of the space helped to attract a new convention to Richmond in 2018.

The city is projecting the shed will bring in $1.3 million in rental revenue next fiscal year, rising to nearly $1.9 million in its fifth year in operation.

If that happens, the citys annual operating subsidy eventually will drop to a projected $188,000, according to a business plan provided to the City Council.

Welliver also said the first years budget is about $1 million higher than it will be in the following years, to cover one-time expenses such as outfitting the space with a commercial kitchen, purchasing furniture, and installing a security center.

***

But some council members have questioned how realistic those numbers are and note that the city has a poor track record when it comes to such projections. The Washington Redskins Training Camp so far has failed to generate revenue that officials promised would offset the $11 million cost of building the camp.

Likewise, a much older venture looms large for city officials: 6th Street Marketplace, which opened in 1985, eventually was shuttered amid escalating operating costs about 20 years later.

Because I lived through ... the opening of 6th Street Marketplace, I do have concerns about where the projections are, said Councilwoman Kim Gray. I have hope in our downtown making a come back, but I want to be very strategic and realistic about it.

Officials promise subsidies to the train station will decrease steadily, but other event spaces have seen their subsidies steadily rise.

The citys appropriation to fund operations at the Richmond Coliseum is set to climb to $875,000 this year, up from $832,000 last year. Thats on top of about $825,000 in debt payments the city is planning to make on the property next year.

Dwight Johnson, who serves as the Coliseums general manager, said the additional request is to cover the loss of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which typically rented the facility for 10 days a year but last month completed its final shows in Richmond before closing.

The citys subsidy of the Greater Richmond Convention Center also is projected to rise from $6 million this year to $8 million in the coming fiscal year.

The city has less control over that outlay. The number represents its total projected revenue from the citys 8 percent lodging tax, which the city agreed to turn over to the convention center as part of a regional agreement to expand the facility in 1998. Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover counties have similar agreements in place.

Still, council members expressed concern about the trend.
Richmond Police Department are holding a series on town hall meetings over the next two weeks, the department announced today.

The annual meetings have been a tradition since Chief Alfred Durham took over the departments leadership in 2015, and are part of sharing his vision for policing in the city. But they also serve as a time for residents to share issues in their communities.

These meetings are a reflection of our mission: We make Richmond a safer city through community policing and engagement, Durham said in a statement. The purpose of these town hall meetings is for the department to get input from the general public. Our strategy depends on understanding what we can do better and communicating with the public how they can help in our mission.

There will be one meeting in each of the departments four precincts:

2nd Precinct: Tuesday, April 18, 6 to 8 p.m.

Southside Plaza Community Center, 4100 Hull Street Road

4th Precinct: Wednesday, April 19, 6 to 8 p.m.

Richmond Police Training Academy, 1202 W. Graham Road

3rd Precinct: Tuesday, April 25, 6 to 8 p.m.

First Baptist Church, 2709 Monument Ave.

1st Precinct  Thursday, April 27, 6 to 8 p.m.

St. Johns Church, 2401 E. Broad St.

Find out which precinct you live in by visiting: www. richmondgov.com/Police/ Operations.aspx.
A Henrico County man will spend nearly two decades in prison for the 2015 sexual assault of two sisters, ages 5 and 6, at a West End bowling alley.

Circuit Judge Lee A. Harris Jr. on Friday called the crimes despicable before sentencing Thomas Pherigo-Jackson to 19 years in prison.

Pherigo-Jackson, 21, pleaded guilty in January to raping the older sister in a stall of the mens bathroom at Shrader Lanes on Shrader Road. He also pleaded guilty to an aggravated sexual battery charge against the younger sister.

Toni Randall, a deputy commonwealths attorney, told the court during the January hearing that the girls mother told police her children encountered Pherigo-Jackson at a playroom area prior to the incident. Pherigo-Jackson, a former J.R. Tucker High School student, was 18 at the time.

The mother said during the Friday sentencing hearing that the sisters had been happy-go-lucky and rambunctious before the crimes, but became very reserved afterwards.

Pherigo-Jackson, who is deaf, followed Fridays proceedings through a sign language interpreter. The defendant declined to make a statement before Harris imposed the sentence.

Alexander M. Clarke Jr., Pherigo-Jackons attorney, said his client is socially immature. Clarke also said the defendant is very low functioning and can only communicate at a second-grade level.

He is not somebody, Judge, who is mean-spirited, who is evil, despite what happened, Clarke said.

Clarke added that Pherigo-Jacksons mother also was in court and that his family wanted to express their sorrow over the case.

Randall said prior to the sentencing that Pherigo-Jackson presents a high risk of re-offending. The deputy commonwealths attorney also said there was a brazenness to committing the crime in a public place.
A 14-year-old Highland Springs High School student was killed early Thursday in a single-vehicle crash on Darbytown Road that Henrico County police said injured five other occupants, four of them juveniles.

Police identified the victim as Dajanae White of Henrico, a ninth-grader at Highland Springs High School.

Police said they responded at 4:09 a.m. to the 2900 block of Darbytown Road to investigate a reported traffic crash. Upon arrival, officers discovered a single vehicle off the roadway that had been occupied by one adult and five juveniles.

The survivors were taken to VCU Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The other occupants included two 11-year-old boys, one 15-year-old boy, one 16-year-old boy and a 35-year-old woman who was driving the vehicle, Rooney said.

I dont know the relationship between them all, Rooney said. I dont know where they were coming from or where they were going to.

Officers were investigating whether alcohol or speed were factors in the crash, as is standard practice.

They are standard points that we have look at, but I have not been told that either of them are factors or have been ruled out as factors, he said. I was not told whether any alcohol paraphernalia was recovered or observed at the scene.

The crash shut down Darbytown Road between Strath and Monahan roads for an extended period.

Rooney said police have been working with Henrico school officials to coordinate assistance at Highland Springs High after students return from spring break.

We informed them so they can prepare for the Monday after spring break as that sad news reverberates at the school, he said.

In a statement, Henrico schools spokesman Andy Jenks said: We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of our student. Counselors will be available to support students and staff at Highland Springs High School when school reopens on Monday. Springer Nation asks that the students family and friends be kept in the communitys thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
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State environmental regulators are raising concerns about a lack of erosion control at the construction site of an industrial shell building in Botetourt County.

The nearly finished building sits on land that was once the Greenfield Plantation  and where controversy erupted last year when two historic slave buildings were moved from the hill to make room for the economic development project.

An April 5 inspection by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality found that grading on the 22-acre site had not been followed up with sufficient stabilization work, which can include planting grass, spreading straw and building sediment traps.

There are adjacent wetlands, a stream, and a pond directly below/adjacent to slopes and a very large drainage area that drains toward the wetlands, the report stated.

There is NO vegetative cover on the site at all, another part of the eight-page report read. NOTHING is stabilized.

The project in the countys Greenfield industrial park is being managed by Greenfield Development LLC. That company is a spinoff formed after the nonprofit Greater Roanoke Valley Development Foundation selected Botetourt County for construction of a $3 million vacant building, which will be marketed to industries looking for a ready-to-move-into location.

Beth Doughty of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, which is also involved in the venture, said Friday that seeding of grass has not started yet because grading is still underway. Seeding is expected to begin next week.

Many of the deficiencies in the DEQ report involve paperwork lapses or misunderstandings, Doughty said. Before construction began last fall, she said, a stormwater protection plan was approved by state and local agencies.

The DEQ report makes no mention of actual erosion on the site, which is also being monitored by Botetourt County officials.

In performing routine inspections of the site, we have sought to ensure that no sediment or other debris has left the site, impacting neighboring sites or the surrounding environment, county Management Assistant Cody Sexton wrote in an email.

The shell building is slated for completion in the coming weeks. It will stand between two other projects underway at the industrial park  a brewery and distribution center for Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits and the Eldor Corp. automotive parts factory.

Following their relocation last year, the two former slave buildings sit about a half-mile away, where county officials plan to incorporate them into a history park that is still being planned.

The kitchen house and slave quarters are the last remnants of the former Greenfield Plantation. The buildings and surrounding land are highly significant for historical association with African-American ethnic history, according to a 2011 nomination that placed them on the National Register of Historic Places.
LYNCHBURG  Republican front-runner Ed Gillespies signature proposal to cut taxes took fire from all sides Thursday as the three GOP candidates for governor squared off at Liberty University for the first televised debate of Virginias primary season.

At the highest-stakes event yet in what has been a surprisingly lopsided nomination contest ahead of the June 13 primary, Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, and state Sen. Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach repeatedly took aim at Gillespies tax plan, the centerpiece of the former Republican National Committee chairmans campaign platform, during an hourlong debate aired by TV stations around the state and streamed live online.

Stewart, who has put forth a tax-cut plan of his own, said Gillespies $1.3 billion tax-cutting proposal doesnt do enough to cut spending and relies on revenue that wont materialize.

Its a charade, Stewart said.

Ive heard a vision from Mr. Gillespie and that vision is were going to cut taxes and were going to spend more money on this, this, this and this, Wagner said in his closing statement after repeatedly saying the state has dire funding needs and cant afford Gillespies tax cut. Ladies and gentlemen, that doesnt work. At the Naval Academy, we learned you had to be honest.

With wide leads in fundraising, endorsements and poll numbers two months out from the primary, Gillespie had to pick his battles while fending off the barbs from rivals. Under the debate rules, candidates had a limited number of rebuttal opportunities, and the attacks over the tax plan, which Gillespie has said is key to rejuvenated economic growth, came early in the night.

Gillespie, a political consultant who came close to defeating Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., in 2014, landed a blow of his own after Stewart accused him of supporting the individual mandate to buy health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. That was one of several Stewart claims Gillespie called false as he asked the audience to go to his website to better understand myth and reality.

The crowd of roughly 300 in Libertys music hall cheered wildly as Gillespie and Stewart traded zingers, prompting moderators Len Stevens, the universitys director of external communications, and Mark Spain, anchor at Lynchburg-area TV station WSET, to admonish those in the room to quiet down.

In response to a question about illegal immigration, Stewart described, in graphic detail, the recent homicide of a 17-year-old, allegedly by MS-13 gang members, in nearby Bedford County. Stewart said the boy was dismembered and nearly beheaded and said as governor hed go statewide with the immigration crackdown policies he enacted in Prince William.

You check the immigration status of every single person whos committed a crime, Stewart said. And if theyre here illegally, you boot em out of the country.

Wagner used the immigration question to offer the nights most direct praise for President Donald Trump and the tough-on-immigration policies Attorney General Jeff Sessions is pursuing.

I just want to thank our President Trump for ensuring that we have an attorney general that will put that policy forward.

Gillespie used the immigration question to draw a contrast with the two Democrats locked in their own primary battle: Lt. Gov Ralph Northam and former 5th District Rep. Tom Perriello.

The fact is, Ralph Northam and Tom Perriello, running on the Democrat side, support the establishment of sanctuary cities in the commonwealth of Virginia, Gillespie said, adding that the Democrats also favor drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants and discounted, in-state tuition for immigrants children.

Wagner, running as a policy wonk with the experience to know how Richmond works, repeatedly slipped in references to relatively obscure governmental issues such as the states rainy day reserves and funding for the Virginia Retirement System. Saying other candidates were following his lead on stressing the importance of career and technical education, Wagner said imitation is the highest form of flattery.

Theyre starting to learn about what the problems are here in Virginia, Wagner said. And thats a step. Thats a good first step.

Stewart seemed to drop his emphasis on defending Confederate statues for the night. He pitched himself as someone who has a record of winning elections in Northern Virginia despite courting controversy.

Others talk about winning. Well. We know what his record is, Stewart said, pointing to Gillespie. One try. One loss.

In his closing statement, Gillespie positioned himself as the safe pick for mainstream Republicans.

I will run a campaign that makes us all proud, Gillespie said.
NEW YORK

No foul play suspected in judges death

NEW YORK  Police detectives tracing the final hours of a pioneering judge who turned up dead in the Hudson River in Manhattan have found no signs of foul play, supporting the belief her death was a suicide, some law enforcement officials said Thursday.

Speaking to reporters about the death of Sheila Abdus-Salaam, New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce declined to answer questions about whether she took her own life.

But two other law enforcement officials said Thursday 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.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation hasnt been completed. Meanwhile, results of an autopsy Thursday were inconclusive.

Abdus-Salaam, 65, was the first black woman on New York states highest court. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who appointed Abdus-Salaam to the states Court of Appeals in 2013, called her a trailblazing jurist.

FLORIDA

Officer who shot caretaker charged

MIAMI  Officials say a Florida police officer who shot an autistic mans caretaker is facing criminal charges.

A news release from the Miami-Dade State Attorneys office says North Miami Police Officer Jonathan Aledda was charged Wednesday with attempted manslaughter and misdemeanor culpable negligence.

Authorities have said 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.

A cellphone video captured events leading up to the shooting.

Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association President John Rivera said the charges were politically motivated.

RUSSIA

Officials asked to look into deaths of gay men

MOSCOW  International organizations on Thursday urged the Russian government to investigate the reported abuse and killings of gay men in Russias southern republic of Chechnya.

The respected Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported earlier this month that police in the predominantly Muslim republic of Chechnya have rounded up more than 100 men suspected of homosexuality and that at least three of them have been killed.

Chechen authorities have denied the reports, while the spokesman for leader Ramzan Kadyrov insisted there were no gay people in Chechnya.

CANADA

Bill introduced to allow 30 grams of pot

TORONTO  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government introduced legislation Thursday to let an 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.
Economy News How Liberia S New Generation Of Female Entrepreneurs Is Revitalizing The Economy | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Hoas business ... of women are offline, and women are 20% less likely than men to own smartphones. Without access to the full power of the digital economy, female entrepreneurs cannot integrate ... Read More Women are increasingly a part of the countrys short-term/freelance job economy, empowered by the ... uncertainty and an endless cycle of chasing new clients, along with hunting for one new ... Read More NEW DELHI: Participation of women in ... As per data, in the last quarter, womens participation in the gig economy has increased to 36% from 27%. Read More A New York Times/Siena College poll out Monday has attracted media attention for affirming the argument that the economy trumps abortion when it comes to voters' priorities. Conservative ... Read More The U.S economy has proven itself resilient throughout the coronavirus pandemic, recovering from the sharpest quarterly contraction in history, but earlier this year it looked to some as if it had ... Read More More than 70% of voters said Bidens policies are responsible for the current state of the economy, with 45% saying he is to blame a great deal. A new CBS News poll shows Republicans are ... Read More America is driving the Wests response to the war in Ukraine. But U.S. officials are struggling to project a global response to a worldwide economic slowdown. A sense of dread surrounded ... Read More This segment of Whats Ahead puts the spotlight on a proposed Biden regulation that will seriously disrupt a significant part of todays economy. More and more people want to work for themselves. Read More Our economy is strong as hell, President Joe Biden declared in an impromptu remark on Saturday  but, a new ... its better. The mission of the Media Research Center is to document and combat the ... Read More The China-led blocs weight in the global economy will noit increase substantially further, states the report titled The Fracturing of the Global Economy  An Introduction. More ... Read More WSJ looks at three moments over his 10 years in power that trace his rise to become the countrys most powerful leader since Mao Zedong. Photo illustration: Adam Adada SINGAPOREThe new slate ... Read More
Outdoor News Addis Ababa 1st In East Africa With Bus Rapid Transit | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The MarketWatch News Department ... dynamics of the global Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Systems market and current trends within the industry. Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt ... Read More The event is scheduled to hold from the 19th to 21st of October in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Africa Celebrates is aimed at celebrating Africas unity in diversity, foster integration through its ... Read More Ten years after it was first supposed to be ready, 13 years after it was announced and after four years of construction that slowed traffic on Pie-IX Blvd., Montreals first bus rapid transit ... Read More Addis Ababa  Government security forces have killed ... and abducted his brother and sister along with two other individuals in Fentalle, East Shewa Zone of Oromia regional state. Read More Addis Ababa  Moibon Bekele ... His body was taken today to his hometown in Nekemte city, east Wollega zone of Oromia regional state, Lelisa said, adding "so far, nothing is known about who ... Read More After four consecutive failed rainy seasons, harvests in East Africa ... News. The next potential improvement of the situation is the next rainy season, which is March to May. So the first ... Read More Addis Abeba  Ethiopia condemned "the barbaric and cowardly attack" on 06 October on the Tadjourah Regiment of the Djibouti army at Garabistan. In a statement released via the Ministry of ... Read More It takes years to design, fund and establish new transit systems. A bus rapid transit line along this route was first proposed 15 years ago. It also takes true partnerships with elected leaders ... Read More According to Madobe Nunow, Somalia is on the verge of a second famine, after the 2010-2012 crisis which according to the UN claimed more than a quarter of a million lives, half of them children. ... Read More After introducing the EAC tourist visa, East Africa has been cited as one of the ... business travel at 18 per cent and transit at 14 per cent. Read Also: Google maps Kenya's National Parks ... Read More The Purple Line, formerly called the Rush Line, was supposed to link the downtowns of St. Paul and White Bear Lake, running through St. Paul's East ... the first half of 2021. Bus rapid transit ... Read More in Somalia and across East Africa. Today, the Department of State is designating five al-Shabaab leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 ... Read More
Politics News Liberals Make Good On Plan To Legalize Pot | RobinsPost News & Noticias

But it should be, Its inflation, stupid. The US cost of living is at a 40-year-high, putting voters in a disgruntled mood. High gasoline prices havent helped either, and the sense of post-pandemic ... Read More To most observers, little besides race and gender separates Royce Duplessis and Mandie Landry as the two liberal Democratic state representatives compete for a Louisiana Senate seat on Nov. 8. Read More If Fetterman wins despite the debate disaster and political headwinds, it will validate his theory of political vibes ... Read More Voters across the Kansas City region will decide major contests, including ballot initiatives on Kansas City police funding and legalized marijuana. Read More We talked to the governor and the challenger to break down issues for voters who havent decided  or who are thinking about changing their minds. Read More In an attack ad blasting California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a woman named Rachel describes her deep frustration over the five-month probation sentence ... Read More With four days to go, Democrats are seeing the limits of their focus on abortion. Republicans have a chance to win veto-proof supermajorities in Wisconsins State Legislature. Read More The showdown in Pennsyvlania is among a handful of debates taking place Tuesday night. The Senate candidates will tangle in Colorado, as will gubernatorial hopefuls in Michigan and New York. Read More Eight candidates are running for four seats representing Hampton in the state House. Republicans on the ballot are state Rep. Tracy Emerick, William Jackson, Ken Sheffert, and Bruce Theriault. Read More Karen Andrews is going hard on cuts today  here is the shadow home affairs minister on what she says is cuts to the AFPs budget: Today in Senate Estimates, Australian Federal Police officials ... Read More The first minister said a timetable for creating a Scottish currency would not be set, however, use of sterling would be as "short as practicable". The UK government has said now is not the time to ... Read More The race between Dr. Mehmet Oz, a Republican, and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat, may be critical to determining control of the Senate. Read More
Politics News Activism In Suburban Atlanta Grassroots Progressives Hope To Power A Georgia Democrat To Victory | RobinsPost News & Noticias

We need to invest in the next Georgia to bring about the change ... and if we focus on building lasting infrastructure and power and not only on the political cyclewhat we can build together ... Read More Warnock must overcome Biden's low approval ratings, stubborn inflation and fears of a looming recession to replicate support in Atlanta's suburbs ... by the Georgia News Collaborative ... Read More an upscale city just outside Atlanta on Sept. 17, 2022. This election, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and Democrat ... of political science at the University of Georgia. But the suburbs aren't simply ... Read More With elections less than three weeks away, voter turnout in Georgia ... voters and progressives in battleground states like Nevada and Pennsylvania. Catch up on more political news. Read More ATLANTA  Atlanta voters had mixed ... "I want to make sure we have abortion rights in Georgia," one woman, Olivia, told Fox News. "Same," her friend Christina chimed in. "Abortion, it's like ... Read More ATLANTA  Georgia Democrats will be joined in Atlanta by a party heavyweight - former President Barack Obama. He is expected to join democratic candidates on Oct. 28, according to the Georgia ... Read More On a crisp fall morning, eager volunteers fanned out in the leafy suburban Atlanta ... of power in the U.S. Senate, Loeffler is trying to prevent a repeat. "This effort is about amplifying ... Read More Residential real estate advisory firm Suburban Jungle wants to pair metro Atlanta homebuyers with their ideal suburb. New York City-based Suburban Jungle Group expanded to Atlanta earlier this ... Read More ATLANTA  A series of debates will take place starting Sunday as the Atlanta Press Club series kicks off. But among them, it appears, will be some notable no-shows. In politics, debates are ... Read More AUBURN, Ga. - You can turn out the lights for one of the biggest providers of rooftop solar power in Georgia. After thousands of consumer complaints  and investigations across the country ... Read More To round up everything thats going on, the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast crew tries to rank the electoral significance of some of the biggest stories in the news right now. They also ask ... Read More
Politics News Pence To Open Asian Trip Amid Increasing Tensions With North Korea | RobinsPost News & Noticias

A 2018 military agreement between North Korea and South Korea designed to prevent inadvertent clashes along their shared border may be at risk after the South accused the North of violating the deal ... Read More North Koreas Foreign Ministry criticized the United States for expanding joint military exercises with South Korea that it claims are practice for a potential invasion, ... Read More
Politics News Watch Here S Kim Jong Un S Big Surprise And New Evacuations Happening Now In South Korea On Youtube | RobinsPost News & Noticias

A pair of dogs gifted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2018 are now mired in a South Korean political row, with the countrys former president blaming his conservative successor for a lack of sup ... Read More In a statement released by the North Korean Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, the pariah state threatened the US with powerful measures.Powerful measuresAccording to the BBC, North Korea perceived the ... Read More Kim Jong Un's North Korean military ... in a warning for its enemy' after South Korea kicked off its annual Hoguk defense drills, the state media KCNA Watch reported. See Also: Trump Showed ... Read More North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un has recently made headlines ... Caitlin McFall is a Reporter at Fox News Digital covering Politics, U.S. and World news. Get all the stories you need-to-know ... Read More Kim Jong-un has ramped up North Koreas ... South Korea firing test missiles in response with tensions simmering. And North Korea has now revealed that the missile that went over Japan was a ... Read More More info North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has been seen in a bright white tunic and safari-style hat while watching his country's latest missile ... The state media Korea Central News Agency ... Read More Kim Jong-un's forces have conducted seven tactical nuclear missile tests since September. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA ... attacks on South Korea, in that time Seoul developing ... Read More SEOUL, South Korea ... States and South Korea. Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), one of North Koreas main state-controlled media, reported on Monday that Kim Jong Un guided the drills ... Read More The former president of South Korea says he is going to give up dogs that were gifted to him by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Read More Last year, there was a great deal of commentary from analysts when it appeared that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ... Now, amid a wave of missile tests, the focus has shifted to Kims wardrobe. Read More Kim is forging new norms in the politics of the region. It may be hard to accept that North Korea  a small economic actor compared with the U.S ... Jong Un has a grand strategy. As long as ... Read More
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Potus News Dangerous Fugitive Who Mailed Manifesto To Trump Captured In Wisconsin | RobinsPost News & Noticias

A Wisconsin man accused of stealing an arsenal of weapons from a gun shop and sending an anti-government manifesto to President Donald Trump has been arrested after a massive manhunt, authorities ... Read More 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. He is ... Read More a special agent warned other members about Trump's response. Just fyi. POTUS is pissed, reads the message, dated Dec. 11, 2020. breaking news - Supreme Court denied his law suit. Read More (AP)  A man described as a person of interest in an unsolved homicide in New Hampshire was ordered held without bail Thursday after he was arrested in Vermont on a charge of being a fugitive ... Read More Ever since Donald Trump descended the escalator in 2015 to announce his run for the presidency, every arm of the Left's prodigious propaganda machinery (the media, Hollywood, academia, the ... Read More According to a press release from the Allen County Sheriffs Office, Jaquaveius Harvey, 30, a fugitive of Allen County Common Pleas Court, was arrested without incident following hours of ... Read More From the moment he descended the golden escalator at Manhattans Trump Tower in June 2015 to announce his candidacy, the news media was in his thrall. Journalists couldnt stop writing about ... Read More Legendary Watergate journalist Bob Woodward sounded the alarm on former President Donald Trump Sunday ... Hes dangerous, and he is a threat to democracy  and hes a threat to the ... Read More Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward said on Sunday that he considers former President Trump dangerous and a threat to both democracy and the presidency. Woodward is promoting a forthcoming ... Read More
Science News Scientists Tag Humpback Whales In Southeast Pacific | RobinsPost News & Noticias

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Climate Questions: What's Going on With ... around climate change, the science behind it, the effects of a warming planet and how the world is addressing it. There may be an uptick in climate ... Read More Climate Questions: Who Is Most Vulnerable to Climate Change? BY DREW COSTLEY, AP Science Writer Most of the worlds population has been affected in some way by climate change  85% of the ... Read More EDITORS NOTE ... fundamental questions around climate change, the science behind it, the effects of a warming planet and how the world is addressing it. There may be an uptick in climate ... Read More
Science News The Most Beautiful Mosques In The World | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Mosques, like many other religious monuments around the world, frequently serve as symbols of a city's cultural identity and geography. We have compiled a list of the 6 most breath-taking mosques ... Read More The "effects of the climate crisis can be observed in our country and in many parts of the world, as most recently ... Nazis called "racial science." In 1928, a new mosque was built in Berlin ... Read More Central Mosque, in Cologne, was built in 2018 and opened by Turkish president But it could only play prayer call internally, amidst a fight with local authorities Mayor has now allowed the call ... Read More but when one Harley Street cosmetic surgeon used science to measure physical perfection, he found Jodie Comer to be the most beautiful woman in the world. According to Yahoo News, Dr Julian De ... Read More Move over JLo and co as Jodie Comer has been declared the most beautiful woman in the world, according to science. The 29-year-old Killing Eve actor was found to be 94.52% accurate to the Golden Ratio ... Read More Video footage showed flames and smoke billowing from the mosque's dome just before it collapsed. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Reports suggest that the Islamic Centre was undergoing ... Read More Actor Jodie Comer has been named "the most beautiful woman in the world" according to science. The Killing Eve star from Liverpool was ranked in the top spot according to a scientific calculation ... Read More Khabib Nurmagomedov wants the world to know Islam Makhachev is the best fighter ... Green has been a journeyman fighter for most of his tenure in UFC and has a 29-13-1 career record in 43 fights. 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 Travel Scams To From Thailand Zero Dollar Tours Pyramid Schemes | RobinsPost News & Noticias

BANGKOK - Thailand will widen a ... a fifth of its value against the US dollar since the end of 2020, driving gullible investors to flock to ponzi forex schemes offering hefty returns. Read More CHESAPEAKE, Va.  The Chesapeake Sheriff's Office is warning about a scam that tries to get people to click on a link in a text message in an attempt to get their personal information. Read More Analysts said that tour companies and other travel businesses are looking for bargains, as well. "Generally, at the trade level, we're seeing U.S.-located, dollar-denominated tour operators and ... Read More Thailand is ready to welcome worlds travel bloggers, content creators, and influencers from around the world to TBEX Asia 2022, which will take place on the beautiful island of Phuket and the ... Read More Scams such as fake phone numbers on popular ... a trip or credit for future travel from a trusted travel company. In exchange, these convincing scammers may ask for personal information including ... 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 There are plenty of reasons to buy travel insurance but saving money and potential headaches are top of mind. And inflation certainly doesn't help. The price of plane tickets is expected to spike ... Read More It is a curiosity, said Wallace, a travel advisor with Holiday Cruises & Tours. For many, its something that they have not experienced before. Theres something happening on the ... 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 traditional travel agents, multi-day tour operators, tours and activities, cruise, and car rental Discussions of major consumer trends, including on the future of work, business travel ... Read More
Travel News Trump S Travel Ban Poses An Economic Threat To Luxury Hotels | RobinsPost News & Noticias

President Donald Trump took ... the administration's reversal on Iraq's inclusion only adds to her skepticism of the intent of the new travel ban. "After having essentially said we have compelling ... Read More The company owned by former President Donald Trump billed the United States Secret Service as much as five times the originally agreed-upon rate for hotel rooms while the real estate magnate was ... Read More Did President Donald Trumps travel ban  in place now for more than 22 months  become, in practice, a Muslim ban? The third version of President Donald Trumps travel ban went into full ... Read More The U.S. hotel industry is still recovering from the thrashing Covid-19 delivered, leaning on 2019 numbers as a benchmark of success, but now a new threat looms that could further impede growth. Read More BERLIN -- The U.S ... hotels and airlines, could suffer due to the ban. Some 37 percent of U.S. business travel professionals said they expect a reduction in their company's travel because of ... Read More Here Breaking Travel News takes a look ... Hiltons world-renowned hospitality and a memorable stay. Taj, the iconic brand of Indian Hotels Company, has also recently joined the fun, with ... Read More President Donald Trumps administration asked the Supreme Court Thursday morning to lift the court orders blocking his travel ban and to take up the case on an expedited basis. WASHINGTON (CN) - ... Read More Small Luxury Hotels of the ... 28 countries, SLH's Private Collection was created to tap growing demand for private accommodations and group and multigenerational travel. As part of a bid to ... Read More Woodward told CBS News' John Dickerson, "In many ways it's ... threat you face in your presidency.' I was pretty passionate about it." Yet, at a rally in New Hampshire two weeks later, Trump ... 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 In an op-ed for The Washington Post published Sunday, Woodward wrote that Trump continues to pose a threat to U.S. democracy. The Trump Tapes leaves no doubt that after four years in the presidency ... Read More
Us News Texas Voter Id Law Is Unexplainable On Grounds Other Than Race Federal Judge Rules | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The Texas Legislature intentionally crafted a voter ID law to disenfranchise minorities, a federal judge ruled Monday ... making it the strictest voter ID law in the United States. Around 608,000 ... Read More The U.S. Department of Justice rejects Texas request for preclearance to enforce the states voter ID law, finding the law would be harmful to minority voters. A federal judge in Washington ... Read More Texas voters cast their ballots Tuesday with a wide variety of issues on their minds, including the states grid and the Uvalde shooting. Read More The two spoke with Jo Yurcaba, reporter for NBC OUT, the LGBTQ section at NBC News Digital, to discuss what they consider to be "obstacles for transgender people." "Voter ID laws disproportionally ... Read More The United States has some of ... minorities are more likely than whites to be asked to actually present their ID at the polls. And finally, even if voter ID laws are repealed, studies show ... Read More Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over Missouri's New Voter ID Law By JIM SALTER ... and 19 states had identification laws that accepted proof other than photos. In a court hearing last month, Missouri ... Read More (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Jane Junn, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; John Holbein ... Read More
Us News Wisconsin Manhunt Suspect S Letter To Trump Warned Of System Of Greed | RobinsPost News & Noticias

A sheriff's deputy in Wisconsin shot ... and deputies began searching for the suspect. Barrett wasn't specific about the alleged violation. The Wisconsin Department of Justice says the individual ... Read More (AP)  Prosecutors rested their case Thursday in the trial of a Wisconsin man accused of killing ... of these proceedings, your honors efforts to run a fair trial and our efforts to run ... Read More A man accused of killing six people and injuring dozens of others when he allegedly drove his SUV through a Wisconsin Christmas ... reminding jurors that there's two sides to every story. Read More We are two years post-presidential election, and some people are still suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome. A recent letter bags on ... Dont forget Joes infamous, If you don ... Read More Polls show tight races in Wisconsin less than a month ... parole commission," Michels said during a news conference Monday at the West Bend Sheriff's Department. Michels added he would not stop ... Read More Louisiana State Police is on the scene at this time and said that a stolen vehicle crashed on the interstate and triggered a manhunt ... Police's efforts to locate the second suspect. Read More A Wisconsin man accused of killing six people ... at the parade a tragedy while reminding jurors that there's two sides to every story. "Its easy to look at the magnitude of something ... Read More
World News Inside Turkey S Purge | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Private NTV news channel claim a number ... A total of 301 people died in Turkeys worst mine disaster back in 2014 following a fire inside a coal mine in Soma. AFAD has announced that search ... Read More In Turkey's worst mine disaster, a total of 301 people died in 2014 in a fire inside a coal mine in the town of Soma, in the west of the country. Just five months later, 18 miners perished after a ... Read More Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images An explosion deep inside a coalmine in Turkeys mountainous northern Black ... union told the local Cumhuriyet news outlet that increasing safety measures ... Read More An explosion inside a coal mine ... treated in hospitals, state news agency Anadolu said citing a statement from the countrys Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu. Turkeys Minister of Energy ... Read More If youve been listening to the news from Turkey, you know that President ... King Jr. type of visionary who is inviting the worlds religions to come together and lead us toward peace through ... Read More Turkey's Parliament last week ratified a law introducing jail terms for journalists and social media users who spread "fake news," or disinformation ... journalists in the world in a way ... Read More As a fire burned in the mine and desperate relatives waited for news ... s worst mine disaster was in 2014, when 301 people died in a fire inside a coal mine in the town of Soma, in western Turkey. Read More In Turkeys worst mine disaster, a total of 301 people died in 2014 in a fire inside a coal mine in the town of Soma, in western Turkey. Read More ANKARA, Turkey  An explosion inside a coal mine in northern Turkey ... The Bartin governors office said 25 were killed in the blast. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca reported at least 17 ... Read More Turkey's Maden Is mining workers' union attributed the blast to a build-up of methane gas. But other officials said it was premature to draw definitive conclusions over the cause of the accident ... Read More Russian energy giant Gazprom has also signed a multi-million dollar deal with Iran's state oil company. President Putin also met Turkish President ... been dismissed A purge of Ukraine's security ... Read More
World News France S Ayrault Says Assad S Comments On Syria Chemical Attack Are Lies | RobinsPost News & Noticias

U.S. Says Failed Rocket Attack Targeted American ... backed forces established a foothold in Syria while fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad during Syria's civil war. Read More France has repatriated 40 children and 15 women from camps in Syria holding family members ... fz/yad/leg/pvh The Barron's news department was not involved in the creation of the content above. Read More Syria has provided for the Palestinians what no other country has provided. Describing their meeting as warm, Hayya said Assad had expressed his countrys determination to support the ... Read More Numerous complaints made about Dr Akjemal Magtymova, AP reports after whistleblower leak The head of the World Health Organization ... saving Bashar al-Assad on Syrias battlefields and ... Read More given that most of the victims of Assad's crackdown in Syria were Sunnis. Asked whether the benefits were worth the criticism levelled against Hamas in the Muslim Sunni world, Sawwaf replied ... Read More France's Macron Says There Is Chance for Peace in Ukraine ... Macron at a conference in Rome aimed at seeking ways to promote world peace. "And at a particular moment, given how things are ... Read More Thousands of people had packed Nices famed boardwalk on the Mediterranean coast on July 14, 2016, to celebrate Frances national ... that IS orchestrated the attack. Eight people are on ... Read More The U.N. envoy for Syria says the United Nations will push for ... much of the country with the help of President Bashar Assads allies Russia and Iran. A cease-fire brokered by Turkey and ... Read More Central Command did not say who it believed might be responsible for the failed attack ... foothold in Syria while fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad during Syria's civil war. Read More Thousands of people had packed Nices famed boardwalk on the Mediterranean coast on July 14, 2016, to celebrate Frances national holiday. Shortly after the end of a fireworks display ... Read More
World News In France 4 Presidential Candidates In Tight Race | RobinsPost News & Noticias

French far-right party Rassemblement National on Saturday elected Jordan Bardella, 27, as its new president, to take over from Marine Le Pen and become the first party leader who is not a member of ... Read More A close Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania last May triggered comparisons to the French presidential election, which had been held a few weeks earlier. Read More France's Finance Minister Bruno Lemaire attends a meeting with the heads of the country's most climate-damaging industries, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Just back from ... Read More Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russia had suspended rather than terminated its participation in a crucial UN-brokered grain deal. Putin repeated an accusation made repeatedly by ... Read More The Fed is forecast to implement its fourth straight 0.75 percentage point rate rise on Wednesday and to signal further increases in an effort to curb rapid price growth even as concerns mount that ... Read More
World News Japan Weighs Plans For S Korea Evacuation Over Nuclear Crisis Report | RobinsPost News & Noticias

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 TOKYO -- Japan will consider allowing nuclear reactors to continue operating beyond their current limit of 60 years, in a push to provide reliable power to the country amid a global energy crunch ... Read More "The U.S. commitments to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan ... U.S. nuclear weapons to South Korea three decades after their withdrawal. In response to questions over a report in ... Read More The U.S. and South Korea jointly warned North Korea on Thursday that use of any kind of nuclear weapon against Seoul or other regional allies would result in the end of Kim Jong Un' ... Read More "North Korea is consistently developing and upgrading its nuclear weapons and posing nuclear threats to not only our Republic of Korea but the world ... resentment over Japan's 1910-45 colonial ... Read More Kim Jong-un's forces have conducted seven tactical nuclear missile tests since September. The Korean Central News Agency ... North Korea recently fired the Hwasong-12 over Japan  it ... Read More Seoul  North Korea's recent missile tests involved "tactical nuclear ... The report also said that North Korea's October 4 missile launch, which flew over Japan and prompted rare evacuation ... Read More South Korea's troops kicked off their annual Hoguk defence drills on Monday, designed to boost their ability to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats amid simmering tension over ... Read More The report came after Pyongyang fired a pair of short-range ballistic missiles into the sea between Korea and Japan early Sunday morning, its seventh weapons test over the past two weeks. Read More Nuclear is likely to play the star part in this shift given Japans physical constraints that prevent it to emulate China, for example, with solar. Indeed, per the governments plans ... Read More Seoul, South Korea  South Korea's military said Tuesday its capable of detecting and intercepting the variety of missiles North Korea launched in a barrage of recent simulated nuclear ... Read More "North Korea is consistently developing and upgrading its nuclear weapons and posing nuclear threats to not only our Republic of Korea but the world ... resentment over Japan's 1910-45 colonial ... Read More
World News The Latest Russia Watching Korea Tension With Great Concern | RobinsPost News & Noticias

North Korea accused the United States of cooking up a plot-breeding story on its alleged arms transfer to Russia ... Read More The United States accused Russia and China on Friday of providing "blanket protection" to North Korea from further U.N. Security Council action and said the pair had "bent over backwards" to justify ... Read More Russia has the world ... s TASS news agency that Pyongyang was interested in developing cooperation with Russia on the "peaceful use of outer space." Adversaries like Iran, North Korea and ... Read More That means the world would likely ... intelligence and everybody is watching those sites. The Americans cannot have absolute certainty that they will see it, but Russia does not have certainty ... Read More Soon after the latest missile test ... Koreas established under a 2018 inter-Korean agreement on reducing tensions, South Koreas military said. On Friday afternoon, South Koreas military ... Read More Tensions between North and South Korea have risen this week, with both sides engaging in live-fire military drills while concerns swirl in Washington that North Koreas new war-fighting strategy ... Read More S.Korea Says Strongly Condemns Escalation of Tensions by N.Korea With Hostile Acts SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's National Security Council (NSC) on Friday said it strongly condemns North Korea ... Read More However, several instruments of its government dismissed the FSB claims as fabricated and little more than an attempt to justify Russias latest acts of brutality. Ukraines Ministry of ... Read More world news and K-pop songs. Most of North Koreas 26 million people have no official access to foreign TV and radio programs. Pyongyangs politics of blaming external threats and projecting ... Read More Death toll from Mondays strikes rises to 19 as Russian continues to attack Ukrainian cities with missiles; GCHQ boss says No signs Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapon The death toll ... Read More the tensions between Russia and Ukraine is only escalating. Amid the ongoing conflict, the admission of Ukraine to NATO could result in a third world war, the deputy secretary of the Security ... Read More
World News Topics Kasich Gop In Washington Being Ideological On Health Care | RobinsPost News & Noticias

A brave Philadelphia man achieved greatness this weekend after he successfully ate 40 rotisserie chickens in 40 days. And Alexander wept. Today in health, well be looking at what actions ... Read More
Letters 11-4-22 A Vote For Tom Sullivan Dear Editor: On Election Day, I will be proudly voting for Colonel Thomas P. Sullivan for State Assembly. A proven leader, and financial professional. A vote for Tom Sullivan is...

Letters 10-28-22 Thanks, Stacey Dear Editor: I would like to recognize Stacey Amato for the tireless work she has done in our community. She responded to every call I have ever made to her office with results....
Estimados amigos,

Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con articulos, analisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas economicos, financieros y politicos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su maximo interes, utilidad y conveniencia.

Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro.

Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras.

There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen.

You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.

No soy alguien que sabe, sino alguien que busca.

Only Gold is money. Everything else is debt.

Las grandes almas tienen voluntades; las debiles tan solo deseos.

Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada.

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.

If you know the other and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.
Four days after the passage of a contentious bill included in the late state budget raising the age of adult criminal responsibility to 18, defense attorneys, lawmakers, and state officials are still struggling to make sense of how exactly it will work.

Currently, 16- and 17-year-olds are automatically charged as adults in New York, making it one of two states in the country with such harsh standards. The reform as envisioned by Democrats and activists would have kept kids out of adult courts and jails across the board, keeping them strictly in family court and juvenile facilities. Republicans pushed back, though, and the resulting negotiations stalled talks for nine days beyond the budget deadline.

Under the new system, which is supposed to go into effect in October 2018, only misdemeanor charges will automatically go to family court. Nonviolent felony charges are supposed to be handled in a new "youth part" of criminal court, with the presumption that they'll later be referred to family court unless a prosecutor can prove "extraordinary circumstances." Violent felonies are supposed to go to the youth part and be subjected to tests to determine whether to remove them to family court, with the criteria being whether a weapon was used, whether the victim had "significant" injuries, and whether the crime was a sex crime.

A criminal justice reform advocate told Gothamist that there is a whole constellation of unknowns about how the new system will work day-to-day. Court staff, including youth and family court judges, juvenile public defenders, prosecutors, and probation officers need to be hired and trained for both the new youth section of criminal court and the vastly expanded family court system. New courtrooms need to be built to accommodate the new system, processing huge numbers of teens each yearin 2016, there were 24,500 arrests of 16- and 17-year-olds, according to the Governor's Office. And existing police and correction officers will need to be retrained about how to deal with teen defendants.

The youth-court judges are supposed to be trained in family law, and the courts are supposed to provide access to social services absent from normal adult court. But some 16- and 17-year-old felony defendants would still be tried as adults under the penal code, facing longer sentences, and if convicted, coming out of jail or prison with criminal records, unlike their peers in family court.

The biggest question, according to the advocate, is where these new classes of juvenile offenders will be jailed. State officials are currently in talks about regulations to match the needs created by the legislation. The current understanding, confirmed by the Governor's Office, is that 16- and 17-year-olds in criminal court will not be held in juvenile detention facilities, but rather in segregated custody within adult facilities, controlled by the state Department of Corrections, but with services rendered by the state Office of Children and Family Services. Still, no one can say for sure where these will be.

The reform specifically requires New York City to move 16- and 17-year-olds off of Rikers Island by 2018, ahead of Mayor de Blasio's timeline, setting the stage for yet another conflict between de Blasio and Governor Cuomo, and creating pressure for the city to build or renovate jails way more quickly than called for in the mayor's 10-year phase-out of Rikers.

The language of the bill also leaves room for the authorities to hold kids in adult jails with "the approval of the Office of Children and Family Services."

A spokeswoman for state Sen. Velmanette Montgomery, who pushed for a simpler, more comprehensive raise the age bill, said she also was unsure on when young teens might be held in adult jails under the new law.

"Were still going through it, honestly," spokeswoman Shakti Robbins-Cubas said. "Theres a lot of kind of nuances to it."

Alphonso David, chief counsel to the governor, said that the explanation for the caveat is straightforward, and that the option will almost never be used. He explained that there is already a similar allowance for younger kids to be held in adult jails, but that the only time this is ever done is when something like a blizzard or hurricane makes travel impossible and an adult facility is the closest. The Office of Children and Family Services has only ever granted such permission once in the last 30 years, during a winter storm, he said.

An OCFS spokesman did not have any comment by press time about what the language means.

Legal Aid Society chief defender Tina Luongo said that, apart from the differences of where teens are held and what court section they appear in, without further reforms to the bail system and a speedy-trial law, it's possible for there to be a repeat of Kalief Browder's situation. Browder was 16 when he was arrested for allegedly robbing a man of his backpack, then held on Rikers for three years before Bronx prosecutors dropped the charges. He spent most of 17 months in solitary confinement. He later killed himself.

De Blasio has curbed the use of solitary on young teens at Rikers, but it is still permitted at the state level in some instances. In 2011, 74 percent of felony cases in the Bronx were older than six months.

David, after falsely stating that Browder was charged with a nonviolent felonyhe was charged with robbery and assaultsaid that the tests for violent felonies under the new system would have at least steered Browder's case into the youth section of court (in prosecutors' false narrative, Browder was unarmed when he committed the robbery). Beyond that, he suggested that Luongo and those who agree with her are letting the perfect be the enemy of the good.

"Theyre conflating a number of things," he said. "We should reform our bail system and our speedy trial systems, but we shouldnt negate the real achievement of raise the age legislation. Suggesting that the fact that we still need those reforms somehow undermines the significance of raise the age is inaccurate."



The planned closure of Rikers Island in 10 years combined with the state's demand to remove 16- and 17-year-olds from the island within 2 years means that the city and state are now scrambling to find new places to house inmates. The Brooklyn Detention Complex already houses about 800 adults awaiting trial. (Saundi Wilson/Flickr)

In a statement, Sen. Montgomery outlined her concerns with the compromise:

We steered the boat in the right direction for sure, but the loopholes left have the potential to shuttle this group of kids into the system through a different route. Children that remain in this new youth part of criminal court are still sentenced as adults, violations are still handled in local criminal court. Vehicular crimes and violations remain in criminal court with no chance for removal to family court. The 10-year wait to seal records can halt their progress during the time of their lives when they have the most potential for change. These kinds of details are important because what we want and what we know works are diversion programs and other age-appropriate treatment that keeps them out of the system and helps them succeed.

The details of these changes will have far-reaching impacts on thousands of young New Yorkers a year. Research suggests that the human brain is not fully developed until age 25, and that adolescents are by nature more impulsive than adults. Children jailed in adult facilities are more likely to be beaten by staff or attacked with a weapon by inmates, more likely to be raped, more likely to commit suicide, and more likely to be rearrested than their counterparts who go through the juvenile jail system.

In Michigan, where 17-year-olds are still automatically tried as adults and kids 14 and over are typically sentenced as adults for certain serious crimes, a high school classmate of mine was released a few years ago after serving 10 years in juvenile and adult prisons for attempted murder. He was arrested at 15.

My friend, who asked that his name not be used to protect his privacy, said that the private prison where he was held until age 18 was the site of constant fights, and that the warden's solution was to keep those who didn't have a job assignment locked down for 20 hours a day. He was moved to an adult prison early, because his juvenile prison was closed amid a series of scandals, and was in segregated youth custody until age 19. Then he entered general population.

"Most of the adults are generally calmer, but its still very dangerous, especially for a young person," he said, explaining that in adult prison, when people resort to violence, they are more likely to have a weapon, or to continue a beating beyond simply winning a fight. There are also sexual predators who fixate on young inmates.

"I was approached by many predators, who are people trying to seduce you and probably rape you," he said. "I was fortunate to dodge those bullets."

He was able to get his high school equivalency degree in youth prison, and although there were no programs for continuing education in the adult facility, he and his family were able to arrange an ad hoc correspondence course program with a local community college, and he came out with an associate and a bachelor's degree.

My friend is not up on national criminal justice policy trends, but said that fundamentally he believes children should be sentenced as children, because the premise of the juvenile justice system is to offer room for rehabilitation. He summed it up this way:
Lucapa Diamond Company, which operates the Lulo diamond project in Angola, said processed volumes for the March quarter leaped 91 percent to 70,967 bulk cubic metres despite the wet season.

The company, which also owns a 40 percent stake in the project, said the growth in plant throughput saw a 33 percent rise in diamonds recovered to 4,098 carats.

Lulo continued to regularly produce large and premium-value diamonds throughout the quarter, with the number of specials recovered increasing 58 percent to 38, it said.

These specials included Angolas second biggest diamond on record, a 227 D-colour Type IIa gem  along with other large gem-quality stones weighing 92 carats and 62 carats and a 65 carat diamond.

The record volumes came as Lucapa and its partners Endiama and Rosas & Petalas continued to explore for new mining blocks at Lulo along the Cacuilo River while access to known large stone-producing Mining Blocks 8 and 6 was largely restricted during the wet season.

Lulo alluvial company raked in $10.7 million during the quarter.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, will hold its 2017 annual congress in Bangkok, Thailand, November 5-7, with pre-congress meetings beginning on November 2. The World Ruby Forum, which is being organised in conjunction with the congress, will take place November 4, CIBJO reported.

The congress will be hosted by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and the Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand (GIT), both of which fall under the jurisdiction of the Thai Ministry of Commerce.

The main venue for the CIBJO Congress will be the renowned Shangri-La Bangkok, located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

CIBJO Congresses serve as the official gathering place for the World Jewellery Confederation's Assembly of Delegates, and also are the venue for the annual meetings of CIBJO's sectoral commissions, where amendments can be introduced to the organisation's definitive directories of international industry standards for diamonds, coloured stones, pearls, gem labs, precious metals and coral, known as the Blue Books.

It is the second time that a CIBJO Congress will take place in Bangkok, with the first having been held in the city in 2004. Thailand is a leading world centre in the coloured gemstone and jewellery industries, reporting about $10 billion worth of exports per annum, with close to 16,000 companies employing some 1.3 million individuals. Jewellery and gemstones make up the country's third largest export category.

"The fact that the CIBJO Congress is returning to Bangkok is a testament to Thailand's central role in almost every category of our business, from mining all the way through to jewellery retail, not only in South East Asia, but globally as well," said Gaetano Cavalieri, CIBJO President.

A dedicated CIBJO Congress 2017 website will be launched shortly.



Alex Shishlo, Editor of the Rough&Polished European Bureau in Brussels




BlueRock Diamonds said recovered grade improved from 1.53 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht) where the lower grade was impacted by very wet kimberlite to the most recent results of 3.02 cpht since it restarted operations at its Kareevlei mine, in South Africa.

It said its average diamond size was also significantly higher than before and had been recovering approximately four times the number of stones in excess of 5 carats, including three diamonds over 6 carats with the largest being 9.5 carats.

Accordingly, value per carat and, more importantly, value per tonne processed are significantly higher than achieved by the old plant configuration and at target volume levels would place Kareevlei into a healthy cashflow positive position, it said.

The price per carat of diamonds produced during the April tender period was estimated at over $500, compared with the previous average of $293.

Although encouraged by these results it should be noted that the  figures are based on a relatively small sample size and the board is awaiting further production results before significantly adjusting core assumptions, said BlueRock.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




A 36-year-old Manhattan woman is suing her ex-boyfriend for allegedly slipping Plan B into her drink, according to multiple reports. Hyosun Kim alleges that Doctor John Ikechi Nwankwo, a New York-based neuroradiologist, was attempting to covertly prevent her from getting pregnant. She broke up with him after the alleged incident.

Kim filed a $5 million lawsuit against Nwankwo in Manhattan Supreme Court on Friday, according to the NY Post. The couple was dating last spring, and had frequent unprotected sex. In May, Kim discovered "a discarded box from oral contraceptives in Defendant's garbage can," according to the suit.

Kim then confronted Nwankwo, who allegedly admitted that he had "deceptively diluted and mixed the Plan B contraceptive pill in [her] beverage because he 'did not want to make her pregnant.'" The suit also states that Nwankwo "confessed that he was aware she would never have voluntarily agreed to take the Plan B pill."

The over-the-counter drug is taken following unprotected sex in order to prevent accidental pregnancy.

Nwankwo works on-call for Virtual Radiologic Professionals, LLC, according to a person who answered the phone for the company. Legal counsel for VRP did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Nwankwo himself could not immediately be reached.

The Daily News reached Nwankwo, who reportedly declined to comment saying, "This is new to me."

That Nwankwo is a licensed-doctor in New York makes his actions "all the more egregious," since doctors know "an individual cannot be forced to ingest medication without his or her consent," according to the suit.
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton reported its watch and jewelry sales grew 14% in the first quarter as its Bulgari brand continued to gain market share.

Despite the fact that watch and jewelry division is LVMHs smallest business unit by value, it recorded a double-digit growth along with other divisions. Jewelry and watch sales during the first quarter amounted to $931.7 million from $820.4 million a year earlier. Comparable-store sales for the watch and jewelry unit grew 11%.

Bulgaris position in the market strengthened during the quarter as it unveiled new models in its jewelry lines, LVMH said. The company also reported a positive response to its watch brands at the recent Baselworld fair.

Total sales included the Bulgari, Chaumet, Tag Heuer, Zenith, Fred and Hublot brands. LVMH sold its 50% stake in De Beers Diamond Jewellers to partner De Beers at the end of the quarter.

The company said its improved figures were due in part to comparatively low first-quarter sales last year, when terror attacks in Paris impacted activity.



Theodor Lisovoy, Rough&Polished, Moscow




Sothebys spring sale of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels in Geneva will be led by the Apollo and Artemis Diamonds, which are seen as the most valuable earrings composed of fancy vivid blue and fancy intense pink diamond.

Offered separately as individual lots, The Apollo Blue will be presented with an estimate of $38  50 million and The Artemis Pink is estimated between $12.5  18 million, together valued at $50 - $68 million.

Graded Fancy Vivid Blue by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and weighing an impressive 14.54 carats, the Apollo Blue is the largest Internally Flawless Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ever to be offered at auction. It has been cut and polished into a beautiful unmodified pear-shape which flatters its exquisite and truly outstanding colour. The GIA has also determined that the Apollo Blue is a Type IIb diamond  a group which contains less than one half of one per cent of all diamonds.

The Artemis Pink weighing 16 carats has been cut into a pear shape, matching the Apollo Blue. The GIA has declared the Artemis Pink to be a Type IIa diamond.



Theodor Lisovoy, Rough&Polished, Moscow




China's is expected to grow at a steady pace in the first quarter on government spending and robust exports.

Economists expect gross domestic product to climb by 6.8 percent in the first quarter, as seen in the final three months of 2016.

The National Bureau of Statistics is scheduled to issue quarterly national accounts data on April 17.

The government had lowered its growth target for 2017 to about 6.5 percent.

China achieved 6.7 percent growth in 2016, in line with the 6.5-7 percent expansion the government had targeted. However, this was the weakest growth in 26 years.

The economy has continued its slowdown as the administration tries to shift the reliance from exports to consumption.

In a report released this week, the World Bank forecast China's growth to continue easing steadily, to 6.5 percent in 2017 and 6.3 percent in 2018-19.

The moderation in growth reflects the impact of the government's measures to reduce excess capacity and credit expansion, the lender said.

The NBS is also slated to release industrial production, retail sales and fixed asset investment figures for March.

Industrial output is forecast to climb at a faster pace of 6.4 percent year-on-year in March after rising 6.3 percent in January to February period. Similarly, growth in retail sales is expected to improve to 9.6 percent from 9.5 percent January to February.

Recent Purchasing Managers' survey showed a slowdown in the private sector growth to a 6-month low in March as output in both manufacturing and services weakened from February.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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General Motors (GM) said that it will add more than 1,100 new jobs and invest $14 million in a new research and development facility for Cruise Automation in San Francisco. These investments will allow Cruise Automation to expand development of self-driving technologies that will transform personal mobility.

Cruise Automation and GM engineers are currently testing more than 50 Chevrolet Bolt EVs with self-driving on public roads in San Francisco; Scottsdale, Arizona; and metro Detroit.

The new investment will include repurposing an existing facility in San Francisco that will more than double Cruise Automation's research and development space. The Cruise Automation team plans to move into the new space by the end of the year and hire more than 1,100 new employees over the course of the next five years.

California Governor Jerry Brown's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) allocated an $8 million tax credit to GM Cruise for this expansion. The incentive was approved by the California Competes Tax Credit Committee at a meeting in Sacramento.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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News, analysis, and archives on the grassroots in Haiti. Nouvel, analiz, ak achiv sou baz yo an AYITI. Noticias, analisis y archivos sobre el pueblo de Haiti.
Rumoured real life couple Sushant Singh Rajput and Kirti Sanon look adorable in the first poster of their upcoming film 'Raabta'. The first poster of the film was released on the social media by the two leading actors. "I wonder if she felt the same way I did,like there was something more, some unexplainable connection,a #Raabta," Sushant posted along with the poster. "Something drew me to him, a connection that i cannot explain.. A #Raabta !! #RaabtafirstLook Kirti in her reply wrote, " Kirti wrote in her reply to Sushant. Directed by Dinesh Vijan, "Raabta" has also been shot in Budapest and Hungary. Anubha Dhillan
A team of doctors in Noida has successfully operated upon a seven-month-old baby from Iraq who was suffering from polymelia -- a birth defect involving limbs -- to give him a new lease of life.

Polymelia is a birth defect in which the affected individual has more than the usual number of limbs and, in this case, the boy, named Karam who was brought to the hospital in a very critical condition, had eight limbs.



"Both the legs of the baby which were protruding out of the stomach were connected through his sternum (the breastbone) and there was no abdominal wall defect. His blood veins were also adjoined to his liver veins," Ashish Rai, Senior Consultant, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Jaypee Hospital, told reporters here.



With the help of complex microscopic technique, these veins were separated and then his legs protruding out of his stomach were removed from his body.



When Karam was brought to the hospital he was just two-weeks-old. His limbs and the intestines were distorted along with situs inversus of the intestine with an extremely rare condition where a conjoined twin did not fully form and was partially absorbed.

The team of doctors observed the baby and considering the risk factors, decided to perform the critical surgery in three stages.



In the first stage, Karam's clubfeet was treated and the two limbs which were protruding out of his stomach were removed.



In the second stage, the doctors performed "PA Band" surgery so that his left ventricle can control his entire body's blood circulation after the treatment and he can undergo a 'Double Switch Surgery' in future.



In the third stage of the surgery, the other two limbs were also removed from his body.



"The level of the surgery was complicated as it took almost eight hours but we did not face any major issues. We had planned the surgery thoroughly. We had done all the investigation earlier regarding the case," Gaurav Rathore, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement Department, Jaypee Hospital, told media.



"There are just five or six known cases worldwide of this condition," Rathore added.
Tamil Nadu welcomed "Heyvilambi"- the Tamil New Year - on Friday with traditional fervour with people visiting temples and wearing new clothes. "Puthandu Vazthukkal" (New Year greetings) is how friends and relatives greeted one another in the morning in person or over the phone. The New Year is celebrated on the first day of Tamil month Chithirai, which normally falls on April 13 or 14 annually. "We went to the nearby temple after getting up early," J. Muralidharan, a resident of Mylapore in south Chennai told Media. The houses are decorated with 'kolam' (rangoli) outside the front door. Mango leaf streamers adorn the door frames.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday said the Centre is "actively considering" a plan to resume -- after 22 years -- the use of the Arabian Sea route to ferry Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and consultations with the Shipping Ministry are already on.

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday said the Centre is "actively considering" a plan to resume -- after 22 years -- the use of the Arabian Sea route to ferry Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and consultations with the Shipping Ministry are already on.

He said the "revolutionary and pilgrim-friendly decision" of sea travel will cut down travel expenses by nearly half compared with air fares. The use of the sea route between Mumbai and Jeddah for Haj was discontinued in 1995.

"A high-level committee, formed by the government to frame the Haj Policy 2018 as per the Supreme Court's 2012 order, is exploring the issue for sending pilgrims via the sea route to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia," the Minister of State for Minority Affairs said at a training programme at the Haj House here.

The committee will soon submit its report to the government.

At present, Haj pilgrims travel by air from 21 points across the country.

The minister said another advantage was that ships nowadays are modern and well equipped to ferry 4,000 to 5,000 persons at one go.

"They can cover the 2,300-odd nautical miles between Mumbai and Jeddah in just two-three days. Earlier, ships used to take 12 to 15 days to cover this distance," he said.

He said the new Haj policy is aimed at making the entire pilgrimage process easier and transparent. Facilities for pilgrims will be the focus of the new policy.

In 2016, as many as 99,903 pilgrims went to Jeddah for Haj through the Haj Committee of India, besides nearly 36,000 persons who went through private tour operators.

In 2017, a total of 1,70,025 persons will go for Haj from India, including 1,25,025 through the Haj Committee and 45,000 others through private operators.

This year, he said, 129,196 applications were received online.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs along with other agencies has started preparations for the biggest annual pilgrimage very early in coordination with various agencies, he added. The aim is to provide world class facilities to Haj pilgrims.

With an increase of 34,005 in India's annual Haj quota by host country Saudi Arabia, announced last year, all Indian states will benefit for this year's pilgrimage, Naqvi said.

"The decision was taken during the signing of a bilateral annual Haj agreement between the two countries at Jeddah on January 11. It is the biggest increase in the Haj quota for India after many years," the Minister said.

More than 500 trainers from different states are participating in the three-day training programme that deals with various dos and don'ts to be adhered to during the pilgrimage. They are enlightened about transport, accommodation and laws in Saudi Arabia, among other things.

Officials from the Haj Committee of India, Saudi Arabia Consulate, BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, Saudi Airlines, Air India, customs and immigration departments and doctors are involved in the endeavour.

These trainers will further train prospective pilgrims at different camps across the country.

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Around 36 terrorist have been killed after US military on Thursday dropped largest non-nuclear bomb on Afghanistan, Kabul's Ministry of Defence announced on Friday.

Ministry spokesperson Muhammad Radmanish told Efe news that a large amount of ammunition and weapons were also destroyed in the bombing.

The US forces 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 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.



President Donald Trump hailed the US military for dropping the largest non-nuclear bomb targeting an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan.



"It was really another successful job, we are very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event," Trump told reporters at the White House.

"Everybody knows exactly what happened, what I do is I authorise our military. We have the greatest military in the world, they've done a job, as usual, so we have given them total authorisation and that's what they're doing, and frankly, that's why they've been so successful lately," he said.



"If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and you compare that to what's happened over the last eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference. So we have incredible leaders of the military and incredible military, and we are very proud of them, and this was another very very successful mission," Trump said.
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.
Contamination of heavy water by trace amounts of regular water is detectable by a novel sensor technology, according to a study led by University of Texas Austin scientists.

Heavy water is most known for its role in some nuclear reactors. Its also used in chemical analysis and medicine, including production of a recently approved drug for Huntingtons chorea.

Heavy water is nearly chemically identical to regular water, so determining the purity of heavy water is an extraordinarily difficult task, according to the study, published Thursday in the journal Chem. An expert not involved in the research called the results stunning.

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Moreover, the solid state technology allows for identifying other chemicals by creating a unique barcode of color and brightness. The crystals could be incorporated into paper dipsticks that give a fluorescent read-out on unidentified substances, according to a statement from UT Austin a that focused on its potential applications for public health.

The technology employs crystals of lanthanide ions and triphenylphosphine, known as metal-organic framework (MOF) materials. This technology has wide applications. It was used to pull water out of dry air in another study, also published Thursday, by UC Berkeley scientists.

The UT Austin study said its MOF material can measure trace levels of regular water from 10 to 120,000 parts per million of heavy water. It can be found at j.mp/heavywat. Simon M. Humphrey is senior author. Samuel G. Dunning, Ana J. Nunez and Matthew D. Moore are first authors. All are of UT Austin.

The detection of such small amounts of regular water in heavy water provides a stunning example of the power of MOF technology, said Jeremiah J. Gassensmith of UT Dallas.

MOFs are essentially solid molecular sponges, which allow them to soak up a lot of solvents and gases, Gassensmith said by email.

In fact, the amount of stuff these solids can soak up is often the volume or weight of the material itself, making them ideal sensors, since they can expose every reactive surface to many, many analytes at once.

What Humphrey has done here is make a series of these materials that are slightly different and thus they respond slightly differently to each analyte, Gassensmith wrote. Individually, a single one of these sponges may not have much to say, but together, they create a barcode of sorts that can tell a lot about the composition of solvents.

The readout part of the technology is also impressive, Gassensmith said.

Technology based on color is great because it is human readable, and if our eyes arent completely able to decipher it, most cell phone cameras are at a point theyd work.

Right now, a lot of these sensing problems, including distinguishing D2O from H2O, rely on expensive analytical instrumentation like mass spectrometry even for a quick approximation. That may still be the case for final confirmation, but anything we can do to get a quick preliminary test into the field helps.

Science Playlist  On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds

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There are 43,210 young people between the ages of 16 to 24 who are not in school or working in San Diego County, says a new report by the San Diego Workforce Partnership.

The report, based on an analysis of the 2015 American Community Survey, shows almost 10 percent of the countys youth are disconnected from school or work. Experts say that puts them at higher risk for long-term unemployment and poverty.

At a time when young people should be earning life skills or testing out careers, many are on the sidelines for a variety of reasons, such as Jacinto Carrera Jr., a 24-year-old who shared his story at a jobs summit sponsored by the partnership Thursday.

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Carrera spent his formative years in City Heights with his family, struggling under the weight of losing his father to deportation. Carrera said he started hanging with the wrong crowd as a teen and became addicted to methamphetamines  ignoring school or jobs. He now works, but hes not alone in his age group.

Historically this segment of the population  teens and young adults  typically have the highest unemployment rates. During the Great Recession, unemployment averaged 25.8 percent among 16-to-19-year-olds, said Pew Research Center, and 15.5 percent among 20-to-24-year-olds. It wasnt until 2015 that unemployment returned to pre-recession levels for this group of workers.

While it might be tempting to assume these youngsters were all slackers playing video games, data and interviews by the partnership show they tend to come from the poorest areas without reliable transportation to get to work.

About 9.7 percent of 16 -to -24 year-old San Diegans were not working or in school in 2015. Thats lower than the U.S. average of 12.3 percent, but higher than cities like Boston where just 7.3 percent are out of the loop.

San Diegos number of disconnected workers has been steadily declining from about 12 percent two years ago, but the overall number still concerns the nonprofit San Diego Workforce Partnership.

The organizations Flip the Script Youth Summit at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation on Thursday was attended by roughly 500 people and was aimed at reducing the gap between those not working or in school.

RELATED: San Diegos new minimum wage already may be killing jobs

Andy Hall, vice president and chief program officer at San Diego Workforce Partnership, said the problem goes beyond just taking a few years off. Data shows those without some education after high school will see a reduction in their lifetime earning potential.

Hall, 28, said it isnt good for San Diego Countys economy to have people out of work either.

At the same time there are 43,210 disconnected youth, not working, not in school, not gaining skills in any way, he said. Employers are knocking on our doors every day saying they cant find enough talent.

Data shows the poorest neighborhoods have the most youths not working or in school. The worst place is Vista, with 18.6 percent of disconnected youths, followed by Fallbrook/Alpine (18 percent), Lemon Grove/Spring Valley (17.2 percent) and East Escondido (15.5 percent).

East San Diego County had the highest number of youths not working and not in school at 13 percent in 2015, followed by South County at 11.6 percent. The wealthier parts of the county had better rates with central San Diego at 7.2 percent and 10.2 percent in North County.

The average age for a nonworking person not in school in San Diego County is 20 years, according to U.S. Census data, which was analyzed by the Workforce Partnership, and is slightly more likely to be a woman (1 percent).

Eighteen percent of disconnected youth in the county have less than a high school education, 35.5 percent are looking for work and 25.6 percent are women with children. (About 69.1 percent have health insurance.)

When broken down by ethnicity, Asians are least likely to be without school or a job (6.3 percent). They were followed by whites (9.6 percent), Latinos (12.9 percent) and African-Americans (17.1 percent).

RELATED: Will a rising minimum wage promote more spending to make up for lost jobs?

Carlos Cortez, the president of San Diego Continuing Education, said at the summit that helping young adults early in life can mean stopping all sorts of trouble like jail or even death.

The most important factor in the work we are doing is the individual, personal human connections with these young adults, he said. When youve experienced the trauma that these individuals have experienced, theyve lost their childhood.

Several young adults that struggled shared their stories at the summit, and through different outreach groups, have managed to find employment or enroll in schools.

Mia Fletcher, 22, who grew up in Palm Springs and Imperial Beach, started life in a troubled family and was bullied throughout high school. She said she quickly went to college after high school but dropped out because of a domestic violence situation and later became a drug addict, putting her dream of college on hold. After completing a Job Corps program, she is now going back to school with the aim of becoming a neurologist.

Jessica Rivera, 17, who also spent most of her youth in City Heights, said she started acting out when her single mother broke up with a long-term boyfriend. She skipped class often, did drugs and eventually was kicked out of school after being caught with a knife. She re-enrolled but is now in the process of transferring to a charter school.

Even when a student is in school or has a job, success can be perilous based on their economic situation. Like many college students, Ana Lomeli, 20, of Barrio Logan, said she struggled to work full-time to pay for school while taking classes.

She took a break from working to focus on classes at San Diego City College, but was going on a job interview Thursday to help make ends meet. As the daughter of immigrants, Lomeli said shes lucky they understand the need for education  unlike many of her peers in similar situations.

Some are just working because they need to put food on the table, she said of why they dont pursue higher education.

New York-based Measure of America, a nonpartisan research group that has been crunching these numbers for a few years, found there were 4.9 million young adults in America in 2015 who had no job and werent going to school.

Similar to San Diego, the number has declined as the nation recovers from the Great Recession. There were 12.6 percent disconnected young adults in 2008. The number hit a peak in 2010 of 14.7 percent and declined to 12.3 percent in 2015. Researchers dont like to go much further back because college was less prevalent in previous decades.

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phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1891 Twitter: @phillipmolnar

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The vanishing San Diego single-family home
A veteran Oceanside police captain has been arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor spousal abuse and was briefly jailed this week in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Capt. Thomas Aguigui, a 29-year veteran of the department and one of its highest ranking officers, was arrested at his home in Fallbrook on Wednesday and has since been released, a spokeswoman for the Oceanside Police Department said.

Aguigui has been placed on restricted duty within the department, said Kathleen Vincent, the agencys acting public Information officer. She said the incident involved Aguiguis wife.

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The San Diego Sheriffs Department is handling all criminal jurisdiction on this matter and (is) forwarding the case to the District Attorneys Office who will determine whether to file formal charges, Vincent said.

OPD views matters of domestic violence to be very serious, she said. Its our protocol that we conduct a parallel administrative investigation into the matter to determine if any policies have been violated. If so, we take the appropriate action.

Vincent said the department will not comment further about the investigation because it is a personnel matter. The Sheriffs Department confirmed only that an arrest was made.

Aguigui could not be reached for comment Friday.

The 54-year-old has been a sworn member of the department since 1988. He is in charge of the Investigations Division and is one of three captains who answer only to Police Chief Frank McCoy. The chief was unavailable for comment Friday.

According to a profile on the departments website, Aguigui has worked in patrol, field operations support, crimes of violence, gangs, narcotics, community policing, defensive tactics, and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) during his career.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix and served in the Marine Corps before becoming a police officer.

No formal charges have yet been filed and no court date has been scheduled.

jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones
Hand to Hand, a part of the Coastal Community Foundation, awarded grants totaling $32,000 to four San Diego area nonprofits that help women.

Grant recipients included Generate Hope, a residential treatment program for victims of sex trafficking, which received $10,000 from Hand to Hand.

The Karen Organization of San Diego received $5,700 to fund womens mentoring circles for Burmese refugees in San Diego.

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$10,000 was granted to Kitchens for Good which provides culinary job training and life skills programs for women in need.

New Entra Casa, a residential treatment program for women being released from prison, received $6,500.

Hand to Hand, a giving circle at Coastal Community Foundation, directs resources to programs that empower change and self-sufficiency in women.

The giving circle includes 60 women who contribute funds and then choose recipients. The Coastal Community Foundation granted $300,00 last year to nonprofits, schools, and community programs. Visit coastalfoundation.org
Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator Joseph John Schmidt III has been living dual lives.

As a member of the Navy SEALs, the 42-year-old boasts a chest of ribbons and medals during his 23 years in the military, including a valor citation for combat overseas. To his East County neighbors and Coronado shipmates, hes been the married father who has given pep talks to special-needs children in Los Angeles and toured the country recruiting for the elite Naval Special Warfare teams, even serving as the face of the SEAL program on its website.

Schmidt is also Jay Voom, the actor in at least 29 porn flicks during the past seven years, from Apple Smashing Lap Dance to Strippers Come Home Horny From the Club.

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He has spent most of his time in front of the camera engaging in sex with his wife  porn megastar Jewels Jade  for her website and film-distribution service. But he also has coupled with XXX actresses Mena Li and Ashden Wells, according to marketing materials found by The San Diego Union-Tribune and confirmed by Jade.

Schmidt declined to comment for this story.

The Coronado-based Naval Special Warfare Command has launched an investigation, and a commissioned officer has been assigned to handle the case.

Major questions include whether Schmidt violated rules mandating that SEALs obtain advance approval from their commanders for outside work and whether the SEAL brass has been quietly condoning his film work. The investigation began only eight months before Schmidt had planned to retire, and disciplinary action could affect his rank and pension benefits.

We have initiated a formal investigation into these allegations. There are very clear regulations which govern outside employment by (Naval Special Warfare) personnel as well as prohibitions on behavior that is discrediting to the service, said Capt. Jason Salata, a spokesman for the SEALs.

In an interview this week, Schmidts wife of 15 years claimed that many high-ranking SEALs have long known about her husbands movies and seemed to tolerate his moonlighting. For example, she said, she was invited to the commandos Coronado campus to sign autographs for troops after she was named a 2011 Penthouse Pet of the Month.

Navy officials said Schmidt did not fill out mandatory paperwork to seek clearance from his chain of command for work as a porn actor. The command did grant formal permission for Schmidt to sell herbal supplements as a side business.

The armed forces rules for secondary employment have the force of a punitive instruction, which means violators can be tried under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for lack of compliance.

The military has a long history of punishing active-duty service members and even veterans who do everything from writing unauthorized memoirs, to taking side jobs without permission, to engaging in work seen as detrimental to the militarys reputation.

Like other military branches, the Navy bans activities that prejudice good order and discipline or that is service discrediting, risk potential press or public relations coverage or create an improper appearance.

For instance: After she posed nude in a 2007 Playboy magazine spread, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michelle Manhart received a formal reprimand, was removed from her position as a training instructor and was demoted.

During a 1980 probe of seven servicewomen who appeared naked in Playboy, investigators also discovered that a male Marine major had posed in Playgirl. The armed forces punished the women with involuntarily discharges and gave the major a formal reprimand, allowing him to remain in the service.

SEALs also are barred from employment that discloses secret tactics and techniques, markets the SEALs active-duty status or involves a contractor doing business with the U.S. Department of Defense. Many high-profile SEAL misconduct cases have fallen into these categories.

In 2012, for example, the Navy formally reprimanded members of SEAL Team Six for helping Electronic Arts design the video game Medal of Honor: Warfighter.

Similar non-disclosure rules extend into a SEALs retired years. In 2014, former SEAL Matt Bissonnette was forced to repay the federal government $4.5 million for writing an unauthorized, first-hand account of the slaying of terrorism mastermind Osama bin Laden.

Paying the bills

Schmidts unlikely entry into the skin trade turns on a very different kind of moonlighting gig he took while serving as a SEAL in Virginia.

He and his wife founded the Norfolk-based real estate company Schmidt and Wolf Associates in 2005, according to Virginia state documents. Within two years, losses at multiple rental properties created nearly $1.8 million in personal debt, according to the couples Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing.

Three properties had both first and second mortgages, and bankruptcy records show the pair had resorted to using credit cards to finance loan repayments. Schmidts Navy pay was less than $60,000 per year at the time, according to the federal filing.

Jade appeared in dozens of porn films after her 2001 debut in Escape to Sex Island, but she had left the industry by 2003 to become a wife and mother, attend school for her nursing degree and run the real estate firm.

As business losses deepened, she became a stripper to make ends meet, logging long weeks in Las Vegas and sending money home. Then she reluctantly returned to making sex films for the cash, she said.

Its helped our family. It got us out of a lot of financial issues we were going through, Jade said. I could take care of the child. I could try to get us out of financial debt.

When the family rotated to Coronado in early 2009 for her husbands military service, she stayed in the porn business. Jade said it wasnt by choice. She discovered that once a woman becomes a name in the porn video and Internet trade, with millions of fans worldwide, shes spotted nearly everywhere she goes.

Once youre recognized and you build a brand and youve got your fans who know who you are, when you go to try to find a job, you cant get another job, she said.

Jade said she tried to get a management job at a luxury hotel in San Diego last year. Before she finished her employment interview, a fan recognized her, the gossip quickly spread through that office and she realized she couldnt work there.

Shes currently ranked 79th globally for brand recognition by FreeOnes, a website often used by porn directors to book stars based on their popularity. To maintain that level of stardom in the industry, she said actresses need certain side ventures to lend credibility to their personal brand and to give fans a way to follow their careers. So she launched a website and a pair of online film-distribution lines she said are loss-leaders, driving Internet traffic but rarely turning a profit.

To reduce the cost of running these side businesses, she and other porn actors rely on content trade  donating time to one anothers self-made films. To further cut expenses, Jade said she recruited her husband to help out as an unpaid performer.

She alleges that many of his fellow SEALs watched the videos online.

They knew about it at work, Jade said. He got called in and they said, Look, keep it on the low, dont mention the SEAL name and blah, blah, blah.

He was always pretty open about it with the command. I mean, honestly, all of his buddies knew about it. Everybody knew about it, she said.

Military hypocrisy?

Although some past and present SEALs have sought to turn their battlefield valor into profit, Jade insisted that she and her husband never asked anyone to alert the media about his porn moonlighting. Other retired SEALs have turned to politics or business to earn a buck or make a name tied to the elite services reputation, but she said that is impossible for her husband in the porn trade.

Hes too old, Jade said. Im sorry, but no. Youre never going to be able to contract for a number of different reasons, but mostly because hes too old. The older guys who are still barely running in the industry got in when they were 20, built a huge name and are still kind of filming grandpa porn.

While Jade has alluded to an unnamed husband whos a SEAL in several interviews and on social media, the Union-Tribune has found no reason to suspect that she or Schmidt ever used his military career to market their films or herbal products.

He has helped to promote her work, however.

In a 2013 appearance with Jade on the Dr. Susan Block TV show, he spun on a stripper pole while wearing a Santa hat. The marketing for the Internet event played on current events, including the late 2012 massacre of schoolchildren at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and Americas ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

America treats sex, not violence, as the biggest threat to families and the nation, the ad reads. As long as we do that, we can expect more massacres, at home and abroad. As long as we sanction invasions, executions and drone strikes that kill children while humiliating a decorated general not for bombing innocents but for having an affair, why should we be surprised when one of our troubled young men picks up a few of his moms prized military-style guns and mass-murders a bunch of kids on his own?

Jade said she and her husband never saw the ad and were shocked when it was shown to them. She said they would never endorse any statement against the military or the nations war policies or inject her husband into political causes.

To Jade, the newly announced investigation into her husbands porn work exposes the hypocrisy of a military she believes is addicted to porn.

She said military fans once sent her a photo of their armored vehicle in Iraq decorated with her name on it  misspelled  thanking her for helping them stay motivated through their combat deployment.

Jade also claimed that when she was summoned to SEAL headquarters to sign autographs as a Penthouse Pet, she recognized local strippers there giving buzz cuts to recruits.

And when her husband was a rookie SEAL, superiors tasked him with toting the units porn cache on a deployment.

Its very ironic, she said. Very hypocritical.

The Navy hasnt set a deadline for when the investigation is expected to wrap up.

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cprine@sduniontribune.com
The Navys newest aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford isnt even a commissioned warship yet, but its crew performed a life-saving rescue this week.

The $13 billion Ford is sailing on its own power for the first time at sea trials this month off Newport News, Virginia.

The call came in for medical evacuation of a sick sailor on the Oak Hill, a Navy dock landing ship during on maneuvers nearby on Tuesday.

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1 / 4 At sea, 08/04/2017.The aircraft carrier Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) departs Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding for builders sea trials off the East Coast, USA, 08 April 2017. (MC2 RIDGE LEONI / HANDOUT / EFE) 2 / 4 NEWPORT NEWS, VA - APRIL 8: The future USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is seen underway on its own power for the first time on April 8, 2017 in Newport News, Virginia. (U.S. Navy / Getty Images) 3 / 4 NEWPORT NEWS, VA - APRIL 8: Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) man the rails as the ship departs Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding for builders sea trials off the U.S. East Coast on April 8, 2017 in Newport News, Virginia. The first-of-class ship, the first new U.S. aircraft carrier design in 40 years, will spend several days conducting builders sea trials, a comprehensive test of many of the ships key systems and technologies. (U.S. Navy / Getty Images) 4 / 4 Marine One, with President Donald Trump aboard, lands on nuclear aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport, Va., Thursday, March 2, 2017. Trump traveled to Virginia to meet with sailors and shipbuilders. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP)

The senior doctor on the Ford was called for consultation. When the decision was made  immediate evacuation  the fledgling carrier was the closest responder.

Welcome to The Intel, a blog examining the hot military news of the day

A Navy helicopter took off from the Fords flight deck and collected the sick sailor, transporting the service member to a Navy hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia.

We got the word, coordinated the necessary permissions, and were off-deck shortly thereafter, said Cmdr. Jody Smotherman, Fords combat direction center officer, in a Navy news release.

Navy officials said yesterday that the sailor is in stable condition.

The first new U.S. aircraft carrier design in 40 years, the Ford will spend several days conducting builders sea trials, which test the ships major systems and technologies.

The ship is scheduled to be commissioned this year after cost overruns and delays.

Its not the first time a first-in-class Navy ship performed a rescue during sea trials.

In December 2015, the destroyer Zumwalt answered a distress call from a fisherman with chest pains off the coast of Maine. The Zumwalt crew worked with the U.S. Coast Guard to respond.

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jen.steele@sduniontribune.com

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Twitter: @jensteeley
Honor Flight San Diego is taking off again.

A lack of funds forced the nonprofit group to cancel its May trip ferrying World War II veterans from San Diego to Washington, D.C., for a weekend tour of the national monuments. But media coverage of the organizations plight helped make a fundraiser last weekend in Rancho Santa Fe successful enough to pay for at least one and possibly two flights.

Were fortunate to have these generous donors, said Julie Brightwell, chair of the Honor Flight board. I think they realize how urgent our mission is to get these veterans to Washington while they are still able to travel.

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Brightwell said the next trip is tentatively scheduled for late September and will include 80 to 100 vets.

Honor Flights started in Ohio in 2005 as a way to thank the Greatest Generation veterans for their service by taking them to Washington, free of charge, to see the newly opened World War II Memorial and other monuments on the National Mall. The idea spread to more than 100 cities, including San Diego, where the local branch has organized 17 flights for 1,063 vets over the past seven years.

About 100 local vets are on a waiting list for the trips. Thats what made having to cancel the trip in May so heartbreaking, said Saundra Cima, an Honor Flight volunteer.

Each three-day, two-night trip costs about $250,000. That pays for a charter flight, hotel rooms and meals for the vets, and it subsidizes the expenses for their guardians, who are often relatives. Because the vets are in their 90s or older, they often require wheelchairs to get around, and the guardians push them and provide other support.

A fundraiser Sunday at the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club sold out after The San Diego Union-Tribune and other news organizations did stories about Honor Flights funding troubles. During the event, the USS Midway Foundation, the charitable arm of the local aircraft carrier museum, gave $125,000 to pay for half of an upcoming flight, Brightwell said. The Green Foundation pledged a matching grant of $100,000.

Among the other contributors were two attendees who got into a bidding war for the right to be a guardian on an upcoming trip. Guardians pay $500 to go, but the bidding quickly shot past that. Eventually each bidder agreed to pay $5,500, and both will be guardians.

As we receive funding, well keep flying, Brightwell said. Fortunately we have enough now to do one flight and possibly another, but we still have more World War II vets out there, some we know about and some we dont, and we want to be able to get them all on flights.

For those who do make it to Washington, the trip can be an emotional experience, bringing tears and stirring memories that have been bottled inside for decades. As they go to the various monuments, they are often greeted with applause, handshakes and requests for photos.

About 16 million Americans served during World War II. About 600,000 are still alive, according to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com
Until his arrest last month at the border on U.S. drug trafficking charges, Edgar Veytia straddled two worlds: suburban San Diego and the small, heavily agricultural Mexican Pacific coast state of Nayarit.

It was in Nayarit where Veytia rose to the highest echelons of power, becoming a close ally of the governor and holding a number of law enforcement positions before being named the states attorney general in 2013. Veytia projected himself as a no-nonsense crime fighter. He survived an armed attack in 2011, and there was even of talk of a gubernatorial run, despite critics who complained of abductions and extortions carried out under his command, and accusations of his ties to drug traffickers.

As he navigated Mexicos law enforcement world, Veytia also was maintaining ties north of the border. Public records link him to a series of San Diego and Chula Vista addresses since 1987, and he and his wife are listed as the owners and occupants of a five-bedroom, three-bath house in a quiet, well-to-do Chula Vista neighborhood in Otay Ranch, purchased in 2013 for $549,000.

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The house is located blocks from Mater Dei, a private Catholic school where his daughter excelled in her studies and played water polo, graduating in 2016. His wife, Olimpia Veytia, owns a Curves gym franchise less than three miles from the familys residence.

Veytia is the latest in a series of high-level Mexican officials suspected of corruption. Javier Duarte, who governed Veracruz from 2010 to 2016, is currently a fugitive.The former governor the border state of Tamaulipas, Tomas Yarrington, accused in the United States and Mexico for money laundering, racketeering and taking bribes from drug cartels, was apprehended in Italy this week after five years on the run. Cesar Duarte, the former governor of another northern border state, Chihuahua, is accused by state prosecutors of embezzlement and evading justice by moving to El Paso; Duarte has denied the accusations, calling them politically motivated.

While Mexican political figures for years have quietly established second homes in San Diego, Veytias story is different: A dual U.S.-Mexican citizen, he grew up here, and continues to have numerous relatives in the area, public records show.

We were bi-nationals, basically, growing up on both sides, said an uncle, Edward Veytia, who lives in San Diego, and said he has not seen his nephew for years. I dont remember how he actually made it to Nayarit. All I know is that he met somebody there and married. The family was well-connected.

A sister, Vanessa Veytia, owns produce and seafood wholesale company, San Carlos Veggies & Sea Food, while Miguel Cambero, described in Mexican media reports as Veytias brother-in-law, owns a transportation company, Transportes Refrigerados San Carlos, according to records from the California Secretary of State; both businesses share an address on Airway Road in an industrial area near the Otay Mesa border crossing.

Though born in Tijuana, Veytia acquired U.S. citizenship early on through his mother, and attended elementary, middle and high school in San Diego, said his San Diego-based attorney, Jan Ronis. The attorney did not know which San Diego schools his client attended, but said Veytia graduated from law school in Nayarit, where a registrars office employee at the Universidad del Alica in the state capital of Tepic confirmed that Veytia had attended classes from 1992 to 1996.

A few years later in San Diego, Veytia became a student pilot, taking classes from 2010 to 2013 at Brown Fields First Flight school. In 2011, he obtained a student license from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

He was always energetic, said a First Flight employee, who asked that his name not be used. He was always interested in what he did wrong so he could do it right.

An account published earlier this month in the Mexico City newspaper Excelsior reported that Veytia arrived in Tepic in the 1990s after meeting Cambero, his future brother-in-law, in Tijuana. Veytia started out selling used tools purchased in Tijuana to bus drivers in Nayarit, according to the article, and got his initial foothold in 1999, when his father-in-law gave Veytias wife, Olimpia, a permit to operate a bus on a route between the state capital and the city of Compostela, the article stated.

All I know is that he went to college and ultimately ended up there employed, said Ronis, his attorney. The only business Im aware of right now is his professional life as attorney general of the state of Nayarit.

But Mexican news organizations have been highlighting reports of his connections to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion. During Veytias tenure as attorney general, Nayarit became the cartels den and center of operations, according to a report by the Mexico City newspaper Reforma that cited Mexican military sources.

The independent Mexican news website, Animal Politico, reported this month that Mexican federal prosecutors had conducted at least four investigations of Autobuses Coordinados de Nayarit  a company connected to Cambero but with an address linked to another company that had been owned by Veytia and his wife.

Veytias sister, Vanessa, declined to be interviewed when reached by phone, and other immediate family members could not be contacted.

Even though theyd lost touch, his uncle Edward Veytia said he worried about his nephew after learning of the 2011 armed attack. When they sprayed his car and he didnt get out of there, I knew the outcome was not going to be good, the uncle said. He was a good kid and a good young man, so whatever happened over there must have been that circumstance enveloped him, and he didnt know how to navigate the environment.

Today, Veytia, sits behind bars at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he was transferred following his March 27 arrest by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers after he crossed from Tijuanas A.L. Rodriguez International Airport to San Diego through the Cross-Border Xpress bridge.

A federal grand jury in New York City on March 2 had charged Veytia with conspiring to manufacture, distribute, import and distribute heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana between 2013 and 2017. The indictment states that prosecutors could seize up to $250 million linked to Veytias alleged criminal activity. Veytia pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Earlier this week, no one was answering the door of his Chula Vista residence on a sunny weekday afternoon. The street was quiet, save for a trickle of children walking home from school and a new family moving onto the block.

A woman who said she is a frequent visitor at a house next door said she was acquainted with the Veytias, but had little more to say: Theyre just people in the neighborhood.

Staff researcher Merrie Monteagudo contributed to this report.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

@sandradibble
The latest round of water tests found no high levels of lead at 15 campuses in the San Diego Unified School District.

The City of San Diego, the districts water-supplier, is testing all schools in San Diego Unified at the districts request under a new state program. The testing process is in the early stages.

Tests conducted last month found elevated levels of lead at the campus shared by Co-Operative Charter School 2 and Emerson-Bandini School in Southcrest.

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The city plans to test all 200-plus district properties by the end of June. On Thursday the city released its findings for 15 schools and none had a level of lead high enough to require action.

Its certainly encouraging, said district public information officer Andrew Sharp.

Elementary schools tested were Baker, Balboa, Boone, Chavez, Encanto, Freese, Horton, Johnson, Perry, Rolando Park and Webster.

Also tested were Bell and Mann middle schools and Bethune K-8 and Fulton K-8.

Sharp said follow-up tests at Co-Operative Charter School 2 have found the lead problem has been mitigated, but tests still are being conducted at Emerson-Bandini School.

Students at Co-Operative Charter and Emerson-Bandini had been given bottled water to drink in January on the day district officials first suspected there might have been something in the water, he said.

Students at the charter school are now off bottled water, he said.

The tests are being conducted at no cost to the district through a new program by the the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water, which last year began requiring water suppliers to provide free tests if requested by K-12 school districts.

San Diego Unified already was in talks with the city to begin a testing program when a teacher at Co-Operative Charter School 2 became suspicious about the quality of water in her classroom after she noticed a service dog in the room wouldnt drink from a bowl last January.

District officials did their own test and found contaminates that may have been caused by a flexible water line and PVC pipe. Further tests also detected a level of lead greater than the state allowable level.

The city agreed to test the campus, and this month began a process of testing more than 200 district properties. The first steps are being conducted in the southeast portion of the district, which has the oldest buildings.

The nations most infamous problem of lead in water is in Flint, Mich., where the issue is corroded water pipes leading to homes. Correcting elevated levels of lead at schools generally is an easier fix, requiring water fixtures to be repaired or replaced.

At least five readings are taken from different sites at each school during the tests.

Meanwhile, following the advice of a city water consultant, all schools that in the district will run water faucets and other fixtures where students may drink for one minute each morning, Sharp said.

If a faucet has any lead in its water, its likely to be highest when it has been stagnant, and running water for a minute flushes it out to a lower level, he said.

However, faucets and fountains to be tested are labeled with Do not use signs and not flushed in the morning in order to get the most accurate reading.

The district has posted background on its water testing and is updating the findings as tests come in at the website www.sandiegounified.org/watersampling.

gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

760-529-4939
If the City of San Diego follows through with a proposal to cut a third of its arts funding next year, local arts leaders say theyre worried about how theyll cover the gap in their budgets.

On Thursday, Mayor Kevin Faulconer unveiled a budget for fiscal 2018 that would slash arts funding by $4.7 million, from $15.1 million to $10.4 million. City staff said that even with the cuts funding would remain above the amount spent in fiscal 2015. The budget is still facing lengthy review process, but arts leaders say the announcement came as a shock.

This was definitely a surprise, said Molly Puryear, executive director of Malashock Dance. This is probably the most critical cut for our organization. Its a big deal. This is the stuff that keeps the doors open.

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Last year, Malashock got a $58,000 grant from the city, which was an increase from the previous year. A one-third cut could reduce the companys grant to less than $40,000. Puryear said city funds are especially important to arts groups because they can be allocated for a broad variety of expenses. By comparison, foundation grants and private donations are usually restricted for specific uses.

For Cygnet Theatre in Old Town, the impact of a 30 percent cut in city funding would be significant. Managing Director Bill Schmidt said a one-third reduction mean a loss of up to $50,000 next year.

We would have to look at how to absorb this but it might mean that many programs that we provide for free, such as free student matinees and military programs, would need to be cut, Schmidt said.

Its not clear at this stage that grants would be cut by a third or how the overall reduction in arts funding will be handled.

Faulconer budget lauded as compromise

News of proposed city cuts come one month after the Trump administration announced plans to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. In fiscal 2016, San Diego arts organizations received a combined $423,000 in NEA funding.

Cygnet Theatre received $10,000 from the NEA last year, so Schmidt said that with the potential shutdown of that federal agency, its a bad time for San Diego to abandon the arts.

Now more than ever we need local support for the things that make our city the wonderful place that it is, he said.

Barry Edelstein, artistic director of The Old Globe, said he hopes that during the review process the City Council will be swayed by feedback from the arts community to reduce its proposed cuts.

The Globe receives about $600,000 a year in public funding, most of it from the city. He said there are often misperceptions about how that money gets spent.

This idea that (the Old Globe) is an elite institution and the donors will make up the slack is not an accurate characterization, Edelstein said. This is actually about serving the regular people of San Diego, serving neighborhoods that are not coming to buy expensive theater tickets because they cant afford them. Its also about jobs. The Globe employed 700 people last year.

The proposed cuts come at a time when San Diego has been working for years to restore funding for the arts. In 2012, the City Council approved the five-year Penny for the Arts blueprint, which was designed to gradually increase arts and culture funding from 5.3 percent to 9.5 percent of the citys Transient Occupancy Tax. But because of other budget demands in recent years, Penny for the Arts funding fell short of its goal.

Edelstein said San Diego has long been a national leader in its commitment to public funding of the arts, so he hopes that this tradition will carry on, in spite of the budget woes.

This is very disappointing but the one solace I take is that its the beginning of a process, he said. When you talk about Americas Finest City, one of the things you cite is a deep public commitment to quality of life in many forms, including the arts. To see that change is really disappointing in terms of the city and its image of itself. Therefore I hope that wisdom will prevail.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
An 18-year-old carjacking suspect was arrested Thursday night after he was pulled over by San Diego police on Interstate 8 in La Mesa.

A man and a woman were loading and unloading items from a parked car on Alvarado Road near Alvarado Hospital when they noticed a man pulling on the door handles of other vehicles, San Diego police said. The man approached the pair and told them to leave.

They stepped away, leaving the keys in the center console, police said. The young man got into the white Volkswagen GTI and drove away.

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A short time later, a police officer spotted a white GTI and followed it onto east I-8. The suspect was pulled over near Fletcher Parkway and arrested in the carjacking.

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Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

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Twenty-seven people and businesses, including two San Diego-area men, have been swept up in Securities and Exchange Commission actions targeting alleged stock-promotion schemes to pass off promotional articles as independent investing advice.

The actions, announced earlier this week, include cease-and-desist orders against Craig Keolanui of San Diego and Ciaran Thornton of El Cajon. Authorities alleged in the orders that the men were among nine paid authors of investing articles that promoted businesses securities in violation of anti-fraud and anti-touting provisions of federal securities laws.

The writers allegedly posted bullish articles about the companies on the internet under the guise of impartiality when in reality they were nothing more than paid advertisements, the SEC wrote in a news release. More than 250 articles specifically included false statements that the writers had not been compensated by the companies they were writing about, the SEC alleges.

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The San Diego Union-Tribune was unable to reach Keolanui or Thornton for comment.

According to the cease-and-desist orders, the men reached settlements with the SEC in anticipation of administrative actions against them. Under the terms of the settlements, the men did not admit or deny the allegations against them.

Thornton and Keolanui, like the other people and businesses caught up in the related SEC actions announced this week, had connections to Lidingo Holdings LLC, which operated from 2011 to 2014, the SEC orders said. Lidingo provided promotional services to publicly-traded companies, touting its clients securities in more than 400 articles on investment websites.

According to the California Secretary of States business records, Lidingos mailing address was in Calabasas.

The owners and operators of Lidingo were charged separately by the SEC on allegations related and unrelated to Thornton and Keolanuis actions, the orders said.

In 2013 and 2014, Thornton and Keolanui each published more than a dozen articles describing in positive terms the securities of companies that were clients of Lidingo or another promotion company, the Jupiter, Fla.-based, Dunedin Inc. on investment websites including SeekingAlpha.com, according to the orders.

Both men were paid thousands of dollars to write the allegedly unlawful articles, which described securities of numerous companies, including NeoStem Inc. (later renamed Caladrius Biosciences Inc.) and Stevia First Corp. (later renamed Vitality Biopharma Inc.), the SEC filings said.

Caladrius Biosciences Inc. is a cell therapy development company based in New York City, according to its website.

Vitality Biopharma Inc. is a Los Angeles-based developer of cannabinoid pharmaceuticals for treatment of serious neurological and inflammatory conditions, according to its website.

Thornton and Keolanui didnt disclose in all their articles that they were paid to write them, and after SeekingAlpha started requiring in 2012 that authors affirmatively state whether they were being compensated by third parties for investing advice published on the website, the men falsely represented in some of the articles that they were not receiving any such compensation for their work, authorities alleged.

Last year, the SEC accused Scott S. Fraser, the chief executive officer of a sexual health products retailer, of similar misrepresentation. The lawsuit said Fraser used a San Diego-based newsletter publishing business, Contrarian Press LLC, to promote products by ghost-writing articles and passing them off as independent journalism, according to the lawsuit.

In his settlement with the SEC, Thornton agreed to stop violating securities laws and pay disgorgement of $9,600, plus prejudgment interest of $859, and a civil monetary penalty of $20,000.

Keolanui also agreed to stop violating securities laws, according to the order. He showed the SEC that he couldnt pay civil penalties, so the SEC agreed, absent any changes in Keolanuis financial situation or adherence to terms of the arrangement, to settle for disgorgement of $2,000, plus prejudgment interest of $211, to be paid on a schedule ending Jan. 2, 2018.

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morgan.cook@sduniontribune.com
Many homeowners could not afford to buy the house they currently live in, because home prices in San Diego are simply too high. The average San Diegan needs to make at least $103,165 a year to afford a median priced home and a 2014 Census report indicates that San Diego County per capita income is $51,459.

Approximately 21 percent of households throughout San Diego County are priced out of the market based on their current incomes. This places San Diego as the second highest city in terms of affordability to buy a home with San Francisco in the number one spot and Los Angeles in third place.

The housing inventory in San Diego is extremely low and when inventory is low demand increases and so do prices.

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There is some new construction going on in the county, but most of the new homes will sell for over $1 million and that prices out most qualified homebuyers.

One of the factors for the high costs of homes in San Diego is building regulations. Regulations to build a home in San Diego County can amount to well above 40 percent of the total costs.

There is a solution to making homes more affordable, but it would take the cooperation of our elected officials. A relatively modest 3 percent reduction in the regulatory fees of San Diegos housing could open up housing alternatives to approximately 6,750 additional households in one year.

The overall economic benefits of increasing the housing inventory would cause a ripple effect creating thousands of additional jobs.

There is no arguing that San Diego has a housing problem. San Diegos affordable housing stock is not sufficient to meet the needs of the residents, and housing prices will continue to rise if nothing is done.

Most agree that there is no individual solution to tackle the housing crisis, and we will most likely need a multifaceted tactic to increase the number and affordability of homes. This provides solid reasoning for why our elected officials need to push to remove the costly permit process and ease the restrictions surrounding new construction  and they should do it now. Kicking the can down the road is not acceptable when we are in a housing crisis.

Our elected officials should work to incentivize builders and they have the ability to make the changes needed to make housing a little more affordable in San Diego, but it will only happen if we voice our concerns to them.

Powell is on the board of directors for the San Diego Association of Realtors and is a board member on the San Diego County Board of Education, representing District 1. Hes also an adjunct professor at National University.
April is a time when universities across the country are hosting welcoming events for newly admitted military-veteran students. As a university professor who conducts research on successful educational pathways for veterans transitioning out of the military, Ive studied the recent closures of for-profit institutions, and I have identified ways that our not-for-profit universities can better produce a holistic veteran-friendly environment.

Online, for-profit programs are appealing to veterans because of their flexibility and option for immediate enrollment. Many for-profit institutions offer a military tab on their home page, directing prospective students to a page where they can be tracked and assisted by counselors who specialize in veteran funding. While customer service at for-profit campuses might be outstanding, many transfer students I interviewed lamented that their online classes didnt transfer, didnt prepare them for upper-division classes, or exhausted their funding before they learned their degree program was not widely respected. The less fortunate ones who do not transfer to more prestigious universities are often saddled with debt and have low job prospects.

The four-year, traditional model also has its shortcomings and can present structural rigidity. At Cal State and UC schools, for example, veterans cannot transfer in unless they have fully met all the so-called A-G transferable college course requirements. Many large public schools also fail to meet the needs of commuter students  most veteran students live off campus. With a mission to serve the community, most not-for-profit, four-year institutions want to do a better job serving military veteran students, yet change in these traditional institutions moves at a glacial pace.

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The persistent challenge for highly-ranked universities is the inherent divide between the academic affairs side of the house which oversees faculty and academic programming for students, and the student affairs side of the house which provides support services to the former. Military veteran students bring a fiercely independent, survivor mentality to higher education; this works to their benefit when they are succeeding academically  they complete coursework with a mission-driven mindset.

But the same autonomy can work against them when they lack a support network, become isolated, and fail to find an academic advisor who can help them navigate the bureaucratic complexities of their academic journeys, ultimately jeopardizing successful placement in the workforce. Serving military-veteran students requires a holistic approach  one in which academic and student affairs operate seamlessly, offering full support from the outreach phase, to the orientation process, with systematic advising throughout their academic pathways, to building bridges for veteran-students in local economic markets.

The days of elite enclave universities are over.  Michelle Camacho

To be sure, online and for-profit institutions will continue to fill a void, offering flexible schedules to deployed active-duty military. But there is much space within the largest sphere of higher education  within traditional, not-for profit institutions  to consider the innovative possibilities that recognize the professional service of veterans. This might include offering credit for their professional and technical leadership experiences, beyond physical education credit for boot camp, and formal mentorship so that veterans learn to shape their personal narratives and previous experiences to showcase their leadership skill sets.

As an anchor institution serving the public, the University of San Diego has begun to offer innovative academic programming for military veteran students, recognizing their extensive leadership experiences and potential to serve as rising ambassadors within higher education. Collaborating with student services, veteran-tailored academic programming and co-curricular professionalization are part of our strategic plan and vision for serving the San Diego region.

I am delighted and grateful that the David C. Copley Foundation has offered seed funding to help us build upon our veteran-serving efforts. The days of elite enclave universities are over. As a changemaker campus, we are fulfilling our social mandate to thoughtfully produce an academic setting in which veterans students will thrive.

Camacho is a former fellow of the American Council on Education. She is professor of sociology at the University of San Diego, and part of a team funded by the National Science Foundation to study educational pathways for veterans in engineering education.
I read the story written by Peter Rowe Japanese-American WWII internees had local supporters (April 9) with interest. Last summer, when in the Eastern Sierra, I stopped at the Manzanar internment camp in Independence and was deeply moved by the display and history there.

It is a history that we do not want to repeat. I would encourage anyone driving down that stretch of State Route 395 to spend some time at that site.

However, I do take issue with the conclusion drawn by Mr. Rowe: Yet some hear echoes of this painful episode in a new executive order ... aimed at barring refugees. There is a wild difference between barring refugees that cannot be properly vetted for entrance into our country and rounding up existing citizens into internment camps. In the midst of such wonderfully told stories of hope, that was an editorial reach that lacked finesse.

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Brian Janey

Fallbrook

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Eleven local and regional businesses are being recognized by the City of Poway as Memorial VIPs for donating materials and labor to create the Tony Gwynn Memorial at Lake Poway, which will be dedicated on Tuesday, May 9.

The memorial will include an 11-foot-tall bronze statue of Gwynn by Texas artist Seth Vandabil, a donor wall and seating.

The following companies pitched in with donations of time, manpower, equipment and materials for the construction of the plaza and wall:

Swinerton Builders: Main construction of plaza, including layout, wall footings, bench and pedestal for statue ($25,000 value)

Bright View Landscape: Concrete sidewalks and slabs ($10,000 value)

Terra Firma Landscape: Plaza design and plans for irrigation, plantings, etc. ($10,000 value)

La Jolla Stone Etching: Etching on plaza floor, donor wall and monument ($7,000 value)

San Diego Granite: Memorial wall materials and installation ($10,000 value)

Robertsons Ready Mix: Concrete ($10,000 value)

Squires Lumber: Lumber ($10,000 value)

Minshew Bros Steel Construction: Rebar ($3,000 value)

Bobs Crane Service: Hydraulic truck crane ($2,500 value)

United Site Services: Temporary fencing ($1,000 value)

Sunstate: Construction equipment ($1,000 value)Terra Firma Landscape President and owner Larry Swikard said that honoring Gwynns gregarious spirit and welcoming personality was a natural fit for both his company and family.

We have always been about helping out with community related projects especially in the Poway, Rancho Penasquitos, Mira Mesa and Scripps Ranch areas as we have lived, worked and raised our kids in those areas, said Swikard. As San Diego natives, we have been lifelong Padres fans since the Westgate Park era and lifetime supporters of San Diego State. Tony Gwynn is the most iconic Padre of all time, he and his whole family represent the epitome of dignity, leadership and class in everything they have done.

The public is invited to attend the May 9 dedication cermony, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. The memorial is near the Lake Poway ballfield.

Email: editor@pomeradonews.com
On the steps of the downtown San Diego courthouse one day last month, dozens of people stood behind two young men in a public display of solidarity.

Many in the crowd were family members and friends of Brandon Duncan and Aaron Harvey whove packed courtrooms for months as the controversial gang conspiracy prosecutions against the two men and many others have moved through the legal system.

The rest were community activists, neighborhood leaders and complete strangers alarmed at the possible ramifications to civil rights should the prosecutions succeed.

The gang conspiracy law, passed in 2000 and being used in this case for the first time in the state, holds active gang members criminally liable for other peoples crimes if they furthered or benefitted from the crimes in some way. In the case of Duncan and Harvey, that means rapping about gang violence and posting Facebook pictures of gang colors, monikers and hand signs.

Their supporters say that hardly equates to a crime, while prosecutors say they are operating within the bounds of the law to eradicate gang violence that terrorizes neighborhoods by going after the entire organization supporting the behavior.

On Monday, Duncan, 33, and Harvey, 26, as well as some of their co-defendants, are to ask a San Diego Superior Court judge to dismiss the conspiracy charge against them. Another judge has already thrown out that charge against others being tried in the case on concerns that there was not enough evidence to show they willfully benefitted from the alleged crimes, a series of nine shootings in 2013 and 2014.

The case started relatively quietly and has gained momentum, with national attention from CNN to The Atlantic magazine, a presentation before the City Council and rallies such as the one last month in front of the courthouse. While much of the media attention has focused on the sexier angle of rap music and free speech, the case has sparked broader discussions about who ends up being documented as a gang member by police, and the dragnet effect critics say the law could have on young black men.

Its those concerns that have resonated with a growing number of residents, activists and community leaders.

We stand unified, as we pray, as we march, we are not going away, Terrell Fletcher, pastor of City of Hope International church, promised at the end of last months rally. This is just the beginning.

The crowd of supporters plans to return to the courthouse steps for a prayer rally at 5 p.m. Sunday.

(The authorities) are trying to say were doing all this stuff to the community, when we have the whole community backing us, Duncan said in an interview Friday. Both he and Harvey were released on lowered bail after about eight months in jail.

Duncan and Harvey are charged along with 13 other alleged members of the predominately black Lincoln Park gang. Some are accused of more direct involvement in the shootings. Some have pleaded guilty, and most still face or have been recently convicted of other assault, weapons or federal racketeering conspiracy charges.

The gang conspiracy charge is also being used to prosecute a separate group of 18 alleged members of another black gang in Southcrest in connection with 16 shootings, four of which were fatal. A third judge has upheld the conspiracy charge against those defendants  a sign of just how murky and untested the waters are when it comes to this law, Penal Code 182.5. (A total of eight defendants from both cases have already pleaded guilty to 182.5, while others seek to get the charges dismissed.)

I think this is a really important case that might set the precedent for using this law so broadly, said gang expert Dana Nurge, associate professor of criminal justice at San Diego State University. The question is, should someone who wasnt directly involved in anything be convicted and serve a life sentence for something someone else did?

Among the criteria necessary to be charged under the conspiracy law is active gang membership, accusations both Harvey and Duncan have denied.

Their lawyers and community supporters say the men are examples of what they consider to be overaggressive gang suppression tactics by police, and that the case highlights how easy it is for youngsters who grow up in gang-infested neighborhoods to get falsely pegged as gang members  whether it be wearing gang colors or hanging out with school friends or siblings who are in a gang.

Right now, theres so much confusion about how an individual is documented as a gang member.  Thats important because thats the basis of the D.A.s Offices ability to implement 182.5, said Fletcher, the pastor.  There hasnt been clear enough transparency with the community what that looks like.

San Diego police gang Lt. Mark Bennett said experienced officers look for a combination of criteria  guidelines set by the state  to determine gang membership. Those include being arrested with a known gang member for offenses consistent with gang activity, displaying gang signs, having gang tattoos or admitting to being a gang member  the last being the most common, Bennett said.

Prosecutors contend evidence strongly supports their case that all the defendants, including Duncan and Harvey, are gang members. Its evidence that seems to have gotten lost in the hype and emotion surrounding the case, said Dana Greisen, chief of the District Attorneys Office gang prosecution unit.

The reason people are upset is they dont think were going after the right guys, Greisen said. These are the right guys.

Duncan says the appearance of associating with the gang lifestyle is just a reflection of his environment.

How can I get away from something like that when these are my everyday folks? You wear these colors, thats basically all you know. You kind of adapt to whats going on around you. Its not like Im trying to commit crime because Im hanging with these people, Duncan said.

Duncan, who performs under the name Tiny Doo, has said his rap music should be viewed as artistic expression that depicts the realities of the neighborhood where he grew up. Prosecutors say some of his music, including a Murder Gang album from 2003 that describes killing rival gangsters, is a clear way to communicate threats.

While Duncan has no felony convictions, his voice did turn up on a wiretap that appears to record him discussing how to prostitute women in Phoenix. The charges were later dismissed due to jurisdictional issues, court records show. Duncans lawyer, Brian Watkins, said he was innocent.

Harvey, too, has been heavily documented for alleged ties to the gang, including a gang tattoo and posts to his social media accounts  from around the time of the 2013 shootings  that include photos of him flashing gang signs and references to rival gangs. His moniker, Baby Struck, also came up in a recorded jail conversation in 2013 implying he was schooling younger gang members to follow orders, records from prosecution evidence shows.

This is not fringe association, the chief prosecutor said.

Among the dozens of police contacts Harveys had, one was in 2009 when police were called to his grandmothers house to rescue a woman who was about to be prostituted and was being held against her will in a back bedroom, according to a search warrant. Harvey and his brother were among several documented gang members inside. Five guns were found on the property, as well as cocaine base in a bedroom alleged to have been Harveys. He was charged with drug possession but acquitted. His brother went to prison on pimping-related charges.

It sure smacks of one of those scenarios where he may have grown up around it and played around it on the fringe, but lets face it, if he were the hard-core gang member theyre making him out to be, hed have a conviction by now, said Harveys lawyer.

Even considering all that evidence  if Duncan and Harvey could be proven to be active gang members and to be well aware of the criminal enterprises of the gang  the question still remains: Does any of it constitute an actual crime? Did their Facebook posts or rap lyrics willingly support or show they benefited from any of the nine shootings?

Prosecutors and police argue yes, that the defendants benefited from the violence with an increase in stature in the community.

In spite of media reports to the contrary, this case is not about being punished for rapping, freedom of speech or the First Amendment, the District Attorneys Office said in a statement. Its about using the law to prosecute a small number of the most active gang members who are responsible for the onslaught of killings and shootings that terrorized San Diego neighborhoods for months.

Fletcher, whose church sits in the heart of Lincoln Park, joins many who disagree.

We feel like its not being used in the spirit of the law.

Tasha Williamson, cofounder of the San Diego Compassion Project, which works with victims of gang crime and their families, says the case as it relates to Harvey and Duncan and possibly others has been a hard pill for me to take. She said the case has inflamed many in the black community for good reason.

When it appears people are being targeted, she said, they get tired and they want change."
CULIACAN, Mexico (AP)  Three suspects have been detained in connection with the presumed killing of two Australian tourists who went missing last month, prosecutors in Mexicos Sinaloa state said Friday.

State prosecutor Marco Antonio Higuera said the three men were robbing motorists on a stretch of highway leading south through Navolato, Sinaloa. He said two other suspected members of the robbery gang remained at large.

The three were arrested on low-level drug-dealing and weapons charges, but Higuera said he expects homicide charges to be filed against them soon.

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This is just a gang of five people who committed highway robberies. They dont have links to drug cartels, Higuera said.

One of them had previously been investigated for the killing of a man in a similar robbery, prosecutors said.

The gang is alleged to have killed Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas after Coleman resisted the robbery just after midnight Nov. 21. The thieves allegedly shot the two Australians to death, then doused their van with gasoline and set it afire.

Two charred bodies found inside the van the next day have not yet been positively identified. Tests are continuing. But the vans vehicle identification number matched one registered to Coleman in Canada.

Evidence presented at a news conference showed the arrested men had rifles, a shotgun, pistols, 124 small bags of methamphetamine and jackets with police logos on them. It was unclear whether they were wearing the police jackets at the time they allegedly stopped the van.

According to prosecutors, a lookout for the gang spotted the van before it got to Navolato and advised his accomplices it was a likely target.

The thieves apparently stopped the van after it passed a toll booth, as the two Australians drove south through Sinaloa toward Guadalajara, Mexicos second largest city.

Prosecutors said the thieves, traveling in an SUV, forced the van to stop. Coleman purportedly struggled with the thieves, and one of them shot Coleman, but he didnt die immediately. The van was then driven to a rural road, where both victims were apparently shot to death and one member of the gang lit the van on fire.

Coleman and Lucas were traveling to Guadalajara from Edmonton, Alberta, and failed to arrive as planned on Nov. 21. The two surfers got off a ferry from the Baja California peninsula at Topolobampo, Sinaloa, at about 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 20. The burned-out van was found the next day.
A jury has determined that a Los Angeles County man who was severely burned nearly three years ago while working around electrical equipment at Qualcomms headquarters in San Diego should receive more than $7 million in damages.

Jose Martin Sandoval, 48, was on Qualcomms campus in August 2013 to help upgrade a main circuit breaker. He was injured after another person at the work site removed a protective panel and exposed a live circuit.

Sandovals clothing caught fire while he was inspecting the equipment, and he suffered burns over 35 percent of body.

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He was hospitalized in San Diego for more than a month, according to court documents and has amassed more than $1 million in medical bills, said Pasadena-based attorney Dan Powell, one of his lawyers.

Powell and attorney Michael OConnor contended that Qualcomm and others were negligent, and that the company failed its duty to provide a safe working environment.

Qualcomms attorneys argued that company employees turned off the main breaker on the property  and followed appropriate safety procedures  before turning the site over to Sandoval and another man, an electrical engineer from Irvine.

A San Diego Superior Court jury found in Sandovals favor Wednesday. The panel found that Qualcomm was 46 percent 46 percent while a contractor, Irvine-based Transpower Testing Inc. was 45 percent negligent. The jurors also found Sandoval minimally negligent, at 9 percent.

According to court documents, the incident occurred on Aug. 3, 2013, after Sandoval and Frank Sharghi, the electrical engineer, traveled to San Diego to inspect Qualcomms on-site generators, which it was planning to upgrade.

Sandoval was told that the entire system would be turned off while he and others inspected the equipment, but that did not happen. When the contractor removed a protective cover from a live 4,160-volt circuit breaker and Sandoval approached it, an arc flash occurred.

Sandoval was set on fire.

Qualcomm argued in court documents that the contractor did not have permission to remove the protective cover, which had been bolted in place, from the live circuit breaker. They also argued that Sandoval contributed to the accident because he did not properly heed safety warnings, nor did he follow the golden rule when working around electricity: Assume its hot until you prove its not.

Alan Brubaker, a San Diego attorney who represented Qualcomm in the lawsuit, declined to comment of the jury verdict, noting that court procedings are ongoing and no final judgment has been entered.

However, he expressed sympathy on behalf of the company for Sandovals injuries.

This was a very unintentional accident, Brubaker said.

Powell said Sharghi, who had been named as a defendant in the lawsuit, settled before the trial began in January.

dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com
NORTH COUNTY -- Latino school board members bring an importantperspective to education, but Latinos are underrepresented onboards throughout the state, a report released last week says.

Among the school boards identified in the report as beingespecially unrepresentative of the community they serve are threein North County: the Escondido Union High School District, theelementary Escondido Union School District, and Fallbrook UnionHigh School District.

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Across North County, few Latinos hold school board seats indistricts that often are more than 50 percent Latino. Among 20North County school boards, only one of the 100 board members isLatino.

In the Nov. 7 election, the number of Latino board members inNorth County has the potential to grow many times over, with fiveLatino candidates running for school board in five differentdistricts. Area Latino leaders say that while having Latinocandidates is a good step, North County has a long way to go beforeLatinos play a strong role in setting educational policies.

Bill Flores, a former San Dieguito Union High School Districtboard member and a leader in the Latino community, said that withLatino students high dropout rates and often limitedpost-secondary education, more Latino voices are needed on schoolboards.

The Latino community has some tremendous challenges to turnsome of these trends around, Flores said. Having more Latinoschool board members would be a part of the answer.

Few Latinos on area school boards

The report released Monday by Latino Issues Forum, a nonprofitpublic policy and advocacy institute based in San Francisco,compared the percentage of Latinos living in a school district,based on U.S. Census Bureau data, to the percentage of Latinos onthe school board.

The organization compiled the report from information providedby 693 of Californias 979 school districts. From this information,the report identified 24 districts where Latinos are considered tobe severely underrepresented because of a high number of Latinos inthe community but few Latino school board members.

The report also lists 148 other school districts as simplyunderrepresented, with a significant but less extreme disparity.This list includes the two Escondido school districts and FallbrookUnion High, as well as two other south San Diego County schooldistricts.

Raquel Donoso, associate director of Latino Issues Forum, saidlast week that while the studys overall findings werentsurprising, the range of school districts lacking in Latinorepresentation was.

What we were able to see is that this is an issue across urbanareas, rural areas, big districts, small districts, Donoso said."When you look at it regionally and district by district, youreally get to see the disparities that are occurring.

In North County, only the Oceanside Unified School District hasa Latino school board member, homemaker Emily Ortiz Wichmann, whohas served on the board since 1994.

A different perspective

In Oceanside Unified, where more than half of the 19,600students are Latino, Wichmann said she is able to give a uniqueviewpoint and offer a greater cultural sensitivity on some of theissues challenging students. At the same time, she said, she canaddress certain issues, such as those surrounding English learners,without being bound by political correctness.

I can say things as a Latina that an Anglo cant say, saidWichmann, who grew up in a Spanish-speaking household. I can (talkto) parents and the administration coming from my perspective.

Flores said being a Latino gave him insights his fellow boardmembers didnt have.

All my colleagues on the school board, they are allgood-hearted people, intelligent, well-meaning and extremely givingpeople, Flores said. But every once in a while, issues would comeup where I felt if I did not mention its impact on the Latinocommunity, either good or bad, it wouldnt come up.

For example, he said, when the board held expulsion hearings forstudents, the students often would arrive with an attorney in thelargely affluent San Dieguito district. However, many Latinostudents had no such luxury, and often their parents didnt evenunderstand the purpose of the expulsion hearings, Flores said.

You try to be a balancing force, to make sure that kids who gothere are represented, to make sure they dont end up with theshort end of the stick, Flores said.

The Latino Issues Forum report cites a New York study that saysdiversity, or lack of it, on school boards can have a direct effecton Latino students.

According to the report, researchers discovered that absentLatino school board members, Latino students were subject to moresuspensions and expulsions, were under-represented in gifted andtalented classes, and were over-represented in special educationclasses.

Ability, not ethnicity

Some current school board members said last week that no oneshould be elected to a school board simply because of ethnicbackground.

Royce Moore, board president of the Escondido Union SchoolDistrict, said the board is meeting the needs of the 18,500-studentdistrict, where more than 60 percent of the students areLatino.

I feel very qualified to serve all students as a school boardmember, and if I didnt feel qualified, I wouldnt serve on theschool board, said Moore, a retired, longtime teacher andprincipal in the district.

He said that having different perspectives on the board isuseful, but that voters shouldnt choose board members solelybecause of their ethnicity.

One of the things that we teach our children in our schools isthe Martin Luther King (Jr.) philosophy to judge people by thecontent of their character, not the color of their skin, hesaid.

Sharon Jenkins, president of the San Marcos Unified SchoolDistrict board, whose seat is being challenged by three candidates,including a Latino teacher, said she works for all students.

I feel they are represented by all five of us, Jenkins said ofherself and her fellow board members.

The Latino candidate there, Carlos Charlie Ulloa, hascampaigned not on his Latino background, but on his experience as ateacher and on his education.

Most Latino school board members, candidates and leadersinterviewed last week all agreed that a board membersqualifications is the most important factor, but said diversity isstill important.

The president of Fallbrook Union Elementary School Districtboard, Patty de Jong, who isnt Latino, said she hopes that a morediverse board is chosen in the upcoming election.

The incumbent candidate has formed a coalition with anotherincumbent and newcomer, Abel Lopez, who de Jong said she supportsbecause he is a district parent, while none of the board membersare.

I think its very important to have that kind of parentalrepresentation on the board, de Jong said. That hes Latino is anadded bonus.

Latino leaders needed

But with dozens of school board positions open this electionseason in North County, and only five Latino candidates running,the road may be long to see a true representation of the Latinocommunity on the boards, Latino leaders said.

In addition to Lopez in Fallbrook Union Elementary and Ulloa inSan Marcos Unified, other Latino candidates in North Countyare:

- Jose Fragozo, in Escondido Union;

- Tania Bowman, in Escondido Union High;

- and John Ramirez, in Poway Unified.

The reasons so few Latinos run for office are varied, Latinoleaders and the report say.

A lot of the times people dont know the process to run foroffice, said Donoso, of Latino Issues Forum. And running foroffice is becoming more costly.

Wichmann said Latino candidates must have a foot in eachculture, both the mainstream American culture and the Latinoculture.

We need to know both cultures, and both cultures well, shesaid. If we havent bridged that, its very hard to run foroffice.

The Latino Issues Forum report gives several solutions toincrease Latino representation.

The report suggests creating task forces and programs toidentify potential Latino candidates, to train them, and to helpfund all candidates campaigns so that financial barriers areeliminated.

Also, school districts where voting is at-large -- a system inwhich the top vote-getters are elected, one that is used in mostschool districts -- have a slightly lower percentage of Latinoschool board members than districts in which candidates are electedto represent specific neighborhoods and geographic areas, thereport says.

Tania Bowman, a Latino candidate for Escondidos high schooldistrict board, who ran unsuccessfully for Escondido City Counciltwo years ago, said the number of Latinos running for office isslowly increasing. Eventually, there will be better Latinorepresentation, she said.

I think that its an evolution, Bowman said. It will change.You will see it slowly, but surely.

The full report, entitled Beyond the Classroom: An Analysis ofCalifornias Public School Governance, can be seen atwww.lif.org.

Contact staff writer Paul Eakins at (760) 740-5420 orpeakins@nctimes.com.

On the Web:

Beyond the Classroom: An Analysis of Californias Public SchoolGovernance

www.lif.org.
As the 65th Legislative Session enters the home stretch, here are a few thoughts and numbers to share concerning infrastructure dollars and projects in the next two years.

In the next biennium (July 1, 2017  June 30, 2019) the State of Montana, with solid House GOP support, has authorized $213 million in cash infrastructure spending from the interest earned on the Coal Severance Trust (CST) fund. Additionally, more than $900 million of the Montana Highway State Special Revenue Account (HSRA) Fund, including the Federal match, will be spent on road and bridge improvements in Montana over the same period. Thats more than $1.1 billion on infrastructure being spent during the next two years. All this is being accomplished with current tax revenues, making an 8 / gallon gas tax increase a needless hardship on most working Montanans. But, thats a matter for another discussion.

The two infrastructure bills remaining alive this session would require Montana taxpayers to add debt through bonds (borrowing) for projects being proposed as infrastructure, which most folks believe arent infrastructure at all. Theres $25 million to renovate Romney Hall in Bozeman, $10 million to build a Southwest Veterans Home in Butte, $5.4 million for a nursing facility addition in Great Falls, and $5 million for a technology building addition at MSU-Billings. According to the members of the Montana Infrastructure Coalition, the term infrastructure pertains most specifically to roads, bridges, sewer and water systems. Essentially you, as tax payers, are being asked to foot a bill for $45.4 million in projects that are wants, and not needs, and dont even meet the definition of basic infrastructure.

There are going to be people (elected and electorate alike) who will try to convince you that the time is right to bond and that construction costs are only going to increase in the future. While both comments may be technically correct, the essential point is this: is it proper for your elected officials to put your hard-earned money on the hook for projects that are either unnecessary, improperly assigned as infrastructure, or both? According to the majority of residents in HD 97 with whom I spoke during this past campaign cycle, the answer is no. Not a single person asked me to needlessly spend money we dont have on projects we dont need. Not one!

Given the state and federal gas tax dollars we currently spend on maintaining and improving state and federal highways in Montana, the percentage of our roads in poor condition is much lower than states such as Washington, Idaho, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Most of our roads are in a fair to good state of condition. Could some roads be improved? Of course, they can. But the fact remains that the vast majority of our roads and bridges are not falling apart. Lets fix the ones in need and keep watch on those needing some repair in the future, addressing them when the need arises and funding is available.

Remember the math: $1.1 billion is already going to be spent in the next two years on true infrastructure. Asking Montana citizens to borrow another $78 million to $98 million to bond a handful of items on a Christmas wish list with their future hard-earned money is grossly irresponsible and unwanted by the majority of Montana taxpayers.

Resist the hyperbole from those who act as if we have an unlimited supply of money in the state. Lets spend money for things we actually need, not things some people want but Montana truly cannot afford.

Rep. Brad Tschida, R-Missoula, represents House District 97 in the Montana Legislature.
UPCOMING EVENTS

Rhinestones and Rodeo dinner, auction upcoming

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, The Montana Coalition Inc. (HMHB) will celebrate its 33rd year of service at Rhinestones and Rodeo, an auction and dinner to be held on Friday, April 28, at the Kleffner Ranch beginning at 5:30 p.m. For tickets, go online to www.hmhb-mt.org.

HMHB incorporates a philosophy of prevention and community based health care through its programs: Safe Seats for Baby, Safe Sleep for Baby, PURPLE Montana-education (about the normalcy of baby crying), Building Bridges for Better Births, and Text4baby, all of which are focused on reducing infant deaths, preventing infant injuries, promoting healthy pregnancies and supporting parents and families.

The mission of HMHB endeavors to improve the health, safety and well-being of Montana families by supporting mothers and babies age 0 to 3. To learn more about HMHB visit www.hmhb-mt.org.

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Mental health talk at Carroll

NAMI Helena and Carroll College will host Sgt. Mark DiBona of the Seminole County, Florida Sheriff's Office for a program on Wednesday, April 26, at 7 p.m. about PTSD, officer suicide and DiBona will share his story. The discussion will take place at the Carroll Commons, Lower Campus Center. Two hours POST credit approved by the Montana Law Enforcement Academy.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

LWVHA to elect new officers

The League of Women Voters Helena Area will meet on Tuesday, April 18, at noon at the Lewis & Clark Library, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch. The business of the meeting will include election new officers and revising by-laws. Everyone is welcome

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Local students recognized for achievements

The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), NorthWestern Energy and Carroll College recognized 14 Montana high school women from 11 high schools for their accomplishments and aspirations in computing and technology.

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing was created to promote the computing aspirations of young women, introduce them to leadership opportunities in the field and generate visibility for womens participation in technology fields. Winners are acknowledged for their outstanding aptitude and interest in technology and computing, leadership ability, academic history and plans for post-secondary education.

The 2017 Helena-area winners are:

(* indicates 2016 winner as well)

( indicates National Honorable Mention)

Samantha DeMartin*, senior, Jefferson High School

Bridgett Powers, junior, Capital High School

Anaka Ronan, senior, Helena High School

Bryndon Wilkerson*, junior, Helena High School

The 2017 Montana Honorable Mentions are:

Selinda Kiefer, senior, Helena High School

Elizabeth Rigby, junior, Helena High School

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Carroll College awards scholarships

Carroll College recently awarded $156,684 in scholarships to 13 students through the Elsie P. Corette Memorial Scholarship as well as the Roy F. Simperman Math, Science and Nursing Scholarships.

Two students, who intend to pursue medical school upon graduation, were recipients of the 2017-2018 Elsie P. Corette Memorial Scholarship established at Carroll College. The Corette Scholarship is available to Carroll pre-med majors from Montana through the generosity of 1962 Carroll graduate Roy Simperman of Mercer Island, Washington.

The 2017-2018 Corette Scholarship recipients are:

Kylee Bailey, sophomore, biochemistry/molecular biology major, Shelby

Paul Wilson, sophomore, chemistry major, Missoula

Carroll College also named seven nursing students as the recipients of the 2017-2018 Roy F. Simperman Nursing Scholarship.

The Roy F. Simperman Math, Science and Nursing Scholarships provide immediate funds to Montana or Idaho students needing financial assistance who are majoring in math, nursing or science with a minimum 3.5 grade point average.

The 2017-2018 Simperman Math, Science and Nursing Scholarship recipients are:

Morgan Calnan, junior, nursing major, Montana City

Allison Trent, junior, nursing major, Missoula

Madison Robischon, sophomore, nursing major, Townsend

Allie Roberts, junior, nursing major, Helena

Fiona Bennett, junior, nursing major, Bozeman

Haley Adams, junior, nursing major, Moscow, Idaho

Taylor Thompson, sophomore, nursing major, Clancy

Peyton Twete, sophomore, biochemistry/molecular biology major, Whitefish

Kaitlin Stromberg, sophomore, biology major, Hamilton

Bethany Lacock, junior, chemistry major, Hinsdale

Matthew McHugh, junior, civil engineering major, Missoula

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Nominations due for historic preservation awards

The City of Helena  Lewis and Clark County Heritage Tourism Council is seeking nominations for this years historic preservation awards. Awards may be given for new construction or building remodels for commercial or residential buildings that retain historic integrity, or for individuals or groups who have helped further historic preservation efforts in the city and the county. People may nominate themselves.

Nominations can be delivered to room 224 on the second floor of the City-County Building, or mailed to 316 N. Park Ave., Helena, MT 59623 by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 1. Applications can be found online at www.lccountymt.gov/hpc.html or call Pam Attardo, city-county historic preservation officer, 447-8357 for more information.

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Carroll Student honored for service accomplishments

Carroll College student Kelly Taft, from Seattle, was recently selected as a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact for her demonstrated investment in serving others. She was one of only 273 students in the country identified for this honor.

A third-year political science and history major, Taft was nominated by Carroll College President Dr. Tom Evans.

The Newman Civic Fellows Award is given to college student leaders who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities across the country.

As a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow, Taft will be a part of the first cohort to benefit from a completely redesigned fellowship. The Newman Civic Fellowship is a one-year experience emphasizing personal, professional, and civic growth. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides a variety of learning and networking opportunities, including a national conference of Newman Civic Fellows in partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. The fellowship also provides fellows with access to exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.

***

STUDENT NEWS

Amelia Stafford, of Helena, has been named to the Emerson College dean's list for the fall 2016 semester. Stafford is majoring in political communication. The requirement to make Emerson's Dean's List is a grade point average of 3.7 or higher.
An East Helena man has been sentenced to 135 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for possessing child pornography.

Richard Charles Saari, 33, pleaded guilty in November to receiving child pornography, and he was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell in Helena.

A Helena Police Department investigation launched in August 2015 found that Saari had enticed an underage girl he met online to send him sexually explicit images of herself via cellphone, a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Offices says.

Officials later seized an electronic storage device from Saaris East Helena home, which contained sexually explicit images of at least 11 girls under age 18. Authorities believe he received the images between approximately December 2013 and September 2015, the release says.

The Helena, Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force works tirelessly to ensure communities are safe from offenders who prey on our children, Federal Bureau of Investigation Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Rick Shelbourn said in the release. This case reflects the success of that collaborative effort and the commitment to protect societys most vulnerable from those who exploit them.

Saari will likely serve his entire prison sentence because there is no parole in the federal system, the release says. However, he will have the opportunity to earn a 15 percent sentence reduction for good behavior.

Saari is also required to pay a $100 special assessment and a $5,000 assessment for the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Helena Police Department, the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs Office, East Helena Police Department, DHS-Homeland Security Investigation and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
Obituaries

Esther Chavez

Our beloved Mama Esther left us on March 18, 2017. She joins her husband Juan, who preceded her in death in August 2016. She passed surrounded by her loving family. Mama Esther was born November 28, 1936 in Zacatecas, Mexico. Family was always at the center of Mama Esthers universe. She liked nothing better than seeing her entire family gather to celebrate a holiday, or just for a weekend barbeque. Her other love was going shopping for the day with her daughters.

Mama Esther leaves behind two sisters, Carmen and Lidia, her six children, Margot (Oscar), Juanita (Juan Ramon), Minerva (Luis), Patricia (Terry), Jaime (Yolanda), and Erica (Benito), 15 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

She was loved by everyone who knew her, and will be greatly missed by all.

The family would like to thank Dr. Lin, Dr. Tushla, and all of the wonderful doctors, nurses, and staff at Community Memorial Hospital. Their fantastic caring attitude towards our entire family made our Mama Esthers last days as good as they could possibly be.
New research led by University College London, UK, shows that on average we are worse at spotting objects in crowded environments when they are above or below eye level, although the extent to which this happens varies between individuals: some people are better at spotting things above their center of vision while others are better at spotting things off to the right.

If youre driving a truck with a high cabin and looking straight ahead, youre less likely to notice pedestrians or cyclists at street level in your peripheral vision than if you were lower down with those same pedestrians on the left and right, said Dr. John Greenwood, head of the Eccentric Vision Lab in the Department of Experimental Psychology at University College London and lead author on the study.

A visually cluttered environment like a busy city road makes it even more difficult. As well as the physical blind spots on vehicles, people behind the wheel will also have different areas where their peripheral vision is better or worse.

The study involved 12 volunteers who took part in a series of perception tests over several years.

The key experiment involved focusing on a point in the center of the screen while images of clocks were shown in different parts of the visual field, either a clock alone or with two other clocks next to it.

It is more difficult to tell the time on the central clock when the surrounding clocks are closer to it, as the scene is more visually cluttered. This is known as visual crowding.

Participants ability to successfully identify the central clock in a cluttered scene varied significantly, with different people better at spotting it in different positions.

On average, most participants were weakest with their upper peripheral vision, followed by the lower peripheral vision. There was no significant difference between left and right on average, with some volunteers better on the left and others on the right.

In the same task, participants were also asked to move their eyes to where the center of the middle clock had been once it disappeared.

There was a strong correlation between the amount of disruption from clutter and the ability of individuals to make precise eye movements to those same locations.

Everyone has their own pattern of sensitivity, with islands of poor vision and other regions of good vision, Dr. Greenwood said.

These islands of poor vision were apparent across several tasks tested by the team, despite each relying on different processes in the brain.

The implication is that these differences in peripheral vision could occur very early in the visual system, possibly beginning as early as the retina.

It is unclear whether these differences are due to genetics or environment, but they are observed consistently over time.

What is striking is the consistency of the pattern from the first levels of vision up to the highest levels, processing that involves very different areas of the brain, said Dartmouth College Professor Patrick Cavanagh, senior author of the study.

We propose that these variations originate at the first levels of vision very early in our development where simple features like edges and colors are registered, and then are inherited by higher levels as the rest of the brain wires itself up to deal with the information being sent from the eyes. The higher levels deal with recognizing objects, faces, and actions, and directing our eyes toward areas of interest.

Most people do not experience visual crowding in the center of their vision, unlike the periphery, however in some conditions central vision is also affected.

In amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, the brain does not interpret visual signals from one eye properly, leading to an increase in visual crowding.

In dyslexia, some research has shown that people with the condition find it easier to read words when the letter spacing is increased to reduce visual crowding.

Similarly, visual crowding effects may be one of the early symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy, a form of dementia that predominantly affects vision.

Crowding is also a factor in macular degeneration, the most common form of blindness, where the center of the eye is affected first and so patients must rely on their peripheral vision to see.

The study was published this week in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

_____

John A. Greenwood et al. Variations in crowding, saccadic precision, and spatial localization reveal the shared topology of spatial vision. PNAS, published online April 10, 2017; doi: 10.1073/pnas.1615504114

This article is based on text provided by University College London.
Crystallization of Moons liquid metallic core may have driven its now-lost magnetic field approximately 3 billion years ago, according to new research published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.

Magnetized rocks returned to Earth during the Apollo missions established that the Moon once had a magnetic field. It lasted for more than a billion years and, at one point, it was as strong as the one generated by modern Earth.

Planetary researchers believe that an early lunar dynamo  Moons molten, churning core  may have powered the magnetic field, but previously did not understand how it had been generated and maintained.

A team of researchers from the University of Chicago and NASAs Johnson Space Center argues that this dynamo was caused by crystallization of the lunar core.

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, said study lead author Dr. Kevin Righter, a planetary scientist at NASAs Johnson Space Center.

The Moon likely had an iron/nickel core with only a small amount of sulfur and carbon, thus giving the lunar core a high melting point.

As a result, the core likely started crystallizing early in lunar history, and the heat released by crystallization may have driven an early magnetic field that is recorded in ancient lunar samples.

We created several synthetic core compositions based on the latest geochemical data from the Moon, and equilibrated them at the pressures and temperatures of the lunar interior, Dr. Righter said.

A magnetic field has been recorded in lunar samples as young as 3.1 billion years old, but is currently inactive, indicating that at some point between then and now, the heat flow declined to a point where the lunar dynamo became inactive.

The lunar core is currently thought to be composed of a solid inner and liquid outer core, known from Apollo seismic and other geophysical and spacecraft data.

The new specific lunar core composition proposed by Dr. Righter and co-authors likely would be partially solid and liquid today, consistent with the seismic and geophysical data.

The team prepared powders of iron, nickel, sulfur and carbon based on geochemical proportion estimates of the Moon from recent analyses of Apollo samples. The powders then were encapsulated and heated under pressures corresponding to those in the lunar interior.

Because the Moon may have experienced high temperatures in its early history and lower temperatures during later cooling, the authors investigated a wide range of temperatures.

Detailed compositions and textures of the solids and liquids formed at the higher pressure and temperature conditions were examined.

Before these new results, the conundrum was that modeling of the Moon involved an iron/nickel core with sulfur contents so high (and melting point so low) that crystallization would not have occurred until very late in lunar history. Thus the source of the heat flow out of the core required to drive a dynamo was unclear. Various sources were proposed such as heat from impact or shear forces.

The researchers acknowledge that such sources may be real, but if the heat from crystallization of the outer core is available, it is a simple and straightforward, source for a lunar dynamo and would fit well with the expected timing.

_____

K. Righter et al. 2017. Phase equilibria of a low S and C lunar core: Implications for an early lunar dynamo and physical state of the current core. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 463: 323-332; doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2017.02.003

This article is based on a press-release from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Helena Public Schools could cancel its contract with First Student Inc. bus company because of driver shortages.

On Monday, April 10, the district started fining the company $500 per day, an amount allowed in the contract.

The fines are in response to First Students failure to meet their contractual obligations, said School Superintendent Jack Copps.

This is a very serious matter, he said. This is First Students obligation, they must meet their contract and there are serious consequences if they do not."

***

Driver shortage leads to fines

First Student is having a problem with bus drivers, Copps said. As of Friday, April 7, there were eight open, unstaffed routes, he said. But that number has been in the double digits at times.

These routes are being covered by standby drivers and First Student office staff including mechanics, he wrote in a memo.

On average at least three days a week First Student staff and mechanics are driving buses, rather than staffing the First Student office.

First Student is combining some pre-school and special education routes, said Copps, but the result is that some students are arriving to school up to 20 minutes late.

Since Jan. 1, the districts withheld payment of $3,770 for routes that had been either combined or not run.

Field trips are being limited to the contract minimum, Copps added.

This matter is serious, he said. It must be addressed and contract obligations must be satisfied.

***

Canceling contract a possibility

We have expectations that First Student will honor their contract. ... We are coming close to the end of the year. They are running the risk of (the district) canceling the contract," Copps said.

We would have to quickly put out a bid for contracts for the 20017-18 school year if these issues are not addressed to our satisfaction," he added.

The school district asked First Student for a response to the problem, Copps said, but the one it received is unacceptable and only a temporary fix.

It doesnt provide us with enough drivers to meet all of our obligations," he said.

***

First Student's plan

The six-point plan written by Tony Hancuff, area general manager for First Student Inc., states: the company is offering a recruiting/hiring bonus, it graduated one driver April 11 and has two more taking motor vehicle department written tests April 13 and road tests April 28, and another driver started training this week.

The company is offering an attendance incentive of prizes for showing up at work for four weeks for both shifts, and it has brought in two out-of-town drivers to assist in Helena and is looking for other ones to bring in.

In the end, theyre talking about bonuses and prizes for drivers, said Copps. This is a first step." But the plan is not covering the eight drivers we are short. Bringing in drivers from outside of Helena is only going to be temporary coverage.

***

Pay problem

The bottom line is that we arent competitive when were out there recruiting. We need to take a look at the wage structure they have in place, Copps said.

Drivers in Helena are receiving $13 per hour, he said, and drivers in Bozeman are receiving $16.

More than likely, Bozeman can recruit drivers easily," he said.

Drivers are only working a few hours a day, Copps said, so its hard to retain them with a low hourly rate.

This could go on forever if we dont make this clear, said Copps. It must be addressed, and the contract obligations must be satisfied." And it must be done "quickly."

We expect a response that will restore the contract, which has two more years," he said.

First Student runs 45 Helena buses for regular students and 16 for special needs students. The average number of students riding the buses is 1,682 in the morning and 2,123 in the afternoon.

***

No quick fix

Driver shortages arent a new problem for First Student, said Charles Woodgerd, the president and business agent for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 381.

A lot of the problem has to do with the way bus contracts are bid, he said.

The school bus industry is designed to be a low-bid industry, where the lowest contracted bidder gets the contract," he said.

You are constantly seeking employees at under-market value, he said.

Whenever the economy is good, the school bus industry loses employees," Woodgerd said.

Unemployment is down now, so the school bus industry suffers, he said. Drivers are seeking less stressful, better-paying jobs at this time.

He said there is no quick fix for First Student's problems.

It takes at least 30 days from recruiting a driver to having that person behind the wheel driving.

In 2016, a shortage of Bozeman bus drivers grew so severe the Bozeman School District temporarily suspended bus routes for 300 students.

Woodgerd predicted First Student will likely bring in drivers from elsewhere, adding that wage restructuring is one of the last things the company does.

Woodgerd admits that a March complaint against a Helena driver who let two children off a bus at Jefferson School after being told to do so by the First Student dispatcher had a negative impact.

The driver was blamed by First Student management, although she was following management orders, Woodgerd said.

Some drivers left following that incident and a subsequent meeting with the school district, he said.

First Students signing bonus for new drivers also causes problems, he said.

Its not fair and its not equitable, Woodgerd said, to offer bonuses to new drivers but offer nothing to drivers who are already hired.

If the company did wage restructuring, it could do significant hiring over the summer, he said.

***

First Student could discuss pay raise

Jay Brock, First Student media spokesperson, said he was unaware of any other school districts that had threatened to cancel their contracts.

Unemployment in your area is very low, he said, but First Student is doing job fairs and outreach programs to find more drivers.

While we have doubled up on some services, we have not had any outages, he said, adding that no students are arriving late, which is contrary to the district's information.

When asked about First Students low driver pay, Brock said that contractual wage is developed in partnership with the district. However, according to Copps, raising driver pay would not change what the district currently pays for its contract.

Were doing what we can to secure more drivers. We are leveraging other drivers ... so we can address the driver shortage," Brock said.

Across the country, the low unemployment rate is a bit of an issue right now in being able to hire drivers," he said.

First Student can chat with the district about raising the hourly pay, he said. It relies on the district for some of that funding.

First Student is continuing to recruit new drivers. A number of people are in the employment pipeline, he said, adding that the required 50 hours of classroom and driver training and a stringent background check slow the process.

Its different than other positions, where you can walk in off the street and start the job, said Brock.

Copps acknowledged that its an important job.

A good bus driver is more than just a bus driver, said Copps, and we know that.

But, whats happening here isnt OK, he concluded.
Malaria is one of the fatal diseases still exists on this earth. Recently, a research team has uncovered a great technique to analyze this disease to get an effective outcome.

A research team has invented a new way to analyze malaria-infected red blood cells. The new technique can minutely analyze these infected cells to uncover many important facts. Dr. Sergey Kapishnikov is the main researcher to lead this study, according to Phys.org.

Malaria is a life-threatened blood disease and parasite is the main culprit of this disease. This parasite creates a very harmful impact on the human body with a very complex life cycle. Once it is transmitted in the body, it takes shelter inside a cell and gradually hampers the immune system.

For so many years, researchers around the world have been trying hard to discover the fittest way to tackle the deadly disease, malaria. Discussions are still on about the necessity of a vaccine that helps to maintain a permanent immunity in the body to solve this problem. Though, no successful result is so far acquired.

According to Daily Nation, malaria killed 20,000 Kenyans last year. Sources say Kenya is trying its best to tackle the upsurge of this disease, though no effective result is seen so far. It is a painful fact indeed.

Dr. Kapishnikov at the Niels Bohr Institute has made a great breakthrough with the research team to examine the malaria-infected cells. With the help of advanced technologies, they succeeded to create virtual cell slices. Next, the team applied the soft x-rays and hard x-rays to examine those slices.

The team monitored the iron concentration in the hemozoin crystals exist in the parasite and in hemoglobin. The researchers also examined the amount of potassium in the malaria-infected cells and revealed that the parasite absorbed its huge amount. Surprisingly, the parasite used the protein to digest hemoglobin. In a word, the parasite used the protein as a nutrient.

The researcher found that heme is very harmful to the parasite. But, the formation of hemozoin can reduce the effects of heme. So to prevent malaria it is necessary to prevent the hemozoin formation first.

The new study gives a clear idea about the internal structure of the deadly disease malaria. Hopefully, this revelation will soon help to invent the effective medicine to eradicate this problem. No doubt the research team plays a significant role in the arena of medical science.
Smartphone users who are always on the go are usually faced with the problem of a low or dead battery. The problem was somehow solved with the popularity of portable batteries and power banks. But these gadgets also had the tendency to run out of juice since they also needed cables and power to be charged. The solar-powered Uvolt watch could be the solution to this common problem.

The Uvolt analog watch has a high-density battery that makes use of the power of the sun to recharge. It measures a mere 37 x 37 x 1 mm but comes with a 600 mAh battery pack that can be partially recharged in 45 minutes or charged fully in one day, according to Digital Trends. Once fully charged, the solar-powered smart watch is compatible with most phones as it has various connectors for both Android or Apple devices.

The solar-powered Uvolt watch was developed by Antony Diaz of Montreal. It started as a prototype for a high school science project until they saw the commercial viability of the project. Diaz teamed up with Marc-Antoine Bonin in 2016 and they started to raise funds for the business. They also got the help of a North American industrial firm to help them with mass production of the product.

"We saw the potential, and wanted to transform it into more than a science project," Diaz said. "We believe design is as important as how it works. When you have a solid structure, beauty falls in place just like gravity."

Diaz said the goal was to create a sleek watch that people can use not just as a watch but also a device to charge their phones. The solar-powered Uvolt watch does not require a cable because its power bank has a built-in port. It is also a testimony that clean wearable technology can be produced with the use of clean energy.

The people behind the solar-powered Uvolt watch turned to Kickstarter to get the necessary funding for the business. The plan is to improve on the design of the watch once they achieve $175,000, according to Kickstarter. With that amount, they plan to add a finger-activated LED indicator that will display the watch battery level.

The first edition of the solar-powered Uvolt watch will come in classy colors of rose gold, silver, black and white. A Kickstarted Special will be made available for those who just want to try a single watch for $100 but it already comes with a wireless charger and power server. The Duo Edition for $190 comes with two watches while the Family Edition for $360 comes with four watches. The watch will be shipped to customers beginning December 2017.
Motorola will be releasing its newest smartphone, the Moto C. But, latest news is saying that the said handset was already spotted in Russia even if it was not officially released yet. With that, images of it also leaked online and appear to break up its introduction to the consumers.

Motorola is one of the first pioneer in telecommunication industry since it was founded in 1928. And for the past decade, they help to revolutionize the telecom industry by manufacturing the first hand-held walkie-talkie and portable telephones. Since then, they also ventured into making mobile phones making them one of the industry's recognizable company in wireless communication.

However, Motorola began to struggle from 2007 to 2009 as they lost billions of dollars in investment and subsequently sold they cellular-infrastructure firm to Nokia. But they managed to survive and now looking to build their reputation once again in the business. Now, as they look to release their latest smartphone, reports are spreading that the device was already spotted in Russia.

According to Android Soul, some Motorola devices with model numbers XT1750 and XT1754 was seen in the WiFi Alliance listing. And before rumors start to spread that it could be the Moto C, a model phone XT1750 was said to be certified in Russia. And surprisingly the said handset was labeled Moto C, confirming its existence already.

Moto C is said to be having a MediaTek quad-core chipset with a 5.2-inch screen display that will run in an Android 7.0 Nougat software. And all these details appears to be pointing to the model XT1750 listed on the WiFi Alliance catalog. Aside from this, images of the Motorola next smartphone already leaked online.

According to NDTV, YouTube video revealed the images of the Moto C showing Motorola's innovation to its mobile phones throughout the years. But before it was spotted in YouTube, a picture of it was already spreading and passed on Twitter.

Moto C is said to be Motorola's newest and affordable smartphone that they will release so far. However, there is no official announcement from the company about its price so the consumer will have to wait on other details about it.
At last, the Canadian Government brings new legislation to legalize the use of marijuana for recreational purpose. The legalization process will be implemented from July 2018.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has finally kept the election promise by introducing a legislation to permit the use of the marijuana. The Canadian government will change the existing criminal law and simultaneously will provide the license to grow the cannabis, The Washington Post stated. A set of rules will also be produced for the product.

Interestingly, the U.S. federal government has provided no such permission like the Canadian government. Canada is famous for its large scale of industrialization. Now the country will be considered as the first in the world to give the permission for the recreational use of marijuana. Currently, Uruguay is the only country where cannabis production and use takes place hugely.

A good number of Canadian teens use marijuana, but the current law prevents them from taking it. This ultimately compels the teens to buy the cannabis from the illicit sources. The newly proposed system will permit a person to possess maximum 30 grams of cannabis. Even a person can grow four plants at home.

It is necessary that the plants will be only one meter high. The new legislation has set the age limit to use marijuana for recreation. Users should be at least 18 years old and above. The Canadian government has clearly indicated that those who will supply cannabis to the minors should face an imprisonment for 14 years.

The administration also declares that the Police must have the authority to examine the saliva of any driving person if necessary. The aim should be to check the level of drug in the blood. Some other signs like the reddened eyes or the smell of marijuana will also be considered as illegal offenses.

Medical use of marijuana was legalized in Canada from 2001, and the country is approaching to open a recreational market. Ralph Goodale, the Public Safety Minister of Canada, says that a good number of works needs to be done before implementing the proposed legislation. He utters that the previous law will remain as it is until the new one will be enacted.

So far the government has not decided an exact set of marketing rules of the cannabis products. Though, it is quite clear that no one can sell marijuana using the vending machines or adopting the self-service displays. A detail consultation with both the public and industry is necessary before any kind of implementation.

According to the Independent, smoking the cannabis products makes a man lazy. Continuous use of it decreases a person's willingness to perform any complex work. The individual will try to adopt an easy task even if it contains small reward. That means excessive use of marijuana brings negative impacts.

The Canadian administration will allow advertisement of cannabis only as a brand product like the tobacco. Foreign tourists must be allowed to smoke pot, but they are not permitted to possess marijuana. Those who will break this rule will have to face the legal consequences. Different provinces of Canada have to make a clear decision regarding the distribution of cannabis products.

The Canadian government has already completed an extensive consultation with the Colorado and Washington Officials about the use of marijuana as a part of business. It is true that the major portion of the public opinion goes to support the use of cannabis. On the other hand, some contrary words also exist.

The Canadian Psychiatric Association wants to increase the minimum age limit for the use of marijuana. The association opines that the users should be at least 21 years old to buy the cannabis products. Several health problems occur due to its excessive use. So a strict vigilance is necessary to avert any kind of serious problems.
Another evidence that supports the theory of an asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs was found in the Colorado region. Scientists suggest that the asteroid impact was so massive when it hit the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. In fact, it resulted in fault displacement in places as far as Colorado.

Seismic waves after the asteroid impact generated earthquakes and reached Colorado. According to Norm Sleep of the Stanford University, there is evidence of fault displacement in places where they did not exist before the Cretaceous period. These faults manifested in the center of a previously crack-less tectonic plate, suggesting an asteroid impact. The timeline coincides with that of the dinosaur extinction.

Sleep and his team also observed that the rocks in two areas of Trinidad Lakes State Park yielded clues to the line that separates the Cretaceous and Tertiary period. According to PhysOrg, Sleep found traces of iridium, which is the main feature of an asteroid impact. It happened some 65 million years ago and marks the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Sleep stressed that even untrained eyes can clearly discern the anomaly in the Long Canyon and the Madrid Canyon. The clue to seismic activity that results from an asteroid impact is a fault that slipped about a meter. Sleep said that this happened during the asteroid impact in Mexico. The dinosaur extinction happened as an aftermath.

The study also pictured how intense the earthquake had been after the asteroid impact. The ground shook in almost all directions similar to that of a ship during a storm. Apart from fault due to a tectonic plate that cracked, the asteroid impact has also led the streams to re-channel back then, the Space Daily reported. Before the dinosaur extinction millions of years ago, scientists believe that Colorado has been a swampy area with several streams.

Meanwhile, Sleep and his team plan to present their study at the upcoming 2017 meeting of the Seismological Society of America. The team aims to solidify the theory that an asteroid impact accelerated the dinosaur extinction during the Cretaceous.
The dreaded rat lungworm disease is spreading fast across regions like Africa, South America, and the United States. A hellish parasitic disease, rat lungworm or Angiostrongylus cantonensis is endemic in the Pacific islands and Southeast Asia. However, there is an increasing number of affected individuals outside the disease's point of origin.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rat lungworm disease is a result of either deliberately or accidentally consuming snails and slugs that are infected with the parasite. A less common mode of contracting the rat lungworm disease is through consumption of crabs, shrimps, and frogs. Water might also get contaminated but in very rare cases.

Since January this year, state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said that there were nine confirmed cases of rat lungworm disease in Hawaii alone. In the mainland United States, there were documented old and new human cases in Alabama, California, and Louisiana. Oklahoma reported a transmission in 2015. Apart from humans, two white-handed gibbons in Miami, Florida died of suspected rat lungworm disease as well.

Recently, the rat lungworm disease made headlines again after a couple who was on a Hawaiian vacation contracted the disease. Couple Ben Manilla and Eliza Lape found a hell-like experience for their honeymoon instead of the blissful environs of the tropics. Manilla and Lape went to Hana from San Francisco in January.

According to the couple, they don't know how they got the rat lungworm disease. However, they said that they already experienced some symptoms even before they left Hawaii. The doctors were also not able to immediately diagnose the rat lungworm disease which is known for being hard to detect.

Lape described her ordeal as similar to being stabbed with a burning knife all throughout her body. For Manilla, he suffered pneumonia twice, a blood clot and several operations. Even today, Manilla is complaining of a kidney problem which is purportedly from rat lungworm disease complication.
There is no doubt that Microsoft has the leading desktops at present. But when it comes to smartphones, the company needs to offer more impressive specs to compete with tech giants like Apple, Google and Samsung. The company needs to offer enthralling innovations for its upcoming Surface Phone.

Rumors and speculations about the Microsoft Surface Phone have been spreading through the web for a while now. Rumors claim that Microsoft will launch an ultimate mobile device that will use the company's strengths rather than its weaknesses.

A lot of tech critics and enthusiasts claim that Microsoft has a poor mobile ecosystem, and its upcoming Surface Phone might be a failure. According to Windows Central, there is a huge possibility that Microsoft's ultimate mobile device is not going to be a phone. To simply put it, smartphones are not Microsoft's thing.

Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, conceded the smartphone war between the giants like Apple, Google and Samsung. But Satya Nadella said that he did not concede the mobile space.

Nadella also announced that Microsoft would surely launch an ultimate mobile device. Fans can expect that the Surface Phone can run Microsoft's applications and can also function as a mini desktop.

Microsoft company always has the idea of creating a smartphone that could function as a book or laptop. There is also an idea of creating a Surface Phone that could be folded into a tablet. Tech critics also claim that the Microsoft Surface Phone might be the most secure smartphone that would be made by the company.

As for now, there is no official announcement by Microsoft regarding its upcoming Surface Phone. But according to a PC World report, fans can expect that the Microsoft Surface Phone could end up a foldable device. The phone could also run PC apps. The device is said to target business and corporate users.
After the success of the bezel-less displays, Samsung reportedly plans on developing the first dual-screen bendable smartphone. The phone, which has been rumored to be named as Samsung Galaxy X, is noted to be in its final testing stages. Samsung is expected to launch the prototype by the end of June 2017.

While there is still no confirmation on whether the phone will be out for a worldwide release in the future, the South Korean giant did appear to order a production of 2,000 to 3,000 units for mass testing, The Investor reported. The Samsung Galaxy X features of an intuitive design (leaked through a patent) with two OLED screens connected with a hinge in the middle, thus making the device bendable up to 180 degrees. Further reports on Samsung's acquiring the "Galaxy X" trademark has also been confirmed that brings up the possibility for the device to launch in the future.

Samsung Galaxy X Release Date Rumors

Rumors related to the Samsung Galaxy X release date speculate that the upcoming dual-screen bendable smartphone may witness a release later this year, Android Central reported. However, concerning the testing going on with the prototype, that is unlikely to happen this year. Another report notes of the Galaxy X to come out in 2019, Hot Hardware reported.

The Samsung Galaxy X, which is a possible prototype for the company's ongoing Project Valley program, is expected for release only after the final design is confirmed. Kim Tae-Woong, the display head engineer at Samsung, noted that the bezel-free displays in the current front runners (Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+) are already quite popular, which is why there is still time for more research on bendable displays. This confirms the possibility for the Samsung Galaxy X release date in later years.

Readers are requested to take this rumors with a grain of salt until there is an official confirmation regarding the bendable smartphone in the future.
NASA had created quite a stir earlier this week with the announcement that it was going to reveal new discoveries about alien oceans in the Solar System, based on findings from the Cassini spacecraft and Hubble Space Telescope. Now, the American space agency has announced that Saturns moon Enceladus is a habitable world because it has nearly all the ingredients to support life.

Life, as is known, requires three main ingredients to originate, exist, evolve or function -- liquid water, energy source for metabolism and the right chemical ingredients including oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. The findings from the Cassini mission reveal that nearly all of these ingredients have been detected on Enceladus, except for phosphorous and sulfur. However, NASA scientists suspect these two ingredients to be present on Enceladus because the moons rocky core is thought to be chemically similar to meteorites that contain phosphorous and sulfur.

NASA has reported that the findings from the Cassini mission have indicated that hydrogen gas is flowing into Enceladus subsurface ocean from hydrothermal activity on the seafloor. The presence of ample hydrogen in the ocean of Enceladus implies that microbes, if they do exist on Saturns moon, could use it to gain energy by combining it with carbon dioxide dissolved in water.

The consequent chemical reaction known as methanogenesis, which creates methane as a byproduct, is at the root of the tree of life on our planet and could have been crucial to the origin of life on Earth. "Although we cannot detect life, we have found that there is a food source there for it, said lead author of the Cassini study Hunter Waite.

According to the associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen, this is the closest humanity has come so far to identify a place with some of the ingredients required to support life. Cassini project scientist Linda Spilker added that the confirmation -- that the chemical energy for life exists within Enceladus ocean -- is an important milestone in mankinds search for habitable worlds beyond Earth.
Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15, mark the 105th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage from Britain to New York City.

Twenty of the passengers had strong Montana ties, said Montana Historical Society Reference Historian Zoe Ann Stoltz.

At that time the Titanic was hailed as one the most luxurious ocean liners ever built. It left Southampton, England, on April 10, 1912, carrying approximately 2,200 passengers and crew. Its estimated that only 713 survived.

Researching the Titanics tragedy has become a passion for Stoltz as she tries to learn their stories.

They were millionaires, miners and homesteaders, she said, in other words, a microcosm of Montana.

Survival depended on what class they traveled, she said. Sixty-two percent of first-class passengers, 41 percent of second class and only 25 percent of third class survived.

Some of the stories are of amazing bravery and grace when facing death.

"Theres something so gripping about the tragedy, said Stoltz. I have just been enthralled with these stories.

The Titanic was operating at full speed as it headed across the North Atlantic, despite ice warnings from other ships in the area, according to historic accounts. Apparently, crews of large ships often assumed their vessels were impervious to ice damage.

At 11:40 p.m. April 14, a lookout spotted an iceberg straight ahead and immediately notified the bridge, which tried to steer around the object, but it was too late.

When the ship struck the iceberg, it began taking in water through its punctured hull, and the bow began to sink. The ship was about 400 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada.

It sank at 2:20 a.m. April 15.

News of the disaster spread quickly over the wireless from the Carpathia, the ship that sped to the Titanics aid when the captain heard of its distress calls.

Reports about the fate of first-class passengers came quickly, said Stoltz. But it would be weeks before there was news about what happened to those in second class and third class or steerage.

Walter Clark, son of the nephew of Copper King William A. Clark, goes down with the Titanic, said Stoltz. Walter Miller Clark and his wife Virginia Estelle Clark were both formerly of Butte, so there was avid interest here in their stories.

Virginia recounted in the April 26, 1912, Anaconda Standard that she had retired to her stateroom Sunday night, when the ship hit the iceberg.

I knew something had occurred out of the ordinary, she said, even though there was no major impact or shock. She got dressed and went to the promenade deck and found her husband in the smoking room playing cards with friends.

Officers assured them that all was well, that they had struck some ice, but that water-tight compartments below deck had been sealed and that there was no danger of any kind.

She went on deck for 15 to 20 minutes. On the way to her stateroom, she met a man carrying a life preserver. Thats when she was told that all passengers were to go to the top deck with life preservers.

***

Disaster strikes

Virginia and her husband prepared for they knew not what.

Clark donned heavy underwear, an ordinary suit, and a heavy overcoat and I my furs, said Virginia. They also grabbed life preservers and took any of their valuables they could quickly grab. My husband also saw that I was provided with money in case we should become separated.

On the main deck, they saw Isidor and Ida Straus and John Jacob and Madeleine Astor. Clark, Astor and Straus were all prominent businessmen.

An officer approached them to say women and children would be put aboard the lifeboats, recalled Virginia. Even then, there was no rush for the lifeboats.

She and her husband stayed on deck to help load women and children into the boats, which included women and children from second class and steerage, she said.

An officer returned and told them it was imperative that all the women leave the ship, that the men could not leave until the women had been provided for," she recalled.

Virginia wound up in a lifeboat with Madeleine Astor.

At the time of our leaving ... the men of our party seemed unconcerned, said Virginia. Mrs. Straus absolutely refused to leave her husband. Others report hearing her say to her husband, Where you go, I go.

Virginia said she was convinced that her husband felt no apprehension and fully expected to join me later.

As they rowed away, Madeleine Astor saw the ship was sinking very fast and insisted they turn the lifeboat around.

We rowed about the scene of the disaster all night and picked up eight men out of the water, two of whom would die from exposure and one who lost his mind, Virginia said.

When the Titanic went down and the lights from it had disappeared, we could hear all about us the most heartrending moans and cries," she said.

Virginia complimented the discipline maintained after the accident. The world cannot help but be bettered by the example of these brave men who gave their lives that others might live.

***

Fascinating tale

One of the passengers who has particularly intrigued Stoltz was Imanita Shelley (Mrs. William Shelley), the wife of a Deer Lodge bookkeeper who was traveling in second class with her mother, Lucy Parrish. Her story is told in the May 6, 1912, Anaconda Standard.

Shelley, who was very sick on the voyage, wrote a meticulous account of their Titanic travails. Some of these began even before the iceberg -- no heat in their room, a shortage of serving trays for the staff to serve meals, initially being put in the wrong room, and half-finished bathrooms.

In the early evening of the accident, it had been getting colder and colder, so that all knew we must be getting close to the ice belt, she wrote.

Some of the survivors would later report they had asked the captain about slowing down in the ice field, and he had responded that he planned to put on more speed and get through.

The collision woke Shelley and Parrish. After ringing repeatedly for a steward, they and other passengers were told there had been a slight collision and they should go back to bed.

Within 45 minutes, they were being rousted, ordered to the top deck and told to don life jackets.

As Shelley headed to the deck, the Strauses come looking to help her.

She described Ida Straus as an angel. So serene and quiet amid all that turmoil, not trying to get away and doing all to help the rest of us escape in comfort.

Many other women chose to stay on board as well, wrote Shelley.

There they were going down to death, and yet there was no signs of any disorder and panic," she wrote.

Escape proved problematic. Lifeboat ropes were tangled and finally just cut. As they were departing, an Italian man from steerage jumped from the ship landing in the boat on her mothers foot.

A sailor pulled a revolver and threatened to blow the mans brains out, but Shelley grabbed his hand and begged him not to shoot the man.

***

The final scene

On the Titanic, men wrapped their coats and life preservers around little boys and threw them out to sea as a last chance.

Shelley recalled that the eight-man band on the Titanic played steadily until the very end. Nearer My God to Thee was the sweet strain that took them all down into the deep.

Slowly she sank, deck by deck, the bright lights burning to the end," she recalled. " ... Never can I forget that scene, those crowds lining the decks and the strained faces at the portholes in the lower decks as the good ship slowly sank.

The boats were ill-equipped and had none of the regulation items, such as water and crackers aboard.

They heard cries and screams in the dark. Shelley remembered some suggested singing to drown out that awful cry, and we were unable to utter a sound.

As they paddled through the cold night, they came upon an overturned lifeboat with 32 men clinging to it. Shelleys boat somehow squeezed in 30 of them, and two of the men succumbed before they could be rescued.

Shelleys description of their rescue by the Carpathia is full of rich details. Apparently its captain, Arthur Rostron, had heard of the Titanics distress calls and sped toward its location.

Shelley notes the crews kindness. Once survivors were rescued, there were no bunks left for the crew to sleep.

These are just a couple of the stories Stoltz has discovered. And in these cases, there are happy endings.

But that was not the case for such passengers as four Butte Bulgarians who went down with the Titanic: Menko Angeloff, Hristo Danchoff, Stanio Georfieff and Ivan Staneff, who all had steerage tickets.

Staneff had left Butte seven months earlier, planning to return to Butte and bring his friends.

He was considered a leader among his countrymen, wrote the Anaconda Standard.

Four Croatian men in steerage were also headed to Montana. They were three married brothers or cousins -- Bartol, Ivan and Liudevit Clor, ages 35, 27 and 19, respectively, who were bound for Great Falls. Jovan Dimic, 42, was traveling to Red Lodge.

We were such a new state, said Stoltz, we were a destination. People came here from all over the world. Most of us came from third-class steerage.

***

Stoltz wants to dig deeper to find more stories and urges anyone with information about those on the Titanic to email her at zstoltz@mt.gov
The Lottery Tuition Assistance (LTA) program has filled a vital role in improving access to education for South Carolina students. Without lottery funding, many of the 6,000 students at Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC) would find it much more difficult to obtain an education.

Since nearly 70 percent of FDTCs student population qualify as being low income, the vast majority of FDTCs students are dependent upon some kind of financial aid to attend classes, to buy books and to travel to campus. In fact, 79 percent of FDTCs student population receive some type of financial assistance.

During the 2015-16 academic year, 36.89 per cent of FDTCs students received lottery funding. In the 2016 fall semester, 43.66 percent, or nearly half, of the colleges students benefited from lottery funding.

These percentages reveal the value of lottery funding to Pee Dee-area students. The curtailment or abolishment of this funding would surely have a huge detrimental effect on the lives of Pee Dee-area students and would cause ripple effects in the economy of our region.

Although many students are struggling to make ends meet, there is a happy conclusion to their efforts. More than 700 students graduate from FDTC each year, and lottery funds play a significant role in the success of many of these students. Without the funding, many students might have never made it to graduation and earned their degree. These students are now out in the Pee Dee areas workforce and contributing to the regions economy.

Lottery funding has helped to provide an opportunity for many of FDTCs students to have a fighting chance to become a part of todays workforce.

FDTCs Early College program is another program that benefits greatly from lottery funding. High school students in Darlington, Florence and Marion counties use the funding to earn college credits while still in high school.

Just last year, for instance, seven students from the Darlington County School District and one from the Florence School District One graduated from FDTCs Early College program, earning either an associate of arts or science degree. Lottery funding helped these eight students complete their first two years of college even before they had walked across the stage to graduate from their respective high schools. These individuals are now pursuing a four-year degree (with two years already complete), or they have joined the local workforce two years ahead of schedule.

FDTC is just one of the South Carolina Technical College Systems institutions that benefit from lottery funding. The other 15 technical colleges in the state also rely heavily on the funding. As a whole, nearly 30 percent of the students who attend one of the states technical colleges need lottery funding to obtain the higher education that they need to succeed.

The additional $7 million that the South Carolina Technical System is requesting in lottery funding is certainly justified. Since 2002, nearly 308,000 students have benefitted from the funding. Just to put that figure into perspective, that number is higher than the entire population of Florence and Darlington counties combined.

Right now, the maximum amount of lottery funding a student can receive is $1,140 per semester. If additional funding is provided, then the systems technical colleges can reach more students and strengthen their mission of providing graduates for South Carolinas workforce.

Overall, lottery funding has a proven track record of enhancing the employability of students while, at the same time, strengthening the workforce and economy of South Carolina.
Nearly three dozen men sit on death row in Arkansas, where capital punishment has been suspended since 2005. Unless clemency is granted, seven of them  an eighth man was granted a temporary reprieve  will be given lethal injections all within a 10-day period, between April 17 and 27.

Why so many? Why the rush?

The New York Times reports that the unprecedented pace is "brought about by a looming expiration date for a drug used by the state for lethal injections." The drug is midazolam, "which has been used in several botched and gruesome lethal injections in other states in recent years." Because of the controversy surrounding midazolam's use, "a number of pharmaceutical companies have restricted their drugs from use for capital punishment."

Anti-death penalty groups are upset and the state is having difficulty acquiring a sufficient number of witnesses, as required by law.

These are "bad hombres," as President Trump might describe them. Many of them have been on death row for more than 20 years while the appeals process ground on and relatives of their victims have waited for justice to be served.

Don Davis, now 54, was sentenced to death in 1992. He is to be executed April 17. Davis was convicted of shooting 62-year-old Jane Daniel in the back of the head while robbing her home, even though she complied with his demands to hand over her valuables.

Bruce Earl Ward, 60, is also slated for execution April 17. He's been on death row since 1990 after being convicted of murdering 18-year-old Rebecca Doss at a Little Rock convenience store where she worked the night shift. The court heard testimony that Ward drove around town looking for a victim and strangled the young woman in the store bathroom.

In 1993, Stacey E. Johnson, now 47, raped, beat, strangled and then slit the throat of Carol Heath, a mother of two. Heath was attacked in her home. The Sun newspaper reported her daughter, Ashley, then 6, "was found staring out her bedroom window the following morning ... having spent the night knowing her mother was dead in the room next door."

The list goes on, but this is their common profile.

Now for the innocent.

According to the Arkansas Department of Health, 3,771 abortions took place in the state in 2015, a slight drop from the previous year, part of the more than 59 million abortions performed in the United States since the passage of Roe v. Wade in 1973. Where is the anti-death penalty crowd's compassion for those babies and the many women who say they regretted their decision to terminate their pregnancies and would have made a different choice had they received additional information?

Those opposed to capital punishment can certainly gin up outrage and sympathy for convicted murderers and rapists, but seem to offer very little sympathy to the relatives of their victims and not an ounce of outrage for the innocent unborn who have been aborted.

Is this an unfair comparison? Not at all. Consider this. Many oppose the death penalty because they claim all human life has value. Then is not an innocent unborn human life? How is an unborn baby any less valuable than a convicted rapist or murderer?

For secular-progressives, opposition to the death penalty appears to be based largely on sentiment, not on the intrinsic value of life. Yes, there are reasons to oppose the death penalty. It can often be unequally applied. I get that. But I'm speaking of the larger moral issue.

In the end, capital punishment is a matter of justice and just deserts. It is justice for the dead and his or her relatives and it is just deserts for the murderer. On several occasions I have offered people opposed to the death penalty a deal. I will oppose capital punishment for the guilty, if they will oppose "capital punishment" for the innocent unborn.

I am still waiting to hear from them.
Thumbs down

Its hard to say where the eight homeless military veterans staying at the Willis Cruse Transitional Facility will be at this time next year.

The Helena home offers temporary housing to veterans who are receiving physical and mental health services while working to become self-sufficient.

However, the home is now for sale after a reduction in the number of beds that qualify for VA funding coupled with a requirement for 24-hour staffing seven days a week left the organization with serious financial troubles.

Whether the Montana Veterans Foundation or another organization will be able to continue operating the home has yet to be determined.

And while we are grateful that the VA will not abandon the Willis Cruse homes clients, its disheartening to see the lives of these men further complicated by this uncertainty.

***

Thumbs up

As some of the candidates at a Wednesday night forum in Helena correctly said, nobody wants to serve on a school board because its fun.

The hours are lousy. The pay is non-existent. And no matter what you do, its going to make some people really mad.

For these reasons, some communities have hard time finding enough people to fill all of their school board positions.

But here in Helena, the voters have options.

Six brave souls are sacrificing time and money to campaign for the two positions up for election on the Helena Public Schools K-12 Board of Trustees. And we are grateful to all of them for taking the time to introduce themselves to the community at this weeks forum, which was hosted by the Independent Record.

We also want to thank the roughly 75 community members who gave up their evening to attend the forum, as well as the 1,400 people who viewed the video of it online.

The school board has a profound impact on our children and our community, and its great to see people getting involved.
Compounding this chasm, there is a big gap between the business community and the politicians who authorize and allocate money to support such investment. So, it is noteworthy when a top executive in moving cargo represents the maritime and terminal business in front of lawmakers.

Such was the situation with James Pelliccio, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT) - owned by Ports America, in turn backed by infrastructure investor Highstar Capital, who presented testimony in front of a subcommittee of the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

The meeting also saw presentations by executives from the railroad, airfreight and trucking segments. PNCT has committed to invest $500m through 2030; its investment in rail on dock has been noteworthy. It comes at a time that the first anniversary of the widened Panama Canal is nine months away. Another project in New York harbor, the raised roadway of the Bayonne Bridge, expected to be completed later this year, will allow larger ships bound for PNCT (and three other terminals on the New Jersey mainland) to pass under the bridge. PNCT handled approximately 1.2m teu in 2016.

While lawmakers chart the course of the bigger Infrastructure Investment programme, tagged at $1trn, Pellicios message emphasized the importance of two existing programmes. Pellicio, a member of Coalition for Americas Gateways and Trade Corridors, an organisation made up of multiple businesses and trade organizations supporting freight mobility, extolled the benefits of the FASTLANE and TIGER competitive grant programs.

One TIGER grant project mentioned was the Port Newark Terminal Access Improvement Project, which was financed through mainly private money in a Public Private Partnership. A FASTLANE application to fund a portion of revitalising the quay area is still pending. In his testimony, Pellicio urged the Senators, and the broader US Congress to provide dedicated funding on a sustained basis, to bolster investment in infrastructure for moving cargo across modes.

In addition, he called for a Government partnership with the private sector and for a national strategy to guide infrastructure planning and subsequent funding. Existing methods of funding see difficulties in funding large-scale infrastructure projects, spanning modes and jurisdictional borders he said.
We always hear that government is a big business and 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 DC. 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. Overregulation has stifled our economy. Greg wants to see more success and prosperity for Montanans. He wants to capitalize on the coal and timber industries.
Montana's governor has sent a bill back to lawmakers that would have allowed people carry concealed weapons in restaurants that sell alcohol, saying weapons and intoxicating beverages don't mix.

In an amendatory veto Friday, the governor wrote that "Montanans recognize that guns and alcohol in public places don't mix."

He said the bill, House Bill 494, carried by Rep. Seth Berglee, R-Joliet, would create uncertainty. The bill would have let a person with a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon to bring a concealed gun into any restaurant where alcohol is not the chief item for sale.

The governor's veto would only allow concealed weapons in restaurants where alcohol is not served.

"Establishments that serve alcohol are often gathering places in Montana," he said. "It is not uncommon for a bar to also serve food and for family-friendly restaurants to serve alcohol."

Bullock said that while he is a strong advocate for Second Amendment Rights, he is "also an advocate for common sense."

The Legislature is on break until next Tuesday. When they reconvene, the amendatory veto will go to the House floor for a vote.
Rabia Keeble was confused when she couldnt find the womens entrance to a mosque in Richmond that she was attending with a friend.

Then she walked to the side of the building and saw a door for women. It was dirty, with garbage littering the doorway and the carpets of the entry stained with food.

Men and women enter mosques by different doors, Keeble said, and oftentimes, the mens side is in front and freshly vacuumed. What was worse to Keeble, the imam who delivers the sermon never came into the womens room, making it difficult for those gathered there to connect with the service.

Keeble has had enough of the separation of men and women in Islamic places of worship. On Friday, shes opening a womens mosque in Berkeley. It will be run entirely by women, the first of its kind in Northern California.

I think that Muslim women in America need to lead, said Keeble, who has a masters degree in religious leadership and social justice from the Starr King School of Ministry, a multi-religious seminary affiliated with UC Berkeley. We need to reflect the fact that we live in America. The Quran does not say that women cannot do this, so we are doing this.

Preston Gannaway/Special to The Chronicle

The mosque, Qalbu Maryam  Arabic for heart of Mary, Jesus mother  is open to anyone who wants to attend, including men, Keeble said.

The first mosque run by women, the Womens Mosque of America, opened in Los Angeles in 2015. Rose Aslan, an associate professor in religion at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks (Ventura County), was sitting in the front row for the first sermon.

It sent shivers down my spine, and I never had that experience, Aslan said. Hearing a woman give the call to prayer  I had never heard that before.

She was inspired to give the second sermon at the Los Angeles mosque, which is open only to women and children, unlike the Berkeley mosque, which will welcome men.

Separating men and women in places of worship is a mainstream practice derived from different interpretations of the Quran, though the holy book itself doesnt mention men and women praying together or not, said Asad Ahmed, an Islamic Studies professor at UC Berkeley.

While the Quran wishes a certain progress for women, Ahmed said, the concern is that men could be tempted by the opposite sex in close quarters.

Its not about women leading prayer. The issue is what are the consequences? said Ahmed. Just because a certain interpretation has become mainstream doesnt mean its right.

Imam Mohammed Majeed of the Taqwa Islamic Center in Fremont said women lead among themselves during prayers, and that a lot of women would like to have their privacy from men in religious spaces.

Preston Gannaway/Special to The Chronicle

At his center, men and women sit in one room for prayer, the men on the right side and the women on the left.

Keeble, who converted to Islam from Christianity nearly 13 years ago, rejects the idea that men arent capable of controlling themselves if women are in the mosques main room to hear the sermon as they sit among men.

Theres nothing wrong with the mosque or the religion, Keeble said, sitting in her Oakland home as she ran her fingers lightly over a strand of black Islamic tasbeeh beads, which are similar to rosary beads minus a crucifix. Theres something really wrong with the patriarchy and the arrogance that falls out of it that prevents women being treated with respect and being taken seriously and somehow included in whats going on.

When Keeble left the mosque in Richmond, she recalled hearing a woman shouting, Remember ladies, no makeup, no lipstick. Our husbands are here.

But Keeble  who wears dark red lipstick, thick black eyeliner and hazel-colored contact lenses  said she was shocked when she heard the woman.

Why dont you go yell at the men? Leave women alone, she recalled thinking.

Her mosque  which is opening in the Fireside Room at Starr King School of Ministry, 2441 Le Conte Ave. in Berkeley  is meant to be a safe space for women to talk about everyday issues that impact their lives.

Aslan said this kind of space allows women to speak about experiences, like sexual assault, that are oftentimes stifled in a mosque led by men.

From mental health to marriage counseling and exploring different interpretations of the Quran, Keeble said she plans to have it all.

Sara Farooqi moved to the Bay Area last summer from Sacramento with her husband and 1-year-old son and has struggled to find a Muslim community aligned with her progressive values as a woman.

When she saw an email announcing the opening of Qalbu Maryam, Farooqi, who plans to attend the mosque Friday, said she was immediately drawn to a place of worship promising to develop sermons based on social justice values about equality and inclusion.

Muslims need common-sense sermons, Keeble said, adding that she hopes the mosque will transform into a community center where people have access to education and other services.

Her plan is to include men every step of the way.

We want Muslim men to learn to be allies, Keeble said. I think getting some space where we can sort things out where we are not being held to rules, restrictions and standards, then we might be able to create better and stronger relationships with our brothers and Muslim men overall.

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But have no doubt, she said  women will be the main decisionmakers at the mosque and will take turns leading sermons.

Women will also lead the call to prayer each week. Women arent usually given that task and may not know how to enact the different rituals. But, she added, the learning process is the whole point.

Soraya Deen, the founder of Muslim Women Speakers Movement, is flying in from Los Angeles to deliver the first sermon at the mosque.

Deen often travels throughout California to educate people about Islam and dispel misconceptions about Muslim women as oppressed and quiet.

Her sermon Friday will be divided into two parts. The first will focus on scripture that emphasizes the life of Khadijah, the wife of the prophet Muhammad.

Khadijah played a significant role in Muhammads life, Deen said, and was the person who led him to a clear path when he first received his revelation.

She was also his greatest supporter during his weaker moments. She was the rock in which he built his hopes, Ahmed said of Khadijah.

In the second half of her sermon, Deen will focus on feminism and power.

I want to also call out the patriarchy and the misogyny that has stifled us so far, Deen said. I want to rally the community. We have to come up with new solutions, and empowering women is vital to me.

The mosque will open its doors Friday at 12:30 p.m. for a two-hour dedication ceremony, in time for the Friday prayer.

Given the atmosphere we live in right now  the Muslim ban, our president whipping up a fervor or hatred against Muslims because theyve been framed as terrorists  maybe we can reframe (Islam) a little bit through a womens mosque, (as) a gentle, more accepting, inclusive religion, Keeble said.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
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
You really sell mini flamethrowers? I recently asked Jerry Hum.

Yes! he cheerfully replied.

Um ... why? I said.

Because theyre cool? Hum said.

And there you have it, the essence of Touch of Modern, the fast-growing, irreverent San Francisco e-commerce site that, in addition to flamethrowers, sells apparel, accessories and home goods geared for guys. Neither CEO Hum or his three co-founders had any retail experience when they launched the site in 2012  just an instinctive feel for what Millennial men want to buy and how they want to do it.

Michael Macor/The Chronicle

We really didnt intend to start an online store just for men, Hum said. We wanted to target people just like ourselves, and we just happened to be men.

They must be doing something right: In just four years, annual sales have now crossed the $100 million mark. Executives said the company is profitable but declined to give specifics.

While brick-and-mortar chains are shutting stores or just plain shutting down, online entrepreneurs like Hum are filling the void by tossing aside the business model that underpinned American mass retail for nearly 60 years in favor of one that favors speed over volume, curation over sameness, style over usefulness. Flamethrowers may not be practical, but they sure are cool. And cool is what moves product now.

Web 3.0 commerce has really been about lifestyle and want versus need, said Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, a former Google executive who now runs video shopping site Joyus in San Francisco. If you look at all the companies that have come out of this last generation of commerce, its all about introducing you to discover new products, and the model of how you discover lifestyle product is very different than the model for how you search for a utility product.

Instead of trying to sell everything to everyone, Touch of Modern wants to sell a carefully selected assortment of merchandise to men with themes like The Denim Depot and All Black Everything. The company also recently launched private-label brands like Dapperman, Edge Industries and Pillars of Thought.

Instead of ordering goods a year ahead of time, the retailer is replenishing its inventory every few weeks so the site remains fresh.

We see things come in and out a lot faster than traditional retailers, Hum said.

And unlike some online retailers that dispatched unsold department-store inventory with big discounts, the company relies on quick flash sales to promote just-arrived wares.

They are clearly not just using flash sales just to get rid of stinky merchandise, said Kim Garretson, principal of Realizing Innovation retail consulting firm in Minneapolis. They are using flash sales to say Weve got so much more.

The challenge for e-commerce startups is balancing growth with the quirky distinctiveness that attracted consumers in the first place. Gilt Groupe, Fab.com and One Kings Lane all overextended themselves to justify the nine- or 10-digit valuations investors placed on them, and ultimately sold for a fraction of those lofty prices.

The category Touch of Modern has chosen may make a difference. Mens clothing seems to be a fertile market for e-commerce startups. Though women are thought to be more frequent shoppers, a number of mens apparel sites have appeared in recent years, including Indochino, Bonobos, and End.

From 2011 to 2016, online mens clothing sales in the U.S. grew at an average annual rate of 18.6 percent to $17.4 billion, according to IBISWorld, a marketing and research firm. Sales grew more than 13 percent last year  a slightly slower, albeit still respectable, clip.

By contrast, McKinsey & Co. consulting firm estimates overall apparel sales increased in the low single digits in 2016.

Madeline Hurley, an analyst with IBISWorld, says that men in general are more brand-loyal but less picky about variety, which makes guys ideal online shoppers because they wont make as many returns. They will buy the same shirt in multiple colors. By contrast, women prefer to try on more clothing in stores because they often cant find the right sizes and selections from the Internet.

Indeed, the first item Hum showed me in his office was the retailers new V-neck t-shirts sold under the Pillar of Thought brand. The product was the result of Huns desire to buy the same well-fitting T-shirt, but in multiple colors.

Were pretty confident about the companys ability to create and brand its own merchandise, Hun said. If we can design and make a better product, when we should do that. Its what makes consumers loyal.

Retail today is mostly about scale, which is why two large players  Amazon and Macys  sell a significant amount of mens clothing online, according to IBISWorld. But the two companies control less than 15 percent of the market.

So perhaps what were seeing with Touch of Modern and its peers is a glimpse into retails future: traditional players ceding most of the market to a fragmented mix of upstart e-commerce firms hoping to lure a particular customer with specialized assortments.

Because you can never have too many flamethrowers. Or V-neck T-shirts.

Thomas Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. He is author of Rebuilding Empires (St. Martins Press), his book on the future of big box retail in the digital age. Email: tlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByTomLee
In late February, during a break in the rain, Franck Juvin-Acker had solar panels installed on the roof of his San Diego County home, working with Oaklands Sungevity.

Then on March 13, Sungevity filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Now, the contractor who installed the panels on Sungevitys behalf has slapped a lien on Juvin-Ackers home, saying Sungevity never paid him.

Sungevity called me back at one point and said, Yeah, yeah, dont worry about it, said Juvin-Acker, 37, a senior global product manager for the Nixon watch company. But theyre going bankrupt, so its hard not to worry.

By their nature, bankruptcy proceedings often leave a companys contractors, partners and ex-employees feeling burned. But Sungevitys sudden plunge, which came after the companys plans to go public last year fizzled, caught many employees off-guard and left some customers  many of whom lined up financing through the company  in difficult situations.

Juvin-Acker, for example, financed the nearly $26,000 installation with a loan from Mosaic, an Oakland solar financing company that often worked with Sungevity. Mosaic, he said, told him the company had already forwarded 80 percent of the money to Sungevity, which should have used that cash to pay the contractor, American Energy.

Hardy Wilson/The Chronicle

Now, in addition to the lien on his Vista home, he also has to pay Mosaic $189.54 per month on the loan.

Sungevity kept the money and didnt pay the contractor, Juvin-Acker said. A Sungevity spokesman declined to comment on Juvin-Ackers dilemma, and Mosaic did not reply to several requests for comment.

Noel Cajudo paid Sungevity roughly half of the cost of his $24,000 rooftop solar array in January, with the money coming out of his own pocket. Installation was scheduled for February, then delayed. Then the bankruptcy filing hit.

In late March, his project coordinator at Sungevity called him and said the company was in the midst of a reorganization. But, the coordinator said, a contractor might be able to install the array by the end of March. Cajudo told him that if the company couldnt meet that deadline, he wanted his money back.

He still doesnt have his panels, or his refund.

I said, I know what restructuring means, I know you filed for bankruptcy, Im glad you werent laid off, but youve got more than $12,000 of my money, said Cajudo, 48, who lives in Menifee (Riverside County). He told me everythings going to be good, the companys going to come back. But at that point, I had no confidence in them at all.

Sungevity has tried to reassure customers that the company will not vanish.

Since the day it filed for Chapter 11, the company has insisted that it plans to recapitalize its operations and carry on. Sungevity reached a tentative deal with a group of investors, led by Northern Pacific Group, to purchase most of its assets for $50 million. An effort to solicit competing offers failed to attract qualified bidders. A Bankruptcy Court judge could rule on the proposed sale Monday.

Sungevity is not shutting down any of its operations, the company wrote in a March 29 blog post addressed to its customers. During this process, our team will remain committed to serving our customers and delivering our industry leading service.

Some customers and ex-employees have doubts.

Sean Moses, a residential project manager for Sungevity, said company executives held a meeting with employees early this year and gave no hint of the trouble ahead.

It was all painted as sunshine and roses, said Moses, 33. Then on March 9, he and more than 300 of his colleagues were laid off.

I think everyone was pretty blindsided by it, Moses said.

He received a FedEx delivery at his home in Oakland that included a note telling him he was no longer employed at Sungevity, along with his final paycheck.

The check bounced.

In addition, the Outten & Golden law firm has filed a class-action complaint in the bankruptcy proceedings, claiming Sungevity violated state and federal labor laws that require advance warning of large-scale layoffs. The employees fired on March 9 are owed 60 days of wages and benefits, as well as accrued vacation pay, according to the complaint.

Law firm partner Jack Raisner said the complaint covers 330 to 335 former Sungevity employees.

Sungevity blamed the bounced checks on a mistake by the companys bank. Spokesman John Ordona said Thursday that all of the affected employees should receive either direct deposits to their bank accounts or new checks by the next day. Employee wages generally receive priority over other debts in bankruptcy.

Moses, who spent more than three years at Sungevity, believes in solar power and would like to find another job in the field. He finally received his last two weeks of pay. But hes doubtful his former company will survive.

Theyre going to play like alls well and good until the dirts thrown on the grave, he said.

David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF
Mary Wilkinson had planned to spend Thursday amid the majestic redwoods of the North Coast, scattering the ashes of her late husband on what would have been his 57th birthday.

Instead, the North Carolina resident and her daughter, Julia, were stuck in San Francisco and hoping for a miracle  that the burglar who looted the trunk of their rented Hyundai near Fishermans Wharf would be caught or at least would turn in the ashes after realizing they had mostly sentimental value.

Courtesy photo/Julia Wilkinson

Its so violating, Mary Wilkinson said of Wednesdays theft. The ashes belonged to Joseph Wilkinson, her husband of 31 years, who died of a heart attack in August. I just cant help feeling like I stomped on his memorial.

The Wilkinsons nightmare marked yet another entry in a disturbing trend for San Francisco, which logged an average of 70 car break-ins a day in 2015. Though officials say theyre trying, the crime remains common, especially so at tourist hot spots like the wharf. An attendant at the Anchorage Square parking garage told Julia theirs was the third such break-in at the garage on Wednesday alone.

The mother and daughter spoke Thursday to police officials who heard about their plight after it was first reported by The Chronicle. They also learned that someone had tried to use a credit card stolen from the rental car to buy a Clipper card, the Bay Areas all-in-one transit pass. And officers told Mary Wilkinson there was an effort to use her credit card at 7:18 p.m. Wednesday at a Ross store on Market Street, perhaps their best lead yet.

It wasnt the West Coast trip they had envisioned when they flew in Wednesday morning from Charlotte. Julia had been excited to show her mother San Francisco, a city that she and her father loved but that Mary had never visited, before heading north to Redwood National Park near the Oregon border.

Before the car burglary, the two had planned to use their California trip to celebrate the life of a beloved father and husband and to find a measure of closure in scattering his ashes.

They had been robbed of the chance to say goodbye before Wilkinsons sudden death on August 19. Mary Wilkinson had spoken to him on the phone only an hour before she came home to find that he had suffered a fatal heart attack. He had told her he felt like he was coming down with something and was going upstairs to lie down, she said.

He had been running errands. Hed gone grocery shopping. There were still groceries on the counter. It was a normal day, she said, dabbing away tears with a tissue.

He died so young. He had so many bucket list items left, her daughter said. We wanted him to join us on this trip, in a way.

On the flight, the ashes  enclosed in a metal scattering tube inside a velvet pouch  were tucked in Marys purse.

That way hell be safe, she recalled thinking.

The thieves who often target tourists rental cars near the waterfront had other plans. Only hours after the Wilkinsons landed, as they ate lunch near the wharf, somebody jimmied the trunk lock of their 2016 Hyundai Elantra in the garage at 500 Beach St.

When they returned, some of their bags were gone, along with the ashes. The car alarm, they said, was met with indifference by the parking attendant accustomed to the everyday noise.

We parked in the garage because we thought it was safer than parking on the street, Julia said. I just hope my dads not in the trash somewhere.

The company that runs the Anchorage Square garage did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

The mother and daughter said they called San Francisco police after the theft but were told an officer could not respond to investigate and that they needed to file the report online. They called 311, then 911, where the operator and dispatcher both told the two they had no other option.

I just really thought when I said my husbands remains were taken, they would care, Mary said, pacing outside the garage Thursday afternoon as officers wiped the car, which had been out in the rain the night before, for fingerprints.

Officer Robert Rueca, a department spokesman, said Thursday that he did not know who had spoken with the Wilkinsons. He said officers can and do respond to such calls for help, and that victims are not required to report crimes online. That wasnt how it went Wednesday.

After multiple media inquiries into the theft, officials met Thursday with the mother and daughter. Rueca said officers were reviewing surveillance footage.

In the first three months of this year, police have recorded more than 6,400 cases of grand and petty theft from locked vehicles, according to the citys online crime database. San Francisco made headlines when it logged 25,899 car break-ins in 2015.

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.

This week, city Supervisor Norman Yee introduced legislation to cut down on vehicle burglaries near tourist hot spots by barring rental companies from putting ads on cars.

The mother and daughter said they planned to keep looking for the ashes before their planned flight home Tuesday. By Thursday afternoon, they were wondering what to do with themselves in the days ahead, as Julia in Haight-Ashbury started to slowly rebuild her $2,500 wardrobe that was now gone.

Julia remembered her father as a devoted family man who stayed up until wee hours helping her and her sister, Victoria, with every school project, and as a lover of Christmas and Halloween, when he would outfit their house with a fog machine, a witchs cauldron and an organ-playing skeleton.

He loved pranks. When Julia went on her first date at 15, her father put on a Dracula cape and stood at the window flapping his arms as the boy parked in the driveway at the end of the night, she said. When his daughters had sleepovers, he insisted on buying all the favorite snacks of their visiting friends.

Hed load the grocery cart up with Fruit Roll-Ups, Swiss Cakes, whatever their friends liked, said his widow.

She first met him when he interviewed her for a job. It was, once again, his birthday  April 13, 1983.

As the mother and daughter waited for police to pick over the car back inside the garage Thursday afternoon, an officer excused himself.

Theres another auto burglary right now up the street, he said.

Chronicle staff writer Jenna Lyons contributed to this report.

Filipa Ioannou and Michael Bodley are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com, mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi @michael_bodley
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A 30-year-old woman suspected of vandalizing the Islamic Center of Davis in January was arrested and charged with a hate crime Tuesday after officials said she smashed windows at the mosque, wrapped bacon on the door handles, and slashed bike tires outside.

Lauren Kirk-Coehlo of Davis was taken into custody about 11:20 a.m., when Davis police detectives and FBI agents served her with an arrest warrant on charges stemming from the vandalism.

Kirk-Coehlo was charged with felony vandalism with a hate-crime enhancement and vandalism to a building occupied by a religious institution with the purpose of intimidating or deterring persons from freely expressing religious beliefs, prosecutors said.

Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel denounced the crime during a news conference Tuesday. He said officials suspected Kirk-Coehlo following a review of surveillance video near the center and several tips to law enforcement. The investigation led officials to serve a search warrant Feb. 1 on the 2500 block of Corona Drive in Davis, where officials seized evidence linking Kirk-Coehlo to the crime, he said.

People have fear. When people engage in hate crimes, what theyre using is fear to terrorize other people, and its important to stand up and denounce that at every opportunity, Pytel said.

The video showed the suspect, believed to be Kirk-Coehlo, arriving at the center on the 500 block of Russell Boulevard about 3:45 a.m. on Jan. 22.

She placed raw bacon on the door handles  a sign of disrespect because pork is forbidden in Islam  smashed six windowpanes and cut through the tires of three bicycles in the mosque parking lot. Repair costs exceeded $7,000, officials said.

The defacement came about two months after the Islamic Center of Davis received a threatening letter claiming that then-President-elect Donald Trump was going to cleanse America and make it shine again and will do to you Muslims what Hitler did to the Jews. The letter was also sent to other Islamic centers around the country.

There was no evidence released connecting Kirk-Coehlo to the letter.

Yolo County Superior Court Judge Samuel McAdam set Kirk-Coehlos bail at $1 million, said District Attorney Jeff Reisig, adding that his office had not prosecuted a case like this in the last 10 years. Kirk-Coehlo faces up to six years in prison if convicted.

Monica Miller, a special agent in charge of the FBIs Sacramento field office, said the agency has seen a recent rise in hate crimes. The U.S. Attorneys Office will review the case as it considers filing federal hate-crime charges against Kirk-Coehlo.

Our Constitution offers many freedoms, but none gives anyone the right to commit criminal acts in the name of their political, their religious or their ideological beliefs, Miller said. That is not freedom.

Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno
Truman is a great Spanish film that has taken 18 months to arrive in the United States. Last year, at the Goya Awards (the Spanish Oscars), it cleaned up  best picture, best actor, best supporting actor, best director and best original screenplay. Directed by Cesc Gay, its a small, perfect movie whose specialness is apparent from its first minutes.

Mentioning the awards up front may seem like a lazy way of establishing a movies quality, but in this review its a delaying tactic, used out of fear that once you know what this movie is about, you wont want to see it  even though you do, you really do. Its about a four-day reunion between old friends, one who lives in Canada, the other in Barcelona. In the first scene, Tomas (Javier Camara) flies from Canada and just shows up at the door of Julian (Ricardo Darin) in Barcelona.

The reason for the visit is that Julian has some kind of terminal illness, unnamed at first, though you can guess. And here is where it absolutely must be said and then emphasized that Truman is nothing like all the lousy illness-based movies that we have all been seeing for years. Nor is it like the mediocre ones that become borderline effective, either by being maudlin, or by being funny  either in a phony tear-and-a-smile sort of way, or a phony outrageous way.

Truman is serious, and the writing, direction and performances earn that seriousness. Inevitably, its a film about death, except that no one dies over the course of it. Really, its much more a film about life, friendship and the things that matter. And when its funny  here and there, its very funny  the humor isnt forced, strained, bitter or weird. The humor just presents itself the way humor does in life, seemingly out of nowhere, rising up and then receding naturally.

You may already know Camara from his appearances in several Pedro Almodovar movies and for his magnificent performance, a few years back, in Living is Easy With Eyes Closed (about a schoolteacher obsessed who meets John Lennon in 1966). Camara has a fumbling humanity, a purity in his imperfection thats right for Tomas, who arrives in Barcelona not sure he wants to be there. For whatever else it is, illness is socially awkward, and Tomas wears his awkwardness on his sleeve.

Darin has more natural authority as Julian, an actor and former matinee idol used to being the most forceful and charming person in every room. Though its never explicitly stated, Darins performance suggests that Julians illness has reinforced his innate tendency to be honest, so that every encounter is free of pretense. For the audience, this means a succession of unusually authentic moments, scenes that cut to the essence of whatever is going on.

Curiously, and fortunately, this does not translate into lots of moments of people discussing their feelings. On the contrary, much is conveyed without words. One example of many comes when the two men pay a surprise visit to Julians son, a college student. Julian doesnt want to alarm his son about his condition, but it becomes very clear to the audience, if not Julian, that the son can read between the lines. This results in a moment of powerful emotion in which only the audience knows precisely whats going on.

The title, Truman, refers to Julians bull mastiff, an ungainly but devoted animal he loves like a second son. Part of the project of the mens four days together, though encompassing a fairly small amount of screen time, involves Julians effort to find a new home for his dog. Darin is so open and uncovered in his concern for the dog (though dignified and never overplaying it) that Truman becomes a major concern for the audience as well.

Darin, an Argentine actor, really must be seen in Truman. There is a level at which acting becomes sublime, at which it becomes a testament to human capacity, both in what is and what it depicts. You know it when you encounter it  the Hallelujah Chorus, Greta Garbos face, Ron Swobodas catch in the 1969 World Series ... there are things in life and art that are simply so beautiful that they must be witnessed, and Darins performance in Truman is one of those.

Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MickLaSalle

Truman

Drama. Starring Ricardo Darin and Javier Camara. Directed by Cesc Gay. In Spanish with English subtitles. (Unrated. 108 minutes.)

To see a trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln1g7bJ07PU
BILLINGS  Prosecutors for the state of Montana have dropped its case against Barry Beach, days after his case in Billings Municipal Court was also dismissed.

A motion filed in Montana's 15th District Court on Friday seeks to dismiss the case that could have revoked Beach's suspended sentence and sent him back to prison. Assistant Attorneys General Ole Olson and Chad Parker filed the motion.

The case against Beach in the 15th District Court was based on allegations in the Billings municipal case. After the Billings City Attorney's Office dismissed its case last week, the state followed suit.

The state's motion said that information from the Billings investigation made it "unlikely" that the state would prove Beach violated a protection order, and thus his suspended sentence.

The 15th District Court includes Roosevelt County, where Beach was sentenced in the 1970s for the killing of 17-year-old Kim Nees in Poplar. Gov. Steve Bullock granted Beach clemency, and he was released in 2015.

The release included a 10-year suspended sentence.

Beach was charged in city court last fall for violating a protection order, which was filed by a woman who says she shares a child with Beach. The woman alleged that Beach was at one point parked outside of her home. In filing the charge, Billings prosecutors said that data from a GPS monitoring unit backed up the claim.

State prosecutors then filed to revoke that suspended sentence based on the municipal allegations, threatening to put Beach back in prison.

Then on Monday, Deputy City Attorney Ben Halverson moved to dismiss the municipal charge. The motion said developments in the case, specifically reliance on testimony from the woman who made the claims, affected the city's ability to prove the case.

Beach hasn't shed scrutiny since his release. In 2016, he was accused of sexually propositioning a 12-year-old girl. Billings City Attorney Brent Brooks said in September that there wasn't enough evidence to charge him.

The woman involved in Beach's municipal case received her protection order about a month later.
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.
When I heard the sound of the United Airlines passenger screaming, I felt sick to my stomach. Many of us were appalled by the cell phone video that went viral this week: a 69-year-old Asian immigrant doctor refused to get off the plane when the airline ordered him to give up his seat for a United employee. He had patients to see in the morning, he protested. He couldnt wait for the flight the next afternoon.

A Chicago Department of Aviation security officer wrestled him out with such force that his face slammed into an armrest across the aisle, and then he was dragged away, his body limp, his shirt riding up his belly. He bled from the mouth, his glasses cockeyed. Other passengers cried out, horrified and disgusted. Sometime later, he ran back on the plane, disoriented and muttering he had to get home, before he collapsed again and was carried out on a stretcher.

The brutality seemed to sum up the callous times we are living in, when authorities at the highest level demand that we obey or risk getting humiliated or killed. Were already feeling frayed by the Syrian governments chemical attack that slaughtered dozens of its citizens. By the U.S. raining down cruise missiles in retaliation. By the man who killed his estranged wife and a special-needs student in San Bernardino before turning the gun on himself.

United botched its apologies, first describing what happened as its need to reaccommodate passengers and claiming the victim had been disruptive and belligerent. When calls for a boycott swelled, furor erupted over social media here and in China, and the airlines stock price dropped, the company issued another apology  No one should ever be mistreated this way  and promised a review of what happened. The federal Transportation Department has also launched an investigation, and the aviation officer has been placed on leave, pending a review.

The doctor has been identified as David Dao, from Kentucky by way of Vietnam. His wife is also a physician. I found it highly disturbing when media outlets dug up the suspension of his medical license from more than a decade ago; the grandfather has since been reinstated. You can find details of his background elsewhere, though Ill share an amazing one: over the years, Dao has won $234,664 in the World Series of Poker circuit of tournaments.

None of it is relevant to what happened. For Dao and his family, his troubles must have seemed behind him until he was thrust back into the spotlight. Dredging up his past is akin to rape victims getting asked if theyd been drinking or dressed provocatively at the time of their assault, or when African American victims of police shootings are demonized  as if theyd been asking to be violated, as if they deserved it.

Critics have argued that Dao brought it upon himself and that he should have gone without fuss like the three passengers who left before him. A United spokeswoman told me its computer picked customers based on factors such as who would have the easiest time rebooking and avoiding families with small children, unaccompanied minors and those with connections. She added that gate agents determine a fair offering to solicit passengers into giving up their seats. Evidently, the incentives werent fair enough because no one volunteered.

Regardless of the airlines intention, Daos treatment raised the specter of historical, state-sanctioned cruelty against those viewed as foreign and untrustworthy in this country  especially against groups stereotyped as quiet and submissive.

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.

Seventy-five years ago, Japanese Americans were forced into desolate internment camps under Executive Order 9066. For more than half a century, from 1882 to 1943, most Chinese were barred from entering this country under the Chinese Exclusion Act, which tore apart families.

As the video clip made the rounds on television, I felt sick all over again when Fox television host Bill OReilly laughed at Dao, and so too did some in the audience of Jimmy Kimmels late-night show. They could have been laughing because they were shocked or nervous, or maybe deep down they couldnt relate to Dao or his pain. They couldnt picture him as their neighbor or as their doctor, as their father, their brother or their son. They couldnt imagine themselves in his shoes  in his seat.

You may have heard of the concept of face in Confucian cultures. Its more than keeping up appearances; its about maintaining your dignity, your reputation and how you function in the social order. I dont know how traditional Dao is  probably in some ways and in others not at all  but I suspect that for an immigrant of his generation, the loss of his dignity wounds him deeply. The sacrifices hed made to build a life for his family here, all hed done to make amends, wiped out within seconds.

Vanessa Huas column appears Fridays in Datebook. Email: datebook@sfchronicle.com
The woman sat in a chair and unzipped the plastic document folder she had pulled from her backpack.

She was there  inside the office of Veronica B. Guinto, an Oakland immigration attorney  to build a case for asylum so that she will not have to return to her native Guatemala.

She was referred to Guinto by the International Institute of the Bay Area, a nonprofit specializing in immigration legal services. Since January, Guinto has seen an increase in people inquiring about paths to citizenship and, simply, asking how to avoid being deported.

I was allowed to sit in on the consultation because I agreed not to use the womans name or print any information  where she lives, where she works  that could identify her.

To me, she looked like a regular Bay Area mom. Her dark hair was in a ponytail. She wore New Balance sneakers, black yoga pants and a hoodie with the logo of a San Francisco startup.

Shes someone Id pass on the street without thinking about what she might be going through. But it was clear when she spoke that everything in her body ached because of the uncertainty of her situation.

She was concerned about her upcoming check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, required for immigrants without documentation who arent a deportation priority.

She arrived in the United States in September, accompanied by her two children, a boy and a girl. Her home country in Central America is known for its volcanoes and Mayan ruins. Shes 32, and her husband arrived in the United States in October 2015. He came to work, and he sent money back home.

She crossed the Mexican border near Hidalgo, a small town in southern Texas. Thats where she was detained by U.S. immigration officers. She was put in a holding cell referred to as a freezer because of the teeth-rattling cold temperature.

The sweaters the family wore when they crossed were taken from them. And she said there were as many as 50 other women and children shivering in the room with her, sitting with their knees to their chests.

The family was then taken to an immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas, a four-hour drive north from Hidalgo. For almost two weeks, they lived in a trailer with four other families.

At some point, she was let go and allowed to remain in the U.S. so long as she agreed to regularly meet with immigration officers.

Guinto isnt exactly sure why the woman and her children were allowed to reunite with her husband instead of being returned to Guatemala.

The woman said she left Guatemala because she received a message demanding 30,000 quetzales, the nations currency  about $4,100.

She was told a cell phone would subsequently be provided for delivery instructions. She was warned not to go to police, because the extortionists knew where her children went to school.

This is usual, she told Guinto. The teens in many parts of Guatemala are poor, bored and lacking opportunities to make money. When a man approached her children at their school, she didnt call police because, she said, officers provide protection for anyone if bribed. Her husband told her to come to California.

Now the woman wants to seek asylum, but the rules are strict, Guinto tells her. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, asylum seekers need to prove theyve been persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.

Guinto told her that she needs to research her case and that shell get back to her in a week.

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 woman said she watches the news, and thats why shes worried about the current administrations plans for tougher immigration enforcement. She asked Guinto if she should go to her scheduled check-in with ICE.

Its possible ICE can detain you, but you dont have much of a choice but to go in, Guinto told her. If you dont show, itll be worse.

Her eyes darted between Guinto and Elizabeth Myers, Guintos paralegal, who interpreted the womans Spanish. She then asked Guinto if she had another option besides asylum.

Based on what I see, I dont think so, Guinto responded.

The womans lips quivered. She said she wants the best for her children, who suffered during their rough trek through Mexico. Guinto passed her the box of tissues.

If its in your hands that you can help me, I would be grateful, the woman said through Myers.

The woman said she would pray for the best.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
Did the president need Congress permission to bomb Syria? At least one relevant person thinks so: the president.

What will we get for bombing Syria besides more debt and a possible long term conflict? citizen Donald Trump tweeted in 2013, when President Barack Obama was considering military strikes against Bashar Assads forces after they killed hundreds of civilians with nerve gas. Obama needs congressional approval.

Once in office, though, President Trump followed Obama  and previous presidents dating at least to Harry Truman  toward ever more unilateral and unlimited presidential power to make war. However morally justifiable Trumps bombardment of Syria was as a response to Assads latest chemically assisted slaughter of his own people, it had the flimsiest legal basis for a military attack on another country yet advanced by a U.S. president.

In a report to lawmakers required by the War Powers Resolution  Congress failed Nixon-era attempt to reassert its constitutional authority over military action  Trump asserted that he had acted in the vital national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. The vital national interests cited are in deterring chemical attacks and promoting the stability of the region, broad goals that place scant limits on presidential use of force. Indeed, the presidents report vaguely threatens additional action, as necessary and appropriate.

When did we beat Japan at anything? Trump famously asked while running for office. The answer, as it happens, is also the last time Congress formally exercised its constitutional power to declare war. After World War II, Truman signaled the beginning of the end of Congress role by deriving authority to send American forces to Korea from a U.N. Security Council resolution. Presidents have since reached for an array of justifications in U.S. and international law to extend their authority to conduct warfare, which is rooted in the Constitutions designation of the president as commander in chief of the armed forces.

The wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan all had congressional authorization short of declarations of war. Such resolutions have often failed to serve as the check on the president that the founders intended. As Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland noted in The Chronicle this week, the loosely worded post-9/11 authorization of force has been commandeered as cover for no fewer than 37 actions, including the campaign against Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria a decade and a half later.

Lacking even such tenuous congressional permission, presidents have cited other sources of authority. President Ronald Reagan argued that his invasion of Grenada was necessary to protect Americans on the island and requested by other Caribbean nations. President Bill Clinton claimed international legitimacy through NATO to deploy forces in Kosovo, as Obama later did in Libya  while also positing that an air war is somehow not a war.

Trump so far has not even pretended to have international support or a need to protect Americans, much less acknowledged a role for Congress. Obama considered a similarly unilateral response to Assads earlier chemical attack (despite then-citizen Trumps critique), insisting he did not need congressional dispensation  though he eventually sought it before abandoning a military response altogether. Along with Congress, which often has been complicit in its marginalization, Obama and other presidents thereby laid the foundation for Trump to declare all but unchecked power over the nations weightiest decisions.
In his interview that aired Wednesday on Fox Business Network, President Trump described how he decided to bomb a Syrian air base during dinner with the Chinese president:

How did that come about that its happening right then, because right there, youre saying, a reminder, heres who the superpower in the world is, right? TV journalist Maria Bartiromo asks.

You have no idea how many people want to hear the answer to this, Trump brags, seeming to delight in the confusion regarding his authorization of American military force in a complex war.

When did you tell him? Bartiromo interjects. Before dessert or what?

Trump agrees to say, only because youve treated me so good for so long. It was over the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake. ... So what happens is I said weve just launched 59 missiles heading to Iraq.

To Syria, she corrects.

In my career as a diplomatic and foreign correspondent, I have had the opportunity to interview many senior U.S. officials. It is essential to be prepared, focused on the most essential questions, and unafraid to ask the toughest ones.

Bartiromo appeared far more focused on endearing herself to Trump and on the optics of the dinner with Xi Jinping than on her core purpose  clarifying U.S. policy toward Syria after the first U.S. attack on a regime target since the war began in 2011.

With administration officials  and Trump himself  making wildly conflicting statements about the significance of the strike and U.S.-Syria policy more broadly, it is hard to establish any kind of ground truth. What this interview reminded us is that interviewing a president is a great responsibility, especially when the topic is new U.S. military intervention in a hostile civil war. It shouldnt be treated lightly. And it should be performed by the most skilled journalists who know, through serious questioning and follow-ups, how to hold leaders accountable.

And here are a few things we still dont know:

What are U.S. aims in Syria and how will we work to achieve them?

Will the U.S. work to remove Syrian President Bashar Assad?

Trump said were not going into Syria. But the U.S. struck a regime air base and American Special Forces are already battling the Islamic State inside Syria. What does not going in mean?

The day after the strike on Sharyat Air Base, the Syrian air force took off from there and dropped bombs on the same towns that were hit just days before with chemical weapons. The U.S. strike didnt significantly diminish Syrian capabilities. How can this be described as a success?

Trump expressed horror at the use of chemical weapons, but also said: When they drop barrel bombs and bombs of any kind right on top of a civilian population, thats the worst thing. In what instances will the U.S. again use military force?

Eric Trump told the London Telegraph, his sister Ivanka has influence. Im sure she said, Listen, this is horrible stuff. My father will act in times like that. Was it Ivanka or Trump himself who was moved by the horrifying images?

Eric also said Trumps strike proved he wont be pushed around by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who supports Assad. Was Trumps real objective to create that impression?

Bartiromo didnt get us the answers we need as citizens. Perhaps, the next journalist granted an interview with Trump will.

Janine Zacharia, a former Washington Post foreign correspondent, is professor of journalism at Stanford University. Read a transcript at: http://wapo.st/2oauZKD.
Forgive the gratuitous alarm blasts, strobe light flashes and machine gun patter. Embrace the disorientation you might feel as the scene veers from Kandahar, Afghanistan, to the Cannonball River in North Dakota, to Ireland and Wales, spanning just as many eras, all with barely a breath of transition. And as The Memory Stick threads together contemporary American Indian soldiers in the U.S. Army, Chelsea Manning, Crazy Horse and James Connolly, an Irish Republican of 1916s Easter Rising, hold tight as the shows lens continually widens.

This San Jose Stage Company world premiere, in a co-production with Dublin City Arts Office and Irish Theatre Institute, derives from its fluid structure an unusual achievement. It shows that a soldiers desertion or rebellion can in fact be the highest form of citizenship  the kind of citizenship born of independent and thoughtful individuals whose free thinking and maverick decisions help keep the rest of us honest.

But the show does not romanticize rogue soldiers. In fact, whats most radical about Donal OKellys play, seen Wednesday, April 12, is how it upends the way we typically talk about rebellion as the project of a single great man who is simultaneously hero and antihero amidst a sea of conformists. In OKellys vision, all of us can and must support the questioning, the investigating of our military. Its a duty thats crucial to a healthy democracy.

The plays grand act of rebellion springs from a smaller and simpler demonstration of individuality, as American Indian U.S. Army soldiers Jack (Joseph Valdez) and Seth (John R. Lewis) seek and get permission first to list Native American as their religion on their dog tags, then to construct a sweat lodge at their base in Afghanistan. That cave, as they like to call it, becomes an oasis, a place to unwind, empty their minds and smoke weed with their friend Bridget (Lyndsy Kail), an Irish janitor on the base.

Cut off from the rest of the base, the cave soon takes on larger significance. Its where Seth and Jack haggle over what their American Indian heritage might mean. Seth is one-eighth Choctaw, while Jack is Lakota Sioux; for Jack, the spectre of Crazy Horse looms large and real, haunting him as he delays acting on his conscience about what hes seen on duty. San Jose Stage gets major casting kudos for The Memory Stick. In Valdez, the company hired not only a great actor  whose sprung physicality makes every scene wondrously unpredictable  but also an American Indian one.

The cave also becomes a site for storytelling as collective consciousness raising. Under Tony Kellys direction, the three actors zip through OKellys fragmentary, overlapping dialogue, each character helping the others conjure favorite bits of family and cultural lore. Its as if theyre a troupe of improv actors whove been performing together for many years, so gamely and adroitly does each dive into the world of the others imaginings and memories, helping to flesh them out.

In that way, The Memory Stick offers a sly metatheatrical tribute to performance. Its through stories told live that we remember who we are, that every person can, as Bridget quotes from James Connolly, do his duty according to his lights.

Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak

The Memory Stick: Written by Donal OKelly. Directed by Tony Kelly. Through April 30. 95 minutes. $30-$65. San Jose Stage Company, 490 S. First St., San Jose. (408) 283-7142. www.thestage.org

To see an interview with lead actor Joseph Valdez: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jKRqyoGGfg&feature=youtu.be
Its Santa Cruzs Empire State Building, its Eiffel Tower.

It is, of course, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalks Giant Dipper roller coaster, which for nearly a century has sparked shouts and laughter  and in my case, marital regret.

I thought you liked roller coasters, I said to my future wife.

No, Nancy said. I wouldnt have said that because I dont.

We had gone to the Boardwalk on an early, still slightly uncertain, date. Now we were standing at the Dippers base while the whole boardwalk vibrated with its mechanical trembling and the ocean air rang with riders cheers.

Not cheers, my future wife corrected. Screams. Screams of disbelief. Theyre wondering why the hell they got on this ride.

I went on the Dipper by myself. And I had my usual wonderful time, because how can you not have a good time on the Giant Dipper?

Peter DaSilva

Despite this gap in thrill-ride enthusiasm, we got married. And we have remained so, happily. At least once a year wed return to Santa Cruz, and to the Boardwalk, and I would try to get Nancy to give the Dipper a spin. I employed TED-talk tactics: What about the importance of risk taking? Id ask. I quoted great literature, specifically the Ohio Players Love Rollercoaster  Love rollercoaster child/ Loving you is really wild.

None of it worked. My wife pointed out that she didnt make me go to antique stores. Then she got on the Sky Glider, which she said provided Giant Dipper-worthy views without the fright.

Even so, my love for the Giant Dipper only deepened. It is in every way a remarkable creation. This spring will mark its 93rd birthday, the Dipper having opened for business on May 17, 1924. A combination earthquake, balloon ascension, and aero plane ride was what Dipper creator Arthur Looff said he wanted out of the ride. The Dipper is now the fifth-oldest continuously operating roller coaster in the United States and has been designated a national historic landmark.

Peter DaSilva

One person who understands the Giant Dippers importance is Nicholas Laschkewitsch, He grew up riding the coaster, starting at age 6. Now, as a mechanical engineering student and the regional representative for the Northern California region of American Coaster Enthusiasts, he has given a lot of expert thought to what makes the Dipper special.

Its a unique ride, he told me. Because of the way the Boardwalk is laid out, long and narrow, the Dipper has to go over and under itself many times. There are a lot of tight turns and sudden drops. Arthur Looff, he said, also knew how to create drama. The roller coaster station is curved and slopes upward, building suspense even while youre just standing in line.

And then its time to climb into your car. Once you are seated, and the train and cars lurch forward, notice how Looffs sense of drama kicks in again as you descend into a pitch-black tunnel. It makes you wonder, whats in this abyss? You emerge from darkness into sunlight and begin the creaky climb up Dipper Hill, and at the crest you plunge downward, and now youre zooming along at 55 mph that feels like a thousand, twisting through the three 180-degree fan turns that are another distinctive Dipper feature, up, down, back, forth until at last you lurch to a breathless stop. You dont know whether to faint or applaud.

My wife and I went back to the Boardwalk, and to the Giant Dipper, a few weeks ago. This time I didnt try to persuade my wife to ride with me  she was going to be happy on the Sky Glider  but I knew where I was going.

Having talked with Laschkewitsch, I appreciated the Dipper even more. The curving climb to the start of the ride, the bells and whistles and rattles of the trains above.

Down into the dark tunnel, up Dipper Hill. Then, as we creaked and climbed to the crest, I thought about something else Laschkewitsch had said. Unlike modern coasters, he told me, the Dipper thrills but doesnt try to terrorize. The modern coasters all want to go higher and taller and faster. But not everybody wants to be thrown around. What makes the Dipper special, he said, is that its design, and even its beachside setting, assure you that youre going to experience not existential fear but fun. There arent coasters being built today that are remotely like the Dipper. When youre riding it, youre seeing the ocean, youre smelling the salt air. It just has this great charm. Whenever I ride it, I feel joy.

I rode to the end. I climbed out, staggering the way you do when you get off a roller coaster. My wife was waiting for me.

How was it? she asked

Joyful, I said, glad that, thanks to Laschkewitsch, I had found the perfect adjective for the Dipper. My wife smiled, knowing that one of the lessons of a happy marriage is that even joy you cant completely share becomes in some way your own.

Peter Fish is a freelance writer. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com

The Giant Dipper: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. (831) 423-5590. www.beachboardwalk.com
MISSOULA  One man has been arrested in the investigation of a missing teenager who called police saying she was being held at gunpoint outside a Missoula apartment complex on Wednesday.

Cory Kendall, 43, who was found and questioned by police after the incident, is being held on suspicion of felony endangering the welfare of a child and misdemeanor obstruction of justice.

Sgt. Travis Welsh with the Missoula Police Department says the charges stem from the incident involving 17-year-old Lacey Moore, who was found safe Thursday.

Police have been investigating since Moore called 9-1-1 Wednesday morning saying she was being held at gunpoint near an apartment building at the intersection of Milwaukee Way and Catlin Street.

Her phone call went dead and as officers responded they received another report of a shot being fired. By the time they arrived, the people who were allegedly involved in the incident had fled.

Acting on a tip, police found Moore at a hotel on the 3800 block of Brooks Street on Thursday.

Welsh said Kendall is not the alleged shooter, who was described as a 6-feet-tall white man with shaggy brown hair. He is still being sought.
When Andrea Nguyen, noted Asian culinary expert and cookbook author, left Los Angeles for Santa Cruz County 19 years ago, she was surprised to encounter a rather dispirited food scene.

Despite local farmers markets carrying the most vibrant of produce, the dining landscape was lackluster, dominated by the frozen, the fried and far too many flabby clam chowders.

But thankfully, times have changed  in the most delicious of ways.

Nguyen, who moved to Santa Cruz in 1998 when her husband, Rory OBrien, became a political science professor at Cabrillo College in Aptos, has witnessed this beach town grow into a true dining destination. New restaurants and purveyors have invigorated the area, thanks in part, she believes, to chef Kendra Baker opening the artisan Penny Ice Creamery in 2010.

She brought a higher caliber of food and service to this town, which needed enlightening and enlivening, says Nguyen, 48. I think she inspired more restaurateurs to come to town. Theres a new generation now breathing fresh air into what was once a tired food scene.

Nguyen took us on a tour, proudly showing off five new  and one not so new  places that showcase the breadth of dining now here. The Vietnam native may have authored five Asian cuisine cookbooks, including her latest that debuted in February, The Pho Cookbook (Ten Speed Press). But she jokingly admits even she cannot live on Asian food alone.

Bay Area freelance writer Carolyn Jung blogs at FoodGal.com and is the author of the San Francisco Chefs Table. E-mail: food@sfchronicle.com

Earth Belly

The flourish of fresh garlic and rosemary, not to mention the accompanying house-made aioli, on the hand-cut, impeccably crisp fries gives you an early indication that a practiced hand is at work in the kitchen. Indeed, chef and owner Chad Greer cooked for years at Aqua in San Francisco, before working for chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten in Manhattan, then opening his own farm-to-table restaurant in the Hudson Valley. In July 2016, he moved to Santa Cruz to open this airy, casual cafe that strives to serve entirely non-GMO, organic food such as a BLT piled on a pillowy house-made bun and crowned with an over-easy local Glaum Ranch egg; and the TriAthlete, a healthful mound of salad greens, kale, chickpeas, carrots, beets, sunflower seeds and hemp seeds  all drizzled with a ginger-avocado vinaigrette.

Theres a good selection of organic local beers. The bakery case brims with pecan pie bars made with Fair Trade chocolate. Earth Belly even sells 24-ounce bags of its own gluten-free flour mix for $8.95. Its my go-to place for lunch, Nguyen says. Everything is well sourced and well prepared.

Must order: The fish sandwich ($10.50) spotlights local rock cod slathered with lemon and caper aioli with pepper slaw on a house-made bun. 381 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, (831) 621-2248, eatearthbelly.com.

Mason Trinca/Special to The Chronicle

Mutari

Stephen Beaumier, a former cook at Cyrus in Healdsburg and Quince in San Francisco, traded a weary four-hour round-trip commute for a four-block one instead when he and his girlfriend Katy Oursler, an events planner, took over Santa Cruz Countys only bean-to-bar chocolate company a year ago. The two of them do it all themselves  from sourcing beans from eight regions of the world to producing about 100 pounds of single-origin chocolate each week. Made from beans that are largely organic and Rainforest Alliance Certified, the chocolate is fashioned into bars, as well as gourmet hot chocolate mixes.

On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, they open their doors to their cafe there, serving a concise menu of intense sipping chocolate or dairy-free, vegan hot chocolate made with coconut milk that Beaumier whisks by hand at a vintage stove in front of visitors. They are so smart in how they make their chocolate and run their business, says Nguyen, who noted that Beaumier and Oursler rent their commercial kitchen in the back to other local food producers, which affords them more income to grow their own business carefully and slowly.

Must order: Nguyens favorite Hot Chocolate Flight ($10.50) comprised of a small cup each of Spicy Mexican, Single Origin Bolivia, and Himalayan Pink Salt. 504-A Front St., Santa Cruz, (831) 687-8141, www.mutarichocolate.com.

Mason Trinca/Special to The Chronicle

Shun Feng

At first glance of the menu, this may seem like any typical Chinese restaurant. But Stacy Liu, whose father, Baolin Liu, is the chef and owner, wants to show people that Chinese food is more than broccoli beef, and sweet and sour pork. Look more closely to discover more unusual dishes such as cubes of tofu fried in an addicting salt and pepper crust, zilan (cumin) lamb with a blaze of Szechuan peppercorns, and roast duck with taro cooked in a clay pot. Or do the clever thing Nguyen did, which is ask Liu, whose family immigrated from northern China and took over the restaurant three years ago, What do you like to eat? Thats how Nguyen found out about the restaurants International Students Menu, which is not printed, but just recited. On it are comfort food dishes like eggs gently cooked with tomato that the restaurant makes especially for home-sick students from China attending college in the Santa Cruz area. Nguyen considers it the best place in the county for Asian food.

Must order: Spicy and sour stir-fried potatoes ($9.95) off the International Students Menu. Hand-cut strands of potato are flash-cooked with vinegar and dried peppers for a tangy, smoky taste. Resembling noodles yet with an unexpected crunchy texture, this is potato prepared like youve never had before. 420 River St., Santa Cruz, (831) 423-9888, www.shunfengsantacruz.com.

East End Gastropub

This sister restaurant to the popular West End Tap & Kitchen on the other side of town opened a year ago. Co-owner and chef Geoff Hargrave came over from there to run the kitchen here, offering a smaller menu that changes more frequently. Sixteen beers are featured on tap, including East Ends own, plus ones from Hermitage and the Tied House. Take a seat at the long marble bar to enjoy an eclectic menu, featuring everything from Kentucky Fried duck leg with brie mac and cheese to Szechuan-cured pork belly baos. Nguyen appreciates that the restaurant takes the time to make its own pasta, including rye pappardelle and green-hued arugula manicotti. The portions are so generous, Nguyen says. The house salad could easily serve four people.

Must order: House-made gemelli pasta ($14) tossed with chorizo, kale and a creamy tomatosauce. 1501 41st Ave., Capitola, (831) 475-8010, www.eastendpub.com.

Jaguar

Owner Dina Torres serves alfresco food at her Cafe Campesino in Santa Cruz only when weather permits. But in January, she opened a second place that serves up provincial Mexican cuisine year-round. With its understated gray walls, muted striped banquettes, tables draped in white cloths and adorned with vases of fresh tulips, Jaguar is an elegant, stylish affair. You eat and its such a nice experience, Nguyen says. You dont feel weighed down afterward, either. Not with salads made with first-of-the-season local peas, baby spinach, queso cotija, and a serrano-lemon dressing or even house-made meatballs smothered in a chipotle-tomato sauce and served with house-made tortillas.

Must order: Torta de papa ($8), an appetizer of golden potato and queso fresco cakes reminiscent of tater tots. 1116 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, (831) 600-7428, www.jaguarrestaurantinc.com.

Mason Trinca/Special to The Chronicle

Home

In what was once an actual charming little 1950s house, chef Brad Briske is turning out world-class food like an artful octopus carpaccio that tastes like the perfect headcheese of the sea. Formerly the executive chef of the stellar La Balena in Carmel-by-the-Sea, he cures his own salumi, makes supple pastas, and even dries his own local seaweed to add an umami pop to the rice coating of his fried chicken. The restaurant, which opened in November, is dinner-only right now, but hopes to eventually fire up its pizza oven for weekend lunches on the expansive back patio planted with herbs, as well as kiwi, lemon and peach trees.

Must-order: They are really gutsy for serving whole bone-in fish, says Nguyen, who particularly loved a perfectly fried version on her first visit. Briske changes up the menu regularly, featuring whole fish cooked various ways, such as salt-crusted whole sea bass ($27), garnished with fennel, kumquat, blood orange and watercress. 3101 N. Main St., Soquel, (831) 431-6131, www.homesoquel.com.
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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
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. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will speak at about 2:30 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza. For information: http://bit.ly/2m5xWOA. A San Jose march is at noon and will begin at noon at San Jose City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St. in San Jose. For information: www.facebook.com/events/1424610117577990. A Palo Alto march will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at Lytton Plaza, 200 University Ave. For information: www.facebook.com/events/1864421537135210.

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-Calif., from 11 a.m. to noon at the San Francisco Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 2850 19th Ave. Attendees must have a ticket. Tickets are free. For information: http://bit.ly/2nBgGTa.

Immigration protest: A demonstration calling for Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern to stop working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by notifying ICE on prisoner releases. The protest is from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Glenn Dyer Detention Facility, 550 Sixth St. in Oakland. For information: www.facebook.com/events/1679499972067091.

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-St. Helena, 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-St. Helena, 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

Peace vigil: A weekly vigil for peace supporters. The event is from noon to 1 p.m. at the corner of Golden Gate Avenue and Larkin Street in San Francisco.

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 halls: 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, D-Dublin, 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 issues associated with 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.
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For the first time in years, Ricky Walker had hopes he could get off the streets. After 16 years of homelessness, he doesnt believe most of what officials say  but when a city tent-clearance counseling team showed up April 6, they seemed to have solid offers of help.

The counselors promised Walker and about 30 others living in a camp at the northeast corner of San Franciscos Mission District that they could stay until the end of the month, while the city tried to find shelter or housing for all of them.

Then came Thursday morning.

Public Works crews rolled in just after 6 a.m., and by late morning the camp at 15th Street and San Bruno Avenue had been swept away and replaced with metal barriers  angering not just the tent dwellers, but the street counselors who had promised them theyd be left alone.

The sweep apparently violated the agreement the citys homeless department has with Public Works to cooperate on handling tent camps, and though nobody in either department wants to publicly point fingers, tensions are hot.

This really pissed people off, and totally disrupted what the tent encampment team was trying to do, said one city homelessness official, who was not authorized to speak on the record. For most purposes, the departments have been working together, but when someone breaks ranks like this, its very disruptive.

Jeff Kositsky, director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, declined to comment on the sweep. He said only that he and the other department officials who deal with homeless camps work hard to work together.

The director of the homelessness agencys Encampment Resolution Team, Jason Albertson, said he didnt want to get in a fight with other departments, but offered this carefully phrased assessment: Whenever our clients, for whatever reason, are dislocated or relocated, it makes the challenge that much more difficult.

Public Works officials say the last thing they want to do is damage relations between counselors and street dwellers, but that the camp conditions constituted a health emergency that needed to be dealt with immediately.

For Walker, 44, the roust boils down to distrust and discouragement. After the sweep, he and his friends did what most campers do when they have to move  they just set up a new tent city about a block away, on Vermont Street. Their arrival swelled an already sizable camp to more than 50 people.

The encampment team counselors were pretty upset when those DPW trucks showed up, Walker said. They had an agreement with us that we didnt have to leave until April 27. Instead, that sweep was miserable Thursday morning, in the rain, no warning.

Albertson said his team is still working with the moved campers, with the aim of clearing them off the street  now Vermont  on April 27 into housing or shelter. But now Walker says he is more wary.

I thought we could have an open dialogue, but now Im not sure what those outreach guys can do for me, he said.

Public Works spokeswoman Rachel Gordon said the Thursday operation was not planned as a sweep. But she said an intensive cleanup was necessary because this encampment wasnt just on the sidewalk. It had spilled over into the traffic lane and become a real public safety hazard.

We did not go to clear it, she said. Our crews told them (the campers) we just needed to come out and clean it. There was a lot of trash that was disposed of.

Gordon said Kositskys department was notified in advance of the cleaning. Officials there say thats true, but that Public Works didnt make clear the extent of the operation.

We look at the job of addressing tent camps as a partnership with the homeless outreach team, Gordon said. We dont want to disrupt what they are doing. Were all working to the same goal of getting the homeless off the streets and into a safer situation.

Kelley Cutler, outreach counselor for the Coalition on Homelessness advocacy group, called Thursdays clean-out off the hook.

This was like DPW going rogue, and everyone was ticked, said Cutler, who has been counseling those who were moved. For them to come in and do that was just cruel and pointless. Theres nowhere for people to go. It just undermines the encampment teams work in general.

Meanwhile, the manager of the rug shop across the street from the newly enlarged camp on Vermont said he is deeply unhappy. The site is on the radar of city crews, but Kositskys agency has no immediate plans to work with anyone other than those who just migrated there.

That camp has been a giant problem for me, Ive been complaining to City Hall for weeks, and now its worse, Farid Yadegar said. I have to wash feces, used needles and pee off my property. Seven times in the past year they stole my recycle bin, and they bother my customers.

Ive just about had it.

Kevin Fagan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KevinChron
A report says Uber used a secret program dubbed Hell to track Lyft drivers to see if they were driving for both ride-hailing services and otherwise stifle competition.

Only a small group of Uber employees, including CEO Travis Kalanick, knew about the program, according to a story in the Information, which was based on an anonymous source who was not 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.

Labor

Leaders rip

Tesla pact

More than 50 labor, environmental and social justice groups sent Tesla a letter Thursday criticizing a confidentiality agreement the electric automakers employees must sign and urging the company to honor the right of workers to organize.

The groups  including Jesse Jacksons Rainbow PUSH Coalition and two chapters of the United Automobile Workers union  argue that the agreement violates labor laws that protect the right of employees to discuss their working conditions. A group of California legislators raised the same issues in a letter to Tesla CEO Elon Musk in January.

Tesla has argued that the agreement does not violate workers rights, because the agreements language specifically says any communications allowed by law are permitted. A Tesla spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

Complaining of stressful working conditions at the companys Fremont factory, some Tesla employees have urged their co-workers to unionize. The company is trying to dramatically expand production at the plant and is gearing up to begin building its next car, the Model 3, this year.

Social media

Facebook ads

over fake news

Facebook published full-page ads in Germanys biggest newspapers Thursday advising readers on how to detect fake news, after Angela Merkels government pressured the company to do more to combat such content on its network.

The ads, printed by dailies including the mass-selling tabloid Bild as well as Sueddeutsche Zeitung and Axel Springers Die Welt, contains 10 tips on how users can identify news as fake.

Fake news can be identified as such, the ad reads, which will also be appearing in Der Spiegels print and online advertising. We fight their spread and are giving you some tips how you can recognize whether a news item is true or not.

Merkels governing coalition has been upping the pressure on social networks to curb the spread of fake news and malicious posts ahead of Germanys federal election on Sept. 24. Her Cabinet last week backed a bill that threatens social networks with fines of as much as $53 million if they fail to give users the option to complain about hate speech and fake news, or refuse to remove illegal content.

Housing

Mortgage

rates fall

Long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell for a fourth straight week, with the benchmark 30-year rate marking a new low for the year.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the rate on 30-year fixed-rate home loans declined to 4.08 percent this week from 4.10 percent last week. That brought the rate under its previous 2017 low of 4.09 percent reached on Jan. 19. The 30-year rate stood at 3.58 percent a year ago and averaged 3.65 percent in 2016, the lowest level in records dating to 1971.

The rate on 15-year mortgages eased to 3.34 percent from 3.36 percent last week.

Chronicle News Services
Mary Wilkinson had planned to spend Thursday amid the majestic redwoods of the North Coast, scattering the ashes of her late husband on what would have been his 57th birthday.

Instead, the North Carolina resident and her daughter, Julia, were stuck in San Francisco and hoping for a miracle  that the burglar who looted the trunk of their rented Hyundai near Fishermans Wharf would be caught or at least would turn in the ashes after realizing they had mostly sentimental value.

Courtesy photo/Julia Wilkinson

Its so violating, Mary Wilkinson said of Wednesdays theft. The ashes belonged to Joseph Wilkinson, her husband of 31 years, who died of a heart attack in August. I just cant help feeling like I stomped on his memorial.

The Wilkinsons nightmare marked yet another entry in a disturbing trend for San Francisco, which logged an average of 70 car break-ins a day in 2015. Though officials say theyre trying, the crime remains common, especially so at tourist hot spots like the wharf. An attendant at the Anchorage Square parking garage told Julia theirs was the third such break-in at the garage on Wednesday alone.

The mother and daughter spoke Thursday to police officials who heard about their plight after it was first reported by The Chronicle. They also learned that someone had tried to use a credit card stolen from the rental car to buy a Clipper card, the Bay Areas all-in-one transit pass. And officers told Mary Wilkinson there was an effort to use her credit card at 7:18 p.m. Wednesday at a Ross store on Market Street, perhaps their best lead yet.

It wasnt the West Coast trip they had envisioned when they flew in Wednesday morning from Charlotte. Julia had been excited to show her mother San Francisco, a city that she and her father loved but that Mary had never visited, before heading north to Redwood National Park near the Oregon border.

Before the car burglary, the two had planned to use their California trip to celebrate the life of a beloved father and husband and to find a measure of closure in scattering his ashes.

They had been robbed of the chance to say goodbye before Wilkinsons sudden death on August 19. Mary Wilkinson had spoken to him on the phone only an hour before she came home to find that he had suffered a fatal heart attack. He had told her he felt like he was coming down with something and was going upstairs to lie down, she said.

He had been running errands. Hed gone grocery shopping. There were still groceries on the counter. It was a normal day, she said, dabbing away tears with a tissue.

He died so young. He had so many bucket list items left, her daughter said. We wanted him to join us on this trip, in a way.

On the flight, the ashes  enclosed in a metal scattering tube inside a velvet pouch  were tucked in Marys purse.

That way hell be safe, she recalled thinking.

The thieves who often target tourists rental cars near the waterfront had other plans. Only hours after the Wilkinsons landed, as they ate lunch near the wharf, somebody jimmied the trunk lock of their 2016 Hyundai Elantra in the garage at 500 Beach St.

When they returned, some of their bags were gone, along with the ashes. The car alarm, they said, was met with indifference by the parking attendant accustomed to the everyday noise.

We parked in the garage because we thought it was safer than parking on the street, Julia said. I just hope my dads not in the trash somewhere.

The company that runs the Anchorage Square garage did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

The mother and daughter said they called San Francisco police after the theft but were told an officer could not respond to investigate and that they needed to file the report online. They called 311, then 911, where the operator and dispatcher both told the two they had no other option.

I just really thought when I said my husbands remains were taken, they would care, Mary said, pacing outside the garage Thursday afternoon as officers wiped the car, which had been out in the rain the night before, for fingerprints.

Officer Robert Rueca, a department spokesman, said Thursday that he did not know who had spoken with the Wilkinsons. He said officers can and do respond to such calls for help, and that victims are not required to report crimes online. That wasnt how it went Wednesday.

After multiple media inquiries into the theft, officials met Thursday with the mother and daughter. Rueca said officers were reviewing surveillance footage.

In the first three months of this year, police have recorded more than 6,400 cases of grand and petty theft from locked vehicles, according to the citys online crime database. San Francisco made headlines when it logged 25,899 car break-ins in 2015.

This week, city Supervisor Norman Yee introduced legislation to cut down on vehicle burglaries near tourist hot spots by barring rental companies from putting ads on cars.

The mother and daughter said they planned to keep looking for the ashes before their planned flight home Tuesday. By Thursday afternoon, they were wondering what to do with themselves in the days ahead, as Julia in Haight-Ashbury started to slowly rebuild her $2,500 wardrobe that was now gone.

Julia remembered her father as a devoted family man who stayed up until wee hours helping her and her sister, Victoria, with every school project, and as a lover of Christmas and Halloween, when he would outfit their house with a fog machine, a witchs cauldron and an organ-playing skeleton.

He loved pranks. When Julia went on her first date at 15, her father put on a Dracula cape and stood at the window flapping his arms as the boy parked in the driveway at the end of the night, she said. When his daughters had sleepovers, he insisted on buying all the favorite snacks of their visiting friends.

Hed load the grocery cart up with Fruit Roll-Ups, Swiss Cakes, whatever their friends liked, said his widow.

She first met him when he interviewed her for a job. It was, once again, his birthday  April 13, 1983.

As the mother and daughter waited for police to pick over the car back inside the garage Thursday afternoon, an officer excused himself.

Theres another auto burglary right now up the street, he said.

Chronicle staff writer Jenna Lyons contributed to this report.

Filipa Ioannou and Michael Bodley are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com, mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi @michael_bodley
California Highway Patrol / California Highway Patrol /

A 33-year-old man who allegedly fired a gun at occupied cars on Highway 101 in the South Bay was arrested at his San Jose home, police said.

Jose Luis Blanco is suspected in a shooting that occurred March 16, said Officer John Fransen of the California Highway Patrol. Blanco was arrested about 10:30 a.m. Thursday after police obtained arrest and search warrants, Fransen said.
This week I didn't travel any further than Oakland, but I was able to enjoy Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Northern Californian and rib sticking American food.

It's exciting to see the food scene diversifying in the Bay Area particularly in the explosion of Japanese and Indian cuisines.
A Trump administration lawyer told an apparently skeptical federal judge Friday that President Trumps executive order against so-called sanctuary cities, such as San Francisco, doesnt deprive them of federal funding  at least not yet  but merely encourages them to follow immigration laws.

Theres been no action threatened or taken against the cities, Assistant Attorney General Chad Readler said at a hearing in San Francisco on a lawsuit by San Francisco and Santa Clara County. He said Trump, in a Jan. 25 order that spoke of withholding federal funds from cities and counties that refused to cooperate with federal immigration agents, was just using a bully pulpit to advocate compliance.

But U.S. District Judge William Orrick III said Attorney General Jeff Sessions has publicly identified San Francisco as a sanctuary city, and Trump has also criticized the citys immigration policy.

In the first legal test of Trumps executive order, Orrick is considering San Francisco and Santa Clara Countys request for an injunction that would halt enforcement of the order against more than 300 cities and counties nationwide. After a 70-minute hearing in his San Francisco courtroom, Orrick said he would issue a ruling as soon as I can.

Readler had argued that the two counties lacked standing  the right to challenge the executive order  because they faced no prospect of immediate harm. But Orrick noted that San Francisco has received as much as $2 billion a year in federal funding, and Santa Clara County $1.7 billion.

Why dont they have standing? he asked.

Theres no actual enforcement action on the table, Readler replied. He said sanctuary cities, which would face future penalties under Trumps order, is a term that means different things to different people.

Readlers statement reflected varying public positions within the Trump administration on sanctuary cities and the obligations of local governments under federal immigration laws.

The presidents executive order cites a long-standing federal law requiring local governments to direct their law enforcement agencies to inform immigration agents of the immigration status of people they are holding in their jails. San Francisco and Santa Clara County say they comply with that law.

But administration officials have also demanded that cities and counties hold immigrant detainees after their scheduled release dates when immigration officials want to take them into their custody for possible deportation.

San Francisco and Santa Clara County say any such prolonged confinement would be unconstitutional, a position shared by many other local governments that the administration has defined as sanctuary cities. Readler told Orrick the administration was issuing only requests, not orders, to keep immigrants in custody, and that local compliance was voluntary.

But Orrick said Sessions has classified local governments that fail to go along as sanctuary cities, meaning they are covered by Trumps order.

At one point in the hearing, Orrick said he was inclined to conclude that the local governments faced the prospect of financial harm, a prerequisite for allowing them to continue challenging Trumps order. To issue an injunction, he would also have to find a likelihood that the order exceeded the presidents legal authority.

In their lawsuit, San Francisco and Santa Clara County argue that federal funding is controlled by Congress, not the president, and that the Constitution prohibits federal agencies from coercing state and local governments to carry out federal law by threatening to slash their funding. The Trump administration has not yet replied to those arguments, contending only that the suit is premature because no funding cutoffs are imminent.

Readler also appeared to back away from threats by both Trump and Sessions to withhold all federal funds to sanctuary cities. The only funding at stake, the government lawyer said at the hearing, would be grants from the Justice Department or the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration enforcement, and not the bulk of federal appropriations that support local health and social service programs.

The attorney general doesnt control Medicare dollars, doesnt control infrastructure dollars, Readler said. He said none of San Franciscos current federal appropriations, and only a single $1 million grant to Santa Clara County, were potentially at risk if the order was enforced.

The text of Trumps executive order, on the other hand, appears broader. It directs the attorney general and Homeland Security secretary to make sure that local sanctuary jurisdictions, those that refuse to turn over legally required information to immigration authorities, are not eligible to receive federal grants, except as deemed necessary for law enforcement purposes.

Lawyers for the local governments told Orrick not to trust Readlers assurances of a narrower scope.

Trump and Sessions have made it clear that the executive order is intended as a weapon to cancel all funding to sanctuary cities, including programs for the most vulnerable citizens, said attorney John Keker, representing Santa Clara County. Months from now, the county can find its been designated as a sanctuary city and face the loss of funds it has already spent, he said.

A San Francisco deputy city attorney, Mollie Lee, told Orrick, You cannot rely today on recommendations the Department of Justice counsel is making that the attorney general contradicts in public.

After the hearing, City Attorney Dennis Herrera said the lawsuit had forced Trump to back down from his threat of broad financial penalties.

The presidents lawyer ... was forced to admit that only a tiny fraction of federal grants can potentially be withheld from local governments under the presidents order, Herrera said in a statement. But because Trump and Sessions regularly contradict their lawyers court declarations, he said, we need a court order to protect San Francisco and every other sanctuary jurisdiction.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
For the first time since 2012, NASA researchers have released a batch of photographs taken of the world from above at night.

Calling the Earth the "Black Marble," NASA's photo series showcases cities, countries, and continents using the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite.
DECATUR  The ultimate tax break must be having someone else with the necessary smarts do your taxes for free.

That kind of a deal explains why dozens of last-minute tax filers were lined up outside Decatur Public Library's Madden Auditorium on Thursday evening. This was the last hurrah for the free tax preparation service hosted by the library, materials funded by the Friends of the Library, and staffed by business and accounting students from Millikin University.

For those who try to crunch their tax numbers themselves, or must cross the palms of professionals with silver to get them to do it, one important lesson to remember this year is the later filing deadline: Tuesday, April 18.

The date was pushed back because the normal deadline of April 15 falls on a Saturday, and Monday, April 17, marks the celebration of Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia, home of the IRS.

Professional tax preparers in Decatur report smooth sailing building up to the final rush of this tax season, with no major headaches caused by changing rules or legislation.

Ken Kates, owner of Kates Tax Service, said one area to watch out for, however, is the Affordable Car Act, better known as Obamacare, which has so far survived all attempts to kill it and means you have to show you had health insurance in 2016 or face penalties.

The crucial form tax filers need to bring to the tax preparer is called 10-95, which comes in various guises based on how you obtained your insurance. We have to figure out whether or not the taxpayer has actually been insured for 12 months so we can keep them out of penalties, he said.

Meanwhile, Mike Jesse, owner of Jesse Tax Services, warns of sharks cruising the deep and dark waters of tax season who prey on fear to relieve you of your hard-earned taxable income with fraudulent phone calls. He said that if the real IRS wants to have a chat about what you owe, you'll get a letter, not a call.

Don't ever fall for that; phone calls from people claiming they are with the IRS and saying, 'You owe us money and must pay right now' are a fraud, he said.

And they actually called me a couple of days ago.

The Millikin students who prepared taxes at the library went through Internal Revenue Service training and are watched over and assisted by associate professor of accounting, Michael Brown. He said Millikin has been involved with the program since about 1993 and this year's series of free tax prep sessions, helping more than 900 people, kicked off in January.

But with students about to scatter for the weekend spring break, Thursday was the end of the line for the 2016 filing season's free service.

To qualify to use the service, tax filers have to be below annual income guidelines  roughly $25,000 for singles, $50,000 for families  and then it's all free including electronic filing.

Brown said he's never had anybody object to having their taxes done by enthusiastic amateurs, and his students have notched some notable wins for their clients over the years. I would say the biggest refund we've ever got someone was $10,000, he said.

The Millikin tax prep got a hearty thumbs up from Decatur resident Chassidy Harper, who was eagerly anticipating a refund. This tax service is free, it's convenient and is just a wonderful idea, said Harper, 32. I could try to do my taxes myself if I had the time and the patience ... but I just don't.

For students such as accounting major Kelsey Washburn, it was a chance to escape the halls of academe and let her calculator roam over the numeric sequences of someone's life. You are actually dealing with real money instead of just, like, scenarios, said Washburn, 21. It's different from the classroom.
The section pictured in the foreground of this building on the 100 block of West Wood Street would be demolished as part of a west end of downtown development project if the city council accepts the agreement on Monday. Online gallery at herald-review.com/gallery

DECATUR  Development of a new bar and grill, dance studio, office space and residential apartments on the west side of downtown could begin as early as next week if the Decatur City Council approves the plan Monday.

Developer MDA Properties plans to spend more than $2 million on properties in the 100 block of West Wood Street, 100 block of West Main Street, and 100 and 200 blocks of South Church Street, with previous investment of $560,000 counted in that cost. The developer would spend an additional $302,000 on public infrastructure improvements, according to city documents.

The streets surround One Main Place, 101 S. Main St., on three sides.

The developer is represented by Tim Raycraft of Main Place Properties, who said Friday that the area has been of interest for years.

We looked at it, having it be there by One Main, and it was always something we asked, 'If we had this space, what would we do with it?' " he said, noting much of the space has sat vacant for over a decade. Its been dark for so long, and you hate to see that.

Raycraft said the public infrastructure work would begin immediately if approved. That work would include new public sidewalks and angled parking in the 100 block of South Church Street between Main and Wood streets as well as repaving of the alley in the middle of the block.

Leases for businesses that would move into the space, including the new dance studio and bar and grill, have been signed and are contingent on the councils approval.

Under the plan, the development would also include:

repairing the retaining wall to the west of the property at 151 W. Wood St.;

demolishing the east center section of a building at 142 W. Wood St.;

redeveloping the second floors of buildings at 155 W. Main St. and 150 W. Wood St. to add at least five residential units;

addressing environmental concerns in the area that were identified by a previous study.

All that work is set to be finished by the end of the year.

In exchange for the investment, the city would release a mortgage lien it has held on One Main Place since 1998, when the property belonged to a different owner.

The lien on the property at 101 S. Main St. stems from a 1998 agreement with its previous owner, Real Estate Investors of Decatur LLC, according to city documents. The city at the time agreed to provide Community Development Block Grant funding of not more than $1.4 million to redevelop the site and placed a lien on the property to ensure that the agreed-upon development took place.

Real Estate Investors of Decatur made payments totaling $754,000 to the city through 2006, when the LLC was involuntarily dissolved.

MDA Properties acquired the property in 2003 and has increased its value, the city said. Property taxes paid on the building increased from $7,138.26 in 2002 to $89,091.10 in 2016.

City Manager Tim Gleason was unavailable for comment Friday. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe did not respond to a phone message.

The development would come on top of extensive investment in the area since 2015, when the city completed its $14 million streetscape enhancement effort. The project, which replaced sidewalks, created additional parking and eliminated parking meters, was meant to draw more pedestrians to the area and spur retail growth.

The downtown area has seen several new businesses and restaurants open in recent years, including Decatur Brew Works, Anna Thai, Taproot, and The Gin Mill. Existing businesses, such as the Lincoln Square Lounge, have also expanded during that time.

News of the development proved intriguing for some neighboring business owners and residents Friday.

Dreux Lewandowski, co-founder of Decatur Brew Works across the street, said downtown is in the best shape he has seen it in decades, and the development was further proof it was on the rise. He added the residential apartments would be a plus, as they could provide an amenity commonly seen in major metropolitan areas.

With the apartments, you get that urban living that is so popular elsewhere, he said.

That was a similar appeal noted by Joyce Anderson, who was spending time in Central Park on Friday afternoon. Anderson said several of her friends live in Chicago, where they talk about how much they enjoy living in the city and being able to walk to bars and restaurants.

It would be cool to have something similar to that here in Decatur, she said.
DECATUR  Police are seeking 29-year-old Preston D. Hyde on an attempted murder charge after he allegedly shot a 39-year-old man Thursday morning in the Wabash Crossing neighborhood.

He is listed as 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, according to the statistics at the time of his booking into the Macon County Jail in November. Hyde has tattoos on both arms, right hand, face, neck and back, said Decatur police detective Sgt. Steve Carroll.

The victim suffered nonlife-threatening injuries. He was treated at Decatur Memorial Hospital for one or more gunshot wounds.

Police received the report of a man shot and wounded at 10:55 a.m. Thursday. The victim was in a vehicle in the 400 block of East Orchard Street when a vehicle pulled up that was occupied by the suspect.

Some words were exchanged, shots were fired at the vehicle and into the vehicle and the subject was struck, Carroll said. Everybody involved knew each other.

Anyone with information about Hyde is urged to call Decatur police at (217) 424-2711, call anonymously at Crime Stoppers (217) 423-8477 or visit www.decaturcrimestoppers.org.

A reward will be given to anyone who provides information to Crime Stoppers leading to an arrest.
DECATUR  Nurses fulfill so many health care roles, it's hard to imagine ever having enough, but the shortfall could soon be acute.

Illinois could be short more than 21,000 nurses by the year 2020, according to the Illinois Center for Nursing.

Some lawmakers are pushing a solution to help the state by allowing community colleges to award bachelor's degrees in nursing. With Richland Community College, Millikin University and other four-year institutions nearby with cooperative agreements, the Decatur area appears to be fortunate with its options already.

Not all areas are as blessed as we are, said Ellen Colbeck, health professions dean at Richland. Some areas in the state, it's important with the nursing shortage. For students who need to get a job, I understand the urgency.

Registered nurses in Illinois can have either an associate or bachelor's degree. Nationally, though, a bachelors degree is the typical entry-level education required for a job as a registered nurse, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Senate Bill 888, sponsored by state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, would grant community colleges the ability to award bachelor's degrees in nursing.

Manar said there is a shortage of nurses and access to nursing education in some rural areas and urban neighborhoods in Illinois. People in those areas are more connected to their local community colleges, he said.

Allowing a select number of community colleges to offer a BSN would open up opportunities to nontraditional students, including working parents and those with time and financial constraints, said Manar, who noted some states already allow this.

Richland already can help its students interested in pursuing higher degrees, Colbeck said, and doesn't yet feel the need to add a bachelor's degree option.

But Colbeck said she understands why such a measure could be beneficial.

Richland maintains formal agreements with several universities and works with others to offer opportunities for its students to continue their education, Colbeck said. The partners include Benedictine University, Eastern Illinois University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Indiana Wesleyan University, Illinois State University and Millikin, Colbeck said.

Colbeck said HSHS St. Mary's Hospital and Decatur Memorial Hospital work with Richland's graduates interested in pursuing advanced degrees.

Our graduates are getting employed, Colbeck said. Before they graduate, they often have a job. We see the partnerships meeting their needs at this time.

Devon Moretti is among the Richland Community College students who feels fortunate to have choices as she pursues a nursing career.

Moretti is a fourth-semester student nearly ready to finish with a two-year associate degree in nursing. From there, she would like to start working while continuing to pursue an advanced degree online.

I'm lucky I can do something I'm so passionate about from the start, Moretti said while working with a group of other students during a training simulation. Working full time will help financially.

Other Richland students are in similar positions.

I don't know of anyone who doesn't need to work, said Edie Berry, another fourth-semester Richland student.

Michelle Oliver, chief nursing officer at St. Mary's, said the hospital encourages any programs that will increase the number of applicants for careers in nursing.

"We would love to see our local community colleges offer four-year nursing degree programs that would allow more BSN-prepared nurses to fill the much-needed roles during this nationwide nursing shortage," Oliver said.

Decatur Memorial Hospital did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

Setting up a new part of the program to offer a four-year bachelor's degree would be costly, Colbeck said. A limited amount of space in local hospitals is available for clinical work, which Colbeck said makes adding to the program difficult.

It's not an inexpensive venture, Colbeck said. We want to work with our graduates who want to pursue a bachelor's degree.

Opponents of Manar's proposal say such a move would weaken nursing education and not address the nursing shortage. All 37 members of the Illinois Association of Colleges of Nursing  private and public schools offering four-year nursing degrees, including Millikin University  oppose the proposed changes.

Manar said his bill can help. It contains several requirements that must be met before a community college could offer a bachelor's degree in nursing. They include documenting workforce needs, the availability of faculty for the program and being accredited.

This isn't some will-nilly handing out of authority, Manar said. They have to prove they have what it takes to run a program.

No state dollars would go to the bachelor's program under the measure so the school would have to be supported through tuition, fees and/or local tax dollars.

But increasing the number of schools offering programs would over-saturate available clinical sites, said Pam Lindsey, the director of Millikin's School of Nursing. The ability to offer online RN to BSN programs helps ease the capacity burdens, Lindsey said.

Pursuing a bachelor's degree can be beneficial, Lindsey said.

Studies have shown a higher percentage of nurses with bachelor's degrees achieve better patient outcomes, Lindsey said. We strive to have our nurses prepared.

Aleisha Dotson, a Richland student who comes from a family of nurses, has been able to advance through the educational and training process. Dotson would like to be able to continue pursuing higher degrees, which can mean earning more money and more responsibility.

Fellow Richland student Dean Ziemer feels he is on his way to being prepared for a long career in nursing, with an interest in focusing on being an emergency trauma nurse. He served in the Marine Corps, where he was a combat lifesaver.

But after leaving the Marines, Ziemer said he has worked in about a half dozen jobs.

I never really enjoyed any of them, Ziemer said. Going back to school, I'm doing something I really enjoy.

Manar dismissed objections from universities and said they need to explain why they think their complete monopoly is good for the people of Illinois.

The Senate Higher Education Committee approved Senate Bill 888 on a 7-6 vote in March.

State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, was among those voting against it. No date is set for a vote by the full Senate. Rose's main objection is a lack of a comprehensive higher education plan that addresses what programs are offered where.

Noting the number of schools that are struggling with falling enrollment at the same time state funding is declining, Rose questioned adding more competing programs to an already frayed and tattered system.

But Manar said, What we're asking for is not going to put any university out of business.
DECATUR  A state report rating school districts financial positions showed mostly positive news for those in Macon County.

Three districts  Argenta-Oreana, Decatur and Maroa-Forsyth  showed improved positions from the previous year. Mount Zion, Sangamon Valley and Warrensburg Latham maintained their status, while Meridian slipped into the early warning category, the third-highest of four possible ratings.

The annual financial profiles, released by the Illinois State Board of Education on Thursday, are based on factors such as the amount of money the district has on hand and its ratio of expenditures to revenues.

Overall scores across the state increased in 2016, but they dont tell the full story, the state board said in a news release accompanying the results. More than a quarter of all Illinois districts issue debt to sustain operations, and many made cuts, it said.

Illinois school districts financial health has improved over the last year, but at what cost to students? said State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith. Illinois must overhaul our school funding model, which is the most inadequate and most inequitable in the country.

The categories, ranked from highest to lowest, are: financial recognition, financial review, financial early warning and financial watch. They are based on a cumulative score calculated from several weighted financial factors.

Decatur and Argenta-Oreana improved from the second-highest to highest rating, while Maroa-Forsyth advanced from the third-highest to second-highest. Sangamon Valley and Mount Zion maintained the highest rating, and Warrensburg-Latham maintained the second highest.

Meridian slipped from the second-highest status to the third-highest. District officials could not be reached for comment Thursday because school was not in session.

In Decatur, Chief Operational Officer and Treasurer Todd Covault said the news was positive, but somewhat misleading. Improvements were largely based on an improvement in the ratio of the district's expenses to revenues.

Any one of us in our personal lives, if youre bringing in more money than youre spending thats always a good thing, Covault said.

One major factor to determine the scores is the districts fund balance, which Covault said appears higher because the district receives property tax proceeds a month early, in June.

Lawmakers this year funded General State Aid at 100 percent for the first time in years, Covault said. But the state also owes the district about $5 million in funding for transportation, early childhood education and special education.

Its always looking around the corner, Covault said. Id like to be extremely positive about it and say that things are looking good, but Im still apprehensive about the fact that, the state being $11 billion behind on all their payments, how much of that is going to be us, and are you going to be able to pay us on time?
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 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.
DECATUR  Although the exercises were set to music, these dance moves were designed to be more than just fun.

Brain Dance imitates a series of movements the brain goes through during early development. These developments start before birth, and the dancing uses a specific system similar to what babies experience, including breathing, head movements and tactile awareness.

The list of movements goes through the exact things that babies go through while they are still in the womb, said Ariana Shelton, dance instructor with Dance Centre in Decatur.

At the Children's Museum of Illinois on Friday, instructors for Brain Dance encouraged children to dance through jumping, spinning, hopping and tiptoeing. They used their imaginations by imitating trees, splashing in puddles and popping bubbles.

Lillian Randall, 6, was one of the children waving her arms around the classroom pretending to be a tree.

And I got to hop up and down like a frog, she said.

Families bring their children to the museum for Brain Dance on the second and fourth Fridays of the month. Instructors from the dance center encourage children to move, providing exercise for the brain.

We give them guided movement, but they get to improv too, Shelton said. They get to decide how they are going to use that movement.

Dance Centre instructors have seen growth in their student's awareness, too, Shelton said. The students have found confidence to move outside of their comfort zones.

And it's been a lot of fun seeing them grow as dancers, Shelton said.

The class coordinates all parts of the brain, including emotional, social and cognitive balance, and Brain Dance is now being shared with the community.

Because this doesn't just help dancers, it helps all children, Shelton said.

The Dance Centre has implemented the 30-minute dance session into classrooms, as well as at the museum. Shelton recommended the dance be done at the beginning of the day.

It gets their brains ready to learn, she said.

Instructors from the Dance Centre are available to train teachers in implementing Brain Dance into their classroom.

Jessica Randolph visited the class with her daughters Cora, 3, and Vivienne, 1.

It's nice to see it available in community programs here, she said. And the kids are also adorable.

With a career in exercise science, Randolph is familiar with the scientific benefits of Brain Dance. She said similar movements are often used to teach her college-age clients.

Exercise in general keeps your brain healthy and young, Randolph said. We can make those connections by making exercise fun and engaging for all ages.

The effects of Brain Dance appeared beneficial for Friday's group of children.

Although Lillian was nervous before the class, she was ready afterward to take on the rest of the museum with her three brothers.

They've already asked to come back, said her father, Roger.
OLNEY  A 53-year-old Olney man was killed in an accident Thursday night after police say his wheelchair was struck by a semitruck.

Illinois State Police said the semitruck driven by James D. Butler, 55, of Olney was traveling north on West Street, just north of North Avenue in Olney about 8:40 p.m.

Police said Butler was unable to see Shawn Tate, 53, being pushed in his wheelchair by Ian. M. Tate, 17, in the northbound left lane due to darkness and their both wearing dark clothing when they were both struck.

Police said Shawn Tate, who died, was taken to Richland Memorial Hospital. Ian Tate was taken to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Ind. The extent of his injuries was unavailable.
BEIJING  There can be no winners in a war between the U.S. and North Korea over Pyongyangs nuclear weapons and missile programs, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday, while pledging support for dialogue between the sides.

Wangs comments mark the latest attempt to cool tensions by North Koreas most important ally and key provider of food and fuel aid. Any fighting on the Korean Peninsula is likely to draw in China, which has repeatedly expressed concerns about a wave of refugees and the possible presence of U.S. and South Korean troops on its border.

China also has grown increasingly frustrated with the refusal of Kim Jong Uns regime to heed its admonitions, and in February cut off imports of North Korean coal that provide Pyongyang with a crucial source of foreign currency.

Starting Monday, the Chinese flag carrier Air China will suspend flights from Beijing to Pyongyang, state broadcaster CCTV reported. No reason was given for the suspension.

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Once a war really happens, the result will be nothing but multiple loss. No one can become a winner, Wang told reporters at a news conference with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault. Therefore, we call upon all the parties, no matter verbally or in action, to stop provoking and threatening each other and not to allow the situation to become irretrievable and out of control.

Wang last month urged North Korea to suspend its nuclear weapon and missile tests in exchange for South Korea and the U.S. putting their war games on hold, reviving a proposal first raised by Pyongyang. Washington swiftly dismissed the idea, but some observers have said administration officials may be becoming more amenable to renewed dialogue with the North.

Earlier Friday, North Koreas Vice Minister Han Song Ryol told the Associated Press in an interview that his country will keep building up its nuclear arsenal in quality and quantity and said Pyongyang is ready to go to war if thats what President Trump wants.

Chinese experts said they see little immediate possibility of hostilities breaking out, but warned that Beijing will respond harshly to any further North Korean nuclear tests.

Director of Jilin Universitys Institute of Northeast Asian Studies Guo Rui said Trumps domestic troubles should prevent him taking such action, while North Korea doesnt appear to be on a war footing. Another nuclear test would invite tougher measures from Beijing, Guo said.

Pang Zhongying of the School of International Studies at Beijings Renmin University agreed that military action was unlikely, but said another North Korean nuclear test would mark the crossing of a red line that China was prepared to respond to.

Christopher Bodeen is an Associated Press writer.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia  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 Koreas 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 Aisyahs 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 Kims 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 countrys 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.

Eileen Ng is an Associated Press writer.
Jon Hendry is in his car driving from the Estancia shooting location of the indie film Fast Color to Albuquerque. When he gets there, the business agent for the local film techs union will do some work on the NBC drama, The Night Shift , which just wrapped its third season. Theres a location scout in Pojoaque after that, and the night will end with a visit to Longmire on-location shoots in Santa Fe.

That's a lot of windshield time, and lately Hendry has been using it to think about the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. The for-profit college just let faculty, staff, students and the city know that it's closing up shop after the next academic year. The city owns the property and the buildingsand the $27.8 million left on the loan. Now that the demise of SFUAD is all but complete, attention has turned to the denouement.

"We're excited about this," Hendry says over the road noise on his end of a cell phone, his Scottish brogue tempered by decades spent in New Mexico. He's talking about the potential for the property near the corner of Cerrillos Road and St. Michael's Drive. "We could solve so many issues that we have in Santa Fe right now  and the city already owns it. How cool is that?"

Hendry is thinking in broad terms; turn a building into a huge pre-K space, leverage the state-owned Higher Education Center and nearby Santa Fe High School for a lifelong learning campus. But he's also thinking about film and television production.

"There's a huge shortage of studio space in New Mexico. It's just become almost ridiculous. We're losing business because of it," Hendry offers. He says Garson Studios at SFUAD could easily be expanded.

Eric Witt runs the Santa Fe Film Office, a joint city-county venture meant to promote Santa Fe's scenery, facilities and film crews. He says the school's film production capability is a tremendous asset. In fact, Witt says the entire property lends itself to the industry, which has ballooned in New Mexico since 2002.

"It's not like you're starting from scratch," Witt tells SFR of the school grounds. "It's basically upgrades and expansion. You don't have to sink a lot of money, because it's already there."

The 60-plus acre campus hosted the TV series Manhattan, which ran on WGN for two seasons, as well as Longmire, which is now in production for its final season. Witt says some of the sets from Manhattan are still stored on site. There's housing for crews, office space and the potential to grow and change all of it.

"It could be sort of a mini-lot, like Warner Brothers or Paramount, where you have all the production offices on site, the sound stage ..." Witt says, trailing off. He sees little trouble finding private money to do some, if not all of the work to get the property up to snuff. There's venture capital sitting on the sidelines for such facilities, he says.

What's more, the campus is a node for New Mexico's fastest internet connection network. The large-scale digital capacity needed for production and post-production, a segment of the industry that New Mexico sorely lacks, is already in place. Post-production work can be done anywhere, Witt points out, while noting burgeoning industries in Seoul and Singapore. He sees no reason Santa Fe can't compete. In fact, post-production work in New Mexico would qualify for the state's film and TV production incentives. In many places, including California, that's not the case.

"And that part of the industry brings Santa Fe what it wants in a younger, creative demographic," he says eagerly before he finally checks himself. "But the caveat to all that is it's not my say. The city could say it wants to put a shopping mall or a dog park there."

Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales, who has never been one to shy away from projects that may require a bit of doing between the vision and implementation stages, isn't moving quite so fast this time.

"The priority is to do everything we can to make sure that property continues to serve as an educational institution," Gonzales says on the phone from a break in this week's budget hearings. While SFUAD has told its students the school is shutting down, Gonzales says the university hasn't started the clock on the seven months' notice it would need to give the city to end its lease early. He's happy to allow some time to see if the school and the city can find a buyer that's committed to keeping the higher education mission of the campus.

"Having said all that," the mayor adds, "the Garson Studios are a big asset and an important part of fulfilling the vision we have for growing the film and television production industry in Santa Fe." Gonzales says that in his estimation, there's little taste in city government for just unloading the property to the highest bidder.

While it may be too early to sketch out plans for exactly what the campus could look like if it stopped being a school and started being something else, it seems likely that unless it can find a a partner to take over the campus and the $2.23 million annual lease payments, the city will eventually want to see someone's idea for what the university campus could be.

Santa Fe Reporter
Have you seen Gov. Bruce Rauner lately?

Sure you have. Its been hard to miss those TV ads in which the plaid-wearing executive chides lawmakers for their duct tape spending solutions.

And last week, with the Legislature on spring recess, the first-term GOP governor was crisscrossing the state on a two-day tour. He delivered stump speeches and had photo ops at restaurants and businesses in Chicago, Springfield, Quincy and Champaign. Two weeks ago, he was in Decatur.

So is Rauner campaigning?

He insists no, saying the tour, which was funded by his campaign, has nothing to do with the election in November 2018.

Were not that naive.

We think the whole thing highlights whats fundamentally backwards about how the budget impasse is being handled by our elected officials. Rauner is on a PR blitz instead of what he should be doing full time  working with Democratic lawmakers to find common ground.

Weve been supportive of Rauner, especially his calls for property tax relief, term limits and workers' compensation reform, which are all needed to get this state back on track.

Hes a smart, fiscally responsible chief executive who made millions in the private sector, and does a good job connecting with local voters. He speaks their language.

But we fear the budget chaos thats been festering for almost two years continues to force the governor to wade into water thats contrary to his outsider image.

Hes taking the message to the people instead of working with lawmakers on the down and dirty details and hammering some mutual understanding with nemesis House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.

Consider those TV ads. They were purchased by the Republican Governors Association, a Washington group thats funded in part by billionaire conservatives Charles and David Koch.

The spots are airing in the Chicago, Champaign-Springfield, Rockford, Quad-Cities and Peoria-Bloomington markets. The Herald & Review last week reported $95,115 was spent on ads in Decatur alone.

Thats a lot of money to convey the message that the governor is the one trying to help the state.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker, one of several the governor could face a year from November, said Rauner is "putting politics ahead of doing his job."

Were not sure its as black and white as that. But it is clear the fine line between governing and campaigning is getting less and less clear. Such sideline campaigning muddies the water when finding a budget solution should be goal number one.

Instead of talking with one another, our elected officials continue to talk past each other.

Somethings got to give.
While Armenias environmental ministry has negatively reacted to the business plan of Vayk Metal to operate a mine in the province of Vayots Dzor, local residents are concerned that the plan will go ahead, turning their lives into a hell on earth.

Vayk Metal has gone to court, seeking to overturn the negative environmental impact assessment returned by the ministry.

Theoretically, the company can also amend the plan to make it more acceptable to the ministry.

Yesterday, in Yerevan, the Aarhus Center organized a debate on the companys plan to operate the mine. No one from Vayk Metal showed up, despite being invited.

Karineh Movsisyan, from the environmental ministrys environmental impact assessment division, said that Vayk Metal, in its original business plan, failed to note the potential ecological risks to local communities and to the nearby Yeghegnadzor National Reserve.

When this reporter asked if the plan could be submitted in the future, after being modified and amended, Movsisyan said: Science is constantly advancing, so is equipment. Perhaps it will be possible to operate this mine without damaging the environment.

Hakob Sanasaryan, president of the Greens Union of Armenia, noted that the mountains of Armenia were being scalped and the underground water reserves defiled just so that mining companies could make a bit of cash.

Sanasaryan also presented a map showing uranium deposits scattered throughout the mine area, adding that mining would expose the dangerous ore into the atmosphere and water.

Vernashen village council member Gegham Margaryan said the mine would create a second Chernobyl.

Mikayel Baghdasaryan, mayor of Vernashen, a village near the proposed mine, said that no one from the community had agreed to the business plan as presented.

Movsisyan said that a preliminary agreement had been reached with the villages previous mayor.

Gladzor Mayor Armen Movsisyan and Baghdasaryan claimed that neither they, nor their predecessors, had agreed to the plan.

Gegham Margaryan said that he had reviewed all the decisions taken by the council and could find no such agreement.

Photo: Gegham Margaryan, Karineh Movsisyan, Hakob Sanasaryan
NEW DELHI: Heritage Foods today said it has completed acquisition of dairy business of Reliance Retail.

"We have received approval from Competition Commission of India and completed the process of acquisition of dairy business of Reliance Retail," Heritage Foods said in a BSE filing.

"We are taking control of entire dairy business of Reliance Retail with effect from April 12," the filing said.

It further said: "Post the transaction closure Reliance Retail will continue to trade in dairy products including Heritage dairy products through its retail and wholesale channels."

Earlier this week, the Competition Commission of India had approved the proposed acquisition of Reliance Retail's dairy business by Heritage Foods.

Reliance Retail is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd and its dairy business operates a pan-India dairy procurement, processing and distribution platform under two brands -- Dairy Life and Dairy Pure.

Heritage Foods is a private sector enterprise with several business divisions including dairy, retail, agri, bakery and renewable energy.

In November last year, Kishore Biyani-led Future Group signed a definitive agreement to acquire Heritage Foods Ltd, promoted by family members of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, in an all stock deal.

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NEW DELHI: Tech major Wipro today said it has completed the acquisition of Brazilian IT service provider InfoSERVER.



The impact of the buyout will reflect in the financials of the company for the June quarter, it added.

"We would like to inform that the acquisition of InfoSERVER has been completed on April 10, 2017. The impact of InfoSERVER acquisition is expected to reflect in the financials of the company for the quarter ending June 30, 2017," Wipro said in a BSE filing.



In January this year, Wipro signed an agreement to acquire InfoSERVER, an IT service provider focused on the Brazilian market for USD 8.7 million.



Wipro had then stated that InfoSERVER, which counts some of the largest Brazilian banks as its clients, will help it in expanding presence in that country's highly traditional and competitive banking, financial services and insurance market, besides adding domain and process knowledge on the sector.



"The Lat-Am market and Brazil in particular is a strategic growth and investment region for Wipro.



"This acquisition will provide Wipro with scale and key client relationships, especially in the banking, financial services and insurance domains, which are the largest and fastest growing sectors in the region," Ankur Prakash, Vice President and Head of New Growth and Emerging Markets, Wipro had said.

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NEW DELHI: India today said Japan is a "natural partner" in achieving the goal of increasing the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25 pct in the coming years.



Both the countries discussed ways of increasing bilateral trade and investments during a day-long conference in Nagoya in Japan.



A business delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman participated in that event.



"India wants to increase the contribution of manufacturing sector to GDP to 25 pct and Japan is a natural partner in our goals," an official statement quoting Sitharaman said here.



Currently the manufacturing sector contributes about 17 pct to the country's GDP.



The government is taking steps such as improving ease of doing business and relaxing FDI norms to boost the sector.



Sitharaman also met Governor of Aichi Prefecture Hideaki Ohmura in Nagoya.



Hideaki acknowledged that the India Conference will further encourage the companies in Aichi Prefecture to invest in India.



Japan said although it is the third largest foreign investor in India (USD 25.2 billion during the April 2000 - December 2016), behind Mauritius and Singapore, it canbe considered a top investor as the other two countries are used by companies from across the world to route investments.



Sitharaman urged the Governor toconsider diversification of investment in other sectors such as food processing, textiles, medical equipment, electronics and IT in India.



The minister invited Hideaki to lead a delegation of Japanese companies to MSME clusters in India to explore partnership and investment opportunities.



At the conference, Secretary DIPP Ramesh Abhishek highlighted the unparallelled opportunities and advantages that investors could leverage by making in India.

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MUMBAI: An India-born aeronautics engineer from Australia has been honoured with the 'World's Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Leadership Award' by the American Helicopter Society (AHS) International.



AHS is the world's premier professional institution dedicated to vertical flight technology and advancement. It selected Lt. Col. (retd) Dr Arvind Sinha for his distinguished career in vertical flight technology.

Sinha, who received the award recently in the US, was also bestowed the title of AHS Honorary Fellow in May 2016.



The title is granted to Society members who have shown "exceptional leadership, or made innovative or other meritorious contributions, that have significantly advanced AHS International and the vertical flight community."



Sinha is recipient of several awards, spanning military operations, design projects and academia. "The AHS honour is considered as a benchmark for leadership excellence in vertical flight technology," he told PTI.



He is currently the Director of Engineering, Helicopter Systems Division, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), at the Department of Defence, Australia.



Working on Australian Army and Navy aviation platform and systems technologies, he is an expert in Tactical Aerospace Systems, covering helicopters and unmanned Aircraft.



He is a former Professor and Director of Aerospace and Aviation Research Centre at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), and now holds the title of Professor of Aerospace Design at Monash University, an Australian public research university based in Melbourne.



During his stint with the Indian Army, Sinha commanded elite units of Electronic Warfare and Airborne Special Forces. As a young Major, he was posted to command an engineering unit on the high-density altitude Siachen Glacier as part of Operation Meghdoot in 1984.



"The average stint there does not exceed 90 days due to the harsh conditions that test human endurance. However, my tenure was extended to two years for operational reasons, and my command was honoured with a Special Operations order," he said.



Sinha said he was selected to pursue a doctorate in Australia based on his IIT Masters work in Helicopter Design for a doctoral project-based application research under an Australian Government-sponsored scholarship with RMIT University.



Sinha is a former Dean of the Faculty of Aviation in Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering in India. He is an alumnus of Sainik School Satara and the National Defence Academy in Maharashtra.

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Death, taxes, and struggling to pass bills in Congress. These are life's three new givens.

Following the failure of the Republicans' repeal-and-replace effort of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), President Trump asked his congressional peers to focus on the cornerstone of his campaign promises: tax reform.

Trump's call for tax reform hits a snag

For those who may not recall, Trump touted the idea of tax-cutting and simplification during his campaign. For individuals, he adopted the House Republicans' suggestion of a progressive three-bracket federal income tax system (12%, 25%, and 33%) and called for a simplification of the tax code that would eliminate most deductions and credits and replace them with a larger standard deduction.

On the corporate side of the equation, Trump opined that he would push for corporate tax rates of 15%, down from the current peak rate of 35%, as well as establish a special holiday repatriation rate of 10% to encourage U.S. multinationals with an aggregate of $2.5 trillion in overseas capital to bring this cash back home.

Of course, it's not uncommon for what candidates tout on the campaign trail and what gets passed once in office to differ a bit. After all, Congress is made up of 535 representatives, and appealing to a majority often requires some compromise.

Yet even with Republicans maintaining a majority in both houses of Congress, they've been dealt a tough path to tax reform following the failure of the ACA repeal. That repeal was expected to save $300 billion or more over the next decade, which would have given GOP lawmakers added reform flexibility. Without the ACA remaining in place, the tax reform timetable got a whole lot murkier.

The Republicans suggested... eliminating the payroll tax?

President Trump and his Republican colleagues are in a precarious position at the moment. They need to find ways to trim costs, yet not at the expensive of expanding the federal deficit. One idea being floated around Washington by a GOP lobbyist, according to Fox News, is one that would see the payroll tax drastically cut or eliminated entirely.

In 2015, Social Security generated $920.2 billion in revenue, and the payroll tax accounted for 86.4% of that revenue. The payroll tax, which also funds Medicare, is a 15.3% aggregate tax on earned income. Overall, 12.4% goes to fund Social Security, and 2.9% funds Medicare. However, most workers are only responsible for half of this amount, with their employers covering the remainder. Thus, your responsibility as a worker is often 7.65% of your earned income (6.2% to Social Security and 1.45% to Medicare). Only the self-employed wind up paying the full 15.3%.

Even then, Social Security's payroll tax has added exemptions. Earned income is taxed between $0.01 and $127,200, as of 2017. Any additional income above and beyond $127,200 is free and clear of taxation, which is a big benefit to the wealthy.

Under the Republican proposal, the payroll tax for Social Security (the aforementioned 12.4% tax) would be eliminated, while the Medicare tax of 2.9% would remain in place.

Why eliminate this absolutely critical source of funding? Removing the Social Security payroll tax would add $3,100 to the pockets of the average Americans household earning $50,000 a year. Republican lawmakers have long believed that putting money back into the pockets of Americans is the best way to stimulate our consumption-driven economy.

Also keep in mind that if Republicans eliminate the primary source of Social Security's funding, they'll need to find a new standard of revenue generation for the program. One option would transform the border adjustment tax proposed by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) into something of a value-added tax on consumption that would be expected to generate $12 trillion over the next decade.

Possibly the worst Social Security idea ever

Even if the idea of eliminating Social Security's payroll tax is just an option that's being floated around and that the White House isn't taking seriously at this point, it might arguably be the worst Social Security idea ever presented -- and I don't say that lightly.

According to data from the Social Security Administration, 61% of retired workers (and there were more than 41 million of them receiving monthly benefits, as of February 2017) count on their Social Security benefits to comprise at least half of their monthly income. This figure is even higher (71%) for unmarried elderly individuals. Long story short, Social Security is crucial to ensuring that millions of older workers can make ends meet during retirement.

The GOP idea being floated to eliminate the payroll tax would remove a steady source of funding for Social Security and replace it with a revenue-based source of funding. This change would, in effect, make the Social Security program reliant on consumption to drive future benefit payments, meaning the program could be significantly affected by recessions.

But there's an even greater danger. By moving from a payroll tax to what would be construed as general revenue through a value-added tax, the government would have the liberty of increasing or decreasing what's apportioned to Social Security each year with much more ease than adjusting the payroll tax on wages.

Also remember, Trump's budget director, Mick Mulvaney, the man who'll oversee that the president's "I's" are dotted and "T's" are crossed with his budget, has argued in favor of making tough spending cuts, even when it comes to the Social Security program.

If there is a bright side, this is merely an option being floated around and not a concrete bill at this point. It would, in my belief, find zero support among the Democratic Party, and it would struggle to find support among some Republicans, making its outlook pretty glum. That doesn't change the fact that Social Security needs a fix for future generations, but this solution is clearly not the answer.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - At the end of day four of Mayor Bill de Blasio's five-day workweek on Staten Island, he held an almost three-hour long town hall, taking 61 questions from people at IS 27.

Here's a look at some of the topics covered:

Transportation

Pearl Minsky took issue with the city creating more bike lanes when the ones on Staten Island are "rarely used" and streets are narrow, causing accidents with bicyclists.

The mayor said if something doesn't work as planned, they "reassess."

DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, called on several times to help the mayor answer questions, said, "You have to build a kind of a network" for ridership, otherwise it doesn't work. While that's happening, there are disconnects that need to be worked through.

Another person asked if there are plans to reopen any Staten Island Railway stations.

De Blasio said there are none, but "we're not missing that there's a problem; we're trying to find a solution."

Homelessness

A young man asked what is the plan to get people off city assistance and into their own housing.

The mayor said some people are just shy of making enough money to afford to live on their own and others have lost their jobs, so job creation is important, as is making housing more affordable.

In the lightning round, one person asked how to deal with homeless people in the ferry terminals.

De Blasio said police are doing overnight shifts and trying to direct people to services to help them.

Immigrant rights/assistance

Several immigrant advocacy groups attended with many members, but no one was there from the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs to answer the few questions about services, like legal help and more.

One person asked whether minor infractions could lead to ICE deportations.

"A tremendous amount of fear has been created," the mayor said, some of it based on "rumor" and because "fear feeds upon itself."

De Blasio said neighborhood policing keeps people safe and minor infractions -- even arrests for many crimes -- won't lead to deportations since New York is a "sanctuary city" and doesn't comply with ICE detainers to deport people.

Mental health

Allison DeLuca, Miss Staten Island 2017, asked for free mental health first aid, something the mayor said will "absolutely" be made available on Staten Island.

Another teen asked about protections for transgender teens in schools, as well as mental health services for students.

He is "adamant about" rights, de Blasio said.

"We want schools to be a nurturing environment."

Sidewalk/streetlight issues

One woman, a resident of St, Marks Place, asked "When will they finally fix these sidewalks?"

Trottenberg said they must determine who owns the building, because maintenance of sidewalks is the responsibility of the building owner. Once they do, the DOT can send a note to repair.

Community activist and retired teacher Helen Settles said her house was robbed when she was out of town. On Targee Street, "there is complete darkness, there is no light."

Trottenberg said a DOT engineer will check the street lights.

Education/school buildings

Two people spoke separately about PS 44 in Mariner's Harbor, pleading with de Blasio to do something.

"Way too few kids are reading on grade level" de Blasio noted.

Another parent is scared because there's violence in the school, so she pulled her son out.

"He shouldn't feel like he has to fight in school," she said. And she was given no notice by the school when her son came home with marks from a fight.

A Department of Education representative said the school is supposed to notify the parent -- "We will correct it."

An IS 61 teacher asked de Blasio why teachers are under a "gag order" not to speak ill about state tests, when teachers elsewhere encourage their students to opt out of tests.

"Think of what it would lead to" if teachers openly criticized every education policy they disagreed with, de Blasio said.

Addiction

Maria from Great Kills, "which is a mess," she said, asked for a recreation center for kids hanging out at the train station. "They have no place to go."

NYPD Borough Commander Asst. Chief Edward Delatorre said, "We're aware of issue at Great Kills train station" and are addressing it.

Cromwell center/Indoor pool

The proposed location of an indoor pool at Michael J. Petrides School was a hot topic, with a few people opposed to it.

"North Shore is terribly in need," said Kelly Vilar, a community activist who organized a group to protest that location.

She's also part of the group "Let's Rebuild Cromwell Community Coalition" and urged the city to commit funding for that institution.

"I committed to an indoor pool for Staten Island, there will be an indoor pool for Staten Island," de Blasio said.

Cromwell will be part of a rezoning process -- "We look at the whole picture" and will decide priorities with rezoning.

Asked later whether he'll have a meeting with the community about the location of the pool, he said simply, "Yes."

North Shore development

Responding to a resident's question about keeping Staten Island a "bedroom community" with all the development happening on the North Shore, de Blasio said, "We have some areas that can be developed and can create jobs."

But not all areas. "That's the balance we have to strike."

A woman from St. George was frustrated with what she said were "dog and pony shows" from The Wheel and Empire Outlets, which then pulled a "classic bait and switch" when Nicholas Street was cut off from waterfront access and instead connected to a ramp that goes directly to the Wheel garage.

Councilwoman Debi Rose, who was moderating the town hall, said the developer had conversations with the community and will meet with them about it again.

"There were some things that were difficult to mitigate and traffic was one of them," Rose said

Waterfront access "is something we're dealing with and the promises that were made will be kept."

Criminal justice reform/police and community relations

One woman asked about increasing opportunities for black youth.

Always one to jump at a chance to tout his universal pre-K program, the mayor noted it, saying it's "literally creating fairness across the city."

A man asked what will happen during the 10 years it takes close Riker's Island.

The mayor said the NYPD continue with neighborhood policing, after school options for at-risk youth and more.

"That work is deepening all the time ... We intend to reach more and more young people."

Tammy Greer Brown, a member of the Staten Island NAACP and Moms of Black Boys United, asked what the mayor is doing to keep black and brown students safe in the classroom and help police/black community relations.

De Blasio said they're working on creating new "trust" between police and the community and has seen "evidence of change" recently.

They are "building mutual respect" but "it won't happen overnight" -- that includes training police to deescalate conflicts.

Want to discuss this report on the mayor's town hall meeting? Visit the comment section to join the conversation
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Some questions cut through the mostly-friendly reception Mayor Bill de Blasio got on the North Shore during his second Staten Island town hall since taking office on Thursday night.

Maria came from the South Shore to tell de Blasio that Great Kills, particularly near the train station, "is a mess."

"Why can't we use the Great Kills station for fast ferry? It was done during Sandy," she asked the mayor, before moving on to addicts who hang nearby and suggesting the city open a recreation center for them. "I see the kids are hanging around, they have no place to go," she said.

De Blasio got a little exasperated with Maria, indicating before she could finish that she should get to her question.

"There's a tremendous desire for more recreation centers," de Blasio told her, noting that the city would take suggestions for new locations. "We are trying consistently to build more."

Recreation centers, development, schools, transportation and the controversial placement of an indoor pool the mayor promised for Staten Island at the last town hall came up during the roughly two hours de Blasio took questions from Staten Islanders in West Brighton.

De Blasio framed the town hall as an chance for the so-called "forgotten borough" to be heard by City Hall. The mayor's been on Staten Island since Monday for the "City Hall in Your Borough" initiative.

"For many decades Staten Island was ignored," de Blasio said during an introduction.

61 QUESTIONS, SOME ANSWERS

The "North Shore Working for Your Neighborhood Town Hall" at Prall Intermediate School (I.S. 27) began about 20 minutes late, and another 40 minutes passed before de Blasio started taking questions from Staten Islanders.

Held the eve of the last day of de Blasio's work week here, the town hall was still productive and 61 questions were asked and answered -- mostly.

"I have not come to a decision is the honest answer," de Blasio said when asked whether the old criminal courthouse on Targee Street could be used for vocational training.

"I don't know what the options are," de Balsio told a guidance counselor who wanted to build a school on the North Shore for at-risk kids.

"I don't know enough about that," he said when asked a question about undocumented immigrants and hospitals.

The mayor also wouldn't weigh-in on where the new $50 million pool will go, the subject of a heated debate between Borough President James Oddo and the newly formed Staten Island North Shore Indoor Pool Committee

"We're still working out -- and I think that decision is not far off -- the location," de Blasio told Kelly Vilar, a member of the committee. Later on, he pledged after another question that the city would get public input on the pool's location.

'GET TO THE QUESTION'

Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) acted as emcee for the night, calling on attendees and attempting to keep everyone well-behaved.

"I can't Rich -- no back and forth," Rose told New York Wheel CEO Rich Marin when a St. George resident asked de Blasio to make sure the project would include a ramp for pedestrian and bicycle access. Later on, city officials said the developer planned to do this.

Rose and de Blasio told many people to get to the point.

"Get to the question, my friend," de Blasio told one man asking about cultural funding on Staten Island.

Another young woman was a little confused when Rose and the mayor stood in front of her, poised to interrupt if she didn't ask her question right away. "Wait, I can't say anything else?" she wondered.

NORTH SHORE DEVELOPMENT

The North Shore is the only area de Blasio won in the 2013 election, and most of his policies are geared toward the denser neighborhoods there. Many questions were relatively easy for de Blasio to address.

De Blasio said he wanted more people to shop local, that federal funding cuts could threaten Staten Island and that he wasn't rigidly in support of increasing the number of bike paths here, though noting they help calm traffic.

Asked about development across the borough, de Blasio said what many Staten Islanders wanted to hear.

"Many, many parts of the island are going to stay exactly the way they are," he said.

Another woman asked about rezoning in Clifton, Rosebank and Fort Wadsworth. De Blasio said the focus was increasing affordable housing along the Bay Street Corridor, the only Staten Island rezoning in the works under his affordable housing plan.

"Today, we think things are pretty good the way they are," he said of the other neighborhoods.

'THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE'

Two people confronted de Blasio about conditions at PS 44 in Mariners Harbor. "What is going on at PS 44?" one asked. Another said,"it's become a violent school."

De Blasio told Daniel Messina, the president and CEO of Richmond University Medical Center, that the city wasn't planning to help fund the cash-strapped North Shore hospital. But he did admit Staten Islanders were missing out on city-financed healthcare the other boroughs get with facilities in the public hospital system.

"Theres not a prospect of creating a public hospital on Staten Island," de Blasio said.

De Blasio also stressed he understood the North Shore -- and all of Staten Island -- had a dearth of mass transit options.

'We're not missing that there's a problem here," he said.

The mayor's office said more than 500 RSVPs were received two days before the town hall, though there was only space for 450 people in the gymnasium.

Community outreach to certain groups on the North Shore began before City Hall shared details about the town hall to the Advance and the broader public.

Attendees began trickling out around 9 p.m. Just before 10 p.m. -- the scheduled end to the night -- de Blasio switched to the "lightning round" and repeatedly told Staten Islanders to hurry up.

The town hall ended at 10:10 p.m.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - While a Staten Island judge ruled in favor of Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan to destroy personal documents collected for the city's municipal ID program, the Republican lawmakers who filed the initial lawsuit filed a second suit Thursday, prohibiting officials from destroying anything until May 3 at the earliest.

Having heard testimony on the case filed in December, State Supreme Court Justice Philip G. Minardo ruled on April 7 that Assembly members Ron Castorina Jr. and Nicole Malliotakis did not have standing to sue the city, which wants to destroy underlying documents affiliated with IDNYC, like U.S. and foreign birth certificates, passports, driver's licenses, utility bills and lease agreements.

The Republican lawmakers argued the records should be maintained for law enforcement purposes and because heavily redacted versions of them are subject to Freedom of Information requests.

The city argued maintaining the records and subjecting them to FOIL requests would be a violation of privacy. They have since stopped collecting personal documents for the ID cards, only reviewing records before handing them back to the applicant.

At issue are the personal records copied and maintained by the city for approximately one million ID cards since the program began in 2015.

Losing the court case on Staten Island, lawyers for the Assembly members convinced Judge Minardo to extend a stay on the destruction of the materials until April 17 so they could appeal in Brooklyn.

Castorina filed an appeal Thursday, and the stay was extended to April 21, when the parties' arguments are due in court.

But filing a second suit against the city also on Thursday, this time in Manhattan Supreme Court, Castorina argued the city unjustly denied his FOIL request for IDNYC documents without an opportunity to appeal. With a return date of May 3, the city can't destroy any documents until then.

Before Castorina and Malliotakis filed appeals to the Dec. 7 FOIL request denials, Martha Calhoun, general counsel for NYC Human Resources Administration, which runs the ID program, told the court on Dec. 16, "Were petitioners to administratively appeal the denial of their FOIL requests, I would uphold HRA's determinations and deny those administrative appeals."

While agencies often fulfil FOIL requests and redact personal or sensitive information, in its denials to both, HRA stated, "disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy."

The denials stated they can file an appeal to Calhoun.

An attorney for Castorina and Malliotakis appealed the FOIL decision on Jan. 6, and on Jan. 13 got a rejection, wherein Calhoun reiterated the HRA Records Access Officer's decision to deny the request.

"I have reviewed the FOIL requests and HRA's determinations denying those requests," she wrote. "In my view, the requested records are exempt for the reasons stated in HRAs determinations and that, therefore, the determinations by HRA's Records Access Officer to deny access were proper."

Because Calhoun made the statement in court on Dec. 16 before he filed an appeal, Castorina argued she made up her mind unjustly.

"I never had an opportunity to be heard," he said. "She prejudged the appeal without even hearing the grounds or basis of the appeal."

A city spokesperson said, "We remain confident that the city will succeed in protecting the personal information of over one million IDNYC cardholders. We look forward to a swift resolution of this case, and an affirmation of the State Supreme Court's ruling.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y -- Rep. Daniel Donovan said rumors about him interviewing potential candidates for the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York are just that -- rumors.

"There were some people that said I was appointing somebody, or I would be appointed, but it's all speculation," Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) said in an interview with the Advance on Thursday.

The Law Journal reported that Donovan has met with Seth DuCharme, head of the national security and cybercrime section of the Eastern District U.S. Attorney's Office, as well as Joan Illuzzi, who recently ran for Staten Island district attorney and lost to Michael McMahon.

When asked about her interest in the position, Illuzzi referred questions to a spokeswoman for the Manhattan D.A.'s office, who declined to comment, the Law Journal reported.

Illuzzi's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Donovan, former Staten Island district attorney, did say that he has had people, whom he will not name, approach him about their interest in candidacy, adding that some already have interviews set up.

He also said he has not conducted any interviews for the position.

However, he said he has referred those who approached him to apply at GreatAgain.gov, and encouraged them to contact the congressional liaison, Chris Collins, to submit resumes.

"So, for every person that has approached me, we have referred them to him," he said.

Usually, the highest senator in New York, in this case U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, would make a recommendation for U.S. attorney appointments.

Given that Schumer is a Democrat, Donovan said, naturally, people are "assuming that the administration would rely on the Republican representative from congress."

"Nobody has asked me for any recommendations,'' he said.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The lawyer known for his splashy commercials and an equally high-profile fraud conviction has died this week.

Fredric Grae, 78, of Grymes Hill, passed away at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on April 11 with his family by his side, according to his obituary.

Grae, who along with partner Thomas S. Rybicki, starred in the Madison Avenue advertisements featuring the catchy slogan, "Because you never know when it could happen to you."

The ads featured an overturned car and a helicopter aiding crash victims where the high-profile personal injury lawyers warned that bad things could occur to good people in a heartbeat, while touting their ability to bring home the bacon for clients hurt in accidents.

But the duo wasn't without controversy.

In 1999, they were convicted on federal mail and wire fraud and related conspiracy charges and were sentenced to a year and a day in jail, three years' post-release supervision and had their law licenses suspended through Nov. 3, 2008.

They and their Castleton Corners law firm also were fined ($20,000 each and $80,000 for the company) for kicking back thousands of dollars to adjusters and middle men between 1991 and 1994 to speed up personal-injury settlements totaling $2.5 million.

Grae, a former president of the Richmond County Bar Association, and Rybicki, a past president of the Staten Island Trial Lawyers Association, were released from federal custody in 2006.

"Fred faced all of life's challenges with dignity and enormous strength," said the obituary.

During his career, Grae also served as president of the Staten Island Trial Lawyers Association, and was a member of the Appellate Division, 2nd Department's Grievance Committee.

He began his legal career in 1963, working with his father at the law firm of Kane Grae & Agar. Fred went on to form his own law firm and continued practicing law until his passing, according to the obituary.

Grae was born on Staten Island, grew up in Randall Manor and attended Curtis High School. He was a graduate of Duke University and New York University School of Law.

"He was known for his great sense of humor and zest for life," said the obituary.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver joined Staten Island Deputy Borough President Ed Burke, City Council Member Debi Rose and members of the community to break ground at Grandview Playground, a Community Parks Initiative (CPI) site on Staten Island.

Silver also announced the renaming of the Mariners Harbor park, revealing that Grandview now will officially be called "The Big Park."

"For many years, this community has fondly referred to Grandview Playground and its surrounding fields and courts as The Big Park," said Silver. "Today, we officially embrace that name, and begin a new chapter for this park through the renaming and the start of its total reconstruction."

Silver noted that the renovations that the Parks Department are making are based on community input and "will bring the neighborhood's vision to life."

Borough President James Oddo said the renovations and expansion are needed at the busy playground.

"I'm especially pleased to see the reconstruction of courts and fields at Grandview, which will encourage Staten Islanders of all ages to be more physically active," Oddo said. "Thank you to the administration for their continued investment in Staten Island's parks."

Rose noted that the role of parks in on Staten Island is critical, particularly due to problems in the borough in battling childhood obesity.

"Parks enhance our health, encourage social connection, and facilitate an appreciation of our natural environment," said Rose. "And in a borough with high rates of childhood obesity, they provide an opportunity for physical exercise for our children."

Rose has allocated more than $4 million to local parks and playgrounds since she's been in office, and said she's grateful to Mayor Bill de Blasio for his Community Parks Initiative, which "has leveled the playing 'fields' of our parks, quite literally, by bringing much needed resources."

The renovation of the playground and park is funded with nearly $4.5 million from the mayor as a part of CPI.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in spring 2018.

When finished, The Big Park will have various items, including: A spray shower for children to play and cool off in (replacing the existing wading pool); expanded courts with adult fitness components; multi-use fields; upgraded playground equipment with safety surfaces; new benches and fences; a renovated comfort station; a "fitness trail" incorporated into the overall design; and bioswales to capture rainwater, replenishing groundwater for trees and shrubs.

Launched by the mayor in October 2014, CPI is a multi-faceted investment in the smaller public parks that are located in New York City's densely populated and growing neighborhoods where there are higher-than-average concentrations of poverty.

Grandview was selected as one of the first 35 CPI sites in 2014. In February 2015, Parks held a public input meeting to kick off the design process, allowing members of the local community to bring their ideas to the table and collaborate with the agency.

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CITY HALL -- Residents slammed the city for covering up problems at the Mariners Harbor Houses before Mayor Bill de Blasio came to announce $5.7 million for the community center there.

"Bedbugs, roaches, mice -- I'll tell you right now this place ain't never been this clean," Blanche Aponte, 49, said. "You can come out here next week and there will be garbage all over the place."

De Blasio visited the Mariners Harbor Houses on Friday to outline plans for the community center expansion and renovation on the last day of his work week on Staten Island.

Even though "City Hall in Your Borough" was delayed so de Blasio could interact with more Staten Islanders on Good Friday, the mayor didn't even go inside the community center he was discussing.

That's even after the city cleaned up the center ahead of de Blasio's visit.

"I was walking by and I'm like, I smell pine, it smells real good, and you know what it was? They were cleaning the community center," said Rafael Ramirez, 50, whose mother lives at the Mariners Harbor Houses. "Now I know why -- now I know why they were cleaning the center because the mayor was going."

'NOBODY EVEN KNEW'

The mayor's office said the community center was closed for Good Friday. Over the weekend, de Blasio spokeswoman Jessica Ramos said, "We've found more opportunities for interactions with Staten Islanders on Friday so we shifted the week a day to accommodate that."

Residents of the Mariners Harbor Houses were surprised by de Blasio's trip there, noting that if he wanted to talk to them, the city should have given some notice ahead of time.

"If I didn't come out to get my grandkids I would never even know the mayor was here," Ramirez said, noting few people were around for de Blasio's trip. "He's going here, nobody even knew. Where's the people who actually live here?"

Ramirez added, "There's no school -- the kids would have been out here."

CENTER EXPANSION

The existing community center at 157 Brabant Ave. will be expanded to include another space at 22 Roxbury St. The mayor's office said this will provide another 150 residents with community programing.

"We really believe this will help the Mariners Harbor community in general," de Blasio said.

Kiko Charles, Resident Association president of the Mariners Harbor Houses, said the community has been fighting for the community center renovation since 2001. She said a design meant for Mariners Harbor was used in the Stapleton Houses at one point.

The community center used to be a laundromat.

"There are so many children that discuss the fact that they're going to other communities and see elaborate community centers, and why is Mariners Harbor still looking like the old washroom that it used to be," she said.

The renovation is expected to complete in early 2020.

'GREAT END' TO TRIP

Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) pushed de Blasio to fund the project.

"Because the North Shore has a dearth of recreational facilities this makes today even better," she said.

Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island) told the mayor, "This is a great end to your trip."

De Blasio said his week on Staten Island helped move the project forward.

"When you spend focused time somewhere it allows us to get the solutions," he said.

De Blasio refused to take questions after the announcement, including a query about his week on Staten Island. He briefly mingled with some residents before leaving the Mariners Harbor Houses less than 30 minutes after arriving.

'THOSE KIDS DESERVE IT'

Aponte agreed that the center expansion was good for the community.

But she and other residents complained about a smelly elevator at the complex and that playground sprinklers don't turn on until the end of June. There's also a massive, noisy mobile flood light in front of the community center intended to boost safety.

"Safety reasons? Please," Ramirez said. "That's why my neighbor got shot at 2 o'clock in the afternoon."

Residents also bemoaned police enforcement against barbecues and said that buildings in the complex have heat during the summer. Last year Aponte won a lawsuit against the city because her apartment was infested with bedbugs.

"I'm glad that they're going to do something for them cause those kids deserve it," Aponte said of the community center. "But all in all, they need to do something for this whole community."

NYCHA spokeswoman Ilana Maier said that response times to maintenance work orders at the Mariners Harbor Houses decreased to 2.6 days and that there's new grounds staff, leading to a "cleaner development."

"All NYCHA residents deserve to live in well maintained communities," Maier said.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - As people slowly filtered in to IS 27 in West Brighton, eager to ask questions of Mayor Bill de Blasio at a town hall, Dave Poleshuck handed out flyers, titled "De Blasio must end broken windows policing now!"

His group, Staten Island Against Racism and Police Brutality, formed after Eric Garner died in police custody in 2014.

Two other members distributed flyers across the street.

He was unable to get into the town hall, but hoped the topic would be brought up by people inside.

"If you really want to be a sanctuary city, you must end broken windows policing," he said, adding that minor infractions lead to arrest and possible referrals to federal law enforcement.

Nearby, a small group held posters "Faulkner for NYC Mayor" supporting Republican Michel Faulkner, a Harlem pastor and former Jets defensive lineman.

Holding a makeshift press conference as people lined up to get inside the school for the town hall, Faulkner said, "These people have been neglected for so long and have so many issues. They have a real choice in November."

A few feet away stood Kathleen Boyer and her son, Thomas, 14, a student at IS 61.

They held signs protesting an indoor pool to be potentially located at Michael J. Petrides School.

"We were disturbed to learn the pool would be put there," Kathleen Boyer said, adding there's no public bus that goes to the school. The nearest one drops riders off down the street for a several-minute walk.

Tammy Greer Brown, a member of the Staten Island NAACP and Moms of Black Boys United, stood on line, eager to speak to the mayor about the relationship between police and the black community.

She also wants the city Department of Education to hire more black and Latino teachers at predominantly minority schools like Curtis HS to better reflect the student population.

The town hall kicks off at 7 p.m., the fourth day de Blasio has spent on Staten Island for "City Hall in Your Borough."

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island Ferry boat will be named for the historic Sandy Ground community settled by freed slaves in Rossville.

Mayor Bill de Blasio made the announcement at a town hall in West Brighton on Thursday night.

Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) launched a petition in February calling for a boat named for the settlement. By Thursday night, 572 supporters had signed on.

The first of three new Staten Island Ferry boats will be named for the late Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis and the next boat class will also be designated for him.

De Blasio said in February that Staten Islanders will get to decide what to name the next two boats.

"We're going to be talking to people on Staten Island to get a sense of what they think," de Blasio told the Advance on Feb. 14. "I think that's the important thing we have to do."

In March, de Blasio spokeswoman Jessica Ramos said, "The naming process is not formalized, but we welcome suggestions from all Staten Islanders."

SANDY GROUND'S RICH HISTORY

The history of Sandy Ground dates back to one year after slavery was abolished in New York, when ferry boat operator Capt. John Jackson became the first African American to own property on Staten Island on Feb. 23, 1828.

Sandy Ground was settled by other African-American oystermen from Chesapeake Bay fleeing the restrictive industry laws of Maryland. Within walking distance of the Prince's Bay docks and the abundant oyster beds of the Raritan Bay, they found prosperity and freedom from persecution there.

Once a flourishing community of over 150 African-American families, Sandy Ground now primarily consists of a small collection of historic structures, five of which are designated as New York City landmarks, including a church, three residential structures and the cemetery.

Through the mid-19th century, Sandy Ground flourished and the booming oyster industry allowed residents to own their homes, property, boats and businesses.

The center of the community, the A.M.E. Zion Church, was also a major stop on the Underground Railroad, as Capt. Jackson brought slaves to Staten Island and New Jersey aboard the ferry boat he owned and operated. Descendants of Sandy Ground settlers still worship at the church.

"The story of Sandy Ground is an incredible chapter in American history that may be unknown to most New Yorkers," de Blasio said in a statement. "Honoring this historic community with a state-of the art new ferry will encourage visitors to travel to the landmarked Sandy Ground community to learn first-hand the rich and too-often untold histories of freed slaves in this country as well as of African-Americans on Staten Island. I thank Council Member Rose for her visionary leadership and tireless efforts to keep this history alive."

"Historically, many of our ferries and all matter of watercraft have relied on place names to honor their home and towns,'' said Rose. "I believe we have the perfect confluence of joining history to one of our beaming new ferries by naming it Sandy Ground, one of Staten Island's historic settlements. We rely on our ferry to bring us home, where we find shelter and safety and Sandy Ground exemplifies all those basic needs that an African American ferry captain sought and found here on Staten Island."

FIRST BOATS IN 2019

The Ollis class of boats will be the first added to the city's eight-ferry fleet in more than a decade, replacing the old Kennedy ship, the Andrew J. Barberi and the Samuel I. Newhouse.

The new 4,500-passenger vessels will be designed to operate more safely in extreme weather and will be modeled after the popular John F. Kennedy ferryboats, complete with outdoor promenades. All three will have the same design.

The first boat is expected to be delivered in 2019.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A suspect has been arrested and another alleged culprit remains at large in the robbery and Taser attack of a 23-year-old man in New Brighton, according to police.

Ramon Briggs, 39, of Vanderbilt Avenue, has been charged with robbery in connection with the incident that occurred last November inside the home of the 23-year-old victim who lives in the vicinity of Jersey and Carlyle streets, according to a statement and a spokesman for the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Briggs, who was arrested on April 6 and was held at Rikers Island until he was released on his own recognizance on Tuesday, is due back in Criminal Court on April 25, according to police and public records.

Kevin Carter, 31, of Hill Street, a second suspect named by the police, has not yet been apprehended, a police spokesman said.

Police had asked for the public's help in locating Briggs and Carter.

The 23-year-old male victim was returning home from a laundromat when he was approached from behind at his front door by the two suspects who pushed their way into the apartment, according to a police statement and spokesman.

The suspects allegedly pushed the victim to the ground, punched and kick the victim and then zapped him in lower back and leg, the police spokesman and statement said.

Cash and the man's keys to his car were stolen during the incident, the police statement said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - It's always a bit of a crucible when Mayor Bill de Blasio comes to Staten Island. His unpopularity here is well known. And it continues, despite the good things that the de Blasio administration has done here. He doesn't need to win Staten Island in order to win re-election. He's deep political blue. We're the red borough. It's a tough mix. It's not all his fault.

And there have been complaints that de Blasio doesn't come to Staten Island often enough. But we can't say that these days. He's spent his whole work week with us, bringing City Hall to the borough, including holding a town hall on Thursday night at Prall Intermediate School in West Brighton.

There have been lots of events this week, lots of announcements. We've appreciated the attention. But the real results remain to be seen. Did actual work get done while de Blasio and his commissioners were camped out here? Or was it just political theater in a re-election year?

Probably a little of both.

There have been some good things.

De Blasio announced that one of the new ferries would be named in honor of Sandy Ground. There was the groundbreaking for the $4.5 million Grandview Park in Mariners Harbor, now to be known as The Big Park.

During the week, the Department of Transportation said that they want the streets in the Mount Manresa development to be public streets, which could put a crimp in the controversial development plans. People will be able to board the Staten Island Ferry from the downstairs area in St. George during the morning rush. Staten Island MakerSpace got a $50,000 grant.

But there was also the bad.

De Blasio was supposed to come here on Sunday, but then delayed until Monday. He rode the boat over after rush hour was done, and from the Manhattan side, lessening his chances of running into actual Staten Islanders. The NYPD kicked those aggressive ticket vendors off the terminal premises before the mayor arrived, so he didn't get to see the real conditions there. He came during spring break, so didn't really see our true traffic situation. He left the Island for an event in Manhattan on Thursday.

And we're still not part of the city's fast-ferry plan, even though Borough President James Oddo announced that Borough Hall had negotiated a separate fast ferry route from St. George to Midtown Manhattan with NY Waterway.

We'll take the good with the bad.

At the town hall, De Blasio said he was "honored" to be out here this week. He touted continuing downturns in crime and the successes of the Vision Zero program. He talked about our opioid crisis, from the criminal justice side and the prevention/treatment side. He talked about potholes. Universal pre-K.

And that was all before he even took a question!

In fact, there was a little too much talking, from de Blasio and other elected officials who were present. It was close to 8 p.m. before we finally got to a question from an actual person at the town hall. First the electeds talked about how much they got along with each other. Some inside joked were made. Then de Blasio gave a rundown on his achievements.

Enough already. Get to the people and their questions. That's what we're here for.

Being a North Shore venue, it was a friendly crowd for the mayor. There were questions on social justice and criminal reform issues. Jobs and affordable housing. Immigration. The Rikers Island closure.

He also tackled questions on rezoning, broken sidewalks on St. Mark's Place, and future use of the the old Criminal Court building in Stapleton.

One questioner talked about the toll that the heroin crisis is taking on Great Kills, so the South Shore was represented.

There were many, many questions about how North Shore kids need more recreational opportunities. He said that the location for the coming indoor pool was still "to be determined." So it might not be at the Petrides complex after all.

Whatever the question, the mayor seemed at home, even when he had to tell one youth that, yes, the city would continue to hand out summonses for those who don't pay the fare on mass transit.

De Blasio also got a friendly reception during his town hall in the Mid-Island last year, despite fears it would be a tough crowd. A South Shore venue? That might be a challenge for the mayor. Maybe if he's re-elected.

City Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) said that because of de Blasio's visit, Staten Island "can no longer use the moniker of the forgotten borough." She said, "Our voices have been heard."

She said de Blasio "loves Staten Island," and that she would make him an "honorary member of Shaolin."

We'll see.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Pedro Abad, the former Linden, N.J. cop charged in a fatal wrong-way crash on the West Shore Expressway two years ago, has decided to roll the dice and go to trial.

On Monday, prosecutors and the defense will present their opening arguments to a jury in state Supreme Court, St. George. Witness testimony will follow.

The charges against Abad, 29, are serious and carry a heavy penalty - a potential maximum sentence of eight and a-third to 25 years in prison if convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide, the top count.

And if Abad is to have any chance to beat some or all of the charges, his lawyer, Mario F. Gallucci, must aggressively contest every element of each count against the defendant, as well as the scientific and forensic evidence, such as toxicology results and accident-reconstruction dynamics, say criminal defense attorneys not involved in the case.

"Mistakes are made in these [forensic] tests all the time," said Kevin McKernan, a former prosecutor based in Tottenville. "As a general principle, you need to attack all the scientific evidence in these cases and show what the results mean, if anything."

CHALLENGING BLOOD

To that end, Gallucci in pretrial proceedings, has signaled his intent to challenge whether a sample of Abad's blood taken from the defendant at Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton after the deadly March 20, 2015 wreck was properly obtained and tested.

Prosecutors contend the sample showed Abad's blood alcohol content was .24 percent - three times the legal limit - when he slammed into a tractor trailer around 4:40 a.m. while driving northbound in the southbound lanes of the expressway near Arden Avenue.

Prosecutors allege Abad and his three passengers had been drinking at Curves, a Charleston strip club, shortly before the crash.

The collision killed two passengers in Abad's car, Joseph Rodriguez and Linden P.O. Frank Viggiano, both 28, allege prosecutors.

Abad, 29, was badly injured in the wreck as was another passenger, Patrik Kudlac, 25, also a Linden police officer at the time.

Defense motions to suppress the blood samples were denied, since a government agency was not involved in the process; however, Justice Mario F. Mattei, who is presiding over the trial, said the matter of how the sample was extracted and examined is an evidentiary issue for the jury to decide.

Gallucci, a seasoned attorney and ex-prosecutor who achieved acquittals for clients in two murder cases last year, will seek to nullify the validity of the extraction and results, as Abad's alleged intoxication is a key element in the most serious charges against him.

Besides aggravated vehicular homicide, Abad is charged under a 27-count indictment with felony counts of vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, second-degree manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault and assault, along with misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, reckless driving and driving while intoxicated.

TOUGH FIGHT FOR GALLUCCI

But Gallucci has a tough, if not insurmountable, task in the eyes of some lawyers.

"Sometimes in your career you come across cases that simply should not go to trial," said Mark J. Fonte, a veteran St. George-based criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor. "After reviewing the facts and circumstances of this case, proceeding to trial is a suicide mission. The deck is overwhelmingly stacked against Mr. Abad."

Abad could have avoided a trial, as a defendant did five years ago in a similar case.

In January 2012, Grasmere resident Nicholas Marchese pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and other charges stemming from a drunken one-car wreck on Aug. 29, 2010, in Greenridge in which two passengers in the vehicle he was driving were killed. The remaining four occupants, including Marchese, were badly hurt.

Marchese, now 27, agreed to a plea offer which called for him to be sentenced to no less than four to 12 years in prison and no more than six to 18 years behind bars.

Marchese's lawyer, former prosecutor and veteran criminal defense attorney Leo V. Duval, said the case was one of the most difficult he's handled in his career, owing to the tragic circumstances surrounding it and the weight of the evidence against his client.

Those factors figured prominently in his client's decision to accept the plea offer as opposed to risking a trial and the possibility of a steeper sentence if convicted, said Duval.

ABAD REJECTS PLEA

In February, Abad rejected prosecutors' offer to plead guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in exchange for a sentence of no less than five to 15 years in prison and no more than seven to 21 years behind bars.

Fonte said when prosecutors and the defense agree on a sentencing range judges will typically "meet the parties in the middle" in imposing sentence.

Had that been the case here, Abad would have been sentenced to six to 18 years in prison.

In such a sentence, called an indeterminate sentence, a defendant can apply for parole after serving the minimum portion of the sentence (six years in a sentence of six to 18 years) and re-apply every two years thereafter, if denied.

Defendants who receive indeterminate sentences not having a lifetime prison component for the maximum punishment are usually conditionally released on serving two-thirds of the maximum (12 years in a sentence of six to 18 years), said Fonte.

Patrick V. Parrotta, a Sunnyside criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor, said defendants and their attorneys may believe they have no option but to go to trial, even if the evidence against them is daunting.

"In cases such as that, quite often there is no palatable disposition prior to trial in that any agreed-upon sentence as part of a plea bargain will involve considerable jail time which is often a difficult proposition for a defendant to accept, and you're left with very little option but to try the case," said Parrotta. "Trials, quite often, are extreme remedies."

That's apparently the case with Abad.

'I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TRIAL'



Gallucci, Abad's lawyer, previously told reporters his client nixed prosecutors' plea offer because the upper range of the proposed sentence was so near the maximum of eight and a-third to 25 years for a trial conviction.

He reiterated those comments in a telephone interview this week.

"If you look at my career, I am generally retained to take on the toughest trial cases on Staten Island, and I've had some success in trying those cases," said Gallucci. "Unfortunately, in a lot of those cases the evidence is overwhelming, and it's my job to make sure my client gets a fair trial."

"In this particular case, the offer to my client is so high, and either option [accepting prosecutors' offer or the sentence Abad would receive if convicted at trial] will change his life significantly," Gallucci said. "My client deemed that his best option was to try the case, and we will do that. I look forward to the trial."

Parrotta, who said he handles 60 to 70 drunk-driving cases a year, said prosecutors must prove Abad was intoxicated and that he was behind the wheel.

To accomplish that, they'll rely on first-responder and witness testimony, any video obtained showing the car in motion, DNA samples from the steering wheel and air bags and other evidence, he said.

Gallucci will aggressively try to poke holes in that evidence and testimony and very possibly seek to raise doubts about who was driving.

Patrik Kudlac, who survived the crash, is expected to testify. Gallucci has said he'll call Kudlac to the stand if prosecutors don't.

Even if the situation seems untenable, there are risks in going to trial, Parrotta said.

"When you turn down a plea offer, you'll be granted a fair trial," he said. "(But) sometimes you go to trial at your own peril knowing there could be a heightened sentence if you're convicted."

CAN HE BEAT TOP COUNT?

And if the case seems unwinnable as a whole, defense lawyers may take another tack - focus on obtaining a non-guilty verdict on the highest charge, even if it means convictions on lower charges.

"Sometimes, you try a case not to get an acquittal, but to beat the top count," said Fonte.

In Abad's case, the second highest charges carry a maximum penalty of five to 15 years in prison - which equates to the lower end of the sentencing range prosecutors offered Abad to plead guilty.

Defendants are not required to testify, and lawyers said they'd be greatly surprised if Abad took the stand.

Should he do so, he can expect intense grilling from Assistant District Attorneys Mark Palladino and Frank Prospero on his actions that evening, including his consumption of alcohol and his 12 total visits to Curves over a period of time.

Prosecutors can also question Abad about a statement he made to authorities before his 2013 drunk-driving conviction in New Jersey. Abad told investigators he had consumed alcohol and fallen asleep behind the wheel, according to statements made in court in recent pretrial hearings.

During jury selection, Palladino sought to gauge potential panelists' feelings on drunk-driving responsibility. He asked if they would hold Abad accountable even if his friends allowed him to get behind the wheel despite his being drunk.

Lawyers said Abad can't use as a criminal defense any failure by his companions to stop him from driving after drinking.

"There is no legal duty for any third party to prevent him from committing a crime," said Parrotta. "There may be some moral duty, but under the law, there is no legal duty to prevent someone from committing the crime in such a way that it will exculpate the defendant from criminal responsibility for his actions."

"It's not a legal defense to the charges, [but] it might be mitigating at sentencing," said Fonte. "It is totally irrelevant to the crimes charged here. The one who got behind the wheel and drove is the responsible party. Only one person was driving."

---

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The way of the empty hands The Simi Valley Shotokan Karate Dojo recently hosted a two-day seminar at Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District headquarters featuring a trio of karate experts. The Oct. 22 seminar was...

Slide into winter fun at SnowFest The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District is bringing snow to Simi Valley. SnowFest will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun., Nov. 6 at Rancho Madera Community...


Marti Wolfson '02 (center) at the stewpot

Armed with fresh vegetables and grains, chef Marti Wolfson 02 showed students how to make healthy meals from scratch. She was back on campus as a guest in Principles of Nutrition, taught by her former professor Paul Arciero in health and exercise sciences. The class was held in the test kitchen of Murray-Aikins Dining Hall.



RJ Caruso '18 wields the tongs.







An exercise science and dance double-major, Wolfson earned a master's degree in human nutrition and functional medicine from the University of Western States in Oregon. Goals for the Skidmore workshop, she says, were to help show students how to enhance their own health and how to work with their clients when they go out into the health-care field.
Given such good actors and such compelling source material, The Dinner is an exercise in prolonged frustration.
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The Rape Crisis Center facilitates "Expect Respect" at Madison East High School, a workshop aimed at developing youth leaders through conversations around relationships, sexual harassment, rape culture and other sensitive topics.
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
State Debate: State needs to approve toll roads before it's too late, researcher claims
Peter Wilson, a special prosecutor appointed by the provincial government, argued that expert evidence was going to be called from witnesses in the United States and that it wouldn't make sense to have them come to Canada again for a second trial.
A Canberra charity set up in the wake of the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal is quietly kicking goals, raising money for much-needed restoration work and giving Australians the chance to work on local community projects from building libraries to installing water tanks.

Founded by Canberra trekking enthusiast and yoga teacher Lou Nulley and Nepalese-born Lachhu Thapa from The Hungry Buddha restaurants in Curtin and Belconnen, REACH for Nepal has also just finalised a sponsorship arrangement with Singapore Airlines to carry a limited amount of donated goods to Nepal for free when volunteers travel for a project.

Australians volunteering in Nepal thanks to Canberra charity REACH for Nepal.

The charity has also appointed 2016 Olympic gold medallist Kim Brennan as its first ambassador, a position she is "incredibly proud" to hold.

Entirely run by volunteers, REACH for Nepal's priority is supporting people in remote, isolated areas of Nepal who have not been reached by other agencies. The areas are often only accessible by foot.
NSW Police detected an ACT-registered vehicle driving at 158km/h on the Kings Highway near Braidwood on Friday.

Police said the motorist told them "other people wouldn't give me space".

NSW Police detected an ACT-registered vehicle driving at 158km/h on the Kings Highway near Braidwood. Credit:NSW Police

With double demerits in place for the Easter long weekend, the driver was fined $2350, was given 14 demerit points and was disqualified from driving in NSW for six months.

Police launched Operation Tortoise on Thursday and joined forces with Ambulance NSW to appeal for drivers to take it "slow and steady".
A desperate mum who was in her Rivett home during one of several burglaries at the residence is calling on the public's help to catch the culprits.

Maria Brady was devastated that more than $5,000 of valuables were stolen from the house over three break-ins in roughly two years. On one occasion she heard a splash in her 11-year-old son's bedroom and discovered a thief had fallen off the window sill into a fish tank before fleeing.

Maria Brady feels too unsafe in her Rivett home to have her own children there after it was burgled three times in two years Credit:Clare Sibthorpe

The single mother's two sons had not stayed in the house since the latest burglary last Monday out of fears for their safety.

"I am desperate. I need this living hell to stop," she said.
Credit Suisse Group AG leaders including chief executive officer Tidjane Thiam offered to have their variable pay awards cut 40 per cent after a growing chorus of investor advisory groups opposed the packages ahead of this year's annual meeting.

Mr Thiam and the executive board volunteered to shrink long-term incentive awards for 2017 and short-term incentive awards for 2016, according to a statement early Friday on the Zurich-based bank's website. Total board compensation will stay at the level of 2015 and 2016, with no incremental increase in 2017 as previously proposed, according to the statement.

Tidjane Thiam, chief executive officer of Credit Suisse Group. Credit:Bloomberg

This week, Institutional Shareholder Services joined other advisers in denouncing 26 million francs ($US26 million) in proposed short-term bonuses and as much as 52 million francs in long-term bonuses for the executive board. The awards are too rich for a company that has posted two consecutive annual losses, ISS said. It also criticised a plan to boost compensation for the board of directors to 12.5 million francs.

"Feedback on the group's strategy and its execution has been supportive," Credit Suisse said in its statement.
The planned $1.6 billion mixed use development by Greenland and GH Australia is gaining momentum with the launch of the site that will deliver parklands for the Erskineville area.

Greenland and GH Australia will now rejuvenate the 6.9-hectare industrial precinct and transform it into a what they say will be a "vibrant residential and retail community centre".

Impression of the project concept plan of the 6.9ha industrial precinct, Park Sydney.

The joint venture partners bought the site, now called Park Sydney in 2016 for $380 million from Goodman Group, which comprised old warehouses and very few green, communal areas.

Goodman sold the asset as part of its urban renewal program, where it deems land non-core for its purposes, but allows developers ro enter and transform to mixed use inner city projects.
For all the government's obsession with framing the federal budget to ensure it wins support from a particular political constituency, sensible economic management should always be guided by the goal of creating opportunity for all Australians to prosper. Politics, as seasoned observers know, will then take care of itself.

The catastrophic failure of the Abbott government's 2014 budget should be seared in the minds of the Coalition and Labor alike as an example of the dangers that follow when political pandering trumps common sense. Replete as it was with ideological hobby horses designed to appeal to the hard right, especially in cuts to welfare programs, the 2014 budget was rightly judged to be manifestly unfair by the majority. The experience became a significant factor in the eventual decision to replace Mr Abbott as prime minister.

But Malcolm Turnbull and his Treasurer, Scott Morrison, are yet to prove the lessons have been learnt. Their first budget in 2016 was designed principally as a platform for the last election, the decision-making cycle truncated by the longer-than-usual campaign and a self-inflicted distraction about raising the rate of the GST. So in a fashion, this year is their first "normal" budget, only for the deliberations to once again be nobbled by internecine conflicts and warring ideologies.

A case in point is the unruly stoush this week over allowing first-home buyers to raid superannuation. Rather than tackling structural problems driving up property prices, especially with negative gearing, factions within the government floated an idea that would only serve to damage what has proved a world-leading scheme for retirement savings.
Junior is the same man who PS previously revealed has been spending much time with Jacenko and her young children, Pixie and Hunter, in recent months while her husband and children's father, convicted inside trader Oliver Curtis, cools his heels at Her Majesty's pleasure in Cooma jail. Curtis is due for release at the end of June. Nabil Gazal and Roxy Jacenko dining at Sydney's Otto restaurant. Apkar Ervan is also the jeweller of choice for the well-connected Gazal family. He refused to comment on Jacenko's ring when PS called, however he also created the huge diamond engagement ring that Junior's sister, former Miss Australia turned Real Housewives of Sydney star, Nicole O'Neil wears. That ring has become famous in its own right after featuring recently in a scene on RHOS in which Athena X screamed across a dinner table: "Talk to my six-carat you bitch!" reaching her hand out into the air. O'Neil's hand soon shot into the air as well as she screeched back: "Mine's eight-and-a-half!" Roxy Jacenko with her husband Oliver Curtis and their son Hunter. Credit:Roxy Jacenko/Instagram

Meanwhile Jacenko has been on the publicity trail once again this week flogging her Oprah-style one woman gabfest about herself, though not with the 60 Minutes crew who documented her cancer surgery last year, but rather her local rag, The Wentworth Courier. Revealing she would be with her children outside the prison gates when Curtis is released, Jacenko told The Wenty: "It's very important we're there." As for her famous disappearing engagement ring from Curtis, she explained: "Who wears their rings to the gym? ... I don't even care [what is printed]. I actually could not care less. If I stand next to someone I must be seeing them." Model citizen of the world From Castle Hill to the bright lights of Dubai (with stop overs in Paris, New York and Milan) Sydney beauty Jessica Kahawaty really does have the world at her feet, zipping between some of the most glamorous destinations where she is feted on red carpets and graces the pages of fashion magazines.

But strangely, it's back here in her home town where she remains an unknown. Jessica Kahawaty has deals with some of the world's leading luxury companies. "You know it has been an amazing couple of years," the stunning 28-year-old tells PS from Dubai, where she was about to head out to dinner with supermodel Bella Hadid (as you do). The statuesque beauty is best known across the Middle East as the host of Project Runway Arabia. "But in my heart I really do feel Australian, that's why I'm coming home. That wonderful multicultural upbringing I had in Sydney has helped me in my life here ... I like to consider myself as a bit of a cultural bridge between the Middle East and the West ... two cultures coming together." TV host and former Miss Australia Jessica Kahawaty. Credit:Getty Images

While the UTS Finance and Business Law graduate has ongoing deals with some of the world's leading luxury companies including IWC watches, Dior, Rolls-Royce, Louis Vuitton, Celine, and has modelled for Vogue Arabia, she has also devoted herself to worthy pursuits ranging from supporting Indigenous children's education in the outback to clean water for the impoverished of Africa. Of Lebanese-Australian decent, Kahawaty speaks fluent Arabic. Indeed she is so good she has no Australian accent, making her origins quite a surprise around the chic boutiques of Dubai. Australian model Jessica Kahawaty is better known outside the country. "They think I'm a local ... it is pretty funny when I tell them that I actually am Australian," she says, adding that she hopes to provide a more positive image for Arabic people back in Sydney. "There is good and bad in everyone and everything. There are countries in the Middle East experiencing hardship and war, and it is really sad. But you also have such a huge part of this region which is extremely cultural. Just recently I attended an event at the Museum of Islamic Art and it was the most beautiful museum I have ever been to, and I'm Christian," she says.

And while she is yet to find "Mr Right", one would have to ask whether she has time for one with a schedule ranging from Paris runway shows to the upcoming Met Gala in New York City. Mother and (mostly dutiful) son Parisian soirees with Christian Dior in 1950s Paris, cocktails with a young Tamie and Malcolm Fraser in Sydney, encounters with European princes and Lady so and so, decorating Dame Zara Holt's dining room, country parties at media scion James Fairfax's rambling estate Retford Park in the Southern Highlands: the late Sydney interior designer and flamboyant social columnist Leslie Walford lived in a genteel world far removed from today's social media "influencers" and vulgar reality television starlets. Indeed, delicious morsels from his extraordinary life can now be gleaned from a new book based on a collection of letters he wrote to his beloved mother, feted Sydney society hostess Dora Byrne. The letters stretch from the early 1930s to just a few weeks before she died in 1972. Dora Byrne and her son Leslie Walford at the annual Eton v Winchester cricket match in 1945. The photograph was published in Credit:The Tatler & Bystander

Edited by historian Edith Ziegler, a personal friend of Walford, the extraordinary correspondence has been compiled in the new book Darling Mother, Darling Son: The Letters Of Leslie Walford and Dora Byrne, 1929-1972. The pair were compulsive letter writers and covered everything from fashions and theatre, often in florid prose from Walford, to slightly more undesirable subjects, such as his mother's somewhat ill-advised warning to her gay son not to associate himself with "effeminate riff-raff" and "homosexuals". The correspondence forms part of a substantial archive of personal and business papers belonging to Walford which is now held by the Caroline Simpson Library and Research Collection. Walford's executor, his life partner Colin Davies, handed over the archive following his death, with two basement storage rooms under Walford's harbourside home in Double Bay crammed with the treasure trove of letters, diaries and accoutrements that documents so much of our city's rich social history. Leslie Walford in his Woollahra office in 2004. Credit:Edwina Pickles Just four weeks before his death in 2012, Walford, who wrote a similar column to PS for decades which documented our city's bright things, celebrated his 85th birthday at home with Davies. Ailing but still eminently quotable, he told me: "I feel like everyone else when they reach such an age  a mixture of triumph and sorrow." The book is thoroughly engaging, get a copy.

Mr Billich goes to Washington Make your own judgements on President Donald Trump's tastes in art, but he is about to have a new work gracing the walls of the White House courtesy of PS's favourite artist, one Charles Billich. But no, its not one of his famous nudes of wife Melania. Rather Billich and his Bavarian wife Christa (it's veally vonderful darlink!) are headed to Washington on May 22, where Charles will be presenting a painting with the Prime Minister of Croatia, the country of his birth. Trump is scheduled to personally receive the artwork on behalf of the White House. The piece will join another painting by Billich that is apparently hanging in the White House's Green Room, which was presented to George W. Bush while he was in office and commemorated Croatia joining the Western alliance through NATO. Following the White House fanfare the Billiches are headed to the United Nations in New York where his work will be on exhibition for a week from May 23. The White House is in good company, with Charles' work hanging on such coveted walls as The Vatican in Rome and Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills.
Miya Bradley and her father. My dad's American, but he lived as an expat in Japan for 50 years. My parents divorced when I was a baby and he raised me. I moved to Australia 17 years ago. I have a half-sister who lives in California, but she's paralysed on her left side. My father's housekeeper in Japan started noticing changes in him. He's diabetic and has short-term memory loss. Because there's no family there, she asked me what my plans were. I didn't feel like giving up my life here and moving to Japan to look after my father so we moved him to the States first, where he has a brother, but it was a disaster. He just couldn't relate to America after 50 years in Japan. So five years ago I said, "Dad, Australia is really nice, let's give it a go. It's just a plane ride; if it doesn't work, you can go back to Japan."

The first two years here he went through depression. It was really hard  he was over 80, his entire life involved Japan. He kept saying, "Why, why, why?" But my focus on my father was diluted because my partner was going through a horrific divorce [with his ex-wife]. The attention I needed to give my father wasn't there: I only recognised that later on. It is the one thing I will forever regret  but until we become old ourselves we never truly understand all the emotional things one goes through. My father lives around the corner from me in a very small unit; it has beautiful views. I've made a lot of adjustments so that he can live independently for as long as possible. I've set up his phone so he just has to press a picture of me to make a call, I covered all the buttons on the microwave except for start and stop, I got him a medical bracelet, and I installed a security camera. I'm trying to keep the person he is, but equally adapt to his ageing. Because I work full-time, my father has a carer who comes in every day to prepare his meals and take him to his activities. I do the grocery shopping, the laundry, look after the medication. I call him every morning at 9am and prompt him to take it. Everything you would do for your child, I now do for my father. As I'm getting older, I feel I need more support. I wish I had someone to talk to. I have friends who can listen, but, at 87, my father is much older than their fathers.

It's so hard to transition from the father/daughter relationship to the carer/senior relationship. All those years of, "Dad, you give me strength, you give me guidance, you're the one I rely on" I don't think I'll ever be able to get over the fact my father is no longer my father, he's a senior person. Cheryl Soper, 54, lives with her 84-year-old father, who has dementia. Cheryl Soper lives with her father. My father had a stroke in 2010; a year later, my mother passed away. I've been my father's full-time carer since then. First I lived with him on our farm near Tamworth [in north-east NSW], but as his dementia got worse, we moved into town, where there are more facilities. I thought I might be able to work, but I can't leave him too long. His dementia has tied me to him. He can eat and he can shower, but he needs direction. He's gone from being a very active man, hard-working from sun-up to sundown, to having no motivation. He gets confused, he repeats things, he'll go wandering in the middle of the night.

I get frustrated. I think, "You're keeping me from actually living. One, I'd have more money, and two, I'd have a life." Sometimes I get bored out of my mind. I'm doing a TAFE course online; at least it gives me something to do while he's just sitting there. We get respite care every Wednesday, which is brilliant, and he goes to the local men's shed with a carer twice a week. Otherwise, it's just him and me. It's like groundhog day every day. It's very repetitious, it's draining. I'm only 54 and I've basically had no social life for a few years now and it's obviously going to get worse. I can't go out for dinner impromptu. Everything revolves around getting back home to him. It's like having a child. I have a brother in Sydney, but for him it's "out of sight, out of mind". There has been no disagreement, he just doesn't have to deal with it, so I have no backup. I have done the paperwork for a nursing home, but [for now] my dad's not too hard to look after. I'd have to be really pushed [to put him in a home]. I do have my limits though  if his bowel movements got out of control, or he couldn't go into the shower, or he got abusive, that would be the end of it.

My father used to say when he saw someone with an illness, "If I ever get like that, put me down a wombat hole." But I guarantee you now, he wouldn't want to go into one. He doesn't want to be a burden, but now he's got dementia he'd rather be at home. Some days I think, "He's got to go," and then I think, "No he doesn't." He's still my dad. I'll never regret looking after him. I feel it is something I have to do. When you were little, your parents didn't go, "You're inconvenient, I'll just leave you there." Judy Benson, 59, moved her 92-year-old mother into an aged-care facility after a series of falls. Judy Benson moved her mother into an aged-care home. My mum and I have always been very close. She lost her husband, my dad, when I was 11 so she's been mum and dad most of my life. We lived fairly close to each other, and as she got older I was there a lot, bringing her meals and so on. We tried to keep her at home as long as we could, and we had people coming in to help her. We tried to get reliable people but it's not always easy.

Mum's mobility got progressively worse. She was having falls: she had one fall in the middle of the night and lay on the floor until daylight before she called because she didn't want to worry me. Eventually her hip went. The doctors said, "She can't go back home." She couldn't come and live with me because her health was [deteriorating]. She knew the best option was an aged-care facility. I was dreading the actual final decision [but] she made it much easier for me because she was so accepting. She'd been in respite care before when I went on holidays, which gave her a taste of what it was like. Looking for the best aged care is a bit like looking for the best preschool for your toddler. It's very much instinct. My mum has worked hard all her life and my goal was to fi nd her somewhere nice. Ultimately, it's your mum  you want to do the very best by her, because she's done her best by me. I had a brother; he died of cancer some years ago. It's really only me, which has made it easier in a way, but there is no one to share the load of decision-making. It was very hard clearing out a whole house of memories and possessions and trying to condense that down to one room  what does she take with her?
Boys have a stronger sense of belonging at school and are less likely to be anxious than girls, a survey of 135,000 students in NSW high schools reveals.

But girls have higher aspirations and are better behaved at school, data from the survey  the largest of its kind in Australia  shows.

The Tell Them From Me survey, run by the NSW Department of Education's Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE), captures the views of hundreds of thousands of students in years 4 to 12 at NSW public schools.

A new report, using the results from the survey of high school students in term one of 2015, found there was a gender gap between boys and girls on most measures of student engagement and wellbeing.
CodePink activists, including co-founder Medea Benjamin, right, hold up signs against Attorney General-designate, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, as he testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
She first had chest pains while working as a resident in intensive care, and put them down to stress. But when Sashie Howpage had difficulty breathing, her GP sent her for a chest x-ray.

"The radiographer, recognising I was a doctor, said, 'Do you want to come and have a look at your x-ray?'" she said. "I saw a huge mass in my chest. I'd seen it before; I knew what I was facing. No one told me that I had cancer - I figured it out in that dark room, alone."

Dr Howpage was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. She started treatment on her 24th birthday, undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy - a process she described as "fighting evil with evil".

She has been in remission for three years, but severe side effects almost drove her to give up treatment. She felt she had lost control of her life. Blogs written by other sufferers terrified her.
A 15-year-old boy who was shot in the head "execution-style" as he lay in bed on Friday morning has died in hospital.

Brayden Dillon, 15, was shot at point-blank range after a masked gunman kicked down the door to his family's home in Glenfield, in south-west Sydney, just after 6am.

Investigators believe the shooting may be a revenge attack linked to a previous homicide.

Fairfax Media understands authorities had been called to the family's rented home in Moresby Avenue at least three times in the past two years for incidents involving Brayden.
As three teenagers were driving home from the gym one afternoon last June, a group of men standing on a street corner in Panania allegedly started yelling abuse at them.

Rather than keep driving, Joshua Dillon, 18, James Rivera and a 17-year-old stopped, allegedly got out of their white Hilux ute and, within seconds, a fight erupted between the two groups.

It ended with the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old TAFE student Adam Abu-Mahmoud.

Dillon, Rivera and the 17-year-old were subsequently charged and refused bail.
When Sally Parslow moved into Millers Point in the mid-1970s, the area was home to many single, retired wharfies who lived in boarding homes owned by the Maritime Services Board.

In a terrace in Lower Fort Street, she and her young daughter lived with elderly gentlemen with names like "Jocky" and "Bluey", who had spent their lives working at the nearby docks.

In the 40 years since, Ms Parslow has turned the rundown 19th-century boarding house into a home. She raised her daughter there, invested her personal savings into preserving its heritage value and paid the maintenance bills.

"The place was in extreme disrepair when I moved in. I have put my life into caring for this property and I thought I'd die here," Ms Parslow said.
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.
As most Victorians ate hot cross buns, queued for seafood, slept in or hunted for an open supermarket, an estimated 2000 people walked through Melbourne's CBD on Good Friday morning to observe the Stations of the Cross.

The annual procession, organised by Melbourne City Churches in Action, was a solemn 2-hour walk past nine CBD churches, attended by eight Christian denominations.

The Reverend Canon Heather Patacca washes feet during the Choral Eucharist on Thursday at St Paul's Cathedral. Credit:Darrian Traynor

The crowd moved through the CBD, led by priests and parish members from the various participating churches.

"It's been a significantly unsettled time lately. That moves people to express and explore their faith in new and different ways," Reverend James Barr of the Melbourne Welsh Church said.
Two of Melbourne's famous laneways are set to be given greater protections against skyscraper development.

The City of Melbourne has said it will seek heritage controls for about 100 buildings in the heart of the CBD, including most of Hardware Lane, the bustling cafe and tourist mecca that runs between Bourke and Little Lonsdale streets.

Hardware Lane in Melbourne. Credit:Justin McManus.

Most of Guildford Lane and parts of Elizabeth Street between La Trobe and Bourke streets will also be granted beefed-up protections if the controls are approved

Councillor Rohan Leppert said while the planned controls would not outlaw developers from demolishing and altering heritage buildings in the area, it would be more difficult, because they would be required to get a permit.


A Melbourne toddler has spent more than five hours with his finger stuck in a plughole as nine firefighters worked to free him.

The three-year-old's finger became firmly wedged in the plughole about 6pm on Thursday, and he remained stuck there for five-and-a-half hours.

Firefighters said the particular design of the boy's Kew East home meant that the operation was a more difficult one than usual.

The toddler, who watched videos during the protracted operation, eventually had his finger separated from the plughole in Box Hill Hospital.
The dawn of Good Friday has brought horror to Collie families, with one local teenager dead and two other young men seriously injured in a car crash early in the morning.

The Holden Colorado utility they were in was travelling south when it left Mungalup Road and hit a tree just after midnight.

The RAC helicopter was called to assist. Credit:Mathew Hayes

An 18-year-old man in the back seat died at the scene from injuries received in the crash.

The 19-year-old man beside him was seriously injured and the RAC Rescue Helicopter flew him to Royal Perth Hospital.
ALGIERS - An Air Algerie flight crashed on Thursday en route from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso to Algiers with 110 passengers on board, an Algerian aviation official said.

There were few clear indications of what might have happened to the aircraft, or whether there were casualties, but Burkina Faso Transport Minister Jean Bertin Ouedrago said it asked to change route at 0138 GMT because of a storm in the area.

"I can confirm that it has crashed," the Algerian official told Reuters, declining to be identified or to give any details about what had happened to the aircraft on its way north.

Almost half of the passengers were French citizens, an airline official said.
The Sifting and Winnowing plaque mounted on the front of Bascom Hall on the UW-Madison campus.
Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been "hung out to dry" over atrocities on Rohingya Muslims, according to a senior Australian Labor Party official and East Timor's former president Jose Ramos Horta.

"Condemning Suu Kyi, a former dissident and Nobel peace prize winner, for not using her position as a megaphone to address the problem may be emotionally satisfying but does not help those most in need," Janelle Saffin, a former federal MP and chair of Labor's International Party Development Committee, and Dr Ramos Horta wrote in a joint statement.

Mounting international criticism of Ms Suu Kyi "is obscuring the military's responsibility in the crisis", they wrote.

UN investigators have cited evidence of mass rapes, torture, the slaughter of babies and the burning of families alive by Myanmar security forces in the country's western Rakhine state, home to more than one million Rohingya.
Former president Barack Obama spoke in a positive tone about the state of the world. Credit:AP What a time to be alive. To ordinary Americans, the gulf between the world views of their two most recent leaders could not be more vast. This picture, provided by the rebel-controlled Edlib (Idlib) Media Centre, shows a man carrying a child following the chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun. Credit:AP 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. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Credit:AP "President Obama constantly reminded us that our own times are not uniquely oppressive," said Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian and author at Rice University. "There's 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 illegal 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 Trump's 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 characterised most illegal immigrants as hard-working strivers. Globalisation caused discomfort for some workers, Obama acknowledged, but he was quick to emphasise the opportunities it provided for American ingenuity in new markets overseas. "Yes, we're 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 one's own benefit. That's 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 Obama's goal, but the president recognised 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, what's happening?' " But, Obama emphasised, "if you had a choice of when to be born and you didn't 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 extensively that voluminous data back up Obama's argument. But he acknowledged that the former president's message did "fail to resonate" during a rapid-fire campaign news cycle. "He has the facts behind him, but to get those facts, you can't 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 Obama's weakness. China and Mexico are beating the United States on trade. Middle Eastern refugees are flowing across boarders, causing chaos and crime. Immigrants are taking American jobs. "We don't 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," Trump's 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."
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In the modern era, Easter Sunday generally falls on the Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon (i.e., the first full moon of Spring in the northern hemisphere, or the first full moon occurring after the date of the vernal equinox), and as such, can fall on any day between March 22 and April 25. It is not mere coincidence this most Christian of celebrations corresponds with the beginning of Spring: the deliberate linking of Son and sun is a motif throughout Christian literature. (Even though the words 'son' and 'sun' are not homophonous in other languages, Jesus, the son of God, is frequently associated with light and sources of light  such as the sun  in literature.) In Easter, Christian and pagan beliefs are brought together as resurrection  both of Christ and of the slumbering countryside after its long winter's nap  and are celebrated in a festival that reaffirms the triumph of life over death. Elements of both belief systems bubble to the surface in this holiday, combining into a melded whole wherein both chocolate bunnies and solemn Easter services play a part.

The name for this holiday comes from much older times whose customs we're now not all that familiar with. Many old religions had a Spring Goddess, a special deity who breathed life back into the world, both by banishing Old Man Winter and by encouraging growing things to grow and living things to mate. She went by many names. The Scandinavians called her Ostra, the Anglo-Saxons Eostre, and those who lived in the region that is now Germany knew her as Eastre. (Contrary to some modern claims, the term "Easter" was not derived from the name of Ishtar, the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility and sex.)

All manner of rabbits are said to lay eggs on Easter Day. The hare itself is revered in lore  even in pre-Christian times, it was seen as a holy creature associated with fertility and the returning Spring. Important divinations about the character of the coming year were made from studying its movements. In northern Europe, the hare was considered sacred to Eastre, and therefore was not to be hunted.

The Easter Bunny is of German origin. He shows up in 16th century literature as a deliverer of eggs, in his own way a springtime St. Nicholas bent on rewarding the good. (Colored eggs were left only for well-behaved good children, you see.)

Eggs are very obvious symbols of resurrection and continuing life. Early humans thought the return of the sun from winter darkness was an annual miracle, and saw the egg as a natural wonder and proof of the renewal of life. The egg is also the ultimate symbol of fertility. As Christianity spread, the egg was adopted as a symbol of Christ's resurrection from the tomb (a hard casket from which new life will emerge).

For centuries, eggs were listed among foods forbidden during Lent, so having them at Easter was a special treat that marked the end of a lengthy period of self-denial. The candy Easter eggs of modern times hark back to eggs used for a more serious purpose. Hardboiled eggs were dyed red in memory of Christ's blood, then given to children as a talisman to preserve their health over the ensuing twelve months. This custom survived in slightly altered form almost until the present  it wasn't that long ago one would find beautifully decorated Pace eggs kept year-round in British households for luck. The protective qualities of the scarlet-dyed egg are still invoked in parts of Europe to guard fields and vineyards from lightning and hail  one of these eggs will be buried on the property for that purpose.

Eggs themselves have their own lore, applicable both at Easter and other times. Breaking the smaller end of the egg betokens only disappointment of one's hopes  with that supposedly lying in store, it makes sense to smack it open at the larger end. The discovery of a double yolk within is cause for terror or celebration depending on which school of thought is followed  some say it presages a wedding, others a death. Once the egg is consumed, its shell must be broken up lest a witch use it to gain power over the person who ate from it. A witch might also make a boat from an intact shell, then set sail in it and wreck ships at sea. Discarded eggshells should never be burned because doing so will cause the hens to cease to lay.

Easter lilies come by their name because of their shape (like Gabriel's trumpet; another resurrection motif), color (white, symbolizing purity), and because they grow from bulbs, thus consequently seem to spring from the earth unbidden after the long months of winter. Incidentally, the lily was associated with the Virgin Mary, hence its common name, Madonna lily.

Numerous superstitions and bits of lore surround both Easter Sunday and Good Friday. One odd belief is that in celebration of Christ's resurrection, the sun "dances" as it comes up on Easter morning. If looked at through a darkened lens, it is said to bear the imprint of a lamb, an image which has symbolic associations in Christian mythology.

It is said a wind that blows on Easter Day will continue to blow throughout the year, and that a shower of rain promises a good crop of grass but little hay.

Most people are familiar with the custom of having new clothes (or at least a new bonnet) for Easter, but few know where the tradition sprang from. Easter is preceded by Lent, and at one time the same set of clothing was worn throughout that period, then discarded for a new outfit on Easter Sunday. A little bit of superstition still clings to the custom of having new duds for the day: those who fail to wear at least one new item risk having their existing clothes soiled by birds or spat upon by passing dogs. Indeed, some say one risks having one's eyes pecked out by crows!

Children born on Easter Day are deemed especially fortunate. Those born on Good Friday, however, are doomed to be unlucky.

Holy water saved from the Easter service is said to be particularly effective as a cure for a wide range of ills.

One curious belief has to do with "Lady Day," March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lady. For many centuries this date was reckoned throughout most of Christendom as the first day of the year. An old and well-known English rhyme says:

If Our Lord falls in Our Lady's lap,

England will meet with a great mishap.

It is said if either Good Friday or Easter Sunday falls on March 25 (and so coincides with Lady Day), some national misfortune will follow within the next twelve months. It is not certain how old this belief is, but a couple of national tragedies in the preceding hundred years have certainly helped to keep it alive. Good Friday fell on March 25 in 1910, and in May of that year, Edward VII died after a short illness. In 1951 Easter Sunday fell on that date, and little less than eleven months later, George VI died suddenly. The next March 25 Easter falls in 2035.

Good Friday has superstitions of its own, many of them cautions against engaging in various activities. Anything to do with nails or iron tools should be avoided as must the planting of crops (iron instruments must not break the ground).

It is said clothes washed on that day will never come clean, a reference to the legend that Christ cursed Good Friday washing after he was slapped in the face by a wet garment while being led to his crucifixion. Further superstitions are that one risks "washing away" a family member (causing the death of) or of finding one's laundered items spotted with blood.

Children are to avoid climbing trees. For grownups, engaging in work of any kind is far from a good idea: folk wisdom affirms the task will only have to be done over again at a later time. Strangely enough, sewing done on that day will never come undone.

But it's not all bad news. Wishes made in prayers intoned at the stroke of 3 PM (the hour of Christ's death) are sure to be granted.

Bread and buns baked on Good Friday will never go moldy; neither will eggs laid on that day spoil. Both food items are said to have beneficial properties if fed to those suffering from whooping cough, stomach and digestive maladies, or other ailments. Centuries ago, Good Friday bread was kept for years, with a little bit grated off and administered to the sick whenever necessary. A hot cross bun kept from one Good Friday to the next protects the house from fire. Throwing an egg laid on Good Friday into a fire is said to quench it, no matter how terrible the blaze.

Boys who don long trousers for the first time on this day are fated to have happy marriages, and no day is more auspicious to begin weaning a child on. This is also the day to take bees from their hives  no harm will come to them.

Finally, a bit of practical Easter "magic" that is more science than lore: Don't wait until the last minute to buy eggs for hard-boiling for decorating and use in Easter games. Purchase them a week ahead and store them in the refrigerator prior to cooking. Week-old eggs peel more easily than fresh ones after they are hard-cooked.
A Necedah man faces a felony charge for allegedly making violent threats to law enforcement officers March 27.

Kurtis D. Pankow, 46, could face a $10,000 fine or no more than six years in prison, or both, for the threat charge. Pankow also faces two misdemeanor charges for telephone harassment and disorderly conduct. Both carry possible 90-day prison sentences and $1,000 fines.

According to a criminal complaint:

On the night of March 27, a deputy from the Juneau County Sheriffs Office was dispatched to a disturbance in the town of Necedah. Pankow allegedly called 911 and said he wanted to kill as many police officers as he could and to send everyone to his residence.

Dispatch told the deputy Pankow left the residence with a bow and arrow. A female caller gave dispatch updated information saying Pankow was suicidal and was not going to hurt anyone other than himself and police. Dispatch was also told Pankow wanted to give himself up and was ready to leave the house with his hands up.

When Juneau County officers arrived, they saw Pankow walking out of the house. He put his hands up, dropped a can of beer, and started yelling while walking quickly toward the officers. Pankow refused verbal commands and officers pointed tasers at him. He finally complied and officers handcuffed Pankow. According to the report, Pankow began yelling about how he wanted to kill heroin addicts. Officers searched Pankow and didnt locate any contraband or weapons, however Pankow appeared to try and break free from his cuffs. He was placed in the back of a squad car.

A deputy interviewed the female in the home. She said Pankow was very intoxicated that night when he called 911 and made the threat to law enforcement officers. She believed he was suicidal and he thought he would be shot for making the threat. She said he lost his job about a month prior and was starting to feel worthless. Based on her statement, she believed Pankow is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from serving in the Gulf War. She maintained that Pankow didnt get violent or threaten her or anyone else in the home March 27.

Pankow was taken to the Juneau County Jail where his blood-alcohol content measured .185. Pankow is scheduled to have a pre-trial conference in the district attorneys office on May 2 at 9:30 a.m. and a plea hearing at the Juneau County Justice Center on June 8 at 12:45 p.m. He posted a $1,000 bond March 29 and was released. Based on a search of public records through the Wisconsin Court System, Pankow has a lengthy list of prior convictions.
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Somerset has so much to offer when it comes to fun things to do.

Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the county every year to enjoy all it has to offer.

But when you spend all year round here it's easy to forget the huge variety of activities available right on our doorstep.

So, next time you find yourself at a loose end - maybe over the weekend you might want to think about some of them.

Here's 15 crackers to get you started:

1. Visit a cider farm

This a nice laid-back start, though of course it might be advisable to nominate a driver for the day if a few of you are planning to sup some of the sumptuous offerings available.

Why not kick off with one of the county's greatest independent cider makers, Roger Wilkins? The 69-year-old's Land's End Farm in Mudgley a few miles from Wedmore is famed for its cider and many Somerset Live readers will be familiar with him.

Roger Wilkins' lifelong love of cider famously began as a 13-year-old schoolboy.

This was when he helped his grandfather in the cider barn on the family farm which overlooks the Somerset Levels.

He took it over and today he runs 100 head of beef cattle and produces 20,000 gallons of traditional cider a year.

It's feature in Countryfile back in 2013, when Ben Fogle had a crack at making some cider.

2. Ride a donkey on the beach at Weston-super-Mare

(Image: SWNS)

A surprisingly large number of people have probably never ridden a donkey on the beach at Weston - one of Somerset's most iconic activities.

So maybe if you haven't done it, now's the time.

There are plenty of places you can catch a ride in Weston, but you could start with Weston Donkeys, a family business that's been running since 1886.

3. May Day Morris dancing on Ham Hill

(Image: Len Copland)

Here's something you've probably never thought about - but you've got to see this and maybe if you're feeling frisky get involved.

It's a May Day tradition and you could always sojourn to the Prince of Wales Pub on Ham Hill when the dancing is over - a watering hole visited by HRH Prince Charles himself.

4. River Parrett trail - walk it or cycle

The best thing about the River Parrett trail, apart from the fact that it runs through one of the most beautiful parts of England, is that it's flat.

It's 50 miles long and in the words of The Daily Telegraph it takes in "picturesque villages, ancient drove roads, sacred burrows and cider orchards".

Surely something you've got to do while you're living in this fair county? Here's a guide from Somerset County Council.

5. Nudefest

One of the UK's biggest nudist events is coming back to Somerset - and tickets are now on sale.

Following the success of last year's event, Nudefest will be returning to Thorney Lakes Camping and Caravan Site near Langport between July 3 and 10, 2017.

Organisers admit they have a bit a of a struggle getting the younger generation on board, but that doesn't seem to have halted the event's popularity. Here's our exhaustive guide to Nudefest.

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6. Shop for the brands the stars love at Kilver Court

Designer fashion brands favoured by celebrities such as Rita Ora, Alexa Chung, Olivia Palermo and even the Duchess of Cambridge will soon be on sale in the heart of Somerset so why not treat yourself to a bit of retail heaven.

The fashion labels Whistles and Penelope Chilvers will join the offerings at Kilver Court, just off the A37 in Shepton Mallet, for the first time.

A discount of up to 30 per cent will be available on many of the items on sale from the two renowned brands to mark the opening in time for the autumn season.

7. Calling Terry Pratchett Fans - visit the Discworld Emporium in Wincanton

If you're a fan of the late great fantasy master you simply have to visit this unique shop.

It says on its website: "For 25 years we were privileged to work with Sir Terry Pratchett to design, sculpt, paint, cast, print, animate and publish millions of little bits of Discworld that are real enough to touch.

8. Rock climbing in Cheddar

This could be your worst nightmare or a personal dream. Either way you can experience the thrill of tackling the gorge and you don't need any experience.

Let's be clear you don't get thrown in at the deep end! You can find out more at Cheddar Gorge and Caves.

9. Hot Fuzz Tour

Relive the magic of the cult classic film that put Wells on the map. You can tour the key locations which feature in Edgar Wright's comedy cop romp - and this year Wells Festival of Film is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its release.

Sadly a special open-air showing in the Bishop's Palace is sold out but you can still take the tour and enjoy a host of other activities during the festival.

10. Visit Glastonbury - the 'Heart Centre' of the world

Forget the festival - how about heading to Glastonbury to try its quiet side.

There are a plethora of alternative therapies and treatments available - too many to list here. But you could start by visiting Goddess House, as many are available here.

You can tune into your spiritual side and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere while joining like-minded souls on Glastonbury Tor.

11. Go wild in Wookey Hole

Don't just stick to the path in these famous caves. Now you can do something altogether more adventurous.

Suitable for adventurers aged 14+, the exciting course begins with daredevils entering the caves through a cliff-face hole before winding their way through a maze of natural wild cave passages and taking on a roped descent to the water's edge of the River Axe.

Traversing raised walkways and a perilous bridge over deep waters, climbing a series of bold rock faces, abseiling down to the riverbank of the River Axe and crawling through historic passageways are just some of the highlights of this new challenge in the heart of the Mendips.

12. Go and see some fantastic music at Cedars Hall in Wells

Last year a new world-class classical music venue opened its doors at Wells Cathedral School.

You can enjoy a range of fantastic concerts there - but if classical music isn't necessarily your bag there are plenty of other top acts playing over the next few months. As well as jazz, drama and family activities, there's comedy in the shape of Steward Lee who is appearing in this year's Wells Comedy Festival.

You can check out the full Cedars programme here.

13. Do a park run at Yeovil's Montacute Hall

It's 5km and it's you against the clock in one of the county's most beautiful settings.

The course is run on a mixture of off road and grass. Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or signs will be in place.

It takes place every Saturday - for more information visit the website.

14. Walk to Dunkery Beacon on Exmoor

This is the highest point in Southern England, and the highest point in Exmoor - and of course Somerset.

That in itself should be enough to get you lacing up your walking boots.

If you're lucky you might see a magnificent stag up there while you enjoy the amazing view.

Find out more at Exmoor National Park.

15. Eat your heart out Shoreditch - discover this hidden arts Gem

"Forget about Shoreditch"  that's the message from a gallery in Somerset, which insists there must be something creative in the county's water.

Suzanne Bisset, from Bruton Art Factory, believes her gallery in the heart of south Somerset is proof that there's a new hub for artists.

She said she is "astounded" by the standard of work being produced in the local area.

So why not get down there and see for yourself?
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.
The La Crosse Police Department is conducting an investigation of an Eau Claire police officers fatal shooting on Saturday, April 8, of a man police say was 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.
Georgetown, SC (29440)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High 74F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
Yulong Tian, secretary-general of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), spoke April 5 during the 33rd Space Symposium.

COLORADO SPRINGS  China is pushing forward on a number of space fronts, including milestone-making robotic missions to the moon, as well as scoping out an automated Mars sample-return mission by 2030.

Yulong Tian, secretary-general of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), spoke here April 5 during the 33rd Space Symposium.

CNSA is the governmental organization of People's Republic of China responsible for the management of space activities for civilian use and international space cooperation with other countries. [U.S., China Will Meet This Year to Talk Space Debris]

Yulong reviewed major elements of China's 2016 "Space White Paper"  a sweeping outline for the next five years of robotic and manned spaceflight, Earth and space science, and an emerging, new thrust in commercial space.

"China is currently making policy for commercial space activities," Yulong said.

Concerning China's Beidou navigation system, "by 2020, 30 satellites can provide services for global users," Yulong said.

Yulong said China plans to orbit "more than 30" meteorological, ocean- and land-monitoring spacecraft in the coming decade.

In reviewing China's interest in working with other nations, Yulong said that the country has signed more than 100 space-cooperation agreements with 30 countries and space agencies, and in the future "intends to cooperate with governments around the world," in climate change research, disaster prevention, space safety, and deep space exploration.

China is developing plans for deep space exploration over the next decade that will involve Jupiter, Venus, and asteroid exploration.

On China's manned space program agenda, Yulong said a cargo supply ship is being readied for launch aboard a Long March 7 rocket this month. It will auto-dock with the Tiangong-2 space lab currently orbiting Earth unoccupied, but the mission is a step forward in building and resupplying a larger space station in 2022, he said.

Yulong said that work remains underway to ready the Chang'e-5 lunar probe for an end of November liftoff from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China's Hainan Province. The moon-bound probe will be boosted by a heavy-lift carrier rocket, the Long March 5.

Chang'e-5 is China's first automated moon surface sampling mission and consists of four parts: an orbiter, a lander, an ascender and a returner.

The lander will place samples of the moon in the ascender, which then departs the lunar surface to dock with the moon-circling orbiter and the returner. The samples are to be transferred to the returner for a journey back to Earth.

Also on China's Moon exploration agenda, Yulong said, is the Chang'e-4 that's slated to be launched in 2018. That probe is targeted to achieve the first-ever soft-landing on the far side of the moon, Yulong said.

Yulong said that China approved in 2016 a robotic Mars lander to be launched in 2020. A second step is a return sample from Mars by 2030, he said.

Asked about the challenges ahead in lobbing Mars samples back to Earth, Yulong expressed confidence.

"The Mars exploration for Chinawe have solved all the technical problems," Yulong told SpaceNews.

"We're on track," he said, but added that the investment in the Mars sample effort is still being pursued.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
Robert Walker, the former U.S. congressman and Trump space adviser, had the unenviable task of bringing order to a panel discussion involving the leaders of 15 of the world's space agencies.

COLORADO SPRINGS  With NASA's long-term strategy for human missions to Mars in flux, heads of several space agencies said they supported initial missions to the moon as a key step before going to Mars.

During an April 4 panel session during the 33rd Space Symposium that featured representatives from 15 agencies, many expressed support for going to Mars only after building up experience at the moon first.

"We think that the moon is also a very important step. Mars is not the ultimate goal," said Jan Woerner, director general of the European Space Agency. "The moon is an intermediate step to go to Mars, but the moon can also offer some special opportunities." [Moon Base Visions: How to Build a Lunar Colony (Photos)]

Woerner, as he has done in recent years, promoted his vision for a "Moon Village," a lunar facility that would include contributions from various countries and companies. "Moon Village is part of our overall strategy," he said.

The Moon Village concept got an endorsement from Yulong Tian, secretary general of the China National Space Administration. He outlined plans for a series of robotic missions to the moon in the next several years, including China's first sample return mission, Chang'e-5, scheduled for launch in November.

Later missions, Tian said, would include missions to the lunar poles, thought to have deposits of water ice that could support future human bases. "In the coming five to 10 years we have a few more missions to the polar regions of the moon, including establishment of a lunar base, or part of the Moon Village," he said.

In a press conference here April 4, Igor Komarov, director general of the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos, said he has talked with ESA about participating in any Moon Village effort.

"We should go to the moon," he said, in part to study issues associated with Mars missions. "It's better to solve all these problems on the moon before going to Mars."

Smaller space agencies on the panel shared a similar desire to do lunar missions first. "We don't consider the flight to Mars as a vital program or task," said Yuriy Radchenko, chairman of the State Space Agency of Ukraine. "Currently, we are very seriously considering tasks connected to lunar exploration."

NASA's current plans for human missions to Mars have not emphasized a human return to the lunar surface as an intermediate step. Instead, NASA has been planning for missions in cislunar space, lasting up to a year at time. The agency has, in recent weeks, provided more details about that concept, including the sequence of missions to build up what it calls the Deep Space Gateway.

That gateway could support human missions to the lunar surface by NASA's international or commercial partners. "The goal is to see out what we can prove out in the area around the moon and work with our international partners on what we do on the surface of the moon," said NASA Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot.

He did not rule out, though, NASA activities on the surface of the moon, such as testing technologies for in-situ resource utilization. "We think we can maybe do some work on the moon to feed forward for how you would do it on Mars," he said.

One agency head, though, showed little interest in going to the moon. "We think that the future is Mars, rather than the moon," said Roberto Battiston, president of the Italian space agency ASI. Lunar missions, he said, could help prepare for Mars, "but the real future goal, in the long term, is really getting to the next challenge, which is Mars."
Commander Chris Hadfield tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on March 31, 2013. He wrote: "A Full Moon. It may not be made of chocolate, but it makes for a wonderfully natural Easter egg." (Image credit: Chris Hadfield (via Twitter as @Cmdr_Hadfield))

Have you ever wondered how the date of Easter is actually set? It is all based on the moon.

The day to be observed as Easter was fixed by a great council of Christian churches, called the First Council of Nicaea, which met at Nicaea (now Iznik, in the province of Bursa, Turkey) in A.D. 325. Under the Nicaean rule, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the fourteenth day of a particular new moon  the one that begins on or after the vernal equinox. [2017 Full Moon Calendar]

Put another way, Easter falls on the Sunday that follows the first full moon occurring on or the day after the March equinox. If the full moon occurs on a Sunday, however, then Easter is observed the following Sunday.

This year, the fourteenth day of this particular new moon was on April 11 (Eastern Daylight Time), which was a Tuesday. So the following Sunday, April 16, is designated as Easter.

When the Council of Nicaea met, Easter was already the most important festival of the church calendar, and it was the custom of thousands of Christians to make long pilgrimages to Jerusalem and other shrines to celebrate the Resurrection. The rule of the Council of Nicaea was established to make it certain that the pilgrims would always have the light of a full moon to guide them on their way at night.

Unfortunately, sometimes there is confusion about how to properly set the date for when Easter should fall in our current Gregorian calendar.

Calendar discontinuities

For astronomers, the moment of a "full" moon comes when our natural satellite is directly opposite from the sun in our sky. But there is also an "ecclesiastical" full moon. The latter, which originated with the Christian Church, was determined from ecclesiastical tables (epacts and "Golden Numbers"). And the church's date does not necessarily coincide with the date of the "astronomical" full moon, which is solely based on astronomical calculations.

And then there is the problem involving the vernal equinox. Ecclesiastical rules also state that the vernal equinox always occurs March 21, even though from the years 2008 through 2101 it will actually occur no later than March 20 at European longitudes.

As a result, we occasionally end up with discrepancies. From the years 1583 to 2582, for example, there are 78 years in which the date of "astronomical Easter" differs from that of the traditional, "ecclesiastical Easter."

Perhaps the most noteworthy is the dating for Easter in 2038. In that year, astronomically speaking, Easter should fall on March 28: The equinox falls on March 20, with a full moon the next day. However, according to the church's rules, Easter will occur on its latest possible date  April 25.

Conversely, Easter can come as early as March 22. That last happened in 1818, but it will not happen again until the year 2285, although as recently as 2008, we came within a day of that extreme: Easter occurred in that year on March 23. So, there are 35 dates on which Easter can fall.

From the years 2000 to 2999, Easter falls on March 22 just five times. In the same 1,000-year time frame, the latest Easter date of April 25 comes up twice as many times: 10. During this same time period, the date that comes up the most (41 times) for celebrating Easter is April 16, which also just happens to be this year.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, people have been circulating a proposal to choose a fixed date for Easter, rather than having a movable one. In 1963, the Second Vatican Council said that it would agree if a consensus on that date were reached among Christian churches  and the second Sunday in April has been put forward as the most likely date. That happens to work out quite well this year. [Best Night Sky Events of April 2017 (Stargazing Maps)]

Wild swings of the weather pendulum

Because Easter is a movable feast, and its placement in the calendar occurs during a time when the weather in temperate latitudes is transitioning from winter to spring weather conditions, the actual weather that can occur on Easter can vary quite a bit. We are accustomed to associating cold and snow with Christmastime, and hot and sultry weather with Independence Day. And yet, Easter weather can reflect the very same characteristics of both extremes.

Take, for example, Easter 1970 in the Greater New York area. In that year, Easter Sunday fell on March 29, and that was the day that a late-season snowstorm blanketed New York City with 4 inches of snow, while to the north, Westchester and Putnam counties received as much as 9 to 12 inches. Six years later, in 1976, Easter Sunday occurred on April 18, right in the middle of a three-day stretch of what is now known in weather annals as New York's Great Easter Heat Wave. Temperatures each day reached to above 90 degrees, but Easter was the hottest day. Not only was it the hottest Easter on record in Gotham, but it was also the very first (and only) time that New York had the highest temperature in the nation: In Central Park the thermometer hit a blistering 96 degrees!

That was probably the first time you could have fried an Easter egg on a New York sidewalk.

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmer's Almanac and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for Verizon Fios1 News, based in Rye Brook, New York. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
The Exploration Flight Test-1 Orion capsule is now on exhibit at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida as the newest addition to NASA Now, a gallery devoted to telling "the evolving story of the future of space exploration."

More than two years after it splashed down from orbit, NASA's first Orion crew module to fly into space has landed on public display near where it was launched.

The uncrewed Orion capsule is now on exhibit at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida as the newest addition to NASA Now, a gallery devoted to telling "the evolving story of the future of space exploration."

"This week, we welcomed another exciting addition to the NASA Now exhibit with the arrival of NASA's Orion spacecraft crew capsule, EFT-1," officials at the visitor complex announced on Facebook on Tuesday (April 11). [Orion Explained: NASA's Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (Infographic)]

The Orion was launched on NASA's Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) by a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket on Dec. 5, 2014. Orbiting the planet twice, the spacecraft flew to a distance of 3,600 miles (5,800 km) above Earth  farther than any spacecraft designed to fly astronauts since the Apollo 17 moon mission in 1972. On Monday (April 10), it was moved from the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center, where it had been built and later assessed post-flight, to the visitor complex.

The Lockheed Martin-built capsule was transported by truck atop a custom ground support transporter, which was used to roll the 16-foot-wide (5 m) spacecraft into the IMAX theater building where the NASA Now exhibit is located.

Now on display, guests to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex can see the EFT-1 Orion with its original back shell of black thermal tiles, similar to those used on the underbelly of the space shuttle orbiters, that protected the capsule during its re-entry into the atmosphere. A curtain surrounding the Orion's base hides that its heat shield is absent, having been removed for post-flight analysis.

As described within the exhibit, the Orion was built "based upon all we've learned from NASA's 50 years of human spaceflight experience [using] the most advanced technologies available today to safely send astronauts further into space than any other spacecraft in history." Intended to fly aboard NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket, the next Orion capsule is slated for a trip around the moon in late 2018, but may slip if the agency decides to add a crew to that flight.

Inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Orion crew module from Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) is moved from a birdcage test stand to a custom-built transporter for its relocation to nearby Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Image credit: NASA/Leif Heimbold)

The EFT-1 spacecraft had been expected to fly again as part of an Orion ascent abort test, lifting off to test the systems designed to protect astronauts if a problem arises during launch. According to Lockheed Martin, that abort test will now use a boilerplate capsule and so the EFT-1 Orion will remain on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (however, if it is determined to be needed by NASA for some reason, it will be made available).

In addition to the Orion EFT-1 capsule, the NASA Now exhibit includes a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule that flew to the International Space Station on the second uncrewed test flight of that vehicle in 2012; the pressure vessel for a Boeing CST-100 Starliner crew spacecraft; and scale models of NASA''s SLS rocket and Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser cargo vehicle. The visitor complex also recently added a Vector-R commercial launch vehicle to the gallery.

See more photographs of the Orion EFT-1 spacecraft and its move to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex at collectSPACE.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2016 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.
This unprocessed image of Saturn's moon Atlas was taken on April 12, 2017, by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Just five weeks after beaming home images of a giant space ravioli, NASA's Saturn-orbiting Cassini spacecraft has shown us a "UFO."

Well, sort of. On Tuesday (April 12), Cassini snapped the best-ever photos of Saturn's bizarre moon Atlas, whose humped middle and broad equatorial ridge make it look like a flying saucer. (The "ravioli" moon, by the way, is the Saturn satellite Pan, although some people think it looks more like an empanada.)

Cassini took the new photos during a flyby that brought the probe within just 7,000 miles (11,000 kilometers) of Atlas at closest approach. [In Photos: Amazing Color Maps of Saturn's Moons]

Another view of Saturn's "flying saucer" moon Atlas captured by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on April 12, 2017. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute)

"These images are the closest ever taken of Atlas and will help to characterize its shape and geology," NASA officials wrote in a description of the images Thursday (April 14). "Atlas (19 miles, or 30 kilometers across) orbits Saturn just outside the A ring  the outermost of the planet's bright, main rings."

During its nearly 13 years in the Saturn system, Cassini has revealed just how weird, wonderful and varied the ringed planet's bevy of 60-plus moons is. For example, the probe has captured amazing images of Iapetus, which looks like a walnut, and Mimas, which is a dead ringer for the Death Star from the "Star Wars" films.

And Cassini discovered geysers of water ice, organic compounds and other materials blasting from the spherical satellite Enceladus' south polar region. Scientists have since concluded that this stuff is coming from a huge, potentially habitable ocean of liquid water buried beneath the moon's icy shell. (Just Thursday, researchers announced that this ocean appears to harbor enough chemical energy to support life.)

Saturn's moon Atlas hangs in the void in this image taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on April 12, 2017. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute)

The $3.2 billion Cassini-Huygens mission  a joint effort of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency  launched in October 1997 and arrived at Saturn in July 2004. (Huygens was a piggyback lander that touched down on the surface of the huge Saturn moon Titan in January 2005.)

But the Cassini orbiter's work is nearly done. Later this month, the probe, which is low on fuel, will begin the "grand finale" phase of its mission  a series of 22 orbits that will take it between Saturn's cloud tops and the edge of the innermost ring.

Then, on Sept. 15, Cassini will plunge into the planet's thick atmosphere in a death dive designed to ensure that the spacecraft doesn't contaminate Enceladus or Titan (both of which may be capable of supporting life) with microbes from Earth.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
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London (U.K), April, 14, 2017 (SPS) - The Moroccan occupation forces continue to violate childrens rights in Western Sahara every day, and in countless ways, said the UK-based organization for the defence of Sahrawi peoples rights Adala UK.

The Non-governmental Organization said, in a communique that none of the children who find themselves in the vicinity of the regular peaceful demonstrations that take place in the occupied territories to demand Sahrawi peoples right to self-determination is ever too young to be safe from the Moroccan police.

It holds up in example several cases, including that of Alkanti Alalaoui a twelve-year old boy, deaf and with a learning disability, who was was arrested by the Moroccan forces on 29 March whilst he was sitting at the door of his house.

Alkanti was savagely beaten and injured to his face and other parts of his body before being forced into a car belonging to the Moroccan forces, taking him to an unknown location.

His neighbors protested in solidarity with him. The police asked the boys family to break up the protestors as well as not to make a formal complaint about the attack against the boy.

The police finally released the boy who was in a critical state and clearly very disturbed.

Alkantis mother made a formal complaint after all about the police agents who had beaten and abducted Alkanti although these kinds of complaints are never investigated, noted the Adala UK.

The arrest, transfer and interrogation of children without the presence of their parents is a clear violations of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Morocco is a signatory, said the NGO in its communique.

Adala UK called on the UN and the international community to send observers to the occupied territories of Western Sahara to help guarantee the human rights of the Sahrawi people.

It also urged the Moroccan government to put an end its policy of impunity for violations committed by its own forces against Sahrawi citizens, and particularly against children SPS

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Stacked up against 44 dealers, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Greenwich was recently named Dealer of the Year, Americas, at the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars World Dealer Conference in London.

This marks the second time the Greenwich showroom has won the award, the company announced. Prior to earning the distinction for its 2016 year, the Miller Motorcars Inc. division was named 2012 Dealer of the Year for the Americas at the companys 2013 conference in New York City.
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Study: These are the most and least religious states in America

Christians are getting ready for Easter. But just how much of the state will be celebrating?

In 2014, the Pew Research Center conducted an in-depth study into the religious breakdown of the United States based on telephone calls with 35,000 Americans from all 50 states.

Click through the slideshow above to see the Christian breakdown of the United States, the Northeast and Connecticut.

About 70 percent of participants identified as being Christian, making it by bar the most prominent religion in the country. Within Christianity, Evangelical Protestants make up the biggest percentage, followed by Catholics.

In an April 5, 2017 report, the Pew Research Center found that this religious landscape may be changing. New research suggests, that the growth of the Mulsim population will be more rapid than the Christian population in years to come.

"More babies were born to Christian mothers than to members of any other religion in recent years, reflecting Christianity's continued status as the world's largest religious group. But this is unlikely to be the case for much longer: Less than 20 years from now, the number of babies born to Muslims is expected to modestly exceed births to Christians, according to new Pew Research Center demographic estimates," according to the Pew Research Center.

In the 2014 survey, only 0.9 percent of U.S. participants identified as Muslim. But the new study takes a look at the global landscape.

"Globally, the relatively young population and high fertility rates of Muslims lead to a projection that between 2030 and 2035, there will be slightly more babies born to Muslims (225 million) than to Christians (224 million), even though the total Christian population will still be larger," the Pew Research Center reports.
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STAMFORD - A lawyer taking testimony in civil suits filed over the tragic Christmas blaze of 2011 struck a raw nerve while questioning former Fire Chief Antonio Conte.

The lawyer asked Conte, who rose from firefighter to chief in his 39 years with the Stamford department, for details about the subsequent investigation.

Lawyer: You wanted to know how a fire started that killed five people, right?

Conte: Yes.

Lawyer: And why is that?

Conte: Why would I want to know? Why would we want to know? We lost five people. I mean, were firefighters  our job is to save lives, not see them perish.

The testimony  taken in October 2015 and recently obtained by The Advocate  explains in new detail how firefighters were driven from the windows and doors of 2267 Shippan Ave. by flames and blasts of super-heated smoke. Those able to enter the house found floors burned away, ceilings collapsing, a stairwell gone.

The devastation that killed Lily Badger, 9, and her 7-year-old twin sisters, Sarah and Grace, and their grandparents created unquantifiable anguish for the family. But Conte testified to the depth of the emotional toll on firefighters.

A lawyer asked whether Conte, in the weeks following the fire, requested updates from the marshals office about the progress of their investigation. Conte said he did not.

I was dealing with a lot of issues within the fire department as far as how the men were doing mentally, Conte testified. We tried to have an after-action report, which we do after every structure fire, to go over what everybodys role was. It lasted maybe two minutes and guys started to break down. I had to stop everything and get  experts in to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder syndrome.

Conte, in fact, broke down briefly while testifying  nearly four years after the fire.

He was describing what happened when he arrived at the scene before dawn. A captain trying to enter a second-story window reported on his radio that he saw two people inside on a stair landing. But the floor between the window and the landing was gone, and he could not reach them, the captain radioed.

He was perched on a ladder and he could see in and he spotted two of the victims. They were down  oh, wow, Conte testified, unable to continue.

You need a minute? the lawyer asked. Take a break.

Conte got out a few more words  that the captain said the victims were not viable  then the lawyer called for a five-minute recess.

Valiant effort

The first unit to arrive at the fire was Engine Four, but none of that crew saw anyone alive, Conte said. Firefighters were trying to get into the three-story house from ladders, the porch roof, and a scaffold erected during a renovation. But they could not find a way. A half-hour into their effort, the incident commander had to order them to retreat.

That decision is devastating for firefighters, Conte said. It was made worse when they later discovered that none of the victims had been in bed.

Lawyer: So they had all been up, trying to escape  that was clear?

Conte: Yes.

The lawyer asked Conte how long he remained at the scene.

You know, I dont remember, Conte said. Its  to be honest with you  I tried to forget as much about that day as possible.

Questioned about his role that morning, Conte said he did not take over for the incident commander  the ranking fire official on duty when the department received the call. Thats not good practice, Conte said, and besides, the commander, Deputy Chief William Smith, had his full confidence.

Chief Smith had been at the fire for I dont know how long before I was even notified, so he knew where the crews were, he knew how the fire had extended, he knew what they tried or hadnt tried yet, and for me to come in cold would be a huge mistake.

Since his expertise is fire suppression, he circled the house in repeated assessments of the firefighting effort, reporting the information to Smith, Conte said.

Conte said he took a similar stance with the investigation  he let the fire marshals work.

Job of a chief

Lawyer: Did you ever ask to review a fire investigation report?

Conte: No  the fire marshal and his staff do the investigation. Im not trained in that field.

Lawsuits filed by the parents, Madonna and Matthew Badger, stem from the building departments decision to tear down the home the day after Christmas without permission, and to quickly dump the remains  considered evidence.

Badgers suit charges that building officials wanted to cover up botched department inspections of a renovation. The marshal concluded that discarded fireplace ashes were the cause, but Badger alleges it could have been shoddy electrical work.

Conte said its the building departments job to discern whether a structure is sound. He heard about the demolition afterwards, he said.

Lawyer: How did you learn of it?

Conte: Someone said it. I dont even know who. But I never went back down there. I didnt want to go back down there.

No one from the building department let him know the house would be torn down the next day, Conte testified, and he doesnt know whether anyone else in his department was notified.

A lawyer asked Conte why he didnt direct the fire marshal to preserve the house as evidence.

One thing a chief does is delegate authority, Conte replied. And the  fire marshal, who is state-certified and trained, knows enough to do things of that nature. He doesnt have to be reminded to preserve evidence.

He didnt ask the state fire marshal to investigate because that was the Stamford marshals call, Conte said.

He did not discuss the cause of the fire with anyone in the department, Conte said. There was much speculation about it in the media, and reporters were trying to get into the firehouse to ask questions, he said.

A day or two after the fire, the department received a directive from then-Mayor Michael Pavia, who wanted guys to stop talking to anybody about the fire, Conte said. So he told his assistants to make sure that the mayors wishes are complied with.

He didnt talk to anyone, either, Conte said.

Lawyer: You understood that message to mean not to talk to the people under you that were investigating the fire?

Conte: I kept my mouth shut.

He never saw the final investigation report, Conte testified. He didnt even read news accounts.

I tried to  put it out of my mind totally, he testified.

angela.carella@scni.com; 203-964-2296; stamfordadvocate.com/angelacarella.
NORWALK  A Norwalk man is being charged in connection with a four-month bank robbery spree that struck four different Fairfield County towns, police said.

On Friday, Wilton police arrested Joseph Boccuzzi, 34, of Maplewood Terrace, and charged him for the February robbery of the Fairfield County Bank located near the Wilton-Georgetown border.

While interrogating Boccuzzi, police said the suspect confessed to the Wilton bank robbery. Additionally, Boccuzzi also admitted to three additional bank robberies in Stamford and Norwalk, as well as an attempted bank robbery in Southport, police said.

Authorities were led to Boccuzzi after Stamford police investigator Rafael Barquero spotted what appeared to be the bank robbers getaway vehicle from the Springdale robberies at a city car dealership, Stamford police Sgt. Chris Broems said.

Broems discovered the 2004 black Hyundai Santa Fe was sold to the dealership by one of Boccuzzis friends who led police to him.

Broems said Boccuzzi wore a motorcycle helmet and a mask during the Springdale robberies. He never showed a gun or threatened one, Broems said. Broems said the first Stamford robbery netted $6,000 and the second yielded more than $12,000.

It seems like he was unemployed and was providing for his family in some way, Broems said. Other than that, he has not expounded on any other motive or connections to gambling or drugs or something like that for the robberies.

According to police, Boccuzzi claimed responsibility for robberies at Stamfords First County Bank, located at 1110 Hope St., on Nov. 12, 2016 and Feb. 3, 2017; Norwalks First County Bank at 660 Main Avenue on December 6, 2016; and an attempted robbery of Southports Peoples Bank at 411 Old Post Road on Feb. 22.

The arrest is a result of remarkable collaboration between the Wilton, Fairfield, Stamford, and Norwalk police departments, Sgt. Rob Cipolla, a Wilton Police Department spokesperson, said in a press release.

Police utilized video surveillance from the Wilton robbery and the attempted Southport robbery, which showed the suspect fleeing the robberies in green 1997 Honda Accord, to track the vehicles purchase to a website called Letgo.

A search warrant executed on the Letgo accounts identified Boccuzzi as the new owner of the vehicle, which police found abandoned after the Wilton robbery.

Boccuzzi was charged by Wilton police with second-degree robbery and first-degree larceny. He was held on a $150,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned in court on Monday.
G eorge Lucas has paid tribute to the late Carrie Fisher at a Star Wars convention, saying that she was "the boss" of the films.

Lucas, who created the franchise, took to the stage at the Star Wars Celebration exhibition opening in Florida to make an emotional speech about one of his original stars.

Alongside producer Kathleen Kennedy, Lucas spoke about his experiences of working with the Princess Leia actress, who died in December.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, he said: "She played a part that was very smart, and she was having to hold her own against two big lugs, goofballs that were screwing everything up.

George Lucas attends the Star Wars Celebration day (Getty Images) / Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images

"She was the boss. It was her war, and when I cast it, I said I want somebody young to play the part. I want somebody very young.

"When Carrie came in, she was that character. She was very strong, very smart, very funny, very bold, very tough, and there really wasn't much of a question.

"There are not very many people like her. They are one in a billion.

"For this particular part, it was absolutely perfect...She wore a dress through the whole thing, but she was the toughest in the group."

Stars attend memorial for Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds

Lucas added that she did a lot to steer the production.

He said: "She was very challenging in terms of pointing out that certain pieces of dialogue were a little hard to say.

"She was brilliant, and obviously we will all miss her, but she will always be the princess who took command and never backed down, never was in jeopardy.

"She was always helping the other guys get out of the messes she created.

"We'll all love her forever and ever."

Carrie Fisher - In pictures 1 /29 Carrie Fisher - In pictures Carrie Fisher poses for cameras as she arrives at the European Premiere of Star Wars, The Force Awakens in Leicester Square, London in December 2016 Paul Hackett/Reuters Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) Princess Leia and Han Solo (Carrie Fisher & Harrison Ford) kiss in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Hans Solo (Harrison Ford) in Star Wars: A New Hope Lucasfilm Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds hold their baby daughter, Carrie Frances Fisher in 1957 AP Actress Carrie Fisher in 1977 Getty Images Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) Lucasfilm Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) Lucasfilm Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi (1983) Lucasfilm Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi (1983) Carrie Fisher and singer Paul Simon stand together at their apartment in New York during their wedding reception on 16 August 1983 Mario Suriani/AP Legendary actress Debbie Reynolds poses with her daughter Carrie Fisher after Reynolds star in the live theatre and stage category was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during ceremonies in 1997 Reuters Debbie Reynolds and daughter Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the original Star Wars movie, joining a Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper character as they arrive for the premiere of 'Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith' in Washington on 12 May 2005 Mike Theiler/EPA Actress Carrie Fisher and director George Lucas pose at the 33rd AFI Life Achievement Award after party at the Highlands on 9 June 2005 in Hollywood, California Vince Bucci/Getty Images Carrie Fisher and Daisy Ridley during the filming of the Graham Norton Show at The London Studios in 2015 So TV/PA John Boyega and Carrie Fisher embrace as they arrive at the premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in Hollywood, California on 14 December 2015 Mario Anzuoni/Reuters Carrie Fisher attending the World premiere of Absolutely Fabulous The Movie held at Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square in 2016 Ian West/PA Carrie Fisher returned to the role in 2015 for The Force Awakens Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher attend the Midnight Mission's 100 year anniversary Golden Heart Gala held at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on 30 September 2014 in Beverly Hills, California Araya Diaz/Getty Images Carrie Fisher at 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' film premiere David Fisher/Rex Carrie Fisher and dog Gary attends the European Premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in Leicester Square on 16 December 2015 in London Dave Benett

Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, also appeared to introduce a tribute video of film and interview clips from her mother's career, which included some of her scenes from Star Wars: The Last Jedi which will be released in December.

She said: "My mom, like Leia, was never afraid to speak her mind."

Star Wars Celebration is a fan experience that includes panels, autograph signing sessions, merchandise stalls and exhibitions, and will run in Orlando until Sunday.

Additional reporting by Press Assocation
MIDDLETON -- Springs Window Fashions named Eric Jungbluth as its new chief executive officer.

Jungbluth took over Monday for Scott Fawcett, who had served as CEO since 2008. Fawcett is remaining with the company as executive chairman.

"Scott has been an outstanding leader and a driving force of Springs' growth, expanding its brands and channels and fostering strong relationships with its community of customers and partners," said Rajeev Amara, a board member with Springs and managing director of Springs' majority shareholder Golden Gate Capital. "We thank him for his many contributions to Springs during his 22 years at the company and look forward to continuing to benefit from his leadership as he takes on the executive chairman role."

Fawcett oversaw sales growth and expansion of the company's patio awnings, and commercial solar shades offerings as well as five acquisitions. As executive chairman, Fawcett will advise the company's senior leadership on strategic decision making.

Fawcett said his move to a different role positions the company for future success.

"Eric shares Springs' passion of delivering the best experience for our customers, partners and employees, and he brings tremendous experience growing businesses in residential and commercial markets," Fawcett said.

Jungbluth brings 16 years of consumer building products experience to Springs. He most recently served as CEO and president of CPG International, a manufacturer of building products for residential, commercial and industrial markets.

Jungbluth has a bachelor's degree in finance from UW-La Crosse.
P olice are hunting for a car thought to be linked to the murder of a young man in south east London.

Father Rene Richardson, 24, was stabbed to death in Plumstead on Monday afternoon.

He collapsed in Bournewood Road following the attack in Grasdene Road and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives probing the killing now want to trace a black Mercedes which is thought to be vital to the investigation.

The scene of the stabbing. / Facebook

DCI Diane Tudway, of the Met Polices Homicide and Major Crime Command said: "I am appealing to anyone who has seen this black Mercedes or knows of its whereabouts to contact my team with any information.

She added that while a man has been charged with the murder, it is imperative police find the car, which has registration KY14 ZFK.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder. He will appear at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court on Saturday.

Anyone who can provide information about the black Mercedes or the murder is asked to call the incident room on 020 8721 4005, police via 101, or via Twitter @MetCC.
A man and a teenage boy have been rushed to hospital after a double stabbing in south London on Good Friday.

Police and paramedics raced to the scene of the incident on a busy road in Tulse Hill shortly before 4.30pm.

Two men, aged 18 and 20, were taken to hospital. The 20-year-old had been stabbed in the chest while the teenager had suffered a cut to his hand, police said.

On Saturday police said the man whose chest had been punctured remains in hospital. His condition is not thought to be life-threatening.

The other man, aged 18, was discharged from hospital and then arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

Two other teenage boys, aged 18 and 16, were arrested at the scene and taken to a south London police station where they remain in custody.

Detectives from Lambeth CID are investigating after the stabbing, which happened at the junction between Tulse Hill Gyratory and Norwood Road.

Any witnesses, or anyone with information that may assist police, should call Lambeth CID via 101.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via the crimestoppers-uk.org web site.
P olice have warned boy racers they could have their vehicles seized if a controversial high-performance car rally hits the capital this weekend.

Thousands of people have joined a Facebook group for the London Tunnel Run, an annual parade of souped-up vehicles around the capital's roads.

Organisers have not yet revealed the route of Easter Sunday's late-night event, but promise a "huge static" meet-up at 8pm before the cars wind their way through London for up to three hours.

The Facebook page states: "The route will be a mix of eight tunnels, various bridges and famous landmarks."

Participants, many heading into London from Essex and elsewhere in the UK, are also promised a stop-off at the London Eye.

Footage from previous meet-ups, which sparked a string of complaints from east London residents, shows cars driving at speed through the tunnels and the area around Canary Wharf.

However, Tower Hamlets police urged the drivers to stay out of the area and warned they would be clamping down hard on anyone who did.

In a statement published online, they warned: "Any unnecessary noise, antisocial behaviour or traffic offences will be dealt with robustly to prevent disruption to the community and other road users."

Police said a dispersal zone had been authorised, while extra patrols would be set up around Westferry Circus and Canary Wharf.

It added: "Please be warned and do not come to the area for this event and risk losing your car."

But a spokesman for event organisers Essex Cruising accused the police of overreacting.

He said: "It's a social gathering and nothing for the police to worry about. We will only be passing through like normal road users.

"To be honest I'm not really sure what all the fuss is about. We pay road tax to drive on a public road."

He added: "I think it's a little over the top and would probably be a waste of time and money."

A Met Police spokeswoman said: "We are aware of this event, which runs every year and sees groups gather at various locations to drive together in convoy along a specified route.

"Previously police in Tower Hamlets have experienced numerous calls relating to excessive vehicle noise, anti-social behaviour and inconsiderate driving. There have also on occasions been reports of dangerous and reckless driving.

"As a result, we will have an appropriate policing plan in place with a number of officers on duty around the route."
O ne of the moons of Saturn could support life, scientists believe.

Hydrothermal vents on the planet's moon Enceladus are similar to those found at the bottom of Earth's oceans, say academics.

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.

A NASA illustration of the Cassini spacecraft / AFP/Getty Images

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.

An illustration of the Cassini spacecraft entering the plume of Saturn's moon Enceladus / PA

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."

An explanation of how the moon could support life / PA

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.

Nasa announced the discovery at a press conference at the agency's headquarters in Washington DC on Thursday.

The administration plans to send a spacecraft called Clipper to Jupiter's water-covered moon Europa in the 2020s to investigate whether conditions there are suitable for life.
A statue of a man standing on the over edge of a university roof has prompted a public backlash, with some people claiming it looks like a man about to commit suicide.

Students have spoken out against the statue, which is one of three by artist Anthony Gormley installed across the University of East Anglia (UEA) campus.

Passers-by have reportedly mistaken one of the statues, which stares out over a library rooftop, for a real person.

Last year, suicide rates among students rose to their highest level since 2007, leading one student to brand its installation as tactless during exam season.

The statue on top of a library building at the University of Anglia / Hazel Hughes

The university has staunchly defended the statue, saying it is very proud to be hosting such a thought-provoking piece.

UEA graduate Kimberley Davies, 22, told the Eastern Daily Press: Its a bit tactless to put a statue on top of a building filled with people on edge during exam season.

Sombreros are a no-no, but making passers-by think someones about to commit suicide is art  Im out.

One passer-by wrote on Instagram: Is this some kind of sick joke.

Artist Anthony Gormley is best known for creating the iconic Angel of the North.

He said the statue is designed to show the meeting between sky and earth, mediated by architecture.

A spokesman for the UEA said: "The university is very proud to be hosting thought-provoking work by an artist of such international acclaim - continuing UEA's long relationship with sculpture and the visual arts.

The reaction of the university community since the announcement last month about this exciting project has been overwhelmingly positive and we are sure the three figures will become much-loved focal points in our campus landscape."
T housands of veterans and supporters gathered in London to protest against an alleged "witch-hunt" of soldiers who served during the Troubles.

Ex-servicemen dressed in ceremonial ties and berets from several regiments gathered near Horse Guards Parade, four days after the nineteenth anniversary of the historic Good Friday agreement in Northern Ireland.

The event follows simultaneous protests in Glasgow and Belfast, where tensions ran high on Friday morning over counter-protests by hardline republicans.

The demonstration was organised by British military campaign group, Justice For Northern Ireland Veterans (JFNIV), which criticises a series of high-profile prosecutions and investigations into alleged abuses by British soldiers.

The group claims the treatment amounts to an unjust "hounding" of servicemen compared with the British Government's treatment of former IRA members.

Among those who addressed the crowds adjacent to the capital's royal thoroughfare, the Mall, was former soldier Dennis Hutchings, who is facing a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to a fatal shooting in 1974.

Protesters at the military veterans' rally at Horse Guards Parade / PA

JFNIV organiser Alan Barry said he was pleased with the show of support from the estimated 3,000 people attending.

Mr Barry, who is a Northern Ireland veteran of the Grenadier Guards, said the group always agreed that genuine crimes should be prosecuted, but said the majority of investigations into alleged abuses were unfounded.

He said: "No soldier ever left barracks with the intention of committing murder.

"When we left barracks, we left barracks on patrol, and if we were fired at, we fired back."

Veterans gathered today on the step of the Horse Guards Parade / PA

Mr Barry said the group's "next mission" will be to march on Stormont if the Government continued to pursue prosecutions.

After hearing from political activists and former soldiers, the gathered ranks of supporters arranged in a column and marched to the Cenotaph, where a rendition of the Last Post was played against a swell of bank holiday traffic.

Mr Hutchings told the Press Association he was "absolutely gutted" to be facing trial.

The 75-year-old, from Torpoint in Cornwall, said: "Of course I'm feeling nervous about it because you don't know what way it's going to go."
F riends have paid tribute to a British woman killed in a knife attack on a train in Jerusalem.

20-year-old student Hannah Bladon was stabbed repeatedly while she travelled on a light rail train near the Old City of Jerusalem on Good Friday.

The train was packed as Christians celebrated Good Friday and Jews marked Passover.

Friends have taken to social media pay tribute to the Religious Studies undergraduate, who was a student at the University of Birmingham.

Celina Natzic wrote on Twitter: Truly at a loss for words....Hannah was one of my favorite people at the university.

Tributes have poured in to the religious studies student. / PA

Ms Bladon had been on an exchange programme with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem since January.

Teacher Rona Evyasaf added on Facebook: A student of mine, Hannah Bladon, was murdered today in a terror attack here in Jerusalem.

I did not know her well as we only had a few classes since the semester started. But at the little time we had, I found her to be very serious about her studies and very excited about archaeology (she wanted to go on a dig before she goes back home).

Israeli policemen block the road after the attack just outside Jerusalem's Old City / Reuters

This is breaking my heart.

Israel's ambassador to the UK Mark Regev described her killing as a "senseless act of terror".

He tweeted: "My thoughts are with the family and friends of UK student Hannah Bladon, who was murdered in a senseless act of terror in Jerusalem today."

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem said: "The Hebrew University and the Rothberg International School express our deep sorrow over the murder of a British student, Hannah Bladon, in today's attack.

"We extend our deepest condolences to her family and we share in their sorrow.

"The university condemns such acts of terror that harm innocent people, and especially a student who came to Jerusalem to study and widen her academic horizons.

Two other people suffered injuries in the knife attack on a train in Jerusalem / Reuters

"The university administration and staff will provide all necessary support to students, faculty members and their families in Israel and around the world.

"Hannah Bladon came to the Hebrew University as part of a student exchange from the University of Birmingham.

"Hannah began her studies here at the end of January 2017 and was supposed to continue her studies until the end of the current semester."

Israeli Police and medics inspect the scene of a stabbing attack. / EPA

A statement released by Rothberg International School added: "It is with tremendous sorrow that we inform you of the tragic death of Hannah Bladon, a student at the Rothberg International School who was fatally wounded earlier today in a stabbing attack adjacent to the Old City, while travelling on the Jerusalem light rail.

"Hannah, a Religious Studies undergraduate student from the University of Birmingham in England, studied at the Rothberg International School in the framework of Hebrew Universitys exchange program.

"Her friends described her as an inquisitive and adventurous student who made the most of her opportunity to learn and experience life in Israel. Her family has been notified."

The knife used in the attack, which was described as a 'terrorist' incident by the Israeli Foreign Ministry

A statement from the University of Birmingham read: We are deeply saddened to hear about the death of our student Hannah Bladon who was killed whilst on an exchange programme in Jerusalem.

Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this tragic time and we will be providing support for any student affected by this terrible event.

Ms Bladon was attacked by a Palestinian man who pulled a knife from his bag and repeatedly stabbed her as the tram neared Jerusalem's City Hall.

An off-duty policeman pulled an emergency brake and tried to intervene.

Paramedics treated her at the scene and rushed her to hospital but she later died.

A pregnant women and 50-year-old man were also injured in the incident when the tram came to a sudden stop and in the aftermath of the attack.

Police detained man at the scene. Israel's security service identified him as a 57-year-old Palestinian man who had mental health problems.

President of Israel Reuven Rivlin said he was "filled with sadness" about Ms Bladon's death, saying Israel's "thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim".

He said: "This week thousands have come through the ancient gates of Jerusalem, to celebrate the feasts of Passover and Easter throughout the city - while the security forces work to ensure the safety of the dear residents and visitors to the city.

"And so we will continue to do. Terror can never overcome us. Terror will never destroy our lives here."

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the tragic death of a British national in Jerusalem.

"We are providing support to her family at this difficult time and are in touch with local authorities."
A young British woman has been killed in a knife attack on a train in Jerusalem.

The woman, a student understood to be visiting on a tourist trip, was stabbed repeatedly on board a train near the Old City of Jerusalem.

Two other people are believed to have also been injured in the attack on Friday. One of the attack victims is said to have been a pregnant woman.

Israels national ambulance service, Magen David Adom, said on Twitter they treated a 25-year-old woman who was in a critical condition after being stabbed in the upper part of her body.

Israeli policemen block the road after the attack just outside Jerusalem's Old City / Reuters

The woman later succumbed to her injuries, according the Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem.

They said a 30-year-old pregnant woman and 50 year-old man were also injured.

Israeli Police and medics inspect the scene of a stabbing attack. / EPA

MDA official Zeevi Hanfling said: Police officers led me into the train where a young girl was lying unconscious w stab wounds 2 her upper body part."

Israels foreign ministry posted a picture of the knife allegedly used in the attack.

The knife used in the attack, which was described as a 'terrorist' incident by the Israeli Foreign Ministry

Video footage broadcast on television showed police officers restraining a man and carrying him away.

A police spokesman said the attacker was detained. Israel's security service identified him as a 57-year-old Palestinian man who had mental health problems.

The area was packed with Christians marking Good Friday and Jews celebrating Passover. On Good Friday each year, Christians hold a procession in the walled Old City.
T he US has released footage showing the moment the mother of all bombs was dropped on an ISIS base in Afghanistan.

The mammoth 9,800kg bomb is the biggest non-nuclear explosive device owned by the US and was dropped on a tunnel complex on Thursday night.

It killed 36 ISIS militants and completely destroyed the base, the Afghan military claimed.

On Friday the USAs defence department released a video of the moment the MOAB  massive ordnance air blast  bomb struck the Nangarhar province.

Target: The US' department of defence put out a video of the moment the bomb struck. / AP

In an instant the area is blackened and massive clouds of thick smoke surge into the air as the bomb, one of the largest ever released in combat, unleashes 11 tonnes of explosives.

It was shared in a tweet which was accompanied by the words: "A #MOAB bomb strikes #ISIS cave & tunnel systems in eastern #Afghanistan.

"The strike was designed to minimize risk to Afghan and US forces."

On Friday the USAs leading military commander in Afghanistan said dropping the bomb was a strategic decision.

US drop bomb in Afghanistan

General John Nicholson told the media: This was the right weapon for the right target.

President Donald Trump had already told White House reporters that he was very proud of the attack and called it another successful job.
I SIS has denied that any of the extremist groups fighters were killed when the mother of all bombs was dropped on a base near Afghanistan.

The jihadi group issued a statement which claimed there had been no casualties in the strike which involved a huge 9,800kg bomb.

The biggest non-nuclear explosive device owned by the US was dropped on a tunnel complex on Thursday night.

The Afghan military claimed 36 fighters were killed in the strike.

Target: The US' department of defence put out a video of the moment the bomb struck. / AP

However, ISIS disputed this in the statement issued through its own Amaq News Agency.

Bomb strikes ISIS cave in Afghanistan

On Friday the USAs defence department released a video of the moment the MOAB  massive ordnance air blast  bomb struck the Nangarhar province.

General John Nicholson told the media: This was the right weapon for the right target.

President Donald Trump had already told White House reporters that he was very proud of the attack and called it another successful job.
When Fargo the TV series first premiered in 2015, immediate comparisons were made to the 1996 movie of the same name.

And while it wasnt quite the same story, the TV series certainly contained more than a few elements shared by the movie.

For one, there was the accent. That so-weird-it-must-be-exaggerated flat, nasally sound of the not-quite-Canadians was, well, pretty spot-on, in some cases. Some folks really do sound like that, doncha know. Thats one thing the movie and the series shared. And the niceness  were people who lived in Minnesota and thereabouts really so polite? Gosh darn it, you betcha they were  are. Say a lot of things about Upper Midwesterners, but niceness is the truth. And both the movie and the series oozed politeness. Well, the second season of the series had a few souls whose temperaments ran a little on the hot side, but overall, everyone is just plain nice.

The series also proved to share the movies bungling criminal element, inept murderers, and twisty plotlines that meandered through the snowy woods and back again. And you can rely on the steady, unflappability of law enforcement to follow that trail, even though at times it made no sense.

That the series carries the stamp of approval from the movies creators is likely the reason why the films aesthetic seems to seep into the series. Joel and Ethan Coen, Minneapolis natives, have a knack for creating a mood that mixes oddball quirk, macabre mystery, depraved violence, and offbeat humor, producing a result that is as gripping to watch as it is difficult to categorize.

The upcoming third season follows suit, offering an unnecessary murder, a dedicated investigator, bumbling criminals, and a circuitous plotline that ties everything together. Were in 2010  a big jump from last seasons 1970s-set dueling crime family story, but a mere step from the first seasons 2006 time period. UW-Madison graduate Carrie Coon stars as Eden Valley, Minnesota, police chief Gloria Burgle, a single mom who is tasked with the case, which may or may not involve one or both brothers Emmit and Ray Stussy, both played by Ewan McGregor.

Emmit, the suave, successful Parking Lot King of Minnesota (reminiscent of Stavros Milos (Oliver Platt), the Supermarket King of Minnesota from the first season, perhaps?), and his slightly younger brother Ray, the paunchy, balding parole officer, have a beef: Ray thinks Emmit swindled him out of his rightful fortune involving a valuable postage stamp. He wants to settle the score so he can buy a ring for his girlfriend, Nikki Swango (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).

As you might guess, things go wrong. Misunderstandings lead to mistakes lead to misadventures, and pretty soon things are all messed up. And playing a critical role in the action is the cutthroat world of competitive bridge.

Just in time for spring, revisit the barren, unforgiving wintry landscape of Fargo, premiering at 9 p.m. Wednesday on FX.

Guerrilla warfare: Political activists cross the line into radical militancy in 1971 London, where racial tensions and police brutality are at a breaking point. Guerrilla stars Frieda Pinto and Babou Ceesay as a couple whose plan to liberate an imprisoned political prisoner sparks violence in the civil rights movement. Idris Elba also stars in this six-part limited series written and directed by Milwaukee native John Ridley, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of 12 Years a Slave. Guerrilla premieres at 8 p.m. Sunday on Showtime.

The beginning of the end: In the third and final season of The Leftovers, which stars Justin Theroux, Christopher Eccleston, Scott Glenn, and Coon, the survivors of the Departure, when 2 percent of the population mysteriously disappeared, are anticipating the end of the world. Its approaching the seventh anniversary of that fateful day, and those left behind are bracing for a worldwide flood, after which no one is quite sure what will be left over. The end begins at 8 p.m. Sunday on HBO.

The end of the end: After six seasons, theyre all grown ... or are they? Hannah (Lena Dunham), Marnie (Allison Williams), Jessa (Jemima Kirke), and Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet) bid farewell on the series finale of Girls, at 9 p.m. Sunday on HBO.

Sunday night fever: Feel the groove with Stayin Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees. The special features such varied musicians as Demi Lovato, Keith Urban, Ed Sheeran, Pentatonix, Nick Jonas, Little Big Town, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, and  why not?  Barry Gibb playing the music made famous by those kings of the disco. Saturday Night Fever star John Travolta  Tony Manero himself!  makes a special appearance; Stayin Alive airs at 7 p.m. Sunday on Ch. 3.

Life after politics: Former President Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is back after losing the presidency (and vice-presidency); now shes ready for her new chapter in Veep, returning Sunday for a sixth season. Eager to secure her legacy as the nations first female president, Selina, with trusted bag man Gary (Tony Hale) by her side, is traveling the globe, clumsily spreading goodwill and cheer. Veep premieres at 9:30 p.m. Sunday on HBO.
T he biggest non-nuclear bomb in the arsenal of the United States killed dozens of ISIS militants and completely destroyed their base, the Afghan military has claimed.

The 21,600lb (9,800kg) MOAB (massive ordnance air blast bomb)  was dropped on a tunnel complex in the Nangarhar province, at about 7.30pm local time.

No civilians were killed in the attack, The Afghan Ministry of Defence said.

Several IS caves and ammunition caches were destroyed by the bomb, which is known officially as a GBU-43B. It unleashed 11 tonnes of explosives in its devastating impact.

US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House he was very proud of the attack and labelled it another successful job.

When the bomb was developed in the early 2000s, the Pentagon did a formal review of legal justification for its combat use.

Hakim Khan, 50, a resident of Achin district where the attack took place, welcomed the attack on ISIS, saying: "I want 100 times more bombings on this group."

Afghan ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said: No civilian has been hurt and only the base which Daesh used to launch attacks in other parts of the province, was destroyed.

The announcement by the White House also came hours after the Pentagon admitted an air strike in Syria mistakenly killed 18 rebels.
R ussia is backing a diplomatic solution to increasing tensions between North Korea and the USA.

The Kremlin urged all countries to show restraint as relations between the two powerful nations became frostier after North Korea warned Donald Trump it is prepared for war.

In a frank interview in Pyongyang, North Koreas vice foreign minister said the country was ready to use its powerful nuclear deterrent.

Han Song Ryol also blamed President Trumps aggressive tweets for making trouble.

North Korean president Kim Jong-Un uses binoculars to watch a mock military drill. / REUTERS

The top diplomat said: We will go to war if they choose.

We've got a powerful nuclear deterrent already in our hands, and we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US pre-emptive strike.

His comments come as the US sent an aircraft carrier to waters off the Korean peninsula. The US is also carrying out its biggest-ever joint military exercise with South Korea.

On Friday the Kremlin said it would back diplomatic methods to resolve the Korean peninsula crisis and tensions over the North Korean nuclear programme.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: We call all countries for restraint, we call all the countries to refrain from any actions that could amount to provocative steps.
T his is the shocking moment a family-friendly Easter egg drop descended into chaos as children "trampled" on each other while scrambling to grab chocolate eggs.

Children can be heard screaming in pain and shouting they cant get up after more than 30,000 Easter eggs were dropped from a helicopter over a school field in Queensland, Australia, today.

The Good Friday event was reportedly organised by a church for the Upper Coomera State College, with thousands of children scrambling for the chocolate treats.

In the shaky footage, a child can he heard shouting stop pushing repeatedly while another complains that he cant get up from the crush.

Children can be heard screaming as they scramble for chocolate eggs (Cat Iler) / Cat Iler (Facebook)

Amazed parents can be seen standing by while the children scramble for eggs, while children are spotted pulling each other away from the crowd.

The five-minute video has been viewed more than 1,000 times since it was posted to Facebook this morning, with many viewers left horrified by the scramble.

Cat Iler, who uploaded the video, even claimed ambulances had to be called.

Lisa C Twelftree said: This is awful. They have to stop these events. A similar thing happened last year. It would be extremely traumatic getting trampled.

It's awful with the sound on hearing all the poor kids crying.

Kellie Faulkner said: Those kids are so scared. One person saying they can't breathe. People are being crushed.

I really hope the management get into a lot of trouble. Make a formal complaint. This isn't good enough!

In 2015, an Easter egg hunt in Sacramento similarly turned ugly when parents jumped in trying to grab sweets for their children.

The event was a world record attempt, but descended into mayhem as a crush for eggs ensued, despite the event designed to raise money for victims of human trafficking.
U zbekistan says it warned the west that Stockholm terror suspect Rakhmat Akilov had links to ISIS.

Uzbek foreign affairs minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said the 39-year-old father-of-four had been recruited by the terrorist group while in Sweden, where he had lived since 2014.

The UzDaily news portal reported that Mr Kamilov had said that information on the suspect was given "to one of our Western partners" for transmission to Sweden.

The portal did not say when the information was sent.

A truck ploughed into a Swedish shopping centre / TT News Agency/Press Association

Reports this week said Uzbekistan had opened a criminal case against Akilov for extremist connections.

Four people, including Briton Chris Bevington, 41, were killed when the suspect allegedly ploughed into a shopping centre in the Swedish capital last Friday

A 31-year-old Belgian woman, a 69-year-old Swedish woman and an 11-year-old Swedish girl also died.

Some 15 people were injured.
A Chicago man was arrested Thursday for alleged drunken driving after leaving a Monroe County resort with his four children in the car.

Brian Pride, 39, was stopped by a State Patrol trooper at about 11 p.m. in the village of Warrens after Pride had departed from the Three Bears Lodge.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office was called about a domestic disturbance at the lodge, with the State Patrol also called to help in the investigation.

Pride was taken to jail after his arrest, while the four children, all under the age of 16, were returned to the Three Bears Lodge where they were released to a responsible adult, the State Patrol said in a news release.
In about seven weeks Dane County Circuit Judge John Markson will say au revoir to the bench.

After serving since 2007, Markson is retiring as of June 2, his sights set on a cabin on a lake near Mont Orford National Park in Quebec. The rugged spot is east of Montreal, not far from where Marksons wife, Diane Rivard, grew up.

Rivard, who works in the Department of Mathematics at UW-Madison, is also retiring.

I never grew tired of the job, Markson said. I still enjoy the job. If circumstances were different, Id continue to do it.

He said hes found his experience on the bench, where he has served in both criminal and civil case rotations, satisfying.

Markson, who turns 63 this summer, said theres nothing specific about the timing for his retirement, its just a desire to spend more time doing the things he and his wife enjoy, like camping, hiking, running and snowshoeing. They have two grown sons.

We have been fortunate to be healthy, and we do plan to travel, he said. It just seemed that this was the right time.

He said retirement part time in Quebec, embedded in French language and culture, will also give him an opportunity to brush up on his French, which he learned after meeting his wife, who is a native French speaker.

My wife would tell you I do just fine, he said, but he added that he wants to take his French to the next level, perfecting his ability to read and write the language.

Markson is a Milwaukee native who was in private law practice with a Madison law firm before he was appointed to the bench by then-Gov. Jim Doyle. After his departure, Gov. Scott Walker will have an opportunity to appoint a successor, who will then have to stand for election the following spring to keep the seat.

Markson said he and his wife plan to spend summers in Quebec and keep a home in Madison as well. He will make himself available for work as a reserve judge, he said, and plans to do some mediation and arbitration work as well. He said he has no plans to return to private law practice, as a few retired judges have done in recent years.

Among the things hell miss most about leaving the courthouse, he said, are the people, including the court staff and lawyers he works alongside every day.

Among the more memorable cases he heard, Markson said, were homicide trials like that of Marcius Butters Lee, convicted of shooting and robbing a man outside a Madison motel in 2014, and the case of Julio Marin-Garcia, who stabbed his wife to death in Fitchburg in 2007.

The outcomes of those cases were important not only to the defendants, but to victims and their families, he said.

Other cases that he said were important were those of state Capitol protesters who were issued hundreds of citations. His ruling that tossed citations on constitutional and procedural grounds influenced dismissals of dozens more citations before other judges.

In his typically understated fashion, Markson said the ruling was an interesting decision for the community and was an orderly process.
An Illinois man who barricaded himself in a Far West Side hotel room Thursday afternoon was taken into custody and then to a hospital for treatment after using narcotics.

The standoff happened shortly before 3 p.m. at the hotel in the 8000 block of Excelsior Drive, Madison police said.

Thomas Ledwell, 38, of Joliet, was given misdemeanor citations for illegal possession of schedule I narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to police:

Officers responded to a report of a man having a medical emergency at the hotel, and that he had barricaded himself in his room to prevent medical personnel from helping.

"Officers convinced him to come out peacefully after he used bedding and other hotel room items to keep medical personnel out of the room," said police officer Kimberly Alan.

"It became clear to officers the medical issue was not only non-emergent (not an emergency) at that point, but was also drug-use related," Alan said.

Ledwell was taken into custody and cooperated with officers and medical staff as he was taken to UW-Hospital for treatment.
A Medford elementary school student has been selected as the winner in the annual statewide cabbage contest, growing a 35-pound monster to take home the, uhh, cabbage.

Sydney Sperl was chosen as the winner out of the entries submitted by teachers for each third grade class in Wisconsin at the end of the growing season last year.

Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Ben Brancel went to Sydney's school on Thursday to congratulate the big cabbage grower.

"Students like Sydney and her classmates are the state's future, and I hope someday they consider the hundreds of career opportunities available in Wisconsin agriculture, from being on the farm to being behind a desk," Brancel said.

The cabbage contest is the brainchild of Bonnie Plants. Over 14,500 Wisconsin third graders got cabbage plants last spring, part of a national program from Bonnie to get kids interested in growing things. Big things.

Cabbage is big in Wisconsin. 6,000 acres of the vegetable were grown in the state last year, with much of the cabbage made into sauerkraut.

Sperl did take home some cabbage of the spending kind. She received a $1,000 scholarship from Bonnie Plants.
Bluffs Middle School students were handed a ticket when they came to class Thursday which told them what class they would in as they boarded the Titanic.

The students stepped into class and back in time as passengers on the Titanic which infamously struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912.

It sunk in less than three hours in the early hours of April 15.

My whole goal for you this morning is to see what class you are in that way you can compare and contrast and relate to what passengers had as far as accommodations and survival, Brooke (Elley) Talkington, sixth grade social studies teacher at Bluffs Middle School said.

Talkington said the amount of passenger tickets were proportionate to what there actually were on the ship as over half of the passengers wouldve been in the third class.

She presented a computer presentation with videos but students were also able to see different items used on the ship. Talkington said it was a fun, interactive lesson for the students.

There are many that might not be familiar with the Titanic so its hard to just give them facts and have them relate, Talkington said.

She decided to have them actually be a passenger so they could connect to the lesson.

They got to be a part of it and touch actual replica pieces, Talkington said.

Anahi Calderon, sixth-grader at BMS, said it was a cool experience.

It showed how it was destroyed, Calderon said.

She experienced what they might have felt like too.

Korbin Gribble, sixth-grader at BMS, found it interesting how many people survived.

Students found out in the lesson what their chance of survival would be if they were a part of the class that their ticket told them they were.

First class might have felt like they were above all the other people, Gribble said.

Passengers in first class had the largest survival rate where 60 percent of the people survived, 42 percent for second class, 25 percent for third class, and 24 percent for the crew.

Of the 2,208 people on board the Titanic, 705 people survived.

The ship was built by White Star Line who wanted to build a ship bigger than anything else at the time.

Talkington said part of the problem was there were many people who said it was an unsinkable ship but it was actually a practically unsinkable ship.

The Titanic was on a trip that was supposed to last seven but the ship only lasted four.

It sailed from Southampton, England, and was intended to go to New York.

The students learned the Titanic was called RMS Titanic or Royal Mail Service. It was used for a royal mail service which was meant to take mail to and from London.

The students saw replica plates, tea cups, and a toothpaste holder during the lesson.

It took Talkington about two years to get everything for the event.

Talkington said in the past, she spent a lot of time on a website that sells Titanic replica and time on eBay for some of the White Star Line items.

She received all of the pieces for the lesson around four years ago. It was her sixth year doing the activity.
CHADRON  The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office has filed a complaint against a Dawes County official, alleging forgery and misconduct in office.

According to Dawes County Court records, Treasurer Barb Sebesta has been charged with one count of second-degree forgery, a Class I misdemeanor, and six counts of official misconduct, a Class II misdemeanor. A criminal complaint was filed on April 6 and a hearing was held on April 10. Judge Randin Roland will preside over the case.

Reports indicate that the charges stem from discoveries during a state audit in September 2016. The results of a surprise audit were forwarded to the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office.

The audit alleges Sebesta altered a check written by a taxpayer, changing it from $85.20 to $851.20, but not altering a total balance on a deposit slip. When the First National Bank of North Platte noticed the discrepancy, it changed the deposit slip and sent a notice of the correction. When Sebasta received the correction notice, she told branch personnel she had altered the check without the customers authorization and the bank made an adjustment so the taxpayer could recover the funds.

It should be noted that the alteration of a check in this manner is considered to be a form of

forgery, the audit read.

Sebesta claimed she was trying to clarify the property amount for the bands but did not verify it back to the receipts.

She is also accused of failed to collect sales tax or sales tax forms in at least two instances. According to the audit, Sebesta said she was trying to help the vehicle purchaser by not collecting sales tax until June 2016 for vehicle purchased two months earlier. In a second instance, she said she knew the owners of an ATV and that no sales tax would be owed because it would be used on a farm. She told the owners to bring in the sales tax form when they could.

She has also been accused of failing to maintain trust balances in a timely fashion, and deposited bond forfeitures into the countys general fund rather than distributing them to the schools as required by law.

Sebasta, who formerly worked in the Dawes County Office for six years, was elected to the treasurer post in November 2010. She will not be up for re-election until 2018.

Sebasta has declined to comment, saying she wanted to seek legal advice first, according to the Chadron Record.

If convicted, Sebasta could face up to one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine on the forgery charge. She could be sentenced to up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted on the misconduct charge.

A copy of the audit is available on starherald.com.
For the past three seasons, Lupe Gonzales has been putting the skills of a lifetime to work at the Scottsbluff YMCA fixing and repairing whatever is needed.

Now in his fourth season, Gonzales finds solace in working outdoors. After 35 years with UPS, Gonzales knew he had more to offer.

I retired and thought Id enjoy being with the guys at the coffee shops and doing things like that, he said. Coffee and donuts werent for me.

He had to do something. So he worked for the city of Scottsbluff for a while. After talking with his wife, Lola, the fitness director at the YMCA, he learned property manager Bob Prickett was looking for some part-time help working in facilities/campground maintenance. He started helping out with lawn maintenance and expanded his workload from there. He now does maintenance on some of the buildings, rebuilt the saunas, installed the TRX system in the main YMCA building, a lot of the tile work at the YMCA and the picket fence in front of the YMCA child care center.

Whatever there is to do  carpentry, welding  I enjoy it, he said.

He admits he prefers to be outdoors working where the sun is shining, but works inside the YMCA when winter comes. As soon as the weather is nice, hes back outside.

I do feel the cold and heat once in a while, but Ive been outdoors since I was a kid, he said.

Gonzales especially enjoys working at the YMCA Trails West Camp when camps are in session. When the children arrive, the camp is quiet. The sounds of their voices begin to rise over time until a horn is blown, signifying its time to be quiet again and they need to listen. Gonzales smiles when he speaks of the children who arrive every summer to learn and have fun.

You get to know every little one, he said. And every one has a different personality.

The Gonzales family has a tradition. If you see a member of your family, you acknowledge each other and give them a hug. His youngest granddaughter and grandson were in camp that year and when they saw him, they said hello and gave him and Lola a hug.

Out of all the kids, here comes this little girl and gives me hug and says, Hi, Grandpa, he said. Gonzales turned to his wife and said, OK, where did this one come from? I dont even know her.

His older granddaughters work at the camp, too. Now, all the kids come up to him and say Hi, Grandpa whenever they see him.

Gonzales experience growing up on the farm, working alongside his father, working at the ABC nursery, learning landscaping, learning to drive large machinery, repairing tractors and machinery, removing trees and a host of other skills have been beneficial to the YMCA.

Theres a lot for me to do out here, he said. We have a lot of plans out here.

New landscaping has been placed throughout the camp around the cabins. Some trees have been removed. The ground has been leveled in many places and plans are in the works for landscaping around the archery area.

This is some of the more beautiful area around, Gonzales said. Instead of it being a weedy area, weve made it more attractive to people who come to the camp.

When Gonzales isnt working, he will most likely be found camping, fishing or hunting. He likes goose hunting, but deep sea fishing is at the top of his list for fun. Hes caught large fish, including blue and black marlin, dorado, barracuda, roosterfish and tuna. On some of his trips, hes traveled 145-160 miles to catch fish. Friends who accompany him dont just get the pleasure of fishing with a good friend, Gonzales makes a point to take them into towns to show them his heritage.

We dont just stay in the tourist areas, I take them into the local homes, he said. Its not just a fishing trip, its getting to know the culture.

His favorite destinations are Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa and Cabo San Lucas.

Though he loves his vacations and free time, Gonzales doesnt have any plans to stop working anytime soon.

I enjoy being outdoors, he said. I dont know when Im going to give it up.
With origins in the post-Vietnam War era, Veterans Stand Downs were originally events to help homeless veterans get food and clothing during the cold winter months.

Today, stand downs have evolved into annual one-stop outreaches to help veterans by connecting them to benefits, information and on-the-spot services.

Western Nebraska Community Colleges Veterans Upward Bound Program and the Department of Veterans Affairs teamed up to host their third stand down at the John N. Harms Center Thursday, April 13.

Marine Corps Iraq War Veteran Pete Curr of Gering was one of the veterans who showed up to check out the services available.

I attended the stand down last year and thought it was really interesting, Curr said. Its good to be able to connect with other veterans.

Shelly Mullins, owner and founder of The Caparisoned Project in Gering, offered her equine therapy services to help veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Animals  and especially horses  have an innate sense of healing, Mullins said. Theyre very perceptive of how you feel, and theyre going to pick up on emotions that you might know youre feeling yourself.

Mullins said her program, which runs April 15 through Oct. 15, helps out about eight to 12 veterans a year.

Jeff Gorr, veteran outreach program specialist from the Rapid City (South Dakota) Vet Center and his counterpart, Matt Goldman of Cheyenne, Wyoming, were on hand to help offer services through the Mobile Vet Center (MVC).

The MVCs are driven to far-reaching rural areas to provide veterans with services such as counseling for PTSD, military sexual trauma, bereavement, marriage and family counseling, and other resources from VA benefits information to suicide prevention.

Gorr said the MVC is like an office on wheels,  it goes to where the veterans are, which is a necessity for rural areas. Even when a counselor cant be there to help a veteran in person, live teleconferencing equipment is available inside so that a veteran can speak with a VA mental health specialist face-to-face. Gorr can be reached at 605-348-0077 or by email at jeffery.gorr.

A.J. Trook, a disabled veterans outreach program specialist for Nebraska Department of Labor, said that the stand downs also help build a stronger network between agencies that helps the helpers

A lot of veterans dont know what all is available out there, so if I have someone who comes into my office looking for services that I cant provide, I know just the person who can help them, Trook said. It all fits together.

However, veterans who werent able to make the stand down Thursday still have the same support available year round.

Veterans can always contact Scotts Bluff County Veterans Service Director John Brehm, at 308 436-6643 or jbrehm@scottsbluffcounty.org, or contact Chris Wolf at wolfc@wncc.edu or 308-635-6042 to get put in touch with the services they might need.
For the fourteenth year, students from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College (UNMC) of Dentistry will be heading west to be a part of Dental Day on June 2 and 3. This is an opportunity for children whose family has no insurance or very little insurance to receive dental care for no cost.

This year we are offering the free dental services to kids ages 3 to 21.

Each year over 200 school age kids receive important dental care at Dental Days, said Janelle Hansen of Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD). Hansen is one of the coordinators behind the annual event.

We are glad to work in partnership with local dentists, school nurses, hospitals, community volunteers, and UNMC to be a part of an excellent service ensuring children in the Panhandle have their dental health needs met, she added.

Prescreening appointments are currently taking place until April 28 and the dentists participating in pre-screenings include:

 Alliance - Drs. Maxwell, Wilcox, Giles, and Christensen

 Bridgeport - Dr. Iske

 Hemingford - Dr. Jacoby

 Oshkosh - Dr. Jensen

 Sidney - Drs. Dornbier and Neal

Dental students studying dentistry and dental hygiene at UNMC, accompanied by dental residents, and faculty members, will be participating in the annual Panhandle-wide event. Children will be seen at Gordon Memorial Hospital; Box Butte General Hospital; Dr. Maxwell and Dr. Wilcox in Alliance; Summit Dental Clinic (Dr. Neal) and Life Smiles in Sidney (Dr. Dornbier).

For more information, visit www.pphd.org or contact Hansen at 308-487-3600 Ext. 105.
As a college student there were only three times a year I would drag myself out of bed on a Sunday morning to attend church. One of those days was Easter.

I knew it was the day Jesus rose from the grave and I needed to rise up, get dressed up and show up at a church. It was more out of duty than a love for the guy who walked out of the tomb.

I am not the only one who, if they are honest, would say duty was, and for many still is, the main reason Easter Sunday is the Super Bowl of church attendance.

When Life Way Research asked 1,000 pastors which Sunday was their best attended, 93 percent answered, Easter. Christmas came in second and Mother's Day was a distant third.

For me, it would take a few years after I graduated before I met the Easter escape artist and He would become my best friend. When church went from a religion to a relationship for me, everything changed.

Instead of duty, church attendance took on new meaning. It became a special time spent celebrating my relationship with Jesus, the escape artist, the Savior who gave His life on Friday to pay for my wrong doings, past, present and future.

As one who identifies themselves as a Christian, I am, according to a 2016 Gallup Poll, still in the overwhelming majority. The poll found eight in 10 Americans still identify themselves as Christian.

As for those of you who still say our religious beliefs are very important we are the slight majority53 percent. In 1965, 70 percent of Americans said religion was very important.

The same survey found seven in 10 Americans felt religion was losing its influence in society.

That number doesnt surprise me.

Jesus has been drug into the political world, a world of figure pointing, name calling, mistrust and hate. All go against the teachings of Jesus.

If you read the Bible, which three out of four Americans still believe is the word of God, you find Jesus had more harsh words for the religious folks of His day than the sinners.

When those religious folks tried to drag Jesus into politics, should you pay taxes, Jesus refused to go there saying, Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is Gods, Mark 12:17.

When asked to join the religious majority when it was first founded, the evangelist Billy Graham refused to join. He was afraid Christianity would be turned into a political party.

It is not a political party, instead, it is a love affair.

God so loved us, Jesus came to take our place and pay the price. Why such a high price?

God is perfect and any imperfection in His presence would make Him imperfect. Jesus, who was perfect, died as our ransom. The result, God sees us through Jesus.

The only saying, I am a sinner saved by grace is not true. Because Jesus took our place on the cross and rose victorious from the grave, we are Saints, thanks to Gods saving grace.

So Easter Sunday, I will climb out of bed and attend church. However, unlike in my college days Easter, Christmas and the Sunday before finals, and every other Sunday, it is not out of duty that I will attend church. Instead, it will be a day of celebration of a relationship with my living savior, Jesus.
Girls on the Run (GOTR) of the Greater Piedmont will host its 5k on May 13 at Lowes Corporate Headquarters, 1000 Lowes Blvd., Mooresville. Participation is open to the public. All proceeds from the event will benefit Girls on the Run of the Greater Piedmont.

On-site registration and packet pick up begins at 8 a.m., team warm-ups and a Kids Fun Run will commence immediately following the national anthem at 8:45 a.m., and the 5k will begin at 9 a.m.

Registration is $25 for adults (14 and older), $15 for youth (13 and younger), and the Fun Run is $10. All participants receive an event shirt.

For more information on volunteer opportunities or to register for the 5k, visit www.gotrgreaterpiedmont.org.
Extradition from Serbia may be requested under the European Convention on Extradition, signed on December 13, 1957 in Paris and its additional protocols, signed in Strasbourg on October 15, 1975 and March 17, 1978 and ratified by Romania under Law 80/1997, the Justice Ministry reported on Friday.

The ministry's statement came after former MP Sebastian Ghita was tracked down and detained by the Police in Belgrade on Thursday night.

"Extradition is regulated under Title II, Chapter II of Law 302/2004 concerning cooperation in extradition and judicial assistance in criminal matters, as subsequently amended, supplemented and recast. Extradition from Serbia may be requested under the European Convention on Extradition, signed on December 13, 1957 in Paris and its additional protocols, signed in Strasbourg on October 15, 1975 and March 17, 1978 and ratified by Romania under Law 80/1997," the ministry says in a press statement.

In this case, extradition is special because it regards an intentionally wanted person who has taken refuge in another county with the intent of eschewing criminal prosecution, standing trial or serving a court sentence.

The ministry is entitled to request the extradition from a foreign country of an internationally wanted person whose localisation in that country or apprehension for extradition from the requested state has been confirmed.

"Under Article 66 in Law 302/2004, as soon as the court issuing the pre-trial warrant is informed about the localisation in a foreign country of an internationally wanted person or wanted by Romania's judiciary authorities, it shall establish under a reasoned resolution whether or not the legal requirements are met for the request of extradition. The Justice Ministry shall fulfill its legal duties under the law after receiving a final court resolution accompanied by the relevant documents and the applicable international instruments," the statement says.

The ministry says that extradition applications are dealt with under the legislation of the required state.

Interior Minister Carmen Dan on Friday confirmed that Ghita was in the custody of the Belgrade Police, which were conducting specific procedures.

"I can confirm that Sebastian Ghita is now at the headquarters of the Belgrade Police, which are conducting specific procedures. Last night, he and his brother were stopped by Serbian Police and asked for an ID. The brother produced genuine identification papers, while he produced a faked ID. The procedure was conducted based on intelligence from the Romanian Police," Dan told Romania TV private broadcaster.

agerpres.
Former MP Sebastian Ghita was located and seized by policemen on Thursday trough Friday night.

"As a result of complex investigative activities and the information provided by the Special Operations Division and Criminal Investigations Directorate of the Romanian Police, during the night in Belgrade, defendant Ghita Sebastian Aurelian was located and seized. When discovered, the defendant provided false ID documents showing the marks of a EU state. The legal proceedings for such situations are currently underway," informs the Ministry of National Defence.Ploiesti Court of Appeal dismissed, on April 3, the appeal filed by former deputy Sebastian Ghita towards Prahova Court decision to issue a new arrest warrant in his name.The court ordered the provisional detention of Sebastian Ghita for setting up an organised crime group. According to the decision posted on the courts' portal, the magistrates rejected the former deputy's appeal as groundless.The court also upheld the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) prosecutors' appeal and disposed Ghita's 30-day provisional detention for setting up an organised crime group, calculated from the enforcement date of the detention warrant.On March 15, Prahova Court issued an arrest warrant on former deputy Sebastian Ghita's name in the case in which he is being investigated by DNA Ploiesti for influence peddling, money laundering and setting up an organised crime group. According to the court's reasoning, the judge of peace of Prahova Court held that there is reasonable suspicion that Sebastian Ghita committed seven of the eight offenses for which DNA Ploiesti prosecutors have set in motion the criminal action towards the defendant."The judge of rights and freedoms appreciates in the sense that, from the rules of evidence during the Public Ministry's prosecution, there is reasonable suspicion that the defendant perpetrated 7 (seven) of the eight (8) offenses for which the criminal action was set in motion, respectively 4 (four) crime of influence peddling and 3 (three) money laundering offenses. As regards the setting up of an organised crime group (...) the judge of rights and freedoms reasons that there is insufficient evidence to dispose of the provisional detention measure, the most severe of the preventive measures provided for in the Criminal Procedure Code," the document states.According to the source, certain aspects of the organised crime group creation have not been clarified yet."Although there are suspicions this crime was perpetrated, several aspects regarding the criminal participation, the role within the organised crime group, its structure etc. have not been clarified yet, so that provisional detention cannot be also ruled for perpetrating this crime. As concerns the 4 (four) offenses of influence peddling and 3 (three) crimes of money laundering, the judge of rights and freedoms considers that there is reasonable suspicion that the defendant perpetrated these offenses," further shows the explanatory statement.On January 5, a panel of the Supreme Court (ICCJ) issued an arrest warrant in absentia in the name of Sebastian Ghita after he disappeared and never showed up at IPJ Prahova, violating the terms of the judicial control in the case in which he was sent to court with ex-chiefs of police and prosecutors' offices.
Apple Inc. is considering teaming up with its supplier Foxconn to bid for Toshiba Corp.'s semiconductor business, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported on Friday  the latest twist in the sale of the world's second-biggest flash memory chipmaker.

The U.S. technology giant is considering investing at least several billion dollars to take a stake of more than 20 percent as part of a plan that would have Toshiba keep a partial holding so the business remains under U.S. and Japanese control, NHK reported, citing unidentified sources.

The idea would be to allay Japanese government concerns about any transfer of sensitive technology to investors it deems a potential risk to national security, the broadcaster said.

Apple was not immediately available to comment. Taiwan's Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, declined to comment. A Toshiba spokesman said he could not comment on specific transactions.

Foxconn, which participated in the first round of the chip sale auction, has been considered a national security risk due to its ties with China. The bulk of Apple's iPhones are made at Foxconn's extensive manufacturing base there.

NHK said Apple wants Foxconn to own a stake of around 30 percent of Toshiba's chip business.

An investment by Apple would be its first direct stake in a major global memory chipmaker, as it seeks to secure a stable supply of key components. Samsung Electronics is the biggest maker of flash memory chips, followed by Toshiba, SK Hynix and U.S.-based Micron Technology Inc.

The NHK report comes as Western Digital Corp., Toshiba's partner and one of the bidders for its chip business, warned this week that the Japanese firm's plans to sell its chip unit violates a joint venture contract. Western Digital wants to be given exclusive negotiating rights.

The auction of Toshiba's prized chips asset is essential to the company's plans to cover multi-billion dollar writedowns at its U.S. nuclear unit Westinghouse. Those costs have plunged the Japanese conglomerate into crisis, prompting it even to warn that it may not be able to continue as a going concern.

Toshiba has narrowed the field of bidders for its chip unit to four suitors, sources have said: U.S. chipmaker Broadcom Ltd , which has partnered with private equity firm Silver Lake Partners LP; SK Hynix; Western Digital; and Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics maker.

Apple was not part of any of those four bids, according to the person. It's unclear whether Apple participated in the first round of the auction, which sources have said drew around 10 offers.

Shares in Toshiba fell more than 5 percent on Friday, hit by a Bloomberg report that the chip business sale had been temporarily put on hold to address the concerns raised by Western Digital.

"It is not true Toshiba has put the chip sale process on hold," a spokesman said.

Chips as collateral

Separately, Toshiba is likely to get the go-ahead from creditors to offer its chip business stake as collateral for new loans and loan commitments worth around 1 trillion yen, people briefed on the matter said.

Access to fresh funds would help tide Toshiba over before it can complete the sale of the chips business.

Some small lenders have balked at the idea as they have been offered other Toshiba assets as collateral, such as group companies' shares and real estate, but Toshiba's main lenders expect all creditors to approve the move, the people said.

In exchange for the chip unit stake as collateral, Toshiba hopes to get about 300 billion yen in fresh loans and be able to draw down existing loan commitments worth 680 billion yen.

An executive at one of the main creditor banks said it was still uncertain if Western Digital would agree to Toshiba offering its chip unit stake as collateral.

"We would be running risks of being sued by our shareholders if we provide loans to Toshiba without collateral," the executive said.

($1 = 109.1300 yen)

Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki, Junko Fujita, Tim Kelly and Chang-Ran Kim; additional reporting by Jessica Macy Yu in Taipei.
In an unusual divided vote that disregarded a recommendation from its staff, the Board of Trustees of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District killed on Thursday a $145 million tunnel contract set to be awarded to a joint venture led by a Michigan firm.

With a 3-3 vote, the board opted not to award the tunnel contract to the low bidder, a joint venture between Jay Dee Contractors of the Detroit area and Frontier-Kemper Constructors of California.

Im shocked, said John DiPonio, a vice president at Jay Dee.

Some at the meeting were surprised when Trustee Michael Yates, who had voted to introduce the contract ordinance in February, changed his vote to a no, providing the swing that killed the contract.

Asked why he changed his vote to oppose the contract, Yates, a business representative with Operating Engineers Local 148 appointed by former St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley said: I have my reasons, and thats all Im saying.

The vote means MSD staff will either recommend the board award the contract to the second-lowest bidder, SAK Construction of OFallon, Mo., or it will rebid the contract. Sewer district spokesman Lance LeComb said the staff had to evaluate options for its next step.

Generally, any concerns with project bids are handled during MSD trustee committee meetings. By the time contracts get to the full board for a final vote, trustees rarely reject them.

But the contract for the four-mile tunnel in the Deer Creek watershed has been in limbo for more than half a year. MSD staff initially recommended awarding the contract to Jay Dee in September, but SAK objected, arguing that some subcontractors werent qualified. Trustees voted against introducing the contract ordinance in December.

MSD staff then told Jay Dee to substitute one of its subcontractors, an unusual move but one MSD says it is legally authorized to do. SAK, however, cried foul, saying the project should be rebid because Jay Dee was allowed to change one of its subcontractors.

In a 3-2 vote in February, the trustees narrowly introduced the ordinance, setting it up for Thursdays final vote.

The affair has also been tinged with racial politics. Jay Dee had the support of the St. Louis NAACP and minority contractor association MoKan, who said Jay Dee did a better job of hiring local minority subcontractors.

Before Thursdays vote, each side sent up employees and owners of some of their minority subcontractors to testify to the board, with SAKs subcontractors testifying they were local, and Jay Dees subcontractors arguing the board should go with the low bidder and its local subcontractors.

DiPonio said he wasnt not sure whether Jay Dee would try again if the district rebid the project.

Bidding costs a lot of money and takes a lot of effort, he said. Were left with a pretty severe bad taste in our mouths.
Theres a group of people I never knew existed in our schools  adults who believe its OK to humiliate a hungry child who doesnt have money for lunch.

These people came to public attention last week when New Mexico had to pass a law specifically banning lunch shaming.

Lunch shaming involves the adults in a school deciding that embarrassing a hungry child whose parents are behind on the bill is a good way of getting parents to pay up.

A report in the New York Times describes the ways some schools do this: In Alabama, a child short on funds was stamped on the arm with I Need Lunch Money. In other schools, children are forced to clean cafeteria tables in front of their peers to pay the debt or wear a wristband. Some schools require cafeteria workers to take a childs hot food and throw it away if he cant pay for it.

They throw perfectly fine hot lunch in the trash and hand the child a sandwich with a single slice of cheese in it.

What a disgrace. What an utter failure on the part of any adult who would support such a policy toward children in their own school. Its an indictment on our collective sense of empathy if adults have to pass laws telling school workers not to shame a child in a lunch line who doesnt have the money to pay for his or her food.

How can anyone with a shred of human decency justify humiliating a child  who cannot get a job and earn their own money  for their parents inability to pay?

Ive had two children in public schools for eight years, and I was an education reporter for many years before that. Ive seen my share of inexplicable or misguided school policies, but I have never seen something so cruel devised by adults charged with educating or caring for children.

School principals like to talk about their school communities as families, but could they behave with such callousness toward a hungry child in their own family?

There are schools in our wealthy nation with an overabundance of food that have a no money, no meal policy.

Stacy Koltiska, a Pittsburgh-area cafeteria worker, had to take a hot lunch away from an elementary school-aged child who had a negative balance on his account in the Canon-McMillan school district earlier this school year. She resigned over the policy.

As a Christian, I have an issue with this, Koltiska, of Canonsburg, Pa., said in news reports. Its sinful and shameful is what it is. (Some Christians are so focused on that Jesus feeding the poor part of their faith.)

Im with Koltiska.

Any Muslim, Jew, Christian or decent human being should have an issue with this.

Some districts with high concentrations of poverty have moved to providing universal free lunch. Research shows that its harder for hungry kids to learn. Thats common sense. The federal guidelines for children to qualify for free lunch set an income of $31,590 or less for a family of four, while an income of $44,955 for a family of four is the cutoff for reduced-price lunch.

But what about children in suburban districts where there are fewer percentages of children eligible for free or reduced-price lunch? What about cases in which parents dont know how to apply or are too embarrassed to admit they are struggling financially? Or families who fall just above the cutoff?

There are adults who believe these children should be denied a lunch and be humiliated in front of their peers.

I didnt know lunch shaming existed. I didnt know we needed a law to tell adults these practices are deplorable. And Im embarrassed to admit that I didnt know how my own district handled situations when school children didnt have their lunch balances paid.

I called our districts communications office to find out. Our schools allow three charges against an account that hasnt been paid. Parents receive an email and a letter when the lunch balance drops below $5 in their childs account. If it hasnt been resolved after three charges, the cafeteria workers are told to call the principal, who can access an emergency fund to pay for the lunch and can contact the parents to see if they need help filling out paperwork for eligibility for reduced pricing. If the principal determines there isnt a financial hardship, and the bill is still unpaid, the child will get a sack lunch with the cheese sandwich and piece of fruit with milk or juice instead of the hot lunch. No child is denied food completely.

This is probably a typical procedure in many districts.

Its not overt shaming, but its still the child with the sack lunch who is bearing the consequences for a parents behavior.

I thought about what home circumstances might lead to a parent ignoring repeated emails and letters and a call from the school about an unpaid lunch balance. I dont know what that child had for breakfast; nor do I know what he or she will eat for dinner. Yet, as a school community, as so-called family, can we really not ensure that any child who wants a hot lunch in our school can have one?

Well, then, shame on us.
ST. LOUIS  A man from Orange County, Calif., is facing a federal charge for allegedly defrauding Enterprise Holdings of Clayton with a prepaid rental car scam, the U.S. Attorneys office said.

Yi Ronnie Liu, 28, was arrested Thursday on a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in California and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Santa Ana on Monday, prosecutors said.

Liu and others set up a fake car rental website claiming that they were bulk purchasers of prepaid car rentals for Enterprise, Alamo and National car rental companies, a court affidavit by FBI Special Agent Noah Pittman says.

They would then take orders from Chinese travelers planning trips, and use stolen credit cards to buy the vouchers, Pittman wrote.

From just May 2016 to the present, Enterprise Holdings, the companies parent company, lost about $600,000 to the scam, Pittman wrote. Pittman also accused Liu of using fraudulent ID documents in the scheme.

Enterprise has a prepaid rental program for European travelers, Pittman wrote, and began noticing a high volume of credit card charge-backs in December.
MADISON  A man was convicted Thursday of murder for fatally shooting another teen at a market here in 2014 when he was 17 years old.

Craig Devin Miller of Brooklyn, now 19 years old, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Malik A. Garrett, according to Madison County State's Attorney Tom Gibbons.

Garrett, of Venice, died of his injuries the afternoon of July 11, 2014, shortly after he was shot multiple times at Sammy's Market at 308 Madison Avenue. He was 16.

Authorities said Miller and Garrett had an "ongoing dispute," and that Miller arrived at the market and fired shots into a crowd that included Garrett.

Police officers from multiple area departments responded to the market about 5:15 p.m. They found Garrett lying on the ground outside with three gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen. He was transported to a hospital where he died about an hour later.

Investigators identified Miller as a suspect and located him later that evening. Authorities said Miller had fired shots into a crowd that included Garrett and three other men. Garrett was the only person hit.

Miller was charged three days later with first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a gun.

He was tried as an adult in a two-day trial that began Tuesday, during which the jury heard witness testimony, prosecutors said. The jury deliberated for about an hour before returning a guilty verdict.

Miller is being held at the Madison County jail in Edwardsville pending sentencing. He faces up to 60 years in prison for the murder conviction, plus an additional 25 years for using a firearm.
JEFFERSON CITY  The state is preparing to sell a parcel of land near The Hill neighborhood in St. Louis.

The property at 5707 Wilson Ave. was formerly a state-run school for disabled students and was used for a time by Harris-Stowe State University.

But now, after being vacant for more than three years, the land may be sold pending action in the Legislature and support from Gov. Eric Greitens.

The four acre plot was first used by the state in 1968 when it became the site of the Hubert Wheeler State School, located just east of Hampton Avenue and south of Interstate 44.

Wheeler was the states first education commissioner. He also was former Gov. Jay Nixons father-in-law.

In 1994, the state closed the school after a tarlike substance was found oozing from cracks on the playground. Officials said the school had been built on contaminated land that had once been a coke processing facility.

The schools 110 students were moved to other state-run schools.

The contamination was cleaned up and, in 2005, Harris-Stowe began using the property as a home for its business school and for administrative offices. The university vacated the property about four years ago, a university spokeswoman said.

It is not clear what might happen to the land, but a Senate analysis of the legislation indicates the state has been receiving inquiries from developers.

The governors Office of Administration, which manages state property, had no comment on the possible sale.

The legislation is Senate Bill 488.
JEFFERSON CITY  After five sessions of resistance and filibuster, the Missouri Senate approved on Thursday a plan to end Missouris tenure as the only state fighting the opioid epidemic without a prescription drug monitoring database.

Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, made good on his promise to end years of opposition to the database, which medical experts and law enforcement officials say is a key tool in combating addiction to painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin.

Sen. Dave Schatz, R-Franklin, delivered his end of the bargain, too, adding a requirement for doctors to check the database before prescribing controlled substances after a few hours of wrangling over some exceptions. Doctors operating in emergency situations or prescribing to hospice patients or patients with terminal illnesses will be exempted.

Doctors prescribing medicine for patients theyve seen before are also exempted provided they arent writing a script for an opioid or a benzodiazepine drug such as Valium.

A core group of conservative senators objected to Schatzs gambit to force a vote on the bill on the Thursday before Easter and piled on amendments to derail it. But Schatz held firm, absorbed the changes and refused to delay a vote.

Sen. Will Krauss addition cutting the amount of time records would be kept in the database to 180 days from two years irked Schatz, though. Kraus said he was protecting privacy by limiting the amount of time Missourians medical information would be kept in a government database. But Schatz said Kraus was missing the point.

If someone recovered from an opioid addiction and stayed clean for six months before relapsing, doctors would have no idea, he said. So you have to have a minimum of 24 months for a doctor to have the information they need to help that person, Schatz said. One hundred and eighty days is no information at all.

But he ultimately felt satisfied with the result.

I think forcing folks to use this is beneficial, he said, and it may not be quantifiable, but I think people are going to avoid these addictions because doctors are going to identify problems and get them help faster.

He had reason to think so. The mandatory approach has been behind all of the major success stories in other states.

Kentucky required doctors and pharmacists to use its database and saw doctor shopping  when addicts visit multiple doctors with the same prescription  cut in half in less than three years.

Brandon Costerison, a spokesman for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuses chapter in St. Louis County, was also pleased with the Senate vote.

This is as far as the bill has ever gotten, so we cant let the perfect be the enemy of the good, he said. And if that [180 day] timeframe limits effectiveness, that can always be revisited in the future.

The changes to Sikeston Republican Rep. Holly Rehders proposal will require House approval before heading to Gov. Eric Greitens, who announced his support for creating a database in February.
This story was updated at 10 a.m. Wednesday with additional comments from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

JEFFERSON CITY  A controversial Republican proposal to make suing for housing discrimination harder in Missouri could violate Fair Housing Act agreements and make civil rights agencies in the state ineligible for federal money used for investigations.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development took issue with several parts of a measure sponsored by Sen. Gary Romine, R-Ste. Genevieve, including new caps on the amount of money housing discrimination victims could receive from winning a lawsuit, the removal of some protections against retaliation for reporting discrimination and a new requirement that plaintiffs prove a landlord or bank intentionally denied them housing solely based on their race, sex or other protected status to win a case.

Currently, plaintiffs need only prove their status was a contributing factor to prevail in court.

If the bill is enacted, HUD could determine that the Missouri Human Rights Act is no longer substantially equivalent to the Fair Housing Act, HUD spokeswoman Agatha Gutierrez said in an email.

That could jeopardize about $600,000 in federal money for civil rights agencies in St. Louis and Kansas City and the Missouri Human Rights Commission, she said.

It doesnt seem like a lot of money in a state working on a $27 billion annual budget, but that money reimburses the St. Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency for investigations.

It received $149,050 in reimbursements this year for completed investigations, roughly half of its budget for fiscal 2016, the last full year available. Replacing that money would be very difficult, said Charles Bryson, the agencys director.

We would have to lay off our fair housing investigators, which could cripple our fair housing investigations, he said.

The Fair Housing Assistance Program is designed to help local agencies enforce the Fair Housing Act, a 1968 law aimed at the widespread racial segregation of American cities through a system of intimidation and denial of mortgages to blacks.

In recent years, the agency has investigated landlords and real estate firms defying city ordinances and refusing to accept government rental vouchers, which are overwhelmingly held by blacks in the St. Louis area.

This still happens all the time, Bryson said, in St. Louis city and St. Louis County.

Romine dismissed the concerns.

Theyve said they might take away funding, but theres no foundation to that, he said. Other states have similar standards and havent lost their [Housing and Urban Development] funding.

He said Georgia also requires plaintiffs to meet a higher standard in housing discrimination cases and hasn't lost any money.

But department spokesman Brian Sullivan said Georgia actually isn't receiving Fair Housing Assistance Program money and dismissed the comparison as erroneous.

The point of the Fair Housing Assistance Program money is to support state and local agencies enforcing federal housing law, he said. If Missouri doesn't enforce federal law or something close to it, the state is ineligible for the money.

For Rod Chapel, the Missouri NAACP president, even broaching the possibility of violating a civil rights landmark is a bad sign.

Rolling back basic civil rights protections for a vast number of Missourians is unproductive, unpatriotic and un-American, he said. Ive been bringing this forward to [Republicans in support of the bill], and they dont care.

Rep. Steve Roberts, D-St. Louis, who has heavily criticized the bill, had a similar response.

They keep saying this matches the federal standard, but we know it doesnt, he said. I dont know if its indifference or ignorance, but either one hurts Missouri and hurts Missourians.

The Post-Dispatch reported in February that Romines rent-to-own furniture chain has been embroiled in a racial discrimination lawsuit for the past two years.

The suit alleges that a supervisor at the chains Sikeston store used racial slurs against a black account manager and that Romine declined to address complaints.

Romine has dismissed implications that he has a conflict of interest, pointing out that no provision in his proposal would apply to cases begun before the law would go into effect.

House Speaker Todd Richardson said he wasnt sure when his chamber would take up the legislation, but he assured reporters at a news conference that it would be considered.

Richardson has supported similar pro-business changes to the legal system but said he hadnt yet closely reviewed Romines bill.

But Richardson said he believed Romine was a good man.

I think hes trying to do this because he thinks it helps the overall environment for businesses to compete and operate here in Missouri, Richardson said.
Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly and Pakistan Peoples Party senior leader Khursheed Shahs derogatory remarks about women in the house irked Aseefa Bhutto Zardari as she said in a tweet that such remarks should not be tolerated.

Aseefa said that Khurshid Shah should apologize over such insensitive remarks against women. While expressing her disapproval over Shahs remarks, Aseefa said, If Parliament is a model of our society and if our parliament continues to make derogatory remarks against women. It reflects on us.

If Parliament is a model of our society and if our parliament continues to make derogatory remarks against women. It reflects on us.  Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) April 13, 2017

According to the details, the incident took place during the National Assembly session on Thursday when Speaker Ayaz Sadiq asked some women parliamentarian to maintain silence and not disturb the House.

Such remarks should not be tolerated. Hope Khurshid Shah respectfully apologises 2/2  Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) April 13, 2017

Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah, who was addressing the House before he was disrupted, remarked that the Speaker should not stop women from taking, because they will fall ill if they dont speak continuously.

On the other hand, Syed Khursheed Shah shifted the blame to media and said that journalists distorted his statement. Shah said that he talked about womens right in the assembly.
Agitated Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani unhappy with the absence of leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) on Friday stopped performing his duties in protest and returned the vehicle and protocol provided by the government.

According to sources, Rabbani has also cancelled his Iran tour.

Giving his remarks, Raza Rabbani said it seems that the government does not want to accept Senates constitutional status.

If the government has any issue with me, I am ready to resign but mockery of the Senate is intolerable, he added.

Meanwhile, members of the opposition termed the ministers absence as contempt of the Parliament and stressed that matter will be resolved only after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs intervention.

Raza Rabbani, the senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader, is serving as the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan since 12 March 2015.

Previous, he served as the chairman of the Senate standing committee on National Security and Constitutional reforms, between 2008 till 2013 and was responsible for the drafting of Amendment XVIII which turned Pakistan from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary republic.

He has been elected a senator six times since 1993 from the Sindh Province. He was a close aide to Benazir Bhutto who had appointed him the partys deputy secretary general in 1997 and leader of the opposition in the Senate in 2005.
Households remain without power across the Western Bay of Plenty as people move into mop-up mode following the storms crossing of the coast last night.

Powerco reports 180 households on Matakana Island are without power today as well as 48 in Papamoa 26 I Welcome Bay 64 in Te Puna, 68 in Te Puke and 37 in Waihi.

The fire service was responding to calls of power lines down on Te Puna Station Road at 7.30am.

SH 29 over the Kaimai Range remains closed in both directions because of a slip on the Waikato side. SH 2 along the Matata straight between Pongakawa and Matata remains closed because of downed trees and slips.

Further east SH 2 is closed at Edgecumbe between the intersection with SH34 and Awakeri because of flooding  and remains closed between Awakeri and Taneatua because the bridge is out.

East of Whkatane SH2 was closed last night between Ohiwa beach road and Opotiki, and there are warnings of rockfalls in the Waioeka gorge.

In Tauranga the fire service had more than 20 calls between about 6pm and 8.30pm.

They were storm related, but in cases of leaking homes and wet carpets they could only offer advice, says senior station officer Phil Price. Some people had their own pumps.
The Mount Rogers Planning District Commission celebrated the success of its Stronger Economies Together (SET) program during the commissions recent annual meeting.

The Southern Rural Development Center in Mississippi recognized the MRPDCs SET plan as a high-quality plan.

Steve Winesett, executive director, said MRPDC was one of two commissions in Virginia that had gone through the SET program to get the award.

As explained on the MRPDC website, SET is a nationwide initiative that enables communities and counties in rural America to work together in developing and implementing an economic development blueprint for their multi-county region that strategically builds on the current and emerging economic strengths of that region.

Creating, attracting and retaining jobs as a single rural county in isolation from other nearby counties is becoming increasingly ineffective. In todays global marketplace, economic development progress is more likely to be realized when rural and metro counties work together as a region to assess their resources and then design and implement plans that build on their assets and comparative economic strengths.

There have been marketing and branding efforts for the region in an effort to showcase Southwest Virginia and revitalization efforts in several towns, including Damascus, whose members received the Community Achievement award Thursday night, and Chilhowie, where similar efforts are set to get under way later this year.

Gavin Blevins, senior planner for MRPDC and town manager in Damascus, received the Community Development Ambassador award. He has been instrumental in the revitalization efforts in Damascus and planning in Chilhowie.

Blevins gave a PowerPoint presentation on Damascus, showcasing the boost in tourism and economic prosperity since the revitalization project began in 2013.

Launched in 2009 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the nations four Regional Rural Development Centers and their land-grant university partners, the SET initiative is now in place in more than 94 regions in 32 states.

MRPDC was chosen as one of three Virginia areas to participate in SET for 2015-16. SET meetings began in fall 2015 and extended through spring 2016, with implementation of the SET economic development plan extending through 2016.

The SET Regional Team for MRPDC consists of individuals from Virginia Tech, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, and USDA-Rural Development.

The success of the project, said the MRPDC, is based upon collaboration across the public and private sectors. Individuals who should be involved include: industry and financial leaders; representatives of faith-based organizations; entrepreneurs/small business leaders; county extension service personnel; state and federal congressional representatives or staff; local and regional government representatives; minority and women-owned business owners; chamber of commerce, economic development, and/or tourism organizations; workforce development board representatives from the area; educational leaders and organizations; nonprofit, voluntary and civic-minded organizations; community foundations; and rural cooperatives.

Individuals who would like to become involved in the Mount Rogers SET initiative should contact Rocky Warren at rwarren@mrpdc.org or call 276-783-5103 ext.318.

For more information, go to www.mrpdc.org and click on the SET draft plan or see https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/initiatives/stronger-economies-together.

Mount Rogers Planning District Commission includes Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington and Wythe counties.
Bridget Roche Jacobs (1).JPG

Bridget M. Jacobs, pictured in this undated photo, graduated from Bishop Ludden. Police in northern California say Jacobs' husband admitted to dumping her body in a lake.

(Provided)

Philip D. Jacobs, 56, of Cottonwood, California, was found dead Wednesday in his cell at the Shasta County Jail. Authorities said an investigation into his death is ongoing, but that he was alone at the time and is believed to have killed himself.

COTTONWOOD, Calif. -- Bridget Roche Jacobs was in Hawaii for her wedding when she was beaten.

The October 2015 assault left Bridget Jacobs, who was from Central New York, with a cut-up face and a bruised head. The attacker was her new husband, Philip D. Jacobs.

Philip Jacobs was arrested for assaulting his new wife and eventually convicted of domestic violence, said the Shasta County District Attorney's Office. Less than two years later, he was charged with killing Bridget Jacobs, 38, and dumping her dismembered body in a California lake.

The case against Philip Jacobs, 56, ended Wednesday when he was found dead in his jail cell. It appears he committed suicide, said the Redding Police Department.

After the defendant's death, the Shasta County District Attorney's Office released information about the couple's history.

"This case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of domestic violence," the DA's office said.

The assault that happened while the couple was in Hawaii for their wedding was not the last attack, the DA's office said.

Bridget Jacobs sought help from One SAFE Place in Redding, California in March 2016, the DA's office said. She told the staff she was a victim of domestic violence -- that her husband had beaten her, choked her and threatened her with death, the DA's office said.

Eventually, Bridget Jacobs gave Philip Jacobs another chance, the DA's office said.

Dispatchers answered a 911 call from Philip Jacobs' cellphone on March 15. During the call, dispatchers could hear Bridget Jacobs screaming.

The Shasta County Sheriff's Office went to the Jacobs' Cottonwood home after the 911 call to check on the couple. Aside from the Jacobs' two dogs, no one appeared to be home.

"We believe Ms. Jacobs was already dead by this time," the DA's office said.

After March 15, Bridget Jacobs disappeared. She was reported missing after she missed worked and did not check in with her family.

Four days later, a surveillance camera captured Philip Jacobs towing a boat to Whiskeytown Lake, the DA's office said. Three witnesses then spotted him in the lake in a small boat, the DA's office said.

The sheriff's office searched the Jacobs' home and found the missing woman's cellphone inside a safe, the DA's office said. Bridget Jacobs wrote notes on her phone detailing her "concern for her own safety," the DA's office said.

Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko Sheriff Bosenko speaks to divers last week as they prepared to search for the body of Bridget Jacobs in California.

Philip Jacobs eventually told detectives his estranged wife fell down the stairs inside their home and "possibly" broke her neck, deputies previously said. He then admitted dumping Bridget Jacobs' body in Whiskeytown Lake, the DA's office said.

Divers have spent weeks scouring the lake for Bridget Jacobs' remains.

Only part of the woman's dismembered body has been found. After the eighth dive in search of Bridget Jacobs' remains, deputies said Thursday that no additional searches were scheduled.

Bridget Jacobs graduated from Bishop Ludden Junior/Senior High School in 1996. In a letter to the editor, one of her classmates remembered Bridget Jacobs -- a mother, daughter and sister -- as a spiritual woman with a memorable smile.

"Perhaps the depth of our sadness reflects the indelible impact she left on us," wrote Kate Mahoney. "We grieve for the friend that we had."
REDDING, Cailf. -- A man accused of killing his wife, who was from Central New York, has apparently killed himself in a California jail cell.

The Redding Police Department said that about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday inmates at the Shasta County Jail alerted staff about an unresponsive man on the jail's third floor. Staff called for help and began lifesaving efforts, police said.

Philip D. Jacobs, 56, of Cottonwood, California, was found dead Wednesday in his cell at the Shasta County Jail. Authorities said an investigation into his death is ongoing, but that he was alone at the time and is believed to have killed himself.

But the man could not be revived and was pronounced dead at 7:36 p.m.

Police identified the man as Philip D. Jacobs, 56, of Cottonwood, California. He had been jailed since March 28 on charges of murdering his wife, Bridget M. Jacobs.

Redding police said they began an investigation of Philip Jacobs' death and are being assisted by the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, Anderson Police Department and the California Highway Patrol.

Philip Jacobs was alone in his cell when he died. Police said it appears that he killed himself, though an autopsy is pending.

The Shasta County District Attorney's Office said that as a result of his death the charges against Philip Jacobs would be dismissed.

The night of March 15, Shasta County sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call at 3875 Westridge Road in Cottonwood. A woman was heard screaming before the phone went dead. Records showed the call came from Phillip Jacobs' cell phone.

When deputies got to the house it appeared no one was home.

On March 20 Bridget Jacobs -- whose maiden name is Roche and is a 1996 graduate of Bishop Ludden Junior/Senior High School -- was reported missing by her father in Central New York.

Bridget Jacobs -- whose maiden name is Roche and is a 1996 graduate of Bishop Ludden Junior/Senior High School -- was murdered last month in northern California.

Related: Bridget Roche 'lit up a room,' say those who knew her at Bishop Ludden

Deputies talked with Phillip Jacobs at his Westbridge Road home after he did not show up for work. He admitted calling 911 during an argument, but said his wife walked off, taking her purse, cell phone and dog. Deputies learned that Bridget Jacobs had missed two days of work after March 15.

Detectives interviewed Philip Jacobs several times. On March 23 they executed a search warrant at the couple's home. The sheriff's office said Phillip Jacobs did not show that morning for a scheduled interview.

When they executed the search warrant detectives again spoke with Philip Jacobs, but he ended the interview when detectives started asking "probing questions" about his whereabouts and activities after March 15. While executing the search warrant detectives found Bridget Jacobs' cell phone in a safe.

During the investigation, detectives also learned that Philip Jacobs had driven to Whiskeytown Lake the night of March 19 with a 12-foot-long blue sailboat.

The sheriff's office said Philip Jacobs later admitted his wife had died March 15.

He told them the couple had been in an argument when she fell down the stairs and might have broken her neck, the sheriff's office said. He admitted to keeping her body inside their house until March 19.

Then he drove to Whiskeytown Lake, about 20 miles north of his home, and rowed out in the blue sailboat. He told detectives he dumped her body in the lake tied to a cement cinder block, the sheriff's office said.

Divers

for Bridget Jacobs' remains, but did not find all of her body parts. The sheriff's office said on Thursday that it was halting further dives.
Voices from the past

"Many of us wish we had listened more carefully when we were young to the stories told by our grandparents and others." This opening phrase from the book jacket of the special edition of "Trails, Sails, and Rails: History of Sterling-Fair Haven" captures both the reason for reprinting this book more than 40 years after its original publication, and Raymond T. Sant's unique contribution to future generations.

Born in 1900 in Fair Haven, NY, Sant grew up in a time when Civil War veterans were a common part of his personal landscape, and later he witnessed the progressions of two world wars, including serving in the Air Force during World War II. Additionally, the Syracuse University and Cornell graduate went on to work as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, effectively helping to create the Cato-Meridian School District.

Out of a desire to keep Sant's stories, and the stories that he recounted from others of previous generations, from being lost to time (the original 1973 publication is now very difficult to come by), The Sterling Historical Society worked diligently to print a new edition. As the society shares in the Foreword to the Second Edition, this new edition offered an opportunity for greater editing of the original, with Sant himself having admitted before his passing that the publishing timeline had not offered as much editing time as he would have preferred. Also, new documents in conjunction with further research has allowed some of Sant's original stories to reflect more accurate truths or flourish with the addition of new details.

The new printing is over 600 pages long including more than 300 photographs and offers readers the opportunity to enjoy stories from a wide range of eras, including the recollections of those alive before his time. The book will go on sale this summer. Through the Historical Society's website you can join a mailing list to receive updates about the book's official publication date.

Childhood memories

Oswego resident Nancy Prue grew up on a farm in Pompey, NY, helping with chores and enjoying her time with the animals- the kind of childhood that seems to naturally lend itself to inspiring content for children's books. Having five children of her own also served as inspiration for her tales.

Though Prue didn't publish her books until later in life (the author is currently 81) many of the stories in her books, as well as more stories she wrote for her own enjoyment were written during her children's nap times or whenever inspiration struck. Prue's first publication, "Sissy and Charlie, and Other Stories" is a collection of stories that take place during "simpler times," exploring the ways that children can find fun and adventure in everything around them.

Prue's second book, "Meet Jimmy" is about a 3-year-old boy who is navigating growing up and all that comes with it. Small and mischievous in a world of rules, Jimmy learns about the balance of both having fun and learning from his mistakes as he plays with his dog, Butch, and helps his mom with grocery shopping.

Both of Prue's books are available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Book Event

Members of the Central New York Branch of The National League of American Pen Women have published a poetry anthology titled "In the Company of Women." Nancy Dafoe, Mary Garnder, Rachael Ikins, Georgia Popoff, Janet Fagal and others will read and discuss their poetry at the Dewitt Barnes and Noble on April 22 at 1 p.m.. The event is free and open to the public.

The East Syracuse Free Library will holding a local author meet and greet Saturday April 15 from noon to 4. Some of the authors attending include Joe Abatte, Ronald Bagliere, J.J. Barton, Nicholas T. Davis, Lisa Fortino, David Jennings, Erin Kelly, Lisa Christiano Notar, Sue Rubin, Diane Sokolowski, Margaret Streitenberger, and Allen Thompson. Many authors will have books available for purchase and signing, and refreshments will be provided.

Have a book to share?

Are you a local author or have you come across a book set in Central New York? Tell us about it. Send a brief description of the book and the author and we'll add it as a candidate for coverage. Write us at features@syracuse.com.
On Good Friday residents of Fulton are encouraged to prepare for the Easter resurrection by participating in the Good Friday Cross Walk in the city of Fulton.

This annual event is a reflective walk through downtown Fulton where walkers share in the carrying of the wooden cross with stops along the way for reflecting on Christ's journey with the cross to Calvary.
I have learned the hard way not to put my personal life on the Internet. But suffice it to say that, God willing, things should be pretty much back to norm...

3 weeks ago
Hyderabad, April 14 : Indian students will continue to be in demand in the United States as they have been gaining advanced knowledge and technical skills, experts feel.



They believe that that the Trump administration's proposed bar on H1B visas will have no impact on Indian students as reforms are driven by the industry's need for advanced knowledge and skills.



"As Indian students have been gaining advanced knowledge and technical skills beyond their bachelor's degree, through work experience and advanced degrees such as graduate coursework, they will continue to be in demand," Patrick Phelan, Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University (ASU), told IANS.



Holly Singh, Senior Director of International Students & Scholars Center at the ASU, didn't agree with the view in some sections that the US is no longer an attractive destination for Indian students and pointed out that the country is still the leader in innovation.



A team from the Fulton Schools of Engineering visited India this month to recruit a new batch of international students



ASU's International Students and Scholars Center provides support to transition from graduation to Optional Practical Training (OPT) and an H1B visa. "This unit has trained staff and counselors who support students in obtaining their OPT. The Fulton Schools of Engineering through its Career Services also holds two career fairs each year," said Singh.



"ASU is number one in innovation two years in a row now. This is because of our focus on providing all of its students with opportunities to succeed in becoming master learners," said Patrick, who is also a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering.



According to statistics, India had the highest number of enrolments at ASU in the engineering master's programme at 54.6 per cent. For the second year in a row, the largest growth was in the number of students from India, primarily at the graduate level and in OPT.



"Indian graduate students form not only the largest cohort of our master's students, but also play a vital role in ASU's engineering research programs at the master's and PhD levels," said Tirupalavanam G. Ganesh, Assistant Dean of Engineering Education and Associate Research Professor of Engineering Education in the Fulton Schools of Engineering.



The number of international students awarded with graduate degrees in engineering increased from just over 300 in academic year 2010-11 to over 1,000 in 2015-16. Over this same time, overall enrollment in Fulton Schools of Engineering grew from over 7,000 to about 20,000.



ASU is home to over 10,000 students from 135 countries and has recorded for its fall session, over 2,000 enrolments from India, alone, while the Fulton Schools have over 1,000 students from India.



ASU offers students the opportunity to be a part over 45 engineering student organisations and student professional societies giving them leadership opportunities and hands-on experience.



The engineering students at ASU have an opportunity to begin their entrepreneurship journey from the moment they start their course, with programmes like the Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative, which awards students with $20,000 in seed funding and office space, or the Innovation Challenge competition which provide places for students to learn more about start-ups, said Ganesh.



The number of foreign students in the US topped 1 million for the first time in 2016. According to the Institute of International Education, engineering as a field of study bought in 216,932 students -- 20.8 percent of the international student population.
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Data Science Community Kaggle will be joining Google Cloud, said Fei Fei Li, chief scientist of Google Cloud AI and machine learning, at last weeks Googles Next 17 conference.

The Kaggle community, which includes 800,000 data experts around the world, use the network to stay up to date on the latest innovations in data science and machine learning, according to Li.

The barriers to entry for artificial intelligence must be lowered and made available to the largest possible community of developers, Lee told the audience at Next.

Brand to Live On

The Kaggle team will remain together and operate as a distinctive brand within Google Cloud, said Kaggle CEO Anthony Goldbloom.

Kaggle will continue to grow its competitions and open data platforms, while remaining open to all data scientists, companies and technologies, he said.

Kaggle Kernels will continue to support various machine learning libraries and packages supported by Google, as well as those outside of Googles toolkit, Goldbloom added.

Competitive Set

Goldbloom cofounded Kaggle in 2010, when the organizations first competition was used to predict voting patterns for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Kaggle in recent years collaborated with Booz Allen Hamilton on the Data Science Bowl, a competition that granted data scientists and other organizations access to particular data sets to develop algorithms in order to address specific scientific challenges.

The competition two years ago addressed ocean health, using 100,000 underwater images from the Hatfield Marine Science Center. It attracted more than 15,000 submissions from various teams.

The competition last year centered around heart disease, using thousands of MRI images to help develop more accurate diagnostics. More 700 teams submitted upwards of 1,400 entries, and the winners were a nonscientific pair of hedge fund traders  not data scientists.

This year, the US$1 million competition is challenging competitors to develop machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to achieve more accurate methods to diagnose lung cancer, using a data set of images from the National Cancer Institute.

New Territory

Google is one of the leading experts in and users of data mining, and it is looking to Kaggle to help expand on that capability to identify new trends and scientific ideas, observed Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

Data scientists collaborate using Kaggle in a collective effort to advance data mining, he told the E-Commerce Times.

The Kaggle acquisition gives Google unique access to information advancing the technology and allowing them to, over time, effectively mine information resources  thus ensuring their financial dominance over the Internet, Enderle said.

The data science community is relatively new, and there has been a marked shortage of qualified candidates for data science positions, noted Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.

Acquiring Kaggle will offer Google Cloud numerous opportunities to support innovative and forward-thinking machine learning projects and workloads, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Google Cloud recently has made other deals to enhance its capabilities, including last summers acquisitions of Orbitera, a commerce platform that makes it easier to buy and sell software in the cloud, and Apigee, an API management tool used by hundreds of firms, from AT&T to Walgreens and Live Nation.
AeroMobil, the Slovakian flying car startup that's been teasing its prototype for the past few years, is finally set to unveil a production-ready, road-registerable aircraft. Mashable is reporting that AeroMobil will pull the cover back on its first vehicle at the Top Marques Monaco supercar event at the Grimaldi Forum on April 20.

The automaker describes its car as a completely integrated aircraft that also functions as a four-wheeled car powered by hybrid propulsion. Details are scarce but we do know that AeroMobil will offer up a full array of specs next week and start accepting pre-orders sometime later this year.

AeroMobil recently raised $3.2 million in funding, the publication notes.

The company says its aim with the production vehicle is to make personal transportation more efficient and environmentally friendly by allowing significantly faster door-to-door travel for medium distance trips and in areas with limited or missing road infrastructure.

In 2015, AeroMobil suffered a scare when one of its prototypes crashed during a test flight. The pilot and creator, Stefan Klein, fortunately only suffered minor injuries as he was able to successfully deploy the vehicle's parachute system at an altitude of around 900 feet to minimize the impact of the fall.

Any bets on how much this thing will retail for? Over or under a million bucks? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
Apple's iPhones have a reputation for being pricey pieces of kit. With the iPhone 8 expected to cost around $1000, they can be a heavy investment for most people. So why not make one yourself? That's what software engineer Scotty Allen decided to do, and the result was surprising.

The former Silicon Valley worker was in China when one of his friends asked if it was possible to build a complete smartphone from all the parts on sale in the markets. After nine months of traveling to and from the country, he decided to take up the challenge.

Allen chose to build an iPhone 6s because he already owns one of the handsets and wanted to use it for reference, though in the end he never needed to open it up. But the main reason he avoided making an iPhone 7 was due to the scarcity of parts on sale.

The engineer visited the markets of Shenzen to source his components. He explains in the 24-minute video that the four pieces he requires are the shell, the screen, the battery, and the logic board. But not all the parts were easy to come by.

"I keep asking people about this, and people keep saying things like "there should be more after Spring Festival" (which has come and gone) or "there should be more in a month or two""

In the end, Allen spent "well over" $1000 on his project, but points out that a lot of this money was on tools and components he never ended up using. The final cost of the phone itself was around $300 and it looks almost indistinguishable from one bought in an Apple store.

Make sure to check out the video above, and you can read more details in Allen's blog.
Lucasfilm on Friday published the first trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The clip, which runs just over two minutes in length, was unveiled on day two of the (mostly) annual Star Wars Celebration fan gathering currently taking place in The Sunshine State.

The movie, which stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac (among others), is written and directed by Rian Johnson and picks up right where 2015's The Force Awakens left off. Judging by the teaser, it won't disappoint. There's plenty to digest here which, for diehards, means multiple views are no doubt in order (or maybe, complete and total isolation as to eliminate "spoiling" any of it?).

The Star Wars Celebration event runs through April 16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Star Wars: The Last Jedi arrives in theaters on December 15.
Netflix is currently the world's leading streaming service with a huge array of content, including original movies and series that may soon be optimized for mobile devices.

As with all companies, Netflix owes its success to the talented individuals who push for innovative ways to bring its services to people. The company, however, is about to bid farewell to two of its longtime senior officials who have been with the company for at least the past decade.

Neil Hunt, CPO

Netflix announced on April 7 that Chief Product Officer Neil Hunt, who has been with the company for 18 years, will leave the company in July. During his entire stay in Netflix, Hunt led the product team with designing, building, and delivering the best services Netflix can offer to its members.

Hunt will pass the baton to Greg Peters, Netflix Japan's marketing and content licensing and creation head. Hunt and Peters have worked together in the past in an effort to improve customer experience for Netflix. Peters has led efforts in international business development from the Tokyo office of Netflix since 2015 but has worked in Netflix for nine years.

"Neil has been an amazing leader who uniquely brings together analytical rigor, deep engineering chops, human warmth and a wry sense of humor [...] I've been lucky to have him as my mentor," Peters said of Hunt.

"I knew [Greg] was an especially gifted engineer and entrepreneur ... I'm delighted to be leaving the Netflix product organization in such great shape and in such good hands," Hunt expressed.

Hunt and Peters first met and collaborated nine years ago, which could explain Hunt's confidence with his successor.

Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive officer, also expressed his gratitude toward Hunt for his commendable work in the company for nearly two decades.

Tawni Cranz, CTO

Netflix's Chief Talent Officer Tawni Cranz is also leaving the company, though Netflix did not specify when her last day would be. Cranz has been with the company since 2007 but she will take her exit to pursue other interests.

"Over the last decade, Tawni has played a formative role in developing our business culture as well as developing an amazing talent team ... We deeply appreciate her contributions," Hastings said.

There is no word yet on who will take the position after Cranz leaves the company.

Despite the farewells, however, Hastings remains optimistic about the company's future.

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Ants are social creatures and live in a community, which are akin to human settlements. These insects are known to perform tasks together and if a new research is to be believed, then their similarities with humans does not end there.

A study reveals that much like human soldiers, ants too help fallen or injured members during a battle and carry them back to safety.

How Was The Study Conducted?

A team of researchers undertook the study at the University of Wurzburg's Biocenter and mainly focused on the species Megaponera analis, commonly known as the Matabele ants. This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa.

The scientists observed the ants in Comoe National Park over a span of two years. During this period, they were able to track 52 Matabele ant colonies. The researchers noted that in this period, the ants from all the colonies collectively raided 420 termite nests.

How An Ant-Termite Battle Occurs

The researchers state that a raid usually begins with a single ant scouting out termite nests, looking for a weakness which can be exploited. Once the scout finds what it is looking for, it goes back to its nest and gathers an army of around 200 to 500 ants.

This army then marches toward the termite nest in a column-like formation. Once near the site, the larger ants start digging through the loose soil around the nest. In the meantime, the smaller ants slip inside the nest and start battling and killing the termites. These termites are then brought out from the hole and transported to the ants' nest for consumption.

Scientists revealed that these battles are brutal with several injuries and deaths occurring on both sides. The termites severely wound the ants and sometimes even dismember their limbs and heads. After the battle is over, the remaining ant army starts to search for fallen and injured comrades. These ants are carried back to the nest.

Ants are blind but have a very strong sense of smell. The injured ants release a chemical substance through which rescuers can locate them and carry them back to the nest. Here the wounded ant can recoup post treatment. This "therapy" involves the removal of the termite, which is clinging onto the wounded ant.

The researchers analyzed the SOS chemical ants send out and revealed that it was a mixture of dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide.

Why Ants Rescue Injured Comrades

All injured ants are carried back to the nest except for those with a fatal injury. The researchers were interested to learn more about why the ants decided to carry the injured comrades back to the nest.

Therefore, in a bid to learn the reason, they placed an injured ant in front of an army, which was marching toward a battle. However, to their surprise, the ants did not pay any attention to the injured comrade in that instance.

However, when an injured ant was introduced while they were returning from battle, the other ants quickly picked it up and carried it back to the nest. This behavior suggested that the ants do not rescue others because of empathy. They may instead be doing so for the overall benefit of the species and to maintain a stronger number in the army.

This may be one of the major differences between human and ant rescues during a battle, according to the scientists.

"The ants do not help the injured out of the goodness of their hearts. There is a clear benefit for the colony: these injured ants are able to participate again in future raids and remain a functioning member of the colony," noted Erik Frank, lead author of the study.

The results of the study have been published in journal Science Advances.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk is all too happy to send his critics to his rival company.

At least, this is what he said in response to a group of investors calling for Musk to add two independent board directors. The co-founder of the tech company fired back via social media. His response came at a time when Tesla edged Ford's market value.

The limelight has been on Musk recently because of his other pronouncements, including his plan to fuse artificial intelligence with the human brain. His SpaceX program is also generating buzz for its development of reusable rockets.

'Buy Ford Stock'

Elon Musk took to Twitter to fire back at his investor-critics. The billionaire engineer said that they "should buy Ford stock." He followed this not-so subtle jab at Ford by saying "Their governance is amazing." The descendants of Henry Ford control the company's board of directors.

The crux of the issue came after five investment groups penned a letter calling out Musk to shake up the current leadership by adding two new independent directors. These five groups include CtW Investment Group, California State Teachers Retirement System, and Hermes Equity Ownership Services.

"We expect that as companies make the transition to publicly-traded status, the governance structures and practices in place at the time of the IPO will evolve to align with the company's changing strategy," the letter read. "However, Tesla's seven-member board is largely unchanged from its pre-IPO days."

Tesla's current board of directors include Elon's brother Kimbal Musk as well as Brad Buss, former chief finance officer of SolarCity Corp, which Tesla acquired last year. These ties are what investors worry about.

"While meeting the technical definition of independence, five of the six current non-executive directors have professional or personal ties to Mr. Musk that could put at risk their ability to exercise independent judgment," the investors wrote.

Musk followed up his jab at Ford by responding directly to the disgruntled investors, saying he already promised to add more independent members during the acquisition of SolarCity, although he was quick to say that the group had nothing to do with the decision.

Tesla Overtakes Ford

The Ford reference was a timely one for Musk. On April 3, Tesla became the second most valuable car company in the United States. Tesla surpassed Ford when its stocks surged by almost 6 percent after a strong sales performance from the Tesla Model S and Model X. Ford on the other hand sank 3 percent after weak March sales.

The result put Ford's market value at $45 billion while Tesla revved up to $48 billion. For a brief moment, Tesla passed GM for the No. 1 spot, but Tesla slipped to second place again. As of Wednesday, April 12, Tesla's value is estimated at $50.3 billion.

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Researchers have revealed that changes in temperature since 2016 have promptly affected about 900 miles of corals on the Great Barrier Reef. Add to this what experts fear is another major bleaching event for the embattled reef this year.

Now, the federal government of Australia announced $18 million in funding for six new projects meant to protect the reef. For a water quality expert, however, it could be too little, too late for the world heritage sites salvation.

Water Quality Management Not Enough

The new funding initiatives belong to an ongoing water quality enhancement program and seek to tackle erosion of stream banks as well as gullies  something responsible for 70 percent of the fine sediment runoff onto the famed reef, according to Australian environment minister Josh Frydenberg.

Terrestrial runoff such as nutrients and pesticides from farms translates to major damage to corals as well as sea grass. They also have a share in outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish in the area.

For Frydenberg, the efforts are part of protecting the reef, to which water quality expert and James Cook Universitys Jon Brodie said $18 million is rather small and wont make a real dent in the reefs current problems.

Its good, but its all a bit little too late, he said in an SBS report, saying that while water quality management will garner short-term wins, it matters to manage climate change in the long run.

The government-based Great Barrier Reef Water Science Taskforce estimated that it could take $8.2 billion to achieve water quality targets by 2025.

Grim Prospects For The Reef

Based on recent aerial surveys, mass coral bleaching affected two-thirds of the Great Barrier Reef for a second time in just a year. Fearing high coral mortality in the reefs central portion, Australian authorities said that severe bleaching episodes in 2016 and this year only left the reefs southern third undamaged.

Coral bleaching takes place when heat stress prompts corals to release small, colorful algae from their insides, which turn them white. Recovery is possible with a drop in temperature and the algaes return, but sustained bleaching can lead to eventual death.

Brodie, who has devoted much of his professional life to water quality on the reef, even told the Guardian that the celebrated piece of nature is already in a terminal stage, and that they have failed despite spending a lot of money.

The researcher deemed 2016 as a bad enough year for the reef but thought 2017 is a disaster year just the same.

"The federal government is doing nothing really, and the current programs, the water quality management is having very limited success. Its unsuccessful," he said.

Others, such as the reefs Marine Park Authoritys former director Jon Day, choose to be optimistic.

Youve got to be optimistic, I think we have to be, he said, alongside criticizing the federal governments approach to fishing, farming-caused run-off and pollution, and other practices destructive to the reef.

He believes, though, that insufficient amounts are being spent to address the problem.

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There's no denying that the explosive Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was a hot mess, but it doesn't seem to affect the success of the new Galaxy S8 line.

Samsung had a tough year in 2016 with the Galaxy Note 7, as it had to recall the phablet twice because its battery kept overheating and exploding. That's no small inconvenience and Samsung faced a firestorm of criticism and ridicule over its fiery device.

The company's reputation took a blow and many worried that consumers might lose their trust in the Samsung brand after the whole Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, but it's not the case.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Preorders Keep Breaking Records

The latest Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ went up for preorder last week and sparked great interest, which is reflected in the record number of preorders registered so far.

Just earlier this week, news emerged that the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ drove more than 550,000 preorders in Samsung's home market of South Korea, proving far more popular than the Galaxy Note 7 and the Galaxy S7 series during the same period after their respective launches.

If that was not impressive enough, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are still on a roll and preorder numbers in South Korea have already soared past 720,000 and going strong.

Speaking at a media conference on Thursday in Seocho, Samsung' mobile head Koh Dong-jin said the company aims to sell 1 million devices in its home country before the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ officially hit store shelves on April 21.

Galaxy S8 Sales

When it comes to the smartphone's market performance in the United States, Koh did not reveal any specific preorder numbers but did say that the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are outselling their predecessors stateside as well.

"Although we are not able to disclose the exact figure, preorders of the Galaxy S8 are higher than those of its predecessor Galaxy S7 in the US," Koh said.

On the other hand, while counting preorders is a good way to gauge market reactions to a new product, it doesn't necessarily reflect the product's actual sales success.

"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," points out Kiranjeet Kaur, IDC Asia/Pacific research manager for client devices.

Galaxy Note 7 Fiasco Helping Galaxy S8 Success?

Nevertheless, the researcher does reckon that the Galaxy Note 7 discontinuation left a gap building up demand for a large-screen, high-end Samsung Galaxy flagship, and the new Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ have what it takes to fill that gap.

In other words, not only did the Galaxy Note 7 not hurt the Galaxy S8 series' success, but it may have actually helped drive demand.

In previous years, Samsung fans looking for a top-notch flagship were divided between the Galaxy Note and Galaxy S series. Now, however, with no Galaxy Note alternative, the Galaxy S is the only option and the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ likely gained many fans who were left without the Note 7.

That said, Samsung is still expected to release a Galaxy Note 8 later this year, which could boast even more exciting specs and features than the S8 series. For now at least, however, the Galaxy S8 smartphones are on a roll and will likely be among the most successful smartphones of this year. The more than 720,000 preorders in South Korea so far bolster such expectations.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Nintendo has decided to discontinue the NES Classic Edition, with the last shipments of the device to North America to happen this month.

The news comes as a shocking announcement, as there is still massive demand for the hard-to-track retro console.

Nintendo Discontinues NES Classic Edition

In a statement, a representative for Nintendo said that the last shipments of the NES Classic Edition to territories within North America will be sent out this month, adding that the company is apologizing for the difficulty that customers have to go through to be able to obtain one of the devices.

"We have paid close attention to consumer feedback, and we greatly appreciate the incredible level of consumer interest and support for this product," the representative said.

Another representative revealed that Nintendo never intended the NES Classic Edition to be a long-term product. However, due to the massive demand for the retro console, the company decided to send out extra shipments of the device.

Nintendo will no longer produce NES Classic Edition units for the North American market, with the NES Classic Controller also to be discontinued. Third-party accessory makers will each have to decide whether or not to continue manufacturing their products for the NES Classic Edition.

Nintendo, however, did not confirm on whether the discontinuation of the NES Classic Edition only covers North America or if it is a worldwide end of production. The company added that it had no further announcements regarding the Nintendo Classics brand, with no figures to be shared for the lifetime sales of the NES Classic Edition.

Why Did Nintendo End NES Classic Edition Production?

Since the NES Classic Edition was launched in November of last year, gamers have been frustrated with the massive supply shortage for the retro console. Stocks of the device in some retail locations were sold out within minutes, and customers who were able to grab the $60 retro console turned to eBay to try to flip the NES Classic Edition for as high as $999.

The supply of the NES Classic Edition never recovered, prompting Nintendo CEO Tatsumi Kimishima to apologize back in February for the company's underestimating of the demand for the retro console.

The apology, however, was followed by rumors that the NES Classic Edition was nearing the end of its life, with the last shipment to Nordic countries to arrive in April or May.

The rumor is now known to be true and, combined with the announcement that the last shipment to North America will be sent out this month, seemingly confirms that the discontinuation of the NES Classic Edition will be worldwide.

The big question on the minds of gamers, especially those who have not yet gotten the chance to buy the retro console, is why would Nintendo discontinue what has been one of the most successful products that it has ever released.

Even more frustrating than the supply shortage, however, is the fact that Nintendo does not give any good explanation for ending NES Classic Edition production. There is no official reason for discontinuing a very popular product, which is unheard of in any industry.

Customers are outraged with Nintendo's lack of explanation on its decision. If you are still hoping to grab one of the devices, you should now double your efforts, as your next chance might be your last.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
T-Mobile has come out as the big winner in the recently concluded auction held by the Federal Communications Commission for wireless spectrum, as the Un-Carrier bid nearly $8 billion to acquire over 1,500 wireless licenses across the United States.

The enormous investment places T-Mobile in the position to further challenge, and possibly outmuscle, telecommunications industry rivals AT&T and Verizon.

FCC Airwaves Auction Results

The FCC revealed that next to the $8 billion bid made by T-Mobile, the second largest amount came from Dish Network, which spent $6.2 billion.

The auction was able to accumulate $19.8 billion in winning bids, mostly made up of the collective $14.2 billion bid made by T-Mobile and Dish Network. Other companies who successfully participated in the auction are Comcast, which bid $1.7 billion; Columbia Capital, which bid $1 billion; and AT&T, which bid $910 million.

The purchase made by AT&T was significantly smaller than the one made by T-Mobile. Surprisingly, Verizon and Sprint did not made any bids at all.

According to MoffettNathanson analyst Craig Moffett, there were three surprises in the auction results.

"Comcast bought less than expected, Dish Network bought more, and Verizon bought nothing at all," he stated.

Why Is Spectrum Important To Carriers?

Wireless radios in mobile phones utilize different frequencies to communicate with the cell towers of carriers. The carriers own the rights to various frequencies in different regions, preventing their networks from interfering with one another. These rights to use a specific frequency in a specific area are purchased from the FCC as a license.

For carriers, low frequency signals are better as they travel better over distance and are more capable of penetrating structures. Older companies AT&T and Verizon own much more low-band spectrum at 700 MHz compared to the newer T-Mobile and Sprint, an advantage that have allowed them to offer better coverage.

T-Mobile To Soon Claim The Carrier Throne?

The wireless licenses that were acquired by T-Mobile are for high-quality, low frequency spectrum at 600 MHz, which would lead to a stronger network for the Un-Carrier.

T-Mobile has long been viewed by consumers as a carrier with great prices and promos, but with coverage not up to par with AT&T and Verizon. With its newly acquired spectrum, however, T-Mobile now has the opportunity to close the gap in terms of coverage with AT&T and Verizon, and then bank on superior offers to grab a larger share of the subscriber market.

The improvements in its cellular network will not happen overnight for T-Mobile though, as the purchased spectrum is currently being used by TV stations. The FCC repackaged spectrum not being efficiently used by these companies and sold them through the auction, but it might take until 2020 until the frequencies actually open up.

In addition, current smartphone models do not support 600 MHz, though Qualcomm, the world's biggest supplier of modems for smartphones, is preparing new chips to support the frequency.

It might take at least a few years before T-Mobile is able to effectively tap into its $8 billion investment, but it would seem that the Un-Carrier now has a path to the top in the cutthroat wireless carrier industry.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
As a token of thanks for preordering the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ directly through its website, Samsung is offering a freebie to its U.S. customers.

The news of the additional gift surfaced online when a redditor revealed that he received a free amplifier speaker dock from the South Korean OEM as part of his preorder for the Galaxy S8. The U.S.-based redditor had preordered the Galaxy S8 directly from Samsung's website.

A Gift For Samsung Fans

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ preorders in United States went live on March 30, just a day after it was unveiled at the company's Unpacked event in New York.

Apart from Samsung, all four major network carriers in the country  T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T  are also accepting preorders for the newly-launched smartphones.

However, consumers in the United States who ordered the handsets directly from Samsung's official online store (shop.samsung.com) were up for an additional treat.

Samsung has surprised them by sending across a free speaker dock for those who preordered the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ directly.

Redditors' Reactions

A redditor going by the name "raistlin89" on Thursday, April 13, wrote on Reddit that he received the Samsung Galaxy S8 Amplifier Speaker Dock in his mail as a preorder gift. He also provided an Imgur link where he uploaded the pictures of the speaker.

"Just got this in the mail lol," wrote raistlin89, in his Reddit post.

In one of the pictures showing the amplifier speaker dock, one can also see a "thank you" note from Samsung that has been sent to the customer along with the speaker dock.

"Thank you for your Galaxy S8/ Galalxy S8+ preorder - please accept this gift as a small thank you for your business. Once your new phone arrives, don't forget to register it, in order to obtain additional information and valuable benefits," wrote Samsung on its speaker dock "thank you" note.

However, some people who preordered the smartphones were not very happy with the sound quality and build of the speaker.

"Got mine (direct from Samsung order). Just for giggles, dropped my LG G6 into it and, well, it sounds like a phone speaker being directed through a plastic cone, i.e. terrible," wrote another redditor.

Free Amplifier Speaker Dock From Samsung

The free gift is an amplifier speaker dock that has been designed to simply direct the audio from the device's speakers, in this case Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, to the speaker.

The dock has a semi-conical shape with a rectangular base and comes with a USB type-C port for charging and docking purposes.

The body of the passive amplifier speaker dock is made of plastic and it has no buttons or knobs for sound control and customization.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Even as the existence of dark matter has come under debate, Canadian scientists have claimed they have been able to develop a composite image of dark matter for the first time.

Dark matter is mysterious energy that occupies 25 percent of the universe and more than 80 percent of galaxies. It neither absorbs nor reflects light. Being invisible, dark matter cannot be seen through traditional means except inferring the presence from gravity.

Connected Galaxies And Web Of Dark matter

Researchers from the University of Waterloo deserve credit for the proclaimed ability in having traced out the existence of dark matter using weak gravitational lensing technique.

The captured image curiously shows the face of a ghost-like object.

Weak gravitational lensing is a phenomenon that causes bending of light by the presence of massive structures in the galaxy.

"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.

The study by Hudson and co-author Seth Epps of the Waterloo University has been published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

What Does The Composite Image Imply?

Using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the researchers detected dark matter from weak gravitational lensing that changes a galaxy's shape by 1 percent. They understood that bending of light can happen even from the gravity of smaller cosmic objects like dark matter.

The team created a composite image or map from galaxy pairs numbering more than 23,000 located at 4.5 billion light-years away. The image showed up a bridge-like structure connecting galaxies. It established dark matter's extensive interaction with galaxies.

Hudson called the successful mapping as a convenient step in convincing that dark matter is really there. So far, despite the theoretical concept, dark matter has eluded quantitative evidence.

Studies have already suggested dark matter exercises maximum stability between systems that are 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.

The concept of dark matter came to the fore in the 1930s when astronomers argued that galaxies cannot have the necessary gravity to maintain their structures merely with visible matter like stars, planets, and dust. They argued there is more that binds galaxies preventing them from breaking apart.

Axions As Constituents Of Dark Matter

The new study also corroborates the long-held theory of a cosmic scaffolding supporting stars and galaxies.

Some studies also mention a particle called the axion as the constituent of dark matter. It was first mooted in 1977 as new additions to the Standard Model in particle physics.

If axions are what make up dark matter, they may be detectable through gravitational waves because axions, when accelerated by black holes, would give off gravitational waves just like electromagnetic waves coming out of electrons.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The world's largest forest must be protected through a coordinated, efficient, and active process, President Nicolas Maduro stressed. | Read More
Defense attorneys for indicted Baton Rouge contractor Matthew Morris said Friday that their client is innocent and the dozens of criminal charges brought against him should be handled as civil disputes.

"This is a civil matter, not a criminal one, and many of the complaining witnesses are actively involved in civil litigation with Complete Construction Contractors," lawyers Seth Bloom and Sara Johnson said in an email to various media outlets. "Unfortunately, the criminal charges will delay the resolution of the civil matters."

The Morris case has brought to light the sometimes fine line in contracting problems between a civil dispute and a criminal violation. Some regulatory and law enforcement agencies initially were not aggressive in pursuing Morris, seeing it a civil matter.

Law enforcement and contractor licensing officials have noted the strength of Morris' construction contracts. But arrests brought in Ascension Parish in early February shed light on what some residents say he was doing, and more arrests have followed in other parishes.

In the past eight days, Morris, president and chief executive officer of Complete Construction Contractors, has been indicted in Ascension and Livingston parishes on a combined 135 counts of contractor fraud, insurance fraud and numerous other charges.

Morris has maintained his innocence since his first arrest in Ascension on Feb. 8 and pleaded not guilty to charges there Wednesday. That same day, he was indicted in Livingston Parish.

Complete Construction, which is based in Baton Rouge, also goes by the name CCC.

Law enforcement officials have said Morris would start work, demolition and even mold remediation but later inflate the costs to his clients, most of whom were flooded in August.

When clients got the final bill to finish their homes, they would cancel their contracts only to have Morris file property liens into area courthouses based on fraudulent fees and other costs after offering a settlement, law enforcement officials have said. Homeowners have said these liens often prevented them from finishing their homes, scaring off other contractors and tying up insurance payouts.

Despite Bloom and Johnson's assertion that the disputes are civil in nature, they noted Friday that Morris has agreed to remove all civil liens as a sign of good faith, "but law enforcement has not responded to this offer."

In fact, some of the property liens became part the basis for new arrests of Morris in East Baton Rouge Parish on Thursday.

Morris, 39, 21313 Turkey Creek, Baton Rouge, was booked into Parish Prison on 12 counts of insurance fraud, contractor fraud, theft, theft of assets of the aged, contracting without a license and filing a false public record.

The counts were part of warrants that deputies in East Baton Rouge and State Police troopers filed against Morris on behalf of six victims. Several of the warrants note that the liens Morris filed in connection with the cases included "misrepresentations of fact."

Johnson and Bloom said Friday that their client was being held without bail in Ascension Parish Prison near Donaldsonville and "is being bounced parish to parish to be denied fair bail."

Earlier this week, an Ascension judge ordered Morris be held on no bail on 12 new counts that were part of his 84-count indictment last week. Another Ascension judge also had ordered Morris last month be held without bail on 23 of his earlier counts.

In Ascension, the lack of bail comes as prosecutors contend Morris had shown an earlier "propensity for fraudulent conduct" while out on bail in February after his first arrest in that parish and that he "is a flight risk and cannot be trusted to turn himself in when ordered to do so."

Prosecutors have accused Morris of using, while in jail after his first arrest Feb. 8, the liens filed against his victims as collateral for a new line of credit from a bank. Prosecutors contend the liens, which they called "false receivables," were based on terminated contracts with fraudulent charges and fees.

In addition, once Morris was released on his original $635,000 bail after his first arrest, he later did not turn himself in to Livingston sheriff's deputies as he had promised and a special task force had to take him into custody as he was trying to leave his home Feb. 21, prosecutors have alleged in court papers.

Prosecutors have raised these issues in a bid to have a judge revoke his original bail of $635,000 in Ascension. A hearing is set for May 16.

One of Morris' other attorneys, Travis Turner, however, has questioned prosecutors' assertions, asking how Morris could have been a flight risk in February when he was at home.
The Ukulele Republic of Canberra celebrates 10 years of happy strumming with a special festival it has dubbed the Gang Gang Twang, referencing the ACT's own faunal emblem and noise-maker, the Gang-gang cockatoo.

The festival will be held on Sunday, May 6 at the Ainslie Arts Centre in Elouera Street, Braddon.

The Ukulele Republic of Canberra celebrates 10 years of happy strumming in May.

There will be performances from local and regional groups in the main hall from 1pm to 7pm.

There will also be workshops, a bar open from 3pm and a swapmeet with participants urged to bring, among other things, "a loud shirt" to swap.
National Australia Bank's customer relations boss has brushed off criticism in a parliamentary inquiry, insisting he is accountable for performance and pointing to an improving record on customer complaints as proof of progress.

Andrew Hagger, the former head of the bank's wealth division, was sensationally singled out in parliamentary hearings in March after the bank approved a 120 per cent bonus for him despite troubles inside the division.

Mr Hagger was head of the wealth arm when in February it came to light that the bank was forced to repay $36.5 million in compensation to superannuation customers who been overcharged.

Mr Hagger said he felt "deeply accountable" to customers.
When Kaye Griffiths was growing up, she set her heart on a career in nursing; she had no idea that not only would she would enter the profession of sonography, which, of course, did not exist at that time, she would become a pioneer of the field, establishing many of the techniques in use around the world today, and being largely responsible for the high standards of sonography in Australia.

Kaye Annette McInnes was born on November 16, 1945, in Sydney, the youngest of seven children of Donald and Flora (nee Gillis) McInnes. She grew up in Bexley and attended Saint Mary Star of the Sea School in Hurstville. She trained in nursing and midwifery at St Vincent's and King George hospitals in Sydney, and worked as a nurse and midwife at St Vincent's Hospital. At the time, the then Ultrasound Research Section of the Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratories (CAL) had made several breakthroughs in the use of medical ultrasound. A position was created for a sonographer (though the term was not yet commonly in use) and Kaye was appointed to this position in 1971. She later recalled that because the use of sound waves for imaging was not widely understood, she thought the position involved testing the hearing of babies, and was surprised to find that her pre-interview research on this topic was misplaced.

Kaye Griffiths conducts a training scan.

In the late 1960s, the CAL Ultrasound Research Section, later the Ultrasonics Institute (UI) and the CSIRO Ultrasonics Laboratory, led by George Kossoff, had invented grey scale ultrasound, the key to the high quality ultrasound images used today. This opened up many new applications for the improved technology, and Griffiths became the key liaison person between the research engineers and their clinical collaborators, as well as, of course, the patients. One of these new applications was examination of the neonatal head, and Griffiths' desire for the highest possible image quality, as well as the comfort of patients, led to her development of new scanning techniques consistent with both aims.

In the mid-1970s the Ultrasonics Institute developed the UI Octoson, a novel, commercially marketed scanner which was successfully sold and used around the world. Griffiths worked closely with the technical developers, devising and clinically testing scanning techniques unique to this imaging system. Using the Octoson, she developed scanning techniques for volumetric blood flow in many clinical applications, especially obstetrics. Each new technical innovation from the Ultrasonics Institute from her joining in 1971 until the mid-1990s called upon her expertise to devise and implement appropriate clinical scanning techniques.
Mr Turnbull is understood to have told the Adani Group chairman that the native title issue will soon be resolved, helping clear the way for the controversial mine. Has he struck a deal with senators? We desperately need some transparency. Land rights and native title should not be the playthings of governments. Joan McColl, Drouin MPs working hard to euthanase reef The Great Barrier Reef, the largest living organism in the world, is dying, and our politicians, notably Turnbull, Joyce, Abbott and Palaszczuk, are working hard to euthanase it. The reef is the "canary in the coal mine" that is climate change, and its impending demise is a sign that unless we take urgent action, humanity will follow. Roy Browne, Templestowe

Labor's last throw of the dice Seems like the ALP is facing a moment of truth. Facilitate the $1billion loan to Adani or not. In terms of Labor's environmental credentials, it looks like the last throw of the dice. Tony Adami, Caulfield South THE FORUM We are at a dead end

Both major parties support the Adani mine, so eloquently described as "a declaration of war on the environment" (Letters, 14/4). How does an educated, democratic nation acquiesce in such an insane decision? The explanation was outlined by former judge Tony Fitzgerald (Comment, 13/4) in his excoriation of our MPs  career hacks for whom "political ethics is merely an amusing oxymoron". Fitzgerald outlines measures to make MPs "behave like normal, honourable people". But our politicians are us; they reflect the nation's character. The rich and powerful have always been motivated by self-interest. But there were once strong opposing forces and institutions that limited the excesses of unfettered greed; a time when "the economy" and "the market" were not the lead players in every discourse. Forty years of economic rationalism has brought us to this dead-end. Too late now for reform: we need a revolution. Richard Barnes, Canterbury No laughing matter The US has just dropped on Islamic State in Afghanistan the biggest ever non-nuclear bomb. It's getting scary. I also heard Donald Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer saying they were taking this fight seriously. As opposed to what? Treating it as a joke? Which is what Mr Spicer and his boss are.

Eddie Wilgar, Yarraville Madness of endless war Since 2001, America has led the world into endless war and despair. This madness needs to stop. Trump has taken unilateral action and has no long-term policy for the Middle East. Congress needs to assert its constitutional authority over war-making. It needs to rescind the Authorisation for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists of 2001 and demand the President come back to it for new authorisation. That is just the first step. Keith Donovan, Mount Eliza Scary comparisons

I thought the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 was almost Armageddon so if, as President Trump says, relations between the US and Russia are now at their lowest point in history then the world is in massive trouble. Richard Jemison, Carlton River, Tasmania We fund private profits Just six months after the privatisation of the Port of Melbourne, the Lonsdale Consortium of global infrastructure interests has produced a shopping list of taxpayer-funded add-ons to increase the profitability of its asset (The Age, 12/4). These reportedly include reinstating Webb Dock rail link (removed by the Kennett government); a low-span, opening bridge over the Yarra; and "strengthening" of the Bolte and Westgate bridges. Finally  particularly gobsmacking given the hyped claims by Transurban a year ago for its West Gate Bridge project  the port's new owners doubt its efficacy. For how much longer will the public fund private interests operating as the state's de facto infrastructure planners? Angela Munro, Carlton North

Cyclists get short shrift In response to increasing numbers of drivers breaking the road rules by driving in the transit lane on the Eastern Freeway (The Age, 14/4), we are told that "frustrated drivers" need more roads. In contrast, the usual response to cyclists breaking the road rules is for more law enforcement, increased fines, calls for cyclists to get off the roads, and general demonisation of all people who ride bikes. How about improved infrastructure for frustrated (and the majority of law-abiding) cyclists? Jan Garrard, Beaumaris Laura Norder's son The Liberals have not only wheeled out Laura Norder but introduced her son Tuffon Kryme as the centrepiece of their electoral pitch. We'll get to know him well over the next 18months.

Rod Oaten, North Carlton Exciting ride ahead It's exciting that Opposition Leader Matthew Guy plans to make our community safe. I look forward to the following announcements regarding a government under his leadership. That it will fund drug and alcohol rehabilitation for everyone who wants to break their addiction so our agencies no longer have to turn people away; it will massively increase funding so people with mental health issues get the support they need; it will provide funding to greatly reduce the rate of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, given the role this preventable disorder can play in contributing to violent behaviour; and, of course, funding to end homelessness. And no doubt we will also see announcements on restricting the opening hours of liquor outlets. The NSW government, with the support of NSW Police, has shown that such restrictions have a huge impact on reducing alcohol-related assaults. Because surely Mr Guy's plan cannot just be about spending billions on new prisons and ignoring the causes of crime?

Mark Zirnsak, social justice spokesman, Uniting Church Race to bottom The state government has spent money setting up a responsible gambling program. Meanwhile, it jointly funded support to the tune of $126,000 for a "family fun" program at greyhound racing tracks around the state. The Easter School Holidays Kids Program, hosted by Greyhound Racing Victoria, will be held at dog-racing venues. If that is not indoctrinating young kids into a pro-gambling frame of mind, I don't know what is. Spending taxpayers' money to prop up a cruel industry that kills eight dogs daily is appalling. Spending even more money to encourage kids to become gamblers is a disgrace. Susan Buckland, Seaford Walk walk on bullying

The leak of home educators' confidential information by the Education Department is probably just a terrible mistake. But it highlights another issue. The material includes the reasons students were withdrawn from government schools, including totally inadequate responses to serious and sometimes life-threatening bullying and the often consequent mental health issues. My family's experience was the same with a primary school, but quite the opposite from a secondary school (Box Hill High, thank you!). All schools spruik their caring anti-bullying credentials, but too many, including private schools, don't "walk the walk". What is the department and its minister doing to tackle this major, often life-threatening issue  apart from the voluminous talk? Lex Borthwick, Burwood This is not comedy The difference between a person who can transmit humour and those who can't was brought to the fore by the sad demise of one of Australia's best satirists. After watching on TV two episodes of the Melbourne Comedy Festival's offerings I turned off in disgust.

It seems most of the stand-up "comedians" cannot deliver without using the "f--- word or over-emphasising gender differences, not to mention the sheer vulgarity. Great comedians have never had to resort to such levels to get a laugh. This current crop is an embarrassment and a bore. It's a pity audiences don't have the guts to boo them off instead of going with the hype. Barbara Booth, South Yarra Fantasy enhanced city Born with the family name "Strachan" I was thrilled to see the transformation of the dingy alleyway that was Strachan Lane into a Alice In Wonderland fantasy by Vincent Fantauzzo (The Age, 14/4). Surely it would be wiser to have thanked him for his generosity in enhancing the city, rather than erasing such an art work? Perhaps to make amends Melbourne City Council could commission him to restore the magic to Strachan Lane and make it a place to be proud of? Barbara Olanda, Essendon

Out-and-out vandalism Man paints pattern on road surface in laneway. Council sends in workers to clean it off. Man is reported to be gutted. Opinions about the artistic merit or otherwise of the design don't matter. The only relevant criterion is whether he had permission. In its absence, the work is vandalism and he should be prosecuted and made to pay for the clean-up. How would you feel if he defaced your driveway, house or car without your agreement? Full marks to the council for prompt removal. Jeff Lerner, Elsternwick Change to stay alive

Street art by its nature is ephemeral and has to constantly change to stay fresh and alive. While it can be disappointing when a particularly good piece is destroyed or painted over, real street artists get on with it and put up new work. Most street art is destined to live on solely in photographs and/or media commentary. Rebecca Dallwitz, Elsternwick AND ANOTHER THING Foreign affairs

The never-ending wars. Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and the Cold War. Phil Lipshut, Elsternwick Surely Trump has a cousin who could take over from Sean Spicer; he hasn't a clue what he's talking about. Margaret Skeen, Point Lonsdale Sean Spicer is proof that the President who governs via Twitter has surrounded himself with twits.

John Bye, Elwood Trump's administration has the virtue of consistency  it's consistently erratic. John O'Hara, Mount Waverley Be careful of an Indian free trade agreement. The pitch will be spin friendly. Robert Graham, Bittern

Politics The PM shaking hands with Adani's CEO on the dark grey expanses of an Adani coal mine ... a missed photo opportunity? Judi Schiff, Kew In court Adani says 1500 jobs will be created. Mr Turnbull says tens of thousands. Misinformed? Not keeping up? Or out and out liar? Janet Hall, North Fitzroy

Mr Turnbull's support for the Adani mine is just the pits. Elizabeth Meredith, Surrey Hills Will the reef have to be obliterated before the Coalition and Andrew Bolt and his ilk accept the fact of climate change? David Seal, Balwyn North Other matters

No doubt Section 18C abolitionists would support Eddie Betts' heckler's freedom of speech? Peter Rutherford, Geelong West Only barbarians destroy beautiful works of art. Melbourne City Council has joined them. John Brennan, Surrey Hills A shocked jock. Now that's a shock! ("Ray Hadley bans Scott Morrison from radio show", 10/4).
EVEN AT 7pm, it is 36 degrees. It's humid, too. And up two flights of stairs inside a stuffy music venue with low ceilings, the heat is even more offensive, as if these sticky floors and dark walls are themselves sweating. The engineers doing sound checks seem annoyed. The dudes stocking the back bar look spent. The clipboard door lady is unresponsive. Inexplicably wearing long sleeves and denim, I'm kind of miserable, too.

The only person who looks happy is Matt Wicking, the frontman for emerging Melbourne band the General Assembly, who is sitting away from the stage a few hours ahead of his gig, sipping ice water through a straw, feet up on a spare chair. The 39-year-old wears a bulbous red beard and beatific smile. "This is kinda romantic," he says of our corner table in the shadows, decorated with a few tea lights in tumbler glasses. "I think it'll be fun."

Musician Matt Wicking. Credit:Simon Schluter

In two hours, his group will play their first show of the year inside the packed Toff in Town band room in Swanston Street. Such moments used to make him nervous. "The usual  hoping people will come, worrying they won't," he says, laughing. "But now it's just nervous excitement."

He's specifically considering the single his band is about to debut, Things Fall Apart. The chorus begins with the lyric, "Why oh why did America die?" He wrote it five years ago, sensing omnipresent doom around capitalism and globalisation, but singing it now, in the age of Trump, seems more pertinent. "The song always felt good, but this time it felt like it landed," he says, planting a palm on the table, "which is not a good thing. It's not a happy song." Wicking wrote recently that the track isn't so much a single as "a howl".
Band-Aid in-store promotions asserting that the product helps heal wounds "twice as fast" could be removed from shops after its parent company refused to release research proving the claim.

Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of Band-Aids, has indicated in an email that the company will remove adverts claiming the adhesive strips were "clinically proven to heal wounds faster" after a complaint by public health campaigner Dr Ken Harvey.

The company says it has studies that back up its claims, but refused to release them on the grounds that they are commercial-in-confidence.

Experts say Band-Aids are useful for covering and protecting small wounds, and are generally recommended as part of the treatment for shallow cuts and grazes. But advertising for the product goes much further.
The United Nations has received just 21 per cent of the money it needs to fight a four-pronged food crisis in Africa and the Middle East described as the worst humanitarian emergency since the Second World War.

Famine has already been declared in parts of South Sudan while Somalia, Nigeria and Yemen are set to follow. About 20 million lives are at risk and 1.4 million children are at "imminent risk of death" from severe malnutrition.

Almost two months ago the United Nations requested $4.4 billion from international donors, including Australia, to address the crisis. But so far it has received only $984 million, a fifth of the total.

Local aid agencies say the public response to their emergency appeals has also been subdued.
Two teenagers assaulted a 34-year-old man and a 41-year-old man on a quiet residential street in Queanbeyan on Thursday night, police say.

NSW Police said a 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy approached the two men on Sassafras Crescent some time before 9.15pm Thursday.

Police are seeking for two teenage boys, a 19-year-old and a 16-year-old after an assault in Queanbeyan overnight. Credit:Marina Neil/Fairfax Media

One of the teenagers allegedly attacked the 41-year-old with a baseball bat , bashing him unconscious and causing head and chest injuries. The other man had cuts to the face.

Both were later taken to hospital; the more severely beaten man was taken to Canberra Hospital, where he remained Friday.
As terrorism attacks, military strikes and natural disasters continued across the world and closer to home, Brisbane Catholic Archbishop Mark Coleridge encouraged parishioners to face and overcome the world's fear through Easter celebrations.

In his official Easter message, Archbishop Coleridge shared with the Brisbane faithful his concerns about how dark the world would be without Easter and encouraged them to sing hymns to overcome the world's "darkness".

Brisbane Catholic Archbishop Mark Coleridge delivered a message of hope and encouraged the faithful to overcome the darkness of the world during Easter commemorations. Credit:Melissa Adams

"In us as human beings there is a fear and Easter looks that fear in the face," Archbishop Coleridge said in a video preview of his Easter Sunday readings.

"Despite all of the evidence to the contrary, we are very, very fragile and we see that in so many ways around the world now.
Facebook said on Thursday it suspended 30,000 accounts in France as the social network giant steps up efforts to stop the spread of fake news, misinformation and spam.

The move, which comes 10 days before the first round of a hotly contested French presidential election, is among the most aggressive yet by Facebook to move against accounts that violate its terms of service, rather than simply respond to complaints.

Two people familiar with Facebook's process said the company had strengthened its formula for detecting deceptive accounts. Credit:Reuters

Facebook is under intense pressure in Europe as governments across the continent threaten new laws and fines unless the company moves quickly to remove extremist propaganda or other content that violates local laws.

The pressure on social media sites including Twitter, Google's YouTube and Facebook has intensified in the run-up to the elections in France and Germany.
A survivor of sex abuse has slammed a bishop in Victoria's north-east for statements he says deny the past and minimise the consequences of institutional abuse.

Australian Education Union vice-president Greg Barclay, who was abused by Catholic Marist brother John Skehan as a schoolboy, accused Bishop Leslie Tomlinson of manipulating statistics from the Royal Commission to minimise the impact of abuse.

Bishop Leslie Tomlinson in 2010 at a commemoration for Mary Mackillop's canonisation. Credit:Penny Stephens

The commission released statistics in February that put the Sandhurst Diocese, which includes Bendigo, as having the second-highest proportion of priests subject to abuse allegations in Australia.

Bishop Tomlinson, who presides over the diocese, recognised the massive failure of the church to protect children, but went on to say the figures needed to be read in the "correct context".
An off-duty police officer who was hit and killed by a ute while cycling with his daughter in Melbourne's south-east on Good Friday has been remembered as a "real personality" and highly regarded veteran sergeant.

The pair was riding east on the Princes Highway, near Dore Road, at Pakenham when the officer, Sergeant Ken Rich, was hit by a Toyota Hilux ute about 8.50am.

Mr Rich's daughter cared for him at the scene until an ambulance arrived.

Paramedics worked on him for about an hour, but he died at the scene.
A man whose body was found outside an apartment block in Melbourne's south-east may have been attacked with a weapon in a garden, police say.

Homicide squad detectives were called to the apartment block on Blackburn Road in Notting Hill, opposite Monash University, after the man's body was found about 9.30am on Friday.

The man's body was found near the rear car park entrance of the complex.

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve McIntyre said the man had been assaulted with what appeared to be a weapon.
Programs worth hundreds of millions of dollars to improve homelessness, health, skills and kindergartens are at risk of being slashed without ongoing federal support at next month's budget.



In the latest sign of state-Commonwealth tensions, Victorian ministers have warned that thousands of vulnerable Victorians could suffer unless the Turnbull Government recommits to a string of national partnerships that are about expire, arguing that the state cannot afford to make up for Commonwealth shortfalls without impacting its own budget.

One of the partnerships includes a $100 million-a-year deal ensuring children receive 15 hours of kindergarten a week, which could end up falling to 10 hours a week unless the Commonwealth extends its commitment beyond the end of this year.

Victorian health minister Jill Hennessy has urged the Turnbull government to recommit to national partnerships in health and other areas.

Also under a cloud is a $130 million skills deal to improve the quality of training, which expires in June, as well as national agreements on housing and homelessness, which are critical to improving services keeping people off the streets.

Meanwhile, in the health portfolio, cervical and breast screening programs face federal cuts of almost $22million unless Canberra renews its share of the funding.
Two Melbourne teenage girls are missing and police have growing concerns for their safety.

Rose Hervatin, 14, was last seen seen in Marina Street, Vermont, on Thursday morning.

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate Rose Hervatin.

She is described as being 172cm tall with blue eyes and long sandy coloured hair.

Rose is known to frequent the Tecoma, Boronia, Wantirna, Knox, Lilydale and Ringwood areas.
Victoria University has been accused of double-dipping by enrolling students in TAFE certificates to prepare them for university degrees they are already undertaking.

It's part of a new pilot that the university is set to expand next year to overcome poor retention rates and financial instability.

Paul Adams is concerned about experienced staff losing their jobs. Credit:Luis Ascui

But the Australian Education Union and National Tertiary Education Union have serious concerns about the initiative, which involves the university receiving federal and state government funding for the same students at the same time.

"It's double-dipping," the AEU Victorian branch's vice-president for TAFE, Greg Barclay, said.
Auto Lab Radio Talk LIVE From New York Saturday April 15, 2017 7-9AM







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The Auto Lab Radio Show is Broadcast every Saturday 7 to 9 AM On New York City's WNYM Radio AM 970 and Streamed Worldwide On The Auto Channel

This Weeks Show Broadcast Date: April 15, 2017

Car Question or Concern? Call Toll Free 888-692-7234

Auto Lab is a 28 year old interactive automotive-focused New York area radio call-in show hosted by Professor Harold Wolchok. Each week a cadre of experienced hands-on automotive experts are in-studio with advice for the New York area's 12 million people, providing listeners with honest, practical and street-smart car repair and buying advice.

Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format.

Listeners can hear the past 18 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on www.theautochannel.com.

Listen - Auto Lab Page (Includes Audio-on-Demand Archives, Auto Programs at Community College Database, Guests Pictures

This Weeks Show: April 15, 2017

Auto Lab In-Studio Auto Experts Discuss: Repairs, Second Opinions, Regular Maintenance, How To's, Safety, Used and New Car Buying, Ombudsmen Suggestions

Harold Bendell- Major Auto

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Audra Fordin-Great Bear Auto Repairs & What Women AUTO Know

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Auto Lab Correspondents Report Auto Safety News, New Car Reviews, Technology and Latest Auto World Information That May effect You!

Broadcast Date: April 15, 2017

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YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO SICK, YOU MAKE ME FEEL AS THO' SPRING HAS SPRUNG

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IMPRESSIONS OF THE 2017 NY INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW AT THE JAVITS CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY

Russ Rader, Vice President Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

IIHS TIGHTENS CRITERIA FOR RECOMMENDED USED VEHICLES FOR TEENS
Honoring the helpers Awards recognize those who support autism community

Thirteen community members and providers were recognized for their resilience, passion and heart at the 2022 Awesome in Autism Awards ceremony. The 14th annual event, hosted by Autism Society Ventura County, was held Oct. 20 at Wood Ranch Golf Club...

Go purple to support those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer November is the busiest month of the year for cancer awareness campaigns. Im going to focus on one of thempancreatic cancer because its a type weve seen a noticeable rise in over the last few years. And because it remains...

Hospital offers safe option to dispose of meds, narcotics Los Robles Health System is working to crush the opioid drug crisis by raising awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of unused or expired medications. Crush the Crisis will take place...

Alzheimers Foundation to host free conference The Alzheimers Foundation of America will host a free virtual educational conference from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tues., Nov. 15. The event is part of the foundations 2022 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open...
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/04/2017 (2034 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Minneapolis man has been charged after a Canada Border Services Agency officer was assaulted at the Emerson border crossing last weekend.

Ahmed Aden Ali is charged with uttering threats, mischief over $5,000 and assaulting a peace officer.

Last Saturday, just before 1 a.m., police assistance was requested at the Emerson port of entry after a man detained there was reportedly acting aggressively, RCMP said in a release.

A 37-year-old man had been taking to port of entry after being found making a illegal border crossing. The man was placed in a cell while his refugee claim was processed. While there police said the man threatened to harm CSBA officers, damaged a fire sprinkler and physically assaulted an officer.

Ali remains in custody.
In a week of head-snapping policy reversals by the Trump administration, new CIA chief Mike Pompeo delivered an unexpected broadside at WikiLeaks and Russia, both of which were once praised by his boss on the campaign trailand even Pompeo himself once tweeted out WikiLeaks stories.

WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service, he told the crowd at a Washington, D.C. think tank in his first public remarks as head of the intelligence agency Thursday. He accused WikiLeaks of endangering lives and acting as a veritable arm of Russian intelligence.

He said Russian military intelligence, the GRU, had used WikiLeaks to release data obtained through cyber operations against the Democratic National Committee, a one-two punch that added up to another cold blast aimed at Moscow from President Donald Trumps administration.

The speech clearly marked Pompeo as one of the Team Trump newcomers who brought along a hawkish attitude toward Russia, much like the secretaries of state and defense. It marked yet another break from the warming trend toward Moscow that Trump had promised on the campaign trail, when he was being advised by his former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn, and campaign team members Paul Manafort and Carter Page, all now under federal investigation for alleged ties to Russia.

A former congressman, Army officer, and Harvard-trained lawyer, Pompeo is among the cabinet-level officials Trump is growing to rely on and trust, according to multiple U.S. officials speaking anonymously to describe the relationship.

Pompeo called the relationship between Trump and the intelligence community fantastic, in a turnaround from the rocky start when Trump talked about the size of his inauguration crowd in front of the CIAs hallowed Memorial Wall honoring those lost in service to the nation, and launched tweet storms accusing U.S. intelligence of leaking damaging material about his campaign. Now Pompeo says hes at the White House almost daily, briefing Trump and often Vice President Mike Pence as well.

They are voracious consumers of the product we develop. They ask really hard questions, Pompeo said, adding that Trump is completely prepared to hear things that run counter to his hypothesis.

But the CIA has been under siege since Pompeo took the helm, after WikiLeaks released thousands of documents that it says show how the CIA spies via everything from laptops, smart phones to smart TVs. The CIA has declined to confirm the authenticity of the documents, but current and former intelligence officials say they are legitimate though mostly dated.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called such leaks truths regarding overreaches and abuses conducted in secret by the powerful, in an opinion piece in several newspapers this week.

The new CIA chief struck back, calling Assange a coward, a narcissist and a hero for al Qaeda, which has praised the leaks of former NSA contractor-turned-fugitive Edward Snowden exposing American and British spycraft, and he lamented that roughly a 1,000 CIA targets had changed how they communicated after the WikiLeaks-spread disclosures.

While we do our best to quietly collect information on those who present very real threats to our country, 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 event. 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.

Yet Pompeo himself once found such documents usefulor his Congressional staff did, depending on who was running the Kansas Republicans @repmikepompeo Twitter account. A now-deleted tweet gleefully shared a report of WikiLeaks disclosures on hacked DNC emails that were so damaging to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Need further proof that the fix was in from Pres. Obama on down? Pompeos now-deleted tweet asked rhetorically, linking to a conservative blog.

The CIA declined to comment.
A Michigan doctor has been accused of performing female genital mutilation surgery on multiple girls, some as young as six years old.

Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, 44, was arrested Wednesday for allegedly performing the procedure on multiple young girls over the past 12 years. Nagarwala, an emergency room clinic physician at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, allegedly carried out the surgeries at a clinic in a nearby suburb, prosecutors said. Nagarwalas attorney did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The alleged criminal activity did not occur at any Henry Ford facility. We would never support or condone anything related to this practice, hospital spokesperson David Olejarz told The Daily Beast in a statement. Olejarz confirmed that Nagarwala has been placed on administrative leave.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Securitys investigations unit received a tip that Nagarwala was performing the surgeries at a clinic in Livonia, about a 20-minute drive from the hospital where she works. Nagarwalas case is believed to be the first under the 1996 federal law that criminalizes FGM.

FGM, also known as female circumcision, is a practice that intentionally alters or removes the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. The practice reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, according to the World Health Organization, and is a violation of the rights of girls and women. Despite prevention efforts, the practice endures in some parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, especially in rural communities.

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that, as of 2012, more than 500,000 women and girls in the United States have already undergone the procedure or are at risk of being subjected to it in the future. That number is more than triple the agencys 1990 estimate.

According to the criminal complaint, at least two seven-year-old girls were allegedly brought to Nagarwalas clinic from out of state to undergo to the procedure. One of the alleged victims told investigators that she and another girl were brought to Detroit for a special girls trip and that they had to go to the doctors because their tummies hurt.

The first girl told investigators that she took off her pants and underwear and laid on an examining table, where she was pinched by Nagarwala on the place [where] she goes pee.

The second girl described a similar situation, telling investigators that she went to a doctors office in Detroit, took off her pants and underwear, and was placed on an operating table where she got a shot on her upper right thigh. After the procedure, she said, she felt pain down to her ankle and could barely walk, but Nagarwala allegedly told her she was fine.

Both girls parents told them they couldnt tell anyone about the procedure. Both identified an unmarked photo of Nagarwala and said she was the doctor who they met in Detroit.

Doctors in Minnesota examined both of the girls and determined that their genitals were not normal in appearance. Both girls had indications of tears, scar tissue, or lacerations.

According to the criminal complaint, the same girl who reported difficulty walking after the procedure told investigators she left one of her winter gloves in Nagarwalas office. On April 10, FBI agents found a childs glove in the clinic with the victims name written on it. The girls parents later confirmed to investigators that they took their daughter to Nagarwalas clinic for a cleansing of extra skin.

Nagarwala initially denied performing the procedures on those two girls or any other children and told investigators she is aware FGM is illegal in the U.S., according to the criminal complaint. She is being charged with female genital mutilation, transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and making a false statement to a federal officer. The FGM charge carries a maximum of five years in prison.

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 in a statement.
This is not Uniteds week.

First, a passenger was viciously dragged off of a flight , suffering a concussion, broken bones and lost teeth . And now, on Thursday, United confirmed that what was likely a scorpion (yeah, a scorpion) fell from an overhead bin, landed on, and then stung one of its passengers on a flight from Houston to Calgary, Canada. Sadly, this is not the plotline for a movie starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Passenger Richard Bell described the pain as feeling like a wasp sting, and the scorpion was quickly flushed down a plane toilet. Scorpion bites can be fatal, but Bell was luckily fine. United spokesman Charles Hobart told CNBC that the airlines flight crew immediately spoke with a physician on the ground in Calgary to guide them through the fiasco.

This is just one more blow to United Airlines, whose stocks have plummeted this week. Just wait til social media gets ahold of this.
A network of political groups tied to Donald Trumps chief strategist may have dodged corporate taxes and shielded information about its executives by using Delaware shell companies to surreptitiously conduct business in another state.

The allegations involve a constellation of groups financed by the wealthy Trump-backing Mercer family: a super PAC called Make America Number 1 and two Delaware-incorporated political vendors, film production company Glittering Steel, and data firm Cambridge Analytica.

The super PAC has steered large sums to the two companies, which have in turn paid consulting fees to chief White House strategist Steve Bannon. The payments to and from Cambridge Analytica and Glittering Steel were sent to a single Beverly Hills address.

That indicates that the companies were engaged in intrastate commerce in California, according to a complaint filed with the states attorney general and secretary of State on Wednesday by the Campaign Legal Center, a legal watchdog group.

Out-of-state companies engaged in intrastate business in California must register as foreign corporations with the secretary of State, but that office has no incorporation records on file for either company.

Foreign corporate registration in California is designed to ensure that companies doing business in the state pay taxes on the income they earn there and disclose specific information about their corporate structures.

By failing to register with the California secretary of State, Cambridge Analytica and Glittering Steel may have escaped taxes on income derived in California and disclosure requirements that are far greater than those levied on corporations in Delaware, a state known for its corporate friendly business climate.

Out-of-state corporations and limited liability companies in California are required to disclose the names of their officers or managers. In Delaware, according to the Financial Transparency Coalition, you need to provide more identification to obtain a library card than you do to create a company.

Cambridge Analyticas and Glittering Steels incorporation in Delaware adds another layer of opacity to the operations of a network of advocacy groups and political vendors backed by hedge fund magnate Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah that helped propel Trump to victory last year.

That opacity persists despite extensive business activities in Californiaactivities that should, CLC says, force more information about the Mercer political network into public view.

Cambridge Analytica did not respond to questions about its corporate structure. Efforts to reach a representative for Glittering Steel were not successful. Bannon and his private spokesperson also did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Bannon has been deeply involved with both companies, according to recently released financial disclosure filings. Until August 2016, when he signed on as the Trump campaigns chief executive, he was Glittering Steels chairman and Cambridge Analyticas vice president and secretary.

As of January, Bannon had significant financial stakes in both companies. He reported holdings of as much as $5 million and $250,000 in Cambridge Analytica and Glittering Steel, respectively. Together, the two companies paid him nearly $300,000 in consulting fees last year.

The companies monthly payments to Bannon came by way of Bannon Strategic Advisors, a registered California corporation.

That corporation was headquartered at 8383 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1000, in Beverly Hills until late last year. Make America Number 1s FEC filings show more than $2.1 million in payments to Glittering Steel and Cambridge Analytica sent to the same address.

CLC says that is evidence of a commercial domicile in the state.

On the same day that CLC filed a legal complaint last year alleging that the super PACs payments to the two companies were in effect illegal disbursements to the Trump campaigns top operative, Bannon Strategic Advisors quietly filed amended incorporation documents (PDF) changing its address to a mailbox at a nearby UPS Store.

Make America Number 1s FEC filings indicate that Cambridge Analytica and Glittering Steel maintained physical presences in California. Their payments to Bannon Strategic Advisors, which is incorporated in the state, may therefore have constituted intrastate commerce and required that both firms register with Californias secretary of State.

CLCs complaint focused solely on Glittering Steel, but the same circumstances also apply to Cambridge Analytica, which shares the same incorporation structure and Beverly Hills address in FEC filings.

Public records indicate that in addition to their failure to register with the California secretary of State, both companies may have also improperly failed to file tax returns in the state.

Payments to the companies at their California address and their disbursements to Bannons consulting company both exceed the thresholds for officially doing business in California, a designation that requires out-of-state companies to file California tax returns.

CLC is asking state authorities to investigate the matter. It also pointed to additional information on Bannons relationship with both companies, revealed by his financial disclosure statement last month, to supplement an FEC complaint alleging that Make America Number 1 violated federal election laws by steering money to entities in which Bannon was invested while he ran the Trump campaign.

Information gleaned from incorporation documents in California would shed additional light on those alleged violations, according to Brendan Fischer, the director of CLCs FEC reform program.

Bannons company appears to have dodged the California disclosure requirements that would provide more public information that could inform whether it broke federal campaign finance law, Fischer said in a statement.
The House Intelligence Committee sent one of its members to Cyprus this week as part of its ongoing investigation into Russia and the Trump campaign, adding a new twist to the ongoing inquiry.

Cyprus has a reputation as a laundromat for the Russians who are trying to avoid sanctions, Rep. Mike Quigley told The Daily Beast. It was extraordinarily helpful in understanding how the Russians launder money and why.

The Democratic congressman did not go into detail about what he found during his four-day trip to the Mediterranean country. But publicly available reporting hints at how Cyprus may be tied to the committees investigation.

The Trump administrations Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, was involved in a business deal with a Russian businessman with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin while he was the vice-chairman of the Bank of Cyprus.

And last month the Associated Press reported that Treasury Department agents obtained bank transaction information involving former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, specifically transactions going through Cyprus, which AP described as known as a haven for money laundering by Russian billionaires.

Cyprus has not been a primary topic of discussion within the scope of the House Intelligence Committees investigation into Russian influence in the U.S. presidential elections, but Quigley said that the country played a significant role.

The fact that Turkey, the U.S and Russia and other countries are really interested in Cyprus, because of its strategic location the fact that Russians launder their money there to avoid sanctions, and the fact that key U.S. and Russia players were thereall make it really important for the Russia investigation, Quigley explained.
NOGALES, MexicoIn the 35 years Gilda and Juan Francisco Loureiro have been running a shelter in northern Mexico for undocumented immigrants, theyve never seen a week like this one.

The shelter, called Albergue San Juan Bosco, is perched on a steep hillside looking over the busy border town of Nogales, Mexico. Its walls are painted bright turquoise and tangerine, and its wide-open double doors look west over low hills and Highway 15. Since they opened it, upward of 1 million people have slept there on their way to the U.S. But on the day I visited, it was almost empty.

It didnt used to be this way, Gilda and Juan Francisco, known as Paco, explained. In the decades since they opened the space to give migrants a place to shower and sleep before crossing the border, the shelterwith separate rooms full of bunkbeds for men and womenwould regularly house 100 migrants per night. Sometimes, that number would hit 300 or more, and Gilda and Paco would pull out thin mattresses to fit everyone on the floor.

But today, those mattresses are neatly stacked in a closet, untouched. And the shelter is almost emptyno women travelers, and fewer than a dozen men. Thats despite the fact that April, with its mild weather, should be the busiest time of year for migrants. The place is all but dead. Gilda and Paco have never seen anything like it.

They can only think of one explanation: President Donald Trump.

Trump hasnt yet made good on his bombastic campaign trail promises. The wall is still just a twinkle in his eye, and the deportation force hiring sprees havent happened yet. ICE agents have conducted raids targeting undocumented immigrants, but they arent actually that different in scale from raids that happened during the early years of the Obama administration.

But the symbolism of Trump in the Oval Office and the threat of extended detention has already deterred many migrants. Migrants are scared, explained Jose, a young Honduran man staying at the San Bosco shelter in hopes of getting to the U.S. They might be less scared in the future, he said, but for now theyre waiting.

The Trump administration seems to have figured this out. In a speech on the Arizona side of the border the day before, Attorney General Jeff Sessions noted that the number of people caught illegally crossing the border had dropped by 72 percent from December 2016 to March 2017.

This is no accident, Sessions told an audience of reporters and Customs and Border Protections officials.

He then detailed new priorities for federal prosecutors, including felony prosecutions in certain situations of people who re-enter the U.S. illegally after being deported. According to AllLaw.com, a felony conviction for illegal re-entry typically carries a sentence of up to two years.

The migrants who spoke to The Daily Beast hadnt heard of Jeff Sessions. But theyd heard about his plans.

"Is it true Ill go to prison for two years if I get arrested?" a Honduran man named Mynor asked in Spanish.

He said hed been deported from the U.S. four times already, and that he hadnt been convicted of any crimes. But hed spent several months in jails in Nevada, Texas, and Arizona before those deportations, he added, and he didnt want to go back.

The two-year rumor was correct, I explained. Then I asked why he kept trying to make it in the U.S. instead of returning to his native country.

La violencia, he replied.

Still, the threat of two years in federal prison gave him second thoughts about making a fifth trip across the border, he added. Honduras is one of the most dangerous countries in the world, with rampant government corruption and extraordinary levels of cartel violence. Despite this, Trump has him considering going back.

Mynor and a handful of other migrants sat in a small chapel in the shelter waiting for dinner to be ready. A large picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe hung on the wall, and a nearly life-size crucifix draped with plastic rosary beads stood beside it. On a table in front, there was a pile of Know Your Rights pamphlets from the Comision Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, a Mexican group, and the ACLU.

Tus derechos humanos viajan contigo, one pamphlet read. Porque ningun ser humano es ilegal

In English: Your human rights travel with you, because no human being is illegal.

Throughout the border town of Nogales, residents say its strangely silent. The men who drive shuttles taking Mexicans who legally cross the border to Tucson and Phoenix have seen their business slow downlikely because many fear that having the legal right to enter the U.S. wont necessarily protect them from detention or deportation.

And the Kino Border Initiative, a Roman Catholic humanitarian aid group that provides food and clothing to recently deported migrants on the Mexico side, has seen things slow. Joanna Williams, the groups director of education and advocacy in the U.S., said their Mexican shelter would normally help 500 to 700 people every month. But in March, she added, they only worked with 200likely because fewer people are being deported to Nogales, because fewer people are crossing the border there in the first place.

But Williams added that though the overall number of migrants crossing the border has dropped, the numbers from some parts of Mexico have risen significantly. Her group asks migrants to share what city and state of Mexico they came froma valuable data troveand noticed theres been an uptick in travelers from the city of Chilpancingo in the state of Guerrero on Mexicos southwest coast. A conflict between two cartels there has displaced 250,000 people, according to Sky News.

Williams said she expects the number of migrants crossing the border to go back up because Trump hasnt changed the structural realities that drive migration: He hasnt made southern Mexico any less poor and violent, and he hasnt made the cartels any weaker. The changes in the last month are significant, she said, but temporary.

Paco agreed.

Mexicans are very stubborn, he said, and there is not a wall that can restrain them.
The worlds eyes are fixed on Marine Le Pen.

But France has another extremist candidate, this one on the far left, who could surprise us on Election Day.

His name is Jean-Luc Melenchon.

He was born in Tangier, Morocco, a spacious, cosmopolitan city, a city of writers and lovers of beauty that forms a tangent between curious Europe and the beguiling East.

From the start, Mr. Melenchon had the gift of gab and an eloquence that made you wonder whether he was born in the agora of Athens or somewhere between Tangiers Grand and Petit Socco.

Even now, as most politicians have yielded to the empty, spin-doctored communication that has killed true political speech, he is one of the last whose manner of expression retains a trace of the lively retro lilt, the air of extemporaneousness that defined the finest hours of French oratory.

And I remember encounters, a few years ago, when I sensed in Mr. Melenchon something refreshingly authenticstarting with his books, which he obviously wrote himself.

That man is gone. What happened to him?

Did he undergo a real change, or did he simply jump at the role offered to him in the reality soap opera that Western politics has become?

Sometimes I tell myself that self-love led him astray:

The hyper-populist orchestration of his rallies His way, not so much of speaking, but of listening to himself talk The aroma of the personality cult that wafts through his far-left party And the possibly unprecedented use of a hologram to launch his campaign, a gesture that gave rise, in France, to a plethora of contorted explanations and interpretations even as the simple truth was blindingly obvious: It was first and foremost an unparalleled stunt of political self-gratification, one worthy of Donald Trump himself.

And then, sometimes, I think there may be something in Mr. Melenchon of the humiliated child, who, as described by French novelist Georges Bernanos, is never so bad as after he is denied the recognition he believes he has earned. Jean-Luc Melenchon was so devoted to Francois Mitterrand! He was so envious of Francois Hollande! But when will the favors be returned? Never? Subordinate status forever? And the stuffed shirts expect him to sit back and play a supporting role?

Whatever the reason, the result is clear enough.

A man who began by embodying the republican spirit at its best decided at some point to strike out on his own and, in so doing, he indeed became a leader of sortsthe first in the decrepitude of his art, as Charles Baudelaire said of Edouard Manet.

Observe him on stage at the first televised debate of the French presidential campaign, nodding as Marine Le Pen rips into Europe or NATO.

Listen as he proclaims, using the purest Le Pen rhetoric, the urgent need for a great turnover, one that will drum out of office the current bosses (as well as the bureaucrats) and pry loose the failed democratic elitescant we sense his mano a mano with the semantics and violence of the extreme right?

Notice, in his putatively patriotic incantations, the overtones of Boulangism, the 19th-century French precursor of fascism, the organizing principle of which, even then, was the cult of personality mixed with direct appeal to the peoples energy.

And then there is the name of his movement: Unsubmissive France.

Unsubmissive, really? Indomitable, rebelliousare you sure?

The strange thing is that, every time a rebellious people comes up against a dictatorshipI mean a real oneMr. Melenchon manages to support the dictatorship as it steamrolls the people.

Alexei Navalny, one of the bravest opponents of Putin, insulted and calumniated.

Syrias democratic aspirations reduced to a struggle for oil and gas, with Bashar al-Assad having the last word.

The struggle for Ukraines independence made to look like an imperialist plot hatched by putschist adventurers.

The Dalai Lama and Tibetan survivors of Chinese massacres accused of wanting to establish a Buddhist sharia.

And, instead of support for human-rights activists in Latin America, we hear hymns to Chavez and Castro.

One might object that Castro was, in his way, one of the unsubmissive.

Well, I dont believe it.

But even if he had been, might not Mr. Melenchon be perhaps just a half-century late in his proclamation of the era of the people (which happens to be the title of one of his books)?

One senses in him adolescent nostalgia for the big revolutionary myths of the past.

And I recall, from a conversation in 2008, this French good old boys childish fondness for the greats of leftisms golden age with whom he missed having had the chance to chew the fat.

But a serious presidential candidacy cannot be based on such childishness.

When it is, what you get is a politics for idiots that clutches at shadows, hopeless and flat.

Where his elders would have used the term dialectics, Jean-Luc Melenchon speaks of disengagement.

Where his forebears might have honed their new idea of internationalism, he falls back on sovereignism and isolationist noninvolvement.

And, in the simplified, spectral world he inhabits, the revolution comes to look more like Halloween.

Nothing remains of Maoism but the jacket.

Robespierre becomes a petulant, ranting tribune.

The tough and, in a way, romantic Saint-Just is made up as Tartarin of Tarascon, Alphonse Daudets 1872 caricature of a puffed-up big-game hunter.

This parody, this travesty, this entitlement-maximizing idea of revolution and risk-free rebelliousness, is exactly what people like about Melenchon.

Except that Saint-Just was something else entirely.

He was the young zealot who torched the language of Rousseaus intellectual heirs.

And, however reassuring one may find the recycled truisms and ultimately inoffensive faking of yesterdays radicalism, one has to feel a bit uncomfortable about the kitschy use to which the history of France and of the 20th century is being put.

Our rebel seems a bit puny.

Vain, empty, ectoplasmic.

He sounds like a fraudulent miracle-worker who leaps in among the ghosts of the populist past just as, back in his youth, he dove into the vast, crystal-waved ocean that laps the shores of Tangier.

Jean-Luc Melenchon would have French voters believe that he is picking up the torch. But can he even light a match?
Young women who werent excited about Hillary Clintons candidacy are energized by her loss in ways they probably never could have imagined. Theyre showing up at town halls, signing up for candidate training, and joining activist groups. And its not only millennial women waking up and fueling the resistance. Women across the spectrumschoolteachers, nurses, IT workersare turning up the political heat, and Clinton is taking notice.

Theres a realization that when she speaks, she speaks for the majority of the country, a former aide told The Daily Beast. Its a platform weve never had, the aide enthused, until reminded about Al Gores popular vote margin in the 2000 election.

Gore garnered 540,000 more votes than George W. Bush in an election that turned on faulty ballots in Florida and was settled by the Supreme Court in Bushs favor. Gore didnt hang around to see if anyone wanted to hear from him. He grew a beard and gave up on national politics.

Clinton spent some time walking in the woods, but shes not a dreamer and shes not a wounded loner. Shes a practical woman determined to figure out how she can use the platform that she gained by winning almost 3 million votes more than Donald Trump in the November election.

For activists and voters around the country, shes a reminder the country wanted something different, something better. Its a powerful juxtaposition, says the former aide, who did not want to be identified getting too far out front of where the ever-cautious Clinton is in her thinking.

Clinton is charting this next chapter in her life like any other campaign. There will be a book in the fall that draws on her favorite quotes over a lifetime for a series of essays that she said in a statement are the words I live by. One chapter will be about why she lost and could be titled, From Russia With Misogyny.

Her calendar is filling up with speeches before audiences sure to greet her like a conquering hero. Next week, shell be at an LGBT Community Center in New York City. Next month, shell keynote a Planned Parenthood gala and the Childrens Health Fund annual benefit in New York City. On May 26, shell give the commencement speech at her alma mater, Wellesley College.

For whatever other questions voters may have had about her, Americans generally viewed her as smart and right on the issues. And she has an important ability to focus peoples attention and shine a spotlight on the deficiencies in Donald Trumps approach to things, said Democratic pollster Geoff Garin.

Clintons popular vote margin lends her credibility that she wouldnt otherwise have, but losing candidates have to be careful when they weigh in that they dont sound like sour grapes, Garin continued. He gave her high marks for speaking out earlier this month at a Women in the World event in New York City, when she assured the audience, as a person, Im OK after her searing loss, but, as an American, Im pretty worried about the occupant in the White House.

She helps both raise alarm bells and put things in perspective for people, he said.

A lot of the country loves her, but there are parts that hate her with such visceral emotion that theres a danger she could over-interpret the positive reaction she gets from friendly audiences. Her numbers havent really recovered yet, said Garin. Its too soon, way too soon. It was a very polarized election.

The growing protest movement that has gotten Clintons attention isnt about her, and finding ways to be helpful is her challenge. Leaders will emerge organically, and Clintons role is more cheerleader than leader. Trump is the catalyst.

A first test of the resistance, and how well it can sustain the energy and enthusiasm that marked the Womens March on the day after the Inauguration, comes on Saturday, when 69 progressive groups from the newly launched Indivisible to Bernie Sanders Our Revolution and the venerable Common Cause are sponsoring 120 marches around the country calling on Congress to vote to release Trumps tax returns.

Saturday is eight years to the day since angry protests over Obamacare launched the Tea Party in 2009. Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, A practical guide for resisting the Trump agenda, told The Daily Beast there are at least two and an average of 13-to-14 Indivisible groups in every congressional district, quite an achievement and a potential harbinger for change, since such a small percentage of the 435 House seats are even considered competitive.

The Indivisible guide borrows the strategy and tactics of the Tea Party, minus their racism and violence, said Levin. Republicans returning home to face their constituents are getting a taste of the publics anger. For lawmakers who duck these encounters, protesters are encouraged to think creatively and prop up a life-size cutout of the missing congressperson. A live chicken recently stood in for Michigan Republican Dave Trott.

Getting voters to understand the power they have over Congress is the goal. Trumpcare didnt get a vote because of the backlash from voters. Only 17 percent of those polled approved of the GOP plan. When Republicans proposed eliminating the Office of Ethics on Jan. 3, the first day of the new Congress, there was such furious pushback the GOP backed off immediately.

I view release of Trumps tax returns in the exact same way, said Levin. If people stand up and demand it, members of Congress will change their behavior.

With 74 percent of Americans saying Trump should release his returns, its not a partisan issue. Its about how our democracy works, says Levin, who worked on Capitol Hill in the belly of the beast where he learned firsthand what moves votes and attitudes. Hint: Its not Hillary Clinton.
In a new radio ad, actor Samuel L. Jackson calls on Georgia voters to support the Democratic Party , and by default, Jon Ossoff, a Democrat running in the states special election this Tuesday, April 18, CNN reports.

 Stop Donald Trump , the man who encourages racial and religious discrimination and sexism, Jackson says. Remember what happened the last time people stayed home.

The ad was organized by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Though Jackson does not specifically call out Ossoff by name, the Democrats race in the state is a focal point. Ossoff is running for the congressional seat in Georgias 6th district, which was vacated recently by President Trumps Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. The district usually goes Republican, but that could all change Tuesday. Ossoff has the funding, drive and backing of civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis on his side.

The Democrats ad is aimed at black voters , framing Jackson as a civil rights activist and Morehouse graduate. His message will run on Atlanta urban radio stations through the weekend.

Do your friends and family a favor. Hell, do yourself a favor, and vote on April 18 , and make sure to vote for the Democratic Party, says Jackson.

Listen to the full ad here:
The U.S. military is bolstering its North Korea-related capabilities. Via his tweets and the diverted Carl Vinson carrier strike group, President Trump is sending a clear message to China: exert diplomatic influence over Kim Jong-un, or America will use coercion. Trumps strategic objective: Kims suspension of his intercontinental ballistic missile program.

Its a high-stakes game.

As columnist John Schindler notes, assessing North Korean strategy is exceptionally difficult. The U.S. intelligence community has long struggled to infiltrate the Kim dynastys fortress-hermit kingdom. South Korean and Japanese intelligence services have had more success, but they also struggle. Particularly problematic today, Kims behavior suggests mental instability. This is not a joke.

Effective U.S. diplomacy has rarely been more crucial.

Still, if diplomacy fails and Trump authorizes military action against North Koreas ballistic missile program, we can make basic assessments as to its likely form.

For a start, the U.S. would seek to annihilate North Korean ballistic missile development and production facilities. Credible reports suggest many of these hardened facilities are in North Koreas northeastern mountainous region, near the Chinese border. Destroying these sites would likely entail air strikes with the U.S. Air Forces 30,000 pound GBU-57. The bomb is designed to penetrate deep below the surface and achieve significant effect. Open source reports indicate post-2012 efforts to enable B-2 bomber deployment of the weapon. Currently based in Florida and Missouri, B-2 crews can strike targets across the globe, refueling during missions.

The destruction of North Korean ballistic missile command and control elements would also be a primary objective. The Nuclear Threat Initiative lists a number of corresponding facilities, but the Sohae Station on North Koreas west coast offers an obvious example. North Korean ballistic missile officers might also be targeted.

Regardless, the motivation of these strikes would be threefold. First, to degrade North Koreas ability to deploy reliable solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles. Second, to deter a reconstitution of that program post-strike. Third, to assure North Korea that the strikes are not intended to destroy Kims regime.

This third point presents the greatest challenge for U.S. planners. After all, any operation would necessarily require significant force. To protect U.S. bomber crews and create durable strategic effect, the strikes would have to extend beyond the specific ballistic program. Strikes on North Korean command and control, radar and air defense assets would be necessary. Complicating matters is North Koreas crude but mobile air defense network. Learning from the Persian Gulf War, when static Iraqi defenses quickly crumbled under American air assaults North Korean air defense units are focused on evading U.S. targeting efforts. Identifying and destroying these targets would require many U.S. Air Force and Navy/Marine aircraft. Although Carl Vinson contributes to that effect, at least one more strike group would be needed. But if the United States were to target units near the DMZ, the North might believe the Kim dynasty is existentially threatened.

For U.S. planners, balancing effect against escalation is crucial.

To counter that risk of escalation, the U.S. plan would inevitably require the personal involvement of President Trump. Namely, in the event of strikes, Trump would have to convince the Chinese governmentand thru China, Kimthat his objectives are contained to the ballistic missile program. If North Korea believes the United States intends to remove Kim from power, full-scale war is likely.

Of course, phone calls and tweets wont be enough here. Prior to action, the United States would significantly bolster the capabilities of the Commander, U.S. Forces Korea. This would involve noticed buildups at forward operating bases in South Korea, Japan, and on the islands of Okinawa and Guam. Put simply, currently deployed assets (such as the B-1 bomber squadron at Guam) can deter but not defeat North Korean aggression. Similarly, the South Korea-deployed U.S. 8th Army and 7th Air Force are orientated to hold ground until reinforcement.

Theres another complication. Due to Seouls proximity to North Korean artillery and missile units (35 miles), U.S. pre-staging for limited strikes would also require commensurate contingency forces to destroy those units. Again, balancing deployed forces against North Korean paranoia is crucial. Were, for example, the United States to deploy an additional Army-size formation to South Korea, Kims paranoia might spill out of control.

This is the biggest deal of Trumps life.
BERLINThe president of the United States is determined to build a massive barrier along the Mexican frontier. But its now clear his Great Wall will have a lot of not-so-great gaps in it. Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly announced last week that no, despite President Trumps campaign promise of an impenetrable border wall, it is unlikely that we will build a wall from sea to shining sea. This week a prosecutor labeled the immigration plan laid out by Attorney General Jeff Sessions as "fucking horrifying."

Here in Germany weve been watching all this with a mixture of amusement and disgust. After all, we know a few things about walls from the days when Europe was divided by the Iron Curtain, which cut our country and our capital in half.

There used to be a section of particularly thick and grey concrete slabs next to the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of this city, and until one night in 1989 they jutted out of the ground like a giant middle finger, as if deliberately intending to freak the living daylights out of any East Berliner who just so happened to be passing by the city center.

We all know the pictures of overjoyed people dancing on top in this section of wall on the 9th of November, 1989.

Axel Klausmeier, who directs the Berlin Wall Foundation, still has a special sense of rage toward the martial construct, as he calls it. It was a conscious show of force to signal the core task of the East German border troops: no one is coming through.

So, why didnt the East German government just put up a fence or barbed wire here, as it did in so much of the countryside outside Berlin and along the border between East and West Germany in order to prevent people from fleeing its socialist utopia? (Even back then, fences were frequently judged a more practical barrier, because they allowed guards to see who was coming at them.)

Everyone understands a wall, Klausmeier replies.

***

It seems ironic now to look back on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Iron Curtain in 1989 and realize how much optimism that created about a world without borders, driven instead by free markets and opening up to the free movement of ideas. But that wasnt quite meant to be: Borders are, in the cheerful words of Saar Koursh, the CEO of the Israeli security company Magal Security Systems Ltd., coming back big-time.

But even as todays border security companies stand to make a killing from terrorism fears and migration anxieties, their experts generally acknowledge that the physical barrier itself is mainly used for symbolic purposesand none is more symbolic and otherwise ineffective than a wall.

***

President Trump has argued that a wall is better than the 600-mile fence that is currently stretching along the U.S.-Mexico border, because, Its more secure. Its taller.

Back in 1961, it was East German Communist Leader Walter Ulbricht, a thin-lipped man once described by Stalins secret police chief as the greatest idiot hed ever seen, who insisted on building a wall along the border to West Berlin.

Barbed wire or fences, Ulbricht declared, had only ever tempted people and provoked them into more and more attempts to break through the barrier.

It was during the very early morning hours of Aug. 13, 1961, that East German soldiers and police officers, having waited for the lights on Brandenburg Gate to go out, proceeded to roll barbed wire straight through the city. But, as the first bits of stone started being set in place a few days later, a general air of caution prevailed, and Ulbricht had to deal with two of his meanest and most hard line ministers expressing their doubts about whether building a wall would actually be the best way to stop people escaping.

Lets just leave the barbed wire, Erich Mielke (the dreaded head of the East German security agency better known as the Stasi) recommended. He thought the barbed wire more durable and suitable than a wall.

Mielkes concerns were on a cold-hearted and purely technical level: that escapees would be able to hide under the walls shadows.

Defense Minister Heinz Hoffmann (who, around the same time issued the orders for border troops to shoot at fleeing refugees) was also worried. Hoffmann suggested adding concrete blocks and ditches as alternative additions to the wire.

Nothing less than a concrete wall locking people into his shitty state would do it for a self-regarding authoritarian like Ulbricht, who had already acquired a reputation for showing off by dishing out last-minute death sentences and orders to blow up world famous bits of holy architecture. (Most notoriously, he once ripped a delicate miniature of the Sophienkirche, or Saint Sophias Church, out of a model of the city of Dresden in a room full of people. A socialist state doesnt need gothic churches, he declared.)

***

Sadly for Ulbricht, though, neither the Berlin Wall nor the Inner German Border (a 1,400-kilometer-long jumble of walls, barbed wire, and fences) would ever have their construction finished. Trapped citizens, desperate enough to risk it all, would try crashing through the wall with tanks, hijacking trains, or even attempt swimming through the lake in the depths of winter.

From 1961 onward, the East German regime quickly grasped the importance of layering the physical wall with other deterrents: They introduced anti-tank barriers, guard dogs, bright lights, and trip wires and other alarms. These fatal improvements were being made on a case-by-case basis, usually after hearing back of any incidents where someone managed to escape.

But when asked whether any of this would have been effective if border guards hadnt had permission to shoot to kill at the escapees, Axel Klausmeier snorts: Nonah.

The order to shoot (which was unofficially in effect from August 1961) was essential for the walls efficiency. It was the biggest possible deterrent. Everyone knew: if you tried to cross over to the West, you had to count on dying in a hail of bullets.

***

One of the initial mistakes that the East German regime made was failing to recognize that building a wall doesnt stop people from digging under it. In the early 60s, hundreds of East Germans managed to escape through secret tunnels under the Berlin Wall, often ducking down into the earth right under the noses of the border guards.

The lesson learned then is still one that we see being applied to border controls today: The Department of Homeland Security is inquiring about underground walling for the U.S.-Mexico border, and in Israel, plans are being made to build an underground concrete wall that can stretch into the earth by dozens of meters and stop the Islamist group Hamas from tunnelling its way under.

Israel has, in fact, become one of the worlds modern greats at building fences and walls. Recently, the Jewish state set up high-tech fences along its borders to Egypt and the Golan Heights which are equipped with sensors that, if anyone touches them, will send warning signals to nearby operation centers.

Smart fences like these are being used and exported by companies like the previously mentioned Magal Security Systems (which provided detection systems for the barrier between Israel and the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank).

Magal Security Systems would probably agree with Secretary Kellys claim that various types of physical barriers should be built depending on the terrain. While the companys CEO has, in the past, offered publicly to join forces and help Trump secure the U.S.-Mexico border, a spokesperson has advised that for many sections of the border, given the wide spaces, a wall may be unnecessary and even counterproductivesince you cant really see through it.

***

So it would seem its all bad news for President Trumps campaign promise and Walter Ulbrichts legacy. Trump cited Israels border defenses as a role model on the campaign trail last year, apparently referring to the security barriers that Israel had set up along the West Bank and Jerusalem in the early noughties (Palestinians call it the separation or apartheid wall). But even here, walls were only built in the populated urban areas, while fences were used for the less populated areas.

Even the smartest, high-tech barrier needs to be part of a bigger strategy to work. In questions of border security, as Kelly has noted, such a strategy would usually entail increased aid for economic development or education. (Meanwhile in former East Germany, you had the surveillance state. By the 1980s, when the Stasi hit top form in espionage, people who were trying to escape were hardly being arrested by East German border guards anymoreinstead, they were ambushed the second they left their front door.)

But technicalities aside, when asked what the countries who are building barriers to secure their borders may have learned from the East German regimes wall building endeavours, geographer Elisabeth Vallet replies: What obviously has not been learned is that walls will fall, walls will leave deep scars in the socio-economic fabric of both countries, and they are actually generating new problems without solving the initial issues.
ABUJA, NigeriaAccording to Fulan Nasrullah, who is a former member of Boko Haram, the groups infamous leader first saw clearly the value of the young women hed abducted from a school in the town of Chibok after Michelle Obama held up her little sign reading #Bring Back Our Girls.

Thats when it clicked: We can negotiate! said Nasrullah, who is now an independent intelligence analyst. In that moment, the girls were transformed from yet another group of young women abducted by the insurgency into potent global symbols and, in fact, a source of leverage for Boko Haram.

Friday marks three years since those 276 schoolgirls were abducted in the middle of the night from their dormitories in Borno State. Although a handful escaped or were released, most continue to be held hostage, having spent more than 1,000 days in captivity with no sign theyll be freed anytime soon. And it is simply a matter of record that many of the efforts to do good and help these women, like Michelle Obamas tweet, have not had happy outcomes.

That does not mean that the campaign was uselessit focused attention on a great tragedy, the Boko Haram war in relatively remote northeast Nigeriathat most of the world had ignored. Would it have been better to say nothing? To do nothing? No. But one needs to make a distinction between the power of a simple meme, which is ephemeral, and the conduct of policy, which is complicated and can be treacherous. For people who want to do good by creating an international uproar about an obvious atrocity its a catch-22: youre damned if you do and youre damned if you dont.

In fact, abductions of schoolchildren by Boko Haram were nothing new in 2014, but the sheer size of this mass kidnapping drew attention. Soon after news broke about it, the viral social media campaign #BringBackOurGirls spread around the world. The hashtag was record setting and the movement attracted support from international luminariesnot just Michelle Obama, but also the Pope, and Malala Yousafazi.

But memes are quick to evanesce. Today, although the group behind the campaign continues to pressure the Nigerian government to find the girls, it has struggled to hold the international communitys attention.

When the campaign was reaching its height in 2014, Nasrullah says, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was pleased because he likes to have the United States attention. Since then, the analyst notes, the Chibok Girls have become an integral part of the insurgencys media campaign and play a significant role in its negotiations with the government.

Yet without the work of the #BringBackOurGirls activists the government might have been slow to act, if indeed it acted at all. The initial response of the military three years ago was that there really wasnt much of a problem.

Glimmers of hope have met with huge enthusiasm. The escape of Amina Ali Nkeki in May 2016 was a case in point. Her reunion with family was accompanied by a series of press conferences. She was taken to meet Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima.

The #BringBackOurGirls movement got still more good news later in the year when, following two months of negotiations mediated by the International Red Cross and the Swiss government, Boko Haram released 21 of the Chibok girls. Ever since, the government has been tight-lipped about what the insurgents received in return for the young women.

For the freed Chibok Girls, fame has come with strict limitations on their mobility and freedom. According to the BBC, despite being brought back to Chibok in time for Christmas, the girls were unable to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones.

According to their family members, the girls were kept in a politicians house and barred from going home.

While other women and boys rescued from the insurgents are subject to a screening process by vigilantes and the military before being released to family or into displacement camps, the Chibok girls arent permitted that sort of autonomy following their release.

Some of the young women who escaped from the insurgents in the first few days of their abduction were given the opportunity to continue their schooling abroad in the United States. By 2016, however, the Nigerian government said it was forced to take over guardianship of the girls from a U.S.-based human rights lawyer. According to Nigerian news reports, the government was prompted to assume this role because the girls were used in fundraising efforts and as a media prop, rather than pursuing their education in earnest.

In a media statement, the government said that, The plan is that the girls remain in the U.S. to pursue further education and to graduate, uninterrupted, in a safe and nurturing environment and away from the public glare, which was supposed to be the plan in the first place.

Not only has the intense focus on the Chibok girls often subjected them to restrictions and unwanted media attention, it has tended to obscure the important narratives of victims of Boko Haram and other threats faced by women in northeast Nigeria, as if freeing the Chibok Girls could solve the problems that led to their abduction and their abuse in the first place.

As activist Chitra Nagarajan notes, every time there is news of women and girls held by Boko Haram, one of the first questions asked is, Are they the Chibok girls? and The answer is usually no. Yet an estimated 7,000 women and girls have been abducted by the insurgency, and even though they suffered the same sorts of abuses as the Chibok Girls, their experiences are unremarked and unremembered. Meanwhile the hundreds and thousands of boys who have also been abducted by the insurgents garner little attention at all.

The obsessive focus on the Chibok Girls also risks obscuring rather than spotlighting the experiences of women who are living in displacement camps, or who have lost family to the insurgents, or who are suffering gross human rights violations at the hands of Nigerian soldiers, aid workers, and vigilantes.

Advocates on behalf of the Chibok Girls obviously did not intend any of this.

And theres a grim irony in the fact that as the popularity of the meme has faded, we see Boko Haram working hard to keep it alive. Last August, more than two years after the abductions, Abubakar Shekau released two video about the girls. One was a proof of life clip released in April 2016 but apparently filmed in December of 2015.

The other much longer clip was presented by a Shekau lieutenant in August. He said that many of the girls had been married off, while others had been killed in airstrikes. It was a challenge to the Nigerian government to try to take them by military force.

The videos attracted little international attention.

More sinister still, in the aftermath of the Chibok abductions Shekaus faction of Boko Haram began using women and girls as suicide bombersanother headline-grabbing tactic that has only prompted the #BringBackOurGirls advocates in Nigeria to press the government harder.

Again, we see the contradictions, and the potential tragedy. If the girls are valuable, they are kept alive. If not, they are expendable. And as the power of the meme fades, so does their worth to Boko Haram: trending today, forgotten tomorrow.

The fight to free the Chibok Girls and to offer some hope of safety to the many other abducted, oppressed, and endangered women of Nigeria is going to be a long one. Good intentions are a beginning, but only just.

With additional reporting by Christopher Dickey
In an effort to put a face to those in the area who are in deep need of adoptive parents, photographs of bright, smiling children have found a temporary spot in Downtown Bryan.

The Heart Gallery of Central Texas, which is being displayed at The Village, 210 W. 26th St., primarily show kids from across the 30-county Child Protective Services region Brazos Valley falls into. Many of photos feature children from a demographic that is hard to find homes for -- children older than 8 as well as those special needs.

On Thursday, representatives from Voices for Children, the group that brought the photos to town, spent the evening promoting the gallery and different ways to help kids such as those who will be featured on the walls of The Village through Monday.

Liana Rike, executive director for Voices for Children, said something as simple as the gallery can cut through the stigma surrounding adoption.

"So often the only photograph they have of them was taken very quickly with a phone -- or a caseworker snaps a picture," Rike said. "Having professional photographers who are willing to donate their time really allows a kind of pampering for the kids, if you will, but also a chance for their spirit- -- their personality -- to shine through."

For adults who have never known anyone in foster care, the gallery can be a casual invitation to look into adoption, Rike said.

"So often we think, 'Oh, that's for other people. That's not something I can do,'" Rike said. "I also think it can be a little scary opening up your home."

The reality behind the gallery is that the demand for homes for these children is not being met by the community, said Kate Mason, recruitment and education coordinator for Voices for Children.

In fiscal year 2016, the Department of Family and Protective Services reported 113 children in conservatorship in Brazos County. Andrea Barnett, Child Protective Services regional adoption supervisor, said at any given time there are 30 children eligible for adoption in Brazos County.

"There are so few local placements that our kids -- our local kids -- are in Houston, Dallas, Waco, Round Rock, you name it," Mason said. "There is such a huge shortage in foster homes that if people aren't interested in adopting, then they should look into fostering. It's just such a need."

Mason said aside from taking on the responsibility of taking in children, residents can consider volunteering to become a court-appointed special advocate with Voices for Children.

"There are good ways to help if you can't be a foster or adoptive parent," she said.

Kristy Petty, owner of The Village, said despite the smiling faces in the photos, she was initially worried the gallery might be too sobering for a restaurant.

"When you realize what it is -- that these children don't have a home -- to a point I was concerned about people saying, 'Why did you put this up here? I'm trying to eat,'" Petty said. "But no one has said that at all, and a lot of people have said, 'It's so great that you are doing this. People need to understand the need in the area.'"

Rike said the goal of the gallery is ultimately to show this need in hopes of mobilizing Bryan-College Station to meet it.

"The state is not meant to be a parent," she said. "Foster kids have lots of changes in their lives, and we as a community can really rally around them and try to get them into a safe home."
The Brazos County Health Department is monitoring the spread of mumps in the area after three cases have been reported locally.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has issued a statewide health advisory after reported cases have reached a 20-year high of 221 in the state so far this year. The previous record was 234 in 1994.

According to Brazos County Alternative Health Authority Dr. Seth Sullivan, the Bryan-College Station area's transient student population combined with densely populated areas around Texas A&M University provide ample opportunity for the virus to spread.

"It's important to keep in mind that we live in a community that grows in its population every fall and after every break with folks coming from all over the state," Sullivan said. "We are set up for contagious illnesses to spread, so we need to be on alert as the health department moves forward."

Sullivan said the three locally reported cases -- one of which has been confirmed -- are among college-aged adults.

In the coming weeks, Sullivan said while he does not expect the virus to become widespread, he expects to see the number of local cases increase -- though he noted that it is hard to predict by how much.

"We really need to see what's going to be happening over the next few weeks," Sullivan said. "I do expect that we'll see more [cases], but I don't expect there will be a tremendous amount of more cases."

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.

Sullivan said it is not surprising South Padre served as a facilitator for the spread of the virus, describing the island during spring break as a "perfect storm of a congregation of lots of folks at one time."

"We don't know of that cohort that was at South Padre how many of them were vaccinated," Sullivan said. "The lower that number [of vaccinations] is, the better the chance of transmission or an outbreak."

As of Wednesday, 13 cases from across six states have been accounted for among travelers to the island during that time frame. Two of the cases are Texas residents.

Sullivan said the three local cases do not 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.

Mumps 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.

Sullivan said those who suspect they may be infected 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.

While avoiding those infected with the virus is helpful, Sullivan said the most effective way to decrease the likelihood of being infected is to ensure mumps vaccinations are up to date.

With an 88 percent effectiveness rate, Sullivan said rates have dropped from an average of around 200,000 cases per year since the vaccine was created in the 1960s compared to last year's high rate of around 5,800 nationwide.

"I think the message moving forward should be to make sure everyone has gotten the vaccine," Sullivan said. "This is a good time to update our vaccination records and be on alert."
A Bryan resident with five outstanding warrants remained jailed Friday with four new criminal charges filed after authorities said a boy - who watched him hide inside a neighbors shed - locked the man inside.

Like others on Alice Street, the child knew the man  32-year-old Jason Paul Oehme  had shown some stalking-like behavior toward the homeowner, so once the boy locked the shed, he told his mother and she called police, authorities said. The mom then let her friend know what was unfolding in her back yard, police said.

Bryan officers responding just after 6:30 p.m. Thursday unlocked the shed and ordered the person hiding under a mattress near a large tent to come out with his hands up, which Oehme did on the second request, according to court documents.

The homeowner told police she knew Oehme from previous incidents, which were not specified in the arrest report. Police previously had been called to her house after she complained about Oehme, the document states, but it wasnt immediately clear whether any charges were filed related to those calls.

The court documents state that Oehme  who told police the homeowner asked him to return a tent - gave the officer a fake name and date of birth, however, the homeowner provided his true identity, which was confirmed by looking at an online picture attached to his criminal record. The Bryan officer discovered a backpack, which Oehme denied was his, and inside it found a pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine and another pipe with marijuana residue, along with a small amount of meth, the documents state, adding that a notebook found inside had Oehmes name and phone number on it.

He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, which is a state jail felony punishable by up to two years behind bars. Officers also charged him with criminal trespassing, which is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail. He was issued tickets for failure to identify to police and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Among the warrants out for his arrest from Bryan Municipal Court were three possession of drug paraphernalia charges and one for an expired license plate. No bond was set because the Texas Department of Criminal Justice issued a warrant for his arrest on a parole violation.
Lois Gibbs stood atop Poor Mountain and marveled that a 42-inch diameter natural gas pipeline would climb and descend the mountains steep, wooded and boulder-strewn slopes.

The pitch is pretty remarkable, Gibbs observed, wondering how the company that wants to build and bury the Mountain Valley Pipeline through the region would keep soil in place during and after construction.

Its all going to erode, she said.

Gibbs is not a soil scientist, an engineer or hydrologist. Instead, she is an internationally known environmental watchdog. Her transformation from a shy housewife at the contaminated residential community of Love Canal in New York state in 1978 to an outspoken activist has earned her a spot in the pantheon of legends of the environmental movement.

Beginning last week, Gibbs, 65, founder of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, teamed with the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League to travel the routes of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline and Mountain Valley Pipeline to help rally opponents to the multi-billion-dollar projects.

During stops Monday and Tuesday in Franklin County, Salem and Roanoke County, Gibbs offered encouragement to people who have been battling the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline for more than two years.

Your voices are being heard, Gibbs said Tuesday to a group of 11 pipeline foes gathered at the Bent Mountain Center.

She said opponents dogged efforts are bearing fruit.

Gibbs referenced a recent announcement by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality that both pipeline projects would need a specific type of state water quality permit that would compel the companies to provide more details about stream and wetlands crossings than would have been required by a more general permit.

She said Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who has expressed support for both pipelines as potential catalysts for economic development, and the states Democratic Party seem to have gotten the message that there are profound concerns about the projects among their constituents.

And Gibbs noted that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which will decide whether one or both interstate pipeline projects should proceed, had pushed back the release of the final environmental impact statement for the Mountain Valley Pipeline from March 10 to June 23.

When Mountain Valley first announced the pipeline project, the joint venture anticipated construction would begin in December 2016.

Gibbs linked delays in FERCs environmental review to the efforts by watchdogs to submit comments to the commission after its release in September of the pipelines draft environmental impact statement.

Kathy Chandler, a resident of Bent Mountain who fought to keep survey crews working for Mountain Valley from studying her property and the property of neighbors, said Gibbs visit was energizing.

I think Lois coming here is adding credibility and heightening awareness, Chandler said. Its encouraging to have someone from outside who has done so much of this work to say, Youre doing a good job. 

In 1978, Gibbs learned that the neighborhood of Love Canal had been built on and around a toxic chemicals landfill. At the time, both her son and daughter were seriously ill and Gibbs discovered that the same was true of many of her neighbors children.

Subsequent health studies found remarkably high rates of birth defects and miscarriages among residents of Love Canal. Gibbs helped lead the ultimately successful effort to provoke a federal response to the neighborhoods plight. She has been called the mother of Superfund because her advocacy helped establish the federal cleanup program under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

On Monday afternoon, Gibbs visited the Franklin County home of Anne and Steve Bernard off Grassy Hill Road and met there with about 14 other pipeline opponents. As currently routed, the Mountain Valley Pipeline would pass within less than 200 feet of the Bernards home.

If approved by FERC, the pipeline will transport non-odorized natural gas at high pressure.

It could be leaking and youd never know it, Gibbs said, a reality the Bernards know well.

A pipeline rupture would have a potential impact radius of about 1,115 feet, creating the possibility within that area for a significant impact on people or property, according to federal pipeline safety guidelines.

Gibbs emphasized repeatedly that potential pipeline-related hazards  to the environment, public safety, health and private property  outweigh any possible benefits.

She said government officials in years past justified the controversial extraction process of hydraulic fracturing by saying that frackings unconventional yield of oil and natural gas would enhance national security though greater energy independence.

But Gibbs said the nation now has plenty of natural gas. She said she is convinced that much of the gas transported by the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines would be exported  an allegation the pipeline companies vigorously dispute.

Regardless, she said, private companies should not be able to use eminent domain to acquire easements across private property for projects that she said will yield no public good.

This is America. People have a right to their homes, their land and their health, Gibbs said.

Before Tuesdays meeting on Bent Mountain, she said she has been impressed by the work of small grassroots organizations battling the two pipelines.

The opposition groups are really fully committed and passionate, she said. They are being incredibly creative, using the arts to get people involved. These are tough rural people.

Roberta Bondurant, a resident of Bent Mountain who has been active in fighting the Mountain Valley project, said a key concern on the mountain focuses on the projects potential to disrupt or pollute pristine streams, creeks, springs and seeps.

Gibbs participated in a tour of the mountain led by artist Genesis Chapman, who stopped along scenic Bottom Creek.

Chapman said residents of Bent Mountain from varied political backgrounds have united to fight the pipeline.

The land becomes part of who you are, he said.
Sen. Tim Kaine came to Franklin County on Wednesday with one main goal: To listen.

During a weeklong swing through central and Southwest Virginia, Kaine, D-Va., stopped at Ferrum College to listen to students concerns about higher education and to a Veterans of Foreign Wars outpost in Roanoke to gain insight into some of the challenges facing veterans.

At Ferrum, Kaine solicited higher education concerns and suggestions from students and professors, which he insisted would help inform his decision-making as a new member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

Kaine coveted the committee assignment when he first was elected to Congress in 2013, but was only added to the committee this year as a consolation prize for losing on a national ticket, he joked.

With about 100 people in attendance, students asked Kaine questions about student loan debt, tuition assistance and the relationship between K-12 education and higher education.

Students also had suggestions for the junior senator and asked him to look into the possibility of free tuition at community and four-year colleges and creating incentives for students to do dual enrollment while still in high school to save on college tuition.

If you invest in education, youre going to have a stronger economy and a stronger society, he said.

The responses will help Kaine as Congress works to reshape education policy for the next decade.

Students were abuzz in the days leading up to Kaines visit, said Ferrum College President Jody Spooner.

It was the only day I actually condone students skipping classes, Spooner joked.

Afterward, Kaine headed to VFW Post 1264 in Roanoke for lunch with about two dozen veterans who expressed concerns with receiving disability benefits and health care at the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

During the stops, Kaine also discussed President Donald Trumps budget, saying Virginians have expressed concerns about proposed funding cuts for programs like Meals on Wheels, work-study positions at colleges like Ferrum and job training.

Kaine also condemned Trump for not seeking congressional approval before launching an airstrike against Syria last week. Congress should have a chance to ask the tough questions and ensure an attack will occur as part of an overall strategy, he said.

Our system is not supposed to be a system where the president can just say, I dont like this so Im going to launch a missile,  he said.
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Princeton, NJ (Apr 14th 2017): Great India Films is proud to share that Bahubali-2 The Conclusion is going to have a Mammoth release in North America. Telugu, Tamil and Hindi will be released in over 1050 screens. USA will have about 900 screens and Canada is going to have over 150 screens.

In USA Alone, Baahubali-2 Telugu is releasing in about 400+ screens in about 300 locations, Tamil is releasing in about 200+ screens in about 180 locations, Hindi is releasing in about 300+ screens in about 250 locations.

In Canada, Baahubali-2 will have around 150+ screens in about 80+ locations for Hindi, Telugu & Tamil.

Complete theater list will be available on www.greatindiafilmsusa.com and all movie portals in couple of days.

Great India Films happy to share that Baahubali-2 Telugu & Hindi will release original IMAX format in about 40 to 45 major locations in each territory. Also, Cinemark, Regal and AMC will have their high-end specialty screens like XD, RPX, and Dolby in about 70 to 80 screens across USA.

Even all other regular theaters will be screening 4K content for best viewing pleasure. Bahubali-2, The Conclusion is all set to premiere on Thursday 4/27 from 3 PM EST in USA and Canada. Great India Films is meticulously planning to have online tickets opened from Fri 4/21. We are awed by the response Bahubali-2 is getting from all over the world including the Hollywood.

Watch this space for more information on Bahubali-2 The Conclusion North America News.
The two asked the AG to "take a fresh look" at accusations and evidence that Lerner inappropriately used her position to influence IRS conduct against conservative organizations requesting 501(c)4 status, "denying the groups due process and equal protection rights under the law."

WASHINGTON DC - Former IRS Commissioner Lois Lerner 's peaceful and lucrative taxpayer funded retirement may face disturbance if a letter Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam (06 CD) and Chairman of the House Means and Ways Committee Kevin Brady (TX-08) wrote to Attorney General Jeff Sessions is persuasive enough.

Among the conservative groups that received unfair treatment were the West Suburban Patriots, a conservative group based in Roskam's district. Another area conservative group, United to Restore Freedom, also applied in the same time frame.

The West Suburban Patriots was among several Illinois groups that were extensively questioned as early as 2011. Despite increased attention from the IRS, the West Suburban Patriots eventually was granted 501c4 status while United to Restore Freedom's mounting legal costs caused them to cease the process and eventually dissolve.

In the letter sent to Sessions this week, Roskam and Brady allege that in 2013, Lerner impeded official Congressional investigations and may have disclosed conditional taxpayer information while using her personal email account to conduct official business.

Then-Attorney General Eric Holder brought no charges against Lerner, following then-President Barack Obama's public comments that there was "not a smidgeon of corruption" at the IRS.

In order to restore the public's confidence in the IRS, "Taxpayers deserve to know that the DOJ's previous evaluation was not tainted by politics," the letter says.






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.
The governor's response was exactly what State Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington) wanted to hear, he told Illinois Review Friday morning.

"Governor Rauner does not support HB40 and will veto the bill if it reaches his desk," spokesperson Allie Bovis wrote in an email.

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner will veto an abortion bill that could be within votes of passing the Illinois House when they return after spring break, his office told Illinois Review Friday morning.

It was at Rep. McSweeney's prompting that the Governor made his decision public.

McSweeney called on the governor to make his position clear earlier this week, saying whether Illinois becomes one of the few states where taxpayers pay for abortions for any reason could rest in the hands of Governor Bruce Rauner - even before the bill made it to his desk.

"If Governor Rauner makes his intentions known before HB 40 is called, there's a very good chance that the bill will not pass the House," McSweeney told Illinois Review Wednesday.

"I've talked to several Democrats that tell me they are torn on the issue, and if the governor said he was going to veto the measure, I'm fairly certain it wouldn't get the 60 they need to pass it."

HB 40 - an abortion bill sponsored by Chicago State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz - is radical in nature and would burden the already strained state budget, McSweeney said.

Not only would the passage of HB 40 cause Illinois taxpayers to pay for state employees' abortion, it would also remove terminology in Illinois statutes that deem babies "personhood" before birth.

McSweeney said he was expecting pro-abortion lawmakers to call the vote on the floor April 25th, when a "Women's March" was being planned on the State Capitol.

"The vote was very close at last count," McSweeney said. "This is very good news that the governor has announced he will veto HB 40 if it gets to his desk. I'm very happy he's made his position clear."

HB 40 is expected to pass the Democrat-controlled Senate if it succeeds in the Illinois House.

Other Illinois Review stories on the topic:

More to come ...
For two years, a political paralysis has had a grip on Illinois government. For two years, we have operated the state without a regular budget  the longest in American history. Unfortunately, even though we dont have a budget, the spending spree continues unabated. With no controls, spending is out-of-control. The state is on pace to spend 38 billion in the current fiscal year when we expect to collect $32 billion in revenue.

The budget proposals offered over the last two years have either been wildly out of balance or raised taxes first while doing little to restrain the growth of government. Tax and spend solutions have never worked for the long-term fiscal health of our state, nor contributed to sustainable economic growth and job creation.

The Taxpayer Bargain budget plan we unveiled April 4 will end the failure of what passes as business as usual in Springfield, because it will begin to put our fiscal house back in order. It took years of mismanagement to get into this crisis and it will take years to get out of it. We must begin now. We are approaching an insurmountable debt crisis, but there is hope if we act in a fiscally responsible manner from this point forward. Under the Taxpayer Bargain budget, for the first time in many years, Illinois will have a complete and constitutional budget, meaning spending is limited to the actual revenue collected. It requires reforms that make government more efficient and accountable, and creates guidelines to reduce the waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars. It does this with no tax increase and no new taxes.

The plan is very strong medicine for a very sick state. It forces the Legislature to make tough decisions between needs and wants. The Taxpayer Bargain requires lower spending, with 10% across-the-board cuts at state agencies and departments. It simply asks for a dime of savings for every dollar spent. Recognizing that there are priorities, primary and secondary education is protected, as is Medicaid for the most vulnerable, and pension payment obligations. The plan includes a hard, enforceable cap on spending. Part of the fiscal management under the Taxpayer Bargain includes borrowing $7 billion to begin to pay off old bills so we can eliminate $500 million in late payments and fees. Paying back the bonds (borrowed money) will be tied to the spending cap. If the Legislature ignores the cap and returns to their overspending abuses of the past, they lose their salary for that fiscal year. On the other hand, any revenue collected that comes in above the cap, will go directly to priorities: Education  25%; Capital construction (roads and bridges)  25%; Pension debt payments  10% and Paying off old bills  40%.

A lot of input from both Republican and Democrat legislators was included in the Taxpayer Bargain. It also includes pending legislation sponsored by members of both parties. It is a compromise between political differences, but does not compromise or sellout common sense principles that Illinois government must live within its means just like Illinois families and businesses. If Illinois families cant afford to overspend year after year then state government cant afford it either. We know that making these cuts will be difficult and painful, but in order to restore Illinois fiscal health for today and for future generations we must act. The Taxpayer Bargain is the only budget proposal without punishing tax increases .

Weve been asked, Why make this effort when your plan wont have a chance of passing, especially in the House. The answer is simple: We are obligated, as elected members of the General Assembly, to do whats right, regardless of the political probabilities.

Remember the results the last time taxes were raised without reforms: People fled the state, prosperity and opportunity were diminished as jobs were lost and businesses closed or moved away. There is another way. Intrigued? We created a website www.taxpayerbargain.com where we are continually adding details of the Taxpayer Bargain. Our challenge is to save our state. The Taxpayer Bargain is how to do it without asking for one more dime from you. Contact your senator and representative and ask them to sign on as a sponsor to one of the 15 bills that are needed to deliver a no-tax-increase-balanced-budget to the governor.
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Thomas Jefferson considered liberty of conscience to be the basis of all other freedom. He held to this position fervently from his earliest surviving comments on the subject to the very end of his days. His role in establishing Virginias devotion to it stood for him among his most significant achievements. He ranked it with writing the Declaration of Independence and establishing the University of Virginia, including it with them on his gravestone.

Besides drafting the most significant statute in American history, Jefferson also encouraged religious freedom at other junctures. The most well-known instance of this is in the Declaration of Independence, where he asserted that men were endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, thus anchoring the entire American republican project in a theological assertion  one that has retained its purchase on Americans hearts and minds even as their more conventional theological commitments have waned. He also famously provided the most memorable summary of the Religion Clauses when he wrote as president that the First Amendment had buil(t) a wall of separation between church and state, a metaphor whose place in American culture would come to be extremely significant, though in drastically un-Jeffersonian fashion, beginning a century later. A decade after that, he planned for the new University of Virginia to accept students of all religious persuasions, to own a full library of texts about Christian history and other religions, and to offer no courses on religion. Inquiry, yes, but inculcation, no.
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BRIDGEPORT - The family of a man killed by a train at the Darien train station cant sue Metro-North Railroad for negligence by federal law, a judge has ruled.

In a case of first impression, Superior Court Judge Michael Kamp on Thursday threw out the suit brought against the railroad by Jamey Murphy, of Darien, who claimed a speeding train had been on the wrong track when it struck and killed her husband March 4, 2013.

The selection of which track to use would clearly go to the heart of a railroads operation of its rails and involves consideration of such things as routing and scheduling, operational decisions that a state cannot interfere with, Kamp ruled.

Murphys lawyer, Joel Faxon, said they would appeal.

"It is our strong belief that Metro North should not be shielded from liability for utilizing the wrong track in this case, Faxon said. We are confident that this erroneous ruling immunizing Metro North from liability will be reversed on appeal."

Metro-North declined comment on the lawsuit.

An investment banker in Manhattan, 44-year-old Kevin Murphy had just returned from a weeks vacation in the Caribbean with his wife and five children.

That Monday morning, eager to get back to the office where he expected there was a mountain of work on his desk to be made up, Murphy got up early and drove to the Noroton Heights station.

It was cold and dark out, according to the weather report, when he stood out on the platform at 6 a.m., a brown coat over his blue suit, his monogrammed leather briefcase filled with papers in his right hand.

Ten minutes later Kevin Murphy was dead, his body mangled by a speeding train.

Fueled by silence following the investigation by MTA and Darien police, it was generally assumed that Murphys death was possibly another troubling suicide by train  and the incident quickly disappeared from the limelight.

This was absolutely not a suicide by train, Faxon said.

While there were no cameras on the platform or witnesses that day, the MTA police report obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media supports the familys claim that Kevin Murphy had slipped on some ice on the platform and fallen on the tracks.

MTA police stated in the report that they found a nine foot, two-inch coating of ice on the platform over the point of impact and there was a possible scuff mark on the ice.

Peter Navarra, the engineer of the train that struck Murphy, told investigators the train had been traveling at about 70 mph bound for a stop at the Stamford train station, according to the police report states.

As the train approached the Noroton Heights station Navarra told investigators, I saw something in the track area lying along the rail closest to the platform. As I approached closer, I noticed it started to move and it was a human being. I then placed the train into emergency and blew the train horn and stopped the train west of the platform. I thought I had missed this person.

The Murphy family recently received a settlement from the town of Darien and Wilton Enterprises, the manager of the Noroton train station.

The details of the settlement are not being disclosed under a confidentiality agreement. The Murphy family had previously offered to settle a lawsuit against the town for $5 million  and with the company for $1 million, according to court documents.

Metro-North had rejected a $5 million settlement offer.

In the familys lawsuit against Metro-North, Faxon claimed that because the train that struck Murphy was a through train, not scheduled to stop at Noroton, it should not have been on a track adjacent to the platform.

He presented an affidavit from a railroad safety expert who stated that through trains traveling at 70 mph should be on the track furthest from the platform.

Clearly, high speed through trains  even under Metro North's normal operating procedures  belong on an inside track away from the platform so if someone slips on ice, as in this case, or for any reason ends up on the tracks accidentally, they are not at risk, Faxon said.
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WILTON  Three hours after his painting workshop ended Wednesday afternoon, David Dunlop was helping the few people who stayed behind with their finishing touches at the Silvermine Arts Center studio.

One painted a scene from Connecticut landscape, another from the Caribbean.

I get to see people blossom into artists and find happiness, Dunlop said. Who wouldnt want to be a part of that?

Dunlop has been a Silvermine faculty member for 23 years and was recently named the Silvermine Arts Centers 2017 Living Art Award honoree.

He will be honored at the second annual Living Art Awards Benefit on May 13, along with Legacy Award recipient Ann Weiner and Guild of Artists Award recipients Alberta Cifolelli and Bonnie Woit.

The benefit celebrates preeminent thought leaders in art education who have reached thousands through their teaching, philanthropy and lectures, and whose lifelong educational efforts exemplify a dedication to living art.

Davids generosity of spirit engages even the most timid student. Someone who has never picked up a paintbrush suddenly feels empowered to let it fly, said Kerry Brock, who co-chairs the benefit committee.

David has that effect on people. He truly respects and values each student and their willingness to enter unfamiliar territory, knowing they bring deep and varied professional experiences to his classroom.

More Information How to Paint a Really Good Landscape (beginning to intermediate): April 18-June 6, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $350 (seven sessions, meets Tuesday) Investigations in Landscape (intermediate and advanced): April 18-June 6, 1:30-4:30 p.m., $350 (eight sessions, meets Tuesday) Extend Your Reach: April 26-June 14, 1:30-4:30 p.m., $350 (eight sessions, meets Wednesday) See More Collapse

The banker paints next to the physician paints next to the teacher paints next to the IT exec. David values all and he believes at his core that everyones an artist.

For Dunlop, Silvermine Arts Center has been an integral part of his life and career. Its where hes led countless workshops and classes, co-chaired the board of trustees and nurtured other artists and found his own intellectual and creative nurturing from others.

The sense of community is what quickens anybodys pulse, making it a true living art, he said.

Its the feedback loop that we have here: I can give something to the people here and they give right back, too, he said.

If you want to find a way to network, communicate, share ideas and feel encouraged  encouraged to test new ideas, experiment, explore, adventure own interests  this is the place. We build community here. We build it in the classrooms, we build it among the artists.

Dunlops enthusiasm and passion for art is the reason many artists travel near and far to work with him. Earlier this week, Debra Keshishian drove three hours from Tewksbury, Mass., to attend his three-day landscape workshop. Paul Gala traveled from Raleigh, N.C.

Hes the best there is. Ive studied with many, many teachers. Ive been painting for 20 years. Hes the real deal, and thats why everyone comes here, Gala said. Theres no one like David Dunlop. Period.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Dunlop received a degree in philosophy and English literature from the College of Wooster in Ohio before getting his M.F.A. from Pratt Institute. He moved to Norwalk in the late 1970s, teaching at Silvermine Arts Center, and moved to Wilton in 2004.

His PBS television series, Landscapes Through Time with David Dunlop, earned a Daytime Emmy Award as well as a CINE Golden Eagle Award in 2009. The second season was nominated for a 2017 Emmy for an Outstanding Special Class Series.

Dunlop continues to travel throughout the country and around the world, teaching lessons and lectures at various museums and arts centers.
CENTRAL CITY  The Widman Cinema is now open for your viewing pleasure.

Five years of planning, wishing, hoping and hard work are about to pay off as the brand new movie theater in Central City is set to open today.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was on Thursday evening.

The $1.3 million project was built by community donations, a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant and the hard work and elbow grease of many community members.

Dr. Brian Buhlke, Widman Cinema committee president, said the idea five years ago was to offer a theater as something for the kids, and adults, in the area to do.

At that time, the State Theater downtown was getting ready to close, and Central City would no longer have a movie theater, he said. We didnt like the sound of that.

After a few brainstorming sessions, Buhlke said, the idea of the theater really came into fruition when donations were being made before a theater had even officially been approved or building started.

After doing some economic studies to find out what it would take to build a movie theater in Central City, we started hearing from residents who loved the idea and wanted to help finance it right away, Buhlke said. Central City is a community of givers, and before we even had begun moving forward, we had raised a significant portion of resources to start the project.

Buhlke said those financial donations were coming in by the droves, and the committee took that as a sign to get the ball rolling.

With help from the city administrator and the economic development group, they were able to obtain a $360,000 USDA grant to fund some of the project. There have been 125 local donations and 3,000 hours of volunteerism so far.

We were the only community in Nebraska to receive the grant that year, so we were very privileged, Buhlke said. There were other grants from our city economic development and other community leaders, as well, that helped fund this project.

Buhlke said the giving keeps coming.

We have received and continue to receive not only monetary contributions, but people and companies have offered goods and services to make the dream become a reality. Its pretty special.

One such offer was free landscaping from a local company.

They just got a hold of us the other day and offered to landscape the theater grounds to look nice, all as a freewill donation, he said. That is a perfect example of how this community comes together to better the town for everyone.

The state-of-the-art theater houses 21-inch rises so each row of seating is high enough that everyone can see the movie, no matter how tall they are  or the person sitting in front of that person is.

Not many theaters in Nebraska have this type of seating. Its really a comfortable set-up we have here, Buhlke said.

The theater also has a top-of-the-line sound system and Americans with Disabilities Act equipment available at a persons seat for captioning or audio description, when requested.

Buhlke said the Widman Cinema committee hired community contractors to build the facility.

Its a community pride thing, he said. These are our community members building the theater, and that makes it even more special.

The theater will have one full-time employee, who is the manager. Otherwise, the business plan is to run with help from local volunteers.

We know the public will help run the theater, Buhlke said. This is their theater, so I have no concerns about staffing.

That will help us keep ticket prices affordable for families.

The Widman Cinema will be the second movie theater in Central City as the State Theater reopened downtown last year. Buhlke said theres plenty of room for both businesses.

We want to run right alongside them, and dont see why both theaters cant succeed in our town.

The Widman Cinema will show first-run movies.

The idea was to run brand-new movies so our area students didnt have to go to neighboring communities to see the latest movie, he said. This is a two-fold plan, because parents will also be at ease knowing their kids are still in town at the movie, rather than in another town.

The location, 1301 17th St., was also part of the plan.

The town is currently developing a kids park across the street, and the Merrick County Youth Council is right next door, Buhlke said. Thats why it was important to put the theater here, where the kids are.

The cinema was named after Darrell Widman, a farmer in Central City who owned a popcorn company for 20 years and used to sell his popcorn to the Carmike Cinemas. He served as Merrick County veterans service officer for many years and was a major contributor to the construction of the theater.

The Widman Cinema houses two theaters, each holding 96 seats for a total of 192 seats.

The two theaters are named after community members who contributed financially to the theater. One is the Dan and Susan Monaghan Theater, and the other is the J. Bert and Edith Kunz Theater.

The first two movies that will be shown are Fate of the Furious and Boss Baby. Tickets cost $4 for children age 12 and under; $5 for seniors age 60 and older and veterans; and $6 for adults.

Movie times:

 Mondays, 7 and 7:15 p.m.

 Tuesdays, 1:30 and 1:45 p.m.

 Wednesdays, 4:30 and 4:45 p.m.

 Thursdays, 7 and 7:45 p.m.

 Fridays, 1:30 and 1:45 p.m.

 Saturdays, 7 and 7:15 p.m.

 Sundays, 1:30, 1:45, 4:30 and 4:45 p.m.
Kevin Thomas, the suspect in Thursday mornings robbery of CVS Pharmacy, was charged on Friday in Hall County Court with robbery and being an habitual criminal.

Both offenses are felonies.

Thomas, 30, lives at 3037 Larimore Ave. in Omaha.

In charging him with being a habitual criminal, the complaint notes that Thomas has twice been convicted of a crime, sentenced and committed to prison for terms of not less than one year each. Previous convictions were for terroristic threats and robbery.

In the latter case, he was convicted of robbery on Dec. 11, 2012, and sentenced to a term of five to eight years in the Nebraska Penal and Correctional Complex.

Judge Philip Martin scheduled his preliminary hearing for 10 a.m. June 26.

His bond was set at $100,000. As of Friday afternoon, he remained in the Hall County Jail.

Thomas is accused of stealing about $200 in cash from CVS Pharmacy shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday. Police say he used a replica firearm designed to fire plastic pellets.
Holiday meals are an excuse to trot out all the familiar, incredible foods we grew up with and absolutely adore, perhaps even more than the family members who gather around the dinner table.

At Easter, that often means honey-glazed ham (with lamb a close second), creamy au gratin potatoes, ricotta pies and eggy sweet breads so rich in tradition. Also, there are the egg dishes, including hard-cooked ones, tinted with all the hues of the rainbow inside coffee cups filled with a stinky mix of water, vinegar and Paas Easter egg dye tablets.

An ancient symbol of new life, colored eggs have been the stuff of Easter baskets and mad-dash egg hunts since the early 19th century, thanks to the Pennsylvania Dutch, who brought their tradition of the Oschter Haws, or Easter Hare, with them when they settled in the commonwealth.

Along with the eggs every year, comes the question: What do you do with all the leftover eggs on Easter Monday? One can only eat so many egg salad sandwiches, after all.

For many, the answer is to slice the orbs in half, mash the yolk, mix it with mayonnaise and/or mustard, spoon the mixture back into the empty egg white shells and then dust the top with paprika for some deviled eggs.

Also sometimes called salad eggs or stuffed eggs, this cocktail party and picnic classic has a long and tasty history. While the first known reference to deviled eggs appeared in print in Great Britain in 1786  the word deviled refers to making a dish dark or richly spiced  culinary historians believe the dishs roots can be traced all the way back to Roman times. Then, eggs were boiled and seasoned with spicy sauces or vinegar.

Stuffed eggs similar to what we eat today appeared in Andalusia (now Spain) in the 13th century, and across Europe by the 15th century. Introduced in the U.S. in the 1800s, the finger food became a picnic, party and Easter dinner staple sometime after World War II.

Made with just three or four ingredients, classic deviled eggs might be one of the easiest recipes. But you can be so much more adventurous with the fillings, if you care to step out of the box.

The unusual twists will make that surplus of hard-cooked eggs seem downright egg-cellant.

Deviled Eggs with Parsley, Green Onions and Jalapeno

12 hard-cooked eggs

3/4 cup mayonnaise

2 teaspoons stone-ground or Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley, plus extra sprigs for garnish

2 tablespoons minced green onions

1 small jalapeno, minced

1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro

Pinch cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

Pepper to taste

1/2 to 1 teaspoon paprika, or to taste

Slice each egg in half lengthwise. Scrape out yolks and place in bowl. Add mayonnaise, mustard and blend together with a fork. Add the rest of the ingredients, except the paprika, and use fork to blend until the mixture gets creamy. Spoon mixture into each egg half. Sprinkle with paprika and garnish with a sprig of parsley.

Makes 24 servings.

Recipe from: The Ultimate Paleo Cookbook

by Arsy Vartanian (Page Street Publishing)

Bacon and Balsamic Deviled Eggs

12 hard-cooked eggs

5 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

1/3 cup mayonnaise

2-1/2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

Cut eggs in half lengthwise and scoop out all the yolks. Put yolks in separate bowl and mash. Add bacon, mayonnaise, onion, mustard, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper. Stir until well combined. Spoon the mixture in the egg halves evenly.

Makes 24 servings.

Recipe from: The Ultimate Paleo Cookbook

by Arsy Vartanian (Page Street Publishing)

Bagels and Lox Deviled Eggs

12 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and halved

1/2 cup cream cheese

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

2 sliced scallions

3 ounces smoked salmon, chopped, plus more for garnish

Salt and pepper, to taste

Handful bagel chips, broken into small pieces

Mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, mustard and scallions. Stir in salmon. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon into the egg whites; top with broken bagel chips and more smoked salmon.

Makes 12 servings.

Recipe from: Food Network

Shrimp Deviled Eggs

6 hard-cooked eggs 1 tablespoon mayonnaise 1 tablespoon basil pesto 1 shallots, diced finely 6 green olives, chopped into small pieces 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped 2 tablespoons capers 1 cup small cooked shrimp, chopped Sea salt and black pepper 12 small cooked shrimp, for garnish Extra-virgin olive oil, for garnish Good quality paprika, for garnish

Peel and cut eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolks and place in a medium bowl. Add mayonnaise and pesto to the yolks and mash with a potato masher. Add shallots, olives, parsley, capers and chopped shrimp. Stir to combine. Season with sea salt and black pepper.

Drop teaspoonfuls of the egg yolk mixture into the egg halves, then top with small shrimp. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with paprika. Refrigerate until its time to serve.

Makes 12 servings.

Roasted Pepper-Thai Chili Deviled Eggs

8 large hard-cooked eggs

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon white-wine vinegar

1/4 cup diced roasted peppers

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon minced red Thai chili

Coarse salt, to taste

Thinly sliced chilies, for garnish

Peel and halve eggs lengthwise; remove yolks and transfer to a bowl. Mash with a fork; mix in mayonnaise, mustard and vinegar. Press through a sieve to make smooth. Pulse yolk mixture with roasted peppers, Thai chili and salt in a food processor.

Using a pastry bag fitted with desired tip (I used a plastic baggie), pipe yolk mixture into whites. Garnish with thinly sliced chilies. Serve immediately, or chill up to 2 hours.

Makes 16 servings.
Effective June 2, American Eagle is changing a flight time and the size of its aircraft flying out of the Central Nebraska Regional Airport, said Mike Olson, airport executive director.

Olson, who announced the change at a Hall County Airport Authority board meeting on Thursday, said American Eagle flies out of the airport at 6 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. each day. The airline offers direct flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, with connections throughout the U.S., along with international flights.

Beginning June 2, he said, the 5:15 departure will be moved to 3:55 p.m.

That will enable people leaving in the afternoon to make more connections in Dallas, Olson said.

He said that will create more opportunities and greater convenience for travelers flying out of Grand Island.

For example, Olson said the No. 1 international flight out of Dallas is to Cancun, Mexico. While travelers leaving Grand Island at 6 a.m. have numerous opportunities to board a plane to Cancun during the day, thats not so with the 5:15 p.m. flight as the last plane from Dallas to Cancun leaves at 7.

Instead of catching a flight at 6 a.m., they will now have another alternative, he said.

Olson said the change in boarding times will help increase passenger traffic at the airport.

Although boardings are down at the airport this year, the American Eagle flights have been a bright spot, he said. During March, total boardings were down 14 percent. So far for the year, boardings have totaled 16,250, which is 2,472 fewer passengers than the year-to-date total for 2016.

The loss of Allegiant flights to Orlando and a decrease in the number of flights to Las Vegas this year have been factors, with boardings down 29 percent in March compared to a year ago. But Allegiants load factor continues to be more than 90 percent.

During high peak seasons, which is traditionally between December and March, they (Allegiant) have traditionally added more flights, but this year they didnt add so many more flights for Las Vegas, Olson said. They added more flights to Arizona, but the loss of the Orlando flights was the big thing.

American Eagle flights to Dallas/Fort Worth have seen an increase this year, compared to January through March 2016.

In March, there was a 24 percent increase in boardings on American Eagle flights out of Grand Island.

I think, with the afternoon flight, the boarding numbers will go up pretty substantially, Olson said. We really need that to happen.

Another big change that will improve both passenger flow and convenience at the airport is the addition of a full-body scanner, he told the board.

The full-body scanner was installed earlier this week.

Before, passengers had to go through a pat-down with a scanner wand that could be embarrassing to some passengers, such as people with metallic replacement parts in their bodies.

The full-body scanner takes three seconds compared to the longer time it took when Transportation Security Administration personnel used scanner wands.

It is a huge improvement, Olson said. It is also an added safety feature.

The board also approved a proposal from Cannon Moss Brygger Architects for planning and design of the Hall County Airport Authority administration building. That plan will determine the site and cost of the building.

We have two or three potential sites to look at, Olson said. We lost our administration building when the new terminal was completed.

He said the current airport administrative site is temporary until a new administrative office building is completed.

We dont have enough room here, and we need a dedicated office space, Olson said.

The board also approved an agreement with Cannon Moss Brygger Architects for basic architectural and parking consultant services for the remaining phases of a paid parking system at the airport. Olson said the board hopes to have the paid parking system in operation later this year.

He also told the board of a recent series of meetings he had with U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer about the future of Essential Air Service (EAS) funding and other issues impacting the airport.

EAS subsidizes airlines that provide service to smaller airports.

American Airlines, which operates the American Eagle flights out of Grand Island, receives an EAS subsidy.

President Trumps initial budget proposal did not include funding for EAS.

That doesnt come as a big surprise, Olson said. We cant get too excited over a proposed budget because it is approved by Congress.

He said the EAS program serves 173 airports in 46 states.

So you have 46 congressmen and numerous senators in those 46 states who are saying, We need to keep that program, he said.

Because the EAS program impacts rural and underserved areas of the country, Olson expressed confidence that Congress will allow the program to continue.

But there will probably be further scrutiny on the Essential Air Service program, he said. There are some airports in the program that are being subsidized at incredible rates.

Airport authority attorney Ron Depue said that the Grand Island airport is a poster child for the EAS program as boardings have been up and the airports per passenger subsidy has continued to drop.

Olson said the airport is either the second or third lowest in the country when it comes to the EAS subsidy.

We are truly a success story, but you cant say that for every airport, he said. But our goal is to get off the Essential Air Service program. It just opens up a few more possibilities for us.
The Grand Island Police Department investigated a fatality accident at 12:59 a.m. Friday morning.

The deceased driver and lone occupant of a 2012 Ram pickup has been identified as 25-year-old Grand Island male Cesar Gutierrez, according to a release from the Police Department.

The vehicle driven by Gutierrez was observed by a Grand Island police officer traveling at a high rate of speed near the intersection of Second Street and Cedar. As the officer pulled onto Second Street, he was able to measure the vehicles speed by radar at 98 miles per hour.

The officer activated his overhead lights near Second and Eddy streets but lost sight of the vehicle prior to reaching Broadwell Avenue due to speed and distance of the speeding vehicle. It is unknown if the driver of the vehicle was aware of the officers presence.

The vehicle was discovered a short time later to have left the roadway off the west edge of the Second Street overpass, striking the Kriz Davis building at 2400 W. Third St. Gutierrez was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead on the scene. The vehicle became engulfed in flames causing additional fire damage to the building.

The investigation was assisted by the Nebraska State Patrol. Because of the officers activation of emergency lights, there is the possibility for a grand jury hearing in reference to this accident. Police will not release evidence or video of the incident in order to protect the sanctity of that process, according to a release from the Police Department.
Eight people came forward to speak on the recently announced schedule and class changes for Grand Island Public elementary schools, most calling for more opinions and answers from the school board.

About 50 people attended the meeting up until after the public forum, which took place toward the beginning of the three-and-a-half hour meeting.

The board first recognized student artists for their impressive drawings that won awards in state contests, including the Nebraska State Aviation Art Contest, the State Poison Prevention poster contest and the State Agriculture poster contest.

Joanna Usher was the first person to speak during the public forum.

I am most concerned about making a change that will go from music and P.E. every day to giving them each once a week, Joanna said.

She referred to the recently announced plan for elementary schools, which includes lowering music and physical education staffing by one position each. It also includes having a 50-minute period for music and physical education once a week.

Joanna, along with Janet Vavricek, proposed splitting the 50-minute period into two 25-minute class periods during the week.

Vavricek said one 50-minute period is too long for kids attention spans, but 50 minutes for the whole week isnt enough.

Alan Usher, Amanda Wilson and Quentin and Ashley Cooksley also spoke out against the elementary school changes, which are planned to begin next school year in the fall.

Alan expressed concerns that the board members didnt publicly express their opinion on the changes. Wilson was concerned that the board members didnt vote on the decision to make the changes.

They all pled for more time, information, input and opinions from teachers, parents, board members and the public. Alan said he has a list of 50 teachers who dont support the changes and wondered why the teachers werent at these meetings.

Im saying, Hey, we need to call a timeout, Alan said.

Former Grand Island mayor Ken Gnadt spoke in support of whatever the school board decides to do, but said the members should hear out the publics concerns. Clay Schutz, a former board member and husband of current board member Heidi Schutz, urged the board to continue to look at the facts. He disclosed that his wife is a board member, but she didnt know hed speak during the public forum.

Im here strictly as a former board member, Clay said. By law, your duty is to make decisions, to make policy for the district and to do whats in the best interest for the kids.

Clay said the board should take the publics comments into account, but to step back, look at the facts and try to take the emotion out of the decision. He said the board should ultimately do whats best for the kids in the district, whether or not some people like the changes.

Board President Bonnie Hinkle read a response to the comments on the issue. The board usually doesnt comment on public forum comments, but Hinkle said they anticipated people bringing up the topic.

In response to Alans comments, Hinkle said the board members do express their opinions and do have opportunities to do so. She said the operating principle of the board is to set the policies, and the board has never voted on issues such as this one. Those are up to the superintendent, which for GIPS is Dr. Tawana Grover. The board makes the policies, Hinkle said, and the superintendent operates within and implements the policies. Hinkle also said the district has been looking for ways to give teachers more planning time, which this new plan would do. She said that has been expressed from teachers as a need for a while.

Our goal is always student achievement. Our goal is always the children, Hinkle said.

Some public members said they felt their concerns werent heard, but Hinkle said they are.

Just because we dont agree to change something doesnt mean we havent heard you, Hinkle said on behalf of the board.

She said the changes, which include more implementation of technology in the classroom, come because students are entering a new world and need more and different tools than before.

Hinkle thanked the public for expressing their concerns. She said the board welcomes the constructive criticism and thoughts about these issues.

We know that we have strong community support, and we appreciate that, Hinkle said. Without the community, there are no schools.

Other items on the agenda included the approval of new music resources for kindergarten through fifth grade, which includes a digital subscription to McGraw-Hill Spotlight on Music, a subscription to Music Express and a subscription to Music K-8. The board also approved the Lincoln Elementary modular relocation bid and rejected the bid for the Newell Elementary modular relocation.

Grand Island Senior High student representative Erick Estevez also questioned what the district is doing in response to having more racially diverse teaching staff. Grover said that issue is one of the things she wants to improve for the district. She said shes read statistics that say for black students, having at least one black teacher in their life increases their chance of staying in school. Grover said the district just doesnt have as many of those candidates readily available for job positions, but wants to.

So, how can we grow our own? Grover hypothetically said, posing a question she is looking at tackling for GIPS.

Though it is beneficial for students to have people who look like them be role models, she said its also important to have culturally competent teachers. Teachers who are culturally competent, Grover said, are people who can understand students regardless of their race.
Birth announcements

BRUNT To Travis and Kati (Simons) Brunt of Grand Island, a daughter born March 16, 2017, at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings. Grandparents are Ken and Jan Simons of Cairo and Tony and Deb Brunt of Grand Island.

KLINGINSMITH To Bryan Klinginsmith and Tara Baker of Grand Island, a son born March 22, 2017, at CHI Health St. Francis. Grandparents are Scott and Susanne Guthrie of Lincoln and Bill and Doris Klinginsmith of Grand Island. Great-grandparents are Bonnie Guthrie of Hastings, Evelyn Kurz of Worms, Charlotte Burkey of Elm Creek and Helen Baker of Kearney.

ENGLAND  To Kevin and LeeAnn (Thomas) England of Grand Island, a son born April 8, 2017, at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings.

SLAGLE  To Tyler and Kortney (Dack) Slagle of Central City, a daughter born April 10, 2017, at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings. Grandparents are Brian and Tracey Slagle of Central City, Dan Dack of Blue Hill and Jen Dinkler of Hastings. Great-grandparents are Wayne and Marilyn Peper of Hastings and Paul and Chris Wait of Fullerton.

Police/Sheriff

Anyone with information about any crime in the state may call the Grand Island-Hall County Crime Stoppers, (308) 381-8822. Callers will remain anonymous.

A reward of up to $1,000 will be paid after law enforcement agencies have determined the seriousness of the crime and the usefulness of the information.

Inmate custody status can be obtained by calling the VINE hotline at (877) NE 4 VINE or by visiting www.vinelink.com. Information is available 24 hours a day.

If you see a crime happening, call the Grand Island-Hall County Emergency Center  911.

Grand Island Police

The following felonies were reported:

 Robert Kendall reported a burglary at a residence Wednesday at 2612 Chanticleer.

 Mark Mathews reported an assault Wednesday night at 309 W. Hedde.

Hall County Sheriff

Law enforcement arrested five people on warrants in five cases. There were 30 calls for service.

For more information visit www.hallcountyne.gov and click on the sheriff link.

Court report

Hall County District Court

 Gregory Dowdy, 37, homeless, had his probation revoked (original offense carrying a concealed weapon, second or subsequent offense), one year in jail with credit for 105 days served, post-release supervision one year.

 Nakita Schultz, 36, 924 S. Locust St., Apt. 5, possession of a controlled substance, 48 months probation.

 Nathan D. Fowler, 22, listed as both homeless and a resident of 1611 N. Grand Island Ave., had his probation revoked (original offenses criminal impersonation and driving under suspension/before reinstated by the city), 60 months probation, drivers license revoked one year, ordered not to drive for 45 days and required to pay $1,500 probation fee. Also guilty of two counts of delivery, dispensing, distribution, manufacture or possession of a controlled sustance, 60 months probation for each and required to pay $1,500 probation fee.

 Keshawn James Camacho, 19, Henderson, attempt of a Class 1/1A/1B/1C/1D felony, two to five years in jail with credit for 170 days served, and burglary, one to two years in jail. Sentences will be served concurrently.

 Jennifer B. Maurer, 37, Norfolk, theft by shoplifting totaling $0 to $200/third or subsequent offense, 10 to 12 months in jail with credit for 16 days served.

 Steven A. Uldrich, 33, 11425 S. Buffalo Road, Doniphan, had his probation revoked (original offense possession of a controlled substance), one to two years in jail with credit for 23 days.

 Billy A. Castillo, 40, 2114 W. Second St., No. 250, strangulation, 30 days in jail, four years probation, required to pay $1,200 probation fee.

Hall County Court

 Aaron M. Homolka, 25, 208 Berber St., Cairo, was charged with failure to report every 12 months. Preliminary hearing set for 4 p.m. June 6.

 Dallas W. Fairbanks, 41, 404 W. Seventh St., was charged with violating the Sex Offender Registration Act and failure to report every 12 months, both of which are Class 3A felonies. Arraignment set for 1:30 p.m. April 26.

Driving Under the Influence  Katelin C. Nielsen, 23, 404 Sixth St., St. Paul, $500 fine, six months probation, drivers license revoked 60 days. Also guilty of failure to stay in lane, $25 fine and six months probation.

Clarification

Incorrect information provided at CRA meeting

Marvin Planning Consultants has entered into a contract to fund a blighted and substandard study for the entire Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant site. The study is funded through the Central Nebraska Growth Fund, a Grand Island Area Economic Development fund. Additionally, Scott Carpenter is the co-owner of the Auto America business, which the Community Redevelopment Authority voted to approve a facade grant for. Incorrect information was provided at Wednesdays CRA meeting.
For a century, Scott Air Force Base (AFB), located in St. Clair County near Belleville, has supported numerous infrastructure, communications and aviation missions for the United States Military. As the fourth oldest base in the U.S. Air Force with an active runway, Scott is 30 years older than the Air Force itself, which was founded in 1947.

During this Sundays episode of Segue, Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles premier radio show that airs on WSIE 88.7 FM The Sound, Chancellor Randy Pembrook sits down with Col. Laura Lenderman, Commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing at Scott AFB, to talk about her wings mission, her Air Force career, as well as some of the bases upcoming Centennial Celebration activities.

Lenderman arrived at Scott as a young girl with her family in the 1980s, when her father, Col. Gordon Cook, served as the executive officer to the vice commander of Military Airlift Command. As a child, she always admired the Air Force way of life and resolved that she wanted the same for her own family.

We were always very active in the Scott and local community, and as a young girl, I realized that this was a great way of life, Lenderman said. I wanted to serve my country, and hopefully return to Scott on active duty, since its always been a special place that I call my Air Force home.

After receiving her bachelors from Duke University, she attended undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. She then served tours at several bases throughout North Dakota, Washington and Oklahoma, flying the KC-135 Stratotanker. She performed presidential advance duties for Air Force One and the 89th Presidential Airlift Group, and commanded the 15th Air Mobility Operations Squadron at Travis (Calif.) Air Force Base. Aside from her extensive military experience, she has also thrived academically, earning three masters in business administration, military operations, and airpower arts and sciences.

Lenderman returned to Scott after 30 years to serve as the executive officer to the commander of Air Mobility Command in 2010. She left to become vice commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia. After fulfilling duties at the Pentagon, she returned to Scott in 2015 to take command of the base she had loved so much growing up.

The 375th Air Mobility Wing provides aeromedical evacuation for patients, and operational airlift support for high-priority passengers and cargo with its fleet of C-21 aircraft. The wing is an associate partner with the Illinois Air National Guards 126th Air Refueling Wing in performing the global air refueling missions with the KC-135 aircraft. The wing also partners with the Reserves 932nd Airlift Wing flying executive airlift missions with the C-40 aircraft.

The 375th supports 31 other mission partners, including the U.S. Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command and 18th Air Force, totaling more than 13,000 active-duty Guard, Reserve, Department of Defense civilians and contract personnel.

I can imagine that in any moment, based on something that may occur around the world, the situation can change dramatically at the drop of a hat, Pembrook says.

We are always preparing for situations where we have to deploy, she replies. Any time you open the newspaper, look online or watch the news on television and see something happening in the world, you can bet that the people at Scott Air Force Base are playing a part in our nations response.

Theres always an incredible sense of service and accomplishment when you wake up in the morning, put on that uniform, and go to support the people on and off base in service to your country, she says.

During the past 100 years, Scott has been home to several different missions, starting as a pilot training base during World War I, transitioning to a lighter than air station in the interwar years, and the nations premier communications school during World War II. Scott has borne witness to the birth of the Air Force, ushered in the modern jet age and today has grown into the nations premier transportation and cyber hub. As the home of the U.S. Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, and the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Scott AFB also provides humanitarian support to people in need all around the world.

Our humanitarian work is one of our most heartwarming and personally rewarding missions we can provide at Scott, she says. The motto of our wing is help from above, and I believe that rings true throughout our entire installation. If anyone in the world needs help, we are simply a phone call away.

On Jan. 6, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner made a visit to Scott to congratulate the base on its centennial anniversary and proudly proclaim 2017 as the Year of Scott Air Force Base. As part of the bases celebration, it will also host a plethora of events to honor its history and invite the public to see everything that Scott has to offer.

To celebrate its centennial, the base invites the public to Race Through Scotts Past with its special 5K run/walk. The event will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 21 on the bases parade grounds. After the race, guests can enjoy free food, bounce houses, prize drawings and more. For more information about registering, visit scott.af.mil or call (618) 256-1218.

From 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 10-11, Scott hosts a free air show and open house event, featuring performances from several groups, including the Aerial Acrobatics of the U.S. Army Special Ops Black Daggers, Tora Tora Tora and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Over 40 different military aircraft will be on display for viewing. For more information about this event, visit the Scott AFB website.

On Friday, July 14, the base hosts a Centennial Car Show at the event center. Judging begins at 4 p.m., and the awards ceremony follows at 5 p.m. First and second place trophies will be awarded for best original stock and modified vehicles before and after 1972, as well as best street rod, truck and motorcycle. Admittance and vehicle registration is free.

In case of rain, the event will be held July 21. For more information, contact (618) 256-4230 or visit 375fss.com.

To catch this entire conversation, tune in at 9 a.m. Sunday to WSIE 88.7 FM The Sound.

SIUE Marketing and Communications
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Linkedin Mae Anderson (Associated Press) New York, United States  Fri, April 14, 2017

Look out, Corporate America. Customers armed with smartphones and video cameras are watching when you screw up.

The viral video of a ticketed passenger dragged forcefully off a United flight is only the latest example of bad behavior exposed in the age of social media.

In February, Uber came under fire after a driver posted video of CEO Travis Kalanick berating him. Earlier, a Comcast technician was shown in a video sleeping on a customer's couch, and an audio recording chronicled one man's herculean efforts to drop Comcast service; they are among the embarrassing customer complaints that ultimately forced improvements . FedEx had to respond after video showed a driver carelessly throwing a package with a computer monitor over the front gate. Beyond the corporate sphere, smartphone videos of police brutality have prompted protests and investigations.

In this July 10, 2012 file photo, Uber CEO and co-founder Travis Kalanick arrives at a conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. In February 2017 Uber came under fire after a driver posted video of Kalanick berating him. Like a recent video of a ticketed passenger dragged forcefully off a United Express flight, the Uber incident is another example of bad behavior by a company or its employees called out by witnesses with a smartphone.(AP/Paul SaklumaA)

Not long ago, such incidents might have gotten a mention on the local news at most, and quickly disappeared. But smartphone cameras and social media have democratized information and shifted power to consumers. Companies can no longer sweep complaints under the rug.

"That's something a lot of companies just don't get," said Paul Argenti, a professor of corporate communications at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. "Companies still operate as if they can hide things and make believe something didn't happen."

REWRITING THE PLAYBOOK

Companies can't eliminate embarrassing gaffes entirely, but can learn from past blunders to minimize the damage.

It starts with training. Employees need to be ready to react when a situation gets dramatic  and companies should emphasize that anything employees do could be recorded. That's especially true for transportation, fast-food and other companies with a lot of employees who interact directly with large numbers of customers.

Read also: While some robots learn to deliver pizza, these are saving lives

Running through hypothetical scenarios helps.

"Have a couple things planned, what we should do if 'x' happens and what we should do if 'y' happens," said Lakshman Krishnamurthi, a Kellogg School of Management marketing professor.

On-site employees need to be given more power to respond to avoid escalating an incident, especially one that might be recorded. In United's case, for instance, even if employees were following the rules for seeking volunteers to give up seats, they should have been able to read the situation and increase the financial incentives for volunteers rather than drag a passenger off a flight.

"You need rules, but you need to be flexible and adapt," Argenti said.

BLOCK AND TACKLE

Once a video is out there, the standard PR-crisis response remains the same as it always has: Work swiftly to correct the situation in the eyes of the public.

"Apologize, talk about why it happened, and say it will never happen again," Argenti said.

In this Thursday, June 2, 2016, file photo, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz speaks in New York, during a presentation of the carrier's new Polaris service. The United fiasco where a passenger was dragged off a United Express flight on Sunday, April 9, 2017, is just the latest example of bad behavior by a company or its employees called out by witnesses with a smartphone. Munoz eventually apologized, but not for two days and after first blaming the customer and airport security. Three days after the incident United offered full refunds to all passengers on the flight. As smartphone cameras and social media have shifted power to consumers, they are forcing companies to be more nimble in handling matters they might have tried to sweep under the rug before.(AP/Richard Drew)

United CEO Oscar Munoz eventually apologized, but not for two days and after first blaming the customer and airport security. And once a video goes viral, companies have to cede control of the narrative. "When the video is out there, don't try to countermand what the video says," said Herman Leonard, a professor of business administration at Harvard.

In the past, companies had hours or days to respond to a crisis. Now, companies must respond immediately, before a scandal spins out of control on social media.

In this Feb. 23, 2007, file photo made from video, rats move around inside a KFC-Taco Bell restaurant in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York. Yum Brands Inc., the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, said Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, that it had temporarily closed several other New York City restaurants owned by the franchisee that operated the KFC and hired a leading rat expert to review the company's standards. As smartphone cameras and social media have shifted power to consumers, they are forcing companies to be more nimble in handling matters they might have tried to sweep under the rug before.(Rafael Garcia Jr. via AP Video/File)

For example, when Domino's Pizza employees posted a YouTube video of workers defacing sandwiches in 2009, the employees were quickly fired, the store was inspected and the CEO apologized. That helped mitigate some, if not all of the damage.

Similarly, after TV cameras shot video of rats scurrying through a KFC/Taco Bell in Manhattan, parent company Yum closed 10 of its New York City restaurants and hired a leading rat expert to review the company's standards.

LESSONS (NOT) LEARNED

In 2009, musician Dave Carroll had a guitar he checked destroyed during a flight. At first United said Carroll wasn't eligible for compensation, which caused a frustrated Carroll to write a song and book about it, both called "United Breaks Guitars." Carroll's online video of his song was so popular that "Time" named it one of the top viral videos of 2009. It became a business case study of how social media can harm a company's image.

In this July 9, 2009, file photo, musician Dave Carroll, of the pop-folk band Sons Of Maxwell, holds his repaired Taylor guitar in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Carroll become an internet sensation after posting a revenge song about airline customer service on YouTube with his song "United Breaks Guitars." Carroll's guitar sustained serious damage while traveling on United to a performance in the United States. The United fiasco where a passenger was dragged off a United Express flight on Sunday, April 9, 2017, is just the latest example of bad behavior by a company or its employees called out by witnesses with a smartphone. As smartphone cameras and social media have shifted power to consumers, they are forcing companies to be more nimble in handling matters they might have tried to sweep under the rug before.(The Canadian Press via AP/Andrew Vaughan)

If the lesson from that episode was to be more responsive to customers, United didn't learn it.

"It was 'United Breaks Guitars ,' now it's 'United Breaks People,'" said Richard Levick, a crisis management consultant.

Despite the newfound empowerment from social media, however, consumers have one thing against them: a short memory. They may remember the incident, but brand names fade and consumers will soon move on to the next PR flap, branding consultant Laura Ries said. This limits the changes companies must really make before moving on.

"Soon people won't remember which company was the offender. They'll think, 'Was it Delta, or American? I'm not sure. It was one of the airlines," she said. "People do tend to have short memories. There's going to be another company that has some disaster like this."
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Linkedin News Desk (The China Post/Asia News Network)  Fri, April 14, 2017

JD.com Inc, China's second-largest e-commerce company, plans to open more than 1 million JD convenience stores across the country in the next five years, with half of them located in rural areas, said its CEO Liu Qiangdong.

He said owners of the stores could order goods, including consumer electronics, home appliances, clothing and home furnishings through JD's application software.

JD will be responsible for logistics and distribution to the stores, according to the company.

Read also: Asus' worldwide PC shipments fall 'up to 14%' in Q1

This is JD's third offline cooperation project after launching 10,000 JD home appliance stores, an important measure in the expansion of its offline retail channel.

JD launched the New Market Programs at the end of 2015, which aimed to build a new channel targeting small and medium-sized stores in small cities, becoming their suppliers and partners. This program is set to cover 500,000 stores this year.

The penetration rate of e-commerce players in the small cities is not high. In contrast, convenience stores play a vital role.

E-commerce giants have stepped up the combination of online and offline retail channels. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Bailian Group Co Ltd reached a strategic partnership in February. The two sides will co-design bricks-and-mortar stores that merge online and offline shopping experiences.

Read also: BlackBerry wins $815 million in dispute with Qualcomm

Jason Yu, general manger of consumer research firm Kantar Worldpanel, said: "The network of stores will help JD to enhance its O2O presence in the fast-moving consumer goods sector. To address the last-mile delivery challenge, the move can help consumers to order products at nearby stores.

"While it brings business to those convenience stores, it also makes those stores an entry point to the JD platform so that it can increase its penetration among shoppers."

Yu added it is more challenging to grow purely in e-commerce, so both Alibaba and JD move into offline business.

"JD has strengths in delivery and distribution in rural areas. Establishing offline stores will help JD cover more areas and access to more consumers," said Lu Zhenwang, CEO of the Shanghai-based Wanqing Consultancy.

Lu added that the growth of online retail channels has slowed compared with their rapid growth in the past, so they have to seek new business growth points, adding the cost of opening stores in rural areas is relatively low.

Statistics from international consultancy Kantar Retail showed there are nearly 7 million small convenience stores in the Chinese market, which account for 40 percent of shipments among all retail channels.

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 Jeremy Kahn and Robert Williams (Bloomberg)  Fri, April 14, 2017

Thanks to a partnership with London-based fashion technology company Farfetch, you can soon get Gucci clothing and accessories whisked to your door within 90 minutes.

Farfetch announced the partnership Wednesday, as the company showcases what its calling "The Store of the Future" -- software and devices that aim to help luxury brands gather more information on customers in stores and online.

Customers will be able to shop for select items of Kering-owned Gucci goods via Farfetchs app and website, and have those orders fulfilled within 90 minutes from Gucci stores in London, New York, Dubai, Los Angeles, Madrid, Miami, Milan, Paris, Sao Paulo and Tokyo.

Read also: Spot the works of Da Vinci and Van Gogh on these designer bags

The Gucci collaboration with Farfetch comes as competition heats up in online luxury. In a call with investors Tuesday, LVMHs chief financial officer Jean-Jacques Guiony said the worlds largest luxury group would be the latest to ramp up multi-brand e-commerce, considering a new site for its luxury department store Le Bon Marche.

"Retailers need a way to collect information about their customers while they are browsing in-store, just as they collect data from online searches," Jose Neves, Farfetchs founder and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Founded in 2008 as an e-commerce platform for luxury boutiques, Farfetch has increasingly positioned itself as a technology provider working directly with high-end brands. In March, it launched the e-commerce portal for high-end shoe designer Manolo Blahnik, pushing into a space where competitor Yoox Net-A-Porter Group SpA has been a leader, operating white-label websites for brands including Yves Saint Laurent and Armani.

Read also: Local fashion, food galore in annual Kelapa Gading festival

Among the in-store technologies Farfetch is showcasing is a scanner that will enable customers to "log-in" with a smartphone when they enter a store, allowing a sales assistant to view the customers profile, including what items they may have bought previously or saved to a wish list in the brands online store.

A clothing rack has been designed to record what items the customer picks up, storing the item on an app on the customers phone as well as for the retailer. The customer can later swipe left or swipe right to move items to a wish list. A smart mirror in stores will enable shoppers to move between browsing the online and in-store selections, Gavin Williams, a Farfetch director of product development, said in an interview.

The company is also showcasing a holographic display that will enable customers to create and order customized shoes -- experimenting with different leathers, skins and colors -- from luxury brand Nicholas Kirkwood.

The technology, which Farfetch is calling Store of the Future, will be rolled out later this year at luxury boutique Browns in London, which Farfetch bought in 2015, and the flagship Thom Browne store in New York.
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Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) Ottawa, Ontario  Sat, April 15, 2017 06:05 2033 a291276806121264c0bd211cde940d81 2 People Malala-Yousafzai,justin-trudeau,Canada Free

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.

Malala Yousafzai waves as she arrives to address the House of Commons on Parliament Hill, as Speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan, right, and Speaker of the Senate George Furey, left, look on in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.(The Canadian Press via AP/Justin Tang)

Read also: She's only 5, but Beckham daughter gets brand protection

Yousafzai was originally scheduled to receive the honor on Oct. 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.
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Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) Bucharest  Fri, April 14, 2017 17:12 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde93b7b9 2 People prince-charles,prince-of-transylvania,prince-vlad-the-impaler,Romania Free

Britain's Prince Charles has boasted he shares a bloodline with legendary 15th-century prince Vlad the Impaler. Now a mayor is offering to make him Prince of Transylvania.

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.

Mihai Coser told The Associated Press Thursday that Charles is "more Romanian than many Romanians." So far, he says there has been no response to the offer.

In this Wednesday, March 29, 2017, file picture Britain's Prince Charles smiles during a welcoming ceremony at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania. Britain's Prince Charles has boasted he shares a bloodline with legendary 15th-century prince Vlad the Impaler and recently he's been offered by the Mayor of the Transylvanian city of Alba Iulia the honorific title of Prince of Transylvania.(AP/Vadim Ghirda)

Read also: At 85, Nepali aims to regain title of oldest Everest climber

Charles visits Romanian 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.

Romania abolished its monarchy when the communists came to power after World War II. King Michael was forced to abdicate and sent into exile in 1947. Michael's eldest daughter Princess Margaret heads the royal house, which has some influence and is well-respected.
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Linkedin Sam McNeil (Associated Press) Wadi Abdah, Oman  Fri, April 14, 2017

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.

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.

Read also: Bali's water question

The Hellisheidi geothermal plant in Iceland injects carbon into volcanic rock. At the massive Sinopec fertilizer plant in China, CO2 is filtered and reused as fuel. In all, 16 industrial projects currently capture and store around 27 million tons of CO2, according to the International Energy Agency. That's less than 0.1 percent of global emissions  but the technology has shown promise.

"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," he said.

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.

Read also: Cow dung: The promising 'black gold' of Indonesia

Peter Kelemen, a 61-year-old 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.

Read also: Choking our marine habitat with plastic waste

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.

He and a team of 40 scientists have formed the Oman Drilling Project in order 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 political instability, severe weather and food insecurity worldwide, according to the United Nations climate body.

Natural CO2 levels have risen from 280 to 405 parts per million since the Industrial Revolution, and current estimates hold that the world will be 6 C 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 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 CO2 into carbonate.

"It's like a jigsaw puzzle," said Nehal Warsi, 33, who oversees the drilling process.

Around 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 managed to capture so much CO2 over the course of 90 million years  and to see if there's a way to speed up the timetable.

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 CO2 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.
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Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13 2017

Despite mounting concerns over its new gross-split scheme, the goverment remains upbeat that such a mechanism, along with other fiscal incentives, will whet investor appetites for 15 oil and gas blocks set to be put up for auction this year.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry hopes that both conventional and unconventional fields will sell during this years auction, although last years event failed to garner more than one bid on 14 blocks.

The conventional fields will include Andaman I and Andaman II in Aceh, Durian and South Tuna in the Riau Islands, East Tanimbar in Maluku, Memberamo in Papua, Merak in Banten and Lampung, Pekawai in West Kalimantan, West Yamdena in Maluku and Kasuri III in West Papua.

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Linkedin Hans David Tampubolon (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, April 13 2017

The Apartment television series blends high-octane drama with creativity, while at the same time offering a peek into the exciting world of interior design.

The Apartment: Rising Stars Edition, dubbed Asias biggest interior design show, has won the hearts of television viewers across the region.



Aired by Sony Channel and AXN, the show has entered its third episode since premiering in mid-March, and features 12 up-and-coming interior designers as contestants.



Participants must compete against each other at a housing complex in Malaysia to become the shows top interior designer and earn the title of Asias next style superstar, which also comes with US$100,000 in prize money.



The contestants come from various backgrounds, with some having had formal training in interior design, and others boasting street-smarts and passion for the field.



This show is a perfect blend of high-octane drama and highly ambitious contestants, said Virginia Lim, Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia senior vice president and head of content, production and marketing.



Malaysia, as the host country, has sent two of its designers  Ernest Loh and Winston See  to compete in the show.



Loh portrays himself as an architect who is very eager to showcase his interior design skills and ideas, while See is an avid fan of the popular Sims game.



From Singapore comes Paul Nagaoka, a hunky and handsome actor with no interior design background and whose entrepreneurial journey consists of developing a real estate company in the United States. Sadly, despite his passion for interior design, Nagaoka was the first contestant to be eliminated from the show.



Vietnam-based Polish model Aleksandra Flasz has no formal training in interior design, but is a fashion designer and a painter. She showcases her painting skills during the show by decorating walls to give rooms a much-needed artistic touch.



Indonesia is represented by Khaled Mahallati, who is of Middle-Eastern descent but was born and raised in Denmark.



Khaled demonstrates the most street-smarts of all the contestants. At the age of 19, he stirred up so much trouble as the black sheep of his family that his father decided to buy him a one-way ticket to Bali to start working for a furniture company and learn to be independent.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 14, 2017 15:59 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde939d81 1 National bali,Gianyar,world-heritage,subak,Organization-of-World-Heritage-Cities,World-Heritage-Day,World-Heritage-List Free

The regency of Gianyar in Bali has become a member of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC), making it the third Indonesian area to be part of the organization.

The other two are Surakarta in Central Java, which was accepted in 2008, and Bali's provincial capital of Denpasar in 2013.

Gianyar has a long history and roots of Balinese culture [going back] 246 years, the head of Indonesian Heritage Trust (BPPI), Catrini Pratihari Kubontubuh, told the press on Thursday.

Gianyar was officially accepted as an OWHC member on Wednesday.

Catrini highlighted some aspects of Gianyar's cultural and traditional heritage, such as the Subak irrigation system that enabled the Balinese to become prolific rice growers despite natural challenges such as a hilly landscape.

Historic know-how: Farmers plant paddy under the subak system in Jatiluwih, Tabanan, Bali. Subak, a traditional farming and irrigation system used in Bali, was placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2012.(JP/Agung Parameswara )

Subak reflects the philosophical concept of Tri Hita Karana, which brings together the realms of the spirit, the human world and nature. Subak has been included in the world heritage list by UNESCO.

Gianyar regent Anak Agung Bharata said he hoped Gianyar's OWHC membership would help raise awareness of the importance of protecting history, nature and heritage.

(Read also: In Bali, Trumps planned six-star hotel risks angering the Gods)

The conditions in Gianyar are alarming, Agung said, citing the growing number of domestic and foreign developers that bought land around Gianyar. He said that trend could lead to Balinese people being forced to move away from Bali.

Gianyar will also host the World Heritage Day on Tuesday, which is to be attended by 243 members of the OWHC from across the globe. (hol/bbs)
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Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) Raleigh, California  Fri, April 14, 2017

California's attorney general says North Carolina's repeal of a strongly criticized "bathroom bill" doesn't protect LGBT people from discrimination. Consequently, he says the country's most-populous state will continue its ban on taxpayer-funded travel to North Carolina.

Attorney General Xavier Becerra (ha-vee-AIR buh-CEH-rah) announced the decision in a statement Wednesday.

A California law went into effect in January barring state-funded travel or other spending in states with laws that discriminate against LGBT people. The law leaves it up to Becerra to keep a list of which states are banned.

Gay-rights groups argue North Carolina's repeal of House Bill 2 is inadequate because it bars local governments from passing nondiscrimination ordinances covering sexual orientation and gender identity until December 2020.

California also bans taxpayer-funded travel to Kansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.
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Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang, Central Java  Fri, April 14, 2017 17:38 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde93c9b6 1 National Catholic,church,Jesus,Semarang Free

Hundreds of congregants of the Santa Theresia Catholic Church in Semarang, Central Java, watched a performance depicting the last days of Jesus Christ by 35 youths as part of Good Friday service.

The congregants watched the performance, which was guarded by police. Security was heightened following an explosion of firecrackers near the Santo Yusuf Catholic Church in Ambarawa, dozens of kilometers south of Semarang.

This is my first experience watching a performance on Jesus last days. I am grateful for the experience and have learned a positive moral lesson from it, said Dafa, a congregant.

(Read also: Jokowi asks public to remain vigilant following explosion)

Semarang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Vincentius Thirdy Hadmiarso said all churches in the area were being guarded by police. No security disturbances have been reported since the explosion, he said.

A 37-year-old local, M. Fahrudin, the alleged perpetrator of the incident, has been detained.

According to residents, Fahrudin suffers from a mental illness.

We will work with a psychiatrist to ensure [the suspects] mental condition], Vincentius told The Jakarta Post. (bbs)

Topics : Catholic church Jesus Semarang
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Linkedin Eileen Ng (Associated Press) Kuala Lumpur  Fri, April 14, 2017 15:31 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde939185 2 World #Indonesia,#Malaysia,#KimJong-nam Free

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.

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."
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 14, 2017 21:17 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde93f936 1 Business Agriculture-Ministry,Amran-Sulaiman,CPO,Europe,ISPO Free

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has asserted that there is no way for Europe to dictate Indonesias agriculture industry in relation to the single sustainable palm oil standard issued by the European Parliament.

The European Parliament issued on April 4 a resolution to only import sustainable palm oil after 2020, which sparked objections from Indonesia and Malaysia, the worlds two-biggest crude palm oil (CPO) producers.

We cannot let Europe dictate Indonesias agriculture. We have our own standard called Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil [ISPO], Amran said during a visit with Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita to Cipinang Market in East Jakarta on Thursday.

Arman said the government was developing convection to biofuel, which needed palm oil material of 3 million tons, a figure that was nearly in line with Indonesias palm oil exports to Europe.

Europe only imports 3.2 million tons [of palm oil] from Indonesia, means that its no problem if we dont export to Europe. We even plan to increase the B-20 to B-30 [20 to 30 percent mix with normal diesel], which requires 13 million tons [of biofuel], he said.

Besides, Indonesia dominated the international palm oil market with 80,000 tons capacity, Arman said, adding that it had its loyal partners such as Pakistan, Turkey, Bangladesh, India and China in palm trade.

Those countries dont have a problem [with ISPO]. Its France that has been screaming out loud about the problem, while it only imports 200,000 tons [of CPO] from Indonesia per year, he said. (yon/ags)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Ambarawa, Central Java  Fri, April 14, 2017 14:27 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde934f0a 1 National Jokowi,joko-widodo,Ambarawa,explosition,terrorism,church-attack,church,firecracker,firecracker-explosion Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has asked the public to stay alert amid potential acts of terrorism after firecrackers exploded near the Santo Yusuf Catholic Church in Ambarawa, Central Java, on Thursday.

The most important thing for all is to stay vigilant, be careful. If there is anything suspicious, report it to police, said Jokowi on the sidelines of a visit to Cirebon, West Java, on Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com.

(Read also: Firecracker explodes near Catholic church in Ambarawa)

Jokowi explained that the National Police, particularly its counterterrorism squad Densus 88, and the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) had undertaken efforts to crack down on terrorist groups.

However, he added that groups with radical ideology still existed in Indonesia. Managing things like that [radical groups] is not easy, said Jokowi.

The explosion caught members of the congregation by surprise as it occurred while they were preparing the church for the celebration of Good Friday.

Firecrackers and several empty bottles confiscated by police in connection with the explosion near a Catholic church in Ambarawa, Central Java, on Thursday.(Courtesy of the National Police/File)

I originally thought it was the sound of firecrackers, but I wondered why [the sound] occurred repeatedly. After I checked the south gate, there were fires and many bottles, said Eko Setia Budi, 50, Santo Yusufs sexton.

Police reacted swiftly by arresting 37-year-old local resident Muhammad Fahrudin, the alleged perpetrator of the incident, which causes no casualties.

According to residents, Fahrudin suffers from a mental illness. (mrc/bbs)
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Linkedin Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Makassar, South Sulawesi  Fri, April 14, 2017 11:23 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde925123 1 National Makassar,security,police,Tito-Karnavian,South-Sulawesi,cctv,Panic-button,Ramdhan-Pomanto Free

The Makassar Police launched a command center to monitor the security situation in the provincial capital of South Sulawesi and respond more quickly to emergencies like accidents and natural disasters.

The center, which is integrated with a similar monitoring facility operated by the citys administration, is connected to an Android-based mobile application allowing users to hit a panic button to call the police.

Makassar is now well monitored. If residents need security, police personnel can be deployed more swiftly, because the reports are received in real time, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said during the launching of the facility in Makassar on Wednesday.

More than 300 CCTV cameras are installed across the city, 100 of which are put up in areas considered prone to crime.

I have traveled across Indonesia, but only in Makassar can I find a CCTV system that is so comprehensive, Tito said.

(Read also: Makassars biggest drug kingpin shot dead)

Makassar Mayor Mohammad Ramdhan Pomanto said it was mandatory for owners of commercial buildings to install CCTV cameras.

He said he targeted to see 3,000 CCTV cameras installed in Makassar by 2018.

With a population of over two million in 2015, Makassar is the fifth-largest city of Indonesia. The biggest are Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung and Medan. (bbs)
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Fri, April 14, 2017 20:45 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde93e4fb 1 National Catholic,Jesus,church,Good-Friday,Medan,North-Sumatra,security,police,batak,Bataknese Free

The St. Paulus Catholic Church in Pasar Merah, Medan observed Good Friday by watching a play centering on Jesus performed with a Batak touch.

Arung Paulus Oloan Sitanggang from the Pasar Merah parish said the purpose of incorporating Batak culture in the play was to show the inclusion of Batak traditions in churches in North Sumatra.

"The actors' wear Batak clothing and the script is in the Batak language. This also aims to preserve Batak culture and traditions, he said.

(Read also: Catholics in Semarang observe Good Friday by watching performance on Jesus' last days)

Police in the North Sumatra capital have heightened security at churches since Thursday evening following a firecracker explosion at a Catholic church in Ambarawa, Central Java.

Medan Baru Police chief Comr. Ronni Bonic said the force had deployed officers to guard churches in the area. He added the police had also searched churches for suspicious items.

Thank God the observance of Good Friday today was safe and smooth," Ronni told The Jakarta Post, on Friday. (bbs)
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Linkedin Thomas Adamson (AP) Paris  Fri, April 14, 2017

A political party that would abolish same-sex marriage  one whose founder wanted AIDS patients rounded up and branded homosexuality "a biological and social anomaly"  is now winning LGBT votes in France.

Motivated in part by the deadly Islamic extremist attacks at home and at a Florida gay nightclub, a growing bloc of traditionally left-leaning gay voters has embraced far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, leader of the once-fringe National Front party.

"Faced with the current threats, particularly from radical Islam, gays have realized they'll be the first victims of these barbarians, and only Marine is proposing radical solutions," said Kelvin Hopper, 25, a gay artist who lives in a hipster district of Paris and plans to cast his ballot for Le Pen.

While nobody knows how far Le Pen's supporters will carry her in the April 23-May 7 vote, several years of polls have shown the National Front is now more popular with the LGBT voters who make up 6.5 percent of the French electorate than it is with straight voters.

That the constituency once reviled by the party is buoying it suggests populism has taken root in France more deeply than previously thought.

The embrace goes both ways.

Since taking over the National Front in 2011, Le Pen has worked to soften the racist, homophobic reputation of the party co-founded by her father who was twice-prosecuted for Holocaust denial.

Surrounding herself with gay advisers, a strategy known as "pinkwashing," has been a key part of these efforts that have put her within striking distance of the presidential Elysee.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, 88, once declared "there are no queens" in the National Front and, in a sulfurous assault on the gay community in the 1980s, compared AIDS-sufferers to lepers whom he advocated keeping in isolation centers.

To "de-demonize" the party and give it wider appeal, his daughter publicly shunned him. In a stark irony of history, Marine Le Pen's National Front has more top aides who are publicly known to be gay than any other French political party.

The unusual distinction prompted commentators to give Le Pen the epithet "Pink Marine."

The most prominent of the party's gay operatives is her No. 2, Vice-President Florian Philippot. He came out after being unwittingly photographed by a gossip magazine on a private weekend away in Vienna with a man in 2014.

The mass shooting at the Pulse gay club in Orlando, Florida, in June also boosted Le Pen's standing with LGBT voters.

Shortly after recordings emerged in which the U.S.-born attacker who killed 49 people pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, Le Pen declared "how much homosexuality is attacked in countries that live under the Islamist jackboot."

Although some critics have accused her of opportunism, the rebranding work has paid off.

French polling firm IFOP says its surveys show a "constant progression of the National Front among the gay electorate" since Marine Le Pen took over. At 16.5 percent, the proportion of gay, lesbian and bisexual people supporting the party last fall was 2 percentage points higher than its share of straight voters, according to the firm's research.

"There is a large risk that the Orlando killing exacerbates an anti-Muslim sentiment among sexual minorities, all the more so because they have shown for several years to be more and more responsive to the security and anti-immigrant discourse of the National Front," the study says.

Surprisingly, research of voting patterns also shows that one-third of gays who wed after France legalized same-sex marriage in 2013 voted for National Front candidates in the 2015 regional elections  even though the party would scrap the marriage equality law.

Courting LGBT voters, "pinkwashing" the far-right, has been a delicate dance for Le Pen.

She was noticeably absent from divisive nationwide protests against the same-sex marriage law introduced by the Socialist government of outgoing President Francois Hollande.

Yet she can't afford to alienate the party's old guard as she tries to broaden its base. Buried in her election manifesto is a pledge to abolish gay marriage, a position aimed at appeasing the National Front's extreme-right flank.

National Front Chief Campaign Strategist Sebastien Chenu, who is the most open about his sexual orientation among the party's gay top officials, disagreed that the plan was homophobic during an interview with The Associated Press.

In its place, Chenu explained, would be a bolstered civil unions law providing same-sex couples with "the same duties, the same obligations" as marriage, he said.

Chenu agrees that the National Front has seen a spike in support because of fear from the extremist attacks France has endured in recent years. The number of gay men in prominent positions within the party is a much less significant factor, he said.

"Those who want to fight against freedoms are Islamic radicals," Chenu said. "They put bombs in gay night clubs in the United States. So obviously, it creates an anxiety for a certain number of gays."

France is not the only place where far-right rhetoric conflating Islam with radical jihad has been used to shake up long-standing political alliances.

In the Netherlands, Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders said that his party, which is hostile to Muslims and wants to halt immigration, should hold natural appeal for LGBT voters.

"We were always one of the top parties that were supported by (the gay) community. We believe that like Christians and Jews and women and journalists, gay people are also one of the first to pay the price of ... Islamization," Wilders said.

In the United States, President Donald Trump, too, has used rhetoric expressing solidarity with gays as a means of attacking some Muslim-majority countries  claiming during the presidential debates last year that they "push gays off of buildings."

The lurch to the far-right by LGBT voters  called homonationalism  deeply shocks those who see the nationalist sentiments sweeping Europe as a threat that could erode hard-fought freedoms, not protect them.

"It is true that terror attacks and religious extremists brought huge publicity to Marine Le Pen. And she profits from this. She profits from people's fear," Yannick Fredefon, a gay Paris resident, said.

One factor that explains the new wave of LGBT support is that many Le Pen voters are millennials like Hopper who are too young to remember the National Front's neo-fascist roots or the acid anti-gay sentiments openly expressed by her father.

Others, especially gay men, are in awe of the blond, blue-eyed, 48-year-old former lawyer's persona  they see an audacious, strong-willed woman writing the rules in a world of men.

If elected, Le Pen would be France's first female president.

"Marine is a strong, combative, honest woman," Hopper said.

Experts say the wooing strategy works best on gay people who see the fight for equality as over and no longer feel obligated to support the liberal politicians who traditionally defend their rights.

"Having recently acquired the right to marry and adopt children, an important part of the gay electorate is turning to the extreme right because they do not need to support the left anymore on these issues," IFOP pollster Francois Kraus said.

But gay rights groups in France warn against complacency.

"The simple idea of reversing (the marriage equality) law is in itself a homophobic act as it is to want discrimination again," said Clemence Zamora Cruz, a spokeswoman for Inter-LGBT, a coalition of French LGBT rights groups.

___

Thomas Adamson can be followed at http://www.twitter.com/ThomasAdamson_K
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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 14, 2017 08:33 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde91c40f 1 National National-Police,firecracker,firecracker-explosion,firecrackers,Catholic,CatholicChurch,Ambarawa,Central-Java,Central-Java-Police Free

Police are trying to discover the motives behind a firecracker explosion near a Catholic church in Ambarawa, Semarang regency, Central Java, on Thursday afternoon.

National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Rikwanto said police had detained 37-year-old local resident Muhammad Fahrudin, who was suspected to have set off the firecrackers.

According to the police report, Fahrudin was seen by some witnesses as acting suspiciously around St. Yusuf Catholic church on Jl. Sugiyopranoto and ran away when he was approached by a church member.

Several minutes after that, explosions were heard [from the place where Fahrudin had been spotted], Rikwanto said in a statement sent to the The Jakarta Post.

(Read also: Firecracker explodes near Catholic church in Ambarawa)

The sounds of explosions were heard emanating from a location near the fence of the church. Members of the congregation were busy preparing for a service on Friday when the incident occurred.

Witnesses reported the incident to police officers who were on standby not far from the church. Fahrudin was arrested not long afterward and brought to the Ambarawa Police office for interrogation, Rikwanto said.

He said police seized, among other things, 16 firecrackers, one lighter and five energy drink bottles, but it was not clear what these bottles were for. (ebf)
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura, Papua  Fri, April 14, 2017 18:47 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde93d4c2 1 National plane-crash,Papua,aviation,aircraft,Grand-Caravan,Jayapura,Oksibil,Freeport-Indonesia Free

The body of Rio Pasaribu, the captain of the Cessna Caravan aircraft that crashed in the Bintang Mountains in Papua, was recovered by a joint search-and-rescue team on Friday.

The small plane belonging to airline company PT Spirit Avia Sentosa (Flying SAS) went missing while flying from Tanah Merah Airport in Bouven Digoel regency to Oksibil Airport in Bintang on Wednesday.

The plane was reportedly carrying more than 1-ton of food supplies.

A joint search operation found the wreckage at the Bukit Anem cliff in Bintang the following day.

Search operations are under way to search for Cessna Caravan aircraft (pictured) reported to have lost contact on Wednesday morning. The aircraft belongs to airline company PT Spirit Avia Sentosa (Flying SAS). (Tribunnews.com/File)

The body was evacuated by the search-and-rescue team using a helicopter belonging to [mining company] PT Freeport Indonesia, Jayapura rescue team head Suyatno said in Jayapura on Friday.

The body was then flown using a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter plane belonging to SAS from Oksibil Airport to Sentani Airport in the Papuas provincial capital of Jayapura.

(Read also: AirNav to spend Rp 2.2t in 2017)

The body is scheduled to be flown to Jakarta via the Pondok Cabe Airport in South Tangerang, Banten before it is handed over to the victims family.

Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. AM Kamal said the rescue team found the body after reaching the crash site on foot.

The plane was destroyed and in pieces after seemingly hitting the mountain cliff before crashing to the ground, Suyatno said.

The crash site was around 10 kilometers from Oksibil, the capital of Bintang. (bbs)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 14, 2017 15:24 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde9387e8 4 City Sumarsono,ahok,Jakarta-governor Free

Jakartas acting governor, Sumarsono, has held a farewell dinner, inviting Jakarta councillors and officials on Thursday evening.

Sumarsono said that since his last two days fell on holidays, he did not want to disturb councillors and officials during their holiday activities.

"So, this is my farewell night. I don't want to disturb your family programs. Thank you for all your support," Sumarsono was quoted as saying by kompas.com.

Sumarsono will return to his post as the Home Ministry's director general for regional autonomy.

Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama will return to his office on Sunday after a month of compulsory campaign leave. (dmr)
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Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 14, 2017 17:28 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde93beab 2 World #Indonesia,#Japan,#SusiPudjiastuti Free

Upon realizing that thousands of Indonesian seamen ply their trade aboard Japanese fishing vessels, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti urged the Japanese fisheries industry to prevent any human trafficking practices from materializing.

Susi was in Japan on a five-day working visit to deepen maritime and fisheries cooperation as a follow-up to the pledges that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made during his state visit to Indonesia earlier this year.

She is also slated to meet with Japan's minister for agriculture, forestry and fisheries and defense minister, among others.

On her second night in Tokyo, Susi talked shop with the president of the Japan Tuna Fisheries Cooperative Association, Jun Yamashita. During a dinner hosted by the Japanese businessman, Susi was informed there were around 3,000 Indonesian seamen working on board vessels owned by the association.

"As many as 3,000 of our crewmen are from Indonesia. Without their help, we wouldnt be able to catch any tuna," Yamashita said, as quoted in a press release distributed by the ministry on Thursday.

Susi thanked the associations president for taking care of the Indonesian crewmen who work aboard vessels that go out as far as the Indian, Pacific and even Atlantic oceans.

"But if I hear any mention of traffickers, I won't hesitate to chase them to the ends of the earth," Susi said in the statement.

The minister, who is renowned for her frankness and candid remarks, asked Yamashita for regular updates on the 1,200 Indonesian seamen registered with businesses under the association, so that the government would be able to protect them and ensure their rights are upheld.

Japan is one of the largest consumers of tuna in the world with an annual demand of 308,000 tons, which is part of the reason there are so many tuna fishing vessels in operation.

(Read also: Minister Susi to visit Japan to offer investment opportunities)

Earlier that day, Susi visited a number of businesses to seek insight and expertise that may benefit the Indonesian fisheries industry, including Misaki Tuna Fish Landing Market in Kanagawa prefecture, an auction house integrated with a seafood restaurant and a supermarket.

She also visited Japan Super Freeze Co. Ltd., the largest fisheries cold storage house in Japan and the only one in the world to use liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is an environmentally friendly alternative to electricity.

"We use LNG because electricity costs are very high," said JSF president Shigeru Hamada.

JSF's cold storage warehouse, he said, can preserve produce in -60 degrees Celsius refrigerators.

At the moment, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry can only preserve products at a temperature of -20 degrees Celsius.

According to JSF, there is enough cold storage for the company to hold 11,000 tons of tuna from various countries, with the majority of produce originating from Taiwan.

Susi said Indonesia has the potential to develop LNG-powered cold storage systems like that in Japan, considering there are still regions with abundant natural gas resources.

She did however note the steep entry point for the development of such cold storage solutions, with initial investment requirements reaching US$300 million. For that, she urged both local and foreign investors to look into putting money into the building of such facilities.

Indonesia is estimated to have some 100 trillion standard cubic feet of proven gas reserves, including LNG. But the country is in danger of experiencing a shortage of 500 million standard cubic feet per day of gas starting in 2019, owing to soaring demand and poor infrastructure.

Pertamina estimates that around $70 billion to $80 billion in funds is needed to develop gas infrastructure until 2030.
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Linkedin Pandaya (The Jakarta Post)  Sat, April 15 2017

This years tax return that came to my desk almost a month ago is still perched there untouched on top of other documents. Every time the urge comes to fill out the forms, I feel a sense of reluctance and put it off  usually until the last few days before the filing deadline falls.

Of course I do not like income taxes, just like anyone else. But there is another problem that dampens my enthusiasm in filing my tax return early: the lingering perception that tax officers are corrupt to the core.

Maybe I am wrong, or unaware that Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has reformed the corrupt system to win back taxpayers trust in government authorities, especially tax officers and officials.

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Linkedin Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 15 2017

Indonesia-China relations have existed for a long time. China, once known as the Bamboo Curtain country, and Indonesias first president Sukarno opened bilateral diplomatic ties on April 13, 1950, which thrived during the Asian-African Conference in Bandung in 1955, culminating in the cultural friendship agreement on April 1, 1961.

In spite of the ups and downs of their relations, the spirit of friendship has never waned and presidents of Indonesia in their respective periods have even further promoted the friendship and brotherhood between the two nation states.

As two big countries with strategic positions, Indonesia and China have continued to intensify their friendship and communication in order to establish defense and military cooperation on the basis of mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual benefit in an air of equality.

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Linkedin Hasyim Widhiarto (The Jakarta Post) Benoa, Bali  Sat, April 15, 2017 04:39 2033 a291276806121264c0bd211cde9407fd 2 Business cruise,bali,Arief-Yahya,Tourism-Ministry,Benoa,Pacific-Eden Free

The shimmering sound of Balinese music played by a local gamelan group welcomed the Pacific Eden cruise ship as it approached Benoa Port in Bali on Thursday.

Guided by a tugboat, the 219-meter-long vessel, operated by P&O Cruises Australia, needed 30 minutes to smoothly dock at the port that sunny afternoon.

Carrying over 1,000 tourists, mostly Australians, Pacific Eden has made a breakthrough in Indonesias tourist industry as it became the first cruise ship ever docked at a local port.

This makes a huge difference in the experience of our guests, P&O Cruises Australia president Sture Myrmell said to government officials invited onboard to celebrate the historical milestone.

(Read also: Indonesia welcome maiden docking of cruise ship)

Cruise passengers come from around the world (2015). (Cruise Lines International Association/File)

Despite its potential in coastal and maritime tourism, Indonesia has been struggling to tap into opportunities of cruise ships coming to the archipelago.

Previously, incoming cruise ships preferred to moor off shore mainly due to technicalities, such as lack of supporting infrastructure and the absence of a reliable under-water topographic maps, known as bathymetric charts. Passengers who want to go ashore were then transported on small boats.

In the case of Pacific Eden, the docking was made possible after the government completed the bathymetric chart for Benoa water and after state-owned port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) III, which manages Benoa Port, upgraded the facility to a cruise terminal.

We sent supporting data about Benoa waters to P&O executives so their ship captains could devise strategies on how to enter the port safely. Their presence here proves that we have finally convinced them [about safety], Pelindo III general manager for Benoa Port Ardhy Wahyu Basuki said.

Last year, Indonesia welcomed 11.5 million foreign tourists, with those from China topping the list at 1.43 million arrivals.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has set his sights on developing the tourism sector. His administration hopes for 20 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2019, with this years target standing at 15 million.

Passengers leave Pacific Eden cruise ship after the vessel docked at Benoa Port in Bali, making it the first cruise ship to do so at a local port.(JP/Hasyim Widhiarto)

The number of tourists entering the country by cruise ships has shown progress, but still only makes up a tiny fraction of the total incoming foreign tourists.

Last year, visiting cruise ships made 350 stops in Indonesia, down from 400 stops in 2015, said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya. The number of passengers onboard, however, increased by 30 percent to 260,000 from 200,000.

This shows that there is a changing trend in which passengers prefer to travel on mediumsized cruises instead of small ones, Arief told reporters, underlining the importance of port infrastructure upgrades to accommodate such a trend.

Apart from huge, lavish vessels, the cruise business is known to attract high spenders. A family of four, for example, should pay A$7,200 (US$5,400) to stay in a Pacific Eden suite room and enjoy a 12-night journey to popular tourist destinations, such as Bali, Lombok and Komodo National Park.

According to data from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), there were 23.2 million people traveling on cruise ships in 2015, with the United States accounting for the most passengers at 11.3 million, followed by Germany, Australia and China. The figure is predicted to increase to 25.3 million this year.

Arief did not mention the governments short-term target for incoming cruise passengers. He, however, pointed to Thursdays inaugural docking as momentum for the government to propel the industry, including by upgrading port infrastructure on Bali, which the government expected to become a regional cruise hub, as well as by reviewing cost structures that might hamper the industrys growth.

Indonesian ports currently charge a cruise ship between $60,000 and $100,000 daily for docking fees, much higher than regional competitors that can charge as low as $20,000 per day, Arief said.

This has dragged down our competitiveness in the sector, he said. Thus, deregulations and infrastructure upgrades should go hand-in-hand to boost the sector.
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar  Sat, April 15 2017

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 the prosecutors, who sought a three-year prison sentence for her.

The courts judge panel, presided over by Ni Made Purnami, stated in their verdict that the defendant had been found guilty of violating Article 127 of Law No. 35/2009 on narcotics.

[We] find the defendant Myra Lynna Williams legally and beyond reasonable doubt guilty of abusing drugs, the judge said.

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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan and Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang  Sat, April 15 2017

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has asked the public to stay alert amid potential acts of terrorism after firecrackers exploded near the Santo Yusuf Catholic Church in Ambarawa, Central Java, on Thursday.

The incident came as the authorities were stepping up efforts to crack down on local militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group, which has set up a base in the southern Philippines.

The most important thing is to stay vigilant and be careful. If there is anything suspicious, report it to police, said Jokowi on the sidelines of a visit to Cirebon, West Java, on Thursday.

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Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam  Sat, April 15 2017

A South Korean company has agreed to fund the development of a waste water installation that will be managed by the Batam Free Trade Zone Body (BP FTZ).

The project, which is worth Rp 387 billion (US$29.1 million), started last week and is targeted for completion by mid 2019.

The installation will be built on a 7 hectare plot of land in Bengkong Sadai district and is expected to manage 11,000 pipe connections, which would turn household waste into clean water within a certain quality standard. The water will then be channeled to the ocean and to dams in Batam.

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Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) Bangkok  Fri, April 14, 2017 17:05 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde93b013 2 SE Asia #Thailand,#monarchy,#criticism Free

Media reports in Thailand say authorities have declared it illegal to exchange information on the internet with three prominent government critics who often write about the country's monarchy.

A letter from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society reported online Wednesday by the newspaper Thai Rath and other media advised all citizens not to follow, contact, share or engage in any other activity that would result in sharing information from historian Somsak Jeamteerasakul, academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun and online journalist Andrew MacGregor Marshall. All three live outside Thailand.

The letter says people who spread such information, directly or indirectly, could be violating the country's Computer Crime Act, even unintentionally.

Somsak has written extensively and in great detail about the Thai monarchy, and his detailed Facebook postings are often consulted even by royalists who disagree with his views. Pavin is an outspoken former Thai diplomat, and Marshall is the author of "A Kingdom in Crisis," a 2014 book.

Thailand enforces a law that punishes with three to 15 years imprisonment the dissemination of information considered insulting to the monarchy. Prosecutions have surged in the past decade as political turmoil coincided with the decline in health of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died last October.

Most cases of insulting the monarchy  lese majeste  are apparently based on information posted on the internet, and often are accompanied by charges under the Computer Crime Act, which was originally enacted in 2007. It is not clear what if any aspect of the Computer Crime Act applies in the case of Wednesday's order.

Thai authorities try to take pre-emptive actions against material it considers illegal, having local internet service providers block access and reaching agreement with some online services such as YouTube to bar access in Thailand to material.

In February, a student pro-democracy activist who shared a story about Thailand's new king that had been posted online by the Thai-language service of the BBC was indicted on a lese majeste charge. Jatupat "Pai" Boonpattararaksa pleaded innocent.

The BBC story included mentions about the personal life of King Vajairalongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun  who succeeded his late father last year and other material considered too sensitive to be publicly discussed in Thailand.

Thai authorities had previously warned that even Facebook "shares"  links to a posting, rather than the content itself  could be considered a violation of the lese majeste law. Jatupat had also posted several passages from the BBC Thai story.

Many human rights organizations inside and outside Thailand have urged its government to halt the use of laws that make it illegal to criticize the monarchy, calling them a political tool to stifle critical speech.
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Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 14, 2017 10:03 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde923005 1 Activities jalan-sabang,Sarinah,jakarta,Jakpost-guide-to,travel,#JakpostGuideTo,traveling Free

A continuation of Jl. H. Agus Salim, Jl. Sabang is located near one of the busiest streets in Central Jakarta, M.H. Thamrin, as well as popular department store Sarinah.

Although the street is shorter than Jl. Cikini Raya, it is known as one of the city's culinary havens. Some of the places on Jl. Sabang have existed for a long time.

How to get there

Jl. Sabang is relatively easy to reach via Transjakarta bus as you can get off at the Sarinah bus stop and walk to the intersection between Jl. H. Agus Salim and Jl. K.H. Wahid Hasyim via the back area of the department store.

The Jakarta Post visited the area on Saturday during lunch time. Jl. Sabang itself provides sufficient space for pedestrians and a parking area; however, if you decide to pay a visit in the evening, especially on a Saturday night, it will be crowded with people and street vendors.

Those who want to purchase various products from cookie-and-biscuit giant Khong Guan can visit TWII Mart.(JP/Devina Heriyanto)

What to wear

Most of the stores and restaurants on Jl. Sabang are air conditioned, but if you want to explore the whole area, it would be wise to wear casual and comfortable clothes because it can get hot. You should also bring an umbrella as the weather can be unpredictable.

Read also: Jakpost guide to Kota Tua

What to shop for

Those who want to purchase products from the cookie-and-biscuit giant Khong Guan can visit TWII Mart as it sells snacks from the brand and its subsidiaries, which include Serena, Monde and Nissin. Aside from the iconic red Khong Guan assorted biscuits, the store also sells butter cookies, wafers and other savory treats.

Established in 1972, Bhavia Tailor maintains its originality by having only one store on Jl. Sabang.(JP/Devina Heriyanto)

The area also hosts Bhavia International Tailor that caters to those who want to customize their suits, blazers, trousers or uniforms. Established in 1972, the suit maker maintains its originality by having only one store on Jl. Sabang. The tailor is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and also sells ready-to-wear clothes. The price, depending on the fabrics and whether the customers bring their own, starts from Rp 700,000 (US$52).

Another interesting place on Jl. Sabang is Duta Suara Musik, one of the city's legendary music stores. As you enter, prepare to be greeted with questions like, what title are you looking for? or what kind of music genre would you like to hear? by its shopkeepers. Only available on Jl. Sabang, the music library is charming, especially for those who miss the good old days of purchasing cassettes and vinyl. Established in 1970, Duta Suara Musik also caters to online requests via e-mail.

Located only on Jl. Sabang, the music library Duta Suara Musik is very charming. (JP/Devina Heriyanto)

Sarinah itself has been a popular hangout spot due to its strategic location, as well as being home to fast food chains and cafes. Aside from that, the 5th floor of the department store also serves as a one-stop shopping spot for local souvenirs, from keychains to beauty products and furniture. The price for keychains, for instance, starts at Rp 35,000.

Read also: Five must-visit 'warungs' on Jl. Sabang

What to eat

Situated at the end of Jl. Sabang, Kopi Oey is richly decorated in red and designed to make patrons feel as if they were in a kopitiam (coffee stall) somewhere in the past. Since 2009, the place has served coffee as well as non-coffee beverages and foods. Try its Ijs Koffie Soesoe Indotjina and, if you are feeling adventurous, Koffie Taloea Boekittinggi, which combines coffee with eggs and lime juice. The average price for food and beverages starts from Rp 20,000.

Richly decorated in red, Kopi Oey offers a somewhat vintage vibe.(JP/Devina Heriyanto)

Jl. Sabang also has a legendary bakery named Modern Bakery Sakura Anpan. Located beside Bata shoes store, it was established back in 1978. Serving customers until 8 p.m., it sells traditional cakes, breads and birthday cakes, with the most popular products being bolu gulung (rolled cake) and lapis Surabaya.

Renowned for its diverse street vendors, the street is a haven for people seeking to enjoy local cuisines in one place, especially at night, from satay to fried rice and soto (aromatic soup). Some of the food sellers can be found at a spot named Kampung Kuliner Sabang (Sabang Culinary Village), which is usually packed with people in weekdays during lunch time.

Some of the cakes from Modern Bakery Sakura Anpan.(JP/Devina Heriyanto)

One of the most popular street food sellers in the area is Jamal Satay. Serving both chicken and mutton satay, the vendor has been particularly famous after the January terror incident on Jl. M.H. Thamrin last year, as the owner, Pak Jamal, was captured calmly fanning satay on his cart despite being located only 100 meters away from the bombing.

Tips

- Be careful when attempting to cross the street at the intersection between Jl. H. Agus Salim and Jl. K.H. Wahid Hasyim since there is no crossing light for pedestrians.

- Aside from sufficient parking space, Jl. Sabang also has parking meters.

- It is advised to ask for the price prior to eating at the street vendors.

- Duta Suara Musik closes on Monday. (kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 14, 2017 14:17 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde93404a 1 News tourism,#tourism,cruise-ships,Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia Free

Thursdays arrival of the Pacific Eden cruise ship in Balis Benoa Port was welcomed by three Indonesian ministers, namely Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya and Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.

The three of them had the chance to meet Sture Myrmell, the president of Carnival Australia of Carnival Corporation, and Mike Drake, the director of P&O Australia Carnival Group.

At the welcoming event, the group discussed Indonesian port fees, which Drake said were 10-15 percent above those of neighboring countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

According to Luhut, high port fees, expensive fuel and water pollution have been a problem for years. He promised to solve all of those issues through state-owned port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) III to attract more cruise ships to Benoa Port in future.

Read also: Pacific Eden Cruise arrives in Benoa

Well readjust the port fees with Singapore as the benchmark. Well issue regulations and adopt the National Cruise Tourism Strategy to prevent such a problem from happening again in the future, said Luhut.

Were going to build a cruise terminal that meets international standards in Benoa. That is part of the preparations for the IMF  World Bank Annual Meeting in October 2018, which will be attended by 13,000-18,000 people from 189 countries, he added.

Arief said the number of cruise ships in Indonesia had decreased from 400 to 350 calls in 2016. However, the number of passengers had increased from 200,000 in 2015 to 260,000 in 2016. That shows that the cruise ships coming to Indonesia have increased in size, he added.

Moreover, he explained that Indonesia only received 1 million overseas tourists, Were still short in numbers if you compare it with Malaysia, which has 8 million overseas tourists. Were going to increase the influx by 4 million, said Arief. (kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 14, 2017 12:57 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde93018d 1 News United-Airlines,Airlines,#airlines,controversy,netizens,trolling Free

Since United Airlines came under fire for forcefully removing a passenger after overbooking a flight, netizens have taken great joy in trolling the airline, but they are not the only ones to have done so. Uniteds competitors have gotten in on the banter, taking to Twitter to drop their best lines.

In response to being named TripAdvisors best airline in the world, Emirates Airlines tweeted a video, using the opportunity to take a jab at United.

The video begins with a quote from United's CEO, where he says he believes that Gulf airlines arent airlines," before closing with a spin on United's popular slogan that read: "Fly the friendly skies... this time for real."

Fly the friendly skies with a real airline. pic.twitter.com/wE5C5n6Lvn  Emirates airline (@emirates) April 11, 2017

Read also: United to compensate people on flight in which man was dragged off

Turkish Airlines, on the other hand, kept it to just a tweet. When they were mentioned by Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington in a tweet that read, "Instead of involuntarily removing a passenger, Turkish Air assists in involuntary adding one, they replied:

Thank you @ariannahuff. We just do our best with  for our guests' safety and comfort at all times. https://t.co/MjMaZlyfbW  Turkish Airlines (@TurkishAirlines) April 11, 2017

The first airline to join the party, Royal Jordanian, shared what at first glance seems to be a non-smoking message, with the caption, "We are here to keep you #united Dragging is strictly prohibited. Twitter users quickly caught on, despite the non-explicit dig.

We are here to keep you #united Dragging is strictly prohibited  pic.twitter.com/CSjZD7fM4J  Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) April 10, 2017

In a tweet of their own, Qatar Airways instead decided to target the ill-timed update to the United Airlines app, which now supports drag and drop, their caption reading were united in our goal to always accommodate our passengers, even with our app updates. (sul/kes)

Were united in our goal to always accommodate our passengers, even with our app updates. pic.twitter.com/1K3q76qOp6  Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) April 12, 2017
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Linkedin News Desk (The China Post)  Fri, April 14, 2017 13:37 2034 a291276806121264c0bd211cde93181b 2 News Shanghai,travel,#travel,Airport,#airport,Airport-facilities,business Free

Shanghai is considering building a new business aviation airport to meet the rising demand for business jets in the city, an official from the Shanghai Airport Authority said on Tuesday.

"In addition to the existing business aviation bases, Shanghai is also planning a new business aviation base elsewhere in the city," said Jing Yiming, president of the Shanghai Airport Authority, at the opening of the three-day Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition.

"The market potential of Shanghai's business aviation is huge, where we've seen more than 20 percent year-on-year growth in the sector during the past few years. So far, a total of 67 general aviation enterprises and 371 general aviation aircraft have been registered with the Civil Aviation Administration of China's East China Regional Administration," Jiang Huaiyu, an official from the administration was quoted as saying by the Shanghai Observer.

"So it is necessary for Shanghai to have an independent airport handling business and general aviation," Jiang added.

Currently, the second business aviation base at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is under construction, and is expected to become operational in 2018.

There were 900 turbine helicopters and 450 business jets in China as of 2016, with compound annualized growth rates of around 6 percent and 9 percent, respectively, over the past decade, said Charles Park, director of marketing analysis and planning of Honeywell Aerospace.

Read also: Top 10 world's busiest airports

Wang Qi, vice-president of China sales and chief representative of ATR, said the development of general aviation will create opportunities for less populated airports.

"About 92 percent of passengers are concentrated in the top 50 of the nation's 219 airports, while the bottom 100 airports only handle 1.6 percent of the total passenger flow, where general aviation can play their role," said Wang.

The concept of general aviation is not limited to business needs, said Liao Xuefeng, chairman and CEO of China Business Aviation Group. "A variety of non-commercial actives including agricultural aviation and rescue can benefit from it."

According to Bill Schultz, senior vice-president of business development in China for Textron Aviation, China's general aviation market offers diversified jet demand.

The 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) has a similar supportive trend in areas including tourism, air mapping and emergency rescue, he said.

According to the guiding rules of the State Council on promoting the development of the general aviation industry, issued in 2016, China plans to build around 200 new general aviation airports between 2016 and 2020, bringing the nation's total to about 500.

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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
It was a rough night for the owners of Saluggis East at the monthly meeting of Community Board 3s liquor licensing committee.

Bill Wall and Christopher Keane opened the pizza restaurant and bar at 399 Grand St. this past September. They had struck an agreement with the local SPaCE Block Association to close on weekends at 2 a.m., with the possibility of extending their hours after six months. Last night, they asked CB3 members to support an application to stay open until 4am on all nights.

But the block association is not supporting the change, at least not right now. Marek Schwedt, a consultant representing Saluggis, told community board members that Wall and Keane were tricked by SPaCE into signing an agreement to limit hours. He called Wall an exemplary operator who has run nightlife establishments in Lower Manhattan for more than 40 years. I detest that SPaCE is painting this (application) as a bait and switch, said Schwedt. He claimed that the block association agreed to support an extension of hours after six months. Saluggis, the owners say, is suffering because it must kick customers out at 2 a.m., at which point they head right across the street to another bar (La Flaca) that stays open until 4 a.m.

The Saluggis team submitted a letter of support from their landlord, the Seward Park Cooperative. Two longtime community members also testified in favor of the application. Bill Frazer, who runs the flower shop across from Saluggis, said he eats there about three days a week. I would hate to see them leave, said Frazer, after making a place thats beneficial for the neighborhood. Don West, president of the 7th Precinct Community Council, agreed that Saluggis is running a good, family-oriented business. West, a former board president of the co-op, criticized Seward Park for insisting on a, very high rent for the restaurant. Since residents of the Grand Street cooperative tend not to support local businesses, said West, Saluggis must attract customers from other parts of the neighborhood, who expect late night hours.

But Emma Culbert, president of SPaCE, said a 4 a.m. permit is a different beast than the original concept pitched by Saluggis. There is genuine concern about what it would turn into, said Culbert, if extended hours are approved. The creep of nightlife (southward from the area north of Delancey Street) is a constant concern, she added. Culbert also said SPaCe never agreed to support a 4 a.m. permit after six months, but only agreed to consider it. A representative of the Orchard Street Block Association also spoke out against the proposal.

A community board member, Lisa Kaplan, said she was worried about what happens if Saluggis goes out of business. We dont know who the next applicant would be, said Kaplan. [While every new nightlife establishment must apply for a permit from the State Liquor Authority, previously licensed locations are usually approved.]

A public member of the committee, Andrew Chase, also voiced skepticism about the application. Chase lives in the nearby East River Co-op and is co-owner of Cafe Katja on Orchard Street. This is hard for me to say, he explained, but if you are in this for the long haul, you will become successful (without extending your hours). Chase added, for me, its too much of an ask too soon.

While acknowledging financial struggles, Christopher Keane, the co-owner, responded that Saluggis has no intention of going out of business anytime soon.

Schwedt argued that extended hours could, mean the difference between life and death, in a brutal NYC restaurant environment. In the end, though, the owners reluctantly withdrew their application in the face of stiff opposition from board members.
Writer and broadcaster Caitlin Moran says we are living in a golden age for women in television but real equality is still lacking.

She voiced her concern that ethnic groups were seriously under-represented on the screen as she called on TV bosses to do more to bridge the gap.

Well-known for her passionate feminism, her comments came as she attended the Bafta television nominations on Tuesday.

Sarah Lancashire as Catherine in Happy Valley (Ben Blackall/BBC/PA)

Praising writer Sally Wainwright and actress Sarah Lancashire, who were both tipped for their work on Happy Valley, she told the Press Association: I dont think there has ever been a better time to be a woman involved in TV than there is now but we are still so far behind in terms of what would be true equality.

Similarly with diversity  if I were a person of colour in this country, I would probably not be watching more than an hour and a half of TV a month at the moment, there is so little there.

It could be incredible, think of all the stories that havent been told yet. Lets start making those stories.

Caitlin Moran (Ian West/PA)

But writer and actress Michaela Coel, who last year won two Baftas for her breakthrough show Chewing Gum, gave a more positive view of progress in the industry.

She hosted the central London event alongside Broadchurch star Andrew Buchan as the pair read out best actor nods for Adeel Akhtar and Babou Ceesay.

Year after year we are thinking about it more and I feel that over the last three or four years there has been a desire to recognise people from diverse backgrounds and put them on a platform, she said.

But production companies still have a long way to go in actually making work for those people and that will then be reflected in who is nominated.

Michaela Coel (Yui Mok/PA)

Bafta chairwoman Jane Lush added: I think with the diversity argument, people are listening and you can see that it is reflected and change is happening.

It is good to see established talents like Benedict Cumberbatch (also nominated in the leading actor category) coming against much less familiar faces  it is a great thing for the viewers, the industry and Bafta.

The final Virgin TV Bafta winners will be announced on May 14 in a ceremony hosted by Sue Perkins at Londons Royal Festival Hall.
Dr Christian Jessen, presenter of Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies, is calling for boys to be offered the HPV vaccine and is working with retail store Boots to give people a chance to get the jab.

The HPV vacccine prevents the human papillomavirus, spread by close physical contact and sex. The virus is the main cause of cervical cancer in women, and since 2008 the injection has been offered by the NHS to girls aged 12-13, who receive the course of injections at school. Boys are not currently offered the vaccine on the NHS, although they can catch and spread HPV.

Dr Jessen The Independent is appealing for boys and men to also receive the vaccination. He told"We know that pretty much all cervical cancer is caused by HPV, by vaccinating boys as well as girls we should see a dramatic reduction in cervical cancer, if not eradicate it completely'.

responsible The HPV virus comes in over 100 variations. Although most of these are harmless and carriers will receive no side effects, some strains of the virus arefor 93% of anal cancer and 36% of penile cancers.

"In order to further reduced the transmission of the HPV virus, its important that both girls and boys are vaccinated," Jessen says.

one in three In the UK, it is estimated thatpeople who are sexually active carry the virus. It is transmitted by sex, but skin-to-skin contact can often be enough for the virus to spread. HPV is also responsible for genital warts.

Boots scheme The privateis available at 68 stores nationwide. Males and females between the ages of 12-44 will be able to receive the course of injections in-store, but at a price. 12-14 year olds must pay 300 for two injections, whilst anyone over 15 will be charged 450 for their necessary course of three jabs.

Images: Twitter, @DoctorChristian; Pixabay;
Victoria Anderson, Cardiff University

Rachel Dolezal, the former branch president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) who gained global notoriety in 2015 after being outed as a white woman pretending to be black, is back with a new book on race.

Dolezal, who is ethnically German, now claims that she is transracial, a condition she compares to transgenderism. By this she means that although she was born white, she identifies with being black, arguing that race is a social construct.

Arkathman/Wikipedia, CC BY-SA Rachel Dolezal speaking at Spokane rally, May 2015.

Dolezal complains of further victimisation because transracialism is not recognised in the same way as transgenderism. And Dolezal sees herself as triply stigmatised; because of her race, because of her trans status and also because of the perceived illegitimacy of this status.

For someone like me, concerned both with race and with the role of narrative in culture, the narrative spun by Dolezal is both confounding and uniquely fascinating. In an interview with BBC Newsnight, she announced  not incorrectly, in my view  that race is a lie. At the same time, she laid claim to the transracialism that she demands to be accepted as a truth.

But while Dolezal has been roundly  to borrow from the old slave spiritual  rebuked and scorned by many, her claim deserves to be considered seriously. Is there really such a thing as transracialism, or is Dolezal correct in her simultaneous  if contradictory  assertion that race is a lie? Because in a binary universe, the two statements cannot both be true.

Id like to tell you a story. I found it in a book of folklore collected from real folk in the American Deep South at around the turn of the last century. The story is about a black girl who is magically transformed into a white girl. While shes the white girl she lives a charmed life, like Cinderella at the ball. But when she becomes a black girl again, she not only loses all her privileges but worse, is accused of having murdered the now-vanished white girl, and is sentenced to hang.

Now, I wont tell you the whole story. But passing  when a person with mixed African and European ancestry is sufficiently light-skinned to pass for a white person  has a long history in the United States . This was no small matter, since during slavery, those who passed successfully may have been able to escape and remain undetected, living free within the white community.

Of course, this meant that, unlike the black girl in the story, any person who passed would need to have a substantial amount of European ancestry. Dolezal, who cosmetically modifies her skin-tone and hair-texture to assume some characteristics associated with African descent, appears to all intents and purposes as a person of mixed European and African ancestry.

Black and white

Patti Smiths 1978 track, Rock n Roll Nigger , plays with the construction of black identity, arguing in her song for a positive re-appropriation of blackness and that nigger applies to anyone excluded from mainstream society: Jimi Hendrix was a nigger, Jesus Christ and Grandma too, Jackson Pollock was a nigger, nigger, nigger, nigger. The idea that identities are constructed and performed has gained credence in recent decades, not least associated with the academic Judith Butlers ideas around performativity (Pdf)  the idea that gender roles, in particular, are largely performed as a result of acculturation and expectation rather than representing innate characteristics.

But racial identities  and race as we understand it  were constructed in support of a political caste system in a way that gendered identities were largely not, and are wholly bound up in recent legacies of slavery and colonialism.

As generations passed, ideas of black and white were further complicated by the complex striations of racial coding that were implemented both during and after slavery, across the Americas, as a consequence of voluntary and involuntary coupling between Europeans and Africans.

This led to a dizzying taxonomy of racial mixes , including (but not confined to) so-called mulattoes, quadroons, octoroons, tercerons, quintroons and beyond, depending on how many generations back a persons African ancestry was traced. A person might be able to pass as white if their direct African ancestry was three or four generations removed  although if their relative blackness was discovered, it was a source not only of shame but was a precondition of legal slavery.

The reason why any of this is important is because we must recognise that the history of race is two things. Its both a fallacy, created in support of a master-slave caste system; and its a complex taxonomy based on continental and ethnic inheritance.

At no level beyond metaphor is it an identity that can be selected, because the whole point of any caste system is to create fixed separations of power that cannot be changed or chosen. If they could, then everyone would choose to belong to the privileged caste  which would render the whole caste system meaningless. At the same time, inheritance is not an accident of birth. It is not a Y chromosome rather than an X, but based on real people in ones familial line and whose histories cannot be erased retroactively.

Dolezalss problem is this: to choose ones racial identity irrespective of inheritance is tantamount to an admission that race does not exist. It would be one thing to adopt a black identity as a show of political resistance and solidarity, but Dolezal is instead in danger of laying claim to what is arguably a racist fantasy of blackness. If we fail to take her seriously, we run the risk both of ignoring the critical issues at stake and, worse, accepting uncritically Dolezals repurposing of racial ideology. If we are to accept that there is any such thing as transracial then it should be as an opportunity for all of us to transcend the politically expedient but specious categories of race.

Instead, by claiming race as some kind of mysterious inner state divorced either from its political, historical or ethnic specificity, Dolezal could do the opposite of transcending race; rather, she runs the risk of reinforcing racial and racist models by insisting that race is an innate, inner experience rather than something imposed from without.

If Dolezal is genuine in her claim that race is a lie, then she must recognise that her claims to transracialism are also lies. She simply cannot have it both ways; because race either is, or it isnt.
Increasingly popular on social media and a long-standing part of the South American backpacker trail, Colombia has much to offer in its rich cultural history and flourishing landscapes.

For budding photographers, Colombia offers beautiful cobbled streets, vibrant colonial buildings and perfect white sand beaches.

For those in search of adventure, in Colombia you are never far from nature trails, hiking spots, and prime locations for water, land and air sports.

Where to go

Begin your travels through Colombia in Cartagena, a picture-perfect fishing village on the Caribbean coast. It is the cornucopia of Colombian cuisine, boasting bursting fresh fruits, huge seafood platters, and one of the best cups of coffee in the world. Its also buzzing with beautiful independent shops and markets; a bargain-hunters dream!

South of Cartagena is the infamous Medellin. Known as the drug capital of Colombia during the reign of Pablo Escobar, the city has since been reformed to one of beautiful high rise buildings and bustling Saturday nights. If youre a fan of techno and reggae, a night out in Medellin is the one for you, with discos attracting young, beautiful people from all neighbouring cities.

To the southwest of Medellin lies the gritty, passionate city of Cali. Extremely proud of their cultural heritage, the people of Cali sure know how to dance to a beat, and that beat is normally always salsa. So if youre looking for a chance to boogey with the locals, this is the place to be. Its vibe is infectious, making it one of those cities youll always find time to come back to.

If youre looking for an escape, a perfect paradise, head 800km northwest of Columbia to the island of San Andres. The seahorse shaped island is covered in tall palm trees which open up to reveal perfect white sand beaches and crystal clear blue waters. It is the ultimate snorkelling and diving location, with excellent visibility of the busy coral reefs.

What to do

View Bogota from above

The best way to view the sprawling, high-altitude capital of Bogota with all its botanical attractions is from above.

We recommend taking a trip on the Aerial Tramway which travels all the way up Mount Monserrate, giving incredible panoramic views of the city below.

Walk on the wild side

Tayrona National Park covers thousands of hectares of both rainforest land and sparkling blue seas, making it the perfect destination for adventure. Walk barefoot along the sandy beaches, drink fresh coconut water, hike among the robust cacti which balance precariously on the hills, and perhaps even encounter one of the 56 endangered species that inhabit the park.

The park makes the perfect day trip, just remember to bring your mosquito repellent!

Climb the stairway to the perfect panorama

Just two hours drive from Medellin you will find El Penon de Guatape, or The Rock of Guatape, which has a rich cultural importance for the inhabitants of the Guatape region. If youre feeling brave, you can climb the 659 steps to reach the peak of the rock, which sits 2,135 metres above sea level.

It may seem daunting at first, but its absolutely worth it for the view from the top.

Sample cultural delights in Barranquilla

Boasting as the second largest carnival celebration in the world, the Carnival of Barranquilla is one of Colombias most culturally and historically important celebrations. The carnival takes place in the four days leading up to Ash Wednesday, so if youre lucky enough to travel through Colombia during this period this is a must-see.

Colourful carnival dancing, pumping salsa beats, and a plethora of cultural performances are on display throughout the four days. Not to mention its a haven for festival foodies.

Eat out in Cartagena

The Cartagena cuisine is arguably reason enough to take a trip to Colombia, filled with hundreds of seaside restaurants and cafes. Firstly, grab yourself a cup of perfectly brewed coffee and a warm pastry to keep you powered through a morning of people watching.

In the afternoon and late evening, the streets will be bustling with street vendors selling ceviche, which is a specialty in Cartagena. The mixture of freshly caught raw fish, citrus juices and spices make for a light, refreshing snack.

As the evening rolls around, bars and clubs will open up. This is your chance to get your hands on Cartagenas most special drink: coconut lemonade. Not only is it refreshing and light, but itll also give your stomach some room to fill with delicious octopus paella, juicy sirloin steak and maybe even a chocolate fondant (or two).

Swing high in the trees

If youre looking for a total chill-out day, head across to Casa Elemento in Minca. Up high on the side of a mountain, the resort has a restaurant, pool, and bar where you can rest with a mango mojito in one hand and a book in the other.

If youre feeling adventurous, you can clamber to the top of the climbing wall and lie in a huge, wide hammock overlooking the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Doctor Who newcomer Pearl Mackie has said it is about time the show featured an openly gay character as the Time Lords official companion.

She will play new sidekick Bill Potts to Peter Capaldis Doctor when the new series airs this weekend.

Her role has made headlines in recent weeks as it marks the first time the show has clearly defined a characters same-sex sexuality.

But, claiming that it is only the creators phrasing that has changed, Pearl told ITVs Good Morning Britain: Arguably there have been lots of gay characters on Doctor Who previously.

Bill will ask viewers burning Tardis questions (Des Willie/BBC/PA)

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?

The creator of the shows tenth series, Steven Moffat, has previously agreed that Bills sexuality should not be anything to fuss about.

According to the Mirror, he said: Just to be clear, we are not expecting any kind of round of applause or pat on the back for that.

The correct response should be what took you so long?

Instead, he has told how her role will be to pose the questions about the Doctors history that new viewers might be asking.

She has a different bunch of questions  what are the questions that a real person flung into the Doctors life would ask? he said.

Ive set this challenge to all the writers  what is she going to ask him?

The moment you open that up it starts to define her  where is the toilet on the Tardis, thats a really reasonable question.

The upcoming series, which broadcasts on BBC One at 7.20pm on Saturday, will be Moffats last as lead writer and executive producer. He will be replaced by Chris Chibnall.
A diner is accused of treating himself to a feast of lobster, oysters and booze at a restaurant before fleeing into the sea, leaving his $621 bill unpaid.

said Police in Queensland, Australia,a man had been charged after he ordered and consumed a substantial amount of seafood and alcohol from a restaurant on Seaworld Drive, before running away.

ABC News According to, the man in question was 33-year-old Terry Peck  an aspiring rapper who goes by the name 2pec  and he ordered lobsters, oyster shooters, a baby octopus and several beers at Omeros Bros Restaurant in Queensland before scarpering.

He was chased by restaurant staff onto Main Beach, where he then jumped into the ocean.

Police attempted to coax him out to no avail and so were towed out on the back of a jet-ski and arrested him in the middle of the waters.

According to ABC, having being granted bail at the hearing, Peck described lobsters as overcooked and claimed there was oyster shell left in his oyster shot.

Police said a man was charged with stealing and two counts of serious assault of a police officer, and appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.

Hell be returning to court on May 4.
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Phuket Chinese tour bus amid 'brake failure' rams cars on Patong Hill

PHUKET: A Phuket tour bus carrying 30 Chinese tourists back to their hotel in Patong suffered a reported brake failure at the bottom of Patong Hill yesterday evening (April 13), causing a five-car pile-up.

patongtourismtransportaccidentsChinesepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Friday 14 April 2017, 01:32PM

The Phuket tour bus was carrying 30 Chinese tourists when it rammed the cars on Patong Hill. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The Phuket tour bus was carrying 30 Chinese tourists when it rammed the cars on Patong Hill. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The Phuket tour bus was carrying 30 Chinese tourists when it rammed the cars on Patong Hill. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The Phuket tour bus was carrying 30 Chinese tourists when it rammed the cars on Patong Hill. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The driver told police the brakes failed as the bus made the steep descent into Patong.

Lt Col Maj Pattapee Srichai and fellow officers from the Patong Police arrived at the scene, in front of Wat Suwankhiriwong (Wat Patong), at 7:36pm.

The white Mercedes-Benz bus, registered in Nakhon Ratchasima, rammed into the back of a white Toyota Fortuner, reported Col Pattapee.

The Fortuner was then pummeled into a bronze Isuzu, causing an end-to-end chain reaction of one car being shunted into the back of another, he explained.

Among the other cars damaged in the accident were another Isuzu pickup, a Toyota Altis and a Honda Jazz, he added.

Rescue workers and ambulances from Patong Hospital also quickly arrived at the scene, and reported that only five people had sustained minor injuries in the pile-up.

Officers took an hour to clear the damaged vehicles from the scene amid heavy traffic, which included long tailbacks all the way back over the hills to Kathu.

The bus, operated by Ningbo Yonglin Travel Co Ltd, was carrying 30 Chinese tourists and three guides from a restaurant near Chalong Bay Pier back to the Bauman Residence Hotel, in Sai Kaew Rd, when the accident happened, reported police.

Officers have yet to conclude their investigation into the claims of brake failure and have yet to press any charges against the bus driver for the accident.
USD women's basketball to show what new group can do following Sweet 16
By Saiham Sharif

sharifsa@grinnell.edu

Khurram Hussein, a professor of religious studies at Lehigh University, came to Grinnell on April 11 to deliver a lecture entitled called Can the Muslim Speak? He proposed that discussion of Muslim identity should not be restricted, moving from one end of the simplistic good/bad dichotomy to the other. Hussein discussed the fact that Muslims and other marginalized groups are shoehorned into existing under one identity, but he worked throughout the talk to discuss this in a way audiences could understand.

Husseins universal reach was evident before he began his speech. Caleb Elfenbein, religious studies, who specializes in Islam and Middle Eastern History, introduced Hussein. Elfenbein shared an anecdote from when he and Hussein met long before the talk. It was at an academic conference and they read each others research. Elfenbein, after reading Husseins paper, shared that he felt as though [he] had written to me. Hussein humorously injected, Not really. One could find this type of sarcastic humor permeating his speech as well.

Hussein began his lecture with a purposely inflammatory statement. In the immediate aftermath of the events of 9/11 Muslims everywhere were possessed by a strange jubilation.

He went on to discuss various Muslim groups who supported the attacks and opposed American values  he said that Muslims in Beirut and East Jerusalem rejoiced at the events of 9/11.

Given his sarcastic sense of humor and the conspicuous absurdity of the statement  surely, few Muslims could take pleasure in terrorist attacks  it seemed as though Hussein was building towards a sarcastic joke.

Instead of delivering the punchline, he asked a sobering question Was Islam hijacked by extremists or were Muslims themselves in the grip of an evil ideology?

To the chagrin of the audience, he continued to share negative portrayals of Islam, reading a passage from the popular novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist, in which the main character, a young Muslim man, becomes disillusioned with America and surprisingly finds himself taking pleasure in the events of 9/11. All of this suggested a defense for negative views of Islam.

Yet he immediately countered his previous case defending negative views of Islam by quoting an unlikely figure, George Bush. He quoted a line from the speech Bush gave immediately after 9/11, that Islam is a religion of peace.

As Hussein brings up, Bush in this speech upholds that Muslims are Americans. Their coexistence is not a contradiction, although many today would argue otherwise.

Empathy comes with a price, he said.

Hussein went on to talk about the kind of empathy that unconditionally demands believing in the good of the group. [Muslims] must profess [their] professed peace.

At the crux of his speech, Hussein brought together common dialogue surrounding Muslim identity, including the loaded phrases religion of peace and religion of violence. Hussein himself took the word peace to task. As a Muslim, he shared that he disliked the idea of Islam being called a religion of peace. He borrowed from Gandhi, who persistently affirmed that he was not a man of peace, but rather a man of action.

By presenting popular portrayals that force Muslims to exist in a space where they are either good or bad, Hussein elucidated the constraints placed on Muslim identity. At the end of his speech, he asked the audience to avoid the either/or dichotomy. His speech, constructed to dissuade the audience from siding with either end of this spectrum, provides an outline for engaging with others in a way that will elevate discussions of Muslim identity.
In times of turmoil, The Scarlet & Black staff finds it imperative for media outlets to provide comprehensive and objective expositions on current events. To do so requires publications to decide on whether they prioritize sales over informing their readership. As publications have chosen revenue, they have sensationalized the news to the point of disrespecting victims of strife and alienating parts of the public. Our staff aims to connect current events to and include the wide range of voices found on our campus community. In turn, we appreciate any constructive criticisms from readers who feel as though we have not maintained our goal.

The S&B staff felt it was imperative to address this issue after we noticed a bombardment of sensational reporting by many publications. Within pieces meant to present news, journalists have included their own viewpoints and misconstrued the fact of the matter. From failing to call white supremacists terrorists as they commit violence against citizens of color, to portraying victims of sexual assault as people who caused their own harm to representing victims of police brutality as thugs, publications have failed the public as they use misleading language when dealing with sensitive issues. For the most nuanced issues, publications that view themselves as trustworthy have the duty to use language rooted in journalistic accuracy.

Although it is easy to consider the College as a bubble, we come to the College from various backgrounds that affect our interactions on and off campus. Even when we remain within our so-called bubble, we must care about what happens outside of it. This is why The S&B wants to take the opportunity to report on nuanced issues, to distill the news and contextualize it for our local readership.

In addition, The S&B staff condemns publications use of gruesome and invasive photos of victims as props to heighten the audiences interest. Photos and videos can provide necessary evidence of wrongs committed against victims. However, we encourage journalists, activists and anyone using social media platforms to distinguish between shock value and informing the public. We understand that sometimes the line between the two blur, but to be a legitimate publication and inform the public on current events, writers should keep in mind the intent of their work before publishing. Is the point of journalism to sell papers, or to inform an audience?

Media outlets can support good reporting by passing the pen to the people affected by current events. When reporting on sensitive issues without doing so, journalists often let their biases show in their final product. Yet, encouraging affected individuals to speak is easier said than donemany people affected by controversial issues cannot or may not want to speak on their experiences. We also cannot assume that individuals from the same demographic share identical experiences. The voyeuristic approach that many reporters have taken distorts the context of the issues they cover. Journalism should expose conflicts, but to do so effectively, journalism must include and appeal to those directly involved. Therefore, journalists must confront their own biases and present news as respectfully as possible.

The S&B works to serve our community. If at any time you feel we have not reported on an issue that is relevant to community members or have failed to properly contextualize an event, please let us know. As student journalists, we welcome learning opportunities. In that spirit, we welcome anyone who expresses interest in writing, whether it be for reporting on events on campus to penning editorials. Our paper can only be as strong as the commitment of students engagement with current events.
By Jenkin Benson 17

bensonje17@grinnell.edu

It is harrowingly American to fawn over and exalt war. For most my life, the United States has been engaged in several neo-imperialist military conflicts, escalations and occupations across the Middle East that have all been guised as an expression of Americas strive to foster international liberal democracy and quell the spread of jihadist terrorism. While the American publics approval of ground troops and invasions fluctuates, Americans are either content or unaware of the United States aggressive, neoliberal international economic policy and drone warfare.

With the post-modernity following WWII came a near full desensitization to war. The Cold War and its ideological descendent, The War on Terror, have accustomed the American people to a state of political being aptly deemed by Gore Vidals Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace, as a policy of continuous military activity and public exposure to said activity through mediums like television and the internet. Americas reserved acceptance of militarism did not just form of its own accord; state apparatuses aligned with the political elite have long be a major tool of justifying and, in turn, valorizing Americas gruesome imperial presence, most notably through news media.

History repeats itself. News programming helped to validate Americas post-9/11 crusade and once more the media class has already begun to sell the American public another conflict in Syria. Just last week Brian Williams, a man so enamored with the concept of on-the-ground war reporting that he lied about being violently engaged in Iraq, invoked Leonard Cohen and described the firing of over 50 tomahawk missiles as the beauty of our weapons. The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, CNN, NPR, and many others have already published pieces both implicitly and explicitly calling for American military intervention into Syria, a decision that as history proves in Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq would only be disastrous and further destabilizing. In an era of exaggerated fear of fake news, the real pressing issue seems to be warmongering assessments from news outfits that fiercely want to preserve Americas hegemonic facade of moral high ground.

All these publications and news programs, the purported resistance to Trumpism, pivoted immediately as Trump reverted into a typical federal warhawk, sickeningly praising his stalwart condemnation of the Assad regimes possible usage of chemical weaponry. In an instant, President Trump went from a Putin-puppet fascist to a true American executive moved by his sympathy for the Syrian people. In America apparently, one is not presidential until they use missiles to kill people. Center-left American popular media, despite their proclaimed allegiance to facts, is in no way the resistance to Trumps horrendous policies. If anything, The New York Times, MSNBC and others need Trump  they need the success story of his transformation into a presidential figure, and they will have no qualms with portraying a war as just and necessary to construct that narrative.

The American center-left establishment and its media arms pride themselves as the enlightened and progressive alternative to the GOPs draconian ideals, but both sides of the aisle remain tyrannically in sync in regards to their distressing foreign policy. What the Democratic Party cannot seem to grasp is that war precludes progress. How can wealth and power be distributed to the marginalized if billions upon billions are being funneled into cluster bombs and botched drone strikes? If the editors of the Huffington Post and Vox and etc. want to truly resist hard right ideology and its refuting of fact, they should reject falsely legitimized wars and take an absolute stance in opposition to militarism. Anything less is insufficient.
By Alice Herman

hermanal@grinnell.edu

This Monday, April 10, the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers (UGSDW) and the student organization Union Labor Advocates (ULA) protested Grinnell Colleges exclusion of high school student employees from a pay raise negotiated by the Union last year.

The Union, which was created in response to what UGSDW president Cory McCartan 19 called a pattern of understaffing and a lack of accountability on the side of the students, was initially met with skepticism by Dining Services employees. One employee and student, Charlotte Richardson-Deppe 19, released an op-ed in May 2016 opposing the creation of the Union in which she cited the Unions inability to protect full-time Dining Services staff, whose work shifts are not covered by the UGSDW.

In recent communications with Grinnell College and the student body, however, UGSDW has emphasized the importance of inclusivity for College staff not currently enrolled in classes: From the start, it had been our goal  to include not just college students, but anyone who worked the same kind of jobs [in our contract]. Because it shouldnt matter what kind of person you are, just that youre doing the same kind of work, said McCartan. The comments came in response to what UGSDW treasurer Quinn Ercolani 20 called a blatant violation of the contract by the College for declining to increase the hourly wages for high school employees who work the same shifts as their college student co-workers.

Kelly Edgington, a Marketplace supervisor, commented that high school workers are very dependable. Im glad that the Union is fighting for them to get the same wage  my feeling is theyre doing the same job as the college students standing alongside them, and they should be paid the same wage.

The UGSDW contract, negotiated last year, states that the College recognizes the Union as the exclusive representative of all employees of Grinnell College Dining Services who regularly work in one or more of the following shifts: Afternoon Service/Utility, Bakers Helper, Beverages  the list includes 40 shift titles, many of which are held by employees not enrolled at Grinnell College. In Article IV: Wages, the contract states that Employees covered by this Agreement shall be paid a base hourly wage of $9.25 per hour. This wage reflects a raise of $0.75 from the previous wage for employees working under the shift titles listed in the contract.

Earlier this semester, it was brought to the attention of UGSDW representatives that high school students had not been included in the negotiated pay raise and the Union proceeded to file a grievance with the College. To file a grievance, the Union is required to first contact a Dining Services supervisor, and if the grievance is not settled by the supervisor, then the Union may contact the director of Dining Services. In the case that a dispute cannot be put to rest with upper management, the grievance moves along to a neutral arbitration board comprised of faculty and SGA members.

According to Ercolani, the grievance did not proceed as stipulated in the contract. They refused arbitration, which was a blatant breach of contract. And under the National Labor Relations Board standards, this can be considered both failure to bargain in good faith and making unilateral changes to the contract without consulting the other party, Ercolani said. So once that happened, we realized we couldnt work within the grievance procedure anymore. We tried that, we have this set up with the College for a reason, and they said no.

The Colleges spokesperson on the issue, Vice President of Human Relations Mary Greiner, wrote in an email to The S&B that when the student union representatives recently asked to include high school students in the union membership, the College turned to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for clarifying guidance regarding the groups membership definition and eligibility of high school students thereunder. The NLRB has not yet responded to this inquiry. Because the NLRB had not yet responded to the inquiry, Greiner wrote, the College did not allow the grievance to move on to arbitration.

The Union has since filed a complaint with the NLRB claiming that the College has violated the contract by not including high school students in the Union-negotiated pay raise and refusing arbitration. The College will proceed with the assistance of labor lawyer Frank Harty, whose practice focuses on employment litigation, collective bargaining, contract administration and labor arbitration.

Greiner wrote on Monday that there is no animosity between the College and the student union, which Ercolani confirmed. Still, one full-time Dining Services employee noted that Dining Services employees do not perceive the College as union-friendly: Quite frankly  I dont think the administration would like it if we unionized  its too bad, we have people who have a hard time raising the family, budgeting their money  and theres many people who work two jobs just to make it go.
Amy Brown has lived all over the world, yet she decide to settle down in the small city of Grinnell in the middle of Iowa.

Brown has only been a resident of Grinnell for six years since she accepted a position at Burling Library with the College, but in that time she has become very involved with the community and watched the town develop before her.

Grinnell seems to be like one of the lucky towns, Brown said. when we moved here in 2011, we had driven through other places where there were a lot of things closed  but I noticed Grinnell had a lot of shops open.

Brown values her ties with the community. She aims to shop local to support the townspeople. She is currently a member of the local quilting guild, an activity that helped her make friends and have an immediate connection to the town when she first moved to Grinnell.

Grinnells quick connections and neighborly attitudes resonate with Brown. If you need anything, someone knows somebody, Brown said.

Brown grew up in a military family and has lived all over the country and the world.

I came to Iowa in ninth grade. And we picked Iowa because its where my mother is from, Brown said.

Brown then followed in her fathers footsteps and joined the military when she was 18. Ever since she was little, Brown has moved from place to place.

While enlisted in the military, Brown met Jerry, the man she would soon marry. They were married right after Browns time in the military was up. Both Brown and her husband knew they wanted kids, and they realized they wanted to raise them in the Midwest. But Brown couldnt stay settled in one place long, and she knew it was time to move to a new place.

I had itchy feet because I was so used to moving, even though I was content and had family [close]. Because both my husband and I lived abroad as children, it was really important that we expose our kids to that, Brown said.

Her children had such a positive experience overseas, so they decided to continue living overseas. Brown notes the positive impact of their international travels, as it had a profound effect on them.

Brown wanted her children to be global citizens. I dont know if they could have had that if I stayed in Oskaloosa, Iowa, Brown said.

After their second time in England, Brown felt it was time to move back to the Midwest. Brown was deciding between living in Des Moines or Iowa City, two places with very different atmospheres from Grinnell. I wanted to be a little bit more close to Target, Brown added with a laugh.

Browns friend from Oskaloosa recommended Grinnell to Brown, mostly because of the College. [I was told] youre going to meet people from everywhere, every race, every religion. And that Grinnell was a perfect and [I would] love it, she said.

Brown made the decision to move to Grinnell without knowing much about the town. After doing research on the College, President Kington and how liberal the school was, Brown knew it was right for her.

Brown began working at Burling in 2012 and she has been working for the college ever since.

Everything lined up and I was lucky, says Brown.

Grinnell College has also influenced Brown and her family. Her children were inspired by the small liberal arts school and have attended other private liberal arts colleges.

Moving around has made Brown very open to change. I know that in five years I could be somewhere else, she noted. Brown tends to go with the flow and tries to not plan out too much of her future  after all, she may be traveling the world soon.

about the physical environment, having been to a lot of other places. The other plus of Grinnell is actually its location too, Van Dyke said. Its an hour, give or take, to Iowa City, Ames, Des Moines, Cedar Falls for cultural events that you just cant support in a town this size. Its not an impossibility to drive an hour and see some of those things.
By Zane Silk

silkzane@grinnell.edu

Last weekend, Grinnell College hosted the third iteration of Pioneer Weekend, which is an innovation competition that seeks to build entrepreneurship and leadership skills among students. This years nine teams, consisting of 33 students, in total competed for a top prize of $2,000 and a scholarship for the University of Iowa-sponsored Venture School program. The event was sponsored by the Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership and organized by Mark Schwabacher 17 and Ajuna Kyaruzi 17, along with Katie Herbert 20 and Jeman Park 20.

Students in teams of two to five work towards turning an idea that they pitch on Friday into a final presentation that they present on Sunday. So Friday they meet up, people give ideas, Saturday they get mentored by some alumni and professors, and then they work on it all day Saturday, they do some research. Then on Sunday they present it and prizes are won, Kyaruzi said.

This year, the judges for the event were Pete Brownell, the CEO of the Poweshiek County-based Brownells, which manufactures gun parts and accessories; Dave Tominsky, the manager of the Iowa Startup Accelerator and Diane Marty 92 who owns a social enterprise consulting firm in Kansas City, Missouri.

The winning idea the judges chose was The Bail Abolition Network, a consultancy firm that would address the issue of high bail costs by helping communities create local bail funds and advocate for bail policy reform. Dylan Ambrosoli 18, Nathan Calvin 18, Nomalanga Shields 18 and Myles Becker 19 comprised the team. Second place, which came with a $1,000 check, went to We-Tinerary, a trip-sharing platform for connecting students travelling to the same location and thereby reducing their costs. Finally, third place and $500 was awarded to Why Eye Care, a proposed a business built around leasing lasers to opticians performing cataract surgeries in an effort to make the procedure more affordable.

The first Pioneer Weekend was organized in 2014, but the event was not hosted again the following year. Then, in 2016, Kyaruzi sought to revive the event, and she brought Schwabacher and two other students on board to help put it on. Now in its second year since being revived, Kyaruzi and Schwabacher are hoping that Pioneer Weekend becomes an established event that takes place annually for years to come.

We want to promote the idea that when you leave Grinnell you dont necessarily have to join something that someone else has started, you can go out there into the world and start it on your own. And one of the really positive effects of this is that it connects people to resources that we have right here in Iowa, such as the Iowa Startup Accelerator, Schwabacher said.

A really unique aspect of the event is the Wilson Leadership Council, which is a bunch of alumni that are meeting during that weekend, come in and act as mentors with the groups  They are alums who come back who are working in venture capital, or own their own companies, and each of them will meet every team and share their opinions, Schwabacher said.

Unlike purely networking events, Pioneer Weekend was a chance to meet people in an environment that is much less contrived.

Its really natural with alumni and with the judges, because youre there and youre there for a reason youre there to sell something that youre passionate about and that you spent all weekend working on, so theyre a lot of great dynamics, Schwabacher explained.

Next year, Herbert and Park will hopefully take the reins and Pioneer Weekend will shift to the fall so that it can be incorporated into a course on entrepreneurship and also so that the organizers can follow up with the teams throughout the year and connect them with resources.
Indian students will continue to be in demand in the United States as they have been gaining advanced knowledge and technical skills, experts feel.

They believe that that the Trump administration's proposed bar on H1B visas will have no impact on Indian students as reforms are driven by the industry's need for advanced knowledge and skills.

"As Indian students have been gaining advanced knowledge and technical skills beyond their bachelor's degree, through work experience and advanced degrees such as graduate coursework, they will continue to be in demand," Patrick Phelan, Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University (ASU), told IANS.

Holly Singh, Senior Director of International Students & Scholars Center at the ASU, didn't agree with the view in some sections that the US is no longer an attractive destination for Indian students and pointed out that the country is still the leader in innovation.

A team from the Fulton Schools of Engineering visited India this month to recruit a new batch of international students

ASU's International Students and Scholars Center provides support to transition from graduation to Optional Practical Training (OPT) and an H1B visa. "This unit has trained staff and counselors who support students in obtaining their OPT. The Fulton Schools of Engineering through its Career Services also holds two career fairs each year," said Singh.

"ASU is number one in innovation two years in a row now. This is because of our focus on providing all of its students with opportunities to succeed in becoming master learners," said Patrick, who is also a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering.

According to statistics, India had the highest number of enrolments at ASU in the engineering master's programme at 54.6 per cent. For the second year in a row, the largest growth was in the number of students from India, primarily at the graduate level and in OPT.

"Indian graduate students form not only the largest cohort of our master's students, but also play a vital role in ASU's engineering research programs at the master's and PhD levels," said Tirupalavanam G. Ganesh, Assistant Dean of Engineering Education and Associate Research Professor of Engineering Education in the Fulton Schools of Engineering.

The number of international students awarded with graduate degrees in engineering increased from just over 300 in academic year 2010-11 to over 1,000 in 2015-16. Over this same time, overall enrollment in Fulton Schools of Engineering grew from over 7,000 to about 20,000.

ASU is home to over 10,000 students from 135 countries and has recorded for its fall session, over 2,000 enrolments from India, alone, while the Fulton Schools have over 1,000 students from India.

ASU offers students the opportunity to be a part over 45 engineering student organisations and student professional societies giving them leadership opportunities and hands-on experience.

The engineering students at ASU have an opportunity to begin their entrepreneurship journey from the moment they start their course, with programmes like the Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative, which awards students with $20,000 in seed funding and office space, or the Innovation Challenge competition which provide places for students to learn more about start-ups, said Ganesh.

The number of foreign students in the US topped 1 million for the first time in 2016. According to the Institute of International Education, engineering as a field of study bought in 216,932 students  20.8 percent of the international student population.
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.
They may not agree to shun tobacco if the doctors tell them. But they have no choice, if it is deitys writ.

In over a dozen villages in remote Lug valley in Kullu and adjoining Chuhar area of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh, the local Gods have made people stay away from tobacco use since ages.

The sale and use of cigarettes, bidis and tobacco products is strictly prohibited in these villages and no one dares break this sacred norm, fearing the deitys wrath.

The local deities are deep rooted in the socio-cultural psyche of the people in the land of Gods HP in many pockets.

The people look to deities for every solution as they influence day to day life of the locals in decision making, whether personal or collective.

In a way, it is psychologically and culturally mandatory for them to obey the deity, who is also the first doctor that the people refer to in case of health ailments, even in emergency when they need to reach the hospital early.

We are not aware of any government law or the awareness programme against tobacco. For us, it is the deitys order and we have to follow it. We cant ask for reasons into this, said Kirpa Ram, 73, of Tuin village.

As per rule, when anyone violated the ban on smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco in the village earlier, he would be asked to sacrifice goat before the deity. However, with the court now banning animal sacrifice in HP three years back, the deity can ask the violators to pay heavy fine.

But the violation never occurs. I havent seen anyone going against the tradition, said Ram Lal, a kardar of local deity Mata Phoongani in Tuin. Kardar is the local deitys administrator.

The locals in Lug valley said the people who come to the village for the first time are informed about the deitys wish against tobacco use prior to their entry in the village. While sign boards are erected at different entry points in some of these isolated villages, the message against smoking or tobacco use is put on palanquin of deities when they go put to participate in local festivals.

The government spends crores of Rupees to aware the people, especially youngsters, shun tobacco use for ill-effects on health. In our area, the faith has kept the youth away from the bad habit of smoking, said Jamuna Devi from Bhalyani.

Apart from Tuin and Bhalyani, Kharka, Shalang, Bhuthi, Samalang and Kalang villages in Lug valley of Kullu and Chuhar valley of Mandi have also prohibited the use of tobacco products.

The outer influence is limited in these isolated pockets, which has kept the age-old faith alive.
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.
Amid the ongoing debate on the issue of Triple Talaq and Uniform Civil Code, a delegation of the Muslim Personal Law board led by general secretary Maulana Mohammed Wali Rahmani met the chairman of the Law Commission of India Justice Balbir Singh on Thursday and handed over scanned copies of signatures from Muslims across the country favouring Sharia laws under Muslim Personal Law. The delegation also opposed the implementation of Uniform Civil Code in the country.

The Constitution of India gives freedom of religion and keeping this in mind, the delegation made it clear that Muslims do not want any change in Sharia laws like Nikah, Halala and Talaq," Wali Rahmani of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board told The Statesman.

"We want the government not to interfere in any religious and Sharia matters, he added.

The Board said it had submitted a total of 48,347,596 signatures collected from all states in India, including signatures of 27,356,934 of Muslim women.

Triple Talaq and Uniform Civil Code were an important agenda in the BJP manifesto for the recently held Uttar Pradesh elections. It was also reported in media that Muslim women voted for BJP as the party took a position on Triple Talaq.

However, talking to The Statesman earlier, Asaduddin Owaisi rubbished the claims that Muslim women voted for the BJP. He said, There is no data to support this claim, its again propaganda of the saffron party to divide the Muslim community.

If BJP is concerned about Muslim women, why didnt it give tickets to Muslim women in the UP elections? he asked.

A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court is set to begin hearings on the constitutional validity of Triple Talaq next month.
The Canadian government has banned all airlines in the country from forcibly removing passengers from overbooked flights, officials said.

In a letter issued on Thursday to the heads of all airlines that fly in and out of the country, Transport Minister Marc Garneau warned that an incident like the one injuring a passenger aboard a United Airlines flight earlier this week is not allowed to occur in Canada, Xinhua news agency reported.

"I am sure that you were as disturbed as I was, and as all Canadians were, over the appalling incident that took place onboard a United flight earlier this week, when a passenger was forcibly removed from his seat," he wrote.

"I am writing to you today to convey that such an incident would be unacceptable in Canada."

The warning is not only for Canadian airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet, but also to all international airlines that fly in and out of the country.

The minister's letter comes after a passenger named David Dao, 69, was dragged off an overbooked United flight in Chicago on Sunday after refusing to leave his seat to accommodate airline crew members.

Dao was seriously injured by security officers who forced him off the plane against his will, banging his head on armrests in the process.

The minister's warning comes ahead of expected legislation to introduce a passengers' bill of rights in Canada.

The legislation will outline what passengers can expect from airlines in situations such as bumping from overbooked planes or for lost or damaged luggage.
The US military on Thursday dropped a 9,525 kg massive non-nuclear GBU-43 bomb in Afghanistan targeting a series of caves used by the ISIS.

Known as the 'mother of all bombs', the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) was dropped in the Achin district of the Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan.

The White House said that the operation targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters use to move around and target US military as well as Afghan forces.

Here are some facts you must know about the Mother of all Bombs:

1. Developed by Albert Weimorts of the United States military, the bomb was first tested in 2003 during Iraq war. During testing of the bomb, the weapon created a mushroom cloud that could be seen 20 miles away from the blast area.

2. After US, Russia in 2007 also developed another bomb with the name 'Father of All Bombs' claimed to be four times as powerful as the Mother of all Bombs.

3. About 20-feet-long, the GBU-43 can burrow through 200-feet of earth and 60-feet of concrete before detonating.

4. The GPS-guided explosive was dropped via an Lockheed MC-130 transport plane.

5. Costing around $16 million for each bomb, US military has so far made 20 MOABs and has spent some $314 million on the production of the explosive.

6. The 21,700-pound bomb contains 18,700 pounds of H6, an explosive that is a mixture of RDX, TNT, and aluminum. H6 is used by the military for general purpose bombs.

7. According to latest reports, the non-nuclear bomb has killed at least 36 ISIS militants. Afghan officials have ruled out civilian casualties in the bombing.
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.
Despite mounting tension along the border, the trade between Pakistan and India has remained intact since the beginning of the current fiscal year, a media report said on Friday.

A report by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) revealed that Pakistan grew its exports to India during the first eight months of 2016-17 while curtailing imports by 23 per cent, Dawn online reported.

The trade balance, however, remained in favour of India.

The two countries have long been locked in a bitter rivalry. But worsening political relations seem to have little impact on bilateral trade relations, according to trade analysts.

After growing by 14 per cent, exports from Pakistan to India amounted to $286 million in the July-February period. Imports from India fell 23 per cent to $958.3 million from $1,244 million recorded a year ago, the SBP report said.

One reason for Pakistan's improved exports to India is high cement demand in the neighbouring country.

This has offset the negative impact of a decline in Pakistan's cement exports to Afghanistan and South Africa, reports Dawn online.

The SBP said cement exports continued their downward trend, with the largest share in the year-on-year decline in the first half of 2016-17 originating from two marketsSouth Africa and Afghanistan.

"A slight consolation was continued strong demand for Pakistani cement from India. This partially offset the declines witnessed in the two other major markets," the SBP report said.

Meanwhile in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, Pakistan recorded a trade deficit of $672 million with India.

The deficit was $993 million in the same period of the last fiscal year.

Imports from India in 2015-16 were worth over four times the exports from Pakistan, a five-year high.

Pakistan imported goods worth $1.8 billion in 2015-16 compared to the exports of just $400 million, the SBP report added.
Tamil Nadu police registered a case against three sitting ministers and the states special representative to Delhi.

The Chennai police booked sitting AIADMK ministers R.Kamaraj, Udumalai Radhakrishnan, Kadambur Raju and Tamil Nadus special representative to New Delhi N.Thalavai Sundaram, following a police complaint that was filed by income tax sleuths.

The case was registered on Friday, a day after the complaint for harassment and criminal intimidation.

The income tax department on Thursday filed a complaint against the four officials for barging into the residence of state Health Minister Dr C.Vijaya Baskar and accosting the officials who were conducting IT raids at the premises. The complaint also alleged harassment, criminal intimidation and hindering the work of a public official.

The IT officials conducted searches in the properties belonging to Vijaya Baskar and actor-politician Sarath Kumar on April 7. During the raids, the officials had reportedly unearthed various documents that indicated Rs 89 crore cash distribution to voters in RK Nagar. The bypoll was scheduled to be held on April 12.

During the raids, Kamaraj, Udumalai Radhakrishnan, Kadambur Raju, Thalavai Sundaram and other party members were seen outside the premises of Vijaya Baskars residence. The three ministers and the special representative were seen creating a ruckus outside the gate.

The situation was quite tense for a few hours as Vijaya Baskar himself was seen walking out from his house, with his daughter on his shoulders, saying, the officials are harassing me. They did not allow my children to go to school. This is the handiwork of Panneerselvam.

The ministers who went in allegedly harassed a woman officer who was on duty. Sources in the IT department said that the three ministers tried to intimidate the lady officer, following which the IT officials decided to take it forward in the form of a police complaint.

Vijaya Baskar and Sarath Kumar were summoned to the IT office for a detailed enquiry, a day after the raids on April 8. A day later, Sarath Kumars actor-wife Radhikas Radan TV, a television production house, was raided and she too was summoned by the IT department for an enquiry.

The police registering the criminal case against sitting ministers had sent shock waves through the ruling corridor, making it apparent that the AIADMK(Amma) under T.T.V.Dinakaran, though in power, could not match up to the masterful Jayalalithaa.

It is also said that some ministers and MLAs, including seniors like school education minister K.A.Sengottaiyan, are said to have demanded Vijaya Baskars resignation. Again, the IT raids and the complaint, according to sources in the AIADMK, had created difference of opinion among the ministers.

Sources in the government said that most of the ministers were of the opinion that the raids and the complaint brought discredit to the partys imagebeing with Panneerselvam would benefit them.

If more MLAs defect to the Panneerselvam faction, the party might soon be headed for another vertical split.
New Delhi, Apr 14 (IBNS): The Union Ministry of Finance said on Friday that under the Operation Clean Money (OCM), more than 60,000 persons, including 1,300 high risk persons, have been identified for investigation into claims of excessive cash sales during the demonetisation period.

The Ministry said that more than 6,000 transactions of high value property purchase and 6,600 cases of outward remittances shall be subjected to detailed investigations under OCM. All the cases where no response is received shall also be subjected to detailed inquiries.



Extensive enforcement action has been taken by the Government including search and seizure and surveys largely based on the information received during the demonetisation period. More than 2,362 search, seizure and survey actions have been conducted by the Income Tax Department (ITD) between November 9, 2016 and February 28, 2017, the release said.

This led to seizure of valuables worth more than Rs. 818 crore, which included cash of Rs. 622 crore, and detection of un-disclosed income of more than Rs. 9,334 crore.

More than 400 cases have been referred by ITD to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Surveys have been conducted in more than 3400 cases by Assessment Units.



The impact of Government action is already visible in the increase of 21.7 % in the returns of Income received in FY 2016-17, 16% growth in Gross Collection (the highest in the last five years), 14% Growth in Net Collection (the highest in last three years) and above 18%, 25% and 22% growth in Personal Income Tax, Regular Assessment Tax and Self-assessment Tax respectively, the Ministry said.



The Income Tax Department (ITD) launched Operation Clean Money (OCM) on January 31, 2017 to leverage technology for e-verification of cash deposits made during the demonetization period.

The First Phase of Operation Clean Money involved e-verification of cash deposits made in the banks.

The entire phase was conducted online, wherein 17.92 lakh persons, who entered into cash transactions that did not appear to be in line with their tax profile, were identified and requested for on-line responses on such transactions. 9.46 Lakh persons responded on pre-defined parameters of sources of the cash deposits.

Online queries were raised in 35,000 cases and on-line verification was completed in more than 7,800 cases.

ITD decided to close the verification in cases where explanation of source of cash was found to be justified.

In cases where the cash deposit has been declared under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna (PMGKY), the verifications would also be closed.



The operation has now moved into the Second Phase with identification of high risk persons for detailed investigations by the Income Tax Department.

The identification has been done through use of advanced data analytics, including integration of data sources, relationship clustering and fund tracking.

The high risk categories identified include businesses claiming cash sales as the source of cash deposits which is found to be excessive compared to their past profile or industry norms; large cash deposits made by government or Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) employees; persons who have undertaken high value purchases; persons who have used shell entities for layering of funds; and where no responses were received.



The OCM and the subsequent enforcement actions being undertaken by the ITD shall continue to achieve the goal set out by the Government.

The opportunities created by demonetization is being used by the ITD for widening and deepening of the tax base and create deterrence, not seen before, and to curb generation of black money in the Indian economy.

The complete exercise of examining all the doubtful and non-tax compliant accounts may take more than one year but with the help of technology and continuous enforcement action all the liable accounts will be brought to tax, the Ministry said in its release
Muslim women rights activists and feminist activists criticised Hindu Mahasabha officiald for suggesting that all triple talaq and 'nikah halala' victims should embrace Hinduism to get justice.

Hindu Mahasabha General Secretary Pooja Shakun Pandey made the suggestion in Agra on Thursday during a 'Muslim Nari Utthan Yagya', where the activists took an oath to fight against triple talaq.

Activists criticised her statement and said that the Hindu right-wing is not interested in the well-being of Muslim women.

Supreme Court advocate and feminist activist Indira Jaising termed the comment as simply "unconsitutional".

"That comment goes against the right to freely practice your own religion that is guaranteed by Article 25 of the Constitution. It simply undermines the right of these women as it is contrary to the law," Jaising told IANS.

"These victims can remain in their religion and ask for justice. This comment is a Hindu chauvinist comment," she said.

Feminist activist and writer Kamla Bhasin said that Pandey's statement makes it clear that for her organisation it is "not about justice for women, and the purpose is to defame Islam, and promote conversion".

"If a Muslim woman wants to marry a Hindu, let her go to the Mahasabha and say that find me a husband, but I have not heard any Muslim woman who is against triple talaq saying that she wants to marry a Hindu man," Bhasin told IANS on Friday.

"The demand that triple talaq should be eliminated has been a feminist demand. That feminist demand is for justice for women. It is not to hit Muslims by anti-Muslim statements," she said.

"Justice for women is not about defaming Islam or about conversion. Anti-Muslim feeling will not help the country, but a genuine dialogue will," she added.

Shabnam Hashmi wanted to know what the Mahasabha was actually doing for Hindu women who are victims of male chauvinism and sexism.

"Triple talaq should definitely be banned; but what kind of solution is the Mahasabha offering? So many Hindu women are burnt alive for dowry. All the religions are anti-women. Hindu Mahasabha should also come with solutions for problems of Hindu women," Hashmi told IANS.

"Changing the religion is not a solution at all," she said.

Social and women's rights activist Syeda Hameed labelled Pandey's statement as "provocative" and said that it doesn't deserve a lot of attention.

"These are unnecessarily provocative statements to create hatred between one community and the other. They deserve very little attention and very little reaction," she told IANS.

Hameed said that this is just sensationalism and a way to get to media attention.

"We think Hinduism is a beautiful religion. We think Islam is beautiful. We the practitioners have made a mess of it. What the general secretary is saying is not the Hinduism that I understand," she said.

Hameed is one of two women who founded the Muslim Women's Forum (MWF) with the objective of giving women a voice in all matters concerning their lives. She feels that Islam has given a lot of rights to women.

"Islam has given a lot of rights to women. Some 1,450 years ago, when rights of women were unheard of, Islam gave property rights to women which we are now talking about in the 21st century," she said, adding that anti-Islam statements are only about creating distance between different communities.

For feminist writer Nivedita Menon, "Hindu right wing is not in the interest of the Muslim women".

"This statement proves what feminists have been saying for a long time that the Hindu right's interest in triple talaq and polygamy has nothing to do with gender justice. It has to do with the Hindu right-wing politics and homogenizing India," Menon told IANS.

"They are establishing that they are not interested in gender justice and are only interested in the Hindu right-wing agenda of eliminating minority, and all diversity within Hinduism," she added.
India, on Friday, demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the chargesheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of its national Kulbhushan Jadhav and sought consular access to him.

Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, Gautam Bambawale, met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying.

"I have asked for a certified copy of the chargesheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav," Bambawale told PTI.

"They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have again requested the Pakistan foreign secretary to give access to Jadhav so that we can appeal," he said.

Sources in New Delhi said apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhav's family appealing against the verdict.

Pakistan's top military generals had decided not to make any "compromise" on the death sentence given to Jadhav.

The decision was made at a Corps Commanders' conference presided over by Pak army Chief General Qamar Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General 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.

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.
Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri on Thursday said New Delhi and Islamabad needed to restart the stalled peace process for the larger good of the region.

His remark comes amid soaring tensions between the two neighbours after Pakistan awarded a death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

"Pakistan and India relationships are peculiar. No benign neglect will work. Let's not let things drift," Kasuri said at an Indo-Pak seminar in New Delhi organised by the Centre for Peace and Progress.

He, however, steered clear of talking about the Jadhav issue but regretted that "things are not looking pretty good" between the two countries.

Kasuri expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a "sense of history". "He wishes to be part of the history in India-Pakistan relationship."

He said it was impossible to think Pakistan could be isolated diplomatically.

"And for argument sake if India succeeds it will give rise to new conflict. It is counterproductive."
Life returned to normal on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir after train services and internet facilities were restored in the Valley.

Train service between north Kashmir's Baramulla town and Jammu's Bannihal town was resumed after five days.

Internet facility on mobile phones, which had been suspended on April 8, was restored on Thursday evening. Broadband connections on fixed landline also started functioning after a day's interruption.

Markets, other businesses, both public and private transport have started functioning normally throughout the Kashmir Valley.

Government offices, banks and educational institutions were, however, closed because of a public holiday.

Road to the famous hill station of Sonamarg in north Kashmir was opened on Thursday after remaining closed during the winter months.

Very few tourists were seen going to Sonamarg on Thursday because of the heightened tensions in the valley during the last five days.

Officials of the state Tourism Department, however, expect the Valley to have a normal rush of tourists as temperatures in the Indian plains are soaring high early this year.

Both mainstream politicians and the separatists have welcomed visitors to Kashmir.

Local hotels, houseboats, Shikaras floating on the Dal Lake are all spruced up to welcome the visitors this season.
An Islamic State (IS) activist from Kerala is believed to have been killed along with 36 IS militants when the US unleashed a massive GBU-43 bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs", on the terror group's position in a cave network in eastern Afghanistan.



According to Indian intelligence officials, Murshid Mohammed, in his 20s, who hailed from Kasaragode in Kerala, was among the IS militants killed after the US military struck the IS' position in Nangarhar province, near the Pakistan border, on Thursday with a massive 10-tonne missile-powered bomb.



Speaking to IANS, a top intelligence officer in Kasargode said that around Thursday midnight they got information of Mohammed being killed in the US military assault.



"The information of the death came to a relative of Mohammed. Unlike similar news received in February about the death of another youth from here, this time there are no pictures (to establish the death)," the officer said.



A relative of Mohammed received only a message that he was killed, according to the Kerala Police intelligence wing.



The bomb used in the strike is claimed to be the biggest-ever non-nuclear bomb.



It was so massive that it had to be dropped from the rear of a cargo plane, said Pentagon.



Afghan officials said 36 militants were killed in the strike.



"The strike has destroyed an IS headquarters, three IS hideouts along with several bunkers and deep tunnels as well as huge amount of weapons and ammunition," the Afghanistan Defence Ministry statement said.



No civilian was injured in the raid which took place in Mohmand Dara village, Asadkhil area of the district, the statement added.



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, said the US Forces-Afghanistan, which is part of NATO-led Resolute Support.



Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani hailed the attack on the IS position.



"Precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties with this airstrike," the Afghan presidential palace said in a statement.



US President Donald Trump said on Thursday the bombing was "another successful job."



The commander of the US forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, defended the use of the bomb and confirmed the target of the strike was the network of tunnels that IS fighters use to move around and protect themselves from Afghan and US forces.

"This was the right weapon against the right target," he said.



This is the third major military action the Trump administration has taken since assuming office on January 20, following a military raid in Yemen that left civilians and a US Marine dead and last week's surprise strike on a Syrian airfield.



Afghanistan's Ambassador to the US Hamdullah Mohib said the colossal Massive Ordinance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB) was dropped after fighting had intensified over the last week.



Multiple Afghan officials previously said they had no information about the bombing before it happened.



US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Washington was "working with the government of Afghanistan and our partners in the region in order to deny any terrorist organisationthat includes Al Qaeda as wella safe haven or any kind of material support on the ground."


Home Minister Rajnath Singh, on Thursday, said that he did not think Kulbhushan Jadhav received a fair trial. "We will do everything needed to save his life. In fact, I have information that Indian embassy in Pakistan is very active in this regard and talking to Pak officials now," Singh said at Kolkata.

Singh also denounced Pakistans national security adviser Sartaz Aziz's statements.

I think he is not giving us the facts, said Singh.

Singh also condemned violence across India, including West Bengal. He pulled up Mamata government for political violence in the state.

All these measures are being taken to stonewall the development plan of Modi-led government. We ask the state to abstain and think of development before hindrance, he said.

Asked about West Bengal becoming as a shelter for Bangladeshi terrorists, Home Minister smiled and said, I cannot reply to this question.

When asked about the recent bypoll where BJP stood second, Rajnath Singh said, It points to the fact that next government in West Bengal would be that of BJP.

He asked the BJP workers in Kolkata to work in tandem with the central leadership to become the ruling party of Bengal in 2021.

Just work to get maximum seats in 2019 Lok Sabha election, Singh told the BJP workers.
MAS MARRIAGE WIN MINORITY HEARTS

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath seems to be striving for an image makeover for his government. Mass marriage for girls belonging to minority communities is one of the plans that the chief minister has come up with to alter the image of his government from being 'hardcore Hindu' to secular.

The plan, which will be implemented soon, will be beneficial majorly to Muslims and the CM hopes that this would make him and his party more appealing to people belonging that community.

State Minister Mohsin Raza said, The move will straightaway benefit 20 per cent Muslims of the state. Under the scheme, the government will give Rs. 20,000 to each married couple and will bear entire expenses of the marriage.

Besides Muslims, girls from Christian, Sikh and other minority communities will benefit from the scheme. The mass marriages will take place once a year and and in every district, 100 couples will be selected.

Welcoming the move, Muneer Alam, a Muslim businessman, said this step will make Muslims to have more trust in the chief minister.

EVM V/S BALLOT PAPER

Even as the EVMs versus ballot paper debate is under way, the State Election Commission has urged the central Election Commission to provide new EVMs for the municipal corporation polls in the state which need to be completed before July 14.

If the new EVMs are not provided, the State EC has decided to hold these polls through ballot papers.

State Election Commissioner S.K. Agrawal, in a letter, asked the central body not to send the EVMs made before 2006 as the use of old EVMs invite many questions and controversies.

Meanwhile, the commission has already invited tenders for the ballot papers to be used in these polls.

YOGI'S HI-TECH HEALTHCARE

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has decided to improve healthcare system in the state and as first step, his government has rolled out 150 hi-tech ambulances to deal with emergencies such as heart stroke, respiratory failure and others. Their number of ambulances will go up in future.

The CM said, These ambulances are important for saving the lives in remote areas of the state devoid of medical facilities and will improve health care system.

There are over 3,000 basic life support ambulances in the state. However, these advanced, hi-tech ambulances will be crucial in emergency situations.

Health Minister Siddarthnath Singh said, This is very humble beginning and soon more such ambulances will be added to the fleet.

NO RELIEF

Former MP and don-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed could not get any relief from the Allahabad High Court.

Ahmed had recently filed a petition in the court, challenging the government move to transfer him from Naini Central Jail (Allahabad) to the remote Deoria jail. The court, while rejecting his petition, ruled that the government has the right to keep a prisoner in whichever jail it wishes. A prisoner does not have the right to chose prison of his choice, the court noted.

Recently, the state government has tightened its noose around 40 mafia goons and had shifted them to various jails which are far from their areas of influence and Ahmed was one of them.
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad said a suspected chemical weapons attack was a "fabrication" to justify a US strike on his forces.

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 exclusive interview with AFP in Damascus was his first since a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun.

"Definitely, 100 per cent 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 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."
Washington, Apr 14 (IBNS): 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 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.

"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 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.

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 moon's 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 NASA's 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 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 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.

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.

Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Men dress like women, and women dress like men, thatas what androgynous fashion means to many. But there are many other shades in-between within this ambit, finds Pramita Bose

The world of fashion tends is not just about glamour and glitz , it also tends to be a step ahead in many ways - breaking barriers and making bold social statements. From selecting newsmaker transgender model Anjali Lama from Nepal to walk for fashion weeks, to introducing the renowned gender-neutral model Petr Nitka on the Indian ramp as part of the just-concluded season of Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2017, the world of creativity and glamour has witnessed many innovative overtures.



Working with ace lensman Bharathan Gangatheran in Perth in Australia had proved a turning point in my life. The confidence that the results of his photo-shoot gave has indeed been a life-altering experience for me, says Nitka. He came to be recognised as the first ever gender-neutral model from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It further led him to be invited to South Africa. As a matter of fact, I landed in the African continent as the first gender-fluid model. It was a moment of great pride for me, he recalls.



Being a model comes with a tremendous responsibility for us. It offers a great platform in the public arena. Its an opportunity to start a conversation about individuals with different sexual-orientations and demolish the prejudices and stereotypes in the process which tag alongwith it.

While many think it is absolutely uncool for men to wear middies, maxis or skirts plus sporting hairbands, jewellery and that long braided mane, a recent ad shows a social gathering gradually warming up to a cross-dressed man. Designer Ritika Arya Jain agrees that new-age men are experimenting with sheer fashion, see-through shirts, kurtas and t-shirts with deep-cut necklines. Frankly, I am not a huge fan of this trend. As long as kurtas are concerned they look great of course. But sheer skirts are a big no for me, she says.

But men are experimenting nonetheless. Its no longer a film star or a models prerogative to resort to gymming and grooming. Even the so called common man take up innovative fashions these days. Thats just fantastic, of course ! exclaims the designer There has been more awareness regarding the significance of male grooming. Men today are suave and sophisticated. They understand well that their appearance creates a positive vibe or a negative impression across. Due to the intervention of social media and excellent mens fashion magazines flooding the market, most men are today pretty aware of stylish fads and are able to identify with hip fashion diktats, she notes.

Menswear designer Medhavini Khaitan acquiesces in that the society is slowly but surely waking up to androgynous fashion. Till very recently, a gender-bender was ridiculed in public but this scene is definitely changing now for the better, she feels. People do get uncomfortable with them around. But I suppose overall, the mindset is broadening. Generally, people are more accepting towards them these days, she finds.

Like men, women too may cross-dress to follow the route of androgyny in vogue. Women can follow androgynous fashion by letting go of their feminine side, thus provoking the tomboy streak in them and accordingly choose their attire. Androgyny is all about abandoning restrictions and erasing out the conflicting conception of gender-duality, emphasizes Khaitan.

On lending out fashion tips for a gender neutral style, the couturier suggests, Most importantly, be yourself and be confident enough. Wear what you want to wear and slip into what makes you happy. Dont care about what people would say about you. To look good you have to feel good. Thats what matters!

Image: Nitka Facebook Page / Internet Wallpapers
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[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

This year, in the framework of its annual efforts to provide for disadvantaged members of the Jewish community of Berlin, over 1,000 welfare-supported Jewish families received generous food baskets in honor of Pesach. The packages, which were distributed by Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, Rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin, were filled with a wide assortment of food and staple products that enable underprivileged families to celebrate the holiday with all their needs.

The food baskets were filled with matzah, wine and gefilte fish, etc., specially imported from Israel, and locally-grown fruits and vegetables

The community, which presently encompasses tens of thousands of Jews, distributes Shabbos food baskets on a weekly basis to individuals who register in advance and present a certificate of eligibility from the Ministry of Welfare.

At the start of the month, the community posted a message urging people to sign up to receive the annual Pesach package, which is substantially larger than the standard weeks. The distribution was coordinated by Rabbi Shmuel Segal, a Chabad shaliach in Berlin.

The Jewish community of Berlin is outstanding in its efforts to facilitate the needs of all its members, proclaimed Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal with manifest pride. The holiday baskets were funded by local donors who wanted to ensure that every member of the community would have all his holiday needs taken care of, so he could celebrate the seder and Pesach with joy and in strict accordance to halacha. Im honored to wish every Jew wherever he may be a happy, kosher Pesach!

Photo: Food distribution at the Jewish Communal Center.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Image: twitter.com/narendramodi

New Delhi, Apr 14 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he will be travelling to Odisha for a two-day state visit.

"I am eagerly awaiting my visit to Odisha on 15th and 16th April. Looking forward to being among the people of the wonderful state," his tweet read.

The Prime Minister also greeted the Odia community on Maha Vishuba Sankranti.

"Greetings to all Odia people on Maha Vishuba Sankranti. May all your wishes be fulfilled in the coming year," he tweeted.
United Hatzalah hosted ten US consular officers at its headquarters last week as a part of a tour put together by the Chareidi Consul. The intention of the tour was to educate the US consular officers regarding the contribution of the chareidi community to Israel. United Hatzalah is an organization that has chareidi roots, and has transformed into a national EMS organization that is comprised of people from all walks of life in Israel and provides service to anyone who needs medical assistance, regardless of their political or religious affiliation.

The tour was organized by Rabbi Matityahu Cheshin from the chareidi consul. Rabbi Cheshin is a 9th generation Jerusalemite and comes from the Breslov community in the city. Part of his job is to connect between various diplomats who are in Israel and Israels chareidi community. Cheshin said that the reason why he felt it was important to bring specifically the US consular officers on the visit was because The US Consulate is the largest consulate in Jerusalem. So it is natural that they would be interested to hear about what is going on in the chareidi community which makes up a large part of the population, especially in Jerusalem.

We chose to bring the consular officials to see UH because it is an organization that began as a chareidi organization and now it helps everyone. It is important and is something that people need to know about. I look at myself as a liaison between the chareidi community and the consular community throughout Israel. The work that United Hatzalah is doing has a very important message that we need to share with the world and I am happy to collaborate and help make that happen.

One of the visiting American diplomats said, We were very pleased to join our friends at United Hatzalah, Israels volunteer EMS organization, to learn about the important, life-saving work done here. Todays visit is part of the Consulate Generals regular outreach to all of Jerusalems communities. We are proud to serve your community through Consular services and to work with you as friends and partners.

When the Director of International Operations, Shai Jaskoll, showed the consular officers a letter that the organization had received from the Consulate after United Hatzalah volunteers had saved the life of a worker in 2012, the positivity all around the room simply gushed forth.

The event occurred in September of 2012. During the incident, a staff member of the US Consulate General was walking home when he experienced severe chest pains and collapsed. United Hatzalah EMTs responded to the situation immediately and initiated first aid and resuscitation efforts. From there he was transported to Hadassah hospital, and spent time recuperating in the US. Due to their immediate response and valiant efforts, this mans life was saved. The consular officers expressed their deep appreciation.

Cheshins created this tour in an effort to highlight the altruism that permeates the chareidi community of Israel. According to Cheshin, the work of United Hatzalah exemplifies this altruism and harnesses the goodwill of communities throughout Israel to save lives.

United Hatzalah is very much like the United States. It brings people together from all backgrounds and all walks of life and helps give them a better future. The chareidi consul aims at bridging the cultural gap between the chareidi community and the diplomatic core in Israel, and that is something that United Hatzalah knows a thing or two about as well, said Cheshin.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: United Hatzalah)
Promising to expose the Republican Party for what it is, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders predicted Wednesday that President Donald Trump would be a one-term president as the liberal icon prepared to launch a nationwide tour to rally Democrats.

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. He cited the Republican presidents support for a health care bill that he said strips insurance from millions of Americans, tax reform that cuts taxes for the rich and budget cuts that disproportionately affect the poor.

I do not believe that if Trump continues these policies that hes going to be re-elected. Nor do I think that the Republicans are going to do well in 2018, Sanders said. The momentum right now is with the progressive movement in this country. And I think the Republicans are on the defensive and will be on the defensive increasingly.

The comments come as Sanders prepares to launch a tour next week with Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez that includes visits to some tossup and Republican-leaning states where Democrats struggled in the last election. The tour opens Monday with a rally in Portland, Maine, followed by appearances over the subsequent four days in Kentucky, Florida, Texas, Nebraska, Utah, Arizona and Nevada.

It is an aggressive schedule reminiscent of the 75-year-old senators recent presidential campaign. He failed to wrestle the nomination from Hillary Clinton in 2016, but developed a large and passionate following from his partys liberal base.

The Democratic Party hit bottom last fall after an election season in which they lost the presidency and could not take control of the House or Senate despite favorable conditions in some cases. Sanders acknowledged his partys failures in 2016 and said the upcoming tour would begin the process of fighting back.

He also cited Tuesdays special election in Kansas, where Republicans scored a narrow victory over a little-known Democrat in a district where the GOP dominated in the past.

The Republicans had to spend money like crazy at the end to beat him, Sanders said. I think thats a very good omen for the future.

(AP)
12:52PM IL: [PHOTOS & VIDEOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] At least one person has been wounded, apparently seriously, in a stabbing attack in downtown Jerusalem in the area of Kikar Tzahal on Yafo Street. More to follow.

12:56: Magen David Adom reporting a victim being treated in serious condition.

1:01PM IL: CPR being performed on a female stabbing victim. The terrorist has been neutralized.

1:07PM IL: Due to the stabbing attack, all light rail service has been suspended temporarily.

1:15pm: MDA reports a woman was stabbed while the light rail was moving near Kikar Tzahal in downtown Jerusalem. The victim, about 25, is being transported to Hadassah Mt. Scopus Hospital in critical condition while CPR and advanced life support are taking place. She was stabbed in her upper torso.

A second female victim, about 30-years-old and pregnant, was injured when the train came to a sudden halt. A third victim, a male in his 50s, was injured in a leg while trying to flee. They are being transported to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and both are listed in light condition.

1:29PM IL: United Hatzalah reports that EMT Yechiel Stern saw people fleeing the light rail as he arrived and when he entered he found a female in serious condition who was unconscious. MDA EMT Zeevi Hanafling reports there was a great deal of panic in the area as all EMS personnel began assessing the scene and treating victims. He explains that CPR and advanced life support was begun immediately on the critically wounded victim.

Police have now permitted the light rail to resume service between Mt. Herzl and the Central Bus Station as well as between the last stop in the northern capital to Shar Shechem.

1:34PM IL: Hadassah Hospital Spokesperson Hadar Elboim reports the female in cardiac arrest arrived in trauma center critical condition.

1:39PM IL: United Hatzalah Psychotrauma & Crisis Response Unit responded to the attack along with EMTs and paramedics.

United Hatzalah President Eli Beer said a 14-year-old girl was stabbed on the light rail in Jerusalem. This heinous attack perpetrated by someone who hates Jews was done deliberately on the holiday of Pesach when many tourists, Jews, and Christians alike, visit the capital of Israel. We are saddened by the continued violence aimed at creating ill will between peoples in the holy city.

1:49PM IL: Shaare Zedek Hospital reports pregnant woman and male with leg injury being evaluated in trauma unit. No update on their conditions.

1:53PM IL: The critically injured woman was pronounced dead in the hospital.

Jerusalem Police Chief Yoram Halevy reports the terrorists who perpetrated the attack is a 57-year-old mentally disturbed man with a history of family violence. He is a resident of Ras al-Amud.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Media Resource Group)
2:05PM IL: According to Jerusalem Police Chief Yoram Halevy, the 57-year-old Ras el-Amud resident who perpetrated the stabbing attack on the Jerusalem light rail earlier today, erev Shabbos Chol Hamoed Pesach 5777, is a mentally disturbed individual with a history of family violence.

The call came in to EMS at 12:50PM for a stabbing on the Jerusalem light rail near Tzahal Square. The victim who was RL killed is reported to be in her 20s, sustaining stab wounds to her upper torso. She went into traumatic cardiac arrest and despite CPR and advanced life support measures, she was pronounced dead in the trauma unit of Hadassah Mt. Scopus Hospital. Unconfirmed but reliable reports state she was a Christian tourist visiting from Britain.

A second victim is a male in his 50s with a light leg injury sustained while trying to flee the terrorist. a third victim is a woman in advanced months of pregnancy knocked to the floor when the train came to a sudden halt. She was originally reported in light condition. They were both transported to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and are being evaluated at this time.

In one of the photos one can see the butchers knife used in the attack. The attacker was neutralized and is in police custody.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Media Resource Group)
President Donald Trumps tweets are adding fuel to a vicious cycle of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, North Koreas vice foreign minister told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Friday. The official added that if the U.S. shows any sign of reckless military aggression, Pyongyang is ready to launch a pre-emptive strike of its own.

Vice Minister Han Song Ryol said Pyongyang has determined the Trump administration is more vicious and more aggressive than that of Barack Obama. He added that North Korea will keep building up its nuclear arsenal in quality and quantity and said Pyongyang is ready to go to war if thats what Trump wants.

Tensions between Pyongyang and Washington go back to President Harry Truman and the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. But the heat has been rising rapidly since Trump took office in January.

This years joint war games between the U.S. and South Korean militaries are the biggest so far  the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier has been diverted back to the waters off Korea after heading for Australia, and U.S. satellite imagery suggests the North could conduct another underground nuclear test at any time. Pyongyang recently tested a ballistic missile and claims it is close to perfecting an intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear warhead that could attack the U.S. mainland.

Many experts believe that at its current pace of testing, North Korea could reach that potentially game-changing milestone within a few years  under Trumps watch as president. Despite reports that Washington is considering military action if the North goes ahead with another nuclear test, Han did not rule out the possibility of a test in the near future.

That is something that our headquarters decides, he said during the 40-minute interview in Pyongyang, which is now gearing up for a major holiday  and possibly a big military parade  on Saturday. At a time and at a place where the headquarters deems necessary, it will take place.

The North conducted two such tests last year alone. The first was of what it claims to have been a hydrogen bomb and the second was its most powerful ever. Expectations are high the North may put its newest missiles on display during Saturdays parade.

The annual U.S.-South Korea 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.

Han said Trumps tweets have also added fuel to the flames.

Trump posted a tweet Tuesday in which he said the North is looking for trouble and reiterated his call for more pressure from Beijing, North Koreas economic lifeline, to clamp down on trade and strengthen its enforcement of U.N. sanctions to persuade Pyongyang to denuclearize.

Trump has threatened that if Beijing isnt willing to do more to squeeze the North, the U.S. might take the matter into its own hands.

Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words, Han said. Its not the DPRK but the U.S. and Trump that makes trouble. North Koreas official name is the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

He added: We will go to war if they choose.

Han said the sanctions approach is misguided and cited the opening ceremony of a sprawling new high-rise residential area in Pyongyang on Thursday as evidence that sanctions have failed to ruin the countrys economy. Leader Kim Jong Un presided over the ceremony before about 100,000 residents and a large contingent of foreign journalists who have been allowed in to cover the holiday.

Han dismissed the suggestion Trump made last year during his presidential campaign that he was willing to meet Kim Jong Un, possibly over hamburgers.

I think that was nothing more than lip service during the campaign to make himself more popular, Han said. Now we are comparing Trumps policy toward the DPRK with the former administrations and we have concluded that its becoming more vicious and more aggressive.

Han said North Korea changed its military strategy two years ago, when the reports of decapitation strike training began to really get attention, to stress pre-emptive actions.

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. pre-emptive strike, he said. Whatever comes from the U.S., we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it.

How much such comments are bluster, or how realistic they are, is hard to gauge.

Later Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said all sides must stop provoking and threatening and start taking a flexible approach to resuming dialogue. He said China is willing to support any such effort.

Once a war really happens, the result will be nothing but multiple-loss. No one can become a winner, Wang said. No matter who it is, if it wants to make war or trouble on the Korean Peninsula, it must take the historical responsibility and pay the due price.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry said Hans remarks on the Norths readiness to conduct a nuclear test and even go to war reveal the true colors of North Koreas government that is bellicose and a breaker of regulations.

The ministry issued a statement saying North Korea will face strong punishment it will find hard to withstand if it makes a significant provocation, such as another nuclear test or an ICBM launch.

Military experts generally agree a shooting war with North Korea would likely be far more costly than something along the lines of the recent targeted strike Trump ordered against a Syrian air base believed to be linked to a chemical weapons attack by the regime of Bashir Assad. That attack alarmed the North and was condemned as unpardonable by Pyongyang, which counts Syria as an ally.

Even without nuclear weapons, the North could cause severe damage with its conventional artillery batteries aimed at the South Korean capital of Seoul.

(AP)
A young man from Crown Heights spending Pesach in Guatemala suffered serious injuries after he was involved in an ATV accident.

The man was rushed to a hospital where he is listed in serious condition with a brain injury.

Sources tell YWN that the next 48 hours are crucial and are asking people to please say Tehillim for Mordechai Nissim ben Miriam.

(Charles Gross  YWN)
President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday evening, made a shiva visit to the family of Sgt. Elchai Taharlev who was murdered in a car ramming terror attack at Ofra Junction, Thursday, 10 Nissan 5777.

President Rivlin heard from the family, of Elchais pride at being recruited into Golani, of his intentions to train to be an officer, and of his desire to defend his country. His parents told the President of Elchais childhood in the community of Talmon, where they were one of the founding families.

President Rivlin expressed his deep sorrow for their loss, warmly embraced members of the family, and spoke of the high price that the people of Israel have paid, and continue to pay for their independence in our land.

Elchais father, Rabbi Ohad Taharlev, said, Elchai, in his own special way, in his quiet and calm character, brought so much good to so many, and had such an impact on so many people; in his life, and in his death.

Elchais mother, Avital, added, Elchai was a boy who saw good in others. We said to ourselves that with this darkness, we have also been given the keys to light and compassion. If we can grow this light, we can also keep Elchais memory here in this world.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Amos Ben-Gershom, GPO)
Nagpur, Apr 14 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, paid tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar at the Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, according to media reports.

Besides taking part in the Ambedkar Jayanti, the prime minister attended several other functions in the Orange City.

He inaugurated the Koradi Thermal Power Station in Nagpur. He was given a presentation at the Power Station and taken around the installation.

At the Indoor Sport Complex in Markapur, the prime minister launched various projects and schemes for the development, including inaugurating the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Nagpur, according to media reports.

The prime minister is also scheduled to address a public rally.

The PM tweeted on Thursday, "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."

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Nagpur early on Friday and was received at the airport by the Governor of Maharashtra, C. Vidyasagar Rao, the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis and the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale.



Images: PIB
Nagpur, Apr 14 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, inaugurated a new initiative called BHIM Aadhaar, for merchants, according to media reports.

Developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the Aadhaar-linked Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) mobile app is based on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI).

After the demonetisation scheme was rolled out on November 8 last year and the government began to push people towards cashless transactions, the BHIM app was launched in Devember 2016 for facilitating electronic payments by consumers.

In March this year, the government launched Aadhaar Pay, an Android-based smartphone app.

Government thinktank NITI AAyog tweeted quoting Union IT Minister Ravi Sankar Prasad, "Over 2 crore downloads of #BHIM App, 13 lakh PoS machines sold, Rs. 2452 crore worth #DigitalPayments - all in 4 months."

At the DigiDhan Mela, the PM also gave away awards to Mega Draw winners of Lucky Grahak Yojana and DigiDhan Vyapar Yojna.



Image: AIRNews/PIB Twitter
The controversial boss of Credit Suisse is taking a multi-million pound pay cut after public outcry over his sky-high wage bill.

Tidjane Thiam will lose the cash after agreeing to an embarrassing 1.3million reduction to his 2016 bonus, and a separate hit to his long-term bonus for 2017.

The former Prudential boss, 54, is just the latest in a string of executives to feel investors wrath over soaring pay packets.

Embarrassed: Tidjane Thiam will lose the cash after agreeing to 1.3million reduction

Barclays head Jes Staley is to lose more than 1million of his bonus after trying to unmask a whistleblower.

Embattled Lloyds boss Antonio Horta-Osorio took a 3.2million pay cut last year when the share price fell and he was caught allegedly having an affair on a business trip.

And Bill Winters, the leader of Asian-focused, London-based lender Standard Chartered, could face a revolt over lax targets in his long-term bonus plan.

Credit Suisses Thiam in particular has become a poster boy for corporate excesses after shocking even seasoned City observers with the size of his pay packets.

Investors were particularly irate at his rewards because Credit Suisse lost 2.2billion in 2016 and is axing 6,000 jobs.

Its reputation is also under strain. The authorities raided its offices in London, Australia, Germany, the UK, France and Holland last month in a major probe into money laundering and tax evasion.

Credit Suisse lost 2.2billion in 2016 and is axing 6,000 jobs

Dutch prosecutors even seized jewellery, fine art and gold bullion from the Swiss banks super-rich clients.

Bosses bowed to pressure for a rethink in a letter to shareholders yesterday in which Thiam claimed he had volunteered for a pay cut to alleviate some of the concerns expressed by some shareholders.

He and others on the 13-strong executive board will see their 2016 annual bonuses slashed by 40 per cent.

In the bosss case, this will mean his 3.3million bonus is cut to 2million, although he still earned 8.3million last year. A long-term bonus for next year will also be cut by 40 per cent.

Credit Suisse would not give details of exactly how much money Thiam will lose as a result of this latter cut.

Fat cats: JP Morgans 48,700 investment banking staff shared 2.2bn of pay in the first three months of 2017

But the long-term payout would have been worth up to 41.4million for the whole board and it appears this total figure will now be cut to 24.8million. A large chunk of this cash was likely to have been headed Thiams way.

The climbdown is doubly humiliating for the Ivory Coast-born boss because he was forced to take a 40 per cent cut to his 2015 pay in similar circumstances last year.

Professor Peter Hahn of the London Institute of Banking and Finance stressed that although the board would lose out, they would still be able to pay their way.

He said: The shareholder heat is higher this year on executive pay. Its politically becoming less acceptable  you have at least got to have good results to get the big stuff.

Although Credit Suisse and other European lenders have been struggling to turn a profit, Wall Street is gearing up for a bonanza as the US economy roars into life.

JP Morgans 48,700 investment banking staff shared 2.2billion of pay in the first three months of this year, or 45,897 each.

This was some 3,597 more than they pocketed in the same period last year. It suggests that a similar boost could be on the cards at Goldman Sachs and at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

It is even better news for US bank employees who work in London as their pay tends to be calculated in dollars  meaning the weak pound has already given them a boost.
New Delhi, Apr 14 (IBNS): Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) & Parliamentary Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that there is an aactive considerationa, in consultation with Shipping Ministry, on reviving the option of sending Haj pilgrims via sea route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in the coming days.

It was stated by Naqvi while addressing a training of trainers programme at Haj House in Mumbai, today.

Naqvi said that a high-level committee, formed by the government to frame the Haj Policy 2018 according to Supreme Courts 2012 order, is exploring to revive the option of sending pilgrims via sea route to Jeddah.

Naqvi said that dispatching pilgrims through ships will help cut down travel expenses by nearly half as compared to airfares. It will be a revolutionary, pilgrim-friendly decision.

The practice of ferrying Haj pilgrims between Mumbai and Jeddah by waterways was stopped from 1995. At present, devotees undertake the journey by air from 21 embarkation points across the country.

Naqvi said that another advantage with ships available these days is they are modern and well-equipped to ferry 4,000 to 5,000 persons at a time.

They can cover the 2,300-odd nautical miles one-side distance between Mumbai and Jeddah within just two-three days.

Earlier, the old ships used to take 12 to 15 days to cover this distance. The high-level committee will soon submit its report.

Naqvi said that the new Haj Policy is aimed at making entire Haj process easier and transparent. Haj pilgrims facilities will be in focus of the new Haj policy.

Naqvi said that the Minority Affairs Ministry, in coordination with other concerned agencies, had started preparations for Haj pilgrimage very early.

The Ministrys aim is to provide world class facilities to Haj pilgrims. The Minister said that the measure to make Haj process online has produced good results. A total of 1,29,196 Haj applications were done online.

Shri Naqvi said that the increase in Indias annual Haj quota by Saudi Arabia Government has benefitted about all the states as quota of the states for Haj 2017 has also been increased significantly. Saudi Arabia has increased annual Haj quota of India by 34,005.

The decision in this regard had been taken during signing of bilateral annual Haj agreement between India and Saudi Arabia at Jeddah on 11th January 2017. It is the biggest increase in the quota of Haj pilgrims from India after several years.

About 99,903 people went to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for Haj from 21 embarkation points across India through Haj Committee of India during Haj 2016. Apart from this, about 36,000 Haj pilgrims had proceeded for Haj through the private tour operators.

For Haj 2017, a total of 1,70,025 people will go to Haj pilgrimage from India out of which 1,25,025 pilgrims will go through Haj Committee of India while 45,000 people will go through Private Tour Operators.

In the three-day training programme, officials from Haj Committee of India; Royal Consulate of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Saudi Airlines; Air India; Customs; Immigration and doctors are informing about Dos and Donts during Haj. It include information about transport, accommodation in Saudi Arabia and laws of Saudi Arabia. More than 500 trainers from different states are participating in the programme. The trainers will now train the pilgrims in training camps.
Srinagar, Apr 14 (IBNS): The Jammu and Kashmir government has strongly refuted the remarks attributed to state Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti in Fridayas web edition of New Delhi-based business newspaper Financial Express regarding a youth allegedly tied to a security forces vehicle in Budgam area.

It is highly unfortunate, severely unethical and grossly irresponsible on part of such a prominent newspaper to attribute such sweeping remarks to the Chief Minister which she never made, the spokesman said.

The state government spokesman said that immediately after the news was circulated on internet, the matter was taken up by Director Information, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, with the editor of the Financial Express, who was, strangely enough, unable to justify the source of the unsubstantiated remarks attributed to the Chief Minister.

There clearly seems to be some defined intention in attributing uncorroborated statement to the Chief Minister, and the management of the newspaper shall have to come clear on it, he said and added that in the right spirit of the journalistic ethics, the reporter should have cross-checked the facts before rushing with the story.

Seeking an unconditional apology from the Editor of the newspaper for such a grave gaffe, the spokesman said the State Government would be initiating legal action on the matter.

(Reporting by Saleem Qadri)

Image:Google maps
New Delhi, Apr 14 (IBNS): President Pranab Mukherjee laid the foundation stone of Bengaluru Dr. B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion the President said that that Dr. Ambedkar was truly a legendary figure with a multifaceted personality.

He shaped the Constitution of the largest democracy in the country and was the harbinger of full dedication and commitment for the poor and deprived.

The President said that there has been significant expansion in the physical infrastructure of education in the country.

However, every year, numerous students go abroad for higher learning. It is therefore important to create Institutes of international repute in India which can attract students and teachers from all over the world as was the case in ancient India when we had Universities like Nalanda, Taxila Vikramshila etc.

He also said that India is going to emerge as a nation with a huge young population in the coming years. In order to ensure that this demographic dividend does not turn into a demographic liability it was important to equip the youth with necessary skills to increase their employability.

The President said that he was happy to be laying the foundation stone of the Bengaluru Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics.

He said that the School of Economics is being named after Dr B R Ambedkar to commemorate his 125th Birth Anniversary. It is indeed a matter of satisfaction that the foundation stone of the institution is being laid on the occasion of 126th Ambedkar Jayanti.

The President hoped that this school upon becoming fully functional will become another feather in the cap of this great city, which has already made a mark in the IT, BT, Banking and industrial sectors.

The President said that the education Institutions named after Baba Saheb are indeed a befitting tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar who was apart from being a constitutional expert, also a great economist and a committed advocate of universal education.

He said that Baba Saheb attached great importance to education. For him it was a means to change ones destiny. Baba Saheb attached great importance to education. For him it was a means to change ones destiny.

He had said, Give up the idea that parents give janm to the child and not destiny (karma). They can mould the destiny of their children by giving them education.
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By Tom Allon

My first boss once told me a story that illustrated the evanescence of power.

When he was New York Citys Planning Commissioner in the 1950s, he was invited each year to an annual gala dinner hosted by one of the citys good-government groups. He sat proudly on the dais, seated to the immediate left of the mayor.

The year after he stepped down from his powerful post, however, he didnt sit on the dais. In fact, he wasnt even invited to the dinner.

This illustrates the revolving door of power in American political life: One year youre up and on top of the world, and the next, youre sitting at home, alone, watching the high and mighty on television.

Think of one of the most dramatic examples in recent New York history  former Gov. Elliot Spitzer. In 2006, after eight years of fire-breathing as the crusading attorney general, he was elected governor of New York State with more than 80 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary.

He was on a glide path to fame as a hard-charging governor of the third-most-populous state in the nation and his name was in the mix for a future run for the Democratic presidential slot.

But then, all of a sudden, a tawdry sex scandal chopped down his political fortunes and he fell to earth as loudly as a redwood tree in the forest. From powerful state leader to late-night punch line in days. How the mighty had fallen.

Ive been thinking about this dynamic the last few weeks as we watch the dizzying activity coming out of Washington, D.C. A cast of characters orbiting the new president has been jockeying for power, and already a few have fallen by the wayside, like that shadowy figure, Gen. Mike Flynn. He went from leading national security adviser to prime Russian collusion suspect in an afternoon.

In the last week, we have heard rumblings of who is up and who is down in the White House. Is Chief of Staff Rance Preibus on his way out? Will senior advisor Steve Bannon get pushed out because of his clashes with Donald Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner?

There is only one thing certain: The jobs of Preibus, Bannon, Kellyanne Conway and others around the president are not nearly as secure as Jareds and Ivankas. Its hard to fathom why someone like Bannon, who has surely watched The Godfather trilogy, would want to battle with the family. Dont be surprised if Bannon finds a metaphorical horses head in his bed one night soon.

Then, of course, there is always the remote possibility that even the president or VP could be ousted at some point before their term ends. Many pundits, particularly those on the left, think that the probe into Russian ties to the Trump campaign will yield a smoking gun at some point.

So for all of those in our country fretting about the president and his administration, just remember that since we are in a democracy, there is a finite period of leadership. No matter what, in less than four years, we will have a chance to pick someone else.

And like the many scandals in our political history that have brought down once mighty leaders in New York like Spitzer, Shelly Silver, Dean Skelos, Anthony Weiner, and many others, there is no guarantee that elected officials will last through full terms.

Does that make you feel any better?
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By Gina Martinez

After four months of deliberation, a Staten island judge has ruled that the city could destroy documents associated with the IDNYC program.

State Supreme Court Justice Philip Minardo last week struck down a lawsuit filed by state Assembly members Ron Castorina and Nicole Malliotakis to stop the city from destroying the data, they said the policy violates the states Freedom of Information Act. The Republican lawmakers contended the computer scanning of passports, leases, bank statements and other documents should be retained by law enforcement, while city officials testified that applications for the municipal identification card, including names, addresses, dates of birth and copies of the cards, themselves, would not be kept on file.

Since 2015, the IDNYC program has provided over 1 million New York City residents with free photo identification. It is believed that half of IDNYC cardholders are undocumented immigrants. All New York residents can enroll regardless of immigration status, and Mayor Bill de Blasio has pledged from the outset to protect their personal information. The IDs give cardholders access to services and benefits like entry into public buildings, including schools to take the high school equivalency exam in New York City. The cards are also accepted as valid photo ID to open up bank accounts.

De Blasio has said that he would fight any appeal of the ruling, he has not specified when the documents would be destroyed.

With this decision, the State Supreme Court protected the personal information of a million New Yorkers, de Blasio said. IDNYC was created to protect people and connect them to vital services, and todays decision ensures it will continue to do just that. We applaud the ruling and will fight any attempt to appeal it.

City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights), whose district has one of the highest populations of immigrants in the city, celebrated the ruling, saying the case was motivated by racism and xenophobia.

I hail Judge Minardos decision to allow the city to discard personal documents associated with IDNYC cardholders, Dromm said. I am pleased that the court effectively dismantled Assembly members Castorina and Malliotakis effort to put our immigrant families in harms way. We must never allow Trump surrogates to tear our communities apart.
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By Bill Parry

Hundreds of supporters and advocates joined the 31 employees of the Long Island City-based Tom Cat Bakery as they rallied Saturday outside Trump Tower in Manhattan, protesting the White Houses clampdown on immigration.

The immigrant workers have been threatened with a mass termination April 21 after a U.S. Department of Homeland Security audit identified them as lacking legal authorization to work in the United States.

We work hard, pay taxes and have built Tom Cat into a hugely successful company that helps New York Citys economy strong, worker Ana Campos said. We refuse to be discarded like stale bread.

The bakery began in a garage in 1987 and now occupies an entire city block beneath the Queensboro Bridge at 43-05 10th St. It provides artisanal bread to Citarella, Darden Restaurants and the Grand Hyatt, among others, and it is now an arm of Yamazaki Baking, one of the worlds largest multi-national baking companies.

It made me feel so sad and angry at the same time because I never expected this was going to happen, Baker Hector Solis, 45, from Mexico City, said. They said I have to prove I can work in this country.

Solis said he produced documents showing he was legal when he applied for the job 12 years ago but he admitted they were false. The married father of two children, who are legal, makes $17 an hour.

I had a heart attack three years ago, he said. If I lose my job, I will lose my health benefits. Ive never had a problem and now they are treating us like criminals.

Since 2011, employees at Tom Cat have been organizing with Brandworkers, a non-profit which brings food manufacturing workers together to fight for good jobs and a sustainable food system. The workers are represented by attorneys with Catholic Migration Services and the Urban Justice Center.

What were asking of Tom Cat is to be a gold-standard employer here, Brandworkers Founder and Executive Director Daniel Gross said. And that means cooperating to the fullest, legally and morally, to make sure that their valued workforce is as protected as possible.

During negotiations last week, Tom Cat agreed to help the workers keep their jobs and secured from DHS an extension on the deadline. The workers were originally told they had to provide documents within 10 working days.

We have our fingers crossed that well be able to keep as many of the workers as we possibly can in the Tom Cat family, attorney William Wachtel said. Were doing everything we can within the confines of the law.

Wachtel added that the anger shown towards the Trump administration is misplaced.

This audit began under the Obama administration, before Trump was president, Wachtel said.
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.
New York, Apr 14(Just Earth News): Ahead of this Sundayas plebiscite on proposed constitutional amendments in Turkey that would, among other things, empower the President alone to declare states of emergency and determine the measures to be taken, a group of United Nations human rights experts have reiterated that even under such circumstances, protection of human rights must not be compromised.

In a news release today, the UN Special Rapporteurs on extreme poverty and human rights; the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and the right to education also voiced concern over closure of some 200 media outlets in the country and said that the move not only caused thousands of journalists to lose their jobs and livelihoods, it also undermined the possibility of an informed debate over the referendum proposals.

Moreover, around 1,000 schools and 15 universities are estimated to have been closed by emergency decrees issued since July 2016, the release added.

Underlining that even under a state of emergency, economic, social and cultural rights can only be limited in ways that respect the basic rights themselves and are "solely for the purpose of promoting the general welfare in a democratic society," the experts said, adding that "there has been no attempt to show that these blanket measures, which have destroyed the careers and livelihoods of tens of thousands of persons, satisfy such criteria in each case.

The dismissal of up to 134,000 public servants, without due process, compensation, or access to a proper remedy, for alleged links with organizations that the Government has chosen to proscribe, cannot be justified by reference to Turkeys longstanding international human rights obligations, they added.

The experts also said that given the arbitrary and sweeping nature of the emergency decrees since July last year, there is serious concern that such powers might be used in ways that exacerbate the existing major violations of economic, social and cultural rights.

In the release, the UN Special Rapporteurs also noted that they are in contact with the Turkish Government over the issues.

Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

Photo: World Bank/Simone D. McCourtie

Source: www.justearthnews.com


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Colonie

Sheriff's deputies would never board an overbooked flight to remove passengers, Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said Friday.

"That would never happen here," he said when asked about the incident last Sunday night at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, where airport security officers boarded a United Express flight to forcefully remove a passenger to make room for an airline employee.

The passenger, Dr. David Dao, was flying home to Kentucky and refused to give up his seat, other passengers said, saying he needed to see patients the following morning.

Dao suffered a broken nose, concussion and the loss of two front teeth, his attorney said.

Apple said "I was blown away when I watched that video" showing officers dragging the bloodied Dao down the airplane aisle on his back. "The onus is on the airline to make it right. That is not a law enforcement" issue, he added.

"They created it. They need to solve it."

It's not that deputies wouldn't board a plane if there's a safety issue.

"We've had fights on planes, medical emergencies, anxious people on planes, intoxicated people," he said. But, "we've never had to do" a forceful removal.

"We're here to keep the peace," he said.

Police in the New York City area are following a similar, but newly enacted, policy. The Associated Press reported Friday that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said officers would not automatically assist in removing passengers at an airline's request, but instead would examine each on a case-by-case basis.

As for Apple, "I've seen a lot of overbooking situations," he said. "I'll always volunteer. I'll take the voucher (and) the overnight."
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, N.J., 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.

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.

 Associated Press

Chappelle salutes Murphy at concert

Dave Chappelle has teamed up with John Mayer to remember comedian Charlie Murphy.

Chappelle appeared on stage at Mayer's Columbus, Ohio, concert Wednesday night and told the crowd "everybody in comedy is heartbroken" about Murphy's death from leukemia.

Chappelle told Mayer he was "a sight for sore eyes" after learning about Murphy's death.

At Chappelle's request, Mayer played his song "You're Gonna Live Forever in Me" in tribute to Murphy.

Murphy was a performer on Comedy Central's "Chappelle's Show." He was the subject of popular sketches in which Murphy retold his adventures with younger brother Eddie Murphy and celebrities like Prince and Rick James.

 Associated Press

Shrimp named after Pink Floyd

A newly discovered species of shrimp that uses a bright pink claw to create a sound loud enough to kill small fish has been named for Pink Floyd.

The shrimp found on Panama's Pacific coast has been dubbed Synalpheus pinkfloydi in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. Oxford University Museum of Natural History researcher Sammy De Grave is one of three researchers credited with discovering the creature. He says the description of the shrimp was "the perfect opportunity to finally give a nod to my favorite band."

 Associated Press

Ford visit, Fisher tribute launch event

How do you celebrate 40 years of "Star Wars" in 90 minutes?

With a surprise Harrison Ford appearance, a touching Carrie Fisher tribute, a John Williams performance and a fair amount of jokes about George Lucas's dialogue, of course.

Attendees at Star Wars Celebration were treated to that and more Thursday in Orlando, Florida, at the kickoff of the four-day fan event marking the anniversary of Lucas' space saga.

A jam-packed panel also featured appearances by Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Hayden Christensen, as well as video messages from Liam Neeson and Samuel L. Jackson.

Actor Warwick Davis moderated the sprawling look-back at the four decade legacy.

 Associated Press

'Survivor' player outed by competitor

"Survivor" contestant Zeke Smith was outed as transgender by fellow competitor Jeff Varner on Wednesday night's episode of the CBS reality competition. The move has prompted online criticism and condemnation by a major LGBT rights group.

Varner made accusations of "a deception" before revealing that Smith is transgender on the episode. Varner was immediately criticized by other players. He repeatedly apologized, but was voted out of the competition.

 Associated Press

Cosby loses bid to question accuser

Bill Cosby has lost his bid to question his accuser in court before his sexual-assault case goes to trial near Philadelphia.

The 79-year-old comedian's lawyers lost their appeal on the issue of whether accuser Andrea Constand should have been forced to testify at a preliminary hearing last year.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to take up Cosby's appeal.

Jury selection is set to get under way next month.

 Associated Press
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Drivers who leave Interstate 90 at Exit 6 face a decision. Loudonville or Arbor Hill?

It's a choice between north and south. It's a choice between Colonie and Albany. But as any resident of the Capital Region well knows, it's also a choice between different worlds.

The Loudonville side of the highway is largely a landscape of sweeping lawns, old trees and grand houses. Yet Arbor Hill, just a mile distant, is unmistakably urban. The buildings, often dilapidated, sit close to the sidewalk and huddle like sheep in a blizzard.

Both are places where people live and work, dream and die. But rightly or wrongly, fairly or unfairly, each also occupies territory in the regional consciousness  Loudonville synonymous with suburban wealth and plenty, Arbor Hill synonymous with urban poverty and despair.

The neighborhoods would seem to represent extremes of the American experience. But in a nation of growing wealth disparity and income segregation, where the percentage of people living in either affluent and poor neighborhoods is rising, extremes are becoming the norm.

"A dwindling share of the nation's households reside in mixed-income tracts," said Richard Fry, an economist with the Pew Research Center.

America, it turns out, looks more and more like Arbor Hill and Loudonville.

In truth, Loudonville and Arbor Hill have exaggerated reputations. There are wealthier communities in the Capital Region than Loudonville, and there are poorer neighborhoods than Arbor Hill. There are middle-income people, of course, on either side of the divide.

But nowhere else in the region is such a large concentration of wealth so close to so much poverty, nowhere are the contrasts quite so sharp.

In the primary Loudonville census tract, for example, the median household income is $105,833 and poverty is virtually non-existent. Twenty-two percent of families have annual income greater than $200,000, according to the Census Bureau.

In Arbor Hill, meanwhile, the median household is just $25,135  and 46.8 percent of families reported income below the federal poverty line.

The census surveys show ways in which poverty and wealth are linked to a divide in lifestyle.

Here are just three examples:

 In the Loudonville census tract, bordered by New Loudon, Albany Shaker and Osborne roads, nearly 70 percent of residents are married, compared to 15 percent in Arbor Hill.

 Not a single Loudonville family surveyed by the census from 2007 to 2011 reported having a grandparent in the same household as a grandchild. In Arbor Hill, the arrangement was found in nine percent of homes.

 In Loudonville, 90.4 percent people drive to work and another 7.9 percent work at home. In Arbor Hill, 32 percent commute by bus, 18.5 percent walk and hardly anybody works at home.

But race is probably the most conspicuous difference between the neighborhoods.

Loudonville is 92.2 percent white, the census reports, while Arbor Hill is 77.6 percent black.

The differences and distinctions between the nearly adjacent neighborhoods often surprise Capital Region newcomers, but they quickly become just another fact of ordinary life  as routine as the flow of the Hudson River.

"On occasion you think about it, but I'm not sure the distinction is something that most people dwell on," said Lonnie Clar, who has lived in Loudonville for 35 years. "It's not the kind of thing that comes up in ordinary thought and conversation."

To be sure, Loudonville has long been a place distinct from the city to its south. In the 1800s, it was where wealthy Albanians had country retreats, allowing an escape from urban noise and pollution. The community gradually became a more densely populated hamlet, but kept its prestige as a place where the successful congregate.

The history of Arbor Hill, along with the West Hill section of the city west of Henry Johnson Boulevard, is more complex.

For much of its long history, the district was a multiracial stew of wealthy industry leaders, the middle and working classes, and the poor, according to Tony Opalka, the city historian. But the neighborhood, like so many nationally, suffered from white flight in the 1950s and 1960s, leaving it mostly poor and black.

Deep ravines  Tivoli and Sheridan hollows  form the northern and southern boundaries of Arbor Hill. And to this day, Tivoli Hollow remains an important divider between the neighborhood and Loudonville, with Patroon Creek, railroad tracks and a spaghetti tangle of concrete highway and ramps forming a formidable barrier.

"Transportation corridors are walls," said Gene Bunnell, a University at Albany professor of urban planning.

The wall doesn't precisely divide Albany from Loudonville and the town of Colonie, as the city line is actually north of the Interstate. A section of what many people assume is Loudonville is actually in Albany.

Likewise, much of the suburban territory east of Route 9 is actually Menands.

But there's no doubt that the highway and rail tracks help make the stark distinction between Arbor Hill and Loudonville possible. There's almost no residential transition zone  a driver headed south on Route 9 through Loudonville finds that the two-lane road suddenly and surprisingly widens before carrying cars over the expanse of interstate into Arbor Hill.

"The neighborhoods are right next to each other, but there's a huge disconnect," said Amanda Paeglow, 29, who lives in Ten Broeck section of Arbor Hill and is active in the Loudonville Community Church. "People from Loudonville don't know how to get in touch with Arbor Hill, and people from Arbor Hill don't know how to connect with Loudonville."

Such disconnects may be more common as people increasingly live near neighbors with similar income levels.

In a recent report, the Pew Research Center found that the percentage of lower-income households in poor neighborhoods increased from 23 percent to 28 percent over the last 30 years, while the number of affluent households located in high-income areas increased from 9 percent to 18 percent.

(Pew defined an upper-income neighborhood as having median income above $104,000 and used $34,000 as the benchmark for a lower-income area  meaning the definitions include Loudonville and Arbor Hill.)

It's hard to fault families for settling in affluent areas with good schools and low crime. But income segregation matters, said Fry, coauthor of the Pew report, because "the poor tend to have worse outcomes when they live in concentrated poverty."

Fry cited research showing that crime and dropout rates, among other factors, tend to be higher among the poor who live in low-income neighborhoods, when compared to poor people who live in mixed-income neighborhoods.

In short, living amidst poverty makes it harder to escape poverty.

Some from both sides of the Colonie-Albany line are working to alleviate the effects of concentrated poverty  and are bridging the gap between the Arbor Hill and Loudonville.

Paeglow, for example, runs a program that encourages members of the Loudonville Community Church to volunteer at the Arbor Hill Community Center.

Paeglow's history with Arbor Hill is unusual.

When she was 17, her father moved the family from Voorheesville to Arbor Hill as he established a Clinton Avenue medical clinic. Paeglow admits the new surroundings initially frightened her, but now says she wouldn't want to live elsewhere.

"The only way I got over being intimidated by the neighborhood is by becoming a part of the neighborhood," she said. "It's taking out the fear of the unknown."

Wanda Austin-Peters hopes her restaurant, a Subway on Henry Johnson Boulevard, also helps alleviate fears. Austin-Peters, who grew up in North Albany but now lives in Latham, chose the location hoping a familiar franchise might lure outsiders to the neighborhood, and she tells her staff to treat each customer with unusual care.

"I wanted to say, 'Let's see what I can do to change things,'" Austin-Peters said.

Austin-Peters believes much about Arbor Hill and West Hill has improved since her business opened in 2005. There are new businesses and buildings along Henry Johnson Boulevard, and some surrounding streets show restored and revitalized housing.

But hardship remains entrenched.

In Arbor Hill, 52.2 percent of children live in poverty, the census says.

And 54.1 percent of families have annual income below $25,000, while that's true for just 0.9 percent of Loudonville families, the census reports.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
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Troy

At his first in-person town hall meeting since taking office in January, Rep. John Faso defended his vote on the Republicans' failed health care bill before a crowd in Troy that wanted reassurance their access to health care would remain intact and affordable.

Dozens of protesters showed up to the event Thursday night, lining the street outside WMHT headquarters in Troy with signs and chants expressing disapproval for the congressman's recent vote. As the town hall broadcast on New York NOW got under way, Faso held firm, saying he supported the Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, after hearing from constituents whose health care costs have soared.

"My approach with the ACA is keep what works and fix what doesn't," the Kinderhook Republican said.

It hasn't worked for individuals who are unable to secure insurance through their employer, he said, and it hasn't worked for small businesses whose premiums have skyrocketed in the seven years since the plan was implemented.

One such business owner in the audience said his small Schaghticoke business that employs eight has seen its health insurance costs climb 81 percent since 2010.

"Examples like yours are ones I've heard throughout the district," Faso said.

Protesters outside said they were upset that Faso promised not to defund Planned Parenthood, but then voted for a Republican health care bill that would have defunded the women's health care organization.

"I met with him personally, and he said he knew the damage defunding Planned Parenthood would have on rural areas of the state," said Chelly Hegan, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood's Upper Hudson branch, who joined the protest outside. "So we are never really at rest. We are always under the gun from those on the fringe radical right."

Roughly 80 constituents attended the town hall after applying for a seat through an online invitation. Protesters outside complained that the congressman didn't seem interested in a town hall event that's open to everyone.

"An invite-only town hall is not a real town hall," said Janet O'Brien-Aram, of Brunswick, who works with the grass-roots group Capital Women.

A Faso spokeswoman said the congressman has participated in a telephone town hall and meets with between 20 and 30 constituents a day. Faso himself said the smaller town hall event was a better way to represent and respond to voters in his district, giving him time to hear and answer questions thoroughly without being shouted down by a large crowd of protesters.

In addition to health care, the audience Thursday wanted to know where their new representative stood on issues like immigration, infrastructure, foreign policy and climate change.

Faso expressed sympathy for local dairy farmers and Hudson Valley apple growers who rely on immigrant labor to maintain their operations. He said he supports "normalization of status for people who came into the country illegally so long as they haven't violated the law."

He said he's opposed to the U.S. sending ground troops into Syria and said any attempts to do so would need Congressional approval. He voiced support for the FBI investigation into claims Russia tried to influence the U.S. election, especially since "it's very obvious" they are attempting to influence French and German elections.

Some people in the television studio wondered aloud if Faso's health care vote was a sign of failed promises to come. Would he cast independent votes going forward or toe the party line, they asked?

"I'm not an automatic party line vote by any means," he said. "I'll tell you this. I'm a fiscal conservative and a pragmatic individual who wants to solve problems in Congress."

bbump@timesunion.com  518-454-5387  @bethanybump
Glens Falls

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer was at Glens Falls Hospital Friday, calling for renewed funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program, which is slated to expire this year.

CHIP provides 65 percent, or about $414 million a year, of the funding for New York's Child Health Plus, which provides insurance coverage for children whose families earn up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. That's $98,400 per year for a family of four.

Enrollees in CHIP-funded health insurance plans are not allowed to pay more than 5 percent of family income for annual premiums. New York children in Child Health Plus pay monthly premiums lower than $9 per month.

About 330,000 New York children get health coverage through Child Health Plus. About 20,000 of them are in the Capital Region. About 8,000 are in the Glens Falls area.

"We must extend CHIP and keep an essential piece of our affordable health care puzzle in place," Schumer said.
Washington

Further chipping away at his predecessor's legacy, President Donald Trump signed legislation Thursday that lets states deny federal family planning money to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

Trump's action erases a rule, finalized shortly before President Barack Obama left office in January, that said states could not block the money.

Undoing the prohibition also gives Republicans and anti-abortion groups a victory after House Republicans failed to agree last month on a bill they had sought for years to overhaul the health care system.

The failed House bill would have blocked federal money for Planned Parenthood for a year, in addition to repealing portions of Obama's 2010 health law.

Federal law already prohibits government money for abortion, except in cases of rape or incest, or to save a woman's life.

The rule tossed out by Trump required state and local governments to distribute federal dollars for family planning services, including contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, fertility, pregnancy care, and breast and cervical cancer screening, to qualified health providers, irrespective of whether the providers also performed abortions.

Republicans and abortion opponents said the new law will let states divert money now going to groups that perform abortions to organizations that do not.

Democrats and abortion rights advocates said it represented an attack on women.

Seema Verma, who oversees Medicare and Medicaid, said after Trump signed the bill in the Oval Office that the administration wants states to decide what's best for them and the people they serve.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List, said the change will lead to better care for women and girls. She said the law "simply ensures that states are not forced to fund an abortion business with taxpayer dollars."

Stephanie Schriock, president of Emily's List, which supports Democratic female candidates for public office who are pro-choice, said the bill is another example of politicians chipping away at women's rights and making it harder for the less fortunate to get health care.

Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said the administration should build on the progress that's been made "instead of enacting policies that take us backward."
General Electric Co. CEO Jeff Immelt and others cheered President Donald Trump's surprising public reversal Wednesday on the future of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

In a Twitter post the same day, Immelt, who has been critical at times of Trump, said the president showed "great leadership" by throwing his support behind the Ex-Im Bank, which supports U.S. companies by providing loan guarantees on exports. GE, which employs thousands in the Capital Region, is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the program.
Washington

The U.S. military dropped the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in its arsenal Thursday on a cave-and-tunnel complex that it said was used by Islamic State fighters in eastern Afghanistan.

The behemoth bomb, officially called the Massive Ordnance Air Blast, or MOAB, is known as the "mother of all bombs." It is 30 feet long, weighs nearly 11 tons and produces a devastating aboveground explosion that sends a mushroom cloud roiling high in the sky.

It 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, and has never been used in combat before.

President Donald 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 that's what they're doing and frankly that's why they've been so successful lately," he told reporters at the White House.

"If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and compare that really to what's happened over the past eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference, tremendous difference," he said.

Although the Pentagon's 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.

The militants have gained strength in the area, which is close to Pakistan, and have been locked in a ground battle with Afghan security forces backed by U.S. special operations advisers.

Army Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, a 37-year-old Green Beret from Maryland, was killed 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 invasion in late 2001.

The giant bomb initially falls with a parachute, but a GPS guidance system 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 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 wasn't designed for an urban area," he said. "It's 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."
New York, Apr 14(Just Earth News): Senior United Nations officials on Thursday refocused the spotlight on Secretary-General AntAnio Guterresa mid-February 'call to action' on behalf of some 20 million people across four countries that now face the risk of famine.

The crises in these four countries are protracted and complex  and the impacts will be felt for years, said Stephen O'Brien, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, warning that the numbers are staggering as millions in South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and north-east Nigeria are slipping deeper into crisis.

The briefing was also addressed by Anthony Lake, Executive Director of the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF).

Some 1.4 million children are severely malnourished. Over 21 million people lack sufficient access to health care, at a time when three out of the four countries are experiencing cholera outbreaks. And more than 20 million people lack clean water and sanitation, said O'Brien in a statement delivered by Reena Ghelani, Deputy Director, of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination and Response Division.

Around eighty per cent of affected populations live in rural areas and a combination of hunger and conflict is forcing people to be displaced, both internally and as refugees. Those who were forced from their homes in past years by conflict are being hit particularly hard as a consequence of this current crisis, added the humanitarian coordinator.

He pointed out that the impacts of the protracted and complex crises in these four countries would be felt for years, citing broken communities, families torn apart and preventable deaths from disease.

Famine, O'Brien explained is about much more than food insecurity. It is about compounding vulnerabilities that leave millions of people without basic human dignity, without hope for the future. It leaves children stunted and out of school. Development gains are stalled or reversed. People abandon their homes, and are robbed of their livelihoods, exacerbating instability across entire regions.

He pointed out that while all four countries have unique contexts, they share the common component of protracted conflicts. Likewise, all four countries are marked by severe access constraints due to insecurity and some have costly bureaucratic impediments that impede the reach of life saving aid, and exacerbate the suffering of civilians.

He said that humanitarian operations in these four countries require more than $5.6 billion this year.

Underscoring the urgency, he added, we need this funding now  especially for the priority sectors to respond and prevent famine in the four critical sectors of food security, nutrition, water and sanitation, and health.

While humanitarians continue to deliver and scale-up where they are able, O'Brien listed four requirements to effectively reverse these crises: more political will to end the conflicts that have caused these crises; unhindered and sustained humanitarian access to assist those in need; further funding to back a robust humanitarian response; and a more comprehensive approach.

The President of the General Assembly, Peter Thomson, who convened the meeting, briefed on his recent visit to Senegal, Ethiopia and Egypt, underscoring how the respective leaders expressed grave concern over the humanitarian situation affecting some African countries, particularly in North-East Nigeria, South Sudan and Somalia, as well as neighbouring Yemen.

They implored me on my return to United Nations Headquarters to help raise international awareness of the gravity of the situation, and to seek your assistance in helping the affected people and nations during their hour of greatest need, he said.

It is disturbing to note that children, women and the elderly are being disproportionately affected by the crisis, continued Thomson, adding that some 1.4 million children are estimated to be at imminent risk of death from severe acute malnutrition.

In February, the Secretary-General launched a call to action. To date, this has resulted in donors providing around 21 per cent of the $4.4 billion required, he said.

On ThursdayI wish to follow up that appeal to the international community. I urge Member States to dig deep into reserves of our empathy and common humanity, he said, seizing the opportunity to call on Member States to scale-up their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as part of the international community's longer-term efforts to prevent the conflict, extreme weather and inequality which is at the root of so much of the despair we are witnessing.

To effectively respond to the crisis, all partners  across the peace, humanitarian and development pillars  will need to coordinate closely on the ground to save lives and build the resilience required to avoid such shocks in the future, Thomson said.

Photo: OCHA/Gemma Connell

Source: www.justearthnews.com
As part of National Spring Clean, Nenagh Walking Club took to the banks of the Nenagh River last Sunday for a walk and to collect litter.

The club will hold an open day on Sunday, April 23, when anybody intrested in hillwalking are invited to join us for a walk in the Arra mountains.

The venue is the old Killoran school, near Portroe. We will start out on our hike from there at 12pm and will return to Killoran for refreshments and a chat after our hike.

For people travelling from Nenagh, meet at Kenyon Street car park at 11am, or at Gleesons shop, Portroe, at 11.20am.

Its important to come prepared for the hike with walking boots, rain gear, some water and a light snack.

The club was founded in the year 2000 and holds a variety of hillwalks each week. In summer, the Tuesday evening walks take to the hills and in winter reverts to Nenagh bypass. The Sunday walks consist of a variety of different grades of hill walks. There is also a hillwalk every Thursday morning.

New members can partake in three trial walks before joining the club. Members are automaticaly insured under Mountaineering Ireland insurance cover.

Meanwhile, the clubs first weekend away event for 2017 is a three-day hike from Tralee to Dingle on the The Kerry Camino from may 5 to 7. Many of the club members are veterans of the Camino in Spain. Others have gone further afield to the mountains in Europe, Africa, South America, Nepal and India.

For further information see our club website Nenagh Walking Club, or contact Willie at 087-6633577.

The club's next walk is on April 14, (Good Friday), with walk taking in the Millennium Cross and Tountinna from the Look Out. Meet at Spar, Portroe, at 10am. Contact Paddy, 086-8562444.

The Tuesday evening hikes continue on April 18 with a hike around Tountinna. Meet at Spar, Portroe, at 7.15pm. Contact Paddy, 086 -856244, or Mary, 087-9735164, for further details. The club has undertaken a new initiative with its last of the summer wine walks. Any club member wishing to meet for an easy level walk, meet at the Abbey Court car park on Thursdays at 10.30am. There will be a different walk every Thursday. Contact Willie, 087 -6633577 for details.
WARREN  With the aim toward retaining youth in the area after graduating high school, the Pennsylvania Department of Education on Thursday ga
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.
Detroit, Apr 14 (IBNS): A doctor charged with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) of minor girls aged between eight and six year old, is likely to face a lifetime sentence, if proven guilty, media reports said.

Jumana Nagarwala, an American doctor, is in police custody and is presently undergoing an investigation.

The police nabbed her acting on a tip-off.

Though the doctor has denied all charges levied on her, reports suggested that she practiced FGM on minors for over 12 years.

"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 US attorney Daniel Lemisch was quoted in the media as saying.

FGM is viewed as an illegal act in the USA and was banned in 1996.

"The practice has no place in modern society and those who perform FGM on minors will be held accountable under federal law," the judge further added.

Globally, around 200 million women have suffered the trauma of FGM, with most victims from Muslim nations.
Kabul, Apr 14 (IBNS): Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzaia on Friday condemned the US move to drop non-nuclear bomb in the nation.

"I vehemently and in strongest words condemn the dropping of the latest weapon, the largest non-nuclear #bomb, on Afghanistan by US," the former President tweeted.

He said :"Military. This is not the war on terror but the inhuman and most brutal misuse of our country as testing ground for new and dangerous."

The ex-President said: "weapons. It is upon us,Afghans, to stop the #USA."

Thirty-six suspected Islamic State militants were killed in Afghanistan after the US dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat, The Guardian quoted the Afghan defence ministry as saying on Friday.

The US on Thursday for the first time used what the military calls the mother of all bombs, the GBU-43/B to target IS militants hiding in a maze of caves in Afghantistan's hilly terrains.

Designed for destroying underground targets but not itself a deep-earth penetrator weapon, the GBU-43/B has the explosive yield of more than 11 tons of TNT, The Guardian said.

The massive bomb is dropped from air force planes and detonates before reaching the ground, resulting in an enormous air blast over a huge radius.

Army Gen John W Nicholson, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement that the GBU-43/B was the right munition to use against the Islamic State in Khorosan, or Isis-K.

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, Nicholson said.

Image: Hamid Karzai Twitter
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is a very good value because of its captivating infinity display, strong performance and long battery life for under $500.

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

The Galaxy S8 has been around for a couple of years, but it's still a strong choice for those looking for flagship-level design and solid performance for under $500. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ boast 5.8- and 6.2-inch infinity displays, which go from edge to edge, and these handsets feature Qualcomms relatively zippy Snapdragon 835 processor for speedy performance.

Were still not fans of the fingerprint sensors location. But when you add in excellent battery life and improvements to a camera that was already very good, you have two winning handsets with the Galaxy S8 and S8+.

See our best phones list for all of our top picks.

Galaxy S8 price and release date

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ were released in April of 2017. You can now get the Galaxy S8 starting at $499 with 64GB of storage. The larger Galaxy S8+ isn't as readily available, but it retails for about $589. However, we've seen this phone for as low as $364 on Amazon (opens in new tab).

You may want to keep an eye out for Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals to see if these phones get discounted during the holiday season.



Design: It feels like the future

The Galaxy S8 exemplifies a nearly bezel-free phone done right. Samsung didnt just take away the bezels on this phone; it crafted a space-age work of art with a new infinity display that stretches from edge to edge. The Galaxy S8 not only has a slightly bigger screen-to-body ratio than LGs phone but also looks sleeker because of the way the Gorilla Glass curves toward the edges on the front and back. Other Android phones look like blah, flat slabs by comparison. The S8 is also thinner and narrower than the G6.

The screen on the S8 is 5.8 inches, versus 6.2 inches on the S8+. But other than the difference in display size, the S8 and S8+ have the same design. Overall, we prefer the bigger screen on the S8+, but if you have small hands, youll likely find yourself repositioning the phone in your hand to reach certain buttons, including the home button, which is now a virtual button instead of a physical key. The button worked well in our testing, providing solid haptic feedback. Its flanked by the Recent Apps and Back buttons.

Whats remarkable about the Galaxy S8 is how much more screen real estate it gives you compared with the S7, while still offering a compact and lightweight design. The S8s 5.8-inch screen is housed in a 5.5-ounce, 2.7-inch-wide chassis, whereas the 5.1-inch S7 weighed 5.4 ounces and had the same width. The S8 is taller, but its still easy to use with one hand.

With its 6.2-inch screen, the 6.1-ounce S8+ is heftier than the 5.5-ounce, 5.5-inch S7 Edge. But the S8+ makes the iPhone 8 Plus (6.2 x 3.1 x 0.29 inches, 7.13 ounces) look positively bloated. Plus, unlike the latest iPhones, the S8 and S8+ have headphone jacks.

No matter which size you choose, it wont be long before you see fingerprint smudges on the back of the phone. The smudges were especially prominent on the midnight black version of the S8 and S8+, but you can also choose the lighter orchid gray or arctic silver, which dont show smudges as easily.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Galaxy S8 Galaxy S8+ Price

From $499

From $589

Display (Pixels) 5.8 inches (2960 x 1440) Super AMOLED 6.2 inches (2960 x 1440) Super AMOLED Camera (Back) 12 MP, f /1.7 aperture 12 MP, f /1.7 aperture Camera (Front) 8 MP, f/ 1.7 aperture 8 MP, f/1.7 aperture Biometric Scanning Facial recognition, iris scanner, fingerprint reader Facial recognition, iris scanner, fingerprint reader CPU Snapdragon 835 Snapdragon 835 RAM

4GB 4GB Storage 64GB 64GB microSD

up to 256GB up to 256GB Battery

3,000 mAh 3,500 mAh Battery Life (4G) 10:39 11:04 Size

5.9 x 2.7 x 0.3 inches 6.3 x 2.9 x 0.3 inches Weight

5.5 ounces 6.1 ounces Colors

Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver Android Version 7.0 Nougat 7.0 Nougat Charging USB Type-C USB Type-C Wireless Charging WPC and PMA WPC and PMA

About that fingerprint sensor

We were worried that the fingerprint sensors placement right next to the camera on the back of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ might be a problem. And it was, initially. Because the sensor is fairly narrow, its difficult to target it without looking. We got used to it after a couple of days, but we still wish it were below the lens.

If you dont want to reach around the S8 to unlock your phone, you can choose from a couple of other biometric options that Samsung gives you. Theres facial recognition, as well as iris scanning. Iris scanning unlocks your phone faster and even works in the dark, but it doesnt work in direct sunlight; your eyes need to be fully open, so squinting isnt an option. The facial recognition is not only slower but also had trouble in direct sunlight and doesnt work in the dark.

Our advice? Use the iris scanning everywhere except in the sun, and when there is bright light, just use the fingerprint scanner.

Display: The perfect screen is here

Apple is bringing an OLED screen to the iPhone X, but you have to pay a grand for the privilege. Sporting a resolution of 2960 x 1440 pixels, both the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ turned in nearly perfect scores on our tests, offering a very bright picture, amazingly vivid colors and near-perfect color accuracy.

The extra-wide 18.5:9 aspect ratio doesnt work well with some apps, but overall, we like how immersive the experience is when watching video and playing games.

When watching the new Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer, we could make out every wrinkle in Reys hands as she seemed to levitate the rocks around her with the Force, as well as every rising ring of smoke around Kylo Rens smoldering mask. As the camera panned around to the island where Luke was training Rey, it was hard not to be impressed by the golden sunshine that reflected off the water, as well as the lush, green foliage dotting the mountains.

The S8 backed up our experience by reproducing a superb 183 percent of the sRGB color gamut. That blows away the LG G6s 134 percent, but the AMOLED screen on the Google Pixel scored an even higher 191 percent. (However, when you turn on Adaptive Display mode on the Galaxy S8, it can reach as high as 255 percent.)

If youre looking for accurate color, the S8 can deliver that, too. In its AMOLED photo mode, the display notched a Delta-E score of 0.28 (0 is perfect). The LG G6 was closest, at 1.01, but the Pixel XL was way behind, with 5.88. Like the LG G6, the Galaxy S8s screen is HDR certified, which means you can enjoy a wider range of colors and better contrast on videos that support the standard. Amazon, Netflix and YouTube offer a growing variety of HDR-ready movies and shows.

The 18.5:9 aspect ratio doesnt work well with every app. For instance, in Super Mario Run, we noticed unsightly bars above and below the game. But Samsungs own apps are optimized, and you can fill the screen by pushing a button while watching YouTube and Netflix, even if the video looks a bit stretched out.

Since our initial review, some users complained about a red tint appearing on their S8 screens, but Samsung has released a fix.



Audio: Poppin

For a small speaker, the Galaxy S8 pumps out pretty sweet sound. When we listened to Justin Timberlakes Cant Stop the Feeling, on this phone, the lyrics were clearer, and the volume was louder, than the same track on the LG G6.



The latter handset sounded slightly muffled by comparison. However, you dont get stereo sound from the Galaxy S8 as you do from the HTC U Ultra.



The S8's Snapdragon 835 muscle blitzes every other Android phone on the market.

Performance: A handheld powerhouse

The Galaxy S8 goes boldly forward into a new era of speed, thanks to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 system on a chip (at least in the U.S.; in other regions, the S8 will have Samsung's Exynos 8895 chip). The S8 also comes with a healthy 4GB of memory, 64GB of storage (twice the amount you get from base models of the LG G6 and the Google Pixel) and microSD card expansion for people who need even more space.

When you put it all together, the S8's muscle blitzes every other Android phone on the market, but it falls short of the iPhone 8's A11 Bionic chip. The S8 almost always feels exceedingly snappy, no matter if you're vaulting over Goombas in Super Mario Run or mowing down aliens in N.O.V.A. Legacy. We didnt experience any lag when using multiwindow mode for chatting with friends while streaming video on YouTube. If you pay close attention, you may notice that some of the transitions when switching between apps aren't 100 percent smooth, but that seems mostly cosmetic.

In terms of benchmark performance, the Galaxy S8s multicore score of 6,295 in the Geekbench 4 overall performance test was more than 50 percent higher than that of its closest Android competitor, the Snapdragon 821-powered Google Pixel XL (4,146). However, the iPhone 8 scored above 10,000 on this test.



The Galaxy S8's graphics power was also quite impressive, as it hit 36,508 on 3DMark's Ice Storm Unlimited test. Other Android adversaries, like the LG G6 (29,611) and the Google Pixel XL (28,182), were farther behind. But the iPhone 8 scored a much higher 64,532.



New for the S8 is Samsung's Device Management tab, which is best accessed by swiping in from the Edge tab. It offers a quick look at the status of your device, including battery status, power mode (optimized, performance, game or entertainment), available storage and your current memory usage. There's even an optimization button that cleans up any lingering apps and clears your cache, which is a handy tool for people who go weeks or months without actually turning off their devices.

Cameras: Better on both the front and back

When we first found out that the S8's 12-megapixel rear camera is ostensibly the same as the one on last year's S7, we were a bit disappointed. But that rush of emotion was a bit premature, because under the hood, Samsung made some important software enhancements. And then you toss in a new, higher-resolution, 8-MP front cam, and you get a phone that produces noticeably better pictures no matter which shooter you're using.

The most important tweak comes in the form of Samsung's new multi-image photo processing, which mimics the operation of the Google Pixel's HDR+ mode by taking multiple pictures when you press the shutter, selecting the best one, and enhancing that image with extra details and info from the remaining two pics.

When we took both the S8+ and a Pixel XL out for some side-by-side testing, it was clear that Samsung's adjustments have had a pretty positive effect. At a nearby farmer's market, the S8 captured a crate full of apples with better contrast, richer colors and better details than the Pixel XL.



And when I continued down the street, the S8+ topped the Pixel XL again when I snapped a pic of some flowers, this time offering better white balance than Google's phone, as evidenced by the greenish hue on the white flower's petals.



But it wasn't a clean sweep for the S8+. When I really tried to push both cameras to the limit by shooting a backlit scene pointing straight at the sun, the Pixel XL stunned us with a shot featuring big, bold colors and sharp details, even though there was some serious lens flare going on.



Inside, in pretty much ideal conditions, the S8+ and the Pixel XL were again neck and neck. The one difference is that the Pixel's cool color tone brought out the green in the pistachio macaroon, while the pic from the S8 sported a more neutral white balance, which led to a more pleasing overall photo.



Finally, at a local bar with even less light to work with, both the Pixel XL and the Galaxy S8 impressed us with photos that were brighter than the scenes in real life. Small differences included less blown-out highlights in the S8's pic, which was countered by more detail in the darker areas of the scene in the Pixel's photo.

When it comes to tweaking your photos or changing modes, Samsung has added new Snapchat-like filters that let you decorate faces with various animal masks, hats and other silly emojis. But if that doesn't strike your fancy, the camera also comes with modes for shooting panoramas, food, slow-mo and more. And as with all good camera apps, there's also a Pro mode that lets you adjust settings manually.

As for selfies, the S8 and S8+ sport new 8-MP cams with a wide-angle lens, which makes it easy to snap you and all your besties at once. However, compared with the Pixel XL's 8-MP camera, the S8's selfies can sometimes be a little lacking.



We compared photos shot by the S8 and the Pixel XL outside on a sunny day. The Pixel XL's photo had an extra level of sharpness and detail we didn't get from the S8+. Our face looked a little too smooth and perfect on the Samsung, to the point where we were wondering whether Beauty Mode was kicking in even when we had it set to 0.

The Galaxy S8s camera can shoot 4K video at 30 frames per second and slow-mo video at up to 240 frames per second at 720p. (In comparison, the LG G6 shoots at just 60 fps in slow-mo.)

To test the Galaxy S8s video quality, we shot some footage of a pond with fish swimming about in 4K. The S8s footage looked crisper and more vibrant than what the iPhone 7 Plus captured, even if the colors looked a bit oversaturated. However, when we put both phones on a mount to test image stabilization, the iPhone 7s video looked smoother; we saw a bit of stuttering in the S8s footage as we walked up a grassy hill.

For a hallmark feature on a flagship phone, Bixby feels pretty half-baked right now.

Bixby: Still a work in progress



The Galaxy S8 introduces a new personal assistant, Bixby, to take on the likes of Apple's Siri and Microsoft's Cortana. And for a hallmark feature on Samsung's flagship phone, Bixby feels pretty half-baked right now, even after Samsung has rolled out voice controls to its virtual assistant.

The main difference between Bixby and other digital assistants is that it lets you use voice commands to control your phone in lieu of tapping the screen, which can save you time and energy. You can also use Bixby to tell you the weather or look up the definition of quixotic, but its real purpose is giving you a whole new way to control your phone. For instance, you can ask Bixby to show you emails from a specific person by name, and it will slickly pull up all your conversations in just a couple seconds. That's way faster than tapping to open the email app, hitting search and then typing in that person's name.

Bixby can also understand complex commands with contextual language, so you can do things like ask Bixby to post the last photo you took to Instagram and add a caption, all with one command. You can also change almost any setting on the S8 using your voice, which is often much faster than trying to dig through a modern phone's increasingly complex array of menus and tabs.

Or at least, that's how things should work. The big problem is that Bixby's voice-command functionality, while now available, was pretty erratic when we tested it.

Sometimes Bixby will fail to understand your language at all, while other times, Bixby will get confused and try to open the wrong app or adjust incorrect settings. But every once in a while Bixby will get everything right and you won't even be able to tell that its voice commands are still a work in progress. Currently, simple commands have the best success rate.

MORE: 11 Coolest Things Bixby Voice Can Do on the Galaxy S8

As of August 22, Samsung announced that the Bixby voice command feature is now available in more than 200 countries and territories, though you'll still need to use either English or Korean to make it work. Support for additional languages, as well as more third party apps, is in the works.



Then there's Bixby Vision, which leverages the S8's camera along with object recognition to identify items in the world. We found this worked pretty well when we pointed the S8 at various household items, such as shampoos, snacks and aluminum foil. It also works for books. After pointing the Galaxy S8's camera at any object, we could check prices online on Amazon.

Say you're at the liquor store and want to know the rating of that wine or what food to pair it with. Bixby has also partnered with Vivino to identify that bottle and spit back information. However, at a wine store in New York, the feature was more miss than hit, as it seemed to have trouble with the bright lights. At home, however, Bixby identified three wines correctly, though we were greeted with a home server error.

Bixby's other talents include the ability to set reminders and a Bixby Home tool with a card-based interface that shows you your schedule, what's trending on Facebook, the weather, news and other info.

All told, Bixby is a frustrating mix of success and failures, though there is a lot of potential should Samsung work out all the kinks. Thankfully, though, you can turn to the Google Assistant, which also comes preloaded on the S8.

Software: Feature-rich but accessible

Running Android 7.0 Nougat, the Galaxy S8 still has a skin on top of Android, but its fairly intuitive, and Samsungs minimalist, line-drawn icons are easy to understand. We like that you dont have to tap a button to see all of your apps from the home screen; just swipe down from the middle of the screen, and then swipe left to see more apps.

If you swipe down from the very top of the screen from wherever you are, youll see your notifications and Samsungs quick-settings shortcuts. Finally, swiping in from the left provides access to Edge screen shortcuts, such as a customizable list of apps, a device maintenance screen (for battery, choosing performance mode, etc.) and a Smart Select tool for selecting an area of the screen and sharing it or pinning it to the top of your display.

Youll also find a ton of advanced features. The ones at the top of our list include a one-handed mode that you can activate by tapping the home button three times to shrink the screen, as well as the ability to quickly launch the camera by pressing the power key twice.

At least on the T-Mobile S8 we tested, there was minimal bloatware. T-Mobile included just five of its own apps: Device Unlock, T-Mobile, T-Mobile Name ID, T-Mobile TV and Visual Voicemail.

Accessories: Way beyond Gear VR

The Galaxy S8 works with the new Gear VR for those who want to experience virtual-reality games and content, but thats not the only interesting accessory. The new DeX ($149) is a dock that lets you use the S8 and S8+ as a mini PC. The dock can connect to a full-size monitor via its HDMI port, as well as a keyboard and mouse via Bluetooth. It also has an Ethernet jack and a USB port.

Out of the box, the Samsung Connect app will let you access and control various Samsung-branded smart home gear. For instance, you can start your Samsung robot vacuum ($549) or peek inside your Samsung Family Hub fridge (about $2,900) to see what you need from the store while youre out. But youll get a lot more possibilities if you buy Samsung's $169 Samsung Connect Home  a combination mesh Wi-Fi router and SmartThings hub that will let you control other items, such as Philips Hue lights and Netgears Arlo security camera.

Samsung offers a slew of other accessories, including an LED View cover for always having the time in view, a wireless charging stand and more. Check out our roundup of the Best Galaxy S8 accessories and Galaxy S8 cases.

Battery Life

One concern about a phone with this much screen is how that extra real estate might impact battery life. The Galaxy S8+ has a slightly smaller battery than last years S7 Edge (3,500 mAh versus 3,600 mAh), and yet the S8+ improved almost 1 hour, to 11 hours and 4 minutes, on the Tom's Guide Battery Test (continuous web surfing on 4G LTE using T-Mobile's network). The standard Galaxy S8s 3,000-mAh battery endured for 10:39 on the same test, improving on the Galaxy S7's (8:47) time by nearly 2 hours.

We obtained these results with the phones resolutions set to their max 2960 x 1440 pixels. They come with the less demanding 2220 x 1080 setting on by default.

MORE: Smartphones with the Longest Battery Life

Compared to the Galaxy S8+, the Pixel XL's battery life was just a bit longer, at 11:11. The iPhone 8 Plus hit 11:16, while the smaller iPhone 8 lasted 9:54. LG G6 finished way behind, with a time of just 8:39.

On top of that, the S8 has battery smarts that let it learn about your usage patterns to help extend its longevity even further. And when you need to juice the phone back up, you can take advantage of the S8s fast-charging capabilities via its included USB Type-C cable or use one of Samsung's slick wireless chargers (available separately).

Bottom Line

Its clear that, with the Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung set out to create more than a phone. Its trying to build a more Apple-like ecosystem, with devices ranging from the Gear VR and the DeX dock to the new Samsung Connect app for controlling smart home gear and the Bixby assistant. Its also evident that Samsung hasnt yet reached that goal, as Bixbys voice features can be hit or miss.

But even with that shortcoming, the Galaxy S8 still beats the Android competition while surpassing the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in terms of design, display quality and features. The iPhones are better, though, when it comes to sheer speed and their cameras.



Some shoppers will prefer a newer Android phone in the same price range, like the $479 Pixel 3a XL, but overall the Galaxy S8 and S8+ remain good values for those who prefer Samsung handsets.

Credit: Jeremy Lips/Tom's Guide; Comparisons: Samuel Rutherford/Tom's Guide.
The warm weather and so much ongoing violence throughout Kansas City remind us that this is just one of many vigils that will take place over the next few months. Some critics argue that vigils don't help address the root cause of violence, tragedy and loss . . . We can only hope that the same critics of urban core memorials will respect the mourning of these local youngsters as higher rates of suicide become a very real challenge for younger local generations.

At least one thousand high school students from across the metro gathered at Loose Park tonight in a healing ceremony following tragic Rockhurst suicide.Thegathering of local young people deserves mention for a lot of reasons but primarily becauseIn covering this event we attempted to maintain a respectful distance but the gathering of hundreds upon hundreds of youngsters, parents and teachers and their cars was a highly noticeable event throughout Midtown Kansas City this evening.In the final analysis, this kind of unity, compassion and solidarity is an appropriate response to local despair and might be the only hope of preventing further tragedy.You decide . . .
SUPPORT FOR THE KANSAS CITY ZOO AQUARIUM RUNS DEEP AMID AN ONGOING RACE TO BUILD A BIGGER LOCAL FISH TANK!!!

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN WRITING THAT SAYS GO BOND MONEY CAN'T BE USED FOR A NEW AQUARIUM!!!

MOST OF THE GO BOND MONEY IS UP FOR GRABS

A tidal wave of funding requests are now flooding City Hall following the recent bond election win. The latest splash is a longstanding effort to continue Kansas City Zoo improvements with a fishy project that has beenpart of an ongoing local conversation for years.Moreover . . .Hard to believe???. . . Dead Tree Media evenAnd here's the kicker . . .The Mayor and City Council attempted to play the little dutch boy and put their finger in the dike (ewwwww) to prevent public suspicion that. . . But vague ballot language suggests otherwise.In fact, cash for a new aquarium can easily qualify as an improvement to a public building noted in Question 3.Moreover, most adults realize that the promises from politicos are easily broken and City Hall cash can shift as easily as the tides.The critical point here deserves to be repeated time and time again . . . With very little binding ballot language, supporters of a new aquarium understand that they're well within their rights to ask for a share of GO BOND MONEY . . . Given the strong level of public support for the Zoo, they're likely to succeed . . . And once again, despite a recent cash influx, the misplaced priorities of local leadersvoters threaten to sink Kansas City further into debt.
CONGRESSMAN YODER PUSHES BACK AGAINST CRITICS WITH AN EPIC FUNDRAISING HAUL THAT DEMONSTRATES HIS BROAD SUPPORT!!!

Yoder Victory Fund Announces Record-Setting Quarter

A close Kansas special election congressional contest this week has mainstream media claiming thatand targeting a popular Johnson County incumbent without a real challenger in mind.The only appropriate response to this rhetoric based on political imagination is cold hard facts . . . And lots of money.To wit . . .Last time around the Congressman's war chest toppedagainst a no-name challenger who earned a great deal of last minute DNC cash and endorsement from Prez Obama . . . This time, Congressman Yoder's team looks to surpass their campaign fundraising goals while Kansas Democratic Party hopefuls tout partisan MSM stories and talk trash on the Internets without any real challenger on hand.Take a look:Overland Park, KS -- Yoder Victory Fund announced today that across all its committees it raised more than half a million dollars in the first three months of 2017.Yoder for Congress, the committee to re-elect Kevin Yoder, alone raised over $412K which is more than any candidate for Congress in the history of Kansas in a first quarter report. The committee now has amassed over $700K cash on hand after fending off nearly two million dollars in misleading and negative attack ads paid for by Washington Democrats last election cycle."Kansans are more energized than ever to send Kevin Yoder back to the United States House of Representatives to help him continue putting America back on a path towards more jobs, better schools for our children, and safety and security at home and abroad," said Jennifer Dreiling, Yoder for Congress Finance Director. "As we saw last cycle, Democrats will stop at nothing to try and steal this seat from the voters, so it's been pretty amazing to see so many Kansans step up to support Kevin right away this year."###You decide . . .
HERE'S THE WORD FROM KANSAS CITY TAX FIGHTERS UPSET WITH MAYOR SLY JAMES HAS CHICKENED OUT OF ANOTHER INFRASTRUCTURE DEBATE!!!

"It appears that our fighting Marine mayor chickened out yet again.





"Nick Haines and "Bing" Crosby Kemper will be hosting a discussion on infrastructure needs now that the $800,000,000 blank check has been signed. As you can see it headlines the Mayor and Troy Schulte and others- When Lying Chicken Sly found out that the "others" meant Patrick Tuohey of Show-me his feathers got ruffled and he flew the coop. As you recall Sly laid an egg a few weeks ago when he backed out of KCPT Week in Review also when he heard that Patrick Tuohey would be on the panel.





I have attached a recent picture of our Mayor . . ."

After an election win, Kansas City Mayor Sly James isn't answering any questions from locals who are concerned about how GO Bond money is going to be spent.Accordingly . . .A look at the upcoming event featuring Mayor Sly already confirmed . . .And now . . .Developing . . .
THE TKC BLOG COMMUNITY HAS CONFIRMED THAT COUNCILMAN DAN FOWLER WAS ABSENT THIS WEEK ON A JUNKET TO CUBA DURING TENSE DISCUSSIONS OVER THE FATE OF THE BUCK O'NEIL BRIDGE!!!

Dan Fidel Fowler

This week the Kansas City council discussed the Buck O'Neil Bridge. There seemed to be a lot of debate on just letting it be shut down for 2 years which seems like a major ass-pain. There are a lot of people living north of the river but only Councilman Wagner spoke up on how awful a closure would be. There are a lot of people living north of the river but only Councilman Wagner spoke up on how awful a closure would be.





Where was Dan Fowler? It seemed rather odd that he wasn't there since his residents will be the ones dealing with a suck-y commute for 2 years.





If anyone wants to ask where he was, The answer: Fowler was in Cuba this week on a junket. This Buck O'Neil Bridge issue will impact Councilman Fowler's constituents more than anyone else in Kansas City and he's on a junket, probably enjoying the beach. In 2019 when KC voters show up to the polls after having to sit in a ton of traffic hopefully they remember that Dan "Fidel" Fowler was working on his tan in commie Cuba.

The sordid topic of transit could once again threaten the career of a Kansas City Councilman.To wit . . .Insiders inform us that the junket wasand this is actually Councilman Fowler'sto Cuba.Here's the community response from the nice side of the bridge as challengers threaten the position of this Northland politico who was unchallenged last time around . . .##########You decide . . .
Every year at Passover, Jacob Cohen leaves his home in Drama and heads to Thessaloniki to celebrate the holiday and attend services at a synagogue. Jacob is 75 years old and is not only the last living Jew in Drama, but in all of eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

Before the Second World War, there were flourishing Jewish communities numbering thousands of people in the region from Serres and Kavala and east to Evros. Most, however, perished in the Nazis Treblinka concentration camp in Poland, after being turned in by the Bulgarians who occupied East Macedonia and Thrace. Few survived. Their homes were looted and destroyed. The few who did return eventually passed away, and along with them a significant part of the regions cultural and economic identity was lost.

In the town of Drama, Cohen is the last Jewish drop in an ocean of Orthodox Christians  without anyone to share his faith, without a place to pray and too far from his wifes grave to light a candle for her.

What is it like to be the only Jew in a Christian town and not even have a place of worship? I ask him. If you have a few good friends, youre fine, but Ive had the misfortune of losing two friends, Christians who were very close to me, in the past three years. I feel like a drop in the ocean. The community in Drama treats me well. When my wife was alive, everything was fine, our house was always open to visitors. Things got a lot harder, almost unbearable when I lost her 10 years ago, though.

No synagogue in Drama

Cohen goes to weddings, funerals and even attends a Christian church, as there is no synagogue in Drama. I like the Divine Liturgy. In church I follow along devoutly so as not to miss a word. It says the right things. In recent years, since my wife and close friends have passed away, I go to Christian graveyards every Saturday and light candles. I cant do the same for my fellow Jews. Our graveyards have been destroyed. My wife is buried in Kavala, next to her father. Here I light candles for my friends.

On Fridays, when Cohen feels the need to pray, he reads a Jewish prayer written in a notebook in Greek letters. He never learned Hebrew. On major holidays he goes to Thessaloniki to visit his two children.

Until a few years ago, I used to go to Kavala, where there were a few Jews who were still alive. Indeed, there was a time when we couldnt gather the 10 men needed for a Passover ceremony at the synagogue, so we would pay for people to come from Thessaloniki. Now there are no Jews left in Kavala. The same is the case in Xanthi, Serres, Komotini and Evros, so naturally there are no synagogues.

Cohen was born in Kavala shortly before his mother fled by ship to Thessaloniki, and from there to Volos to her family. His grandfather was the chief rabbi there and soon realized that the Nazis were coming after the Jews there. After the Metropolitan Bishop Ioakeim refused to hand the Germans a list of the Jews in the town  telling them, I am a Jew  Cohens grandfather told his flock to hide and gathered together his family.

They fled to the village of Keramidi in the mountains, which was in rebel-held territory. The people in the village treated us very well and we stayed there until the liberation, says Cohen.

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
On Saturday Christians will be celebrating the resurrection of Christ

Christians across Cyprus will be gathering to celebrate the Good Friday services today, where the funereal hymns will be chanted and the procession of the tomb of Christ, Epitafios, will occur.

Traditionally, the tomb is decorated with flowers and the icon of Christ is placed within, for believers to worship. Believers pass underneath the Epitafios after presenting themselves in front of the icon.

The Epitafios is then lifted and taken on a procession through the streets, with believers, once again, passing underneath the tomb before it is returned to the church.

During the procession the priest chants the funereal hymns to Christ, and believers follow along in the streets, while some others stand at the gates of their homes and rain holy water on the procession.

On Saturday Christians will be celebrating the resurrection of Christ.

In the morning, a service is held, which is known locally as the first resurrection, where the parable of how the women went to wash the body and spread incense is told.

The women, including Mary Magdalene, visited the tomb on Saturday morning and found the stone blocking the tomb entrance rolled away, and an angel in front of the tomb.

The angel is said to have told the women that the person they seek is not in the tomb.

Christians celebrate this event in the morning, and in the evening celebrate at a midnight service celebrate the resurrection.

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
DP World plans to invest up to $500 million to cut CO2 emissions from its operations by nearly 700,000 tonnes over the next five years, said its top official at the United Nations Climate Conference (COP 27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Summer break is fast approaching, and for some, an ideal vacation consists of traveling and exploring the beauty of Europe. Sure, Paris is magnificent, and Spain is equally promising, but for this year's travel, why not visit another overlooked European beauty that not only will give you great travel satisfaction but will also sate your thirst for culture?

This year, pack your bags and head on to Poland, another one of Europe's jewels. The country's efforts in promoting its tourism have been amped up this year, and according to Travel Pulse, with LOT Polish Airlines operating nonstop flights from the West Coast to the country, getting there is easier than it was before.

It's also a good idea to time your visit in tune with celebrated holidays and festivals. Go Easter Europe reported that the Christmas and Easter Markets are to die for, with charming tinsels and the wafting smell of Polish treats permeating the air. Across the country, decorations brighten up city centers, and their local festivals are something to look out for as well.

Poland played a vital part during World War II, with its capital city, Warsaw, almost completely destroyed in the aftermath of the war. However, it was rebuilt by the locals and restored to its old splendor, so tourists can experience the charm of the city's old and modern touches.

Try to visit the city's Old and New Towns-quaint city blocks filled with cobblestone streets, antique shops, and small cafes. Other attractions that must be in your itinerary include the Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanow and the restored Royal Castle.

The local cuisine in Poland is also something worth traveling for. The country's specialty dishes varies from region to region, but there are some restaurants in Warsaw that offer the most delectable dishes the country has to offer. Dessert is also a must-try, and local craft beers and other beverages should be shared and tasted with friends as well.

Poland is an old, charming country in the middle of the modern world. Yet the moment you step on its streets, you feel a sort of detachment to the real world, instead, the longing to explore Poland's secrets await you. Make sure to include Poland in your travel bucket list.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
A rare celestial solar eclipse will happen on August 21 and has travelers across American and the world book accommodation in hotels, lodges or campsites just to see the unusual event. Dubbed as the "Great American Eclipse," people will be pitted in accommodations just to see the moon entirely blocking the sun.

Hotels and campgrounds might be crowded and overbooked by now, but travelers might be happy to know that the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has announced the reopening of 1,000 more campsites for those who wanted to see the celestial phenomenon. The park official says that most of its campsites were already booked since 2016, and opening up more places will help accommodate more people.

OPRD spokesman Chris Havel stated in a press release that, "We want to make this once-in-a-lifetime event available to as many campers as we can safely accommodate. That's why we decided to add additional campsites, all at an affordable cost." A reservation fee of $8 will be charged, and the camping price will be around $10 to $31 per night, reported by The Lonely Planet.

People can start reserving on April 19 at 8 AM for a minimum stay of three days at the site. There are two locations available for visitors: traditional campsites and temporary eclipse sites. The former offers the regular operations of the park with a non-reservable, "first-come, first-served" procedure. Meanwhile, the temporary eclipse spots are opened for the event only.

The eclipse will start by 9 AM on August 21 and will end two hours and a half later. However, Oregon will enjoy the view starting at 10:15 AM PDT between Lincoln City and Newport and will exit the state at 10:27 AM. According to the Great American Eclipse website, Oregon will be one of the most popular states to see the phenomenon because of its weather conditions during the eclipse's path.

The next total eclipse to happen will be on April 8, 2024, and will be seen in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
By PTI: mission

From Yoshita Singh

United Nations, Apr 14 (PTI) The UN will end its 13- year-long peacekeeping mission in Haiti later this year, but two police contingents from India will remain the country as part of a smaller justice support mission that would assist the government to strengthen rule of law institutions.

Adopting a resolution here yesterday, the UN Security Council unanimously decided that the UN Stabilisation Mission, known by its French acronym MINUSTAH, would gradually draw down its military component during the next six months, finally withdrawing from Haiti by October 15.

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Acting on the recommendations of the Secretary-General, the Council also decided to establish a successor operation, the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), which would be mandated to assist the Haitian Government to strengthen rule of law institutions; further support and develop the National Police; and engage in human rights monitoring, reporting, and analysis.

The currentMINUSTAHmission has just over 1,000 individual police and 11 police units.

As of February 2017, India had 452 police personnel in the UN mission in Haiti.

MINUJUSTH would be composed of up to seven Formed Police Units (FPU) or 980 FPU personnel and 295 Individual Police Officers for an initial period of six months from October 16 this year until April 15, 2018.

Sources told PTI that of the 11 police contingents in Haiti at present, three are from India. India does not have any troop presence in MINUSTAH.

Seven police contingents will remain in Haiti for the smaller MINUJUSTH and these would include two from India.

The new mission was also authorised to "protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, within its capabilities and areas of deployment, as needed."

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said as the stabilisation 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.

"This is a success story when it comes to drawing down a peacekeeping mission. The United States will continue to stand with the people of Haiti. We have stated before the contributions of many of the peacekeeping troops in Haiti," she said.

Haiti has been dealing with a Cholera outbreak since October 2010, blamed on peacekeepers from Nepal, some nine months after it suffered a devastating earthquake.

The outbreak has affected an estimated 788,000 people and claimed the lives of more than 9,000.

The then UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had last year apologised to the people of Haiti for the world body?s role in failing to properly address the Cholera epidemic.

In addition, he had announced a USD 400 million two-track plan to stem the outbreak and provide long-term support for those affected.

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India has contributed USD 100,000 to a UN trust fund designed to support Haiti in recovering from the 2010 cholera epidemic and building improved sanitation and health systems.

Briefing the Security Council early last week, MINUSTAH chief Sandra Honore said Haiti had made significant progress in consolidating democracy and maintaining security and stability with the inauguration of Jovenel Moise as President in February, marking the restoration of constitutional order.

Yet, in spite of these gains, pockets of fragility persisted and political challenges remained.

It is time, she said, to reshape the partnership among the international community, the United Nations and Haiti, with a view to monitoring concerns such as human rights issues and ensuring that progress made since MINUSTAHs 2004 establishment endure. PTI YAS NSA

--- ENDS ---
Had it not been for the efforts of one retired government employee, you would have missed out on a holiday.

By Atir Khan: Had it not been for the efforts of RL Kain you would have missed out on a holiday.

It is only after Kain's request to Delhi Government that a holiday was declared on the occasion Ambedkar Jayanti. Now he has written a strong letter to Arvind Kejriwal to write a recommendation to Centre to make Ambedkar Jayanti a gazetted holiday.

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The story dates back to 1987 when the Delhi Assembly was yet to be formed and there used to be Metropolitan Council of Delhi instead. At that time, the capital was still a Union Territory.

In the council, Congress leader Krishna Tirath had moved a resolution to announce Ambedkar Jayanti as a holiday. The resolution was unanimously passed. Two provisions were made in the resolution:

#1 To make Ambedkar Jayanti a gazetted holiday

#2 To display portrait of Baba Saheb Ambedkar in Delhi Vidhan Sabha.

The second provision was taken care of, however the first one was not fulfilled.

Subsequently when the Delhi Government was formed, BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana, who became CM in 1993 in a starred question, declared that the government was making Ambedkar Jayanti a holiday as per the decision of the council. This move subsequently fizzled out, however, and it was not ratified as a holiday by Delhi Government Cabinet of Ministers.

Since then, Ambedkar Jayanti has been a discretionary holiday. But Kain, a 73-year-old retired employment officer in Delhi Employment Department, made sure to make an official request to Delhi Government in this regard, every year.

Kain has now written a strongly worded letter to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal reminding him that five of AAP MLAs had promised that a holiday on Ambedkar Jayanti would be gazetted. But this has not happened so far.

Year after year as per Negotiable Instruments Act, Kain has made a request for the holiday. His request with Delhi Government goes to Department of Personnel and Training, which in turn sends the request to PMO. Only after this procedure is followed a holiday is announced, Delhi LG passes an order to announce it a holiday.

Kain says: "Delhi Government should write to Centre to make Ambedkar Jayanti a gazetted holiday. In fact it should be a National holiday keeping in mind Baba Saheb Ambedkar's contribution."

So far there are only three National holidays: Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti. It is mandatory for all states to observe holidays on these three days only. It is not necessary that Centre and state holidays list would be the same.

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Kain says there is no record to show that Gandhi Jayanti had been approved as National Holiday by the Cabinet of Ministers. His RTI queries have revealed there is no file in Government records which proves Gandhi Jayanti was approved as National holiday. He says his inquiries in DoPT have revealed that if Delhi Government makes a representation to the department to make Ambedkar Jayanti as gazetted holiday, then the department would promptly take it up.

Delhi CM media advisor Nagendra Sharma said, "since last three years there has not been a single occasion when Ambedkar Jayanti has not been declared as a holiday. However we will look into the matter."

--- ENDS ---
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 14

Guru Ramdas School of Planning of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has organised a guest lecture by Minna-Maaria Hiekkataipale, head, department of tourism and hospitality, JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Finland, on Tourism in Finland: Infrastructure Planning and Developmental Concerns.

She said Finland, a small country in Scandinavia, had gained interest as a tourist destination due to its natural beauty, cleanliness and safety. But tourism has been developed to complement the sustainable development. With increased tourism in different parts of the country, it has started posing challenges related to infrastructure and planned development.

She said the government was concerned about developing ecologically-sustainable tourism. She was of the opinion that Finland shall be one of the most tourism visited destinations in the world, especially the Europe in near future.

According to Hiekkataipale, sustainable marketing strategy is essential and most important to promote the tourism industry. Amritsar has a lot of potential for tourism and there is dire need to develop it in a planned manner along with the sustainable infrastructure, she said.

Prof Ashwani Luthra introduced the guest lecturer while Kiran Sandhu, HOD, proposed a vote of thanks.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 14

The Panjab University Vice-Chancellor, Prof Arun Kumar Grover, has constituted a committee to assist the UT Administration in identifying innocent students who were arrested on Tuesday. Professor Grover today met Punjab Governor-cum-UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore to discuss the events that took place on the campus on Tuesday. Senior officers of Panjab University as well as those of the UT Administration participated in the meeting, convened at the Raj Bhawan.

The committee will be chaired by Ashwani Koul of the Department of Biophysics, designated as the Chief of University Security. Dean, Students Welfare, Emanual Nahar will be the co-chairperson of the

committee. The committee will also include the president and vice-president of the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC). It will submit its report tomorrow.
Sandeep Dikshit

ARUNACHAL Pradesh, the furthermost state from mainland India, features in the news only on two occasions. One, when its ideologically fickle legislators bend to the political wind blowing in Delhi and, two, when the China factor comes into play. This time it is His Holiness the Dalai Lama, on one of his rare visits to Arunachal Pradesh, that is providing fodder to the media.

Bangladesh too swims into national consciousness when a new government recalibrates its ties with New Delhi or if friendly overtures by Beijing get too sugary to bear.

Last week, both events took place simultaneously. The Dalai Lama made his seventh visit to Arunachal Pradesh in the six decades he has lived here in exile. And Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked the extra mile by receiving Sheikh Hasina at the airport. Both illustrate the twin challenges  maintaining vibrant economic ties and keeping the neighbourhood sanitised  that Modi is trying to juggle while keeping the strongman mask intact for domestic consumption.

However, beneath the bravado, the sifting sands of international politics are becoming tough to navigate. China is examining both developments closely. India's publicisation of the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, deliberately announced three months in advance, preceded by the feting of a US Ambassador in Tawang may have prompted one of its senior leaders, once closely involved in border talks and therefore acquainted with all its intricacies, to reopen a settled issue.

He has suggested that as part of an overall border settlement, India hand over to China portions of Arunachal Pradesh. These are the Buddhist-dominated areas that are especially agog over Dalai Lama's visit. This stance by the retired official clearly goes against the painfully agreed upon Article VII of "Political Parameters and Agreed Principles for the Settlement of the India-China Border Question." These agreed to "safeguard due interests of their settled populations in the border areas."

The defence framework agreement with Bangladesh advertises desperation after China opened another front by transferring used submarines in its navy. Then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was forced to shelve his preoccupation with Goa politics and make an air dash to Dhaka five days after China handed over the submarines to Bangladesh. Shortly thereafter, a training team of the Indian Navy landed in Bangladesh to elbow out Chinese sailors from sailing in sensitive areas of the Bay of Bengal under the pretext of acquainting Bangladeshi submariners with the intricacy of handling underwater boats.

Why did the Chinese offer the submarine bait to Bangladesh whose only two neighbours are the over-friendly India and a militarily-underequipped Myanmar? One reason is that a civil nuclear plant and submarines are Sheikh Hasina's efforts to portray herself as the builder of a modern Bangladesh. The second is that Bangladesh is also a crucial geopolitical location for a branch line of China's One Belt One Road (OBOR) Project. Called the BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar) corridor, it has already won Bangladesh a $24 billion credit offer from China. But the Chinese vision is competing against another economic corridor being underwritten by India, the US and its regional allies, chiefly Japan.

The Prime Minister's core adviser, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh nominee Ram Madhav, is convinced that the squaring up to China and its activities in the region are the inevitable stumbling blocks on India's path to greatness and world status. If only it was that simple.

The Indian strategy during the UPA decade was to insert itself in the South China Sea dispute to buy insurance from Chinese adventurism on the border. At the same time, the South Block took care to schedule summit meetings at frequent intervals to clear the air as well as keep communication channels open to eliminate all chances of a border flare-up turning ugly. In order to avoid giving the impression of India having moved into the American orbit, the UPA hung back from inking three military agreements with the Pentagon. The US was nevertheless kept interested in the India story with prospects of setting up nuclear plants and lucrative contracts for military. The Modi government has been struggling to maintain this balance. It paid the cost for inviting a US President to grace the Republic Day parade: India had to sign a military agreement that would permit US warships to replenish from Indian ports with minimal red tape. New Delhi was also compelled to spell out a position on South China Sea closely mirroring the American stance. As if to underscore this tilt, an American admiral let it be known that the US and India were sharing intelligence on the movement of Chinese naval ships. But once the government changed in the US, all these initiatives are up for a review. India had to be content with its National Security Adviser and Foreign Secretary having conversations with their counterparts.

In contrast, to the assurance of a Trump-Modi interaction later in the year, the US President hosted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for a rare two days at his private top-end vacationing club. The spin from the South Block is that NSA Ajit Doval was able to convey Indian concerns about Pakistan and China during his interactions. The evidence is thin. True, the new American NSA, H R McMaster, will be here. But South Block should be concerned that all its previous battles to delink India from Afghanistan and Pakistan have been rolled back. His schedule lists all three countries, indicating India will again have to work hard to de-hyphenate itself from the other two.

The White House's hesitant tango with Russia, which is locked in a close energy relationship with China, is another dissuading factor in plumping for the Indian corner in case of a Sino-India security-related fracas. As compared to previous occasions, Moscow might be unwilling to play mediator after China rebuffed an attempt to arrange for a Russia-India-China meeting of defence ministers.

New Delhi would be aware of this predicament. This is the reason for India embracing the Russo-Chinese stance on all developments in the Middle East in a BRICS joint communique released earlier in the week. This also explains the invitation to all 10 ASEAN heads of government for next year's Republic Day parade.

sandeep4731@gmail.com
ON Thursday the US dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb in its arsenal on a nondescript part of Afghanistan. Many Indians recall Nangarhar district as the final resting place of the Frontier Gandhi. Today, militants are giving nightmares to the regions security managers after crossing over to the ISIS as they were angered over the Talibans Shura concealing its supremo Mullah Omars death. If US President Donald Trump thought the giant bomb would achieve its psychological purpose of scaring the ISIS fighters into submission, he was travelling the path trodden by previous Presidents who had ordered one-off strikes with the usual fanfare but with little effect.

Over 15 years of incessant bombings and raids have made the Afghans immune to an occasional show of spectacular pyrotechnics. It also does not change the situation of a dysfunctional government in Kabul, embroiled in its own petty squabbles. But the hyperventilated reportage about the strike could possibly dissuade disaffected Muslim youngsters from trying to reach the hypothetical Islamic emirate in Nangarhar after the authorities tightened their vigil on the entry points into ISIS territory in Syria-Iraq. Intelligence agencies estimate there are at least two dozen Indian youngsters in Nangarhar who have been in communication with their friends here. Some of them who might have considered joining the ISIS should have second thoughts now.

Trump once wanted to forswear all foreign interventions. He now has the distinction of attacking two countries in a fortnight. But the intended targets for the message behind the strike  Damascus and the ISIS in Afghanistan  or, by a stretch North Korea, are too hard-bitten to feel ruffled, leave alone rebuked. White House also does not seem to have a follow-up strategy in both places attacked by its military. The strikes have shored up Trumps image at home as a man of purposeful action. But it seems like he has never heard of one of his predecessors caveat: I am not going to waste a $10 million missile on a $10 dollar tent and end up hitting a camels rear. This bomb cost $300 million. President Trump has an expensive taste.
Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Mewat, April 14

After the biryani spoiler on Bakr-Id last year, Muslims apprehend more trouble this Ramzan (beginning May). It will never be business as usual. For, buying and selling cattle has been suspended indefinitely after local resident Pehlu Khan was lynched by gau rakshaks in Alwar, Rajasthan, recently.

Such is the fear of losing their lives that the Meos refuse to give their names, lest they are identified and targeted by cow vigilantes. They feel safe only within the confines of their district.

Step out beyond Tavru, and we are targeted because of our beard, especially if we are trading in cattle. For paltry gains (Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per cattle head), none is willing to endanger his life. We will labour hard but wont step out, says Illyas of Sudaka village, sipping tea at a roadside vend.

Asloop of Dhanduka village narrates: I went to buy cattle in Hailey Mandi a month ago. I took money for two cattle head but bought only one, a buffalo. I was stopped mid-way, thrashed for sporting a beard and robbed of Rs 20,000. I was lucky not to have been killed.

As a buffalo costs anything between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh and a cow is priced at Rs 20,000 to Rs 70,000, most buyers take loan to make purchases. Nawab of Sudaka, 50, explains why cow-trading ahead of Ramzan is no longer feasible. A month before Ramzan, the cattle trade would gather pace with the demand for milk rising during fasting. However, Pehlu Khans lynching has forced us to weigh other options. We may not only lose money and vehicles ferrying cattle, but our lives too. It is better to be safe than sorry, he says, adding that being a Muslim is becoming a punishment.

Umar Muhammad, president of the Mewat Vikas Sabha, sees the Alwar incident as a deliberate attempt to isolate Muslims. There was a time when Meo traders would dine and sleep at the homes of Hindu cattle sellers in Rajasthan. Now, something is grossly wrong. Fear is being ingrained in our minds to serve a political purpose, he suspects.

In Jaisinghpur, Abdul Kamim and other mourners are sitting in a tent outside Pehlu Khans house. He says: Most of us buy cattle from Hindu traders in adjoining Ujina village. But the temptation of having his own pick-up and saving money prompted Pehlu to explore other markets. All that we now have is his video that shows how mercilessly he was thrashed. Everybody in the village has the video. They cant understand why he was assaulted. It makes no sense.

But then can a senseless act be justified by any stretch of imagination?
Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, April 14

Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini has said that the state government should not withdraw its new transport policy. Instead, it should issue bus permits to private operators to generate more job opportunities for the youth.

The private sector is providing services in a lot of fields. Hence, there is no harm in issuing bus permits to private operators to provide better services to the public and for generating jobs for the youth, said Saini.

He was in Jagadhri today to address a meeting held to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

Saini said that the government should not bow before the unjustified demands of government employees that are harmful for the development of the state.
Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 14

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will take a call on a complaint regarding controversial land allotment in Gurugram to amusement park Appu Ghar in 2009 as the Prime Minister Office (PMO) has forwarded a complaint to him in this regard.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has written to the CMs secretary along with a communication from the PMO asking him to place the complaint by Harinder Dhingra, Gurugram-based RTI activist, before Khattar for necessary action.

Dhingra said he had personally met Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his complaint in September 2016.

The 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 Appu Ghar, for the development of amusement parks in 2009 when the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government was in power.

This included 25 acres in Sector 29 and 23 acres in Sector 52-A and 53-A of Gurugram.

As per the complaint, the promoters had submitted the proposal for making Appu Ghar on June 22, 2010, which became the letter of intent (LoI) on June 26.

He had alleged that 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 to suit the needs of the initiators of the project and as such, no other bidder qualified, Dhingra had alleged.

He also alleged Master Plan-2021 for Gurugram was twisted for the project.

The land earlier locked for public purposes was acquired and then 42 acres was allotted to the company for just Rs 94.5 crore against the commercial rates of Rs 3,000 crore, Dhingra had said.

In June 2015, the Khattar government had ordered a Vigilance probe into it, but Dhingra alleged that the report had been awaiting action from the CM.

In October last year, residents had organised a candle march in Gurugram seeking a CBI probe into the controversial land deal.
Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, April 14

Ousted Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) chief Jagdish Singh Jhinda has accused Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh of using his post to gratify former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

I have full faith in Akal Takht, but dont consider Gurbachan Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht. He should have worked for the Sikh community and not only to please the Badals, Jhinda said. He further said he considered the Sarbat Khalsa-appointed Jathedars as the real Jathedars.

Miffed with the statement of Giani Gurbachan Singh about the HSGMC, Jhinda said, The Jathedar blessed me for the mission and asked me about the status of a case pending in the Supreme Court.

But later, while speaking to mediapersons, he said the HSGMC did not exist. He has given a wrong statement and it clearly shows that he is still working under pressure from the Badals, he added.

Following excommunication, I was facing issues on the religious front. I thought Akal Takht was free from clutches of the Badals, but I was wrong, he further said.

I will appeal to the SGPC chief to direct Giani Gurbachan Singh to stay away from politics and work for the welfare of Sikhism, he said. He was accompanied by Joga Singh, HSGMC general secretary.

About the crisis within the committee, Jhinda said, The rival faction has no right to call any meeting. A meeting will be called soon and action taken against the members.

Recently, HSGMC senior vice-president Didar Singh Nalvi-led faction had unanimously decided to remove Jhinda from the post of HSGMC chief and give the post to Nalvi.

Jhinda revealed that some persons from the Haryana committee had approached the state government around nine months back to get appointed to the committee so that they could have total control. The government had refused to interfere after discussions with legal experts, he asserted.

Appearing before Akal Takht has nothing to do with my stand on the HSGMC. The matter is listed for July 14 and the Supreme Court will give its verdict in the favour of Haryana, Jhinda said.

He stated that nine poor families who were victims of the 1984 riots would be given Rs 2,500 per month as pension from January next year.

The committee planned an agitation against the SGPC for not announcing a special budget for Haryana, he added.
Balkrishan Parashar

Tissa (Chamba), April 14

The honorarium of 502 Special Police Officers (SPOs), local youths deployed to assist the security forces along the inter-state border of Himachal with Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir was enhanced to Rs 2,000 per month.

This was announced by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while addressing a public meeting at Bhanjraru in the Churah Assembly constituency of the district today.

Deployed since 1998 after the massacre of 35 labourers in the Saturndi area of Churah by terrorists, these SPOs were playing an important role in assisting the paramilitary forces. They were getting an honorarium of Rs 4,000 which now will be Rs 6,000 per month.

The Chief Minister, who inaugurated the development projects worth Rs 18 crore in Churah, also announced a sub-tehsil office at Pukhri, a HPPWD division at Tissa and an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) to be opened at Bhanjraru in Tissa. He also announced a new primary health centre to be opened in Masroond and a hostel for minorities at Bhanjraru.

He directed the officials to strengthen the electricity infrastructure in the area, especially in villages close to the bordering state of Jammu and Kashmir. He said old electric poles should be replaced immediately and the department should ensure uninterrupted power supply to far-off villages.

He said the state had witnessed unprecedented development during that last four-and-a-half years of its regime. The per capita income which was merely Rs 248 in 1948, was 1,47,277 as of now.

Taking a jibe at state BJP leaders, the Chief Minister said the BJP always criticised the present government and wished his exit from active politics, adding, I wish them all the luck for the success of their nefarious designs.

No matter how hard they may try to dislodge me from the service of mankind, the truth would prevail in the end, added the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister dedicated projects worth Rs 25.84 crore to the people of Churah and later in the Chamba constituency.

Besides five major bridges inaugurated by the CM, many road projects, including an ayurveda health institution, were dedicated to the people of Churah.

Among others, the Chief Minister was accompanied by Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Dalhousie MLA Asha Kumari and HP State Pollution Control Board chairman Kuldip Singh Pathania.
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 14

Members of the CPM along with Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan and Deputy Mayor Tikender Panwar today demanded that the state election commission should withdraw the present notification of electoral process so that the mess-up in the draft voters list was sorted because about 50 per cent of city population did not figure in the list.

While the ruling Congress and the BJP have remained silent on the draft voters list so far, the CPM threatened to launch a series of protests if the state election commission failed to revise the voters list as per the procedure laid down by the Election Commission of India. Shimla Municipal Corporation has over 1.20 lakh voters but the present list has listed just 63,000 voters due to deletion and mess-up of names of voters, Chauhan and Panwar claimed.

They said there was a deliberate attempt to delete names of voters, mainly the working class and students, from the list. The CPM said the state election commission should order fresh door-to-door revision of electoral rolls of the Shimla MC as per the procedure of the Election Commission of India. The date for the final voters list should be extended for a month so that the deleted voters are able to vote, it said.

Over 500 voters of Andhri village in Summerhill found their names missing from the list. Also, the names of a majority of voters of 28 villages which are in the SMC were deleted and did not figure in the voters list in Summerhill, Panthaghati and Malyana wards, said Chauhan. In Kaithu ward, the entire locality of St Marks church where over 50 people live have been left out. In over 22 booths, there are just five to10 voters listed, Panwar alleged. He said Chiranjee Lal Kashyap, ex-MLA from Kusumpti who resides in Totu ward, found his name in Kaithu ward. Similarly, Sanjay Gupta, a PWD engineer and Chandla, both residents of Chakkar, found their names in Kaithu ward.
BJP leader from Rajasthan,Vijay Bansal, today said that the Indian Constitution was not created by Dr BR Ambedkar.

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: On November 27, 2015 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking in Parliament, acknowledged the role of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar as the maker of Constitution. PM Modi reiterated the same today while paying tribute to Ambedkar.

On both occasions, Narendra Modi referred to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar as the 'maker of Constitution'.

But, a BJP leader from Rajasthan does not seem to agree with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Ambedkar's contribution in drafting the Constitution.

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Vijay Bansal, BJP MLA from Bharatpur, said Ambedkar was not the creator of the Constitution but it was vote bank politics of politicians that had made him so.

"Bhim Rao Ambedkar was made the creator of Constitution by political people to garner votes", said Bansal.

Bansal, speaking on the occasion of opening ceremony of a private school, made the controversial remarks on the125th anniversary of Dr Ambedkar.

BJP had been trying to not antagonize Dalits after the Una episode in which some people from the community were flogged.

However, the comment made by the party's Rajasthan leader can put its leadership in a spot of bother because of Ambedkar's iconic status.

PM MODI HONOURS DR AMBEDKAR

BJP-led government has been working towards building a perception that it is genuinely concerned about the welfare of the Dalits.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited Nagpur and inaugurated a series of development projects.

Nagpur is closely linked with BR Ambedkar. It was in Nagpur that the country's first law minister had reverted to Buddhism with approximately 600,000 followers on October 14, 1956, which was Ashok Vijaya Dashami.

In the past too PM Modi, has talked about the contribution of the revolutionary leader. In November 2015, PM Modi raved about the leader who despite several hurdles drafted the constitution of India.

Also read:

Ambedkar Jayanti: How PM Modi won confidence of Dalits and Uttar Pradesh

--- ENDS ---
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 14

The J&K Police have arrested three persons for assaulting the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel during the byelection to the Srinagar parliamentary seat on April 9.

J&K Police chief Shesh Paul Vaid said they had identified at least 11 persons involved in the assault on CRPF men in Budgam district.

We had detained five persons during investigation and out of them, three have been arrested in the case so far, he said, adding that the kingpin of the case was still absconding.

Recently, a raw video showing unidentified protesters heckling, slapping and kicking CRPF men carrying EVMs had emerged on the social media. The CRPF men showed restraint on being assaulted by youths who were shouting anti-India slogans.

Soon after the video surfaced, the CRPF identified the area where its men were assaulted and said the incident took place at Kralpora Chadoora. A police complaint was filed following which a case was registered at the Chadoora police station under various sections.

Vaid said all the culprits in the case would be booked.

The CRPF men who were assaulted showed great restrain and we will ensure justice in the case, Vaid added.
Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 13

The lowest-ever 2.02 per cent turnout was recorded during re-polling at 38 polling stations today across five Assembly segments of Budgam district, part of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency that went to polls on April 9.

With this, an overall poll percentage of 7.09 has been registered in the Lok Sabha constituency, which is lower than the overall percentage of 7.14 during the April 9 election that was marred by widespread violence in which eight persons were killed and several others injured.

Edit: Bypolls in eight states

The re-polling was held amid tight security arrangements with nearly 300 security men deployed for each polling station. Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Shantmanu said of the 35,169 voters, only 709 exercised their right of franchise. The counting of votes will take place on April 15 as the election process is to be completed by April 16.

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There were stray incidents of violence in Nasrullahpora area of Budgam Assembly segment and Bagh-e-Mehtab area of Chadoora segment. However, there were no reports of any injuries.

POLLING FIGURES

Total voters 35,169

Votes cast 709
Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 14

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said the state government had warned the Election Commission of India that the situation in the Valley was not conducive to holding byelections to the Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary seats.

The CM said she had warned the ECI of possible violence and low turnout in the elections. We had informed the ECI that situation in Kashmir was not conducive to holding byelections as wounds of the deaths occurred last were still fresh and people were not mentally prepared to participate in the electioneering process. We also informed the ECI that we shouldnt give a chance to the other side (separatists) to cash in on these elections, Mehbooba said while speaking during an official function at the Zorawar Singh auditorium here today.

I had warned the ECI of violence and low voter turnout in these elections, and both things happened, the Chief Minister said, adding that the ECI still decided to hold elections as they know better than us.

In the violence during the Srinagar parliamentary byelection, eight protesters were killed and several others injured. The ECI deferred the byelection to the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, scheduled for April 12, on considering the ground situation and the PDP candidate Tassaduq Mufti request, which was endorsed by the coalition government.

Commenting on the situation in the Kashmir valley, the Chief Minister said: For four months we tried our best to bring the situation under control but now it has again deteriorated, which will have a negative impact on the developmental activities all across the state. All of our focus will go back to bringing the situation under control and we will not be able to concentrate on development.

She once again thanked the people of Jammu for maintaining peace in the region and not falling prey to the provocations and volatile situation in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, talking to mediapersons after the function, the Chief Minister termed Farooq Abdullah as a confused person. Earlier, he glorified stone-throwers by terming them nationalists and now he is blaming the government for paying stone-throwers, she said.

NC chief is confused

I feel Farooq Abdullah is confused. Earlier, he glorified stone-throwers by terming them nationalists and now he is blaming the government for paying stone-throwers. Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Minister
Howrah, April 14

A 51-year-old man from Bangladesh who had gone to Bengaluru to receive treatment died on his way back to Kolkata after he fell from a train between Bhubaneswar and Chengail on Friday, police said.

Mohammad Abdul Parek was found badly wounded along the tracks near Ulberia by local residents, who rushed him to Ulberia hospital.

Parek was later referred to Kolkata, owing to the seriousness of his injuries. He died on the way, they said.

His sons, who had arrived in Sealdah to take him back home in Bangladesh were informed about the incident, police said, adding that the body had been sent for post-mortem. PTI
New Delhi, April 14

Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Girish Chandra Saxena, lovingly called Gary, died here today after a brief illness, his family said. He was 90.

Saxenas brother Naresh Chandra, former Cabinet Secretary and Ambassador to the US, said he was rushed to a hospital in the wee hours after he complained of breathlessness.

He was born in Agra in 1928 and is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Saxena, who also headed the external intelligence agency RAW, took charge as the Jammu and Kashmir Governor for the first time on May 26, 1990, and continued in the post till March 13, 1993. He was re-appointed in 1998.

An IPS officer of the 1950-batch of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Saxena had the most successful tenure as Governor of J&K and was credited with the revival of state polices intelligence mechanism, where he used his experience of heading the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW). He was the RAW Director between 1983 and 1986.

Saxena came to J&K at a time when the entire Kashmir valley was facing a turmoil following the killing of Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq by terror group Hizbul Mujahidden.

During the Mirwaizs funeral, the mob went on a rampage and security forces had to open fire in downtown Srinagar to control the situation. Nearly 25 people were killed.

After his first stint as the Governor, Saxena was again brought to the state in 1998 during which his focus was on the revival of local intelligence and the state police, which was not on the forefront of counter-insurgency operations then.

No militancy can be fought without the local police, he had said when he was the Governor in the second term.

Chandra recalled that 10 days back, his brother, while being wheeled out from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a private hospital, had held the hand of the doctor and said, I dont have any stress other than the happenings in Jammu and Kashmir.

He was deeply concerned, even at this age, about the developments and happenings in Jammu and Kashmir, Chandra said.

Former J&K chief ministers Farooq and Omar Abdullah condoled his death, saying that in his departure, a visionary has been lost.

I recall my association with Governor Saxena. He was very cool in extreme situations and always had a humane approach to any problem, Farooq said.

Omar, who became a Member of Parliament in 1998 and 1999, said, Its sad news for me. He (Saxena) had always guided me during my initial days in politics.

After his retirement from RAW in 1986, Saxena served as an adviser to the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi till January 1988.  PTI
Islamabad, April 14

Islamabad, April 14

India said on Friday it would appeal against the death sentence to its national Kulbhushan Jadhav and demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the chargesheet as well as the army court order in the case, besides seeking consular access to the retired Indian Navy officer.

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This was conveyed by Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale to Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua during a meeting sought by him.

We would definitely go to appeal against the judgment but we cannot do it unless we have the details of charges and the copy of verdict. So, my first demand was to provide us the details of the chargesheet and copy of the verdict, he said.

Expressing disappointment over Pakistan turning down Indias request for consular access to Jadhav, the Indian envoy said, They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year). I have forcefully asked for consular access on the basis of international law and on humanitarian grounds as he is an Indian national. Apart from diplomatic options, India is also exploring legal remedies permitted under Pakistans legal system.

Bambawale also said that he has no information about former Pakistani army officer Mohammad Habib who reportedly went missing from Nepal. Pakistani officials suspect that Indian spy agencies were behind his disappearance.

The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by Army Chief General 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. However, India denied Pakistans contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by the Pakistan authorities.

India had made it clear to Pakistan that given the circumstances of the case, absence of any credible evidence to substantiates the concocted charges against Jadhav, farcical nature of the proceedings against him and denial of consular access to him, the people and the government of India will consider carrying out of the army court verdict as a premeditated murder.

Pakistan today rejected Indias accusation that there was no credible evidence against Jadhav, and warned that inflammatory statements over his death sentence would only result in escalation of tension in the bilateral ties.

Pakistan Prime Ministers Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that due process of law was followed in Jadhavs trial.

India had on Thursday criticised the Pakistan government for not sharing Jadhavs location and details of his condition and said that the international norm to provide consular access was not followed. India and Pakistan have a bilateral agreement on consular access.

Meanwhile, there was no official confirmation on reports of India asking its High Commission in Pakistan to go slow on visas to Pakistan nationals in wake of the development.  PTI
Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 14

For the BJP, which registered its sweetest victory in Delhi against AAP yesterday, the loss in party-ruled Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh and failure to make a dent in Karnataka may have given it a reason for contemplation as it gets ready for the national executive meeting in Bhubaneswar this weekend.

The party won in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, but the rival Congress managed to retain Ater in Madhya Pradesh and Najangud and Gundlupet seats in Karnataka and that too despite the proverbial Modi wave across the country. In Jharkhand as well, the JMM registered a comfortable win with a lead of around 12,900 votes in Littipara.

In Congress-led Karnataka, where the BJP worked overtime to take on the ruling party, the results may have delivered significant lessons for it. Congress Chief Minister Sidharamaiah managed to hold on to his own despite pre-poll measures like inducting of veteran Congress leader SM Krishna in the BJP.

Though, as per BJP leaders, Karnataka wins are a personal victory of Congress Chief Minister Sidharamaiah, just like Punjab recently was for Amarinder Singh. Their party may not have contributed as much to the success as the two individuals. Siddaramaiah has been facing rebellion from within the party, but he delivered Nanjangud and Gudlupet Assembly constituencies, giving the Congress a new lease of life in Karnataka, poll observers also claim.

The victories, and that too just a year before the state goes to the polls, may be a cause of worry for BJP chief Amit Shah who has much hopes for eastern and southern parts of the country in the next Lok Sabha poll.

BJP leaders, who term the Karnataka results unexpected, say if treated like a timely warning, these could be a blessing in disguise for party strategists, especially as regards the efficacy of style of functioning of state unit chief Yeddyurappa.

Standing firm behind Shahs point of view that in 2019 Lok Sabha, a major chunk of BJPs leads will be from the eastern and the Coromandel region (Indias south-eastern coastal region), they claim the party is working on a robust plan to expand in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and West Bengal and the Odisha national executive meet is part of that strategy.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 14

Amid colourful rituals, Vishu, the Malayalam new year, was celebrated in Kerala on Friday with traditional fervour and gaiety.

The day began with Malayalees observing the ritual of Vishukanni, in which seasonal fruits, vegetables, yellow flowers (Konna), rice, gold, clothes, coins and holy texts are arranged on a platter in front of the deity and is the first sight of people when they wake up.

Keeping up the long tradition, elders gifted coins to children as part of the custom known as Vishukkaineettam.

A grand sadya (feast), comprising various dishes and delicacies, mostly made of seasonal fruits and vegetables, was arranged in the afternoon.

The soaring prices of essential commodities did not dampen the festival mood.

Heavy rush of devotees was witnessed in temples across the state, including the Lord Krishna shrine at Guruvayur and Lord Ayyappas at Sabarimala.

Kerala Governor Justice P Sathasivam in his message said the festival heralded a season of hope and progress and wished all Keralites peace, harmony and prosperity throughout the year.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also greeted people on the festive occasion. PTI
Kasargod (Kerala), April 14

Another missing youth from Kerala, suspected to have joined the Islamic State group, has reportedly been killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.

Murshid Muhammed, a native of Padna in this district, was killed in a drone attack in Nangarhar province in Afghanistan, said Abdur Rahiman, an Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader in Padna.

Rahiman, also a social activist, said he received the message on social media app, Telegram, on Thursday.

The exact date could not be known yet...The message did not come from the usual source...I could not get more details, Rahiman told PTI over phone on Friday.

Murshid was among the 21 people from the state, who reportedly went missing after travelling to the Middle East last year and were suspected to have joined the terrorist organisation in Syria.

However, Chandera police did not confirm the news saying, We have no information about it.

Two months ago, another youth TK Hafeesudeen (24), also from Padna, was killed in a drone attack in Afghanistan. PTI
By PTI: Amaravati, Apr 14 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today launched a feature-less mobile application "CM Connect" through which people could connect directly with head of the state.

The app runs on Microsofts Kaizala platform.

Calling it a "unique app in the world", Naidu told reporters after launching the app that "This is a very interesting experiment. This is a milestone as we are moving for a real-time e-governance, and one that makes people partners in development."

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Ironically, the state government used the Kaizala app for the first time during the Krishna Pushkarams in August last year, but it proved to be a failure.

It is more a feature than the mobile app in the strict sense, which is built into Kaizala through which smart phone users could respond to a question posed by the Chief Ministers Office and insert a brief comment.

The Chief Minister said that over 3000 users responded to their question, "Are you satisfied with the governments performance?"

"A whopping 75 per cent rated the governments performance as good with just four per cent saying it was bad. I will have a team in my office to monitor the public response and take required action," he said.

Interestingly, those who said that the governments performance was good also had complaints to make.

One farmer from East Godavari district complained that the second installment of his loan waiver was never delivered despite repeated visits to the authorities concerned.

A farmer from Amaravati capital region complained that he was not being issued the pattadar passbook (denoting the title deed) for his agricultural land.

"I met you personally five times over the issue but to no avail," he told the Chief Minister.

Another person from Prakasam district brought to the notice of the CM that the local TDP MLA promised to build a road in his village, but failed to keep the word in three years.

One user from Vizianagaram district heaped praise on the AP CM as well as Union Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju, even as he cited lack of any development in his village.

"The state seems to be developing but not our village," he wrote.

After reading out the responses, Naidu said, "People are happy with our government but it is coming with a rider."

When asked about the lack of features in the application, the Chief Minister said some more (features) would be added in the days to come.

"This is a very interesting experiment we are doing using technology. This is unique not only in the country, but also in the world. People should be positive and be truthful in their response," he added. PTI DBV NSK

--- ENDS ---

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 14

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has assailed the propaganda of political and religious outfits against his stand on fundamentalism and radicalism and not meeting Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan during the latters upcoming visit to India.

The reactions from the SGPC, the SAD and the AAP were lacking in national pride, he said.

He reiterated that while he was ready to provide security and protocol to Sajjan later this month there was no question of a meeting. The security and protocol would be on a par with what would be accorded to our Defence Minister in Canada. It will be keeping in view the threat perceptions against Sajjan, the CM added.

The CM came down heavily on the SGPC for their criticism of his stance saying the religious body seemed to have forgotten the treatment meted out to its leaders by hardliners in Canada.

Power and Irrigation Minister Rana Gurjit Singh claimed that several Sikh Liberals in Canada had quit Justin Trudeaus Liberal Party alleging hijacking of the party by World Sikh Organisation (WSO) known to have strong Khalistani leanings.

Cong MLAs show solidarity with Capt Amarinder

Senior Congress leaders, including some legislators today asked Harjit Singh Sajjan to clarify his stand on Khalistan. Its important and in the interests of friendly relations between the two countries, they added.

Congress MLAs Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and Navtej Cheema reiterated that Sajjan and some of his ministerial and MP colleagues had known affiliation with anti-India forces.

SFJ to block Capts foreign visits

Moga: Slamming Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singhs stand on the Canadian Defence Minister, the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a human rights body, on Friday announced that it would legally block the CMs visits to the US, Canada, the UK and European Union countries. The SFJ has also decided not to let him hold public meetings in those countries. Talking to The Tribune on the phone after issuing a written statement, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal adviser to the SFJ, said Capt Amarinder had again targeted the peace-loving Canadian Sikh community which overwhelmingly supports the liberation of Punjab to create a separate Sikh country, Khalistan. If Capt Amarinder tries to go on foreign trips, we will hold him accountable for protecting, shielding and promoting human rights violators, the SFJ activist added. TNS
Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 14

Noted filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt today lamented the Pakistan censor boards decision to not allow the screening of Hindi film Begum Jaan in the neighbouring country.

He said the Pakistan authorities should have first seen the film before deciding to ban it. Bhatt, who was here at the Partition Museum along with the cast of Begum Jaan for a screening, added that the movie portrayed human sufferings, particularly womens trauma, during Partition.

He said the cast and crew of the movie, barring protagonist Vidya Balan, had come here especially to visit the museum.

On the Kulbushan Jadhav case, Bhatt questioned the Pakistan military courts verdict awarding death sentence to the retired Indian naval officer.

Had the Jadhav cases trial taken place in an open court, it would have gained credibility, he said.

Terming the trial undemocratic, Bhatt said such hasty decisions spoilt the relations between the neighbouring countries.

Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu promised support to the museum, which is being run from four rooms of the erstwhile Town Hall.

Kishwar Desai, the Chair of The Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust, said people from around the world were giving Partition-era artefacts to the museum.

Film director Srijit Mukherji, producer Vishesh Bhatt, actors Gauhar Khan and Pallavi Sharda also spoke on the occasion.
Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, April 14

The controversy over counselling for postgraduate medical seats deepened today when the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) filled more than 25 of the 80 seats in Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana, the principal of which abstained from the admission process.

As per rules, the participation of principals of all medical colleges, BFUHS Vice-Chancellor and representatives of the Department of Welfare and Social Security is required during the counselling process.

The CMC refused to participate in the counselling that started yesterday. Nevertheless, the BFUHS went ahead with it and today filled more than 200 seats in eight medical colleges, including 25 seats in the CMC.

Dr Raj Bahadur, Vice-Chancellor, BFUHS, said the university proceeded with the counselling as per the Medical Council of India (MCI) and Supreme Court directions. The university had informed the CMC about commencement of counselling, but the college did not participate in the admission process, he said.

The Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER) and the CMC are in a tussle over the common counselling to fill PG seats in medical and dental colleges. The BFUHS is conducting the combined counselling.

The CMC has challenged the combined counselling in the Supreme Court. The college wants its own counselling, citing minority status of the institute.

Of the 25 students admitted to the CMC, only three are from minority groups.

The college has approached the SC, waning to be excluded from the combined counselling. The apex court has said the decision on the counselling would be taken on April 20, the next date of hearing.

No takers for Gian Sagar college

No student is coming forward for admission to PG courses in Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Banur. The faculty has been protesting for the past two months as they have not been paid salaries. As a result, classes have been suspended. So, the BFUHS has informed aspirants that students admitted last year were not being trained in the college as there was no faculty. Students who appear for counselling in Gian Sagar college will be taking the admission at their own risk, said Dr Raj Bahadur, Vice-Chancellor, BFUHS.
Chandigarh, April 14

Rejecting as inconclusive the report of the Zora Singh Commission, the Punjab Government on Friday constituted a fresh Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh, to investigate all cases of sacrilege in the state.

The government, through a notification issued by the Department of Home Affairs and Justice, has included all sacrilege incidents, including those involving the Srimad Bhagwad Gita and the Holy Quran Sharif besides Sri Guru Granth Sahib, in the ambit of the Justice Ranjit Singh Commissions terms of reference, an official spokesman said.

The new Commission, set up under the Commission of Inquiry Act 1952, has a tenure of six months.

Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh is a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The commission will enquire into the detailed facts and circumstances of what happened and to identify the role played by various persons in various incidents of sacrilege in Faridkot and other places in the state.

It has also been tasked to enquire into an incident of firing in Kotkapura on October 10, 2015, and village Behbalkalan, District Faridkot, in which two persons died.

As per its terms of reference, the Commission will identify and enquire into the role of the police officers in incomplete or inconclusive investigations into the earlier incidents of sacrileges so far.

The notification follows the state governments conclusion, after considering various factors, including the Punjab Advocate-Generals advice, that the Justice Zora Singh Commission, set up by the previous SAD-BJP government, had not answered the very substance of the reference  an enquiry into the incident of sacrilege and the role of police force.

In his advice, the Punjab Advocate-General had also observed that the Commission did not complete the fundamental limb of the enquiry  the truth of what occurred in such incidents and the factual role of the persons who may have been involved.

The findings in the Commission are broad on such aspects and it has not named or identified precisely the role of the persons involved. Also certain aspects and issues entrusted to it remain unanswered and are not dealt with in depth to enable the government to reach definitive conclusions, the Advocate-General had concluded.

Noting that there had been further incidents of sacrilege even after the establishment of the Zora Commission, the Punjab Government felt that the matter is of utmost public concern and importance, requiring a proper and comprehensive enquiry.  PTI
Mahilpur (Hoshiarpur): Residents of Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjans native Bambeli village in this district are looking forward to his forthcoming visit to India. While Sajjan will be visiting the Golden Temple, it is still not confirmed if he would visit his native village. The ministers father, Kundan Singh Sajjan, who has been in the village for the past about four months, denied commenting on Capt Amarinder Singhs statement dubbing his son as a Khalistani sympathiser. Kundan Singh simply said, He is the Chief Minister of Punjab, a senior Congress leader and an honourable person. Bambeli sarpanch Paramjit Singh said, We do not want to create any controversy. We are happy with the fact that he (Sajjan) is from our village and we are all set to welcome him.  Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi
MR. Abdur Rahim, the able Judge of the Madras High Court, presided over the Moslem religious conference known as "Nadwatul-Ulema" at Madras and made a stirring appeal for Moslem reformation. His main theme was the emancipation of the intellect from the cramping influence of superstition. Hindus are quite familiar with the reformatory movement in regard to their religion and social practices. Every nation in the world has had its reformation by which it enthroned reason over everything else. Though in the beginning powerful opposition was met with, reforms have been a success. Obviously Mr. Rahim has been the first leading Mahomedan who has boldly launched a scheme of internal reforms.
Dehradun, April 14

Workers of the Shiv Sena burnt Pakistani flag in protest against the death sentence given by Pakistans army court to Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former naval officer of India at Lansdown chowk, here today.

The workers raised slogans against Pakistan and demanded that the Indian Government should do everything possible for the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav from Pakistan.

Gaurav Kumar, state president of the Shiv Sena, dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to show the guts shown during the surgical strike and get the former naval officer released. He also expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in the Kashmir valley.  TNS
United Nations, April 14

The UN will end its 13-year-long peacekeeping mission in Haiti later this year, but two police contingents from India will remain the country as part of a smaller justice support mission that would assist the government to strengthen rule of law institutions.

Adopting a resolution here on Thursday, the UN Security Council unanimously decided that the UN Stabilisation Mission, known by its French acronym MINUSTAH, would gradually draw down its military component during the next six months, finally withdrawing from Haiti by October 15.

Acting on the recommendations of the Secretary-General, the Council also decided to establish a successor operation, the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), which would be mandated to assist the Haitian Government to strengthen rule of law institutions; further support and develop the National Police; and engage in human rights monitoring, reporting, and analysis.

The current MINUSTAH mission has just over 1,000 individual police and 11 police units.

As of February 2017, India had 452 police personnel in the UN mission in Haiti.

MINUJUSTH would be composed of up to seven Formed Police Units (FPU) or 980 FPU personnel and 295 Individual Police Officers for an initial period of six months from October 16 this year until April 15, 2018.

Sources told PTI that of the 11 police contingents in Haiti at present, three are from India. India does not have any troop presence in MINUSTAH.

Seven police contingents will remain in Haiti for the smaller MINUJUSTH and these would include two from India.

The new mission was also authorised to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, within its capabilities and areas of deployment, as needed. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said as the stabilisation 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.

This is a success story when it comes to drawing down a peacekeeping mission. The United States will continue to stand with the people of Haiti. We have stated before the contributions of many of the peacekeeping troops in Haiti, she said.

Haiti has been dealing with a Cholera outbreak since October 2010, blamed on peacekeepers from Nepal, some nine months after it suffered a devastating earthquake.

The outbreak has affected an estimated 7,88,000 people and claimed the lives of more than 9,000.

The then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had last year apologised to the people of Haiti for the world bodys role in failing to properly address the Cholera epidemic.

In addition, he had announced a $400 million two-track plan to stem the outbreak and provide long-term support for those affected.

India has contributed $1,00,000 to a UN trust fund designed to support Haiti in recovering from the 2010 cholera epidemic and building improved sanitation and health systems.

Briefing the Security Council early last week, MINUSTAH chief Sandra Honore said Haiti had made significant progress in consolidating democracy and maintaining security and stability with the inauguration of Jovenel Moise as President in February, marking the restoration of constitutional order.

Yet, in spite of these gains, pockets of fragility persisted and political challenges remained.

It is time, she said, to reshape the partnership among the international community, the United Nations and Haiti, with a view to monitoring concerns such as human rights issues and ensuring that progress made since MINUSTAHs 2004 establishment endure.  PTI
Washington, April 14

President Donald Trump has said the US military has been successful lately because his administration has given them total authorization, as he hailed the forces for dropping the largest non-nuclear bomb targeting an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan.

A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed Mother of All Bombs, was dropped on a tunnel complex of ISIS-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group, in Achin district of Afghanistans Nanagarh province, close to the border with Pakistan.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said on Thursday that 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.

Trump said he authorised the use of the bomb in Afghanistan and called the mission very, very successful.

It was really another successful job, we are very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event, Trump told reporters at the White House.

Everybody knows exactly what happened, what I do is I authorise our military. We have the greatest military in the world, theyve done a job, as usual, so we have given them total authorisation and thats what theyre doing, and frankly, thats why theyve been so successful lately, he said.

If you look at whats happened over the last eight weeks and you compare that to whats happened over the last eight years, youll see theres a tremendous difference. So we have incredible leaders of the military and incredible military, and we are very proud of them, and this was another very very successful mission, Trump said.

The US President, however, said he did not know if this would send a message to North Korea. I don't 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. I will say this; I think China has really been working very hard, he said.

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command.

At his daily news conference, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the bomb was dropped at around 7 pm local time in Afghanistan on Thursday.

The GBU-43 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 easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area, Spicer said.

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 US took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage as a result of the operation, he said.

The strike is part of the ongoing efforts to defeat ISIS-K in Afghanistan, the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) said.

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. According to the Department of Defence, there are about 600-800 ISIS-K fighters in the region where the bomb was dropped. PTI
Washington, April 14

The Trump administration should shake things up and hit terrorist groups inside Pakistan, a top former American diplomat has said, identifying the Taliban sanctuaries in the country as a big problem for Afghanistan.

The remarks came as the US dropped a massive bomb--the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used by Americans in a conflict--near the Pakistan border in Afghanistans Nanagarh province.

The US said the bomb targeted a tunnel complex of Islamic State-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group.

Zalmay Khalilzad, who served as the US ambassador to the United Nations and Afghanistan in the Bush administration, said the terrorist sanctuaries inside Pakistan should not be accepted as (just) sanctuaries.

The US and NATO forces were being attacked by terrorists hiding in those sanctuaries and if we are attacked from those places...They would be legitimate targets for a response, Khalilzad said during a discussion at the Hudson Institute, an American think-tank, in Washington on Thursday.

Khalilzad, who had hosted Donald Trump for his first foreign policy speech during his presidential campaign, said, Perhaps we have to do something to shake things up.

He called for changing the balance on the ground from the one of stalemate that has favoured the Taliban to the one that favours the Afghan government and the coalition forces.

I am encouraged by what is going on in terms of the review--to weaken the adversaries and strengthen the government, to strengthen it not only militarily but also economically and politically, but also to review the policy towards Pakistan, because I think one of the big problems of Afghanistan is the policies of Pakistan: the sanctuary policies, he said.

Robin Raphel, a former assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, felt the US should not walk away from the region at this point.

Raphel, however, opposed the idea of an all-out war against Pakistan. In my view, at the end of the day there has to be a negotiated political solution in Afghanistan, which would undoubtedly include some of the conservative elements, including the Taliban in the government, she said.

Hussain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the US and the director, South and Central Asia, at the institute, who moderated the discussion, said Taliban are irreconcilable, a sentiment shared by Khalilzad, who said the alliance between the Taliban and Pakistan was the main problem.

You cannot have reconciliation, if the insurgency feels that time is on its side. You cannot have a successful negotiation if there are safe sanctuaries. You cannot have successful negotiations if they feel that the Americans are going to leave, Khalilzad said.

He also suggested ways to deal with the issue. One, the military balance has to change in favour of the Afghan government. Two, Pakistan has to confront with the choices.

If we are attacked from bases in another country, we have the right to defend ourselves. It is a principle of international law. We are there on the basis of a UN Security Council resolution and at the invitation of the Afghan government. We should not be accepting a safe sanctuary. We ought to make that very very clear to Pakistan, he said.

I hope that (National Security Adviser Lt Gen) HR McMaster makes that point clear when he sits across the table when he is in Islamabad, he said, but added that Pakistans legitimate interests should also be respected.

The discussion was held in the backdrop of the Trump administration reviewing its policies to break the stalemate in Afghanistan.

Decisions made about policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan will have a crucial impact on the outcome of the global war on terrorism and Islamist extremism, Haqqani said. PTI
People of all walks of life gathered at different popular spots at dawn in capital Dhaka and elsewhere to hail the Bangla New Year, Poila Baishakh.

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: Amid the threats of militant attack, Bangladesh today welcomed the Bengali New Year, Poila Baishakh, with much enthusiasm and colourful celebrations.

People of all walks of life gathered at different popular spots at dawn in capital Dhaka and elsewhere to hail the Bangla New Year, 1424. The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh.

Thousands of people, in particular the youths wearing long-established dresses, have crowded traditional venues at different parts of the capital, including Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka University, Shahbagh, Dhanmondi Lake and Hatirjheel, and different spots to rejoice the day.

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Students of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University brought out a 'Mongol Shuvajatra (the procession of good wishes)' in the morning. Though, this time around, there is a ban on wearing masks during 'Mongol Shovajatra', carrying matches, lighters, handbags and vuvuzelas.

Revellers meandered through Shahbagh to Ruposhi Bangla Hotel and returned to the Faculty of Fine Arts, the spot from where they started, after taking a turn past the TSC area

The values imbued in the procession introduced by the Institute of Fine Arts in 1989 are still the same -- to fight back dark forces and evil practices.

"This year's procession aimed to bring back those who have chosen the path of militancy. It was a strong protest against militancy," said Nisar Hossain, a teacher at the Fine Arts Institute.

Old elements from the 1989 procession -- horses, tigers, elephants, puppets and trees -- have been used this year as well to give the procession a sense of continuity.

People of all ages and occupations, including foreigners, marched hand in hand and danced to the beat of drums with the promise to shun militancy and communal ism -- a threat to global peace.

The sun stole the show with its two shades: one bright and the other dark symbolising two shades of human nature. Fish and birds and other elements highlighted the cultural heritage of Bangladesh. Trees make a wake-up call for people to be kind to nature while elephants symbolise prosperity. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the people on the occasion. She asked them not to get confused and to celebrate the occasion peacefully. The festival has nothing to do with any religion, she added, bdnews24.com reported.

In 1990, the procession was renamed Anondo Shobhajatra. In 1996, the name Mangal Shobhajatra was restored. Last year UNESCO put Mangal Shobhajatra on the list of elusive Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

As Bangladesh is celebrating the New Year in the shadows of growing militancy, law-enforcement agencies put in place unprecedented security measures.

Mughal Emperor Akbar started the Bangla calendar in the year 1556 and the celebration of Poila Baishakh began during his rule. Now it has become an integral part of the Bengali cultural heritage and tradition and turned into a day of merriment.

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About 11,000 uniformed policemen along with some in civilian clothes have been deployed for ensuring security during the celebrations though there is no specific security alert.

The police have ordered to wrap up open-air events in Dhaka before 5 p.m. and said such programmes on the Dhaka University campus must end before 6 p.m.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Beijing, April 14

China today warned its ally North Korea against carrying out a nuclear test, saying such a dangerous and irresponsible move could lead to a breakout of conflict at any moment amid soaring tensions with the US. Conflict over North Korea could break out at any moment, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, warning there would be no winner.

There has been heightened tension between the United States, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The precarious situation deserves our attention and concern, Wang said without directly referring to strong retaliation threatened by US President Donald Trump if North Korea resorted to nuclear test.

We urge all parties to refrain from inflammatory or threatening statements and deeds to prevent the situation on the Korean Peninsula from becoming irreversible, Wang said. Later, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said North Korea should not carry out nuclear test. UNSC resolution stated clearly that DPRK (North Korea) should give up all nuclear and missile-related programmes. Stop relevant programmes. It is very clear, he said when asked about reports that Pyongyang is bracing to carry out its sixth nuclear test.

Chinas strong statement comes a day after Trump said he believed Chinese President Xi Jinping would work very hard to help resolve the Korean crisis. Trump has also said the US is prepared to tackle the crisis without China, if necessary. He diverted the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier towards the Korean peninsula last weekend in a show of force. North Korea denounced the US for bringing huge nuclear strategic assets to the region and said it stood ready to strike back. Chinese officials said Trumps retaliation against nuclear test by North Korea could become a certainty after he ordered recent airstrikes against Syria and bombed IS militants in Afghanistan.  Agencies
The end of paper logbooks may be just what the industry needs to make its case about unrealistic hours of service regulations. Photo: Jim Park.

In my March editorial, I wrote about how the electronic logging device mandate could actually be the path to revising some of the problematic aspects of federal truck driver hours of service regulations.

David Heller, vice president of government affairs for the Truckload Carriers Association, contends that by digging in their heels and resisting the ELD mandate, fleets are only hurting their cause for revising the HOS regs to something that better reflects the day-to-day realities of trucking.

They need to start embracing technology, he told me. If we want to fix hours of service  which believe me, were trying to do  arguing against ELDs is not the way to do it.

As an industry, I cant emphasize this enough, we cant advocate non-compliance. Nobody can advocate for a change in the rules by saying were not going to follow the rules. The best way is to embrace the benefits of the technology and argue the [HOS] changes at a later time. We can emphasize problems with truck parking, with detention time, and ELDs will go a long way toward doing that, because we will have sound data and sound science behind us.

After a reader wrote to ask me what he could do to help, I asked Heller for some more details.

He pointed out that the problems with the 34-hour restart, which the industry fought and managed to get rescinded because a study could not prove they improved safety, were just the tip of the iceberg.

The issues that coincide with the current rule are long and problematic to say the least, Heller said. The 30-minute break has proven that this provision is not for everyone, with the list of exemptions that seem to grow more and more the longer you look at it. The reader is correct, the inability to stop the 14-hour clock when you are tired is not good for anyone. So yes, the problems continue with our hours of service rules, and they will not be fixed overnight, as everyone know that when it comes to government there is no quick fix. These changes take years.

But there is some movement in that direction, he said.

Virginia Tech has plans in the works to begin studying the effects of a split sleeper berth scenario. It will collect roughly a year's worth of data. It is worth noting that the [Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration] has plans to study this issue in an effort to truly discover the issue and the ramifications of it.

And again, he said, ELDs may help provide the data the industry needs to make its case. The government loves to use data in formulating its regulations, and with the mandate for all federally regulated trucking operations to use ELDs come December, We are eight months from a virtual data explosion the likes in which this industry has not truly seen, Heller said.

Arguments against detention time, truck parking problems and even Line 5 personal conveyance will no longer be anecdotal  there will be sound data which can support, or refute, arguments for or against aforementioned issues, which will all be done by devices designed with specifications put forth by the FMCSA.

So in essence, the good news is that the agency will begin looking at all of these issues, if only because our industry is quite persistent in our arguments. The bad news is that none of this happens in a timely manner, which is unfortunate. These changes do take time, and they take data.

And ELDs will help provide that data.
Tim Richardson will teach HDTX attendees how to better foster innovative thinking. Photo courtesy Tim Richardson.

Tim Richardson, co-author of the book Transformation Thinking: Tools and Techniques That Open the Door to Powerful New Thinking, will be the keynote speaker for HDTs new Heavy Duty Trucking eXchange event next month, helping attendees learn how to overcome the barriers that hold back innovative thinking.

A handful of fleet spots are still available for the event, an all-inclusive, expense-paid networking retreat to be held May 8-10 at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Most people seem to be better at directing or following directions than thinking or creating new possibilities, notes Richardson. Todays [business] climate necessitates high level thinking and challenging the status quo. This session will teach leaders how to think innovatively and how to encourage others to do the same.

Richardson has a reputation as an entertaining speaker who nonetheless brings real insight to attendees. He has spoken for groups such as the Truckload Carriers Association and the American Society for Health Care Marketing and Public Relations, and businesses such as Nokia and Merrill Lynch, tailoring each presentation to the specific audience and industry.

During his HDTX keynote, he will provide techniques to increase personal brain power, demonstrate how to encourage new thinking, and how to build consensus for ideas. Hell discuss common pitfalls that prevent new thinking and provide techniques to overcome these pitfalls.

Tim Richardson tailors his presentation to each industry or group. Photo courtesy Tim Richardson.

Innovation is a key theme of Heavy Duty Trucking eXchange, a new networking event that will bring together a select group of fleet executives -- including HDT's Truck Fleet Innovators  and top industry suppliers.

I enjoyed hearing Tim speak at a TCA event several years ago, and learned a lot about brainstorming and thinking outside the box, explains Deborah Lockridge, HDT editor in chief. Ive been wanting to bring him in for an HDT event ever since. With the focus on innovation at our new HDTX event, I thought this was a perfect opportunity.

Hosted by Heavy Duty Trucking magazine, the event will give fleets and suppliers an intimate environment to engage in discussions on topics that affect the entire industry. HDT's 2017 Truck Fleet Innovators will be honored at the event and participate in a panel discussion moderated by HDT Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge, sharing their strategies and tactics for success in a fast-changing world.

HDTX is a hosted buyer event, a concept imported from the European business market more than a decade ago. It features an informal setting in which qualified buyers, or those with the decision-making responsibilities, are paired with companies attuned to their specific industry. The idea is to open doors to business relationships that fleets and suppliers will continue to draw upon year after year.

Truck fleet managers of fleets with at least 75 Class 8 trucks can apply to participate in HDTX by clicking here.
By Samrudhi Ghosh: Vidya Balan-starrer Begum Jaan is Srijit Mukherji's Hindi remake of his Bengali original, Rajkahini (2015). Is this Partition drama worth a watch? Here is our Begum Jaan movie review.

Begum Jaan Cast: Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Gauhar Khan, Pallavi Sharda, Chunky Pandey

Begum Jaan Director: Srijit Mukherji

Begum Jaan Rating: (3/5)

Srijit Mukherji's Rajkahini started with an immensely powerful scene, where a young girl, raped and tortured for days and left outside the refugee camp 'hospital', is too traumatised to comprehend anything. Her father's pleas yield no response, but she robotically unties her salwar when the hospital attendant is instructed to 'open' the window, her developed reflex after days of being subjected to inhuman atrocities. Surprisingly, Begum Jaan, which is mostly faithful to the Bengali original, chooses to leave this scene out.

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Begum Jaan transports us to the communally-charged time of the Partition, and the 'butchering' of India into two parts. The film tells the story of a brothel which lies right in the middle of the proposed Radcliffe line. When two officials, one from the Indian National Congress (Ashish Vidyarthi) and another from the All-India Muslim League (Rajit Kapoor), tell the madam of the brothel, Begum Jaan (Vidya Balan), that she has to vacate, she is defiant and determined that nothing can displace her and her girls from their home.

Begum has full faith in the Raja (Naseeruddin Shah), whose patronage she enjoys, but her hopes are eventually dashed when he tells her the reduced authority of royalty in the new, democratic India. Still, she is determined - "Jo bhi ho, bhikmango ki tarah nahi, rani ki tarah marungi...apne mahal mein (Whatever happens, I will not die like a beggar, but a queen... in my palace." Can she win this fight?

Perhaps the impact of the film is diluted with too many backstories of characters. From the prostitutes themselves (rape, abandonment), to the Hindu and Muslim officials who grew up thick as thieves, but now finds themselves on opposite sides. The problem is, it only scratches the surface and one song is enough to show how many of the girls ended up at the brothel. But there is never any mention of what their lives were like before it all came to a brutal end.

Vidya Balan is outstanding as the foul-mouthed madam of the brothel, who has a soft heart beneath the tough exterior. It is she who carries the film on her shoulders, much like her last Bollywood outing, Kahaani 2. Pallavi Sharda as the lovestruck prostitute who yearns to escape from this life puts in a good performance, as does Gauhar Khan.

There are some scenes which require willing suspension of disbelief - it is a little hard to digest that the pimp, Sujit, is such a master of mimicry that he gets the exact voice of each girl in the brothel and different animals perfect to a tee. Asha Bhosle sings Prem Mein Tohre beautifully, but when you see Vidya lip-syncing to it, something feels wrong. Begum Jaan is unabashedly dramatic, which works in parts, but when the entire film is at a dramatic pinnacle, it takes away from it.

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One would think that Begum Jaan is feminist, with the prostitutes being their own masters in the brothel. At first glance, it would seem that the fiercely defiant women are empowered, but the brief flashback shows that it was circumstance that brought them to the brothel and perhaps the only reason stopping them from leaving is having nowhere to go. It, however, gives the message that caste, creed and religion are man-made. There is no discrimination inside the brothel, neither by the girls themselves, nor by the customers.

Perhaps, Begum Jaan also subtly shows the 'what if' side of the Partition. What if men had taken up arms and refused to be divided on the parochial basis of religion?

Despite whatever flaws it has, Begum Jaan leaves you with something to chew on and makes for a compelling watch, at least once.

ALSO READ: Begum Jaan gets banned in Pakistan after Naam Shabana, Jolly LLB 2 and Dangal

ALSO READ: Before Begum Jaan, remembering melody master Anu Malik's greatest compositions

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ALSO WATCH: Vidya Balan's Begum Jaan gets banned in Pakistan

--- ENDS ---
A Tulsa federal judge sentenced a Connecticut man to a one-year prison term in connection with a series of death threats he sent to Police Chief Chuck Jordan and other officials following the fatal police shooting of Terence Crutcher.

U.S. District Judge Claire Eagan also ordered Jeffrey Allen Stevens, 59, of East Lyme to serve three years of post-custody supervised release.

Jordan and Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler spoke during the sentencing hearing about how Stevens threats had affected their lives.

I was very concerned about this, Jordan said, noting that the messages prompted him to change his security measures.

This one act altered my life, your honor, Jordan said.

Stevens pleaded guilty Jan. 6 to five counts of interstate communications with intent to injure.

The guilty plea carried a maximum of five years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.

Court documents reveal a history of threats allegedly made by Stevens. In 2008, he was convicted of felony first-degree threatening, and the FBI interviewed him in 2012 and 2014 for reportedly sending online threats to politicians, Fox News and the National Rifle Association.

We take violent threats of this nature seriously, Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Shores said via an email statement. Free speech is a fundamental right, but it is not without limits.

A grand jury indicted Stevens in November on 10 counts alleging he sent threats to Tulsa justice officials, but five of those counts were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

The indictment followed an FBI investigation into a series of hostile complaints that Stevens sent via the Tulsa Police Departments website to the departments Internal Affairs division, according to court records. The threats, which were submitted between Sept. 19 and 22, condemned the shooting of Crutcher a few days earlier.

The complaints included threats toward Jordan, Kunzweiler, Tulsa District Judge Doug Drummond and Officer Betty Shelby, who was charged with a first-degree manslaughter after the Sept. 16 death of Crutcher. Police video that shows Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his hands up moments before he was shot.

One complaint said the psychotic pile of s-  who MURDERED the unarmed civilian who broke down is going to be executed, an affidavit states. Another accused Jordan of corruption and stated he is going to be killed for hiring a staff full of psychotic, racist, murderous scum.

An FBI task force tracked the complaints to Stevens computer in Connecticut, according to an affidavit. He was arrested on a warrant in October.

Stevens reportedly admitted to filing the complaints in an interview with an FBI agent but said he was not directly threatening anyone and blamed the confusion on drinking and poor wording.

During the sentencing hearing, Stevens apologized for his actions.

I was shocked and embarrassed by the language, Stevens said. I dont know what I was thinking when I wrote those. I was angry  I have never harmed anybody in my life.

Shores asked the judge to sentence Stevens to prison for a term within the guideline range, 46 to 57 months, noting that Stevens actions went beyond mere internet trolling because he actually threatened to hurt others.

Mr. Stevens threatened to kill police officers, justice officials, and their families, Shores said in written comments to the judge. He even extended his fury and vitriol to include threats against children.

Eagan granted a request for leniency by lowering the guideline sentencing range to a 12-month to 18-month prison term, noting that prosecutors had initially offered Stevens probation in a plea deal that he did not accept.

Drummond and Kunzweiler both offered victim statements.

Drummond, in a letter read by Shores, said while he knew of the potential risks associated with being a judge and former prosecutor, he was nevertheless concerned when he learned of the threats to his family.

Kunzweiler read a statement to Eagan that recounted his telling his wife and children about the threats directed at him.

It is not easy to explain to any child that there is a man out there whom she has never met, who intends to kidnap her, torture her and then kill her because of the job her father does, Kunzweiler said.

Following the conclusion of the hearing, Stevens asked whether he could apologize again to Jordan and Kunzweiler.

Turning from the judge to face them, Stevens began describing his familys background in law enforcement.

Stevens then said that he sent the messages with the hope that law enforcement would provide better training for its employees, comments that prompted Jordan to walk out of the courtroom.

Outside the courtroom, Stevens walked past Kunzweiler and Jordan, prompting the district attorney to say: Mr. Stevens, that was not an apology.

Eagan gave Stevens until June 7 to surrender at a designated federal facility to begin serving his sentence.
A Tulsa man on Thursday became the third defendant to plead guilty to a reduced charge after initially facing a count of first-degree murder in the beating death of a man in north Tulsa last year.

Lucious Adams, 18, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the March 17, 2016, death of 41-year-old Joe Perez Jr. in the 5500 block of North Johnstown Avenue.

His plea came three days after 35-year-old Ernest Edwards pleaded guilty to being an accessory to first-degree manslaughter, which in turn was entered five days after 17-year-old Dale Brown pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.

District Judge William Musseman sentenced Edwards, Brown and Adams to 11, 15 and 17 years, respectively, under Oklahoma Department of Corrections supervision.

Edwards, who testified against his co-defendants during a July 27 preliminary hearing, is to serve four of those years in prison, according to court minutes. Brown and Adams will have to spend 85 percent of their sentences in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

Tonyo Hughes, 18, and Romelo Northington, 19, face pending first-degree murder charges in Perezs death. They are set to appear in court May 1 and 2, respectively, for what court minutes say is an expected resolution of their cases.

Prosecutors have alleged Perez approached the defendants when they were outside Edwards house and was told to leave, but that Northington and Adams later enticed him to return.

Witness Levi Crisman said one of the defendants handed him a cellphone so he could post a recording of an anticipated fight with Perez on a website that hosts videos of street altercations.

Crisman, according to his preliminary hearing testimony, said he recorded the beating for a few minutes but stopped as it escalated because I didnt want to record a murder. He said he saw Northington and Adams knock Perez to the ground, which is when Brown and Hughes began kicking and punching Perez while he was in the fetal position.

Crisman said that after he told them Perez had had enough, Edwards came out of his home and hit Perez.

Crisman, who was not charged in the case, went on to allege Adams threw a trash can on top of Perez, stood over him and then urinated on him before the group left as police were arriving.

Perez was pronounced brain dead the morning of March 17.

Defense attorneys have argued that prosecutors didnt prove the men intended to kill Perez, pointing out that a gun and knife were present during the incident but that neither was used.
By Suhani Singh: Direction: Srijit Mukherji

Cast: Vidya Balan, Gauahar Khan, Pallavi Sharda, Ila Arun, Vivek Mushran, Chunky Pandey, Ashish Vidyarthi, Rajit Kapur.

Rating: (1.5/5)

A band of foul-mouthed, opinionated and defiant women who are dependent on men's carnal needs to earn a living are the sheroines of Srijit Mukerji's melodrama that is set against the backdrop of partition. There's plenty of bravura on display here, but the tone-deaf storytelling and poorly put together vignettes make this an arduous watch.

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Begum Jaan is certainly not lacking in ambition and scale. It wants to be a feminist drama and a historical guide to India's partition; looks at a widow's fraught journey to become the madam of a brothel, and is a commentary on the importance of communal harmony and challenges the notion of freedom that comes at the cost of another's inconvenience. Trouble is that it does a slipshod job of following any of these threads.

The plot is lost amidst the cacophony which involves a unibrowed Begum Jaan (Vidya Balan) standing her ground firmly after she is told that her house/'kotha' stands on the newly defined India-Pakistan border. She refuses to pick a side and move, aware that letting go means the end of her enterprise. What Mukerji does manage to establish well is that ethics be damned for Begum Jaan financial independence is paramount for it gives her power to control her fate - a rarity in that era.

But from a domineering matriarch she suddenly becomes a docile mistress so as to seek the help of the local king (Naseeruddin Shah) on whose charity her business relies. Only his power has diminished post independence which means that Begum Jaan and her female force turn into a gang of gun-toting warriors who will fight for their independence. A shooting battle in the dark ensues and the resulting carnage is a reminder that subtlety is not the filmmaker's strength.

To invigorate the proceedings, Mukerji, who gets credit for story, screenplay, dialogues and direction, turns to the same trick: bring in a monstrous man assaulting the woman who will confront with abusive commentary or scream or cry profusely. It's a tactic that quickly loses its emotional impact, and overlooks the real trauma that women faced during the period.

There are half-baked character arcs. Gulabo (Sharda) is a Punjabi woman who is in love with a teacher (Vivek Mushran). Rubina (Gauahar Khan) is Jaan's masseuse-employee who is in relationship with the brothel's help and resident mimic Sujith (Pitobash Tiwary). Shabnam (Mishti) is the silent rape survivor given refuge in the house. Amma (Ila Arun) narrates stories of inspiring women to a child living on the premises. There is a single parent, a Gujarati-speaking prostitute, two dogs, a pet bird, a Muslim guard to showcase the diversity in the house. Barring two characters, all men here are ruthless - from Rajit Kapur and Ashish Vidyarthi as friends turned foes to Rajesh Sharma and Chunky Pandey as the immoral cop and thug respectively.

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By the end of Begum Jaan, Balan has played Prisma-styled Padmavati, Jhansi ki Rani, Meera and Razia Sultan, and smoked enough hookah to have viewers worried. Balan berates and sermons with command but is unable to shake off the campiness of the material.

Instead of being a story about looking at historical from a lesser-seen perspective, we get a tacky movie which soon seems like an exploitation flick. The move to weave in a contemporary sexual assault attack reeks of emotional manipulation and lacks coherence. What is meant to be an act of valour in the filmmaker's eyes comes across as a crude gimmick. Begum Jaan for all its good intent is a misfire of epic proportions.

MOVIE REVIEW: Begum Jaan

ALSO READ: Begum Jaan gets banned in Pakistan after Naam Shabana, Jolly LLB 2 and Dangal

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ALSO WATCH: Vidya Balan's Begum Jaan gets banned in Pakistan

--- ENDS ---
The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has revised its fares for both AC and non-AC buses, bringing relief to several office-goers.

By Rohini Swamy: In a bid to encourage people to use public transport, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has revised its fares for both AC and non-AC buses.

Price of tickets for 2-4km and 6-8km distance onwards have been slashed.

WHAT ARE THE REVISED RATES? Now pay Rs 10 if you travelling less than 4km, rate slashed by Rs 2. Fare of travel distance 4-6km has been increased by Rs 1, i.e. Rs 15. The minimum charge of ordinary buses remains unchanged at Rs 5. Enjoy AC bus rides at Rs 10, Rs 30, Rs 40, and Rs 90 for a journey up to 26-28 km, reduced from Rs 15, Rs 35, Rs 45, and Rs 95 respectively. In the fourth and fifth stage, prices remain the same as Rs 17 and 19 respectively.

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BMTC has also shortened certain routes due to overload and has passed the buck to the Government of Karnataka to provide more buses.

BMTC MD Ekroop Caur said, "We will incur a loss of Rs 4.5 lakh per day due to the reduced fares.

It is believed that increase in fares will discourage people from taking short haul buses.

But the Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that since several especially those working in far off places use the BMTC bus on a regular basis, the fare reduction will only benefit them.

BMTC is a private transport system which works under the transport department.

Also read: Bengaluru to use horse-mounted police force for patrolling

Also read: No sacred threads on hands, ash on foreheads: Bengaluru cop's order to police biased?

Also read: Bengaluru 'water warriors' challenge citizens in city to be 'water kanjoos' this summer

--- ENDS ---
By Rohit Kumar Singh: Thousands of acres of crop has been destroyed in the last couple of days in Bihar due to prevailing heat wave condition in the state that leads to incidents of fire. The Bihar districts of Muzaffarpur, Begusarai, Vaishali, Rohtas and Bettiah are the most affected ones.

Muzaffarpur which is reeling under tremendous heat condition appears to be the worst affected as incidents of crop fire has been reported from at least six places in the district. The fire has destroyed crops and property worth several lakh in the district. More than 35 houses have been gutted and several acres of wheat crop has been damaged in Narauli village alone.

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The loss of livestock has also been reported.

In the neighboring district of Vaishali, in the Raghopur riverine area, 100 acres of ready to harvest crop was destroyed in accidental fire due to the heat. In the Shahdeyee Shekhupur and Chakjamal village, 50 acres of crop got burnt due to extreme heat wave.

In Begusarai, a fire in Asurar village in Barauni block has damaged 200 acres of crop. Additionally, 50 acres of crop has been destroyed in fire in three separate incidents.

MEASURES BY BIHAR GOVERNMENT

The Bihar government has taken cognizance of incidents of fire in several parts of the state which is wreaking havoc on common man especially the farmers whose crops have been destroyed. The government has also issued an advisory banning daytime cooking between 9am and 6 pm to prevent accidental fires.

The government has also come up with advertisements in newspapers trying to create awareness among the people regarding the fire during summer and ways to prevent them.

ALSO READ| West Bengal: Farmers set crop on fire due to inadequate cold storage facility

ALSO READ| The other side of farm fires: Losses worth crores

ALSO WATCH| Bihar boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 23, PM announces Rs 2 lakh for deceased

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Sergio Ramos has become the 30th player to make 100 appearances in the UEFA Champions League.

The Real Madrid defender brought up match No99 in the 2-1 comeback win at Bayern Munchen last Wednesday and the 31-year-old made it a century in tonight's return as they made it through despite his second competition own goal.

Ironically, Ramos had endured an inauspicious introduction to the competition after joining Madrid from Sevilla, losing 3-0 at Lyon on his debut in September 2005. He was then sent off on his next outing a fortnight later!

2014 final highlights: Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico, aet

After that false start he has enjoyed happier times, chief among them his goals in two final victories over Atletico Madrid. First, in 2014 in Lisbon, his 93rd-minute equaliser forced extra time, the Merengues going on to win 4-1.

In last season's final, Ramos scored the opener in Milan, and though Atletico on this occasion took it to extra time, Madrid prevailed in the shoot-out. Ramos, of course, converted his penalty.

Ramos becomes the fourth player to reach 100 UEFA Champions League appearances with Real Madrid, following Iker Casillas (150), Raul Gonzalez (130) and Roberto Carlos (107).

UEFA.com

Sergio Ramos in the UEFA Champions League

100 games

10 goals

59 wins

21 draws

20 losses

2 own goals

3 red cards

30 yellow cards
Ajax, Celta Vigo and Lyon established first-leg leads in their UEFA Europa League quarter-final ties, with Manchester United held by Anderlecht thanks to a late goal in Brussels. Watch highlights of every game.

Thursday night's results (more details below; click for highlights)

Ajax 2-0 Schalke

Anderlecht 1-1 Manchester United

Celta 3-2 Genk

Lyon 2-1 Besiktas

Davy Klaasen scored twice  the first an excellent penalty, the second a fine finish to Justin Kluivert's perfect cross  as Ajax took charge of this tie. The Eredivisie side have now gone 12 European home games without defeat, winning six out of six at the Amsterdam ArenA in the UEFA Europa League this season. They also hit the bar in each half.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan's fourth goal in seven UEFA Europa League appearances, which came after Jesse Lingard had been denied by a post, looked set to be enough for United to take a lead back to Old Trafford. Leander Dendoncker struck with a bullet header late on, though, to give Anderlecht a huge fillip ahead of their trip to Manchester.

Celta 3-2 Genk (Sisto 15, Aspas 18, Guidetti 38; Boetius 10, Buffel 67)

Jean-Paul Boetius headed Genk into an early lead, but Celta were quick to hit back courtesy of Pione Sisto's neat finish. Iago Aspas  up to first in the FedEx Performance Zone rankings after his performance on Thursday  then put the hosts in front with a low strike. John Guidetti gave the hosts a two-goal cushion which was later wiped out by substitute Thomas Buffel.

Lyon 2-1 Besiktas (Tolisso 83, Morel 85; Babel 15)

Lyon looked destined to be frustrated after Ryan Babel's first-half opener. The Ligue 1 outfit were denied by the crossbar in the first period and a post in the second, Besiktas somehow holding on to their advantage for nearly 70 minutes. However, the hosts had been scoring at a rate of four a game since entering the competition in the round of 16 and there was still time for two more here.
Complaints were given by Income Tax officials that food minister Kamaraj, information minister Kadambur Raju and housing minister Udumalai Radhakrishnan allegedly obstructed IT officials at Vijayabhaskar's house.

By Pramod Madhav: Chennai police has registered FIRs against three AIADMK ministers for obstructing Income Tax raids conducted at health minister Vijayabhaskar and actor-turned-politician Sarathkumar's house.

Complaints were given by IT officials that food minister Kamaraj, information minister Kadambur Raju and housing minister Udumalai Radhakrishnan allegedly obstructed IT officials at Vijayabhaskar's house.

Video evidence showed that the duo threatened and entered Vijayabhaskar's premises while Raju allegedly obstructed IT officials at actor Sarathkumar's house.

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Chennai police have also registered a case against Tamil Nadu government's representative to Delhi, Thalavai Sundaram.

Police have also filed FIR against Vijayabhaskar's driver who was reportedly seen on a video trying to throw away allegedly incriminating documents out of his house.

A woman IT officer was also allegedly abused by the ministers.

Also read:

Income Tax raids on Tamil Nadu's VVIPs: Office of Sarathkumar's wife searched

I-T department files complaint against AIADMK ministers for disrupting its work, criminal intimidation

--- ENDS ---
Vaccination may have prevented infectious diseases and significantly reduced global mortality rates, but maintaining community confidence to ensure widespread coverage is as important as vaccination itself. There must be a unified effort among community leaders and health care providers in raising the vaccine confidence and acceptance in communities. A good example is how a High Court Judge from the UK who ruled for a mother to vaccinate her children, who have been denied the medication due to their mother's belief.

Emory Vaccine Center director Rafi Ahmed and the associate director Walter Orenstein, said there is a growing fear for the side effects of vaccines, Eureka Alert reported. Although there are no studies proving that vaccination can cause autism, disseminating this information to the skeptics has been very difficult. According to Ahmed and Orenstein out of the 159 measles cases from January 4 to April 2, 2015, 68 were unvaccinated, and 29 of those who didn't have vaccination is due to religious and philosophical beliefs.

The mother from UK who refused to have her children vaccinated is a vegan and believes that the body should heal naturally without injecting metal objects in it, IFL Science reported. However, in the end, Judge Mark Rogers ordered her children to be vaccinated based on the 1989 Children's Act that is more inclined to the welfare of the children. The judge said the mother couldn't provide a doctor that can support her ideals about refusing vaccination.

Meanwhile, Ahmed and Orenstein emphasized that vaccines don't just give individual protection, but community protection as well according to an editorial published in "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). It can stop the spread of disease in a certain community, they said. This is especially true for populations that are vulnerable to diseases, like communities with a lot of children or elderly, or those with people who are immune-compromised.
Omar Yaghi, a chemist at the University of California, Berkely, invents a new sponge-like device that uses sunlight to "suck" water vapor from air. Interestingly, it works even in places with the lowest humidity. For one, the device produces about three liters of water per day.

Indeed, homes in the driest parts of the world could soon avail of the solar-powered water harvester. The University of California study will definitely offer relief to billions of people. Per Science Mag, there are roughly 13 trillion liters of water "floating" in the atmosphere from Earth's lakes and rivers.

As a matter of fact, different researchers from all over the world have tried to develop various ways to grab even just a few drops from fog banks using fine nets. Others utilized power-hungry dehumidifiers to condense water out of the air. However, both procedures require "very humid" air.

According to Science Daily, the prototype was able to pull three quarts of water from the air under conditions of 20 to 30 percent humidity over a 12-hour period. The test was done at a rooftop, using one kilogram of Metal-Organic Framework (MOF), confirming that the device works in real-world conditions. Basically, the water harvester soaks up water vapor during nighttime and uses heat from the sun to release it as liquid during the day.

Yaghi, in 2014, reached out to Evelyn Wang, a mechanical engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, to work on a project using MOFs in vehicle air conditioning. After synthesizing the new zirconium-based MOF called MOF-801, both researchers agreed to come up with a water harvesting device. The latest discovery presses MOF crystals into a thin sheet of porous copper metal. The sheet is placed between a solar absorber and a condenser plate placed inside a chamber.

At night, the chamber is opened permitting ambient air to diffuse through the porous MOF. On the other hand, water molecules stick to its interior surfaces, gathering in groups of eight to form tiny cubic droplets. During daytime, the chamber is closed and sunlight enters through a small window on top of the device to heat up the MOF. This "liberates" the water droplets and drives them toward the cooler condenser.

In particular, the change in temperature causes the creation of liquid water. It allows the vapor to condense into its liquid form. The end product then drips into a collector.
Ten years ago an incident took place in Sanjeev's village which still he can't forget. And this time the issue was over water.

By Mayuresh Ganapatye: Even after 70 years of independence, Dalits are still struggling for their basic rights. In the small town of Maharashtra's Raigad district named Mahad, where Ambedkar agitated against the upper class for not allowing Dalits to drink water from public tanks, one can still hear the plight of Dalits.

Sanjeev Polekar, a 60-year-old resident of Chinchavli village near Mahad, raised his voice many times against injustice but his voice was silenced by his own community as they don't want to indulge in any scuffle with upper caste people who are mostly Marathas.

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Ten years ago an incident took place in Sanjeev's village which still he can't forget. And this time the issue was over water.

"There was water scarcity in our locality and we were looking for it desperately. We got to know that in the nearby one of the wells there is sufficient water for all and so we started fetching it. Members of the upper caste community from our village made an issue out of this and gave away that well to us," he said.

"In few days they constructed two wells near that old well from government funds. Whenever our well got dried during summer they didn't allow us to use their well. It is humiliating and insulting," Polekar said.

"This is the same complaint we heard from many people but most of them refuse to speak on camera. Dalits still have that fear in their mind that upper class people may trouble them as they are large in number and Dalits don't have that much strength," Sanjeev Gaikwad, Dalit rights activist said.

In the area there are men like Vigyan Dalvi also.

Though Vigyan belongs to upper caste but he is totally against caste system and follows the principle of Ambedkar and for that he had to face music from his own community.

He and his family faced a blanket ban few years ago by villagers of Bhandivali where Vigyan stays with family. Vigyan's fault was only this that he allowed Dalits to fill up water from his house when his village had denied Dalits water connection in the house.

"I didn't pay attention to them. That ban had no effect on me or my family. We felt helping Dalits to get water was the need of an hour and we did it," he said.

Also read:

Ambedkar Jayanti: How PM Modi won confidence of Dalits and Uttar Pradesh

MCD polls: On Ambedkar Jayanti, BJP plans to reach out to Dalit voters

--- ENDS ---
UW Scientist Explores Archaeological Record by Studying Mongolian Reindeer Herder Camps

This composite time-lapse photo shows every spot Mongolian people occupied in a reindeer herder camp Sept. 15, 2014. Todd Surovell, a UW professor of anthropology and director of the George C. Frison Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, heads the Dukha Ethnoarchaeological Project. The projects primary goal is the development of spatial theory of human behavior for application to archaeological problems. (Todd Surovell Photo)

For years, Todd Surovell has studied an ancient Paleoindian site in Colorado and wondered why he would find concentrations of tools in one spot or a particular type of tool in another. He had to go to Mongolia to find the answers.

Surovell, a University of Wyoming professor of anthropology and director of the George C. Frison Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, is an expert in Paleoindian archaeology. He heads the Dukha Ethnoarchaeological Project, which has a primary goal of developing spatial theory of human behavior for application to archaeological problems.

In essence, he is interested in understanding how people decide where to do the things they do.

Im interested in how people use space from an archaeological perspective, Surovell says. We might, for example, identify prehistoric households and examine how people used space, both inside and outside. We also might ask how the spaces in different households were used, whether similarly or differently.

For a number of years, Surovell and his colleague, Nicole Waguespack, a UW associate professor of anthropology, studied the Barger Gulch archaeological site that dates back 12,500 years and is located in Middle Park, Colo. There, they recovered more than 75,000 chipped stone tools and artifacts. Sometimes, a large number of various tools would be found in one spot. Other times, similar tools would be found in another.

From studying spatial patterns in the Middle Park site, Surovell surmised that Folsom people, nomadic hunter-gatherers, lived in round-shaped structures with fires in their centers. Artifacts preferentially accumulated to one side of the house (east or west), and often toward the back, or south side, of the home.

Archaeologically, all you see are spatial patterns in chipped stone artifacts. There is no house or physical architectural remains, he says.

In order to understand archaeological spatial patterns and how they translate into past human behavior, Surovell, as a scientist and a researcher, wanted to see how nomadic people use space in real life.

To interpret human behavior from the past was not easy, Surovell concedes. I wanted to see nomadic people in the real world, and how they use space in the real world.

So, Surovell traveled to the Khovsgol Province of Mongolia to study the Dukha (pronounced Do-ha), nomadic reindeer herders of Tuvan descent. Like the Paleoindians of the past, the Dukha of today live in rounded homes, called an ortz, with iron stoves located in the middle. The structures somewhat resemble teepees.

He has traveled to the northeast Asian country five times, and in all seasons, as part of the Dukha Ethnoarchaeological Project, which began in 2012. Ethnoarchaeology is the study of living peoples for the purpose of developing tools for improving interpretation of the archaeological record. This project differs from traditional spatial ethnoarchaeology, in that Surovell shifted the focus from the mapping of material remains to the direct mapping of human behavior. To do so, he has used a combination of observational mapping and time-lapse photography coupled with photogrammetry, or mapping from photographic imagery.

For example, one composite time-lapse photo that was taken shows all camp occupants -- in all of the spaces they occupied in exterior camp space -- over the course of a 12-hour day. Photos were taken roughly every three minutes from a camera perched atop a fiberglass mast. Cameras relied on battery and solar power. In all, about 300 photos were shot and then combined into the composite photo that accompanies this story.

That is unique to the project. The big innovation in our project is this idea of mapping people as they go about their lives, Surovell says. Technically, it wasnt possible to do this with high precision until recently. Imagine being in a place with no electricity, and you want to map how they (Mongolians) go about their lives. So, we turned to time-lapse photography.

Todd Surovell rides a reindeer and uses the animal to haul firewood during his time in the Khovsgol Province of Mongolia to study the Dukha, nomadic reindeer herders. (Todd Surovell Photo)

The goal was to precisely map people in camp sites over frequent intervals. The information can be used to develop spatial datasets which, in turn, allow Surovell and his research team to understand how people make space-use decisions. Spatial datasets included information on a person, his or her sex, age, activity, equipment, household membership and weather.

Initial results suggest that human spatial behavior on small scales is highly patterned, predictable and explainable.

During his five separate treks to Mongolia, Surovell has lived in seven different camps. The days are long, filled with lots of hard work just for basic survival.

Its physically challenging. Its cold in winter -- 40 below regularly every night, he recalls. In summer, it freezes almost every night. Its rustic. You sleep on the ground. You cant take a shower for months on end. I bring freeze-dried food. You have to ride in on a horse or a reindeer.

During the spring, Surovell often rode a reindeer -- the Dukhas mode of transportation -- to help haul firewood to summer camps with the family with whom he stayed and studied. He says he paid attention to being careful, knowing medical help was often three or four days away. Still, his body was beaten up, and he typically lost 8-10 pounds during each trip.

Still, he enjoyed the simplicity of living in the moment and being away from technology.

Its wonderful, physically challenging, and they dont speak English. I had to learn Mongolian, Surovell says.

Surovell says spatial patterns of tools used at the Colorado Middle Park site could be used at Wyomings archaeological sites, including the Mammoth Kill site near Douglas, the Hanson site in the northern Big Horn Basin and at Hell Gap.

I dont know if there are obvious, practical benefits of this work. The major benefits are largely academic, he says. Architects who design workspaces would probably be very interested in those kinds of data of how people use space.

Funding and sponsorship of the Dukha Ethnoarchaeological Project was provided by the National Science Foundation, the Fulbright Scholars Program and the George C. Frison Institute. Surovell says he has a few publication papers in the works and, ultimately, he says his group -- which includes Randy Haas, a UW postdoctoral researcher, and Matthew OBrien, an assistant professor of anthropology at California State University-Chico -- plans to write a book about the research experience.

A lot of these things, they do became obvious when you see it in the real world, Surovell says. We have found, for example, that the distribution of light is an important factor governing the performance of many activities in interior spaces. I dont go to a dark closet to read a book. We knew people tended to gather around a stove.

I suspect how Mongolians use their spaces is fairly similar to how we use our homes, too, he says. I hope this research will give us insight into spatial patterns worldwide and not just in Colorado.
Local issues have become the core focus of the grand old party that is working towards making an inroads into Delhi municipal corporation.

By Supriya Bhardwaj: The Congress is leaving no stone unturned to emerge victorious in the upcoming Delhi municipal election. The grand old party has adapted the 'think global, go local' motto for its poll campaigning.

Local issues have become the core focus of the party that is working towards making an inroads into Delhi municipal corporation.

The party is also working with a holistic approach and aims to bring solutions to local issues with a global view. Unlike extravagant rallies, the party will organize small gatherings in the ward-level to mobilise voters.

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Apart from local leaders, the party has also sought the help of nearly 90 leaders from other states including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

The party has also taken measures to ensure that they reach out to the youth.

They will be organizing street plays and flash mobs during their poll campaigns. Apart from the interactive methods, the party will also display presentation of its manifesto in popular hotels, restaurant, market, railway station and metro station.

EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMICS

Congress is banking on three key issues for the MCD polls, Education, Environment and Economics. Prominent leaders like Jairam Ramesh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Shashi Tharoor and Salman Khurshid will be talking on these key issues as part of the party's campaign.

The party has no plans yet for any massive rallies across the national capital. However, sources have indicated that it will rope in Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu as 'star' campaigner for the Delhi MCD polls.

Also, the party will not take help of master strategist Prashant Kishor for the upcoming polls. The campaign for the MCD polls has been charted by DPCC chief Ajay Maken and Delhi Congress in charge PC Chacko.

The MCD polls are scheduled for April 23 and is counting is scheduled for April 26.

WATCH | Delhi Dangal: 10 reasons why the MCD poll is important for voters

Also Read:

MCD polls: AAP will be routed, we will win 220+ seats, says Delhi BJP chief after Rajouri Garden win

Rajouri Garden by-election result: Boost for BJP ahead of MCD polls, Kejriwal's AAP introspects defeat

--- ENDS ---
By Mayuresh Ganapatye: A 20-year-old engineering student from Latur, Maharashtra today won a Mega Draw for Lucky Grahak Yojana worth Rs 1 crore.

Shraddha Manshette had made an online payment of Rs 1,500 through her RuPay card to pay an EMI for her phone. She was feliciatated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in at Niti Aayog's function in Nagpur.

Shraddha is the youngest winner of this scheme and plans to use the money for her higher education.

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"It was my dream to meet Modiji. I can't believe that I met him and received award from him. I don't have words to express how I feel," said Shraddha Manshette.

Under the Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana for merchants, Hyderabad based cloth shop owner Shaikh Rafi won third price worth Rs 12 lakhs. Though Shaikh Rafi is doing business from 2007, he started accepting online payments after demonetisation. He won the prize for Rs 2,000 card transaction.

"I am very much happy to receive this prize today. I would like to tell everyone that digital transaction is safe and secure. I am going to promote this platform and tell all my customers to make payment via card, net banking or via any digital platform," Shaikh Rafi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Nagpur today to commemorate Ambedkar Jayanti. He inaugurated a thermal plant in Koradi and also the Aadhar based BHIM app.

Also Read

Over Rs 60 crore prize money give away to promote digital payments

Time to move towards less cash: PM Modi's top quotes at BHIM-Aadhaar app launch event

--- ENDS ---
Members of an Indonesian search and rescue team (C) search for five missing people after a boat accident in Gresik near Sidoarjo district in East Java on Apr 13, 2017. (Photo: AFP/Juni Kriswanto)

Five others were reported missing in the waters of a vast archipelago that relies heavily on boat transport but has a poor safety record.

In the first incident, a wooden boat in Majalengka district flipped over on a river as it carried 22 people who were mostly farmers heading to harvest their crops.

Nine people died and 13 survived, local police spokesman Yusri Yunus told AFP. Authorities were still investigating what caused the accident, he said.

In the second accident, two people died and rescuers were searching for five others missing after a passenger boat capsized in the sea off the coast of Sidoarjo district.

Six others survived the accident, which happened when the vessel ran into rough waters, said local disaster agency chief Abu Hasan.

Boat accidents are common in Indonesia.

In January, 23 Indonesian tourists were killed when a massive fire erupted in a boat carrying hundreds of people to an island north of Jakarta to celebrate the New Year.
According to the villages historical records, the bronze casting craft was begun in Dai Bai in the early 11th century by founder Nguyen Cong Truyen.



About 200 years ago, some craftsmen from the village moved to Thang Long Citadel, now called Hanoi, to establish a handicraft guild. That became Hang Dong, or Bronze Street, in downtown Hanoi, which specializes in bronze household utensils and fine arts pieces.

We visited Dai Bai on a sunny day. Far from our image of a craft village in the northern delta, Dai Bai looks like any urban street with pavements and multi-storey houses. Next to showrooms are workshops that reverberate with the sound of hammers and the noise of commercial vehicles.

The last vestiges of the ancient Dai Bai village are the temple worshipping craft founder Nguyen Cong Truyen, the Van Lang communal house, the Dien Loc communal house, Dien Phuc pagoda, and stories retold on the death anniversary of the craft founder on the 29th of the ninth lunar month.

Nguyen Xuan Sam, a village elder, said At first, Dai Bai craft villages 4 hamlets specialized in making household utensils. The second generation of the village had 5 people with PhD degrees. After they were promoted to high positions, they became interested in expanding local bronze casting and establishing specialized guilds. Since then the four hamlets have produced four types of products, namely copper pots and trays, water pots, betel boxes, and devotional items. Despite the increasing use of machines in craft production, the 4 hamlets still preserve their traditional crafts.



Thanks to its division of labor, Dai Bai has maximized its development. Its techniques and designs have become more sophisticated. New items such as incense burners and bronze statues have been added.



Dai Bais bronze products are purchased by traders who resell them all over the country.

Artisan Nguyen Van Luc said The predecessors gave their descendants many advantages in this work. Todays younger generation quickly acquire the craft techniques and cultural values that make the villages traditional products.

Dai Bai has diversified its production to bronze statues, bronze incense burners, flower vases, four-season pictures, tea sets, devotional items, and inlaid pictures, which are now exported to China and other Asian countries.

The village has about 70 enterprises employing 700 households. Nguyen Van Trung who began bronze casting at the age of 14 is now famous for his casting and carving skills.

My family has long made vases, incense burners, and statues of Buddha. Of course, we have trade secrets and vast experience but the most important thing is our love of the craft to turn out beautiful products, said Trung.
The two Japanese men are sentenced to imprisonment for trafficking gold products via the Noi Bai International Airport.  Photo anninhthudo.vn

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).
US civil rights activist 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. (AFP/Joshua LOTT)

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 on 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 with a Chicago 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 on Sunday dragging Dao off a packed flight sparked worldwide outrage. He could be seen screaming 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 on 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 Apr 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 apologise, 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 signalled 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.
Organised by the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, the Dance Dance Asia programme will be held at 3pm and 8pm on April 22 and 3pm on April 23 at the Tuoi Tre Theatre in Hanoi.

This event is part of a long-term programme organised by the Japan Foundation Center in Asia to inspire and connect street dance groups and artists in ASEAN countries.

Now in its third year, Dance Dance Asia presents three performances by a trio of choreographer-directorsMunetaka Maki (MIKEY from Tokyo Gegegay) (Japan), Vince Mendoza Crazybeans (Philippines), LION T (Vietnam)  bringing together dancers from a wide range of cultural backgrounds in a unique fusion of vibrant artistry, expert technique, and exciting music.

The event is a superb opportunity for audiences in Vietnam to experience the cutting edge of Japanese and Asian street dance that is wowing the world today.

Free tickets can be collected at 27 Quang Trung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang, Vice Minister Han Song Ryol also warned the US against provoking North Korea militarily. "We will go to war if they choose," he said.

By AP: North Korea's vice foreign minister on Friday blamed President Donald Trump for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula through his tweets and expansion of military exercises, saying the US was becoming "more vicious and more aggressive" under his leadership than it had been under President Barack Obama.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang, Vice Minister Han Song Ryol also warned the US against provoking North Korea militarily. "We will go to war if they choose," he said.

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"Now we are comparing Trump's policy toward the DPRK with the former administration's and we have concluded that it's becoming more vicious and more aggressive," Han said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"Whatever comes from US politicians, if their words are designed to overthrow the DPRK system and government, we will categorically reject them," he said.

Speaking through an interpreter provided by the foreign ministry, Han was calm and polite but forceful throughout the 40-minute interview.

TENSION DEEPENS OVER MILITARY EXERCISE

Tensions are deepening as the US 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 Korea's sixth nuclear test. "At a time and at a place where the headquarters deems necessary, it will take place."

Regarding prospects for war, Han said, "If the US comes with reckless military maneuvers, then we will confront it with the DPRK's pre-emptive strike.

"We've got a powerful nuclear deterrent already in our hands, and we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US pre-emptive strike."

Many North Korea watchers believe North Korea could have a viable nuclear warhead and a ballistic missile capable of hitting the US mainland on Trump's watch as president - within the next few years.

Han, however, said North Korea blames Trump and the US for the rising tensions. He cited not only the US-South Korean war-games and the deployment of the aircraft carrier, the USS 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 doesn't do its part to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, the US can handle it.

WE ARE PREPARED: NORTH KOREA

"Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words," Han said. "So that's why. It's not the DPRK but the US and Trump that makes trouble."

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He dismissed the suggestion Trump made last year during his presidential campaign that he was willing to meet Kim Jong-Un, possibly over hamburgers.

"I think that was nothing more than lip service during the campaign to make himself more popular," Han said.

The annual US-South Korean 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 North's leadership have fanned Pyongyang's anger.

"As long as the nuclear threats and blackmail go on with the military exercises, we will carry forward with our national defense buildup, the core of which is the nuclear arms buildup," Han said.

"Whatever comes from the US, we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it."

Outwardly, there are few signs of concern in North Korea despite the political back and forth. Instead, the country is gearing up for its biggest holiday of the year, the 105th anniversary of the birth of the late Kim Il Sung, the country's founder and leader Kim Jong-Un's grandfather.

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The Saturday anniversary may provide the world with a look at some of that arsenal. Expectations are high the North may put its newest missiles on display during a military parade that could be held to mark the event.

Also Read |Guided by 'warrior monk' defence secretary, Donald Trump takes on Afghanistan, Syria. North Korea next?

Also Read: US drops 'Mother Of All Bombs' on Afghanistan, proud of military, says Donald Trump

--- ENDS ---
The team has only three months since they issued the call for contestants. Though it is a challenge, Ha Anh is confident that she will find the best faces to join the contest.

The powerful meaning of the contest is going to attract young women who love peace and who want to introduce the beauty of their country, she said, adding a message for potential contestants: Please apply to become a contestants in the Miss ASEAN Friendship 2017 contest to create a new kind of beauty for beauty pageants and let us spread the message of peace in the region.

Miss ASEAN Friendship 2017 aims to honour the beauty of Southeast Asian women and their strength to overcome challenges as their countries integrate into the global economy. It 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.

The contest will see the participation of 30 contestants acting as representatives of their cultures and traditions and provide a meaningful introduction to their respective countries of origin. The winner will be the most beautiful, the smartest, and the most active contestant and will be the face of activities promoting Vietnam as well as ASEAN member states.

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.

The Miss ASEAN Friendship 2017 contest 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 brought 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
The suspect Shibuya Yasumasa -ASAHI SHINBUM/VNA Photo

The man is Shibuya Yasumasa, who works in the real estate sector and is Linhs neighbor.

Earlier, the police issued a wanted notice for the man and arrested him immediately after investigation revealed Shibuya Yasumasas DNA test results matched the DNA on Linhs personal belongings.

On March 24 this year, nine-year-old Linh went missing after she left home in Matsudo City to go to school as usual.

Her body was found at 6.45am on March 26 in a field near a drainage ditch in Abiko, Chiba Prefecture, some 10km from her house.

A day later, her school bag was found in an area near the Tone River in Ibaraki Province, which is some 20km from Abiko.

Investigators said Linhs belongings were found scattered in places which were even not accessed by locals.

They believed Linh was kidnapped right after leaving home at 8am on March 24. The road where she was abducted was located in a residential quarter with few people passing by.

Following analysis, the Japanese police said the suspect clearly seemed to be familiar with the localitys terrain.

Earlier, the police received a video showing a man following a girl who resembled Linh; the man appeared to call out to her.

An elderly volunteer was quoted by JNN Channel as saying Linh may have been forced by the suspect to travel on a shortcut that few people used. If the suspect did not know the terrain clearly, he/she could not have driven to that place.

Besides an injury on her head and garrote marks on her neck, Linh also had an injury on her wrist and scratches on her body.

Linhs case has caused alarm and high dudgeon among the Japanese people. Many parents worry for the safety of their children, who often go to school on their own every day.
The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) will put up for sale their stake in two subsidiaries in May.-Photo lapmangvnpt.net.vn

The move adheres to the deputy prime ministers request to speed up the groups divestment from non-core business lines.

The telecommunication group will offload its entire holding of 14 million shares, equivalent to 79.02 per cent of total stakes, in its real estate arm Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Land Joint Stock Company (VNPT Land).

Foreign investors are allowed to buy a maximum of nearly 8.7 million shares.

The starting price is set at VND9,700 per share.

The auction is scheduled on May 12 on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange and the deadline for registration and depositing money is May 5.

VNPT Land has charter capital of nearly VND177.2 billion (US$7.8 million). It posted a loss of over VND1.5 billion in the first nine months of 2016, a poor performance compared with the net profit of VND169.3 billion in 2015.

Apart from VNPT, Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank is the second largest stakeholder, with 14.11 per cent of capital. Post Equipment and Construction Joint Stock Company holds the remaining stake of 6.87 per cent.

Also in May, VNPT will auction 2.45 million shares in Telecommunication Project Construction Development Joint Stock Company, equivalent to 49 per cent of the companys charter capital.

Foreign investors can book the entire amount of shares offered.

The auction, scheduled on May 8, will receive registrations until May 3.

The company posted net profit of nearly VND344 billion in 2016, a surge of 250 per cent compared with the VND98 billion profit in 2015.

Late in February, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue urged VNPT to speed up their divestment process. The group has to divest from 52 companies.
US shale oil producers are ramping up output, denting OPEC's efforts to fight a global supply glut. (Photo: AFP/David McNew)

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 US$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 Jan 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.

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 US$53.01 per barrel, and Europe's Brent contracts four cents lower at US$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 per cent 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.
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."
Prime Minister Hun Sen has called for patience and negotiation over increasing hostilities in the Middle East and Korean peninsular.

The premier said in a speech on Friday that he was deeply concerned by the U.S. April 6 bombing of the Shayrat airbase in Homs which followed a chemical weapons attack in Syrias Idlib province, as well as the suggestion that the U.S. would strike North Korea if it continues to test its nuclear arsenal.

Despite it being New Years Day, Cambodia, a United Nations member state, expresses its deep concern over the Middle East situation, especially Syria, and North Korea, he said.

We call for patience to resolve these conflicts via negotiations, he added.

He went on to describe the U.S. strike on the Syrian government airbase and the chemical attack as a tragedy that Cambodia could relate to, given their history of conflict.

Following the airbase strike, the U.S. on Thursday launched a separate attack on an ISIS target in Afghanistan using a 10,000 kilogram Massive Ordinance Air Blast device, commonly referred to as the Mother of All Bombs.

U.S. President Donald Trump also issued a fresh warning to North Korea on Thursday, warning it not to provoke military action with another nuclear weapons test.

North Korea is a problem, Trump said at the White House. The problem will be taken care of.

Cambodia has maintained a cordial relationship with North Korea for decades stemming from the late King Norodom Sihanouks friendship with the countrys former ruler, Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of the current head of the regime, Kim Jong Un.

Paul Chambers, a lecturer in international affairs at Naresuan University in Thailand, said Asean could call for negotiations in the hope of deescalating the situation on the Korean peninsular.

After all, reducing tensions among states is a chief reason for the creation of Asean, he said in an email.

As for the motives of Hun Sen, it appears that he is trying to build himself up as a global statesperson to demonstrate that he can go toe-to-toe with other leaders in international affairs while showing a domestic audience that he can be the international voice of Cambodia, he added.

Chheang Vannarith, chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies, said the escalating tensions showed characteristics of a new cold war between superpowers.

Our country is small, so to what extent will the superpower countries listen to us? Even all of Asean speaking on these issues cannot make an impact to reduce tensions, he said.

Sophal Ear, an associate professor of diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College in Los Angeles, said Asean and Cambodia lack the bandwidth to get involved.

There is definitely concern insofar as it appears the United States has very powerful weapons that it is willing to use. This should concern many countries that are willing to gas their people, he added.

North Korea and Syria are doing bad things to their people. When calling for negotiations, this should not be a stalling tactic to enable Russia to help their friend, Syria, or for China to help their friend, North Korea, he added.
Afghanistan says a massive bomb dropped Thursday by a U.S. warplane killed 36 members of Islamic State group and destroyed a large cache of weapons.

A statement released by the Afghan defense ministry Friday said there were no civilian casualties in this attack. The 10,000-kilogram GBU-43 bomb, known as "the mother of all bombs" (MOAB), was dropped on an Islamic State bunker complex in northeastern Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan Thursday.

WATCH: US Department of Defense video footage of bomb blast



Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's office said the operation took place in coordination with the Afghan Security and Defense Forces. It added that the Afghan forces are also collaborating with NATO's Resolute Support mission to fight against other terrorist groups.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai strongly condemned the use of the MOAB on Afghan soil.

"I vehemently and in strongest words condemn the dropping of the latest weapon, the largest non-nuclear #bomb, on Afghanistan by US military," Karzai said in a Twitter post.

"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. It is upon us, Afghans, to stop the #USA," Karzai said.



WATCH: What is a MOAB bomb?



'Right weapon' for target

General John Nicholson, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan said on Friday his decision to deploy the MOAB was done in communication with officials in Washington and was a purely tactical decision. "This was the right weapon for the right target," Nicholson told a news conference Friday.

WATCH: Gen. Nicholson on Afghanistan bombing

Nicholson said Islamic State 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."

The Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, developed more than a decade ago, has never before been used in combat.

Trump approves



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 also have been intended to send a forceful message to North Korea, which is rumored to be planning another nuclear weapons test shortly.

I dont know if this sends a message [to North Korea]. It doesnt 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."

WATCH: Trump on approving military strike



The Pentagon said in a statement that a GBU-43 bomb was dropped earlier in the day on an IS tunnel complex in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, near the border with Pakistan.

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."

North Korea

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 the United States 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.
By Santosh Chaubey: The United States on Thursday dropped the biggest non-nuclear bomb on Afghanistan. A C-130 aircraft dropped the massive 21,000 pound Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb (MOAB) that is also called the 'Mother of All Bombs' on tunnels believed to be used by the ISIS's Khorasan module.

The reports emerging in the aftermath say over dozens of the ISIS fighters have been killed in the attack.

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Yesterday, the attack took place in Afghanistan. Last week, a Syrian military airbase was targeted by the US with 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles after it was suspected that the airbase was used by the Syrian regime to launch chemical attack on civilians that killed over 100.

The US attacks came under the rule of James Mattis, the US Secretary of Defense who is known as a 'warrior monk'. One of his favourite quotes are, 'Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.'

US AND NORTH KOREA

The US has already said that it can go ahead with the plans to tackle North Korea even if other global powers don't support its action. Responding to the US' threat of a military action, North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un today ordered to evacuate capital Pyongyong immediately.

Further, there are reports suggesting that certain satellite images show that North Korea is preparing for another nuclear test. This could be another flashpoint between the US and North Korea.

US President Donald Trump who said he was very, very proud of the US military action in Afghanistan and congratulated 'great military men and women of the US for doing so well in the Syria attack', had said, while announcing James Mattis as his Secretary of Defense, 'All I can say is he is the real deal. The real deal'.

And going by the recent US action, it seems Trump, indeed, is getting returns on his real deal and Mattis, indeed, has a plan to kill or punish everybody who doesn't fall in line, be it the Syrian regime or the ISIS or North Korea or anyone else labelled to be hostile to the US national interest or to create disorder in the world.

MORE ABOUT GENERAL MATTIS

General Mattis was with Marine Corps for over 40 years and retired in 2013 when he was heading the US Central Command (Centcom).

Known for his controversial decisions and tough wartime approach, he is revered for his career among his supporters and is nicknamed 'mad dog' for his uncompromising attitude and views in the theatres of conflict and with quotes like the one mentioned above and many more that have come to be known as 'Mattism'.

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He has had extensive experience of handling command operations in the 1991 Gulf War, in 2001 Afghanistan War and in 2003 Iraq Invasion. And, going by the state of affairs, we are going to see more and more of Mattism.

In a London conference on March 31, Mattis had said about North Korea, 'Right now, it appears to be going in a very reckless manner in what its conduct is portraying for the future and that has got to be stopped.'

And days after Mattis' remarks, Donald Trump tweeted to reiterate that stand. "North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!"

Also Read:

US drops 'Mother Of All Bombs' on Afghanistan, proud of military, says Donald Trump

Russian senator warns of new arms race after US uses MOAB in Afghanistan

Also Watch:

Mother of All Bombs dropped to deny operative space to ISIS: US

--- ENDS ---

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As many as 36 suspected Islamic State militants were killed in Afghanistan when the United States dropped the mother of all bombs, its largest non-nuclear device ever unleashed in combat, the Afghan Defense Ministry said Friday.

The claims have not been independently verified, but ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said no civilians were harmed in Thursdays massive blast that targeted a network of caves and tunnels.

No civilian has been hurt and only the base which Daesh used to launch attacks in other parts of the province, was destroyed, Waziri said in a statement, using an Arabic term for Islamic State, which has established a small stronghold in eastern Afghanistan and launched deadly attacks on the capital, Kabul.
The Coptic Christian Pope Tawadros II on Friday canceled most Easter celebrations, limiting them to a simple Mass, following the recent twin attacks on churches by Islamic State militants that killed dozens of Christian worshippers.



During his sermon on Good Friday, Pope Tawadros said, "Easter celebrations shouldn't come at a time of offering condolences to our martyrs.'' He said that the Easter morning reception, in which worshippers exchange greetings, would also be cancelled. In a rare show of discontent and anger, several dioceses and monasteries across the country issued similar statements. After the deadly attacks, Christians blamed the government for failing to protect churches.



During Palm Sunday prayers, suicide bombers targeted two separate churches packed with worshippers in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and the Nile Delta city of Tanta, killing 45. The Alexandria attack took place as Pope Tawadros was presiding over the service, but managed to escape unharmed.





The Islamic State claimed responsibility and vowed to wage more attacks against Christians, who make up 10 percent of the population.



The attacks prompted the army chief-turned-president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to declare a three-month-state of emergency. He also ordered deployment of the armed forces to help police secure vital installations including churches.



The past days witnessed a sharp increase in security measures across the country, with checkpoints set up along the roads that lead to the main churches in Cairo and its adjoining governorate of Giza.



Egypt's Copts, the Middle East's largest Christian community, have repeatedly complained of suffering discrimination, as well as outright attacks, at hands of the country's majority Muslim population.



Over the past decades, they have been the immediate targets of Islamic extremists as Egypt's Orthodox Coptic Christians strongly supported longtime autocratic President Hosni Mubarak before his ouster in 2011. They rallied behind el-Sissi in 2013 as he ousted his Islamist predecessor Mohammed Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood group. Attacks on Christian homes, businesses and churches subsequently surged, especially in the country's south.



As the community still reels from the shocking bombings, disgruntled Muslims have attacked Christians' houses and set three on fire in a southern village named Kom al-Lufi, a flashpoint of sectarian tension. The recurrent attacks came after Christians held prayers inside a house, stirring suspicions among the village's Muslims that Christians were planning to turn the house into a church, a common trigger of sectarian violence.



Security forces were deployed on Friday to the village to protect the Christians who were reportedly locked inside their homes for fear of attacks by Muslims.
Relations between China and the Philippines appear to be stabilizing after the Manila government backed away from a plan to militarize the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, known for his flamboyant speeches and fast-changing plans, stated April 6 that he would order troops to the Spratly Islands, part of the South China Sea that Beijing also claims. He made the pledge after receiving criticism following media reports that said he knew Chinese vessels were exploring last year off the Philippine Pacific coast.

Since then, Duterte has said the Philippines will just improve structures on as many as nine Spratly islets currently under its control and he will not visit the island of Pag-asa in person to plant the national flag. He had previously said he might go there on Philippine independence day, June 12.

He said he will go to Pag-asa to plant the flag, said Jay Batongbacal, director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea at the University of the Philippines. But by the second or third day, he was not mentioning that. He doesnt talk about it anymore. He just stopped talking about it.

Duterte recalibrates

Dutertes recalibration over the Spratly Islands points to a continued focus on replacing the Philippines historic dependence on its former colonizer, the United States, with a more diverse foreign policy and pursuit of investment from China.

Regional analysts say China, which expressed concern last week, has let the earlier Spratly Island comments go.

The Chinese side hopes the Philippine side will continue to work with the Chinese side to properly control maritime disputes and work together in maintaining the healthy development of Sino-Philippine relations, spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a media briefing in Beijing April 7.

Another ministry spokesman said Thursday China was happy to see the Philippines and China can further meet each other in halfway.

Duterte visited China in October to mend relations strained by the South China Sea sovereignty dispute that landed in a world arbitration court. Also last year, Duterte cut off joint naval patrols with the United States, Chinas chief worry at sea because of its military might.

I dont think Duterte needs to do any more to impress China, said Eduardo Araral, an associate professor at the National University of Singapores public policy school. What he has already done has won him in good stead with the Chinese.

Court ruling

China has tried to get along with four Southeast Asian rival maritime claimants since the world court ruled in July against the legal basis cited by the Beijing government to explain its control of more than 90 percent of the sea. As part of that effort, it pledged $24 billion in aid and investment for the Philippines.

Beijings claims to the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea, backed up increasingly by construction of artificial islands that in some cases are ready for deployment of combat aircraft and radar systems, has irritated Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam as well as the Philippines.

Each government claims all or parts of the South China Sea. The tropical body of water extending from Taiwan to Singapore is known for fisheries, oil, gas and shipping lanes.

Sino-Philippine relations sank in 2012 because of a standoff at Scarborough Shoal, a fishery-rich feature in the South China Sea northwest of Manila. China still blocks Philippine fishing boats at the shoal.

The mid-March discovery that Duterte knew about Chinese vessels at Benham Rise, a sprawling, resource-rich undersea plateau of the Luzon Island Pacific Coast, rekindled Philippine distrust over China and raised questions about how cozy Duterte had become with leaders in Beijing.

Public pressure

China understands the public pressure on Duterte, said Yun Sun, senior associate with the East Asia Program under Washington-based think tank the Stimson Center.

My impression is that the Chinese have a pretty high tolerance level for Duterte, Sun said. I think the Chinese also understand that Duterte also has a domestic constituency he has to answer to.

Intent only to improve living conditions on the Spratly Islands should not make China overly critical, said Carl Baker, director of programs at the think tank Pacific Forum CSIS in Honolulu.

On Pag-asa, also called Thitu, small houses, guard posts and an airstrip support some 200 residents, largely fishermen, and 50 rotating soldiers. Local officials were discussing plans last year for a new seaport in the Spratlys.

The justification Duterte is using to improve living conditions is the same as the other claimants have used to justify the upgrades to facilities on features they occupy, Baker said.
The new U.S. spy chief blasted the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks in his first public comments, labeling it a hostile intelligence organization out to damage the United States as much as any terrorist organization.

Its time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is  a nonstate, hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia, CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Thursday.

It overwhelmingly focuses on the United States while seeking support from anti-democratic countries and organizations, he added, calling the celebration of WikiLeaks in some circles perplexing and deeply troubling.

Pompeo went as far as to lambast WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as a darling of terrorist groups, saying a member of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) recently thanked Assange on social media for providing a means to fight America in a way that AQAP had not previously envisioned.

Pompeos remarks to an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington are consistent with previous comments from the U.S. intelligence community.

Watch: CIA Director Defends Secrecy of Intelligence Work

Relationship with Russia

A declassified report issued in January concluded with high confidence there was an ongoing relationship between Russian intelligence and WikiLeaks.

The same report also said Russias own propaganda outlet, RT, has actively collaborated with WikiLeaks dating back to a 2013 meeting between Assange and RTs editor in chief.

Despite such findings, U.S. President Donald Trump has until recently downplayed talk of what intelligence officials have described as a Russian campaign to influence last years presidential election.

During the presidential campaign itself, Trump went as far to tell supporters, I love WikiLeaks, while encouraging the group to uncover more information.

Trump changes tone

But Trumps tone changed following WikiLeaks release last month of what it described more than 8,000 classified CIA documents.

This is the kind of disclosure that undermines our security, our country and our well-being, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters at the time, adding the president was extremely concerned.

Pompeo Thursday refused to comment specifically on the WikiLeaks dump known as Vault 7, but said damage had been done.

And he warned that WikiLeaks is only one of several hostile intelligence operations masquerading as anti-secrecy advocates.

Its much bigger than that. Its much broader and deeper than that, Pompeo said, cautioning other state actors may seek to imitate Russias use of WikiLeaks to strike at the U.S. They have now found a model.

Our defense will not be static, he said, citing strong support from the Trump administration. We need to be as clever and innovative as the enemies we face.

Assanges defense

Earlier this week, WikiLeaks Assange published a defense of his organization in The Washington Post, saying its motive was to to publish newsworthy content  irrespective of whether sources came by that truth legally or have the right to release it to the media.

Assange, an Australian citizen, is wanted in Sweden to face rape allegations. He has been living under asylum at Ecuadors embassy in London since 2012.
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 Recep 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.

It's 'gotten out of hand'

The Ersoys are moving to the Danish capital, Copenhagen, this month; Ersoy's wife, who works in the pharmaceutical sector, took a job offer she had previously declined.

"We have had job offers from abroad before as well. We didn't 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 don't know what will happen in six months. Bombs are exploding in many parts of the nation. I have a 3-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.

Erdogan's critics say the changes would remove checks on his power, moving 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 organizations.

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.

White-collar exodus

Gokhan Gokceoglu, who runs a financial consultancy 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.

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 husband, an engineer, 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 don't 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 programs 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.

Investment levels vary

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 neighboring 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.
Hackers released documents and files Friday that cybersecurity experts said indicated the U.S. National Security Agency had accessed the SWIFT interbank messaging system, allowing it to monitor money flows among some Middle Eastern and Latin American banks.

The release included computer code that could be adapted by criminals to break into SWIFT servers and monitor messaging activity, said Shane Shook, a cyber security consultant who has helped banks investigate breaches of their SWIFT systems.

The documents and files were released by a group calling themselves The Shadow Brokers. Some of the records bear NSA seals, but Reuters could not confirm their authenticity.

The NSA could not immediately be reached for comment.

Holes in Windows

Also published were many programs for attacking various versions of the Windows operating system, at least some of which still work, researchers said.

In a statement to Reuters, Microsoft, maker of Windows, said it had not been warned by any part of the U.S. government that such files existed or had been stolen.

"Other than reporters, no individual or organization has contacted us in relation to the materials released by Shadow Brokers," the company said.

The absence of warning is significant because the NSA knew for months about the Shadow Brokers breach, officials previously told Reuters. Under a White House process established by former President Barack Obama's staff, companies were usually warned about dangerous flaws.

Bangladesh heist

Shook said criminal hackers could use the information released Friday to hack into banks and steal money in operations mimicking a heist last year of $81 million from the Bangladesh central bank.

"The release of these capabilities could enable fraud like we saw at Bangladesh Bank," Shook said.

The SWIFT messaging system is used by banks to transfer trillions of dollars each day. Belgium-based SWIFT downplayed the risk of attacks employing the code released by hackers Friday.

SWIFT said it regularly releases security updates and instructs client banks on how to handle known threats.

"We mandate that all customers apply the security updates within specified times," SWIFT said in a statement.

SWIFT said it had no evidence that the main SWIFT network had ever been accessed without authorization.

It was possible that the local messaging systems of some SWIFT client banks had been breached, SWIFT said in a statement, which did not specifically mention the NSA.

When cyberthieves robbed the Bangladesh Bank last year, they compromised that bank's local SWIFT network to order money transfers from its account at the New York Federal Reserve.

NSA and SWIFT

The documents released by the Shadow Brokers on Friday indicate that the NSA may have accessed the SWIFT network through service bureaus. SWIFT service bureaus are companies that provide an access point to the SWIFT system for the network's smaller clients and may send or receive messages regarding money transfers on their behalf.

If you hack the service bureau, it means that you also have access to all of their clients, all of the banks," said Matt Suiche, founder of the United Arab Emirates-based cybersecurity firm Comae Technologies, who has studied the Shadow Broker releases and believes the group has access to NSA files.

The documents posted by the Shadow Brokers include Excel files listing computers on a service bureau network, user names, passwords and other data, Suiche said.

That's information you can only get if you compromise the system," he said.

Cris Thomas, a prominent security researcher with the cybersecurity firm Tenable, said the documents and files released by the Shadow Brokers show the NSA has been able to compromise SWIFT banking systems, presumably as a way to monitor, if not disrupt, financial transactions to terrorists groups.

Thwarting terrorists

Since the early 1990s, interrupting the flow of money from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere to al-Qaida, the Taliban, and other militant Islamic groups in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries has been a major objective of U.S. and allied intelligence agencies.

Mustafa Al-Bassam, a computer science researcher at University College London, said on Twitter that the Shadow Brokers documents show that the "NSA hacked a bunch of banks, oil and investment companies in Palestine, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, more."

He added that NSA "completely hacked" EastNets, one of two SWIFT service bureaus named in the documents that were released by the Shadow Brokers.

Reuters could not independently confirm that EastNets had been hacked. And EastNets, based in Dubai, denied it had been hacked in a statement, calling the assertion "totally false and unfounded."

EastNets ran a "complete check of its servers and found no hacker compromise or any vulnerabilities," according to a statement from EastNets' chief executive and founder, Hazem Mulhim.

Snowden documents

In 2013, documents released by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden said the NSA had been able to monitor SWIFT messages.

The agency monitored the system to spot payments intended to finance crimes, according to the documents released by Snowden.

Reuters could not confirm whether the documents released Friday by the Shadow Brokers, if authentic, were related to NSA monitoring of SWIFT transfers since 2013.

Some of the documents released by the Shadow Brokers were dated 2013, but others were not dated. The documents released by the hackers did not clearly indicate whether the NSA had actually used all the techniques cited for monitoring SWIFT messages.
More than a decade after it was proposed, Indias most ambitious tax reform measure is set to roll out in six weeks following the passage of a law that will replace a plethora of confusing levies with a single, nationwide tax.

The new goods and services tax (GST) will unite the worlds fastest growing economy into a common market of 1.3 billion people.

The measure is seen as a major achievement for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who struggled for two years to build a political consensus.

The government says the GST will be implemented from July 1 after state legislatures ratify it.

The new tax is expected to make it vastly easier to do business as it dismantles tax checkpoints at every state border. Businesses have often complained that Indias complicated tax system leaves them grappling with a mesh of separate duties levied by each of the countrys 29 states, and goods are often stranded for hours or even days at state borders as payments are worked out.

By making distribution more efficient and less expensive, Ankur Bisen at New Delhi based consultancy, Technopak, sees big benefits for consumer-oriented businesses, which have to move goods across state lines in the vast country.

Another huge benefit will be increased transparency. It will have implications on corruption because taxation regime will not be vague anymore, it will be very clearly defined, says Bisen.

For the government, the GST is expected to improve tax compliance and draw more people into the tax net in a country where tax evasion is common. It will also make India more attractive for foreign investors by simplifying rules for a huge and increasingly attractive market.

The government estimates the new tax will boost economic growth by about half a percentage point in its first year of implementation and in the long run by as much as 2 percent.

However several economists say that the political compromises that had to be struck win approval of the new tax mean the sweeping benefits India had hoped to see may not accrue in the short run.

Taxes will be levied at four levels  five, 12, 18 and 28 percent. Many say the 18 percent and 28 percent tax rates are too high.

It could potentially have been a transformative measure if the structure of GST would have been characterized by a large base and low and single rate, says D.K. Srivastava at consultancy Ernst and Young. But, he says, it is going as a multiple-rate system and some of the rates are very high and the tax base is still narrow. Therefore it is a kind of a fragmented GST. 

Despite the shortfalls, Srivastava says that given the complications of the size of the Indian economy, it might be useful to start off with a functioning model and then go on reforming it as matters progress.

Many also warn against a hasty implementation, saying that rushing ahead with a July 1 deadline could make it difficult to handle the transition in a country which has always struggled with bureaucratic ineptitude.

Many businesses, which had long clamored for such a tax, are asking the government for more time to prepare for the switch, saying six weeks is too little. They worry that the tax rates for various products have still be to be decided.

Others point out that the GST will be serviced by state-of-the-art technology and an electronic portal where taxpayers can register, eliminating the conventional and discretionary role of tax authorities.
In the face of growing international concern about reported detentions and killings of gay men in Chechnya, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman says the Kremlin does not have confirmed information on the targeted violence.

The respected Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported this month that police in the predominantly Muslim republic rounded up more than 100 men suspected of homosexuality and that at least three of them have been killed.

Chechen authorities have denied the reports. But the United Nations' High Commissioner for Human Rights and prominent international organizations have urged the Russian government to investigate the reported abuse.

But Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Friday: "We do not have any reliable information about any problems in this area."

Novaya Gazeta said in a statement on Friday that it fears for the safety of its journalists after exposing the persecution of gay men in Chechnya, a Muslim-majority republic of Russia.

Novaya Gazeta referred to a large gathering in Chechnya's main mosque earlier this week which threatened those reporting the story with "reprisals." The paper's editor-in-chief, Dmitry Muratov, called on authorities to investigate the threats.

The Russian office of Amnesty International on Friday echoed the concern about the gathering of Chechen elders and clergymen. It reportedly took place several days after the newspaper article and threatened retaliation against those who "insulted the centuries-old foundations of Chechen society and the dignity of Chechen men."

Amnesty International says it "considers this resolution as a threat of violence against journalists."

In Washington, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden issued a statement Friday, condemning the persecution and abuse of gay men in Chechnya.

"The human rights abuses perpetrated by Chechen authorities and the culture of impunity that surrounds them means that these hate crimes are unlikely to ever be properly investigated or that the perpetrators will see justice," Biden said.

The former vice president also called on the current U.S. administration to live up to its promises "to advance human rights for everyone by raising this issue directly with Russia's leaders."
The Lebanese government was urged on Thursday  the 42nd anniversary of the start of the nation's civil war  to help families of the thousands of missing by approving a project to collect DNA samples to try to trace their whereabouts.

With families still struggling to cope with their loss, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and non-government organization Act for the Disappeared staged a one-day exhibition in Beirut of chairs made by families of the missing.

"People who have lost a member of their family and don't know what happened are living in this in between," Fabrizio Carboni, head of the ICRC delegation in Lebanon, told Reuters. "No grief possible and at the very same time hope is still present. So, it is really torture for these families."

More than two dozen families participated in "Empty Chairs, Waiting Families," an exhibition of chairs painted with drawings and pasted with photos.

The ICRC called on Lebanese authorities to run a project to collect DNA samples, and to pass a law that will help families of the missing get clarity on what happened to them.

There is currently no public database or exact numbers for people who went missing during the civil war between 1975-1990, in which an estimated 150,000 people were killed.

Lebanon was shattered by its 15-year-long war. Villages and neighborhoods in which Muslims and Christians had lived side by side for centuries were reshaped. Hundreds of thousands of people retreated into separate enclaves controlled by sectarian militias.

Fate unknown

The ICRC said thousands of people from all sides and backgrounds went missing during the civil war and their fate remains unknown.

"Under international humanitarian law, government authorities are required to clarify the fate of persons who go missing in conflict situations. However, Lebanon has yet to take the necessary steps," the ICRC said in a statement.

The ICRC is asking the state to set up a mechanism to give families some answers  whether that is through preserving and opening mass graves, or getting forensic information or biological reference samples.

Missing since 1982 was Said, whose 80-year-old brother Riad Sharif Harmouch used his chair to draw his brother in the car he used to transport people between the Christian East and Muslim West of Beirut, returning them to families if they went missing.

"I am two years older than my brother. I was really affected. We were really close friends, more than just brothers. I lost a piece of me," said Harmouch.

Fardous and her mother, Jamila Agha, drew her father Nazih's fishing boat and motorcycle on a chair. He used to fish and sell what he caught while riding his motorcycle.

"We have hope that he will come back so we can get back what was taken away from us," said Fardous, whose father went missing in 1982 when she was two years old.

Sayde Jhantous Tayyar, 53, whose brother Elias has been missing since 1984, replicated part of a drawing her brother did when he was younger on a chair and drew him holding a kite.

Jebran Harmouch, 71, whose brother Elias has been missing since 1976, included a photo of his brother and words that remind him of Elias.

"I remember his laugh, his jokes," said Harmouch. "What is harder than death is the fact that I don't know whether he is alive or dead. This creates more sadness."

Carboni referred to the chairs project as "heart therapy" with a purpose.

"It is an opportunity for families to manage their pain and this traumatic situation. And on the other hand, it's an opportunity to raise awareness in the public for the political authorities," Carboni said.
U.S. use of a massive bomb against Islamic State extemists in Afghanistan has proven divisive in the region, winning support from political and military authorities in Kabul but strong condemnations from former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Afghanistans ambassador to Pakistan.



In a series of three tweets, Karzai said, I vehemently and in strongest words condemn the dropping of the latest weapon, the largest non-nuclear #bomb, on Afghanistan by U.S. military. 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. It is upon us, Afghans, to stop the #USA.



Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, Afghanistans ambassador to Pakistan, tweeted, I find the use of the largest non-nuclear bomb, the so-called "mother of all bombs," on our soil reprehensible & counterproductive. If big bombs were the solution we would be the most secure place on earth today.

U.S. forces dropped the GBU-43 Massive Ordinance Air Blast, an almost 30-foot giant weighing approximately 10 tons, on the Achin district of Nangarhar province Thursday night. The strike was described as part of a campaign to destroy the Islamic State Khorasan Province group, the local chapter of IS.



General John Nicholson, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, said Friday that his forces had coordinated the attack with the Afghan government, "just as we have since we started these operations in early March." A statement issued earlier by President Ashraf Ghani stressed the same point.



WATCH: US Dept. of Defense video of bomb strike



Nicholson said circumstances on the ground justified the use of the most powerful non-nuclear weapon ever used by the United States military.



This munition, this weapon, was the right weapon against this target, he said. The enemy had created bunkers, tunnels, and extensive minefields and this weapon was used to reduce those obstacles so that we could continue our offensive into southern Nangarhar.



WATCH: Gen. Nicholson on why MOAB was used



U.S. President Donald Trump was asked Thursday whether the attack was intended to send a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who is reportedly poised to conduct a new nuclear weapons test as early as this weekend. But Nicholson insisted the decision was based solely on the analysis of conditions in Nangarhar.



It was the right time to use it tactically, against the right target on the battlefield, he said.



Nicholson said U.S. and Afghan forces were on the ground after the strike and had not seen any evidence of civilian casualties.



WATCH: What is a MOAB bomb ?



Some local elders said most of the civilians in that area had already fled due to the presence of IS as well as extended fighting between IS and government forces. However, they expressed concern over the fate of people whom they said IS had held hostage.



Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban issued a statement condemning the use of the weapon and said there was no presence of IS in Afghanistan.



Using such a heavy weapon in the name of IS is using our territory for experimentation, the statement said.



Nicholson said the operation against IS in Nangahar has liberated more than 400 square kilometers since its inception.
During the cash crunch post demonetisation, the gang exchanged the fake currency for old Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes in rural areas.

By Hemender Sharma: The Bhopal Crime Branch has busted a gang of four involved in printing fake currency from a photo studio. Fake currency in the denomination of Rs 2000 and Rs 100 amounting to over Rs two lakh has been recovered from the accused along with a printer, a scanner, a computer and a paper cutting machine.

The four accused according to the crime branch have already circulated fake currency worth over Rs three lakh in Bhopal.

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The four accused have been identified as Jitendra, Danish Ali, Wasim Sheikh and Faeem Querashi.

According to the police, Faeem Quareshi works as a cable operator and has several cases including those of the arms act registered against him.

Danish Ali works as a supervisor in a private construction company and has cases under sections 241 and 249 of the Indian Penal Code registered against him.

The remaining two accused do not have any criminal records.

The operation was carried out on a specific input from an informer who claimed that a man was exchanging fake currency for real in the Quazi camp area in Bhopal, reported the police.

A special team of crime branch officials nabbed the accused identified as Faeem and recovered 75 fake notes of Rs 2000 denomination from him. Faeem led the police to the remaining three accused from whom around Rs 60000 worth fake currency was recovered.

According to the police, Faeem is claiming that he got the idea of producing fake currency after the government announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes last year.

The gang during the cash crunch post demonetisation, exchanged the fake currency for old Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes in rural areas. The old notes were later exchanged in various banks by the gang, police claimed.

Also Read:

Malda: 26-year-old trying to deliver consignment of fake currency notes worth Rs 1 lakh, arrested

Border Security Force seizes fake currency notes worth Rs 6.96 lakh at Indo-Bangladesh borderAlso Watch:

Pakistan route blocked, now fake currency comes to India from Bangladesh

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Texas has a wealth of oil and gas production facilities, hundreds of ranches ... and 14 national park sites that protect and preserve some of Americas most precious natural, cultural and historic land and waterscapes.

National parks traveler Mikah Meyer, whos on a mission to visit all of the more than 400 sites within the National Park Service, crossed into Texas via its eastern border, eager to begin his ambitious adventures across the vast state.

Magical moments

First stop, Big Thicket National Preserve, which protects almost 45,780 hectares (113,121.96 acres) of land and water spread over seven counties in southeast Texas.

Mikah enjoyed the quiet beauty of a swamp cypress tupelo forest as he glided through one of its many rivers on a small boat. The dominant trees in most of the Big Thicket swamps are bald cypress and water tupelo which look primeval in appearance.



There was something mystical and magical about the place even though it didn't have the big sweeping vista that other parks might have, Mikah observed.

Timeless beauty

Mikah found more natural beauty at Padre Island National Seashore near Corpus Christi, which protects 112 kilometers (70 miles) of coastline, dunes, prairies, and wind tidal flats, teeming with life.

To get to Padre Island, he had to travel through Houston, the most populous city in Texas, (which has no national park sites), and he said he couldnt help but notice the contrast between the urban environment and the natural one.

It was interesting to contrast this state that is so well known for oil and then just to the southeast of this city known for oil production theres the world's longest undeveloped barrier island.

What Im learning about the seashores is that what really makes them unique is that they present the opportunity to experience our coastal land as it was before human development, Mikah said.

Timeless journeys

That seems to be the recurring theme as Mikah travels across the country from one national seashore to another.





Everything from Cape Cod National Seashore to Canaveral National Seashore, Gulf Islands National Seashore and now Padre Island National Seashore -- the consistency is that they offer the opportunity to experience undeveloped beaches, he emphasized.

Near the parks visitor center is an area where the tides come together, bringing with them literally tons of trash, which get swept up onto the beach. The park service uses that naturally occurring event as an opportunity to teach school children about conservation.

They give them a trash bag and the kids can go out and pick up trash and they talk about conservation and taking care of the earth, Mikah explained. So it's a cool way to see how the National Seashore is trying to involve the next generation in preserving and taking care of these lands, he added.

A mammoth discovery

When people hear the name Waco, Texas, many associate it with the deadly siege carried out by federal agents of a compound belonging to the Branch Davidian religious group in 1993.

But the city was famous long before then for something a little more appealing.

As Mikah describes it, in 1978, two young friends, Paul Barron and Eddie Bufkin, were looking for old Native American arrowheads in the area near their homes when they found a bone sticking out of the ground. So they started digging around it and it turned out to be a mammoth tusk, Mikah explained.

The young men removed the bone and took it to Baylor University's Strecker Museum (predecessor to the Mayborn Museum Complex) for examination. Museum staff identified the find as a femur bone from a Columbian mammoth. This extinct species lived during the Pleistocene Epoch (more commonly known as the Ice Age) and inhabited North America from southern Canada to as far south as Costa Rica.

That stunning discovery launched a massive archaeological dig that produced the largest -- and what I think is the only -- find ever of an entire herd of mammoths, Mikah said.

A lost world

Strecker Museum staff quickly organized a team of volunteers and excavation began at the site. The crews slowly excavated a lost world. Between 1978 and 1990, they uncovered the fossil remains of 16 Columbian mammoths. Their efforts revealed a nursery herd that appears to have died together in a single natural event. Six additional mammoths as well as the fossil remains of many other animal species have been excavated in the years since, including the tooth of a juvenile saber-toothed cat and a camel that lived approximately 67,000 years ago.

Waco Mammoth National Monument was designated as a new unit of the National Park System by President Barack Obama in 2015.

When you hear the word Waco you think of compounds and biker gangs, so you know it's good that they have some things a little less controversial to be known for, Mikah observed.

Mikah invites you to join him as he continues his journey across the Lone Star state by visiting his website, Facebook and Instagram.
Christians around the world are observing Good Friday marking the day that Jesus was crucified. VOA was on scene where the events took place in Jerusalem.

Thousands of pilgrims packed into the narrow cobblestone alleyways of Jerusalems Old City for the traditional Good Friday Procession. Singing hymns and reading from the Gospel, they retraced the footsteps of Jesus to the 14 Stations of the Cross. Many of the faithful hoisted large wooden crosses upon their shoulders.

It was a big turnout this year because the Eastern Orthodox and Western churches, which use different calendars, are observing Good Friday at the same time.

Pilgrims came to Jerusalem from all over the world, including Lindsey Bush from Los Angeles in the United States.



I think its an incredible experience to be able to walk down the streets that we know Christ had been walking down ," said Bush. " And I think its an amazing experience to be able to recognize all the Christians coming together to think about and commemorate the Saviors life and the sacrifice that He made when He was here.



Israeli police and soldiers armed with pistols and assault rifles patrolled the crowded streets of the Old City.

Ebbe Andersen, who came from Denmark, said that is a provocation.



I see uniformed people but I also see people in civilian clothes carrying weapons in the open," said Andersen. "Thats quite provoking to me. Its provoking to me to see all the arms in the wide open [places]. And we dont see weapons in the open in Denmark, in public.



The procession wound up at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, on the site where tradition says Jesus was crucified and buried. On Easter Sunday, Christians will gather in the same church to celebrate the resurrection.
North Koreas military on Friday directly responded to U.S. President Donald Trumps renewed threats to take "care of" Pyongyangs nuclear threat amid expectations of a new nuclear test that could come at any time.

"Our toughest counteraction against the United States and its vassal forces will be taken in such a merciless manner as not to allow the aggressors to survive," according to an unnamed spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army.

"Under the prevailing grave situation, the United States has to come to its senses and make a proper option for the solution of the problem," continued the statement, which was initially carried by the country's official Korean Central News Agency and later broadcast by Pyongyang's central radio station.

VOA queried the White House press office and National Security Council regarding the latest comments from North Korea, but received no response.

A day earlier, Trump had responded to reports that North Korea was poised to detonate an underground nuclear device as early as Saturday to mark the anniversary of the birth of the nation's founder, Kim Il Sung.

North Korea is a problem, Trump said at the White House. The problem will be taken care of.

The North Korean military statement, issued late Friday in Pyongyang, said the "Trump administration's serious military hysteria has reached a dangerous phase which can no longer be overlooked."

The statement emphasized that any encroachment of North Korea's dignity or sovereignty by provocative actions by the United States would be mercilessly foiled with "Korean-style toughest counteraction."

It did not elaborate, but previous warnings have included threats to attack Seoul and U.S. military bases in South Korea, the Pacific and even the mainland United States.

Such rhetoric from North Korea is fairly common, but statements emanating from the military command are taken more seriously by intelligence and defense analysts than those that come from government ministries or frequent commentaries in the state media.

China's efforts



While Trumps remark was taken as a threat of military action against the North, the president added that China is working very hard to defuse the international tension over North Korea, and that he was hopeful Beijings diplomacy would be effective.

In a separate comment earlier Thursday, however, Trump said the United States was prepared to tackle the North Korean crisis without China, if necessary.

Chinas foreign ministry on Friday described the current situation on the Korean Peninsula as complex and sensitive.

We have appealed to relevant various parties multiple times to keep calm and exercise restraint, not make moves that may heighten tensions of the peninsula. All the similar acts are irresponsible and also are dangerous, spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters in Beijing.



An American aircraft carrier and other warships have been steaming toward the Korean Peninsula in a show of force, although there has been no specific U.S. threat of retaliatory action if Pyongyang conducts another nuclear test or launches more missiles in defiance of U.N. sanctions.



China is North Koreas sole major ally, but it opposes Pyongyangs nuclear weapons program, along with all other neighbor states.

At the Pentagon, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said Washington was working with international partners in order to defuse the situation, but the bottom line is, North Korea has got to change its behavior.





Device in tunnel at nuclear test site

Amid the rhetoric from all sides, no information has emerged to challenge the news reports from earlier this week: North Korea appears to have placed a device in a tunnel at its nuclear test site that could be detonated Saturday or even sooner. VOAs report, quoting U.S. government and other sources with that story Wednesday, was updated Thursday by a source within the U.S. intelligence community: U.S. intelligence is always on the alert for a possible North Korean weapons test. Kim Jong Un wants his country to be validated as a nuclear power, and a test would further that goal.

Scores of foreign journalists are in Pyongyang this week for North Koreas biggest national holiday, the Day of the Sun Saturday, marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Koreas founder and the grandfather of the current ruler.

Five years ago, the late Kim Il Sungs centenary was marked by a failed attempt to launch a North Korean space satellite, and last year Pyongyang tested a newly developed intermediate range missile  also a failure.

Satellite photographs this week have shown continuing activity around the Norths nuclear test site, which could be taken to indicate another underground nuclear test is imminent.

Although South Korean and American troops are preparing for a round of joint military exercises  a regular event that Pyongyang has denounced as preparations for an invasion that would justify a massive counterattack  a spokesman for the South Korean joint chiefs of staff said Thursday that Seoul had seen no indications any military action by the North was imminent.

Pompeo on North Korea



CIA Director Mike Pompeo told a security forum in Washington that North Koreas military development had progressed to a point where Pyongyang was now closer than ever to being able to threaten the United States with a nuclear-tipped intercontinental missile. That, in turn, has reduced U.S. defense officials options about how to respond to the North Korean threat, Pompeo added during remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

He indicated that a worst-case scenario would force the U.S. to act against the North, and that would be a tough day for the leader of North Korea.

Discussion this week about possible U.S. military action against the North has referred to the cruise missile strike against a Syrian airbase that Trump ordered last week, and the mammoth single bomb airstrike an American warplane carried out Thursday against an Islamic State bunker complex in northeastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border.

News that the U.S. had dropped the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in its arsenal, a 10,000-kilogram explosive that headline writers called the mother of all bombs, was taken as a message directed at Kim Jong Un. Trump brushed off questions about whether the bombing was a message for Pyongyang, but he stressed his feeling that North Korea was a problem that will be taken care of.

VOA's Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb and national security correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this story.
Russia on Friday hosted a trilateral foreign ministers meeting with Iran and Syria, as well as an international conference on Afghanistan, just days after a chilly Moscow reception for U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Russia's increasingly assertive foreign policy in Syria and Afghanistan is clashing with U.S. goals, but analysts say both countries are needed for a negotiated peace. VOA's Daniel Schearf reports from Moscow.
Russia, Syria and Iran have warned the United States against launching new strikes on Syria and called for an international investigation into the chemical weapons attack in Syria.

The foreign ministers from Russia, Syria and Iran, meeting Friday in Moscow, said any further unilateral action by the U.S. in Syria would be met with "grave consequences" and pose a danger to the entire world.

The U.S. fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at Syria's al-Shayrat air base last week in response to a chemical weapons attack in Syria days earlier.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the circumstances surrounding the chemical attack in the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun that killed more than 80 people were still not clear.

He criticized the world's chemical weapons watchdog, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, for not sending experts to the site of the attack to investigate.

"We consider it unacceptable to analyze events from a distance," he said. Lavrov said the investigation should also be widened to include experts from many nations.

Russia has rejected accusations from Western countries that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was behind the attack. Russia has alleged that the victims were killed when Syrian warplanes hit a rebel chemical arsenal. The U.S. accuses Assad of deliberately launching the attack.

"The use of chemical weapons as a pretext for violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent state  a member of the United Nations  is a very dangerous activity," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said. "It is essential to prevent such acts as the events in Khan Sheikhoun in [the] future."

Lavrov said the U.S. missile strike on Syria was Washington seeking "excuses for regime change." He added, "These attempts will not succeed, this will not happen."

Lavrov met Friday with his counterparts from Syria and Iran after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Moscow earlier this week. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said Friday's meeting sent a "strong message" to Washington.

Russia and Iran are strong allies of Assad's government and have backed the president during Syria's six-year civil war.
International organizations are demanding Russia investigate the abduction, detention and killing of gay and bisexual men in the country's southern republic of Chechnya.

United Nations human rights experts on Thursday called on Russian 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 fueled by homophobic speeches by local authorities."

"It is crucial that reports of abductions, unlawful detentions, torture, beatings and killings of men perceived to be gay or bisexual are investigated thoroughly," they added.

The appeals follow reports in the respected Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta that police in the predominantly Muslim republic of Chechnya have rounded up more than 100 men suspected of homosexuality and that at least three of them have been killed.

Chechen authorities have denied the reports, while a spokesman for leader Ramzan Kadyrov insisted there were no gay people in Chechnya.

"Nobody can detain or harass anyone who is simply not present in the republic," Alvi Karimov told the Interfax news agency. "If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them since their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return."

Separately, the director of the human rights office at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Michael Georg Link, said Thursday that Moscow must "urgently investigate the alleged disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment'' of gay men in Chechnya.

Novaya Gazeta also reported this month that Chechen authorities are running secret prisons, branded "concentration camps," in the town of Argun where men suspected of being gay are kept and tortured.

After two separatist wars in the 1990s, predominantly Muslim Chechnya became increasingly conservative under late President Akhmat Kadyrov and then his son Ramzan.
Retail sales had their worst two-month stretch in more than two years in February and March, according to U.S. government data released Friday.

The U.S. Census Bureau said overall retail sales declined two-tenths of a percent in March, driven by lower fuel prices and lower auto profits. The National Retail Federation (NRF) said the delayed issuance of government tax refunds also contributed to weaker spending.

Weaker than expected sales receipts in March and February may also reflect changes taking place in the retail landscape. Business Insider called the changes a "retail apocalypse" that has led to a wave of bankruptcies and store closures. About 3,500 stores across the United States are expected to close in coming months, including some from major chains Macy's, Sears and Kmart.

But instead of a retail apocalypse, NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz says it's part of the natural evolution of the retail industry.

"Other industries have gone through transformations," he said. "Look at the banking industry. We had twice as many banks 10 to 15 years ago as we do today. There are consolidations that go on. It's a natural phenomenon in a market economy."

Millennials' habits

The phenomenon is driven by new technology and demographic shifts that have changed the way people shop. Kleinhenz said millennials  those who reached adulthood at the turn of the century  are a good example of how buying habits have changed.

"They're more comfortable with new technology," he said. "They're not buying stuff like we [baby boomers] did when we were in that age group. They're on a different pathway in terms of their careers and their spending. And that's changing how retailers are responding."

Others describe the changes as a "perfect storm" that has upended the retail landscape. Murali Gokki, managing director of the retail division of business consulting firm AlixPartners, said one of the bigger changes in the last decade has been the rise of e-commerce, and the even more rapid ascent of m-commerce, or the ability to buy almost anything from mobile devices such as smartphones.

"Mobile commerce was marginal back in 2012. Now it accounts for almost 20 percent or more of online purchases," Gokki said.

Small part of the picture

But while online retail companies like Amazon have been among the big beneficiaries, Sarah Spagnolo at Foursquare, a location intelligence company, said e-commerce represents a small slice of the retail pie.

"That's a topic that gets lost in the conversation around the growth of e-commerce. Ninety percent of foot traffic happens in the real world [of brick-and-mortar stores], and that should be an area that people pay a lot of attention to."

Retail experts predict more brick-and-mortar stores will close in the United States in coming years, partly because of the overabundance of retail space. The U.S. has the world's largest ratio of retail space per capita  23.5 square feet of shopping space per person. Compare that with second-place Canada with 16.4 square feet per person and third-place Australia with 11.1 square feet per person.

But to suggest that the changes in the retail landscape mean consumers are spending less would be false, said the NRF's Kleinhenz. The NRF outlook for 2017 calls for retail sales to increase by 3.7 percent to 4.2 percent.

"Consumers are actually having one of the best times, in terms of access and buying power," AlixPartner's Gokki said. "It's the retailers that are hurting right now."
As humans struggle to control the greenhouse gases that are warming the planet, scientists are searching for natural ways to remove them from the atmosphere. One group of researchers is drilling deep into a mountain range in Oman, looking for answers to how nature turns carbon dioxide gas into rock. VOA's Steve Baragona has more.
Face-to-face with victims of South Sudan's famine and civil war, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee strongly defended U.S. foreign aid on Friday despite President Donald Trump's proposed deep cuts in humanitarian assistance.

Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee visited the world's fastest-growing refugee crisis in northern Uganda, just across the border from South Sudan, in a pointed response to Trump's "America First" platform that would slash funds for diplomacy and foreign aid.

Without "U.S. leadership, these people would have no hope," Corker told The Associated Press in an interview. "I think Americans, if they saw what I see here, and I see in other places, would be glad that our country does what it does."

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds significant sway over the foreign budget, and the proposed cuts almost certainly would need Corker's approval.

More for military

The United States is the world's largest provider of humanitarian assistance and in 2016 gave roughly $2.8 billion in food aid, but the Trump administration has thrown such funding into doubt. At the same time, Trump wants to boost military spending.

At the Bidi Bidi refugee settlement, Corker served food to South Sudanese who recently fled fighting in the East African nation, where the United Nations has warned of ethnic cleansing.

A grandmother in a flowing green dress huddled with five of her grandchildren, clutching metal cups of food. The family had walked two weeks to arrive at the refugee camp. Nearby sat a woman with a gaping bullet wound in her ankle.

"The 1 percent that we spend on diplomacy and assistance, if we spend it wisely, then the expectations are that the men and women that we love so much in uniform are less likely to get into a hot war or in harm's way," Corker said.

Trump's proposed budget, announced in March, would cut 28 percent of the budget for foreign aid and diplomacy. The budget plan, which still needs approval by Congress, would put pressure on all nearly all foreign aid, according to U.S. officials.

More spending at home

The budget would "spend less money on people overseas and more money on people back home," Mick Mulvaney, the president's budget director, said last month after the plan was announced.

Few countries are likely to suffer as much as South Sudan if Trump's budget is approved. The country is one of the largest recipients of U.S. foreign aid, receiving more than $2 billion from 2014 to 2017.

The world's youngest nation was plunged into civil war in December 2013, and the fighting contributed to desperate conditions that led the U.N. to declare a famine in February. Roughly 1 million people are said to be on the brink of starvation.

On Friday, South Sudanese refugees told Corker stories of misery. One man described how his hometown of Yei has been ripped apart by ethnic fighting. A woman told Corker how she was raped during her trek to Uganda. And throughout the day, Corker heard the same message again and again.

"They are giving us little food," the woman said. "Food. Food. Food."

"I don't know what the answer is when you have brutal leaders who care nothing about the people that they are to govern and are willing to allow their soldiers, their men, to rape, kill, to terrorize people," Corker told the AP.

Starvation for 20 million

The United Nations says South Sudan is part of the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II, along with Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen. The U.N. estimates that 20 million people could starve.

Surrounded by refugees, Corker did not outright criticize Trump's proposed budget, but he outlined an alternative vision of foreign assistance.

Corker said there is no doubt Trump's proposed humanitarian and diplomacy cuts are drastic, but added that "I've never seen a president's budget ever come along" without changes.

The senator did not say what the foreign aid budget would be, but he proposed reforms to a law that requires foreign food aid to be grown in the United States and shipped under an American flag.

He blamed a "cartel in Washington" of maritime companies and "a small group of people in Washington" that cause fewer people to be fed. Instead, he said that allowing food aid to be grown closer to the site of a crisis and shipped under any flag would be cheaper and more efficient.

"It's taken in some cases six months for those products to actually get here," Corker said.
Really don't know how to feel about this.

By India Today Web Desk: Let's not even get started on how strange certain beauty trends on the internet are. From vloggers passing off makeup application with sanitary napkins, eggs etc as the new normal, to viral beauty challenges that don't always have ideal endings--the internet is a goldmine of bewilderment. The latest addition to the league being the phenomenon of feather eyebrows.

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Yes, it's exactly how it sounds. Eyebrows that look like feathers.

Beleived to be the brainchild of Finnish makeup artist Stella Sironen, the trend began when she posted a closeup of her eyerows clearly bifurcated into two halves--as a joke.

But as go the rules of the internet world, people took it seriously and began posting pictures of their own versions of the feather brow. Sironen soon noticed and posted yet another picture featuring her 'glorious' brow.

"Note to self: when u make a joke about starting a funny brow trend people will take it seriously and.... well. start the trend. Anyways THANK YOU for all the love and hate on my last pic! i think we should call this #featherbrows so if you actually want to recreate this, pls use the hashtag and tag me in the picture"

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Well, we don't know what more to say.

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Rebels with the South Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), allied with rebel leader Riek Machar, on Friday attacked Raja town, the capital of Lol state.

SPLM-IO Secretary-General Tingo Peter confirmed his forces now controlled Raja after clashing with government troops.

"Since 12 o'clock, we captured Raja, and it is now totally under our control. Even now, our forces are looking for the governor. They are trying to see where he is," Peter said.

Lol Governor Rizik Zachariah Gassan and his entire cabinet fled the area, according to Peter.

Peter said the SPLM-IO was asking civilians in Raja to remain calm as their forces combed the town for government soldiers who might be hiding in residential areas.

"Now they are with us and they are safe," Peter said. "We give them protection, but the problem is we can't manage to offer them food or water."

He urged the international community to intervene and help civilians in Raja town. He said the SPLM-IO would also protect all aid workers in the area.

Raja resident Issa Ramadan confirmed to South Sudan in Focus that Raja was under the control of SPLM-IO rebels. Ramadan said he could see from inside his home that rebel forces were moving around the town with tanks they captured from government forces a few hours earlier.

"At around 2 p.m., the rebels attacked the town and now they took over," Ramadan said. "Many citizens have run out into the bush and some have sought refuge in the Catholic church compound."

The coordinator of Lol state in Juba, Ibrahim Surur, confirmed that there was fighting in his state but declined to provide details. He said he tried to call officials in Raja, but most were not answering their calls.

WFP deaths

Meanwhile, the World Food Program (WFP) said Friday that three of its contract workers were killed in Wau this week.

Daniel James, Ecsa Tearp and Ali Elario, all citizens of South Sudan, reportedly died Monday as they tried to make their way to a WFP warehouse, where they worked as porters.

A WFP statement released Friday said two died of machete wounds and the third was shot to death.

"We are outraged and heartbroken by the deaths of our colleagues, who worked every day to help provide lifesaving food to millions of their fellow countrymen," said WFP Country Director Joyce Luma. "Their dedication will not be forgotten, and we call on the South Sudanese authorities to hold those responsible for this unspeakable violence accountable for their actions."

WFP learned of the workers' deaths Thursday from the subcontractor that employed them.
How do you celebrate 40 years of Star Wars in 90 minutes?

With a surprise Harrison Ford appearance, a touching Carrie Fisher tribute, a John Williams performance and a fair amount of jokes about George Lucas dialogue, of course.

Attendees at Star Wars Celebration were treated to that and more Thursday in Orlando, Florida, at the kick-off of the four-day fan event marking the anniversary of Lucas space saga.

Actor Warwick Davis moderated the sprawling look-back at the four decade legacy, featuring appearances by Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Hayden Christensen.

There were also video messages from Liam Neeson, who joked that a film was being made about Jar Jar Binks going to the dark side, and from Samuel L. Jackson, who cheekily suggested that his prequel character Mace Windu is not dead.

Lets make it happen, Jackson said directly to Kennedy. All you gotta do is say the word.

Ford sticks the landing

Fords unexpected appearance garnered the most enthusiastic response from the thousands of fans in the convention center.

I cant believe we managed to keep it a secret considering you landed your plane on Interstate 4, Davis joked when the applause died down.

It was a good landing, Ford said, smiling.

The actor has historically had a tenuous relationship with the fandom around his character Han Solo, but he appeared genuinely happy to reminisce Thursday about the lasting legacy of Lucas creation.

Lucas said he had worked with Ford on American Graffiti when he gave Ford the part because it was about spaceships and flying and he could fly.

Ford, quoting another of his iconic characters, Indiana Jones, quipped back, Fly? Yes. Land? No.

Well-told tales

For Star Wars super fans, most of the behind the scenes stories told were as well-known as the stories in the actual films  from the fact that Lucas inspiration for Chewbacca was his dog Indiana to the actors problems with Lucas fanciful and technical dialogue.

How can you make it sound like its spontaneous dialogue rolling off the tongue? Hamill asked.

He was right. It was a bit much, Lucas responded.

Ford laughed.

I said to George, You can type this stuff but you cant say it. Move your mouth when youre typing, Ford said.

Fisher tribute

Missing, of course, was Carrie Fisher, who died late last year at 60. Lucas and Kennedy saved their words about Fisher for the end.

She was very strong, very smart, very funny, very bold and very tough. There were not very many people like her. Theyre one in a billion, Lucas said, recalling Fishers willingness to tell him when his dialogue was too difficult to say in portraying Princess Leia. Well all love her forever and ever.

Fishers daughter Billie Lourd, who acted alongside her mother in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, appeared on stage decked in Princess Leia white to remember her mother and grandmother Debbie Reynolds. Hamill also has planned a Fisher tribute for Friday.

Star Wars composer John Williams closed out the session, conducting the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of his score, from the Imperial March to the Main Title.

Star Wars Celebration runs through Sunday and includes a myriad of events for fans, many of which can be streamed online.

Perhaps the most anticipated is a talk with Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson on Friday in advance of its December release.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, a pragmatist who championed the country's nuclear deal with world powers, registered on Friday to run for a second

four-year term in the May presidential election, state TV reported.

Rouhani won election by a landslide in 2013 on a platform of ending the Islamic Republic's diplomatic isolation and creating a freer society.

The five-day registration period for the May 19 election started on Tuesday and will be followed by a process of vetting of the hopefuls by a hardline watchdog body, The Guardian Council.

Over 860 people have signed up so far for the vote. Several former ministers and hardliner former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are among those who have registered.

Despite months of talks, hardliners have been unable to unite behind a single candidate and Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appears to have not yet intervened to make them do so.

Within Iran's complex mix of clerical rulers and elected officials, Khamenei has the final say on all state matters.

Influential cleric Ebrahim Raisi, the custodian of a powerful organization in charge of Iran's holiest shrine, appears to be the leading hardline candidate.

An ally of Khamenei, Raisi has yet to register for the vote, however. Prominent conservatives, including parliament speaker Ali Larijani, have thrown their support behind Rouhani.
Three university engineering graduates in Uganda are taking on one of the leading killers of young children in Africa - pneumonia. They say the prototype of their invention, a smart jacket they have named Mamas Hope, can diagnose the illness faster and more accurately than the current medical protocol.

Four-month-old Nakato Christine writhes on a hospital bed, breathing fast. On the other end of the bed is her twin sister, in the same condition.

Nakato coughs as Senior Nurse Kyebatala Loy adjusts the nasal gastric tube.

They have been put on oxygen because they have difficulty in breathing and the feeding is also difficult because of their fast breathing, Kyebatala said.

Since January, 352 babies have been admitted with pneumonia to pediatric ward 16 at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala.

Pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death for children under five years of age in Africa and south Asia, according to the World Health Organization. In 2015, pneumonia killed nearly a million children worldwide.

A key problem is the challenge involved in diagnosing the disease. The sooner the sick children start receiving antibiotics, the better their chance of survival. But health workers armed with stethoscopes and thermometers can miss the infection in its early stage. Dr. Flavia Mpanga of the U.N. Childrens Fund in Kampala says other methods, like the respiratory timer, can lead to misdiagnosis.

If you see the respiratory timer, its got a ticking mechanism that confuses the community health workers. When they are taking the breathe rates, they confuse the ticking sound of the respiratory timer with the breathe rates and every child is almost diagnosed with pneumonia, said Dr. Mpanga.

She says over-diagnosis means some children are taking antibiotics they dont need, which is also a public health problem.

A trio of recent university engineering graduates in Uganda think they have an answer. They have been working with the Mulago School of Public Health to test a prototype of their invention, the smart jacket, called Mamas Hope.

Two of the inventors, 26-year-old Beseufekad Shifferaw and 25-year-old Brian Turyabagye, gave VOA a demonstration.

Ahh so[zipper sound] the jacketis placed on the childfirst, this goes around the child and then the falcon fastening is placed, and then the flaps are placed[fade out]

This jacket will simply measure the vital signs of pneumonia. That is the breathing rate, the state of the lungs and the temperature," said Turyabagye. "Now those signs are transmitted to our unit here, through which a health worker can read off the readings, which include cough, chest pains, nausea or difficulty in breathing. With those additional signs and symptoms, they are coupled with the result that has been measured by the jacket and it gives a more accurate diagnosis result.

For now, it is just a prototype. But the inventors say their tests have shown that the smart jacket can diagnose pneumonia three times faster than traditional exams.

UNICEF has put the team in touch with its office in Copenhagen in charge of innovations to help them advance in the pre-trial stage. Dr. Mpanga sees potential.

My only hope is that this jacket can reach a commercial value and be regulatory-body approved so that it can help the whole world, said Dr. Mpanga.

Dr. Mpanga says taking the guess work out of pneumonia diagnosis could save countless lives in the developing world.
Every evening, Enoch Mark reads from his big old Bible. His wife Martha sits beside him on a mattress on their bedroom floor. They say the words of the Bible have been a great source of comfort in the past three years since their two daughters were kidnapped by Boko Haram.



"Time will tell. They will be free one day, one time. Im still hopeful. Im still hopeful," said Enoch. But hes also angry. To date, the Nigerian government has not found all of the schoolgirls who were kidnapped.







3rd Anniversary



April 14 marks three years since Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls from a school in the northeast Nigerian town of Chibok.

Fifty-seven of them escaped from Boko Haram; three of them were found by locals. But most of the girls are still missing. President Muhammadu Buhari says talks to free the remaining girls continue, but activists and parents of the Chibok girls say the government has failed them.



With the help of the Red Cross and the Swiss government, the Nigerian government did recover 21 of the girls last year. But Mark says thats not enough. He says Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has failed.

"If Buhari will be sincere with himself, why cant he put this insurgency under control? " Mark asks. "How many girls has his government rescued among the Chibok girls? If he will tell himself the truth, does he really mean business as the president of Nigeria?"



WATCH: Chika's report from Abuja

Aisha Yesufu, one of the leaders of the Bring Back Our Girls group in the Nigerian capital Abuja, met with members of the community earlier this week to remind the public that girls are still missing. Theyve kept the campaign going. The group has gotten smaller as the years have gone by, but members like Oby Ezekwesili can still excite a crowd.

Its been a difficult three years for the parents of the missing school girls. After the mass abduction, Boko Haram attacked Chibok again a couple of times.

Nineteen parents have died, having never gotten to see their daughters again. Martha, Enochs wife, has joined the womens choir at her local church.



She says participating in church activities has helped her survive the years without her two daughters. But some days are more difficult than others, Martha admits - adding that shes trying to manage her emotional distress, but its taking a toll.

"The thing is paining me. I have tension worrying me," Martha says. "I have hypertension and some ulcers and other sickness in my body, so the thing is paining me seriously."





The Mark family is doing the best they can to continue with life. Enoch had a massive stroke last year. Martha is not sure if she will ever see her daughters again.



Twelve-year-old Hannatu is worried that she may forget what her sisters look like. Sixteen-year-old Ruth is still suffering from a hip injury from when she ran away from Boko Haram the night her sisters were kidnapped.



The family heard the announcement this week that the Nigerian government is negotiating to recover the rest of the Chibok Girls. But, theyve heard this before.



* Also see our Special Report on Boko Haram "In The Home of Peace, A Siege of Fear
Democratic voters still hurting from Hillary Clinton's 2016 loss are hoping that an upcoming special election deep in Atlantas suburbs will send a message of disapproval to President Donald Trump.

Almost 100 days into Trump's presidency, voters in Georgia's historically Republican 6th Congressional district will choose a lawmaker to fill the seat opened by the departure of Tom Price, who is now Trump's Health and Human Services secretary.

But with the president's approval ratings hovering around 40 percent, Democrats are hoping that a win in these wealthy suburbs will show that Trump's unpopularity is dragging down other Republican politicians.

Jon Ossoff, the leading Democratic contender, has harnessed the activists' anger with early fundraising appeals like "Make Trump Furious." The 30-year-old, first-time candidate has performed well in polls and raised $8.3 million.

Weve got progressive people very angry and worried about Trumps policies and this is the only race thats on the national stage, said Jen Cox, a Georgia 6th District voter who recently started activist group PaveItBlue to support Ossoff.

Cox said the election's national stakes have energized many Democrats in the district. More than than 1,000 people joined her group within the first month, she said.

The suburbs of the 6th Congressional District have experienced enormous growth in the past 20 years while remaining staunchly Republican. Voters here have not sent a Democrat to Congress since 1979.

But district voters did not cast their ballots in large numbers for Trump and his populist agenda in the 2016 presidential election, handing him just a 1.5 percent win over Democrat Hillary Clinton. By comparison, moderate Republican Mitt Romney won the district by a 22-point margin in the 2012 presidential race.

We have Republicans that come over to us and say we want to help you flip the 6th, Cox said.

However, some observers said focusing on Trump obscures the district's true makeup.

For Jon Ossoff to win is for a district to behave unlike what it is at its core of being, said Todd Rehm, a Republican strategist who runs the blog GeorgiaPundit.com. This is a Republican district, not a 50/50 district.

Watch: Early Test of Trump Presidency in Georgia Congressional Election

Ossoff told VOA Georgia 6th voters are more concerned about the economy than ideology.

There are certainly folks here in the community who are concerned that the White House might not be competent, that there is dishonesty, that the president may embarrass us on the world stage, he said. I share those concerns, but this campaign is about a positive vision for our community and the country.

Ossoff will need to sway moderate Republicans to his side to emerge from a field of 18-candidates as the outright winner of the April 18th runoff election. The candidates have each sliced off a small percentage of the vote, making it difficult for Ossoff, who polls at around 40 percent, to attain a majority.

If no candidate secures a 50 percent majority, the top two will go on to a June election in which a Republican candidate will be heavily favored.

The president hasn't personally supported any of the 11 Republican candidates, but many claim to be the true Trump candidate.

The fact that the Democratic Party is trying to make this a referendum on Trump is bringing out even more folks, GOP base and those that didnt vote, so turnout is going to be extraordinary in this election, Republican candidate Bob Gray told VOA.

Gray's campaign aims to activate passionate Trump voters; an approach that has propelled him to the top of the Republican field alongside veteran Georgia politician Karen Handel, who appeals to more moderate voters. He believes the presidents first 100 days aren't the liability seen by Democratic activists.

When President Trump gave his speech to a Joint Session of Congress, the entire country saw him grow into the role of the president that night, Gray said.

Fellow candidate Bruce LeVell, who headed Trumps national diversity coalition, would like to be known as the districts closest connection with the president.

Its only 100 days, in which weve done a tremendous amount, so I think the 6th could gain a lot from a person like myself as a Congressman who has that great relationship, LeVell told VOA.

When it comes to President Trump, all conventional political wisdom is set aside. Looking at Trumps impact on the Georgia 6th race, Todd Rehm said, Its like a magnetic field, it can both attract and repel.
Turkish expatriates in Europe are on edge ahead of Sunday's referendum in their homeland, troubled by diplomatic tensions and wide-ranging threats against "no" vote campaigners.

A "yes" vote in the constitutional balloting would give President Recep Tayyip Erdogan broad new powers, which supporters argue are needed to carry forward his program to develop Turkey. But opponents argue he is trying to establish a modern dictatorship in which he could retain power until at least 2029.

Tensions over the contest, which has evenly split Turkey's population, have spilled over to affect the millions of Turks living elsewhere in Europe. Many of them are eligible to vote and have already done so, with turnouts ranging from about 40 percent in Germany to roughly 60 percent in Belgium.

Murvet Ozturk is an independent politician of Turkish descent with a seat in the regional parliament of Hessen. Of the 6 million people living in the German state, about 350,000 have Turkish roots.

Threats received

Ozturk said she received numerous threats after assuming an active role in the "no" campaign, fearing the extended powers sought by Erdogan would undermine democratic institutions in Turkey.

"We got online messages with some threats," she said. "But another threat came from a newspaper, Sabah, which is close to the ruling party. They wrote that people shouldn't talk to us and that we are traitors and that we are an enemy of the country. We started our campaign on the 15th of February and they published that on the 16th."

Ozturk, who has been active in the German-Turkish community for years, said the tensions were nothing new but that they had been exposed because of the polarizing campaign.

Similar anxiety has been felt in the Dutch-Turkish community, leading a local politician in Rotterdam to temporarily step back because of the many threats he was receiving.

Diplomatic friction

The campaign has also fueled diplomatic tensions, with several countries seeking to restrict Turkish politicians from campaigning for the referendum on their soil.

Dutch authorities in one case expelled a Turkish minister, worried that the campaigning would create unrest. The move angered Erdogan, who called the Dutch government "Nazi remnants." He also accused German Chancellor Angela Merkel of using Nazi tactics, saying at one point, "If Europe continues this way, no European in any part of the world can walk safely on the streets."

Even before the referendum, fears were running high in Europe among supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the exiled Turkish spiritual leader accused by Erdogan of being behind a failed coup that led to a purge against thousands of judges, civil servants and journalists.

In the Netherlands, Saniye Calkin, an open sympathizer with the Gulen-inspired Hizmet movement, said Turkish pressure on Hizmet followers began months before the failed coup and that the threats intensified afterward.

"Freedom and safety has gotten a new meaning to me since the failed coup," she said. "I can't really be free anymore because I can't put my loved ones in danger. I am a second-generation Dutch-Turk, but they are also going after my parents and my own kids. It's not just about the democracy in Turkey, but also the democracy here in Europe. "

Calkin said she thought it was important to still be visible and be a voice for Hizmet sympathizers, despite the risks.



"I haven't been back to Turkey for three years out of safety concerns," she said. "Turkish passports have been revoked of the people who can't come back to the Netherlands. And they were not even that actively involved with Hizmet."

Asylum in Belgium

In Belgium, authorities report a 120 percent increase in the number of asylum requests from Turks in the past eight months. Some of those people are represented by Walter van Steenbrugge, a Belgian lawyer who has filed numerous claims at the European Court of Human Rights.

"Financial rewards of up to 400,000 euros for some of my clients are promised if you arrest them and take them back to Turkey," he said. "With the upcoming referendum, when the presidential power can take over the power of the parliament and the death penalty might be reintroduced, these people are in danger. One of my clients even has permanent private security."

Van Steenbrugge is also representing Turkish companies, many of which have been deemed disloyal to the Turkish government and cannot access their funds in Turkey. An arbitration complaint has been filed with the World Bank in Washington with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake.
Congolese authorities have arrested two people suspected of involvement in the murder of two U.N. workers in central Democratic Republic of Congo, but one of the prisoners has escaped, a senior prosecutor said Friday.

The announcement was the first reported sign of progress in an inquiry into the deaths of American Michael Sharp and Swede Zaida Catalan, investigators monitoring U.N. Security Council sanctions against individuals and armed groups in Congo.

Their bodies were discovered in a shallow grave on March 27, two weeks after they disappeared in the remote and sparsely populated Kasai-Central province.

Their Congolese interpreter and three Congolese motorbike drivers who accompanied them have not been found, according to the United Nations.

General Joseph Ponde, the army's top prosecutor, did not say when the two suspects were arrested, but said the remaining one had been transferred between facilities on April 4  meaning the operation must have happened more than a week ago.

He referred to the one suspect in custody, Daniel Mbayi Kabasele, as an "insurgent," without offering further detail or suggesting a motive.

Four police officers responsible for guarding the suspects had been arrested following the escape, he told journalists.

The U.N. mission in Congo had no immediate comment.

Millions died in regional conflicts in eastern Congo between 1996-2003, most from hunger and disease, and dozens of armed groups continue to fight over natural resources and prey on the civilian population.

Hundreds of civilians have been killed and more than one million displaced since last August in central Congo's Kasai region due to fighting between a local militia and security forces. The United Nations has identified at least 23 mass graves.

Meanwhile, Congo has suspended its military cooperation with former colonial power Belgium in protest against criticism last week by Belgium's foreign minister of President Joseph Kabila's selection of a new prime minister, defense minister Crispin Atama Tabe told Reuters on Friday.

The move underlines growing tensions between Congo and international powers, who are pushing for an election by the end of the year to replace Kabila after he refused to step down when his constitutional mandate expired in December.

Belgian foreign minister Didier Reynders said the nomination of Bruno Tshibala violated the spirit of a December deal with the opposition to form an interim power-sharing government.

Belgian defense ministry spokeswoman Laurence Mortier confirmed that Congo had informed Belgium of its intention to end the cooperation, which included around 30 Belgian military trainers in Congo who may be withdrawn as a result.
The U.S. Air Force will this weekend deploy a small number of F-35A fighter jets to Europe for several weeks of training with other U.S. and NATO military aircraft, the Pentagon said Friday.

In a statement, the Pentagon said that the deployment would allow the U.S. Air Force to "further demonstrate the operational capabilities" of the stealth jet. It did not say where the aircraft would be sent.

The F-35, which is the Pentagon's costliest arms program, has been dogged by problems. The Pentagon's chief arms buyer once described as "acquisition malpractice" the decision to produce jets before completing development.

During last year's presidential election campaign, Donald Trump criticized Lockheed Martin Corp. for the F-35's cost overruns. Days after taking office in January, Trump announced his administration had been able to cut $600 million from the latest U.S. deal to buy about 90 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.

The United States is expected to spend $391 billion over 15 years to buy about 2,443 of the F-35 aircraft.

F-35s are in use by the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, and by Australia, Britain, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands and Israel. Japan took delivery of its first jet in December.
An emergency-room doctor in the U.S. Midwest has been arrested and charged with performing female genital mutilation on girls between the ages of 6 and 8, in the first criminal case brought under a 1996 law that outlawed the practice.

Jumana Nagarwala, a 44-year-old doctor at a hospital in Detroit, Michigan, is accused of performing genital mutilation on young girls as far back as 2005, according to a criminal complaint released Thursday. The U.S. Department of Justice said she "performed horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims."

Nagarwala had an initial court appearance before a U.S. magistrate Thursday in Detroit and was ordered detained until Monday, pending a further hearing on the felony charges she is facing, which specifically involve two 7-year-old girls she operated on in February.

Senior officials called the charges "disturbing" and "deplorable," and said U.S. law-enforcement agencies "are committed to doing whatever is necessary to bring an end to this barbaric practice, and to ensure no additional children fall victim to this procedure."

Physician denies charges

A preliminary criminal complaint released by the U.S. Department of Justice said Nagarwala told federal agents she knew that performing female genital mutilation is a crime in the United States and denied that she conducted the procedure on anyone.

Nagarwala, who received her medical degree from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, has been licensed as a physician in Michigan since 2001; state records show no formal complaints or disciplinary action against her. Her lawyer, Shannon Smith, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case.

If convicted, Nagarwala faces a fine and up to five years in prison for performing female genital mutilation, also known as FGM. She would be the first person prosecuted under the 1996 law prohibiting FGM.

In the most recent case outlined in the complaint, the FBI, using court-ordered telephone records and video surveillance, tracked two Minnesota mothers and their 7-year-old daughters as they visited Nagarwala at a medical office near Detroit, and where the physician allegedly performed FGM procedures on the girls two months ago.

Examination confirms FGM

One of the children told an investigator this week that they were in Michigan to see a doctor because "our tummies hurt," and were examined by Nagarwala. The doctor reportedly told the girl she was going to perform a procedure to "get the germs out" of her body.

Doctors who examined the girls this week confirmed that their genital areas were "abnormal" and bore signs of mutilation.

The girls were interviewed by an FBI child forensic expert and identified Nagarwala as the doctor who operated on them. The parents of one of the victims later admitted to the FBI that they had taken their daughter to Nagarwala for a "cleansing" of extra skin.

The hospital that employed Nagarwala apparently was not involved in the case, and the physician was not listed as having any links to the office in Livonia, outside Detroit, where she examined the girls.

Agents of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, who worked together on the case, said they have identified multiple other incidents where young girls have been victims of FGM allegedly performed by Nagarwala between 2005 and 2007, according to the criminal complaint.

"Female genital mutilation constitutes a particularly brutal form of violence against women and girls," acting U.S. Attorney Daniel Lemisch of the Eastern District of Michigan 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, sometimes called female circumcision, is the ritual removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. The practice is found in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and last year UNICEF estimated that 200 million women alive today in 30 countries  27 African nations, Indonesia, Iraqi Kurdistan and Yemen  have undergone the procedure.

Many U.S. women at risk

Although it is illegal, female genital mutilation is practiced in some African diaspora communities in the United States. According to a 2012 study by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, more than 500,000 women and girls were at risk of female genital mutilation or its consequences in the United States, more than three times higher than an earlier estimate based on 1990 census data. The study said the increase was due to rapid growth in the number of immigrants from countries where the procedure is commonly practiced.

In 2012, Congress passed a law making it illegal to transport a girl outside the United States for the purpose of performing FGM.

The practice is rooted in attempts to control women's sexuality and ideas about purity, modesty and beauty that persist in some communities. It is usually initiated and carried out by women, some of whom see it as an honorable practice, or who fear that failing to have their daughters and granddaughters cut will expose the girls to social exclusion.

There are no known health benefits from female circumcision, but a wide range of complications can result: recurrent infections, difficulty urinating and passing menstrual flow, chronic pain, the development of cysts, an inability to get pregnant, complications during childbirth and even fatal bleeding.

A survivor's story

"When we think of female genital mutilation, we usually think of African cultures and non-Christian religions," said Renee Bergstrom, an American survivor of genital cutting. "However, my FGM took place in white Midwest America."

Bergstrom and other women discussed the issue in a video produced by the U.S. State Department and posted online last month.

Until Nagarwala's arrest, the most high-profile case related to FGM in the United States was that of a father in the state of Georgia. Khalid Adem, an Ethiopian citizen, was deported last month after serving 10 years in prison for using scissors to cut the genitals of his 2-year-old daughter. He was charged with aggravated battery and cruelty to children, not under terms of the federal FGM law invoked in Nagarwala's case.
Maharashtra Independent MLA Bacchu Kadu courted controversy after he dragged Hema Malini into a row over farmers' suicides.

By India Today Web Desk: Farmers' suicide is a big political issue in Maharashtra, but dragging the 'dreamgirl of Bollywood' into the row is something what the BJP Lok Sabha MP won't like.

This is what happened when Maharashtra Independent MLA Bacchu Kadu courted controversy after he dragged Hema Malini into a row over farmers' suicides.

"Hema Malini drinks everyday, but does she commit suicide?" Kadu said addressing a press conference in Nanded district.

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Kadu, who is not new to making controversial statements, while countering the general claims that farmers commit suicide because of their drinking habits said, "75 per cent MLAs, MPs, journalists drink... even Hema Malini drinks heavily... but have they committed suicide?" he asked.

The MLA, who represents Achalpur (Amravati) constituency, didn't even spare Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. "The expenditure of Gadkari's son's wedding was around Rs 4 crore, should we wait for him to commit suicide?" DNA quoted Kadu, as saying .

Last year, Kadu was arrested for allegedly assaulting a government officer at the Mantralaya.

BJP FURIOUS OVER KADU'S REMARK

The MLA's comments haven't gone down well with the BJP. Party leaders said that Kadu's statements don't just defame Hema Malini, but every women.

"Malini is a well-known figure across the globe, apart from being a member of Parliament. These statements are uncalled for. Farmers commit suicide not just because of bad crops. There are various reasons behind it," Priti Gandhi, national executive member of BJP's Mahila Morcha, said.

According to reports, over 200 farmers have committed suicide only in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra in the first three months of 2017.

ALSO READ:

Hema Malini injured in a road accident, 2-year-old killed

Hema Malini never enquired about our dead child: Family

--- ENDS ---
The United States on Thursday dropped what is said to be the largest non-nuclear bomb in its arsenal on a complex of tunnels and caves used by Islamic State fighters in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. U.S. military officials said they did not immediately know how many IS fighters or civilians were killed. VOA's Cindy Saine reports from Washington.
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.

Afghan defense ministry in a formal press release said the bomb killed 36 members of Islamic State group and destroyed a large cache of weapons. The statement said there were no civilian casualties in this attack.

Another press release from President Ashraf Ghanis office said the operation took place in coordination with the Afghan Security and Defense Forces. It added that the Afghan forces are also collaborating with NATOs Resolute Support mission to fight against other terrorist groups.

WATCH: US Department of Defense video footage of bomb blast



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.

"The airstrike was designed to support the efforts of the ANSF [Afghan National Security Forces] and U.S. forces as well as minimize the risk to ANSF and the U.S. forces," Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's office tweeted Thursday. "Precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties with this airstrike."

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.

WATCH: Related video report



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.
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On 13 April 2017, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on the Beslan hostage-taking which took place in 2004. It condemned the Russian Federation [1].

The Court had to rule on several different grievances from associations of the victims families.

The Court held that Russia violated article 2 (safeguarding human rights) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) for the following reasons:

 Russia could have prevented the hostage-taking as it had been given three hours prior notice.

 Russia should have set up a unified command for its security forces on the ground, which then could have pre-empted several failures in the way it functioned.

 Russia should not have used lethal weapons because this was not absolutely necessary.

In addition, the Court acknowledged that there was no violation of article 13 (the right to an effective remedy).

Russias immediate response was to announce that it would be challenging this decision:

 The imputations of the Court are based on a private document The Saveliev Report which despite being voluminous (700 pages)  does not provide a scrap of evidence to substantiate the hypotheses made in it.

 Claiming that the situation (1,300 hostages detained by 30 terrorists who were executing them in groups of 20) does not render absolutely necessary the use of lethal weapons, shows absolutely no understanding of what the Russian experience with terrorism has been.

In a dissenting opinion, two out of seven judges, Khanlar Hajiyev (Azerbaidjan) and Dmitry Dedov (Russia), rejected the courts ruling that the situation did not render the use of lethal force absolutely necessary.
One of L.A.s most unlikely friendship pairings  Dave Chappelle and (newly woke) John Mayer  gave their friend Charlie Murphy a moving tribute Thursday night. Chappelle made a surprise appearance during Mayers show in Columbus, Ohio, to honor Murphy, who died Wednesday after battling leukemia. Chappelle and Mayer praised Murphys Chappelles Show True Hollywood Stories sketches  [Habitual line-stepper] was a freshly made, on the spot term, right there, Mayer said  and Chappelle recalled calling Prince and asking him to appear in Murphys sketch. Then Mayer performed Youre Gonna Live Forever in Me, in Murphys memory. See, John Mayer isnt all bad! Hes very useful when it comes to providing a ballad on the spot.
L-R: Allison Williams, Lena Dunham, Adam Driver. Photo: HBO

The blessing of getting a part on Girls is that people love to talk about the show. The curse is that they might tend to mistake you for the character youre playing. As the stars of the show have discussed, media coverage tends to blur the lines between Hannah Horvath and Lena Dunham, or Allison Williams and Marnie, in a way that has come to define all the actors on the shows careers. As Girls comes to a close, its stars will all head in different directions, and some will have benefited more, career-wise, from their time in Brooklyn than others. So who got the biggest boost from the show? Lets run through their various career arcs, from least to most positively affected.

Christopher Abbott

Abbotts the odd case where quitting Girls probably got him more fame than actually being on it. Abbott left abruptly after the second season after getting frustrated with the limits of his character and went off into darker work like James White. Abbott brought Charlie back in season five, though the character was almost entirely different. The work of pushing past that initial persona continues!

Jemima Kirke

Kirke, who works as both a painter and an actress, had already appeared in Dunhams Tiny Furniture before Girls, and while the HBO series has given her an outlet to be the hippest cool girl that there ever was, one imagines she would have found a way to maintain that persona regardless. Dont expect Kirke to suddenly transfer to Oscar movies or big-budget blockbusters  that might be more her sister Lolas style  but do expect her to keep popping up in interesting indie fare.

Andrew Rannells

Rannells came to Girls from The Book of Mormon, which earned him a Tony nomination, and has kept up a career in musical theater (in Falsettos) and on other TV series (The New Normal). Once Rannells became a series regular on Girls, and Elijah started to take center stage, he had more of a platform, though its hard to tell so far what kind of effect it will have on his career.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach

Before we met Desi and his seven ex-fiancees, Moss-Bachrach had a steady career popping up in everything from HBOs John Adams to Damages. After Girls, hes joining Netflixs Punisher series as a former NSA analyst named Micro, who probably isnt hiding a secret drug addiction. Being on Girls probably helped Moss-Bachrach nab the Punisher role, but career-wise, going from HBO to Netflix is a fairly even trade.

Alex Karpovsky

As Ray, Karpovsky provided much of the male (or specifically Judd Apatowian) perspective on Girls, giving Karpovsky a character-actor niche to exploit in movies like Inside Llewyn Davis and Hail, Caesar! Then again, Karpovsky already had a career as an indie writer and director before Girls began, so were not talking any giant leaps here.

Zosia Mamet

Zosia had roles on Mad Men, the United States of Tara, and The Unit before Girls premiered, and while she brought so much to Shoshanna, one imagines she was on her way to getting some big exposure anyway. (Being David Mamets daughter helps a bunch, as do her theater chops.) After providing much of Girls comic relief, Mamets heading into a role as Patti Smith in a Robert Mapplethorpe biopic, which might give her the chance to express some real range  or at least talk more slowly.

Allison Williams

Williams is, of course, Brian Williamss daughter, but before she got her start on Girls, her career consisted mostly of YouTube music covers. Once Girls began, Williams got the lead role in a live TV musical and parlayed her perfect white girl image into a chilling role in Get Out. Right now, shes at a tricky moment, navigating both the end of Girls and the success of Get Out, but if she chooses her next few roles carefully, things could be pretty set.

Lena Dunham

Before Girls, Dunham was one of many young Apatow proteges. Six years in, shes a gigantic name, and whether or not you like the show, the fuel driving her very own think piece industry. Whatever Dunham releases next is going to be a big event, and the subject of an armada of bloggers scrutiny.

Adam Driver

Driver might not be as big as Dunham  and hes also not a writer or director  but he just might edge her out in terms of the biggest career transformation. His perpetually shirtless role as the weird boyfriend in a pay-cable comedy somehow turned him into a major movie star, the rare kind that can both play a Star Wars villain and work with Scorsese. Who wouldve thought that the guy who once sent Hannah a fur-swaddled dick pic would ever make it to space?
By Press Trust of India: Imphal, Apr 13 (PTI) Heroin valued at Rs 30 lakh in the international market was seized by personnel of Imphal West Narcotic Cell who arrested a woman from whom the drug was found today, police said.

The Narcotic Cell arrested her near MG Avenue of Thangal Bazar and handed her over to the police. PTI COR NN

--- ENDS ---

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L-R: Shiri Appleby, Donald Glover, Jenny Slate. Photo: HBO

A fact of life in New York  and therefore, on Girls  is that you never know who you might bump into. Narratively speaking, that means Hannah Horvath and company have spent six seasons enduring random, undesirable run-ins with former classmates, co-workers, friends, and lovers. Casting-wise, the shows surprise encounters have proven to be a lot more fun. Celebrity cameos have always been a Girls staple; we tallied nearly 90 of them over the series 62 episodes, including major recurring characters like Caroline (Gaby Hoffmann), Desi (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), David Pressler-Goings (John Cameron Mitchell), and Hannahs (sorry  Bananas) parents (Becky Ann Baker and Peter Scolari). But what really gave Girls its frisson of cool-kids cachet was when a star unexpectedly popped up in a smallish, one- or two-episode role. Its a tiny thrill akin to a drive-by (or walk-past) celeb sighting on the streets of New York.

In honor of that, what follows are our better to best rankings of our 25 favorite Girls guest stars.

25. Janice (Jenna Lyons) and Karen (Jessica Williams)

Heres a perfect example of how Girls casting acumen made for its own memorable moments. Although Jessica Williams was arguably underused as the low-key Karen, who didnt squee upon seeing the erstwhile Daily Show contributor working with Hannah in GQs advertorial department? Playing alongside them, J. Crews recently departed creative director Jenna Lyons proved more than capable of portraying a Miranda Priestlylite type of boss.

24. Patty (Marissa Jaret Winokur)

Like any series shot in New York should, Girls took advantage of its proximity to Broadway (and delighted the theater-geek segment of its fan base) by booking guest stars from the Great White Way. Meta-case in point: This season, Hairspray Tony winner Marissa Jaret Winokur played a Broadway casting director who casts Elijah (Andrew Rannells) in another movie turned musical, White Men Cant Jump.

23. Chelsea (Chelsea Peretti)

Tragically hip media figures were commonplace on Girls, but as an editor at something called SlagMag (god, what a barf-worthy title), Brooklyn Nine-Nines Chelsea Peretti out-postured them all when she told Hannah in season six, I already love your writing, but even if I didnt, I mean, were basically hiring you for your look.

22. Chandra (Desiree Akhavan)

Even by Girls standards, almost all of Hannahs colleagues at the Iowa Writers Workshop were pretty loathsome. Chandra, played by actress and indie filmmaker Desiree Akhavan, may have given Hannah bad advice about bicycle security, but shes the one wed totally want to hang with in real life.

21. Chastity (Selenis Leyva)

On the verge of Orange Is the New Black stardom, Leyva (who plays Gloria on Netflixs prison dramedy) delivered a brief but hilariously memorable season-one turn as Hannahs legal firm co-worker, as blunt with an opinion as she is with an eyebrow pencil. Judging Adams unsolicited dick pic, Chastity opines, I like a dirty pic, but this, right here? Is weird. When Hannah then likens Adams sexting to the handsy nature of their boss (Richard Masur), Chastity shuts it down. Thats a hella different, she declares. A hella different.

20. Lob (Grace Dunham)

In Lena Dunhams pre-Girls indie film Tiny Furniture, her real-life younger sister Grace portrayed her fictitious younger sister Nadine. None of that will prepare you for Graces two-episode guest spot in season five as Lob, the gender nonbinary barista with a buzz cut and a chip on their shoulder who works at Helvetica. With all due respect to Lena and Graces mother Laurie Simmons, who cameoed as an art-world doyenne in season two, Grace has got the familys most ferocious comedic chops.

19. Bebe (Bridget Everett)

Ballsy, blue-humored chanteuse Bridget Everett would be one of the best guest stars on literally any program, including Sesame Street and the nightly news. Even though she doesnt get to sing as Marnies wedding makeup artist, at least she knows how to achieve a Selena Gomez meets Jesus look for the bridal party.

18. Melanie Shapiro (Ana Gasteyer) and Melvin Shapiro (Anthony Edwards)

Have you ever met a friends family and instantly realized, Ohhhhh, so thats why you are the way you are? As Shoshannas acrimoniously divorced, constantly bickering parents, Edwards and Gasteyer flesh out her entire backstory in a single, minute-long, terrifically passive-aggressive shouting match.

17. Tandice Moncrief (Lisa Bonet)

Bonet, who can play ethereal dream-girl in her sleep, effortlessly complemented Desis sleepy-eyed yet manic energy as his post-divorce guru in season five.

16. Ace (Zachary Quinto)

Quinto, who can play aloof yet secretly stalkerish weirdo in his sleep, casually picked at Adam and Jessas insecurities as Mimi-Roses ex-boyfriend in season four. (Fun fact: A few episodes before Quintos appearance, Shosh marvels that rising star Adam is auditioning with, like, Zachary Quinto or, like, Armie Hammer even.)

15. Marlowe (Joy Bryant)

Bryants Poughkeepsie junk-shop proprietor resembles Lisa Bonets aforementioned Tandice in both personality and skin tone (which speaks quite succinctly to the limited range of roles inhabited by performers of color on the show). The intriguing thing about Marlowes scene, which Bryant plays with delectable self-assuredness, is how its taken on more importance in the weeks since it first aired. A self-proclaimed clairvoyant, Marlowe foreshadows Hannahs departure from the city as she pursues a more meaningful upstate existence.

14. Charlie (Christopher Abbott)

Yes, this ones a bit of a cheat, since Abbott recurred during the first two seasons as Marnies reliably boring boyfriend, Charlie. On the other hand, Charlies history on Girls (as well as Abbotts choice to quit the show) is precisely what makes his one-episode callback in the fifth season  where hes heavier set, slower talking, and, oh yeah, a heroin addict  such compelling TV. Virtually all Girls guest stars provide comic relief from the main characters navel-gazing goings-on, but Charlies return is more like a harrowing, slow-moving car crash.

13. Thadd (Bobby Moynihan)

Few genuine dweebs exist in the Girls universe, yet somehow socially awkward Thadd managed to sneak into the first-season finale and officiate Jessas wedding to Thomas-John (Chris ODowd). So endearingly adorkable is Thadd that by the end of the reception, a cake-covered Marnie enthusiastically sucks face with him.

12. Daisy Eagen (herself)

Girls went through the looking glass in its final season when Adam and Jessa produced a short film about Adams relationship with Hannah, which Adam co-starred in with Daisy Eagen, played by real-life Tony winner and Lena Dunham look-alike Daisy Eagen. Her take on Hannah is a bit more playful and coquettish than the real thing, and by all appearances, her performance is the high point of the seemingly morose and self-indulgent Full Dis:closure. Even better, Daisy finally knocks some wisdom into a knocked-up Hannah when she rightly tells her about parenthood: Kids are super easy. Its being an adult thats hard.

11. Cloris (Carol Kane) and Angie (Amy Schumer)

Girls books lots of of-the-moment performers, but few honest-to-god legends. They got one of each when Carol Kane took on the role of Cloris, who introduces herself to Adam at AA and insists he ask out her daughter, Natalia (Shiri Appleby; see No. 3). Seriously, who else but Kane could convince the recalcitrant Adam to take a girl on a blind date  and even make him giggle while doing so? After Adam and Natalias breakup, Amy Schumer rattled Adams cage in spectacular, chicks-before-dicks fashion as Natalias loyal friend, Angie. Angie wouldnt just take a bullet for Natalia; shed concoct an entire fake pregnancy for her!

10. Pal (Danny Strong)

And you thought Elijah was catty? Hon, twasnt nobody bitchy-witchier on Girls than Elijahs ex, who shows up during season threes pivotal Beach House episode and offhandedly clobbers Elijahs self-esteem by telling everyone he doesnt know what inertia means. Pal (played by Danny Strong, a.k.a. Doyle from Gilmore Girls) makes an unwelcome return in the fourth-season premiere at Marnie and Desis jazz brunch with a coterie of his own straight gal pals (its like bizarro Girls!) and a vicious barb for Marnie, suggesting shes best suited to perform as a Good Wife courtroom extra. Elijah replies by telling him what were all thinking: Im glad we broke up.

9. Booth Jonathan (Jorma Taccone)

Equal parts charming and heinous, Booth Jonathan was the founding member of Girls Jaghole Artists With Two Names Club. (Hey there, Mimi-Rose!) His reprobate brand of evil was all the more deceptive because he was played by Lonely Island cutie pie Jorma Taccone. Rarely has a sexual invitation been delivered as slyly as when Booth Jonathan warns Marnie, The first time I fuck you, I might scare you a little, because Im a man, and I know how to do things. See you later.

8. Patti LuPone (herself)

Unlike its HBO predecessor Sex and the City, Girls almost never showcased actual New York celebrities. (A-listers arent much for Bushwick warehouse parties.) Thats just one reason why Patti LuPones two-episode self-cameo, which comes when Hannah interviews her for GQ, is such a delight. When Elijah tags along on a follow-up interview, he finally gets to live out his dream of sassing it up with a brash Broadway diva, a.k.a. fucking Corkys mom!

7. Sandy (Donald Glover)

Because when you wanna sell something as dubious and potentially problematic as a black 20-something Republican in New York, you need someone as all-around swoon-worthy as Donald Glover to play the part.

6. Abigail (Aidy Bryant)

Dammit, someone on Girls deserves to be unapologetically happy all! The! Time! That someone is Shoshs former boss, Abigail, who quickly becomes Rays new love interest in a sweet, lighthearted final-season story arc. Amid this shows miserable-millennial milieu, Abigails outgoing nature and ever-sunny demeanor are as simple and pure as a spin on a merry-go-round.

5. Joshua (Patrick Wilson)

One Mans Trash was a bottle-episode treasure, as 40-something hottie Patrick Wilson went toe to toe (and every other body part to every other body part) with Lena Dunham during a two-night sexit from the real world at his characters Brooklyn brownstone. Wilson is always great at playing attractive, sort-of-oblivious dudes (see: Young Adult, Little Children, etc.), but the actor gets bonus points for the way his real-life wife, actress Dagmara Dominczyk, responded to criticism that a guy that smokin would never do a girl like Dunham. Funny, his wife is a size 10, muffin top and all, Dominczyk tweeted in 2013. He does her just fine.

4. Paul-Louis (Riz Ahmed)

Riz Ahmeds surfer dude/water-ski instructor Paul-Louis is many things. He is Hannahs soon-to-be baby daddy who is super-psyched to learn she doesnt expect anything from him as she prepares to birth their child. He is the worlds most sublime Keanu Reeves impression. He is a remarkably good rapper. He is a plot device, setting the final seasons pregnancy story into motion. He is, as far as a smitten Hannah is concerned, a really special person whose trite truisms (love gives vibes, lol) compel her to momentarily envision a less complicated, more blissful future. Hes like no other character whos ever been on Girls  dim-witted, patient, open-minded (perhaps too much so)  and hes proof that, in many ways, Lena Dunham has saved her best ideas for Girls last season.

3. Natalia (Shiri Appleby)

Arguably no other guest star on Girls was given something as impossible to play as Shiri Appleby. What could a young woman as well-adjusted as Natalia see in a rapey Neanderthal like Adam? Yet to her great credit, Applebys chemistry with Adam Driver is palpable, believable, even buoyant. When Adam then chooses to torpedo their burgeoning romance by submitting Natalia to his On All Fours sex fantasy, her pained expression illustrates every sad, shocked, dismayed, disgusted, enraged impulse we feel.

2. Chuck Palmer (Matthew Rhys)

As famous jackass novelist Chuck Palmer, The Americans Matthew Rhys delivered the only one-episode performance on Girls that can rightly be called a tour de force. Rhyss acting is challenging, multifaceted, and captivating, which really makes up for the fact that his character is a smart, alluring, sick, twisted, self-serving, ghoulish dickwad. Palmer spends his half-hour of screen time circling Hannah like prey, going for the kill when he lays his purplish penis on her thigh. Somewhere out there, a feminist drama and/or comparative-lit professor is planning to teach American Bitch alongside David Mamets Oleanna. (p.s. Honorable guest-star mention to Tracey Ullman, who appears one episode later as Palmers fiery female counterpoint, a fun, frenzied writer named Ode Montgomery.)

1. Tally Schifrin (Jenny Slate)

She is Hannahs nemesis, but only because she is Hannahs ideal. She shares Hannahs quirkiness, but hers comes wrapped in a more photogenic package. Hannah loves to loathe her, yet secretly admires her  mimicking the toxic mix of self-hatred and narcissism that befouls Hannahs own relationship with herself. Shes Tally Schifrin, the comely, corkscrew-curled success story whose very existence serves as a microcosm for all that Hannah wants and thinks she wants, and shes played by everyones favorite make-believe BFF, Jenny Slate. After Hannah bristles through Tallys book party in season one, Tally gets the shows most perfect encore in season five when she rolls back into Hannahs life (literally, on a bicycle) for a second go-round through Hannahs tortured psyche. This time, though, Tallys there to convince Hannah that living for praise and controversy is exhausting and boring at once. Heres hoping the next time Hannah and Tally see each other, its the start of a beautiful friendship.
It was all a dream that began when Hannah took that opium tea in the pilot.

This Sunday, hot-take writers across the internet will sigh out one last splatter of think pieces about the final episode of Girls, HBOs divisive sitcom about four young women coming of age in New York and the men with prominent noses who love them (and sometimes hate them). Most people expect the episode to focus on creator Lena Dunhams character Hannah Horvath, what happens when she gives birth to a son, and how she might have finally achieved adulthood.

But not so fast. This is HBO after all. This season of Westworld ended with us finding out that everyone is actually a robot and there are all sorts of robot theme parks other than the Wild West park wed inhabited. The ending of The Sopranos was so ambiguous that its been debated for more than a decade. The ending of Game of Thrones is only a season away and its such a twist that it hasnt even been written yet and is imperiled every time George R.R. Martin orders both French fries and onion rings with his bacon double cheeseburger.

So, what if Girls ends with a twist, too? Here are some of the possible scenarios we could be looking at. (But, I mean, seriously, none of these will actually happen.)

It was all a dream. This is literally the oldest trick in the book, with everything from Alice in Wonderland to Wizard of Oz to St. Elsewhere telling us in the very final moments that the narrative weve been witnessing was all some kind of hallucination. This was actually set up in the pilot episode, when Hannah takes a bunch of opium tea and then goes to see her parents at their hotel. What if this is all just her imagining what her life would be like? What if this whole time she was just passed out in the hallway imagining her love affair and eventual breakup with Adam, becoming a (somewhat) successful writer, getting knocked up by a surf instructor, and then moving to a university upstate to live happily ever after?

Welcome to Hipsterworld. What if theyre all cyborgs too? What if Hannah and all of her friends are playing out some vast narrative that is preprogrammed so that visitors can come spend some time in Hipsterworld, a simulated experience that brings wealthy people back to the squalor and authenticity of 2010s-era Bushwick. That would explain why it always seems like Hannah is so suddenly and uncharacteristically changing course.

I had to wonder  It seems like Hannah is about to move upstate and start a life as a professor. But what if, at the last minute, she gets a huge rent-stabilized apartment on the Upper East Side, a job writing one column a week for a newspaper, and starts dating some hedge-fund guy who wont commit. Marnie decides to become a lawyer and then marries a hot, great bar owner who is far too good for her. Shoshanna moves to Connecticut with Byron Long but then cant get pregnant so she adopts a daughter from China just as she gets knocked up. And Jessa, well, shell probably die of an overdose at some point. What Im saying is, there is still a chance that Girls could actually turn into Sex and the City. People have been wishing it for so long.

Marnie, I am your father. Obviously weve met Hannahs parents, weve visited Jessas father upstate, Shoshannas parents dropped by briefly in season four, and Marnies mom is played by undervalued American treasure Rita Wilson. But who is Marnies father? This is the last chance for us to find out. And could he possibly be played by serial sitcom guest Brian Williams? It seems fitting.

Lets make a Dill. It always seemed odd to me that Elijahs ex Dill Harcourt was looking to adopt a baby just as Hannah was about to have one. What if the final episode isnt about Hannah keeping her baby, but giving it away? What if she decides shes not ready for motherhood and real life after all and decides to give her son up to Dill Harcourt so that he can raise it with all of that CNN money that hes been sitting on for all of these years? Dills only prerequisite was that the baby be white, but Im sure Hannahs half-white child will do.

Love will tear us apart. Last we saw Adam it seemed like he choose Jessa over Hannah. But what if he gets really, really sick in the finale? Hannah rushes to his bedside where he has soaked through the covers with sweat. He tells her with his dying words that it is her he has always loved, and then expires. She sits at his bedside, crying and crying and crying. Until suddenly, his eyes snap back open and reveal milky clouds of blue as he starts groaning and slapping his jaws together. Yes, its the zombie apocalypse. Hannah couldnt even make it through a shift at Cafe Grumpy  how will she survive this?

Doctor, doctor, give her the news. It was no accident that Patrick Wilsons Joshua was the one to give Hannah the news that she had a Paul-Louis bun in her sand-drenched vagina. He could come back at any moment. He has her chart, which has her address and phone number on it. It could be the life he always wanted, raising a baby with Hannah and playing naked ping-pong in the basement. Just as shes about to pack her last box for her new university home, he comes in and tells her that theyre going to make it work. After all, they never really separated  they were just on a break.

Theyre in heaven. Oh, please, that was stupid when they did it on Lost.
Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo Gus Fring on Better Call Saul. Photo: Robert Trachtenberg/AMC/Sony Pictures Television

Having Mike Ehrmantraut back from day one on Better Call Sauls been fun, and fleeting returns from Breaking Bad favorites like loco Tuco Salamanca and his hair-trigger Uncle Hector have been a blast. But creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould have been wise to let their prequel find its flow before reintroducing one of its sister shows most dominant characters this season: incognito fast-food impresario and aspiring drug kingpin Gus Fring, played indelibly by Giancarlo Esposito. As a refresher on why Fring  whod eventually have a fatal brush with Hectors vengeful temper  was such an iconic antagonist, here are ten of his most stunning moments throughout Breaking Bads run.

Meeting of the Minds: Mandala (Season 2, Episode 11)

You can never trust a drug addict. Gus Fring leaves Walter White (Bryan Cranston) with those cautionary words after their first informal sit down at the local Los Pollos Hermanos Fring presides over. Hes speaking of Walters partner, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), who showed up late and high to their initially scheduled encounter. Walter assures Gus that Jesse is under his sway. I have your numbers, Gus assures him cryptically, before resuming his nightly inventory and wrapping up at the register. Its our first glimpse at a charismatic bad guy unlike any wed seen on television: cautious but not uncurious, bewitching but not impenetrable. Walter thinks he has the upper hand, even gesturing for Gus to be seated at a table in his own restaurant. Soon, Mr. White would learn that hes met his intellectual match and an unrivaled criminal mind.

Preying on the Weak: Mas (Season 3, Episode 5)

Walt still seems to think he has the upper hand. He actually chastises Gus, who had tried appealing to Walters pride by training hapless Jesse to replace him on the cook. Gus is still humored by their match of wits, enough to sit through his bluster and even apologize for being so transparent. But then he takes Walter for a ride and strokes his ego some more, showing off a brand-new subterranean superlab designed for his particular set of skills. Its our first true vision of Guss large-scale intentions to upend the cartel, and more or less enslave Walter. What does a man do, Walter? Gus asks, before hardening to a sneer and wearing him down with an insistence that a man provides for his family  He simply bears up and he does it. The sight of his new workspace pulls at Walters desperation to be exalted, but Guss actual words make him feel just small enough to seal the deal.

Guess Whos Cunning at Dinner?: Abiquiu (Season 3, Episode 11)

Would you slice the garlic? Another one of Frings signature, short but purposeful overtures sets the tone for his and Walters attempt at breaking bread over paila marina, a dish that stirs Guss sense memory. The tables have literally turned since their first meeting the previous season, and Walt understands implicitly that theres much he has yet to comprehend. Without raising his voice, Gus terrifies his counterpart every time he so much as raises a utensil. Walt knows its a matter of when, not if, his boss becomes something far more fearsome. When he smiles and advises him to never make the same mistake twice, Walt realizes that parting wisdom is to be taken as a warning.

A Helping Hand: I See You (Season 3, Episode 8)

I hide in plain sight, same as you, Gus tells Walt, whos sitting vigil for his DEA brother-in-law Hank (Dean Norris) along with an army of federal agents. We get to see Gus as concerned community leader, offering support and condolences to Hanks family and colleagues. And then we get to witness Walter in awe of Gus, who stands unshaken in the hospital lobby, promising his antsy charge that the assassin who survived Hanks attempted execution is gravely injured. Its doubtful hell live. Gus extends his hand, requests Walter shake it, and goes back to his car, precisely as buzz circulates that Hanks attacker has expired. Its enough to make one wonder when and how Gus learned to be so cool and cunning 

Blast from Guss Past: Hermanos (Season 4, Episode 8)

Flashbacks arent wielded lightly in Breaking Bad and rarely turn back time more than days or weeks, let alone years. But the final, prolonged scene of Hermanos rewinds a couple of decades, to when a youthful Gus and his Pollos Hermanos partner Max first pitched cartel boss Don Eladio (Steven Bauer, in a fine bit of sense-memory casting) on crystal meth. Max, who pays the price for their hubris with a bullet to the head, is revealed as having been Guss Walter and Jesse  apprentice and muse. And his death directly motivates Gus toward both extreme caution and simmering vengeance that spans eras. Suffice to say, he ignored Hectors suggestion to stick to chicken.

Vengeance Is His: Salud (Season 4, Episode 10)

Not only is Gus cautious, but hes efficient. In one trip to Mexico, he manages to further drive a wedge between Jesse and Walter and exact overdue comeuppance against Don Eladio. As Eladio gradually gets seduced into his plan  which is, briefly, to poison him and his men  Guss face betrays a spectrum of emotion while barely blinking. He remains stoic even as he readies to puke up an emetic. He exits the bathroom, steps over a body, and breezes past panicked guests. Weakened, he declares victory by shouting to those left standing, You have nothing left to fight for! Its the rage he felt at Maxs murder come full circle, foreshadowing his eventual boiling over at Walters insurgence.

Gus Cuts to the Chase: Box Cutter (Season 4, Episode 1)

Fring summons Walter and Jesse to the lab, furious that they killed his eager new chemist, Gale (David Costabile), in an effort to preserve their jobs and lives. Not that youd know it right away. Walter talks and talks, passing the buck for Gales death on to Gus. But Jesse senses something sinister amiss. His eyes follow Gus, who quietly undresses, puts on a Hazmat suit, and stalks back before them. But neither man anticipated what would come next: He slashes his loyal assistant, Victor, across the jugular, washing off and calmly ordering them back to work. Don Eladio would have approved. Then again, look what happened to him.

Severing Family Ties: Crawl Space (Season 4, Episode 11)

Here weve reached the, In case it wasnt clear yet, Walter, Gus really isnt fucking around crescendo of their relationship. Gus has Tyrus (Ray Campbell), a.k.a. the new Victor, drag Walter out to the desert, blinded by a hood. Theres no more facade. This isnt the genial manager of a fast-food franchise containing his inner maniac. This is Gustavo Fring, Chilean drug lord, coming as close as Gus does to quivering with hostility as he fires Walt, issues an ultimatum about his prying brother-in-law, and promises, I will kill your wife, I will your son, I will kill your infant daughter. Its the most emotive outburst yet from present-day Gus, until .

Blood for Blood for Blood: Face Off (Season 4, Episode 13)

Its an iconic screen death, but less so because of the Terminator 2worthy theatrics of Guss partially mutilated face (though the rolling eyeball socket was pretty sweet) than his incredulous bark seconds prior. The cycle of murder that commenced between Hector and Gus generations earlier had led to this improbable circumstance  one man, infirmed but equipped with Walters homemade wheelchair bomb, and the other healthy if rattled by having been outed to the DEA, leaning in with a lethal injection. And then  boom. Though even at the end, Gus perished in vintage, relatively dignified Fring fashion  adjusting the knot in his tie and staring nowhere but straight ahead.
L-R: Paul-Louis, Adam, Fran. Photo: HBO

For all the talk of Lena Dunham baring her body and just how sexually explicit Girls can be, Hannah certainly didnt hook up with that many people over the course of six seasons. In fact, she spent most of her time in relationships with both Fran and Adam (and Adam again and Adam again). In fact, there are only 11 people on the show that we know Hannah got it on with. Here they are, ranked in order of their greatness.

11. Ray: Please can we all just forget the bad road head Hannah gave Ray for picking her up in the wilderness in his coffee truck? Im sure both of them want to as well.

10. Some Random Yoga Instructor: This is Hannahs only dip in the lady pond (that weve seen), and she cant even bother going through with it. It might be because she wasnt interested in going down on another woman while at an all-female retreat with her mother, or it could be that she was cheating on Fran at the time. Either way, Hannah didnt like the heat of the sauna and got out of there quick.

9. Frank: Hannah only had sex with Jessas underage stepbrother in a graveyard when they went to go visit Jessas father upstate because she thought they were on a sexcapade. She figured Jessa was boning his friend, Tyler, in the car and she didnt want to ruin the vibe. The next morning, we find out that Frank is probably a virgin (though he claims that he was deflowered by Rihanna), that he didnt put it in, he just came in Hannahs thigh crease, and that hes most likely in love with Tyler. Yup, that makes two gay dudes Hannah has slept with in her life. Shes her mothers daughter.

Watch the most painfully self-centered things Hannah has ever said.

8. Eric: It seems so long ago that Hannah returned to Michigan to attend her parents anniversary party, but ended up going out with this hunky pharmacist instead. They have a nice, sweet, wholesome time and go back to his place for nice, sweet, wholesome sex. At this point, Hannah is used to getting it on with Adam and is ready for more hard-core stuff than Eric is into. She even gets chastised when she tries to stick a finger in his butt. He is a sweet, handsome gentleman with a good job, but Hannahs future lies east, not in East Lansing.

7. Sandy: Remember when everyone said Girls had too many white people on it and the response was to give Hannah a black boyfriend for two episodes? Thats Sandy (Donald Glover). Their relationship is short-lived, however, when its revealed that Sandy thinks Hannah is a bad writer and that hes actually politically conservative. He also accuses Hannah of fetishizing him because hes black, a keen meta commentary on what he was doing there in the first place.

6. Paul-Louis: All due respect to Patrick Wilson, but Riz Ahmed, who plays the drawling surf instructor Hannah hooks up with on assignment, is probably the hottest guy weve seen her do the dirty with. (And thank god there was not one think piece about how she didnt deserve him.) More importantly, Paul-Louis got Hannah to break through her shell of misery and learn to love life, if even for a moment. Sure he has some commitment and motivational issues, and the way he reacted when Hannah told him that he got her pregnant was cringeworthy, but at least Hannahs son is going to be really freakin handsome.

5. Joshua: Yes, this is Patrick Wilsons incredibly handsome doctor who plays naked ping-pong with Hannah while they have a lost weekend of lovemaking and soul-baring. Incredibly eligible, devastatingly attractive, wealthy, and ambitious, Joshua is like a dream husband for Hannah, one she cant manage to hang onto for more than a couple of days. Its probably for the best, because this is never the conventional life she wanted. Still, it delivered one of the seriess most iconic episodes and a killer surprise when he shows up in season six to tell Hannah that shes pregnant.

4. Laird: Its funny to think that Laird, the former junkie who lives below Hannah, once had sex with her way back in season two, but it was more of a pity fuck than anything. Hannah had used him to get drugs for her and Elijah for their crazy night at a rave, and then only did the deed with him for an article. Laird later proves hes an upright (though kind of dim) guy and an upstanding father  hes a great human even if he is an awful lover.

3. Adam: Yes, everyone will say that hes the love of her life (lets wait to see what happens in the finale, shall we?), but Adam has always dicked Hannah around. First it was not being able to commit, then it was not being interested in her because of his art. Then, he had another woman move in when she was away at Iowa and was too cowardly to break up with her. Later, he hooks up with Jessa without telling Hannah and mines her life for his film. And finally, he whisks her off for a day of sex and Target shopping, pretending like hes going to raise her baby. I mean, what does Adam really want from her? Yes, hes hotter than a Sunday in August in his un-air-conditioned apartment, and no one ever understood her like him, but hes also the dude who peed on her in the shower without asking.

2. Elijah: By the time we meet Elijah, his romantic relationship with Hannah is way in the past, but he becomes an integral part of her life. When Marnie, Jessa, and Shoshanna all drift away, hes still there to support her and pat her hair with his pizza hand. Yes, hes selfish and can be kind of a jerk, but he wanted to face the dangers of Manhattan together with Hannah their whole lives, and hes always been there to do just that  and sing Demi Lovato to her in the dark when she cant sleep. Of all the guys in her life, this is the one who will stick around for good.

1. Fran: Employed, hunky, and totally into Hannah no matter how weird she got, Fran was absolutely perfect. He didnt even freak out too hard when she deleted all of his naked pictures of ex-girlfriends from his phone. Fran is the woke bae we all wish we had and Hannah threw away. This is the guy shes going to be wondering about the rest of her life, and I will be, too. Fran, if you ever want to get married, Im available.
The Harry-est of Styles. Photo: Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

One Direction fans have lately had to soak up as much Harry Styles as they can via the respectable first single Sign of the Times from his forthcoming album, or via Christopher Nolans Dunkirk trailer. All the while, the 1D army has been writhing and fidgeting with one question on its collective, shiny, balm-covered lips: When is the album coming?! Well now we have an answer, delivered by Billboard: Harry Styles by Harry Styles is set to drop May 12, just in time for the onset of Song of Summer Season. (You can preorder starting tomorrow, though.)

And, just in case you want to spend the month-ish until then doing something productive, heres a track list for you to analyze from multiple perspectives, including Is this about Taylor (Ever Since New York)? or Is this about Zayn (Sweet Creature)? or Is this about a woman (Woman)? Consider, then wait until May 12. You can make it, we promise.

Harry Styles full track listing:

Meet Me in the Hallway

Sign of the Times

Carolina

Two Ghosts

Sweet Creature

Only Angel

Kiwi

Ever Since New York

Woman

From the Dining Table
Minnie Driver. Photo: VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images

Despite the fact that her current employer is ABC and not NBC, Speechless star and amazing-hair haver Minnie Driver told the L.A. Times today that she will die if shes not included in this falls Will & Grace reboot at the Peacock. Fans of the beloved eight-season-long sitcom will recall that Driver appeared as Karens estranged husband Stanleys mistress, Lorraine Finster. Asked what shed like to see her character get up to, Driver took a relaxed attitude: Theres nothing I wouldnt do, she said, in a rather Finster-y fashion. Theres nowhere Lorraine Finster couldnt have gone, Driver added. A chance to see Mullaly and Driver wreak some havoc near or on each other sounds just fine to us. Hear that, writers room?
Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, and a box (not shown). Photo: Universal Studios

In Furious 7, Nathalie Emmanuels super-hacker sizes up the entire Fast gang in a single short monologue pegging everyones roles. When Roman is relegated to joker status, he corrects Wrong. Double alpha, before getting into a snit with Tej about whether or not theres even such a thing as a double alpha. In the world of dogs and lions and other pack animals, the double alpha isnt real, but it sure is in the world of the Fast and the Furious. When the newest film, Fate of the Furious, promotes Jason Stathams Deckard Shaw to the team alongside Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson, the series even manages to be a triple alpha scenario. (Sorry, Roman, youre left out again.) If you want proof, look no further than this absurd statistic  in eight films, none of its leads has ever lost a fight.

Before you chalk that up to being the way things go in play-it-safe blockbusters, consider that not even Marvel heroes win all the time. Daredevil got his ass kicked up and down by the Punisher in his own show. When Captain America teamed up with Bucky Barnes in Captain America: Civil War, they left Iron Man beaten bloody on a concrete floor. Jessica Jones put Luke Cage in the hospital when she scrambled his brains with a point-blank gunshot directly to the cranium. Sure, all these good guys rose to fight another day, but at least they had moments of humiliation and failure along the way.

Not so in the Fast universe, where you never have to worry about seeing one of your faves go down. Of course Brian was going to triumph over a baddie played by Tony Jaa in Furious 7  even though hes Tony freaking Jaa  because Jaa was a henchman and henchmen never win in this series. But even when the main characters fight each other, the narrative has to go into contortions to avoid insulting any of the heroes manhoods. Something always happens to make each fight end in a draw. Brian and beta-thug Vince get into a tussle in the first movie, but it ends with Dom pulling them apart. Dom definitely would have beat the hell out of Brian in Fast and Furious, but an emotional appeal from Brian ends the fisticuffs before real blood can be shed. Dom comes close to beating Hobbs in Fast Five, but before he can deliver the coup de grace he finds himself surrounded by Hobbss backup team.

You see a similar thing happening in the female fights. Michelle Rodriguez, whose scowl could wither the souls of mortals, fights both Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano to a draw. The Rousey round in 7 concludes with a mutual knockout, while the Rodriguez-Carano duel in the Underground in 6 ends with Letty running away. Rodriguez does win their second fight by shooting Carano with a harpoon and throwing her out of a plane  not every fight ends in a draw.

If you thought you saw either Hobbs or Toretto or Shaw beat each other in a fight, youve been fooled by some great cinematic sleight of hand. Every fight between the series A-listers is staged with such bombast that weve been enchanted into thinking they have real consequences. One of the best promotional images for Fate of the Furious is the Rock standing toe to toe with Jason Statham. Oh wow, you think, a rematch! But remember, no one really won that first fight either: Yes, Hobbs ended up getting exploded out of a window, but only because he put himself between his partner and an explosive to save her life, always the most heroic way to get blown up. And  spoiler warning  we dont get a clear conclusion to their second fight either. The two have barely squared up before a whole lot of lawmen show up and prevent them from throwing one good clean punch. And whether because of real-life bad blood or simple ego preservation (or both!) Fate never gives us the Hobbs versus Dom rematch the plot seems to require.

Maybe, though, the series is trying to tell us something deeper. Recall the climax of Furious 7, when Toretto and Shaw go up against each other in a parking garage that gets hit by a missile. In that moment Dom reveals who the true champion of the bout will be. The thing about street fights, he says, the street always wins. Even if it does, you can be sure that in the Fast and Furious franchise, the heroes still wont lose.


Theres something weird about the phrase Scandals alternate-universe episode. Scandal is already a bizarro world unto itself: In the Scandal timeline, the Barack Obama presidency never happened and Fitzgerald Grant is the 44th U.S. president. Grants vice-president stabbed her husband to death for having an affair with a man. Now shes the Scandalverses answer to Bill OReilly, and meanwhile the shows Donald Trump analog was shamed out of the public eye. Its sort of odd to do an alternate-universe episode of a show thats decidedly untethered from reality as it is.

That said, I mostly enjoyed watching The Decision, but I have a feeling Id better enjoy hearing the writers room conversation about doing the episode. Because honestly, the arguments against doing an episode like this easily outnumber the sole argument for it, which is, Well, an hour of television aint gonna fill itself.

The story is weirdly old-fashioned, and I cant remember the last time I saw this device outside of a late-80s multicamera sitcom. This is not the typical use of a dream state in dramatic storytelling, in which the audience doesnt find out the character is dreaming until or slightly before the character does. In this setup, we know from the outset that Olivia is dreaming because, as she, Fitz, and Jake argue about what to do about the newly exposed conspiracy, Olivia thinks back to Defiance, Ohio. Jake thinks theres no real difference between rigging one presidential election and rigging two, and wants to let Mellie sail into the White House.

Olivia resists, then makes her decision while reflecting on her role in the rigged election that put Fitz in the most powerful office in the world. So from the outset, the audience knows nothing theyre about to see is real. Im pretty sure that the last time I saw a full-length fantasy sequence in a television show, it was in an episode of Webster where Maam and George told Webster not to eat junk food before bed and he did it anyway. There might have been singing dental cavities, but Im sketchy on the details and might be making the entire thing up.

To be fair, The Decision has just as much whimsy as any Webster episode. Its almost like the dramatic equivalent of The Offices Threat Level Midnight. Like that episode, The Decision is pure, wacky fan service that pisses you off by existing, then beats you into submission with winking references and unconscionable yet hilarious character pairings. Just when you think The Decision has gone as topsy-turvy as it possibly can, theres another weird, gross hook-up waiting around the bend.

In the alternaverse, Olivia refuses to enter the blood pact with the rest of Fitzs handlers, so the election goes to Fitzs opponent. Olivia is heartbroken, but more about the election than the implicit end of her affair with Fitz. She heads back to D.C. for her next project, a criminal-justice reform bill with an up-and-coming community activist by the name of Marcus Walker. But Fitz isnt ready to give up on their relationship, so he separates from Mellie and immediately asks Olivia to marry him. Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn have screen chemistry so phenomenal, Shonda Rhimes tilted the entire show in their direction. To see them taking another run at the early days of Liv and Fitz is to be reminded why Scandal became The Olitz Show to begin with.

But, as Ashton Kutcher taught us all in The Butterfly Effect (but not in its many straight-to-DVD sequels), every choice creates a ripple effect with unforeseeable consequences. In this case, the consequence is being forced to watch Mellie and Cyrus kiss. A forlorn Mellie shows up to the church where Fitz and Olivia are getting married, and Cyrus spots her and takes her to drink her sorrows away. As they drink, he gives her the perfunctory Mr. Right is out there pep talk, but does such a good job of selling it, she decides maybe Cyrus is the right man for her. And I guess that, from Mellies perspective, whats good for the goose is good for the gander. If Fitz can run off with a campaign official, so can she.

Fitz and Olivias relationship hits the skids, albeit for reasons different from the ones that doomed their relationship when Olivia was dating President Fitz. Alterna-Fitz becomes the new darling of primetime cable news and slowly dies inside as he becomes a corporate sock puppet. In fact, to goose The Grant Reports flagging ratings, Fitz is forced to interview Lindsay Dwyer, better known as Lindsay D. from The Prince, a Bachelor-style reality dating competition. (Lest we forget, without Defiance there is no Quinn Perkins.) Liv considers divorcing Fitz  not because he didnt win the presidency, but because losing the presidency sapped his passion. The power is sexy, but the passion and drive it takes to get to the Oval Office are still sexy even if you never get there.

Alterna-Liv comes to her senses after Fitz tells her he knows hes let her down and wants to be better for her. And back in the realish world, Olivia realizes that, for her, all roads will always lead back to Fitz. At least thats what it seems like she realized. Its hard to guess the lasting significance of an episode in which Rowan goes around introducing himself as Damascus Bainbridge and Quinn gives Fitz oral sex in a dressing room. But the camera pulled back to show Liv and Fitz framed by the White Houses columns, as it always does when its time for those two crazy kids to get horizontal again. If thats the case, I predict Fitz will develop his own complicated relationship with the intelligence community.

If theres a time to try something goofy like this, the 100th episode seems like a reasonable place to do it. My biggest concern going in was that the episode would make me long for old-school Scandal, and it did. The Defiance storyline remains Scandals high-water mark, and it was fun to revisit that period and watch a new aftermath unfold, even if it was all make-believe. Plus, the episode proves that different isnt always better  I never, ever want to see Cyrus and Mellie kiss again.
Back in December, Saturday Night Live included a sketch in the Emma Stone episode that was so unique, so magical, I instantly knew it was going to be my favorite sketch of the year. I wanted to know everything about it. I also knew instantly  from its gentle tone and minor observation  that it was probably the work of the shows breakout new writer Julio Torres (he co-wrote it with Jeremy Beiler). I didnt know any more about its origins until this week.

The Late Night With Seth Meyers podcast, which Seth Meyers recorded before Torres performed stand-up on his show, gets to the bottom of the well. I had, when I was a little kid, this giant empty, like, pot for a plant that I would sort of run my fingers around and I would pretend it was a well, Torres told Meyers, remembering his childhood in El Salvador. And there would always be like rainwater collected at the bottom of it and I just loved it so much. In that way, the sketch was an act of wish fulfillment. You heard it here  second.

In the podcast, Torres also reveals the sink from his sketch The Sink was a real sink he saw one time in an apartment on the Upper West Side; SNL literally shot the sketch in that random apartment. To help her with her performance, Torres told host Emily Blunt to play it like shes overdressed and alone at a party. You heard that here second as well.
Jasmin Savoy Brown, Liv Tyler. Photo: HBO

Well never know what caused the Sudden Departure, the instantaneous disappearance of 2 percent of the worlds population at the center of HBOs critically acclaimed drama The Leftovers. Series co-creator Damon Lindelof has said so, repeatedly, and if anyone knows the danger of promising answers hes in no position to deliver, its the guy who did Lost. Its a smart move, too: By taking What happened? off the table, it leaves the show free to explore a far more open-ended and rewarding question: What happens next?

But heres the thing. We in the audience may know that the Sudden Departure will always be an unsolved mystery, but the people in the world of the show itself sure dont. Much of The Leftovers is driven by the theories, belief systems, religious doctrines, mystical mumbo-jumbo, and out-and-out nihilism embraced by its various characters to explain the world-changing event and give life meaning afterward. Below, youll find the major schools of thought through which the people of The Leftovers attempt to understand their weird world.

It was scientific.

Theres gotta be a logical explanation! If millions of people around the globe suddenly vanished, this would be a natural response. For one thing, determining what caused the Sudden Departure with science might prevent it from happening again, either on a global scale or on a person-by-person, region-by-region basis. For another, if you can figure out why they disappeared, you might also be able to determine where they went, whether theyre still alive, and whether they can be brought back. Finally, theres plenty of money to be made doing the research.

Unfortunately, that research has come up empty. The Denzinger Commission, a high-profile scientific inquiry funded by the U.S. government, announced that its findings were inconclusive in the pilot episode. Various theories have nonetheless been trotted out throughout the series. Could it be, as one episode title put it, A Matter of Geography that caused Nora Dursts whole family to depart from their kitchen, or that kept Jarden, Texas, departure-free? Could certain individuals like Nora function as a lens, concentrating whatever force it was that wiped those around her out of existence? In many cases the proposed answers are pseudoscience at best  the scientists who propose the lens theory to Nora, for example, also happen to believe that shes the human instrument of the demon Azrael. Regardless, statistical anomalies like the situations of Nora and Jarden, which break the Departures 2 percent pattern, tend to draw scientific study the same way people who prove immune to a pandemic do.

It was supernatural.

In a sense, duh. When 2 percent of the worlds population vanishes into thin air, that isnt a natural occurrence. But what we mean here is that instead of having some scientific cause beyond current human capacity to uncover, the Sudden Departure was beyond science entirely  that it was mystical, or magical, in origin.

This theory leads some believers to connect the Sudden Departure with the Rapture, an event described in evangelical Christian eschatology as the bodily removal of righteous believers from the Earth prior to the traumatic events of the apocalypse. (This was the basis of the megapopular Left Behind series.) While many congregations large and small, mainstream and extremist, hold to this interpretation, it has a major flaw: Good people and bad people from every religion (and from no religion at all) departed on October 14. But anomalies in the evidence dont matter much in matters of faith.

It shouldnt be surprising that the Sudden Departures possibly divine origin  not to mention suffering through a catastrophe of this magnitude with no conventional explanation, or even the closure of dead bodies, in sight  led to an uptick in religious displays. Schools now allow, and even encourage, prayer. New denominations sprang up by the score. The state literally named the town of Jarden, Texas, Miracle after it was spared any departures; inside the city limits, regular residents coexist with stylite hermits and dudes who conduct Old Testament animal sacrifice.

 and a lot of other supernatural stuff is happening, too.

Heres where it gets tricky. The Leftovers could have left the Sudden Departure alone as the sole, uh, departure from the physical laws that govern our existence and then simply depicted the aftermath. Think about it like The Walking Dead: Just because there are zombies doesnt mean that there have to be vampires and wizards and dragons or whatever running around too.

However, the show continuously hints at other mysterious phenomena taking place, albeit on a much smaller scale. Many of these incidents could have rational explanations. For example, mental illness is a possibility in the cases of the visions that afflict Kevin Garvey and the voices that haunted his father. Coincidence and happenstance could play a role as well: Perhaps the town of Jarden, Texas, just got extremely lucky, as did Reverend Matt Jamison when his wife Mary snapped out of her coma after spending time in Jarden. Then theres the power of belief  the psychosomatic triumph of mind over matter that makes people feel that cult leader and sex predator Holy Wayne (and, later, his former acolyte Tommy Garvey) is able to absorb their pain with a magical hug.

But some incidents cant be explained away that easily. Kevin survives not one, not two, but three brushes with death that really should have been enough to kill him: drowning, poison, and a shot to the chest. Jardens resident psychics Isaac and Virgil are shown to know things about the lives of other people  whether its information about loved ones long dead or premonitions about the future  that would be impossible to guess so accurately or suss out by natural means. Even Patti, the dead leader of a Guilty Remnant cell who haunts Kevin through much of season two, is able to issue warnings to him about events in his near future that she couldnt know about if she really were just a mental manifestation of his guilt. Finally, there are Kevins two postmortem, pre-resurrection visits to a purgatorial afterlife/alternate reality/who knows what, where he has to perform various tasks in order to return to the real world  could be the fever dream of an injured brain, could be a genuine trip across the astral plane. If any one of these occurrences are verifiably mystical, that makes the possibility that the Sudden Departure was as well a lot more likely.

It doesnt really matter.

This existentialist viewpoint is embraced by most of the shows protagonists  and, interestingly, its antagonists. What difference does it make why or how the Sudden Departure happened? It happened, and unless and until we get an ironclad explanation, all we have to reckon with is a senseless tragedy that effectively destroyed the lives of every human being left on Earth. The only question is how to cope.

Some people adopt a pretty laissez-faire approach, not really caring how you choose to live your life so long as you dont mess with those of others. But such live and let live types can get pretty touchy when their boundaries are crossed: Consider Kevin Garveys often hair-trigger response to cults during season one, or John Murphys vigilantism against alleged mystics and miracle workers in season two. Nora Durst alternates between periods of paranoid guilt over potentially having caused her familys departure and spite and rage against anyone who believes she, or anyone else, caused it to happen at all.

The hardest of the hard core on this end of the spectrum are the Guilty Remnant, the shows most prominent cult. They dress in white, live communally, take a vow of silence, chain-smoke (what the hell difference does it make, right?), use physical punishment against defectors (or as a false flag to heighten tensions with local communities), and stage confrontational protests to shock normies. Why? To serve as living reminders that whatever the cause, the Sudden Departure was the end of the world as we know it, and carrying on like everythings normal or that theres some hope for the future is a near-criminal act of denial.

Under the leadership of Meg Abbott, who assumes control of the group from within during season two, the GR grow more lenient about their practices, wearing civilian clothes and speaking aloud. (They still smoke a lot.) They become more extreme in their tactics: menacing school buses full of children with hand grenades, raping interlopers before dousing them in gasoline and threatening to set them on fire, and murdering innocent bystanders whove seen too much. And they get much more ambitious in their goals: Instead of screwing with individuals who lost family or friends in the Departure, or harassing whatever random locale they happen to live in, they take aim at the biggest symbol of hope in America: Jarden, the town the Departure passed over entirely. They storm the towns gates en masse, leading thousands of pilgrims and tourists of all possible beliefs into this supposedly sacred ground to loot, celebrate, worship, fight, or whatever they care to do. The point is that nothing is sacred, or even just normal. When 140 million people departed, they took normal life with them.
The Bengali-favourite fish is not on sale in Bangladesh's markets due to the breeding season.

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: The Bangla New Year celebration starts just after ending the night of the North Indian Baisakhi. The eating of swamp rice with Hilsa fish is a ritual that is observed on this day. As a result, the Hilsa fish occupies the market during the celebrations in Dhaka, the capital of Bangaldesh, especially.

But this year Hilsa fish will not pair off with the delicious swamp rice on the celebratory platter. PM Sheikh Hasina has urged people to take vegetables, chillies and omelette instead of Hilsa in order to give hybrid production of this famous fish variety an opportunity to thrive.

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14th April or Pohela Boishakh--the beginning of the Bangla New Year--has been observed as a universal festival of Bengalis for a long time now. And as the whole world knows, Bengalis are fond of food, especially the delectable combination of fish and rice. On this special occasion, the menu consists of a dish called Panta-Ilish (Swamp Rice-Hilsa).

Panta Ilish, or Swamp Rice with Hilsa, is a celebratory dish in Bangladesh. Picture courtesy: Pinterest/zuranazrecipe.com

Also Read: Bengali food myths: This group's 'Calcutta' diary shares it all

But this is also the peak season of Hilsa breeding. So the Bangladesh government has banned all kinds of activities surrounding this fish--this includes the catching of Hilsa, as well as its stocks and transport--from March 1 to 30 April of this year. Consequently, the sales of Hilsa has also shrinked. On Thursday, a lot of despair was seen among the Hilsa sellers in the Dhaka markets.

Tuhin Mia, a trader at Hatirpul market in the capital said, "People always buy and stock Hilsa before Pohela Boishakh for celebrations. As the ban on Hilsa fishing is on, the import has also grown less."

Another trader, Abdullah Shahin, said, "As the government has banned the Hilsa fishing, people have lost their interest in enjoying the fish now-a-days. Two or more customers are sometimes visiting the markets to buy the fish, but they are losing interest due to lack of good produce."

Also Read: Food diary: A non-Bengali foodie's journey through Kolkata's delicacies

Humayun Ahmed, a customer, said "Hilsa fish is a key to the celebration of Pohela Boishakh festival, but as the government has banned the fishing, we are unable to buy it."

Jhuma Akter, another customer, added that "traditionally we eat Hilsa on the Pohela Boishakh celebrations. But over the last two years Hilsa is rare during the Bangla New Year celebration. So naturally, I am confused whether Hilsa will be available or not to me. If not, Pohela Boishakh will be celebrated without Hilsa fish."

And while Dhaka is in celebration mode today, the lack of this delicious fish variety will definitely dampen the spirits of Bengali foodies.

--- ENDS ---

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Maurizio Cattelan: Be Right Back opens this month. Photo: Maurizio Cattelan Archive

Last April, Maura Axelrods years-in-the-making documentary Maurizio Cattelan: Be Right Back (in which the artist more or less refused to appear) premiered as part of the Tribeca Film Festival at the Guggenheim  the museum where, appropriately enough, Cattelan had what was supposed to be his retirement show in 2011. The screening was introduced by Nancy Spector, who had curated the retrospective and had recently left to be the curator of the Brooklyn Museum. As it turns out, that film screening turned out to be the start of Cattelans comeback: The Guggenheim announced that it was installing a sculpture of his, America, which is a functioning 18-carat-gold toilet. Which, at the time, to tell you the truth, seemed like a slightly tin-eared metaphor for this country at that moment.

Related Stories People Are Waiting Two Hours to See a 18-Karat-Gold Toilet at the Guggenheim

Fast forward a year: America, under Trump, seems brilliantly, depressingly on-point, Spector is back at the Guggenheim, and you can finally see Axelrods film, which opens at Quad Cinema here in New York and on VOD.

And heres the other big news in this item: Cattelan had refused to say how much America weighs, but a well-connected source tells Vulture that it weighs 110 kilos, or about 243 pounds. Which, for one thing, is about what Trump claimed to weigh on Dr. Oz last fall.

Here are some choice quotes from the doc:

1. Victoria Cabello, Italian TV personality

When we were together, he used to say that art was his other woman  his other girlfriend. Ultimately, she was the most important one out of the two of us. And thats the companion with which hes going to die, for sure.

2. Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue magazine art critic

He once told me he cooked a cat, with a priest, in Milan. I asked him if he ate it and he said he did. But I dont know if its true.

3. Victoria Yee Howe, former girlfriend

The older man always ends up with the younger woman. In a way, its kind of fucked up. But the older man, he gets a pretty good deal out of it.

4. Francesco Bonami, curator

There are very, very few great artists around, because it is like a sport. Its like being a boxer. You have to smash the face of the other person. Theres not a thing of, Oh, hes a very kind boxer.  You are born a good artist and maybe you will become a decent artist, but a great artist, I think they have something that sets them aside  You have to destroy the face of the other guy  You cant be sentimental.

5. Victoria Armutt, director of Cattelan Archive

He hit on some kind of weird formula. The more he abuses people, the more popular he becomes.
From Oslo, at Lincoln Center. Photo: T Charles Erickson Photography

Diplomacy is a lovely word, suggesting the idea that with tact and perseverance humans can accommodate one another. Yeah, sure. If that seems unlikely, so does the idea that diplomacy could be the subject of a madly engrossing play, and for a similar reason: How do you make tact and accommodation rewarding? More specifically, how do you theatricalize draft treaties and position papers? Yet J.T. Rogerss Oslo, which opened on Broadway tonight in a Lincoln Center Theater production directed by Bartlett Sher, turns the negotiations that led to the Israeli-Palestinian peace accord of 1993 into gripping human drama. To the extent that it does so by making diplomacy not just interesting but moving, its a wonder of savvy stagecraft and wily performance. Its also, quite possibly, a lie.

Im not referring to the fudging a play like this must engage in, even one whose first line is: Its all true. Im not making this up. Rogers has done prodigious enough research to make the necessary character compressions and invented dialogue basically believable, if a little rich. And certainly the story, however unlikely it sounds, really happened: A Norwegian couple  Terje Rd-Larsen and his wife, Mona Juul  did dream up and nurse to success a secret back channel between the bitterest of enemies even as the official talks in Washington and elsewhere got nowhere. Over the course of nine months, in a manor house near the title city, they forced reluctant representatives of Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization to produce the specific blueprints on which a peace might be built. The concept for these negotiations was a theory of diplomacy completely at odds with the formality and gradualism of the standard methods. Rd-Larsen, a sociologist way out on a limb, believed that only by forcing the parties to engage as individuals, over heated discussions but also over delicious waffles and many cases of Johnnie Walker Black, could enemies forge the human connections that made compromise both possible and desirable. Only you together can do this, he tells them. And, sure enough, the breakthroughs in Oslo come not so much from rethinking Gaza and Jerusalem as from the development of personal bonds, as when the main Israeli and Palestinian negotiators discover that each has a daughter named Maya.

When the production opened Off Broadway last July at the Mitzi Newhouse, I found Shers staging remarkably swift and entertaining. That was a mixed blessing, though; at a little over three hours, it seemed too short for its vast subject. Upstairs at the Vivian Beaumont, with a bit of tightening and just one intermission instead of two, it is even swifter, and more vivid. The bigger venue  the Beaumont seats 1,047 for Oslo, the Newhouse sat just 289  has the paradoxical effect of making the already very large performances seem finer-grained as theyve grown; the big personalities now fit the space. Among a large cast in which nearly everyone is a knockout, its hard not to focus on Michael Aronov as the Israeli Uri Savir, whose hilarious swagger takes the second half of Oslo to a fascinatingly weird place. (He wears a sharkskin suit and a form-fitting plum-colored shirt by Catherine Zuber and has the body confidence of a deodorant model.) Counterbalancing Savir, no doubt in life as in the play, are Jefferson Mays as Rd-Larsen and Jennifer Ehle as Juul; all hushed deference covering nerves of steel, they excel in the extremely unusual roles of protagonists rarely seen to do much. They would also make delightful plush toys if LCT needs to upmarket its merchandising.

Its true that the two of them, Ehle especially, are still saddled with a lot of exposition as the play leaps from scene to scene. (And then, the night before, disaster.) Mayss final speech, in which he asks us not to judge the value of diplomacy by where things are now but by how far they came from where theyd started, is also a misstep on Rogerss part. The plea all but invites the audience to start pulling apart the plays thesis, which follows Rd-Larsens: that human connection makes for more meaningful agreements. Certainly the history of Israel and Palestine post-1993 does not offer obvious proof of that, as Rogers well understands; he uses that dramatic irony  in which we know what the characters cannot about the future  to deepen the plays undeniable emotional punch. Conversely, not everything forged by friendship is a success; maybe Molotov and Ribbentrop got along like gangbusters. And perhaps Trump and Putin do, too, or did.

Its natural that Rogers, for whom Rd-Larsen and Juul were Oslos primary sources, would be invested in their point of view, but sometimes he seems less invested than imprisoned; perhaps the play should be called Stockholm. After all, the same history could lead to an opposite conclusion, that the formalism and gradualism of fuddy-duddy conventional diplomacy, making no attempt to forge personal bonds among negotiators, is truer to human nature and thus produces longer-lasting results (if less engaging plays). As Mao, in a witty anecdote related here, says when asked about the lessons of the French Revolution: Too soon to tell. Likewise, the history books will have to decide whether Oslo is great drama or just  just!  a great evening of theater.

Oslo is at the Vivian Beaumont Theater through June 18.
Investigation also revealed that the accused techie had registered himself on three male escort websites offering 'services to women'.

By Ashish Pandey: A software engineer has been arrested for streaming live intimate moments with his wife on porn websites. The Hyderabad based techie believed to have found it as a source of easy money and kept on uploading the videos of love making until someone informed his wife about the obscene videos available online.

Following which, the 28-year-old victim who is also a techie, knocked the door of the Cyber Crime Department of Cyberabad Police. Speaking to India Today, Cyber crime ACP S Jairam confirmed the arrest and revealed that the police received the complaint from the victim in November 2016.

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Initial investigation lead the police to a Kerala based person.

"The tracing of the IP address of the video link first lead us to Thrissur in Kerala. The questioning of the person found there revealed that he had downloaded the clip from a certain porn website and uploaded it to another. Further tracking of the IP address from which the videos were uploaded took us to the husband of the victim."

Investigation also revealed that the accused techie had registered himself on three male escort websites offering 'services to women' with his mobile number.

Cybercrime cops also found that the chat website on which the techie used to live stream his sex session, had around 3000 members. The session could be watched by 'making a payment'. The option provided money to the person who uploaded the sexual content.

The Cyber Crime Police on 7 April arrested the 33-year-old husband of the victim who had earlier worked in a city based Multi National company as a software engineer under IPC section 509 and other IT Acts. The accused has been sent to judicial custody.

Also Read:

When cyber criminals nearly looted USD 170 million from Union Bank of India

Pakistan: Man arrested for selling child pornography online

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A federal judge has extended a stay until Sept. 1 in the civil rights lawsuits filed by bikers arrested but not indicted in the Twin Peaks shootout until.

However, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks warned McLennan County and city of Waco officials that after that, he would need more than their assurances that cases against the unindicted bikers remain under investigation to convince him to keep the stay in place.

Sparks, of Austin, stayed proceedings in the Twin Peaks civil cases in August, saying the criminal prosecutions of the 155 bikers indicted in the cases took precedent over the civil lawsuits.

Attorneys for those bikers who were arrested but not indicted asked Sparks to lift the stay in their cases, but the judge, in a recent ruling, left the stay in place until at least Sept. 1.

The lawsuits name as defendants former Waco Police Chief Brent Stroman, Waco police Detective Manuel Chavez, McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna, the city of Waco and McLennan County.

The bikers claim their civil rights were violated when city and county officials decided to arrest 177 bikers on identical charges and place them under $1 million bonds after the May 17, 2015, shootout in which nine bikers died and dozens were injured.

Im disappointed that Reyna and Stroman continue to hide behind the unsubstantiated claim that even those who have not been indicted are still under investigation,  Dallas attorney Don Tittle said. Not only have they agreed to drop all bond conditions for many of these individuals, many of their lawyers have been told directly that there is little to no chance that their client will be indicted. Regardless, come Sept. 1 well be ready to start putting some people under oath.

Tittle has filed suits on behalf of 31 bikers. Of those, only seven are indicted. Other civil rights lawsuits are expected to be filed before the statute of limitations expires on May 17.

No biker has gone to trial in the criminal case, and several trial dates that were set have been postponed. The first criminal trial is set now for June 5, with Kyle Smith, 50, a Cossack from Kilgore, as the defendant.

Reyna did not return a phone call Friday.

Attorney Mike Dixon, whose firm represents the city of Waco, Stroman and Chavez, said Friday that we will just have to look at those unindicted cases at that time and see where they are at.

Reyna conferred with Stroman by telephone and with Stromans top assistants at the scene of the shootout before the decision was made to arrest the bikers en masse.

Waco police officials already had interviewed and identified a busload of bikers and allowed them to leave Waco before Reyna arrived and conferred with Stroman. After that, every biker with ties to the Cossacks or rival Bandidos went to jail, including some bikers who werent at Twin Peaks when the shooting started.

Sparks instructed the defendants in the case that if the plaintiffs again ask him to lift the stay in cases involving unindicted bikers, they should describe with specificity the status of its criminal investigation into plaintiffs and its expected duration.

An effort to disqualify Reyna from overseeing the prosecution of the biker cases remains pending in Wacos 10th Court of Appeals.
Baylors Helping Hands is a student-led organization that strives to assist mentally or physically disabled students who struggle with everyday tasks and activities.

The organization raises money with the goal of helping fellow Baylor students and students in the greater Waco community with therapeutic, assistive or palliative measures.

Taylor Ernst, Helping Hands founder and president, and executive board member Gabby Walters recently sent helping hands to G.W. Carver Middle School in Waco to donate a set of hearing aids for a hearing-impaired student.

Prior to receiving the hearing aids, this student used an FM system to amplify sound and learn in the classroom. The donation of the sophisticated $3,000 hearing aids enable the student to hear without the need for sign language, lip reading or other forms of amplification.
Midway High School sophomore Ryan Parker competed in the National Trumpet Competition last month in Denver.

Ryan sent in a video to the competition in December and learned that he made the semifinals, which earned him an invitation to perform at the contest, which was held at Metropolitan State College. Trumpeters from all across the country were selected to compete in junior high, high school and college divisions.

He played Kent Kennans Sonata for Trumpet and Piano at the contest.

Ryan went with members of Baylors trumpet section and met players and teachers from high schools all over the country as well as colleges and universities such as the University of Michigan, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, University of Miami, Indiana University and others.
William James Harlan, founder of the Baylor University Student Foundation, died April 7 at age 84.

A Baylor and La Vega High School graduate, Harlan became Baylor director of administrative services in the development department in 1964, according to a university press release.

Five years later, he formed Student Foundation, a group that recruits high school students, raises scholarship money and represent the university. Student members are known for wearing green-and-white striped jerseys.

Student Foundation will vigilantly persist in our work so as to honor Mr. Harlans memory, 2010 Baylor graduate Jordan Hannah said in the press release. He would encourage us to continue to support the kingdom-building work happening each and every day at Baylor University.

Services were held Thursday morning at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, where Harlan was a member since 1964, according to the press release. He was known as the doughnut man, bringing 25 dozen donuts each Sunday. He often volunteered through the church and with United Way.

Harlan enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1953 in the 420th Engineering Brigade and entered active duty in 1955, according to his obituary. He was discharged from the Army Reserve after nine years and entered the U.S. Navy the next day, serving as a chief petty officer at naval air stations until 1978.

Memorials may be made to the Bill and Nancy Harlan Student Foundation Scholarship Fund or Columbus Avenue Baptist Church.

He and (his wife) Nancy impacted the lives of countless students over the 35 years he served the university and continued showing their love and support to our students during their retirement years, said Larry Smith, Baylor assistant vice president for gift planning. Bill was extremely proud of Student Foundation, which is his Baylor legacy.
Telangana-based techie Madhukar Reddy was found hanging in Seattle in the United States on April 4. His wife Swathi attempted suicide at her parents' house in Hyderabad.

By Ashish Pandey: Swathi Reddy, wife of NRI techie Madhukar Reddy who committed suicide in the United States on April 4, attempted to end her life at her parents' home in Kothapet area of Hyderabad on Friday.

After 37-year-old G. Madhukar Reddy, a native of Telangana was found hanging at his house in Seattle, his parents back home had been blaming his wife Swathi for his taking the extreme step.

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The relations between Swathi and her in-laws soured to such an extent that they attacked her publicly at their son's funeral in Bhuvanagiri on Tuesday. Swathi had even sought police protection, fearing for her safety.

SWATHI SAYS NO RIFT WITH HUSBAND

Swati had approached the media and police with evidence that she shared a cordial relationship with her husband, adding that Madhukar was going through some psychological problems, which drove him to commit suicide.

Swathi with her father.

On Friday, Swathi, who also works as a techie in the US and had recently moved into a new house with her husband, attempted suicide by drinking toilet cleaner at her parents' house.

Her parents immediately rushed her to a private hospital where she is being attended to.

Swathi's parents claimed that she was forced to take this step pained by the manner in which her in-laws treated her at her husband's funeral.

Also read | Hyderabad: Newly-wed hangs self, records selfie video alleging dowry harassment by in-laws

Also read | Mumbai: Man uploads video on suicide tutorial before jumping to death from Bandra hotel

MAY ALSO WATCH THIS VIDEO

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Ruth P. Brenner

Jul. 12, 1942 - Apr. 11, 2017

Ruth Payne Brenner, 74, of Waco, passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. A memorial service will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 15, 2017 at OakCrest Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ron Renfro officiating.

Ruth was born in Detroit, Michigan, the eldest child of Sydney and Margaret Payne. Most of her earlier years were lived in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, with her parents and brother, James, and sister Laurel.

Ruth's care for people led her to a career in nursing. She received her RN certification at Abington Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia, PA and soon went to her first job in Boston, Mass. at Boston Children's Hospital. It was in Boston that Ruth and Herb met through a mutual friend. It was there that a wonderful marriage of fifty-five years had it's roots. Ruth and Herb were married in February of 1965.

Over the years she worked as a pediatric nurse, a veterans' care nurse, a hospital head nurse, a family practice nurse, then on to become a nurse with Drs. Bob Brown and Sam Ralston in 1984. Ruth and Sam become very close and patients often called Ruth at home, asking Herb if they could speak to "Dr. Ruth".

At the passing of her father, Ruth was so "taken" with hospice nursing care given to her father, that she reluctantly left private nursing and spend the remainder of her career as a hospice nurse with the Providence Hospice group in Waco.

Wife, Mother, Nurse  that was Ruth.

Preceding Ruth in death were her parents, Sidney and Margaret Payne; and son, Robert Christopher Brenner.

She is survived by husband, Herb Brenner, Jr.; son, and daughter-in-law, Troy D. Brenner and Alexandria (Kess) Brenner; also a sister, Laurel Tackett and brother-in-law, Phil Tackett; brother, James Payne and sister-in-law, Nancy Payne. By marriage, also, Greg and Becka Brenner; plus numerous nieces and nephews from both sides of the family; and "chosen" family, Pam and Brandon Hyatt, and Sam Ralston.

Our utter sadness of loss will, at some time, be replaced by the joy of a "Life Well Lived"

In lieu of flowers, the family requests the memorials made be made to Providence Hospice, 6700 Sanger Avenue, Waco, Texas 76710.
Medicaid: Its not just about hospitals and doctor visits. It may be helping you, your neighbor or co-worker.

When most of us hear about Medicaid, we also think Medicare, a health insurance program that helps pay for hospital visits, doctors and other parts of health care. About 28 percent of the time, we would be right.

We also think that it is health insurance for people on welfare, even though the term welfare has been outdated for a long time. If by welfare we mean people who receive benefits from the government  well, almost everyone is on some form of welfare, including some of the largest businesses in this country (e.g. the oil industry and agriculture) and large employers who pay so little that the only way their employees can often survive is by being eligible for food stamps or other benefits (e.g., Walmart). But thats another story.

If we mean health insurance for people below or near the poverty line, then in fact, the Affordable Care Act  Obamacare  did expand Medicaid eligibility to people making up to 138 percent of the poverty line. For one person, that translates to an annual income of $15,800; for a two-person family, $21,300; three-person family, $26,800; and a family of four, $32,300. Most people and families making that level of income can in no way afford to pay for health insurance out of their own pocket and many have jobs without health-care benefits.

And without Medicaid, the only place you could go would be the emergency room  and that costs we the taxpayers much, much more. Those people are in that 28 percentile.

But Texas chose not to expand Medicaid eligibility through the Affordable Care Act, so about 700,000 people with incomes under those amounts are thus not actually eligible for health insurance at all. That is a little less than the number of people who live in the 17th Congressional District. But that is also another story.

So where does the other 72 percent of Medicaid funding get used? You might have been reading about the Texas Legislature battling over early-intervention therapies for young children with severe disabilities. In 2015, the Legislature cut huge amounts from that program. Some legislators are now trying to restore it.

What do we know? Early intervention is the most important time to provide therapies that will help children with disabilities develop for the long run. Many of these kids are on Medicaid, which means their families are not ruined financially by therapies and complex medical issues. These parents still work (and pay taxes). You may know some of these families. We often call them heroic. I guarantee you: They are grateful for the support, as you and I would be if we were in their shoes.

But early intervention is only a small piece. Think about most of the people in nursing homes in Central Texas. They are somebodys mothers and fathers who cannot afford retirement centers. Medicaid pays for ongoing care: nurses, aides, meals, recreation, housekeeping, and more. Think about the programs supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities  both those who live in group homes and those who live at home with their families. In the latter case, supporting someone living at home is much more cost-effective than residential programs. Both options are far cheaper than an institution. Plus, they get to be part of the communities in which they grew up rather than being uprooted and sent away.

In the past decade, Texas has done some good work to redirect general revenue that paid for some of these supports into Medicaid. And they were able to use Texas taxes to draw down more federal dollars. However, the American Health Care Act  the Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act, some call it  would cut federal Medicaid dollars significantly, which means longer waiting lists for aging parents.

Then think about people with psychiatric issues who, if they cannot afford treatment, can often end up unemployed and homeless or in the largest treatment facility in most of the country  the county jail or a state prison. You may now be able to think of people you know. And through the help of Medicaid, the Heart of Texas MH/MR program has been able to start several creative programs to provide treatment that keeps people with mental illness with minor offenses out of jail, avoids admission to Austin State Hospital, and keeps them from being homeless. If Medicaid funding is cut dramatically, those cases might very well overwhelm community-based nonprofits and county services  or, to put it differently, end up falling totally on local and state taxpayers.

After its defeat last month at the hands of ultra-conservative House Republicans as well as Democrats, new attempts have arisen to revise the AHCA  this time by not just cutting Medicaid but also by eliminating the requirement for essential health benefits, which means required coverage for mental health issues and substance abuse that the ACA required. Think about people you may know who are addicted to drugs or alcohol or whose insurance is now paying for treatment and recovery programs at whatever income level. The new AHCA being crafted would also allow for insurance plans that would not cover pre-existing conditions  something President Trump once thought necessary. How many people in the 17th Congressional District have pre-existing conditions before they get to Medicare age? Around 400,000, about half of the 17th District population. You would know a lot of those people. You, like me, might even be one of them.

The truth is that Medicaid helps thousands of people in our own congressional district live lives that keep them out of more expensive medical and health services that someone would end up paying for. That someone, ultimately, would be you and me. It helps families at multiple income levels to provide care at home while they also work and pay taxes. It provides the opportunity for children and adults with physical, intellectual and/or psychiatric disabilities to learn, grow and/or recover where they learn and grow best, in community settings that enable relationships, participation, and contribution. When given a fair shot, many have the possibility of a job and becoming a taxpayer themselves.

To make this come alive, you plug in the stories of the people you know whose lives are more secure because of one of these kinds of programs, all made possible by this state/federal partnership we call Medicaid. Tell your stories to our elected leaders. If Texas was willing, we could do something about the ongoing stigma of being one of the states with the lowest quality of long range services for people with disabilities and the highest percentage of people who have no insurance at all.

In one of the richest states in the country, and within sight of some of the worlds best health care systems, this is not just a moral shame. It is obscene.
Last week, by a vote of 103-44, the Texas House of Representatives passed a ban on vouchers and any similar programs, including education savings accounts and tax credit scholarships.

The arguments against vouchers are as diverse as the legislators who supported the ban.

Some view vouchers as an effort to pull money out of a public school system that is already inadequately funded. Others, like House Public Education Committee Chairman Dan Huberty, have argued if private schools receive public money, they should be held to the same accountability standards as public schools.

The statewide organization Pastors for Texas Children has even argued that it is morally wrong for government money and meddling to be inserted into the voluntary assemblies of our fine church schools.

Unfortunately, our local representative, Doc Anderson, voted against the ban on vouchers. This came on the heels of a prior vote in which Doc was one of only 27 legislators to support a voucher proposal similar to the one passed by the Texas Senate a few days earlier.

Even more troubling, Doc is not listening to his own constituents.

For the last five years, local elected officials have adopted a list of Community Priorities for each legislative session  identifying issues important to local community efforts. Every session those local priorities have included fully funding local public schools and opposition to vouchers.

A few days before last weeks vote in the Legislature, a group of Waco business leaders, accompanied by Waco ISD Superintendent Bonny Cain and Midway ISD Superintendent George Kazanas, met with Representative Anderson and again shared with him their opposition to vouchers.

It is sad and disconcerting when elected officials elevate loyalty to Lt. Gov. Dan Patricks agenda above the needs of their local communities.

Fortunately for Texas, most representatives  both Democrats and Republicans, including Rep. Kyle Kacal, who represents part of our county  stood last week, by a more than 2-to-1 margin, with students, parents, teachers and neighborhood public schools.

Unfortunately for Central Texas, Doc Anderson did not.
The following movies are showing at first-run theaters Regal Jewel 16 (RJ16), Starplex Galaxy 16 (SG16) and the Waco Hippodrome (WH). Letter grades for movies are from advance reviews; an NR means a movie was not reviewed.

New in theaters

C+ THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS Latest in the Fast and Furious series has Toretto (Vin Diesel) opposed by his old crew, but plot takes a backseat, as always, to plenty of action. Rated PG-13. Strong profanity, suggestive content, prolonged sequences of violence and destruction. 2 hours, 16 minutes. SG16, RJ16, WH.

Also showing

B BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Rich visuals and capable acting highlight an expanded, live-action version of the classic 1991 Disney animated feature. Rated PG. Frightening images, some action violence. 2 hours, 9 minutes. RJ16, SG16.

B BEFORE I FALL A popular teen learns about lasting values in reliving the final day of her life in a youth-targeted story that might make some parents squirm. Rated PG-13. Mature thematic content involving profanity, drinking, sexuality and bullying, all involving teens, and some violent images. 1 hour, 40 minutes. RJ16.

B THE BOSS BABY Credible sibling relationship/rivalry between a 7-year-old (Miles Bakshi) and a management baby (Alec Baldwin) sent from heaven proves the key in this family animation. Rated PG. Mild rude humor. 1 hour, 37 minutes. RJ16, SG16.

C+ THE CASE FOR CHRIST Journalist Lee Strobel, now a Houston Baptist University professor, tells of how his investigation of Christianity turned him to personal belief. Rated PG.Thematic elements including a medical description of crucifixion, incidental smoking. 1 hour, 52 minutes. RJ16, SG16.

B GET OUT Jordan Peele (Key and Peele) shifts from comedy to horror with telling effect with a young black man finding something sinister in a weekend visit to his white girlfriends family. Rated R. Profanity including sexual references, bloody images, violence. 1 hour, 43 minutes. RJ16, SG16.

C GHOST IN THE SHELL Visually dazzling, yet somewhat dull live-action adaptation of the classic 1995 Japanese anime feature about a cyborg haunted by fragments of its human memory. Rated PG-13. Suggestive content, some disturbing images, intense sequences of sci-fi violence. 1 hour, 42 minutes. SG16, RJ16.

C+ GOING IN STYLE Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin and Michael Caine make enjoyable watching in an otherwise routine tale of a senior trio attempting a bank robbery. Rated PG-13. Profanity, some suggestive material, drug reference. 1 hour, 36 minutes. SG16, RJ16.

C+ KONG: SKULL ISLAND New King Kong installment moves action to 1973 with the Vietnam War as backdrop, but tone flips between serious and silly. Rated PG-13. Brief strong profanity, intense sequences of action violence. 1 hour, 58 minutes. SG16, RJ16.

B LOGAN Violent, darker and complex chapter of the X-Man Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) saga has him protecting a child pursued for her special powers. Rated R. Frequent profanity, brief nudity, strong brutal violence. 2 hours, 21 minutes. RJ16, SG16.

C- POWER RANGERS Uneven film adaptation of the cheesy Japanese action series starring superpowered teens loses steam when it cant decide whether to go serious or campy and tries both. Rated PG-13. Profanity, some crude humor, sci-fi violence and action. 2 hours, 4 minutes. SG16, RJ16.

C- THE SHACK Adaptation of William Paul Youngs best-selling novel about a grieving man healed through a metaphorical encounter with the Christian Trinity stumbles on a thin main character and glib answers to hard questions. Rated PG-13. Thematic material, some violence. 2 hours, 12 minutes. RJ16, SG16..

D SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE Undiscriminating children will go for this brightly colored, forgettable story of Smurfettes search for identity. Rated PG. Rude humor, mild action. 1 hour, 30 minutes. SG16, RJ16.

Special screenings

A VERY SORDID WEDDING Gay marriage  and a measure of understanding  comes to a small Texas town in Del Shores often over-the-top comedy.Shores and producer Emerson Collins will be present for a post-film discussion. 7 p.m. Monday WH.

DR. WHO SEASON 10 PREMIERE First episode of the new season with accompanying feature Becoming the Companion and a Dr. Who spin-off, Class. 7 p.m. and Wednesday. RJ16.

RIFFTRAX LIVE: SAMURAI COP The Rifftrax comic commentary team tackles the 1990s grade-Z action film Samurai Cop. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday . RJ16.

THE GRATEFUL DEAD MOVIE 40TH ANNIVERSARY The 1977 film The Grateful Dead Movie, with footage of the Deads 1974 five-night stand in San Francisco. 7 p.m. Thursday. RJ16.
By Press Trust of India: Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), Apr 13 (PTI) Officials of Kheri in India and Kanchanpur in Nepal have agreed upon resolving their border disputes through a joint survey of their boundaries.

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

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The complaint alleges that Jumana Nagarwala performed FGM on girls who were approximately 6 to 8 years old.

By Press Trust of India: A 44-year-old Indian-origin woman doctor has been arrested and charged with performing genital mutilation on girls aged 6 to 8. Jumana Nagarwala has been charged with performing FGM on minor girls out of a medical office in Livonia, Michigan.

According to Nagarwala's profile in the Henry Ford Health System website, she speaks English and Gujarati. According to the complaint, some of the minor victims allegedly traveled inter-state to have Nagarwala perform the procedure.

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The complaint alleges that Nagarwala performed FGM on girls who were approximately 6 to 8 years old. This is believed to be the first case brought under a US law, which criminalises FGM.

Nagarwala, who is an emergency room physician, was arrested and was scheduled to appear in federal court in Detroit.

US AGAINST GENITAL MUTILATION

The number of girls under 18 at risk for FGM in the US has quadrupled since 1997. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 513,000 women and girls are at risk of FGM in the US.

Congress passed a law in 1996 making it illegal to perform genital mutilation or cutting in the US on anyone under than 18. FGM is punishable by up to five years in prison, however, it is not a crime in 26 US states, including Michigan.

"Despite her oath to care for her patients, Nagarwala is alleged to have performed horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims," Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said in a statement on Thursday.

Blanco added that the Department of Justice is committed to stopping female genital mutilation in the US and will use the full power of the law to ensure that "no girls suffer such physical and emotional abuse".

Acting US Attorney Daniel Lemisch of the Eastern District of Michigan said 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," Lemisch said.

COMPLAINT AGAINST JUMANA NAGARWALA

The complaint said federal agents reviewed Nagarwala's telephone records and further investigation revealed that parents of two minor girls had traveled to Michigan.

The girls were later interviewed by a forensic expert and one of the girls said she was told she was coming to Detroit for a "special" girls trip, but after arriving at the hotel, she learned that she and the other girl had to go to the doctor because "our tummies hurt"..The girls had been taken to Nagarwala, who performed the procedure on the girls.

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The World Health Organisation said female genital mutilation comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been cut in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is concentrated.

WHO said FGM, which is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15, is a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

Also Read:

Female genital mutilation should be by choice for adults, says Dawoodi Bohra community head

Speaking the unspoken: An Indian girl's guide for understanding gender discrimination

Also Watch:

Women's Day: Gender parity definitely possible in India, says Maneka Gandhi

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This follows two years of above historical supply, with 10,200 beds delivered to the market, the equivalent of 11 per cent of total stock.

According to Knight Frank research, during the next five years development of close to 40,000 new purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) beds is expected across Australia, as domestic and global institutions awaken to the potential of this maturing investment class.

Student accommodation is big business for property developers and as the demand rises, so too will the sector gain traction as a viable asset class in the real estate investment trust sector.

Following this growth in the purpose built student accommodation sector is interest and activity in the Australian residential private rented sector (PRS) or the Build-to-Rent (BTR) concept, as it is known in Britain, or the established Multifamily Housing sector, as it is termed in the US.

This high demand from within and outside Australia for student accommodation, has seen the opening of a $20 million development in Ryde, Sydney, by Studio 8 Residences.

The 88-room 8 Tucker Street, is now open and features a combination of five-star student accommodation with six-month and one-year leases in rooms with one and two bed spaces.

More than 80 per cent of the suites have been leased by overseas students who want easy access to Macquarie University and other tertiary institutions across Sydney's north western region.

Studio 8 also features short-term executive accommodation, which is being utilised by universities and major companies in the area for interstate and overseas staff visiting Sydney.
A housing development in the '50s, typical of the style of housing commission homes built in this period. Judith Brett, emeritus professor of politics at Melbourne's La Trobe University, says the housing debate is "bizarre". "If you talk about inequality, housing is now an enormous issue. It's not just about having a job, it's also about having parents who can afford to help [with a deposit]. That's going back to a Jane Austen kind of time when access to capital was a major determinant of life choices. That wasn't the case for me and my parents' generations." Former prime minister Sir Robert Menzies did everything he could to help Australians buy a home, says Professor Judith Brett. Income is still important but so is a source of capital separate to someone's salary.

Brett, whose book Menzies' Forgotten People examined the post World War 2 Liberal Party's cultivation of the middle class, scratches her head when she considers the modern day Liberal Party's approach to housing. Victorian senator Derryn Hinch. Credit:Andrew Meares Under Sir Robert Menzies it "was the party that did everything it could to promote home ownership," Brett says. "The Liberal Party now seems to be very confused. It seems to be protecting home ownership as a form of investment." Judith Brett, author of Menzies' Forgotten People, says the current Liberal Party is less concerned about being seen a a party of the wealthy.

Immediately after World War 2, levels of home ownership hovered at about 50 per cent in the cities; the working classes were life-long renters. "Menzies worked very hard to turn that around through war service loans and banks having to put aside money for housing loans. That was central to what the Liberal Party stood for," Brett explains. As result, home ownership levels began to rise. Contrast this to today, where budget speculation has been dominated by what measures - if any - the Turnbull government will introduce to make home ownership feel more like a realistic aspiration. "Housing affordability is very damaging to the credibility of the Liberal Party in terms of its political position. Menzies was very keen not to be seen as a party of the wealthy and the current Liberal Party has a problem with that at the moment," Brett says.

Owning a home in Sydney or Melbourne is quickly becoming the new class divide. Debates in Parliament about whether or not an income of $180,000 makes someone rich seem nonsensical to someone trying to buy their first home at a time when median property values were a record $1.123 million in Sydney at the end of 2016 and $795,447 in Melbourne. A politician's advice that home buyers should get good jobs or get their parents to help them out seems particularly tone-deaf when the median prices of apartments and units has reached $711,256 in Sydney and $459,181 in Melbourne. Earlier this week Justice Party senator Derryn Hinch said home ownership was no longer something young people should feel was their right. "The problem here is that people - I get it's unpopular to say this - but owning your own home is not an Australian right. It's a dream and everybody wants to do it," Senator Hinch said on Tuesday.

"I think [my parents] were in their 40s before they could afford to buy their first home. It's not something you're meant to get - the two-car garage [house] when you're 22. I think... that this generation and the one before think that's the way it has to be. Well, I'm afraid it's not that way." Add to this stagnating wage growth and a widening gap between the top 10 per cent of income earners and the bottom 10 per cent and it is not difficult to see why the Australian National University's 2016 election survey found Australians' satisfaction with democracy has collapsed to its lowest level since the Whitlam dismissal with more than half the people surveyed saying politicians were out of touch and only governing for a few big interests. Earlier this week the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed the typical Australian was a 38-year-old woman living with her husband and two children in a three-bedroom house with a mortgage. But the typical politician, according to Buzzfeed, was a married 51-year-old father of two, who owned two homes and was called Andrew. "Obviously this budget will be about housing affordability. Housing and class defines your position more than it ever did before," Nicholas Biddle, deputy director of the Australian Centre for Applied Social Research Methods at the Australian National University, says.

Home ownership is now a "signal of middle classness" and something that seems further and further out of reach for people with incomes at the lower end of the scale. Dr Biddle says it might feel as if people are able to climb up society's rungs but their ability to do so has decreased in recent years. "In Australia there's less mobility than there was in the 1950s and 1960s," he says, pointing to post-war migration and the opening up of the higher education system as mechanisms that allowed people to rise through the ranks. What academics call "associative mating" became more common. "Previously you would have had a relatively low educated mother with a more highly educated father and everyone goes up," Dr Biddle explains.

Now "people tend to marry people from within their group". Neighbourhoods are becoming more homogenous and education has become about "getting your children into the top school and the top university". All of this is "bad news for people at the bottom", Dr Biddle says. Someone with direct experience of this is Olga Srbovski. Srbovski has worked for The Smith Family for nearly 15 years in Canberra, Wollongong and regional NSW.

She sees first-hand the struggle faced by the people at the bottom and believes Australia must confront the emergence of a new class - the working poor. "There's so much hidden poverty. People are working but they're just scraping by," Srbovski says. Housing is a bigger and bigger issue each year. The waiting times for public housing are increasingly forcing people to seek affordable private housing. The services she oversees - such as programs to help families with education costs - are becoming increasingly stretched. "We're beginning to see more and more families coming in and saying 'we're really struggling'. What we're finding is that more and more classes are asking their kids to bring in their own tablet. If you have three kids and the class is asking you to come in with a tablet it's incredibly expensive. It's all of the added costs."
THERE WAS a late arrival in camp. Evening was falling and we hadn't seen another soul for days, but suddenly there was movement as a seal hauled itself out of the dark waters of Port Davey and flopped down beside our kayaks. Like us, its day was done.

We were at Settlement Point, a former loggers' camp at the northern tip of remote Port Davey. The loggers called it Hells Gates, but this night it was heavenly. Wild orchids sprouted around our tents, the jagged line of the Western Arthurs, arguably the most dramatic mountain range in Australia, formed a serrated skyline to the east, and we had this seal for company.

Kayaking near Port Davey, on Tasmanias wild west coast. Credit:Alamy

Hobart was just 120 kilometres away, and yet it had taken a flight and four days of paddling to get here  and there was almost no other way in. Mere kilometres couldn't express the remoteness of this piece of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Covering almost 20 per cent of the state, the region sprawls from the southernmost coast to the edge of Cradle Mountain. It's one of the world's most significant World Heritage sites, one of only two places to meet seven of the 10 criteria for heritage listing.
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.
Jerusalem: A British exchange student was fatally stabbed Friday by a Palestinian attacker just steps from Jerusalem's Old City, where thousands of Jews and Christians gathered for religious holidays at one of the busiest times of the year, officials said.

Thousands of people filled parts of the ancient city: Jews to celebrate Passover, which ends Monday, and Christian pilgrims for Good Friday. The attack took place inside a car of the city's light-rail train not far from the entrance to the Old City's Christian Quarter.

The woman, identified as Hannah Bladon, 21, was treated for stab wounds in a hospital and later died, police said.

Ms Bladon was an exchange student from the University of Birmingham in England, and arrived in Israel in January to spend a semester at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the university said in a statement.
By PTI: New Delhi, Apr 14 (PTI) Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale will be meeting Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in connection with the case of retired Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by an army court there.

According to sources, Bambawale is expected to raise the issue of consular access to Jadhav as Pakistan has rejected 13 of Indias requests for the same in the last one year.

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Apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhavs family appealing against the verdict. PTI PYK ASK

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By PTI: Hyderabad, Apr 14 (PTI) India plans to launch on May 5 the South Asia Satellite that will benefit all the countries in the region, except Pakistan which is not a part of the project.

"Its going up in the first week of May," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told PTI in a telephonic interview.

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According to ISRO sources, the launch of this communication satellite (GSAT-9) is scheduled for May 5 on board the space agencys rocket GSLV-09 from Sriharikota spaceport.

Kiran Kumar said the satellite, with a lift-off mass of 2,195 kg, would carry 12 ku-band transponders.

"Pakistan is not included in that. They did not want (to be part of the project)," he said.

Sources said the satellite is designed for a mission life of more than 12 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made an announcement about this satellite during the SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in 2014 calling it a "gift to Indias neighbours."

"It (name) was changed to this (South Asia Satellite) because of that only (Pakistan not being part of it)," Kiran Kumar said.

Earlier, it was named as SAARC Satellite.

"Basically, it (the satellite) is meant for providing communication and disaster support, connectivity among States (countries of South Asia region). It will provide a significant capability to each of these participating States in terms of DTH, certain VSAT capacity plus linking among the states for both disaster information transfer and also in terms of library type of things," he said.

"So, there is a significant amount of inter-linking possible among the States (these countries)," Kiran Kumar said.

According to ISRO officials, there is a potential for each participating country to use a dedicated transponder with a capacity of 36 to 54 Mhz for its own internal use.

Each country would be responsible for content generation and its use, they said. PTI RS NP RAX

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By Press Trust of India: Male, Apr 13 (PTI) Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar today called on Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who appreciated Indias continued support and assistance to the island nation and expressed firm commitment to strengthen bilateral ties.

Jaishankar, who arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit to the Maldives, called on the President at the Presidents Office and discussed bilateral issues including development partnership and commercial cooperation.

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"During the meeting, the President expressed sincere appreciation for the continued support and assistance provided by India," an official statement said.

The President also expressed his firm commitment to further elevate existing relations through different avenues of cooperation.

He noted that commercial relations between the two countries would further enhance the greater economic cooperation and development.

The Maldivian President said the Foreign Secretary?s visit would expedite the implementation of the different areas of cooperation between the Maldives and India.

During the visit, Jaishankar also met top diplomats and government officers and discussed ways to strengthen the relations between the two South Asian neighbours. PTI PMS PMS

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The Jammu and Kashmir Police today registered an FIR on the complaint filed by the CRPF.

By Shuja-ul-Haq : A day after videos of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans being beaten, heckled and hurled stones at by a mob in Budgam district in Jammu and Kashmir went viral, the police today registered an FIR.

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 April 9. Eight boys were killed and over 100 injured in firing.

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The DGP of J and K police said that the FIR had been lodged and action would be taken.

"During investigation, we found that the video is authentic. We have identified the company of the force involved and the location of the incident," Inspector General of CRPF Ravideep Singh Sahi said.

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.

"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.

Watch: Decade's most disturbing video: Kashmir's true shame caught on camera

Also read: Jawans assaulted in Kashmir: CRPF set to lodge FIR against locals who attacked men

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Jammu and Kashmir BJP spokesman said to deal with attacks against them the security forces need a free hand.

By Ashwini Kumar: BJP has favoured implementation of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) in original form and give a free hand to security forces in Kashmir valley to deal with the present situation following attacks on CRPF and other forces.

"Their hands are tightened. Their life is in danger as uniformed forces are attacked and they are not able to defend themselves," said Brigadier (retired) Anil Gupta, BJP spokesman. He said restrictions should be removed and again they should be allowed to use pellet guns as it is a non-lethal weapon.

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Harsh Dev Singh, chairman of Panthers Party and former education minister in the Mufti Mohd Sayeed cabinet, also criticised the BJP and PDP alliance government, where security forces are attacked and even beaten up in Kashmir valley. Army has to defend themselves from stone-pelters. He said we have not seen this type of situation in pre-1989 and PDP and BJP is responsible for such situation.

Also read:

Stone-pelting in Kashmir not for money but due to political isolation: Omar Abdullah to India Today

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By State Representative Richard Heath Apr. 14, 2017 | 10:13 AM | MAYFIELD, KY





John Dewey once said, Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself, and I couldnt agree more. A quality education, from grade school and beyond, can transform the life of a young person and put them on a pathway to a lifetime of success.A sound education is at the heart of the American dream. Given this, it is my job as a state legislator to do all that I can to provide a quality learning environment for every student, regardless of their zip code, home life, or economic situation. For this reason, I voted for a piece of legislation, House Bill 520, which establishes public charter schools in Kentucky. Charter schools are innovative, specialized schools that are free from many curriculum mandates, yet must follow all state requirements as they relate to transparency, safety, and finances.Here in Graves County, we have excellent school systems that consistently receive distinguished rankings, and graduate students at a high rate. Our teachers, administrators, and parents do an excellent job of providing a quality education for our students. However, not all of Kentuckys young people have the fortune of living and going to school here. Many students, largely in the Commonwealths urban centers of Louisville and Lexington, need more educational options.Many false assertions have been put out there by opponents of public charter schools. First of all, it is important to note that local control plays a vital role in the establishment of charter schools. Local decision-making authority is something I and many others value, so only local school boards and the mayors of Louisville and Lexington will have the authority to authorize a charter school applicant. Additionally, there is an appeals process to the state school board, so that every proposed charter school can be comprehensively reviewed on both the local and state levels. This will keep frivolous charters out of areas like ours, yet also protect legitimate applications for areas with great educational need.In no way will charter schools take away funding from our local school districts in this part of the state. Safeguards were put into the legislation, based on input that I and many other rural legislators received from everyday citizens, including educators and parents. Under the legislation, public charter schools will be funded exactly like public schools with federal, state, and local per-pupil allocations, which must remain in the school district. Local capital outlay and recurring debt service payments are excluded in this formula, and local school districts get to keep three percent of an established charters funding as an authorizer fee. Transportation funding also remains within the district, unless the district opts to not provide transportation to public charter school students.Many of you have asked why I chose to support public charter school legislation. The answer is this: I am a statewide policymaker. While I am elected by you, and you are my first priority, I still am responsible for crafting legislation for all Kentuckians, from the Mississippi River to Pikeville. Good things are happening in our schools here in Graves County, and charter schools are highly unlikely to ever be applicable here. But more change and innovation are needed in other parts of the state, and it is my job to help make that happen. A one-sized fits all system does not serve all students in our state, and this bill is step one in doing something about it.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 13, 2017 | 10:28 PM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY

Some tips from citizens led to one man's arrest Thursday on several charges.

According to the McCracken County Sheriffs Office, deputies received tips from citizens who claimed that 38-year-old Jose Cruz of Reidland was in possession of a handgun. Detectives knew Cruz to be a felon and could not possess a firearm.

Detectives also learned that Cruz was working at a hotel in downtown Paducah and that he had an arrest warrant for failing to appear for arraignment. Police observed Cruz through surveillance and arrested him on the arrest warrant.

Detectives went to Cruz home on Grogan Circle and found a loaded handgun hidden under a dresser in Cruzs bedroom. Cruz was charged with convicted felon in possession of a handgun, as well as the warrant for failure to appear for arraignment.

Cruz was lodged in the McCracken County Regional Jail.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 13, 2017 | 09:55 PM | SALEM, KY

A former water district employee in western Kentucky was arrested Thursday on a felony theft charge.

Kentucky State Police arrested 53-year-old Kimberly Giltz-Black, of Marion, KY, after an investigation into a reported theft from the Crittenden-Livingston County Water District. State police said the investigation showed that Glitz-Black, a former employee, had stolen nearly $9,700 by manipulating customer payments.



Giltz-Black was charged with theft by unlawful taking, over $500 but less than $10,000 and was lodged in the McCracken County Detention Center.

According to KSP, all stolen funds have been accounted for and the majority of the stolen money has been recovered. Police also said no customer accounts were adversely affected by this theft.
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A Jet Airways flight was forced to return to bay from runway after the fliers started protesting regarding non functioning air conditioning system.

By Divyesh Singh: A Jet Airways flight scheduled for departure from Mumbai airport to Bhopal was stopped from taking off after it had reached the runway when around 130 fliers started protesting about the non-functional air conditioning system.

Around 130 passengers were onboard the Jet Airways flight 9W 7083 (S2 4621) which was, scheduled for departure at 5:55 am from Mumbai and was to arrive in Bhopal by 7:25 am, was delayed by over an hour.

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After boarding the flight, several passengers started complaining of suffocation and non-functioning of the air conditioners. The cabin crew was contacted by several passengers who did nothing about the complaints. The pilot then proceeded from the bay to the runway and was about to take-off when all the agitated passengers reportedly stood up and started protesting. The aircraft was then forced to turn back towards the bay where the technical team looked into the issue and rectified it.

An angry passenger shot a series of tweet about the incident.

Agitated ?? passengers force @jetairways #9W7083 return to bay from runway in #Mumbai because the AC was not working. Pathetic??@awasthis Umesh Upadhyay (@upadhyayumesh) 14 April 2017

The @jetairways flt #9W7083 was going to Bhopal. Why was the plane allowed to close door & proceed 2 take off if there was snag? 1/2 Umesh Upadhyay (@upadhyayumesh) 14 April 2017

In the official statement regarding the incident, Jet Airways spokesperson said "Jet Airways flight S2 4621 of April 14 2017, from Mumbai to Bhopal with 130 guests was delayed due to technical reasons involving cabin temperature, and which led to its ground return. Subsequently, the aircraft was released for onward operations post inspection by the Jet Airways' engineering staff. One guest chose not to travel due to being unwell. While at bay, guests were attended by the airline's customer service team and apologies were tendered for the inconvenience".

Also Read:

DGCA probes Jet Airways, Alliance Air mid-air near miss

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By Sen. Danny Carroll Apr. 13, 2017 | 02:43 PM | PADUCAH, KY





It was an honor to serve you and our district in Frankfort this session. Called the most productive and historic session in history, I, along with my colleagues in the Senate, were proud to stand with Kentuckians as we passed historic legislation alongside our new House Majority. In November of 2016, citizens from across the Commonwealth gave us a mandate through the electoral process to fundamentally change our state. Voters chose a new House Majority to work alongside the Republican Senate Majority and Republican Governor Matt Bevina super trifecta that promised positive change for Kentucky.And that trifecta upheld its promises to the people of Kentucky. As a result, Kentucky has a new identity today that will lead to economic growth, improved financial stability, and a better quality of life for our people. The General Assembly passed quite a few Senate priority bills that have now been signed by the Governor, including:Senate Bill 1, known as the Let Teachers Teach bill, sets out comprehensive education reform that will effectively repeal Common Core standards while giving power back to local school districts and teachers. I was proud to be a cosponsor of this bill and I am extremely proud of the way this bill evolved in response to the concerns of stakeholders throughout the state. Senator Wilson, the bills primary sponsor, and his staff did a masterful job of developing this piece of legislation.Senate Bill 2 increases transparency within the public pension system and adds more members to the Public Pension Oversight Board. Senate Bill 3 is another pension transparency measure that requires the disclosures of the retirement benefit information of current and former members of the Kentucky General Assembly. I believe transparency is crucial as we work our way through the pension crisis in our state and these bills will further those efforts.Senate Bill 4 establishes medical review panels that will ultimately cut back on the number of frivolous lawsuits in our state and save taxpayer dollars. This bill will ultimately help attract physicians to our state and help alleviate physician shortages in many communities.Senate Bill 5, a pro-life measure known as the Pain Capable Unborn Child Act, prohibits abortions after 20 weeks gestation, except in medical emergency cases. I was proud to co-sponsor this bill which will protect the lives of unborn children past the 20 week threshold. I look forward to the day when all unborn children in our state are granted the right to live.Senate Bill 6, known as the Paycheck Protection Act, keeps union employees paychecks from being used for political purposes without their expressed consent.Senate Bill 8 is another pro-life bill that defunds Planned Parenthood by prohibiting the use of state and local funds for abortions. It establishes a funding priority mechanism for the use of federal funds that places state, county, and local community health clinics first in line.Senate Bill 11, The Leeper Act, lifts Kentuckys nuclear moratorium to expand our states energy portfolio and keeps our state competitive in a global energy market. This was my priority bill for this session, and with the help of Rep. Steven Rudy and Rep. Gerald Watkins, we were able to get the bill through the legislature. I am also very grateful to the leadership of the Senate and the House and Governor Bevin for getting the bill signed into law. I believe this law will open up economic opportunities for our region and the entire state in the years to come. It was my honor to name the bill after my friend and mentor, former Senator Bob Leeper, who worked tirelessly for several years to get the moratorium lifted in Kentucky.Senate Bill 17, known as the Charlie Brown Law, preserves students rights to political and religious speech in schools. The legislation was inspired, in part, by an incident in which a Kentucky county school removed the scripture verse from their Charlie Brown Christmas play due to the threat of a lawsuit. Courts have consistently held, however, that schools have the ability to sponsor and host religious and historical programs.Senate Bill 50 provides local school districts the opportunity to move the start of the school year closer to Labor Day. This measure would extend the summer break for tourism activities, cut back on schools utility expenses, and mitigate heat stress on bus riders. The decision to move the starting date back is up to the local school board. The change is not mandatory!Senate Bill 120 is criminal justice reform legislation that helps integrate ex-convicts back into the workforce. It would not apply to those who have violent offenses or who have committed sex crimes, among other exceptions. I was initially opposed to this bill because I felt it was going too far in allowing class C felons to participate in work-release and day-reporting programs. The bills sponsor agreed to remove this language and I voted in support of the bill.Senate Bill 153 aligns state university funding with the states postsecondary education goals by basing funding on how well schools are helping students and the state reach those goals. This new model would be phased in over four years to provide stability to postsecondary schools as they move to this new formula.We also passed a number of Kentucky House priority bills that became law including:House Bill 1, known as Right-To-Work, prevents employees from being forced to unionize as a condition of employment. Kentuckians have the constitutional right to unionize, and they should have the constitutional right to choose not to unionize. Passing Right-to-Work has already attracted a number of businesses to Kentucky this year.House Bill 2, pro-life legislation that requires physicians to provide an ultrasound prior to an abortion, ensures providers offer as much information as possible to women considering an abortion. This measure does allow a woman to opt out of viewing the ultrasound or hearing the heartbeat.House Bill 3 repeals the prevailing wage. Prevailing wage drives up the cost of state government operations as taxpayer-funded projects are completed at inflated rates. The prevailing wage was an irresponsible use of taxpayer money. It is time to let the market decide rates.House Bill 14, known as the Blue Lives Matter bill, makes it a hate crime to violently target law enforcement officials and first responders. I was proud to present this bill on the Senate floor during the session.House Bill 520 allows for public charter schools. After eight years of passing charter policy through the Kentucky Senate only to watch it die in the House, our Commonwealth became the 44th state to offer charters as a publicly funded option for educating our children.We built in many protections in our model to prevent charters from selectively enrolling students in ways that do not benefit the school district as a whole. Our model requires that only Kentucky-certified teachers with the same credentials as current educators can be used for student instruction. Public charter schools must follow the same health, safety, civil rights, and disability rights requirements that are applied to all public schools. In addition, a Kentucky public charter can adopt any and all of the regulations of current schools if they wish.House Bill 471 addresses funding for charters. School districts currently use an allocation model that promotes educational equalization, equity, and adequacy based on the needs of its schools. For charter funding, a similar allocation model distributes a proportionate student allotment to the charter school based on the same factors. No siphoning away of public school funds occurs as money follows the students to whichever public school they choose to attend.Charter advocates range from former President Barack Obama to current Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin. I firmly believe that Kentucky charters will benefit children and families through bold and innovative teaching and learning models. Charters will flourish where they are demanded with oversight by local school boards and through the continued work of quality Kentucky teachers.On a more personal note, I was proud to cosponsor, along with Senator Dennis Parrot of Hardin County, a new page program in the Senate for kids with special needs. The Sunny Page program will promote and facilitate special needs students participation in the Senates daily page program during our annual sessions. Senate staff, the Senate clerks office, and LRC staff were instrumental in getting the program off the ground. I plan to work during the interim to promote the program throughout the state.It is clear the 2017 Session is one for the history books. We passed laws that attract businesses to our state instead of pushing them away. We kept our commitment to Kentucky families by opening up new education possibilities, strengthening laws to protect our children, and giving minors in state care more opportunities to successfully transition into adulthood. We fought for more transparency in the state pension system to uphold the integrity of government. With the Kentucky Senate, House, and Governor working together, we delivered for the people of our great Commonwealth.Although the 2017 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly has come to an end, there is still much to do. Interim joint committees will begin meeting in June and discussing various policy topics that affect our Commonwealth. There has also been much discussion about a special legislative session to discuss tax reform and our failing pension system, and I look forward to continuing those conversations in these upcoming months.
QUESTIONS ABOUT WATER RATE LEGISLATION FOR REPRESENTATIVE CHUCK MCGRADY---AND HIS ANSWERS

"HENDERSON COUNTY (COMMISSIONERS) WOULD HAVE LIKED ME TO FORCE A REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY ON HENDERSONVILLE. I DIDN'T DO THAT."---CHUCK MCGRADY

The way we (at WHKP) see it, you cant get much farther apart than this: Henderson County Commissioner Bill Lapsley sees it as a major step forward. Members of Hendersonville City Council call it a kick in the teeth.

Chuck McGradys water bill, which he created at the urging of county commissioners and Lapsley in particular, if approved by the state house and senate and signed into law by the governor, and if it survives a probable court challenge which in the case of Ashville similar legislation did not, would force the city, which has owned and operated its water system for about a century, to apply to the North Carolina Local Government Commission for approval of any rate increase for water customers outside the city limits.

The Local Government Commission is made up of the Secretary of Revenue, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Secretary of State---and five voting appointees of the governor and the General Assembly.

It is our understanding that, under Rep. McGradys bill, if approved, this would apply statewide to every municipal water system in North Carolina.

Most county residents, businesses, and industries who pay a monthly water bill to the city have not seen, and likely will not see, the actual legislation that would take away a centurys worth of rate setting authority from the locally elected mayor and city council and from the water department that the citizens, residents, and taxpayers of Hendersonville own and hold title to. And there are more questions than answers coming from the public about the why, what, who, where, when, and how of this legislation that could forever change what they pay for water every month and who will make that decision.

For that reason, we sent some of the questions were hearing from the public to Rep. McGrady this week and he promptly responded with answers. Here is that e-mail exchange:

1)How is a state agency (appointed 400 miles away, not elected) as

> remote to "the people" as the LGC (or the utilities commission) any

> more accountable, or accessible, to water customers in Henderson

> County, outside or inside the city, than what we have now...which is

> at least LOCAL access to the elected city council?

Chuck: The LGC is part of the Treasurers Office, and the Treasurer is elected. While water customers hopefully will still go first to Hendersonville to resolve any issues, but they will now have somewhere else to gothey can go to another entity that might not have the viewpoint that the city has about its own system or whatever the issue is. Again, there is nothing to keep water customers from going to Hendersonville, but there is now oversight.

>

> 2)Is it not likely that a whole new regulatory process like this will

> at least slow down, if not curtail, expansion of municipal water lines

> to industries, businesses, and neighborhoods outside the city?

Chuck: No. This is light oversight. The Local Government Commission is not going to be making day-to-day decisions about expanding lines to schools or new industries. However, charging differential rates will be something that will need approval.

>

> 3)What evidence is there that Hendersonville has been using ANY water

> department money, particularly revenue from water customers outside

> the city, inappropriately?

Chuck: Right now? None. In the past, everyone knows that is how cities ran. Look at the 2003 of the NC Court of Appeals which documented Ashevilles case. People might be surprised to find out how much of the city managers salary is allocated from the enterprise funds, though.

>> 4Is it not possible or even likely...that a whole new level of

> approval and regulation like this will slow down, even discourage,

> water department from doing beneficial things outside their municipal

> limits...like water lines to those with contaminated wells in Dana or

> to make a new industry like Trihistil in Mills River possible?

Chuck: No.

>

> 5)Exactly what IS the process the city will have to go through to

> increase rates out in the county? Will this involve public hearings,

> and if so, where? Can the city appeal an LGC decision, and if so, how

> and to whom?

Chuck: They will have to petition the Local Government Commission for approval of differential rates.

>

> 6)Water and sewer are the biggest issues for job-creating industries,

> that are far more concerned with access than with rates...will this

> new level of bureaucracy (approval and regulation)---on the state

> level---not be harmful to growth and the recruitment of job creators?

Chuck: No

>

> 7)When all is said and done, how is the public (water customers) going

> to be any better served, or better protected, when what we'll be left

> with is a whole new (and very remote and unaccountable) level of

> bureaucracy, approval, and regulation...that can still be lobbied

> which in the end will likely give the "good ole boys" in power (i.e.

> the utilities commission and Duke Energy) pretty much whatever they

> want?

Chuck: 70% of the customers are not residents of Hendersonville. Thus, they dont have the option that I have if Im dissatisfied with something with my water. I can vote for a new mayor or council. What do the other 70% do? If they received their water from a private water provider, they could go to the Utilities Commission if they had a complaint. However, they have no ability to influence any decisions about water now.

>

>8)Frankly, this is looking more and more like the way Nancy Pelosi described Obamacare: "We'll have to pass this bill in order to

> find out what's in it.

Chuck: Larry, you are usually one who has a long term perspective and shows lots of common sense. You dont seem to remember a time, not that long ago, when Hendersonville was doing all sorts of bad things. Now Hendersonville has been good for awhile, partly because of change of leadership and good city manager and partly because of the threat of legislative action. It isnt an accident that their differential rates have come down in relation to their other rates. They came down between then Sen Apodaca and I told them that they better adjust them or theyd find themselves as part of a regional water and sewer authority. What Im trying to do to make sure we dont go back to the old ways of doing things when the legislature isnt watching.

Henderson County would have liked me to force a regional water authority on Hendersonville. I didnt do that. Henderson County proposed that I put water systems like Hendersonvilles under the Utilities Commission, and have the Commission approve things in the same way that a private water company is regulated. I didnt do that. I chose soft regulation or oversight of the LGC of the hard regulation that I could have easily provided under the Utilities Commission.

The same questions were "copied" to State Senator Chuck Edwards. Here's his response:

Sen. Chuck Edwards

11:23 AM (16 hours ago)

to me

Larry, All of these are good questions that I am thoroughly exploring before taking a position.

CHUCK EDWARDS, SENATOR

NC 48th District; Henderson, Transylvania, South Buncombe Counties

(919) 733-5745 Raleigh Office

(828) 785-4177 District Office

www.NC48.com

Questions and notes by WHKP News Director Larry Freeman

i
In a tweet, Kollywood icon Kamal Hassan today slammed an attack on CRPF jawans in Srinagar's Budgam, which happened earlier this week. Meanwhile, actor Anupam Kher said it was time to expose "not only these fringe elements, these terrorist-loving people, but also those people who do not comment when something like this happens."

By India Today Web Desk: "Shame on those who dare touch my soldiers." That's what Kollywood legend Kamal Haasan said today about an attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel returning from a polling station in Srinagar's Budgam earlier this week.

In a tweet, the outspoken actor said the CRPF had set a "fine" example, and explained what he thought the "height of valour" was.

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Here's his message.

Integrrate into India . Shame onthose who dare touch my soldiers. Height of valour is nonviolence. CRPF has set a fine example- Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) April 14, 2017

Kamal Hassan's remarks came on a day when actor Anupam Kher posted a Twitter video in which he said it was time to "get together" and expose "not only these fringe elements, these terrorist-loving people, but also those people who do not comment when something like this happens."

As a peace loving person I may applaud our soldiers for their restraint. But I still want to say, "Don't take panga with our soldiers."???? pic.twitter.com/VN0nH0AqDx- Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) April 14, 2017

Videos of the attacks show jawans being hit on the head, having their helmets taken off, and greeted with cries of "Go India, Go Back." But all this fails to provoke the soldiers.

Later, the same group of jawans had to take positions and fire 30 mortar shells to disperse the crowd.

CRPF DIG Sanjay Kumar plans to identify the jawans and "recommend them for an award for showing restraint."

(Inputs from Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu)

ALSO READ | Jawans assaulted in Kashmir: CRPF set to lodge FIR against locals who attacked men

ALSO READ | LeT militants attack CRPF convoy in Srinagar; one jawan killed, 5 injured

ALSO WATCH | Decade's most disturbing video: Kashmir's true shame caught on camera

--- ENDS ---
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According to reports, the Pakistan ISI has directed Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen to coordinate and orchestrate a Kashmir Summer Strategy, to stoke unrest in the Valley.

By Ashwini Kumar: As the Kashmir valley begins to settle after five days of unrest ensuing the Srinagar bypoll on April 9, reports suggest strategies are being hatched to stir violence again.

According to reports, Pakistan ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) has directed Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants to coordinate and make a 'Kashmir Summer Strategy' to stoke unrest in the Valley.

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Intelligence agencies say that District Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Saddam Padder recently met with LeT terrorists to discuss terror plans.

Sources say that at least 18 terrorists from Shopian, Kulgam and Awantipura participated in a summer strategy. This comes in tow after reports suggested that more than 35 Kashmiri youth joined terror outfits last year during Kashmir unrest period from same districts.

ATTACK, PLANS AND MORE

Zeenat-ul-Islam, an IED expert and an ex-member of Al-Badar terror outfit has now joined Hizbul Mujahideen.

Sources say the terror groups have been given specific targets and areas so that attacks can be intensified after Darbar move.

Intel reports also indicate that the plan is to camouflage the attacks as internal clashes. LeT has been told to interfile attacks and Mujahideen will be claiming the strikes so that it looks like a local upheaval and not one fueled by Pakistan.

Also read: Viral video shows Kashmiri youth tied to the front of moving army jeep

Also read: MHA accuses Pakistan of promoting 'civil resistance' in Kashmir

Also read: Amid growing cries to free Kulbhushan Jadhav from Pak, Kashmiri leader says India must not point fingers

--- ENDS ---
Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale raised the issue of consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav as Pakistan has rejected 13 of India's such requests.

By Praveen Shekhar: Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale today met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua to gain consular access to retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been given death sentence by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and sabotage.

Bambawale raised the issue of consular access to Jadhav as Pakistan has rejected 13 of India's requests since the 46-year-old Indian was arrested by Pakistan in March last year. "Pakistan has denied our request for consular access 13 times," Bambawale said.

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India has also sought from Pakistan the certified copies of the chargesheet against Jadhav and judgment of the Pakistani military court, which delivered the death sentence. Apart from diplomatic options, India will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system, including Jadhav's family appealing against the verdict.

INDIA STUDYING PAK ARMY ACT

The MEA said Bambawale raised the demands - copies of chargesheet and judgment by Pakistan military court against Jadhav. It said India has conveyed to Pakistan that New Delhi will appeal the order and are studying Pakistan army act.

India has demanded consular access to Jadhav for the 14th time. Pakistan said since this is case of espionage, consular access can't be granted, but the MEA said the Pakistani High Court has said that under international law, it must be granted.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar today said India was trying to secure justice for Jadhav. "Injustice has been meted out to him (Jadhav). A kangaroo court has slapped this charge. In spite of all these, we are trying to secure justice for him. We are eager for his return," he said in West Bengal.

"If Kulbhushan Jadhav had a valid Indian passport, then how can he be a spy?" asked General VK Singh, Akbar's colleague in the same ministry.

On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs had said India has no information on Kulbhushan Jadhav's location in Pakistan or his condition and added that the government is in touch with Pakistani authorities on this "immensely important" issue.

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.

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.

VISA CURBS FOR PAKISTAN NATIONALS

Earlier in the day it was reported that New Delhi is likely to impose visa curbs for Pakistani nationals visiting India.

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The step is possibly the first retaliatory measure from India following the death sentence given to Jadhav on charges of spying. Both countries have been at loggerheads over the issue of diplomatic visas over the last six months.

While the Pakistan Army has categorically ruled out any compromise in Kulbhushan Jadhav's case, the Lahore High Court Bar Association today warned lawyers of stern action if they offered to legally represent the Indian national.

ALSO READ:

Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Braj locals want govt to 'teach Pakistan a lesson it won't forget'

Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: MNS wants all Pakistani nationals thrown out of India until his release

Pakistan sentences Kulbhushan Jadhav to death accusing him of espionage

--- ENDS ---
Pakistan PM's advisor on foreign affairs Sartaz Aziz said Jadhav can approach the court to challenge the order within 40 days.

By India Today Web Desk: Claiming that transparency was ensured in the trial of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistan prime minister's advisor on foreign affairs Sartaz Aziz today said as per the law he can challenge the court and move mercy petition.

"As per law, Kulbushan Jadhav has following available options. He has the right to appeal within 40 days to an Appellate Court. He may lodge a mercy petition to the COAS (Chief of Army Staff) within 60 days of the decision by the appellate court," Aziz said in a press statement.

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He said Jadhav may also lodge a mercy petition to the President of Pakistan within 90 days after the decision of COAS on the mercy petition.

Pakistan has alleged that 46-year-old Jadhav was tasked by the Indian intelligence agency RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage and sabotage activities aimed at destabilising and waging war against Pakistan. Jadhav has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court this Monday.

"Kulbushan was involved in both espionage and terrorist/sabotage activities resulting in the loss of many lives and damage to property," Pakistan's foreign policy chief said.

He said Jadhav was allowed to ask question from witnesses. "As per law, Jadhav can approach the court to challenge order within 40 days. He can also move mercy petition," the official said.

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.

PAK CLAIMS DETAILS SHARED WITH INDIA

Aziz also refuted India's statement that the whereabouts of Jadhav was not shared with India.

"Details shared with Indian government on 23rd January but received no response from Indian side," Aziz said.

He also claimed that Jadhav was carrying fake identity cards - one with a Hindu name and another with a Muslim name.

"I would like to ask India why Kulbushan Jhadav was using a fake identity impersonating as a Muslim? Why would an innocent man possess two passports, one with a Hindu name and another with a Muslim name?," he 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.

"India didn't respond to what Jadhav was doing in Balochistan. India should behave with more maturity. Finally, Pakistan is ready to secure itself and to meet any threat. Parliament is united over this issue," Aziz said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had yesterday said India will go to any extent to ensure justice for him.

The death sentence awarded to Jadhav had 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:

Musharraf to India Today: On Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistan will bow down to nobody

Also read:

Basit told India Today Kulbhushan evidence shared; MEA says none received

Pervez Musharraf: ISI has proof against Kulbhushan. Pakistan doesn't need to inform India

--- ENDS ---
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Industry representatives who lobby politicians and civic officials soon may be required to register their activities at city hall.

Mayor Brian Bowman announced details of an administrative report on Thursday that calls for the creation of city halls first lobbyist registry.

Lobbyist registries are an accountability tool used across Canada at federal, provincial and municipal levels to encourage openness and transparency, Bowman said in a statement released by his office. It is important members of the public are able to see who is attempting to influence government decision makers and the reasons behind their efforts, and a tool like a lobbyist registry has been missing from Winnipegs City Hall for too long.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Mayor Brian Bowman says hed like to keep old-school politics out of city hall by making lobbyists more accountable for their actions.

The proposal will be presented to Bowman and members of his executive policy committee (EPC) on Wednesday. If its approved as expected, it will be sent to council for consideration.

The report comes in response to an initiative Bowman raised in early December, calling for the administration to bring back a report on how to register lobbyists. That move appeared to be prompted by harsh criticism from the construction industry toward some areas of the then-proposed 2017 budget.

This is not the first call for a lobbyist registry at city hall. Former councillors Dan Vandal and Scott Fielding called for one in 2014; a committee considered it but it never went any further.

A report from the city auditor in May 2015 also called for the creation of a lobbyist registry.

Council did approve inclusion of a lobbyist registry in early 2016 as part of the mandate for the new position of integrity commissioner.

Just as we did with the integrity commissioner, we are moving forward and establishing a lobbyist registry within the citys existing legislative authority and by doing so we are changing city hall for the better, Bowman said. We cannot afford to move backward, allowing old-school politics back into city hall. A lobbyist registry will help move us forward by ensuring the public gets to see who is trying to influence government decision making and why.

The report to EPC defines a lobbyist as an individual who when representing a financial or business interest, or the financial interest of a not-for-profit with paid staff, communicates with a Member of Council or City staff to try and influence a decision on governmental matters that are outside of the standard process.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

The report states that lobbyists would be required to register contact they have with members of council or civic staff within 10 days of touching base with the individual.

The report says registration is voluntary, because council has no legislative authority to impose penalties or require compulsory registration. The report suggests it will be up to the new integrity commissioner, Sherri Walsh, to propose ways to give the registry some teeth, with measures for enforcement and powers to investigate complaints and penalties, and then propose those changes to the province for legislative amendments to the Winnipeg Charter.

A spokesman for Bowman said he supports proceeding with the creation of the lobbyist registry before the legislative changes are in place, with the intent that Walsh will recommend the appropriate amendments to make the lobbyist registry worthwhile.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

CoW+Lobbyist+Registry+Report+to+EPC+April+2017
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/04/2017 (2034 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba chief who levelled accusations of racism against Manitobas government policies issued a challenge to the premier and anyone else to come and live on a reserve if they think shes wrong.

If people have a visceral reaction to the term racism, they should spend a day, a week, a month to live in one of our communities and live in the shoes, in the houses of our people, Sheila North Wilson, grand chief of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak said Thursday.

I would be happy to arrange some of these experiences so they can understand why people feel hopeless and why they feel this is the most racist province in Canada, North Wilson said.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Northern grand chief Sheila North Wilson unveiled a new, First Nations-led initiative that will assist the province's aboriginal communities in addressing crises.

Manitobas northern grand chief told people at the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations health summit in Saskatoon earlier this week that Manitoba has the most racist provincial government in Canada, a remark later cited in a media report.

Racism is an everyday occurrence; in fact, flying to the conference, North Wilson said she and her assistant were called wagon burners.

The slur came from a man she later confronted on video, asking him, Why did you call us wagon burners?

The unidentified man apologized, saying he was from Texas working in Alberta. I hear it all the time in Alberta. I apologize, he said.

North Wilson said she has nothing to apologize for with her remarks about racism in Manitoba.

She believes if people saw and lived in the conditions indigenous people endure daily, in urban areas or on reserves, theyd agree with her.

I would take the premier for a month, for a week say to Shamattawa or my community, Oxford House. My parents still have a house there. There are problems with mould there. I dont know how he would feel, compared to his house in Costa Rica, to a reserve house. That would be a good juxtaposition. See how he and other people feel about having to live in these conditions. Its just not fair, North Wilson said.

She said the challenge was the result of a wider discussion about indigenous people assuming responsibility for health-care services, because of the lack of health services on and off reserves, which are considered treaty rights but are often disregarded.

She said her remarks werent levelled at any one particular government in this province, but at the bureaucratic machinery that forms policies regarding services for indigenous people.

Theyve carved a flawed track record of provincial policy in general toward indigenous people and the poverty and despair is a result of them, she said.

Im talking about Manitoba as a province. We have a lot of work to do for that road to reconciliation. People still have a hard time accepting the truth of what the realities are Ive heard it, a long time ago, from elders and leaders 20-30 years ago. They always said the government treats us like children and they make decisions for us.

Were at a day and age where we have many capable indigenous people to take care of our own, she said. I truly believe people care, the vigils show that and theyre growing, but we need policies that include indigenous people. Nothing about us without us. Its a simple concept and its overdue.

It seems like were stuck in an historical rut in Manitoba.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca
A former officer of the Research and Analysis wing explains why former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav could not have been an 'asset' of R&AW.

By Prabhash K Dutta: A diplomatic tug of war has been raging between India and Pakistan over death sentence awarded to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav. A military court in Pakistan has pronounced Kulbhushan Jadhav guilty of espionage and sponsoring terrorism in that country.

Pakistan has claimed that its security agencies arrested Kulbhushan Jadhav while he was trying to enter the country in March last year. Pakistan has also claimed that Kulbhushan Jadhav is a spy of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).

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Indiatoday.in spoke to a former R&AW officer, who handled important field operations in 'frontier' regions to verify Pakistan's claim on Kulbhushan Jadhav.The former R&AW officer, who did not wish to be named, said that Pakistan's claim that Kulbhushan Jadhav was an Indian spy sent by its external intelligence agency was 'doubtful'.

"Kulbhushan Jadhav can't be an R&AW asset," asserted the former officer.

WHY KULBHUSHAN CAN'T BE R&AW AGENT: 7 REASONS The R&AW, usually, doesn't send 'outsiders' to Pakistan. As a matter of rule, only 'assets' living in bordering areas are sent across the border as they know the language and practice the same culture. They easily mix up with the local population. Kulbhushan Jadhav is from Maharashtra and had served in the Indian Navy. It is a disqualification for R&AW for any assignment in Pakistan. If the R&AW is to send an 'outsider' to Pakistan, the person must have almost super-human abilities and intellect. The 'asset' must be an extremely keen observer and quick learner, who can assimilate new social behaviour and adopt new practices seamlessly. Such persons are sent on short and extremely vital operations. Kulbhushan Jadhav does not fit the requirements. Also, Kulbhushan Jadhav remained in the region for too long. The R&AW does not send its 'assets' carrying Indian passport and that too through a third country. Kulbhushan was holding an Indian passport and tried to enter Pakistan illegally through Iran. This is not the way R&AW carries out its operations. The R&AW sends its 'assets' to a country only when it has 'source' in that country. The process is always smooth. It is highly unlikely for an R&AW agent to be caught while crossing the border. The R&AW operations are foolproof. What Pakistan counts as evidence in the video of Kulbhushan Jadhav released by its agencies last year, doesn't match with hard facts. Pakistan claimed and Kulbhushan allegedly confessed to have named an R&AW joint secretary by the name Anil Kumar Gupta. There has been no officer bearing the name on that position in the R&AW. Pakistan's claim that Kulbhushan Jadhav had links with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, whom he met briefly can't be true. NSA does not meet field operatives. Moreover, the video released by Pakistan has glaring discrepancies. Kulbhushan Jadhav gives two dates for his retirement from Indian Navy. At one point of time, Kulbhushan Jadhav says that he left Indian Navy in 2001. Later, he says that he is still serving the Indian Navy and will retire in 2022. The video has many such instances giving impression that Kulbhushan Jadhav is in 'unstable state of mind' - possibly due to torture or under the influence of some drug. Businessmen operating in conflict zone, at times, offer to share information with the R&AW. This is especially done by those who don't do well in their businesses. This works on case to case basis with R&AW accepting some offers while rejecting others. But, such persons are never given longer and critical assignments. Kulbhushan Jadhav had small scale business in Iran. It was not possible for him to have 'deep' contacts. It is improbable that Kulbhushan Jadhav was an R&AW 'asset' of any significance.

ALSO READ |

On Kulbhushan Jadhav, India demands Consular access, chargesheet copy, Pakistan army court order

Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Sushma Swaraj warns Pakistan of dire consequences, Opposition corners govt

WATCH VIDEO |

--- ENDS ---
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/04/2017 (2035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Northern Manitoba indigenous leaders criticized the province Thursday for a unilateral decision on budget day to shutter an airport used mostly for medivacs and air ambulances in The Pas.

The Grace Lake Airport, located a 15-minute drive from the local hospital, is one of two airports in The Pas.

The Tory government served notice to the general office of the Mathias Colomb band that it will shut down the airport June 15.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Chief Arlen Dumas, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation

Closing the airport was a cost-cutting decision, according to the notice dated April 11, the same day as the provincial budget.

Arlen Dumas, chief of the Pukatwagan-based Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, said there was no warning ahead of the provinces action.

I feel this is a heavy-handed approach and it shows great disrespect to the people of the north, not only the First Nation people but all the people of the north who rely on these life-saving services, Dumas said at a press conference hosted by the offices of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (northern chiefs) in Winnipeg.

The notice, handed out at the press conference, states the province expects air services to be consolidated at The Pas Airport, a 35-minute drive away in nearby Clearwater.

The Manitoba government has not made this decision lightly or without considerable thought. Two airports serving The Pas has to be unsustainable, the notice read.

The notice dealt a blow to more than political interests in the northern Cree community.

The Mathias Colomb band also runs the Missinippi Airways, a commercial airline based at The Grace Lake Airport, which operates daily flights and is one of five medivac service providers that have used the airport for 30 years.

The proximity to the local hospital turned the airport into a medivac hub in that part of northern Manitoba.

The Grace operates about 1,000 air ambulance flights a year, mostly in Manitoba but also to locations in Saskatchewan, Nunavut and Ontario.

It will cost Missinippi $4 million to relocate to the airport in Clearwater.

Dumas said hes taking his case to the province after the Easter weekend to try to persuade the province keep The Grace open.

Im hoping theyve had a lapse in judgment; theyre going to have an opportunity to address this issue. I have a meeting scheduled Tuesday with officials and well bring forward our concerns to them, Dumas said.

Manitobas Infrastructure Minister Blaine Pedersen said The Pas is the only community in Manitoba with two airports and the provinces decision is final.

He said closing the Grace airport, with its gravel runway, will save the province $250,000 a year and its two staff will be transferred, while making land available for development adjacent to The Pas.

The Clearwater airport is much larger and is the towns choice, Pedersen said.

New Democrat Amanda Lathlin raised the issue in question period, imploring Pedersen to keep Grace Lake open.

She and her daughter both have been medivaced out of Grace Lake, Lathlin said, noting the Clearwater airport is an $80 cab ride and another 30 minutes away.

alexandra.paul@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.

Manitoba Justice Minister Heather Stefanson says she has lots of concerns with the federal governments new legalized marijuana legislation tabled Thursday, but wont speculate publicly what Manitobas next move will be.

We want to listen to Manitobans and consult on that, she told reporters Thursday.

The federal governments proposed law, which sets the minimum age to purchase marijuana at 18, gives provinces some latitude to increase that age, but Stefanson declined to say whether she believes 18 is too young to buy marijuana.

JASON HALSTEAD / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The federal governments proposed law sets the minimum age to purchase marijuana at 18.

We do know that distribution will be provincial, she said, but wouldnt say how and where legal marijuana would be sold, or the taxes that the province might raise from pot.

Within the legislation is hefty penalties for impaired driving. Once passed, the new law would allow police to use screening devices to check for marijuana impairment, while also creating new driving offences for those caught driving while impaired by pot.

In Manitoba, tests are still being conducted on devices that can be used to measure impairment of drivers whove used marijuana, Stefanson said. This will have a cost to our police services. We know how expensive it is to train officers in roadside testing, sobriety testing.

NDP justice critic Andrew Swan told reporters its important to understand marijuana impairment and to avoid criminalizing drivers with a trace of pot in their systems.

Well need to study it more closely, said Swan. Its reasonable to have restrictions on use, like alcohol or tobacco.

Swan said it makes sense to sell legalized marijuana in specific outlets, such as Liquor Marts.

There are a lot of restrictions on tobacco advertising, and similar restrictions for pot advertising need to be spelled out as well, he said.

Swan did express fears that the legislation could bog down in the Senate.

Jeff Peitsch, CEO of the newly licensed Winnipeg medical marijuana producer Bonify, said by email: I support the governments objective of preserving the public interest by protecting the general public, including youth, from inappropriate use and distribution while balancing the interests of access with education and adherence to the highest-quality production standards.

Steven Stairs, who uses medical marijuana to treat severe glaucoma, is happy with the bill.

Theres a lot of good that will come out of this legislation, and not just as a medical marijuana user myself, but as a cannabis advocate, Stairs said. Medical marijuana, specifically, has been a catalyst and almost a jumping-off point for the conversations and the research and the lack of social stigma that goes along with it, towards cannabis.

Stairs said the legislation will allow medical marijuana to users grow their own supplies.

They can say access is there but you still need to have a doctor sign off on your paperwork. If you dont get that doctor, you dont have medical marijuana. Theres a big gate-keeper issue there, he said.

This will hopefully alleviate some of that for the average Canadian who doesnt need 25 or 50 marijuana plants to treat their condition.

They just have a simple condition where four plants in their house, their closet, their garage, will really help their overall health benefits in a progressive way rather than having this limbo state where theyre constantly fighting to try to find a doctor and therefore giving them more stress and prolonging their illness.

Roman Panchyshyn, owner of the decades-old Wild Planet on Osborne Street, nearly shut down his business in 2014 when police were conducting raids on head shops in the city. The legislation might keep him around a bit longer.

If it (legalizing marijuana) is going to increase usage, then we would facilitate all those products for that usage. Anything moving away from the war on drugs is a positive thing because that hasnt worked for decades, he said. Theres a lot of issues there for users. How clean is the product coming out of the government?

At this point I dont have any plans to apply for a dispensary or anything, although thats always an option on the table if that was allowed for stores, he said.

 with files from Martin Cash

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca ashley.prest@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.

Its a worst-case scenario and former St. James resident Kevin Brown is living it.

Brown went to Vietnam eight years ago to be an ESL teacher, and hes lived there ever since. In February, Brown suffered a heart attack and doctors told him his health was stable. However, recent medical tests showed severe arterial blockages and Brown learned that he needs quintuple bypass surgery immediately.

Uninsured, Brown has to come up with $15,000 before surgeons go ahead with the procedure. His sister Vicky Campbell has been trying to connect with friends and family here at home to fundraise for the surgery. She says being so far apart is difficult. Brown cant travel in his current state of health, but he is also a single father to two Vietnamese children who arent able to leave the country with him.

Supplied photo Kevin Brown, former St. James resident and Oak Park grad, currently lives in Vietnam where he requires emergency open heart surgery. Family and friends are rallying to raise the $15,000 needed.

I believe hes very stressed because there in Vietnam, if you have a heart attack and dont have money they dont do life-saving surgery unless you can pay for it, Campbell said. Its stressful because I cant be there. I wish I could help him with the kids. Im trying to do my part by having the fundraiser for him and I just wish I could help him more.

She says that she and Brown chat online daily, but the time difference and other factors make it difficult to connect sometimes. Because Brown isnt an official Vietnamese resident, he has to pay double what a resident would.

There is a chance that if he gets enough of a deposit, theyll book it and get it done and hell just have to come up with the rest, Victoria said. I believe he said its one third of the total.

Browns Gofundme page has raised almost $4,000, and on April 30 Campbell is hosting a bud, spud and chicken fundraiser. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from her by calling 204-997-2135. The event features dinner, a silent auction, a 50/50 draw, a door prize and a bottle draw.

Campbell said because routine health care is so inexpensive in Vietnam, Brown didnt think he needed to pay for coverage.

When you go to the doctor you just pay for it, its not expensive, Campbell explained. Surgery is expensive but we never knew that. When he goes to the doctor he pays a minimal fee and you pay for your prescription and off you go.

Campbell added that while some schools offer their ESL teachers a plan, Browns school did not.

He is thankful for all the friends that have supported him, just happy he has so many friends around that are supportive, Victoria said. He would probably just ask all the friends and family that are out there that can help, it would be wonderful if they could. And the ones that have, thankful that they have.

Browns Gofundme page is here.
CAIRO  Egyptian authorities on Thursday established the identity of the suicide bomber who attacked a Coptic church in the Nile Delta town of Tanta over the weekend, killing 27 people.

The Interior Ministry identified the attacker as Mamdouh Amin, a 40-year-old Egyptian man.

The ministry also published the picture of the bomber, saying he belonged to a cell involved in a second attack on a Coptic church in the coastal city of Alexandria.

At least 45 people were killed in both suicide attacks carried out on Palm Sunday.

On Wednesday, authorities identified the attacker of the church in Alexandria as Mahmoud Hassan, a 30-year-old Egyptian man.

In its statement broadcast on state and private television stations, the Interior Ministry said it had increased to 500,000 Egyptian pounds ($27,700) from 100,000 a financial reward to be offered for information leading to the arrest of fugitive members of the cell.

Three of the wanted fugitives were arrested, the ministry said on Thursday, without giving details.

The statement was released hours after President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi vowed that state agencies would do their best to arrest the perpetrators of the twin attacks and bring them to justice.

El-Sissi made the pledge during a visit to Cairos main cathedral, the seat of Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II, where he offered his condolences for victims of the bombings at the two churches.

State television showed el-Sissi, a Muslim, being welcomed in the cathedral by Tawadros II.

El-Sissi said Egypt was resolved to confront and rout terrorism, a presidential spokesman said.

The Coptic pope said that terrorism would not be able to undermine Egyptian unity, the spokesman added.

The Palm Sunday bombings prompted el-Sissi to declare a three-month state of emergency that went into effect on Monday across Egypt, giving authorities broad powers in fighting an active Islamist insurgency.

Since taking office in 2014, el-Sissi has courted Egypts minority Christian community to an extent unseen for decades.

Egypt has seen a spate of attacks since 2013, when the army, led at the time by al-Sissi, deposed Islamist president Mohammed Morsi, the countrys first democratically elected leader, following mass protests against his divisive rule.

Some of the attacks targeted churches belonging to Coptic Christians, who backed Morsis toppling.
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.
If youre looking for hot political discourse, keep clicking. This isnt about politics; its about our intimate relationships and how they shade every other aspect of our lives.

POTUS just happens to be an easy case study.

Arent you just a little freaked out that POTUS and FLOTUS dont even pretend they are a team, much less committed marriage partners? Hes in Washington. She remains sequestered in a New York penthouse. Gone from the media feed are the First Family moments we were raised on; the meeting of the eyes, the knowing smiles, the holding of hands.

Sure, prior first couples have run the spectrum from those who are soul mates to those whose marriages seem bound together more by duty and obligation than affection.

The common thread among them has been that theyve at least played their part, giving us those images of marital solvency we need to see. Yes, I said, need.

Remember when you were a kid and believing that your parents loved one another made you feel that there was order in the world and that you were safe?

We call the occupants of our White House the First Family for a reason. In some strange way, theyve become our national mom and dad, modeling the domestic tranquility, whether real or fabricated, that makes us feel safe. Yes, even in this cynical age, we expect the man at the top to be a family man.

But why?

Because we know relationships matter. No marriage is inert. A marriage trends up or down, fueling or depleting our reserves of psychic energy. In 30 years of family law practice, Ive seen both the vacant eyes of clients who have clung to dead marriages as well as the radiance in the eyes of those who discovered relationships that feed their souls. When I ask my clients about some of the worst decisions theyve made, they explain that they were in a fog, lonely or depressed.

Sure, we all compartmentalize, in one way or another, just to get through life. But, such a coping mechanism is only somewhat effective and sustains us for a limited duration. Sooner or later, the angst of the personal bleeds into the stoicism of the professional. And, all hell breaks loose.

Mr. President, forgive me if I have speculated. Indeed, I hope you are buoyed and sustained by a relationship where you are truly loved and loving, in return. From such a relationship comes peace, clarity and creativity  the things youll need along the way.

Sir, just let us know how things are going at home so we can try to relax.
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 such as 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.
State capital Bhopal has recorded a high of 41 degrees while in Indore, a high of 40 degrees was recorded till noon on Friday.

By Hemender Sharma: A severe heat wave has enveloped most parts of Madhya Pradesh with the mercury touching 43 degrees in seven districts. According to the meteorological department, the mercury has touched 40 degrees in most parts of the state.

"Khajuraho, Naugaon, Damoh, Hoshangabad Rajgarh, Khargone and Ratlam have already touched 43 degrees and the temperatures are likely to rise further," Weather scientist Umashankar Chauksey while talking to India today said.

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According to Chauksey, the temperatures have risen around three to four degrees above normal in most parts of the state that has led to heat wave like conditions. The weather in the next 24 hours is likely to be hot and dry with hot winds expected to blow across the state.

State capital Bhopal has recorded a high of 41 degrees while in Indore, a high of 40 degrees was recorded till noon on Friday.

In Dewas too, a high of 40 degrees was recorded till noon while Jabalpur recorded a high of 42 degrees.

Mandla recorded a high of 42 degrees while Ujjain recorded a high of 40 degrees till noon on Friday.

District collectors of Bhopal and Indore have all government and private schools to close by noon due to the prevailing heat wave conditions.

Also Read:

Heat wave claims over 100 lives in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana

Beating the heat: Driver in Bihar stops train midway, goes missing for about 2 hours to take cold shower

Also Watch:

Killer heat waves of South India, Karnataka drought, more

--- ENDS ---
A Wisconsin State Patrol trooper was killed early Tuesday morning on Interstate 90/94 in Sauk County when he apparently lost control of his patrol vehicle.

Anthony J. Borostowski was killed in a crash that occurred at about 4:30 a.m. near the intersection with Highway 23. According to a press release from the sheriff's office, Borostowski was on duty and headed east on the interstate when he lost control of his car, entered the south ditch and struck a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Sauk County Coroner Greg Hahn.

Gov. Scott Walker's office released the trooper's name shortly before noon Tuesday.

Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the loss of Anthony Borostowski who passed away early this morning in the line of duty. Anthony was an outstanding trooper and staff sergeant in the Wisconsin National Guard," Walker stated. "I had the honor of meeting him in 2015 when he received the Wisconsin State Patrols Lifesaving Award for saving a mans life by performing CPR. Tonette and I send our prayers to Anthonys family as they grieve the loss of their loved one. Anthony will never be forgotten.

The eastbound lanes of Interstate 90/94 were closed for more than four hours as emergency crews worked at the scene. The interstate was fully reopened to traffic shortly before 9 a.m.

The Sauk County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident.
Molly Gursky wants to encourage women to get more involved in the automotive industry. To do so, shes taking part in an all-female car building project in Phoenix.

Gursky and her husband Steve own and operate Driven Restorations from their rural Randolph home, offering restoration and maintenance services for classic cars and trucks.

Gursky travelled to Florida in 2015 to participate in The Valkyrie Project, an all-female build. In Arizona, Gursky will work with Bogi Lateiner, co-host of Velocitys All Girl Garage. Lateiner, a master technician, owns 180 Automotive, a repair shop in Phoenix.

Gursky said the project is a restoration/modification of a 1957 Chevy truck, which will be powered by a BMW M-5 engine.

It is going to be fast, Gursky said. And it is going to be beautiful.

The build project was dubbed montage due to its combination of a vintage truck powered by a modern European engine.

The Chevy Montage Project began in January.

The project is designed to encourage women to work in the automotive industry and welcomes women of all skill levels to help.

They can come and learn the skills it takes to restore a vehicle of this caliber, Gursky said. You dont have to be a pro.

Gursky, who said she loves to weld, she does much of the body work in the shop.

Its fun because it is different every day, Gursky said. It is really satisfying to build something and to stand back and say, I did that.

Gursky hopes to bring back ideas on how to help educate others and create opportunities to promote interest in careers in the automotive industry, especially with girls.

It is not always glamorous or fun, but it is rewarding, Gursky said.

She wants to host a workshop at Driven Restoration targeted toward women, focusing on basic mechanics and welding.

We need more people who have the confidence to try to learn new things.

Miller Electric, 3-M and BASF, an automotive refinish business, are supporting the Chevy Montage all-female build. The vehicle will be revealed in BASFs booth at the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in Las Vegas from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4.

To learn more about Driven Restorations, visit drivenrestorations.com. For more about the Chevy Montage project, visit refinish.basf.us/montage.
Former Mayville Police Chief Christopher MacNeill altered a drug investigation report in 2011 that involved the son of another police officer, according to information provided to the Daily Citizen through an open records request.

Investigation of the case now involves multiple Wisconsin agencies as Dodge County authorities have moved to distance themselves and avoid conflicts of interest.

MacNeill, who resigned March 31, was investigated by the Watertown Police Department at the request of Mayville Mayor Rob Boelk. Boelks request came after the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation served a search warrant on the city of Mayville Feb. 6. Boelk placed MacNeill on paid administrative leave Feb. 9.

According to investigative records, MacNeill altered a report about the son of a former Mayville police officer.

The report written by Mayville police officer Tony Trunkel originally stated that a 17-year-old boy had two Vicodin pills at Mayville High School on Jan. 13, 2011, and that he swallowed one with a soda and handed one to another student who did the same thing. A teacher caught them in the act.

Trunkel, as well as several others in the report, said the teens father did not ask or pressure anyone to change the report. The student served a five-day suspension, according to school officials interviewed by Watertown police.

The report originally classified the matter as a drug investigation and labeled the teen as a suspect.

MacNeill told investigators during an interview Feb. 21 that he changed the report label from Drug Possession to School Medication Violation.

MacNeill said that he contacted the Dodge County District Attorneys Office about the investigation Jan. 14, 2011, and during a phone conversation, I was advised that this complaint was not prosecutable, due to the lack of evidence and other statements.

MacNeill said he then talked to Trunkel about changing the complaint, in part because he knew the teen wanted to join the military and didnt want the complaint to prevent that when the U.S. Army did a records check.

MacNeill denied that he made other changes to the report. Investigators found the report went from six pages to four and witness statements were removed. Also removed were any references to the drug in question being Vicodin. Investigators conclude that although MacNeill denies removing the statements or drug references. All of these changes ... are consistent with the changes Chief MacNeill admits to making and in the same spirit and intent Chief MacNeill says he used to justify making the changes he admits to.

Trunkel told Watertown investigators that he did not know the report was changed until he was approached by former Mayville Police Chief Bill Linzenmeyer Sr. in 2016.

MacNeill also talked to Linzenmeyer Sr. about changing the report in 2011. Linzemeyer told investigators that he said to MacNeill, You change the report youre going to be fired.

Linzenmeyer Sr. retired as Mayville police chief in 2011. He told Watertown police investigators that he kept a copy of the report when he retired and he asked a police secretary to keep an eye on it in case it changed.

Linzenmeyer Sr. told investigators he want to protect himself in case MacNeill changed the report and then said Linzenmeyer changed it. Linzenmeyer Sr. said he was informed within months of his retirement that the report had been altered.

According to Trunkel, he had a conversation with Linzenmeyer Sr. in August 2016 in the street in front of their homes and Linzemeyer Sr. told him about the changes to the report. The two live across the street from each other. On Aug. 11, 2016, Trunkel found a copy of the original six-page report as well as the current four-page report in his mailbox.

When investigators asked during a Feb. 10 interview why he waited five years to tell anyone about the change in the report Linzenmeyer Sr. said, I dont know how to answer that question.

Investigators also asked him why he told the U.S. Army there was no record for the son of the former police officer. Linzenmeyer Sr. denied he ever got such a request until investigators pulled out a copy of a form with his signature stating there was no record.

I stand corrected on this, Linzenmeyer Sr. said.

When investigators pressed Linzenmeyer Sr. on why he would have said there was no record, he started to have a medical problem and appeared to be having short seizures. The investigators ended the interview and 911 was called.

While they were leaving the two were told that Bill Linzenmeyer Jr., a police officer in Beaver Dam, was on his way to his fathers house. The report said they wanted to leave before having a confrontation with Linzenmeyer Jr.

But a few blocks away, at the corner of Emmer and Breckenridge streets, they were confronted by Linzenmeyer Jr., who was in a pickup truck and according to their report was wearing a Beaver Dam Police Department uniform including body armor. The report states that Linzenmeyer Jr. was using profanity and acted in an aggressive manner after he exited the truck and began to yell at the two Watertown officers.

According to the report, Linzenmeyer Jr. got back in his truck and left when one of the officers contacted the Dodge County Sheriffs Office via radio.

Beaver Dam Police Chief John Kreuziger said Thursday, I am aware of that situation and what occurred, but we cant say anything because it is being investigated by an outside agency.

The Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Office and the Milwaukee County District Attorneys office are investigating that incident.

In the meantime, the states division of criminal investigation continues to investigate MacNeills actions. Boelk asked for that investigation in a letter he sent the first week of March.

Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg said that as soon as he became aware of the direction of the investigation, he also asked the state attorney generals office to get involved.

DCI officials have yet to respond to open records requests made by the Daily Citizen at the end of March.

Capt. Ryan Vossekuil has been running the Mayville Police Department since Feb. 9 and the city has begun looking for an interim chief.
WASHINGTON  So, Donald J. Trump has now exercised his powers as commander in chief, sending Tomahawk missiles to destroy parts of the al-Shayrat air base used for Syrian chemical weapons. This young White House was preening with pride, yet it turned quickly to ambivalence.

Before 24 hours had even passed, the press and the military started asking: Does this attack foreshadow a strategy? Why werent the runways destroyed? Is this mini-attack a prelude or a one-time shot?

President Trump explained ignoring the bases runways because they are so easy and inexpensive to rebuild (not worth our time, really). But these few seemingly innocent words missed the point.

For our, if you will, public relations interests, the worlds TV screens that day should have been featuring Syrian planes and runways in shambles and the Syrian killer-base in ruins. Bashar al-Assad, still safely ensconced in his palaces in Damascus, should have looked like a prisoner encircled by his enemies. Instead, we see business as usual.

And once again, our leaders are being taken in by the American temptation in times of trouble to:

believe that a tentative and essentially ineffective strike, like this one, will change any military balance;

misunderstand the importance of public relations to warfare;

above all, have no idea whatsoever of what the Syrian regime is all about.

Think about it from the inside out: America has such fabulous riches and accomplishments  from its scientific research to its universities, to its accomplished professionals, working men and women and military. There has never been a country like it in history.

But too much of its world standing is judged today by what people SEE of our international actions. Thus, much of our reputation is being damaged or sometimes even destroyed  nearly half a century after the humiliating end of the Vietnam War in 1975  by the fact that we keep getting into so-called small wars where our political and military leaders have no idea how history defines and moves the peoples involved.

Places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia are countries with crazy borders left over from the European colonialists desperate last-gasp mapmaking before they sailed home. Yet, from Vietnam and Laos to Libya and Syria, we havent been able to realize, for starters, that peoples who have been colonized will fight to the death against supposed new colonialists.

Dont misunderstand me: We have individuals in politics, in the Congress, in the universities and in the military who do understand the histories of other nations and how their people are moved (or not moved). For just military examples, take Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, now our hope in the White House, and Gen. James Mattis, secretary of defense. And we have cultural anthropologists and historians galore.

Yet no institutional mechanism exists to bring these individuals together into a group that would be taken seriously and listened to by the men and women actually planning tactics and strategy  from the invasion of Iraq to the bombing of the Syrian base.

An example: The Trump administration originally talked optimistically about working WITH the Russians against ISIS in Syria. Yet, the quite obvious fact is that the Russians, with the Iranians and their tens of thousands of militiamen on the ground in Syria, have not the slightest intention of working with us on anything.

Shouldnt there have been a group in the Pentagon, the State Department or the White House capable of analyzing nations and peoples that should have foreseen that fact?

Impossible, you say? Never been done, you say?

In 1944, as the wars in Europe and in the Pacific wended their bitter ways to an end, Gen. Douglas MacArthur was aware that he would be tapped to take over the rebuilding of Japan. Not exactly a general who went to his staff for advice, he nevertheless was wise enough to form a group in the War Department to study the psyche of Japan and to provide for him the pattern for how he should rule Japan, as he effectively became its substitute emperor.

The group, mostly anthropologists headed by the brilliant Ruth Benedict, had never been to Japan, yet it came out with a report that became the book The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, which showed MacArthur exactly how to rule in the occupation. His was an astounding success, while the book remains today the basis for all studies of the Japanese people.

Pentagon military thinkers, they say, are especially fascinated by the ancient writings on war by the wise Chinese tactician Sun Tzu. If you know the enemy and know yourself, he wrote centuries ago, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. ... If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

Case rested.
The Columbus 4K-8 PTO was the March recipient of the Sentry Round-Up for a Cause funds.

The PTOs fundraising goal is to purchase new playground equipment for both the Columbus Elementary and Columbus Middle School and to not only replace outdated and broken equipment, but to update the entire facility to accommodate the growing need for fully accessible playground equipment. The Columbus 4K-8 PTO is dedicated to helping Columbus school teachers, administrators and staff provide the best learning environments and opportunities for students.

The PTO is very grateful for the Sentry Round-Up program and everyone who donated their change to the PTO playground project, said Susan Cleveland, Columbus PTO board member. The process was trouble free and hugely beneficial to our goal of making the CES and CMS playgrounds accessible to all.

The Sentry Round-Up program is completely supported by customers. At the end of every transaction at the store, a question appears on the pin pad and/or the cashier asks the customer if they would like to round up their total bill to the nearest whole dollar. The extra pennies go into the Round-Up fund.

The Columbus 4k-8 PTO is just one of the many local organizations benefiting from the Round-Up program at Sentry. The Columbus Firemens Service Corp is the current Round-Up recipient for the month of April. If your organization is interested in becoming a Round-Up recipient for a month or any of the stores other fundraising opportunities including Saturday brat fries and summer car washes, stop by Guest Services or email NatashaWoodard@svharbor.com.
Mauston will receive some help from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for its splash pad and dog park projects.

On April 11, the citys common council accepted a Land Water Conservation grant from the DNR, which includes 50 percent matching funds for both projects. Mauston Administrator Nathan Thiel said the total matching amount is about $135,000 for both. The council approved the funding unanimously.

The city has discussed plans for park improvements for more than a year and will also receive assistance through personal donations. Both projects are likely to be completed in 2018.

Street assessments passed

The city moved forward with plans for its upcoming street improvement work, approving construction bids, passing a final resolution on the work, and levying special assessment payments for properties along the construction route.

The full project will be divided into two parts. Project A includes work along the following streets: North and South Hickory, Vine, Genevieve, and Hageman Court. Project B features work on Pine, Prairie and Washington.

A public hearing was held, but no resident addressed the council with concerns about the road work. One resident said the city has too many building restrictions and isnt very welcoming to new residents, but it didnt pertain to the public hearing. In his final meeting with the council, Floyd Babcock said A-1 Excavating, which was the only company to place a bid, was awarded the work for $1,722,817.50 for Project A. For Project B, Babcock said two companies returned a bid and the city approved the low bid of $925,974.75 for J&J Underground.

Director of Public Works Rob Nelson said the street work, mostly curb, gutter and sewer improvements, will begin in May. The city said residents along the streets have been notified. For engineering work, the city approved a contract with MSA Professional Services for $157,500.
While Mauston bar owners may not like the citys decision to end its taxi cab hours at 10 p.m., they have accepted it and are looking for other options to keep patrons safe.

When the decision was made late last year, tavern owners vented frustration the change would affect their businesses. They worried patrons wouldnt stay as late as before because of concerns over driving impaired. On April 10, during the monthly Juneau County Tavern League meeting at Vets Hall in Necedah, members discussed developing a Good Samaritan driver program. It would be similar to a safe ride program where bars could use on-call designated drivers to safely drive patrons home after theyve had too much to drink.

Mauston conducted a study last year about its cab usage and it showed there is higher demand for the service during morning and afternoon hours.

Administrator Nathan Thiel said the city surveyed residents and received feedback on the best times to utilize the taxi service.

He said Mauston also examined public transit services in Black River Falls and Viroqua and both municipalities end their service at 10 p.m.

Local bar owners are still worried the shift in hours will hurt their bottom lines. Sherry Frisch, co-owner of Heinies Bar in Mauston, believes the change has affected business.

People are very disappointed when they find out about the change in hours and that the cab is not available. The cab service was being used, Frisch said. Sometimes the bars do have drivers to take people home, but sometimes they dont. We really do miss the cab service, but we are trying to combat it by using the Good Samaritan program.

The safe driver program isnt volunteer-based. Good Samaritans would be reimbursed through the Tavern League of Wisconsin.

Thats what is nice about the safe ride program, Frisch said. They will pay people who want to do this.

Frisch said finding drivers has been challenging but bar owners could soon get help from the state. A bill going through the state legislature would help fund promotional efforts for the safe ride program. Currently, funds are used primarily to pay drivers, but not to promote the program.

If this bill goes through we can have more advertising, which will get the word out to people their bar has this service, Frisch said. At the state tavern league convention they said it was real close to being passed and there hasnt been much opposition because its a good thing and it would enhance safe ride programs across the state.

Juneau County Tavern League President Adam Tovsen said the bill would help 100 percent in promoting the Good Samaritan program.

A lot of people dont know the options they have so it would make things a lot better, Tovsen said. Its just a good thing to get out to the public.

There is one caveat though: local bars must be a member of the tavern league to use the program. With the citys decision to shift cab service, Tovsen said finding on-call drivers could be the best option going forward.

Tavern owners discussed the change briefly during the meeting. Tovsen said the safe driver program has helped reduce operating while intoxicated (OWI) arrests throughout the state. The state has used fees collected from OWI convictions to help fund the program.

Gerry Smith, who owns the Opera House Bar in New Lisbon, still cant understand Maustons taxi service change.

There are some cities that run their cabs 24 hours per day, Smith said.

Tovsen said Mauston is the only municipality in the county that runs a public transit service.

There is no cab service in Necedah, Wonewoc, Lyndon Station, New Lisbon, so as far as us even having one in Mauston, we are pretty lucky, Tovsen said. They said it wasnt getting utilized enough late at night.

According to Tovsen, the city was getting slammed with calls for service from 7 a.m.  8 a.m. The city claims the service is used more frequently at that time because people need it to get to jobs. Seniors who no longer drive also use the cab frequently for various appointments. Based on the citys survey, it was also being used heavily on Sunday mornings for people to get to church and to grocery stores.

Tovsen said hes curious to see the citys third-quarter data on usage from last year. The city only provided numbers between August and November. But Thiel said at a city council meeting in January it showed demand for the cab was not significant late at night.

Changes in drinking age and BAC level?

Also at the April 10 meeting, Tovsen said he attended the spring state convention and some interesting topics came up.

He said there has been some discussion about lowering the legal drinking age to 19, which would be supported by the tavern league. Tovsen also said the minimum blood-alcohol level could be changed to .05, which he said would be terrible. Utah recently passed a state law lowering the legal BAC level to .05.
Girls from well-to-do backgrounds have voluntarily given up concession on their college fees in Maharashtra, calling it unfair on needy students, whom it is actually intended for.

By Kiran Tare: The Maharashtra government is likely to introduce a policy for girl students who do not want concession in their college fees from the government. The proposed policy titled 'Give It Up Girls Concession' will be run on the lines of the union government's policy 'Give It Up' aimed at giving up the LPG subsidy.

The idea behind the proposed policy came from a first-year student named Urja Bharatiya, who studies at the G.D. Ruparel College in Mumbai. Urja wanted to not avail of the concession in her fees, saying that her father Shrikant Bharatiya was in a good financial condition but the college insisted that she avail the same in accordance with the government policy.

WHAT STUDENTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE POLICY "I was shocked to know that the fees for the entire year at the concessional amount was only Rs 200", Urja said. "I felt I was doing injustice to the needy students", she added. An upset Urja took up the matter with Bharatiya, an officer on special duty in Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' office. He tried to convince officials of the education department to introduce a policy to allow girl students give up concession in the fees. "Talks with the education department are in the final stage", Bharatiya said. "We will soon be in a position to make it a reality." Bharatiya said the policy would also consider the plight of poor girl students. "We are planning to set up a fund for these students to help them financially in their studies." The state government pays the fees of the girl students in their graduation courses. However, professional courses including engineering, medical, architecture have been excluded from this concession. Students are looking forward to this proposed policy. Shraddha Rane, a second-year commerce student, said that she would also give the concession if the policy comes into force. "I don't think it is logical to avail such facilities when my family can bear the expenses of my education", she said.

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Also read | Uttar Pradesh: New education policy for state soon, says Dinesh Sharma

Also read | No govt jobs for those with more than 2 kids, free education for girls, says Assam's draft population policy

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A Poynette man accused of poisoning a dog about two years ago appeared in court for a hearing Thursday in front of a court overflowing with spectators and supporters.

Trent Hebel, 28, who is charged with a single count of felony mistreatment of an animal, appeared in front of Judge Alan White for a probable cause hearing in a case stemming from a May 2015 incident.

The case file includes a handful of letters asking White to impose a stiff sentence. On Thursday, many people arrived early for the 11 a.m. hearing, with eventually more than 50 people filing into the courtroom.

Columbia County Sheriffs Office Detective Sgt. Ben Oetzman was called to testify. Questioned by Assistant District Attorney Christine Genda, Oetzman explained how on May 1, 2015, he was dispatched to an Arlington home where a man showed him plastic containers he found on his property that contained what looked like rat poison and antifreeze, with one of the two containing pieces of meat.

At the time, Oetzman said, the dog that lived there, a golden retriever named Gander, seemed healthy and happy. The dog belonged to the man and his ex-girlfriend, later Hebels ex-girlfriend, who while with Hebel between January and April of that year, reportedly would refer to Gander as their dog, referring to her and her ex-boyfriend.

The following Sunday, Oetzman received another call from a Lodi veterinarian, saying that Gander was sick, with neurological problems and would be euthanized.

In August 2016, Hebel was arrested after Wisconsin Crime Lab analysis matched fingerprints on one of the plastic containers to a sample from Hebel.

Adding to the suspicion against Hebel was an incident early that morning in which Hebel was knocking on the mans door, and leaving a note for Ganders other owner, Hebels ex-girlfriend.

In cross-examination, defense attorney Jonas Bednarek asked Oetzman about a reported suspicious vehicle at the home on April 30, 2015. Oetzman confirmed that, although not certain about the date without looking at the report, the Sheriffs Office received a call about someone at the residence with a scruffy beard, not matching a description of Hebel.

When did the dog become ill? Bednarek asked.

I first found out about it on May 3.

Bednarek continued asking about the suspicious vehicle and person, reported prior to the dog becoming sick, with Genda eventually objecting.

I wanted to see where it was going, said Genda, but its not relevant to this hearing today.

White ruled there was probable cause for the case to continue and Genda requested an arraignment hearing, which White scheduled for May 13.

Since his Sept. 27, 2016, initial appearance, Hebel has been free on a $2,500 signature bond. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to three and a half years in prison.
It has been 30 years since Congress designated Nevadas Yucca Mountain as the secure site for the nations nuclear waste. Since then, taxpayers have coughed up $11 billion creating a repository 1,000 feet underground that would keep the radioactive refuse permanently sealed off. As yet, its still empty. But that could finally change.

Yucca Mountain is in a remote section of the Mojave Desert. But many people in Nevada didnt want the waste, no matter how safe or isolated the storage facility may be. It was the ultimate NIMBY project. One of those opponents, alas, was Harry Reid, who for 10 years was Senate Democratic leader and in a position to get his way. As president, Barack Obama gave Reid exactly what he wanted, closing down the entire effort.

Obamas capitulation defied scientific evidence as well as common sense. A study released by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2014 concluded that the design met all of the agencys requirements. The proposed repository as designed will be capable of safely isolating used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste for the 1-million-year period specified in the regulations, the NRC said. Thats right: 1 million years.

But the technical merits of the facility were, regrettably, beside the point. In 2011, the nonpartisan federal Government Accountability Office found that the Obama administrations decision to terminate the Yucca Mountain repository was made for policy reasons, not technical or safety reasons.

Now that decision stands to be reversed, as it should be. Energy Secretary Rick Perry toured the facility in March, and President Donald Trumps budget plan includes $120 million to revive the project. With Reid finally retired and Republicans in control of Congress, now is the time to get it done.

The 79,000 tons of existing nuclear waste, after all, have to be stashed somewhere. Right now, that somewhere consists of dozens of sites across the country.

These facilities are much less secure and permanent than Yucca Mountain is designed to be. And instead of confining the material to one tiny portion of one state, they leave it scattered over 34 states, with each site requiring constant expense and vigilance.

This haphazard approach makes no sense from the standpoint of safety or security. On the contrary, it creates unnecessary risk of environmental disasters and terrorist attacks  unlike the formidably impregnable Yucca Mountain. It has also wasted huge sums of money, because the federal government has had to pay those utilities that have been forced to store the spent fuel  a tab expected to approach $25 billion. And it stands in the way of expanding nuclear power, which ought to be a priority today as a method of generating electricity without producing greenhouse gases.

Local opponents referred to the 1987 measure designating Yucca Mountain for the nations nuclear waste as The Screw Nevada Act. In fact, the danger to the state was pure fantasy, and the economic benefits were real.

Yucca Mountain is the only viable alternative to the jury-rigged status quo. We hope the Trump administration and Congress will revive it. Because if they dont, were all screwed.
The sweets, including Bengali specialty Sandesh, are being given as a courtesy to Rajnath Singh on Bengali New Year.

By Manogya Loiwal : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sent a box of sweets to Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the occasion of Bengali New Year.

Minister for Urban Development Firhad Hakim, has been assigned with the job of giving sweets to the Home Minister at the airport.

The sweets, including Bengali specialty Sandesh, are being given as a courtesy to Rajnath Singh on Bengali New Year.

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Rajnath Singh is visiting Kolkata just when the Bengali New Year starts.

This is the first visit of the Home Minister in this year and also after the arrest of TMC MP's in Saradha chit fund scam.

It is interesting to note at this point that Rajnath Singh will fly to Bhubaneswar for National Executive Meeting of the BJP and it is in Bhubaneswar that TMC MP Sudip Bandhopadhyay and TMC MP Tapas Pal have been kept in CBI custody.

In another development, Rajnath Singh today advised his BJP's West Bengal unit not to pay attention to the "false propaganda" by the Left Front and the Congress about any "secret understanding" between his party and the state's ruling Trinamool Congress.

Also Read:

BJP condemns remarks of its Bengal youth leader who had announced Rs 11-lakh reward on Mamata's head

Mamata denying BJP permission to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti in Bengal: Rijiju

Bengal BJP chief booked after Mamata warns police action over display of arms on Rama Navami

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M&T Bank Corporation operates as a bank holding company that provides commercial and retail banking services. The company's Business Banking segment offers deposit, lending, cash management, and other financial services to small businesses and professionals. Its Commercial Banking segment provides deposit products, commercial lending and leasing, letters of credit, and cash management services for middle-market and large commercial customers. The company's Commercial Real Estate segment originates, sells, and services commercial real estate loans; and offers deposit services. Its Discretionary Portfolio segment provides deposits; securities, residential real estate loans, and other assets; and short and long term borrowed funds, as well as foreign exchange services. The company's Residential Mortgage Banking segment offers residential real estate loans for consumers and sells those loans in the secondary market; and purchases servicing rights to loans originated by other entities. Its Retail Banking segment offers demand, savings, and time accounts; consumer installment loans, automobile and recreational finance loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, and credit cards; mutual funds and annuities; and other services. The company also provides trust and wealth management; fiduciary and custodial; insurance agency; institutional brokerage and securities; and investment management services. It offers its services through banking offices, business banking centers, telephone and internet banking, and automated teller machines. As of December 31, 2021, the company operates 688 domestic banking offices in New York State, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia; and a full-service commercial banking office in Ontario, Canada. M&T Bank Corporation was founded in 1856 and is headquartered in Buffalo, New York.
Speaking in Panaji, Goa CM Manohar Parrikar said he left Delhi due to the "pressure of the issues like Kashmir while working as defence minister". Earlier in the day, Parrikar also spoke about the issue of Pakistan handing Kulbhushan Jadhav a death sentence.

By Press Trust of India: In a candid admission, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today said the pressure of some key issues, like Kashmir, was one of the reasons why he opted to quit as the defence minister and return to the coastal state.

Parrikar, who was sworn in as the Goa chief minister for the fourth time last month, also said since Delhi was not his area of operations, he used to feel "under pressure" there.

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"The pressure of the issues like Kashmir while working as defence minister in Delhi was one of the reasons why I chose to come back to Goa," Parrikar said while addressing a gathering in Panaji on the occasion of the 126th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar.

"I chose to come back to Goa when I got an opportunity to do so. When you are in the Centre, you have to tackle issues like Kashmir and others," he said.

"Delhi is not my area of operations (and) that is why I used to feel under pressure," Parrikar added.

The former Union minister said that resolving the Kashmir issue was not an easy task and needed a long-term policy.

"It is not so easy to solve the Kashmir issue. To solve (the) Kashmir issue you require a long-term policy," said Parrikar.

"There are a few things, which need to be discussed less... There should be less discussion and more action on the issues like Kashmir, because when you sit for discussion the issues get complicated," he said.

The BJP stalwart said that Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been his "political guru" and he would like to imbibe at least some of his qualities.

ON KULBHUSHAN: 'PAK PLAYING DANGEROUS GAME'

Earlier this evening, Parrikar gave an interview to Doordarshan, saying Pakistan is playing a "dangerous game" in the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the former Indian Navy officer sentenced to death in the neighbouring country on charges of spying.

"Pakistan is playing a dangerous game. Pakistan should understand that if India starts retaliating then it does not have the power to fight back, whatever they may project themselves to be," the Parrikar said.

"But, we want peace. We do not want provocation. So they should send Jadhav back," he said.

"First of all, they have abducted him. He was not in Pakistan. He was in Iran. Iran has said that the Taliban kidnapped him and took him to Pakistan. Pakistan has a habit of doing something or other," Parrikar said.

"....(External Affairs Minister) Sushma Swaraj has given an apt reply -- 'we will not keep quiet' (if Pakistan executes Jadhav). The country will do what is required. We can take care of Pakistan if it tries to do anything ill-advised," he said.

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A military court in Pakistan has sentenced Jadhav to death for alleged espionage. The Indian government reacted strongly to the development saying if the sentence were to be carried out it would be considered as "pre-meditated murder".

ALSO READ | Hope for Kulbhushan Jadhav? Pakistan says his death sentence can be challenged in court

ALSO READ | Manohar Parrikar: Delhi's pollution affected my health

ALSO WATCH | Kashmir's stone-pelters are politically disconnected from India, says Omar Abdullah

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They certainly derive their authority from the positions they hold, but that is not the sole source of their power.

The limits of power are defined by the individuals who wield it. The 10 politicians in our list, recognised as the most powerful in the country, certainly derive their authority from the positions they hold-but that is not the sole source of their power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for example, has mastered silence and secrecy, craftily combining it with an element of surprise to add an aura to his constitutional authority. From the surgical strike to demonetisation, disruption is the new language of power. And as he constructs his vision of New India, his two major force multipliers-BJP president Amit Shah and RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat-have been redefining India's electoral politics and seeking to re-engineer its social discourse. At the same time, Modi's core agenda of development is served by his cabinet colleagues Arun Jaitley and Nitin Gadkari, who have been oiling the wheels of administration to ensure growth in GDP, FDI and road construction.

At the other end of this spectrum are chief ministers-like Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar-who challenge the Modi doctrine. But the narrative of political power has been rewritten this year by two unconventional politicians-UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and jailed AIADMK chief Sasikala-who were suddenly elevated from the fringe to the core. And then there is Rahul Gandhi, the permanent understudy, who is yet to define his place in the political landscape. He could learn from the other members in the list-Modi, Bhagwat, Mamata and Adityanath.

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Rank 1- NARENDRA MODI

Age: 66, Prime Minister of India

PM Narendra Modi

First among equals

Because he is the unchallenged leader of India. With the Congress desperately trying to remain relevant and regional stalwarts restricted to their own turfs, there is no political leader who can serve as a credible alternative

Because the victory in Uttar Pradesh has almost ensured that he will have a second term, and silenced his detractors within the BJP

Because his soaring personal popularity ensures the government massive public support for difficult and dangerous decisions-from the surgical strike in PoK to demonetisation

DID YOU KNOW? When he writes in Hindi or Gujarati, he usually doesn't have to change or rewrite a single word for copy running up to 10 pages

Rank 2- AMIT SHAH

Age: 54, BJP President

BJP President Amit Shah

Poll position

Because he was behind the BJP's massive victory in Uttar Pradesh. This demolished the idea that elections in India are won only on caste- and religion-based platforms

Because he is the prime minister's most trusted lieutenant. He impressed upon Modi the importance of selecting Yogi Adityanath as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh

Because he was behind the BJP's opening up of new political frontiers in places it has traditionally been weak-Assam and Manipur

DID YOU KNOW? He is fond of Hindi movie thrillers, and goes to watch films with his wife, Sonal. He was also a successful trader at the stock market

Rank -3 MOHAN BHAGWAT

Age: 66, RSS Sarsanghchalak

RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat

The organiser

Because he heads the RSS, the ideological guiding force behind the BJP. It's no coincidence that several BJP chief ministers, including Devendra Fadnavis, M.L. Khattar, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sarbananda Sonowal maintain a hotline to Bhagwat.

Because his opinion is asked for whenever the Union government takes a policy decision-appraisals of several key ministries are regularly performed at RSS headquarters in Nagpur. An instance: while framing the new education policy, the HRD ministry took serious note of the RSS's swadeshi philosophy on education.

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DID YOU KNOW? His favourite song in his college days was 'Mere saamne wali khidki mein' from the film Padosan.

Rank 4- ARUN JAITLEY

Age: 64, Union Minister for Finance, Defence, and Corporate Affairs

Union Minister for Finance, Defence, and Corporate Affairs Arun Jaitley

The pointman

Because he is the ultimate troubleshooter for the government-from negotiating with J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti to reaching out to the late J. Jayalalithaa to get the AIADMK on board with GST. It was his negotiation skills that helped the Modi government get the GST Bill passed.

Because he is responsible for ensuring that the Indian economy continues to grow. India is projected to grow at 7.2 per cent in 2017 and 7.7 per cent in 2018. FDI flows into India touched an eight-year high (almost Rs 3 lakh crore) in 2016

DID YOU KNOW? From being a foodie, he has become a disciplined eater, with small meals every two hours

Rank 5- YOGI ADITYANATH/NEW

Age: 44, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath

Raj yogi

Because he has been chosen to rule Uttar Pradesh by the most powerful people in the country-Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Thanks to Adityanath's aggressive Hindutva agenda, he also has the blessings of the RSS, though he has never been a pracharak.

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Because he has emerged as the strongest Hindutva icon of recent times, eliciting comparison even with Prime Minister Modi's initial years as chief minister of Gujarat. There are projections in party circles that he could even rise to be the heir apparent to Modi.

DID YOU KNOW? He owns a revolver worth Rs 1 lakh, and a rifle worth Rs 80,000. He is the only CM to have been booked on an attempt-to-murder charge.

Rank 6- MAMATA BANERJEE/ NEW

Age: 62, Chief Minister, West Bengal

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

Big sister

Because despite facing a grand alliance of the Left and the Congress, the EC breathing down her neck, scams tumbling out of her party cupboard and a flyover collapsing in the middle of the election, she won the 2016 assembly polls with a landslide victory.

Because though the TMC is only the fourth largest party in the Lok Sabha and the fifth largest in the Rajya Sabha, its MPs have emerged as the most vocal opponents of the government in both houses, often eclipsing the principal opposition party, the Congress.

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DID YOU KNOW? She has written 69 books, and relaxes by painting, singing, playing the synthesiser and cooking. She walks around 5 km every day on a treadmill

Rank 7- NITISH KUMAR

Age: 66, Chief Minister, Bihar

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

Power partner

Because he is the most acceptable leader of any probable coalition against the BJP juggernaut. The Congress accepted his leadership in Bihar, with even his bete noire Lalu Prasad Yadav joining hands with him. He can also count on the support of Mamata Banerjee and Naveen Patnaik.

Because he takes his own decisions and stands by his convictions. He did not succumb to pressure over the liquor ban in Bihar, and refused to join the Opposition chorus against Prime Minister Modi's demonetisation move, even publicly applauding it

DID YOU KNOW? He often carries a CD on Yoga Nidra. He loves rasgullas from a shop in Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi. Fav-ourite food: masala dosa

Rank 8- NITIN GADKARI

Age: 59, Union Minister for Roads, Transport and Highways

Union Minister for Roads, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari

The performer

Because he is one of the key ministers in Prime Minister Modi's cabinet. His ministry claims to have constructed 8,144 km of roads in 2016-17, at 23 km per day. He says he wants to raise that to 40 km per day

Because the heads of several Indian banks look at him with gratitude for bringing down the quantum of NPAs (soured loans) on their books. Gadkari managed to get a series of stalled road projects, that banks had issued loans for, off the ground

DID YOU KNOW? When Gadkari was in the US, travelling from San Francisco to Los Angeles, he had the idea of having a new Mumbai-Goa highway constructed along the coast. Work has already begun.

Rank 9- V.K. SASIKALA/ NEW

Age: 60, Interim General Secretary, AIADMK

VK Sasikala, Interim General Secretary, AIADMK

Remote control

Because she successfully made the transition from being a close aide of the former AIADMK supremo to becoming the official inheritor of her legacy. Not only did she have a chief minister of her choice installed, but her control over the party also remains unchallenged despite her imprisonment

Because she remotely controls the levers of administration and power in Chennai's Fort St George from Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, her home until February 2021

DID YOU KNOW? Sasikala prayed regularly at the Vazhakarutheeswarar temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, near Kancheepuram, as she believed the deity had powers to get favourable judgments in civil and criminal cases

Rank 10- RAHUL GANDHI

Age: 46, Congress Vice-president

Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi

Failure to launch

Because despite the party losing successive elections since 2014, there is no threat to his position and authority. After every defeat, the clamour within the party is for his elevation to the top post rather than for his demotion

Because as the de-facto chief of the grand old party, he is a possible pivot around which a grand alliance against the ruling BJP could form. The Congress is the only party acceptable to almost all other parties-from the TMC to the Left, SP to the BSP, JD-U to the RJD

DID YOU KNOW? He got the 2012 Delhi gang rape victim Nirbhaya's younger brother to train at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi in Raebareli-he is now a pilot with a reputed airline. He also helped the elder brother in his engineering studies.

ALSO WATCH | PM Modi to BJP leaders: Don't get carried away by poll victories, work to make India economic powerhouse

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Igor Morozov said that Russia should start a discussion about the recent US test at the UN Security Council.

By Alok Ranjan: A Russian senator has threatened of commencement of a new round of arms race after the US used the largest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan.

The recent use of GBU-43 bomb also called as MOAB in Afghanistan by US may incite a new arms race.

The Russian's Federation Council's Foreign affairs Committee Member Igor Morozov told Sputnik that 'the US test of the new bomb in Afghanistan is an attempt to establish the world dominance with an element of a military threat which may initiate a new round of arms race and increase tension in the world'.

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Morozov further said that Russia should start a discussion about the recent US test at the UN Security Council as quoted by the Sputnik.

Yesterday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed and stated that the US forces used a 22,000-pound MOAB for the first time to conduct a strike on a tunnel structure used by the Islamic State terror group in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

Few days ago, US had carried a massive airstrike targeting the Shayrat air base in Syria which according to Pentagon, was carried out in retaliation for President Bashar al-Assad allegedly ordering a chemical attack against residents.

As told to the Sputnik at that time, Igor Morozov compared the airstrike on Syria to America's prior military interventions.

He told to Sputnik "The attack on the air base resembles the bombing of Yugoslavia, the military intervention in Iraq, the destruction of Libya and other instances when the United States violated international law". It has become evident that the chemical attack in Idlib was America's provocation to justify the airstrike on the base," he said.

It is still far too early to tell that the use of MOAB by US in Russia will lead to the new arms race but experts are analysing that the bombing may open up a 'can of worms' in view of the fact that Russia has the FOAB, which is reportedly four times as powerful as MOAB.

After the confirmed reports of the using of MOAB came, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned this. "I vehemently and in strongest words condemn the dropping of the latest weapon, the largest non-nuclear bomb, on Afghanistan by US. 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. It is upon us, Afghans, to stop the USA," he said on twitter.

Also Read:

US drops 'Mother Of All Bombs' on Afghanistan but Russia has a deadlier one

US 'Mother of All Bombs' kills 36 Islamic State militants in Afghanistan

Also Watch:

Mother of All Bombs dropped to deny operative space to ISIS: US

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India does not have a Mother of All Bombs or a Father of All Bombs, but it has SPICE that is more than enough to destroy terror camps flourishing under Pakistan's patronage.

By India Today Web Desk: The Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb or MOAB is the heaviest and most lethal weapon that the US Army is said to have used on the Islamic State camp in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.

MOAB, also known as the Mother of All Bombs, is the heaviest non-nuclear bomb in the US' armoury. It weighs over 10,000 kilograms including around 8,500 kg of ammunition.

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Russia is also said to possess a similar bomb. They call it the Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power (ATBIP). This bomb is considered four times more powerful than the MOAB. And, they 'lovingly' call it the Father of All Bombs (FOAB).

India does not have either an MOAB or FOAB that can be used against terror groups that pose security threat to the country.

India has the Smart Precise Impact and Cost Effective - simply called SPICE - bomb. SPICE is the biggest conventional bomb that Indian Air Force has under its command for use.

The SPICE is manufactured by Israeli firm Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. It is a precision guided bomb that can be carried on Mirage 2000 fighter planes of the Indian Air Force.

SPICE bomb. (Photo: @hakim_zric77) SPICE bomb. (Photo: @hakim_zric77)

The surgical strike that India carried in September last year is an indication that it too can hit at the terror camps the way the United States does.

So, if and when India decides to carry out an attack on terror camps, the Air Force can carry SPICE. It weighs around 2,000-lb or roughly 1,000-kg.

Apart from Mirage 2000, one variant of Sukhoi-30 MKI can also carry SPICE and deliver at the enemy's camp.

Besides SPICE, Indian Air Force also has 1,000-lb HSLD or High Speed, Low Drag bombs.

The HSLD can be fitted in several fighter planes including Jaguar and Sukhoi-30 MKI versions.

ALSO READ |

At least 2 of 20 ISIS Kerala recruits feared dead in Afghanistan MOAB attack

US drops 'Mother Of All Bombs' on Afghanistan but Russia has a deadlier one

WATCH: Mother of All Bombs dropped to deny operative space to ISIS: US

--- ENDS ---
Be Prepared With Your Health This Easter Bank Holiday Urge Welsh Ambulance Service

This article is old - Published: Friday, Apr 14th, 2017

The Welsh Ambulance Service is calling on members of the public to plan ahead in preparation for the Easter weekend.

Over the Bank Holiday period staff at the Welsh Ambulance Service will be working hard to provide clinical care over the busy Bank Holiday period. However the Trust is asking people in Wales to help preserve the service for those facing life-threatening emergencies.

Anyone with a long term health condition for which they are already taking medication is urged to make sure they have enough of their prescription to last them the whole weekend, as pharmacies are likely to be subject to reduced opening hours or closed completely.

Members of the public are also being encouraged to keep an eye on any elderly or vulnerable family, friends or neighbours and to check their medicine cabinets are stocked with useful and in-date medication.

If youre going away anywhere its important to know the full address youre staying at and check what medical facilities are in the local area.

Richard Lee, the Welsh Ambulance Services Director of Operations, said: As ever, were expecting the Bank Holiday period to be a busy one for us. Thats why were asking for everyones help to make sure were there for those who are seriously ill or injured over Easter.

If you call us for something which is not an emergency you will not be treated any quicker once you arrive at hospital, but you could cause a longer wait for someone who urgently needs our help.

Please Choose Well and consider the range of other services available to you.

He added: If youre feeling unwell and are unsure what to do, NHS Direct Wales is available 24 hours a day by calling 0845 46 47 or if you live in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg area you can use the 111 service.

Theres also your pharmacy, GP, Out of Hours service, opticians and Minor Injuries Unit, where there is no need for an appointment.

The NHS Direct Wales website also has a whole host of online symptom checkers which can offer advice on common health problems.
FOCUS Wales Reveal Full Interactive Programme for 2017

This article is old - Published: Friday, Apr 14th, 2017

A full interactive programme has been revealed ahead of next months FOCUS Wales festival.

Held across multiple venues across Wrexham town centre, this years FOCUS Wales will take place between Thursday 11th and Saturday 13th May. The event is supported by Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government & PRS For Music Foundation

This years event sees the biggest contingent of music industry professionals to descend upon FOCUS Wales to date. Up to 100 delegates will be attending the festival from all corners of the world to offer their industry expertise and take advantage of the fantastic line-up of music and arts taking place across the three day festival.

The international delegates attending this years festival include Igor Lagutenko from V-Rox Festival in Russia, Dan Koplowitz of Friendly Fire Licensing, USA, Patrick Connor of Zandari Festa, Korea, Canadian delegates from Breakout West, Pop Montreal, Manitoba Music, and Music Nova Scotia, plus delegates from France, Netherlands, Germany, Greece, and Poland.

The festivals extensive interactive programme now spans across three days, featuring panel discussions, music industry advice clinics and performances. All interactive sessions are open to weekend ticket holders, and day ticket holders within the day of purchased ticket. The conference venue for Thursday and Friday is The Wynnstay Arms Hotel, Wrexham.

Thursday 11th May kicks off the interactive programme with four panel sessions covering topics Build a Music Career from Your Bedroom, DIY Toolkit: The Pros and Cons of DIY PR, Funding for Musicians and Organisations and Meet the Buyers.

The panels feature a huge variety of international music industry professionals including delegates from VICE, BBC 6 Music, Boomtown Festival, Music Glue, and Liverpool Psych Festival. As well as one to one sessions with Tunecore and The Music Publishers Association.

Thursdays conference comes to a close with a keynote from Don Letts, who will be in conversation with Louder Than Wars John Robb. Don Letts reputation has been firmly established in both the film and music world, having collected a Grammy Award for Westway To The World, his documentary on long time collaborators The Clash and currently through presenting his BBC Radio 6 Music Culture Clash show every Sunday.

On Friday 12th May, panel sessions continue with a Musicians Union clinic at 10am. The day continues with a special international panel The World at Your Fingertips featuring Sarah Shoucri of Pop Montreal, Rev. Moose of Marauder, USA, and others.

The programme continues throughout the afternoon with Meet The Agencies featuring delegates from 13 Artists, ATC Live, and LPO, The Independents with guests including Paul Jones: A&R Manager of Rough Trade, Rich Walker: General Manager of 4AD, and Andy Black of Popty Ping Records.

Alongside the interactive programme is Digital Innovations Day, taking place on Saturday 13th May at Undegun Artspace. Digital Innovations Day will host live performances, panel discussions, and an interactive expo based around brand new digital tech companies.

Further information about all interactive events is available at the FOCUS Wales website.

Access to all interactive events is available on all three day wristband ticket types and day tickets are available here.
At least 36 Islamic State militants have been killed in the US Mother of All Bombs strike in Afghanistan that was launched on Thursday.

By Reuters: As many as 36 suspected Islamic State militants were killed in Afghanistan when the United States dropped "the Mother of All Bombs," its largest non-nuclear device ever unleashed in combat, the Afghan Defence Ministry said today.

The claims have not been independently verified, but ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said no civilians were harmed in Thursday's massive blast that targeted a network of caves and tunnels.

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"No civilian has been hurt and only the base which Daesh used to launch attacks in other parts of the province, was destroyed," Waziri said in a statement, using an Arabic term for Islamic State, which has established a small stronghold in eastern Afghanistan and launched deadly attacks on the capital, Kabul.

The GBU-43B bomb, also known as 'Massive Ordinance Air Blast bomb' is a 21,600 pound (9,797 kg) GPS-guided munition that was dropped from an MC-130 aircraft.

Below is the real video of the US bomb GBU-43/B dropped on Afghanistan:

#WATCH: Aerial footage of US unleashing non-nuclear bomb MOAB against ISIS targets in Afghanistan. (Source: US Central Command) pic.twitter.com/AOu31c344n- ANI (@ANI_news) April 14, 2017

THE RIGHT KIND OF AMMUNITION

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."

"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 in a statement.

The blast radius is believed to be over 300 meters.

Also read: At least 2 of 20 ISIS Kerala recruits feared dead in Afghanistan MOAB attack

Also read: US drops 'Mother Of All Bombs' on Afghanistan but Russia has a deadlier one

Also read: Syria: US-led coalition airstrike mistakenly kills 18 allied fighters

Watch Mother of All Bombs dropped to deny operative space to ISIS: US

--- ENDS ---
Nineteen women recently started driving auto rickshaws becoming Mumbai's first female drivers. "I'm independent and it makes me happy," says one of the drivers.

By India Today Web Desk: A 45-year-old woman is one of Mumbai's first female auto rickshaw drivers who made use of a government scheme which aims at empowering women.

Chaya Mohite is one of 19 women who recently started riding auto rickshaws in the financial capital of India - Mumbai.

"This job is much better than doing household work. I can make more money and it helps us secure our futures," one of Mumbai's first female auto rickshaw drivers Chaya Mohite told AFP.

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Chaya Mohite is mother of three kids who spent the last two months learning to drive at a training centre in Mumbai's eastern suburbs.

"I couldn't even ride a bicycle but today I can drive an auto rickshaw. I'm independent and it makes me happy," Gulf News quoted Chaya Mohite, who expects earning at least Rs 1,000 a day.

STATE GOVERNMENT OF MAHARASHTRA'S SCHEME

Under a scheme introduced by the state government of Maharashtra, five per cent of rickshaw permits are reserved for women.

According to the plan announced in 2016, 465 licenses were provided to women in Mumbai and Thane.

The similar schemes are there in New Delhi and Ranchi where pink coloured autos are seen on roads driven by women as part of a safety initiative but these Maharashtra drivers take both male and female passengers, according to a Gulf News report.

--- ENDS ---
Lawyers representing seven death row inmates scheduled to be executed over 11 days beginning next week are entering the final stage of their legal battle to stop the most concentrated bout of executions in modern US history.

If the attorneys should fail, prisoners Don Davis and Bruce Ward will be put to death by lethal injection on April 17. They will be followed by Stacey Johnson and Ledell Lee, who are set to die on April 20. The following week, on April 24, Marcel Williams and Jack Jones will be put to death, followed by Kenneth Williams on April 27.

The Arkansas Parole Board voted 6-1 on April 5 to recommend clemency for an eighth inmate, Jason McGehee. The board heard testimony that McGehees lawyer at trial barely investigated the case, and that the jury never heard that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and that he had experienced severe abuse as a child, leading him to use drugs and alcohol at a young age.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, has final say on McGehees case and he could still be put to death April 27. He also has final word on the fates of the other seven prisoners as well, and takes the parole boards recommendations as advisory only. Hutchinson has not commented on McGehees case and has indicated he has no intention of stopping the other seven executions.

Arkansas is rushing to kill the inmates before its supply of the drug midazolam expires at the end of this month. Major drug manufacturers, including Pfizer and Teva, have stopped selling drugs for use in lethal injections, forcing states to turn to other sources, such as compounding pharmacies, which are loosely regulated.

Lawyers for nine death row inmates, including those scheduled to die before the end of April, argued in U.S. District Court in Little Rock, Arkansas, that the states accelerated execution schedule will violate their constitutional rights, including their right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.

Judge Kristine Baker is considering a preliminary injunction to stay the executions. Attorneys for the condemned inmates have denounced the planned lethal injections as execution by assembly line, arguing, Our country does not participate in mass executions.

The prisoners complaint points out that the last time a double execution was carried out in the US, it led to a gruesome catastrophe. In 2014, Oklahomas plan to carry out a double state killing was halted after the lethal injection of the first inmate, Clayton Lockett, in which he writhed and groaned for 43 minutes. After prison authorities called off the execution, the prisoner finally succumbed later of an apparent heart attack.

An investigation into Locketts execution found that the prison team tasked with his execution had been under huge stress over the double-execution plan, playing a major part in the mistakes made.

In addition to the horrific end for Lockett, midazolam has played a role in the executions in 2014 of Dennis McGuire, in Ohio, and Joseph Wood, in Arizona. Most recently, on December 8, 2016, Ronald Smith Jr. was witnessed struggling to breathe and coughing for 13 minutes during his lethal injection in Alabama.

The three-drug protocol planned for the upcoming executions is to inject each inmate first with the sedative midazolam, then with the paralytic vecuronium bromide, and finally with potassium chloride to induce cardiac arrest. On Monday, Dr. Joel Zivot, a professor at Emory University and a doctor specializing in anesthesiology and critical care medicine, testified in federal court that this process would be extremely painful for the inmates.

Craig Stevens, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Oklahoma, testified Tuesday that midazolam, a benzodiazepine, is not strong enough to render a person unconscious and unable to feel pain. He said that the states plan to inject the inmates with two doses of 250 mg each would not render them unconscious as the drug reaches a ceiling effect, or maximum level of effectiveness, at 228 mg.

John Williams, an attorney for the inmates, asked Stevens, Did you reach a conclusion as to whether you think that the protocol will lead to serious pain and suffering? Stevens replied, I do, because of the nature of midazolam.

Arkansas has not put anyone to death since 2005, due to legal challenges and the difficulty in obtaining execution drugs. In an article in the Arkansas Law Review, Julie Vandiver noted that the state has had its share of executions gone wrong between 1990 and 2005.

In one, the inmate started to cough three minutes into his execution, and turned blue. Another inmates execution took 69 minutesthe execution team spent 50 minutes to find a suitable vein to administer the lethal drugs. A third inmate appeared to have a seizure and a fourth was talking when the drugs should have rendered her unconscious.

With this months execution dates fast approaching, opposition to the state killings is growing. About 200 religious leaders signed a letter asking Hutchinson to commute the inmates sentences to life in prison without parole.

Sister Helen Prejean, a long-time death penalty opponent, is campaigning to stop the executions, tweeting the phone number of the Arkansas governor and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

Author John Grisham, a native of Arkansas, wrote in USA Today that the assembly-line killings would result in a spectacular legal train wreck. He added, It risks the specter of botched executions, which would haunt everyone involved and take an incredible emotional toll on the innocent staff. The plan simply risks too much.

A few dozen people have kept a regular vigil outside Governor Hutchinsons mansion for weeks. The Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty is planning a protest today at the state Capitol, hoping to draw hundreds. Scheduled to speak is Damien Echols, who spent nearly 18 years on Arkansas death row before he and two other men were freed in 2011 as part of plea deal, in which the three maintained their innocence.
The Guardian newspaper has spent several days arguing with sections of its own readership against welcoming US President Donald Trumps April 6 missile strike on Syrias Shayrat airbase near Homs.

Amid the enthusiasm expressed by various liberal interventionistswho have long demanded all-out war to topple Bashar al-Assadeditorial staff found themselves urging caution and insisting on maintaining hostility to Trump even though supportive of what he has done.

For the Guardian, Trump has still not done enough to prove that his confrontational position towards Russia represents a decisive shift away from his previous search for an accommodation with Moscow.

Jonathan Freedland wrote on April 7, Sometimes the right thing can be done by the wrong person. Donald Trumps bombing of a Syrian airfield seems to belong in that category. ... But that cannot alter the fact that, even as you welcome the act, its author remains wholly untrustworthy.

Freedland made apparent just how untrustworthy he believes the US president is when he declared, How convenient that Trump, under fire for being [Russian President] Vladimir Putins poodle, now stands up to him in Syria. How neatly this blows away all those allegations of secret links and election hacking.

For good measure, Freedland adds a complaint that The US appears to have given Russia sufficient warning to ensure their men werent hit, and Russia used none of its ample capacity to hit back. It all worked out very nicely.

An editorial that day warned against the dangers of a world defined by Trumps impulses...a volatile narcissist without a coherent worldview, moral compass or significant attention span. ...

Among Trumps crimes cited in the editorial was that he had loudly urged Barack Obama not to take action after Mr Assads forces used sarin to kill more than 1,000 people at Ghouta in 2013, and was therefore not to be relied on to take the Cruise missile strike to the next level.

In a historic first, Owen Jones found himself in the position of a supposedly left critic of the liberals now cheerleading a warmongering Trump. ...

On April 9, he asked why many of those who, just three months ago, vowed to oppose a man who was a threat to US democracy and world peace are now eating out of his hands.

It is a measure of the Guardians political problems that responses to Joness article included comments such as: Bad article, clearly Trump is incoherent but when he takes action that is just, fair people will say so, I wish it wasnt Trump to be the one to act but unfortunately Obama was weak, and The knee-jerk anti-Trump reaction to the mans every breath-regardless of the circumstances is becoming an embarrassment to this once great newspaper.

On April 11, David Klion was called on to underscore how Trump cannot be trusted because, whereas he is not a puppet of Putin, he is still a dupe.

The most obvious motivation for the Guardians newly minted pose as an opponent of military intervention in Syria is, therefore, that Trump cannot be trusted to oppose Russia.

The Guardian was, until now, among the foremost advocates of US military intervention in Syria. It even opposed the US signing a ceasefire agreement with Russia and Assad.

One year ago, the day before then-Secretary of State John Kerry signed the Munich agreement, the Guardian declared the battle for Aleppothe taking of the last significant population centre under rebel control by government forcesto be a rebuke to America and the world. Attempts to secure a ceasefire were raising increasingly profound doubts about the coherence of US and western strategy and represented a stain on the record of the US administration for its readiness to ignore red lines.

The close parallel with Trumps own critique of Obamas Syria policy is all too obvious.

Moreover, not one of the Guardians opinion formers bothered to note that the defeated Democrat presidential candidate they all champion, Hillary Clinton, speaking to the New York Times prior to the April 6 bombing, stated, And I really believe that we should have and still should take out his airfields and prevent him from being able to use them to bomb innocent people and drop Sarin gas on them.

There is no doubt that if Clinton had won and had taken the action she now recommends, the Guardian would be cheering her on from the proverbial rooftops.

What drives the Guardian columnists is not opposition to imperialist military intervention in Syria. They want to prevent any political shift by the petty-bourgeois social layer for which they speak that cuts across building an alliance between Britain and the European powersfor which anti-Trump rhetoric now provides the main justification.

The Guardians April 11 editorial criticised Conservative Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for aligning himself too closely with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the G7 summit in Italy regarding Syria and proposed sanctions on Moscow, insisting, Trumps unpredictability demands European steadiness.

No one can blame other countries for seeking to keep their distance from this administration, it argued. Nor can one regard the UKs keenness to walk hand-in-hand with this administrationthe result not only of the longstanding British insistence on the special relationship, but also of a certain desperation in the face of Brexitwithout unease.

It was left to Paul Mason on April 10 to state the position of Trumps liberal critics most forthrightly. He makes clear that, having argued for an anti-Russian, pro-war line to be adopted by the White House, he now fears Trumps unilateral decision to shift to this position will in fact prove detrimental to the interests of British imperialism.

Mason asks, Could Britain ever fight a just war in Syria alongside Trump?

His answer is no, but only from the standpoint that such an alliance would end in the marginalisation of the UK internationally as a result of Trumps America First unilateralist and protectionist agenda.

Mason praises Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn for withholding support for Trumps missile strike, complaining that it only killed civilians because The Pentagon gave Russia 90 minutes warning and The Russians then warned the Syrian airforce.

But he cautions against Labours isolationism and scepticism, declaring of the Large numbers of Labour members and supporters who would never back unilateral action to prevent chemical attacks in Syria, They are wrong.

As a supporter of humanitarian action in Syria, he realises that Britain could not fight a just war in Syria alongside Trump, who has no strategy, whose campaign team and administration is riddled with people under investigation for links to the Kremlin and who may even have attacked Syria as part of a pas-de-deux choreographed from Moscow.

Further military action against Assad would involve the calculated risk of war with Russia, he concludes.

However, If you remove Trump, the risks get easier to calculate and consent for humanitarian action becomes easier to secure. The clearer US allies make that point to Congress, the military, the US electorateand to Syrias rebels and refugeesthe better.

The Guardian is a mouthpiece for political reaction. It is arguing for continued pressure to be placed on Trump to ensure a favourable quid pro quo from Washington in return for British and European support for the US war drive in Syriaand ultimately against Russia.

Today, the newspaper shrouds its efforts to push the pro-European line of the Remain faction of the British bourgeoisiein the face of Brexit and Prime Minister Theresa Mays alliance with Trumpbehind an insistence on The need for non-military responses in Syria, and for other western nations to seek ways of working with an unpredictable US. Tomorrow, should the need arise, it will just as happily explain to its readers the moral imperative for supporting the bombing of Damascus.
A hunger strike of immigrant detainees in Tacoma, Washington nearly doubled in size yesterday as the number of participants rose to 750 inmates, half the capacity of the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC). The first strikers have now gone three days without food.

Immigrants are protesting horrendous conditions at the facility. They are demanding better food, better medical care, regular cleaning of prison clothes, an increase in the amount of recreation time, the establishment of education programs and anti-depression programs, an increase in pay for prison labor, and a decrease in price gauging at the prison store.

At present, immigrants at NWDC and at many locations around the country receive only one hour of outdoor recreation per day, despite the fact that many detainees have never been convicted with any criminal offense. Depression is rampant and abuse at the hands of brutal prison guards is widespread. Roughly 170 people have died in immigration custody since 2003. Immigrants at the facility make $1 per day for prison labor.

The hunger strike marks a resurgence of protest by immigrant detainees. In 2014, 1,200 immigrants were on hunger strike at facilities across the country, including at NWDC. That year, protesters outside NWDC blocked deportation buses from entering or leaving the facility. Hunger strikes of women detainees broke out in April 2014 at the Karnes County Family Detention Center in Texas, and 500 more women went on a hunger strike at the T. Don Hutto facility in Texas. Similar protests have taken place in California, Louisiana, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Colorado.

Jonathan Rodriguez Guzman, a young hunger striker at NWDC, told the press the strike is for everybody out there and that what we want is for people to hear us out on deplorable conditions in the facility.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson Rose Richeson tried to downplay the strike in an interview with Reuters: Right now its more of a meal refusal thing that some detainees have done.

NWDC is a privately run, for-profit detention center owned by GEO Group, a corporation whose CEO donated $250,000 to fund Donald Trumps January inauguration celebration. GEO Groups stock has doubled from $23 per share on Election Day to $48 at yesterdays closing bell.

The corporation has further reason to celebrate. A memo released by the Washington Post yesterday shows the Department of Homeland Security will be expanding the number of detention spots by 33,000 in the near future.

The company announced that ICE awarded it a $110 million contract to operate a 1,000 bed detention center in Conroe, Texas. According to Yahoo Finance, the project is expected to generate $44 million in revenue each year.

We are very appreciative of the continued confidence placed in our company by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said George C. Zoley, GEO Groups CEO. We are pleased to have been able to build on our longstanding partnership with ICE to help the agency meet its need for detention beds.

GEO Group makes vast profits from human misery and oppression, operating 143 prisons worldwide, jailing up to 100,000 people every day.

In March, the company announced a public stock offering of 6,000,000 shares at $41.75 per share, which would bring in $250 million. According to a Berkshire Hathaway report from March 8, JP Morgan, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Barclays, and BofA Merrill Lynch are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

The government pays GEO Group roughly $150 per day for each prisoner. Yesterday, dozens of protesters gathered outside of the GEO Group facility in Tacoma and demanded the release of their family members.

Augustino Lucas, a 15-year-old, told the Stranger that his father, Francisco, is among those currently detained. Everything changed when ICE officials took his father.

Ashlee, a 12-year-old, explained that her father was also detained at the facility, where guards denied him medical attention. My dad was hard-working, she said. He would always make me laugh and smile.

Maru Mora Villalpando, an organizer with the protest group NWDC Resistance, told the Stranger: If anybody is asking themselves if we need this place, whether we should deport people or detain people this way, they should take a look at themselves and their humanity. Because maybe they lost it.
The Trump administration is advancing plans to create a national force of paramilitary guards and officials aimed at deporting millions of undocumented people from the United States. According to the Washington Post, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is planning on jailing tens of thousands more immigrants in the coming period, hiring thousands of agents, as well as the construction of a wall between the US and Mexico.

According to an internal DHS memo acquired by the Post, the government is expanding the number of detention beds by 33,000, including some for unaccompanied minors, in other words, children held in prison.

These facilities will include five private, for-profit prisons and two government facilities. The total number of immigrants imprisoned on a daily basis will rise to around 70,000approaching the number of Japanese-Americans interned by the Roosevelt administration during World War II.

The memo also explains that progress has been made and that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is taking all appropriate action to immediately plan, design, and construct a physical wall along the border. One contractor proposed to build a wall with a moat filled with nuclear waste that immigrants would fall into if they attempted to cross.

DHS is also dredging up the most backward and fascistic elements to hire 5,000 new guards and agents who will serve as modern-day slave catchers. The memo announces that the agency has eliminated the most basic physical and mental fitness requirements for applicants and has dropped the requirement that applicants must pass a polygraph test.

To combat widespread hostility to immigration raids, DHS will engage in propaganda to further improve brand awareness and convey the importance and scope of our mission within the public sphere. To do so, DHS is targeting young people: We will also continue to focus on increasing our digital and social media presence to reach the millennial generation; [and] expand our outreach at high schools, colleges and universities.

The new memo comes after DHS announced it has hired two fascistic white nationalists, John Feere of the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) and Julie Kirchner of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), to serve as policy advisers to ICE and CBP, respectfully. The fact that CIS and FAIR are now helping direct the governments immigration policy is a warning of even more brutal treatment to come.

The New York Times reported yesterday that the Trump administration is also seeking to eliminate even the minimal requirements for services at immigrant detention centers. The administration is considering dropping translation services for immigrants, eliminating rules that detainee requests for medical attention be granted within 24 hours, and closing a bureau responsible for overseeing conditions for protecting immigrant women from sexual assault.

Immigrant detention centers are already hellish places, often located in isolated areas, where immigrants are fed rotten food, barred from seeing their attorneys, and housed with violent non-immigrant criminals. Many immigrants are housed in county jails. One Ohio police sheriff told the Times, Jail is jail  we dont put chocolates on the pillows.

Private prisons house roughly 65 percent of detained immigrants, and this figure is likely to rise when the new expansion is carried out. The Democratic and Republican parties established a detention bed quota whereby the government is required to fill prisons with immigrants, producing windfall profits for privately-run facilities whose corporate executives donate heavily to both parties.

This massive expansion of the internment camp system for immigrant detention is taking place with the tacit approval of the Democratic Party, which has maintained an almost complete silence on Trumps attack on immigrants in recent weeks. The Democratic Party has instead attacked Trump from the right, demanding that he prosecute the ruling classs war drive against Russia in Syria while also threatening to attack North Korea.

Speaking at an event in Brooklyn, New York Wednesday, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said that Trumps immigration program is terrible for America because these are people who work and youre taking peoples breadwinners away, youre taking people away who businesses need. Thats why theyre here. And so well do everything we can to stop that.

Aside from Schumers cynical declaration that he defends immigrants because corporations need to exploit cheap labor, his claim that Democrats will oppose Trumps immigration programs is a lie.

Schumer and the vast majority of Democratic senators showered DHS, ICE, and CBP with money during last years appropriations bill, which provides appropriation for  Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology, as well as construction and facilities management.

Democrats Schumer, Booker, Durbin, Feinstein, Franken, Gillibrand, Kaine, Klobuchar, Leahy, Reid, and many more agreed to pay the salaries and expenses of every immigration officer and border patrol agent. Each time an immigrant is deported, the Democratic Party has effectively signed their next check.

Widespread demonstrations have taken place against Trumps immigration policies, and polls show large majorities oppose the construction of a border wall. Ninety percent of Americans support granting citizenship to immigrants who have lived in the US for several years. Last week, roughly 30,000 people demonstrated in Dallas, Texas to defend the rights of immigrants.

Democratic politicians spoke at the rally, including former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, who as HUD Secretary sold 98 percent of long-delinquent mortgages to Wall Street speculators at sweetheart rates through the Distressed Asset Stabilization Program.

Democratic state legislator Roberto Alonzo told the crowd to vote for Democrats: The 2006 march and the movement around that is what turned Dallas County blue in 2008. First we march, then we govern.

Alonzo failed to mention that when the Democrats governed under Obama, they deported 2.7 million undocumented people and set the stage for Trumps expanded deportation program.
NBC News in the United States led its evening news on April 13 with an exclusive report that the Trump administration is prepared to carry out a preemptive strike with conventional weapons if it believes North Korea is about to conduct another nuclear weapons test.

NBC cited multiple senior US intelligence officials as the source of its report.

The US media is featuring satellite images that allegedly show the North Korean regime is in the advanced stages of preparing for a nuclear test at the Punggye-ri site, close to the countrys border with both China and Russia. The North Korean regime is this weekend celebrating the birthday of its founding dictator Kim Il-sung with major events. Such occasions have been marked in the past by long-range missile tests or the detonation of a nuclear device.

The dropping yesterday of a Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) weapon on an alleged cave network in Afghanistan was not only intended to test the effectiveness of the bomb, but to demonstrate that the US military does not need to use nuclear weapons to attack underground bunker complexes.

Trump stated Thursday after the dropping of the MOAB: I dont know if this sends a message to North Korea. It doesnt make any difference if it does or not. North Korea, he declared, is a problemthe problem will be taken care of.

The US military has positioned all the forces it would need to conduct a massive military strike on North Korea and then wage the full-scale war that such an action would almost certainly trigger.

Hundreds of thousands of South Korean troops, and some 30,000 Americans, are in a state of high readiness, using the annual Foal Eagle military exercises as the cover for their preparations. Among the American units in South Korea is the elite assassination squad that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. Decapitation raids to assassinate North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and other senior regime figures are an official part of US military planning.

Naval destroyers and an unknown number of nuclear submarines are hovering off the Korean coast, armed with the same Tomahawk cruise missiles used to attack a Syrian airbase one week ago. The aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and its strike group have been dispatched to join them. Dozens of US strike aircraft are based at airfields in Japan and South Korea, while B-1 strategic bombers are operating from Guam, where the Obama administration deployed them last year. A squadron of 12 F-22 Stealth fighters was quietly moved in February to northern Australia, from where they could deploy rapidly to the peninsula.

As well as South Korea, other US allies have joined the war preparations. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abes government has reportedly ordered several destroyers to join the Carl Vinson battle group. Tokyo is using the pretext of collective self-defense, a concept that Abe pushed through the Japanese parliament in 2015 to overcome the countrys post-World War II constitutional prohibition of aggressive military operations.

The key US-Australian satellite and communications interception base at Pine Gap, in central Australia, has reportedly been instructed to focus its attention on North Korea, identifying and drawing up the target lists for potential US strikes. At least one Australian warship was dispatched at the beginning of April for ostensibly routine operations in Asia.

In the event North Korea seeks to retaliate to a US attack by firing nuclear-armed missiles at South Korea, Japan, Guam or elsewhere, the US is relying on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system that was installed in South Korea last month to shoot them down. Even if the North does not, or cannot, retaliate with nuclear weapons, Seoul, the South Korean capital with a population of over 10 million, is within range of an estimated 10,000 North Korean artillery pieces.

After 25 years of continuous war and intrigue by US imperialism, the events of the past week unquestionably mark a qualitative new stage. Even as Washington dramatically ratchets up tensions with Russia and threatens further attacks in Syria, it is actively plotting actions in North East Asia that could result in a direct clash with China. From the time of the 195053 Korean War, Beijing has viewed the Stalinist state in the North as an essential buffer between its own borders and the US forces in the South.

The Chinese regime understands that the real motive behind the US war drive against North Korea is the American ruling elites determination to prevent China from becoming a rival strategic and economic centre of power in Asia.

Chinas response to the prospect of a US attack on North Korea is one of the most unpredictable aspects of the situation.

Editorials and comments in state-owned publications such as the Global Times and Peoples Daily indicate that Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese military are, at the least, considering their own intervention into North Korea. A Global Times editorial on April 10 bluntly stated that, under certain conditions, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) will launch attacks to DPRK [North Korean] nuclear facilities on its own.

On April 13 another Global Times editorial advised North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. It stated: Even if the United States does not launch military strikes on the DPRK, the long-term sanctions are not something that the DPRK can withstand. The DPRK might already become the most isolated country in the world and is almost fully blockaded. No modern countries can survive in this way. China, it declared, could provide all the protection North Korea needed.

Beijing has intensified economic pressure on Pyongyang, cancelling all purchases of North Korean coalone of the countrys few exports and sources of foreign currency. North Korean ships were turned away this week from Chinese ports.

While the Chinese government has dismissed as fabrications the reports that some 150,000 Chinese troops are massing on the North Korean border, such claims continue to filter out.

What is certain is that the lives of tens of millions of people are at risk because of the ruthless and ever more reckless attempts by American imperialism to maintain its waning global dominance.
New Zealands National Party government joined the chorus of US allies hailing President Donald Trumps missile strike on Syria and beating the drum for increased US military intervention in the war-torn country.

Prime Minister Bill English told the media on April 7 the US decision to launch 59 cruise missiles against the Shayrat airfield was a proportionate response to Bashar al-Assads regimes chemical weapons attack in Idlib. He said we would consider sending troops to Syria if a US request was made. The US actions increase the danger of a catastrophic war against not only Assad but his governments allies, Iran and Russia.

Last week the Trump administration, joined by the Democrats and the corporate media, seized on video footage of children allegedly killed in the Idlib attack as the pretext for military action. The claims are unsubstantiated and dubious. The Assad regime, which is on the verge of defeating the US-backed rebel groups, has no motive for using chemical weapons (see: Syrias alleged gas attack: An imperialist provocation).

Foreign Minister Murray McCully described the actions of the Assad regime as outrageous and horrific, adding: It is critical that the international community emphatically demand an end to this violence, and that the Syrian government be held to account.

The professions of horror and outrage, echoed throughout the media, are entirely hypocritical. Needless to say, there have been no similar statements about the victims of thousands of US and allied bombs in Iraq and Syria, or the slaughter of civilians by US and Iraqi troops in Mosul, which New Zealands government fully supports.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee revealed he was informed an hour or two in advance of the impending US missile attack. New Zealand is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance led by the US. The ruling elite has depended on its alliance with US imperialism, since the Second World War, to advance its own neo-colonial interests in the Pacific and throughout the world.

There are currently around 140 New Zealand soldiers stationed in Iraq, ostensibly in a non-combat capacity, training Iraqi forces. According to some reportsdenied by the governmentNew Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) commandos have been involved in combat operations in Iraq.

New Zealand has also played an active role in the Afghanistan war, under both Labour and National Party-led governments. Prime Minister English has brushed aside recent revelations that an NZSAS raid on two defenceless Afghan villages in 2010 resulted in 21 civilian casualties, including the death of a three-year-old girl.

Opposition Labour Party leader Andrew Little echoed the governments support for aggression against Syria, saying: We cannot let the use of chemical weapons in violation of international law happen without consequence. His only reservation was that any action should comply with UN resolutions and we do not want a repeat of what happened in Iraq.

In fact, the 19992008 Labour government supported the Bush administrations war in Iraq by sending 60 New Zealand army engineers to assist the occupying forces.

Labours ally the Greens criticised the US airstrike for being hasty and unilateral. Its foreign affairs spokesman Kennedy Graham stated: No wrong has ever been righted, no child has ever been protected and no conflict has ever been solved by launching missiles. The same statement, however, made clear that the Greens would support a multilateral intervention approved by the United Nations. Graham attacked Russia and China for vetoing UN Security Council resolutions designed to pave the way for intervention in Syria.

There is widespread anti-war sentiment in the working class. A Facebook poll by TVNZ, asking whether New Zealand should join US action in Syria, found after the first four hours 3,429 had answered no with just 336 saying yes.

One comment on the poll referred to the litany of lies used by the US to start previous wars. The commenter, Frank, listed the Gulf of Tonkin attack used as a pretext for war in Vietnam, false reports of babies thrown from incubators in Kuwait in the lead-up to the first Gulf War in 1991, and fabricated claims of weapons of mass destruction used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

On the other hand, the middle class pseudo-left organisations, orbiting the trade union bureaucracy, academia and the opposition parties, are increasingly open in their support for imperialist war.

Syrian Solidarity New Zealand, a pro-intervention group heavily promoted by the media, supported Trumps missile strike. Its spokesman Ali Akil told Radio NZ the attack was one step in the right direction six years late. On its own, its not really going to do anything. If it is followed up then it might have an effect.

Syrian Solidarity NZ is also promoted by the pseudo-left groups Fightback, Socialist Aotearoa and the International Socialist Organisation.

None of these groups has published a statement denouncing Trumps missile strike and the New Zealand governments support for it. All of them have instead lined up behind the US war for regime change and threats of war against Russia (see: New Zealand pseudo-lefts hold protests to denounce Russia).

Prominent Fightback member Daphne Lawless wrote on Facebook on April 7 that Trump going after Assad would be like Joe Stalin going after Hitlera good thing, on balance, done by a disgusting monster.

She followed this absurd analogy by declaring that opponents of US intervention were in the red-brown camp alongside the fascists and Vlad Putin. It remains to see what any Trumpist intervention in Syria would look likeit may be sensible and relatively successful like Libya or a clusterf..k like Iraq. But I doubt the father of the twin toddlers who were chlorine-gassed in Idlib by their own government is opposed to rolling the dice.

One could hardly give a more explicit endorsement of US imperialism and denunciation of its opponents. For years the pseudo-lefts have falsely promoted the anti-Assad rebels, which are dominated by Al Qaeda-linked forces and funded by the US and its allies, as leaders of a revolution.

A genuine anti-war movement must be built based on internationalism and socialism, to stop the drive toward a Third World War. This can be done only in opposition to the entire capitalist political establishment, including the pseudo-left cheerleaders for imperialism.

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The US militarys dropping of the largest non-nuclear weapon in its arsenal on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border Thursday is a crime against humanity. Even as the US government and the mass media were engaged in a lying propaganda campaign denouncing Syria and Russia for the use of poison gas, the American military was positioning the monstrous weaponthe Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB)for use in Afghanistan.

While the Pentagon has released few details about the impact of the bombing, one can be certain that the total number of deaths resulting from the dropping of the MOAB is a massive multiple of the number killed in the alleged Syrian gas attack, assumingand this is by no means certainthat the gas attack even took place.

Seventy-two years after the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, American imperialism has proven once again that it is the most ruthless and criminal force on the planet.

The use of the MOAB has implications that extend beyond Afghanistan. It demonstratesand this is, in fact, the principal aim of the attackthat there are no restraints on what the US military is prepared to do in pursuit of the interests of American imperialism.

In the context of mounting military tensions from the Korean peninsula to Syria to eastern Europe, the detonation of the massive bomb over Afghanistan represents a warning to Russia, Iran, North Korea and any country that dares to challenge Washingtons interests that there is no limit to the level of violence that US imperialism will unleash against them.

The weapon, officially known as the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, designated by the Pentagon as MOAB, or mother of all bombs, detonates nearly 20,000 pounds of explosives in mid-air, igniting the atmosphere and creating a massive concussion that obliterates everything within a radius of 1,000 yards. Its shock waves are capable of killing people within a radius of up to 1.7 miles. The impact of the explosion is the equivalent of a nuclear weapon for those caught in the target zone.

Designed for use in the shock and awe campaign unleashed with the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, it was never utilized in combat over the course of 14 years. Even as the Pentagon carried out a war and occupation that claimed some one million Iraqi lives, the weapon was seen as too destructive to serve US strategic purposes.

Planning for the use of this horrific weapon in Afghanistan began under the Obama administration.

According to the Pentagon command, this genuine weapon of mass destruction was dropped for the first time on a remote district of Afghanistans eastern Nangarhar Province in order to obliterate alleged caves and tunnels used by elements of the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

There is no immediate tactical, much less strategic, justification for the dropping of such a massive weapon on a small, poorly armed band of Islamist guerrillasa Pakistan-based group that merely adopted the ISIS logo. Instead, the attack has all the earmarks of a calculated demonstration of American military might, the most terrifying one that could be staged short of a nuclear attack.

The bombing comes just one week after Washington carried out a naked act of military aggression against Syria, firing 59 cruise missiles into a government airbase and killing at least 15 Syrians, the majority of them civilians.

That attack was justified in the name of retaliation for an alleged chemical weapons attack blamed on the Syrian government. Damascus denied using any such weapon and, the endless lies of the Western media notwithstanding, all objective evidence points to a provocation staged by the CIA and the Al Qaeda-linked fighters that it supports in Syria.

Even as the US government and media churned out war propaganda over the fabricated chemical weapons attack in Syria, Washington was preparing to drop its largest non-nuclear weapon on Afghanistan.

The Pentagon has claimed that it took every precaution to avoid civilian casualties with this strike. Such promises, made repeatedly as the US military has killed millions across the Middle East, are utterly worthless. According to initial reports, there are several villages near the target area and, in all likelihood, civilian deaths and injuries will be massive.

At this point, no one knows what the real toll from this attack is, and, if left to the US media, no one will ever be told. The same editorialists for CIA house organs like the New York Times, and television news talking heads who have parroted the governments denunciations of the Assad regime over the chemical weapons provocation in Syria, are completely indifferent to the loss of life caused by the massive US bomb dropped on Afghanistan.

Similarly, the media largely ignores the ongoing carnage inflicted by US bombs and missiles upon the people of Iraq and Syria. On Wednesday, a US airstrike in western Mosul killed 13 civilians while injuring another 17, most of them seriously. On the same day, a UN agency described the devastation wrought by the US siege of the Iraqi city, where hundreds, if not thousands, of men, women and children have died: Homes are being destroyed. Schools and health centers are damaged and crucial public infrastructure including electricity and water stations are in ruins, according to the report, with the destruction turning over 300,000 people into homeless refugees.

Meanwhile, in northern Syria, US warplanes carried out a friendly fire airstrike that killed 18 Kurdish fighters, while the Syrian government reported that a US bomb hit an Al Qaeda weapons depot, spreading chemical agents that may have killed hundreds of civilians. None of these incidents are given any significant coverage; much less do they provoke the moral outrage of those crying crocodile tears over the victims of the alleged chemical attack for which the Syrian government has been framed.

Who are these people to lecture anyone on human rights, much less to posture as opponents of terrorism? Once again, US imperialism has demonstrated to the world that it is bound by absolutely no constraints of international law, much less morality. Its violent and predatory actions on the world stage are a direct expression of the criminal and parasitic character of the American capitalist ruling class, personified in the loathsome figure of Donald Trump.

This latest atrocity comes fifteen and a half years after the US invaded Afghanistan, toppling the Taliban government, installing its own puppet regime and carrying out a bloody war and occupation ever since. Conservative estimates put the Afghan death toll since 2001 at some 200,000, with hundreds of thousands more wounded and millions turned into refugees. From the outset, the purpose of this intervention was to subjugate the Afghan people to semi-colonial American domination and to further US imperialisms drive to assert its hegemony over the energy-rich region of Central Asia.

The timing of the bombing was significant. It came on the very eve of talks called for April 14 in Moscow on a peace settlement in Afghanistan. Russia has called the meeting together with China and Pakistan, with the participation of nine other countries, including India and Iran. The Taliban has indicated that it may join the talks. While invited, Washington failed to confirm whether it will attend, and US military commanders have made repeated baseless allegations of Russian support for the Taliban.

Whether an armed confrontation takes place between US and Russian warplanes in the skies over Syria, in a military strike against North Korea or in a provocation on Russias western borders, the next step from the weapon dropped on Afghanistan is the launching of nuclear missiles.

Workers and young people in the US and internationally must respond to these ominous events with utmost seriousness and a determination to stop US and global capitalism from engulfing the planet in a third, nuclear world war.

Protests must be organized across the United States and around the world against the latest US atrocities in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq as part of the struggle to build a mass antiwar movement based upon the working class and the program of socialist internationalism. At the very center of this struggle lies the need to build the Socialist Equality Party and the International Committee of the Fourth Internationalthe only consistent political opponents of world imperialismas the revolutionary leadership of the working class.
Written and directed by John Pilger

John Pilgers The Coming War on China, which was shown last year in Britain and recently screened in several Australian and New Zealand cinemas, is about the US military encirclement of China and the danger of a catastrophic war between the two nuclear-armed powers. The feature-length documentary will be broadcast on Australias state-funded SBS network on April 16.

The films aim, Pilger tells viewers, is to break a silence about the US aggression against Chinathe largest build-up of American-led forces in the Pacific since World War II. Washingtons pivot to Asia was officially launched in 2011 with the active support of the Australian and Japanese governments and other key allies.

The film begins with the American national anthem playing against photographs of war devastation in Hiroshima and Vietnam. It cuts to Major General Franklin J. Blaisdell, former US Air and Space Operation Integration director, boasting about the destructive power of the US military.

US President Donald Trump appears in the final minutes of the documentary, declaring that China is raping the US but that America is back, bigger, better and stronger than ever.

Andrew Krepinevich, from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, bogusly insists that the US is only responding to Beijings provocative behaviour. Krepinevich, who has called for the use of nuclear weapons, tells Pilger that air strikes, US Special Forces, missiles and naval blockades have a key role in punishing China.

An animated map shows the vast web of American bases surrounding China. The documentary notes that the Obama administration expanded Americas nuclear weapons program.

The film includes other chilling statements from US military strategists and anti-China hawks, and warnings from concerned American scientists, such as professors Ted Postol and Steven Starr, that a nuclear war would destroy human existence on the planet.

That Pilger, a veteran investigative journalist and documentarian, has decided to speak out on the danger of a US war against China is of significance. It serves to alert a wider audience to the immense dangers in the world political situation.

The film, however, has definite political weaknesses. It is not informed by a serious analysis of the immense tensions over trade, investment and global strategic influence behind the US turn toward confrontation with Beijing, especially under the Obama administration.

A far greater proportion of the film is devoted to the impact of US nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958 and significant popular protests against US bases in Okinawa, Japan and on South Koreas Jeju Island.

The treatment of the restoration of capitalist relations in China by the Stalinist Communist Party (CCP), and the countrys transformation into a cheap labour platform and focus of transnational production, is particularly limited. The documentary includes an interview with Eric Li, a Shanghai venture capitalist, who ludicrously declares that China is a vibrant market economy not a capitalist country.

Pilger does point to the social inequality and growing class tensions within China. The CCPs response, however, has been the promotion of Chinese nationalism and chauvinism, combined with its own militarist build-up. While US imperialism is the chief factor in the drive to war, the CCP and Chinese capitalist elitewho attempt to conciliate at times with Washington while engaging in an arms race on the UScontribute to the risk with their reactionary policies.

The documentary includes particularly striking comments by Steven Starr, a senior scientist at Physicians for Social Responsibility. Starr explains that tens of millions of people would be killed within an hour of the outbreak of a nuclear conflict between the US and China and that the ensuing nuclear winter would irreparably damage life on the planet.

The amount of time spent by The Coming War on China on the campaigns in the Marshall Islands, Okinawa and South Korea leaves the impression that protest is sufficient to prevent such a catastrophe.

Those seeking a way to stop nuclear war urgently need to mobilise. But these efforts, including protests, must be directed toward the construction of an international anti-war movement based on the working class. This requires a socialist perspective to put an end to imperialism and the capitalist profit system that is the source of war.

The Coming War Against China screens on Australian SBS at 8.30pm on Sunday, April 16.

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Several Sri Lankan artists have sent statements to the World Socialist Web Site expressing their support for the campaign to free the 13 Maruti Suzuki workers who were condemned to life imprisonment. An international campaign and online petition drive have been launched by the WSWS and the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI).

The workers were sentenced to life imprisonment by an Indian court on March 18 on bogus murder charges following a years-long legal conspiracy by successive governments, police and judicial authorities. Twelve of the victimised 13 workers were leaders of the Maruti Suzuki Workers Union (MSWU), which was formed to fight their sweatshop conditions, which prevail in Indias factories and special economic zones.

Eighteen other workers, also victims of this frame-up, have been sentenced for three to five years on lesser charges. The aim of this witch-hunt is to send the message that the political establishment is determined to protect the interests of international investors by suppressing workers rights.

The artists statements follow initiatives by the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka. They held a picket outside Colombos Fort Railway Station at the end of March, followed by a successful public meeting in Colombo that demanded the immediate release of the Maruti Suzuki workers.

Nadya Perera is an independent researcher and a documentary and short filmmaker from Colombo. One among her main works is a documentary, 4th of February (the date refers to the granting of independence in 1948 by Britain) on the plight of Sri Lankan female domestic workers in the Gulf region. It is woven around three workers, including Rizana, a young housemaid charged with killing an infant in her care and beheaded in Riyadh. Another of Pereras films is Thalattu, a collaborative presentation on women affected by the protracted civil war in Sri Lanka. Through the lives of mothers it captures the sense of loss of human dignity of war victims.

Pereras statement is published below:

I first became aware of the Gurgaon-Manesar Maruti Suzuki workers struggle in 2015 when I watched The Factorya documentary film by Rahul Roy, screened in Colombo. The film showed the protracted struggle of the Maruti Suzuki workers against the Japan-based multinational car giant and the company-controlled union. Since then, I have followed the escalation of the struggle that has culminated in the conviction of 13 workersframed for murderby a court in India and imprisoned for life. It is of course, no accident that 12 out of 13 of the convicted workers are members of the independent union set up by the Maruti Suzuki employees, despite carefully engineered attempts to brutally suppress the organisation of workers.

Apart from obvious differences in context, it is hard not to draw similarities between the demands for regularisation of contract workers in the Manesar industrial belt and the demands made during the recently-concluded strike action taken by Sri Lanka Telecom workers, whose recruitment has been outsourced to manpower agenciesa strategy used to deny them the status of permanent employee while carrying out the same type and amount of work.

The trend of converting more and more sections of the required workforce into precarious forms of labour, which translates to the same amount of work (or more) being extracted for lesser pay, no benefits and no job security, is a global capitalist phenomenon thats on the rise. And one that cannot be reversed unless workers struggles forge unity across companies, sectors and nations.

I have signed the [online] petition to demand the release of the 13 framed Maruti Suzuki workers and urge other Sri Lankans to do the same.

Malaka Devapriya is a filmmaker, visual artist, Sinhala radio playwright and short film and video director. His first full-length film is entitled Bahuchithavadiya (The Undecided) and his short films include, Anxiety (1998), Life C ircle (2004), Today (2007) and End Loop (2008). His short plays include, Forgiveness (1991) Volcano (1992), Bandana (1993) and Punish (1995).

In his statement Devapriya declared: Artists and writers should come forward to support the struggles of the jailed Maruti workers in India and the Sri Lankan Telecom manpower workers fighting for their job security. His statement continues:

We should all demand that the victimised 13 Maruti workers be freed immediately to go back to their families and jobs. Both in Sri Lanka and in India workers are in struggles to defeat hire and fire systems of recruiting workers, which are on the increase. Correct wage scales are denied, permanent employment is refused and workers who struggle for decent work conditions are sacked and jailed under trumped-up criminal charges. A mass movement to free the Maruti workers is an urgent need. We are fighting the same struggle. I stand by the 13 jailed workers and their families.

Kingsley Gunatilake is a painter, installation artist and book illustrator. He is currently a visiting visual arts lecturer at Colombos University of Visual and Performing Arts. He states:

The witch-hunt of the Maruti Suzuki workers shows that the capitalist class in India and this region has created an extremely dangerous situation. This struggle gives a very clear warning of this danger. It is very clear that this is a barbaric, illegal and unjust act of vengeance. The most disturbing question here is: Why justice is continued to be denied even after the conspiracy is exposed so clearly? This is a clear example of [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modis real policy. Politically, I see this as a grave situation. Why do other movements and individuals not act against this intolerable injustice?

In this campaign, the WSWS has clearly explained how the witch-hunt was set in motion. It reveals how politicians control and manipulate the law. They control everything. Law is made in such a way that it can be twisted by them. This subversion of the law is exposed absolutely clearly by the analysis of the WSWS. The videos, photographs and documents presented make this clear to everybody.

Workers in Sri Lanka too face the same situation as in India. I think a much more serious situation is going to arise within Sri Lanka. This government is unconcerned with the problems of the masses. This crisis will worsen. I think the punishment meted out to the workers by the Indian government will encourage the Sri Lankan government to take same path.
Public anger around the world has continued to grow following the wide circulation on social media of videos showing police brutalizing a 69-year-old doctor, David Dao, and dragging him from a United Airlines flight last Sunday.

Highlighting the viciousness of Daos beating and removal from the plane, his representatives revealed at a press conference Thursday that the doctor had sustained significant injuries, including a concussion, a broken nose, the loss of two front teeth and a sinus injury.

I would defy anyone to suggest that there was not unreasonable force and violence used to help Dr. Dao disembark that plane, said his lawyer, Thomas Demetrio. Daos attorneys indicated that he might file suit against both United and the city of Chicago. They filed court papers at a Cook County court Wednesday requesting the city and airline preserve all surveillance footage, cockpit recordings, passenger lists and police reports.

The incident was touched off last Sunday when the airline ordered Dao and three other passengers to leave the plane, scheduled to depart from Chicagos OHare International Airport, first claiming the flight was overbooked and later stating that room was needed to transport four crew members. Dao had a paid ticket, and said he needed to see patients the next day along with his wife, who is also a doctor and with whom he was travelling. When Dao refused to leave, United called police on board the plane, who proceeded to violently remove Dao.

Several smartphone videos captured the brutal treatment of Dao and the horrified response of other passengers, many of whom loudly protested the actions of the airline and the police.

Dr. Daos daughter, Crystal Pepper Dao, said at the news conference, What happened to my dad should never happen to any human being regardless of the circumstances.

The initial response to the incident by company spokesmen and Uniteds CEO, Oscar Munoz, sought to downplay its significance and contrasted starkly with the events depicted in the video, only fueling more outrage among millions fed up with the degrading and humiliating treatment by the major airlines and airport security. In Orwellian language, Munoz himself initially apologized for having to reaccommodate passengers. In a letter to United employees, however, he attacked Dao as disruptive and belligerent, and defended the decision to have police remove him from the plane.

Belatedly realizing the scale of anger internationally (nearly half a billion people have viewed the video in China alone) and hemorrhaging of hundreds of millions of dollars in stock value, the company has scrambled in subsequent days to carry out damage control.

On Tuesday, Munoz released a thoroughly unconvincing statement feigning contrition for Daos abuse, saying, The truly horrific event that occurred on this flight has elicited many responses from all of us: outrage, anger, disappointment. I share all of those sentiments, and one above all: my deepest apologies for what happened... I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right.

Desperately seeking to stem the PR fallout, United reportedly offered compensation to other passengers on the flight. Munoz also claimed that United would no longer use police to remove passengers from their flightsunless it is a matter of safety and security, rendering the commitment meaningless.

Accounts from passengers have pointed to a pattern by United of forcing ticketholders from flights involuntarily, whether because a flight was overbooked or to make room for flight crew or VIPs. According to a 2016 PBS Newshour report, the airline had the highest rate of involuntarily bumped flyers, at 11 per 100,000.

A Los Angeles Times columnist reported multiple instances of passengers being asked to leave a flight: one in which a family that had been flying standby was asked to get off to make room for CEO Munoz and his family, and another in which a man was threatened with handcuffs unless he gave up his first-class ticket to another who was deemed higher priority by the airline.

Politicians from both big-business parties have also attempted to head off popular discontent touched off by the Dao beating, posturing as morally outraged at the incident.

Sean Spicer, President Trumps press secretary, called the event troubling in semi-incoherent remarks, saying, I think clearly watching another human being dragged down an aisle, watching, you know, blood come from their face after hitting an armrest or whatever, I dont think theres a circumstance that you can sit back and say this probably could have been handled a little bit better [sic].

The heads of the US Senate Commerce Committee released a letter to the airline and Chicagos Department of Aviation Wednesday, saying that Uniteds explanation has been unsatisfactory, and appears to underestimate the public anger about this incident.

In Chicago, Democratic Mayor Rahm Emanuel, infamous for his role in the cover-up of the police murder of black teenager Laquan McDonald, fretted over this latest viral video of state violence, declaring for what seemed like the hundredth time that there would be a thorough investigation to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.

The City Council, concerned about the potential loss of tourism revenue, held a hearing with the Commissioner of Aviation Thursday. Alderman Michael Zalewski, chairman of the councils aviation committee, said the event had given OHare Airport a black eye.

Zalewski revealed that the Aviation Department police may not have even been legally allowed on the plane, saying, They are allowed in the terminal and baggage area, but my understanding is they may not be allowed on a plane. He added that he wasnt sure the airport cops were even allowed to make arrests, or only issue tickets. The Aviation Department announced Wednesday that it had placed two additional officers involved in the incident on administrative leave.

Despite the mutual handwringing of the major political parties, they have both been complicit in the decades-long processes of industry deregulation, attacks on airline workers and the annulment of constitutional rights at US airports, which converged in Daos assault.

An examination of Federal Election Committee data published by the Center for Responsive Politics shows both parties have received lucrative handouts from United Airlines, which, like many other corporate behemoths, makes sure to purchase bipartisan favor.

In 2001, the Bush administration and Congress handed the airline industry $15 billion after the 9-11 attacks. Eighty percent of the bailout went to the nine largest commercial carriers with United Airlines receiving the biggest slice of $644 million.

While United has sought to pad its bottom line by implementing overbooking, baggage fees, smaller seats and other cost-cutting measures, which make flying a dreaded experience for manyif they can afford it at allit has also manipulated the tax system to great advantage, with the full complicity of the political establishment. In 2015, the company reported a $4.7 billion tax write-off due to losses in previous years, wiping out its tax bill of $1.5 billion and boosting its net income from $4.5 billion to $7.3 billion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Surat on Sunday. The Surat administration is burning midnight oil to prepare the diamond city to welcome Narendra Modi.

By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be heading to Gujarat for the second time this year on Sunday. Narendra Modi will be visiting Surat, where he is scheduled to attend several functions. Modi will visit Dadra Nagar Haveli the next day.

But, ahead of PM Modi's visit to Surat, a flurry of activities is taking place in the diamond city. A bicycle rally was organised based on 'I am India' theme.

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The rally was taken out to create awareness among the youngsters about fuel conservation and sustainable use of energy.

In one of his monthly radio programmes, Narendra Modi had stressed on saving fuel by using bicycles for short distance travels. Modi had exhorted the youths to think about use of fossil fuel and related environmental problems.

Meanwhile, the Surat Municipal Corporation is busy removing speed breakers on roads that fall on Narendra Modi's route.

At least nine speed breakers are said to have been removed on Athwalines Road. Interestingly, these speed-breakers were created only recently. The SMC is also cleaning up the city by removing visible garbage.

NARENDA MODI'S ITINERARY IN SURAT

Narendra Modi will be inaugurating a Rs 400-crore hospital in Surat, a cattle feed plant and also an ice-cream facility of Surat District Co-operative Milk Producers Union.

PM Modi will also be inaugurating an irrigation project at Botad in Saurashtra region. He will also be laying the foundation of the second phase of the same project there.

The Botad project is being built under the Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation (SAUNI) scheme. It is considered crucial to improve water availability in the parched region.

SAUNI project aims to divert the overflowing floodwaters from the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river into Saurashtra. There are altogether 115 dams, which will be filled by the surplus water from the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

Narendra Modi will lay foundation stone of some projects at the Dadra Nagar Haveli also. Modi is likely to distribute some assistance to some of the beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and PM Awas Yojana.

--- ENDS ---
FLORIDA (WTXL) - Presidents W. Kent Fuchs and John Thrasher wrote an article for the Tampa Bay Times urging the importance of investments into Florida's universities.

Their action comes after recent debate in the Florida Legislature about the future of higher education.

They say that legislators are not sure about investing more resources into universities. On the other hand, both presidents believe "there is a direct correlation between the prosperity of a state and the quality of its higher education institutions."

The article includes prominent research, teaching, and service that Florida State University and the University of Florida contribute to the state. It also reminds readers how Florida was declared the best state in the nation for higher education based on value and performance in U.S. News & World Report.

Ultimately, the two presidents chose to come together to show how important it is to provide the best higher education because they believe it is a reflection of the entire state and its people.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Old Leon County Jail by Cascades Park is set for redevelopment but some residents are pushing for its history to be preserved. The Firestone Building is part of a larger project to bring a variety of development downtown.

In the heart of the Capital City sits a building full of history. The Old Leon County Jail, a key site in the Civil Rights Movement.

"This building became the first jail-in in the entire country during the student sit-in movement," said Delaitre Hollinger, who organized the meeting.

Delaitre Hollinger says a lynching here in the 1930s prompted congress to pass legislation against it.

"Watershed moments in the Civil Rights Movement that occurred here at this building, and that's definitely history that we need to preserve," said Hollinger.

The building is one of several that are being planned for redevelopment. Residents say it's not just the history that sets it apart.

"It really speaks to modernism, which arose in the 1920s and '30s, and it's the only art deco building that we have," said Ron Yrabedra, a concerned citizen.

"This is what makes Tallahassee special -- this whole area of buildings, for example," said Jan DeCosmo, another concerned resident. "None of these should be destroyed."

While the sale of this building is not final, residents are hoping developers hear more of their concerns. They have a few suggestions for redeveloping this property.

"A memorial wall on the inside of the building with the list of names of people who were jailed here, who suffered here, a historical marker here on the outside, and preserving the oak tree," said Hollinger.

"Some cultural kind of purpose or mission would be good, but if not, to just save the facade of the building," said DeCosmo.

The group will hold a strategy meeting next Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Leroy Collins Library.

The developers, North American Properties, tell WTXL they'll also set up an informational session with the community at a later date.

Heres the full statement from Shawn McIntyre, a partner with the developers:

"We deeply respect this groups passion and interest in this issue, as it is an important one. We have done extensive research and understand the history behind all three of the historic structures on this site, and we are in the process of forming a community user group to help determine the best way to honor it  regardless of what were able to preserve structurally.

"Right now, were continuing to work to understand the economic and logistical considerations that will determine the feasibility of preserving these structures. Were planning to hold a community information session within the next couple of months to provide everyone with an update on our progress. In the meantime, interested citizens can visit CascadesProject.com for additional details."
The BJP leaders are congregating at Bhubaneshwar, where the party's national executive meet begins tomorrow. The BJP is eyeing a comeback in Odisha, where Assembly election will be held in 2019.

By Brijesh Pandey: Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today said that Odisha is the new laboratory of pro-poor schemes, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Odisha goes to polls in 2019.

Pradhan was speaking at Bhubaneshwar ahead of two-day BJP national executive meet that begins tomorrow in the Odisha capital.

The political temperature of the state is already very high. Fresh from its performance in the local polls, the BJP is eyeing a comeback to power in the state when it goes to polls in two years' time.

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Petroleum Ministry Dharmendra Pradhan today said that the national executive was being organised by the party at a very crucial juncture.

The BJP's emphatic victory in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and bypolls, whose results came out yesterday, clearly points toward a new kind of consolidation in favour of PM Narendra Modi, Pradhan said.

For the Central Govt led by Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, Odisha is a laboratory for all its pro-poor welfare schemes like #PMUY pic.twitter.com/qJv3oIw029- Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) April 14, 2017

Dharmendra Pradhan went on to say that the national executive at Bhubaneshwar would strengthen the party in this area. Party president Amit Shah has said it several times that we have to strengthen our party in eastern India, Pradhan added.

Calling Bhubaneshwar as epicentre of the region, Dharmendra Pradhan said the Bhubaneshwar national executive this will definitely boost the morale of the cadre of this region.

Detailing about the two-day programme of national executive, Dharmendra Pradhan said that BJP president Amit shah will hold a meeting with the general secretaries of the party in the evening. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will also arrive Bhubaneshwar in the evening.

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at a press conference in Bhubaneshwar. (Photo: @dpradhanbjp)

Senior BJP leaders including Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, Venkaih Naidu and others will be arriving Bhubaneshwar tomorrow. The national executive meet will start at 10 am.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Bhubaneshwar at around 3.30 and will go to Raj Bhawan and after that he will go to Janata Maidan. The meeting will resume at 10 am the next and will go on till late evening discussing the nitty gritty of politics.

Pradhan said that Narendra Modi got a resounding mandate in 2014 and this year it reached a new height (in the Assembly elections).

"In 2019 both country and Odisha will go to poll and we are working on twin strategy of building and strengthening the party," Pradhan said.

BJP national executive meet is taking place at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneshwar.(Photo: @dpradhanbjp)

Pradhan further said, "We have been saying since 2014 that our first priority is to be number two in Odisha. There is a massive dissatisfaction against Navin Patnaik government. The party (BJP) has gained in strength. I believe that the credibility index of Modi in Odisha is all time high and in 2019 our party will be the natural choice."

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Refusing to get into controversy over the tweet of BJD MP Tathagat Satpaty, Pradhan said that he doesn't want to get into anybody's domestic quarrel but dropped ample hint of what could happen in future when he said that anybody who reposes faith in the leadership of PM Modi and ideology of BJP is welcome to the party.

ALSO READ |

Aiming to expand its base in Odisha, BJP to hold national executive meet in Bhubaneswar on April 15,16

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Indian high commissioner to Pakistan on Friday met the Pakistani foreign secretary, seeking consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. The request was denied by Islamabad.

Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on April 10

By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan on Friday rejected yet another Indian request for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, the former Navy man sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court. This was the 14th time Islamabad rejected New Delhi's attempt to gain consular access to Jadhav.

Earlier on Friday, India's high commissioner to Pakistan, Gautam Bambawale, met with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in Islamabad seeking consular access to Jadhav.

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The request was refused. "We demanded a meeting (with Jadhav), but they denied," Bambawale told reporters after meeting Janjua, according to news agency IANS.

New Delhi has said it had previously made 13 attempts to get consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, but all of those requests were turned down by Islamabad.

During the meeting, Bambawale demanded that Pakistan provide India with certified copies of the charge sheet against Jadhav as well as the military court judgment.

The Indian diplomat also he has no information about former Pakistani army officer Mohammad Habib, who is said to have gone missing from Nepal. There has been media speculation that Indian spy agencies took him captive.

'DUE PROCESS FOLLOWED'

According to a statement reported by news agency PTI, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Janjua said, "due judicial process was followed" during the trial against Jadhav and that "he was provided a lawyer in accordance with relevant laws and the constitution of Pakistan".

Janjua's statement went on to allege that Pakistanis "incarcerated" in Indian prisons have not been provided consular access for years, despite repeated requests by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

Referring to the recent Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha discussions on Jadhav, Janjua added that the "rhetoric in the Indian Parliament was unwarranted and only added to fuelling hatred against Pakistan which was not conducive for promoting cordial ties between the two countries, in accordance with our Prime Minister's vision for peace in the region."

DIPLOMATIC WAR

The two countries continued with their diplomatic war over Jadhav, who was sentenced to death on April 10 by the Pakistani military over espionage charges.

On Friday, Pakistan's de facto foreign affairs chief Sartaj Aziz slammed the "inflammatory statements and rhetoric of premeditated murder" raised by the Indian government, going on to claim that Jadhav was "tried under the law of the land in a fully transparent manner".

The sentencing, Aziz added, was "based on credible, specific evidence proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan".

He also claimed that India had failed to respond to a letter of assistance seeking information and access to witnesses that Islamabad had shared with New Delhi on January 23.

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The Pakistan foreign policy chief then alleged that India has not provided a "credible explanation of why their naval commander was in Balochistan".

A few hours later, Home Minister Rajnath Singh refuted Aziz's claims, saying, "I don't think he was given a transparent trial at all".

'INDIA CALLS OFF TALKS'

Meanwhile, according to a Times of India report, the Indian government has called off maritime security talks between the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and the Indian Coast Guard.

A delegation of the PMSA, the report says, was supposed to arrive in India next week in what would have been the first Indian visit by a Pakistani delegation since last year's attack by militants on an Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri.

The Times of India also reported that this week's Indus Water Treaty-mandated secretary-level talks that were supposed to happen in the United States over the dispute, have been postponed as well.

RIGHT TO APPEAL

Pakistan foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz on Friday noted that Jadhav has the right to appeal his death verdict within 40 days to a higher court in Pakistan.

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Jadhav can also file a mercy petition with General Qamar Bajwa, the Pakistani army chief who confirmed the military court's verdict, within 60 days in case he loses the appeal.

If General Bajwa rejects Jadhav's petition, the Indian national's last option would be to file a mercy petition with the Pakistani president within 90 days.

Islamabad has maintained that Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer whom Pakistan accused of being a Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) spy, received a fair trial following his arrest in May last year.

New Delhi, on the other hand, has slammed the secretive manner in which Jadhav was tried and condemned to death and has said that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran and was taken to Pakistan.

Earlier this week, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warned Pakistan of dire consequences if Jadhav was hanged, saying his execution would be termed by India as "pre-mediated murder".

Swaraj, who has vowed to go to any extent to secure Jadhav's release, also slammed Pakistan for repeatedly denying consular access to Jadhav and termed the proceedings under which was sentenced "farcical".

(Story has been edited to include the Pakistan foreign secretary's comments)

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(With inputs from agencies)

ALSO READ | 7 RAW rules that prove Kulbhushan Jadhav is not an agent; straight from the mouth of former sleuth

ALSO READ | Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: 10 things about executions in Pakistan

ALSO WATCH | Musharraf to India Today: On Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistan will bow down to nobody

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UNION GAP, Wash. -- A Union Gap convenience store was robbed at gunpoint Monday evening for the second time in just over a month.
You are the owner of this article.
U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouses meeting with 150 constituents last week in Sunnyside offered a textbook example of how the intense national debates o
The incident occurred in a train carriage on the light rail network near Jerusalem's municipality building and the walled Old City.

Israeli policemen block a road where the light train passes following a stabbing attack just outside Jerusalem's Old City, according to Israeli police April 14, 2017. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

By Reuters: A Palestinian man fatally stabbed a woman on Jerusalem's transit network on Friday, Israeli police said, as Christians marked Good Friday and Muslims held prayers at respective holy sites nearby.

THE INCIDENT

The incident occurred in a train carriage on the light rail network near Jerusalem's municipality building and the walled Old City. TV footage showed blood on the floor of the carriage with police officers restraining a man and carrying him away.

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A police spokesman said the assailant was apprehended and the victim was an Israeli woman in her twenties, but Israel Radio said she was a 23-year-old British student. It was not immediately possible to resolve the conflicting accounts.

The Shin Bet domestic security service identified the assailant as 57-year-old Jamil Tamimi and said he was a Palestinian from Arab East Jerusalem with mental health problems who was convicted in 2011 for sexually assaulting his daughter.

"This is one of many instances where a Palestinian suffering personal strife ... chooses to carry out an attack in order to find release for his problems," the Shin Bet statement said.

It added that the assailant had previously tried to commit suicide by to swallow a razor blade.

Friday is sometimes a day of heightened tensions in Jerusalem's Old City when tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers come to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

On Good Friday each year, Christians hold a procession along the Via Dolorosa in the Old City, retracing what they believe was the route that Jesus took to his crucifixion.

PREVIOUS ATTACK INCIDENTS

A wave of street attacks by Palestinians in Israel, Jerusalem and the Israeli-occupied West Bank since October 2015 has killed 37 Israelis and two American tourists. At least 242 Palestinians have died during the period of sporadic violence.

Israel says at least 162 of the Palestinians killed had launched stabbing, shooting or car ramming attacks. Others died during clashes and protests.Israel has accused the Palestinian leadership of inciting the violence. The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, denies incitement and charges that in many cases, Israel has used excessive force in thwarting attackers armed with rudimentary weapons.

Also Read |

Decision on US Embassy in Jerusalem to be made soon: Trump

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Jason Greenblatt, Donald Trumps special representative for international negotiations, has received a mandate from the American president to reach a formula for an agreement in the Middle East within a year.

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Greenblatt arrived in Israel last month, allegedly in the capacity of a student, but its seems that he is not just a fast learnerhe is already starting to tie up some loose ends. And the Middle Eastfrom the Saudi king to the Israeli prime ministeris on tiptoes around him.

Greenblatt doesnt have behind him a president with an ideology, whose vision and hearts desire is to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ahead of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump has adopted the world view of the three chief security officials surrounding him: His secretary of defense, General James Mattis; his secretary of homeland security, John Kelly; and his new national security adviser, Gen. H.R. McMaster.

Prime Minister Bnejamin Netanyahu with former US President Barack Obama (Photo: AP)

These three generals commanded forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and were exposed over the years to intelligence reports pointing to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the factor that is making it difficult for the American armed forces to reach the required accomplishments in these conflicts.

According to their perception, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an obstacle which must be pushed out of the way in order to advance the American administrations security, economic and diplomatic interests in the Arab world. Ending the conflict, according to this perception, will also help the administration end the Islamic State affair as a regional and global threat.

Trumps approach towards the settlements, Area C, moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, etc., is therefore not afflicted by romanticization, but is rather driven by a pure strategic American interest. Greenblatts determination, as the emissary of a president who may react unexpectedly if the Middle Eastern deal he is concocting fails, is making Jerusalem tremble.

Last Thursdays Security Cabinet discussion, which focused on a gradual freeze of the settlements and extensive gestures in Area Caccording to the American demandwas held in untypical media silence. Jerusalem is beginning to miss former US President Barack Obama earlier than expected.

Last week, during a farewell ceremony for interim National Security Adviser Yaakov Nagel, he was praised by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the person who had brought the largest defense aid package Israel had ever received. Minister Yuval Steinitz was heard commenting quietly, Its a good thing we finalized the deal with the previous administration.

Israeli officials are beginning to comprehend that with all his hostility towards the Israeli policy in the territories, Obama contributed to Israels security more than any other American president. During his term, in addition to $3 billion in regular annual defense aid, Israel received an addition of $200 million on average for special projects. And if that were not enough, Obama arranged a fixed budget for the defense establishment in the coming decade, which would make it possible to manage the defense establishment without any budgetary anxieties.

Trumps special envoy, Jason Greenblatt, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. If Abbas is very optimistic, it should ring alarm bells in the Prime Ministers Office (Photo: Reuters)

Trump may not be as charming if Bayit Yehudi Minister Uri Ariel and Knesset Member Bezalel Smotrich sabotage his deal. When Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announces that he is very optimistic ahead of his meeting with Trump, it should ring alarm bells in the Prime Ministers Office. Obama was a sucker: He set red lines for Israel in the territories, but didnt exact a price from Israel when it crossed them. How will Trump act is Israel fails him in the regional negotiations? Its hard to know. But when he doesnt get what he wantshe punishes.

Trump didnt hesitate to demand that his close alliesJapan, South Korea, Germanyincrease their defense budgets considerably, as he is no longer willing to carry the burden of protecting their security. And these are rich countries. What reason does he have not to present the same demand to Israel, if it fails to deliver the required diplomatic flexibility?

As they sat down for the Passover Seder and sang Dayenu, (It will suffice) all the defense establishment heads should have asked for is: If Trump doesnt add a penny to the defense budgetdayenu, it will suffice! If he leaves us alone and doesnt touch the defense aid budget we received from Obamadayenu, it will suffice!

(Translated and edited by Sandy Livak-Furmanski)
In recent weeks, the Arab media have been releasing reports in dribs and drabs about an impending dramatic publication of the amended Hamas Charter .Those expecting Hamas to recognize the State of Israel or waive the right of return for Palestinians will likely be disappointed: They wont find it here. The softened language and the ideological invigoration are for internal political purposes in the Palestinian arena, for foreign policy purposes vis-a-vis the Arab world, and for gaining international political legitimization.

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There are two major changes in the charter. The first is an acceptance of the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders, and the second is severing ties with the Muslim Brotherhood movement. These two changes, however, come with a demand to cancel the Balfour Declaration, the Partition Plan and the Oslo Agreements, and statements about a holy war to fully liberate historic Palestine, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, from north to south. The Zionist entity is illegitimate, Palestine is to be a Muslim Arab state (a blessed and holy land), while the colonialism that followed the creation of the Zionist movement due to anti-Semitism must disappear from Palestine.

Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sanwar. The change of leadership, alongside a new charter, allegedly symbolize a dynamic movement adapting to a changing reality (Photo: AFP)

At the beginning of the document, Hamas is defined as an Islamic Palestinian national liberation and resistance movement, whose goal is to liberate Palestine and resist the Zionist project. Senior Hamas member Ahmed Yousef stressed in an interview that the acceptance of a Palestinian state in the 1967 borders was a way to maintain a national consensus, and that Hamas would accept an independent Palestinian state only if it would be allowed to hold onto the weapon of resistance.

The same applies to the right of return, which is based on the divine law, on human rights and on international law, and cannot be denied or waived by any Palestinian, Arab or international element. Moreover, Hamas rejects any attempt to solve the refugee issue by resettling refugees outside Palestinian land. Jerusalem is defined in the new charter as Palestines capital, and there must be no concession on all or on part of the city.

A lot of thought was apparently put into replacing the blatant anti-Semitic incitement of the original charter with less racist wording. Hamas, according to the new charter, distinguishes between the Jews, the People of the Book, and Judaism as a religion, and between the occupation and the Zionist project (which is) racist and aggressive, hostile to the Palestinian people and to its liberation, self-determination and return aspirations.

The defined enemy right now is, therefore, the Zionist project: It is threatening the Arab and Islamic nation, as well as world peace and security. The State of Israel is not mentioned. Anti-Semitismin a clear withdrawal from the original charters approachis defined as a phenomenon which has to do primarily with European history.

The goal: Upgrading Hamas' standing

The original Hamas Charter, which was issued in August 1988, shortly after the organization was founded, was filled with historically-distorted anti-Semitism: The society confronts a vicious enemy which acts in a way similar to Nazism, making no differentiation between man and woman, between children and old people Our enemy relies on breaking bones, shooting at women, children and old people, with or without a reason.

The anti-Semitic incitement continued throughout the charter, specifying the activities of the Zionist Nazis and the warmongering Jews, mentioning the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and attributing every incident in the past few centuries to the Jewish enemies.

The new charter aims to upgrade Hamas standing in all of its activity centers. First of all, in its power base in the Gaza Strip: The change of leadership with Yahya Sanwar instead of Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza and Khaled Mashals upcoming replacement as head of the political bureaualongside a new charter allegedly symbolize a dynamic movement adapting to a changing reality.

Second, the new charter aims to strengthen Hamas in the Palestinian internal political arena. Since Hamas violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007, it has signed six reconciliation or unity agreement with Fatah. None of these agreements developed into a full and long-term leadership cooperation. The new acceptance of a Palestinian state within the 1967 bordersthe PLOs political bannermay pave the way to a better partnership that could represent the Palestinian people in any peace process which may take place.

Third, Hamas wants to become a regional political player. Apart from a cautious strategy regarding Egypt in order to maintain its control of the strip, while neutralizing its affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas must maneuver between the players it depends on, mainly Iran and Saudi Arabia. The dialogue with the Arab quartetEgypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emiratesis another political and economic consideration for Hamas, and we must not forget the anticipated improvement in Hamas international legitimacy as a result of its alleged moderation.

As for Israel, there is nothing in the new charter which could change Jerusalems perception that Hamas is an enemy that has not renounced incitement, violence and terror and that sees the conflict with Israel as a key component of its existence.

Nevertheless, the cosmetic changes to the Hamas Charter wont interfere with an Israeli peace initiative indicating that Israel is serious about making gradual progress toward an agreement with the Palestinians, which would include a reconstruction of the Gaza Strip in exchange for a security calm and preventing Hamas from growing stronger.

Adv. Gilead Sher heads the Center for Applied Negotiations (CAN) and is a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) at Tel Aviv University. He served as former Prime Minister Ehud Baraks bureau chief.
By PTI: New Delhi, Apr 14 (PTI) A policeman from Maharashtra, who was suspended for not adhering to no-beard policy of the state reserve force, has not agreed to the offer of the Supreme Court that it would revoke his suspension if he shaves.

Zahiroddin Shamsoddin Bedade had approached the top court in 2013 after the Bombay High Court did not find fault with the suspension order.

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A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar, while refusing an urgent hearing in the matter, said it felt sorry for him and will allow him to join back if he agrees to keep the beard only during religious periods.

"Its your choice," the bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, said but the counsel for Bedade refused the offer saying there was no concept of temporary beard in Islam.

Bedade, who was appointed as a constable in the State Reserve Police Force, had applied for and was granted permission to grow his beard in 2012.

However, his permission was revoked in keeping with the new amendments made to the Maharashtra State Reserve Police Forces policy.

The high court had said that he could keep the beard only during religious period and the force was a secular agency and discipline required him to stick to secular rules.

Challenging the high courts order, he approached the apex court.

On December 15 last year, the apex court had also dealt with a similar petition filed by IAF official Mohammad Zubair in which it ruled that unless keeping a beard was an integral part of ones religion ? such as in the Sikh community ? no personnel could be allowed to grow a beard. PTI ABA RRT SJK RKS ARC

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Heavy rainfall Wednesday and Thursday on roads to Eilat have caused the closing of Route 40 near Mitzpe Rimon and Route 90 on the Arava.

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Police are asking the public to drive with extreme caution and avoid roads and areas that are currently subject to flash floods. Police also request that people do not stop on the side of the road and in the event of an emergency, drivers are requested to call 100 for help.

Floods (:  ,  ,  )

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Flash floods in the south (Photo: Nativei Yisrael)

Photo: Roni Sarur

Rain and hail are expected to continue in the north and south of the country and high winds are projected to produce dangerous conditions in the ocean. Beachgoers are reminded to be vigilant.

(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)
How were the pyramids built? Since humans at the time of the pyramids, thousands of years ago, could not establish such engineering operations, they were created by ... aliens. No other explanation would make sense. However, in August 2014, thousands of years after they were established, American physicists had found a possible explanation for the way they were built, indeed by earthly, flesh and blood human beings. So how did they do that? What did the ancient Egyptians know that we dont know today?

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The first pyramids were built more than 4,500 years ago in Egypt, in the days when mammoths were still roaming the world, to serve as burial sites for pharaohs. They were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one of the seven that survived to this day. They are made up of huge stones, most of which weigh about 2.5 tons and some even reach 80 tons. The question of how they moved these huge stones and raise them remains controversial to this day.

The first pyramids were built of strong granite stones. As time passed, smaller pyramids began to be built and the quality of their construction diminished due to a transition to soft, cheaper limestone. Unsurprisingly, the ancient pyramids were better preserved over the years thanks to the quality of the building materials. Contrary to what is commonly believed, the builders of the pyramids were not slaves, but most likely paid locals.

One of the most famous and preserved pyramids is the Giza Pyramid, built of 2.3 million blocks of stone and its total weight is estimated at 5.9 million tons. Researchers estimate it took 20 years to build, so that the builders had to build an average of 800 tons a day. This raises the question: how did they manage to carry hundreds of stones a day, each weighing a few tons, without the help of electric cranes and air-conditioned trucks?

One of the theories suggested was that the workers dragged the stones onto sand that had been moistened with water from the nearby Nile River. According to this theory, the water reduced the friction between the stones and the ground by 40 percent.

Though this method may have been useful in Egypt, many pyramid sites are very far from any water source (e.g., in Sudan).

According to another theory, raised by John Bush in 1977 in a article he titled the Rolling Stones, the ancient Egyptians attached cylindrical pieces of wood to the stones on all four sides. And by doing so, they could roll them instead of dragging them, on surfaces they laid along the way ahead of time to make the work easier.

(Photo: John Bush, Engineering and Science)

In August 2014, Professor Joseph West proposed a new idea. In his opinion, the builders tied logs on the sides of the large stones. He estimated that the logs should have been about 30 cm in diameter, just like those used by sailors on the ships that carried the building stones on the Nile.

(Photo: Joseph West, arxiv.org/abs/1408.3603)

Whether the Egyptians used one of the methods proposed by the researchers or not, there is no doubt that the construction of the pyramids is an engineering marvel. These are engineering projects that required thousands of workers and many long years. The result is one of the most resistant structures in the world!

(Translated and edited by N. Elias)
The children of foreign workers in south Tel Aviv have their Passover "Haggadah" story: fourth graders from the Tel Hai the Jordan schools, consisting of the children of foreign workers who meet every few weeks, held a joint Passover Seder under the Tel Aviv Municipality Hevruta program, which aims to integrate young people from different backgrounds from around the city. Sitting together, the children

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In addition to the traditional Seder meal, the day's activities included incorporating values and themes from the Haggadah, such as freedom, family unification, independence and immigration to Israel, and linking them to the lives of the children of foreign workers in Tel Aviv. All the children wrote what freedom means to them, what it means to sit around the table, how to help others and accept the different, and re-wrote the Passover Haggadah, from their own perspective.

Taking part in the Seder

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Here are some of the moments of freedom that the children described in their Haggadah:

"My father was a captain in the Eritrea Army," wrote Tasmin. "He and a few other officers decided to run away. They walked through the desert until they reached Israel. My mother left my two brothers back homeI was a year and a half years old. My uncle escorted us to (the Eritrean capital ofed) Asmara during the night, and from where we started walking. We walked for a year and a half in the desert. We were beaten, we suffered from hunger and the heat, walking at night and sleeping during day. We didn't wash ourselves during this entire time. We crawled through barbed wire and were injured and bleeding. When we reached the border of the State of Israel, we were tired and sick."





Celebrating the holiday of Passover

Bat-El wrote: "My father and mother decided to leave Ethiopia and move to Israel because things were bad there. (After arrivinged) in Egypt, they were divided into two groups of men and women. There was a shortage of food, and they slept in bags on the ground. We barely bathed and suffered from sickness and the cold."

The children taking part in the preparations for the Seder

"My mother went out for a walk with me and did not tell anyone she was running away," shared Marik. "But then she turned back and took my four-year-old sister. I was a year and a half years old. From Eritrea, we went to Ethiopia, where my mother worked and saved money to pay an Arab driver to take us to the Egyptian border. We arrived at the Red Sea, and from there we sailed in a rickety and scary boat  I was carried by piggyback so I wouldn't drown, and the policemen in Egypt beat us so that we would cross the border quickly. At the border, my father and uncles waited for us and took us to the Tikva neighborhood (in Tel Avived). These days, my father works at a supermarket and my mother works at a delicatessen. We're all satisfied."

That matzah never stood a chance

Snoit: Father first arrived in Israel from Eritrea. Mother and I missed him very much. Mother put me on my back and then we began to march from Eritrea to Sudan. In Sudan we were arrested and thrown into an old house that was dark and frightening. We were there for a few weeks. We managed to escape and went to the desert again, where we were captured once more. The men were beaten hard. Father sent money for our release, so we would be allowed to continue on our way to Israel. The road was hard and frightening. It was cold and we were hungry, thirsty and ill. We crossed the Red Sea in a boat and entered the country very quietly, so we would not be caught. In Israel, my uncles were waiting for us to help us get settled. "

Toddlers from Micha join the Seder

As part of the program, there are meetings between high school students from different parts and demographics within the city of Tel Aviv: refugee children meet with children from schools in North Tel Aviv, secular students meet with religious students, Arabs and Jews and many more.

The curriculum works to establish the values of democracy as the organizing axis for all educational activities. Beyond the weekly civics lessons taught throughout the country, a number of weekly hours are devoted to the study of democracy. Current issues on the public agenda are also discussed, a democratic forum is held on controversial issues, and students are given theoretical and rhetorical tools to establish their position on the matter being discussed. All these allow them to voice their opinions even if they do not conform to those of the consensus.

Beit Micha, a non-profit organization for children and toddlers with hearing impairments, is a rehabilitative and educational organization that aims to provide therapeutic and educational solutions for the children enrolled in its programs from birth until they begin school.

The organization's educational vision is to provide every hearing impaired child with the necessary tools to acquire communication, language, development and equal opportunity to realize their potential and fully integrate into society.
North Korea's vice foreign minister says, "We will go to war" if the US chooses to provoke it.

Vice Minister Han Song Ryol spoke to The Associated Press in an exclusive interview in Pyongyang on Friday. He said the United States and President Donald Trump were making trouble in the region, citing Trump's tweets and the US for moving an aircraft carrier into the region and for participating in its largest-ever joint military exercises with South Korea.

Han said that in the face of such actions, North Korea "will go to war if they choose." And it will continue developing its nuclear program and conduct its next nuclear test whenever its leaders see fit.

Han said: "We certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US pre-emptive strike."
North Korea's vice foreign minister has said that "We will go to war" if the US chooses to provoke it, accusing the Trump administration of causing trouble and slamming the US for recent military moves in the area ahead of joint exercises with its southern neighbor.

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Speaking with AP in Pyongyang on Friday, Vice Minister Han Song Ryol said the United States and President Donald Trump were "making trouble" in the region, citing Trump's tweets and the US for moving an aircraft carrier into the region and for participating in its largest-ever joint military exercises with South Korea.

Photo: AP

North Korea denounced the United States on Friday for bringing "huge nuclear strategic assets" to the Korean peninsula as a US aircraft carrier group headed for the region amid concerns the North may conduct a sixth nuclear weapon test.

China issued a plea to Washington not to use preemptive military action against North Korea.

Han said that in the face of such actions, North Korea "will go to war if they choose." And it will continue developing its nuclear program and conduct its next nuclear test whenever its leaders see fit.

"We certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US preemptive strike," he added.

North Korea Vice Foreign Minister Han Song Ryol (Photo: AP)

Trump tweeted on Tuesday that North Korea was "looking for trouble" and added that if China doesn't do its part to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, the US can handle it.

Han responded that it is not his own country but the United States and President Donald Trump who are "making trouble," blaming them for the "vicious cycle" in the Korean Peninsula.

Tension has risen since the US Navy fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack, raising concerns about US President Donald Trump's plans for North Korea, which has conducted missile and nuclear tests in defiance of UN and unilateral sanctions.

Photo: AP

The United States has warned that its policy of "strategic patience" is over. US Vice President Mike Pence travels to South Korea on Sunday on a long-planned 10-day trip to Asia.

A spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry's Institute for Disarmament and Peace issued a statement condemning the United States for the attack on Syria, while also calling for "peace by strength".

"The US introduces into the Korean peninsula, the world's biggest hotspot, huge nuclear strategic assets, seriously threatening peace and security of the peninsula and pushing the situation there to the brink of a war," the North's KCNA news agency said on Friday, citing the statement.

Photo: AP

"This has created a dangerous situation in which a thermo-nuclear war may break out any moment on the peninsula and posed serious threat to the world peace and security, to say nothing of those in Northeast Asia," it said.

North Korea, still technically at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, has on occasion conducted missile or nuclear tests to coincide with big political events and often threatens the United States, South Korea and Japan.
Police arrested a Palestinian in Ra'anana Thursday night who was released from Israeli prison under the Shalit deal , on suspicion of breaking into a home and stealing jewelry and a laptop.

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Authorities are currently looking into whether he was involved in other incidents of theft in the area.

On Thursday evening, Kfar Saba police received reports about two suspicious individuals on a street in the central city.

After arriving at the scene, they scoured the area in search of the two suspicious individuals, and eventually found the suspects who tried to escape while throwing items onto the street. Police believe the objects were stolen from one of the homes on the street.

After pursuing the two individuals in a brief chase, they were apprehended. The suspects, aged 27 and 17, identified themselves as residents of the city of Tira in central Israel.

Gilad Shalit with Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: GPO)

However, a deeper investigation revealed that the 27 year old provided a false identity, and that he was in fact named Ali Ashal, a resident of Ramallah, who was one of the more than 1,000 prisoners swapped in exchange for IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

Shalit was held in Hamas captivity in Gaza for five years after being abducted by Hamas in 2006.

It is not the first case in which one of the Shalit deal prisoners has been involved in criminal activity since his release.

Last August, one of the released prisoners was arrested at a building, also in Raanana.

He had been sentenced to 6 years imprisonment after he was convicted of involvement in illegal activity and possession of a weapon.

Seven more Palestinians were also arrested along with him, all of whom were suspected of being in Israel illegally.

After he was arrested in August, the terrorist said during his investigation: Israel is our land. When we want, we will come in. With all due respect, this is our land. You are the first to say that we need permission.

(Translated and edited by Alexander J. Apfel)
A sixty-year-old man was found dead in his apartment in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Armon Hanatziv by police Thursday night after having suffered multiple stab wounds.

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After launching a preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death, police began to suspect that his partner, who called to report that she had discovered his body, may have been responsible for the murder.

Supect being taken by police

According to the initial findings, the body was in the apartment for a few hours after the murder took place in the afternoon.

The suspect, a 45-year-old woman, called the police at 9:20pm, informing them that she had discovered his body.

Scene of the murder

Arriving at the chilling scene to find the bloodstained body, it became apparent to the officers that the woman was intoxicated. She was subsequently arrested and taken in for investigation.

The neighborhoods community manager Yehudah Ben Joseph said that initially, there was a fear that the stabbing had been nationalistically motivated.

We know that it is actually a criminal background and not national. This is a sad story. Even the smallest thing shocks the residents, he said.

(Translated and edited by Alexander J. Apfel)
Police arrested Wednesday a 24-year-old resident of Tel Aviv for allegedly attacking men he met through the gay social network and dating app Grindr.

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The police stated that "the suspect attacked on several occasions men who refused to have intercourse with him." He was brought Friday to the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, where his remand was extended until April 19.

The suspect being arrested (from Amir's post on Facebook)

One of his victims, Amir (alias), told Ynet about the attack he had experienced at the hands of the violent man and the moments which led to the suspect's arrest.

"He made a move on me, sent me pictures, and he seemed really attractive. We made plans to meet at my place," Amir said. He invited the suspect to his home in Tel Aviv, and when he arrived, Amir claims that he started acting very unpleasantly.

When Amir asked him to leave, the suspect refused and attacked him.

"When he arrived he gave off a very bad vibe. I just wanted him to leave. I told him that I'm tired and that he'd better leave. He told me that he was disappointed out by it, and said he'll leave if I give him 20 Shekels."

Refusing to give him the money, Amir insisted once again that he leave his home.

"At that point he grabbed a glass and threw it on the floor, shattering it. I told him that there's no way I'm giving him any money, so he grabbed my cell phone and shattered it as well," Amir recounted.

"After that he grabbed me by the neck and we started fighting. I tried to calm him down, but then he pulled out a taser and pressed it against my body. I managed to calm him down and gave him everything I had in my wallet, promised him that everything is fine and that nothing's going to happen.

"He threatened me not to tell anyone, saying that he already had a criminal record."

After that, the man left.

"There was a lot of fear. The security of my home was violated. It stays with me still and it will probably stay with me for a while," Amir said.

The victim then filed a complaint with the police, but was not prepared to wait for the investigation, lest someone else fall prey to his violent attacks. Amir and his friend therefore planned an operation to expedite the process and bring the suspect to justice.

"Someone I knew spoke to him on Grindr and planned to meet him in a fictitious address. When he arrived we called the police and explained that he is a serial offender," Amir said, adding "the police did a fine job."

The police stated Thursday that "an investigation has been opened and a suspect has been arrested. The investigation is still ongoing."

They added that the suspect seemed to have attacked several men, saying that he "used to plan meetings with men in their apartments, and upon arriving demanded to have intercourse with them. If they refused, the suspect assaulted them, sometimes with a knife, and threatened to kill them."

The police has also asked any members of the public was recently attacked in this manner to come forward and give testimony.
Police in Istanbul have detained five ISIS suspects, some of whom were believed to be planning an attack in Turkey ahead of Sunday's referendum, the state-run Anadolu news agency said on Friday.

Anadolu said three of the detained people were suspected of planning an attack in the name of ISIS. Two others, including one of Tajik origin, had travelled to "conflict zones" and carried out operations for the jihadist group.

ISIS has been blamed for at least half a dozen attacks on civilian targets in Turkey in recent months, including a New Year's Day attack on Istanbul's Reina nightclub which killed 39 people.
A 21-year-old British student was killed after being stabbed multiple times in the chest in a terror attack at IDF Square on Jerusalems light rail on Friday afternoon.

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The attacker was arrested after a number of police officers managed to apprehend him. He was later identified as 57-year-old Jamil Tamimi from the Palestinian neighborhood of Ras al-Amud in eastern Jerusalem.

Resuscitation attempts and the murderer's arrest

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The Shin Bet reported that Tamimi has a history of mental problems, saying he attempted to commit suicide this year by swallowing a razor blade while in psychiatric hospital, from which he was recently released. In 2011, he was convicted of sexually assaulting his daughter.

Tamimi was transferred to the Jerusalem Police Investigation Unit, which is interrogating his four sons.

Photo: Kobi Richter/TPS

First responders arrived at the scene to find the woman lying on the ground unconscious after having suffered multiple stab wounds.

EMTs carried out first aid emergency treatment on the victim, before she was hurriedly taken to the Hadassah Har Hatzofim Medical Center in the capital.

While her condition was originally described as critical, she was pronounced dead shortly after.

Photo: AP

In addition, medical teams provided treatment to a 30-year-old pregnant woman who sustained light injuries as the light rail abruptly came to a halt.

A 50-year-old man also suffered light wounds in his leg and chest while trying to escape from the chaos.

Scene of attack

This is another incident of many in which a Palestinian suffering from mental health or personal issues has chosen to carry out an attack as a way out of his problems, the Shin Bet statement said.

Jerusalem Police Commander Yoram Halevi confirmed that The terrorist is mentally unstable.

Knife used in the attack

An off-duty policeman puts an end to the attack

An early interrogation of the attack revealed that Tamimi boarded the light train at the Nablus Gate station, riding the train until IDF Square. Noticing a young woman standing next to him, he pulled out a knife and began stabbing her repeatedly.

An off-duty policeman from the Jerusalem police who was with his family at the time pulled the emergency brake on the train and neutralized the attacker while removing the knife. A civilian who was nearby aided the officer.

At this point the train stopped, the doors were opened and the police force, which was deployed as part of the increased preparations in the city, entered the car and arrested Tamimi and evacuated the other passengers.

"I went on the light rail with my family, and I heard shouts of 'attack, attack,'" said the office who managed to stop Tamimi. "I immediately went over, pulled on the handbrake, ran to the scene of the event, attacked the terrorist and took control of him, so he would not continue to harm any innocent people.

"As a person who has served for years in the Jerusalem Police, I know there is heightened sensitivity here, especially during the holidays. I am constantly alert, even when I am not on duty as a police officer. As soon as I recognized that this was a terrorist attack, I left my family and neutralized the terrorist."

The attack comes during the holiday of Passover, a period during which security forces have ramped up their level of caution and alertness in anticipation of renewed efforts by terrorists to rock the recent period of comparative stability.

Panic in the capital (Photo: Yonatan Yoseph/TPS)

Last month, the head of the Shin Bet warned during a Foreign Affairs and Security Committee meeting that We are now approaching the festival of Passover. There is no doubt that the terror infrastructure, especially Hamas, will try to incite and carry out attacks."

Terrorist subdued

President Reuven Rivlin said in a statement that he is "filled with sadness" over the violence and that Israel's "thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim."

He said "this week thousands have come through the ancient gates of Jerusalem, to celebrate the feasts of Passover and Easter throughout the citywhile the security forces work to ensure the safety of the dear residents and visitors to the city. And so we will continue to do," he said. "Terror can never overcome us. Terror will never destroy our lives here."

In an effort to prevent the infiltration of any terrorists seeking to strike during the 7-day Passover holiday, a general closure was imposed on Monday at midnight on the West Bank and is set to continue until midnight this Monday at the conclusion of the festival.

The last terror attack to have taken place on the light rail was in November 2015 when two Palestinians aged 11 and 14 stabbed a security guard in the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood.

(Translated and edited by Alexander J. Apfel)
As the nation celebrates the 126th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is committed to building an inclusive India "of Babasaheb Ambedkar's dreams".

By India Today Web Desk: As the nation celebrates the 126th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is committed to building an inclusive India "of Babasaheb Ambedkar's dreams".

"None would be prouder of a strong, inclusive and developed India than Babasaheb. Creating an India that he would be proud of is our aim," he said.

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"Fulfilling the vision of Dr. Ambedkar for a developed & inclusive India," Modi posted on Twitter from his personal account, @narendramodi_in. The Prime Minister is in Maharashtra's Nagpur city today to inaugurate a number of projects on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti.

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, popularly known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer. He had inspired the Dalit Buddhist Movement and campaigned against social discrimination against "untouchables". To commemorate the memory of the reformer and his contributions, Ambedkar Jayanti or Bhim Jayanti is celebrated every year on April 14.

Here's the full text of PM Modi's post:

BABASAHEB'S VISION, OUR GOVERNANCE MISSION

Our nation is privileged to have been graced by the presence of many great men. Babasaheb Dr. B R Ambedkar stands tall as one of the greatest and most influential leaders.

Babasaheb Dr. Amebdkar devoted his life and efforts towards bringing a positive difference in the lives of the poor, marginalised and lesser privileged.

To understand the enormity of his contribution and influence on our nation, in sheer numbers, perhaps no single action in history lifted up the lives of so many poor and marginalised people as Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar's Constitution did. It is a demonstration of his greatness that he gave us one of the most comprehensive constitutions in the world.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the NDA government is continuously fulfilling the vision of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. This is seen through the consistent devising of people friendly policies and effective implementing of programmes that are based on his ideas of socio-economic empowerment of the marginalised and his vision of a developed and inclusive India.

Babasaheb's empowerment of the powerless was exemplary. His stress on inclusion for the poor and marginalised is an inspiration to us.

Jan Dhan Yojana, for example, takes banking to the unbanked. The government's road to enabling the poor to win against poverty begins with the access to formal financial institutions and instruments. Once financial inclusion is achieved, the government can deploy a range of measures to address poverty.

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rom Jan Dhan we have moved the focus to the next step - Jan Suraksha. The government provides inexpensive accident and life insurance to protect the socio-economic security of the poor under the Suraksha Bima Yojana and Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana. Cumulatively over 13 crore people have benefited from these schemes.

Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar was a leader who always stood up for the interests of the labourers.

From increasing the minimum wages of workers to enhancing the eligibility limit for availing bonuses, from the Universal Account Number for EPF to enabling employers to pay employees through banks, we have taken decisions that will positively impact the lives of crores of workers and safeguard their interests. Under our Shrameva Jayate initiative many reforms such as Labour Identification Numbers to labourers, Shram Suvidha Portal for ease of compliance for industries, transparent labour inspections, Apprentice Protsahan Yojana to support apprentices have been ushered in.

Dr. Ambedkar's ideas teach us that economic empowerment and enterprise go a long way in bringing about socio-economic empowerment.

Lack of access to formal capital and credit systems has long been a problem for the poor. Our Stand Up India scheme aims to promote entrepreneurship among women, SCs and STs. The scheme facilitates loans to beneficiaries and aims to empower their creative energy in forging a brave new future for themselves.

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The MUDRA scheme is also a key player in the promotion of entrepreneurship. The lack of a collateral is no more an obstacle for the aspirational class. To free the poor from the clutches of private moneylenders, the MUDRA scheme facilitates collateral-free bank financing for small businesses that form a crucial part of our economy. Crores of small entrepreneurs, especially SCs, STs, OBCs and women have benefited from this.

BABASAHEB DR. AMBEDKAR FIRMLY BELIEVED IN THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

On this front, our government has taken inspiration from his words and translated it into reality. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao awareness drive has now become a people's movement in itself and is positively impacting gender equality. A large chunk of beneficiaries of schemes like MUDRA and Stand Up India are women. Ujjwala Yojana has helped free crores of women from the shackles of smoke-filled kitchens by providing deposit-free LPG connections at a rapid pace and raised their quality of life.

As an economist of great repute, Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar always stood for an economically strong India. He believed that industrialization was the best way to fight poverty.

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The Make In India programme to encourage manufacturing in India relentlessly focuses on bringing more and more investment into India to enhance manufacturing capacity which leads to economic growth. At a time when the global growth has been slow, India has been a bright spot due to fiscally responsible and growth-stimulating policies.

Farsighted infrastructure initiatives like Sagarmala that will create crores of direct and indirect jobs as well as spur economic activity through infrastructure creation will go a long way in making the lives of our poor better.

Multi-faceted and multi-talented that he was, Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar left his mark on various domains through his intellectual rigor and deep insight. In all spheres, his views remain a source of motivation and propel us to do more for socio-economic empowerment and take our nation to greater heights.

None would be prouder of a strong, inclusive and developed India than Babasaheb. Creating an India that he would be proud of is our aim.

ALSO READ:

Ambedkar Jayanti: How PM Modi won confidence of Dalits and Uttar Pradesh

Women need not change their names in passport after marriage: PM Modi

Why has Opposition stalled passage of OBC Bill, asks PM Narendra Modi

WATCH VIDEO: Our aim is to create an India that would make Ambedkar proud, says PM Narendra Modi

--- ENDS ---
The Israeli Air Force carried out one of the most complex and dangerous exercises in the last decade, when a fighter jet with an upgraded Pylon carrier for the plane's munitions was tested in air-to-air or anti-aircraft missile attack scenarios.

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During three major excursions, the jet was tested in a number of possible occurrences, which included the loss of intentional control of the two pilots at an altitude of 12 kilometers above sea level, the maximum altitude in which the aircraft's capabilities can be used. The pilots were required to carry out a sharp maneuver at a 260 degree angle at the very least.

IAF jet losing auto-control during experiment (: ")

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The munitions carrier, from which the jet's bombs are fired, has already been used by the Air Force, but so far not in the situations that were tested in the exercise. Upon its conclusion, it was recommended that the munitions carrier should not be used in the flight conditions tested in the exercise, i.e., that the pilots should not fire the bombs carried by it while performing such maneuvers.

A bird's-eye view of chaotic scenarios (Photo: Barel Efraim)

Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Shlomi (Photo: Barel Efraim)

For almost a minute, the commander of the Flight Test Center, Lt. Col. Shlomi, experienced the loss of control in almost 30 seconds, and the plane plunged to the sea at a speed of 500 mph at 90 degrees angle.

The control room during the experiment (Photo: Yoav Zitun)

The exercise was conducted over the Mediterranean for safety reasons, though near the Tel Nof Air Force base, where the experimental squadron operates, in case of a catastrophic emergency landing due to engine loss. As soon as the plane lost control, the plane actually fell into its own jet stream, taking a 7,000-foot nosedive until it straightened back, as the two pilots took over from manual control at 25,000 feet.

Photo: Yoav Zitun

Chaotic airplane reactions

"Although it was decided not to use this munitions carrier," Lt. Col. Shlomi told Ynet. "From our perspective, the exercise was very successful, since we must ensure that the person using it during an operation has the safest and most effective conditions for fighting. We are their gatekeepers, in all the systems that are used in flight and that are, of course, tested out by us beforehand. (This includesed) navigation systems, contact, control, missiles and bombs the planes themselvescombat, training, transport, UAVs and helicopters.

"Personally, I 'I wasn't afraid. Fear isn't in our lexicon. Those who end up in the world of aerial exercises do them with a lot of love. There are 160 of us in the squadronengineers, pilots, soldiers, technicians, officers and non-officers who must love it. Every day with us is unlike the previous one. These exercises, like the one we carried out, give you the feeling of (being oned) a roller coaster, especially when you're upside down, the straps pulling you toward the roof with you feeling just like the airplane itself.

"There is nothing like losing control to make you feel that you're part of this system that's up in the air. The experience has been very exciting, and we came to it prepared, after a long risk management process, with enough steps and actions taken to make sure that the exercise would be safely completed."

Engineers and mission commanders sitting in the control room at the Tel Nof Air Force base were closely monitoring the different phases of the exercise, as they followed visuals of the fighter plane, and the thousands of data that were being processed and analyzed.

"We wanted to test out the plane's durability outside of controlled circumstances," the squadron commander said. "This is complicated, since the aircraft's reactions in such situations are chaotic, and even forecasts or analyses that we know how to do in advance could not predict what will happen," the squadron commander added.

Taking things to the limit

800 excursions, 70 projects at any given moment and more than 100 exercises a year are conducted by the Air Force's squadron. "An exercise can be planned for years or days," said the squadron commander. "We also take part in the operations of the inter-war campaign (Israel's fight against terrorism and enemy entities, including special and secret operations against Hamas and Hezbollahed). We are required to try it out quickly, in short intervals of time.

"The work here is 24/7, and what fascinates the people here is that you can go all the way, try things that nobody has done yet, be the first, sometimes in the whole world, to bring about new aerial capabilities."
China said on Friday tension over North Korea had to be stopped from reaching an "irreversible and unmanageable stage" as a US aircraft carrier group steamed towards the region amid fears the North may conduct a sixth nuclear weapons test.

Concern has grown since the US Navy fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack, raising questions about US President Donald Trump's plans for North Korea, which has conducted missile and nuclear tests in defiance of UN and unilateral sanctions.

The United States has warned that a policy of "strategic patience" is over. US Vice President Mike Pence travels to South Korea on Sunday on a long-planned 10-day trip to Asia. China, North Korea's sole major ally and neighbour which nevertheless opposes its weapons programme, has called for talks leading to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
Uzbekistan's security services warned a western ally before last week's deadly truck attack in Stockholm that the suspected perpetrator was an ISIS recruit, Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said on Friday.

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Kamilov told reporters that Rakhmat Akilov, who had reportedly sympathized with ISIS, had been recruited by the jihadist group after he left the Central Asian nation in 2014 and settled in Sweden.

Passersby running from the attack

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"According to the information that we have, he actively urged his compatriots to travel to Syria in order to fight at Islamic State's side," Kamilov said, adding that Akilov had used online messaging services.

Still shot of Akilov, the suspect in the attack (Photo: AFP)

The site of the attack

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Kamilov did not identify the intermediary country or organization.

The aftermath of the attack (Photo: AFP)

A spokesman for Sweden's security police declined to comment on Kamilov's statement. The police said last week they had intelligence on Akilov in 2016 that they could not verify.

Photo: Reuters

An Uzbek security source said on Wednesday that Akilov had tried to travel to Syria in 2015 to join ISIS but was detained at the Turkish-Syrian border and deported back to Sweden.

The source added that Uzbekistan authorities had in February put him on a wanted list of people suspected of religious extremism.
The British student who was killed in a stabbing attack in Jerusalem on Friday is Hannah Bladon of England. She arrived at the Hebrew University as part of a student exchange program, for only one semester.

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Bladon was killed after being stabbed multiple times in the chest in a terror attack at IDF Square on Jerusalems light rail on Friday afternoon.

Bladon, 21, came to Jerusalem from the University of Birmingham, where she studied theology and archeology. As part of the exchange program, she participated in courses at the Rothberg International School at the Hebrew University, including courses on the Bible, archeology and religion. She additionally studied Hebrew. She began her studies at the Hebrew University in late January, and was due to return to Britain at the end of this semester, during the summer.

Hannah Bladon, who was killed in Friday's attack (Photo: AP)

Bladon, a Christian, was said to have been very interested in Judaism and religious studies in general. In January, she uploaded a photo of the Al-Aqsa Mosque to her Facebook page, writing beneath it, "Thanks guys. I'm ok thanks! Security is really tight on campus so no worries at mo! Managed to see a lot of sites before starting my classes today so defo having a great time! Xx"

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem expressed deep sorrow this evening over the murder and said it shared the family's sorrow. "The university condemns such acts of terror, murder and vandalism, which harm innocent people who came to Jerusalem to study and enrich their academic knowledge," read the statement.

Following the attack, a spokeswoman from the British Consulate stated, We can confirm the tragic death of a British national in Jerusalem. We are providing support to her family at this difficult time and are in touch with local authorities.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the attack with a statement, saying that "Radical Islamic terrorism is striking capitals around the world. This time is struck Jerusalem. In the name of the entire People of Israel, I send my condolences to the victim's family."

Her attacker was arrested after a number of police officers managed to apprehend him. He was later identified as 57-year-old Jamil Tamimi from the Palestinian neighborhood of Ras al-Amud.

The investigation into the attack revealed that Tamimi boarded the light rail at the Nablus Gate station, riding the tram until Tzahal Square. Standing next to Bladon, he pulled out a knife and began stabbing her repeatedly.

An off-duty policeman from the Jerusalem division of the Israel Police who was with his family at the time recognized the incident as a error attack, pulled the emergency brake on the train and neutralized Tamimi while removing the knife. A civilian who was nearby aided the police officer.

At this point the train stopped, the doors were opened and the police force, which was deployed as part of the increased preparations in the city, entered the car and arrested the attackor and evacuated the other passengers.

"I went on the light rail with my family, and I heard shouts of 'attack, attack,'" said the officer who managed to stop Tamimi. "I immediately went over, pulled on the emergency brake, ran to the scene of the event, attacked the terrorist and took control of him, so he would not continue to harm any innocent people."
NORFOLK, Neb. (AP)  They hang in the sky spreading their light over the land below.

Yet most people take them for granted, even though life would not exist without them.

Others wax poetic about their virtues and their vices. A Norfolk artist, for example, sees them as star-crossed lovers longing to meet, so shes bringing them together and even giving them a heart.

For the past six weeks, Elley Coffin has been painting her version of the sun and moon on a giant fiberglass heart that sits on a base made in the shape of Nebraska.

If that isnt enough to make the project unusual, shes working in the brightly lit corner of Francs Salon and Spa in downtown Norfolk.

Coffin, a 2015 graduate of Norfolk High School, said shes always been interested in art, and as a child had her share of how to draw books. Once at Norfolk High School, she became involved in other things and didnt get around to taking an art class until she was a junior.

While she enjoyed art, she graduated from high school intending to be a chiropractor. At some point, she switched her major to psychology. But her interest in art lingered in the background, and during the semester break of her sophomore year at Kansas State University, she transferred to Wayne State College and switched her major to art education.

There she honed her creative skills and made her plans.

If I can bring out the arts more ... thats my ultimate goal, she said.

The heart that Coffin is painting is part of the Nebraska By Heart project sponsored by Lead Up and the Sadie Dog Fund, the Norfolk Daily News (http://bit.ly/2penMdu ) reported. It is endorsed by the Nebraska 150 committee and is part of the states sesquicentennial commemoration.

By May, 95 6-foot hearts will be displayed around Lincoln. All will have been decorated by Nebraska artists who were chosen from the applications submitted to the sponsoring organization.

Coffins father, Randall, learned about the project and mentioned it to his daughter. She sent in three proposals, and all were accepted. But because the artist has to raise the $3,000 sponsorship for each heart, she is just painting one.

Even so, raising the money was a challenge. In the end, her family helped, as did friends who recognized her God-given gift. Wayne State College also donated to the cause.

Once she had the money, she needed to find a studio. Her mother, Lori, mentioned the project to Karen Arehart, owner of Francs Salon and Spa, and Arehart said, Why dont you put it here so everyone can enjoy it?

There, the sunlight spills in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, so Coffin can adequately see as she orchestrates the suns meeting with the moon.

People passing by on the street can stop and watch the artist, as can salon customers, Coffin said. It was the customers who persuaded her to take a more traditional approach with the back of the heart that now bears the image of the Nebraska countryside with its hills, a windmill as well as the sun and the moon.

In a few days, Coffins heart will be taken to Seward, where it will be sealed to protect it from the elements. From there, it will go to Lincoln where it will be on display until sometime this fall.

Coffin said shell be relieved when its done, but shell also miss the work and the interaction with the public.

I dont want to see it leave me, she said.
LINCOLN  Fellowship applications for Nebraska LEAD (Leadership Education/Action Development) are now available for men and women involved in production agriculture or agribusiness.

Up to 30 motivated men and women with demonstrated leadership potential will be selected from five geographic districts across our state, said Terry Hejny, Nebraska LEAD Program director.

In addition to monthly three-day seminars throughout Nebraska from mid-September through early April each year, Nebraska LEAD Fellows also participate in a 10-day National Study/Travel Seminar and a two-week International Study/Travel Seminar.

Seminar themes include leadership assessment and potential, natural resources and energy, agricultural policy, leadership through communication, Nebraskas political process, global perspectives, nuclear energy, social issues, understanding and developing leadership skills, agribusiness and marketing, advances in health care and the resources and people of Nebraskas Panhandle, Hejny said.

The Nebraska LEAD Program is designed to prepare the spokespersons, problem-solvers and decision makers for Nebraska and its agricultural industry. In its 36th year, the program is operated by the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council, a nonprofit organization, in collaboration with the University of Nebraskas Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and in cooperation with Nebraska colleges and universities, business and industry, and individuals throughout the state.

Applications are due no later than June 15 and are available via e-mail from the Nebraska LEAD Program. Please contact the office at sgerdes2@unl.edu or request an application by writing to: 104 ACB, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 68583-0940 or by calling 402 472-6810.

Details about the selection process are available at www.lead.unl.edu.

Nebraska LEAD Program offices are located in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UNL.
The Narendra Modi government in January said service charges were optional, but that has changed now. Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today announced that restaurants can't ask their customers to pay these charges anymore.

By India Today Web Desk: Restaurants can't ask their customers to pay service charges anymore, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said today.

The Narendra Modi government's move comes months after it said in January that customers could choose not to pay service charges.

The Department of Consumer Affairs had then asked state governments to advise hotels or restaurants to display information on their premises that 'service charges' are discretionary (voluntary), and that a consumer dissatisfied with their service could have them waived off.

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Later in the month, Ram Vilas Paswan called the levy of these charges an "unfair practice," and said the money should be given to "poor waiters."

ALSO READ | Don't like paying service charge in restaurants? You have an option not to pay now

ALSO READ | Service charge paid by consumers should be given to poor waiters: Ram Vilas Paswan

ALSO READ | Nanny state? People grill govt on plan to fix portion sizes of dishes served by hotels

WATCH VIDEO | Good news for foodies: Restaurants can't ask you to pay service charges anymore

--- ENDS ---
Tripoli: Libya`s southern desert, long neglected by central authorities, risks becoming an arena for score-settling between rival governments vying for clout across the war-torn country, analysts say.

Clashes erupted last week as forces loyal to Libya`s eastern authorities battled to seize a key southern airbase from militias that back a United Nations-endorsed unity government.

The offensive by the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by military strongman Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar threatened to trigger a broader conflict with forces allied to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

The unity government, the rival administration in eastern Libya and their respective backers are battling for influence in the North African country which has been wracked by chaos since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

So far tensions between the two sides had been mainly limited to the country`s north.

But last week, the LNA launched an offensive on the Tamenhant airbase on the outskirts of the city of Sebha.

The most important airbase in the south, it is a base for the "Third Force", one of several powerful pro-GNA militias from the western city of Misrata.

Haftar`s LNA "wants to achieve a victory in the southern region of Fezzan to boost its position & GNA is mobilising to prevent that", analyst Mohamed Eljarh of the Atlantic Council tweeted.The UN-backed government, which both Haftar and Libya`s eastern-based parliament have refused to recognise, has announced a counter-offensive against the LNA.

World powers this week sounded the alarm over the clashes, and in a joint statement, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council called for de-escalation.

"We underline the difference between acts against the terrorist threat and acts that can lead to further deterioration of the situation in Libya," they said.

To date, the unity government had largely avoided displaying open hostility towards Haftar, who is accused of wanting to establish a military dictatorship in Libya.

But "local armed groups and tribes could be caught into this fight and things could spiral out of control," said Mattia Toaldo, a Libya specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Haftar`s forces say the Tamenhant base was a launching pad for rival fighters who seized key northeastern oil terminals from their control last month.

The unity government has denied any link to the attacks on the terminals, which the LNA retook days later.

But analysts say Haftar lacks the forces he needs to battle his rivals in the south.Claudia Gazzini of the International Crisis Group said the LNA had won the support of some groups in the south but was "still militarily too weak to take on the Third Force".

The southern region of Fezzan, long neglected by authorities in the capital Tripoli, relies heavily on drugs and arms smuggling and human trafficking.

The region is also a key route for sub-Saharan African migrants attempting to reach Europe illegally from Libya.

Rival tribes in the region often clash over control of border areas near Chad, Niger and Sudan, lucrative routes for people traffickers.

Gazzini said the region`s close economic ties with the city of Misrata, whose powerful militias mostly back the unity government, meant many locals feared a "vendetta" in the event of an attack.

The tribes "know that any attack against Misrata could result in a freezing of trade between the north and the south, and people would suffer from that", she said.

In April, representative of the southern tribes met GNA and Italian officials in Rome to sign a peace deal to stem the flow of migrants by tightening controls along the southern border.

But analysts are sceptical about the plan`s chances of success.

Human trafficking is one of the region`s main sources of income, Gazzini said.

"So the only way to stop that type of trade is by generating alternative income sources," she said.
New York: An elite US boarding school that educated the likes of John F Kennedy, Michael Douglas and Ivanka Trump has released a report detailing decades of alleged sexual abuse.

Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut, where tuition today costs in excess of $43,500, released a report detailing alleged sexual misconduct by 12 former teachers against students from 1963 to 2010.

The school commissioned the report after allegations came to light and in the wake of an "alarming" increase in reports from other schools. A number of prestigious private schools in the United States have been beset by similar accusations.

Choate said it had substantiated abuse dating back to the 1960s, with the greatest number in the 1980s and a "handful" of reports of sexual misconduct in the 2010s.

Both male and female former students were among the victims, it said. Claims had not been substantiated against current staff, it said.

Graduates described former Choate staff engaging with them in "intimate kissing, intimate touching and sexual intercourse" and acts that included "forced or coerced intercourse."

Many said the encounters "disturbed them throughout their adult lives," the report added. None of them were reported to the police.

"Our interviews and school records showed that sometimes the school moved quickly and decisively. In other cases, it was slower to respond and allowed the faculty member to remain at the school," the report said.

Others went on to have careers at other schools.

The 48-page report included a Spanish teacher sacked after allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old student in a swimming pool on a school trip to Costa Rica.

There was also a fifth-form student who allegedly contracted herpes from an English teacher and an art history teacher who allegedly refused to use condoms and forced a student to get birth control pills.

The chairman of the board of trustees and current headmaster released a letter on Thursday "profoundly" apologizing and calling the report "devastating."
By PTI: Guwahati, Apr 14 (PTI) The GRPF and state police have seized demonetised banknotes with the face value of Rs 1.10 crore, nine gold bars and 1.5 kg brown sugar in separate incidents here.

The demonetised notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denominations were seized from a vehicle in Paltan Bazar here yesterday. However, the driver managed to escape, police said.

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In another incident, nine gold bars, weighing 15 kg, were seized from three persons at Guwahati railway station , a GRPF official said.

The gold bars were seized during a routine checking in Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express and the persons, all residents of Mizoram, were arrested, the official said.

Another man, travelling by Awadh NE express, was arrested after 1.5 kg brown sugar was seized from his possession, police said. PTI ESB AYP

--- ENDS ---
Kabul: At least 36 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed when the US military dropped a massive GBU-43 bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs", in eastern Afghanistan, Kabul's Ministry of Defence announced on Friday.

Ministry spokesperson Muhammad Radmanish was quoted as saying by Efe News that a large amount of ammunition and weapons were also destroyed in the bombing.

The GBU-43, a non-nuclear, 10-tonne missile powered by a wave of air pressure, was dropped on Thursday onto the caves used by the terror group in Achin district, Nangarhar province, on approval of US President Donald Trump.

The US military's largest non-nuclear bomb decimated a deep tunnel complex of the ISIS group, Afghan officials said Friday, ruling out any civilian casualties.

"As a result of the bombing, key Daesh (IS) hideouts and deep tunnel complex were destroyed and 36 IS fighters were killed," the Afghanistan Defence Ministry said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump had earlier called the mission "very, very successful".

The Afghan presidential palace said precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties.

The huge bomb, delivered via an MC-130 transport plane, has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT, and the weapon was originally designed as much to intimidate foes as to clear broad areas.



"The GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat," Air Force spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder said.

Achin district governor Esmail Shinwari said the bomb landed in the Momand Dara area of Achin district.

Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. US forces have conducted a number of air strikes on jihadist bases in the area since August last year.

ISIS, notorious for its reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, has been making inroads into Afghanistan in recent years. It has attracted disaffected members of the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban as well as Uzbek Islamists.

But the group has been steadily losing territory in the face of heavy pressure both from US air strikes and a ground offensive led by Afghan forces.

With Agency inputs
Bengaluru: Demonetised currency notes worth Rs 14.80 crore were seized from a former corporator's house in the city's western suburb, police said on Friday.

"We found the illegal cash in the house of ex-corporator Nagaraj, 54, during a search conducted on a court warrant in a criminal case and seized the banned notes in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination," Hennur Police Station Inspector N Srinivas told news agency IANS.

The police said V Nagaraj, popularly known as "Bomb Naga", formerly a history-sheeter, was not present either at his home or office at Srirampura during the searches.

He allegedly fled on learning about the search team.

Police also faced resistance from Nagaraj's family in entering the house and had to break open the main door with the help of a blacksmith for the search operation.

The police personnel had to enter the former corporate's office by breaking open its window.

Besides a huge amount of cash, police recovered some documents and sharp weapons.

#WATCH: Police raids office of former corporator V Nagraj in Bengaluru, recovers more than Rs. 40 crores of demonetised currency pic.twitter.com/GePuOpdmUp  ANI (@ANI_news) April 14, 2017

Nagaraj is alleged to have been involved in converting black money into white by exchanging the old currency notes since they were banned on November 8.

He was elected as an Independent corporator of the Bangalore Municipal Corporation in 2002 from the Prakashnagar civic ward in the city's west.

He also contested the 2013 state Assembly Elections from the Gandhinagar segment in the city centre as a candidate of the Badavara Sharmikara Raitara Congress (BSR-Congress) but lost to ruling Congress nominee and former minister Gundu Rao.

The ex-corporator is alleged to have recently kidnapped a city businessman for ransom and is also facing criminal charges of laundering unaccounted money.

(With Agency inputs)
Patna: BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday accused Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav with concealing ownership of a land in Aurangabad district in his election affidavit and annual assets declaration.

Tej Pratap, the state health minister in the Nitish Kumar government, had purchased land for Rs 53.34 lakh in Aurangabad district in 2010 from seven persons, but neither declared it in his election affidavit in the 2015 Assembly polls nor furnished the same in the annual assets declaration before the state government, Sushil told reporters here.

"It is beyond anyone's comprehension as to why he has not declared the property valued at Rs 15 crore in official records," the senior BJP leader alleged.

Sushil, accompanied by Bihar BJP vice-president Devesh Kumar, said "We will bring it to the notice of the Election Commission through a memorandum annexing the affidavit that did not mention the property and loan taken against it. We will demand the EC to take action."

He also raised questions as to where did Tej Pratap get Rs 53.34 lakh to buy the land in 2010 when he was barely 20 years-old.

"Will the Chief Minister dare to sack him (Tej Pratap)? ...CM Nitish Kumar is silent in order to save his government," Sushil Modi said.
Vikas Datta/IANS

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 Attenborough`s "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 Forsyth`s "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 Christie`s "The Mirror Crack`d" (1980) among many other roles of the sort.



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 Bond`s 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 London`s 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).



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 wouldn`t harm his career if he didn`t get it right.



While the film wasn`t financially successful as thought, it was a critical success and helped Fox`s career take off. Another of his memorable roles was as Inspector Craddock in "The Mirror Crack`d", 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).



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 we`re 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.
Sahana Ghosh/IANS

There is nothing glamorous about breast cancer, not when one spots a lump or abnormal skin on or around the breast, and definitely not when one reads about the seemingly invincible Hollywood powerhouse Angelina Jolie undergoing double mastectomy. But remarkably in some patients, breast cancer spurs positivity.



Through a series of studies, experts at Bengaluru`s National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) delved into the domain of psycho-oncology to throw light on the need to understand the impact of cancer on one`s perspective to life, self, spirituality, and relationships.



"Despite being the most common form of cancer in women, the number of survivors is expected to increase worldwide due to improvements in methods of early screening and treatment. Post the treatment, the challenge is to adapt to the changes in body image, sexuality and one`s relationships, and deal with fears of recurrence," Mahendra P. Sharma, Professor of Clinical Psychology at NIMHANS, told IANS.



However, a section of survivors, having overcome the battle with cancer, can experience positive changes commonly known as post-traumatic growth (PTG), said Sharma, on the occasion of World Health Day, that revolved around "Depression: Let`s talk" this year.



"The most common theme among survivors is the increased appreciation for life and to live it to the fullest, to look after one`s needs and make oneself a priority. Another recurring theme revealed that the survivors felt stronger mentally and were confident that if one could survive cancer, one could survive anything in life," he said.



Sharma and colleagues focused on 15 Indian women from urban communities of southern and eastern India. All of them were married and had undergone mastectomy/lumpectomy and were undergoing hormonal therapy.



Marriage is fraught with concerns for women who survive breast cancer, the analysis showed.



"Those who have had surgeries are particularly anxious about spousal acceptance issues. They are insecure as to whether their relationship will be the same, also whether their sex life will be impacted. But we also saw enhanced ability to empathise, to be generous and seeing others (including spouse) for their positives," Sharma explained.



The breast cancer survivorship trajectory also threw up interesting results in terms of spirituality, which helped a section of survivors find strength while they wrestled with questions of life and death.



In India, within the last five years, as of 2012, the estimated incidence rate was 145,000, morbidity rate was 70,000 and the prevalence rate was 397,000.



"Surviving cancer led them to contemplate what their life is meant for. Many felt drawn to a higher power while others believed in the thought `what is going to happen will happen`," said Sharma.



The outcomes of the psycho-oncological study stress on the need to actively identify coping process through the early parts of treatment and the survivor`s attitude towards the illness, Sharma pointed out.



"These processes can contribute to identifying and setting in process PTG as an attempt to rebuild the survivor`s shattered assumptions about the world," notes the study co-authored by M.S. Barthakur, S.K. Chaturvedi and S.K. Manjunath.



Surgical oncologist and breast and endocrine surgeon Diptendra Kumar Sarkar said discussions around psycho-oncology are extremely appropriate and important.



"Try to understand the situation of a 40-year-old woman who has undergone breast removal. She has lost her hair due to chemotherapy. The challenge is not to make them disease-free... the challenge lies in making them free of the stigma," Sarkar, chief of the breast services and research unit, Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER), Kolkata, told IANS.



"It is not the disease which kills... it`s the mind. So the mental part and psycho-oncology are much more important than the treatment itself. If you can`t get rid of the stigma, then the treatment is a waste," Sarkar said, referring to grassroot initiatives such as those initiated by the Disha organisation, founded by paediatrician Agnimita Giri Sarkar with the sole idea of reaching out to the population and removing the stigma associated with cancer.
The Tamil New Year or Putthandu or Varasha Pirappu is celebrated on the first day of the Chittirai month of the Tamil Calendar. The day ushers in a new beginning and brings with it auspiciousness. This year, it will be celebrated on April 14.

New Year symbolises new beginning and hence Tamil people begin the day by looking at the Kani to embark upon a new journey with goodness in abundance.

What is Kani?

A rangoli made of rice flour is made on the floor. Then a tray full of whole fruits and vegetables - bananas, mangoes, jackfruit, cucumber, pumpkin etc, flowers, coins, gold and silver jewellery and new clothes are kept on the rangoli. A mirror is kept vertically behind the tray so that the ingredients reflect clearly in the mirror. The Kani is usually assembled on the eve of the New Year, so that the first think people can do on the following day is to view the contents of the tray clearly from the mirror reflection.

After viewing the Kani, people take bath and wear new clothes. The women of the house decorate the entrance of their house with Kolam (rangoli) and use torans made of mango leaves for the main door.

Then they light a lamp, incense and garland the idols/photos of the Gods and Goddesses and offer their prayers.

After seeking blessings from the Gods, they prepare pacchadi  the most important preparation for the occasion, sweets and other special recipes.

And then they head to a temple for an auspicious beginning.

The significance of the Pacchadi

The Pacchadi or chutney prepared with grated raw mango, tamarind pulp, jaggery, chilli, neem flowers and salt is consumed as the main prasad. It inspires people to embrace life and its varied offerings.

After visiting a temple, relatives, friends, well-wishers and neighbours greet each other Puttandu Nal Vazthukkal and exchange sweets and delicacies.
Kerala and people who hail from the south Indian coastal state celebrate their New Year on the first day of the month of Medam according to the Malayalam Astrological calendar. This day coincides with Puttandu in Tamil Nadu, Poila Boishakh in Bengal, Bohag Bihu in Assam and Baisakhi in Punjab.

The women and elders in the family prepare the Vishu Kani the night before by placing rice grains, cucumber, pumpkin, coconut, mangoes, betel leaves, supari, flowers, coins and fruits and a metal vessel called "urali"in front of a mirror that reflects the image of their deity.

On Vishu, people take the Kani Darshanam soon after waking up.

After taking the darshanam, people take bath and wear new clothes.

Women look resplendent in Kasavu saree (off white saree with golden border) and traditional jewellery while the men look dapper in white veshti (dhoti) and shirt.

Then they visit a temple to seek blessings of the divine for an auspicious start.

People also give vishukaineetam, an act of giving gifts (mostly coins).

And like all festivals in India, Vishu is incomplete without an elaborate meal. On Vishu, people gorge on delicious meal  Sadya - that consists of 26 different preparations.
New Delhi: Internal feud seems to be brewing within the Delhi Congress unit, with partys district president of Mahila Congress, Rachna Sachdeva accusing senior party leaders Ajay Maken, Shobha Oza and Netta D'Souza of harassing her.

Sachdeva accused Oza of locking her in a room and asking her to tender a written apology for meeting Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi over the issue of tickets distribution for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls.

Sachdeva alleged that the tickets were distributed in an unfair manner and the relatives of the Congress leaders got the go ahead to contest the MCD elections.

Shobha Oza denied any wrongdoing and accused Sachedva of playing into the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Oza said the elections tickets were distributed in a fair manner and winnability prospects of the candidate were considered before taking the final decision.

Sachdeva has reportedly filed a complaint against the senior leaders at the Tughlaq road police station.
New Delhi: Stung by its poor performances in Punjab and Goa Assembly polls, the AAP has changed its strategy of directly attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has decided to focus on "positive campaign" as it faces litmus test in the MCD municipal polls.

A party leader said the AAP will resort to what it did during the 2015 Delhi Assembly polls-- a "positive campaign".

"We are adopting the same strategy used by the party before 2015 assembly polls in which we went to people convincing about the positive work done during our 49-day government.

"We have seen the outcome of a positive campaign in the 2015 Assembly polls and will continue to do that for the MCD polls," said a senior party leader.

Another reason behind not targeting Modi in the MCD polls is the massive victory the BJP scored in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Delhi has a sizable voter population that belongs to the two states.

The AAP leader said attacking Modi directly during the MCD polls campaign may backfire.

In the recent Assembly election in Punjab, AAP could win 20 of 117 seats, while drew a blank in 40-member Goa Assembly.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, AAP's strategy revolved around attacking Modi. Kejriwal himself unsuccessfully contested against Modi from Varanasi.

The party fared badly in the polls failing to win even a single seat in its home turf in Delhi.

The AAP then changed its strategy during the Assembly polls and focused on the works it it did during its 49-day rule. However, its attack on the BJP continued, with barbs on Modi. The AAP won 67 out of 70 seats in the Assembly polls.

In its MCD campaign, the party is rarely highlight the two years of tussle between the AAP govt and the Lt Governor and "the Centre not allowing the Delhi government to work".

The thrust remains on subsidies on electricity and water, "internationally acclaimed" mohalla clinics and the "revolution" in the education sector.

In the last fortnight, the party exercised a lot of restraint and did not attack Modi even when Lt Governor Anil Baijal ordered recovery of Rs 97 cr spent on advertisements.

When the PWD department of the Delhi government asked the AAP to vacate its office immediately, all the attack was on the BJP and there wasn't a single word against Modi.

In his rallies too, Kejriwal has been vehemently attacking the BJP, but not Modi.

For instance, during a rally at Matiala in west Delhi and Nangloi in north-west Delhi last week, the CM talked about the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and BJP-led MCDs' "inability" to deal with problem of sanitation in the city.

"Don't vote for the BJP. They can't even remain true to their Prime Minister," Kejriwal said.

He also referred to the CBI raid on office of his former principal secretary Rajendra Kumar in the Delhi Secretariat and case registered against PWD Minister Satyendar Jain. Again there was no reference to Modi.

After the raid on Kumar's office in December 2015, Kejriwal had invited criticism for accusing the PM of staging the raid and calling him a "coward" and a "psychopath".

A sample analysis of Kejriwal tweets, who has over 11 million followers second only to Modi, post Punjab and Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll results speaks volumes on this.

From March 4 to 10-- the week leading up to the results on March 11-- Kejriwal tweeted and retweeted 181 tweets.

Of these, 49 had reference to Modi, almost all bashing him, 22 of were attacking the BJP and the RSS while 88 tweets were eulogising the work done by the Delhi government. Rest were general tweets.

From March 11-17, the week after the results, Kejriwal hasn't sent out even one tweet attacking Modi, but his sporadic attack on the BJP remains.

The attack this time was on the Election Commission over alleged tampering of Electronic Voting Machines.

Interestingly, Kejriwal, who is known for using tweets to put his message across, did not tweet for two days during this period.

But will the "restraint" last long?

"Every election has a different strategy. Taking Modi head on is an integral part of party's strategy. It may have been altered for this MCD polls, but not for too long," the AAP leader said.
Bengaluru: President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday underscored the need for India to be a global powerhouse not just in terms of economic parameters but also 'Gross National Happiness'.

"If we aspire to be one of the leading economic powers of the world, yes, we can be, but merely in statistical terms, in terms of gross domestic product (GDP), in terms of skill are not adequate," Mukherjee said after laying the foundation stone for the Bengaluru Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics here.

The President said the concept of development has changed now and international organisations like the World Bank and IMF are talking about development in terms of GDP as well as Gross National Happiness (GNH).

"Along with GDP, GNH is considered as one of the important factors of development," Mukherjee emphasised.

He expressed concern over unemployability of the youth in India, saying "600 million youth are entering the job market, but their employability is not adequate".

"They are educated, but not employable. Their employability is not up to the world standard," he said.

Mukherjee observed that skill development may not appear glamorous but is most important in the Indian context.

Putting a premium on quality, the President said it is important to maintain international standards in education and training to make Indian youth employable in the world.

"IITs have 100 per cent campus recruitments. IITians are working in MNCs across the world at different positions. Even Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics will not be local but of international repute," Mukherjee stressed, calling upon the state government to run the school with this objective.

He expressed happiness that the school is named after Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitution, a "bright product" from the London School of Economics.

Speaking on the occasion, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state government has already allocated a sum of Rs 150 crore towards setting up of the school.

"Further, Rs 75 crore are being released in the next five years in a phased manner for setting up of the proposed corpus. It has also been decided to release the recurring grant of Rs 10 crore each year for the next five years," he added.

Union ministers Ananth Kumar and D V Sadananda Gowda, state Governor Vajubhai Vala were present, along with state higher education minister Basavaraj Rayareddi and academicians.
By India Today Web Desk: After giving two hit films, Salman Khan and Kabir Khan are back with their third collaboration. Titled Tubelight, the film is set to take the box-office by storm this Eid. And after months and months of waiting, Bhai fans will finally get to see the eagerly-awaited trailer soon.

With just two months left for the release of the film, director Kabir Khan spilled the beans on the film's publicity campaign to DNA in an interview. He said, "We are first going to release the teaser which will be out by the end of April and that will be followed by the trailer in May. People ask me why we are releasing the trailer so late. I'm one of those people who doesn't believe in those extended periods of marketing but only closer to the release."

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Kabir wants to release the teaser first to generate the right kind of hype. And a few weeks later, the trailer of Tubelight will be out. "I don't believe in going berserk with marketing. As long as you are able to get your message out and tell the people you are coming on a certain date and make people aware of that, it's more than enough. We will have a teaser and then, the trailer. I won't tell you the message now. Let people discover through the trailer what message we want to convey."

Kabir and Salman's last film Bajrangi Bhaijaan broke many records and the same is expected from Tubelight. The film, which has been shot extensively in Manali and Leh, also stars Chinese actor Zhu Zhu. Kabir also added that Zhu Zhu will fly down to India to promote the film.

Interestingly, Tubelight has earned a profit of more than Rs 100 crore even before its release. Buzz has it that all-India distribution rights of the film have already been sold for Rs 132 crore. And thanks of Chinese actor Zhu Zhu, a Chinese company has bought the theatrical rights of Tubelight in that country for Rs 75 crore.

Based on the 1962 Indo-China war, Tubelight will show Salman essaying the role of a soldier for the first time. Tublight is set to be released in dubbed languages across 1200 screens in China.

ALSO READ: Has Salman's Tubelight earned a profit of Rs 100 crore even before its release?

ALSO READ: Director Kabir Khan shares Shah Rukh's look from Tubelight

ALSO READ: Here's how Salman Khan's Tubelight has earned Rs 20 crore even before its release

ALSO WATCH: Salman Khan and rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur in Leh

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday invited Japanese companies to explore investment opportunities in India and highlighted the Centre's various reform initiatives to boost infrastructure landscape in the country.

Sitharaman in her keynote address acknowledged the experience and contribution of Japanese companies in India. The Minister talked about investment opportunities available in India with the goal to increase contribution of manufacturing sector to 25 percent of GDP by 2025.

Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who addressed a gathering of about 250 participants at the India Investment Seminar organised by Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Tokyo today about investment opportunities available in India, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a statement.

She also spoke on the various reform initiatives like National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) for enhancing infrastructure financing, Digital India programme to connect 250,000 villages with optical fiber and Jan Dhan scheme.

The Indian delegation led by Sitharaman met Hiroshige Seko, Japan's Minister for Trade Economy and Industry (METI) and several business leaders.

DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek in a panel discussion on 'Make in India' threw light on the massive investment potential of India.

By 2025, India will be the world's youngest nation with average age of 29 years and have a GDP of USD 20 trillion in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

The 'Make in India' programme is driving the change in the mindset to cater to this huge potential.

He gave examples of Business Reform Action Plan (BRAC) on which states are being ranked on ease of doing business (EODB) and upgradation of Intellectual Property Regime.

It was discussed that the electric vehicles, renewable energy, medical devices are the sectors of the future providing diversification opportunities to Japanese investors.

During the seminar, Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman & CEO, JETRO, spoke on the enormous interest of Japanese companies to diversify beyond automotive sector.

Indian ambassador to Japan Sujan R Chinoy mentioned that Sitharaman's visit would further strengthen India's existing strategic relationship with Japan.

Shaurya Doval, Director India Foundation, stressed that the Indian government has increasingly turned business friendly and considers businesses as equal partners in the country's growth.

During the bilateral meeting with the METI Minister, issues inter alia including progress on Japanese Industrial Townships, bilateral trade, diversification of investment sectors and resolution of difficulties faced by Indian Pharmaceutical and IT companies in Japan were discussed.

Sitharaman also met top business leaders of leading Japanese companies in automotive, healthcare, internet and energy sector and discussed opportunities and their plans for India.
Vadodara: A Congress activist of Dalit community was injured in a clash with BJP workers here following a dispute on who will garland the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar on his birth anniversary.

Before city Mayor Bharat Dangar could reach the spot, Congress worker Mitesh Parmar tried to garland the statue saying he is a Dalit and it is his right to do so.

The BJP workers tried to stop him saying that as per the protocol, the mayor will garland the statue first.

This led to an argument and later a clash broke out between the workers of both the parties.

The police detained Parmar and took him to Gotri police station where he complained of chest pain and injuries on his body.

Police took him to a nearby hospital for treatment. He was later shifted to the city's SSG hospital.

In his complaint lodged with the Gotri police, Parmar said he was "heavily beaten up by BJP workers" in the presence of Mayor Dangar, MP Ranjanben Bhatt and other corporators.

He demanded that action should be taken against those involved in the incident.

City Congress unit president Prashant Patel and leader of opposition in Vadodara Municipal Corpration Chandrakant Bhatthu rushed to the spot after the incident.

They staged a dharna alleging that their party worker Parmar was wrongly detained by the police and demanded his immediate release.

Meanwhile, Mayor Dangar, BJP MP Bhatt and other party leaders from the city garlanded the statue of Ambedkar and paid rich tributes to him.

The local BJP leaders refused to comment on the incident.
I have a confession to make. Charlize Theron's villainy in the 8th 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 civilization, we can only say, 'Baby, you can do it better with your killer looks.'

Fast & Furious 8 is a curious blend of wish fulfillment 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 Ms Theron and Dama Helen Mirren who appears as Jason Stratham'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 Stratham. 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.

Fast & Furious 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.

By Subhash K Jha
Kolkata: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday expressed concern over the 2 per cent turn out in the re-polling held in 38 polling stations under the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

He also assured that Narendra Modi government will do "something" to earn the confidence of the voters.

"It is a matter of concern. We are not only thinking but we have decided to do something," he told reporters here but declined to give the details of what the government will do about it.

Asked about the purported videos of human rights violation by forces in Kashmir, Rajnthan Singh said: "I can say the security forces are providing security putting their own life at stake in the crisis situation in Kashmir."

To a specific query about a video clip allegedly showing a Kashmiri youth tied to the front of a moving vehicle of the security forces as a human shield against stone-pelters, he said he had no such information.

"Whatever and wherever any such thing happens, it will be looked into. I have not received any such information. When I get the information, then I will answer this question."

He said an FIR has been lodged and action was on regarding the treatment meted out to the Central Reserve Police Force troopers who were carrying the Electronic Voting Machines during the election.

Video clips, which went viral, showed a group of youths heckling and even pushing the troopers as they wound their way.

"The way the CRPF troopers carrying the EVMs were treated, I had ordered that FIR be lodged. The FIR has been lodged now. Interrogation is on," said Rajnath Singh.


Mumbai: Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday said the Centre is "actively considering" a plan to resume -- after 22 years -- the use of the Arabian Sea route to ferry Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and consultations with the Shipping Ministry are already on.

He said the "revolutionary and pilgrim-friendly decision" of sea travel will cut down travel expenses by nearly half compared with air fares. The use of the sea route between Mumbai and Jeddah for Haj was discontinued in 1995.

"A high-level committee, formed by the government to frame the Haj Policy 2018 as per the Supreme Court`s 2012 order, is exploring the issue for sending pilgrims via the sea route to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia," the Minister of State for Minority Affairs said at a training programme at the Haj House here.

The committee will soon submit its report to the government.

At present, Haj pilgrims travel by air from 21 points across the country.

The minister said another advantage was that ships nowadays are modern and well equipped to ferry 4,000 to 5,000 persons at one go.

"They can cover the 2,300-odd nautical miles between Mumbai and Jeddah in just two-three days. Earlier, ships used to take 12 to 15 days to cover this distance," he said.

He said the new Haj policy is aimed at making the entire pilgrimage process easier and transparent. Facilities for pilgrims will be the focus of the new policy.

In 2016, as many as 99,903 pilgrims went to Jeddah for Haj through the Haj Committee of India, besides nearly 36,000 persons who went through private tour operators.

In 2017, a total of 1,70,025 persons will go for Haj from India, including 1,25,025 through the Haj Committee and 45,000 others through private operators.

This year, he said, 129,196 applications were received online.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs along with other agencies has started preparations for the biggest annual pilgrimage very early in coordination with various agencies, he added. The aim is to provide world class facilities to Haj pilgrims.

With an increase of 34,005 in India`s annual Haj quota by host country Saudi Arabia, announced last year, all Indian states will benefit for this year`s pilgrimage, Naqvi said.

"The decision was taken during the signing of a bilateral annual Haj agreement between the two countries at Jeddah on January 11. It is the biggest increase in the Haj quota for India after many years," the Minister said.

More than 500 trainers from different states are participating in the three-day training programme that deals with various dos and don`ts to be adhered to during the pilgrimage. They are enlightened about transport, accommodation and laws in Saudi Arabia, among other things.

Officials from the Haj Committee of India, Saudi Arabia Consulate, BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, Saudi Airlines, Air India, customs and immigration departments and doctors are involved in the endeavour.

These trainers will further train prospective pilgrims at different camps across the country.
New Delhi: Amid the raging debate over ban on triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy, Hindu Mahasabha has now appealed to the Muslim women, who are victims of such evil Sharia practices, to embrace Hinduism to get justice.

If the law is not able to help them, or if the system fails to implement the Uniform Civil Code, then the women, who are the victims of triple talaq or nikah halala are welcome to visit my place, Dr Pooja Shakun Pandey, the general secretary of Hindu Mahasabha had said.

You come and accept Hinduism and I will be happy to arrange your marriage and perform the auspicious 'kanyadan' custom, she said.

I will convert those victimised women to Hindu and arrange their marriage, she added.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Tuesday said that practice of triple talaq will be abolished in 18 months.

Triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy violate Muslim women's right to equality and dignity and are not protected by the right to profess, practise and propagate religion under Article 25(1) of the Constitution, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday.

While putting forward its arguments before the SC bench, the government reiterated its earlier stand saying these practices render Muslim women "unequal and vulnerable" as compared to men of their community as well as women belonging to other communities.

The Centre described triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy as "patriarchal values and traditional notions about the role of women in society".

"There are unreasonable classifications which arise from practices such as those under challenge in the present petition, which deny to Muslim women the full enjoyment of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution," it said.
New Delhi: India on Friday made it clear that it will go to any extent to get justice for Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death in Pakistan after an army court found him guilty of espionage.

The Indian High Commission made a fresh attempt today to get consular access to the retired Indian navy officer but it was refused.

It has also demanded a copy of the charge-sheet and the court order and based on which it hopes to chart its next move.

Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale on Friday met with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and told her India would appeal in the case.

"We would definitely go to appeal against the judgement but we cannot do it unless we have the details of charges and the copy of verdict.

So, my first demand was to provide us the details of the charge-sheet and copy of the verdict," IANS quoted him as saying.

Expressing disappointment over turning down India's request for consular access to Jadhav, the Indian envoy said, "They have denied our request for consular access 13 times (in the last one year).

I have forcefully asked for consular access on the basis of international law and on humanitarian grounds as he is an Indian national."

Apart from diplomatic options, India is also exploring legal remedies permitted under Pakistan's legal system.

Bambawale also said that he has no information about former Pakistani army officer Mohammad Habib who reportedly went missing from Nepal. Pakistani officials suspect that Indian spy agencies were behind his disappearance.

Foreign Secretary Janjua said the trial against Jhadev was conducted under the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and Official Secret Act of 1923.

She said that during the period of trial, "due judicial process was followed and he was provided a lawyer in accordance with relevant laws and the constitution of Pakistan".

Janjua alleged that the Pakistanis "incarcerated" in Indian prisons have not been provided consular access for years, despite repeated requests and follow-up by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

She said the "rhetoric in the Indian Parliament was unwarranted and only added to fuelling hatred against Pakistan which was not conducive for promoting cordial ties between the two countries, in accordance with our Prime Minister's vision for peace in the region."

The death sentence to Jadhav, 46, was confirmed by army chief General 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. However, India denied Pakistan's contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by the Pakistan authorities.

India had made it clear to Pakistan that given the circumstances of the case, absence of any credible evidence to substantiates the concocted charges against Jadhav, farcical nature of the proceedings against him and denial of consular access to him, the people and the government of India will consider carrying out of the army court verdict as a "premeditated murder".

Pakistan today rejected India's accusation that there was no credible evidence against Jadhav, and warned that "inflammatory" statements over his death sentence would only result in escalation of tension in the bilateral ties.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that due process of law was followed in Jadhav's trial.

India had yesterday criticised the Pakistan government for not sharing Jadhav's location and details of his condition and said that the international norm to provide consular access was not followed. India and Pakistan have a bilateral agreement on consular access.

Aziz in a detailed statement read out to the media at the Foreign Office said that India through its reaction was aggravating the situation.

Rejecting Indian accusation of an unfair trail, Aziz said that the first FIR against was lodged on April 8, 2016, by police's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.

He said detailed trail was held and all relevant laws including Evidence Act and recording of statement before a magistrate were followed. Jadhav was also provided legal assistance.

"Kulbushan Jhadav, who is responsible for espionage, sabotage, and terrorism in Pakistan, has been tried according to the law of the land, in a fully transparent manner while preserving his rights, as per the Constitution of Pakistan," he said.

"His sentence is based on credible, specific evidence proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan."

Aziz "condemned" the Indian reaction over Jadhav's sentencing and warned that it would further "aggravate the people-to-people hostility".

"I would like to ask India why Kulbushan Jhadav was using a fake identity impersonating as a Muslim? Why would an innocent man possess two passports, one with a Hindu name and another with a Muslim name?

Since India has no credible explanation about why their serving Naval Commander was in Balochistan, it has unleashed a flimsy propaganda campaign. Inflammatory statements and rhetoric about 'pre- meditated murder' and 'unrest in Balochistan', will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose," Aziz warned.

Aziz said Jadhav can appeal against the verdict of the military tribunal within 40 days to a military Appellate Court. He can file an appeal to the army chief within 60 days against the decision of the Appellate Court.

Jadhav can file a mercy petition to the President of Pakistan within 90 days if the army chief rejects the appeal for clemency.

Aziz listed several cases of terrorism in which he said Jadhav was involved.

Meanwhile, India has rejected Aziz's claim of not responding to information sought on Jadhav.

Rubbishing his claim, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "No, that's not true and India will go to any extent to get Kulbhushan justice".

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: One of the 21 missing Kerala youth, who was later found to have joined the ISIS, was killed in the mega airstrike conducted by the United States in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

Conflicting media reports claimed the death of two suspcted ISIS sympathisers in the US bombing in Afghanistan. However, there is no official confirmation regarding the development.

The US military had dropped its most powerful non-nuclear bomb to target the Islamic State tunnels and personnel.

According to the report, four US military officials with direct knowledge of the mission said a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, nicknamed MOAB, was dropped at 7 pm local time Thursday.

The MOAB is also known as the "mother of all bombs." A MOAB is a 21,600-pound, GPS-guided munition that is America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb.

The information about Murshid's death was received by his family through a telegram message.

Earlier in February, another youth from the same group was killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan.

The message was received by a distant relative of Hafesudheen Theke Koleth in Kasaragod, Kerala, who was from the missing 21-member group who have left the nation.

The message went on to say that the killed youth had been buried in Afghanistan.

At least four out the 21 individuals, who belong to Christian and Hindu families, had converted to Islam over a year ago, reports state.

Two of the individuals had reportedly sent text and voice messages to their families confirming that they have moved to a remote location.

Earlier, the NIA had arrested two people in connection with the criminal conspiracy hatched within and outside India, with the intention of furthering the objectives of the Islamic State(IS) and for joining and supporting the organization.

The investigation revealed that the conspiracy had been in operation since the month of July, 2015.

With ANI inputs
Lahore: The Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, Gautam Bambawale, met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua on Friday to discuss the Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentencing case.

During the meeting, Gautam Bambawale demanded consular access to Jadhav for 14th time.

The Indian side also sought the copies of chargesheet and judgement by Pakistan military court against Jadhav.

India also conveyed to Pakistan that it will appeal against the order after studying Pakistan Army act.

However, Pakistan remained defiant to India's demands and said Jadhav's case related to espionage and hence consular access can't be granted.

Sartaz Aziz, Adviser to Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs too reacted by saying that Jadhav has been sentenced according to the country's law and has 40 days to file an appeal in the apex court.

Aziz also warned India to stop issuing "rhetorical statements" against Islamabad over the issue.

"He was sentenced as per the law of the land.. He (Jadhav) was involved in subversive activities in Pakistan, and was holding two passports, for which India has no answer."

Aziz slammed India's claim that Jadhav, a former naval officer, was captured in Iran. Aziz in fact claimed that Jadhav is a serving Indian Naval officer.

"It's all rhetoric that he was captured in Iran. He has the right to file a review in the Supreme Court and also file a mercy petition to the Army Chief and the President in 40 days."

India today made 14th request to Pakistan for consular access to Jadhav.

Pakistan had rejected Indias requests for consular access to Jadhav at least 13 times in the last one year.

All our requests for consular access have been denied. The so-called legal process done by Pakistan was opaque, Gopal Baglay, official spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, had said.

Apart from diplomatic options, India also explored legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhavs family appealing against the verdict.

Indias official stand has been that Jadhav is an innocent Indian kidnapped by Pakistan.

Jadhav  a retired Indian Navy officer - had been given death sentence by an army court in Pakistan leading to fresh diplomatic troubles between the two neighbouring countries.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, it was reported that New Delhi is likely to impose visas curbs for Pakistani nationals visiting India.

The step is possibly the first retaliatory measure from India following the death sentence given to Jadhav on charges of spying. Both countries have been at loggerheads over the issue of diplomatic visas over the last six months.

While the Pakistani Army has categorically ruled out any compromise in Kulbhushan Jadhav's case, the Lahore High Court Bar Association today warned lawyers of stern action if they offered to legally represent the Indian national.

Lahore High Court Bar Association warned that it will take action against any lawyer who extends his services to Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court.

"The LHBA has unanimously decided to cancel the membership of any lawyer who offers his services to Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav," Lahore High Court Bar Association secretary-general Amer Saeed Raan said after a meeting of the bar.

He said the bar has asked the government not to bow to any foreign pressure in the case of Jadhav.

"India has declared Jadhav its son and is putting pressure on the Pakistani government for his release. We demand that the Indian spy who is involved in playing with lives of Pakistanis should not be spared and the government (should) ensure his hanging," he said.
This festive sambhar recipe is all you'll want to eat throughout the year. Picture courtesy: Pinterest/aromaticessence.co

By Shreya Goswami: There probably isn't a single foodies in India who hasn't tasted this dish. In fact, given the popularity of South Indian food in Australia, we're sure foodies there have given it a go more than once. No, we're not talking about idli or dosa, but the one dish that goes with everything South Indian--sambhar.

Whether you like your idlis or dosas dipped in this dal, or prefer it on your steamed rice or tamarind rice, a bowl of sambhar is a must on every South Indian platter. The wholesome dal is basically about three things--the toor dal, the tamarind, and the unique spice mix. And of course, you can add as many veggies you want in it.

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It is this amazing mix that makes this dish so festive. So if you're planning a Tamil New year or Vishu feast tonight, make sure you get the sambhar right with our authentic recipe.

Also Read: 5 idli recipes that are way too easy to be so delicious

Sambhar Spice Mix

You can always get sambhar masala from any store across the country--most brands manufacture one version or the other. But if you're a purist, and want to get an authentic taste of sambhar, making this easy spice mix fresh is very important. This way, you'll get the full flavour of the spices, and your sambhar will taste like it just came out of a Tam-Bram kitchen. Our sambhar masala recipe will help you make enough to store for weeks.

Sambhar masala is very easy to make at home. Picture courtesy: Pinterest/hebbarskitchen.com Sambhar masala is very easy to make at home. Picture courtesy: Pinterest/hebbarskitchen.com

Ingredients:

15 dried red chillies, dry roasted

1/2 cup coriander seeds, dry roasted

1/3 cup curry leaves

2 tbsp cumin seeds, dry roasted

1 tbsp fenugreek seeds, dry roasted

1 tbsp black pepper, dry roasted

2 tbsp bengal gram or chana dal, dry roasted

1 tbsp black gram or urad dal, dry roasted

1/2 tbsp mustard seeds, dry roasted

1/2 tbsp asafoetida

1/2 tbsp turmeric

Put all the ingredients in a mixie, and ground them to a fine powder. Transfer this powder into a sealable jar, and store it in the refrigerator or in a cool place.

Also Read: 5 South Indian rice dishes that should be a part of your meals

Now that this basic spice mix is sorted, you can make sambhar on any given day--and not just today. Just keep the powder handy, get fresh veggies, and make this mouth-watering dal.

Sambhar goes well with everything from dosa and idli to steamed rice. Picture courtesy: Pinterest/Neha at WhiskAffair

Ingredients:

1/2 cup toor dal

1/2 cup masoor dal

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

4 cups water

5 tbsp sambhar masala

5 small brinjals, chopped

1 medium-sized carrot, chopped

1 medium-sized potato, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

3 tomatoes, chopped

4 drumsticks or sahjan, chopped

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1 tbsp tamarind, soaked and pulped

2 tbsp oil

4-5 curry leaves

1/2 tsp asafoetida

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

Salt, to taste

Also Read: 2 sweet Indian pancakes you need in your life right now

Method:

1. Rinse both the dals well, and put them in a pressure cooker with turmeric powder and three cups of water. Cook the lentils for 5-6 whistles, and set aside.

2. Heat the oil in a large wok, and add the mustard seeds, curry leaves and asafoetida. Let the tempering crackle, then add the onions and saute.

3. Now add the other vegetables, and cook them for five minutes. Add salt and let the mix cook for a few minutes.

4. Pour the remaining one cup of water, along with the tamarind pulp, and mix everything together. Bring the broth to a boil, and cook for 10-15 minutes, or till the raw smell of tamarind is gone. The vegetables should also be done by this time.

5. Stir in the sambhar masala and cooked dal, and let the whole sambhar simmer for 10 more minutes, or till you get the consistency you want. Serve the sambhar hot, with rice, idli, or dosa.

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Making sambhar is actually very easy, and once you get used to it, you can actually whip it up in no time. You can lessen or increase the number of veggies according to what you have readily, but the tamarind, two dals, and the sambhar masala is a must.

This festive little dal isn't just going to make sure that you have an auspicious beginning to the year. Have at least one bowl of sambhar every day, and you'll have a happy new year indeed.

--- ENDS ---
Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday said the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav was based on "credible" and "specific" evidence that prove his involvement in spying and terror activities and asserted that more active diplomacy is needed to arrest the "growing crises" in the Indo-Pak ties.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that due process of law was followed in the trial of 46-year-old Jadhav.

Aziz in a detailed statement read out to the media at the Foreign Office said that India through its reaction was aggravating the situation.

Rejecting Indian accusation of an unfair trail, Aziz said that the first FIR against was lodged on April 8, 2016, by police's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.

He said detailed trail was held and all relevant laws including Evidence Act and recording of statement before a magistrate were followed. Jadhav was also provided legal assistance.

"Kulbushan Jhadav, who is responsible for espionage, sabotage, and terrorism in Pakistan, has been tried according to the law of the land, in a fully transparent manner while preserving his rights, as per the Constitution of Pakistan," he said.

"His sentence is based on credible, specific evidence proving his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan."

Aziz "condemned" the Indian reaction over Jadhav's sentencing and warned that it would further "aggravate the people-to-people hostility".

"I would like to ask India why Kulbushan Jhadav was using a fake identity impersonating as a Muslim? Why would an innocent man possess two passports, one with a Hindu name and another with a Muslim name? Since India has no credible explanation about why their serving Naval Commander was in Balochistan, it has unleashed a flimsy propaganda campaign.Inflammatory statements and rhetoric about 'pre- meditated murder' and 'unrest in Balochistan', will only result in escalation, serving no useful purpose," Aziz warned.

"We condemn the baseless allegations from India, especially in the light of the fact that it was non- cooperation and lack of Indian response to Pakistan?s request for legal assistance, due to which consular access has not been provided to Mr. Jhadav.

"We expect India to behave responsibly and refrain from issuing statements that will further aggravate people to people hostility. More active diplomacy is therefore needed to arrest the growing crises in India-Pakistan relations before it becomes even more serious," Aziz said.

Providing details of the trial, Aziz said that the confessional video statement of Jhadav followed by initial FIR in CTD Quetta on April 8, 2016.

The initial interrogation was done May 2 and detailed interrogation on May 22. It was followed by the constitution of a Joint Investigation Team on July 12.

The confessional statement under Section 164 CrPC was recorded on July 22 and recording of a summary of evidence done on September 24.

The first trial proceeding was held on September 21, second proceeding on October 19, third proceeding on November 29, 2016, and fourth proceeding on February 12, 2017. The death sentence was endorsed on April 10, 2017.

Aziz said that a law qualified field officer was provided to defend Jadhav throughout the court proceedings.

Aziz said Jadhav can appeal against the verdict of the military tribunal within 40 days to a military Appellate Court. He can file an appeal to the army chief within 60 days against the decision of the Appellate Court.

Jadhav can file a mercy petition to the President of Pakistan within 90 days if the army chief rejects the appeal for clemency.

Aziz listed several cases of terrorism in which he said Jadhav was involved.

"He was part of sabotage and terrorism in which civilians and security personnel were killed," he claimed.

Aziz also accused that Jadhav orchestrated attacks against minority Shia Hazara community in Quetta.

Aziz also said that India has not allowed consular access to many Pakistani prisoners for many years despite repeated requests.

He also said that all political parties had supported the decision of the military tribunal and the entire nation was united against any threat.
Lucknow: For Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati family comes first. This was proven when the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister appointed her brother Anand Kumar as party vice president on Friday.

Mayawati anointed her brother as the BSP vice president on condition that he will never become MP, MLA or CM.

Commenting on the alleged EVMs tampering issue, Mayawati said, BSP has no reservation in taking help of anti-BJP parties in fight against EVM tampering and BJP to keep democracy alive.

On the allegations of sale of 21 sugar mills at a "throwaway" price during her tenure as CM she said, I'm being targetted so that I stop speaking about EVM tampering by the BJP.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh has ordered a probe into the sale of 21 sugar mills at a "throwaway" price by Mayawati.

The probe was ordered by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after a review of the Cane Development and Sugar Industry Department.
New Delhi: Having reclaimed power in Uttar Pradesh after 15 years, the BJP will now turn its focus to the states where it has been traditionally weak but which are critical to determine its fortune in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as its national executive meet begins in Odisha on Saturday.

Gaining strength in the eastern states, including West Bengal, is on the top of BJP president Amit Shah?s to-do list now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, besides Shah himself are likely to give a call for pushing the party's expansion in the new territories.

After arriving in the city, Shah paid tributes to Dalit icon Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary and later joined his state party colleagues in celebrating the Odia new year. The BJP organised a motorcycle rally to welcome him.

He was also presented with a garland of 74 "victory flowers", a reference to the majority mark in the 147-seat Odisha assembly.

The BJP has also planned a virtual road show for Modi when he arrives here tomorrow. He is likely to be greeted at several places on his road travel from airport to Raj Bhawan, where he will stay.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan called Odisha a "laboratory" of the pro-poor policies of the Modi government as he hit out at the state government a day before the executive begins.

Modi will also felicitate the members of 16 families associated with an 1817 rebellion in Odisha against the British rule.

Continuing with the BJP's dalit outreach, the party has named the venue of its executive meet after noted Odia poet and reformer Bhima Bhoi.

Dalits constitute over 17 per cent of the state's electorate and have never been traditional voters of the saffron party, which is now wooing them aggressively.

Internal squabbles in the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD and continued decline of the Congress have presented the saffron party with an opportunity for growth in the state and its top leadership is likely to to pull out all stops to woo the voters.

Coming against the backdrop of a massive saffron sweep in UP besides a decent show in recent bypolls, the meeting of party leaders from across the country is set to fete Modi and Shah's leadership, and project the victories as a popular endorsement of the central government, sources said.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to re-think on the issue whether paramilitary forces -- CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB -- can be given monetary benefits like the "organised services".

The apex court was hearing a batch of appeals including one filed by the Centre against the Delhi High Court's September 2015 verdict asking the government to consider all paramilitary forces as "organised services".

The high court had said officers of paramilitary forces should be given the benefits including non-functional financial upgradation (NFU), earlier available to 'Group A organised services', from 2006 in terms of the 6th Pay Commission.

Under NFU, if all the officers of a particular batch cannot move up the ladder owing to lack of vacancies but only one does, the others will automatically get financial upgradation like the one who has been promoted.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, representing the Centre, told the apex court if the paramilitary forces were declared as organised group 'A' services, there cannot be any deputation and no one from IPS cadre can come on deputation.

The apex court said it perceives that the paramilitary forces personnel were grieved by the non-grant of 'equal pay for equal work', a benefit granted to the organised services, and if the conferment of monetary benefit can assuage their grievance, the government might think over it.

"In the ultimate eventuate, we think it apt to say that if the conferment of monetary benefit can assuage the grievance of the respondents, the Union of India may rethink over the matter without disturbing its sense of discipline as it conceives," a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and M M Shantanagoudar said.

"The personnel of BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, RPF and SSB are to play their role in their duties. Though we have framed the issues that will be required to be addressed, yet we would like the Union of India to take a decision, as advised, so that the respondents may feel that their grievances have been appositely addressed," the court said.

The bench, which granted 12 weeks to the Centre to deliberate upon the issue, further said, "The respondents, as we perceive, are grieved by non-grant of equal pay for equal work, that is, benefit that has been granted to the organised services".

"If that is the case, we would like the respondents to file their duty chart in respect of each of the forces. The petitioners shall also file the duty chart and the job allocation so that a comparison can be made that can render assistance in the process of adjudication," it said and fixed the matter for hearing on August 9.

The apex court has framed three issues for consideration, including whether the Home Ministry was alone responsible for takeing a decision or other departments can confer the benefit of equivalence subject to approval by the Cabinet.
New Delhi: Amidst the commotion on enforcing a nationwide ban on cow slaughter, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale while extending his support to the cause, has categorically clarified that the ban should not include other species of cattle.

Speaking to ANI on Friday, Athawale claimed that a ban on slaughter of cattle can have adverse economic impact on the farmer community.

"The cow is a sacred animal to Hindus. Therefore, cow slaughter law should be enforced strictly to preserve our culture. Having said this, if a ban is imposed on other cattle, our farmers may face shortage of funds, since they will not be able to trade their bullock or other animals," he said.

Athawale further asserted that the Government must be more actively involved in protecting diseased cows, in case a farmer is not able to afford its expenses.

"If a farmer is unable to fund for his cattle, the Government must introduce some provisions to take up responsibility of such cows so that the burden of the farmers is eased," he added.

Condemning the atrocities faced by the Dalit community, Athawale said it is unacceptable for citizens to resort to hooliganism and take law and order in their hands.

"If there is a speculation of cow slaughter taking place, the Police must be informed and they should carry out subsequent investigation. It is unjustified to mishandle the situation and cause harm to the Dalits without having enough information or proof regarding the matter," said Athawale.

The Union Minister, lauding Prime Minister`s Narendra Modi`s efforts of unifying the different strata of society, further said the country`s progress depends entirely on communal harmony and thus needs to be maintained at all times.

"Efforts are being made to bring the society together. The Social Justice Ministry has been working on making this possible, along with the support of Prime Minister Modi and his government. We must remember that before being a Hindu, Muslim or Christian, we are all Indians first," he said, emphasising on the Prime Minister`s `Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas` strategy.

Reports of violence in the name of cow protection have surfaced from time to time.

Recently, a Muslim, Pehlu Khan, was killed by cow vigilantes in Alwar, Rajasthan. The opposition parties, lashing out on the Prime Minister Modi-led government, alleged that it has been overlooking violence in the name of protecting cows.

The `violent` cow vigilantism shot into prominence with the death of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, in September 2015.

Akhlaq was lynched to death by a mob, which suspected he had slaughtered a cow.
New Delhi: Following the MOAB (Mother of All Bombs) bombing over the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province by the US, the Indian political fraternity on Friday applauded the move, calling out to other nations to come together against terror.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP SubramanianSwamy called the move super, and asked out for a cooperative action against the menace of terror.

He tweeted, "US President Trump's blasting with Mother of all bombs the ISIS hideout in Afghanistan is Super. Need US Israel India compact against terror."

US President Trump's blasting with Mother of all bombs the ISIS hideout in Afghanistan is Super. Need US Israel India compact against terror  Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) April 14, 2017

Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tewari called out for more such actions in order to put an end to other growing terrorist groups.

If US can drop MOAB on ISIS Khorasan-how is LET, Jaish -e- Mohmmad ,Jamat-Ul-Dawa any different? Why not one on Muridke? Terror is seemless  Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) April 14, 2017

He tweeted, "If US can drop MOAB on ISIS Khorasan-how is LET, Jaish -e- Mohmmad ,Jamat-Ul-Dawa any different? Why not one on Muridke? Terror is seemless."

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump dubbed the MOAB bombing as a successful event, saying the country is proud of its army.

"We are very very proud of our military. Gave military full authorisation. Another successful event," Trump said.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer had earlier confirmed that the U.S. dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, also known as the "Mother of All Bombs" or "MOAB," over the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province to destroy a tunnels and caves network of the Islamic State.

"At 7 pm 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 a press briefing on Thursday.

Spicer added that they used all necessary precaution to avoid civilian causalities and collateral damage.

Asserting that the United States takes the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) very seriously, Spicer said that U.S. has denied operational space to the terror group in order to defeat them.

"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." he said.

According to CNN, 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 ammunition 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 ammunition was developed during the Iraq War.

With ANI inputs
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered an FIR on a complaint filed by the CRPF over a video clip showing some youths beating its jawans while they were was returning from a polling booth in Srinagar.

The video, shot on Sunday, shows a group of angry youngsters targeting the CRPF me as they return from carrying out their duty in Budgam district.

Inspector General of CRPF Ravideep Singh Sahi told PTI in Srinagar, "During investigation, we found that the video is authentic. We have identified the company of the force involved and the location of the incident."

Sahi said the incident happened in Kralpora area in the Chadoora assembly segment in central Kashmir's Budgam district.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he has spoken to CRPF Director General (DG) Sudeep Lakhtakia and the issue will be sorted out soon.

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.
Jamshedpur: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today asked the central government to follow the example of US bombing of Islamic State targets in Afghanistan to tackle jehadis in the Kashmir valley and elsewhere in the country.

"It has sent a clear message to terrorists," VHP's International Working President Pravin Togadia told a press conference here, adding he was, however, sure Pakistan was not going to mend its way and would continue to promote cross-border terrorism.

Togadia alleged that the pro-Pakistan forces had recently indulged in insulting, abusing and assaulting Army personnel while they were returning from election duty in the valley.

Asked about a Pakistani court passing death sentence on Kulbushan Jadhav on spying charges, he said, "We should not hold any talk with Pakistan, discontinue all trade and withdraw the "Most Favoured Nation" status to it.
New Delhi: Four out of the five firms which got listed this year are trading above their issue price, giving smart returns of up to two-times to investors, helped by positive broader market sentiment.

So far this year, five companies have launched their IPOs. Out of this, four have yielded positive returns against the price at which they had issued shares to investors, an analysis of the performance of the newly-listed firms showed.

The BSE 30-share Sensex has gained nearly 11 percent so far this year, with the index touching its 52-week high of 30,007.48 on April 5.

Among the gainers, shares of Avenue Supermarts, operator of retail chain D-Mart, have soared 2.62 times against the issue price of Rs 299.

Shankara Building Products is trading 64.68 per cent higher than its IPO price of Rs 460.

In case of BSE, Asia's oldest stock exchange, its shares have zoomed 27.54 percent from the IPO price of Rs 806.

Similarly, Music Broadcast is up by 7.64 percent against the issue price of Rs 333.

In contrast, CL Educate saw its shares trading 15.19 percent lower against the issue price of Rs 502.

Last year, 26 companies collectively raised over Rs 26,000 crore through IPOs, making it the best one for public offers since 2010.
New Delhi: Former Pakistan foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri on Thursday said New Delhi and Islamabad needed to restart the stalled peace process for the larger good of the region.

His remark comes amid soaring tensions between the two neighbours after Pakistan awarded a death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

"Pakistan and India relationships are peculiar. No benign neglect will work. Let`s not let things drift," Kasuri said at an Indo-Pak seminar here organised by the Centre for Peace and Progress.

He, however, steered clear of talking about the Jadhav issue but regretted that "things are not looking pretty good" between the two countries.

"What is happening in Kashmir and the news from Islamabad," he said referring to Jadhav and the recent deaths of eight civilians in the Kashmir Valley on Sunday during a Lok Sabha by-poll.

Kasuri expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a "sense of history".

"He wishes to be part of the history in India-Pakistan relationship."

He said it was impossible to think Pakistan could be isolated diplomatically.

"And for argument sake if India succeeds it will give rise to new conflict. It is counterproductive."
By PTI: Boston, Apr 14 (PTI) In a breakthrough, scientists have developed a new system that can harvest litres of water from the air everyday using just ambient sunlight, even in dry or desert climates.

The solar-powered harvester, which can work in conditions as low as 20 per cent humidity, was constructed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US.

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"This is a major breakthrough in the long-standing challenge of harvesting water from the air at low humidity," said Omar Yaghi, from the University of California, Berkeley.

"There is no other way to do that right now, except by using extra energy. Your electric dehumidifier at home produces very expensive water," said Yaghi, also a faculty scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the US.

The prototype, under conditions of 20-30 per cent humidity, was able to pull 2.8 litres of water from the air over a 12-hour period, using one kilogramme of a metal-organic framework (MOF) - a special material produced at UC Berkeley.

Rooftop tests at MIT confirmed that the device works in real-world conditions, researchers said.

"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.

"To me, that will be made possible because of this experiment. I call it personalised water," he said.

The new system consisted 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.

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 vapour 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," Evelyn Wang, a mechanical engineer at MIT.

This proof of concept harvester leaves much room for improvement, Yaghi said. The current MOF can absorb only 20 per cent of its weight in water, but other MOF materials could possibly absorb 40 per cent or more.

The material can also be tweaked to be more effective at higher or lower humidity levels.

"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," Yaghi said.

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"We wanted to demonstrate that if you are cut off somewhere in the desert, you could survive because of this device. he said.

The study was published in the journal Science. PTI MHN SAR MHN

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: National Award winning actor Rajkummar Rao, who has been roped in to portray Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in filmmaker Hansal Mehtas upcoming web-series, says he plans to shave his head partly to suit the role.

Rajkummar says he will commence shooting on the yet-to-be-titled series from May 10.

"I am totally planning to go half bald for the role and flaunt a bespectacled look," Rajkummar told IANS here.

Given that he keeps juggling between film projects, how wise would that be?

"It will be a challenge, but I do one film at a time, so it shouldn't be a problem," added actor, who delivered a gripping performance in "Trapped".

The actor is excited about playing such a national icon, whom Mehta sees as a "rockstar".

"We will shoot in Kolkata. We will even go to Europe and many other places. It's my job as an actor to experiment with my personality and create as many characters as I can in front of the camera," Rajkummar said on the sidelines of the launch of Ekta Kapoor's upcoming digital app ALTBalaji.

"When we will start shooting for this series on May 10, people might see me half bald. I don't believe in wearing wigs. So, I plan to shave half of my head and try to achieve Bose's look," he added.

Rajkummar has started preparing for the web-series already.

"Through this web-series, we will try to be as close to reality as we can. There are so many things that are untold about Bose. So, we will try to explore that. There were so many instances that I was amazed to know about him," the "Shahid" fame actor said.

"I have been reading a lot of his books. His love for his motherland -- that is something which is so selfless. Selfless love is something where you don't expect anything in return. I don't do acting because I expect three cars in return. I do it because I feel satisfied and happy by it," he added.
Chandigarh: Punjab Congress today asked Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan to clarify his stand on Khalistan, a day after Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said he would not meet him as he is a "Khalistani sympathiser".

"It is important and in the interest of the good and friendly relationship between India and Canada that Sajjan clarifies his stand on this sensitive issue," state Congress leaders and MLAs said in a statement.

They also criticised the Canadian High Commission's statement on the matter.

"It is surprising that the High Commission has preferred to remain quiet on the specific issue that is of serious concern and consequences for the peace-loving Punjabis," they said, alleging that instead of clarifying on the issue, the High Commission has tried to cover it up and put up a vague defence.

The Congress leaders also advised the Akali and Aam Aadmi Party leaders not to try to be more loyal than the king by defending Sajjan when he himself had not denied his association with Khalistani sympathisers and supporters.

Senior Congress leaders and MLAs, including Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukh Sarkaria and Navtej Cheema, reiterated that the Canadian Defence Minister and some of his ministerial and parliamentary colleagues had a "known affiliation with anti-India forces".

"Moreover, none of them has denied these charges, while leaders like Sukhbir Badal, Sukhpal Khaira and HS Phoolka have gone overboard in defending them for reasons best known to them," they pointed out, while questioning the intent of these leaders in defending the Canadian lawmakers.

"Or, is it because you go there (Canada) with a begging bowl," they asked Khaira and Phoolka in particular.

The Congress leaders asserted that the chief minister had only reiterated a fact, which Sajjan had not denied himself.

"There is no question of insulting a Punjabi or a Sikh in stating a fact about political leanings and inclinations of a particular leader just because he happens to be a Punjabi or a Sikh," they said and strongly supported Amarinder's stand in refusing to meet Sajjan.

"We need to draw a clear line as Punjab cannot afford to play with fire, which people like Sajjan are stoking and fanning in Canada, that has a dangerous potential to engulf the state and push it back into the dark days.

"This will also send a strong message to everyone that there cannot be any compromise on safeguarding peace and harmony in Punjab," the statement read.
Chandigarh: Terming it as "inconclusive", the Punjab government on Friday rejected the report of the Justice Zora Singh Commission and ordered a fresh Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh to investigate all cases of sacrilege in the state.

The government, through a notification issued by the Department of Home Affairs and Justice, has included all sacrilege incidents, including those involving the Bhagwad Gita, Quran and Guru Granth Sahib in the ambit of the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission`s terms of reference.

The new Commission, headed by the former judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court, has a tenure of six months.

"The commission will also enquire into the detailed facts and circumstances and chronology of events of what actually happened and to identify as a matter of fact the role played by various persons into what happened in the various incidents of sacrilege in Faridkot and other places in the state," a state government spokesman said.

He said that the Commission will enquire into the truth of what occurred in such incidents and factual role of the persons who may have been involved.

"The Commission has also been tasked to enquire into the firing in Kotkapura on October 14, 2015 and village Behbalkalan, District Faridkot, in which two persons died. The Commission will identify and enquire into the role of the police officers/officials in incomplete/inconclusive investigations into the earlier incidents of sacrileges so far," he said.

The notification follows the state government`s conclusion, following the Punjab Advocate General`s advice, that the Justice Zora Singh Commission, set up by the previous government "has not answered the very substance of the reference i.e. an enquiry into the incident of sacrilege and the role of the police force".

Noting that there had been further incidents of sacrilege even after the establishment of the Zora Singh Commission, the Punjab government felt that the "matter is of utmost public concern and importance, requiring a proper and comprehensive enquiry".
Jaipur: Around 6,000 persons have been arrested in over 3,000 registered cases of cow smuggling in the desert state in the last seven years, the Rajasthan government has said.

According to the report sent by the state Home department to the Union government in the wake of the lynching of 55-year-old Pehlu Khan in Alwar district earlier this month, more than 6,400 persons were arrested in over 3,000 registered cases of cow smuggling from January 2009 to February 2016 in the state.

Out of the 3,000 registered cases, police presented challans in over 2,500 cases in the court. However, only 40 persons were convicted and 59 were acquitted in the cow smuggling cases disposed by the court till February 2016, it said.

Every year, nearly 500 cases of cow smuggling or murder are registered across the state, the report said.

The BJP-led state government, however, added that the number of cases of cow smuggling reduced after setting up of police check posts in Alwar and Bharatpur areas.

"Swift action against cow smuggling increased after 2012 as police registered 463 cases across the state. A total of 526, 582 and 481 cases of cow smuggling were registered in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively," the report said.

Over 2,700 vehicles used in the illegal transportation of bovines have been seized during the last seven years, it added.
Power Paandi marks the directorial debut of Dhanush, and the most fascinating aspect of the film is its older protagonist, a 64-year-old former stuntman (played by Raj Kiran), on a journey of self-exploration to live life on his own terms.

It's refreshing to see Dhanush, a well established star, not use this platform and make something commercial from market point of view but instead rely on a simple story of a senior citizen.

The film's opening scene effectively explains what the film likes to convey. We are introduced to Power Paandi, on his morning jog, greeted with smile and respect by onlookers on a busy market road. Two police constables thank him for helping them nab local drug peddlers. We quickly get the picture.

Back home, things aren't the same. Paandi's actions, even when well justified, earn his son's wrath. His grandchildren are his best friends and his teenage neighbour is his drinking buddy. Even though slightly predictable, some of the scenes that unfold within the family are easily relatable, especially when you too have someone as senior as Paandi in your house.

Dhanush emphasises on the lack of communication between people in the same family. Prasanna plays the son, and as Paandi points out in a scene, he is very caring but is just too busy in his own world.

Scenes as simple as the son asking his wife whether his father has eaten or not explains the communication gap within family members. Not many stories have explored the loneliness of older characters in mainstream Tamil cinema and Dhanush deserves an A+ for the effort and being gusty enough to do it with a 60-plus protagonist.

Although the film does get slightly melodramatic at times, which might appeal to the masses, it's a fairly refreshing take on living life on one's own terms.

It's in the second half, particularly towards the end, that the film packs a solid emotional punch. It makes us root for an older couple -- played by Raj Kiran and Revathi -- which is a rarity in Tamil cinema. Their romance is charming, cute and instantly likable unlike the underwhelming flashback portion featuring Dhanush and Madonna.

It would have been even more awesome had the film focused more on the older pair's romance than unnecessarily getting emotional with the familial angle. It could have been an even more entertaining film given its scope to be funny. Nevertheless, it's understandable why the need to get emotional as it will largely appeal to audiences in smaller cities.

Power Paandi shines due to its simplistic filmmaking and for not complicating things for the sake of proving a point. Dhanush, as a director, is smart and understands the pulse of the audience like no other actor in his league can and will. He does play to the gallery, but he also has plenty for elite audiences to enjoy in the film. The whole road trip episode, though appears borrowed from the West, is something multiplex audiences will dig.

In a dhaba, when a bunch of senior citizens, out on a road trip on their bikes, sit and talk about Facebook and their marital status, you can't stop yourself from chuckling.

By Haricharan Pudipeddi

Three and a Half stars.
New Delhi: We're sure there's not a single person in the world who hasn't gone through the annoying experience of having their shoelaces 'magically' untying themselves while you're walking.

In school, at work, while you're out for a walk or a run  your shoelaces find some opportunity to wiggle their way out of the knot you were so sure was strong enough to hold them in place.

Most of us blame it on a weak knot or simply the pace with which we walk or the typical 'someone must have stepped on my shoe' theory. But is that really it?

Researchers believe it has a completely different reason and it all boils down to Science! A study conducted by a team of researchers at UC Berkeley looked into lace loosening and through it, attempted to figure out why it happens.

According to the study, the way our feet hit and leave the ground while running or walking cause a 'stomp and whip' effect, thereby disentangling the knot, tugging on the end until the entire lace gives way.

However, stomping or whipping forces by themselves are not enough to untie the shoe, as both forces must take effect.

This basically puts the burden on understanding why certain knots are better than others, which no one has really done.

As per the Huffington Post, in order to arrive at these findings, the Cal Berkeley engineers videotapedfellow engineer Christine Gregg while she ran on a treadmill. It was filmed in slow-motion so researchers could figure out what causes shoelace knot failure.

"First, the repeated impact of the shoe on the floor during walking serves to loosen the knot, the study says. Then, the whipping motions of the free ends of the laces caused by the leg swing produce slipping of the laces. This leads to eventual runaway untangling of the knot.

The study also looked at the two most common ways people tie their shoes.

Some laces might be better than others for tying knots, but the fundamental mechanics causing them to fail is the same, we believe, Gregg said in an interview with Berkeleys website, the Huffington Post reported.

According to researchers, the study on shoelaces could open many doors and have major implications for studies on DNA.
New Delhi: The US space agency NASA's Cassini spacecraft has discovered hydrogen in the plume of gas and icy particles spraying from Saturn's sixth largest moon Enceladus.

According to NASA, the discovery means the small, icy moon  which has a global ocean under its surface  has a source of chemical energy that could be useful for microbes, if any exist there.

The finding have also provided further evidence that warm, mineral-laden water is pouring into the ocean from vents in the seafloor, as reported.

On Earth, such hydrothermal vents support thriving communities of life in complete isolation from sunlight.

Enceladus now appears likely to have all three of the ingredients scientists think life needs: liquid water, a source of energy such as sunlight or chemical energy, and the right chemical ingredients like carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen.

As per reports, Cassini is not able to detect life, and has found no evidence that Enceladus is inhabited. But if life is there, that means life is probably common throughout the cosmos; if life has not evolved there, it would suggest life is probably more complicated or unlikely than we have thought. Either way the implications are profound.

NASA said that future missions to Saturn's icy moon Enceladus may shed light on its habitability.

The US space agency has also released a video explaining that Saturn's icy moon Enceladus has all the basic ingredients for life.

Watch the video below.
Moscow: The US space agency NASA has made a big revelation on its new discoveries on ocean worlds in our solar system on Thursday.

NASA has confirmed the possibility of life inhabiting Enceladus, the watery moon of Saturn.

Enceladus is covered by oceans of liquid water trapped under a layer of ice.

Saturn probe Cassini spacecraft has observed a plume of water from a crack in Enceladus`s ice.

When Cassini sampled the plume, it found it to be 98 percent water, with the remaining 2 percent consisting of elements like liquid hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane - and traces of organics. And these traces are all signs of the presence of life.

Simple Earth organisms eat methane and excrete carbon dioxide, reports Sputnik.

Hunter Waite of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, who was study lead on the Encephalus plume observation said, "This [molecular hydrogen] is just like the icing on the cake".

As per the official statement, "Now, you see the chemical energy source that microbes could use. The only thing we haven`t seen is phosphorus and sulfur, and that`s probably because they were in small enough quantities that we didn`t see them. We have to go back and look and search for signs of life as well."

Based on the data, NASA believes that it`s possible for simple life such as bacteria to live on the seafloor of Enceladus, adding that they will be excited with any discovery of life.

NASA scientist Linda Spilker said, ''We haven`t discovered evidence of organisms on Enceladus. However, the moon of Saturn has "almost all of the ingredients that you need to support life as we know it on Earth".

She said,''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".

Enceladus is quite small, makes it about 15 percent as large as Earth`s moon.

Andrew Coates, a professor of physics at University College London said, "This distant moon now joins Mars and Europa as the best potential locations for life beyond Earth in our solar system".

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.

(With ANI inputs)
Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, who on Friday appointed her younger brother Anand Kumar as the party's national vice president, has revealed why she reads only written speeches and does not speak extempore.

Speaking for the first time before her party workers on her medical condition which she said has forced her to read written texts, she said she lost one of her glands in 1996.

"One of the two glands in my throat was removed by doctors in an operation and so I cannot stress my throat too much," Mayawati said.

She said the doctors had advised her to read only written texts.

Mayawati added that she has to work very hard in first writing and then reading it whereas it is easy to speak extempore.

The BSP supremo also today accused the BJP of targetting her for raising a voice against alleged EVM tampering and said she was not averse to shaking hands with other parties in her fight against the saffron party on the issue.
All establishments like schools and offices have also reopened.

By Ashraf Wani: Life seems to be limping back to normalcy after days of violent stirs in the Valley following the Srinagar bypoll on April 9.

The train service between north Kashmir's Baramulla and Jammu's Bannihal town today resumed after being stalled for five days.

All establishments like schools and offices have also reopened.

The Valley had been in the grip of violence since April 9, when polling for the Srinagar Parliamentary seat was underway.

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As many as eight locals were killed and over 100 injured in the clashes that ensued the election on last Sunday.

WHAT HAPPENED

Angry mobs took to streets in large numbers across the constituency including Budgam, and Ganderbal districts on April 9. They resorted to violence and arson amid boycott call by separatists. While a polling booth was set ablaze, rioters also attempted to set fire to two more booths.

Following the escalation of violence on Sunday, internet services were suspended in the entire Kashmir valley till Anantnag bypoll on April 12.

Army was also called out to help security forces quell a rampaging mob which threw stones and hurled petrol bombs to set a polling booth ablaze in the Ganderbal district of the constituency.

Also read: Srinagar bypoll: 7.14 per cent voting lowest in 30 years, 8 killed in clashes

Also read: Centre upset over low turnout, high violence during Srinagar bypoll

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Kolkata: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that the BJP does not want to run the country on the basis of caste or religion, but of humanity and justice.

He made the comment when reporters asked for his view on the claim that the Hindu population in West Bengal was showing a declining graph.

"I normally don't reply to any question on caste, creed and religion. I think our BJP does not want to run the country on the basis of caste, creed and religion. We want to run the country on the basis of humanity and justice," he said.

According to him, there was no place for violence in a healthy democracy.

"There is no place for confrontation in a healthy democracy. We need everybody's cooperation to take the nation forward. We need to understand the reality that political clash or political violence can in no way encroach upon the space of good governance and development," Singh said.

On violence allegedly perpetrated against BJP workers, he reiterated that violence had no place in a healthy democracy.

Much to the dismay of his party's state unit, Singh didn't utter a word against the Mamata Banerjee government in the state.

He also chose to keep mum on a resolution passed by the RSS in which it accused the TMC of harbouring "jihadi elements".

"Being a home minister, I can't comment on many issues publicly," he said.

Singh also did not approve of a BJP youth leader's announcement of a bounty on Mamata Banerjee's head, saying this cannot be condoned.

When asked to comment on the law-and-order situation of the state, he merely said, "Law and order is a state subject."

Taking note of the rise in the BJP's vote share in West Bengal, Singh expressed confidence that the party would form the next government in the state.

The TMC leadership, however, mocked at Singh's claim by saying that the party was "not aware of ground realities in Bengal and was only daydreaming".

The home minister dodged a direct reply to a question on why the pace of the CBI investigation into the Narada, Saradha and Rose valley scams had slowed down, saying, "Law will take its own course. We are not like other parties who interfere in the CBI investigation."
Kolkata: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday advised his BJP`s West Bengal unit not to pay attention to the "false propaganda" by the Left Front and the Congress about any "secret understanding" between his party and the state`s ruling Trinamool Congress.

According to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national Secretary Rahul Sinha, the veteran leader dismissed the allegations as part of the state opposition`s "political strategy".

"He told us not to be bothered about these false propaganda by state left parties and Congress as this is a mere attempt to defame our party. These allegations are a part of out opposition`s political strategy," said Sinha, briefing newspersons about the closed door meeting of state office bearers conducted by Rajnath Singh.

"Rajnathji told us to put these allegations aside and work hard to establish ourselves as the prime opposition of Trinamool Congress in the state," he said.

Congratulating the state BJP unit for their recent success, Rajnath Singh reportedly said the party activists throughout the nation are excited about BJP`s progress in Bengal.

"Rajnathji said that the BJP activists and supporters all over the country are proud and excited about the way the party is progressing in West Bengal. The people of the nation are looking up to BJP`s achievements in the state," Sinha said.

The state BJP leader claimed that there were detailed discussions about the state government`s atrocities and attacks on the BJP activists in Bengal.

"We have informed him how the state government is misusing its police and lodging false cases against the BJP leaders to stop the party from flourishing. The issues of cow smuggling and constant infiltration through the India-Bangladesh border were also discussed at length," he said.
Kolkata: Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti on Friday held herself responsible for the appointment of Mamata Banerjee as the West Bengal Chief Minister, adding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form the next government in the state with absolute majority.

"I am the one responsible for her being the Chief Minister. I am not saying that we will remove her but we know she will be removed by the people`s agitation.

The BJP will form the government in West Bengal with an absolute majority just as we did in Assam and Haryana," Bharti said.Bharti asserted that Banerjee`s government cannot control the state`s situation and she ensures that riots take place in the state due to some or the other issue.

Commenting on the West Bengal Chief Minister`s plans to turn Kolkata into London, she said, "There was a bomb blast in London, cannot imagine Kolkata to be transformed into London.

"Bharti`s comments come in the wake of her party finishing second in the by-poll to Kanthi Dakshin assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district.

The Trinamool Congress retained the seat with the BJP pushing the Left Front candidate to the third position.

Banerjee, has, however, accused the opposition parties in Bengal of transferring votes to one another and said she was least bothered about who emerged as her party`s principal opposition.

The West Bengal assembly polls are scheduled to be held in 2019.
Beijing: Air China flights between Beijing and Pyongyang will be suspended from Monday, state broadcaster CCTV said on Friday on its official social media account.

The news comes amid reports of activity at a nuclear test site in North Korea ahead of tomorrow's 105th anniversary of the birth of the country's founder Kim Il-Sung, fuelling speculation it could carry out a sixth test.
Paris: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad`s comments that last week`s chemical weapons attack was a fabrication to justify a US military strike are "100 percent lies", French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Friday.

"It`s 100 percent lies and propaganda," Ayrault said in Beijing, responding to an exclusive AFP interview with Assad late Thursday. "It`s 100 percent cruelty and cynicism."
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 programme 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.

China, North Korea`s sole major ally and neighbour, which nevertheless opposes its weapons programme, has called for talks leading to a peaceful resolution and the denuclearisation 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 focussing 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 towards 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.

Another U.S. official also dismissed the report, calling it "speculative at best."

The Pentagon declined comment, saying, as a policy, it does not discuss future operations "nor publicly speculate on possible scenarios."

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 centre 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.

U.S. HOPES FOR CHINA INFLUENCE

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 programme, 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 programme, 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 denuclearised 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.
Beijing: China issued a stern warning Friday that a conflict over North Korea could break out "at any moment", as Pyongyang vowed a "merciless" response to any US military action.

Tensions in the region have surged to fresh heights in recent days with speculation mounting that the North is preparing a sixth nuclear test.

A US naval strike force has been deployed near the Korean peninsula, and President Donald Trump has issued stark warnings that the threat posed by Pyongyang`s nuclear weapons programme "will be taken care of".

A clearly rattled China, under pressure from Trump to prevent any North Korean provocation, said the situation had reached breaking point.

"One has the feeling that a conflict could break out at any moment," Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said.

"If a war occurs, the result is a situation in which everybody loses and there can be no winner," he added during a joint press conference in Beijing with the visiting French foreign minister.

Wang`s comments mirrored a warning from the North Korean foreign ministry`s Institute for Disarmament and Peace that "thermo-nuclear war may break out any moment".

North Korea has invoked similarly dire scenarios on previous occasions when tensions on the Korean peninsula have spiked, but Beijing`s warnings have fuelled international concerns that the current situation is reaching tipping point.

The North`s Korean People`s Army (KPA) added its voice to the bellicose rhetoric on Friday with a statement threatening strikes against US military bases and other targets in South Korea.

"The closer such big targets as nuclear powered aircraft carriers come, the greater would be the effect of merciless strikes," said the statement carried by the North`s official KCNA news agency.

Citing the recent missile strike Trump ordered against Syria -- which was widely interpreted as a warning to Pyongyang -- the KPA denounced the US president for embarking on a path of "open threat and blackmail" against the North.

It also urged Washington to "come to its senses" and find a "proper" solution to the current stand-off.

Trump`s military muscle-flexing was on display again Thursday when the US on dropped the biggest non-nuclear bomb it possesses on Afghanistan, targeting a complex used by the Islamic State group.

The American president has repeatedly said he will prevent Pyongyang from its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile capable of reaching the mainland United States.

A White House foreign policy advisor said Friday that the US was assessing military options, and added that another provocative test was a question of "when" rather than "if."

Satellite imagery analysis has noted activity at the North`s main nuclear test site ahead of Saturday`s 105th anniversary of the birth of the country`s founder leader Kim Il-Sung.The North`s sabre-rattling has encouraged a rapprochement between Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, who met face-to-face for the first time late last week at Trump`s Mar-a-Lago resort.

Though his election campaign was marked with acerbic denouncements of China`s "rape" of the US economy, Trump dropped his anti-China bombast in Florida, afterwards hailing an "outstanding" relationship with Xi.

But he insists China -- the North`s sole major ally and economic lifeline -- must exert more leverage on Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions or suffer the consequences.

Beijing has long opposed dramatic action against the North, fearing the regime`s collapse would send a flood of refugees across its borders and leave the US military on its doorstep.

China`s state broadcaster CCTV announced Friday that Air China -- the only foreign carrier operating commercial flights into North Korea -- would suspend services to Pyongyang from next week.

The report gave no reason for the suspension, but noted that Air China has taken similar action in the past because of low passenger volumes.

Despite the mounting tensions, there has been little sign of strain on the streets of Pyongyang in recent days, where the focus has been on preparations for Saturday`s anniversary.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on Thursday unveiled the sprawling Ryomyong street development, a prestige housing project repeatedly promised in time to mark the occasion.

Before the international press and tens of thousands of his adoring citizens, he cut a wide red ribbon to rhythmic cheers, before waving and returning to his Mercedes limousine.
Washington: The CIA helped unravel the nuclear smuggling network used by Pakistani scientist AQ Khan, the spy agency's new director Mike Pompeo has said.

"CIA has been a crucial player in the global campaign against nuclear proliferation," Pompeo said in his remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a top American think-tank.

"We've helped unravel the nuclear smuggling network used by AQ Khan, assisted in exposing a covert nuclear facility in Syria, and gathered intelligence -- with the help of our liaison partners -- that persuaded Libya to abandon its nuclear programme," he said in his first major policy speech after he became the head of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Pakistan's nuclear record is clouded with the architect of its nuclear weapons programme, Khan, accused of clandestinely giving North Korea nuclear weapons technology.

Pompeo said the CIA has also been at the forefront of cutting edge technological innovation throughout the history.

"We led efforts to develop the U-2 aircraft and orbiting satellites -- endeavours that allowed us to surveil activities in rival states that were otherwise closed to us," Pompeo said.

The CIA has pushed back the boundaries of the possible in ways that have benefited both the security and welfare of the American public, he said.

"For example, when we needed long-lasting power sources for certain operational missions, in the 1960s our scientists helped to develop the lithium-ion battery?technology that ultimately has powered pacemakers and cell phones alike," he said.

More recently, the CIA investment in a technology venture in 2003 led to the development of what today is known as Google Earth, Pompeo said

"My first few months on the job have only reaffirmed for me that this innovative spirit is very much alive and well at CIA," he said.

Describing CIA as a foreign intelligence agency, Pompeo said it is focused on collecting information about foreign governments, foreign terrorist organisations and the like-not Americans.

"A number of specific rules keep us centred on that mission and protect the privacy of our fellow Americans. To take just one important example, CIA is legally prohibited from spying on people through electronic surveillance in the United States," he said.

"We're not tapping anyone's phone in Wichita," Pompeo added.
Beijing: A conflict over North Korea could break out "at any moment", China`s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday, warning there would be "no winner" in any war, as tensions soar with the US.

The sharp language came after President Donald Trump said that the "problem" of North Korea "will be taken care of", as speculation mounts that the reclusive state could be preparing another nuclear or missile test.

"Lately, tensions have risen with the US and the ROK on one side, and the DPRK on the other, and one has the feeling that a conflict could break out at any moment," Wang said, using abbreviations for South and North Korea.

"If a war occurs, the result is a situation in which everybody loses and there can be no winner," he said during a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Wang said that whichever side provoked a conflict "must assume the historic responsibility and pay the corresponding price."

A White House foreign policy advisor said Friday that the US is assessing military options in response to North Korea`s weapons programs, saying another provocative test was a question of "when" rather than "if."

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.

"Dialogue is the only possible solution," Wang said.
Zagreb: Enhanced checks at the EU's external borders, purportedly to halt suspected Islamic fighters from Iraq and Syria, led to long queues and traffic chaos Friday at Croatia`s border with Slovenia.

Especially high numbers of vehicles at the start of Easter`s long weekend saw angry passengers waiting for hours as cars stretched back several kilometres at the main Bregana border crossing, according to an AFP photographer.

Cars and buses were waiting up to five hours to leave Slovenia, in the passport-free Schengen area, and enter Croatia, according to the national motoring club (HAK).

Meanwhile passengers crossing from Croatia -- part of the European Union but not Schengen -- were stuck for more than three hours.

Croatia and Slovenia share 670 kilometres (420 miles) of a EU external border.

The two countries lie on the so-Balkans route used by hundreds of thousands of migrants travelling to western and northern Europe which was shut in March last year.

The EU said the systematic checks at Schengen borders were designed to identify foreign fighters returning from Iraq and Syria. Traffic problems started only hours after the controls were introduced earlier this month.

The chaos frustrated many holidaymakers from Austria, Germany and Switzerland who spent hours in queues waiting to head to southern Europe for the Easter or spring holiday break.

Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia on Friday boosted security measures to prevent terror acts, notably at places of worship over Easter, officials said.
In an exclusive interview to India Today, Jammu and Kashmir's former chief minister Omar Abdullah argued that political disconnection from the country is giving rise to stone-pelters.

By India Today Web Desk: Advocating for a political engagement to control the turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir, the state's former chief minister Omar Abdullah today said stone-pelting is a result of political disconnection from the country.

"Please understand that majority of these stone-pelters are not doing it for money or because they want a job. They are not doing it because there is an absence of tourism. They are doing it because they feel politically disconnected from the union of India," Abdullah said in an exclusive interview to India Today.

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Claiming that the stone-pelters do not see their future with the country, he said unless there is an acceptance or recognition of the political nature of the problem there will be no solution.

Recently an India Today investigation had caught stone-pelters on camera where they admitted having paid about Rs 7000 a month and some clothes in return for their job. It had showed how these agitators were on the payroll of their underground masters to carry out deadly attacks on security forces, public servants and property in the troubled region.

NEED FOR DIALOGUE

Abdullah stressed on the need for political engagement with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir saying the problem in the state stems from its politics.

"It can't be wished away with the binary that we heard from the prime minister that the youth in Jammu and Kashmir have a choice between tourism and terrorism. It is not as simple as that nor is it a solution that you will find by announcing a 97,000 crore package," he said.

Blaming the NDA government for the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said during the last 2.5-3 years of the Modi government there has been business as usual.

Stating a trust deficit has existed for long because of systemic failures, he questioned that when the PM is not afraid to take difficult decisions then why he doesn't do it in Kashmir.

Watch the full interview:

Omar Abdullah to India Today: Kashmir's stone-pelters are politically disconnected from India

Also read:

Stone pelters on hire in Kashmir: India Today nails Valley's insidious villains

Jammu and Kashmir: Cops turn mentors for stone pelters

--- ENDS ---
Washington: The Trump administration should "shake things up" and hit terrorist groups inside Pakistan, a top former American diplomat has said, identifying the Taliban sanctuaries in the country as a "big problem" for Afghanistan.

The remarks came as the US dropped a massive bomb - the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used by Americans in a conflict - near the Pakistan border in Afghanistan's Nanagarh province.

The US said the bomb targeted a tunnel complex of Islamic State-Khorasan, a regional affiliate of the terror group.

Zalmay Khalilzad, who served as the US ambassador to the United Nations and Afghanistan in the Bush administration, said the terrorist sanctuaries inside Pakistan "should not be accepted as (just) sanctuaries".

The US and NATO forces were being attacked by terrorists hiding in those sanctuaries and "if we are attacked from those places... They would be legitimate targets for a response," Khalilzad said during a discussion at the Hudson Institute, an American think tank, yesterday in Washington.

Khalilzad, who had hosted Donald Trump for his first foreign policy speech during his presidential campaign, said, "Perhaps we have to do something to shake things up."

He called for changing the balance on the ground from the one of stalemate that has favoured the Taliban to the one that favours the Afghan government and the coalition forces.

"I am encouraged by what is going on in terms of the review - to weaken the adversaries and strengthen the government, to strengthen it not only militarily but also economically and politically, but also to review the policy towards Pakistan, because I think one of the big problems of Afghanistan is the policies of Pakistan: the sanctuary policies," he said.

Robin Raphel, a former assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, felt the US should not walk away from the region at this point.

Raphel, however, opposed the idea of an "all-out war" against Pakistan. "In my view, at the end of the day there has to be a negotiated political solution in Afghanistan, which would undoubtedly include some of the conservative elements including the Taliban in the government," she said.

Hussain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the US and the director, South and Central Asia, at the institute, who moderated the discussion, said Taliban are irreconcilable, a sentiment shared by Khalilzad, who said the alliance between the Taliban and Pakistan was the main problem.

"You cannot have reconciliation, if the insurgency feels that time is on its side. You cannot have a successful negotiation if there are safe sanctuaries. You cannot have successful negotiations if they feel that the Americans are going to leave," Khalilzad said.

He also suggested ways to deal with the issue. "One, the military balance has to change in favour of the Afghan government. Two, Pakistan has to confront with the choices.

"If we are attacked from bases in another country, we have the right to defend ourselves. It is a principle of international law. We are there on the basis of a UN Security Council resolution and at the invitation of the Afghan government. We should not be accepting a safe sanctuary. We ought to make that very very clear to Pakistan," he said.

"I hope that (National Security Adviser Lt Gen) H R McMaster makes that point clear when he sits across the table when he is in Islamabad," he said, but added that Pakistan's "legitimate interests" should also be respected.

The discussion was held in the backdrop of the Trump administration reviewing its policies to break the stalemate in Afghanistan.

"Decisions made about policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan will have a crucial impact on the outcome of the global war on terrorism and Islamist extremism," Haqqani said.
Kabul: The United States has dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on Afghanistan, killing dozens of Islamic State militants in a dramatic escalation that US President Donald Trump said had been "very, very successful".

Here are five other views on the use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, dubbed the "Mother Of All Bombs" , for the first time in combat since it was developed in the early days of the Iraq war.

General John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, told a press conference in Kabul Friday that the bomb was the "right weapon against the right target".

"The enemy had created bunkers, tunnels and extensive mine fields, and this weapon was used to reduce those obstacles so that we could continue our offensive in southern Nangarhar," he said, adding US and Afghan forces at the site had seen "no evidence of civilian casualties".

Afghanistan`s president Ashraf Ghani threw his support behind the bombardment, emphasising that "precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties".

But other officials dissented, with several such as Omar Zakhilwal, the Afghan envoy to Pakistan, slamming the strike as "reprehensible" and "counterproductive".

"If big bombs were the solution we would be the most secure place on earth today," he tweeted.

As the dust settled analysts also began to question just how much the sound and fury of the strike signified, with some suggesting the decision may have been "disproportionate".

"The Trump administration made a lot of noise with this bomb, but the general state of play on the ground remains the same: The Taliban continues to wage a formidable and ferocious insurgency. ISIS, by comparison, is a sideshow," Michael Kugelman of the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington told AFP, using an alternative acronym for IS.

"Still, from a strategic standpoint, there is an unsettling takeaway here: The US pulled off a huge shock and awe mission against an enemy that isn`t even the top threat to the US in Afghanistan. The Taliban continues to sit pretty," he said.

Civilians living in Achin district appeared to welcome the bombardment.

"Daesh (IS) fighters are active in this area and have overrun our houses," said Achin resident Khair Mohammad. "We don`t care if our houses are destroyed, we want Daesh to be eliminated."

Achin residents who spoke to AFP along the border with Pakistan, near the Torkham Gate crossing, appeared to shrug off early reports of the blast, however.

"I heard that there was some sort of bombing last night but it`s nothing new, we are used to it," welder Arshad Ali told AFP.

"I talked to my family members over the phone last night and they said there had been shelling," said labourer Safdar Shinwari.

"Shelling and drone strikes are routine in that area and it`s nothing unusual," he added.

More than 20 hours after the blast, IS issued a statement denying it had suffered any casualties whatsoever.

"Security source to Amaq agency denies any dead or wounded from yesterday`s American strike in Nangarhar using a GBU-43/B," the group`s self-styled news agency said on social media accounts.

IS rarely admits its losses after such attacks.

For its part, the Taliban quickly condemned what it called "America`s heavy use of weapons on Afghanistan".
Washington: An Indian-origin female doctor in the US was arrested and charged with performing female genital mutilation on girls as young as six-year-old.

Jumana Nagarwala, 44, was charged with performing the procedure on six- to eight-year old girls at a medical clinic in Livonia, Michigan, reported WXYZ TV channel on Thursday.

Nagarwala, who is an emergency room physician at a hospital, was investigated after the authorities received a tip-off.

If found guilty, she faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Female genital mutilation was made illegal in the US in 1996.

According to a criminal complaint, some of the children were brought from out of state for the illegal procedure.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is considered the complete removal or partial removal of the clitoris, known as a clitoridectomy. FGM is internationally recognised as a violation of the human rights of women and girls.

Prosecutors said Nagarwala had performed "horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims", according to the report.

Some travelled to her practice from outside the state of Michigan and were told not to talk about the procedure, they added.

Nagarwala appeared in a federal court in Detroit and was remanded in custody.

"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 US 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."

The US Congress passed a law in 1996 making it illegal to perform genital mutilation or cutting on anyone under 18. Twenty-five US states also have laws prohibiting the practice.

Prosecutors in Michigan said they believe it is the first case of its kind brought under the federal law.

The complaint said federal agents reviewed Nagarwala`s telephone records and further investigation revealed that parents of two minor girls had traveled to Michigan.

The girls were later interviewed by a forensic expert and one of the girls said she was told she was coming to Detroit for a "special" girls trip, but after arriving at the hotel, she learned that she and the other girl had to go to the doctor because "our tummies hurt".

The girls had been taken to Nagarwala, who performed the procedure on the girls.

The affidavit, according to reports, also said that many of her victims were from Michigan.
Cairo: The Islamic State group denied on Friday it had suffered casualties from the US military`s largest non-nuclear bomb which hit its mountain hideouts in Afghanistan, in a statement on its propaganda agency Amaq.

"Security source to Amaq agency denies any dead or wounded from yesterday`s American strike in Nangarhar using a GBU-43/B," the group`s self-styled news agency said on social media accounts.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- dubbed the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- was unleashed in combat for the first time on Thursday, hitting IS positions in eastern Nangarhar province.
Washington: President Donald Trump has hailed the US military's "very, very successful" strike on an Islamic State tunnel complex in Afghanistan with the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat which killed 36 militants and destroyed their mountain hideouts near the Pakistan border.

In another dramatic show of military force after the bombing of a Syrian airfield with 59 Tomahawk missiles, the US military yesterday dropped a GBU-43/B, colloquially known as the "Mother Of All Bombs" or MOAB, to target tunnels and bunkers built by Islamic State fighter in Nangarhar province.

Trump said he authorised the use of the MOAB - Massive Ordnance Air Blast - and called the mission "very, very successful".

"It was really another successful job, we are very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event," Trump told reporters at the White House.

The MOAB, developed for use in the Iraq war and first tested in 2003, is dropped from an aircraft on a pallet. A MOAB is a 21,600 pound, Global Positioning System (GPS)-guided munition that is US's most powerful non-nuclear bomb. Its main effect is a massive blast wave - said to stretch for 1.6 kms.

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command. It's the first-ever combat use of the bomb, said Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump.

"Everybody knows exactly what happened, what I do is I authorise our military. We have the greatest military in the world, they've done a job, as usual, so we have given them total authorisation and that's what they're doing, and frankly, that's why they've been so successful lately," Trump said.

The bombing in Afghanistan was the second major incident when the US military in recent days have shown its combat prowess, after missile strikes on a Syrian airfield.

"If you look at what's happened over the last eight weeks and you compare that to what's happened over the last eight years, you'll see there's a tremendous difference. So we have incredible leaders of the military and incredible military, and we are very proud of them, and this was another very very successful mission," Trump said.

He, however, said he does not know if this would send a message to North Korea.

"I don't know if this sends a message. It doesn't make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of. I will say this: I think China has really been working very hard," he said.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that the tunnels and caves IS fighters used to "move around freely" were targeted as they make it easier for them to target US military advisers and Afghan forces in the area.

"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 the US took "all precautions necessary" to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage.

The strike was part of efforts to defeat Islamic State's local affiliate ISIS-K in Afghanistan, the US Central Command said.

Nangarhar borders Pakistan and is a hotbed of militancy. According to the Department of Defence, there are about 600- 800 ISIS-Khorasan fighters in the area where the bomb was dropped.
Peshawar: In a shocking incident, a mob beat a Pakistani student to death at his university campus on Thursday after he was accused of sharing blasphemous content on social media.

The deceased was identified as Mashal Khan, a student at the Journalism and Mass Communication department of Abdul Wali Khan University (AWKU) in Pakistan`s Mardan town.

The horrid video of this incident has gone viral.

A group of about 10 students shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the attack on fellow student Mashal Khan, who was stripped naked and beaten with planks until his skull caved in as other students looked on, the video showed.

Blasphemy is a highly sensitive topic in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where insulting the Prophet Mohammed is a capital crime that has dozens languishing on death row and where even an accusation can lead to violence.

The Pakistani Police has arrested 10 students in connection with the gruesome incident.

Mardan Deputy Inspector General of Police Alam Shinwari said the dead student was accused of running Facebook pages which allegedly published blasphemous content. Police took the body away but students kept demanding it back.

Shinwari said: After severe torture that led his death, the charged students then wanted to burn his body."

Watch the video:

At least 65 people have been murdered over blasphemy allegations since 1990, according to figures from a Center for Research and Security Studies report and local media.

It was unclear exactly what online posting had prompted the blasphemy accusation against Khan, who was studying journalism.

In 2011, a bodyguard assassinated Punjab provincial governor Salman Taseer after the governor called for reforming blasphemy laws.

Taseer`s killer, executed last year, has been hailed by religious hard-liners as a martyr to Islam and a shrine has been erected at his grave.
Moscow: Russia on Friday criticised the global chemical weapons watchdog for not sending experts to the site of an alleged chemical attack in Syria, but instead analysing samples "from a distance".

"We consider it unacceptable to analyse events from a distance," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference with his counterparts from Syria and Iran.
Bishkek: Uzbekistan today said the suspect in last week's deadly Stockholm truck attack had ties to Islamic State jihadists and the West had been warned about him, Russian media reported.

Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old Uzbek national, is in custody on suspicion of mowing down a crowd on a busy street in the Swedish city. The attack killed four people.

Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said Akilov was radicalised after moving to Sweden in 2014 and the Central Asian nation's intelligence service had passed on information about him.

"During his stay abroad, he was recruited through the internet by emissaries of the international terrorist organisation the Islamic State," Kamilov said at a press briefing in Tashkent, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

"Information about the wrongful acts of Rakhmat Akilov was transferred via the special services to one of our Western partners to further inform the Swedish side," he added.

There were no more details on which country Uzbekistan had told.

Interfax, another Russian agency, on Wednesday quoted an anonymous security source in Uzbekistan who said a warrant had been issued for Akilov's arrest on extremism charges in February.

Swedish police are currently holding Akilov, whose lawyer says he has already confessed to driving a stolen truck through the crowd and into the front of a department store in central Stockholm.
Most read of the week
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. While on a working visit in Kyrgyzstan, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with President of Moldova Igor Dodon on the sidelines of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Councils session on April 14, press service of the Presidents Office told Armenpress.

By the agreement of the Presidents of the EAEU member states, Igor Dodon will take part in the Council session during which it is expected to discuss the issue of providing Moldova with an EAEU observer-state status.

The two Presidents discussed the Armenian-Moldovan cooperation agenda both at bilateral and multilateral formats, by attaching importance to intensifying the dialogue between both countries, developing the partnership in trade-economic and humanitarian fields which, according to them, derives from the interests of both countries and friendly peoples.

Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Igor Dodon agreed that it is necessary to expand the legal framework, by adding new agreements to already signed over two dozen agreements and contracts between the two countries. In this context they attached importance to boosting inter-parliamentary ties and contacts, holding sessions of inter-governmental commission on trade-economic cooperation.




By India Today Web Desk: Karisma Kapoor's ex-husband Sunjay Kapur tied the knot with longtime girlfriend Priya Sachdev in Delhi on Thursday.

According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, the wedding was a hush-hush affair as it was a registered court marriage with only family and close friends in attendance.

This will be followed by another ceremony in New York soon. It was only last month that the news of Sunjay Kapur tying the knot with Priya Sachdev started doing the rounds. And the wedding has finally taken place.

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Sunjay met Priya in New York many years ago. In fact, the two have been in a steady relationship for almost five years now. Priya, who was earlier married to hotelier Vikram Chatwal, stood by Sunjay during his divorce proceedings. It was only last year that Sunjay's divorce with ex-wife Karisma Kapoor came through.

Karisma's dad Randhir Kapoor in an earlier interview had accused Sunjay of being a "third-class" man. He had said, "He has debauchery in his system and never cared for his wife. He has been giving bull*** to her and living with another woman. All of Delhi knows how he is."

On the other hand, Karisma too had moved on in her life. Rumour has it that she is dating businessman Sandeep Toshniwal. In fact, the two have been often spotted together.

ALSO READ: Karisma Kapoor's ex-husband Sunjay Kapur to marry Priya Sachdev in April?

PHOTOS: Karisma's ex-hubby Sunjay Kapur's love story with Priya Sachdev

ALSO WATCH: Sunjay's father's Mumbai house transferred in Karisma's name

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YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. I decided to become an engineer, not a programmer, for that's not what I want. I shall work at the creation of a robot with artificial super intelligence. While working alone during my robotics courses I often failed, but when I united forces with my friend Garik, we succeeded, Edgar Ghalumyan, a student of Armath engineering laboratory of Azatamut secondary school in Tavush region, told the supporters of the project from Ucom and Union of the Information Technology Enterprises (UITE), Ucom told Armenpress.

The children acquiring engineering and programming skills in this laboratory, are mainly 6th-7th grade students, who try to apply their knowledge of algebra, geometry and physics. These children try to perform the computer modeling, printing of different items, programme games, create animations. Some of them demonstrated their abilities in a technological camp.

I want to become an architect and create buildings where the movement of people will be easier than ever, Garik Qamalyan, a student of the same laboratory, said.

In the long-term result of this corporate social responsibility project we should have a creative, inventive generation, the one useful for our homeland. It is important for these children to bring to life everything they told us about, Hayk Yesayan, Director General at Ucom, said.

According to the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE) and Ucom, the latter invests to open around 70 more engineering club-laboratories named Armath in 9 regions of Armenia. Hayk Yesayan, the Director General at Ucom, visits the existing Armath labs on a regular basis, meets their students, gets acquainted with the their achievements and follows up the progress.

The educational curriculum of Armath engineering laboratories aims to promote the technological education in all schools of the Armenian communities, to assist pupils in their early interest emergence in modern high technology, to promote the development of engineering mindset from early ages and to prepare competent students.

The project enables practical support for the integration of qualified IT-specialists into the Armenian and world markets, the exchange of the experience between them, and the attraction of large-scale investments into the IT-industry. The software and assembly drawings of the labs-developed equipment are open to public. The computer programs and systems are armenianized to the extension possible, while during the project implementation for the acquisition of the equipment and software, the priority is given to the local producers, the bright example of which serve the high-quality three-dimensional (3D) printers, mini-computers, robotics kits and other devices produced in Armenia.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. According to polls conducted in Turkey, there is less difference between the numbers of yes and no voters for the constitutional referendum, Levon Hovsepyan  expert on Turkish studies, told Armenpress stating that concerning the poll results it can be said that President Erdogan will win but with a slight difference of votes.

The expert said the Turkish leadership has that potential and, despite the slight difference, yes votes will prevail. Levon Hovsepyan said the leadership used quite well a number of factors during the campaign.

Firstly Erdogans involvement in the campaign played a big role. We saw that the leadership managed to mobilize the yes camp. In addition, the political forces also played a certain role, in particular, there was a support from the Nationalist Movement party. By this it can be said that there had been a fusion among conservative, nationalist and political circles, which is very important for Erdogan at this stage, the expert said.

The deterioration of relations with the European Union, according to the expert, certainly exposed the leaderships nationalist rhetoric. By this Erdogan managed to increase the public consolidation.

This mechanism works well in Turkey, a strategy to gather in response to external threat. Therefore, I think the referendum will have a positive result for the leadership but with no significant difference of votes. In any case there is a concern among a significant part of the public that the dictatorship will intensify in the country, Levon Hovsepyan said.

As for the deterioration of EU-Turkey relations, the expert said after the referendum the leadership will calm down to some extent, then certain clarifications will take place.

Constitutional referendum will be held in Turkey on April 16.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan congratulated the Police of Armenia on Police Day, the Presidents Office told ARMENPRESS.

Distinguished Policemen and Veterans,



I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of your professional holiday  Police Day.



You are entrusted with the safety and protection of the rights of the citizens of Armenia, with the most important area such as the upholding of public order and the rule of law, and you fulfill your mission with honor.



Fundamental reforms carried out in the area of police work, modernization of technical tools, improvement of the social conditions of the Police workers, strengthening of the Police-society connection have yielded the anticipated results.



Nowadays we have an accomplished and strong state structure which is a reliable partner for the foreign law enforcement bodies, which is able to solve the most complex tasks before it and which enjoys the trust of our citizens.



All this is testified to by the actions of the Police during the last years dramatic events when the policemen sacrificing their own selves, fully carried out their professional duties. It was also revealed in the work of the Police during the pre-election campaign and the elections to the National Assembly.



Such level of service attests not only to the high professional and operational preparedness of the Police but also to its moral and psychological deportment.

At the same time, the Police will continue to remain in the center of the societys scrutiny while any misstep, blunder, especially a violation of law may frustrate the results of the efforts aimed at the modernization of the Police.



I am confident that the Police of the Republic of Armenia will be the first to demonstrate zero tolerance towards any such incident, and will be persistent in bringing the process of reformation to a desirable outcome.



I once again congratulate you on the occasion of the professional holiday and wish you all excellent health and new professional achievements for the benefit of the Republic of Armenia, for the safety and advancement of our people, the President said in a congratulatory statement.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. The next session of the EAEU Supreme Council will be held on October 11 in Moscow, Tigran Sargsyan  Chairman of the Board of Eurasian Economic Commission, said, TASS reported.

The heads of states already agreed at the narrow format meeting that the next session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council will be held on October 11 in Moscow, Tigran Sargsyan said.

Earlier President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said at the Council session that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to hold the next summit in October in Moscow.

Lukashenko proposed to make 2017 a turning year for the EAEU, stating that a number of key measures must be taken for that purpose. We need to define moratorium for adoption of new legal acts that have a discriminatory nature towards the Unions partners. The Eurasian Economic Commission must follow its implementation, Lukashenko said.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Economic Development and Investments Suren Karayan held a meeting with the representatives of diamond industry within the frames of public-private sector dialogue platform, the Ministry told Armenpress.

During the meeting the Minister said the work with private sector is very important for the Ministry and proposed to discuss the issues faced by the field.

The diamond field representatives discussed with the Minister the prospects on increasing the volumes of raw material, the effectiveness, as well as the opportunities on acquiring alternative raw material.

Minister Karayan proposed the field representatives to examine the prospects on carrying out the sectors self-management, self-organization and joint activity.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. The delegation of rear admiral Guan Youfei, director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission of China was in Armenia April 11-14 on a working visit, the defense ministry of Armenia told ARMENPRESS.

The delegation had meetings with Lt. General Movses Hakobyan, Chief of the General Staff of Armenias Armed Forces, Davit Pakhchanyan, deputy defense minister and chairman of the state committee of military-industry and Levon Ayvazyan, head of the defense policy department of the defense ministry.

The meetings focused on the current process and development prospects of the Armenian-Chinese defense cooperation, international and regional security issues and other issues of bilateral interest.

Agreements were reached on enhancing cooperation in the defense sector and realizing several mutually beneficial projects.

At the end of the visit, defense minister of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan held a meeting with the Chinese delegation, accompanied by Ambassador of China to Armenia H.E. Tian Erlong.

The results of the talks and the agreements were discussed and summarized at the meeting.

The Armenian defense minister highly praised the high level political relations between the two countries and stressed the necessity of enhancing partnership and involving new sectors.

At the end of the meeting head of the defense policy department of the ministry Levon Ayvazyan and rear admiral Guan Youfei signed the 2017 cooperation program between the Armenian defense ministry and Chinas defense ministry.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenia attaches a great importance to boosting the Eurasian Economic Unions (EAEU) cooperation with third countries and key integration units that are ready for real cooperation with the Union, President Serzh Sargsyan said at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Councils session in Bishkek on April 14, reports Armenpress.

It is already the second year the formation of our common economic space is taking place in the conditions of complex global economic conjuncture, amid the backdrop of reduction of global economic growth rates and geopolitical shocks. All this creates obstacles on the way of our Unions full establishment on the one hand, and opens new opportunities for further cooperation of our states on the other hand, the President said, adding that in these circumstances the actions taken and agreed by the EAEU states allow to stabilize the situation in the member states, to demonstrate macroeconomic resilience.

In 2016 a positive dynamics was realized in Armenias GDP, an economic activity was registered in industry, agriculture and services fields. Armenias trade turnover with the EAEU countries increased by more than 15%. The export of Armenian products to the EAEU market increased by 65%. Growth was also recorded in trade turnover with third countries, Serzh Sargsyan said.

President Sargsyan stated that the EAEU states have development goals, and the way to reach them is in innovations in industry, high technology in agriculture, digital economy, renewable energy fields. He said it is necessary to make joint efforts aimed at implementing mutually beneficial cooperation programs.

We have two major goals. The first one is strengthening the Union from inside, the further liberalization of common economic space through elimination of barriers, as well as ensuring free movement of goods. The second goal concerns increasing the EAEUs international engagement. These two goals are considered to be complementary, they affect the organizations effectiveness and international reputation. We attach a great importance to boosting the EAEU cooperation with third countries and key integration units that are ready for real cooperation. In 2016 cooperation issues were developed with Iran, China, India, Egypt and other countries. Armenia is interested in legal implementation of the agreements reached, especially with the Islamic Republic of Iran with which we are linked with pragmatic, mutually beneficial and friendly relations. At this stage we positively assess the mutual partnership between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the European Commission, Serzh Sargsyan stated.

He expressed hope in near future the roadmap on eliminating 60 barriers, that exist in the Unions market, as well as are enshrined in the White Book and demand solutions, will be clarified. Armenia will continue implementing the outlined programs in future to overcome the negative global economic phenomena, to record stable economic growth, by the use of the Unions integration potential as well, Armenias President said.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenias President Serzh Sargsyan, who is currently in Bishkek on a working visit, participated in the Eurasian Economic Supreme Council session with other EEU member state heads of states  President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Moldova Igor Dodon, who was invited to the session.

Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Tigran Sargsyan was also present at the session.

The Presidents Office told ARMENPRESS the narrow format and expanded format sessions were chaired by the President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev  the country which chairs in the organization.

Among the dozen of agenda issues the EEU member state presidents were briefed on the 2015-2016 EEU international activitys main direction report, the main guidelines of the macroeconomic policy of member states of 2017-2018 were discussed, and the documents on presenting candidates for EEC board members and making changes in the working procedure of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

The interim agreement draft, which is being designed, between the EEU and member states and Iran, aimed at creating a free trade zone, was also discussed.

Among other issues, the issue of granting Moldova a status of observer in the Eurasian Economic Union was also discussed.

The Presidents decided to hold the next session on October 11 in Moscow.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan delivered a speech at the Eurasian Economic Supreme Council session, saying:

"Distinguished Heads of State,



Colleagues,



Before referring to one or two issues presented for the discussions at the plenary session of the Supreme Council, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambaev for organizing todays meeting at such a high level, as well as for the hospitality and warm welcome.



The shaping of our common economic area and its development for the second year in a row is taking place in a complex global economic situation which is manifested in the decreasing tempo of the global economic growth and geopolitical convulsions. All this on one hand creates certain problems for the full-fledged functioning of our Union, on the other hand it opens new opportunities for a closer cooperation of our countries.



Under these conditions, the concerted steps taken by our countries allowed the member state to stabilize to some extent the situation, to achieve the macroeconomic stability through the assistance to some areas and branches, which has translated into the tendency of growth in some countries in the areas of industrial and agricultural production. In particular, in 2016 the gross domestic product indicators in Armenia showed positive dynamics; there was registered the increase of activities in the production, agricultural, and service areas. Armenias turnover with the EAEU countries grew by more than 15%, and the export of the Armenian goods to the Eurasian market grew by 65%. There was registered the increase of the turnover with third countries as well.



Our countries have similar goals for development which we, in particular, see in the introduction of industrial innovations, high technologies in the area of agriculture, digitalized economy, and renewable sources of energy. It is also important to make concerted efforts aimed at the implementation of the mutually beneficial cooperation programs. We have two main objectives: First, to fortify the Union from within, further liberalize our common economic area through the elimination of the barriers, reduce exemptions related to the free move of goods, services, capital, and labor. Second objective is the amplification of the EAEUs international engagement. These two objectives complement each other and affect the efficiency and international standing of the Organization.

From the viewpoint of further strengthening of the international standing of our integration union, we attach great importance to the invigoration of the EAEU cooperation with the third countries which are ready for a true partnership, and with pivotal integration units. In 2016, issues of cooperation with Iran, China, India, Egypt and some other countries were discussed in a constructive spirit. Armenia is interested in securing these agreements legally, particularly with the Islamic Republic of Iran with which we have pragmatic, mutually beneficial, and good neighborly relations.



From this point of view, we assess positively the cooperation process between the Eurasian Economic Commission and European Commission as an important factor for the promotion of a dialogue between the two integration unions which will be conducive for the exchange of experience, exploration of the avenues for integration and cooperation, and a harmonious, complementary and mutually beneficial development.

Distinguished Heads of State,

The efficiency of the EAEU is also dependent on the smooth and coordinated works of the state bodies of the member states, Eurasian Economic Commission, and business circles. With this regard, we expect that the Eurasian Economic Commission, within the scope of its authority, will provide proposals on the resolution of the problems facing the Union. We also view as important the creation and publishing by the Eurasian Economic Commission in cooperation with the state bodies of the member states of the so called White Book which will present by consent of the parties 60 barriers existing within the Unions market. I hope that the road map for their elimination with the proper timetable will be created soon.

Armenia will continue to implement the preset programs aimed at thwarting the negative tendencies present in the global economy, promoting sustainable development, including through the utilization of the integration potential of the Union.



Thank you."
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. President of Russia Vladimir Putin hopes the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will continue to strengthen and develop for welfare of the peoples of the member states, reports Armenpress.

During the Supreme Eurasian Economic Councils session in Bishkek, Putin highlighted the Unions recorded results, talked about the achievements and problems.

He said in January 2017 compared to January 2016 the mutual trade volume between the Unions member states increased by 38%, and the supplies of EAEU states to third countries increased by 37%.

The export and import structure has been significantly improved. In 2016 EAEU agriculture field recorded a 4% growth. The industrial growth increased as well. We predict positive dynamics for these fields this year too, Putin said.

The Russian President said the significant growth is beneficial not only for the Unions partners but also the Russian consumers. In 2016 more than 62% of the Unions total shipments entered Russia. The trade turnover of agricultural goods between Armenia and Russia increased by 22%. Thanks to the Unions market, a new field, machinery, is developing in Kazakhstan. Kyrgyzstan creates favorable conditions for the development of textile industry. The export of light industry products of Kyrgyzstan to the Unions market increased by 38% in 2016. A number of goods produced in Belarus are viewed in the Russian market as domestic product and use the privileges while participating in the Russian public procurement, Putin said.

As for the Unions legal cooperation, President Putin said recently works were carried out on this path, structural documents were agreed such as the Customs agreement.

Vladimir Putin said the further improvement of macro-economic situation is a priority.

The elimination of barriers is important for free movement of goods. Such barriers, unfortunately, still exist, but we agree to gradually eliminate them. According to the agreement, they will be completely eliminated until 2025, Putin said.

Vladimir Putin talked about the EAEU international activity, stating that already free trade agreements operate with Vietnam, talks are being held with China, Israel, Serbia, India, Egypt, Singapore and Iran.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. During the Eurasian Economic Supreme Council session, Kazakhstans President Nursultan Nazarbayev congratulated Armenia on holding successful election.

Taking the opportunity, I would like to congratulate Armenia on holding successful elections, which were the first after the constitutional reforms, Nazarbayev said.

Kazakhstans President mentioned soon it will be three years since the signing of the agreement on creating the Eurasian Economic Union in Astana. He noted that much was done in the initial and difficult period of the union.

We actively work in the economic sector by cooperating with one another, we proceed with a coordinated policy on important economic fields. During this period, ties were established with different countries in international organizations. It was a difficult phase for the EEU, regarding the overcoming of crisis occurrences by our countries. All of this impacted the indicators of our organization, which decreased in the recent period. But the crisis isnt endless, the decrease is followed by growth, Nazarbayev said and presented several indicators.

According to him, economic growth has been documented in the previous year in many EEU countries, including in Kazakhstan.

Nazarbayev mentioned that the results of early 2017 must inspire special optimism. According to the January-February data of the current year, the foreign trade volume of the EEU overall grew by 37%.

Namely, Kazakhstans foreign trade volume grew by 56% with EEU, 50% with Russia, 50% with Belarus, 41% with Kyrgyzstan, and with Armenia it tripled  (grew by 3.5 times).

We must continue working further, in order for this trend to be maintained until yearend, he said.

Speaking on upcoming actions, Nazarbayev mentioned it is necessary to ensure new commercial agreements with international partners for enhancing the market and investments. Try to boost partnership with Iran, China, India, Singapore, Israel, Serbia and other countries which have expressed such desire. He found it important to give a mutual helping hand in difficult conditions.

Nazarbayev expressed conviction that the fulfillment of this sessions agreements will strengthen EEU member states partnership and the relations will be raised to a higher level soon.

Armenias President Serzh Sargsyan, who is currently in Bishkek on a working visit, participated in the Eurasian Economic Supreme Council session with other EEU member state heads of states  President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Moldova Igor Dodon, who was invited to the session.

Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Tigran Sargsyan was also present at the session.
Interacting with journalists in Howrah, Bharti said that India would not let politics spoil its relations with Bangladesh and that water is going to remain the basis of good relations between the two countries.

By Indrajit Kundu: Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti on Friday said that the Centre was hopeful of an amicable solution to the pending Teesta water-sharing accord.

"We won't let politics spoil our relations. Water shall remain the basis of good relations between Indian and Bangladesh", Bharti said while interacting with journalists in Howrah. The minister was visiting West Bengal to meet BJP workers as part of the party's massive outreach programme in the state.

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At a time when the Teesta accord between Indian and neighbouring Bangladesh is pending due to the opposition of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the union minister said efforts were on to bring Banerjee on board.

ALL ASPECTS OF TEESTA BEING DISCUSSED: UMA

"We are discussing all aspects of the Teesta accord. We are consulting all stakeholders, including the West Bengal government. We believe we can solve this through dialogue", she said.

When asked about whether the Centre was mulling the proposal to put water in the concurrent list, Bharti said there may have been such talks but one must look to solve the Teesta tangle taking into account the current reality.

"Yes, there have been some suggestions. Several MPs have raised the issue in Parliament that water should be brought into the concurrent list, but the current reality is that it's in the state list and we have to find a solution on that basis", Bharti stated.

Also read | Sheikh Hasina's India visit: Why Narendra Modi must listen to Mamata over Teesta water agreement

Also read | India-Bangladesh ink 22 pacts; PM Modi assures early solution on Teesta

MAY ALSO WATCH VIDEO

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YEREVAN, 14 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, on 14 April, USD exchange rate is down by 0.50 drams to 486.09 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 1.50 drams to 516.28 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is up by 0.05 drams to 8.65 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 2.18 drams to 608.10 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price is up by 133.45 drams to 20068.89 drams. Silver price is up by 3.61 drams to 290.06 drams. Platinum price is up by 187.70 drams to 15237.45 drams.
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. The Eurasian Economic Commission Board, which includes the first deputy PMs of the EAEU member states, has been granted with new powers in tax regulation, Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC).

The decision was made at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council session.

In addition, the Heads of Eurasian Economic Union member states have expanded the scope of issues over which the EEC Board will make a decision through consensus. The decision of the Presidents to give the Union such supranational powers once again reaffirms our plans for further deepening of the Eurasian integration, EEC Board Chairman Tigran Sargsyan said.
SAN DIEGO, Calif.If one thing should be abundantly clear by now, it's that over the long haul, porn performers have little chance of keeping their real identities secret from an inquisitive publicand the more famous the porn star or the more high-profile the star's real identity is, the sooner it's likely to be exposed. (Though to be very clear: This is NOT a Good Thing. After all, none of the Hollywood trades ever referred to Cary Grant by his real name, Archibald Leach, nor until recently, Joan Crawford by her real name, Lucille LeSueur.)

Take the case of Jewels Jade's husband Jay Voom. Turns out he's a highly decorated Navy officer, having received several valor awards throughout his 23 years of service, is currently a Chief Special Warfare Officer, and for a time was even the face of the SEAL program on its website. That's about as high-profile as you can get!

Jewels, on the other hand, began her porn career in 2001, took a break between 2003 and 2006, then returned, though in recent years, the vast majority of her work has been online in scenes for her own site, JewelsJade.com, as well as Brazzers, Digital Sin and Dogfart, for a total of more than 230 on-camera appearances.

During her three-year hiatus, Jade spent time raising her child, getting her nursing degree ... and founding, with her husband, the Virginia real estate firm Schmidt and Wolf Associates which, according to the expose in the San Diego Union-Tribune, "created nearly $1.8 million in personal debt" through "losses at multiple rental properties."

So to pay the bills, Jade went back to the adult industry, first stripping, then appearing again in hardcore productionsand when Voom's military service had him based in Coronado, Calif., Jade continued her work, but this time, according to the Union-Tribune, "To further cut expenses, Jade said she recruited her husband to help out as an unpaid performer."

Jade also noted that many of Voom's Navy co-workers knew of his extra-curricular activities.

"They knew about it at work," she said. "He got called in and they said, 'Look, keep it on the low, don't mention the SEAL name and blah, blah, blah.' He was always pretty open about it with the command. I mean, honestly, all of his buddies knew about it. Everybody knew about it."

So then the question becomes, why is anyone making a big deal about it now? It's not as if Voom ever let on in any of his scenes that he was a Navy man, let alone a SEAL, and while Jade had mentioned in interviews that her husband was a SEAL, she never named him.

But now the Naval Special Warfare Command at Coronado has opened an investigation into Voom, questioning "whether [Voom] violated rules mandating that SEALs obtain advance approval from their commanders for outside work, and whether the SEAL brass has been quietly condoning his film work."

And all this for a guy who's scheduled to retire before the end of the year, and never got any money for his XXX performing.

"The military has a long history of punishing active-duty service members and even veterans who do everything from writing unauthorized memoirs, to taking side jobs without permission, to engaging in work seen as detrimental to the militarys reputation," the Union-Tribune reported. "The armed forces' rules for secondary employment have the force of a 'punitive instruction,' which means violators can be tried under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for lack of compliance."

Of course, with the new conservative religious bent of military higher-ups under Trump, it's possible they could try to make some sort of example out of Voombut who knows? Maybe there's still a little compassion left for a 23-year highly decorated veteran ...

Pictured, l-r: Jewels Jade, Jay Voom, India Summer.
In Spending Blind:

The Failure of Policy Planning in California Charter School Funding, Gordon Lafer  a University of Oregon prof who also works for Oakland's The Public Interest  finds "hundreds of millions of dollars  spent each year without any meaningful strategy on schools built in neighborhoods that have no need for additional classroom space, and which offer no improvement over the quality of education already available in nearby public schools. In the worst cases, public facilities funding has gone to schools that were found to have discriminatory enrollment policies and others that have engaged in unethical or corrupt practices."

Lafer surveyed the 1,200 charter schools  serving 10% of the state's students  and found that the schools failed to live up to their promise of being small labs where autonomous teachers get to experiment with learning, rather, they are chain businesses where CEOs set highly constrained policy across groups of schools.

Even the California Charter School Association ranks 161 of charter schools in California's "worst of the worst"  but these schools still got hundreds of millions in tax and other funding: "$44 million in lease payments, $57 million in general obligation bonds, $40 million in tax-credit investments, and $85 million in conduit bond financing."

Stepping back from the worst-performing California charters, the report still paints a picture of large-scale failures by an industry whose core rationale was that the schools were wanted and needed in many communities that hungered for a reinvention of K-12 public education. "The data suggest that at least 30 percent of charter schools fail both teststhey were opened in places that had no need for additional seats, and they failed to provide an education that was superior to that offered in nearby public schools," it said. "Due to multiple limitations on available data, the actual share of such schools is almost certainly higher. But even by this limited measure, assuming such failures are evenly distributed across all schools, Californians provided these schools combined facilities funding of over $750 million, at a net cost to taxpayers of nearly $400 million." The report correctly points out that charters siphoned these multi-millions away from traditional public schools during a period of great fiscal scarcity in California. That, in turn, harmed many existing school districts that were forced to cut or curtail successful programs. "Such indiscriminate funding comes at a time when schools across the state face urgent needs that are going unmet due to budgetary shortfalls," the report notes. "Parents, teachers, superintendents, and school board members alike point to model programs in danger of closure; oversubscribed schools that can't afford to expand; overcrowded classrooms that make personal attention impossible; and insufficient funding for school counselors, social workers, special education, and English language learners."

Spending Blind:

The Failure of Policy Planning in

California Charter School Funding [Gordon Lafer/In the Public Interest]

Shocking Education Report Shows Taxpayers Paying Hundreds of Millions for Unneeded and Inferior Charter Schools

[Steven Rosenfeld/AlterNet]
(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 Andrew Cuomo named her to the state's high court in 2013.

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.



"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)
Resources

Cornell Opens Content Repository to Autism Employment Resources

Young people with autism may have a good eye for detail, an excellent memory for facts and figures and the ability to work well in a structured and organized work environment. They may see the world in a unique way and be highly creative and imaginative. However, they may also have trouble relating or interacting with others, with sharing, taking turns or picking up on verbal or non-verbal cues. They may come across as having "flat" personalities.

And they have a high unemployment rate. According to a 2015 report, just 58 percent of 20-somethings with autism were employed, compared to 74 percent of young people with intellectual disabilities, 95 percent with learning disabilities and 91 percent with a speech impairment or emotional disturbance.

To provide help to companies and other organizations that would consider hiring people on the autism spectrum for skilled employment, Cornell University is working with Hewlett Packard Enterprise in helping to distribute resources developed for HPE's "Dandelion Program."

Named after an herb commonly mistaken for a weed when it grows in unwanted places, the program was begun in 2014 in Australia by HPE and Specialisterne. The latter is an employment agency that worked with HPE in setting up an on-boarding process to help the company employ people with autism for IT work.

The materials created for those efforts have made their way to Cornell, which will host them in an open source online repository in its Industrial Labor Relations School.

The effort is being supported by Cornell's Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability, which does research on creating equal opportunities for people with disabilities.

Currently, the collection includes training presentations to help managers understand how to work with people with autism, program charters and plans, guidance on integrating autism in the workplace and dozens of other related documents.

"We believe that these materials can be extremely helpful to companies who are currently implementing or considering starting programs targeting employment of individuals on the autism spectrum," said Institute Director, Susanne Bruyere, in a press release. "The experience and successes of the Dandelion Program can contribute to assisting potential employers to better understand effective programs for on-boarding autistic people into competitive, often highly technical jobs, and setting them up with the appropriate skill sets to thrive, as well as in building a more disability-inclusive workplace overall."
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New York, April 14, 2017  Somaliland authorities should immediately release jailed Hangool News journalist Abdirahman Arab Daud and cease intimidation of other members of the media, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Somaliland police arrested Abdirahman on April 11, 2017, according to Hargeisa-based journalist Khadar Nouh and Guleid Ahmed Jama, chairperson of the Human Rights Center in Somaliland.

It is believed that he is arrested for a news article accusing the police commissioner [Abdillahi Fadal Iman] of nepotism and clanism, Guleid told CPJ. The online article was published on the Hangool News website on the same day that Abdirahman was arrested in a police raid on the Hangool News offices.

Journalists in Somaliland must be able to operate freely and should not face intimidation by police or anyone else, said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal. Criticism of those in authority is no reason for arrest.

The Somaliland police, Somaliland Attorney General Hasan Ahmed Hasan, and Somaliland Minister of Information Osman Abdillahi Sahardid did not respond to CPJs repeated phone calls. CPJ could not determine whether Abdirahman has been charged with a crime or whether he has appeared in court.

On April 13, Somaliland police detained three journalists covering a demonstration in Hargeisa, according to Hargeisa News. They were released that same day, according to a tweet by Guleid.

In recent months, Somaliland authorities have detained and released multiple journalists, according to CPJ research. Journalists and others in the breakaway territory of Somalia who express views favoring reunification with Somalia are routinely arrested.
K.T.Rama Rao visited the place of accident, stayed there till late and ordered the concerned authorities to shift the bodies to a hospital.

By Ashish Pandey: In a tragic road accident, four of a family lost their lives under Karkhana Police Station of Hyderabad when a speeding Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation truck hit the bike on which the family was travelling.

Following which, Urban development and Information Technology Minister lent his vehicle to shift the injured to a hospital.

As per the police, at around 10:30 on Thursday night, the family of six including 4 children travelling on a two wheeler met with an accident when a GHMC lorry hit them at RTA office, Tirumalgerry.

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VICTIMS OF THE ACCIDENT

The accident was so fatal that four persons including 3 children died on the spot.

The deceased identified as 35-year-old Md.Azhar, 7-year-old Md.Aman, 5-year-old Arshiya sultana and 3-year-old Alina sultana were shifted to a local hospital.

Two others, Imrana sultana & Atiya sultana were also brought to the hospital in a serious condition.

After the accident, the agitated locals held a protest and alleged that the GHMC driver was drunk and over speeding causing the death of victims.

WHAT DID THE IT MINISTER DO

Amid the chaos, K.T.Rama Rao, IT minister, Telangana government, who was crossing the area learned about the tragic incident.

Rao visited the place of accident, stayed there till late and ordered the concerned authorities to shift the bodies to a hospital.

The minister not only provided his vehicle to shift the injured to hospital but also announced Rs.5 lakh ex-gratia to those who died.

Free treatment was also ordered by the minister for the injured persons of the family.

Apart from the IT Minister, K Tarak Ramarao, GHMC Mayor B Rammohan, Animal Husbandry Minister, Talasani Srinivas, Excise Miniter Padma Rao also reached the spot and assured best treatment to the survivors.

Also Read:

Telangana minister KT Rama Rao praises Pawan Kalyan's Katamarayudu

Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao to double up as coolie for two days

--- ENDS ---
LITTLE ROCK (TALK BUSINESS AND POLITICS) -- Two drug companies have thrown a new wrinkle in Arkansas planned executions of seven death row inmates with a late Thursday (April 13) filing indicating that state officials may have obtained two of the three lethal injection drugs from an unauthorized seller.





Fresenius Kabi, a Lake Zurich, Ill.-based company that produces drugs and medical devices, and Eatontown, N.J.-based West-Ward filed Thursday an amicus brief in a lawsuit filed on behalf of the inmates.





The case is being heard by U.S. District Court Judge Kristine Baker, and testimony wrapped up Thursday. Most of Thursdays testimony dealt with issues related to the lethal injection drugs. It is uncertain when Baker will issue a ruling, but the first two executions are set for Monday.





Fresenius  once known as APP Pharmaceuticals  produces potassium chloride and West-Ward produces midazolam.





Gov. Asa Hutchinson on March 6 set execution dates - two at a time over an 11-day period starting April 17 and ending April 27.





 April 17: Don Davis, Bruce Ward

 April 20: Stacey Johnson, Ledelle Lee

 April 24: Marcel Williams, Jack Jones; and

 April 27: Jason McGehee, Kenneth Williams.





However, the State Parole Board on April 4 recommended the governor grant clemency to one of the condemned, Jason McGehee. On April 6, U.S. District Court Judge D. Price Marshall ruled in federal court that there must be at least a 30-day period before the Parole Board makes that recommendation. That would place McGehees execution past April 30, when the states supply of midazolam, one of three drugs used in its executions, expires.





Thirty-four men are on Arkansas death row. The last inmate executed was Eric Nance, for the murder and attempted rape of Julie Heath of Malvern in 2005. Nance had six prior felony convictions after raping and beating two Oklahoma girls in 1982.





Fresenius did not say for certain their drugs were being used for lethal injections in Arkansas, but said they had reason to believe they might be in the states possession.





If the State of Arkansas has obtained Fresenius Kabi-manufactured potassium chloride to use in capital punishment-as appears to be the case-it would have been contrary to and in violation of the companys contractual supply-chain controls, noted the filing. Fresenius Kabi seeks to appear in this matter as amicus curiae to share with the Court the public-health risks of diverting these lifesaving medicines from the healthcare industry to the Department of Correction for capital-punishment purposes.





The filing includes images of two redacted product labels the drug makers allege accompany their drugs and are in the states possession for use in the injections.





The Manufacturers have knowledge, experience, and perspective that go beyond that of the parties in this case. They manufacture lifesaving medicines. But the State of Arkansas appears to be about to use some of those medicines to end life rather than save it. This is so despite the Manufacturers implementation of distribution protocols to prevent this and the public-health risk that could result from use of these medicines for capital punishment, noted the filing.





Following is the full statement Fresenius provided to the media along with the amicus brief filing.





Fresenius Kabi understands the state of Arkansas may have acquired quantities of the companys potassium chloride from an unauthorized source, or sources, and that the state intends to use the medication in executions this month.





While Fresenius Kabi takes no position on capital punishment, we strongly object to the use of our products for this purpose. Our products were developed and are approved solely for patient care, and we expressly restrict the sale of our products for use in lethal injection procedures.









Pharmaceuticals obtained in this manner are at risk of adulteration or chemical change due to improper handling such as failure to maintain proper temperature levels during storage and transport.



Our information indicates no sales of potassium chloride  neither directly nor through any of our authorized distributors  to the Arkansas Department of Correction. That is, we made no sales to the Department of Correction, nor have any of our authorized distributors. So we can only conclude Arkansas may have acquired this product from an unauthorized seller."Pharmaceuticals obtained in this manner are at risk of adulteration or chemical change due to improper handling such as failure to maintain proper temperature levels during storage and transport.

Fresenius Kabi is a global health care company that specializes in lifesaving medicines and technologies. We work closely with the FDA and hospitals to assure an uninterrupted supply of our products. The European Union has banned exports of certain medicines when they are used, or considered for use, in lethal injection, causing many to become in short supply in the United States.

Our interest is to avoid unnecessary drug shortages and ensure the lifesaving medicines we supply remain immediately available to patients.





Fresenius Kabi and most major U.S. and international pharmaceutical manufacturers have established distribution controls in the United States to assure their products are not sold for use in lethal injection. Medical associations have put in place similar restrictions on the participation of their members in state executions.





Fresenius Kabi has written to the Governor and his staff on this matter, offered to speak to the governor and/or his staff, and asked the Governor to assure the companys medicines would not be used in lethal injection. To date, neither the Governor nor his staff has responded to us.





Talk Business & Politics reached out the the Governors office and the office of Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. Neither office offered a comment at this time on the Fresenius filing.

 | 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: KATV , April 14, 2017
Two major pharmaceutical companies are making a last-minute legal intervention to stop the state of Arkansas from executing eight prisoners between 17th and 27th April.





The companies, Fresenius Kabi and West-Ward, are throwing their weight behind a suit challenging the states lethal injection protocol. The suit seeks to prevent the state from moving forward with Americas largest mass execution since the civil rights era.





The companies write in their brief that The use of their medicines for lethal injections violates contractual supply-chain controls that the Manufacturers have implemented.





Though the companies have binding contracts in place to prevent the sale of their drugs to death rows, Arkansas has admitted in court that on at least one occasion it engineered a breach of such arrangements.





Court documents which have come to light recently include an admission by Arkansas that it convinced a third-party supplier to sell the state medicines in direct breach of its contracts with the drugs manufacturer.





The companies further warn of grave public health risks associated with the use of these medicines in executions, noting that The use of their medicines for lethal injections [] creates a public-health risk because it could result in the denial of medicines from patients who need them most.





The suit which the two companies are now backing argues that states lethal injection cocktail carries a high risk of subjecting the condemned inmates to a torturous botched execution.





The first drug which Arkansas plans to use in the upcoming executions, midazolam, has repeatedly failed to effectively sedate prisoners, leaving them conscious but paralyzed while the lethal drugs flow through their veins.





Midazolam has been at the center of botched and prolonged executions in every state that has tried to use the drug, leading several states to abandon it altogether. Last week, a federal appeals court affirmed the halt of Ohios use of this drug.





Commenting, Maya Foa  Director of the human rights organization Reprieve  said:





Pharmaceutical manufacturers develop drugs to save and improve lives, and the companies are understandably appalled at the prospect of their medicines being used in Americas largest mass execution since the civil rights era.





Arkansas deliberately engineered a breach in these companies contracts in order to obtain these drugs, undermining the interests of the healthcare industry and putting public health at risk.





"Reprieve fully supports Fresenius Kabi and West-Wards efforts to prevent this grave misuse of life-saving medicines and protect public health.









Source: Reprieve, April 14, 2017

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE!
parker wrote:

For the original poster, what's the "fundamental belief" to which you referred?



It's typically most efficient to look for splits, but the fact that there is not an obvious split at the beginning of the sentence is a clue that we may be dealing with a MODIFIER issue.



(A) The prepositional phrase "with her archaeologist husband" incorrectly modifies "TRAVELS INSPIRED" (and implies that the HUSBAND and the TRAVELS were the source of inspiration, rather than the travels that she took with her husband). Eliminate .



(B) Unlike in choice A, there is no dangling modifier at the beginning here, but meaning-wise this choice is a little wonky. She USED her travels to inspire? Eliminate.



(C) The initial modifier is correct here, but notice that little pronoun " their " midway through the sentence. "Agatha Christie and her husband" has not appeared as a compound subject (even though we know that's what the sentence writer probably *means*, we can only treat what is actually present ). Eliminate .



(D) Slightly sneakier version of choice C here. Even though "together with" lets us know that the sentence writer probably means "Agatha and her husband," the only word that would give us a compound subject is "AND." Without that conjunction, the pronoun "their" is still incorrect. Eliminate.



(E) No dangling or misplaced modifiers here. The travels themselves have become the subject, and the possessive pronoun "her" correctly refers back to the possessive antecedent "Agatha Christie's." This is our answer!

Parker:Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of her mystery novelsI am not seeing any antecedent for pronoun "her". "Agatha Christie's" is not a noun. Thus "her" doesn't have a proper antecedent.Please correct me if I am wrong.Ok; I got it!!!"Her" and not "she" is used and thus it's correct.
By Ashish Pandey: The blooming capital city of Telangana is yet again in news as ministers are making headlines with their 'hard work'.

The Telangana ministers are working as Coolies and ice-cream parlour boy and 'earning' lakhs of rupees in just few hours.

The second most powerful minister of the state and son of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, K Tarak Ramarao (KTR) sold ice cream and 'earned' Rs 7.5 lakh today in Hyderabad. KTR, who holds Muncipal Administration and IT portfolio in state government, participated in Gulabi Coolie programme and sold ice-cream at Rock Stone Ice Cream Parlour in the city.

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The major share of KTR's earning came from educationist and TRS MP Malla Reddy, who purchased one ice cream cone from the ice cream seller holding MBA degree from USA, for Rs 5 lakh.

KTR attracted some other customers as well who paid upto Rs 1 lakh for one ice-cream and a glass of juice. By the end of his 'hard work', KTR had raised Rs 7.5 lakh for TRS.

WHAT MADE MINISTERS WORK

The motivation for the ministers came from Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, who vowed to work for two days as coolie and earn money for his Telangana Rastra Samiti (TRS).

The ruling party is celebrating its formation day in Warrangal on April 27. The TRS is reportedly facing fund crisis and Chief Minister found out a unique way to reach to people as well collect funds for the party.

KCR's move has seen several ministers and TRS leaders in a sprint of earning money for party's plenary function which will be held a week ahead of the formation day. TRS plenary will be held at Medchal in Hyderabad April 21.

KCR NEXT BIG ATTRACTION

K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) has also requested 75-lakh strong party cadre to work as coolies (labourers) for two days to earn and meet the expenditure for food, water and travel for the party's formation day celebrations and plenary.

Following the call of party chief, the state energy minister G Jagdish Reddy spent few hours as a 'labourer' in Nalgon district and 'earned' Rs 3 lakh as his wage.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao is likely to take part in 'Gulabi Coolie programme' in Mehboobnagar district sometime next week. Any guess on how much will KCR earn as coolie?

ALSO READ:

Telangana IT minister lends car to shift fatal accident victims to hospital

Telangana: CM Chandrasekhar Rao announces 100 per cent free fertilisers for farmers, Opposition calls it early poll preparation

Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao to double up as coolie for two days

--- 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
Following the Dalai Lama's week-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh, India on Friday made it clear that there is no change in its policy towards Tibet and on the border issue with China.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Following the Dalai Lama's week-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh, India on Friday made it clear that there is no change in its policy towards Tibet and on the border issue with China.

"Let me make it absolutely clear that there is no change whatsoever in government of India's policy towards the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said on Friday.

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He was asked whether the Tibetan spiritual leader's visit to the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh from April 4 to 11 signalled a change in India's policy on Tibet or on the border negotiations with China.

"Similarly, our approach to seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question remains unchanged," Baglay said.

Beijing has been very vocal in its protest over the Dalai Lama's visit to the northeastern state, saying it would hurt India-China ties.

Also Read

China accuses India of violating Tibet commitments, warns of actions

Dalai Lamas visit negatively impacts border dispute: China

India is the guru, Tibetans are disciples, says Dalai Lama

Watch Video | Snubbed on Dalai Lama's Arunachal visit, China threatens to interfere in Kashmir

--- ENDS ---
Launching the BHIM-Aadhaar app at an event in Nagpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on the need of cashless economy.

By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ambitious Aadhaar-linked Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app today in Nagpur. The prime minister also felicitated first winners of the government's two incentive schemes - Lucky Grahak Yojana and DigiDhan Vyapar Yojna.

PM also inaugurated the 3,300 MW Koradi Thermal Power Plant. The much-delayed power plant will help boost Maharashtra's power utilisation and help farmers draw power at flexible hours as per their requirements.

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HERE'S WHAT PM NARENDRA MODI SAID:

I am delighted to be here on Ambedkar Jayanti and also honoured to have got the opportunity to pray at 'Deekshabhoomi'. People of the country should strive to fulfill the dreams of freedom fighters. Today we are inaugurating many projects. Development is directly related to electricity. We are committed to develop renewable energy sector. India is on its way to become a digital economy. The time is not far when every Indian, even the poorest, would say 'digi dhan, niji-dhan' (digital money is my money) We all need money, but it is not necessary to be in the form of cash More cash causes more problems. Time has come to move towards less cash. The future is of paperless currency. It will help us in getting rid of all issues concerning transaction. The government is working consistently towards fulfilling the dream of house for every Indian by 2022. BHIM-Aadhaar will be the first of its kind in the world. Even the most advanced nations in the world do not have such a system. We have a dream for 2022. The poorest of poor should have a house of his own. And that house must be equipped with electricity, water and other facilities. There should be hospitals and schools in the neighbourhood.

ALSO READ:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Ambedkar Jayanti message: Committed to building an inclusive India

PM Modi launches BHIM-Aadhaar app, now pay at shops using fingerprint

--- ENDS ---
On 3-5 October 2017 Kyiv is going to host the Space and Future Forum to network international experts and youth, many of whom will also participate at the first CosmoHack in the world. Joinfo provides media coverage of the Forum, and some of its topics were already discussed ...


A presidential election will take place in South Korea next month. The results could produce a change in policy that may reduce tensions with North Korea and worsen them with the United States.

The presidential election is set for May 9. It is to take place earlier than planned because former President Park Geun-hye was removed from office by South Koreas National Assembly in December. That vote was confirmed by the countrys Supreme Court last month.

Park is accused of involvement in a multi-million dollar bribery scandal. Government lawyers say large and powerful Korean companies were given favors in exchange for donations to organizations controlled by a friend of Park.

Park was recently arrested. Prosecutors are trying to gather evidence that will permit them to charge her with bribery, extortion and abuse of power. If she is found guilty, she could be sent to prison for more than 10 years.

Because of the scandal, support for Parks conservative policies has weakened and her party has split.

The major South Korean political parties have chosen their presidential candidates. The two candidates who have received the most support in public opinion surveys are from liberal parties that have been out of power since 2008.

The Democratic Party

Moon Jae-in is the Democratic Party candidate for president. A public opinion study by Realmeter says Moon has 41 percent support. Moon is a human rights lawyer who lost to Park in the 2012 election partly because voters believed he was not strong enough in his criticisms of North Korea.

However, Parks conservative policies have been criticized recently because of increased tensions with the North.

Tensions have risen because of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Uns efforts to develop nuclear and missile programs. Moon said Parks decision to limit ties with the North and use economic sanctions to pressure the North have failed.

He said if he becomes president he would put in place a limited version of the so-called Sunshine Policy of Engagement. In the early 2000s, South Korea tried to build trust with North Korea through investment, exchanges and aid programs. At the same time, South Korea kept most sanctions in place.

We need to have two tracks of measures here. We need to be able to apply some pressure and coercion on North Korea, but on the other hand we should also start discussions and dialogue with North Korea, Moon said.

Moons support for talks with the North could cause tensions with the United States. He has said he strongly supports his countrys relations with the U.S. But he has also said South Korea should learn to say no to the U.S.

He has not directly opposed the deployment of an American anti-missile program in South Korea. But Moon has said it should not be deployed until after the election, so the next president can decide whether it is worth the risk of worsening relations with China.

China strongly opposes the program.

The Peoples Party

Moderate candidate Ahn Cheol-soo recently won the nomination of the Peoples Party. He has 34 percent support in the Realmeter poll. But his support has been growing in recent weeks. He left the 2012 presidential election to support Moon, but he says he will stay in the election this time and expects to win.

Ahn has stronger national security policies than Moon. He supports the American anti-missile system. He also approves of international sanctions placed on North Korea for violating United Nations Security Council resolutions banning its nuclear program. But Ahn says, like Moon, he would support talks with North Korea.

What is the purpose of putting in sanctions against North Korea? Because we would like to persuade them to come to the negotiating table at the time we want and under the conditions that we want, said Ahn.

The issue of nuclear weapons

Parks conservative party has split. Those who remain loyal to her have named themselves Liberty Party Korea. Conservatives who supported her removal from office have formed the Bareun Party. The candidates of the two parties have stronger national security policies than Park. Neither one has more than 10 percent support in the recent Realmeter poll.

Hong Joon-pyo is the Liberty Party Korea candidate. He is a former prosecutor. He has nine percent support in the Realmeter poll. In a speech accepting his partys nomination, he promised to be a resolute strongman who can deal with pressure from the United States, China, Japan, North Korea and Russia. Hong strongly supports the anti-missile system. And he said if he is elected he will immediately start discussions with the U.S. on the re-deployment of nuclear weapons in South Korea.

The U.S. removed nuclear weapons from South Korea in the early 1990s. Critics say returning them to South Korea would weaken international support for sanctions against the Norths nuclear program. The U.S. has promised to use its nuclear weapons to defend the South from an attack by the North.

Bareun party presidential candidate Yoo Seong-min has three percent support in the public opinion survey. Yoo was once an aid to Park. Yoo successfully ran as an independent for the National Assembly. He supported Parks impeachment and then created the Bareun party.

Yoo also supports the deployment of nuclear weapons in South Korea. And he says the U.S. should deploy three anti-missile batteries, not one, paid for by South Korea.

In addition to security, the South Korean economy will be a major election issue. The major candidates have different positions on limiting the influence of the countrys largest companies and increasing opportunity for young people who are having a difficult time finding good jobs.

While Moon has the most support, some of the other candidates are reportedly thinking about leaving the race and giving their support to Ahn. This would give him more support than Moon.

VOA Correspondent Brian Padden reported this story from Seoul. Youmi Kim contributed reporting. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

bribery  n. the act or crime of giving or accepting a bribe (which is a payment of something valuable -- such as money -- that is given in order to get someone to do something; usually a bribe is used to get someone to do something illegal or dishonest)

scandal  n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong

favor  n. a kind or helpful act that you do for someone

extortion  n. the crime of getting money from someone by the use of force or threats

sanction  n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc. (usually plural)

track  n. the course along which someone or something moves or proceeds

coercion  n. the crime of making (someone) do something by using force or threats

dialogue  n. a discussion or series of discussions that two groups or countries have in order to end a disagreement

resolute  adj. very determined; having or showing a lot of determination

strongman  n. a politician or leader who uses violence or threats

battery  n. a group of two or more big guns used by the military


Ronald Reagan

The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.

Albert Einstein

If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack.

Winston Churchill





It isnt so much that liberals are ignorant. Its just that they know so many things that arent so.

With integrity nothing else counts; Without integrity nothing else counts.

Winston Churchill





Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself.

Harvey S. Firestone





It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office. H. L. Menken



Referenda insure all have a voice in land use decisions.

U.S. Supreme Court

Listen carefully to first criticism of your work. Note just what it is about your work the critics don't like - then cultivate it. That's the only part of your work that's individual and worth keeping.

Jean Cocteau
Dr. Tanya Turan, director of the Stroke Division at the Medical University of South Carolina and senior author on the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery article, with her team at the scanner. Credit: Medical University of South Carolina

A collaboration between stroke neurologists at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and bioengineers at the University of Massachusetts has led to the creation of a realistic, 3D-printed phantom of a stenotic intracranial artery that is being used to standardize protocols for high-resolution MRI, also known as vessel-wall MRI, at a network of U.S. and Chinese institutions, according to an article published online March 9, 2017 by the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery.

High-resolution or vessel-wall MRI has been used to study the plaque components in vessels in the brain for more than ten years and has the potential to elucidate the underlying pathology of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD), the leading cause of stroke worldwide, as well as to gauge patient risk and inform clinical trials of new therapies. However, progress has been stymied by the lack of standardization in high-resolution MRI protocols, which poses an obstacle to multicenter trials.

"There is a lot of exciting research that is possible with high-resolution MRI techniques, but it has much less opportunity to affect patient care if it can't be systematically distributed to multiple sites and multiple populations," says Tanya N. Turan, M.D., director of the MUSC Stroke Division and senior author of the article.

To overcome this obstacle, Turan worked with bioengineers at the University of Massachusetts to produce a phantom of a stenotic intracranial vessel using imaging sequences obtained from a single patient with ICAD at MUSC. The 3-D printed ICAD phantom mimics both the stenotic vessel and its plaque components, including the fibrous cap and the lipid core. The phantom is being shared with collaborating institutions so that it can be used to standardize high-resolution MRI protocols. The imaging data presented in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery article demonstrate the feasibility of using the phantom for standardization and were obtained from six U.S. and two Chinese sites.

Frontal maximum intensity projection image from time of flight MR showing a focal stenosis of the basilar artery (A, top panel, arrow). Single axial slice of high resolution vessel wall MRI showing intracranial atherosclerosis of the basilar artery (A, bottom panel, arrow). The resulting patient specific virtual phantom of atherosclerotic plaque (B) with fibrous cap (C, top panel) and lipid core (C, bottom panel). Credit: Reproduced from Development of a high resolution MRI intracranial atherosclerosis imaging phantom, Chueh et al, published online on March 9, 2017 by the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery with permission from BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Producing the phantom was a major step in the right direction for standardizing high-resolution MRI ICAD protocols. However, several more years may be necessary to complete the process. The next major challenge for these investigators will be establishing parameters for MRI machines from a variety of manufacturers. So far, MRI parameters have been established for Siemens and GE systems but work is still under way on Philips systems.

The phantom is also being shared with sites in China, where the burden of intracranial stenosis is especially high. Turan is collaborating with Weihai Xu, M.D., of Peking Union Medical College, the lead Chinese site, to collect additional data to assess interrater reliability among the participating institutions. Once high-resolution MRI protocols have been standardized and good interrater reliability demonstrated, the international team plans to conduct a prospective observational trial to examine risk prediction at participating centers, which would more quickly meet the required patient enrollment than would a trial conducted in the U.S. alone.

"We're only going to be able to advance the field more quickly if we work together," says Turan. "The phantom gives us the tool to be able to work together."

More information: Ju-Yu Chueh et al, Development of a high resolution MRI intracranial atherosclerosis imaging phantom, Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery (2017). Journal information: Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery Ju-Yu Chueh et al, Development of a high resolution MRI intracranial atherosclerosis imaging phantom,(2017). DOI: 10.1136/neurintsurg-2016-012974
Kommersant: China split the 'unity' of the West

Expert estimates level of Azerbaijan's information attack on Armenia in September, comparing it to 44-day war

UK wants to work more with the U.S. on gas supplies

Donald Trump votes in Florida midterm elections

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
By India Today Web Desk: In a statement that probably could create bizarre, Hindu Mahasabha Secretary, Dr Pooja Shakun Pandey invited Muslim women to convert into Hinduism.

Pooja Shakun Pandey said, "I am ready to fight for my Muslim sisters. I want to declare that if you my Muslim sisters are feeling insecure, then be assured that I will help you. If the government of the state or the judiciary delayed providing you justice and your rights, I invite you to adopt Hinduism. It would be my pleasure to secure your future, I will make all arrangements and definitely do your kanyadan for sure".

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Nikah Halala is a practice as per the Sharia law (followed by Muslims) that prohibits a divorced couple from remarrying unless the former wife has married a different man, consummated the marriage, and then divorced him.

India is home to world's third-largest Muslim population which is governed by the Sharia or Islamic jurisprudence and this has been the case since British colonial rule. But till today, India's 90 million Muslim women face the threat of a sudden, oral, and out-of-court divorce.

ALSO WATCH:

Triple talaq victims should become Hindus: Hindu Mahasabha leader

ALSO READ:

Triple talaq: Muslim law board assures end of practice within 18 month, asks government not to intervene

Make your stand on triple talaq clear, Ravi Shankar Prasad asks TMC chief Mamata Banerjee

SC should decide triple talaq issue: Mayawati

Triple talaq: Muslim law board assures end of practice within 18 month, asks government not to intervene

--- ENDS ---
Armenias turnover with the other Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries grew by more than 15 percent, and the export of the Armenian goods to the Eurasian market grew by 65 percent.

President Serzh Sargsyan stated the aforementioned during his address at Fridays meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

Before referring to one or two issues presented for the discussions at the plenary session of the Supreme Council, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambaev for organizing todays meeting at such a high level, as well as for the hospitality and warm welcome.

The shaping of our common economic area and its development for the second year in a row is taking place in a complex global economic situation which is manifested in the decreasing tempo of the global economic growth and geopolitical convulsions. All this on one hand creates certain problems for the full-fledged functioning of our Union, on the other hand it opens new opportunities for a closer cooperation of our countries.

Under these conditions, the concerted steps taken by our countries allowed the member state to stabilize to some extent the situation, to achieve the macroeconomic stability through the assistance to some areas and branches, which has translated into the tendency of growth in some countries in the areas of industrial and agricultural production. In particular, in 2016 the gross domestic product indicators in Armenia showed positive dynamics; there was registered the increase of activities in the production, agricultural, and service areas. Armenias turnover with the [other] EAEU countries grew by more than 15%, and the export of the Armenian goods to the Eurasian market grew by 65%. There was registered the increase of the turnover with third countries as well.

Our countries have similar goals for development which we, in particular, see in the introduction of industrial innovations, high technologies in the area of agriculture, digitalized economy, and renewable sources of energy. It is also important to make concerted efforts aimed at the implementation of the mutually beneficial cooperation programs. We have two main objectives: First, to fortify the Union from within, further liberalize our common economic area through the elimination of the barriers, reduce exemptions related to the free move of goods, services, capital, and labor. Second objective is the amplification of the EAEUs international engagement. These two objectives complement each other and affect the efficiency and international standing of the Organization.

From the viewpoint of further strengthening of the international standing of our integration union, we attach great importance to the invigoration of the EAEU cooperation with the third countries which are ready for a true partnership, and with pivotal integration units. In 2016, issues of cooperation with Iran, China, India, Egypt and some other countries were discussed in a constructive spirit. Armenia is interested in securing these agreements legally, particularly with the Islamic Republic of Iran with which we have pragmatic, mutually beneficial, and good neighborly relations.

From this point of view, we assess positively the cooperation process between the Eurasian Economic Commission and European Commission as an important factor for the promotion of a dialogue between the two integration unions which will be conducive for the exchange of experience, exploration of the avenues for integration and cooperation, and a harmonious, complementary and mutually beneficial development.

Distinguished Heads of State,

The efficiency of the EAEU is also dependent on the smooth and coordinated works of the state bodies of the member states, Eurasian Economic Commission, and business circles. With this regard, we expect that the Eurasian Economic Commission, within the scope of its authority, will provide proposals on the resolution of the problems facing the Union. We also view as important the creation and publishing by the Eurasian Economic Commission in cooperation with the state bodies of the member states of the so called White Book which will present by consent of the parties 60 barriers existing within the Unions market. I hope that the road map for their elimination with the proper timetable will be created soon.

Armenia will continue to implement the preset programs aimed at thwarting the negative tendencies present in the global economy, promoting sustainable development, including through the utilization of the integration potential of the Union, the President of Armenia noted, in particular.
YEREVAN.  President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, who is in the Kyrgyz capital city of Bishkek on a working visit, together with the other presidents of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member countries and the Moldovan president who was invited, participated in the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC)i.e. the executive body of the EAEUBoard and former Prime Minister of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan, also attended this event, the press office of the President informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to the charter, the sessionsfirst in the narrow and later in the extended formatwere chaired by President Almazbek Atambaev of Kyrgyzstan, the country presiding in the organization.

Among a dozen agenda items, the leaders of the EAEU member states received the report on the main directions of the international activities of the EAEU for 2015-2016, discussed the key guidelines of the macroeconomic policy of the EAEU member states, presented candidatures for the EEC Board, and deliberated over documents related to the amendments to be made in the EEC regulations.

Also, the parties referred to the temporary agreement, which is currently being drafted, between the EAEU and Iran, and with respect to the creation of a free-trade zone.

The presidents decided to hold the next meeting on October 11, in Moscow.

The Eurasian Economic Union comprises Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
By PTI: From Aditi Khanna

London, Apr 14 (PTI) British universities have called on the government for a "new immigration policy" to encourage international students to choose the UK, after recent figures showed a "worrying decline" in the number of students from countries like India.

Universities UK, the representative body for higher education institutions, expressed concerns this week over a "worrying decline" in the number of international students coming to Britain due to a perception of being unwelcome.

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It urged the British government to drop international students from its annual target of immigration cuts.

"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," saidDame Julia Goodfellow, President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kent.

"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," she said.

In reference to the realities of Brexit, she said: "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."

The most recent figureson international students in the UK showed a worrying decline in the number of new international enrolments over recent years, Goodfellow said.

"At the same time, competitor countries such as the USA and Australia have seen increases. Both countries open their arms to international students and classify them as being non-permanent or temporary residents in their immigration systems."

Her comments followed a new ComRes poll commissioned by Universities UK which found that nearly 73 per cent of the British public were in favour of international students coming to study in the UK.

The poll released yesterday revealsthat most members of the British public do not view international students as immigrants to the UK.

The results showthat only 26 per cent of the British public think of international students as immigrants when thinking about government immigration policy.

Goodfellow added: "It is clear that the British public does not see international students as long-term migrants, but as valuable, temporary visitors. They come to the UK, study for a period, then the vast majority return home.

"The UK could be doing much better than this. The UK has the potential to be one of the worlds fastest growing destinations for international students, building on its current status as the second most popular destination for international students [after the US]."

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The public poll of over 4,000 adults conducted last month also found that 75 per centof the British public agreed that international students should be able to work in the UK for a fixed period of time after they have graduated, seen as a major factor behind the drop in international student numbers in recent years.

The latest Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), UKs official agency for the collection, analysis and dissemination of quantitative information about higher education, had revealed earlier this year that while Indians remain the third-largest category ofstudentsfrom outside the European Union, they registered a decrease of 9 per cent in 2015-16 over the previous year.

"Indiasaw the largest percentage decrease, at 44 per cent between 2011/12 and 2015/16. In numbers, this meant that in 2015/16, the number ofstudentenrolments domiciled fromIndiawas 13,150 less than in 2011/12. It is worth noting however, that the decline instudentenrolments domiciled fromIndiabegan a year earlier, in 2010/11," the HESA said in its analysis.

Universities UK and other groups have been lobbying the government to ease its immigration policy towards students over the years.

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"Over the last five years, the number of Indian students attending UK universities has halved. I have consistently asked the government to remove students from the net migration target," said Lord Bilimoria, leading Indian-origin entrepreneur and Cobra Beer founder, who himself came to the UK as a student.

"We should immediately re-introduce the two-year post- study work visa, which I fought hard to introduce before its withdrawal in 2012, to allow foreign students to implement their much needed skills here and help boost our economy," he added. PTI AK ABH

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN. - Prosecutor General of Armenia Artur Davtyan on Friday received Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Piotr Switalski.

At the meeting the sides discussed issues related to the consideration of the electoral fraud registered during the preparation and holding of the parliamentary election on April 2.

Davtyan underscored the significance of the technical equipment installed iat polling stations especially in terms of preventing and ensuring the objectivity and comprehensiveness of the consideration of those cases.

Ambassador Switalski, for his part, highly appreciated the fast response to the publications by the Prosecutor Generals Office on electoral fraud both during the days preceding the voting and the voting day, as well as the coordination of work aimed at checking the electoral fraud.

He also presented his observations on the election preparation process and electoral fraud recorded on the voting day.

Upon the request of Switalski, the Prosecutor General presented the results of the investigation into publications regarding the apparent electoral fraud on the voting day and before it, as well as the alarm calls received by the hot line of the Prosecutor Generals Office.

Davtyan informed that the Prosecutor Generals Office has investigated around 2500 publications and 60 alarm calls, which were received by the hot line of the Prosecutor Generals Office, as well as 309 alarm calls received in the police subdivisions.

It was noted that the examination of the reports on the electoral fraud published both during the preparation to the election and on the voting day shows that their overwhelming part was of a general and abstract nature or related to the violations of the procedure prescribed by the election campaign, issues of technical nature related to the voting organizationequipment of voting rooms, operation of technical equipment, emergence of queues and crowding at the polling stationsor contained uncertain formulations.

Proceedings into 820 cases were implemented, in 720 of which the crime elements were denied or no grounds were acquired for launching a criminal case. Consequently, 18 criminal cases were launched, 7 of which were transferred to a court.

By the end of the meeting, Ambassador Switalski thanked the Prosecutor General for the detailed information.
"Prost!" is Milwaukees unofficial toast, but OnMilwaukee decided to create a new toast for the city that was even more Milwaukee. So, last month, the digital media company hosted a contest for Milwaukeeans to submit ideas for a new toast at mketoast.com.

The new toast is "414 Lets Have One More!" and Mayor Tom Barrett joined us to unveil it. Friday, April 14 is, of course, "Milwaukee Day."

Nearly 100 ideas for a new Milwaukee toast were submitted to a panel of judges, which included Dr. Garry Davis, UWM Professor and Chair of the Linguistics Department; Angela Damiani, CEO of Newaukee; Evan Christian, WAMI Award-winning musician and owner of Gibraltar Jazz Club and Julio Maldanado, Partner at Maldanano & Morgan advertising agency.

The judges chose their top five favorite toasts based on the following criteria: if the word or words in the toast created a sense of celebration and joy; the meaning behind the toast; the uniqueness to Milwaukee culture; and its ability to pass the test of time and remain relevant for years to come.

Nick Berg, an administrator at St. Roberts School in Shorewood and a former bartender at The County Clare, submitted the winning toast.

"I reckoned it had to be somewhat short and easy to remember, something immediately identifiable and familiar to every Milwaukeean, and something that would evoke equal parts pride and mirth," says Berg. "I was born and raised in Milwaukee. My heart beats Milwaukee."

"414 Lets Have One More" signs and specials will soon appear in numerous local bars and restaurants.
Chef Zak Groh has taken the helm at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

As executive chef, Groh will oversee the museum's culinary program, including Cafe Calatrava and special events.

"We are delighted to welcome Chef Zak Groh to our team at the Milwaukee Art Museum," said Jeff Cook, food and beverage director at MAM. "He brings an incredible wealth of experience that we know our visitors and Members will appreciateand taste!with each visit."

Groh boasts more than 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry, most recently as owner and operator of Whisk Culinary, a boutique catering company servicing the aviation market in Milwaukee and Chicago. His resume also includes management at James Beard Award-winning restaurants and teaching.

"I am looking forward to putting my skills to work at the Museum," said Chef Groh. "I think food has to be fun and creative. The Museums artwork and architecture will be a welcomed source of inspiration when imagining new dishes."
As we close out 2020, we wanted to share some of our favorite stories from the last decade. We hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as we enjoyed telling them. Click here to see the rest of our picks of must-reads and happy new year, Milwaukee!

Milwaukeeans love our 414, the area code covering the city, the county and parts of Muskego and Brookfield, and its been around forever.

Actually, forever only extends back to 1947, when Bell Telephone established our iconic area code, along with 715, in Wisconsin. The goal back then was to standardize long-distance calls and to remove the switchboard operator from having to manually connect people across systems with patch cords.

But why did they pick 414?

The exact answer isnt totally clear, but we have some clues.

AT&T designed the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the Bell System in the 1940s. Originally, it consisted of 86 Numbering Plan Area Codes, and they had to follow certain rules.

States with multiple area codes had a "1" in the middle of their three-digit codes. States with one area code were assigned a "0" in the middle. Additionally, for the first digit, "0" and "1" were restricted, since those implied operator-assisted or international calls. The second and third digit could not be the same, since those codes were reserved for special purposes, like "411" and "911." Finally, the last digit couldnt be a "0," because those were for "typewriter exchanges," an early form of text messaging.

So that explains the second digit in 414, and rules out certain numbers for the first and the third. The two fours, though, are more arbitrary.

Lets look at the eight other area codes with a "1" in the middle, and the same first and third digit, for some hints:

212: New York City

313: Southeast Michigan, including Detroit

414: Milwaukee

515: Central Iowa, including Des Moines

616: Michigan, including Grand Rapids and the Upper Peninsula

717: Pennsylvania, eastern half

818: Not assigned

919: Not assigned

At first, I thought that the largest metro areas would get the easy-to-remember area codes, but thats not exactly right. Los Angeles, for example, got 213, and Chicago got 312. Additionally, these arent assigned like the interstate system, in which the number signifies the highways direction and placement in the country (but thats another article).

I then surmised that the original planners tried to pick area codes for nearby cities that were really different, like 414 and 715 in Wisconsin, or 412, 215 and 717 for Pennsylvania. Remember that old rotary dial photos were not the easiest devices to use accurately.

I wasn't exactly right, but I wasn't exactly wrong, either.

While AT&T devised the area code system, its now overseen by the FCC, but handled by a dozen people at Neustar, Inc., a spin-off of Lockheed Martin. But Neustar doesn't know the significance of the fours, either.

Turns out, Milwaukee's area code has something to do with the number of clicks on a rotary phone. Fewer clicks were easier to dial.

John Manning, the Senior Director of the NANPA, told me that choosing fours were probably about the shorter clicks that Milwaukee earned by being a larger city. "Only 160 area codes (were) available," he said. "As such, the quantity of NPAs to select from was not that large. It had to do with the large call volumes going to the large cities, and the call setup time reflected in the 'register holding time.'"

Indeed, the biggest cities got the easiest to dial area codes: 212 (New York), 213 (Los Angeles) and 313 (Detroit). Anchorage got the hardest to dial (907), which required 26 clicks. New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Connecticut got 201, 202, 301 and 203. There were some odd exceptions, though: Dallas, western Massachusetts, and Manitoba were all promoted above their importance in 1947, while Boston, Kansas City (both Kansas and Missouri), and the suburbs of New York City were demoted.

Of course, the next three digits in phone numbers are a little easier to trace back, because they sometimes spelled out telephone exchange names or central office names (think "PEnnsylvania 6-5000"). But that just doesnt jibe with the area code mystery.

"It's not terribly scientific," said Doug Hescox, a California code administrator, who talked about this to the Baltimore Sun in 1997. "There's a pool of numbers we can choose from, and we're getting down to where there's no nice, neat numbers left."

So thats that. The fours are mostly arbitrary.

What else do we know about 414?

Interestingly, its one of the only large cities that doesnt have an "overlay." In other words, within Milwaukee County, you can just dial your seven digits, without putting the 414 first.

In 1983, six Milwaukee teenagers hacked into computer systems in the United States and Canada. They called themselves "The 414s."

In Wisconsin, the addition of 608 came in 1955, but the addition of 920, then 262, took place in 1997 and 1998. The rapid expansion was partly due the cell phones and pagers exhausting the remaining 414 numbers  business owners were annoyed because they had to change letterhead and business cards.

The small industrial "Ambrosia Triangle" in southeast Washington County remains in the 414.

There certainly was cultural significance to area codes back in the day. Brian Bergstein of the MIT Technology Review told The Atlantic in 2014: "Of course we didnt know it at the time, but now it seems that the atomization of area codes was a prelude to the microtargeting that fuels political campaigns and advertising: it refined our perceptions of who people are."

Does it matter anymore?

In 2017, it doesnt really matter too much. Most of us don't memorize phone numbers, thanks to cell phone address books and speed dial. Because of number portability and the effective end to long-distance tolls, your neighbor may own a number with a completely different area code.

However, Verizon Wireless' Steve Van Dinter told me, "Its really more for attaching a bit of geography to a phone number. While most people that grew up using cell phones tend not to memorize phone numbers, there are still plenty of people that identify an area code or exchange with a certain geographic area. And some choose not to pick up phone calls from people with area codes they do not recognize."

In other words, 414 may be a source of pride, but someone with one of the other 293 American area codes may be a Milwaukeean, too. At least until 2038, when some have speculated another digit will be added somewhere. Then it's anybody's guess.
Everybody knows the old saying, "You can take the bakers out of the kitchen, but you cant put them at the farmers market."

Youve never heard it? Well, you must be living in a cave somewhere.

But currently winding its way through courts in Wisconsin is an attempt to give home bakers the same rights as companies like General Mills, the giant maker of all kinds of sweet things.

Heres the deal.

Wisconsins Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection has a law on the books that says if you make cupcakes or cookies or brownies or the like and want to sell them at your local farmers market or your kids lemonade stand in your front yard, you are a lawbreaker.

Forget for a moment that, according to Bill Cosh, the spokesman for DACP, nobody has ever been cited, arrested, fined or sent to jail for a violation of this law.

But because the law is the law, a trio of home bakers, aided and abetted by the Institute for Justice, a public interest law firm located just outside our nations capital, has filed a suit and declared it unconstitutional. The institute also prepared the video at the top of this article.

To be sure, there are divided opinions about whether the founding fathers were hot and/or bothered about bakers selling bread they baked at home.

On one side we have three Wisconsin women: Dela Lands, who owns a small organic farm called Scotch hill in Green County; Lisa Kivirist, who owns and runs a small farm, as well as a bed and breakfast called Inn Serendipity in Green County, and was quoted in one article as saying "our spatulas are tied"; and Kriss Marion, who is the founder of her local farmer's market in Blanchardville and owns a farm and B&B called Circle M Market Farm in Lafayette County.

On the other side of the issue are the Wisconsin Bakers Association (WBA), the Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) and the Wisconsin Restaurant Association (WRA), which have more presence as lobbyists in Madison than do the three women.

The lawyer for the plaintiffs is Erica Smith; the spokesman for the WBA is Dave Schmidt, who is the organization's president.

Smith, on the phone, is fiery on this issue.

"We are looking for injunction and declarative relief," she said. The suit claims the law is unconstitutional because it violates the Due Process and Equal Protection clause.

"It doesnt make sense to impose the same rules on a Hostess factory as a home baker," Smith said. "All were talking about is people using their home kitchens and their home ovens to make a small amount of goods and sell them to their community."

Schmidt, at first, said he had no comment, but like bread rising out of the pan, he later responded to the explosion of yeast in my questions.

"A home baker could get someone really sick," he said. "Suppose someone made peanut butter cookies at home, and then didnt totally clean their counter and made chocolate chip cookies. If they sold those chocolate chip cookies at a farmers market they could make someone sick. Or they could pass away. Thats why we need this protection."

I asked Schmidt if he ever heard of anyone dying from that particular set of circumstances, or even getting sick. He said there was one death in the last century of someone who ate something, but he didnt remember exactly what it was.

"Everyone thinks this is a joke," Schmidt said, indicating that bakers know a lot more than we give them credit for. "But its not. Its vital to our food safety."

Brandon Scholz is a lobbyist in Madison, but he double dips as the President and CEO of the WGA. (Remember which one that is?)

"Its not about muffins and its not about competition; its about public health," he said. "We dont want to have anybody get sick."

For yet another example of the possible horrors that could be wrought by the baking of pastries, granola, meat jerky and even popcorn, we turn to Pete Hanson, a member of the WGA (all these abbreviations are starting to make my head hurt).

"The concept of baking cookies at home and selling them at the farmer's market is a lovely idea until you think about the cat that jumped from the little box up on the counter and walked around before those cookies were put on the counter to cool," Hanson said. "If you are in a licensed bakery or food service establishment, there are controls in place to prevent dirty hands, dirty paws, rodents and things like that from infecting those surfaces with germs, parasites, all sorts of things.

Among the well-known bakeries in Milwaukee supporting the present law are Classy Girl Cupcakes, Kangaroo (they make the ubiquitous pita bread), Wild Flower, Milwaukee Area Technical College (where they teach people to bake), the Miller Baking Company (maker of the best Jewish rye bread in the entire world) and the fantastic and lauded Cranky Al's.

Lets take a look at legislation to change this law.

In 2014 the State Senate passed the bill unanimously; the Assembly killed it. State Rep. Robin Vos, the Speaker of the Assembly, led the fight to kill it. In 2016 the Senate again passed it unanimously. This time Vos just shipped the bill off to some committee where it languished, never even getting a hearing.

Vos, by the way, is the owner of Rojos Popcorn in Burlington, which sells popcorn, nachos, cotton candy, snow cones and pretzels, as well as the equipment to make them.

Voss did not respond to telephone and email requests about why he opposed these measures. His spokesperson also did not respond to telephone and email requests, which perhaps raises the question of what a spokesperson for the speaker is supposed to speak about.

It should also be pointed out that it seems like bakers are the only ones feeling the heat here. Its okay to prepare in your home and sell pickles, salsa, applesauce, jams and jellies, chutneys, marmalades, fruit butters and more.

The case is scheduled for a conference in a couple of weeks and there is hope on the part of the plaintiffs that a judge can wrangle some kind of settlement here.

I dont want to editorialize too much here, but now that we've reached the end of this story, let me just say, thank goodness for our government and legal system.
Latest map of the lithospheric magnetic field by Swarm shows detailed variations in this field more precisely than previous satellite-based reconstructions, caused by geological structures in Earths crust. Credit: ESA

A University of Kentucky geophysicist is helping an international team of scientists reveal dramatic new information about the Earth's magnetic field.

Two years ago, Dhananjay Ravat, who is a professor in the UK Departments of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Physics and Astronomy, was asked by the leader of the Swarm Satellite Constellation Application and Research Facility of the European Space Agency (ESA) to collaborate with their team to create a map of the magnetic features of the Earth's lithosphere. Ravat, who has worked on geophysical data from several space missions around the Earth, Mars and the moon, was intrigued by the Swarm project, and his involvement ultimately led to the development of the highest resolution map of the planet's magnetic field from space to date.

ESA launched three spacecrafts, known as the Swarm satellites, into Earth's orbit in 2013 to track and study the planet's lithospheric magnetic field. The field is responsible for deflecting dangerous solar winds, and impacts the planet's climate and rotation. Up until now, scientists have not been able to fully map the magnetic field, but thanks to the Swarm mission, they now have a more complete understanding.

"Magnetic fields have been measured in space by satellites for the last 50 years, but it is the measurement of magnetic 'gradients' from the three Swarm satellites and data from a previous German CHAMP satellite that make this the highest resolution possible," Ravat said. "Gradients change over shorter distances than the fields themselves and they also have the capability of eliminating background magnetic effects from the Earth's core, ionosphere and magnetospheresome of which were problematic from previous studies. It is also the first time anyone has put together a magnetic variation map from just the gradients of the field."

Lithospheric magnetic field. Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)

The map also reveals the Earth's "polarity flips" in great detail. Every 700,000 years or so, Earth's poles reverse. This means the pointer on a compass will face south again one day, and that reversal could happen on human time-scale since the last reversal took place about 720,000 years ago. This new map shows striking patterns of these flipped polarities over timesolidified minerals have formed "stripes" on the sea floor and provide a record of Earth's magnetic history.

"These stripes are symmetric about the mid-oceanic ridge," Ravat said. "They tell us about how the Earth's magnetic field behaved in the past. That is why this map is so important, it's a continuous record of the last 200 million years of Earth's history."

The new map can define magnetic field features down to about 250 kilometers and will help scientists investigate geology and temperatures in Earth's lithosphere, especially in parts of the African continent that do not have detailed magnetic field variation maps.

"We are just beginning to understand how this map will change the understanding of the Earth's crust and its mineral resources," Ravat said. "So far we have looked at a few well-known magnetic features. One of the strong features observed includes the Bangui region of central Africa and there are a number of different hypotheses regarding its origin, one that includes a giant meteorite impact. The high resolution of the new map will be able to discriminate between various competing hypotheses about its origin. But one thing is for sure, the map will bring attention to this forgotten continent."
Credit: Francisco Farias Jr/public domain

Whether it's losing a job or dealing with an illness, negative life events can lead people to adopt more extreme political views, according to a new U of T study.

"If people experience unexpected adversity in their lives they tend to adopt more rigid styles of thinking," says Daniel Randles, a post-doc researcher in psychology at U of T Scarborough.

The study, which is published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, drew on an existing survey of about 1,600 Americans who were repeatedly polled between 2006 and 2008.

Randles stresses that while he's not a political scientist, the research could shed light on growing support for populist politics.

"Over the last few years there's a general feeling that a more rigid form of politics is emerging. It's possible that more extreme candidates are becoming popular because the people who support them have a growing number of challenges in their lives that they weren't expecting."

For the survey, participants were asked about their political attitudes as well as negative events they faced in their personal lives to see if their attitudes changed following adversity. The unexpected negative life events ranged from divorce, illness, injury and assault to even loss of a job.

Randles found that regardless of where people stand on the political spectrum  left or right  adverse life events hardened their leanings either way.

"After facing adversity, these respondents weren't saying about an issue, 'Maybe this is OK.' They were either saying, 'This is definitely OK,' or, 'This is definitely not OK,'" says Randles.

Randles, whose past research has looked at the behavioural consequences of uncertainty, says those who have very black and white views are probably more vulnerable to moving towards the extreme.

"It's not an on/off switch. It's a slow movement towards either end of the spectrum based on negative experiences," he says, adding there's no exact number of events that can cause the effect.

As for why this occurs, Randles points to his other research which shows people tend to have expectations about how those around them will behave, and how the natural world should work as a possible explanation.

"If people believe that something about their world has suddenly changed, they will look for things in the world that are still intact," he says.

More information: Daniel Randles et al. Experienced Adversity in Life Is Associated With Polarized and Affirmed Political Attitudes, Social Psychological and Personality Science (2017). DOI: 10.1177/1948550616675668 Journal information: Social Psychological and Personality Science
By PTI: From Yoshita Singh

New York, Apr 14 (PTI) Sikhs in the US today launched a nationwide million-dollar campaign to spread awareness and address the "collective misunderstanding" over the minority community amid a spike in hate crimes against them in the country.

The month-long We are Sikhs campaign was launched by the National Sikh Campaign (NSC), a non-profit organisation, coinciding with the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi, a holy day for the community.

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It is a massive initiative to spread awareness of the Sikh religion and Sikh-Americans throughout the US as over 65 per cent of Americans are ignorant about Sikhism.

The campaign is a "national effort to help inform our fellow Americans about who we are and why we are proud to wear the turban, a symbol of our communitys commitment to equality and serving others," co-founder and senior advisor of the National Sikh Campaign Rajwant Singh said.

"Sikh-Americans are pillars of their communities in every corner of our nation and we must work to proactively meet and connect with our neighbours," he said.

The campaign would involve marketing and public relation efforts that will focus on increasing the Sikh-American communitys presence in national and local news outlets, online platforms and neighbourhoods. It will utilise national and local television and cable and digital advertisements, social media and community events to affect change.

Its organisers said the Sikh community has been the target of discrimination, intimidation, harassment and hate crimes since the 9/11 terror attacks largely because of a "collective misunderstanding" of what the turban means inthe Sikh faith.

"Sikh values are American values, and Sikh-Americans have been making positive and significant contributions to American life for more than a century. We run local businesses and sing our national anthem with pride," Gurwin Singh Ahuja, co- founder and executive director of the NSC said.

"The American dream is fundamental to our identity here in America, and we believe deeply in the freedom to pursue ones own success through hard work," Ahuja said.

Elaborating on the campaign, Singh had told PTI this week that 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 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.

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For the campaign, the organisers have roped in prominent marketing experts and firms, which have in the past done presidential-style campaigns for former presidents 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.

NSC, however, said that despite the many contributions by Sikh-Americans, 60 per cent of Americans admitted they knew nothing about the community and 66 per cent of Americans have never interacted with a Sikh before.

While this lack of awareness and interaction exists, the NSC said it believes there is enormous potential to enhance positive feelings and familiarity towards Sikh-Americans through the campaign. PTI YAS CPS

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Weddell seals are one of Antarcticas iconic species. By counting seals on satellite imagery, scientists hope to learn how fishing and climate change in Antarctica is affecting the number of seals and the entire ecosystem over time. Credit: Michelle LaRue, Kim Goetz

Scientists are asking for the public's help to look through thousands of satellite images of Antarctica in the first-ever, comprehensive count of Weddell seals. Documenting the seals' population trends over time will help scientists better understand the effects of climate change and commercial fishing in the Antarctic.

Last summer, the researchers completed a successful pilot program with help from more than 5,000 volunteers who counted seals from satellite images of sea ice in the Ross Sea. The team is now ready to expand the project to the entire continent.

"Right now, everything we know about Weddell seals is limited to an area representing about one percent of the coastline around Antarctica," said Michelle LaRue, a research ecologist in the University of Minnesota's Department of Earth Sciences and lead researcher on the project. "Now we need help from the public to search the remaining 99 percent so we can better understand where seals live and why."

Weddell seals are important to the Southern Ocean ecosystem and have been studied since the early 1960s. However, no one has been able to do a comprehensive count of the seals due to the harsh Antarctic weather and remote locations in which the seals live. Now, high-resolution satellite images provide a solutioncounting seals on satellite imagesbut there are too many images for scientists to handle alone.

Here is an example of an image with some seals on it. All the seals we can see in this picture are circled in red. Dont be fooled by shadowscheck (by zooming) if the dark spot is really a shadow from a chunk of ice or a small melt pool. Credit: DigitalGlobe

"There's really no other way to do a count of Weddell seals like this," LaRue said. "Even though our team includes seasoned researchers and know how to count seals on the images, it would take years for our small team to search all the images. These types of projects also expand education on important wildlife species. We have engagement from classrooms nationwide in our research."

Weddell seals are one of Antarctica's most iconic species. In addition to being undeniably charismatic, they are the southern-most mammal in the world, can live up to 30 years, and are perfectly adapted to living in some of the harshest conditions on the planet. They are seasonal occupants of the coastal sea ice that surrounds Antarctica. By counting seals on satellite imagery, scientists hope to learn more about climate change and how fishing in Antarctic may be affecting the number of seals and the entire ecosystem over time.

This research is funded by the National Science Foundation and is a joint effort of the University of Minnesota, University of Colorado at Boulder, H.T. Harvey & Associates Ecological Consultants, Point Blue Conservation Science, Tomnod, and DigitalGlobe.

In addition to LaRue, the research team includes David Ainley, HT Harvey and Associates; Sharon Stammerjohn, University of Colorado at Boulder; Leo Salas, Point Blue Conservation Science; and Kostas Stamatiou and Jon Saints, Tomnod.

This image includes descriptions of what you can see in the image. There is an iceberg, from which a crack extends. Each of the red circles is a Weddell seal and appears somewhat teardrop in shape. Credit: DigitalGlobe

More information: To start counting seals, visit the Tomnod website: www.tomnod.com/campaign/antarctica_pilot_2
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most commonly used cells to produce biologicsprotein-based drugs for treating cancers, autoimmune diseases and much more. CHO cells are the workhorses behind more than half of the top-selling biologics on the market today, including Humira, Avastin and Rituxan, to name a few.

Despite their wide use, it has been challenging for researchers to optimize production of biologics from CHO cells. For example, the protein yields from CHO cells are sometimes lowa factor that contributes to the high costs of these pharmaceuticals.

Researchers at the CHO Systems Biology Center at the University of California San Diego are pioneering various efforts to gain an in-depth understanding of CHO cells and to advance cell engineering research. The Center brings together an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, UC San Diego School of Medicine and Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.

Boosting product yields

In a Cell Systems paper published last year, Center researchers collaborated with several teams around the world and developed a comprehensive genome-scale model of CHO cell metabolism that identifies specific pathways to maximize protein production. The project was led by Center co-director Nathan Lewis, a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego.

Researchers used the model to predict how much protein CHO cells can actually make when subjected to two treatments commonly used in industry to enhance protein production. One treatment involves lowering the culture temperature, the other involves adding a salt called sodium butyrate to the culture medium.

The model predicted that these treatments barely boost protein productionand do so at the expense of cell growth. "This tradeoff is very inefficient," Lewis said, because the decrease in cell growth is only mildly compensated by a small increase in protein production.

Researchers used the model to simulate other changes to CHO cells. In particular, they studied the efficacy of genetic changes that enhance the flow of the secretory pathway, which is a route by which therapeutic proteins are made and released outside the cell. The model predicted that these cellular changes could increase protein production three times more than the commonly used industrial treatments.

"This finding demonstrates that the secretory pathway is an important pipeline in the cell machinery that we can engineer to make more protein," Lewis said.

In a study published early this year in Scientific Reports, Lewis and colleagues demonstrated a different method to increase protein productionand also increase cell growth rate. The method involved mapping the activity of all the ribosomes in CHO cells as they are producing a therapeutic antibody. In the process, researchers found that silencing one gene not only improved cellular growth, but also resulted in an 18 percent increase in antibody production.

Quality control

Glycosylation, which is the attachment of sugar chains to proteins, is another cellular process Center researchers are investigating in depth. Controlling glycosylationwhich sugars, and how many of them are added to the desired proteinis critical to producing high quality pharmaceutical products, but it is extremely challenging.

In a study published in Biotechnology Journal, researchers developed an algorithm that predicts how researchers can modify CHO cells to obtain desired glycosylation patterns when making biologics and their generic versions, called biosimilars. This work can facilitate efforts to significantly drive down the cost of leading protein drugs, Lewis said.

Ongoing research

Center researchers are developing and refining additional state-of-the-art resources to rationally engineer and optimize CHO cell lines for drug development. These include high quality genome sequences of the CHO cell line, next-generation genome editing technologies, a growing library of engineered CHO cell lines, enhanced "clean" CHO cell lines that are free of contaminants, maps of "safe harbor" integration sitessites in the CHO genome where human genes can be safely inserted to improve protein expressionand sophisticated methods for analyzing and interpreting omic data.

More information: Thomas Beuchert Kallehauge et al. Ribosome profiling-guided depletion of an mRNA increases cell growth rate and protein secretion, Scientific Reports (2017). DOI: 10.1038/srep40388 Hooman Hefzi et al. A Consensus Genome-scale Reconstruction of Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Metabolism, Cell Systems (2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2016.10.020 Philipp N. Spahn et al. Predictive glycoengineering of biosimilars using a Markov chain glycosylation model, Biotechnology Journal (2017). DOI: 10.1002/biot.201600489 Journal information: Cell Systems , Scientific Reports
Atomistic model showing the charge accumulation (yellow) and depletion (red) upon NO adsorption on PtSe2 monolayer. Platinum atoms appear in gray and selenium atoms are shown in green. Credit: Reproduced with permission from ref 1.  2016 WILEY-VCH

Gas detectors capable of sensing minute quantities of pollutants could help better monitor air quality. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) researchers have discovered a two-dimensional electronic material that exhibits high sensitivity to gas molecules, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ammonia (NH3).

Atomically thin sheets consisting of transition metals associated with chalcogen atoms, such as sulfur, selenium and tellurium, are versatile alternatives to the more conventional silicon-based semiconductors. Depending on their metal component, these transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers have band gapsenergy barriers that limit electron flow through a materialthat can be tuned to alter their electronic properties.

The unique electronic properties of these monolayers have potential to improve a plethora of devices, including field-effect transistors, photodetectors and gas sensors.

Semiconducting monolayers are proven to be ideal candidates as gas sensing materials because they have a high surface-to-volume ratio. For example, MoS2 has been incorporated in field-effect transistors to detect nitrogen monoxide. However, its performance is limited by its relatively low carrier mobility or by the velocity at which its electrons (or holes) move when subjected to an electric field.

To overcome these shortcomings, KAUST Professor Udo Schwingenschlogl's team evaluated the potential of the platinum dichalcogenide PtSe2 for use in gas detectors via sophisticated computational techniques.

"Monolayer PtSe2 experimentally shows a high carrier mobility, which can be advantageous for gas sensing," said Schwingenschlogl, adding that this material had not previously been considered for this purpose. This approach shows the interaction between monolayer and gas molecules at both structural and electronic levels.

First, the researchers built a model monolayer composed of selenium atoms that formed octahedral arrangements with one platinum atom at their center. Next, they determined the optimal geometry adopted by individual gas molecules, such as NOx, NH3, H2O, CO2 and CO, upon adsorption. They assessed the capacity of these adsorbed molecules to transfer charge to the monolayer by examining adsorption-induced changes in the electronic properties.

These calculations provided high adsorption energies, indicating strong affinity between monolayer and gas molecules. All adsorbed molecules altered the monolayer charge (see image), which is key for the gas-sensing ability of monolayer PtSe2.

Furthermore, their interactions were more effective with monolayer PtSe2 than its MoS2 or carbon-based graphene analogues. "It was exciting to explain this difference at a molecular orbital level," said Schwingenschlogl. Calculations of electron transport revealed the high sensitivity of monolayer PtSe2 as a gas sensor.

More information: Muhammad Sajjad et al. Superior Gas Sensing Properties of Monolayer PtSe, Advanced Materials Interfaces (2017). DOI: 10.1002/admi.201600911
Enrico Fermi at the blackboard. Credit: Wiki Commons.

In physics, the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou (FPUT) problemwhich found that certain nonlinear systems do not disperse their energy, but rather return to their initial excited stateshas been a challenge that scientists have tackled repeatedly since 1955.

The challenge within the FPUT problem was that the scientists expected the system to achieve a relaxed state, possibly equilibrium, but instead it never relaxed.

Numerous papers have narrowed the focus of the problem, finding that weak nonlinear systems can reach a type of equilibrium. But the question of strongly nonlinear systems reaching full equilibrium has remained a mystery.

Now, a discovery by an international team of scientists, published in March in the journal Physical Review E, has found that such a system can reach equilibrium, provided certain conditions are met.

"That is a big deal," said Surajit Sen, PhD, a physics professor in the University at Buffalo's College of Arts and Sciences and co-author of the paper, "because in a very convoluted way, it confirms what [Enrico] Fermi had thought probably should happen."

Sen has been studying solitary waves, generated in a chain of solid spheresor grainsheld between stationary walls, for more than two decades. In 2000, he discovered how such waves can break into smaller "baby" solitary waves. Further research by others found that these solitary waves, under certain conditions, could reach a state of quasi-equilibrium, a generally calm state, but with large kinetic energy fluctuations.

Yet whether these strongly nonlinear systems could relax beyond this quasi-equilibrium phase, where the large kinetic energy fluctuations settle to much smaller equilibrium values, remained uncertain.

"What we are finding is that when these solitary waves continuously break down during collisions, they start to break down and reform. When this breaking down and reforming become comparable, that's when you get to the quasi-equilibrium phase," Sen said.

When the number of solitary waves running around the system become too large to even count, that is when the quasi-equilibrium ever-so-slowly goes over to true equilibrium where energy is roughly equally shared by all the particles.

Sen concedes that it is reasonable to ask: What does it matter? On one level, Sen says, this is pure science, with few immediate practical applications. However, there may be practical applications for materials science.

"I think it has implications in materials modeling," Sen said. "Suppose I want to make a material capable of withstanding enormous amounts of heat, or one that converts a mechanical vibration to electrical current. To make them, I have to have a really good understanding of how these materials transfer energy, and this research cuts right to the heart of it."

The breakthrough in the research came when Michelle Przedborski, a PhD student at Brock University in Canada, examined the specific heat of the chain of solid spheres by considering the collisions between the spheres. The specific heat behavior and the energy fluctuation, due to the collisions as predicted by the equilibrium theory, agreed exactly with the results predicted by dynamical computer simulations.

"That was the 'aha!' moment," Sen said. "They come from two different routes. Nothing can be sweeter than this, because when you have an agreement of this magnitude and of this level of exactness, you know the system is in equilibrium. There are no 'if, ands or buts' about it.

"What we have managed to showin the context of the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou problem, where the question was raised whether non-linear systems would go to equilibrium, over which there has been this 60-plus year debateis that strongly non-linear systems such as these do go to equilibrium."

Among the conditions required for the equilibrium state to be reached are that solitary waves must interact, or collide with each other, and the system must be gently perturbed, rather than violently shaken.

More information: Michelle Przedborski et al, Fluctuations in Hertz chains at equilibrium, Physical Review E (2017). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.95.032903 Journal information: Physical Review E
Bosnian Serb police are pressing charges against retired Croatian general Ante Gotovina accusing him of war crimes against civilians during Bosnia's 1990s conflict, police and media said Wednesday. 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. The Balkan conflicts of the 1990s claimed 130,000 lives, 100,000 of them in Bosnia.
ENTEBBE, Uganda (AP)  South Sudan's civil war is now genocide, with violence perpetrated along tribal lines, a senior British official said, urging African leaders to do more to end the conflict in which tens of thousands of people have been killed.

Priti Patel, the U.K. secretary of state for international development, said there are "massacres taking place, people's throats being slit" amid what she called a "scorched earth policy" in South Sudan's three-year war.

"It's tribal, it's absolutely tribal, so on that basis it's genocide," she said of the violence, speaking to The Associated Press on Wednesday night.

Her comments are the rare declaration by any government official of genocide in South Sudan.

Patel spoke after visiting South Sudan, where she met President Salva Kiir, whose government repeatedly has been accused of blocking food aid to some areas and harassing aid workers.

The situation in South Sudan is "absolutely abhorrent and inhumane," Patel said. The country also faces a hunger crisis, with famine recently declared in two counties and threatening to spread.

Villages are being burned, women are being raped and food is being used as a weapon of war, Patel said in neighboring Uganda, where she visited some of the refugee settlements in which over 800,000 South Sudanese are sheltering. Thousands of refugees continue to flee across the border amid increasing reports of targeted ethnic killings perpetrated by mostly government forces.

"The violence that is taking place is a stain on Africa," Patel said.

She called on Africa's leaders to press for an end to the war.

"Other leaders in the region cannot sit on their hands here," she said. "They themselves have to call on President Kiir to do more. If there's a national dialogue plan, regional leaders in my view should be taking the lead on that, in terms of how they influence President Kiir but also how they support the national dialogue as well to bring peace and reconciliation to that country."

Story continues

A United Nations report released last month said South Sudan is experiencing ethnic cleansing by mostly government forces and their allies. The report described the country as teetering on the edge of genocide. South Sudanese government officials repeatedly have denied that the country is experiencing genocide and ethnic cleansing.

"This is about international pressure," Patel said. "Where is the voice of the African Union? This is an African Union that was created to give strength to Africa. Where is that voice? Why are they not standing up for the people that are being massacred over the border who are their fellow African brothers and sisters?"

If Patel's comments on genocide reflect official British policy, one analyst said the country is obligated to act to prevent the abuses.

"Because genocide is the 'crime of crimes,' the Genocide Convention obligates its members to 'prevent or punish' genocide," said Casie Copeland, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group. "The UK is a treaty signatory, and a declaration of genocide by the UK invokes its obligations."

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was one of the earliest treaties adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, entering into force in 1951.

After questions from reporters, a British government spokeswoman said Thursday night that "the U.N. has alerted the international community to the risk of genocide and this is something we are monitoring closely."

South Sudan fell into civil war in December 2013, just two years after it won independence from Sudan. When war broke out, Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, accused his political rival, former Vice President Riek Machar, an ethnic Nuer, of leading an attempted military coup in the capital, Juba, that later escalated into a full-blown rebellion.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 amid international pressure has been violated repeatedly by both sides, and Machar, who had been reinstated as Kiir's deputy under that deal, fled into exile after fighting resumed in Juba in July.

A joint statement Thursday by Britain, the United States, Canada and Norway, issued ahead of the Easter holiday, said that "peace is painfully absent during this holy season" in South Sudan. It pointed out that Kiir has not yet announced the unilateral cease-fire as he said he had agreed to do last month.

More than 1.5 million people have fled the East African nation, creating the world's largest refugee crisis.

The United States and others have been urging accountability. Last month the U.N. commission of inquiry for South Sudan was given broader powers to pursue human rights abuses like mass rape and torture, with the new ability to collect and preserve evidence and point the finger at suspected perpetrators.

___

Associated Press writer Justin Lynch in Kampala, Uganda, and Greg Katz in London contributed.
A demonstrator chants slogans during a protest against the amendment of the higher education law that could force a Budapest university founded by billionaire American philanthropist George Soros to close , in front of the Parliament building in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday, April 9, 2017. Hungarian President Janos Ader said Monday April 10, 2017, in a statement that he has signed the bill setting new conditions for foreign universities in Hungary which is in line with the Constitution, and called on the government to immediately begin talks with the affected institutions to secure compliance with the new rules. (Zoltan Balogh/MTI via AP) A demonstrator chants slogans during a protest against the amendment of the higher education law that could force a Budapest university founded by billionaire American philanthropist George Soros to close , in front of the Parliament building in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday, April 9, 2017. Hungarian President Janos Ader said Monday April 10, 2017, in a statement that he has signed the bill setting new conditions for foreign universities in Hungary which is in line with the Constitution, and called on the government to immediately begin talks with the affected institutions to secure compliance with the new rules. (Zoltan Balogh/MTI via AP)

BRUSSELS (AP)  In a story April 12 about the European Union launching a probe of Hungary's education law, The Associated Press erroneously reported the location of a university founded by billionaire George Soros. They university is in Budapest, not Bucharest.

A corrected version of the story is below:

EU launches probe of Hungarian education law

The European Union's executive arm questioned Hungary's commitment to the bloc's fundamental values as it launched an investigation of a new law which is widely seen in Europe as targeting a Budapest university founded by billionaire George Soros

By RAF CASERT and PABLO GORONDI

Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union's executive arm questioned Hungary's commitment to the bloc's fundamental values Wednesday as it launched an investigation of a new law which is widely seen in Europe as targeting a Budapest university founded by billionaire George Soros.

EU Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans said the investigation of Hungary's amended higher education law would be completed "as soon as possible" and that the commission would consider possible next steps by the end of April.

The probe will look into whether the new law conflicts with EU rules and could apply to other European universities, Timmermans said. It would also examine whether it is compatible with EU principles on the free movement of services and respects the bloc's rules governing the admission of researchers from outside Europe.

The action illustrates the EU's growing frustration with the seven-year rule of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who increasingly has pursued policies that fly in the face of EU ideals.

"Where do you want to be in this European Union?" asked Timmermans, confounded by Orban's signature at a summit two weeks ago on a pledge to work for a united EU and promotion since then of a national voter questionnaire with the motto "Let's Stop Brussels."

Story continues

"What the heck is going on?" Timmermans asked.

In response, Hungary's government said the EU Commission was motivated by Hungary's anti-migrant positions, including its court challenge to an EU plan to resettle asylum-seekers among the 28 members of the bloc.

Hungary has built fences on its southern borders to stop the flow of migrants and new rules allow all asylum-seekers older than 14 to be held in border container camps until their asylum petitions are decided.

"Mr. Timmermans' every word is proof that Hungary is again under attack regarding migration," government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told reporters.

"We are ready for negotiations, but regarding migration, Hungary won't make changes to its positions," Kovacs said.

Orban has long planned to transform Hungary into an "illiberal state" where majority rule trumps minority rights and national policies trump adherence to EU standards in some areas. The plight of the Soros-founded Central European University has come to crystalize the debate.

Orban views the New York-based Soros as a political antithesis pushing globalism contrary to Hungary's cherished local values. The Hungarian leader also accuses Soros of trying to illegitimately influence his government and Hungary's politics through support of non-governmental organizations such as Transparency International.

The law sets new conditions for foreign universities in Hungary, some of which seem aimed specifically at CEU. It requires universities in Hungary also to have a campus in their home countries. While CEU is accredited in Hungary and in New York state, it does not have a U.S. campus.

"Central European University has been a pearl in the crown of Central Europe in forming a new generation of European leaders that see East and West as geographical denominations, not moral or political denominations," Timmermans said.

Timmermans said there also were "serious doubts" on the Commission about the compatibility of Hungary's recently tightened asylum laws with EU norms. He also mentioned the discrimination of Roma children in education and the protection of pregnant working women as areas where Hungary had failed to respond to EU concerns.

___

Gorondi reported from Budapest. Lorne Cook contributed from Brussels.
The reports that UP government had removed caste-based quota in private medical colleges were incorrect. Caste-based reservation is part of only government colleges and not private colleges.

By India Today Web Desk: We had reported that the Uttar Pradesh government had ended caste-based reservations in private medical and dental colleges. The order originally issued on March 10 only reiterated the earlier policy which did not provide for quota in private colleges.

The only new thing in this order is bringing the private medical and dental colleges into the NEET system. The order was issued by the outgoing Akhilesh Yadav-led government but was now being implemented by the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government.

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The education department later clarified that the March 10 order merely reiterated the policy that private medical and dental colleges will come now come under the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test, popularly known as NEET. Private colleges did not have any provision for reservation that government medical and dental colleges have.

"Reservation was never a part of the admission process in private sector medical and dental colleges as per the prevalent policy made in 2006. There has been no change in any policy whatsoever," director general medical education Dr VN Tripathi quoted as saying by the Times of India.

"Private medical and dental colleges have been brought under the umbrella of National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test for the first time. Seats in these colleges for post graduate courses are being filled through the NEET score," Tripathi told TOI.

Since taking over, the new government has launched several initiatives to improve the education system in UP and control cheating and corruption.

Also read:

UP CM Yogi Adityanath transfers 20 IAS officers in major bureaucratic reshuffle

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US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis is heading to the Middle East and Africa next week for a series of meetings with regional allies, the Pentagon said Friday. The trip will be Mattis's fourth overseas since he became President Donald Trump's defense secretary. It comes amid heightened tensions with Russia following the US military strike on a Syrian air base in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack. The trip includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Qatar and Djibouti. Mattis is making the trip to "reaffirm key US military alliances, to engage with strategic partners in the Middle East and Africa, and to discuss cooperative efforts to counter destabilizing activities and defeat extremist terror organizations," the Pentagon said. In Israel, Mattis will meet with President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. He will also visit the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. US-Russia relations are at a low point after Trump ordered the missile strike on a Syrian air base last week. Moscow has been conducting a military campaign in Syria to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Mattis and regional US allies are also expected to discuss the growing influence of Iran.
Uzbekistan said Friday the suspect in last week's deadly Stockholm truck attack had ties to Islamic State jihadists and the West had been warned about him. Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old Uzbek national, is in custody on suspicion of mowing down a crowd on a busy street in the Swedish capital, killing four people. Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said Akilov was radicalised after moving to Sweden in 2014 and the Central Asian nation's intelligence service had passed on information about him. "During his stay abroad, he was recruited through the internet by emissaries of the international terrorist organisation the Islamic State," Kamilov said in quotes from a press briefing published by the ministry. Kamilov said Akilov had "actively encouraged compatriots to go to Syria to participate in military operations" for the group. "He repeatedly propagated propaganda videos of terrorist content through internet messengers to his relatives and other connections in Uzbekistan, trying to persuade them to commit violent actions against Uzbek authorities, government officials and law enforcement agencies," Kamilov said. "Information about the wrongful acts of Rakhmat Akilov was transferred via the special services to one of our Western partners to further inform the Swedish side," he added, without giving more details. A spokeswoman for Sweden's foreign ministry told AFP that it "had not received such information". Russian agency Interfax on Wednesday quoted an anonymous security source in Uzbekistan who said a warrant had been issued for Akilov's arrest on extremism charges in February. Swedish police are currently holding Akilov, whose lawyer says he has already confessed to driving a stolen truck through the crowd and into the front of a department store in central Stockholm.
FILE - In this Sunday Sept. 16, 2012 file photo, South Sudanese men sing and clap as they ride on the truck carrying WFP food supplies to a warehouse, in Yida camp, South Sudan. The World Food Program said Friday April 14, 2017 it is "horrified" to learn that three of its South Sudan workers were killed this week in violence in the western town of Wau, as the country's civil war continues under warnings of possible genocide. (AP Photo/Mackenzie Knowles-Coursin, File)

JUBA, South Sudan (AP)  The World Food Program said Friday it is "horrified" to learn that three of its South Sudan workers were killed this week in violence in the western town of Wau, as the country's civil war continues under warnings of possible genocide.

A statement from the U.N. agency said the three men had been contracted to work as porters and appear to have been killed Monday on their way to a WFP warehouse.

"Two died of machete wounds and the third was shot," the statement said. It did not give any details about the attackers.

WFP Country Director Joyce Luma said she is "outraged," and she called on South Sudanese authorities to hold the attackers accountable.

Wau residents on Monday described to The Associated Press targeted ethnic killings by government soldiers that spread panic through the town. The U.N. mission in South Sudan said its workers saw the bodies of 16 civilians in a hospital and said another 10 people were injured.

Residents said soldiers singled out civilians of the Fertit and Luo ethnic groups in retaliation for a rebel attack on government forces. Residents said the dead included children who had been on their way to school.

One ethnic Fertit woman told Human Rights Watch that her neighbor was killed by a gunshot to the eye and that the neighbor's four children, who had been hiding under a bed, were killed as well: "I saw their bodies."

A South Sudan government spokesman, Michael Makuei, could not confirm Monday's violence.

Amid the panic, about 13,500 people have sought shelter at the U.N. mission's base in Wau since Monday, the International Organization for Migration said.

The fighting came to Wau after government soldiers were killed in an ambush on Sunday south of the town, the U.N. mission's statement said. Troops, tanks, and equipment were seen moving in Wau late last week.

U.N. officials have repeatedly warned that South Sudan is at risk of genocide. Its three-year civil war has grown more intense in recent weeks. At least 50,000 people have died since the conflict began in December 2013, and the country has created Africa's largest migrant crisis with 1.8 million refugees.
Employee morale is one of the single biggest indicators of your businesss success. Happy workers are productive workers, and according to Gallup, low morale can cost businesses up to $350 billion in lost productivity every year. On top of that, low morale can lead to increased employee turnover, which can cost you even more time and money in new training and development.

You can adhere to standard best practices for improving morale, but professional values in the workplace are changing. Employers need to keep up with those trends and expectations if they want to remain competitive and keep morale as high as possible.

Do you know how to boost employee morale? Here are five tips.

How to Boost Employee Morale

These tactics can help you boost employee morale:

1. Better Training and Ongoing Education

Todays workers arent satisfied remaining in one place. They want ongoing training and development to learn new skills and new concepts; this makes them more valuable and diversifies their work experience so they dont get bored or burned out. From the time you hire a new employee to the time they move on, you should be investing resources into their training and development. Better, more engaging training software like Talent LMS can introduce workers to your culture and integrate them faster into your environment. Once comfortable, they can return to take new classes, acquire new skills, and go through different development modules. These processes will keep your employees engaged and give them a reason to stick with your company for the long haul.

2. Flex-time and Work-from-Home Options

According to a poll by NBC News, flex-time is now rated as the most important career perk. As technology improves, it becomes easier for professionals to work from home, or telecommute for portions of the day. Flex-time policies differ by company, but usually mandate that your employees complete a certain amount of workusually by hour or by number of tasks completedin a day, but on their own scheduling terms (to some degree). This lets your workers better manage personal responsibilities like watching after children, and avoid problems of 9-to-5 culture, such as rush hour traffic.

3. More Collaboration

We have thousands of digital tools for collaboration at our disposal, from project management software like Producteev to file sharing and team chat options like Slack. However, the mere presence and availability of these tools isnt enough to make a workplace functional (or make your workers happy). You need to be able to use these tools effectively, streamlining communication and enabling your team to work closely together, if you want your employees to be happier at work. Close teams have stronger bonds, and fewer miscommunications means less stress.

4. Better Conflict Resolution

Inevitably, your team is going to run into issues. Youll have miscommunications, disagreements, and overworked or overstressed workers. When these occasions arise, you need to have effective conflict resolution systems in place; you cant just brush these problems under the rug. Work with your HR department to build an open system of mediation, root cause analysis, and of course, compromise to make sure everyone involved in the issue walks away satisfied with a resolution.

5. In-depth Two-way Feedback

According to the Harvard Business Review, the up-and-coming millennial generation craves feedback more than any other generation. Mutual feedback is important because it gives each party the chance to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, and grow. Giving feedback to your employees makes them feel acknowledged and appreciated, and gives them something to work on in the future. Getting feedback from your employees helps you understand some of the flaws that may be affecting your organization, and what you can do to improve morale even further. Annual reviews are a must, and quarterly reviews may be even better (depending on the nature of your organization).

A Gradual Rollout

Some of these changes have the potential to fundamentally disrupt your businesss operations; imagine suddenly shifting to a fully remote office overnight. Because of this, many entrepreneurs are reluctant to adopt these practices. However, theres no need to incorporate these strategies all at once.

Instead, you can roll them out gradually, one at a time, and in ways that best suit your operations. For example, you may start with a simple training program and expand it over the course of the next five years, or introduce flex-time to one department at a time until it becomes the norm for the entire company.

However you choose to approach your companys morale, youll need to have some documented system in place. It may cost a bit of time and money to introduce that system, but youll more than make up for it with what you earn in future employee productivity and loyalty.
Stripe, the company that revolutionized the online payment system, promises to do the same for online startup creation.

Stripe Atlas provides aspiring entrepreneurs with the foundation on which they can build their online businesses. The service combines the cumbersome but necessary legal and administrative details into one, well-organized system.

Stripe Atlas Overview

Key Services

What exactly is involved in setting up an online business? Those that have gone through the process can confirm the details can be overwhelming. In fact, 62 percent of Stripe Atlass newest clients are not first time founders, evidence that the program is a welcomed and much needed service.

Heres a look at the core services offered by Stripe Atlas, how much they cost and what types of businesses should use them.

Incorporation and Taxation

Stripe Atlas takes the guesswork out of your incorporation and taxation documents. Included in the service is registration of your company as a Delaware Corporation and the associated Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Delaware C Corps are the chosen business entities of Silicon Valley startups, making it easier for them to court investors, accept funds and eventually go public.

Processing time is a couple of days.

Banking

Along with your foundation documents, Stripe Atlas establishes an account for your company, complete with a debit card at the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a leading bank for tech companies.

All this without ever setting foot in a branch.

Payments

At its core, Stripe is a payment processing company and that functionality is present in Stripe Atlas.

Your newly founded Internet business will include a Stripe account, giving you the power to send and receive payments through your online portal, while withdrawing and depositing those funds into your SVB account.

Cost and Application Process

Atlas has a one-time fee of $500, and the platform now accepts direct applications, with a response time of approximately two weeks.

What Type of Online Businesses Should Use Swipe Atlas?

Initially Swipe Atlas was designed for international companies in developing countries attempting to enter the US market. However, the popularity of the service has created demand from US based businesses too.

The business model is designed for internet companies with big goals. If your vision is to acquire large investors and eventually go public with your startup, Swipe Atlas may suit your needs.

Conclusion

Establishing an online business has never been easier what with the many inexpensive web hosting, web development, free platform and other services available to establish your online presence and start developing your brand.

The missing piece, if there is one, remains the many legal and financial details required in setting up a fledgling online company to do business. I youre hoping to outsource this part of the equation  and the headaches that go with it  Swipe Atlas may be one option.
Companies are obliged to start e-communication as of July, though state authorities are not even fully prepared.

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Paper letters informing recipients about late payments or court rulings will no longer be sent as of this summer. This is the states plan after it created e-letterboxes for thousands of entrepreneurs to receive official mail. The plan, however, seems to be endangered as nearly half of the companies have not yet activated their e-letterbox.

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This is the case despite the massive campaign the state launched last autumn. Moreover, some entrepreneurs warn of the problems they face when activating their e-letterbox, but also low preparedness of state authorities to communicate online.

I think the activities to raise awareness and promotion might have been more conspicuous and creative as people often dont know what to expect from e-letterboxes and what they will achieve, Peter Kremsky, executive director of the Business Alliance of Slovakia (PAS), told The Slovak Spectator. For now, they only know about their duties, which does not motivate them much to activate the e-letterboxes, he added.

Only 51 percent of statutory representatives of firms on which the new rules will apply as of July 1 activated the e-letterboxes by April 3. The National Agency for Network and Electronic Services (NASES) however, will automatically activate the e-letterboxes of all corporate entities residing in Slovakia listed in the business register on July 1, 2017.

After this date, the statutory representatives [without eID cards and activated personal security code] will not access official mail sent to an e-letterbox, Martina Slusna, spokesperson for NASES, told The Slovak Spectator.

This will concern, for example, court decisions, as well as demands for payments.

Campaign helped, but not much

The state originally planned to automatically activate companies e-letterboxes as of August 1, 2015, but later postponed the date by one year. This deadline also went unmet, and has been postponed twice: first to January 1, 2017, and most recently to July 1, 2017.

The reason for the postponement was the unpreparedness of the responsible persons for the e-letterboxes (in most cases its statutory representative) to use them. They need to have an ID card with a chip, an electronic signature, a personal security code, as well as a card reader. Moreover, it is necessary to download certain applications to make it possible to use the whole system.

To provide the statutory representatives with more information, the Office of Deputy PM for Investments and Informatisation Peter Pellegrini launched a campaign for 600,000. This included the start of the Statutar.sk website, where entrepreneurs can find basic information about the e-letterboxes.

However, the campaign took place only after the deadline was postponed for several times, said Jan Solik of the Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Slovakia.

The activities informing about the duty to use e-letterboxes were launched relatively late, Solik told The Slovak Spectator.

The campaign by Pellegrinis office, however, was not the only one. The Finance Ministry started a similar one at the turn of 2015 and 2016, which cost some 0.5 million. It, however, did not make a big impact, the Sme daily reported.

Read also:

Read also: E-letterboxes will be used later, again Read more

Ministry warns of long lines

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has reached out to statutory representatives via its own channels. Last November, for example, it sent a letter to statutory representatives, reminding them to get an eID card.

The targeted campaign was successful and especially in the beginning of December the departments issuing the documents reported a significant increase in the number of applications for issuing or activating eID cards submitted by statutory representatives, the ministry informed, as quoted by the SITA newswire.

Sme wrote that the letters contained the old date for launching the e-communication with the state: January 1, 2017.

Moreover, the ministry sent a short text message to statutory representatives in mid-March, warning them of long waiting lines if they do not request activation of their eID card soon enough. The situation may get worse with the start of the holiday season, it informed in a press release.

Not all state offices use e-communication

Representatives of entrepreneurs in Slovakia, however, point to the difficulties the statutory representatives face when trying to activate their e-letterbox, like the need to have an e-ID, code and a card reader, but also the need to download and install the necessary software, as well as the impossibility to redirect emails to their personal inboxes, Kremsky said.

Solik also points to the minimal use of the already activated e-letterboxes. Not only is it complicated to use them, but also the state offices are not prepared to communicate online, he added.

Though NASES says that all state authorities are obliged to communicate electronically as of November 1, 2016, some institutions do not use it.

The Financial Administration uses its own system, while the health insurers are not even subject to the respective legislation, Solik said.

Read also:

Read also: All state offices now communicate online Read more

NASES prepares changes

Other problems have occurred while using the e-letterboxes. Some users, for example, received emails intended for other people with the same name, the public-service RTVS reported in early March. The case concerned especially court rulings.

Slusna responded to these cases by saying that every owner of a state e-letterbox has a unique identifier based on which the state offices send the mail.

The system doesnt allow sending the decisions to someone elses e-letterbox, Slusna said, adding that if people received mail not addressed to them, it might have been a human mistake.

The Justice Ministry, meanwhile, confirmed the problems for RTVS, saying that similar errors happen occur when they send ordinary mail. It recommends that people turn to the respective offices if something similar happens.

Lubor Illek of the non-governmental initiative Slovensko.Digital shares the opinion, saying it is normal that there are errors when sending mail.

It is important that the providers of the information systems know to respond to them flexibly, communicate with the users and try to improve the quality of services, Illek told The Slovak Spectator, adding that NASES seems to be taking a good path in this field.

Another problem, to which RTVS pointed, concerned the mail of users who decided to cancel their business licence. After doing so, they lost access to their important documents linked to the business.

Following the critical reports, NASES decided to make it possible for these people to request the relevant documents be sent to their own letterboxes, RTVS informed.

Moreover, NASES is currently preparing other changes to e-letterboxes to make them more user-friendly and add some new functions. The public can comment on the prepared changes until April 5. Subsequently, NASES will evaluate the comments and prepare the list of changes.

Those picked by the users will subsequently be realised, Slusna said.

Authenticator a temporary solution

Until recently, it was also problematic for statutory representatives without permanent residence in Slovakia to access the e-letterboxes of companies they manage in Slovakia.

The foreign statutory representatives are a good example that the system functions improperly even though the duty to use e-letterboxes was originally planned to be introduced already in 2015, Solik said.

A few weeks ago, there was even no possibility for representatives without permanent residence in Slovakia to access their e-letterboxes. They could only authorise their Slovak colleague to process the electronic mail and hope they would fulfil the duty. This was also one of the reasons why the duty was ranked in the Bureaucratic Nonsense 2016 inquiry, Solik said.

The Interior Ministry thus introduced the so-called alternative authenticator as of March 1 for both foreign and Slovak statutory representatives without permanent residency in Slovakia to allow them to sign in to their e-letterbox.

The foreign statutory representatives need to request the authenticator at the departments of the alien police, while Slovaks can go to one of the nine regional authorities that issue personal documents. They are required to submit an application where they state their personal details, security personal code, as well as the name of the corporate entity and its address.

The authenticators are issued free of charge and are valid for three years. It does not replace any other card issued by the foreigners police regarding the stay permission in Slovakia, Alena Koisova of the Interior Ministrys press department told The Slovak Spectator.

The situation is better now, but the problem hasnt been solved yet, Solik said, explaining that foreign statutory representatives still lack the electronic signature which in fact makes it impossible for them to use the e-letterboxes.

Illek, on the other hand, sees a problem among other groups of people who do not have access to the e-letterboxes or e-Government services, such as people without permanent residence in Slovakia who are not authorised representatives of companies. The Interior Ministry claims that the current solution is only temporary and a permanent authenticator will be introduced after the EU regulations concerning electronic identification will come into force. Yet it has not specified when this will happen.

The holders of the alternative authenticator can authorise someone else with an electronic signature to use the e-services, Koisova said.
PunchKeyboard is a virtual keyboard on which users can write thanks to virtual reality drivers without leaving the simulated environment.

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Virtual reality still lacks a reliable method for typing text directly in the virtual environment. The recent invention of Slovak designer Jonathan Ravasz, who currently works at the technological incubator Kitchen in Budapest, may however change this.

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PunchKeyboard is a virtual keyboard on which users can write thanks to virtual reality drivers without leaving the simulated environment. It should serve as a temporary tool that implements methods from 2D into 3D, the Sme daily reported.

The passwords and emails are currently always entered outside the virtual reality which disrupts the experience offered by this technology, Ravasz told Sme. There is also a possibility to enter the text by voice, but people lose their intimacy. Moreover, in some cases people dont want to enter their personal data aloud.

video //www.sme.sk/vp/35322/

The PunchKeyboard tool resembles the typewriter that can automatically complete words and predict following words in the sentence. The database uses its vocabulary from the social network Reddit. The users, however, can create their own vocabulary.

The PunchKeyboard code can be found at the GitHub website as open source, and people can adapt it to specific purposes.

I wanted it to become standard solution, Ravasz said, as quoted by Sme. Im currently working on a prototype which could work in the virtual reality also with chatbots.

The Slovak developer is also working on connecting the keyboard with artificial intelligence Watson by IBM, in order to enable the change of text to speech, Sme reported.
New stamp has a pelican motif.

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A folk painting from the Vajnory church of Our Lady of Sorrows has become the motif of the new postal stamp. On the painting is a pelican, Christological symbol as the pelican was once thought to piece its own breast to feed young with its blood.

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The postal stamp is called Easter: Folk Painting Vajnory and its value is 0.50. Its proportions are 26.5 x 33.9 millimetres and it was printed by the offset technique in Postovni tiskarna cenin, Prague.

Along with the postal stamp, the post office released an envelope with an FDC (first-day cover). Also released was a rubber stamp with the date, March 24th, 2017, and name of Bratislava. The motif of the FDC envelope is also the folk painting from Vajnory, in larger context, and the FDC stamp depicts a pelican over a nest of chicks, similar to the church painting. The FDC envelope and rubber stamp were printed by offset technique by Kasico printer.

The author of the postal stamp, FDC envelope and rubber stamp is Marianna Zalec Varcholova.
Privacy

Common Sense Kids Action Joins 55 Organizations to Oppose CA AB-165

Common Sense Kids Action, an advocacy platform of the nonprofit Common Sense Media, has joined a coalition of more than 55 civil rights, immigration, education, youth, health, labor and LGBTQ organizations to oppose the passage of California Assembly Bill 165.

The bill would provide an exclusion to the existing California Electronic Communications Privacy Act (CalECPA), allowing a local educational agency, or any individual acting on behalf of a local educational agency, to search an electronic device or online account of a student, parent, teacher or school staff member without complying with CalECPA rules.

AB-165 is expected to be heard before the state Assemblys Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection Tuesday, April 18.

If enacted, the results could mean:

E-mails, text messages, social media communications, photos and more could be viewed and investigated without oversight. Sensitive personal or family information and communications stored on phones and other digital devices would no longer be protected by CalECPA.

Students and parents might never be notified about these searches.

Any information found during a search could be used or shared with law enforcement and federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the larger Department of Homeland Security and others.

More than 6 million children who attend Californias public schools, plus their parents, could be affected. Teachers and school staff members could have their electronic devices and online accounts searched as well.

While assembly members who support the bill say the information could be helpful to school authorities who are investigating incidents of cyberbullying, others, such as ACLU attorney Chris Conley, say there are other ways to mitigate bullying in the schools and seizing electronic devices may not be an effective strategy.

Common Sense Kids Action is encouraging California residents to contact their legislators and voice their opposition to AB-165 on this site. Common Sense Kids Action says it may share personal information with affiliates, legislators and like-minded coalitions.

A summary of the bill can be found on this California legislature site. The entire text of the bill can be found here.

To read a high school journalists perspective on the bill and its implications, visit el Estoque, the website and newspaper of Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, CA.
Yogi Adityanth's UP government will soon be training child labourers in Lucknow to make them job ready.

By India Today Web Desk: The Ministry of Labour and Employment now lays stress on training 6,005 child labourers in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow.

The UP government intends to work on a progressive scheme to train and make child labourers employment-ready.

Child Labour in Uttar Pradesh

"On the directives of the Labour and Employment Ministry of the Government of India, we will soon be undertaking a special training for child labourers who have been identified in the state capital," IANS quoted the official.

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HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

In India child labour is majorly due to socio-economic constraints of families below poverty line.

Children from the age of 8-18 work under hazardous conditions and are also deprived of basic amenities like education, health care, food, etc.

After surveys conducted by the Social Works Department of Lucknow University, there have been 6,005 children identified in UP doing petty jobs to earn a living.

These children are involved in embroidery work, domestic help, used for cleaning utensils in hotels and restaurants, rag picking, working in temporary shops and in auto repair shops.

According to The National Child Labour Project Scheme, the sole aim is to identify child labours in India and to regulate working conditions through voluntary organisations.

The identified children are to be withdrawn from these occupations and then put into special schools in order to enable them to be mainstreamed into formal schooling system.

Over 70 voluntary organisations are receiving 75 per cent of the project cost for upliftment of the child labourers from the Central government. These funds get released depending on the progress of project activities.

Hazardous working conditions.

"These children will be trained to be employment ready, independent and to ensure that they start living in better conditions," the official said according to an IANS report.

How successful these attempts can be when it comes to abolishing the social evil, is yet to be measured. Despite several reforms which were carved earlier to abolish child or bonded labour, it failed to render fruitful results

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Viewpoint

Online Music Composition Tool Helps Students Engage, Learn and Socialize

A fifth grade teacher from Montana reflects on how Soundtrap helped an unmotivated, unfocused student discover his voice and passion.

A girl builds a musical composition on Soundtrap.

One of the toughest tasks for teachers is reaching those students who seem to be tuned out. We all know the type  they don't pay attention in class, don't participate and don't seem to care if they get poor grades. In a small school, such students can particularly stand out and this was one of my biggest challenges in the school where I've been teaching for 19 years.

Shelley Emslie

I teach at a rural, one-building, K-8 school in Western Montana in a picturesque spot with the Swan Mountain Range looming in the distance. With a student body of 165 and just one teacher per grade, we don't have lavish resources, but I'm convinced that creatively using technology to improve learning can work even on a modest level. We may be limited with only 45 Chromebooks in our whole school, but I've had positive results in my class with students going much deeper into subject matter through a blended learning style. Using a blended approach allows me to individualize a students learning experience.

Nevertheless, my approach wasn't working with a particular fifth-grade student. He was struggling and had a hard time focusing. Nothing interested him and his grades were well below what they should have been. One day in class during Genius Hour, I noticed this student really engaged on a Chromebook. He had earphones on, so I could not hear what he was listening to, but the smile on his face went from ear to ear. I had to find out what had him so captivated.

Student Engagement

After asking him what he was up to, he said, I'm doing Soundtrap. I had never heard of it, but soon learned about it from my colleague, Brianne Fuzesy, our music and band teacher. Brianne explained it is an online collaborative music and audio recording studio that runs on multiple platforms, including Chromebooks. Very easy to use, it gives students the tools to create music or podcasts and share them through the web with fellow students within an invited group. She told me about her class project, and I was incredibly impressed. Brianne had introduced my students older brother to Soundtrap, and he was so inspired by her project, he shared it with his brother.

I was completely blown away by the impact of this software application on my student. While sharing his Genius Hour Soundtrap project, he led the class in selecting musical elements, put them together, then played the resulting composition to the class, all on Soundtrap. My chin was just about hitting the floor during his presentation. Here's a kid who really wasn't interested in much of anything at school, but I watched how he addressed the class with confidence and excited the whole group about the creative process.

Hand-Me-Down Composing

But the full story turned out to be even deeper. Brianne, who had taught college-level audio engineering before coming to our school last year, had been tasked with creating a general music class for older students at Swan River School, but found that some of her students were uninterested in the usual approaches to teaching music. Tapping into her skill set, she decided to focus on basic audio editing, researching a number of programs and finally choosing Soundtrap because of its simplicity, features and how well it worked on Chromebooks  although it works across iOS, Android, Mac and Windows devices as well. She set up a 30-day trial and used it in her seventh-grade music class as an introduction to how to make music on a computer via the program's pre-recorded loops as well as ability to record instruments.

Brianne Fuzesy, Swan River music teacher

Most of Brianne's seventh graders were complete musical novices and started off slowly but the program, with its drag-and-drop features and on-screen keyboard, was so simple that they quickly got into it and became virtually unstoppable  including the older brother of my fifth-grade student. The seventh grader was so excited about it that he showed his younger brother how to use it at home and that was the source of his Genius Hour project.

Overwhelming Student Response But Limited Funds

My only regret is that I didn't videotape his original presentation, but I did bring my principal into the room to see it and it was magical. My student commanded this class of 24 kids and you could watch everything change; his posture, the look in his eyes. These are the moments teachers live for. After his presentation, he showed the other fifth graders how to use Soundtrap and this became what kids wanted to do during Genius Hour, with them composing music left and right. It took off like wildfire.

It was obvious to Brianne and me that this was a powerful tool to use in our curriculum, but we had a major snag: After the 30-day trial, we had stopped using Soundtrap. Remarkably, there was a happy ending. At the huge ISTE conference last year, I was telling the story of Soundtrap's success at our school to a few people among the 17,000 participants at the event and one of them turned out to be the CEO of Soundtrap. He was moved by the situation at our little two-stoplight town in Montana and within a month, I had a free site license for our school.

Ambitious New Programs

With Soundtrap in place this year, we've been creating new programs. I teach art as well as fifth grade and I'm using this recording software for my students to compose music to go with their art projects. I've released a couple of videos on Twitter of these projects and the results have been stunning. Brianne is having collaborative groups of her seventh graders write 30-second radio commercials using Soundtrap with voice, music and audio effects and her next goal is creating a podcast exploring the oral storytelling traditions of the Crow and Blackfeet Indian tribes.

The behavior of my previously unengaged fifth grader, who's now a sixth grader, continues to be impressive. His original Genius Hour really cracked his shell and he's come into his own, with much more confidence and better grades. He's still using Soundtrap in class and developing his own compositions. Our dream is for him to present one of his songs at our talent show. It's clear that technology can open doors for students of all learning types.

Swan River music teacher Brianne Fuzesy contributed to this report.
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP)  A court in Ivory Coast has handed down sentences of up to 20 years in prison in connection with the 2011 deaths of four foreigners who were kidnapped from the Novotel hotel in Abidjan.

The downtown hotel was a popular spot with foreigners including international journalists covering the country's violence as ex-President Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power after losing the election.

Witnesses said armed gunmen loyal to Gbagbo stormed the hotel on April 4, 2011, sending foreign guests into hiding on the upper floors.

Four people were seized: the hotel's French manager, a second French national and businessmen from Malaysia and Benin. One victim's body was found in a nearby lagoon with a bullet to the head. The other three are presumed dead.

Pierre Olivier Sur, who represented the victims' families, lamented Thursday that the defendants never cooperated and said where the bodies of the other three were located.

"But today we know who killed them, who gave the order," he said. "The most important thing is that justice was done. There was no desire for vengeance."

One of the defendants, Osee Logue, was sentenced to 20 years in prison while three others received 18 years. The others received sentences of 10 and six years.

"It's a failure to be content with a guilty verdict in order to please certain people; it's not enough," said Rodrigue Dadje, one of the defense lawyers. "I am sorry, but it doesn't resolve the problem of finding out the truth."

The attack took place not long before Gbagbo was captured, clearing the way for current President Alassane Ouattara to take office. Gbagbo now faces war crimes charges at The Hague.

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Associated Press writer Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal contributed.
Storyful

A total lunar eclipse was visible in Arizona early on Tuesday, November 8, hours before voters headed to polls to vote in the general midterm elections.This footage was captured by Travis Coppin, who said he recorded it from his home in Phoenix on Tuesday.According to NASA, it was the last total lunar eclipse until 2025. It was visible across North and Central America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Credit: Travis Coppin via Storyful
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 defence 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 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. "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 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 (AIR.PA) last year. 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. 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 towards 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 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. "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)
Religion-based reservations will divide people along communal lines and lead to rise in demand for creation of another Pakistan, for another partition of the country, the Union Minister said.

By India Today Web Desk: Implementing reservations on the grounds of religion could lead to social unrest in the country and result in "creation of another Pakistan", Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu has said.

Naidu was speaking at a BJP meeting held on the occasion of the Ambedkar Jayanthi. He also indicated that the recent proposal by Telangana to increase reservations for some sections of society may not have constitutional validity.

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The minister added that architect of Constitution B R Ambedkar had always opposed reservation based on religious lines.

"We are not opposing (reservation on the basis of religion) because KCR (Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao) wants to implement it," he said.

BJP OPPOSED THIS MOVE EVEN EARLIER

Naidu added, "The BJP had opposed such a step even when Rajasekhar Reddy (late chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh) and Chandrababu Naidu (the present CM) tried to do that. We will raise our voice against any such move because that will result in creation of another Pakistan. It is an all-India policy of the BJP, not merely that of the party's Telangana unit," he said.

He said the BJP was against communal reservations. "Communal reservation will divide people along communal lines. It will lead to rise in demand for another partition of the country. It will antagonise one set of people against another. There will also be social disruption," Naidu added.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had recently said that 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 further said that a resolution once passed by the state Assembly would be sent to the Centre for its consent. He also warned that in case the Centre refused to grant its approval, the state government may approach the Supreme Court.

BJP NOT AGAINST MUSLIMS: VENKAIAH

The Union Minister also clarified that his party was not against Muslims.

"Reservations that are offered based on social status and backwardness (in any religion) are recognised by the Constitution. Any deviation from that will not stand before the Constitution", he said.

"The BJP bats for reservation for those belonging to the socially backward classes and are discriminated against. Reservations based on religion may lead to social unrest in the country. They would encourage religious conversions, leading to tension among various sections of society", he added.

(WITH INPUTS FROM PTI)

Also read | Telangana plans to hike reservation for Muslims, Special Assembly Session on Sunday

Also read | Triple talaq row: Can religion be reasoned to deny equal rights? Centre seeks ban from Supreme Court

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Its not often that Tara Walch gets huge opportunities.

So when the producer of AColores! got the opportunity to have a show featuring Maria Masha Alyokhina of P***y Riot, she jumped at the chance.

And New Mexicans will be able to see the interview at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 15, on New Mexico PBS, Channel 5.1.

Shes a pretty cool person, and shes super-grounded and self-assured, Walch says of Alyokhina.

The band, formed in 2011, is a Russian feminist protest punk-rock group based in Moscow.

The group is known for staging guerrilla performances in unusual public places.

It gained notoriety in 2012, when the group staged a performance inside Moscows Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

On March 3, 2012, two of the group members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina, were arrested and charged with hooliganism. They were later convicted and imprisoned for two years.

In looking at their work, its a voice of conscience, and I think it was an opportunity to see how she overcame her experiences, Walch says. Freedom of speech is so important to us, and they felt that saying something important was hindered and learning to stand up for what you believe in. Its great to see.

Walch says the show was able to get an interview with Alyokhina when the band came to Albuquerque last month for two shows.

We try to get interviews like this, she says. Its an opportunity to see an amazing perspective of whats going on in other parts of the world.

FREE FILMS IN LOS LUNAS: Showcasing some of the best in New Mexico film has always been the goal of the Valencia Leading Edge Film Festival in Los Lunas.

And this year is no different.

The free event will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, and Thursday, April 20, on the University of New Mexico Valencia campus in Los Lunas.

Guest speakers in a panel discussion on documentary filmmaking on April 19 will include directors Glenn Silber, The War at Home and Dyanna Taylor, Annapurna.

SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART.
In the opening moments of Frantz, the latest intricately layered mystery from the French writer-director Francois Ozon, a German woman named Anna (Paula Beer) visits the grave of her fiance, a soldier recently slain in the trenches of World War I. You can sense the wars immense reach in a few fleeting details  a man who whistles in Annas direction is missing an arm  but also in the eerie quiet that has descended on the towns cobbled streets and in the somber cast of the movies black-and-white images.

If you happen to have seen Ernst Lubitschs Broken Lullaby, the 1932 antiwar drama on which this new film is based, you might also sense something more: a curious and telling shift in perspective. Lubitschs film, adapted from a play by Maurice Rostand, was a rare message picture from a director celebrated for his exquisite comic touch, unfolded through the eyes of a French veteran making an unexpected visit to the grieving loved ones of a dead German soldier.

Frantz retains the earlier films central premise and pacifist themes. A Paris musician named Adrien Rivoire (Pierre Niney) has come to pay his respects to Dr. Hoffmeister (Ernst Stotzner) and his wife, Magda (Marie Gruber), and to share his memories of their fallen son, Frantz (played by Anton von Lucke in flashbacks). But this time, the storys moral and dramatic fulcrum is Anna, whose loving, protective attitude toward the Hoffmeisters, whom she regards as her own parents, is matched by her intense curiosity about this stranger in their midst.

The presence of a Frenchman in Germany so soon after the Great War does not go unremarked upon by Dr. Hoffmeister, who receives Adrien coldly at first, or by the glowering locals  one of whom, Kreutz (Johann von Bulow), wants to marry Anna himself. Adrien, for his part, is sympathetic but not entirely above suspicion. His recollections of many happy hours spent with Frantz in Paris before the war, visiting museums and playing violin together, bring the Hoffmeisters no small measure of solace. But his sad eyes and halting, fearful demeanor seem to tell a darker, more unsettling story.

That story will not be revealed here, though Ozon, a master of misdirection and one of French cinemas most prolific chroniclers of gay desire, delights in raising the sort of romantic possibilities that are easier for an audience to countenance now than they were in 1919. More than once, Frantz hints that it will reveal itself as a homoerotic reworking of Broken Lullaby. But Ozon has something simpler and no less intriguing up his sleeve.

One of the directors chief aims here  articulated with rueful clarity by Stotzners sober-minded doctor  is to eliminate the distractions of nationalism and politics and to remind his characters and his audience of the unimaginable suffering endured on both sides of the conflict. Not for nothing has Ozon rechristened the dead German soldier Frantz, playfully evoking both his own name, Francois, and the nation of France itself: Its as if he were suggesting that the responsibility for a mans death does not always belong to his killer alone.

At one point, Ozon goes so far as to deconstruct a famous scene from Casablanca, investing a moment of unambiguous moral triumph with undercurrents of menace and dread. By this point, Frantz has shaken off the vestiges of Broken Lullaby and plunged forward in an entirely new narrative direction, one that begins when Anna boards a train for France and sets out to find answers of her own.

In doing so, she becomes the latest in a line of richly conflicted Ozon heroines  the women played by Charlotte Rampling in Under the Sand and Catherine Deneuve in Potiche come especially to mind  forced to confront impossible situations, usually set in motion by the men in their lives. Anna, reeling from devastation and disbelief to a startling rush of desire, doesnt know what either the past or the future holds, but she rises to the occasion with a bracing mix of clever calculation and pure instinct.

Something similar might be said of Ozon, whose work often attempts  not always successfully, but always impressively  to bridge the gap between style and feeling, between his flair for formal trickery and his desire to usher the viewer into a realm of unbridled emotion. In perhaps his most Ozonian gesture, he occasionally floods cinematographer Pascal Martis monochrome palette with a sudden infusion of warm color, usually to signal a flashback to happier times. These moments are sometimes dreams, sometimes memories and sometimes beautiful lies, which is very much to the directors point.

One of the key questions hes asking here is about the moral necessity of telling a falsehood, particularly when the need to shield those already in mourning from further pain becomes its own moral imperative. Frantz achieves its own version of this paradox. It is a cunningly crafted fiction, full of visual artifice and narrative sleight-of-hand, that by the end could hardly feel more sincere.

3.5 stars
Its time to vote out career politicians on Council

IM SURE WERE all tired of the construction down Central stemming from the wasteful spending by our city officials. We have a chance to vote out the District 9 city councilor who voted yes on this project. This is an incumbent whos been in office far too long. Theres an honest, reliable candidate running against this incumbent for City Council.

Paul Ryan McKenney is an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, a loving father and a liberty-minded individual who will balance the budget. A man who will put an end to civil asset forfeiture in the city of Albuquerque, who will improve public safety through community policing, re-engage and invigorate small business by cutting restrictive and regressive regulations that hurt our local economic growth. McKenney will protect property rights, end unnecessary licensing and promote open government, public access and accountability.

McKenney resides in the Northeast Heights and is dedicated to creating change and improving his own community, District 9, and the city. Theres an overwhelming need for change in the city and McKenney is the start to that change. Its time we vote out career politicians in our city; its time we start to vote for change! Lets vote in a city councilman who will cut wasteful spending and ease the burden on the taxpayers. Check out Paul Ryan McKenney for City Council District 9 on Facebook, visit his website, and support a candidate whos truly for the people of District 9 and the city.

Support change in New Mexico!  Support Paul Ryan McKenney for Albuquerque City Council District 9!

STEPHEN DESPIN JR.

Albuquerque

Save money, suffering by fighting Alzheimers now

There are 38,000 people living with Alzheimers in New Mexico, and I am one. The impact of Alzheimers on families, including mine, is devastating. But I am not writing to tell my own story. I am writing to show how this public health crisis affects us all.

Alzheimers is the most expensive disease in the USA, (costing) an estimated $259 billion in 2017, increasing to $1.1 trillion by mid-century. Medicare and Medicaid cover the lions share  $175 billion, or 67 percent, of the total health care and long-term care payments for people with dementia. As the baby-boomer generation ages, the crisis only escalates.

Alzheimers needs to be a national priority. It is the sixth leading cause of death. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined; and there is still no prevention, no proven treatment or cure. We need to ask our leaders to provide additional funding to the National Institute of Health for research that could lead to a breakthrough that would dramatically reduce the financial burden.

And until that breakthrough, we have to make sure that our citizens affected by Alzheimers are getting the care they need. For people with advanced dementia, palliative care  which focuses on managing and easing symptoms, reducing pain and stress, and increasing comfort  is essential. It improves quality of life and controls costs. The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA, S. 2748/H.R. 3119) would ensure a well-trained and educated palliative work force to meet the growing demand of our aging population.

Ultimately, it will cost us much more to ignore this crisis. Without additional research funding and legislation such as PCHETA, the cost to Medicaid and Medicare will more than double.

(Last) month, I, along with 13 other New Mexicans, travel(ed) to Washington, D.C., to gather with over 1,200 advocates from around the country. Together, we  ask(ed) our congressional delegates to make disease research funding a priority and request their support for PCHETA. Even if you cant physically go to D.C., your voice can still be heard. Visit alz.org/advocacy/take-action.asp to take the pledge to support the fight to end Alzheimers.

David Esquibel

Ambassador, Alzheimers Association N.M. Chapter

Take time to check out National Library Week

As a member of the Albuquerque Library Foundation Board, it is with great pleasure that I draw attention to National Library Week from April 9  15. If you are a library lover and user, you could mark this week by saying thanks to a staff person at your favorite branch or attend some scheduled programs. To find activities at different branches, go to the librarys home page (abqlibrary.org) and click on the dropdown Events.

 Also, dont forget that most branches have Gizmo Garage sessions where patrons can get computer help checking out, downloading or transferring library materials to electronic devices. Our libraries are truly community centers for gathering and learning.

JUDY GIBBON

Albuquerque

Climate change as real as Russian nukes

RE: TOM CHILDRESS letter to the editor titled Were far from understanding climate change, Albuquerque Journal, April 4.

To use Toms logic and language denying climate change, I would say: Have the Russians been developing an atomic bomb? Absolutely. Do the Russians have an effective atomic bomb? Absolutely. Do the Russians have multiple atomic bombs? Absolutely. Do the Russians have several ways to deliver and detonate these atomic bombs in the United States? Absolutely. Will the Russians ability to explode multiple atomic bombs in the United States cook 90 percent or more of us? Absolutely.

Do we have any credible evidence that the Russians intend to blow us up? No, not really. There is no absolute proof that the Russians intend to do this. But yet the U.S. has spent a huge amount of money to ensure national security.

So, since we dont have absolute data on Russian intentions, we should not spend an additional $54 billion on our already budget-busting military.

Instead, I would propose spending that money on what 97 percent of our scientists are telling us about climate change, verified by rapidly melting ice caps around the world  that we had better address man-made climate change before were cooked. And the nice benefit is clean jobs that improve everyones quality of life, unlike an atomic bomb.

WARD MCCARTNEY

Los Lunas

Trumps de-funding may have sinister motives

I PERSONALLY believe the Trump administration wants to de-fund anything that allows people to think for themselves, including PBS, art and the humanities, liberal colleges and public education. Why? I can only guess that there are ulterior motives beyond sheer greed and the mass accumulation of wealth  or withholding it from our rapidly shrinking middle class.

Theres a more disturbing, dark  even sinister  consideration, and that is the intentional dumbing down of America with violent video games, mind-numbing reality TV, corporate news and ad nauseum advertising. Keep us stupid, keep us shopping, keep us employed only enough to pay the bare minimum on our credit card debt.

The real terror in all of this is the woeful lack of meaningful employment offered to our children, giving them little choice but to enlist in the military  to fight the kings war for the kings oil. Some things never change. I dont doubt that Trumps primary argument against funding reproductive services for women to prevent unintended pregnancies is that he will have more cannon fodder in lands afar to continue fueling his empire.

ANNETTE AHLANDER

Albuquerque
LOS ANGELES  Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner filed for divorce Thursday, finally making their protracted split official.

The Alias alum filed the petition and the Justice League actor filed his response in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences, the Los Angeles Times has confirmed.

The A-listers are seeking joint physical and legal custody of their three children, daughters Violet, 11, and Seraphina, 9, and son Samuel, 5.

The joint filing came pro per  without lawyers  suggesting it was orchestrated amicably.

Affleck and Garner, both 44, co-starred in 2003s Daredevil and wed in 2005. They announced their intention to divorce in June 2015, after 10 years of marriage, but did not file documents until now.

After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce, the couple said in a joint statement in 2015.

We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time.

The friendly exes did not list a date of separation in their documents.

According to TMZ, Affleck and Garner do not have a prenuptial agreement, meaning they would equally split their earnings gained after their marriage, and are likely to settle the case out of court with a mediator. The site said they are still negotiating a financial settlement; however, per California law, the split could be finalized in as little as six months.



2017 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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PHOTO (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194): AFFLECK-GARNER

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Students were still shocked, but philosophical, on Thursday after the news this week that the Santa Fe University of Art and Design will close after the 2017-18 school year due to what the college administration says are ongoing financial challenges.

City government owns the campus and still owes many millions on the financing used to purchase the site in 2009. What happens next with the campus remains unclear.

Students now in their junior years will be able to complete their studies before the school shuts down.

Junior digital arts and visual development major Kaity Reaves of Dallas said in an on-campus interview Thursday that she was blind-sided at first, but is trying to look on the bright side. It really sucks for the undergrads, the lower classmen, she said.

They are having to transfer, they arent going to be able to graduate from here, so thats extremely problematic.

She said many students dont have the money to move or immediately transfer. There are schools that are working with SFUAD on transfer mumbo jumbos, but most of the application deadlines have already passed, especially for anyone who is (among) lower classmen in the theater  their audition dates have already passed.

But she said the professors are doing everything they can to make sure we are getting the quality education necessary to have our portfolios ready.

While one sophomore interviewed Thursday said he intends to double up on his class load in an effort to graduate next year, sophomore studio arts major Marilyn Marquis from Placerville, Calif., said she will transfer.

Its really disappointing, but there are still some good opportunities for the students here to continue making art, Marquis said. Shes looking at other schools and keeping all my options open.

According to a statement released by SFUAD on Wednesday, the for-profit universitys board of directors and owners are reviewing options for the future, but announced the schools closure to provide clarity for students.

The four-year, accredited school owned by LEI Holdings  associated with the Laureate education business that has numerous schools around the world  had announced last month that it was suspending enrollment of new students for the fall semester after a deal to sell the school to a Singapore-based company fell through.

Now, the closure raises questions about what happens to the city-owned campus going forward.

Santa Fe city government purchased 91 acres, including the campus, in 2009 as the old College of Santa Fe collapsed, for $19.5 million.

For the project, the city borrowed $29.6 million from the New Mexico Finance Authority, providing additional money above the purchase price for facility improvements. About 64 acres were leased to SFUAD, originally for 27 years with $2.35 million annual payments, which as of last year were lowered to $2.23 million, matching the citys average annual debt service payment, according to information provided Thursday by the city. Laureate, which had made all lease payments to date, has an option to buy the 64 acres.

The city provided no information Friday on how much it still owes, including interest, on the financing for the campus purchase. SFUADs president said Wednesday that Laureate is out of the lease once the school closes.

Information on the Finance Authoritys website shows that the term of the loan to Santa Fe for the College of Santa Fe purchase was 27 years  leaving 18 years to deal with after SFUAD closes in 2018.

If the average debt services payments remain in the $2 million range, the city would have to pay out well more than $30 million during the term.

Mayor Javier Gonzales has said the city is considering other options and partners for the campus. The schools Wednesday announcement said it will work with the city to explore new and innovative public-private partnerships to further the educational and arts mission of the campus.

SFUAD spokeswoman Rachael Lighty on Thursday provided an additional statement when asked about potential outcomes for Garson Studios, the longtime movie studio on the campus, and The Screen, the art-house cinema there.

We, along with the City of Santa Fe, recognize the important purpose that both Garson Studios and The Screen bring to the community, and are working with the City for their continued use, Lighty said. SFUAD does not own Garson Studios nor The Screen, however we will continue to operate them both throughout the 2017-2018 academic year.

From then on, since they are part of the Citys property, and because  film is such an important asset to the City and the state, the City is actively working to ensure continuity.

Some of the 91 acres purchased by the city 8 years ago was sold to state government.

One student adaptable

For junior environmental design student, Jacob Goodey of Washington state, the shock of the announcement of schools closing next year was starting to wear off Thursday.

Honestly, at first, I guess everybody was kind of POd, but I take things as they go. I am easily adaptable, he said.

It is unfortunate that it is happening, but of course the staff and faculty are keeping everything for the best interest for us  . It could have gone a lot worse, it could have gone a lot better, but its actually OK the way that its been turning out, said Goodey.

Junior communications design major Parker Hanson from Los Alamos said the schools staff has helped de-stress the situation.

It was originally a big shock to everyone, said Hanson. The staff and faculty and all the chairmen here are keeping everything together.

They have given us a concrete plan of whats going to happen and its not particularly stressful for the people that are staying here. Its going to be a change because classes are going to be way smaller but thats more individual attention, said Hanson.

We still have our accreditation  and the school here is legally bound to give us what we need to graduate effectively.

For Nikoa Salas, a sophomore theater major from Vermont, the shuttering of the college will make his next school year difficult. He was having trouble Thursday articulating his thoughts.

This is my reaction, not able to talk, he said. The announced shut-down has caused him and roommates some practical, real-life concerns about their off-campus apartment.

We stressed out because we had to find if we were going to renew our lease or not  we were like Oh, my God, whether we can stay or not, he said.

My reaction was fearful  because I have made many connections in Santa Fe, at the school, as well as in the community, as well as projects.

Salas will take on additional classes next school year in an attempt to graduate and also take summer school. I will have a much rougher load than everyone else, he said.

Journal North editor Mark Oswald contributed to this story.
Everybodys for pre-K.

In Santa Fes increasingly harsh campaign over a proposed 2-cents-per-ounce tax on distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages thats expected to generate more than $7 million a year for early childhood education programs, the value of pre-kindergarten programs is not part of the debate.

Our position has always been that we are pro pre-K. We just think funding it in a way that will hurt families and small businesses is not the answer, said David Huynh, who heads Better Way for Santa Fe & Pre-K, a political committee backed by the soda industry that has so far poured more than $1 million into the campaign against the tax.

Mayor Javier Gonzales, the face of support for the soda-tax-for-pre-K plan that voters will decide in a May 2 special election, asserts that early childhood education has multiple long-term benefits.

Knowing what we do, that early childhood education fundamentally improves the lives of children in our community and the lives of their families, we cant afford not to act, he said when proposing the plan in November.

He has said pre-K increases future earnings and chances for school success and going on to college, helps keep children from entering the criminal justice system and reduces the need for social services.

Maybe the only doubter in the public conversation is Paul Gessing and his libertarian Rio Grande Foundation, which recently said in a news release that the effectiveness of pre-K programs nationwide is doubtful.

There is something of an academic divide over the lasting impacts of pre-kindergarten services. Sometimes, the split appears to come down to evaluating how children do in school down the line versus lifetime improvements in socio-emotional or behavioral skills

Many of the studies, like one from 2015 conducted by the Peabody Research Institute at Vanderbilt University, show that pre-K programs succeed in preparing children for the next step in their educations, kindergarten.

In a study evaluating Tennessees Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (TN-VPK), which followed the progress of more than 1,000 children from pre-K through third-grade, the Peabody institute found that children who attended the program had significantly higher achievement scores in literacy, language and math, as well as exhibiting better behaviors related to learning and more positive peer relations. The outcomes were especially beneficial for English language learners.

But the same study found that, after kindergarten, differences in school achievement waned between children who attended pre-K and those who didnt.

By the end of kindergarten, the control children had caught up to the TN-VPK children and there were no longer significant differences between them on any achievement measures, according to the studys authors.

Other studies have rendered similar results and refer to the phenomenon as fade out.

One by Drew Bailey and Greg Duncan, of the University of California-Irvines School of Education, and Candice Odgers of Duke University, says that investments in early education programs may be based on inflated promises.

Our work suggests that much of what children learn in early-childhood intervention programs are skills that kids typically pick up in kindergarten or first grade, anyway. Fade out is really a process of other children catching up  learning their letters, learning to count, learning to control their emotions and impulses, they wrote for a piece that appeared in The Washington Post in February.

For other researchers, though, the fade-out effect is a myth.

James J. Heckman, a Nobel laureate in economics, countered Bailey, Duncan and Odgers argument in the Post a week later. It ignores an overwhelming body of recent evidence documenting that so-called fade out doesnt exist, he wrote.

Heckman said his analysis of a North Carolina program shows lasting boosts in I.Q. and socio-emotional skills resulting in greater educational achievement, higher adult wages and significantly better health outcomes.

Quality is vital

Gonzales campaigned on the idea of bolstering early education programs when he ran for mayor in 2014, and, about a year ago, a childhood working group was formed to develop a plan.

Jeannie Oakes, a former professor at UCLA, education policy researcher, and director of education and scholarship at the Ford Foundation, was part of that group and now serves as a volunteer early childhood policy advisor to the mayor.

Shes well aware of the studies that suggest theres a fade-out effect, but had a one-word response to them: Quality.

The reason I emphasize that is from the very beginning, the mayors plan was to do two things: one, to expand seats available for early childhood programs; and, two, to make sure every seat is in a high-quality program, she said.

Oakes referenced Heckmans research on pre-K in North Carolina, which she said affirms other studies that show the fade-out effect doesnt occur when children are involved in high-quality programs. Aside from cognitive skills, pre-K benefits children behaviorally.

Quality early childhood education provides persistent boosts in socio-emotional skills, even if the effects on cognitive skills diminish in the short run, Heckman writes. The current obsession with cognitive fade out obscures the important fact that socio-emotional skills have greater effects on later-life outcomes than cognitive skills.

University of New Mexico economist Kelly ODonnell  part of the group working on the Pre-K for Santa Fe plan  has cited a cost benefit analysis on pre-K by authors at the University of Minnesota. It concludes the amount of evidence on the positive effects of high-quality early childhood programs is growing and that every dollar invested in pre-K returns $10.83, from increased earnings and tax revenues, averted criminal justice system and victim costs, and savings for child welfare, special education and grade retention.

Oakes says there are many high-quality programs in Santa Fe now. While the infrastructure exists for pre-K, she said, part of the problem is there isnt room to accommodate everyone who would like to enroll.

Mayor Gonzales says there are approximately 1,000 children ages 3 and 4 in Santa Fe who dont have access to pre-K programs either because theres no room for them or their families cant afford the $900 to $1,400 per month cost to enroll a child. Oakes says the mayors proposal calls for the expansion of the high-quality programs and improving others to get them to that level. The plan also subsidizes fees for people who cant afford it.

The (Children Youth and Families Department) sets standards for early childhood programs and rates them, so all of the centers in Santa Fe are a part of the CYFD program and they have a rating, so we know where they are, how many children they serve and how many seats are available.

Oakes said elevating programs to high quality is built into the program.

For example, the existing pre-K program offered through the United Way of Santa Fe County is rated as four-star program. As such, United Way, which recently purchased the former Kaune Elementary campus from Santa Fe Public Schools for use as a childhood development center, could use the funding from the sugary drinks tax to help expand its program.

When they apply for money, if they have a four- or five-star rating, they get money for expansion, Oakes said. If its a two- or three-star, like the YMCA, which is wonderful and has amazing directors, but doesnt have the resources to train staff and pay higher wages, they would need to implement guidelines that would need to be adopted to meet a specific plan and specific deadlines that would increase the quality so they could become a four-star program and, in time, bring in more kids.

Under the draft Santa Fe plan, an early childhood development commission would oversee the program, accept bids, recommend an allocation of funds to specific programs to the City Council and monitor progress through performance measures. The program would be administered through Santa Fe Community College, not the city.

The plan touches on all the conclusions from the Rutgers Universitys National Institute for Early Education Research report that examined the first four years of the state of New Mexicos pre-school initiative that began in 2005.

It determined that expansion of pre-K programs was warranted, that some aspects of classroom quality needed improvement, and that professional development and teacher training should be expanded.
Move over Jimmy and Mimi, because Mayhem and Chaos are movin in.

For years, Mimi, a loggerhead sea turtle, and Jimmy, a hawksbill sea turtle, have been among the top attractions at the ABQ BioPark Aquarium. But Mayhem and Chaos, two female North American river otters who will make their debut at the aquarium in January, may give Jimmy and Mimi a run for the money on the popularity scale.

Theyre cute, theyre intelligent, theyre smart, theyre a lot of things, Bernalillo County Commission Chairwoman Debbie OMalley said Thursday during a news conference announcing that construction on the aquariums $2.3 million river otter exhibit has begun.

To accommodate the exhibit, an addition is being built onto the south side of the aquarium. The exhibit will feature a multilevel viewing area and a 25,000-gallon pool, said James T. JT Allen, chief executive of the BioPark.

The deck thats on the end of the building will be extended so it comes around so you can actually get out into the exhibit and get very close to the otters, he said.

Allen said the BioPark is already the No. 1 destination in the state, with 1.5 million visits a year.

Mayor Richard Berry said, The visitor experience over the coming years is going to be even better than it is today, thanks to the investment being made by the citizens of Albuquerque.

Mayhem and Chaos, the two river otters who will call the exhibit home, are already in Albuquerque. They were rescued from Louisiana and brought here nearly a year ago.

Berry noted that river otters became extinct in New Mexico in the 1950s.

The otters are being housed at the zoo, but they are not yet accessible by the public.

Footage of Mayhem playing with a plastic front loader and a white hard hat was played on a monitor at the aquarium on Thursday, captivating passers-by.

Mayhem pushes the hat into the water and moves it around inside the pool with her head.

We wanted them to have a presence, BioPark marketing coordinator Greg Jackson said, referring to the footage.

Mayhem is a lot more outgoing, said Madeline Gandara, one of the otter trainers. She likes to show off for everyone.

Chaos is very shy, said Ashley Baca, another trainer. She keeps to herself. She said Mayhem is always the first to try something, and Chaos usually follows.

Gandara and Baca have been working with Mayhem and Chaos, getting them used to crates, so that when the time comes to move them to the aquarium, they wont be stressed.

Gandara said they are also trying to get Mayhem and Chaos used to noise so they will be ready when they make their debut.

Most of the funding for the exhibit, $2 million, came from a bond package proposed by the Bernalillo County Commission and approved by voters in November 2014. The other $300,000 is coming from state capital outlay funding previously approved by state lawmakers and Gov. Susana Martinez.

Southwest Capital Bank has agreed to kick in another $105,000 for interactive educational programs for the otter exhibit. Commissioner Lonnie Talbert, who is also chief operating officer for Southwest Capital, said Greg Levenson, president and CEO of the bank, and the Levenson family were happy to support the exhibit.

To be able to be a part of something that is going to be here hopefully forever, it was an easy decision, Talbert said.

Berry and Allen thanked the county, the state, Southwest Capital Bank and voters for coming through with the funding for the exhibit. And they thanked the New Mexico BioPark Society for being the driving force and for its work in helping to secure the funding.

Allen said that designing the exhibit took a year,and that building it will take about 300 days. TA Cole & Sons General Contractors Inc. began construction on the project earlier this month. Van H Gilbert Architect PC designed it.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

The head of the states Higher Education Department is interested in leading the states largest university.

New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Barbara Damron said she has submitted her curriculum vitae and cover letter to Isaacson, Miller, the search firm the University of New Mexico has hired to help find its 22nd president.

Damron said she had not originally considered the opening or visited the search website to submit an application.

But she told the Journal this week that Isaacson, Miller contacted her to say others had nominated her. When the firm asked her to submit a CV, she did. When the firm later requested a cover letter, she provided that, too.

I wasnt looking for that, said Damron, who has been part of Gov. Susana Martinezs Cabinet for two years. I really like what Im doing now, but I love UNM. I can see where UNM can be. I can see all that UNM can be.

Damron has experience at UNM. An oncology nurse, she is on leave without pay from her position as an associate professor at UNMs College of Nursing.

She has also had several roles at the University of New Mexico Cancer Center, including director of the Office of Community Partnerships & Cancer Health Disparities and director of the oncology nursing research program.

Damron has bachelors and masters degrees in nursing and a doctorate in social/personality/developmental psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.

UNMs quest for a new president is a confidential process, and the presidential search advisory committee chairman declined to comment specifically on Damrons candidacy.

I am not able to confirm any candidate at this time, Rob Doughty, UNM Board of Regents president and search committee chairman, told the Journal in a text message. The final candidates will be revealed once the committee has determined the finalists.

The search to fill the presidents job, vacated last year by Bob Frank, involves both Isaacson, Miller  which UNM is paying $111,000 in fees and expenses  and the committee chaired by Doughty, which includes about 20 people from within and outside the university.

The committee will recommend at least eight semifinalists to the regents, who will select and publicly name five finalists and ultimately pick the president.

The committee intended to announce a hire by this spring, but Doughty recently said the search will extend into the fall semester.
University of New Mexico students took a whirlwind tour around the world Thursday during the annual International Festival, featuring the music, dance, foods, and arts and crafts of countries represented by the schools foreign students.

Among those countries were Mexico, Spain, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Ecuador, Turkey, the Philippines and Zimbabwe.

The event, sponsored by UNMs Global Education Office, was held on the mall east of the Student Union Building, where nearly 40 booths were set up by international student groups and community organizations, and where a raised stage highlighted dance and musical performances.

As thousands of students moved through the mall, the aromas of mole and curry wafted through the air. Traditional Bangladeshi dancing unfolded on the stage, followed by Chinese lion dancers who wound their way among the crowds.

Very colorful, commented on-and-off undergraduate student Dennis Wyler. I do like the dancing, but Im really here for the food, he said, forking his way through a bowl of Jamaican curry chicken with rice and peas.

I guess the point is to share a bit of each others cultures, and I think this does offer a snapshot. You can see the flags of the different countries, people wearing native clothing, dancing and selling handicrafts. But like I said, Im all about the food.

Kanan Mammadli, co-president of the Turkish Students Association, was ladling out portions of thick, black, aromatic Turkish coffee.

The festival seems to be growing each year, But Id like to see more people attend from the community outside of UNM, he said.

This is an important time to explore other cultures and people. There seems to be a dynamic of isolationism going in this country, and the International Festival is an opportunity for people to see who we are and come talk to us. Opening America to different people from different backgrounds is what makes America great, and its the answer to isolationism, Mammadli said.

Student Nick Fojud observed that exposing people to things they havent been exposed to in the past makes for a more inclusive community, and this festival puts it all in one space.

UNM has 1,800 international students from 99 countries. Twenty-three of those countries were represented at the festival, said Pablo Torres, director of international admissions for the Global Education Office.

Rather than imposing an economic burden on our communities, international students attending higher educational institutions in New Mexico contribute $91 million to the states economy, Torres said.

Our foreign students are more sensitive to the tone of the country, and the ban on people from certain countries has had a chilling effect, Torres said. The students have expressed concerns about the status of their visas and they wonder if they will be able to stay or if this is going to affect their education and training.

The International Festival hopefully alleviates some of this anxiety, he said, by breaking down barriers among people and fostering understanding.
DENVER  A man was critically injured Thursday when he lit himself on fire after police placed him in handcuffs at a busy downtown Denver park.

The man, whose name and age have not been released, was seen pouring fluid on himself at Civic Center Park, police spokesman Doug Schepman said. Officers trying to take the man into protective custody handcuffed him shortly before he became engulfed in flames.

It was a matter of seconds, said Schepman, who did not know if the man was patted down before he was handcuffed.

Police are investigating the incident as an attempted suicide.

Dozens of people passing by saw the scene near a busy intersection and a group of food trucks.

Bridgette Stopher said she saw the man light himself on fire, then start running as a group of people chased him and tried to use their shirts to extinguish the flames.

He ran all the way around. People were trying to put him out, and then they put him out with a fire extinguisher, she said. And when they took off his clothes he was so burnt.  He was still alive, but he was so burnt, everywhere.

Steve Quiroga, who has been sleeping on the streets since coming to Colorado from California about a week ago, said he gave police his blanket to try to put out the flames.

Quiroga said he was meditating in the park when he heard sirens and saw the man engulfed in flames.

The blanket Quiroga gave to police, as well as a bottle of lighter fluid, were among the pieces of evidence that investigators placed into plastic bags at the edge of the park as people walked by along the police tape strung along the street.
Congress's Delhi women unit president Rachna Sachdeva has filed a complaint against Maken, Women Congress president Shobha Oza and leader Netta D'Souza of mental harassment and criminal intimidation.

By India Today Web Desk: Days ahead of the crucial MCD elections, a woman worker of the party has levelled harassment charges on Congress's Delhi unit chief Ajay Maken and other top party leaders.

Congress's Delhi women unit president Rachna Sachdeva has filed a complaint against Maken, Women Congress president Shobha Oza and leader Netta D'Souza of mental harassment and criminal intimidation.

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Sachdeva, in her complaint filed at Tughlaq Road police station, claimed that the top Congress leaders were threatening her after she raised the issue of irregularities in the ticket distribution for the upcoming MCD polls.

Copy of the complaint filed by Rachna Sachdeva against Ajay Maken and other Congress leaders.

Sachdeva in her complaint claimed that she was being mentally harassed and threatened by Shobha Oza and Netta D'Souza for raising the issue of ticket distribution before party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

Sachdeva said the Congress leaders threatened of dire consequences when she refused to apologise.

Senior Congress leader and former Delhi minister A K Walia quit the party earlier this month alleging irregularities in ticket distribution for the MCD polls.

"I have written a letter to Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken, complaining against irregularities and violation of party rules in ticket distribution," Walia told PTI.

According to sources, Walia, who served as a state minister in the Sheila Dikshit government, was unhappy over party cancelling the ticket given to a woman candidate and replacing her with another candidate for the April 23 MCD elections.

Several other Congress leaders have alleged irregularities in ticket distribution with former Deputy Speaker and three-time MLA Amrish Singh Gautam quitting the party and joining the BJP last week.

There are 272 wards in three municipal corporations in the city, with 104 each in the South and North Delhi Municipal Corporation and 64 in the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, which are going to polls on April 23.

ALSO READ:

Rajouri Garden voters angry over sending Jarnail Singh to Punjab, result won't impact MCD poll: Kejriwal

Unhappy over MCD polls ticket distribution, AK Walia quits Congress

Delhi MCD polls: Congress gears for intense campaign, ropes in 90 leaders from across the nation

--- ENDS ---
Cities and farmers along New Mexicos stretch of the Rio Grande can expect a full allotment of water this year since snowpack in the mountains that feed the critical artery were above average this winter, federal officials said Thursday.

During a packed briefing in Albuquerque, the Bureau of Reclamation outlined its expectations for water supplies and management along the river system that flows through some of the states most populated areas.

The forecast is based on snowpack, soil moisture and climate predictions, but officials acknowledged its still a best guess and that things can always change.

Bureau hydrologist Ed Kandl said temperatures are expected to be above average this summer across New Mexico and there are equal chances that precipitation will be average. Still, he said snowpack along the Colorado-New Mexico state line and the resulting runoff will bolster flows along the Rio Chama and Rio Grande.

This year looks to be the best since 2008, which was the last good year, he said.

At a monitoring site in Conejos County, Colo., theres as much snow as there has been since the station was established in the 1980s. Kandl said theres still a lot of snow at the site.

However, the Sangre del Cristos near Santa Fe and other mountain ranges farther south have fallen below average thanks to hot, dry weather in March. A flash drought speeded up melting and dried out the soil in lower elevations.

In the Pecos River Basin, one of the key snowpack gauges has been below average all season.

Kandl pulled up a map of the western United States that detailed the results of the winter storm track over the Sierras and into northern Utah, where streamflow forecasts were 180 percent of average. From there, levels begin to drop off.

Its a very fine line between feast and famine, he said, pointing to the sites in New Mexico that were below average. A matter of 50 to 100 miles made all the difference in the world.

Despite the positive streamflow predictions along the Rio Grande, nearly half of the state is classified as abnormally dry on the most recent federal drought map . Still, thats a vast improvement over last year at this same time, when nearly every square mile of New Mexico was dealing with some level of dryness or drought.
PHOENIX  Phoenix police have released the identity of a suspect fatally shot by a police officer.

Police say 38-year-old Erik Pamias was shot Wednesday after he rammed police vehicles with his car after being cornered in front of a store in Avondale.

The incident began in Phoenix when an officer tried to stop the suspect for speeding in Phoenix and that police followed him to Avondale where undercover units boxed in his car.

According to Sgt. Mercedes Fortune, Pamias refused commands to leave his vehicle and was shot by an officer when the suspects car broke free and moved toward the officer.
MINNEAPOLIS  The entertaining springtime ritual of male sharp-tailed grouse twirling, nodding and strutting their stuff on the prairie to impress the ladies isnt as common a sight in Wisconsin as it used to be. So biologists are bringing in new blood from Minnesota to provide an isolated flock with a shot at survival.

Starting next week, wildlife biologists plan to capture as many as 60 of the birds on their booming grounds in far northwestern Minnesota and get them checked out by a veterinarian in Duluth. If they pass muster, the birds will be released into the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest of northern Wisconsin in hopes that theyll inject some fresh genetics.

They look like windup toys, like little airplanes, said Brian Winter, program director for stewardship at The Nature Conservancys Bluestem Prairie preserve near Glyndon. They hold their wings out and make these grasshopper-like buzzing sounds, like theyre out of control. They zoom around on the dancing ground in order to impress the female grouse for the right to mate.

The birds new home will be the 22,000-acre Moquah Pine Barrens in Bayfield County, a rare habitat that the U.S. Forest Service has been working to restore in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, other state and federal agencies, and local Chippewa tribes. Pine barrens contain a unique mix of grasses, trees and other plants on sandy soils that depend on periodic fires to keep other species out. Thanks to prescribed burns and other efforts to turn back the encroaching forest since 2009, the area once again offers the kind of grassland that sharptails need to thrive over the long term, forest spokesman Greyling Brandt said.

Forest officials are now in the second year of a three-year plan to bring in enough birds to provide the necessary genetic diversity for a sustainable population, he said. They relocated 29 from Minnesota last year.

Sharp-tailed grouse used to have a much broader distribution. Theyre a bird that requires grass and brush, and that kind of habitat has been disappearing over time, explained Jonathan Eerkes, tallgrass aspen parklands land steward with the conservancy in Karlstad. In Wisconsin theyve really gone to the effort of restoring a large area of grass, but it seems it was too little, too late for their sharptail population to really respond to that. So they need new genetics to help prevent inbreeding.

Sharp-tailed grouse are a close relative of prairie chickens. Their main range extends from the plains states into Canada. Fortunately, the sharptail population in Kittson County in the far northwestern corner of Minnesota is healthy enough to support the donation of a few dozen good grouse to Wisconsin.

Now is the time of year when sharp-tailed grouse of both sexes return to their traditional breeding grounds, known as leks, where theyve done their mating dances for countless generations. And thats where the biologists plan to capture them. Theyve scouted out leks in the 15,000-acre Wallace C. Dayton Conservation and Wildlife Area and on nearby private land where theyll try to lure the birds into traps, but theyll take no more than a few from each site.

Eerkes acknowledged that sharptails are sensitive and difficult to transport, and that being handled will be stressful for them. But he said the landscape has become too fragmented for the birds to repopulate their former range in Wisconsin without human intervention.

Its really the only way to do it, he said. If we had connected habitats we could let nature do it, but thats not an option here. So we can expect that a number of birds arent going to make it. But a certain percentage will. And that little bit of genetics will make a lot of difference.
HOUSTON  A Houston crime-scene investigator who authorities say made errors in 65 cases, jeopardizing the prosecution of those crimes, was investigated once before for poor work.

The previous substandard performance led to additional training and clearance for the unnamed investigator to return to work at the Houston Forensic Science Center, the independent crime lab that annually processes evidence for hundreds of cases.

The Houston Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/2p3s22I ) a Harris County prosecutor first raised questions about the investigators work in two officer-involved shootings from 2015.

Authorities say the more recent problems were revealed in an audit of the work conducted by the investigator.

Authorities say the person has been reassigned to another division and a supervisor who did not notice various errors has been temporarily removed from oversight duties.

___

Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.houstonchronicle.com
WASHINGTON  Whats wrong with being flexible? All presidents change their minds. Hes only human.

President Donald Trumps voters can be a forgiving lot  up to a point.

He thinks too fast and then makes decisions too fast, says Miriam Naranjo in Miami Lakes, Florida.

Hes changing his mind on almost everything he said, says Bob Brown, of South Windsor, Connecticut.

Naranjo is willing to give Trump more time. Brown is not.

The presidents recent shifts in position on big foreign policy issues have got his supporters pondering: Are the reversals worth a mere shrug of the shoulders, or are they a cause for greater concern.

Where critics see a flip-flopper, many Trump voters see the kind of recalibrating thats to be expected from any new president, even more so for the first in history to land in the Oval Office without any government or military experience.

Its definitely worth keeping an eye on and making sure he doesnt stray too far from where he campaigned, says Christian Ziegler, a marketing professional from Sarasota, Florida, who served as one of Trumps electors in the state. Im not concerned yet.

In recent weeks, the president has gone from labeling NATO obsolete to no longer obsolete. Hes ordered a cruise missile bombardment in Syria after saying during the campaign that the U.S. should steer clear of the place. Hes decided the Export-Import Bank, which he once opposed, is a good thing after all. And hes done a U-turn on his pledge to label China a currency manipulator. Many of those issues were prominent applause lines at candidate Trumps campaign rallies.

Now, as he shifts positions, Trump says hes being flexible  and proud of it.

For plenty of Trump voters, thats fine, particularly when a situation suddenly arises like the chemical weapons attack in Syria that killed more than 80 people and prompted Trump to order airstrikes.

Once someone releases nerve gas on children, you have to do something, says Susan Holly, of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Nobody can stand around and be black and white, she said. Everybody makes changes.

Some prominent conservatives havent hesitated to criticize Trumps recent actions.

Columnist Ann Coulter, writing for Breitbart News, the website once run by White House adviser Steve Bannon, called the presidents Syrian airstrikes an immoral misadventure that violates every promise he ran on and could sink his presidency.

However, nearly three months into Trumps presidency, many supporters say they never really expected him to hew to all his campaign positions anyway. Trump, a former Democrat, was never one to attract the labels of policy wonk or ideologue.

I dont think any president really knows what theyre doing the first few months in office, says Jeff Baumgardner, 59, an airline captain from Shindle, Pennsylvania. What they say on a campaign is always different than what they do.

Sure, Trump needs to deliver on some of his promises, says Baumgardner, but some of them are just election banter.

Husband and wife Larry and Eleanor Sacilowski, from Langhorne, Pennsylvania, dont see Trumps policy shifts as a problem.

It makes him human, says Eleanor, 70, a receptionist.

You never stop learning, adds Larry, 74, an auto parts deliveryman.

For Ziegler, 33, a Republican state committeeman in Florida, Trumps shifts are a sign hes getting different information now that hes president. As long as Trump holds firm on Zieglers top priorities  opposing abortion and refusing to grant amnesty to immigrants living in the country illegally  Ziegler says hes OK with other policy changes.

Lets remember Donald Trumps a dealmaker, and when youre negotiating in business you dont always get 100 percent of what you want, says Ziegler.

Naranjo, a Cuban-born Trump voter, thinks the presidents performance has been lackluster but theres still time for him to turn things around.

Were expecting too much too fast, says Naranjo, 70.

To a number of Trump voters, as long as the president delivers on his repeal-and-replace pledge for the health care law  far from a sure thing  other issues are secondary. Trumps campaign promises to dial back U.S. engagement overseas and put America First may have roused crowds, but its the issues with direct impact on their lives that could drive them away.

William Drew Cato, 57, of Anchorage, Alaska, says he voted for Trump even though he credits the health care law enacted under former President Barack Obama with saving his life by helping him get drug addiction and mental health treatment.

If Trump guts the health law and doesnt provide a replacement, say Cato, I would just have to scratch my head and go, Thats a promise. That was an all-out lie.'

In Sacramento, 58-year-old Dennis OFlaherty, who works in landscaping, is worried about Trumps departures from his campaign positions. But hes not sure what to make of it.

Maybe he was not aware of exactly what was going on, says OFlaherty, who had just finished making a pot of split-pea soup as a volunteer at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post. You dont want to think that he misled people intentionally, but I guess thats a possibility.  Its concerning.

In Connecticut, Brown, a 65-year-old retired municipal worker, isnt giving Trump the benefit of the doubt anymore.

Hes so erratic, thats what disappoints me the most, says Brown, just after watching a minor league baseball game in Hartford. All these years, everyones had the notion that Donald Trump was a smart guy. And to me, he really isnt. He may know the art of the deal  but as far as global knowledge. 

Brown finishes the thought with a shake of his head and a rueful laugh.

___

Follow Nancy Benac on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/nbenac

___

Associated Press writers Bob Moen in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Michael Catalini in Morrisville, Pennsylvania; Pat Eaton-Robb in Hartford, Connecticut; Tamara Lush in Sarasota, Florida; Kelli Kennedy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Mark Thiessen in Anchorage; Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska, and Sophia Bollag in Sacramento contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration announced Friday that it would not follow President Barack Obamas policy of voluntarily disclosing the names of most visitors to the White House complex, citing grave national security risks and privacy concerns.

The announcement, from an administration that has faced pointed questions about its commitment to transparency, marks a significant shift from the Obama White House, which released the names of nearly 6 million visitors, including scores of lobbyists.

Instead, President Donald Trump administration said it would release information under far more limited circumstances: When Freedom of Information Act requests are filed for those visiting offices of the White House classified under the law as separate agencies, such as the Office of Management and Budget.

Under the new policy, it will be up to the White House to decide whether to release the names of visitors coming to meet with the president, vice president and their senior staff, at least in the short term. Under a separate statute, much of that information can become public years after Trump leaves office.

Fridays announcement was harshly criticized by an array of government watchdog groups.

The only excuse for this policy is that the Trump administration has something to hide, said David Donnelly, president and chief executive of Every Voice. This kind of secrecy will allow big donors, lobbyists and special interests to have unknown levels of influence in the White House.

Its the exact opposite of draining the swamp,  Donnelly added, referring to Trumps pledge to usher in a more ethical and less corrupt era in Washington.

The Trump administration was sued in federal court earlier this week by a coalition of watchdog groups to compel the release of the White House visitor logs. Under Obama, such records, which were published on a White House-maintained Web page, were typically disclosed 90 to 120 days after the visit.

Since Trump took office in January, the page where the visitor logs had been publicly available has gone dark, and Trump administration officials said Friday that they will no longer maintain it, which the White House said would save taxpayers $70,000 by 2020.

After initial resistance, Obamas policy was crafted in 2009 in response to earlier lawsuits by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, one of the groups now part of the new lawsuit against Trump.

The policy permitted some exceptions to disclosure, including private visits to the Obama family. The Obama White House also maintained the prerogative not to release records of particularly sensitive meetings, such as interviews with potential Supreme Court nominees.

Obama at times drew criticism for such carve-outs, as well as for other ways for skirting the agreement, including meetings between White House officials and lobbyists at a coffee shop near the White House that didnt show up in the logs.

Trump aides highlighted such loopholes under Obama and said the new policy is consistent with a legal distinction that Obama officials drew in a 2012 lawsuit. Despite the voluntary disclosure of visitor logs, the Obama administration maintained that the logs were White House records and therefore not required to be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act.

Others have argued that the records are subject to disclosure under the FOIA because they are created by the Secret Service, which is an agency covered by the law.

As a private citizen, Trump was highly critical of the Obama administrations position in 2012, writing on Twitter: Why is @BarackObama spending millions to try and hide his records? He is the least transparent President  ever  and he ran on transparency.

The existence of the visitor logs burst back into the news last month when House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., went to the White House grounds to review intelligence reports on which he later briefed the president. Both Nunes and White House officials initially declined to say whom Nunes had visited and who had cleared him onto the grounds, information that is typically contained in the logs, along with the length of the stay.

White House communications director Mike Dubke said Friday that the Trump administration has taken several steps to ensure the government is both ethical and accessible to the American people. Among those he mentioned were new restrictions on lobbyists and allowing journalists to participate remotely in White House briefings via Skype.

Given the grave national security risks and privacy concerns of the hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, the White House Office will disclose Secret Service logs as outlined under the Freedom of Information Act, a position the Obama White House successfully defended in federal court, Dubke said in a statement, referring to the 2102 lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch, a conservative organization.

Judicial Watch was among the organizations critical of Trump on Friday.

This new secrecy policy undermines the rule of law and suggests this White House doesnt want to be accountable to the American people, the groups president, Tom Fitton, said in a statement.

With the new policy, the White House officials made clear Friday that they believe Trump is under no legal obligation to disclose visitors to the complex. As a matter of practice, the White House has disclosed the names of many of those who meet directly with the president on the days the meetings take place. There has been very little disclosure of meetings with staff.

Some past and present government officials have argued that White House officials should be permitted to conduct meetings outside the public eye as a matter of policy.

I tend to feel its the prerogative of the White House to have people come visit, and the public doesnt need to know who they are, Andrew Card Jr., chief of staff under President George W. Bush, said in an interview last week. We dont have a log on everybody who visits Congress, and theyre a coequal branch of government.

Christina Reynolds, who served as director of media affairs under Obama, said Trump had made the wrong call but that it was somewhat understandable why he made the call he did. Despite being the first to open up the logs, the Obama administration was criticized for not going far enough and endured negative news stories about some of its visitors.

If your only guide is whether youre going to get bad stories, its more understandable, Reynolds said, saying that the Trump White House may have decided to take its lumps Friday but be spared criticism based on what would later be disclosed in the logs.

In its criticism of Trump on Friday, American Civil Liberties Union, whose political director, Faiz Shakir, noted the timing of the announcement heading into Easter weekend.

Elected officials work for the people and we deserve to see government business conducted in transparent daylight, Shakir said. This Good Friday news dump is simply the latest in a series of efforts by President Trump to avoid public accountability, and its not the way to improve the peoples declining trust in this administration.

  

Video: Trump will keep list of White House visitors secret

The Trump administration announced on April 14, that it wont voluntarily disclose the names of visitors to the White House complex, breaking from former president Barack Obamas policy. (Jenny Starrs / The Washington Post)

Short URL: http://wapo.st/2oIg9hD
AUSTIN, Texas  The Texas Supreme Court denied Ethan Couchs petition for a new judge Thursday, defeating another attempt by the teens lawyers to get him out of jail.

Couch, 19, has been in custody since last year as a condition of his probation for killing four people in a drunken driving crash in 2013.

Last month, Couchs attorneys Reagan Wynn and Scott Brown filed a petition for a writ of mandamus, arguing that state District Judge Wayne Salvant did not have the authority last April to send Couch to the Tarrant County Jail for 720 days.

The petition said that Couchs case should not have been transferred to Salvants Criminal District Court No. 2 because it should be treated as a civil matter.

The attorneys have also argued that Salvant has a financial interest in Couchs case because Couch could sue the judge for wrongful incarceration.

Wynn and Brown have been fighting Salvants ruling for almost a year. Their motion to remove Salvant from the case was denied by administrative judge in September. The 2nd Court of Appeals denied the appeal in February.

Couch first drew attention in June 2013, when he crashed his Ford F-150 pickup into several good Samaritans helping the driver of a disabled vehicle, killing four people in southern Tarrant County.

At his trial, a psychologist testified that Couch had not learned right from wrong because of his parents and his wealthy upbringing, a condition the psychologist called affluenza.

In December 2015, Couch skipped a probation appointment and fled to Mexico with his mother, Tonya Couch, after a video surfaced that appeared to show him partying, a violation of his probation. The Couches were captured in Puerto Vallarta several weeks later.

Tonya Couch was later indicted on charges of money laundering and hindering the apprehension of a fugitive. She is awaiting trial.
We consciously make efforts to ensure that theres no compromise when it comes to our health. While many of us may not follow exercise regimes, we do try and keep healthy things in our kitchen. With the launch of their 100% Pomegranate Juice, B Natural from ITC wants to put a spotlight on healthy habits in general, and fruit juices in particular. They want to bust the myth that all fruit juices are equal.

Most packaged juices available in the market are made from concentrate. While we may be aware of this fact, what we arent privy to is the fact that the whole process of making fruits into concentrate exposes them to excessive heat treatment that robs them of both the natural fruit taste and inherent fruit nutrition. Thus, drinking juices with concentrate is not healthy, as presumed by many, but actually a compromise.

The commercial, conceptualized and executed by GREY group India, brings the viewers face-to-face with this uncomfortable truth and challenges consumers longstanding notion that every juice they pick up is pure. And who better to propagate this than someone who is known for her strict fitness regime, and staunch belief in Yoga as a way of life  Shilpa Shetty.

Sanjay Singal, Chief Operating Officer, Dairy & Beverages, ITC Limited said, Team GREY has really addressed the challenge of communicating a product story in a refreshing and engaging manner using the yoga concept and leveraging our new brand ambassador

The story unfolds in one of Shilpa Shettys Yoga classes where, halfway through the class, she surprises her students with an unexpected twist - making juice while doing Yoga. And as if that shock isnt big enough, she goes on to demonstrate how fruit juice is heated and made into an excuse of a juice and then served to people claiming it to be healthy.

According to Gautam Bhasin, Sr. Creative Director  GREY group Bangalore, The creative challenge was to deliver a strong message about other juices containing concentrate in an entertaining and effective way without losing its core essence. And having Shilpa Shetty add a twist to how we know yoga became the answer."

Vishal Ahluwalia, Vice President  GREY group Bangalore says, The task for GREY was dual, launch B Natural 100% Pomegranate juice and bust the myth around juices with concentrate. The common category belief is that all juices are made from fruit pulp. While we were disrupting the category the execution also had to be disruptive and visually delightful for the consumers to take notice. The campaign is surely going to make us think on how we perceive and receive juices and hopefully resolve the conflict by sipping onto a new pack of BNatural 100% Pomegranate juice!

Heres the link to view the TVC - https://youtu.be/x5fxkNn8by0

CREDITS

ITC Team:

Sanjay Singal, Chief Operating Officer - Dairy & Beverages ITC Limited

Sandeep Shivaram Upadhyaya, Head of Marketing, Dairy & Beverages

Ayan Chaudhuri, Brand Manager

Bala Meenakshi, Assistant Brand manager

Mohammed Shahbaaz, Assistant Brand manager

Agency: GREY group, Bangalore

Creative: Sandipan Bhattacharyya, Gautam Bhasin, Loreto Basumatary, Amit Anand Singh

Account Management: Vishal Ahluwalia, Tulika Shekhar

Planning: Arun Raman, Barsha Chakraborty

Films Team (Grey Works): Samir Chadha, Sharad Shinde

Production House: Future East Productions

Director: Ashim Ahluwalia

Producer: Priyanka Bangia

PR & Corporate Communications: Sonal Sheth
Like any Android device (or any other device for that matter), it is not a bad idea to make use of a VPN service with your Android TV device. Whether it is to guarantee a greater degree of protection of your data and information, or to access geo-restricted content, a good VPN service could be the solution. However, finding a good VPN service (or at least one which is good for your individual needs) is not the easiest of tasks and especially on Android TV  as the platform has yet to gain the same level of support that you will find elsewhere.

With that in mind, here are five VPNs services that you might want to check out. Now, in reality, none of these are a definitive or a one-stop solution for everyone. So in spite of the recommendations here, you are best advised to research them all a little more to ensure they are right for you, and especially if you do plan on paying for any of them. However, as a starting point, all of these VPNs services are widely used, are generally well-reviewed, claim fairly good security and privacy stances, and most importantly  will work with an Android TV device.

NordVPN

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NordVPN is a popular VPN option. One of the reasons for its popularity is that this is a Panama-based VPN service. So it is not bound by the same obligations that other VPN companies might be when it comes to governmental requests. Although, NordVPN does make it clear that it has a strict no logging policy and therefore, couldnt share any information it has on its users, even if it had to. In addition, NordVPN does offer access to a wide range of servers around the world, although, those servers can also become quite congested at times. For those interested in checking NordVPN out, there is a 3-day trial available although you do have to sign up via email to gain access to the trial. On Android TV this is an app you will have to sideload and depending on your system, may require a mouse to function properly. Other than those requirements, it works fine.

ExpressVPN  VPN for Android

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ExpressVPN is another popular Android VPN option and this one will work with your Android TV device. Although again, it does need to be sideloaded to your Android TV system. This one offers access to more than 97 locations in 78 different countries, so you will never be short of connections points. ExpressVPN is based out of the British Virgin Islands and claims not to log any user information  opting for a shared ISP approach where multiple users share the same ISP at the same time. So even if an ISP could be linked to a user, actual usage on a given ISP cannot be solely linked to any one user. Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN also does offer a free trial for new users so you can test before you buy  although once again, you need to provide an email address to gain access to the free trial.

VPN by Private Internet Access

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By any measurement, Private Internet Access (PIA) is easily one of the most popular VPN services around and this company always seems to be running a deal of one type or another. So there is a very good chance that you can sign up to a 2-year deal at a much cheaper price than through any of the other VPNs on this list. Which makes this a good option for those looking for a cheaper paid alternative. This is another service which states that it does not log user activity, although, what might be a little off-putting to some, is that PIA operates out of the US and is therefore subject to US regulations and requests. Although again, PIA does state that it could not identify a user even if it wanted to.

PureVPN  Best Free VPN

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PureVPN is a little different to our other picks as this is one of the only VPN services which offers tiered access. Which does mean if you dont want to pay for the VPN service, you dont have to. Although arguably, it is always advisable to pay for a service such as this if you want to further guarantee your privacy. In any case, PureVPN has plenty of servers (claiming more than 750 in 180 different cities), and offers a wealth of additional features. If you do opt for the premium (paid-for) service from PureVPN, then you can expect even more value for money, including private browsing and the ability to use the service on five different devices simultaneously.

F-Secure Freedome VPN

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Last on the list today is F-Secures Freedome VPN and there is a reason why this one has been left until now. If you are looking for the easiest way to make use of a reputable VPN service on an Android TV device, then this is likely going to be the best option to go for. The reason for this is that it is one of the only Android VPN apps that comes with natural Android TV support. No sideloading needed, no mouse needed, and it will show up on your leanback launcher, just like any other Android TV app. So when it comes to an Android TV user experience, this one is certainly worth a try. The downside with Freedome is that it does not have quite as many servers as some of the others, so if you are looking to lock onto a specific country, then you might want to check whether there are servers available in that country via Freedome first. Also, its basic plans are more limited in terms of the number of devices you can connect to at any one time. So youll have to pay more if you want to connect to more than two Android devices. In any case, a free trial is available with this one.Additional reading: https://thebestvpn.com/reviews /expressvpn/ and https://thebestvpn.com/reviews /nordvpn/
Many of us get these updates on our smartphones, or tablets just about every month. They are security updates which dont really change anything for the user, or really show them anything new, but it does protect the user from exploits. Now many users will see this update come in as a notification and opt to ignore it (in fact, more than half of Android users will ignore it, according to Googles numbers), instead of installing the update. Its no surprise, seeing as this forces you to restart your device and can sometimes take your device out of commission for around 20-30 minutes. Thats not something that users want to do, especially when they are at work or maybe sitting at the doctor bored and using their phone to pass the time, but its something they need to do. These updates that Google pushes out every month and sends to their partners to push to their own devices, are important ones. These are here to make sure that Android is as secure as possible. There are many vulnerabilities in Android, and thats true for just about any OS, whether its mobile or desktop, and Google is doing what it can to push out fixes for these vulnerabilities to keep their users safe.

Since 2015, Google has been pushing out a security update to their lineup of Nexus and Pixel devices and AOSP every single month. They even made the security patch level available in the About Phone section of all Android devices, as of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which was released in late 2015. This way users are well-informed of what security patch they are on, and how out-of-date they might be. Since Google started doing these monthly updates, manufacturers like LG, Samsung, BlackBerry, and OnePlus have been pushing out security updates every single month. And according to Googles Android Security report for 2016, by Q4 of 2016 over half of the top 50 devices had a recent security patch.

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Now weve all heard of those vulnerabilities like QuadRooter, Stagefright and others. These were just the big ones, the ones that affected over a billion Android devices. These are the vulnerabilities that forced Google to start pushing out monthly security patches (and security bulletins detailing what was patched in these updates), but they arent the only ones. If you take a look at any of the security patches from Google in the past few months, youll notice that there are around 10 or so vulnerabilities in each patch that are being fixed. And these are all vulnerabilities that could put your smartphone and your data at risk. Some of these can use code in an app that you installed to give someone remote access to your device, and others are a bit more difficult.

Why should a user care about being protected against these vulnerabilities? Its simple. Think about all the data that is on your smartphone. Not just the pictures, videos, and music, but your accounts, your Google account  which for most people is their key to basically their entire online life  if that gets compromised and into the wrong hands, that could be a huge disaster. Sure the 20-30 minutes it takes to download and install a security update is an inconvenience but it beats having your device become compromised. Now while those instances are few and far between, it can still happen. So its always good to protect yourself from these vulnerabilities, rather than waiting until its too late.

Not every manufacturer updates their smartphones as often as Google does, with their security patches, but they should. Motorola is one of the few manufacturers that has decided against updating their devices every single month with the new security patch and will roll multiple patches together into a single update for their customers. That sounds good to customers, but for those that might have a device with a major vulnerability, thats a big no-no. These days, many of us choose a new smartphone based on a few factors. These include the price, the look of the phone, its features and whether its on our wireless carrier or not. But now we should be looking at their update track record. The manufacturers I mentioned earlier  LG, Samsung, BlackBerry and OnePlus  have all done pretty well at updating their smartphones with the latest security patch. While it may not be on the latest version of Android, their devices are on the latest security patch, or at least a recent one. With the carriers involved, its tough for LG and Samsung to push out security updates to every device and every variant each and every month, but all of their devices are on a recent security patch, which is good.

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Now there are things you can do to help protect yourself from these vulnerabilities, besides installing these security patches when they land on your device. That includes installing apps only from the Google Play Store. This is because Google has a feature called Verify Apps on every Android smartphone which scans apps that are installed, whether from the Play Store or elsewhere, to see if they are malicious. And its pretty good at catching malicious apps and protecting the user. Its also a good idea to secure your device with a lock screen. Whether you use the fingerprint sensor, a PIN, Pattern or another method, by all means do not leave the lock turned off. While it may be more convenient that way, you do open yourself up for all kinds of security issues. And of course, pay attention to the news. When a new major vulnerability appears, itll be all over the news, and security experts will give you tips on how to stay safe, which can vary from vulnerability to vulnerability.

Google notes that theres a surprising number of people that do not install their security patches at all. Not just delaying the installation, but they never install it on their device. Google is going to need to find a way to change that. Its not going to be easy though. These security patches are only installed on about half of the devices that they are available for, which is pretty telling. If you dont want to worry about a vulnerability compromising your smartphone or tablet, then youre going to want to install these security patches. And as I noted above, youll want to look at manufacturers history when it comes to security patches. Weve started including the security patch that devices launch on, in our reviews, so that users can see whether they are launching on an older patch, or a relatively recent one. For the most part, most manufacturers are launching with a security patch that came out in the past 60 days, which is pretty good.
Three new Xiaomi Mi 6 images have just surfaced, and they give us a good look at the companys upcoming flagship. In addition to that, Xiaomi actually shared a new teaser for their upcoming flagship, following the one that surfaced recently and confirmed that the phone will sport a dual camera setup on the back. That being said, lets take a look at the leaked images first, shall we.

As you can see in the gallery down below, the Xiaomi Mi 6 will sport a home button / fingerprint scanner below its display, if this leak is legit, of course. The phone will be made out of metal and glass, and a dual camera setup on the back is also quite noticeable. Next to the rear-facing cameras, youll notice a dual-LED, dual-tone flash which is included there. An IR blaster will be a part of the Mi 6 offering as well, which is something that it also picked up from its predecessor, the Xiaomi Mi 5. Now, this device look somewhat different compared to the leaked render that surfaced earlier today, its metal frame is shaped differently here, and it makes us wonder which one of these two designs is accurate, presuming at least one is. Now, as already mentioned, Xiaomi also released a second teaser video for their upcoming flagship, and you can check it out by clicking here. This video reveals that the Mi 6 will be curved on all four sides. Now, this doesnt necessarily mean that the phones display will be curved as it is on the Galaxy S8, it probably wont, but it could mean that it will sport a slight curve to it, as Xiaomi will probably include a 2.5D curved glass on top of the devices display.

The Xiaomi Mi 6 will be announced on April 19, as the company confirmed recently, and chances are that the company plans to launch to Mi 6 devices on that date. The Xiaomi Mi 6 is said to sport a 5.15-inch fullHD display, and come in both 3GB and 6GB RAM variants. The Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus, on the other hand, will come with a 5.7-inch fullHD or QHD panel. Both devices will share the same design, and specs it seems. Qualcomms Snapdragon 835 SoC will fuel the Xiaomi Mi 6, and Android Nougat will come pre-installed on the device, along with the companys MIUI OS.

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AT&T will exclusively retail the Galaxy S8 Active, a special edition of Samsungs upcoming Android flagship thats expected to feature a more robust body, sources with knowledge of the matter told SamMobile. The upcoming variant of the device is expected to sport the model number SM-G892A, one that hasnt yet been mentioned in any previous reports, including certificates issued by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Due to that state of affairs, it seems unlikely that the second largest wireless carrier in the country will start selling the Galaxy S8 Active as soon as the regular variants of the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus launch. Naturally, that assumption is also reinforced by the fact that the Dallas, Texas-based mobile service provider hasnt made any official announcements on the matter so far, which probably wouldnt be the case if the device was slated to be released next week.

The original report also reveals that the Galaxy S8 Active is codenamed Cruiser, speculating how that name could imply it will carry a larger battery than the regular device as that ship classification denotes vessels designed for traversing distant waters. Regardless of whether that speculation turns out to be baseless or not, sources with direct knowledge of the matter claim that the Galaxy S8 Active will be hitting the market in the near future. The device itself will likely be made in accordance with the MIL-STD-810G military standard, though it remains to be seen whether it will feature a dedicated Active button like previous Active-branded revisions of Samsungs flagships did. Seeing how the Galaxy S8 already boasts four physical buttons on its sides, Samsung may decide against including the fifth one and could instead simply remap the Bixby button or offer users the choice to do so themselves.

While the report doesnt specifically state this, it seems likely that AT&T will only retail an Active variant of the 5.8-inch Galaxy S8, while the 6.2-inch Galaxy S8 Plus wont get the same treatment, just like last year when Samsung only released an AT&T-exclusive Galaxy S7 Active. More details on the device are expected to follow later this year.
To this end, GM announced that it will invest $14 million into the New Cruise Automation Development Facility. On top of that, the biggest U.S. carmaker is committed to hiring more than 1,100 new employees at its San Francisco-based facility over the course of the next five years (i.e. until 2022's end).A part of the investment is meant for repurposing an existing location in San Francisco, which will more than double Cruise Automation s research and development space. Whats more, California Governor Jerry Brown allocated $8 million in the form of tax credit for this expansion. Not bad considering General Motors acquired Cruise Automation in March 2016 to reinforce the American automakers development of self-driving vehicle technology.Over 50 units of the Chevrolet Bolt , all fitted with autonomous driving technology, are currently being tested by GM and the peeps over at Cruise Automation. If youre lucky, youll might spot one roaming around San Francisco (California), Scottsdale (Arizona), and Detroit (Michigan).Self-driving technology holds enormous benefits to society in the form of increased safety and access to transportation, declared Mary Barra , head honcho of GM. Running our autonomous vehicle program as a start-up is giving us the speed we need to continue to stay at the forefront of development of these technologies and the market applications."A first step in bringing autonomous driving to the general public was made only recently, with the Cadillac CT6. For the model year 2018, the luxurious sedan is available with a feature called Super Cruise . Priced at $2,500, the optional extra uses precision LiDAR, sensors, GPS, and cameras to semi-autonomously drive the 2018 Cadillac CT6 on limited-access highways.Regardless of how much money and how much talent an automaker is willing to utilize to make Level 5 autonomous vehicles happen, higher-ups in the industry are extremely reserved about timing. From Ford s point of view, the first autonomous cars are estimated to hit the road in 2025, maybe later.
While automakers have previously reached an understanding to use European standardized tests to evaluate the fuel efficiency of their products, it looks like the rules of the game are altered on the fly.The bold decision made by the French consortium was not an accident, because no company would risk damaging its image with an unnecessary test of its products.Germanys VDA, the association of car manufacturers in the country, is currently discussing how its members will perform and publish fuel economy testing in the real world.While each member secretly dreams of having the best possible result, everyone is aware that automakers must reach a consensus to standardize these tests.Matthias Mueller, the CEO of the Volkswagen Group, has explained that VW is currently discussing this with its homologs in the VDA, and he already told Automotive News that he expects a solution to be ready soon.The president of the VDA, Matthias Wissmann, has not disclosed what testing protocol will be used, and how will the companies ensure the transparency of the process.We would like to note that traffic in Germany is not the same as its equivalent in France, which would raise questions and cause confusion among clients if the tests are not done in the same place.Standardized testing has the advantage of offering impartial comparisons for all the contenders involved, but it also opens the way to optimizations for those evaluations.Many automakers are being accused by clients and environmentalists that they choose a gearing that will get them better results in the fuel economy test that is currently employed in the European Union. Other tricks used involve filling the tires to a higher pressure, along with disconnecting electrical consumers.Currently, the VDA is talking with Germanys Federal Transportation Ministry to set up a transparent testing method that cannot be tricked in any way, but also that provides equitable procedures for all parties involved. Environmental advocacy groups might be called to oversee the process.
The device will be available starting in the fall of this year, and it is meant to help rehabilitate patients who have lower limb paralysis. Toyota developed this unit to aid people who could not walk any more after they suffered a stroke or other medical causes that led to disease.It would be too expensive to offer the system to individuals, so Toyota has decided to rent it to medical facilities. Walk Training Assist robots from the automaker have been installed in 23 medical centers throughout Japan in the past three years.In the future, the developments made on these devices will lead to systems that will help other patients walk. Before that milestone is reached, the company wants to rent 100 units to medical facilities in its homeland.The Welwalk WW-1000 works with two elements - the central body and a robotic leg. The former consists of a monitor that is attached to a treadmill. The second unit, which we referred to as an exoskeleton , is a robotic leg that will help patients bend their knees and stretch their legs.The artificial legs weigh approximately six kilograms (13 lbs), so they will not be a burden to sue, but the central unit is significantly heavier. Because of its 800 kg (1,763 pounds), it is not suitable for private individuals.Its size is also an impediment, and a country like Japan is not known for having houses big enough to accommodate objects this big.The automaker has consigned the rental service to a joint-venture it started with Mitsubishi, which is called Good Life Design. From there, medical institutions will be able to rent the unit to help their patients regain control of their lower limbs.As usual with any medical treatment, recovery takes a different period for every patient, but any improvement in a persons condition is worth the effort.[YOUTUBE=hhttps://youtu.be/KDPNrFfsaio]
One of the reasons for which the Viper is no longer the Dodge halo car (say hello to the Demon !) has to do with the naturally aspirated nature of its V10 heart. Well, some Viper owners out there just can't go without the forced induction kicks, which is how we end up with records such as the one we're here to discuss.
4Motion

The new coverage plan announced is transferrable, which brings peace of mind for the clients who will purchase the 2018 Atlas or Tiguan models as second-hand vehicles, and the package lasts for six years or 72,000 miles (115,172 km).As Volkswagen explains, this is twice what its competitors offer, and they do this to show their faith in the reliability of the new products.Some competitor brands do offer a five-year or 60,000-mile (96,560 km) powertrain guarantee, but you can observe that VW has exceeded them as well.The German marque describes this plan as a limited Bumper-To-Bumper warranty, which includes coverage for the motors, gearboxes, and the optionalall-wheel-drive system.Just like any other warranty program, there are a few restrictions and limitations, and it ends when the car exceeds 72,000 miles on its odometer, or six years pass since it was first sold.Wolfsburg insists that its offer is unique in the segment because the entire guarantee is transferable to other owners, unlike the equivalent system from Hyundai and Kia due to their conditions.The two Korean brands offer a warranty for a longer time and mileage limit on their powertrains, but once the car exchanges owners, its coverage will not be transferred beyond five years or 60,000 miles since the automobile was new.Atlas is the biggest vehicle ever built by VW in the USA, and it offers seating for up to seven people . The top-of-the-line model will cost just shy of $50,000 . Meanwhile, the Tiguan , the other product that is included in this plan, is smaller and more affordable.If Volkswagen wants to recover its image capital after the emissions scandal, the company could try to offer a similar program for the other models in its portfolio.The idea could be a tempting proposition for its clients. Before the automaker offers something along those lines, the company still has to fix the vehicles affected by Dieselgate and pay the fines imposed by the Federal Government.
The CEO of Cloud Peak Energy, the U.S.'s third largest coal company, says he's hoping to do a record amount of coal exports this year. "There is already a revival in exports compared to this time last year, but that wasn't due to Trump," CEO Colin Marshall told Axios earlier this week in an interview.

Why now: Coal exports are poised to go up due to greater international demand from countries like China and South Korea, Marshall says.

Data: Cloud Peak; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon / Axios

Reality check: Despite Marshall's prediction that coal exports will rise this year, a sustained expansion of such exports is unlikely because most proposals for new coastal terminals to export the product, especially in the Northwest, have failed to come online due to local opposition and financial woes of companies involved.

Our prediction: No matter the political party, politicians often take credit for things that happen on their watch, even if they had nothing directly to do with it. Trump is likely to do that here, given his campaign promise to revive the coal industry.
Citing "multiple senior U.S. intelligence officials," NBC News reports that the U.S. "is prepared to launch a preemptive strike with conventional weapons against North Korea should officials become convinced that North Korea is about to follow through with a nuclear weapons test."

Here's the problem  neatly summarized by the New York Times' national security correspondent David Sanger, who's covered North Korea and nuclear proliferation for three decades: North Korea has had  and still has  a non-nuclear way of destroying Seoul, one of the biggest and most prosperous capitals in Asia," Sanger told NPR's "Fresh Air."

Sanger vividly describes the scenario that's terrorized (and paralyzed) military planners since the 1990s:

"The capital of South Korea...It is closer to the border  or the northern border of the Demilitarized Zone than Baltimore is to Washington. So the problem has always been that with mortars that are hidden away in the mountains there, there could be such destruction rained across a city of 14 million people or so and of course one of the economic hubs of Asia, that no one really thought it was worth the risk to take out the theoretical threat of a nuclear North Korea."

Bottom line: "Every time we face this issue," Sanger says, "American presidents sort of backed down and started up a negotiation." Trump wants North Korea to know there's a new sheriff in town, but the same 20-year dilemma confronts him.
President Trump has arrived at Mar-a-Lago for Easter weekend. He has no public events on his schedule tomorrow, and reportedly travelled without senior aides  a first for his visits to Florida since taking office.
Modified On Apr 14, 2017 01:38 PM By Raunak for Volvo S60 2015-2020

With the launch of the Polestar-ified S60, the Swedish automakers performance-oriented brand, Polestar marks its official entry into the Indian market.

Volvo Auto India has launched the go-fast version of the S60, the S60 Polestar, in the country at an introductory price of Rs 52.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). For the uninitiated, Polestar has a motorsport history with Volvo cars and it all began in 1996. Polestar later started offering performance upgrades for the Swedish brands cars. Ultimately in July 2015, Volvo acquired Polestar and the latter is currently Volvos performance division.

The S60 became the first ever production road car built by Polestar for Volvo worldwide. It first went on to sale in late 2013, before the acquisition happened and was updated when Volvo acquired Polestar in 2015 with the styling of the mid-cycle updated model of the S60. Between the years 2014 and 2015, Polestar built 1500 examples of the S60 series, which were sold in limited markets. It was powered by a 6-cylinder, 3.0-litre, turbocharged petrol engine, rated at 350PS/500Nm and was mated to a 6-speed automatic in a 4WD layout.

Now, the car that Volvo is bringing to India was revealed in April 2016 as an updated 2017 model year Volvo S60 Polestar. It replaced the old 3.0-litre 6-cylinder unit for a new 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, twin-charged (turbo and supercharged) petrol engine from Volvos Drive-E engine series. This engine puts out 367PS of max power and 470Nm of peak torque and sprints from 0 to 100kmph sprint in 4.7 seconds (0.1 seconds quicker than the previous limited-run version). The top speed is electronically limited to 250kmph.

With the new downsized, 4-cylinder engine, the 2017 S60 Polestar is 24kg lighter over the front axle and 20kg lighter in total compared to the previous model. Over the stock 2.0-litre T6 Drive-E engine, the Polestar version gets a bigger turbo, new conrods, new camshafts, a larger air intake and a higher capacity fuel pump.

The S60 Polestar goes up against the Mercedes-AMG C 43 and Audi S5 in the country. With the launch of the S60 Polestar, Volvo Auto India is likely to introduce more Polestar versions of its cars in future, including the most powerful Volvo ever  the XC90 T8 Twin Engine Polestar.

Recommended Read: Volvo S60 Polestar vs Mercedes-AMG C43 Vs Audi S5  Spec Comparison

Read More on : S60
'I forgive you': Widow of guard who died protecting Coptic Pope in Egypt's Palm Sunday bombings addresses his killer

The widow of the Egyptian Christian guard who died protecting Coptic Pope Tawardos II during ISIS' Palm Sunday bombings has said she forgives her husband's killer.

'I forgive you and I ask God to forgive you. I pray that God may open your eyes to light your minds,' the widow of Naseem Fahmi said, in a message to her husband's killers and other's contemplating such violence, according to Open Doors.

'I am sure Naseem has been happy to give his life for Christ,' Samira, who was wearing black in mourning, said. 'When we talked about this one day he said that he would be willing to defend the church with his own blood. Last Sunday he did.

'He told me that he knew me and the kids needed him, but that he also knew that God would take care of us if something might happen to us.'

Naseem was one of the men guarding Saint Mark's church in Alexandria, the seat of the Coptic Pope, last Sunday. When the suicide bomber tried to enter the church, Naseem halted him and asked him to pass through the metal detector first.

There the assailant detonated his bomb. Naseem, a 54-year old father to two sons, was killed in the blast, but his quick intervention saved many.

The attack on St Mark's, alongside another the same morning at a church in Tanta, Egypt killed at least 45 and injured over 100. ISIS claimed responsibility for the bombings, and Egypt's president declared a national state of emergency.

In two months Naseem would have become a grandfather for the first time. He was also was a committed, beloved church member who served his church for over 20 years

'Naseem's life was at the church, and now his life is in heaven. I know he is in a good place.' Samira said. She added: 'I am proud of what my husband did, but life has become hard for me after his death. He was everything in my life.'

Naseem's brother, Fawzy Fahmi, said, 'After we heard the death of my brother Naseem, we went to the morgue to recognize his body. It was difficult for us to recognize him because the explosion completely ruined his face. In the end we were able to recognize him through a scar in his leg. He underwent a surgical operation on his knee 25 years ago and that helped us to recognise him.

'We have mixed feelings. It is difficult to express what we feel. We live between the sadness of losing our brother and the joy that he went to Heaven. Our only comfort that he is in a beautiful place with Christ now.'

On Monday this week an Egyptian Coptic priest gave an address to the bombers, in which he said he loved them, forgave them and was praying for them.

He said: 'You gave us to die the same death as Christ  and this is the biggest honour we could have.'

In Minya, southern Egypt, the Coptic Church has cancelled its Easter celebrations, mourning those lost in the Palm Sunday bombings.
US 'mother of all bombs' killed 36 ISIS militants in Afghanistan

As many as 36 suspected Islamic State militants were killed in Afghanistan when the United States dropped 'the mother of all bombs,' its largest non-nuclear device ever unleashed in combat, the Afghan defense ministry said on Friday.

Thursday's strike came as US President Donald Trump dispatches his first high-level delegation to Kabul, amid uncertainty about his plans for the nearly 9,000 American troops stationed in Afghanistan.

The deaths have not been independently verified, but ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said no civilians were harmed in the massive blast that targeted a network of caves and tunnels.

'No civilian has been hurt and only the base, which Daesh used to launch attacks in other parts of the province, was destroyed,' Waziri said in a statement.

He was using an Arabic term that refers to Islamic State, which has established a small stronghold in eastern Afghanistan and launched deadly attacks on the capital, Kabul.

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 the eastern province of Nangarhar, bordering Pakistan, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said on Thursday.

The device, also known as the 'mother of all bombs,' is a GPS-guided munition that had never before been used in combat since its first test in 2003, when it produced a mushroom cloud visible from 20 miles (32 km) away.

Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai condemned the use of the weapon 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 social media network Twitter.

At a village about 3 miles (5 km) from the remote, mountainous area where the bomb was dropped, homes and shops appeared unaffected by the blast, a Reuters witness said.

Residents said they saw militants climbing up and down the mountain every day, making occasional visits to the village.

'They were Arabs, Pakistanis, Chinese and local insurgents coming to buy from shops in the bazaar,' said resident Raz Mohammad.

On Friday, the village was swarming with Afghan and international troops, as helicopters and other aircraft flew overhead.

The strike was part of a joint operation between Afghan and international troops, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's office said in a statement.

'Afghan and foreign troops closely coordinated this operation and were extra cautious to avoid any civilian casualties,' it said.

American officials said the bomb had been positioned for possible use in Afghanistan for 'some time' since the administration of former president Barack Obama.

The United States has steadily intensified its air campaign against Islamic State and Taliban militants in Afghanistan, with the Air Force deploying nearly 500 weapons in the first three months of 2017, up from 300 in the corresponding 2016 period.
What is the battle for Mosul about and why does it matter?

With all the headlines Islamic State is still capable of generating, it is nevertheless in the end-game of its dream of an Islamic caliphate. Coalition forces are attacking its Iraq base in Mosul, and the streams of refugees and slow recapture of its territory and telling a story of defeat. But the human cost is horrifying  and rising.

Why does Mosul matter?

The city has huge symbolic and strategic value. Mosul is the headquarters of Islamic State in Iraq and its fall to no more than 1,500 IS fighters in June 2014 heralded the growth of the organisation to control vast swathes of terrority. It was in the city's Great Mosque that IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the so-called 'caliphate', an Islamically-governed region spanning Iraq and Syria. It was previously a diverse city of 2.5 million people; its large Christian population was all driven out by IS. Recapturing it would represent a decisive blow against IS, whose last major stronghold in the country it is, though terrorist activity is expected to continue.

Why did it fall so easily?

Iraq's armed forces were corrupt and incompetent, but a key factor was the deep division between the country's Shia governing class and its largely Sunni population. IS represented the Sunnis, though in the most extreme form, and had a good deal of local support.

What was life like there?

IS imposed its fundamentalist ideology on the city and its inhabitants. In a church liberated by Iraqi government forces a list of 14 rules of behaviour has been found scrawled on the walls: these include penalties for drinking and smoking, a prohibition on women leaving the house if it is not necessary and the death penalty for blasphemy. In recent weeks the danger and privation has been extreme.

What's happening now?

After a long period of preparation, a retrained and revitalised Iraqi army supported by US-led air power and around 1,000 US troops is retaking the city. It has already taken the eastern half, but the battle for the western half is much harder. It's the older part of Mosul, with narrow streets and alleys unsuitable for armoured vehicles, and IS has had a long time to prepare the ground. Furthermore, IS continues to use civilians as hostages; the coalition forces are extremely reluctant to press attacks home if it means substantial civilian casualties.

Are civilians being injured?

Yes, all the time. Monitoring group Airwars suggests there may have been up to 1,000 deaths from airstrikes in March alone. But a blast on March 17 has been particularly controversial, with some eyewitnesses claimed a US-led airstrike hit buildings that collapsed, killing up to 200 people. However, the Iraqi military says there was no sign of an airstrike and that it was an IS bomb. IS is also accused of using chemical weapons.

Why aren't the civilians leaving?

Many are, though IS fighters shoot them if they see them going. There has been a huge exodus of refugees, now amounting to 433,000. The UN says that a total of 1.5 million could leave their homes in the face of the advancing battle. There is already cholera in IS-controlled Western Mosul and reports of widespread hunger. Among the Christian organisations working in the region are Tearfund, World Vision and Samaritans' Purse.

Another is IHP, a medical aid charity that provides donated medicines to refugees and displaced people, including in Erbil where many refugees from Mosul are living.

What will happen next?

IS will be defeated in Mosul, but the fear is that the cost to civilians will be tragically high. Furthermore, there are questions about how the city  and Iraq in general  will recover. Billions of dollars worth of damage has been caused, but also the region's ancient communities  including the Christian community  have been shattered, with some predicting many of the exiles will never return. There are continuing fears about security, with many heavily-armed militia groups reluctant to give up their weapons. And regional players like Turkey and Iran are making it even more difficult for the Iraqi government to restore anything like stability. There are still questions about whether Iraq can even survive as a unified state, with many in Kurdistan expecting independence. The divisions within the country, not least between Shias and Sunnis, mean that even after Mosul's recapture, Iraq may still be a long way from peace.
'What is truth?' Why in an age of fake news Pilate's question matters more than ever

There it was in big red letters: 'Is truth dead?' An unusual question for the front cover of one of the world's best-selling magazines. It paid homage to another famous Time magazine cover printed 51 years earlier, which in the same typeface and colours asked a similar question: 'Is God dead?' Both of these questions seem relevant as we consider the significance of Good Friday.

The event that sparked Time's 'truth' front cover was a mismatch between tweets President Donald Trump made claiming that President Obama had a wiretap operation targeting him during the election campaign and a stern refutation of this from FBI Director James Comey. Political commentators labelled the bizarre events from Capitol Hill as yet another instance of 'fake news' and 'alternative facts'. The White House seemed to suggest the incident was an instance of media dishonesty and the liberal elites taking against the administration.

Molly Ball of the Atlantic magazine explains that fake news is a phenomenon not restricted to the incumbent administration. News stories about voting machines hacked by the Russians spread just as quickly through Democrat circles as Obama wiretapping stories spread through Republican channels. Ball argues the reason we have fake news is that 'when people are strongly motivated to believe something they will grab on to anything that helps them with that gut belief. They want to believe what they want to believe so much more strongly than they want to be presented with contradictory evidence.'

What we are seeing is the latest example of the echo chamber effect. We hear what we want to hear, we listen to whom we want to listen to, we believe what we want to believe. Despite being better connected and having more news outlets within reach than ever before in human history, we seem to be losing the ability to discern lies from truth and spin from reality.

This problem is nothing new. In the early hours of the first Good Friday, a similar dilemma was in play. A young, bearded radical was challenging the authority of the ruling elites by making some controversial claims. He was breaking down the walls of division in a segregated culture. He was challenging corruption at the highest levels of government. He had been treated as a terror suspect and kidnapped in the night by armed guards and faced both trumped-up charges and enhanced interrogation techniques to get him to make a confession. Now he was in front of the highest official in Israel, who would make the final call on his sentence. Was this man really guilty of treason, or was he being charged with it to silence him before he revealed any more of the hypocrisy?

When Pontius Pilate is put in the position of passing final judgment, he calls Jesus before him and asks him outright if he was the King of the Jews. In response Jesus has a question of his own  has Pilate come to this conclusion by himself or has he just been fed second-hand information? It is a bold, perhaps insolent response. Despite all of Pilate's apparent power, Jesus shows him little respect. But it is a legitimate challenge. Jesus recognises that too many political leaders run the risk of being puppets for others. Too many individuals run the risk of dismissing Jesus based on other people's conclusions.

Pilate is clearly rattled by the pluck of Jesus, this criminal upstart pushing back on him. He tries to distance himself from the responsibility of the challenge by distancing himself from Judaism and by changing the topic to focus on the charges brought against Jesus. Jesus replies: 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.'

Jesus doesn't need to defend himself against the spurious charges that have been brought against him. Instead of explaining them, he explains the nature of his kingdom. This is another bold move. With all the power seemingly in Pilate's hands, Jesus shows what true power is. His kingdom is not based on the power of the sword. Its norms and values are different from earthly kingdoms. Perhaps Pilate doesn't notice the critique of his position, because Jesus has used the trigger word 'kingdom'. So Jesus is a king, then. Has he caught Jesus out? Jesus deftly answers: 'You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.'

Jesus was not looking for power when he came to earth, his time on earth was not an election campaign or a kickstarter pitch for a populist uprising or a conspiracy to usurp power through a coup d'etat. No, Jesus claims to simply be a messenger of truth. Is there an invitation here? Certainly, there is an opportunity for Pilate to seize the truth and follow Jesus. But Pilate does not seize the truth. Instead he utters the fatal line for which he is remembered: 'What is truth?'

Pilate would rather debate the nature of truth than find truth and act on it. Truth is less important than expediency. It does not matter at the end of the day to him whether Jesus is or is not the true king of a heavenly kingdom, nor whether he is guilty or innocent. Jesus is a bargaining chip. He is the means to win favour with the local citizens. He is an opportunity to assert and protect his power. He offers them a little Passover present: the life of their 'king' or the life of an insurrectionist Barabbas. Jesus fails the public referendum and is voted to death by the fickle favour of the crowds.

But Jesus understands that his future is not ultimately in the hands of Pilate or the popular vote but in the hands of the God who has granted Pilate all of the power that he has.

Jesus models to us how to live in our so called post-truth society. He lived with courage and integrity. He was not cowed by public authorities or public opinion. He was not ashamed to speak the truth of God to those in power. He calls his listeners to consider the evidence for themselves and not rely on second-hand opinions. He was willing to suffer for the sake of truth worth speaking out.

On this Good Friday, it may seem that God is dead and that truth is dead. But we know that Sunday is coming. We long for resurrection and that hope helps us contend for both God and truth in both our private and public lives. In the meantime we heed Jesus' Good Friday invitation to Pontius Pilate: 'Everyone on the side of truth listens to me'.

Dr Krish Kandiah is the author of 'Paradoxology: Why Christianity was never meant to be simple' (IVP USA). His latest book, 'God is Stranger', has just been published by Hodder.
Young British woman stabbed to death in Jerusalem in Good Friday attack

A young British woman has been stabbed to death in Jerusalem amid the ancient city's Good Friday commemorations.

The victim, named as Hannah Bladon, aged 20, was travelling on the city's light railway, nearby Jerusalem's Old City when she was attacked with a kitchen knife, according to the Times of Israel.

Her attacker - reportedly a Palestinian 57-year old man from East Jerusalem - was wrestled to the ground by police and passers-by, and arrested at the scene. Bladon was taken to Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus for treatment, but died of multiple stab wounds to the upper body shortly after arriving.

Bladon was studying religion at Birmingham university. She was in Jerusalem on an exchange programme with the Hebrew University, taking courses in Bible studies, archaeology and religion.

Israel's Shin Bet security agency identified the attacker as Jamil Tamimi, 57, from East Jerusalem's Ras al-Amoud neighbourhood.

A police spokesperson said he appeared to suffer from mental problems. Earlier this year, Tamimi attempted suicide by swallowing a razor blade, the Shin Bet said, and was found guilty of sexually abusing his daughter in 2011.

'This is another case, out of many, where a Palestinian who is suffering from personal, mental or moral issues choose to carry out a terror attack in order to find a way out of their problems,' the security agency said in a statement.

The attack took place near the capital's IDF Square, along Jaffa Road near the walls of the Old City.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are visiting the Holy City this weekend, as Christians continue to mark Holy Week and the Easter weekend, and Jewish celebration of Passover continues. Security forces have been placed on high alert for the holiday period.
Bellevue: Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem at Americas Most Storied Hospital, by David Oshinsky (Doubleday, 400 pp., $30)

The milestones of the modern city are not always measured in building heights or population numbers: sometimes they are recorded in epidemics and how the city confronts these crises of public health. For New York City, where urban density and the diseases borne by international travel have often collided, with catastrophic results, this has meant a history of fighting varied and deadly human pathogens: from the yellow fever epidemics of the 1790s to battles against cholera, typhus, puerperal fever, influenza, tuberculosis, and AIDS. Since its founding in 1736, New Yorks Bellevue Hospital has been at the center of all these struggles. In Bellevue: Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem at Americas Most Storied Hospital, David Oshinsky, a professor of history at New York University and the director of the Division of Medical Humanities at NYUs Langone Medical Center, applies his talent for storytellinghe won the Pulitzer Prize in 2006 for his book Polio: An American Storyalong with a taste for the macabre to deliver a remarkably compelling history of New York as seen through one medical establishment.

Few hospitals are more deeply embedded in our popular culture, Oshinsky writes of Bellevue. The flagship institution of Americas largest city, where free hospital care is provided to the medically indigent as a right, not a privilege, Bellevue continues to stand, for all its troubles, as a vital safety net, a place of caring and a place of last resort. The three centuries of the subtitle describes not just Bellevues history but that of the institutions of public health as a whole. In a city where an outcry over the body snatching of cadavers by medical students led to the deadly doctors riot of 1788, and where the upper classes long sought refuge from their infirmities at home rather than in a hospital, Bellevue grew out of a pest-house, or ward for those who were often terminally ill, established in what was then New Amsterdam. Citing records from the West India Company, when the Dutch ruled Manhattan Island, writes Oshinsky, Bellevues existence can be traced to a small infirmary built in the 1660s for soldiers overcome by bad smells and filth.

The institution that became Bellevue was first used more as a quarantine for those dying from periodic eruptions of measles, influenza, scarlet fever, and throat distemper (diphtheria) than as a place for fighting what were then misunderstood infections. By the 1730s, the primitive hospital had advanced north from the downtown population center to an almshouse on the city common, near what is now City Hall. In 1798, New York secured the land of the remote Belle Vue farm, on what was then a bucolic hill overlooking Kips Bay. When the city grid was laid down in 1811, this became the block of land east of First Avenue between 26th and 28th Streets, where the hospital has been in near-continuous operation. Today, from this same quadrangle, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue annually handles some 650,000 clinical visits, 110,000 emergency calls, and 25,000 inpatients each year, with an attending physician staff of 1,800 and 5,500 nurses, assistants, and clerical employees.

Early on, Bellevue helped protect a swelling immigrant (and often indigent) population from the diseases that plagued their slums. In the nineteenth century, New York became one of the worlds most densely populated places. With half its population living in infested and overcrowded tenements, the city for a time suffered a mortality rate exceeding that of London and Liverpool. In 1870, one child in five in NYC would not live to one, Oshinsky writes, and 25 percent who reached adulthood would not live to thirty.

Bellevue doctors played a central role in writing Sanitary Conditions of the City, the groundbreaking 1865 study that led to the creation of New Yorks first official Board of Health. Even without fully understanding the vectors of diseasesuch as mosquitos, lice, fecal waste in tainted water, and verminthey installed new sanitary measures to replace fetid wells with fresh water conveyed through the new Croton Aqueduct. The Board of Health also cleared livestock from city streets and banned the driving of cattle through residential neighborhoods. Out of the necessity of its urban circumstances, Bellevue shepherded other innovations, in particular the science of modern pathology. New Yorks Office of the Chief Medical Examiner originated on Bellevues second floor and soon became the gold standard for detecting intoxicants, barbiturates, and poisons.

Oshinsky traces the emergence of the many private hospitals that began opening around Bellevue, paralleling the citys diverse ethnic communities and their desire to attend to their particular religious customs in illness and death: St. Vincents, the citys first Catholic hospital for a growing Irish population; German Hospital, which became Lenox Hill after the First World War; Jews Hospital, which became Mount Sinai; Presbyterian Hospital, St. Lukes for Episcopalians; St. Francis for German Catholics; Columbus for Italians.

The one institution among these that comes out as a villain in Oshinskys story is New York Hospital. Chartered by King George in 1771, it opened in 1791 as a handsome structure set amid shaded lawns, a few short blocks, yet a world away, from the almshouse where Bellevue was born. The contrasts between the public mandates of Bellevue and the private privileges of New York Hospital were stark. By law, private hospitals can unload on Bellevue, and Bellevue must receive them, Oshinsky writes. So New York Hospital would turn away drunks, vagrants, and those with smallpox, the itch, and contagious distempers. Or, in what is known as patient dumping, it would redirect its sickest patients to Bellevue, as it did well into the twentieth century.

Yet just as often, Bellevue proved its own worst enemy, as both disease and mismanagement frequently overran the institution. There never was a time when Bellevue appeared even remotely trouble-free, writes Oshinsky. In the 184849 epidemic of Typhus or Irish Fever, a bacterial disease that thrives in close, filthy quarters and is spread by a body louse, the patient death rate at Bellevue topped 40 percent; it was even worse for staff. In the 1850s, a sensational story spread of Bellevues rat infestation, as a woman was discovered in a hospital bed with a lifeless child whose face had been eaten by vermin (posthumously, it was determined).

In 1887, a young reporter named Nellie Bly feigned insanity and was involuntarily committed to the citys system of institutions for the mentally ill. Her story, Ten Days in a Mad-House,published in the New York World, became a sensation for its depiction of brutality and neglect. Yet while her tale mainly focused on the citys asylum on Blackwells Island (now Roosevelt Island), the psychiatric unit of Bellevue also became associated in the subsequent public scandal and investigations, cementing a connection between Bellevue and insanity.

Sensational episodes persisted into modern times. In 1989, a homeless cocaine addict named Steven Smith, who had been released from psychiatric care against his wishes, took up residence in the machinery closet of the hospitals 22nd floor. Wearing stolen doctors scrubs and bearing a stethoscope and security badge, Smith was free to roam the hospital. He entered the office of Dr. Kathryn Hinnant, who was five months pregnant, and over 20 minutes beat her unconscious, raped and sodomized her, and strangled her to death with an electrical cord. The investigation of the Beast of Bellevue uncovered at least three reports of unauthorized persons living in the fourth floor locker room and at least five reports of persons sleeping in other common areas and in stairways around the hospital.

Still, these incidents to the contrary, Bellevues reputation as an out-of-control hospital for the mentally ill might be exaggerated, argues Oshinsky. Bellevues hold on our popular imagination has come at a price, he writes. The relentless focus on its eccentricities has obscured its role as our quintessential public hospital. Bellevue was a leader in psychiatric research and treatment, he maintains, yet here again, the hospital eventually became embroiled in controversy. Recognizing a connection between seizure and the treatment of schizophrenic symptomsstill not fully understoodBellevue inaugurated the practice of electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT. Thousands would undergo ECT at Bellevue, writes Oshinsky, many of them children. Indeed, few units employed it as systematically. Bellevue largely abandoned ECT after its lead practitioner, the child neuropsychiatrist Lauretta Bender, left for Creedmoor State Hospital in 1956, where her psychiatric research turned to the experimental use of LSD.

For Bellevue, the medicine and mayhem of Oshinskys subtitle came together, triumphantly as it turned out, in its confrontation with a new illness beginning in November 1980, when a man arrived at Bellevue with a fever and shortness of breath. Detecting Pneumocystis pneumonia with profound cellular immunodeficiency, a team that included doctors Fred Valentine, Alvin Friedman-Kien, and Linda Laubenstein raced to understand the nature and vectors of a new urban epidemic. Originally called gay cancer, then Gay-Related Immune Deficiency (GRID), the disease was eventually renamed Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS.

Even as nobody knew what precautions to take or how long the epidemic would last, writes Oshinsky, Bellevue became the epicenter of the spreading epidemic, as it served both the gay neighborhoods of Greenwich Village and the drug-plagued streets of the Bowery and the Lower East Side. The heroics of the citys medical professionals, many of them involved with Bellevue, became the subject of Larry Kramers play The Normal Heart. The challenge of battling AIDS held a strong appeal to those steeped in the Bellevue tradition, writes Oshinsky in a moving closing chapter. The story serves as the model for the next time Bellevue confronts an urban epidemic that will, inevitably, arrive at its doors.

Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images
The school-choice movement was shaken last year, when two major studies appeared showing negative academic outcomes for participants in choice programs. A Thomas B. Fordham Institute study showed modest academic declines for students in Ohios Educational Choice Scholarship program, though it assessed only one segment of participants and did not use a gold-standard randomized control trial (RCT) methodology. More troublingly, a methodologically robust study of the Louisiana Scholarship Program showed dramatic test-score declines for students who had received state-issued vouchers to attend private schools.

Anti-choice advocates on the political left have celebrated these reports as proof that, as the New York Times editorialized, choice policies have proved to be failures. But the evidence on school choice remains overwhelmingly favorable. EdChoice senior fellow Greg Forster found that of 16 rigorous studies on the effects of school vouchers, 14 showed positive effects, two showed no difference, and two showed negative impact (both from the Louisiana program). Of 33 studies on the effects of choice on public schools, 31 showed positive effects, one showed no difference, and one showed negative effects. (Both the Louisiana and Ohio programs showed positive results.) Given these mixed findings, the Louisiana and Ohio studies dont demonstrate that school choice is a failure; what they actually show is that school choice can be poorly implemented.

The Louisiana private school-choice voucher system was virtually designed to ensure that students trying to leave bad public schools would wind up in equally bad, or worse, private schools. The Louisiana Scholarship Program vouchers are far lower than the public per-pupil amountabout 60 percent on averageand the state forbids parents from applying their voucher to the tuition of a more expensive private school and then making up the difference out-of-pocket. Private schools participating in the program must either accept the voucher as the full value of their tuition, or not at all. Whats more, the Louisiana program is among the most (if not the most) heavily regulated choice systems in the country. A study by researchers from the University of Arkansas showed that private school leaders in Louisiana were far more troubled by the regulatory burden of the states voucher program than their counterparts in Ohio and Florida and were especially concerned about the threat of future regulations.

The prospect of a price ceiling with heavy strings attached warped the private-school marketplace. More than 70 percent of private schools opted against taking voucher students; participating schools saw a 13 percent decline in enrollment over the last decade, compared with a 3 percent enrollment increase in non-participating schools. Better private schools chose not to participate because it would force them to submit to government price controls and bureaucratic whims, leaving only desperate private schools to opt into the voucher system. A poorly funded, high-regulation system will inevitably lag behind a well-funded, low-regulation system in educating students.

While the anti-choice movement is wrong to assume that the Louisiana experience proves that choice is a failure, the pro-school-choice Right is wrong to ignore what happened there. The election of Donald Trump has radically changed the debate over school choice. His promise of a large federal choice initiative means that a policy that has slogged along at a slow pace through the states could be poised for a breakthrough.

The Trump administration might be considering a federal tax credit that could steer millions of dollars to organizations that grant scholarships to low-income students. Some advocates are pressing for a 50-state approach that could bring choice to deep-blue states like New York and California, but this would require federal regulation, which tends to expand with succeeding administrations. And its not yet clear what limit would be set on federal tax-credit expenditures. Its plausible that a tax-credit program could resist regulation, channel billions into scholarship funds, and help school choice fulfill its potential. But it could also end up scaling the Louisiana model nationwide.

A federalist approach, rather than a national one, may be more prudent. With this approach, the Trump administration could tailor a tax credit to supplement the tax-credit programs that already exist in 17 states. While this would be more limited in scope, it has two key virtues. First, states would have regulatory authority, limiting the dangers of sweeping national regulations and enabling states to experiment and learn. Second, concentrating funding in existing programs could provide the financial depth needed to encourage school participation and expansion.

School choice is not a panacea. Most of the evidence has been in school choices favor, but the latest research confirms the commonsense notion that choice can help or hurt, depending on how its administered. Rather than risk a 50-state prescription that could expand federal meddling in education policy, the Trump administration should supplement scholarship programs in states that have already chosen choice.

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On a gorgeous morning this autumn, at Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, I was expecting a huge popular demonstration, maybe even a riot. The U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington was about to enter Yokosukas harbor, the base of the Seventh Fleet in the Pacific. Never before had a nuclear-powered vessel been based in Japan. It was a clear demonstration of how the U.S. was reinforcing its presence in this part of the worlda danger zone, with China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan itself, all historical rivals, ranged around it. Japan has a long tradition of pacifist, antinuclear, and anti-American protests, and until now, the only country to have been bombed with nuclear weapons had always opposed hosting nuclear ships.

Yet no riot erupted; in fact, there was no trace of protest. Yokosuka was quiet. The only crowd on hand was on the base: 1,000 Japanesemostly local dignitaries, politicians, and representatives of the Japanese Navyjoined a group of American officials to attend the majestic and complex maneuver of the George Washington from the high seas to the pier.

Speeches were numerous. The American speakersambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer, Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter, and a number of admiralspredictably lavished praise on U.S.-Japanese friendship and expressed their commitment to peace in the Pacific. The surprise came from the Japanese side. Yokosukas mayor, Ryoichi Kabaya, said that while the Japanese had felt some initial reluctance about hosting a nuclear-powered ship in the port city, they had eventually concluded that the George Washington posed no safety threat. Japans newly appointed foreign affairs minister, Hirofumi Nakasone, was even more enthusiastic. He declared that no better friends existed on earth than Japan and America and that their alliance was the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in Asia. I wondered if the good feelings hadnt received a boost from the recent rekindling of the North Korean nuclear program.

The George Washington eventually reached the pier. Following a Navy tradition, the first men to come ashore were fathers whose children were born in Japan while they were away at sea. Several family reunions ensued, demonstrative enough to embarrass the reserved Japanese.

The purpose of the Navy, Vice Admiral John Bird, commander of the Seventh Fleet, tells me, is not to fight. The mere presence of the Navy should suffice, he argues, to dissuade any attack or attempt to destabilize the region. From Yokosuka, Guam, and Honolulu, the Navy is sending its ships on missions to locales as far away as Madagascar. On board the Blue Ridge, the vice admirals command ship anchored at Yokosuka, huge display screens allow officers to track the movements of any countrys military vessels cruising from the international date line in the east to the African coast in the westthe range of the Seventh Fleets zone of influence.

How dangerous and unstable would Asia become without the Seventh Fleet? The Navy points to two different threats. The first is China, which has territorial claims against most of its neighbors. Taiwan comes immediately to mind, of course, but the Chinese government is also disputing ownership of the oil-rich Spratly Islands with Vietnam and the Philippines. If North Korea were to collapse, moreover, the Chinese Army could take over its territory before South Korea or the U.S. had time to intervene. China is building a very large deepwater fleetthe first in its history. (South Korea and Japan are similarly increasing their naval power.) Thus far, this Chinese fleet seldom moves far from Chinas territorial waters, something that surprises the Seventh Fleet leadership. The lack of a high-seas tradition, perhaps?

The other peril comes from Islamic terrorism: a loose network of al-Qaida affiliates operating in East Java, northern Sumatra, the southern Philippines, and southern Thailand. The dream of an Islamic caliphate based in northern Sumatra, a revival of a former Arab kingdom, foments instability in Indonesia and the Philippines, both already shaky. U.S. Special Forces are active in the region, especially in Mindanao.

We have to project simultaneously our hard power and our soft power, Bird says. The Seventh Fleets missions are often humanitarian, taking care of local medical or infrastructure problems. The largest recent effort of this kind took place in the aftermath of the 2005 tsunami that devastated Indonesian and Thai coastal areas. The image of the U.S. in Indonesia has been transformed by our intervention there, Bird observes. Suddenly, Indonesians, who had never met real Americans before, saw the U.S. as a compassionate and helpful nation.

Friendship is also growing with India. After some 50 years of neutrality, including a long pro-Soviet period, India has become a strong American ally, thanks to the active diplomacy of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. We were surprised to discover our common background, notes Bird. The American and Indian navies share a British maritime culture, which made joint operations smooth. India now seems as committed as Japan to an alliance with the U.S.and as uneasy about China; India also finds itself more destabilized daily by domestic Islamic radicals.

For a stark example of what the region would be like without the American presence, look at the piracy occurring these days along the Somali coast, an area that America does not patrol. Pirates hijack and ransom tankers, interrupting the flow of oil, increasing insurance premiums, and ultimately raising the price of gas. In the Pacific, however, pirates act cautiously or not at all because they know that the Seventh Fleet is never far off.

In the long run, says Bird, regional conflict in the Pacific could even disappear, thanks to expanded global trade. But the presence of the Seventh Fleet is exactly what makes global trade possible hereand no other country has the power and the inclination to do it. The ultimate role of the U.S. Navy, the vice admiral concludes, is to keep the channels of commerce and communication open and safe, just as the British Navy did in the nineteenth century. I am a disciple of Adam Smith, he says wryly. Peace can be reached by free trade, but free trade requires that the sea be policed by a strong navy.
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Until recently, classical education served as the foundation of the wider liberal arts curriculum, which in turn defined the mission of the traditional university. Classical learning dedicated itself to turning out literate citizens who could read and write well, express themselves, and make sense of the confusion of the present by drawing on the wisdom of the past. Students grounded in the classics appreciated the history of their civilization and understood the rights and responsibilities of their unique citizenship. Universities, then, acted as cultural custodians, helping students understand our present values in the context of a 2,500-year tradition that began with the ancient Greeks.

But in recent decades, classical and traditional liberal arts education has begun to erode, and a variety of unexpected consequences have followed. The academic battle has now gone beyond the in-house culture wars of the 1980s. Though the argument over politically correct curricula, controversial faculty appointments, and the traditional mission of the university is ongoing, the university now finds itself being bypassed technologically, conceptually, and culturally, in ways both welcome and disturbing.

At its most basic, the classical education that used to underpin the university often meant some acquaintance with Greek and Latin, which offered students three rich dividends. First, classical-language instruction meant acquiring generic methods of inquiry. Knowledge was no longer hazy and amorphous, but categorized and finite. Classical languages, like their Western successors, were learned through the systematic study of vocabulary, grammar, and syntax. Such philological study then widened to reading poetry, philosophy, history, and oratory. Again, the student learned that there was a blueprinta structureto approaching education. Nothing could ever be truly new in itself but was instead a new wrinkle on the age-old face of wisdom. Novel theories of education and entirely new disciplines of learningto the extent that they were legitimate disciplinescould take their place within existing classical divisions of finite learning, such as philosophy, political science, or literature.

More than just an educational buzzword, then, interdisciplinary represented a real unity among fields as diverse as numismatics, epigraphy, architecture, archaeology, philology, art, and literature. Reading Homer or Virgil evoked history, culture, geography, style, language, and philosophy. Poetry was not just the modern habit of breaking up prose into bits and pieces but a discipline of poetic language, meter, and subject matter. Oratory was not just speaking publicly but the art of metaphor, allusion, exaggeration, invective, and hyperbole. The formation of university departments, the concept of a core general-education curriculum, and the expectation that graduates would leave the university with certain skills and shared wisdom were all outgrowths of the study of classics and evolved over two millennia. Classics was not some esoteric discipline but a holistic way of thinking about the world that elevated reason over cant, fad, and superstition.

Second, classical educationreading Homer, Sophocles, and Aristotle, or studying the Delphic Charioteer and red-figure vase paintingconveyed an older, tragic view of mans physical and mental limitations at odds with the modern notion of life without limits. Love, war, government, and religion involved choices not between utopian perfection and terrible misery but between bad and worse alternatives, or somewhat good and somewhat better optionsgiven the limitations of human nature and the precarious, brief span of human life. Humility permeated traditional liberal arts education: the acceptance that we know very little; that as frail human beings, we live in an unforgiving natural world; and that culture can and should improve on nature without destroying it.

In this regard, the university living experienceon-campus residence, close association with professors at dinners, and attendance at university lectureshelped reinforce the abstract lessons of the classroom and promote a certain civic behavior. Students had a precious four years in such a landscape to prepare their intellectual and moral skills for a grueling life ahead. The university was a unique place; it thrived because liberal arts in the holistic sense simply could not be emulated by, or outsourced to, private enterprise or ad hoc self-improvement training.

Third, classical education was a window on the West. Study of Athenian democracy, Homeric epic, or Roman basilicas framed all exploration of subsequent eras, from the Middle Ages to modernity. An Aquinas, Dante, Michelangelo, or Montesquieu could be seen as reaffirming, adopting, modifying, or rejecting something that the Greeks or Romans had done first. One could no more build a liberal education without some grounding in the classics than one could construct a multistory house without a foundation.

Over the last four decades, various philosophical and ideological strands united to contribute to the decline of classical education. A creeping vocationalism, for one, displaced much of the liberal arts curriculum in the crowded credit-hours of indebted students. Forfeiting classical learning in order to teach undergraduates a narrow skill (what the Greeks called a techne) was predicated on the shaky notion that undergraduate instruction in business or law would produce superior CEOs or lawyersand would more successfully inculcate the arts of logic, reasoning, fact-based knowledge, and communication so necessary for professional success.

A therapeutic curriculum, which promised that counseling and proper social attitudes could mitigate such eternal obstacles to human happiness as racism, sexism, war, and poverty, likewise displaced more difficult classes in literature, language, philosophy, and political science. The therapeutic sensibility burdened the university with the task of ensuring that students felt adjusted and happy. And upon graduation, those students began to expect an equality of result rather than of opportunity from their society. Gone from university life was the larger tragic sense. Few students learned (or were reminded) that we come into this world with limitations that we must endure with dignity and courage rather than deal with easily through greater sensitivity, more laws, better technology, and sufficient capital.

Political correctness, meanwhile, turned upside-down the old standard of inductive reasoning, the linchpin of the liberal arts. Students now were to accept preordained general principlessuch as the pernicious legacy of European colonialism and imperialism and the pathologies of capitalism, homophobia, and sexismand then deductively to demonstrate how such crimes manifested themselves in history, literature, and science. The university viewed itself as nearly alone in its responsibility for formulating progressive remedies for societys ills. Society at large, government, the family, and religion were hopelessly reactionary.

As classical education declined and new approaches arose to replace it, the university core curriculum turned into a restaurant menu that gave 18-year-olds dozens of classes to choose from, the easiest and most therapeutic usually garnering the heaviest attendance. The result, as many critics have noted, is that most of todays students have no shared notion of education, whether fact-based, requisite knowledge or universal theoretical methodologies. They either do not know what the Parthenon is or, if they do, they do not understand how its role as the democratic civic treasury of the Athenians was any different frommuch less any better thanwhat went on atop the monumental Great Temple of Tenochtitlan. Most likewise could not distinguish Corinthian from Doric columns on their venerable campuses, or a frieze from a pediment on their administration buildings. For a brief four-year period, students inherit a now-foreign vocabulary of archaic terms, such as provost, summa cum laude, and honorarium, which they employ but usually do not understand. While the public may not fully appreciate the role that classical education once played, it nonetheless understands that university graduates know ever less, even as the cost of their education rises ever more. Any common, shared notion of what it means to be either a Westerner or an American is increasingly rare.

The universities apparently believed that their traditional prestige, the financial resources of their alumni, and the fossilized cultural desideratum of going to college would allow them to postpone a reckoning. But by failing in their central mission to educate our youth, they have provoked the beginnings of an educational counterrevolution. Just as the arrogance and ideological biases of the mainstream media have made them slow to appreciate technological trends and the growing dissatisfaction of their audience, so, too, are universities beginning to fragment, their new multifaceted roles farmed out to others that can do them more cheaply and with less political sermonizing.

The most obvious challenge to university predominance is technologicalin particular, Internet-based education offered by private-sector virtual campuses masquerading as traditional universities. As the American workforce increasingly needs retraining and as higher-paying jobs demand ever more specialized skills, students are beginning to pay for their education on a class-by-class basis through distance learning. Online classes, which do not require campus residence or commuting, also eliminate the overhead of highly paid, tenured faculty, campus infrastructure, and such costly elements of undergraduate education as on-campus lectures and extracurricular activities.

Unfortunately, private online schools also do away with the old notion of offering liberal arts classes to enrich citizenship and enhance technological specialization. Perhaps their unspoken premise is that if universities do not believe in the value of teaching Western civilization as part of a mandated general-education curriculum, then why not simply go to the heart of the matter and offer computer-programming skills or aeronautical-engineering know-how without the pretense of a broad education? And who is to say that paid-by-the-hour instructors at the online University of Phoenix are less responsible teachers than their traditional counterparts? After all, their market-driven employers must serve a paying constituency that, unlike traditional university students, often demands near-instant results for its fees.

At American Military University, its worth noting in this light, online instructors receive compensation based on the number of students they teach, rather than the number of courses they offer. Cost-cutting measures are radical in the online education world. Bookstores and libraries become almost superfluous; instead, students simply pay fees for the use of Internet resources. The University of Phoenix actually negotiates deals with textbook publishers to make all of their books available online for a flat fee. The logic is to redefine education as an affordable product that finds its value in the marketplace among competing buyers and sellers.

Its hard to fault these companies; they are serving a need. It would be reassuring, certainly, to think that a psychology student at Smith or Occidental would receive a broader understanding of the discipline, its history, and its place within the liberal arts than would a counterpart graduating from the far cheaper online Argosy University. But it would be far from certain.

Traditional colleges and universities, seeking to compete, have started to enter the online education market. The present university system is partly subsidized by low-paid, part-time faculty without tenure who teach large classes and thereby support a smaller mandarin cohort of tenured professors with full benefits, fewer students, and little worry about the consequences of poor peer reviews or student evaluations. Indeed, since the 1970s, the percentage of tenured and tenure-track professors in the academy has declined dramatically, as the university seeks to exploit the many to pay for the chosen, though dwindling, few. Schools are now starting to complement these two tiers with a thirda new sort of distance-learning adjunct, paid even less, who offers classes via the Internet and may never venture onto campus at all, but whose courses carry the prestige of a well-known university brand. An informal survey suggests that distance learning now makes up as much as 20 percent of total offered classes at some schools.

One can also see a growing cultural reaction to the modern university in the spread of conservative Christian colleges. According to the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, enrollment in such schools increased 70.6 percent between 1990 and 2004, versus 12.8 percent for public universities and 28 percent for all private universities. The national news media have split into genres predicated on political partisanship: network news, public radio, and large newspapers for liberals; and talk radio, cable news, and Internet sites for conservatives. So, too, have our mainstream universities, promising free thought but in reality indoctrinating their students, become increasingly distinct from religious colleges and universities that take pride in a more classical curriculum.

The religious schools are recognizing their market advantage. What was once the old Bible school has now often become the popular conservative antidote to the liberal university. Liberty University and Oral Roberts University have seen endowments and enrollments soar as they have broadened their mandates to encompass general cultural conservatism rather than solely religious orthodoxy. Liberty University is no longer Jerry Falwells weird and tiny Liberty Baptist College of the 1970s but has swelled to more than 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with another 4,500 enrolled in online graduate programs alone. Thirty years ago, Fresno Pacific College was a small evangelical Mennonite campus; today, its successor, Fresno Pacific University, is a generic traditional campus that offers an alternative to the cumbersome bureaucracy and politically charged culture of nearby California State University, Fresno. The teacher-credential program at Fresno Pacifics education school, for example, has earned regional acknowledgment for being more rigorous, better organized, and freer from therapeutic and political biases than its much larger counterpart at CSU, Fresno.

The growth of classically minded religious colleges is not limited to the Protestant evangelical movement. Against-the-grain Catholic schools have flourished, too, offering an alternative not just to Berkeley, Wisconsin, and Amherst but also to increasingly liberal Notre Dame and Santa Clara, which have abandoned traditional Catholic themes and classical values. Thomas Aquinas College, founded in 1969, to take one example, has won recognition for its traditional curriculum. A few nonreligious schools, too, like Hillsdale College and St. Johns College, concentrate solely on the classical curriculum, offering Great Booksbased courses whose very success serves as an effective critique of higher education elsewhere.

Its no accident that millions of laypeople dont find endowed professors at elite schools interesting or useful. Many public universities have rejected merit pay for faculty on the grounds that academic or teaching excellence is impossible to quantify. More elite private universities have embraced a star system of compensation, but in the liberal arts, the criteria of evaluation usually hinge on esoteric and jargon-laden scholarly publications, not teaching excellence. So those who wish to discover history or literatureto learn about the Founding Fathers or military history, sayoften look outside the university, to public intellectuals on television and noted best-selling authors like David McCullough or John Keegan.

Private companies have made considerable profits by responding to the public hunger for inspired teaching of traditional liberal arts. The Teaching Company markets prerecorded lectures with rich content in history, literature, and other subjects from proven classroom stars, many of whom have found far less success under normal academic evaluation. Rosetta Stones software offers foreign-language instruction in dozens of languages, without the embedded cultural sermonizing that often characterizes foreign-language departments curricula. In a series of CDs from a company called Knowledge Products, marketed as Giants of Philosophy, the late Charlton Heston narrates excerpts from the seminal philosophers of the Western tradition. Consumers understand that they are buying the words of the philosophers themselves, read and explained by a skilled orator and actor, and skipping the postmodern jargon and leftist bias.

In the future, to learn professions, many students will enroll in specific classes to master accounting, programming, or spreadsheets, and not feel the need to study inductive reasoning or be equipped with the analogies and similes supplied by great literature and the study of history. If, later in life, graduates feel robbed of such a classical foundation, they can buy CDs and recorded lectures or take self-administered correspondence courses. Since universities are no longer places for disinterested investigation in the manner of Socratic inquiry, one can envision a future in which there will be liberal schools and conservative schools, and religious schools and antireligious schools. But the old, classical, unifying university will then have completed its transformation into a multiversity: knowledge, imbued with politics and ideology, will be fragmented, balkanized, and increasingly appropriated by for-profit companies.

Traditional colleges and universities arent about to die, of course. But their attractionsand especially the enticements of the Ivy League schools, Stanford, Berkeley, and such private four-year colleges as Amherst and Oberlinwill largely derive from the status that they convey, the career advantages that accrue from their brand-name diplomas, and the unspoken allure of networking and associating with others of a similarly affluent and privileged class. They are becoming social entities, private clubs for young people, certification and proof of career seriousness, but hardly centers for excellence in undergraduate education in the classical sense. For all the tens of thousands of dollars invested in yearly tuition, there will be no guarantee, or indeed, even a general expectation, that students will encounter singular faculty or receive a superior liberal arts educationlet alone that they will know much more about their exceptional civilization than what they could find on the Internet, at religious schools, or on CDs and DVDs.

Once academia lost the agreed-upon, universally held notion of what classical learning was and why it was important, a steady unraveling process removed not just the mission but the mysteryand indeed, the beautyfrom the American university. How ironic that the struggling university, in its efforts to meet changing political, technological, and cultural tastes and fads, willingly forfeited the only commodity that made it irreplaceable and that it alone could do well. And how sad, since once the university broke apart the liberal arts, all the religious schools, self-help courses, and CDs couldnt quite put them together again.

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As every married person knows, silences can be pregnant with meaning, even if the meaning is not immediately clear. The silence in the French press about a recent startling event in Paris is surely pregnant with meaning. On Monday, April 3, an Orthodox Jewish woman, Sarah Halimi, a doctor aged 66, was thrown out of a window to her death by an African man aged 27. He was her neighbor in the flats where she lived. According to witnesses, whose testimony has yet to be confirmed, the man, who had been harassing her with insults for several days, shouted Allahu akbar! as he threw her.

Also, according to unconfirmed reports, neighbors had called the police because of the young mans behavior. Three policemen came but did nothing, deciding that it was up to other authorities, presumably psychiatric, to act. At any rate, the young man was transferred to a psychiatric clinic almost immediately after his arrest.

He had a history of delinquency and in all probability had taken drugs. It seems likely that he was in a state of psychotic excitement, whether drug-induced, drug-exacerbated or purely endogenous, at the time of his crime.

But it has been known for a long time that the delusions of madness take on the coloring of the culture of those who suffer them. (De Quincey says, in The Confessions of an English Opium Eater, that if a man thinks of oxen, his opium dreams will be of oxen.) It would be stretching credulity to suggest that the young mans victim was chosen at random, that he might just as well have chosen someone else. If this is so, it reveals something unpleasant about the mans cultural milieu.

But why the silence in the press? The case was certainly dramatic enough to be worthy of a mention under the rubric of faits divers. I happened to learn of it only through a Parisian neighbor, a Jewish shopowner. The story had appeared in La Tribune juive, and probably caused a shudder among French Jews, all the greater because of the silence of the press about it.

Was this silence commanded or coordinated from above? Perhaps no one wanted to raise the temperature in the runup to one of the most contested elections in recent French history, in which there is the possibilityan outside possibility, but still greater than ever beforeof a victory for the far Right.

The afternoon that I learned about the case, I went to an exhibition marking the 30th anniversary of the trial for crimes against humanity of Klaus Barbie, the Butcher of Lyon, who ran the Gestapo there during the Occupation. It was held at the Memorial de la Shoah, a Parisian museum and study center devoted to the history of the Holocaust. If there is any small museum in the world more defended against car bombs and with tighter security, I do not know it.

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On Thursday, the New York Timess Linda Greenhouse lamented the confirmation of now-Justice Neil Gorsuch, asserting that Republicans have over-politicized the Supreme Court, thereby jeopardizing its integrity. In making her case, Greenhouse displays ignorance of both our constitutional structure and the political history that rendered the Court an electoral prize, which has been the case long before Republicans blocked the 2016 nomination of Merrick Garland.

Though there is not likely to be much of a gap between how Justice Gorsuch and the late Justice Scalia would have ruled on cases likely to come before the Court in the near term, Greenhouse treats Gorsuchs appointment as a game-changer. She expresses astonishment at the argument that Barack Obamas reelection in 2012 did not entitle him to fill the vacancy left by Scalias death. She ignores the fact that the Constitutions Advice and Consent Clause gives the Senate the ability to veto any presidents nominations, for whatever reason.

However unusual the sequence of events leading up to Gorsuchs confirmation may seem, the reality remains that the Constitution requires presidents to obtain Senate consent before appointing a nomineea concept dating back at least as far as Marbury v. Madison, which stated that presidential appointments can only be performed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. (emphasis added).

Barack Obama was not entitled to fill the vacancy: he was entitled to nominate someone whom the Senate was then free to confirm or reject out of hand. Should the people who put the Senate in Republican hands after the 2014 midtermspartly, I suspect, out of concern for the ideological makeup of the Courtnot have been able to enjoy the benefits of their electoral victories? Greenhouse seems to think so.

Making an existing Supreme Court vacancy a highly visible part of an electoral strategy stamps the court as an electoral prize, she writes, and places the court in a position of real institutional peril. Yet Republicans werent the only ones campaigning on the Court before the 2014 midterms. The Los Angeles Timess David Lauter highlighted the Democratic strategy to campaign against the Court in the wake of its 2014 Hobby Lobby decision. In other words, both sides realized what was at stake should a seat open up. Greenhouses real beef seems to be with the fact that Republicans won that particular fight.

The Courts status as a trophy for political victors owes to its role as constitutional arbiter. By placing structural limits on the powers government can exercise and by recognizing rights that the government may not infringe, the Constitution takes certain things off the table with respect to what may be decided politicallyand the Courts job is to determine what those things are. As a result, its composition matters a great deal, given the potential blocking power the justices hold over the political agenda of whomever resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Lifetime appointments make the ideological makeup of the court even more consequential.

The politicization of the Court long predates Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells field-marshaling last year. In 1937, President Franklin Roosevelt was so frustrated by the Court that he threatened to pack it in order to ensure that New Deal legislation would not be struck down as unconstitutional. By 1942, FDR had appointed seven of the nine justices to the Court, which radically expanded the governments powers under the Commerce Clause. Americans would see another long stretch of radical constitutional jurisprudence during the reign of the Warren Court in the 1960s.

History tells us that theres nothing new or astonishing about the Republican Partys recognition of the Courts political importance. As government grows in size and scope, more controversies will come before the Court. In the last nine years alone, basic questions about the rights to practice religion freely, bear arms, choose whether to buy insurance, and engage in political speech were either narrowly upheld or denied. It should not be surprising that voters consider Court appointments when it is time to go to the polls. If Greenhouse and other liberal critics want the Supreme Court nomination process to float above the political fray, they should focus their energies on restraining the bloat and scope of governmentthe smaller it is, the less the Court will have to do.

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The Information Commissioners Office has today fined 11 charities, including Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and NSPCC for breaches of data protection law.

The regulator had previously issued fines to the British Heart Foundation and RSPCA in December.

The ICO published the names of the charities and the amounts each have been fined in a statement on its website. Collectively the 11 charities have been fined 138,000.

The name of the charities and the amounts they have been fined are:

The International Fund for Animal Welfare - 18,000

Cancer Support UK - 16,000

Cancer Research UK - 16,000

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association - 15,000

Macmillan Cancer Support - 14,000

The Royal British Legion - 12,000

The NSPCC - 12,000

Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrens Charity - 11,000

WWF-UK - 9,000

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home - 9,000

Oxfam - 6,000

The ICO said that some of the charities had been fined because they had screened millions of donors so they could target them for additional funds," while others had "traced and targeted new or lapsed donors by piecing together personal information obtained from other sources. And some traded personal details with other charities creating a large pool of donor data for sale.

The fines follow the ICOs findings against both the RSPCA and the BHF for similar breaches of the Data Protection Act in December 2016. The two charities were fined 25,000 and 18,000 respectively.

'Millions of people affected'

In a statement Elizabeth Denham, the Information Commissioner, said that millions of people will have been affected by these charities contravention of the law but said she had again exercised her discretion in significantly reducing the level of the fines.

Millions of people will have been affected by these charities contravention of the law. They will be upset to learn the way their personal information has been analysed and shared by charities they trusted with their details and their donations, said Denham.

No charity wants to alienate their donors. And we acknowledge the role charities play in the fabric of British society. But charities must follow the law.

The fines issued to both the RSPCA and the BHF were also significantly reduced at Denhams discretion to mitigate any risk of adding to any distress caused to donors by the charities actions.

These fines draw a line under a complex investigation

Denham said: These fines draw a line under what has been a complex investigation into the way some charities have handled personal information. While we will continue to educate and support charities, we have been clear that what we now want, and expect, is for charities to follow the law.

In Fundraising Magazine

The investigation into the 11 organisations was first announced in January and stemmed from a number of media reports about fundraising charities use of supporters personal data which were published in major newspapers between the middle of 2015 and the beginning of 2016.

The investigation was called Operation Cinnabar. The ICO said there are no other outstanding investigations into charities currently being conducted as part of this operation.

Civil Society Media is hosting two breakfast seminars discussing the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ahead of its introduction in May 2018. Booking is now open on events - click here to book in May and here to book in June
Rochelle Hamms eyes fill with tears when she reads her terrified husbands last words -muttered as the cargo freighter El Faro went down in hurricane, taking the lives of Frank Hamm and 32 others.

My feet are slipping! Im goin down! he cries after the crew is ordered to abandon ship.

IM A GONER! he shouts.

A few lines later, the transcript ends, along with the lives of Hamm and the captain who desperately sought to save him.

Its difficult to read, Rochelle Hamm acknowledges. But it helps me continue to build my list.

That list includes visits to Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson, among many others  people in power who might join her campaign to make the maritime industry safer. When this happened, my journey changed, and I knew that it couldnt happen again, the mother of five said, in her suburban Jacksonville, Florida, home. I had to be focused.

She is pressing for what she calls Hamm Alert, a new safety system that would keep ships in port during major storms. An online petition has collected more than 11,000 signatures in support.

This tragedy could have been prevented with more oversight of shipping companies, similar to air traffic controllers for planes, to stop companies from sending ships into dangerous weather, she said.

The El Faro went down on Oct. 1, 2015, as it sailed near San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. It was toting cargo from Jacksonville, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Its captain, Michael Davidson, piloted his 40-year-old ship into Hurricane Joaquin, the most powerful October storm since the 1800s to hit those waters.

Two days before the sinking Frank called Rochelle before he was out of phone range as the El Faro left Jacksonville on its way to Puerto Rico, as he always did. He usually followed up with an email each day until they reached the island. No email ever arrived, and Rochelle instead got a call from her husbands employer, TOTE Maritime, Inc., saying the ship had disappeared.

Months passed until search crews found the wreckage nearly three miles down on the seafloor near the Bahamas. Still, the ships voyage data recorder, or black box, remained missing. After another try, searchers returned to the site last summer and miraculously recovered the recorder. The National Transportation Safety Board issued a 500-page transcript with the ships final hours of bridge conversations recorded by six microphones embedded in the room.

In the transcript, jittery crewmembers openly question the captains decision to try to outrun the storm, and work hard to save the ship and themselves even as their fate becomes clear.

At the end of the document, a helmsman identified as AB-1 by NTSB pleads for help from the ships captain as the El Faro goes down; Rochelle Hamm recognized her husband immediately.

Each day, she is reminded of him by a green hard hat that washed ashore two months after he disappeared. The helmet, found by a couple cleaning trash off a Florida beach, has the word FRANK scrawled in black marker across the front and back in her husbands handwriting. The couple later connected with Rochelle, and gave her the hat.

She keeps the hat, still encrusted with sand and dried seaweed, in a bag near her bed.

The El Faros captain chose to sail about 60 miles from Hurricane Joaquins path. He based his decision at least partly on inaccurate weather forecasting data hed received, but also refused to authorize requests from his crew to sail farther away, or turn around altogether.

Representatives of the National Transportation Safety Board and U.S. Coast Guard have met with Rochelle Hamm, and she says they have told her they will include her proposal for the Hamm ALERT in their recommendations when the agencies investigative reports are released.

One person should not decide the fate of others, she said. She said shes talked two of her children out of becoming merchant mariners, at least until the Hamm Alert system is in place.

Stuff goes on out there on the water all the time and is never reported. It cannot happen again.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
NEW HARTFORD, N.Y.  The board of directors of PAR Technology Corp. (NYSE: PAR) has appointed Donald Foley as the firms new president and CEO, effective April 12.

Foley has been serving as an independent member of the companys board of directors.

He replaces Karen Sammon, who simultaneously stepped down Wednesday to assume the position of chief of staff in the office of the CEO, the company said in a news release posted Thursday on its website.

In that role, Sammon will work to accelerate the companys restaurant and retail cloud-based products business, the corporate-wide upgrade of information-technology systems, and PAR Technologys strategic-growth initiatives.

PAR Technology, based in New Hartford, is a provider of restaurant and retail-management technology systems and government-contract services.

Sammon had served as president and CEO of PAR Technology since replacing Ronald Casciano in that role on Jan. 1, 2016. Before then, she had served solely as president of ParTech, Inc.  a subsidiary of PAR that focuses on technology products for the restaurant industry  since rejoining PAR in April 2013.

Foley has also replaced her as president of ParTech.

Foley joined the PAR Technology board of directors at the beginning of last year. He served as a member of the audit, compensation, and nominating and corporate governance committees of the board.

About Foley

Foley has more than 35 years of technology-based, government contracting, and organizational-management experience, in both the private and public sector, according to PAR.

He held various senior executive positions at Science Applications International Corp., or SAIC (now known as Leidos Holdings, Inc.) between 1991 and 2011. Leidos is one of the nations largest government contractors, providing scientific, engineering, systems integration, and technical services and products to all branches of the U.S. military as well as federal-government agencies and some commercial customers.

I look forward to working to execute the companys strategy of growing our leading cloud solutions and building on the progress and success achieved to date by Karen and her team, Foley said in the PAR release.

Foley will receive an annual base salary of $460,000, one-quarter of which will be paid in time vesting restricted stock, according to a Form 8-K document that PAR filed with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. Foley will also participate in the companys short-term incentive plan with a target bonus amount equal to 75 percent of his base salary.

Pictured is Karen Sammon, now chief of staff in the office of the CEO at PAR Technology.

Sammon  who directly owned more than 608,000 shares of PARs common stock, per SEC data as of September, 2015  indicated she stepped down to focus more time on the companys growth strategy.

I returned to PAR four years ago, to strategically transform the company by developing and implementing a differentiated growth strategy. The success of that strategy requires intense focus and time commitment. With Dons leadership and leveraging his notable business and career achievements, I will be able to dedicate 100 percent of my energies to ensure we exceed our stated goals and objectives, Sammon said in the release.

During Sammons 15-plus month tenure as CEO, PARs stock price rose 9.5 percent.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
Facebook says its discontinued research app collected data from about 187,000 users who were paid $20 a month to allow the social media company observe how they used their phones.

The app made news earlier this year when Apple blocked Facebook from offering the app to iPhone users. At the time, Facebook said it users were paid for their participation, it never tried to hide the program, and none of the information was shared.

In a letter to members of Congress, Facebook disclosed it had collected data from 31,000 users in the U.S., 4,300 of whom were teenagers. The rest were consumers who lived in India.

At the time, Facebook said the app was part of an effort to help the company better serve its users.

Since this research is aimed at helping Facebook understand how people use their mobile devices, weve provided extensive information about the type of data we collect and how they can participate, a spokesperson said at the time.

The information may or may not be relevant to the current debate about Facebooks size and scale, and whether it is a monopoly in need of regulation. The company has defended its discontinued research app as transparent and non-intrusive.

New research app

This week, Facebook released a new Android app, available to users who are at least 18 years-old. Facebook says users who download the app will agree to let Facebook analyze the apps on the phone, looking at how much they are used and the device or network that is being used.

The company says users who agree to participate will still receive compensation for sharing their data and can leave the program at any time.

As for the new research app, at least one lawmaker thinks it is an ill-conceived move. Sen. Richard Bloomenthan (D-Conn.) told CNET he thinks Facebook should be emphasizing consumer privacy.

"At a time when the company is under investigation for its data practices and anti-competitive actions, the Facebook Study app is at best tone-deaf and ill-considered," Bloomenthal told CNET.

Facebook and other tech giants have come under closer government scrutiny in recent weeks and could face antitrust action. For its part, Facebook is attempting to settle a Federal Trade Commission action over its handling of user data.
Wisconsin First District congressman and speaker of the House Paul Ryan visits Landmark Credit Union, New Berlin, Wisconsin. April 7, 2017. (PRNewsfoto/Landmark Credit Union)

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) visited Landmark CU, New Berlin, Wis., this month, meeting with the leadership team and taking a tour of the administrative offices. CUNA Chief Advocacy Office Ryan Donovan said earlier this month that credit union visits are an essential part of CUNAs bipartisan, pro-consumer Campaign for Common-Sense Regulation.

We were honored to host Speaker Ryan, said Jay Magulski, president/CEO of Landmark CU. His visit provided a wonderful opportunity to share Landmarks success story and discuss legislative topics of importance to us.

Ryan has addressed the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference in the past, and has a strong relationship with the Wisconsin Credit Union League and Wisconsin credit unions, with league President/CEO Brett Thompson calling him one of our strongest supporters when he was voted Speaker of the House in October 2015.

Rep. Rod Blum (R-Iowa) visited a credit union in his district earlier in April, where he manned the teller line, in addition to speaking with staff and members.
Like clowns spilling forth from a tiny car, tales of United passengers wronged are grabbing headlines. Airlines, like health insurers and internet/cable/phone companies, are the corporations we love to hate. We depend on these services  in some cases, our lives depend on them  and yet they overpromise, overcharge and under deliver. And they couldnt care less.

All three are ripe for disruption because, like United and other airlines, they possess the three factors required to facilitate change: overwhelming dissatisfaction, regulatory friction, and innovators who will find a cheaper, faster and better way.

When it comes to airlines, ever since 9/11 Ive been waiting for private jet memberships to take off. I love to fly. Love, love, lovity-love it.

However, traveling via commercial airline is another matter. It used to be glamorous and fun. But the airlines have downgraded the experience to little more than a subway in the sky. Yes, first class is better, but even though your seats are better and you get free drinks, youre still on a filthy airbus and could be kicked to the curb at any time. Literally kicked, apparently.

The rage against United after the recent incident in which the airline forcibly removed a passenger stems from why it happened as much as how. Overbooking a flight is fraud, plain and simple. The airline is selling seats it doesnt have. Sure, a certain number of passengers usually dont show up, but thats a gamble. Could I get away with selling a diamond ring twice because a certain number of prospective grooms get cold feet? Of course not. Airlines shouldnt be allowed to do the same thing.

The other service issue was the fact that the airline placed a priority on the movement of its employees over paid customers. Yes, air crew must be present for work, but the logistics of keeping flights staffed is the airlines problem, not paid customers. That the seat was taken by an employee and not another passenger added insult to injury. Delta has also received bad press recently for canceling flights because they keep screwing up their crew schedules.

Regulation has also taken the fun out of air travel. TSA security lines are time consuming and dehumanizing. Sure, you can upgrade your constitutional rights with TSA Precheck and keep your shoes on while taking the hands up, dont shoot position in the naked body scanners, but thats not much consolation. And once you get on the airplane, youre at the mercy of airline employees and airport police, thanks to the Patriot Acts unconstitutional provisions that eliminate our rights when we board a civilian aircraft.

Thats where private jet memberships come in. For years, companies have been building fleets of underutilized jets and slowly but surely, the price to fly like the 1% is almost within reach. Every time an airline screws up like United did, it gets me one step closer to traveling like a Kardashian.

How much does a seat cost on these timeshares in the sky? One popular service, JetSmarter, offers regular routes between Los Angeles, New York, and South Florida, as well as other business hubs, for just $9,000 per year. That annual price tag might appear steep, but if youve flown anywhere recently you know those round trips run $500 or more. Fly twice a month and your private jet service just paid for itself in airfare alone. And thats not even counting what your time, comfort and dignity are worth.

Best of all, these jets are filled with business prospects  folks who arent Bombardier or Gulfstream wealthy, but have enough savvy and resources to cut deals within reach of your average successful entrepreneur or c-suiter. Its ideal for bicoastal business executives and entrepreneurs, and the service is on the cusp of disrupting the bread and butter routes that airlines like United depend upon.

The takeaway is that similar issues are fueling disruption in financial services. Customers dont appreciate policies and regulations that keep them from accessing their money, even if its in the best interest of the institutions risk management. Procedures that benefit employees over customers also decrease satisfaction. And, as consumers increasingly use digital methods to access their accounts, technological innovation will help start-ups disrupt the status quo and find ways to circumvent these policies, procedures, and regulations.
Zello Protest App Blocked in Russia

The Russian government has blocked user access to Zello App which is used to co-ordinate protests

In 2014, when thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets to protest the Kremlin-backed government of Viktor Yanukovych, they relied on Zello, an app that allows users to talk one-on-one, like a walkie-talkie, or in broadcast modes that can reach hundreds or thousands of people at once.

Since its founding in 2007, Zello has played a key role in protest and activist movements in Turkey, Hong Kong, Venezuela, and the Arab world. On Wednesday, its roughly 400,000 users in Russia were blocked from using the service, according to Bill Moore, the Austin-based companys CEO.

This action follows a notice we received last week from the Russian regulator Roskomnadzor that Zello is not in compliance with a law that governs information distribution brokers, Moore wrote in a draft blog post provided to Defense One. Zello also responded to the law with this blog post in Russian.

The law in question (Federal Law of 27.07.2006 number 149-FZ) forces companies that provide communication and messaging services over the Internet, including Zello, along with email service providers, social networking services, and the like, to give user data to law enforcement upon request and share all encryption keys with the FSB, the Russian security service.

The law has apparently been used to block only one other major service: LinkedIn, in November. Its kind of strange. Why LinkedIn? Why Zello? Twitter wouldnt comply, neither would Google, or Facebook, Moore said over the phone.

The block was imposed just weeks after thousands of young people took to the streets in Moscow and across Russia, decrying corruption in the government of Vladimir Putin. More than 500 protesters were detained. The government has promised a crackdown.

Moore said Zello has seen pretty good growth in Russia. Its main users in the country are taxi and truck drivers, but the app is also popular with protestors and others.

Russians use the app to connect with family members and friends and to participate in social, political, and humanitarian conversations and events. But it is also used by search and rescue personnel, taxi services, law enforcement, and drivers needing assistance, Moore said in a statement.

We didnt know if it was a threat or they would really do it. When we announced [the block notice] there was a broad, vocal opposition, including among truck drivers, he said over the phone.

Moore said Zello was working to restore service via workarounds so that users did not have to rely on a virtual private network to use the service, but thinks that might be more difficult than it was in Venezuela or other countries. Still, at press time, Zello had found a workaround.

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TFL presents safe and sustainable chrome-free technologies at Munich auto conference

Germany

Dr Jens Fennen, R&D Director, TFL Group, will be presenting how COD levels in the processing floats can be reduced by about 50% compared with standard chrome-free production at the upcoming ILM Automotive Leather Supply Chain conference taking place in Munich, Germany, on May 22.

Titled New technologies for reliable, sustainable and safe production of chrome-free automotive leathers, Dr Fennen will demonstrate how COD levels in the processing floats can be reduced by about 50% compared with standard chrome-free production, and how the versatility of the types of leather produced can be increased at the same time.

Chrome-free tanning has long been established as a valid alternative to chrome tanning for the production of automotive leathers. Car manufacturers favour chrome-free leather because it provides technical advantages such as reduced dry shrinkage, completely avoids the risk of Cr(VI) formation, and it is a sustainable and biodegradable material.

As one of the industrys foremost promoters of wet-white technologies, TFL has continuously been offering modern solutions for the production of chrome-free automotive leather and will present further significant advances in the field during the conference in Munich. Dr Fennen will highlight how a new pre-tanning/retanning process addresses the requirement of low impact manufacturing by providing excellent exhaustion of process chemicals and cleaner effluents.

Originally from Osnabruck, northern Germany, Dr Jens Fennen studied chemistry at the University of Gottingen and obtained his PhD in 1992 with a thesis in the field of theoretical organic chemistry. In 1995, Dr Fennen joined the leather unit of Ciba-Geigy in Basel, Switzerland, initially working in the R&D team of the dyes division. He is currently the Head of Research and Development for the TFL Group.

Munichs leading hotel

The half-day (afternoon) conference will take place at the 5-star Bayerischer Hof luxury hotel in the centre of Munich. The conference will be held on Monday, May 22, in the hotels elegant Konigssaal room.

Speakers will include representatives from the whole automotive leather supply chain, including leading tanners, tier-1 suppliers and OEMs. There will also be opportunities for networking. So far, we have confirmed speakers and topics from Gruppo Dani, Draxlmaier, Wet-Green, Stahl, Erretre and TFL.

All presentations will be in English and the conference is lead sponsored by global leather chemical makers, Stahl, TFL and Erretre.

The Hotel Bayerischer Hof is situated in the heart of the city on Promenadeplatz square; just a short walk from the opera house, the Cathedral Church of Our Lady and various museums.

For further updated information about the conference, confirmed speaker programme and topics, or to register delegate places online, please click here.
According to the figures given in the report, Rouhani has overseen nearly 500 more executions in his first term than his hardline predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did in his second. And the websites figures for the year 2016 are actually lower than those reported by some other human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, which finds that at least 567 people were put to death by the government that year.

The inconsistent figures reflect the fact that not all executions in Iran are officially reported, as the Islamic Republic strives to limit the opportunities for domestic and international protest while maintaining its longstanding legal practices. These practices including not only the maintenance of the largest per-capita rate of executions in the world, but also internationally-outlawed execution of offenders who were below the age of majority, and the use of other forms of corporal punishment including flogging, amputations, and blinding.

Numerous reports have indicated that all of these practices have continued unabated during the Rouhani presidency, as has the secrecy surrounding them. Although Rouhani undertook a certain level of outreach to the international community as evidenced by his pursuit of an agreement over the Iranian nuclear program, his administration has followed the rest of the regime in simply dismissing the well-founded international criticisms of the countrys human rights record.

This phenomenon was on display once again this week when, according to Iran Front Page News, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi decried the European Unions move to extend for another year its human rights-related sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The vote on this measure took place on Tuesday, and on Wednesday Qassemi issued a statement referring to the EUs double standards and political approaches and its abuse of human rights as a tool.

The Iranian government ostensibly maintains its own domestic human rights monitor, but in practice his role appears to emphasize public denial of criticisms raised by foreign governments and non-governmental human rights monitors on the basis of information gleaned from Iranian political prisoners, domestic activists, and others. Neither this office nor the Foreign Ministry generally provides any sort of information to back up their denials, which, like Qassemis statement, tend to focus on accusations of political bias and references to cultural differences.

As these sorts of statements continue to emerge so close to the May 19 presidential election in which Rouhani will stand for a second term, they cast serious doubt upon any notion that his administrations record on the death penalty and human rights will change in the event that he is victorious over a still-diffuse field of hardline candidates, led by Rouhanis predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the middle-tier cleric Ebrahim Raisi.
Tehran Prisons Organization and Sohrab Suleimani, senior official in the prison system, are the targets of latest sanctions. Sohrab Soleimani is responsible for overseeing Irans notorious Evin Prison which, according to an article by Adam Kredo for the Free Beacon, is known for torturous interrogations, forced interrogations, and widespread mistreatment of inmates.

Tehran, already the subject of a range of new sanctions under the Trump administration, and currently conducting a review of all matters related to the landmark nuclear agreement, will surely be upset with these new sanctions.

The Washington Free Beacon was told by senior official on the White House National Security Council, who was not authorized to speak on record, that the Soleimani family has a history both inside and outside Iran. He said, Its no coincidence that Sohrab Suleimani is the brother of the notorious Qassem Soleimani, the head of the IRGCs Quds Forces, who has been responsible for so much of the violent disruption Iran has been spreading through the region. The official continued, There has been a disturbing and significant increase in the number of detentions and executions of Iranian citizens under President Rouhani, and the infamous Evin Prison under Sohrab Suleimanis control has been a key facility in this program of domestic repression.

The official also said, In addition, we have been deeply concerned by the treatment of American citizens in this prison, and in others throughout Iran. Just today, senior officials in the Trump administration met with members of the Namazi family representing Siamak Namazi and Baquer Namazi who have been unjustly detained in Iran since October, 2015 and February, 2016, respectively.

Director of the Treasury Departments Official of Foreign Assets Control, John E. Smith, stated, Todays designations highlight our continued support for the Iranian people and demonstrate our commitment to hold the Government of Iran responsible for its continued repression of its own citizens. We will continue to identify, call out, and sanction those who are responsible for serious human rights abuses in Iran.

The sanctions do not conflict with U.S. obligations under the nuclear agreement. In a background document provided to reporters, the State Department explained, These designations are in response to what we see as pattern of human rights abuses by the Government of Iran and reflect the United States deep concern regarding the human rights situation in Iran. We continue to see Government of Iran officials engage in repressive behavior against its own citizens, including through their mistreatment and abuse of prisoners. This is especially evident at Evin Prison, which is where numerous prisoners of conscience are held. We have documented these and many other human rights abuses perpetrated by the government of Iran in our annual State Department authored Human Rights, Religious Freedom, and trafficking in persons reports.

As reported by the Free Beacon, Soleimani oversaw an incident at the Evin Prison in April 2014, when dozens of security guards and prison officials beat a number of political prisoners. The attack is believed to have lasted several hours and impacted more than 30 prisoners. Many of these prisoners were later denied medical treatment.

A large number of Iranian political dissidents and other government opponents are housed at Evin Prison.
Researchers at Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center find that cancer-fighting T cells reside in the skin, where they can rapidly respond to kill melanoma cells and serve a critical role in protecting against future tumors

In a newly published study, researchers at Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center find that unique immune cells, called resident memory T cells, do an outstanding job of preventing melanoma. The work began with the question of why patients with melanoma who develop the autoimmune disease called vitiligo, have such a good prognosis. Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin condition against normal healthy melanocytes, which causes the loss of skin pigmentation in blotches. Using mouse models of melanoma and vitiligo, the research team found that resident memory T cells permanently reside in vitiligo-affected skin, where they kill melanoma cells. Although resident memory T cells were previously known to prevent skin viral infection, it was not known that they could fight tumors.

The research study, led by Mary Jo Turk, PhD, sought to understand why patients with metastatic melanoma who develop vitiligo during their course of treatment have been shown to survive longer. Using a mouse model of vitiligo, Turk addressed why this disease might be associated with a better clinical response. The study demonstrates for the first time that resident memory T cells are generated in response to a tumor, naturally as a result of autoimmune vitiligo, and serve a critical role in protecting against future tumors. Their study, "Resident memory T cells in the skin mediate durable immunity to melanoma" will be published in the next issue of Science Immunology.

This finding is surprising, because T cells that fight cancer have previously been thought to reside only in immune organs such as spleen, lymph nodes, and blood and enter tumors from the blood. "Our studies challenge this long-held belief by showing that tumor-killing T cells already reside in skin, where they can rapidly respond and kill melanoma cells" said Turk. Although these current studies are limited to mice, the presence of similar cells might explain why human patients with vitiligo are so well protected against melanoma and survive longer. Turk and her team plan to look for these cells in human patients.

"While we have shown that these T cells can kill melanoma in skin, we still need to determine whether they exist in other organs such as lung, where metastatic melanoma grows" said Turk. "Since our study identifies that resident memory T cells are critical for protection against tumors, and that T cells in skin provide long-term immunity to melanoma, the generation of such cells should be the goal of future cancer therapies."

###

Mary Jo Turk, PhD is an Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine. She serves as Co-Director of Norris Cotton Cancer Center's Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy Research Program.

About Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Norris Cotton Cancer Center combines advanced cancer research at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine with patient-centered cancer care provided at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock regional locations in Manchester, Nashua and Keene, NH, and St. Johnsbury, VT, and at partner hospitals throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. It is one of 45 centers nationwide to earn the National Cancer Institute's "Comprehensive Cancer Center" designation. Learn more about Norris Cotton Cancer Center research, programs, and clinical trials online at cancer.dartmouth.edu.
DURHAM, N.C. -- Material scientists have predicted and built two new magnetic materials, atom-by-atom, using high-throughput computational models. The success marks a new era for the large-scale design of new magnetic materials at unprecedented speed.

Although magnets abound in everyday life, they are actually rarities -- only about five percent of known inorganic compounds show even a hint of magnetism. And of those, just a few dozen are useful in real-world applications because of variability in properties such as effective temperature range and magnetic permanence.

The relative scarcity of these materials can make them expensive or difficult to obtain, leading many to search for new options given how important magnets are in applications ranging from motors to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. The traditional process involves little more than trial and error, as researchers produce different molecular structures in hopes of finding one with magnetic properties. Many high-performance magnets, however, are singular oddities among physical and chemical trends that defy intuition.

In a new study, materials scientists from Duke University provide a shortcut in this process. They show the capability to predict magnetism in new materials through computer models that can screen hundreds of thousands of candidates in short order. And, to prove it works, they've created two magnetic materials that have never been seen before.

The results appear April 14, 2017, in Science Advances.

"Predicting magnets is a heck of a job and their discovery is very rare," said Stefano Curtarolo, professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and director of the Center for Materials Genomics at Duke. "Even with our screening process, it took years of work to synthesize our predictions. We hope others will use this approach to create magnets for use in a wide range of applications."

The group focused on a family of materials called Heusler alloys -- materials made with atoms from three different elements arranged in one of three distinct structures. Considering all the possible combinations and arrangements available using 55 elements, the researchers had 236,115 potential prototypes to choose from.

To narrow the list down, the researchers built each prototype atom-by-atom in a computational model. By calculating how the atoms would likely interact and the energy each structure would require, the list dwindled to 35,602 potentially stable compounds.

From there, the researchers conducted a more stringent test of stability. Generally speaking, materials stabilize into the arrangement requiring the least amount of energy to maintain. By checking each compound against other atomic arrangements and throwing out those that would be beat out by their competition, the list shrank to 248.

Of those 248, only 22 materials showed a calculated magnetic moment. The final cut dropped any materials with competing alternative structures too close for comfort, leaving a final 14 candidates to bring from theoretical model into the real world.

But as most things in a laboratory turn out, synthesizing new materials is easier said than done.

"It can take years to realize a way to create a new material in a lab," said Corey Oses, a doctoral student in Curtarolo's laboratory and second author on the paper. "There can be all types of constraints or special conditions that are required for a material to stabilize. But choosing from 14 is a lot better than 200,000."

For the synthesis, Curtarolo and Oses turned to Stefano Sanvito, professor of physics at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. After years of attempting to create four of the materials, Sanvito succeeded with two.

Both were, as predicted, magnetic.

The first newly minted magnetic material was made of cobalt, magnesium and titanium (Co2MnTi). By comparing the measured properties of similarly structured magnets, the researchers were able to predict the new magnet's properties with a high degree of accuracy. Of particular note, they predicted the temperature at which the new material lost its magnetism to be 940 K (1232 degrees Fahrenheit). In testing, the actual "Curie temperature" turned out to be 938 K (1228 degrees Fahrenheit) -- an exceptionally high number. This, along with its lack of rare earth elements, makes it potentially useful in many commercial applications.

"Many high-performance permanent magnets contain rare earth elements," said Oses. "And rare earth materials can be expensive and difficult to acquire, particularly those that can only be found in Africa and China. The search for magnets free of rare-earth materials is critical, especially as the world seems to be shying away from globalization."

The second material was a mixture of manganese, platinum and palladium (Mn2PtPd), which turned out to be an antiferromagnet, meaning that its electrons are evenly divided in their alignments. This leads the material to have no internal magnetic moment of its own, but makes its electrons responsive to external magnetic fields.

While this property doesn't have many applications outside of magnetic field sensing, hard drives and Random Access Memory (RAM), these types of magnets are extremely difficult to predict. Nevertheless, the group's calculations for its various properties remained spot on.

"It doesn't really matter if either of these new magnets proves useful in the future," said Curtarolo. "The ability to rapidly predict their existence is a major coup and will be invaluable to materials scientists moving forward."

###

This work was supported by the Science Foundation of Ireland, the EU Commission and the National Science Foundation (DGF1106401).

"Accelerated discovery of new magnets in the Heusler alloy family." Stefano Sanvito, Corey Oses, Junkai Xue, Anurag Tiwariy, Mario Zic, Thomas Archer, Pelin Tozman, Munuswamy Venkatesan, J. Michael D. Coey, and Stefano Curtarolo. Science Advances, April 14, 2017. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602241
A collaboration between stroke neurologists at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and bioengineers at the University of Massachusetts has led to the creation of a realistic, 3D-printed phantom of a stenotic intracranial artery that is being used to standardize protocols for high-resolution MRI, also known as vessel-wall MRI, at a network of U.S. and Chinese institutions, according to an article published online March 9, 2017 by the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery.

High-resolution or vessel-wall MRI has been used to study the plaque components in vessels in the brain for more than ten years and has the potential to elucidate the underlying pathology of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD), the leading cause of stroke worldwide, as well as to gauge patient risk and inform clinical trials of new therapies. However, progress has been stymied by the lack of standardization in high-resolution MRI protocols, which poses an obstacle to multicenter trials.

"There is a lot of exciting research that is possible with high-resolution MRI techniques, but it has much less opportunity to affect patient care if it can't be systematically distributed to multiple sites and multiple populations," says Tanya N. Turan, M.D., director of the MUSC Stroke Division and senior author of the article.

To overcome this obstacle, Turan worked with bioengineers at the University of Massachusetts to produce a phantom of a stenotic intracranial vessel using imaging sequences obtained from a single patient with ICAD at MUSC. The 3-D printed ICAD phantom mimics both the stenotic vessel and its plaque components, including the fibrous cap and the lipid core. The phantom is being shared with collaborating institutions so that it can be used to standardize high-resolution MRI protocols. The imaging data presented in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery article demonstrate the feasibility of using the phantom for standardization and were obtained from six U.S. and two Chinese sites.

Producing the phantom was a major step in the right direction for standardizing high-resolution MRI ICAD protocols. However, several more years may be necessary to complete the process. The next major challenge for these investigators will be establishing parameters for MRI machines from a variety of manufacturers. So far, MRI parameters have been established for Siemens and GE systems but work is still under way on Philips systems.

The phantom is also being shared with sites in China, where the burden of intracranial stenosis is especially high. Turan is collaborating with Weihai Xu, M.D., of Peking Union Medical College, the lead Chinese site, to collect additional data to assess interrater reliability among the participating institutions. Once high-resolution MRI protocols have been standardized and good interrater reliability demonstrated, the international team plans to conduct a prospective observational trial to examine risk prediction at participating centers, which would more quickly meet the required patient enrollment than would a trial conducted in the U.S. alone.

"We're only going to be able to advance the field more quickly if we work together," says Turan. "The phantom gives us the tool to be able to work together."

###

About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents in six colleges (Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy), and has nearly 13,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $2.2 billion, with an annual economic impact of more than $3.8 billion and annual research funding in excess of $250 million. MUSC operates a 700-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized children's hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (a National Cancer Institute-designated center), Level I trauma center, Institute of Psychiatry, and the state's only transplant center. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the number one hospital in South Carolina. For more information on academic programs or clinical services, visit musc.edu. For more information on hospital patient services, visit muschealth.org.
Although sketching exercises can help students learn many subjects, they are woefully underused in classrooms.

"Sketches are difficult and time-consuming to grade," said Northwestern University's Ken Forbus. "Intelligent tutoring systems, which enable students to receive feedback on their work anywhere and anytime, rarely are capable of understanding sketches."

Forbus, Walter P. Murphy Professor of Computer Science in Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering, and his team have developed a new solution called "Sketch Worksheets," a software equivalent of pencil and paper worksheets commonly found in classrooms. The difference? The software can also provide on-the-spot feedback by analyzing student sketches and then comparing them to the instructor's sketches.

An instructor might ask students to draw the chambers of the heart, for example. If a student misplaces an atrium, then he or she is immediately alerted to the mistake by the Sketch Worksheet.

Supported by Northwestern's Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center (SILC), the research was recently published in the journal Topics in Cognitive Science. Forbus was the paper's first and corresponding author.

Sketch Worksheets software is based on CogSketch, an artificial intelligence platform previously developed in Forbus' laboratory. A sketch-understanding system and high-level model of human vision, CogSketch uses visual processing algorithms to automatically reproduce and understand human-drawn sketches.

Sketch Worksheets' comparisons of student and instructor sketches is carried out by an analogy model, developed in collaboration with Northwestern psychology professor Dedre Gentner. Students and instructors apply conceptual labels to their sketches to express relationships among the drawings' different parts. (For example, the Earth's core is inside the mantle, or the heart's aorta is above the left atrium.) Without needing a deep understanding of the sketch's subject matter, CogSketch uses analogy to compare the labels and provide feedback.

One of Forbus' main goals is for Sketch Worksheets to be accessible to instructors in any field -- not just computer science. To ensure this, his team and SILC collaborators tested the software on more than 500 students in biology, geoscience, and engineering, ranging from the fifth grade through college. A team of geoscientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have already used the software to develop a set of 26 sketches that cover topics in introductory classes. These worksheets are publicly available and have been used in classes at the University of Wisconsin and Northwestern.

"We hope that others will follow the lead of the geoscientists and create Sketch Worksheets to help their students learn," Forbus said. "This is a step in creating software that can communicate with people as flexibly as we communicate with each other."

###

Watch a demo of the software here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4LaTP31VZU
Friday, April 14, 2017

Particularly since my SAGE Encyclopedia of War Entries came out in October 2016, my international downloads from my academia.edu website have tripled. Here are the hottest papers, mainly since then and since my Nobel Peace Prize nomination in early 2016. USA interest has stayed about the same, but international interest has exploded. These are listed by title first, then downloads, then views, then percentage of downloads per view. Ranked by downloads, some long standing articles have as many downloads as the end of the list, but rank low on percentage so are not included. These eight are the hotties that you may have missed and want to take a second look at. They cover a good cross section of my most important work.

Military Economy, Direct 11, 15 pages, 54/65=83%

Here are the realities of the military economy, simply by studying the historical data looking for the obvious patterns, with a huge boost from Ruth Sivard's bar charts. Economists have talked themselves out of the scientific method as a physicist or engineer would understand it. They are unfortunately convinced that a scientific analysis of the historical data can never lead to a science of economics. Their belief system has stopped them from making the progress I easily made as an engineer.

https://www.academia.edu/31717739/Military_Economy_Direct_11_2013-2016_15_pages

SAGE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF WAR, 6 pages, 50/93=54%

Releasing this last October 2016 lead to a tripling of the rate of international downloads the last six months, as the combination of peer review and the Nobel Peace Prize nomination boosted my international credibility. I am holding back some of my best work for release in a comprehensive book, as piecemeal release only benefits certain specialized publications and not the general understanding.

https://www.academia.edu/28849523/SAGE_POLITICAL_ECONOMY_OF_WAR_2016_6p

High Interest Releases, 12 pages, 23/36=64%

Readers have scoured the older releases for a few good gems. Here they are, a motley lot, but with very interesting implications for understanding our world and my discoveries better. I especially like the one on how civilizations evolve with temperature changes. https://www.academia.edu/29770996/HIGH_INTEREST_Releases_2013-2014_12p

History Presidents Military Economy, 3 pages, 21/34=62%

I received multiple requests for an article on this subject, but I have refrained to accumulate more interest in a book. Nevertheless, this is a good beginning on why one advisor has recommended that I concentrate on publishing with the economic historians. The Great Depression and World War II are especially significant. https://www.academia.edu/4044532/HISTORY_Presidents_Military_Economy_1910-2009_3p._2013

Framework for Academic Class, 6 pages, 20/60=33%

This outlines the basics of a class taught around this material, including subjects for about 30 class periods, my own multidisciplinary background that made this all possible, and a summary of the 13 key high correlations that define the general subject matter.

https://www.academia.edu/11786950/FRAMEWORK_For_Academic_Class_six_pages_2015

Militarism Control Empire Social Decay, 6 pages, 18/50=36%

This is where I begin the discussion of the social decay of empire, linking the multiple lines of fracture of the society with the whole process of depleting the economic engine of the society as the first domino in a series of important dominoes that fall together.

https://www.academia.edu/11421799/MILITARISM_CONTROL_Empire_Social_Decay_WWW_6p

SAGE Military Keynesianism, 5 pages, 10/27=37%

This second SAGE encyclopedia of war entry has been recommended by an oil country former finance minister with one million views on his academia.edu website. Explains the main flaw in Keynes' theory, the assumption that non-productive work still can stimulate the economy.

https://www.academia.edu/29175791/SAGE_Military_Keynesianism_October_12_2016_5_p

Wars, Coldest Year, 2 pages, 8/21=38%

Looking over several of the earth cycle press releases, this one has stood out as a very interesting finding that major wars tend to break out at the end of two or three year cooling spells. Of course, this also happens after the 27 years of plenty have creating a new world order, and, as that prosperity begins to fade tensions are at a peak.

https://www.academia.edu/5479721/WARS_Coldest_Year_Weather_Wealth_and_Wars_2p._1999

Still, I personally recommend these 9 pages for better understanding about the global warming cycle:

https://www.academia.edu/6002772/WEATHER_CYCLE_5_p._from_WWW_course_1997_9p._2014
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.

Jacques Fortin, who farms at Athee-sur-Cher, near Tours, Indre-et-Loire, said farmers were facing real hardship and had gone through four very difficult years with poor harvests  in 2015 he had barely covered his costs of production.

"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.

Fortin fashioned his message in capital letters in his five-hectare (12-acre) wheatfield, with the bright green letters standing stark against the tan crops.

Speaking to local newspaper La Nouvelle Republique, he said he was living on 350 a month and that was unjust when I work every day and much more than 35 hours a week. Today, farmers cant take any more. Every day we hear of suicides and no one cares.
Because they deal in a commodity, gold mining companies are constantly trying to minimize costs in order to maximize profits. One of the ways in which they accomplish this is by optimizing their portfolios, acquiring and divesting assets as they see fit -- something that several industry leaders have recently demonstrated.

In late March, Goldcorp (GG) acquired interests in two gold projects located in Chile: a 25% interest in Cerro Casale from Kinross Gold (KGC 6.51%) and a 100% interest in Caspiche from Exeter Resource Corp. Following these acquisitions, Goldcorp then entered into a joint venture with Barrick Gold (GOLD 6.55%) to consolidate the two projects. Let's dig into the details to see what these deals mean for these two companies and their investors.

What's the big deal?

Expected to close in the second quarter of 2017, the joint venture between Goldcorp and Barrick Gold will only come to fruition after several other transactions have been completed. In dealing with Kinross, Goldcorp will not only be acquiring a 25% interest in Cerro Casale for an initial $260 million in cash but a 100% interest in the nearby Quebrada Seca exploration project. Among other things, Goldcorp will also be granting Kinross a 1.25% royalty on 25% of gross revenue from the two projects.

Turning its attention to Barrick, Goldcorp will acquire a further 25% interest in Cerro Casale (bringing its total interest to 50%) for a deferred payment obligation of $260 million. Additionally, Goldcorp will grant a 1.25% royalty on 25% of gross revenue from Cerro Casale and Quebrada Seca. Among other things, Goldcorp will transfer a 50% interest in Quebrada Seca to Barrick for no additional consideration.

From Exeter, Goldcorp will acquire 100% of the Caspiche project, located about six miles from Cerro Casale, for total consideration of approximately $185 million. Once the acquisition is completed, Goldcorp will provide Caspiche to the joint venture with Barrick.

Unearthing more about the projects

Consolidating findings from mineral reports conducted by Kinross and Barrick, Goldcorp finds that Cerro Casale holds approximately 23 million ounces of gold in proven and probable reserves. But wait, there's more. The site is also a significant source of proven and probable silver and copper reserves of 58.7 million ounces and 5.8 billion pounds, respectively. What would development of the Cerro Casale mine mean? Kinross, which conducted a feasibility study in 2010, found that after an initial capital cost of about $4.2 billion, Cerro Casale would have a 20-year mine life.

Proven and probable gold reserves haven't been identified at Caspiche, but Goldcorp reports the deposit has measured and indicated gold reserves of 23 million ounces.

Based on a preliminary economic assessment conducted by Exeter in 2014, one option for the development of Caspiche would result in a mine with a 10-year life and an initial capital cost of about $251 million. Furthermore, under this scenario, the mine would have all-in sustaining costs (AISC) of $676 per gold ounce. This would be quite advantageous to Goldcorp, which estimates AISC to total approximately $850 per gold ounce in fiscal 2017.

Although both Cerro Casale and Caspiche have lower grades -- 0.60 g/t and 0.51 g/t, respectively -- and don't seem to be likely candidates for low-cost operations, Goldcorp seems optimistic that it can keep expenses in check. In the company's press release, David Garofalo, Goldcorp's president and CEO, stated, "The joint venture with Barrick has the potential to allow us to consolidate infrastructure to reduce capital and operating costs, reduce the environmental footprint and provide increased returns compared to two stand-alone projects."

Worth its weight in gold?

Located in the Atacama region of northern Chile, the Cerro Casale and Caspiche projects are both part of the Maricunga Gold Belt. Goldcorp, according to its press release, hopes to "leverage potential synergies" in the region -- a region that was the focus of a similar transaction last year: a 50-50 joint venture with Teck Resources (TECK 2.24%) to pursue development of the NuevaUnion project.

After recently revealing a five-year strategy of increasing gold production and reserves by 20% each while reducing AISC, Goldcorp is committed to increasing its net asset value per share. In another demonstration of this commitment, Goldcorp recently closed on the sale of its Los Filos gold mine in Mexico for $250 million in cash, which will help the company in its acquisition of Cerro Casale and Caspiche. Between the size of these gold deposits and the possible synergies to be recognized with the NuevaUnion project, Goldcorp has the potential to make considerable progress in executing its five-year strategy.

Investor takeaway

Cerro Casale isn't Barrick's only project in Chile; the company maintains a presence with its Pascua-Lama project. However, it has been inactive since 2013. Consequently, since neither company has a record of operating in the country, it's unclear whether Chile will prove to be one in which these gold mining companies can develop and sustain cost-effective operations.

With these projects still in the study phase, it will be some time -- probably several years -- before we are able to ascertain if the deals were worth it. In the meantime, Goldcorp and Barrick, two of the largest gold mining companies by market capitalization, have plenty of other projects where they're digging the yellow stuff out of the ground, and the long-term horizon for Cerro Casale and Caspiche will likely not affect the companies adversely. And patient investors of these two industry stalwarts may very well be rewarded should these gold deals pan out.
The AP also highlighted three specific areas of interest regarding Ahmadinejads candidacy, namely Irans internal politics, the anxieties of its neighbors and rivals, and the prospects for continuing enforcement of the controversial nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers. Of course, this can hardly be considered a comprehensive list, since it leaves aside Ahmadinejads legacy with regard to the national economy and the status of civil rights, especially following the 2009 mass uprising that resulted from his disputed reelection.

On the other hand, many critics of the Iranian regime would argue that civil rights issues dont stand to see any significant improvement regardless of the outcome of the May 19 presidential election, seeing as the supposedly moderate candidate and incumbent Hassan Rouhani has overseen an increase in the application of the death penalty, and has failed to seriously pursue the fulfillment of campaign promises related to the removal of restrictions on internet and the media or the release of political prisoners.

The same critics might similarly argue that there is little prospect for economic improvement under Rouhani or a more recognizably hardline candidate, but this is not to say that Ahmadinejad and other hardliners do not substantially differ from Rouhani and his supporters in terms of economic strategy. In fact, a guide to political factions in Iran, released by the English-language propaganda network Press TV, specifically emphasized economic strategy as the main difference between the hardliners or principlists and the reformist faction.

The Press TV article claimed that reformists lack a unified economic strategy, whereas principlists as a whole support large-scale privatization and opposing Iranian integration into a neo-liberal, globalist system that they see as benefiting only established world powers like the US. In this way, the potential economic consequences of Ahmadinejads candidacy are closely related to the nuclear deal, the latter being one of the areas of concern highlighted by the AP.

According to that article, Ahmadinejads return to Irans presidency could see the West, particularly the US, reevaluate the nuclear deal, which US President Donald Trump harshly criticized while on the campaign trail. Irans hardline faction does not appear to be firmly behind Ahmadinejads candidacy since it goes against the advice of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, but that faction would certainly benefit if either his candidacy or his electoral victory prompted the US to undermine the nuclear deal, which has been a source of tremendous hardline animosity against the Rouhani administration.

The AP suggests that this hardline desire for disengagement with the world could lead to Ahmadinejads candidacy inflaming regional adversaries anxieties about Iranian influence and foreign policy. But on this topic, as well, stringent opponents of the Iranian regime, such as the National Council of Resistance of Iran, view the differences between Ahmadinejad and Rouhani as being primarily rhetorical.

Although Ahmadinejad acquired a clear reputation as a firebrand, his successor has done little to change Iranian foreign policy, other than by pursuing the nuclear agreement and thus securing relief from US-led sanctions. In fact, hardline entities like the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps have remained unconstrained throughout Rouhanis first term in office, and their foreign intrusions into the Syrian and Yemeni civil wars, among other regional affairs, have only increased.

One might argue, therefore, that the key difference between the controversial Ahmadinejad and the supposedly moderate Rouhani is that under the latter administration, the Islamic Republic has remained relatively more silent about its confrontational behavior in the broader Middle East. The Washington Post provided an object lesson in this phenomenon on Wednesday in the form of an article detailing how Iran and Russia have been gradually increasing their support and coordination with terrorist groups and anti-American factions in Afghanistan while the US wasnt looking.

This is in keeping with the strategy that Rouhani had espoused prior to assuming the presidency, as when he boasted that his nuclear negotiations with Western powers had helped to maintain a calm environment while Iran quietly increased its nuclear enrichment capabilities. Ahmadinejads candidacy may dispense with any pretenses about a calm environment, but it is difficult to imagine that he will oversee much worse activity than the arms transfers and direct support of the Taliban that the Washington Post reports as ongoing in Afghanistan alongside various Iranian intrusions into the region as a whole.
Cities aided virus spread, distance slowed it

The new analysis assessed 25 factors that could have contributed to the spread and duration of the West African epidemic. It confirmed the common perception that cities played a major role in the magnitude of the epidemic compared to central African outbreaks that had occurred in remote, sparsely populated regions.

Distance between cities also played a role, with the shorter the distance, the more likely that infected travelers would arrive and seed an infection. Distance was key to sparing nearby Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Cote dIvoire and northern Guinea from severe and protracted epidemics. Some of these regions had large cities in which Ebola would likely have exploded had the virus been introduced.

Essentially, it was entirely down to chance that the outbreak didnt spread further and cause an even bigger crisis, Dudas said.

Other variables, such as shared languages, economic output and climate were not found to be significantly associated with speeding or slowing the epidemic.

The analysis did see correlations between border closure dates and virus traffic reduction; once the borders were closed, virus movement occurred mostly within countries rather than among them.

But by the time Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea closed their borders, cross-border travel had already seeded outbreaks in each country. And although international traffic of viruses was reduced after the closures, it didnt stop completely.

That was part of the problem in Sierra Leone and Guinea in the final stages of the epidemic, where a particularly mobile chain [of infected people] was moving back and forth between the countries, Dudas said.

What the genome knows

In previous genome analyses, scientists traced the epidemics origin to December 2013, when a two-year-old who had been playing near a bat-filled tree died in a small village in the southeastern part of Guinea. It took until March 2014 for hospital workers to detect and report the spread of a disease with an unusually high death rate. By later that month it was identified as Ebola.

Bats are the suspected  but not proven  reservoir for Ebola virus. (A reservoir refers to an animal that harbors a virus, allowing the virus to live and multiply between outbreaks in humans.) The virus spreads to humans and then from person to person through direct contact.

Sequencing virus genomes from even a fraction of people infected in an epidemic and comparing mutation patterns can give researchers valuable information about how big the epidemic is, how long it has been spreading and where transmissions chains start and end, said Dr. Trevor Bedford, a Fred Hutch evolutionary biologist and one of the papers authors.

Some of this information can be and was obtained the old-fashioned way, by public health workers going door-to-door, tracing contacts of those infected. But in West Africa and other areas where public health resources and even basic infrastructure are limited, real-time genome sequencing and analysis can speed the response by telling health officials where to initiate contact tracing, add hospital beds, quarantine those infected and implement other infection controls.

It can also provide information unavailable by other methods. In earlier studies, for example, genome sequencing had confirmed that Ebola deaths in Sierra Leone and Liberia came from Guinea and were not a new introduction from the virus natural reservoir.

Genome sequencing can tell you epidemiologically relevant things that are unobtainable by traditional methods, Bedford said.

And synthesizing that information with data on population size, travel distances, geography, language and other factors can provide context for which factors influenced the epidemics spread and duration  and where to target treatment and interventions.

Technology  and data-sharing  advances

Virus genome analysis has played a bigger role in understanding the West African Ebola epidemic than for any other infectious disease outbreak for two reasons: modern advances in sequencing technologies and scientists who were unusually willing to share data.

So-called next-generation sequencing equipment have dramatically lowered both the costs and time to prepare samples and do sequencing, making it much easier to sequence an entire viral genome.

And scientists relatively early on in the epidemic decided to share viral genome sequences they were collecting from patients rather than waiting until they published a research paper. Publications are considered the currency of science, but the admonition to publish or perish took on a new meaning in the midst of such a devastating outbreak.

The old model where you hold onto the sequences until the publication comes out, which as any academic knows is going to be months, is morally wrong if those sequences can be used to affect a response on the ground, Dudas said.

Early posting of data on the public database GenBank led to a surge of collaboration from experts in diverse fields. It was when one of those early researchers, Harvard Universitys Dr. Pardis C. Sabeti (another author on the new paper) and her team sequenced 99 Ebola genomes from patients in Sierra Leone and uploaded their data that Rambaut became involved. Bedford had been a postdoc in Rambauts lab before coming to the Hutch in 2013, six months before the Ebola epidemic started. Dudas, who is now a postdoc in Bedfords lab, did his doctorate research under Rambaut.

Analysts like Dudas, Rambaut and Bedford bring to data a good understanding of how evolution works, along with strong critical thinking skills and an ability to spot trends and anomalies.

Andrew is wonderfully curious, Bedford said of Rambaut. The community working on Ebola was really lucky that he was involved in all of this. And Gytis is faster than anyone I can think of. If Andrew or I think of a question and ask Gytis about it, hell have some beautiful figure to show us an hour later.

Next steps: more speed, more data-sharing

Because speed is critical in an outbreak, Bedford wants to make the analysis process even faster, just as new technologies have sped up sequencing.

Wed like basically to make some of the core analyses in this paper, and the animation [that Dudas made of the virus spread] something that can just happen, he said.

To this end, he and a longtime collaborator, Dr. Richard Neher of the University of Basel in Switzerland, have designed a tool called nextstrain to analyze and track genetic mutations during outbreaks. Anyone can download the source-code from GitHub, run genetic-sequencing data for the outbreak they are following through the pipeline and build a web page showing a phylogenetic tree, or genetic history, of the outbreak. The innovation recently won the first-ever international Open Science Prize.

If there is a next [epidemic], and there is faster data-sharing, Bedford said, you can have analyses out the door very quickly.

But the challenge of getting scientists to share data remains. Despite the precedent set by the response to the Ebola epidemic, Bedford and Dudas point out that fewer researchers have shared Zika virus genomes from the more recent crisis in Brazil, Central America and the Caribbean. In part, they said, that may be because the Zika virus is more difficult to sequence than Ebola, making researchers more prone to guard their rare sequences for publication.

The Ebola epidemic began while Dudas was working on his Ph.D., and the data-sharing that ensued impressed the young researcher deeply. My standards for what collaboration is supposed to look like have been set pretty high, he said.

There are still some people who think that genome sequencing is effectively stamp collecting, Dudas continued. You might collect samples, and you might sequence them and look in retrospect at the outbreak. But all the sequencing thats been done leading up to this publication was essentially being done in real time. And each analysis was then used to go back to the field and make decisions. Its a way to understand whats driving an epidemic.

Join the conversation about this story on our Facebook page.
Pardee rebounding from 2016 loss

A winter flu outbreak, a substantial gain in surgeries and cost controls propelled Pardee Hospital to a financial rebound from last years $13 million loss, administrators said.

Pardee ended its 2015-16 fiscal year with a $15.2 million loss that executives attributed to installation of a new systemwide computer system, hiring new physicians and operations and capital investments that are expected to pay off in the coming months and years. Hospital officials said they expected financial improvements this year because the big expenses in 2016 were one-time investments that would lead to efficiencies and better practices to drive business growth.

Pardees Finance Committee reported to the Board of Directors last week that total patient revenue for the first five months of FY2016-17 exceeded $263.2 million while expenses came in $1.35 million less than budget, resulting in a net gain that was $804,000 ahead of last year and $2.1 million better than budget. Inpatient admissions rose by 6 percent  19 percent better than the same period a year earlier  while inpatient and outpatient surgeries surged by 17 percent year over year.

What a difference a year makes, CEO Jay Kirby told the board. Weve still got one quarter to go in this shortened year but we feel good about this year and were proud of the turnaround.

Pardee switched from an October-September on the federal timetable to a July-June fiscal year that aligned with the states the UNC Health Cares schedule.

The Pardee Foundation reported good news, too, on the philanthropy front.

Kim Hinkleman, executive director of the foundation, said 270 donors have moved the foundation close to its $6 million goal for the Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The campaign was not just about raising money but also about planting seeds and preparing for what comes next, she said. It was a three-year campaign but were going to bring it in in two years. Half of the donors were first-time donors. Thats extraordinary.

Going into the campaign in April 2015, she predicted that most donations would come from loyal donors and older donors. Instead, donors under 70 years old gave. Thats great news for us. That gives us the opportunity to work with these people who continue to grow as donors and continue to support the hospital.

Pardee board Chair Bill Medina, who also serves as co-chair of cancer center fundraiser, praised the effort.

This has been one of the most successful marketing campaigns weve ever had, he said.
The vast numbers of candidates are perhaps unsurprising in light of the fact that, according to a Press TV guide to Iranian political factions, the country has 240 separate political parties, none of which have a dominant role in Iranian politics. Although successful candidates may come from virtually any party, those parties generally fall into the broad categories of principlist or reformist, or otherwise fall somewhere between the two general factions, as moderates.

In its guide, Press TV, an English-language arm of the Iranian regimes state media, sought to portray the differences between principlists and reformists as relating primarily to economic policy and different levels of emphasis on Islamic values and structural problems. Notably, the articles description of each faction avoids reference to issues like human rights or political repression. In his successful presidential campaign four years ago, Hassan Rouhani made some reference to these issues, promising for instance to release the Green Movement leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi from their indefinite house arrest. But neither this nor other progressive-sounding promises have come to fruition.

The Rouhani administration characterizes itself as moderate, and this fact might suggest that there is a reformist faction that would be more earnest about pursuing domestic reforms that are unrelated to the economy or the structure of the existing government and laws. But in the previous election cycle, most reformists dropped out of the race and threw their weight behind Rouhani in order to minimize the chances of a principlist victory. Although many reformists have since grown disillusioned with the Rouhani administration, it appears that the same strategy will be utilized in the election scheduled for May 19.

This highlights the fact that there are substantial limits on the prospects for genuine social reform within the Islamic Republic. These limits are made stronger by the fact that regardless of the number or the affiliations of persons registering their presidential candidacy, there is a chance of their candidacy being blocked by the Guardian Council, which is comprised of 12 people appointed by the supreme leader and the judiciary.

It is impossible to say how many of the more than 638 candidates for the current campaign will be disqualified. But it is well understood that certain kinds of candidates will not make the cut. In many such cases, it is quite likely that the candidates in question registered themselves only as a protest or a bid for publicity. According to The Iran Project, 21 women registered as presidential candidates. Unquestionably, all of them will be barred from taking part in the actual campaign, which will take place between April 28 and May 17, after the Guardian Council makes its final determinations. The same is true of the unspecified number of religious and ethnic minorities who attempted to register, since the constitution of the Islamic Republic calls for expressed loyalty and adherence to Islam and the principle of absolute clerical rule.

In an apparent effort to put a progressive spin on the registration numbers, Iran Front Page News reported that at the same time that hundreds of people registered as presidential candidates, an impressive-sounding 18,000 women registered as candidates for city and village councils throughout the country. Women are not explicitly barred from holding these positions, although they are certainly discouraged. Iran Front Page boasts that the latest numbers represent the highest ever level of female registration, but it also admits that the 18,000 women are only 6.3 percent of the total number of registrants, up from 5.4 percent in the previous elections.

The countrys most recent parliamentary elections also saw not only higher female registration, but also the highest number of women serving on the legislative body since the founding of the Islamic Republic. Nevertheless, women only claimed 17 seats out of 290, and one was disqualified by the Guardian Council after winning election, because of allegations that she had shaken hands with a man to whom she was not related while traveling abroad. Physical contact of any kind between members of the opposite sex is a crime in the Islamic Republic.

While womens voices may be a larger part of local Iranian politics in the wake of the May elections, those voices have traditionally been all but absent. Meanwhile, the presidency remains off limits to Iranian women, and arbitrary barriers remain in place for women seeking any high office. The reformist faction of Iranian politics is either unable to change this situation or uninterested in doing so, since they have generally attached themselves to the Rouhani administration, which has eschewed reform in numerous areas including womens rights.
Rohingya Muslims portrayed as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world by many activists, have suffered a brutal fate at the hands of the Myanmar military and local Buddhist groups. India has been deeply involved when it comes to rehabilitating and sheltering the battered ethnic group. Currently there are about 36,000 Rohingyas in India out of which only 9000 are officially registered. They remain concentrated in states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi.

Indias first major taste of the Rohingya crisis came, rather absurdly, on 12th August 2012 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. A large crowd of Muslims assembled at the venue to protest against the Assam Riots and the Rakhine Riots in Myanmar, which were a confrontation between the Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims. The crowds soon turned violent which led to them vandalizing public property, molesting women cops, desecrating the Amar Jyoti Javan Memorial. The riots led to the death of two people.

Around the same time many Rohignyas had made their way, all the way from Myanmar through Bangladesh, to illegally enter India. With their conditions pitiable and them enduring the long and treacherous journey, they seemed to have found a safe haven in Hyderabad where various Islamic organisations extended their help, as social media messages had already flared up passions (leading to Azad Maidan riots).

Their status of being persecuted minorities in process of rehabilitation slowly started to change after reports started emerging in 2013 about some of the Rohingyas getting radicalized by the Lashkar-e-Toeba (LeT) to avenge the sectarian violence in Myanmar. The retribution though, for some strange reason, was also aimed at India, which ironically gave them the shelter. Perhaps presence of Buddhists in India was one of the reasons.

All this emerged after it was speculated that the Bodh Gaya Blasts on 7th July 2013 were possibly a retribution against the Buddhists for what was going on in Myanmar. This was almost confirmed after interrogations revealed that the blasts at the Buddhist shrine were aimed as a revenge for the Rohingyas.

These findings alerted security agencies and in December 2014, Rohingyas were put under surveillance by the Hyderabad police, which was a result of the arrest of Khalid Mohammed, a Rohingya Muslim from Hyderabad, by the NIA in connection with the Burdwan blast in Oct 2014.

Recently the people of Jammu have been actively protesting against the settlement of Rohingyas in the state. Reports indicate that there has been a sharp rise in the number of refugees from 5,107 in 2010 to about 13,400 in June, 2016. The security forces there too have started perceiving the Rohingyas there as a security threat after one of the two foreign militants killed in a shootout in south Kashmir turned out to be a native of Myanmar.

This has also led to feeling of anger and anguish among many Indians that while the Rohingyas were being settled in Jammu & Ladakh, efforts to rehabilitate the Kashmiri Pandits were being opposed. This has also ensured that politics has started over the issue with J&K National Panthers party putting up hoardings asking Rohingyas and Bangladeshi Muslims to leave.

This association of Rohingyas with India has evolved from being a shelter for persecuted minorities to being a genuine security threat. Indias official position over sheltering the Rohingyas has been that of a silent pragmatism so as to not irk the Myanmar leadership which already has a growing Chinese influence.

However the issue might need quick addressing as the rise in this new ethnic group, especially along Indias eastern border poses a severe security threat and challenges of illegal immigration. Having said that, the solution also isnt as simple as rounding up and deporting all the Rohingyas, as many of whom have a legitimate refugee status or a valid visa.

Last month, India cautioned Myanmar about the long known exploitation of Rohingyas at the hands of Pakistan based terrorists. This might also prompt the Indian government too to rethink its stance of turning a blind eye to the illegal immigration, like it did for the Rohingyas chiefly in 2012 as there was domestic political pressure to allow them and international concern over human rights.

This settlement of the refugees may be the largest since India gave refuge to the Dalai Llama and 80,000 Tibetians who fled atrocities of the Chinese in 1959, however, the consequences are turning out to be very different in both the cases.

Source : OpIndia
Atwater Martin Announces Expansion of HR Offerings

Posted by Press Releases on Friday, 04-14-2017 11:49 am

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Growth initiative includes compensation management and communications solutions.Atwater Martin has announced an initiative that will offer customers an expanded spectrum of human resource management solutions. The firm's strategic plan includes two new partnerships as well as the launch of a new Job Board for Atwater Martin website visitors.Most recently, the firm established an affiliate partnership with Decusoft, a leading developer of the compensation management software, Compose". Through this partnership, Atwater Martin can offer its customers a software solution that works either in conjunction with their current HCM or as a stand-alone in order to simplify the administration of complex variable pay programs.Atwater Martin has also partnered with Leadarati, LLC, a B2B social, mobile and digital business communications firm, to offer clients a suite of HR onboarding employee communications training programs that include best social media practices and policies. Through these ...

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Tags : burgers recipe success

The New Mexican light is sharply bright with deep dark shadows at three in the afternoon. After a moderate hike in the foothills of Sandilla Mountain, I was famished. So was my niece Linda and her friend Denise. I have heard of a good burger place with green Chile burgers but Im not sure where it is, Denise said. Were not sure what a green Chile burger is and all agree to go find one. We begin our journey back to Albuquerque. Eyes peeled we pass modern gas stations and Navajo type malls. Very touristy. Then there was this place  standing by itself, all alone. A faded dirty pink stucco building with a flat roof. I did not even see the unlit neon sign off to the side that read: Burger Boy There were a lot of cars parked to the side and out front in a dusty dirt lot. Cars were parked in many directions in a disorganized fashion. The five Harleys by the front door caught my eye. Bikers always know the good places to eat. It was hot and there were lots of people placidly sitting out front. Nobody had any food. Not a good sign, I thought. This place had not been touched since 1959. It was a Diner, awful. A faded ugly pink, off-white tile and linoleum covered counters and chairs that were antiques from the fifties. I looked around, saw the inside is almost full and we take the next to last table. Its a diverse crowd that dines at Burger Boy. The bald biker, the na...
Posts from Harvey the Bernese are my favorite on Instagram. I dont have a Bernese and I dont know Harveys family. In fact, Harvey lives in the UK and he alternates between running around outside in the mud and sleeping on the family couch. Yet Harvey has more than 12,000 followers on Instagram and receives loving notes from his human fans on a daily basis. Whats Harveys secret to success? His doggie mom does a brilliant job of using fresh, compelling content and hashtags to share Harveys story. She posts several times a day, using photos and videos that reveal Harveys trials and tribulations, which bring him to life for people around the world. Harvey has achieved social media nirvana: his followers interact with him. In contrast, when it comes to most B2Bsocial media, its a one-way street. Companies fall back on an old model that was made popular during the early days of online job postings called post and pray. It didnt work in the past and it works even less now. Its the equivalent of opening your refrigerator door and shouting at the vegetables. They have no reason to care, theyre not going to answer you, and youve just expended a lot of energy for nothing. Not dialogue nor following or even a conversation is being had. If youre sincere about establishing a strong engaging presence on social media  Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and...
High-growth companies stay in touch with their markets - and willingly spend the money to do so. They know their customers and they keep their knowledge fresh, says the American Management Association (AMA) in its Research Report on Consumer Affairs. It is important to know your customers wants and needs before you try to sell them a service or a product. If you do not know, then you are guessing. Guesswork makes dissatisfaction inevitable. You might have been good at predicting customer behavior in the past, but remember that it is not what you think you know that is important. It is what customers think that matters, even if they are illogical or uninformed. Good service has nothing to do with what the provider of services believes it to be, unless these beliefs coincide with the attitudes of customers. Good service only has to do with what customers believe it to be. Few executives truly understand what good service is. Moreover, they are not close enough to their own employees to understand how bad and inconsistent service is. Kris Kowalski Christiansen and Mary Anne Kowalski, owners of several supermarkets in the St. Paul, Minnesota area, have a fine informal survey format that could be used by an organization of any size. Each quarter they rent a conference room somewhere near each of their stores. They meet at each store with an invited group of 8 to 12 cust...
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
Students Compose, Direct, Perform One-Act Operas

April 14, 2017

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. The Illinois Wesleyan School of Musics Opera Workshop will present one-act operas composed by students and selections from Igor Stravinskys Mavra April 22-23 at Westbrook Auditorium.

Torpor was written by Chaepter Negro19 (New Berlin, Ill.) and will be directed by Anne Ozbun 17 (St. Cloud, Minn.). Madness Majestica is written by Richard Zola and will be directed by Sara Caligiuri 18 (Wheaton, Ill.). Katharine Teykl 19 (Flossmoor, Ill.) has written Voices in the Shadows, which will be directed by Jessica Shultz 17 (Bloomington, Minn.).

Teykls composition, Voices in the Shadows, deals with diversity of thought and free speech on the internet. She said the storyline follows a website similar to the YouTube video channel and its creators who have had their channel taken down when the host expresses an unpopular opinion of feminism.

When Teykl started writing the piece, she was only beginning to theorize some of the events in the storyline, and wanted to explore what could potentially happen when one cant say what he or she wants without being punished.

Unfortunately, within the last few months, the story has been playing out in real life, with YouTubers who have had their reputations wrecked and have lost income essentially because of blatantly obvious jokes and political differences from the norm, she said.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Robert Mangialardi will direct the Mavra selections, and Andrew Voelker serves as music director and pianist.

Performances, which are free and open to the public, will be performed in succession April 22 at 7:30 p.m. and April 23 at 3 p.m. For more information, contact the School of Music at (309) 556-3061.

By Reilly Kasprak 17
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Special Correspondent | (Baghdad) | (Niqash.org) |  

As pro-Iraq forces close in on the Islamic State fighters in Mosul, civilians trapped in the city with them, say the extremists roam around wearing suicide belts and appear to be ready to fight to the death.

Word from inside Mosul makes it clear that the extremist group known as the Islamic State is preparing for their last stand.

We are caught between the bombardment of the Iraqi military and the crimes committed against us by the Islamic State, one Mosul resident, who is still trapped in the extremist-held areas, told NIQASH in a phone call. In the past two weeks, the Islamic State fighters have killed more than 80 people around us. Some of them were our friends and neighbours. They torture them, mutilate their bodies after death and then hang the corpses on power poles.

The sounds of shelling can be heard in the background during the phone call. The Islamic State cars drove around the streets here with corpses, the man continued. They throw one or two bodies in each alleyway, in order to terrorize the people and prevent them from trying to escape.

When the IS fighters arrived, we begged them to leave in case we became a target. He told us: Your lives are not more precious than our lives.

The Islamic State, or IS, group wont hesitate to kill those trying to escape, he explained. They say that any person who tries to go to areas not controlled by the IS group and not part of their caliphate must be an infidel, and therefore deserves death.

It seems as though many of the IS fighters know that they must soon make their last stand and they appear to have chosen the Mosul neighbourhoods in which this will happen, even renaming the areas.

Iraqi pro-government forces and army have managed to take control of more than half of the western side of the city, which was previously under extremist control. The eastern side was cleared of IS fighters several weeks ago.

There are very few areas still to be liberated but the ones that remain will be the hardest, the head of Iraqs elite counter-terrorism forces, Abdul Ghani al-Asadi, has said.

The IS group is present in large numbers in two main areas. The first is the neighbourhood known as the old city. The extremists are making use of the high population density and the narrow alleyways; additionally if the houses in this area are shelled at all, there is great danger of collapse onto other buildings as they are old, fragile and built very close to one another.

This means that the potential for air strikes, which have been decisive elsewhere against the IS group, is extremely limited. The IS fighters, who wear belts of explosives in case they need to commit suicide, know this, as they travel among the civilian population trapped in the area.

The old city also has symbolic value for the IS group and for the Iraqi pro-government forces. It houses the mosque where the leader of the IS group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared the creation of his Islamic state in 2014.

The second area is comprised of three adjoining neighbourhoods: 17th July, Musharrafieh and Harmat. In the north the area is bounded by the Tigris river, in the east there is a valley and then Syria lies to the west. However theres no way to go west: Iraqi pro-government forces have completely surrounded the area, and an IS fighter would only be able to get about ten kilometres before being caught by them. The IS group has called this area, one of the first to fall to them back in June 2014, land of the steadfast.

The IS group is maintaining tight control in these neighbourhoods and building up its military presence, making use of delays in fighting caused by the mistaken bombing of civilians that forced anti-IS forces to slow down, for fear of causing more non-combatant casualties.

In the areas where there is fighting, civilians say they can watch the IS snipers on the roofs around them, moving from one house to the next.

Two weeks ago, 19 IS fighters came into our house fully armed and some were wearing suicide belts, says Barazan Ahmed, who fled Mosuls Yarmouk neighbourhood after the Iraqi army arrived and who is now living in a camp for the displaced south of the city. When the IS fighters arrived, we begged them to leave in case we became a target. But they refused. And one of them was very demanding. He insisted that we offer them food. He told us: Your lives are not more precious than our lives.

Just a few hours before the Iraqi army arrived, anti-IS forces bombed houses near where Ahmed was sheltering; dozens were killed as the buildings collapsed, including some of his own relatives, the Mosul man says. That is why he and the rest of his family left the city.

It is becoming increasingly clear to civilians in Mosul that the IS fighters are not about to surrender. They know the Iraqi army is moving more slowly as it closes in on the extremists. They also know that that they, their families and their homes are caught in the middle of a hopeless situation.

Via Niqash.org



Related video added by Juan Cole:

Iraqi Troops In Mosul Push Closer To Landmark Mosque  Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

In his less than three months in office, Donald Trump has escalated four wars, and all of his escalations have been failures.

To be fair, Trump inherited all 4 wars from Barack Obama Afghanistan, Iraq v. ISIL, Leftist Kurds v ISIL in Syria, and targeting support and tactical advice to Saudi Arabia in Yemen.

Trump campaigned on reducing such foreign entanglements and focusing on the US and its needs. But in office he has declined to rethink any of these commitments and indeed has escalated in each theater.

Trumps first escalation was in Yemen, in late January. He sent in a team of navy Seals to attack an alleged al-Qaeda compound. But the man he was targeting had switched sides and was supporting the Yemeni government. The raid produced no useful intelligence and the target disappeared. A navy Seal was killed along with some 30 civilians, including children. The raid did not further the Saudi war aim of defeating the Houthi militia it was aimed at al-Qaeda in Yemen, which has taken advantage of the Saudi intervention to grab territory.

In Iraq in late March, once Trump came in, the restrictive rules of operation for the military insisted on by Obama were loosened by the US miltitary. A bombing by a US aircraft caused the collapse of a civilian apartment complex, killing at least 200 innocent civilians.

In Syrias Northeastern Front, Trump doubled the number of US special ops troops embeded with the leftist Kurdish militia, the YPG. These forces are intended to attack ISIL in its Syrian capital, Raqqa, but despite promises by Trump, no such concerted new campaign has begun. Then when it appeared last week that the Syrian regime used poison gas in its struggle against the al-Qaeda affiliate and its allies in the Northwestern Front at Idlib, Trump dropped 59 Tomahawk missiles on a small airbase. No significant damage was done and Syria was flying missions again the next day.

On Thursday, Trump hit with an 11 ton bomb some caves in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, said to be being used by Taliban rebels who had joined ISIL. The US has lost 1/3 of Afghanistan to fundamentalist rebels, mostly Taliban, in a 16-year war that is going worse now than than at any time since spring, 2002. There is no prospect of defeating guerrillas with air power, no matter how massive. The US carpet-bombed Vietnam and still lost. The desperation of the Trump administration is demonstrated by the use of old Saddam Hussein hyperbole, calling the missile The Mother of all Bombs. Trump is actually translating his propaganda directly from Dictator Arabic! Saddam had called the Gulf War the Mother of all Battles (Umm al-Maarik), though this was a literal press translation. The phrase means the essence of all battles. Saddams hyperbole did not serve him well.

What all four Trump interventions in his ongoing US wars in the Middle East have in common is that they were splashy, produced headlines for a day, and altered the course of the conflict not a jot or a tittle.

Trump is gradually inducting his Four Wars into his Reality-Show universe, where everything is done for ratings and just for show.



Related video:

CBS  Mother of all bombs dropped in Afghanistan, targeting ISIS-
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By William Astore | (Tomdispatch.com) |  

What does an America-first foreign policy look like under President Donald Trump? As a start, forget the ancient label of isolationism. With the end of Trumps first 100 days approaching, it looks more like a military-first policy aimed at achieving global hegemony, which means its a potential doomsday machine.

Candidate Trump vowed hed make the U.S. military so strong that he wouldnt have to use it, since no one would dare attack us  deterrence, in a word. The on-the-ground (or in-the-air) reality is already far different. President Trumps generals have begun to unleash that military in a manner the Obama administration, hardly shy about bombing or surging, deemed both excessive and risky to civilians. Last week, 59 U.S. cruise missiles (value: $60 million) pummeled an airbase in Syria, a profligate response to a chemical weapons attack in that country which may yet lead to further escalation. Meanwhile, U.S. weapons are to be sold to Sunni monarchies in the Persian Gulf with less concern than ever for human rights abuses, and the Saudis will be provided with yet more of the support they demand for their devastating war on civilians in Yemen. Doubtless further military interventions and escalations across the Greater Middle East are on that classic table in Washington where all options are supposedly kept.

Most Americans believe the spin that the U.S. military is all about deterring and preventing attacks on the homeland, especially those orchestrated by radical Islamic terrorism. Sold as a deterrent, Washingtons national security state has, in fact, exploded into something that increasingly resembles a mechanism for permanent war. Ignorant of the most basic military strategy, impulsive and bombastic, its present commander-in-chief is being enabled by bellicose advisers and the men he calls my generals, who dream of ever bigger budgets. (Even Trumps promise of a $54 billion boost to Pentagon spending this coming fiscal year isnt enough for some senior military officers.)

The Realities of Trumps New Era of Winning

Welcome to Trumps new era of winning. Its not really about ending wars, but exerting global reach/global power while selling loads of weaponry. It promises to spread or prolong chaos in Iraq, Yemen, and possibly Iran, among other countries. In the Greater Middle East, U.S.-led efforts have produced a war-torn Iraq thats splitting at the seams. U.S. drone strikes and support for an ongoing Saudi air campaign have left Yemen lurching toward famine. Syria remains a humanitarian disaster, torn by war even as additional U.S. troops are deployed there. (The Pentagon wont say how many, telling us instead to focus on capabilities rather than boots on the ground.) Further east, the never-ending war in Afghanistan is, in Pentagon-speak, stalemated, which means that the Taliban is actually gaining ground as a new Washington surge-to-nowhere looms. Looking west and south, Africa is the latest playground for the U.S. militarys special ops community as the Trump administration prepares, among other things, to ramp up operations in Somalia.

To Trump and his generals, an America-first approach to such problems actually means putting the military first, second, and third. It helps that they cant imagine the actions of that military as destabilizing. (Possible future headline: Trump destroys Syria in order to save it.) According to General Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, for instance, the country that poses the greatest long-term threat to stability in the Middle East is Iran, a sentiment seconded by retired general James Mattis, the secretary of defense.

You might excuse the Iranians, as well as the Russians and the Chinese, for thinking differently. To them, the United States is clearly the most destabilizing entity in the world. If you were Chinese or Russian or Shia Muslim, how might U.S. military activities appear to you?

* Expansionist? Check.

* Dedicated to dominance via colossal military spending and global interventionism? Check.

* Committed to economic and ideological hegemony via powerful banking and financial interests that seek to control world markets in the name of keeping them free? Check.

Wouldnt that be a logical, if unsavory, assessment? To many outsiders, U.S. leaders seem like the worlds leading armed meddlers (and arms merchants), a perception supported by soaring military action and sinking diplomacy under Trump. Serious cuts in funding loom at the State Department, even as the Pentagon budget is being boosted (yet again). To outside observers, Washingtons ambitions seem clear: global dominance, achieved and enforced by that very, very strong military that candidate Trump claimed hed never have to use, but is already employing with gusto, if not abandon.

Never Underestimate the Power of the Military-Industrial Complex

Why do Trumps America-first policies add up to military first ones? Why is the Pentagon budget, along with actual military operations, surging on his watch?

More than half a century ago, sociologist C. Wright Mills offered answers that still seem as fresh as this mornings news. In his 1958 essay, The Structure of Power in American Society, he dissected the countrys triangle of power. It consisted, he explained, of corporate leaders, senior military men, and politicians working in concert, but also in a manner that merged corporate agendas with military designs. That combination, he suggested, was degrading the ability of politicians to moderate and control corporate-military imperatives (assuming the latter even wanted to try).

The [U.S.] military order, Mills wrote, once a slim establishment [operating] in a context of civilian distrust, has become the largest and most expensive feature of government; behind smiling public relations, it has all the grim and clumsy efficiency of a great and sprawling bureaucracy. The high military have gained decisive political and economic relevance. The seemingly permanent military threat places a premium upon them and virtually all political and economic actions are now judged in terms of military definitions of reality.

For him, the danger was plain enough: the coincidence of military domain and corporate realm strengthens both of them and further subordinates the merely political man. Not the party politician, but the corporation executive, is now more likely to sit with the military to answer the question: what is to be done?

Consider the makeup of Trumps administration, a riot of billionaires and multimillionaires. His secretary of state, former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, may not be much of a diplomat. Indeed, he seems uninterested in the advice of career State Department personnel, but he does know his way around corporate boardrooms. Trumps national security adviser and his secretaries of defense and homeland security are all either serving generals or recently retired ones. In Trumps inner circle, corporate executives do indeed sit with senior military men to decide what is to be done.

Soon after Mills issued his prophetic critique of Americas power elite, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned about the growing dangers of a military-industrial complex. Since then, Ikes complex has only expanded in power. With the post-9/11 addition of the Department of Homeland Security and ever more intelligence agencies (seventeen major ones at last count), the complex only continues to grow beyond all civilian control. Its dominant position astride the government is nearly unchallengeable. Figuratively speaking, its the king of Capitol Hill.

Candidate Trump may have complained about the U.S. wasting trillions of dollars in its recent foreign conflicts, invasions, and occupations, but plenty of American corporations profited from those regime changes. After you flatten political states like Iraq, you can rearm them. When not selling weapons to them or rebuilding the infrastructure you blew up, you can exploit them for resources. Seemingly never-ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are an illustration of what happens when corporate interests merge with military imperatives.

While both Mills and Eisenhower warned of such developments, even they might have been startled by the America of 2017. By now, the post-draft, all volunteer professional military has become remarkably estranged, if not divorced, from the wider populace, a separation aggravated by an ongoing cult of the warrior within its ranks. Not only are Americans increasingly isolated from their warfighter military, but from Americas wars as well. These continue to be waged without formal congressional declarations and with next to no congressional oversight. Combine this with the Supreme Courts Citizens United decision, which translated corporate money directly into political activism, and you have what is increasingly a 1% governing system in which a billionaire president presides over the wealthiest cabinet in history in what is now a war capital, while an ever-expanding corporate-military nexus embodies the direst of fears of Mills and Eisenhower.

Americas runaway military machine has little to do these days with deterrence and much to do with the continuation of a state of permanent war. Put it all together and you have a formula for disaster.

Deterring Our Way to Doomsday

Who put Americas oil under all those Middle Eastern deserts? That was the question antiwar demonstrators asked with a certain grim humor before the invasion of Iraq. In Trumps oft-stated opinion, the U.S. should indeed have just taken Iraqs oil after the 2003 invasion. If nothing else, he said plainly what many Americans believed, and what various multinational oil companies were essentially seeking to do.

Consider here the plight of President Jimmy Carter. Nearly 40 years ago, Carter urged Americans to scale back their appetites, start conserving energy, and free themselves from a crippling dependency on foreign oil and the unbridled consumption of material goods. After critics termed it his malaise speech, Carter did an about-face, boosting military spending and establishing the Carter Doctrine to protect Persian Gulf oil as a vital U.S. national interest. The American people responded by electing Ronald Reagan anyway. As Americans continue to enjoy a consumption-driven lifestyle that gobbles up roughly 25% of the worlds production of fossil fuels (while representing only 3% of the worlds population), the smart money in the White House is working feverishly to open ever more fuel taps globally. Trillions of dollars are at stake.

Small wonder that, on becoming president, Trump acted quickly to speed the building of new pipelines delayed or nixed by President Obama while ripping up environmental protections related to fossil fuel production. Accelerated domestic production, along with cooperation from the Saudis  Trumps recent Muslim bans carefully skipped targeting the one country that provided 15 of the 19 terrorists in the 9/11 attacks  should keep fuel flowing, profits growing, and world sea levels rising.

One data point here: The U.S. military alone guzzles more fossil fuel than the entire country of Sweden. When it comes to energy consumption, our armed forces are truly second to none.

With its massive oil reserves, the Middle East remains a hotbed in the worlds ongoing resource wars, as well as its religious and ethnic conflicts, exacerbated by terrorism and the destabilizing attacks of the U.S. military. Under the circumstances, when it comes to future global disaster, its not that hard to imagine that todays Middle East could serve as the equivalent of the Balkans of World War I infamy.

If Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian Black Hand terrorist operating in a war-torn and much-disputed region, could set the world aflame in 1914, why not an ISIS terrorist just over a century later? Consider the many fault lines today in that region and the forces involved, including Russia, Turkey, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, all ostensibly working together to combat terrorism even as they position themselves to maximize their own advantage and take down one another. Under such circumstances, a political temblor followed by a geo-political earthquake seems unbearably possible. And if not an ISIS temblor followed by major quake in the Middle East, theres no shortage of other possible global fault lines in an increasingly edgy world  from saber-rattling contests with North Korea to jousting over Chinese-built artificial islands in the South China Sea.

As an historian, Ive spent much time studying the twentieth-century German military. In the years leading up to World War I, Germany was emerging as the superpower of its day, yet paradoxically it imagined itself as increasingly hemmed in by enemies, a nation surrounded and oppressed. Its leaders especially feared a surging Russia. This fear drove them to launch a preemptive war against that country. (Admittedly, they attacked France first in 1914, but thats another story.) That incredibly risky and costly war, sparked in the Balkans, failed disastrously and yet it would only be repeated on an even more horrific level 25 years later. The result: tens of millions of dead across the planet and a total defeat that finally put an end to German designs for global dominance. The German military, praised as the worlds best by its leaders and sold to its people as a deterrent force, morphed during those two world wars into a doomsday machine that bled the country white, while ensuring the destruction of significant swaths of the planet.

Today, the U.S. military similarly praises itself as the worlds best, even as it imagines itself surrounded by powerful threats (China, Russia, a nuclear North Korea, and global terrorism, to start a list). Sold to the American people during the Cold War as a deterrent force, a pillar of stability against communist domino-tippers, that military has by now morphed into a potential tipping force all its own.

Recall here that the Trump administration has reaffirmed Americas quest for overwhelming nuclear supremacy. It has called for a new approach to North Korea and its nuclear weapons program. (Whatever that may mean, its not a reference to diplomacy.) Even as nuclear buildups and brinksmanship loom, Washington continues to spread weaponry  its the greatest arms merchant of the twenty-first century by a wide mark  and chaos around the planet, spinning its efforts as a war on terror and selling them as the only way to win.

In May 1945, when the curtain fell on Germanys last gasp for global dominance, the world was fortunately still innocent of nuclear weapons. Its different now. Todays planet is, if anything, over-endowed with potential doomsday machines  from those nukes to the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

Thats why its vitally important to recognize that President Trumps America-first policies are anything but isolationist in the old twentieth century meaning of the term; that his talk of finally winning again is a recipe for prolonging wars guaranteed to create more chaos and more failed states in the Greater Middle East and possibly beyond; and that an already dangerous Cold War policy of deterrence, whether against conventional or nuclear attacks, may now have become a machine for perpetual war that could, given Trumps bellicosity, explode into some version of doomsday.

Or, to put the matter another way, consider this question: Is North Koreas Kim Jong-un the only unstable leader with unhinged nuclear ambitions currently at work on the world stage?

A retired lieutenant colonel (USAF) and history professor, Astore is a TomDispatch regular. He blogs at Bracing Views.

Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook. Check out the newest Dispatch Book, John Dowers The Violent American Century: War and Terror Since World War II, as well as John Feffers dystopian novel Splinterlands, Nick Turses Next Time Theyll Come to Count the Dead, and Tom Engelhardts Shadow Government: Surveillance, Secret Wars, and a Global Security State in a Single-Superpower World.

Copyright 2017 William J. Astore

Via Tomdispatch.com

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Trump seen to give stern warning to North Korea with Afghanistan bombing
And again: 'Palestinian' stabs Christian British student to death on Jerusalem tram

Another woman, who is pregnant, was injured when the train stopped, and a man was hurt while trying to flee the assailant. They are both lightly hurt, MDA said.



The assailant has been identified as Gamil Tamimi, 57, a Palestinian resident of Ras al-Amud in East Jerusalem who was recently released from a psychiatric hospital, according to the police said.

The Shin Bet said that Tamimi had tried to commit suicide by swallowing a razorblade while hospitalized. In 2011, he was convicted of molesting his daughter.



"This is yet another case of a Palestinian suffering from personal, mental or moral distress choosing to commit an act of terror to escape his problems," the Shin Bet says.

A 23-year old Christian British woman was murdered by a ' mentally unstable ' (is there any other kind?) 'Palestinian' terrorist on the Jerusalem tram this afternoon. The terrorist was a 57-year old (so much for 'only' letting 'over-50 Palestinians' move around freely) resident of Ras-al-Amud, the area near the Mount of Olives. The stabbing took place as the tram rounded the corner at IDF Square, just outside Jerusalem's Old City.Probably related to this Tamimi - at least distantly. Israel is holding this paragon of virtue - at least until the next Terrorists for X exchange.So in 'Palestinian society' you can save your 'family honor' by murdering a Jew. Murder a Jew and and molesting your daughter is forgiven.Anyone still think they're ready for peace?

Labels: Ahlam Tamimi, East Jerusalem, family honor, Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Palestinian terrorism, religion of rape
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 13, 2017) - Banro Corporation ("Banro" or the "Company") (NYSE MKT:BAA)(TSX:BAA) is pleased to provide an update on the progression of the Company's recapitalization (the "Recapitalization") described in the Company's management information circular dated February 27, 2016 (the "Circular"). Capitalized terms used in this press release not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Circular.

The Company now anticipates implementing the Plan of Arrangement and closing the Recapitalization on April 19, 2017 (the "Anticipated Effective Date").

The Recapitalization contemplates, among other things, (a) the refinancing of the maturing US$175 million senior secured 10% notes due March 1, 2017 of the Company (the "Existing Notes") and US$22.5 million loan (the "Term Loan") with new US$197.5 million senior secured notes with a 4-year maturity and new common shares of the Company, (b) the conversion of the outstanding exchangeable preferred shares of each of Twangiza (Barbados) Limited and Namoya (Barbados) Limited (collectively, the "Exchangeable Preferred Shares"), gold-linked preferred shares of Banro Group (Barbados) Limited (the "Barbados Preferred Shares") and Series A Preference Shares of Banro into common shares of the Company (the Series B Preference Shares of Banro will be cancelled for no consideration) (c) the execution of a gold forward sale agreement to raise US$45 million to be used by the Company for working capital and general corporate purposes, including to fund transaction costs and repay a US$6.5 million interim loan facility recently obtained by the Company, and (d) the extension of the maturity dates on an existing US$10 million loan from July 15, 2018 and September 1, 2018 to February 28, 2020. In addition, certain stock options of the Company with an exercise price equal to or in excess of Cdn.$0.80 per share will be cancelled for no consideration.

Assuming the Recapitalization is implemented on the Anticipated Effective Date, the holders of the above noted securities (the "Affected Holders") will receive the following consideration:

Affected Instruments Holdings Approximate Entitlement under the Recapitalization Existing Notes Per US$1,000 face amount US$1,000 face amount of New Senior Secured Notes (together with the related Note Guarantees) and 575.11449 Common Shares

(or, if a Cash Election is made, US$750.00)

Holders of Existing Notes will also receive US$13.42 in respect of interest accrued to the closing date of the Recapitalization Exchangeable Preferred Shares Per 1 Exchangeable Preferred Share, including any relevant accrued and unpaid dividends 9,534.09700 Common Shares Series A Preference Shares Per 1 Series A Preference Share, including any relevant accrued and unpaid dividends 209.95004 Common Shares Series B Preference Shares Per 1 Series B Preference Share Nil Barbados Preferred Shares Per 1 Barbados Preferred Share 192.85686 Common Shares* Term Loan Per US$1,000 face amount US$1,000 face amount of New Senior Secured Notes (together with the related Note Guarantees) and 575.11449 Common Shares

Holders of the Term Loan will also receive US$33.06 in respect of interest accrued to the closing date of the Recapitalization

* The Common Share entitlement for Barbados Preferred Shares presented above is exclusive of accrued dividends. On the Effective Date, 50% of the accrued dividends on the Barbados Preferred Shares will be paid in cash and the other 50% will be paid with additional Common Shares.

It is expected that all such entitlements will be paid to Affected Holders through the facilities of the Canadian Depository for Securities (or its nominee). Owing to rounding, the number of Common Shares or cash, as applicable, actually received by Affected Holders may not match the factors set out herein.

Banro Corporation is a Canadian gold mining company focused on production from the Twangiza mine, which began commercial production September 1, 2012, and on production at its second gold mine at Namoya, where commercial production was declared effective January 1, 2016. The Company's longer term objectives include the development of two additional major, wholly-owned gold projects, Lugushwa and Kamituga. The four projects, each of which has a mining license, are located along the 210 kilometre long Twangiza-Namoya gold belt in the South Kivu and Maniema provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. All business activities are followed in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
Streets bustle with visitors who came out for Seoul Bamdokkaebi Night Market in this 2016 file photo. / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

By Park Jin-hai

When the cherry blossom, which adorn the streets in the day, fade into evening dusk, Seoulites get ready to explore different faces of the city _ vibrant with life and flashing lights.

Seoul Bamdokkaebi Night Market, which literally means Night Goblin Market, only runs at night and disappears at dawn.

The market, initially kicked off last year by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, has come returned this year with more participants and colors.

The 2017 event, following last year's successful event which drew over 3.3 million visitors, opened March 24 in five locations in Seoul _ Yeouido Hangang Park, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Banpo Hangang Park, Cheonggye Stream and Cheonggye Plaza.

"I've come to make sweet memories with my friends. The street foods look so delicious and the ambience near the riverside at night is quite romantic," said Yoo Che-ri, who came with her friend to Yeouido Hangang Park last weekend.












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 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.












Candidates clueless about how to stop pre-emptive US strike



Responses by presidential candidates to one national security question _ how to stop the United States from making a preemptive strike _have shown their lack of preparedness. It also raises questions about their ability to lead the nation out of a crisis over North Korea, the first task for the new president to grapple with after taking office.



Ahn Cheol-soo, one of two leading candidates, said, "I would call U.S. President Donald Trump, my alumnus from the Wharton School, and tell him there should be no war."



The candidate from the minority People's Party added that he would tell Chinese leader Xi Jinping to put pressure on North Korea, while issuing a statement for Pyongyang to stop its provocations.



Ahn's response raises at least three red flags. No. 1 is what if they don't answer his calls? Xi has a precedent _ not answering President Park Geun-hye's calls when she tried to enlist his help to apply pressure on Pyongyang. Regarding school ties, Trump graduated from the Wharton School as an undergraduate in 1968, while Ahn went to the school for an executive MBA course in 2005. Broadly speaking, they are alumni but his contingency plan of using school ties that are so tenuous to appeal to another head of state for help sounds so "Korean," but with its effects doubtful.



About warning the North, it is public knowledge that the North has habitually ignored our pleas for peace so it is natural to ask Ahn what makes him think the North would behave differently.



Moon Jae-in, who is competing neck-and-neck with Ahn, proved not much better than him.



As in the case with Ahn, the candidate from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea showed the same predilection toward telephone calls. "I would call the U.S. president to tell him that there shouldn't be any preemptive attack, while coordinating with China." Moon's leaning toward China was salient.



Among minor candidates, Yoo Seung-min from the conservative Bareun Party, a party of defectors from the impeached President Park's Saenuri Party, sounded rather professional, saying that any attack against the North should be coordinated between Seoul and Washington. Hong Joon-pyo from the conservative Liberty Korea Party talked a la President Syngman Rhee's 1950s style of advancing to the North for reunification, while Sim Sang-jung of the labor-oriented Justice Party stressed her peace-only assertion of allowing no war on the Korean Peninsula.



True, the candidates had to answer within a limited time so they couldn't communicate their thoughts in detail. Still, it is deplorable that Ahn and Moon _ one of whom will likely be the next president _ lack a philosophy about where our nation should go and global insight. It is not hard to fathom that it was more for votes than for strategic adjustments that caused the two to change their views on the controversial deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system. We can't afford to elect a populist with no backbone and leadership, or a domestically oriented dogmatist. There appears to be none that can meet the criteria so it is the voters' duty to search for one that can break out of the mold and grow into the job of leading the nation.




Gov. Cuomo achieved a political victory earlier this year when he reached an agreement to shutter the Indian Point nuclear facility. While Cuomo has repeatedly claimed that the nuclear plants electricity can be replaced with other sources of clean energy starting in 2020, the hard reality is that renewables wont do the trick.

Worse, the state is well on its way to a self-imposed shortage of natural gas-fired generation, despite the governors April 11 statement to the editorial board of the Buffalo News supporting natural gas pipelines, as long as theyre done well and theyre done correctly.

Consider the numbers. According to data published by the New York Independent System Operator, the independent entity that operates the states high-voltage transmission grid and coordinates generating-plant operations, in 2015 all of the wind turbines in the state together generated less than one-fourth as much electricity as Indian Point.

What about offshore wind? It costs at least twice as much as onshore wind. The one contract that has been signed is an agreement between....

Read the entire piece here at the New York Post

______________________

Jonathan A. Lesser, PhD, is the president of Continental Economics, an economic litigation and consulting firm. He is the author of the Manhattan Institute report The Economic Impacts of Closing and Replacing the Indian Point Energy Center.
by Larissa Faw , April 14, 2017

The Cannes Lions and D&A are launching programs designed to attract and elevate industry talent.

D&AD is seeking non-traditional creative talent in New York City for its 12-week New Blood Shift program. And the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is introducing a week-long Masters of Creativity program designed to help transition industry creative talent into senior management.

The creative industry thrives on diversity, and is desperate for new ways of thinking," says Paul Drake, foundation director, D&AD. "We want to open this world up to more than just traditionally educated, advantaged groups and create opportunities that are based solely on talent.

Applications are being accepted through May 1 from young would-be creatives not enrolled in college and without a four-year degree. Unlike other student programs, there is no brief to answer. The only caveats are that they live in NYC, and have creative work ready to share. This work can take any form: from blogging to poetry, filmmaking to Instagramming, writing music to painting, creating street art to illustration. "Were not looking for experts on the creative industry - the only bar to entry is talent and drive, said Drake.

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Fifty finalists will be chosen for an exhibit that will take place in June at VICE Williamsburg, where 20 finalists will be chosen to attend a 12-week night school program designed to allow participants to train around their current commitments. Afterward, participants will receive on-going mentoring from industry and D&AD to ensure "they're well on their way to landing that first break, per the organization.

New Blood Shift originally launched in London in 2016 with the support of Leo Burnett, and selected 17 young creatives from diverse backgrounds and varied careers, including a yoga instructor, cashier, barista, and carpenter.

D&AD New Blood Shift NYC is supported by BBDO, Bernstein & Andruilli, Betaworks, Brooklyn Brothers, Droga5, Edelman, Havas Worldwide, Interbrand, JWT, McGarryBowen, R/GA, Saatchi & Saatchi NY, Spotify, Squarespace, Stinkdigital, Subrosa, SY Partners, The Mill, Turner Duckworth, Ustwo, Vault49, Virtue Worldwide, Wieden + Kennedy, Y&R.

Meanwhile, The Cannes Lions program has released a brief (which can be downloaded from here) that 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 ECD, The Martin Agency.

The Cannes Lions is also hosting a Night School from June 20-22 with discussions and workshops. Each night will showcase a different theme under host Jon Burkhart, co-author of Newsjacking: The Urgent Genius of Real-time Advertising.

Separately Cannes Lions wants feedback from the industry's younger minds. The

'The Future of Creativity: The Cannes Lions Young Creative Poll will gauge how young creatives under age 31 globally feel about the industry and their future within it. The results will be published in May.


by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, April 14, 2017

Stella Artois Cidre is out with a new television ad/video that might be described as something of a mini La La Land  with a French twist.

The whimsical spot (30-second version below), from Stella Artoiss creative agency of record, Mother New York, is titled Dancing in a Modest Forest.

It features an attractive, clearly hip young trio  a woman and two guys  breaking into a joyous line dance in front of an elaborate picnic setup (complete with ice bucket) laid out in a clearing in the woods.

The woman, who is wearing a white beret, kicks off the dance with un, deux, trois and a toast with Stella Artois Cidre. Three apples fall from the sky and are effortlessly caught by the dancers as part of the performance.

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The dance was choreographed by award-winning music video choreographer Ryan Heffington. The music: a Screechy Dan cover of The Stereos doo-wop classic I Really Love You. Produced by Victor Axelrod, the track combines a mix of three genres to create a balance of harmonies, in Mother New Yorks words.

That aligns with the ads message  which, as a male voiceover explains, is that Stella Artois Cidre has three apple varieties for a perfectly balanced flavor.

The brands objectives for the campaign include establishing itself as the go-to premium brand within the rapidly growing U.S. cider market; appealing to white wine and rose drinkers; dispelling the assumption that cider is only for the fall; and pointing out that Cidre is a great choice for picnics and other al fresco activities, according to the agency.

Several different formats of the ad were created for broadcast and digital channels.

The TV ad will be aired on outlets including Bravo, Oxygen, E!, Comedy Central, Logo, Spike, VH1, Discovery, Science, American Heroes, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, AMC, TBS, BBC, Food Network, Travel, IFC, and History.

A 15-second version is being featured on the brands Facebook and Instagram pages (the latter has generated more than 18,000 views in a week). Programmatically bought digital ads will also run throughout the campaign, which ends in mid October.
by Wayne Friedman , April 14, 2017

Major Spanish-language broadcast network Univision retains the same upfront advertising goals heading into the marketplace this year: Acquire more English-language advertising partners, those who still havent as yet spend money on Spanish-language TV networks.

The opportunity for us is with all the English-language brands, says Keith Turner, president of advertising sales and marketing at Univision Communications. We focus on the general market -- because thats where our opportunity is.

Turner says Univision has made many gains in recent years in adding brands.

Over the last year, for example, he says Univision aired Google, Amazon ads for the first time -- as well as brands such as Powerade and Gatorade. Looking at overall categories, the Univision grew in business from pharmaceutical and movie marketers.

Media executives say Univision now has more than 600 national TV marketers on its air, almost double the level it was a few years ago when it was around 350. Overall, there are roughly 1,200 regular upfront/scatter TV network advertisers.

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Its an education on daily basis, says Turner. There are still a number marketers that dont believe in our segment.

Over the past year period ending April 13, Univision pulled in $1.6 billion in national TV advertising, with some 669 brands airing commercials, according to iSpot.tv.

Concerning the upfront advertising market this time around, this year will be good, but Im not sure as strong, says Turner. Its still early.

A year ago, most of the English-language TV broadcast networks gained near double-digit CPM [cost per thousand viewer] increases from the previous upfront -- up 9% to 12% for ABC, CBS, and NBC for example, somewhat lower for Fox. Turner would only say about last years upfront: We beat the market by two or three points.

Turner says TV marketers should note: Unlike other TV networks, Univision doesnt have much time-shifting viewing -- that is a bonus for big TV advertisers that see live viewing as key to getting viewers engaged in their commercial messaging.

He says 91% of Univisions viewers watch the network live and that 68% of its prime-time viewers only watch Univision; they dont watch any of top 10 English-language TV networks.
by Larissa Faw , April 14, 2017

French advocacy group Tissons la Solidarite (Weave for Solidarity) is launching its first campaign designed to help women overcome the stigma of employment gaps in resumes and re-enter the workforce.

Developed with Publicis Conseil (and Camera Subjective for production), the creative addresses stereotypes that women typically endure when they try to go back work.

Directed by Jerome Bonnell in French with English subtitles, the centerpiece of the campaign, a spot called "The Interview" features actress Mathilda May, the celebrity spokesperson of the association since 2016. She is being interviewed for an open position.

The hiring manager negatively dismisses her qualifications saying her four-year absence is too long, volunteer work doesn't count as experience, asking if she even has a driver's license, and whether she still is ambitious enough to return to the workforce.

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The message is aimed at both employers--to encourage them to change their point of viewand the general population to foster awareness and discussion.

The film appears on the association's website and across its social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. As of now, the media strategy is focused on online platforms. A print campaign may follow next year.

Publicis worked pro bono on the effort. This project follows a December 2016 initiative that introduced the organization's new branding message, "Because finding a new job again cant depend on a silver lining."
by Barbara Lippert , Featured Columnist, April 14, 2017

Earlier in the week, I posted this snarky joke on social media: The CEO of United just sent Sean Spicer a huge fruit basket, regifted from Pepsi.

Friends added that the basket was probably dropped off in an Uber driven by Bill OReilly.

Indeed, in the land of easy moral outrage that is Twitter and Facebook (see Saturday Night Lives recent bit about a slacktivist named Scott) it seems that very different kinds of stories earn equal levels of immediate excoriation (and subsequent PR massages.)

The recent election has left us more passionately activated than ever and ready to pounce.

In terms of earned-outrage/trending for the wrong reasons, however, there is no equivalent in the brand world for Presidential spokesperson Sean Spicers stupefying spa-ification (or malicious misreading?) of 20th century history. As everyone knows, Spicer referred to the millions who were gassed to death in concentration camps during World War II as people sent to Holocaust Centers.

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The outrage continues, for good reason. Perhaps it taught us that any argument that begins with Even Hitler is a non-starter.

At the same time, in the far more hollow and ephemeral world of brands, mistakes were made. (To quote Nixon, who used the passive voice to tamp down any particular ownership of said mistakes.)

But nothing is as visceral and painful as watching a video of a 69-year-old Vietnamese doctor getting his face bashed in by security guys, (whether or not they worked directly for United was a moot point) screaming in agony, and then getting dragged down the planes aisle, for removal like a carcass. It activated every flyers there but for the grace of hatred of airlines.

Its already a cliche, of course. But since 9/11 (and really starting before that, with the deregulation of airlines) air travel has become more like a detention sentence: removing belts and shoes, getting felt (or roughed) up by security attendants, and after many delays or changes, squeezing into the miniaturized, smelly oblivion of a bad seat, if you are lucky enough to keep it. (And then good luck with getting your luggage.)

Ironically, the strength of Uniteds past image advertising was a factor in creating an even more powerful dissonance for anyone watching. People on social media platforms went wild with Cue the Gershwin music! memes. ( The music is luscious, romantic, and nostalgic.). Talk about a disconnect over the video of a screaming man.

The image of Dr. Dao not only symbolized how inhuman flying has become, it also seemed to stand for how powerless consumers now feel in general. And with the mother-of-all-bombings and war on the horizon, how powerless citizens in general are feeling.

It didnt help that CEO Oscar PR Week Communicator of the Year Munoz had to take three stabs at an apology before getting it semi-humanoid-sounding. At first, his statement used the We are the corporate bubble world term  reaccommodated for what happened to this passenger. Yes, apparently, Dr. Daos lawyer (who, during his press conference, seemed straight out of a Curb your Enthusiasm episode) later explained that along the way, United had also reaccommodated the poor guys brains, teeth, cheekbone, and nose.

Certainly, Pepsi handled its own debacle  a tone-deaf commercial  a lot more smoothly. The soda-maker pulled the spot within 24 hours and issued a rational, simple, human-sounding apology.

Given all thats happened since, it seems that the public might be getting nostalgic over last weeks Pepsi bashing.

Curiously, the companys stock price is at an all-time high. (Is this analogous to OReillys ratings soaring after the Times piece about his $13 million in payoffs to women who filed harassment suits came out?)

Even stranger, a recent Morning Consult online survey showed that about 44% of people had a more favorable view of Pepsi after seeing the ad. And while one of the prime complaints was that the spot trivialized and exploited the Black Lives Matter movement, and other recent political incidents, 75% of Latinos and 51% of African Americans said that watching the ad made them feel more favorably toward Pepsi. Those numbers were way higher than those of whites, 41% of whom felt more favorably toward Pepsi after seeing the ad.

I actually did a radio interview on a call-in show about the Pepsi mess, and one caller announced that the message is about peace and unity, and liberals cant stand to see that.

Certainly consumers have very differing views of what is just. Sometimes, as the SNL Scott video showed, some liberal outrage is partially an attack on our own hypocrisy, racking up likes instead of volunteering our time.

Indeed, a source close to the Pepsi Jump In production told me that it was intended to represent more of a street celebrationthink the Gay Rights paradethan a protest. She said it got recontexualized as soon a blogger put the still image of Ieshia Evans, powerfully facing a line of riot cops who were arresting her at a Black Live Matter protest, next to a screen grab of model Kendall Jenner handing a hot cop a cold can of Pepsi. That happened 12 hours after release of the spot, and became the prism though which everyone viewed it, afterwards, until it was pulled. (Granted, many people could have connected those images beforehand.)

The survey numbers could be off; look at our past election. Or they could also show that Latinos and blacks, without politicizing the message, liked the spot because it was filled with action, good music and most importantly, non-white faces, unlike most commercials. Or they may just see a lot of pretty, fashionable, model-y people and a hunky cop, and like the images. Or maybe they were Kendall fans.

Whats to be learned? Well, as everyone knows by now, advertising is far more than a carefully crafted sales/brand message. In the land of Internet outrage, every single thing a corporation or a brand does is part of its advertising. And consumer reviews, videos, and critiques are available online for immediate scrutiny  and blowback. United is an extreme example of corporate inhumanity, but perhaps every major company is but one step away from pulling a Pepsi.

In another irony, at a time when we are generally feeling more and more powerless, the idea that people can find a way to force brands and companies to respond to their criticism is, after all, somehow empowering.
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The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. 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 following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Limited, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Limited, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AFD.TECH, AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, AIG Shared Services Business Processing Inc, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co. Ltd., Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Accenture (South Africa) Pty Ltd, Accenture (UK) Limited, Accenture 2 Business Process Services S.A., Accenture 2 LLC, Accenture A/S, Accenture AB, Accenture AG, Accenture AS, Accenture Africa Pty Ltd, Accenture Agencia Interativa Ltda, Accenture Australia Holding B.V., Accenture Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture B.V., Accenture BPM Operations Support Services S.A., Accenture BPM S.C.R.L., Accenture BPS Services S.p. z o.o., Accenture Branch Holdings B.V., Accenture Bulgaria EOOD, Accenture Business Services for Utilities Inc, Accenture Business Services of British Columbia Limited Partnership, Accenture Business and Technology Services LLC, Accenture C.A., Accenture Canada Holdings Inc, Accenture Capital Designated Activity Company, Accenture Capital Inc, Accenture Central Europe B.V., Accenture Chile Asesorias y Servicios Ltda, Accenture Cloud Services GmbH, Accenture Cloud Software Solutions Limited, Accenture Cloud Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions LLC, Accenture Cloud Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd, Accenture Co. Ltd, Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Pty Ltd, Accenture Consulting Services Ltd Tanzania, Accenture Consultores de Gestao S.A., Accenture Consultoria de Industria e Consumo Ltda, Accenture Consultoria de Recursos Naturais Ltda, Accenture Credit Services LLC, Accenture Customer Services Distribution SASU, Accenture Customer Services Ltd, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Accenture Delivery Poland S.p. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, Accenture Digital Holdings GmbH, Accenture East Africa Limited, Accenture Ecuador S.A., Accenture Egypt LLC, Accenture Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Accenture Federal Services LLC, Accenture Finance II Limited, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services S.r.l., Accenture Financial Advanced Solution & Technology S.r.l., Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Global Capital Designated Activity Company, Accenture Global Engagements Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Limited, Accenture Global Services Limited, Accenture Global Solutions Limited, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc, Accenture Holding Brasil Ltda, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Accenture Holdings (Iberia) S.L., Accenture Holdings B.V., Accenture Holdings France SASU, Accenture Hungary Holdings Kft, Accenture Inc, Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions Kft, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions SA, Accenture Insurance Services B.V., Accenture Insurance Services LLC, Accenture International B.V., Accenture International LLC, Accenture International Limited, Accenture Japan Ltd, Accenture Korea B.V., Accenture LLC, Accenture LLP, Accenture Lanka (Private) Ltd, Accenture Limited, Accenture Lithuania UAB, Accenture Ltd, Accenture Ltda, Accenture Maghreb S.a.r.l., Accenture Managed Services SRL, Accenture Management GmbH, Accenture Marketing Services LLC, Accenture Marketing Services Limited, Accenture Middle East B.V., Accenture Minority I B.V., Accenture Mozambique Limitada, Accenture Mzansi Pty Ltd, Accenture NV/SA, Accenture NZ Limited, Accenture Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Co., Accenture OOO, Accenture Operations GmbH, Accenture Operations S.p. z o.o., Accenture Operations Services Private Limited, Accenture Operations Services Sdn Bhd, Accenture Outsourcing S.r.l., Accenture Outsourcing Services S.A., Accenture Oy, Accenture Panama Inc, Accenture Participations B.V., Accenture Participations II Limited, Accenture Peru SRL, Accenture Post Trade Processing SASU, Accenture Post-Trade Processing Limited, Accenture Process (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Pte Ltd, Accenture Puerto Rico LLC, Accenture Qiyun Technology (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Accenture S.C., Accenture S.L., Accenture S.R.L., Accenture S.p. z o.o., Accenture S.p.A., Accenture SASU, Accenture SG Services Pte Ltd, Accenture SRL, Accenture Saudi Arabia Limited, Accenture Sdn Bhd, Accenture Service Center SRL, Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Services AB, Accenture Services AG, Accenture Services AS, Accenture Services GmbH, Accenture Services Morocco SA, Accenture Services Oy, Accenture Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Services S.p. z o.o., Accenture Services SRL, Accenture Services and Technology S.r.l., Accenture Services s.r.o., Accenture Single Member S.A. Organization Information Technology & Business Development, Accenture Solutions Co. Ltd, Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Accenture Solutions Pte Ltd, Accenture Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Solutions S.p. z o.o, Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture State Healthcare Services LLC, Accenture Sub II Inc, Accenture Sub III Inc, Accenture Sub LLC, Accenture Systems Integration Limited, Accenture Sarl, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Accenture Technology Solutions (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (HK) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas S.A., Accenture Technology Solutions GmbH, Accenture Technology Solutions Oy, Accenture Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions S.A. de C.V., Accenture Technology Solutions S.r.l., Accenture Technology Solutions SASU, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures B.V., Accenture Technology Ventures SPRL, Accenture Tecnologia Consultoria y Outsourcing S.A., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co. Limited, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Ltda, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Advoco, Agilex Technologies Inc., Alfa Consulting, Allen International, AlphaBeta Advisors, Altevie Technologies S.r.l., Altima, Altima (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Altima Asia Ltd, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Altius Consulting Limited, Altius Data Solutions Private Limited, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Apis Group Pty Ltd, Appaloosa Technology SASU, AppsPro, AppsPro, Arca, Arca Ingenieros y Consultoria S.L., Arca Telecom S.L., Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Artio People (Payroll) Pty Ltd, Artio People Pty Ltd, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Automation Partners Pty Ltd, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc, Avanade Consulting Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Limited, Avanade Europe Services Limited, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SASU, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade Inc, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy S.r.l., Avanade Japan KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Middle East Limited, Avanade Netherlands B.V., Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain S.L., Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Limited, Avanade do Brasil Ltda , Avanade Osterreich GmbH, Avenai, Avieco, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCS Consulting, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BENEXT, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, BRIDGEi2i, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing Zhidao Future Consulting Co. Ltd, Benext, Berico Technologies LLC, Bionic, Bionic Solution LLC, Blue Horseshoe, Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Bow & Arrow, Bow & Arrow Limited, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, Byte Prophecy Private Limited, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CS Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, CS Technology (UK) Limited, CS Technology Group LLC, CS Technology LLC, CadenceQuest Inc., Callisto Integration Europe B.V., Callisto Integration Europe Limited, Callisto Integration LLC, Callisto Integration Ltd, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc, Certus Solutions Consulting Services Limited, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cirrus Connect Australia Pty Ltd, Cirrus Connect Limited, Cirruseo, Clarity Insights, ClearEdge Partners, Clearhead, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas Japan G.K., Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Limited, Cloudeasier SAS, Cloudpoint Limited, Cloudsherpas Inc, Cloudworks, Cloudworks Consulting Services Inc, Cloudworks Technology LLC, Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda, Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda, Context Information Security, Context Information Security LLC, Context Information Security Limited, CoreCompete LLC, CoreCompete Limited, CoreCompete Private Limited, Corliant Inc., Creative Drive LLC, Creative Drive US LLC, CreativeDrive, CreativeDrive Digital Content Services (Shenzhen) Co Ltd., CreativeDrive EMEA Limited, CreativeDrive Singapore Pte Ltd, CreativeDrive UK Group Limited, Cutting Edge Solutions Limited, Cygni AB, Cygni Norrsken AB, Cygni Stockholm AB, Cygni Syd AB, Cygni Vast AB, Cygni Ost AB, Cygni Ostersund AB, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Limited, DI Futures Corporation, Data Essential SARL, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings LLC, Decora Marketplace LLC, Decorado Marketplace Ltda-EPP, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digital Results Group LLC, Double Digit Limitada, Double Digit Pty SA, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Limited, Duck Creek Technologies, ESR Labs, ESR Labs AG, EdenOne Solutions Limited, Edenhouse ERP Holdings Limited, Edenhouse Solutions Limited, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting LP, End to End Analytics LLC, End-to-End Analytics, Endorphin Medici (M) Sdn Bhd, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Limited, EnergyQuote JHA, Enimbos, Enimbos Global Services S.L., Enkitec, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions LLC, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V., Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enthusian Pty Ltd, Entropia, Entropia (M) Sdn Bhd, Entropia Holdings Pte Ltd, Entropia Intercraft Sdn Bhd, Epylon, Ergo, Espedia S.r.l., Ethica Consulting Group, Ethica Consulting S.p.A., Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Experity, Exton Consulting, Exton Consulting Spain Strategy&Management S.L., Exton Germany GmbH, Exton International SAS, Exton Italia S.r.l., Exton SAS, FGM LLC, Fairway Technologies Inc, Farah BidCo Limited, Farah MidCo Limited, Farah Topco Limited, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Formicary, Founders Intelligence, Fruendo S.r.l., FusionX, Future State Consulting LLC, FutureMove (Beijing) Automotive Technology Co. Ltd., FutureMove Automotive, FutureMove Automotive Co. Ltd., GRA Supply Chain Pty Ltd, Gagel Group S de R.L. de C.V., Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gevity, Gren utvikling AS, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hahntel Ltda, Halo Partners LLC, Hamilton Holding Company S.A, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Happen GP Limited, Happen Limited, Headspring, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl A/S, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn Bhd, IBB Consulting, ICM.S S.r.l., IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INSITUM, IQSP Consulting LLC, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Icon Integration (NZ) Limited, Icon Integration Pty Ltd, Imagine Broadband (USA) Limited, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Imaginea Technologies LLC, Industrie IT (Hong Kong) Ltd, Industrie IT (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Industrie IT Group Pty Ltd, Industrie IT Pty Ltd, Industrie&Co, Infinity Works Consulting Limited, Infinity Works Holdings Limited, Infinity Works Management Limited, Infinity Works Midco Limited, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Innotec International EAD, Innotec International S.p. z.o.o., Innotec Marketing GmbH, Innotec Marketing International Ireland Limited, Innotec- Marketing Spain S.L, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., International Biometric Group LLC, International Biometric Group UK Limited, Intrepid, Intrepid Futureworks Sdn Bhd, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Technology Ltd, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, ItSafer Continuity Services S.L., JKD Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, K Comms Group Limited, KSC Studio LLC, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, King James Group, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Limited, Kogentix Singapore Pte Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LINKBYNET Indian Ocean (L.I.O) Ltd, LabAnswer, Lexta GmbH, Lexta UK Limited, Lien par le reseau Inc, Lien par le reseau infrastructures Inc, Lin Bo (Shanghai) Network Technology Co. Ltd., Link By Net SAS, Link By Net SRL, Link By Net Vietnam Company Limited, Linkbynet East Asia Ltd, Linkbynet Singapore Pte Ltd., Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, Lumenup S.A., MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision LLC, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte Ltd, Mackevision UK Limited, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd, Maihiro, Matter, Maud Corp Pty Ltd, Maxamine International, Measuretek LLC, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing LLC, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mistral Wind Operations  Servicos Empresariais Unipessoal Lda., MobGen, Mortgage Cadence LLC, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, Mudano Limited, Myrtle Consulting Group LLC, N3, N3 (Dalian) Business Consulting Co. Ltd., N3 Brazil Consultoria em Marketing Ltda, N3 Germany GmbH, N3 LLC, N3 North America LLC, N3 Results Australia Pty Ltd, N3 Results Ireland Limited, N3 Results Japan G.K., N3 Results Limited, N3 Results Malaysia Sdn Bhd, N3 Results Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., N3 Results S.A.S., N3 Results Singapore Pte Ltd, N3 Results Unipessoal Lda, NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., Nell'Armonia Israel Ltd, Nell'Armonia SAS, Nell'Participation SAS, NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda, New Energy Group, News Imaging LLC, NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage Pte Ltd, Northstream, Novetta Holdings LLC, Novetta LLC, Novetta Solutions LLC, Novetta Topco LLC, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Olikka Pty Ltd, Olympus Systems Corporation, Openmind, Openmind S.r..l., Openminded, Openminded SAS, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium AG, Orbium Consulting Limited, Orbium Inc., Orbium Ltd, Orbium Pte Ltd, Orbium Pty Ltd, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PLM Systems S.r.l, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, PacificLink Group, Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production A/S, Pegasus Production K/S, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pollux Automation Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pollux Canada Inc, Pollux S.A.S., Pollux USA LLC, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Limited, Pramati Technologies Europe Limited, Pramati Technologies Private Limited, Presence of IT Workforce Management North America LLC, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Limited, Procurian Inc., Prof. Homburg GmbH, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co. Ltd., RBCP Fund 1-A Vapor Blocker LLC, RBCP Platform Vapor Blocker I LLC, REPL Consulting LLC, REPL Consulting Limited, REPL Digital Limited, REPL Group K.K., REPL Group Pty Ltd, REPL Group Worldwide Limited, REPL Pte Ltd, REPL Software Limited, REPL Technology Limited, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Root LLC, Rothco, Rothco Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SALT Solutions GmbH, SEC Servizi, SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Salt Solutions, Sandbox Studio LLC, Sapling Bidco Limited, Sapling Midco Limited, Sapling Topco Limited, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Search Technologies BPO Inc, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Securiview SAS, Sentelis, Sentor Managed Secuirty Services AB, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Seven Seas Business Ventures LLC, Shackleton, Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton S.L.U., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., SigInt Technologies LLC, Silveo, Silveo Consulting India Private Limited, Simian Pty Ltd, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., Sirvart S.A., Sistemes Consulting S.L., Skylink SAS, Soltians Limited, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Somers Ventures Ireland Limited, Somers Ventures LLC, Spacelink SAS, Storm Digital, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Synership LLC, Systor AG, T.A. Cook, TXF LLC, Tambourine, TargetST8, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Ltd, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Tquila, Trivadis, Trivadis AG, Trivadis Austria GmbH, Trivadis Denmark AS, Trivadis Germany GmbH, Trivadis Holding AG, Trivadis Partner AG, Trivadis Services AG, Trivadis Services SRL, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Vector Acquisition Company LLC, Vector Topco LLC, Verax Solutions, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd, Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, WaveStrike LLC, White Cliffs Consulting LLC, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wise Partners SAS, Wolox, Wolox Colombia S.A.S, Wolox LLC, Wolox Mexico S.R.L de C.V., Wolox S.A., Wolox SpA, Workforce Insight, Workforce Insight LLC, Yesler, Yesler LLC, Yesler Limited, Yesler Singapore Pte Ltd, Zag, Zag Australia Pty Ltd, Zag Limited, Zag USA LLC, Zebra Worldwide Australia Pty Ltd, Zebra Worldwide Group Limited, Zebra Worldwide Media Pty Ltd, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines Inc, Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc, Zestgroup, Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, solid-serVision.com GmbH, and umlaut.

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Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. operates bookstores for college and university campuses, and K-12 institutions in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail, Wholesale, and Digital Student Solutions. The company sells and rents new and used print textbooks, digital textbooks, and publisher hosted digital courseware through physical and virtual bookstores, as well as directly to students through Textbooks.com. It also offers First Day and First Day Complete access programs; BNC OER+, a turnkey solution for colleges and universities, that offers digital content, such as videos, activities, and auto-graded practice assessments; and general merchandise, including collegiate and athletic apparel, school spirit products, lifestyle products, technology products, supplies, graduation products, and convenience items. In addition, the company sources, sells, and distributes new and used textbooks; and sells hardware and a software suite of applications that provides inventory management and point-of-sale solutions to approximately 350 college bookstores. Further, it offers direct-to-student subscription-based writing services; and bartleby, a direct-to-student subscription-based offering that includes textbook solutions, expert questions and answers, and writing and tutoring services. The company operates 805 physical college and university bookstores; 622 virtual bookstores; 8 True Spirit e-commerce websites; pop-up retail locations; 73 customized cafes and 11 stand-alone convenience stores; and a media channel for brands targeting the college demographic. Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
Cenovus Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in Canada, the United States, and the Asia Pacific region. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, Offshore, Canadian Manufacturing, U.S. Manufacturing, and Retail segments. The Oil Sands segment develops and produces bitumen and heavy oil in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan. This segments Foster Creek, Christina Lake, Sunrise, and Tucker oil sands projects, as well as Lloydminster thermal and conventional heavy oil assets The Conventional segment holds assets primarily located in Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, Clearwater, and Rainbow Lake operating in Alberta and British Columbia, as well as interests in various natural gas processing facilities. The offshore segment engages in the exploration and development activities. The Canadian Manufacturing segment includes the owned and operated Lloydminster upgrading and asphalt refining complex, which upgrades heavy oil and bitumen into synthetic crude oil, diesel fuel, asphalt, and other ancillary products, as well as owns and operates the Bruderheim crude-by-rail terminal and two ethanol plants. The U.S. Manufacturing segment comprises the refining of crude oil to produce diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, asphalt, and other products. The Retail segment consists of marketing of its own and third-party refined petroleum products through retail, commercial, and bulk petroleum outlets, as well as wholesale channels. Cenovus Energy Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
MATTOON -- Are you a student interested in a career in the medical field, but not sure which area? Learn more at a health-related College and Career Informational Night on Monday, April 24, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Lake Land College, Webb Hall, room 081.

Students and parents will have the opportunity to learn more about the many careers in the health field, in addition to meeting with several colleges and businesses to discuss their health career programs and hiring practices.

Colleges scheduled to attend are as follows: Southern Illinois University- Carbondale, Eastern Illinois University, Lake Land College, Lakeview College of Nursing, and University of Missouri-St. Louis.

This event is coordinated through a partnership called Health CareeRX Club, which is supported by the Area Health Education Centers, Carle Foundation Hospital, Sara Bush Lincoln Hospital, Boy Scouts of America, Eastern Illinois Education for Employment Systems, Eastern Illinois University, Lake Land College and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

Free pizza and drinks will be provided.

For more information, contact Lisa Shumard- Shelton, director of new student admissions, at 217-234-5254 or lshumard-shelton@lakelandcollege.edu.
The following companies are subsidiares of Community Health Systems: AF-CH-HH LLC, ARMC L.P., ASC JV Holdings LLC, Abilene Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Abilene Hospital LLC, Abilene Merger LLC, Access Center Services LLC, Affinity Cardio-Thoracic Specialists LLC, Affinity Cardiovascular Specialists LLC, Affinity Gastroenterology ASC LLC, Affinity Health Systems LLC, Affinity Hospital LLC, Affinity Orthopedic Specialists LLC, Affinity Physician Services LLC, Affinity Radiation Therapy Services LLC, Affinity Skilled Nursing LLC, Alabama HMA Physician Management LLC, Alaska Physician Services LLC, Alice Regional Hospital Community Alliance Inc., Alliance Health Partners LLC, Ambulance Services of Dyersburg Inc., Ambulance Services of McNairy Inc., Amory HMA LLC, Amory HMA Physician Management LLC, Angelo Community Healthcare Services Inc., Anniston HMA LLC, Arizona ASC Management Inc., Arizona DH LLC, Arizona Medco LLC, Arkansas HMA Regional Service Center LLC, Arkansas Medical Imaging JV LLC, BH Trans Company LLC, Bartow HMA LLC, Bartow HMA Physician Management LLC, Batesville HMA Development LLC, Batesville HMA Medical Group LLC, Bayfront Ambulatory Surgical Center LLC, Bayfront HMA Convenient Care LLC, Bayfront HMA Healthcare Holdings LLC, Bayfront HMA Investments LLC, Bayfront HMA Medical Center LLC, Bayfront HMA Physician Management LLC, Bayfront HMA Real Estate Holdings LLC, Bayfront HMA Wellness Center LLC, Bayfront Health Imaging Center LLC, Beauco LLC, Beaumont Regional LLC, Biloxi H.M.A. LLC, Biloxi HMA Physician Management LLC, Biloxi Health System LLC, Birmingham Holdings II LLC, Birmingham Holdings LLC, Birmingham Home Care Services LLC, Blackwell HMA LLC, Blackwell HMPN LLC, Blackwell Home Health & Hospice LLC, Bluefield Holdings LLC, Bluffton Health System LLC, Bluffton Physician Services LLC, Brandon HMA LLC, Brandon Physician Management LLC, Brandywine Hospital Malpractice Assistance Fund Inc., Bravera Urgent Care LLC, Brazos Valley Surgical Center LLC, Brevard HMA ALF LLC, Brevard HMA APO LLC, Brevard HMA ASC LLC, Brevard HMA Diagnostic Imaging LLC, Brevard HMA HME LLC, Brevard HMA Holdings LLC, Brevard HMA Hospitals LLC, Brevard HMA Investment Properties LLC, Brevard HMA Nursing Home LLC, Brooksville HMA Physician Management LLC, Brownsville Clinic Corp., Brownsville Hospital Corporation, Brownwood Asset Holding Company LLC, Brownwood Hospital L.P., Brownwood Medical Center LLC, Bullhead City Clinic Corp., Bullhead City Hospital Corporation, Bullhead City Hospital Investment Corporation, Bullhead City Imaging Corporation, Bullhead Medical Pl, Bullhead Medical Plaza Ltd., CDI JV LLC, CHHS, CHHS Holdings LLC, CHHS Hospital Company LLC, CHS Kentucky Holdings LLC, CHS PSO LLC, CHS Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, CHS Realty Holdings I Inc., CHS Realty Holdings II Inc., CHS Realty Holdings III LLC, CHS Realty Holdings Joint Venture, CHS Receivables Funding LLC, CHS Tennessee Holdings LLC, CHS Virginia Holdings LLC, CHS Washington Holdings LLC, CHS-ASC LLC, CHS/Community Health Systems Inc., CHS/Community Health Systems Inc. Political Action Committ, CHSPSC ACO 1 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 10 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 11 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 12 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 13 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 14 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 15 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 16 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 17 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 18 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 19 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 2 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 20 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 21 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 22 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 23 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 24 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 25 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 26 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 27 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 28 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 29 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 3 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 30 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 4 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 5 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 6 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 7 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 8 LLC, CHSPSC ACO 9 LLC, CHSPSC ACO Holdings LLC, CHSPSC LLC, CHSPSC Leasing Inc., CP Hospital GP LLC, CP Premier Urgent Care JV LLC, CPLP LLC, CSMC LLC, Cadence Solutions Inc., Cahaba Orthopedics LLC, Campbell County HMA LLC, Cardiology Associates of Spokane LLC, Carlisle HMA LLC, Carlisle HMA Physician Management LLC, Carlisle HMA Surgery Center LLC, Carlisle Medical Group LLC, Carlsbad Medical Center LLC, Carolinas Holdings LLC, Carolinas JV Holdings General LLC, Carolinas JV Holdings II LLC, Carolinas JV Holdings L.P., Carolinas Medical Alliance Inc., Cedar Park Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Cedar Park Health System L.P., Cedar Park Surgery Center L.L.P., Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Center for Adult Healthcare LLC, Center for Medical Interoperability Inc. D, Center for Pain Management LLC, Central Florida HMA Holdings LLC, Central Polk LLC, Central States HMA Holdings LLC, Champion Sports Medicine Birmingham LLC, Chester HMA LLC, Chester HMA Physician Management LLC, Chester Medical Group LLC, Chester PPM LLC, Chesterton Surgery Center LLC, Chestnut Hill Health System LLC, Citrus HMA LLC, Clarksdale HMA LLC, Clarksdale HMA Physician Management LLC, Clarksville Endoscopy Center LLC, Clarksville Health System G.P., Clarksville Holdings II LLC, Clarksville Holdings LLC, Clarksville Home Care Services LLC, Clarksville Imaging Center LLC, Clarksville Physician Services G.P., Clarksville Surgicenter LLC, Cleveland ASC Holdings LLC, Cleveland Home Care Services LLC, Cleveland Hospital Company LLC, Cleveland Medical Clinic Inc., Cleveland PHO Inc., Cleveland Tennessee Hospital Company LLC, Clinton HMA LLC, Clinton HMPN LLC, Clinton Home Health & Hospice LLC, Coast Imaging LLC, Coatesville Hospital Corporation, Cocke County HMA LLC, Coffee Hospital Management Associates Inc., College Station Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, College Station Diagnostic Clinic, College Station Hospital L.P., College Station Medical Center LLC, College Station Merger LLC, College Station RHC Company LLC, Collier Boulevard HMA Physician Management LLC, Collier HMA Facility Based Physician Management LLC, Collier HMA Neurological Vascular Medical Group LLC, Collier HMA Physician Management LLC, Commonwealth Health Cancer Network LLC, Commonwealth Health Clinically Integrated Network LLC, Commonwealth Health IDTF LLC, Commonwealth Physician Network LLC, Community GP Corp., Community Health Investment Company LLC, Community Health Physicians Operations Holding Company LLC, Community Health Systems Foundation, Community Health Systems Inc., Community Information Network In, Community Insurance Group SPC LTD. Cayman Islan, Community LP Corp., Compass Imaging LLC, Credentialing Verification Services LLC, Crestview Hospital Corporation, Crestview Professional Condominiums Association Inc., Crestview Surgery Center L.P., Crestwood Clinic Services LLC, Crestwood Healthcare L.P., Crestwood Hospital LLC, Crestwood Hospital LP LLC, Crestwood Occupational Medicine/Convenient Care LLC, Crestwood Physician Services LLC, Crestwood Surgery Center LLC, Crossgates HMA Medical Group LLC, Crystal River HMA Physician Management LLC, DCF, DFW Physerv LLC, DH Cardiology LLC, DHFW Holdings LLC, Dallas Phy Service LLC, Dallas Physician Practice L.P., Deaconess Health System LLC, Deaconess Holdings LLC, Deaconess Hospital Holdings LLC, Deaconess Metropolitan Physicians LLC, Deaconess Physician Services LLC, Deming Home Care Services LLC, Desert Hospital Holdings LLC, Detar Hospital LLC, Detar/USP Surgery Center LLC, Diagnostic Imaging Centers of NE, Diagnostic Imaging Management of Brandywine Valley LLC, Diagnostic Imaging of Brandywine Valley LP, Dukes Health System LLC, Dukes Physician Services LLC, Dupont Bus, Dupont Hospital LLC, Durant H.M.A. LLC, Durant HMA Home Health LLC, Durant HMA Physician Management LLC, Dyersburg Clinic Corp., Dyersburg HBP Medical Group LLC, Dyersburg Hospital Company LLC, EGF LLC, EL MED LLC, East Georgia HMA Physician Management LLC, East Georgia Regional Medical Center LLC, East Tennessee Clinic Corp., Easton Hospital Malpractice Assistance Fund Inc., El Dorado Home Care Services LLC, El Dorado Surgery Center L.P., Eligibility Screening Services LLC, Empire Health Services, Emporia Clinic Corp., Emporia Hospital Corporation, Enterprise Clinic LLC, FMG PrimeCare LLC, FSED Management of Northwest Arkansas LLC, FSED Management of West Florida LLC, FWBH LLC, Fallbrook Hospital Corporation, First Choice Health Plan of Mississippi LLC, Firstcare , Florida Endoscopy and Surgery Center LLC, Florida HMA Holdings LLC, Florida HMA Regional Service Center LLC, Florida West Coast Health Alliance LLC, Flowood Mississippi Imaging LLC, Flowood River Oaks HMA Medical Group LLC, Foley Clinic Corp., Foley Hospit, Fort Smith HMA LLC, Fort Smith HMA PBC Management LLC, Fort Smith HMA Physician Management LLC, Forum Health, Frankfort Health Partner , Franklin Clinic Corp., Franklin Hospital Corporation, GRB Real Estate LLC, GRMC Holdings LLC, Gads, Gadsden HMA Physician Management LLC, Gadsden Region, Gadsden Surgery Center Ltd., Gaffney Clinic Company LLC, Gaffney H.M.A. LLC, Gaffney HMA Physician Management LLC, Gateway Medical Services Inc., Granbury Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Granbury Hospital Corporation, Granbury Mammography JV LLC, Grandview Medical Group Research LLC, Greenbrier VMC LLC, Greenbrier Valley Anesthesia LLC, Greenbrier Valley Emergency Physicians LLC, Gulf Coast HMA Physician Management LLC, Gulf South Surgery Center LLC, Gulfmed Inc., HIM Central Services LLC, HMA, HMA ASC Holdings LLC, HMA ASCOA Holdings LLC, HMA Bay, HMA CAT LLC, HMA Employee Disaster Relief Fund Inc., HMA Fentress County General Hospital LLC, HMA Hospital Holdings LP, HMA Lake Shore Inc., HMA MRI LLC, HMA Professional Services Group LP, HMA Santa Rosa Medical Center LLC, HMA Services GP LLC, HMA-TRI Holdings LLC, HMA/Solantic Joint Venture LLC, HOF ASC Holdings LLC, HP LRHS Land LLC, HTI Tucson Rehabilitation Inc., Haines City HMA LLC, Haines City HMA Physician Management LLC, Haines City HMA Urgent Care LLC, Hallmark Healthcare Company LLC, Harrison HMA LLC, Harton Clinic Company LLC, Hartsville ENT LLC, Hartsville HMA Physician Management LLC, Hattiesburg Home Care Services LLC, Health Education Services LLC, Health Management Associates, Health Management Associates LLC, Health Management Associates LP, Health Management General Partner I LLC, Health Management General Partner LLC, Health Management Information Technology LLC, Health Management Intellectual Properties LLC, Health Management Physician Associates LLC, HealthTrust Purchasing Group L.P., Healthwest Holdings Inc., Heritage Healthcare Innovation Fund II LP, Heritage Healthcare Innovation Fund III LP, Hernando HMA LLC, Highland Health Systems Inc., Highway 90 Development LLC, Hill Country ASC Partners L.L.C., Hill Regional Clinic Corp., Hobbs Medco LLC, Hood Medical Group, Hood Medical Services Inc., Hospital Laundry Services , Hospital Management Associates LLC, Hospital Management Services of, Hospital of Fulton Inc., Hospital of Morristown LLC, Hot Springs Outpatient Surgery Center G.P., INACTCO Inc., IOM Health System L.P., Imaging JV Holdings LLC, Intermountain Medical Group Inc., Jackson HMA LLC, Jackson HMA North Medical Office Building LLC, Jackson Home Care Services LLC, Jackson Hospital Corporation, Jackson Tennessee Hospital Company LLC, Jamestown HMA Physician Management LLC, Jefferson ASC Holdings LLC, Jefferson ASC LLC, Jefferson County HMA LLC, Jennersville Regional Hospital Malpractice Assistance Fund Inc., Jourdanton Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Jourdanton Hospital Corporation, Kay County, Kay County Clinic Company LLC, Kay County Hospital Corporation, Kennett HMA LLC, Kennett HMA Physician Management LLC, Key West HMA LLC, Key West HMA Physician Management LLC, Key West Home Health LLC, Key West Private Care LLC, Keystone HMA Property Management LLC, Kirksville Academic Medicine LLC, Kirksville Clinic Corp., Kirksville Home Care Services LLC, Kirksville Hospital Company LLC, Kirksville Missouri Hospital Company LLC, Kirksville Physical Therapy Services LLC, Knox Hospital Company LLC, Knoxville Center for Behavioral Medicine LLC, Knoxville HMA Cardiology PPM LLC, Knoxville HMA Development LLC, Knoxville HMA Family Services LLC, Knoxville HMA Holdings LLC, Knoxville HMA Homecare DME & Hospice LLC, Knoxville HMA JV Holdings LLC, Knoxville HMA Mission Services LLC, Knoxville HMA Physician Management LLC, Knoxville HMA Wellness Center LLC, Knoxville Home Care Services LLC, Knoxville Rehabilitation Hospital LLC, Knoxville Tennessee Turkey Creek MOB LLC, Kosciusko Ambulance Services LLC, Kosciusko Medical Group LLC, LHT Knoxville Properties LLC, LRH LLC, La Porte Clinic Company LLC, La Porte Health System LLC, La Porte Home Care Services LLC, La Porte Hospital Company LLC, La Porte Occupational Health Services LLC, La Porte and Starke EMS LLC, Lake Shore HMA LLC, Lake Shore HMA Medical Group LLC, Lake Wales Clinic Corp., Lake Wales Hospital Corporation, Lake Wales Hospital Investment Corporation, Lake Wales Imaging Center LLC, Lakeway Hospital Company LLC, Lancaster Clinic Corp., Lancaster HMA LLC, Lancaster HMA Physician Management LLC, Lancaster Hospital Corporation, Lancaster Imaging Center LLC, Lancaster Medical Group HMA LLC, Lancaster Medical Group LLC, Lancaster Out, Langtree Endoscopy Center LLC, Laredo Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Laredo Texas Hospital Company L.P., Las Cruces ASC-GP LLC, Las Cruces Home Care Services LLC, Las Cruces Medical Center LLC, Las Cruces Physician Services LLC, Las Cruces Surgery Center L.P., Las Cruces Surgery Center  Telshor LLC, Lea Regional Hospital LLC, Lebanon HMA LLC, Lebanon HMA Physician Management LLC, Lebanon HMA Surgery Center LLC, Lehigh HMA LLC, Lehigh HMA Physician Management LLC, Little Rock HMA Inc., Live Oak HMA LLC, Live Oak HMA Medical Group LLC, Lone Star HMA L.P., Lone Star HMA Physician Management Inc., Longview Clinic Operations Company LLC, Longview Medical Center L.P., Longview Merger LLC, Louisburg HMA Physician Management LLC, Lower, Lufkin Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Lutheran Health Imaging LLC, Lutheran Health Network Investors LLC, Lutheran Health Network of Indiana LLC, Lutheran Health Quality Alliance LLC, Lutheran Medical Group LLC, Lutheran Medical Office Park Phase II Property Owners Association , Lutheran Medical Office Park Property Owners Association , Lutheran Musculoskeletal Center LLC, Lutheran/TRMA Network LLC, MCSA L.L.C., MDSave Inc., MEDSTAT LLC, Madison Clinic Corp., Madison HMA LLC, Madison HMA Physician Management LLC, Madison Health System LLC, Marion Physician Services LLC, Marion Regional Healthcare System, Marshall County HMA LLC, Marshall County HMPN LLC, Martin Clinic Corp., Martin Hospital Company LLC, Mary Black Health System LLC, Mary Black HealthNetwork Inc., Mary Black MOB II Limited Partnership, Mary Black Medical Office Building Limited Partnership, Mary Black Physician Services LLC, Mary Black Physicians Group LLC, Mat-Su Regional ASC GP LLC, Mat-Su Regional Surgery Center L.P., Mat-Su Valley II LLC, Mat-Su Valley III LLC, Mat-Su Valley Medical Center LLC, Mayes County HMA LLC, Mayes County HMPN LLC, McKenna Court Homes LLC, McNairy Clinic Corp., McNairy Hospital Corporation, Medical Center of Brownwood LLC, Melbourne HMA LLC, Melbourne HMA Medical Group LLC, Mercy Cardiovascular Cath Lab LLC, Merger Legacy Holdings LLC, Mesquite HMA General LLC, Metro Knoxville HMA LLC, Michigan City MOB LLC, Middlebrook ASC LLC, Middlebrook Property Partners LLC, Midwest City HMA Physician Management LLC, Midwest Regional Medical Center LLC, Mississippi HMA Holdings I LLC, Mississippi HMA Holdings II LLC, Mississippi HMA Hospitalists LLC, Moberly Hospital Company LLC, Moberly Medical Clinics Inc., Moberly Physicians Corp., Mooresville HMA Investors LLC, Mooresville HMA Physician Management LLC, Mooresville Home Care Services LLC, Mooresville Hospital Management Associates LLC, Mooresville PPM LLC, Morristown Clinic Corp., Morristown Surgery Center LLC, Munroe HMA HMPN LLC, Munroe HMA Holdings LLC, Munroe HMA Hospital LLC, NC-DSH LLC, NOV Holdings LLC, NRH LLC, Naples HMA LLC, Natchez Clinic Company LLC, Natchez HBP Services LLC, Natchez Hospital Company LLC, National Healthcare of Leesville Inc., National Healthcare of Newport Inc., Navarro Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Navarro Hospital L.P., Navarro Regional LLC, New Cedar Lake Surgery Center LLC, Newport Physician Clinics Inc., North Okaloosa Clinic Corp., North Okaloosa Home Health LLC, North Okaloosa Medical Corp., North Okaloosa Surgery Venture Corp., Northampton Cardiology Clinic LLC, Northampton Clinic Company LLC, Northampton Hospital Company LLC, Northampton Physician Services Corp., Northampton Urgent Care LLC, Northern, Northwest Allied Physicians LLC, Northwest Arkansas Employees LLC, Northwest Arkansas HBP Services LLC, Northwest Arkansas Hospitals LLC, Northwest Arkansas Paramed Transfer LLC, Northwest Benton County Physician Services LLC, Northwest Cardiology LLC, Northwest HBP Medical Services LLC, Northwest Hospital Cardiac Diagnostics L.P., Northwest Hospital LLC, Northwest Imaging Associates LLC, Northwest Indiana Health System LLC, Northwest Physicians LLC, Northwest Sahuarita Hospital LLC, Northwest Urgent Care LLC, Northwest-Sparks Quality Alliance LLC, OPS Dupont LLC, Oak Hill Clinic Corp., Oak Hill Hospital Corporation, Oklahoma City ASC-GP LLC, Olive Branch Clinic Corp., Olive Branch Hospital Inc., One Boyertown Properties L.P., Open Air of MSLOU L.L.C., Oro Valley Hospital LLC, Osler HMA Medical Group LLC, PBEC HMA Inc., Pacific Group ASC Division Inc., Pacific Physicians Services LLC, Palmer-Wasilla Health System LLC, Palmetto Tri-County Medical Specialists LLC, Parkway Regional Medical Clinic Inc., Pasco Hernando HMA Physician Management LLC, Pasco Regional Medical Center LLC, Payson Healthcare Management Inc., Payson Hospital Corporation, Peckville Hospital Company LLC, Pecos Valley of New Mexico LLC, Pennsylvania Hospital Company LLC, Personal Home Health Care LLC, Petersburg Clinic Company LLC, Petersburg Hospital Company LLC, Phoenixville Hospital Company LLC, Phoenixville Hospital Malpractice Assistance Fund Inc., Physician Practice Support LLC, Piedmont Surgical Center of Excellence LLC, Piney Woods Healthcare System L.P., Polk Medical Services Inc., Ponca City Home Care Services LLC, Poplar Bluff Physician Management LLC, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center LLC, Port Charlotte HBP Services LLC, Port Charlotte HMA LLC, Port Charlotte HMA Physician Management LLC, Porter Health Services LLC, Porter Hospital LLC, Porter Physician Services LLC, Pottstown Hospital Company LLC, Pottstown Hospital Corporation, Pottstown Imaging Company LLC, Pottstown Memorial Malpractice Assistance Fund Inc., Preferential Health Network Inc., Premier Care Super PHO LLC, PremierC, Professional Account Services Inc., Punta Gorda HMA LLC, Punta Gorda HMA Physician Management LLC, Punta Gorda Medical Arts Center Association Inc., QHG Georgia Holdings II LLC, QHG Georgia Holdings Inc., QHG Georgia LP, QHG of, QHG of Barberton Inc., QHG of Bluffton Company LLC, QHG of Cl, QHG of Enterprise Inc., QHG of Forrest County Inc., QHG of Fort Wayne Company LLC, QHG of Hattiesburg Inc., QHG of South Carolina Inc., QHG of Spartanburg Inc., QHG of Springdale Inc., QHG of Texas Inc., QHG of Warsaw Company LLC, ROH LLC, Rankin Cardiology Center LLC, Regional Cardiology Group LLC, Regional Clinics of Longview, Regional Employee Assistance Program, Regional Hospital of Longview LLC, Rehab Hospital of Fort Wayne General Partnership, Revenue Cycle Service Center LLC, River Oaks Hospital LLC, River Oaks Management Company LLC, River Oaks Medical Office Building LLC, River Region Medical Corporation, Riverview Regional Medical Center LLC, Rockledge HMA Convenient Care LLC, Rockledge HMA LLC, Rockledge HMA Medical Group LLC, Rockledge HMA Urgent Care LLC, Rockwood Clinic Real Estate Holdings LLC, Ronceverte Physician Group LLC, Rose City HMA LLC, Rose City HMA Medical Group LLC, Roswell Clinic Corp., Roswell Hospital Corporation, Russell County Clinic Corp., Russell County Medical Center Inc., Ruston Clinic Company LLC, Ruston Hospital Corporation, Ruston Louisiana Hospital Company LLC, SACMC LLC, SEPA Integrated Provi, SJ Home Care LLC, SS ParentCo. LLC, Salem Clinic Corp., Salem Home Care Holdings LLC, Salem Home Care Services LLC, Salem Hospital Corporation, Salem Medical Professionals Inc., Samaritan Surgicenters of Arizona II LLC, San Angelo Community Medical Center LLC, San Angelo Hospital L.P., San Angelo Medical LLC, Santa Rosa HMA Physician Management LLC, Santa Rosa HMA Urgent Care LLC, Scott County HMA LLC, Scranton Cardiovascular Physician Services LLC, Scranton Clinic Company LLC, Scranton Emergency Physician Services LLC, Scranton GP Holdings LLC, Scranton Holdings LLC, Scranton Hospital Company LLC, Scranton Hospitalist Physician Services LLC, Scranton Quincy Ambulance LLC, Scranton Quincy Clinic Company LLC, Scranton Quincy Holdings LLC, Scranton Quincy Home Care Services LLC, Scranton Quincy Hospital Company LLC, Scranton Quincy QRFS LLC, Sebastian HMA Physician Management LLC, Sebastian Home Care Services LLC, Sebastian Hospital LLC, Sebastopol LLC, Sebring HMA Physician Management LLC, Sebring Hospital Management Associates LLC, Select Specialty Hospital - Tucson LLC, Select Tucson Holdings LLC, Seminole HMA LLC, Seminole HMPN LLC, Seven Hills Community Medical Center Condominium Association Inc., Sharon Clinic Company LLC, Sharon Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, Sharon Pennsylvania Hospital Company LLC, Sharon Regional HBP Medical Group LLC, Shelby Alabama Real Estate LLC, Shelbyville Clinic Corp., Shelbyville Home Care Services LLC, Shelbyville Hospital Company LLC, Siloam Springs Arkansas Hospital Company LLC, Siloam Springs Clinic Company LLC, Siloam Springs Holdings LLC, Silver Creek MRI LLC, SkyRidge Clinical Associates LLC, Solis Mammography at Navarro Regional Hospital LLC, South Abilene Radiology LLC, South Arkansas Physician Services LLC, SouthCrest L.L.C., Southeast, Southeast HMA Holdings LLC, Southern Health Network Inc., Southern Texas Medical Center LLC, Southsi, Southwest Florida HMA Holdings LLC, Southwest Physicians Risk Retention Group Inc., Sparks PremierC, Spokane Valley Washington Hospital Company LLC, Spokane Washington Hospital Company LLC, Spring Hill HMA Medical Group LLC, Springdale Home Care Services LLC, Sprocket Medical Management LLC, St. Joseph Health System LLC, Starke HMA LLC, Starke HMA Medical Group LLC, Statesboro HMA Medical Group LLC, Statesboro HMA Physician Management LLC, Statesville HMA LLC, Statesville HMA Medical Group LLC, StrokeCareNow LLC, Summit Surgical Suites LLC, Supply Chain Shared Service Center LLC, Surgi, Surgical Center of Carlsbad LLC, Surgicare Outpatient Center of, Surgicare of Clarksville LLC, Surgicare of Independence Inc., Surgicare of Sherman Inc., Surgicenters of America Inc., Susitna ASC Holdings LLC, Susitna Surgery Center LLC, Tennessee HMA Holdings LP, Tennessee HMA Regional Service Center LLC, Tennova Medical Park Property Owners Association Inc., Tennyson Holdings LLC, Terrell Medical Center LLC, Texas Bay Area Clinical Services Inc., The Sleep Disorder Center of Wyoming Valley LLC, The Surgery Center LLC, The Vicksburg Clinic LLC, Timberland Medical Group, Tomball Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Tomball Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Tomball Texas Holdings LLC, Tomball Texas Hospital Company LLC, Tomball Texas Ventures LLC, Tri-Irish Inc., Triad Healthcare LLC, Triad Holdings III LLC, Triad Holdings IV LLC, Triad Holdings V LLC, Triad Hospitals, Triad Indiana Holdings LLC, Triad Nevada Holdings LLC, Triad of Alabama LLC, Triad of Arizona L.P. Inc., Triad of Phoenix Inc., Triad-, Triad-ARMC LLC, Triad-Arizona I Inc., Triad-El Dorado Inc., Triad-Navarro Regional Hospital Subsidiary LLC, Triad-South Tulsa Hospital Company Inc., Tucson Home Care Services LLC, Tug Valley Healthcare Alliance Inc., Tullahoma HMA LLC, Tullahoma HMA Physician Management LLC, Utilization Review Services LLC, VHC Medical LLC, Valley Advanced Imag, Valley Advanced MRI LLC, ValleyCare Cardiology Group LLC, Valparaiso Home Care Services LLC, Van Buren H.M.A. LLC, Van Buren HMA Central Business Office LLC, Vanderbilt-Gateway Cancer Center G.P., Venice HMA LLC, Venice Home Care Services LLC, Vero Beach Florida ASC LLC, Vicksburg Healthcare LLC, Victoria Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Victoria Clinic Asset Holding Company LLC, Victoria Hospital LLC, Victoria Texas Home Care Services LLC, Victoria of Texas L.P., Virginia Care Company LLC, Virginia Hospital Company LLC, VirtualHealthConnect LLC, WA-SPOK DH CRNA LLC, WA-SPOK DH Urgent Care LLC, WA-SPOK Kidney Care LLC, WA-SPOK Medical Care LLC, WA-SPOK Primary Care LLC, WA-SPOK Pulmonary & Critical Care LLC, WA-SPOK VH CRNA LLC, WA-SPOK VH Urgent Care LLC, WHMC LLC, Warren Ohio Hospital Company LLC, Warren Ohio Physician Services LLC, Warren Ohio Rehab Hospital Company LLC, Warsaw Health System LLC, Washington Clinic Corp., Washington Hospital Corporation, Washington Physician Corp., Weatherford Hospital Corporation, Weatherford Texas Hospital Company LLC, Webb County Texas Home Care Services LLC, Webb Hospital Corporation, Webb Hospital Holdings LLC, Wesley Health System LLC, Wesley HealthTrust Inc., Wesley Physician Services LLC, West Grove Hospital Company LLC, Western Arizona Regional Home Health and Hospice LLC, Wilkes-Barre Aca, Wilkes-Barre Behavioral Hospital Company LLC, Wilkes-Barre Behavioral Ventures LLC, Wilkes-Barre Clinic Company LLC, Wilkes-Barre Community Resi, Wilkes-Barre Holdings LLC, Wilkes-Barre Home Care Services LLC, Wilkes-Barre Hospital Company LLC, Wilkes-Barre Intermountain Clinic LLC, Wilkes-Barre Personal Care Services LLC, Wilkes-Barre Radiation Oncology LLC, Wiregrass Clinic LLC, Women & Childrens Hospital LLC, Womens He, Womens Health Partners LLC, Womens Health Specialists of Carlisle LLC, Woodland Heights Medical Center LLC, Woodward Clinic Company LLC, Woodward Health System LLC, Woodward Home Care Services LLC, Yakima HMA LLC, Yakima HMA Physician Management LLC, York Anesthesiology Physician Services LLC, York Clinic Company LLC, York Pathology Physician Services LLC, York Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, York Pennsylvania Hospital Company LLC, Youngstown Ohio Hospital Company LLC, Youngstown Ohio Laboratory Services Company LLC, Youngstown Ohio Outpatient Services Company LLC, Youngstown Ohio PSC LLC, and Youngstown Ohio Physician Services Company LLC.

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Entravision Communications Corporation operates as an advertising, media, and technology solutions company worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Digital, Television, and Audio. It reaches and engages Hispanics across acculturation levels and media channels. The company's portfolio encompasses integrated end-to-end advertising solutions, including digital, television, and audio properties. It also offers a suite of end-to-end digital advertising solutions, including digital commercial partnerships services, as well as advertising customers billing and technological and other support services, including strategic marketing and training; and Smadex, a programmatic ad purchasing platform that enables advertising customers or ad agencies to purchase advertising electronically and manage data-driven advertising campaigns through online marketplaces. In addition, the company provides a branding and mobile performance solutions, such as managed services to advertisers looking to connect with consumers on mobile devices; and digital audio advertising solutions for advertisers. Further, it sells advertisements and syndicated radio programming solutions through its Entravision radio network. As of March 3, 2022, the company had 50 television stations; and 46 Spanish-language radio stations. It serves advertisers from various industries, such as e-commerce, retail, entertainment, gaming, delivery services, financial technology, communications, lifestyle, and travel. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.
Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA provides dialysis care and related dialysis care services in Germany, North America, and internationally. It offers dialysis treatment and related laboratory and diagnostic services through a network of outpatient dialysis clinics; materials, training, and patient support services comprising clinical monitoring, follow-up assistance, and arranging for delivery of the supplies to the patient's residence; and dialysis services under contract to hospitals in the United States for the hospitalized end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and for patients suffering from acute kidney failure. The company also develops, manufactures, and distributes dialysis products, including polysulfone dialyzers, hemodialysis machines, peritoneal dialysis cyclers, peritoneal dialysis solutions, hemodialysis concentrates, solutions and granulates, bloodlines, renal pharmaceuticals, and systems for water treatment; and non-dialysis products, such as acute cardiopulmonary and apheresis products. In addition, it develops, acquires, and in-licenses renal pharmaceuticals; offers renal medications and supplies to patients at homes or to dialysis clinics; and provides vascular, cardiovascular, endovascular specialty, vascular care ambulatory surgery center, and physician nephrology and cardiology services. The company sells its products to dialysis clinics, hospitals, and specialized treatment clinics directly, as well as through local sales forces, independent distributors, dealers, and sales agents. As of February 23, 2022, it operated 4,171 outpatient dialysis clinics in approximately 150 countries. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Bad Homburg, Germany.
The Chamber has been involved with a project through C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation since June of last year. C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation is a not-for-profit Community Action Agency which was incorporated in 1965, and is locally affiliated with Lake Land College. They provide a number of services including job support for dislocated workers and youth work experience for individuals. C.E.F.S. is an acronym for Clay, Effingham, Fayette and Shelby Counties. They have now expanded to serving 14 counties in Central Illinois including Coles. They have an office here in Mattoon at 305 Richmond Avenue East, in the same location as the Lake Land College Center for Business and Industry.

The Chamber was approached by one of the C.E.F.S. counselors to see if we were interested in supporting them with their Youth Work Experience Program. This program offers an advantage to both the business partners and the youth employees. The program supports out of school individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 with valuable on the job training, by placing them with business partners. The program does not cost the business any payroll obligations or benefit liabilities. On a monthly basis the business simply provides an evaluation of the workers progress and skills assessment. This helps them become fully trained and experienced individuals ready for the workforce.

Since June of last year we have had the distinct pleasure of Katelyn Allen being part of our successful team at the Chamber through the C.E.F.S. Youth Work Experience Program. Katelyn has been a valuable asset to us in archiving all of our historic documents and photographs. Katelyn has become very proficient in utilizing technology in completing her job functions at the Chamber. Katelyn has also learned customer service skills by interacting with Chamber members in phone conversations and one on one communication. Katelyn's program ends in June of this year and we are excited about the many opportunities that will be available to her for employment based on her experience here at the Chamber.

The program is available to any business in the area that is looking to be a partner with C.E.F.S. and help young individuals who are out of school and in need of skill training to become assets to the local workforce and community. I encourage any business and individual who is interested in the program to obtain more information from their website at www.cefseoc.org or contact the local Mattoon office at 217-235-2222. The Chamber recommends this program as a great resource for the community and I hope more individuals and businesses take full advantage of this opportunity.
Cardinal Health, Inc. operates as an integrated healthcare services and products company in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It provides customized solutions for hospitals, healthcare systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, physician offices, and patients in the home. The company operates in two segments, Pharmaceutical and Medical. The Pharmaceutical segment distributes branded and generic pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical, and over-the-counter healthcare and consumer products. The segment also provides services to pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers for specialty pharmaceutical products; operates nuclear pharmacies and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities; repackages generic pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter healthcare products; and offers medication therapy management and patient outcomes services to hospitals, other healthcare providers, and payers, as well as provides pharmacy management services to hospitals. The Medical segment manufactures, sources, and distributes Cardinal Health branded medical, surgical, and laboratory products and devices that include exam and surgical gloves; needles, syringe, and sharps disposals; compressions; incontinences; nutritional delivery products; wound care products; single-use surgical drapes, gowns, and apparels; fluid suction and collection systems; urology products; operating room supply products; and electrode product lines. The segment also distributes a range of national brand products, including medical, surgical, and laboratory products; provides supply chain services and solutions to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, and other healthcare providers; and assembles and sells sterile, and non-sterile procedure kits. The company was incorporated in 1979 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio.
Kimco Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on open-air mall-style properties in the US and is among the largest mall REITs on the market. The firm has been in business since the post-war boom of the 1966 and trading on the public markets since 1991. The name is a blend of the founders names, Martin Kimmel and Milton Cooper, who merged their assets in order to form the larger company.

The stock was added to the S&P 500 in 2006 and has held its position ever since. Kimco is also know for being the first vertically integrated REIT meaning it is internally managed and advised, and provides its own asset and property management. The firm raised $120 million with its IPO and was worth $11.4 billion in October 2022.

As of October 2022, the company laid claim to more than 530 properties enclosing 92 million square feet of retail space. The properties are primarily located within grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use assets in suburban areas. The tenant-focus is on a diverse blend of essential and/or necessity-based goods or services that drive multiple consumer trips per week and provide stable income.

Kimco Realty is headquartered in Jerico, N.Y., but does not limit its investments by geography. The companys properties are located in 1st-ring suburbs surrounding major metropolitan areas from coast to coast. One area of focus is high-barrier-to-entry coastal properties in population-dense vacation zones while another is the rapidly expanding Sun Belt.

The firm offers a variety of services and features apart from property rentals that include curbside pickup zones and many others that enhance the tenant and consumer experience. Other features include digital maintenance requests, Click Pay, and a Discount Program. Some of the markets served by Kimco Realty include New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Miami, and Atlanta.
The following companies are subsidiares of TransDigm Group: 17111 Waterview Pkwy LLC, ARA Deutschland GmbH, ARA Holding GmbH, Acme Aerospace, Acme Aerospace Inc., Adams Rite Aerospace GmbH, Adams Rite Aerospace Inc., Advanced Inflatable Products Limited, Aero-Instruments, AeroControlex Group Inc., Aerosonic, Aerosonic LLC, Air-Sea Survival Equipment Trustee Limited, Airborne Acquisition Inc., Airborne Global Inc., Airborne Holdings Inc., Airborne Systems, Airborne Systems Canada Ltd., Airborne Systems Group Limited, Airborne Systems Holdings Limited, Airborne Systems Limited, Airborne Systems NA Inc., Airborne Systems North America Inc., Airborne Systems North America of CA Inc., Airborne Systems North America of NJ Inc., Airborne Systems Pension Trust Limited, Airborne UK Acquisition Limited, Airborne UK Parent Limited, Aircraft Materials Limited, AmSafe, AmSafe Aviation (Chongqing) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Private) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport Ltd., AmSafe Global Holdings Inc., AmSafe Global Services (Private) Limited, AmSafe Inc., Angus Electronics Co., Arkwin Industries, Arkwin Industries Inc., Armtec Countermeasures Co., Armtec Countermeasures TNO Co., Armtec Defense Products Co., Auxitrol SAS, Auxitrol Weston Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Auxitrol Weston Services China Ltd., Auxitrol Weston Singapore Pte. Ltd., Auxitrol Weston USA Inc., Aviation Technologies, Aviation Technologies Inc., Avionic Instruments LLC, Avionics Instruments, Avionics Specialties Inc., AvtechTyee Inc., Beta Transformer Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Beta Transformer Technology Corporation, Beta Transformer Technology LLC, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Breeze-Eastern LLC, Bridport Erie Aviation Inc., Bridport Holdings Inc., Bridport Ltd., Bridport-Air Carrier Inc., Bruce Aerospace Inc., Bruce Industries, CDA InterCorp LLC, CEF Industries LLC, CMC Electronics Aurora LLC, CMC Electronics Inc., CMC Electronics ME Inc., Champion Aerospace LLC, Chelton Avionics Holdings Inc., Chelton Avionics Inc., Chelton Limited, Cobham Aero Connectivity, Cobham CTS Limited, Cobham Defence Communications Limited, Cobham Defense Products Inc., DART Aerospace, DDC Electronics K.K., DDC Electronics Ltd., DDC Electronics Private Limited, DDC Electronique S.A.R.L., DDC Elektronik GmbH, Darchem Engineering Limited, Darchem Holdings Limited, Data Device Corp., Data Device Corporation, Dukes Aerospace Inc., EST Defence Company UK Limited, Edlaw Limited, Electromech Technologies LLC, Elektro-Metall Export GmbH, Elektro-Metall Paks KFT, Esterline, Esterline Acquisition Ltd, Esterline Europe Company LLC, Esterline Foreign Sales Corporation, Esterline International Company, Esterline Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Europe Limited, Esterline Technologies France Holding SAS, Esterline Technologies French Acquisition Limited, Esterline Technologies Global Limited, Esterline Technologies Holdings Limited, Esterline Technologies SGIP LLC, Esterline Technologies Unlimited, Esterline do Brasil Assessoria e Intermediacao Ltda, European Antennas Limited, Extant Components Group Holdings Inc., Extant Components Group Intermediate Inc., GQ Parachutes Limited, Guizhou Leach-Tianyi Aviation Electrical Company Ltd, Harco, HarcoSemco LLC, Hartwell Corporation, Hytek Finishes Co., ILC Holdings Inc., IRVIN AEROSPACE LIMITED, IrvinGQ France SAS, IrvinGQ Limited, Janco Corporation, Johnson Liverpool LLC, Kirkhill Elastomers, Kirkhill Inc., Korry Electronics Co., Kunshan Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Leach Holding Corporation, Leach International Asia-Pacific Ltd, Leach International Corporation, Leach International Europe S.A.S., Leach International Germany GmbH, Leach International Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Leach International UK Ltd, Leach Mexico Holding LLC, Leach Technology Group Inc., MarathonNorco Aerospace Inc., Mason Electric Co., Mastsystem Int'l Oy, McKechnie Aerospace, McKechnie Aerospace (Europe) Ltd., McKechnie Aerospace DE Inc., McKechnie Aerospace DE LP, McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc., McKechnie Aerospace US LLC, Mecanismos de Matamoros S. de R.L. de C.V., NAT Seattle Inc., NMC Group Inc., Norco, Nordisk Asia Pacific Limited, Nordisk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Nordisk Aviation Products (Kunshan) Ltd., Nordisk Aviation Products AS, Nordisk Aviation Products LLC, North Hills Signal Processing Corp., North Hills Signal Processing Overseas LLC, Norwich Aero Products Inc., Palomar Products Inc., Pexco Aerospace, Pexco Aerospace Inc., PneuDraulics, PneuDraulics Inc., Pressure Systems International Ltd, Schneller, Schneller Asia Pte. Ltd., Schneller LLC, Schneller S.A.R.L., Schroth Safety Products, Semco Instruments, Semco Instruments Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Signal Processing Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Skandia, Skandia Inc., Skurka Aerospace, Skurka Aerospace Inc., Symetrics Industries, Symetrics Industries LLC, Symetrics Technology Group LLC, TA Aerospace Co., TA Mfg Limited, TDG Bavaria GmbH, TDG ESL Holdings Inc., TDG France Ultimate Parent SAS, TDG Germany GmbH, TEAC Aerospace Holdings Inc., TEAC Aerospace Technologies Inc., Tactair Fluid Controls Inc., Takata Protection Systems, Telair International, Telair International GmbH, Telair International Services PTE Ltd, Telair US LLC, TransDigm (Barbados) SRL, TransDigm Canada ULC, TransDigm European Holdings Limited, TransDigm Ireland Ltd., TransDigm Receivables LLC, TransDigm Technologies India Private Limited, TransDigm UK Holdings plc, Transicoil (Malaysia) Sendirian Berhad, Transicoil LLC, Wallop Defence UK Limited, Weston Aerospace Ltd, Whippany Actuation Systems, Whippany Actuation Systems LLC, XCEL Power Systems Ltd., Young & Franklin, Young & Franklin Inc., and exas Rotronics Inc..

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Watts Water Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells products, solution, and systems that manage and conserve the flow of fluids and energy into, through and out of buildings in the commercial and residential markets in the Americas, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The company offers residential and commercial flow control products, including backflow preventers, water pressure regulators, temperature and pressure relief valves, and thermostatic mixing valves. It also provides heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and gas products, such as boilers, water heaters, custom heat, and hot water solutions; hydronic and electric heating systems for under-floor radiant applications; custom heat and hot water solutions; hydronic pump groups for boiler manufacturers and alternative energy control packages; and flexible stainless steel connectors for natural and liquid propane gas in commercial food service and residential applications. In addition, the company offers drainage and water re-use products comprising drainage products and engineered rain water harvesting solutions for commercial, industrial, marine, and residential applications; and water quality products that include point-of-use and point-of-entry water filtration, conditioning, and scale prevention systems for commercial and residential applications. Further, it provides smart mixing system under the IntelliStation name. The company sells its products to plumbing, heating, and mechanical wholesale distributors and dealers, as well as original equipment manufacturers, specialty product distributors, do-it-yourself chains, and retail chains; and directly to wholesalers and private label accounts. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1874 and is headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts.
The students were conducting research for AP English papers. They took a tour of the library and were given a demonstration on finding resources both on the bookshelves and through the librarys online database.

During the spring semester, Booth Librarys regular hours are 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 1 a.m. Sunday. For more information on the library, visit the website, www.library.eiu.edu; call 217-581-6072; or find the library on Facebook or Twitter.
Budding American gospel musician and worship leader Todd Dulaney has expressed his excitement and delight to be part of the Victory Edition of Harvest Praise 2017.

With tears in his eyes, the emotional worship leader could not hide his joy from the warm reception he and his team received when they arrived in Ghana on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

Addressing the press last night at the Harvest Chapel International headquarters in Accra, Todd and his team promised a holy spirit-led worship Victory Edition of Harvest Praise. He was optimistic that his ministration will be a blessing to Ghana.

This year's Harvest Praise promises nothing but a whole new level of worship experience with the release of Joe Mettle's Yesu Adi Nkunim

Joe and Todd are billed to minister at this years HARVEST PRAISE 2017 dubbed the victory edition, Good Friday 14th April at the Accra International Conference Center.

The pioneering and biggest annual gospel music event in Ghana, Harvest Praise has been growing in size, content and style every year and patrons are eager to experience another mega worship and praise feast with all its side attractions.

The nations evergreen choral group  Harvest Gospel Choir are rehearsing feverishly for another explosive performance along the drama and kids performances. 2 sessions for afternoon and evening have a packed line up according to event organizers ensuring that the chairs will hardly be graced by energized patrons.

Tickets are already selling hot and fast at the key tv and radio stations partnering the event organizers including Citi FM, sweet melodies Sunny FM and Ghone among others.

As usual Easter Friday in Accra is set to be staged in Christian fellowship, family fun, gospel dance and music jam.


The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Afeku has hinted that plans are far advanced for more Ghanaians to be trained as pilots for paragliding.

The move, the minister noted will help boost tourism in the country.

The annual paragliding festival is one of the main highlights of Easter celebrations in Kwahu in the Eastern region.

The paragliding festival attracts local and foreign tourists but Ghana can only boast of one paragliding pilot, the rest being expatriates.

The sector Minister disclosed in an interview with JoyNews correspondent, Maxwel Kudekor in Kwahu, the training school will be a huge legacy

Hundreds of tourists have gone to Kwahu to observe or take part in the paragliding festival, .

One of the pilots [is] promising and assuring the good people of Ghana that he will help the Ministry establish a training school for paragliding in Ghana and I think its a huge legacy for the President of the Republic that under his tenure and in memory of Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey we would get a paragliding training school so that there will be more Ghanaians who will take up the flying lessons and boost tourism, she said.

Meanwhile, the first Ghanaian paragliding pilot, Jonathan Quaye told JoyNews there are great potentials in the paragliding sector but those who want to go into it should have the passion for flying.

Mr Quaye, who said he is adventurous and has been flying for the past nine years, said we should invest more into the business and give more people opportunity and train more pilots.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
You have lost a phone to thieves before. The experience is very bitter. Annoyingly, the phone will disappear without your knowledge. After the phone has grown wings, that is it and many of us scarcely do anything about it. We just move on.

Meanwhile, the phone thief is confidently using your phone calling your friends and demanding for money. Many have fallen victim to this theft. In line with this, jumia travel , the leading online travel agency gathers 5 ways to stop thieves from using your mobile phone.

Block the SIM card

Most times, the SIM card is the first thing thieves get rid of when they steal your phone. Others do not bother to remove it but they wont pick your calls. Since, you are using your phone to perform all sorts of transactions, you should contact your service provider immediately to block it.

Lock it

You can simply setup a password that will prevent others from using your phone. The code will be activated when an unauthorised person accesses it. In some cases, when you lock it, it will render the phone completely unusable.

Use your phones built-in features

There are phone features that you can activate to prepare your phone for any theft. On Android phones, you can use the Android Device Manger. You can access the manager online and it will help you locate your phone. On iOS, you have to set up find my phone feature. You can use it to find, text and wipe your device. You can do all these when the phone is switched on.

Insure your phone

For Nigerians who use expensive phones, they can insure it. It will be replaced by the insurance firm. You dont need to worry about your device being stolen. But that doesnt mean you should be careless.

Report to the police

You can also make a report to the police. They can help you launch a manhunt to get back your phone.
Sefwi-Bekwai (W/R), April 13, GNA - Fourteen thousand, four hundred (14,400) UTZ certified cocoa farmers in two regions - Ashanti and Western, are to benefit from a bonus of GH1,147,696.00.

The money is coming from Nyonkopa Cocoa Buying Company Limited, a subsidiary of Barry Callebaut - the world's leading supplier of high quality chocolate and cocoa products.

Mr. Joshy Varkey, Managing Director of the Company, who announced this said a total of 15,039 farmers were registered for the UTZ certification but 639 could not make the mark.

The UTZ certification is a cocoa sustainability programme to promote socially and environmentally responsible cocoa production that meets the needs of both producers and market.

Mr. Varkey presented a dummy cheque for the amount at a farmers' durbar held by the licensed cocoa buying company at Sefwi-Bekwai in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District.

He indicated that the welfare of the farmer was at the heart of the activities of his company and pledged to continue to assist them to adopt best practices to maintain the quality of the nation's cocoa beans.

Doing this, he said, was the way forward to sustain the premium on Ghana's cocoa.

Mr. Varkey re-echoed their unwavering commitment to the goal of lifting about 500,000 cocoa farmers out of poverty by year 2025.

This was being done through training, financing and the supply of improved planting materials to boost crop yield and returns.

Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, the Western Regional Minister, called for the produce buying and chocolate companies to push for the payment of fair prices to the farmer on the world market.

He said this was in their own interest because that was the way to motivate them to keep their cocoa farms and enable the companies to stay in business.

He expressed discomfort with the situation where many farmers had remained poor and said that 'ought not to be so, considering the labor and effort they put in to get quality beans for the chocolate companies'.

Dr. Afriyie warned that if this did not change some of them could abandon cocoa

Nana Mensah Konadu, the District Chief Farmer, who received the cheque, thanked the company for the strong support to cocoa farmers.

GNA

By Josephine Nyarkoh, GNA
Huu (Ash), April 13, GNA - Cocoa farmers have been asked to join the fight by the government to stop the alarming environmental degradation caused through the activities of illegal miners.

Mr. Henry Asamoah, Asante-Bekwai District Quality Control Officer of the Cocobod, said what was happening could have dire consequences for everybody and therefore they could not become indifferent.

He was speaking at a public education forum organized by the Quality Control Division (QCD) at Huu, a predominantly cocoa farming community near Adansi-Asokwa.

It had been organized by the QCD to help the people to appreciate the threat to the nation's cocoa industry by illegal mining and to rally them to support the effort to tackle it.

He expressed deep worry about the situation, where cocoa farms had been sold and cut down for mining.

He identified Bogyawe, Huu, Jacobu, Asikasu, Abosamso, Afoako and Bepotenten among communities where this had been more pronounced.

Mr. Asamoah cautioned that the development, if allowed unchecked, could substantially affect cocoa production in the area.

He indicated that drastic reduction in crop production had already been noticed and the outlook was grim.

He said the cocoa sector, which had been the mainstay of the economy, should be protected.

He called for the government to refuse to be intimidated and to go to every length to prevent those without mining licenses from operating.

Mr. Peter Offin, the Bekwai chief farmer, appealed for the strengthening of the mass cocoa spraying exercise. GNA

By Isaac Arkoh, GNA
From Friday, April 14 to Sunday, April 16, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) will host this years Kwahu Paragliding Festival at the Odweanoma Mountain in Kwahu, Eastern Region.

The event will be the 12th in the series and is expected to be a key feature of this years Easter festivities in the Kwahu area.

The GTA has recruited six international tandem pilots from the United States, Romania, and Japan to fly passengers at the festival.

The first Ghanaian solo pilot, Jonathan Quaye, will also be flying.

A press statement issued by the GTA said as part of the preparations towards the festival, the road leading to the Odweanoma Mountain, where the take-off site is located, had been fixed by Sonitra, a road construction firm, as their sponsorship package for the event.

The take-off site and the car park have been cleared. The tourist receptive centre area has also been put in shape for the sale of food and drinks, artifacts and other activities.

Kwahu Tourism Initiative will mount a photo exhibition and organise a health walk and tours to parts of the Kwahu area. Other side attractions will be hiking and indoor games, the statement said.

It said the opening ceremony for the festival would be performed by the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Madam Catherine Afeku.

Meanwhile, the GTA and GLICO had unveiled an insurance package for the festival called Public Liability Insurance Cover and Personal Accident Insurance. The package will cover pilots, passengers and various visitors to the event.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
Tripoli (AFP) - Libya's southern desert, long neglected by central authorities, risks becoming an arena for score-settling between rival governments vying for clout across the war-torn country, analysts say.

Clashes erupted last week as forces loyal to Libya's eastern authorities battled to seize a key southern airbase from militias that back a United Nations-endorsed unity government.

The offensive by the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by military strongman Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar threatened to trigger a broader conflict with forces allied to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

The unity government, the rival administration in eastern Libya and their respective backers are battling for influence in the North African country which has been wracked by chaos since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

So far tensions between the two sides had been mainly limited to the country's north.

But last week, the LNA launched an offensive on the Tamenhant airbase on the outskirts of the city of Sebha.

The most important airbase in the south, it is a base for the "Third Force", one of several powerful pro-GNA militias from the western city of Misrata.

Haftar's LNA "wants to achieve a victory in the southern region of Fezzan to boost its position & GNA is mobilising to prevent that", analyst Mohamed Eljarh of the Atlantic Council tweeted.

Potential for clashes

Members of the Libyan National Army (LNA) hold a position in Qanfudah, on the southern outskirts of Benghazi

The UN-backed government, which both Haftar and Libya's eastern-based parliament have refused to recognise, has announced a counter-offensive against the LNA.

World powers this week sounded the alarm over the clashes, and in a joint statement, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council called for de-escalation.

"We underline the difference between acts against the terrorist threat and acts that can lead to further deterioration of the situation in Libya," they said.

To date, the unity government had largely avoided displaying open hostility towards Haftar, who is accused of wanting to establish a military dictatorship in Libya.

But "local armed groups and tribes could be caught into this fight and things could spiral out of control," said Mattia Toaldo, a Libya specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Haftar's forces say the Tamenhant base was a launching pad for rival fighters who seized key northeastern oil terminals from their control last month.

The unity government has denied any link to the attacks on the terminals, which the LNA retook days later.

But analysts say Haftar lacks the forces he needs to battle his rivals in the south.

'Militarily too weak'

Claudia Gazzini of the International Crisis Group said the LNA had won the support of some groups in the south but was "still militarily too weak to take on the Third Force".

The southern region of Fezzan, long neglected by authorities in the capital Tripoli, relies heavily on drugs and arms smuggling and human trafficking.

The region is also a key route for sub-Saharan African migrants attempting to reach Europe illegally from Libya.

Rival tribes in the region often clash over control of border areas near Chad, Niger and Sudan, lucrative routes for people traffickers.

Gazzini said the region's close economic ties with the city of Misrata, whose powerful militias mostly back the unity government, meant many locals feared a "vendetta" in the event of an attack.

The tribes "know that any attack against Misrata could result in a freezing of trade between the north and the south, and people would suffer from that", she said.

In April, representative of the southern tribes met GNA and Italian officials in Rome to sign a peace deal to stem the flow of migrants by tightening controls along the southern border.

But analysts are sceptical about the plan's chances of success.

Human trafficking is one of the region's main sources of income, Gazzini said.

"So the only way to stop that type of trade is by generating alternative income sources," she said.
A 48-year-old man is in the grips of the law for allegedly killing his wife at Windy Ridge in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis of the Western Region.

Francis Kwofie, a private security officer, is said to have beaten his wife, Akoley Klotey, to death after accusing her of infidelity.

Western Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olivia Ewurabena Adiku, explains on Wednesday 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 an autopsy.

Police 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.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
President Nana Akufo-Addo has condemned attacks on the Judiciary by pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) militant group, Delta Force in his first Easter message to Ghanaians.

In his first Easter message, the President has also vowed to ensure the laws of the country are respected and applied without fail under his administration.

It is for this reason that I regret so much the unfortunate incidence that happened in Kumasi recently. Inasmuch as the law enforcement agencies and the Judiciary have moved to apply the laws of our land, let me reiterate that it will not be under my watch that people act with impunity. Neither will it be under my watch that the laws of our land will not be respected, he said in the short message to Ghanaians to mark this years Easter festivities.

Some members of the pro-NPP militant group, Delta Force, attacked a Kumasi circuit court last week to free some of its members who were standing trial for a previous attack on the Ashanti Regional Security Co-ordinator.

The court has since imposed a fine of 2,400 on them whiles the substantive case continues in the court.

Many institutions and groups, including the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the United Nations, have since condemned the attack.

Crime has no political colour under my government. We are a nation governed by the rule of law and law will work without fear or favour, he said.

Meanwhile, in the Easter message, the President also called on Ghanaians to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Easter is the time of the Christian year when Christians remember the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

They believe that Jesus, who they believe was the son of God, died for everyone's wrong-doings and then came back to life three days later to defeat death and evil.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | George Nyavor | [email protected]
MATTOON -- For the fifth year, employees at Wells Fargo Advisors assembled and donated Easter baskets to be given to children who are receiving care in Sarah Bush Lincolns Women & Childrens Center over the holiday weekend.

This is just one more way that we can give back to Sarah Bush Lincoln and at the same time, help children who are too sick to be at home on Easter, said Dan Cunningham, managing director-investments/financial adviser, Wells Fargo.

Cindy Rivas, director of women & childrens at SBL, explained that it is particularly hard for little ones to be away from their home on special holidays, particularly Easter and Christmas.

These wonderful baskets will no doubt put huge smiles on the faces of our young patients during the Easter weekend and especially those with us on Easter morning. We are very grateful to Wells Fargo Advisors for this thoughtful donation.
If there is a violence outbreak in Accra, the media would probably capture it as

"Chieftaincy clashes in Nungua".

If there is a similar case in Tamale, the media would probably capture it as

"Chieftaincy clashes in the North".

Seriously, I don't know if it is conscious stupidity or wanton ignorance or both of the couple of the two cases.

In this age, journalists in Ghana still lump up Northern, Upper East and Upper West Region as one and this is pathetically shown in the way news headlines are titled.

The recent news headlines that sort to create the impression that Dagombas and Konkombas are killing each other at Agbogbloshie is gravely unethical. How can a group of lawless bunch be ascribed to a whole reputable two ethnic groups? Is this the first time such clashes has happened in that jurisdiction? Clashes in Agbogbloshie is a perennial problem. And the greatest motivation for such clashes has always been "survival of the fittest". It would be highly irresponsible to consider the ethnicity of two or more people in petty squabbles in stranger's land and relate it to a whole sane groupings elsewhere. Seriously, such provocatively sensational headlines has the proclivity of germinating ethnic conflicts and unrest.

The media must watch it!

Not quite long ago, relative to the Bimbilla's chieftaincy unrest, a news headline went nearly like "Northerners fight over a piece of meat". Apart from the stereotyping, the headlines are often very demeaning.

The whole world was made to believe that 1994 Nanumba-Konkomba war began with disagreement over a guinea fowl. Kaman how? That was the way the media reported it. But certainly, there was a bigger reason.

The media has a fundamental responsibility to inform accurately. When the information provided by the media is prejudiced and jaundiced, then the cankers and problems of the society can't be properly handled. Because, we might end up trying to apply a bandage solution to a deep cut.

For instance, how do one settle a problem of adults fighting over a piece of meat? Grievous issues must be reported without sensational trivialities and marketing gimmickry. People must be living in peace to have the peace of mind to buy news. So, news sellers must avoid cutting the tree branch they are sitting on.

Undoubtedly, bad news sell but it must have to be reported accurately even though we are in era where man's pursuit of profits overweighs humanity.

Our local media must not seem to be taking after the footprints of the international media bullies that set the pace for the African stories. Portraying Africa as one big mishappened continent of hunger, poverty, dis-ease, conflicts and baby making. We ought to do good to ourselves first before we can demand for it from others.

Recently, NPP's Delta Forces, a bunch of unlettered and outlawed hoodlums and miscreants were described to be a constitution of "Muslims and Ashantis" by the media. Then, I tried to ascertain if there is mutual exclusivity (as in probability) so far as "Muslim" and "Ashanti" are concerned.

It is about we disengaged crime with ideologies. The law does not prescribe different punishment for a "Muslim rapist" or "Christian rapist". So, sometimes the needless descriptive wordiness and grammar ought to be eschewed. If there is the need for certain detail profiling in news reportage, it has to be done ethically rather than the synecdochical approach of using a part to represent a whole.

May be journalism schools ought to consider Basic Geography seriously in the course content.

Hello, Tamale, the Northern Region, the Upper East and Upper West Region is not one big compound house of a nuclear family. We may be a unit but we are large and diverse.

Thank you.

The writer is a senior registered general nurse at Tamale West Hospital. He is also a conscientious feminist.

Abdulai Hanan R. Confidence

Tamale West Hospital

[email protected]

0208455884
The dreamer dreamed building ta beautiful skyline in Accras beachfront 60 years ago. It was part of Ghanas first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumahs dream---putting Ghana at the top rung of the economic, socio-political ladder or as a champion of the African continent.

Unfortunately, the dream (Marine-Drive-Project) was dunked in a pool of abandonment and its revival would since be shaped by time and fate. Hope. Hope remained the only life line for her. Six decades on, indications are that the new NPP-administration plans to commence the Marine-Drive Project two months from now after a sod-cutting ceremony by the President Akufo-Addo.

It reminds me of this story: While on a visit to Johannesburg in South Africa a little boy asked his father if he could move the skyscrapers he saw from that beautiful city to Obuasi, in Ghana. Stunned by the question the father looked at his son and remarked:

Kojo this is impossible. How can you do that?

To which his son replied: Why is it not possible Dad?

Look how tall the buildings are. Theyre so huge where would you put them-- on a boat, a train or an airplane? Its just impossible, the father explained.

Youre right about that Dad, the little boy submitted. But I didnt mean carrying the structures from here to Ghana. I was just curious. How come the two cities produce gold: Yet one has a charming skyline and the other has nothing to show off?

Kojo you never cease to amaze me with your poignant questions. Dont worry, I will tell you more about that when we get back home.

An imposing skyline is like a magnet--- she attracts visitors and tourists. She flaunts her glory and tells her story to the world. Her beauty is like diamond, enhanced by the morning rising sun as its glass windows sparkle. Its towering structures serve as canopy during sweaty sunny weather for its teeming inhabitants...

At sundown she sheds light upon the whole city, inviting revelers to dine wine, dance and prance at her numerous venues across the city. Ghanas yet-to-be-built Marine-Drive project seeks to provide a picturesque skyline.

On Wednesday, a ceremony to hand over the 241 acres of Land for Ghana's Marine Drive Project was held at the Arts Centre in Accra. The 60-year-old project, the brain child of Dr. Nkrumah will house about 30 hotels, arts and craft village, conference facilities, fish markets and landing beach sites among others.

This was made known by the Tourism, Arts and Culture minister Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku. According to her the development of the project formed part of the New Patriotic Party's election 2016 manifesto pledge.

The sector minister also revealed after clearing the site, President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was expected to officially cut sod for the commencement of the project in two months.

Is it a Dream Come True?

Truly it has been a long wait. And many were those who thought the project would never see the light of day. However what we witnessed yesterday was an indication that probably it was time for serious business. The assurance from the sector minister rekindled hopes and produced a sense of excitement. Certainly it was a hope for the countrys youth and a hope for tourism, art and culture in the country. So I am keeping my fingers crossed for the meantime, in the hope that everything will work out as planned. And I believe thats the hope of many Ghanaians. Its all about jobs, jobs and jobs. I dont know the projects workforce projection but whatever the case maybe it would be a feather in the cup for the administration if its able to execute the project as envisaged.

I cant wait to see that work is in progress with bulldozers, earthmovers and excavators ploughing the site. The scaffolds and the cranes will cease to be a dream but rather a reality. And perhaps this write-up would remind the minister and the government that the whole world is watching them.

Mrs. Afeku told the gathering that the Ministry had received separate Memorandum of Understanding from two traditional houses, adding that, the Ministry would ensure that their demands were met as the project kick started.

Also the project would ensure that the indigenes especially the youth would be offered jobs. Not only that it would propel transformational development and that Ghana would become a beacon of hope in Africa, she said.

'We should endeavor to give the youth of the land priority over job seekers,' she said. Thats a good idea too. And I think it would help prevent acrimony and disenchantment which often greet many projects of the sort.

According to her, livelihood that would be affected by the project would not be marginalized and the right compensations offered.

She acknowledged that there had been consultation over the past 18 months with the stakeholders including those at the Arts Centre and debunked the assertion by people at the Centre that they were not informed about the project.

The minister said countries like Kenya, South Africa, and Seychelles have developed their sites and could now boast of Arts and Crafts Village which deals in various wares.

Gbese Mantse of the Ga Traditional Council, Nii Ayibonte II, recounted that the project site was known as Accra Hearts of Oak Park and commended the team for protecting the site over the years.

Nii Ayibonte was excited that finally the project would start and urged all to do away with bickering and litigations that may cause delay of the project.

The call for de-politicization was highlighted by the Gbese Mantse, reiterating that the project should be executed peacefully and must be devoid of politics.

Ga State also needed to be developed, he said.

There have been calls for government to also consider developing the Korle Lagoon which is close to Old Fadama near the Accra Business District.
14.04.2017 LISTEN

This essay is about one of the most horrific events that has ever taken place in our history and one of the most graphic examples of ethnic cleansing that took place during our civil war.

It is an event which mortified the civilised world and which brought our nation and Armed Forces opprobium, disdain, contempt and shame.

It is an event that turned the earth red with blood and the sky black with death on the accursed day that it took place.

It is also an event which successive governments have attempted to brush under the carpet, forgetting that we owe it to God and to the slaughtered innocents to establish the facts, set the record straight and let the truth prevail.

Whether anyone likes it or not what happened in Asaba on October 7th 1967 will constantly be revisited and one day, when history is taught in our schools, it will be a reference point for all that is sordid, unclean and reprehensible about our turbulent and ugly past.

One day it will remind us of the depth of the brutality and sheer callousness that often prevailed in the old Nigeria and hopefully we shall garnish that reality with the firm resolve that such a thing will NEVER happen again.

The facts are as follows. The Commanding Officer of the Second Division of the Nigerian Army that retook Asaba from Biafra was Lt. Colonel Murtala Mohammed. He was to become Major-General Murtala Mohammed and our nation's Head of State within the next eight years.

One of his key officer's and the man that actually led the soldiers into Asaba on that day was Lt. Colonel Ibrahim Haruna (better known as Lt. Col. IBM Haruna).

He was the commanding officer whilst one Major Ibrahim Taiwo, who actually gave the orders for the massacre to commence, was his second in command.

According to Wikipedia,

"the Federal troops entered Asaba around October 5 1967 and began ransacking houses and killing civilians claiming they were Biafran sympathisers. Leaders summoned the townspeople to assemble on the morning of October 7 hoping to end the violence through a show of support for "One Nigeria." Hundreds of men, women, and children, many wearing the ceremonial akwa ocha (white) attire paraded along the main street, singing, dancing, and chanting "One Nigeria." At a junction, men and teenage boys were separated from women and young children, and gathered in an open square at Ogbe-Osawa village. Federal troops revealed machine guns, and orders were given, reportedly by Major Ibrahim Taiwo, to open fire. It is estimated that more than 700 men and boys were killed, some as young as 12 years old, in addition to many more killed in the preceding days. The bodies of some victims were retrieved by family members and buried at home. But most were buried in many mass graves without appropriate ceremony. Many extended families lost dozens of men and boys. Federal troops occupied Asaba for many months, during which time most of the town was destroyed, many women and girls were raped or forcibly "married," and large numbers of citizens fled, many not returning until the war ended in 1970".

Permit me to give a more vivid account.

When the Federal troops "liberated" the town of Asaba from the Biafran Army, they invited all the young boys and old men into the town- centre for a briefing.

Most of the men that were of fighting age had fled the town and retreated into the east with the Biafran army. The people left behind were mostly women, children and the elderly.

At Ogbe Asawa the old men and young boys were asked to come out and report in the town square.

Consequently no less than 1000 boys, some of whom were as young as 10 years old and elderly men, some of whom were as old as 80, left their homes and proceeded to the town centre for what they believed would be a pep talk and a happy reunion with Nigerian soldiers.

They neither carried nor possesed any weapons and they offered no protest or resistance. As a matter of fact history records that many of them went to the town centre with great hopes of reconciliation and big smiles on their faces believing that they would find favour with their Nigerian "liberators".

When they got there they were lined up in neat rows and, within the space of one hour, every single one of them was dead.

Those that were not shot to death were hacked to pieces and bludgeoned to death with knives, cutlasses, cudgels, axes and bayonets.

Some were beheaded whilst others had their organs and private parts cut off and were badly mutilated. Worse still many had their eyes removed.

Rivers of blood flowed through the town square as swarms of flies and hordes of vultures nested and feasted on the bloated corpses of the slaughtered innocents.

The stench of death and rotting flesh was compelling and overpowering whilst the entire community was stunnned with horror, frozen with fear and gripped with terror.

Each and every one of them lost someone on that day and, as the bodies of both the young and old were thrown into mass graves, the entire town was thrown into weeks and months of weeping, wailing, mourning and gnashing of teeth.

Other than the pre-meditated, cold-blooded and utterly callous "murder by starvation" policy of Gowon's Federal Military Government which led to the death of over one million Biafran children, this event, which came to be known as the "Asaba massacre", was undoubtedly the single most horrific and brutal act of genocide in the Nigerian civil war.

Clearly those that were behind it forgot that the blood of the innocents and martyrs never goes to waste. They also forgot that the Lord of Hosts is a God of vengeance and the Ancient of Days always rewards and repays.

34 years later, in 2001, during the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo and in front of the Justice Oputa-led Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Colonel IBM Haruna (who by that time had become a Major-General and was the Chairman and leader of the Arewa Consultative Forum), said the following words under cross examination in front of millions of Nigerians who watched the event on live television.

He said, "as commanding officer and leader of the troops that massacred 500 men in Asaba, I have no apology for those massacred in Asaba, Owerri and Ameke-Item. I acted as a soldier maintaining the peace and unity of Nigeria".

He went further by saying:

"If General Yakubu Gowon apologised, he did it in his own capacity. As for me I have no apology".

The fact that these were mostly defenceless little boys and elderly men who bore no arms, who carried no weapons, who offered no resistance and who were non-combatants during the war had no bearing or impact on the reasoning or thinking of this man.

He expressed no remorse and no regrets for his reprehensible actions and he offered no compassion or sensitivity towards his harmless and trusting victims.

And neither did he have any empathy with or sympathy for the families that they left behind.

His mindset and attitude was sociopathic in nature. He refused to recognise or accept the fact that his actions were not only barbaric and utterly evil but also completely unnatural.

This was a man who, under the administration of General Yakubu Gowon, was bestowed with the distinct honor and privilage of being appointed as Federal Commissioner of Information and Culture (the equivalent of Minister of Information and Culture) in our country, yet he openly expressed his pride and joy in slaughtering hundreds of innocent children, defenceless elderly men and helpless senior citizens in the name of "keeping the peace" and ensuring "Nigerian unity".

Such impunity and callousness has rarely been seen in the annals of world history. Not even Hitler's Nazis that gassed 6 million innocent Jews and Gypsies to death in concentration camps during the Second World War spoke with such pride and joy about their sheer barbarism and horrendous atrocities either at the Nuremberg Tribunals where they were put on trial or at any other time after the conclusion of the war.

Worst still the open and public expression of this inhumane and utterly primitive attitude and sentiment by IBM Haruna proves more than any other that ever since the beginning and indeed right from the start southern Nigeria has been under the cruel yoke and bondage of the most inhuman form of subjugation, slavery and repression.

We were (and still are) held together as a nation by nothing other than the fear of heartless and ruthless men like IBM Haruna and the force of arms.

I sincerely hope that one day this wicked man who has no milk of human kindness flowing through his veins and who is incapable of harbouring any compassion faces jusice for his heinous crimes.

That is the least we could do to appease the souls of those that were so cruelly and brutally murdered in Asaba and give them the justice that they are screaming for from their graves.

Interestingly, Major Ibrahim Taiwo, the officer who actually ordered the soldiers to shoot the civilians and who reported directly to Lt. Colonel IBM Haruna on that fateful day, was himself murdered nine years and five months later on February 13th 1976.

He was killed alongside General Murtala Mohammed, the then Head of State and the civil war Commander of the Second Division to which they all belonged, during an attempted coup by Colonel Bukar Dimka.

What an irony and strange twist of fate this was. Surely there is a lesson to be learnt there.

May the souls of those that were massacred in Asaba on October 7th 1967 continue to rest in peace and may the Lord continue to strengthen and comfort their families and loved ones. Happy Easter!
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) led by Mr. Ibrahim Magu is engaged in a game. And it is a game of deceit. It is a game of duplicity. It is a game of treachery against the people of Nigeria. It is a game that would eventually have high costs for his masters. It is a game that would also be costly for the polity of Nigeria. It is a dangerous game. Without any doubt, it is a political game. But this is a different genre of political game with deadly dimensions.

First, it was N49 million found at the Kaduna Airport. The EFCC in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren noted that the bags were left unattended to and without tags. The PUNCH newspaper reported that the bags were found to contain crispy naira notes with seals purportedly emanating from the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting PLC seen on the sacks. According to Ibrahim Bappah, the money sacks were discovered at the baggage check-in at the Kaduna International Airport ready to be taken out of the country.

Now the question is this, what kind of investigation is this? Is this not planted money by the EFCC? If an Airport with security camera, how come there were no recordings of those who brought in the bags of money? If the money was a proceed of crime, would the objective not be to catch the criminals? How about monitoring the sack from a safe distance to see who comes in to take it (they call it surveillance) and have him arrested to explain the source of the money?

How is it possible for someone to bring such large amount of money into the Airport for whatever purposes and leave it unattended? Was the owner of the money tipped off that EFCC was on the way so that he could run away and abandon the money? What really is the true position of things? Since then what has EFCC done investigative wise? What update does EFCC have for Nigerians?

Then it was the N.5 billion found stashed in a shop 64 with a Bureau De Change signage at LEGICO Shopping Plaza, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos. The money was reportedly stashed in several Ghana-Must-Go bags and was in N500 and N1000 denominations. And further questions remained again: What is the explanation of the EFCC for not putting surveillance on the shop? What did EFCC do to identify and locate the owner of the shop? Was EFCC able to interview the landlord before making this public?

Or was the intention of the EFCC to ensure that the owner never came forward to claim the money? What makes the EFCC think that the owner would show up after the place has been raided, even if the money was legitimate in the climate that pervades Nigeria presently? What due diligence did EFCC do? What investigation has EFCC done since that incident? Any update for Nigerians? None.

And next.!

In an apartment in Ikoyi, the EFCC reportedly discovered $38 millio, N23 million and 27,000 pounds. All the pictures of the monies showed that it has not gone through many hands. It was neatly arranged. And the questions again: Who is the owner of the property? Who is the owner of the apartment? Did the so-called whistleblower not identify the owner of the money for EFCC? How come the owner was not caught unaware? Was he tipped off by the EFCC or the whistleblower? How did the whistleblower know that the money was there? Was he or she complicit in any manner? Or the motive was to escape the wrath of the law by squealing on the owner?

Either way, the EFCC ought to have a culprit to prosecute, unless this is a game to confuse Nigerians, mislead them and divert their attention from pressing issues of poverty facing them from the incompetence of this Mohammadu Buharis administration. How come no one has been identified as the owner of the money? How come the source of information was so incomplete? How come there was no surveillance to see who goes into and comes out of that building and the particular apartment? What rapport, if any, did the EFCC have with the owner of the property as part of their investigation?

The building has to belong to somebody. The apartment has to belong to somebody. The Shop 64 has to belong to somebody. The Airport in Kaduna had to have security camera that could reveal the smugglers of the money found. How come we do not have answers to these questions? Is this not a stunt being pulled on Nigerians? Is Magu engaged in a game of grand deceit of Nigerians?

If this is not a game, what kind of investigation do you call this? Is this just an issue of incompetence? Or Magu and his men are engaged in their own form of corruption? What exactly is going on?

Yes, Nigerians want to fight corruption. But obviously, this is not the way to do it. Magu is patently incompetent. He does not know what he is doing. He is not investigating anything. He is not prosecuting anyone. He is an egomaniac. He only wants publicity through grandstanding. Honest, sincere and credible investigations are not done via the media. Prosecutions are not done in the media but in the courts. He is only playing on the desire of Nigerians to get rid of corruption and catch the thieves. But Magu is betraying Nigeria and Nigerians. He is doing nothing.

I do not know how you justify two years on a job without any evidence of productivity. How do you justify a war on corruption that has not convicted a single person in two years? And this is despite reported overwhelming evidence against some of the accused? How do you justify a war on corruption that is selective, unbalanced and inequitable? How do you justify a war on corruption that is unfocused? How do you justify the competence of a Commission that spends so much resource without any result?

To make matters worse, Magu and its EFCC do not even know how much they have recovered! Haba! For Eledumares sake, how can you retrieve money from looters and not keep account for the people? How could you not have proper records of what you have collected and where the loots are located? Are the retrieved monies in the EFCC offices in Abuja? Or Are they deposited in the Central Bank? If the looted monies are deposited in the Central Bank, why not publish the records for the public to see and convinced the country that you are honest and dilligent?

Why the secrecy about the retrieved loots? How much has been collected and from whom? Why is the records not made available to Nigerians? So, after all, this is a fake anti corruption war? Is this EFCC not a vehicle of political vendetta? Is EFCC meeting the expectations of the Nigerians fatigued about corruption? Is this not a game being played? Is this not a script being acted out?

It is time to stop this deadly game that Magu is playing on behalf of his masters with the psyche of Nigerians. We may all not be smart, but we are not all idiots. It is time to shove Magu aside. There is need for a more competent hand. Or we should just forget the whole anti corruption war altogether. No use deceiving ourselves.

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility  I welcome it.

- John F. Kennedy, in his Inaugural Address January 20, 1961

Please, follow me on Twitter:@OyeyemiRemi
14.04.2017 LISTEN

Recent events in Nigeria, Senegal and other parts of Islamic Africa should make Muslims across the region to start rethinking and reviewing their faith in Allah. Muslims claim that Allah exists. Does Allah really exist? In many places, Muslims are experiencing poverty, suffering, famine, violent conflicts, outbreaks of diseases and other problems that could make one doubt the existence of an omnipotent god. However, due to the supreme price on questioning the being and reality of the Islamic god, there is seldom any open and public inquiry into this Allah idea.

But lets face it, there is a valid basis to query the existence and potency of Allah. In fact, there are compelling reasons to doubt and disbelieve the Islamic god. Muslims across Africa really need to give a serious thought to the supposed existence of Allah and the attributes because such an undertaking has promising possibilities and could awaken the population, enlighten the communities and emancipate the people. Muslims in Africa should seize this opportunity and recreate their societies.

In fact, Muslims really need to pause a while and ask themselves if the so called most gracious, benevolent and beneficent Allah is a reality and not an illusion, not a figment of imagination or an empty idea that signifies nothing.

Let us take a critical look at some cases across the region.

In Northern Nigeria, an outbreak of meningitis has claimed hundreds of lives. Most of the victims are Muslims and mainly from one of the sharia implementing states in the country. So if one may ask: where was Allah and what was he or it doing? If Allah existed, then why did he allow the outbreak? What happened to his assumed gracious and benevolent abilities? The governor of Zamfara, the first state to implement sharia, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari said the disease was a punishment from Allah for fornication. He noted that Allah sent the disease to punish Nigerians for indulging in immoral acts. Really?

The governor said: People have turned away from God and he has promised that if you do anyhow, you see anyhow. That is just the cause of this outbreak, as far as I am concerned. There is no way fornication will be so rampant and God will not send a disease that cannot be cured.

Interestingly, the Emir of Kano dismissed this statement by the governor as lacking any basis in Islamic law. However, let's say that by some stretch of the imagination that this was actually the case. That Allah sent meningitis to punish people in Zamfara state for fornication. The question here is: Did Allah send the disease to kill those who actually committed the fornication or did Allah send the disease to punish some people for sins that others had committed?

If Allah sent the disease to penalize some Muslims for fornication which other persons committed, then what kind of god is Allah? A just or an unjust god? A good or an evil god?

By the way, where was Allah during the recent outbreak of fire in Senegal? In this predominantly Muslim country, at least 20 persons have reportedly died as a result of the accident which occurred at a makeshift prayer centre during a religious event in Senegal's southern city of Kolda. Is that not a valid reason to query the potency of Allah?

The Tijjaniyyah Order - a branch of Sunni Islam organized the event and one should expect that Allah should have protected Muslims during such an activity, but he did not. Why couldnt Allah stop meningitis or the fire outbreak? Why didn't Allah prevent the death of Muslims even at the prayer centers? The reason is crisp and clear: Allah is not. Allah is unable.

So this is a clear justification for Muslims to begin to cast doubt on the existence of Allah and to subject the claim of an omnipotent Islamic deity to critical examination.
The government has said it will soon begin a mass relocation of traders and residents at Old Fadama in Accra.

The exercise is to decongest the area, which is considered Accra's biggest slum.

Relocation plans for residents there has been under planning for about a decade.

Following recent clashes in the area between some Dagombas and Konkombas which left at least 2 people dead, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ishmael Ashitey has said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has been charged to lead a process to relocate some markets in the area.

He said the markets will be moved to Adjen Kotoku on the outskirts of Accra; a location secured under the erstwhile Kufuor administration for their relocation.

The market has to be relocated to Adjen Kotoku. That project started long ago under Kufuor but [there were] delays in sending them there. I learned the place is okay to receive them. It is not as big to accommodate all of them But I am saying if we can take at least 2 or 3 markets [from here to Adjen Kotoku] lets do that, he said.

It is the market that we want to move to that place. And when we move the market to the place, I'm confident that those who are benefiting or who are actually working at the market will like to go close to where the market, he added.

The minister revealed that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has been tasked to spearhead the relocation process and it would start work after the Easter holidays.

He, however, noted that the AMA's immediate task would be to assess the feasibility of a relocation of the people before initiating moves to actually move them.

We have spoken to AMA yesterday to be the lead [organization] for this operation; whether it is conducive now for them to go there. So they will do that after the Easter. They will move to the site and see how conducive that will be, he noted.

Meanwhile, the Inspect General of Police, David Asante Apeatu has suggested that relocating residents of the area will help avert troubles such as what was witnessed last Tuesday.

He said the structure of the slum made it difficult to maintain law and order.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
President Nana Akufo-Addo, in an Easter Message to Ghanaians, has urged them to remain steadfast in his ambitious vision of prosperity for the country.

The President reiterated his vision of Ghana that had risen above reliance on foreign aid, 6o years after independence.

I have put before you, the Ghanaian people, the most ambitious programme of social and economic transformation of any government in the history of the Fourth Republic, if not in our entire history, the President said in the message on his Facebook page.

President Akufo-Addo noted that the programme to spearhead Ghanas development is hinged on structuring the institution of government, modernising agriculture, a clear industrial policy and rationalising the financial sector to support growth in the industry, manufacturing. and agriculture.

In my view, that is the way we can build a resilient economy and lead Ghana to a situation beyond aid, the President affirmed.

President Akufo-Addo also urged Ghanaians to work with his administration to realise this vision of a dignified self-reliant and prosperous Ghana.

This Ghana, the President said, will be a Ghana beyond aid, a Ghana mobilising its own material and human resources to build a strong economy capable of generating prosperity for the mass of its people, no longer dependent on handouts and charity.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
It all started with providing private security for opposition politicians, then it assumed a moral cassock of beating political opponents in the name of protecting the ballot and when the NPP lost elections in 2008 and 2012, the scope of vigilantism was extended to beating of journalists who went to cover post-election mood of party faithfuls both at the partys headquarters and the Nima residence of its opposition leader, Nana Akufo Addo.

The actions of these groups are violent and criminal. These are unregistered private security groups who are gradually ripping our already fragile democracy apart.

The first time I came across the word vigilante was back in secondary school when my headmaster named a friend vigilante after my friend organized his colleagues to fight against visiting sportsmen from another school who he accused of disrespecting our teachers. Unfortunately for this guy who thought he was doing good, he was suspended from school .This gave me a bad impression about vigilantism, a word I didnt understand. When I later checked the word vigilante from my dictionary, I could not reconcile the word to the punishment meted out to my friend. I concluded that my headmaster, a man who had fun with English vocabulary and African proverbs during morning assembly, did not understand the word.

According to Merriam Webster dictionary, a vigilante is a member of a volunteer committee organized to suppress and punish crime summarily (as when the processes of the law are viewed as inadequate).

So we are right to name Martin Amidu, a crusader against questionable judgment debts, Citizen Vigilante, but we are darned wrong to name young and energetic men whose respect for the law ends at the doorstep of their political paymasters. If these groups were vigilante groups, they would be the ones helping the Ashanti Regional National Security Director to ensure peace and security and not the ones forcing him out of his office based on political and tribal considerations.

If they were vigilantes, they would supplement the police force in protecting state properties. But what we have seen over the years and particularly since 9th December 2016 was the sad opposite which our Kumawood brothers could compile into an action movie.

In the past, during the first three months of a new government the populace, particularly those who have voted for the new government wait earnestly for Know Your Ministers Calendars, now the joke on Social Media is know your Regional Vigilante Groups of NPP. This, although a joke, reflects the sad reality we are faced with.

It is said that coming events cast their shadows and it is not surprising how lawlessness has taken this country hostage. The blockbuster scene displayed by the Delta Force in the Kumasi Circuit courts and the laughable judgment meted out to them by selfsame court did not start today. We saw it when the Invisible Force became the most influential private security in the country and wreaked havoc on some members of the NPP; we ignored it because we counted it an intra-party affair as though a conflict among people of the same party is not a security threat. Some of the journalists who were attacked by these pro-party security groups couldnt take legal actions against the political parties. In short, our fear of political tagging and collective silence as writers, journalists, CSOs has emboldened members of Delta Force to run amok.

Already, Delta Force is whispered to have over 60 members and one can predict the exponential growth of this group in four years time. As politicians see the formation of these groups as a means of possessing political influence, and as the jobless youth see their membership in these groups as a means of employment, our silence puts Ghanas democracy on the path of abyss.

Unfair attribution

There have been comments from some NPP big wigs that attribute the partys victory to the work of these thugs. That is an unfair and a mischievous attribution. The past election has been the most peaceful if my memory serves me right and it was not due to the vigilance of these forces. The youth of this country, the middle class and even our market women knew it was time for change. My friends who joined the HOPE Campaign were not part of the Invisible Forces but they contributed to the NPPs campaign financially, they blogged for the NPP and when it was time for election they travelled to the Volta Region to serve as polling agents. These are guys whose arms, like mine, can only work mathematics. And when one looks at the majority of Ghanaian voters, those who lift metals and wield guns like the Invisible and Delta Forces will hardly make one-hundredth percent of the total voter population.

Lip service

We ought to stop paying lip service to fighting national security problems like thuggery. Early last year, Mr. John Kudalor, the then IGP warned of disbanding vigilante groups in the country but the efforts to that were not more than the movement of his lips. He and the entire police service went to sleep after the announcement. President Akufo Addo should go beyond his assurance of dealing with this national security problem and demonstrate his commitment to maintaining peace and national harmony. By this, the police and the courts should be allowed to punish crimes committed by these groups.

We ought to deal with it now before these groups spread like wild fire and begin to go after bloggers, writers and government critics; we should stop the usual equalization and speak against these so-called vigilantism before these groups find a way onto government payroll.

Frederick k. Kofi Tse

[email protected]
Twenty-two students of the University of Professional Studies (UPS) have been sacked for hacking into the universitys grading system.

The students allegedly paid between GH2000 and GH4000 to a yet to be named individual to hack and manipulate their grades for the 2015/16 academic year.

Some of them are unable to graduate because they failed some papers and the manipulation was therefore aimed at enabling them to graduate this year.

This comes days after the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, revealed that some students of the university are in Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) grip for hacking into their grading system.

Prof Oduro Owusu said the students hacked the university's grading system to change their grades but failed to cover the traces.

We are aware students [are] soliciting for help, linking up to people around, trying to break through our system to change grades and to do all sort of funny things, he said.

Grade manipulation by students is a worrying development that continues to engage school authorities. At least 10 students at the University of Professional Studies (UPS-A) confessed to changing their grades in 2016.

The students told Joy News they paid various sums of money ranging from GH1,500 to GH4,000 to have their poor exam grades changed.

More soon...

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim
April 17-21

Mid-Illinois Senior Services, Inc.

114 E. Jefferson, Sullivan, 217-728-8521

Monday  9-11 a.m., Matter of Balance; 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal; 1 p.m., Bingo w/Leeanna Stickels from Mason Point.

Tuesday  8:30 a.m., coffee and donuts; 11:30 a.m. Senior Potluck; 12:30 p.m., Bridge/Quilters.

Wednesday  9-11 a.m., Matter of Balance; 10 a.m., Sewing Club; 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal; 1 p.m., Wii bowling.

Thursday  8 a.m., Peace Meal Breakfast; 8:30 a.m., SBLHC BP checks; 9 a.m., SBLHC Bingo; 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal; 12:30 p.m., hand and foot cards.

Friday  11:30 a.m., free luncheon by Mason Point; 1 p.m., pool tourney; 1-3 p.m., Take Charge of Your Diabetes.

Shelby County Senior Center

325 E. N. Ninth St., Shelbyville, 217-774-2251.

Sunday, April 16  6 p.m., dance class.

Monday 8:30 a.m., coffee; 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal; 1 p.m., sewing class.

Tuesday  7:30 a.m., exercise; 8:30 a.m., coffee/shuffleboard; 10 a.m., TRIAD; 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal; noon, dominos; 1 p.m., Bunco.

Wednesday  8:30 a.m., coffee; 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal Soup and Salad bar; Bingo with the Villas after lunch; 12:30 p.m., Canasta; 1 p.m., Medicare assistance.

Thursday  7:30 a.m., exercise; 8:30 a.m., coffee/shuffleboard; 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal; 1-3:30 p.m., diabetes class.

Friday  11:30 a.m., Peace Meal.

Call Margery, 217-774-5595, to make reservations.

Arcola Senior Center

107 W. Main, Arcola, 217-268-3442

Senior Center is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. for anyone who wants to walk. For Meals on Wheels delivery, contact Arcola Health Care Center at 217-268-3022.

Wednesday  1-4:30 p.m., marbles.

Thursday  1-4 p.m., quilting

Life Center of Cumberland County

507 E. Main St., Toledo, 217-849-3965

Lunch, prepared by Peace meal staff, is served at noon each week day. Please RSVP at 217-849-3965 by 10:30 a.m.

Chairobics exercise available on requested basis.

Monday  8 a.m., coffee, Skip-Bo, jigsaw puzzles; noon, Peace Meal.

Tuesday  8 a.m., coffee, Skip-Bo, jigsaw puzzles; 11:30 a.m., representatives fro RIDES will be onhand to get suggestions for upcoming trips this summer; noon, Peace Meal; 5:30 p.m., board meeting, public welcome.

Wednesday 8 a.m., coffee, Skip-Bo, jigsaw puzzles; noon, Peace Meal. Rides Mass Transit will take seniors to Charleston today. Call 866-384-0503 by noon Monday before the trip.

Thursday  8 a.m., coffee, Skip-Bo, jigsaw puzzles; 10:30 a.m., Bingo; noon, Peace Meal.

Friday  8 a.m., coffee, Skip-Bo, jigsaw puzzles, games; noon, Peace Meal.

Saturday, April 22 -- RIDES will take seniors to Effingham for breakfast at Cracker Barrel and shopping. Call 866-384-0503 by noon Monday before the trip.

Coming soon: DVD movies at the Life Center

See Joannie Roberts, senior information specialist, for help in filling out forms or applying for insurance, Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, license-plate sticker discounts or other information. Call 217-849-3965 for information or appointment.

Peace Meal menu

April 17-21

Monday  Ham and beans, copper carrots, cornbread, pineapple tidbits.

Tuesday  Mostaccioli w/meaty sauce, Mexi-corn, seasoned greens, whole grain wheat, cottage cheese fruit salad.

Wednesday  Stuffed chicken breast, twice baked potato casserole, seasoned Italian green beans, dinner roll, cranberry oatmeal cookie.

Thursday  Pot roast with potatoes, carrots, onions, and gravy, creamy cole slaw, Texas toast, warm fruit crisp.
The Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas (CSPOG), has said that the Addison committee constituted to investigate the AMERI deal signed by the erstwhile NDC government, is in a serious conflict of interest position following news that the committee's work in Dubai was sponsored by AMERI.

The Platform in a statement signed by its Chairman, Steve Manteaw, expressed regret that most state officials were putting the credibility of their work in question by getting involved in shady engagements.

It said, the worrying trend was an affront to the fight against corruption, as state officers are indirectly influenced not to execute their mandate effectively by being sponsored by bodies they investigate to carry out the task.

It added that It also constitutes a big blow to the integrity of the personnel and institutions involved, as well as the credibility of their work.

The Minister for Information, Mustapha Hamid, reportedly admitted that the Addison Committee's trip to Dubai to investigate the deal, including hotel accommodation and air tickets were paid for by AMERI.

This has raised many questions about the objectivity of the report it produced, which accused the erstwhile government of not doing due diligence in signing the contract, and therefore costing Ghana some extra $150 million.

The NDC minority in parliament, has since served notice it will petition CHRAJ to look into the matter over a possibility of the Commttee being in a conflict of interest position.

According to CSPOG, any such investigation by CHRAJ must lead to the prescription and adoption of guidelines by which public office holders, institutions, and investigative committees would be held to.

Read CSPOG's full statement below:

Hon. Mustapha Hamid's admission that AMERI funded the Addison Committee's 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 committee's 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, AMERI's 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 shouldn't set committees up in the first place.

Signed

Steve Manteaw

(Chairman, CSPOG)



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
As part of a regional tour, Michel Sapin, the French Minister of Finance and Economic affairs visited Accra on the 13th of April 2017.

On this occasion, he had a breakfast meeting with members of the French business community during which he expressed his satisfaction with the growing interest of French companies in Ghana in such fields as retail, power, renewable energy, infrastructure and transport like Air France which opened a new direct route between Accra and Paris last February.

He said that the investment strategy of those companies on a long-run was indicative of the confidence they have in the future of Ghana. He paid tribute to their social responsibility policy towards development and local populations.

Mr. Sapin afterwards met with Honorable Yaw Osafo-Maafo Senior Minister. During the meeting, he commended the new government for the policies it is putting in place to consolidate the public accounts and as the same time stimulate economic growth.

He also backed Ghanas will to strengthen regional integration. He evoked the French know-how especially in the transport and energy sectors characterized by a sustainable development strategy, vital for addressing the present needs of Ghana.

The French Minister then visited the New Ridge Hospital, the first green hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), designed and built by the French group Bouygues and its American and Ghanaian subsidiaries, in collaboration with APHP (Assistance Publique des Hopitaux de Paris, the Public Assistance - Paris Hospitals).
Pro-Biafra supporters have met unkind treatments in the hands of security operatives in Nigeria for the purpose of freedom. Many have been tortured, imprisoned and killed. Odimegwu Onwumere who joined the pro-Biafra supporters in their protests writes

Miss Angelina Obi was crying for help in her own pool of blood during a peaceful protest that turned bloody in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.

Obi was shot by security operatives who did not want the protest organized by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in solidarity with the fresh President of America, Donald Trump, on his swearing in occasion, January 20 2017.

IPOB is a group working-up for the self-government of the people of Biafra that comprise States like Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Imo, Delta.

Other members of the IPOB in that protest shared the fate that befell Obi. Sadly, she could not easily get the help that she was seeking for, as those who were supposed to help were running for cover, for their life.

Its just an iota of the many sadistic attacks and unjustifiable putting-to-death of the IPOB members during protests that were fashioned by the Nigeria Army, the Police and operatives of the secret police, the State Security Services (SSS). Just like Obi who was singing and dancing in the large crowd during the peaceful protest before she met her ordeal at St. John Junction, Port Harcourt, many of her ilk have been shot, tortured and arrested in different IPOB peaceful protests by the authorities.

Beginning

Since 1967, pro-Biafra loyalists have been meted out with marginalization, pogrom, mutilation and what not for the same sake of freedom, especially before and during a war that broke out between Biafra and Nigeria in 1967 that lasted till 1970.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has wanted the peoples from Biafra extirpated. Agitating for freedom is just their sin in the Nigerias periscope. This has drawn the ire of some international community and they support the actualization for the Republic of Biafra.

Its General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu who started the championing for the freedom of Biafra from Nigeria that plunged into the war which consumed over 3 million Biafrans until his death on 26 November 2011, in a London hospital, United Kingdom. Since his demise, many splinter groups have emerged for the purpose of attaining freedom for Biafra.

Renewed Onslaught

After the war of 1967-70, there is a renewed onslaught by the federal might against the freedom agitators that have left scores of Biafrans dead under the umbrella of the IPOB.

Mr. Nnamdi Kalu, the Radio Biafra Director and leader of the IPOB was for the reason of freedom, arrested by the Federal Government on October 14 2015. His continued incarceration after being granted bail many times by competent courts has raised eyebrows in many quarters. The IPOB members however have fingered that the authorities have been playing the ostrich in order to maim him secretly in prison. The members also have a belief that the authorities were muddled with the allegations of treason and other nefarious charges they mounted on his head; being the reason they do not want to let him off the hook.

It is obvious that the Nigerian Federal Government has no case against our leader Nnamdi Kanu, hence we continue to call for his release rather than his vindictive detention, said a high profile source in IPOB.

The protests have been convincing in countries and places like the USA, Brazil, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Israel, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Spain, Italy, UK, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Mexico, Malaysia, UAE, South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt, Gabon, Togo, Kenya, Australia, Sweden Denmark, and China, and so many other countries.

But between 2015 and 2017, the Niger Bridge Head, Obodoukwu Road, Onitsha Main Market, Upper Iweka, Aba, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt, Onitsha-Owerri Road and Onitsha-Enugu Express way, Oba Junction to Tazan Junction, Onitsha, Enugu, Asaba, Owerri and other places in the Biafran land have been witnesses to Biafrans blood.

Resilience For Freedom

Many perceived intimidations by the authorities have been noticed, but the spirits of the IPOB could not be waned. May 10, 2016, witnessed the presence of over 6, 000 IPOB protesters in the streets of Aba, Abia State, upon government tenacious efforts to clamp down the reason for the protest  the actualization of Republic of Biafra.

In the protests, the IPOB members were wearing attires crested with Biafra emblems such as the Coat of Arms and Flag. In Aba, the IPOB members have been showing undeterred efforts for freedom in places like Ariaria International Market, through Faulks road to Okigwe road.

In one of the protests, they said that they dare Major General Muhammadu Buhari, the President of Nigeria, for supposedly swaggering that he would burst Biafra and her agitators within days. A national broadsheet reported, President Muhammadu Buhari is strongly opposed to the creation of Biafra. In May 2016 during a visit to the palace of the Emir of Katsina, Mr. Buhari suggested that it is better for Nigerians to commit mass suicide than for the actualization of the breakaway state of Biafra.

Buharis comments were captured thus, We will not let that happen. For Nigeria to divide now, it is better for all of us to jump into the sea and get drowned. But some IPOB reports stated that they would continue to show their love for Biafra, and assure Buhari that not even a thousand Buharis can stop the actualization of Biafra.

It will surprise him that Biafra will be actualized during his reign as Nigerias President. Buhari supports Western Sahara and Palestine to be granted sovereignty while he continues to suppress Biafra. Is this double standard? In fact, Buhari will be the last President of Nigeria, the IPOB said.

Solidarity For Trump

On that day in Port Harcourt, Nigerias security machinists scattered IPOB members and over 20 IPOB members were shot and over 60 were arrested. So, therefore, a Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni was in the forefront describing the solidarity as unlawful.

Police were angst-ridden that there was no government lawful permit that the group had to embark on the commemoration commonality. But before the Police could blink, the protest had spread through Oluobasanjo Road to Waterlines to Aba Road and adjoining environs in Rivers State. It was at Garrison, St. John, and Artillery areas of Port Harcourt that the protest turned bloody, when military showed up against the protest. Many were flogged and beaten especially those who flouted the military barricaded areas.

Though we know that the government of President Buhari is tyrannical, devilish and exhibiting religious and ethnic hatred against Christians and Biafrans, we dont anticipate that Nigeria security agents will still be primitive in handling civilian affairs that attract international attention like Biafra actualization struggle, a pro-Biafra leader said in a statement.

A Director of Information for the protesters in Rivers State, Mr. Anuken Anthony said that the security hadnt the uprightness to molest the protesters given that they notified security agents before embarking on the protest. He lamented bitterly against the outcome of the protest.

Anthony told reporters, saying, For now, over 70 supporters of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and IPOB have been arrested and about 15 of them are in the painful mood due to the bullet wounds. Our members have taken some of them to the hospital; we are praying that nothing should happen to any of them.

Anthony wondered where on earth the soldiers would assault the innocent peaceful protesters, adding, Our support for Donald Trump cannot be deterred by military intimidation and harassment. We were not violent. We were only showing solidarity to American President whom we take as one of our own.

Amnesty International

While the security agencies denied killing or imprisoning any pro-Biafra protesters, Amnesty International (AI) since November 2016, has hinged on, that Nigeria security forces have killed 150 pro-Biafra protesters.

On Biafra Remembrance Day itself, the security forces shot people in several locations. Amnesty International has not been able to verify the exact number of extrajudicial executions, but estimates show that at least 60 people were killed and 70 injured in these two days, when the largest numbers of IPOB members were killed during the Biafra Remembrance Day of May 30, 2016. The real number is likely to be higher, the source revealed in a statement.

The international group concerned with the protection of Human Rights of all people irrespective of creed, religion and nationality revealed how the Nigeria Army tortured and executed 150 pro-Biafra agitators particularly between August 2015 and August 2016.

AI in a report tagged  Bullets Were Raining Everywhere: Deadly Repression of Pro-Biafra Activists  exposed how data from 87 videos, 122 photographs and 146 eye witness manifests uncovered Nigeria military firing live ammunition to the pro-Biafra protesters.

The authorities must immediately launch an impartial investigation and bring the perpetrators to book, AI said.

Odimegwu Onwumere is a Poet, Writer and Consultant based in Rivers State. He contributed this piece via [email protected] (The pictures credit goes to the audience).
Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has demanded the immediate halt to the charging of unapproved fees by public universities without parliamentary approval.

He has threatened legal action over the matter.

The MP, who is the Chairman of Parliaments Subsidiary Legislation Committee, has also written to the Minister of State In Charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah on the matter.

According to Mr Ayariga, the countrys laws require that various public universities, including the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Ghana must submit their proposed fees to Parliament for approval but that hasnt happened since 1992.

In a two-page letter, he said the imposition of fees on students without prior approval by Parliament is contrary to the law. He noted that with the exception of Wa Polytechnic, all other tertiary institutions are in breach of the law.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews Joseph Opoku Gakpo, the MP demanded that the sector minister should take steps to rectify this or face a court action.

They must come to Parliament for approval that gives parliamentarians the opportunity to scrutinize the amount being charged and also get to appreciate the justification for charging that amount because the public is already financing the institution by paying the salaries of lectures and by providing infrastructure, he noted.

Mr Ayariga also asserted that per Article 25 (1) of the Constitution, the State must work towards a system that makes higher education free.

He demanded that the Minister presents a clear framework similar to what has been with the case of free SHS.

The constitution also insists that we should arrange to provide progressively free tertiary education and there has not been any clear indication by all governments of a programme to provide for a progressively free tertiary education system, the MP stated.

Mr. Ayariga also claimed that the practice of fee-paying and non-fee paying in the admission system is unconstitutional as it is discriminatory and reprehensible. According to him, this must end.

He laments that some of these demands eventually become a burden on parliamentarians with such high fees.

He is calling for a bipartisan discussion of these issues with critical stakeholders to resolve this, or they will head to the courts to enforce the demands as economic and social rights.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
Playwright and Author James Ebo Whyte has advised Ghanaian politicians not to allow their foot soldiers to control them when they get into political office.

He said when politicians stand for elections they are voted for because of who they are and the qualities they exude and not because of their team or foot soldiers.

Speaking on the Easter edition of Joy FM's Super Morning Show, he said it is a mark of weak leadership for politicians and their allies to do the wrong things in government and expect to be forgiven when they go into opposition.

"We do not have great leaders in this land who can hold their people in check" Mr Whyte pointed out.

According to him, although they [politicians] have a team backing them, they should know that they were the ones voted for and not their back room staff.

Since the announcement of candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the winner of the 2016 elections, some supporters of the party have taken the law into their own hands confiscating public property.

Aside vandalizing and seizing toll booths, the supporters have tried to take over state institutions like the Passport Office.

Some supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) who were seeking to takeover the food preparation allegedly attacked caterers of the school feeding programme at the Ejura Basic School in the Ashanti region.

The incident led to the destruction of food prepared for school children.

Recently, over 200 members of a self-styled security force affiliated with the governing NPP attacked the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator claiming they were promised someone linked to them will be put into that office.

Discussing the matter on the SMS, Mr Whyte said it is erroneous for politicians to reward incompetent foot soldiers when they come into power, adding, it is not only the footsoldiers who put them in power.

He said this must stop somewhere because if the current government gives in to the demands of these footsoldiers, the situation will be worse if another government takes over.

"For me, it is short-sighted and foolish because even if you rule for 10, 12 or even 20 years, you will one day go away," he said.

He said it is unacceptable to say this is done to appease supporters adding, when I find a dog whose tail is wagging then I know it is a sick dog and our leaders are allowing their tails to wag them."

The popular playwright said Ghanaian politicians must know that their supporters' votes alone cannot win them power adding for any party to get into power, it needs people like me and you who are not affiliated with any political party.

Knowing very well that I may not take a second look at the people around you [to vote for you], yet you allow them to run you, then you have done a great disservice to yourself, me and everybody.

A leader should be able to call his people to book and say not on my watch, this thing wont happen and not the other way around, he said.

Mr Whyte admonished Christians to, like Jesus, love their neighbours who may include their enemies and political opponents

He was asked who is my neighbor and the example he gave is the worst ever example you could get; a Samaritan and a Jew! So NDC and NPP is nothing, he said.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim
Akim-Duakon (E/R), April 14, GNA - Cocoa farmers at Duakon., near Akim-Aperade in the Eastern Region, have called for a drastic cut in the salary of the Chief Executive Officer of the COCOBOD.

According to the farmers, the GH75,000.00 monthly salary of the CEO was too high for a poor nation like Ghana which was currently facing economic challenges.

Making the call at a farmers meeting at Duakon at the weekend, Nana Twumasi Owuyah, a spokesperson for the farmers, stressed the need for government to do something concrete about the issue without delay.

'If one person is collecting as much as GH75,000.00 which is equivalent to seven hundred and fifty million old Ghana Cedis a month as salary, then the nation is in serious trouble' Nana Owuyaa Added.

He said that when the news of the COCOBOD Chief Executive's salary came out, Cocoa farmers in the area became astonished, saying that no wonder that, the COCOBOD always complained of shortage of funds.

'this is a clear testimony that, millions of Cocoa farmers in the country are working tirelessly for only a few fortunate people in the society to enjoy the fruit of their labour, while the actual producers of this 'golden plant' continue to wallow in abject poverty'.

Nana Owuyah further lamented.

He suggested that government should take similar action against Chief Executive Officers of other state institutions and establishments who enjoy huge salaries to the detriment of the country's ailing economy.

Nana Owuyah appealed to the various Appointment Committees and Boards of State Institutions and organisations to take into consideration the precarious condition of the Country's economy before approving fantastic salaries for Chief Executive Officers working for the state.

Nana Owuyaa regretted that apart from their huge monthly salaries, these fortunate top officials might also be privileged to enjoy some allowances and free fuel for their cars every month.

He advised heads of state establishments and institutions currently placed on huge salary scales to be considerate, saying that news about COCOBOD's salaries could undermine their credibility and eventually affects the production targets of the crop in the coming years.

He suggested that the farm-gate price of cocoa should be increased four times the current price to attract more young farmers into the industry.

GNA
14.04.2017 LISTEN

Kumasi, April 14, GNA - The Very Reverend Godson Amankwah-Amponsah, Superintendent Minister of the Ayigya Circuit of the Methodist Church, has urged Ghanaians to be selfless and accept to make sacrifices in the interest of the nation.

He indicated that this was important to put the country on the path of sustained progress.

The Very Rev Amankwaah-Amponsah was delivering the sermon at a Good Friday service at Ayigya near the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in Kumasi.

He recounted the struggles and difficulties Jesus Christ went through when he set out on his mission to bring salvation to mankind - the rejection, denial, hatred and humiliation and said in all these, he persevered.

That tenacity should inspire Christians to remain unwavering in their faith in their moments of trial, pain and difficulty.

He added that as they joined the rest of the world to celebrate the crucifixion and resurrection of the Messiah, the significance of the occasion - the reconciliation of man with God must not be lost on anybody.

This should encourage all to live in total peace and harmony - overcome intolerance, wickedness and cruelty.

At the Christ Cosmopolitan Incorporated at Dadiesoboa, Kumasi, the Rev Obed Obeng-Addae, a Senior Pastor, said the growth of any society hinged on strong and good leadership.

He therefore called on people in leadership positions to be open, transparent and accountable - placing the common good ahead of self-serving interest.

They should eschew corrupt practices, cronyism and anything unhealthy to the development of the society.

Rev Obeng-Addae appealed to all to smooth over their differences, learn to forgive and put the wrongs of the past behind them.

Delivering the sermon at the Gospel Light Assemblies of God Church, Dichemso, the Rev Collins Okine, the Pastor in-charge, said the nation had come a long way in its democratic governance and rallied the people to work together to protect the gains made.

They should not do anything to hold back the progress of the country, he added.

GNA

By Stephen Asante/Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA
Pope Francis (L) presides over the Celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday at St Peter's basilica, on April 14, 2017 in Vatican. By Alberto PIZZOLI (AFP)

14.04.2017 LISTEN

Rome (AFP) - An Egyptian family will carry the cross at an Easter procession attended by Pope Francis Friday, with tens of thousands of faithful expected to hold candles aloft in prayer at Rome's Colosseum.

The holy week commemorating the last days of Jesus's life had a bloody beginning last Sunday with attacks claimed by the Islamic State group on two Coptic churches in Egypt that left 45 people dead.

Security was tight at the former gladiators' battle ground Friday, where a small group of believers were to carry a cross between 14 "stations" evoking the hours in the run-up to Jesus's crucifixion during the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession.

Three thousand officers have been deployed to protect the Colosseum, with road blocks and metal detectors in place and police helicopters with infrared systems surveying the area.

Egyptian Christians carry a coffin during the late night funeral of the victims of a blast that killed worshippers attending Palm Sunday mass at the Mar Girgis Coptic Orthodox Church in Tanta, on April 9, 2017

The pope is set to visit Egypt at the end of the month despite the church attacks.

The cross will also be carried for parts of the journey by believers from two other countries he will travel to this year: Portugal, which he will visit in May, and Colombia, where he heads in September.

Francis, 80, will sit under a canopy next to a large cross as he listens to a meditation written for the first time by a secular woman, French professor Anne-Marie Pelletier.

Good Friday is the second of four important days in the Christian calendar beginning with Maundy Thursday and culminating in Easter Sunday, which commemorates Christ's resurrection.

On Saturday, the pontiff will take part in an evening Easter vigil in St Peter's Basilica, before celebrating Easter mass on Sunday and pronouncing the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to Rome and the world.
14.04.2017 LISTEN

A statement released by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Pearl Adusu Gyasi, is urging the general public to disregard the appointment of Mr. Samuel Oduro as the Ashanti Regional Director of the Gender Ministry.

She said the attention of the Ministry has been drawn to a calculated attempt by certain people on social media to bring the image and reputation of the Ministry into disrepute.

The ministry therefore wishes to inform the general public to disregard the above subject and treat it as falsehood, she intimated.

Pearl Adusu Gyasi added that the above-mentioned name (Mr. Samuel Oduro) as mentioned in the social media hoax is not the Personal Assistant of the Minister and has never been the coordinator for Girls Girls for Nana Addo during the 2016 campaign.

According to her, Mrs. Augustina Gyamfi, the acting Ashanti Regional Director of the Gender Department who is still at post is the legitimate appointee.

She cautions the general public not to deal with imposters whose agenda is to tarnish the image of the Minister and her Ministry.
No, I dont need a visa to be in Ghana, and yes I am Ghanaian. But I work with a company that has foreign investors and partners, so every now and then; someone visits Ghana for meetings and to look out for other opportunities. I often apply for a visa for those that come from regions who do not have a Ghanaian mission or consulate. And it has always been a smooth process until I recently applied for one again!

After almost 3 weeks from our initial application, I could not get the visa on time and I still dont know why (or understand why). I submitted an application for the visa with the supporting documents, and the unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles started almost immediately. Although we submitted the flight details for our guest with our application, we were told that the cover letter did not state those details categorically. Because of that we couldnt submit our application that day.

My assistant went back the following day with a new application letter, this time stating the above details. This time our application was accepted. The officers at the Immigration Service cleared our application and we made payment for the visa application. We were told to come back some few days later to see if it was ready so we could pick up.

When my assistant went on the allocated date, he was told that the director had returned our application but had rather requested that we submit our tax return certificate. Since our company did not make revenue in Ghana, and all operations in the first year were funded from abroad, we got documents from the Ghana Revenue Authority to support that and resubmitted our application. And our application was again taken to the director.

In the last week leading to the expected arrival of our guest, my assistant went to the Immigration Service daily to find out if the visa was ready and each time we were told that director had not returned it. In fact, on one day we were told the Immigration Service had a durbar so we should come back the following day.

Our guest was meant to arrive on a Saturday so we desperately needed to get things sorted before, or on Friday. The uncertainty and anxiety was also piling up for our guest, who was coming from Nigerian to Ghana before heading off to Kenya.

On the Friday, my assistant went to the Immigration Service and sat there from morning till late afternoon. And when our application was finally returned from the director, it said we had not stated in the letter when our guest was departing from Ghana. Meanwhile our letter stated that Mr ABC would be travelling to Ghana from D to C dates.

From the explanation my assistant gave, it came down to semantics and because we didnt say our guest would depart on a specific date our application could not be approved. And yes I even had attached flight itinerary from Lagos to Accra to Nairobi.

So how can Ghana attract foreign investment if this is the stress one must go through just to secure a visa? The time wasted, the money spent going back and forth to the immigration service, and the frustration was just unacceptable.

We kept hearing that there had been some new changes, which made the usually smooth process hell for us this time. But the question is, if an institution goes through reforms, should we be the ones to suffer for it?

And just for laughs on the Friday my assistant was told to come for a receipt the following Monday for our application. So we thought it was a receipt for us to use to collect a refund for an application fee. Yes we wasted time and money again to go to the Immigration service on Monday to learn fees are not refundable. Haha haha laugh out loud!
Free movie night scheduled

SULLIVAN -- Join the New Life Church for a showing of "Risen", a film about the days after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the perspective of a Roman soldier put in charge of finding His missing body, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. tonight.

For the kids, they will be showing "The Secret Life of Pets", a movie that follows Max, a spoiled terrier who enjoys a comfortable life in a New York building until his owner adopts Duke, a giant and unruly canine.

Admission is free, and snacks and refreshments will be available for a donation.

New Life Church is located at 1504 Cooks Mill Road (3.5 miles east of Sullivan on Cadwell/Arthur Road), Sullivan.

Contact them at liz@newlifesullivan.org or at 217-728-4200.

Good Friday services offered for community

MATTOON -- Two local church neighbors combine forces to bring a message of song, scripture, sermon and time for reverence today.

Pastor J. Michael Smith from the First United Methodist Church will be preaching a sermon titled "At the Cross" at noon today at First Christian Church, 1600 Wabash Ave.

A Return to a Service Remembered includes combined bell and chancel choirs. Kenny Jones, worship leader of FCC, and Machelle Morgan will sing a special worship song. Holy communion and congregation singing will be led by Pastor Steve Hayes of FCC.

For more information, call FUMC or FCC at 217-235-5676 or 217-234-2928. The website for the United Methodist Church is mattoonumc.com and First Christian Church is mattoonfcc.com.

Good Friday service scheduled

CHARLESTON -- The Charleston Bible Church will be hosting a Good Friday service at 7 p.m. today along with Community Bible Church of Paris and Martinsville Bible Church.

This will be a time of singing, special music, a devotional and closing of the service with communion. The public is invited to come and worship as they prepare for Easter Sunday.

Charleston Bible Church is located at 2605 University Drive in Charleston. Contact them at 217-345-4476.

Easter concert to be held

HUTSONVILLE -- The Angela Lilly Trio, with Grayson Lilly and Wesley Gray, will be performing at the upcoming Easter concert at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Hutsonville United Methodist Church, located at 217 E. Clover St.

This is a free concert, but a free will offering will be taken.

'Amazing Journey' Easter event set

MATTOON -- Be ready for an "Amazing Journey" at Mattoon Central Community Church, 200 Lafayette Ave East, on Saturday from 1-3 p.m.

The public is invited to come experience something both fun and meaningful for the entire family. Easter eggs, snacks, and an interactive journey following Jesus footsteps through Easter week.

If you have any questions, contact 217-235-0535.

Easter drama to be performed at high school

WINDSOR -- Smyser Christian Church Student Ministries will present the 18th Annual Easter Drama on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Windsor High School, 1424 Minnesota St.

"I Am" will be performed by over 50 area eighth-grade and high school students and will include a time of praise and worship with their praise team.

Attendees will laugh, be amazed and entertained through the use of skits, dramas, and various artistic expressions. A free will offering will be taken to support the youths summer conferences. RSVP is requested to 217-752-6896.

Smyser Christian Church will have an Easter Sunday Family Worship Service at 9:30 a.m., also at the Windsor High School. Come early for coffee and donuts.

Family Worship Center to hold Easter egg hunt

MATTOON -- Join the Family Worship Center's Annual Easter Egg Hunt from 1-3 p.m. Saturday.

This year church members will host the event on church property, located at 5475 Lerna Road in Mattoon. If there is rain they will host the event inside the building.

This event is for children (fifth grade and under) and is open to the community. Refreshments will be available.

Contact them at info@mattoonfamilyworshipcenter.com or at 217-273-7860.

Combined Easter Sunrise Service to be held

CHARLESTON -- University Baptist - North Side Baptist - Friendship Baptist will hold a combined Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning at University Baptist Church, 2831 Whitetail Drive.

Morning Worship Services will be at regular times at each sponsoring church.

University Baptist will be furnishing the music and breakfast; the Friendship pastor will bring the message.

For additional information, contact Pastor Tom Skinner at pavingpreacher@yahoo.com.

Free breakfast and puppet show set

CHARLESTON -- A free breakfast and puppet show will be held this Sunday at Central Christian Church in Charleston.

Breakfast begins at 9:45 a.m., then, during the service, participants may enjoy their usual music and message, but with the addition of the Holy Hands Puppet Ministry.

Central Christian Church is located at 915 W. Lincoln. Contact them at untitled36@hotmail.com or at 217-345-3277.

Prayer for Life Vigil to be held Monday

EFFINGHAM -- The Effingham Deanery Monthly Prayer Vigil for Life will be held Monday at St. Mary Help of Christians in Green Creek.

Praying the scriptural rosary will begin at 6 p.m. The Rev. Ery Sunder, pastor of Sacred Heart, will be the celebrant and homilist for the 6:30 p.m. mass. Everyone is invited to join us in prayer to return respect for all life, born and unborn.

The 7:30 p.m. business meeting will follow in the parish hall. Refreshments will be served while current pro-family legislation and information on local pro-life events are discussed. Pro-life literature, books, letter/bumper stickers, jewelry and book marks will be available.
15.04.2017 LISTEN

Part I

The most shocking experience in my life, ever, was when I stumbled upon irrefutable evidence that, Paul (Saul), the great apostle of the New Testament of the Holy Bible, plagiarized the works of Greek philosopher Plato (427-327 BCE) and Aeschylus (525-456 BCE) in writings attributed to him (Paul) in the New Testament!

This evidence almost shattered me completely to the point of being incapable of mending myselffor, all I once believed of the English Bible as being a holy Word that came out from the mouth of the Most High One, all I ever hoped to achieve by my faith and obedience to the English Bible, and all I believed and hoped for in a new Heaven and Earth to come, were all endangered by this evidence!!

For, what is the relevance of the English Bible, specifically its New Testament section, for the salvation of mankind if it never originated from Yahuwah Elohiym as had hitherto been accepted and believed by many all over Earth to be His instructions meant to save sinful mankind from the power and dominion of sin and the devil??

Now, any accusation of plagiarizing the works of other people made against a man of no mean stature and status of apostleship as Paulwhich is not to surmise that the Greek-based word apostle, and its kind such as bishop, evangelist, pastor, and prophet, are holy words in and of the salvation message of Yahuwah Elohiymif proven to be so, must be very evil news for Christians worldwide!

Before I proceed further in my task of nailing Apostle Paul guilty of plagiarism, I'd like to note something that occurred in Ghana recently. If you lived with me in Ghana in January 2017 and were an active reader of features articles, news reports, and speeches made by politicians that were published in either print or electronic media, the high probability is that you would by now have been very much educated and informed on the meanings of the words plagiarize and plagiarism!!

Some time ago in Ghana, these words seemed to be associated more with academicians than politicians; but thanks to some political discourses that were led by politicians which immediately erupted in Ghana on January 7, 2017, ordinary people like me too have had our personal lexicons of English words enriched with these words, with credit to these political discourses, and are blessed to know what they mean and what hurt and or harm they can do to anyone's integrity or reputation; in much the same way as academicians and politicians do!

So then, be not surprised when I too, an ordinary citizen of the Republic of Ghana would seem bold enough to even use them as I have in the above caption to this article of mine in order to draw attention to a very serious spiritual issue that portends grave consequences for all salvation seekers of bible persuasion!!

My use of the word plagiarizing, I am sure, will further popularize it among my compatriots, especially those of Christian clergy fraternities and their teeming flocks of sheep (and goats??) as well! This must be so, in view of the perceived spiritual stature and persona of the Apostle Paul in and to Christianity, who now stands accused and condemned by this write-up as having involved himself in plagiarism in his epistles or letters to Christians of his day!!

Now, in view of the fact that Apostle Paul is such a huge spiritual colossus to and of the Christian religion, who is also held in high honor by today's Christians, a charge of plagiarism made against him concerning any part of his many letters in the New Testament must be clearly and forcefully proven, or else his accuser will not escape the wrath of Christians worldwide!

However, if proven that Apostle Paul who is a back bone to Christian teachings and doctrines, and one who exemplifies that faith, indeed plagiarized the works of unholy Greek philosophers while feigning that his epistles were to be received as the word of Yahuwah Elohiym by those he wrote them for, then everything about Christianity MUST go up in a puff of unholy smoke; maybe, in the same manner as of a thick black smoke rising into the atmosphere from out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, which is normally meant to signify the breakup or end of the gathering of Cardinals in a secret Conclave to elect a new Pope for the Catholic church whenever the need arises, and as having found one at last!!

So, then, dear reader, don't you worry at all about my own integrity for making such allegations against the saintly apostle, no matter how wild you may think them to be; for, I have irrefutable evidence for you about how the popular St. Paul plagiarized the philosophical works of Plato, Aristotle and Aeschylus!!

Three years ago is when I started my scathing campaign against Christianity at the instance of Yahuwah Elohiymmy Av (Father) and Creator of the universewith His assurance to me that Christianity would ultimately be crushed and pulverized into dust to be blown away by winds from the four corners of the Earth!

With very little knowledge about the wise ways of the Most High One available to me even at the time, I can sincerely say I am blessed today to have progressed steadily and increasingly in my knowledge and wisdom of the ways of Yahuwah Elohiym, and have been correcting myself along the way, and will continue to take delight in being always and constantly corrected by Him so as to remain relevant and useful to His cause.

In view of all of this, I deem this article as heralding a coming celebration of victory in the war to see the back of Christianity; and, hopefully, as also heralding my own joy in eventually receiving a reward for my dedication and commitment to the work of HaAv (the Father) from Him.

For those reading this article who are used to my articles that are published in this column of mine on the Modern Ghana internet site, my purpose has been clear all alongwhich is, to let evil Christianity go packingand that, unmistakably, my source of strength, zeal and passion have been evident to have always come from Yahuwah Elohiym.

All what you may read from my detractors, all of whom may hold a lofty PhD (Pull him Down Degree), inferring from their posts or comments to my articles when they read them, arise from the fact that they do not have in them Ruwakh HaQuodesh (who is the only true and genuine spirit of wisdom and understanding given to holy servants of Yahuwah Elohiym) to be able to counter my writings! For failing to do so because they accept their own inadequacies at shooting down my faith, they decide to attack my person!! I pray that this article will teach them to fight ideas and not personalities; and warn them to stop their persecutions of holy workers of Yahuwah Elohiym.

Part II

Before I delve directly into this plagiarism issue that I am accusing St. Paul of, let me say that I feel strongly vindicated by the many articles I have been publishing in this column, especially those since 2014, which specifically are directed against Christianity and announcing its coming end.

I wish to draw the attention of readers to some of these titles and also provide the internet links to them so that readers may be refreshed by yet another read of them. They are as follows:

The End of Christianity Prophesied

Read More: The End Of Christianity Prophesied

Christianity Has No Saving Power: Only In HaDerech Is Elohim's Salvation Read More: Christianity Has No Saving Power: Only In HaDerech Is Elohim's Salvation!!

Christianity Today Is Evil Just as in the Days of Martin Luther

Read More: Christianity Today Is EvilJust As In The Days Of Martin Luther

Beware Christianity is Deeply Rooted in Occultism

Read More: Beware! Christianity Is Deeply Rooted In Occultism!!

Christianity Yet to Save One Soul for Elohiym's Kingdom (Parts 1 of 3, 2 of 3, and 3 of 3), respective links:

Read More: Christianity Yet to Save Its First Soul for Elohim's Kingdom! (Part 1 of 3)

Read More: Christianity Yet to Save Its First Soul for Elohim's Kingdom! (Part 2 of 3)

Read More: Christianity Yet to Save Its First Soul for Elohim's Kingdom! (Part 3 of 3)

Maybe, this set of five articles cited here, all of which were published within the space of six months in one year, are enough to make readers see the urgency with which Christianity must be done away with! However, many more of my articles dealing with this cancer of deception called Christianity have been published in this column and readers may only have to locate them through a simple search via the link www.modernghana.com/author/NngmingBongleBapuohyele in order to read them for their edification, spiritual uplifting and or warning!

Now to the mystery of plagiarism which St. Paul is accused of! But, first of all, let us look at who Paul was. Sadly, very little is known of him and all we learn about him come from only the New Testament!

In the New Testament, we learn that his birth took place in Tarsus (cf. Acts 22:3)! His father's name is unknown except to say he (father) was a Hebrew (Ivrim??) of the tribe of Binyamin!! Whether this is true or false, no one can determine!! Strangely, his mother's name is also unknown, except to say she was a Roman citizen!

If we accept these as facts, Paul then would have had a dual citizenship according to the ways of mankind todayclaiming to be a Hebrew (cf. Acts 23:6, Second Corinthians 11:22, Philippians 3:5) and a Roman (cf. Acts 22:25-29, 23:27) in one life and at the same timeand thus could switch from one citizenship to the other to his advantage whenever it seemed prudent and beneficial to him in any circumstances he found himself, as if to enjoy one feast in Yisroel and then later on another in Rome depending on time and his appetite!!

We also learn that St. Paul had a sister who lived in YahuSalem in the days of his conversion to a repentant life from murdering the people of Yahuwah Elohiym and who brought forth a son who was thus a nephew to him; and that this nephew was later to save his (Paul's) life!cf. Acts 23:16. But whatever was this sister's name, her husband's or that of this nephew, no one knows today! Did the great apostle, St. Paul, have any brothers? We simply don't know! Seems to me like St. Paul was a mystery man!!

We learn he was a member of the sect of Perushim (Pharisees??) and that he was in his youthful days a student under one supposed teacher of the Towrah by name Gamali'El; and also that he (Paul) was a devout loyalist to the Towrah (cf. Acts 26:5).

Let us stop here, maybe not to even go beyond these sketchy details about the man in our investigation about him, to make inferences from the foregoing about him in order to determine whether he was qualified to be called to do any holy work for Yahuwah Elohiym and for His people, the children of Yisroel!

You see, no true son of Yisroel is permitted by the Tanakh to have a dual citizenship; and neither is any woman permitted to cling on to the citizenship of Yisroel if she decides to marry any man of the Goyim (Gentile nations)! In fact, the Tanakh forbade and still forbids today any man or woman of Yisroel from marrying a Goy!

And so, in so far as marriages between any sons or daughters of Yisroel to Goyim were and are still forbidden, any children born to spouses in any such illegal unions MUST be determined to be illegitimate, outrightly, and could never stand before the holy Yahuwah Elohiym of Yisroel! Such a child had no place in any family of Yisroel and was an abominable person, without any spiritual value as to ever be considered for use in the service of Yahuwah Elohiym and of Yisroel!

This is the reason why the seed of Esau has no place in Yisroel, since he chose to plant his seed in the unholy daughters of the Hittitescf. Bereshiyt (Genesis??) 27:46 and 28:8-9.

You probably would know that, if Saul and his Roman mother had lived in the days when the children of Yisroel returned home under the leadership of Ezra from slavery to Persia, through the benevolence of king Cyrus, they would both have been forcefully sent away, compelled to be banished forever out of the jurisdiction of Yisroel by their Binyamin father/husband, according to Towrah demands and actions of holy zealots for the Towrah like ShekhanYahu (Shechaniah??) and Ezracf. Ezra 10:10:1-44!!

It is therefore strange to have Saul become a bona fide member of the Perushim membership, a group of people who together with him claimed to be hyper zealous of the Towrah; unless it was that these Perushim only paid lip service to the Towrah and instead held more to their own takanot, that are their man-made rules and traditions, thus swaying them over and above the Towrah!

The little worm that teacher Gamal'El and leaders of the Perushim should have seen in Paul, and to slay by not welcoming him into their presence, they failed to see and instead chose to teach him the ways of Yahuwah Elohiym, as if ignorant of what a sow bathed in clean water would do immediately afterwards at the least opportunity!

So, Paul has become a huge monster today to eternally haunt seekers of a salvation that is prepared for only true descendants of Avrahamthe father of all Yisroelsimply because he was permitted to eat at a table of holy people when he was not qualified to do so!

Part III

Now, let us look at the specific references in the New Testament that are proven to be plagiarized works of Greek philosophers by Paul in his letters to Christians of his day!

In First Corinthians 9:24a, Paul writes: Know ye not that they which run in a race run all but one receiveth the price?KJV. In this verse, and indeed in all his teachings in his letters, Paul claims he received all his ideas by inspiration and revelation from Yahuwah Elohiym through His Ruwakh HaQuodesh (or did he say Holy Spirit??)cf. Galatians 1:11-12.

However, Plato who lived many centuries before Paul said almost these same words of Paul in his description of races and prices won by athletes during his (Plato's) day! Listen to Plato in his philosophical work titled The Republic: But such as are true racers, arriving at the end, both receive the prices and are crowned. Like seriously? Isn't that shocking since Paul seems to be repeating the same words after Plato??

At this juncture, I'd love to quote Paul's actual words recorded in Galatians 1:11-12 here for easy reference: But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Well, I am simply dumbfounded!! Is Apostle Paul a common plagiarizer or a liar or both?? Someone help me catch my breath!

In Romans 8:6, Paul writes: For to be carnally minded is death; . . .. But again, long before Paul was on Earth and knew how he may receive revelation and inspiration from Yahuwah Elohiym, as he claimed he did to enable him to write supposed holy letters to salvation seekers, Plato had written in his work titled Phaedo that to be carnally-minded was death!!

In Philippians 1:21, Paul writes: For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. However, Plato, ahead of Paul, in his work titled Apology of Socrates depicting the death of Socrates, wrote: Now if death is like this, I say to die is gain.

The question to ask is: In and by these quotes, who is inspired by the Most High One to write them? By the way, is any one of these writers, Plato or Paul, inspired by the Most High One at all??

In First Corinthians 13:12, Paul says: For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face. This too, Paul claims to have been inspired by the Most High One to write, and thus gives the impression of its originality to himself!

But strangely, Plato again in his work, Phaedo, had said almost the same words long before Paul! Listen to Plato: I am very far from admitting that he who contemplates existences through the medium of thought, sees them only through a glass, darkly, any more than he would see them in their working effects.

In First Thessalonians 5:15, Paul writes: See that none render evil for evil unto any man. But again, Plato had much earlier on, in his work titled Citro, said: Then we ought not to retaliate or render evil to anyone, whatever evil we may have suffered from him. See?? So then, who is who??

Finally, let me add that the phrase kick against the pricks as found in Acts 26:14, where it is recorded as part of a report by Paul of an encounter he claimed to have had with another who is said in that same report to have mentioned his name as Jesus and who also uttered it (the phrase), cannot be correct or true! The phrase kick against the pricks was first attributed to Aeschylus (525-456 BCE) in his play titled Agamemnon, in which he said: Peacekick not thus against the pricks, unto thy proper pain!

In all of these references, it must be understood that almost all scholars and theologians of the New Testament writings believe they were originally written in Greek and never in Hebrew, contrary to what some of us have thought would have been the case. So then, a comparison of the works of Paul and Plato, Aristotle or any Greek writer, with the New Testament written in Greek should not encounter any discrepancies since they have a common language, Greek, as their base.

Dear reader, this is the apostle Paul for you; a plagiarizer. With this naked plagiarism, being the sin committed by no mean a man of Christianity as St. Paul, which Christians following him and his teachings can claim to have the salvation of Yahuwah Elohiym?? Can someone help me?? Is Christianity not yet over??

Let me tell you something I heard that intrigued me greatly: When you live in a house built on lieslike a government, a media house or any other business enterpriseand then the truth is known, that house becomes, in and of its self, a weapon of mass destruction!

So then, as it is evident from this article of mine that Christianity is built on lies, now that the truth of Elohiym is shining unto the Earth, all Christians must be warned that Christianity is a weapon of mass destruction manufactured by the devil. Would you want to continue to stay in it to be a part of those to be murdered??

Well, do not say I did not warn you! If none of my previous articles was able to warn you to flee out of Christianity, I hope and pray that this particular one does.

I cannot end this article without leading readers to a youtube video I stumbled upon as I researched for material to write this article. I must say I very much enjoyed watching it and I am sure you too would.

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I pray you find it useful in your search for the truth of Yahuwah Elohiym!

My dear reader, till I come your way with another thought-provoking features article I urge you to stay tuned while digesting the issues I raise in this article. And may Yahuwah Elohiym shine his light on your spirit as you do.

Shalawam.

Author email contact: [email protected]
The Northern Regional Security Council (RECSEC), has dispatched a combined police and military team to troubled Bumbruriga, a farming community in the Chereponi district of the Northern Region.

A renewed clash between Chokosis and Bimobas on Easter Friday, resulted in the burning of several houses.

According to the Yendi District Police Commander, DSP Patrick Kwapong, nobody died, but several casualties were recorded.

He told Citi News calm has been restored, and assured residents there of maximum security. He advised the media to always give accurate and objective reportage on conflict situations.

The cause of the renewed clash is yet to be established, but a resident there on grounds of anonymity said he suspects a reprisal attack from one side of the combatants saying, A similar clash occurred here last year.

He narrated that, the Chokosis and Bimobas in that community have been at loggerhead over ownership of a portion of the Oti River that passes through the community.

Apart from subsistence farming, fishing is the economic mainstay of the people.



By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/ citifmonline.com/Ghana
Government is targeting 250,000 farmers to kick-start its agriculture flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will launch the programme in Goaso in the Bono Ahafo region next week Wednesday.

An amount of a560 million has been set aside for the project which aims at increasing the agricultural yield and create jobs.

Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Food and Agriculture Minister, told JoyNews Elton Brobbey, the project will revamp and make farming attractive.

The Minister explained that he hasnt been in office for two and half months and yet weve been able to mobilise all these huge resources, register nearly 200,000 farmers advertise for the supply of seeds and fertilizers. Recruit over 1,200 extension officers, who were graduates.

His ministry, he noted, is getting ready for the rains and Nurah Gyeile, Minister of State for Agriculture, is already touring the Northern region to that effect.

Dr. Akoto explained that half of the a560 million will go into the help increase fertilizer supply by cutting down cost and making it affordable for the farmers.

The a560 million, which is to support the pilot phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme, is expected to generate a1.3 billion revenue.

In about four years, a minimum of 2.5 million farmers are expected to benefit from the programme, the Minister noted.

That is the scale at which we want to affect agriculture productivity and in the process, create a lot of jobs. We are talking about 750,000 jobs this season alone. This huge unemployment amongst the youth in this country is going to be cracked by this strategy, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto added.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
The Convention Peoples Party conveys it warmest felicitations to all Christians in Ghana and the world, on the occasion of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The narrative of Christs death, passion and resurrection, teaches us the essence of obedience, endurance, perseverance, humility and tolerance to accept and do Gods will, which ultimately brings victory and peace.

The peace Christ shows the world during Easter, gives us the assurance that if we apply his gentle values of patience, prayer, and willingness to do the things that will promote the common good of humanity and serve God from our heart, we will progress as a society.

Undoubtedly, liberating ourselves from the combined effects of neo-colonisation, and the challenge of bad governance, corruption, greed and wanton dissipation of our resources, should be our concern, but what is more is to strive as patriotic people ready to stand firm, defend our nation, protect and preserve it for ourselves and for future generation.

The CPP certainly connects with Christs victorious resurrection from the dead and shares the believe that this Easter should symbolise the opportune time for Ghanas authentic rebirth and true development in all spheres of her economy.

The Galamsey menace

We entreat Ghanaians and our leaders to use this Easter festivity to reflect on how we can collectively work together to address the cruel destruction of our lands and rivers. We cannot mortgage our collective safety to our unbridle greed to mine gold everywhere. We definitely need to act timeously to address this albatross on our neck or risk killing ourselves.

The Convention Peoples Party takes exception to the recent impunity demonstrated by the Delta Force in Kumasi and other vigilante groups in the wake of the NPP assuming the reins of government. We condemn the attacks on the Law Court and the danger it poses to the rule of law and the ultimate effect it has on our peace and stability. We urge the Government to take swift and urgent steps to ensure Law and Order in our country and nib the incident of vigilantism in the bud.

In same manner, we condemn the recent clashes in Agbogbloshie between aggrieved factions living in the area. We however, commend the security for its rapid response to forestall the peace, and call on people staying in the vicinity to be calm and conduct themselves peacefully. We entreat the factions to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies to ensure peace prevails.

As Christians mark the Easter festivities, let us reflect more about what we can do to collectively build this country and maintain peace and stability.

May we be reconciled to God and one another in order to live peacefully.

The CPP wish you all a blissful Easter and all the blessings that comes with it.

May God bless our homeland Ghana.

Signed

Prof. Edmund Nminyem Delle

(CPP National Chairman & Leader)
A delegation from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice [CHRAJ] today paid a visit to the headquarters of the Federation of Muslim Councils of Ghana [FMC] in Accra to brief its officials on the formation of National Anti-Corruption Action [NACAP].

CHRAJ delegation which was led by its Deputy Commissioner Richard A. Quayson extended invitation to the FMC to partner with them in the implementation process of the ten-year advocacy and implementation plan against corruption.

Mr. Quayson said faith based organizations of which FMC is a part have important roles to play in the anti-corruption implementation process because they are closely attached to their followers spiritually.

He therefore said that the Muslim leaders are required to use their pulpits to preach to members of their congregations to eschew corruption in their work places in government and private firms, the community and their religious bodies. That he said would go a long way to help reduce corruption in the nation.

The coordinator of the FMC Alhaji Abdallah Showmie Williams who welcomed the delegation, commended CHARAJ for championing the adoption of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan and promised the preparedness of FMC to partner with them to implement the plan.

He said while we make effort to implement the plan, ministers, the police and other high ranking officials must play their parts by staying clear from corruption in their work places adding that is the only way the plan would be useful to us all in Ghana.
April has been declared a month to raise awareness against Galamsey in Ghana, and to show how it is affecting the physical, economic, and environmental well-being, and health of the present and future generations of this nation. As Christians, this must be of utmost importance and concern to us as the charge to protect the environment is a fundamental one from the Lord right from creation.

The unchecked practice has caused a lot of detected and undetected ill health and toxicity to populations around the areas with contamination by mercury, arsenic, etc. which affect the brain. Polluted water bodies affect people downstream, and polluted soils affect foodstuff produced in those areas.

Prostitution, teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and malaria abound in these areas. In addition to all the various ways by which this practice can be flushed out, I believe we can also PRAY for Divine intervention against the detriment of Galamsey during this month. (If my people who are called by My Name- 2Chron. 7v14). Against this backdrop, I wish to encourage believers to:

1. Pray every day against Galamsey during the month of April and beyond.

a. Isaiah 43v19: Behold I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. NKJV.

b. Ask the LORD to do this for the many areas of Ghana that have been turned into wilderness and the water bodies which have been polluted by the Galamsey operations. Ask Him to open rivers in desolate heights, fountains in the midst of the valleys; --to make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water (Isa. 41 v 18).

2. Ask Him to raise up more Voices to cry against this practice. To continue to use civil societies, pressure groups like Occupy Ghana, the Media houses etc. to keep the pressure on.

a. Isaiah 43v3: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

3. Pray for government not to be silent, but to have the Will Power to use all effective means to tackle this issue once and for all. Boldness to implement measures which may even be unpopular, and allocate necessary resources to bring this menace to an end, including where appropriate, the deportation of illegal foreigners engaged in this practice.

4. Pray for provision of alternative jobs for those who have been involved in this practice.

5. Pray for Government to seek help from countries who have experienced similar man-made disasters on their environment. Pray such nations and world bodies will be willing to support us with their expertise and finances.

6. Pray for the Ghana health service, public health departments to start testing children and people around the areas for signs of toxicity, stunted growth of children etc

7. Pray the medical societies in Ghana join in the fight in different ways to monitor, diagnose and treat individuals who may be affected. Pray that streams and rivers in the dry places and deserts created by this practice will be restored for good potable waters.

a. Isa. 35v6: Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert

God Bless You and Bless our Homeland Ghana:

Dr. Barbara Entsuah MD MHSc Fellow Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons.

#PRAY AGAINST GALAMSEY.
14.04.2017 LISTEN

Accra April 14, GNA - The Most Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, the immediate past President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, in his Easter message has asked Ghanaians to take care of God's creation in view of the many threats to the environment.

He noted that sanitation menace, rapid rate of deforestation, bush fires, the clearing of natural habitats for mining, especially surface mining or 'galamsey'' were threats that could have socio-economic consequences on the nation if not stopped immediately.

Most Rev. Osei-Bonsu, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Konongo-Mampong Diocese, in a telephone interview with the Ghana News Agency, on Friday, condemned the widespread use of agro-chemicals and harmful weedicides and pesticides.

He said these chemicals would harm the soil, plants, animals, human beings, lakes, underground water and rivers and advised Ghanaians to exercise extreme precaution when using those chemicals.

He also advised Ghanaians to avoid littering the environment with plastic waste like; sachet water bags and non-organic substances since they would have environmental consequences.

Commenting on Easter and the essence of Christ's death, he asked Christians not to take Christ's salvation for granted but should work out their own salvation 'with fear and trembling' (Philippians 2:12).

He said Christians' acceptance of Christ as their saviour must show good works and lead Christ-like lives worthy of the calling.

This, he said, implied that Christians must obey God's commandments and lead morally upright lives in view of the judgment after death.

He urged Christians to celebrate Easter by reflecting on Christ's victory over death, instead of engaging in social vices.

''Easter is not for excessive drinking, eating, adultery, fornication and engaging in all sorts of social vices that defeat the purpose of Christ's death,'' he added.

Easter Sunday is a festival and holiday celebrated by millions of Christians and people around the world who honour the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

It is described in the New Testament as having occurred three days after Jesus Christ crucifixion at Calvary.

Easter is Christianity's most important holiday and has been called a moveable feast because it doesn't fall on a set date every year, as most holidays do.

GNA

By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
14.04.2017 LISTEN

Accra, April 14, GNA - Apostle Enoch Osafo, the Head of the Accra West Territory of the Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI), has challenged Christians to emulate the doctrines, practices and faith of their forefathers for them to do exploits.

He said it was time CACI members believed in the Word of God instead of relying on earthly words.

'Let us go back to our forefathers' faith and unadulterated word.

'If we will go back to our roots God will be merciful unto us again,' Apostle Osafo said in Accra on Friday at the Centenary Easter Convention of the CACI, Taifa Area.

The five-day convention, on the theme: 'Greater Works Than These,' is being attended by members from Taifa, Achimota, Ofankor, North Taifa, Dome, Mango Lane and Alogboshie.

Preaching on the topic: 'The Power Behind the Exploits of Our Forefather's,' Apostle Osafo noted that due to the porous environment things were not going well for Christians because they did not believe in God and also did not have faith.

'Because of our evil nature God has been far from us and this is destroying our lives and work.

'This is not CAC, let us go back to our roots and boost of our forefathers' achievements in some 100 years ago,' he advised.

Apostle Osafo urged Pastors, Apostles, Elders, Prophets and Leaders to operate within the gifting of God instead of operating on humanly principles.

'Be bold and tell the truth and don't be silent as a result of what you are getting from church members,' he said.

He recounted some of the miraculous works of Apostle Peter Newman Anim, the Founder of the church and other co-leaders and attributed their success in Christianity to faith and being led by the Holy Spirit.

'The secret was the Holy Spirit was controlling their lives,' he said.

Apostle Osafo asked Ghanaians to come together as Christians and use the Easter occasion to pray for love, forgiveness, peace, stability, national unity, growth, prosperity, development, and peaceful co-existence among parties and ethnic groups.

He also called on Christians to let the Holy Spirit reflect in their lives and advised them to be righteous especially when Jesus had made that great sacrifice of redeeming mankind from sin.

Apostle Augustine Bugyei, the Area Head of the Taifa Central Assembly, advised Christians to use the period for sober reflections and live Godly lives for the significance of Christ's death to be worthwhile.

Good Friday on the Christian Calendar is the Friday when Christians, all over the world, remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ to save the world according to the Holy Bible.

GNA

By Elsie Appiah-Osei, GNA
CHARLESTON -- For Parley Ann Boswell, the relationship between her and her employer, the State of Illinois, or more specifically Gov. Bruce Rauner, had become toxic.

The English professor at Eastern Illinois University said she became fed up with how the governor and state lawmakers have been treating her and other state employees, citing a drop off in funding because of the state budget impasse, and doing so without good reason.

"I had the kind of feeling you have when someone is betraying you, someone you are in any kind of relationship with ... when you feel like someone is betraying you and not explaining it," Boswell said. "And the spokesperson was the governor."

So in March, the EIU professor of almost 30 years sought to announce the end of her time as a state employee in true "Dear John" fashion through a break-up letter to the governor.

"Dear Bruce Rauner, Im breaking up with you," the letter read. "Because ours has been a committed relationship, you deserve to know why Im breaking up with you."

Boswell listed three main reasons in the letter for her "break up" with Rauner and the state:

"Our relationship has never been based on mutual respect."

"We have never really communicated."

"Our values are too different."

The letter touched on the issues she has with how the governor explained the reasoning for the budget impasse and the subsequent effect on universities and other state agencies.

"Most of the time I did not understand what you were talking about," the letter states to Rauner. "You repeated the same words and phrases: 'Frivolous lawsuits,' 'opportunity zones,' 'layers of bureaucracy,' 'structural reforms,' 'grow the economy, 'attack on our hardworking taxpayers,' 'collectivist economy,' 'business friendly,' 'baloney,' 'common sense reforms,' etc.

"Either you didnt know what you were talking about, or you didnt want me to understand you," the letter continued. "Either way, you sounded disingenuous. Not good for a relationship."

The letter that would run in tandem with her announcement to retire was over a year in the making. Boswell said she had not considered retiring from the university any time soon, but the budget impasse was overwhelming for her.

"There wasn't a day, period, where at some point I didn't tear up and become angry, and it was because I didn't understand what was happening," Boswell said.

Watching the state deteriorate through the Illinois budget impasse, Boswell slowly started writing the letter in her head, and finally, put pen to paper late last year.

Boswell said she understood Rauner was not the only reason for the failings at the state level, but to her, "the buck stops" with him, so her letter would follow suit.

Boswell did not send the letter directly to the governor's office but submitted it through an online state news website, Reboot Illinois. She said she thought she would have a better chance of the governor seeing it if it was published.

Boswell officially will retire at the end of the academic year but has plans to help her graduate students with their theses.

The letter ended with a call for the two to "still be friends" and an invitation to lunch in Coleman Hall -- and she hasn't received a reply.

The governor's office did not respond to the JG-TC to comment on whether Rauner has read the letter.
Accra April 14, GNA - Apostle Jeroham John Obour, the Field Director of the Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI) has asked Christians to seek spiritual passions to obtain salvation, and not earthly comforts.

He said salvation must be the main priority of every Christian and urged them to shun pleasures that hindered spiritual growth in Christ to have eternal life and all other desires.

Apostle Obour was addressing the New Mamprobi Area Easter Convention of the CACI in Accra on Good Friday on the theme: 'Greater Works Than These' (John 14:12).

He said: 'God has brought Christ to liberate us from the powers of the darkness which Satan has been the dominance of.

'Christ has come to save us and we should all believe in Him and we shall be saved.'

The five-day convention is being attended by about 2,000 members drawn from the 10 assemblies of the New Mamprobi Area including: New Bortianor Central, New Bortianor Number two, Korle Gonno, Kaneshie, South Odorkor and Mamprobi.

The convention is organised nationwide at the Area and Zonal levels of the Church.

He urged religious leaders to make the salvation of members their major focus because that was the mission of Christ on Earth.

'The leaders must teach the congregation the scriptures so as to move away from acts that hindered their salvation'', he concluded.

Good Friday on the Christian Calendar is the Friday when Christians, all over the world, remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ to save the world according to the Holy Bible.

GNA

By Kwamina Tandoh, GNA
15.04.2017 LISTEN

The immorality of the Invincible Forces and the Delta Force, resulting from their many egregious post-2016 vigilante acts of political violence and outright intimidation of Ghanaian citizens, exposes the rotten underbelly of the elephant, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the possible criminal makeup of its leadership, represented by Akufo-Addo, the shady character mask behind the All-Die-Be-Die Yen Akanfuo, a war mantra borne out of his peculiar conception of ethnic exceptionalism.

In his infamous plagiarized inaugural speech Akufo-Addo made the following grandiose promises:

We have an exuberant and young, growing population that wants the best of what the world has to offer and will not settle for Third World or developing world standards

Our judiciary must inspire confidence in the citizens, so we can see the courts as the ultimate arbiters when disputes arise, as they would.

A Ghanaian judge must be a reassuring presence and the epitome of fairnessWe must restore integrity in public life.

I will speak for greater justice as well as compassion, and I will call for responsibility and I will live it, as well

The rule of law will be the underlying tenets of our lives; and the law will be applicable to all of us, and not just some.

Thus far Akufo-Addo and his government have not lived up to any of these flamboyant promises. Rather what he and his obese government have in fact succeeded in doing in the past three months, is merely reinforcing the culture of impunity and the politics of equalization and the climate of fear, all of which defined the politics of the previous administration, and of course all three of which are also nothing to write home about as far as we can tell.

On the other hand lets quickly add that, the fact that this important speech contained undisguised stolen parts sown into a highly readable text of political and moral deception, itself betrays the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the nation and its new crop of Trumpian leadership.

This new government, it appears, has already started demonstrating the intrinsic or embryonic failure of all the previous governments of the Fourth Republic, replicating the political and moral weaknesses of those erstwhile regimes in absolute exactitudeif not more.

Not that we want this new government to failfar from it. Of course we do want to see it succeed by all standards, and not by replicating the same mistakes it criticized the previous administration of. The latter charge, once again, is exactly what this new administration has been repeating.

Perhaps our failure as a nation is because we have had a generation of leaders that only thrives on false consciousness, the overwhelming prestige and privileges and prerogatives associated with the high office, and uncritical automaticity.

The political symptomatology of uncritical automaticity, false consciousness, and the overwhelming prestige and privileges and prerogatives associated with the high office makes it possible for these leaders to forget the promise they make to the people.

Then again Akufo-Addos rhetorical grandiosity on the day he was inaugurated, which among others included his remarkable reference tasking the Ghanaian jurist to inspire a presence of fairness and equity, was a tongue-in-speech figure of speech.

He was and still must be fully aware of the rotten operational innards of the judiciary.

Akufo-Addo was an integral ingredient of the judiciary, a very corrupt arm of the national government, and for him to speak about the judiciary in a flattery language as a spectator rather than an insider is the height of hypocrisy.

So far he has not spoken out strongly against the frivolous fines slapped on the Delta Force suspects, who allegedly stormed the Kumasi Circuit Court, freed their colleagues on trial, vandalized court properties, and nearly lynched the sitting judge but for the timely intervention of the security detail posted there.

Granted, it is still possible these frivolous fines directly resulted from the fact the judge sitting on the case, Judge Ekow Mensah may have been afraid of his life if he did otherwise, that is if he was not lenient with those dangerous political terrorists. There are, of course, those who will argue that Akufo-Addo has no jurisdiction in this matter and therefore his personal intervention in it will have amounted to undermining the sanctity of judicial independence. Yet this may already have happened given the absolute lack of judicial independence in the Ghanaian body politic, as far as pressing issues of great national concern, primarily those ones which eventually end up in the courts, are concerned.

And then we also have a staunch supporter of Akufo-Addo, hip-life artiste and comedian A Plus, who made scandalous news this week when he reportedly threatened Ghanaian judges and called them fucking cowards.

As if that were not enough, the NPPs National Organizer John Boadu also came out with his own scandalous version of events regarding the fate of the vigilante groups under the partys watch and sponsorship. He was reported to have said the party will not dismantle any vigilante group unless it does something illegal.

The NPP has become the law of the land. This is what Boadu seems to be saying. Again, here is what the likes of Boadu and his boss Akufo-Addo seem to have forgotten:

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which is the supreme law of the land, stipulates in Articles 200 (2) and 210 (2) that no person or authority shall raise any private army, police force or militia except by or on the authority of an Act of Parliament.

Finally, Information Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, another comical member of this soap-opera political cast, perfectly acted out his part so well, the denouement of this political script of outrageous statements, when he endorsed another shameful act of national mediocrity, the sidesplitting chatterbox and political cartoon Kennedy Agyapong, over the latters alleged appealing personality and what this means in terms of gluing the partys grassroots to the highest echelons of power.

It is extremely difficult, almost impossible to take a stance arguing that these seemingly disparate statements, commentaries and communiques from these appointees do not have the sanctioning authority or approval from the president himself. They certainly do, and must.

The terrible, objectionable experience of his plagiarized speech demands proaction on his part and prior approval of certain indispensable policy statements carried in behalf of a government of which he remains its quintessential authoritative headship.

Irresponsible statements and their bad timing of delivery from government officials have been known to bring down many a government.

At the end of the day, one still have to wonder why Akufo-Addos political appointees are sowing seeds of informational conflicts in the hearts and minds of Ghanaians about this vigilante controversies, while, Akufo-Addo himself, the man at the center of it all keeps saying something else.

Perhaps, this kind of political communication is part of the overall zero-sum game this administration is playing with slumberous and comatose Ghanaians.

But who is to blame Abdul-Hamid when his boss is even afraid of Kennedy Agyapong. Listen to Akufo-Addo:

Using the structures of the party to deal with the problems of the party is what we have to do. So I am asking everybody to respect that even senior members of the party like the redoubtable Kennedy Agyapong, I am pleading with him

On the contrary, here was how one Madam Angela D. Aboagye, the Executive Director of the Ark Foundation, described the attention-seeking publicity stunt of a psittacine chatterbox:

This person [Kennedy Agyapong] is supposed to be an honorable MP and consistently he comes up with statements, rantings and ravings that make us question how he got there in the first place

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: SOME CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES

One wonders why the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) are not investigating these politically affiliated vigilante groups and their potential supporters, including thoroughly investigating whether Akufo-Addo is not only the Commander-In-Chief of Ghana but of this these vigilante groups as well, and to what extent Kennedy Agyapong and Chairman Wontumiin particularhave been involved with these groups.

Among other things, we will like to know if Akufo-Addo is not a closet Trumpian terrorist attired in sheep-in-wolfs-clothing political theology and the essentialist moralizing language of ethnic exceptionalism.

Is Akufo-Addo a political terrorist? Is it possible that Akufo-Addo is nursing domestic terrorism in Ghana?

We leave the BNI and the CID to answer this multi-billion-dollar question, even while we will not gloss over the fact of Akufo-Addo and the leadership of the NPP importing Serbian and South African mercenaries into the country to train these political terrorists who now make-up the Invincible Forces and the Delta Force, primarily, and Madam Akua Donkors bold statement to the effect that Akufo-Addo was more dangerous than the two Guantanamo Bay detainees currently under Ghanas custodial protection.

What is more, the investigation should be wide enough to cover the political dispensations of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)as acts of political criminality are not unique to the NPP.

Or else we should commission an independent body to look into this matter.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

A fish rots from the head down indeed, so the elders say.

An insider source tells this author that the Invincible Forces and the Delta Force have been resourceful as reservoirs of personal guards for Akufo-Addo in particular. They have also protected the physical assets of the NPP among other valuable services.

Nevertheless, none of these services is outside the domain of public knowledge.

Who has been paying or remunerating these criminal hoodlums for their services? Only Kennedy Agyapong?

Who else have been paying or remunerating these criminal hoodlums?

If Akufo-Addo did not directly pay these criminal hoodlums then he must surely have wondered or questioned how they came about and maintained their hulky physiques, clothed themselves, paid their bills, fed themselves and their families.

What is rather distressing for us is that our call for an independent investigation into the origination theories of these vigilante groups, even if carried out, will most probably amount to nothing.

Like his immediate predecessors, Akufo-Addo will not be gung-ho about his government initiating any investigation into this matter with enormous implications for our national security and social-political stability.

In fact, he may not even be aware that his actions and inactions are laying the groundwork for a potential civil conflict.

Nor does he appear to see any element of moral equivalence between Mahamas controversial pardoning of Montie 3 and the frivolous manner with which the judiciary is handling the Delta Force unlawful storming of the Kumasi Circuit Court!

Under the leadership of pseudo-democrat and anti-constitutionalist Akufo-Addo, the purported political individuation of the NPP has more than assumed the likeness of its archenemy, the NDC.

The elephant NPP under Akufo-Addos leadership is indeed, a sleeping giant! Here comes the elephant in the room

Moreover, we have seen how the arrogance of power, culture of impunity, coercive power, institutional corruption, executive dominance, post-truth politics and alternative facts, and politics of equalization are destroying our beloved country.

In addition, our political leaders continue to bury clamoring calls for social justice, fairness and equity in the coffins of intemperate political communication, in medieval and communist tactics.

What is rather certain, when all is said and done, is that if those criminal hoodlums had stormed the Flagstaff House and attempted lynching Akufo-Addo we would be dealing with a high-profile case of subversion and treason.

In such sensitive matters the life, person, and safety of any Ghanaian including judges is just as important as those of the president. This is not what the frivolous fines are telling us. Instead, it is telling us that the life, person, and safety of Ghanaians including judges are not that important, compared to the presidents. This is a condemnable precedent.

This not what Akufo-Addo's plagiarized speech promised Ghanaians.

Unfortunately, the location of the dastardly criminal act was village champion Chairman Wontumis highly charged partisan cottage.

Our leaders sleep on the job while military-grade arms, assault rifles, and cache of sophisticated weaponry proliferate across the length and breadth of the country.

This is largely Eurocentric Africa!

Now, listen to writer Dayo Olopade:

But the Wests adulation of Ms. Johnson Sirleaf seems to persist without any consideration as to whether she upholds liberal democratic values. Likewise, the gap between Liberians perception of Ms. Johnson Sirleaf and her international reputation is rarely given a fair hearing.

Indeed, Ms. Johnson Sirleafs global stature has risen based not on credibility with her people but on endorsements from international institutions like Harvard, Citibank and the World Bank and figures like George Soros, Bono and Warren Buffett.

For citizens from France to South Korea to the United States stunned by ethical and functional lapses in their political establishment, one instinct is to take to the streets to pressure those in power. Another is to wait for an election and vote for new leadership

Dear Readers, simply replace Ms. Johnson Sirleaf with African leaders and our story is complete!

REFERENCES

Myjoyonline.com. Full-Text: President Akufo-Addos Inaugural Speech. January 7, 2017.

Ghanaweb. A Plus Threatens Judges. April 13, 2017.

Dayo Olopade. Stop Treating Liberias President Like a Hero. Shes a Human. April 12, 2017. The New York Times.
Ryan Zinke, Secretary of the Interior View Photos

Yosemite National Park, CA  Park officials confirm that U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke paid a visit as part of a mission to make a personal point.

Today the 52nd Secretary of the Interior, a former U.S representative from Montana who officially took up his Trump Administration post on March 1, personally encouraged National Park Service employees to report any workplace harassment they experience or witness. Zinke rounded out his tour of Californias parks at Kings Canyon  and Yosemite, where, as Clarke Broadcasting previously reported here, the superintendent retired last September, amid criticisms he had created a hostile workplace.

Earlier this week an inspector general report came out. Covered here, it stated that former Yosemite Superintendent Don Neubacher called employees stupid and lazy. The same document also revealed that a mens club environment at Yellowstone subjected women to inappropriate comments and advances.

Zinke maintains that part of the reason for the trip was to directly deliver the message of his zero-tolerance policy against workplace harassment. Confirming that Zinke met with 150 Yosemite workers, park spokesperson Jamie Richards says his message came through clearly that they are part of a team.
CHARLESTON -- A man who was one of two sexual assault suspects who'd been at-large for more than three years is back in custody.

Jorge U. Lux is scheduled for a court hearing on Monday following his arrest in Charleston last month.

Lux, 29, and Julian A. Reynoso, now 21, were accused of raping a sleeping, intoxicated woman on June 16, 2013, at the residence on 11th Street in Charleston where they both then lived.

Lux had been at-large since he failed to appear at a scheduled court hearing on Oct. 7, 2013. Reynoso didn't show at a court hearing a week before that and still hasn't been located.

Police officers responded to an anonymous tip on the evening of March 15 and located and arrested Lux in the 1600 block of Ninth Street, Charleston police Deputy Chief Chad Reed said.

There was no information available on where Lux might have been since his last court appearance in 2013.

Lux is jailed and would have to post $10,000 in bond to be released. That bond amount was set when an arrest warrant was issued after he failed to appear at the 2013 court hearing.

At that time, he was out of jail after posting $5,000 in bond that was set when he was first arrested.

A judge ordered that bond forfeited when Lux still hadn't appeared on court or been located in December 2013. Reynoso's original $5,000 bond was also ordered forfeited and the arrest warrant issued for his failure to appear also carries a $10,000 bond.

The charges against Lux and Reynoso, criminal sexual assault, accuse them of having sex with the woman while the fact that she was asleep or her state of intoxication meant she couldnt consent.

A prison sentence of four to 15 years would be required if theres a conviction.

According to records in the cases, the woman left a Charleston tavern and then had car trouble.

She went to Lux's and Reynoso's residence seeking help but later awoke in a bed and suspected that she'd been sexually assaulted, the records say. She later identified Reynoso as one of the men at the home, according to the records.
Emerging reports suggests that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been conferred with a special title by the Lamido of Adamawa.

According to a Tweet by Laolu Akande, special to the VP, Professor Osinbajo has been given the title of "Jagaban Adamawa"

READ ALSO: Italian prosecutors expose how GEJ allegedly got $200 million from Malabu deal

Legit.ng gathered that the vice president landed in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, where he will be commissioning a number of Adamawa state govt projects this Thursday, April 13.

He was received at the Lamido Adamawas palace.

The Lamido conferred the VP with the honorary title - Jagaban Adamawa meaning front-runner of Adamawa, with a colorful presentation of a horse.

After a colorful Durbar parade in honor of VP, Osinbajo accepted the honorary title with greetings from President Buhari, in-laws to Adamawa people.

Vice President Osinbajo was well received by the Adamawa people

The vice President assured that even if it may not be easy, "we shall see a new Nigeria soon".

He noted that rebuilding of Adamawa and the Northeast region has started.

Source: Legit.ng
- Magu said the United States and Britain are talking about the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission because of the Malabu scandal

- While noting that the anti-graft agency was achieving success, he pleaded with the staff to double their efforts

The acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has reiterated the agencys readinesst to ensure that corruption is completely wiped out in Nigeria.

This, according to him, will ensure that the country retains her position in the comity of nations.

A statement by the EFCC obtained by Legit.ng shows that Magu made this known during an interactive session with staff of the commission to mark its 14th year anniversary.

Magu urged the staff to double their efforts

While encouraging the staff to uphold the core values of the commission, Magu said it was necessary to put more efforts in the ongoing fight against corruption as that is the only way succor can be brought to Nigeria.

We will continue to fight corruption whether anybody likes it or not. Because, we know that, that is the only way we can bring succor to this country.

"Now that we have found ourselves in this position, please, let us put heads together, Magu said.

READ ALSO: President Buhari approves appointment of heads of 23 agencies

He also encouraged the personnel to furnish him with information on how the commission can move forward; information on the wrong things the personnel are doing, in other for them to be addressed so that the image of the agency will not be tarnished.

"My door is completely opened. If something is going on wrong, please come and tell me. If you dont want to show your face, just write a letter to me. Information is very important.

"I am alone, if you dont tell me what is wrong, I would not know.

The EFCC boss also revealed that the world is monitoring the agency's success

I dont want to know what is right, just tell us how we can correct the system itself, because the system needs correction every day.

"People are complaining about corruption in the EFCC, which is not good. We should not allow some individuals to spoil our names here, he admonished.

Magu, who said that the efforts being made by the commission in fighting corruption is fast gaining recognition in the international communities, charged the staff to shun the wrong things and be part of the success story.

According to him, it is necessary to always remember to put the interest of the nation first.

READ ALSO: President Buhari approves appointment of heads of 23 agencies

If you go to United States of America and the United Kingdom, they are all awash with news about us because of this Malabu case.

"So we are succeeding. Be part of the success. Forget about your own interest. Consider the overall interest of this country and the interest of the nation," he told the staff.

Watch the arraignment of Andrew Yakubu, a former group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC):

Source: Legit.ng
- An international financial group, Money Maker Management, has approached former Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

- The company wants Obasanjo to serve as collateral to invest about $50 billion into the Nigerian economy

- Their targets are Nigerias financial, tourism and real sectors

An international financial group, Money Maker Management, has approached former Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to serve as collateral to invest about $50 billion into the Nigeria's financial, tourism and real sectors.

The team led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), George Ghorayeb met with Obasanjo at his Hilltop Presidential Villa in Abeokuta on Thursday, March 13 to offer him their proposal, Daily Trust reports.

According to Ghorayeb, the credentials of the former president prompted the move to approach him for the support.

READ ALSO: Kerosene price falls nationwide

Obasanjo still influential even after leaving power almost a decade ago

He further said the group was targeting both private corporations and governments at all the tiers to come up with projects as low as $5million and as high as $50billion in the country.

We need somebody in the calibre of the former president as collateral to bring in such financial assistance.

Former president, Chief Obasanjo has fantastic credentials that we can rely upon as collateral. That is why we have come to him to see if we can get both private and government projects in real, financial and tourism sectors of the Nigerian economy, which is giving positive prospects by the day.

President Buhari has always advocated for foreign investments in Nigeria

Meanwhile, Obasanjo, has expressed the determination in conjunction with other farmers group to end hunger in the country by 2025.

The former president made the resolution on Thursday, April, 13 at his residence in Abeokuta when members of the Egba Cluster Farming Initiative paid him a courtesy visit.members of the Egba Cluster Farming Initiative paid him a courtesy visit.

Obasanjo who is a renowned farmer, asked the Ogun state and federal governments to give farmers in the country more support in order to achieve this feat.

READ ALSO: President Buhari approves appointment of heads of 23 agencies

States like Kaduna are already mapping out plans to ensure foreign investors troop into their domain when they come into Nigeria. Watch the video below on Legit.ng tv.

Source: Legit.ng
Would you lik to know whether Google Wallet works in Nigeria. Google Wallet is a new mobile app that can make a wallet out of your mobile phone. It`s currently used by the UK and USA, but Nigerians can also have some benefits from the system. How does 'Google Wallet in Nigeria' work?

An Easy Way to Know How Google Wallet Works

Goggle Wallet currently supports a Google Prepaid Card, Citi Master Card, American Express, Visa and Discover. How to fund Google Wallet in Nigeria? You need to obtain one of the cards from the bank partners of Google and fund these cards with money. In the future, Google has plans to include all types of credit cards that people use today. You need to store your physical bank card into a mobile phone application using the Google Wallet application.

Your Google Wallet in Nigeria can be used at merchant locations with a PayPass or MasterCard logo. If your payment is successful, you will receive a notification about a successful transaction immediately.

When you shop with Google Wallet at Google SingleTap merchant locations, you can also earn some Google offers, loyalty points and coupons. Google wallet can store your gift cards, loyalty cards, offers and credit cards. Still, Google has plans to broad the capabilities of Google Wallet by allowing it to store keys, ID, tickets and boarding pass. It illuminates any physical need of an actual wallet.

What is Google Wallet?

READ ALSO: Peer to peer donation in Nigeria 2017

Google Wallet is a new mobile application created by Google. With this Google Wallet, you can buy things, goods and use services with managing only the Near Field Communications enabled mobile phone. Goggle wallet substitutes your actual plastic credit and bank cards with their virtual copies created on the mobile phone. Therefore, you do not need to carry plastic bank cards with you. Google wallet also store coupons, offers and loyalty cards for shoppers.

How to fund Google Wallet in Nigeria? You need to have a bank card of one of the partners of Google. It includes:

Discover

American Express

Visa

MasterCard

Citi

Sprint

Google Wallet also works with Google Offers. This service helps to deal with services and products relevant to your search location and term while you are using apps, like Google Offers, Shopper, Latitude, Google Maps and Google Search. After you make your searches and save the offers  they will synchronise automatically with other applications. You may need to use Google Wallet when you shop at the merchant location.

Google Wallet Security Measures

The Secure Element is your main protector when you use Google Wallet. It`s a special chip created by Google that stores all your credentials and provides superior security. Goggle made the Secure element isolated from your mobile phone`s hardware and operational system so that it can be only accessible through programs like Google Wallet.

Google Wallet also requires you to enter a PIN before you can make any transaction. Moreover, Google Wallet requires phones with NFC support and a Secure Element Chip. Google has plans to transfer Google Wallet to other platforms. It`s currently usable in the UK and USA, but the company plans to extend the number of countries for the application. Therefore, Google Wallet in Nigeria can be not just a dream. Now you can use it only with credit cards and on the territory of the UK and USA.

Near Field Communications  What is it?

If you use Google Wallet, then it needs NFC technology for receiving and transmitting data. Near Field Communication as a versatile and extremely fast technology can be used in everything, like t-shirts, stickers and movie posters. The embedded chip provides information about the object which can be enabled to read with an NFC provided device. These two enabled NFC devices can be used to transfer the data at close proximity.

Nigeria Google Wallet

Nigerians can`t use the whole potential of Google Wallet yet, but they can certainly use some of its functions. Nigerians can send and receive money with Gmail of the Google Wallet service. This feature of Gmail was anounced two years ago.

First of all, you need to have a Google Wallet account with a valid credit cards details. The service links your Google Wallet account with your Gmail account.

How to Send and Receive money with Gmail of Google Wallet?

Open Gmail;

Click Compose;

Enter the email address of the receiver;

Optionally add a message text and subject;

Click the $ icon or  icon for the UK users;

If you don`t have Google Wallet  you will be asked to set up the account;

If you need to send money  enter the amount and choose the source from which to withdraw the money;

If you want to request money  click Request and input the amount you would like to request;

Click Attach;

Double check your message and click Send.

It`s free to send and obtain money for the UK users with using debit cards and Google Wallet Balance. USA users can easily send and receive money with using debit cards, credit cards and Google Wallet Balance.

How to receive money?

Open your Gmail;

Open the message with the money attached;

Choose Claim Money;

You need to verify your identity with Google Wallet;

Once Identity Verification is completed, you can claim the money from the message.

Nigeria Google Wallet disables sending money

Open Gmail;

Click Compose;

Click the $ icon or  icon for the UK users;

Click the gear icon;

Disable the feature.

READ ALSO: Easiest way of making money in Nigeria

Source: Legit.ng
- FCT minister Muhammad Bello has urged residents of the territory to pray for the nation and President Muhammadu Buhari for the well-being, peace and prosperity of Nigeria

- He tasked the residents of the Federal Capital Territory to be security conscious

- Bello says security is everybodys business

Muhammad Musa Bello, minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has urged residents of the territory to pray for the nation and President Muhammadu Buhari for the well-being, peace and prosperity of Nigeria as a country.

Bellos appeal comes as Nigerians join the rest of the world to celebrate Easter, which marks the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

While congratulating residents of the Federal Capital Territory as they celebrate Easter, Bello said that as Nigerians, we must live together and continue to be our brothers keepers, irrespective of our religious belief, Vanguard reports.

FCT minister Muhammad Bello urges Christians to pray for Nigeria, Buhari this Easter

He assured that the FCT Administration in collaboration with the Security Agencies was more than ever determined to protect the lives and property of all residents of the Territory.

READ ALSO: President Buhari approves appointment of heads of 23 agencies

However, he tasked the residents of the Federal Capital Territory to be security conscious, and also solicited for their cooperation and understanding to always report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agents.

According to him, security is everybodys business.

The minister urged the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, particularly Christians, to use the Easter occasion for sober reflection as well as emulating the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.

He said that Christ has demonstrated his love for humanity by sacrificing his live for the sins of others.

In a statement signed yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the Minister expressed gratitude to God for the privilege and mercy He has granted us to join Christians in the other parts of the World to commemorate this auspicious day in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.

READ ALSO: Fani-Kayode claims Lagos apartment where EFCC discovered huge cash belongs to Amaechi

Bello said: I wish to further urge the residents to resolve in our commitment to make selfless service to the growth and development of the Federal Capital Territory and the nation at large.

I urge residents to continue to supplicate to God for the wellbeing, peace and prosperity of our dear country as well as its leadership, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Meanwhile, watch video of man saying he may be forced to steal if the hardship in Nigeria continues.

Source: Legit.ng
- Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki has been declared the winner of the state's governorship election by an election petitions tribunal

- The elections tribunal affirmed the victory of Obaseki as the winner of the gubernatorial elections held on September 28, 2016

- Justice Ahmed Badamosi dismissed the petition of the People's Democratic Party (APC) and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu challenging the victory of Obaseki

Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki has been declared the winner of the state's governorship election by an election petitions tribunal sitting in Benin on Friday, April 14.

The elections tribunal affirmed the victory of Obaseki as the winner of the gubernatorial elections held on September 28, 2016.

Justice Ahmed Badamosi dismissed the petition of the People's Democratic Party (APC) and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu challenging the victory of APC's Godwin Obaseki.

READ ALSO: President Buhari's absence in office raises new concerns

Godwin Obaseki has been declared the winner of the state's governorship election

Obaseki, who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a previous report by Legit.ng, the Ize-Iyamu camp challenged the declaration of Godwin Obaseki as the winner of the September 28, 2016 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The tribunal began hearing the case on January 7, 2017 and ended hearing on April 3, 2017 after final addresses by the counsels.

Supporters of Edo state governor rejoicing after the elections tribunal affirmed the victory of Obaseki as the winner of the gubernatorial elections held on September 28, 2016.

Several witnesses came before the tribunal and provided as exhibits the voters register in 16 local government areas of the state as well as the Forms EC8A, Form EC8B and EC8C, being results sheets for all the polling units, wards and local government areas of the state.

READ ALSO: MASSOB slams Osita Okechukwu for calling Nnamdi Kanu a boy

A Nigerian on the streets of Lagos gave Legit.ng TV crew his opinion on the achievements of the ruling APC recently. Watch:

Source: Legit.ng
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.
A 31-year-old Lincoln man has been sentenced to eight to 10 years in prison for second-degree assault and a gun charge for a shooting last year in Holdrege.

Julio Valenzuela had pleaded no contest.

Phelps County District Judge Stephen Illingworth sentenced him Thursday, making the term concurrent to the 20 to 30 years he's already serving on a Lancaster County sentence, in part for illegally possessing a gun when police arrested him on a warrant in the Holdrege case in July 2015.

On April 23, 2015, he shot Donald Handy III in the abdomen and right arm, according to court records.

Acting on a tip, police found Valenzuela in Lincoln about two months later with two loaded pistols -- a 9 mm Glock and a .22-caliber Phoenix -- in the center console of his car.

This summer, Valenzuela got 10 to 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, plus 10 to 15 years for a methamphetamine possession charge that stemmed from a November 2013 traffic stop.
Television: A Cable News Giant

Bill OReilly is both an ambassador and a moneymaker for Fox News, his television home since 1996. His show, The OReilly Factor, which airs at 8 on weeknights, is routinely the highest-ranked show on cable news. And his blend of I-know-best commentary and pointed interviews established a genre of opinion programming that has come to dominate much of television news.

With more than 5,000 episodes under his belt, Mr. OReilly is the jewel in the Fox News crown: His show has generated billions of dollars in revenue, including over $446 million from advertising from 2014 to 2016, according to the research firm Kantar Media.

This year, he is averaging nearly four million viewers a night, up about 40 percent from just two years ago. His audience is overwhelmingly white  roughly nine out of 10 viewers, according to Nielsen  but more or less evenly split between genders, with men making up about 54 percent of viewers. Fox News recently extended his contract, though it is not known for how long.
The Trump Organization said on Thursday it had rejected a proposed Dallas hotel project with a real estate firm that had attracted scrutiny for its vast foreign ties to Russia, Kazakhstan and at least two dozen other countries.

The firm, Alterra Worldwide, was the only publicly identified potential partner in the Trump Organizations domestic hotel expansion plans. Alterras president, Mukemmel Sarimsakci, who was born in Turkey and calls himself the Turkish Trump, planned to buy property in downtown Dallas on which the hotel was to be built.

The Trump Organization said that in addition to having questions about the firms sprawling foreign ties, it objected to Mr. Sarimsakcis prematurely publicizing the hotel plans in the news media when there was no final agreement.

We clearly retreated from this particular deal, Eric Danziger, the head of the Trump Organizations hotel division, said on Thursday.
The medical device maker St. Jude Medical played down the failure of some batteries in its defibrillators, shipping them for years before recalling the devices last fall, according to a warning letter the Food and Drug Administration issued this week.

The company, acquired by Abbott Laboratories in January, also failed to tell its own management and a medical advisory board that the battery problems had led to the death of a patient, the agency found.

The F.D.A. said St. Jude Medical had not shown it was taking sufficient action to fix the problems that led to the slow recall and ordered the company to provide a new reporting plan within 15 days.

Faulty defibrillators and other implanted devices are particularly problematic because removing them requires surgery that can be more risky than keeping them in. When the company announced the recall in October, the F.D.A. recommended that doctors closely monitor their patients devices for problems. Saying the malfunction did not appear to be widespread, the agency warned that patients could be at greater risk of complications from the surgical procedure required to replace the device.
HARTFORD  Gov. Dannel P. Malloy of Connecticut, known nationally for seeking stronger gun laws after the school shooting in Newtown and for welcoming a Syrian refugee family rebuffed by Mike Pence when he was governor of Indiana, announced on Thursday that he would not seek a third term.

Mr. Malloy, 61, appeared with his wife, Cathy, and their eldest son, Dannel, at an unexpected news conference at the State Capitol. He said that his decision had nothing to do with low public approval ratings, and that he and his family had been in politics for years and had decided they were ready for another stage in their lives.

Ive run for governor three times, said Mr. Malloy, a Democrat who won two of those races after 14 years as mayor of Stamford. I just think thats enough for me personally and for Cathy. Weve put in our time, and Ive devoted six full years to trying to turn this state around.

Mr. Malloy, who is also chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, said he would complete his second term as governor, which ends in January 2019. The list of Republicans and Democrats interested in the position has been growing in recent months.
Roque De La Fuente, a millionaire San Diego developer who ran unsuccessfully for president last year, would now like to be mayor of New York City. But he has already failed to win over a much smaller constituency: the co-op board of a Fifth Avenue building that rejected his $1.28 million offer. All cash.

Now Mr. De La Fuente, who still does not have a residence in New York, has filed a motion in federal court claiming that the board illegally rejected him because of his Mexican heritage.

His current legal action is perhaps unique in the history of city mayoral candidates. But Mr. De La Fuente, who has said he spent $7.5 million on his presidential campaign, is no stranger to litigation, having spent years in court with the city of San Diego over a development property before ultimately prevailing.

The current suit is perhaps even more daunting, a case of an ambitious aspiring New Yorker coming head to head with the force and opacity of one of the citys most intractable and immovable institutions.
For years, the school kept allegations of sexual misconduct from getting out, according to the report. Sexual misconduct matters were handled internally and quietly, it said. Even when a teacher was terminated or resigned in the middle of the school year because he or she had engaged in sexual misconduct with a student, the rest of the faculty was told little and sometimes nothing about the teachers departure and, when told, was cautioned to say nothing about the situation if asked.

Image Cheyenne Montgomery with her teacher Bjorn Runquist at a school event in 1992. She later said he abused her. Credit... Cheyenne Montgomery

Cheyenne Montgomery graduated from Choate in 1992, and as a student there, she said she was abused by two teachers. In a telephone interview, Ms. Montgomery described herself as an unusual Choate student because she had very little money. The Times does not usually identify victims of sexual assault by name, but Ms. Montgomery wanted to share her story publicly.

Angus Mairs, a math teacher, encouraged students to come to him for extra help, she recounted, and during her sophomore year, he suggested that she visit him to study.

Conversations with him started getting more personal, she said. He started kind of sharing information about himself and digging into information about me, mostly about my father, and kind of through that, it developed into what felt to me like a boyfriend-girlfriend situation. And it became physical.

Mr. Mairs left Choate at the end of the school year.

During Ms. Montgomerys senior year, she said, she was abused again, this time by a French teacher, Bjorn Runquist, whom she had told about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Mr. Mairs. Shortly after she graduated, Choate learned that the two had an inappropriate relationship, though the report says administrators were unaware that the relationship was sexual. The report said this prompted Mr. Runquists exit from the school at the end of the academic year. He then returned to the Kent School, where he had taught before joining the Choate faculty, and from which he retired in 2013.

Ms. Montgomery recounted her experience in the 2016 Boston Globe article.

As recently as 2010, a longtime faculty member named Charles Timlin kissed a student and made inappropriate sexual comments to her, the report said. Edward Shanahan, the headmaster at the time, is quoted as saying that Mr. Timlin had been a 25-year faculty member, great teacher, great coach, great faculty member, and Mr. Shanahan decided that the conduct did not warrant his dismissal.

Mr. Shanahan said Mr. Timlin could stay on at Choate if he saw a psychiatrist and moved out of the girls dorm, where he worked as an adviser. He was also required to sign a letter of resignation, which could be used if any other accusations came to light or if the episode with the student became more of a public matter. In the fall of that year, the students father contacted the school, after which the school informed the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and dismissed Mr. Timlin, though he was paid through the end of the academic year. Mr. Shanahan could not be reached for comment.
We know their tricks, she said, referring to unscrupulous business owners. This is an attempt to jump in front of their tricks.

A 2015 report written by several worker advocacy organizations calculated that between 2003 and 2013, the New York State Department of Labor was unable to collect over $101 million that employers owed workers.

Its not surprising that people who are willing to cheat their workers are willing to transfer their assets to prevent their workers from getting what they are rightfully owed, said Richard Blum, a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society who works in the employment law division.

Small-business groups have opposed Ms. Rosenthals measure, saying it is an unnecessary and unfair burden on employers.

Its based on an accusation, not on proof, said Denise M. Richardson, the executive director of the General Contractors Association. An employee who feels aggrieved should not be able to tie up a businesss finances absent any proof that in fact they have been subject to wage theft.

But workers say they need more powerful tools to battle employers who mistreat them.

Right now, it is very easy for these sweatshop bosses to steal workers wages, said Jin Ming Cao, who has yet to see any of the over $100,000 a judge ordered his former employer, a restaurant in Manhattan, to pay him in 2010, part of $1.5 million settlement involving a group of workers. Even when theyre found out by a court, they just change names, its so easy.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions went to the border in Arizona on Tuesday and declared it a hellscape, a ground zero of death and violence where Americans must take our stand against a tide of evil flooding up from Mexico.

It was familiar Sessions-speak, about drug cartels and transnational gangs poisoning and raping and chopping off heads, things he said for years on the Senate floor as the gentleman from Alabama. But with a big difference: Now he controls the machinery of federal law enforcement, and his gonzo-apocalypto vision of immigration suddenly has force and weight behind it, from the officers and prosecutors and judges who answer to him.

When Mr. Sessions got to the part about the criminal aliens and the coyotes and the document forgers overthrowing our immigration system, the American flag behind him had clearly heard enough  it leaned back and fell over as if in a stupor. An agent rushed to rescue it, and stood there for the rest of the speech: a human flag stand and metaphor. A guy with a uniform and gun, wrapped in Old Glory, helping to give the Trump administrations nativist policies a patriotic sheen.

It was in the details of Mr. Sessionss oratory that his game was exposed. He talked of cities and suburbs as immigrant-afflicted war zones, but the crackdown he seeks focuses overwhelmingly on nonviolent offenses, the document fraud and unauthorized entry and other misdeeds that implicate many people who fit no sane definition of brutal criminal or threat to the homeland.
Some works of art cry out for large canvases. Though it is sparing in its use of scenery or anything approaching spectacle, J. T. Rogerss Oslo, an against-the-odds story of international peacemaking, is undeniably a big play, as expansive and ambitious as any in recent Broadway history. So it is particularly gratifying to announce that it has been allowed to stretch to its full height in the thrilling production that opened on Thursday night, directed with a masters hand by Bartlett Sher.

This rich drama of quixotic politics fills to the bursting point its capacious new home at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. Staged (and admired) last summer at the Lincoln Center Theaters smaller downstairs space, the Mitzi E. Newhouse, Oslo has now become the colossus it was always meant to be, while giving an even sharper focus to the urgent behind-the-scenes intimacy at its fast-beating heart.

Image Daniel Oreskes, left, and Michael Aronov, right, play Israelis in peace talks with Anthony Azizi, center, as a member of the P.L.O. Credit... Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

The productions newly enhanced scale matches the aspirations of not only the plays author but also its protagonists. That would be Terje Rod-Larsen and Mona Juul, the (very real) Norwegian husband and wife who in the early 1990s initiated the series of secret peace talks between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization that led to the Oslo Accords, a fleeting moment of bright hope in an enduringly dark realm of conflict.
Quotation of the Day: Only Thing Different About NATO Is Presidents Opinion of It

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/13/todayspaper/quotation-of-the-day-only-thing-different-about-nato-is-presidents-opinion-of-it.html Give this article Give this article Give this article




Shelly A. Millers northeast Lincoln house hasnt changed much in the last few weeks.

The grass is probably a little taller. A new sign on her front door says the house is condemned. Charred furniture still lies in a pile on her back porch, and a patched-up window hasnt been touched.

The home at Ammon and Leighton avenues hasnt been occupied since Lincoln Fire and Rescue extinguished a blaze that began in her basement because of an unattended candle March 25.

Miller was not home at the time of the fire, and theres been no sign of Miller since. Her roommate was in the hospital at the time of her disappearance, police said.

Her 2003 silver Jeep Grand Cherokee is gone. Her purse, too, but theres been no bank activity. Her cellphone was left behind.

Lincoln Police Capt. Martin Fehringer said Miller's disappearance is obviously concerning  especially considering the fire.

We dont see that every day, he said this week.

Every officer in the departments criminal investigation unit has put hands on the case. Patrol officers have tried to help by looking out for signs of movement at Millers house, or checking out leads  which have been few and far between.

Fehringer is surprised her Jeep hasnt been found.

Asked what he thought about the case, if Miller was taken against her will or doesnt want to be found, he said with so little information, anything is possible.

Were investigating any and every angle we can think of, he said. We have no specific information to lead us one way or another.

The majority of Lincolns missing adults are found within 24 hours, and most of the rest in three to four days, Fehringer said.

Beyond that for adults is a bit of an outlier, he said. The fact that there was a fire is strange.

Miller has been added to the list of missing people kept by the Nebraska State Patrol. Forty-four other Lincoln residents are on that list, with one person missing since 2000.

People have taken to Facebook in an attempt to share Millers picture with as many people as possible.

Please continue to pray for Shelly Miller, one woman wrote on the New Creation Community Seventh-day Adventist Church page. She is still missing with no word from her ... it's killing her family not knowing.

Residents in rural areas are being asked to check their property for any signs of a disturbance or for Millers Jeep.

If you have any acreage, check it, Fehringer said. Look around ponds, culverts, any thick bushes where a vehicle can be hidden."

He also wants the public to call in any tip or information, no matter how small or insignificant something may seem.

"We're going to work every lead," Fehringer said. "A lot of people will think, 'Oh, I don't want to bother the police,' or 'This isn't anything big,' but what people don't understand is small tips could lead us to figuring out the bigger picture. Call us for anything. If you have any information about her past employment, friends, relationships, call."

Miller is 5-foot-5, 140 pounds, with blonde hair and brown eyes.

Her Jeep has the Nebraska license plate TEF 894.

Anonymous tips can be sent to Lincoln Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600 or shared online at lincolncrimestoppers.com.
One of the girls told investigators that she thought she and the other girl had gone to the doctor because our tummies hurt. The other said the cutting procedure was so painful that she screamed and could barely walk afterward. She drew a picture of the room where the procedures were allegedly carried out, marking an X on the spot where she said she had bled on the examination table, according to the complaint.

Dr. Nagarwala is alleged to have performed horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims, Kenneth A. Blanco, an acting assistant attorney general with the Justice Departments criminal division, said in a statement on Thursday. 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.

Dr. Nagarwala appeared in court on Thursday and was ordered held in jail until another hearing on Monday. The doctors lawyer, Shannon M. Smith, could not be reached by phone for comment on Thursday. According to the complaint, Dr. Nagarwala said she had never performed genital cutting on any children.

Dr. Nagarwala, who practices emergency medicine at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, has been placed on administrative leave, said David Olejarz, a spokesman for the Henry Ford Health System.
PHOENIX  An environmental group and an Arizona congressman have sued to block the construction of President Trumps wall along the southern border, threatening to derail one of his marquee projects well before it gets off the ground.

The Center for Biological Diversity and Representative Raul M. Grijalva, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources, claimed in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in Tucson that the Trump administration had failed to study the walls environmental impact before gearing up for its construction.

Mr. Trumps plan to strengthen the border includes the hiring of 5,000 Border Patrol agents, increasing by 25 percent the ranks of the largest law enforcement agency in the country.

The lawsuit seeks to stop any work until the government agrees to analyze the impact of construction, noise, light and other changes to the landscape on rivers, plants and endangered species  including jaguars, Sonoran pronghorns and ocelots  and also on border residents.
They have spent thousands of dollars in fees, scaled a mountain of paperwork and waited nearly five years, but Caroline and Jason Lankford have yet to be matched with the Ethiopian child they long to adopt.

They are among thousands of Americans whose hopes of becoming parents through overseas adoption are on hold as the number of eligible children dwindles. Overseas adoptions by Americans have dipped to the lowest level in 35 years, data released on Wednesday showed. The State Department reported that it issued 5,372 visas to children who were adopted abroad or were coming to the United States to be adopted by American parents in 2016, down from 5,648 in 2015  and a fraction of the 22,884 overseas adoptions in 2004, the peak.

After all this time, we dont know when well get our boy or girl, said Ms. Lankford, of Anchorage, who sought a child from Ethiopia because her husband, Jason, had worked for a time in Africa. We knew so many kids wanted a home.

The latest figure is the lowest since 1981, when there were 4,868 overseas adoptions. Reasons for the decline are varied. Some countries are promoting domestic adoptions over foreign ones; several have suspended the process because of corruption. Still others have imposed stringent restrictions after cases of child transfers and abandonment.
The issue could come to a head within weeks. When the House reconvenes on April 25, the first order of business will be a spending bill to replace the current stopgap law, which expires three days later. Democrats are determined to put money for the health insurance subsidies into that bill, and some Republicans on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are open to the idea. But ultimately, the decision will be made by Republican leaders in the two chambers.

If the spending is allowed to continue, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the federal government will pay $135 billion in cost-sharing subsidies to insurers from 2018 to 2027.

The cloud of uncertainty swirling around the subsidies stems from a court ruling in a lawsuit that House Republicans filed against the Obama administration in 2014. Judge Rosemary M. Collyer of the Federal District Court in Washington ruled last year that spending on the subsidies violates the Constitution because Congress never appropriated money for them. She ordered a halt to the payments, but suspended her order to allow the government to appeal.

The Trump administration has not made clear whether it will press the appeal filed by the Obama administration. In a letter to Mr. Trump this week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association and insurers in seeking quick action to guarantee continuation of the subsidies. Without the subsidies, they said, more people will be uninsured and unable to pay medical bills.

Democrats say they will not negotiate with Mr. Trump until he stops his drive to repeal the Affordable Care Act. President Trump is threatening to hold hostage health care for millions of Americans, many of whom voted for him, to achieve a political goal of repeal that would take health care away from millions more, said the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York.

Having no immediate prospect of a deal with Democrats, the White House is still focusing on Republicans. It is seeking consensus on a repeal bill that can overcome rifts among House Republicans, whose disagreements sank an earlier version of the legislation on March 24.

Even though lawmakers are out of town for a two-week spring break, Mr. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are continuing efforts to revive the bill in talks with Representative Mark Meadows, the North Carolina Republican who is the chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.
Mr. Pompeos view of WikiLeaks is hardly unique for a senior American intelligence official. But his decision to focus on the group in his debut on Washingtons think-tank circuit as C.I.A. director was the latest sign that neither Mr. Trump nor many of his most senior officials consider themselves beholden to statements they made or stances they took in the presidential campaign, whether they be on WikiLeaks or on allegations of Chinese currency manipulation.

To be sure, Mr. Pompeo never went as far in praising WikiLeaks as Mr. Trump, who declared in a speech on Oct. 10, I love WikiLeaks!

But Mr. Pompeo, speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, an independent research group, appeared to have no compunction during the campaign about pointing people toward emails stolen by Russian hackers from the Democratic National Committee and then posted by WikiLeaks.

Need further proof that the fix was in from Pres. Obama on down? BUSTED: 19,252 Emails from DNC Leaked by WikiLeaks, he wrote in a Twitter post in July that included a link to a conservative blog. The emails to which the post referred showed that Democratic Party officials favored Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders in the primary.

Since taking office, though, the Trump administration has found itself on the receiving end of WikiLeaks disclosures. Last month, the group released thousands of pages of documents describing sophisticated software tools and techniques used by the C.I.A. to break into smartphones, computers and even internet-connected televisions.
But their lingering presence in Ms. Le Pens inner circle has called into question the sincerity of her strategy to un-demonize her party and renounce its heritage of deep-rooted anti-Semitism since she took over from her father, Jean-Marie, in 2011.

By the evidence, said the historian Nicolas Lebourg, a leading National Front specialist at the University of Montpellier, she considers its not something very important.

The two trusted men continue to work closely with the partys top leadership, including Ms. Le Pen. They have been charged by French prosecutors in an elaborate campaign-finance scheme that has been crucial to keeping the National Front afloat for years.

The financial scandals have not dented Ms. Le Pen in the polls before the first round of voting on April 23. Potentially more damaging may be the recent revelations about the people she has surrounded herself with, in particular Mr. Chatillon and Mr. Loustau.

They have remained National Socialist, said Aymeric Chauprade, once Ms. Le Pens principal adviser on foreign affairs until a falling out, partly over his pro-Israel stance.

They are anti-Semites, nostalgic for the Third Reich, violently anticapitalist, with a hatred for democracy, he added in an interview. People think theyre marginal. But in fact, I discovered, she protects them. She supports them. They are at the heart of everything.

Mr. Chauprade recalled a dinner with Mr. Chatillon and others in the spring of 2014 that was full of anti-Semitic jokes. But he added: They are not joking. They are real Nazis.
She added: Im a channel. I literally channeled these multiple presences to come out.

Once she took her first pass, she would come back and listen to softer, more relaxing music, like Billie Holidays. Then Ms. Hinkle would take calligraphy pens to add color and texture to faces, curves, breasts and hair. It was her way of providing the missing women with personalities and stories.

I didnt want to judge what I was putting on the paper, or who was going to come out, Ms. Hinkle said. I didnt know what I was going to draw before I did it. Theyre not sketches. It was a one-shot deal.

The images are vivid. Some women are dancing. Others are braiding hair. Others are shown in introspective poses. But Ms. Hinkle is more than comfortable with letting viewers draw their own conclusions about what the women are doing.

I want them to think about how we are all agents in erasure, and how we all have a role that we play, Ms. Hinkle said. Who we go out looking for. Who we spread the news for. What names we say. The names we dont say. I want them to go home and think about the women and their families.
Christopher Morahan, whose many productions for British television included the acclaimed 1984 drama series The Jewel in the Crown, about the last days of British rule in India, died on April 7 in Guildford, Surrey. He was 87.

The death was confirmed by his daughter, the actress Hattie Morahan.

Mr. Morahan was well known as a producer and director for stage and television when Denis Forman, the chairman of Granada Television, asked him to translate the four India novels by Paul Scott, known as The Raj Quartet, into a television series.

Filmed on location in India and broadcast in Britain by ITV in 14 parts, four of them directed by Mr. Morahan, The Jewel in the Crown was hailed as a superlative example of high-style period drama, an almost proprietary art form on British television. The cast included distinguished veterans like Peggy Ashcroft, Janet Henfrey and Charles Dance, along with newcomers and lesser-knowns like Art Malik and Tim Pigott-Smith, who died on the same day as Mr. Morahan.

It was Morahans decision to shoot that series on film, to use archive footage to provide historical perspective and to cast a number of then relatively little-known actors, including Pigott-Smith, Art Malik and Susan Wooldridge, in lead roles, the theater critic Michael Billington wrote in The Guardian. If the result was a triumph, much of the credit belongs to Morahan.
Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown that lets you sleep  and lets us get paid to watch comedy. What do you think of it? What else are you interested in? Let us know: thearts@nytimes.com.

(St)O(ned) Canada

Canadas prime minister, Justin Trudeau, introduced legislation on Thursday to legalize the recreational use of marijuana nationwide. It all made sense to Jimmy Kimmel.

So Canadas about to become the stoner living in Americas attic.  JIMMY KIMMEL Boy, I tell you, they must really want Seth Rogen back.  JIMMY KIMMEL

Mr. Kimmel figures legal marijuana probably wont require Canadian law enforcement to do things much differently.

The current punishment for being caught with pot in Canada is a cop saying, Hey, maybe dont do that, eh?  JIMMY KIMMEL

Conans White House Update
Fortitude, which brought terror to the Svalbard archipelago in Norway, moves to Amazon Prime and adds Dennis Quaid to the cast. And Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return, on Netflix, reboots the beloved schlocky classic.

Whats Streaming

FORTITUDE on Amazon. Things have gone south in the most northerly town in the world: The supermarket shelves are nearly bare. The government in Oslo has turned its back. And the caverns holding the prehistoric treasure  and those nasty wasps  that transformed this Arctic outpost devoid of crime and death into a violence-filled Petri dish have been buried under 300,000 tons of snow and ice. Season 2 of this British thriller, formerly on Pivot, debuts with a rare heavenly spectacle called a blood aurora, a decapitation and a search in the glacial wilderness for Sheriff Dan Anderssen (Richard Dormer) nine weeks after he shot the woman (Veronica Echegui) he loved. It also introduces Dennis Quaid into the cast as Michael Lennox, a genial fisherman intent on curing his terminally ill wife (Michelle Fairley)  and more unnameable dread than ever.
A man who ran off from a traffic stop early Friday prompted the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to send students a warning that a dangerous person was near East Campus.

Lincoln Police Officer Katie Flood said an LPD officer tried stopping a vehicle near 48th Street and Madison Avenue for a traffic violation at 1:17 a.m. When the driver stopped, the front passenger, Abreion Alexander, 21, took off running. When he left the car, a loaded magazine fell out of his pocket, leading officers to believe he could be armed, she said.

Shortly after, the backseat passenger, Davonte Jackson, 21, also ran away, Flood said.

Alexander was later found walking near 53rd and Judson streets. Flood said officers didn't find a gun.

Jackson was found hiding in the bed of a pickup truck near 49th and Adams streets, she said.

Both were arrested on suspicion of failure to comply. Jackson also had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.
SOUTH AND WEST

From a Notebook

By Joan Didion

126 pp. Alfred A. Knopf. $21.

Joan Didions California has always seemed to me familiar, yet exotic. Familiar because I recognized instantly the landscapes and cultures she described in Slouching Towards Bethlehem and The White Album, knew exactly what she meant when she wrote that October is the bad month for the wind.  Every voice seems a scream, or that the future always looks good in the golden land, because no one remembers the past. Exotic because I didnt know women like the heroines of Run River or Play It as It Lays, women who lived on ranches in the Sacramento Valley or sunny apartments in Beverly Hills, spritzed Joy on their wrists before dinner and wore dresses purchased at I. Magnin. As it happens, I once lived two blocks down from the last Magnin store in Los Angeles, a marble building that closed in 1990, on a street that had become so dangerous that at night after I parked my car I had to race to my front door, where bullet holes dotted the transom. There are many Californias.

South and West, Joan Didions new book, is partly about California, partly about the South. And it is only partly a book, as its subtitle (From a Notebook) suggests. What we have here are vignettes, observations and interviews Didion recorded in 1970 while on a monthlong road trip through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama with her husband, John Gregory Dunne. The purpose of the trip is unclear even to Didion. I had only some dim and unformed sense, she writes, a sense which struck me now and then, and which I could not explain coherently, that for some years the South and particularly the Gulf Coast had been for America what people were still saying California was, and what California seemed to me not to be: the future, the secret source of malevolent and benevolent energy, the psychic center.

Image Credit... Alessandra Montalto/The New York Times

If the South is the center, then the center is not holding. In New Orleans, the air is dark, the mood lugubrious. Old people sit in front of their houses and stare, a woman falls forward over the wheel of her car and dies, elaborate aboveground crypts lie as if in wait. At dinner, a man who specializes in building and restoring Greek Revival houses asks Didion who allowed her to spend time with marijuana-smoking hippie trash. (I presume he was referring to people in Haight-Ashbury, about whom Didion wrote in the title essay of Slouching Towards Bethlehem.) Who wouldnt have allowed me? Didion retorts. You do have a husband? the man asks. This man Ive thought was your husband for several years, he is your husband?
Ultimately, Washingtons black officials embraced the Nixonian law-and-order mood of the nation, passing increasingly tougher laws and adopting aggressive policing practices into the 1990s. Marion Barry, Washingtons future mayor, claimed the mantle of drug warrior (before he fell victim to his own addiction), and the stark and visible pattern of African-Americans increasingly locking up their own was replicated elsewhere. When an urgent problem required a short-term solution, law enforcement was regarded as the only answer, Forman writes. In 1978, Washington appointed its first black police chief, Burtell Jefferson, a staunch advocate for mandatory minimum sentencing, to lead the nations first black-majority police department. By 1990, there were 130 black police chiefs in the United States and more than 300 black mayors.

Given a century of brutal, anti-black racism in the criminal justice system after the Civil War, these developments give rise to some obvious questions: When African-American officials finally gained a measure of control over the machinery of the law, why did mass incarceration happen on their watch? In other words, why did they lock up their own?

Forman offers three explanations. First, black officials did not see mass incarceration coming. No one did, he argues. It was the result of a series of small decisions, made over time, by a disparate group of actors. (Hayes makes the same point in his book.) Second, after legal segregation fell, African-American class biases came to the fore. Class privilege meant that middle-class and elite blacks had a smaller chance of exposure to criminal victimization and the full hammer of the law, especially long prison sentences. Citing a 1966 University of Michigan study, Forman writes that a surprising number of working-class black cops didnt like other black people  at least not the poor blacks they tended to police.

The third reason is a big deal and a major breakthrough. Formans novel claim is this: What most explains the punitive turn in black America is not a repudiation of civil rights activism, as some have argued, but an embrace of it. African-Americans have always viewed the protection of black lives as a civil rights issue, whether the threat comes from police officers or street criminals, he writes. Far from ignoring the issue of crime by blacks against other blacks, African-American officials and their constituents have been consumed by it. Forman recalls his own experience as a public defender and the case of a 15-year-old first offender who was facing sentencing for handgun possession and a small bag of pot; a black judge, hearing Formans plea for leniency, was unmoved. Dr. King didnt march and die so that you could be a fool, so that you could be out on the street, getting high, carrying a gun and robbing people, the judge admonished. No, young man, that was not his dream.

Image Marion Barry, candidate for mayor, October 1994. Credit... Nancy Andrews/The Washington Post, via Getty Images

In this way, post-civil-rights leaders reimagined Dr. King as a crime crusader. In 1995, one year after Bill Clinton signed the biggest crime bill in American history, the nations first black United States attorney for the District of Columbia, Eric Holder, announced a major anti-crime initiative called Operation Ceasefire at a Martin Luther King Day celebration in Arlington: Did Martin Luther King successfully fight the likes of Bull Connor so that we could ultimately lose the struggle for civil rights to misguided or malicious members of our own race?

This wasnt the politics of respectability; it was what Forman calls the politics of responsibility. Dr. Kings legacy had become fodder for a national trend of personal responsibility jeremiads aimed at black America. This moment peaked about a decade ago just when Barack Obama, an exemplar of propriety, kicked off his presidential candidacy and Bill Cosby was wrapping up a national call out tour, dispensing the gospel of tough love in black communities. Holders answer was straightforward, Forman writes. Stop cars, search cars, seize guns.
MARTIN LUTHER

Renegade and Prophet

By Lyndal Roper

Illustrated. 540 pp. Random House. $40.

Five hundred years ago an obscure German academic issued a public invitation to a theological debate. On the face of it there is no reason why we should even know about this. This was an absolutely routine practice in the university world, not least as a means of training students. True, the professor had chosen a sensitive subject: the sale of indulgences, a popular means by which pious Christians could make a financial contribution to the church in return for the hope of remission of their sins in the afterlife. But he was not the first to criticize indulgences, and he did so without much hope that theologians would heed his call to discuss the issue; in fact the debate never took place. In 1517, Martin Luther was an unknown academic in search of a cause. Only a few years later, he was the most published author in the history of Christendom. By the time of his death in 1546, the church was riven into competing confessions, Protestant and Catholic, with consequences we still live with today.

Much about Luthers career is utterly improbable. It is hard to see how, in a world without modern communication media, so many came to hear about Luther and his scruples. He was not a particularly well-known or well-regarded author. He had published virtually nothing and was teaching at a not particularly distinguished university, tucked away in northeastern Germany. His 95 Theses had a smoldering anger that might have raised eyebrows in more sophisticated academic circles, but they were written in Latin, the language of scholarly debate. Certainly no one could have anticipated that this novice writer would develop into a powerful polemicist. In 1518, he responded to his critics not in Latin, but in German. His Sermon on Indulgences and Grace was the first in a series of passionate pamphlets that first piqued the interest of a wide public, and then formed a popular movement.

In later life, Luther would often look back on the extraordinary events that followed his impetuous act of conscience: the church hierarchys attempt to shut down his protest, his escalating acts of defiance, his condemnation and excommunication, the public outcry that followed. We know this because Luther was not a private man. He happily held forth at the dinner table, joking with companions, some of whom recorded their conversations, collected in a volume called Table Talk. These often incautious suppertime reminiscences, along with his correspondence, form the core of what we know of Luthers outsize personality.

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It is inevitable that the anniversary of the Reformation would bring forth a flood of new publications. Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet is undoubtedly one of the best and most substantial. Deeply researched over a period of more than 10 years, this biography offers a fresh and deeply illuminating study of the man who somewhat reluctantly divided a continent. What emerges is a work of impeccable scholarship and painstaking fairmindedness. In particular Roper has mined the correspondence, which illuminates every page of this book, as Luther coped with the strains of first becoming a public figure, searched for allies and unburdened himself to trusted friends. In letters that were both deeply learned and alarmingly frank, his charisma shines through, but we also see his complexity: He was a man who could, by turns, be abusive and utterly unforgiving, but also gentle, affectionate and funny.
I have a book for you true-crime addicts if youre caught up on the podcast Serial, the cascade on TV of 48 Hours and Dateline NBC episodes, the hundreds of hours of Law & Order and its various offspring  oh, and the nearly eight-hour O. J.: Made in America and the 10 or so hours of Making a Murderer. Its time to pick up Calvin Trillins Killings.

Trillins widely admired book is back in print for the first time in more than 20 years. It collects pieces he wrote for The New Yorker, the vast majority of which appeared from 1969 to 1986, about cases of sudden death in the United States.

But though the concise stories involve beatings, missing people and domestic disputes, Trillin writes in the introduction that he was mostly drawn to these cases as a window into the ways that thoroughly American places like Brooklyn and Harlan County differ. He continues: Writing about, say, the murder of a prominent Miami criminal lawyer seemed to me inseparable from writing about the high life in South Florida.

Trillin is best known as a humorist and food writer. He won the Thurber Prize for American Humor in 2012. As you might imagine, he keeps a straight face in Killings, but his lighter side is evident in these pages too. He closes the collection with perhaps its best entry, Covering the Cops, about a homicide beat reporter. It begins: In the newsroom of The Miami Herald, there is some disagreement about which of Edna Buchanans first paragraphs stands as the classic Edna lead. I line up with the fried-chicken faction.
NEVER OUT OF SEASON

How Having the Food We Want When We Want It Threatens Our Food Supply and Our Future

By Rob Dunn 323 pp. Little, Brown & Company. $27.

Toward the end of his engrossing book, Rob Dunn, a biologist at North Carolina State University, meditates on the humility with which his colleagues and forebears have preserved the planets botany: Protected by these people keeping guard at the levees, our civilizations position is one in which we are behind the levee but below the level of the water. It is a humble position, humbler by the day. Cresting the levees are the diseases and pests that threaten to end modern agriculture. Dunn shows how we have been spared catastrophe by legions of unsung heroes and heroines working across a range of crops, from cassava to cocoa to rubber to wheat. Biological battle rarely makes headlines, though when it does its usually a story of spectacular failure involving bad biology and worse economics. Mao Zedong commanded a 1958 war on the vermin afflicting Chinese granaries, encouraging the extermination, over a two-day period, of all fleas, flies, rats and sparrows. The government recorded 48,695.49 kilos of flies, 930,486 rats and 1,367,440 individual sparrows. Unfortunately, tree sparrows dont eat just grain  they also consume a range of pests. With their predators removed, the pests feasted on the harvest  crowning an economic policy that resulted in the death of millions by starvation.

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One of the highlights of Never Out of Season is its biological history of the 1845-49 Irish potato famine. Irish cultivators were at the cutting edge of technology, adopting the plow, monoculture and little genetic variation between plants. As they do today, these signatures of industrial agriculture both raised yields and made it more likely that a disease engulfing one field would engulf them all.
THE DHOW HOUSE

By Jean McNeil

327 pp. ECW Press. Paper, $16.95.

No minority in history has received more literary attention than the white tribe of Africa. When will we tire of the damaged, entitled, drunk, stylish, adulterous and increasingly marginalized whites who merely accessorize a continent of more than a billion black Africans? Well have to stop soon  but not before indulging in Jean McNeils flawed yet compulsively readable novel. To be sure, The Dhow House is no colonial relic. McNeils whites are cornered, even humble. They speak of having nowhere else to go (yet they do), of being black inside white skins. They are surrounded by black Africans now wealthier and more powerful than they are. Still, they glitter enchantingly to the outsider.

Dr. Rebecca Laurelson  the outsider  has been traumatized by her work at Gariseb, a field hospital smack in the middle of a violent East African conflict, and she chooses to recuperate at the Dhow House, the elegant coastal home of her mothers estranged sister. Aunt Julia is one of those women who men had always wanted, would always want. She dresses with exquisite casualness: silver sandals, a bikini for each day of the week, kikois slung around her narrow hips. Unfortunately, weve seen her before, in too many White Mischief incarnations.

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Rebecca falls hard for Julias handsome son, Storm. More than a decade her junior, Storm fishes, sails, surfs. He appears not to have a job, and his mother refers to him as a child. Julias enigmatic husband, Bill, is a plantation-owner-cum-financier. Her daughter, Lucy, is the sort of person who arrives in a blaze of bougainvillea. These are no mere mortals  though, as McNeil points out, they would be if they lived in England. It is Africa, with its bright sun and suggestion of danger, that gives them their sheen.
2. Dozens of Islamic State fighters were killed, three cave hide-outs were destroyed, and local Afghans said the blast was felt as far as 10 miles away.

That was the assessment a day after the U.S. military dropped a 10-ton explosive, referred to as the mother of all bombs, on an Islamic State stronghold in eastern Afghanistan.

The commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan defended the bombing: It was the right time to use it tactically against the right target on the battlefield.
LONDON  Lawsuits were filed, accusations were hurled  and that was before Abbott Laboratories and Alere even reached the altar.

But the two American health care companies finally agreed on Friday to make up and tie the knot after more than a year of arguments over claims that one company wanted to back out of the deal and the other had not been forthcoming with information.

Abbott, which makes medical devices and is based Abbott Park, Ill., agreed to purchase Alere, a maker of medical tests based in Waltham, Mass., for $5.3 billion, less than the $5.8 billion it originally agreed to pay.

Both companies agreed to dismiss their lawsuits as part of the agreement, a development reported by The Financial Times.
Much to the relief of Wall Street executives, who feared and hated him in equal measure, Daniel K. Tarullo left his powerful perch on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors last week, but not before delivering one last lecture on how big banks should be regulated in his absence.

His swan song was pretty surprising, all things considered. It also went largely unnoticed, much like Mr. Tarullo himself during his eight years at the Federal Reserve. Many people have never heard of him, even though his decisions affected their lives in ways big and small.

Once described as the Wizard of Oz, for the power he wielded behind the scenes, Mr. Tarullo was appointed to the Federal Reserve by President Barack Obama in January 2009. At the Fed, Mr. Tarullo took over the important responsibility of regulating the big Wall Street banks, a job that, understandably, had been the purview of the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The oversight moved to Washington from New York in the wake of the financial crisis.

It was obvious that a lot in the U.S. regulatory system had not worked particularly well before the crisis, Mr. Tarullo said in a 2015 interview with The Wall Street Journal. It was equally obvious that there was going to need to be a rethink and reorganization. Mr. Tarullos term was to end in 2022, but he decided to leave early in the wake of President Trumps election victory.
LONDON  European governments have spent large sums of money in recent years subsidizing giant offshore wind projects in hopes of creating a clean source of energy that could eventually pay for itself. Now that moment may be here  and a lot sooner than expected.

On Thursday, the Danish company Dong Energy, the largest offshore wind developer, won the right to build two large wind projects in the German North Sea with no government subsidies  a highly symbolic first for the industry.

The company will receive the revenues from the electricity generated by the wind farms. German consumers will pay the substantial costs of connecting the wind farms at sea to the power grid.

Offshore wind is categorically proving its competitiveness, Jochen Homann, president of the Bundesnetzagentur, the Geman agency that held the auction, said in a statement. This is good news for all electricity consumers who contribute to funding renewable energy.
Congressional hearings. Federal investigations. Consumer outrage.

In the wake of developments like these, many drug company executives are laying low. Their favored business models, based on raising drug prices indiscriminately, are now seen as a liability; many pharmaceutical companies are curbing increases on their products and accepting that this once-lucrative jig may be up.

Not Arthur P. Bedrosian, chief executive of Lannett Company. A generic drug maker with roughly $600 million in net sales in fiscal 2016, Lannett continues to push prices skyward on some of its offerings. And those moves are noteworthy on two accounts: First, its drugs are all off patent, meaning they are no longer proprietary formulations and should sell at deep discounts. The other: Lannett is raising prices even as it faces an antitrust inquiry from the Justice Department and a drug-pricing investigation by Connecticuts attorney general.

Lannett, based in Philadelphia, sells drugs for thyroid conditions, gastrointestinal diseases and congestive heart failure, among other ailments. Its most recent price rise on dicyclomine, a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, is scheduled to go into effect on May 2. A bottle of 100 10-milligram capsules will cost $19.95, up from $5.90, its price since 2001.

But that is a relatively tiny bump compared with recent price increases on its other drugs. Last year, Lannett more than tripled the price of terbutaline, a treatment for asthma and emphysema, propelling it to $435 for 100 tablets of 2.5 milligrams each, up from $136 for the bottle.
You absorb the culture and you join the cause, said Joseph Brennan, who, as head of global equity indexing, has had a front-row seat as the firm has expanded. His division embodies Vanguards credo of do more with less: The 45 people he oversees globally look after $2 trillion in assets.

Our assets per head are incredible, he said. At $44 billion per person, that certainly qualifies as an understatement.

Up and down Wall Street, where the sum of a firms assets under management has become a badge of power and sway, Vanguards ability to attract and run so much money with so few people has been a cause for envy and disbelief. Some have even warned that index funds will distort the broader market, especially if active stock pickers are pushed farther to the sidelines.

Already, six out of the 10 largest mutual funds by asset size belong to Vanguard, with the largest, Vanguard Total Stock Market Index, now weighing in at $465 billion, according to Morningstar. Only two  American Funds Growth Fund of America and its EuroPacific Growth Fund, both belonging to the Capital Group  are actively managed, promising higher returns for a steeper fee.

There is this existential crisis in the soul of every professional asset manager, said Josh Brown, a financial adviser and blogger at Ritholtz Wealth Management. Vanguard has become synonymous with the idea that people should pay less  not more  for stock market exposure.
Amy A. Lecoq was a stay-at-home mother raising her young son and mourning the death of her mother. But when her grandmother reluctantly admitted five years ago that she had been swindled out of her life savings, Ms. Lecoq sprang into action.

She shed her home-centered life, first to push prosecutors to investigate and bring charges, and then, earlier this year, to become an activist, traveling around her home state of Washington to lecture and testify about the financial exploitation of older Americans. She has also become a lobbyist, exhorting state lawmakers to pass legislation that would toughen penalties for people who take financial advantage of vulnerable older people like her grandmother.

When I tell our story, so many people tell me that, Oh, that happened to my grandmother, my aunt or some other family member, Ms. Lecoq, 41, said in a telephone interview from her home in Camano Island, Wash. But then they say they didnt know it was a crime, or they didnt know it could be reported or punished.

Her own grandmother, Mariana Cooper, 87, whose financial exploitation was recounted in a 2015 New York Times article, was swindled by Janet Bauml, who had insinuated herself into her life and whom she had come to trust. Over time Ms. Cooper, a widow living by herself, gave more than $217,000 to Ms. Bauml, expecting to be paid back. When she sheepishly admitted to her granddaughter that she had been defrauded, Ms. Lecoq spent months calling law enforcement agents and prosecutors to help make a case for serious theft.
The week began when video of a passenger being forcibly removed from a United Airlines fight on Sunday started to spread widely on social media. The passenger was eventually identified as Dr. David Dao, 69, of Kentucky, who sustained a concussion, a broken nose and lost two teeth during the episode. United has issued several evolving statements since Monday after receiving criticism that it had mishandled its initial response.

Monday

An upsetting event

The companys first response placed the blame for the episode on Dr. Dao. In a statement on Monday morning, United said, We apologize for the overbook situation, but made no reference to Dr. Dao or the video. (Later, the company would clarify that the flight was not actually overbooked.)

Later Monday, the company released a statement from Oscar Munoz, its chief executive, calling the episode an upsetting event. He apologized to the other passengers on the plane, but did not speak directly about Dr. Daos treatment.

This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation.  Oscar Munoz, CEO., United Airlines

On Monday evening, a letter from Mr. Munoz to United employees became public. In it, he told them that he stood by them.

Like you, I was upset to see and hear about what happened last night aboard United Express Flight 3411 headed from Chicago to Louisville. While the facts and circumstances are still evolving, especially with respect to why this customer defied Chicago Aviation Security Officers the way he did, to give you a clearer picture of what transpired, Ive included below a recap from the preliminary reports filed by our employees. As you will read, this situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused and it became necessary to contact Chicago Aviation Security Officers to help. Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this. While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right. I do, however, believe there are lessons we can learn from this experience, and we are taking a close look at the circumstances surrounding this incident. Treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the core of who we are, and we must always remember this no matter how challenging the situation. Oscar

The letter included a recap of the events on the airplane, in which Mr. Munoz described Dr. Dao as having been disruptive and belligerent.
Borrowers who have stopped repaying their federal student loans may get an unwelcome surprise during tax season: The refunds they were expecting may be withheld by Uncle Sam.

In what is called a tax refund offset, the government has the right to withhold funds from student loan borrowers who have fallen into default, and apply the money to the loan balance.

Its very common, said Adam Minsky, a Boston lawyer who works with student loan borrowers. When clients seek his help with a loan default, he said, I assume theyll have a refund issue.

The government notifies borrowers ahead of time that their refunds (and other expected government payments) may be withheld. However, borrowers may not always receive the notices, perhaps because they have moved. Or they may simply be overwhelmed by their financial circumstances and fail to open their mail, said Betsy Mayotte, director of consumer outreach at American Student Assistance.
Legal intoxication is big business and getting bigger. More states have legalized marijuana, leading some in the alcohol industry to regard it as a threat to their profit margin.

Those concerns are warranted in some cases. In Colorado, Oregon and Washington, where recreational use has been legal for several years, beer sales are down, mostly among mass-market brews. The liquor industry opposed several marijuana legalization initiatives last year, and has expressed fears for its bottom line.

The fine wine industry, however, has not panicked. Despite occasional efforts to pit wine and weed against each other, many in the wine business exude an air of mellow acceptance that the two substances can coexist in harmony.

People are trying to say there is a threat, but I really havent talked to any wine industry person yet who actually sees it that way, said Tina Caputo, a freelance wine and food writer, who in August will be a moderator at the first Wine & Weed Symposium. The event, a wine industry initiative, will explore possible business opportunities in California, which legalized recreational marijuana use in November.
Last fall, not long after she was named the first editor of Vogue Arabia, a new publication from Conde Nast and the Dubai media company Nervora, Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz did not offer up the usual its-an-honor-just-to-be-here quotations typical of newly hired people at glossy publications.

This Vogue is very overdue, the Saudi princess told The New York Times at Paris Fashion Week. The Arabs deserve their Vogue, and theyve deserved it for a long, long time.

The Vogue Arabia woman is one who celebrates her tradition but also considers herself a highly educated global citizen, she added. Dont forget that we understand luxury almost better than anyone else on earth. Middle Eastern women have been serious couture clients since the late 1960s. Weve been around long before the Russians and the Chinese ever came into the picture.
Welcome to Times Insider Events  live programming for Times Insiders and their guests. Times Insider offers behind-the-scenes insights into news, features and opinion at The New York Times.

Under eight feet of Antarctic sea ice lies the clearest water on Earth  and now you can see it for yourself.

At 6 p.m. on Friday, April 28, at the Newseum in Washington, Times Insider will host a screening of Under a Cracked Sky, The Timess latest virtual reality film. There to discuss the film will be a panel of Times journalists  Jonathan Corum, Evan Grothjan, Heather Tal Murphy and Graham Roberts  along with Peter West from the National Science Foundation.

Go behind the scenes of the development of the film, and find out more about the process behind this type of filmmaking. And be sure to bring questions for our journalists!
Karin Tsai, 27, is a software engineer at Duolingo in Pittsburgh

Q. What is Duolingo and what do you do there?

A. Were a free language-learning platform. We earn revenue by charging for language certification tests for individuals and businesses. Currently I code our new flashcard app, which we call Tinycards, and that part of our website.

What is your background?

My parents are from Taiwan; Im a first-generation American. My dad is a mechanical engineer. As a kid, I would play educational computer games and design greeting cards for my friends on the computer, but I didnt start programming until college. Initially I majored in chemical engineering at Princeton in the hope of attending medical school.

How did you come to major in computer science?

As part of the engineering school at Princeton, I was required to take an introductory computer science course, which was my first real introduction to the field. I fell in love with it and used my coding assignments to procrastinate when it came to other homework. I minored in neuroscience and engineering biology in case I might still want to be a doctor, but decided I should do what I love and switched my major.
Where did you house the crew?

We tossed around ideas, like bringing in a cruise ship. But we booked every hotel room available in and around Havana. We rented homes and apartments and really had to be creative.

Tell me about a logistical challenge you faced during the shoot.

There are so many fans of the franchise in Cuba. We had to hire 100 locals to lock down a 20-block straightaway, because there were over 10,000 people watching us shoot. Thats phenomenal energy that you can feed off of to create, but theres also safety considerations.

Did you have difficulty with technology?

We had a hard time sending and receiving emails. Cellphone service, calls back and forth to the States, were extremely challenging. Some of the simplest things, we needed a team of scientists to figure out. But I would say what you lose in convenience, you gain in heart and aesthetics.

Whats an example of something that is typically easy to do that you had a hard time with?

Dailies. You have a full day of shooting, and you wouldnt be able to see what you shot for days and, in some cases, a couple of weeks. When youre shooting digital footage, the sizes of the files are huge, and they didnt have the bandwidth to get the images with sound processed and back to us. We would send people to the States to process them and bring them back on a hard drive. It was like sending a carrier pigeon to Florida, and you know how long pigeons take.

Was there something you wanted on set that you couldnt have?

I wanted to use a drone for the shoot, but they wouldnt allow us to bring drones in. Yet they did allow me to bring in a helicopter. It was the first American airship to be allowed into Havana.

What was the most memorable moment from the shoot?

We brought in our helicopter with this huge camera on it. It looks like a spaceship to the locals and is flying 50 feet above our heads at top speed, chasing the two cars driving through the streets. I set up this big screen for the locals to see what the helicopter was shooting. Were sending the video signal back to this monitor, and theyre watching their city from the sky. A lot of them have never been on a plane. You start seeing tears stream. Then we start to cry, because theyre crying, and its this moment you share where you realize how special it is and how much we take for granted.
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Four years ago, after more than a decade of litigation and negotiation, New York State officials agreed that the system of often dismal and dangerous adult homes was no place for the mentally ill.

They agreed to move as many as 4,000 mentally ill residents out of their apartments and into supportive housing, a hard-fought recognition that people with disabilities should have the opportunity to live independently and participate in all aspects of community life.

But as a July deadline nears, a federal judge has found that the state seems far from meeting its commitment: Fewer than 500 people have actually been moved into supportive housing from adult homes.

But what the judge, Nicholas G. Garaufis of the Eastern District of New York, found most troubling was that the state appeared to be working with the adult home industry to undermine the settlement.
The prayers echoed across Parkville Avenue in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn from speakers tied to the roof of a minivan. Those gathered outside St. Rose of Lima Church, many of them immigrants, bowed their heads and took to their knees as they began the re-enactment of Jesus procession to crucifixion.

Every year on Good Friday, processions fill streets of cities across the world, in celebration of one of Christianitys holiest days. And in New York, thousands of Catholics take part in the marches, each one giving a glimpse into a neighborhoods past and ever-changing present.
The gathering, which included drum circles and solemn worship, was filled with a sense of mission. As they packed into a tepee, faces aglow around a raging fire, the protesters seemed ready for wherever that dispute may take them. One man said he would sleep out there every night if he had to, and another said he would go so far as to chain himself to an excavator.

But that fervor has been tricky to sustain. Only two days after the rally, Mr. Trump signed executive orders reviving both the Dakota Access and Keystone XL oil pipelines. For the tribe, the losses were demoralizing and depleting. Since then, the Ramapoughs events have seen scant news media attention and thinning crowds.

With countless other crises to manage under the new administration, many local activists seem to have diverted their attention elsewhere.

As always, Mr. Perry said, its the Ramapoughs against the world.

It was an overcast morning in March, and Mr. Perry was sitting inside the tepee on his designated tree stump. The survival of the Ramapoughs, he knew, was in the hands of the tribe alone, and there was something both empowering and grim about that fact. The task often feels so daunting that he said he found it helped to focus on small, concrete tasks  things I know I can do. That morning, a storm appeared to be looming over the mountain, so his goal was simply to maintain a fire inside the tent.

Lets just keep her going, Mr. Perry said, as he poked the fire with a stick.

Gusts of wind whipped against the tepee, and the fire began to flicker. Soon the blaze was down to embers.

Then a flap lifted and in walked Two Clouds, a bundle of logs in each arm. The chief lowered himself back onto his stump and watched as the young man arranged the wood in a careful stack atop the embers. The fire was soon burning and it was beginning to feel warm inside.
By the time Todd Webb arrived in New York City in 1945, he had lived enough lives for several men. He lost his fortune in the 1929 crash; hunted for gold in California, Mexico and Panama; worked for Chrysler in Detroit, his hometown; and served in the South Pacific as a photographers mate. But it was in New York where his love of photography took off, though with a slight detour.

In 1942, on his way to report for duty in the Navy, Mr. Webb passed through New York to meet with the manager of Alfred Stieglitzs gallery, An American Place. He sold three of his photos before shipping off to war. A year after he returned, in 1945, he had his first exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York, where he is now having a homecoming in A City Seen: Todd Webbs Postwar New York 1945-1960, which opens on April 20.
Dismantling the countrys human trafficking industry is one goal of a 90 million-euro ($95 million) program adopted by the European Union Trust Fund for Africa on Wednesday. For African migrants in Libya, help cannot come soon enough. Of course, Europes primary goal is to stanch the flow of migrants to Europe, where anti-immigrant populism is on the rise. To that end, the E.U. is training the Libyan Coast Guard to rescue migrants at sea for return to Libya, where the International Organization for Migration, agencies of the United Nations and the German Corporation for International Cooperation are to work with Libyan authorities to improve conditions in government-run detention centers. People will be allowed to apply for asylum in Europe from those centers.

This sounds like a win-win situation, in which Europe will be able to reduce the flow of people it does not want, the role of human traffickers will be reduced, conditions for migrants in Libya will improve and fewer will drown at sea. But, given the political chaos in Libya and the powerful forces that are driving Africans to cross the Sahara, this rosy scenario is far from assured.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson voiced support for a Group of 7 statement on Monday calling for swift political reconciliation in Libya. If the United States is sincere about helping, it should step back from the administrations proposal to cut aid to Africa. The United Nation-sponsored Libyan government of Fayez Serraj also needs to do its part in what must be a joint effort by concerned countries that places the welfare of African migrants foremost.
The Russian authorities have set up at least three influential organizations here. Le Dialogue franco-russe (the Franco-Russian Dialogue) is an association created in 2004 under the auspices of Jacques Chirac, then president of France, and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. It includes companies involved in trade between the two countries, and claims that its purpose is to develop economic cooperation and business relationships. More than anything, though, it seems to be making the case for lifting sanctions against Russia and promoting the Kremlins geopolitical views. Le Dialogue franco-russe helped organize a conference about Syria on April 11, which was attended by the deputy foreign minister of Syria. According to the French secret services, the organization is infected with the Russian foreign intelligence service.

LInstitut de la democratie et de la cooperation (the Institute of Democracy and Cooperation) was set up in Paris in 2008. Its stated purpose is to create a bridge of solid friendship between two great European nations, France and Russia. Yet in numerous interviews its director, Natalia Narochnitskaya, has put forward very hostile views. The West wants to subjugate Russia, impose its rules on it, even dismember it, she has said, and to these ends it makes opportunistic use of human rights issues. For Ms. Narochnitskaya, Russia offers an alternative to the West.

The Kremlins third main proxy organization in France is the much less formal Forum des compatriotes (the Compatriots Forum). It first convened in 2011 and brings together Russian-speaking emigres and descendants of emigres in meetings held at the Russian embassy in Paris. This forum, and others like it in other countries, are at the heart of Mr. Putins Russian World initiative: an effort to mobilize the Russian diaspora for various linguistic, cultural or economic projects but also to build support for the Kremlin on such geopolitical questions as the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The leaders of these three organizations appear regularly in French news outlets and various media, in French and other languages, that the Kremlin has created and is wholly funding. The two most important of these, both active on social-media networks, are Sputnik and RT (Russia Today), which is to begin broadcasting in French this year.
Three weeks have passed since the Trumpcare debacle. After eight years spent denouncing the Affordable Care Act, the G.O.P. finally found itself in a position to do what it had promised, and deliver something better. But it couldnt.

And Republicans, President Trump very much included, had nobody but themselves to blame. Basically, the party has been lying all this time, and the lies finally caught up with the liars. Mr. Trump promised health care that would be far less expensive and far better; in the event, all he and his allies had to offer were surging premiums, higher out-of-pocket expenses and mass loss of coverage.

But Mr. Trump, as you may have noticed, isnt big on accepting responsibility for his failures. Instead, he has decided to blame Democrats for not cooperating in the destruction of their proudest achievement in decades. And on Wednesday, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he openly threatened to sabotage health care for millions if the opposition party doesnt give him what he wants.

In that interview, the president of the United States sounded just like a mobster trying to extort protection payments from a shopkeeper.
Ah, the blithe joys of springtime in the United States. Azaleas in bloom at the Masters, breezy picnics on balmy afternoons, Easter egg hunts  and the annual ordeal of tax forms, with helpful I.R.S. instructions like this: Go to Part IV of Schedule I to figure line 52 if the estate or trust has qualified dividends or has a gain on lines 18a and 19 of column (2) of Schedule D (Form 1041) (as refigured for the AMT, if necessary).

Americans will spend more than six billion hours this year gathering records and filling out forms, just to pay their taxes. They will pay some $10 billion to tax preparation firms to help get the job done and spend $2 billion on tax-preparation software (programs that still require hours of work). Millions will subsequently get a notice from the I.R.S. saying they got the figures wrong, or put the right number on the wrong line or added wrong in calculating line 47  which means more hours of work or more fees to the tax preparer.

And heres the most maddening thing of all: It doesnt have to be this way.

Parliaments and revenue agencies all over the world have done what Congress seems totally unable to do: Theyve made paying taxes easy. If you walk down the street in Tel Aviv, Tokyo, London or Lima, Peru, you wont see an office of H & R Block or a similar company; in most countries, theres no need for that industry.

In the Netherlands, the Algemene Fiscale Politiek (the Dutch I.R.S.) has a slogan: We cant make paying taxes pleasant, but at least we can make it simple. It is certainly simple for my friend Michael, a Dutch executive with a six-figure income, a range of investments and all the economic complications that come with an upper-bracket lifestyle.
The New York Times put the story of the march on its front page the following day, complete with a picture of neatly dressed students picketing the White House. The article noted, accurately, that many of those who turned out were newcomers to antiwar protest. The reporter, or perhaps his editor, could not help adding, however, and some had only a hazy idea of how they might go about ending the fighting in Vietnam.

Well, O.K., they probably didnt. But then neither did President Lyndon B. Johnson or Gen. William C. Westmoreland, as they oversaw the dispatch of ever greater numbers of young American soldiers to fight in South Vietnam between 1965 and 1967, with a corresponding sixfold spike in American deaths (1,928 would die in 1965; 11,363 two years later). It seemed increasingly obvious to me that it was the hazy ideas of those supposedly well-informed leaders of our country, not those of the nascent antiwar movement, that were the main problem here, since they were getting people killed for no very good reason.

Cut off from any personal involvement in the movement by age and geography, I still felt increasingly drawn to the young protesters, just as I had felt about heroic young civil rights workers earlier in the decade, from the Freedom Rides of 1961 through Freedom Summer of 1964. The movements overlapped in constituencies, style, and leaders  indeed, Bob Moses, organizer of Freedom Summer, had been a keynote speaker at that first S.D.S. march in 1965.

Although active antiwar opposition before 1967 was pretty much restricted to younger Americans and politically marginal groups, a few more distinguished voices were beginning to speak out as well, including the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, J. William Fulbright, who in the spring of 1966 decried the arrogance of power on display in the White House and Pentagon and the silence of many of his congressional colleagues. It is only when the Congress fails to challenge the executive, Fulbright declared, when the opposition fails to oppose, when politicians join in a spurious consensus behind controversial policies, that the campuses and streets and public squares of America are likely to become the forums of a direct and disorderly democracy.

By the spring of 1967 direct and disorderly democracy seemed like a pretty good idea to me.

Not that there was anything particularly disorderly about the gathering I encountered when I finally got to the Sheep Meadow that April morning. I was angry about the war, and had imagined that the dominant sentiment at an antiwar protest would reflect that anger  people would shout and wave fists and chant militant slogans. There was some of that, but the dominant sentiment at that first gathering and at scores of similar events that lay in the movements future was a sense of community.
Tomato farmers stopped applying chlorpyrifos 17 years ago, and most citrus growers did the same, though it is still widely used on everything from brussels sprouts to berries. In 2015, alarmed by new studies linking chlorpyrifos to lower I.Q. in children, the government moved to ban it altogether.

The election changed everything. In came a gang that sees all this hyperventilating about poisons in our food, toxins in our water and carbon in our air as alarmist whining. From here on out, public health would take a back seat to Dow Chemical. And so Donald Trump brought in Scott Pruitt from Oklahoma to dismantle nearly everything the Environmental Protection Agency does to make life safer. His mission is to destroy the agency he now leads.

Does Trump want to make American children a little dumber, a little more vulnerable to cancer, especially those in the regions that voted for him? No, of course not. But by being reflexively hostile to science that points out the hazards around us, hes doing just that.

This betrayal of public health wont affect many of the people who didnt vote for Trump: hipsters, urbanites, blue-state foodies. They can shop at Whole Foods, or the farmers markets, paying a premium for fruits and vegetables that werent sprayed with a chemical that has been shown to slow brain development in children.

No, a green light for poisons will hit those living at the margins, people without the time or money to investigate where their food comes from. Government is supposed to look out for those folks. But Trump, with his absurd edict to eliminate two regulations for every new one proposed, is making things more dangerous for them.
Crowding at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center had reached 303 percent of capacity when an incident broke out April 7 in one of the prison's housing units.

Sixteen inmates involved in the disturbance assaulted three staff members and started fires, burning plastic beds and other items.

The number of inmates at the prison fluctuates daily, probably hourly. But the Department of Correctional Services' information system reported the population that day as 484.

On April 4, three days earlier, 509 people were packed into the building in southwest Lincoln, designed to accommodate 160. That is 318 percent of capacity.

On that Friday, the overall prison system was reported at 163 percent capacity, with 5,327 prisoners.

The department's spokeswoman, Dawn-Renee Smith, said Thursday the population at the the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center on that Friday was 473, a figure slightly lower than what was reported on their information system that day.

Adult male offenders enter the system at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center and are assessed, classified and assigned to a facility. The institution houses 90-day evaluators sentenced by the court for assessment, county safe keepers, interstate transfers and returned parolees and escapees.

It is supposed to be a short term stay, but because of crowding in the system, some end up staying much longer.

In December 2015, Nebraska was listed as the fourth most-crowded prison system in the country by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

A graphic of the prison population spanning November 2014 to this month, supplied by Nebraska Inspector General for Corrections Doug Koebernick, shows the population at the the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center had been coming down from a high two years ago of 536 to 386 in November 2015. But a year ago it began climbing again, and has jumped up again in the past few months.

Koebernick said it was too early to say if crowding was the reason for the incident that left three staff injured and some inmates suffering from smoke inhalation. The inmates in the unit took control from about 7:30 p.m. to about 9:15 p.m.

Staff has told him in the past that when the prison is so full, he said, it causes problems and stress on the facility, staff and inmates.

State Ombudsman Marshall Lux said he couldn't say if last Friday's disturbance at the prison was directly caused by crowding, but crowding does make it more difficult for staff to respond to inmates acting out or fighting because they are dealing with more people.

"Lots of negative things spin off from just the fact that they are crowded," Lux said.

It can contribute to staffing issues, meaning greater turnover and fewer veteran staff.

"The real source of all this is overcrowding, in my opinion," he said. "I think if you could get that crowd out of there it would transform the system and make it a lot easier to manage in many ways. And a lot of problems would, if not go away, at least be abated."

ACLU of Nebraska sent an ultimatum to Gov. Pete Ricketts Monday, saying that if unlawful conditions in the prison system persist, the organization is committed to filing a lawsuit. It gave Ricketts 10 days to respond.

But Ricketts, through his spokesman Taylor Gage, said the department continues to make steady progress. He said any call to release prisoners early is absurd and threatens public safety.

The prisons population declined from 5,392 in May 2015 to 5,327 last week. State law requires that the population be down to 140 percent of design capacity, 4,585 inmates, by 2020.

In May 2015, more than two dozen inmates at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center filed a lawsuit alleging conditions there violated their civil rights. The case was dismissed for failure to pay a filing fee in January 2016. Other similar lawsuits have been filed by inmates there and at other prisons.

Several sources said they had heard at least one of the inmates involved in the Friday skirmish was a county safekeeper prisoner. The state Corrections Department would not give out information on county prisoners, how many are in the prison system or where, or speak about whether they are problematic.

County jails pay the state a daily rate to take some offenders they can't handle because they are violent, mentally ill or their needs can't be accommodated. Those inmates are called county safekeepers, and the state usually averages 30 to 40 of them, held mostly at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center, Koebernick said.

In his annual report, Koebernick addressed the county safekeeper issue, recommending the state change the requirements for the department to receive them.

"It is perceived by staff that some counties dump their problem inmates on (the state prison system) and this only adds to the overcrowding issue at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center," he said.

Nikko Jenkins, who killed four people in Omaha after he was released into the community from prison, having spent most of his years there in solitary confinement, is a county safekeeper inmate. He hasn't been sentenced yet in the August 2013 murders, and he is presumed to be too dangerous to keep in a county jail.

"We just need to take a good long look at (the county safekeepers program) and figure out if that's the right thing to do," Koebernick said. "When you have a facility that is so overcrowded, can we really take these people in? Is there some other alternative for those county jails?"

The system is so stressed that adding another 30 to 40 people with potentially high needs may not be the correct path for the department to follow, he said.

The department also uses the county jails to ease crowding at the prisons. As of December, the department reported an average of 133 state inmates in seven county jails.

The department is still cleaning up from the Friday incident at the Lincoln prison, and a deputy ombudsman has been at the prison talking to staff and medical personnel about lingering smoke causing lung problems among some people, Lux said.

Some inmates were temporarily moved to the adjacent Lincoln Correctional Center and some were left in the unit, Lux said.
But while it makes sense to loosen the overly restrictive rules of engagement imposed by the Obama administration, doing so carries risks. A reminder of that came in Syria, where a recent United States airstrike mistakenly killed 18 friendly Syrian fighters. This is not an anomaly; as my Council on Foreign Relations colleague, Micah Zenko, notes, both American airstrikes and civilian casualties have increased since the Trump administration took office.

President Trump, who campaigned on a promise to bomb the shit out of the Islamic State militants, will not be concerned about this; indeed, he said that the use of the MOAB was a very, very successful mission, and he is probably right, in the narrow tactical sense. But for the bigger strategic picture he would be well-advised to read the 2006 United States Army-Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual, co-authored by his own secretary of defense, which states: An operation that kills five insurgents is counterproductive if collateral damage leads to the recruitment of 50 more insurgents.

Beyond the possibility of collateral damage, there is a larger reason the use of the MOAB in Afghanistan should not be a cause for high-fives and unseemly celebration: It is a sign that the war in Afghanistan is not going well. The kind of war that Vann envisioned  employing small arms  is only possible if the threat is below a certain threshold. When the enemy becomes too powerful, as it did in Vietnam, then it becomes necessary to call in air and artillery strikes. That was not a sign of progress; it was a sign, in fact, that the security situation was spiraling out of control.

The situation in Afghanistan is, needless to say, not nearly as bad as it was in Vietnam during the 1960s. The Taliban are no Vietcong, and they are not supported by regular army units like the Peoples Army of Vietnam. But nevertheless the trajectory in Afghanistan has been headed in the wrong direction since President Obama prematurely ended his surge and withdrew most American troops by 2016.
Consider the irony: Even as liberal women denounce the Trump presidency as a bastion of male swagger and anti-woman policies, could it prove a platform for Nikki R. Haley to emerge as a viable Republican presidential candidate?

Ms. Haley, President Trumps ambassador to the United Nations, has been ubiquitous this month, denouncing Syrias chemical weapons attack at the United Nations and on the Sunday talk shows last weekend. She gained a seat on the National Security Councils principals committee as part of the shake-up that ousted Stephen K. Bannon.

Before the Syria attack, she was taking a tougher public line on Russia than her boss, denouncing Iran and deriding the United Nations hostility to Israel  all catnip to mainstream Republicans. In an administration whose visuals run toward roomfuls of white men, this daughter of Indian immigrants is capitalizing on her very public stage.

Yet the obstacles are as real as the opportunities. A woman who denounced Mr. Trump during the campaign may well be yoked to the fate of a so far rocky presidency, branded with any foreign policy missteps. Her future political viability may depend on a tricky balancing act: how well she can position herself as distinct from Mr. Trump without seeming insubordinate. Her stance on the aggressive projection of American force overseas and her early condemnation of Russia hew more to the neoconservative wing of the Republican Party than the Bannon America First wing, though in an administration that seems to make up its foreign policy on the fly, its hard to decide whos prevailing when.
On Palm Sunday, two suicide bombers killed 44 worshipers at Egyptian churches. What compels someone to do such a destructive  and self-destructive  thing? The fundamental answer is simple: hate. But theres nothing simple about hate.

Lately it seems like hate is in the air, including in the United States, where hate crimes are reportedly on the rise. Like most people, Im horrified by this outpouring of venom, but as a psychiatrist who tries to understand feelings, I also find myself asking: What is the underlying motivation? And what is it about hate that makes it different from other reactions like anger or frustration? Clearly evolution has preserved hate as a powerful motivating force. Is there perhaps a benefit to experiencing hate?

A 2008 study of the human brain experiencing this emotion confirms that there is a distinct hate circuit of activated neurons. Several of the brain regions involved are known to generate aggression and to translate that aggression into action  in this case, revenge.

Strangely, other parts overlap with regions of the brain engaged by feelings of romantic love. Love is accompanied by the deactivation of areas that generate reasoning and judgment. As any poet can tell you, the critical faculties of an infatuated person are lost or at least attenuated.
In recent days the world has witnessed terrorist attacks on innocent citizens in Sweden and Egypt. It was thus notable, and welcome, that last weekend a militant Basque group quietly ended a decades-long reign of terror. On Saturday, in Bayonne, France, the group ETA, whose assassinations and bombings killed more than 800 people between 1968 and 2010, surrendered its stockpiles of weapons.

The Basque region lies astride the French-Spanish border on the Atlantic coast. ETA  which stands for Euskadi ta Askatasuna, or Basque Country and Freedom  emerged in the wake of a brutal crackdown by the Spanish dictator Gen. Francisco Franco against Basque language and culture in the 1950s. But decades of violent struggle failed to earn the Basques an independent homeland. With more than 300 members in prison, its leadership decimated by arrests and many Basques more focused on bread-and-butter economic issues than independence, ETA wisely decided to disarm.

Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve of France praised the move, saying it marked a decisive step toward the end of Basque terror. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain, who insists that ETA dissolve itself and apologize to the victims of its terror, said: The government will not change its position: terrorists cannot expect favorable treatment  much less impunity for their crimes.

Mr. Rajoys argument that members of the group who committed crimes be punished is perfectly legitimate. But his hard line also reflects fear that ETAs transition into conventional politics will follow the path of Catalonia, where 81 percent of voters supported independence in a 2014 election, though it was nonbinding. Madrid maintains that the Spanish Constitution prohibits secession by any region. In 2003, the Spanish government outlawed Herri Batasuna, a separatist political party closely linked to ETA. In 2011, the Basque leader Arnaldo Otegi was arrested, accused of attempting to restart the party, and sentenced to 10 years in prison, a sentence strongly criticized by human rights activists and international lawyers.
To the Editor:

Re Mr. Trumps Fickle Diplomacy (editorial, April 13):

The bad news is that President Trump is fickle and quite clearly learning on the job when it comes to foreign policy.

The good news is that he has changed his mind to become more in line with longstanding United States policy, as in:

 NATO, far from being obsolete, is the bedrock of our defense alliance with Western nations.

 Russian support for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria does not serve the long-term interests of the United States and its allies in the Middle East.

 China is no longer a currency manipulator, and this has not been an issue for the past several years.

Now, lets hope Mr. Trump realizes his folly on some of his stances closer to home, such as the wall along the border with Mexico, the immigration ban, the border tax and repealing Obamacare.
ANKARA, Turkey  Turkish voters go to the polls on Sunday in a referendum on a new constitution that would change the system of their countrys government. The ruling Justice and Development Party, or A.K.P., introduced these amendments last December  with the support of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party  to fix flaws in the current system. Unfortunately, the governments proposals are being taken out of context. Opponents have cast the referendum as an attempt to grab power by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rather than what it really is: an effort to improve governance.

The basis of Turkeys political system is a constitution that was written in 1982 by the generals who had carried out a military coup two years earlier. That document was then amended 18 times under six successive governments. In 2007, a referendum was held on an amendment to introduce the direct election of the presidency. It passed with nearly 60 percent of the vote. But the system remains riddled with inconsistencies and inefficiencies.

The current constitution establishes neither a parliamentary system nor a presidential one. In fact, it is a two-headed hybrid, with a directly elected parliament and a directly elected president. With both a president and a prime minister elected through popular vote, any major dispute on policy between the two leaders could cause deadlock and political crisis.

Turkey is not immune to such crises. The 1992 tensions between President Turgut Ozal and Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel had major costs to Turkey in its international affairs, and the 2001 conflict between President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit helped trigger economic turmoil that took years to recover from. The 2007 referendum was a step toward a more effective executive branch, but it was only a partial step toward stability. By getting rid of the prime ministers office and placing power firmly within the presidency, these contradictions will be reconciled.
 Historians had a story of the American right. It failed to predict the election of President Tump. Rick Perlstein offers one historians reckoning with what he and his peers got wrong.

Background reading:

 Ms. Coopers reporting on the mother of all bombs that the U.S. dropped on an Islamic State cave complex in Afghanistan on Thursday, according to the Pentagon.

 Mr. Perlsteins magazine article, headlined I Thought I Understood the American Right. Trump Proved Me Wrong.

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.

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When Tyler and Emily Moore moved into a two-bedroom apartment in Astoria, Queens, three years ago, it was more space than they needed, but they planned to expand their family in the near future and did not want to let a spacious railroad flat slip through their fingers.

What they did not anticipate was that in addition to their daughter, Mabel, who turns 2 this month, they would soon be joined by additional family members  Ms. Moores sister, Audrey Spear, and her husband, Braden, who moved into the two-bedroom directly below theirs last year.

Some extended families pool resources to buy houses; others divvy up the homes they grew up in. But few are fortunate enough to find rent-stabilized apartments in the same building  which is why the Spears decided to break the lease on their nearby one-bedroom to live downstairs.

In some ways, it was the natural culmination of a series of moves they had made throughout their lives. Mr. Moore and the two sisters grew up together in Louisville, Ky. Audrey was friends with Tylers younger sister and later tagged along on trips to the movies and the ice rink when Emily and Tyler started dating in high school. The sisters attended the same college in Indiana, where Audrey met Mr. Spear. When the Moores moved to New York so that Mr. Moore could go to Teachers College at Columbia University, Ms. Spear wondered how soon she could join them there.
For his bookshop and website One Grand Books, the editor Aaron Hicklin asked people to name the 10 books theyd take with them if they were marooned on a desert island. The next in the series is the journalist Christiane Amanpour.

Peter the Great: His Life and World, Robert Massie

I try to read as much history as possible, and around Russias invasion of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, I devoured this massive tome and cheekily, I even sent the Russian language version to Vladimir Putin! Hes from St. Petersburg and likes to claim Peter the Greats mantle. The revelation is that Peter was very progressive and Westward-looking. Massie is a fantastic historian-storyteller. Ive also read his Catherine the Great and, of course, Nicholas and Alexandra.

The Sorrow of War: A Novel of North Vietnam, Bao Ninh

As a war correspondent, I have read many of the classic eyewitness accounts. I bought this book when I visited Vietnam in 1997. Its one of the rare novels about that terrible war written from their perspective by a North Vietnamese student. Its brutal, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking and desperately human. Its also vital to remember that as much as the U.S. suffered on all fronts, Vietnam came off far, far worse. This book was first translated and sold in the West, 10 years before it could be published in Vietnam.

We Were Soldiers Once... and Young: The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam, Lt. Gen. Harold Moore and Joseph Galloway
This is an elegant elegy to a father who has passed, captured in the rituals that families create as a way to remember, to honor and to even c
SAN FRANCISCO  Ubers corporate culture has been under fire. But the company is focusing on a different message for investors and employees: Business is soaring.

The ride-hailing service, said on Friday that its gross bookings  or the amount of money it garnered from providing rides, excluding costs  rose to $20 billion in 2016, double the amount in 2015. Net revenue, or the amount of money Uber makes from rides after its drivers are paid, totaled $6.5 billion.

Even as Uber continues to grow, spending remains brisk, and the company is not making money. Last year, its adjusted net loss totaled $2.8 billion, excluding the cost of its Chinese subsidiary, Uber China. Uber, which is privately held, spent billions of dollars developing its operations in China before selling them to Chinese rival Didi Chuxing last year.

The release of the numbers, which were reported earlier by Bloomberg and confirmed by Uber, is the first time Uber has allowed a public peek into its financial data. Some information about its financial performance has leaked in the past and the company discloses numbers quarterly to employees and some investors. But Uber made the figures public on Friday as it grappled with questions about its workplace and negative consumer sentiment.
SAN FRANCISCO  Apple plans to start testing self-driving cars on California roads, the clearest signal yet that the worlds most valuable technology company wants to design or build autonomous vehicle technology.

On Friday, the California Department of Motor Vehicles granted Apple an official test permit that the agency said would allow the company to test autonomous driving technology in three 2015 Lexus RX 450h luxury hybrid sport utility vehicles. The permit authorizes six people to take control of the vehicles if necessary.

Apple has been coy about its self-driving car project, known internally as Project Titan. The iPhone maker has not officially acknowledged the existence of the project, which appeared to be adrift last year. The company laid off dozens of people in the fall and brought in one of its top troubleshooters, Bob Mansfield, to reinvigorate the effort.

In October, Timothy D. Cook, Apples chief executive, told investors, We are always looking at new things, and the car space in general is an area that its clear that there are a lot of technologies that will either become available or will be able to revolutionize the car experience.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand  In the South Pacific, software no longer needs a hard sell.

New Zealand has long wanted to be a tech hub, but distance was an issue. Now, at a moment of political upheaval around the globe, that isolation has become a selling point.

A municipal program to fly in 100 developers next month  wine them, dine them and offer them jobs  was expected to draw 2,500 applications. But the recruitment effort, called LookSee Wellington, was besieged with more than 48,000 entries, including workers at Google, Amazon, Facebook, M.I.T. and NASA. At one point so many people checked out the program that the website failed.

For all sorts of reasons, New Zealand suddenly makes sense. The cost of living is less than in San Francisco. Commuting is less wearying. And American politics, Brexit and the Islamic State are on the other side of the world.

Its just one of those things where the stars are aligned, said David Jones, general manager at the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency.
Like many inventions, the internet was the work of countless hands. But perhaps no one deserves more credit for that world-changing technological leap than Robert W. Taylor, who died on Thursday at 85 at his home in Woodside, Calif.

Indeed, few people were as instrumental in shaping the modern computer-connected world as he.

His seminal moment came in 1966. He had just taken a new position at the Pentagon  director of the Information Processing Techniques Office, part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency, known as ARPA  and on his first day on the job it became immediately obvious to him what the office lacked and what it needed.

At the time, ARPA was funding three separate computer research projects and using three separate computer terminals to communicate with them. Mr. Taylor decided that the department needed a single computer network to connect each project with the others.

I went to see Charlie Herzfeld, who was the head of ARPA, and laid the idea on him, Mr. Taylor recalled in an interview with The Times. He liked the idea immediately, and he took a million dollars out of the ballistic missile defense budget and put it into my budget right then and there. He added, The first funding came that month.
With so much turmoil happening around the world, at least one country appears to be building up its technology ambitions by capitalizing on those concerns.

New Zealand has been running a municipal program to draw in developers globally, including from the United States. And it has been overwhelmed by the number of responses, the New York Times reporters Jacqueline Williams and David Streitfeld write. New Zealand is suddenly attractive to many because of its remote location  far from American politics, ISIS and Brexit  and lower costs, among other factors.

It helps that New Zealand has already landed one big tech name. This year, Peter Thiel, the billionaire Silicon Valley investor who has been advising President Trump, was revealed to have obtained New Zealand citizenship. As part of his application, Mr. Thiel said he would help elevate the countrys tech industry.
Mr. Warner said that the company had been gradually working toward formulating its own productions, and that City of Glass, which he had read and loved as an adolescent, had stuck with him as an idea.

We had gotten to a point where something as narratively and thematically complex as this book could be addressed by the architecture-meets-projection elements we use, he said. He was further convinced when he read the 1994 graphic-novel adaptation of City of Glass, by Paul Karasik and David Mazzucchelli.

On a trip to New York in October 2014, Mr. Warner went to see Mr. Auster, who was incredulous at the idea of a play. (In fact, another adaptation, by Untitled Theater Company No. 61, was recently performed in New York.) He said, Are you sure you dont want to make an animated movie of this? Mr. Warner recounted. I said, Thats sort of what we want to do, but with live actors. 

After Mr. Auster consented to the project, Mr. Warner approached Mr. Macmillan, an award-winning playwright with whom he had worked on three of Ms. Mitchells productions. In a telephone interview, Mr. Macmillan, whose acclaimed People, Places & Things will be staged in October at St. Anns Warehouse, said that Mr. Warner had asked him on a train whether he would like to adapt City of Glass, adding that it would be impossible.

Image The novelist Paul Auster, whose City of Glass has been adapted for the stage. Credit... Lotte Hansen

I said yes immediately, Mr. Macmillan said. (Hes already had practice bringing novels to the stage; his adaptation, with Robert Icke, of 1984 will open on Broadway in June.)

Rereading the Auster novel, Mr. Macmillan said he was immediately struck by its exploration of grief. When I was younger, I felt the formal brilliance of the writing, its total deconstruction of a genre which becomes a philosophical, existential treatise, he explained. Now that he had become a father, he felt a connection to the black hole of loss that everything orbits around.
The subsidies at the heart of an Obamacare dispute are back in court today. In April, we described the stakes for the case, and the preferences of the players. Now that the case has reached a possible turning point, weve updated our analysis.

Cost-sharing reductions seem like an arcane aspect of the Affordable Care Act, but they could now make or break the Obamacare insurance marketplaces. Even President Trump has been talking about them, as a possible bargaining chip to help pass the Republican health bill in Congress.

Insurance companies rely on these payments when selling Obamacare policies, which is why President Trump has said that withdrawing them would destabilize markets. (Obamacare is dead next month if it doesnt get that money, he told The Wall Street Journal in April.) On Monday, lawyers from both sides of a case about the payments have asked to delay making a decision about them. That means there will be no immediate change in policy, but it leaves open the possibility that the Trump administration will still halt the payments.

What exactly are the cost-sharing reductions?

The Affordable Care Act helps make health insurance affordable for low-income people in two ways. The government provides a subsidy to help buy a policy, but about seven million people also get help with their out-of-pocket costs when they go to the doctor or fill a prescription. The government pays the insurance companies extra  $7 billion last year  to offer plans with discounts on the usual deductibles and co-payments that might make medical care unaffordable for relatively poor consumers.
Two police officers in Georgia have been fired after videos showed them separately punching a 21-year old motorist in the face and then kicking him in the head as he lay on the ground in handcuffs during a traffic stop, officials said.

The Gwinnett County Police Department said in statements on Thursday that a very disturbing cellphone video taken by a witness showed Officer Robert McDonald, 25, using unnecessary and excessive force when he kicked the handcuffed man in the head on Wednesday.

A second cellphone video was later discovered by the police online, showing Sgt. Michael F. Bongiovanni, 41, hitting the victim, who was getting out of a car with his hands up, in his face. The sergeant then lied about the encounter, the department said.

The department said it had started a criminal investigation into the actions of both officers. A representative of the district attorneys office was not immediately available on Friday to comment on whether charges would be filed.
A man suspected of stealing firearms, threatening churches, setting his vehicle on fire and writing a 161-page antigovernment manifesto to President Trump has been captured in Wisconsin after a 10-day manhunt.

The sheriffs office of Rock County, Wis., said that Joseph A. Jakubowski, 32, was arrested early Friday morning.

Sheriff Robert Spoden of Rock County said Mr. Jakubowski had been camping near the border separating Vernon and Richland Counties.

He appeared to be very disheveled and dirty and obviously had been outdoors for some time, Sheriff Spoden said in a phone interview, adding that no one was hurt during the arrest.
WASHINGTON  As some on the right howled about a series of reversals by President Trump on a number of his campaign promises  conned, betrayed, sold out, they said  Rush Limbaugh asked his listeners this week whether any of that flip-flopping really mattered.

See what Jeff Sessions is doing? Mr. Limbaugh said of the attorney general, answering his own question: Damn straight.

Have you seen what the job situation is? he asked.

Have you seen what the economic forecasts in the future are? he went on.

The sentiment that Mr. Limbaugh was homing in on  the undented confidence that many Trump supporters have in the president as a get-things-done leader and deal maker  is the reason many conservatives say they do not think Mr. Trump will suffer much as he abandons some of his policy stances. They are not inclined to punish him, they say, even after he backed off his hard lines on NATO, the Chinese and the Export-Import Bank, and attacked Syria after having opposed such intervention.
Opening Friday

BORN IN CHINA. Nature lovers of all ages will enjoy this Disneynature documentary that gets up close and personal with pandas, snow leopards, cranes, Chiru antelope, and golden monkeys while incorporating Chinese spiritual beliefs about life and death. G. (Grand) Grade: B-

FREE FIRE. This homage to '70s gangster film is a tedious, tiresome tribute to gunplay that is a meaningless exercise in genre and style. R. (Grand) Grade: D

GROW HOUSE. This comedy about a pair of stoners trying to grow marijuana to sell in California's medical dispensaries was not screened in advance for critics. R. (Grand)

THE LOST CITY OF Z. James Gray's film retraces the steps of English explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), who mapped the uncharted depths of the Amazon in the early 20th century. PG-13. (Grand) Grade: B+

PHOENIX FORGOTTEN. This sci-fi horror picture based on the 1997 disappearance of three teens after a UFO sighting was not screened in advance for critics. PG-13. (Edgewood)

THE PROMISE. The epic set around the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians in Ottoman Turke, chooses to focus in on an unsympathetic love triangle that manages to trivialize the film overall. PG-13. (Edgewood) Grade: C

THE SALESMAN. The Best Foreign Language Film Oscar winner is a captivating mystery that combines Arthur Miller with Alfred Hitchcock as it tells the story of a couple caught up in tense situation that could destroy their lives. PG-13. (Ross) Grade: A

TEMPEST STORM. This documentary looks at the life and career of the Queen of Burlesque, telling the two stories of Storm's life -- her career and her personal sacrifices to continue working into her 80s. Not rated. (Ross) Grade: B+

UNFORGETTABLE. Katherine Heigl is a jealous ex-wife who will stop at nothing to ruin the life of Rosario Dawson, the woman who married her former husband, in this thriller that wasn't screened in time for Ground Zero deadlines. R. (Grand, East Park, SouthPointe)

Now Showing

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Director Bill Condon's film  let's call it "Beauty and the Beast 2.0"  often feels in search of a purpose beyond the all-but-certain dollar signs. PG. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood, SouthPointe) Grade: C+

THE BOSS BABY. The talented voice cast and some good pointed jokes can't overcome the thin premises of this animated feature about a talking, suit-wearing baby voiced by Alec Baldwin. PG. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood, SouthPointe) Grade: C

THE CASE FOR CHRIST. An investigative journalist tries to debunk the claims of Christianity to save his crumbling marriage in this based-on-a-true-story faith-based film that is thin on substance.. PG. (Grand) Grade: C

GIFTED. Chris Evans stars as the uncle of a child prodigy in this old-style family drama that is too good and too filled with fantasy to ring true. PG-13. (SouthPointe) Grade: C+

THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS. Fate of the Furious doesnt achieve anything new for the franchise, and even seems to downshift a bit, but there are a few exceptional action sequences, some laughs, and a barbecue at the end with a toast to family. PG-13. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood, SouthPointe) Grade: C+

GOING IN STYLE. Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin are old friends who decide to rob the bank that absconded with their pension funds in this remake of the 1979 comedy. PG-13. (East Park, Edgewood) Grade: C+

SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE. The third Smurfs movie has enough bright colors and slapstick humor to capture the little children that are its target audience, but is a dull tale that will bore adults. PG. (East Park, SouthPointe) Grade: C-

NOTE: Theaters are for Friday only and are subject to change the other days of the week.
BURNS, Ore.  A year ago, this corner of rural Oregon became center stage in the drawn-out drama over public lands when armed militia leaders seized a national wildlife refuge, arguing that the government had too much control of land in the West.

Now that President Trump is in office, people here and in other parts of the 11 states where 47 percent of the landmass is publicly owned are watching to see what he will do on everything related to public lands, from coal mining and cattle grazing to national monuments and parks. In Burns, some ranchers and others are feeling emboldened, hopeful that regulatory rollbacks by the federal government will return lands to private use and shore up a long-struggling economy.

But the change in administration has also spawned a countermovement of conservatives and corporate executives who are speaking up alongside environmentalists in defense of public lands and now worry about losing access to hunting grounds and customers who prize national parks and wildlife.
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria  For three grueling years Pogu and Yana Galang have waited, desperate for their daughters to return home.

The three girls were among nearly 300 female students kidnapped on April 15, 2014, when members of Boko Haram stormed their boarding school in the village of Chibok in northeastern Nigeria during the week of final exams.

The Galangs have parsed numerous rumors and government statements about the captive girls well-being. They spotted one daughter, Saratu Ayuba, in images of the hostages that have trickled out from the militants hide-outs.

When one of the girls from Chibok was found roaming in the forest last year, and a few weeks later, in October, when a group of 21 girls was released, the Galangs listened intently for word of their own daughters fate. The girls freed in October told the anxious parents that when they had left their camp the Galangs three daughters were healthy.
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo  Two suspects were arrested in connection with the murders last month of two United Nations investigators in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the authorities said on Friday, although one of them subsequently escaped.

The bodies of Michael Sharp, an American, and Zaida Catalan, a Swede, were found in a shallow grave two weeks after they disappeared on March 12, along with four Congolese colleagues. The investigators had been appointed by the United Nations Security Council to look into a rebellion and accusations of human rights abuses in restive Kasai-Central Province.

In a news conference in Kinshasa, Gen. Joseph Ponde Isambwa, Congos military auditor, identified one of the suspects as an insurgent named Daniel Mbayi Kabasele, but he did not disclose additional details. General Isambwa also declined to say how the other suspect had been able to escape, though he said that four police officers responsible for guarding the pair had been arrested.

Image Michael Sharp Credit... Timo Mueller/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images

Mr. Kabasele was transferred from the remote village of Bunkonde, where the bodies were found, to the city of Kananga on April 4, with the support of the Congolese Mission to the United Nations, General Isambwa said. More details will be released as his hearing gets underway, he added.
KABUL, Afghanistan  A day after the United States military dropped its most powerful conventional bomb on caves used by Islamic State affiliates in eastern Afghanistan, officials said on Friday that dozens of militants had been killed, but that they were still trying to assess the full extent of the damage. Residents said the blast had been felt tens of miles away.

The strike on Thursday targeted a set of mountain tunnels in the Achin district, a stronghold of the Islamic States regional affiliate, and it was the first use in combat of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, referred to as the mother of all bombs. The bombing was part of an intense air campaign against the Islamic State, with American airstrikes in Afghanistan averaging as many as 10 a day in the first two weeks of April.

Gen. Dawlat Waziri, a spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry, said initial information indicated that 36 militants had been killed and three large caves destroyed in the bombing in Nangarhar Province. However, Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governors office, said 82 militants had been killed.

Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., the commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan, said on Friday at a news conference in Kabul, the capital, that the Islamic State was using caves, tunnels and an extensive belt of improvised explosive devices, or roadside bombs, to resist Afghan and coalition operations.
HONG KONG  China warned on Friday that tensions on the Korean Peninsula could spin out of control, as North Korea said it could test a nuclear weapon at any time and a United States naval group neared the peninsula  an American effort to sow doubt in Pyongyang over how President Trump might respond.

The United States and South Korea and North Korea are engaging in tit for tat, with swords drawn and bows bent, and there have been storm clouds gathering, Chinas foreign minister, Wang Yi, said in Beijing, according to Xinhua, the state news agency.

If they let war break out on the peninsula, they must shoulder that historical culpability and pay the corresponding price for this, Mr. Wang said.

The comments were unusually blunt from China, which has been trying to steer between the Trump administrations demands for it to do more to stop North Koreas nuclear weapons program and its longstanding reluctance to risk a rupture with the North. The remarks also reflected, American experts said, an effort by the Chinese to throw responsibility for what happens back on Washington, after Mr. Trump declared, in several Twitter messages, that it was up to the Chinese to contain their neighbor and sometime partner.
Then, they rallied behind Ahn Hee-jung, a left-centrist provincial governor. But Mr. Ahn was eliminated this month when he lost the Democratic Party primary to Mr. Moon.

Ahn Cheol-soos support has since skyrocketed.

For many centrist and conservative voters, there is no one else to turn to except Ahn Cheol-soo, said Kim Jiyoon, a polling expert at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. Whether he can win the election will depend largely on how many of the anti-Moon voters he can persuade to come out and vote for him.

Mr. Moon and Mr. Ahn share remarkably similar views on many issues.

Both have liberal goals like narrowing income inequality and overhauling the chaebol, the family-controlled conglomerates like Samsung that have dominated the economy for decades, often through collusive ties with government, as shown in Ms. Parks scandal.

Both promise to review the unpopular agreement Ms. Parks government had struck with Japan on comfort women, the Korean women forced into sexual slavery by Japan during World War II.

And they both emphasize the importance of the alliance with the United States. But they argue that sanctions and pressure alone have failed to stop North Koreas weapons program and that it is time to try dialogue. During a televised debate on Thursday, both opposed action by the United States that might prompt war on the peninsula, like a pre-emptive military strike against the North.

The candidates even grew up in the same town: Busan, a port city in the southeast.

But they have vastly different backgrounds and public images. Mr. Ahn is a paragon of elite success. A son of a medical doctor, Mr. Ahn quit practicing medicine in 1995 and built a fortune developing the countrys most successful antivirus software. He later became a graduate school dean at Seoul National University, his alma mater.

During the debate, he said he would use his school connections and business background to build a rapport with Mr. Trump. Both Mr. Ahn and Mr. Trump attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
LONDON  The Uzbek man who is suspected of steering a hijacked beer truck into a crowd of shoppers in central Stockholm last week had been recruited by the Islamic State, and had encouraged other Uzbeks to travel to Syria to fight for the militant group, Uzbekistans foreign minister said on Friday.

The suspect, Rakhmat Akilov, 39, was arrested a few hours after the April 7 attack that left four people dead and 15 others wounded. It was Swedens worst terrorist assault in decades. At a court hearing on Tuesday, Mr. Akilovs court-appointed lawyer said that his client planned to plead guilty.
ANKARA, Turkey  The political career of Yasar Yakis, a former foreign minister of Turkey, offers a telling look at the trajectory of the countrys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Fifteen years ago, Mr. Yakis was a founding member of Mr. Erdogans political group, the Justice and Development Party, or A.K.P. for short. Mr. Yakis was a career diplomat and stalwart of the secular Turkish bureaucracy, and his appointment as foreign minister in 2002 embodied the partys attempts to appeal beyond its conservative, Islamist base.

But less than four months later, Mr. Yakis lost his cabinet post. In the years since, he has been increasingly at odds with Mr. Erdogan, as the leaders policies grew increasingly authoritarian.

Mr. Erdogan, Mr. Yakis remarked, once compared democracy with a tram: You can leave it once you reach your stop. Today, Mr. Yakis said, Mr. Erdogan is not any longer on the tram.
Fatih K., 35, said he was even too scared to vote at his nearest Turkish consulate. He feared that his passport would be confiscated if he voted against the referendum and that the Turkish government would reveal his vote to its supporters living in the country where he has sought refuge.

In a telephone interview, Fatih K. said that he had opposed the constitutional changes since long before Mr. Erdogan lashed out at Europe, but that he was nevertheless embarrassed by the episode.

In the West, in Europe, in the U.S., in Canada, what I observed is the opposite of the effect Mr. Erdogan had hoped for, he said. People got ashamed.

He added: Most of us are getting shy of explicitly saying that were Turks  when I say that Im Turkish, people laugh at me and say: Your president is crazy. Its not a thing that you can be happy with.

However, other Turkish expatriates in Europe disagreed strongly.

Melissa Bulut, a 20-year-old law student born and raised in France, was among those who argued that the spat would encourage people to vote with the Turkish government.

If she were undecided, Ms. Bulut said by telephone, it would direct my vote toward yes, because if I am a citizen, if I love my country, if I want to protect my Turkish identity, I should take a stance against how Europe acted. This is the duty of everyone as citizens. They have a response against you, so you should respond back.

While the furor has made things harder for Turks in Europe, the European countries are already acting against Muslims, Ms. Bulut said. They already dont want us here, they do everything to fire us, they mistreat us, humiliate us. I am studying law, they make it very hard for me to study. When I raise my hand in the classroom, they ignore me, they pretend as they do not hear my questions. As they dont like the path Turkey takes, they behave worse.
As Turkey heads to a referendum on Sunday to expand the powers of the presidency, Turkish voters living abroad could play an important role in the outcome. In some European countries with large Turkish populations, tensions have been high recently: Officials from President Recep Tayyip Erdogans party, known in Turkey as the A.K.P., tried to campaign in Germany and the Netherlands and, when rebuffed, responded with a stream of harsh insults.

We asked Turks living overseas for their views on the election and received several hundred responses, both in favor of the changes and passionately against. Some readers said that the discord in Europe had affected their sense of identity as Turks in an adopted land. Others feared that their votes would be ignored or changed. What tied the responses together was a deep sense of impending change and worry over where Turkey was headed  wherever that might be.

A Positive View on the Referendum

I have never voted before in my life. I come from a political background and never thought much of politics and politicians. For the first time, I feel sympathy toward politicians. Not everything A.K.P. members do, as I believe the A.K.P. is still filled with traitors  but Erdogan is different, in my opinion. I believe that he is a blessing for Turkey, considering the old Turkey that was everything but democratic and fair to their own citizens.

 Zuleyha Baran, 40, a translator in Mannheim, Germany. Twitter: @tyeuropeans.

I am saying as a Turk living in Belgium: Individuals are temporary, and this is true for the presidential post, too. We are not voting for Recep Tayyip Erdogan here, we are voting for the future of the country. The Turkish Republic in every period has been faced with coups.

 Ayse Tusem Gungor, 20, a student from Antwerp, Belgium (translated from Turkish).

Concerns About Consolidation of Power

I will vote no. This constitution has not been discussed. The matters were so quickly prepared, and now its going to a vote. By the way, the government is manipulating all the media, meetings, social media. Its a really undemocratic way to win a match.

 Berke Celik, 23, a student in Berlin. Twitter: @hberkecelik.

Living abroad in these two countries where the rules are applied diligently and the freedom of speech is the backbone of the democracy, it is very pitiful for me to observe that my country is irreversibly getting far away from the merits of the contemporary world and diving into the deep black holes of the medieval era. Two weeks ago, I voted for no, hoping that the referendum results in stopping the tyranny from coating the surface of Turkey.

 Sami Akin, 35, a research scientist in Hanover, Germany, who also lived in the United States.

It is no. Why? Because yes will make Turkey not a free republic but Erdogans playground. In the free world, they call this a dictator. l am an 82-year-old Turk, left Turkey in 1960 and I am an American, but they are my people. I cry for them, and wish them a free country. The founder of Turkey, Ataturk, would never say yes to this.

 Akin Caldiran, 82, a retired veteran of the Turkish military in Lansing, Mich.
My, how things change. You know that. Everyone knows that. When it comes to medicine, people often tell me theyre confused. They dont say that exactly, but what they do say is that one day well make one recommendation and the next day well make another one.

Medicine is messy. I dont mean messy in the way that your mom would say, Clean up your room. Its messy. But rather that as we learn, we change.

When I was in medical school, I was told every woman wanted to be out of her misery when it came to having a baby. That meant the powers that be gave Twilight Sleep  a mix of Thorazine, scopolamine and morphine  to every woman who came into the hospital for labor.

The Thorazine was an anti-psychotic. The scop was to reduce secretions but in the doses administered, it often made women psychotic, with hallucinations and the like. And the morphine was to calm down the other two drugs.

Luckily, and because of consumer demand, women were able to take control. The result is our modern birthing process, which is often done using epidurals to reduce pain, the husband in the room, skin-to-skin contact as soon as the baby is born and other good steps forward.

Now, on to the cord. In the 1970s, I was taught that you should massage the umbilical cord to get as much blood from the placenta into the baby to reduce the risk of anemia. A good idea, except that if a woman had blood Rh incompatibility with the baby, much more common in those days, you ran the risk of jaundice and its complications and treatment.

So we then went to the other extreme, moving to the motto: Lets clamp the cord as soon as we can. Baby out, cord clamped. It was clear and simple, relying on the unproven theory that this would protect the mom from hemorrhaging (which it did not).

But is anything clear and simple in medicine? We used to say as soon as you have appendicitis, get surgery. Now we know that in some circumstances intravenous antibiotics are given first to get the appendix to cool down before doing surgery.

But back to cord clamping and the new research, which has prompted a recommendation from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This new view says that the push to get that cord clamped now was the wrong thing to do. The process should be to have a short delay, then clamp the cord about a minute after the baby is born.

So right after the baby is out, put the baby on moms tummy for skin-to-skin contact and wait a minute before putting on the clamp. The American College of Nurse-Midwives goes a step further, saying it should be a three- to five-minute wait before clamping. In the case of a C- section  and thats nearly a third of all deliveries  a member of the surgical team can help hold the baby for a minute before clamping the cord.

A recent study out of Sweden found that if you waited three minutes before clamping the cord, only one out of 200 babies had an iron deficiency when they were measured at age 4 months. If you clamped the cord right away, that number increased to a whopping 1 out of 20. Big difference.

My spin: Things change. The best patient is the educated patient. If youre having a baby, make sure the person who delivers your baby knows about this cord-clamping news. Yes, you can prompt them to make sure theyre on the ball. Its OK to take charge of your own health. Stay well.
A 7-year-old Syrian refugee, whose Twitter posts from the besieged city of Aleppo put a face to the countrys civil war for thousands of followers and turned her into an international celebrity, has been offered a book deal.

I am happy to announce my book will be published by Simon & Schuster, the girl, Bana al-Abed, wrote this week on Twitter. The world must end all the wars now in every part of the world.

I am so happy to have this opportunity to tell my story and the story of what has happened in Aleppo to the world, Bana added in a statement released by the publisher. 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.

The book, Dear World, will be published in the fall. A spokesman for the company would not disclose the financial details of the agreement or reveal if Bana had received an advance.
JERUSALEM  A British student in her early 20s was stabbed to death on Friday on a Jerusalem commuter train during a busy week of religious observances in the city.

The attacker was identified by officials as a 57-year-old Palestinian man with a history of mental illness.

The attack took place after noon as the train passed near the Old City, packed with Christians observing Good Friday, Jews observing Passover and Muslims in weekly Friday Prayer at Al Aqsa Mosque, the police said.

The man pulled a knife from his bag and stabbed the student several times in the chest, the police said. She was pronounced dead soon after she arrived at Hadassah Medical Center.
ANKARA, Turkey  Irans president, Hassan Rouhani, who helped end the countrys diplomatic and economic isolation with a landmark nuclear deal with major powers, registered on Friday to seek a second four-year term in the May 19 election.

Despite remaining faithful to Irans theocratic system, Mr. Rouhani has angered hard-liners with his calls for improved relations with the West, more freedom of expression and an easing of strict Islamic rules.

Once again, I am here for Iran, for Islam, for freedom and for more stability in this country, Mr. Rouhani told reporters on Friday as he announced his bid.

Mr. Rouhanis more conservative critics accuse him of having encouraged moral corruption by advocating social tolerance. Some erstwhile supporters who had hoped for radical social changes under his presidency are also critical, saying he has failed to stand up to Irans religious establishment.
BEIRUT, Lebanon  After nearly two years of punishing siege and bombardment by their enemies, more than 7,000 people were bused out of four towns in Syria on Friday in the most recent population transfer during six years of war.

The evacuations of civilians and fighters highlighted the prevalence of siege warfare in Syria and the extent to which prolonged violence has altered the human fabric of communities across the country.

As President Bashar al-Assad has fought to crush a rebel movement seeking his ouster, his forces have frequently surrounded rebel communities and blocked aid deliveries and trade as a way to impose hunger and force surrender. Where they can, rebels have done the same.
Just how much influence are the givers wielding these days, and to what ends? he writes early on. How should we feel about that clout here in the worlds oldest democracy?

He adds to those questions some statistics he has marshaled. Those on the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans  all billionaires, not counting the 100 or so billionaires who didnt make the cut  have wealth greater than the bottom 61 percent of Americans. The billionaires who have signed the Giving Pledge, which asks them to donate at least half of their fortunes to charities, have wealth equal to all 90,000 foundations in the United States. And for all their donations, they receive healthy tax breaks that the United States Treasury estimated would cost $740 billion in lost tax revenue over the next decade.

For the most part, these megadonors  or super citizens, as Mr. Callahan, the editor of the website Inside Philanthropy and a founder of a think tank called Demos, calls them  can donate where they want and how much they want with little accountability and as much anonymity as theyd like.

Among all the sectors in our society, philanthropy has the most freedom to take big risks and tackle big challenges, Mr. Callahan said over lunch in Manhattan this week. Thats an advantage of not being accountable to shareholders or voters. You can do whatever you want and take more risk.

But, as he points out, a donor can also wreak a lot of havoc while testing out an idea. He pointed to Bill Gatess pushing for smaller high schools in New York City in 2003. Its an example of turning public education upside down with well-meaning experiments that dont go well, Mr. Callahan told me. Its a learning experience for the philanthropist, but a trauma for the community.
RACINE  Curriculum at Bull Fine Arts will move to what is now Gilmore Middle School and programming at Walden III will move to what is now McKinley Middle School under a plan recently announced by the Racine Unified School District.

Slated to take place in the fall of 2018, the moves are part of a host of changes Unified has in store for its middle schools; an overhaul that will eventually result in the district having only one sixth- through eighth-grade facility  Starbuck Middle School.

Under the changes, every family will have five middle school choices. Currently, middle school students have only two lottery school options: Walden and the Real School.

They will be able to either opt for their designated kindergarten through eighth-grade campus  Gifford, Jerstad-Agerholm or Mitchell  or have the chance to lottery into the K-8 Gilmore Fine Arts; the sixth- through 12th-grade REAL School; the sixth- through 12th-grade Walden III, which will be moving to McKinley; or Starbuck, which will become a sixth- through eighth-grade international baccalaureate School because the I.B. program will be moving from McKinley to Starbuck.

Every family will live in a K-8 boundary, explained Unified Superintendent Lolli Haws.

Aside from families living within Giffords boundary, which will remain the same, those boundaries have yet to be defined.

The district is dubbing the changes My School. My Choice, and anticipates the school choice period will start in December and run through mid-January.

The changes wont be implemented until the 2018-2019 school year, but district officials are already in the process of paving the way for the transitions and necessary building upgrades that will take place over the next year and a half, administration officials said.

The district does not expect any staff cuts as a result of the changes.

Ryan Knudson, vice president of the Racine Education Association, said the unions membership hadnt had much time to process the plan yet, but in the wake of the rumors that had been circulating about potential changes, much of the membership was relieved to find out the actual plan.

Motivation for changes

The moves will result in some bigger campuses. Walden, which currently has about 525 students, will see its enrollment increase by 175 over a three-year period. In the end, the changes will mean more students can attend a school more geared toward their interests, Haws said.

Students already attending the lottery school of their choice will be be able to continue in that school or program. A student currently attending Bull Fine Arts, for instance, will be able to transfer to Gilmore Fine Arts for the 2018-2019 school year without having to apply for a lottery seat. But there will be more spots for both elementary and middle school students hoping to attend the expanded fine arts school.

Our middle schools need something new, something different and something better, said Haws, discussing the changes. We did a community survey and asked community members and staff and parents for their input and the big message we heard is: You have great staff; we are concerned about the climate and the behavior. We like all the choices and we want more choices. 

The changes are part of a larger effort to address declining enrollment across the districts middle schools, while also addressing school capacity, facility conditions and poor achievement scores. Four of the districts seven schools failed to meet expectations during the 2015-2016 school year, according to state report card ratings.

Gilmore, Jerstad-Agerholm, McKinley, Mitchell and Starbuck are operating between 33 and 59 percent below capacity, and have seen enrollment decline by between 18 and 34 percent over the last five years.

Walden Middle School is the only school that is over capacity, but its current building, located at 1012 Center St., needs about $8.9 million in repairs, according to the district.

Moving Waldens middle and high school students to McKinley will mean students and staff will have a better building, while staying within an urban environment, which is something the existing school community values, Haws said.

What will happen with the former Walden and Bull Fine Arts buildings has yet to be determined, but the district plans to consider the future of the structures when it begins studying its elementary school districts next year, Deputy Superintendent Eric Gallien said.

Implementation process

Although the upcoming changes were developed by district administrators, the process for rolling out those changes has been put in the hands of the larger Unified community.

A team of 25 to 30 people representing teachers, administrators, parents, principals and REA members met for about a week earlier this year to talk through the proposed changes. Members of that Kaizen group  Japanese for continuous improvement  will continue to meet over the next year and a half, explained Gallien, as the district works to implement its programming and campus changes as well as its broader goals to improve school climates and student achievement.

Kim Krohn, who teaches English as a second language at Mitchell and has been part of the work group, said what has been most encouraging to her about the process is the increased choices it offers.

We want to take whats really working; what kids (and our parents) really like, and explode it, if you will, Krohn said. Change is always going to be a little tough. Change brings good and it brings bad ... but we are hoping it brings way more positives.

Krohn added that while the lottery schools give more students the opportunity for a focused curriculum, boundary schools will continue to thrive.

Our boundary schools are already great. Those schools will continue to have strong arts and (science, technology, engineering and math programming),  she said.
NATO

Mr. Trump has criticized NATO for not focusing on terrorism. Though little has changed about NATO since he became president, he has changed his perspective about the alliance.

I think NATO may be obsolete. Interview with Bloomberg Politics

He asked me about NATO. I said its obsolete. Campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wis., describing an interview with Wolf Blitzer

I said NATO is obsolete, because its not taking care of terror. Interview with ABCs This Week

I said a long time ago that NATO had problems. Number one, it was obsolete, because it was designed many, many years ago. Joint interview with the Times of London and the German newspaper Bild

I said it was obsolete. Its no longer obsolete. News conference at the White House

China and currency manipulation

Throughout the presidential campaign, Mr. Trump condemned China for manipulating its currency to gain an edge in trade.

Theyre devaluing their currency to a level that you wouldnt believe. It makes it impossible for our companies to compete, impossible. Speech announcing his presidential bid

They are the greatest currency manipulators ever. Speech at the Republican National Convention

I am going to instruct my Treasury secretary to label China a currency manipulator, the greatest in the world. Campaign speech

I think theyre grand champions at manipulation of currency. Interview with Reuters

When you talk about currency manipulation, when you talk about devaluations, they are world champions. Interview with The Financial Times

Theyre not currency manipulators. Interview with The Wall Street Journal

Export-Import Bank

During his campaign, Mr. Trump denounced the Export-Import Bank, a taxpayer-funded agency that gives loans to American exporters.

I dont like it. I think its a lot of excess baggage. I think its unnecessary. Interview with Bloomberg Politics

Actually, its a very good thing. And it actually makes money; it could make a lot of money. Interview with The Wall Street Journal

Syria

Mr. Trump urged the Obama administration to stay out of the Syrian civil war, and during his campaign he emphasized taking on the Islamic State instead of the Syrian government.

Syria is NOT our problem. Twitter post

Do NOT attack Syria, fix U.S.A. Twitter post

I dont like Assad at all, but Assad is killing ISIS, Russia is killing ISIS, and Iran is killing ISIS. Presidential debate

What we should do is focus on ISIS. We should not be focusing on Syria. Interview with Reuters
Poor Communication

An American gunship hit a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, last year, killing 42 people.

In major military blunders, rarely is there just one culprit. Human error as well as equipment and procedural failures can add up to devastating consequences. That was the case in the attack on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

The problems started when missile fire forced a lumbering AC-130 gunship, sent to eliminate a compound swarming with Taliban fighters, off course. Its targeting systems homed in on an empty field instead.

The crew spotted a collection of buildings that roughly matched the description of the Taliban compound. The gunships navigator called an American Special Forces air controller on the ground to seek guidance.

The response was immediate and unequivocal: Open fire.

Location of American commander on the ground Position first indicated by aircraft sensor Intended target 1,080 feet 1,320 feet 1,450 feet Hospital attacked Location of American commander on the ground Position first indicated by aircraft sensor Intended target 1,080 feet 1,320 feet 1,450 feet Hospital attacked Position first indicated by aircraft sensor Intended target 1,080 feet 1,320 feet 1,450 feet Hospital attacked The New York Times | Satellite image by DigitalGlobe via Bing Maps

The air controller was wrong. Even after Doctors Without Borders frantically alerted American commanders that a gunship was attacking the hospital, the airstrike was not immediately called off because the Americans could not confirm that the hospital was free of Taliban fighters.

Sixteen American military personnel, including a general officer, were given administrative punishments for their roles in the strike.

Right Target, Wrong People

A coalition airstrike on Tuesday aimed at Islamic State fighters killed 18 Syrian fighters allied with the United States.

In the fog of war, distinguishing between friend and foe can be perilous. Allies and enemies are commingled on the battlefield. What looks like an insurgent from data gathered from spy satellites or surveillance planes may be a more complicated target.

In the airstrike Tuesday in Tabqah, Syria, Syrian fighters allied with the United States were mistaken for insurgents. Allies on the ground had called in the airstrikes and identified the target location as an ISIS fighting position, the Pentagon said, using another name for the Islamic State. But the location turned out to be a position for the Syrian Democratic Forces, who have been fighting the Islamic State alongside the Americans. The military is investigating.

Aleppo Mosul Raqqa Tabqah Location of strike Deir al-Zour ISIS control Homs IRAQ SYRIA By Rebecca Lai, The New York Times | Source: IHS Janes (areas of control as of April 4)

Without eyes on the ground, targets can be misleading. Several missiles fired from a C.I.A. drone in March 2011 struck a meeting in northwest Pakistan among locals and Taliban mediators who had gathered to settle a dispute over a chromite mine. While some of the three dozen people killed were Taliban fighters, Pakistani officials said, most were elders or simply residents.

American officials sharply disputed Pakistan's account, saying that all those killed were insurgents. These people weren't gathering for a bake sale, an American official said. They were terrorists.

Reliance on Local Allies

An American airstrike called in by Iraqi special forces to kill snipers ended up killing as many as 200 Iraqi civilians.

Ideally, American spotters would be able to call in all American airstrikes to help avoid accidentally striking civilians. But in war zones like Iraq and Syria, where small numbers of American Special Operations forces are advising indigenous troops, the advisers must vet and approve information relayed from allied troops closer to the fight. Its an imperfect arrangement forged in the crucible of combat.

American commanders in Iraq say that an airstrike in Mosul last month that killed scores, if not hundreds, of civilians hit the right target, but that the choice of target relied on partner forces who may not have the same values or standards, especially when it comes to risks to civilians.

Rescue teams work on the debris of a house destroyed by an airstrike that killed more than 100 people in Mosul. Felipe Dana/Associated Press

The top American commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, acknowledged that the airstrike most likely led to the building collapse that killed the civilians. But American officials have also said that the Islamic State may have herded the victims into the building as human shields, or that the attack may have set off a larger blast from explosives set by militants inside the building or nearby.

Maj. Gen. Maan al-Saadi, an Iraqi special forces commander, has said his men called in an airstrike to take out snipers on the roofs of three houses in Mosul. The Iraqi forces, General Saadi said, were unaware that at least some of the houses were filled with civilians.

Nearby Civilians

Two American airstrikes in 2016 and one in 2015  both in Mosul  killed civilians near designated targets.

Often, civilians stray too close to a target after an American or allied warplane has dropped its weapons, and the pilot is unaware or cannot abort the strike.

In a significant number of the 85 strikes involving civilian casualties that the United States has acknowledged in Iraq and Syria, noncombatants entered the so-called killbox after the weapons were released, according to Airwars, a London-based organization that tracks civilian casualties in war zones.

On Feb. 12, 2016, and again four days later, airstrikes were carried out on Islamic State car-bomb factories in Mosul. American commanders concluded that two civilians were unintentionally killed in each strike when they entered the target area after the munition had been dropped.

American commanders also concluded that an attack on an Islamic State headquarters building in Mosul in 2015 killed four civilians in the building and wounded two others.

Flawed Intelligence

A B-2 bomber mistakenly struck the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1999, killing three people and wounding 20.

American military planners draw on a range of aerial, human and other intelligence to help plot airstrikes, always seeking to prevent civilian deaths. Even so, that planning sometimes goes awry. Most famously, flawed targeting techniques, outdated maps and sloppy follow-up on the ground led to a disastrous result in May 1999.

Satellite-guided bombs from a B-2 bomber struck the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during the Kosovo War because C.I.A. analysts misidentified the building, and military databases used to catch such mistakes had the wrong address for the embassy. The intelligence failure led to a deadly case of mistaken identity that killed three Chinese and wounded 20.

When the target was initially checked against electronic mapping data in American military and NATO computers to protect against civilian casualties, no red flags were raised because half a dozen government databases listed the old location of the Chinese Embassy, in another part of Belgrade.

A secret document that President Bill Clinton used in authorizing the strike, obtained by The New York Times in 2000, described the Chinese Embassy as a warehouse.
STURTEVANT  Jason Eckman, an executive at BRP, is newly elected Sturtevant Village President Jayme Hoffmans choice to fill the rest of Hoffmans term as village trustee.

In the April 4 election, Hoffman won the village president seat, defeating Steve Jansen. Hoffmans move up from trustee to president meant his trustee seat would be vacant.

Hoffman will make the appointment at Tuesday evenings Village Board meeting after being sworn in as village president.

Hoffman said Thursday the jockeying for the second year of his two-year trustee term started immediately: He received the first email at 9:12 p.m. on election night. He had the next pitch at about 11 a.m. the next day.

Hoffman said hed never met Eckman until after the election, when someone suggested he talk to him about the possibility of joining the board. He said he made his choice after interviewing about seven possible candidates.

I had people looking for me, suggesting, and I had people in mind, Hoffman said. Nothing was really working.

Then he met Eckman, global product manager for BRP, for the first time on Sunday.

I was just totally amazed when I met Jason, Hoffman said. I was like, Yep, this is the guy. 

Besides being successful professionally, he said Eckman has good rental properties, he loves the village, hes a family man, hes highly educated, hes very polite, and hes open-minded.

Neither Jansen nor current trustee Chris Wright, who lost his seat in the election, were interested in filling Hoffmans spot although Hoffman said he talked with them both.

I didnt consider Steve Jansen because he needs a break, Hoffman said.  Sooner or later hell come back and do a committee, he predicted.

After 10 years on the board, Wright decided to spend more time with his family  although he agreed to stay on the village Planning Commission, Hoffman said.
The oft-repeated excuse for this unchecked expansion of charters is that LAUSD Board Members have no other choice. While it is true that both the county and state Boards of Education can become the authorizer of any charter that the LAUSD rejects, this only means that the District will lose oversight fees for those charters. Given that the District has admitted in the past that these fees do not cover all of their expenses, this will only help to reduce costs and avoid bankruptcy. This is especially true since charters that do not meet the criteria for approval require higher levels of oversight and further degrade the District's ability to make sure that other charters are following the rules.

Not all districts cave into the threat of being overturned by the county and the state. For example, the Glendale Unified Board of Education voted unanimously to reject a charter application by the International Studies Language Academy (ISLA), finding that "the plan for the school would fail in its execution to 'present a sound educational program,' primarily because of financial issues." The petitioners did appeal to the county, whose staff determined that the petition provided "an unsound educational program". As a result, the county Board of Education voted 5-1 to reject the appeal, with Alex Johnson, the pro-charter former candidate for the LAUSD Board Seat held by George McKenna, providing the only vote to approve. The State's Advisory Commission on Charter Schools, chaired by Granada's Brian Bauer, disagreed with the local districts and found unanimously "that the ISLA petition is consistent with sound educational practice." The State Board of Education, who in the past has approved charters run by Celerity Educational Group and failed to perform any oversight visits for a charter under its jurisdiction, voted 7-2 to approve the appeal.

Glendale was not finished fighting. Unlike the LAUSD, which is willing to shoehorn any charter that asks onto its campuses, this neighboring district denied ISLA's application for a district facility under Prop 39. As a result, the charter organization is exploring the option of filing a charter petition with the LAUSD citing the "relative ease of finding a site." While left unsaid, the fact that the District rubber stamps most applications probably also factored into their decision making process.

While the current Board has proven to be ill-suited towards repelling charters like ISLA, the California Charter School Association and their allies are spending heavily to eliminate any opposition to their expansion. Millions are being spent on Nick Melvoin and Kelly Gonez' campaigns so that Eli Broad's plan to "to reach 50 percent charter market share" can be achieved. It is understandable that the promise of change may be alluring to parents frustrated with a District unresponsive to their needs. However, as the election of Trump has shown, the wrong type of change can be disastrous. Unregulated private schools that drain funding from our public schools are not what our students need.

____________________________________________

Carl Petersen is a parent and special education advocate and was a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race. He was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action and Diane Ravitch called him a "strong supporter of public schools." His past blogs can be found at www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com.
I spent a few minutes this morning confirming my suspicion that Theodore A. Postol's debunking of the US claim of a Syrian gas attack in Khan Shaykhun would be ignored by the MSM.

Here is the result of my Google search for "Postol" in the last month:

New York Times: 0

Washington Post: 0

CNN: 0

BBC: 0

The Guardian: 0

Suddeutsche Zeitung (German "paper of record"): 0

The Unz Review, which published the report (link above), like the other websites that link to or mention the report (e.g., antiwar.com, consortiumnews.com, paulcraigroberts.org, washingtonsblog.com) is on the list of "Sites That Reliably Echo Russian Propaganda."

Postol is no lightweight, and even his Wikipedia article mentions this latest report, so there is no excuse for the MSM to ignore it.

We do not really need this further proof that the MSM (and PropOrNot, or course) reliably echo CIA propaganda, but here it is.

Postol's report is presented objectively and argued convincingly, backed by hard data. Here are his conclusions:

"It is hard for me to believe that anybody competent could have been involved in producing the WHR report and the implications of such an obviously predetermined result strongly suggests that this report was not motivated by a serious analysis of any kind.

"This finding is disturbing. It indicates that the WHR was probably a report purely aimed at justifying actions that were not supported by any legitimate intelligence.

...

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Lebanon's Outlawing of Palestinian Civil Rights Risks Igniting Powder Kegs at Ein al Hilweh and Other Camps:



Palestinian Refugee Camp

(Image by Ben Chun) Details DMCA



It's half a century overdue for Lebanon to grant Palestinian refugees, now the fourth post-Nakba generation, the most elementary civil rights to work and home ownership. Both fundamental rights are mandated by international law and enjoyed by every refugee on our planet. Sauf Lebanon.

As a direct and foreseeable consequence, half of Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps and several dozen refugee "gatherings" are careening toward violence while most Lebanese politicians, some of whom are clients of other countries, turn a blind eye or dither.

One example is East Saida's Ein al Hilweh camp where nearly one hundred thousand refugees, including approximately 7000 from Yarmouk and other Palestinian refugee camps in Syria live in squalor on just 2 Sq. Km of space. Arguably the most sardine-canned population on earth today.

April 12, 2017 marked the sixth day of clashes as Palestinian joint security force mobilized to enter the notorious Al-Tiri neighborhood of Ein al-Hilweh as schools, universities, many shops and the camps health clinics closed. Al-Tiri is a stronghold of extremist Bilal Badr and his supporters, who have been engaged in clashes with the Fatah Movement since last week. The fighting has so far left nine dead and more than 60 wounded over six days, including numerous civilians. On 4/13/2017 a local Palestinian security force numbering 100 fighters from several Palestinian factions, was finally able to deploy throughout most of the camp as Islamist militants went, for now at least, into hiding.

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Regard de thierry Ehrmann, auteur de la Demeure du Chaos / Abode of Chaos

(Image by Abode of Chaos) Details DMCA



Remarks in Cambridge, Mass., April 13, 2017

The Mother of All Lies is this: you can fix things by blowing them up. Alcoholics should not drink, and people who cannot watch TV and distinguish it from reality should not watch TV. Donald Trump watches a lot of TV and may very well believe what it teaches, namely that blowing things up solves problems. He certainly has figured out, as I knew he would, that the way to get love from the U.S. corporate media is to blow stuff up.

For many of us who are not believers in myths about good wars and just wars and defensive and humanitarian wars, war may have initially struck us as evil because it so directly does harm. Driving a gas-burning car helps render the earth uninhabitable, but only very slowly and only in combination with larger factors. Building a nuclear power plant risks horrible disaster, but it doesn't intentionally and immediately create it. War, on the other hand, when looked at clearly, consists of mass murder described with other words. It's direct and immediate and fatal and large-scale violence. What could be more evil?

It's ironic, then, that the bulk of the damage that war does, and the vast majority of the deaths it causes are caused indirectly. The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees put out a statement this week that warned of mass starvation in Yemen without mentioning that there is a war there. The Washington Post yesterday published a shockingly honest article that described the famines in Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, and Nigeria, and noted that they would be unimaginable without the wars in those countries. At least 20 million people are at risk of starving to death there, a number that dwarfs the number killed directly in wars in a given year -- and that is true even using credible numbers, not the super low estimates of which the U.S. media is so fond.

People all over the United States will naturally be eager to help hungry men, women, and children at risk of starvation in the impoverished nation of Yemen, where the greatest number are at risk, and where the U.S. government has the greatest ability to quickly reverse destructive policies, if we can inform them that this catastrophe is happening. This is one of many possible paths to enlarging the peace movement. We can build a movement against starving people to death.

To reverse the policies responsible in Yemen will require admitting who is behind them, namely the governments of the United States and Saudi Arabia, and -- perhaps even harder to admit -- that chief among those policies is war making. While an estimated 10,000 people in Yemen have died directly from Saudi/U.S. bombing, estimates place the death toll from war-induced starvation already much higher. UN agencies estimate that 462,000 Yemeni children under five years of age are currently suffering severe acute malnutrition, meaning that they are at serious risk of dying. Many more are approaching that status.

Contributing to the crisis in Yemen have been:

U.S. drone murders in Yemen;

U.S. weapons sales to Saudi Arabia;

U.S. purchasing of fossil fuels from Saudi Arabia;

U.S. and European allies' defense of Saudi Arabia from sanctions by the United Nations;

U.S. identification of targets for Saudi bombing;

U.S. mid-air refueling of the bombers;

U.S./Saudi targeting of agricultural, health, and transportation infrastructure;

The bombing of August 17, 2015, that destroyed all of the cranes used to unload container ships at the main port of Hodeidah, as well as a World Food Program warehouse;

Newly escalated targeting of Hodeidah and the Red Sea coast;

U.S. "special forces" raids on Yemeni families;

U.S./Saudi propaganda falsely implicating Iran in the war in Yemen;

Saudi takeover of the Central Bank of Yemen.

Two nations helping to lead the destruction of the earth's climate, joined at the hip by fossil fuel and weapons sales, and both invested in supporting terrorists in Syria, have been collaborating for years on the creation of this other tragedy as well. It is time for us to put an end to it, to send in food and medicine rather than missiles and guns.

Bombing food supplies and roads and ports and hospitals is not the only indirect way in which war is causing deaths by starvation. Another is this. The droughts now devastating large swaths of the thus-far habitable land areas on earth have been exacerbated by climate change. The biggest contributor to climate change is war and military preparations for war. The U.S. military is the biggest consumer of petroleum we have, not to mention the first tool our government turns to in trying to control the production and transportation of more fossil fuels.

However, the largest way in which war indirectly causes deaths by starvation, as well as indirectly causing many other types of deaths, is something else entirely, something you may want to keep in mind as tax day approaches. The United Nations is trying to raise $4.4 billion for emergency hunger relief, and has raised a tiny fraction of it. The United States and Saudi Arabia are spending vastly higher sums inflicting starvation than are needed to alleviate it. The United States spends close to a trillion dollars a year, every year, on militarism, while $30 billion, or 3%, could end starvation on earth, $11 billion, or just over 1%, could end the lack of clean drinking water. And so on through countless massive projects that are not massive in comparison with military spending -- are, in fact, literally too small to be noticed in the never-audited Pentagon budget, significantly smaller than sums the Pentagon often fails to account for.

The financial cost of war skyrockets if one considers the lost economic opportunities. It was of course economists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who found that military spending produces fewer jobs than other spending or even than never taxing the money in the first place. While it strikes me as sociopathic to defend war spending as a jobs program, it is in fact a job destruction program. The unfathomable amount of money lost by investing in war balloons further when we consider that war literally destroys trillions of dollars worth of goods every year -- primarily in the nations where the wars are fought.

The machinery of war extends its horrific destruction far beyond the damage created by one government, even the greatest purveyor of violence on earth, through weapons sales. The war-torn nations facing famines do not manufacture weapons of war. The vast majority of those weapons come from 6 wealthy nations, first among them the United States. The major wars now happening in Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Libya all have major involvement by the U.S. military. Other wars across Northeast Africa are being exacerbated by U.S. drone murders, special forces, and weapons sales. It is incumbent upon us in the United States to address this, as those best capable of addressing it. It doesn't change the fact that numerous other governments and groups also deserve infinite blame for their roles in these slaughters.

It does, however, mean that even those who are believers in good wars and just wars and so forth have to make an impossible argument. They have to claim that the chance of their fantasized just war occurring outweighs all the harm done by the investment in war preparations and by all the obviously unjust wars that this preparation produces.

And that's all before considering that war generates terrorism, that war is the justification for government secrecy and the erosion of our civil liberties, that war militarizes local police, that war is fueled by and fuels in its turn racism and sexism and violence, that those who survive war can suffer and cause others to suffer for the rest of their lives, and -- perhaps most significantly -- that the institution of war creates the nuclear weapons that will kill us all, sooner or later, unless they are abolished.

Someone I do not know posted this comment on our website at World Beyond War:

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RACINE  Several local venues saw special visitors Friday.

Deputy Friendly Timothy Graves of the Racine County Sheriffs Office spent time with the Easter Bunny visiting Ascension All Saints Hospital, the Womens Resource Center and the Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization of Racine, according to a Sheriffs Office news release.

Deputy Friendly and the Easter Bunny handed out more than 100 Easter baskets to new mothers and children at the hospital, as well as children and families at the Womens Resource Center and HALO, the release states.

This year marked the 10th year that Deputy Friendly Graves has accompanied the Easter Bunny on the visits.

The event is sponsored by the Racine County Deputy Sheriffs Protective Association and the Easter Bunny Foundation and endorsed by Sheriff Christopher Schmaling.

The Easter Bunny Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing personal visits and a toy on Easter week in childrens hospitals and pediatric wards across the United States, according to its website.

Last year, the group was in 29 states throughout the country, visiting 9,000 hospitalized children. The group worked with 100 sheriffs offices and four police departments.

The Sheriffs Offices Deputy Friendly program is also geared toward children. Graves is involved in programs such as tobacco abatement, alcohol awareness, bicycle rodeos and Safety Town USA, according to the Sheriffs Office website.

Graves also visits elementary schools in Racine County educating kids on topics like the job of a law enforcement officer, stranger awareness and gun, bicycle, pedestrian and passenger safety.
Last summer Justice Clarence Thomas broke 10 years of silence to weigh in on the "gun rights" of domestic abusers. Why can't domestic abusers have guns he asked? "Give me another area where a misdemeanor violation suspends a constitutional right," he grumbled.

Weeks later in Pennsylvania, seemingly on cue, Mark Short, despite two prior police reports of domestic violence, legally purchased a gun and killed his wife and their three young children (pictured) two days later in the latest chilling example of gendercide.

Everyone from criminologists, to law enforcement officers, to psychologists knows domestic violence predicts gun violence and death. But thanks to the gun lobby we allow and enable----actually sit on our hands and wait----imminent murders because of"gun rights."

This week's San Bernardino killer Cedric Anderson is a case in point. Despite a 30-year history of battery charges and domestic violence allegations, he was not barred from legally buying a gun and killed his wife and a student this week.



Karen Smith murdered by husband

(Image by Martha Rosenberg) Details DMCA



Just as with Anderson, few were surprised that Marcus Dee was capable of shooting and killing former girlfriend Nadia Ezaldein on Black Friday of 2014 in front of horrified shoppers at Nordstrom's on Chicago's Magnificent Mile. He had a long domestic violence history. Six days before the murder, Dee attacked a friend of Ezaldein, causing broken bones. Month's earlier, court documents reveal the victim's sister said Dee had "cracked Ezaldein's ribs, broke her jaw, ripped her clothing, stabbed her jacket with a switch knife, ripped her boots, bruised her lip, threw her clothing out the window and put a gun in her mouth."

Many and perhaps most killers have similar violent histories.

"Cho Seung-Hui, the Virginia Tech shooter, was investigated for stalking two female students," and "Elliot Roger, who killed six people in Isla Vista, California, in 2014, tried to shove several women off a 10-foot ledge at a party and claimed in a 'manifesto' that his violence was part of his 'war on women,'" writes the Slate's Christina Cauterucci. Esteban Santiago, who killed five at the Fort Lauderdale airport and Omar Mateen, who killed 49 at the Pulse nightclub, were also domestic abusers she writes.

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If there ever were a situation that appeared to be a Wag the Dog or a False Flag operation we just witnessed it when Mr. Trump launched his missile attack on a Syrian government military facility.

The astute, level-headed Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. military empire, judge, jury and prosecutor in cases of suspected crimes; soon after he heard that some unknown entity had launched a chemical gas attack on the city of Khan Sheikhoun Syria, gave the order to launch that retaliatory attack.

Yes, if a chemical gas attack was actually committed it would be a heinous act to be sure and whoever is proven to be responsible should be condemned and punished if at all possible. However, the facts and evidence need to be presented before any action is taken, that's the normal way that these situations are handled.

But, things in America are anything but normal right now since we have this president who has a very short fuse, a rush to anger and judgement, and is quick to retaliate in situations that, instead, call for careful, in-depth analysis and appropriate conclusions before action is taken.

But that's not Trump's style as he quickly dismissed all those prerequisites and didn't hesitate to take unilateral action. The reported chemical attack was made on April 4th and Trump's order to launch the missiles from U.S. offshore ships was given only two days later on Thursday, April 6th.

Yes, this missile launch by Trump has all the makings of either a Wag the Dog or a False Flag operation. So with that in mind let's discuss two means by which U.S. presidents in the past have used such tactics to divert attention from some crisis going on within their administrations or in situations when they were personally on the hot seat for some reason.

Wag the dog:

A typical definition is: "a cleverly planned strategy by which attention is purposely diverted from something of greater importance to something of lesser importance to keep everyone from discovering the real truth."

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Reprinted from exposefacts.org

The news is rife with President Trump's threatened and actual military misadventures: in Syria, Yemen, and North Korea. But these military actions take on a new gravity considering the vast and secret powers Trump inherited.

Former President Obama escalated the use of drone strikes--including in non-battlefield arenas such as Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen--so it is no surprise that President Trump has continued with abandon. While Obama put some constraints on drones, Trump gave the secretive, unaccountable CIA new authority to conduct drone strikes against "suspected militants."

Specifically, President Obama's constraints on drones included that targets pose an "imminent threat," that their capture is "not feasible," and that there be "near certainty" civilians will not be injured or killed. However, Obama didn't always hew closely to his own policy, which evolved throughout his Presidency as legitimate criticism of drone strikes increased. One of the most famous Americans targeted and killed by a drone, al Qaeda propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki, met none of the early purported criteria. Still, the Justice Department under Obama maintained that the President had the unilateral authority to target and kill American citizens like al-Awlaki. That power now rests with President Trump who has undertaken aggressive and messy military actions in the early days of his presidency.

Trump has pushed for a $54 billion increase in defense spending. Americans can expect Trump will use their money for expensive military actions like the botched raid in Yemen that killed innocent women and children and an American soldier and resulted in destruction of a $75 million military helicopter. Or, for decisions that upend years of international relations policy, such as launching 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Syria. (Replacing them will probably cost at least $1 million per missile).

This does not bode well for the millions of people living under the daily buzz of U.S. military drones. The power to target and kill using drone strikes went too unchecked in the Obama administration because we "trusted" him. Although small pockets of national security, civil liberties, and peace groups complained about the Trust Doctrine, which seemed to apply to the most controversial conduct in which our country was engaged--from torture to surveillance to drone operations--people in positions of power were generally unwilling or unable to imagine what this power would look like in the hands of someone unpredictable, petty, and vengeful. The Obama administration exalted the drone program's "surgical precision," the internal checks and balances built in, and the careful calculations before taking strikes. Because many saw Obama as a reasonable, intelligent President and capable leader who won the Nobel Peace Prize, Americans too calmly and too quietly accepted the secret killing practices being waged halfway around the world from U.S. Air Force bases in our backyards in Nevada and California.

The drone program is plagued by secrecy and unaccountability. That was true even before Trump put strike authority with the CIA and possibly relaxed civilian kill standards. Several whistleblowers have come forward to point out abusive practices and high turnover within the program, misleading government statements on the accuracy of strikes and targeting capabilities, and an overall pressure to launch strikes while falsely presenting the propagandist narrative that drone warfare allows precision targeting with no harmful effects at home in the US. This false narrative persists because politicians want us to believe it--and so do we.

We opened Pandora's box and unleashed drones upon humankind. But in this case, the damage was entirely foreseeable.
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Fascinating, eye-opening, and extraordinary, Rob Kall's Bottom Up: Tapping the Power of the Connection Revolution explores the emerging paradigm of our age -- bottom-up thinking -- connecting an enormous range of disciplines and topics from systems, chaos, and complexity theories to the evolving role of technology in our lives. Not merely a cogent exposition of contemporary thinking, however, Bottom Up extrapolates from abstract ideas to derive practical, everyday steps we can take to improve our chances of global survival, peace, and prosperity. Following Rob's lead, we can change habits as individuals to deepen our connection with others across the planet."



Wendell Potter, former health insurance executive, co-author of Nation on the Take: How Big Money Corrupts Our Democracy and What We Can Do About It, and Founder of Tarbell.org
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Trump

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Donald Trump has called the mainstream media "the enemy." But since January 20th, the media has been Trump's best friend because they have, in the main, ignored the big stories about his disastrous presidency.

To be fair, Rachel Maddow has been superb. And the New York Times, Washington Post, and a few other print outlets have done a great job with the Trump-Russia imbroglio. Nonetheless, here are some of the big stories they've missed.

1.Trump isn't an executive. Everything we've seen since January 20th, confirms the painful truth: Trump is in way over his head. Let's consider the five basic tasks of any CEO: Vision, Resources, Culture, Decisions, and Performance. (https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/233354)

Vision: What is Trump's vision for America? We understand that he offers "Make America Great Again" as his vision, but what lies behind that? "Where's the beef?" There isn't any. Trump's budget document -- the closest we have to a plan -- tears down the Federal government and gives massive tax breaks to the rich. Trump's real vision is "Screw the 99 percent."

Resources: Another responsibility of an effective CEO is to allocate resources (money, personnel, time, and facilities) to accomplish specific objectives. Trump's budget gives resources to ICE and the national security state. The domestic agencies get the shaft. There's nothing in Trump's budget to improve the lot of the 99 percent.

Culture: A successful CEO builds a culture of competency. "A good culture makes people feel safe and respected, enabling them to perform at their best." Except for his national security advisers (Mattis and McMaster), Trump has surrounded himself with a team of bumpkins. From the White House staff through the Cabinet secretaries to all the (few) political appointees, Trump's prevailing credo has been "do they like me?" rather than "can they do the job?" or better yet, "can they make America greater?"

Decision-making: One of the defining aspects of management is making timely, effective, and responsible decisions. Trump doesn't make decisions: he dithers. And equivocates.

When he has made decisions, such as his ineffective "full-court press" to repeal Obamacare, Trump has made bad choices. And then, when his initiatives have failed, he's attempted to blame others. He's a coward.

Forget looking for responsibility within this Administration. Trump's operational model is "the buck doesn't stop here."

Performance: America's corporate CEOs ultimately get judged by a narrow standard: share price. For President, the equivalent standard is, "How's the stock market doing?" So far the stock market is up, so Wall Street thinks Trump is doing okay. Really? (According to Gallup, U.S. Economic Confidence is trending down.)

Another standard for a President is, "Has he kept us safe?" The good news is that there have not been any domestic terrorist attacks under Trump. The bad news is that since walked into the White House the whole world has been unsettled. Moreover, tourists are afraid to come here -- any non-native person-of-color is afraid to come to the US. Hmmm. That can't be good for national security. Hmmm. If the rest of the world doesn't like Trump, maybe that could have some impact on our economy.

2. Trump has no Foreign Policy: Trump wasn't elected because of his foreign-policy chops but we expected some coherence. It's not like all the Republican leaders are dummies. (Or have we got that wrong, too?)

First Trump liked Russia; now he doesn't. Initially Trump didn't like China but now apparently he does. And on and on. Trump's foreign policy seems totally random; as if it is was most influenced by what he learned from watching "Fox and Friends" while he was getting dressed.

Consider North Korea. From his recent remarks, sounds like Donald is "mad as hell and won't take it anymore." What's this mean? Is he going to attack North Korea? Hmmm. Think Donald knows that Seoul, South Korea, is less than 35 miles from the border with North Korea -- that's less than the distance between New York City and Coney Island? Think Donald understands that if we attack North Korea it's inevitable that Seoul would be devastated? Probably not but breathe a sigh of relief: there are Trump properties in Seoul so he probably won't attack North Korea.

3. Trump's Attack on Syria: The media mostly missed that Trump precipitated the heinous gas attacks because his administration announced they had take Syrian regime change off the table (click here) Next the ruler of Syria, or someone else, gassed the poor folks in Khan Sheikhun, Syria. Then Trump got pissed off, jumped to a conclusion, and bombed a Syrian airport -- with undetermined results.

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Not much left but the floor, nothing lives here anymore

Except the memory of a coal miners daughter

Loretta Lynn, Coal Miners Daughter

Based on President Trumps latest executive order, its about time to dust off the old mining equipment because the men in Butcher Holler may soon return to the shafts. The President has just signed an executive order aimed at kickstarting the coal industry and placating those downtrodden Trumpettes yearning for the good ole days of hauling 16 tons, owing the company store, and jigging to those jangly, not-at-all-depressing Merle Travis songs.

The move will, in Trumps own words, eliminate federal overreach, restore economic freedom, and allow our companies and our workers to thrive, compete, and succeed on a level playing field for the first time in a long time. Obviously these wordsthe best wordshave Rand-loving Republicans salivating, with libertarian think-tank the Heartland Institute praising the repeal, noting it will end unnecessary and costly regulations that kill jobs without producing any benefits, the organization said in a statement. His executive order will end the theft of American prosperity and make EPA focus on its primary mission of protecting our air and water.

In this case, unnecessary and costly regulations and Trumps own words restore economic freedom discreetly means squash Obama-era environmental regulations, which the President and many Republicans have blamed for stymying the manufacture of American energyi.e. Coal. Once imposed, the order will direct government agencies to rewrite regulation restricting carbon emissions; itll lift the moratorium on coal leasing on federal lands; itll reverse rules concerning methane leaks; and itll revise the way government analyzes the cost of climate change.

Of course much of this needs to go through the U.S. court system, so its not time to panic yet. That said, the environmental consequences, such as allowing mining at Yellowstone, removing all CO2 regulations, and eliminating the Clean Power Plan, of this order has scientists pissed.

From a public health perspective, it is frightening because the health benefits of the Clean Power Plan are numerous. The EPA reported that the plan would be responsible for 3,600 fewer premature deaths, 1,700 fewer heart attacks, and 90,000 fewer asthma attacks.

In an interview with USA Today, Janet McCabe, former head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the one who wrote the Clean Power Plan, which President Trump hopes to eliminate, called the latest executive order distressing.

We didnt do these programs for fun, McCabe said. We did them because science was showing that there was air pollution, which was causing public health threats and would be doing so even more in the future. And that there costs associated with that. And that there were benefits associated with finding ways to reasonably minimize, reduce and put ourselves on a transition to cleaner energy.

Jennifer Francis, a research professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University in New Jersey, in an interview with LiveScience, condemned the order, Dismantling this plan slows our transition to a clean-energy nation, along with the explosion in new jobs and economic benefits that go with it, she said. This rollback will mean more asthma and other breathing disorders associated with air pollution, more contamination of water supplies by residue from mining fossil fuels and more money wasted on infrastructure for a dying energy industry.

Perhaps thats the most important nose more money wasted on infrastructure for a dying energy industry.

My action today is the latest in a series of steps to create American jobs and to grow American wealth, President Trump said to a crowd of miners last week. Were ending the theft of American prosperity, and rebuilding our beloved country.

Yes, create American jobs because there are so many job openings in coal mining.

In total, 50,300 Americans, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, work as coal miners. Thats 0.0004% of the entire U.S. workforce. Even with Trump bringing back coal, that number wouldnt exceed 131,000 employees (including the secretaries at said mines). Thats half than the total number of shoe salespeople in the country.

To put this number in perspective, more people work in the bowling industry than in coal. Trump could Making Bowling Great Again. The Big Lebowski could only do so much. More people also work at Arbys than in coal. If Arbys had gone under, would the President run on a platform saving Horsey Sauce? Hed sure as Hell better.

Worse still, coal aint coming back. And it has nothing to do with the CO2 regulations like politicians would like you to believe. For starters, it lacks market demand (did you hear that Hearst Institute?), which is what Robert Godby, an energy economist at the University of Wyoming, told The New York Times. Coals not coming back because of fracking. The fracking boom depressed natural gas prices, making it cheaper than coal. Natural gas is also cleaner than coal. Its cheaper to mine than coal. It emits half the CO2 as coal. It emits far fewer pollutants than coal. And, to add insult, natural gas workers arent subjected to the lethal conditions like the black lung.

Furthermore, coal aint coming back because America isnt even mining it. Look at the big picture: Last years 900 million tons mined was the most amount since 1986 and nearly 25 percent less than the amount mined ten years ago, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Its not being mined becausewe dont need it. Back in 2008, coal supplied half of the countrys power. By 2015, that number had fallen to 33 percent. With alternative energy sources like wind and solar becoming cheaper and more available, that number is expected to fall even more in the coming years.

That is what this is all about: bringing back our jobs, bringing back our dreamsand making America wealthy again, said the President.

The World Bank estimates that in the U.S., clean energy creates 16.7 jobs per million dollars of spending, a number more than three times the 5.2 jobs per $1 million for oil and natural gas and more than twice the 6.9 jobs per $1 million spent on coal.

So what jobs are you talking about, Mr. President? What dreams? Is asthma the dream? Is plowing half of Yellowstone the dream? Will that make America wealthy again? Because it sure reads more like a nightmare.

Top photo by simpleinsomnia CC BY 2.0

Tom Burson is a travel writer, part-time hitchhiker, and hes currently trying to imitate Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? but with more sunscreen and jorts.
Royal Blood premiered their explosive new single, "Lights Out," this afternoon, the first new single since their 2014 debut album, Royal Blood. Now, they're back with the announcement of their long-awaited second LP, How Did We Get So Dark, a teaser trailer, a single from the ten-song tracklist and a look at the album artwork.

That monster, self-titled debut from bassist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher redefined the roots rock and roll made famous in recent years by the White Stripes, the Kills and the Black Keys. Forget the guitar-drums duo; Royal Blood arrived with a roaring bass guitar whammied into high solo range and massive drums to back it up. Tracks like "Out of the Black," "Little Monster" and the insanely fun "Figure It Out" showed off the immense sound that can come from a bass guitar and a drum kit.

Now, "Lights Out" continues their streak of incredibly heavy rock and roll with Thatcher's truly booming drums and Kerr's growling bass. The track definitely explores the darkness alluded to in the lyrics with its opening roar from the bass guitar and a beat by that monstrous bass drum. Kerr's vocals are as crisp and ghostly as ever, slipping smoothly over the instruments that can only be described as snarling.

The background vocals haunt the massive chorus and in the video they seem to come from the bizarre ceiling full of upside-down people, moshing in a pool of white water above the musicians. Thatcher's frantic fills and patient, drums-only interludes (like "Out of the Black") return in the middle, leading anxiously into Kerr's guitarer, basssolo. How does he do that with a bass guitar? Don't worry about it, just let him mash the pedals and enjoy the sounds screaming from his four strings. And fear that seriously evil whammy.

The new single comes just a day after the band finally announced their sophomore LP, coming June 16. How Did We Get So Dark is the album title and "Lights Out" is fans' first taste, almost three years in the making. They tweeted a teaser trailer for the album revealing the album art and a heavy, driving background track that is not "Lights Out."

Kerr said that on the new album, the duo is "way sexier, more confident sounding." The band formed in Brighton, England, in 2013 when Thatcher picked up Kerr at the airport after a trip to Australia. The Arctic Monkeys soon invited them to open for them on the Monkeys' tour. Recorded in Wales, their debut album followed shortly after and, since then, the band has attracted the attention of rock and roll legends.

Royal Blood are set to play twenty (or more) festivals this summer, scheduled to perform at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and others. They'll start their summer tour at New York City's Governor's Ball.

These have been years of mourning for rock duos. The Black Keys sadly turned blue and Jack White has expanded his band and his musical palette (albeit in exiting directions). The Kills have also moved in new directions and other duos have, unfortunately stolen the spotlight (see: Chainsmokers). So Royal Blood are not only satisfying a desire but a need for aggressive, straightforward rock and roll.

What do you think of the new single? Is it everything you'd hoped for? Let us know in the comments.

Listen to "Lights Out" on Apple Music and Spotify.

Follow Royal Blood on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MOUNT PLEASANT  A man is facing charges after he reportedly stole two flashlights from a gas station.

According to a criminal complaint:

George Schram, 47, of the 1200 block of Larson Street, has been charged with retail theft.

On Tuesday, police were dispatched to Wilkomm's Mobil Gas Station, 6840 Washington Ave., in reference to a retail theft. A store employee reportedly observed a male suspect, later identified as Schram, stealing. At 4:30 p.m., dispatch was advised that Wilkomm has a copy of video surveillance.

On the tape, Schram is seen entering the gas station at around 2:10 p.m. and walking to the flashlight aisle, picking up and putting down several items. Schram then reportedly takes an orange LED flashlight. At approximately 2:12 p.m., Schram allegedly conceals the orange flashlight into his front, right sweatshirt pocket. At 2:13 p.m., he reportedly conceals a second flashlight in the same pocket.

He then goes to the cash register and purchases a key chain he had picked up without paying for the flashlights and walks over to Boss Burgers, on the other side of the gas station. Schram then hands the flashlights to a child before police arrive.
Bangladesh police wrongly pronounce the death a suicide.

Not only was Rauda Athif a famous super model, she was a second-year student at Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It is tragic this beautiful, 21 year old Muslim Maldivian woman, who made the cover of Vogue India, was taken before her time. She was found hanging in her dorm room on March 29th.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2017%2F04%2Fvogue-india-2.jpg&ho=http%3A%2F%2Fmobile.wnd.com&s=584&h=2706177eb79ec88e47a2eecaacc7d2aa09583651c8c056bd40072459fe3c3974&size=980x&c=3000913974 image-library="0" caption="Raudha Athif\u00a0on the\u00a0cover of Vogue India in\u00a0October, 2016" pin_description="" crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2017%252F04%252Fvogue-india-2.jpg%26ho%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fmobile.wnd.com%26s%3D584%26h%3D2706177eb79ec88e47a2eecaacc7d2aa09583651c8c056bd40072459fe3c3974%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3000913974%22%7D" expand=1 photo_credit=""] Raudha Athif on the cover of Vogue India in October, 2016

Bangladesh authority's ruled the death a suicide after performing an autopsy. But Amin Hossain, assistant commissioner of Bangladesh's Rajshahi Metropolitan Police detective branch, told the Dhaka Tribune there is a "50 percent chance that she did not commit suicide." This would be reason enough to investigate further. Her father, Dr. Mohamed Athif, tweeted: "Maldivian medical student and my daughter Raudha Athif did not commit suicide. She was murdered at her hostel room. I've the facts." Rauda's family said she was found with marks on her neck, but the autopsy claimed they were only birthmarks.

Her brother, Rayyan Athif, said they got it wrong. He says Rauda was actually murdered, and the murder was staged to look like a suicide. He told the U.K. Sun Thursday that Muslim extremists killed his sister. Rayyan explained that the extremists were agitated after the supermodel defended those who were being bullied over some peoples' religious beliefs. Several weeks before Rauda was found, Rayyan said, the girl told her family that somebody spiked her drink with sleeping pills.

Rauda "always looked happy," according to Mahmuda Begum, superintendent of the women's dorm. Begum said, "It is hard to believe she would commit suicide."

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2FTQqQBsG.jpg&ho=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com&s=924&h=a0e94e0027c2ea59c33b69652ccaaa2d6acdf0b3cf96658c192a832c2295ee3f&size=980x&c=841080670 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252FTQqQBsG.jpg%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fi.imgur.com%26s%3D924%26h%3Da0e94e0027c2ea59c33b69652ccaaa2d6acdf0b3cf96658c192a832c2295ee3f%26size%3D980x%26c%3D841080670%22%7D" caption="" pin_description="" image-library="0" expand=1 photo_credit=""]

At the Islamic school she attended, Rayyan explained: "[Rauda's] style of clothing was branded as 'immodest' and 'un-Islamic' even though she adhered to the dress code in the college premises by wearing a veil covering her face."

"Modeling is a hobby rather than a career for me, since I'm studying to become a doctor," she said to Vogue.

"But she was criticized for wearing jeans and was repeatedly told she couldn't wear it at the Muslim college  which has a lot of extremist connections and support. Other students have also been subjected to this type of bullying."

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2017%2F04%2FAthif-TW.jpg&ho=http%3A%2F%2Fmobile.wnd.com&s=797&h=77cac555c48436fbb832003a886fabfcee6591e30fc947685f2ed3e02d05551b&size=980x&c=31277547 photo_credit="" caption="Known as the 'Maldivian Girl With Aqua Blue Eyes' (Photo: Twitter)" pin_description="" image-library="0" crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2017%252F04%252FAthif-TW.jpg%26ho%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fmobile.wnd.com%26s%3D797%26h%3D77cac555c48436fbb832003a886fabfcee6591e30fc947685f2ed3e02d05551b%26size%3D980x%26c%3D31277547%22%7D" expand=1] Known as the 'Maldivian Girl With Aqua Blue Eyes' (Photo: Twitter)

"There have been a series of murders in Bangladesh which have been staged to look like suicides, and Islamic extremists have been suspected to be behind these atrocities," he said. Not far away, in Dhaka, atheist blogger Avijit Roy was hacked to death with machetes by Muslims on the Dhaka University campus in 2015.

New York Times contributor Lipika Pelham wrote: "Looking around, I realized that most women were covered in black burqas or hijabs  a style that I had seen in such large numbers only in the Middle East. Many of their male companions wore long white dishdashas and skullcaps." She visited not long after the attack. Again in 2016, an English professor at Rajshahi University was murdered by Islamic extremists brandishing machetes. He had been accused of "a calling to atheism."



Pamela Geller, an free-speech activist and critic of Islamic outdated social conventions, wrote: "Where's Vogue's coverage of this? Where is the march for women living under the boot of Shariah? Feminists and women's fashion magazines continue to pay tribute to this most vicious ideology. The garb of oppression has become the new symbol of the Western feminist movement. It's analogous to the swastika becoming the icon of Jewish identity."

She was an online sensation and a beautiful soul, both inside and out, giving inspiration to those who would like to rebel against the social constraints radical Muslims come to expect. Where is the outrage? The authorities obvious cover-up and lack of help is appalling. Hopefully this terrible event will help to bring attention to this murderous epidemic.
"In regards to North Korea, we are working with international partners in order to defuse the situation."  Defense Secretary Jim Mattis

The U.S. Pacific Command confirmed that the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and its escort destroyers are patrolling the Western Pacific, and are "ready for any contingency."

The aircraft carrier was sent close to the Korean peninsula, and pulled from its earlier schedule to head to Australia, following reports that North Korea might be planning another nuclear test, the military confirmed earlier this week.

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Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, during a briefing with reporters at the Pentagon yesterday, said the United States continues to work with its allies to "defuse" the North Korea situation, but he didn't completely rule out a military strike.

Mattis was asked yesterday, according to a transcript of the press briefing: If North Korea carries out another nuclear test, will the U.S. military respond?

'North Korea's got to change its behavior'

Mattis' response was: "In regards to North Korea, we are working with international partners in order to defuse the situation."

"But the bottom line is North Korea's got to change its behavior," Mattis said. "That is an agreed condition among the international community nations that are working together on this."

Guam's Homeland Security and Office of Civil Defense issued an announcement Thursday that the local agencies were working with federal and military entities to be vigilant about North Korea's potential actions.

There was no update from the local government and its federal partners yesterday as to whether their level of readiness remains the same, has eased or has been heightened.

In previous years, North Korea's threats of missile attacks have included specific mention of Guam. This prompted the Defense Department to move to Guam a ballistic missile defense system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD.

Last December, Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo called for the Army and the National Guard Bureau to ensure funding in the fiscal year 2018 budget to integrate the Guam Army National Guard into the security force mission for the Guam-deployed THAAD.

Doing so would enable the National Guard to utilize its capabilities for the homeland defense mission, Bordallo said.
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 Automotive Rocker Arm Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012  2016 and Opportunity Assessment; 2017  2027" report to their offering.

Automotive Rocker Arm Market

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An engines efficiency depends on various factors; among which, its capacity of air processing plays an important role in the production of power. An internal combustion engine uses an air-fuel mixture to produce power, but air is relatively difficult to consume as compared to fuel. The automotive rocker arm is an important part of the internal combustion engine. An automotive rocker arm is an oscillating lever that converts the radial movement of cam lobe into a linear movement at the poppet valve, so as to open it. When the camshaft lobe lifts the outer side of the automotive rocker arm, the inside presses the valve stem down so as to open the valve and air is sucked into the cylinder. Hence, the automotive rocker arm plays an important role in providing a means of multiplying the lift ratio, which is crucial in the working of an engine.Automotive Rocker Arm Market: Trends, Drivers, RestraintsNowadays, due to various technologies and inventions, many automobile manufacturers focus on producing light weight engine. Attributing to this, designers attempt to reduce the weight of an engine by reducing the weight of various parts used in it. Lightweight automotive rocker arms are commonly used in high rpm applications. As steel has more fatigue strength and stiffness, many manufacturers are using steel automotive rocker arms, which are as light as aluminum ones. Further to this, reduced weight of the automotive rocker arm equates to less load on valve springs, which produce more rpm.Aftermarket automotive rocker arm manufacturers are coming up with new technologies and inventions that are helping the automotive rocker arm industry grow. Also, increasing demand for automobiles globally is fueling growth of the global automotive rocker arm market. Many companies are using various lightweight materials, such as aluminum, and steel, among others in the manufacturing of automotive rocker arms  so as to reduce the overall weight of an engine. Lightweight automotive rocker arms are essential for efficient operation, but strength also plays an important role in the life of an automotive rocker arm.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3388 An automotive rocker arm is a crucial part of an engine, as its failure makes the engine useless. Moreover, it is expensive to replace and procure automotive rocker arms. Automotive rocker arms fail mainly due to stress concentration and as an effect of loading. This problem of failure has not been completely overcome and designers are trying to explore new technologies and methods to prevent it. Attributing to this reason, various companies are investing heavily in research and development.Automotive Rocker Arm Market: SegmentationThe global automotive rocker arm market can be segmented by design, type of engine, material used, vehicle type, type of engine (based on fuel used), and vehicle application.On the basis of design, the global automotive rocker arm market is segmented as:Stamped steel rocker arm, Roller tipped rocker armFull roller rocker arm, Shaft rocker armsCentre pivot rocker arms, End pivot (finger follower) rocker armsOn the basis of type of engine, the global automotive rocker arm market is segmented as:Push rod engines, Overhead cam enginesOthersOn the basis of material used, the global automotive rocker arm market is segmented as:Steel rocker arms, Anodized-aluminum roller rockersHigh-strength alloy aluminum rocker, Chrome-moly steelHigh-strength alloy steelsOn the basis of vehicle type, the global automotive rocker arm market is segmented as:Two wheeler, Three wheelerFour wheelerOn the basis of type of engine (based on fuel used), the global automotive rocker arm market is segmented as:Petrol Engine, Diesel EngineOn the basis of vehicle application, the global automotive rocker arm market is segmented as:Light commercial vehicles, Medium and heavy commercial vehiclesRequest For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3388 Automotive Rocker Arm Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants in the global automotive rocker arm market, identified across the value chain include:Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, KYOCERA CorporationIndo Schottle Pvt. Ltd., HITCHINER Manufacturing Co. Inc.Maharashtra Forge Pvt. Ltd., Decora Auto Forge Pvt. Ltd.OE Pushrods, Eurocams Ltd.Woosu Ams Co. Ltd., Guangzhou Kowze Auto Parts Co. LtdFederal-Mogul LLC, Ghaziabad Precision ProductsKalyani Steels, Edelbrock, LLC
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Key Opinion Leader Management Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2016-2026" report to their offering.

Black Pepper Market

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Black Pepper is a pungent hot-tasting powder spice prepared from dried and ground peppercorns, used to flavor food. It is also known as king of spices because it contains rich anti-oxidants and other nutrients. The high demand for pepper presents an attractive market opportunity for new vendors to enter the market. In the present market scenario, it is estimated that the new crop of black pepper accounts for nearly 30% to 35% of the market. The high demand is expected to increase the price of black pepper, thereby increasing the profit margin of the vendors in this market.Apart from this, black pepper powder is also used to make medicines. It often used to cure stomach upset, bronchitis, and cancer. It is sometimes applied directly to the skin for treating nerve pain(neuralgia) and a skin disease called scabies. Black peppers are also used typically as a counterirritant for pain.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1274 Black Pepper Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe black pepper market is directly influenced by the growing processed food industry. The rise in consumption of bakery products, confectionery products, and ready-to-eat and ried food in the developed economies is driving the market for the spice. The recent trend of using natural flavor enhancer has also catalyzed the growth of the global market. In the year 2013-15, the global pepper consumption is estimated at around 400,000 tons and has been increasing steadily. Increasing demand from Far East countries, which have started using more pepper in cooking, has been quite significant in driving the global black pepper market. Growth in the cosmetics industry is also directly influencing the pepper market. Due to the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of black pepper, it is often included in skin care products.As stated earlier, that the market is experiencing a major year on year increase in demand for black pepper. But unfortunately, this demand is not backed by adequate supply, which has proved to be a major restraint in this market. This is majorly due to the intensive crop losses in various parts of the world, especially in India & Brazil. Sudden climatic changes and untimely rainfall has significantly led to the fall in the yield of black pepper.Black PepperMarket: SegmentationThe global black pepper market can be broadly segmented on the basis of; type, end use and application. On the basis of type, the market can be further segmented into  organic and inorganic. Based on end use, the market can be segmented into bakery and confectionery products, frozen products, soups, sauces & dressing, beverages, meat & poultry products, snacks and convenience food, and others. Based of application, the black pepper market can be segmented into food & beverages, health care and personal care & cosmetics.Black PepperMarket: Region Wise OutlookGeographically, the global black peppermarket is segmented into seven regions which are ; North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), and Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Japan.Vietnam, followed by Brazil, India & Indonesia are the leading producer of black pepper in the year 2014 globally.India saw a fall in its average production in the same year. The leverage of large scale production and productivity helps Vietnam growers to offer world's lowest price tags.In terms of export, Vietnam leads the market globally. U.S. market continues to be the largest importer of black pepper from Vietnam. While most markets like India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Netherlands, Spain have seen an increase in their imports, except Germany. German market recorded a drop in imports from Vietnam. Thus, with a market share of approximately 50% per cent in the global market, Vietnam has been able dominate the market.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1274 Black PepperMarket: Key PlayersSome of the major companies operating in global black peppermarket are Baria Pepper, British Pepper and Spice, Catch, Everest Spices, McCormick, MDH, Agri food Pacific, Akar Indo, Brazil Trade Business, DM AGRO, Gupta Trading, Pacific Production, PT AF, Silk Road Spices, The Spice House, Vietnam Spice Company, Visimex, and Webb James, Olam International Limited.
Flooring and Carpets Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015 - 2025 Research Report By Future Market Insights

Flooring and Carpets Market

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This research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market, contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, statistically-supported, industry-validated market data, carpets and floorings are a vital part of any household or commercial structure. In addition, carpets and flooring are increasingly gaining importance in other applications such as automobiles, aerospace and aviation. Carpets can be made from various materials such as wool, polymer staple fibers and bulk continuous fibers. In addition, rugs may also sometimes be classified under carpets. Resilient flooring, wood flooring, laminate flooring, rubber flooring and ceramic floor tiles are different types of flooring available in the global market.Recovery of the construction industry in developed regions such as North America and Europe is expected to be one of the main drivers for the growth of the market over the next few years. In addition, increasing construction activities in emerging economies such as China, Brazil and India is expected to fuel the demand for floorings in this region. Moreover, increased consumer expenditure on interiors of houses, hotels and offices is expected contribute significantly to the growth of the market. More and more automobile manufacturers are strategically using carpets and floorings in automobiles to enhance the vehicles appearance. However, price volatility of raw materials such as polymers, rubbers and ceramic are expected to hamper the growth of the market. Development of innovative designed light weight carpets and floorings is expected to open opportunities for the growth of the market in the near future.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-369 Market for ceramic tiles was significantly large in Asia Pacific and South America while the market for carpets was substantial in North America and Europe. Rapid industrialization and favorable economic conditions in Asia Pacific is expected to drive the construction market, which in turn is expected to bolster the demand for flooring and carpets over the forecast period. Demand for flooring and carpets are expected to be significant in the Americas over the same time period.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-369 Some of the key participants of the market include Armstrong World Industries, Autoneum Holding, Beaulieu Group, Dixie Group, FRITZ EGGER, Hangzhou Nabel Group, Interface Incorporated, Mohawk Industries, Oriental Weavers, RPM International and Suminoe Textile among others. The market is highly fragmented in nature owing to the presence of several small, medium and large-scale manufacturers.
RACINE  Students who vowed to protest in the streets to change the new high school block schedule are treading lightly after meeting with Racine Unified School District Administration Thursday.

Overall, I think it went well, said Horlick High School junior Yovanka Vazquez about the early morning meeting.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Eric Gallien and Chief of Secondary Transformation Dan Thielen met with members of the Youth Empowered in the Struggle students like Vazquez from Horlick, Park and Case to follow up on their request for a change.

The proposal calls for a modification of the current schedule which would allow for students to have a daily academic study period at the end of the day, skinnies or shorter classes that would be offered daily built into the schedule, and instructors teaching one fewer class.

Vazquez waved off criticism that skinny classes, meant to be half the length of a 90-minute block course, are too complicated for teachers to schedule instruction.

I cant speak for Case or Park but at Horlick it seems more flexible. Either way there is always problems with schedules. It shouldnt be any harder than any year weve done, Vazquez said.

Unified officials confirmed the meeting and issued a statement saying the administration is looking at the proposal from the students.

We continue to listen and consider this type of feedback and input, Racine Unified spokeswoman Emily Neubauer said.

Vazquez said the YES task force, as it is known in the student group, said theyre willing to tone down the rhetoric about protesting over the current block schedule.

We want him to take it as serious as possible, Vazquez said. Now as a group we just want him to feel pressure, not negative pressure, that we really want this next year and overall to ensure we have a better school year next year.

Vazquez said the organization helped students, teachers and parents understand whats going on with high school learning and what is possible for a better block schedule program.

More people are getting the information needed, Vazquez said.

Students said Gallien intends to meet with them again in early May to discuss it further.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Heat Stabilisers Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2016-2026 report to their offering.

Heat Stabilisers Market Trends

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-14 08:13:25

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Heat stabilisers play a key role as an additive in the processing of PVC polymer, and the global market of heat stabilisers is largely dependent on the status of PVC market. While heat stabilisers play a key role in prevention of the decomposition chain reaction in PVC processing, there are several other reasons they are predominantly used in the PVC industry. Stabilisers are one of the decisive factors influencing the physical properties and quality of PVC, as well as their formulation costs. Moreover, they impart enhanced resistance against heat ageing, weathering, daylight effects, and other environmental conditions.Although these advantages and a wide range of commercial applications of heat stabilisers support their demand in the market, FMIs research indicates moderate growth of the global heat stabilisers market over the forecast period 2016-2026. The report focuses on assessment of various drivers and restraints impacting the market outlook, regional analysis, extensive segmentation, and major players participating in the market growth.Heat Stabilisers Market: DriversIntrinsic Properties of Heat StabilisersCompared to other stabilisers, which are used as additives in the PVC industry, heat stabilisers have a strong hold in the market owing to their advantages, high compatibility and lasting heat stability to mention the top two. Due to this competitive edge, the demand for heat stabilisers is higher.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1269 Widespread Applications of PVCBurgeoning demand for PVC for vital applications in construction, electronics, electrical, fashion, medical and healthcare, automotive, furniture, packaging, and commercial and consumer products industries, is a key driver bolstering the demand for heat stabilisers as additives.Growing Consumption of PlasticWith increasing population and urbanisation worldwide, the need for plastic products is also elevating. The growth of plastic industry is estimated to drive demand for heat stabilisers in the near future.Key RestraintsStern regulatory processes associated with the approval of heat stabilisers are estimated to pose a challenge to the market growth in the near future, especially in case of lead-based stabilisers. The approval processes differ with each country, restricting the international market from thriving. Other limiting factors include volatile prices of raw materials and poor SCM capabilities.Global Heat Stabilisers Market: SegmentationFMIs research on the global heat stabilisers market provides a 10-year forecast, segmenting the market, based on the type of stabiliser.Tin stabiliserLead stabiliserMixed metals stabiliserOrganic stabiliserOthers (calcium stabiliser, barium stabiliser)The choice of heat stabilisers for specific applications depends on multiple factors such as the PVC products technical requirements, formulation costs, and regulatory approval processes. This influences the demand for a particular stabiliser in the market. Out of the most prevalent stabilisers available globally, the lead heat stabilisers segment currently has the largest market share but is expected to witness decline in the near future owing to various health, regulatory, and environmental monitoring processes. However, the organic stabilisers segment is estimated to exhibit rapid uplift during the forecast period.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1269 Regional Outlook: Global Heat Stabilisers MarketOn the basis of geography, the market of heat stabilisers is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific, and Middle East and Africa. While Europe and Asia Pacific collectively account for more than 80% of the profit share in the global market revenues for lead heat stabilisers, the tin heat stabilisers segment is led by North America. China is foreseen as the strongest and most lucrative market for heat stabilisers, over the forecast period. Asia Pacific is particularly anticipated to have high untapped potential of market growth.Key Players in the MarketSome of the important players competing in the market include Akcros Chemicals Ltd., Albemarle Corporation, Arkema Group, Cytec Industries Inc., Baerlocher GmbH, Ferro Corporation, and BASF SE.Most of the leading industry brands are expected to shift their manufacturing base for heat stabilisers, as lead-based stabilisers are consistently facing critisisation in terms of environmental impact. Mergers and acquisitions among major brands in the industry will aid them in enhancing their products portfolio and retain strong presence in the global market.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Logistics Outsourcing Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 - 2020 report to their offering.

Logistics Outsourcing Market Trends

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-14 08:16:23

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Logistics outsourcing, most commonly known as third-party logistics is a process or operation of sub-contracting industrial functions like cross-docking, inventory keeping, warehousing and transportation to a third party or supply chain management provider. Third party logistics providers include raw material suppliers, distributors and other value-added service providers. These services are generally integrated and used together to provide end-user convenience. The decision for outsourcing logistics by a parent company is generally dependent on company size, complication of logistics and relative economic benefits of outsourcing.Logistics outsourcing includes contracting of material management, supply chain management, distribution management, shipment packaging and channel management. E-business web portals and stores are in extensive need of on-clock dispatch and delivery services offered by outsourced logistics providers. The advantages associated with the logistics outsourcing market are  improvement of suppliers capability due to the use of information technology, specialization of operation, focus on core competencies and uniform growth. However, lack of monitoring control over logistics and risks associated with vendor reliability are some of the drawbacks of this market.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-125 Regions across the globe with an attractive logistics outsourcing market, in terms of contract logistics, include North America and Southeast Asia. RoW (Rest of the World) is showing growth in inter-regional logistics. Major factors driving the development of logistics outsourcing market are globalization, time-proportional economy, presence of virtual organizations, improved customer awareness, strategic concerns to achieve more flexibility and better IT infrastructural support. On the other hand, loss of logistics, poor transportation, local protection regulations and lack of post-outsourcing measurements are some of the factors hampering growth of this market.The global logistics outsourcing market is segmented on the basis of service type, transport media used and geography. The market can vary in service type as simple service, combined service, consulting service and value-added service. On the basis of transport media used to handle logistics, it can be classified into air freight, ocean carriers, railways and trucking. The market can be categorised on the basis of geography into North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Japan, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Middle East & Africa.Globalized product availability, demand for product individualization in terms of logistics, on-time delivery, just-in-time inventory, agility in time response transport, big data analytics and atomization of shipment are some of the global market trends guided by technological innovations like remote tracking and monitoring using RFID tags and EDI-based location of the shipment. Analytics based on big data is providing better accuracy of frequency of tasks and decision-making capabilities. There is a continuous insourcing trend by online retailers (like Amazon.com) for inventory so as to be more cost-effective and unified in terms of operations, and to emphasize on outsourcing for end-product transportation services only. These technological up gradations continuously enhance services provided by outsourced logistics providers.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-125 Exel Logistics (U.K.), Menlo Worldwide Logistics (U.S.), FedEx (U.S.), Ryder Logistics (U.S.) and Tibbett and Britten (U.K.) are some of the key outsourced logistics providers. These companies have a wide global presence and provide multi-sector services. They are continuously trying to reach influential market and customers by means of removing bottlenecks related to international shipments and reducing cost through geographical spread of inventory. The market in Asia-Pacific region shows a steady and consistent growth through service innovations by companies, so as to attract economic customers. The companies need to shift their focus from integrated services to offering broad range of products & services portfolio. With more focus on growing B2C sector, the scope for logistics outsourcing will extend towards value-added and specialized services.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the  Calcium Gluconate Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2016-2026report to their offering.

Calcium Gluconate Market Trends

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-14 08:11:19

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Calcium gluconate is a mineral supplement which is prepared by the neutralization of gluconic acid with lime or calcium carbonate. It is listed as one of the essential medicines on WHOs list of essential medicine. Calcium gluconate is used to treat conditions arising from calcium deficiencies such as hypocalcaemia tetany, hypocalcemia related to hyperparathyroidism and hypocalcaemia due to rapid growth or pregnancy. Apart from being an active ingredient in medicines, calcium gluconate finds its application in various food products as a nutrient supplement. It is a used as a source of calcium, in a variety of food & beverage products, such as; milk, soft drinks, juices, bottled waters, dairy products, soy products, baked goods, and confectionery.Calcium Gluconate Market: Drivers & RestraintsGlobal calcium gluconate market is expected to grow owing to increasing demand from end-use industries such as pharmaceuticaland food & beverages. Sunrise industries like the nutraceutical industry has also largely impacted the global calcium gluconate market, as it finds itself as major ingredient in multiple calcium based health supplements. Increase in the demand for health supplements from the health conscious consumers has largely driven this market globally. More than 75% of Americans are calcium deficient, and more than one in 10 Americans either has, or is at risk of developing, osteoporosis or other bone diseases. This fact is also acting as a driver for the global calcium gluconate market in that region. The segment is anticipated to witness above average growth on account of increasing use of health supplements in developed countries for over the last few years and trend is likely to continue over the forecast period.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1275 Excessive intake of calcium gluconate may lead to various side effects such as nausea, constipationand stomachupset. Rapid intravenous injections of calcium gluconate may cause hypercalcaemia, which can result in vasodilation, cardiac arrhythmias, decreased blood pressure, and bradycardia. This has proven to be a major restraint for this market.Calcium Gluconate Market:SegmentationThe global calcium gluconate market can be broadly segmented on the basis of end use, application, and form available. On the basis of end use, the market can be further segmented into; bulking agent, emulsifier, and thickening agent. On the basis of application, the global calcium gluconate market can be bifurcated into pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, and nutraceuticals. Commercially, calcium gluconate is available in three major form, i.e. gum, liquid, and powder.Calcium Gluconate Market:Region Wise OutlookGeographically, the calcium gluconatemarket is segmented into seven regions which are ; North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Japan.Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness high growth on account of increasing demand from end-use industries. In addition, increased government spending on infrastructure development is likely fuel market growth over the next six years.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1275 Calcium Gluconate Market: Key PlayersSome of the major global key players in this segments are; Aaron Industries, Inc. American Biorganics, Inc, AKZO Nobel Chemicals Inc, Alfa Aesar, Coyne Chemical , Glucona America, Inc, PMP Fermentation Products, Inc, Noah Technologies Corporation, Westco Chemicals Inc, Mallinckrodt Inc., Spectrum Bulk Chemicals. These companies are developing market strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, Joint Venture, New product development and Expansion to increase their market share in Global Functional Beverages Market. Apart from these big firms, there are multiple new entrants in the market.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Key Opinion Leader Management Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2016-2026" report to their offering.

Halal Pharmaceuticals Market

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Halal pharmaceuticals are those medicines that stringently adhere to Shariah law. More specifically, halal pharmaceuticals refer to medicines that should not contain any parts of animals (dogs, pigs and ones particularly with pointed teeth), insects (bees), alcohol and other substances prohibited as haram under the Shariah law. Competent religious local regulatory bodies in countries generally provide a better segregation regarding the classification of drugs as halal or haram (unlawful) across the world. Halal pharmaceuticals are subject to normal pre-marketing and post-marketing controls by the relevant national pharmaceutical regulators such as the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau in case of Malaysia. Halal medicines market has vast potential globally in terms of revenue generation supported by growing demand for faith-compliant medicines from an expanding Muslim population. Drugs approved by halal drug certifiying agencies such as Lembaga Pengkajian Pangan Obatobatan dan Kosmetika Majelis Ulama Indonesia (LPPOM MUI) of Indonesia and Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia are expected to witness rising consumption globally. Currently, halal medicines are estimated to have contributed close to one-third of the total revenue from the global halal market, posing an extremely attractive opportunity for Shariah compliant drugs. This is supported by the fact that demand outstrips supply of halal medicines by a significant margin, creating potential for future economic value added in the industry.Halal Pharmaceuticals Market: Drivers and RestraintsDrivers of the halal pharmaceuticals market include a growing Muslim population. Given that Muslims have been estimated to account for close to 25% of the global population in 2015~1.6 billion people (PewResearch)  the annual growth rate of the Muslim population has been estimated to be ~1.6%, which is higher than the growth rate of the world population (1.1% per annum). Increasing awareness among Muslims regarding wellness and medicines is propagating mainly through increased education. This is another prime factor contributing to growth of the halal medicine market. Other socio-economic factors driving the need and uptake of halal medicines include rising purchasing power parity, increasing access to critical medicines in resource-constrained nations supported by public organizations such as World Health Organization, safety of consumption, assurance of product efficacy and hygienic processing among others. Increasing need to get medicines certified from an approved regulatory body is driving regulatory convergence in the halal medicines market among countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, Turkey, France and others.Key restraints include lack of adequate infrastructure in non-Islamic countries to avoid cross-contamination between halal and non-halal production lines, and lack of sufficient halal advisory and certification agencies to approve medical products. Other restraints include dearth of sufficient R&D for halal medicines globally and omission of critical medicine classes such as vaccines and biologics as they do not comply with Shariah norms. Ban on use of forbidden components such as porcine excipients also limit the number of drugs that can be produced. Industry experts have noted that formation of a proper, well-regulated and harmonized accreditation and halal management system could serve a long way in raising demand for halal medicines.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1251 Halal Pharmaceuticals Market: SegmentationHalal pharmaceuticals market can be segmented as indicated below:Segmentation by drug classesRespiratory drugsCardiovascular drugsEndocrine drugsPain medicationsAllergies (cough &cold)OthersSegmentation by product typeTabletsSyrupsCapsulesOthersSegmentation by source materialPlant and plant derivativesAnimals (compliant under religious laws)Synthetic and semi-synthetic sourcesRecombinant DNASegmentation by regionsHalal Pharmaceuticals Market: OverviewUptake of Halal medicines is gaining major traction globally, primarily due to two reasons. Firstly, these medicines are fully compliant with faith and so are readily acceptable under religious laws. Secondly, these medicines are very well assessed for quality and certification before being released into the market and are mostly made using herbal and synthetic materials. The market for halal pharmaceuticals is expected to register a significant CAGR as well as annual growth rates over the forecast period. Regulatory harmonization and regional regulatory convergence is expected to emerge as the key market trends in the near future.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1251 Halal Pharmaceuticals Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of geographic regions, halal drug market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East & Africa.In terms of geography, Asia Pacific region is the main region exhibiting development and uptake of halal medicines, particularly in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. However, R&D activities related to halal medicines are gaining traction in the European and North American regions. Discussion on formation of halal medicine certification agencies and guidelines are key features found in the traditionally pharmaceutically developed markets. Companies producing halal medicines are expected to enter Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Turkey, Iran, Qatar, Russia, France, Libya, Algeria and Singapore as well as the UAE to cater to the high demand base for better revenue generation, either through distributor route or via tie-ups with established players.Halal Pharmaceuticals Market: Key PlayersSome key accredited players in the halal medicine market include Chemical Company of Malaysia Berhad (CCM Pharmaceuticals Sdn Bhd), Pharmaniaga Bhd, Simpor Pharma Sdn Bhd, EMBIL Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Nutramedica Incorporated, etc. among others.
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.
Medical Tourism Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 - 2020 Research Report By Future Market Insights

Medical Tourism Market

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Medical tourism is one of the most dynamically growing industries today. Considered to be the direct impact of globalisation of healthcare, medical tourism certainly exhibits strong growth potential globally. However, based on FMIs research, the market of medical tourism is expected to concentrate within most of the emerging economies of the world.As developing nations are increasingly heading toward technological advancement and quality services in the medical and healthcare sector, the global medical tourism market is anticipated to witness robust growth over 2014-2020, predominantly in Asian countries.The top treatments people travel abroad for, include cancer therapy, cardiovascular surgeries, orthopaedic treatments, dentistry, cosmetic surgeries, reproductive treatments, weight loss therapies, health screenings, and medical tests and scans. In severe cases, a sizeable patient population also seeks second opinion from specialist doctors out of their countries.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-249 Key DriversHigh treatment costs and lengthy waiting times for medical procedures, being the two major factors in driving medical tourism, are also supported by easier and cheaper international travel. While the U.K.s population prefers to travel abroad for bypassing long waits, patients from the U.S. travel outside for availing of treatments at cheaper costs.Medical excellence along with international accreditation are the key factors fuelling a majority of international patient flow, eventually boosting international medical tourism. Currently, over 600 medical departments and hospitals all over the globe are accredited by the U.S. Joint Commission International (JCI). The number of accredited facilities is projected to increase almost by 20% each year. This is another important driver associated with the market growth.Developing countries, with ever-evolving innovation and demonstrable achievements in medical research are estimated to accelerate the approaching medical tourist flow over the forecast period. Growing healthcare investments by various government and private sectors are also anticipated to further bolster the market growth.Key RestraintsHowever, medical tourists are highly prone to a wide variety of health risks after they return. The conditions may include TB, paratyphoid, amoebic dysentery, deep vein thrombosis, and more; usually caused due to poor post-operative care and inadequate rest. This could affect the market to some extent.Stringent documentation processes, issues related to visa approval, and limited insurance coverage are reportedly some of the most deterring factors for the global market.Global Medical Tourism Market: SegmentationFMIs research on the global medical tourism market offers a six-year forecast, segmenting the market on the basis of type of medical treatment and geography.On the basis of the type of treatment, the market is segmented into cosmetic treatment, cardiovascular treatment, fertility treatment, dental treatment, orthopaedic treatment, and other general treatments.On the basis of geography, the market is segmented into Asia pacific, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, North America, and South America.Regional OutlookSome of the prominent medical tourism centres across the globe include Thailand, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Costa Rica, Israel, Brazil, Turkey, the Philippines, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Canada, and the U.S. According to Patients Beyond Borders, the global medical tourism market is currently growing at an impressive rate between 15% and 25%, and the flow of patients seeking cross-border treatment options will be the highest in Mexico. South and Southeast Asia are expected to dominate the global market in the near future.Based on MTAs recently released Medical Tourism Index, there are 41 countries participating in the global medical tourism market. While India broadly secures #1, Israel ranks #1 in the quality of services and facilities.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-249 India is renowned for specialist cardiac surgeries, while Singapore is a popular medical tourism destination owing to the expertise in complicated surgical procedures. Thailand has been a popular destination for medical tourism and millions of patients have travelled to Thailand since 2006. It is also the top cosmetic surgery centre globally.Malaysia offers state-of-the-art medical infrastructure and treatments by highly skilled medical professionals, making it another sought after centre among medical tourists. With economically affordable treatment options and favourable government initiatives, Malaysia is anticipated to acquire one of the top market positions in the global medical tourism market, during the forecast period.Key Players: Global Medical Tourism MarketSome of the top key players in the medical tourism industry include Asian Heart Institute (India), Apollo Hospitals (India), Prince Court Medical Centre (Malaysia), Gleneagles Hospital (Singapore), Min-Sheng General Hospital (Taiwan), Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital (Bangkok), Raffles Medical Group (Singapore), Clemenceau Medical Centre (Lebanon), Bangkok Hospital (Thailand), Bumrungrad International Hospital (Thailand), Fortis Healthcare Ltd. (India), Wooridul Spine Hospital (Korea), KPJ Healthcare Berhad (Malaysia), Anadolu Medical Centre (Turkey), and Asklepios Klinik Barmbek (Germany).While these players rank amongst they compete on the basis of exceptional service quality, optimum patient comfort, and relatively reasonable costs for various treatments. Several facilities are also undergoing mergers, acquisitions, affiliations, and joint ventures for delivering enhanced medical care, thereby strengthening their market positions. A few prominent examples of highly productive collaborations include the collaboration between Bumrungrad International Hospital (Bangkok) and IBM Watson for better cancer care, and the collaboration of Anadolu Medical Centre (Turkey) with Johns Hopkins Medicine (U.S.).
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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." Topic: Press release summarySectors: Daily Finance, Real Estate, Const/EngFrom the Asia Corporate News NetworkCopyright  2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Key Opinion Leader Management Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025" report to their offering.

Native Advertising Market

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In recent years, growth has been observed in the native advertising market which is emerging quickly and still a new concept. Native advertising is different from content marketing. The word "native" refers to the content's consistency with other media on the platform. Native advertising is a type of online advertising that matches function and form of the platform on which it seems. In other words, it is a form of brand advertising which will enable marketers to better utilize digital marketing (to meet communication need) from branding to direct marketing. For instance, to promote product an article is written by an advertiser, but using the same form as an article written by the editorial staff. Native Advertising format includes images, articles, promoted videos, music, among many others. Example of the technique include twitters promoted tweets, search advertising and facebooks promoted posts. In 2015, as per survey conducted by the association of national advertisers revealed that almost two-thirds of marketers will increase their native advertising budgets.Native Advertising Market: Drivers & RestraintsIn digital media, native advertising is one of the newest topic and therefore publishers and advertisers are closely monitoring it. The Native Advertising is expected to register a steady year-on-year growth throughout the forecast period. The native advertising background is evolving rapidly, through publishers working with advertisers to create increasingly effective ad experiences. For these ad products, changing consumer perceptions is escalating the growth in the native advertising market. Particularly on mobile devices, native advertising has proven higher click rates than to banner ads. However, some consumers consider these ads as annoying instead of useful could pose a restraint to the growth in native advertisement market.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-992 Native Advertising Market: SegmentationOn the basis of types, the global native advertising market is segmented as:In Feed Ad Units (Forbes, Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter)Search Ads (Yahoo, Google, Bing, Ask )Recommendation Units (Outbrain, Taboola, Disqus, Gravity)Promoted Listings (Etsy, Amazon, Foursquare, Google)In-Ad (IAB Standard) - ( Appssavvy, Martini Media, EA, Onespot, Federated Media)Custom / Can't be Contained (Hearst, Flipboard, Tumblr, Spotify, Pandora)On the basis of platform, the global native advertising market is segmented as:Closed PlatformsOpen PlatformsHybrid PlatformsNative Advertising Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global native advertising market is anticipated to register a favourable growth for the forecast period, 2015?2025. On the basis of geographic regions, global native market is segmented into seven key market segments namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Among the aforementioned regions, Asia Pacific is expected to witness a relatively faster CAGR during the forecast period. The remaining regions are expected to grow at a steady rate over the forecast period.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-992 Native Advertising Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market participants in the global native advertising market areIAB Playbook,Outbrain, Taboola, Sharethrough, AdsNative, TripleLift, Nativo, Instinctive, Polar, OneSpot and Livefyre among many others.
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.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Robotic X-ray Scanner Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2016-2026" report to their offering.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-14 08:00:20

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Robotic X-ray scanner is a medical imaging device which gives flexibility to the medical practitioner. It has got its name from its characteristic of moving according to commands given to it. This robotic X-ray scanner uses radiographic abilities and is used in fields of emergency care, critical care, orthopaedic and surgical and non-surgical processes. The X-ray source and X ray detector can move simultaneous without moving the patient. Robotic X-ray scanner comes in handy when patient is unconscious and is unable to move or respond.Robotic X-ray scanner has capability to produce real-time images during surgery process and enabling the medical practitioners to observe patients anatomy distinguishes changes during and after the surgery better than that of other diagnostic imaging devices such as MRI machines, traditional X-rays and ultrasounds.Robotic X-ray scanner adds supreme elasticity to surgical process. Robotic X-ray scanner reduces the time required during surgery procedures for scanning patient and helps to take critical decisions according to the situation. This all can be done without patient been carried from one room to another just for X-ray. Robotic X-ray empowers swifter, smoother and easy patient positioning and completion of procedures.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1257 Robotic X-ray ScannerMarket: Drivers and RestraintsPresently, Robotic X-ray scanner global market is driven by the technological development in healthcare industry, increase in geriatric population, and increasing prevalence of osteoporosis and other bone related disease. Robotic X-ray scannerglobal market is expected to grow by the factors such as rapid innovation in products,technological advancement in production and modelling technologies, increasing privatization in the healthcare sector, rising acceptance of refurbished medical imaging devices in emerging countries.Globally manufacturers have been modifying their product lines to attract more consumers and as a result, it assist them to stay forward of the competition.The major restraint faced by the market is the high cost of robotic X-ray scanner. Various end-users do not have the financial plan to capitalize on expensive robotic X-ray scanners.Robotic X-ray scannerMarket: SegmentationRobotic X-ray scanner global market is segmented into following types:Segmentation based on Application:TraumaSurgeryOrthopaedicsVisit for TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1257 Segmentation based on End User:HospitalsLess than 200 Beds200500 BedsMore than 500 BedsAmbulatory Surgical CentresDiagnostic Imaging CentresRobotic X-ray ScannerMarket: OverviewThe global robotic X-ray scannermarket is expected to grow with a healthy CAGR over the forecast period (2016-2026) due to advancement in technology, approval of new products in different regions, increase in adoption rate of robotic X-ray scanner devices, and increase in healthcare expenditure across the globe.Robotic X-ray ScannerMarket: Region-wise OutlookDepending on geographic region, robotic X-ray scanner global market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East & Africa.North America is estimated to hold maximum share by revenue in global robotic X-ray scannermarket due to the increasing awareness about medical imaging equipment, financial stability to purchase exclusive medical imaging devices, adoption of technically-advanced products, and growing infrastructure investment to support medical and healthcare development. Whereas, Asia-Pacific is likely to grow at the highest CAGR in diagnosis and interventional radiology procedures due to increase in disposable income and healthcare expenditure.Robotic X-ray Scanner Market: Key PlayersSome of the key participating players in global robotic X-ray scanner market are Siemens AG, Philips Healthcare, GE Healthcare Inc.,Ziehm Imaging, Hologic corp., BMI Biomedical International s.r.l., Medonica Co. Ltd., DMS Health Technologies, Gemss Co. Ltd., Shimadzu Corp. and others.
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.




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.
2015 University Research Documents 42% Reduction in Worker Productivity When Temperature Increases from 86F to 88F

By: The Cambodia Daily

Contact

Doug Frost

TechNiche International

doug@techniche- intl.com Doug FrostTechNiche International

End

--Research into the effects of heat stress on sugarcane workers in Kompong Cham province found that productivity was dramatically reduced as daytime temperatures soared, a troubling finding given Cambodia's lagging labor efficiency and expected warming over the next 30 years due to climate change.The study, based on research conducted in early 2015, found that the number of sugarcane bundles individual workers collected each day fell by 42 percent when temperatures rose by 2 degrees Celsiusdown from about 35 bundles per day at 29.9 C to 20 bundles at 31.1 Clargely due to fatigue and heat exhaustion.Kongkea Phan, dean of the science and technology faculty at Phnom Penh International University who worked on the project, warned that by 2050, the agricultural sector could incur major productivity losses due to climate change-related warming. "The findings relate to all agricultural workers," he said. "We want to develop guidelines with the government to help workers." Moeun Tola, head of the labor rights group Central, said that although there were no specific health guidelines for heat stress, Cambodian Labor Law compels companies to provide a safe environment for workers.Neither the health nor labor ministries could be reached for comment on the study, which is currently undergoing peer review. (stevens@cambodiadaily.com)
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Sony Pictures Television Networks is to launch its first Italian free-to-air TV channel, Pop, on 4 May.





Following SPTNs acquisition of kids channel Neko TV from Television Broadcasting System, it rebranded as Pop and will launch with a slate of new and exclusive premieres, with a range of characters including Power Rangers, Transformers and Kuu Kuu Harajuku.Pop first launched in the UK in 2003, where it has grown to become part of the UKs No 1 commercial kids channel portfolio.Today marks a new era in our European business, as we announce the launch of Pop  SPTNs leading kids' brand and first free-to-air channel in the growing Italian DTT market, said Kate Marsh, EVP, SPTN's Western Europe International Networks division.Sonys Pop television network has been a big hit with kids elsewhere in Europe and now were thrilled to launch the channel in Italy, offering kids and families popular programme franchises and first-run shows such as Kuu Kuu Harajuku, Wild Kratts and The Insectibles which will be completely new for Italian free-to-air audiences, and exclusive to Pop.Aimed at both boys and girls, aged between six and nine years old, Pop will also be working with local production companies. The first project is with Maga Animation to create a series of short-form animation interstitials. The channel will be accompanied by a website full of interactive games, Pops exclusive Artpad and videos.
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.
Woman killed in Nuwakot scooter accident

A woman died and another sustained critical injuries when a scooter they were riding on met with an accident at Kakani Rural Municipality-1, in Nuwakot district on Friday.
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
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
Researchers have found signs of fault displacement at well-known rock outcrops in Colorado that mark the end-Cretaceous asteroid impact that may have hurried the extinction of the dinosaurs. They will present their results in a poster at the 2017 Seismological Society of America's (SSA) Annual Meeting.

Norm Sleep of Stanford University and colleagues suggest that the impact, which occurred near the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, could have generated massive seismic waves that triggered earthquakes as far away as Colorado, in the center of a tectonic plate where no previous fault had existed.

Sleep and his colleagues found evidence for the fault in two areas in Colorado's Trinidad Lakes State Park, where a layer of iridium generated by the asteroid impact clearly marks the boundary between Cretaceous and Tertiary-age rocks, at the time of the dinosaurs' extinction about 65 million years ago. At the Long's Canyon and Madrid Canyon roadcuts, "there is a fault that slipped about a meter at the time of the impact," Sleep said. "It offset the material below the impact layer but not above, but it's not something that would be obvious to the casual observer."

The researchers suggest that the Colorado earthquake may have been as large as magnitude 6. Very strong seismic waves from the impact -- much larger than would be generated by a regular earthquake, Sleep said -- would be necessary to trigger an earthquake in this location, in the middle of a tectonic plate with no previous faults.

The end-Cretaceous asteroid strike, however, could have generated ground velocities of a meter or two per second, Sleep said. "The ground would be moving up and down and sideways like a ship in a strong storm."

At the time of the earthquake, the area in Colorado was a swampy, delta-like environment, crossed by large braided streams that ran from the young Rocky Mountains. Sleep and his colleagues saw signs that the earthquake had diverted a small stream in the area.

This summer, the researchers will be checking in New Mexico near the Raton Basin for further signs of intraplate quakes that may have been triggered by the asteroid strike.
After deploying hundreds of seismometers around the Old Faithful Geyser in 2015 and 2016, scientists have a clearer picture of how the geyser erupts and what may lie beneath the popular tourist attraction in Yellowstone National Park.

At the 2017 Seismological Society of America's (SSA) Annual Meeting, Jamey Farrell of the University of Utah will describe how this seismic ear to the ground is helping the national park plan for its future infrastructure needs around the geyser. The data also offer a unique glimpse at the active hydrothermal system below the geyser, and how its activity could be used to monitor the eruption of less predictable geysers.

Farrell and his colleagues created a more complete map of the active hydrothermal features under Old Faithful, and in the area called Geyser Hill. The seismic noise captured by their instruments works similarly to sonar, explained Farrell, allowing the researchers to reconstruct "what these geothermal structures look like under the ground, what's happening underground when they're getting ready for an eruption, and how these things are related to each other and how they react to outside stresses, even earthquakes from around the world."

The researchers were able to fill in more details about the underground tremor signal connected to Old Faithful, which starts about 45 minutes before eruption, building up to a peak about 25 minutes before eruption, and slowly dying down until the eruption occurs. "We found that the amplitudes of those tremor signals are much higher than the actual eruption of Old Faithful itself," said Farrell.

For the first time, the scientists also saw this tremor signal disappear in an area west and northwest of the geyser. Seismic signals don't travel well through ground saturated with hydrothermal fluids, Farrell explained, " so what we think that's telling us is that we have this shallow, very saturated body of ground there, and it's probably the reservoir that Old Faithful is pulling water from when it erupts."

Studying the tremor pattern of Old Faithful could help narrow down its exact eruption times; right now, its eruptions can be predicted within a window of ten minutes or so. Farrell said seismologists want to study other geysers to determine whether there might be a regular signal pattern before eruption. This could help pinpoint eruption times for unpredictable geysers like Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone's Norris Geyser Basin, which is the tallest active geyser in the world.

Farrell and his colleagues have only a few weeks each November to make their observations, between the time Yellowstone closes to the public and the arrival of winter weather. When the park is open, he said, "cultural noise" like the trudge of feet on the park's boardwalks drowns out natural seismic signals.
The magnitude 7.8 Kaikoura earthquake that struck the South Island of New Zealand last November was the largest on-land recorded earthquake in the country's history. In a special session at the 2017 Seismological Society of America's (SSA) Annual Meeting, researchers will gather to describe their findings on the quake and its implications for further seismic activity in the region.

Shaking from the earthquake lasted about two minutes and 20 seconds, and was felt in the New Zealand capital of Wellington, about 260 kilometers away from the quake's epicenter. Deformation of the sea floor off the coast of Kaikoura caused a tsunami that rose to about seven meters at its peak. The earthquake triggered about 80,000 landslides over an area of about 9000 square kilometers, according to research by the U.S. Geological Survey, which hopes to use data collected on the Kaikoura quake to improve models of earthquake-generated landslides and ground failure.

The Kaikoura quake is the fourth earthquake of magnitude 7 or larger to hit the region in the past seven years, which has seismologists suspecting that the earthquakes are connected in some way, write session chairs Bill Fry and Matt Gerstenberger of GNS Science.

One of the most unusual aspects of the Kaikoura earthquake was the widespread slow slip events (SSE) triggered by the main quake, say Gerstenberger and colleagues. Slow slip events are millimeters-small movements that occur over hours or months in subduction zones, where one tectonic plate slides beneath another. SSE have been detected in the New Zealand subduction zone before, but the Kaikoura earthquake appears to have sped up the rate of slip in some areas, produced simultaneous patches of slip in other areas, and triggered slip in other regions where no slow slip events have been previously detected -- in this case, at a place where the far southern portion of a slice of oceanic crust called the Hikurangi Plateau is sliding underneath the Indo-Australian plate underlying New Zealand's North Island. Seismologists are carefully monitoring these slow slip events, as they may increase the likelihood of other large earthquakes on the southern portion of North Island in the near future.

Ground faulting during the earthquake was very complex, rupturing at nine to 12 different faults with multiple orientations and overlaps, resulting in a combined rupture length of about 180 kilometers (nearly 112 miles), according to work by GNS Science's Nicola Litchfield and colleagues. About half of the faults had been identified previously as active in a 2010 New Zealand National Seismic Hazard Model, Mark Stirling of the University of Otago and colleagues say, which had predicted a slightly smaller magnitude earthquake of 7.6 if a multi-fault earthquake were to occur.

Evidence from past seismic activity in the area suggests that earthquakes occur on these faults at intervals ranging from 300 to 400 years to many thousands of years, which indicate that the Kaikoura quake was a relatively rare event, Litchfield and colleagues note.

The unusual faulting of the earthquake also has researchers studying whether the quake was primarily a megathrust event, meaning that it was the kind of earthquake caused by one tectonic plate being forced under another at a subduction zone. However, the multiple surface-rupturing fault segments might suggest that the earthquake event was mostly restricted to strike-slip motion on the upper tectonic plate. In their SSA presentation, Penn State University's Kevin Furlong and colleagues will demonstrate how the surface faulting could be compatible with a megathrust event.
As hydraulic fracturing operations expand in Canada and in some parts of the United States, researchers at the 2017 Seismological Society of America's (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 area -- even 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.
Kindergarten students who take the school bus have fewer absent days over the school year and are less likely to be chronically absent than children who commute to school in any other way, according to new research published online in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Educational Research Association.

The study, by Michael A. Gottfried, an associate professor of education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is the first to examine whether taking the school bus is associated with fewer absences or reduced chronic absenteeism.

Using a nationally representative sample of 14,370 kindergarten students from a U.S. Department of Education study, Gottfried found that in the 2010-2011 school year, public school kindergarten children who took the bus were two percentage points less likely to be chronically absent by the spring of that year than students in the same school district who did not take the bus -- 12 percent vs. 14 percent. The study defined chronically absent as missing more than 10 days of kindergarten.

Taking the bus could potentially reduce the number of U.S. public school kindergartners who are chronically absent by almost 50,000 students, according to additional analysis by Gottfried.

The difference in the mean number of days missed was fairly small -- 5.72 days per bus rider compared to 5.98 days per non-bus rider. But the cumulative effect in missed instructional days has the potential to be large. Gottfried's analysis indicates that increasing the number of kindergarten students taking the bus could potentially reduce the number of lost instructional days by approximately 1.04 million nationwide.

"Reducing absenteeism in young children is critically important to their futures," Gottfried said. "Absenteeism in kindergarten has been shown to have short- and long-term links to poor academic performance and future absenteeism."

Previously published research, including prior work by Gottfried, has found that kindergarten students with more absences have lower test scores in kindergarten and in future years. But it does not end with test scores. Generally, students who miss more school also tend to have higher rates of grade retention and dropout, more difficulty with social development, greater feelings of alienation, increased drug and alcohol use in young adulthood, and worsened employment prospects.

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Furthermore, Gottfried said, "absenteeism has spillover effects; when classmates miss more school, all students in the classroom tend to have lower test scores."

The findings come at a time when many school districts are cutting or restricting bus services -- or considering doing so -- due to rising costs and growing budget pressures.

While some schools and districts, like Chicago Public Schools, are halting bus service entirely, other districts in the past 10 years have reduced access and availability in a number of ways. These include reducing the number of routes, cutting bus stops, or increasing the walk radius (the proximity to school within which students are ineligible for service).

"The country is facing a school absence epidemic at the same that many school districts are considering cutting or restricting bus services," said Gottfried. "These findings should give school leaders pause before they limit the resources on which families rely to ensure their children attend school every day.

"It is especially troubling that the districts where bus services are being reduced are those that serve lower-income students, who tend to have disproportionately higher absence rates," Gottfried said.

"Previous research has found that the transition into kindergarten is stressful for many families," said Gottfried. "School-going logistics, like determining transportation options and adjusting work schedules, can inhibit good school attendance.

"The results of this study suggest that having access to bus services can help establish daily routines that ultimately reduce absences, with possible short- and long-term educational benefits for students," Gottfried said.

Approximately 30 percent of the students analyzed in the study commuted to school by bus. Fifty percent were driven by parents, while 2 percent were driven by other relatives or other adults. About 8 percent walked to school. Other commuting forms were available (i.e., biking) but made up very small proportions of the sample.
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."

The study was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Center for Research Resources (divisions of the National Institutes of Health), and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, among others.
Court to govt: Arrest murder convict Bal Krishna Dhungel

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the inspector general of Nepal Police to arrest murder convict Bal Krishna Dhungel, a leader of the ruling CPN (Maoist Centre), and put him behind bars within a week.
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.

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"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.

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"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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Boko Haram has, like other Islamic terrorist groups adapted to their growing problems recruiting suicide bombers by using more coerced or unknowing bombers. Thus by the end of 2016 most of the suicide bombers were women (often teenagers) and children (some as young as ten). In 2016 the use of young children was increasing. Boko Haram has used at least 117 children (80 percent female) as suicide bombers since 2014 and that sort of thing is increasing in 2017. For the first three months of 2017 Boko Haram used 27 children suicide bombers compared to 30 for all of 2016. Attacks using female suicide bombers tended to use kidnapped girls convinced or coerced to make such attacks. Sometimes young girls (under 10 years old) are used, usually to wear bomb vests that can be detonated remotely. These bombers often do not know they are wearing explosives.

Most suicide attacks using women or children fail or do little damage. Not just because of inept attackers but also because the security forces (including civilian volunteers) have adopted more effective security measures, especially for screening people quickly. Boko Haram responded by using women with infants to get by the screeners but that has not worked either. Worse, most of the remaining Boko Haram have been confined to Borno State in the northeast and in camps in Cameroon (which is Bornos eastern border). Thus some 70 percent of Boko Haram violence during 2016 took place in Borno and just across the border in Cameroon. But the attacks were smaller than in previous years and much less successful. Cameroon has been more effective in fighting this foreign invader, and has lost 200 of its soldiers and police doing so, as well as some 2,000 civilians. But northern Cameroon, which borders Borno, is thinly populated and the border areas have a lot of places to hide but not much to eat. The pressure from Cameroonian troops has forced Boko Haram to disperse into smaller groups and stay close to the Nigerian border. Thus most of the Boko Haram attacks in Cameroon are very small scale and often the result of a raid (for food and fuel) or clash with an army patrol. The other neighbors with some Boko Haram problems (Chad and Niger) have also been able to inflict major losses on Boko Haram groups operating near the border. Despite that Boko Haram will still operate in Niger or Chad because these areas are also on Lake Chad and the local populations still have food and other things to steal. There is virtually nothing across the border in Nigeria (Borno State). Overall the number of Boko Haram on both sides of the border is shrinking.

The Fanatic Factions

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau released a video in late March to boast that he was still alive and operating in the northeast. Security forces have claimed Shekau was dead at least five times since 2011 but so far have always been wrong. In late 2016 there was hope that a recent split in Boko Haram might lead to Shekau getting killed by other Islamic terrorists but that hasnt happened either and the two main factions appear to have achieved some kind of truce.

The Boko Haram split began in August 2016 when ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) announced that it was replacing Shekau, who was accused of mismanagement, with a new leader. ISIL believed Shekau devoted too much effort to killing fellow Moslems (especially civilians) rather than the real enemies of ISIL (local security forces and non-Moslems in general). ISIL leadership was also unhappy with the Boko Haram use of children and women as suicide bombers. In late August the air force claimed it bombed a meeting of Shekau loyalists and killed Shekau. After that Abu Musab al Barnawi, the new leader ISIL had selected, announced that Boko Haram would now concentrate its attacks on the security forces and non-Moslems. Barnawi is a son of Mohammed Yusuf, one of the ISIL founders. Barnawi was appointed chief Boko Haram spokesman in January 2015. Although Barnawi has developed a following in Boko Haram Shekau refused to accept the ISIL decision and turned out to have survived the bombing.

Boko Haram is now split into competing factions which is nothing new as there have always been some factions, but not to this extent. At this point many Boko Haram loyalists regret the 2015 decision to become part of ISIL, which was believed to be an effort to avoid a split in Boko Haram as more radical members declared themselves followers of ISIL or even tried to go to Syria to join ISIL. Few African Islamic terrorists have done that, largely because of the cost and difficulty travelling from Africa to areas where ISIL is dominant. But in many parts of the world older Islamic terror organizations are fracturing because their more enthusiastic members prefer the ISIL style of ultra-violence. By the time Boko Haram joined ISIL was already on the defensive in the Middle East and by early 2017 ISIL was facing the loss of its primary sanctuary in Syria and Iraq. Barnawi is in his 20s and similar to his father, Mohammed Yusuf, who was well educated, an Islamic conservative and murdered by police in 2009 just before he turned 40. That murder was one of the reasons Boko Haram turned to widespread and ruthless violence rather than just depending on agitation and education. Barnawi said he was going to serve fellow Moslems, especially those loyal (or at least tolerant) of ISIL. This has worked to a certain extent as in some parts of Borno State locals ISIL tells villagers they will not be attacked if they do not actively work against ISIL. In many rural areas the locals are fine with that. But Boko Haram men have to eat the new less violent approach does not always work when the locals are going hungry and Boko Haram has to steal from these hungry civilians or starve. Barnawi has made good on his pledge to concentrate on killing non-Moslems, especially Nigerian Christians and his faction is believed responsible for several recent attacks on Christians in the northeast. It is still unclear who is winning the power struggle within Boko Haram but both factions appear to be operational and avoiding fights with each other.

Shekau is getting most of the security forces attention at the moment because of his publicity seeking and continued reliance on lots of violence against everyone. By late March the army had ordered units in Kano to revisit former Boko Haram base areas to see if there were signs that Shekau men were in the vicinity. There are still large areas of Borno State that are deserted, with the civilians reluctant to return until order is restored. In these areas Boko Haram groups can survive, if they can find enough to eat. Many die trying as soldiers have come across the bodies of emaciated Boko Haram men collapsed and died while seeking something to eat. Others surrender before they pass out from hunger and their emaciation is pretty obvious. These men provide a lot of details about who is still out there and what their mental and physical condition is.

The Fulani Threat

Christian religious leaders are calling on the government to do more about the growing threat (and deadly attacks) by Moslem herders in central Nigeria (often Jos state) and the northeast (often Kaduna State). Fulani tribesmen are the usual culprits and while these attacks often trigger reprisals by Christian militias the Fulani keep attacking. This violence by Fulani herders against Christian villagers left over 800 Christians dead in 2016 along with extensive property damage, including 1,422 houses, 16 churches, 19 businesses and one school destroyed. Kaduna is majority Moslem state and the state government refuses to believe that the Fulani raiders are from Kaduna (and thus the responsibility of the state government.) Instead the violence is blamed on Fulani from a different state, despite evidence that the Fulani raiders are locals. To make matters worse the raiders have also been attacking soldiers or police who get in their way. This is why the government wants the federal government to get involved. Jos is more Christian and the Fulani make no secret of their desire to change the religious composition of Jos.

Delta Blues

The government is making some bold moves to reduce violence in the Niger River Delta. For example there is a proposal to legalize many of many of the illegal oil refineries that supply refined petroleum products to several million people and work for thousands. The illegal refineries operate using stolen crude oil but the government has a plan to deal with that as well. Meanwhile oil production has slipped a bit from 1.7 million barrels per day (BPD) at the start of 2017 (and 1.9 million for February) to 1.67 million BPD in March. Nevertheless all that is up from 1.56 million BPD in November 2016. But the goal of 2.5 million BPD by 2020 seems unlikely to be achieved much less sustained unless there are some fundamental economic and political changes in the delta.

April 12, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) two Boko Haram suicide bombers and several gunmen attacked a checkpoint outside the state capital Maiduguri. One soldier was killed before the gunmen were driven off.

In the south (Lagos) police found $43 million in cash (foreign and Nigerian) stored in an unoccupied four room apartment in a high-rise residential building. Police and anti-corruption investigators were not surprised when it proved difficult to discover who owned the cash, the apartment or even the buildings. There is some evidence that it all belongs to some wealthy and high-ranking people from the north (Bauchi State). The cash was apparently found because of the new reward program that awards informants with 2.5 to 5 percent of the amount of illegal property or cash recovered.

April 11, 2017: The United States and Britain publicly thanked Nigeria how local police and intelligence efforts recently resulted in the arrest six Boko Haram members who were close to carrying out attacks on the U.S. and British embassies in the capital (Abuja) as well as other targets in the city operated by American and British companies. The arrests appear to have taken place in March and such public thanks tend to occur when such an attack was likely to succeed and the locals deserved some public recognition of their efforts. There have been no Boko Haram attacks in Abuja since late 2015 largely because Nigerian police and intel efforts mobilized their resources, and a lot of public support, to stifle numerous Boko Haram efforts to carry out attacks in the capital. In the current case five of the arrested Boko Haram men were operating in central Nigeria (Benue state) which is a lot closer to the capital than the northeast where most Boko Haram remain. The police actually arrested at least 35 Boko Haram men or supporters who were part of larger network of Boko Haram operatives that had established itself outside the northeast and was seeking to recruit more local Moslems as well as planning new attacks. That takedown was impressive by any standard and was a side effect of the new (since 2015) president who, as a former general and long-time reformer, was able to get the security forces to crack down on the Islamic terrorists and criminal gangs. The new president stressed performance over loyalty to some corrupt politician and also had police actually arrest many notoriously corrupt politicians along with army and police commanders who worked for the corrupt politicians. Boko Haram noticed the impact of all this when throughout 2016 they were having a much harder time avoiding the police using bribes or intimidation.

April 8, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) Boko Haram raiders ambushed a truck carrying firewood and nine men who had gathered it. Eight of the men were killed by the Islamic terrorists but one man got away to a nearby village and reported the attack. By the time soldiers arrived the Boko Haram were gone, along with the truck and whatever possessions the victims had. Locals had been warned that a group of Boko Haram were in the area, seeking to steal whatever they could. The nine men ignored the warning and took a chance because they needed the money for food and other necessities.

April 7, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) Boko Haram attacked a group of 25 women who were gathering fruit near the Cameroon border. Thirteen women were kidnapped while the rest got away. Elsewhere in Borno Boko Haram ambushed an army patrol, killing five soldiers.

April 6, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) Boko Haram ambushed an army patrol, killing four soldiers and wounding five. Another four soldiers were missing. Elsewhere in Borno (near Lake Chad) a large group of Boko Haram made a night attack on a small army base and the troops were ordered to withdraw. Boko Haram looted what they could and left before reinforcements arrived. There were no casualties on either side.

April 5, 2017: In the northeast (Borno state) Boko Haram gunmen on motorcycles attacked a farm village outside the state capital Maiduguri and, after killing seven farmers, looted the village and drove off more than 300 cattle with them. This was a risky operation for Boko Haram in the area and was apparently caused by a severe shortages of food and other supplies. Attacks like this make it easier for the security forces to track down and destroy the Boko Haram group.
Construction of a multi-storey student accommodation complex just along Durham Street from the university site is expected to be completed in time for the opening of the campus in 2020.

Resource consent for the complex, to be located at 145 and 153 Durham Street, is currently being processed by Tauranga City Council. Once approved, construction is scheduled to start early 2018.

The 12,000sqm ultra-modern, sustainable complex will house 392 rooms, set around state-of-the-art communal areas boasting hi-tech fit-outs, live green walls and modern architectural design.

It will also include a cafe, retail centre, games room, 124-seat dining hall and commercial kitchen, with a 50-50 split in terms of catered and non-catered residents. A typical floor will consist of 36 rooms and a 100sqm common area.

The green light for the development comes as the city prepares for the imminent University of Waikato-led tertiary campus, expected to open in 2020, bringing with it an estimated 1500 full-time students.

This is a modern and vibrant dedicated student accommodation facility, and will be the first and only one available in close proximity to the campus, says director of QP Property Holdings Limited, John McColl.

This is a substantial investment in the citys CBD and will not only benefit the tertiary precinct by offering the best in student accommodation, but also the wider community, in helping strengthen this period of revitalisation currently underway in the CBD.

On-campus student residences are a core component in the make-up of a tertiary campus, and will strengthen student life here. We are delighted to be partnering with the University of Waikato to make this safe, secure and modern facility a reality, says John.

The University of Waikato-led campus will be shared with members of the Bay of Plenty Tertiary Education Partnership - Te Wananga o Awanuiarangi, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology and the University of Waikato.

The $88.8 million university development will roll out in two stages, with the first to be completed by 2020.

University of Waikato Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alister Jones, says such a student accommodation complex adds more appeal, and reassurance, to what is already a very attractive option for tertiary education.

Accommodation is one of a parents main worries when sending a child to university. They want to ensure their child is in a safe, secure and inviting environment. We believe this complex will tick all the required boxes and more, says Alister.

With this accommodation block set to offer the highest standard of student living in the country, we anticipate demand for rooms to be at a premium.

Fast Facts:
Top reasons why you should not install expensive anti-virus software on your newly purchased PC/laptop

We live in a day and age where security has finally begun to take its place as an important subject in the general conscience. From Snowden leaks to the Apple-FBI federal case, security has become an important topic. Considering the dangers of modern day technology, how important is it to have anti virus software on your machine ? Some would like to argue that there is absolutely no need for one. Before you begin to question our rationale, lets explore this.

In Built Mechanisms

Every device that you own has always contained some in-built security applications. With the release of Windows 8, Microsoft has managed to strengthen the in-built Microsoft Defender to such an extent that most critics admitted there was no more a need for a user to install a separate anti-virus software. Thus, Microsoft has plugged the loop holes in the most susceptible platform for viruses.

If you were wondering, what about my phone and tablet ?, iOS & Android have always been much more tightly managed than the windows platform. With the advent of the app store, the respective companies can now filter out any and all suspicious software right at the source, thereby eliminating the need for you to even bother with safeguarding your device against a malicious app. This very writer has never installed an anti-virus on any of his smartphones or tablets and hasnt regretted the decision.

Browsers

The most common source of malicious software making its way onto your machine, are websites. And all the three big internet browsers  Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox & Internet Explorer  provide pretty strong security measures. Chrome for example, will warn you before you visit a site that has been suspected of containing potentially harmful content. Heeding these warnings and browsing safely automatically removes the need to have any other software since its cutting off the problem right from its roots.

Smart Use

The most common way for a virus to make its way onto your device has always been a user visiting a page and/or downloading the virus unknowingly. Many users tend to ignore the fore-mentioned warnings or just end up clicking the wrong links. On a website with pop ups and ads, its not unusual to miss the actual download link for the big flashy button on the screen. Most likely than not, this turns out to be the reason most machines get infected. In this regard, following a safer browsing technique will eliminate the sources of a majority of viruses. At this point, I also need to mention a habit of a lot of users to download content from torrent serves or other less legitimate sources. Using such sites are a sure fire way to attract viruses, if not more dangerous consequences. Just sticking to genuine sites reduces this risk by a magnitude.

Ransomware

Now this is potentially the most damaging among all the malicious software that can infect your machine. Ransomware, for those unfamiliar with the term is a software that encrypts data in your machine and then asks you for a fee to decrypt it. This is one malicious code that has no real solution. With the abundant ways available to encrypt data, the probability of a second person being able to decrypt your data is close to 0. Even if you do pay up, there are no guarantees that your data will be decrypted. Thus, the only way out, is to have your data backed up on a local hard drive and the cloud. An anti-virus, is beyond useless against a ransomware, so no point using one in the case your machine gets infected with one.

All in all, technology has matured enough for any alert individual to manage his/her security without the need of an anti-virus software. Browse safe.
<p><em>Teri Leicher</em><span></span></p>

In 2010, people in the Hawaiian city of Kona discovered something unexpected inside a dumpster - a plastic bag full of dead tropical fish. Most of the fish were yellow tangs, but there were also butterflyfish and surgeonfish.

The plastic bag of dead fish found in Kona. | Teri Leicher

They laid out the fish on the ground and counted - there were 610 of them.

610 dead tropical fish found in Kona. | Teri Leicher

To some people, a dumpster full of dead fish might not seem like a big deal. Yet Rene Umberger, founder of For The Fishes, an organization that advocates for the protection of wild fish, told The Dodo that the situation was incredibly alarming to her.

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Teri Leicher

These fish had been caught off the coast of Hawaii, and they were going to be distributed to pet stores and aquarium traders across the U.S., Umberger explained. From there, the fish would be sold to people who wanted tropical fish in their aquariums.

Teri Leicher

Yet something had gone horribly wrong, and these 610 fish had died before they were shipped away.

Teri Leicher

"It was likely a mechanical failure [in their holding tanks] that deprived them of oxygen and allowed buildup of deadly waste," Umberger told The Dodo. "People who capture and trade in this wildlife for a living care very little about the well-being of these animals. The goal is to sell these animals before they die and pass the risk onto the buyer. It really is quite ugly."

Teri Leicher

It's estimated that around 20 to 24 million tropical fish are taken from the oceans each year to be sold in the aquarium trade, according to a report published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Philippines and Indonesia are the biggest exporters of tropical fish for aquariums, and there's also a huge aquarium trade in Hawaii.

For The Fishes

But there's a huge mortality rate as well - fish often die during the capture and transport processes, Teresa M. Telecky, senior director of the wildlife department for Humane Society International (HSI), told The Dodo, making the whole process incredibly cruel. "Many fish are captured at depths that, when they are quickly brought to the surface, causes barotrauma, just like scuba divers would experience if they surfaced too rapidly from deep water," Telecky said. "Barotrauma causes physical damage to body tissues which can overstretch or rupture. Fish brought up too quickly will have bulging eyes and cloaca." Fish collectors will also pierce a fish's swim bladder to quicken the capture process, Telecky explained.

Divers using nets to catch fish in Hawaii. | Paul Cox

"Aquarium fish collectors are in a rush to get their fish to market, so instead of taking the time to decompress the fish by slowly bringing them to the surface, they instead skewer the fish with a needle aimed at the fish's swim bladder, a technique called 'fizzing,'" Telecky said. "This causes physical damage to the fish's scales, skin, circulatory system, muscle and the swim bladder, which is an organ."

Divers using nets to catch fish in Hawaii. | Paul Cox

In Hawaii, fish tend to be collected with nets. But in the Philippines and Indonesia, fish collectors use a highly toxic compound called cyanide, which stuns fish and makes them easier to catch.

A diver using cyanide to collect fish. | James Cervino/NOAA

"They crush up these [cyanide] tablets inside these squirt bottles," Umberger said. "Then they mix it with salt water and they squirt it out. Fish that are closest to that are going to die almost immediately. You can see them gasping for air."

"When cyanide is squirted onto a reef, 50 percent of the reef and animals who are exposed, die," Umberger added. "Within hours, another percentage dies. Within days, another. It's destroying reefs and entire ecosystems." If fish don't die from the cyanide, they often die while being transported.

"Fish are transported to market in small plastic bags that contain very little water that becomes contaminated with fish excrement during the long transport process, which can be several days," Telecky said. "To avoid too much fish excrement in the water, traders often starve the fish for 24 or 48 hours before shipment, which is very unnatural, especially for fish who graze all day. Fish dorsal spines, which are part of the animal's skeleton covered by skin, are often cut off so that the plastic bag is not punctured."

A yellow tang being transported in a plastic bag. | Robert Wintner/Snorkel Bob

If the fish do happen to make it to their destination, they often don't live long in aquariums anyway, according to Telecky.

A dying yellow tang lying on the bottom of an aquarium. | For The Fishes

"Most wild-caught marine fish do not survive long in captivity, particularly in average home aquariums, which keeps the demand for new 'replacement' aquarium animals high, meaning more damage to wildlife populations," Telecky said. "It's a revolving door of cruelty and destruction." "For every fish sold, 6 others died from reef to retail," Umberger said. She also estimates that tens of millions of fish die each year in the global aquarium industry. One of the most surprising things about the industry, Umberger said, is how few people know about what's going on, and that 98 percent of tropical fish in aquariums are caught from the wild. "What we've learned is that people just don't know that these animals are captured to begin with," Umberger said.

A dying yellow tang lying on the bottom of an aquarium. | For The Fishes
Fire destroys 43 homes in Sunsari

At least 43 houses were reduced to cinders in a fire that broke out at the Shreepur Maldaiya Tole in Koshi Village Council-5 of Sunsari district on Thursday.
This old horse, named Copper, is lucky to be alive - especially considering the very, very unlucky situation he found himself in this week.

Kittitas County Fire District #7

At some point on Tuesday, Copper was hanging out in his Kittitas County, Washington, pasture when the earth beneath his hooves gave way. In that moment, the horse found himself suddenly at the bottom of a 15-foot-deep sinkhole. From a distance, it might have looked like Copper had simply vanished - but fortunately, his ordeal didn't go unnoticed by his owner, who called for help.

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Kittitas County Fire District #7

Soon, a crew from Kittitas County Fire District #7, along with a team from a local excavation company, was at the scene to assist in Copper's rescue. His veterinarian, Dr. Sam Taylor, was on hand, too, to make sure the horse remained safe throughout the extraction effort. She even descended into the sinkhole to give Copper a mild sedative to keep him calm.

Ellensburg Animal Hospital

Rather than attempt to hoist poor Copper out of the hole's narrow opening, rescuers instead decided to dig out a trench so the horse could walk out on his own. A board was placed over the opening they were making to protect Copper during the digging.

Kittitas County Fire District #7

After about two hours of laboring, the rescuers' hard work paid off. Here's the moment Copper walked free out of what easily could have been his early grave - appearing a little shaken, but happy to be alive.
The slow lorises wrapped their hands around the metal bars of their filthy cages and peered out with wide eyes. Some of the slow lorises let out high-pitched squeaks - which they only do when they're scared.

International Animal Rescue

This is what police found when they raided the home of a wildlife trader in Manonjaya, West Java, in Indonesia earlier this week - 14 Javan slow lorises in three cages, bound for sale in the illegal pet trade.

International Animal Rescue

Six of them were female, and seven were male. Police also found a tiny baby slow loris whose gender couldn't yet be determined.

International Animal Rescue

The police got in touch with the medical team at International Animal Rescue (IAR), an organization that rescues and rehabilitates wildlife, and the IAR team quickly arrived to help.

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International Animal Rescue

The animals were terrified, Lis Key, PR and communications manager for IAR, told The Dodo.

International Animal Rescue

"Slow lorises are solitary, nocturnal primates, and so everything about the experience of being captured and stuffed into a small cage with other lorises must have been deeply traumatizing," Key said. "The very experience of being handled and moved around in daylight would be extremely stressful after the quiet, dark shade of the forest."

International Animal Rescue

It was the first time Key had ever heard lorises squeaking so loudly. "They cry under stress, which of course they were certainly suffering from after all the trauma they had been through," she explained. "They sound quite pitiful, poor little things."

When the rescue team examined the animals, they found that many of the slow lorises had injuries, which were probably caused by the other slow lorises.

International Animal Rescue

"Being together in such close confinement will have caused them to panic and fight with each other for space and air," Key said. "Lorises do not tend to live in close proximity to others - unless they are members of a family group. So a loris that finds itself forced into a small space with other lorises will fight to defend itself and ward off attacks from other lorises."

International Animal Rescue

Taking slow lorises out of the wild isn't just cruel - it's detrimental to the species. The International Union for the Conservation Of Nature (IUCN) lists the Javan slow loris as critically endangered, which means the species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction. Other slow loris species, such as the greater slow loris, are listed as vulnerable.

International Animal Rescue

Despite their conservation statuses, slow loris species continue to be trafficked and sold into the pet trade. It's estimated that 200 to 250 slow lorises are traded each year just in Indonesia, according to IAR, and that 30 percent of slow lorises die during the trading process.

International Animal Rescue

"Illegal hunting and trafficking for the pet trade are pushing the slow loris perilously close to extinction," Karmele Llano Sanchez, program director of IAR Indonesia, said in a statement. "If the species is to survive, it is vital that the trade is stamped out. It causes immeasurable suffering to individual lorises and poses a grave threat to the survival of the species as a whole."

International Animal Rescue

At the IAR medical center, the slow lorises were treated for dehydration and diarrhea, as well as extreme stress. Thankfully, the slow lorises' teeth weren't removed, which is something that's often done before they're sold as pets.

International Animal Rescue

When the slow lorises make a full recovery, they'll be released back into the wild.

International Animal Rescue
In choked Capital, artists perform against pollution

With air quality deteriorating and levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) increasing by the weeks, Kathmandu pollution crisis is on the verge of becoming the new capital punishment for Valley denizens.
India: No info about Pak officer

India has said that it does not have any information about a retired Pakistani army officer who went missing from Lumbini last week.
Sunny days. Spring. Why not talk about cars and test driving a Mini?

Auto headlines have been dominated by NAFTA (which company makes what and where) and Elon Musk (buy Ford stock, the electric car guru advised investors who are agitating for a bigger independent voice on Teslas board of directors. Their governance is amazing, he tweeted. Cheeky.)

The reintroduction of the Mini more than a decade ago arrived with the branded reminder that cars can be fun in an Italian Job kind of way.

Not that the Mini is Italian. Who remembers that the development of the British Morris Mini Minor was fuelled by the Suez Crisis of 1956?

The return of the Mini brought a smile to the streets. My sisters Mini is painted with white rally stripes. She already had the bulldog to go in it, though he needs to be winched into place.

To the Canadian market, later, came the Fiat 500. Cinquecento sounds more alluring, more Sophia Loren like, evoking silk head scarves and narrow curved roads along the Ligurian Coast. The Topolino  little mouse  was launched in 1957.

The Volkswagen Beetle came back. Contemporary advertising features an orange Bug in front of the neon Coles sign in Los Angeles. That restaurant has been offering French dip sandwiches (and cocktails) since 1908. Shift into overjoy is the right-note branding line for the orange Bug.

Ford is bringing back the Bronco, though not until 2020. This news from the big automaker recalls ultra frigid Winnipeg nights in the 1970s being driven about town in a cherry red 4 x 4.

Note to Ford: dont call the marque iconic and dont label the Bronco an SUV. That labelling did not exist in the 70s and to my ear SUV equates with boring. Be clever.

My brother-in-laws restoration of his British racing green Austin-Healey said a great deal about his humanity and his passion. My God that car was yar, and makes one wonder why no movie has been brought to the big screen to do for car restoration what The Money Pit did for home ownership.

Which reminds me. Dear friend David, how is that restoration of your Land Rover coming along?

Your choice of car should telegraph something about who you are. My brothers current Westfalia, purchased off eBay, comes to mind. Long ago he drove a Volvo P1800, just like Simon Templar in The Saint.

The idea of car identifiers, or badging, I guess, isnt new, but so long lost by automakers that bringing dormant vehicles back to life became one way to corporately recognize that some buyers look past sheer utility when making a purchase.

Starting from scratch, Akio Toyoda, CEO of Toyota, issued a company wide decree earlier this year. No more boring cars, he said, promising that more power would be placed in the hands of designers.

Take note of the FT-4X. Unveiled this week at the New York International Auto Show, the FT- 4X is weekend made. Having a North Face sleeping bag rolled into the arm rest between driver and passenger may seem whimsical on first thought. Dig deeper. Each time the driver gets behind the wheel she is encouraged to think, I dont have to go home tonight! Drive, she said.

There are built-in water bottles. The rear hatch hinges up in the conventional way or, with a twist, opens from a middle seam, vertically, like a French door. The rear is the new front, Ian Cartabiano told Wards AutoWorld. Cartabiano is the chief designer at Calty, the design studio that Toyota set up in El Segundo, Calif., in 1973. We started with the rear. . . and designed a totally usable, functional, amazing tailgate for this thing.

Theres a built-in refrigerator back there. And a heated compartment too, as well as clever storage compartments. The ceiling mounted light can be removed and used as a flashlight. Genius. Ditto the removable audio system.

What the 4-wheel-drive telegraphs is freedom, mobility, independence, even excitement (though the online video promotion is too much cool hipster and the corporately created term casualcore, as distinct from hardcore, is the sign of a promotional team working too hard).

Of course theres a catch. The FT-4X is a concept vehicle, though Calty president Kevin Hunter told Wards that a lot of the car is doable. Were going to show it to everybody and gauge reaction, he said, adding that he felt the car was the next step in off-road utility vehicles.

Many reviewers like it. We dig this Toyota, and we hope it becomes reality, said Car and Driver. The Verge called it less of a vehicle and more of a giant, rolling Leatherman multi-tool with four-wheel drive.

To me it looks like spring, with the lake ice moving out, and a weekend spent sleeping shore-side with the tailgate open, in that sleeping bag.

jenwells@thestar.ca

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LONDONTheres so little money in buying and selling wheat, corn and soybeans these days that some traders are turning to obscure markets in desert-grown tomatoes and chickpeas to turn a profit.

Margins for handling the big grain crops have sunk as farmers grew more than the world needs for four years. Thats led firms like Germanys BayWa AG to seek out niches such as tomatoes and organic grains where returns are higher. Others turned to costlier processed food ingredients or gluten-free products.

The general trading environment for agricultural commodities is rather difficult, said Jean-Francois Lambert, the founder and managing partner of consultant Lambert Commodities. It has been the case for two years and it looks like this year may be as challenging.

Read more:Farmers in firing line as weather extremes impact crops

That bodes ill for traders who grew fat in the boom years last decade, when prices rose on demand from a world population growing in size and wealth.

While the biggest firms trading huge grain market volumes may see limited effect on their bottom lines from niche markets, small and mid-sized traders can benefit more. Theyve jumped into lesser-known products like quinoa or organic crops with better margins and demand from health-conscious shoppers.

Grain Services Srl, a brokerage based in Reggio Emilia, Italy, gets about 30 per cent of its revenue from gluten-free, organic or niche products including quinoa, rice, amaranth and lentils, even though these make up just 7 per cent of the 1.5 million metric tons of crops that the firm handles, managing director Andrea Cagnolati said.

Demand from consumers is making gluten-free and organic foods one of the worlds fastest growing areas of the industry, according to a presentation by Cagnolati at the Black Sea Grain conference in Kyiv last week. The gluten-free products industry is expanding by about 10 per cent a year, with annual sales reaching $7 billion (U.S.) worldwide by 2020.

The quantity is low, but we get very good margins, Cagnolati said in an interview at the conference. The margins in traditional grain markets are very low, or in the case of the U.S. even negative.

BayWa, the German agribusiness that bolstered grain operations only to post a loss at its trading unit last year, is turning to organic and greenhouse produce. The firm has entered a venture to grow and trade premium tomatoes in the United Arab Emirates.

Frances Groupe Soufflet, the biggest private buyer of grain in Europe, is expanding in pulses and investing in production of ready-to-eat lentils.

Even industry giants such as Glencore Plc and Bunge Ltd. have entered or expanded less-traded areas in the past two years. Bunge, which has been trading for 200 years, bought a Turkish olive-oil company and Glencore is handling the product from its Madrid office.

These are small operations for such large firms  not a side dish so much as a condiment to their main grain operations. Volumes of global imports of pulses including beans, lentils and chickpeas came to less than 6 per cent of total wheat imports in 2013, according to the latest available data from the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization.

Niche markets are still too small to be interesting for such players, Erik Rietkerk, chief executive officer of Amsterdam Commodities NV, a trader of products such as nuts and spices, said in an interview in Lausanne, Switzerland. Those are not liquid markets.

A better strategy for the top firms may be expanding into costlier processed commodities to sell to customers further down the supply chain. Bunge is finalizing plans to build a soy-processing plant in the U.S. to allow it to offer more soymeal or soybean oil. Cargill Inc. has expanded its animal nutrition business and bought Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.s chocolate business.

Frances top grains co-operative, Axereal, is also betting on growing demand for beer to turn its barley malting plant in Antwerp into the worlds largest.

Others are sticking with grain in locations where they see growth. ED&F Man Holdings Ltd. is expanding grain trading in the Black Sea region and China, Glencore has its sights on the U.S. and Bunge is pushing into Canada. Some, such as Chinese food giant Cofco Corp., have simply reined in their ambitions. That comes as the price of both wheat and corn has risen this year after dropping the past four years.

Even BayWas tomato project, with plans for 15 hectares of greenhouses in the desert, seeks to tap into strong demand in the Middle East.

Large corporations will increase their engagement in emerging markets where there is still room to generate margins or exploit competitive advantage, said Miroslaw Marciniak, a consultant at Warsaw-based InfoGrain and former grain trader. The scale is important so they will continue to trade in bulk.

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Whole Foods Market has known for some time that it is a business in need of course correction.

But its imperative to do so may have gotten more urgent this week, after an activist investor and some affiliates disclosed a nearly 9-per-cent stake in the company and urged it, in a regulatory filing, to explore dramatic moves to stage a turnaround, including possibly putting itself up for sale.

Jana Partners, the investor, encouraged the organic grocery chain to do a top-to-bottom re-evaluation of its strategies and practices. Jana said it hoped to have discussions with Whole Foods management about everything from its real estate portfolio to customer analytics to inventory management and labour scheduling.

Read more: Whole Foods Canadian expansion plans slowed

Whole Foods shutters stores after sales slumped

Whole Foods accused of routinely overcharging

It remains to be seen which of those steps Whole Foods will take and whether any of them will make a difference.

In a statement, the grocer said: Whole Foods Market welcomes investment in the Company and is open to the views and opinions of all of our shareholders. We value constructive dialogue toward our shared goals of creating shareholder value, successfully executing on our strategic priorities and taking actions that will position the Company for continued success.

One thing, though, seems hard to ignore: Jana has a point. The retailer saw a 2.5-per-cent decline in comparable sales last year, a measure of sales at stores open at least a year. Its forecast for 2017 isnt too cheery, either; the company predicts it will deliver comparable sales of -2.5 per cent or better.

Thats a concerning pattern for a chain that has every reason to be successful in this moment, in which shoppers are gravitating toward healthy food, and when an increasing share of the grocery industrys sales are coming from the fresh items such as produce and meat that Whole Foods built its reputation on.

Whole Foods challenges are wide-ranging, but one of its biggest hurdles is attracting more customers. According to data from Kantar Retails ShopperScape survey, the organic grocer had a 7-per-cent penetration rate back in 2009 when it had some 273 stores. In other words, 7 per cent of respondents in Kantars customer survey said they shopped at Whole Foods on a monthly basis. Since then, the chain has been on a breakneck march to open more stores, its fleet now numbering more than 430 locations. So, what is its market penetration now, with all those added stores? Just 8 per cent, according to Kantar. Its practically unchanged.

That means its major capital investments in building those stores  and the ongoing expense of staffing and maintaining them  have not done much to grow its share of devoted shoppers.

Diane Sheehan, a grocery industry analyst with Kantar, said this might, in part, reflect the fact that Whole Foods stores are sometimes clustered close together. For example, she pointed to the suburbs of Chicago, where the chain has three stores in a four-mile range. That means those stores probably are not expanding the base of Whole Foods shoppers; theyre just fighting among themselves for the same crowd.

Across the wider retail business, talk abounds of being overstored, the industrys term for having too many stores. Whole Foods doesnt have that problem, exactly, but it has its own version of it. It is overstored in certain neighbourhoods.

Meanwhile, as Whole Foods aggressively courts millennials with in-store wine bars and date-night cooking classes, Kantars research finds that it has lost some generation X and baby-boomer shoppers over the past five years.

They are leaking tons of shoppers in those non-core demographic groups, Sheehan said.

Leaning so hard on millennials may have long-term benefits, but for now, Whole Foods is missing out on sales due to its weakened resonance with older consumers.

Where are those shoppers going? Likely to one of the competitors that has elbowed into the organics business. Simple Truth, the U.S. private-label organics line from Kroger, delivered an eye-popping $1.7 billion in sales last year, surely snatching some spending away from Whole Foods. Walmart and others are also ramping up their offerings in the category. And many shoppers prefer that these outlets allow them to get organic and conventional groceries in one place. They can get their grass-fed beef and Coca-Cola in one trip, for example, or they can get their cage-free eggs without having to shell out for natural, unbleached paper towels.

All of these problems suggest its going to be tough for Whole Foods to find avenues for growth in the immediate future.

Jana Partners has had a couple of recent successes urging change at major companies: In February, it pushed drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb and luxury retailer Tiffany & Co. to shake up their boards of directors.

However Janas pressure on the grocer plays out, this much is clear: The cultural phenomenon that Whole Foods was essential in creating is poised to leave the chain behind. Its up to its leaders to make sure that doesnt happen.

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Its a strange day when the unveiling of a Cannes Film Festival lineup is dominated by news about everything other than conventional big-screen film. But doesnt it just suit the times we live in?

David Lynchs revival of his 1990s hit television series Twin Peaks will have its world premiere at the French fest next month (in advance of a May 21 broadcast), along with the second season of Jane Campions popular TV mystery Top of the Lake.

These small-screen gems will debut outside the celebrated Palme dOr competition, which is having its own revolution within its 18-film slate, admitting movies from the commercial online realm for the first time.

Two are from Netflix: Okja, a sci-fi fantasy by Bong Joon-ho (Snowpiercer), starring Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal; and The Meyerowitz Stories by Noah Baumbach, starring Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller.

Online rival Amazon Studios has the other two Palme pioneers: Todd Haynes Wonderstruck, starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams; and Lynne Ramsays You Were Never Really Here, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Alessandro Nivola.

Going all-in on change, Cannes will also unveil a new virtual-reality production: Flesh and Sand by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the Oscar-winning director of Birdman and The Revenant.

We want to look to the future, Cannes chief Thierry Fremaux told a Paris news conference on Thursday morning, as he and festival president Pierre Lescure unveiled the Official Selection for next months 70th edition of the annual Riviera-coast gathering, which runs May 17-28.

Note that all of the directors mentioned above, and much of the talent, are the kind of auteurs whom Cannes adores and frequently honours  Lynch and Campion are Palme dOr winners, and Bong, Haynes, Ramsay and Inarritu have previously competed for the fests top prize.

All of the above-mentioned stars are expected to stroll the red carpet leading to the Palais des Festivals, and fans of Nicole Kidman will have a chance to swoon not just once but four times. Shes this years belle of the ball at Cannes, starring not only in Campions Top of the Lake: China Girl but also in two Palme competitors (Yorgos Lanthimos The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Sofia Coppolas The Beguiled) and an out-of-competition entry (John Cameron Mitchells How to Talk to Girls at Parties).

In other words, the cinephilia and star power remain the same at Cannes, only the platforms are starting to change. It would have been heresy not that long ago to say it, but there are great stories being told on small screen as well as large ones.

Its something TIFF grappled with a couple of years ago, when it unveiled its Primetime program of curated television offerings. TIFF artistic director Cameron Bailey told me in an interview, almost two years ago to the day, that he truly woke to the cinematic potential of TV while watching True Detective, a crime drama series directed by and starring top film talent.

Im so glad to see that what I think used to be a kind of snobbery around television fall away . . . if its a great story and its well made, and if it has that kind of visual quality that we want from cinema, then it doesnt matter what its called or how many pieces it comes in. Lets just show it!

For diehards, its important to note that Cannes will also be screening many real movies from its 49-film slate, which represents 29 countries and includes 12 by female directors.

Among the most keenly anticipated Palme competitors is Michael Hanekes Happy End, a drama starring Isabelle Huppert set within Europes refugee crisis  one of many politically themed films at Cannes 2017. Haneke, a two-time Palme winner, will be trying for an unprecedented third win.

If theres anything truly weird about this years Official Selection, its that no major Hollywood movies made the cut. Many were hoping that Denis Villeneuves Blade Runner 2049, Christopher Nolans Dunkirk, Kathryn Bigelows Detroit and Luc Bessons Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets would bow on the Croisette, but theyre MIA for reasons ranging from production delays to undisclosed studio marketing plans.

There are also no Canadian contenders in this years Palme derby but 18 films is an uncommonly small competition, which usually numbers at least 20 films and often more. Expect at least two more films announced before the festival launches, and Canadian premieres may happen in parallel programs still to be announced: Directors Fortnight and International Critics Week.

Cannes will always be a feast, whatever the size of the serving dish.

Canucks and critics: National Canadian Film Day 150 on April 19 celebrates Canuck cinema with Reel Canadas largest one-day showing of our nations films, from sea to shining sea. Two of my esteemed former Star movies-beat colleagues are participating: Rob Salem hosts a 7 p.m. screening of Don Shebibs social-realism classic Goin Down the Road at Sheridan Colleges Oakville campus, followed by a Q&A with director and cast members; Geoff Pevere presents Joey Kleins award-winning (and Tatiana Maslany-starring) romantic drama The Other Half, followed by a director Q&A, in a 7 p.m. Rendezvous With Madness event at Torontos Scotiabank Theatre. Theres also a 6:30 p.m. Regent Park Film Festival screening of Charles Officers The Skin Were In, hosted by Star columnist Desmond Cole.

Peter Howell is the Stars movie critic. His column usually runs Fridays.

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MONTREALA Canadian woman who is eight months pregnant and stuck in Gaza as she tries to get an exit visa says shes just trying to stay positive.

Since Ive known I was pregnant, Ive wanted to go back to Canada and give birth there, Bissan Eid, 24, said in a telephone interview Thursday. Its safer for my baby and myself.

Im trying everything possible, my dad is trying everything possible. Im trying to think positive.

Eid, who says shes unable to walk or stand for long periods, thought she had every reason to believe shed be back in Canada last December in time to resume her studies at Concordia University.

Instead, the woman from Montreals south shore finds herself still trapped in Gaza and unable to get the exit permit from Israel.

I thought since Im Canadian that it would be easier, Eid said, adding nobody has explained to her why she cant obtain the visa.

Eid, a Canadian citizen since 2005, said she went to visit grandparents and get married in June 2016. It was her first extended trip after a 2014 visit was cut short due to war.

Supporters have launched a social media campaign at Concordia, where Eid earned an undergraduate degree and is working toward a masters degree in civil engineering.

Her father, Hadi Eid, told reporters Thursday at the universitys school of community and public affairs he wants Ottawa to help persuade Israel to speed up the visa process.

Its not easy for us because we talk with Bissan every day, we are worried about her, we are worried something will happen to her in Gaza, said Eid, a statistician for the Quebec government.

Her family say theyve spoken to their local MP and sought the help of Canadian officials at the embassy in Tel Aviv, but to no avail.

If Canada can arrange something for her, she can go out from Gaza by the help of the Canadian Embassy, Eid said.

A spokesman for Global Affairs Canada said the department is aware of reports that a Canadian citizen is seeking help to depart Gaza.

Consular officials stand ready to assist and provide updated information on how to leave the region, John Babcock said in an email.

The department has advised against all travel to the Gaza Strip due to ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas  which controls the area.

The advisory also says the border crossings with Egypt and Israel frequently close unexpectedly and holding valid entry and exit permits doesnt help in those instances.

Read more about:

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Virginia Parucha collapsed in court describing the devastation a driver inflicted on her family by killing her 38-year-old daughter on a sidewalk outside the Rogers Centre.

I dont feel like doing anything in my life, she said Thursday through sobs before her legs buckled and court staff and crying family members rushed forward to help get her to a seat.

Algie Parucha, a vendor standing with her sister Allane at their Bremner Ave. market stand, died from massive blunt force trauma after Audrey Thomass Mercedes SUV slammed into her and then a retaining wall last June.

Court heard the upbeat mom of two boys was the linchpin and emotional heart of an exceptionally close-knit Filipino-Canadian family. The oldest of four children, she had just launched, with a sister and sister-in-law, a boutique selling handmade hair accessories for kids.

Her death is one of several profiled by the Star in a series on pedestrians and cyclists perishing on Toronto streets at an alarming rate, and the relatively paltry penalties routinely handed out to Ontario motorists who kill.

Thomas, who expressed deep remorse to the Parucha family in a statement read by her lawyer, pleaded guilty to careless driving under the Highway Traffic Act.

The Mississauga resident received a $1,000 fine and probation that bars her from driving for six months, except for work, medical appointments and emergencies.

Justice of the Peace David Keilty accepted the sentence proposed jointly by the defence and the Crown, noting it was at the high end of punishments given out for careless driving.

Thomas was stopped behind a truck that began to roll backwards. She veered into a right-turn lane to avoid it, court heard, but continued at speed over a curb and into the market stand. She never explained why she didnt brake.

The day was bright, roads were dry and her vehicle worked fine.

If I could somehow take back my actions on that day, I certainly would, Thomas said in a statement read by lawyer Lambert Kwok as she sat beside him, sometimes quietly crying.

The hotel chef replays the crash in her mind, wondering what she should have done differently, and thinks constantly about Paruchas young sons growing up motherless.

I always feel that my life is over . . . , her statement said, and shame makes her hide from friends and family.

I will have this on my shoulders for as long as I live. I pray and ask all of you for forgiveness and sincerely ask all of you to accept my deepest apology.

Allane Parucha told court her big sister was her best friend and the familys event planner, emergency co-ordinator and travel agent. Family trips included 17 of them camping together in Algonquin Park.

She was the glue that held us together, she said, sobbing. We are desperately trying to keep it together but it is very difficult. My familys broken and . . . it can never be whole again.

Allane, who suffered minor injuries in the crash, said she suffers survivors guilt.

Theoretically, killer motorists can face up to 10 years in jail under a criminal charge of dangerous driving causing injury or, for the traffic charge of careless driving, up to six months in jail and a fine of $2,000.

Legal observers say courts almost never give the maximums and usually accept plea bargains to less serious charges. There are many examples of motorists paying less than $1,000 for actions that killed a person.

Drivers are not compelled to attend court for provincial charges, meaning grieving family members sometimes give impact statements to rooms empty except for people paid to be there.

Friends & Families for Safe StreetsFriends & Families for Safe Streets has been pushing the Ontario government since last fall to adopt vulnerable road user laws, with significantly tougher penalties and compulsory court attendance for motorists, for those who kill or severely injure a pedestrian or cyclist.

Kari Cuss, a spokeswoman for Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca, said the governments thoughts and prayers are with the Paruchas.

She noted the government recently proposed changes to make school zones safer and said the ministry continues to consult its road safety partners on other ways to protect pedestrians.

We are making significant progress towards a comprehensive strategy and look forward to having more to say as we move into the late spring.

Correction  April 17, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version to update an incorrect headline that said Algie Parucha was killed on a sidewalk outside Air Canada Centre.

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Large Taxpayers Office: Full report on matter by mid-May

The Large Taxpayers Office (LTO), which is supposed to clarify the government position on the capital gains tax controversy surrounding Ncell, has stated that the process will be concluded by mid-May.
Torontos Shelter, Support and Housing Administration division has been asked to report back on how a city-run housing program guards against vulnerable people being moved into substandard rental homes.

They must also detail what policies and practices are in place, to protect against bad landlords renting out and receiving public dollars for those units.

When public funds are used to subsidize private rental accommodation for vulnerable residents, it is critical that these rental units comply with health, fire and other safety regulations and Torontos property standards by-law before they are occupied, wrote Councillor Janet Davis, in a letter submitted to the citys community development and recreation committee on Thursday.

Daviss request for the report followed a Toronto Star story on James Ribble, 53, who lived for four months in a dank and damaged $950-a-month apartment, paid for by Ontario disability support payments and a rent supplement made available through a provincial-federal housing fund.

Ribble was connected to the unit through the citys Streets to Homes program, which helps low-income people put a roof over their heads.

It is one housing solution, in a city facing what is widely described as a housing crisis and where the waitlist for subsidized units has topped 180,000 people.

Housing workers help people identify units in their price range, educate tenants on rights and responsibilities and recommend they go with them to view apartments, but the decision to rent is always up to the tenants, said Patricia Anderson, with the citys shelter, support and housing administration division. Most people who use the program stay longer than a year and everybody is offered supports to help them stay housed, she said.

Streets to Homes does not have a formal relationship with landlords and does not vet them, she said, in an earlier email describing the program.

Ribble said he opted to go alone to view the Coxwell Ave. unit, before agreeing to rent it.

Davis said city-run housing programs should have a consistent approach to inspecting or approving private rental units to ensure the housing is clean, safe and in good-repair before residents move in.

Toronto landlords, she said, should also be held accountable for meeting and maintaining those standards. A date for when the report was due back was not specified.

Ribble's Apartment

Also up for discussion at the committee was a proposal by staff to save 10 frontline shelter positions cut in the last budget and that will now move on to city council for approval.

Most of the just over $1 million needed to hold onto the 10 positions comes from keeping vacant six administrative jobs that are currently unfilled, to create $629,800 in savings.

Tim Maguire, president of CUPE local 79, said shelters are already operating with less than acceptable staff levels and relying increasingly on temporary contracts and part-time shift work to fill vacancies.

We need this turned around, said Maguire, who said the city needs a long-term plan to make sure staff can manage a surging and increasingly stressful workload. Maguire also called for an action plan to open emergency shelters once shelter occupancy rates pass 90 per cent.

Paul Raftis, interim general manager of shelter, support and housing, during questions about the positions in committee, agreed the plan was a temporary fix.

Our team is looking at all aspects of the organization right now to have a good understanding of what we are doing inside the organization, potential changes for next year, and what will be needed for the 2018 budget, said Raftis.

Also moving to council is proposed framework for Torontos emergency shelter system. It recommends smaller buildings, tailored to neighbourhoods, connected to local support services and rolled out in such a way that the local community is educated and on board.

The new model is a different start, said Councillor Paula Fletcher, who spearheaded the report.

Councillor Joe Cressy asked staff to report back on how many people used overnight warming centres and Out of the Cold programs this year, as well as possibly adding more warming centres next winter.

Council will also consider a motion by Cressy that the federal government work with the city to explore using federal lands as sites for affordable housing.

It is getting harder and harder for people to live in our city, said Cressy. We can and must do better.

Street nurse and long-time housing advocate Cathy Crowe gave a deputation on behalf of 100 individuals and agencies, who work with people who have experienced homelessness.

Crowe said the city has demonstrated an unsustainable reliance on the Out of the Cold relief programs, or has a skewed view on how many people need emergency shelter.

With files from Jennifer Pagliaro

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Kelly Whetter knows the pain of losing a child to gun violence. She doesnt want any other mother to go through what she did.

Whetter held a vigil Thursday evening at the corner of Yonge and Bloor streets, the same spot where just one year ago her 18-year-old son Gabriel Nikov was shot to death.

More than 50 family members, friends and supporters gathered to remember Gabriel, sing songs and have a conversation about the need to curb gun violence in Toronto.

The first year is the toughest, said Whetter, wearing a bright red shirt bearing her sons photo. Hes smiling that big beautiful smile. Hed be so proud of me that Im not lying on the couch crying and that Im out here in his honour and memory.

Whetter was joined by three other mothers at the vigil, each of whom had lost a child of their own to shootings.

I want something to be done about this violence in this city, said Brenda MacIntyre, whose 29-year-old son Quinn Taylor was killed in January 2016, leaving behind a three-year-old daughter.

He was at the prime of his life. He had turned his life around, McIntyre recalled.

He didnt have the easiest life. The last five years of his life he was happy; he had gone to university for music. He was having such an amazing life and then I remember he came to me probably only a couple weeks before he was killed and said everythings going so amazing for me, mom, Im afraid somethings going to go wrong.

Shootings increased by about 41 per cent between 2015 and 2016, when there were 407 across the city, according to Toronto Police. Just two year before that, there were 177 shootings in Toronto.

Forty people were killed last year due to shootings, compared to 26 and 27 the two previous years, respectively.

About three months ago, Wetter discovered the Zero Gun Violence Movement, a volunteer collaboration of organizations and agencies wanting to solve gun violence.

Inspired to make a difference, she emailed the group.

I said I feel like I need to get involved with you because I have such anger and I dont know where to put it, said Wetter.

Louis March, founder of the Zero Gun Violence Movement, said the main reason shootings have gone up is because politicians and others arent addressing its root causes.

We know which communities are struggling. We know which communities (where) theres potential for violence, March said. We need to parachute resources into those communities. Were not reactionary. We want to get in there and deal with this issue before it simmers and explodes in guns.

March said he wants to hold a gun violence forum to help address the issue with all key players at the table.

That means not just police, parents and federal and municipal politicians, but also those most affected by gun violence: youths themselves.

None of these kids are born with a gun in their hand, he said. We engage the people who have been perpetuators of violence, but we also work with the mothers who have lost to gun violence.

We speak to them and we try and bring them to a table so that they can use their experience to stop future incidents of gun violence in the city.

Wetter said its important for her to honour Gabriel by making sure Toronto learns from her sons death.

What can we do to start building permanent memorials? she said. What can we do to stop that?

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A Mississauga veteran was found not guilty by reason of insanity on Friday for an attempted murder and felonious assault charge he faced in Ohio.

The charges stemmed from an incident in November 2016 when Jason Lesko allegedly stabbed his brother several times in the neck, chest and hand with a kitchen knife at their fathers house in Ravenna, Ohio.

Leskos wife Precious recalled her husband being confused and behaving erratically on Nov. 28.

The next morning, she awoke to find her husband had disappeared from their Mississauga home without his cellphone or a change of clothes.

He turned up at his fathers house in Ohio, where his brother was. His brother tried to reason with him, urging him to return to his family in Canada.

Jason Lesko was charged on Dec. 8 with attempted murder, felonious assault and disrupting public services in connection with the incident involving his brother, which he couldnt even remember, according to Precious.

A judge in Portage County, Ohio ruled Friday that Lesko wasnt well enough to understand what he allegedly did.

Due to his mental defect, he didnt know the rightfulness or wrongfulness of his actions at the time, said Sean Scahill, an assistant prosecutor in Portage County.

The third charge, disrupting public services, was dismissed.

Lesko, a permanent resident of Canada where he has lived since 2009, served in the U.S. military from 2003 to 2008, including two tours in Iraq.

He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following his arrest.

Precious Lesko, a former Toronto Star reporter, said the incident was very uncharacteristic of her husband, especially considering he had abruptly taken off from their Mississauga home without warning.

Its sort of a tough situation to be in, because you dont have a full recollection of what you allegedly did and then you also dont really fully understand why you might have done that, but youre told you did it, she said.

I do think that is hurting him, because hes not fully understanding how did this happen and what could we have done differently to not allow this to happen.

Scahill said the Ohio judge reviewed reports by two separate psychologists who agreed following their evaluations that Lesko had been insane at the time of the incident in question.

Lesko will be transferred to a psychiatric facility in Ohio, where hell be treated and reevaluated every six months. He could be there a maximum of 11 years, according to Scahill.

Its up to the doctors, he said. Hell be there for at least until the doctors say hes ready to go out to the community and even when he is, hell be strictly monitored.

Precious said she and her husband are optimistic hell be released into the community in October, which would mark eight months since hes last seen their three children and 11 months since hes seen his eldest son from a previous marriage.

She said its been an emotional time for their family.

Realistically, I guess this is the best case scenario, Precious said. Hes got another day to look forward to, which is, in six months, he could see himself being released.

He doesnt want to see this happen again and obviously he wants to be reunited with his family, so he wants to do whatever he needs to do to make that happen.

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What do you get when you combine a the most mom text possible and a cat named Finn the Stormtrooper? The mew-est viral Internet craze.

Toronto freelance writer Danielle Matheson never expected to go viral, but since tweeting a photo of her moms latest experiment with the family cats at their Brantford home on Monday, her tweet has been seen by more than 11 million people.

It's totally wild. I really don't think anyone would be prepared for that. Matheson said. It was the most Mom text possible, but I didn't think it would turn into this.

Mathesons tweet captioned nobody has had a more productive day than my mother included three photos. First was a screenshot of a text sent by her mom reading so Pintrest says if you put a square on the floor a cat will get in it. The next picture shows Finn the cat inspecting a square made out of pink duct tape. The last photo shows Finn successfully sitting inside of the square.

Since the tweet was posted on Monday, it has been retweeted over 90,000 times and liked over 200,000 times. And Matheson has been inundated with photos as members of the Twitterverse try to get their own cats in squares.

Really surprised this just happened! He went straight for it as soon as he saw it! Twitter user Lynn Ash shared with a photo of her cat sitting inside a square.

I love the responses. People are so excited to try it. Strangers are having cute conversations in the replies and sharing pictures of their pets that look like other people's pets, Matheson said.

Mathesons family has three tuxedo cats  and even though Finn pawed his way to viral fame, the two other cats, Digit and Combo, also took turns sitting inside the pink square.

I thought it was an adorable text and accidentally ended up tricking the Internet into sending me cute animal pictures all day, she said.

Cats are super weird and adamant on doing their own thing. It took two days for their other cats to get in the square. Some are instantaneous. My favourite cats are the ones who just start defiantly ripping the tape up.

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WASHINGTONThe U.S. commander in Afghanistan who ordered use of the mother of all bombs to attack a Daesh stronghold near the Pakistani border didnt need and didnt request President Donald Trumps approval, Pentagon officials said Friday.

The officials said that even before Trump took office in January, Gen. John Nicholson had standing authority to use the bomb, which is officially called the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, the largest non-nuclear bomb ever dropped in combat. The bomb, dropped by a special operations MC-130 aircraft, had been in Afghanistan since January.

The officials werent authorized to speak publicly on the matter and requested anonymity.

The bombs use has attracted enormous attention, but its aim in Thursdays attack was relatively mundane by military standards: destroy a tunnel and cave complex used by Daesh fighters in a remote mountainous area of eastern Afghanistan.

Nicholson had a secondary goal in mind, however, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal matters. The official said Nicholson wanted to demonstrate to leaders of the Daesh affiliate in Afghanistan the seriousness of his determination to eliminate the group as a military threat.

The official said use of the weapon had nothing to do with sending a message to any other country, including North Korea.

This was the right weapon against the right target, Nicholson, the commander of U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan, told reporters Friday. We have U.S. forces at the site and we see no evidence of civilian casualties nor have there been reports.

Nicholson added that the strike demonstrates the commitment of Afghan forces, Afghan government and U.S. partners to defeat Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL.

The Air Force estimates each MOAB costs about $170,000 (U.S.) to build. It hasnt said how much it cost to develop the bomb or how many exist. An Air Force spokeswoman, Erika A. Yepsen, said the bomb was made in-house, with some parts manufactured by the Air Force itself, so the overall cost is only an estimate. Most weapons are made by defence companies under written government contracts.

Nine years ago the Air Force published an account of how it came to manufacture the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, known technically as the GBU-43B, a designation that reflects the fact that it is precision-guided. The weapon from which it evolved, the BLU-82 (Bomb Live Unit-82), was about half MOABs size and was an unguided, or dumb, bomb.

The U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan on Friday defended the use of the MOAB (Massive Ordnance Air Blast) bomb against a Daesh cave and tunnel system.

The MOAB was developed and built at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida by the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate.

The Air Force account, written in March 2008, said MOAB started out simply as an idea that became a request in late November 2002 as the administration of George W. Bush was contemplating invading Iraq to topple President Saddam Hussein.

Afghan officials said on Friday that the U.S. airstrike killed at least 36 militants. It also triggered a rift among some of the countrys current and former officials.

The death toll was given Friday by Dawlat Waziri, an Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman, after the raid the previous night.

In posts on Twitter, the office of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani reiterated comments by U.S. officials, saying the raid was to support Afghan and U.S. forces against Daesh in the Achin district of eastern Nangarhar province and efforts were made to minimize civilian deaths.

But his predecessor, Hamid Karzai, strongly condemned the bombing.

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, Karzai, the leader of Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014, wrote on Twitter. It is upon us, Afghans, to stop the #USA.

Afghanistans ambassador to Pakistan, Omar Zakhilwal, also protested the U.S. attack, breaking ranks with Ghani.

I find the use of the largest non-nuclear bomb, the so called mother of all bombs, on our soil reprehensible and counterproductive, Zakhilwal said Friday on Twitter. If big bombs were the solution we would be the most secure place on earth today.

Asked Thursday in Washington whether he authorized the strike, Trump told reporters at the White House, We have the greatest military in the world and theyve done a job, as usual. We have given them total authorization and thats what theyre doing.

The Department of Defense released video showing the moment the "mother of all bombs" struck Afghanistan, where U.S. officials said a network of tunnels and caves was being used by militants linked to Daesh.

The action came a week after Trump authorized missile strikes against Syria for a chemical weapons attack on civilians. It also coincides with rising concern that North Korea may conduct another nuclear test or missile launch. Trump has vowed that the U.S. will act to stop North Koreas nuclear program unless China manages to constrain its neighbour.

I dont know if this sends a message, Trump said when asked if the bomb serves as a warning to North Korea. It doesnt make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of.

The bomb dropped in Afghanistan, designated a GBU-43, weighs 21,600 pounds. Its released from an MC-130 transport plane by parachute and utilizes global positioning system navigation to manoeuvre to the intended target, according to an Air Force statement.

The move comes while the Trump administration is reviewing strategy in Afghanistan as Taliban forces continue to gain ground and Daesh is establishing its own strongholds.

The Taliban control or contest more than half of Afghanistans populated areas, according to U.S. estimates, making it harder for the U.S. to extract itself from its longest-ever war.

The Taliban sees Daesh as a potential foe and has told its followers to leave Afghanistan, but the group still condemned the U.S. strike. Zabihullah Mujahed, a spokesman for the Taliban, said in an emailed statement that it was an act of terrorism and brutality.

The Taliban view Daesh as foreign militants trying to gain influence across Central Asia. For its part, the Taliban has been trying to overthrow Ghanis democratically elected government, and reimpose its own harsh interpretation of Islamic rule.

Former president Barack Obama had planned to remove most U.S. troops from Afghanistan before leaving office, but pulled back from that plan because of Taliban gains and the inability of Afghan forces to fight on their own.

About 13,000 U.S. and NATO troops remain in Afghanistan, and the top U.S. commander is pushing for several thousand more.

With files from Bloomberg

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VATICAN CITYThousands of people, including nuns, families with toddlers, and young tourists, patiently endured exceptionally tight security checks to pray along with Pope Francis at the traditional Way of the Cross Good Friday procession at the Colosseum.

Francis, wearing a plain white coat, presided over the evening procession from a rise overlooking the popular tourist monument as faithful took turns carrying a tall cross and meditations were recited to encourage reflection on Jesus suffering and crucifixion.

Hours before the evocative, candlelit ceremony, pilgrims underwent the first of two rounds of security checks that started while they still were blocks away from the ancient arena. There was a heavier-than-usual police presence keeping watch on every aspect of the event.

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Anti-terrorism measures have been heightened for large public crowds after several vehicle attacks in Nice, Berlin and other European cities.

Police opened handbags and backpacks. They checked computers, and, in at least one case, asked an Italian woman to open a package. It turned out to be a tray of pastries, and the woman good-naturedly offered one of the sweets to the officer.

Streets surrounding the Colosseum were closed to traffic, armoured vehicles blocked intersections, bomb-sniffing dogs were used and police checked chemical toilets with scanners for explosives near the Colosseum.

I believe that we have a situation in which we Europeans have to unite and take the issue of security very seriously, Jose de Laoz, a businessman from Spain, said while the security sweeps were conducted near the Colosseum.

Terrorisms repercussions were being felt in Christian communities across the Mediterranean. In Egypt, Coptic churches announced that Easter services would be limited to prayers, without festivities. The measure was taken after twin bombings killed 45 people at churches on Palm Sunday.

In Rome, the Good Friday gathering was calm as participants clutched candles in the silence of a warm night. Some parents hoisted children on their shoulders so they could watch. Many people kept their eyes fixed on a towering cross, studded with lit candles that glowed against the Colosseums ancient stone.

Hours earlier at the Vatican, Francis prostrated himself in prayer during a Good Friday service in St. Peters Basilica. The 80-year-old pope lay for several minutes before the central altar.

Papal preacher the Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa told the faithful in the basilica they were recalling the violent death of Jesus 2,000 years ago, even though most days now bring news of violent deaths, because the crucifixion changed forever the very face of death.

Cantalamessa called the cross the definitive  No of God to violence, injustice, hate, lies.

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WASHINGTONA group of House Democrats is asking the FBI to suspend White House senior adviser Jared Kushners security clearance.

In a letter to FBI Director James Comey, the lawmakers cited Jared Kushners failure to disclose some of his contacts with Russian government officials when he filled out an application for a security clearance.

A lawyer for Kushner, who is also Trumps son-in-law, says the omissions were an administrative error.

Read more: Trumps adviser Kushner just doing his job by reaching out to Russian envoy: White House

The Democrats noted that knowingly falsifying or concealing information on a clearance application is a felony. Theyre asking the FBI to review whether Kushner complied with the law and theyre also asking him to make public all meetings he had with foreign officials during the campaign and transition.

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President Trumps top environment official called for an exit from the historic Paris agreement Thursday in what appeared to be the first time such a high-ranking official has so explicitly disavowed the agreement endorsed by nearly 200 countries to fight climate change.

Speaking with Fox & Friends, Pruitt commented, Paris is something that we need to really look at closely. Its something we need to exit in my opinion.

Its a bad deal for America, Pruitt continued. It was an America second, third, or fourth kind of approach. China and India had no obligations under the agreement until 2030. We front-loaded all of our costs.

Pruitts claim about China and India having no obligations until 2030 is incorrect  while these countries do indeed have 2030 targets, they are already acting now to reduce their emissions by investing in renewable energy and other initiatives.

Pruitt had called the Paris accord a bad deal in the past, but does not appear to have previously gone so far as to call for the United States to withdraw.

The Trump administration has previously said it is currently reviewing its position on climate change and energy policy and remains noncommittal, for now, on whether it will follow through on the presidents campaign pledge to cancel the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Trumps recent executive order on energy policy, which set in motion the rollback of Obamas domestic Clean Power Plan, was silent on the matter of Paris.

You mightve read in the media that there was much discussion about U.S. energy policy and the fact that were undergoing a review of many of those policies, Energy Secretary Rick Perry said in Texas on Thursday, according to prepared remarks. Its true, we are and its the right thing to do.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has said that the administration will resolve its view on the Paris accord by the time of the G7 Summit, late May-ish, if not sooner.

Amid this uncertainty, the statement aligns Pruitt with a more hard-line approach held by some in the Trump administration, such as Chief Strategist Stephen Bannon, rather than the more moderate take of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who had said in his confirmation hearing that the U.S. should have a seat at the table in the Paris negotiations, and Ivanka Trump and her husband and Trump confidant Jared Kushner.

Tillersons former company, the oil giant ExxonMobil, has also supported the Paris accord, and in late March wrote a letter to the White House reiterating its view that the United States is well positioned to compete within the framework of the Paris agreement, with abundant low-carbon resources, such as natural gas, and innovative private industries, including the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors.

If the Trump administration wants to take a more moderate approach to the Paris deal, it could consider modifying the United States current pledge to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, rather than seeking to exit altogether.

Thats a tack advanced in a letter to Trump, previously reported on by E&E News, by North Dakota Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer, who argued that the U.S. should present a new pledge that does no harm to our economy, one that would highlight the importance of baseload power generation, including highly efficient and low emission coal-fired and nuclear power plants.

The Obama administration had promised the world that the United States would reduce its emissions by 26 to 28 per cent below its 2005 levels by the year 2025. The Trump administration could simply revise that pledge and make it less ambitious, and easier to attain.

In the energy sector, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions have already declined by 14 per cent from 2005 to 2016, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The reason is more burning of natural gas, rather than coal, and a growing profusion of renewables.

It is looking like we may see them announce that theyre going to stay in Paris and also announce simultaneously that theyre going to revise the U.S. target under Paris to 2025, Andrew Light, a senior fellow in the global climate program at the World Resources Institute, noted in an interview earlier this week. But he added, look, these guys are unpredictable, and I dont think we can know.

It is far from clear how the Trump administration could actually exit the Paris agreement, assuming that the Pruitt line wins and the administration determines that it wants to. Now that the agreement has entered into force, it takes three years under its terms for a party to withdraw, followed by a one-year waiting period  a length roughly equal to Trumps first term in office.

One of the most fervent voices pushing the Trump administration to withdraw from the Paris agreement, however, has been the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Last summer, the group called the Paris deal the latest in a series of costly policy choices the U.S. government has made because of its participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and it urged the United States government to withdraw from the UNFCCC altogether.

Such a dramatic transformation will drive energy costs higher for developed nations and block access to dependable energy sources for developing ones, authors from Heritage wrote about the Paris accord in one report. Americas participation in international climate change programs has wasted taxpayer money and led to questionable and harmful interventions in energy markets through government-backed financial programs, mandates and heavy-handed regulation.

In a recent op-ed in Investors Business Daily, Heritage employees Stephen Moore and Timothy Doescher wrote that following through with the climate change promises made under the Obama administration would effectively decapitate our coal industry, which now supplies about one-third of our electric power. If Trump allows this deal to go forward, he will unwittingly fulfil Hillary Clintons arrogant and dastardly promise to put every coal miner in America out of a job.

They added, We cant help wondering if the thousands of university professors, environmental activists, climatologists and government bureaucrats would be so enthusiastic if it were their jobs that were going to be eliminated.

While the Trump administration has backed away from the global leadership on climate change that President Obama pursued, other countries have embraced that role.

The Paris Agreement is a hard-won achievement which is in keeping with the underlying trend of global development, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the World Economic Forum earlier this year. All signatories should stick to it instead of walking away from it as this is a responsibility we must assume for future generations.

China has also announced plans to spend more than $360 billion dollars (U.S.) over the next several years investing in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. In January, Chinas National Energy Administration outlined a plan to make massive investments in clean energy through 2020, even as President Trump has focused almost exclusively on supporting the fossil fuel industry. The country said it expects such funding to create roughly 13 million jobs, reduce emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming and lessen the smog that has long plagued Beijing and other Chinese cities.

As for India  which is on course to greatly increase its energy demand in coming years as electrification reaches more and more of the countrys vast population  it, too, is moving to address climate change. It has, for instance, a plan to install 100 gigawatts of solar energy capacity by the year 2020  more than double the amount that the U.S. currently has, notes Anjali Jaiswal, director of the India initiative at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Its completely false that India is not doing anything under the Paris agreement, said Jaiswal, noting that the country is seeking to expand solar and other forms of renewable energy both to lessen grave air pollution problems and also because the country has a vast natural solar resource.

India is not backing away from its Paris commitments and goals for renewable energy because the country has a need and desire to be more efficient as its economy grows, added Priyavrat Bhati, an energy analyst with Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi.

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PARISFar-right candidate Marine Le Pen pulled all the stops to stem her slide in the polls, saying shes willing to be crucified for her stance on absolving France for the wartime deportation of Jews, and pledging to protect the country from Islamic fundamentalists.

In a wide-ranging interview Friday on France Info radio nine days before the first round of the presidential vote, the 48-year-old anti-immigration candidate expressed disappointment at what she said was U.S. President Donald Trump going back on campaign promises, while focusing mainly on well-worn themes that most strike a chord with her electorate: Islam, immigration, national identity and terrorism.

I dont want France to be damaged, to be humiliated, that it be held responsible when it is not responsible, Le Pen said. People can crucify me, I will not change my mind; I will always defend France.

Read more:Marine Le Pen criticized for denying Frances role in Holocaust

The National Front candidates lead in the polls has been whittled away over the last few weeks, leaving her struggling to regain momentum. First-round support for both Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron slipped 0.5 points to respectively 23.5 per cent and 22.5 per cent, according to a daily rolling poll by Ifop on Thursday. Le Pen was at 26.5 per cent in mid-March.

The top four candidates in the presidential race are all within striking distance of the runoff, should they garner enough votes in the first round on April 23.

Le Pen is hammering away at the two issues of wartime deportations and Muslim fundamentalism because she is trying to refocus the campaign on her strong points, the key motivations for her electors, Bruno Jeanbart, deputy chief executive of French pollster Opinionway, said in a telephone interview.

He said the slight slide in Le Pens support could be due both to the race tightening closer to the voting date and to minor protest candidates stealing votes from her.

A worry for Le Pen is that voter participation could turn out to be strong, and she would need more votes to get through to the runoff, he said. People are going to rallies, watching the TV debates; theres suspense and many people will think their vote will count.

Read more:Death threats sent to journalists, judges as French election race heats up

Le Pen said she is extremely sensitive to the martyrdom of the Jews, adding that the only issue was juridical, whether the Vichy regime was France or not. I consider that Vichy was not France. French people can commit crimes without France being criminal.

In the interview, Le Pen criticized Trump for changing his mind on the U.S.s global role after he said on Wednesday that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was no longer obsolete in fighting terrorism.

Undeniably he is in contradiction with the commitments he had made, Le Pen said. Trump had said in January that NATO was obsolete. Among her key proposals is for France to quit the alliance.

I am coherent, I dont change my mind in a few days, she said. He had said he would not be the policeman of the world, that he would be the president of the United States and would not be the policeman of the world, but it seems today that he has changed his mind.

Read more:Frances Le Pen renews anti-Islam remarks, shies away from Trump ahead of election

Separately, she said in the interview that her rivals are incapable of protecting the French from Islamic fundamentalism. She pledged that the day after my election she would expel foreign nationals on a security list for suspected links to radical Muslim groups.

At a rally Thursday in the village of Pageas in central France, Le Pens nervousness was visible. For the first time she attacked Jean-Luc Melenchon, the far-left candidate whos gaining in the polls. She said he would add 100 billion in taxes and quipped that with him everyone will be equal because everyone will be poor.

Le Pen replied curtly in her radio interview when queried about French investigative magistrates asking the European Parliament to lift her immunity over her use of a European parliamentary allowance to pay for party work in France.

Its normal, its a completely standard procedure, she said. Im not surprised.

Asked whether she would abandon politics if she loses the presidential election, Le Pen fired back: No, I am not like Macron, I am not one-shot. I fight for my country and I will always fight for my country.

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How to explain Donald Trumps radical about-face on Syria, Russia and China? Analysts are at a loss.

Leaders do change their views. But the U.S. presidents sudden transformation from isolationist America Firster to big-time global policeman boggles even the most jaded of minds.

Some argue that Trump is a mindless flibbertigibbet who makes decisions based on the last thing hes seen on cable TV.

Others point to the vicious back room infighting among Trumps most senior advisers. The decision to bomb a Syrian government airfield, stoke the Cold War with Russia and embrace China is said to represent the victory of Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, over strategic adviser and isolationist Steve Bannon.

Still others say Trump is just nuts.

All three explanations may contain some truth. But there is a simpler one. It is that Trump has belatedly discovered the lopsided political reality of the American presidency. Presidents dont have a free hand on the domestic front. They must win Congressional approval for just about anything they do. But when it comes to military adventures abroad, they are virtually unconstrained.

Im not sure that Trump understood this when he was running to become president. He seemed to think that by sheer force of personality he could persuade Congress and the courts to approve his ambitious domestic agenda.

But nothing has worked out as planned. His attempt to limit immigrants from several Muslim-majority countries was tied up in the courts. His bid to terminate Obamacare and replace it with something else failed abysmally.

His promise to overhaul the tax system in order to keep American manufacturers in the U.S. is bogged down in confusion. His pledge to rewrite or scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement is grinding through the mills of Congressional procedure.

It seems that even his promised wall along the Mexican border wont be quite as advertised.

But there is another side to the American presidency where these pesky limitations dont arise. Presidents may not have the power to declare war. That is the prerogative of Congress. But they do have extraordinary power to make war.

The Korean and Vietnam Wars were fought by presidents without formal declarations of war. So were the war against Afghanistan, the two wars against Iraq and the war against Libya.

For a president frustrated in his domestic agenda, the prospect of military action must seem almost irresistible.

George W. Bush was a joke figure before 9/11. A prime-time sitcom on television was devoted to mocking him. But by attacking Afghanistan, Bush elevated himself to the status of war president. He became serious.

So it is with Trump. Now that he has used missiles to attack the Syrian government, even his enemies on the editorial board of the New York Times take him more seriously.

If Trump is a war president in the making, several things follow. First, he can no longer be seen as sympathetic to Russia. If Syrian President Bashar Assad is Trumps enemy and Russia backs Assad, then Russia must be an enemy as well.

Hence Trumps decision to have Secretary of State Rex Tillerson publicly badmouth Russia.

Hence also Trumps very public embrace of NATO this week. The old Trump was right about NATO. In a post Cold-War world it was obsolete. Its attempts to regain relevance by, for instance, acting as the UNs military agent in Afghanistan, were unsuccessful.

But in a world where the Cold War burns hot again  the world of the new Trump  NATO is essential.

If Russia is the enemy again, then the U.S. must have an alliance in Europe to confront it.

Finally, China. To the old Trump, with his eyes firmly fixed on domestic U.S. matters, China was an unfair trade competitor. To the new interventionist Trump, China is a valued friend that can pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

And if China fails in that, as it has done many times before, Trump can always repair to the White House situation room  or perhaps, as he did when ordering the strike against Syria, to the dining room of his Florida estate.

Those are the places where war presidents get things done. No muss. No fuss. No interference from Congress.

When Trump gave the order to attack Syria last week, he did so over chocolate cake. He called it the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake you have ever seen.

Thomas Walkom appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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Local elections: whose roadmap?

Recent developments show that the status quo in the form of old political parties still dominates Nepals political milieu
Rarely has any murderer in Canada been so thoroughly castigated by a judge as was money-loving Toronto real estate developer Peter Demeter.

Your evil knows no bounds, Mr. Justice John ODriscoll said in July, 1988 while sentencing the then-55-year-old Hungarian immigrant to two concurrent life terms in prison for conspiring to kidnap the daughter of a lawyer and have the teen killed if a $400,000 ransom was not paid.

In my opinion, this man should never, ever, ever, be released on parole, the judge said.

It appears that will indeed be the case for Demeter, who on April 19, will turn 84 years old behind bars. Demeter has suffered a stroke, heart attack and been treated for cancer during his 40-plus years in the Ontario prison system.

Why was the judge so adamant in his condemnation? It helps to recap Demeters criminal history and what seems to be his motivations  a vengeful nature and cold hard cash.

Demeter was no stranger to a jail cell.

In 1974, Demeter was given his first prison sentence for arranging the July 18, 1973 murder of his wife, Christine, after taking out a $1 million life insurance policy in her name. An attempt to cash it in after her death failed.

The 33-year-old former model was found bludgeoned to death in their Mississauga home. Demeter told police he returned from a shopping trip to Toronto with guests to find his wife sprawled on the garage floor beside a Cadillac, her head bashed in. No murder weapon was found. The couples 3-year-old daughter was discovered unharmed inside the home, watching TV.

No one was ever charged with the actual physical deed and Demeter has always denied plotting the killing. In a 2006 interview with the Stars sister paper, the Mississauga News, the then-73-year-old again said he wasnt responsible. He told reporter Louie Rosella he was so money-minded that if I would have arranged my wifes murder, it certainly wouldnt be in a luxury home that I was living in because the value would drop by half.

A jury didnt agree. Evidence at the 1974 11-week trial  one of the longest in Canadian history  indicated the couples marriage was unhappy. He also had a 29-year-old Austrian mistress at the time, Marina Hundt.

After his conviction, Hundt told a Toronto Star reporter that while she still felt he was innocent, she was going back to Austria and taking Demeters spaniel, Beelzebub, with her.

Demeter didnt testify at his trial. But Csaba Szilagy, a one-time friend and fellow Hungarian immigrant, told the court that Demeter not only talked of killing his wife a number of times over the previous five years, he had asked Szilagy to do it. Szilagy declined. He admitted he knew Demeter was seriously plotting to kill Christine just two days before her death and didnt warn her.

Another prosecution witness, who was hooded in court to protect his identity but was later revealed to be jailhouse snitch Gyala Virag, testified that Demeter had hired a Hungarian hit man called The Duck. The latter was later identified as Imre Olejnyik, but he died before police could extradite him from Hungary.

The trial ingredients of love, sex and murder inspired a 1977 book by journalists Barbara Amiel and George Jonas, By Persons Unknown, and a 1978 movie, I Miss You, Hugs and Kisses.

In 1983, after serving 10 years of his sentence for Christines murder, Demeter was on day parole at a Peterborough halfway house. The smooth talker met a 29-year-old local woman, Lisa Ross, who quickly fell in love and became his girlfriend.

Demeters cousin Steven had custody of his daughter and some control over his financial affairs. Demeter hated Steven and while living at the halfway house, he plotted with two former inmates, one being Tony Preston, to kidnap and kill Stevens teenage son Stuart.

In August that year, Demeter paid Preston $8,000 to burn down his Mississauga home. Preston got caught and proceeded to tell police about Demeters plans for Stuart.

Demeter was charged with conspiracy to kidnap and murder, and Preston agreed to be a crown witness and testify at Demeters trial. Arson charges against Demeter were later stayed, but once again Demeter failed to cash in on an insurance policy.

The trial heard a police tape recording of a conversation between Preston and another ex-con in which Preston discussed Demeters evil plan to terrorize his cousin Steven by kidnapping and killing Stuart.

Prestons testimony was convincing and Demeter was convicted in July 1985 and given two concurrent life sentences for this failed kidnap-murder plot. At his sentencing, District Court Judge G. Bourke Smith said the contract killing of a close relative has a shuddering similarity to the accuseds prior crime. Smith also called Demeter a very dangerous man; very intelligent, but diabolical.

Back in prison, Demeter didnt stop his evil machinations. Between late July and mid-August 1985 he started planning the kidnap-murder of the daughter of his former lawyer, Toby Belman, who represented him on a previous bail hearing and a preliminary inquiry.

Demeter had refused to pay Belmans $46,000 legal bill so the lawyer froze some of Demeters stock assets. Enraged, Demeter plotted with his girlfriend Ross and a former cellmate, Peter Winstanley, to kidnap one of Belmans teenage children and demand a $400,000 ransom. The plan was to kill the teen if Belman didnt pay. But Winstanley went to the police and the plot was foiled. Charges against Ross were dropped after she agreed to testify against Demeter.

At the trial, court heard that Demeter curried favour with parole officers and jail guards by buying them gifts.

At the sentencing, Justice ODriscoll urged Correctional Services Canada to examine Demeters mail and visitors, and to closely monitor his finances.

Time and again he has proven he is dangerous if he has access to money, Justice ODonnell said. If Peter Demeter is a psychopath, he has a unique feature. Instead of burning out as he gets older, hes getting worse.

Correction  April 19, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Peter Demeter was 82 when interviewed in 2006 by the Mississauga News Louie Rosella. As well, the previous version misstated the surname of Ontario Supreme Court Justice John ODriscoll.

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GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the creation, discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, and health-related consumer products in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals R&D, Vaccines, and Consumer Healthcare. The company offers pharmaceutical products comprising medicines in the therapeutic areas, such as respiratory, HIV, immuno-inflammation, oncology, anti-viral, central nervous system, cardiovascular and urogenital, metabolic, anti-bacterial, and dermatology. It also provides consumer healthcare products in wellness, oral health, nutrition, and skin health categories. The company offers its consumer healthcare products in the form of nasal sprays, tablets, syrups, lozenges, gum and trans-dermal patches, caplets, infant syrup drops, liquid filled suspension, wipes, gels, effervescents, toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes, denture adhesives and cleansers, topical creams and non-medicated patches, lip balm, gummies, and soft chews. It has collaboration agreements with 23andMe; Lyell Immunopharma, Inc.; Novartis; Sanofi SA; Surface Oncology; Progentec Diagnostics, Inc.; Alector, Inc.; and CureVac AG., as well as strategic partnership with IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. The company was formerly known as GlaxoSmithKline plc and changed its name to GSK plc in May 2022. GSK plc was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Brentford, the United Kingdom.
Zoetis Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and commercializes animal health medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic products in the United States and internationally. It commercializes products primarily across species, including livestock, such as cattle, swine, poultry, fish, and sheep; and companion animals comprising dogs, cats, and horses. The company also offers vaccines, which are biological preparations to prevent diseases of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts or induce a specific immune response; anti-infectives that prevent, kill, or slow the growth of bacteria, fungi, or protozoa; and parasiticides that prevent or eliminate external and internal parasites, which include fleas, ticks, and worms. It also provides other pharmaceutical products that comprise pain and sedation, antiemetic, reproductive, and oncology products; dermatology products for itch associated with allergic conditions and atopic dermatitis; and medicated feed additives, which offer medicines to livestock. In addition, the company provides portable blood and urine analysis testing, including point-of-care diagnostic products, instruments and reagents, rapid immunoassay tests, reference laboratory kits and services, and blood glucose monitors; and other non-pharmaceutical products, including nutritionals and agribusiness services, as well as products and services in areas, such as biodevices, genetics tests, and precision animal health. It markets its products to veterinarians, livestock producers, and retail outlets, as well as third-party veterinary distributors through its sales representatives, and technical and veterinary operations specialists. The company was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.
Need for black feminism

Madhesi women face double discrimination: one, as Madhesis and, two, as women
Brookfield Asset Management is an alternative asset manager and REIT/Real Estate Investment Manager firm focuses on real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and venture capital and private equity assets. It manages a range of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients. It typically makes investments in sizeable, premier assets across geographies and asset classes. It invests both its own capital as well as capital from other investors. Within private equity and venture capital, it focuses on acquisition, early ventures, control buyouts and financially distressed, buyouts and corporate carve-outs, recapitalizations, convertible, senior and mezzanine financings, operational and capital structure restructuring, strategic re-direction, turnaround, and under-performing midmarket companies. It invests in both public debt and equity markets. It invests in private equity sectors with focus on Business Services include infrastructure, healthcare, road fuel distribution and marketing, construction and real estate; Industrials include manufacturers of automotive batteries, graphite electrodes, returnable plastic packaging, and sanitation management and development; and Residential/ infrastructure services. It targets companies which likely possess underlying real assets, primarily in sectors such as industrial products, building materials, metals, mining, homebuilding, oil and gas, paper and packaging, manufacturing and forest product sectors. It invests globally with focus on North America including Brazil, the United States, Canada; Europe; and Australia; and Asia-Pacific. The firm considers equity investments in the range of $2 million to $500 million. It has a four-year investment period and a 10-year term with two one-year extensions. The firm prefers to take minority stake and majority stake. Brookfield Asset Management Inc. was founded in 1997 and based in Toronto, Canada with additional offices across Northern America; South America; Europe; Middle East and Asia.
The Buckle, Inc. operates as a retailer of casual apparel, footwear, and accessories for young men and women in the United States. It markets a selection of brand name casual apparel, including denims, other casual bottoms, tops, sportswear, outerwear, accessories, and footwear, as well as private label merchandise primarily comprising BKE, Buckle Black, Salvage, Red by BKE, Daytrip, Gimmicks, Gilded Intent, FITZ + EDDI, Willow & Root, Outpost Makers, Departwest, Reclaim, BKE Vintage, Nova Industries, J.B. Holt, and Veece. The company also provides services, such as hemming, gift-packaging, layaways, guest loyalty program, the Buckle private label credit card, and personalized stylist services, as well as special order system that allows stores to obtain requested merchandise from other company stores or its online order fulfillment center. As of March 11, 2022, it operated 440 retail stores in 42 states under the Buckle and The Buckle names. The Buckle, Inc. also sells its products through its website, buckle.com. The company was formerly known as Mills Clothing, Inc. and changed its name to The Buckle, Inc. in April 1991. The Buckle, Inc. was incorporated in 1948 and is headquartered in Kearney, Nebraska.
Militants launched 65 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 122mm artillery systems, 120mm mortars and heavy machine guns to shell Vodiane (16km north-west of Donetsk). In addition, militants launched attacks on ATO troops outside Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), using 120mm mortars, Zu-23-2 antiaircraft mounts, grenade launchers and small arms. Ukrainian marines near Hnutove (19km north-west of Mariupol) came under 120mm mortar and small arms fire.

In Donetsk direction, terrorists shelled Ukrainian positions near Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk), using 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. ATO troops in Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk) came under 82mm mortar fire. Militants also launched attacks on Ukrainian strongholds outside Opytne (11.5km north-west of Donetsk), using antitank missile systems, 82mm mortars, grenade launchers.

In Luhansk direction, Ukrainian soldiers came under grenade launcher fire near Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk).

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Plan launched to attain self-sufficiency in iron

The government has launched an ambitious plan to achieve self-sufficiency in iron in three years, and generate Rs24 billion in revenues by exporting it in five years.
Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko has met with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Baku.

This is reported by the press service of the Kyiv City State Administration.

"We have great prospects for cooperation in the development of business, cultural projects and organization of major sporting events, and we are already implementing such projects," Klitschko stressed.

According to him, Azerbaijan perfectly well understands the challenges and problems that Ukraine faces today in connection with the annexation of Crimea and aggression in Donbas. "We should help each other in solving our problems. Our partnership and friendship should develop and come to a new level. Today is a particularly favorable time for investing in Ukraine, particularly in Kyiv, and I am grateful to the Azerbaijani business for investing in the projects in the Ukrainian capital."

Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan was interested in further developing cooperation and investing in Ukraine. It is also planned to open the Trade House of Azerbaijan in Kyiv soon to revive business and trade relations between the two countries.

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The European Energy Community believes that the law on the electricity market of Ukraine, which was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on April 13, will bring Ukrainian legal framework into compliance with the requirements of the EU energy legislation (the Third Energy Package).

This was stated by Mr. Janez Kopac, Director of Energy Community Secretariat, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The adoption of the Electricity Market Law should bring the legal framework into compliance with the Third Energy Package and provide the long-awaited starting point for the implementation of the reforms," the European Energy Community stresses.

As noted, the provisions of the new law will contribute to Ukraine's integration into the pan-European energy market, which is the main goal of the agreement on the European Energy Community.

The main objective of the law is to ensure reliable and safe electricity supply to consumers, taking into account the interests of consumers and minimizing costs for electricity supply services.

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President Petro Poroshenko has signed the Law of Ukraine "On Ratification of the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway on Technical and Financial Cooperation", adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on March 22.

This has been reported on Friday by the press service of the Head of State.

"The document creates framework, organizational and legal principles of the Ukrainian-Norwegian cooperation in the field of attracting and using international technical assistance, and it will promote the development of technical and financial cooperation between two states," the report said.

The agreement was signed on October 18, 2016 in the city of Oslo during the official visit of the Head of Ukrainian State to the Kingdom of Norway.

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Shree Airlines receives its first Bombardier CRJ-200 jet

Competition in the domestic airline industry is likely to intensify with Nepals largest helicopter operator Shree Airlines launching fixed-wing services.
Sino-Nepali military drill from Sunday: NA

Nepal and China will be holding the first ever joint military exercise from April 16-25, the Nepal Army announced on Thursday.
Sebastian Vettel led the way in the first Free Practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, ahead of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen.

Vettel's time of a 1:32.697 saw the German beat Ricciardo by four-tenths of a second. Other notable performances came from Williams' Lance Stroll, who ended the session in sixth and talk of the town Fernando Alonso, as he dragged his McLaren to eighth; above both Mercedes cars of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, who didn't set representative times. And whilst one Ferrari topped the timing board, another propped up the field - Kimi Raikkonen suffered an engine failure halfway through the session.

Excessive heat means little

In the searing desert heat, track temperatures reached around 45, with an ambient temperature in the mid-30s too - thus rendering this session meaningless in terms of the whole weekend.

The first twenty minutes saw little action - just Hamilton, Bottas and Ricciardo circulating the Sakhir track. Bottas had initial problems with grip - his Pirelli mediums overheating through the fast turns of 12 and 13. He also had a hairy moment at the final kink of Turn 16, a little too impatient on throttle application, treating the grandstand and watching world to a bit of drifting.

Valtteri Bottas had early problems. | Photo: Getty Images/Clive Mason

Hamilton took the early initiative, a 1:37.355 proving to be one-tenth quicker than Bottas on the same tyre, with Ricciardo around five-tenths behind that.

Force India and McLaren dedicated their early programmes to running flow-viz paint on their chassis, Sergio Perez and Alonso collecting the data needed, as the front three continued their long distance runs as the rest of the field started to creep out.

In the midst of that, times started to tumble, Hamilton improving the benchmark, venturing into the 1:36 mark; despite the dusty track causing others problems, most notably the Williams duo of Felipe Massa and Stroll. The former said over the radio: "It's really terrible, the grip level is just zero."

Vettel stretches his legs

On his first run, Vettel spilt the Mercedes, before the order threw up a few surprises. Carlos Sainz, Bottas, Hamilton, Stroll, Perez and Vettel all traded times at the top, all sporting the soft compound.

However, one man who wouldn't be joining them was Raikkonen, his engine expiring through Turn 12, with a potential electrical failure also adding to his woes at the same time. His session was over, as he embarked on a hot, solitary trudge back to the pit lane.

The early end meant that the new front wing, brought to Bahrain by Ferrari remains untested on track - with Vettel running the old configuration.

It didn't seem to hamper the German, as he shot into the 1:32 bracket - nearly one-and-a-half seconds faster than the trailing pack at the time; four-tenths adrift of Nico Rosberg's time at the same point last year.

Ricciardo proved to be his next challenger, getting within half-a-second on his first run on the soft tyres. The sister Red Bull of Verstappen also leapt up the order into third - a further four-tenths away.

Vandoorne ground to a halt at Turn 10. | Photo: Getty Images/Lars Baron

With 20 minutes of the session remaining, McLaren's troubles continued, Stoffel Vandoorne stopped at the side of the track at Turn 10, with an ERS fluid problem. Meanwhile, Alonso moved into the top 10, just outside one-and-a-half seconds of Vettel's ultimate time.

The last 10 minutes saw no meaningful change to the order, the action coming from Massa flying off the track at Turn 13 with his brakes in a blaze.

That left Vettel fastest by four-tenths exactly from the two Red Bulls of Ricciardo and Verstappen. Perez and Massa rounded out the top five, with the two Mercedes languishing in 10th and 14th - Hamilton ahead of Bottas; but don't read into that too much.
Support for local governments will be one of our focus areas for the future

The Kathmandu Post caught up with Sakuma Jun, chief representative of JICAs Nepal office, to talk about its assistance strategy, ongoing reconstruction process and future assistance
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.
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.
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.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un cut a ceremonial ribbon Thursday to mark the opening of a major new city development project in Pyongyang.

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.



One of the apartment buildings is Pyongyang's tallest, at 70 stories.



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.



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.



The most recent previous example is another new street, Mirae Street. It was built in time for the 65th anniversary in 2015 of founding of North Korea's ruling Worker's Party.
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, 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.